cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Changes in Salt Intake on Arterial Pressure and Renal Function in Partially Nephrectomized Dogs

Approximately 70% of the total renal tissue was removed in 11 dogs. Control values were then established for mean arterial pressure, urine and plasma sodium concentrations, blood urea nitrogen, glomerular filtration rate, total body weight, and rate of urine formation for these dogs and for two dogs whose kidneys were left intact. Two of the partially nephrectomized dogs were allowed to drink water for the duration of the study while the other animals were required to drink 0.9% sodium chloride solution for various periods of time. The increased salt intake resulted in a 30% to 40% increase in arterial pressure within 48 to 72 hours; plasma sodium concentration increased concomitantly with the development of hypertension. The elevated pressure could be reduced to normal levels within 24 hours by simply allowing the dogs to drink tap water again. Similar results were obtained in a single dog in which renal function had fortuitously been reduced by chronic pyelonephritis.
East European Public Support for NATO Membership: Fears and Aspirations

A defining characteristic of democratic regimes is that they depend on widespread popular approval of domestic and foreign policy choices made by their elites. This article examines the sources of East European public support for NATO membership. It argues that citizens' attitudes in favor of participation in the North Atlantic defense system are affected, at the individual level, by their own values and characteristics, and at the aggregate level, by the national past experience and the domestic political context. The hypothesized effects of micro- and macro-level factors are tested through logistic regression analysis of data from the 1995 Central and East European Barometer Survey. The results suggest that perceptions of threat from Russia developed in nations occupied by the Soviet Union at the beginning of World War II and the ex-Communists' access to government are factors which mould public opinion and explain differences across countries. Pro-integration and pro-market attitudes emerge as influential determinants of NATO approval which account for the variation observed between individuals. These findings and their theoretical and practical implications are discussed in the context of the recent eastward expansion of NATO and the Kosovo crisis, demonstrating the need to study the dynamics in East European popular appreciation of foreign policy choices over time.
Telepresence and Tele-absence: A Phenomenology of the (In)visible Alien Online

Proliferating media forms, from tablets to Twitter, are changing communicative practice, delimiting new experiential horizons, and thus providing phenomenological research with novel variations on the experience of self and other. Videoconferencing via Skype or FaceTime offers prominent examples of these changing forms. Despite the use of these communication technologies in both educational contexts and everyday life, educational videoconferencing has been described in the research literature as “a hidden mode of delivery, employing invisible pedagogical techniques.” In this study I address this situation of simultaneous familiarity, invisibility and uncertainty by focusing particularly on the lived experience of space, the body and eye contact in videoconferencing contexts. This study suggests that the disruption of spatial coherence and power of gaze and mutual gaze are all but unavoidable features of this experience. It concludes by emphasizing the importance forms or expressions of absence , such as the diminution of eye contact, or the importance of not always being perceived as performing or “on” in videoconferencing contexts.
Mining the Mouse Transcriptome of Receptive Endometrium Reveals Distinct Molecular Signatures for the Luminal and Glandular Epithelium

Epithelia coat most tissues where they sense and respond to the environment and participate in innate immune responses. In the adult mouse uterus, columnar epithelium lines the central lumen and the glands that penetrate the underlying stroma. A nidatory surge of estrogen causes differentiation of the luminal epithelium to the receptive state that permits blastocyst attachment and allows subsequent implantation. Here, using laser-capture microdissection to isolate the luminal and glandular epithelia separately, we have profiled gene expression 2 h before embryo attachment to determine whether there are unique roles for these two epithelial structures in this process. Although most genes were expressed in both compartments, there was greater expression of 153 and 118 genes in the lumen and glands, respectively. In the luminal epithelium, there is enrichment in lipid, metal-ion binding, and carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, whereas in the glands, immune response genes are emphasized. In situ hybridization to uterine sections obtained from mice during the preimplantation period validated these data and indicated an array of previously undocumented genes expressed with unique patterns in these epithelia. The data show that each epithelial compartment has a distinct molecular signature and that they act differentially and synergistically to permit blastocyst implantation.
The capacity of the uniform noise rewritable channel with average cost

We present a closed form expression for the capacity of the uniform noise rewritable channel with average write cost and a constraint on the input range. We show the existence of a critical cost κ 0 such that for all costs κ ≥ κ 0 , the capacity/cost tradeoff is given by an offset added to the logarithm of the cost. Assuming κ 0 > 1, for 1 ≤ κ 0 the capacity/cost tradeoff grows faster than a logarithm.
A New North American Species of Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae), Parasitic on Nylanderia arenivaga (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A new species of ant-parasitizing Pseudacteon Coquillett phorid is described. Pseudacteon gracilisetus n. sp. was discovered parasitizing the ant species Nylanderia arenivaga (Wheeler). This species is the second known Pseudacteon parasite of Nylanderia ants.
Weighing the economic evidence: guidelines for critical assessment of cost-effectiveness analyses.

Evidence-based medicine is concerned with the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. I Increasingly, health care providers are being asked to weigh economic evidence alongside clinical evidence when making decisions about the care of their patients. Although the idea that physicians should consider economics in their decision making is viewed as an anathema to many,2 this chapter takes the position that today's environment makes some consideration of economics inevitable. If one accepts the notion that economic considerations are unavoidable in clinical decision making, it seems reasonable then to take a position that only high-quality economic evidence should be used, in the spirit that evidence-based medicine is used to weigh clinical evidence. This article is devoted to giving clinicians the tools to evaluate economic evidence and determine whether that evidence is suitable for consideration in their clinical practice. This article is written for clinicians who are not well-versed in the purposes and methods cost-effectiveness analysis. It takes a position that costeffectiveness studies have much in common with the clinical literature that most physicians are comfortable reading and critically appraising. Thus, we will highlight important similarities and differences between sound economic and sound clinical evaluations. Some of the subtler aspects of cost-effectiveness analysis (eg, discounting of future costs and benefits, comparative measures of benefit) are not emphasized here. The interested reader can find greatly expanded discussions of these issues, along
Instability Of Risk Loadings Of Industrial Stocks

By using the Flexible Least Squares (FLS) method, this study visibly shows the time variation paths of risk loadings for industrial stocks. Significant structural changes in time variation paths of risk loadings are verified by the OLS results and largely consistent with major economic and political events in the U.S. history.
Unstable FoxP3+ T regulatory cells in NZW mice

Regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the transcription factor FoxP3 play a key role in self-tolerance and the control of inflammation. In mice and humans, there is a wide interindividual range in Treg frequency, but little is known about the underlying genetic or epigenetic mechanisms. We explored this issue in inbred strains of mice, with a special focus on the low proportion of Treg cells found in NZW mice. Mixed bone marrow chimera experiments showed this paucity to be intrinsic to NZW Treg cells, a dearth that could be tied to poor stability of the Treg pool and of FoxP3 expression. This instability was not a consequence of differential epigenetic marks, because Treg-specific CpG hypomethylation profiles at the Foxp3 locus were similar in all strains tested. It was also unrelated to the high expression of IFN signature genes in NZW, as shown by intercross to mice with an Ifnar1 knockout. NZW Tregs were less sensitive to limiting doses of trophic cytokines, IL-2 and -33, for population homeostasis and for maintenance of FoxP3 expression. Gene-expression profiles highlighted specific differences in the transcriptome of NZW Tregs compared with those of other strains, but no single defect could obviously account for the instability. Rather, NZW Tregs showed a general up-regulation of transcripts normally repressed in Treg cells, and we speculate that this network-level bias may account for NZW Treg instability.
Accounting for political feasibility in climate instrument choice

This Essay argues for consideration of political opportunity costs in the criteria used to evaluate climate policy instruments. Law and policy debates typically evaluate policy instruments by their expected performance after adoption, tacitly excluding consideration of the timing of adoption. Under this standard, a comprehensive carbon pricing instrument, either in the form of a cap and trade program or a carbon tax, has emerged as the preferred approach. Yet by excluding the political process from consideration, this standard obscures the effects of political feasibility on the timing of adoption. For many problems, the advantages of an optimal policy outweigh the advantages of a sub-optimal one that will require less time and effort to adopt. The climate problem is different: the irreversibility of climate change, the possibility of tipping points in the climate system, and lag times in infrastructure investments combine to impose large costs on delay. Excluding political opportunity costs from instrument evaluation leads to a preference for slow, comprehensive remedies. The casualties in this process are incremental instruments that could buy time, facilitate the adoption of additional instruments, and complement those instruments after they are adopted. This Essay proposes explicit consideration of political opportunity costs in evaluating climate policy instruments and applies this approach to several leading climate policies.
Vortex Containment for the Gaseous-Fission Rocket

The nuclear rocket is potentially capable of much higher specific impulse than any chemically fueled rocket, because of the high energy content per unit mass of the fissionable material. While a part of this potential can be realized by use of a low molecular weight propellant heated by solid fuel plates, it seems clear that the full potential can be realized only if the fissionable material can be retained in gaseous form, and its fission energy transferred directly to the propellant.
Effect of day length and night temperature on starch accumulation and degradation in soybean

The effect of the day length on the accumulation and the degradation of the starch in leaf, stem and root tissues of preflowering soybean plants was determined by growing plants under a 7 or 14 h light regime. As has been reported previously, the rate of starch accumulation by leaves was inversely related to day length. High sucrose content was associated with a high rate of starch accumulation. Stem tissue showed diurnal fluctuations in starch content and the rate of accumulation was also inversely related to day length. This starch resulted from photosynthesis within the stem itself. A negligible amount of starch was found in root tissue of both sets of plants. The rate of starch breakdown in leaves of 7 h plants was significantly less than that in 14 h plants. Nevertheless, leaf starch in short day length plants was depleted at least 4 h prior to the end of the dark period. In both sets of plants, degradation of stem starch started simultaneously with that in the leaves and continued throughout the dark period, although at a much lower rate than that of leaves. Thus, stem starch acted as a buffer once leaf starch was depleted, providing carbohydrates to the plant, although in small quantities. To determine if soybean leaves adjust their rate of starch accumulation during the light period to different dark period temperatures, plants were grown under temperature regimes of 30/20 °C and 30/30 °C. Plants did not differ in rate of starch accumulation or CO2 exchange rate, but did show large differences in growth characteristics. High temperature plants had significantly greater leaf area and tended to have greater leaf area ratio. Thus, despite similar rates of starch accumulation on a leaf area basis, high temperature plants accumulated greater amounts of starch on a per plant basis.
SELF-INCOMPATIBILITY IN CENTRAL AMERICAN HELICONIA.

Physiological self-incompatibility (SI) is one of the most common mechanisms by which outcrossing is promoted in the angiosperms (East, 1940; Whitehouse, 1950; Nettancourt, 1977). Considerable information on the taxonomic distribution of SI and the mechanisms of self-inhibition is available (e.g., Heslop-Harrison, 1975; Nettancourt, 1977). Yet we are far from a full understanding of SI. Most of our knowledge of SI in angiosperms comes from investigations of temperate zone plants, especially herbaceous annuals and perennials (Nettancourt, 1977). Relatively little is known about the breeding systems of trees (Hagman, 1975) and tropical species. Information on breeding systems of plants is important to our understanding of the processes of speciation (Baker, 1959). Several early speciation models that attempted to explain the great floristic diversity of the tropics were based on opposing assumptions about breeding systems: one assumed predominant selfpollination of tropical trees (Federov, 1966); the other predominant cross-pollination (Ashton, 1969). These phyletic models of speciation have since been challenged by other models (Endler, 1977), including quantum evolution (Eldredge and Gould, 1977). Even though no consensus on speciation processes in the tropics has been reached, the controversy has focussed attention on our lack of knowledge about breeding systems of tropical plants. Recently several workers have reported that the majority of tree species they tested in subtropical and tropical, wet and semideciduous forests are obligate outcrossers (Bawa, 1974, 1979; Tomlinson, 1975; Zapata and Arroyo, 1978; Arroyo, 1979; Sobrevila and Arroyo, 1982). Only a very small percentage of the total flora, however, has been sampled. In addition, the distinction between self-compatible and self-incompatible species is not always clearcut: self-incompatible plants occasionally set fruit following self-pollination (Bawa, 1979). Studies on breeding systems of tropical plants so far have been restricted to trees of mature and secondary forests; the prevalence of SI in the extensive herbaceous understory flora of these same forests is unknown. The most conspicuous and dominant elements of the lowermost strata of the wet neotropical forests are the large, herbaceous, broad-leaved monocots of the Heliconiaceae, Marantaceae, Zingiberaceae, Costaceae, Araceae, Arecaceae and Cyclanthaceae. Flowers of all species of the first four families are hermaphroditic. Members of the latter three families tend to be dioecious or monoecious and strongly dichogamous (East, 1940; Mora-U and Solis, 1980; J. Beach, pers. comm.). In 1978 I initiated a survey of the breeding systems of Heliconia with several questions in mind: Do these herbaceous members of the understory show a predominance of SI similar to that shown in woody canopy species? Is SI complete? Are there other mechanisms that promote outcrossing in the group? Here I report findings on physiological SI in a number of species of Heliconia.
Regional Wave Modeling and Evaluation for the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study

AbstractAccurate estimation of storm surge along the coasts subject to extreme storm conditions requires proper wind and pressure forcing and quantification of the wind waves resulting from local and far-field energy sources. This paper summarizes the steps involved in accurately representing the offshore wave climate for the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS) domain, defined from the United States–Canadian border in Maine to the Virginia–North Carolina border. The motivation of the regional wave modeling is to provide offshore boundary conditions for the simulation of extreme extratropical and synthetic tropical events to drive the nearshore wave and surge modeling efforts within the NACCS. The offshore wave conditions were estimated using the third-generation WAve Modelling (WAM) model. Value-added wind fields were defined for each of the four wave model grids (North Atlantic Ocean Basin, U.S. Coastal Regional scale, and two subregional-scale grid systems covering the NACCS coastal domain)...
Airway Basal Cells Of Healthy Smokers And Human Lung Adenocarcinomas Share A Common Embryonic Stem Cell-like Transcriptional Program

Rationale: Various epithelial cancers, including lung adenocarcinomas, exhibit activation of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-like transcriptional program in association with their aggressiveness. We hypothesized that under chronic exposure to the pro-carcinogenic stress of cigarette smoking, airway basal cells, the stem/progenitor cell compartment of the large airway epithelium (LAE), acquire “cancerous” hESC-like molecular phenotype as an early step toward malignant tissue derangement.
Administering Mucosal Competitive Exclusion Flora for Control of Salmonellae

Abstract We compared three methods to administer various dilutions of mucosal competitive exclusion (MCE) culture to reduce Salmonella colonization in the intestinal tract of broiler chicks: 1) spraying onto the chicks using a “Newcastle” automatic spray cabinet; 2) directly gavaging in the crop of the chicks; and 3) a combination of spraying and gavaging the chicks. Day-of-hatch broiler chicks were provided selected treatments, or served as controls. A combination of strains of S. typhimurium, S. Montevideo, and S. California were used 4 hr after treatment to challenge the treated and control chicks. The chicks were sacrificed 5 days post challenge, and cecal contents were analyzed for the presence and numbers of the Salmonella isolates. The optimum level of MCE to reduce Salmonella colonization depended on the efficacy of the original MCE culture. A 10-6 dilution of freshly prepared MCE provided protection similar to the undiluted MCE that had been stored for more than 2 months. A combination of spraying and gavaging MCE was more effective than either of the two single treatment methods tested.
New species and records of Uredinales from the neotropics

Four new species of rust fungi are described {Puccinia ibrae, Uredo clavo, U. crusa, and U. tuitei) and five others are reduced to synonymy {Uredo macella, U. nigropuncta, U. panamensis, Uromyces cissampelidis, and U. rzedowskii). Among the 35 new host and geographic range extensions are the first North American records of Aecidium opuntiae, P. duthiae, P. mutisiae, P. puta, and U. occultus. Olivea petitiae, formerly known only from one Puerto Rican specimen, is now reported from 13 locations in six Caribbean nations. Uromyces sabineae, formerly known only from one Puerto Rican specimen, is now reported on four new host taxa from five locations in three Caribbean nations. Spermogonia and uredinoid aecia are described for the first time for Ravenelia pithecolobii, and the first systemic aecia are reported for P. dietelii.
Sequential Sampling Plans for Lygus Bugs in California Cotton Fields

Sequential sampling plans are presented for determining the need for chemical control for Lygus hesperus Knight and L. elisus Van Duzee in cotton. The tables were developed from sweep-net samples taken between 8 AM and 6 PM in 43 large cotton fields during 1968–70. Analyses show these plans can be used at any time of day, provided the cotton is not wet from dew. The individual sequential tables are based on a consideration of adults only; adults-plus-nymphs; and adults-plus-twice-nymphs for early and late-season economic threshold levels.
Pedobarographic and musculoskeletal examination of collegiate dancers in relevé.

Twenty-one collegiate ballet pupils were evaluated via history/questionnaire, musculoskeletal assessment, and pedobarographs, focusing on factors (e.g., alignment of hip, knee, and foot) thought to affect the important and common second-position releve in dance. In a blinded manner, three observers classified the pedobarographs (obtained by an independent examiner) according to force distribution through the foot. Most dancers bore weight through the toes and transmitted force on both the medial and central metatarsal heads, and some transmitted force through only one of these rays, but none transmitted force through the lateral ray alone. This analysis provides a baseline for future assessment of normal or abnormal dance maneuvers.
Analysis of Current Malaria Prevalent Situation in Suzhou in 2006

Objective To understand the prevalent situation of malaria and provide evidengce for formulating malaria control strategy.Methods The data concerning malaria control in 2006 in Suzhou were statistically and descriptively analyzed.Results There 97 malaria cases were reported and there 90 malaria cases of mobile population were reported.The malaria incidence was 0.1153 per hundred thousand population in 2006.The age of reported cases is from 15 to 40.The male cases are 63 and occupied 64.95%.Conclusion Effective control measures including strengthening malaria management of mabile population be taken.
On the ultrafast photo-induced dynamics of α-terpinene

The ultrafast relaxation pathway of α-terpinene was studied by photoionization-photoelectron spectroscopy for a range of excitation conditions. Time-resolved spectra were obtained upon optical excitation with ultrashort laser pulses at 5.56 eV, 4.96 eV, 4.76 eV, and 4.56 eV, followed by ionization with 3.06 eV pulses. The experiments yielded spectra of the initially excited state, which decays with a time constant of 66 fs, independent of the excitation wavelength. We also observed a sequential series of Rydberg peaks, including the s, p, and d states with n = 3–6, which capture the travel times on the ensuing reaction path. There is no statistically significant dependence of the travel time on the excitation energy. A comparison of the time-dependent signals with those of the un-substituted parent molecule, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, shows that the substituents on α-terpinene slow the reaction down by a factor of about 2.
Exstrophy of the Bladder—an Alternative Method of Management

Abstract: Sixteen bladder exstrophy patients were treated by diverting the urine Into a non-refluxlng colon conduit. There were 4 new, previously unoperated cases and 12 had been diverted earlier by Ileal conduit. Subsequently, 11 conduits were detached from the abdominal wall and joined end-to-side to the rectosigmoid colon. This method has proved satisfactory to date but long-term assessment will be needed. This staged method of ureterosigmoid urinary diversion appears to be a satisfactory way to manage new patients with bladder exstrophy and patients who have been diverted previously by an ileal conduit.From our experience with non-refluxlng colon conduits we conclude also that it Is: 1) a better method than Ileal loop for permanent diversion, 2) indicated for patients with an Ileal loop who are not doing well and 3) useful in patients undergoing anterior exenteration, providing the option of joining It to the rectosigmoid if there Is no recurrent disease or radiation proctitis.
Removal of 17 β-estradiol from poultry litter via solid state cultivation of lignolytic fungi

Abstract Emerging contaminants like hormones can interfere ecological life health. Both liquid cultivation and direct enzymatic process have been proved effective for hormonal removal. This study aimed to assess direct removal of 17 β -estradiol (E2) from solid medium poultry litter (PL) by cultivating laccase-producing fungi toward clean treatment of PL. Before E2 removal test, laccase production was optimized by addition of citric acid and lignocellulosic biomasses into PL, which turned out to dramatically enhance laccase production to varying degrees. The highest laccase activity of approximately 16 U/g medium was produced by Pycnoporus sp. SYBC-L3 on PL mixed with sweat sorghum bagasse at a 2 to 3 (g/g) ratio. An extra dose of E2 spiked in the PL/biomass mixture (final concentration of 10 μg/g) was used to test its effect on laccase production and subsequent E2 removal. Over 80% E2 was removed from the above cultivation system, and E2 removal appeared to be positively correlated with laccase activity. Our results might present an alternative clean strategy for livestock manure treatment before land application.
Nanofiber multilayer membranes with tailored nanochannels prepared by molecular layer-by-layer assembly for high throughput separation

Despite the excellent potential of molecular layer-by-layer assembly (mLbL) in tuning the nanostructure and chemical functionality of the polyamide selective layer of thin film composite (TFC) membranes, practical application of mLbL is limited due to its slow film growth, low permeability and poor chlorine stability. Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of multilayer nanofiber membranes with defined nanochannels by uniformly intercalating organosilicate LAPONITE® (Lp) nanoplatelets into polyamide layers by mLbL. Incorporation of Lp nanoplatelets into the layers formed between trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and m-phenylenediamine (MPD) facilitated rapid growth of the selective layer (∼29 nm per layer for the TMC/MPD/Lp trilayer compared to ∼9 nm per layer of the TMC/MPD bilayer structure). Physicochemical characterization of the selective layer illustrated an interplanar nanochannel spacing of 0.92 nm between the Lp particles due to the spacing effect of polyamide layers. Multilayer membranes with 6 trilayers of TMC/MPD/Lp showed a water flux of 25.8 L m−2 h−1 and NaCl rejection of 89.8% at an applied pressure of 10 bar; this permeability is 1.5 times higher than that of commercial and graphene based membranes while still maintaining high NaCl rejection. Uniformly distributed nanoplatelets in the selective layer improved chlorine stability of the multilayer membranes. The high separation efficiency of the nanofiber membrane resulted from a combination of the nanochannel size in the separating layer (d-spacing of 0.92 nm) and the high porosity of the nanofiber mat. Overall, a multilayer membrane designed by mLbL is highly versatile in tailoring the distribution of nanomaterials (such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, clay nanoplatelets, etc.) and nanochannel spacing of the selective layer, and can be considered a viable approach for preparing stable membranes for many applications.
Systematic Variability in Second-Language Tense Marking

The absence of morphologically marked tense in sentences such as Last year we visit my friend or Yesterday he is sick is among the most prominent characteristics of second-language acquisition (SLA) studies in English. Its status as an interlanguage structure is secure (Burt & Kiparsky, 1972; Dulay & Burt, 1974; Krashen, 1982), and its pedagogical and descriptive significance is unchallenged (Riddle, 1986). Regardless of source language background, it is a feature to be expected in SLA in English.
Measured Beauty: Exploring the aesthetics of Instagram's fashion influencers

This paper draws upon a sample of Instagram images posted by the fashion industry's top "digital influencers" to explore what kinds of visuality succeeds in a social media environment increasingly dominated by metrics and commercialization. It argues that influential beauty on Instagram is "measured" in two ways: it is quantified and delivered to advertisers, and it is non-threatening. This dual nature allows influencers' Instagram feeds to become useful spaces onto which a range of aspirations can be projected and new technologies for monetization can be tested.
Two year follow-up of Crohn’s patients substituted to certolizumab anti-TNFa therapy: SAVANT 2

The effectiveness of ant-TNF 'biologic' therapy in is well supported in the management of moderate to severe Crohn's Disease (CD). Our first 'SAVANT' study was to our knowledge the first study report one- year outcomes in patients (n=60) who switched from previous anti-TNFa treatment to Cimzia/Certolizumab. This current study (SAVANT 2) follows up on longer term outcomes and provides additional clinical and biochemical data that may contribute to therapeutic responses. This IRB approved study was a retrospective analysis of the initial patients included in SAVANT 1. Patients who were switched to TNF antagonist Certolizumab as an alternative biologic were followed an additional year. Retrospective consideration of immunomodulator use, smoking status and clinical data were also evaluated. Of 60 patients with moderate-severe CD who participated in the SAVANT 1 study, 15 patients were excluded due to inadequate follow up. 45 patients were studied for a total of two years following substitution with Certolizumab from prior anti TNF agent therapy. Clinical remission at 1 year was 75% (45/60) and 55% (25/45) at the second year. At the second year, 5 more patients had discontinued Certolizumab due to worse disease or adverse events, indicating a cumulative two-year failure rate of 33% (20/60). Smoking and concomitant use of immunomodulators were similar between 'success' and 'failure' groups. SAVANT 2, the first study to report long term outcomes of switching from Infliximab or Adalimumab to Certolizumab showed that at 2 years, 25 patient's maintained clinical remission. The discontinuation rates were 25 and 11% at years 1 & 2 respectively. The 5 patients who lost responsiveness after the first year were women, the majority of smoked. Additional prospective studies to assess the appropriateness and feasibility of biologic substitution are still needed.
Could recent increases in atmospheric CO2 have acted as a selection factor in Avena fatua populations? A case study of cultivated and wild oat competition

Summary Projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] may lead to differential selection and competition between weeds and crops. Yet, the current level of atmospheric [CO2] already reflects a rapid rise (~25%) from mid-20th century levels. To assess whether this increase could have already resulted in differential selection between weeds and crops, two temporally distinct populations of Avena fatua (wild oat) from the same geographic location, one from the 1960s (WOold) and one from 2014 (WOnew), were grown with and without a cultivated oat (CO) line, Clintland 64 (Avena sativa) at current and mid-20th century [CO2] levels (ca 320 and 402 μmol mol−1 respectively). Monocultures of each WO population differed in their response to recent increases in atmospheric [CO2], with WOnew showing a significantly higher response for all vegetative parameters relative to WOold. Assessment of competitive outcomes indicated that at 315 μmol mol−1 cultivated oat was at a competitive advantage relative to either A. fatua population for leaf area and total above-ground biomass. However, at current levels of CO2, an overall increase in WOnew competitive ability was observed relative to the cultivated oat line. Overall, these differences are consistent with, but not conclusive for, improved evolutionary fitness and increased early competitive ability of A. fatua relative to cultivated oat as a function of the recent increase in atmospheric [CO2]. While additional empirical studies are needed, these preliminary results indicate that weeds may be adapting rapidly to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Utilizing computational neural networks for evaluating the permeability of compacted clay liners

The design of lined waste-storage facilities is significantly influenced by the permeability of the liner. The permeability of compacted clay liners, in turn, is influenced by factors such as clay type and composition, compaction type and effort, and operating conditions. The complexity of the permeation process makes it difficult to predict analytically the permeability from these factors. As a result, empirical regression models are frequently used to predict permeability. In this paper, permeability prediction models are developed using computational neural networks (CNNS). The developed CNN models are used to predict the permeability of compacted clay for a known set of soil properties and field and laboratory conditions. Moreover, the models are used to determine the relative importance of the various input parameters to the model output. Also, a comparison between regression models and neural networks for predicting permeability is presented and the advantages of utilizing CNN methodology over regression techniques in model development are highlighted.
Improving Cross-Language Information Retrieval by Transliteration Mining and Generation

The retrieval performance of Cross-Language Retrieval (CLIR) systems is a function of the coverage of the translation lexicon used by them. Unfortunately, most translation lexicons do not provide a good coverage of proper nouns and common nouns which are often the most information-bearing terms in a query. As a consequence, many queries cannot be translated without a substantial loss of information and the retrieval performance of the CLIR system is less than satisfactory for those queries. However, proper nouns and common nouns very often appear in their transliterated forms in the target language document collection. In this work, we study two techniques that leverage this fact for addressing the problem, namely, Transliteration Mining and Transliteration Generation. The first technique attempts to mine the transliterations of out-of-vocabulary query terms from the document collection whereas the second generates the transliterations. We systematically study the effectiveness of both techniques in the context of the Hindi-English and Tamil-English ad hoc retrieval tasks at FIRE2010. The results of our study show that both techniques are effective in addressing the problem posed by out-of-vocabulary terms with Transliteration Mining technique giving better results than Transliteration Generation.
On the decidability of model-checking for P systems

Membrane computing is a branch of molecular computing that aims to develop models and paradigms that are biologically motivated. It identifies an unconventional computing model, namely a P system, from natural phenomena of cell evolutions and chemical reactions. Because of the nature of maximal parallelism inherent in the model, P systems have a great potential for implementing massively concurrent systems in an efficient way that would allow us to solve currently intractable problems. In this paper, we look at various models of P systems and investigate their model-checking problems. We identify what is decidable (or undecidable) about model-checking these systems under extended logic formalisms of CTL. We also report on some experiments on whether existing conservative (symbolic) model-checking techniques can be practically applied to handle P systems with a reasonable size.
Automated quantitation of cell density distribution and hyperdense cell fraction in RBC disorders.

An altered state of cell hydration is a hallmark of a number of RBC disorders. The two parameters most often used to characterize the state of cell hydration are (a) the complete cell density distribution profile, and (b) the fraction of cells with densities greater than a defined value. Buoyant density cell fractionation with a variety of polymers has long been the preferred method for obtaining data on cell density distribution. Although this method provides accurate and quantitative information on the state of RBC hydration, its applicability has been limited due to the time-consuming experimental procedure involved in generating the data. A recently developed light- scattering method has been used in the present study to quantitate RBC density distribution. This new method accurately quantitates both the cell density distribution profile and the fraction of dense, dehydrated cells in various RBC disorders. The ability of the automated method to generate this information rapidly makes possible objective testing of different hypotheses concerning the contributions of cell hydration and dehydration to the pathophysiology of various RBC disorders.
Sequence comparison of Francisella tularensis LVS, LVS-G and LVS-R

Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative organism found in many regions of the world. F. tularensis can cause a fatal, febrile illness, although these natural tularemia infections are rare in the United States. However, the development of F. tularensis as a potential weapon of bioterrorism during the Cold War spurred the development of a live attenuated vaccine, LVS, from F. tularensis subsp. holarctica in the 1960s. Two colony morphology variants, LVS-G and LVS-R, were generated from parental LVS by plate passage and by acridine orange mutagenesis, respectively. In vaccinated mice, LVS-G and LVS-R exhibit altered immunogenicity and protective capacities. While the exact nature of the mutations in these strains was unknown, previous studies indicated that both had altered lipopolysaccharide structures. To better understand the impact of these mutations on LVS' immunogenicity, we sequenced the genomes of LVS-G and LVS-R as well as our parental laboratory stock of LVS, originally obtained from ATCC, and compared these to the F. tularensis subsp. holarctica LVS genome currently deposited in GenBank. The results indicate that the genomic sequence of ATCC LVS is nearly identical to that of the human LVS vaccine. Furthermore, a limited number of genomic mutations likely account for the phenotypes of LVS-G and LVS-R.
Application of a new hybrid particle swarm optimization-mixed kernels function-based support vector machine model for reservoir porosity prediction: A case study in Jacksonburg-Stringtown oil field, West Virginia, USA

AbstractPorosity is a fundamental property that characterizes the storage capability of fluid and gas-bearing formations in a reservoir. An accurate porosity value can be measured from core samples...
Chasing Fool’s Gold? Converting U.S. Senate Appointments into Election

Existing scholarship on the electoral careers of U.S. Senate appointees has made progress toward identifying the determinants of appointee success and failure in the electoral arena. This study bui...
Runbox: serverless interactive computing platform

Serverless computing revolutionizes cloud software by eliminating the need to manage the underlying infrastructure, while providing efficient scaling, performance and security isolation as well as usage metering. The goal of Runboxes is to bring the benefits of serverless computing to Interactive Computing, involving ad-hoc, stateful, resource-intensive tasks, whose resource demand is directly affected by the observed user behavior. We evaluate Runboxes in the context of cost-efficient hosting of sandbox programming environments for Computer Science students.
Variable-Frequency Explicit Model Predictive Control of Wide Band Gap DC/DC Converter with Critical Soft Switching

This research proposes a control scheme that ensures critical soft switching to improve the efficiency and power density of the DC/DC power converter. First, we analyze the boundary constraints of critical soft switching that are derived with the key parameters of the interlock time and threshold current for typical SiC and GaN devices. Then, a variable-frequency model predictive control strategy is proposed for synchronous DC/DC converters. The duty cycle and frequency are controlled by MPC to satisfy the critical soft switching constraints in every operating point. The explicit model predictive control method can be applied to increase the speed of optimization. The combination of Explicit Model Predictive Control (EMPC) and critical soft switching technique largely improves the efficiency and tracking accuracy of the system. Also due to the fast response of the MPC, the losses during the transient period can be further reduced without oscillation compared to the traditional PI controller. Finally, the theoretical analysis is validated by dedicated tests.
Controlled Growth of Silver Nanoparticle Seeds Using Green Solvents

A common method for producing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is by chemical reduction of dissolved Ag+ with subsequent nucleation and growth of Ag(0). However, producing a monodisperse product with a controlled size can be a major challenge. Herein, we report results from a seeded Ag NP growth in a mixture of two green solvents, propylene carbonate (PC) and propylene glycol (PG). The solubility of AgCl in the mixed solvent is sufficiently high such that heterogeneous nucleation on AgCl can be prevented. In addition, results from varying the molar ratio of silver salt precursor to the Ag NP seeds enabled identification of an ideal range over which the homogeneous formation of new silver seeds can also be prevented. Preventing these two mechanisms is essential for the controlled and exclusive growth on the Ag NP seeds.
EquiDot: Art Reflecting The Social Constructs

The paper describes an interactive museum exhibit called "EquiDot" which is a sphere representing collaborative visitor-fed data about social constructs. The data represents a salient social construct that has affected a visitor the most. The goal is to create a safe, inclusive space where people with diverse backgrounds can record their response and contribute to making a collaborative art that creates a dialog about the effect of social constructs. Each dot on the sphere represents an individual response and is completely anonymized. The visitor can use gestural inputs with their hands to interact with the sphere. The goal of this museum exhibit is to bring together both the intimate and social aspects of an individual to create a conversation surrounding the development of a more inclusive society.
Comparison of Endoscopic Ultrasound Biopsy Needles for Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Liver Biopsy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To compare the performance of latest commercially available endoscopic ultrasound biopsy needles. METHODS Six latest commercially available needles were tested on a freshly harvested bovine liver; the tested needles included three 19 G, one 20 G, and two 22 G needles. Five biopsies were performed per needle with 10 mL of wet suction. The primary outcome was the number of complete portal tracts (CPTs) per needle aspirate. The secondary outcomes were the mean specimen length and mean fragment length. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test were applied. RESULTS All 19 G needles and the 20 G needle yielded similar mean CPTs and were superior to the SharkCore 22 G needle (p<0.001 adjusted for multiplicity). There was no statistically significant difference in total specimen length among the three 19 G needles and the 20 G needle tested. The two 22 G needles performed similarly with respect to the number of CPTs, mean fragment length, and mean specimen length (adjusted p=0.07, p=0.59, and p=0.10, respectively). CONCLUSION The specimen adequacy was similar among the 3 latest commercially available 19 G needles. The endoscopist may choose a larger-bore needle based on availability without concerns of specimen adequacy. Further studies are needed to assess the ease of needle use in various anatomical locations and to confirm the optimal needle design.
Irony, Contradiction, and Voltaire's Garden: Re-Reading Candide

Literary scholars have long debated the thematic significance of Voltaire's Candide, a 1759 novella that relentlessly satirizes Gottfried Leibniz’s philosophy of optimism. In Candide, Voltaire assails his readers with displays of violence so absurd they might inspire anything from laughter to hopelessness. The novella's crude humor is hinged upon an unexpectedly-compassionate acknowledgement of human suffering. Voltaire uses Candide's plotline to attack the human assumption that any force of good will ever offset the evil in a world pervaded by cruelty and selfishness. He provokes questions with no answers in sight. Deriving a theme from the novella only becomes more difficult after reading its conclusion, which leaves readers dissatisfied, desperate for some sort of call to action. We are urged to cultivate our garden but given no advice on what that might entail. We are convinced of Leibnizian optimism's failures but deprived of a more-pragmatic philosophy to replace it with. In this essay, I analyze the ways Voltaire uses humor, irony, and structure in Candide not only to denounce deceitful forms of optimism, but to provoke future thought on the questions he could not answer himself.
Skin closure with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and polyester mesh after primary total knee arthroplasty offers superior cosmetic outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to staples: a prospective trial

The goals of this study were to compare patient satisfaction and wound-related complications in patients receiving 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (glue) and polyester mesh for skin closure after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) versus staples. A total of 60 knees in 54 patients undergoing TKA were enrolled in a prospective trial and randomized to receive either skin closure with glue and polyester mesh (n = 30) or a control group closed with staples (n = 30). Hollander wound cosmesis score (measured on a scale of 0–5, with 0 being the best) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores (range 0–100 mm) for patient satisfaction with wound cosmesis, as well as wound-related readmission, reoperation, and complications, including superficial surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, wound hematoma, stitch abscess, and wound discharge, were assessed at 6 weeks and 90 days after TKA. Baseline characteristics were not statistically significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05). At 6 weeks and 90 days, the Hollander wound cosmesis score was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the glue and polyester mesh groups. Similarly, at 6 weeks and 90 days, the VAS for patient satisfaction with wound cosmesis was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the glue and polyester mesh groups. The rate of superficial surgical site infection was 1/30 (3%) in glue and polyester mesh groups versus zero in the control group (p = 1.00). The rate of wound dehiscence was 1/30 (3%) in glue and polyester mesh groups versus zero in the control group (p = 1.00). These results suggest that glue and polyester mesh closure may offer superior cosmetic outcomes to staples for skin closure in TKA.
Literature and Peace Studies

Gustafson lays foundations for reflecting on the relationship between “Literature and Peace Studies.” Observing the relative paucity of work on literature and peacebuilding, Gustafson initially draws on Stephen Pinker’s work on the historical reduction of violence, and particularly his argument that the development of the novel was one of the causes of the humanitarian and rights revolutions. Gustafson claims that by contributing to greater empathy, the novel helped cultivate more peaceful environments. She also draws upon Lederach’s work on the moral imagination, especially the value of developing webs of relationships, using it as a foundation for “the peacebuildier’s hermeneutic.” This in turn enriches her discussion of Marmon Silko’s novel Ceremony (1977), and two Gulf War novels that interrogate different forms of militarism.