cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Description of Anaerobaculum hydrogeniformans sp. nov., an anaerobe that produces hydrogen from glucose, and emended description of the genus Anaerobaculum.

A novel anaerobic, moderately thermophilic, NaCl-requiring fermentative bacterium, strain OS1T, was isolated from oil production water collected from Alaska, USA. Cells were Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming rods (1.7–2.7 × 0.4–0.5 µm). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain OS1T was 46.6 mol%. The optimum temperature, pH and NaCl concentration for growth of strain OS1T were 55 °C, pH 7 and 10 g l−1, respectively. The bacterium fermented d-fructose, d-glucose, maltose, d-mannose, α-ketoglutarate, l-glutamate, malonate, pyruvate, l-tartrate, l-asparagine, Casamino acids, l-cysteine, l-histidine, l-leucine, l-phenylalanine, l-serine, l-threonine, l-valine, inositol, inulin, tryptone and yeast extract. When grown on d-glucose, 3.86 mol hydrogen and 1.4 mol acetate were produced per mol substrate. Thiosulfate, sulfur and l-cystine were reduced to sulfide, and crotonate was reduced to butyrate with glucose as the electron donor. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain OS1T was related to Anaerobaculum thermoterrenum (99.7 % similarity to the type strain), a member of the phylum Synergistetes . DNA–DNA hybridization between strain OS1T and A. thermoterrenum DSM 13490T yielded 68 % relatedness. Unlike A. thermoterrenum , strain OS1T fermented malonate, maltose, tryptone, l-leucine and l-phenylalanine, but not citrate, fumarate, lactate, l-malate, glycerol, pectin or starch. The major cellular fatty acid of strain OS1T was iso-C15 : 0 (91 % of the total). Strain OS1T also contained iso-C13 : 0 3-OH (3 %), which was absent from A. thermoterrenum , and iso-C13 : 0 (2 %), which was absent from Anaerobaculum mobile . On the basis of these results, strain OS1T represents a novel species of the genus Anaerobaculum , for which the name Anaerobaculum hydrogeniformans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OS1T ( = DSM 22491T = ATCC BAA-1850T). An emended description of the genus Anaerobaculum is also given.
Velocity dispersion : A tool for characterizing reservoir rocks

Apparent discrepancies between velocity measurements made with different frequencies in a formation at the Gypsy test site are explained in terms of elastic scattering and intrinsic attenuation. The elastic scattering component of the dispersion (38%) in a marine interval above the Gypsy sandstone is estimated via simple models constructed from well log information. Any dispersion above the predicted value for elastic scattering in this interval is assigned to intrinsic attenuation (62%). Using the vertical measurements in the well, the marine interval directly above the Gypsy sandstone has an estimated intrinsic Q{sub I} = 51 and an effective Q because of the scattering of Q{sub SC} = 85. The total Q of the combined mechanisms is 32. The dispersion of the vertical measurements through the heterogeneous sands and shales of the Gypsy formation can be explained using an intrinsic Q{sub I} = 30 and neglecting the effects of scattering. The horizontal observations require a more detailed modeling effort to unravel the relative roles of path and volume effects, elastic scattering, attenuation, and intrinsic anisotropy. Thin layers barely resolvable on the sonic logs play a significant role in modifying the crosswell response. Potentially, the dispersion can be a key to mapping reservoirmore » properties using crosswell and surface seismic data.« less
Valuations on Lattices and their Application to Information Theory

Bi-valuations are functions that take two lattice elements and map them to a real number. The zeta function is an important example of this class of functions, since it encodes inclusion on the lattice by indicating whether one lattice element includes another. This indicator function can be generalized to quantify a degree of inclusion, which induces a measure on the lattice. In the past we have shown that for distributive lattices in general, these degrees of inclusion follow a sum rule, a product rule and a Bayes' theorem analog. When such a generalization is applied to a lattice of logical statements, we recover Bayesian probability theory. In this paper, we review our previous work in developing the lattice of questions from the lattice of logical statements which answer them. With the aid of a single postulate relating probabilities of statements to relevances of questions, we derive a natural generalization of information theory. The result is a novel and efficient derivation of Shannon's entropy based on lattice theory.
An evaluation of the performance of cDNA microarrays for detecting changes in global mRNA expression

The cDNA microarray is one technological approach that has the potential to accurately measure changes in global mRNA expression levels. We report an assessment of an optimized cDNA microarray platform to generate accurate, precise and reliable data consistent with the objective of using microarrays as an acquisition platform to populate gene expression databases. The study design consisted of two independent evaluations with 70 arrays from two different manufactured lots and used three human tissue sources as samples: placenta, brain and heart. Overall signal response was linear over three orders of magnitude and the sensitivity for any element was estimated to be 2 pg mRNA. The calculated coefficient of variation for differential expression for all non-differentiated elements was 12–14% across the entire signal range and did not vary with array batch or tissue source. The minimum detectable fold change for differential expression was 1.4. Accuracy, in terms of bias (observed minus expected differential expression ratio), was less than 1 part in 10 000 for all non-differentiated elements. The results presented in this report demonstrate the reproducible performance of the cDNA microarray technology platform and the methods provide a useful framework for evaluating other technologies that monitor changes in global mRNA expression.
Analysis of Multiple Positive Feedback Paradigms Demonstrates a Complete Absence of LH Surges and GnRH Activation in Mice Lacking Kisspeptin Signaling

Kisspeptin stimulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons via the kisspeptin receptor, Kiss1r. In rodents, estrogen-responsive kisspeptin neurons in the rostral hypothalamus have been postulated to mediate estrogen-induced positive feedback induction of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. However, conflicting evidence exists regarding the ability of mice lacking Kiss1r to display LH surges in response to exogenous hormones. Whether the discrepancy reflects different mouse strains used and/or utilization of different surge-induction paradigms is unknown. Here, we tested multiple hormonal paradigms in one Kiss1r knockout (KO) model to see which paradigms, if any, could generate circadian-timed LH surges. Kiss1r KO and wild-type (WT) females were ovariectomized, given sex steroids in various modes, and assessed several days later for LH levels in the morning or evening (when surges occur). Serum LH levels were very low in all morning animals, regardless of genotype or hormonal paradigm. In each paradigm, virtually all WT females displayed clear LH surges in the evening, whereas none of the KO females demonstrated LH surges. The lack of LH surges in KO mice reflects a lack of GnRH secretion rather than diminished pituitary responsiveness from a lifetime lack of GnRH exposure because KO mice responded to GnRH priming with robust LH secretion. Moreover, high cfos-GnRH coexpression was detected in WT females in the evening, whereas low cfos-GnRH coexpression was present in KO females at all time points. Our findings conclusively demonstrate that WT females consistently display LH surges under multiple hormonal paradigms, whereas Kiss1r KO mice do not, indicating that kisspeptin-Kiss1r signaling is mandatory for GnRH/LH surge induction.
Posttraumatic headaches in civilians, soldiers, and athletes

Posttraumatic headaches are one of the most common and controversial secondary headache types. After mild head injury, more than 50% of people develop a postconcussion syndrome which has been controversial for more than 150 years. Headache is estimated as present in 30% to 90% of patients after mild head injury. Most headaches are of the tension type, although migraines can increase in frequency or occur acutely or chronically de novo. A review is provided of headaches in civilians, soldiers after blast trauma, athletes, and post-craniotomy including pathogenesis. The treatments are the same as for the primary phenotypes.
Exploiting non-equilibrium phase separation for self-assembly

Demixing can occur in systems of two or more particle species that experience different driving forces, e.g., mixtures of self-propelled active particles or of oppositely charged colloids subject to an electric field. Here we show with macroscopic experiments and computer simulations that the forces underlying such non-equilibrium segregation can be used to control the self-assembly of particles that lack attractive interactions. We demonstrate that, depending on the direction, amplitude and frequency of a periodic external force acting on one particle species, the structures formed by a second, undriven species can range from compact clusters to elongated, string-like patterns.
Steam Temperature Prediction under Reduced Flow

The thermal energy conservation equation in the form of a quasilinear partial differential equation, having been previously validated on the Columbia River, is here calibrated on a 5-mile reach of the Little Deschutes River for a 9-day period (July 29 - August 6, 1969) treated as three 3-day episodes. With 3-hr unit hydrodynamic-meteorologic data, the water temperature prediction capability of this dynamic deterministic one-dimensional model is on the average within 0.4DF. Signally, this accuracy was accomplished under both parametric and nonparametric statistical validity tests which indicate a certain level of acceptance; and, drought conditions in the form of fractionally reproduced flow caused this mathematical model to respond as expected.
Consistency of condom use for disease prevention among adolescent users of oral contraceptives.

r ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Summary A six-month prospective study examined consistency of condom use for disease prevention among 308 adolescent women who had received a prescription for oral contraceptives at a family planning clinic. Only 16 percent used condoms consistently over a six-month period, yet 30 percent were considered at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) because of multiple, sequential or concurrent relationships with male partners. The type of relationship in which the adolescents were involved did not predict consistency of condom use. Consistent condom use was associated with having asked a partner to use a condom, perceiving partner support for condom use, having less frequent sexual intercourse and using oral contraceptives inconsistently. The findings suggest that family planning providers need to more strongly emphasize to adolescents the importance of consistent condom use to protect against STD infection.
Purity of Standards and Solvents

Owing to the greater sensitivity of the ionization detectors, when compared to general staining techniques in paper chromatography and other procedures, one can demonstrate that virtually none of the steroids available as commercial standards produce single peaks. In most instances this is simply a reflection of the presence of a small amount of impurity, rather than decomposition during chromatography. This can be ascertained readily by trapping the main peak and re-injecting into the gas Chromatograph. In a number of instances we have examined commercially available steroids in this manner and have found that only a single peak is obtained following this procedure. Almost none of the commercial steroids can be considered gas chromatographically pure. In some instances it has been quite easy to detect substances with retention times identical to those expected as by-products of the chemical reaction necessary to prepare the standard, or as biological companions where the steroid was obtained through extraction from natural sources. Indeed, the reader must be very cautious in the interpretation of the notation “chromatographically pure.” This, to our knowledge, never refers to “gas chromatographically pure.”
Sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Alpheidae: Synalpheus) of Barbados, West Indies, with a description of a new eusocial species

Sampling of eight sites along the west coast of Barbados, West Indies, yielded 14 species of sponge-dwelling shrimps in the gambarelloides group of the genus Synalpheus, including one new species described here as Synalpheus microneptunus n. sp. The new species is a member of the S. paraneptunus Coutiere species complex and is distinguished from other species in that group by the combination of four carpal segments in the second pereopod, uropodal exopod with 2 nd distolateral tooth smaller than the other two teeth and set in line with movable spine, and a small blade on the scaphocerite. Synalpheus microneptunus n. sp. is the smallest species in the complex (2.2-2.9 mm CL) and lives in small colonies, usually with fewer than 10 individuals, often with a single breeding female. Synalpheus thele Macdonald, Hultgren & Duffy is reported for the first time from outside its type locality in Jamaica. Sampling in Barbados produced fewer species than did similar efforts in Jamaica and Curacao, possibly due to the relatively isolated position of the island at the eastern (windward) edge of the Caribbean Sea.
Simulation improves manufacture and material handling of forged metal components

As competitive pressures increase within the manufacturing sectors of economies worldwide, and especially within the automotive sub-sector, the importance of achieving operational efficiencies to reduce costs and thence to increase profits while keeping and attracting customers steadily increases. Simulation, time studies, and value stream mapping have long been key allies of the industrial engineer assigned to find and progress along the often difficult and challenging road leading to such efficiencies. The presentation here, and undertaken collaboratively between the university and the company involved, concentrates primarily on the use and achievements of discrete-event process simulation in improving the manufacture and material handling of forged metal components sold in the automotive and industrial manufacturing marketplace.
Cookie Jar Accounting for Foreign Subsidiaries

Current tax policy encourages U.S. corporations to use an accounting method, “cookie jar accounting”, to report income. For financial accounting, cookie jar accounting is generally associated with financial statement fraud and concealing illegal acts. For tax purposes, cookie jar accounting is accepted as tax avoidance. The purpose of this paper is to compare cookie jar accounting for financial and tax reporting, consider the consequences of tax cookie jars, and suggest an end to current tax policies favoring tax cookie jars.
Investigation of common mode current related dc-bus overvoltage in multiple converter systems

Active front end (AFE) converters have been extensively used in industrial motor-drive systems due to their energy regenerative capability and low harmonic distortions. However, the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) switching operation in AFE converters generates higher common-mode voltage than their non-regenerative diode front-end (DFE) counterparts. Such significant common-mode voltage can be converted to common-mode current through common-mode capacitance in the system. This large common-mode current can cause overvoltage of the dc-bus of a DFE converter system where both AFE and DFE converter systems share the same ac source. This paper investigates such overvoltage phenomena occurring in a DFE dc-bus in a multiple converter system. Mechanism of such dc-bus overvoltage will be explained, and both simulation as well as experimental results are presented to confirm the theoretical analysis. Moreover, a dc-bus clamping circuit is recommended to clamp the DFE dc-bus voltage, thus any overvoltage that could trip the DFE drive can be avoided.
Constriction to hypoxia-reoxygenation in isolated mouse coronary arteries: role of endothelium and superoxide.

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of endothelium and superoxide in the responses of isolated mouse coronary arteries to hypoxia-reoxygenation. Isolated mouse coronary artery wa...
The effects of dietary fat or fiber addition on yield and composition of milk from sows housed in a warm or hot environment.

Sixty sows were individually penned in a thermoneutral (20 degrees C) or hyperthermal (32 degrees C) environment and fed a basal (corn-soybean meal), high-fiber (48.5% wheat bran) or high-fat (10.6% choice white grease) diet from d 100 of gestation through a 22-d lactation. The diets were determined to contain 3.28, 2.76 and 3.75 Mcal ME/kg, respectively. All pigs received 8.0 Mcal of ME and 17.5 g of lysine daily prior to parturition and were allowed to consume their respective diets ad libitum after parturition. Litter size was standardized at 9 to 10 pigs by d 2 postpartum. Milk yields were determined for five, 4-d periods from about d 2 through 22 of lactation via a D2O dilution technique. Daily milk yield and litter weight gain began to plateau, and the efficiency of utilizing milk DM and milk energy for gain was depressed (P less than .01), in the latter stages of the lactation. Heat exposure (32 degrees C) reduced (P less than .05) voluntary ME intake and milk energy yield of the sow and increased (P less than .05) the sow's weight loss during lactation. In the hot environment, increasing dietary energy concentration resulted in a linear (P less than .08) increase in milk fat content and milk energy yield over the duration of the 22-d lactation. In the latter stages of lactation, pigs consuming high-fat milk required more (P less than .09) milk and milk energy per unit of weight gain. In the warm environment, milk energy yield was increased by dietary fat or fiber additions in early lactation, but not in late lactation. These results indicate that the effects of thermal heat stress on sow milk energy yield and litter weight gain are aggravated by dietary fiber addition and minimized by dietary fat addition.
Efficient parallelization using rank convergence in dynamic programming algorithms

This paper proposes an efficient parallel algorithm for an important class of dynamic programming problems that includes Viterbi, Needleman--Wunsch, Smith--Waterman, and Longest Common Subsequence. In dynamic programming, the subproblems that do not depend on each other, and thus can be computed in parallel, form stages, or wavefronts. The algorithm presented in this paper provides additional parallelism allowing multiple stages to be computed in parallel despite dependences among them. The correctness and the performance of the algorithm relies on rank convergence properties of matrix multiplication in the tropical semiring, formed with plus as the multiplicative operation and max as the additive operation.This paper demonstrates the efficiency of the parallel algorithm by showing significant speedups on a variety of important dynamic programming problems. In particular, the parallel Viterbi decoder is up to 24× faster (with 64 processors) than a highly optimized commercial baseline.
PEDIATRIC LUNG TRANSPLANT INDEX – IMPROVEMENT THROUGH MEASUREMENT

Background Transplant recipients face many challenges during the post transplantation phase. Lung recipients have the lowest survival rate of all solid organ transplants with a 5 year survival rate of 46%. Therefore it is important that proper care is maintained to promote adherence to a complicated medical regimen. Objectives The aim of this project is to decrease the missed opportunities to provide comprehensive care as indicated on the Lung Transplant Index for outpatient lung transplant recipients from a 2014 baseline of 101 missed opportunities to less than 24 cumulatively for 2015. Methods A measurement system was implemented to track the number of times we successfully completed each of 12 care categories. Definitions for each category of comprehensive care were agreed upon by a multidisciplinary team. Transplant coordinators collected the data from the electronic medical record to be analyzed by the Lung Transplant Quality Improvement team. Results Significant improvement in performance occurred in the lung transplant program. There was an 89.5% decrease in the number of missed opportunities going from 46.7% missed in 2014 to just 4.9% missed in 2015. Conclusions Adding the ability to track performance via a care index has increased the overall care our patients receive and further indices will be rolled out to other service lines in the future. This project shows the importance of measuring performance and can be quickly and easily applied to other transplant hospitals.
Myelitis due to Sparganosis

According to Stedman’s Medical Dictionary Sparganosis is an infection with the plerocercoid or sparganum of a pseudophyllidean tapeworm, usually in a dermal sore resulting from application of infected flesh as a poultice; infection may also occur from ingestion of uncooked frog, snake, mammal, or bird intermediate or transport host bearing the spargana, but not from fish with Diphyllobothrium larvae, inasmuch as sparganosis is an infection with nonhuman pseudophyllidean tapeworms, usually species of Spirometra. Sparganosis may also develop from ingestion of water containing procercoid-infected Cyclops.
Reversibility of chemotherapy-induced senescence is independent of autophagy and a potential model for tumor dormancy and cancer recurrence

Autophagy and senescence are both well-established responses to chemotherapy and radiation that often occur in parallel, contributing to growth arrest in tumor cells. However, it has not been established whether this growth arrest is reversible. This question was addressed using non-small cell lung cancer models exposed to the cancer chemotherapeutic drug, etoposide. Senescent cells that were sorted, identified by β-galactosidase staining and alterations in morphology, isolated by flow cytometric cell sorting based on C12FDG staining, and real-time live microscopy were found to be capable of recovering proliferative capacity. Autophagy, monitored by vacuole formation, SQSTM1/p62 degradation, and LC3BII generation did not interfere with either the senescence arrest or proliferative recovery and was nonprotective in function (i.e. autophagy inhibition via both pharmacological and genetic strategies had negligible impact on the response to etoposide). These observations argue against the premise that (chemotherapy-induced) senescence is irreversible and indicate that therapy-induced senescence may ultimately be a transient process in that at least a subpopulation of tumor cells can and will remain metabolically active and recover proliferative capacity independently of autophagic turnover. We therefore propose that dormant tumor cells may be capable of prolonged survival in a state of autophagy/senescence and that disease recurrence may reflect escape from this senescence-arrested state.
Polarization control of light transmission through a multimode fiber (Conference Presentation)

A multimode fiber subjected to random mode and polarization mixing represents a complex photonic system with strong coupling of spatial, temporal, spectral and polarization degrees of freedom. By exploiting such coupling, we demonstrate a full control of the polarization state of light transmitted through a multimode fiber by adjusting the spatial profile of incident field. After applying stress to the fiber to induce strong mode and polarization mixing, we measure the polarization-dependent transmission matrices, and find the transmission eigenchannels. By launching light to specific eigenchannnels, we are able to preserve the polarization state despite strong polarization mixing in the multimode fiber, or to convert all transmitted light to the orthogonal polarization state. In addition, we show that the linearly polarized input light can be changed completely to circularly polarized output. Furthermore, arbitrary polarization states can be realized for individual spatial channels at the output by tailoring the incident wavefront of a single polarization. Such global control is possible only in the presence of strong mode mixing in the fiber. Namely, strong polarization mixing itself is not sufficient to generate arbitrary polarization states at the output. Therefore, the strong entanglement of spatial and polarization degrees of freedom is essential to achieve a complete control of polarization. Such global control of the polarization states of all output channels is more challenging than the local control of the polarization state of a single output channel.
A phase I trial of bortezomib in combination with everolimus for treatment of relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) display dysregulation of pathways controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis. Combined proteasome and mTOR inhibition, demonstrated with bortezomib and everolimus in a preclinical model, thus warrants evaluation in humans. We conducted a phase I study to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and safety of this combination in relapsed/refractory (r/r) NHL. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled from July 2008 to March, 2015. Toxicities were primarily hematologic, and dose-limiting thrombocytopenia defined the MTD as 5 mg everolimus daily with 1.3 mg/m2 bortezomib d1, 4, 8, and 11 every 21 days. Of 25 response-evaluable patients there was one complete response in a patient with MCL and three partial responses (two MCL, one FL) for an overall response rate of 16%. In conclusion, the combination of everolimus and bortezomib results in dose limiting thrombocytopenia, but is tolerable. This combination has limited clinical activity in heavily pretreated NHL.
Effects of collimator angle, couch angle, and starting phase on motion-tracking dynamic conformal arc therapy (4D DCAT).

Purpose The aim of this study was to find an optimized configuration of collimator angle, couch angle, and starting tracking phase to improve the delivery performance in terms of MLC position errors, maximal MLC leaf speed, and total beam-on time of DCAT plans with motion tracking (4D DCAT). Method and materials Nontracking conformal arc plans were first created based on a single phase (maximal exhalation phase) of a respiratory motion phantom with a spherical target. An ideal model was used to simulate the target motion in superior-inferior (SI), anterior-posterior (AP), and left-right (LR) dimensions. The motion was decomposed to the MLC leaf position coordinates for motion compensation and generating 4D DCAT plans. The plans were studied with collimator angle ranged from 0° to 90°; couch angle ranged from 350°(−10°) to 10°; and starting tracking phases at maximal inhalation (θ=π/2) and exhalation (θ=0) phases. Plan performance score (PPS) evaluates the plan complexity including the variability in MLC leaf positions, degree of irregularity in field shape and area. PPS ranges from 0 to 1, where low PPS indicates a plan with high complexity. The 4D DCAT plans with the maximal and the minimal PPS were selected and delivered on a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator. Gafchromic-EBT3 dosimetry films were used to measure the dose delivered to the target in the phantom. Gamma analysis for film measurements with 90% passing rate threshold using 3%/3 mm criteria and trajectory log files were analyzed for plan delivery accuracy evaluation. Results The maximal PPS of all the plans was 0.554, achieved with collimator angle at 87°, couch angle at 350°, and starting phase at maximal inhalation (θ=π/2). The maximal MLC leaf speed, MLC leaf errors, total leaf travel distance, and beam-on time were 20 mm/s, 0.39 ± 0.16 mm, 1385 cm, and 157 s, respectively. The starting phase, whether at maximal inhalation or exhalation had a relatively small contribution to PPS (0.01 ± 0.05). Conclusions By selecting collimator angle, couch angle, and starting tracking phase, 4D DCAT plans with the maximal PPS demonstrated less MLC leaf position errors, lower maximal MLC leaf speed, and shorter beam-on time which improved the performance of 4D motion-tracking DCAT delivery.
Recognition and Management of Venous Leg Ulcers

Abstract The management of venous leg ulcers can pose quite a challenge to patients and health care providers. This condition can significantly impact quality of life and impose a huge financial burden on the patient and health care system. This review article will discuss the importance of early recognition of high-risk patients, with evaluation and initiation of appropriate multimodality treatment, which must be done in a timely and efficient manner.
Design and performance analysis of Sierpinski diamond fractal antenna for multi-band applications

Design and performance measures of a Sierpinski diamond fractal Antenna for multiple band applications are proposed in this paper. To obtain wideband/multiple band antennas, one technique is by applying fractal shapes into antenna geometry. These antennas are designed using HFSS on FR4 substrate with dielectric constant of 4.4 and fed with 50 ohms micro strip line. Diamond antenna has been fabricated and tested using VNA and performance of the proposed antenna is confirmed by using simulation and experimental results.
Cigarettes, Alcohol and Marijuana are Related to Pyospermia in Infertile Men

AbstractThe relationship of current use of cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol to the parameters of seminal fluid analysis, sperm penetration assay and sperm autoimmunity was studied in 164 men from infertile couples. Current cigarette smokers, marijuana users and heavy alcohol users showed greater numbers of leukocytes in the seminal fluid than did nonusers (p <0.02, <0.007 and <0.01, respectively). In addition, cigarette smokers had lower sperm penetration assay scores than non-smokers (median 2.5 versus 8.0, p = 0.05). Users of cigarettes, marijuana or alcohol showed no decrease in sperm count, motility or percentage of oval sperm, and no difference in prevalence of antisperm antibodies compared to nonusers.After controlling for past sexually transmitted diseases and multiple substance exposures in a multivariate model, use of cigarettes (p = 0.006), marijuana (p = 0.12) or alcohol (p = 0.098) continued to be associated with a trend toward increased number of seminal fluid leukocytes. Cigarette smoking c...
Medical immunity, international law and just war theory.

Under customary international law, the First Geneva Convention and Additional Protocol I, medical personnel are protected against intentional attack. In § 1 of this paper, we survey these legal norms and situate them within the broader international humanitarian law framework. In § 2, we explore the historical and philosophical basis of medical immunity, both of which have been underexplored in the academic literature. In § 3, we analyse these norms as applied to an attack in Afghanistan (2015) by the United States; the United States was attempting to target a Taliban command-and-control centre but inadvertently destroyed a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital instead, killing 42 people. In § 4, we consider forfeiture of medical immunity and, more sceptically, whether supreme emergency could justify infringement of non-forfeited protected status.
A Quantitative Model for Estimating the Scale of Photochemically Induced Ischemic Stroke

Photothrombosis is a technique that can induce ischemic cortical infarcts using the photodynamic effect of anionic xanthene dyes, typically Rose Bengal, to cause occlusion of cerebral blood circulation. The ability to quantitatively predict the scale of the lesion in photothrombotic procedures can offer crucial insight in the development and implementation of light-induced stroke models in animals. In this article, we introduced a quantitative model that could estimate the normalized light intensity distribution in tissue which scatters photons from a collimated beam. We simulated the penetration and scattering profile of light of Rose Bengal’s characteristic absorption wavelengths in mouse cortex. We further illustrated that our model could estimate the spatial extent of effective region under photothrombotic protocols, and how this model can be used to titrate the intensity and geometry of light beams used to generate infarcts of desired dimensional characteristics.
A Framework for Diagnosing Factors Degrading the Streamflow Performance of a Soil Moisture Data Assimilation System

AbstractData assimilation (DA) techniques have been widely applied to assimilate satellite-based soil moisture (SM) measurements into hydrologic models to improve streamflow simulations. However, p...
Series Elastic Tether Management for Rappelling Rovers

The Axel rappelling rover was designed to enable access to intriguing and important science sites that lie in difficult terrains that are inaccessible to conventional rovers. Extended autonomous rappelling calls for careful control of tether tension, precise management of tether spooling, and some measure of shock tolerance. This paper covers the design and testing of a first-generation tether management system (TMS) for Axel. The system uses a double bull-wheel capstan driven by a low-stiffness series elastic actuator (SEA) to provide tension control and decouple internal spooling tension from external tether tension. A series elastic actuator was chosen for this application to permit closed-loop tether tension control and to provide shock/drop tolerance of the rappelling system both while moving and when the system is inactive with the motors locked. Experiments on the new TMS show that this design performs well in keeping nearly constant spooling tension while rejecting large dynamic disturbances at the output. While the SEA is very effective at maintaining a given tension contribution, the additional effects of friction and the unique mechanical properties of the tether result in substantial errors in the measured output tension. Upcoming field trials will be used to evaluate the effectiveness and sufficiency of this system when integrated in Axel.
Simple Model for Predicting Time Series Soiling of Photovoltaic Panels

Results from a model to predict soiling losses of photovoltaic (PV) arrays are presented. The model uses ambient airborne particulate matter concentrations, both PM $_{10}$ and PM $_{2.5}$ , the tilt of the PV array including if the array is tracking, and rain data to estimate soiling losses over time. The model uses relationships between average airborne PM concentrations and dust accumulation, rain removal of accumulated dust, and the accumulated dust and transmission loss that have been developed in the literature to estimate soiling losses in a time series. Multiple model runs were performed and were compared with measured soiling data at seven locations. The model was run with both typical Meteorological Year rain data and with recorded rain data from Oregon State University's PRISM database. Each model was run with variable deposition velocities, static deposition velocities, and static settling velocities. When the model was run with recorded rain data and static settling velocities the results matched the general slopes, frequencies, and magnitudes of soiling losses when compared with measured soiling data. Overall, the simple model demonstrates the ability at accurately simulating soiling.
Epigenetic pharmacotherapy for substance use disorder

Identifying novel therapeutics for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) is an area of intensive investigation. Prior strategies that have attempted to modify one or a few neurotransmitter receptors have had limited success, and currently there are no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana use disorders. Because drugs of abuse are known to alter the expression of numerous genes in reward-related brain regions, epigenetic-based therapies have emerged as intriguing targets for therapeutic innovation. Here, I evaluate potential therapeutic approaches and challenges in targeting epigenetic factors for the treatment of SUD and highlight examples of promising strategies and future directions.
Troubling the “two” in two-way bilingual education

There is ongoing debate within the field of bilingual education concerning the extent to which instructional languages should be separated. However, neither side has sufficiently addressed how lang...
Design and Analysis of Collective Pulse Oscillators

Collective pulse oscillators (CPOs) are novel designs constructed using pulse regenerative amplifiers that exhibit time-variant gate delay based on the residual charge from past state. This property makes it possible to achieve precise phase resolutions smaller than a pulse gate delay and/or provide identical phase taps at multiple physical locations. CPOs exhibit temporal phase error correction that results in an improvement in frequency stability $\propto -10\log p$ for power $\propto p$ across all timescales beyond the correction settling time. While CPOs result in device noise-based figure of merits (FoMs) comparable to that of ring oscillators, they are more resilient to power-coupled and impulse noise. This article presents a systematic time-domain analysis of the properties of CPOs based on an abstract model that captures the time-variant delay of pulse gates. Closed-form analytic solutions for CPOs disturbed by impulse noise are derived, and higher order CPOs with continuous noise injection are analyzed using behavioral simulations and characterized using Allan deviation. Hspice simulation results are presented to validate the model and compare CPOs with ring oscillators. Allan deviation and phase noise measurements on CPOs of 8 and 40 gates fabricated in GFUS8RF (130-nm) technology corroborate the theory and simulation results.
Communicating Advice: Introduction to the Special Issue:

Advice is a ubiquitous and consequential form of social support and social influence in virtually every social and cultural context, and has therefore garnered considerable scholarly attention over...
Open Repair of an Inflammatory Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Following open repair of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm, patient developed paraplegia. Types of paraplegia following open repair of AAA are described. Presentation and management of inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm as a distinct variety of AAA are discussed.
Intellectual disability-associated UNC80 mutations reveal inter-subunit interaction and dendritic function of the NALCN channel complex

The sodium-leak channel NALCN forms a subthreshold sodium conductance that controls the resting membrane potentials of neurons. The auxiliary subunits of the channel and their functions in mammals are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that two large proteins UNC80 and UNC79 are subunits of the NALCN complex. UNC80 knockout mice are neonatal lethal. The C-terminus of UNC80 contains a domain that interacts with UNC79 and overcomes a soma-retention signal to achieve dendritic localization. UNC80 lacking this domain, as found in human patients, still supports whole-cell NALCN currents but lacks dendritic localization. Our results establish the subunit composition of the NALCN complex, uncover the inter-subunit interaction domains, reveal the functional significance of regulation of dendritic membrane potential by the sodium-leak channel complex, and provide evidence supporting that genetic variations found in individuals with intellectual disability are the causes for the phenotype observed in patients.
Monolithically Integrated Resonant Cavity Enhanced Type-II Superlattice Detectors

We demonstrate all-epitaxial resonant cavity-enhanced type-II superlattice detectors (T2SL). Our structures show peak quantum efficiencies of 43-59%, which is a 4.0-6.6× enhancement compared to our control structures and greater than state-of-the-art long-wavelength infrared T2SL detectors.
Stars at infinity in Teichmüller space

We investigate a metric structure on the Thurston boundary of Teichmuller space. To do this, we develop tools in sup metrics and apply Minsky’s theorem.
Testing for Differences in the Reporting of Somatic Symptoms of Depression in Racial/Ethnic Minorities.

We tested if Latinx and Black individuals are more likely to somaticize depression compared with their White counterparts. We analyzed 14,745 depression ratings from 4,101 people living with HIV fr...
The Effect of Internal Collaboration on Inventor Mobility

While previous research has examined the role of collaboration for value creation in firms’ innovation, little is known about how collaboration affects value capture from firms’ knowledge resources...
Investigating sex differences and the effect of drug exposure order in the sensory reward-enhancing effects of nicotine and d-amphetamine alone and in combination.

Abstract Nicotine enhances the rewarding effects of other environmental stimuli; this reward-enhancement encourages and maintains nicotine consumption. Nicotine use precedes other psychostimulant use, but receiving a stimulant prescription also predicts future smoking. Previously, no study has investigated effects of drug exposure order in reward-enhancement, nor with nicotine and d -amphetamine. Thus, we aimed to investigate how drug exposure order impacted the reward-enhancing effects of nicotine and d -amphetamine, alone and in combination. We used 20 male and 20 female Sprague-Dawley rats. Enhancement was investigated within-subjects by examining responding maintained by a visual stimulus reinforcer following a pre-session injection of either d -amphetamine (Sal, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.6 mg/kg) or nicotine (Sal, 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg). Twenty rats (10 M, 10 F) completed enhancement testing with nicotine before d -amphetamine. The other 20 rats (10 M, 10 F) completed testing with d -amphetamine before nicotine. Following these phases, rats were then given two pre-session injections: one of d -amphetamine (Sal, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.6 mg/kg) and another of nicotine (Sal, 0.03, 0.06, 0.1, or 0.3 mg/kg). Experiencing amphetamine before nicotine increased reward-enhancing effects of nicotine. Females exhibited greater effects of d -amphetamine on reward-enhancement, with no effect of exposure order. During the interaction phase, receiving nicotine before amphetamine enhanced the interaction between nicotine and d -amphetamine for females whereas amphetamine before nicotine heightened this interaction for males. From this, prior and current amphetamine use, in addition to sex, should be considered when treating nicotine dependency and when examining factors driving poly-substance use involving nicotine and d -amphetamine. Keywords: Adderall, ADHD, Dexedrine, operant, smoking, polysubstance use.
Resistance-guided mining of bacterial genotoxins defines a family of DNA glycosylases

Unique DNA repair enzymes that provide self-resistance against genotoxic natural products have been discovered recently in bacterial biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). The DNA glycosylase AlkZ belongs to a superfamily of uncharacterized proteins found in antibiotic producers and pathogens, but despite its importance to azinomycin B resistance, the roles of AlkZ orthologs in production of other natural products are unknown. Here, we analyze the genomic distribution and use a resistance-based genome mining approach to identify Streptomyces AlkZ homologs associated with known and uncharacterized BGCs. We show that the ortholog associated with synthesis of the alkylating agent hedamycin excises hedamycin-DNA adducts and provides resistance to the genotoxin in cells. Our results define AlkZ in self-resistance to specific antimicrobials and implicate a related but distinct homolog, which we name AlkX, in protection against an array of genotoxins. This work provides a framework for targeted discovery of new genotoxic compounds with therapeutic potential.
XM2A: Multi-Scale Multi-Head Attention with Cross-Talk for Multi-Variate Time Series Analysis

Advances in sensory technologies are enabling the capture of a diverse spectrum of real-world data streams. In-creasing availability of such data, especially in the form of multi-variate time series, allows for new opportunities for applications that rely on identifying and leveraging complex temporal patterns A particular challenge such algorithms face is that complex patterns consist of multiple simpler patterns of varying scales (temporal length). While several recent works (such as multi-head attention networks) recognized the fact complex patterns need to be understood in the form of multiple simpler patterns, we note that existing works lack the ability of represent the interactions across these constituting patterns. To tackle this limitation, in this paper, we propose a novel Multi-scale Multi-head Attention with Cross-Talk (XM2A) framework designed to represent multi-scale patterns that make up a complex pattern by configuring each attention head to learn a pattern at a particular scale and accounting for the co-existence of patterns at multiple scales through a cross-talking mechanism among the heads. Experiments show that XM2A outperforms state-of-the-art attention mechanisms, such as Transformer and MSMSA, on benchmark datasets, such as SADD, AUSLAN, and MOCAP.
Mid-Infrared Emission Features in the ISM: Feature-to-Feature Flux Ratios

Using a limited, but representative sample of sources in the ISM of our Galaxy with published spectra from the Infrared Space Observatory, we analyze flux ratios between the major mid-IR emission features (EFs) centered around 6.2, 7.7, 8.6 and 11.3 microns, respectively. In a flux ratio-to-flux ratio plot of EF(6.2)/EF(7.7) as a function of EF(11.3)/EF(7.7), the sample sources form roughly a $\Lambda$-shaped locus which appear to trace, on an overall basis, the hardness of a local heating radiation field. But some driving parameters other than the radiation field may also be required for a full interpretation of this trend. On the other hand, the flux ratio of EF(8.6)/EF(7.7) shows little variation over the sample sources, except for two HII regions which have much higher values for this ratio due to an ``EF(8.6\um) anomaly,'' a phenomenon clearly associated with environments of an intense far-UV radiation field. If further confirmed on a larger database, these trends should provide crucial information on how the EF carriers collectively respond to a changing environment.
Design and Evaluation of a Source Routed Ad Hoc Network

Effects of network parameters on the performance of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) have been widely investigated. However, there are certain issues related to the hardware implementation and internal parameters of the nodes present in the network that effect performance dramatically. In this work a source routed wireless network is implemented in VHDL. Basic modules in the design are mobile ad hoc nodes and a switch that emulates the wireless channel and controls the connectivity between nodes. By varying hardware parameters of the nodes under different network conditions performance of the overall system is measured and simulation results are presented.