cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of preindustrial biomass-burning emissions on the oxidation pathways of tropospheric sulfur and nitrogen

[1] Ice core measurements (H2O2 and CH4/HCHO) and modeling studies indicate a change in the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere since the onset of the Industrial Revolution due to increases in fossil fuel burning emissions [e.g., Lelieveld et al., 2002; Hauglustaine and Brasseur, 2001; Wang and Jacob, 1998; Staffelbach et al., 1991]. The mass-independent fractionation (MIF) in the oxygen isotopes of sulfate and nitrate from a Greenland ice core reveal that biomass-burning events in North America just prior to the Industrial Revolution significantly impacted the oxidation pathways of sulfur and nitrogen species deposited in Greenland ice. This finding highlights the importance of biomass-burning emissions for atmospheric chemistry in preindustrial North America and warrants the inclusion of this impact in modeling studies estimating changes in atmospheric oxidant chemistry since the Industrial Revolution, particularly when using paleo-oxidant data as a reference for model evaluation.
Nature Versus Nurture: Developing Enzymes That Function Under Extreme Conditions

Many industrial processes used to produce chemicals and pharmaceuticals would benefit from enzymes that function under extreme conditions. Enzymes from extremophilic microorganisms have evolved to function in a variety of extreme environments, and bioprospecting for these microorganisms has led to the discovery of new enzymes with high tolerance to nonnatural conditions. However, bioprospecting is inherently limited by the diversity of enzymes evolved by nature. Protein engineering has also been successful in generating extremophilic enzymes by both rational mutagenesis and directed evolution, but screening for activity under extreme conditions can be difficult. This review examines the emerging synergy between bioprospecting and protein engineering in developing extremophilic enzymes. Specific topics include unnatural industrial conditions relevant to biocatalysis, biophysical properties of extremophilic enzymes, and industrially relevant extremophilic enzymes found either in nature or through protein engineering.
Electroconvulsive therapy and the elderly

Abstract This research explores the micro- and macropolitics of trouble for elderly persons for whom electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been prescribed. We argue that psychiatric hospitalization and use of ECT may be a response to elder caregiving troubles within the family, in the context of ideological, economic and demographic changes related to the practice of psychiatry. This response is occurring under sociohistorical conditions favorable to the resurgence of ECT as a psychiatric treatment.
Dynamic quantitative phase microscopy of biological cells

We introduce a new fast and accurate method for dynamic quantitative phase imaging of biological cells. The method enables imaging of sub-millisecond dynamic biological phenomena with sub-nanometer temporal stability. Initial experimental results are given.
Tradeoff Between Diversity and Decodable-Rate: Diversity Multiplexing Tradeoff for Fixed Encoding Schemes

In (Zheng, 2003), Zheng and Tse formulated the problem of determining the diversity multiplexing tradeoff for MIMO systems. In their formulation they considered a family of coding schemes {C(rho)} for an M times N MIMO channel where C(rho) denotes the coding scheme corresponding to an SNR of rho. For any coding scheme family with a multiplexing rate of r, i.e., whose rate grows as r log(1 + rho), they characterized the diversity order, dDMT*(r), the largest possible rate of decay for the probability of outage (Zheng, 2003). Here we consider a problem where the encoding scheme C at the transmitter is fixed (independent of SNR) and the receiver attempts to recover information bits at a rate of r log(1 + rho) from the received signal, where rho is the receive SNR. r is termed the decodable multiplexing rate (DMR). We define diversity of a scheme as the rate of decay of the probability that a receiver with receive SNR rho decodes a rate less than r log(1 + rho). We ask the question, what is the best possible diversity for a given DMR? We present a superposition scheme and show that for the MISO/SIMO channel, i.e. when min(M, N) = 1, the superposition scheme has a diversity order equal to max(M, N)(1 - r) which is also the best possible decay rate in this case. For the MIMO channel we show that the superposition scheme achieves a diversity of MN(1 - r) for r < 1. For the block fading SISO channel with coding over L blocks, the scheme achieves a diversity of L(1 - Lr) for r < 1/L.
Evolutionary learning in simulated neural networks

Les systemes biologiques resolvent des problemes comportant la reconnaissance des formes et l'extraction des caracteristiques. Un systeme d'apprentissage evolutif est un systeme dans lequel les etats sont des modes de traitement de l'information et les transitions entre les etats dependant d'une combinaison d'entrees de l'environnement et de recherches ergodiques. Un tel systeme est decrit
Sensitivity of LMP using an iterative DCOPF model

This paper firstly presents a brief review of the FND (fictitious nodal demand)-based iterative DCOPF algorithm to calculate locational marginal price (LMP), which is proposed in a previous work. The FND-based DCOPF algorithm is particularly suitable for simulation and planning purposes. Then, this paper employs the FND algorithm to analyze the sensitivity of LMP with respect to loads. Tests are performed on the PJM 5-bus system and the IEEE 30-bus test system. A simple, explicit equation of LMP sensitivity is presented and validated. Also, a special case of infinite sensitivity under the step change of LMP is discussed. It is shown that if the operating point is close to the critical load level of LMP step change, the sensitivity is less reliable and may not be applied to a large variation of load. Finally, future works and concluding remarks are presented.
AN IMPROVED ANAEROBE JAR

There has been described a modification of the anaerobe jars of McIntosh and Fildes and of Smillie in which the oxygen is consumed by combustion with hydrogen under the catalytic action of platinized or palladinized asbestos. The special advantages of the apparatus described reside in its greater safety and in the fact that the catalyzer is heated electrically after the jar is closed and may be reheated at any time during incubation without opening the jar.
Religion, Empire, and Torture: The Case of Achaemenian Persia, with a Postscript on Abu Ghraib – By Bruce Lincoln

There is a long tradition of comparison between the modern west and ancient civilizations, but the resemblances have usually been sought in Athens, Sparta, or Rome. Rarely have scholars made the pr...
α-Adrenergic agonist drugs, left ventricular function, and emergence from cardiopulmonary bypass

The relationship between preoperative left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and the use of α -adrenoceptor agonists during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass was studied in 102 patients undergoing coronary artery surgery. LV function was evaluated subjectively by examination of the 30° right anterior oblique left ventriculogram. Group 1 consisted of 75 patients with normal or mild impairment in LV function, whereas group 2 consisted of 27 patients with moderate-severe LV dysfunction. Cardiovascular parameters were measured at baseline, during hypothermic bypass with the aorta clamped, during normothermic bypass after unclamping, and 1 and 15 minutes after separation from bypass. Thirty-seven patients in group 1 (49%) and 11 patients in group 2 (39%) required some form of inotropic and/or vasopressor support during weaning from bypass. Group 2 required significantly higher cumulative doses of phenylephrine after bypass compared with group 1 (1.69 ± 0.70 mg, n = 9, v 0.24 ± 0.04 mg. n = 27, P μ g/min, n = 2, v 3 ± 0.6 μ g/min, n = 2, P = NS). The higher doses of α -adrenoceptor agonists required in patients with moderate-severe LV dysfunction may be due to differences in α -adrenoceptor agonist affinity and/or receptor density.
Enriching One Taxonomy Using Another

Taxonomies, representing hierarchical data, are a key knowledge source in multiple disciplines. Information processing across taxonomies is not possible unless they are appropriately merged for commonalities and differences. For taxonomy merging, the first task is to identify common concepts between the taxonomies. Then, these common concepts along with their associated concepts in the two taxonomies need to be integrated. Doing this in a conflict-free manner is a challenging task and generally requires human intervention. In this paper, we explore the possibility of asymmetrically merging one taxonomy into another automatically. Given one or more source taxonomies and a destination taxonomy, modeled as directed acyclic graphs, we present intuitive algorithms that merge relevant portions of the source taxonomies into the destination taxonomy. We prove that our algorithms are conflict-free, information lossless, and scalable. We also define precision and recall measures for evaluating enriched taxonomies, such as TA, the result of merging two taxonomies, with TI, the ideal merger. Our experiments indicate the effectiveness of our approach.
A method for accurate titration of alkyllithium reagents in ether solutions

Abstract Accurate and precise concentrations of n-butyllithium in solutions of hexane in various ethers have been determined by direct titration at −78° with sec-butanol.
General Anesthesia for Monitoring

The anesthetic agents used to produce general anesthesia and the physiological management have an impact on the ability of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring to be conducted. Clearly the most challenging circumstances are when monitoring techniques are sensitive to the agents used. This section will discuss the general principles behind the effects of anesthetic agents and the known effects on electrophysiological monitoring. The specific choice of anesthetic agents will depend on the effects of the agents, the monitoring techniques used, and the anesthetic goals desired.
Single-copy chromosomal integration systems for Francisella tularensis.

Francisella tularensis is a fastidious Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the zoonotic disease tularemia. Investigation of the biology and molecular pathogenesis of F. tularensis has been limited by the difficulties in manipulating such a highly pathogenic organism and by a lack of genetic tools. However, recent advances have substantially improved the ability of researchers to genetically manipulate this organism. To expand the molecular toolbox we have developed two systems to stably integrate genetic elements in single-copy into the F. tularensis genome. The first system is based upon the ability of transposon Tn7 to insert in both a site- and orientation-specific manner at high frequency into the attTn7 site located downstream of the highly conserved glmS gene. The second system consists of a sacB-based suicide plasmid used for allelic exchange of unmarked elements with the blaB gene, encoding a β-lactamase, resulting in the replacement of blaB with the element and the loss of ampicillin resistance. To test these new tools we used them to complement a novel d-glutamate auxotroph of F. tularensis LVS, created using an improved sacB-based allelic exchange plasmid. These new systems will be helpful for the genetic manipulation of F. tularensis in studies of tularemia biology, especially where the use of multi-copy plasmids or antibiotic markers may not be suitable.
Vermeers and Rembrandts in the Same Attic: Complementarity between Copyright and Trademark Leveraging Strategies in Software

We examine the interrelationships between firms' efforts to leverage different types of intellectual property (IP) rights. While prior research has tended to view different forms of intellectual property as substitutes, we argue that they can also be viewed as complements. We motivate this argument by shifting the unit of analysis away from the level of a single invention to the level of the technology, product or firm. Using unstructured interviews, we develop hypotheses about the causes of IP complementarity. Specifically, we hypothesize that complementarity may result from common inputs into the management of IP within the firm, such as managerial attention to IP issues and organizational resources deployed for IP management. Our hypotheses are tested in the PC software industry with a seemingly-unrelated-regression (SUR) model, which provides support for complementarity between copyrights and trademarks in software, and suggests that this complementarity stems at least in part from our hypothesized common inputs into IP management. Our work addresses both the relative neglect of non-patent intellectual property rights and the disproportionate reliance on the IP-as-substitutes view in prior research.
Evaluation of Material Substitution in Knitted Spring Tubes for Advanced Structural Seals

Material substitution was evaluated as a means for improving the performance of high temperature knitted spring tubes used in control surface seals for current and future reusable space launch vehicles. Control surface seals flll the space between movable control surfaces such as body ∞aps, rudders and elevons, and the static body structures to which they are attached. These seals must remain in continuous contact with opposing surfaces to prevent the ingestion of damaging hot gases encountered during atmospheric reentry. Resiliency loss in the current baseline control surface seal has been linked to its knitted Inconel X-750 spring tube element. Substitution of the nickel based superalloy Rene 41 for Inconel X-750 in the baseline spring tube design enhances its temperature capabilities and produces a resiliency improvement during compression testing of 2.5x at the start of compression cycle 10 at 1500 ‐ F. Rene 41 spring tubes exhibit reasonable resiliency to at least 1750 ‐ F throughout 20 compression cycles, whereas all resiliency is lost in Inconel X-750 samples at that point. Additional analysis shows that creep is likely the dominant deformation mechanism leading to decreased spring tube performance. These results are presented along with a description of the method used to evaluate and quantify the performance of advanced seal components.
Can You Paint a Can of Paint

The paradox of "Gabriel's horn" is a favorite topic of many calculus teachers. (See, for example, [1, p. 402].) In this note, I offer two ways to resolve the paradox. The "horn" is the surface S gotten by revolving the curve y = 1/x for x > 1 about the x-axis. The surface has infinite area, but the volume of the 3-dimensional region R inside it is finite. Consider how surprising that is: a finite volume of paint is sufficient to fill R, and then every point of S will be in contact with paint-yet no quantity of paint, however large, will be enough to cover S with paint! Certainly S has infinite area while R has finite volume-the calculations that lead to those results are not in doubt-so any resolution of the paradox requires us to question the interpretation of the calculations. I will argue that the paradox arises when we make erroneous assumptions about the relationships between area and paint, and between area and volume. Once those relationships are clarified, the apparent contradiction dissolves.
The history and philosophy of an elementary course in flight testing

* * Barnes W. McCormick and Hubert C. Smith The Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania 16802 A course entitled Principles of Flight Testing has been offered at Penn State since 1963 The course utilizes a four-place, single-engine airplane to introduce students to some of the methods and problems involved with flight testing The experiments, covering airspeed calibration, performance, and stability and control, are intended to teach principles rather than to acquire accurate data. Nevertheless, accuracy is stressed in taking data commensurate with the simple instrumentation which is used. Although the course is expensive to teach compared to an ordinary lecture course, the cost of operating the airplane is not out of line with the cost required to conduct other laboratory courses. The way in which the course has evolved is discussed together with problems which have been encountered. The value of such a course, as measured against its costs, is examined on the basis of student involvement and feedback. Examples from student reports are presented to demonstrate what can be accomplished with a small airplane using a minimum of instrumentation.
Cyclical processes in the North American Cordilleran orogenic system

To understand linkages among processes that combined to build the North American Cordillera, we synthesize its tectono-magmatic history from the California accretionary wedge to the retroarc foreland of Wyoming. At this latitude, the Cordilleran magmatic arc experienced high-flux events (HFEs) at ca. 160–150 Ma and ca. 105–90 Ma. Retroarc shortening provided the main source of HFE magmas, which in turn created eclogitic arc roots that later foundered into the mantle and cleared the sub-arc region of excess mass, and provided space to accommodate renewed retroarc shortening. The forearc, arc, and retroarc regions all responded variably to this cycle of tectono-magmatic processes, and Laramide flat-slab subduction may have both disrupted and been enhanced by events within this cycle.
Sepsis syndrome, the adult respiratory distress syndrome, and nosocomial pneumonia. A common clinical sequence

Systemic sepsis and pneumonia are common predisposing factors for ARDS, which can serve as the initial manifestation of the multisystem organ failure syndrome. Primary pneumonia that necessitates ICU admission leads to ARDS in approximately 10% of patients. Systemic infection can also lead to ARDS, but when bacteremia alone is present, the risk is low (probably less than 5%). If the septic syndrome with a hemodynamic and end-organ response develops, the ARDS may follow in as many as 40% of patients. When multiple risk factors for acute lung injury are present, the risk of developing ARDS rises dramatically. The septic syndrome, acute lung injury, and multiorgan failure are closely tied to one another because bacterial cell walls can activate inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor, which can in turn lead to the septic syndrome and inflammatory injury to the lung. Clinical features, more than serum markers, have been the best predictors of whether lung injury will follow sepsis, indicating that the mere presence of mediators alone cannot cause ARDS and that there are individual susceptibility factors in the effects of these mediators. With the advent of monoclonal antibodies and new anti-inflammatory drugs, prevention of progression from sepsis to multiorgan failure may become possible. Pneumonia is the most common infection that complicates ARDS once it is established, and the mortality rate may approach 90%. The existence of acute lung injury, its predisposing conditions, coexisting illnesses, and the therapeutic interventions used for patients with lung injury all can interfere with lung host defenses and set the stage for bacterial infection of the already-injured lung. This infection appears to add to the propagation of the multiple system organ failure that has already begun. In the future, it may become possible to prevent this infection, which would be a welcome development, because currently, we are stymied in our efforts to diagnose and treat pneumonia in the setting of acute lung injury. Preventive efforts will follow from an understanding of the pathogenesis of pneumonia and in the future may include topical antibiotics, selective digestive decontamination, and prophylactic passive immunotherapy.
Tumor growth in mouse allogeneic chimeras and antitumor effects of donor lymphocyte infusion

Aim:To observe the tumor growth in mice treated by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation(allo-BMT) 2～3 weeks before tumor challenge.To find the proper donor lymphocyte infusion(DLI) time in eliciting strong graft-versus-tumor(GVT) reaction,and observe the incidence of graft-versus-host disease(GVHD).Methods:BALB/c(H-2d) and C57BL/6(H-2b) mice were irradiated with 137Cs twice a day with the total dose of 11 Gy, and received 1×107 C57BL/6(H-2b) or BALB/c(H-2d) bone marrow cells 24 hours after BMT.The mice were challenged with 1×106 MethA tumor cells 21 days after irradiation.The tumor growth in autologous BMT mice and allogeneic chimeras was observsed. In another experiment C57BL/6→BALB/c chimera was challenged with 1×106 MethA tumor cells 2 weeks after BMT, 3×106 C57BL/6 spleen cells were injected 6 days before,on the same day or 2 days after MethA challenge to observe the antitumor effects and the incidence of GVHD.Results:MethA tumor grew similarly in both C57BL/6→BALB/c and BALB/c→C57BL/6 chimeras.All C57BL/6 and their autologus BMT mice rejected MethA tumor totally in 2 to 3 weeks. In C57BL/6→BALB/c chimeras, MethA tumor grew significantly slowly when donor lymphocyte infusion(DLI) was given 6 days before or on same day of tumor challenge. The GVHD was common and severe in these two groups, and 2 mice died of GVHD in each group. But DLI did not evoke obvious antitumor effects when it was given 2 days after tumor challenge and only 1 mouse had mild GVHD. Conclusions: MethA tumor grows similarly in both C57BL/6→BALB/c and BALB/c→C57BL/6 chimeras. GVT effects evoked by DLI is associated with loaded tumor size and GVT is dependent on GVHD.
Auranofin inactivates Trichomonas vaginalis thioredoxin reductase and is effective against trichomonads in vitro and in vivo

Abstract Trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis , is the most common, non-viral, sexually transmitted infection in the world, but only two closely related nitro drugs are approved for its treatment. New antimicrobials against trichomoniasis remain an urgent need. Several organic gold compounds were tested for activity against T. vaginalis thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) in cell-free systems as well as for activity against different trichomonads in vitro and in a murine infection model. The organic gold(I) compounds auranofin and chloro(diethylphenylphosphine)gold(I) inhibited TrxR in a concentration-dependent manner in assays with recombinant purified reductase and in cytoplasmic extracts of T. vaginalis transfected with a haemagglutinin epitope-tagged form of the reductase. Auranofin potently suppressed the growth of three independent clinical T. vaginalis isolates as well as several strains of another trichomonad ( Tritrichomonas foetus ) in a 24 h-assay, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 0.7–2.5 µM and minimum lethal concentrations of 2–6 µM. The drug also compromised the ability of the parasite to overcome oxidant stress, supporting the notion that auranofin acts, in part, by inactivating TrxR-dependent antioxidant defences. Chloro(diethylphenylphosphine)gold(I) was 10-fold less effective against T. vaginalis in vitro than auranofin. Oral administration of auranofin for 4 days cleared the parasites in a murine model of vaginal T. foetus infection without displaying any apparent adverse effects. The approved human drug auranofin may be a promising agent as an alternative treatment of trichomoniasis in cases when standard nitro drug therapies have failed.
MHC Disparity, Dose of Irradiation and T Cells in the Graft Determine the Persistence of Residual Host DCs, Mostly Skin-Derived Langerhans Cells (LCs) That Are Targets of DLI-Mediated Alloresponse.

Host antigen presenting cells (APCs), particularly DCs have a critical role in mediating allogeneic T-cell responses, however, the mechanisms that influence the donor DC reconstitution and persistence of residual host APCs after alloBMT are not characterized. We hypothesize that MHC disparity, pre-transplant conditioning and donor T cells directly influence donor DC reconstitution and amount of residual host DCs after alloBMT. To determine the role of major and minor histocompatibility antigens, syngeneic, B6Ly5.2 (H2 b , CD45.1 + ) → C57BL/6 (H2 b , CD45.2 + ), MHC-matched B6Ly5.2 (H2 b , CD45.1 + ) → C3H.SW (H2 b , CD45.2 + ) and MHC-mismatched C57BL/6 (H2 b ) → BALB/c (H2 d ) chimeras were constructed after lethal TBI (900 cGy) and transplantation of 1 x 10 7 bone marrow (BM) cells from corresponding donors. Six weeks later DC chimerism was determined in the spleen and subcutaneous axilary lymph nodes (LNs) based on the differential expression of CD45 marker. In all three sets of chimeras full reconstitution with donor-derived CD11c + DCs was found in the spleen but significant amount of residual host DCs was found in the subcutaneous LNs of syngeneic ( ≈ 15%) and MHC-matched ( ≈ 10%) but not MHC-mismatched chimeras ( 7 donor T cells. Presence of donor T cells in the graft clearly decreased the minimal dose of TBI required for engraftment of MHC-matched marrow from 700 to 500 cGy (p
Family influences on the development of aggression and violence

Recent research confirms that many of the most salient risk and protective factors for the development of aggression and violence reside in the family system. Family-based risks begin before birth, encompassing genetic and epigenetic processes. Contextual stressors (e.g., poverty, conflict) may impact development directly or indirectly through disrupted parenting behavior, including high negativity, low warmth, harshness, and exposure to violence. The family can also serve as a powerful adaptive system counteracting the risk of aggression and violence. Parents can promote healthy behavioral development through warmth, structure, and prosocial values, as well as by fostering adaptive resources in the child and community. Successful interventions often reduce aggression and violence by supporting parents and families. Recent insights and future directions for research and practice are discussed.
The signaling effects of incremental information: Evidence from stacked US Food and Drug Administration designations

Abstract The US Food and Drug Administration offers multiple designations for drugs under development, such as the fast-track designation (for drugs that treat serious conditions with unmet medical need) and the orphan drug designation (for drugs that treat rare diseases). In this study, we look at whether a stacked designation (a fast-track designation with a prior orphan designation) provides stronger positive signaling effects to investors than an unstacked designation (a fast-track alone). We examine differences in average cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) following “stacked” and “unstacked” announcements using daily stock data for individual firms and the S&P 500 Composite Index for the period of 1998–2015. Results show a substantial decline in average CARs over the study period for both stacked and unstacked designations. We hypothesize that this decline could be caused by the increased availability of information caused by the growth of the internet over the study period: as more information is more readily available, the value of each piece of incremental information may decrease. We also find evidence of substantially larger average CARs for small firms than large firms for both stacked and unstacked designations. We believe that this evidence supports the conclusion that there is a strong “dilution effect” for incremental information, as large pharmaceutical firms make more frequent announcements than smaller firms.
Conceptualizing Fear in the Disaster Context

Conceptualizing Fear in the Disaster Context. Disaster sociologists claim that while those impacted by disaster experience the emotion of fear, they nevertheless act in rational and prosocial ways. Criminologists’ examination of fear centers largely on how fear of victimization drives behavior. In this chapter, we attempt to bring the criminological perspective to understanding fear and how it can drive behavior in disaster. In so doing, we link the concepts of fear and social concern in facilitating prosocial behavior, and we explore how fearlessness might facilitate antisocial behavior. We also examine the social construction of fear and the role of rumor in producing both fear and behavior in disaster settings. We contend that in some circumstances, fear may facilitate a normative breakdown that permits antisocial behavior.
Real time visualization of the differential contribution of medullary thymic epithelial cells versus dendritic cells to central tolerance in the thymus (HEM7P.233)

Tolerance for tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) is established through interactions of thymocytes with medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in the thymic medulla, though their relative contributions remain unclear. Previous studies using genetic models to impair antigen presentation by mTECs or DCs showed that either subset could contribute to negative selection; however, because interactions between thymocytes and stromal cells are necessary for maintenance of a differentiated stromal compartment, results from these models may not reflect physiologic contributions of mTECs or DCs. Thus, we adopted a two-photon fluorescence microscopy approach to directly quantify interactions between thymocytes and mTECs or DCs at the outset of negative selection in an intact thymic environment. We find that both mTECs and DCs activate TCR signaling in CD8+ and CD4+ thymocytes in the context of secreted and membrane-bound forms of a negatively selecting TRA. mTECs account for more selection than DCs, regardless of the TRA form, and their contribution is greatest with a membrane-bound TRA. Strikingly, while interactions with mTECs and DCs account for all antigen-driven signaling of CD8+ thymocytes, our data suggest other cells also present TRAs to CD4+ thymocytes. Altogether, we find that mTECs make the most significant contribution to negative selection against Aire-driven TRAs, though DCs also contribute in the context of a physiologic thymic microenvironment.
Understanding the relationship among motivation to attend, satisfaction, and loyalty of medical convention attendees

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study is to examine the relationship among convention attendance, satisfaction, and loyalty of medical convention attendees. The data were compiled after a major medical conference held in Las Vegas in 2015. A total of 1,091 completed surveys were evaluated using structural analysis. The study indicated that attendee's motivation for attendance was significantly different than other studies that utilized different target markets. It was found that motivation impacted satisfaction which in turn influenced desire to attend future conventions. This study also provides discussions and implications for convention research and industry practices.
Guidelines vs Actual Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in the Emergency Department.

Background Infections of skin and soft tissue (SSTI) commonly cause visits to hospital emergency departments (EDs). The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has published guidelines for the management of SSTI, but it is unclear how closely these guidelines are followed in practice. Methods We reviewed records of patients seen in the ED at a large tertiary care hospital to determine guidelines adherence in 4 important areas: the decision to hospitalize, choice of antibiotics, incision and drainage (ID this practice is supported by some medical literature. Excess antibiotics were often used in cellulitis and after I&D of simple abscesses, opposing antibiotic stewardship. Ongoing education of ED doctors and continued review of published guidelines are needed.
A comparison of two surveillance strategies for selected birth defects in Florida.

Objective We linked data from two independent birth defects surveillance systems with different case-finding methods in an overlapping geographic area to assess Florida's suveillance of birth defects (e.g., neural tube defects, orofacial clefts, gastroschisis/omphalocele, and chromosomal defects), focusing on sensitivity and completeness of ascertainment measures. Methods Live-born infants identified from each system born during 2003-2006 in a nine-county catchment area with specific birth defects were linked to birth certificates. Using the enhanced surveillance system as a gold standard, we calculated the sensitivity of the Florida Birth Defects Registry (FBDR) for identifying infants. Next, we used capture-recapture models to estimate the completeness of case ascertainment and the prevalence of each birth defect in the catchment area. We used multivariable logistic regression models with backward elimination to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for factors significantly associated with the FBDR's failure to capture infants ultimately identified by enhanced surveillance. Results The FBDR's sensitivity was 89.3%, and the overall completeness of ascertainment was estimated as 86.6%. Defect-specific sensitivity and completeness of ascertainment varied significantly by defect. The combined defect-specific sensitivity for all malformations under study was 86.6%; completeness of ascertainment ranged from 45.6% for anencephaly to 88.6% for Down syndrome, 87.9% for spina bifida without anencephaly, and 87.0% for orofacial clefts. Conclusions For the defects under study, the FBDR captured nearly nine of every 10 infants born with selected birth defects. However, the FBDR's ability to identify specific defects was both more limited and defect dependent with widely varying defect-specific sensitivities.
Modifications to the Hierarchical Normal Linear Model

All the modifications discussed in this Chapter have to do with relaxing the assumption of normality. The first two cover specific distribution choices—lognormal and Poisson. In all cases the normal distribution is retained for the second level. This can usually be accomplished by careful parametrization of the first level parameters. The third modification presented is a general method for dealing with non-normal distributions.
MINLP Optimization Using Simplicial Approximation Method for Classes of Non-Convex Problems

Significant advances have been made in the last two decades for the effective solution of Mixed Integer Non-Linear Programming (MINLP) problems, mainly by exploiting the special structure of the problem that results under certain convexity assumptions. A number of decomposition based algorithms have been developed based on the concepts of projection, outer approximation and relaxation. For the case of non-convex MINLPs a number of deterministic global optimization algorithms have been introduced mainly based on branch and bound strategies. In this paper we present a novel decomposition algorithm to solve MINLP problems under the assumptions that the objective function is convex, the set of equality and inequality constraints are either convex, concave or quasi-concave functions and are continuous and once differentiable. The proposed approach is based on the idea of closely approximating the feasible region defined by the set of constraints by a convex polytope using the simplicial approximation approach. Convergence of the algorithm along with a number of computational examples are presented illustrating the applicability and efficiency of the proposed approach.
The illness experience of an undocumented immigrant in the USA.

Approximately 11 million people living and working in the USA do so without documentation. This group represents a disenfranchised minority with adverse experiences and unique comorbidities that faces significant obstacles to receiving healthcare, including fear of deportation, language barriers, financial barriers and difficulty navigating an inconsistent and fragmented system. Healthcare is therefore often sought once symptoms have become critical, which can lead to more severe disease processes and multiple new diagnoses at presentation even in previously healthy patients. Here we present the case of a previously healthy 32-year-old undocumented immigrant who presented to a South Florida hospital with abdominal pain, diarrhoea and leg pain. He was diagnosed with both diabetes mellitus and chronic myelogenous leukaemia after a prolonged 20-day hospital stay. Culturally sensitive providers and dedicated staff play a major role in connecting patients to outpatient care after an acute illness, which most often occurs at charity clinics.
Rubidium D1 and D2 far wing line shapes induced by rare gases

Abstract The far wing absorption cross-sections for the rubidium D1 (5 2S1/2–5 2P1/2) and D2 (5 2S1/2–5 2P3/2) transitions are observed at 10,000 Torr of 4He, 3He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe with alkali densities of 3.3 × 1011 to 3.7 × 1015 molecules per cm3. Blue satellites are observed for the D2 transition, with shifts ranging from 782 cm−1 for helium to 319 cm−1 for Xe. The shifts vary inversely with product polarizability and the cross-section at the peak increases linearly with polarizablity. A red satellite is observed for the Xe broadened D1 line at 796.5 nm, consistent with a difference potential with well of 83 cm−1. The scaling of the cross-section with buffer gas pressure in the far wing suggest multi-body interactions contribute to these high pressure line shapes.
The Wests: Decline Management and Geopolitics

ABSTRACTThe ebbing power of the United States signals the end of the period in which a series of “Wests” have created, globalized, and dominated an international order. Each “West” has had its own ...
In response to: "Changing nomogram risk zone classification with serial testing after acute acetaminophen overdose: a retrospective database analysis"

To the editorWe read with interest the manuscript by Mutsaers et al. [1] regarding changing the acetaminophen (APAP) nomogram risk zone classification and would like to highlight some potential imp...
Signaling pathways and inhibitors of cells from patients with kaposiform lymphangiomatosis.

Background Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis (KLA) is a rare lymphatic anomaly with significant morbidity and mortality. KLA is characterized by diffuse multifocal lesions comprised of focal areas of "kaposiform" spindled cells accompanying malformed lymphatic channels. The goal of this study was to identify activated signaling pathways in cells isolated from three KLA patients for the purpose of testing new therapies. Procedure Cells were obtained from the lungs of one patient isolated at autopsy and the spleen of two patients removed in surgery due to disease complications. A protein kinase array was performed on the KLA cell lysates and normal lymphatic endothelial cells. Results Higher activation of key signaling pathways in the KLA cells, including PRAS40, AKT1/2/3, and ERK-1/2, was identified by protein kinase array and confirmed by Western blot analysis. This indicated a role for highly activated PI3K-AKT and MAPK-ERK-1/2 signaling pathways in KLA cells. Cell proliferation studies assessed PI3K inhibitors (LY294002; BYL719), AKT inhibitor ARQ092, mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, and MAPK inhibitor U0126. These studies demonstrated that PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MAPK signaling are important mediators of KLA cell proliferation. BYL719 and rapamycin were more effective at inhibiting KLA cell proliferation than U0126. Conclusions Our studies using cells from KLA patient lesions demonstrate that these cells are highly proliferative and the PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MAPK pathways are promising therapeutic targets. Development and clinical trials of PI3K, AKT, and MAPK inhibitors for cancer treatment and the data in this study lend support for early clinical trials assessing the efficacy of these inhibitors in KLA patients.
An implicit formulation of the elasto-plastic self-consistent polycrystal plasticity model and its implementation in implicit finite elements

Abstract Elasto-plastic self-consistent (EPSC) polycrystal plasticity theory has been used extensively in understanding and predicting anisotropic thermo-mechanical response and underlying microstructure evolution of polycrystalline metals. This paper describes the first implicit formulation of the EPSC model and its implementation in implicit finite elements. To this end, a suitably defined system of non-linear equations at the single crystal level and that at the polycrystal level homogenizing the single crystal solutions in terms of the rotation-neutralized increments in Cauchy stress and strain are formulated and numerically solved. The implicit EPSC model is first validated using the original explicit EPSC model. Subsequently, the implicit EPSC model is coupled with implicit finite elements (FE) through the use of the user material subroutine in Abaqus. To facilitate the efficient coupling, a stress update algorithm is developed and the consistent tangent stiffness operator is analytically derived. Here, every FE integration point embeds the implicit EPSC constitutive law taking into account microstructure evolution and the directionality of deformation mechanisms acting at the single crystal level. The multi-level FE-EPSC model is benchmarked using the single crystal data for copper and then applied to simulate drawing of a cup from an AA6022-T4 sheet. The implementation and insights from these predictions are presented and discussed in this paper.
True grit: Passion and persistence make an innovative course design work

Our first two experiments on adapting a high-structure course model to an essentially open-enrollment university produced negative or null results. Our third experiment, however, proved more successful: performance improved for all students, and a large achievement gap that impacted underrepresented minority students under traditional lecturing closed. Although the successful design included preclass preparation videos, intensive active learning in class, and weekly practice exams, student self-report data indicated that total study time decreased. Faculty who have the grit to experiment and persevere in making evidence-driven changes to their teaching can reduce the inequalities induced by economic and educational disadvantage.
Predicting vehicle occupant postures using statistical models

Abstract Digital human model simulation (DHMS) is widely used for evaluating vehicle designs in a virtual environment. However, to conduct accurate evaluations of vehicles using DHMS, a digital human needs to be realistically positioned. In the real world, drivers and passengers with a wide range of body sizes sit differently because of anthropometric differences as well as preference unrelated to body size and shape. In addition, driver and passenger postures are affected by vehicle and seat dimensions. To explain those various factors affecting a driving posture, statistical models were developed for predicting driver and passenger postures by incorporating anthropometric and vehicle dimensions, as well as seat configurations. This chapter introduces the statistical model approach and provides examples of driver and passenger posture predictions.
Phosphatase activity of Drosophila salivary glands.

The phosphatases in the cytoplasm and nuclei of Drosophila salivary glands are better preserved by fixation in absolute acetone than in 85 per cent, alcohol. In whole glands there is relatively little extraction of the enzyme during assay. Phosphatase activity is more resistant to incubation at neutrality than at pH 8.6, but in this material there is sufficient residual enzymatic activity to permit redetermination of alkaline, neutral, or acid phosphatase activity by staining methods after an initial quantitative determination. The state of the membranes of the gland affects the penetration of the substrate sufficiently to limit the activities obtained.
A pilot study of intratumoral SD-101 (toll-like receptor 9 agonist), nivolumab, and radiotherapy for treatment of chemotherapy-refractory metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

TPS782Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related death. A majority of patients have advanced disease on diagnosis. Com...
Chapter 10 – Attractors with dueling symmetry

Publisher Summary Attractors arising from the iteration of functions in the plane that are designed to have symmetry have been the subject of recent study. These attractors can be forced to have n-fold rotational symmetry and reflections can be forced or avoided. Examples of attractors with forced symmetry in three and higher dimensions have been constructed in this chapter. The chapter describes the creation of attractors in three spaces that are forced to have different symmetries in different regions. These attractors are then projected to the plane using a semi-inverted central projection that results in placing the attractor inside an annulus––where one edge of the attractor has one symmetry type and the other edge has a different symmetry type. Two functions of the plane having distinct symmetries are intertwined using a sinew function to create a function of three variables having different symmetries in different regions of space. The attractor resulting from the iteration of this function can be visualized using a nonlinear semi-inverted projection to the plane. This projection makes the dueling symmetries of the attractor apparent. Schemes similar to genetic algorithms can be used to search parameter space for interesting examples of attractors with these dueling symmetries.
Bidirectional Associations Between Inflammatory Biomarkers and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: Potential Causal Relationships

There are inconsistent findings in the literature about the directionality and magnitude of the association between inflammation and depressive symptoms. This analysis separates predictors into between-person and within-person components to gain greater clarity about this relationship. Blood samples were collected and depressive symptoms assessed in 140 adolescents (54% female, 59% Black, Mage = 16.1 years) with at least three blood draws and a total of 394 follow-up observations. Multi-level modeling indicated that the within-person effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) predicted change in total depressive symptoms, suggesting a potential causal relationship. There were no significant within-person effects of total depressive symptoms on change in biomarkers. Exploratory analyses examined associations between inflammatory biomarkers and subsets of depressive symptoms. These findings inform modeling decisions that may explain inconsistencies in the extant literature as well as suggest potential causal relationships between certain proteins with significant within-person effects on depressive symptoms, and vice-versa.
Photo Quiz: A Farm Worker with Cavitary Pneumonia.

A 51-year-old Spanish-speaking female with a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension presented to the emergency department with dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, night sweats, and fever. She noted 10 years of intermittent cough, productive of clear phlegm, that had worsened over the past year.