cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Balance of Recurrece Order in Time-Inhomogenous Markov Chains with Application to Simulated Annealing

We define a notion of order of recurrence for the states and transitions of a general class of time-inhomogeneous Markov chains with transition probabilities proportional to powers of a small vanishing parameter. These orders are shown to satisfy a balance equation across every edge cut in the associated graph. The resulting order balance equations allow computation of the orders of recurrence of the states, and thereby the determination of the asymptotic behavior of the Markov chain.The method of optimization by simulated annealing is a special case of such Markov processes, and can therefore be treated by means of these balance equations. In particular, in this special situation we show that there holds a detailed balance of order of recurrence across every edge in the graph. Moreover, the sum of the order of recurrence of a state and its cost is shown to be a constant in each connected set of recurrent states. By this approach, we determine the necessary and sufficient condition on the “rate of cooling” to guarantee that a minimum of the optimization problem is hit with probability one. Moreover, the rates of convergence of the probabilities can be deduced from the orders of recurrence.
Method and Structure in Plato’s Alcibiades Major

“Method and Structure in Plato’s Alcibiades Major” evaluates Jaakko Hintikka’s claim that the interrogative model is compatible with the Socratic elenchos. After explaining the function of the interrogative model, I argue that Hintikka’s claim that Socrates lacks any sort of factual knowledge about a dialogue’s interlocutor or its subject matter is blatantly false. Using Plato’s Alcibiades Major, I show that the dialogues are contrived in such a way that Socrates is always in possession of pertinent, factual information about an interlocutor and a dialogue’s subject matter. Contrary to Hintikka’s claim, such information, “presuppositions,” motivates the dramatic and philosophical movement within the dialogues and anchors the propositions introduced by Socrates in elenctic exchanges. Consequently, Socrates’ strategic knowledge is shown to be derived from his comprehensive factual knowledge.
Infrared detectors based on InAs/GaSb superlattice materials (Presentation Recording)

Heteroengineered structures with unipolar barriers such as nBn, CBIRD, M-structure, N-structure, pBiBn and cascade structures have taken advantage of the unique bandstructure engineering properties of the 6.1A InAs/GaSb/AlSb family. In this talk, I will review some of the approaches that we have developed in our group nBn, pBiBn and interband cascade detectors. The performance characteristics of these detectors will be discussed in detail in the presentation.
Letter to the Editor: Why do pregnant South African women drink alcohol? A call to action for more qualitative investigations

Olusanya, O., & Barry, A. (2015). Letter to the Editor: Why do pregnant South African women drink alcohol? A call to action for more qualitative investigations. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 4 (2), 171-174. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.213 Even though the adverse effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy have been well documented, millions of babies each year continue to be affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). This is concerning given that FASD is completely preventable. FASDs have been documented across a variety of races and geographical regions worldwide, yet the highest known prevalence rates are recorded in Africa. Specifically, for every 1000 children born in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, approximately 59.3 to 91.0 are determined to have fetal alcohol syndrome, the most severe form of FASD. While the risk factors contributing to FASDs have been examined quantitatively among South African women, there is a dearth of qualitative investigations that articulate and contextualize the underling motivations, beliefs, and attitudes that influence these risk factors. Qualitative investigations have been conducted in other geographic regions (e.g., Australia), but are not generalizable to South Africa. Qualitative investigations, which explore the familial, social, cultural, and economic factors that influence maternal drinking, are needed to inform future health promotion programs and interventions aimed at decreasing and ultimately eliminating maternal alcohol consumption among South African women.
Hypothesis Refinement Using Agreement Constraints in Machine Translation

Phrase-based machine translation like other data driven approaches, are often plagued by irregularities in the translations of words in morphologically rich languages. The phrase-pairs and the language models are unable to capture the long range dependencies which decide the inflection. This paper makes the first attempt at learning constraints between the language-pair where, the target language lacks rich linguistic resources, by automatically learning classifiers that prevent implausible phrases from being part of decoding and at the same time adds consistent phrases. The paper also shows that this approach improves translation quality on the English-Hindi language pair.
New Linear Codes Over F3 and F5 and Improvements on Bounds

One of the most important problems of coding theory is to construct codes with best possible minimum distances. In this paper, we generalize the method introduced by harada and obtain new codes which improve the best known minimum distance bounds of some linear codes. We have found a new linear ternary code and 8 new linear codes over \bbF_{5} with improved minimum distances. First we introduce a generalized version of Gray map, then we give definition of quasi cyclic codes and introduce nearly quasi cyclic codes. Next, we give the parameters of new codes with their generator matrices. Finally, we have included two tables which give Hamming weight enumerators of these new codes.
High Prices in the US for Life Saving Drugs: Collective Bargaining Through Tort Law?

Takeovers designed to take advantage of “underpriced” drugs presents an excellent case study for how US might develop policies for dealing with excesses in the market place. Is it best to “sue the bastard,” and use the courts to investigate these matters on an individual, case by case basis, (or, better, investigate as a class action), or, would it be better for Congress to investigate the situation, and then promulgate regulations designed to remedy the high prices for lifesaving drugs. Or would it be best to use some combination of the two approaches?I argue that either a cause of action for (IIED) or (NIED) should play a significant role in moderating exorbitant pricing of lifesaving drugs. In addition, I show that for real change to occur in the market lawyers should use class action rules on behalf of all patients who are taking the drug. Most importantly, these cases should seek an injunction, to enjoin the price increase for all patients who are taking the prescription, in order to force a collective bargaining by the patients to bring the cost to a reasonable level. The advantages to using Tort law, in combination with certifying a class for settlement purposes, is that it would provide a forum for collective bargaining between those who take the drug and the drug’s manufacturer that is prohibited from occurring by private insurance companies under current antitrust law and Medicare insurers under health care law. Litigation might best bring about the collective bargaining forces needed to insure fair market pricing for lifesaving drugs by providing the direct bargaining the market needs between patients and the companies.I also employ the work of Jeb Barnes and Thomas Burke to help understand the advantages of using an adversarial litigation approach to help remedy the problem of exorbitant drug prices for lifesaving drugs over legislative, or bureaucratic remedies. Their analysis will aid in understanding why, if the courts do recognize a tort, and certify a class of all patients who take the particular drug, that the courts should fashion a remedy not only for Medicare patients, but also use its equitable powers to oversee a lowering of prices for all patients prescribed the drug.
“You’re Underestimating Me and You Shouldn’t”: Women’s Agency in Fantasy Sports

Using qualitative data, this article investigates women’s experiences in fantasy sports, a context that offers the potential for transformations in the gendered order of traditionally masculinized athletic environments by blurring the distinctions between real and virtual, combining active production and passive consumption, and allowing men and women to play side-by-side. We find, however, women often describe fantasy sports as a male/masculine space in which they are highly visible and have their ability to compete like men questioned, largely because of gendered assumptions regarding sports knowledge. Women’s attitudes and behaviors frequently reproduce traditional gender dynamics, although women also engage in behaviors and assert definitions of themselves that are potentially transformative—implicitly and explicitly pushing the boundaries of what females are expected to be and accomplish in sport. Often, however, they simultaneously reproduce and resist men’s dominance and women’s marginalization, ex...
Using an ADCP, Depth Sounder, and GPS for Bathymetric Surveys

The river outlet works at Fontenelle Dam, part of the Seedskadee Project in southwest Wyoming, has a long history of concrete abrasion damage. Consequently, the project manager has requested assistance to identify the cause of the damage. Reclamation's Water Resources Research Laboratory will conduct a physical model study to determine the cause of the damage and to design necessary modifications to prevent the damage from reoccurring. As part of the preparation for the model study, bathymetry data for the river outlet works channel was needed to construct the topography in the physical model. The project manager also requested bathymetry data for the river outlet works structure to verify areas of abrasion damage and material accumulation identified during a recent underwater inspection. The bathymetric data were collected using an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), depth sounder and a hand-held GPS receiver. This paper presents details on the bathymetric survey techniques, considerations regarding depth and positional uncertainty, and a comparison of the bathymetric data with design data.
SYMMETRIC AND ASYMMETRIC DIOPHANTINE APPROXIMATION

Let ξ be an irrational number with simple continued fraction expansion and be its ith convergent. Let Ci be defined by The author proves the following theorem: Theorem. Let r > 1,R > 1 be two real numbers and Then (i) Cn-2 K; (ii) Cn-2 > r, Cn > R imply Cn-1 < K. This theorem generalizes the main result in [1].
Correlation between Mutation of Predisposing Genes-Uridine-Diphosphate-Glucucronosyl Transferase1A1 TATA Box and Morbility of Hyperbilirubinemia and Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

Objective To study the correlation between the mutation of predisposing genes -uridine-diphosphate-glucucronosyl transferase1A1(UGT1A1) TATA box and the morbility of hyperbilirubinemia and dyskinetic cerebral palsy so as to explore the better theoretical foundation for the treatment of children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy.Methods Forty-one cases of dyskinetic cerebral palsy,38 cases of hyperbilirubinemia(group B) and 36 healthy newborn infants(group C) were selected.Peripheral vein blood samples were drawn from the newborn infants of each group,from which genomic DNA was extracted according to kit instructions,respectively.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to amplify UGT1A1 gene.TATA box,the UGT1A1 gene promoter,and primer sequence were designed.The product fragment length of 528 bp was projected as well.Relevant mutational sites were found after directly sequencing the purified PCR products.Results There was no significant difference in gestational age,birth weight,gender and feeding patterns among group A,group B and group C(Pa0.05).The genotype distribution among group A,group B,and group C had significant differences (P0.01).Heterozygote[simplified (TA)6/7] type gene mutation accounted for 36.6% of all the 41 cases in group A,while [(TA)6/7] type gene mutation accounted for 15.8% of all the 38 cases in group B,and 0 in group C.Moreover,homozygote [simplified (TA)7/7] type gene mutation accounted for 2.4% in group A,and 0 in both group B and group C.The gene mutation rates in both group A and group B were higher than that in group C,and the rate in group A was higher than that in group B.Conclusion Apparent correlation exists between the mutation of predisposing genes-UGT1A1 TATA box and the morbility of hyperbilirubinemia and dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
Assessment of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region in Enterococcus spp. for microbial source tracking

A new library-based microbial source tracking (MST) approach intended for initial application in the coastal waters of Virginia was evaluated. Host-origin isolates of Enterococcus spp. were collected from beaches and the surrounding tidewater region of Virginia and used to construct a library based on the pattern of DNA band lengths produced by the amplification of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer (IGS) region, and subsequent digestion with MboI. Initial results from small host-origin libraries (64 and 200 total isolates) with discriminant analysis (DA) and logistic regression (LR) yielded high average rates of correct classification (ARCC) for a four-source classification split (birds, dogs, sewage, and wildlife), with ARCCs ranging from 83 to 100%. However, the poor results obtained when classification was attempted on a non-library validation set (VS, ARCCs of 47 and 48%, respectively, using DA and LR) demonstrated that a library of 200 isolates was insufficient to adequately represent the diversity of the enterococci in the sampled region. An increase in the library size to 1029 total isolates was accompanied by a reduction in the ARCC of the library to 42.7% with DA and 45.7% with LR, plus similarly poor results obtained from the VS. The low correct classification rates generated by the larger known-source library were unsuitable for field application. Many reported MST methods have been based on results obtained using small host-origin libraries without external validation. Our results indicate that such an approach can be very misleading, and that larger libraries and external validation is essential for the confirmation of preliminary results.
Laser Treatment of the Venous System

Venous disease affects millions of people worldwide, and laser technology has revolutionized venous therapies. Surface venous lesions, superficial veins, and deep veins now have treatment options available which have completely replaced older open surgical procedures. A knowledge of laser-tissue interaction is necessary to successfully treat venous pathology in a safe and predictable manner. Laser safety demands special precautions for both the patient and the medical personnel. Treatment options usually are designed around the abnormal anatomic and physiologic findings on duplex ultrasound for non-cutaneous lesions; a good understanding of venous anatomy for both cutaneous and non-cutaneous lesions is essential. Surface laser application is effective for lesions with small vessels (cutaneous lesions) and endovenous laser is used for intraluminal obliteration of refluxing (insufficient) veins, and can be used for lysis of thrombotic lesions of the deep venous system. This versatile technology will predictably continue to improve venous therapy outcomes as it is further refined in the future.
Non-linear Behavior and Loading Capability of the Spring Support in Lateral Response

This paper investigates the dynamic behavior of a rotor—bearing system supported by elastic springs. The system itself is made of several Belleville washer springs located circumferentially around the bearing. The standard accepted design criteria for such system are based on the estimation of the stiffness from analytical formulas developed in 1930s under the assumption of radial deformation only on the springs. Theoretically this system should generate low stiffness in comparison to bearing and pedestal stiffness. However the author experience showed that secondary stiffness effects become dominant and introduce additional non-linear stiffness component, what changes significantly lateral response of the system. First, a classic approach based on an analytical 1D solution for radial stiffness is demonstrated with comparison to simulations including also elasto–plastic material behavior. Then the 3D model is introduced to estimate combined radial and shear stiffness. Here the most important finding is that up to now neglected shear stiffness is much higher than the radial one. Also FEA simulations showed high variability of the actual value of the spring stiffness suggesting overall non-linearity and possible hysteresis under cyclic loading. A linearization procedure is outlined in the paper and presented for an example spring configuration from a gas turbine installation. Eventually the combined radial and shear stiffness is implemented in a PGT25 gas turbine model. The real rotor testing in the bunker revealed that the usually neglected shear stiffness of the Belleville washer springs has significantly more influence on vibration profile, than compared to simulation assuming only radial stiffness.
Competing Frameworks for Research on Information-Communication Technologies and Society: Toward a Synthesis

This chapter seeks to identify the main elements of an analytic framework for research on the role of information-communication technologies in the restructuring of the inherited social formation. Dissatisfaction with existing frameworks and theories motivates this endeavor. Four schools of thought that can contribute to the task are distilled from the literature: postindustrialists, industrialists, long-wave theorists, and power theorists. To varying degrees, these perspectives shed light on the dynamics of changes associated with information-communication technologies. Separating the wheat from the chaff in these perspectives and integrating their contributions with the insights of Giddens, Mouzelis, and others, we argue that an adequate understanding of the dynamics and implications of social change associated with information-communication technologies is based on (a) grasping the historical interplay between the irreducible “institutional clusters” of capitalism, industrialism, and the state; and (b)...
Perceptions of the Benefits and Challenges of Purchasing Local Foods in the Iowa Hotel Industry

The purpose of this study was to explore hotel industry decision makers‘ perceptions of benefits and challenges of purchasing locally produced foods in a Midwestern state. The Theory of Planned Behavior provided the theoretical framework for this study. Interviews were conducted with two full service and two limited service hotels in Iowa. Mailed questionnaires were sent to 209 full service and limited service hotels in five Iowa counties which had active local food initiatives. Results showed that Perceived Behavior Control influenced decision makers‘ Behavioral Intention to purchase local foods. Purchasing local foods was perceived as beneficial to the business, but decision makers experienced challenges such as, lack of information, budget constraints, inconsistent quality, and lack of established refund policies when purchasing local foods. This study provides insights into the needs of the hotel industry and addressing those needs may open new markets for local food
Multi-agent systems and their applications

The number of distributed energy components and devices continues to increase globally. As a result, distributed control schemes are desirable for managing and utilizing these devices, together wit...
Dynamic Succession Theory: An Integration of Dynamic Capabilities and Succession Planning Research

Succession research is largely a study of the succession planning phenomenon and lacks underlying theory. The underlying components of succession planning, forecasting, selection, and development h...
“We are Two of the Lucky Ones”: Experiences with Marriage and Wellbeing for Same-Sex Couples

Happy marriages provide protective health benefits, and social support is a key factor in this association. However, previous research indicates one of the greatest differences between same- and di...
The Nuances of Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomies

In adult spinal deformity, the pedicle subtraction osteotomy is a useful technique to provide correction, especially in rigid, previously fused spines. However, it is not without its complications. In an effort to prevent pseudoarthrosis, a new technique using 4 rods has been pioneered to decrease stress on the 2 long rods while allowing for maintenance of correction with 2 smaller rods. One should also use careful neuromonitoring, especially during closure, to be able to make adjustments in time to prevent the development of neurologic deficits. Nevertheless, significant correction can be achieved and patients' functional outcomes can be greatly improved.
Experimental Investigation and Thermodynamic Modeling of Phase Transition and Equilibria in a Biphasic Solvent System for CO2 Capture

A comprehensive thermodynamic model was developed to describe the dual liquid phase transition and vapor–liquid–liquid equilibria in biphasic solvent systems composed of aqueous diethylenetriamine and N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine for CO2 capture. The liquid–liquid phase separation with respect to volumetric fraction of either phase and partition of amines between the dual phases was predicted accurately. The model was also able to provide detailed speciation information for each liquid phase as a function of CO2 loading and temperature, and the predictions were consistent with the results from our prior nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study. The predicted partial pressures of CO2 agreed with the experimental data; specifically, the model was used to predict the desorption pressures of CO2 and the heat of desorption reaction for the separated CO2 rich phase. The modeling approach developed in this study could be applied to other generic biphasic solvent systems.
Pitfalls and Artifacts of DW Imaging

There are many inherent artifacts and pitfalls in diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging of the brain that are important to recognize to avoid misinterpretations.
The crystal structure of a novel product from the acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone

The acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone in the presence of N-phenylmaleimide gave a tetrahydrocarbazole, (4,5,10,10b-tetrahydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-10-(phenylmethyl)pyrrolo[3,4-a]carbazole-1,3[2H, 3aH]-dione (1), as the major product and a novel spiro compound, 1′,3,4,4′-tetrahydro-1′,1′,3,3-tetramethyl-4,4′-bis(phenylmethyl)-1,3′(2H, 2′H)-spiro[cyclopent[b]indole] (2), as the minor product. The structure of the spiro compound was determined by an X-ray crystallographic determination. The acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone in the absence of N-phenylmaleimide gave a bisindole, (1,1′-bis(phenylmethyl)-3,3′-(1-methylethylidene)diindole (3), as the major product and the spiro-compound as the minor product.
Accelerators for heavy ions

The use of heavy ion accelerators in nuclear physics, nuclear chemistry, atomic physics, and in material sciences studies is rapidly increasing. This paper reviews the present and developing scene in heavy ion accelerator concepts and technology. The area of applicability of various methods, likely avenues of future development and the trends of future requirements are discussed.
Observing Clouds in 4D with Multiview Stereophotogrammetry

AbstractNewly installed stereo cameras ringing the Southern Great Plains (SGP) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site in Oklahoma are providing a 4D gridded view of shallow clouds. Six digita...
Are Patients with Solitary or Multiple Intraductal Papillomas at a Higher Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

Solitary and multiple intraductal papillomas are proliferative lesions. As such, these lesions could be presumed to put the patient at increased risk for the development of breast cancer. This review summarizes several selected series of patients with papillomas, and discusses some of the difficulties in determining the exact risk for these patients. Conflicting data exist with regard to solitary papilloma, but the most recent series do find an elevated risk associated with this lesion. Multiple papillomas are associated with both coexisting cancer and with the subsequent development of breast cancer.
Catalytic Conversion of Ethanol to Commodity and Specialty Chemicals

Abstract This chapter reviews important catalytic processes for the conversion of ethanol to commodity and specialty chemicals. The products discussed include those that have been studied extensively during the 20th century, including ethylene, propylene, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, butadiene, and n-butanol, and some processes that have been developed in response to the focus at the beginning of the 21st century on using biobased alternatives to petroleum. Emphasis is placed on highlighting recent developments in the field and comparing these with historically significant studies. Promising emerging technologies for ethanol conversion focus generally on carbon–carbon bond forming reactions used for oligomerization of ethanol to high-value specialty products such as aromatics, long-chain alcohols, and lubricants. We suggest that additional research focused on similar oligomerization reactions may be fruitful for generating additional innovation in the biobased chemicals industry.
Glutathione-capped gold nanoclusters: photoinduced energy transfer and singlet oxygen generation $$^{\S }$$ §

Glutathione-capped gold clusters prepared in an aqueous medium are known to exhibit excellent photosensitizing properties. We have now successfully transferred these gold clusters in an organic medium while retaining all the characteristic excited state properties. These gold clusters can be further modified with organic ligands such as 2-Phenylethanethiol (PET). The gold clusters in organic medium exhibit enhanced emission yield ( $$\Phi _{\mathrm{f}} = 0.15$$ ) compared to that in an aqueous medium ( $$\Phi _{\mathrm{f}} = 0.08$$ ). The excited state lifetimes of $$3.7\,\upmu \hbox {s}$$ (untreated) and $$1.5\,\upmu \hbox {s}$$ (PET treated) in toluene are also greater than the lifetime observed in aqueous solution ( $$0.77\,\upmu \hbox {s}$$ ). By employing laser flash photolysis we are able to induce triplet energy transfer to $$\upbeta $$ -carotene and oxygen. A singlet oxygen generation with the efficiency of 13% was observed in these experiments. The excited state properties of glutathione-capped gold clusters further shows its importance as a photosensitizer in light energy conversion and biomedical applications SYNOPSIS A few atom gold clusters modified with organic ligands exhibit high photoactivity by generating singlet oxygen with 13% quantum efficiency.
Adrenaline Versus Atropine for AVNRT Induction

AVNRT is the most frequent form of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. In French the term is TRIN (tachycardie par reentre intra-nodale) and in English AVNRT (atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia). It can be induced in the EP lab by atrial or ventricular stimulation in the basal state or after drug administration. The drug of choice is isoprenaline, but in some European countries, the lack of the drug produced efforts to search for another options. There is no study that compares efficacy of atropine versus adrenaline for AVNRT induction in the EP lab. In our study, we compared the two drugs in terms of efficacy and side effects. The investigators hypothesized that adrenaline would be a better and more convenient for the induction of arrhythmias since adrenaline is administered as an intravenous infusion over several minutes, in comparison to atropine, which is administered as a bolus. We demonstrated our hypothesis by statistical analysis.
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate in Gender-Affirming Therapy for Transwomen: Results From a Retrospective Study

CONTEXT Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is a widely used progestin in feminizing hormone therapy. However, the side effects and hormonal changes elicited by this drug have never been investigated in the transgender population. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the incidence of self-reported effects among transwomen using MPA and this drug's impact on hormonal and metabolic parameters. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We retrospectively collected data from 290 follow-up visits (FUVs) of transwomen treated at Rhode Island Hospital from January 2011 to July 2018 (mean duration of therapy 3.4 ± 1.7 years). FUVs followed regimens of estradiol (E) and spironolactone, with MPA (n = 102) or without MPA (n = 188). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We assessed the incidence of self-reported effects after MPA treatment. We also compared blood levels of E, testosterone, and various laboratory parameters between MPA and non-MPA groups. RESULTS Mean weighted E level was 211 ± 57 pg/mL after MPA treatment and 210 ± 31 pg/mL otherwise; this difference was nonsignificant [t(274) = 0.143, P = 0.886]. Mean weighted testosterone level was 79 ± 18 ng/dL after MPA treatment and 215 ± 29 ng/dL otherwise; testosterone levels were significantly lower in the MPA group [t(122) = 32.4, P < 0.001]. There were minimal changes in other laboratory parameters. Of 39 patients receiving MPA, 26 reported improved breast development and 11 reported decreased facial hair. Five patients experienced mood swings on MPA. CONCLUSIONS In our cohort of transwomen, we found minimal side effects, unchanged E levels, and a decline in testosterone associated with MPA, outcomes consistent with feminization. Prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Adult Stem Cells: Beyond Regenerative Tool, More as a Bio-Marker in Obesity and Diabetes

Obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are increasing rapidly worldwide and it is therefore important to know the effect of exercise and medications for diabetes and obesity on adult stem cells. Adult stem cells play a major role in remodeling and tissue regeneration. In this review we will focus mainly on two adult stem/progenitor cells such as endothelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal stromal cells in relation to aerobic exercise and diabetes medications, both of which can alter the course of regeneration and tissue remodelling. These two adult precursor and stem cells are easily obtained from peripheral blood or adipose tissue depots, as the case may be and are precursors to endothelium and mesenchymal tissue (fat, bone, muscle, and cartilage). They both are key players in maintenance of cardiovascular and metabolic homeostasis and can act also as useful biomarkers.
Mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes: Core abnormalities and CHIPping away at the edges

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous constellation of hematologic malignancies characterized by aberrant differentiation and clonal expansion of abnormal myeloid cells that initially manifest with ineffective hematopoiesis and consequent cytopenias. The prognosis of MDS is variable and depends on clinical and hematologic parameters, cytogenetic and molecular findings, as well as comorbidities. Gene sequencing studies have uncovered remarkable genomic complexity within MDS, based on the presence of recurrent and sometimes co-operating mutations in genes encoding proteins that play a role in numerous biologic pathways. Although the treatment of MDS is currently limited to the use of hypomethylating, immunomodulatory, or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, improved understanding of the molecular underpinnings of its pathophysiology has led to the development of multiple targeted treatments that are poised to be added to the therapeutic armamentarium. This review will focus on the role of mutations in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and prognosis of MDS and how the discovery of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) might impact the utility of detecting mutations in the diagnosis of MDS.
Retinoschisis associated with Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS) is characterized by pigmentary retinopathy, external ophthalmoplegia and heart block. We report on a now 24-year-old male with clinical retinoschisis and molecularly con...
Susceptibility of midge and mosquito vectors to SARS-CoV-2 by natural route of infection

SARS-CoV-2 is a recently emerged, highly contagious virus and the cause of the current pandemic. It is a zoonotic virus, although its animal origin is not clear yet. Person-to-person transmission occurs by inhalation of infected droplets and aerosols, or by direct contact with contaminated fomites. Arthropods transmit numerous viral, parasitic, and bacterial diseases; however, the potential role of arthropods in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is not fully understood. Thus far, a few studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 replication is not supported in cells from certain insect species nor in certain species of mosquitoes after intrathoracic inoculation. In this study, we expanded the work of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility to biting insects after ingesting a SARS-CoV-2 infected blood meal. Species tested included Culicoides sonorensis biting midges, as well as Culex tarsalis and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, all known biological vectors for numerous RNA viruses. Arthropods were allowed to feed on SARS-CoV-2 spiked blood and at various time points post infection analyzed for the presence of viral RNA and infectious virus. Additionally, cell lines derived from C. sonorensis (W8a), Ae. aegypti (C6/36), Cx. quinquefasciatus (HSU), and Cx. tarsalis (CxTrR2) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility. Our results indicate that none of the biting insects, nor the insect cell lines support SARS-CoV-2 replication. We conclude, that biting insect do not pose a risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans or animals following a SARS-CoV-2 infected blood meal.
Electrification, telecommunications, and the finance-growth nexus: Evidence from firm-level data

Abstract We explore variations in access to energy and telecommunications improvements across firms in 57 and 112 developing countries, respectively, between 2002 and 2014, and find that national investments in technological infrastructures provide a channel through which financial development promotes firm-level adoption of tangible innovations. In particular, when countries make large investments in their energy (electricity and natural gas) and telecommunications infrastructures, firms with greater access to financial resources are better positioned to benefit from these investments, experiencing significantly fewer power interruptions, more adoptions of power generators, and greater website use, all of which are related to higher firm-level growth in sales and employment.
Binocular Enhancement of Multisensory Temporal Perception.

Purpose The goal of this study was to examine the behavioral effects and to suggest possible underlying mechanisms of binocularity on audiovisual temporal perception in normally-sighted individuals.
Video Laryngoscopy Is Associated With First-Pass Success in Emergency Department Intubations for Trauma Patients: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of the National Emergency Airway Registry

Study objective We sought to (1) characterize emergency department (ED) intubations in trauma patients and estimate (2) first-pass success and (3) the association between patient and intubation characteristics and first-pass success. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective observational cohort of ED intubations from the National Emergency Airway Registry (NEAR). Descriptive statistics were calculated for all patients who were intubated for trauma at 23 NEAR EDs between 2016 and 2018. We evaluated first-pass success in patients intubated by (1) emergency or pediatric emergency physicians, (2) using rapid sequence intubation or no medications, and (3) either direct laryngoscopy or video laryngoscopy. We used propensity score matching with a generalized linear mixed-effects model to estimate the associations between patient and intubation characteristics and first-pass success. Results Of the 19,071 intubations in NEAR, 4,449 (23%) were for trauma, and nearly all (88%) had at least one difficult airway characteristic. Prevalence of first-pass success was 86.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83.3% to 90.3%). Most patients were intubated with video laryngoscopy, and patients were more likely to be intubated on first pass with video laryngoscopy as compared to direct laryngoscopy (90% versus 79%). After propensity score matching, video laryngoscopy remained associated with first-pass success (adjusted risk difference 11%, 95% CI: 8% to 14%; and OR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.6 to 2.9). Additionally, an initial impression of difficult airway, blood/vomit in the airway, and use of external laryngeal manipulation were all associated with decreased odds of first-pass success. Conclusion Emergency physicians are successful at intubating patients in the setting of trauma, and video laryngoscopy is associated with twice the odds of first-pass success when compared to direct laryngoscopy.
Analysis of Functions

The patient management protocol is the basic blueprint for the sequence of procedures, staffing needs, and informational elements. This guide, when coupled with the following graphic techniques, provides the investigator with a simple, straightforward approach to describing and evaluating the clinical research to be performed.
Positron emission tomography (PET): a powerful molecular imaging technique

Non-invasive, in vivo molecular imaging will assume an increasing role in the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer in the future. During the past decade, there has been a revolution in our basic understanding of human disease and cancer in particular. This has been made possible from the rapid development of basic molecular techniques. Associated with the developments in molecular biology, the imaging sciences have made remarkable advances in technology and methodologies. Recently, spectroscopic MRI techniques and positron emission tomography (PET) became available and used routinely in clinical practice. The molecular function of a tumor can be assessed rather than just visualizing the mass on an anatomic imaging study, which may not necessarily change with newer cytostatic therapies. Monitoring the effect of directed therapy is now possible eliminating the need for repeat biopsy or tissue sampling to assess viable tumor. FDG has shown its power as a very important molecular imaging probe in patients with cancer. However, there are many other aspects of malignancy that can be explored and understood by the use of the appropriately labeled radiopharmaceutical using PET technology. Other important aspects of malignancy include determination of proliferative activity; hypoxia; tumor blood flow and perfusion; and in-vivo non-invasive determination of certain tumor receptor densities. With the synthesis and characterization of more targeted radio-pharmaceuticals it will be possible to characterize tumors and assist the oncologist in selecting the appropriate individualized therapy best for treatment of a particular malignant disease in each and every patient.
Configuration of reserved delivery subnetworks

We introduce the concept of a reserved delivery subnetwork (RDS) to allow an information service provider to deliver a higher quality of service to its customers. A network provider implements an RDS by provisioning reserved bandwidth on paths from a central site to distributed locations, where customers of the information service are located. The amount of bandwidth reserved is a function of the mean and variance of the traffic expected at the various locations. To configure an RDS, the network provider must select the links to be included and must dimension the reservations on those links appropriately. Network resource usage can often be reduced by routing flows destined for nearby cities along common paths. We show that the problem can be formulated as a minimum cost network flow problem with a concave cost function (one where the cost per unit flow decreases as the flow increases), which is a well-known NP-hard optimization problem. We introduce an approximate solution method and evaluate it experimentally. Our results are typically within a small factor of an easily computed lower bound.
Chapter 6 Hydrogen adsorption in corannulene-based materials

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the H adsorption in corannulene-based materials and describes the molecular structure of corannulene and doping of Li atoms on the corannulene molecule. Corannulene has potential advantages as H storage material over planar graphite and even C nanotubes. Such advantages are derived from the specific geometric and electronic characteristics of corannulene, which enhances the interaction with H molecules. Li atoms are more stably doped over the six-member rings than over the five-member ring of corannulene, with the concave side more favorable for doping than the convex side of corannulene. Li-doped corannulene complexes have higher dipole moment because of charge transfer from Li to C atoms of corannulene and thus enhance the induced dipole–dipole interaction with H molecules. Also, the interaction between the Li atom and H is stronger than the interaction between C atom and H. Besides, the doping of Li atoms provides more space in the doping complexes for H adsorption.
Direct Repression of prdm1 by Bcl-6 Inhibits Plasmacytic Differentiation

We have identified two intronic regions of mouse prdm1, the gene encoding B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1), which confer transcriptional repression in response to Bcl-6. The Bcl-6 response element in intron 5, which is conserved between mice and humans, was studied in detail. It binds Bcl-6 in vitro and was shown by chromatin immunoprecipitation to be occupied by Bcl-6 in vivo. Neither Bcl-6 response element functions as a STAT3-response element, showing that STAT3 does not compete with Bcl-6 at these sites. Bcl-6(-/-) mice confirm the biological importance of Bcl-6-dependent repression of prdm1. These mice have elevated Ab response, increased Ig-secreting cells, and increased Blimp-1(+) cells in spleen following immunization and their splenic B cells show accelerated plasmacytic development in vitro.
Analysis of Amplitude Modulated Control Features for ECoG Neuroprosthetics

Electrocorticogram recordings for neuroprosthetics provide an intermediate level of abstraction between EEG and microwire single neuron recordings. For adaptive filtering methodologies used in neuroprosthetics, extraction of spatio-control parameters remains a difficulty. Since amplitude modulation in extracellular recordings plays a key role in both neuronal activation and rate coding, seeking spatial pattern classification and temporally intermittent population synchronization in terms of increased voltage may provide viable control signals. This study seeks to explore preprocessing modalities that emphasize amplitude modulation in the ECoG above the level of noise and background fluctuations in order to derive the commands for complex control tasks. The decoding performance of the amplitude modulation across the recording spectra was found to be spatially specific in the cortex.
Transcriptional profiling reveals an aberrant hepatic regenerative response underlying acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver failure (ALF) (LB84)

Acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity is the leading cause of ALF in United States. To understand mechanisms in APAP-induced ALF, we performed transcriptional profiling of healthy livers and severely damag...
Nuclear dose rate, total dose and neutron radiation testing of COTS devices

A compendium of radiation data for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices is presented for the narrow pulse gamma dose rate, total dose gamma and neutron environments. The devices range from power MOSFETs to microprocessors and controllers. Most of the testing was performed to determine functional survivability.
M-Theory and String-String Duality

In this article we examine the compatibility of some recent results, results relating M-Theory to String Theory, with the string-string duality conjecture in six-dimensions. In particular, we rederive the relation between M-Theory and Type IIA strings. We then go on to examine in detail M-Theory on $K3 \times S^{1}$ and its relation to the Heterotic theory on $T^{4}$. We conclude with some remarks on M-Theory on $T^{4}\times (S^{1}/{\bf Z}_{2})$ and its relation to the Type II theory on $K3$.
The primary care pediatrician's influence on medical student's performance of smoking assessments and counseling

Abstract Background. American medical schools lack significant educational programs for teaching medical students about counseling parents and children on smoking prevention and cessation. Thus, the objectives of this study were to describe medical student's self-reported behaviors in the assessment of parents and children's use of tobacco and to compare these practices with well-accepted pediatric activities: injury prevention and developmental assessment. Methods. Third year medical students in a pediatric clerkship at Boston University, all of whom spend part of their clerkship with pediatricians in their offices, completed six weekly surveys (2001–2002) recording their clinical activities in counseling parents and children about smoking, injury prevention, and performing developmental assessments. Results. Of the 150 third year students completing the pediatric orientation, 108 (72%) completed all six feedback surveys and the general cancer prevention survey. Of the 108 students, 77% completed smoking assessments with at least one family per week during their 6-week clerkship compared with performance of injury prevention (85%, P = 0.09) and developmental assessment (91%, P = 0.006). Among all smoking cessation and prevention recommendations, students were most likely to discourage parents from smoking in the house and least likely to offer tips for parents to counsel their children about smoking. All variables related to primary care pediatricians' role modeling and feedback for optimal tobacco counseling practices were significantly associated with student counseling practice. Conclusions. Third year medical students were less likely to complete smoking assessments than those for developmental assessment and injury prevention counseling. However, primary care pediatricians' strong expectations and modeling of smoking counseling were uniformly associated with improved self-perceived student performance. Future educational activities should engage the primary care pediatrician preceptors of students completing pediatric rotations.
Scope and facial selectivity of the Prins-pinacol synthesis of attached rings.

Using a B-alkyl Suzuki cross-coupling as a key step, a concise and stereocontrolled synthesis of five- to eight-membered triisopropylsiloxy ethers having (2Z)-(6,6-dimethoxyhexylidene) or (2Z)-(5,5-dimethoxypentylidene) side chains was developed. Prins-pinacol reactions of these precursors promoted by SnCl4 provide bicyclic products in which 5-, 6-, or 7-membered rings are joined by a C−C single bond. Synthetically challenging attached ring systems in which both rings are chiral can be prepared in this fashion with high stereo- and enantioselectivity. Stabilizing through-space electrostatic interactions between the α-alkoxycarbenium ion and an axially positioned oxygen substituent are believed to play a significant role in organizing the transition structure of the Prins cyclization.