cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of carbon dioxide insufflation during direct cholangioscopy on biliary pressures and vital parameters: a pilot study in porcine models.

Background and Aims Direct per-oral cholangioscopy allows endoscopic visualization of the biliary tract. Insufflation with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is an alternative to saline solution irrigation during direct cholangioscopy. There are no data on maximal CO 2 insufflation in direct cholangioscopy without causing biliary barotrauma or fatal gas embolism. We aimed to evaluate the safety of increasing CO 2 insufflation in direct cholangioscopy without causing biliary barotrauma or fatal gas embolism. Methods This was an in vivo animal study. Four domestic pigs, under general endotracheal anesthesia, were used. The first animal was used to validate the feasibility of direct cholangioscopy and biliary pressure measurements, after which all animals underwent laparotomy, insertion of a pressure transducer in the cystic duct, and direct transpapillary placement of the cholangioscope. The common bile duct (CBD) and cystic duct were ligated to contain the instilled gas and exclusively expose the biliary tree. Insufflation of CO 2 started at 200 mL/min and was continuously increased until there was evidence of bile duct rupture (as measured by a drop in intraductal pressures) or instability of vital signs (hypotension, bradycardia, bradypnea, O 2 desaturation). Necropsy was performed on all animals to assess the liver and biliary system for evidence of barotrauma. Results CO 2 was insufflated up to 8 L/min without causing bile duct rupture or instability in vital signs despite increasing CBD pressure with insufflation. There was significant correlation between CO 2 flow with partial pressure of CO 2 in arterial blood (PaCO 2 ) (coefficient, 0.96-1.00; P 2 (EtCO 2 ) (coefficient, 0.94-1.00; P 2 did not correlate with the amount of CO 2 flow. There was no evidence of hepatic or biliary barotrauma on necropsy. Conclusions This pilot experience in porcine models suggests that CO 2 insufflation is safe for direct cholangioscopy and does not result in biliary barotrauma or vital signs instability.
Measurement-based system reduction using autoregressive model

With the constantly changing power system topology and operation status, it is not yet feasible to update full power system simulation models in real time. Furthermore, the accuracy of models for dynamic simulation is a concern. In the large-scale power system dynamic simulation, usually only the dynamics of a local system need to be studied while external systems can be reduced. Thus, dynamic equivalencing is one solution for the increasing size and complexity of power systems. This paper develops a measurement-based equivalent model of the external systems in order to improve the model accuracy of the reduced system and increase the speed of dynamic simulation through system reduction. The dynamic equivalents are obtained by a system identification method and integrated to the simulation tool.
Detection and Monitoring of Defects in Pressure Vessels

The application of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques to nuclear pressure vessels of nuclear power plant systems has spawned the development of numerous items of remotely-controlled mechanized examination equipment. This equipment is utilized during the initial or preservice examination (PSI) and subsequent in-service examinations (ISI) to meet the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code requirements for these vessels. The following is a discussion of the application of ultrasonic examinations to selected regions of the nuclear pressure boundary of reactor systems for detecting and monitoring defects in these systems.
Generic Audio Data Segmentation and Indexing

In the coarse-level segmentation and indexing stage, audio data are segmented and classified into basic audio types, based on morphological and statistical analysis of the temporal curves of the short-time energy function, the short-time average zero-crossing rate, and the short-time fundamental frequency, as well as the spectral peak tracks of audio signals. Threshold-based heuristical rules are derived empirically to guide the classification procedures. Therefore, the approach is completely generic and model-free, which can be applied under any circumstances. An illustration of the scheme is shown in Figure 4.1.
Association of Mediterranean diet and cardiorespiratory fitness with the development of pre-diabetes and diabetes: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study

Objective To better understand the association between a modified Mediterranean diet pattern in young adulthood, cardiorespiratory fitness in young adulthood, and the odds of developing pre-diabetes or diabetes by middle age. Research design and methods Participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study who did not have pre-diabetes or diabetes at baseline (year 0 (Y0), ages 18–30) and who had data available at the Y0 and year 25 (Y25) visits were included in this analysis (n=3358). Polytomous logistic regression models were used to assess the association between baseline dietary intake and fitness data and odds of pre-diabetes or diabetes by middle age (Y25, ages 43–55). Results At the Y25 visit, 1319 participants (39%) had pre-diabetes and 393 (12%) had diabetes. Higher baseline fitness was associated with lower odds of pre-diabetes and of diabetes at Y25. After adjustment for covariates, each SD increment in treadmill duration (181 s) was associated with lower odds for pre-diabetes (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.95, p=0.005) and for diabetes (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.85, p=0.0002) when compared to normal glycemia. A modified Mediterranean diet pattern was not associated with either pre-diabetes or diabetes. No interaction between cardiorespiratory fitness and dietary intake was observed, but baseline fitness remained independently associated with incident pre-diabetes and diabetes following adjustment for diet. Conclusions Higher cardiorespiratory fitness in young adulthood, but not a modified Mediterranean diet pattern, is associated with lower odds of pre-diabetes and of diabetes in middle age. Trial registration number NCT00005130.
Viruses and Cancer: An Accidental Journey.

Infections with “high-risk” mucosal human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide. These include almost all cases of cervical carcinoma (a leading cause of cancer death in women), a large fraction of other anogenital tract cancers, and oropharyngeal tumors. For the last 30 years, my research has been focused on the molecular mechanisms by which HPVs contribute to cancer formation. In an article published some years ago, I posed the question of whether such behavior “represents relentless scientific curiosity or is simply a reflection of intellectual lethargy”. This short article attempts to convince readers that it is the former rather than the latter possibility.
The Commercial Space Race

This chapter discusses the new and exciting era of commercial space programs. The status of the American space program and where it is headed in the future is explained in terms of how it interacts with industry to accomplish common goals. Commercial endeavors are discussed with a spotlight on some of the most influential private companies with space agendas and including a few of the visionaries who founded them. The influence of the XPrize and other space prizes are discussed.
Combinatorial treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using nanoparticles with prostaglandin E and siRNA(s)

Inhalation delivery of prostaglandin E (PGE2) in combination with selected siRNA(s) was proposed for the efficient treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were used as a delivery system for PGE2 with and without siRNAs targeted to MMP3, CCL12, and HIF1Alpha mRNAs. The model of IPF was developed in SKH1 mice by intratracheal administration of bleomycin at a dose of 1.5U/kg. Results showed that NLC-PGE2 in combination with three siRNAs delivered locally to the lungs by inhalation markedly reduced mouse body mass, substantially limited hydroxyproline content in the lungs and disturbances of the mRNAs and protein expression, restricted lung tissue damage and prevented animal mortality. Our data provide evidence that IPF can be effectively treated by inhalation of the NLC-PGE2 in combination with siRNAs delivered locally into the lungs. This effect could not be achieved by using NLC containing just PGE2 or siRNA(s) alone.
Third-party mutualists have contrasting effects on host invasion under the enemy-release and biotic-resistance hypotheses

Plants engage in complex multipartite interactions with mutualists and antagonists, but these interactions are rarely included in studies that explore plant invasiveness. When considered in isolation, we know that beneficial microbes can enhance an exotic plant’s invasive ability and that herbivorous insects often decrease an exotic plant’s likeliness of success. However, the effect of these partners on plant fitness has not been well characterized when all three species coevolve. We use computational evolutionary modeling of a trait-based system to test how microbes and herbivores simultaneously coevolving with an invading plant affect the invaders’ probability of becoming established. Specifically, we designed a model that explores how a beneficial microbe would influence the outcome of an interaction between a plant and herbivore. To model novel interactions, we included a phenotypic trait shared by each species. Making this trait continuous and selectable allows us to explore how trait similarities between coevolving plants, herbivores and microbes affect fitness. Using this model, we answer the following questions: (1) Can a beneficial plant-microbe interaction influence the evolutionary outcome of antagonistic interactions between plants and herbivores? (2) How does the initial trait similarity between interacting organisms affect the likelihood of plant survival in novel locations? (3) Does the effect of tripartite interactions on the invasion success of a plant depend on whether organisms interact through trait similarity [Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH)] or dissimilarity (Biotic Resistance Hypothesis)? We found that it was much more difficult for plants to invade under the ERH but that beneficial microbes increase the probability of plant survival in a novel range under both hypotheses. To our knowledge, this model is the first to use tripartite interactions to explore novel species introductions. It represents a step towards gaining a better understanding of the factors influencing establishment of exotic species to prevent future invasions.
Postlactational involution biomarkers plasminogen and phospho-STAT3 are linked with active age-related lobular involution.

Breast terminal duct lobular units undergo two distinctive physiological processes of involution: age-related lobular involution (LI), which is gradual and associated with decreased breast cancer risk, and postlactational involution, which is relatively precipitous, occurs with weaning, and has been associated with potentiation of tumor aggressiveness in animal models. Here we assessed whether markers of postlactational involution are associated with ongoing LI in a retrospective tissue cohort. We selected 57 women from the Mayo Clinic Benign Breast Disease Cohort who underwent multiple biopsies and who were average age 48 at initial biopsy. Women were classified as having progressive or non-progressive LI between initial and subsequent biopsy. Serial tissue sections were immunostained for plasminogen, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3), tenascin C, Ki67, CD44, cytokeratin 14 (CK14), cytokeratin 19 (CK19), and c-myc. All but Ki67 were digitally quantified. Associations between maximal marker expression per sample and progressive versus non-progressive LI were assessed using logistic regression and adjusted for potential confounders. While no biomarker showed statistically significant association with LI progression when evaluated individually, lower expression of pSTAT3 (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13–0.82, p = 0.01) and higher expression of plasminogen (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.14–8.81, p = 0.02) were associated with progressive LI in models simultaneously adjusted for all biomarkers. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the strengthening in association for pSTAT3 and plasminogen with progressive LI was due to collinearity between these two markers. This is the first study to identify biomarkers of active LI. Our findings that plasminogen and pSTAT3 are significantly associated with LI suggest that they may represent signaling nodes or biomarkers of pathways common to the processes of postlactational involution and LI.
Twelve Year Longitudinal Trajectories Of Neuroanatomy, Functional Connectivity And Neuropsychological Function In 22Q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Prediction To Psychosis

Abstract We conducted a twelve-year longitudinal study of neuroanatomic, neurofunctional and neuropsychological development in youth with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS). Participants, consisting of 88 youth with 22q11DS, 33 unaffected siblings, and 32 community controls, were recruited to our academic medical center from throughout North America, and were followed every three years for four timepoints. Mean age in years at the first timepoint was 11.9; second timepoint, 15.1; third timepoint, 18.1; fourth timepoint, 21.2. High resolution MRI scans and standard neuropsychological measures were administered at all timepoints. Trajectories of cortical thickness and surface area were measured with FreeSurfer, V.5.1. Functional connectivity (at the fourth timepoint only) was measured with the Functional Connectivity Toolbox (CONN) in Matlab. Positive symptoms of psychosis were measured with the Positive Symptom Subscale of the Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS). Longitudinal linear mixed model regression analyses were conducted, and results were corrected for multiple comparisons. Relative to controls, probands displayed significantly slower rates of longitudinal change in cortical thickness of the superior parietal lobule and precuneus (p-values
MetaGen: reference-free learning with multiple metagenomic samples

A major goal of metagenomics is to identify and study the entire collection of microbial species in a set of targeted samples. We describe a statistical metagenomic algorithm that simultaneously identifies microbial species and estimates their abundances without using reference genomes. As a trade-off, we require multiple metagenomic samples, usually ≥10 samples, to get highly accurate binning results. Compared to reference-free methods based primarily on k-mer distributions or coverage information, the proposed approach achieves a higher species binning accuracy and is particularly powerful when sequencing coverage is low. We demonstrated the performance of this new method through both simulation and real metagenomic studies. The MetaGen software is available at https://github.com/BioAlgs/MetaGen .
Catalytic Asymmetric Intermolecular Allylic Functionalization of Unactivated Internal Alkenes

The asymmetric allylic functionalization of unactivated internal alkenes is an emerging strategy for the conversion of simple unsaturated starting materials into a diverse range of enantioenriched products. This Perspective summarizes the development of reactions wherein a chiral catalyst facilitates the intermolecular stereoselective reaction between an achiral unactivated internal alkene and a reagent.
Modeling approaches, challenges, and preliminary results for the opioid and heroin co-epidemic crisis

The U.S. is in the grips of a devastating opioid and heroin co-epidemic affecting nearly all socio-economic populations at great human (∼7,800 new users/day) and financial ($78.5 billion/year) costs but with no obvious solution. We describe recent work and challenges to develop, integrate, and use several analytic multi-scale simulation models of these epidemics to develop insight into the epidemic's complex underlying dynamics, generate causal hypotheses, and inform effective policy interventions. We developed preliminary agent-based, differential equation, network spread, and cellular automata models that reasonably replicate at multiple scales the past 17 years of this epidemic's growth and spread at town, county, state, and national levels. Results suggest that some current approaches are unlikely to be very effective, some in fact may worsen the epidemic, and ultimately only certain combinations and sequences of policies are likely to have value, with important implications on both model architecture and policy optimization.
Immersion in Virtual Reality Can Increase Exercise Motivation and Physical Performance

We present an experimental study evaluating the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality games (combined with stationary cycling) on health-related physical activity in comparison to stationary cycling with the same game in a non-immersive (2D) setting. In the experiment, participants were asked to play a cycling video game with a stationary bike either in the immersive virtual reality (3D VR) environment or in a traditional 2D (Non-VR) display setting. Based on several theories, we anticipate that users of immersive virtual reality will feel more present in the game be induced to physically performed better than when they played the same game with a traditional 2D screen. In addition, we also expect to see people who are eager to accept and use a new technology will show better cycling performance in an immersive virtual environment than people who think accepting the newest technology in a timely manner is not very important for their lives.
Comments on the Theory of Localized States in Semi-Conducting Noncrystalline Solids

After presenting examples of so-called localized states in crystals and commenting on the nature of electronic states in disordered solids, the question of the relationship between the nature of the eigenstates of an electron in a rigid noncrystalline solid and its transport properties is addressed. It is pointed out that the absence or presence of a finite-temperature thermally activated mobility does not necessarily follow from the electronic states being “extended” or “localized”, since electron-lattice interaction often plays a major role in determining the transport properties of a solid. The effect of the electron-lattice interaction on the electronic eigenstates of a deformable solid, characterized by a short-range electron lattice interaction, is then discussed at length. In particular, the question of when it is a reasonable first approximation to neglect the electron-lattice interaction in studying the eigenstates of the system is considered. When this approximation fails, the charge carriers are often best viewed as “localized” small polarons. Finally, the situations which characterize small-polaron formation in dis ordered insulators are outlined.
Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, and Other Solanaceous Vegetables

Solanaceae is mainly a tropical family of about 75 genera and 2000 species. The more important vegetable genera are Solanum (potato and eggplant), Lycopersicon (tomato), and Capsicum (pepper). The Solanaceae, widely known as the nightshade family, also includes some poisonous alkaloid-containing species such as belladonna (Atropa belladonna), mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), henbane (Hyoscyamusniger), Jimson weed (Datura stramonium), climbing nightshade (Solanumdulcamara), and widely used tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Some genera, particularity Solanum, can be extremely poisonous and caution is advised before consumption. The potato, Solanum tuberosum, is discussed in Chapter 9. Following are some of the cultivated solanaceous vegetables, most, with the exception of Chinese box thorn, are grown for their edible fruit.
A Perspective on the Use of Self-Organization in Tuple Space Coordcination Systems.

Self-Organization (SO) is bound to greatly affect the lives of all computer users. The simplicity and yet power embedded in this phenomena allows us to think about efficient solutions to problems never before thought possible to be solved efficiently. In the the field of coordination of processes and agents, self-organization is already playing a role and is likely to be become omnipresent in the future as researchers incorporate SO characteristics in their solutions The purpose of this paper is two-fold: (a) to survey the role of SO in the past and present tuple space coordination systems; and (b) to discuss how self-organization may still have a lot more to offer to the community. With this paper, we demonstrate that SO abstractions are useful in areas other than optimization (where most of the proposals lie).
Interstellar Lines Other Than Hydrogen

I would like to extrapolate beyond the present state of interstellar line spectroscopy toward the next generation of satellite-borne equipment, but with due recognition of the fact that more work still has to be done from the Earth’s surface.
A real-time logo detection system using data offloading on mobile devices

In the past few years, mobile augmented reality (AR) has attracted a great deal of attention. It presents us a live, direct or indirect view of a real-world environment whose elements are augmented...
Bone Mineral Density in Relation to Type of Dairy Consumed within Older Puerto Ricans

Bone mineral density (BMD) is of great concern within the aging population, as it is associated with increased fracture risk, which can lead to disability and excess mortality. The dietary focus ha...
Multimodal Analysis of Client Behavioral Change Coding in Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a widely disseminated and effective therapeutic approach for behavioral disorder treatment. Over the past decade, MI research has identified client language as a central mediator between therapist skills and subsequent behavior change. Specifically, in-session client language referred to as change talk (CT; personal arguments for change) or sustain talk (ST; personal argument against changing the status quo) has been directly related to post-session behavior change. Despite the prevalent use of MI and extensive studies of MI underlying mechanisms, most existing studies focus on the linguistic aspect of MI, especially of client change talk and sustain talk and how they as a mediator influence the outcome of MI. In this study, we perform statistical analyses on acoustic behavior descriptors to test their discriminatory powers. Then we utilize multimodality by combining acoustic features with linguistic features to improve the accuracy of client change talk prediction. Lastly, we investigate into our trained model to understand what features inform the model about client utterance class and gain insights into the nature of MISC codes.
A kW-scale, 24-hour continuously operational, radiative sky cooling system: Experimental demonstration and predictive modeling

Abstract With the advancement in sub-ambient cooling of water during daytime under the sun with scalable-manufactured radiative cooling metamaterials, the challenge for applications lies in design and building of large-scale radiative cooling systems. Here, we present a kW-scale, 24-hour continuously operational, radiative sky cooling system, with both experimental study and detailed modeling. We first quantitatively show how water flow rate directly affects the system cooling power and inversely affects the water temperature drop. A day-and-night stagnant (flow rate = 0 L/(min·m2)) water cooling test of the system shows a consistent sub-ambient water temperature drop of 5–7 °C. A daytime cooling test of the system at a low flow rate of 0.227 L/(min·m2) yields a maximum sub-ambient temperature drop of 4.0 °C with an average net cooling power of around 80 W/m2. Further modelling for a typical metrological year (in Phoenix, Arizona) shows that the system could generate as much as 350 kWh cold (or 26 kWh/m2) with a sub-ambient temperature drop of 4–5 °C at a low flow rate of 0.1 L/(min·m2) during a typical summer month. The cold generated could be used to assist AC systems in regions or seasons with high ambient temperatures.
'A People for Certain Purposes': On the History and Philosophy of Federalism(s) in the United States and Europe

This brief guide to the philosophy of federalism provides an original analysis distinguishing the flurry of competing conceptual accounts of federalism in the United States and Europe. It draws out and critically examines the theories of sovereignty and federalism of James Madison, James Wilson, John C. Calhoun, Hans Kelsen, and Carl Schmitt, all with a view to understanding the kind of federation we have in the European Union today.
An Amplifier-Free 0–2 SAR-VCO MASH ΔΣ ADC

A 0–2 Multi Stage Noise Shaping (MASH) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is proposed. A SAR ADC and a VCO-based quantizer (VCOQ) are used in the first stage and second stages, respectively. The VCOQ proposed in this paper achieves second-order noise shaping by employing an error feedback architecture. The error feedback architecture is implemented by extracting the quantization noise of the VCOQ as a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal, and feeding it back to the VCO input using a charge pump. The proposed architecture filters the charge pump errors. Also, SAR comparator thermal noise requirement is relaxed as the comparator noise is canceled at the output, along with the first stage quantization noise. The proposed ADC was simulated using a 65nm CMOS technology, and an SNDR of 89.5 dB was achieved with an oversampling ratio (OSR) of 20.
Using the Lens Model and Cognitive Continuum Theory to Understand the Effects of Cognition on Phishing Victimization

With the growing threat of phishing emails and the limited effectiveness of current mitigation approaches, there is an urgent need to better understand what leads to phishing victimization. There i...
The Dual Roles of Cow Comfort in Dairy Herd Lameness Dynamics

This article describes the dual roles of cow comfort in herd lameness dynamics - interacting with trigger factors to ensure that cows 'get lame' and interacting with the cow once she is lame to ensure that she 'stays lame'. Duration of daily standing activity, the surface that the cow is standing on, and hygiene of that surface are principal components of cow comfort that need to be addressed if we are to break the cycle of 'get lame- stay lame'.
Optimizing image contrast of second phases in metal alloys.

Abstract Novel imaging strategies in the scanning electron microscope aimed at significantly improved image contrast of second phases in metal alloys are described. These include the use of low accelerating voltages, small working distances, and a novel detection system. Contrast is assessed as a function of voltage and optimized imaging conditions which result in much improved image quality are presented. These strategies are applied to two precipitation hardened Ni-base alloys, a cast single crystal and a hot isostatically pressed sample.
Social media and genocide: The case for home state responsibility

Who bears responsibility when social media platforms are used to incite genocide? Although courts and scholarship have recognized the role of mass media in past mass atrocities, social media poses ...
Bioinspired Photonics: Camouflage Strategies from Marine Hatchetfish for Optical RF Steganography

Marine Hatchetfish camouflage strategies - silvering and counterillumination are imitated using photonics for enabling dynamic stealth transmission. 200MBaud/s 16-QAMOFDM signal has successfully hidden in all domains during radioover-fiber transmission and retrieved at the designated stealth receiver.
Learning Assumptions for Verifying Cryptographic Protocols Compositionally

Automated analysis tools for cryptographic protocols can verify sophisticated designs, but lack compositionality. To address this limitation, we investigate the use of automata learning for verifying authentication protocols in an automatic and compositional way. We present Taglierino, a tool for synthesizing specifications for protocol components and checking them in isolation. The specifications can aid the design of protocol variants and speed up verification. Taglierino includes a domain-specific language for protocols, which are compiled to automata and analyzed with the LTSA model checker extended with automata learning. We demonstrate the tool on a series of case studies, including the Needham-Schroeder, Woo-Lam, and Kerberos protocols.
Price Transmission Mechanism among Disaggregated Processing Stages of Food: Demand-Pull or Cost-Push?

The recent concurrent surges of food and commodity prices renew the debate on the causal directions between producer and consumer prices. To address this issue, we utilize the stage of processing system incorporating retail stage beyond crude, intermediate, and finished processing stages of food and employ the method proposed by Toda and Yamamoto (1995) and Dolado and Lutkepohl (1996) of Granger causality tests. The overall results show that consistent with theory of derived demand, the demand-pull mechanism coexisted with the cost-push processes in 1985-2001. However, the upward cost-push pressures dominate the demand-pull mechanism through various transmission channels in 2002-2008.
A pre-conditioning stress accelerates increases in mouse plasma inflammatory cytokines induced by stress

Major depressive disorder is a prevalent disease that is inadequately treated with currently available interventions. Stress increases susceptibility to depression in patients and rodent models. Depression is also associated with aberrant activation of inflammation, such as increases in circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). The two main goals of this study were (i) to identify cytokine changes measuring a broad panel of 19 cytokines, and (ii) to test if a pre-conditioning stress altered the inflammatory response to a subsequent stress. Stress-induced changes in mouse plasma cytokines were measured by multiplex following administration of one or two daily stresses of inescapable foot shocks using the learned helplessness paradigm for modeling depression-like behavior. Administration of inescapable foot shocks increased plasma levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, IL-3, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-12(p70), IFN-γ, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, IL-1α, IL-2, KC, RANTES and G-CSF, with peak levels occurring in the range of 6 to 12 hr after stress. Pre-conditioning the mice 24 hr before with an equivalent inescapable foot shock stress resulted in similar magnitudes of increases in most cytokines as occurred after a single stress, but accelerated the increase, causing the levels of most cytokines to peak 1 hr after stress. These results demonstrate that a single stress induces the expression of many cytokines, and that sequential, daily stresses accelerates the rate of cytokine production. Acute stress broadly activates inflammation in mice, and the inflammatory response is more rapid following repeated stress, actions that may contribute to deleterious effects of stress on depression and other stress-linked diseases.
Optical WDM space communications: the next frontier

Summary form only given. I describe the technology and architecture of very high-speed optical space links that will be used in the future as a key building block for global extent satellite-based data networks. With wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) multiplexing of >10 Gbps channels, the cost of these space systems can be very competitive with terrestrial fiber systems.
RNA replication by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is directed by the N, P, and L proteins; transcription also occurs under these conditions but requires RSV superinfection for efficient synthesis of full-length mRNA.

Previously, a cDNA was constructed so that transcription by T7 RNA polymerase yielded a approximately 1-kb negative-sense analog of genomic RNA of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) containing the gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) under the control of putative RSV transcription motifs and flanked by the RSV genomic termini. When transfected into RSV-infected cells, this minigenome was "rescued," as evidenced by high levels of CAT expression and the production of transmissible particles which propagated and expressed high levels of CAT expression during serial passage (P.L. Collins, M. A. Mink, and D. S. Stec, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:9663-9667, 1991). Here, this cDNA, together with a second one designed to yield an exact-copy positive-sense RSV-CAT RNA antigenome, were each modified to contain a self-cleaving hammerhead ribozyme for the generation of a nearly exact 3' end. Each cDNA was transfected into cells infected with a vaccinia virus recombinant expressing T7 RNA polymerase, together with plasmids encoding the RSV N, P, and L proteins, each under the control of a T7 promoter. When the plasmid-supplied template was the mini-antigenome, the minigenome was produced. When the plasmid-supplied template was the minigenome, the products were mini-antigenome, subgenomic polyadenylated mRNA and progeny minigenome. Identification of progeny minigenome made from the plasmid-supplied minigenome template indicates that the full RSV RNA replication cycle occurred. RNA synthesis required all three RSV proteins, N, P, and L, and was ablated completely by the substitution of Asn for Asp at position 989 in the L protein. Thus, the N, P, and L proteins were sufficient for the synthesis of correct minigenome and antigenome, but this was not the case for subgenomic mRNA, indicating that the requirements for RNA replication and transcription are not identical. Complementation with N, P, and L alone yielded an mRNA pattern containing a large fraction of molecules of incomplete, heterogeneous size. In contrast, complementation with RSV (supplying all of the RSV gene products) yielded a single discrete mRNA band. Superinfection with RSV of cells staging N/P/L-based RNA synthesis yielded the single discrete mRNA species. Some additional factor supplied by RSV superinfection appeared to be involved in transcription, the most obvious possibility being one or more additional RSV gene products.
Policy-based design and verification for mission assurance

Intelligent systems often operate in a blend of cyberspace and physical space. Cyberspace operations--planning, actions, and effects in realms where signals affect intelligent systems--often occur in milliseconds without human intervention. Decisions and actions in cyberspace can affect physical space, particularly in SCADA--supervisory control and data acquisition--systems. For critical military missions, intelligent and autonomous systems must adhere to commander intent and operate in ways that assure the integrity of mission operations. This paper shows how policy, expressed using an access-control logic, serves as a bridge between commanders and implementers. We describe an accesscontrol logic based on a multi-agent propositional modal logic, show how policies are described, how access decisions are justified, and give examples of how concepts of operations are analyzed. Our experience is policybased design and verification is within the reach of practicing engineers. A logical approach enables engineers to think precisely about the security and integrity of their systems and the missions they support.
High‐Risk Home and Child‐Care Environments and Children's Social‐Emotional Outcomes

This chapter focuses on specific empirically based home and child-care characteristics that put a child at risk for the development of poor social-emotional outcomes. Specifically, we focus on the high-risk home characteristics of maternal depression, child maltreatment, and insecure parent–child attachment. We also discuss high-risk child-care characteristics such as low caregiving quality, placement instability, and teacher–child relationship difficulties. In line with a bioecological systems perspective, we also briefly review the literature documenting that high-risk home and child-care environments are disproportionally experienced by children living in poverty, and that the constellation of risk that often co-occurs with living in poverty has well-known impacts on children's socioemotional outcomes.
An optimal shared protection scheme for optical networks

Summary form only given. Shared protection aims to provide the same level of protection, against a single link failure, as the dedicated one while using less network resources. In this paper, we present the issue of survivability in a time slotted optical networks deploying DWDM. To guarantee the recovery and to maintain the performance of the service, sufficient resource needs to be available at the setup time of the protection. However it is possible to optimize the protection capacity. Indeed the primary traffic is composed of a set of flows, which may be going through different paths. Therefore a protection could be found using just enough resources by sharing the backup among many flows. We propose here a technique to identify and provision the protection using the minimum necessary resources. In particular, we present an algorithm that computes the optimal protection required for a primary traffic from a source to a destination, and the maximum capacity that could be used, on each link, for the protection. We prove through simulation results that this shared mesh protection scheme can significantly reduce the required network protection capacity.
More accurate polynomial-time min-max timing simulation

We describe a polynomial-time algorithm for min-max timing simulation of combinational circuits. Our algorithm reports conservative bounds on the propagation delays from each primary input to each gate, for use in the timing verification of fundamental-mode asynchronous circuits. A new reconvergent fanout analysis technique is presented. Our algorithm produces more accurate results than previous polynomial-time (and some exponential-time) algorithms in the presence of reconvergent fanouts.
The Impact of Continuous Medicaid Enrollment on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival in Six Surgical Cancers

Objective To examine the effect of Medicaid enrollment on the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of six surgically relevant cancers among poor and underserved Californians. Data Sources California Cancer Registry (CCR), California's Patient Discharge Database (PDD), and state Medicaid enrollment files between 2002 and 2008. Study Design We linked clinical and administrative records to differentiate patients continuously enrolled in Medicaid from those receiving coverage at the time of their cancer diagnosis. We developed multivariate logistic regression models to predict death within 1 year for each cancer after controlling for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Data Collection/Extraction Methods All incident cases of six cancers (colon, esophageal, lung, pancreas, stomach, and ovarian) were identified from CCR. CCR records were linked to hospitalizations (PDD) and monthly Medicaid enrollment. Principal Findings Continuous enrollment in Medicaid for at least 6 months prior to diagnosis improves survival in three surgically relevant cancers. Discontinuous Medicaid patients have higher stage tumors, undergo fewer definitive operations, and are more likely to die even after risk adjustment. Conclusions Expansion of continuous insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act is likely to improve both access and clinical outcomes for cancer patients in California.
Moving beyond the critical synthesis: does the law preclude a future for US unions?

This retrospective essay on Tomlins' The State and Unions assesses the durability of his observations in light of developments over the past quarter century. The decline of unions in the context of minimal protections offered under contemporary labor law seems to fit Tomlins' thesis that the New Deal offered only a counterfeit liberty to labor. A brief review of failed efforts at union revitalization demonstrates that labor's waning fortunes are as much a sign of institutional rigidity and internal weakness as result of external constraints. Any current semblance of liberty offered to the U.S. working class is indeed counterfeit, but the source of fraud is the full set of neoliberal economic policies, not the narrow constraints of labor law alone.
Metabolism of 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl (di-n-butylaminosulfenyl)(methyl)carbamate and 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl (morpholinosulfenyl)(methyl)carbamate in cotton and corn plants

Abstract The absorption, translocation, and metabolism of two new, selectively toxic derivatives of carbofuran, 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl (di- n -butylaminosulfenyl)(methyl)carbamate and 2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl (morpholinosulfenyl)(methyl)carbamate, were studied in cotton and corn plants 1, 3, 6, and 10 days following both stem injection and foliage treatment. Both carbamates were readily translocated to all plant parts following stem injection, but translocation following leaf application was restricted to within the leaf. In cotton plants, the dibutylaminosulfenyl derivative was easily hydrolyzed to form carbofuran which, in turn, was oxidized at the 3-position of the ring and the N -methyl group. These oxidized metabolites were then converted to plant conjugates. Major metabolites were carbofuran and 3-hydroxy-carbofuran followed by 3-keto-carbofuran phenol and N -hydroxymethyl-carbofuran. Five minor metabolites also were detected. In corn plants, the dibutylaminosulfenyl derivative gave the same metabolites, although the metabolism rate was significantly slower in corn relative to cotton. Overall, the results showed that there were no fundamental differences in the metabolism of the morpholinosulfenyl and dibutylaminosulfenyl derivatives. The stability of both carbamate derivatives in different solvent systems also was investigated.
Comparison of results obtained with time- and frequency-domain analysis when searching for the 10-Hz rhythm in sympathetic nerve discharge.

Abstract Kubota et al. (Neurosci. Lett., 196 (1995) 173–176) constructed distributions of the intervals between successive bursts of sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) in three mammalian species. The mode in such interburst interval histograms (IBIHs) was near 100 ms in most cases. This interval was equated with the 10-Hz rhythm in SND identified by others using power density autospectral analysis. However, in the current study we found a modal interval near 100 ms independent of whether the autospectrum showed a peak near 10 Hz. A 10-Hz rhythm appeared in the autospectrum of SND only when counts in the IBIH were normally distributed around 100 ms and the coefficient of variation was
Laser desorption-ionization FT-ICR mass spectrometry: DNA-adduct bases, nucleosides and nucleotides

Abstract DNA-adduct formation is of particular importance in the evaluation of exposure to carcinogens, since it may be the critical initial event that ultimately results in adverse effects, e.g. tumor formation; such manifestations may not be observed until months or years following exposure. We have been investigating DNA-adduct formation following exposure of experimental animals to certain carcinogens, e.g. diethylnitrosamine and ethylcarbamate. Bases such as 7-ethylguanine, O 6 -ethylguanine and 1, N 6 -ethenoadenine, from DNA adducts can be monitored with HPLC and characterized by mass spectrometry. Nucleosides, nucleotides and other high molecular weight compounds from DNA adducts often have very low vapor pressures and are thermally unstable. Such compounds cannot be directly analyzed by conventional mass spectrometry. Using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry with IR laser desorption/ionization (LD/I), molecular or pseudomolecular ions of these compounds can be obtained fairly easily. LD/I of these and other involatile and thermally sensitive compounds will be discussed.
Suggestions for the Practical Teaching of the Sounds of Many Languages

This paper is rather a series of practical observations based upon my experience with courses in “The World's Chief Languages” than a set of suggestions to those who know the field of practical phonetics far better than I. It was read at the Practical Phonetics Section of the Modern Language Association Convention held December 29, 1944.
Germinal development in the sporocysts and rediae of the digenetic trematodes.

In the vertebrate-dwelling adults of the digenetic trematodes spermatogenesis and oogenesis are not fundamentally different from these processes in other metazoan groups. The fertilized ovum in the egg develops directly into the miracidium which contains in its body cavity a varying number of germinal cells. After entering the molluscan intermediate host the miracidium metamorphoses into the primary germinal sac, the mother sporocyst. In its body cavity the germinal cells multiply and develop into secondary germinal sacs which may be either rediae or daughter sporocysts. There may be one, two, or in a few cases even more generations of rediae, but only one generation of daughter sporocysts is present in those groups that have this type of secondary germinal sacs. In each generation there is multiplication of germinal cells in the body cavity of the germinal sacs. However, the number of embryos produced varies greatly in different trematode groups. Ever since Steenstrup in 1842 presented the theory of alternation of generations for the life cycle of the digenetic trematodes, the method of reproduction in the germinal sacs has been a subject of controversy. Steenstrup’s view that this reproduction is an asexual process of internal budding was soon discarded by most workers because of the finding of specific reproductive cells. Grobben in 1882 first proposed the hypothesis that the alternation of generations in the digenetic trematodes is a heterogeny, and that the reproductive cells in the germinal sacs are true parthenogenetic ova. Later, several workers described and figured the for-
Frontal Mucopyocele and Epidural Abscess Secondary to Frontoethmoidal Osteoma

A patient presented with a frontal sinus mucopyocele and an epidural space infection secondary to an obstructing frontoethmoidal osteoma. Preoperative diagnosis was facilitated by both computerized...