cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of 3-D Monolithic MMW Antennas Using Ceramic Stereolithography

Ceramic stereolithography is applied to the construction of 3-D monolithic low-loss subwavelength periodic structures. In the subwavelength regime, it is shown that the effective refractive index can be controlled throughout the structure through simple adjustments to the periodic lattice. The constraints imposed by subwavelength design and the limitations inherent in the ceramic stereolithography process are analyzed and incorporated into the design procedure for monolithic ceramic structures. To demonstrate the proposed method, a monolithic Luneberg lens is designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured results confirm the outlined design procedures and constraints
Repair of Bronchial Esophageal Fistula Using Alloderm

We describe the use of Alloderm (LifeCell Corp, Branchburg, NJ), a biologic scaffold, to repair a large fistula between the proximal left mainstem bronchus and the esophagus.
Structure-Reactivity Relationships for β-Galactosidase (Escherichia coli, lac Z): A Second Derivative Effect on β(nuc) for Addition of Alkyl Alcohols to an Oxocarbenium Ion Reaction Intermediate.

Velocities for the synthesis of trifluoroethyl 2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranoside by transfer of the 2-deoxygalactosyl group from β-galactosidase to trifluoroethanol were determined from studies of the β-galactosidase-catalyzed cleavage of 4-nitrophenyl-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranoside as the difference in rates of appearance of 4-nitrophenoxide anion and 2-D-deoxygalactose. These data were used to calculate a rate constant ratio of k(ROH)/k(s) = 2.3 M(-1) for partitioning of the intermediate between addition of trifluoroethanol and solvent water. Velocities for the synthesis of other alkyl 2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosides by transfer of the 2-deoxygalactosyl group from β-galactosidase to alkyl alcohols were determined from the effect of alkyl alcohols on the velocity of β-galactosidase-catalyzed cleavage of 4-nitrophenyl-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranoside in a reaction where breakdown of the intermediate is rate determining. These data were used to calculate rate constant ratios k(ROH)/k(s) for the reactions of eight alkyl alcohols. Absolute rate constants k(ROH) (M(-1) s(-1)) were calculated from k(ROH)/k(s) and k(s) = 0.002 s(-1) for the addition of water. A Bronsted coefficient of β(nuc) = -0.07 ± 0.08 was determined as the slope of a logarithmic correlation of k(ROH) against alcohol pK(a). The change from a 2-OH to a 2-H substituent at the β-D-galactopyranosyl intermediate causes a 0.12 ± 0.04 increase in the value of β(nuc) for alcohol addition. This anti-Hammond effect provides evidence that general basecatalyzed addition of alcohols to an enzyme bound β-D-galactopyranosyl oxocarbenium ion intermediate proceeds along a reaction coordinate in which there is strong coupling between carbon-oxygen bond formation and proton transfer from the alcohol to a basic residue at the enzyme.
Mutations in the PCNA-binding site of CDKN1C inhibit cell proliferation by impairing the entry into S phase

CDKN1C (also known as P57kip2) is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that functions as a negative regulator of cell proliferation through G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Recently, our group described gain-of-function mutations in the PCNA-binding site of CDKN1C that result in an undergrowth syndrome called IMAGe Syndrome (Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Metaphyseal dysplasia, Adrenal hypoplasia, and Genital anomalies), with life-threatening consequences. Loss-of-function mutations in CDKN1C have been identified in 5-10% of individuals with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), an overgrowth disorder with features that are the opposite of IMAGe syndrome. Here, we investigate the effects of IMAGe-associated mutations on protein stability, cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. Mutations in the PCNA-binding site of CDKN1C significantly increase CDKN1C protein stability and prevent cell cycle progression into the S phase. Overexpression of either wild-type or BWS-mutant CDKN1C inhibited cell proliferation. However, the IMAGe-mutant CDKN1C protein decreased cell growth significantly more than both the wild-type or BWS protein. These findings bring new insights into the molecular events underlying IMAGe syndrome.
TV Got Better: Netflix’s Original Programming Strategies and the On-Demand Television Transition

This paper analyzes the promotional strategies of Netflix, arguing that the company reinforces what Pierre Bourdieu has called the discourses of distinction. In particular, the streaming service highlights the promises of plenitude, participation, prestige, and personalization. Netflix highlights these discourses in part through its ongoing engagement with subscription cable channel, HBO, and in part through promotional materials such as its TV Got Better campaign, which sought to naturalize viewing practices such as binge watching as being part of a technological and narrative cutting edge.
Male protagonists and Haitian (un)inhabitability in Kettly Mars’s L’Heure hybride and Aux frontières de la soif

Ultimately, the relationship between ‘staying’ and ‘leaving’ informs not only discussions among Haitian writers and the literary critics who study their works, but also undergirds tensions among Haitians within Haiti and throughout the diaspora, and implicates complex issues of social class, race, and language. These are themselves informed by a larger web of the varying relationships between Haiti and the international community, an international community that has more or less actively been present in the gestation of Haiti’s government and civil society. As such, this article uses as its point of departure what is a charged category of analysis: Martin Munro’s theorization of ‘uninhabitability’ and Nadeve Menard’s consideration of its counterpart ‘inhabitability’. In my article, to address what is the ‘incontournable’ issue of gender-based violence (GBV) depicted in several of Kettly Mars’s novels, and notably in L’Heure hybride (2005) and Aux frontieres de la soif (2013), I work with Walter D. Mignolo...
Auditory cortex controls sound-driven innate defense behaviour through corticofugal projections to inferior colliculus

Defense against environmental threats is essential for animal survival. However, the neural circuits responsible for transforming unconditioned sensory stimuli and generating defensive behaviours remain largely unclear. Here, we show that corticofugal neurons in the auditory cortex (ACx) targeting the inferior colliculus (IC) mediate an innate, sound-induced flight behaviour. Optogenetic activation of these neurons, or their projection terminals in the IC, is sufficient for initiating flight responses, while the inhibition of these projections reduces sound-induced flight responses. Corticocollicular axons monosynaptically innervate neurons in the cortex of the IC (ICx), and optogenetic activation of the projections from the ICx to the dorsal periaqueductal gray is sufficient for provoking flight behaviours. Our results suggest that ACx can both amplify innate acoustic-motor responses and directly drive flight behaviours in the absence of sound input through corticocollicular projections to ICx. Such corticofugal control may be a general feature of innate defense circuits across sensory modalities.
Long noncoding RNA Saf and splicing factor 45 increase soluble Fas and resistance to apoptosis

In multicellular organisms, cell growth and differentiation is controlled in part by programmed cell death or apoptosis. One major apoptotic pathway is triggered by Fas receptor (Fas)-Fas ligand (FasL) interaction. Neoplastic cells are frequently resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis, evade Fas signals through down regulation of Fas and produce soluble Fas proteins that bind FasL thereby blocking apoptosis. Soluble Fas (sFas) is an alternative splice product of Fas pre-mRNA, commonly created by exclusion of transmembrane spanning sequences encoded within exon 6 (FasΔEx6). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) interact with other RNAs, DNA, and proteins to regulate gene expression. One lncRNA, Fas-antisense or Saf, was shown to participate in alternative splicing of Fas pre-mRNA through unknown mechanisms. We show that Saf is localized in the nucleus where it interacts with Fas receptor pre-mRNA and human splicing factor 45 (SPF45) to facilitate alternative splicing and exclusion of exon 6. The product is a soluble Fas protein that protects cells against FasL-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these studies reveal a novel mechanism to modulate this critical cell death program by an lncRNA and its protein partner.
Design and Realization of ARINC659 BUS Monitor

This paper develops a particular architecture of designing a special test system (monitor) for 659 bus. The monitor is based on FPGA,can judge that whether the telecommunication of 659 bus interface chip is right,and also can monitor,record,diagnose and store all the bus messages. By FPGA verification,BM can monitor all of messages from 659 bus correctly,and report errors immediately,it is significant for debugging of bus telecommunications.
Busulfan disposition: the role of therapeutic monitoring in bone marrow transplantation induction regimens.

High-dose busulfan is an important component of many bone marrow transplantation (BMT) preparative regimens. The dose-limiting toxicity of busulfan in BMT regimens is hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), which occurs in approximately 20% to 40% of patients. We used a gas chromatography-electron capture detection assay and pharmacokinetic models to examine busulfan disposition in adults and children. Marked interpatient and intrapatient variability in busulfan disposition was observed in both patient populations. Part of the intrapatient variation appeared to be due to circadian changes in busulfan disposition. We also used gas chromatography-electron capture detection and pharmacokinetic models to assess whether excessive exposure to busulfan correlates with an increased risk of VOD. The area under the curve of time versus concentration (AUC) after the first dose of busulfan was measured in patients receiving a 16-dose course of busulfan as part of a BMT preparative regimen. In 27 patients who showed high AUCs (> 1,500 mumol.min/L) after the first dose, the fifth through 16th doses of busulfan were decreased. Patients with high AUCs who did not receive dose adjustments had a 75% incidence of VOD. The incidence of VOD was only 18% in patients with high AUCs whose dose was adjusted on the basis of therapeutic monitoring. 5% for those not needing adjustment. These studies suggest that therapeutic monitoring can play an important role in decreasing the toxicity of BMT preparative regimens. Therapeutic monitoring also may improve treatment efficacy by identifying patients who are not receiving adequate drug exposure.
Epilepsy and Comorbid Mental Retardation

Preventable and unpreventable causes of childhood-onset epilepsy associated with mental retardation were determined in 692 patients with epilepsy onset between 1977 and 1985 in a Nova Scotia population-based cohort studied in the Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
Online, Blended, and Distance Education in Schools: Building Successful Programs

The majority of research concerning online and blended learning occurs in higher education, corporate, and government settings. Research examining K–12 (i.e., kindergarten to twelfth grade) environ...
Ethnicity of Patients With Germline GCM2-Activating Variants and Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Context Germline gain-of-function variants in the transcription factor GCM2 were found in 18% of kindreds with familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP). These variants [c.1136T>A (p.Leu379Gln) and c.1181A>C (p.Tyr394Ser)] were located in a 17-amino acid transcriptional inhibitory domain named C-terminal conserved inhibitory domain (CCID). Objective We investigated the ethnicity of individuals with germline variants in the GCM2 CCID in our primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patient samples and in the Genome Aggregation Database. Design Ethnicity information was obtained from an in-house clinical database and genetic counseling. Sanger sequencing of blood DNA was used to determine the genotype of the GCM2 CCID region. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to determine the functional impact of GCM2 variants. Setting and patients National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases endocrine clinic is a service that accepts PHPT referral patients. Results The GCM2 p.Tyr394Ser variant was found in 41% [95% confidence interval (CI), 22% to 64%] of Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) kindreds with FIHP and in 27% (95% CI, 17% to 40%) of AJ patients with sporadic PHPT. The p.Tyr394Ser variant was also found in sporadic PHPT patients of European ancestry, but at a lower prevalence. The p.Leu379Gln variant was found in 8% (95% CI, 1% to 26%) of European kindreds with FIHP and 0.5% (95% CI, 0% to 3.0%) of sporadic PHPT cases of European ancestry. The sporadic PHPT patients with GCM2-activating variants often had multigland involvement or postoperative recurrent or persistent disease. Conclusions Specific GCM2-activating variants enriched among various ethnic backgrounds could contribute to a large number of cases with FIHP or sporadic PHPT.
Vetting Refugees: Is Our Screening Process Adequate, Humane, Culturally Appropriate?

As President Trump acknowledged in his February 16, 2017, press conference, the United States has robust procedures in place to vet refugees and asylum seekers. Any changes to the asylum and refugee processing system should thus promote the rule of law, safeguard the consistent application of screening measures, and ensure the fair and equitable treatment of applications for protection, without regard to an individual’s country of origin. The March 6, 2017 Executive Order, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” however, attempts to suspend the refugee resettlement program and reduce the number of refugees admitted to the United States in direct contravention of U.S. legal and moral obligations to protect those fleeing persecution and fearing return to torture. This article first provides a brief history of this country’s long-standing commitment to refugee protection. Next, it describes the legal standard applied in determining whether an individual is eligible for refugee protection, including bars to protection under U.S. law. The article then provides an overview of the extensive screening procedures already in place to address national security concerns. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion of challenges related to credibility and corroboration, including issues with trust, translation, trauma, time, resources, and other hurdles, all of which must be considered as part of any effort to change the system.
Early genetic restoration of lubricin expression in transgenic mice mitigates chondrocyte peroxynitrite release and caspase-3 activation

Summary Objective This study investigated the ability of endogenous lubricin secretion to restore joint health following a brief Prg4 gene trap (GT) mouse under the control of cre-recombinase. Previously we showed that re-expression of lubricin at 21 days was partly restorative of joint lubrication. Design The tibio-femoral joints of adult C57BL/6J mice containing lubricin, lacking lubricin, and postnatally lacking lubricin until restoration of lubricin expression at 7 days or 14 days of age were evaluated ex vivo . At 8-weeks of age, whole joint coefficient of friction (COF), and caspase-3 activation were measured and the tibial-femoral joints histologically analyzed for degenerative changes, following progressive cyclic loading. The peroxynitrite content of femoral head cartilage from these mice prior to cyclic loading was measured. Results Mice that underwent gene recombination at 7 and 14 days of age did not reestablish low COF as joint cycling time increased and were histopathologically indistinguishable from the joints of lubricin-null littermates. However, cartilage from tibio-femoral joints that underwent recombination at 7 and 14 days of age had significantly fewer caspase-3 positive cells and significantly reduced peroxynitrite content compared to lubricin-null littermates. Conclusions The biological effects of lubricin, which include limiting inflammation via peroxynitrite production and caspase-3 activation, may be achieved without completely restituting low COF. However, fully recapitulating low COF may require undamaged cartilage surfaces or absence of biofouling, which may interfere with the activity of lubricin.
Perceived Teacher Encouragement as Buffer to Substance Use in Urban African American Adolescents: Implications for Disconnected Youth.

The variety of experiences of African American adolescents is still misunderstood and neglected. Empirical and lay reports consistently report that drug use is rampant within African American commu...
Quantification of metastatic load in a syngeneic murine model of metastasis

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is an established method for evaluating metastatic load in preclinical cancer models; however, BLI can produce observational error due to differences in substrate concentration and signal depth. In our syngeneic murine model of metastasis (VM-M3), we used a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method of DNA quantification to bypass these limitations. Liver, spleen, and brain from VM/Dk (VM) mice bearing VM-M3 tumor cells were first imaged ex vivo with BLI. qPCR quantification of tumor cell DNA was then performed on DNA extracted from these organs. Linear regression indicated that qPCR data predicted BLI data in solid tissue. Furthermore, the tumor cell detection limit was lower for qPCR analysis than for BLI analysis. In order to validate qPCR for use in detecting blood metastases, qPCR quantification was performed on whole blood collected from mice whose global organ metastatic load (summation of liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, and brain) was quantified through BLI. Linear regression indicated that qPCR data in blood predicted BLI data in solid tissue. The results demonstrate that qPCR is an accurate and sensitive method of metastatic quantification in syngeneic murine models.
Deterministic Encryption with the Thorp Shuffle

We analyze the security of the Thorp shuffle, or, equivalently, a maximally unbalanced Feistel network. Roughly said, the Thorp shuffle on N cards mixes any $$N^{1-1/r}$$ of them in $$O(r\lg N)$$ steps. Correspondingly, making O(r) passes of maximally unbalanced Feistel over an n-bit string ensures CCA security to $$2^{n(1-1/r)}$$ queries. Our results, which employ Markov chain techniques, particularly couplings, help to justify a practical, although still relatively inefficient, blockcipher-based scheme for deterministically enciphering credit card numbers and the like.
Postoperative Management Considerations

During limb lengthening, the surgeon must be diligent in assessing the evolution of neurologic problems as well as vascular and circulatory difficulties, including compartment syndrome. Nerve releases may be necessary. Contractures, subluxations, and dislocations can occur at any point along the treatment route, most often after 25 mm or more of lengthening. Intensive postoperative physical therapy is an important element of limb elongation surgery as are stretching exercises, splinting, and night positioning.
Chronic ethanol exposure increases inhibition of optically targeted phasic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core and medial shell ex vivo.

Abstract Dopamine signaling encodes reward learning and motivated behavior through modulation of synaptic signaling in the nucleus accumbens, and aberrations in these processes are thought to underlie obsessive behaviors associated with alcohol abuse. The nucleus accumbens is divided into core and shell sub-regions with overlapping but also divergent contributions to behavior. Here we optogenetically targeted dopamine projections to the accumbens allowing us to isolate stimulation of dopamine terminals ex vivo. We applied 5 pulse (phasic) light stimulations to probe intrinsic differences in dopamine release parameters across regions. Also, we exposed animals to 4 weeks of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor and measured phasic release. We found that initial release probability, uptake rate and autoreceptor inhibition were greater in the accumbens core compared to the shell, yet the shell showed greater phasic release ratios. Following chronic ethanol, uptake rates were increased in the core but not the shell, suggesting region-specific neuronal adaptations. Conversely, kappa opioid receptor function was upregulated in both regions to a similar extent, suggesting a local mechanism of kappa opioid receptor regulation that is generalized across the nucleus accumbens. These data suggest that dopamine axons in the nucleus accumbens core and shell display differences in intrinsic release parameters, and that ethanol-induced adaptations to dopamine neuron terminal fields may not be homogeneous. Also, chronic ethanol exposure induces an upregulation in kappa opioid receptor function, providing a mechanism for potential over-inhibition of accumbens dopamine signaling which may negatively impact downstream synaptic function and ultimately bias choice towards previously reinforced alcohol use behaviors.
Feasibility of an Image-Based Mobile Health Protocol for Postoperative Wound Monitoring

Background Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common nosocomial infection and the leading cause of readmission among surgical patients. Many SSIs develop in the postdischarge period and are inadequately recognized by patients. To address this, we developed a mobile health protocol of remote wound monitoring using smartphone technology. The current study aims to establish its feasibility among patients and providers. Study Design We enrolled vascular surgery patients during their inpatient stay. They were trained to use our mobile health application, which allowed them to transmit digital images of their surgical wound and answer a survey about their recovery. After hospital discharge, participants completed the application daily for 2 weeks. Providers on the inpatient team reviewed submissions daily and contacted patients for concerning findings. Results Forty participants were enrolled. Forty-five percent of participants submitted data every day for 2 weeks, with an overall submission rate of 90.2%. Submissions were reviewed within an average of 9.7 hours of submission, with 91.9% of submissions reviewed within 24 hours. We detected 7 wound complications with 1 false negative. Participant and provider satisfaction was universally high. Conclusions Patients and their caregivers are willing to participate in a mobile health program aimed at remote monitoring of postoperative recovery, and they are able to complete it with a high level of fidelity and satisfaction. Preliminary results indicate the ability to detect and intervene on wound complications.
Social construction of drug policies and target populations: U.S. Policy and media discourse

In this review, we discuss the historical changes in U.S. drug policy discourse, institutional racism, and the social construction of target populations in media discourse. We do not intend to show a cause-effect relationship; instead, we use a social constructionist approach that focuses on meaning production and “truth-claims” to explore the relationship between news media and drug policy. We begin by discussing mass incarceration, war on drugs, and institutional racism. Next, we review a sample of the current research from the fields of sociology and criminology on drug policy, race, and media discourse. We then focus on the most recent articulation of drugrelated policy and media discourse – the discourse surrounding marijuana use, including most recent trends in marijuana discourse. We conclude by noting the possible direction for drug policies and discussing the need for research addressing gaps in current understanding of drug-related discourse and the social construction of target populations.
METABOLIC CHANGES | Role of Metabolic Substrates and Acid-Base Balance in Seizures

Metabolic disturbances, such as changes in glucose levels and in pH, may influence neuronal excitability and seizure susceptibility. Seizures commonly occur in patients with severe hypoglycemia, despite the fact that lowering glucose levels is associated with synaptic silencing and suppression of neuronal firing. Unlike neurons in other brain regions, GABAergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNR) increase their firing rate under hypoglycemic condition. Increase in firing of GABAergic SNR neurons is associated with failure of the SNR to control seizures. The paradoxical increase in firing of GABAergic SNR neurons under low extracellular glucose conditions may be related to facilitated seizure occurrence under conditions of mebabolic stress. This mechanism may possibly apply also to status epilepticus, as long-lasting seizure activity leads to decrease in extracellular glucose levels. Mice with carbonic anhydrase II deficiency, suffering from systemic acidosis, have increased seizure threshold in various seizure models. Similarly, acidotic pH supresses in vitro epileptiform activity, while alkalic pH can evoke epileptiform discharges (most likely by blocking/unblocking NMDA receptors). In addition to changes in the extracellular pH due to metabolic factors and respiratory patterns, pH transients also occur during normal synaptic activity, and may contribute to setting the level of excitability in sensitive neurons.
Repair of Bladder Fistulae

Leakage of urine through an abnormal communication between the bladder and the vagina, or vesicovaginal fistula, can be one of the more troubling disorders faced by women so afflicted. In some cultures, uncontrolled leakage of urine from the vagina results in social ostracism (1,2). In others, women may simply be embarrassed and may view the condition as quite incapacitating. There is little doubt that patients are quite grateful when this condition is corrected.
Fatigue strength of bilayered ceramics under cyclic loading as a function of core veneer thickness ratios

Abstract Statement of problem Minimal evidence is available concerning the appropriate thickness of each layer in bilayered ceramic systems. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to examine the effect of core-veneer thickness ratios on the fatigue strength of a bonded bilayered ceramic system. Material and methods Specimens of Ivoclar Porcelain System (IPS) e.max lithium disilicate were fabricated with core/veneer thicknesses of 0.5/1.0 mm, 0.75/0.75 mm, 1.0/0.5 mm, and 1.5/0.0 mm. All specimens were cemented to bases of a dentin-like material. Each specimen was cyclically loaded by a 2-mm–diameter G10 piston in water. Loads ranging from 10 N to the target load were applied at a frequency of 20 Hertz for 500 000 cycles. If cracked, the next specimen was cycled at a lower load; if not cracked, at a higher load (step size of 25 N). Results Mean and standard deviations of fatigue loads for the different core thicknesses were 0.5-mm core 610.94 N ±130.11; 0.75-mm core 600.0 N ±132.80; 1.0-mm core 537.50 N ±41.67; a Nd 1.5-mm core 501.14 N ±70.12. All veneered groups were significantly stronger than the full thickness group (ANOVA, P 2 test, P Conclusions Results indicate that the addition of veneering porcelain to lithium disilicate cores increases the fatigue strength of the biceramic system.
Thrombotic Microangiopathy Not Associated with the Classic/Idiopathic TTP-HUS

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is characterized by the formation of platelet thrombi and vascular wall injury in the microcirculation associated with hallmark clinical features of acute thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), and visceral organ injury, especially involving the kidneys and brain. Of all TMA cases, a third of them are due to the classic TTP-HUS; the remaining two-thirds are nonclassic and considered as secondary TMA that occurs in a variety of clinical settings including in microangiopathic antiphospholipid syndrome (MAPS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other connective tissue diseases, a wide range of systemic infections, pregnancy, drug ingestion, disseminated malignancy, solid organ transplantation, bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell transplantations, and, rarely, with severe pancreatitis and surgery. This chapter focuses on entities of secondary TMA and reviews their pathogenesis, clinicopathological presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategy.
Investigating partial tension field action in gable frame panel zones

Abstract Gable metal frames are popular, cost-efficient structural systems for commercial and industrial buildings. The use of relatively thin web material typically leads to shear buckling of the column panel zone when such frames are subjected to lateral loads. Previous experimental research has shown that the exterior corner of a panel zone in gable frame knee joints may not be stiff enough to fully develop tension field action (TFA), but that some post-buckling strength is developed. This paper presents a theoretical model for TFA in knee joints based on plastic analysis, and an accompanying equation for predicting the post-buckling panel zone strength for positive bending (wherein the tension field is oriented from the interior to the exterior corners). The TFA was found to primarily depend on three design parameters, namely, flange flexural strength, panel aspect ratio, and panel slenderness. To calibrate the proposed equation, a parametric analytical study was conducted using the finite element method. The modeling scheme accounted for material and geometric nonlinearity and was validated with experimental test data. The study involved 98 prototype gable frame configurations and allowed the investigation of the impact of the aforementioned three design parameters on the TFA. The proposed equation was found to predict the panel zone shear strength for the prototype frames with an average error of 1% and an error standard deviation of 5%. Therefore, the equation can be used to calculate the post-buckling shear strength of panel zones for the range of design parameters considered in the parametric study.
Perspectives on Research in Computational Plasma Physics With Applications to Experiments

Computational plasma physics was born some 50 years ago with the development of high-speed computers. Computer simulation is well suited to the challenging nature of fundamental and applied plasma science, which exhibits enormous ranges of time and space scales, and whose underlying mathematical framework is comprised of nonlinear partial differential equations and nonlinear kinetic equations. Computational plasma physics has advanced from relatively simple calculations with limited dimensionality and scope to sophisticated and comprehensive simulation models. Moreover, computational plasma physics has matured as a significant scientific discipline with a rigorous mathematical foundation and voluminous literature. While computational plasma physics has greatly benefitted from the growth in computing capability by many orders of magnitude, the contributions from innovation in methods and algorithms have been no less important. This talk presents a personal perspective on the development and application of computational plasma physics to plasmas in nature and in the laboratory. The examples described will be based on experience over the course of a career in computational plasma physics and illustrate both the fundamental plasma phenomena and the behavior of laboratory plasmas. Some of the specific examples include simulations of microinstabilities in the magnetic mirror, tokamak and spheromak plasmas, laser–plasma interactions, and the Knudsen-layer phenomena, as it affects fusion performance. The examples also illustrate the development of appropriate models and algorithms that are well suited to simulating the phenomena of interest efficiently. A particular interest of the author has been the development of multiple time-scale algorithms.
Stage Two: Population Preservation and Altruism Tajikistan Typhoid Epidemic – September to November 2003

More than 1,500 people were infected and at least one died during a major outbreak of typhoid fever in Tajikistan and neighboring Kyrgyzstan in the fall of 2003. It was the worst typhoid outbreak in 6 years, coming on the heels of a 1997 epidemic that killed dozens and affected more than 17,000 [1].
Trisomy 21 is Associated with Caspase-2 Upregulation in Cytotrophoblasts at the Maternal-Fetal Interface

Impaired placentation is implicated in poor perinatal outcomes associated with Trisomy 21. Earlier studies revealed abnormal cytotrophoblast differentiation along the invasive pathway as a contributing mechanism. To further elucidate the causes, we evaluated Caspase-2 expression at the protein level (immunolocalization and immunoblot) in samples from Trisomy 21 (n = 9) and euploid (n = 4) age-matched placentas. Apoptosis was investigated via the TUNEL assay. An immunolocalization approach was used to characterize Caspase-3, Fas (CD95), and Fas ligand in the same samples. Caspase-2 was significantly overexpressed in Trisomy 21 placentas, with the highest expression in villous cores and invasive cytotrophoblasts. Immunolocalization showed that Caspase-3 had a similar expression pattern as Caspase-2. Using the TUNEL approach, we observed high variability in the number of apoptotic cells in biopsies from different regions of the same placenta and among different placentas. However, Trisomy 21 placentas had more apoptotic cells, specifically in cell columns and basal plates. Furthermore, Caspase-2 co-immunolocalized with Fas (CD95) and FasL in TUNEL-positive extravillous cytotrophoblasts, but not in villous cores. These results help explain the higher levels of apoptosis among placental cells of Trisomy 21 pregnancies in molecular terms. Specifically, the co-expression of Caspase-2 and Caspase-3 with other regulators of the apoptotic process in TUNEL-positive cells suggests these molecules may cooperate in launching the observed apoptosis. Among trophoblasts, only the invasive subpopulation showed this pattern, which could help explain the higher rates of adverse outcomes in these pregnancies. In future experiments, this relationship will be further examined at a functional level in cultured human trophoblasts.
Seismic Repair Assessment of Hybrid Sliding–Rocking Bridge Columns through Integrated Experimentation and Expert Panel Solicitation

AbstractDue to the large number of bridges that will need upgrade, retrofit, or replacement in coming years, there is an increasing need for seismic bridge design techniques that are compatible wit...
Lateral phase differences in a population model of the visual cortex are sufficient for the development of rhythmic spatial sampling

When attending to many spatially distributed visual stimuli, attention is reweighted rhythmically at 4-8 Hz. The probability of detection depends on the phase at which a stimulus is deployed relative to this intrinsic rhythm. The reweighting oscillations can be observed both electrophysiologically and behaviorally, and appear to be regulated by the pulvinar. Based on these findings, we considered the computational consequences of allowing feedback to shape the distribution of inhibitory oscillations from the thalamus, as measured by a local field potential (LFP) phases in the 8 Hz low alpha-band, across laterally-connected regions of the visual cortex. We constructed a population activity model with lateral and feedforward connections. In agreement with prior models, we found that the sign of the lateral phase difference in the inhibitory low-frequency oscillations regulated the direction of communication between the laterally-connected regions. Furthermore, the phase difference induced periodicity in the dynamics of a downstream winner-takes-all attractor network such that periodic switching between states was observed. We finally simulated a simple spatial attention task. We found rhythmic 8 Hz sampling between two regions when a lateral phase difference was present-an effect that disappeared when the lateral phase difference was zero. These findings are in agreement with spatial attention literature and suggest that lateral phase differences are essential for manifesting communicational asymmetries in laterally-connected visual cortices. Our model predicts that population-specific phase differences are critical for sampling the spatial extent of stimuli.
Preparation and performance of prickly pear (Opuntia phaeacantha) and mulberry (Morus rubra) dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract This study examined the use of natural dyes extracted from New Mexico prickly pear (Opuntia phaeacantha) and New Mexico mulberry (Morus rubra) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The main pigments betalain (betanin plus betaxanthin molecules) in prickly pear and anthocyanin in mulberry were obtained in more concentrated form by column chromatographic separation of the extracts. UV–Vis spectrophotometry was used to determine pigment concentrations and the efficacy of extraction solvent. Solar cells were prepared using nano-crystalline TiO2 mesoporous films and the fruit extracts as sensitizers in both raw and separated form. Based on photovoltaic (PV) performance, aqueous methanol (90% methanol/10% water) was found to be the best extraction solvent for betalain from prickly pear, while 100% methanol was best for anthocyanin from mulberry. Modest separation of the betanin and betaxanthin from betalain was achieved, however no improvement in PV output was observed with these individual pigments. Removal of (non-pigment) organic components did improve adsorption and PV performance of the anthocyanin-sensitized cells. An overall maximum efficiency of 0.82% was achieved from a 1:1 cocktail blend of anthocyanin and betalain extracts, attributed in part to a broadened and heightened absorption spectrum. Moreover, cells sensitized with the anthocyanin and betalain blend showed improved photo-stability over those sensitized with the betalain alone, demonstrating a synergistic effect and additional advantage of natural dye combinations for DSSCs.
Strategic Determinants of Web Site Traffic in On-Line Retailing

Web site traffic is a necessary condition for success in Internet retailing. This study empirically tests the effects of e-tailer characteristics and site visibility enhancers on Web site traffic, using data on traffic to top e-tailers from the 2000 holiday season. The results, in contradiction to much of the theoretical literature, suggest that order of entry and off-line advertising are not significant Web site traffic drivers. Media presence, however, turns out to be a very important factor. This is an intriguing finding, because many e-tailers that spent a great deal on advertising at the time of data collection were later forced to exit the market. In light of this finding, e-tailers competing for consumer mind share should recognize media coverage as a viable, although less easily achievable, alternative to more expensive advertising campaigns. Other findings include the importance of quasi-commodity products and larger product assortments as traffic drivers in the electronic marketplace.
Understanding and treating the inflammatory adverse events of cancer immunotherapy.

Summary During the past decade, immunotherapies have made a major impact on the treatment of diverse types of cancer. Inflammatory toxicities are not only a major concern for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies, but also limit the development and use of combination therapies. Fundamentally, these adverse events highlight the intricate balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways that regulate protective immune responses. Here, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of inflammatory adverse events, current approaches to treatment, as well as opportunities for the design of immunotherapies that limit such inflammatory toxicities while preserving anti-tumor efficacy.
Seasonal Variation in miR-328-3p and let-7d-3p Are Associated With Seasonal Allergies and Asthma Symptoms in Children.

OBJECTIVE MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNA molecules of around 18-22 nucleotides that are key regulators of many biologic processes, particularly inflammation. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of circulating miRs from asthmatic children with seasonal variation in allergic inflammation and asthma symptoms. METHODS We used available small RNA sequencing on blood serum from 398 children with mild-to-moderate asthma from the Childhood Asthma Management Program. We used seasonal asthma symptom data at the study baseline and allergen affection status from baseline skin prick tests as primary outcomes. We identified differentially expressed (DE) miRs between pairs of seasons using DESeq2. Regression analysis was used to identify associations between allergy status to specific seasonal allergens and DE miRs in 4 seasons and between seasonal asthma symptom data and DE miRs. We performed pathway enrichment analysis for target genes of the DE miRs using DAVID. RESULTS After quality control, 398 samples underwent differential analysis between the 4 seasons. We found 52 unique miRs from a total of 81 DE miRs across seasons. Further investigation of the association between these miRs and sensitization to seasonal allergens using skin prick tests revealed that 26 unique miRs from a total of 38 miRs were significantly associated with a same-season allergen. Comparison between seasonal asthma symptom data revealed that 2 of these 26 miRs also had significant associations with asthma symptoms in the same seasons: miR-328-3p (P < 0.03) and let-7d-3p (P < 0.05). Enrichment analysis showed that the most enriched pathway clusters were Rap1, Ras, and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSION Our results show seasonal variation in miR-328-3p and let-7d-3p are significantly associated with seasonal asthma symptoms and seasonal allergies. These indicate a potentially protective role for let-7d-3p and a deleterious role for miR-328-3p in asthmatics sensitized to mulberry. Further work will determine whether these miRs are drivers or results of the allergic response.
MFP1/MSD-1 and MFP2/NSPH-2 co-localize with MSP during C. elegans spermatogenesis

Until recently, the only verified component of Fibrous Bodies (FBs) within Caenorhabditis elegans spermatocytes was the Major Sperm Protein (MSP), a nematode-specific cytoskeletal element. Earlier studies in the pig parasite Ascaris suum had identified accessory proteins that facilitate MSP polymerization and depolymerization within the pseudopod of crawling spermatozoa. In this study, we show that C. elegans homologs of the two Ascaris accessory proteins MFP1 and MFP2 co-localize with MSP in both the pseudopods of C. elegans sperm and the FBs of C. elegans spermatocytes.
A functional approach for characterizing safety risk of signalized intersections at the movement level: An exploratory analysis

Safety evaluation of signalized intersections is often conducted by developing statistical and data-driven methods based on data aggregated at certain temporal and spatial levels (e.g., yearly, hourly, or per signal cycle; intersection or approach leg). However, such aggregations are subject to a major simplification that masks the underlying spatio-temporal safety risk patterns within the data aggregation levels. Consequently, high-resolution analysis such as safety risk within signal cycles and at traffic movement level cannot be performed. This study contributes to the literature by proposing a new functional data analysis (FDA) approach for a novel characterization of safety risk patterns of signalized intersections. Functional data smoothing methods that can mitigate overfitting and account for the nonnegative characteristics of safety risk are proposed to model the time series of safety risk within signal cycles at the traffic movement level. Functional analysis of variance method (FANOVA) that can compare the group level differences of functional curves is used to test differences of safety risk functions among different traffic movements. A typical signalized intersection with representative signal types and channelizations is selected as the study location and approximately 1-hour traffic video data recorded by an unmanned aerial vehicle are used to extract traffic conflicts. New movement-level safety risk patterns are characterized based on the safety risk functions that can reveal the temporal distribution of risk within signal cycles. Most of the tested traffic movements have significantly distinct functional risk patterns according to the FANOVA results while risk patterns for most of the traffic movements cannot be differentiated based on the data aggregated at the cycle and approach levels. The proposed functional approach has the potential to be used for facilitating proactive safety management, calibrating microsimulation models for safety evaluation, and optimizing signal timing while considering traffic safety at more disaggregated levels.
Nicotine Affects Striatal Glutamatergic Function in 6-OHDA Lesioned Rats

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that is characterized by degeneration of the dopamine containing neurons located within the midbrain (substantia nigra pars corn-pacta). There is also substantial loss of dopamine within nerve terminals located within the striatum which originate from those dopamine neurons. Current therapy involves administration of the precursor to dopamine, namely l-dopa. This chemical is taken up into the brain and then converted to dopamine. Although replacement of dopamine is effective over the first few years, other movement disorders are associated with long-term l-dopa therapy9. The l-dopa induced dyskinesias limit the usefulness of this type of therapy.
Cholecystectomy and sphincterotomy for biliary dyskinesia; a clinical attempt to define the indications.

Abstract 1. 1. A brief resume of the present status and use of section of the sphincter of Oddi is presented and a technic for doing the procedure outlined. 2. 2. Five cases diagnosed biliary dyskinesia and one case diagnosed chronic recurrent pancreatitis have been treated by cholecystectomy and transduodenal sphincterotomy. 3. 3. The results in those cases (three) showing the typical gallstone colic syndrome have been excellent to date. One case was misdiagnosed and one showed no improvement. The result in the pancreatitis case is obscured by chronic alcoholism but must be considered poor. 4. 4. The conclusion seems warranted that cholecystectomy and sphincterotomy are indicated in cases of biliary dyskinesia with a normal or questionable cholecystogram, showing the typical gallstone syndrome. Further trial must be done, however, before this conclusion becomes absolute. Great emphasis must be placed on a careful history and a thorough medical trial before surgery.
Developing IS Enabled Capabilities for a BPO Vendor: A Case Study

The outsourcing literature has offered a plethora of perspectives and models for understanding decision determinants and outcomes of outsourcing of business processes. While past studies have contributed significantly to scholarly research in this area, there are an insufficient number of studies that explore how information systems can be used to facilitate service provisioning. Consequently, there is a need to understand how vendors develop IS enabled capabilities that allow them to address a core challenge: to achieve scalable growth by developing standardized offerings that can be sufficiently customized to meet the unique demands of individual customers. This in-depth case study leverages an organizational sensemaking framework to explore IS enabled capability development in one of the largest business process outsourcing (BPO) vendors in the world.