cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ascorbic acid attenuates the pressor response to voluntary apnea in postmenopausal women

We recently demonstrated that postmenopausal women have an augmented blood pressure response to voluntary apnea compared to premenopausal women. Both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and healthy aging are associated with increased oxidative stress, which may impair cardiovascular function. Restoring physiological responses could have clinical relevance since transient surges in blood pressure are thought to be an important stimulus for end-organ damage in aging and disease. We tested the hypothesis that acute antioxidant infusion improves physiological responses to voluntary apnea in healthy postmenopausal women (n = 8, 64 ± 2 year). We measured beat-by-beat mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and brachial artery blood flow velocity (BBFV, Doppler ultrasound) following intravenous infusion of normal saline and ascorbic acid (~3500 mg). Subjects performed maximal voluntary end-expiratory apneas and changes (Δ) from baseline were compared between infusions. The breath hold duration and oxygen saturation nadir were similar between saline (29 ± 6 sec, 94 ± 1%) and ascorbic acid (29 ± 5 sec, 94 ± 1%). Ascorbic acid attenuated the pressor response to voluntary apnea (ΔMAP: 6 ± 2 mmHg) as compared to saline (ΔMAP: 12 ± 2 mmHg, P = 0.034) and also attenuated forearm vasoconstriction (ΔBBFV: 4 ± 9 vs. −12 ± 7%, P = 0.049) but did not affect ΔHR. We conclude that ascorbic acid lowers the blood pressure response to voluntary apnea in postmenopausal women by inhibiting vasoconstriction in the limb vasculature. Whether ascorbic acid has similar effects in OSA patients remains to be prospectively tested.
Combination therapy for branch retinal vein occlusion

Evaluation of: Hwang JC, Gelman SK, Fine HF, Chang S, Priore LVD. Combined arteriovenous sheathotomy and intraoperative intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for branch vein occlusion. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 94, 1483–1489 (2010).There are many potential complications following branch retinal vein occlusion, ranging from hemorrhages to tractional retinal detachment; however, the complication that is the most important for the patient due to its frequency and deleterious effect on vision is macular edema. While many eyes improve spontaneously, it is impossible to predict which eyes will improve and how long it will take. Some form of treatment is therefore recommended to prevent certain complications and to improve the complications that have developed. Laser retinopexy is considered the standard of care; however, the authors’ chosen treatment of vitrectomy (with removal of the internal limiting membrane in half of the eyes), arteriovenous sheathotomy and intraoperative triamcinolone acetonide injection into the...
Electrophoretic evidence for human prolactin.

ABSTRACT A major electrophoretic component that was active in the pigeon crop sac assay was found in the pituitary gland of a pregnant woman. A similar component was seen in the pituitary of a woman who had been receiving estrogen. The component was present in only small amounts in an ovariectomized woman, in women after menopause, and in males.
Safety critical systems: challenges and directions

Safety-critical systems are those systems whose failure could result in loss of life, significant property damage or damage to the environment. There are many well-known examples in application areas such as medical devices, aircraft flight control, weapons and nuclear systems. Many modern information systems are becoming safety-critical in a general sense because financial loss and even loss of life can result from their failure. Future safety-critical systems will be more common and more powerful. From a software perspective, developing safety-critical systems in the numbers required and with adequate dependability is going to require significant advances in areas such as specification, architecture, verification and the software process. The very visible problems that have arisen in the area of information system security suggests that security is a major challenge too.
In situ electroacoustic monitoring of polyelectrolyte adsorption onto protein-coated oil droplets.

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of electroacoustic (EA) and microelectrophoresis (ME) techniques for monitoring the adsorption of an anionic polysaccharide onto the surfaces of oppositely charged protein-coated oil droplets. The ζ-potential values determined by the EA technique were in excellent agreement with those determined by the ME technique. Both techniques were able to monitor the adsorption of pectin onto the surfaces of β-lactoglobulin-coated droplets as a function of pectin concentration and pH. The major advantage of the EA technique was that it could be carried out in situ without having to dilute the emulsions, so that the equilibrium between adsorbed and nonadsorbed polyelectrolyte was not disturbed by dilution. Nevertheless, the good agreement between the ζ-potential values determined by the EA and ME techniques suggested that emulsion dilution did not cause an appreciable change in polysaccharide partitioning for the system used in this study. In summary, the EA techni...
Linking the Gauss-Bonnet-Chern Theorem, Essential Hopf Maps and Membrane Solitons with Exotic Spin and Statistics

By way of the Gauss-Bonnet-Chern theorem, we present a higher dimensional extension of Polyakov’s regularization of Wilson loops of point solitons. Spacetime paths of extended objects become hyper-ribbons with self-linking, twisting and writhing numbers. Specifically we discuss the exotic spin and statistical phase entanglements of geometric n-membrane solitons of D-dimensional KP 1 σ-models with an added Hopf-Chern-Simons term where (n, D, K) = (0, 3, C), (2, 7, H), (6, 15, Ω). They are uniquely linked to the complex (C) and quaternion (H) and octonion (Ω) division algebras.
Integrated treatment of a woman with chronic hand pain.

Dr. Sullivan, this month's guest expert, is acting assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. As an attending physician in an internationally renowned multidisciplinary pain clinic, be recognizes that often only a multifaceted and intensive approach will reverse a chronic pain syndrome—and even then frustrations may ensue.
AIDS treatment and intrahousehold resource allocation: Children's nutrition and schooling in Kenya☆

This brief summarizes the results of a gender impact evaluation study, entitled Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatment and intra-household resource allocation : children's nutrition and schooling in Kenya, conducted in late 2003 till present in Kenya. The study observed the impact of antiretroviral (ARV) medications to human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) or AIDS on the time allocated to various household tasks by treated HIV-positive patients and their household members on the individual level. Treating adult AIDS patients with ARV treatment results in substantial improvements in the welfare of children living with the patients. After nine months of treatment, the increases in school attendance are maintained with no significant drop off over the time period of study. For boys in particular, the increase in hours of attendance is almost exactly equal to the treatment-driven decrease in their hours of market labor supply. The short-term nutritional status of young children in adult patients' households improves significantly, also within six months after treatment is initiated for the patients (not presented separately for boys and girls). These gains in nutritional status can be expected to improve the physical and cognitive abilities of children and eventually, their post-school productivity levels. Funding for the study derived from the Economic and Social Research Council, Pfizer, The World Bank, Yale University's Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Social Science Research Council, and the Calderone Program at Columbia University.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists in Experimental Myocarditis

Myocarditis is a disease whose pathogenesis is not completely understood and whose prevalence is likely underestimated. Individuals afflicted with this condition may be treated with agents that relieve symptoms arising from inflammation and concurrent cellular damage. One class of drugs commonly used in the treatment of myocarditis includes the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, such as captopril, enalapril and lisinopril, and the angiotensin II receptor antagonists, such as L-158,809 and losartan. The effects of these drugs on cardiomyopathy have been studied using a variety of animal models of heart failure and hypertension. However, less research has been done in the area of animal models of frank myocarditis. Here we review the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists in animal models of myocarditis. We extend the implications of that published work by correlation with results from studies of other disease models and in vitro experiments that highlight the immunomodulatory potential of these compounds. The literature strongly suggests that aggressive therapy employing angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition and / or blockade of angiotensin II receptors is beneficial. Treatment is useful not only for reducing complications associated with myocarditis, but also for downregulating the potential autoimmune component of disease-without increasing the levels of the infectious agent that may initiate the myocarditis.
Stem cell therapy in cats with chronic enteropathy: a proof-of-concept study

ObjectivesThe current treatment of cats with chronic enteropathy frequently includes use of a prescription diet and daily medication administration, with the potential for side effects or problems with owner compliance, and may still result in treatment failure in some cases. The objective of this study was to determine if stem cell therapy was a safe and viable treatment in cases of feline chronic enteropathy.MethodsAllogeneic adipose-derived feline mesenchymal stem cells (fMSC) were used to treat seven cats with diarrhea of no less than 3 months’ duration, while four cats with a similar clinical condition received placebo, in a blinded manner. Three additional cats were treated with an identical fMSC protocol, but owners were not blinded to the treatment. Owners completed a questionnaire characterizing clinical signs both before entering the study and 2 weeks following the second of two fMSC or placebo treatments. Owners were also surveyed for similar input by email 1–2 months later before being unblind...
A combined approach to preventing dental caries in schoolchildren: caries reductions after one year

The caries preventive benefit provided schoolchildren with five preventive and therapeutic measures is being tested in a demonstration project in Ypsilanti, Mich. A prototype school-based preventive dentistry program is described testing the combined effects of ingestion of fluoridated water, the topical application of acidulated phosphate fluoride gel, the use of pit and fissure sealants, participation in dental health education programs, and the early detection of caries and the provision of restorative care. After one year, occlusal surfaces of permanent teeth in children in the treatment group showed an average reduction in caries of 84%, contrasted to those in children in a comparison group.
REALITY MONITORING, PSYCHOLOGICAL TOOLS, AND COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY IN BILINGUALS: THEORETICAL SYNTHESIS AND PILOT EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION*

Abstract An attempt was made to bring about a theoretical synthesis of such seemingly unrelated concepts as ‘reality monitoring’ (belonging to contemporary American cognitive psychology), ‘psychological tools’ (suggested by Russian psychologist, Lev Vygotsky in the 1930s), and ‘cognitive flexibility in bilinguals’ (developed by Canadian researchers in the 1970s). Psychological tools of symbolic character which-as Vygotsky and his followers suggested-mediate human actions and mental operations, were shown to improve reality monitoring, i.e., subject's ability to discriminate between memories of words that he/she either spoke or merely thought. The concept of cognitive flexibility was applied to reality monitoring in Russian-English bilinguals. It was shown that greater cognitive flexibility associated with balanced bilingualism enhances a subject's ability to discriminate memories of words said and words thought. Suggestions are made concerning further possible experimental investigations.
A multi-threaded streaming pipeline architecture for large structured data sets

Computer simulation and digital measuring systems are now generating data of unprecedented size. The size of data is becoming so large that conventional visualization tools are incapable of processing it, which is in turn is impacting the effectiveness of computational tools. In this paper we describe an object-oriented architecture that addresses this problem by automatically breaking data into pieces, and then processes the data piece-by-piece within a pipeline of filters. The piece size is user specified and can be controlled to eliminate the need for swapping (i.e., relying on virtual memory). In addition, because piece size can be controlled, any size problem can be run on any size computer, at the expense of extra computational time. Furthermore, pieces are automatically broken into sub-pieces and each piece assigned to a different thread for parallel processing. This paper includes numerical performance studies and references to the source code which is freely available on the web.
Early Adult Caregivers: Characteristics, Challenges, and Intervention Approaches

I am 36 years old, married, with a 7-year-old girl. We live on a farm with my mother, who is 81. She has chronic leukemia, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, etc. She is currently recovering from pneumonia, which has left her very weak and in need of bladder catherization several times a day. My husband and daughter are very supportive, but my older brother and his family think that all they need to contribute is her supper a few nights a week. . . Now, I worry that if she should become beyond my ability to care for, she might end up in a rest home (Patricia, posted to http://www.caps4caregivers.org/ ).
Vagotomy attenuates but does not prevent the somnogenic and febrile effects of lipopolysaccharide in rats

The role of the vagus nerve in the somnogenic and pyrogenic effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied in rats. Control rats (n = 8) and rats subjected to bilateral subdiaphragmal vagotomy (VX; n = 9) were injected with 100 micrograms/kg i.p. LPS at the beginning of the dark period. Sleep and brain temperature (Tbr) were recorded for 23 h after the injections. LPS caused increases in non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) for 12 h after the injection in control rats. Sleep intensity, as indicated by the slow-wave activity (SWA) of the electroencephalogram during NREMS, was suppressed. LPS elicited biphasic Tbr responses: an initial hypothermia was followed by increases in Tbr that lasted for approximately 20 h. In vagotomized rats, the NREMS responses to LPS were blunted. The magnitude of the LPS-induced NREMS increases was about one-half of that seen in control rats, and these sleep responses lasted only for 6 h. LPS did not affect SWA in VX animals. VX completely abolished the hypothermic responses to LPS and shortened the duration of the hyperthermia. The results suggest that the subdiaphragmal vagi play an important, but not exclusive, role in the somnogenic and pyrogenic actions of intraperitoneally injected LPS.
FEMALE ASCIDICOLA ROSEA THORELL (COPEPODA: CYCLOPOIDA) LIVING IN SOLITARY ASCIDIANS

Abstract This paper deals primarily with a full redescription of the mature female of Ascidicola rosea Thorell, 1859, and a young female is described mainly in regard to the urosome. The two species of solitary ascidians containing this copepod, which lacks an eye, were collected at different localities: Microcosmus sabatieri Roule at Banyuls-sur-Mer, and Ascidia mentula Muller at Strangford Lough. Many systematists have studied this long-known, elongated, pinkish copepod (Ascidicolidae: Ascidicolinae). However, the major articulation between the metasome and urosome has been interpreted differently by authors, and morphological details have not always been consistently described. The intent of the present paper is to resolve such problems. It shows that the ventral transverse spinose pad posterior to the penultimate (second abdominal) segment of the urosome of the mature female is homologous to much of the ventral part of the penultimate (third abdominal) segment of the urosome of the young female.
The α-Glycerophosphate in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER II. Genetic Aspects

Seven alleles of the α-Glycerophosphate dehydrogenase-1 (αGpdh-1) locus of Drosophila melanogaster have been described. These include two naturally occurring electrophoretic variants, one EMS-induced electrophoretic variant, and four EMS-induced "null" or "zero" mutants. With the electrophoretic variants, the locus was mapped to II-20.5 ± 2.5. A complementation matrix was prepared utilizing the null mutants. Three of the four mutants and a deletion of the locus (Grell 1967) exhibit dosage dependency. The dosage independent mutant exhibits complementation with two of the other null alleles. Flies genetically deficient in α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase are fertile, but their relative viability is severely diminished. Such flies also lose the ability to sustain flight, an observation consistent with the enzyme's function in energy production. The levels of mitochondrial α-glycerophosphate oxidase, measured in flies genetically deficient in the cytoplasmic enzyme, were normal.
An experimental analysis of classifier ensembles for learning drifting concepts over time in autonomous outdoor robot navigation

Autonomous robot navigation in unstructured outdoor environments is a challenging area of active research and is currently unsolved. The navigation task requires identifying safe, traversable paths which allow the robot to progress toward a goal while avoiding obstacles. Stereo is an effective tool in the near field, but for smooth long-range trajectory planning or fast driving an approach is needed to understand far-field terrain as well. One approach is to apply Machine Learning techniques that accomplish near-to-far learning by augmenting near-field Stereo readings with learned classifications of the appearance of safe terrain and obstacles in the far field. A key problem with basic instantiations of this approach is that they are not able to identify obstacles in the far field unless there are examples of those obstacles in the near field within the same image, which is not always the case. This leads to a common failure mode in autonomous navigation where incorrect trajectories are followed by the robot as a result of short-sightedness. This thesis proposes to address this problem through the use of classifier ensembles which serve as a mechanism to store previously learned terrain models. Such ensembles are shown in the literature to improve predictive performance in both static environments and in the dynamic environments associated with the problem domain. In this domain, individual models are trained over time and added to an on-line model library as the robot navigates towards a goal. These stored models serve as memory and can be used for terrain classification of an incoming image. The key issues for this task are model selection of appropriate models from the library and the subsequent model combination of each selected model's output. Several methods for selecting and combining models from the library are proposed: choosing the best K models from the library, Bayesian Model Averaging, and a proposed adaptation of Ensemble Selection for use in dynamic environments. An extensive experimental evaluation is performed. This analysis is conducted on novel hand-labeled datasets taken directly from the problem domain, which are shown to contain drifting concepts. Several baselines are considered, including the one-model-per-image approach used in the most basic near-to-far learning. The experimental results uncover many important differences in the behavior of ensemble methods versus simpler approaches. In many scenarios, it is shown that the use of classifier ensembles increases far-field predictive performance compared to non-ensemble approaches, although this result was not shown to be statistically significant over all datasets and metrics in the analysis.
Improvements to address issues leading to cancellation of the July 2014 Plutonium shot

Overview: A Pu shot scheduled for July 17 on the Z machine at SNL was cancelled this past summer. The LiF windows on the Pu targets were cracked during assembly because of configuration changes. Sandia management concluded that continuing with this experiment would present an unacceptable level of risk to the facility and possibly to the workers. In this report, we document the events that occurred which led to this decision and also present some lessons learned and plans and procedures put in place to reduce the likelihood of another such occurrence. The changes and this memorandum reflect the thinking of subject matter experts at both LANL and SNL. These changes represent significant improvements in both communication protocols and quality of the hardware assemblies.
Assessment of Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Plastic Surgery Patients Using the 2005 and 2010 Caprini Risk Score

Background:Venous thromboembolism is an important patient safety issue. The authors sought to compare the predictive capacity of the 2005 and 2010 Caprini Risk Assessment Models for perioperative venous thromboembolism risk.Methods:The authors performed a retrospective, observational, crossover stud
327 RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION PROGRAMS IN CLE ELUM, WASHINGTON.

Purpose of Study Cle Elum, WA, is a community without ready access to dental care and does not participate in community water fluoridation. A community health education program was designed to raise awareness regarding benefits of CWFP for city leaders and community members. Methods A literature search was conducted using PUBMED to measure benefits of implementation of a CWFP. Contact was made with the Washington State Dental Foundation, county health department, and an individual who led a similar project in a neighboring county. Via personal interviews of the community, general knowledge and opinions regarding fluoridation were assessed. The information gathered was formatted into a newspaper article for local newspapers and shaped into a PowerPoint presentation for local groups such as city council, Rotary, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Results Most individuals were uninformed regarding CWFPs, and once given basic knowledge, 100% of those interviewed were supportive and pledged their support toward implementation. The general consensus is that as a community Cle Elum is growing and this issue is one that has not been brought up. Now, realizing the health benefits and potential cost savings, this has generated interest in many, including the mayor, local newspaper, and city council. Conclusion Following a community education campaign, with the support of city leaders and the WSDF, it is feasible that implementation of a CWFP in Cle Elum will be successful and the surrounding communities will be interested in pursuing this also.
Voltage sag detection method based on improved dq transformation

The accurate detection of the three characteristics of the voltage sag-amplitude,duration and potential phase jump,is of great importance to the dynamic voltage restorer,which can be an effective remedy to the voltage sag.Frequency fluctuation of the power grid can seriously undermine the correctness of sag characteristics from dq transformation.In order to improve the applicability of dq transformation,this paper develops an voltage sag detection method based on improved dq transformaion.With this method,we can acquire the frequency deviation value through the phase curve provided by dq transformation,and have frequency correction to feature matrix C with frequency tracking.The analysis of simulation results show that,the proposed method not only detects frequency on grid,but also accurately gives the voltage sag characteristics even with harmonic and frequency deviation,which can meet the real-time and accuracy requirements of DVR.
Deep Learning: What's Next

Deep Learning has transformed many important tasks, including speech and image recognition. Deep Learning systems scale well by absorbing huge amounts of data to create accurate models. However, as Deep Learning has become more mainstream, it has generated some hype, and has been linked to everything from world peace to evil killer robots. In this talk, Dr. Ng will help separate hype from reality, and discuss potential ways that Deep Learning technologies can benefit society in the short and long term.
Forgiven the Right Way: The Role of Regulatory Fit in Brand Apologies and Forgiveness

In brand transgression context, some consumers forgive the brand because they want to gain the relationship back while others might forgive the brand because they do not want to lose the relationship. Using a regulatory fir perspective (Avnet and Higgins 2006), this research investigates how a match of motivational approach between consumers’ goal orientation and brand apology impacts on brand forgiveness. The results show that consumers with a dominant promotion focus are more likely to forgive a brand when they receive a promotion-focused brand apology, while those with a dominant prevention focus are more likely to forgive a brand when receiving a prevention-focused brand apology.
Women’s Bone Health: Breathing Life into the Skeleton

The shape and size of bones define our physical selves and provide protection for internal organs and leverage sites for muscles. These mechanical properties of the skeleton create a static image of bone health, with impaired microarchitecture of bone and consequent fracture hallmarks of tissue failure. Yet bone is constantly created, modeled, and remodeled throughout the course of a woman’s life, and its structure and health are intimately involved with calcium metabolism and sustenance of bone marrow cells. This chapter will discuss the systemic and local factors that affect bone health throughout the life of a woman, emphasizing the vulnerable, living quality of bone that is often lost in translation when tests are interpreted and treatments recommended.
Personality traits and psychological motivations predicting selfie posting behaviors on social networking sites

This study examined the psychological predictors of selfie posting behaviors on SNSs.Narcissism predicted greater levels of posting solo selfies and editing selfies.Extraversion and agreeableness were predictors of posting group selfies.The need for popularity predicted posting both solo and group selfies.The need to belong was not associated with any of the selfie behaviors. This study examined the relationships between narcissism, the Big 5 personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience), the need for popularity, the need to belong, and various types of selfie posting behaviorsposting solo selfies, selfies with a group, and editing selfies. Results of the survey (N=260) indicated that after controlling for overall social media use and demographic factors (i.e., age, gender), narcissism significantly predicted the frequency of posting solo selfies and editing selfies. Age moderated the relationship between narcissism and the frequency of posting group selfies. Posting group selfies was predicted by extraversion and agreeableness and the need for popularity. The need for popularity also predicted the frequency of posting solo selfies, but not of selfie editing. Furthermore, findings revealed that gender moderated the relationship between the need for popularity and posting solo selfies, such that the need for popularity predicted posting solo selfies among men, but not among women. The need to belong was not associated with any of the selfie behaviors. Interpretations and implications of these findings are discussed.
Media Review: New Realities in the Management of Student Affairs: Emerging Specialist Roles for Changing Times

(2013). Media Review: New Realities in the Management of Student Affairs: Emerging Specialist Roles for Changing Times. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice: Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 449-452.
Dynamic predictive model for growth of Salmonella spp. in scrambled egg mix.

Liquid egg products can be contaminated with Salmonella spp. during processing. A dynamic model for the growth of Salmonella spp. in scrambled egg mix - high solids (SEM) was developed and validated. SEM was prepared and inoculated with ca. 2 log CFU/mL of a five serovar Salmonella spp. cocktail. Salmonella spp. growth data at isothermal temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, and 47 °C) in SEM were collected. Baranyi model was used (primary model) to fit growth data and the maximum growth rate and lag phase duration for each temperature were determined. A secondary model was developed with maximum growth rate as a function of temperature. The model performance measures, root mean squared error (RMSE, 0.09) and pseudo-R2 (1.00) indicated good fit for both primary and secondary models. A dynamic model was developed by integrating the primary and secondary models and validated using two sinusoidal temperature profiles, 5-15 °C (low temperature) for 480 h and 10-40 °C (high temperature) for 48 h. The RMSE values for the sinusoidal low and high temperature profiles were 0.47 and 0.42 log CFU/mL, respectively. The model can be used to predict Salmonella spp. growth in case of temperature abuse during liquid egg processing.
On a framework for analysis and design of cascades on Boolean networks

We consider Boolean networks defined on directed graphs in which the state of every node belongs to the set {0; 1}. We think of a node in state 1 as having ‘failed’. The state of every node at the next time instant is a function of the states of those nodes that link to it. Nodes fail according to a set of rules, and once a node fails it stays so forever. We develop a mathematical framework that allows us to find the smallest set of nodes whose failure at time zero causes the eventual failure of all nodes in a desired target set. Our methods are based on modeling network dynamics using Boolean polynomials and exploiting their properties. Rather than propagating the state forward using a nonlinear map, we characterize all possible steady-state configurations as the fixed points of the network's dynamics, and provide a simple algorithm for finding all such ‘stable’ configurations. We demonstrate the utility of our framework with the help of illustrative examples.
Discharge Relationships of Periaqueductal Gray Neurons to Cardiac and Respiratory Patterning During Sleep and Waking States

Respiratory muscle activity assists many bodily functions for purposes other than mere tissue oxygenation. Respiratory musculature, for example, are used in vocalization, for providing thoracic and abdominal pressure for defecation and urination, and for maintaining thoracic pressure and body position in somatic movements. Respiratory musculature are used heavily in some species for temperature regulation; tachypnea and upper airway dilation, for example, are primary mechanisms used for cooling in selected animals. Use of the respiratory musculature for these actions involves precise coordination of a number of brain structures, and those brain structures incorporate a number of rostral brain regions in addition to the classical brain stem “dorsal” (e.g., nucleus of solitary tract) and “ventral” (e.g., nucleus ambiguus) respiratory groups typically outlined in the respiratory control literature.
Angiostrongylus cantonensis: Agent of a Sometimes Fatal Globally Emerging Infectious Disease (Rat Lungworm Disease)

Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm, is a dangerous invasive species that is the agent of a potentially fatal globally emerging infectious disease. Humans are infected most commonly by ingestion, deliberately or inadvertently, of the parasite larvae in their intermediate snail hosts. The larvae make their way to the brain where they can cause severe neurological damage before eventually dying. Symptoms of the disease are diverse, making it difficult to diagnose. Treatment is primarily with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, while treatment with anthelmintics to kill the worms remains controversial. There have been almost 3000 cases globally, the majority in southern China, but the parasite is spreading and now occurs much more widely. In the USA, almost all cases have been in Hawaii, but the parasite is also present in southeastern states. As the climate warms, this tropical/subtropical parasite is likely to spread further.
Introduction: Liberating Sex

Each time we have sex, God is present. Sex can be a way to know God. This introduction articulates how liberation theology and its method can help to rethink the Christian tradition’s denigration of sex and desire. Beginning with the current situation around sex, in particular, an understanding of the body, power, and violence, the chapter explains how we can work with the Bible, Christian tradition, and theology to liberate sex.
Intelligent Tools and Digital Platforms: Implications for Work and Employment

We must proceed in a way that allows citizens, in their multiple roles as workers and consumers, to participate in shaping the future, not just allowing it to happen to them. It is not a matter of robots coming, but rather one of how to direct the evolution of platforms and the development and deployment of intelligent tools and systems.
The unbounded productivity of (sign) language: Evidence from the Stroop task

Unbounded productivity is a hallmark of linguistic competence. Here, we asked whether this capacity automatically applies to signs. Participants saw video-clips of novel signs in American Sign Language (ASL) produced by a signer whose body appeared in a monochromatic color, and they quickly identified the signs’ color. The critical manipulation compared reduplicative (αα) signs to non-reduplicative (αβ) controls. Past research has shown that reduplication is frequent in ASL, and frequent structures elicit stronger Stroop interference. If signers automatically generalize the reduplication function, then αα signs should elicit stronger color-naming interference. Results showed no effect of reduplication for signs whose base (α) consisted of native ASL features (possibly, due to the similarity of α items to color names). Remarkably, signers were highly sensitive to reduplication when the base (α) included novel features. These results demonstrate that signers can freely extend their linguistic knowledge to novel forms, and they do so automatically. Unbounded productivity thus defines all languages, irrespective of input modality.
Survival benefits associated with surgery for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Objective Overall survival (OS) for advanced stage (IIIA-IV) non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is highly variable, and retrospective data show a survival advantage for patients receiving therapeutic intent pulmonary resection. We hypothesized that this variability in OS can be modeled separately by stage to allow a personalized estimate of OS. Methods In a cohort of patients with advanced-stage NSCLC from the National Cancer Database, we assessed the accuracy of Surgical Selection Score (SSS) to predict OS using Cox proportional hazards models and determined by stage the effect of surgery on survival among people with similarly high levels of SSS. Results In total, 300,572 patients were identified; 18,701 (6%) had surgery. The SSS was a strong predictor of OS (C-index, 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-0.90). We observed significantly greater OS (P Conclusions The SSS is highly predictive of individual OS and can be used as a risk assessment tool. These findings are important for a more robust evaluation of the likely benefits of surgical resection for these patients. After further prospective validation, the SSS can be used during treatment decision-making for patients with advanced-stage NSCLC.
POR LOS CAMINOS DE SODOMA DE BERNARDO ARIAS TRUJILLO, LA HOMOSEXUALIDAD INCO(Ó)MODA

Por los caminos de Sodoma: confesiones intimas de un homosexual (1932) narra la educacion sentimental de un joven homosexual en medio del rechazo de la sociedad. Este articulo senala la pertinencia...
Three-Dimensional Versus Two-Dimensional Laparoscopic-Assisted Transanal Pull-Through for Hirschsprung's Disease in Children: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Cohort Study in a Tertiary Hospital

Abstract Background: This prospective cohort study is aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of three-dimensional (3D) versus two-dimensional (2D) laparoscopy in laparoscopic-assisted transanal p...
Chop suey and sushi from sea to shining sea: Chinese and Japanese restaurants in the United States

In the words of two of the book’s editors, Chop Suey and Sushi from Sea to Shining Sea seeks to reveal the hidden and local histories of Chinese and Japanese restaurants in the United States (p. 7)...
The "Heart" of depression during early adolescence.

This study examined the concurrent associations linking youths' parasympathetic nervous system activity, specifically baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity (RSAR; vagal withdrawal), with youth depression risk in a community sample of young adolescents. Youth gender was examined as a moderator of associations. Participants included 100 youth (53% boys; M age = 11.05 years, SD = 0.33; 43% ethnic minorities), along with their mothers and teachers. Youth and mothers participated in a laboratory protocol involving a peer problem-solving conversation, during which youths' physiological activity was measured. Youth reported on their depressive symptoms. Teachers reported on youth depression risk via internalizing symptoms and emotion regulation (e.g., emotion lability/negativity). Results from regression analyses revealed that youths' vagal withdrawal during the mother-youth peer problem conversation was associated with lower youth-reported depressive symptoms. Further, gender moderated the associations linking youth baseline RSA and RSAR with youth depression risk. Specifically, among girls but not boys, higher baseline RSA was associated with lower depressive symptoms and emotion lability/negativity, and higher RSAR (i.e., vagal withdrawal) was linked with lower internalizing symptoms. Findings contribute to the relatively small literature linking youth parasympathetic functioning with depression risk, and point to specific implications for girls.
Data on foliar nutrient concentration of invasive plants in the recipient habitat and their native habitat

Abstract Higher foliar nitrogen concentration in plants is often attributed to higher biomass assimilation and subsequently higher plant growth rate. To understand the underlying mechanism of extensive growth rate of an invasive plant, Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), we analyzed the leaf tissue samples from the native and invaded habitats. In each habitat we selected 3 different locations with varying habitat characteristics (soil type, land use history and coexisting vegetation). Plant aboveground tissue collected from each site were analyzed for macro and micro nutrients. Total C and N were measured with a Truspec CN Analyzer. Total Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Mn, and P in plant tissue samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP –MS). Here we present the difference in foliar nutrient concentration of invasive plant species in their native habitats and invaded habitats.
Communities in the Dark: The Use of State Sunshine Laws to Shed Light on the Fracking Industry

Although oil and gas companies continue to maintain that fracking is safe and there is no risk of injury, personal accounts from residents of areas with a fracking industry presence suggest otherwise. Oil and gas companies utilize a variety of mechanisms to ensure secrecy within the industry. Through gaps in federal regulation, the classification of fracking fluid as a trade secret, sealed settlements, and confidentiality orders imposed on people injured by fracking, access to information about the industry—including chemicals used and harm to residents—is minimal. This Note argues that the implementation of state sunshine laws is one possible mechanism to shine light on the practices of the fracking industry in order to encourage more governmental monitoring, expose the risks, and provide possible recourse for injured parties to recover in a toxic tort suit.
The Neuroscience of Information Sharing

Information sharing is a core human activity that catalyzes innovation and development. Recent advances in neuroscience reveal information about the psychological mechanisms that drive sharing, with a particular focus on self-relevance, social cognition, and subjective value. Based on these insights, this chapter proposes a structural model of the neurocognitive and psychological processes that drive sharing decisions, called value-based virality. Further, it maps existing knowledge about neural correlates and moderators of thought processes linked to individual and population-level sharing events and outcomes and suggests avenues for future investigation. Finally, the chapter discusses the potential of the neuroscience of information sharing to interact productively with other methodological traditions such as computational social science. Initial neuroimaging studies of information sharing provide insights into psychological mechanisms that were previously inaccessible. With the development of more realistic experimental setups and multimethod designs, future efforts promise advances toward a unifying theory of why and how people share information.
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Aggregation is Regulated by C:N Balance

The current treatment regimen for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) involves long courses of antibiotic cocktails that demonstrate limited efficacy and cause frequent and serious side effects. Mycobacterium abscessus, in particular, is difficult to treat, motivating studies to identify new therapeutic targets. Experiments using zebrafish and human cell culture lines have demonstrated that M. abscessus is more virulent when aggregated into cord-like biofilms, at least in part because of the decreased ability of phagocytes to efficiently engulf and kill corded M. abscessus cells.
How high are the costs inflicted by an herbivorous pollinator

Many adult Lepidoptera nectar at flowers of plant species on which they also deposit their eggs. As a consequence, the same partner may act as both a pollinator and herbivore. How high are the costs associated with such herbivorous pollinators, relative to the potential benefits they confer? We addressed this question in the association between Datura wrightii (Solanaceae) and Manduca sexta (Sphingidae), which in southern Arizona, USA is both the plant’s most important pollinator (as adults) and most significant herbivore (as larvae). We manually inflicted two biologically relevant levels of artificial folivory (33% and 66% leaf removal) at two points during the growing season, to nearly 200 D. wrightii plants established in a common-garden outdoor plot. We recorded plant survival, growth, and several components of reproduction (bud, flower, and fruit production). We found no detectable effect of damage on plant growth rate, fruit set in the same or the following growing season, or plant volume or survival in the same or the following three seasons. These results suggest that D. wrightii may be highly tolerant of leaf consumption by the herbivorous offspring of its specialized, nectar-feeding pollinators. We argue that this mechanism would likely foster persistence of the pollination mutualism more effectively than would resistance to, or deterrence of, herbivores. Tolerance to the costs of mutualism is an underexplored phenomenon that could contribute to the stability of these interactions.
Pulse percolation conduction and multi-valued memory

We develop a theory of pulse conduction in percolation type materials such as noncrystalline semiconductors and nano-metal compounds. For short voltage pulses, the corresponding electric currents are inversely proportional to the pulse length and exhibit significant nonohmicity due to strong local fields in resistive regions of the percolation bonds. These fields can trigger local switching events incrementally changing bond resistances in response to pulse trains. Our prediction opens a venue to a class of multi-valued nonvolatile memories implementable with a variety of materials.
Herbal and Other Natural Dietary Supplements

Complementary or alternative approaches to healthcare are diverse medical and healthcare practices or strategies that are not considered to be part of conventional medicine [1].“Complementary” approaches refer to practices that are adjunctive to conventional practice; conversely “alternative” refers to practices that are used instead of conventional practices; as evidence is established for safety and efficacy, the use of these strategies may evolve over time and be adopted into conventional healthcare referred to as integrative health [1]. The use of natural products is one type of complementary health approach for disease prevention, management, and treatment. Dietary supplements are considered part of the natural product category. People with kidney disease may wish to explore natural products; the focus of this chapter is with regard to non-vitamin, non-mineral dietary supplements and kidney disease.
Early Prediction of Visitor Engagement in Science Museums with Multimodal Learning Analytics

Modeling visitor engagement is a key challenge in informal learning environments, such as museums and science centers. Devising predictive models of visitor engagement that accurately forecast salient features of visitor behavior, such as dwell time, holds significant potential for enabling adaptive learning environments and visitor analytics for museums and science centers. In this paper, we introduce a multimodal early prediction approach to modeling visitor engagement with interactive science museum exhibits. We utilize multimodal sensor data including eye gaze, facial expression, posture, and interaction log data captured during visitor interactions with an interactive museum exhibit for environmental science education, to induce predictive models of visitor dwell time. We investigate machine learning techniques (random forest, support vector machine, Lasso regression, gradient boosting trees, and multi-layer perceptron) to induce multimodal predictive models of visitor engagement with data from 85 museum visitors. Results from a series of ablation experiments suggest that incorporating additional modalities into predictive models of visitor engagement improves model accuracy. In addition, the models show improved predictive performance over time, demonstrating that increasingly accurate predictions of visitor dwell time can be achieved as more evidence becomes available from visitor interactions with interactive science museum exhibits. These findings highlight the efficacy of multimodal data for modeling museum exhibit visitor engagement.
Development of symptomatic inflammatory aneurysm treated with endovascular repair in coronavirus disease 2019-infected patient.

Sequelae and complications of COVID-19 infection continue to emerge during this pandemic era. While long term effects are continually being monitored and studied, we are seeing more acute and subacute medical complications requiring thorough discussion and sometimes adjustment of our standard care and intervention. In this report, we describe a case of an acute, symptomatic inflammatory vs mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm in a COVID-19 positive patient undergoing urgent endovascular repair.