cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
International Legal Scholarship

The congenital defects of international law (especially the absence of world authority) has led to a kind of scholarship that falls short of intellectually satisfying standards. On one hand, the excessive attachment to sovereignty has led scholars to defend political power to an extent that would be unthinkable in other areas of the law. On the other hand, international law scholars abuse the language of law, pretending to find legal certainty where there is none. Nonetheless, the animating ideal - respect for the international rule of law - is worth pursuing notwithstanding these problems.
A method that dramatically improves patient adherence to depression treatment.

UNLABELLED This study focused on increasing patient adherence to a prescribed medical regimen for depression or depressive symptoms. The goal was to demonstrate that a depression flow sheet supported by physician instruction, patient education, and diligent follow-up could enable depressed patients to better adhere to treatment. The study documented reduction in depression severity over time. In addition to depression data, sample characteristics of comorbid disorders were obtained. METHODS Patients tentatively diagnosed with depression were asked to complete a self-administered 9-item diagnostic survey (PHQ-9) to confirm the severity of depressive symptoms. Physicians in the practice then implemented a flow sheet to record pertinent data including comorbidities. All data were kept in patients' medical charts. A second PHQ-9 survey was completed by patients after at least 4 weeks. A total of 103 subjects was analyzed during 2003-2004. Subsequently, patient charts were systematically audited throughout the study period to record adherence, reasons for nonadherence (if any), PHQ-9 survey results, and comorbidities. RESULTS Patient adherence improved to a significantly greater extent among patients in our study compared with existing national research data on depression. CONCLUSION Use of a flow sheet, coupled with patient education and diligent follow-up, dramatically improved the rate of medication adherence in patients who initially presented with depressive symptoms--with or without comorbidities. A clinician or small group can adapt the PHQ-9 materials with modest effort and positively impact the care of their patients, including adherence to medication regimens.
Cellular growth, injury and death

1. A functional model-system has been helpful in elucidating the problem of cellular growth kinetics. Computer studies with the model-system have made it possible for us to obtain some information in regard to interrelationships between various functional entities as well as on the effect of various parameters on the growth process. 2. These studies include the effects of the various entities on normal growth. The phenomenon of cellular viability and the recovery of viability has been elucidated, and it has been shown that the organization pattern plays a dominant role in a functional system. 3. While the simulation of the cellular system with the model has produced some highly interesting results, the complexity of the problem, raises many new issues. In order to make a model-system analysis more penetrating for gaining insight into biological processes, the model-system has to be expanded. It should especially contain more regulatory mechanisms. 4. In our experience, it was extremely difficult to obtain a solution on the computer for the differential equations representing the model-system. Sometimes it was thought to be impossible. Consequently, one has to introduce new features into the model-system gradually. 5. Since a functional system has been obtained, however, there is no apparent difficulty to supplementing within certain limits additional features involving regulatory mechanisms at various levels. This can be done with available computer facilities. 6. More expanded model-systems will also require new computer developments. Here again, there is no apparent limitation from the computer technology point of view. The problem is mainly economic.
Willow Beaked-Gall Midge, Mayetiola rigidae (Osten Sacken), (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae): Differential Susceptibility of Willows

Beaked galls of Mayetiola rigidae (Osten Sacken) occurred on 51 accessions of Salix species, hybrids, and cultivars out of 125 accessions examined at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. In some cases, young galls died while the larvae in them were still small, indicating hypersensitivity to midge attack. Larval mortality also occurred in fully grown galls. In these, the tissue lining the larval chamber either darkened and died, or proliferated into the chamber. Larvae in these galls typically developed to the 3rd instar before dying. Susceptibility to midge infestation was most pronounced in accessions of S. caprea L., S. cinerea L., S. muscina Dode, their hybrids, and a few other species, and least in accessions of S. alba, S. eriocephala Michx., S. purpurea L., their hybrids, and a few other species; 74 accessions were not galled. A total of 25 were galled, but larvae failed to complete development, and 26 accessions bore galls from which adults emerged. Form and size of the beaked galls were usually characteristic for each Salix sp.
Unsteady Aerodynamics Modeling for a Flexible Unmanned Air Vehicle

An unsteady aerodynamics model of a flexible unmanned air vehicle is presented in this paper. The unsteady aerodynamics results from structural vibrations of the flexible airframe which affect the airflow around it. The doublet lattice method, which is a potential flow based panel method, is used for obtaining the basic unsteady aerodynamics model. It gives the pressure distribution on a lifting surface harmonically oscillating in steady flow. The basic concepts, underlying assumptions and approximations of the method are discussed. The extensive post processing which is done for the model obtained from the doublet lattice method is also described. The aerodynamic model is first transformed into suitable coordinates to account for structural vibrations effects. A rational function fitting is then carried out to obtain the final model which is suitable for time domain analysis. We use these methods to obtain an unsteady aerodynamics model of the Body Freedom Flutter vehicle, a flexible test bed aircraft. The results of this application are discussed. The final model is used for developing a nonlinear simulation for the flexible aircraft which is capable of simulating phenomena such as flutter and is important for integrated control law synthesis for the aircraft. The software for DLM as well as the post processing tools are made available as an open source research tool for aeroelastic systems research.
Locations of small earthquakes near the trifurcation of the San Jacinto fault southeast of Anza, California

About 100 small earthquakes (M ≈ 1/2 to 2) which occurred near the trifurcation of the San Jacinto fault southeast of Anza, California, have been accurately located using five- and six-station arrays with dimensions of about 10 km. The pattern of epicenters is complex and extends several km outside of the area outlined by the traces of faulting. Patterns of seismicity observed on opposite sides of the San Jacinto fault are significantly different. On the southwest side, a concentration of foci lies at a depth of about 4-7 km along the projected extension of the Coyote Creek fault a few km northwest of the last surface evidence of faulting. On the northeast side, earthquakes are concentrated at depths between 10 and 15 km. A group of the latter events recorded about 1 week after the magnitude 4.7 earthquake of May 21, 1967 forms a linear pattern parallel to the San Jacinto fault with depths from 3 to 15 km. This pattern may represent the zone of energy release or slip for that earthquake and possibly the plane of the San Jacinto fault at depth, although the epicenters are located about 2 to 3 km to the northeast of the trace of the San Jacinto fault. Most of the earthquakes located in this study are not aftershocks in the usual sense, i.e., easily correlated with a preceding large earthquake. They represent a complex pattern of seismicity which has continued at least for the last 3 years on the micro-earthquake level and for the last 30 years on the macroseismic level.
Effects of active immunization against clenbuterol on the growth-promoting effect of clenbuterol in rats

We examined the effect of active immunization against clenbuterol on the growth-promoting effect of clenbuterol in rats in two experiments. Six-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were immunized against clenbuterol conjugated to histone by diazotization and then received clenbuterol approximately 4 wk after the initiation of immunization. Antibody titers were determined using indirect ELISA with diazotized clenbuterol-BSA conjugate as an antigen in coating the microwells. Antibody titer increased during booster injections. No significant difference in titer value was observed between two doses of immunogen (. 1 vs .5 mg). Competitive ELISA showed that terbutaline cross-reacted with anti-clenbuterol antibodies, and the cross-reactivity was 12%. Alprenolol, propranolol, phentolamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and L644,969 showed no affinity for anti-clenbuterol antibodies. The rats immunized against clenbuterol-histone conjugate had 11% lower body weight gain during the 23-d immunization period than the rats immunized against histone only. When clenbuterol was administered after the immunization, no significant difference in growth rate was observed between the rats immunized against clenbuterol-histone conjugate and rats immunized against histone only. No significant difference in muscle weight was observed between the two groups at the termination of the experiment. Results indicate that active immunization against clenbuterol before clenbuterol administration did not modify the growth-promoting effects of clenbuterol in rats.
Decomposition of Some Jacobian Varieties of Dimension 3

We study degree 2 and 4 elliptic subcovers of hyperelliptic curves of genus 3 defined over ℂ. The family of genus 3 hyperelliptic curves which have a degree 2 cover to an elliptic curve E and degree 4 covers to elliptic curves E 1 and E 2 is a 2-dimensional subvariety of the hyperelliptic moduli \({\mathcal H}_3\). We determine this subvariety explicitly. For any given moduli point \(\wp \in{\mathcal H}_3\) we determine explicitly if the corresponding genus 3 curve \(\mathcal{X}\) belongs or not to such family. When it does, we can determine elliptic subcovers E, E 1, and E 2 in terms of the absolute invariants t 1, …, t 6 as in [12]. This variety provides a new family of hyperelliptic curves of genus 3 for which the Jacobians completely split. The sublocus of such family when E 1 ≅ E 2 is a 1-dimensional variety which we determine explicitly. We can also determine \(\mathcal{X}\) and E starting form the j-invariant of E 1.
Partitioning and Transport Behavior of Pathogen Indicator Organisms at Four Cold Region Solid Waste Sites

AbstractFreshwater resources in rural Alaska communities, especially those underlain by permafrost, are particularly vulnerable to impacts from nearby waste facilities. The authors investigated the connection between rural solid waste facilities and transmission of pathogenic organisms into nearby water resources by evaluating the (1) prevalence of pathogen indicators E. coli and Enterococcus sp. proximal to cold region waste facilities, and (2) partitioning behavior of both organisms in a controlled snowmelt lysimeter test. Results reveal that E. coli and Enterococcus sp. preferentially attach to and migrate with soil particles in surface waters and are transported off-site during snowmelt runoff. Enterococcus sp. had higher and more sustained viability in cold environmental conditions than E. coli. E. coli and Enterococcus sp. were found in surface waters and soils in the concentration range of 0.7–3.5 mean log most probably number (MPN)/100 mL H2O. All microbial samples indicated strong site-specific ...
Heart Rate and Rhythm Disturbances

Few sounds evoke a feeling of life and vitality more than the regular “thump-thump” of a human heartbeat. When a person is resuscitated from cardiac arrest and their pulse returns, the regular beeping of a bedside monitor is a calming sound that allows everyone in the room to breathe a sigh of relief. Conversely, abnormal heart rhythms may send a wave of anxiety through the bodies of medical providers, particularly those who lack a sense of familiarity with arrhythmias. With a little practice and by following a methodical step-by-step system, one can learn to recognize the various abnormal heart rhythms that are commonly encountered in pediatric patients.
Racial/ethnic difference in initiation and timing of adjuvant endocrine therapy among older women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

e18076Background: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) effectively reduces breast cancer recurrence and mortality, however, a substantial proportion of breast cancer patients indicated for AET treatmen...
Spectroscopic determination of the electron-antineutrino angular correlation in the decay 85 Kr → 85m Rb + β - + ν

An experiment Is currently under way at MIT to measure the angular correlation between the momenta of the β− and v ¯ emitted in the decay 85Kr→ 85mRb, using the laser-induced nuclear orientation (LINO) technique,1 whereby laser optical pumping of short-lived 85mRb isomers, produced in a gas cell filled with radioactive Kr, aligns their nuclear spins and results in anisotropy in their subsequent γ decay.
Experimental study of simultaneous heat and moisture transfer around single short porous cylinders during convection drying by a psychrometry method

Abstract This paper presents results of theoretical and experimental studies on heat and moisture transfer around single short porous cylinders during forced convective drying. Air was passed across saturated coal logs, varying air humidity, temperature and velocity, as well as log aspect ratio and diameter. After considering the transport coupling effects, experimental results from loss of moisture and surface temperature indicate that calculated heat transfer coefficients are twice coefficients for systems with only heat transfer. The coupled heat and mass transfer results are correlated in terms of the dimensionless Nusselt and Sherwood numbers, Nu = 0.056 Re 0.65 Gu −0.43 and Sh = 0.047 Re 0.67 Gu −0.42 , where Re is the Reynolds number and Gu the Gukhman number. The surface temperatures during drying were well estimated using a modified energy balance formula. The new correlation is useful to predict the initial drying rates for short cylinders with an aspect ratio from 1.2 to 2.0.
THE VISUAL PATHWAY—PRELIMINARIES OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Naturally, the structure of the organs and the connections between cell groups vary from species to species. In Limulus , the horseshoe crab, the compound eye consists of a number of ommatidia, each of which is a self-contained optical system. This chapter presents the visual pathway, primarily of man. The human eye is approximately spherical and 24 mm in diameter. Light enters through the cornea, passes through the aqueous humor, the pupil, the lens, and finally the vitreous humor before it arrives at the retina. The size of the pupil is regulated by the iris in response to light intensity, and the shape of the lens is adjusted so as to focus on the object viewed. Two types of receptor are found in the retina, the rods and cones. The latter are involved in high-acuity discrimination and daylight vision, and they are essential in color vision, while the rods are dominant in twilight vision.
Adaptive Multi-Element Receiver Structure for Maximum-Likelihood Sequence Estimation in a Spatially Distributed Interference Channel

An optimum receiver structure is described for maximum-likelihood estimation of a linearly modulated binary data sequence received in the presence of spatially distributed interference by a multi-element antenna array. The optimum structure consists of an interference suppression spatial filter followed by a matched filter sampled at the baud rate, and a recursive nonlinear processor employing the Viterbi algorithm to perform maximum-likelihood sequence estimation. This receiver provides an extension of known results for single-element digital communication systems to the case where a multi-element array capability is available and results in a practically implementable optimum spatial/temporal processor.
A catastrophic queueing model with delayed action

Abstract A queueing model with catastrophes and delayed action is studied in this paper. This delayed action could be in the form of protecting or removing all the customers that are in the system based on the outcome of two random clocks which are simultaneously activated upon the occurrence of a catastrophic event. Assuming the customers to arrive according to a versatile Markovian point process to a single server system, the service times to be of phase type, and all other underlying random variables to be exponentially distributed, we use matrix-analytic methods to study the delayed catastrophic model in steady-state. Needed expressions for the number in the system as well as the waiting time distributions are derived along with a discussion on some special cases of this model. Detailed illustrative examples are presented.
Abstract IA41: Emerging Issues in Cancer Screening for Racial and Ethnic Minorities

Cancer screening plays an important role in early detection; detecting cancer in an early stage has important implications for cancer health disparities. Considerable efforts have been made to increase access to early detection services among racial and ethnic minorities in order to improve cancer outcomes in these populations. However, our recent work has shown that racial disparities in cancer screening continue to exist. For instance, about 40% of women in our national random survey of cultural considerations in cancer screening were not up-to-date with mammography guidelines. Our other work with a community-based sample of African American men demonstrated that informed decision-making about PSA testing may be low. Fifty-seven percent of men reported having a PSA test during the past year, but none of the variables that are important to informed decision-making were associated with having annual screening. With respect to lung cancer screening, our recent qualitative research demonstrated that patients have limited discussions with providers about the benefits and limitations of lung cancer screening and had difficulty recalling receipt of information about screening, even though many decided to have low dose computed tomography (LDCT). This may be because of limited knowledge about screening guidelines and low enthusiasm and commitment to LCDT among providers. Providers relied on clinical reminders from the electronic health system to remind them to assess patients for eligibility for LDCT and offer screening. Provider referral to smoking cessation programs was also limited. Provider referral to smoking cessation programs, and delivery of this service, is especially important among high-risk smokers who are candidates for LCDT. Using data from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), our research demonstrated that current smokers have an increased risk of lung cancer and all-cause mortality compared to former smokers regardless of randomization to LCDT or the control condition. In addition, smoking abstinence for seven years was associated with a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality among those screened with chest radiograph. Screening with LCDT and smoking abstinence for 15 years had the greatest mortality risk reduction. African Americans were under-represented in the NLST; therefore, greater efforts are needed to disseminate and implement lung cancer screening in more diverse health care facilities. Citation Format: Chanita Hughes Halbert. Emerging Issues in Cancer Screening for Racial and Ethnic Minorities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA41.
3D-printed apparel and 3D-printer: exploring advantages, concerns, and purchases

The purpose of this study was to examine consumer perceptions of 3D-printed apparel and 3D-printers, in terms of (1) advantages, (2) concerns, and (3) purchasing. Thirteen respondents participated ...
A Shell-Shaped Carbon Architecture with High-Loading Capability for Lithium Sulfide Cathodes

Lithium sulfide (Li2S) is considered a highly attractive cathode for establishing high-energy-density rechargeable batteries, especially due to its high charge-storage capacity and compatibility with lithium-metal-free anodes. Although various approaches have recently been pursued with Li2S to obtain high performance, formidable challenges still remain with cell design (e.g., low Li2S loading, insufficient Li2S content, and an excess electrolyte) to realize high areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities. This study demonstrates a shell-shaped carbon architecture for holding pure Li2S, offering innovation in cell-design parameters and gains in electrochemical characteristics. The Li2S core–carbon shell electrode encapsulates the redox products within the conductive shell so as to facilitate facile accessibility to electrons and ions. The fast redox-reaction kinetics enables the cells to attain the highest Li2S loading of 8 mg cm−2 and the lowest electrolyte/Li2S ratio of 9/1, which is the best cell-design specifications ever reported with Li2S cathodes so far. Benefiting from the excellent cell-design criterion, the core–shell cathodes exhibit stable cyclability from slow to fast cycle rates and, for the first time, simultaneously achieve superior performance metrics with areal, gravimetric, and volumetric capacities.
Strategies for Financing Long-Term Care

Anyone can say, "I am a personal financial planner." In this environment, the accounting profession is positioned to become the leading provider of personal financial planning services. In many instances, accountants are the only professionals clients know and trust with regard to personal financial planning. Accountants, unlike some financial specialists, recommend what clients need - not what they can sell to them. People ask accountants to design financial plans for a variety of reasons: * to achieve financial independence, * for retirement, * to protect their estates for the benefit of heirs, and * to avoid being a physical burden to relatives and friends. For the well-being of clients, accountants should consider the need for long-term health care (LTC) in clients' financial plans. Of the 2.2 million people who turned 65 in 1990, 43% will spend some time in a nursing home. Ninety percent of those who stay two years or more will bankrupt themselves within the first two years (Greer 1991). Although many people consider accountants personal financial planning experts, most accountants need to learn more about insurance and investments. These two areas are not a part of their traditional training in accounting. Clients look to accountants to explain the alternatives before going to other professionals to implement financial plans. This article discusses alternatives for financing LTC. It reviews governmental programs that are associated with financing health care. LTC insurance and life insurance are discussed as ways to finance LTC. In addition, two strategies for utilizing home equity to finance care are presented.
The elegant law that governs us all

A dog owner weighs twice as much as her German shepherd. Does she eat twice as much? Does a big city need twice as many gas stations as one that is half its size? Our first instinct is to say yes. But, alas, we are wrong. On a per-gram basis, a human requires about 25% less food than her dog, and the larger city needs only 85% more gas stations. As Geoffrey West explains in Scale, the reason behind these intriguing phenomena is a universal law known as allometry—the finding that as organisms, cities, and com­panies grow, many of their characteristics scale nonlinearly.
Improving School Nurse Pain Assessment Practices for Students With Intellectual Disability

School nurses are afforded minimal resources related to assessing pain in students with intellectual disability (ID) and have called for continuing education. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness of an education program regarding best practices for assessing pain in students with ID. Educational sessions were presented to 248 school nurses. Pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys measured (1) difficulty school nurses face when assessing pain, (2) knowledge and use of pain assessment methods, and (3) intent to change and actual changes to professional practices. Participants experienced less difficulty assessing pain following the educational program. Almost all participants intended to change pain assessment practices, but large caseloads limited new practice adoption. Policy makers must consider population size and acuity when determining school nurse staffing. Trainings and other resources should be made available to school nurses in order to make pain assessments for students with ID more thorough and efficient.
Discursive scaling: Moral stability and neoliberal dominance in the narratives of transnational migrant women

In this article I apply the notion of scaling as agentive discursive practice to analyze the construction of moral positionings by migrant women. I draw from semi-structured interviews with Uzbek women in the United States and use discourse analytic methods to focus on the relationship between linguistic choices and existing power structures. I show that although these women are caught between multiple moral orders, by linking behaviors associated with these orders to different time–space configurations and different scopes of generalizability, they are able to justify their choices and highlight the stability of their own morality. I further demonstrate that while these acts of scaling are agentive, they may also be used to reinforce rather than dismantle existing hierarchies, pointing to the need for further investigation of the relationship between agency, discourse and power in contemporary globalization.
Large-Scale Group-Score Assessment

Large-scale group-score assessments are widely used to inform educational policymakers about the needs and accomplishments of various populations and subpopulations. The purpose of this chapter is to chronicle ETS’s technical contributions in this area. The focus is on a subset of important educational achievement testing programs, ones that assess large populations (e.g., the United States as a whole, an individual state), use population-defining variables (e.g., racial/ethnic, gender), and include consideration of other policy-relevant factors (e.g., the number of hours watching TV, number of mathematics courses taken).
Risk of cardiovascular events from current, recent, and cumulative exposure to abacavir among persons living with HIV who were receiving antiretroviral therapy in the United States: a cohort study

There is ongoing controversy regarding abacavir use in the treatment of HIV infection and the risk of subsequent development of cardiovascular disease. It is unclear how the risk varies as exposure accumulates. Using an administrative health-plan dataset, risk of cardiovascular disease events (CVDe), defined as the first episode of an acute myocardial infarction or a coronary intervention procedure, associated with abacavir exposure was assessed among HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy across the U.S. from October 2009 through December 2014. The data were longitudinal, and analyzed using marginal structural models. Over 114,470 person-years (n = 72,733) of ART exposure, 714 CVDe occurred at an incidence rate (IR) (95% CI) of 6·23 (5·80, 6·71)/1000 person-years. Individuals exposed to abacavir had a higher IR of CVDe of 9·74 (8·24, 11·52)/1000 person-years as compared to 5·75 (5·30, 6·24)/1000 person-years for those exposed to other antiretroviral agents. The hazard (HR; 95% CI) of CVDe was increased for current (1·43; 1·18, 1·73), recent (1·41; 1·16, 1·70), and cumulative [(1·18; 1·06, 1·31) per year] exposure to abacavir. The risk for cumulative exposure followed a bell-shaped dose-response curve peaking at 24-months of exposure. Risk was similarly elevated among participants free of pre-existing heart disease or history of illicit substance use at baseline. Current, recent, and cumulative use of abacavir was associated with an increased risk of CVDe. The findings were consistent irrespective of underlying cardiovascular risk factors.
Formation of FcRγ-deficient NK cell subset associated with HCMV-reactivation in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

131Background: We have previously identified a novel subset of human NK cells that lacks FcRγ, a transmembrane signaling adaptor associated with CD16, the Fc receptor for IgG. These FcRγ-deficient ...
Posttraumatic Headache: Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets

Frequent or continuous headache, often refractory to medical therapy, is a common occurrence after head trauma. In addition to being the most common acute symptom after traumatic brain injury (TBI), headache is also one of the most persistent and disabling symptoms. Different studies indicate that 18-58% of those suffering a TBI will have significant headache at 1 year following the trauma. In addition to being disabling on its own, posttraumatic headache (PTH) is a predictor of overall outcome after concussion. Despite its remarkable prevalence and associated social and economic costs, many fundamental and important questions about PTH remain unanswered. The purpose of this review is to identify key questions regarding the clinical characteristics of posttraumatic headache, its basic mechanisms, and its optimal management. We discuss phenotypic features of PTH, pathophysiological mechanisms of TBI including potential overlaps with those of migraine and other primary headache disorders, and potential novel targets for treatment. We suggest different strategies to finding answers to the questions regarding PTH in order to advance the understanding of the disorder and develop more effective therapies.
Rhetorical Framing in Planning: An Empirical Investigation of How Planners Discuss Density:

Planning departments can frame a policy by citing some of its presumed benefits over others. However, there is limited understanding of framing’s frequency within planning and why planning departme...
Summary and Perspective: Relevance to Human Health Hazard Assessment

In this session Drs. German, Paterson, and Swift presented their thoughts and research results on human genetic variation that is known or suspected to involve DNA repair and/or mutagen sensitivity. Their discussion brought out some of the salient issues in this area: (1) the difficulties in identifying mutant phenotypes that might involve disturbances in the function of the genetic machinery, (2) relationships between cellular and molecular phenomena and possible associations with phenotypes and environmental interactions, and (3) the possibility of increased cancer risk in heterozygotes.
Oxidized phospholipids regulate cellular metabolism and lipid droplet formation in hepatocytes – Implications for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of cardio-metabolic syndrome, affects up to 30% of individuals in the United States. NAFLD is a chronic disease that initially presents as hepatic steatosis and can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, and liver failure. Hepatic steatosis is characterized by an increased lipid burden within hepatocytes. This has been correlated with hepatic mitochondrial dysregulation which is thought to contribute to hepatic lipid accumulation. However, the factors that cause mitochondrial dysfunction in NAFLD remain unknown. Previously, our lab has shown that oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) regulate mitochondrial function, and here, we test the hypothesis that OxPLs that accumulate due to oxidative stress during NAFLD progression in the liver promote lipid droplet accumulation within hepatocytes by dysregulating hepatic mitochondrial function. C57Bl/6 mice were fed a high fructose, palmitate, cholesterol diet for 12 weeks to induce hepatic steatosis. Compared to mice fed a chow diet after 12 weeks, we observed a disproportionate increase in truncated oxidation products of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PAPC) compared to full-length oxidation products in steatotic livers. Treatment of AML12 murine hepatocytes with truncated oxidation products of PAPC for 4-hours resulted in a significant decrease in maximum and reserve oxygen consumption rate; additionally, 48-hour treatment resulted in an increase in lipid droplet size and quantity. Incongruous with effects of truncated oxidation products, full-length oxidation products of PAPC exhibited no significant effect on oxygen consumption or lipid droplet size. These data suggest that truncated oxidation products in the hepatic milieu regulate lipid droplet size and quantity by modulating mitochondrial function which may contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis and NAFLD.
Abstract TP333: Motor Recovery After Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion May be Impacted by the Disruption of Nucleus Basalis-Cortical Cholinergic Pathways

Stroke survivors often have chronic motor deficits that significantly impact their quality of life. The most common vessel affected by ischemic events is the middle cerebral artery. These strokes c...
Evaluating the Geographic in GIS

Despite several decades of discussion and debate around the role of in the discipline of Geography, it would be a stretch to argue that has not irreversibly altered the discipline, both in the scop...
Weak-neutral-current effects in e - +e + -->q+q̄-->(Λ,Σ,Λ c ,Σ c ,...)+X and e - +e + -->q+q̄-->(ρ,K * ,D * ,...)+X

The forward-backward asymmetry A/sub B/ and longitudinal polarization P/sub B/ of a spin-1/2 baryon in the process e/sup -/+e/sup +/ ..-->.. B+X are calculated in terms of the vector (a/sub q/) and axial-vector (b/sub q/) weak-neutral-current couplings of the quarks composing B, their electric charges Q/sub q/, and their (q ..-->.. B) fragmentation probabilities. Using a theoretical argument for baryons composed of one heavy c,b,..., quark and two light u,d quarks, and SU(3) symmetry for baryons composed of light u,d,s quarks, A/sub B/ is expressed in terms of b/sub q/ and Q/sub q/ only. In similar fashion, some relations between the various P/sub B/, independent of the fragmentation probabilities, are obtained. The results are discussed in detail for the strange and charmed baryons. The corresponding weak-neutral--electromagnetic interference effects for the vector mesons are also briefly discussed.
Social hair plucking is a grooming convention in a group of captive bonobos ( Pan paniscus )

Hair plucking is observed in many captive primate species and is often characterized as an abnormal behavior. However, this behavior may be both self-directed and social and may have different etiologies. Early research in captive macaques (Macaca mulatta) described the aggressive nature of social hair plucking while more recent observations did not find an association with aggression or grooming, but the behavior was initiated most frequently by individuals with more secure dominance rank. Here, we investigate patterns of social hair plucking in a group of captive bonobos at the Columbus Zoo. We tested the hypothesis that social plucking reflects the dominance hierarchy by examining the association between social plucking and grooming, dominance, and kinship. We collected 128 h of grooming data on 16 captive bonobos using all-occurrence sampling. We ran three Mantel tests between a directed grooming matrix and (1) a plucking matrix, (2) a matrix reflecting dominance, and (3) matrix of relatedness. Grooming and hair plucking were significantly correlated (r = 0.25, p < 0.01), however, there was no association between plucking and dominance (r = − 0.04, p = 0.67), or plucking and relatedness (r = 0.07, p = 0.24). These results support the hypothesis that social plucking in bonobos is a grooming convention and is unrelated to dominance.
Analysis of CANT1 gene variant in a girl with Desbuquois dysplasia type I

Objective To explore the genetic basis for a child with scoliosis, congenital dislocation of the hip joint and growth retardation by using next generation sequencing (NGS). Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the proband and his parents. Whole genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to NGS. Suspected variant was predicted by bioinformatic tools and validated by Sanger sequencing. Results The proband was found to carry compound heterozygous variants c. 494T>C (p.Met165Thr) and c. 848A>G (p.His283Arg) of the CANT1 gene, among which c. 494T>C (p.Met165Thr) was inherited from her father and reported to be pathogenic by HGMD. c. 848A>G (p.His283Arg) was inherited from her mother and was predicted to be likely pathogenic according to the ACMG 2015 guidelines. Conclusion The compound heterozygous variants of c. 494T>C (p.Met165Thr) and c. 848A>G (p.His283Arg) of the CANT1 gene probably underlie the disease in the proband. Key words: Desbuquois dysplasia; CANT1 gene; Next generation sequencing
Comments on “Experimental Multivalent Ionic Radii”

CHUA1 has listed the ionic radii for a number of divalent lanthanide species, La+2, Ce+2, Nd+2, Sm+2, Eu+2, Yb+2, some of which are probably incorrect. For convenience the radii given by Chua are listed in Table 1. Inspection of these values shows immediately that the value for Eu+2 is anomalously high compared with those lanthanides with lower atomic numbers, La+2 to Sm+2. At first one might be inclined to believe the value for Eu+2 is incorrect. But further examination reveals that these radii were calculated from the lattice parameters reported for the respective RO(NaCl-type) compounds listed by me2 (Chua's reference 14). Of these six RO compounds the only definitely known cation valence state is that of Eu which has been shown by magnetic measurements to be divalent3. Very little is known about the other HO compounds, and their existence has been seriously questioned4. If they should exist there is no reason why La, Ce and Nd would be expected to be divalent in these compounds (Sm and Yb, however, could be divalent). Indeed, if one examines the corresponding RSe, RS and RTe, one finds that La, Ce and Nd in these NaCl-type compounds are trivalent. Because the valence state of these five lanthanide ions in the RO compounds has not been established, the divalent radii given for La+2, Ce+2, Nd+2, Sm+2 and Yb+2 are open to question.
Initial psychometric testing of the Head and Neck Cancer Patient Self-Management Inventory (HNC-PSMI)

Abstract Purpose Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatment are associated with significant symptom burden and functional impairment. HNC patients must engage in intensive and complex self-management protocols to minimize acute and late treatment effects. Self-management among HNC patients is understudied due to the limited availability of disease-specific self-management measures. This article describes the initial psychometric testing of the HNC Patient Self-Management Inventory (HNC-PSMI), an instrument that characterizes self-management tasks in the HNC population. Method A cross-sectional survey design was used. One hundred HNC patients completed the HNC-PSMI, the Vanderbilt Head and Neck Cancer Symptom Survey plus General Symptom Survey, and the Profile of Mood States-Short Form. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the HNC-PSMI, the relevance of items, internal consistency of domain item responses, and the direction and strength of associations between domain scores and other measures were examined. Results There was variability both in the number of self-management tasks performed overall and in each domain as well as in the reported difficulty completing those tasks. Kuder-Richardson values for domains with > 3 items ranged from 0.61 to 0.86. Hypothesized associations were supported. Conclusions Overall, the psychometric properties for the HNC-PSMI were acceptable. The HNC-PSMI can be used to advance an understanding of self-management requirements and challenges in HNC patients.
Debridement and negative pressure wound therapy

Abstract Wound healing in the diabetic population is a challenging undertaking. This chapter focuses on the role of wound debridement in preparing a healthy wound environment that is rid of necrotic and nonviable tissue and capable of supporting normal wound healing. Surgical as well as nonsurgical means will be highlighted. In addition to debridement, this chapter will evaluate the evidence for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy as an adjunct in wound care. Specific emphasis will be given to the diabetic foot and its complications.
A degradation-based detection framework against covert cyberattacks on SCADA systems

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are commonly used in critical infrastructures. However, these systems are typically vulnerable to cyberattacks. Among the different types of...
An Analysis of Romantic Partnership Dynamics in Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Case Files

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is the commercial sexual exploitation of a minor citizen or legal resident within the United States. Previous research suggests that although DMST is often dis...
Effects of topiramate on neural responses to alcohol cues in treatment-seeking individuals with alcohol use disorder: preliminary findings from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Topiramate, a GABA/glutamate modulator, is efficacious in reducing alcohol consumption, though the mechanisms underlying this effect are not well characterized. This study analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 22 heavy drinkers enrolled in a 12-week placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of topiramate to examine the effects of topiramate on alcohol cue-elicited brain responses, craving, and heavy drinking in individuals with DSM-5 alcohol use disorder. Patients were randomized to receive either topiramate (maximal daily dosage of 200 mg/day) or placebo and were administered an fMRI alcohol cue-reactivity task at baseline (before starting medication) and after 6 weeks of double-blind treatment. Analyses compared the topiramate (n = 12) and placebo (n = 8) groups on (1) the change in brain responses during alcohol cue exposure (vs non-alcohol cues) within five a priori regions of interest related to reward—the bilateral and medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and bilateral ventral striatum (VS) and (2) change in craving and heavy drinking days (HDDs) from baseline and scan 2. Topiramate, relative to placebo, reduced alcohol cue-elicited activation of the left VS, bilateral OFC, and medial OFC, alcohol cue-elicited craving, and HDDs between baseline and 6 weeks of treatment. The reduction in alcohol cue-elicited activation in the medial OFC correlated with reductions in craving, and reduced activation in the right VS, right OFC, and medial OFC correlated with the reduction in HDD. This preliminary study provides evidence that topiramate’s attenuation of alcohol cue-elicited brain activation and craving are key elements of the drug’s neurobiological mechanism of action in reducing heavy drinking.
Epimilitary Culture: Vietnamese-American Literature and the Alternative to Paramilitary Culture

Throughout the first three-quarters of the twentieth century, American cultural representations of war were highly militarized. When war was depicted in popular culture, state-sanctioned armed forces were the central actors. However, toward the end of the Vietnam War, two new cultural paradigms emerged, and each of them de-centers the role played by the military. Across the broader American society, paramilitary culture began to proliferate. In this paradigm, war is portrayed as distinct-from-but-analogous-to the conventional wars fought by the military. It features a hyper-masculine male who uses extreme violence against his enemies and the perceived enemies of society, and this warrior metes out his vigilante justice in mundane civilian settings. My argument is that at the same time paramilitary culture was surfacing, another paradigm was emerging within the Vietnamese-American community, a paradigm I call epimilitary culture. In this cultural form, the warrior is almost entirely absent, and while war remains central, combat violence is radically deemphasized. In fact, the idea of war itself is expanded to include not just the armed forces, but all of the additional aspects and consequences of armed conflict (e.g., both the resulting political, economic, environmental, and humanitarian crises, and the more mundane aspects of civilian life during wartime).
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale Scores as a Function of Age and Initial IQ in 210 Autistic Children.

Human growth modeling statistics were utilized to examine how Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS) scores changed in individuals with autistic disorder as a function of both age and initial IQ. Results revealed that subjects improved with age in all domains. The rate of growth in Communication and Daily Living Skills was related to initial IQ while rate of growth in Social Skills was not. Results should provide hope for parents and further support for the importance of functional social-communication skills in the treatment of autism.
Height matters: position above the substratum influences the growth of two demosponge species

In benthic communities sponges commonly outcompete other organisms in the race for suitable space. Superior competitive ability allows them to grow and overgrow other sessile organisms, some of these being octocorals. Acquiring substratum space, a resource often more limiting than food, is the obvious benefit of these competitive interactions. However, sponges that overgrow larger structures such as branching octocorals also change their position in the water column, and potentially their access to food and exposure to grazers. This study explored the potential benefit of sponge–octocoral associations by examining the effect of height off the bottom on growth of two species of ropelike demosponges under natural conditions. The growths of Amphimedon compressa and Iotrochota birotulata were monitored over 12 months at Cross Harbour, Great Abaco, The Bahamas, using small (5-cm) sponge fragments that were established at three heights above the bottom (0–5, 30, 60 cm). Growth rates differed among the two species and among different heights. Over 12 months, the mean volumetric growth for A. compressa was 17.7 cm3 ± 1.4 compared with 8.9 cm3 ± 1.4 for I. birotulata. Both species had a higher growth rate at the 60-cm level. These results suggest that these ropelike sponges benefit from their association and growth on octocorals, not only by using the octocoral skeletal axis as support, but also by acquiring exposure to higher water flow.
Barbara Norris: Leading Change in the General Surgery Unit (TN)

Barbara Norris struggles to address the many problems facing her as a recently promoted nurse manager in the General Surgery Unit (GSU) at Eastern Massachusetts University Hospital (EMU). She has inherited a unit with the lowest employee satisfaction scores and highest employee turnover rate among all of the departments at EMU. Furthermore, her new unit was infamous for its culture of confrontation, blaming and favoritism. The staff that has remained is dissatisfied, unmotivated and not functioning as a team to deliver patient care. In fact, GSU's patient satisfaction scores, although average, had been declining steadily over the past few years. Barbara has been asked by EMU'S Director of Nursing to turn the unit around in the midst of an economic crisis and deep cost-cutting measures throughout the hospital. Where and how should she begin?