cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous dendritic cells in the crossfire between innate and adaptive immunity

Even though epidermal Langerhans’ cells (LCs) have been one of the most thoroughly studied dendritic cell (DC) types in humans and rodents, there are still large gaps in our knowledge as to their immunobiological role in skin. Instead of exhaustively reviewing all of what we know about LCs, this presentation will highlight some recent LC-related discoveries and emphasize several overlooked properties of these cells. In particular, it is essential to our understanding of cutaneous immunohomeostasis to dissect the relative contribution that LCs make as regards both innate, as well as adaptive, immune reactions in skin. As a part of this presentation we will advance the notion that professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) may be the primary cell type in which genetically programmed alterations become manifested as in chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease and psoriasis. Thus, we will propose a ‘paradigm shift’ away from regarding the T cell as the fundamentally important pathogenic cell type, and will more closely focus on genes and biochemical reaction pathways within DCs that may drive roque immune responses in skin. Of course it should be pointed out that much, if not all, of what is being mentioned about LCs could be equally applied to dermal DCs (DDCs). However, because of space constraints the primary emphasis will be centered on LCs rather than DDCs. Before delving into LC biology, a brief review of innate and adaptive immunity will be made. First, it should be emphasized that it is somewhat artificial to separate innate and adaptive immune reactions, because they do not operate as separate or parallel systems [1,2]. Rather, they represent a single highly integrated biological system designed to respond to infectious insults in a complementary fashion. The cutaneous innate immune response is rapid, providing an initial line of defense against microorganisms, is largely antigen nonspecific, and lacks immunological memory. Cellular constituents of the innate immune system in skin include keratinocytes, DCs, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, and neutrophils [3]. Adaptive immunity, in contrast, is delayed in onset, is antigen specific, and involves a recall response. It is critical that a proper balance between innate and adaptive responses be maintained, because if the innate response is inadequate septic shock may result from a cutaneous bacterial infection. On the other hand, an exaggerated innate response may yield a chronic autoimmune inflammatory-type response. More details regarding these scenarios will be provided later in the text. * Tel.: /1-708-327-3241; fax: /1-708-327-3239 E-mail address: bnickol@lumc.edu (B.J. Nickoloff). Journal of Dermatological Science 29 (2002) 159 /165
Telescope search for a 3-eV to 8-eV axion.

Axions of mass 3-8 eV should have a cosmological abundance of about 50/cu cm and reside in rich clusters of galaxies. Their decays to two photons will produce a line at a wavelength of about 3100-8300 A. This effort has searched unsuccessfully for such a feature in the tergalactic light of three rich clusters, closing this 'window', and leaving open only the window from 10 to the -6th to 0.001 eV. This implies that if the axion exists, it likely comprises the dark matter. The present flux limits are of relevance to other relics whose decays produce monoenergetic photons.
Parameterized road databases for driving simulation

Driving simulators have been used in many traffic studies because traffic experiments in driving simulators are much safer and cheaper than the ones in the real world. Driving simulation integrates many software and hardware components, an important one of which is road database. Today most of existing road databases used in driving simulators are fixed and the creation of new ones is a time-consuming task. This may limit users from developing wanted driving scenarios. In this paper, a method is introduced for automatically creating road databases for driving simulators given road design parameters.
Caveolin-1 regulates matrix metalloproteinases-1 induction and CD147/EMMPRIN cell surface clustering.

Abstract CD147, a regulator of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production, showed highly specific association with caveolin-1 on the surface of multiple cell types. CD147-caveolin-1 complex formation was temperature and cholesterol dependent, reminiscent of associations seen within caveolae/lipid rafts. However, the subset of caveolin-1 associated with CD147 appeared exclusively within intermediate density sucrose gradient fractions, rather than in the low density fractions containing the bulk of caveolin-1. Mutagenesis experiments revealed that CD147 Ig domain 2 was required for caveolin-1 association. In contrast to CD147-caveolin-1 complexes, CD147-α3 integrin association was not disrupted upon cholesterol depletion, occurred in high density sucrose fractions, and did not involve CD147 Ig domain 2. Overexpression of caveolin-1 caused a specific decrease in clustering of cell surface CD147, as detected by “cluster specific” mAb M6/13. Conversely, a mutant CD147 deficient in caveolin-1 association showed enhanced spontaneous cell surface clustering (detected by mAb M6/13), and did not show decreased clustering in response to caveolin-1 overexpression. Furthermore, the same CD147 mutant yielded an elevated induction of MMP-1. In conclusion, caveolin-1 associates with CD147, in a complex distinct from CD147-α3 integrin complexes, thereby diminishing both CD147 clustering and CD147-dependent MMP-1-inducing activity.
Improved Histology for the Chick-Quail Chimera

A simple modification of nuclear staining after acid hydrolysis has been made which provides easy identification of quail nuclear markings in a chick-quail chimera. This method also improves the histologic detail normally seen with hematoxylin and eosin when compared to the more commonly used Feulgen reaction. Embryonic tissues can be fixed in Zenker's or Helly's solution and the sections obtained are hydrolyzed in acid (3.5 N HCl at 37 C for 40-50 min). After acid hydrolysis the sections are stained with hematoxylin and eosin rather than Schiff reagent and fast green. The interphase nuclei of chick cells show homogeneous or mottled purplish blue staining, while quail nuclei contain a dark blue spot. This staining corresponds to the reddish purple staining of the quail's heterochromatin seen adjacent to the nucleolus in the standard Feulgen stain. This new technique facilitates identification of quail cell types in the chick host and provides superior histology of the chick tissues by demonstrating cytoplasmic detail.
Is the cervical spine clear? Undetected cervical fractures diagnosed only at autopsy.

Undetected cervical-spine injuries are a nemesis to both trauma surgeons and emergency physicians. Radiographic protocols have been developed to avoid missing cervical-spine fractures but are not failsafe. Three case reports of occult cervical fractures documented at autopsy in the face of normal cervical-spine radiographs and computerized tomography scans are presented.
Relative contribution of the electric-field-induced third-order effect to second-harmonic generation in poled, doped, amorphous polymers

A novel approach involving a delay-trigger method and doped, glassy polymers has been developed to determine the contribution of the electric-field-induced third-order effect to the second-order macroscopic susceptibility χ(2) of nonlinear optical dyes. A submillisecond, variable time delay is employed for switching on or off the electric poling field with respect to the laser pulse. For the several dyes tested at 30 °C the contribution of the electric-field-induced third-order effect (second-harmonic wavelength = 532 nm) ranges from (6 ± 2)% of χ(2) 4-(dimethylamino)benzylidenemalononitrile to (20 ± 3)% of χ(2) for 4-(dimethylamino)-4′-nitrostilbene.
A Feasibility Study for a Fragment-Producing Chemical-Electrical Launcher

Summary form only given. The fragment-producing chemical-electrical launcher (FP-CEL) project has investigated the use of explosively driven magnetic loading techniques to launch controlled fragments in a predictable manner. A conventional fragmenting warhead uses high-explosive detonation products to throw fragments directly for various applications. This approach has remained unchanged for many decades; however, greater control is desired to enhance kinetic-energy lethality mechanisms, and to lower collateral effects associated with storage and usage. To establish the feasibility of such a system, we have conducted small-scale experiments using a capacitor-driven ramp-wave generator to accelerate flyers and fragments to velocities of 2 to 3 km/s, and have analyzed the data with multi-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic computer codes. Although an explosive first stage-a flux-compression generator (or FCG)-would have similar electrical output to the capacitor-based approach, such a two-stage system would have a significantly reduced total efficiency. In addition to overall feasibility, the present effort has examined issues of system efficiency, as well as how scale-up to operational capabilities would be accomplished. The work has emphasized the study of the basic physics of the launching phenomena, while considering existing FCG technology as a prime power source.
Segregación residencial de los inmigrantes nicaragüenses en Costa Rica en 2000

En el articulo se analiza la segregacion residencial de los nicaraguenses en Costa Rica, en tres de sus dimensiones: no uniformidad de la distribucion espacial, aislamiento (o exposicion) y aglomeracion. La fuente de los datos fue el Censo de Poblacion 2000, por lo que la investigacion tiene la limitante de referirse unicamente a los nicaraguenses autodeclarados como residentes habituales, enumerados por los empadronadores censales. Para cumplir los propositos de la investigacion se calcularon los indices de disimilaridad, aislamiento y proximidad espacial (empleados por Massey y Denton, 1989) para todo el pais, para la Region Central, para el Area Metropolitana y para cada canton. Con los valores de los indices cantonales, se construyeron modelos de regresion lineal multiple, con el fin de determinar factores asociados a la posible segregacion espacial. A la luz de los valores obtenidos, se encontro que la segregacion espacial de los nicaraguenses en Costa Rica es relativamente moderada, y muy similar a la de los habitantes urbanos de EU de origen hispanoamericano, pero considerablemente menor a la experimentada por la poblacion afroamericana de las grandes ciudades de EU. Ademas, se encontro que hay dos factores asociados consistentemente con las tres dimensiones analizadas de la segregacion; estos dos factores son la proporcion de nicaraguenses viviendo “en precarios” y el habitar en la Region Central. Tambien se encontro que en los cantones con mayores valores en los indicadores utilizados, menor es la proporcion de nicaraguenses con secundaria o mas, menor es la proporcion de naturalizados y menor es la proporcion que viven en hogares extensos o extendidos. Los indices de aislamiento y proximidad espacial lograron captar cierto grado de segregacion en las regiones con alta presencia de inmigrantes; por otro lado, el indice de disimilaridad -el mas tradicional para medir el fenomeno bajo investigacion- capto cierto grado de segregacion de la poblacion nacida en Nicaragua y que habita en zonas rurales; si bien es cierto es baja la proporcion de inmigrantes que habitan en la mayoria de los 20 cantones con altos indices de disimilaridad, las caracteristicas de esta poblacion coinciden con las de los migrantes moviles (asalariados agricolas, que laboran en cultivos estacionales, y que habitan en viviendas prestadas o cedidas), por lo que se podria estar captando parcialmente las condiciones residenciales de los “migrantes pendulares”, que viajan de un lugar a otro del pais.
How Americans Enact the Grandparent Role Across the Family Life Course

This study examines life course and sociodemographic variations in the ways grandparents are involved with grandchildren in terms of structural, functional, shared activities, and affective-cognitive aspects of these relationships. Family life stage, as well as grandparents' gender, marital status, race, and education, influenced how the grandparent role was enacted. Younger grandparents tended to live closer to and have greater contact with grandchildren and baby-sit and share recreational activities. Older grandparents tended to provide financial assistance and more strongly identified with the role. When their grandchildren were younger, grandparents tended to interact more with them, share more activities, provide baby-sitting, and receive more symbolic rewards from the grandparent role. Many effects related to grandchildren's age were explained by the greater opportunity of grandparents to interact with younger grandchildren. The article concludes that it is important to consider the life course posi...
Lineage Divergence in Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Detected by a New Set of Nuclear Microsatellite Loci

Abstract We developed a suite of tetranucleotide microsatellite loci and applied them to a study of genetic variation across the geographic range of coast redwood [Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.]. The objectives of the study were to determine if the microsatellite loci could provide useful information on genetic diversity in this hexaploid species and to investigate earlier reports of divergent lineages within coast redwood. The microsatellite loci were highly variable, yielding a total of 142 alleles. Up to six alleles were detected in each individual consistent with the ploidy of coast redwood and suggesting that parental genomes must have been at least partially homologous. This does not rule out autoployploidy in the evolution of the redwood genome. We treated the microsatellite alleles as presence-absence data and we also estimated full genotypes assuming peak intensities varied with allele dosage. Both types of analyses revealed similar trends. Variation within the 17 watersheds sampled, explai...
Patient-Centered Care is Associated with Decreased Health Care Utilization

Purpose: This article uses an interactional analysis instrument to characterize patient-centered care in the primary care setting and to examine its relationship with health care utilization. Methods: Five hundred nine new adult patients were randomized to care by family physicians and general internists. An adaption of the Davis Observation Code was used to measure a patient-centered practice style. The main outcome measures were their use of medical services and related charges monitored over 1 year. Results: Controlling for patient sex, age, education, income, self-reported health status, and health risk behaviors (obesity, alcohol abuse, and smoking), a higher average amount of patient-centered care recorded in visits throughout the 1-year study period was related to a significantly decreased annual number of visits for specialty care (P = .0209), less frequent hospitalizations (P = .0033), and fewer laboratory and diagnostic tests (P = .0027). Total medical charges for the 1-year study were also significantly reduced (P = .0002), as were charges for specialty care clinic visits (P = .0005), for all patients who had a greater average amount of patient-centered visits during that same time period. For female patients, the regression equation predicted 15.47% of the variation in total annual medical charges compared with male patients, for whom 31.18% of the variation was explained by the average percent of patient-centered care, controlling for sociodemographic variables, health status, and health risk behaviors. Conclusions: Patient-centered care was associated with decreased utilization of health care services and lower total annual charges. Reduced annual medical care charges may be an important outcome of medical visits that are patient-centered.
Examining the Relations between Reading Fluency and Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners.

This study examined the relations between reading fluency and comprehension among elementary school students (N = 171) in Grades 2, 3, and 5, all of whom were designated as English language learners (ELL) at some point in their educational careers. Although the overall relation between reading fluency and comprehension (r = .56) was consistent with previous research using non-ELL student samples, results also revealed a substantial number of students (55.5%) who exhibited a significant gap (SD, 0.67 ) between their scores on reading fluency and comprehension assessments. In addition, the prevalence of students with fluency/comprehension gaps varied significantly across grade and English language proficiency levels. The results suggested that, although reading fluency and comprehension are significantly related for ELL students, practitioners should be cautious when making identification and instructional decisions for ELL students based solely on oral reading fluency data. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Theoretical and Numerical Studies of Seismoelectric Conversions in Boreholes

We present theoretical and experimental studies on the effects of formation properties on seismoelectric conversions in fluid-filled boreholes. First, we derive the theoretical formulations for seismoelectric responses for an acoustic source in a bore- hole. Then, we compute the electric fields in boreholes penetrating formations with different permeability and porosity, and then we analyze the sensitivity of the con- verted electric fields to formation permeability and porosity. We also describe the lab- oratory results of the seismoelectric and seismomagnetic fields induced by an acous- tic source in borehole models to confirm our theoretical and numerical developments qualitatively. We use a piezoelectric transducer to generate acoustic waves and a point electrode to receive the localized seismoelectric fields in layered boreholes and the electric component of electromagnetic waves in a fractured borehole model. Numeri- cal results show that the magnitude ratio of the converted electric wave to the acoustic pressure increases with the porosity and permeability increases in both fast and slow formations. Furthermore, the converted electric signal is sensitive to the formation permeability for the same source frequency and formation porosity. Our experiments validate our theoretical results qualitatively. An acoustic wave at a fracture intersect- ing a borehole induces a radiating electromagnetic wave. AMS subject classifications: 65Y10, 76Q05, 76S05, 78A25, 86A25
Efficient Synthesis of Derivatives of Tributylstannylmethanol

Abstract Procedures for the synthesis of chloro- and iodo-methyltributyltin and tributylstannylmethyl methanesulfonate from tributyltin hydride are described.
High-Resolution Paleoclimatology

High resolution paleoclimatology involves studies of natural archives as proxies for past climate variations at a temporal scale that is comparable to that of instrumental data. In practice, this generally means annually resolved records, from tree rings, ice cores, banded corals, laminated speleothems and varved sediments. New analytical techniques offer many unexplored avenues of research in high resolution paleoclimatology. However, critical issues involving accuracy of the chronology, reproducibility of the record, frequency response to forcing and other factors, and calibration of the proxies remain. Studies of proxies at high resolution provide opportunities to examine the frequency and magnitude of extreme events over time, and their relationships to forcing, and such studies may be of particular relevance to societal concerns.
A visual detection model for DCT coefficient quantization

The discrete cosine transform (DCT) is widely used in image compression, and is part of the JPEG and MPEG compression standards. The degree of compression, and the amount of distortion in the decompressed image are determined by the quantization of the transform coefficients. The standards do not specify how the DCT coefficients should be quantized. Our approach is to set the quantization level for each coefficient so that the quantization error is at the threshold of visibility. Here we combine results from our previous work to form our current best detection model for DCT coefficient quantization noise. This model predicts sensitivity as a function of display parameters, enabling quantization matrices to be designed for display situations varying in luminance, veiling light, and spatial frequency related conditions (pixel size, viewing distance, and aspect ratio). It also allows arbitrary color space directions for the representation of color.
Confusing Roles, Uncertain Responsibilities Journalistic Discourse on Juan Williams, NPR, and Fox News

Conceptualizing journalism as a paradigm, we analyze 193 journalistic texts responding to Juan Williams’ 2010 dismissal from NPR for comments made on Fox News. We found three dominant themes. First...
Does Membership Homogeneity Matter for Group‐based Financial Services? Evidence from the Gambia

This paper examines the effect of membership composition on the components of group design to provide financial services, and on the performance of these groups. Regression results based on data from RoSCAs in the Gambia show that gender homogeneity is less likely to affect components of group design than is homogeneity in income generating capacity of members. Membership homogeniety does not directly affect the repayment performance of the members but only indirectly through the components of the group design. — Cet article examine l’incidence de la composition sur les composantes et la performance des groupes constitues en vue de la fourniture de services financiers. Selon les resultats d’une analyse de regression basee sur les donnees de “RoSCA” en Gambie, il apparait que l’homogeneite du genre influe moins sur les composantes de la conception des groupes que l’homogeneite de la capacite des groupes a generer des revenus. En ce qui concerne la performance en matiere de remboursement, l’incidence de l’homogeneite de la composition n’est pas directe mais indirecte au travers des composantes de la conception des groupes.
Multispectral Imaging A Review of Its Technical Aspects and Applications in Anatomic Pathology

The field of anatomic pathology has changed significantly over the last decades and, as a result of the technological developments in molecular pathology and genetics, has had increasing pressures put on it to become quantitative and to provide more information about protein expression on a cellular level in tissue sections. Multispectral imaging (MSI) has a long history as an advanced imaging modality and has been used for over a decade now in pathology to improve quantitative accuracy, enable the analysis of multicolor immunohistochemistry, and drastically reduce the impact of contrast-robbing tissue autofluorescence common in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. When combined with advanced software for the automated segmentation of different tissue morphologies (eg, tumor vs stroma) and cellular and subcellular segmentation, MSI can enable the per-cell quantitation of many markers simultaneously. This article covers the role that MSI has played in anatomic pathology in the analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, discusses the technological aspects of why MSI has been adopted, and provides a review of the literature of the application of MSI in anatomic pathology.
Ten Largest Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in the United States based on Healthy People 2010 Objectives

A consistent framework has been developed for measuring health disparities and making comparisons across indicators with regard to the public health goals of Healthy People 2010. Disparities are measured as the percent difference from the best group rate, with all indicators being expressed in terms of adverse events. The 10 largest health disparities for each of five US racial and ethnic groups are identified here. There are both similarities and differences in the largest health disparities. New cases of tuberculosis and drug-induced death rates are among the largest health disparities for four of the five racial and ethnic groups. However, drug-induced death is the only indicator among the 10 largest disparities that is shared by both Black and White non-Hispanic populations.
UV Stimulation of Chromosomal Marker Exchange in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius: Implications for DNA Repair, Conjugation and Homologous Recombination at Extremely High Temperatures

The hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius exchanges and recombines chromosomal markers by a conjugational mechanism, and the overall yield of recombinants is greatly increased by previous exposure to UV light. This stimulation was studied in an effort to clarify its mechanism and that of marker exchange itself. A variety of experiments failed to identify a significant effect of UV irradiation on the frequency of cell pairing, indicating that subsequent steps are primarily affected, i.e. , transfer of DNA between cells or homologous recombination. The UV-induced stimulation decayed rather quickly in parental cells during preincubation at 75°, and the rate of decay depended on the incubation temperature. Preincubation at 75° decreased the yield of recombinants neither from unirradiated parental cells nor from parental suspensions subsequently irradiated. We interpret these results as evidence that marker exchange is stimulated by recombinogenic DNA lesions formed as intermediates in the process of repairing UV photoproducts in the S. acidocaldarius chromosome.
Spectral analysis based on the canonical autoregressive decomposition

Time series modeling as the sum of an autoregressive (AR) process and sinusoids is proposed. When the AR model order is infinite, it is called the canonical autoregressive decomposition and is equivalent to the Wold decomposition. Maximum likelihood estimation of the sinusoidal and AR parameters is shown to require minimization with respect to only the unknown frequencies. Although the estimation problem is nonlinear in the sinusoidal amplitudes and AR parameters, it is reduced to a linear least-squares problem by using a nonlinear parameter transformation. Similar results are derived for AR processes in polynomial or polynomial-times-exponential signals. Applications include frequency estimation/transient analysis in unknown colored noise. >
Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Treatment of Addictions

(1989). Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Treatment of Addictions. Addictions Nursing Network: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 7-9.
Legal Knowledge Modeling for Managing Legislation in the Semantic Web

Regulation quality and accessibility are essential requirements to guarantee a transparent policy making framework, thus promoting democracy, certainty of rights and participation of citizens in the decision-making process. In particular European Union policies about eGovernment call for high level Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) solutions for promoting a more transparent, participatory and accountable decision-making process. Legal knowledge modeling can represent a pre-condition for meeting such requirements; at the same time the Semantic Web can provide the background of principles and tools allowing the implementation of advanced legislative drafting processes in mono and multilingual domains, as well as retrieval and reasoning services on legislation. This paper will investigate such issues according to semantic and logic profiles of legal texts, as well as possible technical implementations of such services.
Charge distribution and imperfect amphipathicity affect pore formation by antimicrobial peptides.

Abstract Antimicrobial peptides often permeabilize biological membranes via a pore mechanism. Two pore types have been proposed: toroidal, where the pore is partly lined by lipid, and barrel-stave, where a cylindrical pore is completely lined by peptides. What drives the preference of antimicrobial peptides for a certain pore type is not yet fully understood. According to neutron scattering and oriented circular dichroism, melittin and MG-H2 induce toroidal pores whereas alamethicin forms barrel-stave pores. In previous work we found that indeed melittin seems to favor toroidal pores whereas alamethicin favors cylindrical pores. Here we designed mutants of these two peptides and the magainin analog MG-H2, aimed to probe how the distribution of charges along the helix and its imperfectly amphipathic structure influence pore formation. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the peptides in a pre-formed cylindrical pore have been performed. The duration of the simulations was 136 ns to 216 ns. We found that a melittin mutant with lysine 7 neutralized favors cylindrical pores whereas a MG-H2 mutant with lysines in the N-terminal half of these peptides neutralized and an alamethicin mutant with a positive charge at the position 7 form semitoroidal pores. These results suggest that charged residues within the N-terminal half are important for toroidal pore formation. Toroidal pores produced by MG-H2 are more disordered than the melittin pores, likely because of the charged residues located in the middle of the MG-H2 helix (K11 and K14). Imperfect amphipathicity of melittin seems to play a role in its preference for toroidal pores since the substitutions of charged residues located within the nonpolar face by hydrophobic residues suppress evolution of a toroidal pore. The mutations change the position of lysine 7 near the N-terminus, relative to the lower leaflet headgroups. The MD simulations also show that the melittin P14A mutant forms a toroidal pore, but its configuration diverges from that of melittin and it is probably metastable.
Evaluation of the HeartMate II™ left ventricular assist device in obese heart failure patients: Effects on weight loss

Summary Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect on weight loss of the newer generation continuous flow HeartMate II™ left ventricular assist device (VAD) in obese heart failure (HF) patients. Material/Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 3-year surgical data from a large heart transplant facility and identified obese patients with advanced heart failure who underwent successful implantation of either the HeartMate XVE ® or the HeartMate II ® VAD. For each patient weight and BMI at time of VAD implantation and at 6 months post-operatively were documented. Between group comparison was achieved with Student’s T tests. Results: We identified 14 patients who had received the HeartMate XVE™ and 8 who had received the HeartMate II™. At 6 months, patients who received a HeartMate XVE™ demonstrated a significant reduction in mean body weight (249.6±35.4lbs vs. 217.4±20.5 lbs; P<0.05), while patients who received the HeartMate II™ demonstrated no significant change in weight (234.5±41.7 lbs vs. 234.7±43.0lbs; P=0.3). Conclusions: The HeartMate XVE™ results in significant reductions in weight at 6 months in obese patients with heart failure while the HeartMate II does not. Further research is necessary to better understand the effects of VADs on weight loss in obese HF patients.
Challenging Neoliberal Perspectives: A Framework for Humanizing Social Studies Teacher Education

Philosophically and operationally U.S. education institutions have shifted in focus from a democratically pluralist Transformational Based System to a neoliberal Information Based System of education. Influenced by Paulo Freire’s conception of humanizing education, this chapter offers a challenge to neoliberal education by operationalizing a framework for humanizing social studies education. The framework is comprised of four elements grounded in both theory and practice: (1) Fostering a dialogic relationship; (2) Focusing on student experience; (3) Facilitate a critique of official knowledge; and, (4) Framing critical questions and introducing subjugated knowledge. We also provide examples of how this framework might be actualized in a social studies teacher education program and subsequently in social studies classrooms. This chapter provides both a theoretical and practical approach for engaging in transformational based and humanizing social studies pedagogy.
Parallel Sequencing of Real-World Samples Using A Microfabricated Hybrid Device

The unique injection scheme of electrophoresis chips offers many advantages for DNA sequencing. One major limitation of sequencing on chips is the constrained straight channel length, which limits the sequencing readlength.
Machine learning identification of EEG features predicting working memory performance in schizophrenia and healthy adults

With millisecond-level resolution, electroencephalographic (EEG) recording provides a sensitive tool to assay neural dynamics of human cognition. However, selection of EEG features used to answer experimental questions is typically determined a priori. The utility of machine learning was investigated as a computational framework for extracting the most relevant features from EEG data empirically. Schizophrenia (SZ; n = 40) and healthy community (HC; n = 12) subjects completed a Sternberg Working Memory Task (SWMT) during EEG recording. EEG was analyzed to extract 5 frequency components (theta1, theta2, alpha, beta, gamma) at 4 processing stages (baseline, encoding, retention, retrieval) and 3 scalp sites (frontal-Fz, central-Cz, occipital-Oz) separately for correctly and incorrectly answered trials. The 1-norm support vector machine (SVM) method was used to build EEG classifiers of SWMT trial accuracy (correct vs. incorrect; Model 1) and diagnosis (HC vs. SZ; Model 2). External validity of SVM models was examined in relation to neuropsychological test performance and diagnostic classification using conventional regression-based analyses. SWMT performance was significantly reduced in SZ (p < .001). Model 1 correctly classified trial accuracy at 84 % in HC, and at 74 % when cross-validated in SZ data. Frontal gamma at encoding and central theta at retention provided highest weightings, accounting for 76 % of variance in SWMT scores and 42 % variance in neuropsychological test performance across samples. Model 2 identified frontal theta at baseline and frontal alpha during retrieval as primary classifiers of diagnosis, providing 87 % classification accuracy as a discriminant function. EEG features derived by SVM are consistent with literature reports of gamma’s role in memory encoding, engagement of theta during memory retention, and elevated resting low-frequency activity in schizophrenia. Tests of model performance and cross-validation support the stability and generalizability of results, and utility of SVM as an analytic approach for EEG feature selection.
A MELUS Interview: Wilma Dykeman

Wilma Dykeman is a writer of diverse talents. She is a historian, social commentator, journalist, and novelist. Her three novels The Tall Woman (1962), The Far Family (1966), and Return the Innocent Earth (1973), presenting a vivid picture of life in the Appalachian region through a family chronicle spanning from the Civil War and Reconstruction to the present, have established her as one of the major interpreters of Appalachian life in fiction. Though regional in their setting, however, these novels, like her social histories and biographies, explore many of the concerns of contemporary American life, such as the roles of women in society, the conservation of our natural resources in the face of industrial "progress," and the conflict between traditional and "modern" values. Wilma Dykeman currently lives in Newport, Tennessee; she teaches, continues to write, and speaks eloquently for Appalchia.
Premature luteinization is not eliminated by pituitary desensitization with leuprolide acetate in women undergoing gonadotrophin stimulation who demonstrated premature luteinization in a prior gonadotrophin-only cycle

A total of 40 women who demonstrated premature luteinization (serum progesterone > or = 3.5 nmol/l (1.1 ng/ml) on or before the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration) during ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophins (HMG) were restimulated in 46 subsequent cycles after pituitary desensitization with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa, 1 mg), leuprolide acetate. Five women were treated with a double dose of agonist (2 mg) when premature luteinization was determined on the single dose protocol. In HMG-only cycles, a frank luteinizing hormone (LH) surge was detected in 30 cycles; 15 cycles were cancelled because of premature ovulation. In agonist cycles there were no cancellations, although 25 cycles demonstrated premature luteinization and in six cycles a frank LH surge was detected. Doubling the dose of the agonist did not prevent premature luteinization. Agonist cycles with and without premature luteinization did not differ in any in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome parameters (ampoules of gonadotrophins, day of HCG administration, peak oestradiol concentration, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilized, transferred or cryopreserved). We conclude that in patients who demonstrate premature luteinization in a gonadotrophin-only cycle, pituitary desensitization may not completely eliminate subtle luteinization or a frank LH surge.
Existence and Determination of Separation-Compliant Speed Control in Terminal Airspace

Among the premises of the Next Generation Air Transportation System initiative is the necessity for precision procedures in air traffic operations. Conformance with such procedures can help safety and the ability to accommodate higher traffic demand. The contribution of this paper is an algorithm for automating the process of speed control, aimed at separation assurance and conducted in current air traffic operations by human air traffic controllers. If a separation-compliant collective speed profile for the given set of aircraft exists, the algorithm computes this profile. If no such speed profile exists, the computer reports the nonexistence. Uncertainties such as weather are not considered, but the algorithm can be modified to include them. The algorithm proceeds in two stages. First, it finds an arrival sequence for the aircraft. The computational complexity of this stage is factorial in the number of aircraft but allows substantial parallelization. The second stage finds a collective speed profile fo...
Research on Influencing Factors of Economics Burden and Risk of Diseases of Medical Aid Target in Urban China

Objective: To analyze influencing factors of the economics burden and risk of diseases of medical aid target in urban China. Method: the paper surveys the social-demographic characteristics, health status and the economics burden of disease of medical aid target in urban China, and structures multiple linear regression model to explore the influencing factors of the economics burden and risk of diseases. Results: Per capita monthly income of medical aid target is $332.12. The average monthly medical expenditure is 110.47 yuan. The relative economic risk of disease ( Y/S) is 0.33. Ln (Y/S) should be the corresponding variable for multiple linear regression analysis. Being in hospital or not and the average monthly income are statistical significant variables. Conclusion: The economics burden and risk of diseases of medical aid target in urban China are high. Being in hospital or not is the strongest influencing factor to the economics risk, followed by the average monthly income.
Iron based catalysts from novel low-cost organic precursors for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction in neutral media microbial fuel cells

Two iron-based platinum group metal-free catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were synthesized from novel and low cost organic precursors named niclosamide and ricobendazole. These catalysts have been characterized, incorporated in a gas diffusional electrode and tested in “clean” conditions as well as in operating microbial fuel cell (MFC) for 32 days. Both catalysts demonstrated unprecedented performance yielding a power density 25% higher than that of platinum (Pt) and roughly 100% higher than activated carbon (AC) used as a control. Durability tests were performed and showed that Pt-based cathodes lost their activity within the first week of operation, reaching the level of the supporting AC-based electrode. Fe–ricobendazole, however, demonstrated the highest performance during the long-term study with a power density of 195 ± 7 μW cm−2 (day 2) that slightly decreased to 186 ± 9 μW cm−2 at day 29. Fe–niclosamide also outperformed Pt and AC but the power density roughly decreased with 20% for the 32 days of the study. Accelerated poisoning test using S2− as pollutant showed high losses in activity for Pt. Fe–niclosamide suffered higher losses compared to Fe–ricobendazole. Importantly, Fe–ricobendazole represents a 55-fold cost reduction compared to platinum.
“Red, White, Yellow, Blue, All Out but You”: Status Effects on Team Formation, an Expectation States Theory

Teams are ubiquitous in contemporary business, government, health care, and education settings; hence, the process of team formation is worth close examination. We propose models based in expectation states theory for the probability that a particular candidate (or subset of candidates) is selected from a pool of potential team members who are differentiated along diffuse status characteristics. The candidates may be equally qualified in other respects, but the ways in which they differ will be activated under specified conditions and influence their chances of selection. We use the “motherhood penalty” literature to illustrate the model and the inferences it affords. Our concluding discussion notes that although a step forward in understanding team selection, the model cannot be the whole story as “suitability,” a legitimate consideration in the team formation process, is unaddressed by an expectation states based model focused solely on attributions of competence as the drivers of teammate choice.
Microprocessor-assisted solvent-transfer system for gallstone dissolution. In vitro and in vivo validation.

Abstract To improve the efficacy, safety, and convenience of contact dissolution of gallbladder stones, a microprocessor-assisted solvent transfer system was developed. The system's two pumps simultaneously infuse and aspirate solvent into and from the gallbladder at a high flow rate through a multilumen catheter. The microprocessor controls the pumps using a closed-feedback loop control algorithm to regulate intragallbladder pressure to prevent solvent escape into the duodenum. Turbulent solvent flow at the catheter end in the gallbladder is designed to induce rapid stone dissolution and to suspend insoluble residue, thus promoting its aspiration. The system's response and gallbladder emptying capacity was 160-fold faster than the natural gallbladder emptying rate. The rate at which gallstones were dissolved by methyl tert-butyl ether using the system was compared with that achieved with a syringe pump. For 6 of 11 pairs of stones that totally dissolved, the mean dissolution time with the system was 10 ± 6 minutes compared with 112 ± 81 minutes for the syringe pump. In the 5 of 11 stone pairs which dissolved incompletely, insoluble residue was completely eliminated by the system in 21 ± 9 minutes but not by the syringe pump even at 360 minutes. When the system was used in gallstone patients, solvent recovery was 99% ± 1%, and the concentration of a nonabsorbable marker did not change, confirming the lack of appreciable absorption of methyl tert-butyl ether. These studies suggest that the microprocessor-assisted solvent transfer system is a device capable of safe, complete, and fully automatic contact dissolution of cholesterol gallbladder stones using methyl tert-butyl ether or similar solvents.
Note From the Editors An Introduction to the IslandWood Papers on Social Work Innovation

In 2015, the University of Southern California School of Social Work convened the Social Work Innovation Roundtable with the goal of rigorously discussing the role of innovation in social work scie...
New physics, new evolutionary tracks, new isochrones

Work has begun on the construction of a grid of theoretical isochrones based on important recent refinements in stellar physics. These refinements have already been applied to the construction of a standard solar model, which, for the first time, free of any adhoc assumptions, reproduces the observed p-mode oscillation spectrum within the errors of the physics (Guenther et al. 1992).
Hedge Funds and Mutual Funds as SIFIs

In this second of two chapters on the major types of non-bank financial entities, we discuss hedge funds and mutual funds as possible systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs). We review the nature and structure of hedge funds, their legal structures both in the USA and offshore, risk management, and the imposition of regulatory oversight which previously escaped regulation because of the belief that sophisticated investors didn’t require governmental protection. Whether to include mutual funds within the regulatory environment as possible SIFIs is ardently disputed. We look at the nature of mutual funds, their types, existing regulation, mutual funds use of derivatives, and whether it is appropriate to designated mutual funds as SIFIs. We also review international regulation of both hedge funds and mutual funds.
Corrigendum to “Thermophysical properties of U3Si2 to 1773 K” [J. Nucl. Mater. 464 (2015) 275–280]

An error was discovered by the authors in the calculation of thermal diffusivity in “Thermophysical properties of U3Si2 to 1773 K”. The error was caused by operator error in entry of parameters used to fit the temperature rise versus time model necessary to calculate the thermal diffusivity. Lastly, this error propagated to the calculation of thermal conductivity, leading to values that were 18%–28% larger along with the corresponding calculated Lorenz values.
The Biomarker Guide

The second edition of The Biomarker Guide is a fully updated and expanded version of this essential reference. Now in two volumes, it provides a comprehensive account of the role that biomarker technology plays both in petroleum exploration and in understanding Earth history and processes. Biomarkers and Isotopes in the Environment and Human History details the origins of biomarkers and introduces basic chemical principles relevant to their study. It discusses analytical techniques, and applications of biomarkers to environmental and archaeological problems. The Biomarker Guide is an invaluable resource for geologists, petroleum geochemists, biogeochemists, environmental scientists and archaeologists.
The Importance of History for Recreational Sports

Beginning with this issue, the NIRSA Historical Committee will be bringing you articles periodically that we feel have historical significance for the members of this organization. While this initi...