cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global primordialities: virtual identity politics in online Hindutva and online Dalit discourse

This article analyzes the online representations of the identity politics discourse of the elite Hindu nationalist community and the subaltern Dalit community. The assumptions underlying assertions about Hindu and Dalit identity on select Hindu nationalist and Dalit websites are remarkably similar despite deep ideological differences between the two. Developments in the Indian technological and cultural fields in the 1990s have enabled the emergence of a new mode of representing collective identity (‘global primordiality’), which explains the resemblance between online Hindu nationalist and online Dalit discourse. The logic of global primordiality typically finds expression in cyberspace, where the realms of technology and culture intersect. The representational framework of global primordiality is shaped primarily by Hindu nationalists who also occupy a privileged position as elites in the Indian technological field. In its participation in cyberspace, Dalit discourse may tend to mirror this dominant mod...
Study of model order reduction techniques for modeling large finite antenna array

Numerical analysis of wide band large antenna array plays a crucial role in the prediction of design performance prior to construction. Since these arrays mostly are electrically large and include complex geometries, accurate simulation is a great challenge. However, recent developments of domain decomposition method (DDM) [1][2] provides us an efficient way to obtain field solution at each frequency point. However, for many real-life phased array applications, the spectral responses over a wide frequency band are usually needed. For frequency domain CEM approaches, the model order reduction (MORe) techniques are often employed for fast frequency sweep. In this paper, we study a few MORe techniques and apply them for large finite antenna array. Through our numerical studies and plots of pole distributions, we found that the number of expansion points increases significantly with the size of array. By using the current existing MORe method, the costs for modeling electrically large electromagnetic problems are still prohibitive.
Cellular, circuit, and synaptic mechanisms in song learning.

: Songbirds, much like humans, learn their vocal behavior, and must be able to hear both themselves and others to do so. Studies of the brain areas involved in singing and song learning could reveal the underlying neural mechanisms. Here we describe experiments that explore the properties of the songbird anterior forebrain pathway (AFP), a basal ganglia-forebrain circuit known to be critical for song learning and for adult modification of vocal output. First, neural recordings in anesthetized, juvenile birds show that auditory AFP neurons become selectively responsive to the song stimuli that are compared during sensorimotor learning. Individual AFP neurons develop tuning to the bird's own song (BOS), and in many cases to the tutor song as well, even when these stimuli are manipulated to be very different from each other. Such dual selectivity could be useful in the BOS-tutor song comparison critical to song learning. Second, simultaneous neural recordings from the AFP and its target nucleus in the song motor pathway in anesthetized adult birds reveal correlated activity that is preserved through multiple steps of the circuits for song, including the AFP. This suggests that the AFP contains highly functionally interconnected neurons, an architecture that can preserve information about the timing of firing of groups of neurons. Finally, in vitro studies show that recurrent synapses between neurons in the AFP outflow nucleus, which are expected to contribute importantly to AFP correlation, can undergo activity-dependent and timing-sensitive strengthening. This synaptic enhancement appears to be restricted to birds in the sensory critical and early sensorimotor phases of learning. Together, these studies show that the AFP contains cells that reflect learning of both BOS and tutor song, as well as developmentally regulated synaptic and circuit mechanisms well-suited to create temporally organized assemblies of such cells. Such experience-dependent sensorimotor assemblies are likely to be critical to the AFP's role in song learning. Moreover, studies of such mechanisms in this basal ganglia circuit specialized for song may shed light more generally on how basal ganglia circuits function in guiding motor learning using sensory feedback signals.
Synthesis of 3,6-bis(3-azido-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine

The synthesis of 3,6-bis(3-azido-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (3) (BATTz) is described. The physical and explosive sensitivity properties of this material were determined. The heat of formation was measured to be 1376 kJ/mol by combustion calorimetry. Additionally, X-ray crystallography confirmed the structure of this high-nitrogen primary explosive.
Performance Limits of Inhomogeneous Fiber Optic Parametric Amplifiers Operated in Saturated Regime

Performance limits of saturated parametric amplifiers with very high nonlinear figure of merit were investigated. While such devices can be constructed using high confinement fiber, they also require localized phase matching control over hundreds of meters of interaction length. The limit on signal-induced pump depletion imposed by stochastic dispersion fluctuations in physical fibers is studied for a case of high-gain parametric amplifiers. We show that nanometer-scale fluctuations in fiber transverse geometry can lead to qualitatively different saturation characteristics in very efficient parametric devices. In contrast to a pump-undepleted parametric amplifier, an inhomogeneous parametric amplifier operated in saturation regime is found to possess truly nonreciprocal transfer characteristic.
Galois invariance of local root numbers

Using results of Frohlich–Queyrut, Martinet, and Serre, we show that under appropriate hypotheses, the local root number attached to a representation of the Weil–Deligne group is invariant under Galois conjugation of the coefficients of the representation.
Colorectal infantile myofibromatosis: an unusual cause of rectal prolapse and sigmoid colo-colonic intussusception: a case report

Infantile myofibromatosis is a rare mesenchymal disorder of infancy that can extensively involve the viscera including the gastrointestinal tract. In this report, an exceptional case of infantile myofibromatosis is described in which rectal prolapse and sigmoid colo-colonic intussusception were the initial presentations of colorectal involvement in a 2-month-old premature female infant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reporting rectal prolapse and the second case documenting intussusception secondary to gastrointestinal involvement by infantile myofibromatosis.
Comparison of Two Rapid Assays for Clostridium difficile Common Antigen and a C difficile Toxin A/B Assay With the Cell Culture Neutralization Assay

We compared 3 rapid assays for Clostridium difficile with a cell culture cytotoxicity neutralization assay (CCNA). Of 600 stool samples, 46 were positive for toxigenic C difficile. Both rapid common antigen assays were highly sensitive (91.3%-100%) and, therefore, were appropriate screening tests. The rapid toxin assay had poor sensitivity (61%) but excellent specificity (99.3%). Testing stools for glutamate dehydrogenase (step 1) and those positive with a rapid toxin assay (step 2) would correctly classify 81% of submitted specimens within 2 hours, including during periods of limited staffing (evenings, nights, and weekends). CCNA could then be used as a third step to test rapid toxin-negative samples, thereby providing a final result for the remaining 19% of samples by 48 to 72 hours. The use of rapid assays as outlined could enhance timely diagnosis of C difficile.
Effect of Pedestrians on Capacity of Signalized Intersections

In Chapter 9 of the 1994 update to the 1985 Highway Capacity Manual, the operational and planning analysis of signalized intersections is discussed. The methodology for saturation flow rate estimation does not consider all elements of the interaction between pedestrians and turning vehicles. This study describes this interaction for left and right turns using a conflict-zone-occupancy approach. A conflict zone is a portion of an intersection, typically in the crosswalk, in which pedestrians and vehicles compete for space. Conflict-zone occupancy, defined as the fraction of the effective green period during which pedestrians occupy a conflict zone, provides the basis for a rational adjustment to saturation flow. This study details the results of a multiregional data collection effort that confirms the validity of the conflict-zone-occupancy approach. In addition, this study describes the effect of geometric constraints, as reflected in the number of receiving lanes versus the number of turning lanes, on tu...
Community-based monitoring: key to success of national health programs.

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched on April 12, 2005 by the UPA Government with the goal of improving the availability of and access to quality healthcare by people, especially for those residing in rural areas, the poor, women and children. In order to ensure that the services reach those for whom they are meant, the NRHM proposes an intensive accountability framework that includes Community-based Monitoring (CBM) as one of its key strategies.(1) So one of the prerogatives of the Government of India is to assess whether the national health programs under NRHM are able to achieve the targeted goals and meet the timelines. Looking at the quantum of these programs, the existing monitoring systems are inadequate to bring out optimal trend analysis of key performance indicators. Answers to these questions lie in community monitoring through involvement of local beneficiaries.(2) At the moment, the monitoring of Health Programs suffers from numerous setbacks such as no dedicated cell for CBM at state or district level and lack of standardized reference manual for planning and monitoring. Multiplicity of registers and duplication of reports are still a common practice. Voluminous data are collected, which is rarely validated or used in planning. There is a mismatch between routine MIS and survey data. The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution of India (April 1993) reiterates Government attempts to institutionalize CBM in health on a larger scale. Above all it is consistent with the right to health care approach till the grassroot level.(3)
Investor Response to Mutual Fund Policy Variables

The effects of investment performance and macro-economic influences on money flow to individual mutual funds previously have been investigated and found to provide little explanatory power. In this article we investigate an additional category of factors that may logically be thought to affect the flow of money to funds, namely, the fund policy factors over which managers have some degree of control. These are: load/no-load status, sales commission structures, minimum dollar investment levels, and expenses. We establish associations between these factors and new money flows. Several significant relationships are found. Overall, however, the policy variables we investigated explain little of the variability in new money flows. A competitive equilibrium appears to exist such that no single fund attracts new money at disproportionately high rates through its policies. Our results, like those obtained for performance and macro-economic variables, highlight the inability of mutual fund research to date to explain adequately the flow of new money to individual funds.
Predictors of mortality in patients with heart failure and preserved systolic function in the Digitalis Investigation Group trial

Objectives: We identified predictors of mortality in patients with preserved ejection fraction (EF) and clinical heart failure (HF).Background: Although diastolic HF is common, the factors that pre...
Hydromagnetic waves in the interplanetary plasma.

Hydromagnetic wave induced variations in plasma velocity and magnetic field in interplanetary space measured by Mariner II
Optical properties of polymeric materials for concentrator photovoltaic systems

As part of our research on materials for concentrator photovoltaics (CPV), we are evaluating the optical properties and solar radiation durability of a number of polymeric materials with potential in CPV applications. For optical materials in imaging or non-imaging optical systems, detailed knowledge of the wavelength-dependent complex index of refraction is important for system design and performance, yet optical properties for many polymeric systems are not available in the literature. Here we report the index of refraction, optical absorbance, haze, and Urbach edge analysis results of various polymers of interest for CPV systems. These values were derived from ellipsometry and from using a VUV-VASE and transmission based absorbance spectroscopy on thick film samples. Fluoropolymers such as poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (Teflon
Use of the fluorosis risk index in a cohort study: the Iowa fluoride study.

Objectives: Several studies have used the Fluorosis Risk Index (FRI) to assess risk factors for dental fluorosis. This study reports fluorosis prevalence estimates in a birth cohort using the FRI in different ways. Methods: Subjects (n=443) were participants in the Iowa Fluoride Study, a birth cohort study of fluoride exposures and intake, fluorosis, and caries. Early-erupting permanent teeth were assessed for fluorosis using the FRI at approximately age 9. Fluorosis prevalence rates were calculated separately for specific teeth and different combinations of teeth, with varied FRI zones included and using different thresholds. Mean numbers of teeth with fluorosis were calculated. Results: Tooth-specific fluorosis prevalence varied, with maxillary central incisor fluorosis most prevalent and mandibles incisors least affected. Considering three zones of each tooth (cervical zones excluded), 40.6% overall had at least one tooth with mild or more involved fluorosis, 30.2% were questionable fluorosis, and 29.1% had no fluorosis. When only FRI zone I areas were considered, the corresponding percentages were 33.2%, 29.3%, and 37.5%, respectively. When different combinations of teeth were used to define fluorosis cases, the prevalences estimated using three zones were generally 1 to 9 percentage points higher than those estimated from FRI zone I only. Most fluorosis was mild, with only 7 individuals (1.6%) having FRI severe fluorosis. Conclusions: The FRI has advantages for use in analytical epidemiologic studies of dental fluorosis. However, the population prevalence estimates vay, depending on the index and case definition used. Therefore, it is recommended that consideration be given to concurrent use of another index (i.e., TSIF; TE Dean's) if prevalence estimates are an important study outcome.
Wireless security: vulnerabilities and countermeasures

The panel session will cover current issues and problems in wireless security and approaches to dealing with them.
Electronic Commerce Adoption in Australia and New Zealand

This paper presents the findings of research relating to electronic commerce adoption in the Asia-Pacific region (particularly in Australia and New Zealand). A survey questionnaire was used to gather opinions about the current status of electronic commerce in Australian and New Zealand organizations. The joint mail/web survey was conducted between September 1998 and February 1999. The focus of the survey was to investigate potential benefits of electronic commerce, potential barriers and risks in electronic commerce, and expectations regarding evolution of electronic commerce. The findings were compared with data from similar research carried out in Europe around the same time. Based upon the findings of the survey, recommendations for increasing the adoption rate of electronic commerce are presented.
Aging Successfully: The Key to Aging in Place.

In their classic paper, Rowe and Kahn1 proposed a multidimensional understanding of successful aging, which was to a large extent due to genetic factors and a healthy lifestyle. There were 3 major components of successful aging: limited disease-associated disability, high cognitive and physical function, and continued engagement with life. More recently, they have expanded this model to include a greater focus on social factors.2 In our Journal, Young et al3,4 argued that chronic illnesses and disease can coexist with successful aging. At Saint Louis University, we have argued that to distinguish these 2 viewpoints, “aging successfully” should be used to distinguish those older persons who have overcome disease and disability to have a productive third age.5 Artistic examples of this include Grandma Moses, who took up painting miniatures when arthritis prevented her from making quilts; Lee Allen, whose macular degeneration allowed him to create paintings with holes in them; Renoir, who painted with the brush held in a clenched hand when arthritis crippled his fingers; Monet, whose cataracts created modern impressionism; and Matisse, whose arthritis led to his famous paper cutouts. In this issue of the Journal, the European Innovative Partnership provides a definition of active and healthy aging.6 They used theWorld Health Organization’s concept of active and healthy aging as a reasonable goal to which all older persons could aim.7 They propose a variety of domains, including physical, cognitive, psychological, and social well-being, which they propose are dependent on lifelong learning, healthy lifestyles, and a healthy environment (social, economic, and physical). They have suggested that function should be measured by the 36-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0).8 Although they find the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE) satisfactory,9 they favor accelerometry as a means to gauge physical activity. They provide 3 choices of scales that can be used for health-related quality of life. As yet, they have not found suitable scales for measuring socioenvironmental interaction. Importantly, they have provided an innovative spider net approach to reporting the scores for active and health aging.
Characterization of a Bioengineered Chimeric Na+-Nucleoside Transporter

Na+-dependent nucleoside transporters mediate the intracellular uptake of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides. The N1, N2, and N3 Na+-nucleoside transporters differ in substrate selectivity. N1 is purine-selective, N2 is pyrimidine-selective, and N3 is broadly selective. Recently, we created a chimeric transporter, T8, from the cloned rat N1 and N2 transporters. Whereas most chimeric proteins exhibit the characteristics of one of the two parent proteins, limited studies suggested that T8 possesses either a combined substrate selectivity of N1 and N2 or the selectivity of N3. The purpose of this study was to determine the substrate profile, transport mechanisms, and Na+-coupling stoichiometry of T8 and to compare these measurements with those of wild-type N1, N2, and N3. In Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing T8, Na+-dependent uptake of 3H-labeled purine (adenosine, inosine, and guanosine) and pyrimidine nucleosides (uridine, thymidine, and cytidine) was significantly enhanced (3.5–18.6-fold), which suggests that T8 accepts both purine and pyrimidine nucleosides as permeants. T8-mediated uptake of [3H]thymidine was competitively inhibited by inosine, and T8-mediated uptake of [3H]inosine was competitively inhibited by thymidine, which suggests that purine and pyrimidine nucleosides share a common binding site. Base-modified ribo- and 2′-deoxyribonucleosides were potent inhibitors of T8. In contrast, 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine, 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine, and 3′-azidothymidine, which are known inhibitors of N1 or N2, did not inhibit T8-mediated uptake. These data suggest that the substrate profile of T8 is not a combination of those of N1 and N2; rather, it is similar to that of N3. However, the Na+/nucleoside stoichiometric ratio of T8 was determined to be 1, consistent with both N1 and N2 but different from N3.
Hubris and international development: A review of Nina Munk’s The Idealist

In the mid-2000s, Jeffrey Sachs, the Columbia University macroeconomist, famously embarked on a series of village-level interventions in Uganda, Kenya and a number of other locations in his Millennium Villages project. Many of these efforts were multi-pronged investments in a variety of services in agricultural communities, several in chronically arid areas. In The Idealist, the journalist Nina Munk documents these endeavors in a highly accessible book based on years of intense field work with her main protagonist and the project participants and sites themselves (Munk, 2013). Munk is a gifted storyteller, and she embraced a terrific narrative form to tell the story of Sachs and the Millennium Villages. She intersperses coverage of Sachs, who to his credit provided very open access to her, along with the stories of two Millennium Villages staffers, Ahmed Maalim Mohamed and David Siriri, who were intimately involved in project administration in Kenya and Uganda. From their humble upbringings to the rise and fall of their Millennium Villages projects, their stories make the book. She begins Chapter 2:
Chemical Relaxation of Stress in Polyurethan Elastomers

Abstract The chemical stress-behavior of polyester urethan elastomers and a polyether elastomer have been determined through a temperature range of 90° to 130° C. Since both the polyether and poylester had approximately the same rates of stress decay, it was necessary to exclude ester-ester interchange as a reaction mechanism, and to regard the known thermal lability of the urea and urethan groups as indicative of possible sites of network scission. A likely possibility for the weak link is the trisubstituted urea (biuret) cross-linkage.
When You Cannot Run, You Cannot Hide: Romaine Brooks Draws (On) the Past

When a leg injury in the 1930s caused artist Romaine Brooks (1874–1970) to remain bedridden, the result was a written autobiography and a series of drawings that can also be seen as a form of parallel, although unconscious, autobiography. Presenting newly discovered archival information that substantiates rumours about Brooks’ illegitimate child, I argue that these drawings, with their themes of a haunted past, regret, motherhood, and lack of self-determination, and their uterine and foetal imagery, may be read as a new genre of non-textual autobiography having affinities with surrealism.
Design of a 16-element Broadband and High Gain Microstrip Array Antenna

A broadband and high gain 16-element microstrip array antenna working at 6.52 GHz is designed in this paper.The H-shaped aperture-coupled feeding,inserting the air layer technology and cutting down squares at the patch antenna are adopted to achieve wider bandwidths.The antenna array is consisted of double-layered substrates.The anti-phase feeding technique that contributes to suppress the higher order modes and decrease cross-polarization is also applied.A 3D electromagnetic software(Ansoft HFSS) is used to simulate and optimize the antenna.According to simulated and optimized results,antenna array is manufactured.The simulation results show that the impedance bandwidth of the microstrip array antenna is as good as 21.5%(S11≤-10 dB) and the gain is 19.85 dB.And the measured results is that the impedance bandwidth of the microstrip array antenna is as good as 22.5%(S11≤-10 dB) and the gain is 18.8 dB.Therefore,the antenna array with good performance can meet the practical requirements.
Ultrasound-Guided Therapy for Knee and Foot Ganglion Cysts

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided aspiration/injection of ganglion cysts in the lower extremities (knee and foot) that required referral to the radiology department for precise localization. The present study is the first series to describe such results. The study population consisted of 15 patients who had undergone treatment from April 2012 to January 2015. Follow-up was by telephone survey, which was performed at a mean of 15 ± 6 months after treatment. Almost 90% of patients experienced immediate improvement in symptoms (mostly pain), and 77% of these patients had not experienced a recurrence of symptoms at a mean follow-up time of 14 ± 6 months. In conclusion, ultrasound-guided therapy is a safe and potentially effective treatment for most cases of symptomatic lower extremity ganglion cysts.
London calling: Britain, the BBC World Service and the cold war

Alban Webb examines the interrelated nature of politics, foreign relations and information through a study of the BBC World Service during the cold war. Drawn from extensive archival research, he e...
The Nuclear Lamina: From Mechanosensing in Differentiation to Cancer Cell Migration

How cells respond to physical cues in order to meet and withstand the physical demands of their immediate surroundings has been of great interest for many years, with current efforts focused on mechanisms that transduce signals into gene expression. Pathways that mechano-regulate entry of transcription factors into the cell nucleus are emerging, and our most recent studies suggest that mechanical properties of the nucleus itself are actively controlled in response to matrix elasticity in mature, injured, and developing tissue. Here, we discuss the mechano-responsive properties of nuclei as determined by intermediate filament lamin proteins that line the inside of the nuclear envelope and that also impact transcription factor entry and broader epigenetic mechanisms. We summarize signaling pathways that regulate lamin levels and decisions of cell fate in response to matrix mechanics combined with molecular cues. We also discuss recent work that highlights the importance of nuclear mechanics in niche anchorage and cell motility in development, hematopoietic differentiation, and cancer invasion whilst also emphasizing a role in protecting chromatin from stress-induced damage.
Type 1 monoclonal cryoglobulinemia: Clinical presentation and outcomes.

8062Background: Type 1 monoclonal cryoglobulinemia (MoC) is a rare disorder with limited data regarding natural history & response to treatment. Methods: Patients (pts) were identified from an institutional registry & EHR was queried to abstract data on presentation & outcomes. Results: 102 pts with Type 1 MoC were identified from 1990-2015. Median age at diagnosis was 58.9 years (30.9-91.1); 53.9% (n- 55) were male. Median follow up was 3.4 years; 74.5% (n-76) were alive at last follow up. 92.2% (n-94) had an underlying plasma cell or lymphoproliferative disorder: myeloma- 20 (n-14 smoldering), MGUS- 39, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma- 21, lymphoma- 4, CLL/SLL- 5, amyloidosis/other - 5. 87% (n-89) pts were symptomatic. Of these, 72% (n-64) had skin manifestations- purpura n-43, ulcers/gangrene n-35, livedo reticularis n-18; 37% (n-33) had neurological symptoms- peripheral neuropathy n-30, CNS n-3; 28% (n-25) had vasomotor symptoms – Raynaud’s n-22, acrocyanosis n-5; 27% (n-24) had musculoskeletal symptoms & ...
'The Pain I Rise Above': How International Human Rights Can Best Realize the Needs of Persons with Trauma-Related Mental Disabilities

Persons with mental disabilities — and specifically those with trauma-related mental disabilities — must seek to rise above their pain each day, in a world that is not designed to understand or have compassion for their individualized needs. This population is disproportionately traumatized, not only by the existence of their disability, but also by how others treat them. This article explores how international human rights documents — particularly the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) — can be used to realize the rights of dignity, respect, and equality for persons with trauma-related mental disabilities, and how trauma-informed practice, therapeutic jurisprudence, and problem-solving courts can be utilized to ensure the protection of the rights of individuals with trauma-related mental disabilities.
Lactobionic acid enhances the synergistic effect of nisin and thymol against Listeria monocytogenes Scott A in tryptic soy broth and milk.

Abstract Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive opportunistic human pathogen and it remains a significant cause of foodborne illnesses. A variety of natural and synthetic compounds have been studied to inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes in foods. Antimicrobial combinations with synergistic antilisterial properties can reduce the dose of each antimicrobial, which can be further enhanced by chelating compounds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine antilisterial properties of binary or ternary combinations of lactobionic acid (LBA), nisin, and thymol in tryptic soy broth (TSB), 2% reduced-fat milk, and whole milk. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nisin, thymol and LBA was 125 IU/mL, 0.25 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL, respectively. The ternary combination was the most effective in reducing MICs of antimicrobials, with the MIC of nisin, thymol, and LBA being 31.25 IU/mL, 0.0625 mg/mL, and 1.25 mg/mL, respectively. In TSB with 0.6% yeast extract, L. monocytogenes grew in individual or binary antimicrobial treatments of 31.25 IU/mL nisin, 0.0625 mg/mL thymol, and 1.25 mg/mL LBA within 24 h at 32 °C, while it was completely inhibited by the ternary combination. In 2% reduced-fat milk at 21 °C, the ternary combination of nisin, thymol, and LBA at respective concentrations of 250 IU/mL, 2 mg/mL, and 10 mg/mL completely inhibited the bacterium to below the detection limit in 72 h while > 2 log (CFU/mL) bacteria was still detected in all the binary combinations after 120 h. In whole milk, the combination of 500 IU/mL nisin, 2 mg/mL thymol, and 10 mg/mL LBA reduced bacteria to around 2 log (CFU/mL) in 4 h at 21 °C, and no bacterial recovery was observed after 5 d. This study suggested the potential of the ternary combination of nisin, thymol and LBA for food preservation.
The Scoggin Site: a Study in Mckean Typology

The Scoggin Site, an Early Middle Period Bison kill in south-central Wyoming, yielded two distinct stylized projectile point varieties from the one bone layer present. This single component affords...
Stones and Bones: Catholic Responses to the 1812 Collapse of the Mission Church of Capistrano

AbstractThis essay delves into the 1812 collapse of the Great Stone Church at California’s Mission of San Juan Capistrano and its aftermath to consider how early modern Catholics in the greater Iberian world approached the material remains of ruined churches that contained human victims. Questions explored include how Franciscan missionaries reported and reacted to the calamity, why the casualties were disproportionately Indian and female, and what survivors did with the physical remnants of broken churches. Churches that collapsed on worshippers in Arequipa, Cuzco, Lima and Lisbon prior to 1812 are mustered for comparison. Overall, a pattern emerges of Catholics separating stone from bone in these tragic situations.
Optimizing energy consumption in GPUS through feedback-driven CTA scheduling

Emerging GPU architectures offer a cost-effective computing platform by providing thousands of energy-efficient compute cores and high bandwidth memory that facilitate the execution of highly parallel applications. In this paper, we show that different applications, and in fact different kernels from the same application might exhibit significantly varying utilizations of compute and memory resources. In order to improve the energy efficiency of the GPU system, we propose a run-time characterization strategy that classifies kernels as compute- or memory-intensive based on their resource utilizations. Using this knowledge, our proposed mechanism employs core shut-down technique for memory-intensive kernels in order to manage energy in a more efficient way. This strategy uses performance and memory bandwidth utilization information to determine the ideal hardware configuration at run-time. The proposed technique saves on average 21% of total chip energy for memory-intensive applications, which is within 8% of the optimal saving that can be obtained from an oracle scheme.
Aprendizagem ativa na formação continuada docente: relatos de experiências

This report presents some experiences concerning the application of approaches based on active learning, with emphasis on collaborative methods in a professional development course for teachers. Entitled “The Active Learning Workshop: The Finnish experience of student-centered education” was the development project outcome of the final phase required by the "VET Teachers for the Future - Professional Development Certificate - Cohort III" course at HAMK (University of Applied Sciences) in the city of Hameenlinna in Finland, which took place during three months in 2016. It was possible to realize during this pilot workshop, that the proposed model was well accepted by the students and that it brought concrete learning results. These results encouraged teachers to offer other workshops.
Interference and backbone sensor network

Conservation of battery power is one of the most critical issues in sensor network research. When thousands of sensor nodes are deployed for environmental monitoring or similar applications, it is not feasible to replace the battery attached to the nodes. For this reason, algorithms used in sensor network must be designed so that the nodes consume as little power as possible. In this paper, battery power consumption issue is addressed from the perspective of interference. It has been established that a sensor network with reduced interference property tend to draw smaller amount of battery power. We propose a technique of extracting backbone network from a given topological network so that the extracted network is connected and possesses reduced interference property. We develop a centralized algorithm for extracting the backbone network and describe an approach for converting the algorithm into a distributed version. Finally, we present an experimental investigation of the proposed technique.
Hyponatremia in Heart Failure and Ventricular Assist Device Patients

Hyponatremia is commonly seen in heart failure (HF) patients and is a poor prognostic marker of HF mortality. The more severe the hyponatremia, the greater the association with poor outcomes. Although hyponatremia can be caused by multiple mechanisms, in HF patients the hyponatremia is most commonly categorized as hypo-osmolal hyponatremia with hypervolemia. The pathogenesis of hyponatremia in HF is due to cardiac dysfunction which results in a reduced glomerular filtration rate and an increase in vasopressin (ADH) secretion. Most HF patients with hyponatremia are asymptomatic and can be managed by limiting water intake and using diuretics. However if the plasma sodium level is <125 mEq/L or if symptoms of hyponatremia are present, then more active management of this electrolyte abnormality is necessary. Diuretics are the principal treatment for both hyponatremia and HF since they result in hypotonic fluid losses. Recently, selective and nonselective vasopressin antagonists have become available. However, despite demonstrated efficacy in producing a water diuresis and a correction of hyponatremia, vasopressin antagonists are not commonly used in HF patients. Vasopression antagonists have not been shown to affect mortality, have some potentially serious adverse reactions, and are costly.
Single-Image Footstep Prediction for Versatile Legged Locomotion

Walking and climbing robots need to plan longterm routes on both horizontal and vertical terrain, but onboard sensors take images from vantage points that provide strongly foreshortened images that cause the appearance of terrain features to vary greatly by distance and viewing angle. This paper presents a convolutional neural network (CNN) method for predicting valid handhold and foothold locations from single RGB+D images taken at arbitrary tilt angles. Experiments show that the method predicts holds more accurately than comparable learning techniques, and that a route planner based on these predictions generates plausible plans for flat ground, stairs, and walls in rock climbing gyms.
“Wherever We Would Go, We Would Be Together” The Challenges for Queer Refugee Couples Claiming Joint Asylum in Canada

Scholars note that immigration in North America and Western Europe has been heavily regulated by heteronormative and patriarchal norms which have historically denied immigration to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) couples. While the research regarding how LGBTQ individuals navigate the immigration process in Canada has increased, there remains little investigation into the asylum experiences of LGBTQ couples who file jointly. This is a serious oversight, as a significant number of asylum claims are joint claims by LGBTQ refugee couples. This chapter questions the reasoning behind the challenges to queer refugee couples’ claims during the migration and asylum process and argues that it is the intersection of gender and sexuality behind the vulnerability of queer asylum claimants both within their countries of origin and when they are seeking asylum. The chapter focuses on narratives of two queer refugee couples who made joint claims in Vancouver, British Columbia. I follow their experiences prior to migrating to Canada through their asylum hearing. Their stories reveal underlying heteronormative and culturally-biased institutional and social barriers LGBTQ refugee couples face in escaping persecution and having both their relationships and need for asylum recognized by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
Long-term ventilation in children

Abstract Long-term ventilation (LTV) is now an accepted treatment for children with a wide variety of conditions. Respiratory support can be delivered via a mask or a tracheostomy and can range from CPAP to treat obstructive sleep apnoea, to 24 hour a day sophisticated invasive ventilation. Patient numbers are increasing out of proportion to population growth, suggesting that more children are being supported due to changes in societal expectation, improved survival in PICU, and the availability of more advanced ventilators. LTV can enable a child with a complex medical condition to thrive at home surrounded by their family and ultimately be liberated from ventilation as they grow. Alternatively, it can represent a lifelong burden of increasing dependency, accumulating co-morbidities and vanishing independence. In this review the indications for LTV, the processes required to achieve successful discharge, and the outcome for children receiving this treatment are discussed. Future directions for LTV services are also considered.
Surgical Management of Deep-Seated Metastatic Brain Tumors Using Minimally Invasive Approaches

Background and Study Aims/Objective Metastatic brain tumors are the most common type of adult brain tumors. Treatment involves surgery and/or radiation therapy. Surgery is typically reserved for patients with good neurologic function, solitary and accessible lesions, symptomatic lesions, and/or those with good systemic control of their primary cancer. Deep-seated lesions, however, are typically treated with palliative options including radiation and medical therapies. We summarize our personal experience with minimally invasive surgical approaches for these deep-seated metastatic brain tumors using tubular retractors with exoscopic visualization. Material and Methods Patients with deep-seated metastatic brain tumors who were operated on from January 2016 to December 2017 by the senior author were collected prospectively. “Deep seated” was defined as any subcortical location below the deepest adjacent sulcus in close proximity to the basal ganglia and/or thalamus. “Minimally invasive” was defined as the use of tubular retractors with exoscopic visualization. Results A total of 15 consecutive patients with an average ± standard deviation age of 63 ± 12 years underwent surgical resection of a deep-seated metastasis. The tumor was located in the centrum semiovale in seven (47%) (3 corticospinal tract, 2 superior longitudinal fasciculus, 1 visual tract, 1 inferior frontal occipital fasciculus), basal ganglia in three (20%), thalamus in two (13%), and cerebellum in three (20%). Median percentage resection was 100% (interquartile range:100–100%), and, following surgery, seven (47%), seven (47%), and one (7%) had an improved, stable, and worse Karnofsky Performance Score, respectively. No patients had notable local complications including stroke, infection, hemorrhage, and/or seizure. All patients underwent postoperative stereotactic radiosurgery. Conclusion This minimally invasive approach can be used to achieve extensive resection with minimal morbidity for arguably the highest risk metastatic brain tumors.
Acute dietary nitrate does not reduce resting metabolic rate or oxidative stress marker 8-isoprostane in healthy males and females.

AbstractTo investigate changes in resting metabolic rate and 8-isoprostane, an oxidative stress biomarker, following acute dietary nitrate supplementation in healthy males and females. In a randomi...
Selective Mapping:Implementation of PAPR Reduction Technique in OFDM on SDR Platform

This paper presents an implementation of Selective mapping technique for Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) reduction in orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) on Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform. OFDM is a multicarrier modulation scheme which supports high data rate transmission. High PAPR in OFDM is responsible for distortion of signal. Our interest is in implementation of PAPR reduction techniques in OFDM on SDR platform using MATLAB and XILINX. We compare the results of MATLAB and XILINX to ensure the specific reduction in PAPR on SDR platform.
A randomized, double‐blind, single‐dose, three‐arm, parallel group study to determine pharmacokinetic similarity of ABP 959 and eculizumab (Soliris®) in healthy male subjects

Objectives ABP 959 is a proposed biosimilar to eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the human C5 complement protein. The objective of this randomized, double-blind, three-arm, study was to demonstrate pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) similarity of ABP 959 relative to the eculizumab reference product (RP) in healthy adult male subjects. Methods Eligible subjects aged 18-45 years were randomized to receive a 300-mg IV infusion of ABP 959, or FDA-licensed eculizumab (eculizumab US), or EU-authorized eculizumab (eculizumab EU). Primary PK endpoint was area under the total serum concentration-time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC0-∞ ); primary PD endpoint was area between the effect curve (ABEC) of CH50-time data. Results The geometric mean of PK and PD parameters were similar between ABP 959 versus eculizumab US and eculizumab EU; PK and PD similarity was established based on 90% confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratio being within prespecified equivalence margin of 0.8 and 1.25. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar across groups. The incidence of binding anti-drug antibodies was similar across treatments; no subjects developed neutralizing antibodies. Conclusions This study demonstrated PK and PD similarity of ABP 959 to eculizumab RP; safety and immunogenicity profiles were also similar.
Solving the Potential Conflict: High Seas Marine Protected Areas and Sovereign Rights Over the Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles

Despite representing more than 60% of Earth’s oceans, and hosting a substantial part of its biodiversity, marine areas beyond national jurisdiction remain largely unprotected. Consequently, the discussions on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in these areas have become the focus of the international community over the past decade. As a result, the United Nations General Assembly decided to convene an intergovernmental conference to elaborate the text of an international legally binding instrument, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. During the discussions leading to this decision, the advent of potential conflicts between the sovereign rights connected to the continental shelf beyond 200 nm and the protective measures applied in Marine Protected Areas established in the High Seas, was expressed as one of the pressing concerns. Therefore, it is feared that such concerns will somehow deter these States from expressing their consent to be bound by the agreement in the end. This chapter aims to analyse the aforementioned potential conflict and, through such an analysis, push the work of the intergovernmental conference forward by providing a possible legal framework to prevent said conflict from having undesired results.
Image Guidance for Frameless Radiosurgery Including Surface Mapping

This chapter describes recent advancements in image guidance and optical surface mapping that have made frameless cranial radiosurgery feasible. A clinical case is first briefly discussed to demonstrate the need to develop a flexible frameless radiosurgery technique, followed by a general background of cranial radiosurgery. The frameless radiosurgery technique is described, including the patient immobilization system, various image guidance systems with emphasis on optical surface imaging for real-time pre-setup patient alignment and on-treatment motion monitoring, and the need for staff training and credentialing. The accuracies of these systems are discussed to demonstrate that the frameless radiosurgery can achieve adequate spatial accuracy with improved patient comfort, enhanced capability, and additional clinical flexibility. Finally, some clinical recommendations and future directions are provided based on our clinical experience with image-guided frameless radiosurgery.
Detecting rare haplotypes associated with complex diseases using both population and family data: Combined logistic Bayesian Lasso:

Haplotype-based association methods have been developed to understand the genetic architecture of complex diseases. Compared to single-variant-based methods, haplotype methods are thought to be more biologically relevant, since there are typically multiple non-independent genetic variants involved in complex diseases, and the use of haplotypes implicitly accounts for non-independence caused by linkage disequilibrium. In recent years, with the focus moving from common to rare variants, haplotype-based methods have also evolved accordingly to uncover the roles of rare haplotypes. One particular approach is regularization-based, with the use of Bayesian least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) as an example. This type of methods has been developed for either case-control population data (the logistic Bayesian Lasso (LBL)) or family data (family-triad-based logistic Bayesian Lasso (famLBL)). In some situations, both family data and case-control data are available; therefore, it would be a waste of resources if only one of them could be analyzed. To make full usage of available data to increase power, we propose a unified approach that can combine both case-control and family data (combined logistic Bayesian Lasso (cLBL)). Through simulations, we characterized the performance of cLBL and showed the advantage of cLBL over existing methods. We further applied cLBL to the Framingham Heart Study data to demonstrate its utility in real data applications.