cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interferon target-gene expression and epigenomic signatures in health and disease

Multiple type I interferons and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) are expressed under physiological conditions and are increased by stress and infections, and in autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Interferons activate the Jak-STAT signaling pathway and induce overlapping patterns of expression, called 'interferon signatures', of canonical interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) encoding molecules important for antiviral responses, antigen presentation, autoimmunity and inflammation. It has now become clear that interferons also induce an 'interferon epigenomic signature' by activating latent enhancers and 'bookmarking' chromatin, thus reprogramming cell responses to environmental cues. The interferon epigenomic signature affects ISGs and other gene sets, including canonical targets of the transcription factor NF-κB that encode inflammatory molecules, and is involved in the priming of immune cells, tolerance and the training of innate immune memory. Here we review the mechanisms through which interferon signatures and interferon epigenomic signatures are generated, as well as the expression and functional consequences of these signatures in homeostasis and autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis.
Computer science education and Asperger Syndrome

The number of students entering colleges and universities with Asperger's Syndrome has increased dramatically in the past decade. A large number of these students are selecting Computer Science as a major. The impact on pedagogy and classroom management may be more significant than many of us suspect. In order to meet this challenge, this panel will discuss:• Attributes of students with Asperger's Syndrome• Why students with AS are choosing Computer Science in great numbers• Techniques that are effective in maintaining an educational environment in a course containing an AS student.• Issues to consider when counseling families of students with AS to succeed in college and career.
Quick and facile preparation of histone proteins from the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and other photosynthetic organisms.

The development of universal, broadly applicable methods for histone extraction from animal cells and tissues has unlocked the ability to compare these epigenetic-influencing proteins across tissue types, healthy and diseased states, and cancerous versus normal cells. However, for plants and green algae, a quick and easily implemented histone extraction method has yet to be developed. Here, we report an optimized method that provides a unified approach to extract histones for the green microalgal species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Scenedesmus dimorphus as well as for maize (corn) leaf tissue. Histone extraction methods include treatment with high salt concentrations and acidification. Preparations of nuclei can be made in ∼3.5 h and histones extracted in ∼3.5 h either immediately or nuclei may be frozen and histone proteins can be later extracted without a change in histone PTM patterns. To examine the efficiency of the new methods provided, we performed both qualitative and quantitative analysis of salt and acid-extracted whole histone proteins (SAEWH) via SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis and intact protein mass spectrometry. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that histone yields decrease when using walled Chlamydomonas strains relative to cell-wall-less mutants. Using top-down mass spectrometry (TDMS) for intact protein analysis, we confirmed the presence of H4K79me1 in multiple algal species; however, this unique modification was not identified in corn leaf tissue and has not been reported elsewhere. TDMS measurements of SAEWH extracts also revealed that oxidation which occurs during the histone extraction process does not increase with exposure of harvested algal cells, their nuclei and the extracted histone samples to light.
The influence of degree of socialization and age on length of stay of shelter cats

Surveys indicate that cat behaviors, such as degree of friendliness or playfulness, are important to potential adopters and cat owners. There are few data, however, relating the degree of socializa...
The Impact of Pump Speed and Blood Pressure Optimization on Severe Aortic Valve Insufficiency with Left Ventricular Assist Device: A Mock Loop Study

Purpose It is cumbersome to medically optimize the RPM setup and afterload adjustment for patients with significant aortic valve insufficiency (AI) with left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Limited amount of information is available regarding the optimal RPM setting or afterload adjustment without adverse effect on the degree of AI. Methods All measurements were performed using a mock circulatory system with a dilated silicone LV model attached to a HeartMateII LVAD (Abbott Labs). Baseline condition was established with 17% ejection fraction, 62 bpm heart rate, LVAD set at 8,800rpm pump flow and 90 mmHg systemic aortic pressure, followed by testing at 8,800 and 9,200 rpm, and two systemic aortic pressure conditions (90 and 80 mmHg at 8,800 rpm). Severe AI was created with a small 3-D printed stent which was nonobstructive to forward flow but prevented the leaflets from fully closing. LVAD, aortic valve and systemic flow were recorded in each situation. Q ratio was calculated with LVAD flow/systemic flow, which represented an efficiency of LVAD flow contribution to the systemic flow. Results With the constant circuit afterload at 90mmHg, an RPM increase from 8,800 RPM to 9,200 resulted in systemic flow increase by 21% (2.27 to 2.74 L/min) with a 16% increase in LVAD flow (3.09 to 3.58 L/min), similar aortic valve flow (-0.82 to -0.84 L/min) and improvement in Q ratio (1.36 to 1.31). The regurgitant flow was similar in 8,800 vs. 9,200 (-0.86 vs. -0.83 L/min) in the severe AI setting. With the constant RPM at 8,800, an afterload reduction by 10 mmHg resulted in an increase of the systemic flow by 28% (2.27 to 2.91 L/min) with a LVAD flow increase of 14% (3.09 to 3.52 L/min), aortic valve flow increase of 23% (-0.82 to -0.61 L/min) and improvement in Q ratio (1.36 to 1.21). The alteration in the regurgitant flow was minimal between 90mmHg vs. 80mmHg afterload (-0.86 to -0.81 L/min). Conclusion Both RPM increase and afterload reduction increased systemic flow and LVAD flow with improved Q ratio. The regurgitant flow stayed constant either with RPM increase or afterload reduction with the fixed regurgitant valve area. This mock-loop study suggests that both afterload reduction and RPM increase should improve systemic flow without increasing the degree of AI after LVAD implant.
Poor Social Support Confers Worse Survival after MCS

Purpose Patient selection for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) therapy remains challenging. Psychosocial factors such as psychiatric disorders and poor social support, have been found to be associated with outcomes post heart transplant. Research exploring the impact of such factors on LVAD outcomes is limited. We explored the relationship between psychosocial factors and outcomes following implantation with MCS. Methods We completed a retrospective chart review of 87 consecutive patients who completed a social work and psychological evaluation prior to durable MCS. Those not surviving to discharge were excluded. Psychosocial variables were tested for association with overall survival using Cox regression models adjusted for age, MSC type, and device intent. Results Mean patient age was 57±1.3 years, 37% were African American with median [25th, 75th] support time of 9.5 [4.5,16] months. On univariable analysis, poor social support correlated (Fig 1a) with mortality, with non-significant trends towards those living alone and with non-compliance (Fig 1b) (table). On multivariable regression, poor social support had a marked influence on mortality, most notable after 6 months of support (Hazard Ratio= 0.08, p=0.029, Fig 1a). Conclusion Poor social support was independently associated with worse outcome after MCS with a very high hazard for early mortality. Important trends were noted to suggest risk in those living alone and with poor compliance. The presence of a dedicated support person/team to assist with the demands of MCS maintenance and close outpatient coordinator clinic and telephone follow-up may help improve outcomes. Larger sample pending acceptance.
Endoscopic Adipofascial Radial Forearm Free Flap Reconstruction of the Skull Base: A Technical Update.

Objectives While most defects after endoscopic endonasal resections can be closed with local or locoregional options, rare cases require free tissue transfer. In this setting, while minimally invasive techniques have been described, the essential procedural details are lacking. The objective of this report is to describe several key technical modifications to free flap harvest and endoscopic-assisted inset which decrease morbidity and improve reliability and efficiency. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of consecutive patients treated at Washington University in St. Louis with endoscopic free flap reconstruction through a Caldwell–Luc/transbuccal approach between January 2016 and September 2019. Results A total of six patients underwent adipofascial radial forearm free flap with this technique, five for recalcitrant cerebrospinal fluid leak or pneumocephalus and one for osteoradionecrosis. All flaps survived and there were no flap-related complications. Five patients (83%) achieved successful healing and separation of the sinonasal cavity and intracranial space. One patient developed recurrent pneumocephalus. Three key technical modifications were identified that improve efficiency and reliability of flap delivery and inset: (1) use of an adipofascial radial forearm flap, without skin paddle; (2) wide resection of the anterior and lateral maxillary face to facilitate flap delivery; and (3) precise defect measurement and flap contouring prior to inset to prevent any need to debulk the flap in situ. Conclusion Endoscopic adipofascial radial forearm free flap delivered to the skull base through a Caldwell–Luc/transbuccal corridor is a feasible option with a high success rate and low morbidity when other reconstructive attempts have failed.
Communication Challenges in Korean Families Coping With Adolescent Cancer.

Purpose To examine the family communication experience of Korean adolescents with cancer and their parents, including how adolescents and their parents verbally share feelings and concerns related to the adolescent's cancer diagnosis with one another, and how emotional communication affects parent-adolescent relationships and the family's coping abilities. Participants & setting 20 participants (10 adolescents with cancer, aged 13-19 years, and their parents) at a university-affiliated hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Methodologic approach Individual, semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed based on a qualitative descriptive approach. Conventional content analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings The overarching core theme developed from the content analysis and theme generation was "I cannot share my feelings." This core theme is represented by three main themes. Implications for nursing Increased need for nursing awareness and culturally relevant assessment of emotional family communication needs between Korean adolescents with cancer and their family caregivers are necessary.
The Deafness of the State on Sovereignty, Secular Aesthetics and the Untranslatability of the Qur’an

Can the secular State respond to a moral protest? Is it physically and politically capable of hearing moral suasion? Beginning with a heretical reading of Hobbes’ anatomy of the State in the Leviat...
Transient Liquid Phase Bonding

Transient liquid phase bonding (TLPB) refers to a set of technologies which employ temporary, low-melting temperature liquid phases that solidify isothermally via reaction and/or interdiffusion with another higher melting point metal to form solid bonds and stable interconnects. Binary, ternary, and multicomponent alloy technologies based on such liquid alloys are being investigated in the form of films, foils, or particles for interconnect formation in a wide range of electronics applications, both as a substitute for high-Pb solders and as alternative thermal interface materials. In this chapter, we Introduce the key thermodynamic and kinetic concepts necessary for useful TLPB systems. Discuss potential applications, geometries, and processing considerations. Present a design framework for comparing technologies and a thermodynamic framework for designing TLPB systems. Compare TLPB with competing die attach technologies. Discuss the remaining challenges that must be answered for widespread acceptance and application of TLPB technologies.
P66 Understanding How the COVID-19 Pandemic Influenced Older Adults' Grocery Shopping Habits

Background The ability to grocery shop is an important aspect of maintaining adequate nutritional status among older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many older adults changed their typical grocery shopping habits attempting to remain safe. Objective To understand how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced older adults’ grocery shopping habits. Study Design, Setting, Participants In this qualitative study, a total of 23 older adults aged 60 years or older participated in individual interviews via Zoom. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Results Attempting to be cautious, most participants reported altering grocery shopping habits by shopping less frequently, using online services such as grocery pickup or delivery, or having friends or family members do the shopping. However, some participants continued shopping in stores due to poor quality produce items picked out by shoppers and safe policies implemented by stores. Also, grocery shopping in stores became incentivized as some participants viewed it as a form of entertainment, social interaction, and even physical activity during the pandemic. Although many stores offered senior shopping hours, the majority of study participants reported not using these services due to inconvenient times. Purchasing larger quantities of items and selecting more shelf stable, canned, and frozen items were also reported. Conclusion Providing older adults with training and education on using online grocery shopping services may help this population have safe and simple access to healthy food items. In addition, training grocery store workers to pick out good quality produce may encourage more older adults to use these online services. Modifications to grocery store-instated senior hours should consider more convenient times to best support older adults. Because the grocery store emerged as an enjoyable place, it is especially crucial that grocery stores continue to enforce the policies that allow older adults to feel safe purchasing their groceries.
Doing Fieldwork Without Knowing It

This perspective article explores the ways in which I was doing fieldwork without being aware of it from the time I began to speak and spoke English to my mother and Spanish to my father. This life...
Bolted Joints with Plates of Different Thickness

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENCE IN THICKNESS OF THE MAIN PLATES IN A JOINT BOLTED WITH HIGH TENSILE BOLTS HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR 1-IN. PLATES JOINED TO A 7/8-IN. AND A 15/16-IN. PLATE, RESPECTIVELY. THE EFFICIENCY IN RESISTING SLIP IS REDUCED WITH INCREASING THE DIFFERENCE OF MAIN-PLATE THICKNESS. THE NUMBER OF ROWS OF BOLTS AND THE DISTANCE OF THE FIRST ROW FROM THE EDGE OF THE THINNER PLATE ARE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS WHICH MAY BE USED TO RESTORE TO SOME EXTENT SUCH LOSS IN EFFICIENCY. /ASCE/
Mathematics of Probability

Some background and preliminaries Probability theory on uncountable sample spaces Some applications to probability theory The central limit theorem and Gaussian distributions Discrete parameter stochastic processes Some continuous-time processes Martingales Notation Bibliography Index
(k, n) Threshold Secret Sharing Scheme Based on N-Dimensional Cube

Secret sharing is a key technology to protect the security of key. This paper advances a novel (k, n) threshold secret sharing scheme to secure the secret. S is the secret that should be shared by n participants and the encrypted secret S’ is on the geometric center of a cube. In the distribution stage, all shares were distributed to participants by dealer on surfaces of the cube and each participant received a share. In the reconstruction stage, at least k authorized participants could reconstruct the cube to learn the secret. Compared to classical secret sharing schemes, this paper is as good as in space complexity, channel efficiency, and communication efficiency. Rivest Shamir and Adleman (RSA) encryption and the communication between point to point secure the scheme.
pH and Buffers

Many biomolecules possess weakly acidic or weakly basic groups whose ionization state can affect both biological function and stability, and many biological processes, such as oxidation–reduction reactions, produce or consume hydrogen ions. The extents of the reactions and the rates at which they proceed depend on the acidity of the reaction environment. Buffers are used to maintain a constant hydrogen ion activity. Keywords: weak acid; weak base; pH; buffer; temperature; ionic strength
Chlorogenic acid biosynthesis

Abstract Experiments in which potato tuber slices were maintained on a tracer amount of [α- 14 C]cinnamic acid and synthetic 3- 0 -cinnamoylquinic acid (pH adjusted to 6) showed that if this conjugate is a free intermediate in chlorogenic acid (3- 0 -caffeoylquinic acid) formation, then the active pool of the compound is very small and is contained within a cell compartment whose membrane is relatively permeable to phenylalanine and cinnamic acid but not to the conjugate itself. The specific activities of 3- 0 -cinnamoyl-, 3- 0 - p -coumaroyl-, and 3- 0 -caffeoylquinic acid; 3- 0 - p -coumaroyl-, and 3- 0 -caffeoylshikimic acid; and 1- O - p -coumaroyl-, and 1- O -caffeoyl-β- d -glucose were determined in this experiment. The results of similar experiments on which tuber slices were maintained on [α- 14 C]cinnamic acid and quinic acid, or phenylalanine and quinic acid together with a tracer amount of [α- 14 C]cinnamic acid, are reported. The specific activities of the isolated conjugates indicate that in each series the caffeoyl derivatives are formed by the hydroxylation of the p -coumaroyl derivatives. The specific activity data also suggest that cinnamic acid and the derived conjugates are formed within a compartment or compartments of the cell.
Plant regeneration and genetic transformation in switchgrass — A review

Abstract Switchgrass is native to the tallgrass prairie of North America. It is self-incompatible and has varied ploidy levels from diploid (2x) to dodecaploid (12x) with tetraploid and octoploid being the most common. The high yielding potential and the ability to grow well in marginal lands make switchgrass an ideal species as a dedicated biomass producer for lignocellulosic ethanol production. Genetic transformation is an important tool for studying gene function and for germplasm improvement in switchgrass, the genome of which has been sequenced recently. This paper intends to provide a comprehensive review on plant regeneration and genetic transformation in switchgrass. We first reviewed the effect of explants, basal medium and plant growth regulators on plant regeneration in switchgrass, which is a prerequisite for genetic transformation. We then reviewed the progresses on genetic transformation with either the biolistic or Agrobacterium-mediated method in switchgrass, and discussed various techniques employed to improve the transformation efficiency. Finally we reviewed the recent progresses on the use of genetic transformation in improving biomass quality such as the reduction of lignin, and in increasing biomass yield in switchgrass. We also provided a future perspective on the use of new genome editing technologies in switchgrass and its potential impact on regulatory processes.
Mathematical Modeling, Sense Making, and the Common Core State Standards.

On October 14, 2013 the Mathematics Education Department at Teachers College hosted a full-day conference focused on the Common Core Standards Mathematical Modeling requirements to be implemented in September 2014 and in honor of Professor Henry Pollak’s 25 years of service to the school. This article is adapted from my talk at this conference covering Mathematical Modeling in the Common Core, what it means for educators as we move toward this future reality, and what we can do to succeed in this brave new world.
Host-dependent restriction of mengovirus replication.

Abstract Mengovirus infection of a restrictive cell line, Maden's bovine kidney (MDBK), results in a virus yield 1,000-fold less than that obtained from productively infected cell lines such as L cells or Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EAT). Cells of both types of host systems are infected with comparable efficiencies and are completely killed as a consequence of infection. Infective center assays, coupled with the observation of total cell killing, suggest that comparable numbers of cells synthesize viral antigen and release virus in both types of host system. Viral-specific ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis is initiated and proceeds in an identical fashion for approximately 4 hr after the infection of MDBK, EAT, or L-cells. At this time, viral RNA synthesis in MDBK ceases, whereas viral RNA synthesis in EAT and L-cells continues at a linear rate. These results indicate that none of the early viral events leading to the initiation of viral-specific RNA synthesis constitutes the primary site of mengovirus restriction in MDBK. Rather it appears that the cessation of viral RNA synthesis in restrictive cells constitutes the primary limiting event. Based on its delayed interaction with mengovirus RNA synthesis, it appears that the host-related restrictive agent is initially compartmentalized and then released as a consequence of infection subsequent to those early events in mengovirus infection leading to the initiation and continued synthesis of viral RNA.
Potentiation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission by protein kinase C-mediated sensitization of TRPV1 at the first sensory synapse

Sensory input from the periphery to the CNS is critically dependent on the strength of synaptic transmission at the first sensory synapse formed between primary afferent dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and superficial dorsal horn (DH) neurons of the spinal cord. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) expressed on a subset of sensory neurons plays an important role in chronic inflammatory thermal nociception. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) sensitizes TRPV1, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic pain conditions. In this study, we have examined the modulation of TRPV1-mediated enhancement of excitatory synaptic transmission in response to PKC activation. Miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) from embryonic rat DRG–DH neuronal cocultures were recorded by patch clamping DH neurons. Capsaicin potently increased the frequency but not the amplitude of mEPSCs in a calcium-dependent manner, suggesting TRPV1-mediated glutamate release from presynaptic terminals of sensory neurons. Continued or repeated applications of capsaicin reduced the frequency of mEPSCs over time. The PKC activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) alone increased mEPSC events to a certain extent in a reversible manner but capsaicin further synergistically enhanced the frequency of mEPSCs. The PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (BIM) abolished PDBu-mediated potentiation of TRPV1-dependent increases in mEPSC frequency, suggesting modulation of TRPV1 by PKC-induced phosphorylation. In addition, at normal body temperatures (∼37°C) PKC-mediated enhancement of mEPSC frequency is significantly decreased by a specific TRPV1 antagonist, suggesting a physiological role of TRPV1 at the central terminals. Furthermore, bradykinin (BK) significantly potentiated TRPV1-modulated synaptic responses by activating the PLC-PKC pathway. Our results indicate that TRPV1 activation can modulate excitatory synaptic transmission at the first sensory synapse and its effects can further be augmented by activation of PKC. Increased gain of sensory input by TRPV1-induced enhancement of glutamate release and its potentiation by various inflammatory mediators may contribute to persistent pain conditions. Selective targeting of TRPV1 expressed on the central terminals of sensory neurons may serve as a strategy to alleviate chronic intractable pain conditions.
Characteristics of braking saccades in congenital nystagmus

Several of the characteristic waveforms of congenital nystagmus (CN) contain braking saccades. We test the hypothesis that braking (including foveating) saccades, while not always satisfying the standard relationships for saccades, are normal; any differences are due to the presence of high-velocity, slow-phase eye movements. Better measurements of saccadic properties, including position- and velocity-based measures and skewness, can eliminate some of this apparent distortion. We also evoked an analogous effect in normal subjects by use of a ramp-step-ramp stimulus. Finally, we used a model to further demonstrate this distortion in the saccades of normals, deviating from their intended magnitude as a function of the magnitude of the opposing velocity. The saccadic analysis methods developed herein are applicable to all saccades made during ongoing eye movements, whether normal or pathological. The above findings support the hypothesis that the braking saccades integral to many CN waveforms have normal characteristics and are the result of a normal saccadic system's responses to a slow-eye-movement oscillation.
An Unbiased Survey for Dense Cores and Star Formation in the Orion B Molecular Cloud

This paper presents the results of a study of dense cores and of star formation in the Orion B Molecular Cloud. Over the last ten years, observations at radio and infrared wavelengths have revealed that stars form in molecular clouds. Little is known about the actual process of star formation, but it is becoming clear that knowledge of the density structure of molecular clouds is critical to understanding the evolution of the clouds and the formation of stars within them. Although the density structure of a number of individual molecular cores has been studied, very little is known about the large scale gas density distribution of star forming clouds.
Routes to Optical Turbulence in a Dispersive Ring Bistable Cavity Containing Saturable Nonlinearities

Using a plane wave analysis we show that co-existent attractors, representing distinct routes to optical turbulence, appear on a single branch of a dispersive ring bistable cavity. Some of these routes appear to arise via a tangent (saddle-node) bifurcation and are not found in the logistic map analyzed by Feigenbaum. When transverse variations in the beam profile are accounted for, a new transition sequence arises which is consistent with recent observations in a fluid dynamical experiment.
Jurisdiction Stripping in Three Acts - Three String Serenade

As interbranch tension reaches a fever pitch, legislators seek to tighten screws on the judiciary. Congressional backlash against disfavored court opinions includes threats to impeach judges, establish judicial inspectors general, weaken life tenure, and strip federal jurisdiction over certain constitutional cases. Two current jurisdiction-stripping bills seek to preclude all federal review of the Defense of Marriage Act and recitation of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Senate recently approved a third bill that strips military prison detainees such as those at Guantanamo Bay of all but one civilian federal forum. This Article explores separation-of-powers tension through an experiential meditation on a hypothetical conversation involving one representative of each branch of government. In the tradition of Professor Hart's seminal dialogue, this three-act play, set in a power-broker restaurant, addresses whether Congress possesses plenary power over federal jurisdiction and, if so, the wisdom of exercising it. Where pertinent, the restaurant server, "Vox Populi," injects an opinion reflecting perspectives of "the people." The characters engage in precedential battles, play scholarly trump cards, sound predictions of (dire) consequences, employ philosophical theories, and craft real-world solutions. Thematically, each branch constitutes a set of strings that, with the other two branches, forms one guitar-like instrument. One out-of-tune branch ruins the melody of government. If indelicate hands turn the tuners too tight, the strings could snap (i.e., constitutional crisis). The manner in which the branches conduct themselves in crisis moments will leave an indelible mark on the functioning of our democratic government. Thus, each branch must attune itself to the motivations of, and realities faced by, the other branches. All must retune their instrument when intense strife threatens ideal balance.
Where Is That Boy

The poems in Mark Strand's latest collection are missing their subjects. Some have sent false confirmations of their impending arrival, some have come and gone, leaving only their skittish footprints. Depending on a poem's voice, the results of the omission can vary from wry to mournful, but the speaker of nearly every piece, regardless of any ostensible topic, attempts to explain what happens when he can't show us the subject of his meditation. The voice in the opening piece, "Untitled," asks, "... Where / Is she now? And where is that boy who stood for hours / Outside her house . . . ?" The poem fails to catch even the beloved's name, referring to her only as "So-and-So" or "The Adorable One." Where, indeed, is the couple of this poem? Are they the runaway subject of the rest of the book? And where, for that matter, is the poem's title? The following pieces in the collection, empty of their own sub jects and pursuant to varying degrees, seek the answer. The sad, simple laments are among the book's most memorable pieces. In "I Will Love the Twenty-First Century" the speaker declares his missing main course. "The potatoes were hard, the beans soft, the meat? / There was no meat." There was no meat. Some subjects stay not only absent, but elusive, as does the unnameable subject in "What It Was," a pronoun whose referent never surfaces. And in the collection's longest piece, "The Delirium Waltz," the speaker seems unable (or unwilling?) to identify his dancing partner. With these gestures, Strand is either offering an apologia or problematizing the act of writing in general. Sometimes these poems' subjects are, unarguably, there, but not there enough, as the speaker intones in "The Beach Hotel": "... there in the faded light discover the bones, / The dust, the bitter remains of someone who might have been / Had we not taken his place." We are here, and we are the subject, he says, but to choose one, to choose us, to choose anything at all, is tantamount to endorsing the deaths of all the others. So how will any subject comfort the loss of all the rest? How, asks the speaker in "A Suite of Appear
Fetch Halting on critical load misses

As the performance gap between processors and memory systems increases, the CPU spends more time stalled waiting for data from main memory. Critical long latency instructions, such as loads that miss to main memory and floating point arithmetic operations, are primarily responsible for these stalls. We present a technique, Fetch Halting that suspends instruction fetching when the processor is stalled by a critical long latency instruction. This enables us to save power in one of the primary sources of power dissipation, the issue logic. By reducing the occupancy rates in the issue queue and reorder buffer, we save power by disabling a large number of unused queue entries. In order to characterize critical instructions, our approach combines software profiling and hardware monitoring techniques. Statistical profiling information obtained from sample runs is used to identify critical instructions while hardware cache-miss prediction is used to monitor these instructions. We show that, on average, Fetch Halting can reduce issue queue and reorder buffer occupancy rates by 17.2% and 23.4%, respectively, with an average performance loss of only 4.6%.
The role of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis and management of juvenile hemangioma of the parotid gland and cheek.

Abstract Background.—The current recommendation for the management of juvenile hemangiomas (JH) is to delay treatment in the hope of spontaneous regression. However, accurate diagnosis is necessary before considering conservative management. Traditionally, the diagnosis of JH has required excisional biopsy. The cytology literature on this relatively rare neoplasm is sparse. Objective.—To present our experience with fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis and management of JH. Design.—Three cases with a cytologic diagnosis consistent with JH of the parotid gland and cheek were identified from our cytopathology files. Aspirate smears, immunohistochemical studies, computed tomographic scan findings, and clinical follow-up were reviewed. Results.—Patients were female infants ranging in age from 3 to 9 months and presented with an oval firm mass (size range, 2.0–5.0 cm) involving the parotid gland (2 cases) and cheek (1 case). Computed tomographic scan with contrast demonstrated homogeneous enhancement. Aspira...
Understanding Rural-Urban Differences in Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in China

Objective: Studies have reported that rural elders in China have higher levels of depression than their urban peers. We aimed to examine the extent to which four sets of factors (socioeconomic stat...
Finite Element Model Analysis of Cephalic Trim on Nasal Tip Stability

ImportanceAlar rim retraction is the most common unintended consequence of tissue remodeling that results from overresection of the cephalic lateral crural cartilage; however, the complex tissue re...
Truck decoration and religious identity: material culture and social function in pakistan

Truck decoration in Pakistan is a pervasive practice in which virtually all trucks are ornamented with some combination of epigraphic formulae, poetry, repetitive patterns and figural images. Both the images and epigraphic formulae may or may not be religious in nature. The decoration of a truck can signify a great deal about the religious identities of the individuals associated with the culture of truck decoration and, more specifically, how changes in the content and nature of the decoration mirror changes in the role of religion in Pakistani society. This is accomplished through the comparison of the decorative programs of four trucks, three countenancing forms of religious expression that have long histories among the people of Pakistan and in South Asia in general, and a fourth, the movement commonly called Tablighi Jama'at, which has only recently seen expression in the decoration of Pakistani trucks.
Role of platelet-activating factor-acether in mediating guinea pig anaphylaxis

The pathophysiology of anaphylaxis is very complex, and the sequelae of events are not fully explained in terms of the effects of histamine and peptide leukotrienes alone. Platelet-activating factor (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine, PAF-acether) has been detected in animals undergoing anaphylaxis. Injection of synthetic PAF-acether induces similar effects, including bronchoconstriction, respiratory arrest, systemic hypotension, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. The results reported here demonstrate that the histamine- and leukotriene-independent component of guinea pig anaphylaxis in vivo and in isolated lung parenchymal strips in vitro is mediated by PAF-acether. However, PAF-acether is not responsible for the anaphylaxis-induced thrombocytopenia.
On the consistency of the continual reassessment method with multiple toxicity constraints

Abstract Conventional dose finding methods require the dichotomization of toxicity outcome measures generally collected in an ordinal scale. To improve efficiency and include more information on the gradation of toxicities, a sequential likelihood procedure that accounts for multiple toxicity constraints is proposed to differentiate the tolerance for toxicity of various degrees of severity under a novel class of multiplicative models, and the asymptotic properties of the procedure under certain model misspecification are established.
Room occupancies: cruise lines out-do the hotels

Abstract The cruise industry, which is essentially a North American phenomenon, is the most successful and fastest growing sector of the tourism industry, carrying nearly 8 million North American passengers in 2003 and achieving an 8.4% annual growth rate since 1980. Yet, there is a dearth of published literature on it. This paper seeks to describe how cruise lines go about managing their cabin inventory with regard to the acceptance and cancellation of reservations, collection of deposits, and dealing with no shows, overbooking, over-sales, upgrades, auctions, and walks (with compensation). Individual as well as group bookings will be analyzed. In 2003, with an average of more than 95% cabin occupancy rate, the North American cruise lines have out-performed the hotels, which have an average room occupancy rate of only 59%. The authors advance 13 reasons why the cruise lines have out-done the hotels in cabin/room occupancy rates, grouped into three categories: inherent structural advantages, idiosyncratic marketing conditions, and proactive management initiatives. But the most unexpected discovery of the study is that the cruise industry has made travel agents an important and essential arm of their cabin-inventory management strategy, from making individual as well as group reservations, collecting the deposits and full payments, tracking down late arrivals, and conducting silent auctions when the system breaks down and the cruise ships are oversold.
Scintillator based energetic ion loss diagnostic for the National Spherical Torus Experiment

A scintillator based energetic ion loss detector has been built and installed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) to measure the loss of neutral beam ions. The detector is able to resolve the pitch angle and gyroradius of the lost energetic ions. It has a wide acceptance range in pitch angle and energy, and is able to resolve the full, one-half, and one-third energy components of the 80 keV D neutral beams up to the maximum toroidal magnetic field of NSTX. Multiple Faraday cups have been embedded behind the scintillator to allow easy absolute calibration of the diagnostic and to measure the energetic ion loss to several ranges of pitch angle with good time resolution. Several small, vacuum compatible lamps allow simple calibration of the scintillator position within the field of view of the diagnostic's video camera.
Amorphous silicon photodetector for optical interconnections

Abstract This paper discusses the feasibility of using hydrogenated amorphous silicon photodetectors in optical interconnections. Our analysis of the transient carrier transport in amorphous silicon pointed out that individual detectors could operate in the 100 MHz–1 GHz range. The parallelism afforded by fabricating large arrays of receivers can provide communication bandwidth in excess of electronic interconnects.
Extranodal rosai-dorfman disease associated with increased numbers of immunoglobulin g4 plasma cells involving the colon: case report with literature review.

A 49-year-old woman presented with fever, weight loss, night sweats, hematochezia, and acid reflux symptoms. Two large, firm cecal lesions were seen at colonoscopy, but multiple biopsies were inconclusive. The patient underwent a right hemicolectomy for a clinical diagnosis of colon cancer. Noncaseating granulomatous inflammation with background lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes exhibiting emperipolesis were identified. With these histologic features and immunoreactivity for S-100 protein and CD68, a diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease was rendered. Other areas had storiform fibrosis admixed with numerous immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)–positive plasma cells. Although a few preliminary reports have noted an increased number of IgG4-positive plasma cells in Rosai-Dorfman disease, the relationship between these 2 conditions is unclear. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a possible association of colonic Rosai-Dorfman disease with an increased number of IgG4-positive plasma cells. Reviews of...
Conducting polyheterocycle composites based on porous hosts

Conducting composites based on porous substrates (cotton fiber, non-woven polypropylene mat and porous crosslinked polystyrene) have been prepared by a two step imbibition technique. First, the substrate was imbibed with a solution of monomer (pyrrole or bithiophene) in acetonitrile, followed by partial drying. Subsequently, the substrate was again imbibed, this time with an oxidant dissolved in a suitable solvent. The polymerization of the monomer inside the host in the presence of the oxidant and the doping of the polymer with the oxidant leads to the conducting composite. The highly hydrophobic and porous crosslinked polystyrene, prepared by the concentrated emulsion polymerization method, is the most efficient. The solvent employed for the oxidant plays a major role. A FeCl3-methanol system and porous crosslinked polystyrene lead to conductivities of polythiophene and polypyrrole based composites of 3.63 and 0.65 S/cm, respectively. Copper perchlorate and iron perchlorate are also suitable oxidants. The environmental and thermal stabilities of polypyrrole based composites are lower than those of polythiophene based composites. The thermal stability of polypyrrole based composites can be enhanced by including a small amount of an organic antioxidant, such as amides or substituted phenols, in the composite.
Pulse Duration and Repetition Rate of a Transistor Multivibrator

Expressions are obtained for the pulse duration and repetition rate of an astable multivibrator circuit employing contacttype transistors. These expressions are confirmed by experiment for repetition rates of from 200 to 10,000 cycles per second.
UPREGULATION OF Na + ,K + -ATPase (NKA) ACTIVITY IN THE NEWBORN GUINEA PIG PROXIMAL TUBULE. • 2152

UPREGULATION OF Na + ,K + -ATPase (NKA) ACTIVITY IN THE NEWBORN GUINEA PIG PROXIMAL TUBULE. • 2152
Spin dynamics of La2CuO4 and the two-dimensional Heisenberg model.

The spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/${\mathit{T}}_{1}$ and the spin-echo decay rate 1/${\mathit{T}}_{2\mathit{G}}$ for the two-dimensional Heisenberg model are calculated using quantum Monte Carlo and maximum-entropy analytic continuation. The results are compared with recent experiments on ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$, as well as predictions based on the nonlinear \ensuremath{\sigma} model.
Morphology of physiologically identified retinal X and Y axons in the cat's thalamus and midbrain as revealed by intraaxonal injection of biocytin

Prior morphological studies of individual retinal X and Y axon arbors based on intraaxonal labeling with horseradish peroxidase have been limited by restricted diffusion or transport of the label. We used biocytin instead as the intraaxonal label, and this completely delineated each of our six X and 14 Y axons, including both thalamic and midbrain arbors. Arbors in the lateral geniculate nucleus appeared generally as has been well documented previously. Interestingly, all of the labeled axons projected a branch beyond thalamus to the midbrain. Each X axon formed a terminal arbor in the pretectum, but none continued to the superior colliculus. In contrast, 11 of 14 Y axons innervated both the pretectum and the superior colliculus, one innervated only the pretectum, and two innervated only the superior colliculus. Two of the Y axons were quite unusual in that their receptive fields were located well into the hemifield ipsilateral with respect to the hemisphere into which they were injected. These axons exhibited remarkable arbors in the lateral geniculate nucleus, diffusely innervating the C-laminae and medial interlaminar nucleus, but, unlike all other X and Y arbors, they did not innervate the A-laminae at all. In addition to these qualitative observations, we analyzed a number of quantitative features of these axons in terms of numbers and distributions of terminal boutons. We found that Y arbors contained more boutons than did X arbors in both thalamus and midbrain. Also, for axons with receptive fields in the contralateral hemifield (all X and all but two Y axons), 90-95% of their boutons terminated in the lateral geniculate nucleus; the other two Y axons had more of their arbors located in midbrain.
Puromycin-based vectors promote a ROS-dependent recruitment of PML to nuclear inclusions enriched with HSP70 and Proteasomes

Promyelocytic Leukemia (PML) protein can interact with a multitude of cellular factors and has been implicated in the regulation of various processes, including protein sequestration, cell cycle regulation and DNA damage responses. Previous studies reported that misfolded proteins or proteins containing polyglutamine tracts form aggregates with PML, chaperones, and components of the proteasome, supporting a role for PML in misfolded protein degradation. In the current study, we have identified a reactive oxygen species (ROS) dependent aggregation of PML, small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO-1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and 20S proteasomes in human cell lines that have been transiently transfected with vectors expressing the puromycin resistance gene, puromycin n-acetyl transferase (pac). Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated that PML, SUMO-1, HSP70 and 20S proteasomes aggregated to form nuclear inclusions in multiple cell lines transfected with vectors expressing puromycin (puro) resistance in regions distinct from nucleoli. This effect does not occur in cells transfected with identical vectors expressing other antibiotic resistance genes or with vectors from which the pac sequence has been deleted. Furthermore, ROS scavengers were shown to ablate the effect of puro vectors on protein aggregation in transfected cells demonstrating a dependency of this effect on the redox state of transfected cells. Taken together we propose that puromycin vectors may elicit an unexpected misfolded protein response, associated with the formation of nuclear aggresome like structures in human cell lines. This effect has broad implications for cellular behavior and experimental design.
Delivery and assessment of endovascular stents to repair aortic coarctation using MR and X‐ray imaging

Purpose To investigate the utility of MR and X-ray imaging for characterizing aortic coarctation and flow, and guiding the endovascular catheter to place a stent to repair the coarctation. Materials and Methods The descending aorta in eight dogs was looped with elastic band and tightened distal to the subclavian artery. Balanced fast field echo (bFFE) and velocity-encoded cine (VEC) MRI sequences were used for device tracking and measuring aortic flow. A T1-weighted fast-field echo sequence (T1-FFE) was used to visualize the coarctation and roadmap the aorta. Nitinol stents were guided by a nitinol guidewire and placed under MR guidance. Results Aortic coarctation was visible on MR and X-ray imaging. The procedure success rate was 88%. VEC MRI measured the changes in aortic flow (baseline = 1.3 ± 0.2, coarctation = 0.2 ± 0.02, and stent placement = 0.8 ± 0.1 liters/minute). A significant reduction in iliac blood pressure was measured after coarctation, but it was reversed by stent placement. The stent lumen was visible on X-ray fluoroscopy, but not on MRI. Conclusion Stent deployment to repair aortic coarctation is feasible under MR guidance. The combined use of MR and X-ray imaging is effective for anatomic and functional evaluation of aortic coarctation dilation, which may be crucial for optimal therapy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.