cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of extraversion and neuroticism on experimental pain, clinical pain, and illness behavior.

Abstract The effects of 2 personality traits, extraversion and neuroticism, on experimental and clinical pain were characterized in a group of myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) patients. Extraverts did not differ from introverts in visual analogue scale (VAS) sensory or VAS affective ratings of graded 5-sec nociceptive temperature stimuli (43–51°C) nor in VAS sensory-VAS affective relationships related to their clinical pain. However, high extravert patients scored lower on affective inhibition (Pilowsky Illness Behavior Questionnaire; IBQ) compared to low extravert patients. This result is consistent with previous suggestions that extraverts inhibit overt expressions of suffering less than do introverts. High neurotic patients did not differ from low neurotic patients in their VAS sensory ratings of either experimental or clinical pain. Their VAS affective ratings of both types of pain were marginally higher as compared to low neurotic patients. As hypothesized, high neurotic score patients gave higher VAS ratings of emotions related to suffering and scored higher on items related to affective disturbance on the IBQ as compared to low neurotic score patients. Overall, the results indicate that the personality traits of neither extraversion nor neuroticism affect sensory mechanisms of nociceptive processing but appear to exert their influence by means of cognitive processes related to the ways in which people constitute the meanings and implications of pain.
Postchemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection is Effective Therapy in Selected Patients With Elevated Tumor Markers After Primary Chemotherapy Alone

Abstract Objectives Elevated tumor markers after primary chemotherapy for metastatic testis cancer are usually an indication of persistent cancer. Subsequent treatment has usually been salvage chemotherapy. This article examines the possibility that selected patients can achieve long-term disease-free survival with surgery alone. Methods Using a computerized data base of 627 postinduction chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissections (PC-RPLND), 23 patients with elevated tumor markers who have undergone PC-RPLND after induction chemotherapy alone were identified. Of the 23 patients, 15 were considered candidates for salvage chemotherapy, but instead underwent salvage surgery. Case histories were reviewed to establish selection criteria for PC-RPLND. Results Eight patients originally presented as clinical Stage C, 6 as clinical Stage B-3, and 1 as clinical Stage B-2. All patients initially received cisplatin combination chemotherapy. Twelve patients had an elevated alpha-fetoprotein level and 3 patients had an elevated beta human chorionic gonadotropin level prior to PC-RPLND. Seven patients had rising markers at the time of PC-RPLND. Seven patients had teratoma only in their resected specimen and all have no evidence of disease [NED) at a median of 35 months. Two patients had necrosis only in their RPLND specimen and both are NED at 10 and 42 months. Six patients had cancer in their resected specimen and 2 are NED, 1 is alive with disease, and 3 are dead of disease. Five of the 6 patients with cancer in their resected specimen were the only patients who received postoperative chemotherapy. Conclusions Some patients with modest elevations of tumor markers after induction chemotherapy may only have teratoma or necrosis in the postchemotherapy resected specimen. These patients (n = 9) remain continuously NED. Patients who undergo salvage surgery and have cancer in the resected specimen do less well, but selected patients can be cured with this modality and thus avoid the morbidity of salvage chemotherapy.
Palaeomorphology: fossils and the inference of cladistic relationships

Edgecombe, G.D. 2010. Palaeomorphology: fossils and the inference of cladistic relationships. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 72–80 Twenty years have passed since it was empirically demonstrated that inclusion of extinct taxa could overturn a phylogenetic hypothesis formulated upon extant taxa alone, challenging Colin Patterson’s bold conjecture that this phenomenon ‘may be non-existent’. Suppositions and misconceptions about missing data, often couched in terms of ‘wildcard taxa’ and ‘the missing data problem’, continue to cloud the literature on the topic of fossils and phylogenetics. Comparisons of real data sets show that no ap riori(or indeed a posteriori) decisions can be made about amounts of missing data and most properties of cladograms, and both simulated and real data sets demonstrate that even highly incomplete taxa can impact on relationships. The exclusion of fossils from phylogenetic analyses is neither theoretically nor empirically defensible.
PUNDIT apprend le Francais: the PRATTFALL machine-translation module

PRATTFALL, an English-to-French machine-translation (MT) module built on top of the PUNDIT text-understanding system, is described. PRATTFALL is implemented in Prolog/T (as is PUNDIT) and is based on M.C. McCord's (1986) LMT system. PRATTFALL comprises components for transfer, restructuring, and inflection and has successfully translated a small subset of one of PUNDIT's corpora of messages. >
Adrenal neoplasms: Effectiveness and safety of CT-guided ablation of 23 tumors in 22 patients.

Abstract Purpose To retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of image-guided ablation of adrenal tumors. Materials and methods : This HIPAA-compliant study was IRB approved and informed consent was waived. From 5/1999-6/2008, 20 consecutive adrenal metastases (mean diameter 4.2 cm; range, 2–8) and 3 hormonally active primary adrenal tumors (mean diameter 2.3 cm; range, 1–4), including an aldosteronoma and 2 pheochromocytomas in 22 patients (14 men, 8 women; mean age 61 years; range 40–84) were ablated in 23 sessions. Bilateral metastases were treated in a single patient. Radiofrequency ablation was used to treat 16 adrenal metastases and the 3 hyperfunctioning tumors. Microwave ablation was used to treat 4 metastases. Successful treatment was defined as a lack of both enhancement on follow-up contrast enhanced CT and/or up-take on FDG PET-CT and for functioning tumors, resolution of biochemical abnormalities. Results Technical success was achieved in all sessions. Mean follow-up was 45.1 months (range, 1–91) Local tumor progression (focal enhancement at ablation site ≥1 cm in short axis) was detected in 4 of 23 tumors, two of which were identified bilaterally in a single patient prompting re-treatment. Of 19 patients with metastatic disease, 16 had fatal extra-adrenal disease progression, and 3 remain alive. Two of the 3 patients who underwent ablation of hyperfunctioning tumors remain alive, including the patient with an aldosteronoma who had recurrent symptoms 91 months post ablation. Intra-ablative hypertension occurred in 9% (2/23) of sessions and was successfully treated pharmacologically. Conclusion Ablation of metastatic and hyperfunctioning adrenal tumors is safe and may provide local control and treatment of pathologic biochemical activity.
Surgeons and non-surgeons prefer haptic feedback of instrument vibrations during robotic surgery

Clinical robotic surgery systems do not currently provide haptic feedback because surgical instrument interactions are difficult to measure and display. Our laboratory recently developed a technology that allows surgeons to feel and/or hear the high-frequency vibrations of robotic instruments as they interact with patient tissue and other tools. Until now, this type of feedback had not been carefully evaluated by users. We conducted two human-subject studies to discover whether surgeons and non-surgeons value the addition of vibration feedback from surgical instruments during robotic surgery. In the first experiment, 10 surgeons and 10 non-surgeons (n = 20) used an augmented Intuitive da Vinci Standard robot to repeatedly perform up to four dry-lab tasks both with and without haptic and audio feedback. In the second experiment, 68 surgeons and 26 non-surgeons (n = 94) tested the same robot at a surgical conference: each participant spent approximately 5 min performing one or two tasks. Almost all subjects in both experiments (95 and 98 %, respectively) preferred receiving feedback of tool vibrations, and all subjects in the second experiment thought it would be useful for surgeons to have the option of such feedback. About half of the subjects (50, 60 %) preferred haptic and audio feedback together, and almost all the rest (45, 35 %) preferred haptic feedback alone. Subjects stated that the feedback made them more aware of tool contacts and did not interfere with use of the robot. There were no significant differences between the responses of different subject populations for any questions in either experiment. This study illustrates that both surgeons and non-surgeons prefer instrument vibration feedback during robotic surgery. Some participants found audio feedback useful but most preferred haptic feedback overall. This strong preference for tool vibration feedback indicates that this technology provides valuable tactile information to the surgeon.
Rosette Recruitment of a Rare Endemic Forb (Gaura neomexicana Subsp. coloradensis) with Canopy Removal of Associated Species

Gaura neomexicana subsp. coloradensis Munz (Onagraceae), (Colorado butterfly plant), a short-lived perennial forb, became listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October 2000 because of its small global range and population size. This endemic subspecies consists of only 18 extant populations within southeastern Wyoming, southwestern Nebraska, and northeastern Colorado. Wyoming occurrences are on private land with the exception of three occurrences on F. E. Warren Air Force Base, near Cheyenne. Gaura neomexicana subsp. coloradensis may be displaced by many competitors, including Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. (Canada thistle), an invasive, noxious weed. In June 1998, three G. neomexicana subsp. coloradensis populations were examined for rosette establishment in the presence of and after removal of associated species. The four study treatments removed: (1) Cirsium arvense, (2) grass and forb canopy and associated litter, (3) grass and forb canopy, litter, and C. arvense, and (4) no removal of associated plant species (control). Mature G. neomexicana subsp. coloradensis plants were evaluated for height, number of leaves, and capsule production. The mature plant characteristics monitored in 1998 were not good indicators of subsequent G. neomexicana subsp. coloradensis rosette densities in the following spring. Recruitment was assessed by counting new rosettes in the fall 1999. Although both G. neomexicana subsp. coloradensis and the exotic C. arvense have comparable habitat, removal of C. arvense did not increase G. neomexicana subsp. coloradensis vegetative growth, seed capsule production, or rosette density. Removal of other forbs, grass, and litter, however, increased G. neomexicana subsp. coloradensis rosette density in the following two years, indicating that canopy removal of associated species can enhance rosette establishment of this rare native. The accumulation of dense vegetative cover and litter associated with the absence of herbivory and fire may contribute to the decline of rare species in rich riparian habitats. Return of herbivory and fire in mesic sites to reduce standing biomass accumulations should be considered in restoring recruitment potential to rare monocarpic species.
Vector replacement to improve static-test compaction for synchronous sequential circuits

Static-test compaction procedures for synchronous sequential circuits may saturate and be unable to further reduce the test-sequence length before the test length reaches its minimum value, resulting in test sequences that may be longer than necessary. We propose a method to take a static-compaction procedure out of saturation and allow it to continue reducing the test-sequence length. The proposed method is based on the replacement of test vectors in the test sequence every time the compaction procedure reaches saturation. Test-vector replacement is done such that the fault coverage of the sequence is maintained. Experimental results using an effective static-compaction procedure demonstrate that reductions in test length can be obtained by the proposed vector replacement method.
Norm based robust control of constrained discrete time linear systems

The author presents a theoretical framework to analyze the stability properties of constrained discrete-time systems under the presence of uncertainty. It is shown that this formalism provides a unifying approach, including as a particular case the well-known technique of estimating robustness bounds from the solution of a Lyapunov equation. These results are applied to the problem of designing feedback controllers capable of stabilizing a family of systems while at the same time satisfying state-space constraints. It is believed that the results presented here will provide a valuable approach to the problems of robust-controller analysis and design for linear systems. >
A Study of Practitioners' Opinions Regarding Desirability of Selected Future Events, Time Period Predictions, and Choice of Actions in the Field of Adult Education

In this study, 15 future events were incorporated into a questionnaire which asked practitioners to state opinions regarding desirability and projected time periods for the occurrence of events and to indicate actions that should be taken in adult education to plan for those futures. The instrument was mailed to 601 randomly selected practitioners, from the individual membership of the Adult Education Association of the U.S.A. A response rate of 86% was obtained.Data analysis led to the following interpretations: (1) Denial of the proximity and intensity of change is apparent in many practitioners' responses. (2) Changes in work which provide release time for study or leisure are viewed as predominantly desirable while events which portray constriction of work opportunities are undesirable. (3) Unless actions are directed to the elderly, work, or educational events, practitioners do not uniformly see themselves involved in social events. (4) A limited role is perceived for adult education in a global context.
Signaling through the lymphotoxin beta receptor induces the death of some adenocarcinoma tumor lines.

Surface lymphotoxin (LT) is a heteromeric complex of LT-alpha and LT-beta chains that binds to the LT-beta receptor (LT-beta-R), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of receptors. The biological function of this receptor-ligand system is poorly characterized. Since signaling through other members of this receptor family can induce cell death, e.g., the TNF and Fas receptors, it is important to determine if similar signaling events can be communicated via the LT-beta-R. A soluble form of the surface complex was produced by coexpression of LT-alpha and a converted form of LT-beta wherein the normally type II LT-beta membrane protein was changed to a type I secreted form. Recombinant LT-alpha 1/beta 2 was cytotoxic to the human adenocarcinoma cell lines HT-29, WiDr, MDA-MB-468, and HT-3 when added with the synergizing agent interferon (IFN) gamma. When immobilized on a plastic surface, anti-LT-beta-R monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) induced the death of these cells, demonstrating direct signaling via the LT-beta-R. Anti-LT-beta-R mAbs were also identified that inhibited ligand-induced cell death, whereas others were found to potentiate the activity of the ligand when added in solution. The human WiDr adenocarcinoma line forms solid tumors in immunocompromised mice, and treatment with an anti-LT-beta-R antibody combined with human IFN-gamma arrested tumor growth. The delineation of a biological signaling event mediated by the LT-beta-R opens a window for further studies on its immunological role, and furthermore, activation of the LT-beta-R may have an application in tumor therapy.
Embodied health: a guiding perspective for research in health psychology

Abstract Health psychology is based on a biopsychosocial model, which conceptualises health as a product of biological, psychological and environmental factors. However, many studies in health psychology reflect a more narrow focus on the psychosocial influences of health, leaving out physical influences, while the majority of medical studies neglect the influence of psychosocial variables. We suggest that shifting focus to the relationship between bodily experiences and health-related cognition can bridge the gap between psychological and medical research traditions. We review the literature on the theory of embodied cognition and discuss its potential to serve as a framework to guide health research. Finally, we make suggestions regarding the potential contribution of an embodied health perspective to research on preventive health behaviour, physician–patient communication and adherence to treatment recommendations.
Gender as contradiction

A model of gender as a paradoxical and multidimensional structure is proposed. An extended critical reading of Freud's essay on a case of homosexuality in a woman undermines the notion of gender identity and sexual object choice as monolithic categories of experience. The Freud case is considered for its radical model of sexuality and gender, but also for its restrictive use of classical interpretation. Alternative interpretive lines and transference countertransference meanings are considered. With the use of contemporary clinical material, a model of gender identity and sexuality is proposed in which the unconscious and symbolic meaning of bodies and genders, rather than biological sex of the lover and the beloved, carries the interpretive weight.
Formulating genome‐scale kinetic models in the post‐genome era

The biological community is now awash in high-throughput data sets and is grappling with the challenge of integrating disparate data sets. Such integration has taken the form of statistical analysis of large data sets, or through the bottom–up reconstruction of reaction networks. While progress has been made with statistical and structural methods, large-scale systems have remained refractory to dynamic model building by traditional approaches. The availability of annotated genomes enabled the reconstruction of genome-scale networks, and now the availability of high-throughput metabolomic and fluxomic data along with thermodynamic information opens the possibility to build genome-scale kinetic models. We describe here a framework for building and analyzing such models. The mathematical analysis challenges are reflected in four foundational properties, (i) the decomposition of the Jacobian matrix into chemical, kinetic and thermodynamic information, (ii) the structural similarity between the stoichiometric matrix and the transpose of the gradient matrix, (iii) the duality transformations enabling either fluxes or concentrations to serve as the independent variables and (iv) the timescale hierarchy in biological networks. Recognition and appreciation of these properties highlight notable and challenging new in silico analysis issues.
The Influence of Skin Disorders on Sexual Expression

This article documents the profound effect skin disorders can have on sexual expression and responsiveness. The role of health care providers in uncovering and dealing with the sexual difficulties of dermatologic patients is discussed. For illustrative purposes, the social and psychological consequences of psoriasis are considered, as well as clinical and research data related to this condition.
Correlation between seismic anisotropy and Bouguer gravity anomalies in Tibet and its implications for lithospheric structures

SUMMARY As a baseline measurement for understanding the Himalayan‐Tibetan orogen, a product of continent‐continent collision between India and Eurasia, we analyse digital seismic data in order to constrain the seismic anisotropy of the Indian shield. Based on spatially sparse data that are currently available in the public domain, there is little shear-wave birefringence for SKS phases under the Indian shield, even though it is part of a fast-moving plate in the hotspot frame of reference. If most of the northern Indian mantle has little transverse anisotropy, the onset of significant anisotropy under Tibet marks the northern terminus of intact Indian lithosphere that is thrusting under the Himalayan‐Tibetan orogen. Beyond this terminus, tectonic fabric such as that associated with the deforming lithospheric mantle of Eurasia must be present in the upper mantle. Along the profile from Yadong to Golmud, the only profile in Tibet where a number of shear-wave birefringence data are available, the amount of birefringence shows two marked increases, near 30° and 33°N, between which a local high in Bouguer gravity anomaly is observed. Such a correlation between patterns of shear-wave birefringence and gravity anomalies is explained by the juxtaposition of Indian lithosphere against the overlying Eurasian lithosphere: while the Eurasian lithospheric mantle appears only to the north of 30°N, the Indian lithospheric mantle extends northwards to near 33°N.
Consequences of implanting and surface mixing during Si and SiO 2 plasma etching

Fluorocarbon plasmas are widely used in Si and SiO 2 etching. The generally accepted mechanism includes:1 a) ion activation of sites to produce a SiC x F y or SiO 2 CxF y complex layer, b) deposition of C x F y polymer layer on top of the complex and c) etching the complex by releasing volatile etch products, such as COF x and SiF x . Since the ion energies typically used in dielectric etching can be many hundreds of eV, mixing of the surface layers and implantation can occur. The mixing can produce a more reactive surface which could increase the etch rate but the mixing is also a form of damage. Small molecular or atomic ions are capable of penetrating through the polymer and complex layers, and be trapped in the SiO 2 or Si lattices. High energy molecular ions striking the surface are partly dissociated to generate smaller molecules and atoms which, if retaining energy, can also implant. Species with lower energy may implant into the polymer or complex layer as well. These weakly bonded or interstitial species may eventually diffuse back into the plasma.
Programmable terahertz waveforms generated via optical rectification of shaped ultrafast laser pulses

We have demonstrated the use of optical pulse-shaping technique in conjunction with difference frequency generation in a nonlinear optoelectronic crystal for the generation of computer-designed electromagnetic waveforms at terahertz frequency.
When late life brings a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and early life brought trauma. A cognitive-analytic understanding of loss of mind

This paper contrasts the loss of mind from the loss of brain cells in Alzheimer's Disease and other neurodegenerative conditions with the threats to one's mind from the mindlessness of others from a cognitive-analytic perspective. Case studies are presented that show how the therapeutic framework of Cognitive-Analytic Therapy (CAT: Ryle 1990, 1995, 1997) can bring containment for both client and therapist for clients facing this dilemma, particularly when past trauma is potentially overwhelming. This is set in a dialogue with the pioneering work of Tom Kitwood (1990, 1995, 1997) in dementia care, in which Kitwood's thesis of the ‘malignant social psychology’ surrounding people with dementia is re-stated in terms of ‘reciprocal roles’ developed in Cognitive-Analytic Therapy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Discerning Opportunity Types: Implications for Entrepreneurial Action and Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract Entrepreneurship research has paid little attention to variance in entrepreneurial opportunities, instead choosing to treat them as homogenous. Thus, the field has failed to acknowledge that there are significant variations in means–ends conceptualizations giving rise to different types of opportunities. Further, researchers and educators have not fully considered that the type of opportunity being pursued has implications for which entrepreneurial actions are required to realize a successful outcome. We address these issues in this chapter by distinguishing means–ends combinations such that four types of opportunities – replication, reinterpretation, revelation, and revolution – are introduced. This matrix leads to propositions regarding differing actions that would be emphasized as a function of the type opportunity under consideration (e.g., legitimacy building, knowledge assimilation, market demand, and resource acquisition). The net effect is an improved understanding of how variations in means–ends conceptualizations influence how entrepreneurs interpret their particular opportunity, which in turn drives the actions they take as they attempt to turn their vision into reality. This improved understanding has important implications for entrepreneurship education and we suggests a number of possible changes to pedagogy that flow from our framework. We believe that these changes will bring added richness and value to the classroom.
Persian Architectural Elements and Mosaic Designs Both Traditional and Modern

Guest editor Reza Sarhangi introduces the papers in NNJ issue 18(1) dedicated to Persian architecture and mathematics.
Energy types

This paper presents a novel type system to promote and facilitate energy-aware programming. Energy Types is built upon a key insight into today's energy-efficient systems and applications: despite the popular perception that energy and power can only be described in joules and watts, real-world energy management is often based on discrete phases and modes, which in turn can be reasoned about by type systems very effectively. A phase characterizes a distinct pattern of program workload, and a mode represents an energy state the program is expected to execute in. This paper describes a programming model where phases and modes can be intuitively specified by programmers or inferred by the compiler as type information. It demonstrates how a type-based approach to reasoning about phases and modes can help promote energy efficiency. The soundness of our type system and the invariants related to inter-phase and inter-mode interactions are rigorously proved. Energy Types is implemented as the core of a prototyped object-oriented language ET for smartphone programming. Preliminary studies show ET can lead to significant energy savings for Android Apps.
John S. Strauss: The life he leads

ABSTRACTOver a 50-year career, John S. Strauss has taken psychiatry down a remarkable number of new paths which have since turned into fields and have become grounds for new ways of understanding and treating people who suffer from mental disorders. His pioneering emphasis on studying illness over time, patients’ subjective experiences, the multiple dimensions of “outcome”, patients’ active roles in helping themselves, the importance of work, and the value of good writing and narrative are only some of the areas in which he has led the way. No less important were the methods that he used and championed: always rigorous and objective, but sensitive and appropriate to the matters of real interest and to people. A rare congruence exists between his work and his own life, which helped make possible the many gifts he gave to his friends and colleagues, and to patients.
Procedural Justice, Legitimacy, and School Principals’ Evaluations of School Resource Officers: Support, Perceived Effectiveness, Trust, and Satisfaction

Violence and active shooter situations in schools have been important issues to the public, policy makers, and scholars in recent years. School resource officers (SROs) are widely used in efforts to address school crime-related threats. Yet, little is known about the factors that influence key stakeholders’ (e.g., school principals) evaluations of such officers. The present study uses survey data from a sample of public school principals in South Carolina to examine the role of procedural justice theory in understanding evaluations of SROs. The results reveal that procedural justice is associated with principals’ support for SROs, perceived effectiveness of SROs, and level of trust and satisfaction in SROs. The policy implications of the results center on the importance of SRO procedural fairness in maintaining quality relationships with top school administrators which may ultimately have a wider impact on the success of SRO programs.
Early differentiation of hair cells in the embryonic chick basilar papilla - A preliminary report

SEM studies of the developing chick basilar papilla showed differentiated stereociliary bundles in the distal basilar papilla as early as stage 32. Previous LM and TEM reports were unable to distinguish stereocilia until stage 35. This study has significant implications relative to the role of neural induction on hair cell differentiation.
Measuring Selective Withdrawal Characteristics using an Argonaut Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter in Folsom Lake, California

During an evaluation of the selective withdrawal structure for a municipal and industrial (M&I) water intake at Folsom Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SELECT model was used to compute the nearfield velocity profiles in a thermally stratified reservoir. To verify numerical model results, velocity profiles near the M&I intake structure were collected for one flowrate at three different distances from the trashrack structure. In addition, two velocity profiles were collected near the adjacent penstock intake structure for a single flowrate. This paper presents the measurement techniques used to collect the velocity profiles near trashrack structures using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. In addition, a comparison between the SELECT-computed and field-measured velocity profiles are made.
Acetylcholine-releasing effects of some nicotinic agents on chick biventer cervicis nerve muscle preparation.

SummaryThe mechanism of action of some nicotinic agents has been studied on the baby chick biventer cervicis nerve muscle preparation. The effects of various nicotinic agents on this preparation were blocked by 1.2 × 10—2M triethylcholine (TEC) or by neuromuscular blockade achieved by TEC treatment with interrupted tetanic nerve stimulation, whereas the dose-responsive curve of acetylcholine (ACh) was not altered. These results suggest that the nicotinic agents tested are presumably acting primarily at the nerve terminals rather than at the receptor sites on the postjunctional membrane. After the effects of the nicotinic agents were completely blocked by TEC alone, the muscle was still responsive to nerve stimulation. This suggests that the TEC blockade of the nicotinic effects of the drugs tested may be at the membrane site of the nerve terminal since ACh is still available in the storage site for release after TEC blockade. In the same preparation, the responses to most of the nicotinic agents were mark...
The new legitimation crises of Arab states and Turkey

The Arab Spring uprisings that led to the downfall of erstwhile authoritarian regimes in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya heralded the end of a state system introduced into the Middle East and North Africa...
Microbiome: Eating for trillions.

Three studies investigate the bacteria in the guts of malnourished children and find that, when this microbiota is transferred into mice, supplements of certain microbes or sugars from human breast milk can restore normal growth.
The Use and Outcomes of Small, Medium and Large Premounted Stents in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

We sought to describe the use and outcomes of small, medium and large premounted stents in patients with congenital heart disease, including incidence of and risk factors for re-intervention and development of in-stent stenosis. Premounted stents offer several advantages over traditional manually crimped bare-metal stents, especially in small patients. There are no data describing the medium-term effectiveness and outcomes of premounted stents in congenital heart disease. We performed a single-center retrospective review of all small, medium and large premounted stents implanted over an 8-year period. Premounted stents were implanted in 71 vessels within 59 patients with a 97 % success rate. Regardless of implantation site, premounted stent implantation resulted in significant improvements in vessel size and pressure gradient (p < 0.0001). Over a median follow-up duration of 3.1 years [interquartile range (IQR) 1.3–5.2], 25 patients (43 %) required re-intervention (18 catheter based, 3 surgical and 4 hybrid) at a median time of 1.4 years (IQR 0.9–3.0) from implant. Factors associated with re-intervention included age ≤1.9 years [hazard ratio (HR) 2.4, p = 0.03], weight ≤11.5 kg (HR 2.5, p = 0.03) and bare-metal premounted stents compared to covered premounted stents (HR 4.2, p = 0.001). In-stent stenosis was diagnosed in 42 % of premounted stents which underwent follow-up angiography. No identified characteristics were associated with in-stent stenosis, including “oversizing” the premounted stent. Small, medium and large premounted stents are effective in treating vascular stenosis in congenital heart disease. Frequent follow-up is required, especially in smaller patients with expected somatic growth, and to evaluate for in-stent stenosis which occurs in nearly half of premounted stents.
In Patients with Acute Mesenteric Ischemia Does an Endovascular or Hybrid Approach Improve Morbidity and Mortality Compared to Open Revascularization

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) covers a broad range of vascular pathologies ranging from acute arterial embolism or thrombosis, to the eventual manifestation of untreated chronic mesenteric ischemia. In recent decades, with improved anticoagulation management, the incidence of SMA embolism has declined. Currently, the most common presentation is an acute exacerbation of chronic atherosclerotic mesenteric vessel occlusion. The clinical manifestations and time course of this are much more variable and difficult to stratify. Regardless of the cause, in the absence of timely restoration of blood flow, there will be progression to bowel ischemia, peritonitis and death. The entity was first described in 1895, however it was not until the 1950s that techniques for restoration of mesenteric blood flow were described. Initial operative strategies included SMA embolectomy, SMA thromboendarterectomy and aorto-mesenteric bypass. Angiography was used primarily for diagnostic purposes but early reports of intra-arterial thrombolysis using heparin and streptokinase were published in the 1970s. With further advancements in endovascular techniques, percutaneous revascularization has become the preferred modality for treating patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia. However, the standard of care for AMI remains unclear and mortality rates remain quite high. Traditionalists would argue that there is no substitute for an open abdominal exploration and assessment of bowel viability. They are skeptical of recent publications citing favorable outcomes with purely percutaneous treatments for AMI, maintaining that it does not allow for assessment of bowel viability, requires advanced technical skills and is more time consuming compared to open approach. Alternatively, a combined open and endovascular, or “hybrid” approach can be viewed as a compromise that still honors traditional surgical principles to evaluate bowel viability. Milner et al. were the first to publish a case report on a “hybrid” approach to AMI. They combined open and endovascular strategies to establish mesenteric blood flow. Briefly, the SMA is exposed at the base of the transverse mesocolon. A patch angioplasty is then performed at the site of intended arterial puncture site, through which, an SMA stent is deployed via retrograde cannulation. Proponents of this technique assert that it allows for assessment of bowel viability, and offers direct access to SMA revascularization rather than the long and sometimes challenging transbrachial or transfemoral approach. Since the first description of this technique in 2004, several groups have published their experience with this approach. In this chapter, we aim to summarize the literature on endovascular techniques (including hybrid approach) for treating acute mesenteric ischemia, and how they compare to the traditional open revascularization strategies.
Association with pedogenic iron and aluminum: effects on soil organic carbon storage and stability in four temperate forest soils

Soil organic carbon (SOC) can be stabilized via association with iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) minerals. Fe and Al can be strong predictors of SOC storage and turnover in soils with relatively high extractable metals content and moderately acidic to circumneutral pH. Here we test whether pedogenic Fe and Al influence SOC content and turnover in soils with low Fe and Al content and acidic pH. In soils from four sites spanning three soil orders, we quantified the amount of Fe and Al in operationally-defined poorly crystalline and organically-complexed phases using selective chemical dissolution applied to the soil fraction containing mineral-associated carbon. We evaluated the correlations of Fe and Al concentrations, mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT), and pH with SOC content and 14C-based turnover times. We found that poorly crystalline Fe and Al content predicted SOC turnover times (p < 0.0001) consistent with findings of previous studies, while organically-complexed Fe and Al content was a better predictor of SOC concentration (p < 0.0001). Greater site-level MAP (p < 0.0001) and colder site-level MAT (p < 0.0001) were correlated with longer SOC turnover times but were not correlated with SOC content. Our results suggest that poorly crystalline Fe and Al effectively slow the turnover of SOC in these acidic soils, even when their combined content in the soil is less than 2% by mass. However, in the strongly acidic Spodosol, organo-metal complexes tended to be less stable resulting in a more actively cycling mineral-associated SOC pool.
Contesting Identity: Democratic Human Rights and Sexual Politics

The democratization of sub-Saharan Africa influences the contestation of sexuality. Democracy gave birth to civil society organizations dedicated to human rights. Aided by globalization, civil society organizations are linked to like-minded groups in the West, leading to the sharing of socio-political tactics and ideologies across geographical boundaries. Since African Christianity opposes homosexuality, churches partner with other civil society groups that reject sexual rights as human rights issues, contributing to the resurgence of protective homophobia. Using the frame of Gutmann’s identity politics, Hancock’s politics of disgust, and Leege et al.’s cultural politics, I explore how identity informs sexual politics. As anti-gay and pro-gay movements seek to direct public policy on sexuality, the democratic contestation of sexuality occurs.
Pervasiveness of UVC254-resistant Geobacillus strains in extreme environments

We have characterized a broad collection of extremophilic bacterial isolates from a deep subsurface mine, compost dumping sites, and several hot spring ecosystems. Spore-forming strains isolated from these environments comprised both obligate thermophiles/thermotolerant species (growing at > 55 °C; 240 strains) and mesophiles (growing at 15 to 40 °C; 12 strains). An overwhelming abundance of Geobacillus (81.3%) and Bacillus (18.3%) species was observed among the tested isolates. 16S rRNA sequence analysis documented the presence of 24 species among these isolates, but the 16S rRNA gene was shown to possess insufficient resolution to reliably discern Geobacillus phylogeny. gyrB-based phylogenetic analyses of nine strains revealed the presence of six known Geobacillus and one novel species. Multilocus sequence typing analyses based on seven different housekeeping genes deduced from whole genome sequencing of nine strains revealed the presence of three novel Geobacillus species. The vegetative cells of 41 Geobacillus strains were exposed to UVC254, and most (34 strains) survived 120 J/m2, while seven strains survived 300 J/m2, and cells of only one Geobacillus strain isolated from a compost facility survived 600 J/m2. Additionally, the UVC254 inactivation kinetics of spores from four Geobacillus strains isolated from three distinct geographical regions were evaluated and compared to that of a spacecraft assembly facility (SAF) clean room Geobacillus strain. The purified spores of the thermophilic SAF strain exhibited resistance to 2000 J/m2, whereas spores of two environmental Geobacillus strains showed resistance to 1000 J/m2. This study is the first to investigate UV resistance of environmental, obligately thermophilic Geobacillus strains, and also lays the foundation for advanced understanding of necessary sterilization protocols practiced in food, medical, pharmaceutical, and aerospace industries.
The Antecedents of Incidental News Exposure on Social Media

Social media users incidentally get exposed to news when their networks provide content that they would otherwise not seek out purposefully. We developed a scale of incidental news exposure on soci...
Analysis of Merge and Diverge Segments

The essence of uninterrupted flow facilities is that vehicles can enter and leave the traffic stream without requiring mainline traffic to stop. On freeways and many multilane highways, this is accomplished through on-ramps and off-ramps. Typically, on- and off-ramps consist of one lane, generally located on the right side of the freeway or multilane highway.
Behavioral attitudes toward current economic events: a lesson from neuroeconomics

This paper discusses the implications of neuroeconomics with respect to behavioral attitudes toward the interpretation of current economic events. To this end it first brings to the fore two aspects of neuroeconomics, namely, that thinking imposes strain on the mind, and that brain activity is a scarce resource. It then discusses how this affects the attitude of an economist trained in a specific school of thought. Without exposure to other schools of economic thought, the economist will have unknowingly biased views.
The impact of optically rectified fields on plasmonic electrocatalysis

Studies have shown that the excitation of plasmon resonances on nanostructured materials can drive catalytic processes. Plasmon resonances can be tuned across the solar spectrum, thus offering intriguing possibilities for their application in plasmonic catalysis. Previous work carried out by our group has indicated that nanostructures with tight junctions can create direct current (DC) electric fields. These fields arise from an optical rectification of the plasmon resonance on the plasmonic surface, and our group has shown that these fields modulate photocatalytic activity. This work looks to shed further light on the impact that optically rectified fields can have on catalytic reactions. Cyclic voltammetry shows that the electrochemical reduction and oxidation potentials of a 2 mM CuSO4 solution occur at ∼100 mV lower overpotential on an optically excited Ag nanodendrite electrode. Stark spectroscopy of the nitriles absorbed to these surfaces indicate photo-associated changes in the surface potential across the Ag nanodendrites. Localized areas evince photo-induced changes in the surface potential upwards of 300 mV. These results provide evidence of optically rectified fields altering the electrochemical reactivity on plasmonic surfaces and suggest that optimizing this nonlinear phenomenon may improve plasmonic photocatalysts.
An effect size for variance heterogeneity in meta-analysis

The difference in two coefficients of variation is proposed as an effect size to capture variance heterogeneity for two groups across a sample of studies, and five tests of homogeneity of this effe...
Sweeping the world clean of capitalism: Samir Amin, Abdullah Ocalan and the world of autonomous regions

This paper will attempt to rethink Samir Amin's concept of delinking in terms of selective delinking and selective engagement. The notion of delinking is perhaps Samir Amin's most distinctive contr...
Technical Note: Increased photon starvation artifacts at low helical pitch in ultra-low-dose CT

Purpose The aim of this study was to demonstrate that a low helical pitch causes increased photon starvation artifacts at ultra-low-dose CT. Methods A cylindrical water phantom with a diameter of 30 cm was scanned on two different generation CT scanners: a 64-slice scanner (Sensation 64, Siemens Healthcare) and a 192-slice scanner (Somatom Force, Siemens Healthcare) at multiple effective mAs levels (mAs/pitch = 200, 100, 50, 25, and 12). The corresponding CTDIvol values were 4.1, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 mGy, on the 64-slice scanner and 3.8, 1.9, 1.0, 0.5 mGy on the 192-slice scanner, for the selected effective mAs values. For each dose setting, the scan was repeated at four helical pitches: 1.2, 0.9, 0.6, and the lowest achievable pitch on each scanner. The tube current was automatically adjusted by the scanner so that the effective mAs, and thus CTDIvol , were kept the same for different pitches. All CT data sets were reconstructed with a slice thickness of 3mm and a medium smooth kernel. Images acquired at the same dose level but different helical pitches were visually inspected to assess photon starvation artifacts and noise levels. Results At the same radiation dose, image noise increased with the decreasing helical pitch. The increase was more severe on the old-generation 64-slice scanner. Photon starvation artifacts were evident at 200 effective mAs on the 64-slice scanner at 80 kV. On the 192-slice scanner there was no visible photon starvation artifacts at both 200 and 50 effective mAs (CTDIvol = 4.1 mGy and 1.0 mGy, respectively); nor was there a visible impact from the lower helical pitch. Only when the dose was lowered to be extremely low (~0.26 mGy, achievable at 70 kV), did photon starvation artifacts become evident. Conclusions A low helical pitch may increase image noise and photon starvation artifacts compared to a higher pitch for the same dose level, particularly at ultra-low dose CT.
Further Chemistry of Singlet Dioxygen

A considerable amount of research has been reported on the reactions of singlet dioxygen. Much of this material has little or no relevance to biological reactions at our present level of understanding of these reactions. However, a knowledge of these reactions may prove to be useful in our future understanding of biological oxidations; for this reason, this material is summarized in this chapter.
Core needle biopsy with endobronchial ultrasonography: single center experience with 100 cases

Introduction Adequate sampling by endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-transbronchial needle aspiration to meet the demands of precision medicine or histologic evaluation is challenging. There is increasing demand for core biopsy specimens with advances in therapy. Franseen enodoscopic ultrasound needles have shown promising results in gastroenterology application for obtaining core biopsies and same design has recently been extended for pulmonary use. We evaluated Franseen needles with EBUS to assess its utility, safety and ability to provide core biopsy specimens. Materials and Methods Retrospective analysis of our database at the University of Utah of patients undergoing EBUS with a Franseen needle was performed to ascertain the performance characteristics of this needle in the first 100 patients after its implementation. Medical records were also reviewed to identify any immediate procedure-related complications. Results One hundred seventy locations were sampled in 100 patients. A total of 152 lymph nodes and 18 masses were sampled. Core biopsies, as per pathology report, were seen in 87% of patients. A clinically concordant pathological diagnosis was established in 97% of patients. Diagnostic yield for granulomatous lymphadenopathy was 95.6% (22 of 23). No patient-related adverse events were noted. Conclusion The Franseen needle evaluated in this study can safely procure core tissue samples during EBUS bronchoscopy that are adequate for histopathological diagnosis in benign and malignant lesions. Its ability to provide adequate tissue in patients with granulomatous inflammation is encouraging.