cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Reference Calorimeter for Laser Energy Measurements.

Principles and detailed procedures are described for measuring laser energy and power in terms of electrical energy based on voltage, resistance, and frequency standards. The construction of a small isoperibol calorimeter used for the measurements is described. The calorimeter will accommodate 0.01 to 20 J and 4 × 10-5 to 1 W cw and is limited to a maximum pulse intensity of 0.1 J/cm2. The standard deviation of comparison measurements using two calorimeters and a beam splitter is 0.08 percent when the smaller energy input is not less than 0.3 J. The estimated limits of systematic error for one calorimeter are ± 1.0 percent of the laser energy measured by the calorimeter.
Limitations of Incremental Search in Media Selection

One of the more promising marketing applications for the versatile heuristic programming approach to managerial problem-solving has been to media planning. This approach is particularly useful in dealing with the highly complex media planning problem, whose complexity stems from the large number of media alternatives normally available for purchase and the correspondingly larger number of feasible media schedules' which can be constructed from them. This complexity also stems from substantial discounts offered for multiple purchases of the same or related media vehicles and from interactions between media alternatives, which influence the cost and effectiveness of different schedules. Finally, it stems from the interrelations between the problem of allocating the advertising budget (which is the media problem narrowly viewed) and that of determining the size of that budget, the nature of the advertising theme and copy of advertisements, and the appropriate measures of effectiveness of advertising exposures. Modeling such a complex problem is helped by the flexible approach of heuristic programming. Kuehn [6], Hinkle and Kuehn [5], and Brown [3] have commented upon these advantages, and the number of heuristic media planning models proposed in the literature has been growing (e.g., Moran [10], Brown [3], Little and Lodish [9], Gensch [4], and Aaker [1]). They differ principally in their methods of determining a measure of effectiveness for any feasible media schedule, but they rely upon one or more heuristics (or "rules of thumb") to search the set of feasible media schedules * Allan D. Shocker is Visiting Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh. The author is indebted to Professors W. W. Cooper and Robert S. Kaplan of Carnegie-Mellon University and to Professor G. David Hughes of Cornell University for their valued comments and criticisms. 1 The set of feasible media schedules would consist of all combinations of media vehicle options (purchaseable alternatives) which satisfy budget, media availability, and managerial and other constraints upon the media planning process.
Built-In Self-Test Methodology With Statistical Analysis for Electrical Diagnosis of Wearout in a Static Random Access Memory Array

We present an electrical diagnosis methodology for a variety of wearout mechanisms, including back-end time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB), electromigration, stress-induced voiding, gate oxide TDDB, and bias temperature instability, in an SRAM array. First, the built-in self-test (BIST) system detects wearout and identifies the locations of the faulty cells. Next, the physical location of the failure sites within SRAM cells is determined. There are some fault sites for different mechanisms which result in exactly the same electrical failure signature. For these faulty sites, the cause of failure probabilities for each wearout mechanism is estimated by matching the observed failure rate from BIST and the failure rate distribution computed by simulation and as a function of circuit use scenarios. The estimation of wearout distributions is helpful in determining the wearout limiting mechanisms in the field.
Effect of intraarterial vasopressin on canine gastric mucosal permeability.

Vagally denervated (Heidenhain) pouches of 5 dogs with antrectomy were perfused by a constant circulation technique with 100 mM HC1 containing a radioactive polyethylene glycol volume marker. Net fluxes of hydrogen ion (H+) and sodium (Na+) in 30 min across the mucous membrane of the pouch, together with aminopyrine clearances, were measured. Under morphine sedation a catheter was introduced into the arterial supply of the pouch via the femoral artery. After recovery net H+ and Na+ fluxes were measured before, during, and after arterial infusion of vasopressin at 12 U per hr for 3 hr. Ischemia of the gastric mucosa during vasopressin infusion was confirmed by a fall in aminopyrine clearance from a mean control of 1.6 ± 0.92 ml per min to 0.25 ± 0.12 ml per min. Mean control net fluxes of H+ and Na+ were + 24 ± 22 μEq per 30 min, and + 117 ± 17 μEq per 30 min, respectively. Intraarterial vasopressin infusion decreased the flux of H+ to — 28 ± 20 μEq per 30 min associated with a decreased exsorption of Na+ of 52 ± 13 μEq per 30 min after 3 hr, but net fluxes of H+ and Na+ were not significantly different from controls. During 2 hr after vasopressin infusion H+ and Na+ fluxes increased to 63 ± 46 and 233 ± 85 μEq per 30 min, respectively, and 16 hr later were 72 ± 24 and 117 ± 20 μEq per 30 min, respectively, none significantly different from controls.
Abstract 2667: Intrinsically radiolabeled multifunctional cerium oxide nanoparticles forin vivostudies.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Cerium oxide nanopaticles (CONP) have unique properties in free radical scavenging. The CONP is a rare-earth metal oxide nanoparticle of the lanthanide series, which is widely used in ultraviolet absorbance, oxygen sensing and automotive catalytic convertors. This nanoparticle has both Ce3+ and Ce4+ oxidation states that could result in an auto-regenerative redox cycle between Ce3+ and Ce4+, accompanied by creation of oxygen defects on their surface and offers many active sites for free radical scavenging. CONP have demonstrated protection properties against oxidation damages in various cells and tissues. The mechanism of this, however, is poorly understood. Monitoring the interaction of CONP with biological compartments ‘in situ’ is crucial in order to understand their biochemical and physiological properties in vivo. In this study, a multifunctional nanoparticle platform was developed through an intrinsic radiolabeling strategy and extrinsic surface functionalization to combine dual imaging components such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography and Optical Imaging (SPECT/OI) in single nanoparticle. The cell viability, cell uptake and overall in vivo biodistribution of CONP were also manipulated through surface functionalization. The intrinsic radiolabeling strategy is demonstrated by incorporation of various radionuclides (141Ce, 111In, 65Zn) into CONP and these radiolabeled CONP (rCONP) were coated with biocompatible polymers including Dextran T10 (DT10), Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), or functionalized DT10 (DT10-NH2, DT10-PEG and DT10-sulfobetaine). This intrinsic labeling strategy enabled quantitative in vivo SPECT imaging. Fluorescent CONP was obtained through conjugation of fluorescein isothiocynate (FITC) with DT10-NH2 rCONP and used for cell imaging. The DT10 and DT10-NH2 rCONP didn't show decreased viability up to 120 μg/ml of Cerium whilst the PAA rCONP showed decreased viability at Cerium concentrations above 40 μg/ml. Variations in blood circulation and renal/hepatic clearance of rCONP were demonstrated and were found to be dependent on surface coating and hydrodynamic size of these nanoparticles. The results of ex vivo biodistribution were reflected in SPECT imaging of 141Ce-rCONP, showing accumulation in the liver and spleen in a living mouse over a one-week period. Together, the intrinsic and extrinsic multifunctional strategy allows the determination of the biophysical properties of CONP, opening the door for their future applications for in vivo studies and biomedical imaging. Citation Format: Likun Yang, Gobalakrishnan Sundaresan, Minghao Sun, Purnima Jose, Philip R. McDonagh, Jamal Zweit. Intrinsically radiolabeled multifunctional cerium oxide nanoparticles for in vivo studies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2667. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2667
Colorectal Cancer with Residual Polyp of Origin: A Model of Malignant Transformation

Abstract The majority of colorectal cancers (CRCs) arise from adenomatous polyps. In this study, we sought to present the underrecognized CRC with the residual polyp of origin (CRC RPO+) as an entity to be utilized as a model to study colorectal carcinogenesis. We identified all subjects with biopsy-proven CRC RPO+ that were evaluated over 10 years at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and compared their clinical and pathologic characteristics to CRC without remnant polyps (CRC RPO−). Overall survival and disease-free survival overlap with an equivalent hazard ratio between CRC RPO+ and RPO− cases when age, stage, and grade are adjusted. The somatic genomic profile obtained by whole genome sequencing and the gene expression profiles by RNA-seq for CRC RPO+ tumors were compared with that of age -and gender-matched CRC RPO− evaluated by The Cancer Genome Atlas. CRC RPO+ cases were more commonly found with lower-grade, earlier-stage disease than CRC RPO−. However, within the same disease stage and grade, their clinical course is very similar to that of CRC RPO−. The mutation frequencies of commonly mutated genes in CRC are similar between CRC RPO+ and RPO− cases. Likewise, gene expression patterns are indistinguishable between the RPO+ and RPO− cases. We have confirmed that CRC RPO+ is clinically and biologically similar to CRC RPO− and may be utilized as a model of the adenoma to carcinoma transition.
Creativity in The Sacred Fount

In The Sacred Fount written in late 1899 and early 1900, James created his last and fullest portrait of the writer-critic. An experimental work, it attempts a fusion of forms and themes unique in James’s fiction. It is a comic metaphor of the creative process in which James develops a modernist paradigm of the shared responsibility of the writer-critic and the reader for every stage of the creation and final expression of art. The narrator, a brilliantly conceived comic character, sees himself as an evocateur and an organising, dominating consciousness. To the extent that he engages all of the other characters in the fiction in his imaginative process, all are contributors to its ‘truth’. Moreover, his effort clearly allegorises the role of the reader.
Implikationen für die Volkswagen AG

Vor dem Hintergrund der zusamm.enfassenden Gesamtdarstellung der Untersuchungsergebnisse ergeben sich aus der vorliegenden Arbeit Implikationen fiir das Management der VOLKSWAGEN AG bei der Gestahung internationaler Marktbearbeitungsstrategien.
Salutary effects of high-intensity interval training in persons with elevated cardiovascular risk

Although moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) has been the traditional model for aerobic exercise training for over four decades, a growing body of literature has demonstrated equal if not greater improvement in aerobic capacity and similar beneficial effects on body composition, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and quality of life from high-intensity interval training (HIIT). An advantage of HIIT over MICT is the shorter time required to perform the same amount of energy expenditure. The current brief review summarizes the effects of HIIT on peak aerobic capacity and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adults and those with various cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, and post heart transplantation.
Twitter Chats as Third Places: Conceptualizing a Digital Gathering Site

Social media users can harness the interactivity and connectivity of social networking sites to create a sense of place in a digital environment. This article argues that regularly scheduled Twitte...
Gazelle: Energy-Efficient Wearable Analysis for Running

Running is one of the most popular sports with hundreds of millions of participants worldwide. Good running form is the key to fast, efficient, and injury-free running. Existing kinematic analysis technologies, such as high-speed camera systems, are expensive, difficult to operate, and exclusive to sports physiology laboratories and elite athletes. Miniature MEMS-based motion sensors enable portable high-precision kinematic analysis, but suffer from high energy consumption hence short battery lifetime, especially for continued online analysis for running. This paper presents Gazelle, a wearable online analysis system for running that is compact, lightweight, accurate, and highly energy efficient; intended for runners of all levels. To enable long-term maintenance-free mobile analysis for running, Sparse Adaptive Sensing (SAS) is proposed, which selectively identifies the best sampling points to maintain high accuracy while greatly reducing sensing and analysis energy overheads. Experimental results demonstrate 97.7 percent accuracy with 76.9 to 99 percent reduced energy consumption (83.6 percent average reduction under real-world testing)-a one-order-of-magnitude improvement over existing solutions. SAS enables $>$ 200 days of continuous high-precision operation using only a coin-cell battery. Since 2014, Gazelle has been used by over 100 elite and recreational runners during daily training and at top-level races like the Kona Ironman World Championships and New York Marathon.
Anion-π interaction in metal-organic networks formed by metal halides and tetracyanopyrazine

Abstract Co-crystallization of tetracyanopyrazine, TCP, with the tetraalkylammonium salts of linear [CuBr 2 ] − , planar [PtCl 4 ] 2− or [Pt 2 Br 6 ] 2− , or octahedral [PtBr 6 ] 2− complexes resulted in formation of the alternating [M l X n ] m− /TCP stacks separated by the Alk 4 N + cations. These hybrid stacks showed multiple short contacts between halide ligands of the [M l X n ] m− complexes and carbon atoms of the TCP acceptor indicating strong anion-π bonding between these species. It confirmed that the anion-π interaction is sufficiently strong to bring together such disparate components as ionic metal complexes and neutral aromatic molecules regardless of the geometry of the coordination compound. Structural features of the solid-state stacks and [M l X n ] m− ·TCP dyads resulted from the quantum-mechanical computations suggests that the molecular-orbital (weakly-covalent) component play an important role in association of the [M l X n ] m− complexes with the TCP acceptor.
Ultrafast compartmentalized relaxation time mapping with linear algebraic modeling

Image contrast afforded by tissue longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation times is central to the success of modern MRI. Here, a recently-proposed 'spectroscopy with linear algebraic modeling' (SLAM) method is adapted to dramatically accelerate relaxation time imaging at 3 Tesla in phantoms, the abdomens of six volunteers and in six brain tumor patients.. SLAM is validated by omitting up to 15/16ths (94%) of the data acquired retroactively from inversion recovery and multi-echo spin-echo sequences, and proactively applied to accelerate abdominal and brain tumor T1 and T2 measurements by up to 16-fold in humans..
Existence of a Size-Dependent Stokes Shift in CsPbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals

The existence of a size-dependent Stokes shift is observed in CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals for the first time. Stokes shifts range from ∼100 to 30 meV for particles with edge lengths between ∼4 and 12 nm, respectively.
Sexual Dysfunction and Infertility in Chronic Prostatitis

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome/chronic prostatitis (CPPS) is a common condition in men, accounting for a significant number of visits to primary care physicians and urologists. Sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction or ED, painful ejaculation and poor libido, as well as male factor infertility, are also commonly seen in this population and are strongly associated with a negative impact on the quality of life. Although the literature strongly supports that lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia are related to ED, there is little concrete data linking CPPS/chronic prostatitis with sexual dysfunction or male infertility. Researchers have suggested that the symptoms caused by CPPS/ prostatitis, including lower urinary tract symptoms (such as urinary frequency, urgency, and dysuria) and pain or discomfort in the genitalia or suprapubic area with ejaculation, impair overall quality of life and that this is what contributes to sexual dysfunction. This chapter reviews the contemporary state of knowledge and explores the possible links between sexual dysfunction and CPPS/prostatitis, focusing on the pathophysiology and the current diagnostic and treatment options for this condition. The relationship between male infertility and CPPS/chronic prostatitis will also be explored.
Divine enjoyment: a theology of passion and exuberance

Elaine Padilla’s work Divine Enjoyment: A Theology of Passion and Exuberance offers a substantive contribution to process theological thought in conversation with feminist, liberationist, and queer...
MEASUREMENTS OF LIGHTNING PARAMETERS FROM REMOTE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

For obvious reasons, optical measurements have played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of lightning-generated transient luminous events (TLEs) and the lightning-mesosphere-ionosphere coupling processes behind them. But while not as visually spectacular, measurements of the electromagnetic radiation produced by TLE-producing lightning and, special cases, the TLE itself have also revealed important information and insight into lightning-ionosphere coupling processes. Optical observations give a direct view into the processes that happen inside the phenomenon, and lightning-related electromagnetic measurements give a quantitative view into the processes that drive the phenomenon from below. Each by itself is valuable, but the combination of the two is probably the most powerful tool for TLE research. We describe here the techniques involved in recording andanalyzing lightningrelated electromagnetic fields, and briefly summarize the main scientific findings that have come from such analysis. We focus primarily on lightning measurements related to sprites because sprites are the best documented transient luminous event (TLE) and have been the most-studied from a lightning perspective. 9.1 Background and Motivation After the discovery of sprites (Franz et al., 1990), it soon became clear that the phenomenon was linked to lightning and was probably driven from below by individual lightning strokes (Winckler et al., 1996). But what specific lightning parameters are important in generating sprites? The first attempts to answer this question were mostly qualitative. Boccippio et al. (1995) and Reising et al. (1996) measured the distant (>2000 km), low frequency (<20 kHz) electromagnetic impulses (often called radio atmospherics or sferics) radiated by lightning strokes. They showed unequivocally that sprite-producing lightning strokes are very strong radiators at the lowest frequencies detected by each system (∼< 100 Hz). Figure 1 demonstrates this by comparing sferics recorded on a system with 50 Hz to 6 kHz bandwidth from one lightning stroke that did produce a sprite and one that did not, both originating in the same storm. Both
Assessing the Potential Use of Narrative and the Entertainment Education Strategy In an mHealth Text-Message Intervention

As the use of mobile phones for health promotion continues to grow, more work needs to be done to determine which health communication strategies are influential on mobile devices. In two studies c...
Evaluating Behavioral Economic Models of Heavy Drinking Among College Students.

Background Heavy drinking among college students is a significant public health concern that can lead to profound social and health consequences, including alcohol use disorder. Behavioral economics posits that low future orientation and high valuation of alcohol (alcohol demand) combined with deficits in alternative reinforcement increase the likelihood of alcohol misuse. Despite this, no study has examined the incremental utility of all 3 variables simultaneously in a comprehensive model. Methods This study uses structural equation modeling to test the associations between behavioral economic variables-alcohol demand (latent), future orientation (measured with a delay discounting task and the Consideration of Future Consequences [CFC] scale), and proportionate substance-related reinforcement-and alcohol consumption and problems among 393 heavy drinking college students. Two models are tested as follows: (i) an iteration of the reinforcer pathology model that includes an interaction between future orientation and alcohol demand; and (ii) an alternative model evaluating the interconnectedness of behavioral economic variables in predicting problematic alcohol use. Results The interaction effects in Model 1 were nonsignificant. Model 2 suggests that greater alcohol demand and proportionate substance-related reinforcement are associated with greater alcohol consumption and problems. Furthermore, CFC was associated with alcohol-related problems and lower proportionate substance-related reinforcement but was not significantly associated with alcohol consumption or alcohol demand. Finally, greater proportionate substance-related reinforcement was associated with greater alcohol demand. Conclusions Our results support the validity of the behavioral economic reinforcer pathology model as applied to young adult heavy drinking.
Is Unity Possible? A Summary

The idea for this volume emerged out of repeated sessions on “social psychological unity” at the annual conventions of both the American Psychological and American Sociological Associations. Indeed, most of the chapter authors have performed at these parallel performances regularly. Large and enthusiastic audiences have generally attended. And in time we came to know each other and our views well.
Rethinking the Midewiwin and the Plains Ceremonial Called the Sun Dance

Two great ceremonies were initiated by Central Algonquian tribes (Ojibwas, Suhtais) during the 1660s as a response to catastrophic events deriving from the early European expansion into the western...
Hormonal Responses to Serotonergic Drugs as a Means to Evaluate Brain Serotonergic Function in Humans

A number of agents with serotonin (5-HT)-selective agonist effects are being studied as probes of the functional status of brain serotonergic mechanisms. Our group and others have been evaluating the validity of using neuroendocrine end points (e.g., plasma prolactin, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and other neuroendocrine responses) for this purpose. Strategies currently being used include: (1) comparisons of multiple agonists; (2) comparisons of 5-HT-selective antagonists with antagonists selective for other neurotransmitter systems; (3) comparisons of responses in humans to those in nonhuman primate and rodent species (where more comprehensive investigations can be done); (4) comparisons of baseline responses to those obtained during long-term treatment with drugs known to alter 5-HT function (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants); and (5) comparisons of neuroendocrine responses to 5-HT agonists with other end points, including temperature, blood pressure, behavior, and emotional state changes. Overall impressions are that hormonal responses, under some conditions, reflect the expected status of brain serotonergic function (e.g., changes with aging) or expected alterations (e.g., after treatment with 5-HT uptake inhibitors) predicted from animal studies or direct measurements of brain 5-HT receptor numbers. Under other circumstances, significant disparities exist, suggesting that neuroendocrine vs. other end point responses mediated by 5-HT subsystems in different brain regions may be different. Thus, caution is required in generalizing from hormonal responses to other serotonergically mediated responses, because subsystem changes may vary depending on treatment conditions, baseline conditions, or species.
Measuring Cost Efficiency

In this chapter, we extend the analysis by analyzing the cost efficiency of MLB teams. We apply the corrected DEA model introduced in Chap. 3 to analyze the relationship between team wins and team payroll. One of the concerns for competitive balance is the ability of large market teams to spend higher amounts to lure the better players. In 2009, the New York Yankees had a total payroll above $200 million, over $50 million above the second-place New York Mets. The median team payroll was only $80 million. Large market teams are able to generate more local revenue from attendance, advertising, television and radio fees, etc. In 2006, a new revenue sharing program was agreed upon to restore competitive balance; teams contribute approximately one third of their local revenue into a pool and the money is split among the teams.
Transcriptional systems in eukaryotic cells.

The problem of regulation of transcription is common to all biological systems. There are two significant complications in eukaryotes: (a) the nuclear chromosomes are structurally complex, and (b) independent genomes are segregated within the nucleus and in organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, and centrioles. Current evidence suggests that there are at least two and perhaps several transcriptive systems in the nucleus and distinct transcriptive systems in the cytoplasmic organelles. A transcriptive system is defined as a DNA- dependent RNA polymerase, the set of genes that are specifically transcribed, and whatever regulatory elements influence the transcription.
Destructive and Nondestructive Evaluation of Dry Spots in Thick Glass Fiber Reinforced Composites

This article reports on the destructive and nondestructive evaluation of dry spots or patches in thick unidirectional glass/epoxy laminates. Dry spots in composites can act as weak regions potentially resulting in catastrophic failure if undetected. Composite samples with dry spots were fabricated and nondestructive evaluation was first carried out using non-contact air coupled ultrasonics. Two types of dryness were investigated: surface and mid-plane dryness. Both types were tested using two ultrasonic testing methods. The ultrasonic velocity was used to determine stiffness and dryness fraction maps. The results showed that the dryness could be detected and characterized using the ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation. To validate the results, a destructive analysis was carried out by cutting the sample into small pieces and burning them to obtain the weight of matrix and fibers. This was further used in micromechanics models to obtain void and dryness fractions. Both model and ultrasonic results show that dry spots result in spatial gradient of mechanical properties around the dry spot. Nondestructive characterization of dryness helps in deciding if the part must be scrapped or repaired based on the severity in terms of loss of stiffness.
Soviet policy in southern Africa in 1982: some developments and considerations

The USSR intends to expand its involvement in southern Africa despite some setbacks, and more experienced personnel are formulating policy in Moscow and implementing it in the field. Dr Peter Vanneman is an Associate Professor of political science (with tenure) at the University of Arkansas. He is the author of a major book on Soviet internal politics and numerous articles on Soviet policy in Africa.
Impact of intraoperative high-volume autologous blood collection on allogeneic transfusion during and after cardiac surgery: a propensity score matched analysis.

BACKGROUND Perioperative use of allogeneic blood products is associated with higher morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs after cardiac surgery. Blood conservation techniques such as acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) report variable success. We hypothesized that large-volume ANH with limited hemodilution would reduce allogeneic blood transfusion compared to the standard practice. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Retrospective observational study of cardiac surgery patients at the University of Maryland Medical Center between January 2014 and September 2017. Using the institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons database 91 autologous and 981 control patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement, or both were identified. After propensity matching of 13 preoperative characteristics, 84 autologous and 84 control patients were evaluated. Our primary endpoint was avoidance of blood transfusion during index hospitalization, and secondary endpoints were postoperative bleeding and major adverse outcomes. RESULTS The median harvest volumes in the ANH and control groups were 1100 mL and 400 mL, respectively. Of the ANH group, 25% received any transfusion versus 45.2% of the control group after propensity score matching (p < 0.006). When controlling for preoperative platelet count, the transfusion rate ratios for ANH were 0.58 (95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.88) for RBCs and 0.63 (0.44-0.89) for non-RBC components, which were both found to be statistically significant. There was no difference found in major adverse events. CONCLUSION These results suggest that large-volume ANH is beneficial in reducing both RBC and non-RBC component usage in cardiac surgery. A further prospective validation is warranted.
Infectious disease threats in the twenty-first century: Strengthening the global response

The world has developed an elaborate global health system as a bulwark against known and unknown infectious disease threats. The system consists of various formal and informal networks of organizations that serve different stakeholders; have varying goals, modalities, resources, and accountability; operate at different regional levels (i.e., local, national, regional, or global); and cut across the public, private-for-profit, and private-not-for-profit sectors. The evolving global health system has done much to protect and promote human health. However, the world continues to be confronted by longstanding, emerging, and reemerging infectious disease threats. These threats differ widely in terms of severity and probability. They also have varying consequences for morbidity and mortality, as well as for a complex set of social and economic outcomes. To various degrees, they are also amenable to alternative responses, ranging from clean water provision to regulation to biomedical countermeasures. Whether the global health system as currently constituted can provide effective protection against a dynamic array of infectious disease threats has been called into question by recent outbreaks of Ebola, Zika, dengue, Middle East respiratory syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and influenza and by the looming threat of rising antimicrobial resistance. The concern is magnified by rapid population growth in areas with weak health systems, urbanization, globalization, climate change, civil conflict, and the changing nature of pathogen transmission between human and animal populations. There is also potential for human-originated outbreaks emanating from laboratory accidents or intentional biological attacks. This paper discusses these issues, along with the need for a (possibly self-standing) multi-disciplinary Global Technical Council on Infectious Disease Threats to address emerging global challenges with regard to infectious disease and associated social and economic risks. This Council would strengthen the global health system by improving collaboration and coordination across organizations (e.g., the WHO, Gavi, CEPI, national centers for disease control, pharmaceutical manufacturers, etc.); filling in knowledge gaps with respect to (for example) infectious disease surveillance, research and development needs, financing models, supply chain logistics, and the social and economic impacts of potential threats; and making high-level, evidence-based recommendations for managing global risks associated with infectious disease.
Nonviolence beyond the state: International NGOs and local nonviolent mobilization:

Studies of nonviolence have taught us much about what makes nonviolence successful, emphasizing the importance of local circumstance and strategy. Little attention has been given to the effect of t...
FOXP3-Positive Regulatory T-Cells in Acquired Aplastic Anemia.

Abstract CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) have been hypothesized to control the development and progression of autoimmunity by suppressing autoreactive T cells. Treg are characterized by constitutive expression of membrane CD25 and intracellular expression of the transcription factor forkhead box (FOX) P3. FOXP3 and NF-AT1 have key roles in regulatory T-cell development and function: induction of FOXP3 in naive T cells by gene transfer results in gain of a regulatory phenotype, and NF-AT1 modulates transcription of FOXP3. Treg display their suppressive properties on CD4+ CD25- T cells when activated via the T cell receptor or Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2). Decreased numbers of FOXP3-positive regulatory Tregs have been associated with impaired immune homeostasis. Treg numbers are deficient in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus, GVHD, and autoimmune hepatitis; in multiple sclerosis, decreased FOXP3 impairs Treg function. Acquired aplastic anemia (AA), the paradigm of immune mediated bone marrow failure syndromes, is characterized by immune-mediated destruction of hematopoietic stem cells. To examine expression of CD4+CD25+ T-cells in this disease, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AA patients, sampled at diagnosis and prior to immunosuppressive therapy (n=18), were examined by flow cytometry: CD4+CD25hi+ T-cells were markedly reduced or absent in patients compared to healthy controls (n = 12, 0.08± 0.01 vs 0.4± 0.1%, p=0.001). CD4+CD25hi+FOXP3+ T-cells were also significantly lower in patients (0.05± 0.01 vs 0.32± 0.1, p=0.001). By immunoblot, we observed significantly decreased and often undetectable FOXP3 protein levels in CD4+CD25+ T cells from patients (n=8) compared to controls (n=6). Low FOXP3 protein levels correlated with decreased FOXP3 mRNA levels, as measured by RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR experiments (n=5, p=0.03). There were no differences in TLR2 in immunoblots between patients and healthy controls despite differences in FOXP3 expression. Patients (n=8) with low FOXP3 levels also showed decreased or absent NF-AT1 protein levels. These data collectively implicate a transcriptional mechanism for FOXP3 down-regulation. In confocal microscopy, purified CD4+CD25+ T cells from patients (n=5) showed undetectable NF-AT1 and FOXP3 levels as compared to controls (n=3). Four patients studied 3–6 months after first sampling and post-immunosuppressive treatment showed increased Tregs and FOXP3 expression; four further patients in complete remission after immunosuppressive treatment had increased CD4+CD25hi+ T-cells as compared to treatment-naive patients. CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T-cells are decreased in most patients with AA, probably through transcriptional regulation; decreased NFAT1 could explain low FOXP3 expression and Treg frequency. Treg employed as cellular therapy in a murine model of immune-mediated AA can prevent T cell-mediated marrow destruction (Chen J and Young NS, unpublished data). Treg defects are now implicated in autoimmune marrow failure in aplastic anemia.
Growth hormone in the tumor microenvironment.

ABSTRACT Tumor development is a multistep process whereby local mechanisms enable somatic mutations during preneoplastic stages. Once a tumor develops, it becomes a complex organ composed of multiple cell types. Interactions between malignant and non-transformed cells and tissues create a tumor microenvironment (TME) comprising epithelial cancer cells, cancer stem cells, non-tumorous cells, stromal cells, immune-inflammatory cells, blood and lymphatic vascular network, and extracellular matrix. We review reports and present a hypothesis that postulates the involvement of growth hormone (GH) in field cancerization. We discuss GH contribution to TME, promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, accumulation of unrepaired DNA damage, tumor vascularity, and resistance to therapy. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(6):568-75
In Vivo Assay Reveals Microbial OleA Thiolases Initiating Hydrocarbon and β-Lactone Biosynthesis

OleA, a member of the thiolase superfamily, is known to catalyze the Claisen condensation of long-chain acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) substrates, initiating metabolic pathways in bacteria for the production of membrane lipids and β-lactone natural products. OleA homologs are found in diverse bacterial phyla, but to date, only one homodimeric OleA has been successfully purified to homogeneity and characterized in vitro A major impediment for the identification of new OleA enzymes has been protein instability and time-consuming in vitro assays. Here, we developed a bioinformatic pipeline to identify OleA homologs and a new rapid assay to screen OleA enzyme activity in vivo and map their taxonomic diversity. The screen is based on the discovery that OleA displayed surprisingly high rates of p-nitrophenyl ester hydrolysis, an activity not shared by other thiolases, including FabH. The high rates allowed activity to be determined in vitro and with heterologously expressed OleA in vivo via the release of the yellow p-nitrophenol product. Seventy-four putative oleA genes identified in the genomes of diverse bacteria were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and 25 showed activity with p-nitrophenyl esters. The OleA proteins tested were encoded in variable genomic contexts from seven different phyla and are predicted to function in distinct membrane lipid and β-lactone natural product metabolic pathways. This study highlights the diversity of unstudied OleA proteins and presents a rapid method for their identification and characterization.IMPORTANCE Microbially produced β-lactones are found in antibiotic, antitumor, and antiobesity drugs. Long-chain olefinic membrane hydrocarbons have potential utility as fuels and specialty chemicals. The metabolic pathway to both end products share bacterial enzymes denoted as OleA, OleC, and OleD that transform acyl-CoA cellular intermediates into β-lactones. Bacteria producing membrane hydrocarbons via the Ole pathway additionally express a β-lactone decarboxylase, OleB. Both β-lactone and olefin biosynthesis pathways are initiated by OleA enzymes that define the overall structure of the final product. There is currently very limited information on OleA enzymes apart from the single representative from Xanthomonas campestris In this study, bioinformatic analysis identified hundreds of new, putative OleA proteins, 74 proteins were screened via a rapid whole-cell method, leading to the identification of 25 stably expressed OleA proteins representing seven bacteria phyla.
Toward Limiting Social Botnet Effectiveness while Detection Is Performed: A Probabilistic Approach

The prevalence of social botnets has increased public distrust of social media networks. Current methods exist for detecting bot activity on Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, and other social media platforms. Most of these detection methods rely upon observing user behavior for a period of time. Unfortunately, the behavior observation period allows time for a botnet to successfully propagate one or many posts before removal. In this paper, we model the post propagation patterns of normal users and social botnets. We prove that a botnet may exploit deterministic propagation actions to elevate a post even with a small botnet population. We propose a probabilistic model which can limit the impact of social media botnets until they can be detected and removed. While our approach maintains expected results for non-coordinated activity, coordinated botnets will be detected before propagation with high probability.
Deep Learning-Based Intelligent Process Monitoring of Directed Energy Deposition in Additive Manufacturing with Thermal Images

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have been successfully developed in the past years with the great potential of overcoming the existing obstacles in traditional manufacturing. In order to improve the quality of the manufactured parts and reduce costs, it is important to timely and accurately monitor the AM process during manufacturing. However, it remains a challenging task due to the high complexity of the AM process and the difficulty in processing the condition monitoring data. This paper proposes a deep learning-based process monitoring method for directed energy deposition in AM. The thermal images collected during manufacturing are used to identify the process condition, and a deep convolutional neural network model is proposed to build an end-to-end condition monitoring framework. Experiments on a real directed energy deposition dataset in AM are carried out for validation. The results suggest the proposed method offers a promising approach in process monitoring based on the industrial images. Furthermore, little prior knowledge on signal processing and AM is required, that largely facilitates the potential applications in the real industrial scenarios.
The Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors among Black Children and Youth

There is limited research on the short-term effects of ACEs on Black children and youth. Black children and youth are disproportionately exposed to abuse, neglect, and other victimizations (Drake et al. 2009; Wade et al. Journal of Family Issues, 17(3), 283–316, 2014). Investigating ACEs will provide a broader understanding of childhood trauma on developmental processes. The current study investigates how ACES impacts psychological distress, substance use, and delinquency among Black children and youth. Hypotheses were tested using a subsample of longitudinal data from 265 participants who were recruited from six school districts in Southeast Michigan. ACEs at T1 significantly predicted depressive symptoms at T2 (β = .19, p < .05), which in turn predicted substance use (β = .20, p < .05), and delinquency (β = .19, p < .05). Psychological distress also mediated the associations between ACEs and substance use, and delinquency. To engage youth in prevention/interventions and practice, it is important to understand the contexts in which they develop i.e. having knowledge on the specific type of victimization instances that Black youth may experience more than their peers as well as the social factors. Therefore, taking a trauma-informed approach that will acknowledge the adverse childhood experiences that youth went through and to understand how these experiences shape their development through adolescence may be efficacious.
Nests in the cities: adaptive and non-adaptive phenotypic plasticity and convergence in an urban bird

Phenotypic plasticity plays a critical role in adaptation to novel environments. Behavioural plasticity enables more rapid responses to unfamiliar conditions than evolution by natural selection. Urban ecosystems are one such novel environment in which behavioural plasticity has been documented. However, whether such plasticity is adaptive, and if plasticity is convergent among urban populations, is poorly understood. We studied the nesting biology of an 'urban-adapter' species, the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), to understand the role of plasticity in adapting to city life. We examined (i) whether novel nesting behaviours are adaptive, (ii) whether pairs modify nest characteristics in response to prior outcomes, and (iii) whether two urban populations exhibit similar nesting behaviour. We monitored 170 junco nests in urban Los Angeles and compared our results with prior research on 579 nests from urban San Diego. We found that nests placed in ecologically novel locations (off-ground and on artificial surfaces) increased fitness, and that pairs practiced informed re-nesting in site selection. The Los Angeles population more frequently nested off-ground than the San Diego population and exhibited a higher success rate. Our findings suggest that plasticity facilitates adaptation to urban environments, and that the drivers behind novel nesting behaviours are complex and multifaceted.
Using a home oxygen weaning protocol and pCO2 to evaluate outcomes for infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia discharged on home oxygen

BACKGROUND Predischarge capillary blood gas partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2 ) has been associated with increased adverse events including readmission. This study aimed to determine if predischarge pCO2 or 36-week pCO2 was associated with increased respiratory readmissions or other pulmonary healthcare utilization in the year after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge for infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) discharged with home oxygen, using a standardized outpatient oxygen weaning protocol. METHODS This was a secondary cohort analysis of infants born <32 weeks gestational age with BPD, referred to our clinic for home oxygen therapy from either from our level IV NICU or local level III NICUs between 2015 and 2017. Infants with major nonrespiratory comorbidities were excluded. Subject information was obtained from electronic health records. RESULTS Of 125 infants, 120 had complete 1-year follow-up. Twenty-three percent of infants experienced a respiratory readmission after NICU discharge. There was no significant association between predischarge or 36-week pCO2 and respiratory readmissions, emergency room visits, new or increased bronchodilators, or diuretics. Higher 36-week pCO2 was associated with a later corrected age when oxygen was discontinued (<6 months; median, 54 mmHg; interquartile range [IQR], 51-61; 6-11 months; median, 62 mmHg; IQR, 57-65; ≥12 months, median, 66 mmHg; IQR, 58-73; p = .006). CONCLUSIONS Neither predischarge pCO2 nor 36-week pCO2 was associated with 1-year respiratory readmissions. However higher pCO2 at 36 weeks was associated with a longer duration of home oxygen. Neonatal illness measures like 36-week pCO2 may be useful in communicating expectations for home oxygen therapy to families.
A case report of sleep terrors exacerbated by cetirizine.

Sleep terrors are a type of sleep disorder that is classified as parasomnias and is more common in children than in adults. Cetirizine is a histamine H1 antagonist that is US Food and Drug Administ...
Training a Neural Network for Lane Demarcation Detection in the Infrared Spectrum

The retro-reflective characteristics of lane demarcations on roadways can potentially provide robust detection in the infrared spectrum even in poor lighting and weather conditions. This paper explores this idea by training a convolutional neural network using Darknet with YOLO to detect 9 classes of road lines from the Berkeley Deep Drive Dataset (BDD). Although BDD is composed of conventional colour images, they were converted to greyscale prior to training as a solution to the scarcity of datasets in the infrared spectrum. The trained model was evaluated on road scenes acquired by the infrared sensor of an Intel-Realsense camera. From the experimental results, it is concluded that object detection techniques primarily developed for localization and classification of objects in the form of bounding boxes are inherently unsuitable for detecting line shaped objects such roadway lane demarcations. In addition, despite the sub-optimal training and detection approach, the performance showed potential for robust lane detection using infrared images.