cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiparameter magnetic relaxation switch assays

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) can serve as magnetic relaxation switches (MRSw's), switching from a dispersed to a clustered state, or the reverse, due to the presence of molecular targets, with changes in the spin−spin relaxation time of water (T2). Biotinylated NP probes reacted with an avidin molecular target to form stable NP clusters, which permitted several NMR parameters to be measured as a function of cluster size. Associated with avidin-induced NP cluster formation was an increase in the spin−spin relation rate (1/T2), while the spin−lattice relaxation rate (1/T1)was unaffected. On the basis of the selective effects of NP cluster formation on T2, we developed a T1/T2 interrogation method where NP probe concentration and avidin analyte were unknown and both were determined. A third NMR parameter examined was the replication of T2 measurements, which were used to rapidly determine whether the ratio of avidin to biotinylated NP was optimal or whether additional biotinylated NP was needed. The T1/T2 an...
A competitive inventory model with options to reduce setup and inventory holding costs

Abstract In this paper, the profit maximizing economic order quantity (EOQ) model is extended to the case of a symmetric oligopoly consisting of several producers who compete with each other for the same potential buyers. For each producer, we assume that the options of investing in reducing the setup and inventory holding costs are available. A primary goal of this paper is to understand economic implications of the resulting equilibrium in terms of critical elements of EOQ models such as the setup and inventory holding costs as well as critical elements of the microeconomic market theory such as the market price and the number of competing producers. For an example, we present a unique insight as to why several Japanese and American producers are striving to reduce the setup costs under ever increasing competition. Specifically, it will be shown that, for a profit maximizing producer, as the number of competing producers increases, his optimal strategy dictates that he reduce his setup and inventory holding costs.
Surgical management of endometriosis

Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glands or stroma outside of the uterine cavity. While it is difficult to estimate overall incidence, it is thought that up to 10% of reproductive-age women have endometriosis, which can often result in infertility and pelvic pain. The variation and spectrum of symptoms produced by endometriosis can make patient management challenging, as some patients will present with debilitating pelvic pain and some will have few, if any, symptoms. Definitive diagnosis is made surgically, often with histological correlation. Symptomatic women can be managed either medically or surgically. Further complicating the treatment is the infertile patient with known or suspected endometriosis. While surgical treatments may benefit many patients with endometriosis-associated infertility, there is a subset of patients who may benefit more from proceeding to assisted reproductive technology. This paper will discuss surgical management of endometriosis in women with the primary complain...
Selegiline monotherapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

The neurochemical basis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a reduction of striatal dopamine. A major enzyme responsible for metabolizing dopamine in the brain is monoamine oxidase (MAO). Therefore, a logical approach is to inhibit MAO in an attempt to conserve endogenous dopamine. Nonselective, irreversible MAO inhibitors as monotherapy have shown a minimal clinical effect in PD. [1] When these drugs are combined with levodopa, a beneficial effect occurs; however, a marked rise in blood pressure results (the tyramine or "cheese" effect). [2-4] Therefore, this combination therapy has been abandoned. MAO has since been discovered to exist in two forms, initially defined by their sensitivity to the inhibiting drug clorgyline, with type A being more sensitive than type B. [5] MAO found in the brain is predominantly type B, while MAO in the gut is mainly type A. [6] Brain dopamine may be predominantly metabolized by MAO-B, but the possible importance of intraneuronal MAO-A in the brain should be considered. A new class of MAO inhibitors has been developed [7,8] that are selective, irreversible inhibitors of MAO-B, thus able to preserve endogenous and exogenous dopamine without the MAO-A mediated "cheese" effect. One of these drugs, isopropylmethylpropargylamine hydrochloride, known as deprenyl or selegiline, has undergone further clinical development. Since deprenyl blocks MAO-B in the brain, it was thought that endogenous dopamine could be increased, resulting in symptomatic improvement. Bhatin et al. [9] studied deprenyl in 20 PD patients who were in the early phase of the disease and initially noted improvement in clinical scores, followed by subsequent worsening. They concluded that deprenyl may have a short-lasting symptomatic effect. The French selegiline multicenter trial [10] investigated whether the disability of de novo patients with parkinsonism could be improved during the first 3 months by deprenyl monotherapy (10 mg/day). The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial …
Pre-concentration and measurement of low levels of gamma-ray emitting radioisotopes in coastal waters.

Abstract We describe extensive testing of a large-volume, high-speed water sampler for the concentration and measurement of radionuclides using high-resolution gamma ray spectrometry. The sampler processed hundreds to thousands of liters of natural waters with variable suspended sediment and salinity loads at flow rates of 10–20 l/min. Extraction of most radionuclides in the water column was accomplished through the combination of physical filtration down to 0.1 μm particle size and chemical separation of dissolved species on cellulose-based inorganic sorbent beds without recourse to complex, or hazardous chemistry. Performance and extraction efficiencies for suites of radioisotopes were determined in the laboratory and in the field with river and coastal ocean water samples. Extraction and recovery efficiencies are better than 90% for most fission and activation product radioisotopes. This methodology has broad application to the study of the distribution and fate of radioisotopes in coastal waterways.
How to approach chronic anemia

We present herein an approach to diagnosing the cause of chronic anemia based on a patient's history and complete blood cell count (CBC). Four patterns that are encountered frequently in CBCs associated with chronic anemias are considered: (1) anemia with abnormal platelet and/or leukocyte counts, (2) anemia with increased reticulocyte counts, (3) life-long history of chronic anemia, and (4) anemia with inappropriately low reticulocytes. The pathophysiologic bases for some chronic anemias with low reticulocyte production are reviewed in terms of the bone marrow (BM) events that reduce normal rates of erythropoiesis. These events include: apoptosis of erythroid progenitor and precursor cells by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, development of macrocytosis when erythroblast DNA replication is impaired, and development of microcytosis due to heme-regulated eIF2α kinase inhibition of protein synthesis in iron-deficient or thalassemic erythroblasts.
Biodegradation of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures in a single-pass packed-bed reactor

Aliphatic chlorinated compounds, such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), are major contaminants of ground water. A single-pass packed-bed bioreactor was utilized to study the biodegradation of organic waste mixtures consisting of PCE, TCE, and other short-chain chlorinated organics. The bioreactor consisted of two 1960-mL glass columns joined in a series. One column was packed with sand containing a microbial consortia enriched from a contaminated site. The other column provided a reservoir for oxygen and a carbon source of methane/propane that was recirculated through the reactor. Sampling was accomplished by both direct headspace and liquid effluent concentration analyses. The reactor was operated in a single-pass mode. Greater than 99% degradation of trichloroethylene, approaching drinking water standards, was observed when the bioreactor residence time ranged from 1.9 to 3.2 d. Typically, when the reactor was pulse-fed with methane, propane, and air, 1 mol of TCE was degraded/110 mol of substrate utilized. Perturbation studies were performed to characterize reactor behavior. The system's degradation behavior was affected by providing different carbon sources, a pulse feeding regime, supplementing microbial biomass, and by altering flow rates.
An electromagnetics-based parallel transient simulator of linear complexity for the analysis of very large-scale integrated circuits and packages

A parallel transient electromagnetic simulator of linear complexity and linear speedup is developed to simulate very large-scale integrated circuits and packages from DC to very high frequencies. In this simulator, through suitable basis functions and linear algebraic techniques, we directly and rigorously decompose the original 3-D system matrix into multiple 1-D matrices with negligible computational overhead. Each one-dimensional matrix is made tridiagonal, and hence can be solved readily in linear complexity. We then achieve an almost embarrassingly parallel implementation of the linear-complexity electromagnetic solver with a low communication-to-computation ratio. Numerical experiments on very large-scale integrated circuits and packages have demonstrated superior performance and linear speedup of the proposed parallel transient simulator. It successfully simulates a large-scale combined die-package system from a real product, which involves more than 3.5 billion unknowns, in fast CPU run time.
Sub-octave-tunable microstrip notch filter

A frequency-agile narrowband microstrip bandstop filter technology able to maintain near constant absolute bandwidth while tuning over a frequency range of nearly an octave is described. The technology is demonstrated by a reconfigurable notch filter designed to selectively remove unwanted spectral content prior to final amplification in a transmitter's output module. The six-resonator planar microstrip notch filter uses hyperabrupt GaAs varactor diodes to tune the operating frequency over a 92% range, from 480 MHz to 925 MHz. The filter maintains 3MHz-wide stopband attenuation of 34dB to 64dB, absolute 3dB bandwidth of less than 84 MHz, 3dB bandwidth variation of less than 24%, and low stopband reflection over the full tuning range.
Free Vibration of Uncertain Unsymmetrically Laminated Beams

Monte Carlo Simulation and Stochastic FEA are used to predict randomness in the free vibration response of thin unsymmetrically laminated beams. For the present study, it is assumed that randomness in the response is only caused by uncertainties in the ply orientations. The ply orientations may become random or uncertain during the manufacturing process. A new 16-dof beam element, based on the first-order shear deformation beam theory, is used to study the stochastic nature of the natural frequencies. Using variational principles, the element stiffness matrix and mass matrix are obtained through analytical integration. Using a random sequence a large data set is generated, containing possible random ply-orientations. This data is assumed to be symmetric. The stochastic-based finite element model for free vibrations predicts the relation between the randomness in fundamental natural frequencies and the randomness in ply-orientation. The sensitivity derivatives are calculated numerically through an exact formulation. The squared fundamental natural frequencies are expressed in terms of deterministic and probabilistic quantities, allowing to determine how sensitive they are to variations in ply angles. The predicted mean-valued fundamental natural frequency squared and the variance of the present model are in good agreement with Monte Carlo Simulation. Results, also, show that variations between plus or minus 5 degrees in ply-angles can affect free vibration response of unsymmetrically and symmetrically laminated beams.
The Ambivalence Toward Men Inventory Differentiating Hostile and Benevolent Beliefs About Men

We present a measure, the Ambivalence toward Men Inventory (AMI), that differentiates between women's hostile and benevolent prejudices and stereotypes about men. The Hostility toward Men (HM) and Benevolence toward Men (BM) subscales of the AMI tap conventional attitudes toward men that have opposing valences. Each subscale assesses subfactors concerning men's power, gender differentiation, and heterosexuality. Three studies with predominately White, male and female participants (two with undergraduates and one with a community sample) establish the factor structure, reliability, convergent validity, and predictive validity of the AMI. The AMI was strongly related to its sister scale, the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (Glick & Fiske, 1996) and to two established scales of attitudes toward men (Downs & Engleson, 1982; lazzo, 1983). Only the AMI, however, successfully distinguished between subjectively positive and subjectively negative beliefs about men. A copy of the 20-item AMI is provided as a tool for f...
Honokiol for the Treatment of Neonatal Pain and Prevention of Consequent Neurobehavioral Disorders

This study examined the short- and long-term neuroprotective and analgesic activity of honokiol (a naturally occurring lignan isolated from Magnolia) on developing brains in neonates exposed to inflammatory pain, known to cause neuronal cell death. Postnatal day 4 (P4) neonatal rat pups were subjected to intraplantar formalin injection to four paws as a model of severe neonatal pain. Intraperitoneal honokiol (10 mg/kg) or corn oil vehicle control was administered 1 h prior to formalin insult, and animals were maintained on honokiol through postnatal day 21 (P21). Behavioral tests for stress and pain were performed after the painful insult, followed by morphological examinations of the brain sections at P7 and P21. Honokiol significantly attenuated acute pain responses 30 min following formalin insult and decreased chronic thermal hyperalgesia later in life. Honokiol-treated rats performed better on tests of exploratory behavior and performed significantly better in tests of memory. Honokiol treatment normalized hippocampal and thalamic c-Fos and hippocampal alveus substance P receptor expression relative to controls at P21. Together, these findings support that (1) neonatal pain experiences predispose rats to the development of chronic behavioral changes and (2) honokiol prevents and reduces both acute and chronic pathological pain-induced deteriorations in neonatal rats.
Advances in processing techniques for silicon micromechanical devices with smooth surfaces

The use of fine-grained polysilicon in the development of micromechanical devices (e.g. bearings, with smooth surfaces) is discussed. Fine-grained polysilicon can be produced with surface roughness near 8 AA r.m.s. (root mean square). The ability to anneal films of this type into tension eliminates size restrictions which are caused by compressive buckling. The use of these films in micromechanical devices has been restricted because hydrogen-fluoride-etched structures are covered by an etch residue which leads to contact welding. Contact between opposing surfaces is induced mainly by surface tension effects. This problem can be avoided by removing the deflection mechanism. Thus, freezing of a water-methanol rinse after sacrificial etching all but eliminates surface tension. Removal of the ice mixture via sublimation at 0.15 mbar occurs readily. Free-standing structures with smooth surfaces and small gaps are then passivated by silicon nitride deposition or other techniques. >
Contact angles, pore condensation, and hysteresis: insights from a simple molecular model.

We discuss the thermodynamics of adsorption of fluids in pores when the solid−fluid interactions lead to partial wetting of the pore walls, a situation encountered, for example, in water adsorption in porous carbons. Our discussion is based on calculations for a lattice gas model of a fluid in a slit pore treated via mean field density functional theory (MFDFT). We calculate contact angles for pore walls as a function of solid−fluid interaction parameter, α, in the model, using Young’s equation and the interfacial tensions calculated in MFDFT. We consider adsorption and desorption in both infinite pores and in finite length pores in contact with the bulk. In the latter case, contact with the bulk can promote evaporation or condensation, thereby dramatically reducing the width of hysteresis loops. We show how the observed behavior changes with α. By using a value of α that yields a contact angle of about 85° and maintaining the bulk fluid in a supersaturated vapor state on adsorption, we find an adsorption...
The effect of strychnine administration during development on adult maze learning in the rat.

Strychnine sulphate administered to rats during post-natal development affected the rate of maze learning in adulthood. Rats given the drug in a rich environment (drug-rich group) learned a maze at a faster rate than rats treated similarly but raised in laboratory cages (drug-caged group). The performance of rats given no drug was intermediate to that of the drug-rich and drug-caged groups.
User Parameter Summary

It seems appropriate that the concluding chapter summarize all of the common parameters available to the user in terms of the various discussions in this book.
3D face sketch modeling and assessment for component based face recognition

3D facial representations have been widely used for face recognition. There has been intensive research on geometric matching and similarity measurement on 3D range data and 3D geometric meshes of individual faces. However, little investigation has been done on geometric measurement for 3D sketch models. In this paper, we study the 3D face recognition from 3D face sketches which are derived from hand-drawn sketches and machine generated sketches. First, we have developed a 3D sketch modeling approach to create 3D facial sketch models from 2D facial sketch images. Second, we compared the 3D sketches to the existing 3D scans. Third, the 3D face similarity is measured between 3D sketches versus 3D scans, and 3D sketches versus 3D sketches based on the spatial Hidden Markov Model (HMM) classification. Experiments are conducted on both the BU-4DFE database and YSU face sketch database, resulting in a recognition rate at around 92% on average.
A Highly Resolved Regional Climate Model (IPRC-RegCM) and Its Simulation of the 1998 Severe Precipitation Event over China. Part I: Model Description and Verification of Simulation*

East Asia is a region with complex topography, land surface conditions, coastlines, and with large contribution from mesoscale phenomena, such as the mei-yu/baiu frontal systems and tropical storms. To study the regional climate in such a region, a highly resolved regional climate model (IPRC-RegCM) has been recently developed at the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC). The distinct features of this model include the direct feedback of cumulus detrained cloud ice and cloud water into the grid-resolved quantities; the effect of cloud buoyancy on turbulence production with mixed-ice phase clouds; an explicit coupling between the cloud microphysics and radiation via cloud properties; an explicit coupling between land surface and radiation via surface albedo, direct and diffuse radiation fluxes; and the effect of frictionally generated dissipative heating. The model is documented in detail and the performance of the model is demonstrated by its simulation of the 1998 severe flooding event over China, the worst one since 1955. With the use of the objective analysis of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), which is available at 12-h intervals with a resolution of 2.5 83 2.58, as both the initial and lateral boundary conditions, the model was integrated from 26 April to 31 August 1998 with a resolution of 0.5 83 0.58 covering the area 58‐458N, 908‐1408E. The model simulated realistically not only the temporal evolution of the area-averaged precipitation and the monthly mean precipitation spatial pattern but also the daily precipitation intensity distribution. The model reproduced the monsoon circulations, in particular, two episodes of the intraseasonal oscillation events that are believed to be closely related to the unusual double mei-yu periods over the Yangtze River basin in 1998.
Delaware surf zone injuries and associated environmental conditions

Surf zone injury and environmental condition data were collected concurrently during the summer of 2014 along the Delaware coast. Documented injury data included injury type, gender, age and activity, while measured environmental conditions included local wave height, wave period and foreshore slope. Daily water user counts were used to normalize injury rates relative to the number of beachgoers at risk. There were 280 injuries over 116 sample days along the entire Delaware coast and 169 injuries over 82 sample days within the 5-beach focused study area where water user count data were available. Injuries were not distributed randomly as tested against a Poisson distribution and occurred in clusters with up to 15 injuries occurring in a single day. There were 32 serious injuries (cervical fractures, spinal cord injuries) and 1 fatality. Water user counts throughout the course of a day exceeded 25,000 on busy weekends such that the mean injury rate was 0.02 %. Men were twice as likely to be injured relative to women, and the mean injury age was 32 years old. Tourists were six times more likely to be injured compared to local beachgoers. Wading (44 %) was the dominant injury activity followed by body surfing (20 %) and body boarding (17 %). Direct correlation between injury occurrence or injury rate and any environmental factors was weak (highest squared correlation coefficient <0.12), but the highest injury rates were associated with moderate wave height (0.6 m) with lower injury rates for both smaller and larger waves. Lack of direct correlation between injury occurrence or injury rate and environmental parameters suggests there was an important (and as yet undetermined) human element that also dictates the injury rate. Additionally, the high proportion of injuries to tourists may require alternate strategies in local beach safety and injury awareness campaigns.
Differences in Pertussis Incidence by Income among Oregon Teens during an Outbreak

That disease and poverty are connected is a cornerstone of public health thought. In the case of pertussis, however, it is possible that the expected relationship to poverty is reversed. Grounds exist for considering that increases in income are associated with increases in pertussis rates, both in terms of real risk through social and network features and through the possibility of greater likelihood of care seeking and detection based on income. Using reported adolescent pertussis cases from a 2012 outbreak in Oregon, pertussis incidence rates were determined for areas grouped by zip code into higher, middle, and lower median household income. Adolescents of ages 13–16 years in higher income areas were 2.6 times (95% CI 1.8–3.8) more likely as all others to have reported pertussis during the 2012 outbreak and 3.1 (95% CI 1.4–6.5) times as likely as those in lower income areas. The higher pertussis rates associated with higher income areas were observed regardless of Tdap rate differences. These results suggest that income may be associated with disease risk, likelihood of diagnosis and reporting, or both. Further evaluation of this finding is warranted.
Inhibition of alpha 2-adrenergic vasoconstriction during contraction of glycolytic, not oxidative, rat hindlimb muscle

Previous studies have produced conflicting evidence as to whether sympathetic vasoconstriction is impaired in active skeletal muscle. Because alpha 2-, not alpha 1-, adrenergic vasoconstriction is attenuated by mild acidosis, we hypothesized that alpha 2-mediated sympathetic vasoconstriction would be attenuated in contracting glycolytic muscle, which produces more acidosis than oxidative muscle. We compared effects of lumbar sympathetic nerve stimulation and alpha-adrenergic agonists on arterial pressure, femoral blood flow, and force output during contractions of oxidative or glycolytic muscles in anesthetized rats. We found that 1) sympathetic vasoconstriction was preserved during contractions of oxidative soleus muscle and during low-intensity contractions of glycolytic gastrocnemiusplantaris muscles but was abolished during maximal contractions of these glycolytic muscles; 2) this sympatholytic effect was caused by impaired alpha 2-, not alpha 1-, vasoconstriction; and 3) the increased muscle blood flow resulting from a combination of impaired vasconstriction and increased arterial pressure was paralleled by increased force of gastrocnemius-plantaris muscle contraction. Thus contraction-induced impairment of alpha 2-vasoconstriction can augment muscle blood flow and muscle contraction, but the degree of impairment depends on fiber type and intensity of muscle contraction.
Barriers To Research Using Controlled Drugs Are Not Created Equal

Andreae and colleagues are correct that categorizing a drug as a controlled substance makes research on its therapeutic use more difficult (Andreae et al. 2016). However, while they raise many rele...
Influence of Temperature and Precipitation on Survival of Wild Turkey Poults

New methods for determining annual trends in wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations are desirable, especially when heavily hunted populations are managed with limited resources. Cost-effective indices to population trends could result from an increased understanding of relations between environmental factors and reproductive success. We examined the influence of heating degree-days (HDD) and deviation from normal precipitation on the 25-day survival of eastern wild turkey poults (M. g. silvestris) in southcentral New York during 1991-93. The proportion of poults surviving to 25 days posthatch was associated negatively with mean HDD/day during the first week posthatch (P < 0.001) and associated negatively with mean deviation from normal daily precipitation during the second week posthatch (P = 0.08). Observed survival rates of poults within broods were not highly associated (r = 0.46, n = 26) with weather-based predictions of survival within broods, but observed and predicted estimates of annual poult survival were similar. This similarity suggested weather might be a good predictor of annual rates of poult survival.
Protein kinase A, cytosolic calcium, and phosphate uptake in human proximal renal cells.

Phosphate uptake by proximal renal cells derived from the human kidney occurs by a saturable process that is approximately 85% dependent on the presence of sodium. Kinetic analysis is consistent with two distinct transport events with Km of 0.08 and 0.63 mM and Vmax of 3.4 and 11.0 nmol.mg-1.3 min-1, respectively. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), isoproterenol, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased cellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). PTH-stimulated cAMP prevented binding of the photolabel 8-azido[32P]cAMP with a half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 1 nM PTH, 30-fold lower than the EC50 for intracellular cAMP accumulation. These data are qualitatively similar to those observed in OK cells. PTH did not inhibit phosphate uptake in human cells, although it activated cAMP-dependent protein kinase and increased cytosolic calcium. Thus phosphate uptake in human proximal renal cells maintained in short-term culture is unresponsive to PTH in spite of increased cytosolic calcium and activation of the cAMP pathway.
Aggression in African American Males: A Review of Selected literature on Environmental Influences

The aggressive African American male is a pervasive stereotype in America. This view of African American males has found support from those who claim a biological basis for this perceived propensity for aggression and violence. High arrest rates are used as an indicator for defining African American males as more aggressive and more violent than males from any other ethnic group. There are, however, environmental factors, such as the industrial shift of the 1980s, the dynamic blending of race, the legal system, the community and the individual, and the influence of family structure that do not receive serious consideration in the extant research. These factors examined from an ecological framework are revealed as possible predictors, confounding variables or direct or indirect causes of the disproportional representation of African Americans in crime statistics.
Assessing Transplant Attitudes: Understanding Minority Men’s Perspectives on the Multifarious Barriers to Organ Donation

African Americans comprise 11 % of living organ donors, yet constitute 34 % of the kidney transplant waiting list. There are many barriers to organ donation among minorities that include decreased awareness of transplantation, cultural mistrust of the medical community, financial concerns, and fear of the transplant operation. This study investigates the societal misconceptions and demographic health factors that correlate with minority participation in organ and tissue donation. A 57 question Health and Wellness survey was designed to assess participants’ demographic information, medical history, professional background, and opinions regarding organ transplantation. Participants were also asked to complete Quality Metric’s Short Form-8 (SF-8) survey to assess physical health, mental health, and quality-of-life. Three hundred twenty-six surveys were administered to minority men. The majority of men were identified as African American, and 55 % were below the age of 40. Though 44 % of participants were willing to donate, only 27 % were registered as organ and tissue donors. Minorities who held misconceptions about organ donation—including the belief that they were too old or unhealthy to donate, for example—had lower general, physical, and mental health scores than those who did not (p = <0.0001). Minorities aware of the shortage for organs or who know a registered donor, an organ recipient, a dialysis patient, or someone on the waiting list were more willing to donate organs. Improving the general, physical, and mental health of minorities, coupled with an active educational outreach program, could result in a greater percentage of minorities registering and willing to be organ and tissue donors.
The Achilles' Heel of Liberal International Relations Theory?

Despite thousands of monographs, governmental inquiries, and nearly a century of intense research, scholarly controversy still surrounds the outbreak of World War I. This body of work has generated literally hundreds of explanations for those ominous political decisions made in July 1914. It is not difficult to look at the enormity of this literature, conclude that the outbreak of this war was overdetermined, and decide that any further research offers little intellectual leverage in understanding both this particular conflict and its place in the broader study of war. European leaders had been sitting on a powder keg and narrowly sidestepping war for nearly a decade. Even if some political compromise, like the kaiser's “Halt in Belgrade” solution, had been reached at the end of July, an incredibly unstable political situation on the continent in which leaders increasingly viewed war as inevitable made it unlikely that the diplomats would repeatedly be able to steer peacefully out of each new crisis. The tendency to point to this case as the most glaring weakness of liberal international relations theory necessitates revisiting its origins in light of the arguments raised here. Rather than asking why globalization failed to prevent war, I build on the discussion from prior chapters that illustrated how the dramatic expansion in international trade during this period occurred despite extensive government constraints on private economic activity.
Total Synthesis of Gombamide A

The first total synthesis of Gombamide A (1), a cytotoxic cyclic thiopeptide from the sponge Clathria gombawuiensis, has been achieved. Highlights of the convergent synthesis feature a disulfide bond forming cascade to close the 17-membered macrocycle and a selenoazidylation procedure to access the unusual para-hydroxystyrlyamide (pHSA) moiety. The synthesis required 18 steps, 11 steps in its longest linear sequence, and proceeded in 9.1% overall yield. This work will facilitate the study of the biological effects of Gombamide A and provide groundwork to explore the structure–activity relationship around this rare natural product.
Association Between Alcohol Outlets and HIV Prevalence in U.S. Counties.

Objective:The current study examines associations between on- and off-premise alcohol retail outlets and HIV prevalence in counties across the United States during a 3-year period.Method:Health department and U.S. Census Bureau surveillance data were analyzed from 1,523 counties in 47 states, representing more than 86% of the U.S. population. Multilevel Poisson regression models were used to examine the association between the number of on- and off-premise alcohol outlets in a county and HIV prevalence in the same county, adjusting for the between-year correlation of HIV prevalence within each county.Results:When we adjusted for potential confounders, number of on-premise alcohol outlets within a county was positively associated with HIV prevalence, whereas off-premise alcohol outlets were negatively associated with HIV prevalence.Conclusions:The relations observed in this study are consistent with the niche theory of assortative drinking, which maintains that drinkers who are prone to risk taking may be ...
Chapter 6 – Recent Changes to the Structure of Knowledge

Chapter Summary In this chapter, we propose that knowledge results, or has resulted from human actions and machine functions. Human functions are essential for existence and survival. Machine functions are necessary to retain processes, enhance and modify the knowledge that is accrued by human actions. However, there are two main aspects: Actions are performed in conjunction with objects and actions are tailored intelligently and appropriately to suit the characteristics of such objects. Sensible, coherent, and cogent elements of knowledge are generated when the three elements (actions, objects, and appropriate bonding between the two) are bonded, fused, and/or forced. Such elements of knowledge can be classified, organized, grouped, and processed like binary bits and data structures in typical computer systems. To this extent, knowledge can be initially designed and constructed to have desirable social, technological, or ethical value, just as music can be composed, altered, or enhanced by computer systems. In the simplest cases, the value of knowledge generated could be rudimentary, but in the more advanced cases knowledge so generated can be constructive and creative (such as new invention) and highly significant breakthroughs (like the transistor configuration, the von Neumann’s IAS architectural details, etc.) that have profound impact on lives of human beings. Knowledge and its many dimensions are explored in this chapter. The machines prove to be invaluable when the problems tackled are complex, global, social, and/or scientific. Generally, knowledge machines need to be customized, problem directed, and specific. All the essential design features that are inherent for constructing computer systems (such as the HW architecture, the SW design, the programming languages, the libraries, the macros) also are necessary for the building knowledge machines. All the essential functionalities of the components become more cumbersome but manageable for the machines to build knowledge structures. Machines generally do not generate the highest quality of new knowledge from the old knowledge, but in conjunction with human intelligence and creativity, knowledge machines make an excellent platform for the pursuit of new knowledge.
EAVK segment “c” sequence confers Ca2+-dependent changes to the kinetics of full-length human Ano1

Calcium-activated chloride channel anoctamin1 (Ano1) is necessary for normal slow waves in the gastrointestinal interstitial cells of Cajal. Exon “0” encodes the NH2 terminus of full-length human A...
Diagnosis and Management of Asthma in Adults: A Review.

Importance Asthma affects about 7.5% of the adult population. Evidence-based diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment can improve functioning and quality of life in adult patients with asthma. Observations Asthma is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome primarily affecting the lower respiratory tract, characterized by episodic or persistent symptoms of wheezing, dyspnea, and cough. The diagnosis of asthma requires these symptoms and demonstration of reversible airway obstruction using spirometry. Identifying clinically important allergen sensitivities is useful. Inhaled short-acting β2-agonists provide rapid relief of acute symptoms, but maintenance with daily inhaled corticosteroids is the standard of care for persistent asthma. Combination therapy, including inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists, is effective in patients for whom inhaled corticosteroids alone are insufficient. The use of inhaled long-acting β2-agonists alone is not appropriate. Other controller approaches include long-acting muscarinic antagonists (eg, tiotropium), and biological agents directed against proteins involved in the pathogenesis of asthma (eg, omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab). Conclusions and Relevance Asthma is characterized by variable airway obstruction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway inflammation. Management of persistent asthma requires avoidance of aggravating environmental factors, use of short-acting β2-agonists for rapid relief of symptoms, and daily use of inhaled corticosteroids. Other controller medications, such as long-acting bronchodilators and biologics, may be required in moderate and severe asthma. Patients with severe asthma generally benefit from consultation with an asthma specialist for consideration of additional treatment, including injectable biologic agents.
The Future of Endoscopy

We live in tumultuous times, and as recent political events can attest to, making predictions about the future can be particularly hazardous. Therefore, although this chapter will attempt to convey our thoughts and impressions about where gastrointestinal endoscopy is headed, it would perhaps bemore important to provide an (entirely idiosyncratic) opinion on where it should be headed.
Regulation of Growth and Cell Proliferation During Eye Development

The adult eye is composed of 750–800 ommatidia each consisting of 20 cells. Thus there are approximately 16,000 viable cells in the adult eye. Approximately 2000 of the cells generated during eye development are eliminated by apoptosis (Wolff and Ready 1993). In addition, two of the four cells that are part of the bristle group have degenerated late in development (Perry 1968). Thus the total number of cells generated is close to 20,000. Assessments of the number of cells in the eye primordium in the embryo and newly hatched larva vary considerably (see below) but an estimate of 20 precursor cells is not unreasonable. Thus there is approximately a 1000-fold increase in the number of cells during eye development. Assuming that all cells keep proliferating, such an increase would require ten rounds of cell division.
Lévy Processes in Homogeneous Spaces

Hunt’s generator formula for Levy processes in a Lie group G holds also for Levy processes in a homogeneous space G∕K, this will be discussed in §3.2, and some preparation will be dealt with in §3.1. Using this formula, it will be shown in §3.3 that a Levy process in G∕K may be obtained as a projection of a Levy process in G. As an application, some results on convolution semigroups on G and on G∕K will be derived in §3.4. In §3.4, we will also consider the problem of embedding an infinitely divisible distribution in a continuous convolution semigroup. A special class of Levy processes in G or G∕K are Riemannian Brownian motions. Some related stochastic differential equations, and relations between Brownian motions in G and in G∕K, will be considered in §3.5.
SELECTIVE TRANSCRIPTION OF THE 5S RNA GENES IN ISOLATED CHROMATIN BY RNA POLYMERASE III

ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown that the genes which encode the ribosomal 5S RNA and the tRNAs are transcribed by a class III enzyme(s) in somatic cells. To investigate the mechanism and regulation of RNA polymerase III function, the in vitro transcription of the 5S RNA genes expressed in X. laevis oocytes is being analyzed. The RNA polymerase III from these oocytes has been purified to homogeneity and has a complex subunit structure very similar to that of somatic cell class III enzymes. The present studies suggest that the oocyte RNA polymerase III does not accurately transcribe the 5S RNA genes present in a purified recombinant plasmid DNA, even though the 5S DNA may be more efficiently transcribed than the adjacent bacterial plasmid DNA sequences. Strikingly different results were obtained when chromatin from immature X. laevis oocytes, active in 5S RNA synthesis, was used as the template for homologous RNA polymerase III. Although this chromatin contains endogenous RNA polymerase III activity, the level of total RNA synthesis and the level of 5S RNA synthesis were stimulated 10-50 fold by exogenous RNA polymerase III. Furthermore, transcription of the 5S RNA genes present in chromatin was highly selective (3000-fold above random) and predominantly asymmetric. X. laevis oocyte RNA polymerase I stimulated total RNA synthesis from this chromatin about twofold but did not stimulate transcription of the 5S genes. It is concluded that both chromosomal proteins and a purified homologous RNA polymerase III are necessary and sufficient for selective transcription of the 5S RNA genes in vitro .
Isolated vesicorectal internal urinary diversion: a 37-year review of the Boyce-Vest procedure

The challenges that management of exstrophy of the bladder pose the pediatric urological surgeon have resulted in a multitude of ingenious operations and a voluminous literature on exstrophy. Despite this intense interest in an uncommon anomaly, no consistently satisfactory approach to achieve urinary continence in children with exstrophy has evolved. We summarize a 37-year clinical experience with a form of urinary diversion that provides sphincteric urinary continence, and unexcelled long-term preservation of renal function and upper urinary anatomy. From our review it appears that the infant with exstrophy is served best by neonatal closure of the exstrophic bladder with attempts to establish urinary continence later in childhood. When other methods to establish urinary continence are unsuccessful and satisfactory anal continence has been demonstrated, a diverting colostomy combined with anastomosis of the isolated bladder to the isolated rectal stump offers an acceptable long-term alternate form of urinary diversion to produce sphincteric urinary continence with relative freedom from upper urinary deterioration.
Living-Donor Pancreas Transplantation: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise

Pancreas transplants using living donors (LDs) can be done safely and successfully in carefully selected donors and recipients. Worldwide, since 1979, more than 150 LD pancreas transplants have been done; over the last decade, the overall 1-year graft survival rates have exceeded 85%. A meticulous donor workup, per standard evaluation criteria, remains key to a low rate of metabolic and surgical complications in LDs. Such transplants should be considered for (i) candidates with an identical twin or a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling or (ii) candidates with high panel-reactive antibody levels and a suitable LD. The use of LDs decreases the number of deaths of diabetic patients on the waiting list, helps to overcome the organ shortage, reduces mortality and morbidity posttransplant, and improves the quality of life for recipients who, pretransplant, suffered debilitating side effects of diabetes. In addition, the use of LDs (vs. deceased donors) reduces the risk of graft loss from rejection. An LD pancreas transplant remains relatively rare, done under very specific circumstances.
Miscellaneous Dermatoses: Invisible Dermatoses and Inflammatory Processes that Clinically Mimic Tumors

Sometimes when viewing a biopsy, there are no obvious abnormalities noted at low magnification. This situation is referred by some authors as the “nothing lesion.” Such a specimen warrants careful scrutiny beginning at the stratum corneum and working down to the subcutis, looking for subtle changes in the keratin layer (fungal infection), basal layer (melanocytes, melanin deposition,and basal vacuolization), papillary dermis (vascular wall thickening, amyloid deposition, mast cell infiltrates), dermis and adnexae (changes in collagen, elastic tissue, mucin deposition,and alterations in adnexae). Depending on the clinical question being asked, special stains may be very helpful in detecting organisms or deposited material.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING CONTINUING EDUCATION

Presented is a review of some of the recent research on continuing education of engineers, objectives and barriers for participation and the role of industry, universities and professional societies. Special emphasis will be placed on the role and program of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Cryptology and the Internet of Things

The ubiquity of mobile devices and the increasing penetration of “smart” home devices and autonomous vehicles are the first signs of the Internet of Things. When all of your personal devices, your appliances, your car, and your home become “smart” and connected there are a number of issues that will need to be addressed including privacy, transparency, open access, and publicity. Who collects your data, where it is stored, and how it is stored and transmitted will all be important topics going forward. Cryptology will be central to all of these questions.
ALEKS constructs as predictors of high school mathematics achievement for struggling students.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine what factors of the Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS), an ITS, are predictive of struggling learners’ performance in a blended-learning Algebra 1 course at an inner city technical high school located in the northeastern U.S. Three variables (student retention, engagement time, and the ratio of topics mastered to topics practiced) were used to predict the degree of association on the criterion variable (mathematics competencies), as measured by final course progress grades in algebra, and the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSATm) math scores. A correlational predictive design was applied to assess the data of a purposive sample of 265 struggling students at the study site; multiple regression analysis was also used to investigate the predictability of these variables. Findings suggest that engagement time and the ratio of mastered to practiced topics were significant predictors of final course progress grades. Nevertheless, these factors were not significant contributors in predicting PSATm score. Retention was identified as the only statistically significant predictor of PSATm score. The results offer educators with additional insights that can facilitate improvements in mathematical content knowledge and promote higher graduation rates for struggling learners in high school mathematics.
Academic oncology clinicians’ understanding of biosimilars and information needed before prescribing:

Background:With increasing numbers of oncology biosimilars in the approval pipeline, it is important to investigate oncology clinicians’ understanding of biosimilars and what information they need ...