cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patent and exclusivity status of essential medicines for non-communicable disease.

Objective The threat of non-communicable diseases (“NCDs”) is increasingly becoming a global health crisis and are pervasive in high, middle, and low-income populations resulting in an estimated 36 million deaths per year. There is a need to assess intellectual property rights (“IPRs”) that may impede generic production and availability and affordability to essential NCD medicines. Methods Using the data sources listed below, the study design systematically eliminated NCD drugs that had no patent/exclusivity provisions on API, dosage, or administration route. The first step identified essential medicines that treat certain high disease burden NCDs. A second step examined the patent and exclusivity status of active ingredient, dosage and listed route of administration using exclusion criteria outlined in this study. Materials We examined the patent and exclusivity status of medicines listed in the World Health Organization’s (“WHO”) Model List of Essential Drugs (Medicines) (“MLEM”) and other WHO sources for drugs treating certain NCDs. i.e., cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancers, and diabetes. We utilized the USA Food and Drug Administration Orange Book and the USA Patent and Trademark Office databases as references given the predominant number of medicines registered in the USA. Results Of the 359 MLEM medicines identified, 22% (79/359) address targeted NCDs. Of these 79, only eight required in-depth patent or exclusivity assessment. Upon further review, no NCD MLEM medicines had study patent or exclusivity protection for reviewed criteria. Conclusions We find that ensuring availability and affordability of potential generic formulations of NCD MLEM medicines appears to be more complex than the presence of IPRs with API, dosage, or administration patent or exclusivity protection. Hence, more sophisticated analysis of NCD barriers to generic availability and affordability should be conducted in order to ensure equitable access to global populations for these essential medicines.
An Introduction to the AFCC Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy

In this introduction to the AFCC Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy, we provide examples of situations that call for the development of these guidelines. This is followed by a brief overview of each of the ten guidelines, intended to provide a guide for best practices when therapists knowingly or unknowingly have a psychotherapy client who is involved in legal proceedings. These guidelines are intended for use by therapists, lawyers, and judges in navigating the complex interdisciplinary waters of court-involved therapy.
Teaching History to Architects

An outline of the debate on the relationship between history and design that started in the 1960s prefaces a discussion about the contribution of history courses to the education of architecture students. A milestone of that debate was the rejection of the idea that the study of history can aid in the development of formal languages. Starting from that understanding of the boundary that exists between history and design, the article discusses the reasons that render the study of architectural history necessary.
Properties of the Multiallelic Trend Test

Summary. Disease genes can be mapped on the basis of associations between genetic markers and disease status, with the case–control design having the advantage of not requiring individuals from different generations. When the marker loci have multiple alleles, there has been debate on whether the power of tests for association increases or decreases. We show here that the multiple-allele version of Armitage's trend test has increased power over the two-allele version under the requirement of equifrequent alleles, but not in general. The trend test has the advantage of remaining valid even when the sampled population is not in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. A departure from Hardy–Weinberg means that association tests depend on gametic and nongametic linkage disequilibrium between marker and disease loci, and we illustrate the magnitude of these effects with simulated data.
TNF-α activation of arterioles and venules alters distribution and levels of ICAM-1 and affects leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions

The observation that leukocyte-endothelial cell (EC) interactions are localized to specific regions on the microvessel wall suggests that adhesion molecule distribution is not uniform. We investiga...
Modeling International Crises and the Political Use of Military Force by the USA

While the literature on the political use of military force by the USA has undergone tremendous growth in recent years, one crucial feature of this foreign policy activity has not been modeled - the conditions that give rise to the crises that precipitate a use of force. It is possible that many of the findings on the diversionary use of force obtain because of problems with selection effects. More uses of force may occur during certain periods simply because more crises occur during these times. Therefore, I explain how we may model crisis occurrence and the use of force to help us better understand the role of selection effects and the salience of domestic conditions in the decision to use force. I outline several hypotheses regarding the influence of domestic and crisis-specific factors to predict when opportunities to use force will occur and, given some opportunity, when a president will use military force. The results demonstrate that by not accounting for selection effects in the decision to use fo...
Encoding Multielement Scenes: Statistical Learning of Visual Feature Hierarchies

The authors investigated how human adults encode and remember parts of multielement scenes composed of recursively embedded visual shape combinations. The authors found that shape combinations that are parts of larger configurations are less well remembered than shape combinations of the same kind that are not embedded. Combined with basic mechanisms of statistical learning, this embeddedness constraint enables the development of complex new features for acquiring internal representations efficiently without being computationally intractable. The resulting representations also encode parts and wholes by chunking the visual input into components according to the statistical coherence of their constituents. These results suggest that a bootstrapping approach of constrained statistical learning offers a unified framework for investigating the formation of different internal representations in pattern and scene perception.
Decision Support Systems and Public Policy Analysis

This article outlines an approach for developing and applying decision support systems to the formulation and evaluation ofpublic policy. Financial resource limitations represent one of the major c...
The kappa statistic was representative of empirically observed inter-rater agreement for physical findings

Abstract Background and Objective To determine empirically chance agreement between different clinicians evaluating physical examination findings in children with acute abdominal pain. Materials and Methods Cross-sectional study of children age 3 to 18 years treated in a pediatric emergency department for acute abdominal pain. Three different examiners were provided the same historic information and asked to predict, independently and prior to examining the patient, the presence or absence of seven different clinical findings. Agreement between pairs of observers on these predicted findings was determined, and was defined as observed chance agreement. Actual examination findings were also recorded, and expected agreement due to chance was determined from the kappa statistic calculation. Results There were 68 pair of observations between two pediatric examiners, and 46 pair between pediatric and surgical examiners. Observed and expected chance agreement were very similar for six of the seven clinical findings. Agreement beyond chance for the actual exam findings was generally poor, with kappa less than 0.5 for all but one finding. Conclusions Expected chance agreement, as calculated from the kappa statistic, is a reasonable reflection of empirically observed chance agreement between clinicians.
Average-case performance analysis and validation of online scheduling of independent parallel tasks

Summary form only given. We analyze the average-case performance of an online scheduling algorithm for independent parallel tasks. We develop a method to calculate an analytical asymptotic average-case performance bound for arbitrary probability distribution of task sizes. In particular, we show that when task sizes are uniformly distributed in the range [1..C], an asymptotic average-case performance bound of M-(3-(1+1/C)/sup C+1/)C-1 can be achieved, where M is the number of processors. We also present extensive numerical and simulation data to demonstrate the accuracy of our analytical bound.
Static Analysis of Structures Subjected to Interval Displacements

Static analysis is an essential procedure to design a structure. Using static analysis, the structure’s response to the applied external forces is obtained. Moreover, the static analysis is performed when the structure is subjected to external displacements, such as differential support settlements. The structure’s response includes internal forces/moments and internal stresses that are used in the design process. In general, using a finite-element-based structural analysis scheme, first, the unknown displacements are obtained from equilibrium equations of an active system and then, the external and internal forces and stresses are calculated from structure’s global equilibrium equations. However, for a structure subjected to external displacements, the prescribed displacements possess uncertainties because of limited information or measurement errors which alter the structure’s response. One method to quantify the presence of these uncertainties is interval or unknown-but-bounded variables. Nevertheless, naive implementation of intervals in a conventional finiteelement scheme for this type of problem may cause errors and overestimations due to existing interval functional dependencies. In this work a new method is developed that obtains the exact bounds on structure’s static response of a structure subjected to interval displacements. This method combines the two steps of conventional analysis aforementioned before into a single step, along with application of interval displacements, leading to direct determination of bounds of internal forces/moments and internal stresses. This approach removes the interval functional dependencies in calculations in order to attain exact results. Numerical example that shows the behavior of the developed method along with comparison to Monte-Carlo simulation results is presented. Using this method, it has shown that obtained bounds on static response of a structure subjected to interval displacements do not require an iterative procedure such as Monte-Carlo simulations.
Adapting to the human world: Dogs' responsiveness to our social cues

Dogs are more skilful than a host of other species at tasks which require they respond to human communicative gestures in order to locate hidden food. Four basic interpretations for this proficiency surface from distilling the research findings. One possibility is that dogs simply have more opportunity than other species to learn to be responsive to human social cues. A different analysis suggests that the domestication process provided an opening for dogs to apply general cognitive problem-solving skills to a novel social niche. Some researchers go beyond this account and propose that dogs' co-evolution with humans equipped them with a theory of mind for social exchanges. Finally, a more prudent approach suggests that sensitivity to the behaviours of both humans and conspecifics would be particularly advantageous for a social scavenger like the dog. A predisposition to attend to human actions allows for rapid early learning of the association between gestures and the availability of food.
Variation among Eucalyptus species in resistance to eucalyptus longhorned borer in Southern California

Eucalyptus L'H6ritier (Myrtaceae: Leptospermoideae) species are native to the Austro-Malaysian region, but have been widely planted in temperate and subtropical regions around the world. In most regions where Eucalyptus have been imported, the Eucalyptus Longhorned Borer (Phoracantha semipunctata E) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) has been accidently introduced. Larvae of the beetle bore through the bark and mine along the cambium of stressed trees, usually killing their host. We report here the relative susceptibilities of 12 Eucalyptus species in two mixed-species plantations in California, USA. These trees were stressed by water deficit resulting from a prolonged drought. Eucalyptus species that appeared resistant to the borer included E. camaldulensis Dehnhardt, E. cladocalyx E Muller, E. sideroxylon A. Cunn. ex Woolls, and E. trabutii (an E. camaldulensis hybrid). Species that were more susceptible to attack were E. diversicolor F. Mueller, E. globulus LaBillardi~re, E. grandis Hill ex Maiden, E. nitens (Deane & Maiden), E. saligna Sm., and E. viminalis LaBillardi~re. Survival of trees was influenced by fine-scale moisture variation resulting from slope and irrigation effects. Resistance characteristics of these Eucalyptus species did not correlate with taxonomic relatedness or bark characteristics, but did correspond to drought tolerance traits in their native habitat. Eucalyptus species that were resistant to attack by P. semipunctata were those that are most tolerant of drought in Australia.
Learning in certainty-factor-based multilayer neural networks for classification

The computational framework of rule-based neural networks inherits from the neural network and the inference engine of an expert system. In one approach, the network activation function is based on the certainty factor (CF) model of MYCIN-like systems. In this paper, it is shown theoretically that the neural network using the CF-based activation function requires relatively small sample sizes for correct generalization. This result is also confirmed by empirical studies in several independent domains.
Selective male mortality in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta.

Males in polygyne populations of Solenopsis invicta are primarily sterile diploids and thought to not express the Gp-9 gene coding for a pheromone-binding protein affecting complex social behavior. We examined an aspect of the breeding system hitherto not considered—male Gp-9 genotypes in relation to sperm stored in queens. Four sites with varying frequencies of sympatric monogyne and polygyne colonies were sampled, including sexuals, workers, and broods from four colonies. Most queens were heterozygotes storing B sperm. Although predicted to be common, only 14 of 504 males were B or BB genotypes, suggesting strong selection. Increased frequency of polygyne colonies at each site paralleled increases in queens with b sperm (1.9–32.8%) and of noninseminated queens. The presence of both B and b sperm in 1.9–18.9% of queens, genotype profiles of colonies, and genotypes of offspring from individual queens suggest some frequency of multiple mating. The bb genotype, rather than an obligate, developmental lethal, was present in some queens and common in alates, workers, and brood. Selective mortality of sexuals may affect multiple aspects of the breeding system, including female-mediated dispersal, mating success, and gene flow.
Multiple Event Triggers in Linear Covariance Analysis for Spacecraft Rendezvous

Linear covariance analysis of both navigation error and trajectory dispersion is a powerful tool for spacecraft rendezvous analysis and design. The introduction of multiple events triggered on state conditions causes discrepancies between the linear covariance results and the theoretical results. This work investigates the causes of the discrepancy and introduces a solution to it. The proposed technique is validated by comparison to the results from Monte Carlo simulations.
Mass spectrometry provides accurate and sensitive quantitation of A2E

Orange autofluorescence from lipofuscin in the lysosomes of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a hallmark of aging in the eye. One of the major components of lipofuscin is A2E, the levels of which increase with age and in pathologic conditions, such as Stargardt disease or age-related macular degeneration. In vitro studies have suggested that A2E is highly phototoxic and, more specifically, that A2E and its oxidized derivatives contribute to RPE damage and subsequent photoreceptor cell death. To date, absorption spectroscopy has been the primary method to identify and quantitate A2E. Here, a new mass spectrometric method was developed for the specific detection of low levels of A2E and compared to a traditional method of analysis. The new mass spectrometric method allows the detection and quantitation of approximately 10000-fold less A2E than absorption spectroscopy and the detection and quantitation of low levels of oxidized A2E, with localization of the oxidation sites. This study suggests that identification and quantitation of A2E from tissue extracts by chromatographic absorption spectroscopy overestimates the amount of A2E. This mass spectrometric approach makes it possible to detect low levels of A2E and its oxidized metabolites with greater accuracy than traditional methods, thereby facilitating a more exact analysis of bis-retinoids in animal models of inherited retinal degeneration as well as in normal and diseased human eyes.
Social Coordination in Older Adulthood: A Dual-Process Model.

Background/Study Context: In a variety of collaborative circumstances, participants must adopt the perspective of a partner and establish a shared mental representation that helps mediate common understanding. This process is referred to as social coordination. Here, the authors investigate the effect of aging on social coordination and consider separately the component processes related to perspective-taking and working memory.Methods: Twelve young adults and 14 older adults completed an experimental, language-based coordination task. Subjects were asked to describe a scene with sufficient detail so that a conversational partner could identify a target object in the context of other, competing objects that shared a variable number of features. Trials varied in the information available to the partner (perspective-taking demand) and in the number of competing objects present in the scene (working memory demand). Responses were scored according to adjective use.Results: Results indicated that social coordi...
The Stability of Globular Protein

(1975). The Stability of Globular Protein. CRC Critical Reviews in Biochemistry: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 1-43.
Pedido de registro de marcas ligadas à informática no MERCOSUL: Legislação argentina e brasileira harmonizadas

The legal requirements of physical or juridical persons for trademark registration of IT related issues in Argentina and Brazil is an interesting subject. The aim of this paper is to review laws and instructions for Argentines and Brazilians to carry on this registration, using standard categories for brand classification. It is important to approach this issue in the framework of MERCOSUL taking in consideration the harmonization treaties and protocols among member countries. Finally, this paper aims to introduce this subject considering the main legal issues that are at hand for the applicant. Resumo. O pedido de registro de uma marca na Argentina e no Brasil ligadas a informatica e um topico para ser analisado levando em conta a normativa atual e o procedimento de inscricao que pode realizar uma pessoa fisica ou juridica. O objetivo deste artigo e apresentar as legislacoes como tambem um instrutivo para os cidadaos argentinos e brasileiros realizarem esta gestao a partir de categorias padrao em que se classificam as marcas. E importante salientar a abordagem desta tematica no plano do MERCOSUL a partir de tratados e protocolos de harmonizacao entre os paises membros. Finalmente, este trabalho pretende introduzir esta tematica considerando os principais aspectos legais que se encontram na mao do requerente.
Radiation Curing of Ethylene—Propylene—Diene Elastomers

Abstract A significant reduction of the radiation dose required to cure EPDM elastomers can be obtained by introducing crosslinking monomers into the compounds. Multifunctional acrylates are more efficient than either allylic or pendent-vinyl crosslinking agents. The curing rate is also affected by the nature of the unsaturation in the base polymer. Compounds of EPDM containing 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene are more reactive than those with 1,4-hexadiene. Increasing polymer unsaturation levels above 3 per cent or changes in ethylene—propylene ratios have little effect. Curing rate is dependent, however, on the Mooney viscosity of the elastomer, with higher viscosities yielding faster cures. The addition of extender oils drastically reduces radiation efficiency, which depends on both the nature and the level of the oil. This can be overcome by increasing the monomer content. The physical properties of radiation-cured EPDM compare favorably with those of sulfur-cured EPDM. The radiation-cured EPDM exhibits grea...
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Bi12TiO20 Nanostrucutures Using Anodized TiO2 Nanotubes and Its Application in Photovoltaics

A one-step synthesis method to prepare bismuth titanate nanostructures that belong to the sillenite family group of compounds (A12BO20) using TiO2 nanotubes (T-NT) is reported. Preformed TiO2 nanotubes prepared by anodization of titanium foils have been used in a hydrothermal procedure with a bismuth salt to prepare cube-like nanostructures. Surface characterization has been performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results indicate that these nanostructures are cube-like crystalline Bi12TiO20 (BTO) and demonstrate tight size and dimensional control. The photoelectrochemical properties of the BTO have been examined and compared with the properties of T-NT. The BTO demonstrates a higher photocurrent density compared to T-NT in the presence of both UV−vis as well as visible light illumination. Depending on the magnitude of external bias, a stable increase of at least 40 and 10% in the values of photocurrent has been noted wit...
DISTURBANCE ACCOMMODATION FOR A CLASS OF TRACKING CONTROL SYSTEMS

As is the case in many dynamical aerospace systems, it is often required that the response be tailored to our predilection via active control. Whether used for tracking or suppression, feedback control systems are constructed to direct an output trajectory to follow a desired path. However, neglecting the effects of appreciable persistent disturbances during operation rarely ensures acceptable performance. Henceforth, we assume that the plant, desired trajectory, and persistent disturbance can be adequately modeled by linear time-invariant statespace systems. The concept of the ideal trajectory described for command generator tracker (CGT) control is used in conjunction with the theory of disturbance accommodating control (DAC) to create a stable design as long as certain sufficient conditions are met.' The resulting control design is similar to the CGT adaptive disturbance rejection method given by Fuentes and Balas in that both are developed in the time domain state-space form. Although this DAC extension is more restrictive than an internal model principle design, it does provide an alternative to the HTM construction and a benchmark for similar adaptive methods. Following the derivation, we conclude with an example of the resulting tracking controller applied to an inverted pendulum problem with a persistent disturbance._____________________ •"Copyright © 2000 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved. DISTURBANCE ACCOMMODATING CONTROL
Comparison of Two Surgical Procedures for Ovarian Cysts

Objective To compare the clinical effects of laparoscopic surgery and open surgery on ovarian cysts. Methods A total 151 patients with ovarian cysts were randomly assigned to receive either laparoscopic surgery(laparoscopy group, n=77)or traditional laparotomy(laparotomy group,n=74).The cure rate, operative time, intraoperatve blood loss, postoperative exhaust time, hospital stay and postoperative analgesia were compared between the two groups. In addition, hormone levels were determined before and after operation, and ovarian reserve were measured 3 and 6 months after operation. Results Compared with laparotomy group, operative time, intraoperatve blood loss and postoperative exhaust time significantly decreased in laparoscopy group(P0.05 or P0.01). The cure rates at 1 and 3 months after operation were, respectively, 77.9% and 92.2% in laparoscopy group, and71.6% and 94.6% in laparotomy group. Differences were not significant between the two groups(P0.05). Levels of E2decreased but levels of FSH and LH increased 1 month after operation in both groups(P0.05 or P0.01). There were significant differences in the levels of FSH, LH and E2between the two groups(P0.05). Compared with preoperative levels, no obvious changes in FSH, LH and E2were found 3 months after operation in both groups(P0.05). The number of antral follicles significantly decreased 3 months after operation in both groups, and the decrease in laparotomy group was more obvious than that in laparoscopy group(P0.05).No significant difference in the number of antral follicles was found between the two groups 6 months after operation(P0.05). Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery is superior to traditional laparotomy for treating ovarian cysts. However, indications for surgery must be accurately grasped to achieve the best curative efficacy with the minimal trauma.
LIVER REGENERATION IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

Liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy results in proliferation of virtually all of the cells in the remnant liver, leading to restitution of mass within a few days. The regenerating liver maintains its functional capacity, and liver-specific factors, such as C/EBPs, continue to be expressed. Growth-induced transcription factors Stat3 and NF-kB regulate the expression of growth- response genes, ultimately leading to cell growth. Although well- modulated levels of cytokines may promote liver regeneration posthepatectomy, aberrant production of cytokines that can be seen in hepatitis, cirrhosis, and after liver transplantation may lead to hepatomas, fibrosis, and liver failure.
Low acrosin activity in a subgroup of men with idiopathic infertility does not correlate with sperm density, percent motility, curvilinear velocity, or linearity

The authors compared sperm acrosin activity with sperm density and cell motion characteristics in 21 normal fertile men and 25 patients with unexplained infertility. Under standardized and optimized conditions of abstinence and semen sample processing, we measured sperm acrosin activity in washed sperm from direct aliquots of semen and in aliquots of semen filtered through glasswool to remove dead cells and debris. Using washed sperm from semen, sperm acrosin levels in infertile men (median, 44 microIU/10(6) sperm) were significantly lower than values measured in fertile men (median, 67 microIU/10(6) sperm, P less than 0.01). After glasswool filtration, sperm acrosin activity was higher for both fertile and infertile men. Using washed sperm, 7 of 25 patients had acrosin activity consistently below values measured for fertile men; after glasswool filtration, values for 8 of 14 patients were below the normal range. For either fertile or infertile men, sperm acrosin activity showed no correlation with sperm density, percent motility, or either motion characteristic of curvilinear velocity (Vc40 microns/sec) or linearity (L3); and further, the low sperm acrosin activity of some infertile patients did not correlate with the motion co-characteristics measured at Vc40/L3, and the majority of patients with slower and/or less directional sperm had normal acrosin activity. From our data, we therefore conclude that sperm acrosin activity is independent of sperm motion characteristics.
A KATP channel opener protects cardiomyocytes from Ca2+ waves: a laser confocal microscopy study

Laser confocal microscopy was used to visualize intracellular spatiotemporal Ca2+ patterns in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes loaded with the Ca2+ indicator, fluo 3-acetoxymethyl ester (fluo 3-AM), and exposed to moderately elevated extracellular K+ to induce partial membrane depolarization. Analysis of K(+)-induced intracellular Ca2+ elevation revealed three distinct paradigms: 1) diffuse, nonoscillatory Ca2+ elevation across the myocyte; 2) localized Ca2+ elevation in anatomically restricted areas (Ca2+ sparks); and 3) regenerative frontal propagations of Ca2+ that traversed the length of the cell (Ca2+ waves). The first two patterns were more frequently observed when the extracellular K+ concentration was raised to 8 mM. Ca2+ waves became more common when extracellular K+ concentration was increased to 16 mM, suggesting that a minimum threshold of increase in intracellular Ca2+ is necessary for the organization of Ca2+ waves. The velocity of propagation was typically approximately 60 microns/s with an average frequency of one wave per second crossing at a given point in the cell. Wave propagation resulted in spatial and temporal oscillations in cytosolic and nuclear Ca2+ concentration. Treating cardiac cells with aprikalim, a potassium channel-opening drug, prevented 16 mM K+ (but not 32 mM K+) from inducing an increase in Ca2+ concentration and from generating Ca2+ waves. In cardiomyocytes treated with glyburide, a selective antagonist of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, aprikalim failed to prevent 16 mM K+ from inducing Ca2+ waves. In summary, moderate hyperkalemia induces distinct nonuniform form patterns of intracellular Ca2+ elevation in ventricular cells, which can be prevented by a potassium channel-opening drug through a glyburide-sensitive mechanism.
Muscarinic regulation of pulmonary intravascular volume in isolated canine lungs

The influence of acetylcholine on pulmonary intravascular volume has not been clearly identified. In 14 anesthetized dogs, the pulmonary circulation was separately perfused in situ at a constant rate and drained to an extracorporeal reservoir, so that changes in total pulmonary intravascular volume could be recorded as reciprocal changes in reservoir volume. In eight animals, acetylcholine at 100 micrograms/min for 20 min was associated with increases in pulmonary intravascular volume (PIV) and pulmonary arterial pressure of 41 +/- 5 (SE) ml (P less than 0.001) and 2.0 +/- 0.0 mmHg (P less than 0.001; 11 infusions), respectively. These responses were abolished after atropine (6 infusions). In six animals, pulmonary venous pressure was also measured, so that total pulmonary (TPR), pulmonary arterial (PAR), and pulmonary venous (PVR) resistances could be calculated. TPR and PVR increased from 21 +/- 2 to 24 +/- 3 (P less than 0.001) and from 7 +/- 1 to 11 +/- 1 mmHg.min.l-1 (P less than 0.001), respectively, while PAR did not change significantly (6 infusions). In three of the six animals, these changes were abolished by atropine (6 infusions). In the other three animals, PIV increased 56 +/- 11 ml (P less than 0.001) before and 47 +/- 6 ml (P less than 0.001) after indomethacin. The acetylcholine-associated increases in TPR and PVR were also not significantly attenuated after indomethacin. Hence, muscarinic receptor stimulation with acetylcholine is associated with an increase in pulmonary intravascular volume, which is mediated by an increase in resistance to pulmonary venous outflow. These changes are not due to release of prostanoids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Colonic Pericryptal Fibroblast Sheath: Replication, Migration, and Cytodifferentiation of a Mesenchymal Cell System in Adult Tissue: III. Replication and differentiation in human hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps

Electron microscopic and autoradiographic studies of the pericryptal fibroblast sheath of human hyperplastic and adenomatous colonic polyps confirm the suggestion of Lane et al. (Lane N, Kaplan H, Pascal RR: Minute adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps of the colon: divergent patterns of epithelial growth with specific associated mesenchymal changes. Contrasting roles in the pathogenesis of carcinoma. Gastroenterology 60:537–551, 1971) that these two lesions may represent divergent extremes of the normal differentiation of the colonic mucosa. The sheath of the hyperplastic mucosa is fully differentiated and excessively developed, paralleling precisely the differentiation and development of the overlying epithelium. Conversely, the immaturity of the sheath of the adenomatous epithelium, demonstrated by continued fibroblast division at all levels, failure of morphological maturation of the fibroblasts, and failure of the fibroblasts to secrete their normal extracellular products, collagen and mucopolysaccharides, parallels the degree of immaturity of the overlying adenomatous epithelium. The clinical significance of these findings is discussed.
From the windows to the walls Window glass spatial analysis at the Unity Presbyterian Red Brick Church Site

The use of window glass fragments as time diagnostic artifacts is an atypical, but well-established technique in historical archaeology—founded on the universal increase in window glass thickness through the 18th and 19th centuries. For sites with an abundance of architectural artifacts and a paucity of other time diagnostics or historic documentation, it may be the only means of ascertaining a construction date for a structure. However, when construction dates are known, window glass fragments may provide another benefit. For this analysis, window glass thickness is used as a key variable in a spatial analysis to test for the presence of multiple church construction events at the Unity Presbyterian Red Brick Church Site. This historic site is of crucial significance in recounting the history of the Unity (Latrobe) Presbyterians in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Microstructure investigations of Yb- and Bi-doped Mg2Si prepared from metal hydrides for thermoelectric applications

Abstract Within the field of thermoelectric materials for energy conversion magnesium silicide, Mg2Si, is an outstanding candidate due to its low density, abundant constituents and low toxicity. However electronic and thermal tuning of the material is a required necessity to improve its Figure of Merit, zT. Doping of Yb via reactive YbH2 into the structure is performed with the goal of reducing the thermal conductivity. Hydrogen is released as a by-product at high temperatures allowing for facile incorporation of Yb into the structure. We report on the properties of Yb- and Bi-doped Mg2Si prepared with MgH2 and YbH2 with the focus on the synthetic conditions, and samples’ microstructure, investigated by various electron microscopy techniques. Yb is found in the form of both Yb3Si5 inclusions and Yb dopant segregated at the grain boundary substituting for Mg. The addition of 1 at% Yb concentration reduced the thermal conductivity, providing a value of 30 mW/cm K at 800 K. In order to adjust carrier concentration, the sample is additionally doped with Bi. The impact of the microstructure on the transport properties of the obtained material is studied. Idealy, the reduction of the thermal conductivity is achieved by doping with Yb and the electronic transport is adjusted by doping with Bi. Large grain microstructure facilitates the electronic transport. However, the synthetic conditions that provide the optimized microstructure for electrical transport do not facilitate the additional Yb dopant incorporation. Therefore, the Yb and Bi containing sample with the optimized microstructure provides a zT=0.46 at 800 K.
Powered air-purifying respirator use in healthcare: Effects on thermal sensations and comfort.

ABSTRACTTwelve subjects wore an N95 filtering facepiece respirator (N95 FFR), one tight-fitting full facepiece powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), two loose-fitting PAPRs, and one elastomeric/PAPR hybrid for 1 hr each during treadmill walking at 5.6 km/hr while undergoing physiological and subjective response monitoring. No significant interaction (p ≥ .05) was noted between the five respirators in heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, transcutaneous carbon dioxide, and perceptions of breathing effort or discomfort, exertion, facial heat, and overall body heat. Respirator deadspace heat/humidity were significantly greater for the N95 FFR, whereas tympanic forehead skin temperatures were significantly greater for the hybrid PAPR. Temperature of the facial skin covered by the respirator was equivalent for the N95 FFR and hybrid PAPR, and both were significantly higher than for the other three PAPRs. Perception of eye dryness was significantly greater for a tight-fitting full facepiece PAPR t...
Gender Inequity Associated with Increased Child Physical Abuse and Neglect: a Cross-Country Analysis of Population-Based Surveys and Country-Level Statistics

Gender inequity is proposed as a societal-level risk factor for child maltreatment. However, most cross-national research examining this association is limited to developing countries and has used limited measures of gender inequity and child homicides as a proxy for child maltreatment. To examine the relationship between gender inequity and child maltreatment, we used caregivers’ reported use of severe physical punishment (proxy for physical abuse) and children under 5 left alone or under the care of another child younger than 10 years of age (supervisory neglect) and three indices of gender inequity (the Social and Institutional Gender Index, the Gender Inequality Index, and the Gender Gap Index) from 57 countries, over half of which were developing countries. We found all three gender inequity indices to be significantly associated with physical abuse and two of the three to be significantly associated with neglect, after controlling for country-level development. Based on these findings, efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect might benefit from reducing gender inequity.
Stepping responses to treadmill perturbations vary with severity of motor deficits in human SCI

Using a novel approach with a split-belt treadmill, we tested the effects of hip angle perturbations to a single leg in healthy participants and participants with varying severity of spinal cord in...
Advanced Theory of Infinite Series

This chapter is about going in depth into the theory and application of infinite series. One infinite series that will come up again and again in this chapter and the next chapter as well is the Riemann zeta function.
The Effects of Pollutants on Marine Zooplankton at Deep Water Dumpsite 106: Preliminary Findings

The toxicity of duPont’s Grasselli waste to the marine copepods Pseudocalanus sp. and Centropages typicus has been evaluated in 96 hour bioassays. Test organisms were exposed to concentrations of waste ranging from 1 to 1000 ppm and the resulting effects on survival and feeding rates were monitored. Complete mortality of Pseudocalanus was observed at an exposure concentration of 1000 ppm; no mortality was detected among control organisms or those exposed to lesser concentrations. Significant reductions in filtration activity, however, were detected with exposure to 10 and 100 ppm. Significant mortality of Centropages was detected at 100 ppm and exposure to higher concentrations resulted in 100% mortality. Feeding rates of Centropages as measured by both consumption of Artemia nauplii and fecal pellet production rates were significantly lower than control values with exposure to 50 and 100 ppm. The findings of other investigators dealing with the effects of dumped wastes on marine zoo-plankton are discussed.
12. Use and Abuse of Network Effects

The term "network effects" has a clear meaning in economics but non-economists often confuse it with other concepts such as increasing returns to scale and learning-by-doing. This essay is an attempt to clear up some of this confusion.
Growth of Lithium Dendrites and Globules through a Solid Block Copolymer Electrolyte as a Function of Current Density

The uncontrollable nonplanar electrodeposition of lithium is a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of high energy density rechargeable batteries with a lithium metal anode. A promising a...
Outcomes and resource utilization in surgery for Chiari I malformation in a national network of children’s hospitals

Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) is a common congenital or acquired malformation of the posterior fossa. We aimed to characterize preoperative risk factors, perioperative complications, and postoperative outcomes related to CM-1 surgery in pediatric populations across a nationwide network of pediatric hospitals in the United States (US). The Children’s Hospital Association’s Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database was used to examine patients < 21 years old in the US-based nationwide database who underwent inpatient surgery for CM-1 from 2007 to 2015. Data analyzed included patient characteristics, preoperative comorbidities, perioperative outcomes, short-term postoperative surgical and medical complications, and healthcare resource utilization. Among the 5976 patients identified, those age 0–4 years had higher medical and surgical complication rates compared to older patients. Those with pre-existing comorbidity of hydrocephalus had higher odds of 30- and 90-day medical and surgical complications. Those with any complications at 90 days had an increased length of stay and higher healthcare costs compared to those without complications. 6.88% of complications were surgical and 1.67% medical. Patients with medical complications had the longer mean stay and associated costs compared to those with surgical complications (13 vs. 6.9 at 95% CI, and $71,300–94,500 vs. $110,400–195,000 at 95% CI). Use of a US-based national children’s hospital database presents outcomes and resource utilization from a multi-institutional, real-world experience in pediatric hospitals. There was a higher risk of perioperative complications in younger patients and those with pre-existing comorbidities, namely hydrocephalus. Understanding preoperative risk factors, perioperative complications, and postoperative outcomes, as well as healthcare utilization and costs, can help target areas for improvement and guide preoperative counseling and risk stratification.
Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Pediococcus pentosaceus on the Growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella on Alfalfa Sprouts.

ABSTRACT The germination conditions of sprouted vegetables consisting of relatively high temperatures and humidity, low light, and abundance of nutrients are ideal for pathogen survival and growth....
Changes in Reported Injection Behaviors Following the Public Health Response to an HIV Outbreak Among People Who Inject Drugs: Indiana, 2016

A syringe services program (SSP) was established following the Indiana HIV outbreak among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Scott County. Among Indiana-based PWID, we examined injection behaviors associated with HIV status, SSP use after its establishment, and changes in injection behaviors after the outbreak response. During 2016, we interviewed 200 PWID and assessed injection behaviors before the response by HIV status. We reported injection behaviors prior to the response and used Fisher’s exact Chi square tests (P < 0.05) to assess differences by HIV status. Next, among persons who injected both before (July–December 2014) and after (past 30 days) the response, we (1) reported the proportion of persons who used the SSP to obtain sterile syringes, and assessed differences in SSP use by HIV status using Fisher’s exact Chi square tests; and (2) compared distributive and receptive sharing of injection equipment and disposal of syringes before and after the outbreak response, and assessed statistical differences using McNemar’s test. We also compared injection behaviors before and after the response by HIV status. Injecting extended release oxymorphone (Opana® ER); receptive sharing of syringes and cookers; and distributive sharing of cookers, filters, or water before the response were associated with HIV infection. SSP use was high (86%), particularly among HIV-positive compared with HIV-negative persons (98% vs. 84%). Injection equipment sharing decreased and safe disposal of used syringes increased after the response, especially among HIV-positive persons. Injection equipment sharing contributed to the outbreak. High SSP use following the response, particularly among HIV-positive persons, contributed to decreased high-risk injection practices.
Key traits and genes associate with salinity tolerance independent from vigor in cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

With rising food demands, crop production on salinized lands is increasingly necessary. Sunflower, a moderately salt tolerant crop, exhibits a trade-off where more vigorous, high-performing genotypes have a greater proportional decline in biomass under salinity stress. Prior research has found deviations from this relationship across genotypes; the magnitude and direction of these deviations provides a useful metric of tolerance. Here, we identified the traits and genomic regions underlying variation in this expectation-deviation tolerance. We grew a diversity panel under control and salt-stressed conditions and measured a suite of morphological (growth, allocation, plant and leaf morphology) and leaf ionomic traits. The genetic basis of variation in these traits and their plasticity was investigated via genome-wide association studies, which also enabled the identification of genomic regions (i.e., haplotypic blocks) influencing multiple traits. We found that the magnitude of plasticity in whole root mass fraction, fine root mass fraction, and chlorophyll content, as well as leaf Na and K content under saline conditions, were the traits most strongly correlated with expectation-deviation tolerance. Additionally, we identified multiple genomic regions underlying these traits as well as a single gene directly associated with this tolerance metric. Our results show that, by taking the vigor-salinity effect trade-off into account, we can identify unique traits and genes associated with salinity tolerance. Since these traits and genomic regions are distinct from those associated with high vigor (i.e., growth in benign conditions), they provide an avenue for increasing salinity tolerance in high-performing sunflower genotypes without compromising vigor.
Social innovation: specifying pathways for impact

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently reemphasized the foundational role of innovation for economic growth and for addressing social and global challenges. The OECD proposed an “Innovation Imperative” for all actors – government, businesses, universities, and civil society. The social and development sectors likewise promote social innovation as a key driver of progress, an imperative to tackle the challenges of the twenty-first century, and social entrepreneurs and their innovations as the key to our social ills.
The Intersection between Leadership and Identity: Managing as a Counseling Center Director of Color

Directors of color at college counseling centers face many challenges. In this article, three directors of color will describe the issues they face on a daily basis working in predominantly white i...