cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autophagy during viral infection - a double-edged sword

Autophagy is a powerful tool that host cells use to defend against viral infection. Double-membrane vesicles, termed autophagosomes, deliver trapped viral cargo to the lysosome for degradation. Specifically, autophagy initiates an innate immune response by cooperating with pattern recognition receptor signalling to induce interferon production. It also selectively degrades immune components associated with viral particles. Following degradation, autophagy coordinates adaptive immunity by delivering virus-derived antigens for presentation to T lymphocytes. However, in an ongoing evolutionary arms race, viruses have acquired the potent ability to hijack and subvert autophagy for their benefit. In this Review, we focus on the key regulatory steps during viral infection in which autophagy is involved and discuss the specific molecular mechanisms that diverse viruses use to repurpose autophagy for their life cycle and pathogenesis.
Short communication: Estimation of yield stress/viscosity of molten octol

Explosive HMX particles are similar in morphology and chemistry to RDX particles, the main constituent of Composition B-3 (Comp B-3). This suggests molten HMX-TNT formulations may show Bingham plasticity, much like recent studies have shown for Comp B-3. Here a Bingham plastic viscosity model, including yield stress and shear thinning, is presented for octol (70/30wt% HMX/TNT) as a function of HMX particle volume fraction. The effect of HMX dissolution into molten TNT is included in this analysis.
Why Do I Write

I often quote the parable of talents from the gospels.1 Parables are like general theorems, and they can be transmitted by people who do not necessarily understand all the various applications of the teaching: if after stating a general theorem one gives an example, the weak students only understand the example while the bright students foresee that the theorem applies to many situations. The gospels repeatedly show that the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth did not understand what the parables were about,2 as they often asked for examples. The parables of talents which appear in Matthew 25:14–30 and Luke 19:12–27 differ, but the scenario is that a master left for a long trip and gave various amounts, five talents, two talents, one talent, to three of his servants, and when he came back he asked them to report about what they did. The servant who received five talents made them fructify and earned five more, the servant who received two talents earned two more, and they were both praised, with the same words.3 The servant who received one talent said that he was afraid to lose it, and he buried it into the ground, so that he only gave back the initial amount, and he was punished. The versions in the gospels were probably distorted from an original teaching,4 which I believe is reported in an apocryphal gospel, which has a fourth servant who also received one talent, and this servant tried to make it fructify but he lost it; however, in the end this servant was not punished, and again it was the servant who did not try to use his talent who was punished. Obviously, either the disciples of Jesus or those to whom they told the story could not understand why the servant who lost his talent was not punished, so they took him out of the parable, probably because they thought that the parable was about money, but that interpretation using money is a dull one, and cannot be the meaning intended by the Teacher, of course!
Crisis Management in a Complex World

1. Introduction: A Paradigm Shift in Crisis Management PART I COMPLEXITY, CRISIS AND CONTROL Case History: The Spinach Contamination Crisis 2. Crisis Communication: The Evolution of a Field 3. Theories of Complexity 4. Predictability and Control in Complex Systems PART II THE COMPLEXITY OF KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING Case History: Knowledge, Uncertainty, and Expertise-NASA 5. The Complexity of Information and Assimilation: Knowledge and Ignorance 6. The Complexity of Understanding: Constructive and Deviant Learning 7. Sorting Out the Complex World: Sensemaking and Decision Making PART III RECONFIGURING THE DOMINANT PARADIGM Case History: Nonlinear Diffusion-China and Food Contamination 8. Complexity, Crisis and the Expert Organization: Reconfiguring the Dominant Paradigm 9. Expecting the Unexpected: Challenging Pre-Crisis Assumptions 10. Adapting to a Complex World: Challenging Assumptions During a Crisis 11. Complex Recovery: Challenging Assumptions After a Crisis 12. Conclusion: Reframing Crisis Management in a Complex World References Index
LIGHT/TIMER INTERACTIONS IN PHOTOPERIODISM AND CARBON DIOXIDE OUTPUT PATTERNS: TOWARDS A REAL-TIME ANALYSIS OF PHOTOPERIODISM

Carbon dioxide output, known since the work of Wilkins to reflect a circadian rhythm in at least one plant, is the net result of several respiratory and related reactions that are largely understood, at least in principle. Some studies of leaf movements gave results that are ambiguous with respect to photoperiodism, suggesting what might, a priori , have been suspected anyway: the degree to which a given process is indicative of, or coupled to, mechanisms that underlie hotoperiodism may vary from species to species or with environmental conditions. The corollary to this, however, is that if the coupling can be controlled in a defined manner, that control itself may provide information on the mechanisms in question. However, it would be useful to have as an indicator some process that can be more easily defined in biochemical terms than are leaf movements as these movements are probably complex resultants of changes in both turgor and growth.
Energy and Momentum in the Electromagnetic Field

We now seek the expressions for the energy stored in and the energy flux of the electromagnetic field. However, since the description has been generalized beyond electro- and magneto-statics, we can no longer use the fundamental definitions of force to define energy in a relatively straightforward manner. In the case of electromagnetism the only procedure available is to operate formally on the equations and determine a scalar relation that is quadratic in the field variables and interpret the various terms that occur in the equation in light of our knowledge of the static electric and magnetic descriptions. Of course, we require that any interpretation that we give in the electromagnetic case reduce to that which we know when we reduce to the electro- and magneto-static cases.
Abstract TP260: A Novel Neurogenic-Stem Cell Stimulating Curcumin Analog to Treat Acute Ischemic Stroke

While nerve cells rapidly die in stroke, and patients do initiate a neurogenic response to replace these cells, there has been no attempt to develop pleiotropic cytoprotective compounds to further ...
The “Fifth Column”: Jus Soli and Geopolitics of Dual Citizenship

This chapter explores the impact of the geopolitics of dual citizenship on the politics of jus soli in Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. While the link between dual citizenship and jus soli is not new, the connection to geopolitics results in an unexpected account of the concern or outright fears projected by the image of a “fifth column” of dual citizens serving the interests of a foreign power. The empirical findings firmly tie the politics of territorial citizenship to not only domestic and historical factors but also geopolitics and foreign policy.
Leave It Better Than You Found It: Moral and Cultural Conditions for Stewardship

How do economic systems connect us to our ancestors and descendants? Our historic understandings of our responsibilities to the future have guided our economic lives through a variety of paradigms. And, historically, a future orientation was connected to teleological commitments to prioritize production over consumption. Our history, together with our actions today, determine our future. But the Consumption paradigm teaches us to live in a shallow, irresponsible Eternal Now—that a penny saved is a penny wasted, and in the long run we’re all dead.
The influence of perceived technological congruence of smartphone application and air travel experience on consumers’ attitudes toward price change and adoption

Smartphones have influenced tourists’ information search behaviors and trip experiences in various ways. Operationalized in the air travel context, this study aims to apply the technology acceptance model (TAM) to unveil the causal relationships and potential compatibility or consistency between smartphone apps and travelers’ prior experiences, perceived technological congruence and technology value, attitudes toward price change and usage intentions.,Research data were collected via an online survey administered by a survey sampling company. The online questionnaire queries respondents’ frequency of downloading smartphone apps, familiarity with travel-related mobile apps, frequency of travel experiences, perceived technological congruence of the app and travel needs, attitudes toward price change, intention to purchase the mobile app and demographic information.,Results from structural equation modeling analysis indicate that travelers’ smartphone usage experiences significantly influence their perception of the device’s technological value in relation to travel needs and therefore results in positive attitudes toward price of the new mobile app and intention to use it. Prior trip experience, however, was not found to be an influential determinant in consumers’ smartphone acceptability, which departs from the existing literature.,This study provides evidence for the need to include perceived technological congruence in the construct of travelers’ TAM. It highlights the influence of the technology congruence variable and the compatibility of apps and travel needs in the literature.,智能手机对游客信息搜索行为和旅行体验有着很多影响。本论文针对航空旅行体验, 旨在通过科技接受模型TAM来检验智能手机APP和游客之前经历、感知科技一致性、科技价值、对价格变化的态度、以及使用倾向的关系。,采样数据通过专业问卷取样公司来做在线问卷调查。问卷主要测量受访者通过智能手机下载APP的频率、对旅游APP的熟悉度、旅游频率、APP和旅游需求的感知科技一致性、对态度变化的态度、购买APP的意向、以及统计人口数据。,本论文采用结构方程模型来分析数据, 结果表明, 游客智能手机使用体验对其旅游需求科技一致性有显著影响, 因此, 其对新APP态度和使用意图有积极影响。然而, 之前的旅行经历对消费者智能手机接受度并没有显著影响, 这与现有文献的研究结果有区别。,本论文研究了在游客科技接受模型TAM下的感知科技一致性, 其突出了科技一致性因素和APP与旅游需求协调性的重要性。,、航空旅行、智能手机, 关键词：、科技接受模型tam 、科技一致性
Development of a Risk Prediction Model With Improved Clinical Utility in Elective Cervical and Lumbar Spine Surgery.

Study design Retrospective cohort. Objective We present a universal model of risk prediction for patients undergoing elective cervical and lumbar spine surgery. Summary of background data Previous studies illustrate predictive risk models as possible tools to identify individuals at increased risk for postoperative complications and high resource utilization following spine surgery. Many are specific to one condition or procedure, cumbersome to calculate, or include subjective variables limiting applicability and utility. Methods A retrospective cohort of 177,928 spine surgeries (lumbar (L) Ln = 129,800; cervical (C) Cn = 48,128) was constructed from the 2012 to 2016 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (ACS-NSQIP) database. Cases were identified by Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for cervical fusion, lumbar fusion, and lumbar decompression laminectomy. Significant preoperative risk factors for postoperative complications were identified and included in logistic regression. Sum of odds ratios from each factor was used to develop the Universal Spine Surgery (USS) score. Model performance was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and tested on 20% of the total sample. Results Eighteen risk factors were identified, including sixteen found to be significant outcomes predictors. At least one complication was present among 11.1% of patients, the most common of which included bleeding requiring transfusion (4.86%), surgical site infection (1.54%), and urinary tract infection (1.08%). Complication rate increased as a function of the model score and ROC area under the curve analyses demonstrated fair predictive accuracy (lumbar = 0.741; cervical = 0.776). There were no significant deviations between score development and testing datasets. Conclusion We present the Universal Spine Surgery score as a robust, easily administered, and cross-validated instrument to quickly identify spine surgery candidates at increased risk for postoperative complications and high resource utilization without need for algorithmic software. This may serve as a useful adjunct in preoperative patient counseling and perioperative resource allocation. Level of evidence 3.
Use of α-trifluoromethyl carbanions for palladium-catalysed asymmetric cycloadditions.

The development of new methodologies that enable chemo- and stereoselective construction of fluorinated substituents, such as the trifluoromethyl (CF3) group, plays an essential role in the synthesis of new pharmaceutical agents. The exceptional ability of the CF3 moiety to prevent in vivo metabolism as well as improve other pharmacological properties has led to numerous innovative strategies for installing this unique functional group. One potential yet underdeveloped approach to access these trifluoromethylated products is direct substitution of α-trifluoromethyl carbanions. Although the electron-withdrawing nature of the CF3 group should facilitate deprotonation of adjacent hydrogens, the propensity of the resulting carbanions to undergo α-elimination of fluoride renders this process highly challenging. Herein, we describe a new strategy for stabilizing and utilizing transient α-trifluoromethyl carbanions that relies on a neighbouring cationic π-allyl palladium complex. These palladium-stabilized zwitterions participate in asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloadditions with a broad range of acceptors, generating valuable di- and trifluoromethylated cyclopentanes, pyrrolidines and tetrahydrofurans. Although methods exist for the construction of CF3-containing stereocentres, the utilization of α-trifluoromethyl carbanions remains challenging because of the propensity for fluoride elimination. A strategy has now been developed to stabilize these carbanions through a neighbouring cationic Pd complex and the corresponding Pd-stabilized zwitterions participate in asymmetric cycloadditions with a broad range of acceptors.
An examination of pro-stakeholder unethical behavior in the sales ethics subculture

The salesperson often faces ethical dilemmas when balancing the competing demands from their organization, manager, coworkers, and customers. At times, salespersons may exhibit pro-stakeholder unet...
Toxic herbals and plants in the United States

Abstract Herbal supplements are widely used in the United States under the 1994 Dietary Supplement Act and there is a false perception by the general public that herbal supplements are safe. Unfortunately, toxicity from using herbal supplements has been well documented in the literature. The most commonly encountered toxicity after using herbal supplement is hepatotoxicity. Herbal supplements such as kava, comfrey, chaparral, germander, coltsfoot, and pennyroyal oil may cause significant liver damage. However, cardiac toxicity due to use of Chinese medicine Chan Su as well as oleander and lily of the valley containing herbs has also been reported. Nephrotoxicity after using Chinese weight loss product is also a public health concern. In addition, accidental exposure to poisonous plant especially to toddlers and children is also a public health concern. One specific example is oleander plant which is often planted in the backyard for decoration but accidental ingestion of oleander plant may cause fatality.
Abortion on American television: An update on recent portrayals, 2015-2019.

Abstract Objective To compare differences in televised abortion depictions from two time periods: 2005 to 2014, as examined in previous studies, and more recent depictions from 2015 to 2019. Study design Using a database of television abortion plotlines, we analyzed recent portrayals for character demographics, barriers, genre, and safety, calculated proportions, and compared to prior findings. Results While recent portrayals shift towards reflecting some demographics of U.S. abortion patients, people of color, low-income people, and parents remain under-portrayed. Compared to prior depictions, recent plotlines are more likely to inaccurately depict abortion as easier to access than it is for the majority of U.S. abortion patients. However, recent depictions are also less likely to depict exaggerated and inaccurate medical complications of abortion. Abortion plotlines are increasingly appearing on comedies. Conclusion Despite progress, there remain important ways television could improve abortion depictions. Implications Content creators should continue to consider diversity, nuance, and medical and demographic accuracy in depicting abortion.
Deconstructing the Disciplined Student Narrative and Its Impact on Campus Sexual Assault Policy

The national discourse about campus sexual assault is currently dominated by two powerful narratives: the student survivor narrative and the disciplined student narrative. These narratives continue to shape and inform the public’s understanding of campus sexual assault and the role of colleges and universities in preventing and responding to sexual assault. Unlike the student survivor narrative developed and shared directly by students, the disciplined student narrative is more layered and less explicit. This Article follows the development of the disciplined student narrative from lawsuits to editorials and scholarship to its successful impact on public policy as demonstrated by the 2018 proposed Title IX regulation. The Narrative Policy Framework provides us with specific narrative elements that influence public policy. Through character development, the disciplined student narrative employs third-party narrators to introduce students disciplined for sexual assault as sympathetic protagonists cast in the role of victims in a story about campus sexual assault. The setting for the disciplined student narrative takes the form of a legal history constructed to support the proposed policy change. The main plot point is not the sexual misconduct, but rather the campus disciplinary process. The disciplined student narrative uses several rhetorical techniques by capitalizing on the confusion between the campus disciplinary system and the criminal justice system, claiming moral equivalency with student survivors, and employing disaster analogies through well-known false allegations stories. It exploits male privilege by using a cultural and legal history of discounting credibility of women reporting sexual assault, calling for extraordinary protections for male students, and erasing women of color from discussions about racism. The incorporation of references to meta-narratives about the Obama Administration’s overreach and concerns about campus culture wars further strengthen the disciplined student narrative’s salience with a broad audience. The 2018 proposed Title IX regulation demonstrates the disciplined student narrative’s success in transforming a civil rights law enacted to protect women from sex discrimination into a civil rights law directing schools to protect and privilege the rights of men accused of sexual misconduct.
An ether-linked halogenated phenazine-quinone prodrug model for antibacterial applications

Antibiotic-resistant infections present significant challenges to patients. As a result, there is considerable need for new antibacterial therapies that eradicate pathogenic bacteria through non-conventional mechanisms. Our group has identified a series of halogenated phenazine (HP) agents that induce rapid iron starvation that leads to potent killing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Here, we report the design, chemical synthesis and microbiological assessment of a HP-quinone ether prodrug model aimed to (1) eliminate general (off-target) iron chelation, and (2) release an active HP agent through the bioreduction of a quinone trigger. Here, we demonstrate prodrug analogue HP-29-Q to have a stable ether linkage that enables HP release and moderate to good antibacterial activities against lab strains and multi-drug resistant clinical isolates.
High-resolution hourly surrogate modeling framework for physics-based large-scale building stock modeling

Abstract Surrogate modeling can play a key role in reducing high computational burdens for large-scale physics-based modeling and uncertainty quantification. With the rapid development of large-scale building stock energy modeling, surrogate modeling has also begun to be widely applied in this field; however, most existing surrogate models lack hourly time resolution for regional-scale modeling, which is essential for understanding building demand profiles and grid impacts. Further, there is generally a lack of necessary data and feature engineering frameworks specific to building modeling for efficiently managing large datasets and complex computations. This paper proposes a modeling framework for large-scale (city-/region-scale), high-resolution, high-fidelity surrogate building stock energy models. Our developed framework consists of six modules: (1) building stock energy modeling (ComStockTM and ResStockTM), (2) data engineering for large simulation data, (3) high performance computing workflow, (4) feature engineering, (5) machine learning model development, and (6) model performance evaluation. Two case studies apply the developed framework in both residential and commercial building stock analysis to demonstrate its computational efficiency and surrogate modeling accuracies. Results show that surrogate models, when efficiently trained using the HPC workflow module, reach a high level of modeling accuracy for two case studies.
Latency Aware 3D Placement and User Association in Drone-Assisted Heterogeneous Networks With FSO-Based Backhaul

Drone Base Station (DBS) is expected to play an important role in next generation cellular networks due to its maneuverability in establishing air-to-ground Line of Sight (LoS) links. Working as a mobile relay node between the Macro Base Station (MBS) and the ground users, the DBS can significantly reduce the latency of ground users by offloading traffic loads from the MBS to the DBS since a better channel condition can be provided. In this paper, we focus on how to determine the 3D location of the DBS, the user association and the bandwidth allocation policy between the MBS and the DBS in order to minimize the total average latency ratio of all users with the constraint of each user's QoS requirement and total available bandwidth. The formulated problem is a mixed integer nonconvex optimization problem, a very challenging and difficult problem. We propose a cyclic iterative algorithm to efficiently solve it by decomposing the primal problem into two subproblems, i.e., the user association and bandwidth allocation problem and the 3D DBS placement problem. In each iteration, the two sub-problems are alternatively optimized by using the output of one as the input for the other. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the significant latency ratio reduction of our proposed algorithm as compared to other baseline schemes.
Recurrent febrile seizures alter intrahippocampal temporal coordination but do not cause spatial learning impairments.

Objective Febrile seizures (FSs) are the most common form of seizures in children. Single short FSs are benign, but FSs lasting longer than 30 min, termed febrile status epilepticus, may result in neurological sequelae. However, there is little information about an intermediary condition, brief recurrent FSs (RFSs). The goal of this study was to determine the role of RFSs on spatial learning and memory and the properties of spontaneous hippocampal signals. Methods A hippocampus-dependent active avoidance task was used to assess spatial learning and memory in adult rats that underwent experimental RFSs (eRFSs) in early life compared with their littermate controls. Following completion of the task, we utilized high-density laminar probes to measure spontaneous hippocampal CA1 circuit activity under urethane anesthesia, which allowed for the simultaneous recording of input regions in CA1 associated with both CA3 and entorhinal cortex. Results RFSs did not result in deficits in the active avoidance spatial test, a hippocampus-dependent test of spatial learning and memory. However, in vivo high-density laminar electrode recordings from eRFS rats had significantly altered power and frequency expression of theta and gamma bandwidths as well as signaling efficacy along the CA1 somatodendritic axis. Thus, although eRFS modified CA1 neuronal input/output dynamics, these alterations were not sufficient to impair active avoidance spatial behavior. Significance These findings indicate that although eRFSs do not result in spatial cognitive deficits in the active avoidance task, recurrent seizures do alter the brain and result in longstanding changes in the temporal organization of the hippocampus.
What Is So Good about User-Centered Design? Documenting the Effect of Usability Sessions on Novice Software Designers.

AbstractUser-centered design proponents advocate the proactive role of the user in the software development process. This study describes how novice software designers interpreted usability sessions and how these designers responded to their users’ reactions to their respective prototypes. Qualitative analysis of class projects, usability sessions, and interviews with three groups of graduate students took place. A follow-up session involved written protocols from another group of graduate students. Overall, these usability sessions had minimal effect on these students’ prototypes and essentially did not yield any valuable information. In an effort to remedy this current situation, this study proposes recommendations on how to improve the training of educational software developers.
A comparison of linear and nonlinear modelling of the hippocampal EEG

The authors use a truncated Volterra polynomial to model the hippocampal EEG of rats during the vigilance state of REM sleep. A comparison between the performance of linear and nonlinear models is made and it was found that nonlinear Volterra polynomial can significantly improve the accuracy of the modelling of the underlying EEG. >
The Impact of Sustainability on Global Trade: A Cross-Curricular Project.

One of the challenges in higher education is leading students in the application of information from one course to learning material in subsequent coursework. The authors have devised a joint project for courses in Logistics and Administrative Law to assist students in correlation of material in courses of two business majors, with emphasis on sustainability and college-identified core competencies. Goals and construction of the project are discussed, with post-project feedback from students participating in the project, and assessment by the authors.
Prospects for a Space–Time GIS

Space and time frame all aspects of the discipline of geography. Integration is normally interpreted by geographers as a straddling of the environmental–social divide, but a more profound interpret...
Strong association between capsular type and virulence for mice among human isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The relationship between capsular type and virulence for mice was examined with 69 fresh human isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae. These isolates represented eight capsular types or groups. Serologic and molecular weight differences in PspA (pneumococcal surface protein A) indicated that the strains were clonally distinct. Mice were infected intravenously with washed bacteria of all 69 isolates in sterile salt solutions. Twenty-eight of the isolates were also injected intraperitoneally to permit comparisons between the intravenous and intraperitoneal routes. With a few exceptions, there was concordance between the ability of strains to cause fatal infections by the two routes. About 30% of the 69 isolates were virulent for mice. The abilities of the isolates to kill mice and the length of time between inoculation and death were strongly associated with capsular type. All type 4 isolates, 40% of type 3 isolates, and 60% of group 6 isolates were virulent for mice; type 1 isolates were marginally virulent; and all type or group 14, 19, and 23 isolates were avirulent. Times to death were generally longer for mice infected with group 6 or type 1 than for those infected with type 3 or 4 pneumococci. There was no relationship between clinical diagnosis or tissue source of the isolates and virulence for mice. Images
Surviving mossy cells enlarge and receive more excitatory synaptic input in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Numerous hypotheses of temporal lobe epileptogenesis have been proposed, and several involve hippocampal mossy cells. Building on previous hypotheses we sought to test the possibility that after epileptogenic injuries surviving mossy cells develop into super-connected seizure-generating hub cells. If so, they might require more cellular machinery and consequently have larger somata, elongate their dendrites to receive more synaptic input, and display higher frequencies of miniature excitatory synaptic currents (mEPSCs). To test these possibilities pilocarpine-treated mice were evaluated using GluR2-immunocytochemistry, whole-cell recording, and biocytin-labeling. Epileptic pilocarpine-treated mice displayed substantial loss of GluR2-positive hilar neurons. Somata of surviving neurons were 1.4-times larger than in controls. Biocytin-labeled mossy cells also were larger in epileptic mice, but dendritic length per cell was not significantly different. The average frequency of mEPSCs of mossy cells recorded in the presence of tetrodotoxin and bicuculline was 3.2-times higher in epileptic pilocarpine-treated mice as compared to controls. Other parameters of mEPSCs were similar in both groups. Average input resistance of mossy cells in epileptic mice was reduced to 63% of controls, which is consistent with larger somata and would tend to make surviving mossy cells less excitable. Other intrinsic physiological characteristics examined were similar in both groups. Increased excitatory synaptic input is consistent with the hypothesis that surviving mossy cells develop into aberrantly super-connected seizure-generating hub cells, and soma hypertrophy is indirectly consistent with the possibility of axon sprouting. However, no obvious evidence of hyperexcitable intrinsic physiology was found. Furthermore, similar hypertrophy and hyper-connectivity has been reported for other neuron types in the dentate gyrus, suggesting mossy cells are not unique in this regard. Thus, findings of the present study reveal epilepsy-related changes in mossy cell anatomy and synaptic input but do not strongly support the hypothesis that mossy cells develop into seizure-generating hub cells.
Functional and structural changes in parotid glands of alcoholic cirrhotic patients.

The parotid gland function and structure was studied in 30 patients with biopsy-proven alcoholic cirrhosis and in 43 age- and sex-matched alcoholic and nonalcoholic control subjects. Mean simulated parotid saliva flow rate was significantly (p
The shape of the proton at high energies

Abstract We present first calculations of the fluctuating gluon distribution in a proton as a function of impact parameter and rapidity employing the functional Langevin form of the JIMWLK renormalization group equation. We demonstrate that when including effects of confinement by screening the long range Coulomb field of the color charges, the evolution is unitary. The large- x structure of the proton, characterized by the position of three valence quarks, retains an effect on the proton shape down to very small values of x . We determine the dipole scattering amplitude as a function of impact parameter and dipole size and extract the rapidity evolution of the saturation scale and the proton radius at fixed QCD coupling.
Two Immunoglobulin G Fragment C Receptor Polymorphisms Independently Predict Response to Rituximab in Patients With Follicular Lymphoma

Purpose: Although rituximab is now routinely used in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the mechanism of its antitumor effect is not clear. One potential mechanism of action involves antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Two aspects of ADCC influence the effectiveness of this process: the susceptibility of tumor cells and the activation of effector cells via their immunoglobulin G fragment C receptors (FcγRs). Several FcγR polymorphisms have been identified that may affect the killing function of natural killer cells and macrophages. Patients and Methods: The pretreatment tumor cells from 43 patients with follicular lymphoma were tested for their intrinsic susceptibility to rituximab-mediated ADCC. In addition, the FcγRIIIa (CD16) and FcγRIIa (CD32) polymorphisms were determined in an expanded group of 87 patients. The results were then correlated with clinical outcome of these patients. Results: No difference was found between the susceptibility of tumors from patients who clinica...
Postcolonial African Consciousness and the Poetry of Agostinho Neto

In her paper, "Postcolonial African Consciousness and the Poetry of Agostinho Neto," Irene Marques introduces the magic words of a great poet with the question: can poetry carry enough sorrow, enough strength, enough fire, enough love, enough wisdom, enough care, and enough horror to penetrate the hearts and the souls of the oppressed and the oppressors so that both will desperately want to escape their sinister labels? For Marques, this question represents an old quandary and one that many of us wish could be answered with a simple yes. Marques analyses Neto's poetry in the context of litterature engage: if only the cries, putrid smells, and bloodshed were allowed to penetrate the thick wall of the utilitarian human mind, if only emotion had a little more room to breathe freely and then, perhaps, could poetry perform fresh, new, and potent miracles. Marques argues that Agostinho Neto was not only the first president of independent Angola, he was also a great poet who put his art at the service of Angola's anti-colonial revolution and struggle for cultural and political independence. Neto was a man whose artistic life is connected deeply to and inseparable from his socio-political environment. Through an analysis of various poems taken from Neto's volume Sacred Hope, Marques attempts to answer questions such as how exactly is Neto's poetry interconnected with the socio-political condition of his country, his people, and himself, what are some of the most successful poetic strategies used by Neto to fight the Portuguese colonial power, can one say that his poetry is the very arena where a new African consciousness is being created/recreated, and is Neto's poetic enterprise sufficient for the "real" revolution? Irene Marques, "Postcolonial African Consciousness and the Poetry of Agostinho Neto" page 2 of 8 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 5.4 (2003):
Monitoring aromatic picosecond to nanosecond dynamics in proteins via 13C relaxation: expanding perturbation mapping of the rigidifying core mutation, V54A, in eglin c.

Long-range effects, such as allostery, have evolved in proteins as a means of regulating function via communication between distal sites. An NMR-based perturbation mapping approach was used to more completely probe the dynamic response of the core mutation V54A in the protein eglin c by monitoring changes in picosecond to nanosecond aromatic side-chain dynamics and H/D exchange stabilities. Previous side-chain dynamics studies on this mutant were limited to methyl-bearing residues, most of which were found to rigidify on the picosecond to nanosecond time scale in the form of a contiguous “network”. Here, high precision 13C relaxation data from 13 aromatic side chains were acquired by applying canonical relaxation experiments to a newly developed carbon labeling scheme [Teilum et al. (2006) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128, 2506–2507]. The fitting of model-free parameters yielded S2 variability which is intermediate with respect to backbone and methyl-bearing side-chain variability and τe values that are approximatel...
Model-based semantic treatment for naming deficits in aphasia

An interactive activation model for picture naming was used to guide treatment of a semantic-level deficit in 4 individuals with aphasia and severe picture-naming problems. Participants exhibited a profile consistent with Broca's aphasia with severe naming deficits, part of which was attributable to a semantic impairment based on testing of the lexical system. A semantic-based treatment was used to train naming of nouns in two semantic categories using a single-participant multiple baseline across behaviors and participants. Additional treatment, which included orthographic and phonological information about target words, then was applied. Treatment responses and error patterns demonstrated that semantic treatment resulted in improved naming of both trained and untrained items for 2 of 4 participants. Two participants did not show improved naming until treatment emphasizing the phonological form of the word was provided. This study demonstrates the utility of using an interactive activation model to plan treatment based on levels of disruption in the lexical processing system.
The ecological approach to development: An alternative to cognitivism

Abstract The paper begins with the introduction of a simple systems theory framework which is then used to analyze developmental theories. Two approaches to development are identified: the ecological approach and the cognitive approach. The former is a form of radical environmentalism which relies upon Gibson's notion of temporal structure. The latter is the more familiar approach to development exemplified by Piaget's theory. A comparison of the two viewpoints indicates that the ecological approach has certain advantages over the cognitive approach. A more elaborate systems theory model is then introduced which allows for a detailed description of the advantages of the ecological approach. Finally, some traditional objections to radical environmentalism are addressed, and the implications for developmental research are briefly sketched.
Cell Crawling Assisted by Contractile Stress Induced Retraction

Cell locomotion is a result of a series of synchronized chemo-mechanical processes. Crawling-type cell locomotion consists of three steps: protrusion, translocation, and retraction. Previous works have shown that both protrusion and retraction can produce cell movement. For the latter, a cell derives its propulsive force from retraction induced protrusion mechanism, which was experimentally verified by Chen (1979, “Induction of Spreading During Fibroblast Movement,” J. Cell Biol., 81, pp. 684–691). In this paper, using finite element method, we take a computational biomimetic approach to study cell crawling assisted by contractile stress induced de-adhesion at the rear of the focal adhesion zone (FAZ). We assume the formation of the FAZ is driven by receptor-ligand bonds and nonspecific interactions. The contractile stress is generated due to the molecular activation of the intracellular actin-myosin machinery. The exerted contractile stress and its time dependency are modeled in a phenomenological manner as a two-spring mechanosensor proposed by Schwarz (2006, “Focal Adhesions as Mechanosensors: The Two-Spring Model,” BioSystems, 83(2–3), pp. 225–232). Through coupling the kinetics of receptor-ligand bonds with contractile stress, de-adhesion can be achieved when the stall value of the contractile stress is larger than a critical one. De-adhesion at the rear end of the FAZ causes a redistribution of elastic energy and induces cell locomotion. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the connection between the cell locomotion speed and stall stress, and receptor-ligand kinetics. Finally, we provide a scaling relationship that can be used to estimate the cell locomotion speed.
Using Contrast Transfer Function to Evaluate the Effect of Motion Blur on Microscope Image Quality

Scanning of microscope slides is an important part of cytogenetic diagnosis. Metaphase chromosomes arranged in a karyotype reveal the nature and severity of cancer and other diseases. Searching for metaphases spreads is a lengthy and tedious process that can benefit from computer aided systems. When slides are searched by such systems in continuous motion, the image quality is reduced. The motion blur is a function of the scan speed, the camera frame rate and sample time, and the level of magnification. In this study, normalized contrast transfer function (CTF) is used to define the amount of image degradation.
Good outcomes despite high urinary arsenic concentrations from overdose with crabgrass killer.

IntroductionMonosodium methylarsonate (MSMA) is a selective pre-emergent contact herbicide considered to be significantlyless toxic than inorganic arsenic. Animal studies extrapo-lated to humans have estimated a low order of toxicity [1],but little information is available regarding overdose inhumans. Previous reports have described oral exposureswith less concentrated formulations of MSMA herbicides[2] or via dermal absorption [3]. Because of the limitedinformation in the current literature, concern exists regard-ing exposures to concentrated forms of organic arsenic. Wedescribe exposures to a common crabgrass killer containing47% MSMA.Index CasesCase 1 A 16-year-old female with a past medical history ofdepression (not on any medications) presented afterintentional ingestion of crabgrass killer. The patient hadan argument with her grandmother and locked herself in thegarage where she drank up to 240 cc of Bonide® crabgrasskiller that contained 47% MSMA. She vomited and wastaken to the emergency department (ED) approximately 1 hafter the exposure. In the ED, the patient was agitated. Shecomplained of abdominal pain and generalized weakness.Her vital signs were: blood pressure 134/78 mmHg, heartrate 126 beats per minute, respirations 16 breaths perminute, and oxygen saturation 100% on room air. Shereceived a bolus of 3 l of normal saline (NS) and was thenstarted on NS at 500 ml/h. The patient was endotracheallyintubated for gastric lavage and for transportation to thelocal children's hospital. Gastric lavage was done at thediscretion of the treating physician, and no material wasretrieved. On arrival to the children's hospital, her vitalsigns and physical exam were normal; she was able tofollow commands. Electrolytes and complete blood count(CBC) were unremarkable. A single dose of 192 mg ofBritish anti-Lewisite (BAL) IM was administered approx-imately 12 h after the ingestion; extubation occurred severalhours after arrival. Urine was collected in a Foley catheterfor a 24-h heavy metal measurement. Dimercaptosuccinicacid (DMSA) was then initiated at 500 mg every 8 h bymouth for 5 days followed by 500 mg every 12 h for14 days.In the hospital, the patient complained of generalizedabdominal pain, weakness, and parasthesias. She did nothave any more vomiting and never had diarrhea; mildhyperreflexia was noted on exam. She was able to eat afterbeing extubated, and paresthesias and abdominal painimproved during her hospitalization. Initially, she haddifficulty walking, but by day 5, she was walking withoutassistance and was discharged to a psychiatric institution.There, she was continued on DMSA for the remainder ofher 19 days of treatment. After discharge, the results of herheavy metal screen returned and are noted in Table 1.Six weeks later, the patient was followed up in thetoxicology clinic where she complained of mild paresthe-sias in her hands and feet that developed after beingtransferred to the psychiatric hospital. The episodes lastedfor minutes at a time, occurred in the morning, and never
A novel automated object identification approach using key spectral components

Spectral remote sensing provides solutions to a wide range of commercial, civil, agricultural, atmospheric, security, and defense problems. Technological advances have expanded multispectral (MSI) and hyperspectral (HSI) sensing capabilities from air and space borne sensors. The greater spectral and spatial sensitivity have vastly increased the available content for analysis. The amount of information in the data cubes obtained from today’s sensors enable material identification via complex processing techniques. With sufficient sensor resolution, multiple pixels on target are obtained and by exploiting the key spectral features of a material signature among a group of target pixels and associating the features with neighboring pixels, object identification is possible. The authors propose a novel automated approach to object classification with HSI data by focusing on the key components of an HSI signature and the relevant areas of the spectrum (bands) of surrounding pixels to identify an object. The proposed technique may be applied to spectral data from any region of the spectrum to provide object identification. The effort will focus on HSI data from the visible, near-infrared and short-wave infrared to prove the algorithm concept.
Evidence-based organ allocation.

Abstract BACKGROUND: There are not enough cadaveric kidneys to meet the demands of transplant candidates. The equity and efficiency of alternative organ allocation strategies have not been rigorously compared. METHODS: We developed a five-compartment Monte Carlo simulation model to compare alternative organ allocation strategies, accommodating dynamic changes in recipient and donor characteristics, patient and graft survival rates, and quality of life. The model simulated the operations of a single organ procurement organization and attempted to predict the evolution of the transplant waiting list for 10 years. Four allocation strategies were compared: a first-come first-transplanted system; a point system currently utilized by the United Network of Organ Sharing; an efficiency-based algorithm that incorporated correlates of patient and graft survival; and a distributive efficiency algorithm, which had an additional goal of promoting equitable allocation among African-American and other candidates. RESULTS: A 10-year computer simulation was performed. The distributive efficiency policy was associated with a 3.5% ± 0.8% (mean ± SD) increase in quality-adjusted life expectancy (33.9 months vs 32.7 months), a decrease in the median waiting time to transplantation among those who were transplanted (6.6 months vs 16.3 months), and an increase in the overall likelihood of transplantation (61% vs 45%), compared with the United Network of Organ Sharing algorithm. Improved equity and efficiency were also seen by race (African-American vs other), sex, and age ( CONCLUSION: Evidence-based organ allocation strategies in cadaveric kidney transplantation would yield improved equity and efficiency measures compared with existing algorithms.
The narrow range of acceptable body types of preschoolers and their mothers

Abstract Similarities and differences in perceptions of ideal, aversive, and acceptable body shapes were investigated for both preschool children and their mothers. Also, the relationship of these attitudes to mothers' ideas about feeding their children was examined. Figure array ratings were obtained from 42 preschool children and 28 of their mothers for current, ideal, aversive, and acceptable body shapes. Mothers also completed the Child Feeding Questionnaire “Restriction” and “Pressure to eat” subscales. Children had a less restricted view of acceptable body shapes than did their mothers. Mothers who found fewer body shapes acceptable for their child reported using more restrictive feeding practices with their children. Although there is evidence that attitudes favoring a thin body shape begin in preschool, the children in the current study were not as restricted in this as were their mothers. The results highlight the challenges of conveying healthy ideas to children about weight while avoiding unrealistic ideals of thinness.