cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The pathogenicity of Endamoeba histolytica

Abstract The variations in the clinical picture of infections with E. histolytica appear to depend first upon variations in the resistance of individual hosts and secondly upon variations in the pathogenic activity of different strains of the amoeba. Both of these factors can be demonstrated experimentally in kittens if a large enough number of animals is used and if uniform conditions of experiment are employed. There is evidence that strains of a similar degree of pathogenic activity predominate in certain population groups where conditions favour the limitation of these strains to the groups concerned and the exclusion of other strains. Travel and the development of cosmopolitan populations tend to introduce other strains which may possess a different degree of pathogenicity. The pathogenic index of a given strain seems to be a fairly stable condition in the strains we have studied from this point of view. Prolonged cultivation in artificial media has not decreased the pathogenic index. Attempts to raise the pathogenic index have so far not been successful, although further attempts are necessary before conclusions can be drawn. In medical practice, however, any strain of E. histolytica should be considered dangerous and should be eradicated by treatment.
Recursive algorithms in computer science courses: Fibonacci numbers and binomial coefficients

We observe that the computational inefficiency of branched recursive functions was not appropriately covered in almost all textbooks for computer science courses in the first three years of the curriculum. Fibonacci numbers and binomial coefficients were frequently used as examples of branched recursive functions. However, their exponential time complexity was rarely claimed and never completely proved in the textbooks. Alternative linear time iterative solutions were rarely mentioned. We give very simple proofs that these recursive functions have exponential time complexity. The proofs are appropriate for coverage in the first computer science course.
Ionic effects on silica optical fiber strength and models for fatigue

ABSTRACTThe strength and fatigue behavior of bulk fused silica is well understood in terms of the growth of microcracks under thecombined influence of stress and environmental attack. The behavior of high strength, flaw free silica optical fiber showssignificant differences from the bulk material for poorly understood reasons making long term predictions unreliable. It isknown that silica fiber strength and fatigue are sensitive to such environmental parameters as temperature, humidity andpH. However, this paper presents results which also show a sensitivity to ionic species in the environment. These resultsare interpreted in terms of possible models for the fiber behavior. 1. INFRODUCTIONIn most ceramic materials and, in particular, in oxide glasses, failure can occur after prolonged application of a constantstress which is significantly lower than the stress required to cause catastrophic failure on a short time scale. This phenomenon, called fatigue or delayed failure, can determine the long term reliability of ceramic components. A complete
Infant Motor Development

Piek JP. Champaign, IL 61825, Human Kinetics, 2006, hardcover, 323 pp, illus, ISBN: 0-7360-0226-X, $65. This book reviews infant motor development, and the author highlights the empirical and theoretical progress that has been made since the early 1990s. The author begins with an exploration of the gestational period, then focuses primarily on the first year of life, given its importance in life span development. The aim of the text is to combine theory with application. Consistent with this goal, the author explores the concept of motor control in infancy, reviewing the influence of current research on intervention practices. The book is intended for an interdisciplinary audience, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, and psychologists. It is intended to be used as a textbook for graduate students as well as a reference book for practitioners …
Slider/disk separation at rest

The separation between a slider and a disk at rest is an important factor to be considered in the design of rigid disk drives. It provides designers with useful information about low safe flying height, maximum achievable areal density, and stiction performance. In this paper, we present an approach to estimate this separation. In contrast to approaches seen in the literature, this model takes into account the geometry of the contacting surfaces, e.g. slider crown, instead of assuming they are nominally flat. With this, the slider/disk separation can be better estimated for a given applied load. In addition to the separation, other useful information can also be obtained, such as the maximum contact pressure. >
Sleep tight, keep the oxygen right

The search for clinical and laboratory findings that predict the severity of sickle cell disease has been, in some ways, overly successful. Studies have associated future adverse events with unusually severe anemia, low fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels, high white cell counts, and early complications.
Silver Migration Model for Ag-Au-Pd Conductors

An acceleration model is presented for insulation failure between biased adjacent lands of a ternary Ag-Au-Pd alloy conductor paste on alumina substrates. The failure mechanism consists of silver diffusing in the form of tree-like dendrites through borosilicate glass overlays. Accelerated life test results, maximum likelihood estimation techniques, multiple linear regression analysis, and a previously proposed physical chemical model were used to derive the acceleration model. The activation energy of "dry" silver migration which was estimated to be 1.09 ±0.16 eV was in good agreement with previous studies of this Phenomenon.A comparison of reliability is made between this ternary alloy and a binary Ag-Pd alloy. The comparison shows the enhanced reliability of the ternary alloy, which may be due to the presence of gold in its formulation.
Excitation of instability waves in a two-dimensional shear layer by sound

The excitation of instability waves in a plane compressible shear layer by sound waves is studied. The problem is formulated mathematically as an inhomogeneous boundary-value problem. A general solution for abitrary incident sound wave is found by first constructing the Green's function of the problem. Numerical values of the coupling constants between incident sound waves and excited instability waves for a range of flow Mach number are calculated. The effect of the angle of incidence in the case of a beam of acoustic waves is analyzed. It is found that for moderate subsonic Mach numbers a narrow beam aiming at an angle between 50 to 80 deg to the flow direction is most effective in exciting instability waves.
A canonical ensemble analysis of interconnect-limited systems

The author presents a new analysis of the maximum entropy model used for calculating the statistical properties of computer systems optimized using the simulated annealing algorithm. Here a canonical ensemble of equivalent systems is introduced, which naturally relates the annealing temperature of the software to the effective temperature of the system being annealed. It is proposed that a modified canonical ensemble may be appropriate for the design of optimized neural network architectures. A power-law ensemble is proposed which will incorporate both wire length optimization and geometrical constraints into a single unified model of computer construction. >
PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation.

Background & Aims: KPV is a tripeptide (Lys-Pro-Val), which possesses anti-inflammatory properties; however, its mechanisms of action still remain unknown. PepT1 is a di/tripeptide transporter normally expressed in the small intestine and induced in colon during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to 1) investigate whether the KPV anti-inflammatory effect is PepT1-mediated in intestinal epithelian and immune cells, and 2) examine the anti-inflammatory effects in two models of mice colitis. Methods: Human intestinal epithelial cells Caco2-BBE, HT29-Cl.19A, and human T cells (Jurkat) were stimulated with pro-inflammatory cytokines in the present or absence of KPV. KPV anti-inflammatory effect was assessed using a NF-κB luciferase gene reporter, Western blot, real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. Uptake experiments were performed using cold KPV as a competitor for PepT1 radiolabelled substrate or using [3H]KPV to determine kinetic characteristics of KPV uptake. Anti-inflammatory effect of KPV was also investigated in DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis in mice. KPV was added to drinking water and inflammation was assessed at the histologic level and by proinflammatory cytokine mRNA expression. Results: Nanomolar concentrations of KPV inhibit the activation of NF-κB and MAP kinase inflammatory signaling pathways, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. We found that KPV acts via PepT1 expressed in immune and intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, oral administration of KPV reduces the incidence of DSS- and TNBS-induced colitis indicated by a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Conclusions: This study indicates tht KPV is transported into cells by PepT1 and might be a new therapeutic agent for IBD.
An effective method for combating malicious scripts clickbots

Online advertising has been suffering serious click fraud problem. Fraudulent publishers can generate false clicks using malicious scripts embedded in their web pages. Even widely-used security techniques like iframe cannot prevent such attack. In this paper, we propose a framework and associated methodologies to automatically and quickly detect and filter false clicks generated by malicious scripts. We propose to create an impression-click identifier which is able to link corresponding impressions and clicks together with a predefined lifetime. The impression-click identifiers are stored in a special data structure and can be later validated upon a click is received. The framework has the nice features of constant-time inserting and querying, low false positive rate and low quantifiable false negative rate. From our experimental evaluation on a primitive PC machine, our approach can achieve a false negative rate 0.00008 using 120MB memory and average inserting and querying time is 3 and 1 microseconds, respectively.
A class of adaptive algorithms based on ML for non-Gaussian linear filtering

Linear filtering has been extensively studied under the assumption that the noise is Gaussian. The most commonly used least-mean-square-error (LMSE) solution is optimal when the noise is Gaussian. However, in many practical applications, the noise can be modeled more accurately using a non-Gaussian distribution. In this paper, we consider the linear filtering problem where the noise comes from a generalized Gaussian distribution (GGD) and solve the problem using maximum likelihood (ML) estimation. To estimate the likelihood, we consider two approaches. One uses explicitly the GGD form that leads to an adaptive filtering algorithm same as the least mean p-norm (LMP) algorithm [1]. Second approach uses a semi-parametric model where the entropy of the noise is estimated using entropy bound minimization (EBM), a flexible approach to density estimation. We derive the Cramer-Rao lower bound for the ML-LMP estimators by using a second-order Taylor series expansion of the likelihood function. Simulation results show that when the noise comes from a GGD, ML-LMP achieves the best performance, while EBM provides very competitive performance and offers the advantage that it does not assume a certain parametric model for the noise.
Genetic Effects of a Persistent Bottleneck on a Natural Population of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)

Human activities in the past few hundred years have caused enormous impacts on many ecosystems, greatly accelerating the rate of population decline and extinction. In addition to habitat alteration and destruction, the loss of genetic diversity due to reduced population size has become a major conservation issue for many imperiled species. However, the genetic effects of persistent population bottlenecks can be very different for long-lived and short-lived species when considering the time scale of centuries. To investigate the genetic effects of persistent population bottlenecks on long-lived species, we use microsatellite markers to assess the level of genetic diversity of a small ornate box turtle population that has experienced a persistent bottleneck in the past century, and compare it to a large relatively undisturbed population. The genetic signature of a recent bottleneck is detected by examining the deviation from mutation-drift equilibrium in the small population, but the bottleneck had little effect on its level of genetic diversity. Computer simulations combined with information on population structure suggest that an effective population size of 300, which results in a census population size of 700, would be required for the small population to maintain 90% of the average number of alleles per locus in the next 200 years. The life history of long-lived species could mask the accelerated rate of genetic drift, making population recovery a relatively slow process. Statistical analysis of genetic data and empirical-based computer simulations can be important tools to facilitate conservation planning.
Living in the Material World: Cosmopolitanism and trade in early twentieth century Ladakh

The historical trading communities of early twentieth century Ladakh, in northern India, interacted with multiple cultures through both travel and the flow of trade goods. Using a neo-pragmatic philosophical framework, I will argue that this community—largely rural and commonly thought of as isolated—was, in fact, cosmopolitan. The traders' interactions with specific commodities prompted them to traverse cultural boundaries and engage with new ideas. This view of cosmopolitanism suggests that, while particular economic, political or social contexts may be part of the settings in which both individuals and communities are engaged in cosmopolitan processes, contexts do not define the cosmopolitan.
Knowledge and Action: Making the Link:

The often documented failures to use information in planning and policy can be attributed in part to the influence of the positivist view of knowledge on planning practice. This has encouraged plan...
Adenosine stimulation of AMP deaminase activity in adult rat cardiac myocytes

Using an in situ assay for analyzing AMP deaminase activity in isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes, we have shown that IMP production is stimulated approximately twofold in cardiac cells incubated with 10 microM adenosine. This effect of adenosine was not blocked by the adenosine A1-receptor antagonist 8-cyclophenyl-1,3-dipropylaxanthine (0.01-1 microM) except at a concentration (100 microM) that may inhibit adenosine transport. Similarly, in situ AMP deaminase activity was not enhanced by treatment with the specific adenosine A1-receptor agonists N6-phenylisopropyl adenosine or cyclopentyladenosine, nor was it sensitive to prior treatment of cells with pertussis toxin. The nucleoside transport blockers S-4-nitrobenzyl-6-thioinosine, dipyridamole, and papaverine inhibited adenosine-induced increases in IMP production by 75-85%, suggesting an intracellular site of action. Modulation of enzyme activity via the transmethylation pathway could not be implicated since incubation of cardiac cells under conditions known to elevate intracellular S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine had no demonstrable effect on AMP deaminase. Furthermore, a direct allosteric effect of adenosine on the partially purified rat cardiac enzyme was not observed. The results indicate that intracellular adenosine modulates rat cardiac AMP deaminase by an unknown mechanism.
Vilazodone for cannabis dependence: A randomized, controlled pilot trial.

Background and Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vilazodone, a selective serotonin receptor inhibitor and partial 5-HT1A agonist, for treatment of cannabis dependence. Methods Seventy-six cannabis-dependent adults were randomized to receive either up to 40 mg/day of vilazodone (n = 41) or placebo (n = 35) for 8 weeks combined with a brief motivational enhancement therapy intervention and contingency management to encourage study retention. Cannabis use outcomes were assessed via weekly urine cannabinoid tests; secondary outcomes included cannabis use self-report and cannabis craving. Results Participants in both groups reported reduced self-reported cannabis use over the course of the study; however, vilazodone provided no advantage over placebo in reducing cannabis use. Men had significantly lower creatinine-adjusted cannabinoid levels and a trend for increased negative urine cannabinoid tests than women. Discussion and Conclusions Vilazodone was not more efficacious than placebo in reducing cannabis use. Important gender differences were noted, with women having worse cannabis use outcomes than men. Scientific Significance Further medication development efforts for cannabis use disorders are needed, and gender should be considered as an important variable in future trials. (Am J Addict 2016;25:69–75)
Dynamic Elasto-Plastic Response of Rigid Frames

The procedure for determining the elastic response of structures to transient loads in terms of the elastic normal modes is well known. Assuming ideal plasticity, Bleich and Salvadori recently proposed a method for obtaining the response beyond the elastic range in terms of elasto-plastic normal modes. They applied the method to free-free beams acted on by impulsive loads. In this paper, the method of Bleich and Salvadori is applied in general to two hinged and fixed rigid frames acted upon by a time dependent concentrated force at the knee and in particular to a two hinged frame (for which the elastic normal modes are known) and a linearly decaying forcing function.
A Modest Defense of Politically Engaged Best Practices: The Case of Legislative Strengthening

Critics of donor-funded democracy promotion claim that these programs are frequently designed to reproduce social and governmental models drawn from developed countries and imposed on the recipient country without regard to local conditions, with experts parachuted in to provide guidance based on international “best practices.” The critique focuses on first-generation development with a neutral, technical focus, whereas democracy promotion has evolved toward a more politically engaged approach to programming—what we label as second-generation and, more recently, third-generation development practices. We apply this distinction to the area of legislative strengthening (LS) by describing its history from the post–World War II period to the present and provide examples of LS projects to support the argument. The challenge is to combine valuable insights from best practices from decades of experience while adapting them through political engagement with local partners and with bilateral donors.
Debt Matters: The Firms Optimization Problem With Financial Distress

We argue that firms in financial distress face real costs associated with financial restructuring, in addition to the agency costs identified elsewhere in the literature. Distress costs arise from the presence of debt in the firms financial structure. Because firms facing uncertain demand will act to minimize expected distress costs even when not near the point of defaulting on debts, the prospect of facing distress costs has implications for the optimization problem of every firm. Our model shows that distress costs have a nonlinear effect on the value function of the firm. This effect may make the firm risk averse or risk seeking, depending on the magnitude of expected distress costs, with very different implications for its output decisions. Our results bridge a gap between the emphasis of economists on risk aversion induced by financial distress and the view of legal scholars that financial distress induces risk-seeking behavior.
Effect of plant maturity on oviposition and nymphal mortality of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Adults and eggs of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), the sweetpotato whitefly, are commonly found on head lettuce in the fall in the southwestern United States. In the laboratory, 40 adults deposited >300 eggs per plant on young (three-leaf stage) lettuce and cotton which was 50 cm tall. On more mature (>25-leaf stage) heads of lettuce, they deposited <20. On mature heads of lettuce, first instars of B. tabaci experienced 100% mortality. On young lettuce, 42% of the first instars became viable second instars and 2% of the original egg population survived to adulthood. On cotton, 63% of the first instars survived, and 19% of the original population reached adulthood. Mortality on mature lettuce was not caused by the inability of crawlers to penetrate the phloem tissue with their mouthparts. Eight out of 10 of the first instars penetrated the phloem tissue of both young and old lettuce, and 7 out of 10 penetrated the phloem tissue of cotton, suggesting that nymphal mortality on mature lettuce plants is related to nutrition.
Infrared Absorption Spectra of the CO2/H2O Complex in a Cryogenic Nitrogen Matrix—Detection of a New Bending Frequency

Infrared absorption spectra have been measured for the mixture of CO(2) and H(2)O in a cryogenic nitrogen matrix. The 1:1 CO(2)/H(2)O complex has been observed. Each structure of this complex should have two bending frequencies corresponding to the CO(2) fundamental bending mode (ν(2)). In this work, three bending frequencies corresponding to the CO(2) fundamental bending mode (ν(2)) have been detected; one of them at 660.3 cm(-1) is reported here for the first time. This finding helps confirm the existence of two structures for this complex. A new feature attributed to a CO(2) and H(2)O complex is observed at 3604.4 cm(-1) and is tentatively assigned to the CO(2)/H(2)O complex band corresponding to the CO(2) combination mode (ν(3) + 2ν(2)). In addition, a band that belongs to a CO(2) and H(2)O complex is detected at 3623.8 cm(-1) for the first time and is tentatively assigned to the (CO(2))(2)/H(2)O complex band corresponding to the symmetric stretching mode (ν(1)) of H(2)O.
SOURCE MECHANISM OF THE TSUNAMI OP MARCH 28, 1964 IN ALASKA

The distribution of permanent, vertical crustal dislocations, the times and directions of early water motion in and around the generation area, and the unusual low frequency character of the tsunami record obtained from Wake Island, all suggest that the tsunami associated with the great Alaskan earthquake of March 28, 1964 was produced by a dipolar movement of the earth's crust, centered along a line running from Hinchinbrook Island (Prince William Sound) southwesterly to the Trinity Islands. The positive pole of this disturbance encompassed most of the shallow shelf bordering the Gulf of Alaska, while the negative pole lay mostly under land. Thus, the early effect was the drainage of water from the shelf into the Gulf, thus generating a long solitary wave, which radiated out over the Pacific with very little dispersion. Tilting of Prince William Sound to the northwest produced strong seiching action in the deep, narrow adjacent fjords, thus inundating inhabited places already suffering from earth shock and slumping of the deltas on which they were situated. Preliminary calculations indicate that the initial positive phase of the tsunami contained about 2.3 x 102lergs of energy, as compared with 2.7 x 1022ergs computed for the tsunami of March 9, 1957 in the Andreanof Islands.
Development of Nanostructured Metal Oxides Prepared by Electrospinning

Electrospinning is considered to be the most simple and effective method,which converts the polymer solutions or melts into micro/nano structural materials in strong electric field.Solid,hollow,porous and other nanostructured metal oxides by the blend spinning or the combination of electrospinning with sol-gel method are fabricated.The recent developments in preparation of nanostructured metal oxides by electrospinning are described.
Invited editorial on "Myogenic satellite cells: physiology to molecular biology".

skeletal muscle research within the last 25 years has exploded with great interest and enthusiasm among many physiologists, molecular biologists, and biochemists. This has occurred because an enhanced physiological function of skeletal muscle improves the overall health status of an individual. In
Sonomicrometry-Based Analysis of Post-Myocardial Infarction Regional Mechanics

Following myocardial infarction (MI), detrimental changes to the geometry, composition, and mechanical properties of the left ventricle (LV) are initiated in a process generally termed adverse post-MI remodeling. Cumulatively, these changes lead to a loss of LV function and are deterministic factors in the progression to heart failure. Proposed therapeutic strategies to target aberrant LV mechanics post-MI have shown potential to stabilize LV functional indices throughout the remodeling process. The in vivo quantification of LV mechanics, particularly within the MI region, is therefore essential to the continued development and evaluation of strategies to interrupt the post-MI remodeling process. The present study utilizes a porcine MI model and in vivo sonomicrometry to characterize MI region stiffness at 14 days post-MI. Obtained results demonstrate a significant dependence of mechanical properties on location and direction within the MI region, as well as cardiac phase. While approaches for comprehensive characterization of LV mechanics post-MI still need to be improved and standardized, our findings provide insight into the issues and complexities that must be considered within the MI region itself.
Controlling diabetes mellitus with diet therapy

The effectiveness of caloric restriction and weight reduction in lowering the blood sugar level in obese diabetics has been rediscovered. The twin goals of attaining and maintaining ideal body weight and normoglycemia can be achieved through diet therapy in about 80% of patients who are intensively educated and continuously monitored by a well informed, highly motivated team of physician, dietitian, and nurse. It appears that chronic insulin therapy should be reserved for hyperglycemic individuals who are pregnant or who are at or below ideal body weight, for persons with juvenile onset diabetes who are obviously insulin-dependent, and for acutely decompensated diabetics.
The Role of Embolization in the Surgical Resection of AVMs

We have found embolization as a pre-operative adjuvant in the treatment of the medium to large AVMs of great benefit.
Influence of the Tip Clearance on a Compressor Blade Aerodynamic Damping

The flutter CFD calculations conducted in industry generally use a single-row, single-passage approach with a minimum of detailing to reduce the computational time as much as possible. The question arises of what level of detailing is necessary for accurate aerodamping predictions. In this study, the influence of tip clearance size on the steady flowfield and aerodynamic damping is assessed for a high-pressure compressor second-stage rotor. The steady analyses are conducted on an isolated blade passage by imposing the experimental boundary conditions at the inlet and outlet of the passage. Two operating points are considered: 74 and 100% corrected speed. It is observed that, at the same pressure ratio, the mass flow decreases with a larger tip gap due to the tip clearance flow rolling into a vortex on the blade suction side. Then, unsteady analyses are conducted by enforcing the first torsion mode shape at the corresponding natural frequency. For all interblade phase angles, the same trend is observed: th...
Can I please keep my number

ABSTRACTA wireless customer for Wonderphone breaks her phone and cancels her current contract using an online customer service chat room. She was falsely informed by the customer service representative that she would be able to keep her wireless phone number if she purchased a new phone. When she goes in-store to purchase a new phone the service rep informs her, “You are not allowed to keep the same phone number.”
High-power thulium lasers on a silicon photonics platform

Mid-infrared laser sources are of great interest for various applications, including light detection and ranging, spectroscopy, communication, trace-gas detection, and medical sensing. Silicon photonics is a promising platform that enables these applications to be integrated on a single chip with low cost and compact size. Silicon-based high-power lasers have been demonstrated at 1.55 μm wavelength, while in the 2 μm region, to the best of our knowledge, high-power, high-efficiency, and monolithic light sources have been minimally investigated. In this Letter, we report on high-power CMOS-compatible thulium-doped distributed feedback and distributed Bragg reflector lasers with single-mode output powers up to 267 and 387 mW, and slope efficiencies of 14% and 23%, respectively. More than 70 dB side-mode suppression ratio is achieved for both lasers. This work extends the applicability of silicon photonic microsystems in the 2 μm region.
Analysis of Peripheral Blood CD4+/CD25high Treg Cells and FOXP3 mRNA Expression in Patients Treated with Ipilimumab (Monoclonal Human Anti-CTLA4, MDX-010) for Relapse of Malignancy Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Transplantation.

CTLA-4 is expressed upon activation of T-cells,and serves as an important negative regulator of their effector function. It is also expressed constitutively on CD4+/CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg), where its function is not clear. Following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT), CTLA-4 function may be involved in suppression of alloreactive T cells that mediate the graft-versus malignancy effect and GVHD. We have studied the administration of a single dose of Ipilimumab (MDX-010), a fully human monoclonal anti-CTLA-4 antibody, in a dose escalation trial in patients with relapse/progression of malignancy following allo-HCT. Here we report effects of ipilimumab on peripheral CD4+/CD25+ cell levels and FOXP3 mRNA expression in these patients. Seventeen patients with a variety of malignancies were enrolled in this study. Ipilimumab was given intravenously at a dose level of 0.1, 0.33, 0.66, 1, and 3mg/kg. The blood samples were obtained prior and after infusion at day 7, 14 and 30. The immunophynotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was analyzed by flow cytometry. CD4+/CD25+ cells from nine patients at day 0, 7, and five normal donors were separated using a Dynal CD4+/CD25+ Treg kit. FOXP3 mRNA expression on CD4+/CD25+ cells were analyzed by a quantitative RT-PCR. Expression level of FOXP3 was normalized to 18S rRNA. Within CD4+ cell population, the percentage of CD4+/CD25 high cells was significantly higher in patients at day 0 (11.6±6.7%, n=17), compared with normal donors (3.8±1.6%, n=12; P high Treg cells in 17 patients after infusion. However, there was a transient 55±24% decrease of CD4+/CD25 high Treg cells in 6 patients at day 7. FOXP3 mRNA expression in CD4+/CD25+ cells was significantly higher in patients at day 0 (2451±1731, n=9) compared with normal donors (918±348, n=5; P high cells, or the FOXP3 mRNA expression. We did not observe a correlation of CD4+/CD25 high Treg cells and FOXP3 mRNA expression in patients who had a clinical response or immune breakthrough adverse events in response to ipilimumab. These data suggest that in-vivo CTLA-4 blockade does not consistently impact the number of CD4+ CD25 high Treg cells and that the clinical effects observed are probably related to the effects of ipilimumab upon activated effector T-cells.
Pooling of monoclonal antibodies for the rapid detection of commercially important finfish

Abstract Fish are a valuable source of high-quality proteins, beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids, and lipid-soluble vitamins in the human diet, but they also make up one of the “big eight” allergenic foods that are responsible for >90% of food allergy cases. A reliable and cost-effective analytical method is thus needed to detect fish protein in foods to protect fish-allergic individuals. Although immunoassays have been developed to detect many food allergens, there is no effective immunoassay capable of recognizing all common food fish species on the market. The selectivities of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 8F5, 2G9 and 2F3, known to exhibit anti-finfish activity against cooked crude fish protein extract from red snapper, yellow fin tuna and swordfish, respectively, were each tested for 63 commercially important fish species using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (iELISA). Based on the results, none of the mAbs showed cross-reactivity with all fish species tested; the cross reactivity patterns of these 3 mAbs complemented each other and none cross reacted with any non-fish samples. Pooling these mAbs (1:1:1) in an iELISA successfully detected a wide spectrum of commercially important fish species, including those subjected to various processing conditions. This pooled mAbs based iELISA exhibited high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility, suggesting its potential utility as a qualitative assay for the regulatory enforcement of the food laws that protect fish sensitive consumers.
Identification and Characterization of Microsatellite Loci in the Tuliptree, Liriodendron tulipifera (Magnoliaceae)

Premise of the study: Twenty-three polymorphic microsatellite loci (simple sequence repeats) were identified and characterized for Liriodendron tulipifera (Magnoliaceae), a species native to eastern North America, to investigate its genetic diversity, population structure, and mating system. Methods and Results: Using Illumina HiSeq paired-end reads from genomic DNA, searches for repeat motifs identified approximately 280,000 potentially amplifiable loci. Of 77 loci tested, 51 amplified consistently. When genotyped using 30 to 52 total adult trees from three old-growth populations in Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey, USA, 23 loci were polymorphic. These loci exhibited four to 13 alleles, and observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.233 to 0.865 and 0.272 to 0.876, respectively. Conclusions: The microsatellite marker loci presented here will be valuable in population genetic studies of L. tulipifera because they do not suffer from ascertainment bias and show high polymorphism.
Amine Aerosol Characterization by Phase Doppler Interferometry

Abstract Preventing emission of gaseous and aerosol pollutants is a crucial function of CO2 capture systems using aqueous amine solvents. Aerosols, not volatility or entrainment, constitute the largest source of amine loss. This effort presents a means of understanding the dynamics of high-density aerosol fields in gas-liquid contacting devices by developing an in situ particle analysis technique called Phase Doppler Interferometry (PDI). Particle size distributions (PSDs) and total particle densities were measured and compared directly to hot-gas Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) on bench- and pilot-scale apparatuses for two amine systems: piperazine (PZ) and monoethanolamine (MEA). A post-processing algorithm integrated PSDs (between 0.1 to 12 μm) and used the total particle density (up to 107 part./cm3) to calculate the total mass of aerosol liquid per unit volume of gas (total phase concentration). Assuming a constant amine concentration in the aerosol liquid by sampling day, the integrated PDI data matched FTIR measurements within 40%. Unit operation changes are clearly visible in the average aerosol diameter and total density. The total particle density and the average diameter were found to be inversely related in pilot plant sampling; the condensable mass is constant in the gas phase.
Semi-Synthetic Trauma Resuscitation Process Data Generator

Process mining techniques have been applied to the visualization, interpretation, and analysis of medical processes. However, only a very limited amount of process data necessary for these analyses is publicly available, especially in the medical field because of patients' privacy. This limits novel medical process research to using insufficiently large or randomly-generated synthetic datasets. Our goal in this study is to train a model (using a limited amount of observed process data) that can generate large amounts of semi-synthetic process data. This generated data has characteristics similar to those of real-world process data, and could potentially be observed in reality.
Schizophrenia: family studies and treatment of spectrum disorders.

A substantial part of the contribution of genetic studies to the treatment of schizophrenia involves its emphasis on reliable and valid diagnoses. One consequence of this focus is the recognition that schizophrenic illness is broader than the diagnostic entity of schizophrenia itself, and instead consists of a “spectrum” of related disorders. Because some of the symptoms in these disorders differ from each other, they provide an opportunity to determine which ones reflect a common etiology. To the extent that such symptoms are identifiable, they may provide a foundation for treatment and even prevention strategies. In this paper, we focus on a clinical condition - “schizotaxia” - that may reflect the liability for schizophrenia. To characterize the nature and extent of this proposed syndrome, we will review results from family studies in our laboratory, and consider conceptual foundations and criteria for assessment. A more general consideration of treatment strategies for schizophrenia spectrum disorders follows, along with suggestions for future research. Our initial attempts to treat and validate schizotaxia are encouraging, and raise the possibility that early treatment might eventually prevent or attenuate the development of other, more severe disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum, including schizophrenia itself.
Strong light-matter interaction in Van der Waals materials (Conference Presentation)

In this talk we will discuss our recent work on strong light-matter coupling of excitons in two-dimensional Van der Waals materials [1, 2]. Formation of microcavity exciton-polaritons at room temperature in these materials and their valley polarization properties will be discussed. Prospects for electrical control and the nonlinear optical properties of the polariton states will also be addressed. Finally, we will also discuss the formation of room-temperature quantum emitters via strain engineering in these materials. [1] Strong light-matter coupling in two-dimensional atomic crystals, X. Liu, et al., Nature Photonics 9, 30 (2015) [2] Optical control of room temperature valley polaritons, Z. Sun, et al., Nature Photonics 11, 491 (2017).
Postoperative urinary retention after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

Abstract Background Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has an incidence of 2%-30%. POUR can lead to increased length of stay, decreased patient satisfaction, and increased health-care costs. The objective of this study was to determine the patient risk factors at our institution contributing to POUR after laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent a laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair at our institution from 2009 to 2016. POUR is defined as the inability to urinate requiring urinary straight or indwelling catheterization in the postoperative period. Univariate analyses were performed on perioperative variables and their correlation with POUR. Results In total, 578 laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair patients were included in the study: 277 (48%) indirect, 144 (25%) direct, 6 (1%) femoral, and 151 (26%) combination of direct, indirect, and/or femoral hernias. Of these, 292 (51%) were bilateral, and 286 (49%) were unilateral. Overall, 64 (11.1%) of the 578 patients developed POUR. POUR was significantly associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, age 60 y or older, urinary tract infection within 30 d, and decreased body mass index. Conclusions Patients aged greater than 60 y, with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and a decreased body mass index (≤25.8 kg/m2) were more likely to develop POUR after laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair. In addition, these patients were more likely to develop a urinary tract infection within 30 d. Future quality initiatives can be explored to minimize the incidence of POUR in high-risk patient populations.
Network Verification: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities

Formal verification of computer networks has become a reality in recent years, with the emergence of a large number of domain-specific property-checking tools. Although early tools were limited to stateless data planes, recent work has shown how to handle richer models including stateful middleboxes and distributed control planes. This talk will survey recent progress in the area, highlighting the key technical challenges that remain and discussing opportunities related to security.
Reagan and the Waning Years of Uruguay’s Military Rule: Democracy Promotion and the Redefinition of Human Rights

This chapter examines the Reagan administration’s human rights policy towards Uruguay during his first term. Despite public disavowals that human rights would be a guiding force within his administration, Reagan was unable to ignore the concept. Instead of completely reversing Carter’s injection of human rights concerns into American diplomacy though, Reagan’s policies redefined the concept from focusing on individual liberties such as political imprisonment and torture—the main tools of the Uruguayan dictatorship—and oriented his policy towards human rights as democracy promotion (understood in a simplistic sense as voting). Although this meant narrowly redefining human rights in a way that many activists found unacceptable, this case explains how human rights had become part of the foreign policy bureaucracy no matter who the executive was.
Boosted Spin Channel Networks for Energy-Efficient Inference

Computational scaling beyond silicon electronics based on Moore’s law requires the adoption of alternate state variables such as electronic spin. Multiple research efforts are underway exploring both Boolean and non-Boolean design space using spin devices in order to make their energy and delay benefits competitive to CMOS. In this paper, we propose spin channel networks (SCN), where the exponential decay property of spin current along the spin channel is exploited to achieve energy-efficient dot product implementation for inference applications. As the use of exponentially decaying spin current for analog computation enforces severe locality constraints, we employ adaptive boosting to design an ensemble of tiny SCNs that work in unison to solve any binary classification task. Such boosted SCNs achieve up to $112\times $ and $14\times $ higher energy efficiency over conventional all-spin-logic-based and 20-nm CMOS designs, respectively.
Understanding Trip Happiness using Smartphone-Based Data: The Effects of Trip- and Person-Level Characteristics

Understanding trip happiness—a measurement of people’s emotional well-being during trips—is an essential aspect of people-oriented transportation planning. We use data collected via smartphones from 350 residents in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region to examine trip- and person-level factors associated with trip happiness. Trip mode, purpose, duration, distance, companionship, activities during the trip, and temporal characteristics of the trip are significantly associated with trip happiness. Mode and companionship are the strongest predictors of trip happiness. Among personal factors, age is the strongest predictor, followed by general happiness of the person. Race, gender, and neighborhood have modest effects on trip happiness.
Clinical trial dilemmas and cerebrovascular disease.

The death rate due to stroke in the United States and other countries has declined substantially in the past forty years.1, 2 This decline has been accentuated since the introduction of specific antihypertensive therapy. The decrease has been noted in many countries, and apparently is a combination of not completely understood lifestyle factors, which have impinged on the prevalence and type of hypertensive disease and risk of stroke and the efficacy of the treatment of hypertensive disease.
Child Neurology: Genetically determined dystonias with childhood onset.

A previously healthy 10-year-old girl of Croatian descent presented to the pediatric neurology clinic with an abnormal gait. She first noted symptoms 1.5 years prior to presentation, which included flexion–inversion posturing of her left foot while playing soccer. She would drag her left foot, leading to excessive falling. Her family noted that she did not seem to have much difficulty ambulating at the beginning of the day and they did not notice any abnormal posturing of the foot when she woke up in the morning. However, by the evening, they noted her left foot, and occasionally her right foot, would develop a flexion–inversion posture. Her symptoms seemed to be worse when she was tired or after activity. She had previously been evaluated by 2 orthopedic surgeons and a pediatric neurologist and was most recently seen in an emergency department for this problem, with no diagnosis being provided. Workup included a normal lumbar spine MRI and X-rays of both legs.
“Yes, and … *” continuing the scholarly conversation about student precarity in higher education

You’ll see here the cost of tuition, room, and board here. We take pride in being a university that works very hard to address all unmet need for the cost of attendance here. We do not want money t...
Seawall as salmon habitat: Eco-engineering improves the distribution and foraging of juvenile Pacific salmon

Abstract Urban nearshore ecosystems are built environments that differ structurally and functionally from the natural ecosystems they replace. Eco-engineering offers the ability to enhance these ecosystems by reducing the impacts of shoreline modification. Recent studies have linked shoreline armoring and pier shade—common features of modified shorelines—to lower foraging rates, altered distribution patterns, and increased predation risk for juvenile salmon. The 2017 replacement of the Elliott Bay seawall in Seattle, WA, USA incorporated novel eco-engineering design elements, including glass light penetrating surfaces (LPS) in overwater structures, an elevated seafloor, and textured substrates in the seawall face to enhance nearshore habitat for juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) migrating from natal streams to the ocean. To examine the effectiveness of seawall eco-engineering, we used snorkel surveys to assess changes in juvenile salmon spatial distribution and foraging patterns during peak outmigration (March–August), and measured ambient light penetration before and after seawall replacement. Overall, we found that juvenile salmon were distributed more evenly across a spatial mosaic of habitats following eco-engineering. LPS enhanced ambient light penetration in nearshore under-pier habitats, and juvenile salmon use of these habitats increased concurrently. Salmon densities under piers tended to be greatest at low tides, indicating that light availability may mediate selective habitat use. Feeding rates at sites immediately adjacent to the seawall increased both between and under piers following habitat enhancement. Our findings suggest that the elevated light levels facilitated by LPS, in concert with physical enhancements that provided more complex shallow water habitat, temper the negative effects of pier shade and shoreline armoring on juvenile salmon.