cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vaginal immunity in the HSV-2 mouse model

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted pathogen that infects the genital tract. Efforts to develop vaccines to protect women against this and other sexually transmitted pathogens would be facilitated by a better understanding of the immune mechanisms that protect the female reproductive tract against such infections. Such information would be invaluable in developing vaccine strategies to promote the type and magnitude of immune responses in the genital tract that would effectively protect against infection. This review focuses on recent studies using a progestin-treated adult mouse model to explore mucosal immunity to HSV-2 in the vagina. Evidence indicating a major role for both humoral and T cell immunity is presented.
A Delay Locked Loop Synchronization Scheme for High Frequency Multiphase Hysteretic DC-DC Converters

This paper reports a delay locked loop (DLL) based hysteretic controller for high-frequency multiphase buck DC-DC converters. The DLL control loop employs the switching frequency from a hysteretic comparator to automatically synchronize the remaining phases. A dedicated duty cycle control loop is used to enable current sharing and ripple cancellation. We demonstrate a 25-70 MHz 4-phase converter with fast hysteretic control and output conversion range of 17%-80% while achieving a peak efficiency of 83% and peak-to-peak ripple within 10% in standard 0.6 mum 5 V CMOS process.
Diagnosis and epidemiological association of Listeria monocytogenes strains in two outbreaks of listerial encephalitis in small ruminants.

Two outbreaks of epizootic listerial encephalitis, one in sheep and one in goats, were investigated through pathology, microbiology, and DNA amplification-based techniques. Efforts were made to survey the diversity of Listeria monocytogenes strains in the silage consumed by affected animals and to verify the causal relationship between silage and disease outbreak. In both outbreaks, L. monocytogenes was isolated from silage and brain tissue samples. Random amplified polymorphic DNA patterns revealed two distinct L. monocytogenes strains, one of which was identical to the sheep brain isolate, in the silage associated with the outbreak in sheep. Three brain isolates and one silage isolate, all of which had different random amplified polymorphic DNA patterns, were found in the outbreak involving goats. All isolates from both outbreaks were indistinguishable in an in vitro assay for cell-to-cell spread and growth in macrophages. All brain isolates from the goat outbreak had identical intracellular ActA patterns, which were different from the pattern for the silage isolate. While the sheep brain isolate had an ActA pattern different from that of the corresponding silage isolate, the patterns for the brain isolates from the two outbreaks were not identical. This survey demonstrates the diversity of L. monocytogenes in silage and suggests the existence of one or more selective processes by which certain strains are more prone to give rise to disease. Images
Projections of the globus pallidus and adjacent structures: An autoradiographic study in the monkey

Because the globus pallidus gives rise to the principal efferent system of the corpus striatum and is traversed by several fibers systems, attempts were made to study the projections of its cells by autoradiographic technics. Tritiated amino acids (L-leucine, L-proline and L-lysine) were injected into: (1) the medial pallidal segment (MPS), (2) the MPS and the substantia innominata (SI), (3) portions of the MPS and the lateral pallidal segment (LPS) and (4) parts of the putamen. Cells labeled by injections of the MPS transported isotope to thalamic nuclei (ventral anterior, VApc, ventral lateral, VLo and VLm, and the centromedian, CM), the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), and the lateral habenular nucleus (Hbl). Labeled cells of the MPS and SI transported isotope to: (1) thalamic nuclei (VLo, VLm and CM), (2) PPN, (3) Hbl, (4) lateral and posterior regions of the hypothalamus, and (5) extensive dorsal regions of the substantia migra (SN). Comparisons of label transported from uptake of isotope by cells of the MPS, and cells of both pallidal segments, suggest that the LPS projects fibers only to the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Not all regions of the STN appear to receive fibers from the LPS. Selectively labeled neurons of the putamen transport isotope to broad regions of both pallidal segments and to the pars reticulata of the SN. This study suggests that cells of the MPS project profusely and topographically to: (1) the rostral ventral tier thalamic nuclei (VApc, VLo and VLm), (2) lateral portions of CM, and (3) the PPN. Fibers of the lenticular fasciculus appear to terminate preferentially in VLo. Cells in sublenticular portions of SI, and those extending into the medullary laminae of the pallidum, appear to project to: (1) HB1 via the stria medullaris, (2) the pars compacta of SN, (3) lateral and posterior regions of the hypothalamus, and (4) the so-called nucleus of the ansa lenticularis. Some fibers from cells of SI appear to join the dorsal stria terminalis, but none enter the inferior thalamic peduncle and none project to any part of the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus.
On the Davies tree for adaptive array processing

A recent paper [1] proposes using the Davies tree configuration as a processing structure for adaptive arrays. The advantage of doing this is that fewer computations are needed for adaptation. The purpose of this correspondence is to point out that the performance of the Davies tree is suboptimal. It does not, in general, produce maximum output SINR (signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio) from the array.
Papayas and pedagogy: geographically dispersed teams and Internet self-efficacy

Abstract PR students’ Internet self-efficacy (e-mail, BBS, real-time chat, and Web research) was measured before, immediately after, and 7 weeks after they worked in either geographically dispersed (Kansas and Hawaii) or local (Kansas only) teams to develop a PR issue statement. Internet efficacy increased over time regardless of condition.
Information flow control for standard OS abstractions

Decentralized Information Flow Control (DIFC) is an approach to security that allows application writers to control how data flows between the pieces of an application and the outside world. As applied to privacy, DIFC allows untrusted software to compute with private data while trusted security code controls the release of that data. As applied to integrity, DIFC allows trusted code to protect untrusted software from unexpected malicious inputs. In either case, only bugs in the trusted code, which tends to be small and isolated, can lead to security violations.We present Flume, a new DIFC model that applies at the granularity of operating system processes and standard OS abstractions (e.g., pipes and file descriptors). Flume was designed for simplicity of mechanism, to ease DIFC's use in existing applications, and to allow safe interaction between conventional and DIFC-aware processes. Flume runs as a user-level reference monitor onLinux. A process confined by Flume cannot perform most system calls directly; instead, an interposition layer replaces system calls with IPCto the reference monitor, which enforces data flowpolicies and performs safe operations on the process's behalf. We ported a complex web application (MoinMoin Wiki) to Flume, changingonly 2% of the original code. Performance measurements show a 43% slowdown on read workloadsand a 34% slowdown on write workloads, which aremostly due to Flume's user-level implementation.
Normalized Analysis of Interceptor Missiles Using the Four-State Optimal Guidance System

Performance prediction of miss distance due to sensor measurement errors and random target manuevers for missiles using proportional navigation (PN) guidance has been analyzed using the adjoint technique; Nesline and Zarchan used a clever normalization to reduce the solution of the set of differential equations describing the PN problem to a set of algebraic equations using normalized steady-state adjoint miss distance coefficients. The 4-State Optimal Guidance System (OGS) is generally accepted to yield superior miss distance performance to that of PN guidance. In this paper the above-mentioned normalization technique is extended to OGS to arrive at an identical set of equations for variances of miss distances, and values of the normalized steady-state adjoint miss distance coefficients for the OGS problem. Plots of these normalized coefficients as a function of a normalized tuning parameter provide designers with insight into system performance sensitivities to design parameter and intercept parameter variations. The advantage of this technique is that the results are closed-form equations, and the analyst does not need to perform simulations nor even solve the adjoint differential equations. In addition, OGS results for miss distance due to target spiral maneuver are presented as miss distance normalized to the target maneuver spiral radius, thus providing valuable insights into interceptor performance.
Concurrency Model for Network-On-Chip Design Architecture

AbstractDesigners exploit design reuse to enhance system design productivity. Integration of pre-designed reusable blocks may fail if these blocks execute in parallel, share resources, and/or interact with each other. Such concurrency issues, if not addressed, may be detrimental to normal functioning of the system. Multiprocessor architectures, recently introduced to extend the applicability of the Moore’s law, depend upon concurrency and synchronization in both software and hardware to achieve that goal. Concurrency issues, if not addressed, may lead the system into a deadlock or a livelock state. System design integration and verification approaches will not be cost-effective in exposing concurrency failures as they are intermittent; this can be costly (significantly increased time to market and field failures). One would have to develop abstract concurrency models and do exhaustive analysis on these models to test for concurrency problems. In this paper we present a systematic approach that models conc...
Pyruvate augments calcium transients and cell shortening in rat ventricular myocytes

Pyruvate has been shown to be a metabolic inotrope in the myocardium. In millimolar concentrations, it has been shown to increase both myocardial phosphorylation potential and the cytosolic [NAD+]-...
Lysyl Oxidase Isoforms and Potential Therapeutic Opportunities for Fibrosis and Cancer.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The lysyl oxidase family of enzymes is classically known as being required for connective tissue maturation by oxidizing lysine residues in elastin and lysine and hydroxylysine residues in collagen precursors. The resulting aldehydes then participate in cross-link formation, which is required for normal connective tissue integrity. These enzymes have biological functions that extend beyond this fundamental biosynthetic role, with contributions to angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation. Dysregulation of lysyl oxidases occurs in multiple pathologies including fibrosis, primary and metastatic cancers, and complications of diabetes in a variety of tissues.Areas covered: This review summarizes the major findings of novel roles for lysyl oxidases in pathologies, and highlights some of the potential therapeutic approaches that are in development and which stem from these new findings.Expert opinion: Fundamental questions remain regarding the mechanisms of novel biologica...
Relationships between vegetation type, peat hydraulic conductivity, and water table dynamics in mountain fens

The ecohydrologic function of fens is characterized by feedbacks between biological and hydrologic processes. Vegetation composition is one important factor that is both responsive to the site hydrologic regime and, by providing the organic material that determines peat hydrophysical properties, influences hydrologic conditions. In this study, we investigated the relationship between vegetation type and peat soil hydraulic conductivity in fen wetlands within the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. We used ponded infiltration tests to estimate the saturated hydraulic conductivity of near-surface peat in mountain fens with differing vegetation, including large-sedge fens dominated by Carex aquatilis and Carex utriculata, small-sedge fens dominated by Eleocharis quinqueflora, and fens with an abundance of woody plants and mosses. Estimated hydraulic conductivities were lowest at the fens dominated by E. quinqueflora, with a median value of 1.3 x 10(-3) cm s(-1) compared with 1.3 x 10(-2) and 9.6 x 10(-3) cm s(-1), respectively, at the large-sedge and woody fens. These data help explain historical water table observations at each fen. The E. quinqueflora-dominated fens in our study area maintain a high water table with saturated conditions throughout the summer growing season. Other fens with higher-conductivity peat show a more dynamic water table that is below ground surface by late summer. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Substrate Texture as an Oviposition Stimulus for Aedes Vexans (Diptera: Culicidae)

Substrate texture was quantified by using sand, sieved into 4 homogeneous particle sizes, as oviposition substrates. Results of 12 experiments with 240 female Ae. vexans revealed a significant egg-laying preference for particles sizes in the 0.33 mm to 0.62 mm range. Additional observations concerning egg orientation are discussed. The possible mechanism for texture selection and its evolutionary significance is presented.
Informed consent to participation in interventional studies: second-order in a different sense

A peer commentary on Alan Wertheimer's (Why) should we require consent to participation in research?—Journal of Law and the Biosciences
Windage Yaw Calculation Method of UHV Insulator Strings

The rigid rod model of windage yaw calculation recommended by standards does not take the shielding effect of bundled conductors and the fluctuating wind effect into consideration.Therefore,we proposed a series of corrections to the calculation model of windage based on a finite element method.Firstly,the insulator strings-wire coupling models were established using the software ANSYS,and the factors reflecting the influence of coupling effect on windage were analyzed and obtained.Then,an average shape coefficient 1.0of eight bundled conductors influenced by shielding wake was calculated by FLUENT with the large eddy simulation(LES)method and threedimensional models,and it was brought into the calculation of windage yaw.Thirdly,fluctuating wind was applied to the coupling model and the time history analysis was executed.By comparing the results with or without considering the fluctuating wind,the pulsating amplification factors of 1.1~1.2for different lines were obtained.Finally,based on the above three aspects,a specific correction formula was provided for the rigid rod method,which could calculate the windage yaw of lines in natural wind accurately.The correction provide a reference for line designs.
ArAR — A software tool to promote the robust comparison of K–Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dates published using different decay, isotopic, and monitor-age parameters

The comparison of K–Ar and 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic data published by different laboratories is markedly hindered by the inconsistent use of the parameters necessary to convert isotopic analyses to dates. This problem is particularly acute when we try to evaluate the significance of datasets obtained prior to the development of community consensus values for basic decay constants, isotopic abundances, and the ages of common monitor minerals. Unfortunately, the effect of using different parameters for the same dataset can sometimes exceed the quoted analytical precision of derived dates. We created the Argon Age Recalculator, or ArAR, to help researchers account for such discrepancies in a simple, efficient manner, allowing for more robust comparisons among datasets and more effective compilation of existing datasets using self-consistent parameter sets. ArAR is freely available as a platform independent executable application at: http://group18software.asu.edu.
γδ T Cells in Murine Epithelia: Origin, Repertoire, and Function

The overwhelming majority of T cells in the thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs express an antigen receptor (TCR) comprised of αβ heterodimers in association with the CD3 complex. The repertoire of αβ T cells is shaped for the recognition of peptide antigens in the context of MHC Class I or Class II antigens by cells bearing CD8 or CD4, respectively. A minor population of T cells in the lymphoid organs express TCR composed of δ heterodimers, and these cells typically do not express CD4, although a small fraction expresses CD8.1 In certain epithelial tissues of the mouse, however, γδ T cells comprise the bulk, if not the entirety, of the T cells. There is a tight correlation between Vγ gene usage and epithelial localization as well as differences in the potential TCR repertoire in the different epithelia, two features which raise important questions as to the origin, homing, selection, and function of these cells.
Total Pain Management and Adjusted Care: An Evolving Ideal

This chapter develops the theme of managing somatic pain and existential suffering by examining the principle of total pain management which has been seen as integral to palliative care and, thus, requires palliating the whole person by managing physical, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions of suffering: What is needed is a more uniform adoption of standards and protocols which allow regular use of palliative or “terminal” sedation as a valid component of adjusted care—without professional censure or threat of legal sanction for “euthanizing” or assisting in suicide. When use of terminal sedation is consistent with individual patient values and in the best medical interests of the patients to relieve end-stage pain and suffering, it should be seen as but a proportionate response to patient suffering.
Class Counts: The fall and rise of the American petty bourgeoisie

200 years ago Thomas Jefferson (1786 [1984: 580]) argued that the prospect of self-employment justified whatever depredations accompanied indentured service and wage labor: “So desirous are the poor of Europe to get to America, where they may better their condition, that, being unable to pay their passage, they will agree to serve two or three years on their arrival there, rather than not go. During the time of that service they are better fed, better clothed, and have lighter labour than while in Europe. Continuing to work for hire a few years longer, they buy a farm, marry, and enjoy all the sweets of a domestic society of their own.” In the middle of the nineteenth century Abraham Lincoln (1865 [1907: 50]) also saw self-employment as the natural route to individual prosperity: “The prudent penniless beginner in the world labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land for himself, then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires a new beginner to help him.” And even in the waning years of the twentieth century, in an era of large corporations and powerful governments, Ronald Reagan (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States. Ronald Reagan 1983: 689) extols the virtues of self-employment.
Asynchronous Channel Training in Massive MIMO Systems

Pilot contamination has been regarded as the bottleneck in time division duplexing (TDD) multi- cell massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The pilot contamination problem cannot be addressed with large-scale antenna arrays. We provide a novel asynchronous channel training scheme to reduce the impact of pilot contamination without the cooperation of base stations. The scheme takes advantage of sampling diversity by inducing intentional timing mismatch. Then, the optimal linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) estimator is designed to minimize the channel matrix estimation error. Finally, simulation results demonstrate that our scheme can provide significant performance improvement compared with the conventional synchronous systems that suffer from pilot contamination.
The Rodent Forced Swim Test Measures Stress-Coping Strategy, Not Depression-like Behavior.

The forced swim test (FST) measures coping strategy to an acute inescapable stress and thus provides unique insight into the neural limb of the stress response. Stress, particularly chronic stress, is a contributing factor to depression in humans and depression is associated with altered response to stress. In addition, drugs that are effective antidepressants in humans typically promote active coping strategy in the FST. As a consequence, passive coping in the FST has become loosely equated with depression and is often referred to as “depression-like” behavior. This terminology oversimplifies complex biology and misrepresents both the utility and limitations of the FST. The FST provides little construct- or face-validity to support an interpretation as “depression-like” behavior. While stress coping and the FST are arguably relevant to depression, there are likely many factors that can influence stress coping strategy. Importantly, there are other neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by altered respo...
Postmortem Sperm Retrieval: Ethical, Legal, and Logistical Considerations

Introduction: Sperm retrieved following the death of a reproductively aged male can be cryopreserved and subsequently used for posthumous reproduction. Although requests for postmortem sperm retrieval (PMSR) are uncommon, the procedure has been performed with increasing frequency worldwide in recent decades. Legislation related to PMSR is highly variable, or completely nonexistent, forcing physicians and hospitals to consider a myriad of legal, ethical, and logistical questions whenever PMSR is requested. In this chapter, we summarize these considerations and review relevant sperm procurement procedures to provide a framework for hospitals to consider when developing institutional policies for PMSR.
Usability of Survey Project Websites

When I agreed to write this chapter I decided to collect some a little bit of original usability research about survey project websites. I decided the best approach was to actually bring in a bunch of people and have them do some fairly simple and some more complex tasks with the big three National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored survey websites, the American National Election Studies (ANES), Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and the General Social Survey (GSS). And we did this in our lab with screen capture technology going so that we could observe what kinds of patterns emerged in terms of the kinds of problems that people ran into. The questions we wanted to answer were: What works on these websites? What’s not working on these websites? And what kinds of principles about usability can we extract from these analyses
Optical detection of three modes of endocytosis at hippocampal synapses

Nerve cells or neurons exchange information at junctions called synapses. To send a message to its neighbor, a neuron must release molecules called neurotransmitters into the synapse. These then bind to receptor proteins on the neighboring cell. But neurons do not release neurotransmitter molecules one at a time. Instead they release them in packages called vesicles. Each vesicle contains about 1,000 molecules, which it releases by fusing with the cell membrane. The entire process takes less than one thousandth of a second. Synaptic vesicles are complex structures made up of many different proteins and lipids. To help ensure that neurons do not run out of vesicles, cells retrieve and recycle these components via a process called endocytosis. A number of studies have attempted to measure how long this retrieval process takes. But the studies – which used a variety of different techniques – yielded results ranging from a few hundredths of a second to more than a minute. Chanaday and Kavalali have now resolved this discrepancy by using fluorescence microscopy to study the retrieval process in rat brain cells. By attaching a fluorescent tag to specific molecules within the vesicle membrane, Chanaday and Kavalali were able to track individual vesicles. The results revealed that neurons retrieve vesicles from synapses via three different pathways. At temperatures like those in the rodent or human body, an ‘ultraslow’ pathway takes more than 20 seconds to retrieve vesicles. By contrast, a ‘fast’ pathway takes about 5 to 12 seconds. The quickest option, an ‘ultrafast’ pathway, retrieves vesicles in about 150 to 250 milliseconds. Increasing the temperature speeds up the fast pathway but has no effect on the ultrafast pathway. Neurons can thus retrieve vesicles from synapses in about 200 milliseconds, or one fifth of a second. Nevertheless, they retrieve about 80% of their vesicles using the two slower pathways. Identifying the mechanisms responsible for vesicle retrieval will help reveal how synapses work, as well as what can go wrong. Changes in components of synaptic vesicles contribute to several neurological and psychiatric diseases. Developing drugs that target synaptic vesicle recycling could be a promising therapeutic avenue.
1603e Innovations in industrial hygiene approaches to infection control

Introduction Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs) continue to pose a major burden on healthcare facilities around the world with major human and financial consequences. Furthermore, infectious diseases acquired while on-the-job continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and fatality of healthcare workers. It is difficult to deny that more needs to be done to control hazardous infectious agents and protect patients and workers from exposure. Methods Industrial hygiene approaches to environmental and workplace hazardous infectious agents including anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control were used as the foundation to re-evaluate infectious agents in the healthcare environment. The latest advances in the industrial hygiene hierarchy of controls were investigated including engineering, administrative measures, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment. Result The field of industrial hygiene has been expanding at a rapid pace to support the needs of infection control in healthcare. New technologies are being demonstrated and implemented on several fronts. The ability of hospitals to protect patients by reducing HAIs can be influenced by the ability to effectively utilise the new industrial hygiene approaches to infection control. In addition to protecting patients, the likelihood of worker infections will also be reduced. Discussion Industrial hygiene approaches to infection control in healthcare are sometimes misunderstood and often underutilised. The advantages of integrating new technologies in identifying, and then destroying infections agents in the hospital environment, demonstrates significant potential for protecting both patients and workers from communicable diseases acquired in the healthcare system.
Recovery and Recycling of Industrial Wastewater by Hybrid Processes

Modern industries demand large quantities of water at purity levels that are unprecedented in industrial applications. Unless water usage is changed, these processes will not be sustainable. The key solution to reducing water usage and wastewater discharge in the ultra-pure water (UPW) plants is the development of suitable technology for water reuse and recycling. In particular, successful water conservation strategies will require innovations in a number of areas.
On the Economic Effects of Competition between Double Auction Markets

Real market institutions, stock and commodity exchanges for example, do not occur in isolation. The same stocks and commodities may be listed on multiple exchanges, and traders who want to deal in those goods have a choice of markets in which to trade. While there has been extensive research into agent-based trading in individual markets, there is little work on this kind of multiple market scenario. Our work seeks to address this imbalance. In particular, this paper examines how allocative efficiency, the standard measure of a market’s ability to extract surplus, is affected by the presence of multiple markets for the same good. We find that while dividing traders between several small markets typically leads to lower efficiency than grouping them into one large market, the movement of traders between markets, and price incentives for changing markets, can reduce this loss of efficiency.
Large-Scale Multiple Sequence Alignment and Phylogeny Estimation

With the advent of next generation sequencing technologies, alignment and phylogeny estimation of datasets with thousands of sequences is being attempted. To address these challenges, new algorithmic approaches have been developed that have been able to provide substantial improvements over standard methods. This paper focuses on new approaches for ultra-large tree estimation, including methods for co-estimation of alignments and trees, estimating trees without needing a full sequence alignment, and phylogenetic placement. While the main focus is on methods with empirical performance advantages, we also discuss the theoretical guarantees of methods under Markov models of evolution. Finally, we include a discussion of the future of large-scale phylogenetic analysis.
An On-Line Computational Model for Inspection Resource Allocation

A mathematical model and on-line computational system have been developed to solve a problem involving placement of inspectors in a multi-stage sequential production process. The model possesses sufficient generality to produce interesting results, yet ..
A Reply to Posner

In The First Amendment's Purpose,' I criticized the cost-benefit approach to free speech, of which Richard Posner has been a leading advocate.2 On the cost-benefit view (or at least Posner's view of that view), speech can be prohibited when "in American society its harmful consequences are thought to outweigh its expressive value."3 Or, in another formulation: "[S]peech should be allowed if but only if its benefits equal or exceed its costs."4 In a sense, stating these formulations should be sufficient to refute them. After all, from the cost-benefit viewpoint, all activity "should be allowed if but only if its benefits equal or exceed its costs." In other words, the cost-benefit approach to free speech holds that individuals have no greater freedom to speak than to engage in any other activity. Which is to say, in an important sense, that there is no freedom of speech at all-no special, constitutional freedom to speak that is different from and greater than the freedom to do anything else. Nevertheless, cost-benefit notions, together with their cousin, the "balancing test," are legion in First Amendment law today. (Example: Fort Lauderdale can ban begging on its beach and boardwalk because this "speech," although "entitled to First Amendment protection," "adversely impacts tourism" and interferes with "a safe, pleasant environment."5) This way of thinking seems natural to a lot of people, even unavoidable. Don't we all know that the freedom of speech is not "absolute," that it must be "weighed" against other "interests"?
Independence of Random Vectors

In Chapter 5, the concept of stochastic independence for classes of events is developed in terms of a simple product rule. With due attention to some subtleties, this concept is remarkably successful in capturing the intuitive notion of independence as lack of conditioning of one event by another. In this chapter we extend the concept of stochastic independence to families of random variables and random vectors. Since a random variable is a special case of a random vector, we formulate the concept of independence in terms of random vectors.
Throwing Admiralty Jurisdiction a Life Vest: Preserving Jurisdiction for Maritime Torts that Do Not Involve Vessels

Admiralty jurisdiction was created to protect maritime commerce and other traditional maritime activities. To adequately protect maritime commerce and other traditional maritime activities, torts occurring on navigable waters that do not involve a vessel must be able to establish admiralty jurisdiction. The current test for admiralty jurisdiction, which is a two-part test that contains both a locality and a con-nection test, does not require a vessel to be involved. Despite the Supreme Court’s test, many lower courts have arbitrarily imposed a condition that the suit must involve a vessel to establish admiralty jurisdiction for in personam tort claims. This vessel-requirement creates a test for admiralty jurisdiction that inadequately protects maritime commerce because some forms of maritime commerce, such as professional SCUBA diving, do not involve vessels. Furthermore, this vessel requirement excludes many operations outside of maritime commerce, like U.S. Coast Guard rescues, which may disrupt maritime commerce. Thus, to adequately protect maritime commerce, Congress or the Supreme Court must act to stop lower courts from requiring that a tort involve a vessel to establish admiralty jurisdiction for in personam tort suits.
Molecular evidence that the Channel Islands populations of the orange-crowned warbler (Oreothlypis celata; Aves: Passeriformes: Parulidae) represent a distinct evolutionary lineage

We used molecular data to assess the degree of genetic divergence across the breeding range of the orange-crowned warbler (Oreothlypis celata) in western North America with particular focus on characterizing the divergence between O. celata populations on the mainland of southern California and on the Channel Islands. We obtained sequences of the mitochondrial gene ND2 and genotypes at ten microsatellite data for 192 O. celata from populations spanning all four recognized subspecies. We recovered shallow, but significant, levels of divergence among O. celata populations across the species range. Our results suggest that island isolation, subspecies (delineation by morphology, ecological, and life-history characteristics), and isolation-by-distance, in that order, are the variables that best explain the geographic structure detected across the range of O. celata. Populations on the Channel Islands were genetically divergent from those on the mainland. We found evidence for greater gene flow from the Channel Islands population to mainland southern California than from the mainland to the islands. We discuss these data in the context of differentiation in phenotypic and ecological characters.
Outcomes of Sacral Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Refractory Overactive Bladder Among Octogenarians

Objective Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is an effective treatment for refractory overactive bladder (OAB). However, advanced age is often cited as a reason to avoid SNS in the elderly. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of SNS for refractory OAB among our octogenarian population. Methods A retrospective review from a single institution was performed on all SNS lead placements from December 1998 to June 2017 for refractory OAB. Octogenarians were characterized as 80 years of age or older at the time of Stage I. Efficacy and safety were determined by the rate of progression to Stage II, subsequent need for multimodal therapy, and rate of surgical revision and explantation. All patients were followed for a minimum of 12 months. Results Of 374 patients in this study, 37 (9.9%) were octogenarians. There was no difference in gender, race, smoking history, or prior OAB treatment regimens between cohorts. The rate of progression to Stage II was 56.8% for octogenarians compared to 60.5% for nonoctogenarians (p = 0.66). The rate of surgical revision, explantation, and need for multimodal therapy did not differ between groups. Subgroup analysis of octogenarians did not reveal any significant differences between successful and nonsuccessful Stage I patients. Conclusions The safety and efficacy of SNS was similar between cohorts. This result suggests that SNS is a safe and effective therapy that should be considered among the treatment options for refractory OAB in octogenarian patients. Further studies are needed to determine predictive factors of Stage I success in elderly patients.
Review of Partially Isolated Three-Port Converters for PV-Battery Systems That Interface a PV, Bidirectional Battery, and Load

The demand for renewable energy has been steadily increasing since the start of this century. As a result, energy storage to overcome the intermittency of the renewable energy sources is also on the rise. Therefore, Multi-Port Converters (MPCs) have attracted much research in the last decade. In the literature, MPCs are categorized according to their isolation feature into three types including non-isolated, partially isolated, and fully-isolated MPC. This paper reviews and classifies several known topologies used to integrate a partially isolated MPC. Specifically, it focuses on Three-Port Converters (TPCs) which interface a Photovoltaic (PV) panel, a bidirectional battery, and a load port. In this paper, the partially isolated TPCs are divided into two main categories including full-bridge and half-bridge TPC. Furthermore, the different modulation strategies used in the literature are briefly illustrated. Finally, a comparison between the topologies and the modulation strategies will be presented.
Legionella

Since the identification of Legionella two decades ago, a vast amount of information has accumulated concerning the microbiology, clinical manifestations, and therapy of infections due to these organisms. There are now more than 40 species of Legionella identified. The spectrum of legionellosis ranges from asymptomatic infection to serious pneumonia. Two clinical syndromes have been identified: Legionnaire’s disease and Pontiac fever. Recent information suggests that the newer macrolides and newer fluoroquinolones are preferred therapy for serious disease.
Strategies for International Communication: Getting to Know Your Audience

This poster presents my experience of incorporating strategies for international communication design in designing a mobile-based application to enhance digital literacy to support a rural community in Nepal. These strategies are based on work I completed for a service-learning-oriented Creating User Documentation course in which we partnered with an international community-based organization. Through the design of this app, I implemented intercultural communication practices such as collaborative working and understanding and respecting audiences, by addressing the issue of cyber sexual harassment caused by lack of digital literacy for young women and girls in rural communities in Nepal amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, my findings have come from a partnership that was only a semester long. To allow students to immerse themselves more fully in getting to know their audience and see the importance of their work, I encourage technical and professional communication (TPC) professors to seek out partnerships that are more long-term.
A Forward-Thinking Approach to Addressing the New Synthetic Opioid 2-Benzylbenzimidazole Nitazene Analogues by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (LC-QQQ-MS).

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) continue to represent a threat to public health and safety. The number of new drugs in the latest emergent synthetic opioid class - the 2-benzylbenzimidazole analogues - also called the nitazenes - have begun to dominate the current novel synthetic opioid (NSO) subclass of NPS. We describe a liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QQQ-MS) method for the quantification of nine analogues and/or metabolites of drugs in this series: isotonitazene, metonitazene, protonitazene, etonitazene, clonitazene, flunitazene, N-desethyl isotonitazene, 5-amino isotonitazene, and 4'-hydroxy nitazene in human whole blood, urine, and tissue. Samples were prepared for analysis using a basic liquid-liquid extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a C-18 analytical column. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for detection. The calibration range for the analytes was 0.5-50 ng/mL (except for 5-amino isotonitazene which was 1.0-50 ng/mL). The limit of detection was 0.1 ng/mL, and the limit of quantitation was 0.5 ng/mL. The method had no carryover or interferences. Ionization enhancement was observed but this did not affect quantitation. All analytes passed the method validation assessment. Authentic human samples suspected of containing NSO's were obtained from medical examiner and coroner offices, as well as partnering forensic toxicology laboratories. Isotonitazene was confirmed in 92 blood samples, and its metabolites were confirmed across various matrices. Metonitazene (n=35), flunitazene (n=5), protonitazene (n=3), etodesnitazene (n = 2), and butonitazene (n=1) were also detected in these cases. These newly emerging 2-benzylbenzimidazole analogues were commonly found in combination with NPS benzodiazepines and opioids (e.g., flualprazolam, fentanyl). Nitazene analogues are potent esoteric drugs that may not be identified during routine toxicological screening and specialized assays based on sensitive instrumentation are needed to accurately characterize these novel synthetic opioids.
Role of Imaging in the Evaluation of Patients at Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death: Genotype–Phenotype Intersection

Several monogenic cardiac disorders are associated with sudden cardiac death. These include primary electrophysiological disorders (long QT, short QT, Brugada, and catecholaminergic ventricular tachycardia syndromes) and cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. This review presents the genotype-phenotype relations in these diseases. In addition to establishing a diagnosis, imaging can play an important role in identifying the pathophysiological abnormalities and hence the potential to guide therapy in some patients. Furthermore, imaging findings in some patients add incremental prognostic information for risk stratification of sudden cardiac death. Finally, along with genetic testing, imaging is important for screening and, in some cases, can identify subjects with positive mutations who have not yet developed the classical phenotype.
Recanting Confidential Witnesses in Securities Litigation

This Article examines the contentious and recurring issue of how courts should handle confidential witnesses in securities litigation who recant the information attributed to them in complaints or deny that they ever provided such information to plaintiffs’ counsel and/or investigators. The use by plaintiffs of confidential witnesses has become ubiquitous in recent years, as a primary unintended effect of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. That legislation raised the bar for pleading securities fraud and established an automatic stay of all discovery and other proceedings during the pendency of a motion to dismiss, absent application of one of two narrow exceptions. The viselike combination of these features forces plaintiffs to plead their cases with particularity while barring them from obtaining discovery to bolster their scienter and other allegations until all motions to dismiss have been resolved. In response, plaintiffs have turned to confidential witnesses, who typically are current or former employees of the defendant. These witnesses provide information anonymously for use in complaints, mainly because they are fearful of retaliation by defendants. In a recent series of high-profile cases, courts have been confronted with allegations that plaintiffs’ confidential witnesses either have recanted the information attributed to them, or denied ever providing such information. This Article examines the contrasting approaches taken by courts to alleged recanting, and provides some specific recommendations for avoiding or resolving this problem in the future.
Executable Requirements and Specifications

Traditionally, the detailed form, function, cost and features desired for an electronic system are established in a set of requirements documents. Misinterpretation, omissions, and errors in these documents are often significant factors in slowing development of signal processing systems. A requirement which is written in a formally defined computer executable, rather than a natural, language provides an unambiguous description which can be tested for errors. The VHSIC hardware description language (VHDL) was used to write an executable requirement which described both required function and interface timing for a real-time signal processor. The executable requirement and a traditional written description were given to two developers who created processor prototypes. In addition to the prototypes, they produced executable specifications of their implementations in the form of a VHDL simulation. The use of VHDL was advantageous because it spanned all abstraction levels from requirements to synthesizable code for ASICs. However, VHDL is not a complete solution because it cannot be used to specify all categories of requirements. Based on the experience described in this paper, recommendations for efficient use of VHDL for these purposes and for further work in the area of executable requirements and specifications are presented.
A Hierarchical Data Structure and New Capabilities of the Robust-Control Toolbox

The Robust-Control Toolbox is a collection of "M-files" which extend the capability of PC/PRO-MATLAB to do modern multivariable robust control system design. Included are Robust Analvvsis tools like singular value and SSV (structured singular value), Robust Synthesis tools like continuous/discrete LQG/LTR, H2/H? and MU-Sythesis, and a variety of Robust Model Reduction tools such as optimal Hankel approximation, balanced truncation and balanced stochastic truncation, etc. In this paper, we will describe the basic functions with practical examples and introduce recent developments of the toolbox. These include the new "MU-Synthesis" tool with demonstrations, and most of all a new hierarchical data structure which permits data deseribing system and collection of system to be incorporated in, and extracted from a single MATLAB variable called a TREE. This data structure facilitates user interaction with many MATLAB functions which operate on systems.
Neurologic Exam and Neurodiagnostic Tests

Most important part of neurologic evaluation; provides information that permits examiner to arrive at tentative diagnosis (or diagnoses) which can then be verified or refuted by examination and neurodiagnostic testing
An alternative approach to establishing trade-offs among greenhouse gases.

The Kyoto Protocol permits countries to meet part of their emission reduction obligations by cutting back on gases other than CO2 (ref. 1). This approach requires a definition of trade-offs among the radiatively active gases. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has suggested global warming potentials for this purpose2, which use the accumulated radiative forcing of each gas by a set time horizon to establish emission equivalence. But it has been suggested that this approach has serious shortcomings: damages or abatement costs are not considered3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and the choice of time horizon for calculating cumulative radiative force is critical, but arbitrary5. Here we describe an alternative framework for determining emission equivalence between radiatively active gases that addresses these weaknesses. We focus on limiting temperature change and rate of temperature change, but our framework is also applicable to other objectives. For a proposed ceiling, we calculate how much one should be willing to pay for emitting an additional unit of each gas. The relative prices then determine the trade-off between gases at each point in time, taking into account economical as well as physical considerations. Our analysis shows that the relative prices are sensitive to the lifetime of the gases, the choice of target and the proximity of the target, making short-lived gases more expensive to emit as we approach the prescribed ceiling.