cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for Multiple Micronutrient Effects Based on Randomized Controlled Trials and Meta-Analyses in Developing Countries

Providing multiple micronutrients via supplements, powders, or fortified ready-to-use foods is increasingly becoming a strategy for simultaneously addressing multiple nutrient deficiencies in developing countries. The pros and cons of the "gold standard" randomized controlled trial (RCT) design and meta-analyses of trials for establishing efficacy of nutritional interventions are discussed. Over the past decade, numerous RCT have been undertaken to test the efficacy of multiple micronutrient supplementation in both pregnant women and young children. Outcomes of interest have ranged from birth weight to child growth, and infant morbidity and mortality to nutrient status and cognitive function. These RCT have also been submitted to meta-analyses for estimating pooled effect sizes for various outcomes. Meta-analyses of antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation reveal a modest but significant increase in birth weight of 22.4 g (95% CI: 8.3, 36.4 g) and an 11% (95% CI: 3, 19) reduction in low birth weight but no impact on preterm birth or perinatal mortality. In children, small effect sizes of 0.13 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.21) for length/height and 0.14 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.25) for weight have been shown with 3 or more micronutrients compared to fewer micronutrients, but there is limited evidence for an impact on outcomes such as morbidity and cognitive function. Gaps in research and future challenges for programmatic application of this strategy for both pregnant women and young children are discussed.
Characterization of Mustn1 PRO -GFPtpz transgenic mice

Mustn1 has been characterized as a gene that has very restricted expression to the musculoskeletal system. However, its spatiotemporal expression was not comprehensively depicted in vivo. In this study, we have characterized the promoter of Mustn1 gene, which is mainly regulated by AP-1 family proteins. Subsequently, transgenic mice containing Mustn1 promoter-driven GFP transgene was generated. Mustn1 was found mainly expressed in the satellite cells in the adult mice, with notable expression coming from periosteum, endosteum and endothelium of blood vessels as well. This novel finding indicated that 1) Mustn1 is co-regulated with other common myogenic marker genes such as MyoD and mogenin; 2) Mustn1 is likely involved in the early differentiation of mesoderm due to the common origin of satellite cells and endothelial cells; and 3) Mustn1 is a differentiation marker that is specifically expressed in the musculoskeletal system.
Alternative extractive distillation system for CO2–ethane azeotrope separation in enhanced oil recovery processes

Abstract CO2 is a common constituent of natural gas. Standards for its maximum concentration differ from about 2% for pipeline to 50 ppm for liquefaction. All natural gas constituents absorb CO2 to some degree when in the liquid phase, requiring multi-step natural gas treatment processes. The existence of a minimum-boiling temperature azeotrope between ethane and carbon dioxide particularly complicates CO2 separation. Extractive distillation with higher molecular weight hydrocarbons as the solvent represents the most competitive means for the separating CO2 from ethane. The conventional separation method involves two distillation columns in series and rather high amount of energy. This investigation proposes an efficient method for CO2–ethane separation that produces all products at high purity with less capital and operating costs in comparison with the conventional system. The new operating flowsheet includes three columns: a CO2 recovery column, a solvent recovery column, and a concentrator column. The proposed system requires 10% less total annual cost (TAC) and 16% less energy compared to the conventional system at the same purification. Additionally, unlike the conventional system, the proposed design separates CO2 in the form of a liquid product, which avoids the high amount of energy required for the liquefaction. Thus, this technology provides a useful alternative toward the less expensive CO2–ethane separation process.
A nonlinear dynamical systems analysis of child emotion displays in relation to family context and child adjustment: a cox hazard approach.

This report examines how the relative attractor strengths of children's display of three emotion states, anger, sadness/fear, and neutral-engaged, are associated with exposure to maternal negative affect and care giving disruptions, and to child antisocial behavior and depression. Exposure to negative maternal affect was associated with a weaker attractor state for sadness or fear displays relative to those for anger and neutral-engaged displays. Exposure to care giving disruptions was associated with stronger attractor strength for anger and sadness/fear relative to that for neutral-engaged. Overt and covert antisocial behaviors were associated with weaker attractor states for sadness/fear displays relative that for the neutral-engaged displays. Overt antisocial behavior was associated with a stronger attractor state for anger displays relative to that for neutral-engaged displays, and covert antisocial behavior with a weaker attractor state for fear/sadness displays relative to that for neutral-engaged displays. Child depressive symptoms were marginally associated with a stronger attractor state for fear/sadness displays relative to neutral-engaged. The data suggest the attractor strengths for emotion display states are affected by social experience and that between-individual risk for various forms of psychopathology is related to the relative intra-individual attractor strength of various emotion displays in a multi-state emotion display system. Language: en
Comments on an inappropriate population model for feral burros

Commentaire critique des interpretations des resultats concernant des populations d'Equus asinus et de leur developpement
On the existence and uniqueness of solutions for implicit linear systems on finite interval

In the present paper we study the problem of the existence and uniqueness of solutions of implicit systems considered on a finite interval of time. We consider two kinds of existence problems: input-acceptance and input-acceptance when the boundary conditions of a corresponding trajectory are set to zero, and two kinds of uniqueness problems: output uniqueness and output uniqueness when the boundary conditions of the corresponding trajectory are unknown. Geometric conditions for all of these notions are given, and the duality of these notions is studied.
Introducing an iPad app into literacy instruction for struggling readers: Teacher perceptions and student outcomes:

There is a critical need, according to national policy statements in the United States, to integrate information and communication technologies into instruction, and yet research about the effect o...
MOBILIZING EMOTIONS TO ELECT WOMEN: THE SYMBOLIC MEANING OF MINNESOTA'S FIRST WOMAN SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

*† Rosalie Wahl’s appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court and her subsequent election reveals how emotions make events historical, how they signal symbolic meanings, and how they mobilize social movements. The treatment of political women in the 1970s engendered the emotions that Wahl’s appointment and campaign surfaced. Relegating women party activists to the role of chore doers rather than decision makers humiliated them. Homemakers felt discarded and downwardly mobile after divorce. Exclusion and discrimination stung women lawyers. Feminism surfaced the powerful emotions of anger, exhilaration, solidarity, and hope that women would break down barriers. By deconstructing the rhetorical arguments of Wahl’s speeches, interviewing participants in the campaigns, reading the letters that Minnesotans sent to Wahl, and examining my own emotional reactions, I uncover the emotional dimensions of these events. Understanding what catalyzed intense emotional identifications and what this historical event symbolized to participants facilitates theorizing gender as a social process and understanding why other women first to hold public office or first women candidacies generally do not become historical events. Why are some events turning points? Why did it seem to me, a seventh grader, that the pride and dignity of all women and girls hung in the balance of whether Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs at tennis? Why did Geraldine Ferraro’s candidacy for the vice presidency lead women to hoist their daughters on their shoulders to see her? Why did Anita Hill’s testimony stop daily life and mesmerize the entire country? Public policy scholars use the term “focusing event” to explain why issues such as homeland security after 9/11, disaster management after Hurricane Katrina, or bridge inspection after the collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, rose to the top of the government’s agenda. Social movement scholars define a critical event as one that makes the targets of social movement activity more vulnerable, makes resources more available to the movement, and encourages individuals and groups to set aside their differences and work together, thereby making coalitions possible (Staggenborg 1993: 321). 1
Race after Darwin: The World of the Physical Anthropologists

After an initial decade of resistance and controversy, by 1870 Darwinism had won considerable acceptance by the general public and by scientists in Britain. Evolutionism provided a new, emotionally charged, yet ostensibly scientific language with which to express old prejudices. Applied to lower races, the ‘lower races’ were now races that had ‘evolved’ least far up the evolutionary ladder, had lost out in the ‘struggle for survival,’ and were ‘unfit’ for the competition between tribes. Or they represented the evolutionary ‘childhood’ of the white man, ‘atavisms’ whose primitive physical structures and reduced intellectual and emotional capacities made them ‘outcasts from evolution’.1 There was no dearth of evolutionary metaphors with which to denigrate non-white peoples. Nor was there any consensus about what evolutionary terms really meant — they meant, in fact, whatever an author chose them to mean.
The perceived threat of sexual communication, number of previous sexual partners and topic avoidance in romantic relationships

ABSTRACTPerceived threat of communicating about one’s sexual history (PTCSH) and sexual history topic avoidance (SHTA) were examined in this study. PTSCH references the anticipated possible consequences of discussing prior sexual activity, and SHTA refers to the phenomenon of avoiding the subject of prior sexual activity. Participants (n = 330) filled out measures designed to assess their PTCSH, SHTA, and were also asked to report their number of previous sexual partners. SPSS and the PROCESS macro were employed to probe relationships between these variables. As expected, PTCSH was significantly and positively associated with individuals’ number of previous sexual partners and SHTA. Further analyses confirmed a proposed mediational model, wherein PTSCH served as a mediator in the association between number of previous sexual partners and SHTA. Implications for how individuals’ number of previous sexual partners and social expectations for sexual behaviour may affect communication in close relationships ar...
Elements and inorganic ions as source tracers in recent Greenland snow

Abstract Atmospheric transport of aerosols leads to deposition of impurities in snow, even in areas of the Arctic as remote as Greenland. Major ions (e.g. Na+, Ca2+, NH4+, K+, SO42−) are frequently used as tracers for common aerosol sources (e.g. sea spray, dust, biomass burning, anthropogenic emissions). Trace element data can supplement tracer ion data by providing additional information about sources. Although many studies have considered either trace elements or major ions, few have reported both. This study determined total and water-soluble concentrations of 31 elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Dy, Eu, Fe, Gd, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Nd, Pb, Pr, S, Sb, Si, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, U, Y, Zn) in shallow snow pits at 22 sampling sites in Greenland, along a transect from Summit Station to sites in the northwest. Black carbon (BC) and inorganic ions were measured in colocated samples. Sodium, which is typically used as a tracer of sea spray, did not appear to have any non-marine sources. The rare earth elements, alkaline earth elements (Mg, Ca, Sr), and other crustal elements (Fe, Si, Ti, V) were not enriched above crustal abundances relative to Al, indicating that these elements are primarily dust sourced. Calculated ratios of non-sea salt Ca (nssCa) to estimated dust mass affirm the use of nssCa as a dust tracer, but suggest up to 50% uncertainty in that estimate in the absence of other crustal element data. Crustal enrichment factors indicated that As, Cd, Pb, non-sea-salt S, Sb, Sn, and Zn were enriched in these samples, likely by anthropogenic sources. Principal component analysis indicated more than one crustal factor, and a variety of factors related to anthropogenically enriched elements. Analysis of trace elements alongside major tracer ions does not change interpretation of ion-based source attribution for sources that are well-characterized by ions, but is valuable for assessing uncertainty in source attribution and identifying sources not represented by major ions.
Abstract P123: β- and γ-Catenin Cooperate to Maintain Mechanoelectrical Coupling in the Heart

Arrhythmic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a hereditary heart-muscle disease that causes sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people. Almost half of ARVC patients have a mutation in genes...
Spectral Methods in Geodesy and Geophysics

The text develops the principal aspects of applied Fourier analysis and methodology with the main goal to inculcate a different way of perceiving global and regional geodetic and geophysical data, namely from the perspective of the frequency, or spectral, domain rather than the spatial domain. The word "methods" in the title is meant to convey that the transformation of a geophysical signal into the spectral domain can be applied for purposes of analysis as well as rapid computation. The text is written for graduate students; however, Chapters 1 through 4 and parts of 5 can also benefit undergraduates who have a solid and fluent knowledge of integral and differential calculus, have some statistical background, and are not uncomfortable with complex numbers. Concepts are developed by starting from the one-dimensional domain and working up to the spherical domain, which is part of every chapter. Many concepts are illustrated graphically with actual geophysical data primarily from signals of gravity, magnetism, and topography.
Immediate and short-term adaptations to maximalist and minimalist running shoes

Biomechanical response to running footwear has been studied with regard to traditional shoes and, more recently, minimalist (MIN) shoes. Maximalist (MAX) shoes have grown in popularity as a highly-...
How to Write the History of the Third Republic or How Not to Write It

This chapter attempts to delineate the challenges and pitfalls in writing the history of the Third Armenian Republic, declared in 1991. Independence was achieved under extremely difficult circumstances. The pressures and international, regional, and Armenian domestic and diasporan strategic and ideological fault lines tend to lead scholars to adopt assumptions and display biases which are already evident in the manner the republic is treated even in scholarly literature. The purpose of the chapter is to make scholars aware of such pitfalls and biases when writing in the future the history of the Third Republic.
Treatment of Type Two Slap Lesion With Anatomic Suture Anchor Repair Without Biceps Tenotomy Or Tenodesis

Background Poor results after repair of type 2 SLAP tears are relatively common and some have reported better results after biceps tenodesis or tenotomy than repair. In addition, some believe that the long head of the biceps is expendable. Therefore, many now favor biceps tenotomy or tenodesis over biceps anchor repair either in all patients or in older patients, reserving SLAP lesion repair only for young athletes. Hypothesis We hypothesized that repair of the biceps anchor of the labrum would be effective in all patients regardless of age provided that care was taken not to overtighten the labrum and that rotator cuff pain as the primary pain generator had been ruled out. Methods All patients with type 2 SLAP lesion repair by the senior author since he began repairing them with suture anchors were prospectively evaluated. Patients with more than one other concomitant procedure, simultaneous rotator cuff repair or worker's compensation status were excluded. Results 77% of patients were available for minimum two year followup. No patient had subsequent surgery or manipulation under anesthesis as a result of their SLAP repair. Standardized shoulder test score increased by 4 points. Mean SANE score decreased from 53 pre-op to 14 post-op. Results were the same in those over versus under 40 years of age. Conclusion Anatomic repair of Type 2 SLAP lesions at the biceps anchor without biceps tenodesis or tenotomy can produce good results in patients of all ages.
Hermeneutics and the natural sciences

Hermeneutics and the Natural Sciences: Introduction R.P. Crease. Why a Hermeneutical Philosophy of the Natural Sciences? P.A. Heelan. On the Hermeneutical Nature of Modern Natural Science J.J. Kockelmans. Inderstanding Sustainability B. Gremmen, J. Jacobs. A Hemrneutics of the Natural Sciences? The Debate Updated T.J. Kisiel. Achievements of the Hermeneutic-Phenomenological Approach to Natural Sciences M. Eger. Thingly Hermeneutics: Technoconstructions D. Ihde. The Responsive Order: A New Empiricism E.T. Gendlin.
HIV Prevention for the General Population

This paper discusses interventions that are primarily directed at reaching large segments of the general population. These include mass education campaigns improvement of sexually transmitted infections STI/HIV services social marketing programs and contextual interventions. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations were conducted for each of these programs. Overall results showed that mass media campaigns focusing on education/information exchange can increase levels of knowledge and programs presenting real-life situations can contribute to behavior change. Improved HIV/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) services for the general population are also known to be effective in reducing STI and HIV and to complement behavior change interventions. In addition interpersonal communication provided by well trained or outreach workers can facilitate and support behavior change. Active promotion of condoms can be acceptable within all environments. Finally prevention programs take place in a specific cultural social and economic situation and success can be facilitated by creating an enabling environment through legal action engaging gatekeepers and changing cultural and social norms.
Optical Flow Based Pose Estimation

In this paper, we present a new variant of ICP (iterative closest point) algorithm based on optical flow for finding better 3D point correspondence and computing six-degrees of freedom (6-DOF) pose of the rigid objects. Our approach integrates optical flow algorithm to ICP method, and proposed method gets advantage of higher resolution of the RGB sensor and depth information of the depth sensor. Fusing color and depth sensors improves pose estimation results. We set ground truth with Vicon motion tracker system. And, our approach is tested on a rigid object and compared to ICP method. Results have shown that optical flow and ICP method computes better rigid object pose estimation and lower error against ICP based pose estimation with only depth positions.
Model-Free Global Stabilization of Discrete-Time Linear Systems with Saturating Actuators Using Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, we propose a model-free algorithm for global stabilization of linear systems subject to actuator saturation. The idea of gain-scheduled low gain feedback is applied to develop control laws that avoid saturation and achieve global stabilization. To design these control laws, we employ the framework of parameterized algebraic Riccati equations (AREs). Reinforcement learning techniques are developed to find the solution of the parameterized ARE without requiring any knowledge of the system dynamics. In particular, we present an iterative Q-learning algorithm that searches for an appropriate value of the low gain parameter and iteratively solves the parameterized ARE using the Bellman equation. It is shown that the proposed algorithm achieves model-free global stabilization under bounded controls and converges to the solution of the ARE. The proposed scheme neither requires an initially stabilizing policy nor is affected by any excitation noise bias. Simulation results are presented that confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Analytical modeling of the thermal behavior of living human tissue

Living human tissue thermal behavior analytical modeling including internal heat generation and blood flow effects
Learning Modular Structures from Network Data and Node Variables

A standard technique for understanding underlying dependency structures among a set of variables posits a shared conditional probability distribution for the variables measured on individuals within a group. This approach is often referred to as module networks, where individuals are represented by nodes in a network, groups are termed modules, and the focus is on estimating the network structure among modules. However, estimation solely from node-specific variables can lead to spurious dependencies, and unverifiable structural assumptions are often used for regularization. Here, we propose an extended model that leverages direct observations about the network in addition to node-specific variables. By integrating complementary data types, we avoid the need for structural assumptions. We illustrate theoretical and practical significance of the model and develop a reversible-jump MCMC learning procedure for learning modules and model parameters. We demonstrate the method accuracy in predicting modular structures from synthetic data and capability to learn regulatory modules in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene regulatory network.
NMR AS A NONINVASIVE MONITORING TECHNIQUE IN PHYSIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

Publisher Summary Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a spectroscopic method based on the fact that atomic nuclei in bulk matter absorb radiofrequency radiation when placed in a magnetic field. The absorption signal can be picked up by a tuned coil surrounding the sample and displayed after manifold amplification on any suitable recording device. The frequency at which absorption is observed depends on the strength of the imposed magnetic field. This chapter discusses the advantages of NMR as a noninvasive monitoring technique in physiology and medicine. The first recorded physiological observations made by NMR were on blood or its cellular components. Thus far, in vivo NMR studies have dealt largely with cell suspensions or perfused organs. Only one report of a 31P spectrum obtained on a live animal, the head of a mouse, has appeared in the literature (Chance, et al, 1978). The chapter discusses whether NMR is sensitive to reversible metabolic and mild physiological perturbations.
Causal Time Loops and the Immaculate Conception

The doctrine of the immaculate conception, which is a dogma binding on all Roman Catholics and also held by members of some other Christian denominations, holds that Mary the mother of Jesus Christ was conceived without the stain of original sin as a result of the redeeming effects of Christ’s later life, passion, death, and resurrection. In this paper I argue first that, even on an orthodox reading of this doctrine, the immaculate conception seems to result in a kind of causal time loop. I then consider several common philosophical objections to causal time loops, showing how each is either not a serious problem for causal time loops in general or is not a serious problem for the immaculate conception time loop in particular because of some particular features of that particular loop. The upshot of this discussion is that it shows that anyone who is committed to the dogma of the immaculate conception is also committed to the possibility, and, indeed, the actuality, of at least one causal time loop, but also that this is no reason to reject the dogma, since all of the major worries for causal time loops can be resolved in one way or another.
Inflammatory Myositis in Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

OBJECTIVE To estimate the incidence of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myositis (ICI-myositis) in cancer patients receiving ICIs, and to report associated clinical manifestations, patterns of care, and outcomes. METHODS We identified a retrospective cohort of patients receiving ICIs between 2016 and 2019 seen at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Cases of ICI-myositis were identified using International Classification of Disease codes and confirmed by reviewing medical records and pathology, as available. RESULTS A total of 9,088 patients received an ICI. Thirty-six patients (0.40%) were identified as having ICI-myositis: 17 patients (47%) with ICI-myositis alone and 19 (53%) with overlap manifestations (5 patients with myocarditis, 5 with myasthenia gravis, and 9 with both). The incidence of ICI-myositis was 0.31% in those receiving ICI monotherapy and 0.94% in those receiving combination ICI therapy (relative risk 3.1 [95% confidence interval 1.5-6.1]). Twenty-five patients (69%) received ≥1 treatment in addition to glucocorticoids: plasmapheresis in 17 patients (47%), intravenous immunoglobulin in 12 (33%), and biologics in 11 (31%). Patients with overlap conditions had worse outcomes than those with myositis alone, and 79% of them developed respiratory failure. Eight patients died as a result of ICI-myositis, and all had overlap syndrome with myasthenia gravis or myocarditis (P < 0.05); 75% of these patients had a concomitant infection. CONCLUSION ICI-myositis is a rare but severe adverse event. More than half of the patients presented with overlap manifestations and had deleterious outcomes, including respiratory failure and death. None of the patients with ICI-myositis alone died as a result of adverse events. Optimal treatment strategies have yet to be determined.
Custom pyrolyzer for the pyrolysis of chemical warfare agents

Abstract Thermal decomposition studies on a chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant was performed using a custom built pyrolyzer. The goals of this study were to design, build and evaluate a simple pyrolyzer to meet the safety and security requirements necessary to obtain consistent CWA and CWA simulant pyrolysis data from multiple laboratories around the world. A custom made tubular flow reactor was built, the pyrolysis effluent was collected on solid sorbent tubes, and was analyzed by thermal desorption (TD) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Experiments were conducted with triethyl phosphate (TEP), a well-studied CWA simulant, to determine the activation energy (Ea) and rate constant (k) for the unimolecular decomposition of TEP under the designed experimental conditions and to validate pyrolyzer performance. Experiments with TEP were conducted at five different temperatures (375–440 °C) with samples collected at five flow rates. The activation energy for TEP decomposition was determined to be 32.0 ± 7.6 kcal/mol which is consistent with previous reported literature data.
Translational PET applications for brain circuit mapping with transgenic neuromodulation tools.

Abstract Transgenic neuromodulation tools have transformed the field of neuroscience over the past two decades by enabling targeted manipulation of neuronal populations and circuits with unprecedented specificity. Chemogenetic and optogenetic neuromodulation systems are among the most widely used and allow targeted control of neuronal activity through the administration of a selective compound or light, respectively. Innovative genetic targeting strategies are utilized to transduce specific cells to express transgenic receptors and opsins capable of manipulating neuronal activity. These allow mapping of neuroanatomical projection sites and link cellular manipulations with brain circuit functions and behavior. As these tools continue to expand knowledge of the nervous system in preclinical models, developing translational applications for human therapies is becoming increasingly possible. However, new strategies for implementing and monitoring transgenic tools are needed for safe and effective use in translational research and potential clinical applications. A major challenge for such applications is the need to track the location and function of chemogenetic receptors and opsins in vivo, and new developments in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging techniques offer promising solutions. The goal of this review is to summarize current research combining transgenic tools with PET for in vivo mapping and manipulation of brain circuits and to propose future directions for translational applications.
Ruxolitinib treatment permits lower cumulative glucocorticoid dosing in children with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

This study aimed to analyze the effects of ruxolitinib on children with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Eleven pediatric patients diagnosed with HLH and treated with ruxolitinib (ruxolitinib group: group R) between November 2017 and August 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Eleven age-matched pediatric patients with HLH undergoing conventional treatment (control group: group C) during the same period were also analyzed. In group R, three patients who did not respond to methylprednisolone (MP) pulse and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapies were treated with Ruxolitinib and their temperature decreased to normal levels. Four patients had normal temperature after conventional treatment (dexamethasone and etoposide, with or without cyclosporine A), but they had severe organ involvement, including obvious yellowing of the skin, increased liver enzyme levels and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and they were all ameliorated with ruxolitinib treatment. Four patients were relieved with ruxolitinib therapy alone. In group C, the body temperatures of eleven patients decreased to normal levels after conventional treatment. The body temperature of group R patients decreased to normal levels more rapidly than that of group C patients. The glucocorticoid dosage in group R was significantly lower than that in group C. Both groups were followed-up for 2–2.5 years. No obvious adverse drug reactions to ruxolitinib were observed during treatment and follow-up. Ruxolitinib might be an effective drug in controlling body temperature and reducing inflammation indicators. It might be a potential replacement for glucocorticoid therapy for HLH treatment in children, thereby reducing or avoiding glucocorticoid-related adverse reactions.
The Aggregate Effects of Fiscal Policy in the United Kingdom

Growing literature on the effects of fiscal policy has evolved in the recent years. The availability of narrative methods has improved the validity and precision of macroeconometric methods. This paper uses narratively identified tax changes in a Proxy SVAR framework to empirically assess the macroeconomic effects of fiscal policy in the United Kingdom. Additionally, we produce estimates based on the Blanchard Perotti (2002) approach and recent narrative methods. Our results suggest large tax multipliers above one with significant short-run impact. The results for the government spending multipliers are positive but less conclusive.
Mussels as Aquatic Pollution Biosensors using Neural Networks and Control Charts

Even though the oil industry importance is notable, oil exploitation may cause impairment of aquatic organisms due to the risk of oil spills. In this context, the development of low-cost and effective aquatic pollution sensors has paramount importance. The present study proposes the association of Nonlinear Autoregressive (NAR) neural network and Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) control chart in the behavioral analysis of Perna perna mussels. Bivalve mollusks were instrumented with hall effect sensors and magnets, maintained under controlled environmental conditions and exposed to different concentrations of diesel S-500 Water-Accommodated Fraction. Behavioral data were acquired before (3 days) and along (44 hours) toxicological exposure. NAR neural network was used to forecast the Average Opening Amplitude (AOA) of Perna perna mussels under a non-toxicological environment. It was effective in predicting non-exposed behavior of mussels and allowed to consider individual's adaptive nature. EWMA control chart was employed to evaluate the residues among neural network forecast and experimental AOA. The exposure of bivalves to diesel WAF provided a discrepancy among the predicted and experimental AOA. Hence, EWMA control chart has provided out of control (unpredictable) values throughout the toxicological exposure period. The association of NAR neural networks and EWMA control charts is a potential tool in online monitoring of aquatic environments and considers individual peculiarities of each bivalve which leads to the development of more accurate aquatic pollution biosensors.
Currents in Contemporary Ethics is GINA Worth the Wait

It has been pending in Congress for twelve years, despite the support of the last two presidential Administrations and the National Institutes of Health. It has been the subject of extensive affirmative lobbying by academic medical centers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, genetic disease advocacy groups, and civil rights organizations. It has overcome vehement objections by employers and insurers. Its final passage, however, has been thwarted by a few Congressional leaders, who have prevented enactment despite overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. Based on this legislative history, one could not help but assume that the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)1 is a revolutionary piece of legislation that, if finally enacted, would provide extensive, effective, and comprehensive protection against genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment. Unfortunately, such an assessment would be incorrect. Indeed, GINA may be a case of too much ado about too little. GINA is a fatally flawed bill, whose chances of achieving its noble goal of genetic nondiscrimination were doomed from the start by a health finance system in which individual health insurance is medically underwritten and by employment laws that fail to protect the privacy of employee health information. This article puts GINA into perspective by reviewing the need for legislation, the bill's key provisions, and its likely consequences. The article also discusses the essential issues of discrimination and disclosure of genetic information in health insurance and employment that GINA does not address. It observes that the shortcomings of GINA stem from the health finance system of the United States and the absence of effective health privacy legislation. Upon closer inspection, discrimination based on “genetic information” is not a discrete and singular issue; it is a case study for the broader issue of the permissible uses and disclosures of predictive health information.
On Thaumatocotyle Scott, 1904 (Monogenoidea: Monocotylidae) and Thaumatocotyle pseudodasybatis Hargis, 1955 with Descriptions of Its Putative Sibling Species Thaumatocotyle adelpha n. sp. and Thaumatocotyle casigneta n. sp. Parasitizing the Olfactory Organs of Pelagic Eagle Rays (Myliobatiformes: Ae

An emended diagnosis of Thaumatocotyle Scott, 1904 (Monogenoidea: Monocotylidae) and a list of its species are provided. Merizocotyle urolophi Chisholm and Whittington, 1999, Merizocotyle macrostrobus Chisholm and Whittington, 2012, Merizocotyle papillae Chisholm and Whittington, 2012, and Merizocotyle rhadinopeos Chisholm and Whittington, 2012 are transferred to Thaumatocotyle as new combinations. Thaumatocotyle pseudodasybatis Hargis, 1955 is redescribed and is currently restricted to Thaumatocotyle-like helminths parasitizing the olfactory organs of the white-spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari (Euphrasen, 1790) (Myliobatiformes: Aetobatidae) in the western Atlantic Ocean. Two new species are described that infect the olfactory organs of pelagic eagle rays: Thaumatocotyle adelpha n. sp. from the ocellated eagle ray Aetobatus ocellatus (Kuhl, 1823) in the central and western Pacific Ocean and Thaumatocotyle casigneta n. sp. from the Pacific eagle ray Aetobatus laticeps Gill, 1865 from the eastern Pacific Ocean off the western coast of Mexico. Based on comparative morphology, T. pseudodasybatis, T. adelpha, and T. casigneta appear to form a subgroup of species that developed secondarily within the genus.
Endogenous Gridpoints in Multiple Dimensions: Interpolation on Non-Linear Grids

In dynamic optimization problems with multiple continuous state variables and multiple continuous controls, the method of endogenous gridpoints (ENDG) generates an irregular collection of gridpoints for which standard interpolation techniques do not apply, while alternative interpolation methods are extremely slow. This paper presents an interpolation technique that allows ENDG to be used in multi-dimensional problems in an intuitive and computationally e?cient way. The method translates irregular grid sectors onto the unit square (unit cube, unit hypercube, etc) and then applies standard linear interpolation. This method’s superiority to traditional solution approaches, in terms of speed and accuracy, is demonstrated on a benchmark model. At commonly used grid densities, the method of endogenous gridpoints with non-linear grid interpolation is 7.7 times faster than the traditional solution method, with slightly greater accuracy. This computational acceleration erodes only very slowly as grid density increases, unlike with alternative interpolation methods.
Negotiating Identity in the Ancient Mediterranean: The Archaic and Classical Greek Multiethnic Emporia

The Mediterranean basin was a multicultural region with a great diversity of linguistic, religious, social and ethnic groups. This dynamic social and cultural landscape encouraged extensive contact and exchange among different communities. This book seeks to explain what happened when different ethnic, social, linguistic and religious groups, among others, came into contact with each other, especially in multiethnic commercial settlements located throughout the region. What means did they employ to mediate their interactions? How did each group construct distinct identities while interacting with others? What new identities came into existence because of these contacts? Professor Demetriou brings together several strands of scholarship that have emerged recently, especially ethnic, religious and Mediterranean studies. She reveals new aspects of identity construction in the region, examining the Mediterranean as a whole, and focuses not only on ethnic identity but also on other types of collective identities, such as civic, linguistic, religious and social.
Polyamines and Virus Multiplication

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on polyamines and virus multiplication. The polyamines appear to fulfill many functions in cells and in numerous metabolic systems. The existence of polyamine-requiring cells affirms the development of such polyamine-requiring specific roles for the polyamines as compared to inorganic divalent cations. The special affinity of these counterions for the nucleic acids raises the possibility that the peculiar pathology of the nucleic acids attendant on virus infection compel the special participation of the polyamines in the process. The structures of the most abundant naturally occurring polyamines are shown in this chapter. The biochemistry of plant virus multiplication has fallen many years behind that of bacteriophages and of animal viruses, largely because of the earlier difficulties in growing these viruses in a defined cell system. Most preparations of plant viruses had been obtained from the leaves of infected plants, and, although it is possible to purify the virus obtained, infected cells may be only a small proportion of the tissue and the various stages of infection would be represented in a sample of infected plant tissue. The polyamines are ubiquitous in normal and virus-infected cells, and can fulfill a wide variety of roles in virus multiplication.
International Standards Organizations

International standards organizations are increasingly important because of the growth of global marketplaces. The two organizations most relevant to software engineering are the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). [The third international standards organizations, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), deals exclusively with telecommunications. Unlike ISO and IEC, it is a treaty organization, hence representing governments rather than the private sector.] For purposes of standardizing information technology, they have formed Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC1). Nevertheless, several disciplines related to information technology remain within one or the other of the two parent organizations. ISO, IEC and JTC1 are discussed in this article with particular attention paid to their technical committees and subcommittees that are strongly related to software engineering. Keywords: International Electrochemical Commission; International Organization for Standardization (ISO); dependability; process control; quality management; software engineering
Valuation Of The Embedded Option In A Non-Cancelable Lease: Theory And Application

This paper applies a “real” option literature based model to valuing the option element of a non-cancelable lease without an early exercise provision. The model is applied to a common lease type – the closed-end automobile lease. The findings show that the value of the option inherent in an automobile lease is approximately two to six percent of the original asset cost. The analysis discusses ways in which the option value can be captured through the lease contract terms. Management decision makers can use these concepts in evaluating lease/purchase decisions.
Altitude Adaptation: A Glimpse Through Various Lenses

Abstract Simonson, Tatum S. Altitude adaptation: A glimpse through various lenses. High Alt Med Biol 16:125–137, 2015.—Recent availability of genome-wide data from highland populations has enabled the identification of adaptive genomic signals. Some of the genomic signals reported thus far among Tibetans, Andeans, and Ethiopians are the same, while others appear unique to each population. These genomic findings parallel observations conveyed by decades of physiological research: different continental populations, resident at high altitude for hundreds of generations, exhibit a distinct composite of traits at altitude. The most commonly reported signatures of selection emanate from genomic segments containing hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway genes. Corroborative evidence for adaptive significance stems from associations between putatively adaptive gene copies and sea-level ranges of hemoglobin concentration in Tibetans and Amhara Ethiopians, birth weights and metabolic factors in Andeans and Tibetans...
The angular distribution of photoelectrons ejected from the hydrated electron cluster (H2O)−18

The angular distribution of the photoelectrons ejected from the hydrated electron cluster (H2 O)−18 was measured to determine the spatial character of the orbital in which the excess electron resides. The asymmetry parameter β was determined to be 0.92±0.1, consistent with a roughly spherical orbital, similar to that of the hydrated electron in solution.
Startle modulation by affective faces

Abstract Startle reflex modulation by affective pictures is a well-established effect in human emotion research. However, much less is known about startle modulation by affective faces, despite the growing evidence that facial expressions robustly activate emotion-related brain circuits. In this study, acoustic startle probes were administered to 37 young adult participants (20 women) during the viewing of slides from the Pictures of Facial Affect set including neutral, happy, angry, and fearful faces. The effect of expression valence (happy, neutral, and negative) on startle magnitude was highly significant ( p
Ice Nucleation in Cirrus Clouds: A Model Study of the Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Modes

Parcel cloud model simulations have explored the feasibility of a unified approach to describe the homogeneous and heterogeneous ice nucleation mechanisms in cirrus clouds. It was assumed that the ice crystal generation process involved the freezing of ammonium sulfate haze particles, as modulated by an effective temperature proportional to molality in both cases. Treated as variables in the -36° to -60°C model domain are the updraft velocity, and the terms in a modified Fletcher equation used to approximate heterogeneous freezing. Parameterizations drawn from the homogeneous freezing runs are provided for the threshold relative humidity and number of crystals nucleated, as functions of both temperature and updraft velocity. We find that heterogeneous nucleation can compete or dominate at relatively weak updrafts, but only for unusually high ice nuclei concentration and temperature activation terms.
Toxoplasma effector MAF1 mediates recruitment of host mitochondria and impacts the host response.

Recent information has revealed the functional diversity and importance of mitochondria in many cellular processes including orchestrating the innate immune response. Intriguingly, several infectious agents, such as Toxoplasma, Legionella, and Chlamydia, have been reported to grow within vacuoles surrounded by host mitochondria. Although many hypotheses have been proposed for the existence of host mitochondrial association (HMA), the causes and biological consequences of HMA have remained unanswered. Here we show that HMA is present in type I and III strains of Toxoplasma but missing in type II strains, both in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of F1 progeny from a type II×III cross revealed that HMA is a Mendelian trait that we could map. We use bioinformatics to select potential candidates and experimentally identify the polymorphic parasite protein involved, mitochondrial association factor 1 (MAF1). We show that introducing the type I (HMA+) MAF1 allele into type II (HMA−) parasites results in conversion to HMA+ and deletion of MAF1 in type I parasites results in a loss of HMA. We observe that the loss and gain of HMA are associated with alterations in the transcription of host cell immune genes and the in vivo cytokine response during murine infection. Lastly, we use exogenous expression of MAF1 to show that it binds host mitochondria and thus MAF1 is the parasite protein directly responsible for HMA. Our findings suggest that association with host mitochondria may represent a novel means by which Toxoplasma tachyzoites manipulate the host. The existence of naturally occurring HMA+ and HMA− strains of Toxoplasma, Legionella, and Chlamydia indicates the existence of evolutionary niches where HMA is either advantageous or disadvantageous, likely reflecting tradeoffs in metabolism, immune regulation, and other functions of mitochondria.
Lower Bound for the Hadronic Contribution to the Muon Magnetic Moment

A new lower bound is derived for the hadronic contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. In spite of a careful treatment of the $\ensuremath{\rho}$-dominance region, the numerical improvement over a previous bound due to Langacker and Suzuki is not very significant.