cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre-Commencement Activities

This chapter describes the role of the legal practitioners in gathering factual information preparatory to the commencement of an action (5.01–5.02) and pre-commencement conciliation procedures (5.03). The second part deals with provisional remedies and other pre-commencement relief (5.04–5.07).
Purification and characterization of a collagenase extracted from rabbit tumours.

A collagenase was purified from homogenates of V2 ascites-cell carcinoma growing in rabbit muscle. (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography, and affinity chromatography (by using the CB7 CNBr) cleavage fragment of alpha 1(I) collagen linked to agarose) gave a 268000-fold purification and a sevenfold increase in total enzyme units recovered. The specific activity, defined as mumol of collagen in solution cleaved/h per mg of enzyme at 35 degrees C, WAS 1.74.2. The collagenase had a broad pH optimum from pH7.0 to 9.5, and a mol.wt. of between 33000 and 35000. It was inhibited by dithiothreitol, L-cysteine, D-penicillamine, EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline, and by both rabbit and human serum. 3. Removal of cations by a chelating resin (Chelex 100) produced as inactive enzyme that could be reactiviated by the addition of Ca2+ ions at concentrations as low as 1muM. Other bivalent cations were not effective. 4. The purified collagenase cleaved peptides alpha2 and alpha1-CB7 (denatured polypeptides of collagen) at 37 degrees C at one site only. [alpha1 (I)]2alpha2 and [alpha1(III)]3 collagens in solution were cleaved at the same site approximately five times more rapidly than [alpha1 (II)]3. 5. An inhibitor of the enzyme in the tumour extracts, which was dissociable from the enzyme at the (NH4) 2SO4 precipitation step of purification, had a mol. wt. of between 40000 and 50000 but was distinct from the alpha1 trypsin inhibitor. 6. Studies with zonal density-gradient centrifugation suggested that the enzyme was bound to fibrillar substrate (collagen) extracellularly, but that it was not associated with enzymes originating in cell mitochondria, microsomal preparations or lysosomes.
The Use of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist (Anakinra) in Idiopathic Recurrent Pericarditis: A Narrative Review

Recurrent pericarditis is a complication of acute pericarditis in 20-30% of the patients and is usually idiopathic in nature. The underlying pathogenesis of this condition remains unclear, although immune-mediated mechanisms seem likely. A subgroup of these patients with refractory symptoms can be challenging to manage, and multiple immunosuppressive medications have been used without consistent benefit. Anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, has been used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and autoinflammatory syndromes. Preliminary evidence suggests that anakinra could be a promising therapy for idiopathic recurrent pericarditis. In this narrative review, we summarize the current understanding of the etiopathogenesis of idiopathic recurrent pericarditis, mechanism of action of anakinra, and the preliminary evidence, supporting the use of anakinra in pericarditis.
Treatments with nisin and chelators to reduce Salmonella and Escherichia coli on beef.

Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028 or Escherichia coli O157:H7 attached to lean beef tissue were treated with citrate, lactate, sodium hexametaphosphate, or EDTA, alone or in combination with nisin in simple buffers, and incubated at 4°C for up to 3 days. Lactate with nisin reduced S. typhimurium attached to beef by 040 log10 CFU/cm2, while EDTA and nisin reduced E. coli O157:H7 by 0.42 log10 CFU/cm2. Unlike earlier in vitro studies in which treatments with nisin and chelating agents resulted in reductions of > 4 log10 CFU/cm2, such reductions were not observed in situ.
A search game for optimizing information collection in UUV mission planning

This paper addresses search planning to find hidden objects in undersea environments where the sensor detection process is subject to false alarms with a geographically varying likelihood. We develop a game-theoretic approach for maximizing the information flow that occurs as a multi-agent collaborative search is conducted over a bounded region. To accomplish this, we apply 1) a search channel formalism to the discrete search paradigm to formulate information measures as a function of searcher regional visitation and 2) a Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis to map search strategies to ROC operating points which, in turn, define the properties of the search channel. This enables us to formulate a search game where the cost is driven by expended search effort and the payout is in terms of the information collected. We describe a new algorithmic capability for solving the search allocation problem of multiple unmanned undersea vehicles that can collaborate in their efforts to resolve false alarm outcomes. We discuss the properties of the information measure developed for a repeated look over the search channel and examine the impact of setting ROC operating points to their game equilibrium values. Doing so enables the regional visitation to be determined via a greedy scheduling solution. Results are presented to show the dominance of this approach over alternative ROC strategies and to demonstrate the capability to take advantage of known non-homogeneity in the search environment.
Developing an Adaptive Robotic Assistant for Close Proximity Human-Robot Collaboration in Space

In this paper, we present a framework for an adaptive and risk-aware robot motion planning and control, and discuss how such a framework could handle uncertainty in human workers’ actions and robot localization. We build on our prior investigation, where we describe how uncertainty in human actions can be modeled using the entropy rate in a Markov Decision Process. We then describe how we can incorporate this model of uncertainty into simulations of a simple collaborative system, involving one human worker and one robotic assistant, to produce risk-aware robot motions. Next, we highlight the difficulties associated with localization uncertainty in a space environment and describe how we can incorporate this uncertainty into an adaptive system as well. Expected advantages of an adaptive system are described, including increases in overall efficiency due to reductions in idle time, increases in concurrent motion, faster task execution, as well as subjective improvements in the worker’s satisfaction with the assistant and reduced worker stress and fatigue. A pilot experiment designed to evaluate the benefits of introducing risk-aware motion planning is described. It is found that human-robot teams in which the robot utilizes risk-aware motion planning show on average 24% more concurrent motion and execute the task 13% faster, while simultaneously improving safety by having a 19.9% larger mean separation distance between the human and robot workers. Finally, possible future system developments and user studies are discussed.
Reduced Ascorbic Acid Content of Blood Plasma in Rheumatic Fever.

SummaryIn acute rheumatic fever the reduced ascorbic acid level of the blood plasma is found to be almost uniformly lowered. Our data further indicates that at least some and perhaps a high percentage of “rheumatic” children, although the disease process is clinically quiescent, tend to lie in less low but distinctly sub-optimal ranges. It has not been determined that this is due to inadequate intake or to what extent it may have resulted from anorexia, digestive disorders or depletion by the disease itself. The data presented indicates that the plasma ascorbic acid levels usually parallel the vitamin C intake. However, some cases are quite refractory in their responses to oral administration of the vitamin even in large doses.
Determination of Organic Acids in Shanxi Ageing Vinegar by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

An ion-exclusion HPLC method for rapid determination of 8 organic acids in Shanxi ageing vinegar was developed in this paper. 8 organic acids were separated by the use of PRP-X300 ion-exclusion column, and the optimal separation conditions are as follows: 0.05mmol/L H2SO4 as mobile phase, flow rate at 1ml/min, column temperature at room temperature, UV detector at 210 nm, and sample size as 5 μl. The RSD is 0.72%～5.47%, and the recovery rate is 95.1%～105%. The method has the advantages of rapid and simple operation, good selectivity and high accuracy.
Effects of a-Lipoic Acid on H_2O_2 Induced ROS and DNA Oxidative Damage in Chinese Hamster Lung Cells

[Objective] To study the effects of a-Lipoic acid(LA)on reactive oxygen species(ROS)level and DNA oxidative damage in Chinese hamster lung cell. [Methods] ROS was detected by flow cytometer. Use 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin-diacetate (DCFH-DA) as fluorescent probe. Reaction system I : H2O2+LA, incubated for 20 min. Reaction system II: Fe2++LA, incubated for 2, 4, 8 h respectively. Single cell gel electrophoresis(SCGE): oxidative damage of cells were induced by H2O2. Certain concentrations of LA were added into reaction system, incubated for 2 h, and then DNA damage was detected with SCGE assay. [Results] (1)ROS: Reaction system I : H2O2 heightened ROS level, but LA degraded it and showed the dose-response relationship. ROS increased after cells were incubated with Fe2+, LA also cut down ROS level. 100μmol/L Fe2+ significantly elevated ROS, Although LA inhibited this effect, there is no conspicuous dose-response relationship was observed. (2)SCGE: H2O2 caused DNA damage. The indices of DNA damage cells, Tail DNA, Tail length, Olive tail moment(OTM) were all increased. LA could inhibit these increasing indices dose-dependently. [Conclusion] LA scavenged ROS, inhibited ROS level induced by Fe2+, dose-response and time-reaction relationship were observed. LA protected cells from DNA damage caused by H2O2.
The Mindlessness of Social Comparisons and its Effect on Creativity

Social Comparisons are ubiquitous phenomenon, for some researchers the key to evolutionary survival, for others key to understanding depression. Anybody engaged in artistic endeavors understands the relevance comparisons play throughout the creative process. In this article we examine the downside of social comparisons, the mindlessness of social comparison, specifically for the creative process. When we make social comparisons we tend to (a) be oblivious to the fact that we are making choices, (b) accept at face value that the comparison is meaningful and not transitory, (c) be unaware of its context-dependent nature, and (d) mindlessly accept the criteria on which the evaluation was based. When we open these up to scrutiny, comparisons make less sense. Alternative criteria, alternative aspects of the behavior, and alternative meanings for the performance could lead to very different conclusions. Research conducted in the context of art creation showed reduced negative consequences of social comparing for performance perceptions after a mindfulness treatment. Trait mindfulness as measured by the LMS supported the conclusions. Mindful groups, whether trait or state, evaluated their performance similar to the no social comparison group and both were less affected in their performance evaluations than the mindless group that made social comparisons. These findings can support all those engaged in creative processes to buffer against the negative consequences of social comparisons.
Pathologic Analysis of Ex Vivo Plasma Energy Tumor Destruction in Patients With Ovarian or Peritoneal Cancer

Introduction: Cytoreduction of all visible disease has been associated with improved survival in patients with advanced-stage ovarian or peritoneal cancer. This is best achieved by minimizing injury to normal tissues. We report on the tumor destruction potential, in an ex vivo model, of a novel energy source that uses an electrically neutral beam of pure plasma to vaporize tissue. Methods: Tumors were harvested from patients undergoing primary surgical cytoreduction for ovarian or peritoneal cancer. Specimens were divided into 1-cm3 sections and treated with pure plasma energy for 2 or 4 seconds using standardized power settings. Bright-field microscopy was used to measure the depth of tissue vaporization and lateral thermal damage (LTD). Results: The mean (SD) tissue vaporization depth was 2.7 (1.3) mm (n = 96). Lateral thermal damage was minimal at all tissue interaction settings (0.13 [0.031] mm). Lateral thermal damage was approximately 5% of the depth of tissue vaporization. Tissue interaction time was a more powerful predictor of vaporization than power. When tissue interaction time increased from 2 to 4 seconds, depth of vaporization and LTD increased by 1.7 and 0.03 mm, respectively (P Conclusions: Plasma energy can effectively vaporize ovarian and peritoneal cancer cells. Greater power and tissue interaction time results in more tumor vaporization while maintaining minimal LTD. This is an attractive characteristic of plasma energy that may be useful for eradicating tumor from visceral surfaces.
An Objective Method for the Spectrographic Analysis of Sounds

A manual technique for rapidly and accurately scoring sound spectrograms is presented. The method allows for objective phonetic description and evaluation without the aid of either a highly-trained scorer or complex processing equipment. Empirical evidence using the technique is presented.
The Origins of Guilt in Early Childhood

Publisher Summary This chapter concerns the origins of guilt in very young children–toddlers in the first 3 years of life. Although findings from studies are open to interpretation, they do paint a picture of the toddler as a caring individual who is learning and attending to society's rules, even in the absence of surveillance, is ready to try to repair wrongdoings he or she causes, and shows a pattern of behavior that is highly suggestive of guilt. Guilt, like all emotions, is adaptive under certain circumstances. Research has indicated that it is associated with positive characteristics, such as empathy and reparation. Moreover, it is an unusual emotion, in that even though it is considered a “negative” emotion, it is generally considered socially desirable to display under certain circumstances. However, most theorists and researchers agree that it is possible for guilt to be maladaptive as well, when it is too pervasive, intense, or stable, when it occurs under inappropriate circumstances, or when it occurs too infrequently under desirable circumstances. It is important to study guilt during its origins, before it might become deflected into a maladaptive pattern in some children and entrenched as a permanent feature of personality. Research on guilt in very young children may have important implications for the future development of those children.
External beam and conformal radiotherapy in the management of gliomas

External beam radiotherapy remains an important local treatment modality in both high and low grade gliomas, however its contribution to outcome remains modest. In high grade tumours this is because of their extreme clinical radioresistance, with local recurrences occurring even after doses over 70 Gy. In low grade tumours radiation does not seem to alter the overall pattern of disease progression significantly. Therefore despite use of the new technologies now available that allow radiotherapy to be delivered more accurately and to higher doses, local control of these tumours is still rarely achieved. Unfortunately these tumours have not proven sensitive to changes in radiotherapy fractionation or to the addition of radio-sensitising agents. Novel approaches to these tumours are needed, based on an improved understanding of both tumour and normal tissue response to radiation.
Synergies Between Quantum Mechanics and Machine Learning in Reaction Prediction.

Machine learning (ML) and quantum mechanical (QM) methods can be used in two-way synergy to build chemical reaction expert systems. The proposed ML approach identifies electron sources and sinks among reactants and then ranks all source–sink pairs. This addresses a bottleneck of QM calculations by providing a prioritized list of mechanistic reaction steps. QM modeling can then be used to compute the transition states and activation energies of the top-ranked reactions, providing additional or improved examples of ranked source–sink pairs. Retraining the ML model closes the loop, producing more accurate predictions from a larger training set. The approach is demonstrated in detail using a small set of organic radical reactions.
Frequent emergency department visitors are frequent primary care visitors and report unmet primary care needs.

A small percentage of emergency department (ED) visitors account for a disproportionate portion of ED visits. Little is known about their relationships with their primary care providers (PCPs). This study compares frequent and infrequent ED visitors' primary care utilization and perceptions of primary care access, continuity, and connectedness and examines primary care utilization and perceptions as predictors of ED use. Data were obtained from 2 cross-sectional studies of psychosocial predictors of high levels of utilization at 2 urban hospitals. Data included age, sex, race/ethnicity, number and type of chronic conditions, self-rated health, and number of primary care and ED visits in the previous 12 months. Participants also answered 8 primary care access, continuity, and connectedness items. Participants with frequent ED visits (N = 70) were younger (43.24 vs 48.34, P = .020), more likely to be African American (61.4% vs 41.8%, P < .001), had a significant chronic illness burden (5.83 vs 2.83 chronic conditions, P < .001), and were more likely to report fair or poor health (65.7% vs 50.4%, P = .009). Frequent ED users were as likely as infrequent users to have a usual source of care, and reported similar primary care access, relationship length, and likelihood of provider knowing them well. Although making twice as many primary care visits, these participants were less likely to report that they could get what they need from their PCP (76.12% vs 92.53%, P < .001). Despite similar primary care access and continuity, frequent ED visitors are less likely to report that they get what they need from their PCPs. Further research should investigate their needs and how primary care can best provide high-value care to this complex population.
Sub-10-nm three-dimensional plasmonic probes and sensors

Plasmonic antennas have been investigated as potential sensing element since long, but great part of the efforts on the nanofabrication have been devoted to the 2 dimensional patterning. Many times the the “sensing or probing” processes require geometries of the probe that are more complicated than the simple flat surface. In this paper we are going to show some example of three dimensional structures and their plasmonic properties as well as their application as sensors for IR spectroscopy and probes for Near-field scanning optical microscopy. We will present a series of structures and their characterization in IR as well as visible light. Particularly we will focus on the NSOM application. It is a powerful and unique approach to characterize the chemical, physical and biochemical properties of materials with the nanometer scale resolution in real-time [1]. One of the main challenges in using NSOM for a broad range of applications is the development of reproducible and efficient near-field probes. A novel class of nano-optical probes has been recently proposed, namely “campanile”. Campanile tips consist of a 3-Dimensional (3D) tapered structure terminated by a plasmonic nano-antenna, which provides superior NSOM performance and decisive advantages [2]. We will present a novel approach to drastically simplify the fabrication of Campanile probes by ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) directly on the facet of commercial optical fibers, without the need to use FIB (Fig. 1). The 3D mold is fabricated by a combination of polymer embossing and FIB lithography in a Helium Ion Beam. We will show some characterization [3] measurement as well as some NSOM hyperspectral images.
Phase II trial of daily pulse interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy during marrow recovery in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) NCT#01289678.

e17008 Background: Therapeutic advances in treating AML have been limited in the past two decades. Allogeneic stem cell transplant (Allo-SCT) can cure patients with relapsed and high-risk AML with a graft versus leukemia immune effect. IL- 2 promotes the proliferation and activity of cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells and lymphokine activated cells. IL-2 has been shown to abrogate the clonogenic leukemic blasts in murine leukemias and has achieved complete remissions in relapsed AML. Early absolute lymphocyte recovery after induction chemotherapy predicts a superior survival in AML suggesting a critical role of early immune recovery. (Behl et al Leukemia 2006) Stimulated LAK cells by IL-2 during this critical early lymphocyte recovery period may enhance a graft versus leukemia immune effect and potentially improve the outcome of first-line AML treatment. Methods: 12 adult patients with de novo or secondary AML were consented to receive IL-2 during induction and/or post-remission treatment marrow nadi...
A systematic review and meta-analysis of velamentous cord insertion among singleton pregnancies and the risk of preterm delivery.

Background Observational studies have reported varying results about the association of velamentous cord insertion (VCI) with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Objectives To evaluate the risk of preterm delivery among singleton pregnancies complicated by VCI. Search strategy Various databases were searched for English-language articles published up to February, 28, 2017, using keywords including VCI; abnormal placentation; abnormal cord insertions; adverse perinatal outcomes; and preterm birth. Outcome measures included preterm delivery; pre-eclampsia; cesarean delivery; fetal demise in utero (FDIU); and small for gestational age (SGA). Selection criteria Only studies involving VCI were included in the meta-analysis. Data collection and analysis Analyses were performed using RevMan version 5.3.5 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark). Main results There were six studies included in the analysis. The VCI and control groups comprised 16 295 and 1 366 485 women, respectively. An increased incidence of preterm delivery was found for the VCI group compared with the control group (11.8% vs 7.0%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85-2.04). A diagnosis of VCI was also associated with cesarean delivery (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.12-1.23), SGA (aOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.83-2.04), and FDIU (aOR 3.96, 95% CI 3.21-4.89). Conclusion The presence of VCI was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is an effective bridge to kidney transplantation: Results from a single center.

Body mass index (BMI) > 35-40 kg/m2 is often a contraindication, while Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is performed to enable kidney transplantation. This single-center retrospective study evaluated pre- and post-transplant outcomes of 31 morbidly obese patients with end-stage renal disease having RYGB before kidney transplantation between July 2009 and June 2014. Fourteen RYGB patients were subsequently transplanted. Nineteen recipients not having GB with a BMI ≥ 36 kg/m2 at transplantation were used as historical controls. Mean BMI (±SE) before RYGB was 43.5 ± 0.7 kg/m2 (range: 35.4-50.5 kg/m2 ); 87.1% (27/31) achieved a BMI < 35 kg/m2 . The percentage having improved diabetes/hypertension control was 29.0% (9/31); 25.8% (8/31) had complications (mostly minor) after RYGB. Among transplanted patients, blacks/Hispanics comprised 78.6% (11/14) and 84.2% (16/19) of RYGB and controls; 57.1% (8/14) and 63.2% (12/19) had a (mostly long-standing) pretransplant history of diabetes. While biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR) occurred significantly higher among RYGB vs control patients (6/14 vs 3/19, P = .03), patients developing T-cell BPAR were also significantly more likely to have a tacrolimus (TAC) trough level < 4.0 ng/mL within 3 weeks of T-cell BPAR (P = .0007). In Cox's model, the impact of having a TAC level < 4.0 ng/mg remained significant (P = .007) while the effect of RYGB was no longer significant (P = .13). Infections, graft, and patient survival were not significantly different. Despite obvious effectiveness in achieving weight loss, RYGB will need more careful post-transplant monitoring given the observed higher BPAR rate.
Observationality and the Comparability of Theories

Feyerabend and others have been defending for some time the thesis that even observation sentences depend for their meanings on the thepries in which they play a role. According to the most radical version of this thesis, if two theories contain incompatible theoretical statements, then even if the observation terms and sentences associated with the two theories are the same, these terms and sentences mean something different, according as they are associated with one theory or the other. This claim has made it hard to see how, on this view, any two theories could be said to compete, or be incompatible, or be comparable on the basis of observation.
Outcomes with coronary artery bypass graft surgery versus percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with diabetes mellitus: can newer generation drug-eluting stents bridge the gap?

Background—Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) compared with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, prior trials compared CABG with balloon angioplasty or older generation stents, and it is not known if the gap between CABG and PCI can be reduced by newer generation drug-eluting stents. Methods and Results—PUBMED/EMBASE/CENTRAL search for randomized trials comparing mode of revascularization in patients with diabetes mellitus. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and stroke. Mixed treatment comparison analyses were performed using a random-effects Poisson regression model. Sixty-eight randomized trials that enrolled 24 015 diabetic patients with a total of 71 595 patient-years of follow-up satisfied our inclusion criteria. When compared with CABG (reference rate ratio [RR]=1.0), PCI with paclitaxel-eluting stent (RR=1.57 [1.15–2.19]) or sirolimus-eluting ste...
CRM Discovery Beyond Model Insects

Although the number of sequenced insect genomes numbers in the hundreds, little is known about gene regulatory sequences in any species other than the well-studied Drosophila melanogaster. We provide here a detailed protocol for using SCRMshaw, a computational method for predicting cis-regulatory modules (CRMs, also "enhancers") in sequenced insect genomes. SCRMshaw is effective for CRM discovery throughout the range of holometabolous insects and potentially in even more diverged species, with true-positive prediction rates of 75% or better. Minimal requirements for using SCRMshaw are a genome sequence and training data in the form of known Drosophila CRMs; a comprehensive set of the latter can be obtained from the SCRMshaw download site. For basic applications, a user with only modest computational know-how can run SCRMshaw on a desktop computer. SCRMshaw can be run with a single, narrow set of training data to predict CRMs regulating a specific pattern of gene expression, or with multiple sets of training data covering a broad range of CRM activities to provide an initial rough regulatory annotation of a complete, newly-sequenced genome.
Characterization of Krt19 CreERT allele for targeting the nucleus pulposus cells in the postnatal mouse intervertebral disc.

Intervertebral disc degeneration and associated back pain are relatively common but sparsely understood conditions, affecting over 70% of the population during some point of life. Disc degeneration is often associated with a loss of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Genetic mouse models offer convenient avenues to understand the cellular and molecular regulation of the disc during its formation, growth, maintenance, and aging. However, due to the lack of inducible driver lines to precisely target NP cells in the postnatal mouse disc, progress in this area of research has been moderate. NP cells are known to express cytokeratin 19 (Krt19), and tamoxifen (Tam)-inducible Krt19CreERT allele is available. The current study describes the characterization of Krt19CreERT allele to specifically and efficiently target NP cells in neonatal, skeletally mature, middle-aged, and aged mice using two independent fluorescent reporter lines. The efficiency of recombination at all ages was validated by immunostaining for KRT19. Results show that following Tam induction, Krt19CreERT specifically drives recombination of NP cells in the spine of neonatal and aged mice, while no recombination was detected in the surrounding tissues. Knee joints from skeletally mature Tam-treated Krt19CreERT/+ ; R26tdTOM mouse show the absence of recombination in all tissues and cells of the knee joint. Thus, this study provides evidence for the use of Krt19CreERT allele for genetic characterization of NP cells at different stages of the mouse life.
Spotlight on the psychological basis of childhood pet attachment and its implications

Research suggests that humans can form strong attachments to their pets, and at least some pets display attachment behaviors toward their human caretakers. In some cases, these bonds have been found to support or enhance the physical and emotional well-being of both species. Most human-animal interaction research to date has focused on adult owners, and therefore less is known about childhood pet attachment. However, there is growing evidence that pets may play an important role in the development and well-being of children, as well as adult family members. Research conducted to date suggests that child-pet relationships may be especially impactful for children who do not have stable or secure attachments to their human caretakers. However, given that human-animal interactions, including pet ownership, can also introduce some risks, there is considerable value in understanding the nature of child-pet attachments, including the potential benefits of these relationships, from a scientific perspective. The purpose of this review is to provide background and a brief overview of the research that has been conducted on childhood attachment to pets, as well as to identify areas where more research would be beneficial.
Monocyte procoagulant responses to anthrax peptidoglycan are reinforced by proinflammatory cytokine signaling

Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a frequent manifestation during bacterial infections and is associated with negative clinical outcomes. Imbalanced expression and activity of intravascular tissue factor (TF) is central to the development of infection-associated coagulopathies. Recently, we showed that anthrax peptidoglycan (PGN) induces disseminated intravascular coagulation in a nonhuman primate model of anthrax sepsis. We hypothesized that immune recognition of PGN by monocytes is critical for procoagulant responses to PGN and investigated whether and how PGN induces TF expression in primary human monocytes. We found that PGN induced monocyte TF expression in a large cohort of healthy volunteers similar to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Both immune and procoagulant responses to PGN involve intracellular recognition after PGN internalization, as well as surface signaling through immune Fcγ receptors (FcγRs). In line with our hypothesis, blocking immune receptor function, both signaling and FcγR-mediated phagocytosis, significantly reduced but did not abolish PGN-induced monocyte TF expression, indicating that FcγR-independent internalization contributes to intracellular recognition of PGN. Conversely, when intracellular PGN recognition is abolished, TF expression was sensitive to inhibitors of FcγR signaling, indicating that surface engagement of monocyte immune receptors can promote TF expression. The primary procoagulant responses to PGN were further amplified by proinflammatory cytokines through paracrine and autocrine signaling. Despite intersubject variability in the study cohort, dual neutralization of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β provided the most robust inhibition of the procoagulant amplification loop and may prove useful for reducing coagulopathies in gram-positive sepsis.
One-Dimensional Lattice Walks

Using operators and elementary Fourier methods, we analyze walks in one-dimensional bounded and unbounded lattices.
Low force, high noise: Isolating indentation forces through autocorrelation analysis

Abstract Simple contact models are often used in combination with indentation measurements to determine the elastic moduli of materials in the limits of small strain and linear-elastic deformation. However, for soft biological samples these limits can occur at indentation forces comparable to detection noise from the instrument. Here we describe a data analysis method for determining the moduli of soft materials when the measured forces are comparable to the level of instrumental noise; relationships between the force and displacement autocorrelation functions enable the elastic modulus to be determined from indentation curves with large uncertainties in the measured force. In simulations of force-displacement indentation data using the Hertz and Winkler foundation contact models with added noise, we find the autocorrelation analysis enables the accurate measurement of known elastic moduli, even when the noise-to-signal ratio is large throughout an indentation experiment. We also find that this analysis method is more accurate at measuring the modulus at high noise levels compared to directly fitting the model curve to the data. We further validate this approach experimentally by testing a series of polyacrylamide hydrogel slabs prepared within a wide polymer concentration range, finding the measured modulus to be in agreement with the moduli determined through rheological characterization.
E‐cigarette or vaping product‐use‐associated lung injury (EVALI): A case report of a pneumonia mimic with severe leukocytosis and weight loss

E-cigarette or vaping product-use-associated lung injury is a disease process obtained from smoke inhalation with electronic delivery systems and typically presents with shortness of breath, cough, and fever, not unlike pneumonia. Our patient presented with similar symptoms, and his case went unrecognized through several emergency department visits. The pathophysiology is similar to chemical pneumonitis and can cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly when it goes unrecognized. It often presents with a pneumonia-like picture and may be treated as such. The distinguishing and controversial treatment for this disease is systemic glucocorticoids, which are not often given in pneumonia. This case is unique for the significant leukocytosis found on laboratory testing and profound weight loss associated with his course of illness. Emergency medicine providers should be vigilant in recognizing this illness to prevent progression of this disease.
Dyadic Model of Adaptation to Life-Limiting Illness.

Context: We previously developed the reintegration model to describe the adjustment process for individuals at the end of life. However, caregivers and loved ones also require significant support a...
A review on some investigations into sustainable machining techniques

Machining plays a crucial role in process of economy through the way it contributes around 5% of the country’s total economy. The method of machining has been changed through the last periods due to the competition within the market to urge more profit and High Speed Machining (HSM) plays the vital role to realize the equivalent. Hence, many researchers are working on reduction of the machining cost and consumption of energy. Hard to cut materials have long list of practical applications, which is the main reason to consider their research and development aspects. Thus, it’s important to review the consequences of process parameters mainly like cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut so as to determine the correlation with reference to key measuring parameters like tool life, surface roughness and tool wear. The authentication of this approach must be proved in future, using different experimental data as high speed machining leads to extreme machining temperature, sudden tool failure and subsequent adverse effects on overall machining performance in all the aspects. Sustainable machining techniques have the effective answer to avoid the adverse consequences of HSM. This paper emphasizes upon the review of application of various sustainable machining techniques like Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL), Cryogenic Technique, and Compressed Gas into the high-speed machining of hard to cut materials. Further, the appliance of vegetable based lubricants is highlighted for better comparison.
Nonlinear Multiview Analysis: Identifiability and Neural Network-based Implementation

Multiview analysis aims to extract common information from data entities across different domains (e.g., acoustic, visual, text). Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is one of the classic tools for this problem, which estimates the shared latent information via linear transforming the different views of data. CCA has also been generalized to the nonlinear regime, where kernel methods and neural networks are introduced to replace the linear transforms. While the theoretical aspects of linear CCA are relatively well understood, nonlinear multiview analysis is still largely intuition-driven. In this work, our interest lies in the identifiability of shared latent information under a nonlinear multiview analysis framework. We propose a model identification criterion for learning latent information from multiview data, under a reasonable data generating model. We show that minimizing this criterion leads to identification of the latent shared information up to certain indeterminacy. We also propose a neural network based implementation and an efficient algorithm to realize the criterion. Our analysis is backed by experiments on both synthetic and real data.
Application of chemical graph theory to PAH isomer enumeration and structure in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry studies of particulate from an ethylene diffusion flame

Abstract Our laboratory recently published data that showed that the PAH composition of soot can be exactly determined and spatially resolved by low-fluence laser desorption ionization, coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry imaging [1] . This analysis revealed that PAHs of 239–838 Da, containing few oxygenated species, comprise the soot observed in an ethylene diffusion flame. In this paper, we demonstrate that the empirical formula of observed species can aid in the enumeration of isomers and places limits on their structures and thermodynamic stability. Specifically, chemical graph theory (CGT) shows that the vast majority of species observed in the sampled particulate matter may be described as benzenoid, consisting of only fused 6-membered rings. We apply CGT to determine the Dias Parameter, dS, for observed, individual PAH peaks and demonstrate that observed PAH species cluster near low dS, indicative of highly condensed structures, with relatively low populations of edge concavity (armchairs, bays, and fjords). Finally, we quantitatively explore the relative stability of PAH isomers using group-additivity estimates (for benzenoid structures) and those containing a single 5-membered rings using density functional theory. For the latter, we show that highly-condensed, benzenoid structures have lower free energy than those containing five-membered rings, with buried 5-membered rings showing the highest free energies.
(Community) garden in the city: Conspicuous labor and gentrification:

Community gardens are fertile fields of complex political, economic and social relations, on both a local and global level. From environmentalism to urban policy and planning, racial and gender stu...
Costly Dividend Signaling: The Case of Lost Firms With Negative Cash Flows

We examine the dividend-signaling hypothesis in a sample of firms for which dividend increases are particularly costly, namely loss firms with negative cash flows. When compared to loss firms with positive cash flows, we find the predictive power of dividend increases for future return on assets to be greater for loss firms with negative cash flows, consistent with the predictive power of the dividend signal being stronger when its cost is higher. Our results provide support for the dividend-signaling hypothesis and have broader implications since loss firms comprise a large and increasing share of publicly-traded firms.
Impact of Vermicompost as a Base Fertilizer for Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) Cultivation

Higher dosages of chemical fertilizers and other plant growth regulators increased the crop yield, but at the same time cause detrimental effects for human beings and environment. Usage of organic fertilizers has come forward to minimize the usage of synthetic fertilizers. A pot experiment was carried out in Crop farm, Eastern University, Sri Lanka in between February to July in 2019 to analyze the effect of vermicomposting on growth and yield of radish. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and four replicates. The experiment was comprised with treatments; planting radish in soil with synthetic fertilizers at recommended rate (T1), planting radish in soil mixed with vermicomposting in the rate 10 t/ha (T2), 8 t/ha (T3), 6 t/ha (T4) and 4 t/ha (T5). Variety Beeralu was used for the experiment. T4 gave maximum plant height and fresh weight of leaves at 2nd and 4th WAP. Number of leaves was maximum in T4 at 2nd WAP. Tuber length and fresh weight of tuberous root was superior in T4 at 2nd and 4th WAP. Dry weight of leaves was not significantly varied with different levels of vermicomposting while dry weight of tuberous roots gave higher values in T4 at 6th WAP which was not significantly differed with control. T4 gave superior total yield of radish/pot at each weekly interval. As most of the growth and yield parameters are superior in T4, the study concludes that, the better rate of vermicomposting that can be used to plant radish in sandy regosol is 6 t/ha for the better performance of radish.Keywords: Vermicomposting, organic fertilizers, synthetic fertilizers, tuberous root, base fertilizer
[18] Measuring cooperative binding between retinal rod G protein, transducin, and activated rhodopsin

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a method for labeling G t and measuring light-induced association of G t with Rho* in rod disk membranes. As molecular cloning techniques make a variety of G proteins and their receptors available in larger quantities, this approach may become more widely applicable to the study of receptor-G protein interactions. Among the many questions that will be addressed is whether cooperative interactions are a general feature of receptor-G protein binding or whether they are specific to Rho* and G t . The unique ability of rods to amplify and detect very small signals constitutes one of the most remarkable examples of G-protein-dependent signal transduction. There are number of purification schemes for G tα and G tβγ . The procedures described are a modification of those purification schemes, which have found to give consistently high yields of very pure G ta and G tβγ without detectable loss in activity.
Orel, N.A., & Fruhauf, C.A. (Eds.) (2015). The lives of LGBT older adults: Understanding challenges and resilience

Orel, N.A., & Fruhauf, C.A. (Eds.). (2015). The lives of LGBT older adults: Understanding challenges and resilience. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. 241 pp., $69.95 (Hardcover),...
Dogmatics, Empirics, and Moral Medicine

to simplify the innately complex, to clarify that which is inherently obscure, and to have a handy-dandy methodology that will unfailingly generate the product clinicians seem so ardently to seek, the Right Answer. But it is not, of course, only the unreasonable expectations of doctors that lead to disappointment It is also the extent to which bioethics as a discipline doesn't seem to be in possession of the realities of practice. Bioethicists tend to leave the "facts" of clinical medicine to the doctors; their task is then to apply elegant and compelling arguments drawn from first principles of ethics-such as autonomy or justice-to these undisputed and indisputable facts. Unfortunately, when the relationship between clinical medicine and bioethics is conceived along either of these models, the result is a very sterile discourse. Commentators who would "settle" the abortion
Rossi X‐Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer(RXTE); Proportional Counting Array (PCA)
Prevalence of asthma and allergy symptoms and pulmonary function testing in sugar cane and tobacco field workers in Honduras

We previously demonstrated a very high prevalence of wheezing (89%) and lower pulmonary function tests (PFT) in rural Honduran children of the Rio Grande O Choluteca valley where sugar cane is burned 8 months of the year compared to children of Jamastran valley (17% wheezing) where no crops are burned. We applied a similar asthma/allergy questionnaire and performed PFT on sugar cane field workers (SC) of the Rio Grande O Choluteca valley and tobacco field workers (TOB) of the Jamastran valley. Tables 1 & 2 summarize questionnaire findings and PFT values of the two groups. We found the SC workers to be significantly younger with thus fewer years working in the fields compared to the TOB workers. Both groups were found to have similarly high prevalence9s of ever wheezed, wheezed in last 12 months, night cough, smoking frequency, chronic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. SC workers have significantly lower FVC and FEV-1. We conclude that both SC and TOB field workers in Honduras have a high prevalence of asthma and allergy symptoms and SC workers, although younger with fewer years of exposure, have lower pulmonary function. Individual air quality sampling of the two groups is needed to delineate the contribution of environmental work exposure to these findings.
Noninvasive evaluation of indecainide for serious ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

Indecainide, a new class 1C agent, was administered to 16 patients with a history of ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. Evaluation of drug effect consisted of acute testing with 125 mg followed by a period of maintenance therapy. Efficacy, as evaluated with both ambulatory monitoring and exercise testing, was defined as total elimination of runs of ventricular tachycardia, >90% reduction in couplets and >50% decrease in ventricular premature complex. During acute drug testing 9 of the 16 patients responded to the drug. Four patients did not receive maintenance therapy with indecainide, because of toxic side effects. Of the remaining 12 patients, 7 responded to indecainide based on monitoring, 5 responded judged by exercise testing and 4 when both monitoring and exercise testing were considered. There was no correlation between dose, blood level of drug and effect on arrhythmia. In this small group acute drug testing did not appear to predict the response to the drug during maintenance therapy. Neurologic side effects were reported by 5 patients. Aggravation of arrhythmia occurred in 5 patients, 3 of whom had this complication during acute drug testing and 2 during maintenance therapy. Left ventricular ejection fraction, measured before and during therapy, decreased from an average of 43% to 35% (p < 0.005). A reduction was observed irrespective of baseline left ventricular function. Indecainide is an effective antiarrhythmic agent in a small number of highly selected patients with serious ventricular arrhythmia, but potentially serious side effects limit its usefulness.