cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional MR angiography in imaging platinum alloy stents

Purpose To evaluate visualization inside platinum stents with three-dimensional contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA). Materials and Methods Breath-hold three-dimensional gadolinium (Gd) MRA was performed on 18 patients with 22 platinum stents in the renal (n = 18), celiac (n = 1), superior mesenteric (n = 1), and iliac (n = 2) arteries. Electronic calibers were used to measure the lumen diameter within the stent and just distal to the stent to calculate percent stenosis. MRA accuracy was determined from the difference between percent stenosis measured on MRA and digital subtracted angiography (DSA). The patients were imaged at flip angles of 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, and 150°. Results MRA demonstrated the stent lumen in all of the patients, with a mean difference between MRA and DSA of 21%. For stents oriented parallel to B0 (iliac arteries) the difference was only 10%, as compared to 22% for stents perpendicular to B0. The flip angle with the best agreement between MRA and DSA was 75° (16%). Conclusion The lumen of a platinum stent can be imaged with three-dimensional CE-MRA, although grading of restenosis has limited accuracy. The best results were obtained with a flip angle of 75° and for stents in the iliac arteries parallel to B0. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:975–980. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Adoption timing of new equipment with another innovation anticipated

In dynamic environments, decisions about adopting or replacing new equipment or processes are influenced by the expectation of further innovations in technology. This paper examines the issue of the time at which an equipment (vointage one) currently in use is to be replaced with better equipment (vintage two), in the face of uncertain future availability of even better equipment (vintage three). We present an operational model useful in making adoption timing decisions and then present results that offer interesting insights into the impact of uncertainty and output expansion on the adoption time of vintage two. First, we characterize the optimal adoption time of vintage two in terms of the operating costs of various vintages, switching costs between vintages, and the hazard rate for the time of appearance of vintage three. We indicate the conditions under which it is optimal to follow a "now or never" or a "wait and adopt" policy with respect to adoption of vintage two. Second, it is shown that output expansion need not always spur the adoption of innovations. In fact, under certain conditions, output expansion may delay adoption of vintage two, even though vintage two has a higher operating cost savings per unit fixed cost than vintage three. We indicate how important factors such as benefits of new technologies other than operating cost reductions, learning effects, changes in costs over time, and fixed operating costs can be incorporated in the model.
Application of remotely sensed wind measurements to ocean surface wind analyses

The assimilation and validation of cross-calibrated, multisatellite ocean surface wind data is described. The principal data set covers the global ocean for the twenty-two year period from 1987 through 2009 with six-hour and 25-km resolution. This data set is produced by combining all ocean surface wind speed observations from SSM/I, AMSR-E, and TMI, and all ocean surface wind vector observations from QuikSCAT and SeaWinds. An enhanced variational analysis method (VAM) performs quality control and combines these data with available ship and buoy data and ECMWF analyses. The VAM analyses fit the data used very closely and contain small-scale structures not present in operational analyses. Comparisons with withheld observations are also shown to be very good. These data should be extremely useful to atmospheric and oceanic research, and to air-sea interaction studies.
Representing genetic sequence data for pharmacogenomics: an evolutionary approach using ontological and relational models.

Motivation: The information model chosen to store biological data affects the types of queries possible, database performance, and difficulty in updating that information model. Genetic sequence data for pharmacogenetics studies can be complex, and the best information model to use may change over time. As experimental and analytical methods change, and as biological knowledge advances, the data storage requirements and types of queries needed may also change. Results: We developed a model for genetic sequence and polymorphism data, and used XML Schema to specify the elements and attributes required for this model. We implemented this model as an ontology in a framebased representation and as a relational model in a database system. We collected genetic data from two pharmacogenetics resequencing studies, and formulated queries useful for analysing these data. We compared the ontology and relational models in terms of query complexity, performance, and difficulty in changing the information model. Our results demonstrate benefits of evolving the schema for storing pharmacogenetics data: ontologies perform well in early design stages as the information model changes rapidly and simplify query formulation, while relational models offer improved query speed once the information model and types of queries needed stabilize.
Broadband management of light using nanophotonics for solar and thermal applications

Summary form only given. There is enormous potential for the use of nanophotonics in solar and thermal applications. In this talk, we show that one can use nanophotonic approach to enhance both the voltage and the current of the solar cells. We also show one can use nanophotonics effectively for a number of emerging thermal applications, including both novel approach for radiative cooling in the far field, and active control of heat flow in the near field.
Towards Effective Project Management across Multiple Projects with Distributed Performing Centers

Software service providers develop custom solutions to meet their customers' requirements. Large customers can typically contract out multiple projects to the same vendor which run the projects assigned to them simultaneously. Large providers are increasingly using a distributed/global model for software development (delivery) wherein they can leverage the skills and cost-advantages of different sites to deliver the projects effectively and efficiently, for which project coordination with accurate information is of central importance. In this paper, we highlight the challenges in effective project coordination for a customer across multiple projects with distributed performing centers. This situation is not addressed by current project manage mentor software development tools. The nature of the problem requires standardized metadata, schedule and resource management, and measurements for project monitoring. We propose a framework for global project management and governance to addresses the identified challenges which also takes current project tools into perspective. Our approach extensively leverages historical data gathered on metrics pertaining to different types of work requests.
Phallic Growth After hCG A Clinical Index of Androgen Responsiveness

Clinical and hormonal responses to a standard three-day human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulation test (1,500 IU given intramuscularly for three days) were studied in six neonates with ambiguous genitalia. All patients were eventually determined to be 46,XY genetic males with a microphallus and various other genital abnormalities. None had an enzymatic defect in steroidogenesis or a 5α-reductase deficiency, as determined by standard adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and hCG testing. All patients demonstrated penile growth (0.25 to 0.75 cm) within five days of hCG administration, with four of six patients achieving a normal penile length (>2.0 cm) by 48 hours after the last of three daily hCG injections. Androgen responsiveness suggested by phallic growth may help support a male sex assignment in such infants.
Structural studies of West Nile virus in complex with neutralizing antibodies

West Nile virus (WNV) is a positive strand RNA virus in the family Flaviviridae, which includes members such as dengue, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, yellow fever and Hepatitis C. As with other members of the genus, it is arthropod transmitted and has recently established itself as an endemic virus in the United States. Although most infections are asymptomatic, clinical manifestations of WNV include encephalitis and death. We have been interested in investigating the nature of the immune response with particular emphasis on the role of antibodies in reducing the level of infection. We have used a combination of techniques, but primarily structure, as a tool to probe the nature of antibody-mediated virus neutralization. Our results suggest that neutralization of virus particles is more complex than originally envisioned, with multiple mechanisms utilized. Using a combination of Xray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, several virus-antibody complexes have been determined at pseudo-atomic resolution. These studies suggest the following: 1) flavivirus particles exhibit dynamic motions or breathing that transiently expose cryptic epitopes; 2) although there are 180 potential binding sites for each monoclonal antibody the quasi-equivalent nature of the virion usually permits only a subset of sites to be utilized; 3) the availability of these sites, the epitope itself, and the avidity of antibody directly influence the mechanism of neutralization; and 4) particles thought to be incapable of infecting cells, so-called immature viruses, may play a critical role in immune surveillance and reactivity. The structure of the flavivirus virion and complexes of monoclonal antibodies will be presented along with data to support mechanisms antibody-mediated flavivirus neutralization. from Infectious diseases of the nervous system: pathogenesis and worldwide impact Paris, France. 10–13 September 2008
Web Usage Mining in Noisy and Ambiguous Environments: Exploring the Role of Concept Hierarchies, Compression, and Robust User Profiles

Recent efforts in Web usage mining have started incorporating more semantics into the data in order to obtain a representation deeper than shallow clicks. In this paper, we review these approaches, and examine the incorporation of simple cues from a website hierarchy in order to relate clickstream events that would otherwise seem unrelated, and thus perform URL compression. We study their effect on data reduction and on the quality of the resulting knowledge discovery. Web usage data is also notorious for containing moderate to high amounts of noise, thus motivating the use of robust knowledge discovery algorithms that can resist noise and outliers with various degrees of resistance or robustness. Therefore, we also examine the effect of robustness on the final quality of the knowledge discovery. Our experimental results conclude that post-processed and robust user profiles have better quality than raw profiles that are estimated through optimization alone. However URL compression, as expected, tends to reduce the quality, but also can drastically reduce the size of the data set, resulting in faster mining.
The economics of eco-labeling: Standards, costs and prices

Abstract The existing eco-label landscape is fragmented because of the presence of numerous labels with different standards and is a pre-competitive environment for firms to play in with many unanswered questions. Different standards – eco-labels are built around – have different effects on credibility and legitimacy, costs and benefits, and ability to achieve sustainability goals of eco-labeling. Focusing on eco-label standards and using a Hotelling-type horizontal differentiation model, we identify standards-specific issues for and characterize primary barriers to eco-labeling. Some of the major findings are as follows: (1) More rigorous environmental standards enforced by higher-integrity labels do not necessarily translate into higher selling prices; (2) Higher prices commanded by labeled products do not guarantee that a firm will derive higher profits from eco-labeling; (3) Auditing fees paid per product unit being inspected for ensuring compliance with an eco-label standard (rather than participation fees paid up front) is the primary de facto barrier to business involvement in eco-labeling; and (4) Customers׳ willingness to pay price premiums for eco-labeled products is not a sufficient condition to generate a premium in the market.
Effect of adrenal hypotension on elicited secretory activity in anesthetized dogs.

The objective of this study was to determine whether three- to fourfold increases in adrenal medullary blood flow (MQ), observed during catecholamine secretion induced by splanchnic nerve stimulation (NS), are necessary for a maximal secretory response. Eight pentobarbital-anesthetized adult male mongrel dogs (25-35 kg) were subjected to two episodes of NS-induced catecholamine secretion. To limit increases in MQ, one NS (20 Hz, 8 V, 1.5 ms) was performed under control conditions, the other was after reduction of adrenal perfusion pressure (PP). PP was 124.8 +/- 6.0 at control and was reduced to 23.0 +/- 1.0 mmHg by inflation of an aortic occluder located 3 in. above the adrenals. NS under control conditions increased ipsilateral MQ (measured using radiolabeled microspheres) from 181 +/- 39 to 1,336 +/- 199 ml.min-1.100 g-1 and adrenal epinephrine secretion from 184 +/- 128 to 11,445 +/- 5,216 ng.min-1.g medulla-1. Contralateral MQ and cortical blood flow were unaffected by NS. Reduction of PP decreased MQ to 32 +/- 6 ml.min-1.100 g-1 and adrenal cortical blood flow from 251 +/- 23 to 25 +/- 6 ml.min-1.100 g-1.PP reduction had no effect on either corticosteroid secretion or unstimulated epinephrine secretion. NS at reduced PP increased ipsilateral MQ to 146 +/- 27 ml.min-1.100 g-1 and epinephrine secretion to 13,935 +/- 5,175 ng.min-1.g medulla-1. These data indicate that epinephrine secretion is not altered when MQ is limited by reduction of PP and suggest that, at normal PP, increases in MQ during catecholamine secretion are not necessary for a maximal secretory response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
REFLECTIONS ON WAGAR ' S WORLD PARTY

Our task is to reflect upon Wagar's idea of a world party. In case such reflections are affected by the recent historical situation of the collapse of communism/existing socialism in 1989 and the implications this has for visions of progressive politics going into the 21st century. This event colors most political thinking, although for many the response has been that existing socialism was not real socialism, or that existing socialism was but the Stalinist deformation that, if avoided in the future, the 1917 project could again be resumed and human history and social relations remade anew. I don't see it that way. What existing socialism stood for in terms of the role of a vanguard party taking state power for the larger good is, now after the fall, I think off the board as a realistic program that can be sold to anyone.
Zombie infections: epidemiology, treatment, and prevention.

Tara C Smith summarises the epidemiology and pathology of zombie infections and calls for research and funding to prevent a zombie apocalypse
Photorefractive optical circuits

Through two-beam coupling, photorefractive elements alter the information entropy of an optical beam. By properly tailoring the nonlinear coupling and feedback one can design photorefractive optical circuits that extract both temporal and spatial information.
Taxonomic and systematic revisions to the North American Nimravidae (Mammalia, Carnivora)

The Nimravidae is a family of extinct carnivores commonly referred to as "false saber-tooth cats." Since their initial discovery, they have prompted difficulty in taxonomic assignments and number of valid species. Past revisions have only examined a handful of genera, while recent advances in cladistic and morphometric analyses have granted us additional avenues to answering questions regarding our understanding of valid nimravid taxa and their phylogenetic relationships. To resolve issues of specific validity, the phylogenetic species concept (PSC) was utilized to maintain consistency in diagnosing valid species, while simultaneously employing character and linear morphometric analyses for confirming the validity of taxa. Determined valid species and taxonomically informative characters were then employed in two differential cladistic analyses to create competing hypotheses of interspecific relationships. The results suggest the validity of twelve species and six monophyletic genera. The first in depth reviews of Pogonodon and Dinictis returned two valid species (P. platycopis, P. davisi) for the former, while only one for the latter (D. felina). The taxonomic validity of Nanosmilus is upheld. Two main clades with substantial support were returned for all cladistic analyses, the Hoplophoneini and Nimravini, with ambiguous positions relative to these main clades for the European taxa: Eofelis, Dinailurictis bonali, and Quercylurus major; and the North American taxa Dinictis and Pogonodon. Eusmilus is determined to represent a non-valid genus for North American taxa, suggesting non-validity for Old World nimravid species as well. Finally, Hoplophoneus mentalis is found to be a junior synonym of Hoplophoneus primaevus, while the validity of Hoplophoneus oharrai is reinstated.
Sand Mixtures and Sand Movement in Fluvial Model

The manner in which solid matter is transported by running water (leaving out of consideration material that is transported in chemical solution or by flotation), may be classified in two ways, as ...
Flowering-Related RING Protein 1 (FRRP1) Regulates Flowering Time and Yield Potential by Affecting Histone H2B Monoubiquitination in Rice (Oryza Sativa)

Flowering time is a critical trait for crops cultivated under various temperature/photoperiod conditions around the world. To understand better the flowering time of rice, we used the vector pTCK303 to produce several lines of RNAi knockdown transgenic rice and investigated their flowering times and other agronomic traits. Among them, the heading date of FRRP1-RNAi knockdown transgenic rice was 23–26 days earlier than that of wild-type plants. FRRP1 is a novel rice gene that encodes a C3HC4-type Really Interesting Novel Gene (RING) finger domain protein. In addition to the early flowering time, FRRP1-RNAi knockdown transgenic rice caused changes on an array of agronomic traits, including plant height, panicle length and grain length. We analyzed the expression of some key genes associated with the flowering time and other agronomic traits in the FRRP1-RNAi knockdown lines and compared with that in wild-type lines. The expression of Hd3a increased significantly, which was the key factor in the early flowering time. Further experiments showed that the level of histone H2B monoubiquitination (H2Bub1) was noticeably reduced in the FRRP1-RNAi knockdown transgenic rice lines compared with wild-type plants and MBP-FRRP1-F1 was capable of self-ubiquitination. The results indicate that Flowering Related RING Protein 1 (FRRP1) is involved in histone H2B monoubiquitination and suggest that FRRP1 functions as an E3 ligase in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, FRRP1 probably regulates flowering time and yield potential in rice by affecting histone H2B monoubiquitination, which leads to changes in gene expression in multiple processes.
EVOLUTION OF INFRAGRAVITY VARIANCE DURING A STORM

Data from an alongshore array of bidirectional current meters located in the surf zone were analyzed to provide estimates of the behavior of three bands of wave energy during the passage of a moderate storm. The variance in the incident wave band is found to be saturated, as is expected of depth-limited waves. The infragravity band variance is found to depend most strongly on the offshore wave height. Shear wave variance is found to be correlated with the magnitude of the measured longshore current. During a period of nearly constant high waves, the composition of the low frequency band motions (f< 0.05 Hz) changed dramatically. This change is thought to be related to the directional characteristics of the incident band wind waves.
Thin Films Constructed by Centrifugal Deposition of Highly Deformable, Charged Microgels

Thin films composed entirely of microgel building blocks were fabricated using two kinds of self-cross-linked, oppositely charged microgels, via centrifugal deposition. Atomic force microscopy studies revealed that both microgels form very thin monolayer films due to a large degree of microgel deformation during deposition. Meanwhile, centrifugal deposition from a mixture of these two kinds of microgels resulted in the formation of microgel bilayers with a total thickness of around 20 nm. The film thickness increased linearly with the deposition time. Additionally, isotropic stretching/release by heating/cooling of the dried microgel films generated complicated buckling patterns, while anisotropic (uniaxial) stretching/release resulted in parallel buckling perpendicular to the stretching direction. The damage caused by anisotropic stretching and 100 °C treatment can be healed by addition of water, while damage caused via treatment at 150 °C cannot be healed due to the occurrence of polymer cross-linking, ...
Long-wavelength (lambda>2-µm) diode laser sources

Lead-salt diode lasers have been used primarily as sources for spectroscopic applications. They can also be used as sources for long-wavelength (λ > 2-μm) fiber-optic communications, if low-loss fibers become available. Three major areas of improvement in diode laser performance have been achieved in recent years: long-term reliability; purification of mode properties; and higher temperature of operation. In reliability studies, we have eliminated the slow degradation caused by In diffusion into the laser crystals. By using a multilayer structure of In-Au-Pd-Au as a contact, the room temperature storage time for our diode lasers has been increased from months to a projection of over ten years. In characterizing the mode properties, we found that the lasers emit in a highly localized filamentary manner.
Application of Biological Mechanism Models in Quantative Risk Assessment

The risk assessment of toxicants is the basis of establishing the maximum limit standard and ensuring the human health.Recently,biologically based models have been used in risk assessment,which simulate body situation according to anatomy,biochemisty and metabolic kinetics.Biological mechanism models make it possible to quantitively describe the relationship of dose and response (effect) as well as to reduce the uncertainty of extrapolation from animals to human beings to a great extent.Using of the models have resolved the problem of risk assessment on low dose exposure,at the same time,the reliability has been improved.This paper gives an introduction of biological mechanism models and their applications in quantitive risk assessment.
Reliability of power conversion systems in photovoltaic applications

A photovoltaic (PV) inverter is a balance-of-systems (i.e., every component except for the module component whose purpose is to control and convert power flow through the PV system). Namely, the inverter transforms the nominal DC power produced by the PV module to AC power, which can be transported through the electrical power grid or used on-site by various power-consuming units (Figure 14.1). As the interface between the DC and AC sides of the system, the inverter must meet rather stringent requirements for both.
Methods of Ascertainment of Personal Damage in the USA

The chapter illustrates the historical, judicial, and juridical framework of personal injury assessment and compensation in the USA, describing the expert’s qualification and competences and detailing the ascertainment methodology and criteria of evaluation utilized for identifying, describing, and estimating any personal injury, its temporary and permanent consequences, and the causal value/link between the event and the injury and between the injury and the impairment/disability.
Grating light valves for high resolution displays

Summary form only given, as follows. The grating light valve (GLV) is a surface micromachined device based on electrostatically controlling the position of thin ribbons which comprise an array of reflective diffraction gratings. The GLV is well suited for portable and projection display applications. The GLV is capable of color operation as well as high brightness operation. Pixels switch in as short as 20 nanoseconds, are bistable and have demonstrated a contrast ratio as high as 200:1. >
Current Management of Hepatitis B in 2016

Chronic hepatitis B infection represents a global public health burden, infecting over 240 million persons worldwide. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and represents a leading cause for cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and liver-related death. Current treatment of hepatitis B is focused on identification of patients with active hepatitis within the immune clearance or reactivation phases of chronic infection, for whom antiviral therapy with peg-interferon or nucleos(t)ide analogs are recommended. Seven antiviral agents are currently approved by the US FDA for treatment of chronic hepatitis B, of which three are recommended as first-line agents by major liver societies. As none are associated with virologic cure, the primary objective of antiviral therapy in 2016 is long-term virologic suppression, which is associated with a decreased risk for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and may reverse liver fibrosis or cirrhosis in some patients. Although biochemical improvement in liver enzymes is common, HBeAg seroconversion occurs in only a minority of patients, and HBsAg seroconversion is rare. Due to ongoing deficits along multiple steps of the care cascade, including screening, diagnosis, linkage to care, and antiviral therapy, many patients with chronic hepatitis B remain undiagnosed, lack access to care by specialists with expertise in the management of CHB, or have not been treated with antiviral agents. Future therapies are currently in development with the aim of functional viral cure, which may transform the treatment of CHB and improve liver outcomes.
Software Reliability and Security: Challenges and Crosscutting Themes

Security has emerged as one of the most significant challenges to organizations that develop software system. As software systems involvement in managing financial systems, infrastructure, and industrial systems increases, the potential consequences of unauthorized access to those systems becomes more and more severe. We examine relationships between software reliability engineering and cybersecurity to develop more effective ways of assessing and improving system security.
Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (Nocturnal Myoclonus)

The prevalence and clinical correlates of pediatric periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) were identified by polysomnography in children attending St Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA.
Research in Behavioral Disorders/Emotional Disturbance: A Survey of Subject Identification Criteria.

A survey of 323 research studies in behavioral disorders/emotional disturbance was conducted to determine the nature and prevalence of the behavioral disorders/emotional disturbance identification ...
Abstract 129: Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Augment Contractile Function of Human Engineered Cardiac Tissues

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have demonstrated efficacy for improving cardiomyocyte (CM) function in vitro, in vivo and in clinical trials, but the mechanism of this enhancement remains elusive. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that human engineered cardiac tissues (hECT) offer a viable model system to investigate the effects of human MSC on CM contractile function. Human CM (hCM) were produced from embryonic stem cells (hESC, H7 line) using a small-molecule based differentiation approach. Blebbistatin and BMP4 were added to hESC suspended in StemPro34 differentiation media for 24 h, followed by BMP4 and Activin A to day 4.5, followed by addition of IWR-1 Wnt inhibitor for at least 4 days. To create hECT, approximately 1 million hCM were mixed with 2.0 mg/ml bovine type I collagen and 0.9 mg/ml Matrigel, and pipetted into a mold fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane with integrated cantilever end-posts. To model hMSC cell therapy, two types of hECT were created: hCM-only control hECT, and hMSC-CM hybrid hECT containing hCM mixed with 5-10% of human bone marrow-derived MSC. Over several days in culture, the hECT self-assembled and started beating; end-post deflection was tracked in real time to compute twitch force using beam theory. Human CMs were produced with high efficiency (>70% cTnT+) with a predominantly ventricular phenotype (MLC2v+). Resulting hECTs exhibited spontaneous beating (1.3±0.4 Hz), cellular alignment, registered sarcomeres, and expression of cardiac specific genes cTnT, α-MHC, β-MHC and SERCA2a. After 11±2 days in culture, developed stress (force/area) was over 10-fold higher in hMSC-CM hybrid tissues (0.27±0.048 mN/mm 2 ) compared to hCM-only controls (0.02±0.006 mN/mm 2 ; p=0.04, n=5 per group). This reflected significantly greater twitch force (0.11±0.004 mN vs 0.033±0.016 mN, p=0.016) and smaller cross-sectional area (0.19±0.12 mm 2 vs 0.49±0.10 mm 2 ; p=0.003) in hMSC-CM hybrid vs hCM-only hECT. In conclusion, human ECT offer a novel system to study MSC-CM interactions. The findings suggest hMSC supplementation improves contractility compared to CM-only hECT. Investigating the mechanisms of hMSC-mediated enhancement of hECT function may yield insights into MSC-based therapies for cardiac regeneration.
Upregulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression in CD4 T lymphocytes during an immune response in vivo. (INM1P.431)

Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) can impact T-cell differentiation and the maintenance of tissue-resident T cells. AHR expression, measured by RT-PCR or Western blot has been shown to be low in most CD4 T-cell subsets with highest expression found after stimulation of naive CD4 T cells under Th17 conditions in vitro . The current study measures AHR expression within CD4 T-cell subsets of naive or skin-grafted mice using flow cytometry. Cells were freshly isolated from the spleen, lymph nodes or skin of either untreated mice or mice that underwent allogeneic skin transplant. AHR expression in cells from untreated mice was highest in IL-17A + CD4 T cells, followed by FoxP3 + and IFNγ + cells. Naive, CD62L + CD4 T cells had the lowest expression. AHR expression in splenic or lymph node CD4 T cells from skin-grafted mice was similar to naive mice with 20 - 30 % of FoxP3 + and - being AHR + . However, CD4 T cells within the skin grafts showed elevated AHR expression compared to spleen or LN with 75 - 85 % of FoxP3 + and 40 - 70% of FoxP3 - being AHR + . This is comparable to the >90% AHR + CD4 T cells found when splenocytes were stimulated in vitro with anti-CD3 antibody in the presence of TGFb and IL-6. We conclude that the up-regulation of AHR expression in CD4 T cells in vitro also happens during immune responses in vivo and is not restricted to a single T cell subset, and may be important in T cell differentiation, trafficking, and cytokine production.
Bright single InAs quantum dots at telecom wavelengths in site-selective InP nanowires

Non-classical light sources that can produce streams of correlated on-demand photons are a central building block for optics based quantum information technologies. There are numerous possible approaches for producing such a light source. One of the most promising is the solid-state single photon source based on a single quantum dot in III-V semiconductors. Utilizing a single InAs quantum dot in an InP nanowire, we previously demonstrated a bright and efficient source for single photons [1] and entangled photon pairs [2] that emits around 950 nm. In order to interface with telecom systems, single photon sources emitting at longer wavelengths are required. A few works have extended the emission to the telecom band using a single InAs/InP quantum dot in a micro-cavity [3-4]. However, improving the source brightness and the extraction efficiency remains a challenging task. In this contribution, by modifying the growth conditions and the pre-growth pattern for an InAs dot in an InP nanowire, we demonstrate a bright light source that emits in the telecom O-band, an important step towards the demonstration of a single photon source.
Maternal activity, anxiety, and protectiveness during moderate nutrient restriction in captive baboons (Papio sp.).

BACKGROUND We hypothesized that maternal nutrient restriction (NR) would increase activity and behavioral indicators of anxiety (self-directed behaviors, SDBs) in captive baboons (Papio sp.) and result in more protective maternal styles. METHODS Our study included 19 adult female baboons. Seven females ate ad libitum (control group), and eight females ate 30% less (NR group) and were observed through pregnancy and lactation. RESULTS Control females engage in higher rates of SDB than NR females overall (P ≤ .018) and during the prenatal period (P ≤ .001) and engage in more aggressive behavior (P ≤ .033). Control females retrieved infants more than NR females during weeks 5-8 postpartum (P ≤ .019). CONCLUSIONS Lower SDB rates among prenatal NR females reduce energy expenditure and increase available resources for fetal development when nutritionally restricted. Higher infant retrieval rates by controls may indicate more infant independence rather than maternal style differences.
Multiple mediators approach to study environmental chemicals as determinants of health disparities

A major goal of health disparities research is to identify and intervene upon modifiable risk factors that help explain the observed associations between social factors and adverse health outcomes. To this end, statistical methods incorporating mediation analysis have shown promise, as they quantify the contribution of an intermediate variable in an exposure-outcome association. A growing body of literature suggests that environmental chemicals can contribute to health disparities. However, evaluating environmental chemicals as an important component of health disparities introduces methodological complexities that may make standard mediation approaches inadequate. Specific to environmental health is the issue of evaluating both the source and biomarker of the environmental toxicant in order to calculate the proportion of the disparity that would remain had we intervened on the modifiable factors. Recent methodological developments on multiple mediators can improve efforts to integrate both source and biomarker of exposure into epidemiological studies of health disparities. We illustrate a conceptual framework and present how mediation techniques can be used to address environmental health disparities questions. With this, we provide a methodological tool that has the potential to advance this growing field, while simultaneously informing public health prevention and policy surrounding the impact of environmental factors on health disparities.
Development of norepinephrine transporter reuptake inhibition assays using SK-N-BE(2)C cells.

Abstract This report describes efforts to develop and validate novel norepinephrine transporter reuptake inhibition assays using human neuroblastoma SK-N-BE(2)C cells in 24-well format. Before conducting the assays, the SK-N-BE(2)C cells were first evaluated for their ability to uptake [3H]norepinephrine and were shown to have a saturable uptake with a KM value of 416 nM. Using this determined KM value, reuptake inhibition assays were then conducted with a variety of ligands including antidepressants, as well as piperazine and phenyltropane derivatives. The results obtained with the SK-N-BE(2)C cells indicate that this model system can detect a range of ligand potencies, which compare well with other established transporter assays. Our data suggest that SK-N-BE(2)C cells have potential utility to serve as another model system to detect norepinephrine reuptake inhibition activity.
IS LEUKEMIA A DISEASE OF THE RETICULO-ENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM?

1. Evidence is given from case study of reticulo-endothelial disease supporting the concept that monocytic leukemia is one form of reticulo-endotheliosis. 2. On the basis of varied types of cell reactions seen in monocytic leukemia, it is suggested that all forms of leukemia may be hematologic varieties of reticulo-endotheliosis.
Autoantibodies in Pathogenesis

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a distinct, proliferative vasculopathy associated with skin thickening and fibrosis within internal organs and is associated with a unique autoimmune response. While vascular damage is almost universal in scleroderma, disease expression is heterogeneous in terms of phenotypic characteristics and disease course. Nevertheless, clear clinical subtypes can be discerned. The limited cutaneous form of scleroderma (lcSSc) is characterized by skin thickening on the distal limbs, face and neck, and an increased prevalence of isolated pulmonary hypertension and ischemic digital loss. In contrast, the diffuse form of the disease also involves more proximal skin and affects visceral organs, including the lung, heart, gastrointestinal tract, skeletal muscle and kidneys, with attendant negative effects on mortality.
New Developments in the Prevention of Gastrointestinal Scope-Related Infections

Gastrointestinal endoscopes are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and are the most common medical device implicated in health care-associated outbreaks. Infections can be divided into endogenous or exogenous. Exogenous infections were associated with lapses in reprocessing. Recent outbreaks have occurred despite compliance with reprocessing guidelines and highlight the challenges with clearance of all organisms from the duodenoscopes and the potential role of biofilms in hindering adequate reprocessing. This review provides an overview of recent developments and the current understanding of the key contributing factors related to gastrointestinal endoscope-related infections and current approaches to identify and prevent these complications.
Session details: Graduate workshop

Welcome to the 2012 Graduate Student Workshop! This full day workshop will take place on July 7th, 2012, and will comprise of presentations by selected students pursing research in some aspect of evolutionary computation. The intention of the workshop is to give students an opportunity to hone their presentation skills, to get important feedback on their research, and to network with other researchers in the evolutionary computing field.Students will present their work to an audience that will include a 'mentor' panel of established researchers in evolutionary computation. Presentations will be followed by a question and discussion period led by the mentor panel. Students with papers accepted for the workshop should prepare 30 minute oral presentations, with 15 minutes for questions and discussion immediately following the presentation. The presentations should discuss the material presented in the papers, but can also discuss larger research goals and plans for input from the workshop participants Students are encouraged to use this opportunity to not just present the results of a single experiment, but to use the opportunity to get feedback on their larger research goals.The goal of the workshop is to assist students with their overall research: methodology, goals, and plans. Students will also receive feedback on their presentation style. Other attendees will benefit by learning about current research, engaging in technical discussions and meeting researchers with related interests. Other students are encouraged to attend as a means of strengthening their own research.Students are also invited present their work as a poster at the evening Poster Session - an excellent opportunity to network with industry and academic members of the community.
How visual memory changes with intervening recall.

Being asked to recount a visual memory is common in educational settings, spatial navigation, and crime investigation. Previous studies show that recounting one’s memory can benefit subsequent memo...
Dysfunctional Social Reinforcement Processing in Disruptive Behavior Disorders: An Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Author(s): Hwang, Soonjo; Meffert, Harma; VanTieghem, Michelle R; Sinclair, Stephen; Bookheimer, Susan Y; Vaughan, Brigette; Blair, RJR | Abstract: ObjectivePrior functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) work has revealed that children/adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) show dysfunctional reward/non-reward processing of non-social reinforcements in the context of instrumental learning tasks. Neural responsiveness to social reinforcements during instrumental learning, despite the importance of this for socialization, has not yet been previously investigated.MethodsTwenty-nine healthy children/adolescents and 19 children/adolescents with DBDs performed the fMRI social/non-social reinforcement learning task. Participants responded to random fractal image stimuli and received social and non-social rewards/non-rewards according to their accuracy.ResultsChildren/adolescents with DBDs showed significantly reduced responses within the caudate and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) to non-social (financial) rewards and social non-rewards (the distress of others). Connectivity analyses revealed that children/adolescents with DBDs have decreased positive functional connectivity between the ventral striatum (VST) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) seeds and the lateral frontal cortex in response to reward relative to non-reward, irrespective of its sociality. In addition, they showed decreased positive connectivity between the vmPFC seed and the amygdala in response to non-reward relative to reward.ConclusionThese data indicate compromised reinforcement processing of both non-social rewards and social non-rewards in children/adolescents with DBDs within core regions for instrumental learning and reinforcement-based decision- making (caudate and PCC). In addition, children/adolescents with DBDs show dysfunctional interactions between the VST, vmPFC, and lateral frontal cortex in response to rewarded instrumental actions potentially reflecting disruptions in attention to rewarded stimuli.
Topical Tranexamic Acid for the Treatment of Acute Epistaxis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis:

Objective: To compare topical tranexamic acid (TXA) with control groups for the treatment of acute epistaxis assessing bleeding cessation, discharge within 2 hours, rebleeding rates, complication r...
Non-Informative Frame Classification in Colonoscopy Videos Using CNNs

In the US, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths behind lung cancer, causing about 49,000 annual deaths. Colonoscopy is currently the gold standard procedure for colorectal cancer screening. However, recent data suggest that there is a significant (4-12%) miss-rate for the detection of even large polyps and cancers. To address this, we have been investigating an 'automated feedback system' which measures quality of colonoscopy automatically by analyzing colonoscopy video frames in order to assist the endoscopist to improve the quality of the actual procedure being performed. One of the fundamental steps analyzing colonoscopy video frames for the automated quality feedback system is to distinguish non-informative frames from informative ones. Most methods to detect and classify these non-informative frames are based on the hand-engineered features. However, it is very tedious to design optimal hand-engineered features. In this paper, we explore the effectiveness of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to detect and classify these non-informative frames. The experimental results show that the proposed approaches are promising.
Kirigami and the Caspar-Klug construction for viral shells with negative Gauss curvature.

In this work we extend the Caspar-Klug construction to the archaeal viruses, which in recent years have captured the attention of many researchers for their ability to thrive in extreme environments. We assume that the shells of archaeal viruses are composed of hexamers and pentamers-as is true for icosahedral viruses-together with heptamers, necessary to introduce negative Gauss curvature. Following the original work of Caspar and Klug, we first construct models capable of reproducing the shape observed in electron microscopy images of archaeal viruses. Next, using the technique of kirigami, we present a systematic way to formulate archaeal virus templates from regular hexagonal lattices. Finally, we utilize the presented techniques to build finite element models of archaeal virus geometries and investigate their shapes as a function of material properties. In particular, using thin-shell elasticity theory, we describe a buckling transition as a function of a modified Foppl-von Karman number γ^{★} and we show how changes in γ^{★} may initiate the tail formation in the Acidianus two-tailed archaeal virus.
Between France and me: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alain Mabanckou and Transatlantic mis-readings of race

AbstractTa-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me was wildly successful from its 2015 U.S. release, and was translated into French in January 2016. Published as Une colere noire, literally A Black...
Aspirin Thromboprophylaxis Confers No Increased Risk for Aseptic Loosening Following Cementless Primary Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Aspirin has been shown to be a safe and cost-effective thromboprophylaxis agent with equivalent preventive efficacy to warfarin and fewer side-effects. However, animal studies have suggested delayed bone healing with aspirin and other inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis. The impact of aspirin on aseptic loosening following cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) has yet to be explored. Our aim was to determine if patients receiving aspirin for thromboprophylaxis had higher rates of aseptic loosening vs patients receiving warfarin after THA. Methods We identified 11,262 consecutive primary uncemented THA performed between 2006 and 2017. Postoperatively, either warfarin (target international normalized ratio 1.5-2.0) or aspirin chemoprophylaxis were prescribed for 4 weeks. We recorded demographics, length of stay, body mass index, preoperative nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use, and Elixhauser comorbidity index. All revisions because of aseptic loosening within 1 year of the index procedure were identified radiographically, confirmed intraoperatively, and did not fulfill Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria for periprosthetic infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results There was no difference (P = .14) in the rates of revision for aseptic loosening between patients in the aspirin cohort (14/4530; 0.31%; P = .14) and the warfarin cohort (36/6682; 0.54%). After accounting for confounding variables, no significant difference was noted in aseptic loosening rates between patients treated with aspirin vs those treated with warfarin (adjusted odds ratio 0.51; P = .11). Perioperative nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug was not significantly associated with aseptic loosening (adjusted odds ratio 1.20; P = .67). Conclusion While multiple agents are available for venous thromboprophylaxis, there is increasing evidence in favor of the use of aspirin. This study allays the notion that aspirin increases the rates of aseptic loosening following uncemented hip arthroplasty.
Systematic Review of Matrix Training for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Matrix training is an intervention that systematically programs for the occurrence of generative outcomes, mostly in the area of language. A literature search identified studies that evaluated matr...