cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation, Characterization, Protein Resistance, and Reactivity of Cl 3 Si(CH 2 ) 11 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) 3 OH Self-Assembled Monolayers

We report a method for generating tri(ethylene glycol)-terminated- n -alkyltrichlorosiloxane monolayers on SiO 2 surfaces. These chemisorbed films, with a thickess of ∼2-3 nm, provide an oligo(ethylene glycol) surface that reduces the nonspecific adsorption of proteins and hydroxyl attachment sites for covalently immobilizing biomolecules to the substrate. These mono-molecular films were formed by adsorbing an acetoxy-tri(ethylene glycol)-terminated n -alkyltrichlorosilane, CH 3 (C=O)O(CH 2 CH 2 O) 3 (CH 2 ) 11 SiCl 3 , onto glass and Si/SiO 2 substrates, where the terminal acetate provided a protecting group for the hydroxyl functionality during self-assembly of the film. After formation of the monolayer, the acetate functionality was reduced chemically to form films exposing a covalently attached -(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 3 OH terminus at a density of ∼3[.dotmath]10 14 molecules/cm 2 . Protein adsorption studies verified that the films exhibited notable resistances against the non-specific adsorption of various proteins. Chemical modification of the -(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 3 OH surface with protein A provided a non-adsorbing surface for selective immobilization of immunoglobulins.
An integrated approach to implementing collaborative inquiry in the classroom

To be successful, CSCL technology must be adopted by teachers and incorporated into the activities of the classroom. This paper describes a comprehensive approach to supporting teachers learning to implement computer-supported collaborative inquiry in their classrooms. The approach comprises (1) a networked software system, "Belvedere," that provides students with shared workspaces for coordinating and recording their collaboration in scientific inquiry; (2) activity plans worked out collaboratively with teachers; (3) "challenge problems" and Web-based materials designed to match and enrich the curriculum, and (4) self-and peer-assessment instruments given to students to guide the process of scientific inquiry. A fundamental aim of this work is to restructure the classroom and shift the initiative for learning activity to the students.
Prospective Study of Fertility Concerns and Preservation Strategies in Young Women With Breast Cancer

Purpose Most research regarding fertility in young women with breast cancer has focused on long-term survivors. Little is known about how fertility concerns affect treatment decisions or fertility preservation strategies at the time of initial cancer diagnosis. Patients and Methods As part of an ongoing prospective multicenter cohort study, we surveyed women with newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer at age ≤ 40 years. The baseline survey included sociodemographic, medical, and treatment data as well as a modified Fertility Issues Survey, including fertility concern and preservation items. Univariable and multivariable modeling were used to investigate predictors of greater fertility concern. Results Among the first 620 eligible respondents included in this analysis, median age was 37 years (range, 17 to 40 years); 425 women (68%) discussed fertility issues with their physicians before starting therapy, and 319 (51%) were concerned about becoming infertile after treatment. Because of concerns about fe...
Cognitive effects of pregabalin in healthy volunteers A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can be associated with neurotoxic side effects including cognitive dysfunction, a problem of considerable importance given the usual long-term course of treatment. Pregabalin is a relatively new AED widely used for the treatment of seizures and some types of chronic pain including fibromyalgia. We measured the cognitive effects of 12 weeks of pregabalin in healthy volunteers. Methods: Thirty-two healthy volunteers were randomized in a double-blind parallel study to receive pregabalin or placebo (1:1). Pregabalin was titrated over 8 weeks to 600 mg/d. At baseline, and after 12 weeks of treatment, all subjects underwent cognitive testing. Test-retest changes in all cognitive and subjective measures were Z scored against test-retest regressions previously developed from 90 healthy volunteers. Z scores from the placebo and pregabalin groups were compared using Wilcoxon tests. Results: Thirty subjects completed the study (94%). Three of 6 target cognitive measures (Digit Symbol, Stroop, Controlled Oral Word Association) revealed significant test-retest differences between the pregabalin and placebo groups, all showing negative effects with pregabalin ( p p Conclusion: At conventional doses and titration, pregabalin induced mild negative cognitive effects and neurotoxicity complaints in healthy volunteers. These effects are one factor to be considered in the selection and monitoring of chronic AED therapy. Class of Evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that pregabalin 300 mg BID negatively impacts cognition on some tasks in healthy volunteers.
Acute urinary retention after magnetic resonance image-guided prostate brachytherapy with and without neoadjuvant external beam radiotherapy

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the risk of acute urinary retention (AUR) and sequelae after urethra-sparing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided prostate brachytherapy. Methods Between 1997 and 2003, MRI-guided prostate brachytherapy was performed after external beam radiotherapy (n = 60) or as monotherapy (n = 188) following a diagnosis of low-risk prostate adenocarcinoma. The median prostate gland volume was 40 cm 3 (range 16 to 184). Of the 248 patients, 88 (35%) had prostate gland volumes greater than 45 cm 3 . The median follow-up was 40 months. Results Of the 248 patients, 18 (7%) developed AUR. Of the 248 patients, 2% (3 of 160), 6% (3 of 49), 28% (8 of 29), and 40% (4 of 10) of patients experienced AUR if the prostate gland volume was less than 45, 45 to 60, 60 to 90, or greater than 90 cm 3 , respectively ( P P Conclusions AUR after urethral-sparing MRI-guided prostate brachytherapy is volume dependent and is self-limited despite very large prostate gland volumes.
Bootstrap Inference in Partially Identified Models Defined by Moment Inequalities: Coverage of the Identified Set

This paper introduces a novel bootstrap procedure to perform inference in a wide class of partially identi…ed econometric models. We consider econometric models de…ned by …nitely many weak moment inequalities y , which encompass many applications of economic interest. The objective of our inferential procedure is to cover the identi…ed set with a prespeci…ed probability z . We compare our bootstrap procedure, a competing asymptotic approximation and subsampling proce- dures in terms of the rate at which they achieve the desired coverage level, also known as the error in the coverage probability. Under certain conditions, we show that our bootstrap procedure and the asymp- totic approximation have the same order of error in the coverage probability, which is smaller than the one obtained by using subsampling. This implies that inference based on our bootstrap and asymptotic approximation should eventually be more precise than inference based on subsampling. A Monte Carlo study con…rms this …nding in a small sample simulation.
Suppressor T cells in human diseases.

Although central and peripheral tolerance are important for the regulation of human immune responses to self- and microbial antigens, an important role of suppressor CD4+ CD25+ T cells is suggested from the recent investigations of human autoimmune diseases and HIV. These new data provide increasing evidence that altered function of CD4+ CD25+ T cells may be an important factor in a wide range of human inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Applying maximum entropy methods to aid in classification of polarimetric SAR imagery

This research presents a technique intended for use in classification of remotely sensed SAR data. As an input for the technique, the user provides a set of polarimetric radar data of a particular distributed target. The output produced is an analytical, multidimensional probability density function (pdf). To find the pdf that generated a particular set of data, maximum entropy techniques are used. These techniques work by requiring that in addition to constraints provided by the data, the authors maximize the entropy of the probability density function. The authors apply this technique to SAR data, with the intent of eventually using this characterization in the training phase of a supervised classifier.
Relationship between surface area and volume of the mastoid air cell system in adult humans.

Introduction:The geometry of the adult human mastoid air cell system has not previously been described over a large range of mastoid air cell volumes.Methods:Twenty subjects with a wide range of mastoid air cell pneumatised areas, as determined by X-ray, underwent computed tomography scanning of the middle ear. Mastoid air cell surface areas and volumes were then reconstructed from serial imaging sections, using Image J software.Results:Mastoid air cell volumes varied from 0.7 to 21.4 ml, and were linearly related to the pneumatised area. Right and left mastoid air cell volumes and surface areas were highly correlated. The mastoid air cell surface area was a linear function of volume.Conclusion:The relationship between mastoid air cell surface area and volume is similar over a wide range of volumes. Given that the rate of gas exchange across the mastoid air cell mucosa is related to the mastoid air cell surface area, that rate will thus also be a direct linear function of the mastoid air cell volume.
Pollen viability reduction as a potential cost of ant association for Acacia constricta (Fabaceae)

Field studies investigating the impact of ants on the reproduction of plants bearing extrafloral nectaries have traditionally focused on seed production, a component of female fitness. The purpose of this study was to test whether ants can affect the pollen viability, a component of male fitness, when they visit flowers of the shrub Acacia constricta. Acacia constricta inflorescences hand-pollinated with flowers over which Formica perpilosa ants had crawled set significantly fewer seed pods than inflorescences hand-pollinated by control flowers that had no contact with ants. Many ant species secrete antibiotic substances onto the integument that render pollen inviable, and these secretions are probably the mechanism for reduced pollen viability in this study. The ratio of seed pods produced by self-pollinated inflorescences to those produced by cross-pollinated inflorescences was 0.16, indicating that A. constricta is largely self-incompatible. Because F. perpilosa workers forage primarily on the acacia tree under which they nest, they are unlikely to serve as efficient vectors of outcrossing. Previous work showed that A. constricta shrubs with F. perpilosa ants produce approximately twice as many seeds as similarly sized plants not so associated. The results indicate that association with F. perpilosa could cause a reproductive trade-off for A. constricta: benefits to female function may be accompanied by costs to male function. Selection to discourage ant visitation to flowers may have affected the pollination biology of this and other ant-associated plant species.
Animated visualization of multiple intersecting hierarchies

The authors describe a new information structure composed of multiple intersecting hierarchies, which we call a Polyarchy. Visualizing polyarchies enables use of novel views for discovery of relationships which are very difficult using existing hierarchy visualization tools. This paper will describe the visualization design and system architecture challenges as well as our current solutions. Visual Pivot is a novel web-based polyarchy visualization technique, supported by a 'polyarchy server' implemented with a Mid-Tier Cache architecture. A series of five user studies guided iterative design of Visual Pivot. Finally, the effectiveness of animation in Visual Pivot is discussed.
A SacB Mutagenesis Strategy Reveals that the Bartonella quintana Variably Expressed Outer Membrane Proteins Are Required for Bloodstream Infection of the Host

Bartonella bacteria adhere to erythrocytes and persistently infect the mammalian bloodstream. We previously identified four highly conserved Bartonella quintana adhesin genes that undergo phase variation during prolonged bloodstream infection. The variably expressed outer membrane proteins (Vomp) encoded by these genes are members of the trimeric autotransporter adhesin family. Each B. quintana Vomp appears to contribute a different adhesion phenotype, likely mediated by the major variable region at the adhesive tip of each Vomp. Although studies document that the Vomp adhesins confer virulence phenotypes in vitro, little is known about in vivo virulence strategies of Bartonella. We sought to determine whether the B. quintana Vomp adhesins are necessary for infection in vivo by using a vomp null mutant. It first was necessary to develop a system to generate in-frame deletions of defined genes by allelic exchange in a wild-type Bartonella background, which had not been achieved previously. We utilized sacB negative selection to generate a targeted, in-frame, markerless deletion of the entire vomp locus in B. quintana. We also recently developed the first animal model for B. quintana infection, and using this model, we demonstrate here that the deletion of the entire vomp locus, but not the deletion of two vomp genes, results in a null mutant strain that is incapable of establishing bloodstream infection in vivo. The Vomp adhesins therefore represent critical virulence factors in vivo, warranting further study. Finally, our allelic exchange strategy provides an important advance in the genetic manipulation of all Bartonella species and, combined with the animal model that recapitulates human disease, will facilitate pathogenesis studies of B. quintana.
Skew-Tolerant Gray Codes

We consider a particular family of Gray codes having the property that codewords c-i and c-i+2 differ in a burst of length exactly two. These codes can be applied in the servo track-identification field to identify the correct track during seeks. We call these codes skew-tolerant Gray codes (STGC) and we present explicit constructions.
Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on cognitive function and quality of life: the DHEA and Well-Ness (DAWN) Trial.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS) are the most abundantly found steroid hormones circulating in the human body.1 Levels of DHEA peak between the ages of 20 and 30 and then decline progressively with age.1 Perimenopausal women have only approximately 50% of peak DHEA levels, and that amount declines to approximately 20% once an individual reaches 70.1. Several lines of evidence suggest that DHEA supplementation may have beneficial effects. Laboratory studies show that DHEA supplementation is associated with improved learning and memory in aged mice and rats (see2). Epidemiological studies in humans generally report that higher serum DHEA levels are associated with feelings of well-being,3 better cognitive function,4 and improvement over time in long-term memory,5 whereas lower DHEA levels are associated with depressed mood, lower life satisfaction, and poorer cognitive function.6–9 Early, open-label clinical trials reported improvement in libido, well-being, mood, and verbal memory after DHEA treatment.10–12. In contrast, the few previous double-blind clinical trials examining the effects of DHEA supplementation on cognitive function and aspects of well-being yield inconsistent results. Although some clinical trials report improvement in memory,13,14 others show no differences in cognitive function between the treatment and placebo groups after 2 weeks to 4 months of supplementation with DHEAS,9,15–18 and a few have noted negative effects.14,19 For instance, a study of 75 elderly men and women supplemented with 50mg of DHEA for 2 weeks found that, although attention was enhanced in the DHEA group, recall of previously learned material was impaired.14 Clinical trials examining outcomes related to quality of life, including mood and libido, also show mixed results, with some reporting positive effects13,18,20 and others reporting no effects9,16,17 of DHEA supplements. However, most previous clinical trials were of short duration, used small sample sizes, and did not include older men and women who were at an age when memory loss and cognitive impairment become more apparent. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 50 mg daily oral DHEA replacement for 1 year on cognitive function and quality of life, including life satisfaction, mood, and sexuality, in healthy older adults not selected for lower levels of DHEA.
Lumbar spondylolysis without spondylolisthesis: recognition of isolated posterior element subluxation on sagittal MR

PURPOSE: To document the occurrence of isolated dorsal subluxation of posterior elements in cases of lumbar spondylolysis without spondylolisthesis both quantitatively (using spinal canal measurements) and qualitatively (by visual inspection) on sagittal MR images. METHODS: Retrospective analysis identified 63 patients with lumbar spondylolysis (confirmed by CT or conventional radiography) who had undergone MR imaging. From these we identified 12 patients with pars interarticularis defects but no evidence of spondylolisthesis. Measurements of anteroposterior spinal canal diameters were performed in these 12 patients to ascertain whether the sagittal canal diameter at the level of the spondylolysis exceeded the normal range as determined from 100 control subjects. RESULTS: In 9 of 12 patients the spinal canal was abnormally widened at the level of the spondylolysis because of dorsal subluxation of posterior elements. In 5 of these patients, the subluxation was readily visible on midline sagittal MR images. In 4 patients, spinal canal measurements were necessary to document this phenomenon. CONCLUSION: In the majority of patients with spondylolysis but without spondylolisthesis, sagittal MR images can show isolated dorsal subluxation of posterior spinal elements.
A square root merit function for Canonical Correlation Analysis

Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) is a well-known technique in multivariate statistical analysis, which has been widely used in economics, meteorology, and in many modern information processing fields. This paper proposes many dynamical systems for computing canonical correlations and canonical variates. These systems are shown to converge to the actual components rather than to a subspace spanned by these components. Qualitative properties of the proposed systems are analyzed in detail including the limit of solutions as time approaches infinity. Convergence is illustrated by a numerical example.
Calibration of a Miniature Cone Penetrometer for Highway Applications

The electronic cone penetrometer is an important in situ investigation tool of choice for site characterization. Application of this proven concept of the cone penetration test (CPT) to highway design and construction control by miniaturization is described. A miniature cone penetrometer with a projected cone area of 2 cm2 has been developed and implemented in a continuous intrusion miniature cone penetration test system (CIMCPT). This device may be used for rapid, accurate, and economical characterization of sites and to determine engineering soil parameters needed in the design of pavements, embankments, and earth structures. The miniature cone penetration test (MCPT) gives finer details than the standard 10-cm2 cross-sectional area reference cone penetrometer. This makes the MCPT attractive for subgrade characterization, quality-control assessment, compaction control of embankments, and assessment of ground improvement effectiveness for transportation infrastructure. In situ calibration of the CIMCPT s...
Centenarian middle cerebral artery occlusion treated with intra-arterial mechanical embolectomy

Advanced age, arbitrarily defined as over 80 years, has been an exclusion criterion in many clinical trials for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The oldest person, to our knowledge, treated for acute ischemic stroke with intra-arterial therapy is presented and, importantly, this patient was excluded from intravenous tissue plasminogen activator due to an advanced age of 100 years and arrival in our emergency department within the 3-4.5 h time window. Utilizing an MRI based protocol to assess the risk-benefit ratio, treatment by intra-arterial mechanical embolectomy was commenced resulting in middle cerebral artery recanalization at 6 h 30 min. The patient improved, and ultimately returned to a baseline modified Rankin Scale score of 3. With careful selection, elderly patients may benefit from acute stroke therapies and may be considered on a case by case basis.
Inhibition of SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell proliferation by a C-terminal p21 fragment attached to thermally responsive Bac-7-ELP1

4909 Current treatment of solid tumors is limited by normal tissue tolerance and inherent tumor radio or chemo-resistance, resulting in a narrow therapeutic index. To overcome some of these limitations, it is necessary to consider alternative targeted therapeutic approaches for localized tumors that increase the specificity and efficacy and reduce the cytotoxicity in normal tissues. In order to minimize nonspecific toxicity, we developed thermally responsive polypeptide inhibitors of the cell cycle, which can be targeted to the tumor site by applying local hyperthermia and inhibit proliferation of cancer cells. The design of this thermally responsive polypeptide is based on elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), which is soluble in aqueous solution below physiological temperature 37 °C, but aggregates when the temperature is raised above 41 °C. Uptake of therapeutic macromolecules such as ELP into live eukaryotic cells is hindered by the lipophilic nature of the plasma membrane. One approach for delivering macromolecules or proteins into the target cells is to couple them to cell penetrating peptides (CPP). Therefore, we used a small CPP, Bac-7, fused to the thermally responsive elastin like polypeptide (ELP). The coding sequence for ELP was also modified by the addition of a small therapeutic peptide derived from p21, which acts as a cyclin-CDK inhibitor. The designed polypeptide (Bac-ELP1-p21) was then expressed and purified from E. coli . While 1 hour incubation with Bac-ELP1-p21 at 37 o C did not have any effect on SKOV-3 cell proliferation, use of hyperthermia inhibited the total cell number and cell proliferation rate by 80%. 24 hours after cell treatment, Bac-ELP1-p21 displayed a nuclear distribution and induced temperature dependent caspase activation. Cell cycle analysis revealed S and G2/M phase accumulation at the expense of G1 phase in cells treated at 42 o C as compared to 37 o C. Cell cycle inhibition was accompanied by a decrease in Rb phosphorylation levels in cells treated at 42 o C as compared to treatment at 37 o C, as confirmed by Western blot. In summary, we have shown that Bac-ELP1-p21 inhibits cell proliferation in response to hyperthermia, indicating that it has great potential as a thermally responsive targeted therapeutic.
Reproductive cycle of the Namaqua sand lizard, Pedioplanis namaquensis (Squamata: Lacertidae), from southern Africa

The reproductive cycle of the Namaqua sand lizard, Pedioplanis namaquensis, from southern Africa is described from histological examination of gonadal material from museum specimens. Males followed a seasonal testicular cycle in which sperm was produced in January–March and September–December. Testes in regression were present in March and May. Females with enlarged ovarian follicles (>4 mm length) or oviductal eggs were collected between November and February. Clutch size for 14 females was 3.8 ± 0.97 S.D. eggs, range 3–5. Histological evidence is presented that two clutches may be produced in the same reproductive season.
Investigation of woven composites as potential cryogenic tank materials

Abstract In this paper, carbon fiber and Kevlar® fiber woven composites were investigated as potential cryogenic tank materials for storing liquid fuel in spacecraft or rocket. Towards that end, both carbon and Kevlar® fiber composites were manufactured and tested with and without cryogenic exposure. The focus was on the investigation of the influence of initial cryogenic exposure on the degradation of the composite. Tensile, flexural and inter laminar shear strength (ILSS) tests were conducted, which indicate that Kevlar® and carbon textile composites are potential candidates for use under cryogenic exposure.
Quantitative Determination of Copper in Natural Rubber

Abstract A procedure is recommended in which small amounts of copper in rubber can be measured quantitatively by determining the depth of color of a copper carbamate complex in a carbon tetrachloride solution. The complex is formed in an alkaline solution prepared from an acid extract of the rubber ashed at 550° C. This procedure yields results which are as reliable as those obtained by the more tedious and time-consuming procedures involving the wet-oxidation process which are at present recommended by standardizing organizations. The use of an organic solution rather than an aqueous suspension gives better reproducibility, permits easier use of a photometer, and reduces the interference due to iron by a factor of ten.
Why Insist on the Surrender of Ratko Mladic

This article argues that the European Union is mistaken to link accession negotiations with Serbia to the arrest of Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb general accused of war crimes. There are advantages to not insisting on arrest: Negotiated reforms could begin in earnest, and might make Serbs eventually turn their backs on Mladic and what he represents. But instead of having an open-eyed debate about the benefits and costs of arrest, Europe is making three lazy assumptions about the role of international justice in transforming societies. The first is that arresting a war criminal is a small price to pay for integration. But while linkage might speed Mladic's arrest, it also risks backlash. Is Mladic's arrest worth endangering the integration of 8 million people in a region that badly needs stability? The second assumption: Mladic's arrest is necessary to prove that Serbia is serious about transforming. But is extracting Mladic under pressure going to change Serbian values? The EU should ask if a deeply brutalized society like Serbia's is a worthy partner for integration, regardless of the disposition of one war criminal. A third assumption underlies the other two: that Europe's demands are natural and uncontroversial. In fact, Europe's demands are discretionary, and denying this stifles debate about real costs. Mladic's arrest is controversial in a Serbia otherwise eager to integrate. Serbia's integration into Europe is vital, and that is precisely why Europe needs a rational debate about what it should and should not ask of Serbia.
INTRA-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS: A TRIP THROUGH NEVERLAND

Intra-operative complications vary from extremely benign such as glenoid vault penetration to life and limb threatening for example brachial artery injury. Most intra-operative complications can be avoided with careful pre-operative planning, anticipation, and execution. However, even the best planning and execution including fluoroscopic guided reaming cannot prevent all complications. The following intra-operative complications will be discussed in detail in regards to both prevention and management: Glenoid vault penetration, Glenoid component malposition - reverse and primary, Glenoid fracture - reverse and primary, Humeral component malposition - reverse and primary, and Humeral fracture - reverse and primary.
Management of Analgesia Through Multiple Phases of Trauma

Managing the pain in a patient with traumatic injuries can be a delicate and difficult task. In the acute phase the options for pain control are often limited to opioids, which must be administered cautiously as to not further disrupt the homeostasis of an already fragile patient. Careful management of sedation during this period is also crucial to patient comfort and stability. In the recovery phase, a multimodal approach to pain control is preferred, utilizing opioid and non-opioid medications, regional and neuraxial blocks if appropriate, and other treatments to help limit the patient’s discomfort. Multimodal therapy may also more effectively prevent long-term sequelae including conversion to a chronic pain syndrome and opioid dependence and abuse.
Coexistence of spin density waves and superconductivity in (TMTSF)2PF6.

We present simultaneous measurements of angular-dependent magnetoresistance and thermopower along all three crystal axes in ${(\mathrm{TMTSF})}_{2}{\mathrm{PF}}_{6}$ for pressures to 7.4 kbar and magnetic fields to 35 T. ${(\mathrm{TMTSF})}_{2}{\mathrm{PF}}_{6}$ under pressure shows the coexistence of spin density wave and metal-superconducting orders. We suggest that this coexistence results neither in microscopic coexistence nor in a new soliton wall phase, contrary to previous suggestions, but in phase separation into domains of the high-pressure metal and the low-pressure spin density wave phases. Simultaneous measurement of transport along all crystal axes allows us to unambiguously describe the domain structure, whereas the superconducting transition temperature and four independent Fermi surface-sensitive magnetoresistance signatures allow us to unambiguously characterize the coexisting metallic domains.
Impact of communication between physicians and dentists on the incidence of jaw osteonecrosis caused by bone anti-resorptives

A common African proverb states that “when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”. It means that the foot stamping that goes on back and forth between the fighting animals will destroy ...
Multiple Forms of Stress in Refugee and Immigrant Children

The effects of genocidal warfare reverberate long after the bloodshed has stopped. This article focuses on one aspect of the after-math of war and violence: the transformation of families and children into refugees and immigrants.
Endothelin-1 conversion and receptor characterization in human placental arteries

Endothelin-1-(1-21), a potent pressor peptide, is transcribed as big endothelin-(1-38) and converted to active peptide by endothelin-converting enzyme. The current investigation tested the hypothesis that human fetoplacental blood vessels convert big endothelin-1 to active peptide and that fetoplacental blood vessels respond to endothelin-1 by binding of the peptide to specific receptor sites. In the isolated perfused placental cotyledon the addition of big endothelin-1 to the perfusate caused a time-dependent increase in perfusion pressure that corresponded to the appearance of endothelin-1 in the perfusate. The properties of human placental endothelin-1 receptors were defined in binding studies performed on a plasma membrane fraction of small arteries ( endothelin-3 = sarafotoxin S6b >> big endothelin-1 (human) = big endothelin-1 (porcine)] is most consistent with a type A endothelin receptor subtype. Phenylephrine, bradykinin, norepinephrine, atrial natriuretic factor, diltiazem, U-46619, and angiotensin II did not displace 125I-endothelin-1 binding. Endothelin receptors were shown to have an approximate molecular weight of 36,600 by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
To Examine the Pattern and Composition of Woman Labour Employed in Latur District

In this paper an attempt has been made to study the pattern and composition of woman labourer employed. The present study conducted in Latur district from Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. 60 women labourers were selected from 10 villages of two blocks for the study. The result revealed that the labourers got maximum number of days of employment in harvesting (52.17 days) which accounted for 24.92 per cent of total days employed in a year in agriculture, followed by weeding (49.08 days) which accounted for 23.44 per cent of total days employed in a year in agriculture, sowing (31.39 days), threshing and winnowing (26.48 days), application of fertilizers (21.68 days), Stubble collection (15.07 days), Thinning and gap filling (13.5 days). The women labourers did the operations mostly by hand. They received wages in cash for all operations except harvest and post harvest operations.
Grammatical Inference and Machine Learning Approaches to Post-Hoc LangSec

Formal Language Theory for Security (LangSec) applies the tools of theoretical computer science to the problem of protocol design and analysis. In practice, most results have focused on protocol design, showing that by restricting the complexity of protocols it is possible to design parsers with desirable and formally verifiable properties, such as correctness and equivalence. When we consider existing protocols, however, many of these were not subjected to formal analysis during their design, and many are not implemented in a manner consistent with their formal documentation. Determining a grammar for such protocols is the first step in analyzing them, which places this problem in the domain of grammatical inference, for which a deep theoretical literature exists. In particular, although it has been shown that the higher level categories of the Chomsky hierarchy cannot be generically learned, it is also known that certain subcategories of that hierarchy can be effectively learned. In this paper, we summarize some theoretical results for inferring well-known Chomsky grammars, with special attention to context-free grammars (CFGs) and their generated languages (CFLs). We then demonstrate that, despite negative learnability results in the theoretical regime, we can use long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, a type of recurrent neural network (RNN) architecture, to learn a grammar for URIs that appear in Apache HTTP access logs for a particular server with high accuracy. We discuss these results in the context of grammatical inference, and suggest avenues for further research into learnability of a subgroup of the context-free grammars.
Decreased Risk of Radiation Pneumonitis With Coincident Concurrent Use of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors in Patients Receiving Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) have demonstrated decreased rates of radiation-induced lung injury in animal models and clinical reports have demonstrated decreased pneumonitis in the setting of conventionally fractionated radiation to the lung. We tested the role of ACEi in diminishing rates of symptomatic (grade ≥2) pneumonitis in the setting of lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). We analyzed patients treated with thoracic SBRT to 48 to 60 Gy in 4 to 5 fractions from 2006 to 2014. We reviewed pretreatment and posttreatment medication profiles to document use of ACEi, angiotensin receptor blockers, bronchodilators, aspirin, PDE-5 inhibitors, nitrates, and endothelin receptor antagonists. Pneumonitis was graded posttreatment based on Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed and time to development of pneumonitis was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 189 patients were evaluated with a median follow-up of 24.8 months. The overall 1-year rate of symptomatic pneumonitis was 13.2%. The 1-year rate of symptomatic pneumonitis was 4.2% for ACEi users versus 16.3% in nonusers (P=0.03). On univariate analysis, the odds of developing grade 2 or greater pneumonitis were significantly lower for patients on ACEi (P=0.03). On multivariate analysis, after controlling for clinicopathologic characteristics and dosimetric endpoints, there was a significant association between ACEi use and decreased risk of clinical pneumonitis (P=0.04). Angiotensin receptor blockers or other bronchoactive medications did not show significant associations with development of pneumonitis. Incidental concurrent use of ACEi demonstrated efficacy in diminishing rates of symptomatic pneumonitis in the setting of lung SBRT.
De Facto Sovereignty and Population Displacement as Tools of Conflict

Two largely debated questions in the realm of international relations are the roles of post-Cold War Russia and China within the current global context. However, the debates in the literature fails to take into account the fact that both superpowers employ the same tactic: the asymmetrical conquest of new territory as promoted by historical claims, retroactively justified through population displacement. Subsequently, debates on the topic mistakenly focus on elite motivations rather than what can be controlled: the responses of the international community to the abovementioned tactics. I will document why mainly Russia but also China have opted to use the tactic of territorial conquest and demonstrate how the international community has tacitly promoted the use of this tactic. I will ultimately argue that there is a need to create international standards for sovereignty and that a move from inactive conflict avoidance to active conflict resolution is necessary.
Alignment of World Language Standards and Assessments: A Multiple Case Study

Previous research has examined world language classroom-based assessment practices as well as the impact of the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century (National Standards in Foreign Language Education Project, 1999) on practice. However, the extent to which K–12 teachers’ assessment practices reflect national and state standards has not been made clear. This article presents a multiple case study examining how the classroom-based assessments used by four secondary world language teachers provided insight into students’ progress toward achieving the competencies that are specified by Ohio's Learning Standards for 9–12 World Language Programs and the five goal areas as they were described in the 1999 version of the nationally accepted standards framework. Qualitative analysis of assessment artifacts and interview transcripts showed that assessments principally targeted presentational writing and interpretive reading and that some assessments did not directly align with any of the goals or standards. Findings provide continuing evidence to support the results of the Standards Impact Survey (ACTFL, 2011) and have implications for world language teachers’ professional development needs and the role of standards in world language education.
Role of film stoichiometry and interface quality in the performance of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 tunable capacitors with high figures of merit

Parallel plate capacitors with quality factors exceeding 1000 were fabricated using Ba0.3Sr0.7TiO3 (BST) thin films grown by hybrid molecular beam epitaxy on epitaxial Pt bottom electrodes. The influence of film stoichiometry was investigated by varying the (Ba + Sr)/Ti ratio around the stoichiometric composition. The quality factor is highest for stoichiometric films, but (Ba + Sr)-rich films can be biased to higher fields. Furthermore, two different processes were used to deposit the top electrodes of the parallel plate capacitors. While the quality of the top contact/BST interface did not strongly affect the device quality factor, an enhancement in the dielectric tunability was seen for capacitors with top electrodes deposited at high temperatures, which effectively removes interfacial contamination layers.
Spatiotemporal exposure modeling of ambient erythemal ultraviolet radiation.

Ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation plays a multifaceted role in human health, inducing DNA damage and representing the primary source of vitamin D for most humans; however, current U.S. UV exposure models are limited in spatial, temporal, and/or spectral resolution. Area-to-point (ATP) residual kriging is a geostatistical method that can be used to create a spatiotemporal exposure model by downscaling from an area- to point-level spatial resolution using fine-scale ancillary data. A stratified ATP residual kriging approach was used to predict average July noon-time erythemal UV (UVEry) (mW/m2) biennially from 1998 to 2012 by downscaling National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) gridded remote sensing images to a 1 km spatial resolution. Ancillary data were incorporated in random intercept linear mixed-effects regression models. Modeling was performed separately within nine U.S. regions to satisfy stationarity and account for locally varying associations between UVEry and predictors. Cross-validation was used to compare ATP residual kriging models and NASA grids to UV-B Monitoring and Research Program (UVMRP) measurements (gold standard). Predictors included in the final regional models included surface albedo, aerosol optical depth (AOD), cloud cover, dew point, elevation, latitude, ozone, surface incoming shortwave flux, sulfur dioxide (SO2), year, and interactions between year and surface albedo, AOD, cloud cover, dew point, elevation, latitude, and SO2. ATP residual kriging models more accurately estimated UVEry at UVMRP monitoring stations on average compared to NASA grids across the contiguous U.S. (average mean absolute error [MAE] for ATP, NASA: 15.8, 20.3; average root mean square error [RMSE]: 21.3, 25.5). ATP residual kriging was associated with positive percent relative improvements in MAE (0.6–31.5%) and RMSE (3.6–29.4%) across all regions compared to NASA grids. ATP residual kriging incorporating fine-scale spatial predictors can provide more accurate, high-resolution UVEry estimates compared to using NASA grids and can be used in epidemiologic studies examining the health effects of ambient UV.
A103 immunostaining in the diagnosis of adrenal cortical tumors: an immunohistochemical study of 316 cases

c Context.—The monoclonal antibody A103 recognizes an antigen on melanoma cells known as Melan-A or MART-1. Recent studies have shown that A103 also reacts with adrenal cortical cells and may be useful in the diagnosis of adrenal cortical tumors. However, only small numbers of some of the tumors in the differential diagnosis of adrenal cortical neoplasms have been studied. Objective.—To study the specificity of A103 immunohistochemistry in a large number of tumors in the differential diagnosis of adrenal cortical neoplasms. Design.—Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 21 adrenal cortical tumors, 16 cases of metastatic carcinoma to the adrenal, 10 pheochromocytomas, and 269 extra-adrenal carcinomas was evaluated for A103 immunoreactivity using a commercially available antibody (Novocastra, Newcastle, UK). Results.—Positive staining was seen in all of the adrenal cortical tumors but in none of the adrenal metastases or pheochromocytomas. In the 269 extra-adrenal carcinomas, A103 immunoreactivity was limited to a single ovarian serous carcinoma. Conclusion.—A103 immunostaining is useful in distinguishing adrenal cortical neoplasms from other carcinomas and pheochromocytoma. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2002;126:170‐172)
Characterizing global patterns of frozen ground with and without snow cover using microwave and MODIS satellite data products

Abstract How organisms respond to climate change during the winter depends on snow cover, because the subnivium (the insulated and thermally stable area between snowpack and frozen ground) provides a refuge for plants, animals, and microbes. Satellite data characterizing either freeze/thaw cycles or snow cover are both available, but these two types of data have not yet been combined to map the subnivium. Here, we characterized global patterns of frozen ground with and without snow cover to provide a baseline to assess the effects of future winter climate change on organisms that depend on the subnivium. We analyzed two remote sensing datasets: the MODIS Snow Cover product and the NASA MEaSUREs Global Record of Daily Landscape Freeze/Thaw Status dataset derived from SSM/I and SSMIS. From these we developed a new 500-m resolution dataset that captures global patterns of the duration of snow-covered ground ( D ws ) and the duration of snow-free frozen ground ( D wos ) from 2000 to 2012. We also quantified how D ws and D wos vary with latitude. Our results show that both mean and interannual variation in D ws and D wos change with latitude and topography. Mean D ws increases with latitude. Counter-intuitively though, D wos has longest duration at about 33°N, decreasing both northward and southward, even though the duration of frozen ground (either snow covered or not) was shorter than that at higher latitudes. This occurs because snow cover in mid-latitudes is low and ephemeral, leaving longer periods of frozen, snow-free ground. Interannual variation in D ws increased with latitude, but the slopes of this relationship differed among North America, Europe, Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere. Overall, our results show that, for organisms that rely on the subnivium to survive the winter, mid-latitude areas could be functionally colder than either higher or lower latitudes. Furthermore, because interannual variation in D wos is greater at high latitudes, we would expect organisms there to be adapted to unpredictability in exposure to freezing. Ultimately, the effects of climate change on organisms during winter should be considered in the context of the subnivium, when warming could make more northerly areas functionally colder in winter, and changes in annual variation in the duration of snow-free but frozen conditions could lead to greater unpredictability in the onset and end of winter.
Toxicology for the Pediatric Intensivist

The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports over two million cases of poisonings annually with more than 50% of exposures occurring in children less than 5 years of age. Fortunately, most accidental pediatric ingestions are relatively benign with only 2% of children experiencing moderate to severe toxin-related effects. Fatality from poisoning represents only 0.002% of yearly exposures. The mortality rate due to poisonings has decreased due to preventive education, the development of poison control centers, safer childproofing techniques, and improved therapies when toxic ingestions occur.
An evaluation of nivolumab for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Introduction: The treatment paradigm for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has undergone a revolution with the rapid market approval of multiple agents over a three-year period. The immunogeni...