cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Remote assessment of forest health in southern Arizona, USA: evidence for ozone-induced foliar injury.

This paper examines possible ozone-induced foliar injury to ponderosa pine areas in the Rincon Mountains of southern Arizona from 1972 to 1992. Spatiotemporal differ- ences in a satellite-derived vegetation index (VI) are examined with respect to antecedent moisture conditions, temporal vari- ations in ozone exposure levels, and measured foliar injury values from 1985. Seasonal ozone exposure levels (SUM60 and W126) increased from 1982 to 1998 and were signifi- cantly correlated (r 0.49 and 0.53, 0.05) with annual population totals in the Tucson area. Extensive masking of satellite images from 1972, 1986, and 1992 resulted in two optimal change detection areas, with one site, TVWMica, ex- posed mostly to the Tucson air pollution plume, while the other site, EMica, was more protected from Tucson-derived pollution. An overall increase in VI from 1972 to 1992 at both sites appears to have been caused by an increase in moisture availability. Larger foliar injury values in 1985 were associated with a smaller increase in VI (i.e., a smaller increase in green leaf biomass) from 1972 to 1986. From 1972 to 1986 and from 1986 to 1992, VI values at TV/WMica increased at a slower rate compared to those at EMica. The reduced in- crease in "green-up" may have been caused partially by ozone-induced foliar injury and resulting decreases in green leaf biomass. However, these spatial differences in VI values may have also been caused by a number of other factors. Re- sults nevertheless reveal the strong possibility of distinct, to- pographically based, spatial variations in ozone-induced foliar injury within the Rincons. Coniferous forests in the "sky islands" of the south- western United States are a valued resource, resulting partially from their relatively small coverage of the re- gion's landscape. For example, coniferous forests com- prise just 1% of the Tucson, Arizona, region's total area (Diem and Comrie 2000). Like other forests, sky island forests are affected by a variety of stressors that affect their overall health. Major causes of stress include nat- ural competition, climate, biological factors (e.g., in- sects and fungi), chemical deficiencies or excesses, and direct human disturbance (e.g., logging) (Cowling 1989). These, however, are not the only stressors. Forests within and/or proximate to urban, indus- trial, and mining areas have been found to be affected by air pollution, a form of indirect human disturbance. Ozone, which is a secondary air pollutant formed by the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sunlight (Cha- meides et al. 1992), is the only regionally dispersed air pollutant that has been rigorously proven to cause det- rimental effects on forests (Bates and Sizto 1987; Wood- man 1987; Cowling 1989). Even though forests might
An approximate dynamic programming approach to solving dynamic oligopoly models

In this article, we introduce a new method to approximate Markov perfect equilibrium in largescale Ericson and Pakes (1995)-style dynamic oligopoly models that are not amenable to exact solution due to the curse of dimensionality. The method is based on an algorithm that iterates an approximate best response operator using an approximate dynamic programming approach. The method, based on mathematical programming, approximates the value function with a linear combination of basis functions. We provide results that lend theoretical support to our approach. We introduce a rich yet tractable set of basis functions, and test our method on important classes of models. Our results suggest that the approach we propose significantly expands the set of dynamic oligopoly models that can be analyzed computationally.
Characterizing and modeling the intrinsic light response of rat ganglion-cell photoreceptors

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) mediate both image-forming vision and non-image-forming visual responses such as pupillary constriction and circadian photoentrainment. Five types of ipRGCs, named M1-M5, have been discovered in rodents. To further investigate their photoresponse properties, we made multielectrode array spike recordings from rat ipRGCs, classified them into M1, M2/M4, and M3/M5 clusters, and measured their intrinsic, melanopsin-based responses to single and flickering light pulses. Results showed that ipRGC spiking can track flickers up to ∼0.2 Hz in frequency and that flicker intervals between 5 and 14 s evoke the most spikes. We also learned that melanopsin's integration time is intensity and cluster dependent. Using these data, we constructed a mathematical model for each cluster's intrinsic photoresponse. We found that the data for the M1 cluster are best fit by a model that assumes a large photoresponse, causing the cell to enter depolarization block. Our models also led us to hypothesize that the M2/M4 and M3/M5 clusters experience comparable photoexcitation but that the M3/M5 cascade decays significantly faster than the M2/M4 cascade, resulting in different response waveforms between these clusters. These mathematical models will help predict how each ipRGC cluster might respond to stimuli of any waveform and could inform the invention of lighting technologies that promote health through melanopsin stimulation.
SEBACEOUS EPITHELIAL CELL DIFFERENTIATION REQUIRES CYCLIC ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE GENERATION

The cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) generator choleratoxin is known to promote the growth of sebaceous epithelial cells (sebocytes) in monolayer culture in classical serum-containing media. Now that sebocytes can be grown in serum-free medium, we have examined whether choleratoxin or other cAMP generators are required for differentiation of rat preputial sebocytes in response to specific ligand activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Unexpectedly, choleratoxin reduced sebocyte proliferation. However, sebocyte differentiation in response to specific PPARalpha and PPARgamma agonists required a cAMP generator such as choleratoxin, and this response was suppressed by a protein kinase A inhibitor. In contrast, the stable prostacyclin analog, carbaprostacyclin (cPGI2), a PPARalpha,delta agonist that also generates cAMP, stimulated differentiation independently of choleratoxin. Furthermore, unlike the selective PPARalpha and PPARgamma agonists, cPGI2 stimulated both sebocyte DNA synthesis and proliferation. These data are compatible with the evidence that prostacyclin has the additional effect of generating cAMP. In addition, we addressed the possibility that choleratoxin may act as a surrogate for beta-adrenergic catecholamines in generating cAMP. In contrast with choleratoxin, both alpha- and beta-adrenergic catecholamines stimulated sebocyte growth and interfered with the choleratoxin effect on differentiation. These data suggest ligand-dependent, complex interactions between cAMP and the other signal transduction pathways involved in sebocyte growth and development.
Precursor lesions of mucinous carcinoma of the breast: analysis of 130 cases

Mucinous mammary carcinoma (MC) is a tumor type with relatively favorable prognosis. Unlike the circumstances surrounding conventional invasive duct carcinoma, data are limited regarding precursor lesions for MC. This study characterizes patterns of mucinous ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as a precursor lesion for MC. All slides from 130 cases of MC encountered between 2000 and 2011 at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI were reviewed to subclassify MC, identify DCIS, and explore transition patterns from DCIS to MC. Calponin, p63, chromogranin, synaptophysin, CD56, and MIB-1 immunostaining analyses were performed in 65 cases. Among 106 cases of pure (71 type A, 35 type B) and 24 cases of mixed MC, DCIS appeared in 88 (68%) specimens, with all but 4 showing luminal mucin accumulation. Dominant patterns of mucinous DCIS were cribriform/solid (66), cribriform and papillary (7), papillary (5), micropapillary (3), and flat (3). Fifty-seven (68%) cases of mucinous DCIS demonstrated transitions from DCIS to MC. Luminal mucinous distention, focal flattening and attenuation of the epithelium, and disruption of the duct wall resulting in a mucocele-like extravasation of malignant epithelia with escaping mucin was a transition pattern seen with all architectures of DCIS and in all types of MC. This was the only pattern of transition to type A MC. The epithelial outpouching, formation of a cleft with accumulation of mucin around the epithelium, and transition into mucin pools with floating tumor cell clusters was the second transition pattern that went from cribriform/solid DCIS to type B and mixed MC. DCIS preceding aggressive phenotypes of MC (type B and mixed) more often had a cribriform/solid architecture, higher nuclear grade, and higher Ki-67-labeling index (all P<0.05). In summary, mucinous DCIS is a precursor to MC with distinctive features that link patterns of DCIS with aggressive MC phenotypes. The 2 observed transitions between mucinous DCIS and MC suggest that pathogenesis of different types of MC is different correlating with less or more aggressive behavior of the latter.
Direct detection of resonant electron pitch angle scattering by whistler waves in a laboratory plasma.

Resonant interactions between energetic electrons and whistler mode waves are an essential ingredient in the space environment, and in particular in controlling the dynamic variability of Earth's natural radiation belts, which is a topic of extreme interest at the moment. Although the theory describing resonant wave-particle interaction has been present for several decades, it has not been hitherto tested in a controlled laboratory setting. In the present Letter we report on the first laboratory experiment to directly detect resonant pitch angle scattering of energetic ($\ensuremath{\sim}\mathrm{keV}$) electrons due to whistler mode waves. We show that the whistler mode wave deflects energetic electrons at precisely the predicted resonant energy, and that varying both the maximum beam energy, and the wave frequency, alters the energetic electron beam very close to the resonant energy.
An IMDAF Cycloaddition Approach toward the Synthesis of the Lycopodium Alkaloid (±)-Fawcettidine

Using an intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition/rearrangement cascade of 3-(1,4-dioxaspiro[4.4]non-7-en-7-yl)-N-furan-2-ylpropionamide (23) as the key step, the BCD core of the lycopodium alkaloid fawcettidine was constructed. Heating the initially formed Diels−Alder cycloadduct at 180 °C results in a nitrogen-assisted ring opening followed by a deprotonation/reprotonation of the ensuing zwitterion to give a rearranged hexahydroindolinone. Our attempts to induce a related intramolecular furan Diels−Alder reaction (IMDAF) from the corresponding ketone of 23 failed to give any cycloaddition product. Instead, the only product obtained corresponded to a cyclopentenone derivative derived by isomerization of the double bond into the thermodynamically more stable α,β-position. Efforts toward construction of the final skeleton of fawcettidine by ring A closure of the rearranged cycloadduct derived from furanyl amide 23 are discussed.
A Numerical Study of High-Pressure Oxygen/Methane Mixing and Combustion of a Shear Coaxial Injector

The mixing and combustion of cryogenic oxygen and methane in a shear coaxial injector operating under supercritical pressures are investigated numerically. The formulation accommodates full conservation laws and real-fluid thermodynamics and transport phenomena. The near -field fluid injection and mixing dynamics are characterized by the evolution of two mixing layers. The vigorous fluctuations generated from the inner mixing layer, which consists a string of large scale vortices emerging from the LOX post tip, provide a forcing on the outer shear layer. The formations of large structures do not follow the fundamental KelvinHelmholtz instability mechanism, but in a manner analogous to that produced at a backward-facing step. The effect of the momentum-flux ratio on the flow evolution is demonstrated. As the velocity of the methane stream increases, turbulent mixing is enhanced, and both the inner and outer potential cores are reduced. A diffusion dominated combustion occurs in the presence of large gradient of fluid pr operties. The work also identifies the flame anchoring mechanism.
Fatal factors for preschoolers victims, offenders, and context

This research examines how victim and offender characteristics, as well as contextual factors are related to the lethality of assaults for children less than 5 years old. The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data for 2006 to 2011 were analyzed using logistic regression techniques to estimate two models designed to explore factors associated with the death of preschoolers. Results indicate that the probability of fatality is significantly influenced by victim and offender characteristics, victim–offender relationship, weapon used, time of incident, and region of the United States in which the incident occurred.
Bandwidth on Demand Service and Its Implementation

TBandwidth on Demand (BOD) is the most typical service to show the characteristics and advantages of the Automatically Switched Optical Network (ASON). BOD enables the service provider to provide adequate bandwidth on user's demand. To implement the BOD service, Generic Frame Protocol (GFP) is adopted to map the data frame to Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) virtual container. Meanwhile, Virtual Concatenation (VC) and Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS) are used to dynamically bind and adjust the bandwidth, to realize bandwidth lossless adjustment. Besides, by setting the automatic trigger conditions for bandwidth adjustment, the intelligent and automatic capabilities of ASON can be used to achieve dynamic bandwidth adjustment, thus providing users with quick and real-time BOD service.
Writing on the Border: English y español también

Code-switching—the alternative use of two or more languages—in natural speech production has traditionally been stigmatized and attributed to illiteracy and/or poor linguistic competence earning derogatory labels like “Spanglish” or “Tex-Mex.”1 However, the burst of growth in bilingual literature in the United States in the last few decades seems to indicate that mixing languages in writing (especially in literature) has been legitimized to a certain extent. As Aparicio (1994) claims, “while some prescriptive linguists, editors, and authorities in education would judge the interference of Spanish and English as a deficit, a postmodern and transcreative approach would validate it as a positively creative innovation in literature” (797). This authentication process could be attested when Dominican-American writer Junot Diaz was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for a novel written in “a sort of streetwise brand of Spanglish” according to the critics.2
Introduction: Civilizations in Conflict

The history of European expansion includes few stories of drama and tragedy equal to the Spanish conquest of Mexico and the fall of the great indigenous empire that controlled its heartland. In 1519 Hernan Cortes and a small contingent of Spanish adventurers arrived on the Mexican coast, and eventually encountered a great imperial state that was heir to a long tradition of civilization that dominated the land and held sway over millions of people. Within only three years that empire was destroyed, its ruler captured, the foundations of its cultural traditions toppled and hundreds of thousands of its people dead from warfare, famine, and disease (see Figure 1). Those who remained struggled to survive and adapt to the new Spanish colonial regime and to a new religion, Catholicism. In many ways the conquest represented both the death of a political state, or more exactly states, and much of their way of life and the birth of a new colonial regime in its place.
Adding intelligence to the interface

Virtual reality has made computer interfaces more intuitive but not more intelligent. This paper shows how a rule-based expert system can be combined with multimodal input and natural language techniques to add intelligence to the interface. In this way, virtual worlds can be built which recognize and respond intelligently to user actions. Coupling voice, gesture, body position and context together with an expert system creates an interface more powerful than any of these elements alone; one which establishes a true two-way dialog between human and machine. To illustrate these techniques, we present two prototype systems that allow intuitive multimodal communication within intelligent virtual environments.
In Patients with Renovascular Hypertension Is There a Role for Open or Endovascular Revascularization Compared to Medical Management

Renovascular hypertension occurs when an existing renal artery stenosis (RAS) leads to hypoperfusion of the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney resulting in an increase in renin production with subsequent up regulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The most common pathology of RAS is atherosclerosis. Non-atherosclerotic etiologies of RAS include fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), dissection, trauma, congenital hypoplastic syndromes and arteritis. Both medical management, and endovascular (angioplasty/stenting) or open revascularization strategies have been used to treat the hypertensive diathesis, however comparative data of the competing strategies is limited.
The impact of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features on the performance of the Afirma gene expression classifier.

BACKGROUND A recent revision in thyroid tumor nomenclature has resulted in a change from a malignant diagnosis (noninvasive follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma) to one that is nonmalignant (noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features [NIFTP]). The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of this change on the performance of the Afirma gene expression classifier (GEC). METHODS The authors retrospectively analyzed consecutive thyroid fine-needle aspiration specimens with indeterminate diagnoses on which GEC was performed. Surgical pathology material was reviewed with the reclassification of nodules into NIFTP. RESULTS GEC testing was performed on 384 fine-needle aspiration specimens diagnosed as atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) (304 cases) and suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (SFN) (80 cases) and yielded a suspicious result in 152 of the AUS cases (50%) and 50 of the SFN cases (63%). Thyroidectomy was performed on 177 patients. After reclassifying NIFTP, the positive predictive value of GEC decreased from 42% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 39%-45%) to 24% (95% CI, 22%-26%) in the AUS group and from 23% (95% CI, 19%-27%) to 13% (95% CI, 9%-18%) in the SFN group. Total thyroidectomy was performed more frequently than a partial thyroidectomy in patients with AUS with a suspicious GEC result compared with pre-GEC controls (68% vs 49%; P = .037). CONCLUSIONS Reclassification of NIFTP significantly decreases the positive predictive value of GEC in indeterminate thyroid nodules. Nevertheless, the majority of patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules with a suspicious GEC result in the study institution have undergone total thyroidectomy. This finding raises concerns over reliance on a suspicious GEC result by clinicians to justify total thyroidectomy. Cancer Cytopathol 2017;125:683-91. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Bhānds in the Drawing Room: The Popular Punjabi Theatre

The bhānd entered the Lahore Arts Council’s colonial-styled drawing room comedies in the 1970s. While the elite practitioners resisted these interventions, the so-called ‘low’ performers exposed the legitimate theatre’s exclusions in the mushrooming of the popular Punjabi theatre (1980–), giving way to playful subversions of class hierarchies and gender norms, which have been subject to frequent moral disapproval and censorship. It then presents case studies that explicate these interventions: Kuch na Kaho (Don’t Ever Speak, Baral 2002), which addresses class strife; Eik Tera Sanum Khana (Your Place of Idols, Jee 2003), wherein transgendering probes patriarchy; and Billo, Billi aur Baali (Billo, Billi and Baali, Anon 2004), where female performers adopt the bhānd mode in rejoinder to the censorship of the woman dancer (2002–2004).
Early Universe synthesis of asymmetric dark matter nuggets

Author(s): Gresham, MI; Lou, HK; ZureK, KM | Abstract: We compute the mass function of bound states of asymmetric dark matter - nuggets - synthesized in the early Universe. We apply our results for the nugget density and binding energy computed from a nuclear model to obtain analytic estimates of the typical nugget size exiting synthesis. We numerically solve the Boltzmann equation for synthesis including two-to-two fusion reactions, estimating the impact of bottlenecks on the mass function exiting synthesis. These results provide the basis for studying the late Universe cosmology of nuggets in a future companion paper.
A Covering Space with No Compact Core

This note describes an example of a compact aspherical 2-complex X with a covering space \(\hat X \to X\), such that \(\pi _1 \hat X\) is finitely presented but \({\hat X}\) has no compact core.
Using Language Sample Analysis to Assess Pragmatic Skills in School-Age Children and Adolescents

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, addition of social (pragmatic) communication disorder has underscored the need for development and refinement of clinical tools to accurately identify pragmatic language deficits in clinical populations. One of the 4 required social (pragmatic) communication disorder diagnostic criteria is difficulty following rules for conversation and storytelling. As such, language sample collection and analysis is an important assessment tool for identification of this disorder. This tutorial describes a language sampling protocol and reviews analysis techniques for the purpose of documenting pragmatic language skills in school-age populations.
Regulatory Architecture of the LβT2 Gonadotrope Cell Underlying the Response to Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone.

The LβT2 mouse pituitary cell line has many characteristics of a mature gonadotrope and is a widely used model system for studying the developmental processes and the response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The global epigenetic landscape, which contributes to cell-specific gene regulatory mechanisms, and the single-cell transcriptome response variation of LβT2 cells have not been previously investigated. Here, we integrate the transcriptome and genome-wide chromatin accessibility state of LβT2 cells during GnRH stimulation. In addition, we examine cell-to-cell variability in the transcriptional response to GnRH using Gel bead-in-Emulsion Drop-seq technology. Analysis of a bulk RNA-seq data set obtained 45 min after exposure to either GnRH or vehicle identified 112 transcripts that were regulated >4-fold by GnRH (FDR 4,000 expressed genes/cell, from 1,992 vehicle- and 1,889 GnRH-treated cells. While the individual cell expression patterns showed high cell-to-cell variation, representing both biological and measurement variation, the average expression patterns correlated well with bulk RNA-seq data. Computational assignment of each cell to its precise cell cycle phase showed that the response to GnRH was unaffected by cell cycle. To our knowledge, this study represents the first genome-wide epigenetic and single-cell transcriptomic characterization of this important gonadotrope model. The data have been deposited publicly and should provide a resource for hypothesis generation and further study.
Evaluation and Management of Cardiac Tumors.

Our purpose is to discuss the importance of multimodality imaging in the assessment of cardiac tumors and management. We have compiled a recent review of the scientific literature and embedded our clinical pathways and recommendations based on data and clinical experience. The use of contrast echocardiography in the assessment of cardiac masses has been shown to be helpful in distinguishing tumor from thrombus. Deformation imaging of cardiac tumors has been shown to differentiate better rhabdomyomas from fibromas in pediatric patients. Cardiac MRI (CMR) appears to be helpful in determining whether cardiac tumors are benign or malignant by identifying presence of infiltration, uptake of contrast in first pass perfusion and gadolinium enhancement. Patients with evidence of cardiac metastases by CMR show similar survival to stage IV cancer without cardiac metastases. In our institution, we use a standardized approach for the evaluation of cardiac masses, which includes multimodality imaging in the appropriate clinical context. The autotransplantation surgical technique has shown some promise in improving survival in patients with primary cardiac sarcomas. In our institution, we do not routinely recommend anticoagulation for “tumor-thrombus” in renal cell carcinoma due to risk of bleeding from primary tumor. Cardiac masses are often found incidentally, but sometimes can present with cardiovascular symptoms due to obstruction and valvular dysfunction, which may prompt imaging. It is important to determine whether the mass is a normal variant, imaging artifact, vegetation, thrombus, or tumor. Transthoracic echocardiography is ideally suited to be the initial imaging modality because of the portability, wide availability, lack of radiation, and relatively low cost. The gold standard cardiac imaging technique to distinguish tumor from thrombus is contrast enhanced CMR with prolonged inversion time. Advantages of CMR when compared to echocardiography regarding characterization of cardiac tumors are as follows: larger field of view, better spatial resolution, better tissue characterization, lack of attenuation, and ability to image at any prescribed plane. Primary and secondary cardiac tumors have particular characteristics in echocardiography and CMR. Imaging of cardiac tumors plays an important role in establishing a diagnosis and in planning management.
Gas-Phase Analytical Methods. Mass Spectrometry and GC-MS-COM Analytical Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses mass spectrometry and computer technology in relation to gas-phase analytical methods based on gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) instruments and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-computer (GC-MS-COM) analytical systems. The initial development of mass spectrometry was because of the physicists who were interested in atomic mass relationships, and all early studies were carried out with ionized gases of low molecular weight. The basic principle was: a stream of ions, projected into an electrostatic or magnetic field, follows a trajectory that depends upon the field strength and upon the mass/charge ratio of the ion. The function of the mass spectrometer is to separate ions in the gas phase, and to provide instrumental data that can be used to determine the mass/charge ratio and the relative abundance of each ion in the original mixture of ions generated in the source. The resolving power, mass range, and sensitivity of detection are of critical importance with respect to the purposes of the analytical applications. The scan speed is of lesser importance, but should be sufficiently fast for the applications under study.
Tail Length Determination in Double-Stranded DNA Bacteriophages

The question of how biological structures acquire their specific sizes and shapes is one that can be asked across a wide range, from individual polypeptide chains to redwood trees. Certainly it will turn out that many different mechanisms are involved in the various instances of biological form determination, and as with other large biological questions, it will be necessary to understand many specific cases before it is possible to discern the general themes of how form determination works. This paper discusses one such case, namely length determination in bacteriophage tails. This is a problem for which the main outlines of the solution are now clear, and the more refined details seem experimentally accessible.
Schritt 7: Richten Sie Ihr Online-Büro als Wohlfühlzone ein

Menschen identifizieren sich mit ihrem Umfeld – bei der Einrichtung Ihres Online-Buros durfen Sie nicht nur auf Funktionalitat achten, sondern Sie sollten es als Wohlfuhlzone gestalten. Uberlegen Sie genau, welche technische Ausstattung Ihr Buro auf jeden Fall aufweisen sollte und wie Sie kostengunstig eine Internetseite erstellen und ein Filmstudio einrichten. Die dazu notwendigen Tipps erhalten Sie hier! Zudem erfahren Sie: Ihre Beratung darf nicht trocken und bieder daherkommen. Es ist Ihr Ziel, den Kunden nicht nur zu informieren, sondern ihn zugleich unterhaltsam und spielerisch und mit einem dramaturgischen Spannungsbogen durch den Beratungsprozess zu fuhren.
Alternative Approaches to Computability

In the previous chapters we have developed a theory of computability based on while-programs. The legitimacy of this programming language approach has rested on the belief, embodied in Church’s Thesis, that the class of computable functions is model invariant: The while-program computable functions include the function classes that are definable by any other system, so long as that system matches our informal notion of algorithmic specification.
Artificial neural networks for predicting failure to survive following in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Background Neural networks are an artificial intelligence technique that uses a set of nonlinear equations to mimic the neuronal connections of biological systems. They have been shown to be useful for pattern recognition and outcome prediction applications, and have the potential to bring artificial intelligence techniques to the personal computers of practicing physicians, assisting them with a variety of medical decisions. It is proposed that such an artificial neural network can be trained, using information available at the time of admission to the hospital, to predict failure to survive following in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods The age, sex, heart rate, and 21 other clinical variables were collected on a consecutive series of 218 adult patients undergoing CPR at a 295-bed public acute-care hospital. The data set was divided into two groups. A neural network was trained to predict failure to survive to discharge following CPR, using one group as the training set and the other as the testing set. The procedure was then reversed, and the results of the two networks were combined to form an aggregate network. Results The trained aggregate neural network had a sensitivity of 52.1% and a positive predictive value of 97% for the prediction of failure to survive following CPR. The relative risk of actually failing to survive to discharge following CPR for a patient predicted not to survive was 11.3 (95% CI 3.3 to 38.2). Conclusions Predicting failure to survive following CPR is but one possible application of neural network technology. It demonstrates how this technique can assist physicians in medical decision making. Future work should attempt to improve the positive predictive value of the neural network, to consider combining it with an expert system, and to compare it with other predictive tools. Once validated, the network can be distributed as a separate application for use by practicing physicians.
Introducing a GURT 2018 Panel on Communicating with the Public: “Third Parties” in Question-Answer Sequences

This forum is dedicated to a panel on Communicating with the Public: “Third Parties” in Question-Answer Sequences organized by Professor Hansun Zhang Waring for the 2018 Georgetown University Round Table (GURT) in Washington, DC. The panel was devoted to research conducted as part of a larger, two-year grant-funded project led by Professor Waring and Elizabeth Reddington at Teachers College, Columbia University. Specifically, the panel examined how representatives of a philanthropic foundation communicate their mission and programs to various audiences on various platforms. This introduction (originally delivered by Professor Waring) offers a brief overview of the 2018 GURT panel on Communicating with the Public and is followed by the four panel papers.
Shoot and root biomass, phosphorus and nitrogen uptake of spring wheat grown in low phosphorus and moisture content conditions in a pot experiment

A pot experiment was done in a greenhouse to investigate the effect of low phosphorus (P) and moisture content on growth and yield components of four spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties. ...
Alignment of diet prescription to genotype does not promote greater weight loss success in women with obesity participating in an exercise and weight loss program.

Objective Genetics contribute to variability in individual response to weight-loss interventions. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a commercially available exercise and weight-loss program and whether alignment of diet to genotype related to lipid metabolism promotes greater success. Design Sedentary women with obesity (n = 63) had genotype (FABP2rs1799883, PPARG2rs1801282, ADRB3rs4994C3, ADRB2rs1042713, rs1042714) determined using a direct-to-consumer genetic screening kit purported to promote greater weight-loss success through dietary recommendations based on these genes. Participants were randomly assigned to follow a moderate carbohydrate (MC) or lower carbohydrate (LC) hypo-energetic diet that aligned (A) or did not align (NA) with genotype for 24 weeks while participating in a resistance training and walking program. Data were analysed by general linear model repeated measures adjusted for baseline variables and are presented as mean (95% confidence interval) changes from baseline. Results Participants in the LC group experienced greater improvements (p = 0.051, ηp 2 = 0.025) in per cent changes in body composition (weight: MC -3.32 [-1.4, -5.2], LC -5.82 [-4.1, -7.6]; fat mass: MC -7.25 [-3.2, -11.2], LC -10.93 [-7.3, -14.5]; fat-free mass: MC -0.32 [1.4, -2.0], LC -1.48 [0.7, -3.0]; and body fat percentage: MC -4.19 [-1.6, -6.8], LC -5.60 [-3.3, -7.9] %). No significant differences were observed between genotype groups (weight: A -5.00 [-3.3, -6.7], NA -4.14 [-2.2, -6.1]; fat mass: A -10.15 [-7.0, -13.6], NA -8.02 [-4.0, -12.0]; fat-free mass: A -1.23 [0.3, -2.8], NA -0.56 [1.12, -2.3]; and body fat: A -5.28 [-3.0, -7.6], NA -4.51 [-1.9, -7.1] %). Conclusions Adherence to this exercise and weight-loss program promoted improvements in body composition and health outcomes. While individuals following the LC diet experienced greater benefits, alignment of these diets to this genetic profile did not promote greater health outcomes.
PEGylated peptide to TIP1 is a novel targeting agent that binds specifically to various cancers in vivo.

Abstract Targeted molecular imaging allows specific visualization and monitoring of tumors. Cancer-specific peptides have been developed for imaging and therapy. Peptides that specifically target cancer have several advantages including, ease of synthesis, low antigenicity, and enhanced diffusion into tissues. We developed the HVGGSSV peptide as a molecular targeting/imaging agent. HVGGSSV targets Tax interacting protein 1 (TIP1) which is a 14 kDa PDZ domain-containing protein that is overexpressed in cancer. We docked HVGGSSV in silico using the three-dimensional structure of TIP1 and found the binding energy was −6.0 kCal/mol. The binding affinity of HVGGSSV to TIP1 protein was found to have a KD of 3.3 × 10−6 M using surface plasmon resonance. We conjugated a 40 kDa PEG to HVGGSSV to enhance the circulation and evaluated the tumor binding in nude mice bearing heterotopic cervical (HT3), esophageal (OE33), pancreatic (BXPC3), lung (A549) and glioma (D54) tumors. NanoSPECT/CT imaging of the mice was performed 48 h and 72 h after injecting with 111Indium (111In) labeled PEG-HVGGSSV or PEG-control peptide. SPECT imaging revealed that 111In-PEG-HVGGSSV specifically bound to cervical, esophageal, pancreatic, lung and brain tumors. Post SPECT biodistribution data further validated tumor-specific binding. Overall, HVGGSSV peptide specifically binds to the major groove of the TIP1 protein surface. PEGylated-HVGGSSV could be used to target cancers that overexpress TIP1.
BEHAVIORAL APPROACH TO UNFAIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN EU CONSUMER LAW

Rational choice theory is still at the hearth of EU consumer law. In this paper I consider how this theory reflects on the unfair terms control mechanism set by the Unfair Contract Terms Directive. I identify most pressing problems in the field of unfair contract terms using the findings of behavioral psychology and behavioral economics. In search for possible solutions to these problems I will consult the relevant literature. Therefore, method I use here is a theoretical application of the behavioral findings. In conclusion I will assess which solutions are feasible and most desirable in a short term period, and which are the most effective but demand certain investments and time to become fully functional. Finally, I will conclude that behavioral approach to the issue of unfair contract terms and conditions is an important addition to the policing of unfair terms and conditions which could lead to the raise of overall quality of terms and conditions which is a significant step beyond the control of unfairness.
The association between feeding protocol compliance and weight gain following high-risk neonatal cardiac surgery.

Background Children with congenital heart disease are at high risk for malnutrition. Standardisation of feeding protocols has shown promise in decreasing some of this risk. With little standardisation between institutions' feeding protocols and no understanding of protocol adherence, it is important to analyse the efficacy of individual aspects of the protocols. Methods Adherence to and deviation from a feeding protocol in high-risk congenital heart disease patients between December 2015 and March 2017 were analysed. Associations between adherence to and deviation from the protocol and clinical outcomes were also assessed. The primary outcome was change in weight-for-age z score between time intervals. Results Increased adherence to and decreased deviation from individual instructions of a feeding protocol improves patients change in weight-for-age z score between birth and hospital discharge (p = 0.031). Secondary outcomes such as markers of clinical severity and nutritional delivery were not statistically different between groups with high or low adherence or deviation rates. Conclusions High-risk feeding protocol adherence and fewer deviations are associated with weight gain independent of their influence on nutritional delivery and caloric intake. Future studies assessing the efficacy of feeding protocols should include the measures of adherence and deviations that are not merely limited to caloric delivery and illness severity.
Dynamic First Price Auctions Robust to Heterogeneous Buyers.

We study dynamic mechanisms for optimizing revenue in repeated auctions, that are robust to heterogeneous forward-looking and learning behavior of the buyers. Typically it is assumed that the buyers are either all myopic or are all infinite lookahead, and that buyers understand and trust the mechanism. These assumptions raise the following question: is it possible to design approximately revenue optimal mechanisms when the buyer pool is heterogeneous? Facing a heterogeneous population of buyers with an unknown mixture of $k$-lookahead buyers, myopic buyers, no-regret-learners and no-policy-regret learners, we design a simple state-based mechanism that achieves a constant fraction of the optimal achievable revenue.
Dirac operator coupled to instantons on positive definite 4 manifolds

We study the moduli space of instantons on a simply connected positive definite four manifold by analyzing the classifying map of the index bundle of a family of Dirac operators parametrized by the moduli space. As applications we compute the cohomology ring for the charge 2 moduli space in the rank stable limit.
Reference values of the dielectric constant of natural gas components determined with a cross capacitor

A novel toroidal cross capacitor was used to measure accurately the dielectric polarizabilitye(p) (i.e., the dielectric constant as a function of the pressure) of helium, argon, nitrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide atT=50°C. The data extend up to 7 MPa (5 MPa for CO2) and may be useful for calibrating on-line, capacitance-based systems that are designed to measure the heating value of natural gas. The uncertainties ofeandpare 4×10−6and (3.0×10−5p+84 Pa), respectively. The properties of helium that had been calculatedab initiofrom quantum mechanics were used to verify that the cross capacitor deformed in a predictable manner under hydrostatic (gas) pressure. Thus, a common cause of systematic errors in measuring the dielectric constant of gases was avoided. For helium, the rms deviation ofe(p) from the calculations was only 2.7×10−7. This suggests that the estimated uncertainty is very conservative.
The use of urinary and kidney SILAM proteomics to monitor kidney response to high dose morpholino oligonucleotides in the mdx mouse

Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMO) are used as a promising exon-skipping gene therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). One potential complication of high dose PMO therapy is its transient accumulation in the kidneys. Therefore new urinary biomarkers are needed to monitor this treatment. Here, we carried out a pilot proteomic profiling study using stable isotope labeling in mammals (SILAM) strategy to identify new biomarkers to monitor the effect of PMO on the kidneys of the dystrophin deficient mouse model for DMD (mdx-23). We first assessed the baseline renal status of the mdx-23 mouse compared to the wild type (C57BL10) mouse, and then followed the renal outcome of mdx-23 mouse treated with a single high dose intravenous PMO injection (800 mg/kg). Surprisingly, untreated mdx-23 mice showed evidence of renal injury at baseline, which was manifested by albuminuria, increased urine output, and changes in established urinary biomarker of acute kidney injury (AKI). The PMO treatment induced further transient renal injury, which peaked at 7 days, and returned to almost the baseline status at 30 days post-treatment. In the kidney, the SILAM approach followed by western blot validation identified changes in Meprin A subunit alpha at day 2, then returned to normal levels at day 7 and 30 after PMO injection. In the urine, SILAM approach identified an increase in Clusterin and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase 1 as potential candidates to monitor the transient renal accumulation of PMO. These results, which were confirmed by Western blots or ELISA, demonstrate the value of the SILAM approach to identify new candidate biomarkers of renal injury in mdx-23 mice treated with high dose PMO. Chemical compounds studied in this article: Phosphorodiamidate morpholino (PubChem CID: 22140692); isoflurane (PubChem CID: 3763); formic acid (PubChem CID: 284); acetonitrile (PubChem CID: 6342); acetone (PubChem CID: 180); methanol (PubChem CID: 887).
Lowest of the low: why some countries suffer terrorist attacks against schools

The purpose of this research was to investigate whether terrorist attacks against schools and other educational institutions were more common in states with little respect for human rights for a sa...
Foreign Policy Advocacy and Entrepreneurship: How a New Generation in Congress is Shaping U.S. Engagement with the World

The longstanding dominant approach to studying the role that Congress plays in making U.S. foreign policy adopts a top-down perspective. The focus is on senior members who through their seniority, ...
Investigation of patent foramen ovale as a mechanism for brain metastasis in patients without prior lung involvement.

The mechanisms of brain metastasis are incompletely understood. Circulating tumor cells travel to the right heart and through the pulmonary circulation, where they may become lung metastases, and can circulate further to the left heart and brain. In patients who develop brain metastases without lung involvement, we hypothesized that cancer cells may travel directly from the right atrium to left atrium via a patent foramen ovale (PFO), akin to paradoxical embolism. If the prevalence of PFO is greater in these individuals compared to the general population (20–30%), PFO may play a role in brain metastasis, and prophylactic closure may provide benefit. Accordingly, we investigated the prevalence of PFO in patients with brain metastases without prior lung involvement. We prospectively identified patients with brain metastases from a non-lung primary cancer with no preceding or concurrent lung involvement. Nine eligible participants underwent a transcranial Doppler study with intravenous agitated saline to assess for PFO. Among nine participants, primary cancers were breast (n = 6), upper gastrointestinal (n = 2), and thyroid (n = 1). A positive bubble study was identified in 2/9 (22.2%) participants: one female with breast cancer and one male with duodenal adenocarcinoma. No participants developed lung metastases on subsequent chest imaging. In this prospective pilot study, we found a similar prevalence of PFO in patients who developed brain metastases without preceding lung involvement compared to estimates for the general population. Through a larger study is needed, the development of brain metastases in these individuals may primarily reflect tumor-specific biological factors diecting metastasis organotropism.
Internal Neurolysis of the Common Peroneal Nerve With Lower Extremity Flexion Increases Likelihood for Direct End-End Nerve Repairs

Introduction An understanding of common peroneal neuropathy is essential to improving current surgical techniques and overcoming limitations of permanent common peroneal nerve (CPN) damage, which negatively impacts quality of life. This study focuses on quantifying additional nerve length after CPN internal neurolysis with varying degrees of lower extremity flexion, in order to improve end-end nerve repairs in the setting of injury with a significant gap. Materials and methods Full and partial neurolysis dissections were performed on salt- and formaldehyde-perfused cadavers. For accurate measurement of additional length obtained, all dissections were palpated at the fibular head and CPNs transected proximally at the distal fascial border. We chose this site to measure the nerve length obtained because it is the common site for CPN injury and the most clinically applicable. The amount of nerve length gained from neurolysis alone was measured at the location of the common peroneal nerve passing deep to peroneus longus before and after being transected. Nerve length after neurolysis was measured in cm at 10° increments, using a protractor starting at 90° and ending at 0°. Results Both formaldehyde- and salt-perfused cadavers have a significant difference in nerve length obtained after neurolysis at each angle of measurement. This is seen for both dissection groups with p-values <0.05. Conclusions In this study, we found a direct statistically significant relationship between extent of neurolysis and increased angle of measurement, to amount of addition nerve length obtained in both neurolysis groups despite fixation type.
Comments regarding “Solid-liquid equilibrium solubility, thermodynamic properties and solvent effect of 3,4-dinitro-1H-pyrazole in different pure solvents”

Abstract A polemic is given regarding the thermodynamic mixing properties reported in the paper by Liu and coworkers. The authors' calculated thermodynamic mixing properties were found to be internally inconsistent, and do not obey the standard thermodynamic relationship that ∆mixG = ∆mixH − T ∆mixS.