cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex Hormone Effects on the Nervous System and Their Impact on Muscle Strength and Motor Performance in Women

The endocrine system, of which sex hormones are a part, and the nervous system both can exert strong effects far beyond their local tissue of origin. This chapter first examines how sex hormones and their metabolites affect the nervous system at the molecular level. Since singular sex hormones do not exist in isolation in humans, the effect of sex hormones on strength and motor performance are then viewed through the lens of the menstrual cycle. While there are clear and repeatable effects of sex hormones on the nervous system at the molecular level, reliably reproducing these effects on motor activity at the clinical level remains a challenge. Evidence suggests that maximal strength may be lower, but fine motor control may be higher in the mid luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. However, not all studies have replicated these findings; the probable causes of this discrepancy are unrecognized menstrual cycle irregularities, intraindividual differences and a nonuniform distribution of sex hormones in tissues around the human body. Given the potential for sex hormones to both enhance and limit human performance, clinicians should be aware of their patients or clients menstrual status but cautious in attempting to leverage the nervous system effects of sex hormones towards training or rehabilitation enhancement.
In Defense of the Haram al-Sharif

Discusses the emergence of the Islamic Movement in Israel as a significant force in East Jerusalem, most notably, in shaping Palestinian nationalist discourse in a manner that greatly emphasizes its links with Islam.
Ultrasound-Guided Cannulation of the Brachiocephalic Vein in Infants and Children is Useful and Stable

Objective Ultrasound-guided (USG) cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein (BCV) has been shown to be technically easy. We hypothesised that adoption of USG in-plane cannulation of the BCV as the primary approach to central venous cannulation at our institution would lead to central venous cannulation for a greater variety of indications. Methods We performed retrospective, descriptive comparison of all central lines placed in patients aged Results Forty-nine patients were identified, 20 who weighed 10 kg. Cannulation was successful in all patients. No significant late complications occurred. Catheters were well tolerated post-operatively, with no accidental dislodgement and no removal because of discomfort. The average duration of insertion was 6.3 (3-20±3.77) days. Nine catheters were placed for access during emergency surgery. 15 were placed in patients with difficult peripheral intravenous (PIV) access. The central lines remained in place until discharge in 79.6% of patients. In 40% of patients, the PIV catheter was removed, and the central line was retained because of preference. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was administered in 11 (22.4%) patients. Conclusion Cannulation of BCV was well tolerated by children, with an average insertion duration of 6.3 days, which often lasted beyond the removal/failure of the PIV cannula. Catheters were useful for primary venous access during hospitalisation and for short TPN courses.
Mechanism of secretion from the adrenal medulla. VI. Effect of reserpine on the dopamine -hydroxylase and catecholamine content and on the buoyant density of adrenal storage vesicles.

The possibility of differentiating between chromaffin vesicles with different catecholamine contents was tested by studying the distribution of rabbit adrenal dopamine β-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.21) and catecholamines, and the buoyant densities of the catecholamine storage vesicles after isopycnic centrifugation of crude storage vesicle fractions in sucrose density gradients. Catecholamine storage vesicles were prepared from adrenal glands of untreated rabbits, rabbits which had received chlorisondamine chloride (10/kg intraperitoneally) to block ganglionic transmission, and rabbits which had received both chlorisondamine chloride and reserpine (1 mg kg). Adrenal glands were examined 1 day after treatmenmt with chlorisondamine and 1 and 8 days after combined treatment with chlorisondamine and reserpine. Intact storage vesicles obtained from glands of untreated animals had a specific gravity of 1.27, while the membranes obtained from vesicles lysed in distilled water had a specific gravity of 1.12. Chlorisondamine had no effect on the total dopamine β-hydroxylase and catecholamine content of the adrenal glands or on the buoyant density, even though there was a slight reduction of the activities in segments A and B of the gradients. Twenty-four hours after treatment with chlorisondamine plus reserpine there was a marked decrease in the catecholamine content, no change in the dopamine β-hydroxylase activity, and a significant decrease in the buoyant density of the storage vesicles; the ratio of dopamine β-hydroxylase to catecholamines in the purified storage vesicles was 2-3 times greater than those of untreated and chlorisondamine-treated animals. Eight days after treatment with reserpine and chlorisondamine the dopamine β-hydroxylase activities were twice those of untreated animals, but the catecholamine content was only 60-70% of the control levels. At eight days the buoyant density of the storage vesicles was still significantly less than that of vesicles obtained from untreated rabbits, but not different from that of chlorisondamine-treated animals. These results suggest that recovery of the catecholamine content following reserpine administration requires synthesis of new storage vesicles, but this may not be the srate-limiting step in the recovery. Isopycnic centrifugation through sucrose density gradient provides a method for differentiating normally filled, partially filled, and empty storage vesicles.
TPO for ITP in pregnancy

In this issue of Blood , Kong et al describe a novel approach to immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in pregnancy. 1
New NIH Regulations Say Most Basic Human Brain Research Is a Clinical Trial

New NIH definitions classify virtually all human brain and behavioral research as clinical trials. The new definitions will change regulatory, reporting, and funding schemes for noninvasive studies such as neuroimaging. Resulting burdens threaten the viability of basic biobehavioral science research.
A prospective crossover trial of botulinum toxin chemodenervation versus injection augmentation for essential voice tremor.

Objectives/hypothesis Botulinum toxin chemodenervation (BTX) is used to treat essential voice tremor (EVT), but results are not uniformly satisfactory. This study sought to assess the comparative utility of injection augmentation (IA) for EVT. Study design Prospective crossover treatment study. Methods Patients with EVT underwent BTX. After washout patients underwent IA. Multidimensional assessment carried out prior to and 30 days after each treatment included 1) videostroboscopy graded by the Vocal Tremor Scoring System (VTSS), 2) acoustic and aerodynamic assessment (cepstral peak prominence, cepstral spectral index of dysphonia, cepstral peak prominence fundamental frequency, airflow, peak air pressure and intensity, maximum phonation time, and amplitude/frequency of tremor), 3) audio-perceptual assessment via Consensus Audio-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V), and 4) patient self-assessment via Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and Percent of Normal Function (PNF) scale. Findings were analyzed via paired t tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results Seven patients (five female and two male; mean age 67 years old; range, 46-82 years old) participated. VTSS grading showed divergent outcomes for certain individual sites of tremor, but without significant differences. Airflow increased following BTX and decreased following IA, and VHI-10 scores indicated slight improvement post-BTX (26.29-23.57), and decline post-IA (25.86-29.86), although differences were not significant. Only changes in audio-perceptual ratings of loudness achieved significance, which decreased with BTX and increased with IA. Five patients chose to resume BTX; two elected long-term IA. No findings supported patient preferences. Conclusions IA demonstrated no advantage over BTX in the treatment of EVT. Level of evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 128:437-446, 2018.
Breast Cancer Knowledge Among College Students: Influencing Factors and Resultant Behaviors

ABSTRACTBackground: Many misconceptions about breast cancer exist. College students have the opportunity to perform breast cancer risk-reducing behaviors. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess breast cancer knowledge among university students and examine the influence of breast cancer knowledge on health behaviors for breast cancer prevention. Methods: Data were collected via survey in which students were asked about health behaviors and 20 true/false statements about breast cancer. Results: College students were unable to accurately identify all truths and myths about breast cancer. The overall mean knowledge score for the sample was 10.59 (SD = 2.865), based on a potential range of 0–20 correct answers. Breast cancer knowledge was significantly influenced by race. Results of Pearson correlation coefficients indicated an inverse correlation between breast cancer knowledge and health behaviors. Discussion: Lack of accurate breast cancer knowledge is consistent with current literature. Health co...
Recent Advances in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Pathophysiology, Prevention, and Treatment

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is potentially one of the most devastating conditions in premature infants with longstanding consequences involving multiple organ systems including adverse effects on pulmonary function and neurodevelopmental outcome. Here we review recent studies in the field to summarize the progress made in understanding in the pathophysiology, prognosis, prevention, and treatment of BPD in the last decade. The work reviewed includes the progress in understanding its pathobiology, genomic studies, ventilatory strategies, outcomes, and therapeutic interventions. We expect that this review will help guide clinicians to treat premature infants at risk for BPD better and lead researchers to initiate further studies in the field.
Ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval for fertility preservation in young adolescents newly diagnosed with medulloblastoma: a case series.

Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumour in children, is diagnosed in about 400 individuals in the United States of America (USA) each year, with the majority being diagnosed in chil...
Efficiency change over different times

In the literature of macroeconomics and the business economic press, there is a strong interest in the variation of efficiency over different times (Ray 2004). There are two methods to address this issue, such as, the Tornqvist and the Fisher productivity indexes. These two indexes use the price information of input and output factors without requiring the production technology of firms. Caves et al. (1982) introduced an index called the Malmquist efficiency index to construct a production frontier to represent the production technology of firms. Fare et al. (1992) combined ideas on the Farrell measurement and Caves et al. (1982) efficiency measurement to construct a Malmquist efficiency index directly from the input and output factors using DEA. The Malmquist efficiency index can be decomposed into two components. One component is to measure the technical change and the other component is to measure the frontier shift. In this chapter, we first illustrate the basic Malmquist index. After that, we illustrate the works of Chen and Ali (2004) to provide an extension to the Malmquist index by analyzing the above two components with an example of computer industry. Finally, a non-linear Malmquist index, proposed by Chen (2003), is discussed.
Elucidating Gene-by-Environment Interactions Associated with Differential Susceptibility to Chemical Exposure

Background: Modern societies are exposed to vast numbers of potentially hazardous chemicals. Despite demonstrated linkages between chemical exposure and severe health effects, there are limited, of...
Special Challenges of Rearing Infant Macaques Infected with Lentivirus (SIV, HIV, SHIV)

The nonhuman primate lentivirus model is perhaps the best animal model of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The lentiviruses (lentivirinae), a subfamily of retroviruses (family Retroviridae), include, in addition to HIV-1 and HIV-2, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and a variety of simian/human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs). SHIVs are humanly engineered, chimeric viruses made by inserting HIV genes into an SIV. Lentivirus-infected macaques exhibit virological, immunological, pathological, and central nervous system (CNS) responses that are very similar to those seen in humans infected with HIV (Hirsch and Lifson, 2000; Sopper et al., 2002). Research with these animals, and the rearing of infected infants, requires consideration of both the health of the animals and the safety of their human handlers. In this chapter we will describe lentiviruses and the symptoms associated with infection; outline biosafety 2/3 containment procedures that ensure the safety of personnel; discuss rearing and husbandry protocols that ensure the healthy growth of these inherently fragile infants; and present normative data on their growth and behavioral development.
Myocardial function during acute hypoxia in the calf.

Hemodynamics and myocardial contractility were evaluated in five unanesthetized calves during acute hypocapnic and isocapnic hypoxia and during acute hypocapnic hypoxia with beta-adrenergic blockade. Both hypocapnic and isocapnic hypoxia, with mean PaO2 levels of 33.1 and 39.1 mm Hg respectively, produced a decline in stroke volume and index, while cardiac output and index were maintained at normoxic control levels by an increase in heart rate. Evaluation of myocardial contractility indices suggested an augmentation of left ventricular contractility during both hypocapnic and isocapnic hypoxia. Betaadrenergic blockade effectively eliminated the increase in left ventricular contractility during hypocapnic hypoxia, suggesting an important role of the adrenergic nervous system in the genesis of the cardiovascular response of the calf to acute hypoxia. Right ventricular contractility indices failed to demonstrate a clear-cut augmentation of contractility during hypocapnic and isocapnic hypoxia when the concurrent increase in afterload was considered. Mean pulmonary arterial blood pressure rose significantly during hypocapnic and isocapnic hypoxia. The pulmonary pressor response to hypocapnic hypoxia was significantly augmented by beta blockade, indicating that the autonomic nervous system is capable of modifying the hypoxic pulmonary pressor response in this species.
Undercover Reporters, Tort Law, and The First Amendment: Food Lion v. ABC and The Future of Surreptitious Newsgathering

Suppose a reporter receives a tip that an organization is engaged in wrongdoing, and then, by lying about her identity, obtains a job with that organization in order to secretly investigate, from inside the organization, whether the organization is in fact doing wrong. Should the reporter's conduct subject her and her news organization to liability for such torts as fraud, trespass and breach of loyalty? What are the competing social interests involved? This article addresses these questions in the context of the landmark decision in Food Lion v. Capital Cities/ABC, 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
Technical Section: SpeedSeg: A technique for segmenting pen strokes using pen speed

We present SpeedSeg, a technique for segmenting pen strokes into lines and arcs. The technique uses pen speed information to help infer the segmentation intended by the drawer. To begin, an initial set of candidate segment points is identified. This set includes speed minima below a threshold, and curvature maxima at which the pen speed is also below a threshold. The ink between each pair of consecutive segment points is then classified as either a line or an arc, depending on which fits best. Next, a feedback process is employed, and segments are judiciously merged and split as necessary to improve the quality of the segmentation. In user studies, SpeedSeg performed accurately for new users. The studies also demonstrated that SpeedSeg's accuracy is surprisingly insensitive to the values of many of the empirical parameters used by the technique. However, it is still possible to quickly tune the system to optimize performance for a given user. Finally, SpeedSeg outperformed a state-of-the-art segmentation algorithm.
Mathematical Models for Manufacturable Josephson Junction Circuitry

The Josephson junction is a cryogenic device consisting of two superconductors separated by a thin gap; see Figure 6.1 The electrical resistance in the superconductors is zero and there is tunneling of electrons from one superconductor to the other.
“We Don’t Leave Engineering on the Page”: Civic Engagement Experiences of Engineering Graduate Students

Few scholars have examined the civic engagement experiences of graduate students in engineering fields. To address this void, this study uses social exchange theory and experiential learning theory to consider the experiences of engineering graduate students in service programs at a predominantly White research university. The findings suggest that students are highly motivated to serve and derive complex meaning-making from their service, thus advancing understandings of how engineering graduate students find meaning in civic engagement. Although engineering graduate students may be expected to focus primarily on research and professional advancement, our findings suggest there is an opportunity to more fully involve students in civic engagement activities.
Undergraduate nursing students' experiences and attitudes towards working with patients with opioid use disorder in the clinical setting: A qualitative content analysis.

Abstract Background With the US facing an opioid epidemic, undergraduate nursing students are increasingly encountering patients with opioid use disorder in the clinical setting. Yet, nursing curriculums have not adapted to meet this need. Previous research indicates students are exposed to negative messages that might influence their views about patients with opioid use disorder. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine nursing students' experiences encountering patients with opioid use disorder in the clinical setting, their attitudes about their encounters, and their perceptions of their educational preparedness to care for this population. Method Purposive sampling was used to identify participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until saturation. Krippendorff's method for qualitative content analysis was used to cluster units within the data to identify emergent themes. Participants Eleven senior nursing students from a public university in New England participated. Results Analysis revealed six themes, including: navigating ethical dilemmas, gaining comfort with time and experience, avoiding the “elephant in the room,” learning from real-world scenarios, witnessing discriminatory care, and recognizing bias and stigma. Conclusions Students were most likely to experience bias and internal conflict in maternity clinical rotations. Education should include practical communication strategies to reduce avoidance behaviors among nursing students as well as techniques to manage difficult situations and reduce moral distress. Nurses must be mindful of their power to influence students and should model non-judgmental language and behavior. Students ultimately expressed a desire to provide informed and empathetic care.
Navigating a Tangled Intersection: Agricultural Communication as Public Meeting Space among the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Digital

The growing emphasis on interdisciplinarity within scholarly research offers several affordances, including an opportunity to initiate cross-disciplinary projects. By viewing instances of agricultural discourse in public contexts through a technical communication disciplinary framework, the collection Cultivating Spheres: Agriculture, Technical Communication, and the Publics demonstrates how social sciences methodologies reveal such discourse as in fact embodying the digital humanities.
Simulating comfort before the car seat exists

Dummies don’t cry, don’t laugh and don’t complain. Despite this, the engineers in the development department at Johnson Controls know exactly how the virtual figures in the CAD car seats on the screen would feel if they were real humans sitting on real seats.
Subjective values should be sharp

Elga (Philos Impr 10(5): 1–10, 2010) has argued that, even when no particular subjective probability is required by one’s evidence, perfectly rational people will have sharp subjective probabilities. Otherwise, they would be rationally permitted to knowingly turn down some sure gains. I argue that it is likewise true that, even when we do not possess enough practical reasons for a sharp evaluation (because of optionality or ignorance), perfectly rational people will have sharp subjective values. Those who would be most inclined to reject this argument are those who claim that we are rationally required by either our beliefs that objective values are unsharp (such as strong incomparability, vague value, or parity) or by our own ‘real’ values to have unsharp subjective values. Regarding the former claim, I show that we need not believe that all objective values are sharp to rationally have unsharp subjective values. Regarding the latter claim, I conclude that sharpened subjective values must be ‘real’ (i.e., practically authoritative) because otherwise perfect rationality would be impossible in principle.
Filter Strut Incorporation: Tools for Success and Improved Procedural Safety

Inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) with prolonged dwell time frequently become embedded due to alteration of flow at the interface between the filter component and caval wall, resulting in neointimal hyperplasia and subsequent incorporation of the filter components into the caval wall [1–3]. During the procedure, once the filter apex is captured, the entirety of the filter cannot be disengaged from the caval wall with a standard sheath, despite exertion of large forces. In particular, filter designs with “closed-cell” configurations tend to become densely endothelialized with extended implantation times. Several techniques have been described, including the use of rigid endobronchial forceps with large bore sheaths [4]. Laser sheaths originally designed for pacemaker lead extraction have been successfully used off-label to ablate neointimal tissue encasing the filter struts within the caval wall via molecular tissue disruption, permitting filter removal without having to exert large and potentially hazardous forces during the retrieval procedure [5].
Phosphorylation and chromatin tethering prevent cGAS activation during mitosis

The cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP)-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase (cGAS) detects microbial and self-DNA in the cytosol to activate immune and inflammatory programs. cGAS also associates with chromatin, especially after nuclear envelope breakdown when cells enter mitosis. How cGAS is regulated during cell cycle transition is not clear. Here, we found direct biochemical evidence that cGAS activity was selectively suppressed during mitosis in human cell lines and uncovered two parallel mechanisms underlying this suppression. First, cGAS was hyperphosphorylated at the N terminus by mitotic kinases, including Aurora kinase B. The N terminus of cGAS was critical for sensing nuclear chromatin but not mitochondrial DNA. Chromatin sensing was blocked by hyperphosphorylation. Second, oligomerization of chromatin-bound cGAS, which is required for its activation, was prevented. Together, these mechanisms ensure that cGAS is inactive when associated with chromatin during mitosis, which may help to prevent autoimmune reaction.
Immediate serial postoperative de novo psychogenic nonepileptic seizures after selective amygdalohippocampectomy

Abstract De novo psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) following epilepsy surgery in patients without a prior history of nonepileptic seizure are well-described, but uncommon events. Recent large retrospective studies indicate a prevalence of less than 4%, and while the majority suffer a PNES event in the first year after surgery, they seldom occur within weeks of surgery. This report illustrates the case of a 57-year-old man with medically intractable localization related epilepsy secondary to mesial temporal sclerosis. Three separate inpatient video electroencephalogram (EEG) studies over the course of 10 years had not revealed PNES and had localized the epileptogenic zone to the left temporal lobe. He underwent a left subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAH) without complication and was maintained on his pre-operative antiseizure medications. Within 12 h of surgery, the patient began exhibiting episodes with a different semiology than the preoperatively documented seizures, increasing in frequency until the 4th postoperative day, when video-EEG revealed clear PNES devoid of electrographic correlation. More than 25 events occurred, with 11 captured on video-EEG. Interventions including reassurance of the patient and family by the epileptologist and surgeon, as well as psychiatry consultation, resulted in immediate cessation of the events. He has remained seizure-free at the time of this report, consistent with an Engel class 1 outcome. While rare, concentrated episodes of PNES activity may arise immediately after epilepsy surgery in patients without a prior history of PNES. This clinical vignette suggests that a suspicion of PNES must be taken into consideration should a patient develop a cluster of seizures immediately after epilepsy surgery.
Organic amendments, deficit irrigation, and microbial communities impact extracellular polysaccharide content in agricultural soils

Abstract Soil extracellular polysaccharides (EPSac) can improve irrigation water productivity in agriculture by increasing soil aggregate stability and retaining water on and around plant roots. However, limited studies assay soil EPSac directly from field trials and to date no studies have examined the long-term confounding impacts of organic amendments and deficit irrigation on soil EPSac and the underlying microbial communities. We quantified soil aggregate stability, EPSac content, chemical properties, and microbial community compositions and abundances in separate field studies in turfgrass and tomato. Soil samples were collected 4–5 years after soil amendment with compost, biochar, their combination, or biosolids from plots that had received full and deficit irrigation regimens for 4 years. Amending the soil with compost, with or without biochar co-application, enhanced soil total carbon, aggregate stability, EPSac, and total soil microbial biomass and shifted microbial community structures, trends which were more pronounced under turfgrass than for tomato. In both sites deficit irrigation treatments had higher quantities of soil EPSac per unit of microbial biomass. Indicators of microbial physiological stress and ubiquitous classes of soil bacteria were associated with soil EPSac production. These results provide mechanistic understanding of organic amendment benefits in drought-impacted and deficit-irrigated agriculture.
The Mediating Role of SES on the Relationship between Pregnancy History and Later Life Cognition

ABSTRACT Objective: The association of pregnancy with later life cognition is not well understood. Few studies address the potential confounding role of socioeconomic factors on this relationship. We examined whether pregnancy was associated with cognitive function in a large, population-based sample of post-menopausal women and the potential mediating effects of education level and federal income-to-poverty ratio (PIR) on this relationship. Methods: Participants were 1,016 post-menopausal women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We utilized data from two study waves between years 2011-2014. Cognitive functioning was evaluated by: Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Animal Fluency (AF), Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimers Disease CERAD word learning task (CERAD-WL) and CERAD delayed recall (CERAD-DR). Lifetime education level and federal income-to-poverty ratio (PIR) were examined as mediating factors. Regression models were used to examine the relationship between number of term pregnancies and incomplete pregnancies and cognitive performance. Results: A greater number of term pregnancies was related to worse performance on the DSST (p < .001), CERAD-DR (p < .007), and AF (p < .03). Conversely, greater incomplete pregnancies related to better CERAD-DR performance (p < .03). Significant associations between term pregnancies and cognitive scores were mediated by PIR but not education level. Conclusions: Higher number of term pregnancies was associated with worse cognitive performance, whereas higher number of incomplete pregnancies was associated with better cognitive performance. Results indicate the necessity to consider SES factors when studying the relationship between pregnancy and cognition.
Sulfotyrosine, an interaction specificity determinant for extracellular protein-protein interactions

Tyrosine sulfation, a post-translational modification, can enhance and often determine protein-protein interaction specificity. Sulfotyrosyl residues (sTyr) are formed by tyrosyl-protein sulfotransferases (TPSTs) during maturation of certain secreted proteins. Here we consider three contexts for sTyr function. First, a single sTyr residue is critical for high-affinity peptide-receptor interactions in plant peptide hormones and animal receptors for glycopeptide hormones. Second, structurally flexible anionic segments often contain a cluster of two or three sTyr residues within a six-residue span. These sTyr residues are essential for coreceptor binding of the HIV-1 envelope spike protein during virus entry and for chemokine interactions with many chemokine receptors. Third, several proteins that interact with thrombin, central to normal blood-clotting, require the presence of sTyr residues in the context of acidic sequences termed hirudin-like motifs. Consequently, many proven and potential therapeutic proteins derived from blood-consuming invertebrates depend on sTyr residues for their activity. Technical advances in generating and documenting site-specific sTyr substitutions facilitate discovery and analysis, and promise to enable engineering of defined interaction determinants.
LANDSLIDE AND DEBRIS FLOW-INDUCED STATIC AND DYNAMIC LOADS ON PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES

This study presents two suitable extensions to the Material Point Method (MPM) for improved modeling capabilities in the context of landslide and debris flows. The first provides a multi-field formulation strategy to support solid/fluid phases and multi-scale interactions, while the second provides the ability to represent a general bounding surface within the MPM framework.
Bath salts components mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) act synergistically at the human dopamine transporter.

Background and Purpose Bath salts is the street name for drug combinations that contain synthetic cathinone analogues, among them possibly mephedrone (MEPH) and certainly methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). In animal studies, cathinone and certain cathinone analogues release dopamine (DA), similar to the action of amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH). AMPH and METH act on the human DA transporter (hDAT); thus, we investigated MEPH and MDPV acting at hDAT. Experimental Approach We recorded electrical currents mediated by hDAT expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes and exposed to: DA, METH, a known hDAT stimulant and DA releaser, MEPH, MDPV, MEPH + MDPV, or cocaine, a known hDAT inhibitor. Key Results DA, METH and MEPH induce an inward current (depolarizing) when the oocyte is held near the resting potential (–60 mV), therefore acting as excitatory hDAT substrates. Structurally analogous MDPV induces an outward (hyperpolarizing) current similar to cocaine, therefore acting as an inhibitory non-substrate blocker. Conclusions and Implications Two components of bath salts, MEPH and MDPV, produce opposite effects at hDAT that are comparable with METH and cocaine, respectively. In our assay, MEPH is nearly as potent as METH; however, MDPV is much more potent than cocaine and its effect is longer lasting. When applied in combination, MEPH exhibits faster kinetics than MDPV, viz., the MEPH depolarizing current occurs seconds before the slower MDPV hyperpolarizing current. Bath salts containing MEPH (or a similar drug) and MDPV might then be expected initially to release DA and subsequently prevent its reuptake via hDAT. Such combined action possibly underlies some of the reported effects of bath salts abuse.
New Empirical Results on Default: A Discussion of "A Gravity Model of Sovereign Lending: Trade, Default and Credit"

S overeign default, while by no means ubiquitous, is still all too common. Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 1, sovereign debt crises, in which multiple debtor countries get into payments difficulties at roughly the same time, occur with surprising regularity. When this is combined with the fact that defaults appear to be very costly, to both the creditors who lose money on their investments and also to the defaulting country itself, it is natural that discussion turns to questions such as if and how the international financial system might be "reformed" to minimize the incidence and costs of these crises.
Abstract 16209: The Accuracy of Online Reporting by Major News Media Outlets on a Landmark Cardiovascular Prevention Trial

Introduction: Online media are becoming the primary source of health information for patients. There is little data on the accuracy of online reporting on major cardiovascular prevention trials. We evaluated the accuracy of news reporting on the PREDIMED cardiovascular prevention trial which assessed the efficacy of a Mediterranean diet on cardiovascular outcomes and achieved the highest media impact of all cardiovascular studies published in 2013. Methods: We identified eight major news sources (AP, CNN, Daily Mail, Forbes, NBC News, New York Times, Reuters, Wall Street Journal) which reported on the trial and created a score sheet summarizing major findings, strengths and limitations as described in the published study. Each news article was analyzed by five independent scorers blinded to the news sources. Consensus scores among the review panel were used to estimate the accuracy of news reporting. Results: None of the news sources mentioned all key points of the trial. Six news sources described fewer ...
The Relationship of Practice Area Specialization and Interpersonal Effectiveness to Emotional Sensitivity

Abstract The question of generic skills versus specialist skills is an important one for social work theory building. Sensitivity to emotions, seen as one specific skill, was studied by relating it to intended practice specialty and general levels of interpersonal effectiveness. The findings indicate that general levels of emotional sensitivity are a function of interpersonal effectiveness, and not self-selected practice specialty. The type of emotional sensitivity, however, is related to practice aspirations but not to effectiveness. Different styles of processing emotional information are discussed.
Linear control design for active vibration isolation of narrow band disturbances

When an engine is mounted on a structurally flexible vehicle, it is important to inhibit the transmission of vibrations of the engine into the structure. In the past, vibration isolation has been achieved using passive schemes. Active control at the mount should permit a marked improvement in its vibration isolation characteristics. Three control schemes for actively controlling engine mounts are presented. The first method uses classical control ideas and physical insights for designing a compensator that provides broadband control. Stability issues are considered and provide motivation for pursuing other control methodologies. The second and third control schemes are variations on linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) theory with augmented states added to the system matrix. Knowledge of the disturbance spectrum dictates the choice of the augmented states for both of the LQG schemes. The resulting compensators are a sequence of notch filters where the notches occur at the disturbance frequencies. >
Ordered and Continuous Models of Higher-Order Specifications

We investigate the existence of continuous and fixpoint models of higher-order specifications. Particular attention is paid to the question of extensionality. We use ordered specifications, a particular case of Horn specifications. The main tool for obtaining continuous models is the ideal completion. Unfortunately, it may destroy extensionality. This problem is inherent: we show that there is no completion method which is guaranteed to preserve extensionality. To restore it, generally a quotient has to be taken. It is shown that under certain conditions this preserves the existence of least fixpoints. Examples of the specification method include the essential concepts of Backus's FP and Hoare's CSP.
Female Athletes and the Media: Strides and Stalemates

(1998). Female Athletes and the Media: Strides and Stalemates. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 69, No. 6, pp. 37-40.
How well can data temporal consistency be maintained

A model of hard real-time systems where tasks access shared data is presented, and temporal consistency is defined in terms of the age and dispersion of data. Based on this model, two variants of a multiversion lock-based concurrency control algorithm and two priority-driven preemptive scheduling algorithms, rate-monotone and earliest-deadline-first, are evaluated. Simulation results indicate how well data temporal consistency is maintained for different workload characteristics. These results can be used to guide the design of applications; by avoiding undesirable parameters, it is made easier to maintain data temporal consistency. >
The correlation between computed tomography and duplex evaluation of autogenous vein bypass grafts and their relationship to failure

Objective Duplex ultrasound (DUS) imaging for vein bypass graft (VBG) surveillance is confounded by technical and physiologic factors that reduce the sensitivity for detecting impending graft failure. In contrast, three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (CTA) offers high-fidelity anatomic characterization of VBGs, but its utility in detecting at risk grafts is unknown. The current study analyzed the correlation between DUS and CTA for detection of vein graft stenosis and evaluated the relationship of the observed abnormalities to VBG failure. Methods Consecutive lower extremity VBG patients underwent surveillance with concurrent DUS imaging and CTA at 1 week and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. A standardized algorithm was used for CT reconstruction and extraction of the lumen geometries at 1-mm intervals. At each interval, CT-derived cross-sectional areas were coregistered and correlated to DUS peak systolic velocities (PSVs) within six predesignated anatomic zones and then analyzed for outcome association. Vein graft failure was defined as pathologic change within a given anatomic zone resulting in thrombosis, amputation, or reintervention within the 6-month period after the observed time point. Results The study recruited 54 patients, and 10 (18%) experienced failure ≤18 months of implantation. The expected inverse relationship between cross-sectional area and PSV was only weakly correlated (Spearman rank coefficient = −0.19). Moderate elevations in the PSV ratio (PSV r ; 2-3.5) were frequently transient, with 14 of 18 grafts (78%) demonstrating ratio reduction on subsequent imaging. A PSV r ≥3.5 was associated with a 67% failure rate. CT stenosis 80%) CT stenosis was more likely to succeed than to fail (25%). Significant discordance between CT and DUS was found in 18 patients. Although 14 of these patients had CT stenosis >70% with a PSV r r >3.5. Focused analysis of these patients using computational fluid dynamic modeling demonstrated that vein side branches, local tortuosity, regional diameter variations, and venovenostomies were the drivers of these discrepancies. Conclusions This analysis demonstrated that a PSV r ≥3.5 is strongly correlated with VBG failure, whereas the natural history of moderately elevated PSV r (2-3.5) is largely clinically benign. Although minimum stenosis on the CT scan was highly predictive of success, high-grade CT stenosis was infrequently associated with failure. The interaction of anatomic features with the local flow dynamics was identified as the primary confounder for a direct correlation between CT and DUS imaging.
Why a national competitiveness policy is needed

The deterioration in the US trade deficit and a perception that the USA is becoming uncompetitive in world markets for goods and services have led some observers to suggest that the country should develop a national policy on competitiveness. The author looks to Japan as an example of a nation which has pursued a successful economic and industrial policy, to see whether lessons can be learned for the USA. She suggests that the USA should develop promotional policies to support R&D, investment, and national competitive advantage in research–intensive, high–technology industries.
A multivariate technique for quantitative assessment of the opiate abstinence syndrome

A procedure is described for the quantitative assessment of opiate abstinence. Subjects received exposure to either implanted placebo pellets or to morphine pellets implanted 1, 2, or 3 days. The naloxone-precipitated abstinence syndrome was observed in these animals, and a discriminant function was obtained which significantly described group differences on the multivariate profile of withdrawal responses. The function provided an accurate assessment of the length of morphine exposure in another independent set of subjects. The results suggest that discriminant function analysis is a useful procedure for assessing the opiate abstinence syndrome.
Notes on a Natural History of Fads

The natural history of fads of fashions, a particular type of social change, is told as a succession of chronological stages, each characterized by the interaction among producers, distributors, and consumers. The process is thus: discovery of the potential fad, promotion by the discoverers and/or original consumers, labeling, dissemination, eventual loss of exclusiveness and uniqueness, death by displacement.
A Nuclear Spin Valve: Towards the Read-out of Single Nuclear Spin Qubits

We propose a scheme to read out qubits defined in single nuclear spins--addressing one of the main obstacles on the way to a solid state NMR quantum computer. It is based on a "spin valve" between bulk nuclear spin systems that is highly sensitive to the state of the qubit spin. We suggest a concrete realization of that detector in a Si lattice and show that it can be operated over a broad range of experimental parameters. Transport of spin through the proposed spin valve is analogous to that of charge through an electronic nanostructure, but exhibits distinctive new features.
Early antiangiogenic activity of bevacizumab evaluated by computed tomography perfusion scan in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascularizedtumorwithapoorprognosis.InaphaseIIstudy that combined bevacizumab with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced HCC, we examined computed tomography perfusion (CTp) scan parameters as surrogate markers of angiogenesis after bevacizumab administration. Methods. HCC patients received bevacizumab alone i.v. at 10 mg/kg on day 1 during cycle 1. CTp scanning was performed at baseline and days 10–12 to assess changes in tissue blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), and permeability surface area product (PS). Results. Compared with baseline, a significant decrease in the estimated tumor perfusion parameters including BF, BV, and PS and an increase in MTT were seen on days 10–12 following bevacizumab administration alone. Patients with progressive disease had lower baseline MTT values and a higher percent increase followingbevacizumabadministrationthanthosewithstable disease or partial responses. Conclusions. Bevacizumab induced a significant decreaseintumorBF,BV,andPSandanincreaseinMTT by CTp scan in HCC. Baseline and percent change in MTT following bevacizumab administration correlated with clinical outcome, whereas BF, BV, and PS did not. The Oncologist 2008;13:120–125
Interpretation of the magnetic resonance imaging signal from a foam

Foams are important in a variety of industries including food, petroleum and chemical processing. Recently several research groups have demonstrated the effectiveness of measuring vertical phase density in foams as a function of time by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The advantage of using MRI for studying the stability of such multiphase systems lies in the ability to uniquely determine the density as a function of position noninvasively. Data obtained from these experiments should prove to be a sensitive test of theoretical models of these systems. The objective of this communication is to describe difficulties associated with interpretation of the MRI signal from foams.
The community effects of industrialized farming: Social science research and challenges to corporate farming laws

Social scientists have a long history of concern with the effects of industrialized farming on communities. Recently, the topic has taken on new importance as corporate farming laws in a number of states are challenged by agribusiness interests. Defense of these laws often requires evidence from social science research that industrialized farming poses risks to communities. A problem is that no recent journal articles or books systematically assess the extent to which research to date provides evidence of these risks. This article addresses the gap in the literature. We evaluate studies investigating the effects of industrialized farming on community well-being from the 1930s to the present. Using a pool of 51 studies, we document the research designs employed, evaluate results as to whether adverse consequences were found, and delineate the aspects of community life that may be affected by industrialized farming. Of these studies, 57% found largely detrimental impacts, 25% were mixed, finding some detrimental impacts, and 18% found no detrimental impacts. Adverse impacts were found across an array of indicators measuring socioeconomic conditions, community social fabric, and environmental conditions. Few positive effects of industrialized farming were found across studies. The results demonstrate that public concern about industrialized farms is warranted. Scholars often debate whether research should be oriented around disciplines’ accumulated body of knowledge or, conversely, provide critical knowledge in the public interest. Social scientists’ long-term engagement in building the body of research on industrialized farming allows for accomplishment of both objectives.
Predictive ab-initio computations of properties of ferroelectric materials

We present a newly developed, ab-initio, self-consistent procedure for predictive calculations of electronic and related properties of ferroelectric materials. Known as the Bagayoko, Zhao, amd Williams (BZM) procedure, this approach resolves the long-standing disagreement between experimental and theoretical conduction bands, in general, and band gaps, in particular, for ferroelectrical materials and other semiconductors. We discuss applications to tetragonal BaTiO3 and implications for molecules and band-gap engineering as well as the nuclear shell model.