cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Torque converter interactions in a parallel post transmission hybrid driveline

Based on work at NC State University, an initial trial group of 15 plug-in hybrid school buses were manufactured by Navistar Corporation to determine basic performance characteristics and provide a basis to improve upon the design. This project was a joint effort with the IC Bus division of Navistar and the many school districts participating in the program. The buses have been in operation for up to four years as of the writing of this paper. The performance of the buses is better than traditional buses in terms of fuel economy and emissions, but not as favorable as originally predicted in computer simulations. There are a variety of reasons for this discrepancy in the performance, some of which were addressed in subsequent design iterations of the buses, such as decreasing final drive ratios and adjusting the capture of regenerative energy. Some other discrepancies remain unexplained. The design of the buses uses a parallel post transmission hybrid system. This design has been proposed in a number of retrofit situations and therefore has application across a wide variety of platforms. The concern related to this design is the performance of the torque converter in the overrunning condition and the resulting energy losses associated with this case. In this paper, the emphasis is on using separately developed mathematical models to create an adequate simulation of the performance of a torque converter in the negative torque state by using converter geometry without the application of lookup tables, which require specific torque converter testing.
A configurable monitoring system for parallel programming

Debugging parallel programs can be a daunting task. The authors describe a configurable distributed monitoring system which they have built to aid in the debugging of parallel and distributed programs. The system, BEE++, allows the programmer to easily instrument and control a distributed program. They present the BEE++ system and discuss how it can be used to aid the debugging of parallel programs written in PVM, a popular message passing system for heterogeneous systems. >
Response to Body Mass Index-Mortality Paradox in Hemodialysis: Can It Be Explained by Blood Pressure?

Ferreira-Filho et al1 correctly point out the importance of residual renal function in maintaining volume homeostasis and predicting morbid and mortal outcomes among patients with end-stage renal disease. Although we did not report residual renal function, the vintage stratified by body mass index categories …
Effects of Summer Drawdown on the Fishes and Larval Chironomids in Beulah Reservoir, Oregon

Abstract Summer drawdown of Beulah Reservoir, Oregon, could adversely affect fish and invertebrate production, limit sport fishing opportunities, and hinder the recovery of threatened species. To assess the impacts of drawdown, we sampled fish and Chironomidae larvae in Beulah Reservoir in the springs of 2006 to 2008. The reservoir was reduced to 68% of full pool in 2006 and to run-of-river level in 2007. From spring 2006 to spring 2007, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of fyke nets decreased significantly for dace [Rhinichthys spp.] and northern pikeminnow [Ptychocheilus oregonensis], increased significantly for suckers [Catastomus spp.] and white crappies [Pomoxis nigromaculatus], and was similar for redside shiners [Richardsonius balteatus]. CPUE of gillnets either increased significantly or remained similar depending on genera, and the size structure of redside shiners, suckers, and white crappies changed appreciably. From 2007 to 2008, the CPUE of northern pikeminnow, redside shiners, suckers, and wh...
The effectiveness of ventriculocystocisternostomy for suprasellar arachnoid cysts.

Object The aim of this study was to report the long-term outcomes of patients receiving endoscopic ventriculocystocisternostomy (VCC) for suprasellar arachnoid cysts (SACs), and to analyze all published reports on outcomes of ventriculocystostomy (VC) versus VCC to compare the effectiveness of the 2 techniques. Methods Eleven consecutive patients with previously untreated SACs were surgically treated using endoscopic VCC. Another 2 patients were treated with VCC following ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Clinical imaging data were recorded. An analysis was performed of all published patient outcomes following endoscopic VC or VCC for an SAC. Results Developmental delay and progressive macrocephaly were the most common preoperative symptoms. At a mean clinical follow-up interval of 63 months, 10 of 11 patients undergoing primary VCC did not require reoperation. An analysis of the literature suggests that VCC may be more effective than VC. Of the 44 reported patients that underwent VC as a first treatm...
Medical Utilization of Kiosks in the Delivery of Patient Education: A Systematic Review

Background: The utilization of kiosks has previously been shown to be effective for collecting information, delivering educational modules, and providing access to health information. We discuss a review of current literature for the utilization of kiosks for the delivery of patient education. Methods: The criteria for inclusion in this literature review were: (1) study dis­cusses the utilization of kiosks for patient health education; (2) study discusses the use of touch screens for patient health information; (3) published in English. Our review includes searches via MEDLINE databases and Google Scholar for the years 1996-2014. Results: Overall, 167 articles were screened for final eligibility, and after discarding dupli­cates and non-eligible studies with abstract. Full-text review of 28 articles was in­cluded in the final analysis. Conclusion: The review of available literature demonstrates the effectiveness of touch screen kiosks to educate patients and to improve healthcare, both at a per­formance and cost advantage over other modes of patient education.
Biofuel Cells for Self-Powered Electrochemical Biosensing and Logic Biosensing: A Review

This article reviews recent advances and progress in developing electrochemical (EC) biosensing and logic biosensing systems based on self-powered biofuel cells (BFCs). BFCs that exploit enzymes and microbes have attracted a considerable recent interest owing to their unique ability to provide sustainable energy from renewable fuel source under mild conditions. This review focuses on recently introduced novel concepts for using BFCs as the basic element for EC-biosensing and especially EC-logic biosensing applications. The fabrication and design of such self-powered EC-biosensing and EC-logic biosensing are described along and different new approaches for BFCs-based EC-biosensing and EC-logic biosensing involving substrate effects, inhibition effects, blocking effects and gene regulation effects. Latest advances in coupling a self-powered diagnostic operation with logic-activated drug release functionality are discussed. We conclude with the implications of the new self-powered biosensing/logic-biosensing platforms along with future prospects and challenges.
Comparison and analysis of ten static heuristics-based Internet data replication techniques

This paper compares and analyzes 10 heuristics to solve the fine-grained data replication problem over the Internet. In fine-grained replication, frequently accessed data objects (as opposed to the entire website contents) are replicated onto a set of selected sites so as to minimize the average access time perceived by the end users. The paper presents a unified cost model that captures the minimization of the total object transfer cost in the system, which in turn leads to effective utilization of storage space, replica consistency, fault-tolerance, and load-balancing. The set of heuristics include six A-Star based algorithms, two bin packing algorithms, one greedy and one genetic algorithm. The heuristics are extensively simulated and compared using an experimental test-bed that closely mimics the Internet infrastructure and user access patterns. GT-ITM and Inet topology generators are used to obtain 80 well-defined network topologies based on flat, link distance, power-law and hierarchical transit-stub models. The user access patterns are derived from real access logs collected at the websites of Soccer World Cup 1998 and NASA Kennedy Space Center. The heuristics are evaluated by analyzing the communication cost incurred due to object transfers under the variance of server capacity, object size, read access, write access, number of objects and sites. The main benefit of this study is to facilitate readers with the choice of algorithms that guarantee fast or optimal or both types of solutions. This allows the selection of a particular algorithm to be used in a given scenario.
Environmental indicators of macroinvertebrate and fish assemblage integrity in urbanizing watersheds

Urbanization compromises the biotic integrity and health of streams, and indicators of integrity loss are needed to improve assessment programs and identify mechanisms of urban effects. We investigated linkages between landscapes and assemblages in 31 wadeable Piedmont streams in the Etowah River basin in northern Georgia (USA). Our objectives were to identify the indicators of macroinvertebrate and fish integrity from a large set of best land cover (n = 45), geomorphology (n = 115), and water quality (n = 12) variables, and to evaluate the potential for variables measured with minimal cost and effort to effectively predict biotic integrity. Macroinvertebrate descriptors were better predicted by land cover whereas fish descriptors were better predicted by geomorphology. Water quality variables demonstrated moderate levels of predictive power for biotic descriptors. Macroinvertebrate descriptors were best predicted by urban cover (� ), conductivity (� ), fines in riffles (� ), and local relief (+). Fish descriptors were best predicted by embeddedness (� ), turbidity (� ), slope (+), and forest cover (+). We used multiple linear regression modeling to predict descriptors using three independent variable sets that varied in difficulty of data collection. ‘‘Full’’ models included a full range of geomorphic, water quality and landscape variables regardless of the intensity of data collection efforts. ‘‘Reduced’’ models included GIS-derived variables describing catchment morphometry and land use as well as variables easily collected in the field with minimal cost and effort. ‘‘Simple’’ models only included GIS-derived variables. Full models explained 63–81% of the variation among descriptors, indicating strong relationships between landscape properties and biotic assemblages across our sites. Reduced and simple models were weaker, explaining 48–79% and 42–79%, respectively, of the variance among descriptors. Considering the difference in predictive power among these model sets, we recommend a tiered approach to variable selection and model development depending upon management goals. GIS variables are simple and inexpensive to collect, and a GIS-based modeling approach would be appropriate for goals such as site screening (e.g., identification of reference streams). As management goals become more complex (e.g., long-term monitoring programs), additional, easily collected field variables (e.g., embeddedness) should be included. Finally, labor-intensive variables (e.g., nutrients and fines in sediments) could be added to meet complex management goals such as restoration of impaired streams or mechanistic studies of land use effects on stream ecosystems.
Three-Dimensional Cardiac Electrical Imaging From Intracavity Recordings

A novel approach is proposed to image 3-D cardiac electrical activity from intracavity electrical recordings with the aid of a catheter. The feasibility and performance were evaluated by computer simulation studies, where a 3-D cellular-automaton heart model and a finite-element thorax volume conductor model were utilized. The finite-element method (FEM) was used to simulate the intracavity recordings induced by a single-site and dual-site pacing protocol. The 3-D ventricular activation sequences as well as the locations of the initial activation sites were inversely estimated by minimizing the dissimilarity between the intracavity potential ldquomeasurementsrdquo and the model-generated intracavity potentials. Under single-site pacing, the relative error (RE) between the true and estimated activation sequences was and the localization error (LE) (of the initiation site) was mm, as averaged over 12 pacing trials when considering 25 muV additive measurement noise using 64 catheter electrodes. Under dual-site pacing, the RE was over 12 pacing trials and the LE over 24 initial pacing sites was mm, when considering 25 muV additive measurement noise using 64 catheter electrodes. The proposed 3-D cardiac electrical imaging approach using intracavity electrical recordings was also tested under various simulated conditions and robust inverse solutions obtained. The present promising simulation results suggest the feasibility of obtaining 3-D information of cardiac electrical activity from intracavity recordings. The application of this inverse method has the potential of enhancing electrocardiographic mapping by catheters in electrophysiology laboratories, aiding cardiac resynchronization therapy, and other clinical applications.
T Cell–Specific Notch Inhibition Blocks Graft-versus-Host Disease by Inducing a Hyporesponsive Program in Alloreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) induced by donor-derived T cells remains the major limitation of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). We previously reported that the pan-Notch inhibitor dominant-negative form of Mastermind-like 1 (DNMAML) markedly decreased the severity and mortality of acute GVHD mediated by CD4(+) T cells in mice. To elucidate the mechanisms of Notch action in GVHD and its role in CD8(+) T cells, we studied the effects of Notch inhibition in alloreactive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells using mouse models of allo-BMT. DNMAML blocked GVHD induced by either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells. Both CD4(+) and CD8(+) Notch-deprived T cells had preserved expansion in lymphoid organs of recipients, but profoundly decreased IFN-γ production despite normal T-bet and enhanced Eomesodermin expression. Alloreactive DNMAML T cells exhibited decreased Ras/MAPK and NF-κB activity upon ex vivo restimulation through the TCR. In addition, alloreactive T cells primed in the absence of Notch signaling had increased expression of several negative regulators of T cell activation, including Dgka, Cblb, and Pdcd1. DNMAML expression had modest effects on in vivo proliferation but preserved overall alloreactive T cell expansion while enhancing accumulation of pre-existing natural regulatory T cells. Overall, DNMAML T cells acquired a hyporesponsive phenotype that blocked cytokine production but maintained their expansion in irradiated allo-BMT recipients, as well as their in vivo and ex vivo cytotoxic potential. Our results reveal parallel roles for Notch signaling in alloreactive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that differ from past reports of Notch action and highlight the therapeutic potential of Notch inhibition in GVHD.
Mutations of the 22- and 27-kD zein promoters affect transactivation by the Opaque-2 protein

By utilizing a homologous transient expression system, we have demonstrated that the Opaque-2 (O2) gene product O2 confers positive trans-regulation on a 22-kD zein promoter. This trans-acting function of the O2 protein is mediated by its sequence-specific binding to a cis element (the O2 target site) present in the 22-kD zein promoter. A multimer of a 32-bp promoter fragment containing this O2 target site confers transactivation by O2. A single nucleotide substitution in the O2 target sequence not only abolishes O2 binding in vitro, but also its response to transactivation by O2 in vivo. We have also demonstrated that an amino acid domain including the contiguous basic region and the heptameric leucine repeat is essential for the trans-acting function of the O2 protein. Similar but not identical O2 target sequence motifs can be found in the promoters of zein genes of different molecular weight classes. Conversion of such a motif in the 27-kD zein promoter to an exact O2 target sequence by site-directed mutagenesis was sufficient to increase the binding affinity of the O2 protein in vitro and to confer transactivation by O2 in vivo.
Method of micro-analysis of sound films of behavior

Initial viewings of sound films of human behavior resulted in the problem of how to divide the seemingly continuous flow of that behavior. This led to the development of methods and instrumentation that would permit variable-contrast scanning of the processes in order to detect points and criteria of segmentation. Since both speech and body motion are to be studied, instruments that would permit the analysis of each at a commensurate level were required. The instruments are primarily combinations of commercially available equipment that is relatively inexpensive yet reliable. These instruments, their use, and some of the preliminary observations are presented.
Interdependent Selves Show Face-Induced Facilitation of Error Processing: Cultural Neuroscience of Self-Threat

The fundamentally social nature of humans is revealed in their exquisitely high sensitivity to potentially negative evaluations held by others. At present, however, little is known about neurocortical correlates of the response to such social-evaluative threat. Here, we addressed this issue by showing that mere exposure to an image of a watching face is sufficient to automatically evoke a social-evaluative threat for those who are relatively high in interdependent self-construal. Both European American and Asian participants performed a flanker task while primed with a face (vs control) image. The relative increase of the error-related negativity (ERN) in the face (vs control) priming condition became more pronounced as a function of interdependent (vs independent) self-construal. Relative to European Americans, Asians were more interdependent and, as predicted, they showed a reliably stronger ERN in the face (vs control) priming condition. Our findings suggest that the ERN can serve as a robust empirical marker of self-threat that is closely modulated by socio-cultural variables.
Representing OCRed documents in HTML

OCR is an error-prone process. It is time-consuming and expensive to manually proofread OCR results. The errors remaining in OCRed texts can cause serious problems in reading and understanding if they do not refer to the original image representation. As demonstrated in this paper, a hybrid document which combines symbolic representation and image representation may relieve the problem. If we represent a OCRed document properly in HTML, OCR errors will not have much negative effect on the human reading process in an HTML browser and can be corrected by using an HTML authoring tool. Under this approach, an experiment evaluating a Japanese OCR system developed at CEDAR is also reported in this paper.
A comparison of field techniques used to pressure-infuse intravenous fluids.

Application of pressure infusion bags may increase intravenous (IV) flow rates three-fold. Commercially available pressure infusers, manual squeezing of the IV fluid bag, inflating a blood pressure (BP) cuff around the bag, and kneeling on the bag have been used by prehospital personnel attempting to augment fluid infusion rates. To test the efficacy of each these methods, seven experienced paramedics were asked to employ each method in two trials using a 1-liter bag of saline through a 14-gauge, 5.7cm catheter and a standard administration set. Gravity flow from 80 cm served as the control. Pressure infusers generated flow rates of 257+/-54 ml/min and 296+/-53 ml/min when inflated to 300 mmHg and maximum pressure respectively. This rate was 2-2.5 times that of gravity flow (123+/-2 ml/min) and significantly greater than those rates obtained by any other method (p less than .0005). Manually squeezing the bag also was significantly better than was gravity flow with flow rates of 184+/-46 ml/min and 173+/-40 ml/min achieved by each of two different squeezing methods (p less than .01). Neither blood pressure (BP) cuff application and inflation (135+/-28 ml/min) nor kneeling on the bag (125+/-36 ml/min) was better than gravity alone. These results indicate that pressure infusers should be used to the exclusion of other field methods of supplying infusion pressure. If pressure infusers are not available, manually squeezing the bag is the only alternative acceptable in the field.
Task-Based Interactions in Classroom and Laboratory Settings.

While there is general agreement that conversational interaction can facilitate interlanguage development, much of the research on interaction has been conducted in experimental aboratory settings. Questions have been raised about the generalizability of the benefits observed in the laboratory to the classroom setting. The current research compared interaction in classrooms and laboratories. Seventy-four university-level students learning Spanish as a foreign language worked in dyads to complete 3 different communicative activities in classroom and laboratory settings. Analysis of the interactional patterns of each dyad provided insights into the nature of the interaction in each setting. The data suggest few differences in interactional patterns between the settings. Instead, there were differences depending on the type of task that the learners carried out.
Sensitivity of Neurons to Weak Electric Fields

Weak electric fields modulate neuronal activity, and knowledge of the interaction threshold is important in the understanding of neuronal synchronization, in neural prosthetic design, and in the public health assessment of environmental extremely low frequency fields. Previous experimental measurements have placed the threshold between 1 and 5 mV/mm, although theory predicts that elongated neurons should have submillivolt per millimeter sensitivity near 100 microV/mm. We here provide the first experimental confirmation that neuronal networks are detectably sensitive to submillivolt per millimeter electrical fields [Gaussian pulses 26 msec full width at half-maximal, 140 microV/mm root mean square (rms), 295 microV/mm peak amplitude], an order of magnitude below previous findings, and further demonstrate that these networks are more sensitive than the average single neuron threshold (185 microV/mm rms, 394 microV/mm peak amplitude) to field modulation.
Image Gently: A campaign to promote radiation protection for children worldwide

With the goal of raising awareness and developing stakeholder educational tools for the appropriate imaging of children, the Image Gently campaign was launched in 2007. This campaign is a product of a multidisciplinary alliance with international representation which now numbers nearly 100 medical and dental professional societies and organisations, and includes regulatory organisations. The alliance focuses on increasing awareness and developing education materials that support the protection of children worldwide from unnecessary radiation in medicine. The alliance members work with agencies and regulatory bodies to improve standards and measures that are specific to children. The campaign has produced open source modules for all stakeholders regarding CT, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, digital radiography and dental imaging. The philosophy of the Image Gently steering committee is to collaborate, to share information freely, to keep messaging simple and to commit to lifelong learning. Many healthcare practitioners may not understand how to decrease children’s radiation exposure; the goal of Image Gently is to increase all stakeholders’ understanding of both the benefits and the risks and to encourage radiation reduction strategies. This article summarises the rationale and goals of the global campaign to date.
Mesenchymal stromal cells to modulate immune reconstitution early post-hematopoietic cell transplantation

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells known to modulate the immune system and to promote hematopoiesis. These dual effects make MSCs attractive for use as cellular therapy in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). MSCs can be used peri-HCT or pre-engraftment to modulate immune reconstitution, promoting hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) engraftment and/or preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that MSCs can potentiate HSC engraftment and prevent GVHD in a variety of animal models. Clinical trials have been small and largely non-randomized but have established safety and early evidence of efficacy, supporting the need for larger randomized trials.
Measurements of the nonlinear beat wave produced by the interaction of counterpropagating Alfvén waves

Plasma turbulence has been shown to play a critical role in many astrophysical and space environments. In the solar corona and solar wind, this turbulence involves the nonlinear interaction of kinetic Alfven waves. In the Earth's magnetosphere, the turbulence is dominated by inertial Alfven wave collisions. Observations of these wave–wave interactions in space and in laboratory plasma environments have shown that, in addition to the nonlinear cascade of energy to small scales, the interaction also produces nonlinear beat waves that have a frequency defined by f3±=|f1±f2|. Although the temporal behavior of the beat wave has been well documented, this paper presents the first detailed analysis of the spatial structure of the nonlinearly generated beat wave.
Understanding the complexities of international criminal tribunal jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of international criminal courts and tribunals is set forth in their Statutes or Charters, as understood against the backdrop of general international law. It would generally seem preferable to keep these instruments clear and unambiguous to avoid litigation over a given tribunal’s jurisdiction from overwhelming it or impairing its ability to decide the cases before it. Unfortunately, however, many international criminal courts and tribunals have had to address complex questions relating to the exercise of their own jurisdiction, arising either from unanticipated factual scenarios, novel interpretations of the law or the insertion of ‘constructive ambiguities’ in their statutes resulting from compromises agreed during their negotiation. This chapter will briefly survey the basic principles underlying the jurisdiction of international criminal courts and tribunals, as well as some of the complexities applying these jurisdictional principles engenders in practice. I leave to other chapters in this book the question of criminal jurisdiction before national courts and tribunals, including the issue of universal (inter-state) jurisdiction.
Creativity ‘Misrules’: First Year Engineering Students’ Production and Perception of Creativity in Design Ideas

We report four cases from a larger study, focusing on participants’ self-identified “most creative” concept in relation to their other concepts. As part of an ideation session, first-year engineering students were asked to create concepts for one of two engineering design problems in an 85-minute period, and were exposed to one of two different forms of fixation. Participants worked as individuals, first using traditional brainstorming techniques and generating as many ideas as possible. Design Heuristics cards were then introduced, and students were asked to generate as many additional concepts as possible. After the activity, participants ranked all of the concepts they generated from most to least creative. Representative cases include a detailed analysis of the concept that each participant rated as “most creative,” idea generation method used, and relative location and relationship of the concept to other concepts generated by that participant. Across four cases, we identified a number of characteristic “misrules” or misconceptions, revealing that first-year students judge creativity in their concepts in ways that could inhibit their ability to produce truly novel concepts. We present Design Heuristics as a tool to encourage the exploration of creative concept pathways, empowering students to create more novel concepts by rejecting misrules about creativity.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Biology of Rygchium foraminatum in Trap-Nests in Wisconsin (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Trap-nests consisting of holes bored in sumac stems were used to study the nesting biology of R. foraminatum (Saussure) in Wisconsin. Typical nests consisted of a linear series of provisioned cells and empty spaces separated by clay partitions. The means of the lengths of cells ranged from 14.9 to 17.1 mm, and those of the spaces 6.2 to 7.9 mm, depending upon the diameter of the hole (6.25 mm or 7.8 mm) and the summer or overwintering generation. One hundred and fifteen summer generation nests had a mean of 4.45 provisioned cells; 25 overwintering nests had a mean of 4.76 cells. The cells were provisioned with caterpillars in the Gelechiidae, Oecophoridae, Olethreutidae, Pyralidae, Pyraustidae, Thyridae and Tortricidae. The sex and size of reared wasps were associated with the amount of provisions and the size of cells. The first-made cells normally were larger and contained females. The nesting behavior involved a sequence of egg laying, cell provisioning and partition construction. Customarily, an empty vestibule was provided at the terminus of the hole, and the exit orifice was securely closed with a thick plug of clay. The wasp larvae fed voraciously on the caterpillar provisions and grew rapidly. There were 5 larval instars. The mature larva spun a thin cocoon, voided its meconium, and entered a quiescent prepupal stage. Summer generation larvae proceeded to pupate and emerge as adults, but the overwintering generation larvae entered diapause and passed the winter in the prepupal stage. Under field conditions the egg stage lasted 2 or 3 days, the. larva matured in 6 or 7 clays, the prepupal stage was 4 or 5 days, and the pupal stage took 10 to 12 days.
RESURGENCE OF MANDS FOLLOWING FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION TRAINING

Experimental conditions similar to those described by Lieving and Lattal (2003) were used within two experiments to evaluate the resurgence of mands with humans. Two mands from the same operant class were trained with three participants with developmental disabilities during Experiment 1 and with two participants with developmental disabilities and a history of problem behavior during Experiment 2. The two mands were then placed on extinction. Both persisted, but showed different response strength during extinction. The mand with the weaker response strength was targeted for additional functional communication training and the alternative mand was placed on extinction. Following steady levels of occurrence of the targeted mand and no occurrences of the alternative mand, both mands were placed on extinction again. At least one instance of resurgence of the alternative mand occurred with every participant and resurgence of problem behavior occurred for both participants during Experiment 2.
High-Pressure Freezing and Freeze Substitution of Arabidopsis for Electron Microscopy

The objectives of electron microscopy ultrastructural studies are to examine cellular architecture and relate the cell's structural machinery to dynamic functional roles. This aspiration is difficult to achieve if specimens have not been adequately preserved in a "living state"; hence specimen preparation is of the utmost importance for the success of any electron micrographic study. High-pressure freezing (HPF)/freeze substitution (FS) has long been recognized as the primer technique for the preservation of ultrastructure in biological samples. In most cases a basic HPF/freeze substitution protocol is sufficient to obtain superior ultrastructural preservation and structural contrast, which allows one to use more advanced microscopy techniques such as 3D electron tomography. However, for plant tissues, which have a thick cell wall, large water-filled vacuoles, and air spaces (all of which are detrimental to cryopreservation), these basic HPF/FS protocols often yield undesirable results. In particular, ice crystal artifacts and the staining of membrane systems are often poorly or negatively stained, which make 3D segmentation of a tomogram difficult. To overcome these problems, various aspects of the HPF/FS protocol can be altered, including the cryo-filler(s) used, freeze substitution cocktail, and the resin infiltration process. This chapter will describe these modifications for the preparation of plant tissues for routine electron microscopic studies, immunocytochemistry, and 3D tomographic electron imaging.
Effects of crowders on the equilibrium and kinetic properties of protein aggregation

Abstract The equilibrium and kinetic properties of protein aggregation systems in the presence of crowders are investigated using simple, illuminating models based on mass-action laws. Our model yields analytic results for equilibrium properties of protein aggregates, which fit experimental data of actin and ApoC-II with crowders reasonably well. When the effects of crowders on rate constants are considered, our kinetic model is in good agreement with experimental results for actin with dextran as the crowder. Furthermore, the model shows that as crowder volume fraction increases, the length distribution of fibrils becomes narrower and shifts to shorter values due to volume exclusion.
The Role of Similarity/Difference Information in Excuse-Making

Several years ago, the first author and his colleagues developed a theory regarding uniqueness-seeking behavior (see Snyder & Fromkin, 1980, for overview). Against a prevailing viewpoint that people always prefer others who are similar to themselves (i.e., the Donn Byrne, 1971, reinforcement theory of interpersonal attraction), it was proposed that a moderate amount of similarity was the most satisfactory state for people. In brief, uniqueness theory predicts that people find the state of extremely high similarity relative to others to be aversive, and therefore will strive to lessen their perceived and manifested sense of similarity to a more moderate level. The conclusion after conducting research pertaining to uniqueness theory was that the motive to reestablish some sense of specialness appears in many situations where people perceive their uniqueness to be threatened. Nevertheless, some fascinating circumstances where the uniqueness motive was reversed eventually led us to examine the topic of excuse-making.
Effects of IL-7 On Dynamics of T-Cell Recovery After Transplantation with Purified HSC and Common Lymphoid Progenitors (CLP).

Abstract 2442 Poster Board II-419 Strategies to accelerate immune reconstitution include the administration of lymphopoietic cytokines, e.g., IL-7, and the co-transplantation of lymphoid progenitors. CLP are rapidly cycling, non-self-renewing, IL-7R+ marrow cells that give rise to lymphoid progeny. We assessed the effects of IL-7 on the in vivo dynamics of T cell generation from purified HSC and CLP after murine transplantation. Groups of C57Bl/6 mice, 9-11 weeks old, were irradiated at a dose of 950 cGy (two 450 cGy fractions), followed by congenic transplantation with either 500 HSC or 500 HSC + 3000 CLP. Control and IL-7 treated groups received 3E5 murine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) retrovirally transduced with either the EGFP or IL-7 genes, respectively. Thus, the four experimental groups were HSC with EGFP-MSC , HSC with IL-7-MSC , HSC+CLP with EGFP-MSC , and HSC+CLP with IL-7-MSC . Negative controls for MSC administration were mice that received HSC only, but no MSC (no difference from HSC with EGFP-MSC recipients). Compared to recipients of HSC with EGFP-MSC or HSC with IL-7-MSC , mice transplanted with HSC+CLP with EGFP-MSC had increased numbers of donor-derived triple negative ( TN )(>3×), double positive ( DP )(>5×), and CD4 or CD8 single positive ( SP )(>3×) thymocytes at Day 21. The effects of HSC+CLP co-transplantation on donor-derived thymopoiesis were greatly increased by IL-7-MSC ( TN : HSC + CLP with IL-7-MSC >3× more than HSC with EGFP-MSC ; DP : >20×; SP CD4 or CD8: >50×). The IL-7 induced increases in thymopoiesis were due to expansion of CLP-derived cells. In contrast, by D28, almost all donor thymopoiesis was derived from HSC in both the HSC and HSC+CLP recipients; IL-7 treatment decreased the numbers of CLP-derived progenitors and had minimal effects on the numbers of HSC-derived thymocytes. At D21 and D28, HSC+CLP with EGFP-MSC recipients had 3× more peripheral (splenic) CD4 and CD8 mature T lymphocytes than HSC recipients. IL-7-MSC significantly increased the numbers of donor-derived mature T lymphocytes in HSC+CLP recipients to approximately 8× greater than that of recipients of HSC , again mainly by expansion of CLP-derived cells. The data indicate that 1) most thymopoiesis early after transplant is derived from non-self-renewing lymphoid progenitors while HSC contribute later; 2) IL-7 treatment accelerates thymopoiesis and peripheral T-cell reconstitution, mainly by expansion of CLP and their progeny, 3) IL-7 treatment may accelerate the exhaustion of the non-self-renewing CLP population. Despite this progenitor depletion, the net effect of IL-7 treatment is to increase the generation of CLP-derived T-cells. Commitment to lymphoid differentiation by HSC is a bottleneck in T lymphoid reconstitution which may be overcome by combined CLP transplantation and IL-7 treatment to bridge the delay in production of HSC-derived lymphoid progenitors. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Structure of the Reelfoot Rift As Interpreted From 2-D Magnetotelluric Models

The results of magnetotelluric (MT) surveys reveal structures associated with the Reelfoot rift, including an axial high-resistivity structure that may be related to intrusions in the central part of the rift or to a previously unrecognized horst. The axis of this resistivity high generally follows the central part of the Reelfoot rift, but its orientation is offset several degrees from the enigmatic Blytheville arch. The MT structural high follows the main part of a northeast-trending seismicity belt, but in the New Madrid, Missouri area electrical structures are more complicated. In this northern part of the study area, the strike of resistivity structures determined from the MT data indicate a nearly north-south direction, rather than the N45°E direction indicated for most of the data. If the axial high-resistivity structure represents a horst, then it may form an interior divide between thick shale basins. Faults bounding the proposed horst may be a controlling factor for the northeast trending seismic zone.
Dilute-anion III-nitride: A potential visible light emitter

The spontaneous emission characteristics of InGaN / dilute-As GaNAs interface quantum well for the visible spectral regime were calculated and analyzed, and the findings revealed the strong potential of implementing the dilute-anion IIINitride alloy as active region for high efficiency visible light emitter.
Electron-Transfer Gated Ion Transport in Carbon Nanopipets

Coating the inner wall of a quartz nanopipet with a thin layer of carbon yields a nanopore with tunable surface charge and chemical state for resistive-pulse and rectification sensing. Herein we report the experimental study and modeling of the electron-transfer gated ion transport processes in carbon nanopipets. The potential of the unbiased carbon layer can be tuned by adding very low (sub-nM) concentrations of redox species to the solution via bipolar electrochemistry. The potential of the carbon layer determines the electrical double-layer structure that, in turn, affects the ionic transport processes. The ion current rectification decreased when redox species with a relatively positive formal potential (e.g., Fe(CN)63/4–) were added to the solution and increased upon adding redox species with a negative formal potential (e.g., Ru(NH3)63/2+). Additionally, the ion current displays high sensitivity to redox species, suggesting the possibility of trace-level analysis.
PD-L1/PD-1 Immunotherapy Modulates Effector T Cells Homeostasis and Function in Murine Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer (PC) is one of the most aggressive and deadliest types of cancer, and it is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. by the year 2030. PC evades immune surveillance by disrupting the immune homeostasis of effector T cells (Teff). T cells homeostasis is critical for proper anti-tumor immune responses. Preliminary flow cytometry data revealed that murine pancreatic (Panc02) cancer cells produce inflammatory soluble factors and in addition, express Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) and Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and 2 (PD-L2). PD-L1/2 can bind to PD-1 receptors on Teff and induce apoptosis or anergy, dampening the anti-tumor immunity. Cytokine bead array and flow cytometry analysis of serum from peripheral blood from C57BL/6 mice injected with Panc02 cells (TB mice) showed a significant increase in inflammatory factors compared to Control (CTRL) mice. Additionally, Teff from splenocytes from TB mice showed significant reduction in Teff percentages compared to CTRL mice, in vitro. In this study, CD3+ cells from CTRL mice were co-incubated with Panc02 cells pre-treated with anti-PD-L1 antibody (ab) to evaluate the modulation of Teff and cytokines production, in vitro . Mice were inoculated with the Panc02 pre-treated cells with anti-PD-L1 ab, to evaluate the modulation of Teff and cytokines production, in vivo . The results from this project may lead to the identification of new immunotherapeutic strategies to stabilize Teff homeostasis and function that could increase anti-tumor immune responses and combat PC progression.
Pseudotumor in ceramic-on-metal total hip arthroplasty

The increasing demand for total hip arthroplasty (THA) in relatively young, high-demand patients has led to the use of hard-on-hard bearing surfaces. Adverse local tissue reaction/pseudotumor and elevated serum metal ion levels are commonly reported complications encountered in metal-on-metal THA, while audible articulation and rim fracture are reported in ceramic-on-ceramic THA. For this reason, ceramic-on-metal THA was implemented as an ideal hard-on-hard bearing combination. In this report, we describe a case of bilateral simultaneous ceramic-on-metal THA in a 69-year-old woman who presented 7 years postoperatively with unilateral hip pain associated with underlying pseudotumor and elevated serum cobalt and chromium ion levels. Pre-revision workup, intraoperative findings, and postoperative evaluation are included and suggest acetabular malposition as a potential source for complication.
Full Court Press: Drawing in Media Defenses for Libel and Privacy Cases

Recent jury verdicts against Rolling Stone Magazine and Gawker Media raise fundamental issues in defamation and privacy lawsuits, including who is a public figure, what counts as newsworthiness, and whether truth is always a defense under the First Amendment. Using those verdicts as a starting point, I reexamine the democratic arguments the Supreme Court relied on to protect free speech and the press in New York Times v. Sullivan. I conclude that subsequent cases overextended the New York Times rule in ways that weakened its democratic foundation. I suggest three reforms. Regarding the public figure doctrine, courts should enforce the oft-quoted, but frequently ignored, requirement that private individuals morph into public figures only to the extent that they voluntarily thrust themselves into a public controversy. In regard to privacy torts, truth should not be an absolute defense, no matter how uncomfortable such a conclusion is to one reading of the First Amendment. Judges and juries will have to continue to struggle over norms of newsworthiness when truth and privacy collide. Finally, media attention to the private lives of public officials, however justified on occasion, has become so routine as to defeat what New York Times v. Sullivan promised—a press focused on the investigation and criticism of official acts.
Audit costs of small cities in an unregulated audit market environment

This study provides public administrators with an introduction into research of the determinants of audit fees. A working knowledge of external audit cost determinants can help public administrators hone their evaluation skills for use in audit-procurement. Most prior research on audit cost determinants has focused on the few hundred cities in the nation with populations exceeding 50,000. As a result, this study investigated the audit costs incurred by small cities with populations less than 50,000. Besides providing a glimpse of small-city auditing practices, the study tested the significance of the Single Audit Act in audit-fee determination. Missouri municipalities with populations between 2,000 and 50,000 provided the sample for the study. Because Missouri is one of the few states in the nation that neither legislates nor monitors municipal auditing, it represents an unregulated audit market in which town officials decide on the need for an audit, the firm to conduct the audit, and the process by which the audit firm is selected. The results of a nine-variable regression model suggested that the size of the town, the existence of a city administrator, the complexity of the town's operation, the method of accounting, the timing and completion time of the audit, and audit-firm specialization in municipal auditing were important determinants of audit fees.
Cardio-Oncology: mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicity.

The therapeutic options available to treat a wide range of malignancies are rapidly increasing. At the same time, the population being treated is aging with more cardiovascular risk factors, comorbid conditions, and associated poor cardiac reserve. Both traditional chemotherapeutic agents (for example, anthracyclines) and newer therapies (for example, targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors) have demonstrated profound cardiovascular toxicities. It is important to understand the mechanisms of these toxicities to establish strategies for the prevention and management of complications—arrhythmias, heart failure, and even death. In the first of this two-part review series, we focus on what is known and hypothesized about the mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicity from anthracyclines, HER2/ErbB2 inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors.
Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of F4TCNQ Doped P3HT and Its Use as a Binder for Sb2Te3 Based Printed Thermoelectric Films

Flexible thermoelectric generators (FTEGs) are emerging energy harvesting devices that have generated recent research interest because of their scalability and low cost. The fabrication of FTEGs requires printing of thermoelectric elements on flexible substrates. The low thermal conductivity, solution processability, and low cost of polymers make them an attractive choice for flexible devices. A major challenge in their adoption is their very low electrical conductivity. The electrical conductivity of conjugated polymers can be improved by doping and addition of active particles. This article describes enhancements in the thermoelectric properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer using 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4TCNQ) as a dopant. The highest electrical conductivity obtained was 1.6 S/cm for 17 wt % dopant in the polymer. The highest Seebeck coefficient (102 μV/K) and power factor (1.6 μW/mK2) were also obtained for the same dopant concentration. As a result of using o...