cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Co-Stimulatory Blockade in the Treatment of Murine Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Although the life span of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has improved considerably over the last several decades, the toxicities of chronic immunosuppressive therapy are major causes of morbidity and mortality. Safer and more effective therapies for SLE are clearly needed. SLE is characterized by excessive activation of both B and T lymphocytes. Activation of these cells requires both antigen engagement and co-stimulatory signals from interacting lymphocytes (Carreno, B.M. M. Collins, 2002, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 20: 29-53; Grewal, I.S. R.A. Flavell, 1998, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16: 111-135). Thus, blockade of co-stimulatory signals offers a new therapeutic approach to SLE. Our short-term goal has been to understand the effect of co-stimulatory blocking reagents on the development, selection, and activation of pathogenic anti-dsDNA antibody producing B cells in mice genetically pre-determined to develop SLE and showing signs of either early or advanced disease activity. Our long-term goal is to use the knowledge we gain to design therapeutic regimens for humans that avoid the complications of long-term immunosuppression. As new co-stimulatory molecules are discovered, studying their mechanism of action in animal models and their clinical utility in human autoimmune disease should lead both to a new understanding of disease pathogenesis and also to safer and more effective therapies.
Heparin binding VEGF isoforms attenuate hyperoxic embryonic lung growth retardation via a FLK1-neuropilin-1-PKC dependent pathway

Background Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that hyperoxia suppressed the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by the embryonic lung, leading to increased epithelial cell apoptosis and failure of explant airway growth and branching that was rescued by the addition of Vegf165. The aims of this study were to determine protective pathways by which VEGF isoforms attenuate hyperoxic lung growth retardation and to identify the target cell for VEGF action.
Seeds of Eriocaulaceae of the United States and Canada

Abstract A study of seed coat micromorphology, using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, revealed characters of taxonomic significance and utility among the species of Eriocaulaceae of the United States and Canada. Our survey of nine native species of Eriocaulon, five Lachnocaulon, and one Syngonanthus revealed diversity in the shape and size of the cells of the seed coat, the degree and pattern of ornamentation, and appendage shape. In the context of world Eriocaulaceae, the species of the United States and Canada exhibit no morphologies that are unique.
Towards a Distributed, Service-Oriented Control Infrastructure for Smart Grid

Smart Grid initiatives aim to overlay the existing power grid infrastructure with a communication and computation infrastructure to enable integration of renewable resources and increased efficiency and reliability of the electric power grid. This requires substantial changes to the existing centralized control architecture as well as the development of drastically more powerful communication and computation infrastructure. In this paper, we describe the elements required for implementation of a "Prosumer" based distributed control architecture for smart grid. We illustrate the operation of this distributed control architecture through the case study of a Demand Response application. We propose a Hard Real Time enabled, Web Services based computing infrastructure that can support the development as well as the operation of this distributed control architecture. Main components of this computing infrastructure are a Generic Real Time API (Generic RT-API) for platform independence, a Rule based Configurable API Translator, a Hard Real Time Web Services (HRT-WS) Engine and the ability to receive XML based configuration/control instructions remotely. We describe the status of our prototype implementation for this computing infrastructure using LXRT/RTAI based Hard Real Time Linux environment.
Prevalence and Correlates of Poor Self-Rated Health in the United States: The National Elder Mistreatment Study

Objectives: Despite its subjective nature, self-report of health status is strongly correlated with long-term physical morbidity and mortality. Among the most reliable predictors of self-reported poor health is older age. In younger adult populations, the second reliable predictor of reported poor health is the experience of domestic and other interpersonal violence. However, very little research exits on the connection between elder mistreatment and self-reports of poor health. The aim of this study was to examine the level of, and correlates for, poor self-rated health in a community sample of older adults with particular emphasis on elder mistreatment history, demographics, and social dependency variables. Design: Random digit dialing telephone survey methodology. Setting: A national representative phone survey of noninstitutionalized U.S. household population. Participants: Five thousand seven hundred seventy-seven U.S. adults, aged 60 years and older. Measurements: Individuals participated in a structured interview assessing elder mistreatment history, demographics, and social dependency variables. Results: Poor self-rated health was endorsed by 22.3% of the sample. Final multivariable logistic regression models showed that poor self-rated health was associated with unemployment, marital status, low income, low social support, use of social services, needing help in activities of daily living, and being bothered by emotional problems. Secondary analyses revealed a mediational role of emotional symptoms in the association between physical maltreatment and poor health. Conclusions: Results suggest that poor health is common among older adults. This study also identified correlates of poor health that may be useful in identification of those in need of intervention.
A large outbreak of Clostridium difficile-associated disease with an unexpected proportion of deaths and colectomies at a teaching hospital following increased fluoroquinolone use.

Background and Objective:Fluoroquinolones have not been frequently implicated as a cause of Clostridium difficile outbreaks. Nosocomial C. difficile infections increased from 2.7 to 6.8 cases per 1,000 discharges (P < .001). During the first 2 years of the outbreak, there were 253 nosocomial C. difficile infections; of these, 26 resulted in colectomy and 18 resulted in death. We conducted an investigation of a large C. difficile outbreak in our hospital to identify risk factors and characterize the outbreak.Methods:A retrospective case-control study of case-patients with C. difficile infection from January 2000 through April 2001 and control-patients matched by date of hospital admission, type of medical service, and length of stay; an analysis of inpatient antibiotic use; and antibiotic susceptibility testing and molecular subtyping of isolates were performed.Results:On logistic regression analysis, clindamycin (odds ratio [OR], 4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 1.9-12.0), ceftriaxone (OR, 5.4; CI95, 1.8-15.8), and levofloxacin (OR, 2.0; CI95, 1.2-3.3) were independently associated with infection. The etiologic fractions for these three agents were 10.0%, 6.7%, and 30.8%, respectively. Fluoroquinolone use increased before the onset of the outbreak (P < .001); 59% of case-patients and 41% of control-patients had received this antibiotic class. The outbreak was polyclonal, although 52% of isolates belonged to two highly related molecular subtypes.Conclusions:Exposure to levofloxacin was an independent risk factor for C. difficile-associated diarrhea and appeared to contribute substantially to the outbreak. Restricted use of levofloxacin and the other implicated antibiotics may be required to control the outbreak.
Decreasing Patient Identification Band Errors by Standardizing Processes

Objective: Patient identification (ID) bands are an essential component in patient ID. Quality improvement methodology has been applied as a model to reduce ID band errors although previous studies have not addressed standardization of ID bands. Our specific aim was to decrease ID band errors by 50% in a 12-month period. Methods: The Six Sigma DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) quality improvement model was the framework for this study. ID bands at a tertiary care pediatric hospital were audited from January 2011 to January 2012 with continued audits to June 2012 to confirm the new process was in control. After analysis, the major improvement strategy implemented was standardization of styles of ID bands and labels. Additional interventions included educational initiatives regarding the new ID band processes and disseminating institutional and nursing unit data. Results: A total of 4556 ID bands were audited with a preimprovement ID band error average rate of 9.2%. Significant variation in the ID band process was observed, including styles of ID bands. Interventions were focused on standardization of the ID band and labels. The ID band error rate improved to 5.2% in 9 months (95% confidence interval: 2.5–5.5; P Conclusions: Standardization of ID bands and labels in conjunction with other interventions resulted in a statistical decrease in ID band error rates. This decrease in ID band error rates was maintained over the subsequent 8 months.
ENRICHMENT OF HOME‐PREPARED TORTIILLAS MADE FROM GERMINATED CORN

The RNV as determined with Tetrahymena pyriformis of corn meal made from nongerminated corn increased from 65% to 95% for corn meal made from germinated corn. The lysine and tryptophan contents (measured microbiologically) of corn meal made from nongerminated corn were 23 mg/gN and 3 mg/gN, respectively; but increased to 68 mg/gN and 26 mg/gN after germination. With laboratory panels, there was no difference in mean scores for color, texture and flavor of tortillas made with lime-treated corn and tortillas made with a 5O:SO mixture of lime-treated corn and germinated corn. The mean scores for tenderness in the tortillas were significantly lower in tortillas made from the 50:50 mixture when compared to the tortillas made from lime-treated corn. Results of consumer panels indicated that the tortillas made from lime-treated corn were preferred over tortillas made from a 50:50 mixture of lime-treated and germinated corn. The RNV of tortillas made from lime-treated corn was 69% whereas the tortillas made with a 50:50 mixture was 76%.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Various Digit Span Scores in the Detection of Suspect Effort

Digit Span Age-Corrected Scaled Score (ACSS) and Reliable Digit Span (RDS) have been suggested as effective in assessing credibility. The purpose of this study was to confirm the efficacy of suggested cutoffs for ACSS and RDS and to explore the utility of other Digit Span variables in a large sample (N = 66) of "real-world" > or = suspect effort patients versus clinic patients with no motive to feign (N = 56) and controls (N = 32). With specificity at > or = 90%, sensitivity of ACSS increased from 32% to 42% when a 1.0 second. A criterion of ACSS < or = 5 or RDS < or = 6 was associated with 51% sensitivity (91% specificity) while RDS < or = 6 or longest string with at least one item correct < or = 4 was associated with 54% sensitivity (88% specificity). While only moderately sensitive, Digit Span scores, including new time variables, may have a unique and effective role in the detection of suspect effort.
Targeting T Cell Costimulation to Prevent Atherothrombosis

Inflammation plays a key role in atherogenesis and precipitation of atherothrombosis. Immune cells, including macrophages and T cells, infiltrate the affected vascular wall, and inflammation drives build-up of atherosclerotic plaques.1–3 This concept of immune activation in atherosclerosis has become accepted, but specific therapy directed at inflammatory mechanisms is yet lacking.4 T cell activation regulated by costimulatory molecules plays an important role in experimental atherogenesis.5 Mounting evidence show that CD4+CD28null T cells have unique capabilities that potentially promote plaque vulnerability and atherothrombosis. In this issue of Circulation Research , Dimitriu et al identify alternative costimulatory molecules that regulate CD4+CD28null T cells and associate this mechanism with the process of plaque rupture.6 Article, see p 857 To understand the implications of these novel findings, it is useful to consider that CD4+CD28null T cells, T cells deficient in the key costimulatory molecule CD28, have a distinctly different phenotype than do their CD4+CD28+ T helper cell counterparts. CD4+CD28null T cells produce cytotoxic agents that can destroy vascular endothelial cells7 and release large amounts of IFN-γ, a cytokine that robustly stimulates activity of inflammatory macrophages and promotes development of atherosclerosis.2 They are highly resistant to apoptosis and accumulate gradually throughout life.8 In addition, CD4+CD28null T cells from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients express a killer immunoglobulin-like receptor-variant that can elicit activation and degranulation without antigen recognition by the T cell receptor, a mechanism that might compromise …
Performance Evaluation of Traditional Caching Policies on a Large System with Petabytes of Data

Caching is widely known to be an effective method for improving I/O performance by storing frequently used data on higher speed storage components. However, most existing studies that focus on caching performance evaluate fairly small files populating a relatively small cache. Few reports are available that detail the performance of traditional cache replacement policies on extremely large caches. Do such traditional caching policies still work effectively when applied to systems with petabytes of data? In this paper, we comprehensively evaluate the performance of several cache policies, which include First-In-First-Out (FIFO), Least Recently Used (LRU) and Least Frequently Used (LFU), on the global satellite imagery distribution application maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science Center (EROS). Evidence is presented suggesting traditional caching policies are capable of providing performance gains when applied to large data sets as with smaller data sets. Our evaluation is based on approximately three million real-world satellite images download requests representing global user download behavior since October 2008.
Self-calibration of a camera from video of a walking human

Analysis of human activity from a video camera is simplified by the knowledge of the camera's intrinsic and extrinsic parameters. We describe a technique to estimate such parameters from image observations without requiring measurements of scene objects. We first develop a general technique for calibration using vanishing points and vanishing line. We then describe a method for estimating the needed points and line by observing the motion of a human in the scene. Experimental results, including error estimates, are presented.
Typhus and its control in Russia, 1870-1940.

Jusqu'en 1940, le typhus a fait un ravage dans la population russe. La presente etude epidemiologique en dresse un tableau lie au contexte social du pays de 1870 a 1940
A general method for manipulating DNA sequences from any organism with optical tweezers

Mechanical manipulation of single DNA molecules can provide novel information about DNA properties and protein-DNA interactions. Here we describe and characterize a useful method for manipulating desired DNA sequences from any organism with optical tweezers. Molecules are produced from either genomic or cloned DNA by PCR using labeled primers and are tethered between two optically trapped microspheres. We demonstrate that human, insect, plant, bacterial and viral sequences ranging from approximately 10 to 40 kilobasepairs can be manipulated. Force-extension measurements show that these constructs exhibit uniform elastic properties in accord with the expected contour lengths for the targeted sequences. Detailed protocols for preparing and manipulating these molecules are presented, and tethering efficiency is characterized as a function of DNA concentration, ionic strength and pH. Attachment strength is characterized by measuring the unbinding time as a function of applied force. An alternative stronger attachment method using an amino-carboxyl linkage, which allows for reliable DNA overstretching, is also described.
Further Approach Toward Control of Spontaneous Cancer of Mammary Gland in Mice by Heptyl Aldehyde-Sodium Bisulphite

Evidence has been presented that demonstrates quite convincingly that the growth rate and fate of spontaneous carcinoma of the mammary gland in mice may be significantly influenced by heptyl aldehyde.1 The effect of liquefaction (both partial and in some cases complete) together with a slower growth rate and complete disappearance of the tumor mass could be brought about by the introduction into the organism of the drug either by the diet or by subcutaneous injection (at areas remote to the spontaneous tumor). One of the limiting factors in the introduction of the material through the diet is the fact that the resulting mixed food becomes so bitter with the larger effective doses that the normal food habits of the mouse may be interfered with. The greatest limiting factor of the injection technic is that local ulceration is sometimes quite pronounced.In a recent paper, it was pointed out that in order to influence malignancy the heptyl aldehyde must be used fresh. It was found that as soon as the heptyl a...
Further Development and Flight Testing of a Prototype Lunar and Planetary Surface Exploration Hopper: Update on the TALARIS Project

This paper presents an update on the Earth-based hopper prototype for autonomous planetary exploration that MIT and Draper Laboratory are developing as part of the Next Giant Leap team's efforts in the Google Lunar X-Prize. New developments and upgrades, culminating in the second-generation vehicle, are described in this paper, as well as the ongoing test program and experimental results. Recent developments include a redesign of the vehicle structure, an upgrade to the avionics system, the use of an upgraded version of the gravity-offsetting propulsion system (which uses electrically-powered ducted fans) and the incorporation of the secondary spacecraft-emulator propulsion system (which uses compressed nitrogen propellant and cold gas thrusters).
Heritability and Selection Efficiency of Several Measures of Egg Production

Abstract IT HAS been pointed out by Dempster and Lerner (1947) and Lerner and Cruden (1948) that more rapid improvement in egg production would result from the use of pullet breeders rather than yearling hens. This conclusion was based on the fact that while only about two-thirds as much gain per generation would result from selection on number of eggs to the end of December as would be expected if selection were based on the full annual record, the generation interval would be only half as long, so that the actual gain per unit of time would be greater. This philosophy has been supported by Maddison (1954). King and Henderson (1954) have shown that the heritability of survivors egg production can be increased if the effect of the weeks of hatch is removed. The hatch effect can be subdivided into systematic and random components. Systematic effects are defined as those which …
Immune Complexes in Human and Experimental Disease

Immune Complex (IC) formation occurs as a result of the humoral immune reaction between the response-eliciting antigen and its specific antibody molecules. These ICs possess a wide range of biological activities; they can suppress or augment immune responses, inhibit tumor cell destruction, and accumulate in filtering organs (such as the kidney and other sites) and blood vessel walls, where tissue damage may occur as a result of activation of the complement (C) cascade and attraction of neutrophils and macrophages. Normally, however, IC formation protects the host by facilitating clearance of various antigens and invading microorganisms by the phagocytic system. In this chapter, we discuss the biological functions of ICs and the mechanisms of their deposition onto tissues. Subsequently, the experimental models are analyzed, and, finally, the human diseases associated with ICs and the methods for IC demonstration in tissues and biological fluids are summarized.
Mathematical physics: Glitches in time.

A mathematical technique has now been developed that reveals the underlying dynamics of time-dependent data collected with extreme temporal uncertainty, without using additional, costly instrumentation. See Letter p.471 When reconstructing climate histories from ice cores or ultrafast dynamics from X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) experiments, the uncertain time stamps can muddle the sequence of events, making it difficult to recover accurate dynamical information. These authors introduce a data analysis technique, based on nonlinear Laplacian spectral analysis, that circumvents this problem and is capable of extracting dynamical information from noisy data despite the timing uncertainties. They demonstrate reconstruction of few-femtosecond dynamics using XFEL data with 300-femtosecond timing uncertainty. In principle, this approach could be useful in all measurements plagued by time uncertainty, so might find applications from geoscience to gravitational physics.
HPLC determination of penciclovir in human plasma and its pharmacokinetic study

Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of penciclovir in human plasma,and to determine the concentration of penciclovir in human plasma after oral of famciclovir tablets into healthy volunteers within 12 hours.Methods:The penciclovir was extracted from plasma by 6% perchloric acid.Chromatographic separation has been achieved on C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) with 0.4% phosphoric acid-methanol(95∶5)as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min-1;The fluorescence detection at λex=270 nm and λem=375 nm.Results:The linear range was 0.05-5 μg·mL-1(r=0.9999,n=7).The minimum ration limit was 0.05 μg·mL-1.The average recoveries of low,middle and high concentration were (97.80±2.28)%,(96.60±0.37)% and (96.58±0.38)%,RSDs of inter and intra-day precisions were less than 4%.Conclution:The method is simple,rapid,economic and accurate for determination of penciclovir in human plasma.
The effect of prenatal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on infant outcomes in African American women living in low-income environments: A randomized, controlled trial

Abstract Importance African American women living in urban, low-income environments are at high risk for poor nutrition during pregnancy and birth complications. Objective To test the effectiveness of prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on birth outcomes and infant development in a sample of African American women with Medicaid insurance and living in the city of Pittsburgh. Design The Nutrition and Pregnancy Study (NAPS) is a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of prenatal DHA supplementation conducted between 2012 and 2014. Setting Participants were recruited from obstetric clinics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Participants Sixty-four pregnant, African American women were enrolled at 16–21 weeks of gestation and randomized to either 450 mg/day of DHA (22:6n-3)(n = 43) or a soybean placebo (n = 21). Four women (6.3%) withdrew from the study: two participants from each study arm; complete data were obtained for 49 infants (76.5%) at the 3-month assessment. Interventions Supplementation with DHA or placebo continued from the beginning of enrollment through delivery. Main outcome and measures Data on birth outcomes were collected from medical records. At approximately 3 months post-partum, mothers brought their infants to the laboratory where the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III) were administered and cortisol response to the Face-to-Face Still-Face (FFSF) paradigm was assessed. Results Infants of mothers who received DHA supplementation had higher birth weight (3.174 g versus 2.890 g) than infants of mothers receiving placebo ( F [2.40] = 6.09, p = 0.018, eta = 0.36), and were more likely to have a 1-min Apgar score greater than 8 ( OR = 5.99 [95% CI = 1.25–28.75], p = 0.025). Infants of mothers who received DHA compared with infants of mothers receiving placebo had lower levels of cortisol in response to the FFSF paradigm ( F [1.32] = 5.36, p = 0.018, eta = 0.36). None of the scores on the BSID-III differed as a function of active supplement versus placebo. Conclusions Infants of women living in urban, low-income environments who received DHA supplementation had more optimal birth outcomes and more modulated cortisol response to a stressor. DHA supplementation may be effective in attenuating the negative effects of prenatal stress on offspring development.
Speed's Orbit Problem

The paper offers a solution to T. P. Speed?s Orbit Problem, describing the orbit decomposition of direct powers of a transitive finite group action. The solution is given in terms of the Burnside algebra of the group and the right action of an incidence algebra of the subgroup lattice on a module of finitary functions. As a corollary, it is shown that almost all orbits in powers of a faithful action are regular. This gives one possible `GF(1)? version of Burnside?s original theorem that each irreducible complex representation of a finite group appears in a tensor power of a fixed faithful representation.
Anterior wall left ventricular aneurysm repair. A comparison of linear versus circular closure.

To determine the efficacy of ventricular closure techniques, we reviewed our experience with 62 patients who survived the repair of aneurysms of the anterior wall of the left ventricular from 1984 through 1989. Forty of these patients underwent aneurysm repair by standard linear closure and 22 by a circular closure technique. After a mean follow-up interval of 3 years, there were no demonstrable differences in angina class, New York Heart Association functional classification, or survival. In 41 surviving patients, postoperative left ventricular dimensions and function were satisfactorily evaluated by standard echocardiographic measurements. No significant differences were found in postoperative long-axis left ventricular systolic diameter or in short-axis systolic or diastolic areas. There was a significantly larger long-axis diastolic diameter in the circular closure group; however, there was no difference in this parameter when the ratios of postoperative to preoperative lengths were compared. Further intragroup comparisons demonstrated an increase in short-axis areas postoperatively within the circular closure group in contrast to a decrease in patients in the linear closure group; these changes were not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in postoperative ejection fraction between the two closure groups, although minor reductions were found in the circular closure group. These data demonstrate no significant difference between the linear and circular closure techniques with respect to standard echocardiographic parameters, functional classification, and survival. (J T horac C ardiovasc S urg 1992;103:841-8)
Immunreaktionen auf Krebsantigene

Vor wenigen Jahren war die Frage, ob Tumorzellen des Menschen spezifische, Antigene besitzen, noch Gegenstand der Debatte. Heute kann daran kein Zweifel mehr bestehen, und ich mochte Ihnen an Hand einiger Beispiele zeigen, wie sowohl humorale als auch cellulare Immunreaktionen gegenuber Krebszellen nachgewiesen werden konnen und welche Folgerungen bezuglich der Atiologie und der Therapie sich daraus ergeben haben.
“Serving the Spirit of Goodness”: Spiritual and Theological Responses to Affliction in the Writings of St. John of the Cross and Louise Erdrich

Psychology provides a powerful lens for interpreting the destructiveness of traumatic suffering for individuals and society. Religion can complement this discipline by diagnosing and responding to the spiritual maiming caused by trauma. John of the Cross’s “dark night” occurs in the aftermath of torture and imprisonment, providing an account of transformation by divine love which tends to the self-hatred and despair caused by trauma. Louise Erdrich, less sanguine about radical healing, paints a picture of the personal and social effects of the dismemberment of Ojibwe culture even as she imagines, through her character Father Damian, responses that create ways forward. Both writers suggest that unconditional compassion makes available an efficacy that can mitigate some of the most destructive effects of intense suffering.
Psychological proximity to issues of the elderly

Even though the rapid aging of the population is a global phenomenon, reducing negative stereotypes of the elderly and building harmonious relationships between young and old generations have been critical steps to solving ageism issues worldwide. To contribute to these efforts, this paper examined the role of vivid images of people's future self via an age-morphing technology in communication strategies to address the issue of ageism. An online survey with 324 young participants who saw images of the future self was conducted. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the proposed relationships among psychological continuity, group identification, empathy, sympathy, ageism, psychological proximity, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. Results revealed that psychological continuity created through a vivid image of one's future self can lead to group identification with the elderly, influencing one's psychological proximity to issues of the elderly. This relationship is positively mediated by empathy and sympathy, and ageism negatively mediates the relationship. The close feelings to issues relevant to the elderly are likely to elicit a positive attitude toward the efforts of addressing the issues as well as greater participation in relevant social media campaigns for the elderly. The role of age-morphing technology in campaigns related to elderly was examined.Age-morphed images of future self may foster psychological continuity to old self.Psychological continuity to future self helps group identification with elderly.Group identification likely increases empathy, sympathy and reduces ageism.Psychological proximity to elderly's issues likely improves attitude and help-intentions.
Suicidal activism in Siberia: femina and homo sacers of Kara 1889

Focusing on the historical forms activism in the nineteenth-century Russia, this article provides a critical genealogy of vernacular discourses surrounding anti-tsarist female and male activists’ h...
Behavioral Execution Comparison: Are Tests Representative of Field Behavior?

Software testing is the most widely used approach for assessing and improving software quality, but it is inherently incomplete and may not be representative of how the software is used in the field. This paper addresses the questions of to what extent tests represent how real users use software, and how to measure behavioral differences between test and field executions. We study four real-world systems, one used by endusers and three used by other (client) software, and compare test suites written by the systems' developers to field executions using four models of behavior: statement coverage, method coverage, mutation score, and a temporal-invariant-based model we developed. We find that developer-written test suites fail to accurately represent field executions: the tests, on average, miss 6.2% of the statements and 7.7% of the methods exercised in the field, the behavior exercised only in the field kills an extra 8.6% of the mutants, finally, the tests miss 52.6% of the behavioral invariants that occur in the field. In addition, augmenting the in-house test suites with automatically-generated tests by a tool targeting high code coverage only marginally improves the tests' behavioral representativeness. These differences between field and test executions—and in particular the finer-grained and more sophisticated ones that we measured using our invariantbased model—can provide insight for developers and suggest a better method for measuring test suite quality.
ROS in Cancer: The Burning Question

An unanswered question in human health is whether antioxidation prevents or promotes cancer. Antioxidation has historically been viewed as chemopreventive, but emerging evidence suggests that antioxidants may be supportive of neoplasia. We posit this contention to be rooted in the fact that ROS do not operate as one single biochemical entity, but as diverse secondary messengers in cancer cells. This cautions against therapeutic strategies to increase ROS at a global level. To leverage redox alterations towards the development of effective therapies necessitates the application of biophysical and biochemical approaches to define redox dynamics and to functionally elucidate specific oxidative modifications in cancer versus normal cells. An improved understanding of the sophisticated workings of redox biology is imperative to defeating cancer.
Enabling Large-Scale Road Data Acquisition with an Easy-to-Install and Sustainable Setup

In this paper, we propose an easy-to-install and sustainable setup for BigRoad, a system that supports driving and road data acquisition using COTS devices such as smartphones and IMUs. The in-vehicle setup includes energy harvesting modules and a low power motion-based switch to keep the system running for a sufficiently long time without human operations. The device calibration mechanism makes the system independent of vehicle models, steering wheel positions and IMU placements. The system could further leverage infrastructures in the vehicle to design an energy-efficient method for unusual events detection.
A review of coccidiosis in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

Abstract The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is important to the economy of several countries in Asia, and South America and there are also isolated herds in Europe. In India, buffalo is the main dairy animal. Coccidiosis due to Eimeria is an important cause of diarrhea in livestock worldwide. Eimeria species are generally considered host specific. More than 11 Eimeria species are considered common in buffaloes and cattle (Bos taurus, Bos indicus). Of the numerous species of Eimeria in cattle, Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zuernii, Eimeria auburnensis and Eimeria alabamensis are considered pathogenic in cattle, but there is no report of their pathogenicity in naturally infected water buffaloes. Instead, Eimeria bareillyi has been documented to be the main pathogenic species in buffalo; it is not transmissible to cattle. There are many reports of Eimeria infections in water buffaloes, scattered in many local journals, and there are conflicting life cycle data on Eimeria species in buffalo. The objective of this paper is to summarize information on history, validity of Eimeria species, life cycle, pathogenicity, prevalence, epidemiology, diagnosis and control of coccidiosis in buffalo.
Conjugate Basement Rift Zones in Kansas, Midcontinent, USA

The structure of the Precambrian basement of Kansas, Midcontinent USA, is dominated by conjugate NNE and NW trending wrench fault zones. NNE trending faults of the Midcontinent Rift System (MRS) extend from Lake Superior across Kansas and into north-central Oklahoma. The fault zone widens from about 100 km in northeast Kansas to more than 160 km in south-central Kansas in a series of horsetail splays. NNE-trending structures of the MRS are displaced by about 80 km of dextral offset by the NW trending strike-slip fault zone.
ℓ-Step operators for the θ Equation

In the last section, we calculated the matrix elements of the operators, L x , L y , L z . These operators are functions only of θ, φ, and ∂/∂θ, ∂/∂φ.It will also be extremely useful to have the matrix elements of the angular parts of the position vector of the particle, viz. x/r = sin θ cos φ, y/r = sinθ sin φ, and z/r = cos θ. To get these, it would be useful to interchange the role of the quantum numbers l, and m, in the factorization method and derive expressions for ladder operators changing l to l ± 1, keeping m fixed.
Mechanistic Modeling of Salmonellosis

The serious limitation of the available human data contributes to the need for making simplifying assumptions for dose-response modeling which has led to frequent use of a single function, the beta-Poisson function, as a default dose-response model form. This function is a concave, low-dose linear function. Sub-linear or convex curves may be more appropriate for some host-pathogen interactions due to the series of highly regulated innate and acquired defense systems of the healthy human body that protect against most microbial challenges. A systematic investigation of the steps of non-typhoid salmonellosis in humans leads to biological motivations for sub-linear, or non-concave, dose-response curves in microbial risk assessment. Three phenomena were identified that might contribute to sub-linear, or non-concave, dose-response curves: (1) clumping of bacterial cells in microcolonies in a food matrix; (2) quorum sensing, or density-dependency in expression of virulence genes or other metabolic actions; and (3) need, at least in some circumstances, for multiple lesions for progression to symptomatic illness. This investigation suggests that microbial risk assessors should routinely employ a variety of model forms in addition to the commonly used beta-Poisson model to depict more fully the uncertainty of the “true” dose-response model.
Identification of the Thoracic Duct Using Indocyanine Green During Cervical Lymphadenectomy.

Injury to the thoracic duct (TD) is the most common complication after a left lateral neck dissection, and it carries a high degree of morbidity. Currently, no routine diagnostic imaging is used to assist with TD identification intraoperatively. This report describes the first clinical experience with lymphangiography using indocyanine green (ICG) during lateral neck dissections. In six patients undergoing left lateral neck dissection (levels 2–4) for either thyroid cancer or melanoma, 2.5–5 mg of ICG was injected in the dorsum of the left foot 15 min before imaging. Intraoperative imaging was performed with a hand-held near infrared (NIR) camera (Hamamatsu, PDE-Neo, Hamamatsu City, Japan). In five patients, the TD was visualized using NIR fluorescence, with a time of 15–90 min from injection to identification. Imaging was optimized by positioning the camera at the angle of the mandible and pointing into the space below the clavicle. No adverse reactions from the ICG injection occurred, and the time required for imaging was 5–10 min. No intraoperative TD injury was identified, and no chyle leak occurred postoperatively. For the one patient in whom the TD was not identified, it is unclear whether this was related to the timing of the injection or to duct obliteration from a prior dissection. This is the first described application of ICG lymphangiography to identify the thoracic duct during left lateral neck dissection. Identification of TD with ICG is technically feasible, simple to perform with NIR imaging, and safe, making it a potential important adjunct for the surgeon.
Dimensions of sedentary behavior and objective cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors

To examine associations between dimensions of sedentary behavior and cognitive function in breast cancer survivors. Sedentary behavior variables were measured using thigh-worn activPALs, and included total daily sitting time, time in long sitting bouts, sit-to-stand transitions, and standing time. Cognitive function was assessed using the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Domain. Separate multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between sedentary behavior variables with the cognitive domain scores of attention, executive functioning, episodic memory, working memory, and information processing speed. Thirty breast cancer survivors with a mean age of 62.2 (SD = 7.8) years who were 2.6 (SD = 1.1) years since diagnosis completed study assessments. In multivariable linear regression models, more time spent standing was associated with faster information processing (b: 5.78; p = 0.03), and more time spent in long sitting bouts was associated with worse executive function (b: −2.82; p = 0.02), after adjustment for covariates. No other sedentary behavior variables were statistically significantly associated with the cognitive domains examined in this study. Two important sedentary constructs that are amenable to intervention, including time in prolonged sitting bouts and standing time, may be associated with cognitive function in breast cancer survivors. More research is needed to determine whether modifying these dimensions of sedentary behavior will improve cognitive function in women with a history of breast cancer, or prevent it from declining in breast cancer patients.
Social justice, sport and Judaism: a position statement.

Jewish teachings on social justice include the maxim attributed to Hillel the Elder in the Mishnah: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not n...
Confusion about confusion: Édouard Toulouse's dementia test, 1905-20.

Psychiatrist Edouard Toulouse (1865-1947) is known today for his 1896 psychometric study of the novelist Emile Zola, and his contributions to mental hygiene, sexology, eugenics, and labour efficiency in inter-war France. This paper examines research undertaken in Toulouse's Laboratory of Experimental Psychology at the Villejuif asylum near Paris. In 1905, Toulouse created a test that could differentiate between dementia and mental confusion, a test that could aid in the classification of patients at the overcrowded Villejuif facility. By 1920, however, the test's early promise was undercut by unforeseen, 'machinic' resistance that emerged in the experimental process. This case study demonstrates the non-linear nature of scientific practice and limits of even the most innovative asylum reforms in this period.
Alcohol use, psychiatric disorders and gambling behaviors: A multi-sample study testing causal relationships via the co-twin control design.

Abstract Human laboratory studies and twin research investigating relationships between alcohol use/pathology and gambling generally have yielded contradictory results, sometimes suggesting causal relationships and common genetic risk factors. 2860 individuals (mean age: 25.60, s.d = 3.21, 50.62% female) from separate clinical (n = 636) and community based (twin) samples (n = 2224) were used to assess associations between past year alcohol use and frequency of past year gambling behaviors (gambling frequency). After adjustment for demographic and psychiatric covariates, individual-level analyses detected that increased alcohol use was associated with more frequent gambling behaviors in twin and clinical samples. Co-twin control models were then used to test potential causal (direct) relationships between alcohol use and gambling frequency. Controlling for all covariates and shared genetic/environmental factors, we found increased alcohol use directly predicted more frequent gambling behaviors (consistent with causality). Our study also suggests shared genetic and/or environmental risk factors contribute to the association between increased alcohol use and frequent gambling behavior, a finding that may be more pronounced in males. The present study helps bridge the gap between twin research and human laboratory studies on gambling and alcohol use and corroborates findings across community and clinical samples. Overall, our findings support both common risk factors between alcohol use and gambling as well as a direct relationship between alcohol use and gambling frequency. Recognizing these dual processes could prove useful for gambling-related prevention/intervention programs.
Nonthermal concentration of liquid foods by a combination of reverse osmosis and forward osmosis. Acid whey: A case study

Abstract Acid whey from Greek-style yogurt (GAW) has become abundantly available in recent years. Due to its low solids content, low pH, high lactose and mineral content, GAW is challenging to transport and process. In this study, a combination of reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO) was developed for the nonthermal concentration of GAW. Permeate flux, retentate concentration, and specific energy were evaluated for the individual and combination processes. GAW (6.6°Brix) was concentrated to 19.6°Brix by RO (3 × ), then to 40.2°Brix (6 × ) by FO. During the concentration, permeate fluxes dropped from 33.2 L/m2h to 2.6 L/m2h for RO and from 3.6 L/m2h to 1.6 L/m2h for FO. The specific energy consumption was 0.29 kWh/kg water for RO and 0.65 kWh/kg water for FO, from which half pertains to the osmotic agent regeneration. This combination process can become an efficient nonthermal method for concentrating challenging or sensitive liquid foods and beverages.
A contextualized, experiential learning approach to quantitative engineering analysis

This work-in-progress, innovative-practice paper describes the creation and first two iterations of an experimental course which aims to develop a process-focused approach to integrated quantitative engineering analysis in early stage engineering students. The goal of this two-semester course is to improve the confidence and competence of our students in choosing and applying the tools of quantitative analysis to solve practical problems throughout their time in college and beyond, including in other course projects, senior capstone experiences, internships and in their careers. The course is led by an interdisciplinary team of faculty, in a project-based format, including in the presentation of fundamental concepts in mathematics. The course is run studio style, with emphasis placed on the process of engineering, improving students’ self-directed learning skills, and encouraging peer and near-peer learning. Overall, we observed a high level of engagement in the course, with student-chosen final projects that involved significant analysis and self-directed learning of new tools and approaches.
A 54-Year-Old Man with Progressive Lower Limb Weakness and CK Elevation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by Cu/Zn superoxidase dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene mutations is a rare condition that accounts for about 20% of familial ALS (FALS) and up to 7% of sporadic ALS (SALS) cases. It is largely an autosomal dominant disease, which is characterized by progressive limb, bulbar, and respiratory muscle weakness from degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. Although the SOD1 gene test is commercially available, the diagnosis of this disease is still quite challenging, requiring a high clinical suspicion and accurate interpretation of nerve conduction study and electromyogaphy, serum creatine kinase level, and muscle biopsy findings. Muscle biopsy typically shows prominent chronic active denervation with pseudomyopathic changes. Here we describe a patient with FALS caused by an SOD1 gene mutation. He had been misdiagnosed with lumbosacral polyradiculopathy and myopathy for 2 years.
Peer-Referenced Assessment

Peer-referenced assessment strategies are assessment techniques in which a child or adolescent’s social, emotional, or behavioral functioning is assessed by obtaining the perceptions of the child’s peers. One of the most common types of peer-referenced assessment is the sociometric assessment, in which the child’s acceptance in or rejection by his or her peer group is determined. We discuss sociometric techniques in more depth later in this chapter. However, sociometric assessment should not be considered synonymous with peer-referenced assessment. There are many aspects of a child’s adjustment, not just peer social status, that can be usefully assessed through the perceptions of a child’s peers. A sampling of the most common psychological domains suitable for peer-referenced assessment and the different measurement strategies are the focus of this chapter.
Disgust Theory Through the Lens of Psychiatric Medicine

The elicitors of disgust are heterogeneous, which makes attributing one function to disgust challenging. Theorists have proposed that disgust solves multiple adaptive problems and comprises multipl...