cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testimony on 'The State of Patent Eligibility in America' before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Intellectual Property Subcommittee

This invited testimony was prepared for the Senate Judiciary Committee, Intellectual Property Subcommittee, hearing on reforming § 101. It identifies several reasons that justify congressional action in reforming § 101 and abrogating the Alice-Mayo framework created by the Supreme Court in its patent eligibility cases between 2010 and 2014. First, it details the very high rates of invalidation of patents and rejection of patent applications under § 101 since 2014. Second, it explains why the USPTO’s recent reforms in its § 101 examination guidelines are insufficient to solve the problems of excessive cancellations of patents by courts and uncertainty for innovators. Third, it identifies a guidepost for congressional action today in the 1952 Patent Act. Congress has abrogated Supreme Court doctrines many times before, and its enactment of § 103 in the 1952 Patent Act is a model for reform of § 101 today. Section 103 is succinct, technology neutral, and simple in setting forth procedural and substantive limits for nonobviousness doctrine. It does this because it responded to the same problems in nonobviousness doctrine that innovators face today under patent eligibility doctrine: the Supreme Court created a very restrictive test (“the flash of creative genius”) that resulted in extensive invalidations of patents and uncertainty for innovators. In 1949, Justice Robert Jackson lamented in dissent that "the only patent that is valid is one which this Court has not been able to get its hands on." This could have been written today about patent eligibility cases. Congress should act again to rein in a judicial doctrine that is undermining the function of the patent system in driving the innovation economy.
Imagining Queer, Fat Food Futures

This piece of creative nonfiction explores how we can unlearn food as stigma and shame. It is a love letter to queer, fat community. Using queer as a verb, as a transformative opening, it imagines ...
Compact Groups and Their Representations

This is an overview article on compact Lie groups and their representations, written for the Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics to be published by Elsevier. In this article we describe the structure and representation theory of compact Lie groups. Throughout the article, G is a compact real Lie group with Lie algebra g. Unless otherwise stated, G is assumed to be connected. The word "group" will always mean a "Lie group" and the word "subgroup" will mean a closed Lie subgroup. The notation Lie(H) stands for the Lie algebra of a Lie group H. We assume that the reader is familiar with the basic facts of the theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras, which can be found in the article Lie groups: general theory in this Encyclopedia, or in the books listed in the bibliography. 1. Examples of compact Lie groups
PyTracker: A Low-Cost Mobile Platform for Telerehabilitation

Telerehabilitation (TR) is a growing technology aiming to improve post-recovery care for patients. TR offers an in-home, autonomous assistant for instructing and tracking patient progress during post-recovery care. Numerous budding technologies serve as potential solutions for in-home physical therapy (PT). This paper first goes through and compares several leading methodologies for telerehabilitation. After that, PyTracker, a mobile platform that uses an RGB camera, machine learning algorithms, and statistical analysis approaches to track and monitor the range of motion, is introduced. The proposed platform's ability to determine the range of motion during exercise is evaluated and proven to deliver clinical accuracy.
A Virtual Reality Memory Palace Variant Aids Knowledge Retrieval from Scholarly Articles

We present exploratory research of virtual reality techniques and mnemonic devices to assist in retrieving knowledge from scholarly articles. We used abstracts of scientific publications to represent knowledge in scholarly articles; participants were asked to read, remember, and retrieve knowledge from a set of abstracts. We conducted an experiment to compare participants’ recall and recognition performance in three different conditions: a control condition without a pre-specified strategy to test baseline individual memory ability, a condition using an image-based variant of a mnemonic called a “memory palace,” and a condition using a virtual reality-based variant of a memory palace. Our analyses show that using a virtual reality-based memory palace variant greatly increased the amount of knowledge retrieved and retained over the baseline, and it shows a moderate improvement over the other image-based memory palace variant. Anecdotal feedback from participants suggested that personalizing a memory palace variant would be appreciated. Our results support the value of virtual reality for some high-level cognitive tasks and help improve future applications of virtual reality and visualization.
Physiological consequences of consuming low-energy foods: herbivory coincides with a stress response in Yellowstone bears.

Meat, fruit, seeds and other high-energy bear foods are often highly localized and briefly available and understanding which factors influence bear consumption of these foods is a common focus of bear conservation and ecology. However, the most common bear foods, graminoids and forbs, are more widespread but of lower quality. We poorly understand how herbage consumption impacts bear physiology, such as endocrine system function that regulates homeostasis and stress responses. Here, we described bear diets with a novel approach, measuring the concentration of chlorophyll in bear scats (faecal chlorophyll) to index the proportion of the recent diet that was composed of leaves from graminoids and forbs. We measured faecal chlorophyll and faecal cortisol in 351 grizzly (Ursus arctos, n = 255) and black bear (Ursus americanus, n = 96) scats from Yellowstone National Park in 2008-2009. We compared models of faecal chlorophyll and faecal cortisol concentrations considering the effects of spatial, dietary, scat and bear-specific factors including species. Faecal chlorophyll levels were the strongest predictor of faecal cortisol in a manner that suggested an endocrine response to a low-energy diet. Both compounds were highest during the spring and early summer months, overlapping the breeding season when higher energy foods were less available. Effects of scat composition, scat weathering, bear age, bear sex, species and other factors that have previously been shown to influence faecal cortisol in bears were not important unless faecal chlorophyll was excluded from models. The top models of faecal chlorophyll suggested grazing was primarily influenced by spatial attributes, with greater grazing closer to recreational trails, implying that elevated cortisol with grazing could be a response to anthropogenic activity. Our results confirm that higher stress hormone concentrations correspond with lower quality diets in bears, particularly grazing, and that faecal chlorophyll shows promise as a metric for studying grazing behaviour and its consequences.
Cancer risk perception and physician communication behaviors on cervical cancer and colorectal cancer screening.

Background Women 50-65 years of age have the lowest cervical and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates among ages recommended for screening. The primary aim of this work is to determine how cancer risk perceptions and provider communication behaviors, in addition to known demographic factors, influence the uptake of both cervical and CRC screening or a single screen among women in southeast Michigan. Methods Fourteen health services and communication behavior questions were adapted from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) and administered to a multiethnic sample of adults in southeast Michigan. The outcome variable was self-reported up-to-date cervical cancer and/or CRC screening as defined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Demographic and cancer risk/communication behavior responses of the four screening populations (both tests, one test, no tests) were analyzed with multinomial regression for all comparisons. Results Of the 394 respondents, 54% were up to date for both cervical and CRC screening, 21% were up to date with only cervical cancer screening and 12% were up to date for only CRC screening. Of the 14 risk perception and communication behavior questions, only 'Did your primary care physician (PCP) involve you in the decisions about your health care as much as you wanted?' was significantly associated with women having both screens compared to only cervical cancer screening (aOR 1.67; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.57). The multivariate model showed age, and Middle East and North African (MENA) ethnicity and Black race, in addition to PCP-patient dyad decision-making to be associated with the cancer screenings women completed. Conclusions Optimizing PCP-patient decision-making in health care may increase opportunities for both cervical cancer and CRC screening either in the office or by self-sampling. Understanding the effects of age and the different interventional strategies needed for MENA women compared to Black women will inform future intervention trials aimed to increase both cancer screenings. Funding This work was supported by NIH through the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research UL1TR002240 and by NCI through The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center P30CA046592-29-S4 grants.
Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things – An Economic Overview

Internet of Things (IoT) has become one of the mainstream advancements and a supreme domain of research for the technical as well as the scientific world, and financially appealing for the business world. It supports the interconnection of different gadgets and the connection of gadgets to people. IoT requires a distributed computing set up to deal with the rigorous data processing and training; and simultaneously, it requires artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to analyze the information stored on various cloud frameworks and make extremely quick and smart decisions w.r.t to data. Moreover, the continuous developments in these three areas of IT present a strong opportunity to collect real-time data about every activity of a business. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are assuming a supportive part in applications and use cases offered by the Internet of Things, a shift evident in the behavior of enterprises trying to adopt this paradigm shift around the world. Small as well as large-scale organizations across the globe are leveraging these applications to develop the latest offers of services and products that will present a new set of business opportunities and direct new developments in the technical landscape. The following transformation will also present another opportunity for various industries to run their operations and connect with their users through the power of AI, ML, and IoT combined. Moreover, there is still huge scope for those who can convert raw information into valuable business insights, and the way ahead to do as such lies in viable data analytics. Organizations are presently looking further into the data streams to identify new and inventive approaches to elevate proficiency and effectiveness in the technical as well as business landscape. Organizations are taking on bigger, more exhaustive research approaches with the assistance of continuous progress being made in science and technology, especially in machine learning and artificial intelligence. If companies want to understand the valuable capacity of this innovation, they are required to integrate their IoT frameworks with persuasive AI and ML algorithms that allow ’smart devices/gadgets’ to imitate behavioral patterns of humans and be able to take wise decisions just like humans without much of an intervention. Integrating both artificial intelligence and machine learning with IoT networks is proving to be a challenging task for the accomplishment of the present IoT-based digital ecosystems. Hence, organizations should direct the necessary course of action to identify how they will drive value from intersecting AI, ML, and IoT to maintain a satisfactory position in the business in years to come. In this review, we will also discuss the progress of IoT so far and what role AI and ML can play in accomplishing new heights for businesses in the future. Later the paper will discuss the opportunities and challenges faced during the implementation of this hybrid model.
Towards precise sustainable road assessments and agreeable decisions

Abstract Highway engineers should ideally select sustainable road designs based on accurate and comprehensive assessments. Nevertheless, it is often challenging to identify the significant factors for quantifying the multidimensional concept of sustainability. Moreover, due to the multidisciplinary nature of sustainability, the outputs from various assessments are often diverse, and, hence, their significance must be suitably examined during the decision-making process. In the present study, economic, environmental, and social life cycle assessments (LCAs) were considered in an integrated manner, and 12 measurable indicators were thereby recommended for assessing specific road designs. Since the LCA outputs are usually sensitive to the quality of the inputs used for the calculation, customizable LCA models and project-specific data are required to produce a more precise estimate than that based on the standard available information. In this study, a hybrid analytic hierarchical multi-criteria group decision-making model was employed to select the sustainable design. In addition, the application of the proposed approach was demonstrated by selecting a sustainable road design for El Paso, Texas. The environmental outputs were normalized using a relatable reference system to facilitate understanding. The assessments were then reviewed by eight experts, and a group-agreeable design was selected.
Control Techniques for a Current-Mode-Controlled Merged-Energy-Buffer-based Two-Stage Electrolytic-Free Offline LED Driver

This paper presents improved control techniques for a current-mode-controlled offline LED driver that uses a merged energy buffer for twice-line-frequency energy buffering. The LED driver has two power conversion stages: a four-switch buck-boost PFC stage and an LLC resonant dc-dc stage. To achieve a high power density, the PFC stage uses a small inductance, making its current control loop design challenging. A systematic methodology for the design of this control loop that ensures adequate bandwidth, phase margin and low-frequency gain is presented. The small capacitors and the switching action of the merged energy buffer cause wide variations and abrupt jumps in the input voltage of the dc-dc stage. To maintain a tightly regulated LED current, a feedforward-enhanced feedback controller is designed that leverages a computationally efficient converter model. These control strategies are experimentally validated through a 150-W electrolytic-free offline LED driver prototype, which achieves a high power density of 50 W/in3.
Divalent Cations and Conformational States of Na,K-ATPase

Publisher Summary The reaction sequence of the Na, K–ATPase involves sequential changes in conformational states. Divalent cations bound to ATP form the substrate complex; yet free Mg 2+ can also modify enzymatic processes directly by favoring the E 2 /E 2 -P conformational states. For the Na, K–ATPase reaction divalent cations thus can inhibit by hindering E 2 to E 1 conversions required in the catalytic cycle. Because Mn 2+ is a more potent selector of E 2 , it then should be a poorer cofactor in the reaction. On the other hand, the K-phosphatase reaction apparently is catalyzed by E 2 states without any requirement for E 2 to E 1 conversions. Mn 2+ , as the better selector of E 2 states, then should be the better co­factor. Instead, Mn 2+ is less good than Mg 2+ . Two observations bear on why Mn 2+ is the poorer cofactor: (1) with Mn 2+ , the K d for vanadate binding is 8-fold lower than with Mg 2+ and (2) the K i for phosphate as a competitive inhibitor of the K-phosphatase reaction is 2-fold lower, 0.7 m M with MnCl 2 versus 1.3 m M with MgCl 2 .
Activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor underlie responsiveness of non-small cell lung cancer to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Gefitinib

PL6 The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is commonly expressed at high levels in multiple epithelial cancers, but treatment with the novel EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor Gefitinib has produced only modest results in most cancer types. However, approximately 10% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have dramatic clinical responses following treatment with Gefitinib. Gefitinib-responsive tumors are most commonly bronchoalveolar in histology and are more frequent in non-smokers and in women, suggesting the possibility of a distinct genetic etiology. We have recently shown that virtually all Gefitinib-responsive tumors harbor specific activating mutations in the kinase domain of EGFR. These somatic mutations are clustered around the ATP binding cleft of the kinase, and mediate both altered ligand-dependent signaling, as well as enhanced binding by the inhibitor. Of note, EGF binding to the mutant receptor results is greatly increased signaling through the anti-apoptotic AKT and STAT pathways, compared with the wild-type receptor, whereas proliferative signals mediated through the ERK pathway are unaltered. The possibility that mutant EGFRs mediate critical survival signals on which the Gefitinib-responsive cancers have become dependent is further supported by the observation that siRNA-mediated knockdown of the mutant EGFR allele triggers massive apoptosis in lung cancer cells harboring the mutant receptor. Taken together, these observations have direct implications for the treatment of patients with NSCLC with EGFR mutations, and more broadly for the design and application of molecular targeted therapy of cancer.
Is Engineering Software Amenable to Formal Specification

Unwieldy, incomprehensible, spaghetti-like Fortran code is very likely the image conjured by the term “engineering and scientific software.” What could the purveyors of such monstrosities possibly want with formal methods? Written from the perspective of a civil engineer, the following is a discussion of the potential role of formal specification tools, such as Larch, in engineering applications. The discussion also includes some examples of specifying engineering software components, and some comments on the potential benefits of formal specifications in engineering program design.
Synchronization stability of lossy and uncertain power grids

Direct energy methods have been extensively developed for the transient stability analysis and contingency screening of power grids. However, there is no analytical energy functions proposed for power grids with losses, which are normal in practice. This paper applies the recently introduced Lyapunov Functions Family approach to the certification of synchronization stability for lossy power grids. This technique does not rely on the global decreasing of the Lyapunov function as in the direct energy methods, and thus is possible to deal with the lossy power grids. We show that this approach is also applicable to uncertain power grids where the stable equilibrium is unknown due to possible uncertainties in system parameters. We formulate this new control problem and introduce techniques to certify the robust stability of a given initial state with respect to a set of equilibria.
agentTool III: from process definition to code generation

The agentTool III (aT3) development environment is built on the Eclipse platform and provides traditional model creation tools to support the analysis, design, and implementation of multiagent systems following the Organization-based Multiagent Systems Engineering (O-MaSE) methodology. It also provides the ability to compose, verify, and maintain customized O-MaSE complaint processes. Additionally, aT3 provides a verification framework which helps designers to maintain consistency between their O-MaSE models.
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Bordetella hinzii Strains Isolated from Humans.

ABSTRACT Bordetella hinzii is primarily recovered from poultry but can also colonize mammalian hosts and immunocompromised humans. Here, we report the first complete genome sequences of B. hinzii in two isolates recovered from humans. The availability of these sequences will hopefully aid in identifying host-specific determinants variably present within this species.
Hildegard of Bingen: Some Recent Books

The year 1998, the nine hundredth anniversary of the birth of St. Hildegard near Bingen in the valley of the Rhine, provided an occasion for scholarly scrutiny of her textual, visual, and musical works, as well as more popular treatments. This review article is highly selective. The new edition of Sabina Flanagan's book will continue to provide one of the better general introductions to Hildegard's biography and writings. In updating the first edition of 1989, when the author noted that "most of her writings still lack modern critical editions" (p. xi), a second preface acknowledges the progress made in providing these crucial sources (p. xiii); indeed most titles in the Corpus Christianorum series, as well as the best modern translations into English, postdate 1989 (pp. 217-19). The author herself is also responsible for a new anthology of a wide range of texts in translation that might well complement the present volume in the classroom (Secrets of God: Writings of Hildegard of Bingen, Boston, 1998). In her Visionary Life a biography based on Hildegard's own writings and on several contemporary accounts intersects with central chapters that describe the various texts assigned to Hildegard. The author is an unabashed admirer of Hildegard, setting her achievements in "natural history, medicine, and cosmology, ... music, poetry, and theology" above those of "most of her male contemporaries" and particularly lauding her "visionary beauty and intellectual power" (pp. ix-x). Flanagan's biographical chapters (1-3) are ambitious and daring given the scarcity and taciturn nature of the sources. The clarity and certainty this author conveys are both the strength and the weakness of the book, depending on the reader's needs. Although she introduces many quotations from Hildegard herself, she had to work hard at filling the gaps in order to meet twentieth-century prerequisites for a "biography," one that not only winnows the facts of the narrative from mythologies but also demands to understand causes and personal motivation. Thus Flanagan speculates whether Hildegard felt less "orphaned" by Jutta's death
DIFFERENTIAL REGULATION OF C-REL TRANSLOCATION IN ACTIVATED B AND T CELLS

c-Rel induction in activated lymphocytes is suppressed by the immunosuppressive drug, FK506. Here we show that FK506-suppressible, delayed c-Rel induction is similar in B and T cells and is regulated by mRNA production. In contrast, rapid nuclear translocation of pre-existing cytoplasmic c-Rel occurs only in B cells, but not in T cells. Analysis of I-kappaBalpha and -beta in these cells showed that both I-kappaBalpha and I-kappaBbeta were rapidly degraded in response to stimulation in B cells, but only I-kappaBalpha was affected in T cells. These observations suggest that 1) different Rel proteins in the same cell may be sequestered in the cytoplasm differently, 2) the sequestration mechanism is cell-type specific, and 3) differential sensitivities of I-kappaBalpha and beta in B and T cells may regulate, in part, the rapid response of family members. We propose that subunit-specific and cell-specific regulation of nuclear translocation may help determine the varied cellular responses to different stimuli.
Gender and sex-role stereotypes in scales of death concern

Abstract A review of the literature reveals that gender is one of the variables most consistently related to death anxiety. Consistent with these findings, females in the present study reported significantly more death anxiety on Templer's Death Anxiety Scale than did males. In addition, females expressed greater Fear of Death of Others and Fear of Dying of Self on the Collett-Lester Scale. Given intercorrelations, multiple regression analyses were conducted that revealed that, over and above the control variables of Trait Anxiety, State Anxiety, and Social Desirability, gender made a significant contribution to prediction for four of five death concern scales. In the case of Templer's Scale, Fear of Death of Self and Fear of Dying of Self, the addition of Bem's scales to the equation improved prediction. For these three scales Femininity was a significant individual predictor in the final equation while gender was not. These findings suggest that when subjects contemplate their own deaths sex-role stereo...
The conductivity and the adsorption capacity of surfactant modified hydrous titanium oxide gels

Abstract Electrical conductivity measurements as well as adsorption investigations show that the electrical conductivity and the amount of copper ions adsorbed from aqueous solutions pass through maxima with increasing concentration of surfactant in surfactant-doped titanium gels. Electron spin resonance measurements reveal that the intensity of the signal assigned to adsorbed O2− depends on the surfactant content, while Fourier transform-infrared measurements provide evidence for peaks which disappear after adsorption. It is reasonable to assume that the groups responsible for these peaks represent adsorption sites.
SU-GG-T-100: Comparison of Measured D-Max for Irregular Electron Cutout Fields to Treatment Planning System Prediction and Nominal Open Field D-Max

Purpose: For irregular electron cutouts, not only output factors but also depths of maximum dose (D‐max) are often measured experimentally, increasing workload of clinical physicists and slowing clinical workflow. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the D‐max of the corresponding open field or the D‐max of the cutout derived from the treatment planning system (TPS) can be used. Method and Materials: Seven cutouts for electron beams with energies ranging from 9 to 21 MeV were planned for patients using Pinnacle 8.0m without heterogeneity correction. To determine D‐max, the depth doses (PDDs) of these cutouts were generated in the TPS with flat‐surfaced water phantom geometry. PDDs were then compared with PDDs measured in a PTW scanning water phantom and corresponding open field PDDs. Because of the broad characteristic of PDDs near D‐max of these energy electron beams, a range of depths with PDD values > 99.5% on either side of D‐max were compared. Results: Within 0.5% dose variation, the D‐max ranges obtained from the TPS overlapped with those from measurements and nominal D‐max of open fields. For five of the seven cutouts, output factors measured at depths obtained from TPS, measurement, or corresponding open field resulted in less than 1% difference. For the other two cutouts, which showed the least overlap, less than 2% difference in output factors measured at the nominal depth of open‐field or measured Dmax was observed. Conclusion: For irregular electron cutouts, it is not necessary to measure the unique D‐max for the cutout field. Cutout factors within 2% measured at either nominal D‐max of the corresponding open field or the calculated D‐max from the treatment planning system can be achieved.
A hydrogeomorphic river network model predicts where and why hyporheic exchange is important in large basins

Hyporheic exchange has been hypothesized to have basin-scale consequences; however, predictions throughout river networks are limited by available geomorphic and hydrogeologic data and by models that can analyze and aggregate hyporheic exchange flows across large spatial scales. We developed a parsimonious but physically based model of hyporheic flow for application in large river basins: Networks with EXchange and Subsurface Storage (NEXSS). We applied NEXSS across a broad range of geomorphic diversity in river reaches and synthetic river networks. NEXSS demonstrates that vertical exchange beneath submerged bed forms rather than lateral exchange through meanders dominates hyporheic fluxes and turnover rates along river corridors. Per kilometer, low-order streams have a biogeochemical potential at least 2 orders of magnitude larger than higher-order streams. However, when biogeochemical potential is examined per average length of each stream order, low- and high-order streams were often found to be comparable. As a result, the hyporheic zone's intrinsic potential for biogeochemical transformations is comparable across different stream orders, but the greater river miles and larger total streambed area of lower order streams result in the highest cumulative impact from low-order streams. Lateral exchange through meander banks may be important in some cases but generally only in large rivers.
Rethinking Regenerative Medicine: A Macrophage-Centered Approach

Regenerative medicine, a multi-disciplinary approach that seeks to restore form and function to damaged or diseased tissues and organs, has evolved significantly during the past decade. By adapting and integrating fundamental knowledge from cell biology, polymer science, and engineering, coupled with an increasing understanding of the mechanisms which underlie the pathogenesis of specific diseases, regenerative medicine has the potential for innovative and transformative therapies for heretofore unmet medical needs. However, the translation of novel technologies from the benchtop to animal models and clinical settings is non-trivial and requires an understanding of the mechanisms by which the host will respond to these novel therapeutic approaches. The role of the innate immune system, especially the role of macrophages, in the host response to regenerative medicine based strategies has recently received considerable attention. Macrophage phenotype and function have been suggested as critical and determinant factors in downstream outcomes. The constructive and regulatory, and in fact essential, role of macrophages in positive outcomes represents a significant departure from the classical paradigms of host-biomaterial interactions, which typically consider activation of the host immune system as a detrimental event. It appears desirable that emerging regenerative medicine approaches should not only accommodate but also promote the involvement of the immune system to facilitate positive outcomes. Herein, we describe the current understanding of macrophage phenotype as it pertains to regenerative medicine and suggest that improvement of our understanding of context-dependent macrophage polarization will lead to concurrent improvement in outcomes.
FDG-PET uptake in occult acute pelvic fracture

The role of FDG-PET in the diagnosis of bone metastases remains unsettled, although it is hoped that PET scans will add specificity to or replace bone scintigraphy. We report a case in which an acute traumatic fracture presented with a level of uptake generally considered indicative of neoplasm. It is important to recognize that increased FDG-PET activity in bone should not be accepted as definitive evidence of metastatic disease.
Immunostimulatory DNA-based therapeutics for experimental and clinical allergy

Although allergen immunotherapy (IT) has been shown to modulate allergic hypersensitivities, its efficacy is limited. Recently, in various models of experimental allergy, a number of reagents which we have termed immunostimulatory DNA-based therapeutics have proven highly effective in both the prevention and reversal of Th2 mediated hypersensitivity states. These include immunization with gene vaccines, allergen mixed with immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide (ISS-ODN), and physical allergen: ISS-conjugates (AIC), and immunomodulation with ISS-ODN alone. Results from our laboratory have shown that immunostimulatory DNA-based therapeutics may be effective for the reversal of allergic hypersensitivity states in humans and several clinical trials have already been initiated. This review will focus on our laboratory's experience with immunostimulatory DNA-based therapeutics in various murine models of allergy and their potential utility in the treatment of allergic patients.
From intrusive to oscillating thoughts.

This paper focused on the possibility that intrusive thoughts (ITs) are a form of an evolutionary, adaptive, and complex strategy to prepare for and resolve stressful life events through schema formation. Intrusive thoughts have been studied in relation to individual conditions, such as traumatic stress disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder. They have also been documented in the average person experiencing everyday stress. In many descriptions of thought intrusion, it is accompanied by thought suppression. Several theories have been put forth to describe ITs, although none provides a satisfactory explanation as to whether ITs are a normal process, a normal process gone astray, or a sign of pathology. There is also no consistent view of the role that thought suppression plays in the process. I propose that thought intrusion and thought suppression may be better understood by examining them together as a complex and adaptive mechanism capable of escalating in times of need. The ability of a biological mechanism to scale up in times of need is one hallmark of a complex and adaptive system. Other hallmarks of complexity, including self-similarity across scales, sensitivity to initial conditions, presence of feedback loops, and system oscillation, are also discussed in this article. Finally, I propose that thought intrusion and thought suppression are better described together as an oscillatory cycle.
Role of the perinodal region in atrioventricular nodal reentry: evidence in an isolated rabbit heart preparation.

To evaluate the role of perinodal tissue in the genesis of atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry, echo beats were induced by programmed stimulation in nine superfused rabbit atrial-atrioventricular nodal preparations. In these preparations, extracellular bipolar electrograms were recorded simultaneously from the crista terminalis, interatrial septum and His bundle, along with microelec-trode action potentials from cells in the AV node and perinodal tissues. Three patterns of AV reentry were observed: 1) In four preparations, with the introduction of basic and premature stimuli at the crista terminalis input region to the AV node, block occurred within the AV node, anterograde conduction continued along the perinodal fibers and entered the AV node by way of the interatrial septal input region. Reentry occurred via retrograde nodal conduction. 2) In two other preparations, with the introduction of basic and premature stimuli at the interatrial septal input region, conduction blocked in retrograde manner within the AV node, and retrograde conduction occurred via the perinodal tissues. It subsequently entered the node by way of the crista terminalis input region, and continued in an anterograde direction through the AV node, with reentry via the interatrial septal region and perinodal fibers. 3) In three preparations, basic and premature stimuli at the crista terminalis region blocked in the perinodal tissue near the crista terminalis, but conducted slowly in an anterograde fashion through the AV node. To complete the reentry circuit, the stimuli exited at the interatrial septal region and conducted in retrograde fashion via the perinodal tissues to reenter the node at the crista terminalis. Moreover, in four other preparations, surgical interruption of the perinodal tissue prevented reinitiation of reentrant phenomena. These studies demonstrate the critical role of the perinodal tissues as a necessary link in the AV nodal reentrant mechanism in this preparation.
Electron transfer between weakly coupled concentric quantum rings

The electronic structure of the semiconductor double concentric quantum nano-ring (DCQR) is studied under the single sub-band effective mass approach. We show that in the weakly coupled DCQR, that has been placed in transverse magnetic field, the electron spatial transition between the rings can occur due to electron level anti-crossing. The anti-crossing of the levels with different radial quantum numbers provides the conditions when the electron tunneling between rings becomes possible. Results of numerical simulation for the electron transition are presented for DCQRs of different geometry. In particular, the system of a QR with a QD located at center of this QR is considered.
Chromodynamic corrections to neutrino production of heavy quarks

The O(..cap alpha../sub s/) perturbative quantum-chromodynamic corrections to weak, charged-current production of heavy quarks are evaluated. For perturbative subtractions and parton densities defined via the electroproduction structure function F*/sub 2/, the residual corrections to ..nu..N flavor-production structure functions are shown to be modest except for x'..-->..1 or Q/sup 2/ ..cc-bar splitting ''singularities'' into evolution of an intrinsic charm-sea component of the nucleon. The longitudinal structure function due to charm production is computed and found to be substantial.
Becoming Mapuche: Person and Ritual in Indigenous Chile by Magnus Course

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The publisher's official version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-1425.2012.01398_23.x
Hospitalized patients' understanding of their plan of care.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate hospitalized patients' understanding of their plan of care. PATIENTS AND METHODS Interviews of a cross-sectional sample of hospitalized patients and their physicians were conducted from June 6 through June 26, 2008. Patients were asked whether they knew the name of the physician and nurse responsible for their care and specific questions about 6 aspects of the plan of care for the day (primary diagnosis, planned tests, planned procedures, medication changes, physician services consulted, and the expected length of stay). Physicians were interviewed and asked about the plan of care in the same fashion as for the patients. Two board-certified internists reviewed responses and rated patient-physician agreement on each aspect of the plan of care as none, partial, or complete agreement. RESULTS Of 250 eligible patients, 241 (96%) agreed to be interviewed. A total of 233 (97%) of 241 physicians completed the interview, although sample sizes vary because of missing data elements. Of 239 patients, 77 (32%) correctly named at least 1 of their hospital physicians, and 143 patients (60%) correctly named their nurses. For each aspect of care, patients and physicians lacked agreement on the plan of care in a large number of instances. Specifically, there was no agreement between patients and physicians on planned tests or procedures for the day in 87 (38%) of 229 instances and in 22 (10%) of 220 instances. Complete agreement on the anticipated length of stay occurred in only 85 (39%) of 218 instances. CONCLUSION A substantial portion of hospitalized patients do not understand their plan of care. Patients' limited understanding of their plan of care may adversely affect their ability to provide informed consent for hospital treatments and to assume their own care after discharge.
A Water Bottle Modified for Avians

Abstract A modification of a water bottle rendering it suitable for use by avians is described. The modification allows for ready measurement of water consumed, is a means of dosing birds, and is mounted outside the cage.
Characterization of a novel necrotic granuloma model of latent tuberculosis infection and reactivation in mice.

We sought to develop and characterize a novel paucibacillary model in mice, which develops necrotic lung granulomas after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Six weeks after aerosol immunization with recombinant Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin overexpressing the 30-kDa antigen, C3HeB/FeJ mice were aerosol infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Six weeks later, mice were treated with one of three standard regimens for latent tuberculosis infection or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–neutralizing antibody. Mouse lungs were analyzed by histological features, positron emission tomography/computed tomography, whole-genome microarrays, and RT-PCR. Lungs and sera were studied by multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Paucibacillary infection was established, recapitulating the sterilizing activities of human latent tuberculosis infection regimens. TNF neutralization led to increased lung bacillary load, disrupted granuloma architecture with expanded necrotic foci and reduced tissue hypoxia, and accelerated animal mortality. TNF-neutralized mouse lungs and sera showed significant up-regulation of interferon γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, chemokine ligands 2 and 3, and matrix metalloproteinase genes. Clinical and microbiological reactivation of paucibacillary infection by TNF neutralization was associated with reduced hypoxia in lung granulomas and induction of matrix metalloproteinases and proinflammatory cytokines. This model may be useful for screening the sterilizing activity of novel anti-tuberculosis drugs, and identifying mycobacterial regulatory and metabolic pathways required for bacillary growth restriction and reactivation.
Extracting, Representing, and Analyzing Mental Models

When making decisions or talking to others, people use mental models of the world to evaluate choices and frame discussions. This paper describes a methodology for representing mental models as maps, extracting these maps from texts, and analyzing and comparing the extracted maps. The methodology employs a set of computer-based tools to analyze written and spoken texts. These tools support textual comparison both in terms of what concepts are present and in terms of what structures of information are present. The methodology supports both qualitative and quantitative comparisons of the resulting representations. This approach is illustrated using data drawn from a larger study of students learning to write where it is possible to compare the students' mental models with that of instructor. EXTRACTING, REPRESENTING AND ANALYZING MENTAL MODELS
Not-for-Profit Advocacy: Challenging Policy Images and Pursuing Policy Change

The not-for-profit sector has long played an important role in the policy process through encouraging political engagement, policy research and advocacy, and service delivery. This paper examines two not-for-profit organizations, National Children's Alliance and National Alliance on Mental Illness, both of which are grassroots organizations formed to radically change public and professional perceptions of their respective issues and reform the way services are offered to those in need. Borrowing from the literature on policy image and agenda setting, we identify the strategies used by these two highly successful not-for-profit groups in their efforts to change the system through redefining problems, reframing issues, and securing legislation with the help of policy entrepreneurs and politicians sympathetic to their causes.
An Update on Stem Cell Transplantation in Autoimmune Rheumatologic Disorders

Stem cell transplant (SCT) has long been the standard of care for several hematologic, immunodeficient, and oncologic disorders. Recently, SCT has become an increasingly utilized therapy for refractory autoimmune rheumatologic disorders (ARDs). The efficacy of SCT in ARDs has been attributed to resetting an aberrant immune system either through direct immune replacement with hematopoietic stem cells or through immunomodulation with mesenchymal stem cells. Among ARDs, refractory systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are the most common indications for SCT. SCT has also been used in refractory rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory myopathies, antiphospholipid syndrome, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and pediatric ARDs. Complete responses have been reported in approximately 30 % of patients in all disease categories. Transplant-related mortality, however, remains a concern. Future large multi-center prospective randomized clinical trials will help to better define the specific role of SCT in the treatment of patients with ARDs.
Effects of lidocaine and bupivacaine on isolated rabbit mesenteric capacitance veins

Background and Objectives The direct effects of circulating lidocaine and bupivacaine on splanchnic capacitance veins have not been examined previously. This article reports on the effects of clinically relevant concentrations of lidocaine and bupivacaine on adrenergic responsiveness of isolated rabbit mesenteric veins and examines the mechanism of changes. Methods Rings of ileal mesenteric capacitance veins were suspended in tissue baths for isometric tension measurements. Effects of lidocaine and bupivacaine on contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation, exogenous norepinephrine (10−6 M NE), and potassium chloride (80 mM KCl) were examined in endothelium-intact, L-NAME (10−4 M) treated or denuded veins. Results Constriction in response to adrenergic nerve stimulation was attenuated by lidocaine and bupivacaine in a dose-dependent manner, with the potency of bupivacaine being higher than lidocaine. Unstimulated or potassium-constricted veins with and without endothelium were unaffected by lidocaine (0.25-100 μg/mL) and bupivacaine (0.1-100 μg/mL). In veins preconstricted by exogenously administered NE, a cumulative increase of both anesthetics produced no effect at low doses, an augmentation of constriction to NE at 5-20 μg/mL bupivacaine and 20-100 μg/mL lidocaine, and minimal effect at 50-100 μg/mL bupivacaine. These actions persisted in denuded or L-NAME treated veins. Nonincremental delivery of high concentrations of lidocaine or bupivacaine produced relaxation of NE and potassium-constricted rings in the absence and presence of L-NAME. Conclusions Lidocaine and bupivacaine in concentrations typical during uncomplicated regional anesthesia inhibit adrenergic neurotransmission in rabbit mesenteric capacitance veins and produce modest venodilatation. Higher doses, resembling concentrations during accidental intravascular injection, result in substantial loss in vasomotor control of these capacitance vessels, which may contribute to hemodynamic effects.
Beyond immunity: quantifying the effects of host anti-parasite behavior on parasite transmission.

A host’s first line of defense in response to the threat of parasitic infection is behavior, yet the efficacy of anti-parasite behaviors in reducing infection are rarely quantified relative to immunological defense mechanisms. Larval amphibians developing in aquatic habitats are at risk of infection from a diverse assemblage of pathogens, some of which cause substantial morbidity and mortality, suggesting that behavioral avoidance and resistance could be significant defensive strategies. To quantify the importance of anti-parasite behaviors in reducing infection, we exposed larval Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris regilla) to pathogenic trematodes (Ribeiroia and Echinostoma) in one of two experimental conditions: behaviorally active (unmanipulated) or behaviorally impaired (anesthetized). By quantifying both the number of successful and unsuccessful parasites, we show that host behavior reduces infection prevalence and intensity for both parasites. Anesthetized hosts were 20–39% more likely to become infected and, when infected, supported 2.8-fold more parasitic cysts. Echinostoma had a 60% lower infection success relative to the more deadly Ribeiroia and was also more vulnerable to behaviorally mediated reductions in transmission. For Ribeiroia, increases in host mass enhanced infection success, consistent with epidemiological theory, but this relationship was eroded among active hosts. Our results underscore the importance of host behavior in mitigating disease risk and suggest that, in some systems, anti-parasite behaviors can be as or more effective than immune-mediated defenses in reducing infection. Considering the severe pathologies induced by these and other pathogens of amphibians, we emphasize the value of a broader understanding of anti-parasite behaviors and how co-occurring stressors affect them.