cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A High Titer Anti RSV Polyclonal Antibody (RI-002) Prevents Infection with Palivizumab Resistant (PR) RSV in Cotton Rats and Achieves Greater Neutralizing RSV Activity As Compared to Palivizumab

James J. Mond, MD, PhD; Brian Gilbert, Baylor College of Medicine, ADMA Biologics, Ramsey, NJ. RATIONALE: Todeterminewhether themultiple antiRSVspecificities in RI-002 interact with a palivizumab resistant strain of RSVand to evaluate the RSV neutralizing activity of RI-002 as compared to Palivizumab. METHODS: A palivizumab resistant mutant of RSV/A Tracy was generated after serial passage in increasing concentrations of palivizumab. The resistant strain had a single amino acid substitution at position 262. Palivizumab was injected into cotton rats at 15mg/kg and RI-002 at 1500mg/kg followed one day later by intranasal inoculation with wild type or palivizumab resistant RSV. 4 days later lungs were lavaged and RSV quantified by a semi-quantitative plaque assay. RESULTS: RI-002 inhibited viral replication in the lung of rats infectedwith wild type and resistant RSV viruses (p<0.00001) while palivizumab had comparable inhibitory effects to RI-002 on thewild type virus but no effect on the resistant strain. Furthermore the titers of neutralizing antibody in the sera of cotton rats was greater for RI-002 as compared to palivizumab (P < 0.0039). CONCLUSIONS: There have been many reports of patients who have failed palivizumab treatment and who have been shown to harbor palivizumab resistant strains of RSV. Whether the emergence of resistant RSV strains accounts for the limited success of this monoclonal antibody is unknown. RI-002 has recently successfully completed a phase three trial in patients with primary immune deficiency disease with a very favorable outcome of primary and secondary endpoints. Whether this reflects the unique antibody profile of this IVIG remains to be determined.
Abstract 276: SR-BI Suppresses Apoptosis by Reducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Promoting Akt Activity in Macrophages

Objective: Macrophage apoptosis contributes to atherosclerotic plaque necrosis, inflammation, development and rupture. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) is a key regulator of HDL metabolism and cellular cholesterol homeostasis. Here we examined the hypothesis that macrophage SR-BI modulates lipid-associated cellular stress and apoptosis. Methods and Results: In vitro cell apoptosis assays were performed in primary macrophages, and for in vivo evidence, we examined TUNEL staining of atherosclerotic lesions of LDLR-/- mice that were reconstituted with SR-BI-/- or WT bone marrow after 16 weeks on a Western diet. We found that SR-BI deficiency led to ~64.3% more apoptotic cells induced by oxidized LDL or free cholesterol in primary macrophages, and 6-fold more lesional apoptotic cells in SR-BI-/-→LDLR-/- mice compared to WT recipient mice. In macrophages, SR-BI deficiency caused significant accumulations of cellular free cholesterol and elevated markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. These were...
Reproductive medicine & family planning--2018.

This essay takes the form of an address made to the medical community in the year 2018 which provides an overview of changes since 1994. The work suggests that the following changes will have occurred. 1) A new public health care system will be in place with obstetrician/gynecologists providing primary health care for women. 2) The human genome will have been catalogued and genetic therapy will be used to prevent genetically caused diseases (more than were imagined in 1994) but not to create a more intelligent species. 3) Inexpensive implantable but easily reversible hormonal contraception will be available to either gender at any time. 4) The availability of RU-486 will have moved what pregnancy termination still occurs into the home. RU-486 will have been removed from the market in 2004 distributed on the black market and then legalized again in 2010 by national referendum. Pharmacies that distribute the drug will be picketed and bombed. 5) Prenatal diagnosis will occurs through the isolation of fetal cells in maternal blood. Many more conditions will be diagnosable prenatally but resources to perform genetic tests on every fetus will be limited. 6) Because of concerns about overpopulation the national health system will not underwrite the costs of assisted reproductive technology. However improvements in techniques will mean that more than half of infertile couples who pay for the procedure will wind up with a baby. 7) Premenstrual symptom will be understood and easily treatable. 8) Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy will be accepted as providing considerable more benefit than risk. Thus the need for orthopedic and cardiovascular surgeons will decline and 55% of medical students will enter primary care residencies. Women will also be outliving men by an average of 20 years.
Internationalizing Freshman Composition I and II through Literature and Film: A Cross-Cultural Approach.

As part of a Title VI International Education federal grant, three Valencia Community College/East Campus Communications Department instructors developed cross‐cultural composition courses using international readers and foreign films to help students gain insight on non‐American cultures while simultaneously learning about their own culture. ENC 1101 ‐Composition I was taught uniformly by the three instructors, using the same textbook, films, syllabus, pre‐ and post‐tests and common exit exam. ENC 1102 ‐ Composition II shared only the cross‐cultural foundation. Each instructor developed his own content approach, based on textbook or film. All the experimental cross‐cultural classes, however, met course criteria as identified in the college catalog and Florida state‐mandated writing requirements (the Gordon Rule). * Paper originally presented at the annual convention of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges International Intercultural Consortium in Seattle, Washington. April 21, 1990.
Comments on "Some Challenges with Statistical Inference in Adaptive Designs" by Hung, Wang, and Yang.

In a recent article, Hung, Wang, and Yang (2014) discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the CHW statistic for adaptive sample size re-estimation. Some statements in that article, notably the...
Real time hyperspectral imaging of pancreatic β cell dynamics with Image Mapping Spectrometer (IMS)

Real-time hyperspectral imaging of pancreatic β-cell dynamics is achieved by utilizing an Image Mapping Spectrometer (IMS). The calcium signal was successfully monitored during caspase-3 mediated FRET in cellular apoptosis.
Characterization of Imidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquids Plus Trivalent Chromium Chloride for Chromium Electroplating

A series of mixtures consisting of the ionic liquids (ILs) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([emim][Cl], [bmim][Cl], and [hmim][Cl], respectively) and trivalent chromium chloride have been prepared. Physicochemical and electrochemical properties of these mixtures have been studied and the potential applications of these mixtures for chromium electroplating, as an alternative to the conventional hard chromium electroplating processes using hexavalent chromium baths, have been examined. To optimize the transport properties of the mixtures, different amounts of ultrapure water were added to the Cr(III) salt–IL mixtures, although the ultimate goal is to reduce or eliminate water. As shown previously for choline chloride/Cr(III) salt mixtures, we found that the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of the mixtures are affected by the relative water content. Our preliminary electroplating results show that these types o...
Problems of nonnormality and multicollinearity for forecasting methods based on least squares

Abstract Many popular forecasting and time-series analysis methods assume that the variable to be forecast can be expressed as a linear function of a set of predictors. The predictors may include variables related in either a correlative or causal fashion to the response variable, lagged values of this variable, or known mathematical functions of time. The method of least squares is used almost exclusively to estimate the parameters in these models. This paper discusses two hazards in the indiscriminant use of least squares; nonnormality of the observations on the variable of interest and multicollinearity among the predictors. Robust estimation methods are suggested as alternatives to least squares for nonnormal data, and a robust version of exponential smoothing is developed. A small Monte Carlo study indicates that the robust procedure can be superior to ordinary exponential smoothing in many situations. The sources and effects of multicollinearity are discussed, and several diagnostic statistics are p...
Cascade Throat Flow Measurements using a Rotatable Single-Hole Pressure Probe

†A novel rotatable single-hole pressure probe anemometer has been used to measure flow direction, magnitude, and static pressure at the throat plane of a linear cascade. The new probe and its associated data analysis method was developed for applications involving 3dimensional mean flows including small-scale flow features that are difficult to resolve with conventional multi-hole pressure probes. The probe had previously been tested in thin boundary layers; the present experiments were conceived to provide a further evaluation of its capabilities. The flow at the throat plane of a passageway in a linear cascade was found to contain three-dimensional, small-scale flow features and static pressure variations near its endwall, thus providing a challenging environment in which to evaluate the probe’s capabilities. The calibrated probe gave results that appeared qualitatively reasonable and consistent with the features of the flow discernible from skin friction and Pitot probe surveys of the throat plane. Determination of static pressure posed a particular challenge; these results suggest that sharper probe tips might provide improved results in such applications.
Stochastic Adaptive Stabilization via Extremum Seeking in Case of Unknown Control Directions

This technical note presents a novel extremum seeking (ES)-based algorithm for global stabilization of unstable first order linear discrete-time (LDT) stochastic systems with unknown control directions. The probing signal is a martingale difference sequence with a vanishing variance. The controller parameter estimate converges almost surely (a.s.) to the optimizing value. The sample mean-square value of the output converges (a.s.) to the minimal variance.
A Rational Basis for Closed–End Fund Discounts: Empirical Tests

Baigent [1999] suggests that the discounts on closed–end fund shares might be the result of the Bayesian learning process of less informed investors, so that the discounts are rational. Empirical tests show that the prices of closed–end fund shares can be explained by lagged fund share value, the NAV, and trading volume, similar to a Bayesian process. Results also show that the volatility of closed–end fund shares is lower than for the underlying portfolio so that the noise trader risk argument is challenged.
Model-Based Predictive Direct Power Control of Three-Phase Grid-Connected Inverters

The traditional direct power control(DPC)has the problem that switch frequency varies with the changes of sample time, load parameter and system state, which result in the dispersive harmonic. Therefore, this paper puts forward a control strategy of Model-based predictive direct power control. Combining some predictive algorithm with instantaneous active and reactive power theory, and taking the inverter AC side output voltage as control target, the control strategy sets up the power predictive model of the Inverters to obtain the reference value. Meanwhile, in order to reduce the wastage of the switch, the strategy chooses the symmetry type electric voltage vector sequence to control the instantaneous power which can follow the reference power value. By simulation analysis, it is verified that the control strategy can obtain better dynamic and static performance, which has a fixed switch frequency and has the better restrain effect of harmonic compared with direct power control.
History of Coat Protein-Mediated Protection

A decade of research has proven that plants can be genetically engineered to resist virus infection through expression of viral CP genes, as well as other viral genes and sequences. Additional opportunities for development of resistant plants will require research focused on mechanisms of protection, improvements in expression vector design, and transformation of new crop species. As each of these technologies is utilized singly or in combination to generate resistant crop varieties, the full impact of such engineered resistance will be realized.
The Origin of Exclusion Irreversibility

Let us consider somewhat qualitatively the behavior of mechanical systems of increasing complexity, looking for hints of the irreversibility defined by criterion 3. First we consider a particle moving along a line (the x-axis) with position x(t) at time t and velocity v(t) under the influence of a force which does not vary in time and which restricts the particle to a finite interval. For example, this particle could be bouncing back and forth between rigid walls or it could be oscillating at the end of a spring. A graph showing the variation of x(t) would look something like the graph in Fig.7.la. Let us refer to that kind of variation as changing and “periodic.” We could just as well be following a particle in a three-dimensional box and following any of its coordinates.
Implicit Measures of Suicide Risk in a Military Sample

Suicide has become an issue of great concern within the U.S. military in recent years, with recent reports indicating that suicide has surpassed combat related deaths as the leading cause of death....
An efficient hypercube labeling schema for dynamic Peer-to-Peer networks

This paper addresses the general problem of reducing unnecessary message transmission thereby lowering overall bandwidth utilization in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network. In particular, we exploit the characteristics of a P2P network engineered to resemble a hypercube. The reason for doing this is to achieve constant computation time for inter-node distances that are needed in the process of query optimization. To realize such a hypercube-like engineered structure, we develop a new labeling scheme which assigns identifiers (labels) to each node and then uses these labels to determine inter-node distances as is done in a hypercube, thus eliminating the need to send out queries to find the distance from one node to another. The labels allow for creating a virtual overlay which resembles a hypercube. We prove that the labeling scheme does in fact allow for reducing bandwidth utilization in the network. To confirm our theoretical findings we conduct various experiments with randomly selected P2P networks of various sizes. Detailed statistics on the outcome of these experiments are provided which show clearly the practical utility of the labeling approach. We assign labels to each node in a P2P network to facilitate and improve communication.Labels create a virtual hypercube overlay.Known hypercube algorithms are adopted in this environment.Theoretical and experimental findings prove the feasibility and efficiency of this approach.
Effect of anaerobic soil disinfestation on the bacterial community and key soilborne phytopathogenic agents under walnut tree-crop nursery conditions

Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) is a chemical-independent approach to managing soilborne phytopathogens. While it has been demonstrated that ASD can suppress phytopathogens in vegetable cropping systems, it has not been examined for control of tree-crop diseases under nursery conditions. Here we report on the potential of using ASD to manage soilborne populations of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Pythium ultimum under walnut rootstock nursery conditions and compared the efficacy of ASD with the chemical fumigant Telone-C35. Mesh bags of sterile field soil inoculated with either A. tumefaciens or P. ultimum were buried in the first of two trials at 7.6 and 15.2 cm soil depths and in the second trial at 15.2, 45.7, and 76.2 cm soil depths prior to ASD or fumigation treatments. Populations of A. tumefaciens and P. ultimum in the mesh bags were determined immediately after ASD treatment. Bacterial rRNA was extracted from bulk soils at these depths prior, immediately following ASD, and 4 months post-ASD to determine the effect of ASD on the bacterial community composition. After seven days of ASD treatment, populations of both phytopathogens fell below detection limits at 7.6 and 15.2 cm soil depths. After completion of the six-week ASD treatment or 4-week fumigation period, populations of A. tumefaciens remained below detection limits at 7.6 and 15.2 cm depths and were not significantly different from A. tumefaciens population levels detected in the fumigation treatment. Futhermore, A. tumefaciens populations were significantly reduced, compared to no-treatment control soils, in both ASD and fumigation treatments at the 45.7 and 76.2 cm depths. Pythium ultimum populations dipped below detection limits after ASD treatment at 7.6 and 15.2 cm soil depths, and were significantly lower than no-treatment controls at the 45.7 cm depth. The bacterial community composition of ASD-treated soils also differed significantly as a function of soil depth, and the effect of ASD on the bacterial community composition persisted over time. The documented ASD-induced changes in the soilborne bacterial communities may have contributed to the population reductions observed for both A. tumefaciens and P. ultimum. The significant reductions of A. tumefaciens and P. ultimum, down to a depth of 76.2 cm, were similar for both ASD and Telone C-35 treated soils. This illustrates the potential of ASD to replace chemical fumigants as a management tool for key phytopathogenic agents.
PREDICTION TOOL FOR CONGENITAL HEART SURGERY LENGTH OF STAY

Background: In response to increasing demand to optimize hospital resource use, we developed a methodology to predict extended length of stay (LOS) in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) following surgery for congenital heart disease. Methods: Patients undergoing congenital heart surgery at
Parody Detection: An Annotation, Feature Construction, and Classification Approach to the Web of Parody

In this chapter, we discuss the problem of how to discover when works in a social media site are related to one another by artistic appropriation, particularly parodies. The goal of this work is to discover concrete link information from texts expressing how this may entail derivative relationships between works, authors, and topics. In the domain of music video parodies, this has general applicability to titles, lyrics, musical style, and content features, but the emphasis in this work is on descriptive text, comments, and quantitative features of songs. We first derive a classification task for discovering the “Web of Parody.” Furthermore, we describe the problems of how to generate song/parody candidates, collect user annotations, and apply machine learning approaches comprising of feature analysis, construction, and selection for this classification task. Finally, we report results from applying this framework to data collected from YouTube and explore how the basic classification task relates to the general problem of reconstructing the web of parody and other networks of influence. This points toward further empirical study of how social media collections can statistically reflect derivative relationships and what can be understood about the propagation of concepts across texts that are deemed interrelated.
Abstract WP381: DTN Too Slow? Who You Gonna Call? Clot Busters - and the Stroke Coordinator!

Background: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) remains the only FDA approved drug treatment for acute ischemic stroke, and research continues to provide evidence that the earlier treatment brings b...
Poster Abstract: Enabling IoT Applications via Dynamic Cloud-Edge Resource Management

Emerging augmented reality IoT edge devices, such as smart glasses, show significant promise in use as assistive devices that involve human(s) in the loop. Owing to the often safety-critical nature of the assistive application, such as guiding a blind person, both the performance and dependability of the end-to-end system is critical. Among the many technical hurdles in realizing such applications, limitations in performance assurances from the cloud-hosted backend servers that support these applications, and the longer and often unpredictable end-to-end network latencies between the end user and the cloud can be detrimental to the response time requirements of such applications, which can compromise the safety of the end users. This poster presents ongoing work we are conducting that addresses these challenges by dynamically managing resources across the cloud-edge spectrum. Specifically, we describe the Dynamic Data Driven Cloud and Edge Systems (D3CES) approach, which uses measurement data collected from adaptively instrumenting the cloud and edge resources to learn and enhance models of the distributed resource pool, and in turn using these models in a feedback loop to make effective resource management decisions to deploy edge applications and deliver their QoS properties. The poster will also highlight a number of research directions we are pursuing in this project.
Output feedback control of TORA — A benchmark underactuated nonlinear system

In this paper the problem of output feedback stabilization of Translational Oscillator with Rotational Actuator (TORA) — a benchmark underactuated nonlinear system is discussed. Proposed method utilizes an Extended High Gain Observer (EHGO) based Sliding Mode Control technique for output stabilization of the entire system. Starting with Lagrangian model of the nonlinear dynamical system and using a suitable coordinate transformation, a normal form representation of the system is derived. The normal form decouples complex nonlinear dynamics into an internal and external system. The dynamics of internal system is utilized to derive an auxiliary system and the full order EHGO thus obtained is used for estimation of system states as well as for derivative(s) of the system output. The actual and estimated system states are then utilized to design a state feedback and an output feedback controller respectively. It is shown that the proposed output feedback controller stabilizes the system and that the estimated states with suitable choice of observer parameters, converge to that of actual states arbitrarily fast. The efficacy of the proposed control scheme is demonstrated and validity of the analytical results is shown by simulation.
J. Marion Sims and the Vesicovaginal Fistula: Historical Understanding, Medical Ethics, and Modern Political Sensibilities.

Objectives To review the historical background surrounding the early work of Dr. J. Marion Sims, who developed the first consistently successful surgical technique for the repair of obstetric vesicovaginal fistulas by operating on a group of young, enslaved, African American women who had this condition between 1846 and 1849. Methods Review of primary source documents on Sims and his operations, early 19th century clinical literature on the treatment of vesicovaginal fistula, the introduction of ether and chloroform anesthesia into surgical practice, and the literature on the early 19th century medical ethics pertaining to surgical innovation. The goals are to understand Sims's operations within the clinical context of the 1840s and to avoid the problems of "presentism," in which beliefs, attitudes, and practices of the 21st century are anachronistically projected backward into the early 19th century. The object is to judge Sims within the context of his time, not to hold him accountable to standards of practice which were not developed until a century after his death. Results A narrative of what Sims did is presented within the context of the therapeutic options available to those with fistula in the early 19th century. Conclusions Review of the available material demonstrates that Sims' first fistula operations were legal, that they were carried out with express therapeutic intent for the purpose of repairing these women's injuries, that they conformed to the ethical requirements of his time, and that they were performed with the patients' knowledge, cooperation, assent, and assistance.
Evaluation of regression and neural network models for solar forecasting over different short-term horizons

Forecasting solar irradiation has acquired immense importance in view of the exponential increase in the number of solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations. In this article, analyses results in...
Explaining Violence in Terms of Control

In this chapter, I will show how the symbolic interactionist perspective can be used in order to understand the relationship between emotions, behavior, control and violence as it emerges in reflective thought and in interaction. In doing this, I examine the complex and processual nature of the violent act as it exists in interaction. Additionally, I address the different aspects of the self, that is, the “I” and “Me” that intrude into the violent act to produce and/or control it.
Soils as Source and Sink of Environmental Carbon Dioxide

World soils contain 2500 Pg C to 1-m depth, comprising of 1500 Pg of soil organic C (SOC) and 950 Pg of soil inorganic C (SIC) (Houghton, 2007; Lal, 2004). Therefore, the soil C pool is 3.1 times more C than the atmospheric pool (800 Pg and increasing at the rate of 4.1 Pg C·yr−1) and 4.0 times the biotic pool (620 Pg and decreasing at the rate of 1.6 Pg C·yr−1). The current global C budget comprises anthropogenic emissions of 8.0 Pg C·yr−1 from fossil fuel combustion and cement manufacture, and 1.6 Pg C·yr−1 from deforestation, biomass burning and soil cultivation. Of the total emission of 11.5 Gt C E (including CO2, CH4 and N2O) in 2000, 14% (1.6 Pg) were those due to agricultural activities and 18% (2.1 Pg) from land use conversion. Thus, land use and agriculture contribute about one-third (32%) of total anthropogenic emissions. Confirmed sinks include atmospheric absorption of 4.1 Pg C·yr−1, oceanic uptake of 2.3 Pg C·yr−1, and a land sink of about 1.5 Pg C·yr−1 (WMO, 2008). Thus, there is an unknown terrestrial sink of about 1.7 Pg C·yr−1.
Strengthening Mechanisms in Very Diluted Titanium-Oxygen-Iron Alloys

ABSTRACT The relationship between microstructure and strength of nine diluted titanium based alloys containing up to 1.03 wt% iron and up to 920 ppm of oxygen have been investigated. The contributions of solid solution, martensite, precipitation and strain hardening have been evaluated.
Applied Teamology: The Impact of Cognitive Style Diversity on Problem Reframing and Product Redesign Within Design Teams

In the words of Professor Larry J. Leifer, “All design is redesign.” As designers collect information about a problem, they form a mental frame of the problem space that is the scaffolding around which to build a solution. When presented with new information, successful designers can “reframe” the problem and the solution as part of a successful iterative cycle. These iterative cycles are central to the Stanford Design Thinking process. A team’s capacity and willingness to reframe can be measured by means of a closed-form assessment tool that eliminates many of the confounding variables of the previous longitudinal (project performance-based) approach. We propose the Stanford Design Thinking Exercise (SDTE) as a measure of reframing behavior and design team effectiveness. The exercise is standardized and can be conducted in a controlled lab or classroom setting in 1 h. The SDTE is designed to be a first step toward a quick, reliable and standardized technique for evaluating design team effectiveness. We found that the SDTE is a robust measurement for reframing change, in that it reports a range of reframing results across a participant population group, but attempts to align the instrument with participant cognitive characteristics were unsuccessful indicating that more work needs to be done to understand specific indicators of reframing.
The big house dataset: desired applications and interactions

What do normal, everyday people want to do with consumer IoT systems in their homes? How do different IoT interfaces affect what users think the system can do? We deployed four questionnaires to collect information on the interactions and applications that typical home occupants desire from smart home IoT technologies. We received over 1,500 responses, about 600 of which are users' descriptions of IoT applications they would like in their home, and about 900 of which are users' interactions with a smart home AI. This dataset was released publicly along with a paper describing key findings on the priming effects of common IoT system interfaces. However, the data is a rich source of additional information related to what people want to do and how they want to do it. Researchers in both academia and industry can benefit from the insights this dataset has to offer about consumer IoT applications, user-centric system design, and trade-offs between interfaces.
Modeling transmission dynamics of rabies in Nepal.

Even though vaccines against rabies are available, rabies still remains a burden killing a significant number of humans as well as domestic and wild animals in many parts of the world, including Nepal. In this study, we develop a mathematical model to describe transmission dynamics of rabies in Nepal. In particular, an indirect interspecies transmission from jackals to humans through dogs, which is relevant to the context of Nepal, is one of the novel features of our model. Our model utilizes annual dog-bite data collected from Nepal for a decade long period, allowing us to reasonably estimate parameters related to rabies transmission in Nepal. Using our model, we calculated the basic reproduction number ( R 0 = 1.16 ) as well as intraspecies basic reproduction numbers of dogs ( R 0 D = 1.14 ) and jackals ( R 0 J = 0.07 ) for Nepal, and identified that the dog-related parameters are primary contributors to R 0 . Our results show that, along with dogs, jackals may also play an important role, albeit lesser extent, in the persistence of rabies in Nepal. Our model also suggests that control strategies may help reduce the prevalence significantly but the jackal vaccination may not be as effective as dog-related preventive strategies. To get deeper insight into the role of intraspecies and interspecies transmission between dog and jackal populations in the persistence of rabies, we also extended our model analysis into a wider parameter range. Interestingly, for some feasible parameters, even though rabies is theoretically controlled in each dog and jackal populations ( R 0 D 1 , R 0 J 1 ) if isolated, the rabies epidemic may still occur ( R 0 > 1 ) due to interspecies transmission. These results may be useful to design effective prevention and control strategies for mitigating rabies burden in Nepal and other parts of the world.
Circular RNAs as promising biomarkers in cancer: detection, function, and beyond.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are 3′–5′ covalently closed RNA rings produced from back-splicing of precursor mRNA in eukaryotes. Recent studies, using both computational and experimental approaches, have allowed advanced characterization of circRNAs, leading the research field into a new era and shedding light on the contribution of circRNAs to disease.
Global Positioning System-Derived Workload Metrics and Injury Risk in Team-Based Field Sports: A Systematic Review.

Objective To evaluate the current literature regarding the utility of global positioning system (GPS)-derived workload metrics in determining musculoskeletal injury risk in team-based field-sport athletes. Data sources PubMed entries from January 2009 through May 2019 were searched using terms related to GPS, player workload, injury risk, and team-based field sports. Study selection Only studies that used GPS metrics and had injury as the main outcome variable were included. Data extraction Total distance, high-speed running, and acute : chronic workload ratios were the most common GPS metrics analyzed, with the most frequent sports being soccer, rugby, and Australian rules football. Data synthesis Many distinct workload metrics were associated with increased injury risk in individual studies performed in particular sport circumstances; however, the body of evidence was inconclusive as to whether any specific metrics could consistently predict injury risk across multiple team-based field sports. Conclusions Our results were inconclusive in determining if any GPS-derived workload metrics were associated with an increased injury risk. This conclusion is due to a myriad of factors, including differences in injury definitions, workload metrics, and statistical analyses across individual studies.
The Loop 'n' Tack Knot: Biomechanical Analysis of a Novel Suture Technique for Proximal Biceps Tenodesis.

Background:Secure tendon grasping is critical to the success of any tenodesis procedure. Several techniques currently used for tendon grasping can result in longitudinal splitting of the tendon, ca...
Infrared spectroscopy and anharmonic theory of H3+Ar2,3 complexes: The role of symmetry in solvation.

The vibrational spectra of H3+Ar2,3 and D3+Ar2,3 are investigated in the 2000 cm−1 to 4500 cm−1 region through a combination of mass-selected infrared laser photodissociation spectroscopy and computational work including the effects of anharmonicity. In the reduced symmetry of the di-argon complex, vibrational activity is detected in the regions of both the symmetric and antisymmetric hydrogen stretching modes of H3+. The tri-argon complex restores the D3h symmetry of the H3+ ion, with a concomitant reduction in the vibrational activity that is limited to the region of the antisymmetric stretch. Throughout these spectra, additional bands are detected beyond those predicted with harmonic vibrational theory. Anharmonic theory is able to reproduce some of the additional bands, with varying degrees of success.
Gene Editing to Investigate Role of Conceptus Factors in Establishment of Pregnancy in the Pig

Development of viviparity in mammals requires that the placenta evolves as an intermediate interface between the fetus and maternal uterus. In addition to the retention of the fetus and secretion of nutrients to support growth and development to term, it is essential that viviparous species modify or inhibit the maternal immune system from recognizing the semi-allogeneic fetus. Following blastocyst hatching from its zona pellucida, trophoblast differentiation provides the initial communication to the maternal endometrium to regulate maintenance of progesterone production from the corpus luteum and biological pathways in uterine and conceptus development necessary in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Many conceptus factors have been proposed to serve in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology provides a specific and efficient method to generate animal models to perform loss-of-function studies to investigate the role of specific conceptus factors. The utilization of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has provided a direct approach to investigate the specific role of conceptus factors in the development and establishment of pregnancy in the pig. This technology has helped address a number of questions concerning peri-implantation development and has altered our understanding of maternal recognition and maintenance of pregnancy in the pig.
Option trading volume by moneyness, firm fundamentals, and expected stock returns

Abstract I examine the link between option and equity markets by considering the informational content of the option trading volume with respect to moneyness and maturity when the trade direction is unobserved. A high option trading volume of all maturity terms, deep-in-the-money put options, and deep-out-of-the-money call options, predicts higher leverage, increases in default risk, negative earnings surprises, and decreases in future profitability. In addition, option trading volume negatively predicts future stock returns. Information diffusion from the option market to equities plays an important role in accounting for return predictability in option trading volume. Such predictability is less evident in stocks with high institutional ownership and more analyst coverage.
Thermoregulatory sex differences among surfers during a simulated surf session

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that under controlled surf conditions, sex differences in skin temperature exist, but core temperature would not vary between sexes when performing a simulated surf session while wearing a 2-mm wetsuit. Twenty male and 13 female surfers engaged in a 60-min simulated surf protocol using a custom 2-mm wetsuit in an Endless Pool Elite Flume with water temperature set to 15.6 °C. Participants were instrumented with a heart rate monitor, eight skin temperature sensors, and a disposable sensor for measurement of core temperature. The surf simulation consisted of paddling, duck-diving and stationary activities at three paddling speeds (1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 m/s). Participants were asked their thermal sensation periodically during the protocol, and all data were collected at 1-min intervals. Results indicated no significant differences in core temperature between males (37.31 ± 0.35 °C) and females (37.32 ± 0.48 °C, p = 0.995). Upper arm and thigh skin temperatures were significantly lower in females (27.45 ± 1.04 °C and 23.53 ± 0.78 °C, respectively) than males (28.61 ± 1.32 °C and 24.73 ± 0.68 °C; p = 0.012 and p = 0.000, respectively). Conversely, skin temperatures in the abdomen were significantly lower in males (26.57 ± 1.44 °C) than females (27.75 ± 1.50 °C; p = 0.035). Meanwhile, perceptual data were inconclusive. The results suggest that although regional differences in skin temperature may exist between male and female surfers, they may be too small to translate into perceptual differences and are unnecessary when considering wetsuit design.
Genetic variation in endocannabinoid signaling is associated with differential network-level functional connectivity in youth

The endocannabinoid system is an important regulator of emotional responses such as fear, and a number of studies have implicated endocannabinoid signaling in anxiety. The fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) C385A polymorphism, which is associated with enhanced endocannabinoid signaling in the brain, has been identified across species as a potential protective factor from anxiety. In particular, adults with the variant FAAH 385A allele have greater fronto-amygdala connectivity and lower anxiety symptoms. Whether broader network-level differences in connectivity exist, and when during development this neural phenotype emerges, remains unknown and represents an important next step in understanding how the FAAH C385A polymorphism impacts neurodevelopment and risk for anxiety disorders. Here, we leveraged data from 3,109 participants in the nationwide Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study℠ (10.04 ± 0.62 years old; 44.23% female, 55.77% male) and a cross-validated, data-driven approach to examine associations between genetic variation and large-scale resting-state brain networks. Our findings revealed a distributed brain network, comprising functional connections that were both significantly greater (95% CI for p values = [<0.001, <0.001]) and lesser (95% CI for p values = [0.006, <0.001]) in A-allele carriers relative to non-carriers. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between genotype and the summarized connectivity of functional connections that were greater in A-allele carriers, such that non-carriers with connectivity more similar to A-allele carriers (i.e., greater connectivity) had lower anxiety symptoms (β = -0.041, p = 0.030). These findings provide novel evidence of network-level changes in neural connectivity associated with genetic variation in endocannabinoid signaling and suggest that genotype-associated neural differences may emerge at a younger age than genotype-associated differences in anxiety.
Capillary Surfaces Without Gravity

On the earth’s surface, the shape of the free surface in a capillary tube is determined by an interaction of surface and gravity forces. If a significant mass of fluid is present the gravity forces will predominate; thus the effect of rising liquid is observed only in tubes of small diameter.
Parkinson Data Analysis and Interpretation with Data Visualization Methods

Information Visualization has been used in many areas and now its applications are growing each day. Modelling and visualization psychological processes, based on the analysis of psychological data can be a real necessary for all experts in this field. In this article we use PCA and person fit statistical for analyzing data, and some visualization tools for modeling to provide some visualizations of the Parkinson patient’s information. The results show some meaningful relations between BMI, Age in one side and percentage of some Parkinson patient features that can be appear in men and women on the other side.
The Genetic Map of Staphylococcus aureus

Only when Lindberg and coworkers reported transformation in S. aureus NCTC 8325, and when some functionally unrelated genes were shown to be cotransformable, was it feasible to attempt to develop a genetic map of the S. aureus chromosome. Transformation with high-molecular-weight DNA confirmed the orientation and linkage of two of the major linkage groups previously characterized by transformation. However, continuity of these linkage groups on a single circular genetic map, inferred by protoplast fusion, remained unsubstantiated. Furthermore, the genetic map was based almost solely on NCTC 8325, a phage group III strain of S. aureus. The availability of methods for the construction of physical maps of prokaryotic chromosomes based on pulsed-field agarose gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and DNA hybridization, combined with existing libraries of genetically mapped insertions of transposons Tn551, Tn917, Tn4001, and Tn916, allowed the construction of a physical map of NCTC 8325 that was correlated with the genetic map. At present, the most efficient way t o identify the chromosomal locus occupied by a new marker of interest is by a combination of physical mapping by PFGE with Smal-, Cspl-, and SgrAl-digested chromosomal DNA and DNA hybridization with an appropriate probe.
The use of DRC's to evaluate indigenization programs : the case of the Ivory Coast

The domestic resource cost (DRC) of foreign exchange methodology is extended to evaluate education programs for purposes of indigenization. Application of the DRC approach to the Ivory Coast indicates that resource allocation to education, particularly secondary education, is warranted. Lower secondary education is useful in so far as it performs a conduit function for higher levels of training. The importance of university education will probably increase as the occupational and educational structure in the Ivory Coast is upgraded through technological development. The system of tuition charges should be implemented in order to reduce the disparity between social and private returns to education. The DRC methodology could be applied to a wide range of LDCs that utilize imported skilled labor. The DRC methodology complements existing DRC studies of other economic activities as well as more conventional approaches to the analysis of educational costs and benefits. 21 references.
Merging Separate Spheres: Can Paternity Leave Reduce Sex Specialization in the Long Run?

There has been a recent trend in policy-making towards incentivizing fathers to take parental leave in order to boost women's labor market positions. Though paternity leave can temporarily facilitate a less gendered division of household labor, little research has been able to determine whether these effects persist after the leave period ends or whether the household reverts to traditional gender roles afterward. This paper presents the first causal evidence that exposure to paternity leave can have a large and lasting impact on household sex specialization. I exploit exogenous variation in exposure to a 'daddy quota' for parental leave across Canadian provinces and years, and use time-diary data to analyze whether it was associated with changes in fathers and mothers' time allocations in the long term. I find strong evidence of reduced specialization in exposed households: exposed fathers spend considerably more time in non-market care work after the reform. At the same time, exposed mothers spend considerably more time in paid work and are also more likely to be employed and full-time workers.
Analysis of retained placenta associated with saline abortion: Methodologic considerations

Abstract In order to determine the incidence of spontaneous placental delivery and placental retention associated with midtrimester abortion induced by hypertonic saline, the competing risk of operative removal of the placenta was eliminated by analyzing the data according to the multiple decrement life table method. This method of analysis revealed that the hour-specific rate of spontaneous delivery of the placenta was greatest in the first hour and became progressively lower the longer the placenta remained in utero. The cumulative rate of retention of the placenta was 46 per cent at the end of the first hour and 22 per cent at the end of the fourth hour. Compared with the simple frequency distribution method, multiple decrement life table analysis adjusts for the confounding effect of operative intervention, thus permitting a more accurate understanding of the probability of spontaneous termination of the third stage of labor.
Changes in Carbon following Forest Soil Transplants along an Altitudinal Gradient

Using a simple case study approach, this research tested the hypothesis that soil organic carbon (C) concentrations would decline when mineral soils from cool, nitrogen (N)–rich, high‐elevation (>1400 m) forests were transplanted to warmer, N‐poor, low‐elevation (∼545 m) forests. Two short‐term (<5 year) experiments were performed in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tenn./N.C.) in the southern Appalachian Mountains. In the first experiment, C concentrations in whole soils, particulate organic matter (POM), and mineral‐associated organic matter (MOM) declined significantly (P 0.001) when soils from a high elevation site (1H) were transplanted to a low‐elevation site (1L). In the second experiment, there was a significant (P  0.05) decline in POM C concentrations when high elevation soils (2H) were moved to a lower elevation (2L) as well as declines in whole soil C concentrations that were significant at P  0.10. In both cases, reciprocal transplants of low elevation soils to high elevations resu...