cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Severe lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia due to acute metformin intoxication in a dog.

Objective To report a case of severe lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia due to acute metformin intoxication in a dog. Case summary A female neutered Rat Terrier was presented for an acute onset of seizure-like episodes, weakness, and vomiting approximately 14 hours after ingestion of 198 mg/kg of metformin. The dog was found to be laterally recumbent, paddling, and unresponsive shortly before presentation. On physical exam, the dog was in hypovolemic shock and hypothermic. Blood work revealed severe lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia. The dog was volume resuscitated with intravenous crystalloids and dextrose, followed by a continuous infusion of intravenous fluids and dextrose, as well as administration of isotonic sodium bicarbonate. Repeat blood work showed minimal improvement of the hyperlactatemia for 3 hours despite resolution of hypovolemia and hypoglycemia followed by gradual improvement over the next 9 hours of hospitalization. High performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed markedly increased plasma metformin concentrations at 3.9 μg/mL. The dog was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours and showed no recurrence of clinical signs one year following discharge. New or unique information provided Metformin-associated lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia is a severe complication in human patients, but has not been reported in veterinary medicine. Aggressive treatment with supportive care including IV fluids and dextrose administration resulted in resolution of the clinical signs in this patient. Metformin toxicosis should be considered in dogs with severe hyperlactatemia and hypoglycemia of unknown etiology.
A net structure for semantic information storage, deducation and retrieval

This paper describes a data structure, MENS (MEmory Net Structure), that is useful for storing semantic information stemming from a natural language, and a system, MENTAL (MEmory Net That Answers and Learns) that interacts with a user (human or program), stores information into and retrieves information from MENS and interprets some information in MENS as rules telling it how to deduce new information from what is already stored. MENTAL can be used as a guestion-answering system with formatted input /output, as a vehicle for experimenting with various theories of semantic structures or as the memory management portion of a natural language question-answering system.
Applications of Color in Metallography and Photography

In the visual experience of most humans color is commonplace and one naturally finds color photographs more realistic than black and white. However, this is generally not true in the field of metallography where the images one normally encounters are black and white or shades of gray. Therefore, the occurrence of color in a microstructure may tend to cause the metallographer to accept it on the basis of aesthetic appeal rather than reality.
Transvascular retrieval of a catheter remnant from the peripheral vein of a preterm neonate.

We report the first case of transvenous removal of a peripheral inserted central catheter (PICC) fragment embolized to a peripheral vein in a 32-week gestational age 1450 g infant. The technical as...
Host-guest chemistry of the peptidoglycan.

The peptidoglycan is the polymer that surrounds, contains, and protects the cytoplasm of bacteria. The structure of this polymer consists of glycan strands, cross-linked to each other via oligopeptide stems attached to alternate glycans of the strands. As the peptidoglycan is a unique structure of bacteria, and thus is without a eukaryotic counterpart, small molecule inhibition of the enzymatic events of peptidoglycan biosynthesis coincides with antibacterial activity.1–3 For this reason, our laboratory has focused on the understanding of key events that involve biological recognition of the peptidoglycan. Examples of these recognition events include the peptidoglycan (and its biosynthetic precursors) acting as a host for small molecule binding, and the peptidoglycan acting as a guest wherein it is recognized by protein macromolecules. Peptidoglycan recognition as a guest occurs during its biosynthesis, during the activation of bacterial resistance pathways, and in the innate immune response of eukaryotes to the presence of bacterial infection. In this Perspective we emphasize the multi-disciplinary approaches that are now being used toward the molecular-level understanding of the host-guest chemistry of the peptidoglycan, and with emphasis on the central place of this structure in the continuing pursuit of improved antibacterial chemotherapy.
Affective modulation of target detection in deficit and non-deficit schizophrenia

Abstract Emotional deficits are an integral feature of schizophrenia (SZ), but our understanding of these deficits is limited. In the present study, we examined whether the severity of emotional deficits reflects difficulty in the cognitive processing of affectively valenced stimuli. Healthy controls (HC; N = 170) and stable outpatients with SZ (N = 245), characterized as either deficit syndrome (DS; N = 62) or non-deficit syndrome (NDS; N = 183), completed an Affective Go/NoGo task requiring discrimination of positively, negatively or neutrally valenced words. Accuracy (d′) and response bias (c) were calculated for each of the three conditions, and a series of ANOVAs were carried out to examine group differences. Examination of accuracy revealed significant main effects of group and valence and a significant valence × group interaction, indicating that while affective valence impacted accuracy for the HC and NDS groups, the DS group maintained the same low level of accuracy across all levels of affective valence. Examination of response bias also revealed significant main effects of group and valence and a significant valence × group interaction. Specifically, within the HC and NDS groups, response bias did not differ between negatively and positively valenced words while response bias in the DS group was lowest for neutral, higher for negatively valenced and higher still for positively valenced words. These results suggest that emotional deficits in DS may be directly related to deficits in processing affective information. Moreover, although this deficit is observed across both positively and negatively valenced stimuli, it is most pronounced for positively valenced material.
13.23 – Metals and Cardiovascular Disease☆

Metals are both essential for cardiovascular health and among the oldest known cardiovascular toxicants. Recent findings, such as large prospective epidemiological studies or finding that metal chelation therapy reducing cardiovascular events in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients, strengthen the link between metal exposures and disease promotion. However, pathogenic mechanisms for metals promoting human CVD remain poorly understood and are often controversial due to difficulty in interpreting and translating results from high dose animal toxicity studies to causal disease etiologies in humans. There is increasing appreciation that lower, chronic environmental exposures, exposures occurring in critical developmental windows, or exposures at occupational and therapeutic levels may have subtler effects in causing or modifying CVD. Recent epidemiological studies and studies in genetic rodent models that focus on environmental exposures indicate that pathogenic effects of metals on cell signaling and epigenetic regulation are not random and cannot be attributed to competition with endogenous ions or excessive oxidant-mediated injury. Resolution of the molecular understanding of pathogenic metal effects remains a challenge complicated by complex differential concentration and temporal exposure relationships, as well as genetic determinants. This chapter presents pathogenic effects of metals in the heart and vasculature with an emphasis on the cellular and molecular actions underlying CVD promotion and clinically significant toxicities.
Exploring Human Factors Issues for Urban Air Mobility Operations

Urban air mobility (UAM) is currently receiving increased attention in the aviation literature as a new entrant into the airspace. Although the introduction of UAM offers the potential for significant benefits, it also creates the potential for fundamental change to the current air traffic management system. Several concepts are being explored to enable the development of a safe and efficient UAM system for near, mid and far term operations. A concept of operations for near term operations proposes several assumptions. Concepts for roles and responsibilities of human operators such as air traffic controllers propose different degrees of involvement. Identifying and exploring human factors issues is therefore a critical next step in the forward progression of concept development. A human-in-the-loop air traffic control simulation was used to investigate the effect of UAM traffic density and changes in current airspace routes and communication procedures on subjective controller workload and efficiency-related task performance. Findings indicate that although subjective workload was manageable for low density operations, medium and high density operations led to unmanageable levels of workload, leading to refusals to allow more vehicles into controlled airspace. By implementing a letter of agreement, verbal communications were reduced which were associated with reduced workload. Optimized routes were also associated with reduced workload and increased performance efficiency. Although these adjustments can positively support controller performance, workload still remained high during the high density UAM traffic scenarios. It is therefore suggested that, in order for UAM operation to become scalable, human operators will be required to work differently compared to current air traffic controllers. Future research should focus on the level and type of human operator or controller involvement and mated systems, to ensure safety and efficiency within UAM operations.
Synthesis, charatcterization and preclinical studies of tartgeted photo-dynamic therapy agents activated in the tissue transparency window

4740 Currently approved photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) agents are limited by their activation wavelengths which fall short of the tissue transparency window (700-1000 nm). With these agents, it is only feasible to treat tumors up 2-3 mm below the skin, or the activating light sources must be introduced into the tissue of interest. Other limitations are poor selectivity for tumor tissue and long residence times leading to extended light sensitivity. We have designed novel modular PDT agents that can be activated in the tissue transparency window, are targeted to the tumor tissue, and possess a module (indodicarbocyanine) for near infrared fluorescence (IR) imaging. Two-photon excited fluorescence has been demonstrated for these compounds at depths of 3 cm in highly scattering tissue phantoms. A protocol for evaluating the ability of PDT to kill tumor cells at specific depths in a tissue phantom was developed and the model was validated using Photofrin® treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Using in vivo near IR fluorescence imaging of SCID mice bearing MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer tumors, we validated the ability of the compounds to be targeted by the octreoate peptide to overexpressed somatostatin 2 (SST2) receptors on the cancer cells. Drug clearance was imaged occurring via the gall bladder and intestinal route, and the in vivo imaging studies indicated that there would likely be a good window of time for therapeutic activation of the compound. Since our compounds are the first ones to have a 2-photon cross section large enough to be considered for therapeutic PDT, appropriate protocols needed to be developed for many of the preclinical studies, and, while we envision any clinical application encompassing the ability to raster the near IR laser beam(s), until such a system is developed, we have adapted a motorized X,Y,Z stage to raster the target cells/tumor bearing mouse. Our initial results using this system will be presented. Supported by a grant from the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization and Technology.
Developing and Enacting a Research Program in the Context of Your Own Classroom

In this chapter I reflect on how I have designed and enacted a research program in the context of teaching mathematics content and methods courses for university prospective elementary teachers. In my work, my research and teaching inform each other. I discuss the cyclical nature of such a research program where each research project lays the foundation for the following ones. I also discuss how to build collaborative research programs with other researchers interested in similar research.
Toxin-Triggered Interleukin-1 Receptor Signaling Enables Early-Life Discrimination of Pathogenic versus Commensal Skin Bacteria

Summary The host must develop tolerance to commensal microbes and protective responses to infectious pathogens, yet the mechanisms enabling a privileged relationship with commensals remain largely unknown. Skin colonization by commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis facilitates immune tolerance preferentially in neonates via induction of antigen-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs). Here, we demonstrate that this tolerance is not indiscriminately extended to all bacteria encountered in this early window. Rather, neonatal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus minimally enriches for antigen-specific Tregs and does not prevent skin inflammation upon later-life exposure. S. aureus α-toxin contributes to this response by stimulating myeloid cell production of IL-1β, which limits S. aureus-specific Tregs. Loss of α-toxin or the IL-1 receptor increases Treg enrichment, whereas topical application of IL-1β or α-toxin diminishes tolerogenic responses to S. epidermidis. Thus, the preferential activation of a key alarmin pathway facilitates early discrimination of microbial “foe” from “friend,” thereby preventing tolerance to a common skin pathogen.
Aortic blood pressure and arterial stiffness in patients with controlled resistant and non-resistant hypertension.

The purpose of the current study was to determine whether aortic blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness are greater in patients with controlled resistant hypertension (RHTN) than controlled non-resistant hypertension (non-RHTN) despite similar clinic BP level. Participants were recruited from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hypertension Clinic. Controlled hypertension was defined as automated office BP measurement with BP < 135/85 mm Hg. A total of 141 participants were evaluated by pulse wave analysis (PWA) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV). Among them, 75 patients had controlled RHTN with use of 4 or more antihypertensive medications and 56 patients had controlled non-RHTN with use of 3 or less antihypertensive medications. Compared to patients with controlled non-RHTN, those with controlled RHTN were more likely to be African American and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure. The mean number of antihypertensive medications was greater in patients with controlled RHTN (4.4 ± 0.8 vs 2.3 ± 0.7, P < .001). Clinic brachial BP, aortic BP, augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index normalized for heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIx@75) and cf-PWV were similar in both groups. In summary, there was no significant difference in central BP or arterial stiffness between patients with controlled RHTN and controlled non-RHTN. These findings suggest that the higher residual cardiovascular risk observed in patients with RHTN after achieving BP control compared to patients with more easily controlled hypertension is not likely attributable to persistent differences in central BP and arterial stiffness.
Estimating Training Data Influence by Tracking Gradient Descent

We introduce a method called TracIn that computes the influence of a training example on a prediction made by the model. The idea is to trace how the loss on the test point changes during the training process whenever the training example of interest was utilized. We provide a scalable implementation of TracIn via: (a) a first-order gradient approximation to the exact computation, (b) saved checkpoints of standard training procedures, and (c) cherry-picking layers of a deep neural network. In contrast with previously proposed methods, TracIn is simple to implement; all it needs is the ability to work with gradients, checkpoints, and loss functions. The method is general. It applies to any machine learning model trained using stochastic gradient descent or a variant of it, agnostic of architecture, domain and task. We expect the method to be widely useful within processes that study and improve training data.
The Long Road to Probation Completion: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Effect of Life Events on Re-Arrest among Probationers

Although much effort has been taken to investigate probation failure and associated factors, less attention has been given to the stability and change in life events during the probation period tha...
Parametric Maximum Likelihood Estimation in Action

The title of the chapter is a bit bombastic, of course, but so be it. In this chapter, we consider the parametric estimation problem from a practical point of view.
HP1 oligomerization compensates for low-affinity H3K9me recognition and provides a tunable mechanism for heterochromatin-specific localization

ABSTRACT HP1 proteins bind with low affinity but high specificity to histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9me), forming transcriptionally inactive genomic compartments referred to as heterochromatin. How HP1 proteins traverse a complex and crowded chromatin landscape on the millisecond timescale and yet recognize H3K9me with high specificity remains paradoxical. Here, we visualize the single-molecule dynamics of an HP1 homolog, the fission yeast Swi6, in its native chromatin environment. By analyzing the motions of individual Swi6 molecules, we identify mobility states that map to discrete biochemical intermediates. Using mutants that perturb Swi6 H3K9me recognition, oligomerization, or nucleic acid binding, we parse the mechanism by which each biochemical property affects protein dynamics. We find that rather than enhancing chromatin binding, nucleic acid interactions, compete with and titrates Swi6 away from heterochromatin. However, as few as four tandem Swi6 chromodomains are necessary and sufficient to restore H3K9me-dependent localization. Our studies propose propose that HP1 oligomerization stabilizes higher-order protein configurations of a defined stoichiometry that facilitates high-specificity H3K9me recognition and outcompetes the inhibitory effects of nucleic acid-binding.
Perceptions of partner social control: accuracy, bias, and daily experience

OBJECTIVE We examined accuracy and bias in people's perceptions of their romantic partner's daily social control attempts of daily health behaviours and how misperceptions of partner daily social control are related to both partners' daily experiences. DESIGN 106 cohabiting couples from the community reported on their own and their partner's daily social control attempts (i.e., persuasion, pressure) and their daily experiences (i.e., positive and negative affect, autonomy, relationship satisfaction) across 14 consecutive days (N = 2377 reports). Multilevel path models examined tracking accuracy, projection, and mean-level bias in perceptions of partner health social control attempts, and associations between mean-level bias and daily experiences. RESULTS Perceptions of provider influence contained significant tracking accuracy, projection, and mean-level accuracy in provider use of social control. Underperceptions of persuasion were associated with negative outcomes for the perceiver and no outcomes for the provider. Overperceptions of persuasion were associated with negative outcomes for providers and marginally higher positive affect for perceivers. Misperceptions of pressure were associated with negative outcomes for both perceivers and providers. CONCLUSION Results suggest that social control may have the most benefit and least harm to both partners when people accurately perceive the mean-levels of such influence attempts on their health behaviours.
What you think and what I think: Studying intersubjectivity in knowledge artifacts evaluation

Miscalibration, the failure to accurately evaluate one's own work relative to others' evaluation, is a common concern in social systems of knowledge creation where participants act as both creators and evaluators. Theories of social norming hold that individual's self-evaluation miscalibration diminishes over multiple iterations of creator-evaluator interactions and shared understanding emerges. This paper explores intersubjectivity and the longitudinal dynamics of miscalibration between creators' and evaluators' assessments in IT-enabled social knowledge creation and refinement systems. Using Latent Growth Modeling, we investigated dynamics of creator's assessments of their own knowledge artifacts compared to peer evaluators' to determine whether miscalibration attenuates over multiple interactions. Contrary to theory, we found that creator's self-assessment miscalibration does not attenuate over repeated interactions. Moreover, depending on the degree of difference, we found self-assessment miscalibration to amplify over time with knowledge artifact creators' diverging farther from their peers' collective opinion. Deeper analysis found no significant evidence of the influence of bias and controversy on miscalibration. Therefore, relying on social norming to correct miscalibration in knowledge creation environments (e.g., social media interactions) may not function as expected.
Applications of AI techniques to distributed systems

The authors examine the close relationship between problems encountered in distributed processing systems (DPS) and distributed artificial intelligence systems (DAIs). In DPSs and DAIs one has to deal with problems related to factors relating to architectures, technologies, languages, algorithms, structures, operating systems, and communications. Using heuristics, modal logics, theories of knowledge and belief, and concepts of expert systems, the performance of such systems is enhanced. Some aspects of the application of AI techniques and the use of intelligent agents (IAs) to enhance synergism that results from the interaction among the above factors are discussed. In order to understand the relationship between DPS and DAIs the authors introduce some concepts that are represented in such systems. They also introduce some concepts of the object-oriented approach, which can be used to deal with abstractions and thus simplify the intricacies that exist in those interactions. >
Development of a Proposed International Standard for Certification of Aircraft to High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF)

Avionic systems performing critical functions in modern aircraft are potentially susceptible to the hazards of electromagnetic radiation from ground and airborne transmitters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requested that the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) coordinate the development of procedures and guidance material which can be used during the aircraft certification process to ensure adequate protection against high intensity radiated fields (HIRF). This paper addresses both the technical challenge of drafting a certification procedure and guidance standard as well as the management process used by the SAE subcommittee AE4R to converge a diverse range of opinions by its international membership in the shortest possible time.
Abstract 19334: Responses to a Pre-PCI Screening Questionnaire Influence Stent Type Used During PCI

Introduction: The strong correlation between early termination of dual antiplatelet therapy and stent thrombosis in patients treated with drug-eluting stents (DES) warrants emphasis on appropriate selection of patients for DES. Using a simple questionnaire administered pre-procedurally, we aimed to determine which clinical factors might predict the use of DES during PCI. Hypothesis: A “yes” response to any item on the pre-PCI questionnaire (table 1) will decrease the odds of DES use during PCI. Methods: Using the Durham Veterans Affairs electronic health record, we identified 1202 patients who underwent PCI from July 2008 to January 2013. We excluded patients without a complete pre-PCI questionnaire within 14 days of PCI, repeat procedures and those who received both DES and BMS or no stent during PCI, leaving 864 patients. Using logistic regression we performed univariate analyses of age, sex, diabetes, PCI indication (stable angina, unstable angina/NSTEMI or STEMI) and target vessel type (vein graft or native). Only age and PCI indication were significant predictors of DES use (p Results: Of the 864 patients receiving stents, 661 received DES and 203 received BMS. Increasing age, presenting with STEMI, and a “yes” response to any item on the questionnaire decreased the odds of DES use, however, this was not significant for questions 2 and 6 (table 1). Presenting with unstable angina or NSTEMI, as compared with stable angina, significantly increased the odds of DES use. Conclusions: Age, PCI indication and responses to 4 of 6 items on a questionnaire administered pre-PCI were associated with stent type used during PCI. Future studies should investigate whether implementation of this questionnaire leads to lower rates of stent thrombosis through appropriate patient selection for DES.
International opportunities for education society

A summary of laboratory projects observed at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, follows a description of similarities between United States and international faculty in the areas of accreditation and promotion Several ways for US faculty to establish contact with other institutions and to assist in an appropriate way are suggested. >
Frame relay vs. asynchronous transfer mode

High-speed network services will be phased into our daily life gradually in the coming years. With fiber optic data rates over gigabits per second to a persons home, the distinction among the LANs, MANs and WANs will eventually disappear. The reason is not because of a particular protocol but rather the ultrahigh raw speed provided by the fiber technologies. This paper will address the design of frame relay and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) and will suggest enhancements to make the ATM protocol suitable for all digital communications.
International expectations for sustainable forestry: a view from the U.S. forest industry.

Today several global forces are raising expectations that forestry must be practiced on a sustainable basis. This is true for forestry as practiced in tropical, temperate, and boreal regions, as well as in developed and developing countries. Several institutional processes are in place to develop criteria for and indicators of sustainable forestry. As customers and consumers have become more knowledgeable, they are becoming more demanding about the environmental attributes of the products they buy. Forest products companies and forest landowners who wish to maintain access to these more demanding markets will need to provide assurances of their commitment to sustainable forestry practices.
'To arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time': Heidegger, phenomenology, the way human beings first appear in the world, and fresh perspectives on the abortion debate.

AbstractBy permission of Oxford University Press (www.oup.com). Extract (3679w) from Ch. 3 ‘Context Neglected’, (219w) from Ch. 4 ‘Grounds for Recognition’ and (170w) ‘Introduction’ from Ethics at the Beginning of Life: A Phenomenological Critique by James Mumford (2013). Free permission: Author’s own material.Intellectual stalemate in the abortion debate can be traced in part to its being framed as a standoff between religion and secular philosophy. While the former is thought to generate a broadly ‘pro-life’ position, the latter is associated with more ‘pro-choice’ thinking. This essay attempts to break free of this framing by criticising the philosophy informing ‘pro-choice’ positions, but not by resorting immediately to religious arguments but rather by drawing upon a rival philosophical tradition – the movement within twentieth and twenty-first Continental philosophy which was and is phenomenology. A phenomenological approach to human ‘emergence’, and in particular an application of the framework Hei...
Synthesis and Characterization of Compounds Containing the As(SiMe3)2 Bridging Group: Crystal Structures of t-Bu2GaAs(SiMe3)22 and t-Bu2GaAs(SiMe3) 2Ga(t-Bu)2Cl

Abstract tBu2GaCl reacts with LiAs(SiMe3)2·2thf (1:1 mole ratio) to yield I, which on reaction with tBu2GaCl (1:2 mole ratio) affords II quantitatively. [tBu2GaAs(SiMe3)2]2 (I) and tBu2 GaAs(SiMe 3 ) 2 Ga( t Bu) 2 C l (II) were not produced from reaction mixtures of tBu2GaCl with (Me3Si)3As (1:1 and 2:1 mole ratio mixtures) and only starting materials were recovered. Compound II is the fifth example of a compound containing the GaAsGaX (X = Cl, Br) core, and the second wherein the organogallium four-membered ring with arsenic, halogen mixed-bridging is not puckered. In addition to partial elemental analyses and NMR spectroscopic characterization data, the molecular structures of I and II have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Crystal data I: monoclinic, space group C2/m(C32h), a = 18.188(2) A, b = 13.017(1) A, c = 9.916(1) A, β = 118.54(1)°, V = 2062.4(8) A3, Z = 2; II: monoclinic, space group C2/c(C62h), a = 20.872(4) A,b = 9.798(1) A,c = 19.397(4) A, β = 124.13(2)°, V = 3284(2) A3, Z = 4.
Behavioral economic analysis of cue-elicited craving for alcohol

Aims Craving as a motivational determinant of drug use remains controversial because of ambiguous empirical findings. A behavioral economic approach may clarify the nature of craving, theorizing that subjective craving functionally reflects an acute increase in a drug's value. The current study tested this hypothesis via a multidimensional assessment of alcohol demand over the course of an alcohol cue reactivity procedure. Design One-way within-subjects design. Setting Human laboratory environment. Participants Heavy drinkers (n = 92) underwent exposures to neutral (water) cues followed by personalized alcohol cues. Assessments Participants were assessed for craving, alcohol demand, affect, and salivation following each exposure. Findings Alcohol versus neutral cues significantly increased craving and multiple behavioral economic measures of the relative value of alcohol, including alcohol consumption under conditions of zero cost (intensity), maximum expenditure on alcohol (O(max)), persistence in drinking to higher prices (breakpoint) and proportionate price insensitivity (normalized P(max)). Craving was significantly correlated with demand measures at levels ranging from 0.21-0.43. Conclusions These findings support the potential utility of a behavioral economic approach to understanding the role of environmental stimuli in alcohol-related decision making. Specifically, they suggest that the behavioral economic indices of demand may provide complementary motivational information that is related to though not entirely redundant with measures of subjective craving. Language: en
Autonomic nervous system activity in weight gain and weight loss

Studies in both animals and humans indicate that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) responds to changes in systemic energy balance. In the present study, ANS response to weight change was examined by sequential blockade of cardiac autonomic innervation with parasympathetic (atropine) and sympathetic (esmolol) blockers. Change in heart period (interbeat interval) from baseline after atropine defined the amount of parasympathetic control (PC), and the subsequent change after esmolol defined the amount of sympathetic control (SC). In nonobese subjects, weight gain to 10% above initial body weight resulted in a decrease in PC and an increase in SC, and conversely, weight loss to 10% below initial weight resulted in an increase in PC and a decrease in SC. In obese subjects, weight loss resulted in the same pattern of changes in PC and SC. The major changes were in the parasympathetic arm of the ANS. These findings support the hypothesis that the ANS acts to oppose weight change.
Learning energy demand domain knowledge via feature transformation

Domain knowledge is an essential factor for forecasting energy demand. This paper introduces a method that incorporates machine learning techniques to learn domain knowledge by transforming the input features. Our approach divides the inputs into subsets and then searches for the best machine learning technique for transforming each subset of inputs. Preprocessing of the inputs is not required in our approach because the machine learning techniques appropriately transform the inputs. Hence, this technique is capable of learning where nonlinear transformations of the inputs are needed. We show that the learned data transformations correspond to energy forecasting domain knowledge. Transformed subsets of the inputs are combined using ensemble regression, and the final forecasted value is obtained. Our approach is tested with natural gas and electricity demand signals. Experimental results show how this method can learn domain knowledge, which yields improved forecasts.
Minmax topology optimization

We describe a systematic approach for the robust optimal design of linear elastic structures subjected to unknown loading using minmax and topology optimization methods. Assuming only the loading region and norm, we distribute a given amount of material in the design domain to minimize the principal compliance, i.e. the maximum compliance that is produced by the worst-case loading scenario. We evaluate the principal compliance directly by satisfying the optimality conditions which take the form of a Steklov eigenvalue problem and thus we eliminate the need of an iterative nested optimization. To generate a well-posed topology optimization problem we use relaxation which requires homogenization theory. Examples are provided to demonstrate our algorithm.
Social Desirability Estimation and "Faking Good" Well

THE apparently widespread tendency of subjects to put their best foot forward when responding to items from personality and adjustment inventories has remained largely unanalyzed in the wake of recent efforts to detect, discourage or bemoan such behavior (Hanley, 1957 ; Voas, 1958 ; Edwards, 1957). Variations in the apparent strength of this tendency under different circumstances of assessment suggest that the phenomenon is in part a situational one. Even within a single assessment context, however, considerable individual differences in this tendency may be observed, suggesting, among other things, a person-situation interaction which reflects motivational characteristics of the subjects. Moreover, there is some evidence which suggests that when subjects are explicitly told to make a good impression, those who do dbestd are likely to be more psychologically sound than those who do less well at this task (Grayson and Olinger, 1957; Canter, 1963). The recent revival of interest in drole-playingd studies has produced a considerable amount of data which supports the observation that even under instructions designed to induce a uniformly high degree of good impression motivation, subjects will vary extensively in their performance (Wiggins, 1959; Walker, 1961; 1962). The present study was designed to test a hypothesis concerning one possible source of these observed individual differences. Whether dpsyching outd a potential employer or cooperating with the explicit instructions of a role-playing experiment, making a
Stress and current induced voiding in passivated metal lines

Thermal stress and current induced damage processes may well determine the ultimate limit for the achievable line widths in microelectronic circuits. According to our current understanding, thermal stresses cause void nucleation during cool-down from high temperature process steps. The voids may continue to grow during subsequent storage. The application of an electrical current may lead to further void growth, as well as migration and coalescence of voids. A recently developed model provides the framework for improved reliability assessments, including the effects of statistics, as well as for the development of remedies.
Kaposi's sarcoma. A lymphologic perspective.

The purpose of this article is to trace one central theme interwomen in the Kaposis sarcoma story almost from its original description, and mamely the relationship of Kaposis sarcoma to the lymphatic system
Predicting the migration characteristics of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and hydroaromatics in dry-column chromatography

Abstract An approach developed by Snyder to predict Rf values in thin-layer chromatography was used to predict the migration properties of twenty-one polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and hydroaromatics. Dry-column chromatography was employed as a separation step with aluminum oxide as the stationary phase and n-hexane—ether (19:1 v v ) as the mobile phase. When a correction factor was used, very good correspondence was achieved between the calculated and experimental Rf values.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Enhances the Therapeutic Effects of Leptomycin B on Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells

Our previous studies have shown Leptomycin B (LMB) is a promising antilung cancer drug. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has antitumor properties but a debatable clinical application. The objective of this study is to evaluate the combination therapeutic effect of LMB and EGCG and its molecular mechanisms in human lung cancer A549 cells. Increased cytotoxicity was observed in LMB+EGCG-treated cells compared to LMB-treated cells. Elevated ROS was maximized 2 h after treatment, and LMB+EGCG-treated cells had higher ROS levels compared to LMB. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) studies confirmed the oxidative role of LMB and/or EGCG treatment. In comparison to the control, CYP3A4, SOD, GPX1, and p21 mRNA expression levels were increased 7.1-, 2.0-, 4.6-, and 13.1-fold in LMB-treated cells, respectively, while survivin was decreased 42.6-fold. Additionally, these increases of CYP3A4, SOD, and GPX1 were significantly reduced, while p21 was significantly increased in LMB+EGCG-treated cells compared to LMB-treated cells. The qRT-PCR results for p21 and survivin were further confirmed by Western blot. Our study first shows that LMB produces ROS and is possibly metabolized by CYP3A4, GPX1, and SOD in A549 cells, and combination treatment of LMB and EGCG augments LMB-induced cytotoxicity through enhanced ROS production and the modulation of drug metabolism and p21/survivin pathways.
Production of pure hydrogen and synthesis gas with Cu–Fe oxygen carriers using combined processes of chemical looping combustion and methane decomposition/reforming

Abstract Two processes for production of synthesis gas and pure hydrogen from methane using chemical looping were investigated using CuO–Fe 2 O 3 -alumina oxygen carriers. In the first process, CuO–Fe 2 O 3 was initially reduced with methane and the reduced oxygen carrier was used as a catalyst for decomposition of methane to produce hydrogen; then the carbon formed during the methane decomposition was gasified with steam to produce synthesis gas. Methane chemical looping combustion with CuO–Fe 2 O 3 oxygen carrier provides the heat for both the methane decomposition and carbon gasification reactions. In the second process, the reduced Cu–Fe oxygen carrier was used as a methane steam reforming catalyst to produce synthesis gas from steam and methane. Heat for the reforming reaction is provided by the methane chemical looping combustion reaction of the Cu–Fe oxygen carrier. Multiple-cycle tests of those process steps have been experimentally evaluated in a bench-scale flow reactor. Both processes use the same CuO–Fe 2 O 3 oxide system, as an oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion reactions and as a catalyst for methane decomposition and methane steam reforming reactions.
Incidence and severity of Arcanobacterium pyogenes injection site abscesses with needle or needle-free injection

Abstract Nursery-age pigs (n = 198) were used to evaluate the difference in abscess formation at needle-free jet and conventional needle-and-syringe injection sites. Needle-free jet injection was used to administer injections in the neck and ham on one side of the animal whereas needle-and-syringe was used for neck and ham injections on the opposite side. Immediately prior to injection, the injection site surfaces were contaminated with an inoculum of Arcanobacterium pyogenes . Each pig was humanely euthanized 27 or 28 days after injections. Histopathological results showed that needle-free jet injection was associated with more abscesses than needle-and-syringe injection at both neck ( P = 0.0625) and ham ( P = 0.0313) injection sites. Out of 792 injection sites, only 13 abscesses were observed, with 12 of those present at needle-free jet injection sites. Needle-free jet injection may increase the occurrence of injection site abscesses that necessitate carcass trimming at pork processing plants.
Fluid management: the challenge of defining standards of care.

In today’s world of big data, metric-driven performance standards, and value-based care, clinicians rely upon a range of quality metrics to support decision-making and promote desirable outcomes. Such metrics are quite common in dialysis care, and standards of urea kinetic modeling, hemoglobin
Toxicity studies on polychlorinated biphenyls in the chick. 2. Biochemical effects and accumulations.

Abstract Chicks fed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) showed depression in hemoglobin levels and packed cell volume. The quantity and percentage of PCBs which accumulated in adipose tissue and liver fat increased as dietary levels of PCBs increased from 20 to 50 p.p.m. The ability of the chick to detoxify lower chlorinated PCBs was shown. Concentrations of calcium and magnesium in plasma from chicks fed diets containing up to 150 p.p.m. PCBs remained unchanged throughout this study.
Cadmium speciation and transport in the blood of the bivalve Mytilus edulis

Cadmium (Cd) speciation in the blood plasma of Mytilus edulis was investigated using the metal speciation model MINTEQA2. In the presence of inorganic ions alone, Cd-chloro complexes dominated the speciation (97% of total Cd), with 3% as Cd2+. Inclusion of a novel Cd-binding histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) purified from mussel blood plasma decreased the contribution of chloro-complexes to 11.9%, with 86.8% of the Cd bound to the HRG and 1.3% present as Cd2+. Cd transfer from the blood plasma to the kidneys in vivo was studied by injecting 109Cd (both with and without additional chelation) into mussels. Oxine and EDTA complexed a significant amount of blood-borne Cd (23.7% Cd Oxine; 57.1% CdEDTA). In the presence of each chelator, plasma retained significantly more Cd, although there was no significant difference in Cd uptake by tissues (kidney, gill-mantle, and remaining viscera).
Post-irradiation Regression of Choroidal Melanomas as a Risk Factor for Death from Metastatic Disease

To determine the prognostic value of the regression rate of choroidal melanomas after cobalt-60 plaque radiotherapy, the authors performed a multivariate analysis on 159 patients treated with a cobalt plaque during the interval from 1976 through 1980. Thirty-three of the 159 patients had died as of the survey date; 29 of metastatic melanoma and 4 of other causes. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling identified a two-term regression incorporating maximal basal tumor diameter at treatment and tumor thickness at 12 months posttreatment as the best model (P less than 0.005 for both parameters) for predicting length of tumor-free survival. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that rapid regression of a choroidal melanoma after cobalt-60 plaque radiotherapy is an unfavorable prognostic sign for prolonged metastasis-free survival.
Studies with a fluorescent vital probe for DNA in mammalian cells.

Abstract Olivomycin is taken up efficiently by HeLa cells and by rat fibroblast cells at 38.5 °C, but not by BHK cells. On irradiation with light of 425 nm wavelength, the nuclei of living cells that have taken up olivomycin fluoresce. When olivomycin complexes with DNA in solution, the emission spectrum broadens and shifts, the excitation wavelength maximum shifts up 15 nm, and the fluorescence polarization increases. In HeLa and fibroblast cells, the fluorescence characteristics indicate that olivomycin is entirely complexed to DNA, and its rotational mobility indicates that it is complexed to DNA in regions where other components of the chromatin offer no steric hindrance.
Some thoughts on Akin's spiteful computer

Akin's determinism paradox involves a physical system that predicts its own behavior, and then “spitefully” defies it. Here this paradox is reformulated in purely computational language, in terms of virtual machines. The paradox is related to the theory of self-reproducing automata; and a mathematical conjecture is given which, if verified, would resolve the paradox.
The Strategic Analysis of Judicial Decisions

Since the 1990s, there has been an explosion of empirical and theoretical work dedicated to advancing strategic accounts of law and legal institutions. Reviewing this extensive literature could be accomplished in multiple ways. We chose an approach that underscores a major contribution of strategic accounts: that they have forced scholars to think about the interdependent—i.e., strategic—nature of judicial decisions. On strategic accounts, in other words, judges do not make decisions in a vacuum, but rather take into account the preferences and likely actions of other relevant actors, including their colleagues, their judicial superiors, and members of the other branches of government. After defining strategic analysis and how it differs from other approaches to judicial decisions, we examine the literature on the forms of strategic behavior in which (preference-maximizing) judges engage when interacting with these three sets of actors.
Analysis of the optical design for the SAFIR telelscope

SAFIR, the Single Aperture Far Infra Red Observatory, is a very powerful space mission that will achieve background-limited sensitivity in the far infrared-submillimeter spectral region. Many processes of enormous interest to astronomers can best be studied in this wavelength range, but require the demanding combination of high sensitivity, good angular resolution, and spectroscopic capability. SAFIR is a 10m class telescope to offering good angular resolution, cooled to below 5 K in order to achieve background-limited sensitivity, and equipped with a complement of large-format cameras and broadband spectrometers. Successful operation of such a facility is critically dependent on achieving the level of sensitivity expected, but this is rendered difficult by potential pickup from unwanted sources of radiation. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the emission from the optical system itself is minimal due to its low temperature, thus emphasizing the importance of minimizing pickup from unwanted astronomical sources of radiation, including the emission from dust in our solar system (analogous to the zodiacal light, hence 'zodi'), and the emission from warm dust in the Milky Way (Galactic 'cirrus').
Revolution and the Swiss Brethren: The Case of Michael Sattler

One of the most significant events in recent Anabaptist studies has been the entry of secular historians into a field traditionally populated by confessional apologists.The result has been a striking change in historical perspective, particularly concerning the origin and nature of the early Swiss Anabaptist movement. Whereas Harold Bender saw Anabaptism as an emphatically religious movement which emerged directly from Zwingli's reformation and continued on the original path even after Zwingli had abandoned his original vision, the new view suggests that Swiss Anabaptism grew out of the social, economic, and religious ferment of Zurich and the outlying rural districts.But the revision does not stop there.