cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Species of Hymenopterous Parasite of the Pea Aphid (Macrosiphum Pisi Kaltenbach)

During the past five years the writer has noted that certain hymenopterous parasites were responsible for the destruction of large numbers of the pea aphid on peas and alfalfa. The most important of these has previously been recorded2 from M. pisi under the name of Aphidius rosae Haliday. However, after a careful study of the subfamily Aphidiinae (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) the writer believes the Aphidius from the pea aphid is a new species which is quite distinct from Aphidius rosae which is a common parasite of Macrosiphum rosae L. and M. solanifolii Ashmead.
Absence of Down-Regulation of Insulin Receptors in Human Breast Cancer Cells (MCF-7) Cultured in Serum-Free Medium: Comparison with Epidermal Growth Factor

MCF-7 cells were cultured either in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) or in a serum-free (SF) medium supplemented with insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transferrin. Binding studies were performed with 125I-insulin or 125I-EGF. In the FCS containing culture, down-regulation was seen for insulin receptors (47%), and for the EGF receptors (75%). Using cells grown in the serum-free medium we could not demonstrate down-regulation of the insulin receptors, while the EGF receptors were down-regulated to the same extent (74%). The number of binding sites per cell was about twice as much in cells cultured in FCS as that in SF medium. No significant differences were observed for receptor affinity of insulin or EGF in cells grown in both media. The rate of internalization of insulin or EGF into cells was similar in both culture conditions. The mechanism in which only EGF but not insulin demonstrated receptor down-regulation in SF medium remains unknown.
3D environment modeling and location tracking using off-the-shelf components

The remarkable popularity of smartphones over the past decade has led to a technological race for dominance in market share. This has resulted in a flood of new processors and sensors that are inexpensive, low power and high performance. These sensors include accelerometers, gyroscope, barometers and most importantly cameras. This sensor suite, coupled with multicore processors, allows a new community of researchers to build small, high performance platforms for low cost. This paper describes a system using off-the-shelf components to perform position tracking as well as environment modeling. The system relies on tracking using stereo vision and inertial navigation to determine movement of the system as well as create a model of the environment sensed by the system.
The implantable defibrillator: an electronic bridge to cardiac transplantation.

Background. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is common among patients awaiting heart transplantation. Medical management of SCD may fail due to lack of efficacy or adverse side effects. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may extend patient survival until a donor heart is available. Methods and Results. We reviewed 16 patients listed for transplantation between November 1988 and October 1991 who underwent ICD implantation for ventricular arrhythmias refractory to medical management
The Media and Echinacea Sales and Use

How the media reports on Echinacea research in news articles substantially affects the sale of Echinacea products in the market place. Using internet tools, we analyzed newspapers in major markets and found that negative research results were reported more often and for longer periods of time than positive results. We documented that people are now using the internet to follow up on news reports on herbal products that they read about. We believe the factors influencing reporters’ perspective, that these consumers read, include a desire to disprove what is current wisdom, vary according to the quality of research in individual studies, illustrate difficulty in placing herbal products into medical paradigms, and demonstrate difficulties in understanding herbal medicine in general. Herbal medicine requires a different paradigm, especially because plants like Echinacea have multiple active compounds.
First record of the Tethyan genus Volutilithes (Gastropoda: Volutidae) in the Paleogene of the Gulf Coastal Plain, with a discussion of Tethyan molluscan assemblages in the Gulf Coastal Plain and Florida

r-Lapparia sp. A of Toulmin (1977), from the early Eocene Hatchetigbee Formation of Alabama, is referable to the Tethyan genus Volutilithes and is conspecific with Voluta clarae Harris. This is the first certain record of Volutilithes in the Paleogene of the Gulf Coastal Plain and only the third record of the genus in North America. Trans-Atlantic migration of this tropical genus to the New World apparently occurred during the early Eocene. Its northward expansion into the higher latitudes of Alabama and southern California was probably in response to early Eocene climatic warming. In addition to Volutilithes, many other molluscs with Tethyan affinities are present in the Paloegene deposits of the Gulf Coastal Plain. These Tethyan elements, however, differ from those reported from the Eocene of peninsular Florida. The presence of a filter- bridge barrier, the Suwannee Channel, between the eastern Gulf shelf and the Floridian carbonate platform during the Paleogene may account for this difference.
Influence of storage temperature and low-temperature conditioning on the levels of health-promoting compounds in Rio Red grapefruit.

Commercial operations use low-temperature conditioning of citrus fruits to reduce the incidence of chilling injury (CI) during cold storage and quarantine treatments. Rio Red grapefruits (Citrus paradisi Macf) were stored for 12 weeks at 11°C or 5°C; an additional set was temperature conditioned at 16°C for 7 days before storing at 5°C (CD). Every 3 weeks, samples were assessed for chilling injury (CI) and health-promoting compounds such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids, limonoids, flavonoids, and furocoumarins. Low-temperature conditioning significantly reduced CI but did not affect the total soluble solids, acidity, and ripening ratio. After 12 weeks of storage, grapefruits showed no significant differences in lycopene, narirutin, poncirin, furocoumarins, and radical scavenging activity in all the three treatments. Limonin was significantly higher (p < .05) in CD fruits, nomilin was significantly higher in fruits stored at 11°C, whereas fruits stored at 5°C had lower levels of naringin, neohesperidin, and didymin after 12 weeks of storage. Low-temperature conditioning treatment helped fruits to retain similar or higher levels of most of the health-promoting compounds by the end of storage period while maintaining better quality than the nonconditioned fruits.
Comparison of atlas-based techniques for whole-body bone segmentation

We evaluate the accuracy of whole-body bone extraction from whole-body MR images using a number of atlas-based segmentation methods. The motivation behind this work is to find the most promising approach for the purpose of MRI-guided derivation of PET attenuation maps in whole-body PET/MRI. To this end, a variety of atlas-based segmentation strategies commonly used in medical image segmentation and pseudo-CT generation were implemented and evaluated in terms of whole-body bone segmentation accuracy. Bone segmentation was performed on 23 whole-body CT/MR image pairs via leave-one-out cross validation procedure. The evaluated segmentation techniques include: (i) intensity averaging (IA), (ii) majority voting (MV), (iii) global and (iv) local (voxel-wise) weighting atlas fusion frameworks implemented utilizing normalized mutual information (NMI), normalized cross-correlation (NCC) and mean square distance (MSD) as image similarity measures for calculating the weighting factors, along with other atlas-dependent algorithms, such as (v) shape-based averaging (SBA) and (vi) Hofmann's pseudo-CT generation method. The performance evaluation of the different segmentation techniques was carried out in terms of estimating bone extraction accuracy from whole-body MRI using standard metrics, such as Dice similarity (DSC) and relative volume difference (RVD) considering bony structures obtained from intensity thresholding of the reference CT images as the ground truth. Considering the Dice criterion, global weighting atlas fusion methods provided moderate improvement of whole-body bone segmentation (DSC= 0.65 ± 0.05) compared to non-weighted IA (DSC= 0.60 ± 0.02). The local weighed atlas fusion approach using the MSD similarity measure outperformed the other strategies by achieving a DSC of 0.81 ± 0.03 while using the NCC and NMI measures resulted in a DSC of 0.78 ± 0.05 and 0.75 ± 0.04, respectively. Despite very long computation time, the extracted bone obtained from both SBA (DSC= 0.56 ± 0.05) and Hofmann's methods (DSC= 0.60 ± 0.02) exhibited no improvement compared to non-weighted IA. Finding the optimum parameters for implementation of the atlas fusion approach, such as weighting factors and image similarity patch size, have great impact on the performance of atlas-based segmentation approaches. The voxel-wise atlas fusion approach exhibited excellent performance in terms of cancelling out the non-systematic registration errors leading to accurate and reliable segmentation results. Denoising and normalization of MR images together with optimization of the involved parameters play a key role in improving bone extraction accuracy.
Laser terahertz emission microscopy with near-field probes

Using an AFM, an optical near-field image at 800 nm of a dipole antenna for THz emission is measured, and by simultaneously collecting the emitted THz radiation, the laser light confined under the AFM probe gives a THz emission resolution of less than 50 nm.
Ventilatory and chemoreceptor responses to hypercapnia in neonatal rats chronically exposed to moderate hyperoxia

Rats reared in hyperoxia hypoventilate in normoxia and exhibit progressive blunting of the hypoxic ventilatory response, changes which are at least partially attributed to abnormal carotid body development. Since the carotid body also responds to changes in arterial CO2/pH, we tested the hypothesis that developmental hyperoxia would attenuate the hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) of neonatal rats by blunting peripheral and/or central chemoreceptor responses to hypercapnic challenges. Rats were reared in 21% O2 (Control) or 60% O2 (Hyperoxia) until studied at 4, 6-7, or 13-14days of age. Hyperoxia rats had significantly reduced single-unit carotid chemoafferent responses to 15% CO2 at all ages; CO2 sensitivity recovered within 7days after return to room air. Hypercapnic responses of CO2-sensitive neurons of the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (cNTS) were unaffected by chronic hyperoxia, but there was evidence for a small decrease in neuronal excitability. There was also evidence for augmented excitatory synaptic input to cNTS neurons within brainstem slices. Steady-state ventilatory responses to 4% and 8% CO2 were unaffected by developmental hyperoxia in all three age groups, but ventilation increased more slowly during the normocapnia-to-hypercapnia transition in 4-day-old Hyperoxia rats. We conclude that developmental hyperoxia impairs carotid body chemosensitivity to hypercapnia, and this may compromise protective ventilatory reflexes during dynamic respiratory challenges in newborn rats. Impaired carotid body function has less of an impact on the HCVR in older rats, potentially reflecting compensatory plasticity within the CNS.
Individual Flourishing and Spiritual Leadership: An Approach to Ethical Leadership

Unethical organizational practices persist, despite regulations to curb such practices. Individuals, organizations, and the economy are interdependent. Unethical transgressions begin with the individual, but affect all. Spiritual leadership is proposed as a leadership model that can contribute to ethical business practices. There is a social and economic benefit to fostering spiritually oriented practices and disciplines. In the current article, the role of individual ethical actions within organizations is examined, and how spiritual leadership, particularly at the individual level, contributes to ethical organizational behavior.
Publisher Correction: Recycled iron fuels new production in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

The original version of this Article contained errors in Fig. 2b and Table 2. In Fig. 2b, the white circle labels were incorrectly positioned as they referred to scenarios that were used in an earlier version of the Article. In Table 2, the following three sentences were removed from the legend 'The last two calculations are discussed in the "Methods". The first assumes that all dissolved plus the ≈0.3 nmol kg-1 of particulate iron (measured in the eastern equatorial Pacific30) is bioavailable. The last calculation assumes EUC dissolved iron concentrations from 140° W'. These errors have now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Redox Chemistry of Sulfur, Selenium and Tellurium Compounds

The oxidation of organochalcogen compounds to their corresponding radical cations and dications is described. The importance of through space and ‘secondary’ interactions in influencing this oxidation chemistry is illustrated in a number of cases.
Imaging of acquired transdiaphragmatic fistulae and communications.

Abstract Acquired diaphragmatic defects occur secondary to trauma, infection, surgery or neoplasm. These defects can lead to abnormal thoraco-abdominal fistulous communications also. Examples of surgically created diaphragmatic defects are omental, colonic interposition and vascular grafts. Regardless of etiology, these transdiaphragmatic communications provide a direct path for spread of pathology between the abdomen and thorax. If left untreated and unrecognized, these fistulae portend a high morbidity and mortality. Subtle but important diagnostic clues can be present on imaging. This pictorial essay describes commonly encountered imaging findings seen with acquired transdiaphragmatic communications. This knowledge will improve diagnostic confidence of the interpreting radiologist in acute situations and confounding clinical scenarios.
Inpatient Versus Outpatient Arthroplasty: A Single-Surgeon, Matched Cohort Analysis of 90-Day Complications.

Abstract Background Although some prior work supports the safety of same-day arthroplasty performed in a hospital, concerns remain when these procedures are performed in a free-standing ambulatory surgery center. The purpose of this study is to compare 90-day complication rates between matched cohorts that underwent inpatient vs outpatient arthroplasty at an ambulatory surgery center. Methods A single-surgeon cohort of 243 consecutive patients who underwent outpatient arthroplasty was matched with 243 inpatients who had the same procedure. One-to-one nearest-neighbor matching with respect to gender, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists Score, and body mass index was utilized. The 486 primary arthroplasties included 178 unicondylar knees (36.6%), 146 total hips (30.0%), 92 total knees (18.9%), and 70 hip resurfacings (14.5%). Ninety-day outcomes including reoperation, readmission, unplanned clinic or emergency department visits, and major and minor complications were compared using a 2-sample proportions test. Results The 2 cohorts were similar in distribution of demographic variables, demonstrating successful matching. The inpatient and outpatient cohorts both had readmission rates of 2.1% (P = 1.0). With the number of subjects studied, there were no statistically significant differences in rates of major complications (2.1% vs 2.5%, P = 1.0), minor complications (7.0% vs 7.8%, P = .86), reoperations (0.4% vs 2.1%, P = .22), emergency department visits (1.6% vs 2.5%, P = .52), or unplanned clinic visits (3.3% vs 5.8%, P = .19). Conclusion This study suggests that arthroplasty procedures can be performed safely in an ambulatory surgery center among appropriately selected patients without an increased risk of complications.
Attracting Students to Sales Positions: The Case of Effective Salesperson Recruitment Ads:

Given the recent proliferation in sales programs, business colleges face a new set of challenges. Sales competencies are changing rapidly, and firms struggle with identifying and attracting sales c...
Constrained Backward Path Tracking Control using a Plug-in Jackknife Prevention System for Autonomous Tractor-Trailers

Jackknifing during tractor-trailer reverse driving presents a major challenge in control system design. In this paper, maneuverability conditions were explicitly derived for tractor-trailer systems that are hitched off-axle. A control safety governor was designed and constructed to guarantee that the system stays within the derived maneuverability conditions under steering rate constraints using any controller. The control safety governor is decoupled from the controller so that it can be used in a plug-in fashion with minimal interference. The performance of the designed system was tested for a neural network controller on an increasingly rigorous path with introduced discontinuities. Results show that the system was able to successfully track the path without jackknifing. The novelty of this work lies in providing a solution that is capable of guaranteeing jackknife prevention for any reverse path tracking controller for tractor-trailer systems.
Blazing the neoliberal trail: Urban political development in the United States and the United Kingdom, by Timothy P. R. Weaver

Blazing the Neoliberal Trail is political scientist Timothy Weaver’s comparative historical study of the development of neoliberal urban policies, ideas, and institutions in Britain and the United ...
Research on the Modeling of MMC-HVDC Considering the Fault Ride-through Characteristics

Modular multilevel converter (MMC) is widely used in VSC-HVDC. And FRT (fault ride through) is one of the most important issues. In order to simulate the MMC-HVDC fault ride-through characteristics more accurately, this paper focuses on the detailed simulation models, and a probability Thevenin’s equivalent model of MMC is proposed. This paper also proposes a modeling framework that can support three processes: normal state, FRT, and fault recovery stage. The possibility MMC model and control strategies are realized based on an actual VSC-HVDC project in PSModel software. By comparing with the PACAD model provided by the actual manufacturer, the efficacy of the model and control strategy is verified.
Parallel loop recovery with quiescent compensation for high performance feedback control of systems with imperfect actuators

Actuator limits and imperfections introduce multiple nonlinearities in a feedback loop. While standard mild-feedback systems (e.g., PID) are intrinsically robust to such nonlinearities, the stability of large feedback systems is threatened. This eliminates from consideration the usage of imperfect actuators in large feedback applications and available disturbance rejection as a result is not realized. The implementation of multiple-path nonlinear dynamic compensation (NDC), however, allows the combination of large feedback and imperfect actuation and is the focus of this work. As nonlinearities due to actuator imperfection are often difficult to model, the stability of the NDC systems is assessed using multivariable absolute stability analysis. The features of a parallel loop recovery system with loop transmission modulus reduction compensation in the quiescent condition are compared to an alternative approach of strict modulus reduction via nonlinear compensation for stability retention. Efficacy of the loop recovery approach is illustrated using experimental data from a voice-coil actuated disturbance rejection system.
Survival, duration of larval stages, and size of postlarvae of grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio, reared from kepone® contaminated and uncontaminated populations in Chesapeake Bay

Replicate groups of larvae from each of three female grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio, collected at each of six sites within Chesapeake Bay were reared in the laboratory to metamorphosis at 25°C, 25 ppt salinity. They were provided with approximately 300Artemia nauplii/larva/day.
Walking the Fine Line Between Parsimony and Oversimplification: Attempting to Decrease Bias in Assessment

The author comments on an article by Chernin, Holden, & Chandler (1997), and discusses issues regarding different strategies of addressing bias in psychological assessment.
Tracking urban geo-topics based on dynamic topic model

Abstract Modern cities are facing critical environmental and social problems that are difficult to solve using conventional planning approaches due to the cities’ magnitude and complexity. Recent developments in sensing technologies and urban computing, however, integrate new data resources and technologies to tackle these challenges. Popular social networking platforms such as Twitter provide new data sources on important events (e.g., cultural activities, political campaigns, accidents, crises) providing rich knowledge about urban systems and human dynamics. This research is intended to develop a method for effectively monitoring important information during such events and helping with planning and policymaking. We use semantically similar and geographically close geo-topics to represent important local events. This research proposes a data-driven system for detecting and tracking the semantic, spatial, and temporal dynamics of these geo-topics, specifically designed for geo-tagged tweets. The system consists of data preprocessing, geo-topic generation, and geo-topic tracking modules. The preprocessing module can remove robotic and semantically trivial texts. In the geo-topic generation module, we use spatial factors to measure the spatial impacts of geo-tagged tweets by applying an exponential decay function to the pairwise distances between tweets. We then improve the dynamic topic model (DTM) by embedding the spatial factors to enable the generation of geo-topics in semantic, spatial, and temporal dimensions simultaneously. The geo-topic tracking module monitors semantic change by detecting changes in certain keywords’ probabilities and the volumes of tweets belonging to different geo-topics. This module also uses radius of gyration and trajectory-pattern mining to track and analyze the movement patterns of geo-topics. We employed the tracking system in three disaster cases in different U.S. cities to track small-scale emergencies and crises. These implementations demonstrated the effectiveness of the system for identifying and tracking geo-topics at fine temporal and geographic scales. The system also has strong potential in creating planning-related analyses for policy makers, improving the situational awareness of the general public, and serving as a basis for urban information systems that contribute to smart, agile, and resilient city developments.
Opsoclonus Myoclonus Syndrome

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) refers to the combination of irregular, multidirectional, and chaotic eye movements that occur in all planes of gaze and is exacerbated with smooth pursuit. In addition, myoclonus, ataxia, or behavioral changes occur. Although often associated with neuroblastoma, OMS was first described in cases of encephalitis, but can occur due to various etiologies such as infections, a paraneoplastic phenomenon, or an idiopathic syndrome. OMS is rare. The pathophysiology of OMS remains unknown; however, several hypotheses have been proposed and will be discussed in this chapter. Patients usually present subacutely and require prompt workup which includes blood and cerebrospinal fluid for infections and paraneoplastic antibodies as well as imaging for occult malignancies. Treatment options include various immunomodulatory medications; however, chronic sequelae are common.
Rogers-Shephard type inequalities for sections

Abstract In this paper we address the following question: given a measure μ on R n , does there exist a constant C > 0 such that, for any m-dimensional subspace H ⊂ R n and any convex body K ⊂ R n , the following sectional Rogers-Shephard type inequality holds: μ ( ( K − K ) ∩ H ) ≤ C sup y ∈ R n ⁡ μ ( ( y − K ) ∩ H ) ? We show that this inequality is affirmative in the class of measures with radially decreasing densities with the constant C ( n , m ) = ( n + m m ) . We also prove marginal inequalities of the Rogers-Shephard type for ( 1 / s ) -concave when 0 ≤ s ∞ , and logarithmically concave functions.
A Patient-Specific Mixed-Reality Visualization Tool for Thoracic Surgical Planning

Purpose Identifying small lung lesions during minimally invasive thoracic surgery can be challenging. We describe 3-dimensional mixed-reality visualization technology that may facilitate noninvasive nodule localization. Description A software application and medical image processing pipeline were developed for the Microsoft HoloLens to incorporate patient-specific data and provide a mixed-reality tool to explore and manipulate chest anatomy with a custom-designed user interface featuring gesture and voice recognition. Evaluation A needs assessment between engineering and clinical disciplines identified the potential utility of mixed-reality technology in facilitating safe and effective resection of small lung nodules. Through an iterative process, we developed a prototype employing a wearable headset that allows the user to (1) view a patient’s original preoperative imaging; (2) manipulate a 3-dimensional rendering of that patient’s chest anatomy including the bronchial, osseus, and vascular structures; and (3) simulate lung deflation and surgical instrument placement. Conclusions Mixed-reality visualization during surgical planning may facilitate accurate and rapid identification of small lung lesions during minimally invasive surgeries and reduce the need for additional invasive preoperative localization procedures.
Time-Resolved Imaging and Spectroscopy of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Bullet Propagation and RONS Production

An atmospheric pressure plasma jet visually appears as a continuous plasma, but is actually comprised of a series of fast moving ionization waves, commonly called plasma bullets. Plasma bullets are the visible front of ionization streamers. Studying their spatiotemporal formation and propagation can help understand the plasma dynamics. In this work, the formation and lifetime of a high voltage pulsed dc plasma jet and the subsequent bullets were observed using time-resolved synchronized measurements with an ICCD camera and an ICCD spectrometer. The operating voltage, helium flow rate, and pulse width were varied to observe changes in bullet behavior. The measured velocities of the plasma bullets largely depended on voltage but showed that flow rate can have an effect. The formation of OH and excited N2 (2+) was measured at the nanosecond timescale. It was seen that the formation of these species begins at the visible bullet, but the peak emission and decay occur ~50-100 ns after bullet passage, indicating a finite time of reaction, excitation, and emission. Observing the temporal formation of plasma bullets and reactive species provides insight into some of the reactions occurring in the discharge and how to tailor the plasma operating conditions.
Precision medicine in the genomic era

Abstract Precision medicine as defined by the Precision Medicine Initiative is “an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person.” The overarching goal of precision medicine is to yield information that helps us move away from an untargeted “average response” treatment approach to a more personalized and selective approach that aims to increase the benefits and reduce harm. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of the approaches of precision medicine and examples of the current clinical applications and discuss the challenges associated with its implementation.
Selective Maintenance of Multi-Component Systems with Multiple Failure Modes

In this paper, we develop a novel selective maintenance framework for optimizing the reliability or economic performance of a multi-component system subject to multiple failure modes. We classify the failure modes into soft failures and hard failures (possibly dependent). Soft failures are defined as occurring when a degradation process under condition monitoring surpasses a predefined threshold while hard failures are spontaneous failures that cannot be monitored. To optimize the system performance, different levels of maintenance actions on multiple components are considered. In particular, imperfect maintenance actions reduce the effective age and degradation level of a component while increasing the component’s frailty. We solve the optimization problem using standard Differential Evolution (DE) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) heuristics. A numerical example shows that the proposed selective maintenance framework provides an effective tool for making the optimal maintenance decisions by considering hard failures and the correlation among degradation processes.
Dose–response relationship between local anesthetic volume and hemidiaphragmatic paresis following ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade

Background There is no consensus regarding what volume of local anesthetic should be used to achieve successful supraclavicular block while minimizing hemidiaphragmatic paresis (HDP). This study investigated the dose–response relationship between local anesthetic volume and HDP after ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Methods A dose escalation design was used to define the dose response curve for local anesthetic volume and incidence of HDP in subjects undergoing upper extremity surgery with supraclavicular block as the primary anesthetic. Dosing levels of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 mL of local anesthetic were administered in cohorts of three subjects per dose. Diaphragm function was assessed with M-mode ultrasound before and after block. Secondary objectives included assessment of negative inspiratory force (NIF), oxygen saturation, subjective dyspnea and extent of sensory and motor blockade. Results Twenty-one subjects completed the study. HDP was present at all doses, with an incidence of 33% at 5 mL to 100% at 30–35 mL. There was a significant decrease in NIF (7.5 cmH2O, IQR (22,0); p=0.01) and oxygen saturation on room air (1%, IQR (2,0); p=0.01) 30 min postblock in subjects experiencing HDP but not in those without HDP. There was no increase in dyspnea in subjects with or without HDP. No subject required respiratory intervention. Motor and sensory block improved with increasing dose, and subjects with HDP exhibited denser blocks than those without (p Conclusions There is no clinically relevant volume of local anesthetic at which HDP can be avoided when performing a supraclavicular block. In our subject population free of respiratory disease, HDP was well tolerated. Trial registration number NCT03138577.
Estimates and monotonicity for a heat flow of isometric $$G_{2}$$ G 2 -structures

Given a 7-dimensional compact Riemannian manifold $$\left( M,g\right) $$ that admits $$G_{2}$$ -structure, all the $$G_{2}$$ -structures that are compatible with the metric g are parametrized by unit sections of an octonion bundle over M. We define a natural energy functional on unit octonion sections and consider its associated heat flow. The critical points of this functional and flow precisely correspond to $$G_{2}$$ -structures with divergence-free torsion. In this paper, we first derive estimates for derivatives of V(t) along the flow and prove that the flow exists as long as the torsion remains bounded. We also prove a monotonicity formula and an $$\varepsilon $$ -regularity result for this flow. Finally, we show that within a metric class of $$G_{2}$$ -structures that contains a torsion-free $$G_{2}$$ -structure, under certain conditions, the flow will converge to a torsion-free $$G_{2}$$ -structure.
Gender Issues in the Patriarchy of the Igbo Culture of Southeastern Nigeria

The main thesis of this work is that women’s rights and dignity are still respected in the cultural setting despite the fact that Igbo is a patriarchal society. Through the organization of women gr...
Application of ICT to Agriculture as a Panacea to Unemployment in Nigeria

This study looked at the relevance of agriculture in the Nigeria society and the need for employment and application of information and communication technology into agricultural sector as a solution to unemployment problems in Nigeria. As information and communication technology is a booming sector of the economy which presently engaged the younger generations of Nigerians, it can as well be used to improve the economic development of Nigeria and Nigerians. Data was gathered through qualitative method with focus group and individual in-depth interview as tools. Participants were selected randomly from a group of students, farmers and traders in Ogun and Lagos States of Nigeria. Findings revealed that although government support was essential in improving the agricultural sector in Nigeria, it was also important for citadels of learning and the private sectors to join hands in creating the much needed awareness amongst the youths on the significance of the agricultures and application of ICT as a veritable but untapped employment opportunity. The study also revealed that there is need to include agricultural studies into present day school curricular as well as create massive awareness through the mass media, especially Nollywood industry to portray the agricultural sector in a good light in order to ensure economic growth and uptake by the younger generations.
Pneumonia and Poorly Controlled Diabetes

Case Presentation A 47-year-old man with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (glycosylated hemoglobin 12%) presented to the ED with a 1-week history of fevers, productive cough, and dyspnea. The patient was febrile and hypoxemic on presentation; laboratory testing was remarkable for hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis. The initial chest CT scan showed right lower lobe consolidation and ground-glass opacities ( Fig 1 A). He was admitted to the ICU and administered IV antibiotics (cefepime and vancomycin) for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.
Fabrication and durability characterization of superhydrophobic and lubricant-infused surfaces.

Abstract Hypothesis Practical applications of non-wetting surfaces require good mechanical durability in the wet environments for which they are intended to be used. Durability of non-wetting surfaces is influenced by the surface features, interaction with the functionalization agent, and the lubricant properties that can be tuned independently to identify optimal combination. Experiments In this study, superhydrophobic and lubricant-infused surfaces are fabricated on copper tubes using chemical etching and electrodeposition texturing techniques, six different functionalizing agents, and five different infused lubricants. Through 180 fabrication combinations and 102 durability tests, each parameter is systematically studied for contributions to initial non-wetting behavior and its durability in heated, wet environment, under high-energy water jet impingement, and under accelerated flow conditions. Findings Among the adsorbing and curing functionalization agents investigated, n-Hexadecyl mercaptan that belongs to the sulfhydryl group and Sylgard-184, respectively, showed high durability in heated water immersion and under jet impingement tests. For lubricant-infused surfaces, lubricants with high surface tension demonstrated high durability in heated water immersion test, whereas durability in hydrodynamic conditions is closely correlated to lubricant viscosity. Results showed that a lubricant-infused surface will maintain its non-wetting properties in dropwise condensation conditions for approximately 1.5 years.
Psychopathy, charisma, and success: A moderation modeling approach to successful psychopathy

Abstract Psychopathic traits are associated with negative outcomes; however, they have also been associated with adaptive outcomes (e.g., corporate success, etc.). We tested the Moderated-Expression Model of psychopathy in a sample of community adults (N = 315; 50.8% female; 22–65 years) utilizing a battery of self-report measures (Self-Report Psychopathy Scale; Triarchic Psychopathy Measure; Conger & Kanungo Scale of Charismatic Leadership; General Charisma Inventory; Evading Detection/Punishment; and Occupational Success). The effect of psychopathic traits on evading detection and punishment (not occupational success) was moderated by leadership (and to a lesser extent, general) charisma, net of the effects of pathological narcissism and several other covariates. These results support the Moderated-Expression Model and warrant further research on the associations among psychopathy, charisma, and success.
Cutting Edge: Two Distinct Mechanisms Lead to Impaired T Cell Homeostasis in Janus Kinase 3- and CTLA-4-Deficient Mice

Cytokine receptor signaling and costimulatory receptor signaling play distinct roles in T cell activation. Nonetheless, deficiencies in either of these pathways lead to seemingly similar phenotypes of impaired T cell homeostasis. A dramatic expansion of CD4 + peripheral T cells with an activated phenotype has been observed in both Janus kinase (Jak) 3-deficient and CTLA-4-deficient mice. Despite these similarities, the mechanisms driving T cell expansion may be distinct. To address this possibility, we examined the TCR repertoire of peripheral T cells in Jak3 −/− and CTLA-4 −/− mice using complementarity-determining region 3 spectratype analysis. Interestingly, a restricted and highly biased TCR repertoire was observed in the Jak3 −/− T cells, strongly supporting a role for foreign Ag in the activation and expansion of these cells. In contrast, CTLA-4 −/− T cells had a diverse and unbiased TCR repertoire, suggestive of a universal, Ag-independent mechanism of activation and expansion. These findings provide insight into the diverse mechanisms controlling T cell homeostasis.
The Newsworthiness and Selection Bias in News About Murder: Comparative and Relative Effects of Novelty and Race and Gender Typifications on Newspaper Coverage of Homicide

Previous research suggests that journalists assess the newsworthiness of homicide occurrences using the relative frequency of particular types of murders and how well specific murder occurrences mesh with stereotypical race and gender typifications. However, previous research also is marked by four important limits, including the failure to systematically examine intersections of race and gender. The present research remedies these problems and clarifies existing understandings of selection bias in news about murder in two important respects. Newsworthiness as represented by novelty is an incomplete explanation of selection bias. Instead, news about murder is the product of journalistic assessments of newsworthiness firmly grounded in long-standing race and gender typifications.
In vitro multimerization of von Willebrand factor is triggered by low pH. Importance of the propolypeptide and free sulfhydryls.

Abstract Large von Willebrand factor (vWf) multimers are assembled by the formation of disulfide bonds between dimers in trans Golgi and post-Golgi compartments. We were able to reproduce this process in a cell-free system using purified vWf dimers. The multimers formed in vitro extended to 5 x 10(6) Da and were similar in size distribution to those secreted constitutively by endothelial cells in culture. Multimerization occurred only at acidic pH with an optimum at pH 5.8 and needed the continued presence of an acidic pH for it to proceed. Pro-vWf dimers multimerized, whereas mature dimers failed to assemble into large multimers. Multimerization required the propolypeptide to be a contiguous part of pro-vWf subunits since free propolypeptide did not promote multimerization of mature dimers. In addition, multimers formed in the presence of both pro-vWf and mature vWf dimers incorporated only pro-vWf dimers. Two out of six available monoclonal antibodies to the prosequence inhibited multimerization. Multimerization was also inhibited by chemical blocking of free sulfhydryl(s). The free sulfhydryl(s) were localized to the mature region of the pro-vWf by examination of the mature subunit and the propolypeptide derived by proteolytic cleavage of pro-vWf subunits.
Cholinergic modulation of excitatory synaptic input integration in hippocampal CA1.

During theta rhythm, the timing of inputs to hippocampal CA1 from the perforant path (PP) of the entorhinal cortex and the Schaffer collaterals (SCs) from individual CA3 pyramidal neurons can vary within an individual theta period. Importantly, during theta rhythms these interactions occur during elevated acetylcholine concentrations. Thus, I examined the effect that PP inputs have on SC inputs in hippocampal CA1 during cholinergic receptor activation. To do this I measured the impact that a single electrical stimulus of the stratum lacunosum-moleculare (SLM, which contains the PP) had on excitation evoked by stimulation of the stratum radiatum (SR, which contains the SC) using voltage-sensitive dye imaging, field excitatory postsynaptic potentials and whole cell patch clamping in rat hippocampal brain slices. My data showed that SLM stimulation one half a theta cycle or less (25–75 ms) before SR stimulation resulted in the summation of excitatory events in SR and SP of hippocampal CA1. The summation was unaffected by cholinergic receptor activation by carbachol. SLM stimulation one theta cycle (150–225 ms) preceding SR stimulation significantly suppressed excitatory events measured in SR and SP. This SLM stimulus inhibition of SR-driven excitatory events was augmented by carbachol application. The carbachol effect was blocked by atropine and SLM-driven suppression of excitatory events was blocked by the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 54626. SR field EPSP slopes were unaffected by SLM prepulses. Carbachol increased the probability of SR input to drive action potential firing in CA1 pyramidal neurons, which was inhibited by SLM prepulses (150–225 ms). Together these data provide important information regarding the integration of inputs in hippocampal CA1 during theta rhythms. More specifically, SR inputs can be differentially gated by SLM feedforward inhibition at varying temporal intervals within a theta cycle.
Manufacturing Discord: Growing Tensions Threaten the U.S.-China Economic Relationship

Frictions in the U.S.-China relationship are nothing new, but they have intensified in recent months. There is angst among the U.S. public, who frequently hear that China will soon surpass the United States in one economic superlative after another. Some worry that China's rise will impair America's capacity to fulfill or pursue its traditional geopolitical objectives. And those concerns are magnified by a media that cannot resist tempting the impulses of U.S. nationalism.Realists understand that the objectives of the U.S. and Chinese governments will not always be the same, thus U.S. and Chinese policies will not always be congruous. Accentuating and cultivating the areas of agreement, while resolving or minimizing the differences, is the essence of diplomacy and statecraft. These tactics must continue to underpin a U.S. policy of engagement with China.Although it may be fashionable to think of China as the country to which the U.S. manufacturing sector was offshored in exchange for tainted products and a mountain of mortgage debt, the fact is that the bilateral relationship has produced enormous benefits for people in both countries. Despite those benefits, Americans are more likely to be familiar with the sources of friction.Ongoing frictions in the bilateral relationship are to be expected, as the world's largest economy and its fastest-growing economy make mutual accommodations. Despite occasional theatrics and fireworks, both governments have a mutual interest in harmonious economic relations. Our economies are extremely interdependent, and barring destructive policies, the pie should continue to grow larger.This paper examines the economic relationship and some of its high-profile sources of friction, distills the substance from the hype, and concludes that although some policy tweaks would be beneficial, a more aggressive U.S. policy tack is unnecessary and unwanted. Much more can be done to cultivate our areas of agreement using carrots before seriously considering the use of sticks.
1‐(tert‐Butylimino‐Methyl)‐1,3‐Dimethyl‐Urea Hydrochloride

1,3-Dimethylurea Acetyl chloride tert-Butyl isocyanide Keywords: dimethyl urea hydrochloride; waste disposal; formamidines; pesticides
Video rate control using conditional mean

This paper presents an efficient rate control algorithm based on estimation theory. We measure a conditional mean by estimating a joint probability density function (PDF) using Parzen's window. The training data can estimate the nonlinear rate-distortion (R-D) relationship between the quantization parameter (QP) and the bits spent for each macroblock depending on the sum of absolute differences (SAD). We increase the accuracy of this joint PDF by clustering the training data depending on the QP values. This localization helps the estimation process to be very accurate. Next we apply a mean operator to simplify the conditional mean estimation of the rate given the SAD and QP values. This information is stored into three look-up tables depending on picture types. We use these tables to find the optimal QP values in least-mean-square (LMS) sense for a given bit budget of the current frame. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the informative MPEG-4 rate control algorithm in terms of reproduced image quality and coding efficiency while requiring much less implementation complexity. Most of all it keeps the bit rate very close to the required bit-rate due to the accuracy of the conditional mean estimator that solves the nonlinear R-D function.
Performance evaluation of network programming environments

Benchmark tests of distributed/parallel software systems such as EXPRESS, ISIS, LINDA, PVM, and TCGMSG programming environments on a system of IBM/RS6000 520 workstations connected via a 16-Mb token ring network are presented. The authors compare message passing times as a function of the size of a message, and execution times of two applications. The applications, the Monte Carlo simulation and Jacobi iterative algorithms, were selected from TCGMSG as test cases to compare the scalability and the overhead of each package in terms of the performance. The results indicate that packages using the TCP/IP network protocol enjoy better performance than those using the UDP/IP network protocol, although UDP/IP is faster than TCP/IP in terms of transfer rates. Also, those packages using indirect communication have more overhead than those using direct communication. The porting experiences strongly indicate that library support for global operations is very useful in a distributed/parallel environment. >
Group Counseling with Low-Motivated Male High School Students—Comparative Effects of Two Uses of Counselor Time

AbstractThe experiment compared group-Individual (GI) and group (G) counseling groups with a control (C) group. The groups were equal In ability and Initial grade point averages. Results Indicate that those S's In the G groups had an observably larger GPA ten weeks following the completion of the experiment than the S's In the C group. It was suggested that a period of Incubation is necessary before the Insights gained during group counseling are translated Into action.
The Runge–Kutta method for hybrid fuzzy differential equations

Abstract In this paper we study numerical methods for addressing hybrid fuzzy differential equations by an application of the Runge–Kutta method for fuzzy differential equations using the Seikkala derivative. We state a convergence result and give a numerical example to illustrate the theory.