cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fully-propulsive Mars atmospheric transit strategies for high-mass payload missions

A systems analysis focused on the use of propulsion during entry, descent, and landing at Mars is presented. The propellant mass fractions of various fully-propulsive EDL strategies are presented. A key aspect of the study is the propellant costs of meeting specified heat rate constraints and the trade between TPS mass and technology requirements vs those for propulsive deceleration. Propulsive strategies considered include a constant-thrust gravity turn as well as variable-thrust trajectory designs. A control law for heat rate constrained trajectories is provided. Sensitivity to the vehicle's propulsive capabilities is explored. A comparison is presented between the fully-propulsive EDL architecture and EDL systems in which significant aeroassist technology is employed. With this information, an overview of the impact of a fully-propulsive EDL system on spacecraft design and functionality is offered.
Failure of Standard Cardioplegic Techniques to Protect the Conducting System

Abstract To determine the site of persistent electrical activity during cardioplegic arrest, microelectrodes that were also capable of recording temperature were placed along the conducting system in dogs undergoing one hour of cardioplegic arrest. Electrical activity was highest in the atrioventricular (AV) junction area (AV node and proximal bundle of His), and the temperature in this area could not be lowered to the level of the temperature in the left ventricular apex by routine cardioplegic technique. Neither changing K + concentration (16 to 20 mEq/L) nor adding procaine hydrochloride abolished the activity of the conducting system during cardioplegia, and only 2 of 15 dogs were in sinus rhythm 30 minutes after reperfusion. When the conducting system temperatures were lowered to less than 15°C by right AV lavage with iced saline solution, electrical activity was abolished during arrest and all 4 of 4 animals were in sinus rhythm 30 minutes after reperfusion. This study localizes the site of persistent conducting system activity during cardioplegic arrest, confirms it can be abolished with local cooling, and establishes the relationship between conducting system activity during cardioplegia and the incidence of conduction block and junctional rhythm following reperfusion.
Isolated infundibular stenosis.

Abstract We have reported three patients with isolated infundibular stenosis who have undergone surgical correction of the lesion. In two patients the pressure gradient has been completely abolished, and in the third the pressure gradient has been halved. All patients are symptomatically improved. Infundibular stenosis comprises 3 per cent of all cases of pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum. Auscultation offers the most reliable aid in differentiating infundibular from pulmonary valvular stenosis. In infundibular stenosis the murmur and thrill are of maximum intensity in the second to third left intercostal spaces parasternally, or lower, and the murmur is always louder in the third left intercostal space than in the first left intercostal space. The quality of the murmur is considered to be more rasping in the infundibular variety. Cardiac catheterization is diagnostic if an infundibular-chamber pressure curve can be demonstrated. In its absence, the finding of a transition zone between the pulmonary arterial pressure curve and the right ventricular pressure curve at a point much below the usual site of the valve should make one suspect infundibular stenosis. It is important to differentiate preoperatively an isolated infundibular stenosis with a patent foramen ovale from the tetralogy of Fallot, because the surgical procedures and the risks involved are quite different. An infundibular stenosis can be successfully corrected by surgery with but a slightly higher risk than that in valvular stenosis.
Mechanism of oxidant-induced mistranslation by threonyl-tRNA synthetase

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases maintain the fidelity during protein synthesis by selective activation of cognate amino acids at the aminoacylation site and hydrolysis of misformed aminoacyl-tRNAs at the editing site. Threonyl-tRNA synthetase (ThrRS) misactivates serine and utilizes an editing site cysteine (C182 in Escherichia coli) to hydrolyze Ser-tRNA(Thr). Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes C182, leading to Ser-tRNA(Thr) production and mistranslation of threonine codons as serine. The mechanism of C182 oxidation remains unclear. Here we used a chemical probe to demonstrate that C182 was oxidized to sulfenic acid by air, hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite. Aminoacylation experiments in vitro showed that air oxidation increased the Ser-tRNA(Thr) level in the presence of elongation factor Tu. C182 forms a putative metal binding site with three conserved histidine residues (H73, H77 and H186). We showed that H73 and H186, but not H77, were critical for activating C182 for oxidation. Addition of zinc or nickel ions inhibited C182 oxidation by hydrogen peroxide. These results led us to propose a model for C182 oxidation, which could serve as a paradigm for the poorly understood activation mechanisms of protein cysteine residues. Our work also suggests that bacteria may use ThrRS editing to sense the oxidant levels in the environment.
The effect of Reynolds number on the dynamics and wakes of freely rising and falling spheres

In this paper, we study the effect of the Reynolds number (Re) on the dynamics and vortex formation modes of spheres rising or falling freely through a fluid (where Re = 100–15000). Since the oscillation of freely falling spheres was first reported by Newton (University of California Press, 3rd edn, 1726, translated in 1999), the fundamental question of whether a sphere will vibrate, as it rises or falls, has been the subject of a number of investigations, and it is clear that the mass ratio m* (defined as the relative density of the sphere compared to the fluid) is an important parameter to define when vibration occurs. Although all rising spheres (m* 1) always move without vibration. However, in contrast with previous studies, we discover that a whole regime of buoyant spheres rise through a fluid without vibration. It is only when one passes below a critical value of the mass ratio, that the sphere suddenly begins to vibrate periodically and vigorously in a zigzag trajectory within a vertical plane. The critical mass is nearly constant over two ranges of Reynolds number (m*crit ≈ 0.4 for Re = 260–1550 and m*crit ≈ 0.6 for Re > 1550). We do not observe helical or spiral trajectories, or indeed chaotic types of trajectory, unless the experiments are conducted in disturbed background fluid. The wakes for spheres moving rectilinearly are comparable with wakes of non-vibrating spheres. We find that these wakes comprise single-sided and double-sided periodic sequences of vortex rings, which we define as the ‘R’ and ‘2R’ modes. However, in the zigzag regime, we discover a new ‘4R’ mode, in which four vortex rings are created per cycle of oscillation. We find a number of changes to occur at a Reynolds number of 1550, and we suggest the possibility of a resonance between the shear layer instability and the vortex shedding (loop) instability. From this study, ensuring minimal background disturbances, we have been able to present a new regime map of dynamics and vortex wake modes as a function of the mass ratio and Reynolds number {m*, Re}, as well as a reasonable collapse of the drag measurements, as a function of Re, onto principally two curves, one for the vibrating regime and one for the rectilinear trajectories.
Late Quaternary sea-level curve: Reinterpretation based on glaciotectonic influence

High-resolution seismic-reflection profiles obtained between Chesapeake Bay and Long Island along 2,500 km of trackline appear to show tilting of a large lithospheric block within the United States eastern continental margin. This warping probably was related to glacial loading and unloading. It has resulted in postglacial changes in depth at locations where radiocarbon-dated samples have been obtained and thus has affected the eustatic sea-level curves deduced from these samples. Corrected values indicate significantly shallower depths in the older (deeper) parts of the United States east coast curve and thus a revised estimate of global sea-level lowering during Wisconsinan time.
Devices for optical information processing: challenges and limitations

The paper discusses on devices commonly used for optical information systems - computation or communication based. The list includes: semiconductor lasers and laser arrays; passive optical elements such as lenses, prisms, gratings and resonators; SLMs, optical interconnection elements, optical memory; spectral and polarization filters; wavelength multiplexers and demultiplexers; optical waveguides; optical switches; and detector arrays
Dectin-1 Controls TLR9 Trafficking to Phagosomes Containing β-1,3 Glucan

Dectin-1 and TLR9 play distinct roles in the recognition and induction of innate immune responses to Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Dectin-1 is a receptor for the major fungal cell wall carbohydrate β-1,3 glucan that induces inflammatory cytokines and controls phagosomal maturation through spleen tyrosine kinase activation. TLR9 is an endosomal TLR that also modulates the inflammatory cytokine response to fungal pathogens. In this study, we demonstrate that β-1,3 glucan beads are sufficient to induce dynamic redistribution and accumulation of cleaved TLR9 to phagosomes. Trafficking of TLR9 to A. fumigatus and C. albicans phagosomes requires Dectin-1 recognition. Inhibition of phagosomal acidification blocks TLR9 accumulation on phagosomes containing β-1,3 glucan beads. Dectin-1-mediated spleen tyrosine kinase activation is required for TLR9 trafficking to β-1,3 glucan-, A. fumigatus-, and C. albicans-containing phagosomes. In addition, Dectin-1 regulates TLR9-dependent gene expression. Collectively, our study demonstrates that recognition of β-1,3 glucan by Dectin-1 triggers TLR9 trafficking to β-1,3 glucan-containing phagosomes, which may be critical in coordinating innate antifungal defense.
Detecting Reporting Anomalies in Streaming Sensing Systems

Sensor networks must be monitored to identify and correct problems as they occur. We present a comparison of two approaches to monitoring deployed sensors. The first relies on configuration parameters to define expected reporting behavior. The second automatically identifies normal reporting patterns based on a combination of configuration parameters and an analysis of reporting times. Using these patterns, the system notifies personnel of possible malfunctions. We present empirical evaluations in the context of the Intelligent River R system [11].
Duty and Rightness

In the last chapter (2.2) I discussed briefly the criticisms made by the deontologists against utilitarian theories of moral obligation. Although the deontologists are probably best known as critics of utilitarianism, they have also developed a theory of obligation of their own. In this chapter I shall examine that theory in the attempt to determine whether it can provide a satisfactory answer to the question of how moral knowledge is possible.
Understanding the Impact of Media Engagement on the Perceived Value and Acceptance of Advertising Within Mobile Social Networks

ABSTRACTMobile social networks (MSNs) have been adopted as an innovative advertising channel. This study proposes a conceptual model to explore the antecedents of MSN engagement and test the relationship between MSN engagement and advertising effectiveness. Results of an online survey discover that utilitarian motivation, mobile convenience, and contextual perceived value (CPV) significantly predict one's engagement with MSN apps. Moreover, MSN engagement positively influences perceived advertising value, which in turn predicts consumers' intention to accept advertisements in MSNs. As the first one to investigate media engagement in the context of mobile social media, this study provides significant implications for both advertising researchers and practitioners.
Comparing Worker Perceptions to Engineering Measurements of VDT Workstations and Environmental Conditions

Twenty-five employees of the purchasing department of a large state agency participated in the study. Overall, self-ratings of working conditions were very similar to the engineering measurements.
Becoming independent storytellers: Modeling children’s development of narrative macrostructure

For parents to provide effective support for their children’s language development, they must be attuned to their child’s changing abilities. This study presents a theoretically driven strategy tha...
Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Selective Thiol–Ene and Thiol–Yne Click Reactions Involving N-Substituted Maleimides

A combination of experimental and computational methods has been used to understand the reactivity and selectivity of orthogonal thiol–ene and thiol–yne ″click″ reactions involving N-allyl maleimide (1) and N-propargyl maleimide (2). Representative thiols methyl-3-mercaptopropionate and β-mercaptoethanol are shown to add exclusively and quantitatively to the electron poor maleimide alkene of 1 and 2 under base (Et3N) initiated thiol-Michael conditions. Subsequent radical-mediated thiol–ene or thiol–yne reactions can be carried out to further functionalize the remaining allyl or propargyl moieties in near quantitative yields (>95%). Selectivity, however, can only be achieved when base-initiated thiol-Michael reactions are carried out first, as radical-mediated reactions between equimolar amounts of thiol and N-substituted maleimides give complex mixtures of products. CBS-QB3 calculations have been used to investigate the energetics and kinetics of reactions between a representative thiol (methyl mercaptan)...
Following the Crowd or Thinking Outside of the Box? Saliency and Issue Consistency*

Objective This article examines the distinction between group-based issue opinion formation (what we term “following the crowd”) and idiosyncratic or nongroup-based formation (what we term “thinking outside of the box”). The argument put forth is that issue saliency can lead citizens to think about issues in nongroup-based terms. Method We use heteroskedastic regression to measure the degree to which group-based variables explain issue opinions. Using group variables (demographics, party identification, etc.) to estimate respondents' issue responses means that nongroup variation is soaked up by the error term. Results We find that citizens who view an issue as highly salient are more likely to “think outside the box,” while citizens who view an issue as less salient are more likely to “follow the crowd” by defaulting to their group memberships and identifications. Conclusion Our results indicate that response variability (less consistency within groups) on issue opinions is not always the result of uncertain citizens, nonattitudes, or measurement error. In some situations, greater response variability can reflect a deliberative and policy-based form of opinion formation.
Large-section Open-off Cut Supporting Technology for Fully Mechanized Caving Face in High-stress Deep Mine

Aiming at the supporting difficulty of 7. 5 m × 3. 3 m large-section open-off cut in first mining fully mechanized caving face at-960 m level of one domestic coal mine,on the basis of the analysis of supporting difficulty,the study decided to adopt high strength support system and the construction method of wide guide narrow expansion,selected new support materials with high strength, high stiffness,high reliability and big elongation,conducted the support design,determined the reasonable supporting parameters. The results of practical application and mine pressure monitoring show that this scheme can effectively control the deformation and failure of roadway and achieve a good supporting effect.
Efficacy of Common Analgesics for Postsurgical Pain in Rats.

Each year, millions of rats undergo surgery for research purposes and receive analgesics to alleviate pain. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of common analgesics in tests of hot-plate nociception and postsurgical pain by using the Rat Grimace Scale. Rats received a single dose of one of several drug–dose combinations and were tested by using the hot-plate test (acute pain) or after laparotomy (with either prophylactic or intraoperative analgesic). The efficacy of analgesics for hot-plate pain was generally not predictive of efficacy for surgical pain. Carprofen and ketoprofen were rarely effective in any of the conditions tested. With the exception of the opioid buprenorphine, several of the drugs we tested required higher-than-recommended doses to alleviate pain. Taken together, our data suggest that current analgesic use frequently is insufficient, and many rats may experience significant postsurgical pain even when analgesics are used in commonly recommended doses.
Does splenic embolization and grade of splenic injury impact nonoperative management in patients sustaining blunt splenic trauma

Nonoperative management (NOM) for blunt splenic trauma (BST) is an established practice. The impact of splenic embolization (SE) in the algorithm for NOM has not been well studied. This study evaluates the role of SE and spleen injury grade on failure of NOM. Retrospective cohort of trauma registry over a 7-year period (2000-2006) for patients who suffered BST was studied. Data including demographics, splenic injury grade, and SE were recorded. Characteristics were compared between the successful and failed NOM groups. Kaplan-Meier, life table, and Cox-proportional hazard regression analyses were performed. Of the 499 patients who suffered BST, 407 (81.6%) patients had successful NOM and 92 (18.4%) patients failed NOM (including splenectomies performed within 1 hour of admission). Failed NOM group had a higher splenic injury grade compared with the successful NOM group (P < 0.0001). Seventy-five per cent underwent a splenectomy within 7.7 hours of admission. Nearly all grade I and II splenic injuries that failed NOM occurred by 24 hours. Grade 3 and 4 injuries that failed NOM occurred by 150 hours. SE was protective against splenectomy (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.55, P = 0.004), whereas splenic injury grades III or higher was associated with increased risk of splenectomy (grade III: HR 5.26, P = 0.003; grade IV: HR 6.84, P = 0.002; grade V: HR 9.81, P = 0.002) compared with those with splenic injury grade I. Splenic embolization is a protective measure to reduce the failure of NOM. Spleen injury grade III and higher was significantly associated with NOM failure and would require a 5-day inpatient observation.
ACDD 4 score: A simple tool for assessing risk of pneumonia after stroke.

Abstract Background Pneumonia is a serious but a preventable stroke complication. Prediction scales for post-stroke pneumonia have been proposed with an intent to improve surveillance and prevention but they remain under-utilized in clinical practice. Most existing scales were developed using both ventilated and non-ventilated patients which may affect their accuracy. We derived and validated a novel, pragmatic scale to predict hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) after stroke employing only a non-ventilated stroke cohort. Methods All consecutive patients admitted with acute stroke to a large hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) codes for acute ischemic strokes, intracerebral hemorrhages and confirmed by chart review. The following exclusion criteria were used: stroke occurring after hospitalization, pneumonia on admission, intubation, presence of brain or lung neoplasms, admission Results A total of 1644 patients met study criteria; 144 (8.8%) developed HAP. An 8-point pneumonia prediction scale (ACDD 4 ) was derived using significant covariates (age ≥ 75 = 1; congestive heart failure = 1; dysarthria = 1; dysphagia = 4). The risk of pneumonia varied between 2% and 33.9% with scores of 0 to 7, respectively. The c-statistic of the final model was 0.82 and bootstrap validation c-statistic was 0.81. Conclusion ACDD 4 scale is a promising tool for predicting HAP in non-ventilated stroke patients that can be easily computed at the patient's bedside. Subject term: cerebrovascular disease/stroke
The electrochemical hydrogenation of edible oils in a solid polymer electrolyte reactor. I. Reactor design and operation

A new electrochemical method has been devised and tested for the moderate temperature/atmospheric pressure hydrogenation of edible oils, fatty acids, and fatty acid methyl esters. The method employed a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) reactor, similar to that used in H2/O2 fuel cells, with water as the source of hydrogen. The key component of the reactor was a membrane-electrode-assembly, composed of a RuO2 powder anode and either a Pt-black or Pd-black powder cathode that were hot-pressed as thin films onto the opposing surfaces of a Nafion cation-exchange membrane. During reactor operation at a constant applied current, water was back-fed to the RuO2 anode, where it was oxidized electrochemically to O2 and H+. Protons migrated through the Nafion membrane under the influence of the applied electric field and contacted the Pt or Pd cathode, where they were reduced to atomic and molecular hydrogen. Oil was circulated past the back side of the cathode and unsaturated triglycerides reacted with the electrogenerated hydrogen species. The SPE reactor was operated successfully at a constant applied current density of 0.10 A/cm2 and a temperature between 50 and 80°C with soybean, canola, and cottonseed oils and with mixtures of fatty acids and fatty acid methyl esters. Reaction products with iodine values in the range of 60–105 were characterized by a higher stearic acid content and a lower percentage of trans isomers than those produced in a traditional hydrogenation process.
Criticality predicts maximum irregularity in recurrent networks of excitatory nodes

A rigorous understanding of brain dynamics and function requires a conceptual bridge between multiple levels of organization, including neural spiking and network-level population activity. Mounting evidence suggests that neural networks of cerebral cortex operate at a critical regime, which is defined as a transition point between two phases of short lasting and chaotic activity. However, despite the fact that criticality brings about certain functional advantages for information processing, its supporting evidence is still far from conclusive, as it has been mostly based on power law scaling of size and durations of cascades of activity. Moreover, to what degree such hypothesis could explain some fundamental features of neural activity is still largely unknown. One of the most prevalent features of cortical activity in vivo is known to be spike irregularity of spike trains, which is measured in terms of the coefficient of variation (CV) larger than one. Here, using a minimal computational model of excitatory nodes, we show that irregular spiking (CV > 1) naturally emerges in a recurrent network operating at criticality. More importantly, we show that even at the presence of other sources of spike irregularity, being at criticality maximizes the mean coefficient of variation of neurons, thereby maximizing their spike irregularity. Furthermore, we also show that such a maximized irregularity results in maximum correlation between neuronal firing rates and their corresponding spike irregularity (measured in terms of CV). On the one hand, using a model in the universality class of directed percolation, we propose new hallmarks of criticality at single-unit level, which could be applicable to any network of excitable nodes. On the other hand, given the controversy of the neural criticality hypothesis, we discuss the limitation of this approach to neural systems and to what degree they support the criticality hypothesis in real neural networks. Finally, we discuss the limitations of applying our results to real networks and to what degree they support the criticality hypothesis.
The impact of party affiliation of US governors on immigrants’ labor market outcomes

Do immigrants have better labor market outcomes under Democratic governors? By exploiting variations associated with close elections in a regression discontinuity (RD) design applied on gubernatorial elections in 50 states over the last two decades, we find that immigrants are more likely to be employed, work longer hours and more weeks, and have higher earnings under Democratic governors. Results are robust to a number of different specifications, controls, and samples.
Towards closing the energy gap between HOG and CNN features for embedded vision (Invited paper)

Computer vision enables a wide range of applications in robotics/drones, self-driving cars, smart Internet of Things, and portable/wearable electronics. For many of these applications, local embedded processing is preferred due to privacy and/or latency concerns. Accordingly, energy-efficient embedded vision hardware delivering real-time and robust performance is crucial. While deep learning is gaining popularity in several computer vision algorithms, a significant energy consumption difference exists compared to traditional hand-crafted approaches. In this paper, we provide an in-depth analysis of the computation, energy and accuracy trade-offs between learned features such as deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and hand-crafted features such as Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG). This analysis is supported by measurements from two chips that implement these algorithms. Our goal is to understand the source of the energy discrepancy between the two approaches and to provide insight about the potential areas where CNNs can be improved and eventually approach the energy-efficiency of HOG while maintaining its outstanding performance accuracy.
The Gift of the Grain: Beyond Biopolitics?

Is seed a commodity or a gift? Navdanya, an environmental non-profit in India, managed by the renowned ecofeminist Vandana Shiva, is often confronted with this question. In its attempt to respond to such a commonsense question, the agency has effectively fueled a social movement of sorts in India and South Asia. This is not an idle question to be buried for the sake of solving more burning questions such as food security in the developing world. Looking at the philosophy of seed sovereignty through the work of Navdanya, the paper argues that it is in fact a question that lies at the heart of food security because addressing the philosophy and culture of seed could spell the difference between monocultures and biodiversity in food making and consumption. Further, the paper argues that it is necessary to move beyond Western models of sovereignty and biopolitics, asking instead if seed is a gift first and foremost, which necessitates active participation of the community at all levels.
Die Bedeutung von Musikerleben für flexible Identifizierungen mit religiösen Traditionen

Das Erleben von Musik spielt eine wichtige Rolle in Prozessen der flexiblen Identifizierung mit religiosen Traditionen. Diese These wurde im Rahmen einer religionswissenschaftlichen Ethnografie aufgestellt, deren theoretische Fragestellung auf Formen gegenwartiger Identitatsdiskurse im kleinen sudwestenglischen Ort Glastonbury ausgerichtet war (vgl. Laack, 2011). Im folgenden Artikel sollen einige Ergebnisse der Studie vorgestellt werden. Nach einer Einfuhrung in die religionsgeschichtliche Ausgangsituation von Formen der Religiositat in der Gegenwart und in den Forschungsstand zu religioser Identitat sowie einer kurzen Beschreibung des Forschungsdesigns der Studie werden in zwei Abschnitten einzelne Schlussfolgerungen skizziert: Dies betrifft zum einen Formen der religiosen Identitatsdiskurse und der Vergemeinschaftung, zum anderen den Stellenwert von sinnlich-korperlichem Erleben, religioser Erfahrung und Musik in der religiosen Praxis vor Ort.
Learning procedural knowledge to better coordinate

A fundamental difficulty faced by groups of agents that work together is how to efficiently coordinate their efforts. This paper presents techniques that allow heterogeneous agents to more efficiently solve coordination problems by acquiring procedural knowledge. In particular, each agent autonomously learns coordinated procedures that reflect her contributions towards successful past joint behavior. Empirical results validate the significant benefits of coordinated procedures.
Impact of BRAF mutation status in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma: an area of ongoing research

This review is intended to provide an updated role of molecular genetics and various targeted therapies that have been developed to treat advanced stages of melanoma. Because of the declining success in melanoma therapy, the curative treatment for advanced stage melanoma has been a challenge for clinicians. Several mutations such as N-RAS, p53, BRAF including mutant-BRAF that lead to activation of kinase pathway, are implicated in the development of malignant melanoma. However, the current literature depicts that the prognostic role of BRAF mutation in disease progression is still controversial. While its higher level in advanced stage disease is associated with decreased overall survival (OS), some studies show that it failed to confer as an independent prognostic predictor of the disease. This has also led researchers to accomplish newer therapeutic strategies that lead to improved disease-response and grant survival benefits. Vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor agent, is one of the few available targeted therapies that is FDA approved and provides promising results in metastatic disease. However, its resistance at an early stage is of great concern. Recent implementation of combinational therapies including "targeted therapy", immunotherapy, and biological agents has appealed many researchers to define the adjunctive role of available therapies and their limitations in advanced stage and metastatic melanoma. This commends the need for future multi-institutional studies to confirm the clinical validity of different therapeutic strategies on a large scale population.
Outsider Trading as an Incentive Device

Outsiders often have and seek to trade on a firm's material, nonpublic information. For example, lawyers have traded on advance information about the filing of a lawsuit, a social activist has announced a plan to trade on advance information of a boycott, and a hedge fund operator has engaged in a controversial trading maneuver in a control contest. Trading on nonpublic information is generally permitted if the information was not misappropriated or accompanied by fraud, manipulation, or other misconduct. However, recent public focus on the above transactions signals possible regulation in certain outsider trading situations. More generally, Professors Ian Ayres and Stephen Choi propose giving firms broad rights to decide whether outsider trading in their stocks will be regulated. We argue against broad regulation on the basis that outsider trading can provide incentives for socially beneficial conduct. In particular, outsider trading provides an important way to capitalize on investments in information that are not otherwise protected by the intellectual property laws. Understanding these benefits is a crucial element in determining appropriate regulation limits.
Risk factors for sexual dysfunction in BRCA mutation carriers after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for sexual dysfunction in BRCA mutation carriers who have undergone risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed. BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with and without RRSO were surveyed to determine sexual function (Female Sex Function Index [FSFI]), demographics, medical history, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety scores. Characteristics of patients with the lowest quartile of FSFI scores (<14 ± 8.8) were analyzed to identify risk factors for the most severe phenotype. RESULTS In the 804 women surveyed, 764 underwent RRSO. Of the 529 (69%) carriers with completed FSFI questionnaires in the RRSO cohort, sexual dysfunction was reported in 77.3%. Poor sleep (P = 0.002), hot flashes (P = 0.002), lack of current systemic hormone therapy (HT) use (P = 0.002), depression (P < 0.001), and anxiety (P = 0.001) were associated with sexual dysfunction. In adjusted analyses, depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.4, 95% CI, 1.4-4.1) and hot flashes (aOR 1.9, 95% CI, 1.2-3.0) remained significantly associated with sexual dysfunction. Depression was also a significant risk factor for the most severe degree of sexual dysfunction (OR 2.1, 95% CI, 1.3-3.5) and had the greatest impact on Arousal and Satisfaction domain scores of the FSFI. Current systemic HT use seemed to decrease the risk for sexual dysfunction (aOR 0.6, 95% CI, 0.4-1.0). CONCLUSIONS Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in BRCA mutation carriers after RRSO. Depression seems to be a significant risk factor for sexual dysfunction in this patient population and may be under-recognized and undertreated. Patient and provider education on sexual side effects after surgery and risk factors for sexual dysfunction is necessary to decrease postoperative sexual distress. HT may be associated with improved sexual function after surgery.
Thermal Tolerance in Green Hydra: Identifying the Roles of Algal Endosymbionts and Hosts in a Freshwater Holobiont Under Stress

It has been proposed that holobionts (host-symbiont units) could swap endosymbionts, rapidly alter the hologenome (host plus symbiont genome), and increase their stress tolerance. However, experimental tests of individual and combined contributions of hosts and endosymbionts to holobiont stress tolerance are needed to test this hypothesis. Here, we used six green hydra (Hydra viridissima) strains to tease apart host (hydra) and symbiont (algae) contributions to thermal tolerance. Heat shock experiments with (1) hydra with their original symbionts, (2) aposymbiotic hydra (algae removed), (3) novel associations (a single hydra strain hosting different algae individually), and (4) control hydra (aposymbiotic hydra re-associated with their original algae) showed high variation in thermal tolerance in each group. Relative tolerances of strains were the same within original, aposymbiotic, and control treatments, but reversed in the novel associations group. Aposymbiotic hydra had similar or higher thermal tolerance than hydra with algal symbionts. Selection on the holobiont appears to be stronger than on either partner alone, suggesting endosymbiosis could become an evolutionary trap under climate change. Our results suggest that green hydra thermal tolerance is strongly determined by the host, with a smaller, non-positive role for the algal symbiont. Once temperatures exceed host tolerance limits, swapping symbionts is unlikely to allow these holobionts to persist. Rather, increases in host tolerance through in situ adaptation or migration of pre-adapted host strains appear more likely to increase local thermal tolerance. Overall, our results indicate green hydra is a valuable system for studying aquatic endosymbiosis under changing environmental conditions, and demonstrate how the host and the endosymbiont contribute to holobiont stress tolerance.
Some factors involved in the effect of x-irradiation on the phosphatase activity of hematopoietic tissues.

Factors which modify lymphoid distribution of tissues were found to modify the adenosine triphosphatase activity of these tissues. Starvation or cortisone injection, which produces destructive changes in lymphoid tissues, was found to increase the enzyme activity of spleen and thymus tissues. The greater increment of enzyme activity of the thymus as compared to that of the spleen was correlated with its normally higher content of lymphoid tissue. The increase in adenosine triphosphatase activity of hematopoietic tissues appears to be associated with the type of cells present in the assay medium. With respect to peripheral blood leukocytes of the rat, the cell type is confined largely to lymphocytes and granulocytes. The increase in adenosine triphosphatase activity of the leukocytes after total-body x-ray was seen to parallel the increase in granulocytes present in the assay medium. The ratio of granulocytes to lymphocytes is not appreciably altered in dog peripheral blood after exposure to total-body x-ray; the adenosine triphosphatase activity similarly was not significantly altered. After total-body x-ray (390 r and 780 r), cells isolated from the rat bone marrow displayed a fivefold increase in adenosine triphosphatase activity. This increase was seen to correspond with an increase in the ratio of segmented leukocytes and reticuloendothelial cells and a decrease in the immature forms of the erythroid and myeloid cells. The heterogeneous cell mixtures used for our assay procedures permit the observation that total-body x-irradiation results in an increased enzyme activity of the isolated cells of the peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen tissue of the rat. The increased enzyme activity was associated with the increased ratio of cells with high enzyme activity present in the assay medium.
UbiquiTouch: Self Sustaining Ubiquitous Touch Interfaces

We present UbiquiTouch, an ultra low power wireless touch interface. With an average power consumption of 30.91μW, UbiquiTouch can run on energy harvested from ambient light. It achieves this performance through low power touch sensing and passive communication to a nearby smartphone using ambient FM backscatter. This approach allows UbiquiTouch to be deployed in mobile situations both in indoor and outdoor locations, without the need for any additional infrastructure for operation. To demonstrate the potential of this technology, we evaluate it in several different and realistic scenarios. Finally, we address the future application space for this technology.
The 2-DOF mechanical impedance of the human ankle during poses of the stance phase

Abstract The mechanical impedance of the human ankle is vital for the human interactions with the environment for many activities of daily living (ADL), and its accurate characterization is necessary for the development of ankle-foot prostheses that mimic the unimpaired ankle behavior. This work reports the methods and the results of the ankle impedance identification of healthy subjects standing in poses resembling stages of the gait cycle. The resulting impedance was similar to functional experiments where the subjects are walking. Finally, to validate the proposed method, artificial subjects were numerically simulated, and their impedance was evaluated, to assess the accuracy of the proposed method.
Medical Mistrust and the PrEP Cascade Among Latino Sexual Minority Men

Latino sexual minority men (SMM) have high HIV incidence rates but report low pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. Medical mistrust predicts lower medical care use and could contribute to decreased PrEP engagement. This study examines how medical mistrust relates to the PrEP cascade among 151 Latino SMM aged 18-29. Logistic regressions were employed with medical mistrust predicting PrEP awareness, willingness, current use, and adherence. Greater medical mistrust was associated with decreased odds of all outcomes and may represent a barrier to PrEP engagement for Latino SMM. Further research should explore whether reducing medical mistrust among Latino SMM could increase PrEP engagement.
Theory Z Child Variance.

The year 1984 is just around the corner. With its approach will come a plethora of assess ments of the various predictions of Orwell and other prognosticators. William Rhodes in Volume 4 of A Study of Child Variance (1975) joined the ranks of the prognosticators, and is being assessed here. George Orwell and William Rhodes have disparate views of our society in the year 1984. Although it is beyond the scope of this paper, a comparison of Orwell's "Big Brother"—and the system of social services he described in Nineteen Eighty Four (1949)—to Rhodes' concepts of caring, celebration of deviance, multiple realities, and debureaucratized human services would make for an interesting contrast. Predictions from almost any source might be categorized as one of three types: (a) attempts to change or influence the present situation by creating an alarming future based on an extrapolation of present conditions; or (b) a kind of wishful thinking where hopes are allowed to paint a picture of the future as we would like it to be. Occasionally there is a third type of prediction, one which attempts to guess particular features of a future state in order to make individual decisions or plans. Typically, this third type is short term and very narrow in scope. If the first type is a negative utopianism and the second, utopianism, then the third is a kind of instrumentalism. One problem of predictors which are specific about dates or details is that they can almost universally be dismissed in retrospect as being wrong. While the broader predictions of either of the Utopian types are more open to being proven wrong because their scope is wide, even instrumental predictions are often proved incorrect. Witness Jimmy the Greek whose correct calls on NFL games last season were much less than 50%. While it is easy
Validation of the 3-item What Engagement Looks Like (WELL) scale in patients with diabetes

Patients’ behaviors play a key role in chronic disease management, but how effective they are may depend on how engaged they feel. The objective was to develop a short measure of how much patients felt engaged in self-managing a chronic condition. Online test of a three-question series followed by a survey of physicians and their eligible diabetic patients. Physicians answered: 1) how well the physician thought the patient was managing his/her diabetes, and 2) how much effort the physician thought the patient was putting in. Each patient was mailed a survey that included three questions on self-management. Six hundred six patients from a national online consumer panel with diabetes or obesity, and 35 physicians from 3 primary care practices and a sample of 243 of their diabetic patients. Respondents were asked three questions about how much they thought their behavior could affect their health condition, how confident they were that they could do what was needed, and how involved they were in decisions about managing their condition. These items were summed to create a WELL score. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients were used to describe item relationships. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to predict how well the physician thought the patient was managing their diabetes and patient effort. Correlations among the three patient-reported items ranged from − 0.01 to 0.45. The WELL score was correlated with an existing measure of patient activation commitment (r = .43, p < 0.001) and found to be a significant predictor of physicians’ ratings of how much effort patients devoted to condition management (b = 0.02, p = 0.001, OR = 1.02) after adjusting for confounders. The WELL score didn’t predict physicians’ ratings of how effective patients were (b = 0.003, p = .526, OR = 1.004) after their A1c score had been taken into account. Patients’ WELL scores predicted physicians’ ratings of patient effort in diabetes self-management.
Non-HLA AT1R antibodies are highly prevalent after pediatric intestinal transplantation.

The role of angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT1R) antibodies in intestinal transplantation (ITx) is unclear. The aims were 1) to identify the prevalence of AT1R antibodies in pediatric ITx, compared to pediatric intestinal failure (IF), and 2) to determine whether AT1R antibodies were associated with graft dysfunction. 46 serum samples from 25 ITx patients (3 isolated ITx, 22 liver-inclusive ITx) were collected during routine visits >6 months apart and during episodes of graft dysfunction as a result of infectious enteritis or rejection. For comparison, samples were collected from 7 IF control patients. AT1R antibodies were considered positive for levels >17 U/mL. The median (range) AT1R antibody level for ITx patients was 40.0 U/mL (7.2-40.0), compared to 7.0 U/mL (5.7-40.0) for IF patients (p = .02). There was a trend toward higher prevalence of AT1R antibodies in ITx compared with IF patients (68% versus 29%, p = .09). Among ITx patients, the prevalence of AT1R antibodies was not different between periods of active graft dysfunction and normal health (83% versus 67%, p = .31). For 16 patients with >2 samples, AT1R antibodies remained positive in 67% cases, developed in 14% cases, disappeared in 10% cases, and remained negative in 10% cases. The changes in AT1R antibodies did not correlate with de/sensitizing events. This is the first study of AT1R antibodies in pediatric ITx. AT1R antibodies are highly prevalent after ITx and may be triggered by immune activation associated with the transplant. However, their pathogenicity and clinical utility remain in question.
Abstract 16009: Sex Differences in Patients With Suspected Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Introduction: Cardiac sarcoidosis is increasingly recognized as a cause of cardiomyopathy and mortality. However, there are no data on sex differences in patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis...
Adolescent animal product intake in relation to later prostate cancer risk and mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study.

Background Adolescent intake of animal products has been proposed to contribute to prostate cancer (PCa) development because of its potentially carcinogenic constituents and influence on hormone levels during adolescence. Methods We used data from 159,482 participants in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study to investigate associations for recalled adolescent intake of red meat (unprocessed beef and processed red meat), poultry, egg, canned tuna, animal fat and animal protein at ages 12-13 years with subsequent PCa risk and mortality over 14 years of follow-up. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of total (n = 17,349), advanced (n = 2,297) and fatal (n = 804) PCa. Results Suggestive inverse trends were observed for adolescent unprocessed beef intake with risks of total, advanced and fatal PCa (multivariable-adjusted P-trends = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). No consistent patterns of association were observed for other animal products by PCa outcome. Conclusion We found evidence to suggest that adolescent unprocessed beef intake, or possibly a correlate of beef intake, such as early-life socioeconomic status, may be associated with reduced risk and mortality from PCa. Additional studies with further early-life exposure information are warranted to better understand this association.
Elderly woman with a bleb leak.

Abstract Purpose To describe a unique incidence of inadvertent filtering bleb creation after intravitreal injections. Observations An 84-year-old woman with a history of wet age-related macular degeneration requiring intravitreal injections presented with a Seidel-positive conjunctival cyst. The cyst was in an area where she had received multiple injections and was suspected to be an inadvertent filtering bleb secondary to a full-thickness scleral hole created by these injections. She underwent surgical closure of the fistula and repair of the bleb. Conclusions and Importance This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing this potential complication of intraocular injections and outlines steps that should be taken to prevent poor outcomes and vision loss.