cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diet-Induced Obesity in Male Mice Is Associated with Reduced Fertility and Potentiation of Acrylamide-Induced Reproductive Toxicity

The prevalence of human obesity and related chronic disorders such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer is rapidly increasing. Human studies have shown a direct relationship between obesity and infertility. The objective of the current work was to examine the effect of diet-induced obesity on male fertility and the effect of obesity on susceptibility to chemical-induced reproductive toxicity. From 5 to 30 wk of age, genetically intact male C57Bl/6J mice were fed a normal diet or one in which 60% of the kilocalories were from lard. Obese mice exhibited significant differences in the mRNA of several genes within the testes in comparison to lean males. Pparg was increased 2.2-fold, whereas Crem, Sh2b1, Dhh, Igf1, and Lepr were decreased 6.7, 1.4, 3.2, 1.6, and 7.2-fold, respectively. The fertility of male mice was compared through mating with control females. Acrylamide (AA)-induced reproductive toxicity was assessed in obese or lean males treated with water or 25 mg AA kg−1 day−1 via gavage for 5 days and then mated to control females. Percent body fat and weight were significantly increased in mice fed a high-fat vs. a normal diet. Obesity resulted in significant reduction in plugs and pregnancies of control females partnered with obese vs. lean males. Serum leptin and insulin levels were each approximately 5-fold higher in obese vs. age-matched lean mice. Sperm from obese males exhibited decreased motility and reduced hyperactivated progression vs. lean mice. Treatment with AA exacerbated male infertility of obese and lean mice; however, this effect was more pronounced in obese mice. Further, females partnered with AA-treated obese mice exhibited a further decrease in the percentage of live fetuses, whereas the percentage of resorptions increased. This work demonstrated that diet-induced obesity in mice caused a significant reduction in male fertility and exacerbated AA-induced reproductive toxicity and germ cell mutagenicity.
Maintenance of respiratory modulation by pneumotaxic mechanisms in deep anesthesia

Abstract My purpose was to evaluate the hypothesis that the pneumotaxic center could continue to regulate ventilatory activity in deep anesthesia. In decerebrate cats, the respiratory pattern was reversibly altered from eupnea to apneusis by cooling the rostral pons. Such cooling markedly changed phrenic activity even after doses of halothane, pentobarbital, or chloralose-urethane had almost entirely eliminated this activity in eupnea. It is concluded that both pontile and medullary mechanisms control eupneic ventilatory activity in unanesthetized as well as deeply anesthetized preparations.
Field-scale transport from a buried line source in variably saturated soil

Lateral subsurface flow through the upper soil layers (stormflow zone) during storm events has been shown to be a dominant mechanism of contaminant transport in forested watersheds. Data bases for multi-region flow and transport modeling for hydrogeologic conditions where stormflow predominates are lacking. Direct measurement of the tracer flux under field-scale conditions are non-existent. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the significance of three hydrologic pore regions to stormflow. Two tracer releases were made from a buried line source during storm events and the spatial and temporal variability in solute concentration and the tracer fluxes were measured. During one of the injections, macropore flow was extremely rapid with solute transport to a downslope trench 65 m from the line source taking just 3.2h. Mesopore flow appeared to be significant for short distances in that tracer movement to solution samplers just 3 m downslope of the line source occurred within 3 h of the release. Soil sampling 6 months after the second release revealed that the tracer plume was refracted in the direction of the fractured bedding plane, and therefore did not coincide with the array of samplers for distances greater than 13 m downslope of the source. Soil sampling data suggested that micropores served as a sink/source for Br− with 47% of the non-reactive tracer remaining immobilized by micropores at the termination of the study. Interaction between the upper 2 m of the stormflow zone and the groundwater system was believed minimal; however, lateral flow below 2 m was concluded to be significant.
Innovation, Time, and Territory: Space and the Business Organization of Dell Computer

AbstractBusinesses reshape the territorial configuration of economic activity by creating new forms of organization as part of the innovation process. Focusing on the case of Dell Computer, this article builds an argument about the geographic development of economies that is structured around four elements: (1) the firm, (2) the innovation process occurring within the firm, (3) the business organization of the firm, and (4) the territory in which the firm operates and extracts profit. In tracing this route from the enterprise to territory, this article draws upon the notion of “communications revolutions”as a catalyst for the innovative impulse of firms. In adapting to communications revolutions, firms, such as Dell, emerge as innovators by learning to recalibrate the time increments that are expended during the steps of making and marketing products, thereby shifting competition from the product to the processes of capitalist circulation. This recalibration of time results in the creation of process-driv...
The Early Church and War

The attitude of the early church toward the problem of participation in warfare has been not a little studied and controverted. The data with regard to participation and the attitude toward it have been assiduously compiled by a series of investigators among whom four may be mentioned for their distinctive and permanent contributions. Adolf Harnack in his Militia Christi pointed out that the early Christians rejected the militia of the world in favor of the militia of Christ. In theory the Church was pacifist until the time of Constantine though in practice some Christians were in the legions. James Moffatt in the course of a fruitful survey called attention to the shift in early Christianity from marital to martial metaphors. Whereas in the Old Testament infidelity was called adultery, in the New Testament and the early church it is described as desertion. Such militant terminology could be used by the early Christians “without the slightest risk of misconception” because their pacifist principles were so well known. C. J. Cadoux in The Early Christian Attitude to War set the entire problem in the broad context of theological and political thinking. His work remains the indispensable point of departure for all subsequent investigation. Leclercq supplied in French translation the recorded acts of the soldier martyrs and the texts of the extant inscriptions which mention Christians in the army.
An approach to differentiate informal settlements using spectral, texture, geomorphology and road accessibility metrics

This research distinguishes informal from formal neighborhoods in developing countries by analyzing shape (form), terrain geomorphology, texture, road networks and dominant settlement materials (vegetation, soil, asphalt) to produce a multivariate, spatially explicit evaluation of settlement structure. The principal datasets require only high resolution imagery and elevation data which are both widely available. Ancillary data, field surveys, and dwelling outlines, which are difficult to obtain from developing countries in general, are not required. Twenty-four variables derived from a review of informal settlement and suburban sprawl research describing settlement characteristics were identified and tested for significance. From both discriminant function analysis and regression trees, seven variables were identified to be significant in distinguishing informal and formal settlements using data from Guatemala. Results show promise in using limited data to identify informal settlements in Latin American countries or other less developed nations.
OCCIPITOTEMPORAL CORTICOCORTICAL CONNECTIONS IN THE RHESUS MONKEY.

Abstract Previous behavioral studies indicated that the inferior convexity of the temporal lobe in the rhesus monkey functions in relation to the visual system and that this function probably depends on corticocortical connections which link this area to the visual areas. Therefore, in an experimental anatomical study the corticocortical connections of some of the occipital, temporal and frontal areas were investigated in the monkey, by means of the Nauta-Gygax silver impregnation technique. The following findings were obtained. The striate cortex projects to certain parts of a “circumstriate cortical belt” which extends into the caudal bank of the superior temporal sulcus in its upper parts and into the caudal parts of the intraparietal sulcus. This circumstriate belt in turn projects to the inferior convexity of the temporal lobe and to the cortex around the arcuate sulcus of the frontal lobe. The inferior convexity of the temporal lobe in turn projects back to parts of the circumstriate belt and to the lateral and the ventrolateral surface of the frontal lobe.
Strategic planning considerations for cost effective implementation of underground electrical power delivery

The author discusses key features of strategic planning that are being considered within the State of Florida for converting from above-ground to underground electrical power delivery systems. Technology, investment cost, operations and support cost, and other costs are identified and discussed from the perspective of systems analysis, with emphasis on real-world implementation capability. The author focuses on strategic planning issues that must be addressed to ensure that implementation is done in a cost-effective manner to protect the interests of the taxpayer. This is a complex and innovative undertaking for the state and is being proposed as a prototype for the country. >
Effect of alkali metals on chlorpromazine toxicity in the mouse.

Abstract The effect of short-term injection of chlorpromazine alone or combined with either LiCl or CsCl (1 mEq/kg/day) on organ toxicity was studied in the albino male mouse. Chlorpromazine was administered by gradual dose build-up regimens from 5 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg which was attained over a 40-day period followed by abrupt drug withdrawal for a subsequent 25-day observation period. Histological evaluation of 10 tissues selected indicates that the liver was the target organ. The Li-treatment resulted in variable liver lobular size with loss of cell definition and the kidney showed focal lymphatic aggregates related to vascular channel. Chlorpromazine-treated mice displayed variation in liver nuclei size and in cell structure definition. Combined injection of LiCl with the phenothiazine drug resulted in alteration in size of liver nuclei with a slight midlobular distribution. Minimal changes in lobular liver cells were noted subsequent to the Cs-treatment. This is compared to some dilation of liver central veins and few variations in hepatocyte size after combined injection of CsCl with chlorpromazine. There was a reduction in body weight of animals treated with the LiCl and chlorpromazine combination compared to that of mice receiving the chlorpromazine alone or in combination with CsCl. A rebound in body weight loss occurred during drug withdrawal in mice pretreated with chlorpromazine alone or combined with CsCl but not in mice coadministered LiCl with chlorpromazine. Mortality score indicates a profound lethal effect during administration of LiCl with the high dosage of the chlorpromazine used which was persistent during drug withdrawal. The results indicate the enhancement of chlorpromazine toxicity by prolonged treatment with LiCl and suggest their contraindication.
Reliable computation of solid solubility in dense gases through homotopy continuation approach

Abstract A method to reliably compute the solid solubility in supercritical fluids is described. The method is based on computing all the possible roots of equifugacity equation at given temperature and pressure through homotopy continuation. The equifugacity equation is reformulated through global fixed-point homotopy. The global fixed-point homotopy guarantees that all the solutions of a non-linear equation can be located on a single homotopy path when it is forced to start from a single starting point. The starting point is selected from a criterion which minimizes the number of real roots of the global fixed-point homotopy function. Homotopy continuation-based formulation of equifugacity equation is also used to directly generate the solubility–pressure and solubility–temperature bifurcation diagrams by selecting either pressure or temperature as continuation parameter. These bifurcation diagrams provide a direct pathway to locate the cross-over pressures. The effect of equation of state model parameters on solid solubility through homotopy continuation based sensitivity analysis is also analyzed. Peng Robinson Stryjek Vera equation of state with conventional and Wong–Sandler mixing rules are used.
F.E.T. theory of strip-coupled Rayleigh-wave amplifier

It is shown that information can be transferred from one strip to another across a finite gap in which the carrier wave is subject to rapid decay. Each region in which a metal strip is located above the semiconductor, and insulated from it, is treated as an individual f.e.t. amplifier, exciting in the semiconductor a conduction current which flows into the adjacent similar region. Hence the carrier-wave decay between strips is unimportant. The effect of substituting ohmic contacts for the insulated `gates´ is discussed as an extension of this theory.
Age, kidney function, and risk factors associate differently with cortical and medullary volumes of the kidney

The kidney atrophies in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) but factors influencing kidney size in normal adults are less clear. To help define this, we measured kidney volumes on contrast-enhanced computed tomographic images from 1344 potential kidney donors (aged 18–75 years). Cortical volume per body surface area progressively declined in both genders with increased age. Statistically, this was primarily dependent on the age-related decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Independent predictors of increased cortical volume per body surface area were male gender, increased GFR, increased 24-h urine albumin, current smoker, and decreased high-density lipid cholesterol. Medullary volume per body surface area increased with age in men, while it increased with age in women until the age of 50 years followed by a subsequent decline. Independent predictors of increased medullary volume per body surface area were older age, male gender, increased GFR, increased 24-h urine albumin, increased serum glucose, and decreased serum uric acid. Thus, while cortical volume declines with age along the same biological pathway as the age-related decline in GFR, albuminuria and some risk factors are actually associated with increased cortical or medullary volume among relatively healthy adults. Underlying hypertrophy or atrophy of different nephron regions may explain these findings.
The Forgotten Moralist: Friedrich Schleiermacher and the Science of Spirit

For some two hundred years now, Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher (1768–1834) has been the subject of intense interest and heated debate among Christian theologians. As the author of a seminal work in the theory of religion Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers (trans. Richard Crouter; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988). as well as a treatise in Christian doctrine that ranks second to none for its originality, methodological self-consciousness, and systematic stringency, Friedrich Schleiermacher, The Christian Faith (trans. H. R. MacIntosh and J. S. Stewart; Edinburgh: TT Wiesbaden: F. Steiner, 1969) ix. Schleiermacher's significance in the history of modern theology is secure. By his liberal Protestant sympathizers he has been hailed as the “Reformer of theology,” the pioneer of a style of theologizing that is as peculiarly suited to the distinctively Protestant understanding of faith as it is capable of meeting the intellectual demands of the modern world. This honorific title was widespread in the second half of the nineteenth century and prior to the rise of dialectical theology in the twentieth. Representative is Wilhelm Herrmann, “Die Lage und Aufgabe der evangelischen Dogmatik in der Gegenwart” (1907), in ibid., Schriften zur Grundlegung der Theologie (ed. Peter Fischer-Appelt; 2 vols.; Munich: Kaiser Verlag, 1966–1967) 2:16–20. To his equally numerous and vocal theological critics, Schleiermacher represents the enslavement of the Word of God to a pagan mysticism and speculative philosophy, Emil Brunner, Die Mystik und das Wort: Der Gegensatz zwischen moderner Religionsauffassung und christlichem Glauben dargestellt an der Theologie Schleiermachers (Tubingen: J. C. B. Mohr, 1924). the subjectivistic collapse of Christian theology into anthropology, Karl Barth, introduction to Ludwig Feuerbach, The Essence of Christianity (New York: Harper, 1957). or, more recently, the classic exemplar of a linguistically naive and apologetically motivated “experientialist-expressivist” misunderstanding of the nature of religious doctrine. George A. Lindbeck, The Nature of Doctrine: Religion and Theology in a Postliberal Age (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1984). To friend and foe alike, however, he remains—for better or worse—the undisputed “father of modern theology.” In the English-speaking world, the work of B. A. Gerrish remains the best introduction to, and most sophisticated treatment of, Schleiermacher's theological achievement. See B. A. Gerrish, A Prince of the Church: Schleiermacher and the Beginnings of Modern Theology (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984) and the essays devoted to Schleiermacher in Continuing the Reformation: Essays on Modern Religious Thought (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993), The Old Protestantism and the New: Essays on the Reformation Heritage (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982), and Tradition and the Modern World: Reformed Theology in the Nineteenth Century (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978).
A multi-modal network architecture for knowledge discovery

The collection and assessment of national security related information often involves an arduous process of detecting relevant associations between people, events, and locations—typically within very large data sets. The ability to more effectively perceive these connections could greatly aid in the process of knowledge discovery. This same process—pre-consciously collecting and associating multimodal information—naturally occurs in mammalian brains. With this in mind, this effort sought to draw upon the neuroscience community’s understanding of the relevant areas of the brain that associate multi-modal information for long-term storage for the purpose of creating a more effective, and more automated, association mechanism for the analyst community. Using the biology and functionality of the hippocampus as an analogy for inspiration, we have developed an artificial neural network architecture to associate k-tuples (paired associates) of multimodal input records. The architecture is composed of coupled unimodal self-organizing neural modules that learn generalizations of unimodal components of the input record. Cross modal associations, stored as a higher-order tensor, are learned incrementally as these generalizations are formed. Graph algorithms are then applied to the tensor to extract multi-modal association networks formed during learning. Doing so yields a potential novel approach to data mining for intelligence-related knowledge discovery. This paper describes the neurobiology, architecture, and operational characteristics, as well as provides a simple intelligence-based example to illustrate the model’s functionality.
Path integral formalism for the coherent states of the compact orthosymplectic supergroup Osp (1/2)

Abstract A path integral formulation in the representation of coherent states for the compact supergroup Osp( 1 2 ) is introduced. An expression for the transition amplitude connecting two Osp( 1 2 ) coherent states is constructed, and the corresponding canonical equations of motion derived. A set of generalized Poisson commutation brackets are introduced and interpreted.
Friend Me if You Facebook: Generation Y and Performative Surveillance

Facebook was founded as a way to enhance face-to-face contact on university campuses, and so its virtual and physical life are unique on the internet. The performance of self online versus the performance of self “on ground” constitutes a particular dynamic. Members of the Facebook community use it to build and enhance their “real” relationships through their unique performances of online self, and these fluid performances, which may look like exhibitionism, are energetic engagements with the panoptic gaze: as people offer themselves up for surveillance, they also resist being fixed as rigid, unchanging subjects.
STATISTICAL SHAPE ANALYSIS OF BRAIN STRUCTURES USING SPHERICAL WAVELETS

We present a novel method of statistical surface-based morphometry based on the use of non-parametric permutation tests and a spherical wavelet (SWC) shape representation. As an application, we analyze two brain structures, the caudate nucleus and the hippocampus, and compare the results obtained to shape analysis using a sampled point representation. Our results show that the SWC representation indicates new areas of significance preserved under the FDR correction for both the left caudate nucleus and left hippocampus. Additionally, the spherical wavelet representation provides a natural way to interpret the significance results in terms of scale in addition to knowing the spatial location of the regions
Gamification of private digital data archive management

The super-exponential growth of digital data world-wide is matched by personal digital archives containing songs, ebooks, audio books, photos, movies, textual documents, and documents of other media types. For many types of media it is usually a lot easier to add items than to keep archives from falling into disarray and incurring data loss. The overhead of maintaining these personal archives frequently surpasses the time and patience their owners are willing to dedicate to this important task. The promise of gamification in this context is to significantly extend the willingness to maintain personal archives by enhancing the experience of personal archive management.In this paper we focus on a subcategory of personal archives which we call private archives. These are archives that for a variety of reasons the owner does not want to make available online and which consequently limits archive maintenance to an individual activity and does not allow any form of crowdsourcing out of fear for unwanted information leaks. As an example of private digital archive maintenance gamification we describe InfoGarden, a casual game that turns document tagging into an individual activity of (metaphorically) weeding a garden and protecting plants from gophers and includes a reward system that encourages orthogonal tag usage. The paper concludes with lessons learned and summarizes remaining challenges.
Performance of co-scheduling on a network of workstations

In a set of high performance workstations connected by a network, many workstations may be underutilized by their owners. While each workstation may be primarily responsible for executing its owner's tasks with the highest priority, the unused processing capacity may be made available to computationally intensive tasks submitted externally to the system. Static co-scheduling for such an environment has been considered previously (M.J. Atallah et al., 1991), where the goal was to maximize the speedup by partitioning the task among many workstations. The authors consider the problem from the system point of view, and develop a queuing model and efficient algorithms to minimize the mean response time. The results obtained show that significant improvements in the mean response time can be obtained through co-scheduling over that of the M/M/m system where each task would be assigned to a single workstation as a whole. >
Reliability and Precision of Stress Sonography of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament

Objectives—Musculoskeletal sonography has emerged as an additional diagnostic tool that can be used to assess medial elbow pain and laxity in overhead throwers. It provides a dynamic, rapid, and noninvasive modality in the evaluation of ligamentous structural integrity. Many studies have demonstrated the utility of dynamic sonography for medial elbow and ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) integrity. However, evaluating the reliability and precision of these measurements is critical if sonography is ultimately used as a clinical diagnostic tool. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and precision of stress sonography applied to the medial elbow. Methods—We conducted a cross-sectional study during the 2011 baseball off-season. Eighteen National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I pitchers were enrolled, and 36 elbows were studied. Using sonography, the medial elbow was assessed, and measurements of the UCL length and ulnohumeral joint gapping were performed twice under two conditions (unloaded and loaded) and bilaterally. Results—Intraclass correlation coefficients (0.72–0.94) and standard errors of measurements (0.3–0.9 mm) for UCL length and ulnohumeral joint gapping were good to excellent. Mean differences between unloaded and loaded conditions for the dominant arms were 1.3 mm (gapping; P < .001) and 1.4 mm (UCL length; P < .001). Conclusions—Medial elbow stress sonography is a reliable and precise method for detecting changes in ulnohumeral joint gapping and UCL lengthening. Ultimately, this method may provide clinicians valuable information regarding the medial elbow’s response to valgus loading and may help guide treatment options. Key Words—musculoskeletal ultrasound; precision; reliability; sonography; ulnar collateral ligament
Judiciary views on criminal behaviour and intention of offenders with high-functioning autism

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how judges perceive High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders (hfASDs) and the disorders’ effects on an offender’s ability to formulate criminal intent and control behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews on topics related to offenders with hfASDs were conducted with 21 California Superior Court Judges. A coding scheme was developed and an iterative qualitative coding process was used for analysis. Findings – Analysis yielded three major themes on how an hfASD diagnosis affects an offender’s ability to regulate actions and criminal behaviour. Interviewed judges reported beliefs that hfASD offenders view the world in a different way and that much of their behaviour is not under their direct control. Judges reported these perceptions likely affect how they criminally process and make legal decisions regarding offenders with hfASDs. Research limitations/implications – The sample size was small and therefore no statistical significance can be drawn from results; findings cannot be applied to perceptions or experiences of the entire California Superior Court Judge population. Originality/value – Past academic research reports that individuals with hfASDs that offend often do so because of specific symptoms associated with the disorder. This presents a complex dilemma for the criminal justice system regarding how best to understand the disorder and process these offenders. This study and its findings aim to shed light on issues judges encounter in determining these offenders’ responsibility and sentencing, in what ways this information might be integrated into judicial decision making, and areas where future research is needed.
Using Secondary Data in Marketing Research: A Project That Melds Web and Off-Web Sources:

A marketing research project that is designed to answer research questions based on secondary data is described. The project incorporates Web sources without denigrating the traditional off-Web sources of secondary data. First, a review of the literature highlights the importance of becoming a knowledge worker in the new economy, the value of projects in marketing research courses, and the need to incorporate off-Web sources in projects. After project objectives are provided, the project is completely described. Project problems and some possible solutions are offered, followed by a brief discussion of the evaluation of the project. The project could be adapted for other courses in marketing.
Towards a natural system of organisms: proposal for the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya.

Molecular structures and sequences are generally more revealing of evolutionary relationships than are classical phenotypes (particularly so among microorganisms). Consequently, the basis for the definition of taxa has progressively shifted from the organismal to the cellular to the molecular level. Molecular comparisons show that life on this planet divides into three primary groupings, commonly known as the eubacteria, the archaebacteria, and the eukaryotes. The three are very dissimilar, the differences that separate them being of a more profound nature than the differences that separate typical kingdoms, such as animals and plants. Unfortunately, neither of the conventionally accepted views of the natural relationships among living systems--i.e., the five-kingdom taxonomy or the eukaryote-prokaryote dichotomy--reflects this primary tripartite division of the living world. To remedy this situation we propose that a formal system of organisms be established in which above the level of kingdom there exists a new taxon called a "domain." Life on this planet would then be seen as comprising three domains, the Bacteria, the Archaea, and the Eucarya, each containing two or more kingdoms. (The Eucarya, for example, contain Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and a number of others yet to be defined). Although taxonomic structure within the Bacteria and Eucarya is not treated herein, Archaea is formally subdivided into the two kingdoms Euryarchaeota (encompassing the methanogens and their phenotypically diverse relatives) and Crenarchaeota (comprising the relatively tight clustering of extremely thermophilic archaebacteria, whose general phenotype appears to resemble most the ancestral phenotype of the Archaea.
Global Timing Control with Applications to Tape Storage Channels

A new approach is introduced for symbol synchronization in multi-channel data storage systems called global timing control (GTC). Applying results from optimum filtering theory to the state-space model of the timing process in multichannel data storage systems, a multi-input multi-output PLL solution is derived. Efficient implementations are developed through simplifications of the optimal solution obtained. The performance of the GTC technique is analyzed using actual read- back waveforms captured in commercial tape drive systems. The results demonstrate the impressive robustness of GTC and its excellent resilience against loss-of-lock phenomena.
Potential clinical applications of the HeartMate II risk score.

In this issue of the Journal , Cowger et al. ([1][1]) report derivation and validation of the HeartMate II Risk Score (HMRS) within the HeartMate II clinical trials for bridge to transplant (BTT) and destination therapy (DT) in 1,112 patients ([1][1]). They found that 5 variables in the derivation
The 9/11 Military Commission Motion Hearings: An Ordinary Citizen Looks at Comparative Legitimacy

Under the Military Commission Act of 2009, since May 2012 the 9/11 Military Commission has been proceeding at Guantanamo Bay. As an ordinary citizen observer in October 2012 at a remote feed in Fort Meade, Maryland and in late January 2013 at Guantanamo Bay, the author has followed the 9/11 military commission motion hearings. Numerous dualities became readily apparent: such as, Guantanamo Bay as tropical paradise and an unseen tropical detention hell; the impact of unseen detention and interrogation “offscreen” on the courtroom process “onscreen;” the virtual presence of offscreen classification authorities in the courtroom and the judge’s control; the flexible law space of a military commission act built to stand alone and its amenability to diverse interpretations with other federal law and practice (Article III courts and courts-martial); the operability/inoperability and applicability/inapplicability of the Constitution; the defendants and the families of 2976 victims; military honor and duty and the intelligence community; legitimate and illegitimate government secrets and the citizen’s right to the truth; the domestic observer and the international observer; a domestic law vision and an international law vision. All of these dualities (and others that become apparent as one processes the experience) flow together to make Guantanamo Bay more than a place but an idea. After grappling with the legitimacy of the Guantanamo Bay idea, the author suggests one ordinary citizen’s view of what should be our next choices on adjudication, torture, indefinite detention, and accountability.
Summary of the Symposium and a Look Ahead

In summarizing this conference on the hepatic effects of alcohol, it is my duty to integrate the past achievements with the new data presented here and to look into the future. In a recent article on futurism in Time magazine I read that “prophecy is the art of selling one’s credibility for future delivery.” I wonder whether my look into the cloudy crystal ball will enhance my credibility.
TETRAPOD LIMBS AND EARLY TETRAPOD LIFE

It is generally believed that the Devonian period, during which the first tetrapods arose, was a time when the land areas in which they took origin were subject to seasonal droughts or periods of aridity. The writer has on various occasions (1941, 1945, 1957, etc.) suggested that the raison d'etre for the early development of tetrapod limbs was not terrestrial life, but an adaptation for immediate use, aiding a water-dwelling animal living under drought conditions to shift from drying pools to those of a less transitory nature.1 This idea seems to have met with rather general acceptance, although a number of writers have recently suggested variations on this theme (for example, Orton, 1954; Goin and Goin, 1956). In a recent issue of this journal, Dr. Inger (1957) has presented a picture of early tetrapod evolution which he believed to be in contrast with my suggestion. He argues that it is more reasonable to believe that the development of terrestrial life took place under truly favorable auspices rather than under semi-arid conditions and, as a corollary, urges the point of view that the red beds of the Devonian-the "Old Red Sandstone" and its equivalents-were deposited under conditions of continuous humidity, rather than, as generally assumed, of semi-aridity. Dr. Inger's views and mine are not actually as divergent as might be assumed at first sight. I heartily agree with him, as discussed below, in his major thesis that the development of vertebrate terrestrial life took place under favorable
Study on Technology of Foundation to Match Tower Structure of Transmission Line on Sloping Ground

According to characteristics of tower foundation on sloping groud,four kind of solutions are proposed to match up between the base and the tower structure of transmission line.The four proposals are introduced respectively as,equal tower leg length with equal foundation,equal tower leg length with unequal embedded foundation,unequal tower leg length with equal foundation,and unequal tower leg length with unequal foundation.The match up principles are also given.The effective uplift resistance depth was supposed to reflect the bearing capacity of foundations on sloping ground.
Real-Time Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Regional Systolic Excursion in Children

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT3DE) in assessment of left ventricular systolic excursion in children.Methods:Ten children with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and 55 normal children were detected by full-volume RT3DE using Philips IE33 with the X7-2 matrix array 3D transducer.Post-processing software Qlab(version 5.1.2) was used for advanced analysis.The average excursion and average ball excursion of every segments of left ventricular(LV) can be automatically measured by RT3DE.Results:In control group,there were no significant differences in excursion and ball excursion between genders.The excursion of apical LV segment was smaller than that of middle and basal segments.The ball excursion of basal segments was larger than that of middle and apical segments.There was no statistical difference in excursion and ball excursion between ventricular septum and other segments.The ball excursion was significantly smaller in DCM group than that of the normal group.Conclusion:Ball excursion can be used to assess the systolic function of all the segments of left ventricle.RT3DE is a feasible and accurate method for analysis left ventricular systolic function in children.
Rat pancreatic zymogen granules: An actively acidified compartment

In this study, we looked for acidification in pancreatic zymogen granules as recently reported for other secretory vesicles. In intact dispersed acinar cells, acidic intracellular compartments identified by fluorescence microscopy using acridine orange corresponded exactly to the distribution of zymogen granules visualized by light microscopy. Acridine orange fluorescence in zymogen granules was reversibly dissipated by protonophores (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, monensin) and NH4Cl; and the percentages of cytoplasmic area occupied by the acidic compartments and by zymogen granules were identical under fasting conditions and decreased in parallel after in vivo cholinergic stimulation. Zymogen granules released acutely from hypotonically disrupted cells without homogenization also accumulated acridine orange. Red-orange fluorescence in released granules was also abolished by protonophores and NH4Cl; and it reappeared after washout of protonophores in the presence, but not absence of adenosine triphosphate. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, which inhibits all proton pumps, and N-ethylmaleimide, which inhibits the proton pump of endocytic vesicles and lysosomes, but not mitochondria, prevented this adenosine triphosphate-dependent reappearance of acridine orange fluorescence, whereas vanadate did not. In contrast to these observations with zymogen granules in situ or acutely released from disrupted cells, granules isolated by conventional multistep homogenization/centrifugation procedures did not exhibit adenosine triphosphate-dependent acidification or development of a positive membrane potential as measured by quenching of acridine orange or Oxonol V, respectively. The latter findings may indicate release of inhibitors or granule damage during isolation. Collectively, the present results provide direct evidence that zymogen granules contain an active acidification mechanism which appears similar to that of other secretory vesicles and endosomes. This acidification process may have important implications for the storage, stabilization, and secretion of intragranular proteins including proenzymes.
The Th1 immune pathway as a therapeutic target in Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by overactive T-helper (Th)1-mediated responses towards resident bacterial flora in genetically susceptible individuals. Biotechnological methodology has allowed the development of therapeutic compounds that specifically target single, well-defined pathways, thereby inhibiting abnormal Th1 polarization. These therapies include antibody-based, as well as nucleic-acid related approaches that target various pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as intracellular signaling pathways. This review summarizes treatments already in clinical use and discusses novel targets that offer additional therapeutic opportunities in the management of CD.
Ideology, Access, and Status: Spanish-English Bilinguals in the Foreign-Language Classroom

Spanish language teaching in US higher education is today generally divided between ‘foreign language’ courses for novice learners and ‘heritage language’ courses for Hispanic/Latinx students with some knowledge of the language. However, ‘heritage’ students are a linguistically diverse group, and are also often enrolled at institutions where heritage courses are not offered. Little research to date has studied ‘heritage’ speakers enrolled in ‘foreign’ language courses. For this study I conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the affective and ideological characteristics of bilingual students enrolled in elementary Spanish courses. As the literature suggests, I find that these students have a generally low opinion of their own performance in Spanish and a strong bias in favor of the standard language. Finally, in hopes of combating these notions and bridging the divide between heritage and novice learners, I contemplate ways in which students of diverse backgrounds can be included in the same language classroom.
Seeking reasons for the differences in size spectra of electrified storms over land and ocean

This study expands upon the results of Bang and Zipser [2015], which demonstrated that oceanic precipitation features with lightning tended to be over ten times larger and more stratiform than those over continents, and suggested the hypothesis that some form of external forcing is acting in ways that lead to both larger features and stronger updrafts over tropical oceans. In this work, we evaluate this hypothesis by using reanalysis data to compare large-scale vertical motion and thermodynamic data for RPFs in archetypal land and ocean regimes in the Congo and Central Pacific. We then expand our study to the entire TRMM domain (35°S to 35°N) over all seasons. Over the ocean, there is a tendency for stronger large-scale upward motion, linear organization of the convective region, and larger precipitation areas in systems with lightning. By comparison, over land, features with lightning tend to be smaller, in environments of higher instability, with little difference in large-scale vertical motion. Expanding our analysis to 21 different regions, we highlight those in which seasonal synoptic patterns and water temperature gradients lead to distributions that are exceptions to the findings that ocean storms with lightning tend to be larger and more mature than land storms with lightning. These findings support the hypothesis that most land storms have updrafts sufficiently strong to develop lightning in their early growth stages, while ocean storms require large-scale ascent and growth into mesoscale convective systems before convective scale updrafts become strong enough to provide the necessary conditions for lightning.
The Prophetic Role of Feminist Bioethics

Feminist bioethics, in both its Christian and secular forms, can play a prophetic role by bringing a much-needed social ethics perspective to Christian health care ethics. Six characteristics of feminist bioethics are highlighted: focus on oppression of women and its concrete forms in the health care system; epistemological critique; call for a more diverse community of ethical reflection; critique of the standard principles of bioethics; criticism of liberal individualism in mainstream bioethics; and a critical perspective on the discipline's loyalties and social location. The author highlights two important tasks for feminist bioethics: analysis of the current metamorphosis of health care in the marketplace and the more explicit use of stories to ground ethical reflection in the concrete struggles of women in meeting health care challenges.
Mechanisms of MPP+ Neurotoxicity: Oxyradical and Mitochondrial Inhibition Hypotheses

Recent studies demonstrate that 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) is selectively toxic to dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Investigations suggest that this selectivity results primarily from the affinity of MPP+ for the dopamine reuptake system which results in preferential accumulation of the toxin within the terminals of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic (DA) system (Javitch and Snyder, 1985;Pileblad and Carlssen, 1985; Mayer et al. 1986).
Evaluation of caffeine consumption compared to Aminophylline on patients experiencing headaches during a Lexiscan stress test

2825 Objectives Many patients undergoing a myocardial perfusion imaging study are unable to achieve the target heart rate necessary to produce quality stress images; therefore, administration of a pharmaceutical stress agent, such as Lexiscan (Regadenoson), is often utilized. Lexiscan binds to the A2A adenosine receptors; however, caffeine in a patient’s system can counter act its effectiveness by interfering with those receptor sites. If a patient normally consumes large amounts of caffeine, withdrawal from it can often cause headaches which patients can misinterpret as a side effect of Lexiscan leading to administration of Aminophylline to treat these adverse reactions. The purpose of this study is to determine if giving caffeine, in the form of coffee, to patients who regularly consume caffeine can treat headaches without administering Aminophylline. Methods Data was collected from questionnaires on 176 patients that underwent a Lexiscan sestamibi procedure. The questions were used to determine the patient’s caffeine consumption and any headache symptoms prior to the administration of Lexiscan, as well as other symptoms prior to and after the stress test. Patients who had indicated headaches prior to the stress test were given coffee after the stress test, to determine if caffeine was effective in alleviating their headaches. If the headaches were not resolved with caffeine, they were then given Aminophylline. Results Of the 34 patients reporting headaches prior to and after Lexiscan administration, 17 were given nothing, 8 received coffee, 7 were administered Aminophylline, and 2 were given both coffee and Aminophylline. Of the 8 patients who were provided only coffee, 7 stated that their headache dissipated. Another 30 patients reported headaches post Lexiscan only. Of those, 18 were given nothing, 6 coffee, and 6 Aminophylline. Of the six patients receiving coffee, 5 indicated that their headache went away. Conclusions Giving caffeine to patients reporting a headache after Lexiscan administration proved effective in reducing their headaches. Therefore, caffeine consumption post-Lexiscan administration could aid in the treatment of headache symptoms caused by both caffeine withdrawal and Lexiscan administration. This can be beneficial to the patients and staff alike, reducing both the cost and the time associated with Aminophylline administration.
Minimax robust designs for wavelet estimation of nonparametric regression models with autocorrelated errors

We discuss the construction of designs for estimation of nonparametric regression models with autocorrelated errors when the mean response is to be approximated by a finite order linear combination...
Sample Errors Call Into Question Conclusions Regarding Same-Sex Married Parents: A Comment on 'A Population-Based Comparison of Female and Male Same-Sex Parent and Different-Sex Parent Households.' Henny M. W. Bos, Lisette Kuyper, Nanette K. Gartrell, Family Process (2017)

Due to a known error in the classification method of same-sex partners used in this study, an estimated 65% of the same-sex married partners in the sample are likely misclassified different-sex partners, thus calling into question the study’s findings regarding differences between the two groups. Large disparities between the reported sample and population data reported by Statistics Netherlands confirm this conclusion.
Pelvic Floor Exercises Modestly Improve Pelvic Floor Prolapse Symptoms.

In women with mild to moderate pelvic floor prolapse, a formal program including physiotherapist-guided pelvic floor exercises only modestly improved symptoms.