cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of an exploding wire opening switch

An exploding wire model that accounts for the electric field enhanced conductivity of dense metal plasma is applied to simulate an exploding wire opening switch. In contrast to many z-pinch experiments, operated in vacuum, the experiments here discuss wires vaporized in a high pressure gas environment. In addition to this, these experiments are primarily concerned with sub-eV temperatures, with a specific emphasis on the liquid-vapor phase transition, where significant decreases in conductivity provide the opening switch behavior. It is common that fuses operating within this regime are analyzed using 0-dimensional models, where the resistance is taken to be an experimentally determined function of energy or action. A more accurate 1-dimensional model with added field enhanced conductivity has been developed to better model the fuse dynamics throughout a significantly larger parameter range. The model applies the LANL SESAME database for the equation-of-state, and the conductivity data developed with the Lee-More-Desjarlais (LMD) algorithm. Using conductivity based on conditions of thermal equilibrium accurately predicts fuse opening as well as current re-emergence after a few microseconds dwell time for the case of small electric fields, however, this simple approach fails to capture early fuse restrike if the differential voltage across the wire becomes too large (~few kV/cm for the investigated conditions). It is demonstrated that adding an electric field driven conductivity term to the model will accurately capture the fuse dynamics for the low field as well as the high field case.
A concept map-based cognitive framework for acquiring expert knowledge in industrial environment

Preserving important troubleshooting experience gained in industrial practice, often referred to as “tribal knowledge”, and making it readily available to be re-applied in similar situations represent a serious challenge for many companies in heavy industry. The solution is very often tied to building mental models to capture and express key latent cognitive variables. In this paper, we first attempt to identify the appropriate knowledge-based system diagnosis paradigms. A conceptual map-based framework is then proposed as a potential solution for retaining tribal knowledge. The validity and feasibility of the approach are demonstrated through a training program developed under the support of National Science Foundation (NSF) for improving engineering and technology students' troubleshooting skills.
Abstract 549: Adiponectin Modulation of Macrophage Inflammatory and Metabolic Properties is Regulated by Macrophage Polarization Status and Adiponectin Receptor Expression

Adiponectin, an adipose-derived adipokine, exerts metabolic, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects to ameliorate metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Monocytes/macropha...
TAOK2 Kinase Mediates PSD95 Stability and Dendritic Spine Maturation through Septin7 Phosphorylation

Abnormalities in dendritic spines are manifestations of several neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases. TAOK2 is one of the genes in the 16p11.2 locus, copy number variations of which are associated with autism and schizophrenia. Here, we show that the kinase activity of the serine/threonine kinase encoded by TAOK2 is required for spine maturation. TAOK2 depletion results in unstable dendritic protrusions, mislocalized shaft-synapses, and loss of compartmentalization of NMDA receptor-mediated calcium influx. Using chemical-genetics and mass spectrometry, we identified several TAOK2 phosphorylation targets. We show that TAOK2 directly phosphorylates the cytoskeletal GTPase Septin7, at an evolutionary conserved residue. This phosphorylation induces translocation of Septin7 to the spine, where it associates with and stabilizes the scaffolding protein PSD95, promoting dendritic spine maturation. This study provides a mechanistic basis for postsynaptic stability and compartmentalization via TAOK2-Sept7 signaling, with implications toward understanding the potential role of TAOK2 in neurological deficits associated with the 16p11.2 region.
Thalidomide Based Induction Chemotherapy Prior to Stem Cell Transplantation in Myeloma Is Associated with Decreased Response to Retreatment with Thalidomide at First Relapse Post Transplant.

Abstract Background: In patients (pts) with newly diagnosed myeloma (MM) eligible for high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), the standard approach is 4–6 months of induction therapy followed by ASCT. The combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone is one of the commonly used induction regimens, and has superior response rates compared to dexamethasone or VAD. Almost all patients undergoing an ASCT relapse at a median interval of 18–24 months. The choice of treatments at first relapse is variable, but re-application of the original induction regimen, if effective is often considered. It is not clear if the responses obtained at the time of induction therapy can be replicated at the time of relapse. We studied the response of thalidomide based regimens when used as first treatment after relapse from an ASCT in patients receiving thalidomide as induction treatment. Methods: Pts who received thalidomide and dexamethasone as induction therapy, and thalidomide ± dexamethasone at first relapse after ASCT were identified for the current study. A group of patients receiving dexamethasone as induction therapy and thalidomide ± dexamethasone at first relapse after ASCT was used as the control group. Results: There were 20 pts in the study group (group 1) and 14 patients in the control group (group 2) identified between 2002 and 2007. There were 15 (75%) males in group 1 and 10 (71%) in group 2. In group 1 there was 1(5%) complete response (CR), 5 (25%) very good partial response (VGPR) and 14 (70%) partial responses (PR) to induction therapy. In group 2 there was 1 (7%)VGPR, 12 (86%) PR and 1 (7%)stable disease following dexamethasone induction. Upon treatment with thalidomide based regimens at first relapse after ASCT, there was a high rate of treatment failures in group 1 as compared to group 2 (no response in 14 out of 20 patients (70%) versus 5 of 14 pts (35%), respectively, p = 0.04). Of the 10 patients with progressive disease in group 1 post transplant, 30% had previously achieved a VGPR and 70% had previously achieved a PR to thalidomide/dexamethasone pre-ASCT. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence toward the lack of efficacy of thalidomide based regimens on post ASCT relapse in patients who had thalidomide responsive disease prior to ASCT. It is possible that this applies to other induction regimens when used at post ASCT relapse and raises the possibility of selection of drug resistant clones with initial therapy. Response rates seen with drug regimens prior to ASCT may not be reproducible at the time of relapse after ASCT.
Histologic Findings and Cytological Alterations in Thyroid Nodules After Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Graves’ Disease: A Diagnostic Dilemma:

Unlike the well-documented relation between radiation to the neck and development of papillary thyroid carcinoma, a causal association between radioactive iodine treatment for Graves' disease and development of thyroid malignancy is less defined. However, patients with a background of thyroid dysfunction presenting with clinically palpable thyroid nodules are followed more closely than the average population, and fine needle aspiration is recommended in such circumstances. Cytological examination of aspirates, and histologic examination of tissue provided from patients with a known history of Graves' disease, managed by radioactive iodine therapy can create a diagnostic dilemma, as the distinction between radiation effect and a malignant primary thyroid neoplasm can be very challenging. Thus, pathologists should be aware of the existence of these changes in the setting of radiation therapy for Graves' disease. Providing pathologists with appropriate clinical history of Graves' disease treated with radioactive iodine is of paramount importance in order to prevent an overdiagnosis of malignancy.
Generation of CMV-Specific T-Lymphocytes for Adoptive Immunotherapy: A Comparison of Artificial Antigen-Presenting Cells and Autologous Dendritic Cells Pulsed with CMV-pp65 Protein-Spanning Pentadecapeptide Pools.

Abstract Adoptive transfer of virus-specific T-cells constitutes a promising approach for the treatment and prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections complicating allogeneic HSC transplants. Current strategies employing peptide-pulsed donor-derived dendritic cells (DCs) for antigen presentation are effective, but limited by availability of adequate numbers of DCs and the time required for their generation. We established a series of immediately accessible, replenishable, artificial antigen-presenting cells (AAPCs), consisting of mouse 3T3 cells transduced to express human B7.1, LFA-3, ICAM-1, β2-microglobulin and one HLA class I allele (Papanicolaou et al., Blood 2003). We then compared yields of CMV-peptide-specific T-cells when T-cells from HLA A0201 seropositive donors were sensitized with autologous DCs or HLA A0201 AAPCs loaded with a known HLA A0201-binding immunogenic nonamer of CMV-pp65 (NLVPMVATV) or a pool of pentadecapeptides spanning CMV-pp65, which included the 15-mer No. 123 (AGILARNLVPMVATV) containing this epitope. Peptide loading was performed in the presence or absence of serum in order to distinguish peptide editing mediated by ectopeptidases in the serum or expressed by the different APCs. Results from repeated experiments employing three HLA A0201 CMV-seropositive donors demonstrated that the yields of epitope-specific T-cells following 14–28 day sensitization with AAPCs loaded with the NLVPMVATV nonamer consistently exceeded those generated in response to peptide-loaded autologous DCs, as assessed by enumerating peptide-HLA A0201 tetramer-binding and peptide-specific IFN-γ producing T cells. High and selective yields of NLV-specific T-cells were obtained when the T-cells were sensitized with AAPCs or DCs loaded with the CMV-pp65-spanning pool of 15-mers in the presence or absence of serum suggesting that ectopeptidases expressed on the DCs and AAPCs appropriately clip and edit the 15-mers after binding to HLA A0201. Even higher yields were achieved when the T-cells were sensitized with AAPCs transduced to express the full length CMV-pp65 protein, confirming the potential of the mouse-derived AAPCs to process this protein and load immunogenic epitopes on HLA A0201. T-cells generated in response to peptide-loaded or transduced AAPCs also specifically lysed nonamer-loaded HLA A0201 expressing targets. Taken together, these studies indicate that mouse-derived AAPCs can efficiently process endogenous protein and edit exogenous 15-mer peptides for binding and presentation by the single expressed HLA allele. Use of these AAPCs loaded with overlapping peptides or transduced to express an immunogenic protein may thus provide advantages in terms of immunogenicity, immediate accessibility and broad applicability for rapid production of antigen-specific T-cells for adoptive immunotherapy.
Familial Renal Cell Carcinoma: Hereditary or Coincidental?

AbstractThe familial clustering of some cancers may be related to genetic factors, shared carcinogenic exposure among relatives or chance association. In cases of familial renal cell carcinoma identifying those persons at risk for renal tumors is difficult. There have been 28 family aggregates of renal carcinoma reported since 1961 but an abnormality in the constitutional karyotype has been demonstrated in the members of only 1 of these families. Since 1980 we have identified 5 more families in which a total of 12 relatives had renal cell carcinoma. However, peripheral blood karyotypes obtained from the 7 patients and 5 unaffected relatives whom we studied showed no significant abnormalities. With current laboratory techniques it is not possible to differentiate reliably familial renal tumors occurring by chance from those hereditary tumors posing a threat to remaining relatives. Therefore, in families with multiple cases of renal cell carcinoma we recommend that screening be conducted as has been suggest...
The Challenges of Monitoring Illicit Trade Should Not Obscure the Success of Tobacco Tax Policy

An editorial is presented which addresses the authors' views about the illicit tobacco trade and the success of Brazil's tobacco tax policy, and it mentions another article which appears in the same issue of the journal and deals with illicit cigarette consumption by adults in Brazil in 2013. According to the article, tax increases have been linked to reductions in tobacco consumption since 1999. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is assessed.
Some Control Problems in the Process Industries

The two problems discussed in this paper, the control of systems with constraints and statistical quality control, have in common that they have attracted much of the academic and industrial interest in the last decade. The problem formulations are motivated, progress toward a solution is summarized, and outstanding issues are indicated.
A model of nonlinearly hardening materials for complex loading

A number of observations are made on the macroscopic behavior of materials subjected to uniaxial random cyclic loadings. These observations are then generalized to construct a model describing the material behavior for complex multiaxial loadings, in particular for cyclic loadings. This generalization introduces the concept of a bounding surface in the stress space which always encloses the loading surface. A parameter defined by the relative position of the loading and the bounding surface, and the plastic work done during the most recent loading, determine the value of the plastic modulus.
Gambling Houses and the Conservation of Fairness

Imagine that you begin with $100 and you are allowed to stake any number of dollars between 0 and 100 on the outcome of a coin toss. You win your stake if the coin falls heads and lose it otherwise. Suppose you are allowed to make an arbitrary number of such bets on successive coin tosses while choosing the stakes according to some strategy which makes use of the past history of the game. Is it possible for you to play in such a way that your expected fortune when you stop playing exceeds your initial $100?
A 1W Quadrature Class-G Switched-Capacitor Power Amplifier with Merged Cell Switching and Linearization Techniques

A quadrature Class-G switched-capacitor power amplifier (SCPA) is implemented with a merged cell switching (MCS) and an inherent mismatch compensation for dual-supply voltage. The MCS technique improves power added efficiency (PAE) by adopting Class-G operation in quadrature IQ-Cell shared SCPA architecture in an efficient manner. The mismatch compensation technique can minimize nonlinearity from the mismatches in multiple supply voltages. The SCPA achieves peak output power and PAE of 30.1dBm and 37.0%, respectively. For 802.11g 64-QAM OFDM signal with 10.6dB PAPR (20MHz single-carrier 256-QAM signal with 7.6dB PAPR), it demonstrates an average output power of 19.5dBm (22.5dBm) and PAE of 14.7% (18.3%), while achieving EVM of −40.7 dB (-40.3dB).
Advancing the State of the Art in Clinical Natural Language Processing through Shared Tasks.

Objectives: To review the latest scientific challenges organized in clinical Natural Language Processing (NLP) by highlighting the tasks, the most effective methodologies used, the data, and the sharing strategies. Methods: We harvested the literature by using Google Scholar and PubMed Central to retrieve all shared tasks organized since 2015 on clinical NLP problems on English data. Results: We surveyed 17 shared tasks. We grouped the data into four types (synthetic, drug labels, social data, and clinical data) which are correlated with size and sensitivity. We found named entity recognition and classification to be the most common tasks. Most of the methods used to tackle the shared tasks have been data-driven. There is homogeneity in the methods used to tackle the named entity recognition tasks, while more diverse solutions are investigated for relation extraction, multi-class classification, and information retrieval problems. Conclusions: There is a clear trend in using data-driven methods to tackle problems in clinical NLP. The availability of more and varied data from different institutions will undoubtedly lead to bigger advances in the field, for the benefit of healthcare as a whole.
The Role of Impulsivity and Expectancies in Predicting Marijuana Use: An Application of the Acquired Preparedness Model.

ABSTRACTImpulsivity and substance use covary. Smith and Anderson’s acquired preparedness model proposes that impulsivity predicts substance use through a mediational model such that substance use e...
Diagnostic Accuracy of the Scapular Retraction Test in Assessing the Status of the Rotator Cuff

Background:Currently, clinical physical examination maneuvers alone provide variable reliability in diagnosing full-thickness rotator cuff tears (RCTs).Purpose:To assess the diagnostic accuracy of ...
Pulmonary Consequences of Acute Kidney Injury

Mortality rates among critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy typically exceed 50%, rates that have not improved significantly despite ongoing advancements in renal replacement therapy. A growing body of animal and human data have accumulated over the past 2 decades that have shown that AKI is associated with a series of distant organ effects that may contribute to the persistently high mortality of AKI. In this review, we describe the pulmonary sequelae of AKI, focusing on mechanisms of pulmonary edema in the context of traditional complications of AKI (eg, volume overload, acidosis) and nontraditional complications of AKI (eg, systemic inflammation). We review the complexities of volume management in patients with kidney and lung injury and subsequently delve into the clinical and basic science data on the mediators of lung injury after AKI. With an in-depth understanding of how the traditional and nontraditional effects of AKI can combine to produce pulmonary complications, effective management and therapeutic strategies may be developed.
Online social viewing: Cross-cultural adoption and uses of bullet-screen videos

Bullet-screen technology, an innovative way of interacting with online videos, allows viewers to contribute comments that simultaneously appear over videos. Popular in East Asia, the technology is ...
Survival and prognostic factors in patients with pancreatic squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Objectives Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of pancreas is rare entity with poorly defined prognostic factors and therapeutic outcomes. We sought to determine the overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors of patients with pancreatic SCC using National Cancer Database (NCDB) (2004–15). Methods Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to perform OS analysis. Propensity-matched analysis was used to compare the OS of pancreatic SCC and adenocarcinoma. Results Of the 515 cases included in our analysis, 46% were female. Approximately half of the cohort (48%) received chemotherapy or radiation therapy or both. Twenty six percent (33/125) of stage I and II disease (localized disease), 11% (8/72) of stage III, and 2% (6/318) of stage IV disease underwent surgical resection of the primary tumor. Median OS for the entire cohort was 4 months and was significantly higher in patients who underwent surgical resection of the primary tumor (17 vs 4 months, p Conclusions Pancreatic SCC had a diverse OS that varied significantly according to increasing age (>70 years) and stage of the disease at presentation (p
Incidence of comorbidities on death certificate data in women with gynecological cancers.

e17127Background: Risk factors for the development of gynecological cancers are known to vary; however, the effect on mortality is uncertain. Methods: Using CDC Wonder Database, death certificate d...
US small retail businesses’ perception of competition: Looking through a lens of fear, confidence, or cooperation

Abstract The U.S. retail industry has undergone dramatic changes, leading to the closing of brick-and-mortar retail stores on a large scale. Understanding perceived market competition among small retail businesses may help explain why certain businesses survive or fail in the altered retail environment. This study investigates small retail businesses' perceptions of competition within/outside the community, underlying reasons for their perceptions, and variations in perceptions by different business characteristics. Contrary to common expectations, we found that more than half of businesses interviewed were optimistic in the face of competition. Our data reveal two salient underlying reasons for pessimism and five for optimism. These perceptions tended to differ by operational locality (urban clusters vs. urban areas), business revenues, and innovativeness. Based on the findings, we developed propositions and a framework of small businesses' perceived competition and sustainable competitive advantage. We discussed theoretical and practical implications for small retail businesses’ sustainable growth in the challenging retail environment.
Role of imaging in predicting tumor spread through airspaces (STAS): what are the next steps

Tumor spread through airspaces (STAS) has been identified as a new pattern of invasion in the 2015 WHO classification of lung tumors (1) and is associated with a lower overall survival in resected non-small cell lung cancers (2). As a consequence, sublobar resection may not be the best surgical option for cancers with STAS.
A dehydrobenzoannulene-based two-dimensional covalent organic framework as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Developing anode materials with excellent cycling performance and energy capacities for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a challenging task. Herein, we report the synthesis of an imine-linked covalent organic framework (COF) containing redox-active dehydrobenzoannulene (DBA) units. The bulk DBA-COF 3 system exhibits a reversible capacity of 207 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1 after 90 cycles. This work highlights the potential of utilizing DBA units to construct efficient organic-based anode materials for LIBs.
Three different paths to introduce the smallpox vaccine in early 19th century United States.

The ancient technique of variolation (inoculation of the smallpox) which was introduced in the United States in 1721 was replaced by vaccination (inoculation of the cowpox) soon after the procedure was published by Edward Jenner in 1798. Benjamin Waterhouse is recognized as the introducer of smallpox vaccination in the United States having conducted the first vaccination in Boston on 8 July 1800, although other American physicians also played an important role in extending vaccination in the East Coast of the United States. A different route of introduction brought the smallpox vaccine from Mexico to New Mexico (March 1805) and Texas (April 1806) which at that time where part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The vaccine was brought to California in 1817 by Russian merchants who obtained it in Peru, where the vaccine had arrived in 1806 with the Spanish Philanthropic Expedition of the Vaccine. It took almost 150 years of vaccination efforts before the last natural outbreak of smallpox occurred in the United States in 1949.
YouTube: Searching for answers about breast cancer.

Introduction Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, affecting approximately 1 in 8 women worldwide. Additionally, it is either the most or second-most lethal cancer depending on ethnicity. Many women and concerned family members turn to the internet for information regarding the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this life-altering condition. We sought to objectively evaluate the quality of the information available on YouTube concerning breast cancer. Methods We searched YouTube for videos relating to breast cancer. We included videos that were less than 20 minutes in length, were in the top 200 for most views and were available in English, either subtitled or narrated. Videos were independently and blindly scored using a standardized scoring form. Possible scores ranged from negative infinity to 25.5 with one point being deducted for each misleading statement or claim. Results After exclusions, 133 videos in our sample were evaluated. Out of a possible 25.5 points, the true mean was 3.90 with a standard deviation of 1.38. There were only 30 videos (22.5%) that scored more than 7 points. 12 (9.0%) videos scored 0 points or fewer. 12 (9.0%) of the videos in our sample contained at least one misleading statement with 9 of those contained multiple misleading statements with some videos having up to 10 such statements. Conclusion While YouTube is an important source of information regarding breast cancer, few videos contain a significant amount of quality information and many of the videos contain false or misleading statements. In an area where patients are often scared and searching for answers, there is a significant need for more high-quality videos to educate patients and dispel myths and pseudoscience.
Coronavirus disease 2019, superinfections, and antimicrobial development: what can we expect?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) arose at a time of great concern about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). No studies have specifically assessed COVID-19-associated superinfections or AMR. Based on limited data from case series, it is reasonable to anticipate that an appreciable minority of patients with severe COVID-19 will develop superinfections, most commonly pneumonia due to nosocomial bacteria and Aspergillus. Microbiology and AMR patterns are likely to reflect institutional ecology. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial use is likely to be widespread among hospitalized patients, both as directed and empiric therapy. Stewardship will have a crucial role in limiting unnecessary antimicrobial use and AMR. Congressional COVID-19 relief bills are considering antimicrobial reimbursement reforms and antimicrobial subscription models, but it is unclear if these will be included in final legislation. Prospective studies on COVID-19 superinfections are needed, data from which can inform rational antimicrobial treatment and stewardship strategies, and models for market reform and sustainable drug development.
The effects of oxygen concentration and gas temperature on coal stream ignition and particle surface temperature in reducing-to-oxidizing environments

Abstract In the near-burner region of pulverized coal burners, two zones exist, with very different oxygen concentrations. The first zone is a locally reducing environment, caused by the fast release of volatiles from a region of dense coal particles, and the second zone, which is surrounding the first zone, is a hot oxidizing environment. The transition of coal particles from the reducing zone to the oxidizing zone affects early stage coal combustion characteristics, such as devolatilization, ignition and particle temperature history. In this work, we used a two-stage Hencken flat-flame burner to simulate the conditions that coal particles experience in practical combustors when they transition from a reducing environment to an oxidizing environments. The composition of the reducing environment was chosen to approximate that of a typical coal volatile. Three oxygen concentrations (5, 10 and 15 vol%) in the “ambient” oxidizing environment were tested, corresponding to those at different distances downstream from a commercial burner. The corresponding gas temperatures for the oxidizing environments were adjusted for the different oxygen concentrations such that the “volatile” flame temperatures were the same, as this is what would be expected in a commercial combustor. High speed videography was used to obtain the ignition characteristics, and RGB color pyrometry was used to measure particle surface temperatures. Two different sizes of coal particles were used. It is found that when particles undergo a reducing-to-oxidizing transition at high temperatures, the particles are preheated such that the critical factor for ignition delay is point at which the particle is in the presence of oxygen, not the concentration of oxygen. The ignition delay of large particles is found to be 53% longer than that of small particles due to their higher thermal mass and slower devolatilization. The oxygen concentration in the ambient have a negligible effect on early-stage particle temperatures.
Tosiyasu L. Kunii, 1938–2020

Prof. Tosiyasu L. Kunii (1938–2020) passed away on November 3, 2020. He was a longstanding member of the Editorial Board of IEEE Computer Graphics & Applications , serving for over 21 years from 1982 into 2002 and over the span of six different Editors-in-Chief. His own work was published 18 times over the years in the pages of IEEE CG&A , and his contributions to multiple research areas within computer graphics and computing are highly regarded. Among his many accomplishments, he was an IEEE Life Fellow and recipient of the prestigious IEEE Booth Education Award. With more than 50 published books and 500 refereed articles across the major publications and conferences of our field, and with colleagues and former students distributed around the world, his work and legacy will live on.
Circulating CD138 (syndecan-1) enhances APRIL-mediated autoreactive B cell survival and differentiation in MRL/Lpr mice

High levels of serum CD138, a heparan sulfate-bearing proteoglycan, correlates with increased disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Mechanisms responsible for serum CD138 production and its biological function in SLE disease remain poorly understood. In this study, corroborating patient data, we detected an increase in serum CD138 in MRL/Lpr mice parallel to disease activity. Although TCR{beta}+CD138+ T cells expand in MRL/Lpr mice as the disease progresses, surprisingly, TCR{beta}+CD138- cells were the primary source of circulating CD138 as the transfer of TCR{beta}+CD138- cells to young MRL/Lpr mice, but not TCR{beta}+CD138+ cells, resulted with higher serum CD138 in the recipient mice. We found that elevated trypsin, expressed by TCR{beta}+CD138- cells, was able to cleave CD138 from T cells. Moreover, suggesting the contribution of cleaved CD138 to the increase in blood CD138, trypsin inhibitors defined trypsin inhibitor (DTI) or leupeptin increased CD138 expression on TCR{beta}+CD138- cells. Furthermore, soluble CD138 was able to bind a proliferation inducing ligand (APRIL) and enhanced APRIL-mediated plasma cell generation and autoreactive antibody production through the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in B cells. APRIL receptor, transmembrane activator, calcium modulator, and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) was involved in the enhancement of APRIL activity by CD138, as the synergistic effect of APRIL and CD138 was ablated on TACI deficient B cells. These findings indicate a regulatory role for soluble CD138 in B cell differentiation and autoreactive antibody secretion in SLE disease.
Measurement of $$\sigma _{t\bar{t}}\;\text {in}\; 0.7\; \text {fb}^{-1}$$ of Data

With 0.7 \(\text {fb}^{-1}\) of data provided by the LHC and taken by the ATLAS experiment in the first half of 2011, another measurement of the top quark pair production cross section in the lepton+jets channel is conducted. While the general analysis strategy is the same as for the analysis described in Chap. 5 and is based on the ideas outlined in Chap. 6, the details of the analyses presented here and in Chap. 6 differ.
BEAM: a distributed aggregated multicast protocol using bi-directional trees

IP multicast confronts a severe scalability problem when there are large numbers of multicast groups in the network due to state explosion and control explosion. In backbone networks, this state scalability problem is exacerbated, since there are potentially enormous multicast groups crossing backbone domains, in this paper, we propose a scalable protocol, called BEAM (bi-directional aggregate multicast), which uses the concept of aggregated multicast. BEAM is a distributed protocol using bi-directional trees. It is simple and easy to implement. Through simulations, we show that BEAM can greatly improve state scalability with very low overhead: up to 98% state and tree setup and maintenance overhead reduction with less than 0.14 bandwidth waste in our experiments.
Optimizing the energy consumed by secure wireless sessions: wireless transport layer security case study

In this paper we identified the various sources of energy consumption during the setup, operation and tear down of a secure wireless session by considering the wireless transport layer security protocol. Our analysis showed that data transfers during a secure wireless transaction, number and size of messages exchanged during secure session establishment and cryptographic computations used for data authentication and privacy during secure data transactions in that order are the main sources of energy consumption during a secure wireless session. We developed techniques based on information compression, session negotiation protocol optimization and hardware acceleration of crypto-mechanisms to reduce the energy consumed by a secure session. A mobile test bed was developed to verify our energy management schemes and to study the energy consumption versus security tradeoffs. Using our proposed schemes we were able to reduce the session establishment energy by more than 6. 5x and the secure data transaction energy by more than 1. 5x during data transmission and by more than 2. 5x during data reception.
Effects of neurohumoral and adrenergic agents on cyclic amp levels in various areas of the rat brain in vitro

When norepinephrine (NE) at 10−5 M was added to slices of various areas of the rat brain in vitro there was a 2–5 fold increase in the level of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) within 6 min in all areas except the cerebellum. The basal level of cyclic AMP in the cerebellum was higher than in other areas of the rat brain, and the response to NE was smaller. Histamine and serotonin (5-HT) at 10−5 M had no effect on cyclic AMP in any brain area. However, 5-HT when added simultaneously with NE, prevented the rise in cyclic AMP elicited by NE in the hypothalamus, midbrain and brainstem. Pargyline elevated the basal levels of cyclic AMP in all brain areas but did not potentiate the action of NE. Chronic reserpine pretreatment in the rat caused an enhanced cyclic AMP response to NE. No effect on cyclic AMP in any brain area was observed following dopamine, amphetamine, or prostaglandins E1 and E2. Theophylline slightly reduced cyclic AMP levels. In slices of rat hypogthalamus NE, epinephrine, isoproterenol and α-methyl NE, significantly elevated cyclic AMP levels. Phenylephrine and several “false” transmitters were without effect. Further studies in the hypothalamus revealed that both α and β adrenergic blocking agents effectively antagonized the cyclic AMP response to NE. These results are somewhat difficult to interpret because the precise cellular location of the observed changes are unknown.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Splenic Infarct, and Transient Antiphospholipid Antibodies: A New Association?

We report 2 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pulmonary infection with splenic infarcts and transient antiphospholipid antibodies. This association has not been reported previously.
An Empirical test of a Judgemental International Classification of Financial Reporting Practices

The main objectives of this study were to (1) empirically classify current national financial reporting systems and (2) test the validity of a hierarchical classification proposed by Nobes [1983] and extended by Berry [1987]. Data on accounting practices were obtained for fifty countries and used as input into a hierarchical cluster analysis. The resulting classification bears significant similarity to the aforementioned taxonomies and provides several additional insights.
Langmuir films of amino acid-modified diacetylenes as organic templates for biomimetic mineralization

Amino-acid modified diacetylenes were used as organic templates for controlled biomineralization. Macromolecular changes in the monolayers have been observed upon application of pressure or polymerization. The degree of film compression and film polymerization influenced calcium carbonate polymorph selectivity. The desired optimization of the physical properties of the biomineral product is approached via structural control of the organic monolayer.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Prolactin in liver cytosol and pheromonal emission in the rat.

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that the concentration of prolactin in the liver of the lactating female rat is critically related to her release of the maternal pheromone. The data supported this hypothesis and enabled us to provide an account, more complete than before, of the physiological events that lead to pheromonal emission.
Layout optimization and template pattern verification for directed self-assembly (DSA)

Recently, block copolymer directed self-assembly (DSA) has demonstrated great advantages in patterning contacts/vias for the 7 nm technology node and beyond. The high throughput and low process cost of DSA makes it the most promising candidate in patterning tight pitched dense patterns for the next generation lithography. Since DSA is very sensitive to the shapes and distributions of the guiding templates, it is necessary to develop new EDA algorithms and tools to address the patterning rules and constraints of the process. This paper presents a set of DSA-aware optimization techniques targeting the most urgent problems for DSA technology, including layout optimization and template pattern verification.
Qualitative Clinical Research With Children and Adolescents.

This article provides an overview of how qualitative research methods (QRMs) can augment the literature in child and adolescent clinical psychology by contributing to theory and hypothesis building. We discuss the utility of qualitative methods in examining the nature of clinical processes and obtaining deeper understandings about quantitative findings. We also present strategies for designing and conducting qualitative investigations, address ethical issues involved in conducting qualitative research with minors, and discuss limitations on inferences that can be made from qualitative findings.
The insulin-like growth factor system as a target in breast cancer

Evidence from several experimental systems has shown that the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) can stimulate breast cancer proliferation. Since IGF action is mediated by interaction with specific cell surface receptors, interruption of these signalling pathways could result in inhibition of cellular growth. In all extracellular fluids, the IGFs are associated with high affinity binding proteins, the IGFBPs can bind the IGFs and prevent receptor activation, and thus might have a role in a targeted approach to breast cancer therapy. Here we present our studies using IGFBP-1 to inhibit growth of the breast cancer cell line MCF-7.
Resistance of Turkeys to Hematologic Effects of S-(1,2-Dichlorovinyl)-l-Cysteine

Abstract WHEREAS the bovine animal is highly susceptible (Schultze et al., 1959) to the toxic effects of S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)- l -cysteine (DCVC) (McKinney et al., 1957), several other species such as rats (Schultze et al., 1962), rabbits,2 and chickens,2 are quite resistant. In contrast to the bovine, these species do not develop aplastic anemia when treated with DCVC. After the discovery of an enzyme, DCVC-lyase, in bovine liver and kidney which cleaves DCVC with the formation of pyruvate, chloride, ammonia and an unknown fragment (Anderson and Schultze, 1965), a search was made for this enzymatic activity in some other tissues and organs. Using the formation of pyruvate as a criterion of DCVC cleavage it was found2 that liver and kidneys of turkeys have considerably higher activity than the corresponding bovine tissues. Moreover, when these tissues from both species were used as a source of DCVC-lyase, a positive 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)-pyridine test (Epstein et al., 1955) for . . .
Ion beam mixing and radiation-enhanced diffusion in metallic glasses

Abstract Measurements of ion beam mixing and radiation-enhanced diffusion in metallic glasses were made in the temperature range 10–525 K. It was observed that the mixing of tracer impurities at low temperatures was greater in the metallic glasses than in the constituent elements for NiZr and CuEr systems, and that it was about the same for the NiTi system. It was also observed in the NiZr glass that the rate of ion mixing is somewhat larger for copper than for gold tracer impurities but does not depend on the exact composition of the alloy. At higher temperatures, the rate of ion mixing was found to be dependent on temperature and ion flux in amorphous NiZr (a-NiZr), indicating that radiation-enhanced diffusion occurs in metallic glasses. The apparent activation enthalpy for diffusion in a-NiZr during ion irradiation is about 0.5 eV, and depends on the square root of the flux.
Abelianization of space groups.

The abelianization of a group is its commutator quotient group. In this paper, we provide tables of the abelianizations of all the n-dimensional space groups for n = 1, 2, 3. We prove that the exponent of the torsion subgroup of the abelianization of an arbitrary n-dimensional space group Γ divides the order of the point group of Γ.
Perfluorochemical Emulsions as Adjuncts to Radiotherapy

Oxygen is a potent radiosensitizer. As virtually complete radiosensitization is observed at O2 levels similar to those in venous blood, most healthy normal tissues exhibit essentially complete aerobic radiosensitivity. In contrast, solid tumors contain avascular areas and blood vessels which are subject to transient and persistent interruptions in blood flow; as a result, tumors contain viable cells existing under acute and chronic hypoxia. These hypoxic cells are resistant to radiation and to many drugs used in cancer therapy, and can limit the curability of tumors by conventional therapeutic regimens. Many laboratory and clinical studies are examining ways to circumvent the problem of hypoxic cells in cancer therapy. Studies reviewed here examine the effects of infusion of a perfluorochemical emulsion (PFC-E) combined with administration of O2 at ambient or hyperbaric pressures on the radiation responses of solid tumors and of normal tissues which limit the intensity of therapy. Appropriate regimens of ...
Review of Uchida, Kesao 2012 Subekaraku 60-ten-shugi

This reviews a biographical profile of Omura Kyoichiro, who headed Shiseido's advertising department in the 1970s and 1980s, by one of his colleagues.
Fast transform from an adaptive multi-wavelet representation to a partial Fourier representation

We present a fast algorithm to compute the partial transformation of a function represented in an adaptive pseudo-spectral multi-wavelet representation to a partial Fourier representation. Such fast transformations are useful in many contexts in physics and engineering, where changes of representation from a piece wise polynomial basis to a Fourier basis. The algorithm is demonstrated for a Gaussian in one and in three dimensions. For 2D, we apply this approach to a Gaussian in a periodic domain. The accuracy and the performance of this method is compared with direct summation.
The contributions of ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ executive function to children's academic achievement, learning-related behaviors, and engagement in kindergarten

Abstract Executive functioning (EF) refers to higher order thought processes considered foundational for problem-solving. EF has both ‘cool’ cognitive and ‘hot’ emotional components. This study asks: (a) what are the relative contributions of ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ EF to children's academic achievement? (b) What are the relative contributions of ‘hot’ and ‘cool’ EF to learning-related classroom behaviors and observed engagement? (c) Do learning-related classroom behaviors and observed engagement account for the relation between EF and achievement? For a sample of 173 kindergarteners, cool EF predicted math achievement, learning-related classroom behaviors, and observed engagement. Hot EF did not predict any achievement or behavior outcomes when examined concurrently with cool EF. Children's classroom behavior did not account for the relation between cool EF and math achievement, suggesting cool EF and math performance are directly associated.
Resonant Cavity Enhancement of Polycrystalline PbTe Films for Two-Color IR detectors on Si-ROICs

Dual color (1.5 and 3.5 µm) resonant-cavity-enhanced IR photodetectors on a silicon platform have been demonstrated. We describe the fabrication process and report detector performance demonstrating the feasibility of monolithic IR detectors-on-ROIC.
Perceptions of the Juvenile Justice System Among Adult Prison Inmates

Abstract Although some studies have investigated the perceptions of various groups concerning the juvenile justice system, little research has examined the views of prison inmates regarding this system. Because many adult offenders had contact with the juvenile justice system, or personally know those who did, their experiences should influence their perceptions. Consequently, their views could shed some light on the direction that the juvenile justice system might take in the future. In order to investigate the perceptions of adult offenders, 116 inmates currently incarcerated in a state prison system completed a 20-item questionnaire addressing the following areas: (1) how helpful the juvenile justice system was to them personally; (2) the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system in deterring other juveniles; (3) what the juvenile justice system could have done to prevent them from committing further crimes; and (4) how the juvenile justice system could be improved to become more effective. The resu...
Connectivity analysis in power controlled decentralized wireless networks

We investigate a scenario characterized by a decentralized architecture where nodes can communicate the one each other, and whose position is modeled using an homogeneous Poisson point process (PPP). Signal-level-based power control (SLPC) is supposed to be applied. The objective of this investigation is the derivation of the main statistics (i.e. probability and cumulative density functions) of channel gain, transmitted power and received power in power controlled decentralized wireless networks.
Total Dielectric Function: Algebraic Sign, Electron-Lattice Response, and Superconductivity

The interaction between two test charges in a solid can be described in terms of a total dielectric function that includes electronic and lattice polarization. Crystal stability requires the eigenvalues of ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ to be \ensuremath{\le}1. Some implications for superconductivity are discussed. A total dielectric function for the electron-lattice system is derived in the mean-field approximation and its inverse is explicitly constructed. The low-lying poles of ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ give the correct phonon frequencies as determined by the usual dynamical matrix.
Diagnosis and possible causes of vertical root fractures

Thirty-two cases of vertical fractures were studied in an attempt to identify the causes and diagnostic signs normally present. In all of the patients except two, osseous defects were present and could be probed. The majortiy (65.63 percent) had only mild pain or a dull discomfort. Seventy-five percent showed diffuse widening of the periodontal ligament space. This study suggests that excessive force during lateral condensation of the gutta-percha caused 84.38 percent of the fractures. A secondary cause was the forcing or tapping of inlays or dowels into place. The majority (78.13 percent) of the patients were over the age of 40. In all but nine of the cases, treatment consisted of the extraction of the involved teeth.