cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disease Burden in the Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders Correlates with the Stem Level of JAK2 V617F Expression.

Abstract The chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocytosis (ET) and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) differ phenotypically but are linked by a common genetic lesion, JAK2V617F. Additional molecular lesions, host genetics or stem cell level of involvement are possible explanations for the differing myeloproliferative phenotypes associated with similar degrees of JAK2V617F. In this study, we examined the correlation between the stem cell level of JAK2V617F involvement and disease phenotype. The study population consisted of 35 PV, 14 ET and 7 IMF patients followed by us with a median disease duration of 8 years (range 1–27 years); all patients were clinically assessed between 2005 and 2006. Genomic DNA was extracted from neutrophils, T, B, and CD34+ cells purified from blood samples at the time of clinical assessment and in 4 patients, from erythroid colonies cloned from CD34+ cells cultured in semisolid media. The quantitative JAK2V617F allele percentage was obtained using a sensitive allele-specific, quantitative PCR assay. In PV patients with marked splenomegaly and leukocytosis, median CD34+ cell and neutrophil JAK2V617F allele percentages were the same (85 versus 87). By contrast, in PV patients without splenomegaly, median CD34+ cell allele percentages were lower than neutrophil JAK2V617F allele percentages (41 versus 62); these patients also had lower leukocyte counts (p
Buckling of Reinforced Concrete Plates

Four prediction equations are developed based on the assumptions that the composite material will behave either orthotropically or isotropically when buckling occurs and that in either case, the tangent modulus theory or the double modulus theory would prevail. The results of these analyses are applied to 24 reinforced concrete plates which were tested in uniaxial compression. The buckling loads obtained for these plates are compared with those predicted by the various formulas. The maximum difference between predictions obtained from these formulas is about 25%. It is concluded that the assumption of isotropic behavior along with the tangent modulus buckling theory yields essentially conservative, yet fairly accurate results. Formulas based on this case and incorporating certain simplifications are developed and proposed for the analysis and design of these plates.
Testing the Validity and Factor Structure of the Willingness to Engage in Consensual Non-Monogamy Scale Among College Men and Women

Currently, the Willingness to Engage in Consensual Non-monogamy (CNM) Scale (Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 32: 222-240, 2015) is the only known measure for assessing CNM desire among individuals who have never engaged in CNM. However, the factor structure and validity of this measure have yet to be tested. Further, scholars have yet to consider that this scale may measure different constructs across men and women. Given the magnitude and consistency with which previous work has reported gender differences in CNM research, it is worthy to critically evaluate this scale. The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure and validity of the Willingness to Engage in CNM Scale. Additionally, this study examined the factorial invariance of this scale across men and women. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using a large sample (N = 938) of college attending emerging adults (ages 18–29) supported a single-factor structure for all items in the scale. This study also found supporting evidence for convergent and divergent validity. A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis indicated partial measurement invariance across men and women. Implications for CNM research, methodology, and policy are discussed.
The Balance Equation: Its Testing and Relations to Other Research

A new molecular analysis of operant extinction and reinforcement schedules has been published (Anger, 1987, 1988). It is a multifactor analysis of basic extinction processes found with procedures that minimize competing behavior. Of those processes, response-specific inhibition (RSI, Anger, 1983) appears responsible for animal sensitivity to complex response contingencies. RSI depends on the events that determine reinforcer contingency on response; it averages those event frequencies, combines them into a single variable that varies approximately with the contingency, and adjusts responding appropriately. From that analysis a linear additive equation can be rationally derived that describes the control of responding by reinforcers, unreinforced responses, and other events. That balance equation predicts an unexpected relation between responding and reinforcer frequency, and it predicts that responding is augmented by an unrecognized variable, nonresponse time during controlling stimuli. Five obstacles to testing the balance equation are examined, ways to circumvent them are described, and preliminary results are presented. The balance equation and multifactor theory are compared with other theories.
Ultracapacitor with Ballard Nexa in a GEM vehicle in a hybrid mode

Incorporation of ultra capacitors to augment power transient's requirement in a hybrid mode in a Ballard fuel cell mounted on a Global Electric Motor's (GEM) vehicle. A Ballard Nexatrade fuel cell, six 2600 Farads Maxwell's ultra capacitors connected in series and a load cell, are tested on a bench and later on a GEM a vehicle. A custom developed DC-DC converter is used to boost the fuel cell stack input voltage from 26 V DC to 72 V DC. The controller performs the ultracapacitor's recharging functions while the ultra capacitors augment for power needs during transients. A very stable operational performance of the vehicle is observed throughout the range tested and the state of charge of the battery is satisfactory. The results show that the test results with ultra capacitors provide a smooth and gradual peak power augmentation
“Linear Contexts,” Linguistics and Machine Translation

(1959). “Linear Contexts,” Linguistics and Machine Translation. WORD: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 183-191.
An Obsevation of Native Skeletal Thin Filament Structure at High Calcium Condition by Electron Cryomicroscopy

It is hampering our understanding on the molecular mechanism of muscle contraction thin filament-linked modulation lack of electron cryomicryoscopy data supporting the steric model (Nature 368,64-67,1994). Recently well-oriented sols of flamentous (F)-actin formed by Ca2+-actin and length controlled by gelsolin give detailed X-ray fibre diffraction patterns led to the flat-actin conformation resolved in F-actin (Nature 457,441-550,2009). von der Eckon et al (Nature,519,114-119,2015) defined a three-dimensional structure of F-actin at a resolution of 3.7A and in synthetic complex with tropomyosin (no troponin complex) at a resolution of 6.5A using electron cryomicroscopy. Here is the first report about a well-defined structure of native skeletal thin filament at high calcium condition by electron cryomicroscopy with Iterative Helical Real-Space Reconstruction (IHRSR): tropomyosin locates C-state on actin, spreads over one of myosin subfragment-1 (S1) strongly binding sites between subdomain_I and_III of the actin (JMB,266,8-14,1997); one intra-strand contact with strong 3D-reconstructed density and more than one inter-strand contacts are resolved among neighboring actin monomers (n, n+1, n+2), mainly formed through actin hydrophobic plug 256-271 linked to various regions of the opposite actin subunits, different from those of S1 decorated F-actin and the published F-actin and F-actin-Tropomyosin complex, in the native skeletal thin filament suggesting actin conformation diversity—globular-actin conformation dominating in high calcium condition, the flat conformation coexisting, and the two identified actin conformations are dynamic in thin filaments during the modulation of skeletal muscle contraction.
Relationship between desired weight and eating disorder pathology in youth.

Objective Individuals with eating disorders (ED), particularly anorexia nervosa (AN), and bulimia nervosa (BN), often wish to reduce their body weight in pursuit of a thin ideal, but no study has examined the relation between desired weight and ED pathology in a clinical population of youth. Given the potential impact of desired weight on normalization of eating patterns and weight restoration, we examined the relation between desired weight and ED pathology in youth with AN or BN. Methods Participants were 340 youth presenting to an outpatient ED clinical research program. Height and weight were measured, and youth completed the Eating Disorder Examination. Desired weight was operationalized as “desired weight percentage” (calculated as a percentage of expected body weight [EBW]) and “weight difference percentage” (actual weight minus desired weight, divided by actual weight and multiplied by 100). Results Youth with AN desired to be a lower percentage of their EBW than youth with BN (p < .001). However, youth with AN, on average, wanted to gain 5.28% of their body weight and youth with BN wanted to lose 13.60% (p < .001). Desired weight percentage and weight difference percentage were associated with greater ED psychopathology, controlling for ED diagnosis, age, and sex (ps < .001). Discussion Desired weight is associated with elevated ED psychopathology. Weight goals may shift as individuals progress through treatment; if they do not, then desired weight may be an important indicator of a lack of psychological progress.
Weathering and erosion of fractured bedrock systems

We explore the contribution of fractures (joints) in controlling the rate of weathering advance for a low-porosity rock by using methods of homogenization to create averaged weathering equations. The rate of advance of the weathering front can be expressed as the same rate observed in non-fractured media (or in an individual block) divided by the volume fraction of non-fractured blocks in the fractured parent material. In the model, the parent has fractures that are filled with a more porous material that contains only inert or completely weathered material. The low-porosity rock weathers by reaction-transport processes. As observed in field systems, the model shows that the weathering advance rate is greater for the fractured as compared to the analogous non-fractured system because the volume fraction of blocks is < 1. The increase in advance rate is attributed both to the increase in weathered material that accompanies higher fracture density, and to the increase in exposure of surface of low-porosity rock to reaction-transport. For constant fracture aperture, the weathering advance rate increases when the fracture spacing decreases. Equations describing weathering advance rate are summarized in the ‘List of selected equations’. If erosion is imposed at a constant rate, the weathering systems with fracture-bounded bedrock blocks attain a steady state. In the erosional transport-limited regime, bedrock blocks no longer emerge at the air-regolith boundary because they weather away. In the weathering-limited (or kinetic) regime, blocks of various size become exhumed at the surface and the average size of these exposed blocks increases with the erosion rate. For convex hillslopes, the block size exposed at the surface increases downslope. This model can explain observations of exhumed rocks weathering in the Luquillo mountains of Puerto Rico. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA
Traumatic brain injury clinical practice guidelines and best practices from the VA state of the art conference

Management of symptoms following traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be complex and remains a high priority for Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Concurrently, awareness of TBI in the public has increased. VA convened a State of the Art (SOTA) Conference to identify priorities for future research and promote best practices for TBI care. Scientific evidence of effective management of symptoms following TBI is expanding, and this evidence has been synthesized into Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and Clinical Practice Recommendations (CPRs). Knowledge gaps still exist and research efforts to address these gaps should include leveraging large administrative data sets and existing registries to determine effective treatments, investigate compliance of existing clinical care with CPGs and study limitations to determine modifiable vs. non-modifiable core tenants of the evidence-based treatments.
Embodied energy analysis of higher education buildings using an input-output-based hybrid method

Abstract During construction and operation, buildings consistently consume nearly half of the global energy supply, indicating a huge potential for reducing annual carbon emissions. This energy use includes operating energy and the three key life-cycle embodied energy components: initial embodied energy (IEE), recurrent embodied energy (REE), and demolition energy (DE). Embodied energy is consumed directly through processes and indirectly through products installed in a building. Unlike operating energy, measuring embodied energy is a complex, unstandardized, and very data-intensive process. Each available embodied energy calculation method differs in its data sources, system boundary coverage, and limitations. An IO-based hybrid (IOH) method could provide more complete, reliable, and study-specific results if appropriate improvements are made to the IOH model. In this study, we developed an IOH model for the United States’ economy by integrating human and capital energy and computed the IEE of five higher education buildings. The results suggest that using an aggregated construction cost for calculating IEE may underestimate results in comparison to using disaggregated construction cost components because the calculated values of IEE increased significantly after the cost disaggregation. The relative proportions of different energy sources also changed considerably because of the cost disaggregation.
A bi-criteria mixed integer linear programming model for load balancing and chemical saving in wafer cleaning processes: IE: Industrial engineering

Semiconductor manufacturing or wafer fabrication process involves multiple processing steps and is highly re-entrant, where a job may visit an equipment group more than once, at various stages of the product flow. Wafer cleaning process in semiconductor fabrication comprises multiple steps at various stages of the product flow to remove particles and oxidize organic contaminants, using different chemicals. This paper focusses on front-end of the line wafer cleaning steps. We consider J equipment groups which run I clean process steps and uses M different chemicals. Each step is qualified to run on a set of equipment groups and when recipes using different chemical run back to back on a tool-there is a chemical pre-dispense to clean and condition the nozzle. Given today's increasingly cost-conscious and competitive market, this study focuses on balancing loads on the equipment groups and minimize operating cost by reducing chemical pre-dispenses. We propose a bi-criteria mixed integer linear programming model to allocate daily demands to the equipment groups with the objectives of minimizing the maximum utilization and reducing chemical pre-dispenses. We also propose a priority based dispatching algorithm to translate the model output and implement in a dispatching system. Results show that the model reduces chemical pre-dispense resulting in significant cost saving, improved throughput due to cascading, and balanced utilization across the equipment groups.
Distribution and Abundance of Macrobenthic and Meiobenthic Organisms

The increased need for energy self-sufficiency has caused U.S. petroleum companies to embark on an extensive search for oil and gas reserves. Much of the exploration will be conducted on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, and a possible consequence of energy production activities is an impact of unknown magnitude on the marine environment.
Regulation of Central Adrenergic Receptors

The mechanisms through which the catecholamines produce their effects in the central nervous system are not yet understood. Norepinephrine, which could be acting either as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator, initially binds to its receptor site on the external surface of the cell membrane. This binding interaction eventually results in alterations of the electrical prop erties of the membrane and perhaps alterations in other cellular functions. Many of these effects appear to be mediated through the activation of the membrane bound enzyme, adenylate cyclase. It is well established that the responsiveness of the receptor systems which mediate the effects of norepinephrine is subject to regulation. Thus, under certain conditions, the response to a given concentration of norepinephrine may be either greater than or less than normal, i.e., supersensitive or subsensitive. There appear to be several biochemical events which are regulated, one or more of which might be important under a given set of conditions: the receptor binding site for norepinephrine; enzymes such as adenylate cyclase, phosphodiesterase, protein kinase, phosphoprotein phosphatase; the functional coupling between the receptor binding site and adenylate cyclase; and membrane properties such as fluidity, asymmetry, and lipid composition.
Epidemiology and Pathophysiology of Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas with variable involvement of the pancreas, regional tissues around the pancreas, or remote organ systems. The clinical course may range from mild discomfort with minimal pancreatic inflammation to severe necrotizing pancreatitis, complicated by multiorgan system failure and death. The most common etiologies are gallstones and alcohol abuse. The natural history is dependent on the degree of inflammation and necrosis. Following an acute attack, there is usually complete recovery of function if the offending agent is identified and removed. The pathogenesis of AP involves discrete intracellular events that prematurely activate intra-acinar zymogen granules and generate the release of proinflammatory and proapoptotic mediators. Understanding the natural history and specific roles of these cytokines may help develop therapies that can alter the course of severe pancreatitis and decrease its complications.
Accelerated imaging of metallic implants using model-based nonlinear reconstruction.

PURPOSE To accelerate imaging near metallic implants with multi-spectral imaging (MSI) techniques by exploiting a signal model in the spectral dimension. METHODS MSI techniques resolve metal-induced field perturbations by acquiring separate 3D spatial encodings at multiple excitation frequencies, which are referred to as spectral bins. The proposed model-based reconstruction exploits the correlation between spectral bins in image reconstruction by enforcing a signal model to describe the signal profile across bins. This work evaluates the accuracy of the MSI signal model in simulations and in vivo experiments. The proposed model-based reconstruction was evaluated in 6 subjects at an overall undersampling factor of 17.4 and compared with model-free parallel imaging and compressed sensing (PI & CS). The quality of reconstructed images was evaluated using normalized RMS error (nRMSE) and structural similarity index (SSIM) comparisons, with paired Wilcoxon tests in 6 subjects used to determine whether there was a significant difference in the metrics. RESULTS Both simulations and in vivo experiments show that the proposed signal model can represent the MSI signal profiles in the spectral dimension compactly and accurately. In the in vivo experiments, the model-based reconstruction significantly improved image quality over model-free PI & CS, with P < 0.05 for both nRMSE and SSIM at 17.4× acceleration. CONCLUSION This work presents the feasibility of using a model-based reconstruction to accelerate MSI techniques for faster MR imaging near metal.
Retention of Nitrate-N in Mineral Soil Organic Matter in Different Forest Age Classes

Conceptual models of nutrient retention in ecosystems suggest that mature forests receiving chronically elevated atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition should experience increased nitrate (NO3−) losses to streams. However, at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (New Hampshire, USA), recent stream NO3− concentrations have been unexpectedly low in mature watersheds. Poorly understood retention of NO3−-N in soil organic matter (SOM) may explain this discrepancy. The relative availability of C and N in SOM influences NO3−-N retention and may vary during succession due to processes of N mining and re-accumulation. To evaluate the strength of the SOM sink for NO3−-N, we applied a 15NO3− tracer to the mineral soil in eight stands spanning a forest chronosequence from about 20 years to old growth (≫ 200 years). We tracked 15N recovery in SOM fractions in the upper 10 cm of B horizon over 5 weeks. Overall, forest age did not directly control the 5-week recovery of 15N, but it had an indirect effect via its influence on SOM properties such as C/N. Old-growth forest soils had the lowest C/N, implying closer proximity to effective N saturation. Across sites, both the particulate- and mineral-associated SOM fractions rapidly incorporated 15N, but recovery in each fraction generally declined with time, reflecting the dynamic nature of SOM. These results indicate that mineral horizons can provide an important N sink through the short term in forests of all ages, but that SOM-N remains subject to active cycling and potential loss from the soil pool over the longer term.
The Every Day Work of Studying the Law in Everyday Life

Susan Silbey began her academic training in political science and in the course of her studies became a sociologist of law, the last two decades as a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Techno...
Personalized Ranking in Dynamic Graphs Using Nonbacktracking Walks.

Centrality has long been studied as a method of identifying node importance in networks. In this paper we study a variant of several walk-based centrality metrics based on the notion of a nonbacktracking walk, where the pattern \(i\rightarrow j\rightarrow i\) is forbidden in the walk. Specifically, we focus our analysis on dynamic graphs, where the underlying data stream the network is drawn from is constantly changing. Efficient algorithms for calculating nonbactracking walk centrality scores in static and dynamic graphs are provided and experiments on graphs with several million vertices and edges are conducted. For the static algorithm, comparisons to a traditional linear algebraic method of calculating scores show that our algorithm produces scores of high accuracy within a theoretically guaranteed bound. Comparisons of our dynamic algorithm to the static show speedups of several orders of magnitude as well as a significant reduction in space required.
Conserved Cx n C Motifs in Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus ORF66 Are Required for Viral Late Gene Expression and Are Essential for Its Interaction with ORF34

Late gene transcription in the beta- and gammaherpesviruses depends on a set of virally encoded transcriptional activators (vTAs) that hijack the host transcriptional machinery and direct it to a subset of viral genes that are required for completion of the viral replication cycle and capsid assembly. In Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), these vTAs are encoded by ORF18, ORF24, ORF30, ORF31, ORF34, and ORF66. Assembly of the vTAs into a complex is critical for late gene transcription, and thus, deciphering the architecture of the complex is central to understanding its transcriptional regulatory activity. Here, we generated an ORF66-null virus and confirmed that it fails to produce late genes and infectious virions. We show that ORF66 is incorporated into the vTA complex primarily through its interaction with ORF34, which is dependent upon a set of four conserved cysteine-rich motifs in the C-terminal domain of ORF66. While both ORF24 and ORF66 occupy the canonical K8.1 late gene promoter, their promoter occupancy requires the presence of the other vTAs, suggesting that sequence-specific, stable binding requires assembly of the entire complex on the promoter. Additionally, we found that ORF24 expression is impaired in the absence of a stable vTA complex. This work extends our knowledge about the architecture of the KSHV viral preinitiation complex and suggests that it functions as a complex to recognize late gene promoters.IMPORTANCE Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV; human herpesvirus 8) is an oncogenic gammaherpesvirus that is the causative agent of multiple human cancers. The release of infectious virions requires the production of capsid proteins and other late genes, whose production is transcriptionally controlled by a complex of six virally encoded proteins that hijack the host transcription machinery. It is poorly understood how this complex assembles or what function five of its six components play in transcription. Here, we demonstrate that ORF66 is an essential component of this complex in KSHV and that its inclusion in the complex depends upon its C-terminal domain, which contains highly conserved cysteine-rich motifs reminiscent of zinc finger motifs. Additionally, we examined the assembly of the viral preinitiation complex at late gene promoters and found that while sequence-specific binding of late gene promoters requires ORF24, it additionally requires a fully assembled viral preinitiation complex.
Tell cancer to take a hike: post traumatic growth on the trail to recovery

This study focuses on posttraumatic growth (PTG) in patients and survivors of cancer through their participation in a hiking program. Major life crises like cancer can significantly challenge or destroy one’s sense of self, thus necessitating the need to find PTG during the treatment and recovery process. Building on the fundamentals of nature therapy and support groups, the hiking program created a non-traditional resource for people with cancer and survivors outside of medicalized venues to attend to their needs of meaning-making and PTG on their trail to recovery. As many participants did not find the structure and/or ‘problem-focused’ feel of traditional support groups to their liking, the hiking group served as a welcomed resource for coping and living a healthy life. Hikers found that their participation in the hiking group led to a normalization process that helped them acclimate to their ‘new normal’ as either a patient of cancer or survivor.
The Clinical Utility of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Determining Hemispheric Dominance for Language: A Magnetoencephalography Comparison Study.

PURPOSE Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has recently emerged as a noninvasive alternative to the intracarotid sodium amytal (Wada) procedure for establishing hemispheric dominance (HD) for language. The accuracy of HD determined by TMS was examined by comparing against the HD derived by magnetoencephalography (MEG), a prominent clinical technique with excellent concordance with the Wada procedure. METHODS Sixty-seven patients (54 patients ≤18 years) underwent language mapping with TMS and MEG as part of clinical epilepsy and tumor presurgical assessment. Language was mapped in MEG during an auditory word recognition paradigm, and a laterality index was calculated using the number of dipoles and their spatial extent in the two hemispheres. Transcranial magnetic stimulation language mapping was performed as patients performed a naming task, and TMS-induced speech disruptions were recorded during 5-Hz TMS applied to anterior and posterior language cortices. Transcranial magnetic stimulation laterality index was estimated using the number and type of speech disruption in the language regions of each hemisphere. RESULTS Transcranial magnetic stimulation and MEG estimates of HD were concordant in 42 (63%) patients, resulting in a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 72%. The overall accuracy of TMS was 73%, equivalent to an odds ratio of 7.35. CONCLUSIONS In this first large-scale comparative study in a clinical population, we demonstrate that TMS is a safe and reliable noninvasive tool in determining HD for language. Improving the accuracy of TMS by optimizing TMS parameters and improving task choice will further facilitate the use of TMS to characterize language function, especially in pediatrics.
On the possibility of electronically excited states in stable amine anions: Dicyanoamine, cyanoethynylamine, and diethynylamine

Abstract Of the dicyanomine anion (NCNCN − ), cyanoethynylamine anion (NCNC2H − ), and diethynylamine anion (HC2NC2H − ), only the mixed, Cs NCNC2H − anion has are large enough dipole moment to support an electronically excited state at 3.0323 eV. This quantum chemical study shows that this value lies 0.0051 eV below the electron binding energy (eBE) and may have correlation to early-onset diffuse interstellar bands. None of these three anions possess further valence excited electronic states beyond the singlet ground states, and triplet excited states are all beyond their respective eBEs.
EClinic: Increasing use of telehealth as a risk reduction strategy during the covid-19 pandemic

Prior to the covid-19 pandemic, telehealth was already being rapidly adopted nationally by healthcare systems. During the covid-19 pandemic, increased use of telehealth may be considered as a risk reduction strategy. Benefits of this strategy may be conferred to both patients and health providers.
9.23 – Hepatotoxicity of Copper, Iron, Cadmium, and Arsenic

The hepatotoxicities of four metals – copper, iron, cadmium, and arsenic – share common, but also possess unique, mechanisms of action. The experimental models that have elucidated hepatotoxic mechanisms of all four metals, as well as the human clinical disorders of perturbed copper and iron metabolism that result as a consequence of copper and iron overload, are reviewed. Metals such as cadmium, copper, and inorganic arsenic can act as direct cellular toxicants resulting in cell injury and hepatocellular necrosis. Some metals, like cadmium, induce hepatotoxicity indirectly as a result of activation of Kupffer cells and inflammatory sequelae. Other metals, such as iron and copper, produce toxicity through redox activity and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidation-mediated injury. Arsenic toxicity is complex, and multiple mechanisms are involved in cell injury, cell proliferation, and potentially, hepatocellular carcinogenesis. The inheritable diseases of iron and copper overload result in severe hepatic injury, which can be fatal if not treated. Copper and iron are essential elements in mammalian systems. Therefore illness can occur when homeostatic mechanisms are disrupted, when diet is deficient, or intake is excessive. The inheritable disorders Wilson’s disease and genetic hemochromatosis (GH) involve defects in the excretion of copper and absorption of iron, respectively, which lead to progressive toxic accumulation of these metals within hepatocytes. The induction of acquired hepatotoxicity in humans from cadmium, a nonessential metal, as a result of environmental or occupational exposure is rare. In contrast, hepatotoxicity is becoming of increasing concern with environmental exposure to arsenic, another nonessential metal, especially hepatocarcinogenesis. Cadmium toxicity is primarily mediated by its interference with sulfhydryl groups of critical macromolecules, such as enzymes with zinc or copper cofactors. Arsenic undergoes extensive metabolism in mammals, resulting in exposures to a host of inorganic and methylated species. Associations between environmental arsenic exposure and human liver cancers have been reported, and accumulating evidence indicates that the liver is a frequent target of experimental arsenic carcinogenesis.
Optimization of cryopreservation protocols for cooled-transported stallion semen.

Abstract Freezing cooled-transported semen allows veterinarians and breeders to collect and process the semen of stallions on farm, and then ship the semen to a semen freezing center. There, however, is a lack of standardization of shipping and freezing protocols. The objectives were to optimize and simplify protocols to freeze cooled-shipped semen. In Experiment 1, cooled-transported semen was centrifuged at room temperature or 5 °C before freezing. Sperm variables (motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, membrane fluidity) were evaluated before and after freezing. Centrifugation temperature had no effect on post-thaw semen quality. In Experiment 2, cooled-transported semen was centrifuged at room temperature and cryopreserved in three semen freezing extenders. With use of the improved modified French formula, there was less post-thaw total and progressive motility compared with use of Botucrio or the improved lactose-EDTA formula (P
Too Small to Fail: Information Sharing Behavior in a US Municipal Election

Proximal communities in democratic societies comprise citizens, organizations, and governmental agencies, working together to identify and evaluate problems and opportunities in the public interest, build consensus around alternative approaches and solutions, and implement agreed upon policies. Communication and information sharing is critical to performing this collective work that involves not only face-to-face communication, but diverse media and technology whether offline (i.e., broadcast and print media) or online. We used topic modeling, social graphing and sentiment analysis to analyze information sharing behavior among individuals and organizations related to a geographic community and environs during municipal and state assembly elections in 2015. We investigate tweets, and Facebook posts and comments related to these elections as evidence for information sharing at the local level and/or of content relevant to the local community. Our findings suggest that the abundance of elections-relevant topics indicates that Twitter and FB were actively used for information sharing. The greater trust in local as opposed to non-local content and sources established in prior studies is consistent with our community level data in which sentiment expressed in our data is predominantly neutral. We argue that the greater trust in local as opposed to national sources of news, and in social media based on local social networks makes community-level groups and information sharing self-correcting and resilient, and thus, too small to fail.
Sex as a Biological Variable in Preclinical Modeling of Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury

Approaches to furthering our understanding of the bioeffects, behavioral changes, and treatment options following exposure to blast are a worldwide priority. Of particular need is a more concerted effort to employ animal models to determine possible sex differences, which have been reported in the clinical literature. In this review, clinical and preclinical reports concerning blast injury effects are summarized in relation to sex as a biological variable (SABV). The review outlines approaches that explore the pertinent role of sex chromosomes and gonadal steroids for delineating sex as a biological independent variable. Next, underlying biological factors that need exploration for blast effects in light of SABV are outlined, including pituitary, autonomic, vascular, and inflammation factors that all have evidence as having important SABV relevance. A major second consideration for the study of SABV and preclinical blast effects is the notable lack of consistent model design-a wide range of devices have been employed with questionable relevance to real-life scenarios-as well as poor standardization for reporting of blast parameters. Hence, the review also provides current views regarding optimal design of shock tubes for approaching the problem of primary blast effects and sex differences and outlines a plan for the regularization of reporting. Standardization and clear description of blast parameters will provide greater comparability across models, as well as unify consensus for important sex difference bioeffects.
Who they have become: Peruvian migrants and memories of home, motherhood and violence

Through the personal narratives of four women who migrated from different cities in Peru to Buenos Aires, Argentina in the mid-nineties and early 2000s, this article explores the long-term impacts ...
Introduction and Fundamentals

Some may think that a lecture on “fundamentals” is perhaps inconsistent with the title of this course which deals with “advances” in the areas of radiation protection and dosimetry in medicine. The Oxford English Dictionary2 defines fundamental as “Pertaining to the foundations or groundwork, going to the root of the matter.” The English language is so abused these days that it may be a shock to some to learn that an equivalent to “fundamental” is “radical.” Dante Gabriel Rossetti was able to very clearly perceive that “fundamentals” were, in fact, the basis for all fine creativity—if I may be allowed the presumption that he would have agreed that the distinction between artistic and scientific creativity is a fine one, if indeed it exists at all. This course will discuss advances in the fundamental sciences which underlie that applied science which is variously called health physics, radiological protection, or radiation protection.
Epidemiological evaluation of coccidiosis in a cow-calf herd

The epidemiology of Eimeria infection in cattle is discussed, and is illustrated by a case report of infection in a cow-calf herd.
Fabrication of TiB_2-TiC Multiphase Ceramics via High Energy Ball Milling and Subsequent Pressureless Sintering

Dense TiB2-TiC multiphase ceramics were prepared by pressureless sintering technique,starting as the powder mixtures obtained by high energy ball milling. The results show that the mechanical alloying was beneficial not only for the control of the microstructures and phase component of the TiB2-TiC composites,but also for the formation of coherent interface between TiB2 and TiC. The TiB2-TiC composites sintered using the 48 h milled powder at 1800℃ for 2 h have the optimum values of mechanical properties,such as densities greater than 98% of the theoretical value,higher bending strength(487 MPa),higher hardness(94.7,HRA),and fracture toughness(5.83 MPa·m1/2).
Western diet induces Paneth cell defects through microbiome alterations and farnesoid X receptor and type I interferon activation.

Summary Intestinal Paneth cells modulate innate immunity and infection. In Crohn’s disease, genetic mutations together with environmental triggers can disable Paneth cell function. Here, we find that a western diet (WD) similarly leads to Paneth cell dysfunction through mechanisms dependent on the microbiome and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and type I interferon (IFN) signaling. Analysis of multiple human cohorts suggests that obesity is associated with Paneth cell dysfunction. In mouse models, consumption of a WD for as little as 4 weeks led to Paneth cell dysfunction. WD consumption in conjunction with Clostridium spp. increased the secondary bile acid deoxycholic acid levels in the ileum, which in turn inhibited Paneth cell function. The process required excess signaling of both FXR and IFN within intestinal epithelial cells. Our findings provide a mechanistic link between poor diet and inhibition of gut innate immunity and uncover an effect of FXR activation in gut inflammation.
Under Attack! CEO Implicit Motives and Firm Competitive Responses Following Short Seller Activism

We investigate how CEOs’ implicit motives can shape firms’ competitive intensity in response to external threats. We examine this phenomenon in the context of short seller activism, which occurs wh...
Experiments with Small UAS to Support SAR Tomographic Mission Formulation

The advent of smaller SAR satellites and cheaper access to space is bringing the notion of a multistatic SAR constellation into the realm of feasibility. Researchers at JPL are studying a Distributed Aperture Radar Tomographic Sensors (DARTS) mission concept intended to measure Earth's surface topography and vegetation using TomoSAR techniques. This paper describes progress on the airborne testbed for the DARTS study. The testbed is the union of a software-defined radio that implements a radar and synchronization link together with a small uninhabited aerial system (sUAS) that serves as a platform with precise control of the observation geometry. Initial experiments have demonstrated successful multi-sensor synchronization as well as acquisition and processing of monostatic SAR imagery.
Estimation of Genetic Parameters in Non-Linear Models

Various ways of linearizing a non-linear model are described. These procedures allow the estimation of variance components in non-linear models because standard techniques designed for linear models can be adapted. Details are given on how to estimate a sire variance in a paternal half-sib analysis. Results from applying the methods to an actual data set suggest that estimated variances may be insensitive to the way linearization is implemented.
Luria, Alexander Romanovich

Alexander Romanovich Luria was born on July 16, 1902 in Kazan, Russia. He is best known as a neuropsychologist (credited with founding the field of neuropsychology) and a pioneer of cultural-historical psychology. Luria entered the Kazan State University in 1917 and graduated four years later with a degree in the humanities. During his college years he was interested in sociology and psychology, and had a particular interest in the work of Sigmund Freud. While a student, he established the Kazan Psychoanalytic Association. Keywords: cultural psychology; neuropsychology; Vygotsky, Leo
A model for the production of sulfur floc and “snowblower” events at mid-ocean ridges

At mid-ocean ridges following magmatic eruptions, biogenic floc emerges from the seafloor and blankets regions of the seafloor in what have been called “snowblower” events. The floc often consists of filaments of elemental sulfur, and similar byproducts have been produced by hydrogen sulfide oxidizing bacteria in the laboratory. In this paper we estimate the rate of sulfur floc production in two ways. First, we compare the flux of H2S from high temperature vents and adjacent diffuse flow near 9°50′N on the East Pacific Rise to estimate the rate at which subsurface microbes use H2S to produce elemental sulfur in the shallow crust since the 1991 eruption. Second, we use the data from laboratory experiments to provide an upper estimate of sulfur floc production during a volcanic eruption. The results suggest that that the floc observed during “snowblower” events is most likely a combination of a bloom event and floc that has been stored in the crust between eruption cycles. The calculations also suggest that a ∼1% reduction in crustal porosity would result from the microbial production and storage of sulfur floc during the 1991 to 2000 time interval.
The Uses of Binary Thinking.

There is an ancient tradition of binary or dichotomous thinking?of framing issues in terms of opposites such as sun/moon, reason/passion. G.E.R. Lloyd speaks of "the remarkable prevalence of theories based on opposition in so many societies at different stages of technological development" (80).1 This binary tradition is still strong and forms a kind of foundation for the many varieties of structuralism. But in recent years, especially with the deconstructive reaction against structuralism, we have seen strong criticism of this tradition of seeing things in terms of opposites. H616ne Cixous is one of many voices arguing that wherever there are polar oppositions, there is dominance?some classic terms are day/night, sun/moon, reason/ passion?and, of course, lurking behind all these pairs is usually gender: male/female. According to this critique, binary thinking almost always builds in dominance or privilege?sometimes overtly and sometimes covertly.2 Even when people try to overturn or reverse the traditional dominance in a polar opposition?proclaiming for example that dark is better than light, passion than reason, female than male?it just means that the underdog is defined as overdog, and we are still left with thinking in terms of dominance or hierarchy. One side is privileged. Furthermore (so goes this critique), even when we avoid giving victory to one side and instead work out a compromise or else a Hegelian synthesis into a new, third term, we still see the same problem. When the Hegelian bulldozer pushes toward "higher" order or unity?even if the compromise is really "fair" and the synthesis doesn't favor either the thesis or antithesis?difference and diversity are eliminated. Jonathan Culler sums up this point of view in his appreciation of de Man: "Deconstruction seeks to undo all oppositions that, in the name of unity, purity, order, and hierarchy, try to eliminate difference" ("Paul" 278). Even though Culler and de Man are complaining about oppositions and I am defending oppositions, I want to take this quotation as a kind of foundation for my essay, for I am defending only one kind or mode of dichotomous thinking. I think I can show that oppositional thinking, if handled in the right way, will serve as a way to avoid the very problems Culler and de Man are troubled by: "purity, order, and hierarchy." That is, binary thinking can serve to encourage difference?indeed, encourage non-domi nance, non-transcendence, instability, disorder.
The Development of Congestive Cardiac Failure in a Patient with Hairy Cell Leukemia Treated with 2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine

Deoxyadenosines are closely related to adenosine and as such, may interfere with the cardiac adenylate cyclase pathway resulting in cardiac dysfunction. We report a rare case of a 42 year old man who developed transient cardiac failure following treatment with 2-CDA for hairy cell leukemia.
Objectivity and Information Bias in Campaign News

This article examines whether objective campaign news stories—defined here as those with equitable tone toward 2 competing candidates—are less informative than slanted stories favoring one candidate over the other. Using a large news content dataset composed of campaign news stories from statewide elections in 2004, 2006, and 2008, we measure news story quality 6 different ways. It is modeled as a function of differences in story tone toward opposing candidates and a host of other news outlet and electoral characteristics known to influence the nature and type of information in campaign news. We find that slant is positively related to the likelihood that news articles focus on substance, issues, and include sourced content
Micromechanical Model for Randomly Packed Granules

During deformation of a granular material, both forces and moments are transmitted in the medium through the inter-particle contacts, caused by the relative movements of particles. Treating the material as a medium of Cosserat type, this paper describes the framework of a general constitutive model that takes into account the load carrying mechanisms at inter-particle contacts. The moduli are derived as an explicit function of the properties of inter-particle contacts. Characterizing the heterogeneous strain field by a distribution function, mechanical behavior of the random granular medium can be more realistically modelled.