cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction to the School Program

Atomic theory developed initially through independent particle models, which account to a large extent for spectra and for inelastic collisions. Combination of these models with treatment of particle interactions by lowest order perturbation theory has extended the range of successful applications, particularly to include inelastic collisions by fast particles and the Auger effect. In the last 10–15 years, on the other hand, experimental progress has presented us with a rapidly expanding body of detailed evidence on phenomena in which particle interactions play a more elaborate role, exceeding the scope of ordinary perturbation treatments. Reviewing and sharing our present knowledge of these more complex phenomena — which are often characterized as “correlation effects” — is the objective of this School.
Southern Wealth, Global Profits: Cotton, Economic Culture, and the Coming of the Civil War

A growing literature has discussed the transnational effects of the US Civil War on topics ranging from military history to the complicated diplomatic crises that the war created in Europe to its jarring effects on the global economy. We do well also to think about how the transnational landscape framed the way that contemporaries understood the chaotic events leading up to secession and the North’s decision to prevent it. Globally, struggles to achieve nationhood through independence or unification and the expansion of individual rights helped define the era around which citizens of the USA led themselves into war. That battle—it appeared at the time—had advanced but remained unstable in the Western Hemisphere and had lost steam in Old Europe with the failure of the 1848 revolutions.1 Few westerners thought much about what the desires or prospects of nationhood were for African or Asian peoples living under the shadow of European imperialism, though events in those continents did not escape their observation, nor should they ours.
Damping of Sandwich Panels via Three-Dimensional Manufactured Multimode Metamaterial Core

Acoustic metamaterials offer an approach to reducing the dynamic response of sandwich panels. The key concept underlying this approach is to consider a metamaterial as a highly distributed system o...
Optimal flow rate sampling designs for studies with extended exhaled nitric oxide analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a biomarker of airway inflammation. Repeat FeNO maneuvers at multiple fixed exhalation flow rates (extended NO analysis) can be used to estimate parameters quantifying proximal and distal sources of NO in mathematical models of lower respiratory tract NO. A growing number of studies use extended NO analysis, but there is no official standard flow rate sampling protocol. In this paper, we provide information for study planning by deriving theoretically optimal flow rate sampling designs. METHODS: First, we reviewed previously published designs. Then, under a nonlinear regression framework for estimating NO parameters in the steady-state two compartment model of NO, we identified unbiased optimal four flow rate designs (within the range of 10 to 400 ml/s) using theoretical derivations and simulation studies. Optimality criteria included NO parameter standard errors (SEs). A simulation study was used to estimate sample sizes required to detect associations with NO parameters estimated from studies with different designs. RESULTS: Most designs (77%) were unbiased. NO parameter SEs were smaller for designs with: more target flows, more replicate maneuvers per target flow, and a larger range of target flows. High flows were most important for estimating alveolar NO concentration, while low flows were most important for the proximal NO parameters. The Southern California Children's Health Study design (30, 50, 100 and 300 ml/s) had ���1.8 fold larger SEs and required 1.1 to 3.2 fold more subjects to detect the association of a determinant with each NO parameter as compared to an optimal design of 10, 50, 100 and 400 ml/s. CONCLUSIONS: There is a class of reasonable flow rate sampling designs with good theoretical performance. In practice, designs should be selected to balance the tradeoffs between optimality and feasibility of the flow range and total number of maneuvers.
Helminth Therapy to Treat Crohn’s and Other Autoimmune Diseases

This review updates a previous one (Reddy and Fried, Parasitol Res 104:217–221, 2009) on Crohn’s and other autoimmune diseases and helminth therapy. Our review considers the use of various helminths or their worm products to treat the following autoimmune diseases: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type-1 Diabetes, and Asthma and allergic disorders. The use of the following helminths or their worm products are considered in this review: the nematodes Trichuris suis, Necator americanus, Heligomosomoides polygyrus, Trichinella spiralis, Ancanthocheilonema viteae, Ascaris suum, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Syphacia obvelata, Dirofilaria immitis, Litomosoides sigmodontis; the cestodes Hymenolepis diminuta and Taenia crassiceps; and the trematodes Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, and Fasciola hepatica. Our review discusses the potential role of worm products rather than live worms in future studies using helminths to treat autoimmune diseases.
Efficacy and Safety of Yttrium 90 (90Y) Ibritumomab Tiuxetan in Autologous and Nonmyeloablative Stem Cell Transplantation (NST) for Relapsed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL).

Abstract Background: Relapse continues to be the primary cause of treatment failure in patients with NHL undergoing stem-cell transplantation (SCT). The anti-CD20 radioimmunoconjugate 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan has been associated with high-response rates and limited toxicity, making it an ideal candidate for use in transplantation. Methods: 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan was given at the fixed dose of 0.4 mCi/Kg on day −14 for patients who were candidates for autologous SCT. Chemotherapy consisted of standard BEAM (days −7 to −1). Due to unknown toxicity when combined to fludarabine, 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan was instead given in an escalating phase I schedule (0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mCi/kg) on day −14 in patients who were candidates for NST and who received fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab as conditioning, as previously published. Dosimetry was performed for the allo- but not for the autologous group. Results: Twenty-six patients with CD20+ NHL (follicular=8, diffuse large cell=16, mantle = 2) were enrolled to receive autologous SCT. Median age was 53 years. Median prior treatments was 2. At transplant, 12 were in complete remission (CR), 12 in partial remission (PR)(6 were PET +) and 2 patients had stable disease. All patients received rituximab during stem cell collection. Adverse events were similar to those with BEAM alone. Median time to granulocyte engraftment was 9 days and to platelet engraftment of >20,000/mm3 was 11 days. At a median follow-up time of 15 months, 2-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 92%, and 83%, respectively. Seven patients were enrolled to receive NST (follicular=2, CLL/SLL 3, diffuse large cell=1, mantle=1). Median age was 56 years. At transplant, 5 were in PR, 1 in CR and 1 had progressive disease. Three patients received 0.2 mCI/kg of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan with their chemo-conditioning, and 4 patients received 0.3 mCI/kg. Peripheral blood from HLA-compatible siblings was the source of graft. Median times to granulocyte and platelet engraftment of >20,000/mm3 were both 12 days. One patient died of progressive disease, and one of infection/GVHD. Five patients remain alive in CR, at a median follow-up time of 16 months. At present, the study is ongoing at the higher dose level of 0.3 mCI/kg of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan. Conclusions: The combination of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan at 0.4mCI/kg with BEAM is safe and effective in NHL patients undergoing autologous SCT. Randomized trials of autologous SCT with or without 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan are warranted. Further studies are needed to explore its role in NST.
An Evaluation of Earnings Announcements’ Timing and Consistency with Subsequent Financial Statements

We utilize Compustat quarterly data and earnings announcement dates to study how the time from the end of firms’ quarters to the announcement of the firm’s earnings has varied, on average, during 2005-2015. In addition, we study how the advent of XBRL may have affected the timeliness of firms’ earnings announcements during the post-XBRL era (2012-2015) as compared to the per-XBRL era (2005-2008). In addition, we manually collect data from 2015 first, second, and third quarter 8-K earnings announcements and subsequent 10-Q quarterly financial statements filed on the SEC website. We then compare the data reported in the 8-K earnings announcements to the data reported in the subsequent 10-Q financial statements to assess the consistence between earnings announcements data and the corresponding financial statement data.
Abstract SY06-03: Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to improve responses to therapy

Immunotherapeutics represent highly promising agents with the potential to improve patient outcomes in a variety of cancer types. Unfortunately, single-agent immunotherapy has achieved limited clinical benefit to date in patients suffering from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This may be due to the presence of a uniquely immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) present in PDACs, which creates a barrier to effective immune surveillance. Critical obstacles to immunotherapy in PDAC tumors include the dense desmoplastic stroma that acts as a barrier to T-cell infiltration and the high numbers of tumor-associated immunosuppressive cells. We have identified hyperactivated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity in neoplastic PDAC cells as a significant regulator of the fibrotic and immunosuppressive TME. We found that FAK activity was elevated in human PDAC tissues and correlates with high levels of fibrosis and poor CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell infiltration. Single-agent FAK inhibition (VS-4718) significantly limited tumor progression, resulting in a doubling of survival in the p48-Cre/LSL-KrasG12D/p53Flox/+ (KPC) mouse model of human PDAC. This alteration in tumor progression was associated with dramatically reduced tumor fibrosis, decreased numbers of tumor-infiltrating immature myeloid cells, and immunosuppressive macrophages. We postulated that these desirable effects of FAK inhibition on the TME might render PDAC tumors more sensitive to immunotherapy. Accordingly, we found that FAK inhibition rendered the previously unresponsive KPC mouse model responsive to anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 antagonists, leading to a near tripling of survival times. These data suggest that FAK inhibition increases immune surveillance by overcoming the fibrotic and immunosuppressive PDAC TME and thus renders tumors responsive to immunotherapy. To test this hypothesis in human PDAC patients, we have opened a phase I clinical trial testing the safety and impact on the tumor microenvironment of the FAK inhibitor defactinib, in combination with pembrolizumab and gemcitabine (NCT02546531). These studies are ongoing in patients with advanced cancer, including metastatic PDAC. Early biomarker studies on PDAC tissue collected pre- and post-therapy suggest that this combination impacts the immunosuppressive TME. Citation Format: David G. Denardo. Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment to improve responses to therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr SY06-03. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-SY06-03
Geographic and racial representation and reported success rates of studies of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: Findings from the SMASH-AF meta-analysis study cohort

Introduction We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of geographic and racial representation and reported success rates of studies of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and results We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from 1/1/1990 to 8/1/2016 for trials and observational studies reporting AF ablation outcomes. Major exclusion criteria were insufficient reporting of outcomes, non-English language articles, and ablation strategies that were not prespecified and uniform. We described geographic and racial representation and single-procedure ablation success rates by country, controlling for patient demographics and study design characteristics. The analysis cohort included 306 studies (49,227 patients) from 28 countries. Over half of the paroxysmal (PAF) and nonparoxysmal AF (NPAF) treatment arms were conducted in 5 and 3 countries, respectively. Reporting of race or ethnicity demographics and outcomes were rare (1 study, 0.3%) and nonexistent, respectively. Unadjusted success rates by country ranged from 63.5% to 83.0% for PAF studies and 52.7% to 71.6% for NPAF studies, with substantial variation in patient demographics and study design. After controlling for covariates, South Korea and the United States had higher PAF ablation success rates, with large residual heterogeneity. NPAF ablation success rates were statistically similar by country. Conclusions Studies of AF ablation have substantial variation in patient demographics, study design, and reported outcomes by country. There is limited geographic representation of trials and observational studies of AF ablation and a paucity of race- or ethnicity-stratified results. Future AF ablation studies and registries should aim to have broad representation by race, geography, and ethnicity to ensure generalizability.
Absorption: How Nature Experiences Promote Awe and Other Positive Emotions

Abstract Research indicates that contact with nature elevates positive emotions; however, relatively less work examines the mechanisms responsible for these effects. The present study experimentall...
Exploring Engagement in Shared Reading Activities Between Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Caregivers.

Reading aloud to children is a valued practice to promote emergent literacy and language skills that form the foundation for future reading success. We conducted a descriptive study of shared book reading practices between caregivers and their children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 17) and caregivers and their typically developing children (n = 20) to identify factors that can promote or inhibit children’s engagement in reading. Caregivers and their children read nine books (familiar, non-fiction, fiction). Children with ASD demonstrated lower levels of passive engagement (looking at the book) and higher levels of non-engaged behavior compared to typically developing children. Caregiver reading quality and book type contributed to joint engagement during reading. Implications of these findings for intervention development are discussed.
The Real Message of the Gītā: Decoding the Text

The Gitā, along with the Upaniṣads and Brahma Sūtra, forms an essential part of the three canonical source books, prasthānatrayi, of the entire Hindu tradition. The Gitā is both a spiritual treatise and a manual for successful living. In this chapter, we will attempt to determine the central theme of the Gitā by applying a three-step interpretative process. First, we will analyze the colophon at the end of each chapter of the Gitā. Secondly, we will apply an exegetical analysis methodology called hermeneutics, a qualitative methodology involving an in-depth interpretation of a key text, to the Bhagavad Gitā, to determine its main message. Finally, we will provide a brief summary of each of the 18 chapters of the Gitā to introduce the text and to synergistically determine its emergent message.
A global characterization of tubed surfaces in $\mathbb {C}^2$

Let M 3 C ℂ 2 be a three times differentiable real hypersurface. The Levi form of M transforms under biholomorphism, and when restricted to the complex tangent space, the skew-Hermitian part of the second fundamental form transforms under Mobius transformations. The surfaces for which these forms are constant multiples of each other were identified in previous work, provided the constant is not unimodular. Here it is proved that if the surface is assumed to be complete and if the constant is unimodular, then the surface is tubed over a strongly convex curve. The converse statement is true, too, and is easily proved.
Long-term micronutrient surveillance after gastric bypass surgery in an integrated healthcare system.

Abstract Background The number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery in the United States is growing. While gastric bypass surgery is an important tool in the management of obesity, it requires lifelong metabolic monitoring and medical management. Data describing compliance with recommended laboratory follow-up are limited, particularly in long-term and primary care settings. Objectives To evaluate postoperative follow-up laboratory testing for patients after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Setting Academic-affiliated community hospital. Methods A review of patients who underwent LRYGB from 2001 to 2016 was performed. The location of patients' follow-up care and compliance with recommended laboratory testing were determined from patient records. Compliance was analyzed at 1-year intervals. Results One thousand four hundred ninety patients underwent LRYGB. Five years after their surgical date, patients were more likely to follow-up with primary care than bariatric surgery clinic (369 versus 159 patients). At 5 years postoperative, 82%, 85%, and 68% of patients that followed-up with primary care did not have a vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, or vitamin B12 test, respectively. Patients that followed-up in bariatric clinic were slightly more likely to have recommended labs completed. At 5 years postprocedure, 81%, 55%, and 48% did not have a vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, or vitamin B12 test, respectively. Conclusion Most patients do not have the recommended laboratory testing completed, regardless of where their follow-up care occurred. This study identified a gap in long-term postoperative care for patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery. Further studies will be necessary to develop interventions aimed at improving adherence to recommended monitoring after LRYGB.
pH-Dependent fibril maturation of a Pmel17 repeat domain isoform revealed by tryptophan fluorescence

Abstract The pre-melanosomal protein (Pmel17) aggregates within melanosomes to form functional amyloid fibrils that facilitate melanin polymerization. The repeat domain (RPT) of Pmel17 fibrillates under strict acidic melanosomal pH. Alternative splicing results in a shortened repeat domain (sRPT), which also forms amyloid fibrils. Here, we explored the effects of pH and protein concentration on sRPT aggregation by monitoring the intrinsic fluorescence of the sole tryptophan at position 381 (381W). 381W emission properties revealed changes of local environment polarity for sRPT fibrils formed at different pH. At pH 4, fibrils formed rapidly with no lag phase. A high 381W intensity was observed with a slight blue shift (10 nm). These fibrils underwent further structural rearrangements at intermediate pH (5–6), mirroring that of melanosome maturation, which initiates at pH 4 and increases to near neutral pH. In contrast, typical sigmoidal kinetics were observed at pH 6 with slower rates and 381W exhibited quenched emission. Interestingly, biphasic kinetics were observed at pH 5 in a protein concentration-dependent manner. A large 381W blue shift (23 nm) was measured, indicating a more hydrophobic environment for fibrils made at pH 5. Consistent with 381W fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy revealed molecular level perturbations in sRPT fibrils that were not evident from circular dichroism, transmission electron microscopy, or limited proteolysis analysis. Finally, sRPT fibrils did not form at pH ≥7 and preformed fibrils rapidly disaggregated under these solution conditions. Collectively, this work yields mechanistic insights into pH-dependent sRPT aggregation in the context of melanosome maturation.
Community, household, and individual correlates of sleep behaviors in Guyanese female youth.

Objectives Chronic sleep loss among youth is a worldwide health problem. Since research on its predictors is often limited to high-income countries, it is unclear if these findings are generalizable to all populations. To address this gap from an ecological perspective, we evaluated the associations between adolescents' sleep behaviors and several factors at the community, household, and individual levels in a middle-income country. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 73 girls (mean age = 14.5 y; range = 11-18 y) in rural and urban communities in Guyana. Sleep behaviors (nap-duration, bedtime, rise-time, night-bed-duration, and sleep-duration) were assessed with interviews and monitored up to 7 consecutive days using waist-worn accelerometers. Results Similar to other settings, Guyanese urban youth reported significantly later bedtimes than rural youth, and increasing age was associated with later bedtime and shorter night-bed-duration. In contrast to the association observed in high-income countries, increasing household poverty scores in Guyana were associated with longer night-bed-duration. Conclusions Although the relationships between locale, age, and sleep in Guyana paralleled patterns seen in high-income countries, the positive relationship between poverty and sleep diverges from previous reports. These findings suggest that predictors of chronic sleep loss seen in high-income countries are likely to differ from those in middle- and low-income countries. More sleep studies in underrepresented populations are needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of adolescent sleep behavior and its correlates.
Depression self-management in people with epilepsy: Adapting project UPLIFT for underserved populations

Abstract Data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey found that the prevalence of active epilepsy has increased to three million adults. Although findings have been mixed, some research indicates that Blacks and Hispanics share a higher burden of epilepsy prevalence compared with non-Hispanic whites. Moreover, depression is a common comorbid condition among people with epilepsy (PWE), affecting up to 55% of the epilepsy population. Widespread use and increased public health impact of evidence-based self-management interventions is critical to reducing disease burden and may require adapting original interventions into more culturally relevant versions for racial and ethnic minority groups. Project UPLIFT provides access to mental health self-management skills training that is distance-delivered, does not interfere with medication management, and has been shown to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms. This paper presents the process of exploring the adaptation of Project UPLIFT for Black and Hispanic PWE and herein suggests that evidence-based interventions can be successfully adapted for new populations or cultural settings through a careful and systematic process. Additional key lessons learned include the importance of community engagement and that language matters. Ultimately, if the adapted Project UPLIFT intervention produces positive outcomes for diverse populations of PWE, it will extend the strategies available to reduce the burden of depression. Implementing evidence-based interventions such as Project UPLIFT is critical to reducing disease burden; however, their delivery may need to be tailored to the needs and culture of the populations of interest.
Minimum Travel Distance Among Publicly Insured Infants with Severe Congenital Heart Disease: Potential Impact of In-state Restrictions

Travel distance to surgical centers may be increased when coverage restrictions prevent children with congenital heart disease (CHD) from receiving care at out-of-state congenital heart surgery centers. We estimated the minimum travel distance to congenital heart surgery centers among publicly insured infants with time-sensitive CHD surgical needs, under two different scenarios: if they were and were not restricted to in-state centers. Using 2012 Medicaid Analytic eXtract data from 40 states, we identified 4598 infants with CHD that require surgery in the first year of life. We calculated the minimum travel distance between patients’ homes and the nearest cardiac surgery center, assuming patients were and were not restricted to in-state centers. We used linear regression to identify demographic predictors of distance under both scenarios. When patients were not restricted to in-state centers, mean minimum travel distance was 43.7 miles, compared to 54.1 miles when they were restricted. For 5.9% of patients, the difference in travel distance under the two scenarios exceeded 50 miles. In six states, the difference in mean minimum travel distance exceeded 20 miles. Under both scenarios, distance was positively predicted by rural status, residence in middle-income zip codes, and white/non-Hispanic or American Indian/Alaskan Native race/ethnicity. For some publicly insured infants with severe CHD, facilitating the receipt of out-of-state care could mitigate access barriers. Existing efforts to regionalize care at fewer centers should be designed to avoid exacerbating access barriers among publicly insured CHD patients.
Patients' perspectives regarding induction of labor in the absence of maternal and fetal indications: are our patients ready for the ARRIVE trial?

Background After careful review of the ARRIVE trial (A Randomized Trial of Induction Versus Expectant Management) data, induction of labor prior to one’s due date in the absence of maternal and fetal indications (which the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently refers to as “elective”) is now endorsed as a “reasonable” option by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). As a result, there has been much discussion among providers regarding how best to operationalize this ACOG recommendation into shared decision making regarding delivery planning. However, we lack a formal understanding of the perspectives of patients themselves on this topic. Objective To assess patient understanding and preference for induction of labor prior to one’s due date. Materials and Methods We conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional survey of women in their third trimester of pregnancy presenting for routine obstetric care in August 2018. The survey included a series of questions designed to assess basic demographics, obstetric history, and patient understanding and opinions about the practice of induction of labor, with a focus on induction of labor prior to one’s due date in the absence of maternal and fetal indications. Results A total of 108 women were approached for participation, and 100 women participated in this survey (93% participation). Of the participants, 99% were supportive of induction of labor for fetal indications, and 96% were supportive for maternal indications prior to one’s due date. In contrast, 54% of participants were not interested in induction of labor in the absence of maternal and fetal indications prior to one’s due date. Women opposed to induction of labor in the absence of maternal and fetal indications were almost 4 times more likely to be concerned about the possibility that induction of labor in the absence of maternal and fetal indications could cause fetal harm (odds ratio, 3.9; confidence interval, 1.2–13.2). Conclusion Nearly all women surveyed in our pilot study were interested in induction of labor prior to one’s due date for maternal or fetal indications. 46% of those surveyed were interested in induction of labor in the absence of maternal and fetal indications prior to their due date. Concern about potential fetal harm was more likely among women opposed to induction of labor in the absence of maternal and fetal indications. As providers discuss delivery planning with their patients, these results may provide a useful context for operationalizing and individualizing the results of the ARRIVE trial for their patients.
Impact of transit stations on house prices across entire price spectrum: A quantile regression approach

Abstract This study provides evidence on the impact of a heavy-rail-based transit station on house prices by employing quantile regression method on a dataset that inventories sales transactions of single-family houses during the January 2000–April 2018 period, and within eight kilometers (five miles) of the Warm Springs station of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit system. The station is located in Fremont, CA. The results show that a) the station increased house prices across the entire price spectrum, and b) the price increase began more than ten years before the rail service commenced. On a larger note, this study should strengthen efforts to a) provide or extend heavy-rail-based rapid transit systems in areas of high need and b) explore the use of value capture tools to fund transit.
The Social Psychology of Creativity Skills: A Reconceptualization of the Componential Model

One of Teresa’s most important contributions to the field of psychology has been developing the componential model of creativity, which has become the primary foundation for several decades of research on creativity and innovation in organizations. Perhaps the greatest insight underlying this model is that it explains how the social environment can immediately impact the quality of creative outcomes by enhancing or inhibiting intrinsic motivation, a primary component of the model. However, research from cognitive psychology suggests the environment may also have an immediate impact on another component, creativity skills. This chapter explores how the componential model may be reconceptualized to yield a new stream of research that explores how the social environment impacts multiple components of creativity at the same time.
Rights, Balancing, and Proportionality

A sympathetic examination of Stavros Tsakyrakis' critique of the principle of proportionality in human rights law. Offers an alternative account of rights according to which the content of rights includes norms that are justified through a process of balancing interests, but rights themselves are not in general balanced against interests or against other rights.
Hairless canary seeds ( Phalaris canariensis L.) as a potential source of antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and antiobesity biopeptides

Rising consumer concerns with synthetic drugs to treat non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have promoted a shift towards using natural biological active constituents that offer similar health benefits. Hairless canary seed (Phalaris canariensis L) is an emerging crop traditionally used in Mexico to treat NCDs. Peptides liberated during simulated digestion of canary seed protein are believed to be responsible for their biological activity; however, no studies have shown the effect of controlled protein hydrolysis using commercial proteases on canary seed protein’s biological activity. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the in vitro antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity activity of canary seed peptides derived from proteolysis with Alcalase®. Protein fractions were primarily composed of prolamins (54.07 ± 1.8%), glutelins (32.19 ± 3.18%), globulins (5.97 ± 0.52%) and albumins (5.97 ± 0.52%). The < 3 kDa and 3–10 kDa peptide fractions showed the highest inhibition capacity (p < 0.05) towards angiotensin-converting enzyme (IC50= 0.028–0.032 mg/mL) lipase (IC50= 2.15–2.27 mg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50= 0.82–1.15 mg/mL), and dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV (IC50= 1.27–1.60 mg/mL). Additionally, these peptide fractions showed high antioxidant activity against DPPH (134.22–150.66 μmol TE/mg) and ABTS (520.92–813.33 μmol TE/mg). These results provide an insight into the potential development of functional foods using commercial enzymatic hydrolysis of canary seed proteins for treating hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and obesity.
Approach for designing appropriate Johne's disease control programs on the farm

Testing is a critical tool in controlling Johne's disease. However, the limitations and options associated with commonly used tests can create confusion about herd testing as a part of a control program. Rational test choices can be made by veterinarians and producers with a basic understanding of the tests available, what they do, what results mean, and how results can be appropriately used. Understanding the tests underlies their usefulness. The issues that influence choice of commonly used tests and test strategies include basic performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, predictive value), cost, interpretation of results, herd test strategies (frequency, portion of herd tested, one or combination of tests), and action to be taken based on test results. These issues preclude a generic proscription for the most appropriate test scheme. Instead, each should be weighed in the context of the farm situation to determine the most appropriate strategy for their control program.
Neural Tangent Kernel of Matrix Product States: Convergence and Applications

In this work, we study the Neural Tangent Kernel (NTK) of Matrix Product States (MPS) and the convergence of its NTK in the infinite bond dimensional limit. We prove that the NTK of MPS asymptotically converges to a constant matrix during the gradient descent (training) process (and also the initialization phase) as the bond dimensions of MPS go to infinity by the observation that the variation of the tensors in MPS asymptotically goes to zero during training in the infinite limit. By showing the positive-definiteness of the NTK of MPS, the convergence of MPS during the training in the function space (space of functions represented by MPS) is guaranteed without any extra assumptions of the data set. We then consider the settings of (supervised) Regression with Mean Square Error (RMSE) and (unsupervised) Born Machines (BM) and analyze their dynamics in the infinite bond dimensional limit. The ordinary differential equations (ODEs) which describe the dynamics of the responses of MPS in the RMSE and BM are derived and solved in the closed-form. For the Regression, we consider Mercer Kernels (Gaussian Kernels) and find that the evolution of the mean of the responses of MPS follows the largest eigenvalue of the NTK. Due to the orthogonality of the kernel functions in BM, the evolution of different modes (samples) decouples and the "characteristic time" of convergence in training is obtained.
Acoustic Fluctuations in the Ocean

The aim of this survey is to review some of the recent — within the last decade, say — experimental and theoretical investigations of acoustic fluctuations in the ocean. There is no attempt to be exhaustive but rather to emphasize those contributions in which theory and experiment corroborate each other. Moreover the discussion will be limited to fluctuations in acoustic signals propagating through the ocean interior where the scattering is essentially in the forward direction. Interactions with the surface and bottom are not discussed.
Mitchell Receives 2013 Ronald Greeley Early Career Award in Planetary Science: Response

I am honored to receive this award in memory of Ron Greeley. Although I did not have the opportunity to know him, I had the pleasure of getting to know his wife, Cynthia, at a luncheon prior to the special awards session at the AGU Fall Meeting. Cynthia is an intelligent and elegant southern woman with a confident gaze. She spoke fondly of Ron and of her sincere respect for his work ethic and dedication to planetary science. What most impressed me, though, was the respect Ron showed to her and the kids by always “giving them the evenings”; no matter how busy things got, Ron always kept his evenings open for Cynthia. This clearly meant the world to her. As a family man, I can only hope that my wife and kids will speak so kindly of me many years from now. I would like to dedicate this award to them in gratitude for their seemingly unconditional love and support.
Spatial response of the EO-1 Advanced Land Imager (ALI)

In this paper, we characterize the spatial response of the NASA EO-1 Advanced Land Imager (ALI) sensor, a testbed for potential technologies for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission. The spatial response is measured by analysis of suitable targets in on-orbit imagery. The targets include berms between agricultural fields at the Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC), Arizona, acquired on July 27, 2001, and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, Louisiana, acquired on September 20, 2001. Both targets are oriented at small angles to the ALI in- and cross-track directions. Combining data from adjoining rows or columns thus forms a new profile with a subpixel interval across the target and permits spatial frequency analysis free of aliasing. Using this approach, the ALI Line Spread Functions (LSFs), in-track and cross-track, are measured and the corresponding Modulation Transfer Functions (MTFs) are calculated for all bands of ALI. The results of the Pontchartrain analysis of the ALI panchromatic band are compared to published results for the ETM+ panchromatic band.
Role of Complement and Other Innate Immune Mechanisms in the Removal of Apoptotic Cells

The complement system is regarded as an ancient host defense mechanism that helps to promote phagocytosis and/or killing of foreign microorganisms. Less well known is the facilitatory role that complement and other closely related molecules of the innate immune system play in the removal of dying cells. In this chapter, we review the complement system and the mechanisms of complement activation that include natural antibodies and acute phase proteins. The effects of spontaneous and genetically engineered mutations on function of these proteins and their relationship to autoimmune diseases such as lupus are discussed. We also review the known function of non-complement receptors and their roles in recognition and removal of dying cells in normal cellular homeostasis and in inflammation.
Whither menstrual synchrony

The initial report of menstrual synchrony indicated that social interactions among groups of women could regulate their ovarian cycles. The initial focus on menstrual synchrony was just the beginning of a discovery process, not all facets of the whole phenomenon. Menstrual synchrony was similar to an archeologist finding a fossilized tooth, which demonstrated the existence of a prehistoric creature. Menstrual synchrony could have turned out to be like the chronodonts, prehistoric creatures for which we still have only their fossilized teeth as evidence for their existence. Fortunately, after almost 3 decades of work, we have excavated the site and been able to unearth more about the structure of this particular creature. It is social regulation of ovulation throughout the lifespan--a creature made up not only of menstrual synchrony, but various forms of the timing of spontaneous ovulatory cycles in adults. It also includes the social regulation of ovulation at other points during the reproductive lifespan: puberty, inter-birth intervals and reproductive senescence. Menstrual synchrony is but one indicator of the phenomenon; it is now clear that there is a great deal more to it than was seen at the time of the original report.
Folklore/Cinema: Popular Film as Vernacular Culture

Reviewed Medium: book Year: 2007 Pages: 232 Publisher: Utah State University Press ISBN: 978-0-87421-673-8 (hard cover). Prices: $34.95 USD(hard cover).
Pietism and the Making of Eighteenth-Century Prussia: Reformed confessionalism and the reign of the Great Elector

The state-building accomplishments of the sixteenth-century Hohenzollern electors lagged behind those of their counterparts in most of the rest of the Empire. During the era before the Thirty Years’ War, none of the rulers of the Mark Brandenburg was able to counteract socioeconomic trends that in northeastern Germany and Poland worked against political centralization and thereby set this region apart from central, western, and southern Germany. The causal forces behind this regional differentiation are still controversial, but the process had clearly begun by the late fifteenth century with the weakening of the economic and political position of the East Elbian towns vis-a-vis the landed nobility. This deterioration was in marked contrast to the situation in the German lands west of the Elbe River, where the cities and towns retained much, if not all, of their medieval autonomy until at least the 1590s and were therefore well placed to benefit from the economic expansion of the sixteenth century. In Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, Poland, and ducal Prussia, however, this same period of time was characterized by the achievement of an almost total domination of society by the landed nobility. Profiting from rising grain prices and increasing opportunities for raw material exports to Western Europe, the Brandenburg Junkers, like other landowning elites in the Baltic area, were able to use their economic strength to compel the financially strapped central government to do their bidding.
The impact of intracranial pressure monitoring on mortality after severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract Background The effect of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring on mortality after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) remains unclear. We hypothesized that ICP monitoring would not be associated with improved survival in patients with sTBI. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on sTBI patients, defined as admission Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less with intracranial hemorrhage. Patients who underwent ICP monitoring were compared with patients who did not. The primary outcome measure was inhospital mortality. Results Of 123 sTBI patients meeting inclusion criteria, 40 (32.5%) underwent ICP monitoring. On bivariate and multivariate regression analyses, ICP monitoring was associated with decreased mortality (odds ratio = .32, 95% confidence interval = .10 to .99, P = .049). This finding persisted on propensity-adjusted analysis. Conclusions ICP monitoring is associated with improved survival in adult patients with sTBI. In addition, significant variability exists in the use of ICP monitoring among patients with sTBI.
On the surface composition of Triton’s southern latitudes

Abstract We present the results of an investigation to determine the longitudinal (zonal) distributions and temporal evolution of ices on the surface of Triton. Between 2002 and 2014, we obtained 63 nights of near-infrared (0.67–2.55 μ m) spectra using the SpeX instrument at NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF). Triton has spectral features in this wavelength region from N2, CO, CH4, CO2, and H2O. Absorption features of ethane (C2H6) and 13CO are coincident at 2.405 μ m, a feature that we detect in our spectra. We calculated the integrated band area (or fractional band depth in the case of H2O) in each nightly average spectrum, constructed longitudinal distributions, and quantified temporal evolution for each of the chosen absorption bands. The volatile ices (N2, CO, CH4) show significant variability over one Triton rotation and have well-constrained longitudes of peak absorption. The non-volatile ices (CO2, H2O) show poorly-constrained peak longitudes and little variability. The longitudinal distribution of the 2.405 μ m band shows little variability over one Triton rotation and is 97 ± 44 ° and 92 ± 44 ° out of phase with the 1.58 μ m and 2.35 μ m CO bands, respectively. This evidence indicates that the 2.405 μ m band is due to absorption from non-volatile ethane. CH4 absorption increased over the period of the observations while absorption from all other ices showed no statistically significant change. We conclude from these results that the southern latitudes of Triton are currently dominated by non-volatile ices and as the sub-solar latitude migrates northwards, a larger quantity of volatile ice is coming into view.
Natural killer cells: primary target for hepatitis C virus immune evasion strategies?

Liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma secondary to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection requiring transplantation represents a significant public health problem. The most remarkable feature of hepatitis C virus is the ability to establish chronic infection in the vast majority of cases. Efforts to define clinical correlates of HCV persistence have focused primarily on CD4 and CD8 T cell responses. Until recently, the role of innate immunity in determining the outcome of HCV infection had received relatively little attention. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important antiviral effector population eliminating virus through direct killing and cytokine production. Recent studies highlighting the cross-talk between NK cells, dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells have prompted reevaluation of the important role NK cells play in regulating and maintaining specific immune responses. Like many other viruses, HCV has evolved strategies to evade detection and elimination by NK cells. T cell defects observed in HCV infection may be a consequence of inhibition of NK:DC interactions. We propose a theoretical model for HCV persistence that places the NK cell at the center of HCV immune evasion strategies. While this model is only theoretical, it provides a plausible interpretation of many published observations and a useful working model to test the role of NK cells in HCV persistence. In conclusion, the role of innate immune cells and their regulation of antigen-specific responses by the initial innate response to the virus, in particular NK cells, may prove to be an informative and clinically relevant avenue of investigation. Liver Transpl 12:363–372, 2006. © 2006 AASLD.
Two cell-density domains within the Myxococcus xanthus fruiting body.

Abstract Myxococcus xanthus, one of the simplest of multicellular organisms, develops into an organized, multicellular aggregate, called a fruiting body. Examination of the internal structure of the nascent fruiting body showed it to consist of a hemispherical outer domain of densely packed and ordered cells. Inside this dense shell is an inner domain of less ordered cells at 3-fold lower cell density. Single cells move in a bidirectional stream in the outer domain, orbiting the fruiting body throughout development, whereas in the inner domain, cell movement ceases as the fruiting body matures. The fruiting body thus consists of two domains, distinguished from each other by differential cell density, cell arrangements, and cell movements.
Intrinsic characteristics as the interface between CAD and machine vision systems

Computer Aided Design systems are currently being used to drive machine vision analysis. We propose that the set of intrinsic 3-D shape characteristics provided by the CAD system be used to compare representational power of different CAD systems so far as the requirements for machine vision are concerned.
Synthesis and Reactivity of a Stable Silylene

The synthesis and several reactions of the stable silylene 1 (1,3-di-tert-butyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,3,2-diazasilol-2-ylidene) are described. X-ray crystal structures are given for two intermediates in the synthesis of 1, the diimine 7 and its dilithium salt 8, and for a byproduct, the spiro compound 10. 1 reacts with ethanol and water by inserting into the O−H bond, and with iodomethane by insertion into the C−I bond. The silanol from reaction of 1 with water condenses to a disiloxane, 13. From 1 and sulfur and selenium, cyclic compounds containing Si2E2 rings are obtained (E = S or Se). Crystal structures are presented for disiloxane 13 and for the sulfur and selenium cycloadducts, 15 and 17.