cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computer-assisted image processing technique for tracking wound progress

The purpose of this study was to develop an algorithm to support the decisions of expert physicians in the management of wound healing. The goal was to work towards the development of an image processing algorithm for quantifying the progress of healing of skin wounds. For this algorithm development, multiple wound images were obtained from patients in clinical settings to monitor the status of wound healing after excision of skin lesions. Dermatologists applied Vaseline and novel experimental natural ointment (NENO) at two different spots on the same subject. The developed algorithm was evaluated for its compatibility to monitor the healing as well as a potential tool to compare the efficacy of Vaseline and NENO to heal the wound. Skin color was used as a feature to measure wound progress. Based on the temporal change of the skin color, decisions were made on whether the wound is healing or expanding. The proposed processing technique was able to detect the color change within the range of 10% to 90%.
CD31 expression on CD4+ cells: A simple method for quantitation of recent thymus emigrant CD4 cells

Abstract Measurements of CD4+CD31+ cells gave results consistent with those expected for recent thymus emigrant (RTE) CD4+ cells. The method was markedly simpler than established procedures for measurement of CD4+ RTE cells and is usable in locations with limited facilities and budgets.
Base Excision Repair of N6-Deoxyadenosine Adducts of 1,3-Butadiene

The important industrial and environmental carcinogen 1,3-butadiene (BD) forms a range of adenine adducts in DNA, including N6-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (N6-HB-dA), 1,N6-(2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (1,N6-HMHP-dA), and N6,N6-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (N6,N6-DHB-dA). If not removed prior to DNA replication, these lesions can contribute to A → T and A → G mutations commonly observed following exposure to BD and its metabolites. In this study, base excision repair of BD-induced 2′-deoxyadenosine (BD-dA) lesions was investigated. Synthetic DNA duplexes containing site-specific and stereospecific (S)-N6-HB-dA, (R,S)-1,N6-HMHP-dA, and (R,R)-N6,N6-DHB-dA adducts were prepared by a postoligomerization strategy. Incision assays with nuclear extracts from human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells have revealed that BD-dA adducts were recognized and cleaved by a BER mechanism, with the relative excision efficiency decreasing in the following order: (S)-N...
Safety and Wound Outcomes Following Genetically Corrected Autologous Epidermal Grafts in Patients With Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Importance Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a devastating, often fatal, inherited blistering disorder caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene encoding type VII collagen. Support and palliation are the only current therapies. Objective To evaluate the safety and wound outcomes following genetically corrected autologous epidermal grafts in patients with RDEB. Design, Setting, and Participants Single-center phase 1 clinical trial conducted in the United States of 4 patients with severe RDEB with a measured area of wounds suitable for grafting of at least 100 cm 2 . Patients with undetectable type VII collagen keratinocyte expression were excluded. Interventions Autologous keratinocytes isolated from biopsy samples collected from 4 patients with RDEB were transduced with good manufacturing practice–grade retrovirus carrying full-length human COL7A1 and assembled into epidermal sheet grafts. Type VII collagen gene–corrected grafts (approximately 35 cm 2 ) were transplanted onto 6 wounds in each of the patients (n = 24 grafts). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary safety outcomes were recombination competent retrovirus, cancer, and autoimmune reaction. Molecular correction was assessed as type VII collagen expression measured by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Wound healing was assessed using serial photographs taken at 3, 6, and 12 months after grafting. Results The 4 patients (mean age, 23 years [range, 18-32 years]) were all male with an estimated body surface area affected with RDEB of 4% to 30%. All 24 grafts were well tolerated without serious adverse events. Type VII collagen expression at the dermal-epidermal junction was demonstrated on the graft sites by immunofluorescence microscopy in 9 of 10 biopsy samples (90%) at 3 months, in 8 of 12 samples (66%) at 6 months, and in 5 of 12 samples (42%) at 12 months, including correct type VII collagen localization to anchoring fibrils. Wounds with recombinant type VII collagen graft sites displayed 75% or greater healing at 3 months (21 intact graft sites of 24 wound sites; 87%), 6 months (16/24; 67%), and 12 months (12/24; 50%) compared with baseline wound sites. Conclusions and Relevance In this preliminary study of 4 patients with RDEB, there was wound healing in some type VII collagen gene–corrected grafts, but the response was variable among patients and among grafted sites and generally declined over 1 year. Long-term follow-up is necessary for these patients, and controlled trials are needed with a broader range of patients to better understand the potential long-term efficacy of genetically corrected autologous epidermal grafts. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01263379
Thermolysis and radiofluorination of diaryliodonium salts derived from anilines

Aniline-derived diaryliodonium salts were synthesized and functionalized in good to excellent yields by judicious utilization of electron-withdrawing protecting groups. This simple approach opens another route to radiolabeling amino arenes in relatively complex molecules, such as flutemetamol.
Identifying mechanisms driving formation of granuloma-associated fibrosis during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is a pulmonary pathogen of major global concern. A key feature of Mtb infection in primates is the formation of granulomas, dense cellular structures surrounding infected lung tissue. These structures serve as the main site of host-pathogen interaction in TB, and thus to effectively treat TB we must clarify mechanisms of granuloma formation and their function in disease. Fibrotic granulomas are associated with both good and bad disease outcomes. Fibrosis can serve to isolate infected tissue from healthy tissue, but it can also cause difficulty breathing as it leaves scars. Little is known about fibrosis in TB, and data from non-human primates is just beginning to clarify the picture. This work focuses on constructing a hybrid multi-scale model of fibrotic granuloma formation, in order to identify mechanisms driving development of fibrosis in Mtb infected lungs. We combine dynamics of molecular, cellular, and tissue scale models from previously published studies to characterize the formation of two common sub-types of fibrotic granulomas: peripherally fibrotic, with a cuff of collagen surrounding granulomas, and centrally fibrotic, with collagen throughout granulomas. Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, along with large simulation sets, enable us to identify mechanisms differentiating centrally versus peripherally fibrotic granulomas. These findings suggest that heterogeneous cytokine environments exist within granulomas and may be responsible for driving tissue scale morphologies. Using this model we are primed to better understand the complex structure of granulomas, a necessity for developing successful treatments for TB.
Thermoelectric and structural correlations in ( S r 1 − x − y C a x N d y ) Ti O 3 perovskites

Structural and thermoelectric properties are reported for a specially designed class of $A$-site substituted perovskite titanates, $(\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x\ensuremath{-}y}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{x}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{d}}_{y})\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Two series synthesized with various $A$-site Sr-rich or Ca-rich (Sr-poor) concentrations were investigated using high-resolution neutron powder diffraction as a function of temperature and Nd doping. Each series was designed to have a nominally constant tolerance factor at room temperature. We determine the room temperature structures as tetragonal $I4/mcm$ and orthorhombic $Pbnm$ for the Sr-rich and Ca-rich series, respectively. Three low-temperature orthorhombic structures, $Pbnm, Ibmm$, and $Pbcm$ were also observed for the Sr-rich series, whereas the symmetry of the Ca-rich series remains unchanged throughout the full measured temperature range. Thermoelectric properties of $(\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x\ensuremath{-}y}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{x}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{d}}_{y})\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ were investigated and correlated with the structural variables. We succeeded in achieving a relatively high figure of merit $ZT=0.07$ at $\ensuremath{\sim}400\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ in the Sr-rich $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{0.76}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.16}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{d}}_{0.08}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ composition which is comparable to that of the best $n$-type TE $\mathrm{SrT}{\mathrm{i}}_{0.80}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{b}}_{0.20}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ oxide material reported to date. For a fixed tolerance factor, the Nd doping enhances the carrier density and effective mass at the expense of the Seebeck coefficient. Thermal conductivity greatly reduces upon Nd doping in the Ca-rich series. With an enhanced Seebeck coefficient at elevated temperatures and reduced thermal conductivity, we predict that $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{r}}_{0.76}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{a}}_{0.16}\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{d}}_{0.08}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and similar compositions have the potential to become some of the best materials in their class of thermoelectric oxides.
Detection of Nitric Oxide and Peroxynitrite in Biological Systems: A State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract This chapter covers the detection methodologies for nitric oxide and peroxynitrite detection in chemical and biological systems. With regard to nitric oxide detection, much already exists in the literature. However, many technical details and pitfalls have not been reported. A critical analysis of some of the existing methods for nitric oxide and nitrosothiol detection is provided. With regard to peroxynitrite detection, the existing detection methods are mostly indirect, monitoring the oxidants formed from its decomposition. In contrast, the boronate-based probes rapidly and directly react with peroxynitrite, forming specific major and minor products. Perspectives for in vivo detection of peroxynitrite using boronate-based probes are highlighted.
Inhibition of Tumor Promotion by DL-α-Difluoromethylornithine, A Specific Irreversible Inhibitor of Ornithine Decarboxylase

Although a chemoprevention program can be targeted for intervention at any one of the steps (initiation, promotion, and progression) involved in the induction of cancer, interference with the promotion stage of carcinogenesis appears to be most appropriate and practical. The rationale behind this comes from the facts that promotion of tumor formation requires a repeated and prolonged exposure to a promoter and that tumor promotion is reversible, at least in the early stages. In contrast, initiation can be accomplished by a single exposure to a sufficiently small dose of a carcinogen, and this step is rapid and irreversible (3,36,41).
Regulation of plasma factor XIII binding to fibrin in vitro

The binding of plasma factor XIII to fibrinogen or fibrin that has been chemically or enzymatically induced to polymerize was studied. Factor XIII binding was assayed using a 3H-putrescine incorporation assay and an 125I-plasma factor XIII binding assay. More than 80% of the native and radiolabeled plasma factor XIII was bound to fibrin I formed by reptilase in EDTA, citrate, or heparin anticoagulated plasma. Plasma factor XIII and 125I-factor XIII was bound (89.6% to 92.5%) to fibrin II formed by thrombin in either citrate or EDTA anticoagulated plasma. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of 125I-plasma factor XIII bound to fibrin I or fibrin II formed by reptilase or thrombin in the presence of EDTA demonstrated the b2- subunit remained bound to the a-chains or thrombin-cleaved a-chains. In the presence of calcium chloride and thrombin, the b2-subunit dissociated and factor XIIIa was bound. Protamine sulfate caused fibrinogen polymerization in the absence of divalent cations and reduced both plasma factor XIII and immunologic fibrinogen levels. Fibrinogen polymerized by protamine sulfate bound plasma factor XIII and the a2-subunit of 125I-platelet factor XIII. Plasma factor XIII was also bound to sonicated non-cross-linked fibrin II in either normal plasma or afibrinogenemic plasma. Plasma levels of several coagulation proteins were unchanged after the addition of reptilase, protamine sulfate, or sonicated fibrin to plasma. These results demonstrate that a specific binding site for the a2-subunit of plasma factor XIII is present on polymerized fibrinogen, fibrin I, and fibrin II. Furthermore, the presence of divalent cations, thrombin-cleavage of plasma factor XIII, and release of fibrinopeptides A or B are not required for plasma factor XIII binding to polymerized fibrinogen and fibrin.
Decadal-scale decline of scamp (Mycteroperca phenax) abundance along the southeast United States Atlantic coast

Abstract Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax) are a long-lived, economically important grouper species for which population trends are unknown along the southeast United States Atlantic coast (SEUS). We analyzed fishery-independent chevron trap (1990–2016) and underwater video (2011–2015) data using two-stage generalized additive models to elucidate changes in scamp relative abundance and mean size across the SEUS. A total of 1813 scamp were caught in 15609 trap samples across 27 years of sampling, and the proportion of traps catching scamp declined from a peak of 18.0% in 1994 to 2.5% in 2016. Likewise, mean scamp relative abundance declined 92% from its peak in 1995 to its lowest point (2016) in the time series. We observed a 29% decline of scamp relative abundance on videos between 2011 and 2015 (N = 6061 video samples), which closely matched the declining trend of trap relative abundance for the same years. Mean annual coefficients of variation were higher for traps (0.41) than video (0.20), but traps were essential given the much longer time series of trap data. Trap and video spatial predictions for scamp were consistently highest on the middle and outer continental shelf (40–100 m deep) between southern North Carolina and Georgia. Mean scamp total length increased approximately 130 mm over the course of the study due to the disproportionate declining catch of small scamp from traps since the early 2000s. Two hypotheses for potential recruitment failure of scamp in the SEUS are recruitment overfishing (increased F) and increased mortality on egg, larval, or juvenile stages (increased M).
A Theological Perspective on the Licensing of Helping Professionals

Many professional groups seek licensure regulations from the government. This article summarizes several consequences of licensing with a particular focus on occupations related to psychology and c...
Cost of Routine Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Visits to U.S. Emergency Departments 2006-2013.

Author(s): Xia, Fan Di; Fuhlbrigge, Mary; Dommasch, Erica; Joyce, Cara; Mostaghimi, Arash | Abstract: Introduction: Little is known about emergency department (ED) utilization for herpes simplex viruses (HSV) types 1 and 2 in the United States. Our goal was to determine the utilization and cost burden associated with HSV infection visits to U.S. EDs in recent years from 2006-2013.Methods: We analyzed the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) database, the largest national database of hospital-based ED visits in the U.S., to determine the number of visits and the cost associated with HSV visits from 2006-2013. We also analyzed trends across years.Results: From 2006-2013, there were 704,728 ED visits with a primary diagnosis of HSV infection. Of these, 658,805 (93.5%) resulted in routine discharges without inpatient admission, amounting to a total ED charge of $543.0 million. After adjusting for inflation, there was a doubling of total ED spending for HSV from 2006 to 2013 ($45.0 million to $90.7 million) and a 24% increase in number of visits (73,227 visits in 2006, vs. 90,627 visits in 2013). ED visits for genital herpes have increased while visits for herpes gingivostomatitis have decreased.Conclusion: HSV-associated ED use and associated costs have increased between 2006-2013. Most of these cases could likely be managed in non-emergent outpatient settings as 93.5% of visits resulted in routine discharges without admission . Our findings add to knowledge regarding HSV utilization and epidemiology in the U.S. and highlight the need for continued prevention, patient education, and emphasis of care in non-emergency settings to prevent unnecessary ED utilization.
Tumors: General Considerations

The problems in terminology have already been discussed with regard to the normal structure. A multiplicity of descriptive terms have similarly been applied to the tumors reflecting changing interpretations of their basic nature by analogy with the normal organ. Many terms have persisted through continued usage based on individual preferences rather than on a scientific basis; however, no designation has been entirely satisfactory (Rauch, 1969). The historical application of terms, synonyms, and nosologic considerations will be discussed for each tumor in its respective chapter.
Recognition of a new field: the National MCH Epidemiology Awards.

This past December, the first National MCH Epidemiology Awards were presented to distinguished colleagues to recognize outstanding contributions to research, practice, and leadership in the field of MCH Epidemiology. The newly formed Coalition for Excellence in MCH Epidemiology and 13 national organizations sponsored the awards. This special event is an important landmark for a new field. The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge the significance of the awards to the field and the contributions of this year's recipients. The field of MCH epidemiology has advanced over the last decade in terms of practice, training, and communication. MCH epidemiology practice has been defined and evaluated. The capacity of state and local health departments has substantially increased. Graduate education has developed specialized MCH epidemiology programs and tracks. Existing professional staff have been able to obtain continuing education through a variety of mechanisms. An annual conference has been established to bring science and practice closer together. And now, the National MCH Epidemiology Awards have started to acknowledge outstanding contributions. This year's awards recipients are well-known to the larger MCH field and have made significant contributions to the field and their communities. The recipients are: • Advancing Knowledge: Milton Kotelchuck, PhD, MPH • Effective Practice: St. Petersburg Healthy Start; Aaron J. Roome, PhD, MPH; and Arden Handler, DrPH • Outstanding Leadership: Claude Earl Fox, MD, MPH • Outstanding Young Professional: Wendy L. Struchen, MPH, MEd Congratulations to the recipients and to the field on this significant acknowledgment.
“I Walked in on Them”: Young Adults’ Childhood Perceptions of Sex and Nudity in Family and Public Contexts:

Children’s observation of sex and nudity among parents, peers, or strangers has received limited scholarly attention, mostly because research on sexuality in childhood is difficult or prohibitive t...
Restricting Opposition in Elections and Terrorist Violence

We offer a novel argument to explain how the use of terrorist violence is affected by the restrictions that governments place on opposition participation in elections. Opposition actors often decid...
First order reliability method on soil strength parameters estimation and stability analysis

Abstract The application of the first order reliability method (FORM) on the estimation of soil strength parameters and on the probabilistic analysis of slope stability problems is examined. Typical slope stability problems use the bi-parametric Mohr - Coulomb failure criterion and modern codes of practice (e.g. EC7) require some statistical measures for analyses purposes, either deterministic or probabilistic. Statistical approaches for the estimation of the measures of (a) the best estimate and uncertainty of these parameters (used in probabilistic analyses) and (b) their characteristic value (used in deterministic analyses) are presented herein. The uncertainty is estimated either by direct statistical methods or by application of the FORM, a methodology for uncertainty (via error propagation) calculation. Equations of uncertainty are derived for the direct shear- and the typical triaxial-test. An application of the FORM to the planar failure limit equilibrium problem is presented, which can be adjusted to the slices’ method. The reliability check with respect to the safety margin is preferable as it reduces the non-linearity effects, while the influence of cohesion uncertainty is more critical. A sensitivity check with regards to the uncertainties of soil parameter is recommended for probabilistic analyses.
Österreichische Wissenschaftler in den Vereinigten Staaten

Die vorliegende Studie basiert auf Interviews mit funfundzwanzig osterreichischen Wissenschaftlern, die in den Vereinigten Staaten leben und arbeiten, und die — nach ihrem eigenen Urteil — emigriert oder nahezu emigriert sind. — In der Untersuchung wurde deutlich, das man Emigration nicht als ein einmaliges Ereignis sehen soll, sondern als einen Prozes, der mit der Abwanderung beginnt und uber die Jahre solidifiziert oder ruckgangig gemacht wird. Seine Richtung und sein Verlauf hangen von einer Reihe von Entscheidungen ab, die meist weder grosartig noch dramatisch sind, sondern das tagliche Leben oder die nahe Zukunft betreffen, die aber in ihrer Gesamtheit zu bindenden Verpflichtungen und Kontrakten fuhren und die Emigration mehr und mehr zu einer Tatsache werden lassen. — Unter den Motivationen, die diesen Entscheidungen zugrundeliegen, sind zwei wesentlich: die berufliche Identifikation und die Bindung an die eigenen Kinder. Damit beruht Emigration auf einer Verschiebung in der personlichen Identitat. Die fruhe, jugendliche Identitat, die an die Heimat bindet, kann nicht ersetzt werden — so wie die alten Freundschaften nicht wiederholt werden konnen. Ihr Verlust wird aufgewogen durch eine besondere Betonung der ‘beruflichen’ und ‘elterlichen’ Identitat. Im spateren Alter — wenn diese beiden Aspekte an Bedeutung verlieren mussen — versucht man die Kontinuitat mit fruheren Lebensphasen wiederherzustellen, das Bedurfnis in die Heimat zuruckzukehren wird wieder starker.
The Impact of Non-financial Rewards on Employee’s Performance

This study aims to explain and empirically test the impact of Non-financial Rewards on Employee’s Performance in selected finance companies in Batticaloa District. Accordingly, data were collected through open ended questionnaires from 150 employees in 20 finance companies in Batticaloa District. Hence, quantitative research approach was used in this study. The research method was descriptive correlative type and it was based on the objective of the method applied. The stratified sampling method was used to make the sampling frame work of the study. The data were analyzed by using univariate, multivariate analyses to take the descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that the levels of non-financial rewards application and employee’s performance exist in selected finance companies in Batticaloa District were high level and non-financial rewards including career advancement, recognition and achievement had significant positive impact on employee’s performance while responsibility hadn’t significant positive impact on employee’s performance. The findings of the study provided several important implications for managers and decision makers of the finance company. The study was contributed to the body of knowledge by filling the gaps in the management literature and by substantiating the findings of previous research while the study generates considerable theoretical and practical contributions.
Early life stress: It’s all in the timing

The effects of childhood maltreatment on adult amygdala function depend on when the maltreatment occurs.
A Capstone Course in Environmental Geosciences

Many geology departments have increased the number and scope of environmental courses they offer, or even instituted new majors, in response to changing student interests and the increasing demand for environmental professionals with geoscience skills. The geology major typically includes a senior capstone course that integrates material covered in other coursework; however, most traditional capstone courses were not designed with environmental applications of geosciences in mind. At Purdue University, we have developed a capstone course specifically for our Environmental Geosciences major. This projects-based course stresses small-group identification, analysis, and solution of real-world geo-environmental problems at a local scale. This mimics work a student might later perform as a consultant, in an interdisciplinary graduate research team, or in an industrial- or government-agency setting. The course focuses on use of existing knowledge drawn from past coursework, rapid acquisition of new project-rela...
A novel selection mechanism for evolutionary algorithms with metameric variable-length representations

Metameric problems are variable-length optimization problems whose representations take on an at least partially segmented structure. This is referred to as a metameric representation. Frequently, each of these segments defines one of a number of analogous components in the solution. Examples include the nodes in a coverage network or turbines in a wind farm. Locating optimal solutions requires, in part, determining the optimal number of components. Evolutionary algorithms can be applied but require modifications to the traditional fixed-length operators. This study proposes a new selection operator for metameric problems: length niching selection. First, the population is partitioned into several niches based on solution length. A window function determines at which lengths a niche is formed. Local selection is then applied within each niche independently, resulting in a new parent population formed by a diverse set of solution lengths. A coverage and a wind farm problem are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new operator.
Kicking the Crusaders out of the Caucasus: Deconstructing the 200-Year-Old Meme that the Khevsurs Descended from a Lost Band of Medieval Knights

The region of Khevsureti in Georgia is the historic home of a group of Kartvelian highlanders known as Khevsurs. As Khevsureti’s popularity as a mountain tourist destination has grown, so too has the popularity of an old story that asserts the Khevsurs are the descendants of a lost band of Crusaders. For 200 years, this meme has manifested itself in books about the region, newspaper articles, the work of a few scholars, and now much Internet discussion. The growing collection of cases has created the illusion of an unconsolidated quantity of evidence and many commentators have since taken the story to be a credible theory or actual legend. A systematic deconstruction and analysis of this story shows how this set of details initially formed, grew, and spread based on a few unreliable accounts in circulation beginning in the early 19th century. This article offers a case study of how such memes form and propagate; it provides an additional example of a Western tendency to romanticize and project elements of their own ethnicities into the Caucasus; and it examines this false history in terms of cultural appropriation and the relationship between ethnicity and narrative, adding to the literature on invented histories and pseudoarchaeology. Finally, this careful deconstruction and repudiation will help remove this story from serious discussions of cultural heritage in Khevsureti and show how historical memes and popular examples of pseudoarcheology spread and capture imaginations.
Active galactic nucleus and dwarf galaxy gas kinematics

We present spatially resolved kinematic measurements of stellar and ionized gas components of dwarf galaxies in the stellar mass range $10^{8.5} - 10^{10} M_{\odot}$, selected from SDSS DR7 and DR8 and followed-up with Keck/LRIS spectroscopy. We study the potential effects of active galactic nuclei (AGN) on galaxy-wide gas kinematics by comparing rotation curves of 26 galaxies containing AGN, and 19 control galaxies with no optical or infrared signs of AGN. We find a strong association between AGN activity and disturbed gas kinematics in the host galaxies. While star forming galaxies in this sample tend to have orderly gas discs that co-rotate with the stars, 73\% of the AGN have disturbed gas. We find five out of 45 galaxies have gaseous components in counter-rotation with their stars, and all galaxies exhibiting counter-rotation contain AGN. Six out of seven isolated galaxies with disturbed ionized gas host AGN. At least three AGN fall clearly below the stellar-halo mass relation, which could be interpreted as evidence for ongoing star formation suppression. Taken together, these results provide new evidence supporting the ability of AGN to influence gas kinematics and suppress star formation in dwarf galaxies. This further demonstrates the importance of including AGN as a feedback mechanism in galaxy formation models in the low-mass regime.
Death Receptors in Acute Brain Injury

It is now known that cell death following acute and chronic insults to the central nervous system (CNS) is mediated by death programs involving activation of caspases (Beattie et al. 2000; Eldadah et al. 2000; Fiskum 2000; MacManus et al. 2000; Raghupathi et al. 2000; Yuan et al. 2000; Zipfel et al. 2000). Although the cellular events downstream of activated caspases have been the subject of intense study, the exact mechanisms that initiate activation of cell death programs after acute CNS injury are less clear. Death receptors are transmembrane, multi-domain proteins that, when activated by specific ligands, initiate caspase cascades and apoptotic cell death in T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells following an immune response (Nagata 1997). Recent studies have suggested that death receptor signaling may initiate caspase cascades and cell death in the CNS during development and following ischemia, trauma, and neurodegenerative diseases (Martin-Villalba et al. 1999; Beer et al. 2000; Raoul et al. 2000). If so, then death receptors or their signaling pathways may represent novel targets for therapies aimed at limiting damage after acute or chronic CNS injury. This chapter will provide a general review of death receptors and their signaling mechanisms, focusing on the two best characterized death receptors, Fas and TNF-α.
Effect of thiol molecular structure on the sensitivity of gold nanoparticle-based chemiresistors toward carbonyl compounds

Increasing both the sensitivity and selectivity of thiol-functionalized gold nanoparticle chemiresistors remains a challenging issue in the quest to develop real-time gas sensors. The effects of thiol molecular structure on such sensor properties are not well understood. This study investigates the effects of steric as well as electronic effects in a panel of substituted thiol-urea compounds on the sensing properties of thiolate monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle chemiresistors. Three series of urea-substituted thiols with different peripheral end groups were synthesized for the study and used to prepare gold nanoparticle-based chemiresistors. The responses of the prepared sensors to trace volatile analytes were significantly affected by the urea functional motifs. The largest response for sensing acetone among the three series was observed for the thiol-urea sensor featuring a tert-butyl end group. Furthermore, the ligands fitted with N, N’-dialkyl urea moieties exhibit a much larger response to carbonyl analytes than the more acidic urea series containing N-alkoxy-N’-alkyl urea and N, N’-dialkoxy urea groups with the same peripheral end groups. The results show that the peripheral molecular structure of thiolate-coated gold nanoparticles plays a critical role in sensing target analytes.
Decreased Prescribing of Postoperative Opioids in Pediatric ACL Reconstruction: Treatment Trends at a Single Center:

Background:Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is common in the pediatric population. Pain control after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) presents a unique challenge due to age and early rehabilitatio...
High-content Metabolic Imaging

High-content imaging (HCI) can visualise the effect of compounds on cells, tissues, and whole organisms for purposes of drug discovery & development. Most HCI experiments employ screens which are morphological in nature, or monitor expression of a fluorescently-tagged protein. Much more information may be provided by screens at the metabolomic level, i.e. the effect of compounds and experimental conditions on the steadystate and dynamic levels of individual metabolites in the system. A metabolic profile of key molecules, both intrinsic (e.g. nutrients and signaling molecules) and extrinsic (e.g. the compounds in the screening library, their breakdown products, and other compounds whose metabolism might also be affected), can provide a detailed picture of developments within the cell or tissue before such perturbations give rise to morphological changes.
Replacement of Nickel-Cadmium Battery on F-5 Aircraft with a Valve Regulated Lead-Acid Battery

In the continuing effort to save Fleet Operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs, a united effort was launched to propose the replacement of the Nickel-Cadmium battery on the F-5 aircraft with a valve-regulated, sealed lead-acid battery. The Aging Aircraft IPT (AAIPT) at Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River (PAX River), Maryland presented the concept to the Value Engineering group at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia and successfully obtained funding for this and other Aging Aircraft efforts. The AAIPT then approached the Propulsion and Power Division of Naval Air Systems Command (AIR-4.4.4.1) as the cognizant engineering activity over batteries. AIR-4.4.4.1 then requested the assistance of Crane Division of Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane) to develop a test plan and a Memorandum of Agreement and to obtain flight test authority as well as conduct the flight test. Concorde Battery Corporation (CBC), proposed to replace the Vented Nickel-Cadmium (VNC) battery on the F-5 aggressor aircraft with a Valve Regulated Sealed-Lead Acid (VRLA) battery. The F-5 aircraft presently utilizes a commercially rated 24-volt, 13 ampere-hour, VNC battery. The CBC VRLA battery is a direct form, fit, and function replacement for the VNC battery, both in physical size and electrical capacities. The present VNC battery has a price tag of $2793 per battery. The proposed replacement VRLA battery is anticipated to be priced at $1074, a 60% savings in procurement cost alone. As reported by the servicing contractor, Sikorsky, the present VNC battery requires removal from the aircraft every 60 days for maintenance. The proposed replacement VRLA battery is planned to have a maintenance interval of one-year and a replacement cycle of three years. A Memorandum Of Agreement for a 3-year flight evaluation of the VRLA battery was authorized in May of 2003. After obtaining flight clearance, the flight evaluation was initiated in August 2003 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Arizona. This paper will provide general details of the two battery types as well as discuss projected savings that can be realized through the replacement of the VNC with the VRLA battery. Additionally, progress of the flight evaluation will be detailed.
Continuous q-Hermite Polynomials When q > 1

The continuous q-Hermite polynomials have a reasonably well known orthogonality relation when — 1 1 the change of variables x → ix lends to a set of orthogonal polynomials. The same happens for the continuous q-ultraspherical polynomials, but now only finitely many polynomials are orthogonal with respect to a positive measure. A positive measure is found in each of these cases.
Punitive Damages and Class Actions

The union of punitive damages and class actions can be aptly described with Samuel Johnson’s famous quotation regarding marriage: “The triumph of hope over experience.” By most conventional wisdom, there is little future for plaintiffs or defendants who desire to resolve punitive damages claims globally using the procedural vehicle of a class action. From a conceptual perspective, however, there are circumstances under which the union could function. This Article explores those possibilities, not in the spirit of normative support, but in the spirit of exploring theories that may have some prospective vitality. Notwithstanding the chilly reception that punitive damages class actions have received from appellate courts, there are several approaches at the micro and macro levels of analysis suggesting that “hope” is still persistent. By disaggregating the United States Supreme Court punitive damages jurisprudence, it is possible to identify a limited number of factual scenarios where a class action for punitive damages could be successful. These micro-level observations can constitute a road map for navigating the current seemingly insurmountable barriers that have severely limited the use of class actions in punitive damages claims. At the macro level, there are two observations that could lead to a revision of punitive damages class actions: the seemingly undaunted, pragmatic desire on the part of trial judges to resolve similar cases collectively, and the powerful support for an economic vision of punitive damages that leads inevitably to a global, rather than individual, procedural approach.
Assessment of family history of substance abuse for preventive interventions with patients experiencing chronic pain: A quality improvement project.

This quality improvement project demonstrates that RN Care Managers, in a chronic pain programme, can assess for a family history of substance abuse in 5-10 min. Information informs treatment based on specific high risk criteria. Benefits include heightened awareness of the genetic and environmental risks associated with a family history of substance abuse, an opportunity to participate in motivational interventions to prevent or minimize consequences of substance use disorders, and likely substantial overall health-care cost savings.
Accident Precursors and Warning Systems Management: A Bayesian Approach to Mathematical Models

Observing and recognizing precursors and near misses are essential parts of risk management. Many industries have implemented monitoring programs to that effect. The problem is to decide what to monitor, how to interpret the signal(s), and how to respond given the lead time. This article focuses on a Bayesian (probabilistic) approach to the design of warning systems, which permits addressing the trade-off between the probabilities of false positives and false negatives. The results can then be used as input in a decision analysis to support system-wide risk management. Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) is used here as a fundamental tool that allows identifying and fixing the weakest parts of a system. It is shown how one can update the probability of failure of a system given signals that one of the components or subsystems has deteriorated, and how to use PRA to identify potential precursors. The example of a risk analysis for the tiles of the space shuttle is used to illustrate the identification of the failure modes and the weakest parts of a system, a warning that was ignored at the time of that study, years before the Columbia accident. In the dynamic case, it is shown how to optimize a warning threshold to minimize risks and losses. Finally, it is shown how human and organizational factors can be linked to the risk of system failure and the effectiveness of an organizational warning system. Keywords: accident precursors; warning systems management; probability risk analysis; SAM model
Spectra and structure of organophosphorus compounds: XVII. Infrared and Raman spectra. vibrational assignment and barriers to internal rotation for t-butylphosphine

Abstract The infrared spectra of gaseous and solid tertiary -butylphosphine, [(CH 3 ) 3 CPH 2 ], have been recorded from 50 cm −1 to 3500 cm −1 . The Raman spectra of gaseous, liquid and solid (CH 3 ) 3 CPH 2 have been recorded from 10 to 3500 cm −1 . A vibrational assignment of the 42 normal modes has been made. A harmonic approximation of the methyl torsional barrier from observed transitions in the solid state gave a result of 4.22 kcal mol −1 and 3.81 kcal mol −1 in the gaseous state. Hot band transitions for the phosphino torsional mode have been observed. The potential function for internal rotation about the C-P bond has been calculated. The two potential constants were determined to be: V 3 = 2.79 ± 0.01 kcal mol −1 and V 6 = 0.07 ± 0.01 kcal mol −1 .
A disproof of Tsallis' bond percolation threshold conjecture for the kagome lattice

In 1982, Tsallis derived a formula which proposed an exact value of 0.522372078... for the bond percolation threshold of the kagome lattice. We use the substitution method, which is based on stochastic ordering, to compare the probability distribution of connections in the homogeneous bond percolation model on the kagome lattice to those of an exactly-solved inhomogeneous bond percolation model on the martini lattice. The bounds obtained are $0.522394<p_c(\mbox{kagome}) < 0.526750$, where the lower bound shows that the value conjectured by Tsallis is incorrect.
Treatment of intractable dyspnea: clinical and ethical issues.

(1992). Treatment of Intractable Dyspnea: Clinical and Ethical Issues. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 317-321.
Normal modes of Au25(SCH3)18 −, Ag12Au13(SCH3)18 − and Ag25(SCH3)18 − clusters

This report contains a theoretical study on the atomic structure and normal modes of , and clusters based on density functional theory with generalised gradient approximations. It is shown that their calculated infrared (IR) spectra have features, which allow to distinguish them. Therefore, it was found that the Ag–S stretching and CH3 umbrella modes are intense in the IR spectrum of the cluster.
A bound on the L1-error of a nonparametric density estimator with censored data

Abstract A bound on the expected L 1-distance between a density and its estimator, based on randomly right censored data, is given for any sample size. It is noted that the leading terms in the bound are comparable to the terms in the uncensored case. Also, these terms agree with the asymptotic results for density estimation with censored data.
Determining soil moisture and sediment availability at White Sands Dune Field, New Mexico, from apparent thermal inertia data

[1] Determinations of soil moisture and sediment availability in arid regions are important indicators of local climate variability and the potential for future dust storm events. Data from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) radiometer were used to derive the relationships among potential soil erosion, soil moisture, and thermal inertia (TI) at the spatial scale of aeolian landforms for the White Sands Dune Field between May 2000 and March 2008. Land surface apparent thermal inertia (ATI) data were used to derive an approximation of actual TI in order to estimate the wind threshold velocity ratio (WTR). The WTR is a ratio of the wind velocity thresholds at which soil erosion occurs for wet soil versus dry soil. The ASTER‐derived soil moisture retrievals and the changes through time at White Sands were interpreted to be driven primarily by precipitation, but the presence of a perched groundwater table may also influence certain areas. The sediment availability of dunes, active playa surfaces and the margin of the alluvial fans to the west were determined to be consistently higher than the surrounding area. The sediment availability can be primarily explained by precipitation events and the number of dry days prior to the data acquisition. Other factors such as vegetation and the amount of surface crusting may also influence soil mobility, but these were not measured in the field. This approach showed the highest modeled sediment availability values just days prior to the largest dust emission event at White Sands in decades. Such an approach could be extended to a global monitoring technique for arid land systems that are prone to dust storms and for other regional land surface studies in the Sahara.
Rapid efflux of Ca2+ from heart mitochondria in the presence of inorganic pyrophosphate.

Abstract Inorganic pyrophosphate (PP i ) in the intracellular concentration range causes rapid efflux of Ca 2+ from rat heart mitochondria oxidizing pyruvate + malate in a low Na + medium. Half-maximal rates of Ca 2+ efflux were given by 20 μM PP i . During and after PP i -stimulated Ca 2+ efflux the mitochondria retain their structural integrity and complete respiratory control. Carboxyatractyloside inhibits PP i -stimulated Ca 2+ efflux, indicating PP i must enter the matrix in order to promote Ca 2+ efflux. Heart mitochondria have a much higher affinity for PP i uptake and PP i -induced Ca 2+ efflux than liver mitochondria.
Hemodynamic modulation of monocytic cell adherence to vascular endothelium

Hemodynamic shear stress is hypothesized to contribute to the localization of atherosclerotic plaques to certain arterial sites. Monocyte recruitment to these sites is an early event in atherogenesis. To determine the possible mechanisms by which shear stress modulates monocyte adhesionin vivo, studies of human monocytic cell adherence to endothelium were conducted under different shear conditions in a parallel-plate flow chamber. The number of monocytes capable of developing firm adhesive contacts with endothelium decreased as shear stress-induced drag forces increased over the range of 0.5 to 30 dynes/cm2. The number of adherent monocytic cells at a given shear stress was highly dependent on the activation state of the endothelium. To test the direct effect of shear stress on endothelial cell adhesivity, endothelial cells were presheared for 2 to 6 hr at 2, 10, or 30 dynes/cm2, and monocytic cell adherence was quantified at 1 dyne/cm2. Adherence increased 330% or 370% when endothelial cells were presheared for 2 hr at 2 or 10 dynes/cm2, respectively, as compared to unsheared endothelium. In contrast, when endothelial cells were presheared at 30 dynes/cm2, monocytic cell adherence at 1 dyne/cm2 was not significantly different from unsheared controls. Increased monocytic cell adherence to presheared endothelium was via a vasuclar cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1)α4β1 mechanism, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay studies showed that preshearing at 2 dynes/cm2 for 2 hr increased endothelial VCAM-1 expression by 38%. These data demonstrated that low levels of shear stress induce enthelial VCAM-1 expression and increase monocytic cell adherence via a VCAM-1/α4β1 mechanism. Thus, shear stress can modulate monocyte adherence to vascular endothelium through drag forces that affect the establishment and maintenance of adhesive bonds and by directly modulating the expression of endothelial VCAM-1. This dual effect of shear stress produces the most favorable conditions for adhesion at low-shear regions, where drag forces are low and induction of VCAM-1 is likely. The preferential adherence of monocytes to these regions may contribute to the localization of atherosclerotic plaques to low-shear regions of the arterial circulationin vivo.