cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ABNORMAL KIDNEY FUNCTION AS A CAUSE AND A CONSEQUENCE OF OBESITY HYPERTENSION

SUMMARY 1. Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in the US and is a major cause of human essential hypertension. Although the precise mechanisms by which obesity raises blood pressure (BP) are not fully understood, there is clear evidence that abnormal kidney function plays a key role in obesity hypertension. 2. Obesity increases tubular reabsorption and this shifts pressure natriuresis towards higher BP. The increased tubular re-absorption is not directly related to hyperinsulinaemia, but is closely linked to activation of the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin systems, and possible changes in intrarenal physical forces caused by medullary compression due to accumulation of adipose tissue around the kidney and increased extracellular matrix within the kidney. 3. Obesity is also associated with marked renal vasodilation and increased glomerular filtration rate, which are compensatory responses that help overcome the increased tubular re-absorption and maintain sodium balance. However, chronic renal vasodilation causes increased hydrostatic pressure and wall stress in the glomeruli which, along with increased lipids and glucose intolerance, may cause glomerulosclerosis and loss of nephron function in obese subjects. Because obesity is a primary cause of essential hypertension as well as type II diabetes, there is good reason to believe that obesity may also be the most frequent cause of end-stage renal disease. 4. Future research is needed to determine the mechanisms by which excess weight gain activates the neurohumoral systems and alters renal structure and function. Because of the high prevalence of obesity in most industrialized countries, unravelling these mechanisms will likely provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of human essential hypertension and chronic renal failure.
Minimum-time feedback control of robotic manipulators

Efficient robot motions often involve control saturation. The method of neighboring optimal control is used to design a feedback scheme which takes this characteristic into account. It requires precomputation of control gain along the nominal path. Feedback mechanization involves updating the switching times based on the available measurements of deviation of the robot from its nominal path. The feedback scheme is also extended to perturbing the switching times to account for small changes in the tip-mass. An online parameter identification scheme is adopted to determine this change. >
Dynamic bandwidth allocation for B-ISDN based on end-to-end delay estimates

A novel dynamic bandwidth allocation procedure that combines the desirable attributes of bandwidth advertising and techniques based on only responding to source queue threshold violations is described. The proposed methodology uses end-to-end delay estimates to infer the available unused bandwidth along the virtual path connecting the source to the destination. Bursts of traffic exceeding the negotiated rate from the source are violation tagged and allowed to enter the network if unused bandwidth increases the confidence that the tagged cells will be delivered. Negotiated bandwidth request and release procedures are based on estimates of the traffic flow. The performance results for this scheme are presented. >
Elongated polyproline motifs facilitate enamel evolution through matrix subunit compaction

Vertebrate body designs rely on hydroxyapatite as the principal mineral component of relatively light-weight, articulated endoskeletons and sophisticated tooth-bearing jaws, facilitating rapid movement and efficient predation. Biological mineralization and skeletal growth are frequently accomplished through proteins containing polyproline repeat elements. Through their well-defined yet mobile and flexible structure polyproline-rich proteins control mineral shape and contribute many other biological functions including Alzheimer's amyloid aggregation and prolamine plant storage. In the present study we have hypothesized that polyproline repeat proteins exert their control over biological events such as mineral growth, plaque aggregation, or viscous adhesion by altering the length of their central repeat domain, resulting in dramatic changes in supramolecular assembly dimensions. In order to test our hypothesis, we have used the vertebrate mineralization protein amelogenin as an exemplar and determined the biological effect of the four-fold increased polyproline tandem repeat length in the amphibian/mammalian transition. To study the effect of polyproline repeat length on matrix assembly, protein structure, and apatite crystal growth, we have measured supramolecular assembly dimensions in various vertebrates using atomic force microscopy, tested the effect of protein assemblies on crystal growth by electron microscopy, generated a transgenic mouse model to examine the effect of an abbreviated polyproline sequence on crystal growth, and determined the structure of polyproline repeat elements using 3D NMR. Our study shows that an increase in PXX/PXQ tandem repeat motif length results (i) in a compaction of protein matrix subunit dimensions, (ii) reduced conformational variability, (iii) an increase in polyproline II helices, and (iv) promotion of apatite crystal length. Together, these findings establish a direct relationship between polyproline tandem repeat fragment assemblies and the evolution and the design of vertebrate mineralized tissue microstructures. Our findings reveal that in the greater context of chordate evolution, the biological control of apatite growth by polyproline-based matrix assemblies provides a molecular basis for the evolution of the vertebrate body plan.
Power Dependence and Power Paradoxes in Bargaining

In an earlier work (Bacharach and Lawler, 1981), we proposed a dependence approach to the bargaining process. Building on some of the earlier ideas in power-dependence theory (Emerson, 1972), we outlined a general theory of bargaining power, the central idea of which is that the bargaining power of a party-whether an individual, organization, or nation-is based on the dependence of others on that party. For example, the power of the United States over Japan is determined by the dependence of Japan on the United States for valued benefits; similarly, the power ofJapan in its relationship with the U.S. is a function of the dependence of the U.S. on Japan for valued benefits. Within the dependence framework, the bargaining power of each party is determined by the OTHER'S dependence on them, not its own dependence on the other. Dependence varies according to: (1) the commitment to (Le., value or importance of) the benefits at stake in the relationship; and, (2) the availability of the benefits from other parties. The theory assumes that there is an existing two-way flow of benefit in the relationship (Le., an "exchange"), and the dimensions of dependence apply to such benefits. Thus, the dependence of Japan on the U.S. would be based on two conditions: how important the benefits provided by the United States are to Japan (Le. , the commitment" to the benefits in the terms of the theory); and (2) the availability of these bene­ fits from other nations. Soybean sales to Japan would increase the power of the U.S . to a degree that soybeans are of considerable importance to Japan and not readily available (in sufficient quantities, at least) from alternative nations. Beginning with these simple notions, we have made a series of modifica­ tions in the theory. First, we treat dependence (and, hence, bargaining power) as nonzero sum in character. That is, our framework allows for the possibility that both parties in a continuing relationship will increase their bargaining power, and rejects the assumption that an increase in one party's power necessarily decreases the other's power. Over time, the bargaining power of both parties may also change in the same direction (increase or de­ crease). Therefore, the total power in the relationship is not constant; it can vary. Second, our framework stresses the tactical aspects of the bargaining process. That is, our purpose is to develop a framework for understanding
Jasmonic Acid Signaling Modulates Ozone-Induced Hypersensitive Cell Death

Recent studies suggest that cross-talk between salicylic acid (SA)‐, jasmonic acid (JA)‐, and ethylene-dependent signaling pathways regulates plant responses to both abiotic and biotic stress factors. Earlier studies demonstrated that ozone (O 3 ) exposure activates a hypersensitive response (HR)‐like cell death pathway in the Arabidopsis ecotype Cvi-0. We now have confirmed the role of SA and JA signaling in influencing O 3 -induced cell death. Expression of salicylate hydroxylase (NahG) in Cvi-0 reduced O 3 -induced cell death. Methyl jasmonate (Me-JA) pretreatment of Cvi-0 decreased O 3 -induced H 2 O 2 content and SA concentrations and completely abolished O 3 -induced cell death. Cvi-0 synthesized as much JA as did Col-0 in response to O 3 exposure but exhibited much less sensitivity to exogenous Me-JA. Analyses of the responses to O 3 of the JA-signaling mutants jar1 and fad3/7/8 also demonstrated an antagonistic relationship between JA- and SA-signaling pathways in controlling the magnitude of O 3 -induced HR-like cell death.
Young men’s awareness and knowledge of intrauterine devices in the United States

Abstract Objective Increasing use of long-acting methods of contraception, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), has been recognized as a promising strategy to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy. While men may play an important role in promoting or discouraging contraceptive use, very little research has examined men’s knowledge of and attitudes toward IUDs. Study design We used data from the 903 men included in the 2009 National Survey of Reproductive and Contraceptive Knowledge to examine their awareness and knowledge of IUDs and other contraceptive methods by several individual-level characteristics. Results Men’s awareness and perceived knowledge of IUDs is low in comparison to condoms and birth control pills. Men’s perceived knowledge of IUDs was lower than their objective knowledge, as measured by true/false questions about IUDs, suggesting that men may be more knowledgeable of IUDs than they perceive. In the multivariate models, men who were uninsured [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2–0.6], identified as Christian (AOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3–1.0) and who had never had a sexual health visit (AOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4–1.0) were less likely to have heard of IUDs. Among men who had heard of the method, Hispanic men were less likely (AOR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1–0.5) to be more knowledgeable of the method. Conclusion Young men report low awareness of IUDs in comparison to other methods, and this varies by demographic characteristics including health insurance status. Family planning programs should consider targeted knowledge promotion for young men, with a focus on contraceptive methods besides condoms and oral contraception. Implications Male partners are influential in contraceptive use, yet little research has examined their IUD knowledge. Our findings indicate that healthcare providers may play important role in increasing young men’s knowledge of contraceptive methods, including IUDs. This study highlights the need to better incorporate young men into contraception research and programs.
Two-Photon Induced Emission From Silver Nanoparticle Aggregates on Thin Films and in Solution

The coupling of incident electromagnetic radiation with surface plasmons on nanoscale dendritic metal particles has been observed to cause localization of the electromagnetic field, or ‘hot spots’. This has led to observed enhancements of nonlinear optical processes, including surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), second harmonic generation (SHG), and multiphoton photoemission [1]. These effects are reportedly strongest in aggregates that have a fractal nature.
Diffusion of a soluble protein, photoactivatable GFP, through a sensory cilium

Transport of proteins to and from cilia is crucial for normal cell function and survival, and interruption of transport has been implicated in degenerative and neoplastic diseases. It has been hypothesized that the ciliary axoneme and structures adjacent to and including the basal bodies of cilia impose selective barriers to the movement of proteins into and out of the cilium. To examine this hypothesis, using confocal and multiphoton microscopy we determined the mobility of the highly soluble photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (PAGFP) in the connecting cilium (CC) of live Xenopus retinal rod photoreceptors, and in the contiguous subcellular compartments bridged by the CC, the inner segment (IS) and the outer segment (OS). The estimated axial diffusion coefficients are DCC = 2.8 ± 0.3, DIS = 5.2 ± 0.6, and DOS = 0.079 ± 0.009 µm2 s−1. The results establish that the CC does not pose a major barrier to protein diffusion within the rod cell. However, the results also reveal that axial diffusion in each of the rod’s compartments is substantially retarded relative to aqueous solution: the axial diffusion of PAGFP was retarded ∼18-, 32- and 1,000-fold in the IS, CC, and OS, respectively, with ∼20-fold of the reduction in the OS attributable to tortuosity imposed by the lamellar disc membranes. Previous investigation of PAGFP diffusion in passed, spherical Chinese hamster ovary cells yielded DCHO = 20 µm2 s−1, and estimating cytoplasmic viscosity as Daq/DCHO = 4.5, the residual 3- to 10-fold reduction in PAGFP diffusion is ascribed to sub-optical resolution structures in the IS, CC, and OS compartments.
Obstetricians' receptiveness to teen prenatal patients who are Medicaid recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To test the accuracy of various physicians' participation in Medicaid models. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Primary data on 221 obstetricians and gynecologists in the Chicago area by telephone interviews over a four-month period. These data were combined with secondary data from the American Medical Association Master File (1993) and U.S. Census data (1990). STUDY DESIGN: Telephone interviewers posing as the older sisters of a pregnant teenager who is a Medicaid recipient sought information regarding the care provided in a first prenatal care appointment (e.g., appointment duration, tests administered, delivery privileges, appointment availability). DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: A "receptionist helpfulness" variable was developed through pretesting on obstetricians in another city. Inter-interviewer reliability was enhanced through common interview technique education. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Only 81 obstetricians (36.7 percent) accepted new Medicaid patients. This finding is lower than previous research on physician participation in Medicaid. There was strong empirical support for both dimensions-cost containment and limited access-of the physicians' receptiveness model, the model introduced with this research. There was limited support for the dual market and residential segregation models of physician participation in Medicaid. CONCLUSIONS: It is argued that this study's research design is more accurate in reflecting the barriers that a pregnant Medicaid-eligible patient encounters when seeking office-based prenatal care. As such, combining the physicians' receptiveness model with other physician participation in Medicaid models provides a more complete picture of access barriers to prenatal care for our most needy populations.
Reflections on 50 Years of Radical Political Economy

I examine first how radical political economy (RPE) has evolved over the last five decades, as the overall political climate in the United States has shifted increasingly to the right. I explore ho...
Philosophy and International Relations

In recent years, International Relations theorists have turned to philosophy in search of new ontological and epistemological foundations or to clarify their existing commitments. Scientific Realism and International Relations, edited by Jonathan Joseph and Colin Wight, is a good example of the former: editors and contributors make the case for Scientific Realism—a leading philosophy of science—in International Relations. Patrick Thaddeus Jackson, author of The conduct of inquiry in International Relations, is motivated by the latter concern, and devises a typology based on two key fissures among social scientists: the relationships between the knower and the known, and between knowledge and observation. The Joseph and Wight volume, while containing some thoughtful essays, does not convince the reviewer that assumptions that might apply in the physical world are relevant to its social counterpart. The Jackson book is an intellectual tour de force and a compelling plea for pluralism.
Maintaining an energy-efficient Bluetooth scatternet

Bluetooth is a promising wireless technology that enables devices to form short-range wireless ad-hoc networks or personal area networks. However, formation of the scatternet, or a Bluetooth network, is one of the challenges that needs to be resolved since their performance depends largely on the scatternet topology used. Further, to improve the performance of the scatternet, the energy capability of Bluetooth devices should be utilized to determine their roles in the scatternet with more capable devices performing more demanding roles. We present a distributed scatternet formation algorithm for creating energy-efficient scatternets of height-balanced binary tree topology. We also provide reorganization techniques on these tree scatternets to maintain energy efficiency and handle device arrivals and departures. We present simulation results, conducted using the Blueware simulator, to study and compare the creation and maintenance of our scatternet.
Variational solutions by the use of stepwise constant functions. I -Linear case.

Demonstration that accurate solutions to the integral equation or to the extremal function can be easily obtained by the variational method in many cases when a stepwise constant function is used for the trial function. The evaluation procedure is simple and straightforward; integrals of the kernel function can be evaluated analytically; the method provides, when the solution involves singularities, the best mean value across the singularity; the results are accurate in both the detailed physical quantities and their averages; the resultant solution can be further integrated analytically over the parameters associated with the problem; and the method can be readily applied to nonlinear integral equations.
Pediatric Chronic Sinusitis and Asthma: A Review

Rhinosinusitis and asthma are common conditions associated with significant morbidity and health care costs. Recent studies in adults have suggested that rhinosinusitis and asthma may be manifestations of an inflammatory process within a continuous airway rather than fully separate diseases that only act locally; and, in fact, the presence of upper airway disease may influence lower airway disease. Controlling upper airway infection, inflammation, and symptoms may improve signs and symptoms of asthma. Pediatric studies regarding this matter are few, but the impact of rhinosinusitis and asthma is still immense and significant in children. This article discusses several pediatric studies regarding medical or surgical management of sinusitis and asthma outcome. These studies show that aggressive treatment of sinusitis when present can significantly improve asthma symptoms and quality of life in children, indicating that sinusitis may play an important role in initiating or exacerbating asthma. These findings have important implications for the physician treating a child with chronic asthma.
Biocompatibility of single-walled carbon nanotube composites for bone regeneration

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vivo biocompatibility of novel single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLAGA) composites for applications in bone and tissue regeneration. Methods A total of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats (125 g to 149 g) were implanted subcutaneously with SWCNT/PLAGA composites (10 mg SWCNT and 1gm PLAGA 12 mm diameter two-dimensional disks), and at two, four, eight and 12 weeks post-implantation were compared with control (Sham) and PLAGA (five rats per group/point in time). Rats were observed for signs of morbidity, overt toxicity, weight gain and food consumption, while haematology, urinalysis and histopathology were completed when the animals were killed. Results No mortality and clinical signs were observed. All groups showed consistent weight gain, and the rate of gain for each group was similar. All groups exhibited a similar pattern for food consumption. No difference in urinalysis, haematology, and absolute and relative organ weight was observed. A mild to moderate increase in the summary toxicity (sumtox) score was observed for PLAGA and SWCNT/PLAGA implanted animals, whereas the control animals did not show any response. Both PLAGA and SWCNT/PLAGA showed a significantly higher sumtox score compared with the control group at all time intervals. However, there was no significant difference between PLAGA and SWCNT/PLAGA groups. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that SWCNT/PLAGA composites exhibited in vivo biocompatibility similar to the Food and Drug Administration approved biocompatible polymer, PLAGA, over a period of 12 weeks. These results showed potential of SWCNT/PLAGA composites for bone regeneration as the low percentage of SWCNT did not elicit a localised or general overt toxicity. Following the 12-week exposure, the material was considered to have an acceptable biocompatibility to warrant further long-term and more invasive in vivo studies. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:70–7
Determination of the Dipole Moments of Molecular Ions from the Rotational Zeeman Effect by Tunable Far-Infrared Laser Spectroscopy

The details of the first experimental determination of the dipole moment of a molecular ion from the rotational Zeeman effect are presented, along with an assessment of the ultimate accuracy of the technique.
Payment of the learned, and lament of a moneyed, man: History of the commotion created by two letters to Science 25 years ago

(1975). Payment of the learned, and lament of a moneyed, man. Annals of Science: Vol. 32, No. 6, pp. 573-577.
Revisiting the formulations for the longitudinal velocity variance in the unstable atmospheric surface layer

Because of its non-conformity to Monin – Obukhov Similarity Theory (MOST), the effects of thermal stratification on scaling laws describing the streamwise turbulent intensity σu normalized by the turbulent friction velocity (u∗) continue to draw research attention. A spectral budget method has been developed to assess the variability of σu/u∗ under unstable atmospheric stratification. At least three different length-scales – the distance from the ground (z), the height of the atmospheric boundary layer (δ) and the Obukhov length (L) – are all found to be controlling parameters in the variation of σu/u∗. Analytical models have been developed and supported by experiments for two limiting conditions:z/δ 0.5. Under the first constraint, the turbulent kinetic energy spectrum is predicted to follow three regimes: k 0 , k −1 and k −5/3 , divided in the last two regimes by a break-point at kz = 1 ,w herek denotes the wave number. The quantity σu/u∗ is shown to follow the much discussed logarithmic scaling, reconciled to Townsend’s attached eddy hypothesis σ 2 u /u 2 = B1 − A1 log(z/δ), where the coefficients B1 and A1 are modified by MOST for mildly unstable stratification. Under the second constraint, the turbulent energy spectrum tends to become quasi-inertial, displayingk 0 and k −5/3 with a break-point predicted to occur at 0.3 < kz < 1. The work here brings together
Least-Squares Finite Element Method for Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics

It has become standard practice that different numerical schemes are employed for each type of differential equations. In this talk we briefly review a simple, universal, robust and efficient method–the least-squares finite element method (LSFEM). We show that without any special treatments using only one formulation the LSFEM is able to simulate almost all kinds of problems in fluid dynamics. We also show that the LSFEM is able to give simultaneous solutions for displacements, drilling rotation and stresses in elasticity including incompressible materials with the same order of optimal convergence for all variables.
Grayscale-Based Stratified Color Mapping of Carotid Plaque

Besides degree of stenosis, plaque morphology, defined by its structure and surface characteristics, is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of stroke. An unstable carotid plaque is associated with a thinning of the fibrous cap, infiltration of inflammatory cells leading to surface ulceration, and plaque rupture1–4(Chap. 2).
Methyl [13C]glucopyranosiduronic acids: effect of COOH ionization and exocyclic structure on NMR spin-couplings.

Methyl α- and β-d-glucopyranuronides singly labeled with 13C at C1–C6 were prepared from the corresponding 13C-labeled methyl d-glucopyranosides, and multiple NMR J-couplings (JHH, JCH, and JCC) were measured in their protonated and ionized forms in aqueous (2H2O) solution. Solvated density functional theory (DFT) calculations of J-couplings in structurally related model compounds were performed to determine how well the calculated J-couplings matched the experimental values in saccharides bearing an ionizable substituent. Intraring JHH values in both uronide anomers, including 3JH4,H5, are unaffected by solution pD, and COOH ionization exerts little effect on JCH and JCC except for 1JC1,H1, 1JC4,H4, 1JC5,H5, 1JC5,C6, and 2JC3,C5, where changes of up to 5 Hz were observed. Some of these changes are associated with changes in bond lengths upon ionization; in general, better agreement between theory and experiment was observed for couplings less sensitive to exocyclic C–O bond conformation. Titration of 1H ...
Imperialism in World-System PerspectiveBritain 1870–1914

The origins of current world inequality are to be found in the nineteenth century, particularly in the period 1870–1914. The development of the world economy in this period is described, including the unique political-economic role of Great Britain within the world-system. A theory of imperialism based on the laissez-faire capitalist business cycle is developed which is intended to explain both British expansion and the accumulation of capital in the core, which is the single most salient feature of world inequality.
Solubility increases associated with crystalline drug nanoparticles: methodologies and significance

In this manuscript, the determination of solubility of crystalline drug nanosuspensions by a range of methods is critically investigated. As the determinations of solubility were performed in the presence of the solubilizing nanosuspension stabilizer d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS), the potential effects of this excipient on the measurements were studied first. Solubility data of nanosuspensions of itraconazole, loviride, phenytoin and naproxen were generated using different methodologies. Data obtained using separation-based methodologies (centrifugation, filtration and ultracentrifugation) proved to be of limited use, due to poor nanoparticle separation efficiencies and/or significant adsorption of TPGS onto the nanoparticle surfaces. Light scattering and turbidity were found to be more suitable for the determination of nanosuspension solubility. The obtained data show that, unlike earlier reports, the solubility increases due to nanosizing are small, with measured increases of only 15%. These solubility increases are in fair agreement with what would be predicted based on the Ostwald-Freundlich equation.
Ultralight Structures for Space Solar Power Satellites

The design of a deployable spacecraft, measuring 60 m × 60 m, and with an areal density 100 g m^(−2) , is described. This spacecraft can be packaged into a cylinder measuring 1.5 m in height and 1 m in diameter. It can be deployed to a flat configuration, where it acts as a stiff, lightweight support framework for multifunctional tiles that collect sunlight, generate electric power, and transmit to a ground station on Earth.
A Purpose for Every Time? The Timing and Length of the Work Week and Implications for Worker Well-Being

Would replacing the conventional work week with a four-day option benefit economic performance and well-being? In the framework of economics, the question is whether work week reform can make some individuals better off without making other individuals worse off in ways that do not hamper other goals such as efficiency, economic growth, and equity. Social and individual welfare outcomes would depend on whether reforming the work week involves shortening the length of the work day versus rearranging the timing of work. The “public good” case for a policy that induces shorter hours of work per employee is a logical extension from evidence of the adverse effects stemming from excessively long hours of work on workers’ stress, work/life balance and productivity per hour. A shorter work week may improve workers’ well-being if it creates more total employment opportunities; allows more free time to be used at employees’ discretion and control over work time; is accompanied by partial income replacement under states’ “work-sharing” programs; and is well targeted toward workers who prefer shorter hours than they are currently working. Given the heterogeneity of work hour preferences by stage of life-cycle, the most promising Fair Labor Standards Act reform proposals, from an individualistic standpoint, would be those ensuring that employers consider individual employee requests for flexibility in the number of hours over or the times when the employee is required to work.
The Growth of International Institutions

In quantitative terms, the growth of international institutions in the past half-century has been nothing short of phenomenal. It is a simple matter for the historian to collect facts and figures demonstrating the validity of the proposition that the century extending from the Congress of Vienna to the Conference of Versailles was an era of slow germination, and that the subsequent period has been marked by the luxuriant growth and fruition of the organizing tendency in international relations. The numbering of international organizations is not an exact science, for the distinction between occasional international conferences and formally established international bodies emerged only gradually during the earlier era, and today the census-takers may disagree as to whether particular bodies should be listed as separate organizations or as segments of larger or more complex entities. Such imprecision has negligible importance, however, since even the roughest of calculations yields overwhelming evidence to support the conclusion that the number of international organizations, both inter-governmental and non-governmental, has increased tremendously since 1919. At the close of what I have described as the era of germination, some thirty public international agencies and fewer than four hundred of the private variety existed; fifty years of growth, marked by notable flurries in the periods immediately following the two World Wars, have advanced the process of international organization to the point at which the Yearbook of International Organizations for 1968–69 (twelfth edition) carried entries for 300 of the former and 2700 of the latter type.
A Comparison of 1 Antigen-Mismatched Related and Matched Unrelated Transplants.

Abstract It is unclear how related donor transplants in which the donor-recipient pair is mismatched in one locus (1AgMM) compare to transplants performed using a fully matched unrelated donor (MUD), matching at HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1. Here, we performed such a comparison. Methods: We studied 83 consecutive patients (pts) with acute leukemias and myeloproliferative/myelodysplasia syndromes receiving grafts considered to be “1-antigen mismatched related” (1AgMM) and compared their outcomes to that of 134 MUD HSCT performed from 1992 to 2006. Among 83 1AgMM transplants, 40 had prospectively or retrospectively performed high-resolution HLA typing (Hires), of which 6 pts were 8/10 matched, and 43 had only low resolution (Lowres) typing. 8/10 Hires pts were excluded from this analysis. All MUD donor-recipient pairs were typed by Hires. Median age, gender, cytogenetic risk, disease status at transplant and stem cell source were similar. Diagnosis were ALL in 5% of the Hires group, 28% of the Lowres and 0 in the MUD group; AML/MDS cases were 76%, 60% and 87%, respectively; and CML cases were 19%, 12% and 13%, respectively(p Results: With a median follow-up of 15 mo for MUD pts, 27 mo for Hires patients and 33 mo for Lowres pts, OS at 18 mo is 52%, 46% and 22% (p= 0.002 for the comparison of MUD vs Lowres; P=NS for the comparison of MUD vs Hires); NRM is 23%, 26% and 54%(p=0.001 for the comparison of MUD vs Lowres; P=NS for the comparison of MUD vs Hires). Primary graft failure occurred in 1% of MUD, 5% of MOL and 12% of SER (p=0.003). Cumulative incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD is 34% for MUD pts, 48% for Hires and 49% for Lowres(p= 0.07); cGVHD: 34%, 40% and 54%(p=0.01 for the comparison of MUD vs Lowres). We divided the Hires related group according to presence of Class I or Class II mismatches, and compared their outcomes to the MUD group (Table). 23 pts had Class I and 11 pts had Class II mismatches; median follow-up is 26 and 62 mo, respectively. Distribution of gender, diagnosis, cytogenetic risk, dis. status at transplant, ablative/RIC regimens and stem cell source was similar between the 2 groups. Pts with class I mismatches had the worse survival. Conclusion: Cumulative incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD and cGVHD, non-relapse mortality and overall survival of 1AgMM (allele level typing) patients was similar to that observed in a cohort of recipients of molecularly matched, HLA 10/10 MUD transplants. OS at 18 mo HR (95%CI) P C. Incid. gd II-IV aGVHD HR (95% CI) P C. Incid. chronic GVHD HR (95% CI) P MUD n=134 52% Reference 34% Reference 34% Reference Class I n=23 34% 1.8 (1–3.1) P=0.05 40% 1.3 (0.6–2.9) P=0.4 35% 1.1 (0.5–2.5) P=0.7 Class II n=11 73% 0.6 (0.2–1.9) P=0.4 64% 2.8 (1.3–6.3) P=0.01 48% 2.3 (0.9–5.7) P=0.08 C. Incid= cumulative incidence
Spatial Grasp Model

The chapter describes the Spatial Grasp Model based on distributed spatial patterns self-matching the distributed worlds and its key element—recursive Spatial Grasp Language, SGL, in which all such patterns are expressed in a parallel wavelike mode, with unlimited scenario mobility in distributed spaces. SGL directly operates with physical, virtual, and executive worlds and their any combinations, also with pure computations within the same universal recursive syntax which allows the language to be extended easily for new classes of distributed applications. Elementary scenarios in SGL and main ideas of its networked interpretation are presented too.
Characterization of alloy 718 subjected to different thermomechanical treatments

Abstract Chemical phase and microstructural investigations of alloy 718 solution-annealed and age-hardened were performed in this study. Focus was made in the effects of solution annealing temperature, aging temperature and holding time, and the amount of intermediate cold work on the alloy. The formation of secondary phases such as γ’-phase, γ”-phase, and δ-phase, grain sizes, and any deformations of the microstructure with respect to the processed conditions have been studied. Statistics such as size and number densities of these precipitates with respect to the processing conditions were evaluated and a discussion on optimum conditions in obtaining finer and higher density of γ’- and γ”-phase precipitates is also presented.
Testosterone Treatment and Cognitive Function in Older Men With Low Testosterone and Age-Associated Memory Impairment

Importance Most cognitive functions decline with age. Prior studies suggest that testosterone treatment may improve these functions. Objective To determine if testosterone treatment compared with placebo is associated with improved verbal memory and other cognitive functions in older men with low testosterone and age-associated memory impairment (AAMI). Design, Setting, and Participants The Testosterone Trials (TTrials) were 7 trials to assess the efficacy of testosterone treatment in older men with low testosterone levels. The Cognitive Function Trial evaluated cognitive function in all TTrials participants. In 12 US academic medical centers, 788 men who were 65 years or older with a serum testosterone level less than 275 ng/mL and impaired sexual function, physical function, or vitality were allocated to testosterone treatment (n = 394) or placebo (n = 394). A subgroup of 493 men met criteria for AAMI based on baseline subjective memory complaints and objective memory performance. Enrollment in the TTrials began June 24, 2010; the final participant completed treatment and assessment in June 2014. Interventions Testosterone gel (adjusted to maintain the testosterone level within the normal range for young men) or placebo gel for 1 year. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the mean change from baseline to 6 months and 12 months for delayed paragraph recall (score range, 0 to 50) among men with AAMI. Secondary outcomes were mean changes in visual memory (Benton Visual Retention Test; score range, 0 to −26), executive function (Trail-Making Test B minus A; range, −290 to 290), and spatial ability (Card Rotation Test; score range, −80 to 80) among men with AAMI. Tests were administered at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results Among the 493 men with AAMI (mean age, 72.3 years [SD, 5.8]; mean baseline testosterone, 234 ng/dL [SD, 65.1]), 247 were assigned to receive testosterone and 246 to receive placebo. Of these groups, 247 men in the testosterone group and 245 men in the placebo completed the memory study. There was no significant mean change from baseline to 6 and 12 months in delayed paragraph recall score among men with AAMI in the testosterone and placebo groups (adjusted estimated difference, −0.07 [95% CI, −0.92 to 0.79];P = .88). Mean scores for delayed paragraph recall were 14.0 at baseline, 16.0 at 6 months, and 16.2 at 12 months in the testosterone group and 14.4 at baseline, 16.0 at 6 months, and 16.5 at 12 months in the placebo group. Testosterone was also not associated with significant differences in visual memory (−0.28 [95% CI, −0.76 to 0.19];P = .24), executive function (−5.51 [95% CI, −12.91 to 1.88];P = .14), or spatial ability (−0.12 [95% CI, −1.89 to 1.65];P = .89). Conclusions and Relevance Among older men with low testosterone and age-associated memory impairment, treatment with testosterone for 1 year compared with placebo was not associated with improved memory or other cognitive functions. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00799617
A randomized controlled trial to treat impaired learning and memory in multiple sclerosis: The self-GEN trial

Background:Difficulties in learning and memory are among the most persistent and frequently reported cognitive symptoms in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).Objective:To examine the efficacy...
Pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy: Further observations of the therapeutic effects of glycine and other substances used in the treatment of fourteen cases of muscular dystrophy

Summary 1. The metabolic and therapeutic effect of glycine and other substances has been reported in fourteen cases of pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy, with comments on our early observations of a few cases treated with theelin and glycine. 2. The dosage and chemistry of the substance, glycine, has been reviewed. 3. The therapeutic effects of other glandular products and other drugs are recorded.
Diversity and stability of egg-bacterial assemblages: The role of paternal care in the glassfrog Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum

Embryos of oviparous organisms must cope with harsh environments and are especially susceptible to disease, considering that many immune mechanisms do not develop until later in life. Parents may transmit symbiotic microflora to eggs, which can contribute to embryo immune defense. Despite the importance of symbiotic microbes for immune function and survival of adult amphibians, vertical transfer of symbionts in amphibians has received less attention than in other taxa. Here, we test the role of male-only parental care in establishing and maintaining the diversity of egg-bacterial assemblages in a Neotropical glassfrog (Centrolenidae). Previous research suggests that father Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum may transfer bacterial symbionts to their eggs. We combined a male-removal experiment in situ with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to determine whether egg attendance by father H. colymbiphyllum influences the bacterial community and survival of eggs. We found that eggs harbor a diverse and stable bacterial assemblage. Despite different host environments, we found that adult skin and eggs supported very similar bacterial assemblages—even after removing fathers. While we found overlap in the bacteria present on eggs and their fathers, our experiment reveals that extended male care does not contribute to the maintenance of egg-bacterial communities, so there may be other potential routes of transfer. This study contributes to our understanding of the diversity and maintenance of egg microbiomes, and motivates further research on how initial bacteria are acquired and the ontogenetic development of host–symbiont communities.
Coupling X-Ray Reflectivity and In Silico Binding to Yield Dynamics of Membrane Recognition by Tim1

The dynamic nature of lipid membranes presents significant challenges with respect to understanding the molecular basis of protein/membrane interactions. Consequently, there is relatively little known about the structural mechanisms by which membrane-binding proteins might distinguish subtle variations in lipid membrane composition and/or structure. We have previously developed a multidisciplinary approach that combines molecular dynamics simulation with interfacial x-ray scattering experiments to produce an atomistic model for phosphatidylserine recognition by the immune receptor Tim4. However, this approach requires a previously determined protein crystal structure in a membrane-bound conformation. Tim1, a Tim4 homolog with distinct differences in both immunological function and sensitivity to membrane composition, was crystalized in a closed-loop conformation that is unlikely to support membrane binding. Here we have used a previously described highly mobile membrane mimetic membrane in combination with a conventional lipid bilayer model to generate a membrane-bound configuration of Tim1 in silico. This refined structure provided a significantly improved fit of experimental x-ray reflectivity data. Moreover, the coupling of the x-ray reflectivity analysis with both highly mobile membrane mimetic membranes and conventional lipid bilayer molecular dynamics simulations yielded a dynamic model of phosphatidylserine membrane recognition by Tim1 with atomic-level detail. In addition to providing, to our knowledge, new insights into the molecular mechanisms that distinguish the various Tim receptors, these results demonstrate that in silico membrane-binding simulations can remove the requirement that the existing crystal structure be in the membrane-bound conformation for effective x-ray reflectivity analysis. Consequently, this refined methodology has the potential for much broader applicability with respect to defining the atomistic details of membrane-binding proteins.
Gait Recognition for Human Identification using Kinect

Gait is a pattern of biometric movement for human identification. Unlike other biometrics such as fingerprint, iris, face, and voice recognition, human gait can be captured with unobtrusive method. In this paper, several measurements are proposed which uses body frame information in 3D space. Body frame data is generated from depth images captured using Kinect camera. The generated body frames are used for human gait analysis. The angle of lower body parts is measured in a gait cycle. In addition, the length of body parts is measured as a feature for combination with the angle measurements. The measurements are compared to each other from 5 subjects who have similar body type. The difference from comparison of the measurements indicates that the human gait has a potential pattern for human identification.
Oxidative stress during development: Chemical-induced teratogenesis

Abstract Oxidative stress has been shown to be an important contributor to birth defects, including structural malformation and neurobehavioral deficits. At high levels, oxidative stress promotes apoptosis but at lower levels that do not cause cell death, redox-sensitive pathways can be disrupted. Chemicals that cause birth defects usually provide a very distinct developmental outcome, dependent upon gestational periods of exposure and level of exposure, but these observations also suggest that there are specific pathways involved in the manifestation of a given defect. Here, we review overarching themes of oxidative stress and their effects during development and provide specific examples of some of the most notorious human teratogens that produce oxidative stress as part of their teratogenic mechanism. Moving forward, future studies should center on providing a more profound understanding of redox-sensitive elements during development to develop potential preventative interventions.
Brief of Professor Aditya Bamzai as Amicus Curiae in Support of Neither Party, Dalmazzi et al. v. United States

This amicus brief in support of neither party explains why the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to review cases from the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ("CAAF"). Though called a "court" by statute, the CAAF is located for constitutional purposes within the Executive Branch and does not exercise the "judicial Power" of the United States or of any sovereign. Chief Justice Marshall's opinion in Marbury v. Madison makes it clear that the Supreme Court cannot exercise "appellate Jurisdiction" under Article III directly from an officer of the Executive Branch. There is no basis in law or logic to distinguish between a single officer (James Madison in Marbury) and a body composed of multiple officers (the CAAF), even if the latter is designated a "court" by statute. Accordingly, the Court's exercise of jurisdiction over cases directly from the CAAF violates Article III. The brief canvasses a number of precedents in this area arising from cases involving military commissions, the Court of Federal Claims, petitions for writs of habeas corpus, the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, and administrative agencies.
First-principles analysis of acetonitrile reaction pathways to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines on Pd(111)

Abstract Nitrile hydrogenation using heterogeneous catalysis is an important commercial process for the production of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines. In recent years, modern experimental methods have investigated the detailed mechanism underlying the surface reactions of nitrile hydrogenation. These experimental studies provide new insights, but also raise additional questions. To help resolve these inconsistencies, modern theoretical techniques have been applied by way of periodic plane-wave Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to study acetonitrile adsorption and hydrogenation to primary (monoethylamine), secondary (diethylamine), and tertiary amines (triethylamine) over flat Pd surfaces. The presented theoretical analysis applies fundamental physical chemistry and reaction engineering principles to better understand surface reaction mechanisms in the kinetically-controlled regime at low surface coverages. Reaction pathways for acetonitrile hydrogenation and the most probable routes for secondary and tertiary amine formations are discussed. The presented first-principles analysis is in line with experimental observations of gas-phase acetonitrile hydrogenation on flat Pd surfaces. Key mechanistic findings are discussed in the context of larger alkane nitrile hydrogenation processes, which are ordinarily performed in the liquid phase.