cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Balanced Peer Lists: Towards a Collusion-Resistant BGP

In BGP, Autonomous Systems (ASes) advertise routes. Unfortunately, malicious ASes can advertise false routes that do not exist in the Internet. Many extensions of BGP have been proposed to allow each AS to check whether the received routes are false. It turns out that none of these extensions can defend against collusions among malicious ASes. In this paper, we present an extension of BGP that can defend against collusions. In our extension, each listed AS in an advertised route supplies a certified full list of all its peers, i.e. neighbors. Because full peer lists can be very large, we develop an optimization where each AS in an advertised route supplies a balanced peer list that is much smaller than its full peer list. Using real Internet topology data, we demonstrate that the average, or largest, balanced peer list is 92% smaller than the average, or largest respectively, full peer list.
Intuitions are inclinations to believe

Advocates of the use of intuitions in philosophy argue that they are treated as evidence because they are evidential. Their opponents agree that they are treated as evidence, but argue that they should not be so used, since they are the wrong kinds of things. In contrast to both, we argue that, despite appearances, intuitions are not treated as evidence in philosophy whether or not they should be. Our positive account is that intuitions are a subclass of inclinations to believe. Our thesis explains why intuitions play a role in persuasion and inquiry, without conceding that they are evidential. The account also makes predictions about the structure of intuitions that are confirmed by independent arguments.
The Need for a Standard State Impact Fee Enabling Act

Abstract Communities across the nation have received varying degrees of legislative and judicial guidance in the use of development impact fees. The types of guidance range from general, liberal legislation in California, to more rigid judicial and legislative guidelines in Florida, to indirect statutory and unpredictable judicial authorization in Oregon, to vague judicial and little statutory guidance in Colorado. We argue that the use of impact fees in all states can be greatly advanced if a standard impact fee enabling act in the tradition of the familiar standard planning and zoning enabling acts were made available to state legislatures. State legislatures could then adapt the principles of such an act to their particular situations. We offer an outline of such a model act.
Fourier synthesizer using left-handed transmission lines

We propose an arbitrary waveform generator based on Fourier synthesis from left-handed (LH) transmission lines. Cascaded varactors and shunt inductors are used to construct the LH transmission line, which can be used as an efficient harmonic generator when driven with a large signal, and as a linear phase shifter when driven with a small signal. By controlling the amplitude and phase of each harmonic, and combining them together, we can generate pulses of arbitrary waveforms.
Hurricane damage to residential construction in the US: Importance of uncertainty modeling in risk assessment

The severe damage to residential construction and the social disruption caused by hurricanes in the past two decades in the United States demonstrate the need for a better understanding of residential building performance and improved performance prediction tools if the goal of mitigating hurricane hazards is to be achieved. In this paper, probabilistic risk assessment methods are developed to assess performance and reliability of low-rise light-frame wood residential construction in the United States subjected to hurricane hazards. In a fully coupled reliability analysis, structural system fragilities are convolved with hurricane hazard models expressed in terms of 3-s gust wind speed. Alternate models for structural fragility used in such analyses are tested statistically. Sources of inherent variability and epistemic (knowledge-based) uncertainties due to competing plausible hurricane wind speed models and databases on structural resistance are explicitly included in the reliability analysis. The impact of epistemic uncertainties on structural reliability and their implications for risk-informed decision-making are examined. Comparison of reliabilities of building components that are essential to maintain the integrity of the building envelope highlights the need to design and detail those components to reduce the overall vulnerability of a building to hurricane effects.
Shape of the detected photoelectron spectrum from a scintillating fiber of circular cross-section

The shape of the visible photon counter (VLPC) photoelectron spectrum expected from a scintillating fiber of circular cross-section is investigated. Two types of phenomena contribute to the spectrum. The first is a continuous effect due to the circular cross-section; the second consists of fluctuations due to various physical processes. For the purpose of a simple illustrative example, only two sources of fluctuation were included: the fluctuation in the number of photons produced by the scintillation, taken to have a Poisson form, and the fluctuation in the binary detection process, which has binomial form. These two types of phenomena were combined by first quantizing the pulse-height spectrum in a way consistent with recent measurements, and then combining the result with the fluctuations. As expected, the calculated VLPC photoelectron spectrum does not exhibit a Poisson shape. Instead, because of the different amounts of light produced by particles traversing different thicknesses in the circular fiber, the distribution is considerably wider relative to its mean. >
Perceiving a discontinuity in motion.

Studies have shown that the position of a target stimulus is misperceived owing to ongoing motion. Although static forces(ﬁxation, landmarks) affect perceived position, motion remains the overwhelming force driving estimates of position. Motionendpoint estimates biased in the direction of motion are perceptual signatures of motion’s dominant role in localization. Wesought conditions in which static forces exert the predominant inﬂuence over perceived position: stimulus displays for whichtarget position is perceived backward relative to motion. We used a target that moved diagonally with constant speed,abruptly turned 90- and continued at constant speed; observers localized the discontinuity. This yielded a previouslyundescribed effect, “turn-point shift,” the tendency of observers to estimate the position of orthogonal direction changebackward relative to subsequent motion direction. Display and mislocalization direction differ from past studies. Static forces(foveal attraction, repulsion by subsequently occupied spatial positions) were found to be responsible. Delayed turn-pointestimates, reconstructed from probing the entire trajectory, shifted the horizontal coordinate forward in the direction ofmotion. This implies more than one percept of turn-point position. As various estimates of turn-point position arise atdifferent times, under different task demands, the perceptual system does not necessarily resolve conﬂicts between them.Keywords: motion-2D, spatial vision, eye movementsCitation: Nieman, D., Sheth, B. R., & Shimojo, S. (2010). Perceiving a discontinuity in motion. Journal of Vision, 10(6):9,1–23, http://www.journalofvision.org/content/10/6/9, doi:10.1167/10.6.9.
Some changes in the sleeping and eating patterns of fifty patients with long-term illnesses

Abstract An interview guide was devised and administered to 25 homebound and 25 ambulatory patients with chronic illness in order to determine their nursing needs. A particular purpose of the interviews was identification of changes in the patients' eating and sleeping habits and problems arising therefrom that might be solved by better nursing care. Nearly all the 50 patients interviewed were found to have some change in sleeping and eating habits since the onset of chronic illness. There was a larger proportion of disturbing changes in sleeping patterns. Some patients had actually improved their eating habits as a result of diet instruction in connection with their treatment. Various ways that nursing care may be improved as a result of identifying problems through the use of an interview guide are discussed. It is concluded that much can be done along these lines to contribute to the welfare and comfort of patients with chronic illness.
Breakdown of the thermal moving-source description of fast neutron production in (α, xn) and (3He, xn) reactions

Abstract The production of fast neutrons in ( α , xn) and ( 3 He, xn) reactions is analyzed in terms of a thermal moving-source model. Surprising discrepancies are found between the behavior of the data and the predictions of the model.
Peptides in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: players or epiphenomena?

Recently, increasing attention has been directed toward better understanding the physiological role and clinical importance of a wide range of endogenously released vasoactive peptides. The most well known of these are B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) ([1–4][1
Improving dipolar recoupling for site-specific structural and dynamics studies in biosolids NMR: windowed RN-symmetry sequences

Experimental characterization of one-bond heteronuclear dipolar couplings is essential for structural and dynamics characterization of molecules by solid-state NMR. Accurate measurement of heteronuclear dipolar tensor parameters in magic-angle spinning NMR requires that the recoupling sequences efficiently reintroduce the desired heteronuclear dipolar coupling term, fully suppress other interactions (such as chemical shift anisotropy and homonuclear dipolar couplings), and be insensitive to experimental imperfections, such as radio frequency (rf) field mismatch. In this study, we demonstrate that the introduction of window delays into the basic elements of a phase-alternating R-symmetry (PARS) sequence results in a greatly improved protocol, termed windowed PARS (wPARS), which yields clean dipolar lineshapes that are unaffected by other spin interactions and are largely insensitive to experimental imperfections. Higher dipolar scaling factors can be attained in this technique with respect to PARS, which is particularly useful for the measurement of relatively small dipolar couplings. The advantages of wPARS are verified experimentally on model molecules N-acetyl-valine (NAV) and a tripeptide Met-Leu-Phe (MLF). The incorporation of wPARS into 3D heteronuclear or homonuclear correlation experiments permits accurate site-specific determination of dipolar tensors in proteins, as demonstrated on dynein light chain 8 (LC8). Through 3D wPARS recoupling based spectroscopy we have determined both backbone and side chain dipolar tensors in LC8 in a residue-resolved manner. We discuss these in the context of conformational dynamics of LC8. We have addressed the effect of paramagnetic relaxant Cu(ii)-EDTA doping on the dipolar coupling parameters in LC8 and observed no significant differences with respect to the neat sample permitting fast data collection. Our results indicate that wPARS is advantageous with respect to the windowless version of the sequence and is applicable to a broad range of systems including but not limited to biomolecules.
Spark Ignition Parameters of Cryogenic Hydrogen in Oxygen and Nitrogen Mixtures

This paper presents the results of an experimental program to determine the effect of cryogenic temperatures on spark ignition of hydrogen in oxygen and nitrogen mixtures. The parameters investigated are breakdown voltage, quenching distance, flammability limit, and spark ignition energy. Analytical methods for predicting values of most spark ignition parameters for engineering application are cumbersome. Very few data are available in the literature on ignition at cryogenic temperature. This experimental program is intended to supplement the literature data. Data are presented for gaseous mixtures at 180°R and 5, 14.75, and 40 psia. Since ignition and breakdown voltage are influenced by mechanical configuration and materials used in the test apparatus, several tests were conducted at standard conditions, 520°R and 14.75 psia, as a basis for data comparison.
Variation in Efficacy and Viability of Beauveria bassiana in the Chinch Bug (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) as a Result of Feeding Activity on Selected Host Plants

Adult chinch bugs, Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say), were inoculated with dried conidia of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and incubated in growth chambers with various host plants, liquid diet, or water. Results from these bioassays showed that mortality in the populations that had fed on sorghum and corn were reduced when compared with insects bioassayed on other food sources. More importantly, fungal presence and development in the cadavers of insects fed on sorghum and corn was significantly reduced when compared to the populations fed on other host plants, artificial diet, or water. These results indicate the presence of a plant produced fungal inhibitor fortuitously protecting the insect feeding upon it.
Determination of sulfobromophthalein excretion in rabbits

The excretion of sulfobromophthalein (BSP) is determined by hepatic uptake (storage capacity) and secretion (transport maximum). We calculated the BSP excretion data in six rabbits by measuring the rate of rise of BSP at various infusion rates. The relative storage capacity was determined to be 0.34 +/- 0.13 mg.mg-1.dl-1.kg-1. The transport maximum was calculated to be 0.91 +/- 0.12 mg.min-1.kg-1. These results compare closely with previously reported results using more direct measurements that require anesthesia and surgical cannulation of the biliary tree. Repeated studies were easily performed. Our method provides a reliable and simple technique to study the effects of various conditions or substances on BSP excretion in conscious, unanesthetized rabbits.
Electrocardiographic repolarization abnormalities and increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias in children with dilated cardiomyopathy

Background Life-threatening arrhythmia events (LTEs) occur in ~5% of children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). While prolonged QRS duration has been shown to be associated with LTEs, electrocardiographic (ECG) repolarization findings have not been examined. Objective We sought to determine the associations between ECG repolarization abnormalities and LTEs in children with DCM. Methods A single-center retrospective review of children with DCM was performed. LTEs were defined as documented ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation requiring medical intervention. Three pediatric cardiologists, blinded to clinical events, evaluated ECGs obtained at the time of initial referral. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to evaluate time to LTEs. Results A total of 137 patients (mean age 7.8 ± 6.7 years; 75(55%) male patients) with DCM (mean ejection fraction 35% ± 16%) were included; 67 patients (49%) had a corrected JT (JTc) interval of ≥340 ms, 72 (53%) had a corrected QT (QTc) interval of ≥450 ms, and 41 (30%) had abnormal T waves. LTEs occurred in 15 patients at a median of 12 months (interquartile range 3–36 months) after the initial ECG. Patients with LTEs had a longer JTc interval (371 ± 77 ms vs 342 ± 41 ms; P = .02) and a longer QTc interval (488 ± 96 ms vs 453 ± 44 ms; P = .01). In survival analysis, a JTc interval of ≥390 ms (hazard ratio [HR] 4.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–14.83; P = .03), a QTc interval of ≥510 ms (HR 6.95; 95% CI 1.53–31.49; P = .01), abnormal T-wave inversion (HR 11.62; 95% CI 2.75–49.00; P = .001), and ST-segment depression (HR 6.91; 95% CI 1.25–38.27; P = .03) were associated with an increased risk of LTEs, even after adjusting for QRS duration and amiodarone use. Conclusion Repolarization abnormalities are common in children with DCM. Certain ECG repolarization abnormalities, such as significantly prolonged JTc and QTc intervals, may be useful in identifying patients at risk of LTEs.
Nonpolar III-nitride vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser with a photoelectrochemically etched air-gap aperture

We demonstrate a III-nitride nonpolar vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with a photoelectrochemically (PEC) etched aperture. The PEC lateral undercut etch is used to selectively remove the multi-quantum well (MQW) region outside the aperture area, defined by an opaque metal mask. This PEC aperture (PECA) creates an air-gap in the passive area of the device, allowing one to achieve efficient electrical confinement within the aperture, while simultaneously achieving a large index contrast between core of the device (the MQW within the aperture) and the lateral cladding of the device (the air-gap formed by the PEC etch), leading to strong lateral confinement. Scanning electron microscopy and focused ion-beam analysis is used to investigate the precision of the PEC etch technique in defining the aperture. The fabricated single mode PECA VCSEL shows a threshold current density of ∼22 kA/cm2 (25 mA), with a peak output power of ∼180 μW, at an emission wavelength of 417 nm. The near-field emission p...
Effects of Methomyl on Weight and Development of Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Twelve-day-old fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), larvae were topically treated with dosages of methomyl representing LD10 to LD62. Survivors showed significantly lower weight gains 9 days after treatment. Methomyl adversely affected weight gain in a wide range of dosages above LD10 for at least 3 days. By pupation, larvae in all treatments weighed the same, but less than did controls. All pupal durations were longer. The number of eggs per female decreased considerably above LD10, as compared with controls, as did the percent viable eggs up to LD50. Egg viability at higher dosages was, however, similar to controls. Only larvae succumbing to methomyl within 3 days showed dosage-dependent weight loss at higher concentrations. Weight loss of larvae dying after 3 days increased significantly and reached a plateau after day 5.
Cause Marketing Alliances: Corporate Associations and Consumer Responses

Abstract The author used pizza brands to examine the nature of corporate and non-profit alliances and their impact on trust in the pizza company, brand equity, perceptions of product quality, consumer behavioral intentions towards the pizza brand, evaluations of cause importance and behavioral intentions towards the cause. Pizza brands with strong reputations and pizza brands with weak reputations were paired with popular or not so popular causes. The greatest increases in consumer trust in the pizza company, brand equity, behavioral intentions towards the brand, and perceptions of product quality were realized for the company with the weak reputation, regardless of the popularity of the cause it adopted. The most promising changes for a non-profit occurred when a not so popular cause was teamed with a corporation possessing a strong reputation.
Estimating Flow-Through Balance Momentum Tares with CFD (Invited)

This paper describes the process used for estimating flow-through balance momentum tares. The interaction of jet engine exhausts on the BOEING/ERA Hybrid Wing Body (HWB) was simulated in the NFAC 40x80 wind tunnel at NASA Ames using a pair of turbine powered simulator (TPS) units. High-pressure air was passed through a flow-through balance and manifold before being delivered to the TPS units. The force and moment tares that result from the internal shear and pressure distribution were estimated using CFD. Validation of the CFD simulations for these complex internal flows is a challenge, given limited experimental data due to the complications of the internal geometry. Two CFD validation efforts are documented, and comparisons with experimental data from the final model installation are provided.
Distribution of Foraging Bees Used to Pollinate Alfalfa

Foraging honey bees, Apis mellifera L., were captured at sample plots in a 65.2- hectare alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., field, tagged with color-coded, ferrous metal tags, and released. Distribution of these foragers was determined by recapture of tags by magnets at the entrances of 504 hives distributed in 29 apiaries within the field. The mean distance that bees flew was 198 meters for nectar and 240.3 meters for pollen. The nectar sugar concentration averaged 37.0% in the morning and 47.7% in the afternoon. Alfalfa pollen was totally absent in pollen samples trapped at hive entrances. The mean pollen collection (five days) was 247.5 and 189.6 grams per colony for Hy-Queen and standard stock, respectively, but the differences were not significant. The orientation of hive entrances (north or south) had no effect on the number of bees foraging on alfalfa.
Microbially mediated abiotic transformation of the antimicrobial agent sulfamethoxazole under iron-reducing soil conditions.

Large quantities of antimicrobial agents used in livestock production are released to soils by land application of manure, but only limited information is available on mechanisms that contribute to...
The Principle Source of Water Pollutants in Guangzhou

Objective To investigate the main pollutant species in water in Guangzhou and analyze the possible hazards of various pollutants,and suggest the direction to solve the pollution of drinking water.Methods Samples of the main brooks which flow into Z river and water source of all water plant were collected in Guangzhou in 1999～2004.The samples were analyzed according to the drinking water analysis standards GB5750-1985,and GB/T5009-2003.Results 70% of all pollutants in the water source were organic pollutants.Mn and nitrite were the main components of the inorganic pollutants.The main source of organic pollutants was domestic sewage and industrial effluents.Inorganic pollutants were come from industrial effluents and the resolve of deposited heavy metals.Nightsoil and hospital sewage were the main source of pathogenic microorganisms.Conclusion Organic pollutants are the main water pollutants in Guangzhou,and the main sources of pollution are domestic sewage and industrial effluents.The water treatment cannot completely remove the pollutants.We should find new water sources or use new water treatment technology to improve the quality of drinking water.
Decentralized prioritized motion planning for multiple autonomous UAVs in 3D polygonal obstacle environments

This paper presents a decentralized multi-agent motion planning method for aerial robots moving among 3D polygonal obstacles. The algorithm combines a prioritized A∗ algorithm for high-level (global) planning along with a barrier functions-based method for low-level (local) coordination and control. We first extend the barriers function method developed in earlier work to treat arbitrary polygonal obstacles. We then combine the prioritized A∗ algorithm to compute waypoints and paths that facilitate the performance of the barrier-based coordination and collision avoidance. We assume that the obstacles are known to the agents, and that each agent knows the state of other agents lying in its sensing area. Simulation and experimental results with quadrotors in 2D and 3D environments demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Coalescence-based assessment of aerosol phase state using dimers prepared through a dual-differential mobility analyzer technique

ABSTRACTViscosity of atmospheric aerosol spans at least 15 orders of magnitude, from thin liquids to glassy solids, with possible concomitant impact on multiple processes of meteorological and/or climatological concern. Recently there has been interest in aerosol phase assessment techniques based upon dimer coalescence. Theoretical treatment suggests discernible reductions in dimer diameter begin when viscosity ∼108 Pa·s and the dimer is spherical at ∼105 Pa·s for submicron particles, or the middle range of the semisolid regime. A method using nanoparticle dimers synthesized by utilizing differential mobility analyzers of opposite polarity to produce monomers of opposite charge that subsequently undergo electrostatically mediated coagulation has been developed and is detailed in this work. This method was used to assess the aerosol phase state of several atmospherically relevant organic species and inorganic salts at relative humidity (RH) values ranging between 10% and 100%. Ammonium sulfate, monosodium ...
A Rejoinder to Merton M. Gill

I find it rather difficult to respond to Gill’s commentary inasmuch as we seem to be speaking different languages and to have different goals regarding the subject under discussion. This is illustrated in his comment about the belching woman in which he wonders whether her response to the behavior therapy included an element of feeling ridiculed and whether she gave up the overt manifestation of the illness to avoid such a feeling. Such questions are irrelevant. They would be relevant had she objected, but she did not. His questions indicate an intellectual view of the treatment and leave out the practical aspects of need for rapid results in the case of third-party payers for relatively indigent patients.
Control of the state of a mode-locked fiber laser using an intracavity Martinez compressor.

An intracavity Martinez compressor is incorporated into a fiber laser as a dispersion compensator and spectral filter. The Martinez compressor provides tunable dispersion from normal to anomalous. Inserting a mechanically adjustable slit into the compressor enables tunable spectral filtering independent of dispersion compensation. Mode-locking is achieved with laser bandwidths from 1.8 to 49.0 nm and compressor dispersions from +0.008 to −0.072 ps2. The laser generates stable pulses with 0.9 nJ pulse energy, a fundamental repetition rate of 77.5 MHz, and dechirped FWHM pulse widths as short as 82 fs.
Exploring secondary-sphere interactions in Fe–N x H y complexes relevant to N 2 fixation

Hydrogen bonding and other types of secondary-sphere interactions are ubiquitous in metalloenzyme active sites and are critical to the transformations they mediate. Exploiting secondary sphere interactions in synthetic catalysts to study the role(s) they might play in biological systems, and to develop increasingly efficient catalysts, is an important challenge. Whereas model studies in this broad context are increasingly abundant, as yet there has been relatively little progress in the area of synthetic catalysts for nitrogen fixation that incorporate secondary sphere design elements. Herein we present our first study of Fe–NxHy complexes supported by new tris(phosphine)silyl ligands, abbreviated as [SiPNMe3] and [SiPiPr2PNMe], that incorporate remote tertiary amine hydrogen-bond acceptors within a tertiary phosphine/amine 6-membered ring. These remote amine sites facilitate hydrogen-bonding interactions via a boat conformation of the 6-membered ring when certain nitrogenous substrates (e.g., NH3 and N2H4) are coordinated to the apical site of a trigonal bipyramidal iron complex, and adopt a chair conformation when no H-bonding is possible (e.g., N2). Countercation binding at the cyclic amine is also observed for anionic {Fe–N2}− complexes. Reactivity studies in the presence of proton/electron sources show that the incorporated amine functionality leads to rapid generation of catalytically inactive Fe–H species, thereby substantiating a hydride termination pathway that we have previously proposed deactivates catalysts of the type [EPR3]FeN2 (E = Si, C).
High-Resolution Single Molecule Rotation Tracking of RecBCD using DNA Origami Rotors

We have invented a new high throughput, high resolution single molecule method that enables tracking the rotation of DNA molecules with millisecond time resolution. Origami Rotational Beacon Image Tracking (ORBIT) uses DNA origami rotors that can be ligated to a DNA duplex of interest. We track the rotation of the DNA duplex, as amplified by the DNA origami, using fluorescent labels on one arm of the origami. ORBIT does not rely on an externally applied force but instead achieves high spatiotemporal resolution mainly due to the low drag of the origami rotor and the stiffness of the short attached DNA duplex.Using ORBIT, we report the first direct measurements of DNA rotation by the helicase RecBCD. We observe pausing and backtracking and account for our observations with a simple translocation model. We also report high resolution measurements of RecBCD initiation, discovering unexpected reversibility in DNA unwinding and rewinding prior to translocation. Our results using substrates with single stranded overhangs indicate that the RecB motor domain is responsible for initiating processive translocation.
Pharmacokinetic drug evaluation of safinamide mesylate for the treatment of mid-to-late stage Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Patients with Parkinson’s disease suffer from a heterogeneous expression of neurotransmitter deficits. They cause an individual variable expression of motor and non-motor symptoms. Th...
Transient analysis of asymmetric AC systems using complex vectors

This paper develops a methodology for the analysis of asymmetric AC systems using complex vectors. This methodology is based on the well-known symmetrical components modeling that is regularly applied to the steady-state analysis of asymmetric systems. It is shown that this steady-state methodology is a subset of a more general framework that has applicability to transient analysis. From the derived transfer functions and state equations, the paper shows how conventional dynamic system analysis tools like frequency response functions, pole and zero migration plots, and time domain simulations can be applied to the complex vector model of these asymmetric AC systems.
Cardiac CTA in the Evaluation of CABG

The purpose of surgical revascularization of the coronary arteries is to bypass an obstruction in an artery using a native artery or vein conduit as a graft. CTA has been demonstrated to be of significant value in the evaluation of coronary revascularization. Grafts are generally easier to evaluate than the native coronary arteries since they are less sensitive to temporal resolution-related motion artifacts. The exceptions are the distal anastomosis that is in the epicardium and areas where there are surgical clip artifacts present.
Debating the Legitimacy of Human Sacrifice in Modern Hinduism and Biblical Tradition

Human sacrifice is a highly contentious issue. It brings to the fore deep-seated beliefs and powerful emotional responses. The topic is often relegated to discussions about a society’s past or to views about contemporary foreigners. There have been times, however, when a culture has engaged in an internal debate regarding its legitimacy, focusing on moral perspectives and divine sanctioning. For modern Hindu society, the practice of sati, or widow burning, has been a matter of contention, particularly following the sati of Roop Kanwar in 1987. Israelite religion, as represented in the biblical texts, similarly addressed the acceptability of human sacrifice, specifically the immolation of innocent children, from at least the late Iron Age.1 Both traditions, while separated in time and space, experienced comparable but not identical discourses of debate centering on the moral sanctioning of human sacrifice and the legitimization of the practice according to revered words.
Sepsis/septic shock: participation of the microcirculation: an abbreviated review.

Objective An overview of the importance of understanding mechanisms occurring in the microcirculation during septic and endotoxic shock. The thesis of the paper is to place emphasis on this important vascular network to ultimately benefit the patient.Data Sources Early descriptions of vascular react
Velopharyngeal Function: A Spatial–Temporal Model

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the function of velopharyngeal, through a spatial–temporal model. It describes the control system that governs the coupling and decoupling of these resonating cavities. Phonetic context effects are interesting because of the insights that they may provide into the form of the motor plan for speech. One general model of speech production that has been tested with velar function data is phoneme-based model. This model assumes the input to the articulatory system to be a string of phonemes that are specified as sets of invariant articulatory goals, or features. It postulates a look-ahead procedure that allows the goals of phonemes occurring later in the string to influence the current and intervening vocal tract configurations, so long as these anticipated goals are not in conflict with any more immediate goals.
Problems of Literary Expression in Les Nourritures Terrestres

At the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth, nearly all inherited fashions of seeing the human experience were analyzed and found wanting. Husserl’s work responded originally to a crisis in philosophy and science at that moment in European thought, and formulated a very different way of grasping how man is in life. European literature, which had in various decades of the preceding half-century been understood as a field of experimentation or application for science, sociology, and philosophy, was also in crisis. In France, a superannuated romanticism had run its course, while realism had moved on to naturalism and had reached its limits, and the symbolism of the time had found its masters. Andre Gide, writing in the 1890’s, first tried the existing genres, becoming for a time a romantic and a symbolist before setting out to originate new genres, new ways of portraying the human condition, in which different explorations would be possible. For Gide, as for the philosophers of his day, the problem was to explore how the human experience is in reality, the way in which the “that” is for the perceiving subject.
Atypical Functional Connectivity of Amygdala Related to Reduced Symptom Severity in Children With Autism.

Objective Converging evidence indicates that brain abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) involve atypical network connectivity. Given the central role of social deficits in the ASD phenotype, this investigation examined functional connectivity of the amygdala—a brain structure critically involved in processing of social information—in children and adolescents with ASDs, as well as age-dependent changes and links with clinical symptoms. Method Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 55 participants with ASDs and 50 typically developing (TD) controls, aged 7 to 17 years, were included. Groups were matched for age, gender, IQ, and head motion. Functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) analysis was applied to examine intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) of the amygdala, including cross-sectional tests of age-related changes. Results Direct between-group comparisons revealed reduced functional connectivity between bilateral amygdalae and left inferior occipital cortex, accompanied by greater connectivity between right amygdala and right sensorimotor cortex in the ASD group. This atypical pattern of amygdala connectivity was associated with decreased symptom severity and better overall functioning, as specifically seen in an ASD subgroup with the most atypical amygdala iFC but the least impaired social functioning. Age-related strengthening of amygdala−prefrontal connectivity, as observed in the TD group, was not detected in children with ASDs. Conclusion Findings support aberrant network sculpting in ASDs, specifically atypical integration between amygdala and primary sensorimotor circuits. Paradoxical links between atypical iFC and behavioral measures suggest that abnormal amygdala functional connections may be compensatory in some individuals with ASDs.
Physical-chemical interactions between pharmaceuticals and biochar in synthetic and real urine.

This research advances the knowledge of the pharmaceutical removal interactions by biochar in synthetic and real urine through the use of reference adsorbents and adsorbate probes. Earlier work has combined biochar and urine for pharmaceutical removal, however, the interactions that influence adsorption are unknown. In this study, bamboo biochar and softwood biochar were chosen as the representative materials and the model pharmaceuticals were naproxen and paracetamol. To further investigate the physical-chemical interactions, two nonpolar adsorbates, para-xylene and dimethylnaphthalene, were tested. Graphite and anion exchange resin, were used to isolate van der Waals and electrostatic interactions, respectively. Experimental kinetic and equilibrium data were fit to multiple adsorption models where the pseudo-second order and Freundlich exhibited the best fit, respectively. The Freundlich and Langmuir parameters had similar trends showing that softwood had the highest adsorption capacity. The model parameters indicated higher selectivity for nonpolar para-xylene and dimethylnaphthalene by graphite and polar paracetamol and naproxen by softwood biochar. The decreasing trend of importance of key interactions for pharmaceutical sorption to biochar are: van der Waals > hydrogen bonding > electrostatic interactions. No statistically significant difference was found between urine age (fresh vs. hydrolyzed) and pharmaceutical removal; however, the urine matrix (synthetic vs. synthetic with metabolites vs. real urine) did show a statistically significant difference on pharmaceutical removal where synthetic urine had comparatively greater adsorption. As constituents (i.e., metabolites) were added to urine matrices, reduced adsorption of pharmaceuticals was observed, indicating that adsorption processes should be tested in real urine for accuracy.
Management of retinoblastoma in older children (>5 years) using intra-arterial chemotherapy: Comparison of outcomes to prechemotherapy and intravenous chemotherapy eras.

Purpose: Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) has emerged as an effective treatment for retinoblastoma (RB) however, little information exists regarding its use in older patients (>5 years). In the present study, we evaluate the use of IAC (2008–2018) for RB in older patients and compare the outcomes to those in the prechemotherapy ( 0.99) and death (P > 0.99). Conclusion: Older patients with RB managed in the IAC era demonstrated reduced need for EBRT or enucleation compared to those managed in the IVC or prechemotherapy eras, with no instance of metastasis or death.
Transformação intrapartidária? Um estudo sobre as percepções de poder e gestão entre jovens filiados

RESUMO Introducao: O funcionamento das arenas politicas de um partido e sua ala jovem sao percebidas de maneira diferente por jovens filiados? O presente artigo problematiza as causas estruturais do enfraquecimento das bases de militância partidaria a fim de verificar se ha uma transformacao em curso nas relacoes intrapartidarias de dominacao e gestao. Materiais e Metodos: Foram feitas vinte e duas entrevistas com liderancas da juventude do partido Democratas. As entrevistas foram realizadas de maneira anonima e em ambiente virtual. Elaborou-se o questionario por meio do GoogleDocs. Seu endereco foi compartilhado em um grupo na rede social Facebook destinado aos lideres municipais, estaduais e nacionais da Juventude Democratas. Resultados: Constata-se uma percepcao diferenciada entre as arenas politicas no partido e na sua ala jovem. Ainda que haja convergencia, ha um padrao notadamente mais moderno, burocrata-racional, na esfera jovem. Discussao: Esta analise e feita trazendo-se conceitos da Administracao Publica para o estudo de partidos politicos. Elementos gerenciais e societais aparecem de maneira complementar, ao inves de conflitantes como na literatura de Administracao Publica. Por fim, sugere-se a hipotese de um processo de transformacao intrapartidaria no tocante as relacoes de poder e gestao.
Clinical outcomes following conservative and surgical management of floating shoulder injuries: a systematic review.

Background Floating shoulder is an uncommon injury characterized by fractures of the clavicle and ipsilateral scapular neck. No consensus exists on management. The purpose of this study was to analyze the existing literature on treatment and clinical outcomes of floating shoulder injuries to provide a baseline understanding of current treatment strategies of this injury. Methods A systematic review was performed to identity published literature on outcomes and management of floating shoulder injuries. Searches were performed using PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS. Results Seventeen studies were identified that included data for 371 shoulders. The mean reported age was 39.4 years (range, 16-82) and the mean follow-up was 49.4 months (range, 6-312). The major mechanism of injury was motor vehicle accident (51%) followed by fall from height (16%). Of the 371 shoulders, 215 (58%) were treated surgically, whereas 156 shoulders (42%) were managed nonoperatively. The most commonly reported outcome score was the Constant-Murley score (9 studies), followed by the Herscovici Floating Shoulder Injury score (5 studies). The mean Constant-Murley score was 80% of ideal maximum for both shoulders treated surgically and those treated nonoperatively. Conclusion Satisfactory outcomes can be expected following both surgical fixation and nonoperative management of floating shoulder injuries when appropriately individualized to the patient, as evidenced by clinical outcome scores. Floating shoulder injuries with significant displacement of the scapular neck may benefit from surgical fixation of both the clavicle and scapula fractures. In those with minimal or nondisplaced scapular neck fractures, good outcomes may be achieved when treated nonoperatively or with surgical fixation of the clavicle alone.
Free Trade in Environmental Goods: The Trade Remedy Problem

In late June of 2013, in a major speech on climate change, President Obama announced a plan “to launch negotiations toward global free trade in environmental goods and services,” including clean energy technology.Removing or lowering tariffs on goods such as solar panels and wind turbines would lead to lower prices and greater availability of those products. However, there is one major hurdle to progress in this area: While normal tariffs are covered by the APEC declaration, special tariffs imposed through the so-called “trade remedies” — antidumping (AD) duties, countervailing duties (CVD), and safeguards — are not.
Enhancing the membrane activity of Piscidin 1 through peptide metallation and the presence of oxidized lipid species: Implications for the unification of host defense mechanisms at lipid membranes

Piscidins are host-defense peptides (HDPs) from fish that exhibit antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. They are distinctively rich in histidine and contain an amino terminal copper and nickel (ATCUN) binding motif due to the presence of a conserved histidine at position 3. Metallation lowers their total charge and provides a redox center for the formation of radicals that can convert unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) into membrane-destabilizing oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs). Here, we focus on P1, a particularly membrane-active isoform, and investigate how metallating it and making OxPL available influence its membrane activity. First, we quantify through dye leakage experiments the permeabilization of the apo- and holo-forms of P1 on model membranes containing a fixed ratio of anionic phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine (PC) but varying amounts of Aldo-PC, an OxPL derived from the degradation of several UFAs. Remarkably, metallating P1 increases membranolysis by a factor of five in each lipid system. Conversely, making Aldo-PC available improves permeabilization by a factor of two for each peptide form. Second, we demonstrate through CD-monitored titrations that the strength of the peptide-membrane interactions is similar in PC/PG and PC/PG/Aldo-PC. Thus, peptide-induced membrane activity is boosted by properties intrinsic to the peptide (e.g., charge and structural changes associated with metallation) and bilayer (e.g., reversal of sn-2 chain due to oxidation). Third, we show using oriented-sample 15N solid-state NMR that the helical portion of P1 lies parallel to the bilayer surface in both lipid systems. 31P NMR experiments show that both the apo- and holo-states interact more readily with PC in PC/PG. However, the presence of Aldo-PC renders the holo-, but not the apo-state, more specific to PG. Hence, the membrane disruptive effects of P1 and its specificity for the anionic lipids found on pathogenic cell membrane surfaces are simultaneously optimized when it is metallated and the OxPL is present. Overall, this study deepens our insights into how OxPLs affect peptide-lipid interactions and how host defense metallopeptides could help integrate the effects of antimicrobial agents.
Risk of Stroke in Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale Who Had Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: The presence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) alone does not increase the risk of ischemic stroke. Several prospective studies with a small number of patients have shown that the risk of ischemic stroke is higher in patients with PFO and pulmonary embolism (PE). We studied the association of ischemic stroke in the patients who had PFO with PE (PFOwiPE) and compared with the patients who had PFO without PE (PFOwoPE). Methods: Electronic medical records of 154 adult patients in our internal medicine office were reviewed. Thirty-four patients had PFOwiPE and 120 had PFOwoPE. Independent t -test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the continuous variables between the two groups, while Chi-square tests were applied to compare the categorical variables between the two groups. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. The dependent variable was stroke and the independent variable of interest was PFO with, or without PE. Results: Mean age of patients with PFOwiPE was 54.8 years and patients with PFOwoPE was 57.8 years (P = 0.331). Mean body mass index (BMI) of the patients with PFOwiPE was significantly greater than the patients with PFOwoPE (32.5 ± 8.84 kg/m 2 vs. 28.4 ± 6.99 kg/m 2 ; P < 0.05). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and red blood cell (RBC) count of patients with PFOwiPE was significantly lower than patients with PFOwoPE (LVEF 54.9 ± 13.01% vs. 59.6 ± 6.85%, P < 0.05; RBC 4.1 ± 1.203 × 10 6 /µL vs. 4.5 ± 0.596 × 10 6 /µL, P < 0.05). There was significantly higher association of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients with PFOwiPE compared to patients with PFOwoPE (20.6% vs. 7.5%; P < 0.05). Association of ischemic stroke was 35.3% in patients with PFOwiPE and 39.2% in patients with PFOwoPE. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.682). Conclusions: Association of ischemic stroke was similar in patients with PFOwiPE and patients with PFOwoPE. Association of significantly higher BMI, lower LVEF, lower RBC count, and higher frequency of CHF were associated with patients with PFOwiPE compared to the patients with PFOwoPE. J Clin Med Res. 2020;12(3):190-199 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr4094
Recent Supreme Court Trademark Decisions and Cannabis Registrations

The prohibition on immoral trademarks has been steadily eroding as a result of First Amendment litigation at the United States Supreme Court. In light of recent Supreme Court decisions on trademark registrations and free speech, the question then becomes: Is the Lanham Act’s ban on cannabis trademark registrations justifiable in light of the First Amendment in view of these recent cases?