cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vasoconstriction in exercising skeletal muscles: a potential role for neuropeptide Y?

There is evidence that neuropeptide Y (NPY) acts as a neurotransmitter in vascular smooth muscle and is released with norepinephrine from sympathetic nerves. We hypothesized that NPY Y(1) receptor stimulation would produce vasoconstriction in resting and exercising skeletal muscle. Nine mongrel dogs were instrumented chronically with flow probes on the external iliac arteries of both hindlimbs and a catheter in one femoral artery. The selective NPY Y(1) receptor agonist [Leu(31),Pro(34)]NPY was infused as a bolus into the femoral artery catheter at rest and during mild, moderate, and heavy exercise. Intra-arterial infusions of [Leu(31),Pro(34)]NPY elicited reductions (P 0.05) blood flow in the contralateral iliac artery. To examine whether nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for the attenuated vasoconstrictor response during exercise to NPY Y(1) receptor stimulation, the infusions were repeated after NO synthase blockade. These infusions yielded reductions (P 0.05) the attenuation of NPY Y(1) receptor responsiveness during exercise. These data support the hypothesis that NPY Y(1) receptors can produce vasoconstriction in exercising skeletal muscle.
Envy, truth, and profit

We consider profit maximizing (incentive compatible) mechanism design in general environments that include, e.g., position auctions (for selling advertisements on Internet search engines) and single-minded combinatorial auctions. We analyze optimal envy-free pricings in these settings, and give economic justification for using the optimal revenue of envy-free pricings as a benchmark for prior-free mechanism design and analysis. Moreover, we show that envy-free pricing has a simple nice structure and a strong connection to incentive compatible mechanism design, and we exploit this connection to design prior-free mechanisms with strong approximation guarantees.
Robust control of a hydraulic valve for aircraft anti-skid operational

Based on feedback linearization and stability robustness theory, a controller is designed for aircraft anti-skid valves, which doubles the open-loop bandwidth and is robust to oil parameter variations.
Natural selection and the molecular clock.

This paper concludes that the statistical properties of protein evolution are compatible with a particular model of evolution by natural selection. The argument begins with a statistical description of the molecular clock based on a Poisson process with a randomly varying tick rate. If the time scale of the change of the tick rate of the molecular clock is assumed to be much less than the average time between substitutions, then it is shown that the substitution process must be episodic, with bursts of substitutions being separated by long periods of time with no substitutions. This analysis generalizes the recent work of Gillespie (1984~). The second part of the argument shows that a simple model of evolution by natural selectionone that incorporates a changing environment, the molecular landscape, and a simple form of epistasis -exhibits dynamics that are identical to those inferred from the statistical analysis. This leads to the conclusion that natural selection is a viable explanation for protein evolution. In addition, a correction formula for multiple substitutions is given that does not require that the substitution process be a Poisson process, and some comments on the inability of the neutral allele theory to account for the dynamics of the substitution process are presented.
Paradoxical Bronchoconstriction with Albuterol Administered by Metered-Dose Inhaler and Nebulizer Solution

OBJECTIVETo report a case of a patient who experienced bronchoconstriction following both a single dose of albuterol via metered-dose inhaler and a subsequent rechallenge with nebulized albuterol and review previously published case reports of albuterol-induced paradoxical bronchoconstriction.CASE SUMMARYA 92-year-old white man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was prescribed an albuterol inhaler for treatment of cold symptoms. Within 30 minutes of his first inhalation, he became short of breath and had difficulty speaking. During emergency department examination for the initial event, the bronchospasm improved with administration of oxygen 15 L/min via a non-rebreather mask. Two hours later, the patient received albuterol via nebulizer and experienced stridor, shortness of breath, and severe bronchospasm. He was admitted, treated with methylprednisolone, and discharged the following day.DISCUSSIONParadoxical bronchoconstriction is a rare complication of bronchodilator therapy. Altho...
WLC43-4: Comparing the effect of Carrier Frequency Offset on OFDM and Single-Carrier Block Transmission in AWGN Channels

Both OFDM and single-carrier block transmission (SCBT) are promising candidates for the future high date rate communication, which well handle the frequency selective channels with a low implementation complexity. However, the sensitivity to carrier frequency offset, caused by Doppler effect or the carrier frequency difference between transmitter and receiver, is always a major concern of these block transmission systems. Actually, a controversy in comparing the carrier frequency offset effect on OFDM and SCBT systems has already been witnessed in the literature for a long time. In this paper, we first analyze the effects of carrier frequency offset on these two systems, then by carefully investigating existing works, we classify the problem into two categories: carrier frequency offset analysis with compensation and without compensation. Finally, we draw conclusions based on theoretical and numerical results that the BER performance of OFDM systems is more sensitive to carrier frequency offset than SCBT systems for the BPSK modulation in AWGN channels, although the difference of the BER performance between two systems is much smaller than theoretically predicted in previous works, if a fair comparison environment is used. Moreover, this small performance gap vanishes in higher level constellation like QPSK.
A kinetic study of the cleavage of the ironcarbon σ bond in η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2R by halogenated acetic acids

Abstract The rates of the reaction of η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2R (R = alkyl and aryl) with CF3CO2H to give η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2OC(O)CF3 and RH wre investigated in organic solvents, mostly at 25°C, by infrared spectroscopic, manometric and volumetric techniques. When R = alkyl, the cleavage in CH2Cl2 is first order in η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2R and first order in the CF3CO2H monomer at acid concentrations ⪆0.1M, but first order in η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2R and second order in the CF3CO2H monemer at lower acid concentrations. The dependence of the second-order rate constant on R follows the order C5H5 > CH5Si(CH3)3 (>110) > CH3 (32) > n-C4H9 (15) > C2H5 (11) > CH2C(CH3)3 (6.2) > CH2CH2C6H5 (5.3) > CH(CH3)C6H5 (∼1.2) ⪆ CH2C6H5 (1.0) > CH(CH3)2. The isotope effect, k2/kD, for the cleavage of η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2CH3 by CF3CO2H and CF3CO2D is 4.7. Solvent influence on the rate of the FeCH3 bond scission in CH2Cl2, CH2ClCH2Cl and C6H6 is very small. A mechanism is proposed which involves the formation of an Fe-H-OC(O)CF3 hydrogen-bridged 1 1 adduct of the reactants in a reversible step. This adduct then affords [η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2(R)H][CF3CO2H·O2CCF3] with the assistance of a second molecule of CF3CO2H. Reductive elimination of RH and coordination to iron of CF3CO2− complecte the reaction. The corresponding cleavage of a given FeR bond by CHCl2CO2H is substantially slower than that by CF3CO2H; for the aryl complexes it follows the order R = p-C6H4CH3 > p-C6H4F > C6H5 > p-C6H4Cl, with p ∼ −5.4.
Environmental History of the Southwest as a General Science Education Course

Environmental History of the Southwest is a general science education course at the University of Arizona with an emphasis on human-environment interaction of the past and an objective of preparing non-science majors to understand and critically evaluate contemporary environmental issues. The American Southwest is well suited for such a course, as it is rich in many data sets of paleoenvironmental reconstruction techniques and has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. Lectures are grouped into three parts. Part 1, Background, covers geology and climatology, paleoenvironmental techniques, and ecosystems. Part 2, Past Environments and Societies, covers environmental changes since the late Pleistocene and human response to and interaction with those changes. Part 3, Modern Environmental Issues, covers contemporary environmental issues as well as past analogs of these issues for comparison. Lecture topics are interconnected with one another, making for a comprehensive study of environmental history. Several elements of science are revealed and discussed, improving general science literacy among the students, who are mostly non-science majors. Other regions of North America have had long-term human habitation and are also rich in multiple data sets of paleoenvironmental indicators, so nearly all of the continental U.S. and Canada is suitable for a course on environmental history and human-environment interaction.
The Impact of CEO Compensation on Nonprofit Donations

ABSTRACT: In this paper we show that supporters reduce donations to nonprofits subsequent to disclosure of high executive compensation. We find evidence consistent with large, sophisticated donors actively seeking out and reacting to compensation information made available in IRS Form 990, while smaller donors react to compensation disclosures in the media. Additional analysis indicates that these results vary systematically across nonprofits, as we find a stronger negative relation in nonprofits classified as more charitable, and a weaker relation in nonprofits that provide services to their donors. In contrast neither grantors nor patrons appear to react to executive compensation disclosures. Data Availability: All data are available from public sources.
Stress concentration of terminating twins

Twins terminated within a crystal are the source of stress concentration. These stresses may be evaluated by a continuum, dislocation or atomistic model. A knowledge of these stresses is useful in the understanding of atom glide, rupture of atoms and motion of individual atoms near a twin.
Nonlinear Dupuit Equations for the Phreatic Surface of a Semi-Infinite Aquifer

. We present a new approach to the nonlinear equations for the phreatic surface of groundwater flow from or into a reservoir. The differential equation is converted into an equivalent integral equation, which is then solved by a method of iteration. We obtain exact results for both drawdown and infiltration, including the special case of groundwater penetration into dry soil.
Nicotine Effects on Neutrophil F-Actin Formation and Calcium Release: Implications for Tobacco Use and Pulmonary Diseases

Alterations in neutrophil functions by tobacco components may play a pivotal role in pulmonary emphysema. This study examined the role of nicotine in altering F-actin formation and calcium (Ca2+) release (two early events in neutrophil motility). The effects of these alterations on the motile function of phagocytosis were also examined. Human peripheral neutrophils from medically healthy nonsmoking subjects were incubated with nicotine at concentrations normally encountered during acute exposure to cigarette smoke (10(-2) to 10(-5) M) and/or the chemotactic peptide FLPEP (10(-7) M). Relative F-actin stain was determined by NBD phallacidin staining followed by flow cytometry. Intracellular Ca2+ was determined by INDO-1 AM loading followed by emission ratio quantitation by fluorometry. Phagocytosis was determined by the % phagocytic cells with carboxylated microspheres. Incubation of neutrophils with varying concentrations of nicotine resulted in a significant elevation of the relative F-actin stain at 30 s at 10(-2) and 10(-3) M (p < .05, ANOVA) and at 30 min at 10(-2) to 10(-4) M (p < 0.05). In time course studies with 10(-7) M FLPEP stimulation, there was a approximately 325% rise in relative F-actin stain at 30-60 s, followed by a gradual decrease to near baseline levels. There was an immediate rise in Ca2+ to approximately 150% over baseline values, followed by a gradual decrease to baseline. By contrast, stimulation with nicotine demonstrated a approximately 105% increase in relative F-actin staining at 10(-2) M (p < .001, ANOVA) and a smaller increase at 10(-3) M, which remained elevated up to 600 s. Intracellular Ca2+ levels also rose in a dose-dependent manner with an increased of 700% over baseline with 10(-2) M nicotine, and remained elevated up to 600 s. Coincubation with both FLPEP and nicotine demonstrated additive effects in relative F-actin staining at both maximal and submaximal concentrations. Preincubation with 10(-2) or 10(-3) M nicotine suppressed the % phagocytic cells by 32% and 16%, respectively (p < .001, ANOVA) with only a 1-4% reduction in cell viability (trypan blue exclusion). The results demonstrate that the concentration of nicotine during acute cigarette exposure can directly stimulate neutrophil F-actin formation and intracellular Ca2+ release by a mechanism different from peptide stimulation. The alteration of these two pivotal neutrophil signaling events by nicotine may in turn alter other neutrophil functions in tobacco-related pulmonary emphysema.
Participation for Free. Exploring (limits of) participatory government

Since the 1990s participation has become a buzzword in education as well as in development contexts. In those contexts, participation has more particularly been linked up with personal promises of self‐fulfilment, ownership and self‐determination as well as with democratic ideals such as justice, equivalence and freedom. In the paper, we focus on a dominant argument in the justification and also realisation of participation in those empirical contexts, namely the claim to freedom. In order to analyse this freedom, we explore a concrete case in which we show how participatory processes promote various possibilities for the subject to enact freedom. Via Foucault's perspective of governmentality we scrutinise this argument of freedom, indicating how the possibilities and opportunities for liberation and freedom are actually governing the subject in a very particular way, constituting a specific ‘participatory’ norm.
T-cell alterations in cardiac allograft recipients after B7 (CD80 and CD86) blockade

Background T-cell activation requires engagement of the T cell receptor with the antigen-MHC and simultaneous ligation of the coreceptor CD28. CD28 binds both the CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) ligands on antigen-presenting cells. The functional role of these costimulatory pathways in transplantation is not completely understood. We tested the hypothesis that in vivo blockade of the CD28 pathway via the anti-CD80 and anti-CD86 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) would prolong allograft survival. Methods Neonatal C57BL/6J (H2b) hearts were transplanted to CBA/J (H2k) recipients in a heterotopic nonvascularized model, with anti-CD80 and/or anti-CD86 mAbs being administered intravenously at the time of allografting (day 0) and on the following day (day 1). Results Anti-CD80 mAb (29.8+/-1.5 days) and anti-CD86 mAb (30.8+/-0.5 days) alone significantly prolonged allograft survival compared with the isotype control (10.7+/-0.4 days, P 80 days. Simultaneous administration of anti-CD80 and anti-CD86 mAbs significantly suppressed donor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to alloantigen. Anti-CD86 mAb suppressed intragraft interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-12 p40, and IL-15 mRNA expression. Conclusions Anti-CD80 and/or anti-CD86 mAbs are potent immunosuppressants in prolonging allograft survival. Combined blockade of the B7 (CD80 and CD86) ligands seems to be the most effective in prolonging allograft survival and suppressing donor-specific allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. In vivo blockade of CD86, in comparison to CD80, had the greatest immunosuppressive effect on day 7 intragraft cytokines, suggesting its role on early allogeneic immune responses.
Adrenomedullin-(22-52) antagonizes vasodilator responses to CGRP but not adrenomedullin in the cat

The effects of adrenomedullin (ADM)-(22-52), a putative ADM receptor antagonist, on vasodilator responses to ADM and the structurally related peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), were investigated in the hindlimb vascular bed of the cat under constant-flow conditions. ADM-(22-52) had no significant effect on hindlimb perfusion pressure when injected in doses up to 120 nmol; after administration of ADM-(22-52), vasodilator responses to ADM were unchanged, whereas vasodilator responses to CGRP were inhibited. The inhibitory effects of ADM-(22-52) on responses to CGRP were selective and reversible and were similar to the inhibitory effects of the CGRP antagonist CGRP-(8-37). Hindlimb vasodilator responses to CGRP and to ADM were increased in duration by the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase inhibitor rolipram but were not altered by inhibitors of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate phosphodiesterase, nitric oxide synthetase, K(+)-ATP channels, the cyclooxygenase pathway, or the adrenergic nervous system. These results demonstrate that ADM-(22-52) is a selective CGRP receptor antagonist in the hindlimb vascular bed of the cat. The present data suggest that vasodilator responses to CGRP and ADM are mediated by different receptors but that these peptides dilate the hindlimb vascular bed of the cat by a similar cAMP-dependent mechanism.
Testin knock-out mice reveal a tumor suppressor function in chemically-induced forestomach carcinogenesis

1983 Loss of Hetherozygosity (LOH) at a given chromosomal fragile site is associated with the loss of tumor suppressor genes (TSG). One of these regions is located on the long arm of chromosome 7 and it is deleted in epithelial cancers as well as in hematopoietic malignancy. At 7q31.2 we have identified the Testin (Tes) gene as a putative TSG for this region. Tes encodes for a LIM domain protein that plays a role in cell adhesion. The protein is mainly localized to the tip of actin stress fibers at focal adhesion plaques and cell-cell-contact areas: its overexpression seems to affect cell growth, cell spreading and cell motility. To test whether Testin displays a tumor suppressor role in vivo we have generated a Tes knock-out mouse and we have assessed its role in a well established gastric carcinogenic model. In mice a zinc deficient diet (ZD) enhances cellular proliferation in forestomach and susceptibility to N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA) induced carcinogenesis. Five week old Tes wild type (+/+), heterozygous (+/−) and homozygous (−/−) mice have been homogenously distributed into four groups: zinc sufficient diet fed mice (ZS), zinc deficient diet fed mice (ZD), zinc sufficient fed+NMBA treated mice (ZS+NMBA), zinc deficient fed+NMBA treated mice (ZD+NMBA). After four weeks from the beginning of the study, the ZS+NMBA and ZD+NMBA groups were treated with three intragastric doses of NMBA (2 mg/kg body weight, twice a week). Animals were all sacrificed eight weeks after NMBA administration to assess the tumor incidence in each group for each genotype. In the ZS+NMBA group we have found mostly a mild proliferative epithelium and small papillomas in 8/14 cases (57.1%) of the +/+ mice, large papillomas and dysplasia in 19/21 cases (90.4%) of the +/− mice and large papillomas, adenomas and carcinomas in 20/21 cases (95.2%) of the −/− mice. The ZD+NMBA group has shown only benign lesions in 8/15 cases (53.3%) of +/+ mice, multiple very large papillomas, atypical glandular metaplasia and carcinomas in 29/30 cases (96.6%) of +/− mice, very large papillomas, squamous cell carcinomas and invasive carcinomas in 16/16 cases (100%) of −/− mice. A statististical significant difference was found in the ZS+NMBA group between +/+ versus +/− (P=0,038) and +/+ versus −/− (P=0,01) mice as well as in the ZD+NMBA group between +/+ versus +/− (P=0,006) and +/+ versus −/− (P=0,0009) mice. We are still studying the spontaneous tumor phenotype in the Tes +/+, +/− and −/− mice. Our results provide the the first evidence that Testin functions as a tumor suppressor gene in vivo.
An Overview of Recent Supreme Court Eighth Amendment Jurisprudence in Light of Graham v. Florida

A brief review of relevant Eighth Amendment jurisprudence, with specific bearing on issues of culpability of minors and how such sentences are deemed constitutional/unconstitutional.
Deportation Cases and Legislation

This primer on deportation law, cases, and legislation, provides a brief overview of deportation law since the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. It reviews how IIRIRA reconfigured immigration law, altering the basic framework under which persons were excluded and deported to focus on inspection and admission rather than entry. It also examines the expansion of the grounds of deportability for persons with criminal convictions. It then summarizes some of the most important deportation cases of the 21st century, including INS v. St. Cyr, Zadvydas v. Davis, and Padilla v. Kentucky. It examines recent developments regarding the Supreme Court's consideration of persons charged as deportable for having committed "aggravated felonies." It concludes with a discussion of comprehensive immigration reform, concluding that there has not been the political will to bring about comprehensive reform, and that lukewarm and last-minute efforts at such reform underscore a recurring paradox in American politics: the Democratic leadership's recognition of the importance of the Latino/a vote coupled with a reluctance to prioritize issues of importance to Latino/as in a timely and meaningful fashion.
Brief of Digital Humanities And Law Scholars as Amici Curiae In Support Of Defendant-Appellees And Affirmance, (The Authors Guild, Inc., et al., v. Google, Inc., et al.)

The Brief of Digital Humanities and Legal Scholars as Amici in Authors Guild v. Google was signed by over 150 researchers, scholars and educators who believe that Copyright law is not, and should not be, an obstacle to the computational analysis of text. Copyright law has long recognized the distinction between protecting an author’s original expression and the public’s right to access the facts and ideas contained within that expression. We argue that this distinction should be maintained in the digital age so that library digitization, internet search and related non-expressive uses of written works remain legal.
Impact Resistance of Ferro-Cement

To facilitate rational design in this relatively new material, influence of matrix composition and wire mesh properties on impact and tensile strengths were studied. The possibility of increasing strength to weight ratio by substituting foamed lightweight sand for natural sand was investigated. Leakage tests were performed for specimens under tension and subjected to impact. Ductility of steel and specific surface of wire mesh appear to be the most important properties influencing cracking performance and thus the leakage rate. Lightweight sand gives the same tensile strength but lower compressive strength of ferro-cement specimens than those for natural sand. Ferro-cement can be designed to have tensile strength which is comparable to its compressive strength and it can be watertight under design conditions. Results suggest that it may be a potential material for construction of thin shells such as for boat hulls, for transportation of LNG and for deep submersibles.
Benchmarking of data fusion algorithms in support of earth observation based Antarctic wildlife monitoring

Abstract Remote sensing is a rapidly developing tool for mapping the abundance and distribution of Antarctic wildlife. While both panchromatic and multispectral imagery have been used in this context, image fusion techniques have received little attention. We tasked seven widely-used fusion algorithms: Ehlers fusion, hyperspherical color space fusion, high-pass fusion, principal component analysis (PCA) fusion, University of New Brunswick fusion, and wavelet-PCA fusion to resolution enhance a series of single-date QuickBird-2 and Worldview-2 image scenes comprising penguin guano, seals, and vegetation. Fused images were assessed for spectral and spatial fidelity using a variety of quantitative quality indicators and visual inspection methods. Our visual evaluation elected the high-pass fusion algorithm and the University of New Brunswick fusion algorithm as best for manual wildlife detection while the quantitative assessment suggested the Gram-Schmidt fusion algorithm and the University of New Brunswick fusion algorithm as best for automated classification. The hyperspherical color space fusion algorithm exhibited mediocre results in terms of spectral and spatial fidelities. The PCA fusion algorithm showed spatial superiority at the expense of spectral inconsistencies. The Ehlers fusion algorithm and the wavelet-PCA algorithm showed the weakest performances. As remote sensing becomes a more routine method of surveying Antarctic wildlife, these benchmarks will provide guidance for image fusion and pave the way for more standardized products for specific types of wildlife surveys.
Neutralization of Ovarian Follicular Hormone in Women by Simultaneous Administration of Male Sex Hormone.

ConclusionStudies of vaginal smears and biopsies indicate that the male hormone (testosterone propionate) is able to neutralize, in women, the effects of estradiol on the cornification of the vaginal epithelium.
Interventional radiologic procedures in the management of the renal transplant patient

Interventional radiologic procedures have become an important adjunct to the management of the renal transplant patient. Numerous problems can be dealt with, and in our experience these have included the diagnosis and treatment of ureteric obstruction, dilatation of renal artery stenoses, drainage of abscesses, hematomas and lymphoceles, management of complications of pancreatitis and treatment of bleeding due to fistulas and pseudoaneurysms.
Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms for Gifted African American Students

The need to more effectively teach and meet the needs of culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse students occupies a great deal of attention in the field of education. In gifted education,...
Effects of Shock Waves on the Structure and Growth of the Immature Rat Epiphysis

The left proximal tibia of eighteen five week old male Sprague-Dawley rats was exposed to 1500 shock waves at 20 kV in a Dornier XL-1 experimental lithotripter. Six of these rats, and six age-matched controls, were sacrificed two, four and ten weeks later. Eight of 18 (44%) of treated animals had lesions of focal growth plate dysplasia attributable to treatment. In the absence of extensive lesions, no significant difference was identified in the growth plate thickness of shocked versus unshocked limbs. In the group sacrificed at ten weeks, two of six (33%) treated animals had extensive dysplastic lesions which were associated with marked shortening of the shocked limb. In the absence of extensive lesions, there was no significant shortening of shocked limbs. Shock wave exposure of the rat epiphysis can affect subsequent bone growth.
The Essential Role of Regulation in Promoting Equity Market Competition

November 2006 was a particularly good time for a symposium to evaluate equity market structure. In the United States, the equity markets were entering the final stages of implementation for Regulation NMS. Adopted in June 2005, Regulation NMS embodies changes to market structure that are designed to enhance and modernize the national market system adopted under section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘34 Act). Regulation NMS includes a trade-through rule that generally prevents a market from executing trades at prices inferior to automated quotes that are displayed and immediately accessible at other markets. Over the last two years, the U.S. equity markets have been transformed. There are ten registered securities exchanges in the U.S., and nine of the ten have adopted new equity trading systems. Perhaps most notably, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the largest equity market in the world, has fully automated its quote for the first time in its history. The exchanges brought their new trading systems into full operation on March 5, 2007. In Europe, as well, the state of competition among equity exchanges is in flux. As the economic boundaries between European countries have blurred, so have the boundaries between the traditional national stock exchanges. Several smaller exchanges have already merged, and there has been a continuing dance involving potential mergers among the “Big
Long-term use of dual antiplatelet therapy for the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract Background The potential benefit of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events is unclear. Data from different randomized controlled trials (RCT) using different agents in different subgroups showed inconsistent results. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis from RCTs that tested different prolonged durations of DAPT for secondary prevention. Long term DAPT arm was defined as those receiving DAPT for more than 12 months. Long-term aspirin arm was defined as those receiving either aspirin alone long term or DAPT for less than 12 months. Results The use of long term DAPT was associated with a significant decrease in composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke (6.08% vs. 6.71%; odds ratio OR = 0.86 [0.78–0.94]; P = 0.001). This reduction of death, MI and stroke was mainly noticed in patients with prior MI or stroke, but not with PAD or multiple risk factors. The reduction was seen with post PCI patients with prasugrel and only in those with prior MI with clopidogrel and ticagrelor. Long-term use of DAPT was associated with significant increase in major bleeding (1.47% vs. 0.88%; OR = 1.65 [1.23–2.21]; P = 0.001). Conclusion Long-term use of DAPT for secondary prevention is associated with lower risk of death, MI and stroke beneficial especially in patients with prior MI and stroke, but it is associated with increased risk of bleeding. Prolonging DAPT requires careful assessment of the trade-off between ischemic and bleeding complications and should probably be reserved for patients with higher risk for atherothrombotic events.
Chapter 6 Blood–material Interactions

The importance of understanding mechanisms of blood–material interactions is emphasized by the increasingly widespread use of cardiovascular devices; hence, this field has been the subject of intense inquiry as described in several excellent reviews [1–4]. Unfortunately, it is still not possible to simply rank or classify materials with respect to their suitability for particular blood-contacting applications. Nor is it possible to predict in any general way, based on the properties of devices and of their blood-contacting surfaces, the behavior of blood in contact with materials or the propensity of devices to produce clinically adverse events. Despite many attempts to correlate biologic responses to physicochemical property measurements, our success in understanding blood–material interactions, and the clinical application of many blood-contacting devices, has been largely empirical. It is not appropriate to discuss in detail this large and controversial literature, which has been reviewed elsewhere [1, 2]. Rather, this section will focus on the available experimental data in humans, or results which may likely be extrapolated to humans from relevant animal studies, that may guide in the development of new designs for blood-contacting devices. Cardiovascular device applications in humans have also been the subject of an excellent review [5].
Diffraction and single-crystal elastic constants of Inconel 625 at room and elevated temperatures determined by neutron diffraction

Abstract In this work, diffraction and single-crystal elastic constants of Inconel 625 have been determined by means of in situ loading at room and elevated temperatures using time-of-flight neutron diffraction. Theoretical models proposed by Voigt, Reuss, and Kroner were used to determine single-crystal elastic constants from measured diffraction elastic constants, with the Kroner model having the best ability to capture experimental data. The magnitude of single-crystal elastic moduli, computed from single-crystal elastic constants, decreases and the single crystal anisotropy increases as temperature increases, indicating the importance of texture in affecting macroscopic stress at elevated temperatures. The experimental data reported here are of great importance in understanding additive manufacturing of metallic components as: diffraction elastic constants are required for computing residual stresses from residual lattice strains measured using neutron diffraction, which can be used to validate thermomechanical models of additive manufacturing, while single-crystal elastic constants can be used in crystal plasticity modeling, for example, to understand mechanical deformation behavior of additively manufactured components.
Using Neural Networks to Forecast Volatility for an Asset Allocation Strategy Based on the Target Volatility

Abstract The objective of this study is to use artificial neural networks for volatility forecasting to enhance the ability of an asset allocation strategy based on the target volatility. The target volatility level is achieved by dynamically allocating between a risky asset and a risk-free cash position. However, a challenge to data-driven approaches is the limited availability of data since periods of high volatility, such as during financial crises, are relatively rare. To resolve this issue, we apply a stability-oriented approach to compare data for the current period to a past set of data for a period of low volatility, providing a much more abundant source of data for comparison. In order to explore the impact of the proposed model, the results of this approach will be compared to different volatility forecast methodologies, such as the volatility index, the historical volatility, the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), and the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model. Trading measures are used to evaluate the performance of the models for forecasting volatility. An empirical study of the proposed model is conducted using the Korea Composite Stock Price Index 200 (KOSPI 200) and certificate of deposit interest rates from January, 2006 to February, 2016.
Spatially-multimode phase-sensitive parametric amplification: Investigation of eigenmodes with Gaussian-beam pumping

We investigate the spatial eigenmodes of a Gaussian-beam-pumped traveling-wave phase-sensitive optical parametric amplifier, demonstrating a markedly efficient gain response for the signal's fundamental eigenmode with optimized axial waist location.
Correlations between Inflammation and Development of Cancer A Small Review

Infection and inflammation are the critical parameters towards developing cancer in the human Current research interest established that inflammation can lead to chromosomal breakage and development of cancer Reactive oxygen species ROS is one of the key element that takes charge of redox potential followed by protein rsquo s conformational change and cancer development After infection and inflammation the production of ROS and nitric oxide NO activates several cells signaling pathways which eventually down regulate some of the essential protein or enzyme rsquo s activities A big range of bacteria and viruses showed the capabilities to initiate cancer The passive electromagnetic force is also another key element in abnormal gene shuffling during cell division and cancer development The loss of redox control is the hallmark of cancer formation People emerged in cell based therapies that mean training immune cells to battle with microbes In this paper several important proteins and enzymes activities are discussed up to subcellular level
Acute kidney injury patterns and outcomes in low-risk versus high-risk critically ill patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is often one component of multiple organ failure (MOF) in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, not all patients with MOF develop AKI, and AKI may develop in the absence of MOF. We compared the impact of AKI alone and in combination with MOF on the survival of patients admitted to a large tertiary care medical intensive care unit (MICU). Methods: We abstracted data from the electronic medical records of patients admitted to the MICU from April 2012 through June 2013 and categorized patients as either high-risk or low- risk status based on use of vasopressor support or mechanical ventilation during the ICU stay. The outcomes we considered were in-hospital, 30-day, 90-day, 180-day, and 1-year mortality. Results: Of the 834 critically ill patients, 743 (89%) developed some degree of AKI. Ninety-one percent of the high-risk cohort developed AKI and 87% of the low-risk cohort developed AKI. Patients with AKI had higher mortality at 1-year than patients without AKI (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38 to 4.53); P interaction 0.0026). Hospital mortality was greater for high-risk patients without AKI than for low-risk patients with AKI. Conclusion : Acute kidney injury occurs at similar frequency in high and low-risk ICU patients and has significant impact on survival in both groups. Cardiovascular collapse or respiratory failure has greater impact on short term mortality than AKI, but this effect diminishes over time. Conversely, the impact of AKI on mortality increased over time and remained an independent risk factor for mortality.
Concentric agonist-antagonist robots for minimally invasive surgeries

We present a novel continuum robot design concept, Concentric Agonist-Antagonist Robots (CAAR), that uses push-pull, agonist-antagonist action of a pair of concentric tubes. The CAAR tubes are designed to have noncentral, offset neutral axes, and they are fixed together at their distal ends. Axial base translations then induce bending in the device. A CAAR segment can be created by selectively cutting asymmetric notches into the profile of two stock tubes, which relocates the neutral bending plane away from the center of the inner lumen. Like conventional concentric-tube robots (CTRs) based on counter-rotating precurved tubes, a CAAR can be made at very small scales and contain a large, open lumen. In contrast with CTRs, the CAAR concept has no elastic stability issues, offers a larger range of motion, and has lower overall stiffness. Furthermore, by varying the position of the neutral axes along the length of each tube, arbitrary, variable curvature actuation modes can be achieved. Precurving the tubes can additionally increase the workspace of a single segment. A single two-tube assembly can be used to create 3 degree-of-freedom (DOF) robot segments, and multiple segments can be deployed concentrically. Both additive manufacturing and traditional machining of stock tubes can create and customize the geometry and performance of the CAAR. In this paper, we explore the CAAR concept, provide kinematic and static models, and experimentally evaluate the model with a both a straight and a precurved CAAR. We conclude with a discussion of the significance and our plans for future work.
X-Ray Microanalysis Case Studies

Background: As part of a study into the in-service failure of the bearing surface of a large water pump, characterization was requested of the hard-facing alloy, which was observed to have separated from the stainless steel substrate, causing the failure.
Clinical Indicators of the Need for Telemetry Postoperative Monitoring in Patients With Suspected Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background and Objectives Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased complication rates postoperatively. Current literature does not provide adequate guidance on management of these patients. This study used the STOP-Bang questionnaire to diagnose patients with possible obstructive sleep apnea (score ≥3). We hypothesized that a STOP-Bang score of 3 or greater would significantly correlate with the number of oxygen desaturation episodes during the first 48 hours after total knee arthroscopy. Methods The STOP-Bang questionnaire was administered to 110 patients preoperatively. All patients underwent spinal-epidural anesthesia with a saphenous nerve block and sedation and were connected to the Nellcor OxiMax N-600x pulse oximeter for 48 hours postoperatively. Results Final analysis included 98 patients. There was no significant difference in the total number of desaturation events between STOP-Bang groups (score Conclusions A high preoperative value of CO2 should be a warning for possible prolonged episodes of desaturation postoperatively. An attempt to limit postoperative desaturation events should be made to minimize length of stay.
Mass Trauma in the African American Community: Using Multiculturalism to Build Resilient Systems

Within the last 4 years, there has been an increasing awareness of traumatic shootings of Black Americans in our society, more specifically Black American males who are likely descendants of slaves and or low socioeconomic status. This increase in media coverage of these shootings has highlighted not only the plight of Black Americans in America but also the real threat of death Black American’s live with. Americans in general have expressed outrage against these fatal shootings, which has been traumatic for many people, especially Black Americans and their community. These shootings severely impact Black American families and communities causing them to become trauma organized; losing basic sense of physical and psychological safety as well as family and community functionality. Understanding the effects these shootings have on the Black American community can help clinicians work more effectively work with this population. This article presents the Multi-Phase Model of Psychotherapy, Counseling, Human Rights and Social Justice (MPM) as a vital and necessary perspective in the treatment of traumatized Black Americans, specifically those effected by mass traumatic events, as well as a case study that applies the MPM using the fatal shooting of Philando Castile.
Cooperative CO2 Absorption Isotherms from a Bifunctional Guanidine and Bifunctional Alcohol.

Designing new liquids for CO2 absorption is a challenge in CO2 removal. Here, achieving low regeneration energies while keeping high selectivity and large capacity are current challenges. Recent cooperative metal–organic frameworks have shown the potential to address many of these challenges. However, many absorbent systems and designs rely on liquid capture agents. We present herein a liquid absorption system which exhibits cooperative CO2 absorption isotherms. Upon introduction, CO2 uptake is initially suppressed, followed by an abrupt increase in absorption. The liquid consists of a bifunctional guanidine and bifunctional alcohol, which, when dissolved in bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether, forms a secondary viscous phase within seconds in response to increases in CO2. The precipitation of this second viscous phase drives CO2 absorption from the gas phase. The isotherm of the bifunctional system differs starkly from the analogous monofunctional system, which exhibits limited CO2 uptake across the same pressure ...
Beauty, Sublimity, and Expression: Reply to Wicks and Cantrick

L'A. repond aux commentaires de Wicks et Cantrick sur son article «Kant's Conception of Fine Art» en ce qui concerne la distinction entre le beau et le sublime, ainsi que la confusion qui lui etait reprochee des termes d'expression et de communication chez Kant
Epidemiology and Risk Factor Management

This chapter elaborates the epideomology and risk factor management for stroke. Studies indicate that stroke prevalence increases with age, is greater in men than in women, and is much higher in blacks than in whites. Although stroke results from a number of different pathologic processes (large artery atherosclerosis, lacunar infarction, intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and embolism from a cardiac source), predisposing factors for each stroke subtype are surprisingly similar. Similarly, factors predisposing to intracerebral hemorrhage are not strikingly different from those for subarachnoid hemorrhage. Increased age, hypertension, cigarette smoking, and diabetes appear to be common precursors of strokes of all types. Similarly, cardiac diseases are frequently present in ischemic stroke patients even if the specific infarction subtype is other than cardioembolic. Cigarette smoking contributes significantly to stroke incidence in men and women. The impact of alcohol consumption on stroke risk is related to the amount of alcohol consumed, similar to the effect on risk of myocardial infarction. Control of risk factors, notably hypertension and cigarette smoking, results in a reduction in the incidence of most stroke subtypes.
Role of Echocardiography in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation

The presentation of J.R. is typical of patients with their first episode of AF. AF is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is characterized by a loss of organized atrial electrical and mechanical activity. The associated loss of the atrial systolic contribution to left ventricular filling leads to reduced ventricular filling and depressed cardiac output with resultant symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue. In addition, atrial stasis predisposes to the formation of atrial thrombi, most commonly in the left atrial appendage (LAA), and subsequent migration and clinical stroke or peripheral thromboembolism. AF is thought to be responsible for 10% of all clinical strokes and 50% of all cardiac sources of embolism. Rheumatic valvular AF is associated with an 18-fold increase in clinical thromboembolism, but even nonrheumatic AF is associated with a sixfold increase. Residual left atrial thrombi are seen in almost 50% of patients presenting with a stroke in the setting of newly recognized AF.
Prenatal Influences on Child Health and Development

Every parent hopes that his/her child will start life as a normal, healthy individual with maximum capacity to handle the problems and opportunities that life presents. While the majority of parents are granted this wish, a few are faced with loss of an infant in utero (known as abortion or fetal wastage) or by stillbirth, physical abnormalities detectable at birth, or developmental abnormalities detectable only as the child matures and demonstrates limitations in physical or mental growth. Old wives’ tales and superstitions have long held that events in the mother’s life during pregnancy may affect the health of the infant, but only in this century has modern science provided the opportunity to study and distinguish among hereditary factors, prenatal influences, and later events that affect the child after birth.
Hard vs. soft financial constraints: Implications for the effects of a credit crunch

Abstract In the aftermath of the Great Recession, understanding how households’ consumption responds to a credit crunch has been a central goal of macroeconomics. Most of the recent research has explored this question using a “hard constraint” modeling device, where households can borrow at the risk-free rate only up to an exogenous amount. An alternative, and more realistic, way to model financial frictions is to allow households to borrow as much as they want but at an interest rate that depends on the level of debt. I refer to the latter as the “soft constraint” model. In a Standard Incomplete Markets framework with heterogeneous agents, I calibrate two economies differing only in the type of financial constraint that households face and I show that a credit crunch in the hard constraint economy (i.e. decrease in the exogenous borrowing limit) produces a drop in consumption significantly more severe than an equivalent crunch in the soft constraint version (i.e. increase in the borrowing interest rate). I conclude that the quantitative consequences of a credit crunch largely depend on the modeling approach.