cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Welfare Problems in Cattle, Pigs, and Sheep that Persist Even Though Scientific Research Clearly Shows How to Prevent Them

Poor production and handling practices continue to persist that are both detrimental to animal welfare and financially burdensome. These practices continue to persist for three reasons: (1) a segmented marketing chain where a producer is not held financially accountable for losses; (2) failure to measure and assess chronic painful problems such as lame livestock; and (3) repeating old mistakes, such as housing fattening cattle for long periods of time on bare concrete. Two examples of the first type of losses are bruises caused by poor handling and sick cattle at feedlots caused by failure to vaccinate and precondition weaned calves at the farm of origin. In some segmented marketing systems, there is no economic incentive to vaccinate. When the animals get sick, the responsibility gets passed to the next person. Buyers of meat products can reduce these “passed on” losses by source verification. The first step to reducing problems, such as lame livestock, is to measure the percentage of lame animals and work with the producers to reduce them. Also, transportation payments should be changed and contracts should be based on the condition of the animals at delivery.
New thiophene-based C60 fullerene derivatives as efficient electron transporting materials for perovskite solar cells

The synthesis of new C60 fullerene derivatives functionalized with thiophene moieties as well as with electron donating or electron withdrawing groups, bromine (Br) or cyano (CN), respectively, using Bingel reactions is reported. The synthesized derivatives were used as the electron transporting materials (ETMs) in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Compared to devices fabricated with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM), the new derivatives showed similar electrochemical properties and electron mobilities. However, PSCs based on the new derivatives synthesized in this work exhibited higher power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) than PC61BM based devices, which were ascribed to their better passivation ability, likely due to specific interactions between the fullerene addend and the perovskite layer surface. Devices based on the fullerene bearing the CN group exhibited an additionally improved efficiency due to the increased dielectric constant (er) of this derivative. These results show that the new functionalized fullerene derivatives can act as efficient ETMs in inverted PSCs.
Self-Organized Pluripotent Stem Cell Patterning by Automated Design

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) demonstrate the instrinsic ability to self-organize into complex multicellular organoids that recapitulate many aspects of tissue development. However, robustly directing the morphogenesis of hPSC-derived organoids requires novel approaches to accurately control self-directed pattern formation. Here, we combined genetic engineering with computational modeling, machine learning, and mathematical pattern optimization to create a data-driven approach to control hPSC self-organization. The computational model predicted specific experimental parameters that yielded novel pattern formations in vitro which were quantitatively similar to in silico results. Furthermore, differentiation of prepatterned hPSC colonies resulted in divergent cell fate commitment upon morphogen exposure, indicating that directed multicellular organization can spatially impact subsequent cell lineages. These results demonstrate that morphogenic dynamics can be accurately predicted through model-driven exploration of hPSC behaviors via machine learning, thereby enabling spatial control of multicellular patterning as a critical first step towards engineering human organoids and tissues.
On Environmental, Climate Change & National Security Law

This Article offers a new way to think about climate change. Two new climate change assessments—the 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment (“NCA”) and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Climate Change— prominently highlight climate change’s multifaceted national security risks. Indeed, not only is climate change an environmental problem, it also accelerates existing national security threats, acting as both a “threat accelerant” and “catalyst for conflict.” Further, climate change increases the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events while threatening nations’ territorial integrity and sovereignty through rising sea levels. It causes both internal displacement within nations and climate change refugees across national borders. Addressing this new cli- mate–security nexus brings together two historically distinct areas of law: environmental law and national security law. As we properly conceptualize climate change as a security threat, environmental law and national security law, once considered separate and often in conflict, engage with each other in new and complex ways. The first body of law, environmental and climate change law, largely values the protection and preservation of the human environment via a cooperative federalism model of environmental laws and policies. The second body of law, national security law, largely suspends environmental protections ex ante via myriad national security exemptions within existing environmental statutes. But in the climate–security context, what was once in conflict is increasingly aligned as we look to preserve our common future from all threats, properly defined. If climate change is, indeed, correctly conceptualized as a security issue, how do these two bodies of law interact? Should a future President be afforded national security deference in addressing the threats posed by climate change? Is climate change potentially a national emergency? And if so, what actions can (or should) be taken? This Article first describes and analyzes climate change as a national security issue, providing an overview of our understanding of climate change, climate science, and climate change’s multifaceted security effects. Second, I analyze where environmental, climate change, and national security law increasingly intersect to include a discussion of relevant U.S. law. Finally, I use one specific example—whether climate change is a national emergency—as a vehicle to highlight how these two areas of law interact in new and surprising ways.
Broken promise of college? New educational sorting mechanisms for intergenerational association in the 21st century

Previous studies have shown that intergenerational socioeconomic association becomes weaker as children's education level increases and is negligible among college graduates. A college degree is known as the great equalizer for intergenerational socioeconomic mobility. Recent studies, however, reported that the strong intergenerational association reemerges among advanced degree holders although it stays weak among BA-only holders. Despite the substantial theoretical importance and policy implications, the mechanisms behind the reemergence of the intergenerational association at the post-baccalaureate level have been less studied. In this paper, we examine the association between parents' education and children's earnings using the 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2017 National Survey of College Graduates data. Our results show that the strong intergenerational socioeconomic immobility among advanced degree holders is fully attributable to three educational sorting mechanisms: children from high-SES families (1) obtain expensive and financially rewarding advanced degrees, (2) attend selective institutions and major in hyper-lucrative fields of study such as law and medicine in graduate school, and (3) complete their education at a younger age and enjoy income growth over more years in the labor market. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Recollections of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross at the University of Chicago (1965–70)

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross graduated from the University of Zurich Medical School, did her residency training at several hospitals in New York City, and then did fellowship training in psychiatry at...
An Evaluation of ULTRA; an Experimental Real Analysis Course Built on a Transformative Theoretical Model

Most prospective secondary mathematics teachers in the United States complete a course in real analysis, yet view the content as unrelated to their future teaching. We leveraged a theoretically-motivated instructional model to design modules for a real analysis course that could inform secondary teachers’ actionable content knowledge and pedagogy. The theoretical model and designed curriculum launches the study of advanced mathematics content, in this case, real analysis, via authentic 7–12 classroom situations, abstracts the secondary mathematics, and uses that content to motivate the presentation of the advanced mathematics content. Subsequently, the curriculum then reconnects to practice, asking the teachers to translate ideas from real analysis in ways that are appropriate for teaching high school content to students. This study evaluated the success of the curriculum in terms of the students’ proficiency with real analysis, challenging secondary mathematics content, and the use of that content in teaching situations via both written post-tests and interviews and showed the viability of the model and experimental curriculum.
Energy-Efficient Convolutional Neural Network Based on Cellular Neural Network Using Beyond-CMOS Technologies

In this article, we perform a uniform benchmarking for the convolutional neural network (CoNN) based on the cellular neural network (CeNN) using a variety of beyond-CMOS technologies. Representative charge-based and spintronic device technologies are implemented to enable energy-efficient CeNN related computations. To alleviate the delay and energy overheads of the fully connected layer, a hybrid spintronic CeNN-based CoNN system is proposed. It is shown that low-power FETs and spintronic devices are promising candidates to implement energy-efficient CoNNs based on CeNNs. Specifically, more than $10\times $ improvement in energy-delay product (EDP) is demonstrated for the systems using spin diffusion-based devices and tunneling FETs compared to their conventional CMOS counterparts.
Electrochemical loading to produce the Fleischmann-Pons heat effect (FPHE)

Abstract Considerable care must be taken to control a large number of variables in order to load palladium with deuterium into a regime, where cathodes can be caused or observed to generate thermal power or heat in excess of the sum of known power inputs or energy sources (excess heat). The condition of maximum loading obtained in the history of a cathode correlates closely with the propensity for excess heat production. The relationship between excess energy production (the integral of excess heating rate or excess power) and loading exhibits a somewhat Gaussian form, perhaps suggesting that the environment in which excess heat is produced requires the coexistent presence of two phases of PdD. If this conjecture is proven true, then the phenomenon of excess heat might be sought in a range of prepared or preprepared D/Pd stoichiometries, rather than above a threshold value. Whether threshold or window the central practical initiating concern is to enter the region of composition in which the phenomenon of excess heat might be observed. Analysis of a single set of 12 rather similar experiments employing Pd cathodes in LiOD (one LiOH) reveals that two parameters are paramount: the condition of the bulk metal (palladium); the electrochemical condition of the interface: Pd/electrolyte, additives, current density. Because of the very high permeability of D in Pd, in order to obtain the desired loading behavior the surface must be everywhere in the desired electrochemical condition and the bulk metal must be homogeneously sound. We speculate that only cathodes which are homogeneously sound in both surface and bulk dimensions are capable of sustaining high loading at high current densities thought to be necessary to initiate excess heat production.
Surgical Tips for Inferior Vena Cava Thrombectomy

The aim of this review is to describe the preoperative evaluation, surgical techniques, and postoperative management of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing radical nephrectomy (RN) and inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy. RN and IVC thrombectomy remains the standard management option in non-metastatic RCC patients with IVC thrombus. A comprehensive preoperative workup, including high-quality imaging, blood works, and appropriate consultations are required for all patients. The aim of the surgery is complete resection of all tumor burden, which requires a skillful surgical team for such a challenging procedure and is inherently associated with a high rate of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Preoperative CT or MRI is essential for surgical planning. The surgical approach is mainly determined by the level of the tumor thrombus. The open approach has been the standard, though minimally invasive and robotic techniques are emerging in selected cases by experienced surgeons.
Modelling flow and transport in variably saturated porous media: Applications from percolation theory and effective-medium approximation

Abstract The accurate characterization of flow and transport in variably saturated porous media has been the subject of active research over the past several decades. Experimental observations, numerical simulations, and theoretical models have been developed to better understand the mechanisms contributing to transport properties with broad applications in subsurface hydrology, soil physics, oil recovery, gas exploration, carbon dioxide sequestration, etc. In this chapter, we review recent theoretical models from percolation theory and the effective-medium approximation. More specifically, we invoke universal and nonuniversal scaling concepts from these two theories to model the porosity and saturation dependence of transport modes such as diffusion, electrical conductivity, and permeability in synthetics and natural porous materials.
Laboratory Perspective on Racial Disparities in Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Background Rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) have risen steadily in recent years, and racial and ethnic minorities have borne the disproportionate burden of STI increases in the United States. Historical inequities and social determinants of health are significant contributors to observed disparities and affect access to diagnostic testing for STI. Content Public health systems rely heavily on laboratory medicine professionals for diagnosis and reporting of STI. Therefore, it is imperative that clinicians and laboratory professionals be familiar with issues underlying disparities in STI incidence and barriers to reliable diagnostic testing. In this mini-review, we will summarize contributors to racial/ethnic disparity in STI, highlight current epidemiologic trends for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, discuss policy issues that affect laboratory and public health funding, and identify specific analytic challenges for diagnostic laboratories. Summary Racial and ethnic disparities in STI in the US are striking and are due to complex interactions of myriad social determinants of health. Budgetary cuts for laboratory and public health services and competition for resources during the COVID-19 pandemic are major challenges. Laboratory professionals must be aware of these underlying issues and work to maximize efforts to ensure equitable access to diagnostic STI testing for all persons, particularly those most disproportionately burdened by STI.
Align Your Strategic Plan

Unit strategic plans, which often include goals that require new philanthropic support, can benefit greatly from incorporating a development perspective early in the planning process. By soliciting meaningful input and involvement of development, academic leaders can incorporate insights of key external stakeholders and make sure the plan is grounded in the realities of the fundraising program. Ultimately, this will aid in the plan’s success by helping to secure the necessary philanthropic resources. This chapter includes information on how and why to bring development personnel into the planning committee and a tool for assuring clear understandings of the match between unit strategic priorities and major donor fundraising.
Current State and Future of Infection Prevention in Endoscopy

Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy units tend to be busy environments in which numerous categories of staff provide moderately complex procedural care to high volumes of patients. The prevention of infections of both patients and staff is a never-ending endeavor for both inpatient and outpatient environments. Necessary considerations must address patient-to-staff, staff-to-patient, environmental, and device-related transmission of infection. In addition to the typical environmental and interpersonal infection risks present in all medical environments, the major concern within the endoscopy suite relates to contamination and potential transmission via reusable devices and endoscopes. Our understanding of this ever-present issue has evolved over time and has become a major focus of scrutiny in the past 5 years. This significant problem has stimulated guidance and ingenuity by regulators, investigators, and industry. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 to 21 has also added significant burdens to our infection control efforts in gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Ziegler and Nichols Meet Kermack and McKendrick: Parsimony in Dynamic Models for Epidemiology

Abstract The COVID-19 crisis popularized the importance of mathematical modeling for managing epidemics. A celebrated pertinent model was developed by Kermack and McKendrick about a century ago. A simplified version of that model has long been used and became widely popular recently, even though it has limitations that its originators had clearly articulated and warned against. A basic limitation is that it unrealistically assumes zero time to recovery for most infected individuals, thus underpredicting the peak of infectious individuals in an epidemic by a factor of as much as about 2. One could avoid this limitation by returning to the original comprehensive model, at the cost of higher complexity. To remedy that, we blend Ziegler-Nichols modeling ideas, developed for automatic controller tuning, with Kermack-McKendrick ideas to develop novel model structures that predict infectious peaks accurately yet retain simplicity. We illustrate these model structures with computer simulations on real epidemiological data.
Incidence and Predictors of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT) in Pregnancy: National Inpatient Sample Study 2012–2015 (5515)

Objective: This study investigates incidence and predictors of increased risk of CVT among hospitalized pregnant patients in United States. Background: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in pregnancy is often reported in the last trimester or shortly after delivery however, the incidence among pregnant women is not really known. In addition, information about predictors of increase risk of CVT among hospitalized pregnant patients is scarce. Design/Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2012–2015, of US adult hospitalizations with pregnancy. Overall incidence of CVT was calculated using NIS weighting. We identified our CVT patient subset from using codes (ICD-9-CM Diagnosis codes: 4376, 325 and 6715) from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition. Potential factors associated with increased risk of CVT in pregnancy were assessed using logistic regression. Results: Of 11,672,729 pregnant hospitalized patients, 1045 (0.01%) developed CVT during the index hospitalization. Important predictors of increased risk of CVT in pregnancy are: Age above 30 years (OR: 1.52, CI: 1.16–2.02, p Conclusions: Older age, coagulopathy and obesity are important predictors of increased risk of CVT in pregnant women. Availability of aggressive treatment has not modified significantly mortality which requires further study. Disclosure: Dr. Nguyen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chaudhry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chaudhry has nothing to disclose. Dr. Haque has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yao has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bandaru has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wongmek has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moreno has nothing to disclose. Dr. Piriyawat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cruz-Flores has nothing to disclose.
Neighborhood dependent approximation by nonlinear embedding for face recognition

Variations in pose, illumination and expression in faces make face recognition a difficult problem. Several researchers have shown that faces of the same individual, despite all these variations, lie on a complex manifold in a higher dimensional space. Several methods have been proposed to exploit this fact to build better recognition systems, but have not succeeded to a satisfactory extent. We propose a new method to model this higher dimensional manifold with available data, and use a reconstruction technique to approximate unavailable data points. The proposed method is tested on Sheffield (previously UMIST) database, Extended Yale Face database B and AT&T (previously ORL) database of faces. Our method outperforms other manifold based methods such as Nearest Manifold and other methods such as PCA, LDA Modular PCA, Generalized 2D PCA and super-resolution method for face recognition using nonlinear mappings on coherent features.
Interdependent self-construal moderates coping with (but not the initial pain of) ostracism

Ostracism – being excluded and ignored – can cause psychological distress. There has been little research examining how a person's concept of self might influence the effects of ostracism. In the current study, we sought to examine the effect of self-construal on the distress created by ostracism. Specifically, we assessed the potential moderating effects of self-construal on both the initial distress of ostracism and the coping process. Participants, recruited in China, completed a self-construal measure and were either included or ostracized in an online ball-tossing game. They then reported need-satisfaction both immediately following the game and after a filler task. Interdependent self-construal facilitated participants' recovery from some of the negative effects of ostracism, but did not have an impact on the initial pain.
Abstract 19005: Staying Connected: a CVD Risk Intervention for Young Black Women

Fifty thousand Black women, disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD), die annually; 49% of Black women ≥ 20 years have CVD. Implementing proactive risk reduction is essential. The purpose of this community - based pilot was to test the feasibility of a program combining self-care education with wireless individualized feedback via a unique smartphone designed to appeal specifically to young Black women (YBW). Methods: Using church-based recruitment, 49 YBW (aged 25-45 years, 60% single) were randomized to treatment (TX) and control groups by church site. The TX group participated in 4 interactive self-care classes on CVD risk reduction. Each participant set individualized goals. Risk factor profiles (waist circumference (WC), BP, lipid panel by Cholestech [Alere]), medical and reproductive history and a battery of psychosocial instruments were assessed prior to classes and 6 months later. Participants were given smartphones with embedded accelerometers and WANDA-CVD, an application that...
Integrating morphogenesis with underlying mechanics and cell biology.

Morphogenesis integrates a wide range of cellular processes into a self-organizing, self-deforming tissue. No single molecular “magic bullet” controls morphogenesis. Wide ranging cellular processes, often without parallels in conventional cell culture systems, work together to generate the architecture and modulate forces that produce and guide shape changes in the embryo. In this review we summarize the early development of the frog Xenopus laevis from a biomechanical perspective. We describe processes operating in the embryo from whole embryo scale, the tissue-scale, to the cellular and extracellular matrix scale. We focus on describing cells, their behaviors and the unique microenvironments they traverse during gastrulation and discuss the role of tissue mechanics in these processes.
Effect of serotonin depletion on vibrissa-related patterns of thalamic afferents in the rat's somatosensory cortex

To investigate the role of 5-HT in the development of the somatosensory cortex, this amine was depleted in newborn (P-0) rats with a single subcutaneous injection of the toxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) and thalamocortical organization was assayed by application of the carbocyanine dye Di-I to the thalamocortical radiations or ventrobasal thalamus, or by staining cortical sections for AChE or cytochrome oxidase (CO). High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of cortices from animals killed on P-6 or P > 60 demonstrated that 5,7-DHT treatment resulted in 85.04 +/- 12.6% and 72.5 +/- 1.5% reductions in cortical 5-HT, respectively. Alternate cortices from the brains of animals killed on P-6 processed for 5-HT immunoreactivity demonstrated a complete absence of the vibrissa-related pattern of immunoreactivity and only a small number of coarse immunoreactive axons. The 85% depletion of 5-HT did not alter the somatotopic organization of thalamocortical afferents in animals killed on P-6 or P > 60, but it did cause 30.5 +/- 7.3% and 19.1 +/- 3.7% reductions in the cross- sectional areas of the patches of thalamocortical afferents corresponding to the long mystacial vibrissae (p < 0.05). These reductions were not associated with significant reductions in either brain or cortical weight or with decreases in the dimensions of the thalamic representation of the vibrissa follicles. These results indicate that 5-HT plays a significant role in the development of the thalamic innervation of the primary somatosensory cortex.
Spearman Rank Correlation: Overview†

In a nonparametric (distribution-free) approach to the correlation between two sets of measurements made on the same individuals, each set may be ranked in order of magnitude. The standard (Pearson) product-moment correlation coefficient is calculated on the two sets of ranks. Simple formulae are available, and adjustments are made for tied ranks. Test and estimation procedures are described. The relationship with the Kendall rank correlation coefficient is discussed. Keywords: nonparametric; distribution-free; Pearson correlation coefficient; tied ranks; Kendall rank correlation; Fisher's z
Some Remarks on Science, Scientists, and the Remote Sensing of Particulates

It is flattering to be asked to deliver the opening review paper in this workshop. Despite my efforts I was unable to dissuade the organizing committee from putting me on the program. Besides being a bad speaker, I dislike irregular particles and prefer to deal with idealized homogeneous spheres, though they do not simulate exactly even the smallest water drops (remember surface tension?). Thus, I am afraid you are “stuck” with me and my tendency to digress into critical remarks in areas seemingly unrelated to our main subject. I will try to be brief in order to allow more time for the speakers who will follow me, and who will — I am sure — be more positive, stick more closely to the subject, and have something worthwhile to say.
Building a virtual library

The organization, functioning and the role of libraries in university communities continue to change dramatically. This volume addresses the issue by providing insight into the current changes and developments within the area of library science.
The Exuperantia Gene Is Required for Drosophila Spermatogenesis as Well as Anteroposterior Polarity of the Developing Oocyte, and Encodes Overlapping Sex-Specific Transcripts

The Drosophila gene exuperantia (exu) is a maternal effect gene which is needed for proper localization of the bcd RNA during the formation of oocytes. We have extended the characterization of the exu phenotype and find that the gene functions in the male as well as the female germline. Six of seven exu alleles are male-sterile; mutant defects in spermatogenesis first appear during meiosis. A genetic analysis presented here shows that the exu gene does not encode a zygotic vital function. The isolation of two overlapping deficiencies that delete exu function localizes the gene cytologically to polytene bands 57A4-B1. We describe the molecular cloning and identification of the gene, and show that it encodes overlapping sex-specific transcripts of 2.9 kb in the male and 2.1 kb in the female. We also show that these two transcripts are limited in expression to the germline. We demonstrate that one allele, exuVL57, is a deletion of about 700 bp which results in a loss of both transcripts.
Setting Up of a Cloud Cyber Infrastructure Using Xen Hypervisor

In this paper, we describe the procedure to set up a cyber infrastructure to provide a cloud service to various academic institutions using the Xen Hypervisor according to the Platform as a Service (PaaS) model. The users of this service should be able to access the servers located in the Computer Network Systems and Security (CNSS) Laboratory at Jackson State University remotely. They will use this access in the cloud to run virtual machines and utilize the powerful server hardware. These virtual machines can either be created from user provided images or operating system images that have been previously stored on the server. In order to allow users to use these virtual machines some type of virtual machine manager is needed. For this project, the Xen Hypervisor was chosen to fulfill this need. The hypervisor was installed on two servers located in the laboratory and allows users to remotely log in and create their desired machines.
Thanatometer. A scale for the measurement of awareness and acceptance of death

A thanatometer was constructed, which proved to be reliable and valid, for the measurement of attitudes pertaining to death amongst a sample of 100 respondents selected by chance in the USA. When the results obtained were analysed, it was detected that blacks were more inclined to accept death than whites. It was further detected that a strong direct relationship exists between familism and preparedness to accept death; that respondents residing in small settlements were more inclined to accept death than those residing in cities with a population larger than 4 999 inhabitants; and that it would appear that religiosity tends to reinforce one’s awareness and acceptance of death. Paper presented at the World Congress of the Conference Internationale de Sociologie des Religions, Louvain, Belgium, 22 August 1985.
SDF2L1, a Component of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone Complex, Differentially Interacts with α-, β-, and θ-Defensin Propeptides

Mammalian defensins are cationic antimicrobial peptides that play a central role in host innate immunity and as regulators of acquired immunity. In animals, three structural defensin subfamilies, designated as α, β, and θ, have been characterized, each possessing a distinctive tridisulfide motif. Mature α- and β-defensins are produced by simple proteolytic processing of their prepropeptide precursors. In contrast, the macrocyclic θ-defensins are formed by the head-to-tail splicing of nonapeptides excised from a pair of prepropeptide precursors. Thus, elucidation of the θ-defensin biosynthetic pathway provides an opportunity to identify novel factors involved in this unique process. We incorporated the θ-defensin precursor, proRTD1a, into a bait construct for a yeast two-hybrid screen that identified rhesus macaque stromal cell-derived factor 2-like protein 1 (SDF2L1), as an interactor. SDF2L1 is a component of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone complex, which we found to also interact with α- and β-defensins. However, analysis of the SDF2L1 domain requirements for binding of representative α-, β-, and θ-defensins revealed that α- and β-defensins bind SDF2L1 similarly, but differently from the interactions that mediate binding of SDF2L1 to pro-θ-defensins. Thus, SDF2L1 is a factor involved in processing and/or sorting of all three defensin subfamilies.
Flexural strengthening of concrete beams using externally bonded composite materials

In this study, a series of reinforced concrete beams were tested in four-point bending to determine the ability of externally bonded composite fabrics to improve the beams' flexural capacity. The fabrics used were made of aramid, E-glass and graphite fibres, and were bonded to the beams using a two-part epoxy. The different fabrics were chosen to allow a variety of fabric stiffnesses and strengths to be studied. The external composite fabric reinforcement led to a 36 to 57% increase in flexural capacity and a 45 to 53% increase in flexural stiffness. For the beams reinforced with E-glass and graphite fibre fabrics, failures were a result of fabric tensile failure in the maximum moment region. The beams reinforced with aramid fabric failed due to the crushing of the compression concrete. In addition to the test results, an analytical model based on the stress-strain relationships of the concrete, steel and composite fabrics is presented. Using the model, beam response is computed and compared with the experimental results. The comparisons indicate that the flexural behaviour of composite-fabric-reinforced concrete beams can be accurately predicted using the described method.
Public Health Approach to the Prevention of Gun Violence

Public health interventions have reduced motor vehicle fatalities by 80%. The authors argue for a public health approach to prevent gun violence, including designing and manufacturing safer guns.
Cost Analysis of Neonatal Circumcision in a Large Health Maintenance Organization

Purpose: We studied the costs of newborn circumcision in relation to its health benefits later in life.Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective database analysis using direct internal cost data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California—a large health maintenance organization—and published cost data (including the cost of medically indicated postneonatal circumcision). The study cohort consisted of 14,893 male infants born in 1996. One-way sensitivity analysis was used to demonstrate the impact of selected variables in the model. Monte Carlo analysis was used to determine the 95% confidence intervals.Results: Postneonatal circumcision was 10 times as expensive as neonatal circumcision ($1,921 per infant vs $165 per newborn), and was medically indicated for 9.6% of uncircumcised males. Cost benefits of circumcision resulted from prevention of infant urinary tract infection, balanoposthitis, phimosis, HIV infection and penile cancer. Assuming initial neonatal circumcision cost to be $200, the fut...
Material characterization and defect inspection in ultrasound images

The use of ultrasonic imaging to analyze defects and characterize materials is critical in the development of non-destructive testing and non-destructive evaluation (NDT/NDE) tools for manufacturing. To develop better quality control and reliability in the manufacturing environment advanced image processing techniques are useful. For example, through the use of texture filtering on ultrasound images, we have been able to filter characteristic textures from highly textured C-scan images of materials. The materials have highly regular characteristic textures which are of the same resolution and dynamic range as other important features within the image. By applying texture filters and adaptively modifying their filter response, we have examined a family of filters for removing these textures.
Satellite Splat: An Inelastic Collision with a Surface-launched Projectile

A projectile is launched vertically from the surface of an isolated planet. It collides with and sticks to a satellite of equal mass that is initially moving in a circular orbit around the planet. Conservation of mechanical energy, angular momentum, and linear momentum are used to determine whether the combined object will subsequently crash into the surface of the planet, remain in orbit, or escape. The material is appropriate for undergraduate students in an introductory mechanics course.
Molecular line emission models of Herbig-Haro objects. II - HCO(+) emission

We present time-dependent models of the chemistry and temperature of interstellar molecular gas clumps that are exposed to the radiation from propagating stellar-jet shocks. The X-ray, EUV, and FUV radiation from the shock initiates ion chemistry and also heats the gas in the clumps. Using representative parameters, we show that, on the shock transit time between the clumps, the abundances of the ionized molecular species that are produced in the clumps can exceed the values determined from steady state models by several orders of magnitude. Collisional excitation by the heated gas can lead to measurable line emission from several ionized species; as in previous investigations of X-ray-irradiated molecular gas, we find that electron impacts contribute significantly to this process. We apply these results to the interpretation of the HCO(+) line emission that has already been detected in several Herbig-Haro objects. We demonstrate that this picture provides a natural explanation of the fact that the line intensity typically peaks ahead of the associated shock, as well as of the reported low line-center velocities and narrow line widths. We tabulate several diagnostic line intensities of HCO(+) and other molecular species that may be used to infer the physical conditions in the emitting gas.
Contact hypersurfaces of Kaehler manifolds

Contact hypersurfaces of a Kaehler manifold have been characterized and classified, assuming the second fundamental form to be Codazzi (in particular, parallel). We have also discussed the special cases when the ambient space is a (i) Calabi-Yau manifold and (ii) a complex space-form.
Effect of meal viscosity on gastric pH and residual volume in the fasted dog

Abstract This study was designed to study the gastric handling of various volumes of viscous materials in dog. Based on earlier studies in which small (50 ml) or large (300 ml) volumes showed different patterns of gastric emptying, 50 or 300 ml test meals of varying viscosities were administered to fasted dogs during phase I of the motility pattern. High-viscosity grade hydroxypropylmethylcellulose was used as a viscosity inducing agent to obtain solutions with viscosities of up to 45 000 cps. Gastric residual volume was analyzed by monitoring the concentration and amount of a non-absorbable dye — phenol red in the stomach. As with meals of low viscosity, viscous fluids showed distinctly different patterns of discharge from the stomach for small and large volumes. However, for both volumes of the test meals, the rate of gastric emptying was slower compared with corresponding volumes of water (low viscosity). Small volumes of viscous meals showed longer lag periods between the ingestion of meals and the start of gastric emptying as compared with less viscous meals. 300 ml meals of viscous fluids exhibited a lag phase and linear discharge instead of the first-order discharge usually shown by comparable volumes of low viscosity. For the range of viscosities studied, there appears to be no effect of viscosity on gastric motility in the fasted state. The pH changes associated with gastric processing of viscous materials were not significantly different from those of water.
Long-distance contributions to the Λb→Λce−νe Isgur-Wise function

Abstract The six independent formfactors describing the weak decay Λ b →Λ c e − ν e are determined in terms of one universal function when both the b and c quarks are treated as heavy. The relations between these formfactors are modified by terms suppressed by inverse powers of the charm quark mass. We compute the formally leading long-distance corrections to these relations in chiral perturbation theory both at and away from zero recoil. They arise from the spin-symmetry breaking Σ c ∗ −Σ c mass splitting and are nonanalytic in the pion mass. The correction at the zero-recoil point is found to be −(3.4±2.0)×10−4g32 for a quark model estimate of m Σ c ∗ −m Σ c and where g3 ∼ 1 is an axial coupling constant. Further, the formfactors that vanish in the heavy quark limit do not receive such corrections.
Social Network and Dwelling Characteristics That Influence Ridesharing Behavior of Seniors

By several measures, older people travel less than younger people do. Riding in cars as passengers (ridesharing) is the second most common mode of transportation for those older than 65 (driving being first), and it is a prime coping strategy for mobility loss. Yet little is known about the factors that influence ridesharing. The decision by seniors to rideshare was considered in view of their social network characteristics and their living arrangements. Two hypotheses were evaluated: seniors with larger social networks will rideshare more frequently and those living in retirement communities will rideshare more frequently than those living in the community at large. With the use of survey data collected in California from retirement community- and community-dwelling seniors, a binary logit model was specified to test these hypotheses and find conditional support for both hypotheses. Social network size, on its own, does not strongly influence ridesharing. Yet respondents who participated more frequently ...
Radionuclide patterns of femoral head disease.

Abstract The pattern of uptake of bone marrow specific radio- 99m Tc sulfur colloid and the pattern of uptake of bone mineral specific radio- 99m Tc pryophosphate may be valuable in assessing bone vascularity in diseases suspected of causing impaired blood supply, or indicate the presence of reactive bone formation. The low energy of the technetium label has been shown to be superior to 18 F and 85 Sr, and leads to greater imaging detail on the scans. Femoral head scanning with mineral and/or marrow specific radionuclides offers the clinician a method of evaluating the status of the femoral head and possibly an early diagnosis of avascular necrosis before roentgenographic changes occur. This study, which reports on a 5-year experience using radionuclide scanning to assess femoral head vascularity, begins with baseline or normal studies followed by variations of the normal pattern. Typical scan patterns of hip pathology described above are also presented.
The Logics of Information Goods:Analog and Digital Standards of Discourse about Property Rights

Digital information goods are different than physical (analog) goods, and in recent years there has been significant debate about property rights for information goods. In this paper we explore some of the arguments around strengthening property rights for digital information goods, as well as contradictory arguments in favor of expanding the public domain for digital information goods. Specifically, we conduct a Toulminian analysis of arguments made at a cross-disciplinary symposium at Duke Law School on the subject of the public domain. We find that there are two broad “logics” associated with arguments around digital information goods: what we describe as analog logics and digital logics. Further, we identify five categories across which these logics are contradictory: profit, efficiency, innovation, ethics, and temporality. We detail out these arguments and find that excludability, as a property of digital information goods, is particularly relevant to this analysis. We conclude with a provocation on ...
The cumulative nature of pyruvate's dual mechanism for myocardial protection.

Pyruvate (PYR) supplementation protects myocardium from ischemia reperfusion injury. This study was designed to characterize and quantify the mechanism underlying this protection : specifically whether this ability resides in PYR's metabolic effect or in its antioxidant effect. Isolated perfused rat hearts (n = 6/group) were subjected to 15 min of equilibration (EQ), 25 min of ischemia, and 10 min of reperfusion (RP). Glucose was the sole metabolic substrate (Control) or was supplemented with PYR (5 mM) during (a) EQ only (PYR EQ group), (b) RP only (PYR RP group), or (c) EQ and RP (PYR EQ-RP group). Left ventricular developed pressure (DP) and ±dP/dt were recorded throughout the experiment. ATP concentrations and intracellular pH were determined by 31 P NMR spectroscopy. Myocardial creatine kinase (CK) activity was assayed at end EQ and end RP. In vitro, purified CK was assayed and, after exposure to H 2 O 2 (200 μM) and increasing concentrations of PYR (0-6 mM) for 10 min, reassayed to determine the antioxidant effect of PYR. In all cases PYR improved recovery of mechanical function at end RP (DP : Control, 11 ± 1% ; PYR RP , 23±6% ; PYR EQ , 34 ±8% ; PYR EQR P < 0.05 between all groups and Control). Ischemic contracture was delayed in hearts that received PYR during EQ (PYR EQ and PYR EQ&Rp : 17.8 ± 0.2 vs 12.5 ± 0.3 min, P < 0.001). PYR during EQ (PYR EQ and PYR EQ&RP ) led to higher end ischemic ATP levels (32 ± 4% vs 14 ± 3%, P < 0.001) and a more acidic end ischemic pH (5.92 ± 0.02 vs 5.98 ± 0.03 in Control and PYR RP , P < 0.05). PYR EQ&RP showed the highest end reperfusion ATP levels (55 ± 7% vs 38 ± 4%, P < 0.05 vs other groups). PYR during reperfusion (PYR EQ&RP and PYR Rp ) showed more end reperfusion CK activity (501 ± 9 IU/gV vs 446 ± 13 IU/gV, P < 0.001). In vitro, CK exposure to H 2 O 2 abolished 65 ± 6% of its activity, while in the presence of PYR 6 mM it abolished only 9 ± 2% (P < 0.001). We conclude that PYR given during EQ stimulates anaerobic glycolysis during ischemia as seen by the lower pH and higher end ischemic ATP with a correlative delay in onset of contracture and improvement in DP at end RP. PYR during RP protects CK from hydrogen peroxide-induced inactivation and improves recovery of function. PYR given during EQ and RP has a cumulative effect leading to an even greater recovery of function. PYR must be present both prior to ischemia and during reperfusion for best utilization of its metabolic and antioxidant effects.
Fast 3D functional magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T with spiral acquisition

A new method to perform rapid 3D fMRI in human brain is introduced and evaluated in normal subjects, on a standard clinical scanner at 1.5 Tesla. The method combines a highly stable gradient echo technique with a spiral scan method, to detect brain activation related changes in blood oxygenation with high sensitivity. A motor activation paradigm with a duration of less than 5 min, performed on 10 subjects, consistently showed significant changes in signal intensity in the area of the motor cortex. In all subjects, these changes survived high statistical thresholds.
Linear System Input-Order Reduction by Hankel Norm Maximization

17Khargonekar, P. P., Petersen, I. R., and Zhou, K., “Robust Stabilization of Uncertain Linear Systems: Quadratic Stability and H∞ Control Theory,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. 35, No. 3, 1990, pp. 356–361. 18Xie, L., and de Seuza, C. E., “Robust H∞ Control for Linear System with Norm-Bounded Time-Varying Uncertainty,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. AC-37, No. 6, 1992, pp. 1188–1191. 19Xie, L., Fu, M., and de Souza, C. E., “H∞ Control and Quadratic Stabilization of Systems with Parameter Uncertainty via Output Feedback,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. AC-37, No. 8, 1992, pp. 1253–1256. 20Gahinet, P., and Apkarian, P., “A Linear Matrix Inequality Approach to H∞ Control,” International Journal of Robust and Non-Linear Control, Vol. 4, 1994, pp. 421–448. 21El Ghaoui, L., Oustry, F., and AitRami, M., “A Cone Complementarity Linearization Algorithm for Static Output-Feedback and Related Problems,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. 42, No. 8, 1997, pp. 1171–1176. 22Iwasaki, T., and Skelton, R. E., “The XY-Centering Algorithm for the Dual LMI Problem: A New Approach to Fixed-Order Control Design,” International Journal of Control, Vol. 62, No. 6, 1995, pp. 1257–1272. 23Sato, M., “Flight Control Design Using the Quadratic Stabilization Control Combined with Eigenstructure Assignment,” Journal of the Japan Society of Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Vol. 43, No. 502, 1995, pp. 41–49 (in Japanese).