cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancreas tumor interstitial pressure catheter measurement

This paper highlights the methodology in measuring interstitial pressure in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumors. A Millar Mikrotip pressure catheter (SPR-671) was used in this study and a system was built to amplify and filter the output signal for data collection. The Millar pressure catheter was calibrated prior to each experiment in a water column at 37°C, range of 0 to 60 inH2O (112 mmHg), resulting in a calibration factor of 33 mV / 1 inH2O. The interstitial pressures measured in two orthotopically grown pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumor were 57 mmHg and 48 mmHg, respectively. Verteporfin uptake into the pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumor was measured using a probe-based experimental dosimeter.
11 PROLONGED PENILE ERECTION RELATED TO ORAL SILDENAFIL THERAPY AND NITRIC OXIDE FOR NEONATAL PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

Introduction Prolonged penile erection (PPE) is an extremely rare condition in the newborn. Previous reports in the literature have implicated polycythemia, birth trauma, congenital syphilis and idiopathic factors as proposed etiologies. We report 2 cases of PPE in the newborn during treatment with nitric oxide (NO) and oral sildenafil for primary pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). Methods Retrospective review of the 2 cases was performed. The first case is of an infant born at 39 weeks gestation by cesarean section due to fetal tachycardia and maternal fever. Postnatally, the newborn developed respiratory failure related to PPHN. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) therapy was initiated to lower pulmonary artery pressures. The infant developed a prolonged erection within 30 minutes of initiation of the iNO. The second case is that of an infant born at 37 weeks gestation by spontaneous vaginal delivery. On physical examination, the infant was found to have a heart murmur. Echocardiogram revealed cor triatriatum and PPHN. The infant was started on oral sildenafil to produce pulmonary vascular relaxation. Within one hour of initiating the sildenafil, PPE was observed. Results Urologic consultation confirmed PPE in both infants. The phallus of the first infant remained tumesced for 3 days, but never exhibited rigidity. Spontaneous detumescence occurred 10 minutes after cessation of the inhaled nitric oxide. The phallus of the second infant exhibited waxing and waning degrees of tumescence for the duration of oral sildenafil therapy. Conclusions Increased arterial inflow is the primary hemodynamic event in the development of penile erection. NO acts as a messenger molecule stimulating guanylate cyclase, and leading to the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP then acts through calcium-gated potassium channels to cause vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Phosphodiesterases (PDE) are an integral component of cyclic nucleotide signaling. PDE5 is found in high concentration within the smooth muscle of the pulmonary vasculature and corpus cavernosum. Therefore, PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil. known to improve erectile dysfunction. have also been used in the treatment of PPHN. We hypothesize that the NO administered in the first case and the oral sildenafil given in the second case resulted in a high flow state leading to prolonged penile erection. By the proposed mechanism, hypoxia and acidosis would not occur. The clinical course of PPE of the newborn differs greatly from that of priapism. In most instances, spontaneous detumescence occurs, and therefore observation rather than surgical therapy is advocated.
The Dynamic Mutual Impact System of Interest Rate and Exchange Rate in Developed Economies:An Empirical Study Based on the Evidence from the Monthly Data of US and Japan

Developed economies have played a significant role in international economic activities,and also play an important part in the transmission and expansion of international financial crisis.Based on the theoretical framework of uncovered interest parity and taking US and Japan as samples,the dynamic impact system of interest rate and exchange rate in developed economies is analyzed empirically.The results indicate that there exist equilibrium co-integration relationships in the long term between interest rate and exchange rate in US and Japan;there exist comparatively intense mutual influences among interest rate and exchange rate;the impact of the variables on themselves and the errors in the simulation process that can be explained by themselves are larger than the other two variables,and the duration time can be traced to about the sixth period.Finally,based on these conclusions,Chinese policies concerning interest rate and exchange rate are orientated strategically.
Cortical sensorimotor alterations classify clinical phenotype and putative genotype of spasmodic dysphonia

Background and purpose Spasmodic dysphonia (SD), or laryngeal dystonia, is a task-specific isolated focal dystonia of unknown causes and pathophysiology. Although functional and structural abnormalities have been described in this disorder, the influence of its different clinical phenotypes and genotypes remains scant, making it difficult to explain SD pathophysiology and to identify potential biomarkers. Methods We used a combination of independent component analysis and linear discriminant analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data to investigate brain organization in different SD phenotypes (abductor versus adductor type) and putative genotypes (familial versus sporadic cases) and to characterize neural markers for genotype/phenotype categorization. Results We found abnormal functional connectivity within sensorimotor and frontoparietal networks in patients with SD compared with healthy individuals as well as phenotype- and genotype-distinct alterations of these networks, involving primary somatosensory, premotor and parietal cortices. The linear discriminant analysis achieved 71% accuracy classifying SD and healthy individuals using connectivity measures in the left inferior parietal and sensorimotor cortices. When categorizing between different forms of SD, the combination of measures from the left inferior parietal, premotor and right sensorimotor cortices achieved 81% discriminatory power between familial and sporadic SD cases, whereas the combination of measures from the right superior parietal, primary somatosensory and premotor cortices led to 71% accuracy in the classification of adductor and abductor SD forms. Conclusions Our findings present the first effort to identify and categorize isolated focal dystonia based on its brain functional connectivity profile, which may have a potential impact on the future development of biomarkers for this rare disorder.
Building Global Leadership for Individuals: Implications for Practice

The implications of current research for individual global leaders are outlined in the following recommended practices: make a life-long commitment to develop yourself and learn from others; expand your cultural self-awareness; take steps to get out of your comfort zone; understand before judging; show boundless curiosity; develop empathy; maintain your ethical core; learn to integrate differences; and build your global team player skill set. Each of these practices is explained along with their benefits, with specific examples and cases from interviews with global leaders.
Supersonic vehicle configuration transitions to enable supersonic rétropropulsion during mars entry, descent, and landing

This paper investigates types of supersonic vehicle configuration transition events necessary to initiation supersonic retropropulsion as part of human-class Mars entry, descent, and landing. This research assumes an entry vehicle with a 105 mT entry mass and an ellipsled aeroshell similar to the NASA EDL Design Reference Architecture 5.0. All entry architectures are assumed all-propulsive. Three transition architectures are considered: a pitch-around maneuver, an aeroshell front-exit, and an aeroshell hinged-exit. Propulsive subsystem thrust requirements are defined for the pitch-around maneuver. For transitions involving solid mass ejections, debris flight envelopes are determined and compared to a descent vehicle trajectory under a modified gravity turn. It is shown that far-field recontact risks exist for the proposed architectures involving solid mass ejections and recontact mitigation schemes are required.
Obesity, maternal smoking and SHBG in neonates

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), a glycoprotein produced by hepatocytes that transports testosterone and other steroids in plasma, is a marker for developing metabolic syndrome and T2DM. SHBG is present in umbilical cord blood where it may be epigenetically regulated. This study was conducted to investigate whether the fetal environment, based on maternal pre-pregnancy weight, pregnancy weight gain or smoking during pregnancy, influence SHBG in newborns. Maternal and newborn characteristics and SHBG levels and other variables were measured in cord and day 2 heel-stick blood samples in 60 healthy full-term singleton babies (31 F, 29 M). SHBG levels varied nearly fivefold among male and female newborns and were unrelated to sex, neonatal adiposity, determined by the Ponderal index and skinfold thickness, nor TNF∝ in cord blood. There were also no statistically significant associations between pre-pregnancy weight or pregnancy weight gain and newborn SHBG levels. However, cord blood SHBG was higher and insulin levels were lower when mothers were smokers, but normalized by day 2. While SHBG levels are low in obese children and adults, and portend the development of metabolic syndrome and T2DM, our study of healthy babies born to normal women, found no connection between maternal obesity or newborn adiposity and SHBG levels in newborns. Insofar as women who smoked during pregnancy were thinner and had lower cord blood insulin levels than nonsmokers, higher SHBG in their newborns at birth might have been due to insulin sensitivity, or perhaps to an effect of smoking on placental gene expression. Factors other than maternal weight and pregnancy weight gain appear to be the major determinants of SHBG in newborns. Higher SHBG levels when mothers smoke during pregnancy may contribute to overweight beginning later in childhood. Whether newborn SHBG levels predict the development of overweight and metabolic syndrome remains to be determined.
Understanding second language fluency behavior: The effects of individual differences in first language fluency, cross-linguistic differences, and proficiency over time

This study examined the extent to which first language (L1) fluency behavior, cross-linguistic differences, and proficiency can predict second language (L2) fluency behavior over time. English L1 Spanish (n = 24) and French (n = 25) majors completed a picture-based oral narrative in the L2 before and after 5 months residing abroad and later in the L1 after returning home. Data were coded for seven measures of speed, breakdown, and repair fluency. The results from multiple regressions indicated that L1 fluency behavior, cross-linguistic differences, and proficiency differentially contributed to explaining L2 fluency behavior prior to and during immersion. These findings suggest that when investigating L1–L2 fluency relationships considerations of mitigating factors such as cross-linguistic differences are necessary, and it is worthwhile to focus on how the contributions of these factors shift during development.
Emotion socialization and internalizing behavior problems in diverse youth: A bidirectional relationship across childhood

Mothers' and fathers' emotion socialization (ES) practices have been widely associated with child socioemotional outcomes. To extend this research, we examined the bidirectional relationship between parent ES practices (supportive and non-supportive parenting) and internalizing behavior problems in children of Anglo and Latino parents. Participants were 182 mothers and 162 fathers and their children with or without intellectual disability (ID). We compared the stability of mother and father ES practices across child ages 4-8. We utilized cross-lagged panel modeling to examine the bidirectional relationship between parents' ES and child internalizing behavior problems. Emotion socialization practices differed across time by parent gender, with mothers displaying higher levels of supportive parenting and lower levels of non-supportive parenting than fathers. Cross-lagged panel models revealed differential relationships between child internalizing behaviors and emotion socialization practices by parent gender and by ethnicity. Implications for intervening with culturally diverse families of children with ID are discussed.
Process Peace: A New Evaluation Framework for Track II Diplomacy

Track II diplomacy, or unofficial interactions designed to produce ideas, build relationships, and change perceptions, has become a supplement – and sometimes an alternative – to traditional diplomacy. Yet practitioners and scholars still debate its effectiveness. Practitioners claim that Track II diplomacy promotes peace but insist that its contributions are intangible and therefore difficult to assess empirically. Meanwhile, scholars maintain that only rigorous empirical evaluation can demonstrate the effect of Track II diplomacy on conflict outcomes. This study seeks to break this impasse in two ways. First, it provides a comprehensive explanation of why Track II practitioners object to evaluation, drawing on personal interviews conducted in eight countries. Second, it proposes a new evaluation framework, which we call the “Process Peace” approach, which better balances practitioner and scholarly equities. Our framework should appeal to readers interested in bridging the gap between the practice and theory of Track II diplomacy.
Five- and Six-Coordinated Silver(I) Complexes Derived from 2,6-(Pyridyl)iminodiadamantanes: Sustained Release of Bioactive Silver toward Bacterial Eradication.

Silver(I) complexes of two designed tridentate ligands, namely, 2,6-(pyridyl)iminoditriazaadamantane (pydTAm) and 2,6-(pyridyl)iminodiadamantane (pydAm), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. [Ag(pydTAm)2](CF3SO3) (1), the hitherto unknown mer isomer of a silver(I) octahedral complex, crystallizes in a highly symmetric body-centered cubic I43m space group. Quite in contrast, the AgI center in the analogous [Ag(pydAm)2](CF3SO3) (2) complex resides in a trigonal-bipyramidal geometry and crystallizes in a triclinic P1 space group with two crystallographically independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Complex 1 exhibits exceptional solubility in aqueous media and leads to the efficient eradication of several bacterial strains upon sustained release of bioactive silver.
The Perceived Medical Condition Self-Management Scale can be applied to patients with chronic kidney disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major burden on patients and the health care system. Treatment of CKD requires dedicated involvement from both caretakers and patients. Self-efficacy, also known as perceived competence, contributes to successful maintenance of patient's CKD self-management behaviors such as medication adherence and dietary regulations. Despite a clear association between self-efficacy and improved CKD outcomes, there remains a lack of validated self-report measures of CKD self-efficacy. To address this gap, the Perceived Kidney/Dialysis Self-Management Scale (PKDSMS) was adapted from the previously validated Perceived Medical Condition Self-Management Scale. We then sought to validate this using data from two separate cohorts: a cross-sectional investigation of 146 patients with end-stage renal disease receiving maintenance hemodialysis and a longitudinal study of 237 patients with CKD not receiving dialysis. The PKDSMS was found to be positively and significantly correlated with self-management behaviors and medication adherence in both patient cohorts. The PKDSMS had acceptable reliability, was internally consistent, and exhibited predictive validity between baseline PKDSMS scores and self-management behaviors across multiple time points. Thus, the PKDSMS is a valid and reliable measure of CKD patient self-efficacy and supports the development of interventions enhancing perceived competence to improve CKD self-management.
Lay Theories of the Mind/Brain Relationship and the Allure of Neuroscience

Psychology is in the midst of a neuroscience revolution, with attributes deemed uniquely human—language, free will, moral responsibility, a notion of self—no longer exempt from material exploration. It is anybody’s guess whether this neuroscience endeavor to explain the human mind will succeed. In the meantime, what does seem clear is that neuroscience is everywhere these days, and that people—both expert and ordinary folk—are intrigued by its role in explaining the mind. Why is neuroscience so alluring? To ask this question is to ask about current lay theories of the mind/brain relation. To approximate an answer, I start by describing the allure of neuroscience (brain) explanations for psychological (mind) phenomena. Is the allure due to neuroscience’s status as a ‘real’ science? Or is it due to its reductive appeal? Next, I review the effect of neuroscience on judgments of responsibility and free will. Do ordinary folk shy away from free will and moral condemnation when actions are couched in terms of brain function? The next stop on our tour of uniquely human capacities is the notion of the self. Do ordinary folk believe that their brains are who they truly are? I conclude by exploring possible policy implications of the allure of neuroscience. How might it affect our funding of science, our education policy, and our mental health system?
Upregulation of Enzymatic Idebenone Reduction Activity after Proinflammatory Stimulation of Microglia

Mitochondrial bioenergetic dysfunction is a component of nearly all neurodegenerative diseases. One strategy to overcome this dysfunction is to replace the loss of mitochondrial reducing equivalents using exogenous electron donors. The drug was recently approved in Europe for the treatment of Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, a mitochondrial disease due to deficient Complex I activity. For efficacy, it is believed that idebenone requires enzymatic reduction to idebenol. Previously, quinone reduction activity was mostly attributed to NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductases, particularly NQO1. In the brain, NQO1 is primarily expressed in astrocytes; we therefore hypothesized that astrocytes would display higher NAD(P)H-dependent idebenone reduction activity compared to other brain cell types. Using lysates derived from primary cells, we found that rat cortical astrocytes have the highest capacity for idebenone reduction, with little to no activity observed in rat cortical neurons or microglia. As expected, idebenone reduction in astrocytes was fully inhibited by the NQO1 inhibitor dicoumarol. Interestingly, we found a significant increase in idebenone reduction potential in lysates derived from microglia treated with the pro-inflammatory stimulus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) for 18 hours. This activity was not sensitive to dicoumarol and was not observed in rat bone marrow-derived macrophages similarly stimulated with LPS/IFN-γ. Preliminary results suggest that it may be a multi-subunit flavoprotein. Identification of the enzyme responsible for this novel idebenone-reducing activity may lead to improved therapeutic strategies using idebenone as well as suggest other diseases wherein idebenone may have a beneficial effect.
Atmospheric Reactivity of Fullerene (C60) Aerosols

Rapid growth and adoption of nanomaterial-based technologies underpin a risk for unaccounted material release to the environment. Carbon-based materials, in particular fullerenes, have been widely proposed for a variety of applications. A quantitative understanding of how they behave is critical for accurate environmental impact assessment. While their aqueous phase reactivity, fate, and transport have been studied for over a decade, aerosol phase reactivity remains unexplored. Here, the transformation of C60, as nanocrystal (nC60) aerosols, is evaluated over a range of simulated atmospheric conditions. Upon exposure to UV light, gas-phase O3, and •OH, nC60 is readily oxidized. This reaction pathway is likely limited by diffusion of oxidants within/through the nC60 aerosol. Further, gas-phase oxidation induces disorder in the crystal structure without affecting aerosol (aggregate) size. Loss of crystallinity suggests aged nC60 aerosols will be less effective ice nuclei, but an increase in surface oxidatio...
Metabolic diseases and mental retardation. II

Abstract 1. 1. The optimal conditions for pyruvate decarboxylation in 20-day-old chick liver and brain homogenates were determined. 2. 2. The apparent Km values for pyruvate were found to be 1.1 × 10−3M in liver and 2.0 × 10−3M in brain. 3. 3. Pyruvate decarboxylation was more active in brain than in liver as assayed. 4. 4. Apparent Ki values of α-ketoisocaproic acid were found to be 5.0 × 10−3M in brain and 2.5 × 10−3M in liver. The type of inhibition was competitive in both cases. 5. 5. These kinetic parameters are comparable with other values quoted in the literature. 6. 6. The use of the chick as a model in genetic diseases is discussed.
Design of a 6 th -order Continuous-time Bandpass Delta-Sigma Modulator with 250 MHz IF, 25 MHz Bandwidth, and over 75 dB SNDR

This paper presents the design of a 6th-order continuous-time bandpass delta-sigma modulator that achieves in simulation over 75 dB SNDR across 25-MHz bandwidth with a center frequency at 250 MHz. On the architectural level, the SNR-limiting factor is identified and analyzed. A combined feedback-and-feedforward topology is employed that both reduces the number of feedback DACs and effectively suppresses the thermal noise from the 1st resonator by over 7 dB. On the transistor level, this paper focuses the discussion on the loop filter. The effect of op amp non-ideality is studied. A 5th-order multistage feedforward op amp is proposed to enhance loop filter linearity. Simulated in a 65 nm CMOS process, this design consumes 156 mW from a 1.2 V supply at a clock frequency of 1 GHz, predicting a state-of-the-art Walden figure-of-merit (FoM) of 0.597 pJ/step.
Spontaneous tumour lysis syndrome in small cell lung cancer: a rare phenomenon

Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncological emergency. It is caused by cellular death occurring secondary to cancer therapy or spontaneously in rapidly dividing tumours. More common in haematological malignancies, it has also been reported in solid tumours. Out of 14 cases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with TLS, only three cases of spontaneous TLS have been reported in literature to date. Here we report a case of SCLC presenting as a spontaneous TLS.
The Origins of Ecological Design (2006)

T he origins of ecological design can be traced back to our prehistoric ancestors’ interest in natural regularities of seasons, sun, moon, and stars and later to the Greek conviction that humans, by the application of reason, could discern the laws of nature. Ecological design also rests on the theological conviction that we are obliged, not merely constrained, to respect larger harmonies and patterns. The Latin root word for the word religion — bind together — and the Greek root for ecology — household management — suggest a deeper compatibility and connection to order. Ecological design, further, builds on the science and technology of the industrial age but for the purpose of establishing a partnership with nature, not domination. The first models of ecological design can be found throughout the world in the vernacular architecture and the practical arts that are as old as recorded history. It is, accordingly, as much a recovery of old and established knowledge and practices as a discovery of anything new. The arts of building, agriculture, forestry, healing, and resilient economy were sometimes models of great ecological intelligence developed by cultures that we otherwise might dismiss as primitive. The art of applied wholeness was implicit in social customs such as the observance of the Sabbath and holy days, the Jubilee year, or the practice of potlatch, in which debts were forgiven and wealth was recirculated. It is evident still in all of those various ways by which communities and societies gracefully cultivate the arts of generosity, kindness, prudence, love, humility, compassion, gentleness, forgiveness, gratitude, and ecological intelligence.
Ocean Surface Currents and Winds Using Dopplerscatt

DopplerScatt is a Ka-band pencil-beam Doppler scatterometer developed under NASA's ESTO Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) to serve as a demonstrator for future spaceborne instruments to measure ocean surface currents and winds simultaneously. We review the capabilities of the Doppler-Scatt instrument, and present results from multiple airborne campaigns. One of our primary results will be the development of Ka-band Geophysical Model Functions (GMFs) to translate backscatter and Doppler measurements into surface winds and currents.
‘Hitlahamut’: A term for unreasonable populist public talk in Israel:

This research follows the tradition of Ethnography of Communication to discuss hitlahamut, an Israeli term for a distinctive type of public talk. After presenting the denotive meaning, I define the...
A master equation simulation for the •OH + CH3OH reaction.

A combined (fixed-J) two-dimensional master-equation/semi-classical transition state theory/variational Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus approach has been used to compute reaction rate coefficients of •OH with CH3OH over a wide range of temperatures (10–2500 K) and pressures (10−1–104 Torr) based on a potential energy surface that has been constructed using a modification of the high accuracy extrapolated ab initio thermochemistry (HEAT) protocol. The calculated results show that the title reaction is nearly pressure-independent when T > 250 K but depends strongly on pressure at lower temperatures. In addition, the preferred mechanism and rate constants are found to be very sensitive to temperature. The reaction pathway CH3OH + •OH → CH3O• + H2O proceeds exclusively through tunneling at exceedingly low temperatures (T ≤ 50 K), typical of those established in interstellar environments. In this regime, the rate constant is found to increase with decreasing temperature, which agrees with low-temperature experimental results. The thermodynamically favored reaction pathway CH3OH + •OH → •CH2OH + H2O becomes dominant at higher temperatures (T ≥ 200 K), such as those found in Earth’s atmosphere as well as combustion environments. By adjusting the ab initio barrier heights slightly, experimental rate constants from 200 to 1250 K can be satisfactorily reproduced.
Agglomeration effects and spatial spillovers in efficiency analysis: a distribution-free methodology

ABSTRACTTechnical efficiency estimates using standard stochastic frontier models do not include spillover effects, although the existence of such spillovers is well documented in the productivity l...
Synthesis of 3,5-Disubstituted Butenolides. A Short Preparation of Volatile Streptomyces Lactones

Abstract α-Chloro carboxylic acid dianions condense with propanal to form β-lactones which, upon treatment with magnesium bromide, form 3,5-disubstituted butenolides.
Cost of providing emergency obstetric care in Tanzania's Kigoma region.

Background The provision of Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) is critical for reducing maternal mortality, yet little is known about the costs of EmONC services in developing countries. This study estimates these costs at six health facilities in Tanzania's Kigoma region. Methods The study took a comprehensive programmatic approach considering all sources of financial and in-kind support over a 1-year period (1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013). Data were collected retrospectively and costs disaggregated by input, sources of support, programmatic activity, and patient type (nonsurgical, surgical patients, and among the latter patients undergoing caesarean sections). Results The median per-patient cost across the six facilities was $290. Personnel and equipment purchases accounted for the largest proportions of the total costs, representing 32% and 28%, respectively. Average per-patient costs varied by patient type; cost per nonsurgical patient was $80, $258 for surgical patients and $426 for patients undergoing caesarean sections. Per-patient costs also varied substantially by facility type: mean per-patient cost at health centres was $620 compared with $169 at hospitals. Conclusions This study provides the first cost estimates of EmONC provision in Kigoma. These estimates could inform programme planning and highlight areas with potential scope for cost reductions.
Citizenship and the Constitution

This article examines the vision of citizenship set out in Part II of the Indian Constitution, through a close reading of the Constituent Assembly Debates. I argue that through its specific provisions in Part II, the Constitution articulates a vision of Indian citizenship that is interwoven with Indian constitutional identity as a whole: secular, egalitarian, and non-discriminatory. Drawing upon universal humanist principles – and in specific and conscious contrast to the State of Pakistan – the Constituent Assembly crafted an idea of citizenship that rejected markers of identity, whether ethnic or religious. A careful reading of the Constituent Assembly Debates reveals, therefore, that while Parliament was free to legislate on citizenship, it was to be bound – always – by the defining features of the Indian polity. Parliament could not – and was not intended to – ever create conditions for entry into the polity (through citizenship laws) that were fundamentally at odds with its secular and civic-nationalist identity. This was meant to act as an “implied limitation” (a concept familiar to students of constitutional law) upon Parliament’s powers under Article 11. Under this Constitution, therefore, religion cannot become a basis for citizenship.
Women running the party and women running for Congress: An examination of state party diversity and candidate emergence in the 2018 midterm elections:

Using a new data set of state political party bylaws and demographics of state party chairs, I evaluate whether women were more likely to run for Congress during the 2018 midterm elections from par...
Topologically correct synthetic reconstruction of pathogen social behavior found during Yersinia growth in deep tissue sites

Within deep tissue sites, extracellular bacterial pathogens often replicate in clusters that are surrounded by immune cells. Disease is modulated by interbacterial interactions as well as bacterial-host cell interactions resulting in microbial growth, phagocytic attack and secretion of host antimicrobial factors. To overcome the limited ability to manipulate these infection sites, we established a system for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Yptb) growth in microfluidics-driven microdroplets that regenerates microbial social behavior in tissues. Chemical generation of nitric oxide (NO) in the absence of immune cells was sufficient to reconstruct microbial social behavior, as witnessed by expression of the NO-inactivating protein Hmp on the extreme periphery of microcolonies, mimicking spatial regulation in tissues. Similarly, activated macrophages that expressed inducible NO synthase (iNOS) drove peripheral expression of Hmp, allowing regeneration of social behavior observed in tissues. These results argue that topologically correct microbial tissue growth and associated social behavior can be reconstructed in culture.
Prevalence of Sleep Disorders and Association With Mortality: Results From the NHANES 2009-2010.

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of sleep disorders in the United States and the association between sleep disorders and all-cause mortality. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of the 2009 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and 2015 National Death Index (NDI) was performed. The 2009 to 2010 NHANES national household survey for adults ≥ 18 years was examined for the prevalence of sleep disorders as well as standard demographics and the presence of comorbidities (coronary artery disease [CAD], stroke, and emphysema). This dataset was linked to the 2015 NDI to associate the presence of sleep disorders with 5-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS The study sample had a mean age of 46.1 years old, was 48.3% male, and had an average body mass index (BMI) of 28.7 (28.4-28.9). 7.1% (6.5%-7.7%) of adults reported being diagnosed with a sleep disorder, which represents an estimated 15.9 million (13.2-18.6) patients. The estimated mortality rate for those having a sleep disorder was 9.3% (7.2%-11.9%) compared to 5.2% (4.5%-5.9%) without a sleep disorder (odds ratio 1.89, P = <.001). After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, CAD, stroke, and emphysema, having a sleep disorder remained a significant predictor of increased mortality (hazard ratio, 1.5 [1.02-2.18], P = .042). CONCLUSION This study reports a high prevalence of self-reported but physician-diagnosed sleep disorders; however, this likely represents an underestimate. Given the association with all-cause mortality, there is a need for increased recognition of undiagnosed sleep disorders within the United States. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2b Laryngoscope, 131:686-689, 2021.
Velocity Perturbations Analysis of the Spot 1 Ariane Rocket Fragmentation

The breakup of the Spot 1 Ariane third stage rocket was one of the most prolific and puzzling satellite fragmentation events ever. The cause of the breakup was long listed as unknown, with several studies pointing to different conclusions. This study re-examines the breakup by studying the velocity distribution patterns of the fragments. The presence of six fragments in high energy orbits suggests collision as a possible cause of the breakup. The existence of butterfly patterns in the spread velocities of the fragments in planes between the vertical and the downrange directions also points to fragmentation by impact. The orientations of the debris concentrations flanking the high energy ricochet uncovers the possible path of the projectile that could have struck the Ariane rocket—the projectile could have come from an angle of 11° or less above the horizontal and about 6° from the left of the Ariane’s path. The velocity perturbations distributions in the radial and downrange components show that fragments lying outside the Gaussian envelopes comprised the high energy ricochet and ejecta which emanated from the contact area. Both of the Gaussian envelopes exhibited displacements opposite from the ricochet and ejecta, thus betraying recoil effects. The cross-range velocity distribution pattern was severely distorted with the ejecta forming concentrations on either side of the Gaussian envelope—a further sign of possible collision. Finally, a cluster analysis of the fragments indicates that the vast majority of the fragments suffered only small velocity changes while the high energy ricochet and ejecta formed their own distinct clusters, which is yet another indication of possible fragmentation by impact. The possible path of the projectile would place itself among the members of the Sun-synchronous orbiting group.
Efficacy of Weight Loss Interventions in United States Active Duty Military Populations: A Systematic Review.

Background Since the beginning of overseas contingency operations, the percent of service members who are considered overweight or obese has tripled to 15% for men and 20% for women. This has implications for national security if the country is unable to staff its military with fit-to-fight individuals. The purpose of this systematic review is to move policy efforts forward by illuminating the efficacy of several lifestyle interventions for active duty service members since 2001. It aims to both identify common aspects of successful interventions and also identify interventions without success so DoD leaders may replace those initiatives. Materials and methods The electronic database PubMed was searched from September 11, 2001 to May 15, 2020. Studies were included if the target population was United States active duty service members from any branch, the study included an intervention, and the measured outcome was weight loss. Seven studies met final inclusion criteria. Results Interventions with corresponding weight loss data are summarized in Table III. This review found that there is not a sufficient body of evidence to determine if interventions to aid active duty service members in losing weight are effective. Conclusion However, as a collection, the studies could support the notion that military members get the best results when interventions are convenient, modern, personalized, and accessible. More studies are needed, and future studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations would be valuable in determining efficacy of weight loss interventions. Undoubtedly, enrollment and compliance is difficult with military member moves and competing mission requirements. Ideally, the DoD should work to aggregate the efforts in this field, as many initiatives are not captured, shared, and utilized by other installations or other services. Data silos and unpublished or underdeveloped research reactively addresses issues and does not proactively address them. Policy change will need to be nested in further research, as well as consider the food environment on bases and possible prevention efforts.
A Magnetorheological Elastomer Device for Programmable Actuation and Sensing of Soft Haptic Experiences

Soft and conformable haptics devices have the potential to dynamically change one’s percept of object compliance. With this problem in mind, this work presents the design and initial evaluation of a soft actuator and sensor, built of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) with a programmable stiffness of 33 – 57 kPa at magnetic fields of 0-5 mT. In addition to its programmable stiffness, the material’s flexibility affords the generation of vibratory feedback. Furthermore, the device can be used as a capacitive sensor to detect a contact and to measure forces between 0.1 – 4.9 N.
Structural biology of heteromeric class B G protein-coupled receptors (LB216)

The calcitonin family peptides calcitonin (CT), amylin (AMY), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and adrenomedullin (AM) regulate diverse processes including calcium homeostasis, blood glucose...
Relative Likelihood of Injury in Accidents as a Function of Occupant Size and Weight

The National Crash Severity Study (NCSS) data file was interrogated to determine whether occupants of different statures and masses are subject to different injury severity rates. The analysis shows little, if any, effect on the rates of injury severity due to either height or weight variations of the occupant. The evidence of no effect is very strong for frontal impacts and somewhat less for side impacts. Expansion of the analysis to include injury severity rates of body area produced likewise no substantial evidence of height and weight dependency.
Estimation-pruning (EP) algorithm for point-to-point travel cost minimization in a non-FIFO dynamic network

This paper presents the estimation-pruning (EP) algorithm for finding the best path (with minimum cost) from a source to a destination in a dynamic network that does not necessarily obey the first-in-first-out (FIFO) property. The EP algorithm consists of two steps. The first step is the forward or the estimation step in which a bound on the traveling cost of each possible path is calculated. The second step is the backward or the pruning step in which the paths that are unlikely to produce the best route are eliminated. The resulting network is then expanded in time and is converted to a static network, which is used to find the best route.
A Mechanized Proof of Security for Searchable Symmetric Encryption

We present a mechanized proof of security for an efficient Searchable Symmetric Encryption (SSE) scheme completed in the Foundational Cryptography Framework (FCF). FCF is a Coq library for reasoning about cryptographic schemes in the computational model that features a small trusted computing base and an extensible design. Through this effort, we provide the first mechanized proof of security for an efficient SSE scheme, and we demonstrate that FCF is well-suited to reasoning about such complex protocols.
Web accessibility for older adults project highlights

The overall goal of this research is to promote Web accessibility for adults who are sixty years or older. Due to normal aging, older adults have vision, cognition, and physical impairments that impede the use of many Web sites. As such, older adults may find a Web site virtually inaccessible because of its color scheme, design layout, navigation, mouseovers, and reading complexity, among other factors. In order to achieve this goal, the following research objectives were pursued:
Fuzzy systolic arrays

The design systolic arrays for the computation of the fuzzy inference process in expert systems is considered. Two arrays are designed: one for the overall fuzzy relation between the antecedent and the conclusion portions of the rules of the system, and the other one for the compositional rule of inference. A comparison between the proposed arrays and a uniprocessor is presented. >
Travel cost demand model based river recreation benefit estimates with on‐site and household surveys: Comparative results and a correction procedure

[1] Past recreation studies have noted that on-site or visitor intercept surveys are subject to over-sampling of avid users (i.e., endogenous stratification) and have offered econometric solutions to correct for this. However, past papers do not estimate the empirical magnitude of the bias in benefit estimates with a real data set, nor do they compare the corrected estimates to benefit estimates derived from a population sample. This paper empirically examines the magnitude of the recreation benefits per trip bias by comparing estimates from an on-site river visitor intercept survey to a household survey. The difference in average benefits is quite large, with the on-site visitor survey yielding $24 per day trip, while the household survey yields $9.67 per day trip. A simple econometric correction for endogenous stratification in our count data model lowers the benefit estimate to $9.60 per day trip, a mean value nearly identical and not statistically different from the household survey estimate.
A cytochemical study of the leaf-gland enzymes of insectivorous plants of the genus Pinguicula.

Cytochemical methods have been used to study the distribution of acid phosphatase, esterase, ribonuclease, amylase and protease activity in the stimulated and unstimulated leaf glands of Pinguicula grandiflora, P. vulgaris, P. lusitanica, and P. caudata. Two gland types are present, stalked and sessile. The stalked glands bear a muco-polysaccharide secretion droplet, and are concerned with capture of the prey; the sessile glands are specialised for digestion. In unstimulated glands of both classes, acid phosphatase, esterase and ribonuclease activity is associated with the anticlinal walls of the head cells, which have a characteristic spongy inner surface, comparable with that of transfer cells. Acid phosphatase and esterase activity was also detected in the vacuoles of the head cells of the sessile glands. Substrate film tests showed that amylase is readily released from the stalked glands but not from the sessile ones, while in contrast proteolytic activity is mainly associated with the sessile glands.
Robust integrated structural and control design for vector second-order systems via LMIs

Iterative redesign techniques are proposed to integrate the design of the structural parameters and the active control parameters for vector second-order lumped-parameter structural systems. The objective is to minimize the required active control effort to satisfy given output variance constraints and robust performance constraints. The problem is formulated as an iterative sequential control design followed by control/structure redesign. Each step of the iterative algorithm is formulated as a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) optimization problem that can be solved effectively using available LMI solvers. Convergence of the proposed algorithm to a solution that provides improved control effort and robust stability compared to the single- step structural design followed by control design is guaranteed. Both static state-feedback and dynamic output feedback problems are considered. Numerical examples demonstrate the use of the proposed iterative algorithms.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Approach to the Programming of Biased Regression Algorithms.

Due to the near nonexistence of computer algorithms for calculating estimators and ancillary statistics that are needed for biased regression methodologies, many users of these methodologies are forced to write their own programs. Brute-force coding of such programs can result in a great waste of computer core and computing time, as well as inefficient and inaccurate computing techniques. This article proposes some guides to more efficient programming by taking advantage of mathematical similarities among several of the more popular biased regression estimators.
Capacitor modification to the Schenck and Metcalf N(2) laser.

The design of a double-sided parallel plate Mylar capacitor for use with a N/sub 2/ laser is discussed. (AIP)
Bilateral testicular lymphoma treated with chemotherapy and radiation without orchiectomy: complete response relapsed at 52 months in the vitreous humor

We report the first detailed case of testicular lymphoma managed with chemotherapy and radiation without orchiectomy. A 60-year-old man with Stage II extralymphatic bilateral testicular lymphoma refused orchiectomy, but underwent cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy and radiation. He remained disease free for 52 months, when a solitary central nervous system relapse to the vitreous humor was diagnosed. The optimal therapy for testicular lymphoma is unclear but often includes orchiectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. Stage I testicular lymphoma can be cured by surgery alone; however, the relapse rates for all stages of testicular lymphoma are high despite systemic therapy. For Stage II disease and higher, chemotherapy/radiation is recommended; orchiectomy may not be mandatory.
Stability of Numerical Methods for Volterra Integro‐Differential Equations of Convolution Type

Stability properties of numerical methods for Volterra integro differential equations based on the convolution test equation are investigated. Stability regions of reducible linear multistep methods and modified multilag methods are given and compared. Fur Volterrasche Integro-Differentialgleichungen werden Stabilitatseigenschaften von numerischen Methoden untersucht, die auf der Test-Faltungsgleichung basieren. Fur reduzible lineare Mehrschrittverfahren und modifizierte Verfahren mit mehrfacher Nacheilung werden Stabilitatsbereiche angegeben und verglichen.
Mechanism of RNA 2'-O-methylation: evidence that the catalytic lysine acts to steer rather than deprotonate the target nucleophile.

The weight of current evidence suggests that RNA 2‘-O-MTases employ an SN2 mechanism with an in-line attack of the target nucleophile upon the methyl group of the AdoMet cofactor. It has been suggested that, like the phosphohydrolytic enzymes, ribozymes, and nucleic acid polymerases, the RNA 2‘-O-MTases initially activate the substrate's attacking hydroxyl oxygen by deprotonation. Here, evidence is presented that the vaccinia virus mRNA cap specific 2‘-O-MTase VP39 does not promote RNA 2‘-oxyanion formation but that instead it acts by steering a hydroxyl oxygen orbital toward the cofactor methyl center.