cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Reverse Pulse Current Duration on the Corrosion and Wear Performance of Ni-W Nanolaminate Coatings

The effects of varying the reverse pulse current duration (τ = 0 s, 1 s, 5 s, and 10 s) were evaluated on the composition, crystallinity, hardness, corrosion resistance, and tribological performance of nanolaminate Ni-W coatings deposited by pulsed reverse current electrodeposition. With the deposition conditions used in this study, it was found that a reverse current duration of τ = 1 s produced a coating that was both highly corrosion resistant and wear resistant.
FeNi2Se4–Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite: Enhancing Bifunctional Electrocatalytic Activity for Oxygen Evolution and Reduction through Synergistic Effects

Water splitting reaction using earth-abundant and environmentally benign catalysts is critical for renewable energy generation and storage. Herein a hybrid composite, FeNi2Se4 nanoparticles supported on nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide (FeNi2Se4–NrGO) is reported as an efficient and dependable bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction reactions (OER and ORR, respectively) under alkaline conditions. While FeNi2Se4 nanoparticles themselves show good catalytic activity for water oxidation, the constructed hybrid nanocomposite with NrGO as the supporting matrix show enhanced catalytic activity with a small overpotential of 170 mV @ 10 mA cm−2, small Tafel slope of 62.1 mV per decade, and high current density. The ORR catalytic activity of the nanocomposite catalyst is also good with an onset potential of 0.93 V. This is possibly due to the synergistic chemical coupling effects between the FeNi2Se4 and NrGO matrix. Chronoamperometric studies show that the catalyst is stable under conditions of continuous O2 evolution and reduction with very less degradation. Apart from reporting highly efficient OER–ORR bifunctional catalyst, this study also provides more proof for the effect of anion coordination on the catalyst performance, as well as the synergistic role of nanoscale interactions between the catalyst particles and graphene matrix to enhance catalytic activity.
Norovirus Cell Tropism Is Determined by Combinatorial Action of a Viral Non-structural Protein and Host Cytokine

Summary Cellular tropism during persistent viral infection is commonly conferred by the interaction of a viral surface protein with a host receptor complex. Norovirus, the leading global cause of gastroenteritis, can be persistently shed during infection, but its in vivo cellular tropism and tropism determinants remain unidentified. Using murine norovirus (MNoV), we determine that a small number of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) serve as the reservoir for fecal shedding and persistence. The viral non-structural protein NS1, rather than a viral surface protein, determines IEC tropism. Expression of NS1 from a persistent MNoV strain is sufficient for an acute MNoV strain to target IECs and persist. In addition, interferon-lambda (IFN-λ) is a key host determinant blocking MNoV infection in IECs. The inability of acute MNoV to shed and persist is rescued in Ifnlr1 −/− mice, suggesting that NS1 evades IFN-λ-mediated antiviral immunity. Thus, NS1 and IFN-λ interactions govern IEC tropism and persistence of MNoV.
Denial of service to same-sex and interracial couples: Evidence from a national survey experiment

Legislatures and courts are debating whether businesses can deny services to same-sex couples for religious reasons. Yet, little is known about public views on this issue. In a national survey experiment, Americans (n = 2035) responded to an experimental vignette describing a gay or interracial couple refused service. Vignettes varied the reason for refusal (religion/nonreligious) and by business type (individual/corporation). Results confirm greater support of service refusal by the self-employed than by corporations and to gay couples than to interracial couples. However, religious reasons for refusal to gay couples elicit no more support than do nonreligious reasons. In the first national study to experimentally analyze views on service refusal to sexual minorities, we demonstrate that views vary by several factors but not by whether the refusal was for religious reasons.
The Anticaries Efficacy of a 1.5% Arginine and Fluoride Toothpaste:

Dental caries remains a world-wide disease despite the global distribution of fluoride. It has become apparent that the introduction of significant levels of sugar (fermentable carbohydrate) into the diet has resulted in a change in the biofilm, encouraging acid formation. Further, there has been a shift in the microbiota in the biofilm to a flora that produces acid, and thrives and reproduces in an acidic environment. The management of caries activity under these conditions has focused on brushing to remove the biofilm with fluoride pastes, and high-dose fluoride treatments. Kleinberg, in the 1970s, identified an arginine-containing compound in saliva that several oral biofilm bacterial species metabolize to produce base. Multiple in situ and in vivo studies have been conducted, and have discussed the ability of multiple bacteria to increase the resting pH of the biofilm and even reduce the decrease in pH when the biofilm is challenged with glucose. This shift in resting pH can shift the level of caries formation by the biofilm. Here, we present 8 clinical studies, with different clinical designs, measuring different clinical outcomes, for a diverse, world-wide population. Each of these studies demonstrates reductions in caries formation beyond that seen with fluoride alone and several demonstrate the reversal of early caries lesions. Significant clinical research has been shown that 1.5% arginine combined with fluoride toothpaste has superior anti-caries efficacy to toothpaste containing fluoride alone.
Improving arsenopyrite oxidation rate laws: implications for arsenic mobilization during aquifer storage and recovery (ASR)

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) and aquifer recharge (AR) provide technical solutions to address water supply deficits and growing future water demands. Unfortunately, the mobilization of naturally present arsenic due to ASR/AR operations has undermined its application on a larger scale. Predicting arsenic mobility in the subsurface during ASR/AR is further complicated by site-specific factors, including the arsenic mobilization mechanisms, groundwater flow conditions, and multi-phase geochemical interactions. In order to ensure safe and sustainable ASR/AR operation, a better understanding of these factors is needed. The current study thus aims to better characterize and model arsenic remobilization at ASR/AR sites by compiling and analyzing available kinetic data on arsenic mobilization from arsenopyrite under different aqueous conditions. More robust and widely applicable rate laws are developed for geochemical conditions relevant to ASR/AR. Sensitivity analysis of these new rate laws gives further insight into the controlling geochemical factors for arsenic mobilization. When improved rate laws are incorporated as the inputs for reactive transport modeling, arsenic mobilization in ASR/AR operations can be predicted with an improved accuracy. The outcomes will be used to guide groundwater monitoring and specify ASR/AR operational parameters, including water pretreatment requirements prior to injection.
Modeling and control of unmanned aerial/underwater vehicles using hybrid control

Abstract Modeling and control of a multi-medium unmanned vehicle capable of seamless operation in air or underwater is introduced in this paper. The multi-medium system is treated as a hybrid system with continuous dynamics while performing in both air and underwater, and discrete jumps in the medium density during the transitions. The continuous dynamics are modeled by the Newton–Euler formalism, taking into account the effects of the buoyancy and drag phenomena, normally neglected in aerial vehicles. A hybrid controller is designed for trajectory tracking considering the full system, including a transition strategy to assure the switching between mediums. Stability analysis for the full system is provided using hybrid Lyapunov and invariance principles. The performance of the control strategy is validated through simulations. Finally, an experimental platform consisting of a multirotor in an octo-quadcopter configuration was developed and some preliminary experimental results are introduced, showing the vehicle performing in air, underwater and through the transition.
Abstract B01: A genetically engineered mouse model of de novo bone metastasis

The primary metastatic site of prostate cancer is the bone, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite this fact, very few genetically engineered mouse models recapitulate this phenotype, hindering our ability to model and understand the molecular drivers of bone metastasis. Our laboratory has generated a highly metastatic mouse model of castration-resistant prostate cancer based on the monoallelic loss of function of Nkx3.1, biallelic deletion of Pten, and oncogenic mutation of Kras in the prostate, termed the NPK model. By tracking these tumors with a bright fluorescent reporter, we now show that these tumors metastasize to bone with a penetrance of ~45% and display a bone distribution similar to that of human cancer. This model has thus allowed us to comprehensively profile the molecular alterations of bone metastatic lesions compared to the primary tumor and other metastatic sites. We found that differential gene expression profiles comparing bone metastases with primary tumors differ from those comparing lung metastases with primary tumors, suggesting that different biologic principles underlie metastasis to these two organ sites. Furthermore, gene-expression profiling demonstrated significant overlap with human bone metastases at the gene, master regulator, and pathway levels. Even though expression of the androgen receptor (AR) is maintained in the primary tumor and most lung metastases, bone lesions are AR-, without evidence of neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, pointing to an AR-, NE- prostate cancer subtype, which is increasingly frequent in human prostate cancer. These results lay the groundwork for understanding the molecular drivers and pathways that are important for bone metastatic spread and may hopefully aid in selecting appropriate molecular targets to combat the metastatic disease. Citation Format: Juan Martin Arriaga, Cory Abate-Shen. A genetically engineered mouse model of de novo bone metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Modeling Cancer in Mice: Technology, Biology, and Beyond; 2017 Sep 24-27; Orlando, Florida. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B01.
Abstract 12101: Vectorcardiographic QRS and T Loop Roundness is Associated With Sudden Cardiac Death: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities and the Cardiovascular Health Study

Introduction: Vectorcardiography (VCG) analysis using QRS and T loop roundness has been shown to be associated with prior myocardial infarction, but their association with sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains unknown. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that QRS and T loop roundness are independently associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). Methods: We prospectively analyzed reconstructed VCGs of 19,972 subjects at the baseline visit from the Cardiovascular Health Study (n=5374, age >65) and the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (n=14,598, age 45-64). QRS and T loop roundness was measured by the roundness index (RI) and principal component analysis (PCA) ratio. We evaluated the association between these parameters and the risk of SCD using 3 multivariate Cox Models. Model 1 adjusted for demographic characteristics (age, sex, race, study center/cohort), model 2 additionally adjusted for prevalent cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, use of beta blocker) and traditional cardiovascular risk factors (BMI, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, physical activity index, creatinine), and model 3 further adjusted for ECG parameters associated with SCD (heart rate, QRS QTc, sex-specific Cornell product, BBB/IVCD). Results: Smaller QRS loop RI (SD) was independently associated with SCD in model 3 (HR 0.89 [95%CI 0.81-0.97]; p=0.01). Larger T loop RI (SD) was associated with SCD only in minimally adjusted model 1 (HR 1.14 [95%CI 1.06-1.23]; p=0.01). Larger T loop PCA ratio (SD) was associated with SCD in all three models (model 1, HR 1.32 [95%CI 1.23-1.43]; model 2, HR 1.16 [95%CI 1.07-1.25]; model 3, HR 1.11 [95%CI 1.03-1.20], all p Conclusions: Smaller QRS loop roundness and larger T loop roundness are associated with an increased risk of SCD. VCG analysis can help identify patients at increased risk of SCD.
A Comparative View of the Law of Trademarked Generic Words

In this article, the authors compare the approaches of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in handling common problems that arise when providing legal protection to trademarked words. The authors begin with the other countries, analyzing their common law, and discussing the beginning of trademark infringements actions there. In looking at the other countries, the authors evaluate the legal test of genericness, the importance of deception in legal decisions, and the recent statutory developments. The authors then move on to an analysis of the United States approach, mainly focusing on the primary significance test and federal trademark legislation. The remainder of the article is a comparative analysis of the United States with the other countries. The article ends with the conclusion that while there are problems with the United States’ approach to trademarked words, these problems are not as severe as those associated with the approach of the remaining countries.
Topology at a Scale in Metric Spaces

This is an expository article that discusses some developments in joint work with Laurent Bartholdi, Thomas Schick and Steve Smale in [1] and also in [10]. Recently, in various contexts, there has been interest in the topology of certain spaces (even finite data sets) at a “scale”, for example, in reconstruction of manifolds or other spaces from a discrete sample as in [8] and [4], and also in connection with learning theory [9, 11] and [7]. In persistence homology, [3, 5] mathematicians have been computing topological features at a range of scales, to find the fundamental structures of spaces and data sets. See also [2]. In this paper, we will first give an explicit description of homology at a scale, for a compact metric space. We will then describe a Hodge theory for the corresponding cohomology when the space has a Borel probability measure.
Combinatorial Test Design – A Smarter Way to Connect with the Business

A formal quality gate called the Test Readiness Review (TRR) is a typical pre-requisite for commencing System Integration Testing. For a large program that is currently underway, we were in the test design phase. There were continued delays in the Test Readiness sign off from the client. The main reason was the 300 plus open questions related to requirements clarity that was impacting the test preparation completion. To address this impasse, we introduced Combinatorial Test (CT). The aim was to provide coverage assurance and uncover gaps in tests and requirements using CT. The interactive CT design process would ensure that open questions, undocumented requirements and system interactions are highlighted using scientific methods without bias. Thus, aiding speedy closure of gaps in both requirements and test cases. We used the IBM IGNITE Method for deploying Combinatorial Test Design, which engages stakeholders and implements CT techniques with the Focus tool.
One-Round Authenticated Group Key Establishment Using Multilinear Maps

In this paper, we propose a one-round authenticated group key establishment protocol. Our protocol is based on Graded Decisional Diffie-Hellman assumption, and it requires timestamps. The resulting solution is in the random oracle model, builds on a multilinear map, and offers integrity as well as strong entity authentication. This proposed construction can also be viewed as a compiler that can transform a passively secure one-round group key establishment protocol to an actively secure one without an additional round.
Mapping subsurface tile drainage systems with thermal images

Abstract In Midwestern agricultural fields, subsurface tile drainage has been widely used to remove excess water from the soil through perforated tubes installed beneath the ground surface. While it plays an important role in enabling agricultural activities in wet but productive areas, this system is a major driving factor affecting water and nutrient dynamics, and water quality in this region. However, despite its critical role, the specific locations of subsurface tile drainage structures are not generally available nor well captured by conventional optical image processing due to soil surface features, such as topographic depressions and tillage. To overcome these challenges, in this study, we have explored the potential of using thermal images to identify the location of a subsurface drainage pipe. The hypothesis is that the unique spatial distribution of soil moisture set up by tile drains can result in the difference in surface soil temperature between areas near and away from drainage pipes. Toward this objective, we designed and developed an experimental device based on a dimensionless analysis at a scale of 1:20, which was deployed in the open air for 4.5 months. The experimental results demonstrate that (1) there is an ideal time for thermal image acquisition that maximizes the contrast between the regions close to and distant from subsurface drainage systems, and (2) the thermal image processing approach proposed in this study is a promising tool that has advantages of higher accuracy and stability in localizing subsurface drainage pipes over optical image-based approaches
Tobacco Advertising and ID Checks in Columbus, Ohio, in Advance of Tobacco 21.

Purpose:In autumn 2017, Columbus, Ohio, joined numerous other US locations in raising their legal sales age for purchasing tobacco to 21 (ie, becoming “T21”). The present study sought to establish ...
Addressing the threat from within: Investigation of respiratory symptoms in a health care worker with untreated latent tuberculosis infection.

Tuberculosis (TB) in the health care worker demands orchestrated efforts from health care institutions to promptly identify cases and address community risk. We describe a pediatric intensive care unit nurse with latent TB infection who developed hemoptysis and a lung infiltrate concerning for active TB. Her evaluation and contact investigation were facilitated by our institution's command center. Although TB was ultimately ruled out, this case tested our team-based care in response to a suspected high-consequence pathogen.
Tracer transport in attractive and repulsive supercooled liquids and glasses

The transport of small penetrants through disordered materials with glassy dynamics is encountered in applications ranging from drug delivery to chemical separations. Nonetheless, understanding the influence of the matrix structure and fluctuations on penetrant motions remains a persistent challenge. Here, we use event-driven molecular dynamics to investigate the transport of small, hard-sphere tracers embedded in matrices of square-well particles. Short-range attractions between matrix particles give rise to reentrant dynamics in the supercooled regime, in which the liquid's relaxation time increases dramatically upon heating or cooling. Heating results in a "repulsive" supercooled liquid where relaxations are frustrated by steric interactions between particles, whereas cooling produces an "attractive" liquid in which relaxations are hindered by long-lived interparticle bonds. Further cooling or heating, or compression, of the supercooled liquids results in the formation of distinct glasses. Our study reveals that tracer transport in these supercooled liquids and glasses is influenced by the matrix structure and dynamics. The relative importance of each factor varies between matrices and is examined in detail by analyzing particle mean-square displacements, caging behavior, and trajectories sampled from the isoconfigurational ensemble. We identify features of tracer dynamics that reveal the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the matrices and show that matrix arrest is insufficient to localize tracers.
Interactive presentation digital tool Mentimeter perceived as accessible and beneficial for exam preparation by medical students

As medical students are responsible for understanding vast medical content in a short amount of time, instructors have shifted their focus to include flipped classroom model and use innovative educational tools in class to facilitate stronger comprehension and critical thinking. While there are many audience response systems (ARS) available, the cost to the institution and students in the form of licenses, and installation of hardware can be a significant problem. Besides, faculty can show resistance in adopting these tools. Mentimeter is a web-based ARS that is low cost and is available on any device anytime. We wanted to inquire about its impact on learning in our medical students since course evaluations are usually retrievable at the end of course. By analyzing satisfaction surveys, this study looked at the utilization of Mentimeter in a medical physiology course. Medical students overwhelmingly agreed that Mentimeter is a useful tool for exam preparation in clarifying difficult concepts and appreciated an instructor-led readiness assessment several days before their first exam. We believe that the use of this application can help explain basic concepts, make office hours more constructive, and bring a paradigm shift in readiness assessment for medical students in both preclinical and clinical curriculum.
Behavior of Ultrafine Particles in Electro-Hydrodynamic Flow Induced by Corona Discharge.

Abstract Ultrafine particle behavior in electro-hydrodynamic (EHD) flow induced by corona discharge is studied experimentally and numerically. The EHD flow serves as a primary particle aspiration/sampling mechanism, the collector does not require any additional flow generation. Multiphysics numerical model couples the ion transport equation and the Navier-Stokes equations (NSE) to solve for the spatiotemporal distribution of electric field, charge density, and flow field, the results are compared with experimental velocity profiles at the exit. The computed velocity and flow rate data are in good agreement with the experimental data; the maximum velocity is located at the axis and ranges from 1 m/s to 4 m/s as a function of corona voltage. Experimentally evaluated particle transmission trends for ambient and NaCl nanoparticles particles in the 20 nm–150 nm range are in good agreement with the theoretical models. However, for particles in the 10 nm–20 nm size range, the transmission is lower due to the increased particle charging resulted from their exposure to the high-intensity electric field and high charge density in the EHD driven flow. These conditions yield a high probability of particles below 20 nm to acquire and hold a unit charge. The transmission is lower for smaller particle (10 nm) due to their high charge to mass ratio, and it increases as the single-charged particles grow in mass up to 20 nm, resulting in their lower electrical mobility. For particles larger than 20 nm, the electrical mobility increases again as they can acquire multiple charges. The results shed insight into interaction of nanoparticle and ions in high electrical field environment, that occur in primary EHD driven flows and in the secondary flows generated by corona discharge.
Self-Assembled Periodic Nanostructures Using Martensitic Phase Transformations

We describe a novel approach for the rational design and synthesis of self-assembled periodic nanostructures using martensitic phase transformations. We demonstrate this approach in a thin film of ...
Stereotactic heavy-particle irradiation of intracranial arteriovenous malformations.

Microsurgical techniques have made more feasible the total excision of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) located in previously inaccessible areas of the brain, and with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless, there are still many AVMs that cannot be treated surgically, either because they are located deep within the brain or because of their enormous size or relatively benign clinical presentation. From September 1980 to December 1984, we treated 75 patients who had AVMs of this particular group with combined methods of intraluminal embolization, surgical occlusion of the arterial feeding vessels, and/or partial excision of the AVM, followed by stereotactic heavy-particle irradiation.
Fundamentals matter: Forecasting the 2020 democratic presidential nomination

Previous studies used pre-primary variables (e.g., endorsements, national polls, and fundraising) and momentum variables from the Iowa and New Hampshire contests to predict presidential nomination outcomes. Yet, races with no elite favorite and no clear frontrunner in polls, such as in the 2020 Democratic race, are more difficult to forecast. We replicate and extend two forecasting models from 1980 to 2016 used by Dowdle et al. (2016) to predict the 2020 results. Our models suggest that Joe Biden may have been a stronger frontrunner than expected but that subsequent models may need to incorporate other early contests, such as the South Carolina primary. Overall, our results also argue that the fundamental factors in winning presidential nominations have remained relatively stable.
Parents are not Aware of Their Adolescents’ Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use

Background: The prevalence of vaping and of any tobacco use among teens has risen sharply over the past two years. Although 27.5% of high school students are a past 30-day vaper and 5.8% report past 30-day cigarette smoking, parents may not be aware of their child's vaping and smoking behaviors. Awareness of trial is important, because ever use of tobacco products is a critical step on the trajectory to current tobacco use. Objective: …
Superior Capsular Reconstruction of the Shoulder

In the difficult situation of a patient with shoulder pain due to an irreparable rotator cuff tear, there have traditionally been limited surgical options for relieving pain and restoring function. This situation is particularly difficult for the younger patient with higher functional expectations without underlying glenohumeral arthritis. There have been multiple procedures attempted to improve pain and function in this situation; however, they have shown limited success or significant risk of complications. In this setting, the superior capsular reconstruction, introduced by Dr. Mihata in 2012, may be a promising surgical solution, with excellent clinical results and reliable pain relief.
Sustainable Development Funds and HFC Projects: Nordic Efforts and Climate Initiatives (I)

Through a consideration of issues and arguments relating to Sustainable Development, climate change, the use of re cyclable/ non recyclable products, this paper considers merits, as well as evaluation of costs attributable to related matters on the environment. It also addresses a range of other factors which are contributory – as well as detrimental to the environment, and to economic development. There remain serious obstacles in the way of progress in matters relating to collaborative projects on climate initiatives and sustainable development initiatives. For this reason, platforms of communicative and innovative exchange serve as vital tools for mitigating possible communication gaps which may hinder the achievement of essential goals and objectives. This paper further, highlights how and why global initiatives and efforts aimed at combatting the all important issue of global warming and the reduction of carbon emissions cannot be achieved without a unified approach which embraces a coordinated, cooperative system and which encompasses and requires a common framework of rules and standards. Herein lies the vital role of the judiciary and legislature, not only in matters attributable to accountability, but also facilitating a harmonized and unified approach to the adoption and interpretation of rules - such that consistency is facilitated – and disclosure enhanced. Further, uncertainty and inconsistency is reduced where a more harmonized approach to rule application is adopted.
Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Laser Ablation of the Thyroid Gland in a Swine Model: Comparison of Ablation Parameters and Ablation Zone Dimensions

To compare laser ablation (LA) zone dimensions at two predetermined energy parameters to cover a theoretical 10 mm zone + 2 mm margin in a thyroid swine model. Approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee was obtained. After hydrodissection, an ultrasound-guided LA (Elesta Echolaser X4 with Orblaze technology, 1064 nm) was performed in the periphery of the thyroid in 10 swine. Two cohorts were established to ablate a region of 10mm diameter with 2mm margin based on manufacturer’s ex vivo data (n= 5 at 3W/1400J and n= 5 at 3W/1800J). The ablation zone was measured on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and compared to the pathological specimen. Euthanasia was performed 48 hours following ablation. All ablations in the 3W/1800J group achieved a diameter of 12 mm ± 1 mm in three dimensions. In the 3W/1400J group, 1 ablation reached 12 mm ± 1 mm in 2 dimensions and 4 ablations reached this size in one dimension. Maximum diameter was higher in the 3W/1800J compared to the 3W/1400J group, both on histology (1.46 cm ± 0.05 vs. 1.1 cm ± 0.0, p< 0.01) and CT (1.52 cm ± 0.04 vs. 1.18 cm ± 0.04, p< 0.01). Similar results were obtained regarding volumes, both on histology (1.12 mL ± 0.13 vs. 0.57 mL ± 0.06, p< 0.01) and CT (1.24 mL ± 0.13 vs. 0.59 mL ± 0.07, p< 0.01). Histology showed coagulation necrosis and correlated well with CT measurements. Optimal parameters to obtain a LA zone of 10 mm with 2 mm margin utilizing a single needle are 3W/1800J.
What Have We Learned about the Resource Curse

Since 2001, hundreds of academic studies have examined the “political resource curse,” meaning the claim that natural resource wealth tends to adversely affect a country's governance. There is now robust evidence that one type of mineral wealth, petroleum, has at least three harmful effects: It tends to make authoritarian regimes more durable, to increase certain types of corruption, and to help trigger violent conflict in low- and middle-income countries. Scholars have also made progress toward understanding the mechanisms that lead to these outcomes and the conditions that make them more likely. This essay reviews the evidence behind these claims, the debates over their validity, and some of the unresolved puzzles for future research.
Impact of an Expansion of a Clinical Nutrition Curriculum on Pre-Clerkship Medical Students’ Perception of Their Knowledge and Skills Related to Performing a Nutritional Assessment

Learning how to provide nutritional counseling to patients should start early in undergraduate medical education to improve the knowledge, comfort, and confidence of physicians. Two nutrition workshops were developed for first-year medical students. The first workshop, co-led by physicians and registered dieticians, focused on obtaining nutrition assessments. The second workshop focused on the appropriate dietary counseling of patients with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular risk. We surveyed students before workshop 1, after workshop 1, and after workshop 2 to assess their perceptions of the value of physician nutrition knowledge and counseling skills as well as their own comfort in the area of nutritional knowledge, assessment, and counseling. We found a significant improvement in their self-assessed level of knowledge regarding counseling patients, in their comfort in completing a nutritional assessment, and in their confidence in advising a patient about nutrition by the end of the first workshop. By the time of the second workshop five months later, students continued to report a high level of knowledge, comfort, and confidence. The implementation of clinical nutrition workshops with a focus on assessment, management, and counseling was found to be effective in increasing student’s self-assessed level of knowledge as well as their confidence and comfort in advising patients on nutrition. Our findings further support the previous assertion that clinical nutrition education can be successfully integrated into the pre-clerkship medical school curriculum.
USA – Wilderness no more: Alaska as the new “offshore” trust jurisdiction

Letter from Jonathan G. Blattmachr and Bridget J. Crawford (Attorneys at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, New York City) describing the steps taken by the state of Alaska in the USA to become the pre-eminent US jurisdiction for trust creation and administration. Published in the Letter from … section of Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London
Use of zebrafish as a model to investigate the role of epigenetics in propagating the secondary complications observed in diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is classified as a disease of metabolic dysregulation predicted to affect over 400 million individuals world-wide by 2030. The debilitating aspects of this disease are the long term complications involving microvascular and macrovascular pathologies. These long term complications are related to the clinical phenomenon of metabolic memory (MM) that is defined as the persistence of diabetic complications even after glycemic control has been pharmacologically achieved. The persistent nature of MM has invoked involvement of epigenetic processes. Current research with the DM/MM zebrafish model as described in this review as well as human and mammalian studies has established that changes in DNA methylation patterns appear to contribute to tissue dysfunctions associated with DM. This review will describe studies on an adult zebrafish model of type I diabetes mellitus that allows analysis of both the hyperglycemic (HG or DM) phase and MM phase of the disease. The review will discuss the model in regards to: 1) its hyperglycemic phase, 2) its MM phase, 3) biochemical opathways underlying changes in DNA methylation patterns observed in the model, 4) loci specific changes in DNA methylation patterns, and 5) strengths of the adult zebrafish model as compared to other MM animal models.
Nutrient Deficiencies in Naturally Occurring Foods

Nutrient deficiencies in foods ingested by animals and human beings may be inherent or acquired. Causal factors, responsible for nutrient deficiency may be single or multiple. A tenable argument is that all foods are nutrient deficient if they do not per se provide all nutrients necessary to physiological maintenance without addition of other foods or nutrients. However, given that different foods are consumed that complement one another in providing for nutritional needs, then nutrient-deficient foods are those that have inherent or acquired characteristics that render them inferior in comparison with other foods of similar origin. In the context of human nutrition, a nutrient-deficient food is one that cannot support life, growth, tissue repair, or optimal health if used as a staple food. The limitations of this definition will be obvious to the purist but may serve the purposes of this discussion.
MantisBot: A Platform for Investigating Mantis Behavior via Real-Time Neural Control

We present Mantisbot, a 28 degree of freedom robot controlled in real-time by a neural simulation. MantisBot was designed as a 13.3:1 model of a male Tenodera sinensis with the animal's predominant degrees of freedom. The purpose of this robot is to investigate two main topics: 1. the control of targeted motion, such as prey-directed pivots and striking, and 2. the role of descending commands in transitioning between behaviors, such as standing, prey stalking, and walking. In order to more directly use data from the animal, the robot mimics its kinematics and range of motion as closely as possible, uses strain gages on its legs to measure femoral strain like insects, and is controlled by a realistic neural simulation of networks in the thoracic ganglia. This paper summarizes the mechanical, electrical, and software design of the robot, and how its neural control system generates reflexes observed in insects. It also presents preliminary results; the robot is capable of supporting its weight on four or six legs, and using sensory information for adaptive and corrective reflexes.
On Message Protection in Cryptosystems Modelled as the Generalized Wire-Tap Channel II

A novel approach to the analysis of message security in cryptosystems which can be modelled as the generalized wire-tap channel II is considered. Roughly speaking, the codewords transmitted through this channel are degraded by the deletion of a number of bits and by the complementing of a number of the remaining bits. It is assumed that the channel output codewords are available to a cryptanalyst. The security of the messages is measured by the uncertainty after certain minimum distance decoding (MDD) procedures are applied to the received codewords. A novel distance measure relevant to MDD is proposed, and the remaining uncertainty after MDD is analyzed. An extension of the approach is also considered.
Enhanced adhesion of EVA laminates to primed glass substrates subjected to damp heat exposure

We investigated the effectiveness of glass-surface priming to promote enhanced adhesion of EVA laminates during damp-heat exposure at 85/spl deg/C and 85% relative humidity. The primary objective was to develop advanced encapsulant formulations by incorporation of various primer formulations that exhibit improved adhesion during damp-heat exposure. Several primer formulations were identified that greatly enhanced the EVA adhesion strength, including to the extent that peeling could not be initiated, even for the laminates of the glass substrate/fast-cure EVA15295P/TPE backsheet (a Tedlar/polyester/EVA tri-laminate) that were exposed in a damp-heat test chamber for more than 750 h. The results show that a synergistic increase in the interfacial hydrophobicity, siloxane density, and cross-linking density are the key attributes to the improvement in the EVA adhesion strength.
Tight binding inhibitors—VIII: Studies of the interactions of 2′-deoxycoformycin and transport inhibitors with the erythrocytic nucleoside transport system☆

Abstract Studies were performed to extend earlier observations that the rate-limiting step in the inactivation of intraerythrocytic human adenosine deaminase (ADA) by 2'-deoxycoiormycin (dCF) is the nucleoside transport system (NTS). The NTS inhibitors 2-amino-6-[(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)thio]-9-β-D-ribofuranosyl purine (HNBTGR), 6-[(4-nitrobenzyl)thio]-9-β- d -ribofuranosyl purine (NBMPR), 2-amino-6-[(4-nitrobenzyl)Seleno]-9-β- D -ribofuranosyl purine (NBSeGR), dipyridamole and the competitive permeant, uridine, all decreased the rate of ADA inactivation by dCF in a concentrationdependent manner. Lineweaver-Burk plots of 1 k γ (where kγ is the pseudo first-order rate constant for the inactivation of ADA) 1/dCF concentrations were linear, giving a Km tor dCF tor the NTS of 6 × 10−7 M. The maximal kγ calculated by extrapolation to infinite dCF concentrations was 6 × 10−3 per sec which corresponds to a T 1 2 of about 115 sec. Similar plots for experiments with the NTS inhibitors and uridine yielded classic patterns of competitive inhibition for NBMPR, HNBTGR, NBSeGR and uridine, whereas with dipyridamole a pattern of non-competitive inhibition was obtained. Dissociation or inhibition constants have been reported for several of these compounds (determined by other methods) and values similar to these were obtained. Inhibition by dipyridamole was non-competitive (kl = 2.5 × 10−7 M) and was of a bi-phasic nature with respect to time. Dipyridamole caused rapid and irreversible inhibition for the first 7–15 min with slow and progressive but reversible inhibition thereafter. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that NBMPR, HNBTGR, NBSeGR and uridine interact with the same site on a macromolecular component of the NTS that forms ligands with dCF. The behavior of dipyridamole appears more complex and will require more extensive study.
Pain Disorder/Somatic Symptom Disorder

Pain disorder (PD), as referenced in the DSM-IV-TR, “is characterized by pain that is the predominant focus in the clinical presentation and is of sufficient severity to warrant clinical attention. In addition, psychological factors are judged to play an important role in pain's onset, severity, exacerbation, or maintenance.” Some authors voiced concerns and criticisms regarding the DSM-IV criteria for PD; specifically, that they are too broad, diagnostically unreliable, and therefore rarely used in clinical practice or research. With DSM-5, PD was no longer listed as a separate diagnostic entity but was designated as a specifier (i.e., for people whose somatic symptoms predominantly involve pain) in the category of somatic symptom disorder (SSD). Although there is a paucity of well-controlled treatment studies, extant research implicates a number of psychological, behavioral, neuropsychological, and physiological factors in the genesis of PD. Keywords: health psychology; pain disorder; psychology of sensation; somatic symptom disorder; pain
88-Year-Old Man With Mental Status Changes and Vesicular Lesions

Resident in Internal Medicine, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (H.K., N.M.G.); Advisor to residents and Consultant in Primary Care Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (T.H.P.). A n 88-year-old man with a remote history of rectal carcinoma after abdominoperineal resection, Parkinson disease treated with carbidopa-levodopa, and a recent diagnosis of left-sided parotitis presented to his local urgent care center with a 24-hour history of vesicular lesions involving the left side of his forehead. The following day, he began to experience confusion, visual hallucinations, urinary incontinence, and unsteady gait and presented for admission to the hospital. On presentation to the emergency department, his vital signs were as follows: pulse rate, 80 beats/min; blood pressure, 134/51 mm Hg; oxygen saturation, 93% while breathing room air; respiratory rate, 18 breaths/min; and temperature, 37.0 C. He was awake and interactive and answered questions appropriately. Approximately 3 hours later on the general medicine ward, the patient appeared ill with altered mental status. He was obtunded, somnolent, minimally responsive to vigorous sternal rub, and unable to provide history. Bilateral periorbital edema and erythema alongwith vesicular and crusted lesions were noted predominantly on the left side of the forehead and scalp, with no lesions on the nose. Scattered lesions were also noted on the right side of the forehead, and crossing the midline on the trunk and back. The neck was rigid. He did not have photophobia, and his pupils were equal and reactive to light with bilateral conjunctival injection noted. No facial asymmetry was seen. Computed tomography of the head revealed moderate preseptal and periorbital soft tissue swelling, greater on the left. No acute intracranial abnormalities were seen. Initial laboratory studies revealed the following (reference ranges provided parenthetically): white blood cell count, 9.6 10/L (3.5-10.5 10/L); hemoglobin, 12.0 g/dL (13.5-17.5 g/dL); serum creatinine, 1.1 mg/dL (0.8-1.3mg/dL); alanineaminotransferase, 21 U/L (7-55 U/L); aspartate aminotransferase,
Amplification of simian retroviral sequences from human recipients of baboon liver transplants

Investigations into the use of baboons as organ donors for human transplant recipients, a procedure called xenotransplantation, have raised the specter of transmitting baboon viruses to humans and possibly establishing new human infectious diseases. Retrospective analysis of tissues from two human transplant recipients with end-stage hepatic disease who died 70 and 27 days after the transplantation of baboon livers revealed the presence of two simian retroviruses of baboon origin, simian foamy virus (SFV) and baboon endogenous virus (BaEV), in multiple tissue compartments. The presence of baboon mitochondrial DNA was also detected in these same tissues, suggesting that xenogeneic "passenger leukocytes" harboring latent or active viral infections had migrated from the xenografts to distant sites within the human recipients. The persistence of SFV and BaEV in human recipients throughout the posttransplant period underscores the potential infectious risks associated with xenotransplantation.
Fluphenazine vs Placebo Supplementation for Prodromal Signs of Relapse in Schizophrenia

Background: We studied the effectiveness of treating patients with low doses of fluphenazine decanoate and supplementing them with oral fluphenazine when there was evidence of prodromal symptoms of psychotic exacerbations. Methods: Eighty schizophrenic patients who were receiving 5 to 10 mg of fluphenazine decanoate every 2 weeks were monitored for prodromal symptoms using an idiosyncratic prodromal rating scale. When patients met our criteria for a prodromal episode, they were randomly assigned to a double-blind comparison of oral fluphenazine hydrochloride (5 mg twice daily) or a placebo for the current and future prodromal episodes. We compared rates of psychotic exacerbations in the two treatment groups. Results: Thirty-six patients (45%) met the criteria for a prodrome at some point during the trial and were randomized to drug or placebo. Using survival analysis during the entire 2 years, we did not find a significant difference between fluphenazine and placebo in the likelihood that a prodrome would continue to an exacerbation. Survival analysis beginning at the start of the second year of treatment did indicate a significant reduction in exacerbation risk for patients receiving drug supplementation ( P =.032). Similarly, there was no difference between the two groups in the proportion of time at risk spent in exacerbation during the first year, but patients receiving active drug supplementation spent less time in an exacerbated state in the second year ( P =.05). Conclusions: Our treatment strategy appeared to be effective for some patients, particularly those who were able to remain in the study beyond the first year. Although the occurrence of a prodrome was a fairly good marker that a patient was at high risk of ultimate exacerbation with our low-dose maintenance protocol, prodromes were not highly sensitive indicators of imminent exacerbation.
Reasons and Reasoning for Leaving College among the Academic Elite: Case Study Findings and Implications.

Attrition from any institution, especially in large numbers, may generate concern among that institution's officials. But high attrition from a selective institution is especially unexpected: students and schools invest significant resources to ensure an appropriate match. This study examines the reasons and reasoning behind students' decisions to leave college, based on a case study of attrition at a major selective American university. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews in order to uncover the qualitative details about how attrition occurs, and the ways in which it is experienced, in the lives of students. The results of this study indicate that intervention may most profitably lie in the reasoning, rather than the reasons alone, that underlie students decisions to leave. Students' reasons and reasoning turn out to have generic properties, which can likely inform retention policy at many other types of institutions.