cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential expression of CLIP: MHC class II and conventional endogenous peptide: MHC class II complexes by thymic epithelial cells and peripheral antigen‐presenting cells

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules expressed by thymic epithelial cells are involved in positive selection of CD4 T cells, whereas the high-avidity interaction of T cell receptors with the endogenous peptide: MHC class II complexes expressed on bone marrow (BM)-derived antigen-presenting cells (APC) and, to a lesser extent, on thymic epithelial cells mediate negative selection. To understand better the generation of the CD4 T cell repertoire both in the thymus and in the periphery we analyzed relative levels of expression of specific endogenous peptide: MHC class II complexes in thymic epithelial cells (TEC) and peripheral APC. Expression of E alpha52-68: I-A(b) and class II-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP): I-A(b) complexes in thymic epithelial cells and in the bone-marrow derived splenic APC, i.e. B cells, was studied using YAe and 30-2 monoclonal antibodies which are specific for the corresponding complexes. To distinguish between expression of both complexes in radioresistant thymic epithelial elements and radiation sensitive BM-derived APC, radiation BM chimeras were constructed. Using immunohistochemical and immunochemical approaches we demonstrated that the level of expression of E alpha52-68: I-A(b) complexes in thymic epithelial cells is approximately 5-10% of that seen in splenic cells whereas total class II levels were comparable. In contrast, CLIP: I-A(b) complexes are expressed at substantially higher levels in TEC vs. splenic APC. This result demonstrates quantitative differences in expression of distinct peptide: MHC class II complexes in thymic epithelial cells and peripheral splenic APC.
Effect of ketoconazole on plasma sex hormones, lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins in hyperandrogenic women

Abstract The aim of the current study of 18 hyperandrogenic women was to determine the affects of ketoconazole (KTZ), an oral synthetic antifungal imidazole derivative that inhibits gonadal and adrenal steroidogenesis, on lipids, lipoprotein cholesterols, apolipoproteins, endogenous sex steroid hormones, and their interactions. Eighteen hyperandrogenic women, ages 18 to 35, with a history of severe acne and/or hirsutism, were randomly divided into two groups of nine, both receiving KTZ (group 1,400 mg/d; group 2,800 mg/d) for 10 days. In groups 1 and 2, KTZ therapy reduced cholesterol (10%, P ≤ .01; 19%, P ≤ .05) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (13%, P ≤ .05; 33%, P ≤ .025), and increased apoplipoprotein (apo) A1 (7%, P ≤ .005; 13%, P ≤ .01). KTZ, 800 mg/d, decreased apo B (21%, P ≤ .005), and lowered the ratio of LDL-cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (40%, P ≤ .01). KTZ therapy more than doubled the levels of estradiol (E2) in both groups (136%, P ≤ .01; 171%, P ≤ .01) and, in the high-dose group, decreased the levels of free testosterone (FT) (48%, P ≤ .05) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) (36%, P ≤ .005). The reductions of total and LDL-cholesterol appear to be attributable to the increases in E2 and possibly to the decrease in FT. KTZ therapy may have beneficial effects on atherogenic lipid and lipoprotein patterns in women with hyperandrogenicity.
Violation detection and recovery of distributed programs' safety properties

On the basis of communication-closed layers of a distributed program, the author suggests the use of a communication-closed layer as the syndicate unit for dynamically detecting and recovering from violations of safety properties as defined by the static portions of the specifications. A fault-tolerant layer is composed of several communication-closed layers known as alternate layers, each of which would provide the same consensus function; thus, if a layer violates some safety property, it is known exactly where to perform a rollback and switch an alternate layer. An approach called the intermediate processes scheme is also presented. The intermediate buffer processes are utilized to provide both the asynchronous computation among application processes and error recovery for their dedicating application process. The intermediate regional testers were utilized to form a hierarchy of distributed software systems and to detect most of the consensus errors within regions. >
Characterization of aflJ, a Gene Required for Conversion of Pathway Intermediates to Aflatoxin

The genes encoding the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway enzymes have been localized as a cluster to a 75-kb DNA fragment. The enzymatic functions of the products of most of the genes in the cluster are known, but there are a few genes that have not yet been characterized. We report here the characterization of one of these genes, a gene designated aflJ. This gene resides in the cluster adjacent to the pathway regulatory gene, aflR, and the two genes are divergently transcribed. Disruption of aflJ in Aspergillus flavus results in a failure to produce aflatoxins and a failure to convert exogenously added pathway intermediates norsolorinic acid, sterigmatocystin, and O-methylsterigmatocystin to aflatoxin. The disrupted strain does, however, accumulate pksA, nor-1, ver-1, and omtA transcripts under conditions conducive to aflatoxin biosynthesis. Therefore, disruption of aflJ does not affect transcription of these genes, and aflJ does not appear to have a regulatory function similar to that of aflR. Sequence analysis of aflJ and its putative peptide, AflJ, did not reveal any enzymatic domains or significant similarities to proteins of known function. The putative peptide does contain three regions predicted to be membrane-spanning domains and a microbodies C-terminal targeting signal.
Considerations for development of sensing and monitoring tools to facilitate treatment and care of persons with lower-limb loss: a review.

Sensing and monitoring technologies offer enor- mous potential to enhance the quality of healthcare provided to persons with lower-limb loss. Incorporation of these technolo- gies into the rehabilitation process creates opportunities for a multidimensional exchange of timely, relevant, and meaningful health information between patients, their prostheses, and healthcare providers. Here, the authors envision a conceptual model for enhancing prosthetic rehabilitation through use of integrated physical and/or biological sensors and remote moni- toring methods. Several specific applications that target treat- ment, diagnosis, and prognosis of health issues faced by persons with limb loss are proposed in an effort to demonstrate how collecting and using objective data can facilitate clinical decision making. Contemporary integrated sensors that may be used in these applications are reviewed and their limitations discussed. It is hoped that the considerations proposed here may serve to stimulate development of clinically useful moni- toring and sensing technologies and promote their integration into routine amputation rehabilitation.
Comparison of a New Lateral-Flow Chromatographic Membrane Immunoassay to Viral Culture for Rapid Detection and Differentiation of Influenza A and B Viruses in Respiratory Specimens

The performance of a new rapid lateral-flow chromatographic membrane immunoassay test kit for detection of influenza virus was evaluated and compared to that of viral culture in respiratory secretions collected from 400 adults and children seen at three large university hospitals during the recent 2003 influenza season. The rapid test provided results in 15 min, with excellent overall performance statistics (sensitivity, 94.4%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 97.5%). Both influenza A and B type viruses were reliably detected, with no significant difference in performance statistics noted by influenza virus type or by the center performing the test.
Double pass-transistor logic for high performance wave pipeline circuits

Wave pipelining is a digital design technique that can be applied to combinational logic circuits to increase the throughput of the system without increasing the demand for storage space and power. The internal capacitances of the gates are used for storage. The gate library for wave pipelining should have input independent, functionality independent and load capacitance independent delays. Conventional static CMOS has input dependent delay and is not suitable for wave pipelining. The wave pipelining design technique requires path delay equalization along all paths from the input to output. Delay balancing is achieved in a design by means of a process called "tuning". Rough tuning, is performed to balance all the paths with the same number of gates and fine tuning is done to adjust the sizes of transistors in the driver gate for different loads. The design styles that have been proposed for wave pipelining have unbalanced input loading and this results in complex fine tuning process. In this paper double pass transistor logic style (DPL) gates are modified to form a library of basic gates having perfect input symmetry. The balanced input capacitance of the DPL gates makes the fine tuning process less computation intensive. A fine tuning method is presented in this paper for wave pipeline designs with DPL logic. An 8 bit adder was designed and the results are presented to show the performance efficiency of double pass transistor logic for wave pipelining.
Face recognition: a model specific ability

In our everyday lives, we view it as a matter of course that different people are good at different things. It can be surprising, in this context, to learn that most of what is known about cognitive ability variation across individuals concerns the broadest of all cognitive abilities, often labeled g. In contrast, our knowledge of specific abilities, those that correlate little with g, is severely constrained. Here, we draw upon our experience investigating an exceptionally specific ability, face recognition, to make the case that many specific abilities could easily have been missed. In making this case, we derive key insights from earlier false starts in the measurement of face recognition’s variation across individuals, and we highlight the convergence of factors that enabled the recent discovery that this variation is specific. We propose that the case of face recognition ability illustrates a set of tools and perspectives that could accelerate fruitful work on specific cognitive abilities. By revealing relatively independent dimensions of human ability, such work would enhance our capacity to understand the uniqueness of individual minds.
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, type II cryoglobulinemia and triple therapy for hepatitis C: a case series and review of the literature.

Extra hepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) include type II cryoglobulinemia. Previous studies suggest pegylated interferon (Peg-INF) plus ribavirin (RBV) is an effective treatment for HCV related type II cryoglobulinemia [1–4]. The current clinic use of triple therapy is in its second year and the landmark phase 3 clinical trials for telaprevir and boceprevir showed substantial improvements in efficacy for the treatment of genotype 1 HCV [5–9]. However, there are minimal data on the safety and efficacy of triple therapy for HCV-related type II cryoglobulinemia. Cryoglobulins are detectable in 40–70 % of patients with HCV [10, 11], and overt vasculitis develops in 5–10 % of patients [12]. Cryoglobulin associated vasculitis can lead to neuropathy, skin ulcers, and most notably renal disease in the form of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) [12, 13]. Renal disease secondary to type II cryoglobulinemia is associated with increased mortality [14]. Treatment of cryoglobulinemia with the antiviral regimen of Peg-INF plus RBV yields cryoglobulin clearance in half of the patients [3]. Treatment with corticosteroids, rituximab and plasmapheresis are employed in the treatment of HCV associated cryoglobulin vasculitis, though with varying long-term success, as these do not eliminate the underlying viral antigen trigger [15, 16]. Likewise, there is concern that prolonged immunosuppression may lead to accelerated HCV-related liver disease and impairment of viral clearance on anti-HCV therapy [17]. Treatment guidelines for genotype 1 HCV now recommend performing a risk–benefit analysis on the individual patient when considering triple therapy [18]. Unfortunately, there is insufficient clinical data when weighing triple therapy risks and benefits in patients with cryoglobulinemia and associated renal disease, especially the impact of reduced renal function on the new protease inhibitors. The initial phase III trial of boceprevir only included patients with a serum creatinine below the upper limits of normal, while telaprevir was only studied in patients with a creatinine clearance (CrCl) greater than 50 ml/min. This would exclude patients with MPGN which had progressed to CKD stage 3b-5; though patients with subclinical renal disease may have participated in clinical trials. In addition, trials for both drugs excluded patients with conditions requiring longterm corticosteroid use [5, 7]. This would likely exclude patients with vasculitic skin ulcers, as this condition is frequently treated with long-term corticosteroids albeit with variable efficacy [19]. Thus we sought to describe the treatment experience of four patients with overt clinical manifestations of MPGN and/or laboratory proven cryoglobulinemia in a case series at one academic clinical center.
Seafaring in the Contemporary Pacific Islands: Studies in Continuity and Change

Seafaring in the Contemporary Pacific Islands: Studies in Continuity and Change. RICHARD FEINBERG, ed. Dekalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 1995. x + 237 pp., figures, maps, plates, notes, references, index.
FLOW FIELD IN A HOT AIR JET IMPINGEMENT OVEN — PART 11: MULTIPLE IMPINGEMENT JETS

The axial velocity component of three and four jet arrays impinging on a flat plate have been measured using a laser Doppler anemometer. the axial velocity profiles for all jets were found to demonstrate characteristics of a turbulent jet in its potential core region. Between neighboring jets, reversal of the airflow occurred. At measurements closer to the flat plate, the reverse flow velocity values were found to be about 50% of the maximum jet velocity. the results indicated that the products passing under multiple jets may experience uneven heating rates, depending upon the product size and jet orifice spacing.
Anisotropic molecular hopping at the solid–nematic interface

Single molecule tracking was used to observe intermittent and anisotropic molecular motion at the solid–nematic interface. Although the interfacial diffusion was dramatically slower than self-diffusion in the nematic, the diffusion anisotropy was the same at the interface and in bulk, supporting the desorption-mediated mechanism of interfacial diffusion, where molecules sample the physical properties of the vicinal fluid phase during flights, and the magnitude of the interfacial diffusion coefficient is primarily determined by the distribution of waiting times between flights.
Membrane-Associated Neurotransmitter Stimulating Factor is Very Similar to Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor

Membrane-associated neurotransmitter stimulating factor (MANS) can modulate sympathetic neurotransmitter expression and promote ciliary neuron survival in cell culture. Previous studies have shown that its biological effects and biochemical properties are similar to those of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). In addition, CNTF is present in spinal cord, the source of MANS. These observations raised the possibility that MANS preparations contain CNTF. We find that partially purified MANS fractions contain a 24-kD protein that is recognized in Western blots by an antiserum generated against recombinant rat CNTF (rCNTF). This antiserum immunoprecipitates virtually all the cholinergic-inducing and the ciliary neurotrophic activities present in MANS preparations. When iodinated rCNTF is incubated with spinal cord membranes, a significant proportion of the labeled CNTF segregates with the membrane pellet. The membrane-associated exogenous CNTF can be eluted from the membrane fraction by treatment with high-salt solutions, similar to that used to solubilize MANS from spinal cord membranes. Our data suggest that a substantial portion of the cholinergic differentiation and ciliary neurotrophic activities present in MANS preparations can be attributed to CNTF or a CNTF-like molecule.
Status of the low energy neutron source at Indiana University

The National Science Foundation has recently approved funding for LENS (the low energy neutron source) at Indiana University and construction of this facility has begun. LENS represents a new paradigm for economically introducing neutron scattering into a university or industrial setting. In this design, neutrons are produced in a long-pulse (1 ms) mode through (p,n) reactions on a water-cooled Be target and the target is tightly coupled to a cryogenic moderator with a water reflector. This design gives a facility suitable for materials research, the development of new neutron instrumentation, and the education of new neutron scientists.
Favorable histology, MYCN-amplified 4S neonatal neuroblastoma

We report a neonate with 4S neuroblastoma and MYCN amplification, but favorable Shimada histology, successfully treated with chemotherapy and 13-cis-retinoic acid without stem cell transplantation. MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma is usually associated with unfavorable Shimada histology; the presence of these features in infants with 4S disease confers a poor prognosis. A small number of infants with 4S neuroblastoma and MYCN amplification have favorable Shimada histology. In this subgroup of infants, histopathology may be equally important in predicting outcome.
TD-UTD for scattering from a smooth convex surface

A time domain uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (TD-UTD) formulation for the scattering from a smooth perfectly conducting convex surface is presented. The TD-UTD is obtained from the frequency domain UTD by an application of the analytic time transform (ATT). This TD-UTD formulation is valid when the observer and source are off of the surface. If the observer is located in the deep lit region, the TD-UTD reduces to the geometrical optics (GO) field. If the observer is in the deep shadow region, the TD-UTD field reduces to the creeping wave mode representation. Most importantly, the TD-UTD solution remains uniformly valid within the surface shadow boundary (SSB) transition region where neither the GO field nor the creeping wave mode fields are valid.
A Testing Method and Cognitive Model of Human Diagram Understanding for Automating Design Sketch Recognition

Sketches, whether hand-drawn or computer generated, are a natural and integral part of the design process. Despite this fact, modern day computational design tools are ill-equipped to take full advantage of sketching input. The computational challenges of recognizing sketches are easily overcome by human visual recognition and much insight stands to be gained by emulating human cognitive processes. Creating robust, automated tools that overcome the ambiguity of sketching input would allow for advances not only in the practice of engineering design, but in the education of design itself. One first step toward the development of a robust sketching tool is to determine how humans interpret mechanical engineering diagrams. This paper presents two contributions toward the goal of an automated diagram understanding system. First, a method is presented to gain insight into human diagram recognition using techniques analogous to peripheral vision and human attention. Following this, a cognitive model of human diagram understanding is presented from which to further develop computational design tools. With this work, researchers should be able to (1) improve understanding of human diagram recognition and (2) use our model to emulate human diagram recognition in future computational design tools.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Patient education in pain control

Patients' concerns about reporting pain and using analgesics have been cited as major contributors to the problem of inadequate pain management. The purpose of this paper is to describe a program of research in which we have focused on these patient concerns, or as we refer to them, "patient-related barriers to pain management." We present a summary of descriptive studies on this topic, describe educational interventions that have been tested, and suggest future avenues of research and practice.
Biomechanical effects of joint line elevation in total knee arthroplasty

Abstract Background Inadequate restoration of the knee joint line after total knee arthroplasty may lead to a poor clinical outcome. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the effects of joint line elevation following total knee arthroplasty with increased joint volume on patellofemoral contact kinematics. Methods Six cadaveric specimens were tested. Patellofemoral contact area, contact pressure, and kinematics were measured following total knee arthroplasty with an anatomic joint line and after 4 and 8 mm of joint line elevation, at knee flexion angles of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90° and 120°. Repeated measures analysis of variance with a Tukey post hoc test with a significance level of 0.05 was used for statistical analyses. Findings There was a decrease in contact area with joint line elevation at flexion angles of 60°, 90° and 120° (P = 0.009–0.04). There was a significant increase in contact pressure only at 30° of knee flexion with 8 mm of joint line elevation (P = 0.004). Three of the six specimens showed inferior edge loading of the patella component following 8 mm of joint line elevation at 120° of knee flexion. The sagittal plane patellofemoral angle increased significantly with joint line elevation except for 0° knee flexion (P = 0.0002–0.02). Interpretation Knee joint line elevation with increased knee volume significantly affects patellofemoral contact area and kinematics and produced inferior edge loading/impingement between the patella and tibial components, this may result in loss of knee range of motion, postoperative pain, and premature component wear.
Sun-protection behaviors of melanoma survivors.

Background—In the US, almost 800,000 individuals have had melanoma. They have a risk of reoccurrence and 5–10% will develop new melanomas. Objective—The purpose was to use a US population based sample of melanoma survivors and controls to evaluate sun protection behaviors. Methods—We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2005 and 2007 National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Surveys. Skin protection behaviors of melanoma survivors (N=156) were compared to respondents without cancer (N=11408). We used unconditional logistic regression to estimate proportional odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education. Results—Among melanoma survivors, 51.0% used sunscreen, 43.0% sought shade, and 74.3% wore protective clothing on sunny days. Among cancer-free controls, 34.7% used sunscreen, 37.1% sought shade, and 68.0% wore protective clothing. The adjusted ORs (95% CIs) for sunscreen use and seeking shade in melanoma survivors compared to controls were 2.02 (1.36, 2.99) and 1.51 (1.02, 2.23), respectively. Further, 10 melanoma survivors reported using tanning beds after their diagnosis. Limitations—HINTS questions did not ascertain skin self-exam practices, physician advice or knowledge about risk avoidance. Conclusions—Melanoma survivors tend to use sunscreen and seek shade more frequently than cancer-free individuals but lower than expected given their cancer history. Health promotion programs among melanoma survivors need to continue to promote sunscreen and shade use, as well as discourage tanning bed use.
Microsatellite loci for the North American tortoises (genus Gopherus) and their applicability to other turtle species

We describe the development of nine microsatellite loci from the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). Screening 270 individuals, we found these loci to be highly variable (from two to 15 alleles per locus) and thus likely to be applicable in parentage and populationlevel analyses for G. polyphemus. All nine loci amplified readily in the other three species of Gopherus as well. This observation, together with successful cross amplification of several loci in two additional families (Cheloniidae, Kinosternidae), underscores their potential utility among turtles in general.
Measuring Processes and Outcomes of Care

Measuring healthcare processes and the outcomes of care is surprisingly a new idea, and a chasm exists regarding the perceived need for clinical measurement between health policy experts and government planners on the one hand and the providers of care on the other. This might be considered the “second quality chasm”. The train full of researchers, planners, and payers is miles down the tracks, while the train for the physicians who provide the care is just being loaded. In fact, many physicians aren’t convinced that this is a train they want to ride on. As an example, Medicare has developed the Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) to encourage physicians to begin reporting important quality indicators, but few are participating. Doing so not only requires time and resources, but it is not part of physicians’ training or self-expectations.
Revue des Livres/Book Review

(2010). Freyfogle, E. T. & D. Goble, 2009. Wildlife Law: A Primer. Ecoscience: Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 120-120.
Leakage in California's Carbon Market: Preliminary Trading Is Consistent with Expected Impacts of Regulatory Changes

California established a cap-and-trade market for greenhouse gas emissions as the core instrument in its comprehensive climate policy. State law requires that market rules minimize leakage of emissions to other states — a particularly important constraint in the electricity sector, where California is a major importer. In economic terms, an electricity importer that swaps a high-emitting electricity contract for a low-emitting replacement engages in a practice called resource shuffling, which results in leakage.Although the initial carbon market rules flatly prohibited resource shuffling, the market regulator recently decided to exempt a broad series of activities from that prohibition under so-called “safe harbor” provisions. This paper quantifies the leakage impacts from early resource shuffling trades that have already occurred prior to completing these market reforms. I have argued elsewhere that the proposed reforms would permit significant resource shuffling, with a total leakage potential roughly equivalent to the size of the market after so-called complementary policies take effect. The transactions reviewed here are consistent with the criticism that the safe harbors effectively undo the prohibition on resource shuffling. As these transactions demonstrate, emissions have already leaked out of California’s carbon market at scale.
A program for pregnant schoolgirls. Some early results.

Abstract The YMED Program (Young Mothers' Educational Development) is an interdisciplinary effort which provides comprehensive medical, educational, social, and psychological services for pregnant schoolgirls. Under one roof medical care is oOIT.d, a full school curriculum is presented, social service and psychological counseling ar. given, and a nurslTY is provided for child teaching and care. The present paper deals with thll ruults of the medical section during the first year of operation. During this time, 76 girls have been delivered of a total of 78 infants (two sets of twins) . Early and frequent prenatal visits have been achieved. Anemia, excessive weight gain, and early toxemia have been common prenatal problems, and prematvrity and a high cesarean section incidence have been delivery problems. In spit. of these complications, there has not been a single perinatal mortality to date and the beginning pediatric follow-up suggests a paucity of developmental problems. The medical section, like the other parts of the program, therefore seems to be successful in providing benefits lor a high-risk group of girls.
A Three-Person Game of Institutional Resilience versus Transition: A Model and Its Application to China-Japan Comparative History

Combining a model of three-person game and a comparative narrative, this article explores the endogenous nature of institutional resilience versus transition. The three-person game is played by a ruler, a challenger, and an opportunist who chooses a strategic position between the former two depending on the game situation. Under wide classes of game forms, the model is reduced to a super-modular game, in which dual Nash equilibria exist: one increases the likelihood of a transition to a new state and the other supports the status quo or increase the likelihood of failure by the challenger. Thus, in this model the timing of an institutional transition could be different for the same structural characteristics. Choice of an equilibrium may be affected by a change in players' common conjectures about others' strategic choices brought in by a salient public proposition or by a bold strategy of a political entrepreneur. In its emphasis on multiple equilibria, the model may be contrasted with both the two-person game approach to the political economy of development and to the original global game approach to regime changes. Finally, the article applies the analytical results to revisit comparative economic histories and institutional changes from the pre-modern political-economic states in China and Japan.
Storage Stability of Unvulcanized Natural, Nitrile, and GR-S Rubber Compounds

Abstract Loss of plasticity due to interaction of polymer and loading pigment and aging can be overcome by remilling, and therefore is not serious in formulating compounds which can be remilled before use. Compounds which are sold in the unvulcanized state and cannot be remilled after aging and before use must be formulated so as to avoid loss of plasticity due to polymer and pigment interaction or from other cause shown in this paper. The factors influencing the storage stability of unvulcanized compounds both with and without curing agents have been discussed, and it has been shown that by proper formulation it is possible to produce stocks with adequate uncured storage stability.
A simple example of non-unique factorization in integral domains

(1992). A Simple Example of Non-unique Factorization in Integral Domains. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 99, No. 10, pp. 943-945.
Submittal of SWMU Assessment Report for Building 9960 Surface Discharge

Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-purpose engineering and science laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration and managed and operated by Sandia Corporation (Sandia), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. This Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) Assessment Report (SAR) for the Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico (SNL/NM), Coyote Test Field, Building 9960 Surface Discharge, has been prepared in accordance with Section V of the Compliance Order on Consent (the Consent Order) between the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), DOE, and Sandia (NMED April 2004). The DOE and Sandia formally notified the NMED of this newly identified or suspected SWMU or Area of Concern (AOC) by letter dated December 9, 2014. This SAR is being submitted in accordance with the NMED Hazardous Waste Bureau (HWB) letter dated February 16, 2015 letter (Kieling February 2015). This SAR presents the available information for the Building 9960 Surface Discharge, including location, designation of type and function, a general description, the operational dates, waste characteristics, and a summary of existing analytical wastewater and soil data
Looking in on Music: Challenges and Opportunities for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Whereas most articles in this special issue demonstrate careful and close-up views of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in a performing arts or humanities discipline, my approach is opposite; I look in on music teaching and learning to interrogate current conceptions of SoTL. I begin with Sloboda’s cognitive explanation of music expertise and consider how music expertise is established relatively early in life. I then proceed to develop two case studies of music in higher education showing how each case illustrates expertise, and highlighting experts’ desires for progressively greater challenges. I argue that collaboration with other expert performers is one sort of challenge that meets such desires. By drawing attention to collaboration, I then reframe music as social practice, and I highlight the qualities of participatory performance. In the latter part of the article, I turn my attention toward explaining what it means to think about learning as participation in a community of practice, and I draw on the case studies to demonstrate that such a view presents both challenges and opportunities for SoTL.
Opportunities at the Frontiers of Spintronics

The field of spintronics, or magnetic electronics, is maturing and giving rise to new subfields. These new directions involve the study of collective spin excitations and couplings of the spin system to additional degrees of freedom of a material, as well as metastable phenomena due to perturbations that drive the system far from equilibrium. The interactions lead to possibilities for future applications within the realm of energy-efficient information technologies. Examples discussed herein include research opportunities associated with (i) various spin-orbit couplings, such as spin Hall effects, (ii) couplings to the thermal bath of a system, such as in spin Seebeck effects, (iii) spin-spin couplings, such as via induced and interacting magnon excitations, and (iv) spin-photon couplings, such as in ultra-fast magnetization switching due to coherent photon pulses. These four basic frontier areas of research are giving rise to new applied disciplines known as spin-orbitronics, spin-caloritronics, magnonics, and spin-photonics, respectively. These topics are highlighted in order to stimulate interest in the new directions that spintronics research is taking, and to identify open issues to pursue.
Does Witnessing Animal Cruelty and Being Abused During Childhood Predict the Initial Age and Recurrence of Committing Childhood Animal Cruelty

The goal of the current study was to examine the association between demographic characteristics and childhood experiences on the respondents' age of committing childhood animal cruelty and its recurrency. Using data collected from 257 male inmates at a Southern medium-security state prison, the current study seeks to replicate a study by Hensley, Tallichet, and Dutkiewicz. Results revealed that those respondents who were physically abused as children reported engaging in recurrent animal cruelty. The younger the age of respondent for first witnessing animal cruelty, the sooner his initiation to hurting and killing animals occurred. In addition, those who reported witnessing a parent commit acts of animal abuse reported that they committed animal abuse themselves at an older age, while those who witnessed a brother/sister commit animal abuse reported engaging in it at an earlier age. Therefore, physical abuse and witnessing primary socializers engage in animal abuse seem to be important in understanding the respondents' age of onset and repeated childhood animal cruelty.
P-glycoprotein expression in plasma-cell myeloma is associated with resistance to VAD.

Tumor cell-associated expression of multidrug resistance (MDR) was quantitated in 22 patients with DNA-aneuploid myeloma using 2-parameter flow cytometry with monoclonal antibody (MoAb) C-219 for the detection of cytoplasmic p-170 and propidium iodide for nuclear DNA content. The proportion of cells expressing p-170 and the intensity of p-170-related fluorescence were determined for each patient. Among the 14 patients treated with vincristine-adriamycin-dexamethasone (VAD), the proportion of p-170-positive cells distinguished sensitive from resistant disease (P less than .01). Among a subgroup of seven patients with MDR analysis available prior to VAD therapy, two subsequent nonresponders had high proportions of C-219-reactive cells. The presence de novo of high proportions of p-170-expressing cells in another still untreated patient and in a further individual with resistance to dexamethasone and interferon (not associated with MDR) warrants systematic analysis of p-170 expression prior to therapy to determine its clinical implications for response to MDR-associated drugs as combined in the VAD regimen. Concurrent MDR expression by aneuploid tumor cells and cells in the diploid subcompartment may represent involvement of diploid cells in the myeloma disease process.
Strain Gradient Notation

Purpose of Lesson To derive the displacement interpolation polynomials that serve as the basis for the development of finite elements and finite difference operators in terms of a physically interpretable notation.
Development of Alveoli

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the processes involved in the formation of alveoli in the developing lung. Alveoli are tiny, thin-walled sacs that facilitate the exchange of gases between capillaries in the alveolar wall and air brought into the lung during inspiration. In humans, the formation of pulmonary alveoli begins during late gestation and continues after birth. In other species, alveolarization is either predominantly postnatal or predominantly prenatal. Alveolarization is a relatively late event in lung development, occurring after branching morphogenesis has laid down the conducting airway system. However, some of the regulatory factors that control alveolarization are also involved in lung bud formation and branching morphogenesis. Shortly after birth, in both rats and humans, the surface area of the air-blood interface begins to increase markedly as the terminal saccules become alveolar ducts and these in turn give rise to alveolar sacs and the alveoli. Alveolar formation in the developing lung has been divided into several phases: the first is termed secondary septation, which is characterized by the formation of new alveolar septa by septation of the terminal sacs. The second phase of alveolarization is marked by further lengthening and thinning of the secondary septae, primarily via the loss of interstitial mesenchymal cells and extensive capillary remodeling.
A comparison of the hourly output between the Ambu® Smart-Infuser™ Pain Pump and the On-Q Pump® with Select-A-Flow™ Variable Rate Controller with standard and overfill volumes.

BACKGROUND The Ambu Smart-Infuser Pain Pump and the On-Q Pump with Select-a-Flow Variable Rate Controller are elastomeric devices with a flow regulator that controls the rate of infusion of a local anesthetic agent through a peripheral catheter. As a safety evaluation, we evaluated the infusion characteristics of these two devices when filled with manufacturer recommended standard volumes and when overfilled with a volume 50% in excess of that which is recommended. METHODS Nineteen disposable devices from the two manufacturers were used in this study. Nine were filled with 0.9% normal saline according to the respective manufacturers' recommendations (four Ambu pumps were filled with 650 ml and five On-Q pumps were filled with 550 ml) and 10 devices were 150% overfilled (five Ambu pumps were filled with 975 ml and five On-Q pumps were filled with 825 ml). All of the devices were set to infuse at 10 ml · h(-1) at room temperature (21°C) for 12 h. The fluid delivered during each 2-h period was measured using a graduated column. RESULTS The On-Q pump (in the settings of normal fill and 150% overfill) delivered a significantly higher output per hour than the set rate during the first 8 h, while the Ambu pump delivered a value close to the set rate of 10 ml · h(-1). No significant difference in the hourly delivered output was noted for either device when comparing the normal fill to the 150% overfill groups. CONCLUSIONS This investigation demonstrates that no change in the hourly output occurs with overfilling of these home infusion devices. However, as noted previously, the hourly output from the On-Q device is significantly higher than the set rate during the initial 8 h of infusion which could have potential clinical implications.
Efficient sensor placement for state estimation in structural dynamics

Abstract This paper derives a computationally efficient algorithm to determine optimal sequential sensor placement for state estimation in linear structural systems subjected to unmeasured excitations and noise contaminated measurements. The proposed algorithm is developed within the context of the Kalman filter and it minimizes the variance of the state estimate among all possible sequential sensor locations. The paper investigates the effects of measurement type, covariance matrix partition selection, spatial correlation of excitation and model selection on optimal sensor placement. The paper shows that the sequential approach reaches the optimal sensor placement as the number of sensor increases.
A Cholecystokinin B Receptor-Specific DNA Aptamer for Targeting Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) constitutively express the G-protein-coupled cholecystokinin B receptor (CCKBR). In this study, we identified DNA aptamers (APs) that bind to the CCKBR and describe their characterization and targeting efficacy. Using dual SELEX selection against “exposed” CCKBR peptides and CCKBR-expressing PDAC cells, a pool of DNA APs was identified. Further downselection was based on predicted structures and properties, and we selected eight APs for initial characterizations. The APs bound specifically to the CCKBR, and we showed not only that they did not stimulate proliferation of PDAC cell lines but rather inhibited their proliferation. We chose one AP, termed AP1153, for further binding and localization studies. We found that AP1153 did not activate CCKBR signaling pathways, and three-dimensional Confocal microscopy showed that AP1153 was internalized by PDAC cells in a receptor-mediated manner. AP1153 showed a binding affinity of 15 pM. Bioconjugation of AP1153 to the sur...
The Future of Global Brands

The value of the 100 most valuable global brands has grown on average by 8.8 % per year since 2005, to a staggering $3.4 trillion in 2016. While I am optimistic about the global potential of brands from all corners of the earth, I am not oblivious to the threats that global corporations face. I see as the main threats that globalization might stall, and possibly even lose ground, and the backlash against what critical thinkers call the “McDonaldization of society.”
Optimality of Deterministic Policies for Certain Stochastic Control Problems with Multiple Criteria and Constraints

For single-criterion stochastic control and sequential decision problems, optimal policies, if they exist, are typically nonrandomized. For problems with multiple criteria and constraints, optimal nonrandomized policies may not exist and, if optimal policies exist, they are typically randomized. In this paper we discuss certain conditions that lead to optimality of nonrandomized policies. In the most interesting situations, these conditions do not impose convexity assumptions on the action sets and reward functions.
Segmental Spinal Dysgenesis

Segmental spinal dysgenesis (SSD) is a rare congenital condition in which a segment of the spine and spinal cord fails to develop properly.
Provosts' Perceptions of Academic Library Value & Preferences for Communication: A National Study

While many studies have been conducted under the auspices of calculating academic library value, there are no large-scale studies into the perceptions that college or university provosts have of library value, nor are there studies into how provosts prefer library value data to be communicated. This study addresses that gap through a national survey of public and private university provosts/chief academic officers, with attention to size of the institution, accrediting agency, and the status of librarians at the institution. An understanding of provosts’ perceptions of library value and preferences for communication aid library directors as they seek to leverage the findings of value studies for library advocacy.
When Raft Meets SDN: How to Elect a Leader and Reach Consensus in an Unruly Network

In SDN, the logically centralized control plane ("network OS") is often realized via multiple SDN controllers for scalability and reliability. ONOS is such an example, where it employs Raft -- a new consensus protocol developed recently -- for state replication and consistency among the distributed SDN controllers. The reliance of network OS on consensus protocols to maintain consistent network state introduces an intricate inter-dependency between the network OS and the network under its control, thereby creating new kinds of fault scenarios or instabilities. In this paper, we use Raft to illustrate the problems that this inter-dependency may introduce in the design of distributed SDN controllers and discuss possible solutions to circumvent these issues.
Overcoming Oncogenic Mediated Tumor Immunity in Prostate Cancer

Immunotherapy is being tested intensively in clinical trials for prostate cancer; it includes immune checkpoint inhibition, prostate specific antigen (PSA) vaccines and dendritic cell-based strategies. Despite increasing evidence for clinical responses, the consensus of multiple trials is that prostate cancers are poorly responsive to immunotherapy. Prostate cancer has a high degree of pathological and genetic heterogeneity compared to other cancer types, which may account for immunotherapeutic resistance. This hypothesis also implies that select types of prostate tumors may be differentially responsive to immune-based strategies and that the clinical stage, pathological grade and underlying genetic landscape may be important criteria in identifying tumors that respond to immune therapies. One strategy is to target oncogenic driver pathways in combination with immunotherapies with the goal of overcoming tumor immunity and broadening the number of patients achieving a clinical response. In this analysis, we address the hypothesis that driver oncogenic signaling pathways regulate cancer progression, tumor immunity and resistance to current immune therapeutics in prostate cancer. We propose that increased responsiveness may be achieved through the combined use of immunotherapies and inhibitors targeting tumor cell autonomous pathways that contribute towards anti-tumor immunity in patients with prostate cancer.
The Challenges Involved with Going Negative

One rather common way of doing philosophy involves what is called “the method of cases,” where philosophers design hypothetical cases and use what we think about those cases—our “philosophical intuitions”—as evidence that certain philosophical theories are true or false, and as reasons for believing that those theories are true or false. This way of doing philosophy has been challenged in recent years on the basis of both general epistemological considerations and more specific methodological concerns. These methodological concerns have focused not on whether philosophical intuitions can be a good source of evidence, but rather on whether they can be used in the ways that they currently are used in actual philosophical practice given how little we know about them and some of the worrisome things that we have learned about them in recent years. My goal here is to provide you with a short introduction to this way of challenging to how philosophers use the method of cases, and to walk you through some of the more popular ways of responding to this kind of methodological challenge and some of their shortcomings.