cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low Heat Pain Thresholds in Migraineurs Between Attacks

Background/ObjectiveBetween attacks, migraine is associated with hypersensitivities to sensory stimuli. The objective of this study was to investigate hypersensitivity to pain in migraineurs between attacks.MethodsCutaneous heat pain thresholds were measured in 112 migraineurs, migraine free for ≥48 hours, and 75 healthy controls. Pain thresholds at the head and at the arm were compared between migraineurs and controls using two-tailed t-tests. Among migraineurs, correlations between heat pain thresholds and headache frequency, allodynia symptom severity, and time interval until next headache were calculated.ResultsMigraineurs had lower pain thresholds than controls at the head (43.9℃ ± 3.2℃ vs. 45.1℃ ± 3.0℃, p = 0.015) and arm (43.2℃ ± 3.4℃ vs. 44.8℃ ± 3.3℃, p < 0.001). There were not significant correlations between pain thresholds and headache frequency or allodynia symptom severity. For the 41 migraineurs for whom time to next headache was known, there were positive correlations between time to next h...
A simple extreme point sufficient condition for checking instability of interval matrices

This paper provides a simple, analytical sufficient condition for checking the presence of instability of interval matrices with asymptotically stable vertex matrices.
The Politics of Pension Reform in Latin America

Latin America has been a world pioneer of neoliberal, structural reform of social security pensions (‘privatisation’). This article focuses on the diverse political economy circumstances that enabled such reform, analysing why policy makers have chosen such a costly strategy and how they have managed to implement it. First, in nine countries with diverse regimes (authoritarian and democratic) it examines the internal political process that led to the adoption of reform. There tends to be an inverse relationship between the degree of democratisation and that of privatisation, but the political regime alone cannot fully explain the reform outcomes in all cases. To expand the search for explanatory variables, other key factors that might have influenced the reform design are studied, among them relevant political actors (driving and opposing forces), existing institutional arrangements, legal constraints, internal and external economics and policy legacy.
Metal‐Catalyst‐Free Carbohydrazide Fuel Cells with Three‐Dimensional Graphene Anodes

As a potential solution to concerns on sustainable energy, the wide spread commercialization of fuel cell has long been hindered by limited reserves and relatively high costs of metal catalysts. 3D graphene, a carbon-only catalyst prepared by reduction of carbon monoxide with lithium oxide, is found to electrochemically catalyze carbohydrazide oxidation reaction efficiently. A prototype of a completely metal-catalyst-free anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) with a 3D graphene anode catalyst and an N-doped CNT (N-CNT) cathode catalyst generate a peak power density of 24.9 mW cm(-2) . The average number of electrons electrochemically extracted from one carbohydrazide molecule is 4.9, indicating the existence of CN bond activation, which is a key factor contributing to high fuel utilization efficiency.
Justice for All: Earl Warren and the Nation He Made – By Jim Newton

In 1961, billboards funded by the conservative John Birch Society famously demanded the impeachment of Chief Justice Earl Warren of the U.S. Supreme Court. His abuses, the group argued, included de...
The inference validity problem in legal discovery

This paper introduces the inference validity problem, a software-engineering concern that manifests in and complicates the pre-trial process of discovery in litigation. The problem is related to the requirements validation problem in traditional software engineering, but with stricter constraints on stakeholder communication and potentially severe liability risks on the part of software engineers who are retained as expert witnesses. We propose an approach, based on the use of formal methods and traceability, to enable software engineers to avoid this problem, thereby increasing the quality of written opinions while mitigating the risk of liability.
Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Targets for Diabetic Endothelial Dysfunction

Diabetes mellitus and its associated complications are major health problems in the developed world. Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) even in the presence of intensive glycemic control. Indeed, 75% of diabetic patients will die of CVD. Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk for the 3 major types of macrovascular disease (coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke).1 A striking feature of diabetic cardiovascular complications is the appearance of accelerated atherosclerosis, which anatomically resembles atherosclerosis in nondiabetic individuals but is more extensive and occurs at an earlier age. Substantial clinical and experimental evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction is a crucial early step in the development of atherosclerosis. Evidence also suggests that it participates in plaque progression and the clinical emergence of cardiovascular events. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation and “endothelial activation,” which is associated with a proinflammatory, proliferative, and procoagulatory milieu that promotes initiation and complications of atherogenesis.2 Endothelial dysfunction associated with insulin resistance appears to precede the development of overt hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.3 Therefore, endothelial dysfunction may be a critical early target for the prevention of atherosclerosis and CVD in patients with diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance.2 A synergistic cross talk exists among the conventional cardiovascular risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus, and such cross talk contributes to disruption of endothelial integrity and acceleration of atherosclerosis. However, the biochemical and cellular links between elevated blood glucose levels and endothelial dysfunction remain incompletely understood. This review will focus on the multifactorial nature of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus, the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and conventional cardiovascular risk factors, and the translational potential of molecular targets such as the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) for treating …
Harmonics of outer hair cell motility

The voltage-dependent mechanical activity of outer hair cells (OHC) from the organ of Corti is considered responsible for the peripheral auditory system's enhanced ability to detect and analyze sound. Nonlinear processes within the inner ear are presumed to be characteristic of this enhancement process. Harmonic distortion in the OHC mechanical response was analyzed under whole-cell voltage clamp. It is shown that the OHC produces DC, fundamental and second harmonic length changes in response to sinusoidal transmembrane voltage stimulation. Mechanical second harmonic distortion decreases with frequency, whereas the predicted transmembrane second harmonic voltage increases with frequency. Furthermore, the phase of the second harmonic distortion does not correspond to the phase of the predicted transmembrane voltage. In contradistinction, it has been previously shown (Santos-Sacchi, J. 1992. Neuroscience. 12:1906–1916) that fundamental voltage and evoked mechanical responses share magnitude and phase characteristics. OHC length changes are modeled as resulting from voltage-dependent cell surface area changes. The model suggests that the observed harmonic responses in the mechanical response are consistent with the nonlinearity of the voltage-to-length change (V-delta L) function. While these conclusions hold for the data obtained with the present voltage clamp protocol and help to understand the mechanism of OHC motility, modeling the electromechanical system of the OHC in the in vivo state indicates that the mechanical nonlinearity of the OHC contributes minimally to mechanical distortion. That is, in vivo, at moderate sound pressure levels and below, the dominant factor which contributes to nonlinearities of the OHC mechanical response resides within the nonlinear, voltage-generating, stereociliar transduction process.
Spectrum estimation of short-time stationary signals in additive noise and channel distortion

In this work, spectrum estimation of a short-time stationary signal that is degraded by both channel distortion and additive noise is addressed. A maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) algorithm is developed to jointly identify the degradation system and estimate short-time signal spectra. The source signal is assumed to be generated by a hidden Markov model (HMM) with state-dependent short-time spectral distributions described by mixtures of Gaussian densities. The distortion channel is linear time-invariant, and the noise is Gaussian. The algorithm is derived by using the principle of expectation-maximization (EM), where the unknown parameters of channel and noise are estimated iteratively, and the short-time signal power spectra are obtained from the posterior sufficient statistics of the source signal. Other spectral representation parameters, such as autoregressive model parameters or cepstral parameters, are obtained by minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) estimation from the power spectral estimates. The estimation algorithm was evaluated on simulated signals at the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of 20 dB down to 0 dB, where it produced convergent estimation and significantly reduced spectral distortion.
On the effectiveness of route-based packet filtering for distributed DoS attack prevention in power-law internets

Denial of service (DoS) attack on the Internet has become a pressing problem. In this paper, we describe and evaluate route-based distributed packet filtering (DPF), a novel approach to distributed DoS (DDoS) attack prevention. We show that DPF achieves proactiveness and scalability, and we show that there is an intimate relationship between the effectiveness of DPF at mitigating DDoS attack and power-law network topology.The salient features of this work are two-fold. First, we show that DPF is able to proactively filter out a significant fraction of spoofed packet flows and prevent attack packets from reaching their targets in the first place. The IP flows that cannot be proactively curtailed are extremely sparse so that their origin can be localized---i.e., IP traceback---to within a small, constant number of candidate sites. We show that the two proactive and reactive performance effects can be achieved by implementing route-based filtering on less than 20% of Internet autonomous system (AS) sites. Second, we show that the two complementary performance measures are dependent on the properties of the underlying AS graph. In particular, we show that the power-law structure of Internet AS topology leads to connectivity properties which are crucial in facilitating the observed performance effects.
The hemodialysis prescription and quality-adjusted life expectancy. Renal Physicians Association Working Committee on Clinical Guidelines.

What comprises an optimal prescription for uremictoxin clearance in the chronic hemodialysis setting is a much disputed issue. The dispute is underscored by the rise in mortality of the U.S. dialysis population during the 1980s and reports of significant noncompliance with minimal treatment standards recommended from the National Cooperative Dialysis Study. A decision model was developed to summarize and test assumptions about the effect of various dialytic-treatment options on patient outcomes. Treatment options included delivered fractional urea clearance (Kt/V), dialysis-treatment duration, dialysis membrane (high flux versus conventional), dialysate (bicarbonate versus acetate), and ultrafiltration (controlled versus uncontrolled). The expected outcome for any set of treatment options was calculated as a function of a representative patient's life expectancy, adjusted for the probability and assumed importance of avoiding uremia- and treatment-related complications, referred to as quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE). QALE increased by 59 days for each 0.1-U increase in Kt/V and by 187 days with high-flux dialysis. Controlled ultrafiltration with bicarbonate dialysis increased QALE by 30 days compared with uncontrolled ultrafiltration with acetate dialysis. Sensitivity analyses showed that, under conservative assumptions, QALE increased 11 days for every 0.1 increment in Kt/V. The model afforded a framework for reviewing the literature and testing assumptions about the expected benefits of dialytic-treatment options for the development of a clinical guideline on the adequacy of dialysis.
Atypical development of resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia in children at high risk for depression.

Compromised respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA, i.e., low cardiac vagal control) frequently characterizes clinically depressed adults and also has been detected in infants of depressed mothers; however, its existence has not been established in older at-risk offspring. We investigated developmental patterns of RSA in a sample of 163 5-14 year-old children, who were either at high risk for depression (due to having a parent with a childhood-onset mood disorder) or low-risk for depression. We hypothesized that high-risk children have lower resting RSA than do low-risk children, which could reflect atypical developmental trajectories. Children's RSA was assessed during resting baseline periods on multiple occasions, typically one-year apart. Linear growth modeling indicated a group by age interaction. Low-risk children (but not the high-risk children) exhibited a significantly increasing trajectory in resting RSA with age. Mood disorders in offspring did not account for the Group X Age interaction effect. Our study provides new evidence that children at high risk for depression have an atypical developmental trajectory of RSA across late childhood.
CK2 is a novel negative regulator of NADPH oxidase and a neuroprotectant in mice after cerebral ischemia.

NADPH oxidase is a major complex that produces reactive oxygen species (ROSs) during the ischemic period and aggravates brain damage and cell death after ischemic injury. Although many approaches have been tested for preventing production of ROSs by NADPH oxidase in ischemic brain injury, the regulatory mechanisms of NADPH oxidase activity after cerebral ischemia are still unclear. In this study, we identified casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a critical modulator of NADPH oxidase and elucidated the role of CK2 as a neuroprotectant after oxidative insults to the brain. We found that the protein levels of the catalytic subunits CK2α and CK2α′, as well as the total activity of CK2, are significantly reduced after transient focal cerebral ischemia (tFCI). We also found this deactivation of CK2 caused by ischemia/reperfusion increases expression of Nox2 and translocation of p67phox and Rac1 to the membrane after tFCI. Interestingly, we found that the inactive status of Rac1 was captured by the catalytic subunit CK2α under normal conditions. However, binding between CK2α and Rac1 was immediately diminished after tFCI, and Rac1 activity was markedly increased after CK2 inhibition. Moreover, we found that deactivation of CK2 in the mouse brain enhances production of ROSs and neuronal cell death via increased NADPH oxidase activity. The increased brain infarct volume caused by CK2 inhibition was restored by apocynin, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor. This study suggests that CK2 can be a direct molecular target for modulation of NADPH oxidase activity after ischemic brain injury.
Randomness, contagion and heterogeneity in the formation of interstate alliances— a reconsideration

The diversity in form and purpose exhibited by interstate alliances and the difficulty of developing generalizations about them have led political scientists interested in alliances to investigate new research techniques to help them in coping with the intractability of their subject matter. Prominent in this regard have been efforts to use stochastic process models to search for regularities in the process by which alliances have formed and re‐formed. Such an approach, however, has not as yet proven conducive to the development of a theory of alliance behavior, in large part because of inconsistencies in the empirical findings and in part because of the difficulty of bridging the gap between describing a set of outcomes and elucidating the processes that produced them. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to make the case that progress toward a theory of alliance formation is possible, and to suggest that the most appropriate way to pursue that goal is through a combination of deductive reasoning and de...
Reactions of Directly Acting Agents with Nucleic Acids

Mutagens and carcinogens can be divided into those called “direct” because they are reactive with macromolecules without enzymatic activation, and those that require metabolic activation. In this chapter, only directly acting agents will be discussed, with one exception. Dia1kylnitrosamines must undergo only a simple enzymatic step to be reactive, and for this reason they are included in the section on N-nitroso compounds rather than in Chapters V and VI, which deal with metabolically activated agents.
Effects of Work at a Vdt-Intensive Laboratory Task on Performance, Mood, and Fatigue Symptoms

The relationship between reports of visual, musculoskeletal and psychological complaints of VDT users and performance was examined during an unpaced video-coding task. Additionally, the relationship between reports of visual stress and general fatigue was explored. Subject complaints increased during the task, but performance was unaffected. A strong association between visual stress and fatigue was found.
Flying through polytropes

Dropping objects into a tunnel bored through Earth has been used to visualize simple harmonic motion for many years, and even imagined for use as rapid transport systems. Unlike previous studies that assumed a constant density Earth, here we calculate the fall-through time of polytropes, models of Earth's interior where the pressure varies as a power of the density. This means the fall-through time can be calculated as the central condensation varies from one to large within the family of polytropes. Having a family of models, rather than a single model, helps to explore the properties of planets and stars. Comparing the family of phase space solutions shows that the fall-through time and velocity approach the limit of radial free-fall onto a point mass as the central condensation increases. More condensed models give higher maximum velocities but do not have the right global properties for Earth. The angular distance one can travel along the surface is calculated as a brachistochrone (path of least time) tunnel that is a function of the depth to which the tunnel is bored. We also show that completely degenerate objects, simple models of white dwarf stars supported by completely degenerate electrons, have sizes similar to Earth but their much higher masses mean a much larger gravitational strength and a shorter fall-through time. Numerical integrations of the equations describing polytropes and completely degenerate objects are used to generate the initial models. Analytic solutions and numerical integration of the equations of motion are used to calculate the fall-through time for each model, and numerical integrations with analytic approximations at the boundaries are used to calculate the brachistochrones in the polytropes. Scaling relationships are provided to help use these results in other planets and stars.
Long period superstructures in Ag3Mg

Abstract One-dimensional long period superstructures (LPS) in Ag3Mg have been studied by high resolution electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Several new polytypes have been found. A free energy model involving competing pair interactions is discussed as a possible candidate for describing the configurational statistics of this alloy system.
Abstract TMP12: MR Diffusion and CT ASPECTS Disparities as a Function of Time From Presentation: Analysis and Implications for Acute Stroke Triage

Introduction: In April of 2010, the Cleveland Clinic switched to an MR based triage for candidates for intra-arterial thrombolysis and thrombectomy, yielding a patient cohort that was imaged with both MRI and CT allowing comparison of imaging characteristics and an analysis of current triage algorithms employed. The investigators sought to ascertain what differences in DWI and MRI ASPECTS scores might be present in this cohort as a function of time from symptom onset, hypothesizing that the degree of mismatch may increase and/or decrease given that the imaging findings of ischemia become apparent on CT and MRI at different rates. Such a difference may have implications for designing imaging triage regimes for stroke centers. Methods: The Cleveland Clinic Acute Stroke Database was queried, excluding patients with incomplete data, yielding 291 patients. Time of the latest pre-treatment CT exam, MR exam and CTA exam was recorded as a function of time vs. the time the patient was last known well. ASPECTS score was assessed for each CT, CTA and MR exam. CT and CTA were used to determine a representative CT ASPECTS Score, using whichever was obtained closer to the time of the MRI. Secondary Analysis: Using an ASPECTS score of 7 as a discriminator for IA treatment, we assessed whether a given image would or would not have been selected for IA therapy, and assessed whether the DWI information would have resulted in a change in therapy. Results: Figure 1 shows a scatter plot of the time between onset and MRI imaging, and the disparity between CT ASPECTS and MRI ASPECTS. Conclusion: The mismatch between DWI and CT/CTA appears to be greatest between 180-420 minutes between onset to MRI, suggesting that MRI DWI regimes may be most valuable in patients during this period. Further analysis is needed in order to further refine acute stroke triage paradigms.
Paratrichophaea (Pezizales) in North America.

Paratrichophaea macrocystis is reported from North America, and two other previously described species are transferred to the genus from other genera. The new combinations are P. michiganensis and P. pygmea. Paratrichophaea is compared to Tricharina, Wilcoxina, Trichophaeopsis, Rhizoblepharia, Trichophaea and Cheilymenia but is considered to be distinct from them. The genus Paratrichophaea Trigaux (1985) was proposed for a single species, P. macrocystis Trigaux, from a single collection composed of three apothecia from France. No type material was
Declining Effectiveness of Herpes Zoster Vaccine in Adults Aged ≥60 Years

Understanding long-term effectiveness of herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine is critical for determining vaccine policy. 176 078 members of Kaiser Permanente ≥60 years vaccinated with HZ vaccine and three matched unvaccinated members were included. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with vaccination at each year following vaccination were estimated by Cox regression model. The effectiveness of HZ vaccine decreased from 68.7% (95% CI, 66.3%-70.9%) in the first year to 4.2% (95% CI, -24.0% to 25.9%) in the eighth year. This rapid decline in effectiveness of HZ vaccine suggests that a revaccination strategy may be needed, if feasible.
Stride adjustments during a running approach toward a force plate.

(1996). Stride Adjustments during a Running Approach toward a Force Plate. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 97-101.
Flight loads spectra of two business jets

Paper submitted to the AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference held at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor (Maryland), 13-17 of January 2014.
Modification of carbonyl iron powder microwave absorber for isolator load by silane coupling agent

Carbonyl iron powder was modified by Silane coupling agent(KH-560),and carbonyl iron powder/epoxy resin composite material was prepared using epoxy resin as matrix and carbonyl iron powder as absorbing agent.The modified carbonyl iron powder was characterized by TG,IR etc.The electric volume resistivity,voltage breakdown strength and absorption loss of the carbonyl iron powder/epoxy resin absorber were measured,and the characteristics of isolator using the prepared absorber was tested.The results show that the dispersivity of carbonyl iron powder in epoxy resin matrix is good and the degree of insulation among carbonyl iron powder in the composite is quite high.The absorber has electric volume resistivity of 4.99×108Ω·cm,breakdown strength of 700V/mm and absorption loss of 1.8 to 7.8dB/mm in frequency range of 6 to18GHz.The isolator employing this composite absorber has a VSWR≤1.6,insertion loss≤1.2,isolation≥11dB,relative bandwidth of 100%.
Imaging Polarization in Budding Yeast

We describe methods for live-cell imaging of yeast cells that we have exploited to image yeast polarity establishment. As a rare event occurring on a fast time-scale, imaging polarization involves a trade-off between spatiotemporal resolution and long-term imaging without excessive phototoxicity. By synchronizing cells in a way that increases resistance to photodamage, we discovered unexpected aspects of polarization including transient intermediates with more than one polarity cluster, oscillatory clustering of polarity factors, and mobile "wandering" polarity sites.
Investigating the Kinetics and Specificity of Transcription Activator-Like Effector Binding using High Throughput Single Molecule Imaging

Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) are proteins secreted by Xanthomonas bacteria which bind to specific sequences of DNA. The TALE DNA binding domain is composed of repeats of 33-34 highly conserved amino acids with two variable amino acid residues at positions 12 and 13, known as the repeat variable diresidue (RVD). By varying the number of amino acid sequence repeats and the two critical amino acids of each RVD, any DNA sequence can be targeted with high affinity using TALEs. This flexibility makes these designer TALEs (dTALEs) useful for locating and editing sites in the genome and for fluorescently labeling specific loci in the nuclei of live cells. To better understand the binding kinetics, target specificity and site search mechanisms used by TALEs, we have applied a DNA flow cell device to trap and extend DNA molecules under a hydrodynamic force in the presence of engineered TALEs. Known as DNA curtains, these devices provide a high throughput method of imaging TALE protein-DNA interactions at the single molecule level. Using this technique, we are able to monitor TALE binding, site occupation probabilities and protein off-rates.
Perioperative Management of Pulmonary Hypertension

The perioperative management of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) undergoing heart and lung transplantation is challenging. As more patients with near-systemic pulmonary pressures receive donor lungs and pulmonary pressure cutoff values for heart transplant candidates become more fluid, perioperative physicians will be required to care for an increasing number of critically ill patients. Multidisciplinary care involving anesthesiologists, intensivists, PH experts, and cardiac surgeons is pivotal for a favorable outcome.
Nuanced Aggression in Group Decision Making

Group decision making in organizations represents an opportunity for group members to seek to exert social influence. Whining and bullying are examined as nonrational influence tactics used by individuals in groups. Both tactics are envisioned as forms of aggression, differing across a dominance—submissiveness continuum. The impact of whining and bullying as compliance gaining tactics for organizational group decision making is examined using 234 individuals whose jobs include group decision making in organizations. The use of bullying and whining tactics are positively correlated indicating dominance complementarity, with increases in one tactic being associated with increases in the other. In addition, bullying and whining are found to have negative effects on cohesiveness and group decision-making effectiveness.
Supervised machine-learning reveals that old and obese people achieve low dapsone concentrations

The human species is becoming increasingly obese. Dapsone, which is extensively used across the globe for dermatological disorders, arachnid bites, and for treatment of several bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases, could be affected by obesity. We performed a clinical experiment, using optimal design, in volunteers weighing 44-150 kilograms, to identify the effect of obesity on dapsone pharmacokinetic parameters based on maximum-likelihood solution via the expectation-maximization algorithm. Artificial intelligence-based multivariate adaptive regression splines were used for covariate selection, and identified weight and/or age as predictors of absorption, systemic clearance and volume of distribution. These relationships occurred only between certain patient weight and age ranges, delimited by multiple hinges and regions of discontinuity, not identified by standard pharmacometric approaches. Older and obese people have lower drug concentrations after standard dosing, but with complex patterns. Given that efficacy is concentration-dependent, optimal dapsone doses need to be personalized for obese patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Aging Mechanisms and Nondestructive Aging Indicator of Filled Cross-Linked Polyethylene (XLPE) Exposed to Simultaneous Thermal and Gamma Radiation

Aging mechanisms and a nondestructive aging indicator of filled cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable insulation material used in nuclear power plants (NPPs) are studied. Using various material characterization techniques, likely candidates and functions for the main additives in a commercial filled-XLPE insulation material have been identified. These include a mixture of brominated components such as decabromodiphenyl ether and Sb2O3 as flame retardants, ZnS as white pigment and polymerized 1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline as antioxidant. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, oxidation induction time and measurements of dielectric loss tangent are utilized to monitor property changes as a function of thermal and radiation exposure of the cable material. The level of antioxidant decreases with aging by volatilization and chemical reaction with free radicals. Thermal aging at 90 ℃ for 25 days or less causes no observable change to the cross-linked polymer structure. Gamma radiation causes damage to crystalline polymer regions and introduces defects. Dielectric loss tangent is shown to be an effective and reliable nondestructive indicator of the aging severity of the filled-XLPE insulation material.
Challenges of Large Format Packaging and Some of Its Assembly Solutions

Abstract This paper will focus on the technical challenges and solutions that a packaging and/or equipment engineer faces during the encapsulation of a large format substrate - either a wafer or pa...
The conserved RNA recognition motif and C3H1 domain of the Not4 ubiquitin ligase regulate in vivo ligase function

The Ccr4-Not complex controls RNA polymerase II (Pol II) dependent gene expression and proteasome function. The Not4 ubiquitin ligase is a Ccr4-Not subunit that has both a RING domain and a conserved RNA recognition motif and C3H1 domain (referred to as the RRM-C domain) with unknown function. We demonstrate that while individual Not4 RING or RRM-C mutants fail to replicate the proteasomal defects found in Not4 deficient cells, mutation of both exhibits a Not4 loss of function phenotype. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the Not4 RRM-C affects a specific subset of Pol II-regulated genes, including those involved in transcription elongation, cyclin-dependent kinase regulated nutrient responses, and ribosomal biogenesis. The Not4 RING, RRM-C, or RING/RRM-C mutations cause a generalized increase in Pol II binding at a subset of these genes, yet their impact on gene expression does not always correlate with Pol II recruitment which suggests Not4 regulates their expression through additional mechanisms. Intriguingly, we find that while the Not4 RRM-C is dispensable for Ccr4-Not association with RNA Pol II, the Not4 RING domain is required for these interactions. Collectively, these data elucidate previously unknown roles for the conserved Not4 RRM-C and RING domains in regulating Ccr4-Not dependent functions in vivo.
Thematic Maps in Geography

A ‘thematic map’ addresses a specific theme, such as health or climate. In both function and content, thematic maps are fundamentally different from navigation maps, which serve the way-finding needs of drivers, pilots, and tourists, and general-purpose or reference maps, which portray a diverse set of basic features such as coastlines, terrain, and transport routes. Thematic maps have two main components: a thematic overlay, and a base map. Typically, the base map is already available in a cartographic database or collection of general-purpose maps, and the map author adds the graphic symbols and labels that portray the map's unique theme. Important decisions in the design of a thematic map include the choice of data, a projection, and visual variables, and the composition of the map's title and legend. The most common thematic map is the ‘choropleth map,’ in which area symbols representing specific categories completely fill the boundaries of countries, provinces, census tracts, and other areal units.
Singularities on Viscous Interfaces

When one thinks of singularities or cusps in fluid mechanics, one usually envisions models of inviscid fluids with interfaces lacking surface tension. Thus, for example the water wave of maximum height, the Stokes wave, has a cusp of angle of 120°. Further, if one studies idealized flows like line vortices, one will find singular behaviors along the axes.
Deep Neural Network based Music Source Conducting System

In this paper, we propose a system that can interact with music source In this paper, we propose a system that can interact with music source using a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based controller which is inspired by the conducting activity. Conducting is one of the most exquisitely developed connections between music and gestural activity. The system gives inactive and intuitive musical experience to the user with the existing music source using a smartphone with MEMS sensors. By using a deep neural network (DNN), the algorithm derives the temporal, amplitude, and filter information at the same time from the input data. While conventional studies on the analysis of conducting gesture have a limitation on modeling complex model, the proposed system classifies various messages with high accuracy. The real-time demonstration of the system is provided through MATLAB.
Why Wilson Matters: The Origins of American Liberal Internationalism and Its Crisis Today. By Tony Smith. (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2017. Pp. xviii, 332. $35.00.)

Woodrow Wilson described himself as a “progressive with the brakes on.” This new study takes some cue from an era, since 9/11, in which the United States has often struggled to find its brakes. Fro...
Human central auditory plasticity: A review of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure cochlear implant performance and tinnitus perception.

Objective Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging noninvasive technology used to study cerebral cortex activity. Being virtually silent and compatible with cochlear implants has helped establish fNIRS as an important tool when investigating auditory cortex as well as cortices involved with hearing and language processing in adults and during child development. With respect to this review article, more recently, fNIRS has also been used to investigate central auditory plasticity following hearing loss and tinnitus or phantom sound perception. Methods Here, we review the currently available literature reporting the use of fNIRS in human studies with cochlear implants and tinnitus to measure human central auditory cortical circuits. We also provide the reader with detailed reviews of the technology and traditional recording paradigms/methods used in these auditory-based studies. Results The purpose of this review article is to summarize theoretical advancements in our understanding of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying auditory processes and their plasticity through fNIRS research of human auditory performance with cochlear implantation and plasticity that may contribute to the central percepts of tinnitus. Conclusion fNIRS is an emerging noninvasive brain imaging technology that has wide reaching application that can be applied to human studies involving cochlear implants and tinnitus. Level of evidence N/A.
A numerical scheme for problems in fractional calculus

In this paper, a new numerical method for solving the fractional differential equations with boundary value problems is presented. The method is based upon hybrid functions approximation. The properties of hybrid functions consisting of block-pulse functions and Bernoulli polynomials are presented. The Riemann-Liouville fractional integral operator for hybrid functions is given. This operator is then utilized to reduce the solution of the boundary value problems for fractional differential equations to a system of algebraic equations. Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique.
Tidal eddies at a narrow channel inlet in operational oil spill models

Abstract In operational oil spill modeling, hydrodynamic models often employ a coarse-resolution grid for computational efficiency. However, this practical grid resolution poorly resolves small-scale flow features, such as starting jet vortices (tidal eddies) that are common at the inlet of bar-built estuaries with narrow inlet channels, particularly where channel dredging and jetties have been employed to aid ship traffic. These eddies influence Lagrangian transport paths and hence the fate of an oil spill potentially entering or leaving an estuary. This research quantifies the effect of tidal eddies on the mixing process and effects at model scales relevant to the operational prediction of oil spills, using the Galveston Bay entrance channel as a study site. Model grid sensitivity was analyzed, yielding an adequate eddy solution at the horizontal grid size of ∼140 m. It is demonstrated that the SUNTANS model at a practical operational grid resolution (∼400 m) captures neither the eddies nor their effects on particle movement, despite showing a satisfactory prediction of net transport through the inlet. The need for subgrid eddy modeling is discussed, and an empirical approach is proposed that can improve oil spill predictions at operational grid resolution scales when results from a high-resolution model are available.
Synthetic development: learning to program multicellular self-organization

Abstract Recent advances in genetic engineering technologies have enabled our ability to construct artificial genetic circuits that drive user-defined cellular functions in mammalian systems. In this review, we discuss how we can engineer intercellular communication networks to orchestrate complex multicellular collective behaviors leading to formation of tissues and organoids. This bottom-up engineering approach is called ‘synthetic development,’ and the field aims to elucidate how genetic programs direct formation of multicellular structures to improve our understanding of the design principles of tissue development. By leveraging this knowledge with the programmability of customized molecular toolkits, synthetic development will provide new capabilities to engineer complex tissues and organoids with desired functions for cell-based regenerative medicine applications.
Mental Illness Among Youth With Chronic Physical Conditions

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Youth with chronic physical conditions (CPCs) may be at greater risk for developing chronic mental health conditions (MHCs), and limitations in the ability to engage in developmentally appropriate activities may contribute to the risk of MHCs among youth with CPCs. We compared the risk of incident MHCs in youth with and without CPCs and explored whether activity limitations contribute to any such association. METHODS: The 2003–2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey provided a nationally representative cohort of 48 572 US youth aged 6 to 25 years. We calculated the 2-year cumulative incidence of MHCs overall and by baseline CPC status. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the association between CPCs and incident MHCs, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Stepwise models and the Sobel test evaluated activity limitations as a mediator of this relationship. RESULTS: The 2-year cumulative incidence of MHCs was 7.8% overall, 11.5% in youth with CPCs (14.7% of sample), and 7.1% in those without. The adjusted risk of incident MHCs was 51% greater (adjusted hazard ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval 1.30–1.74) in youth with CPCs compared with those without. Activity limitations mediated 13.5% of this relationship (P CONCLUSIONS: This nationally representative cohort study supports the hypotheses that youth with CPCs have increased risk for MHCs and that activity limitations may play a role in MHC development. Youth with CPCs may benefit from services to bolster their ability to participate in developmentally important activities and to detect and treat new onset MHCs.
Análisis de las medidas tomadas a favor de la disminución de la evasión tributaria en Chile para el período 2014 – 2017

Tax evasion is a frequent and well-known problem today. This is done through illicit and unethical acts, which causes the Treasury to collect less tax revenue than due, which induces the tax burden to rise for honest taxpayers. The purpose of this investigation is to introduce the measures implemented by the Internal Revenue System (SII), for the 2014-2017 periods, in order to reduce national tax evasion. This will be done through document analysis, through the Compliance Management Plans Tax issued by the auditing body for the mentioned period, Public Accounts and a letter issued by the Regional Director of Internal Revenue System of Valparaiso as a response, these being codified through the categories and subcategories of analysis in the software ATLAS TI. Finally, the most frequent forms and figures of evasion have been identified, being one of them the emission of false invoices from taxpayers. The measures that were maintained over time to reduce the tax noncompliance are made under face-to-face and non-face-to-face actions. On the other hand, the effectiveness of these measures imposed through the TAGs, was evaluated through compliance indicators, where the highest performance was through tax audits
How Suffering Challenges Our Future

This last chapter imagines possible futures and the degree to which suffering remains a challenge. After a summary of the chapters in Part V, an illustrative conceptual model visually shows the key elements that make a major difference in the cycles of relieving and deepening suffering. Such abstraction can be an aid in both qualitative and quantitatively oriented research. Next, I list and discuss a wide variety of human rights violations, showing not only a strong relationship between global suffering and human rights violations, but how these violations might push us to devise more sophisticated measures of suffering. Research on suffering remains difficult and sometimes tedious, but it offers progress toward a knowledge base that can lead to more effective ways to understand and alleviate suffering in the future.
Risk Factors for Seclusion in Children and Adolescents Inpatient Psychiatry: The Role of Demographic Characteristics, Clinical Severity, Life Experiences and Diagnoses.

To understand the risk factors for seclusion in a sample of children and adolescents admitted to an inpatient psychiatry unit looking at demographic, clinical severity, life experience, and diagnostic characteristics. An unmatched case–control retrospective analysis of psychiatric records in a pediatric inpatient unit from December 2011 to December 2015 (N = 1986) Individual characteristics, including demographics, clinical severity, and clinical presentation as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) jointly predicted seclusion in adolescents, with younger age, male sex, black race, having a prior admission, and having a disruptive behavior or bipolar and related disorder diagnoses being predictive of seclusion. While demographic and clinical severity factors were predictive of seclusion in multivariate models, clinical diagnoses only added modestly to the variance explained. High-risk demographic and clinical characteristics for seclusion events in children and adolescents can provide valuable information to guide interventions to prevent seclusion events during their hospitalization.
Novel Therapeutic Interventions Early in the Disease Trajectory: Drug Development Beyond the Refractory Setting.

The 2019 Accelerating Anticancer Agent Development (AAADV) Workshop assembled a panel of experts for an in-depth discussion session to present "Novel Therapeutic Interventions Early in the Disease Trajectory." The panel reviewed the limitations of evaluating investigational cancer therapeutics solely in advanced metastatic and relapsed/refractory disease settings, and recommended strategies for drug evaluation earlier in the disease course, including in the first line in combination with standard chemotherapy and in the maintenance and neoadjuvant disease settings. Advantages of earlier drug evaluation were discussed, including expanding the population of evaluable patients, earlier response assessment via surrogate endpoints, earlier clinical benefit in the disease course, tailoring of therapies based on response, and furthering our understanding of biomarker-driven therapies.
A mathematical poetry book from Nepal

The Rana regime (1846–1951) in Nepal is widely known for its lack of support for public education and its notorious opposition to women's rights. Near the end of that regime, a mathematical textboo...
HPV vaccination practices and attitudes among primary care physicians since FDA approval to age 45

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to examine HPV vaccine administration practices since FDA approval to age 45 and assess knowledge regarding HPV and its association with oropharyngeal cancer. Methods A survey was distributed to 86 primary care physicians at Loyola University Medical Center. The survey contained 11 questions designed to capture HPV vaccination practices, knowledge of FDA approval, and barriers to vaccination. Results 46 (53%) physicians completed the survey and 45 responses were included. Among respondents who treat males ages 9–21 and females ages 9–26, the vaccination is widely recommended with >95% always or almost always recommending the vaccination. Among those treating males >21, and females >26, 52% and 35% of physicians recommend vaccination to these cohorts, respectively. Only 17% and 26% of respondents would recommend the vaccine to men and women respectively up to age 45. 100% of respondents recognize an association between HPV and cervical cancer, and 90% of respondents recognize HPV's association with oropharyngeal cancer. However, respondents also associate HPV with oral cavity and laryngeal cancer. 28% of respondents said parents are barriers to vaccination, while 7% said that insurance is a barrier. Conclusions HPV vaccination is widely recommended by physicians at our institution; however, for men older than 21 and women older than 26, vaccination recommendation rates decrease, and relatively few physicians would offer the vaccination up to age 45. Primary care physicians at our institution recognize HPV's close association to oropharyngeal cancer. Barriers to vaccination are primarily negative perception of the vaccine by patients and parents.