cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opioid drug abuse and modulation of immune function: consequences in the susceptibility to opportunistic infections

Infection rate among intravenous drug users (IDU) is higher than the general public, and is the major cause of morbidity and hospitalization in the IDU population. Epidemiologic studies provide data on increased prevalence of opportunistic bacterial infections such as TB and pneumonia, and viral infections such as HIV-1 and hepatitis in the IDU population. An important component in the intravenous drug abuse population and in patients receiving medically indicated chronic opioid treatment is opioid withdrawal. Data on bacterial virulence in the context of opioid withdrawal suggest that mice undergoing withdrawal had shortened survival and increased bacterial load in response to Salmonella infection. As the body of evidence in support of opioid dependency and its immunosuppressive effects is growing, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms by which opioids exert these effects and identify the populations at risk that would benefit the most from the interventions to counteract opioid immunosuppressive effects. Thus, it is important to refine the existing animal model to closely match human conditions and to cross-validate these findings through carefully controlled human studies. Better understanding of the mechanisms will facilitate the search for new therapeutic modalities to counteract adverse effects including increased infection rates. This review will summarize the effects of morphine on innate and adaptive immunity, identify the role of the mu opioid receptor in these functions and the signal transduction activated in the process. The role of opioid withdrawal in immunosuppression and the clinical relevance of these findings will also be discussed.
Influence of rainfall on lungworm infections in bighorn sheep.

From 1959 through 1968, lungs from 124 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis c. canadensis) from the Sun River herd in western Montana were examined foT lungworm infections. All lungs were infected with Protostrongylus stilesi and 104 (84%) contained concurrent infections of P. stilesi and P. rushi. Significant correlations were observed between levels of lungworm infection and total rainfall during April, May, and June of each year. An explanation of this in terms of terrestrial snail (intermediate host) populations and a suggestion for the possible use of these data in developing a predictive model for forecasting lungworm levels for use in bighorn sheep management are given.
Estimation of brain state changes associated with behavior, stimulation and epilepsy

Brain state dynamics vary at different spatiotemporal scales with behavior, stimulation, and disease, and may be unobserved (latent). Using a state-space model framework and subspace identification, we estimated spatiotemporally localized, latent state changes associated with the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), to assess the effect of stimulation on brain state dynamics. State appeared to be modulated by behavior in a spatially-specific manner and small-amplitude state fluctuations were temporally locked to stimulus presentations. In addition, during and following TMS, an overall, bilateral and spatially nonspecific decrease in brain state was observed. We also estimated brain state changes during seizure evolution (independent of TMS), in focal and generalized seizures, which have very different epileptogenesis and propagation mechanisms, possibly resulting also in distinct spatiotemporal dynamics. Indeed, our preliminary results showed that in focal seizures, temporally localized dynamic state changes occur at least 1 min prior to seizure onset, with a decrease in steady-state followed by an increase which reaches a maximum during the ictal interval. In contrast, no such dynamic pattern was evident in state estimates during generalized seizures.
Abnormal erythrocyte fragmentation and membrane deformability in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Hemolysis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is considered to be a result of an intrinsic membrane defect. This defect may result in abnormal material properties of PNH erythrocytes. To examine this hypothesis, fragmentation failure, and membrane deformability were assessed in the absence of complement by micropipette techniques. Membrane viscosity was determined by observing relaxation of deformed cells. Results show a bimodal distribution of force for membrane failure, membrane viscoelasticity, and elastic shear modulus. One population requires significantly less force for fragmentation, mean 0.56 X 10(-6) dyne; has increased membrane viscosity, mean 0.205 X 10(-2) dyne sec/cm; and has decreased elastic shear modulus, mean 0.56 X 10(-2) dyne/cm. A second population resembles control with fragmentation force, mean 1.19 X 10(-6) dyne, control 1.05 X 10(-6) dyne; membrane viscosity, mean 0.112 X 10(-2) dyne/cm, control 0.102 X 10(-2) dyne sec/cm; elastic shear modulus, mean 0.70 X 10(-2) dyne/cm, control 0.78 X 10(-2) dyne/cm. The percent of cells with abnormal material properties corresponds to the percent of PNH III cells determined by complement lysis. Thus, the hemolysis attributed to an abnormal clone of erythrocytes in PNH is associated with an intrinsic membrane abnormality which predisposes to lysis.
Effects of Ligand Coordination Number and Surface Curvature on the Stability of Gold Nanoparticles in Aqueous Solutions

The colloidal stability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) cap-exchanged with either monothiol- or dithiolane-terminated PEG-OCH3 ligands was investigated. Three distinct aspects were explored: (1) effects of excess salt concentration; (2) ligation competition by dithiothreitol (DTT); and (3) resistance to sodium cyanide digestion. We found that overall ligands presenting higher coordination numbers (dithiolane) exhibit much better stability to excess added salt and against competition from DTT compared to their monodentate counterparts. Resistance to NaCN digestion indicated that there is a balance between coordination number and density of ligand packing on the NP surface. For smaller NPs, where a larger surface curvature reduces the ligand packing density, a higher coordination number is clearly beneficial. In comparison, a higher ligand density allowed by the smaller curvature for larger nanocrystals makes monothiol−PEG-capped NPs more resistant to cyanide digestion. The present study indicates that balanc...
A SPIN LABELED RETINAL PIGMENT ANALOGUE OF THE PURPLE MEMBRANE

— A spin labeled derivative of retinal (4-[2, 2, 5,5-tetramethyl-l-pyrrolidinyloxy-3-carboxyl]-retinal) has been synthesized. The all-trans-isomer combined with the apoprotein of the purple membrane Halobacterium halobium to form a pigment which absorbs at 480 nm and which is unstable to hydroxyl-amine. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the pigment showed an anisotropic signal indicating immobilization of the nitroxide on the chromophore. The ester linkage on the chromo-phore hydrolyzed in situ yielding the 4-hydroxypigment analogue, absorbing at 540 nm, and the free 2, 2, 5,5-tetramethyl-l-pyrrolidinyloxy-3-carboxylic acid.
A Computer Simulation Model for Determining Fleet Size and Composition

A heterogeneous vehicle fleet is one that is composed of several types of vehicles. The number of each type of vehicle in the fleet is called the fleet’s composition. The problem of determining the best fleet size and composition for an in-house heterogeneous company fleet having a known demand was solved in this paper. A computer model was developed which tied a fleet simulation model to two different search algorithms. One of the search algorithms is a complete factorial nonsequential search and the other is a combination of a partial factorial nonsequential search and a heuristic sequential hill-climbing search. The objective of both searches is to select the fleet size and composition which provides the lowest total vehicle travel costs to the company. Several examples were used to demonstrate the use of the model.
Development and Optimization of Glaser–Hay Bioconjugations

The prevalence of bioconjugates in the biomedical sciences necessitates the development of novel mechanisms to facilitate their preparation. Towards this end, the translation of the Glaser-Hay coupling to an aqueous environment is examined, and its potential as a bioorthogonal conjugation reaction is demonstrated. This optimized, novel, and aqueous Glaser-Hay reaction is applied towards the development of bioconjugates utilizing protein expressed with an alkynyl unnatural amino acid. Unnatural amino acid technology provides a degree of bioorthognality and specificity not feasible with other methods. Moreover, the scope of the reaction is demonstrated through protein-small molecule couplings, small-molecule-solid-support couplings, and protein-solid-support immobilizations.
Developmental Trajectories of Chinese Children's Relational and Physical Aggression: Associations with Social-Psychological Adjustment Problems

The purpose of this short-term longitudinal study was to examine Chinese children’s trajectories of physical and relational aggression and their association with social-psychological adjustment problems (i.e., depressive symptoms and delinquency) and gender. Fourth and fifth grade children in Taiwan (n = 739, age 9–11) were followed across 1 year. Results of Linear Mixed Models demonstrated that, on average, relational aggression increased in a linear fashion for fifth grade children and girls and physical aggression remained stable for boys and increased linearly for fifth grade girls. Further, increases in relational aggression were associated with time-dependent increases in depressive symptoms, and the effect size of this association seemed to be stronger than that of physical aggression. Findings are discussed in the context of Chinese culture.
Law and Development of Constitutional Democracy: Is China a Problem Case?

China is frequently portrayed as a problem case for the law and development movement because it has achieved economic growth with a weak legal system, has resisted the third wave of democratization, and has a poor record on civil and political rights. Is China a problem case? The author thinks not, or at least that it is too early to tell. China is now following the path of other East Asian countries that have achieved sustained economic growth, established rule of law, and developed constitutional or rights-based democracies, albeit not necessarily liberal rights-based democracies. At this stage of development, for all of its problems, China is meeting or exceeding expectations on most measures. China outperforms the average country in its income class in terms of economic growth, rule of law and most human rights measures, and other indicators of human well-being with the notable exception of civil and political rights.
Preliminary investigation of the effects of dispersed Prudhoe Bay Crude Oil on developing topsmelt embryos, Atherinops affinis

Static exposure experiments were conducted to assess the toxicity of dispersed Prudhoe Bay Crude Oil (PBCO) to embryos of the topsmelt (Atherinops affinis). Treatment with the dispersant COREXIT 9500 resulted in greater hydrocarbon concentrations in chemically enhanced water-accommodated fractions (CEWAFs) of oil, relative to the untreated water-accommodated fractions (WAFs). Topsmelt embryo development and survival to hatching was significantly inhibited in CEWAF tests while minimal effects on embryo–larval survival were observed in WAF tests. Increased hydrocarbon concentrations in the CEWAF tests caused cardiovascular and other abnormalities in developing topsmelt embryos.
Adoption of Captial Versus Management Intensive Technologies.

This research examines the factors explaining the adoption of a capital-intensive versus a management-intensive technology in the dairy industry. This is done by estimating a multinomial logit model of technological choices on California dairy farms. Results indicate significant differences in the probabilities of adoption of each technology, but not in the marginal effects of the explanatory variables on these probabilities. Thus the level of explanatory variables, such as herd size or education, appears to be the determinant of the probability of having adopted each technology. Implications of the results are discussed. Cette analyse examine les facteurs qui expliquent l'adoption de deux technologies laitieres, une intensive pour le capital, l'autre pour la gestion. Un modele logit multivariee des choix technologiques sur les fermes laitieres de la Californie est estime. Les resultats indiquent que les differences entre les probabilites d'adoption de chacune technologie sont significantes, mais il n'y a pas des differences entre les effets des variables explicatives sur les probabilites marginales. Ainsi, c'est le niveau des variables explicatives qui determine la probabilite de l'adoption de chaque technologie. Les implications des resultats sont discutees.
299: The impact of episiotomy for shoulder dystocia on neonatal injury

dystocia on neonatal injury Keenan Yanit, Katherine Volpe, Rachel Pilliod, Yvonne Cheng, Jonathan Snowden, Aaron Caughey Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Portland, OR, UCSF, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, San Francisco, CA OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of epsiotomy for shoulder dystocia on neonatal injury. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of 5,713 births delivered in California in 2006. Brachial plexus injury (BPI), clavicular fracture, neonatal seizure, and neonatal mortality were compared using the chi-squared test with multivariable regressions to control for potential confounders including maternal age, race/ethnicity, insurance type at delivery, education level, operative vaginal delivery, gestational age, birthweight, and obesity. RESULTS: There were significantly more BPIs in women who had episiotomies (5.85%) compared to women without (4.24%), with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.49 (95%Cl, 1.09-2.04). The rate of clavicular fracture was not significantly different between groups, (aOR 1.31,95%Cl, 0.92-1.87). There was not a significant difference in rates of neonatal seizure or mortality (Table). CONCLUSION: In the setting of shoulder dystocia, epsiotomy has been proposed as a technique to reduce potential fetal injury. However, these data suggest that there is no improvement with episiotomy in the setting of shoulder dystocia. A prospective, randomized controlled trial may help determine best practice in this setting. 300 Withdrawn
AMIA recommendations for national health threat surveillance and response.

AMIA released recommendations late last year to assist in the fight against national health threats. These recommendations and other collaborative efforts by the AMIA National Health Threats Task Force during the AMIA 2001 Annual Symposium are presented in a special section on Bioterrorism in this issue of JAMIA . This report tracks follow-up developments of the AMIA National Health Threats Task Force, including attendance at key meetings and the development of bioterrorism resources on the AMIA Web site. In addition, key points from the AMIA Primary Care Informatics Working Group (PCIWG) special sessions at the AMIA Annual Symposium, and recommendations developed by the PCIWG, contribute to AMIA's growing involvement in this area. The AMIA Prevention and Public Health Working Group has also been involved, presenting recommendations on information systems for bioterrorism and public health. Throughout this news report the term surveillance is defined as “the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of outcome-specific data for use in the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health practice.”1 Members of the AMIA National Health Threats Task Force have attended many important meetings over the past few months with key government, state, and local officials to discuss the needs of the U.S. Health care system, especially in the development and implementation of stronger information technology solutions. AMIA representatives at these meetings included J. Marc Overhage, MD, PhD; W. Edward Hammond, PhD; Michael Wagner, MD, PhD; Luis G. Kun, PhD; William A. Yasnoff, MD, PhD; AMIA Executive …
Effect of Intravenous C-Terminal Octapeptide of Cholecystokinin and Intraduodenal Ricinoleic Acid on Contractile Activity of the Dog Intestine

SummaryIntraduodenal infusion of ricinoleic acid and iv bolus injection of the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin produce markedly similar alterations in the digestive contractile patterns of the GI tract of the unanesthetized dog. The brief, initial stimulation of contractile activity in the proximal small intestine following both procedures is mediated through a cholinergic mechanism. The stimulatory response is followed by an inhibition of digestive contractile activity of unknown origin. These observations suggest the possibility that the GI hormone, cholecystokinin, may mediate the intestinal motor response evoked by infusion of ricinoleic acid directly into the proximal small intestine.The authors gratefully acknowledge the generous supply of CCK-OP (SQ 19844) by Dr. B. Rubin of E. R. Squibb and Sons, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey.
Pain and Psychological Outcomes After Rehabilitative Treatment for a Woman With Chronic Pelvic Pain With Stage III Cervical Cancer: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Chronic pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction are adverse effects of treatment of cervical cancer. Surgery and radiation therapies may result in soft tissue pain and dysfunction, including spasms and trigger points of the pelvic floor muscles that result in pain. In addition to physical restrictions, negative mood associated with pain is believed to intensify and prolong the pain experience. STUDY DESIGN The purpose of this case report was to describe outcomes of pelvic physical therapy in a 58-year-old woman with chronic pelvic pain after medical treatments for cervical cancer. CASE DESCRIPTION The patient reported dyspareunia, hip pain, and lower abdominal, pelvic pain, and fatigue with activities lasting greater than 30 minutes. Interventions included pelvic floor massage, dilator use, and patient education. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and completion of physical therapy, using the Female Sexual Function Index, Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Numerical Pain Rating Scale. OUTCOMES The Female Sexual Function Index score decreased from 7.8 to 2.8, the Fear of Pain Questionnaire- III score decreased from 85 to 73, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale score decreased from 18 to 8, and lower abdominal and pelvic pain decreased from 4 of 10 to 0 of 10, while bilateral hip pain remained at 4 of 10. In addition, she exhibited increased tolerance to mechanical pressure, evidenced by progression in size of a vaginal dilator. DISCUSSION These results suggest that pelvic physical therapy may be useful in treating chronic pelvic pain after cervical cancer treatments and may also help decrease the magnitude of negative mood aspects such as pain-related fear and catastrophizing.
The clinical epidemiology of pulmonary cryptococcosis in non-AIDS patients at a tertiary care medical center.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus with worldwide distribution. It has been found in nature, primarily in association with bird droppings, but nonavian sources have been described as well (10). Although the lungs are thought to be the portal of entry for cryptococcus, pulmonary infection is uncommon. The organism is trophic to the central nervous system and the vast majority of recognized infections involve meningitis. Before the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic (1980), cryptococcosis was a rare infection, and pulmonary disease was described in 10%–45% of patients with cryptococcal meningitis (2). However, the true incidence of pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) was not known, but was much lower than meningitis. Most PC cases were identified histologically and often at autopsy, with only about 20% diagnosed by culture (2, 3, 13). In recent years, many of the reports of cryptococcal infection have been in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive population, and little is known of the disease in non-AIDS patients, particularly pulmonary involvement. At our institution, a tertiary care medical center with a large transplant program, sporadic cases of PC have occurred in solidorgan transplant recipients as well as in patients with a variety of different medical conditions. The purpose of our study was to investigate the epidemiology of PC in non-AIDS patients, and to determine predictors of outcome among these patients.
Performance and Style of Play After Returning From Concussion in the National Hockey League

Background:Few studies have empirically examined outcomes of concussion in the National Hockey League (NHL) and whether these athletes return to games after concussion at a performance level comparable to preconcussion play.Hypothesis:NHL players would not demonstrate changes in performance or style of play after returning from a concussion when compared with a group of control athletes.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:NHL players with a reported hockey-related concussion during the 2008-2009 through 2014-2015 seasons were identified utilizing secondary media sources. Players who missed games for non–injury related causes were selected as the control group. “Performance” was operationally defined as the statistics for goals, assists, points, plus-minus, and shots, and “style of play” was operationally defined as the statistics for penalty minutes, blocked shots, hits, giveaways, and time on ice. Each gameplay statistic was recorded and totaled for the 5 games before and after each p...
Combined evaluation based on multi-sources information density aggregation operator

A DWAFor-ce operator facing combined evaluation is built based on the density weighted aggregation operator.The DWAFor-ce operator extends the idea of discriminating rewards and punishment used for combined evaluation and carries out unrestricted adjusting on discriminating rewards and punishment by the control of the parameter,which improves the flexibility of this method.Furthermore,the DWAFor-ce operator has many good qualities.It can also deals with the point and vector arguments,and possesses the aggregation structure of combined optimization evaluation values or order values.Finally,a numerical example is given to testify the effectiveness and some novel characteristics of the DWAFor-ce operator.
Clinical outcome of mitral valve repair in primary infective endocarditis with mitral insufficiency

Objective To study the clinical results of mitral valve repair in patients of primary infective endocarditis with mitral insufficiency. Methods From January 2004 to July 2007, 40 patients who had undergone valve repair procedure for infective endocarditis with mitral insufficiency were analyzed retrospectively. There were 26 male and 14 female patients, with an average age of (34.0±3.5) years old, including 6 patients of underlying heart disease, 34 patients of no previously underlying heart disease. There were 12 patients in NYHA functional class Ⅱ, 19 patients in class Ⅲ, 9 patients in class Ⅳ preoperatively. Preoperative echocardiography showed moderate to severe MR in all patients. The surgery was performed under extracorporeal circulation and moderate hypothermia. The distribution of anatomical lesion according to surgical findings were vegetation in 32 patients, leaflet prolapsed in 34 patients, leaflet perforation in 16 patients, chordal rupture in 32 patients, and annular abscess in 2 patients. The vegetations and infected tissues were debrided. The surgery consisted of complex methods to repair mitral valve, including direction leaflet closure in 5 patients, pericardial patch closure of leaflet perforation in 18 patients, chords reimplantation in 4 patients and chords transference in 6 patients, quadrangular resection in 12 patients, double orifice method in 17, closure of the commissure in 8, rings annuloplasty in 28 cases , and so on. There were 28 selective surgeries and 12 emergent ones. Patients were evaluated for early and long-term clinic and echocardiographic outcome before and after operation. Results There were no early postoperative death. Mitral valve repair was feasible in 39 patients, one patient was transformed to mitral valve replacement during the operation. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated no (n=24) or mild (n=15) mitral regurgitation at the discharge examination and observed significant reductions in left ventricular end diastolic [from (62±7) mm to (51±6) mm, P<0.05] and end systolic dimensions [from (45±3) mm to (40±4) mm, P<0.05] and left atrial dimensions [from (49±4) mm to (42±6) mm, P<0.05]. Mean follow-up (25.6±3.2) months, freedom from recurrent moderate to severe MR, freedom from repeat operation or infective endocarditis, revealed patients were 36 cases in NYHY class Ⅰ, 3 cases in class Ⅱ. Conclusion Mitral valve repair for mitral valve endocarditis is feasibile with a satisfied clinical outcome, maintains valve competency with significant reductions in left atrial and left ventrieular dimensions after surgery. Key words: Mitral valve insufficiency; Endocarditis, bacterial; Cardiac surgical procedures
Chemically defined inducers of alkylsulphatases present in Pseudomonas C12B

When Pseudomonas C12B is grown on nutrient broth to the stationary phase, cell extracts contain two secondary alkylsulphatases (S1 and S2) active towards potassium decan-5-yl sulphate but not towards potassium pentan-3-yl sulphate and one primary alkylsulphatase (P1) active towards sodium dodecan-1-yl sulphate (sodium dodecyl sulphate). When 10mm-sodium hexan-1-yl sulphate is included in the nutrient broth an additional primary alkylsulphatase (P2) is produced. The S1, S2, P1 and P2 enzymes are also present in extracts of cells grown on broth containing the commercial detergent Oronite, together with an additional secondary alkylsulphatase (S3) active towards pentan-3-yl sulphate as well as decan-5-yl sulphate. The P2 primary alkylsulphatase can be induced by a number of primary and secondary alkyl sulphate esters but the induction of the S3 enzyme appears to be a more specific and complex process. Studies on the ability of different fractions separated from Oronite to act as inducers suggest that the combination of a long-chain secondary alkyl sulphate(s) and a long-chain secondary alcohol(s) is responsible for the appearance of the S3 enzyme. Potassium hexadecan-2-yl sulphate or potassium tetradecan-2-yl sulphate, in combination with either hexadecan-2-ol or tetradecan-2-ol, can serve as inducers for the enzyme. Some characteristics of these specific inducer systems have been elucidated.
Imaging Manifestations of Neurologic Complications in Anemia

The hallmark signs and symptoms of anemia are directly related to a decrease in oxygen delivery to vital tissues and organs and include pallor, fatigue, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. Neurologic complications are often nonspecific and can include poor concentration, irritability, faintness, tinnitus, and headache. If undiagnosed or untreated, anemia can progress to cognitive dysfunction, psychosis, encephalopathy, myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and more focal syndromes, such as stroke, seizures, chorea, and transverse myelitis. Imaging can play an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment of these neurologic and systemic complications associated with anemia, and hence, better outcome.
Disease Surveillance on Complex Social Networks.

As infectious disease surveillance systems expand to include digital, crowd-sourced, and social network data, public health agencies are gaining unprecedented access to high-resolution data and have an opportunity to selectively monitor informative individuals. Contact networks, which are the webs of interaction through which diseases spread, determine whether and when individuals become infected, and thus who might serve as early and accurate surveillance sensors. Here, we evaluate three strategies for selecting sensors—sampling the most connected, random, and friends of random individuals—in three complex social networks—a simple scale-free network, an empirical Venezuelan college student network, and an empirical Montreal wireless hotspot usage network. Across five different surveillance goals—early and accurate detection of epidemic emergence and peak, and general situational awareness—we find that the optimal choice of sensors depends on the public health goal, the underlying network and the reproduction number of the disease (R0). For diseases with a low R0, the most connected individuals provide the earliest and most accurate information about both the onset and peak of an outbreak. However, identifying network hubs is often impractical, and they can be misleading if monitored for general situational awareness, if the underlying network has significant community structure, or if R0 is high or unknown. Taking a theoretical approach, we also derive the optimal surveillance system for early outbreak detection but find that real-world identification of such sensors would be nearly impossible. By contrast, the friends-of-random strategy offers a more practical and robust alternative. It can be readily implemented without prior knowledge of the network, and by identifying sensors with higher than average, but not the highest, epidemiological risk, it provides reasonably early and accurate information.
Commutative Moufang Loops

Bol [66] was the first to construct a commutative Moufang loop which is not an abelian group. Each of Bol’s examples is centrally nil-potent of class 2. Bruck [70] showed how to construct examples which are centrally nilpotent of class 3. In his University of Wisconsin thesis (1953), T. Slaby formulated the following theorem: Every commutative Moufang loop which can be generated by n elements (n > 1) is centrally nilpotent of class at most n — 1. In collaboration with the author, Slaby proved this theorem for n = 4, 5 as well as for the previously known cases n = 2, 3.
Learning and Performance Support - Personalization Through Personal Assistant Technology

Personalization is important for online learning due to the ever changing needs of online learners and because of its potential to reach a wide variety of users. This paper describes the results of a literature review about the personalization of online learning systems. It also describes results of user studies of the prototype of a learning and performance support (LPSS) platform developed at the National Research Council of Canada. Main findings are that personalized learning systems can enhance learning effectiveness and motivate learners, and that learners are looking for ways to better explore their learning context through social network.
Climate forcing and infectious disease transmission in urban landscapes: integrating demographic and socioeconomic heterogeneity

Urbanization and climate change are the two major environmental challenges of the 21st century. The dramatic expansion of cities around the world creates new conditions for the spread, surveillance, and control of infectious diseases. In particular, urban growth generates pronounced spatial heterogeneity within cities, which can modulate the effect of climate factors at local spatial scales in large urban environments. Importantly, the interaction between environmental forcing and socioeconomic heterogeneity at local scales remains an open area in infectious disease dynamics, especially for urban landscapes of the developing world. A quantitative and conceptual framework on urban health with a focus on infectious diseases would benefit from integrating aspects of climate forcing, population density, and level of wealth. In this paper, we review what is known about these drivers acting independently and jointly on urban infectious diseases; we then outline elements that are missing and would contribute to building such a framework.
Big data framework interference in restricted private cloud settings

In this paper, we characterize the behavior of “big” and “fast” data analysis frameworks, in multi-tenant, shared settings for which computing resources (CPU and memory) are limited, an increasingly common scenario used to increase utilization and lower cost. We study how popular analytics frameworks behave and interfere with each other under such constraints. We empirically evaluate Hadoop, Spark, and Storm multi-tenant workloads managed by Mesos. Our results show that in constrained environments, there is significant performance interference that manifests in failed fair sharing, performance variability, and deadlock of resources.
Site-Specific Fucosylation Analysis Identifying Glycoproteins Associated with Aggressive Prostate Cancer Cell Lines Using Tandem Affinity Enrichments of Intact Glycopeptides Followed by Mass Spectrometry

Fucosylation (Fuc) of glycoproteins plays an important role in regulating protein function and has been associated with the development of several cancer types including prostate cancer (Pca). Therefore, the research of Fuc glycoproteins has attracted increasing attention recently in the analytical field. Herein, a strategy based on lectin affinity enrichments of intact glycopeptides followed by mass spectrometry has been established to evaluate the specificities of various Fuc-binding lectins for glycosite-specific Fuc analysis of nonaggressive (NAG) and aggressive (AG) Pca cell lines. The enrichment specificities of Fuc glycopeptides using lectins (LCA, PSA, AAL, LTL, UEA I, and AOL) and MAX extraction cartridges alone, or in tandem, were evaluated. Our results showed that the use of lectin enrichment significantly increased the ratio of fucosylated glycopeptides to total glycopeptides compared to MAX enrichment. Furthermore, tandem use of lectin followed by MAX increased the number of identifications o...
Long-lived plasma cells in the spleen (P1472)

Immunological memory can last a lifetime, in large part due to the antigen-specific antibodies continuously secreted by long-lived plasma cells. Though a great deal of attention has been given to long-lived, IgG-expressing plasma cells within the bone marrow microenvironment, other long-lived plasma cell populations are also found within the secondary lymphoid organs. We sought to characterize the splenic plasma cell populations in comparison to those found in the bone marrow and explore to what extent they contribute to serological memory, hypothesizing that this niche may play a significant role in immune memory. Surprisingly, our initial findings showed a large population of IgM-secreting, long-lived plasma cells dominating the splenic niche in murine models. These plasma cells persisted for the lifetime of the animals. Here we demonstrate how these splenic IgM plasma cells compare to bone marrow resident IgG PCs and explored the factors that contribute to their homing.
Modular Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for a Young Adult With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Comorbid Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder:

This case report outlines the use of a modular cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) in an 18-year-old fema...
Brain Stimulation and Addiction

Intracranial self-stimulation techniques have long been employed as a reliable index of the ability of abused substances to facilitate reward. Measured by the willingness of an animal (usually a rat or mouse) to complete an operant response such as a lever-press to deliver electrical stimulation to discrete elements of brain-reward circuitry, brain-stimulation reward can be measured with a number of sensitive techniques that estimate threshold levels of stimulation required to support responding. Most abused substances – including psychostimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine, opioid narcotics such as morphine and heroin, general central nervous system (CNS) depressants including alcohol, benzodiazepine anxiolytics, and inhaled solvents and mixed-class agents with some psychedelic properties such as phencyclidine (PCP/Angel Dust) and cannabis – can lower brain-stimulation reward thresholds. Withdrawal from acute or chronic exposure to many of these abused substances has been shown to produce the opposite effect of increasing reward thresholds, mimicking the depression-like symptoms of withdrawal in human addicts. Brain-stimulation reward therefore provides a powerful index of opposing alterations in hedonic processing produced by acute intoxication versus withdrawal.
The Metafora Design Principles for a Collaborative, Interoperable Learning Framework

In this paper we present the Metafora project for the support of collaborative learning activities in larger problems of science and math topics. We will present the design principles that guided our technical development of an architecture supporting collaboration across different learning tools. Interoperability between the tools mediated by so called referable objects is described, as well as the design issues of awareness and visualisation for the learning groups. We demonstrate the flexibility of our designs and framework in giving example cases for the usage of the Metafora framework with different tools and educational scenarios.
Time-Dependent Seismic Fragilities of Older and Newly Designed Multi-Frame Reinforced Concrete Box-Girder Bridges in California

Multi-frame box-girder reinforced concrete bridge is a common bridge class in California, characterized by the use of in-span hinges, which can have adverse effects, such as the pounding of adjacen...
The Effect of Age and Comorbidities on the Association Between the Medicare STAR Oral Antihyperglycemic Adherence Metric and Glycemic Control.

BACKGROUND: The Medicare STAR program for Medicare Advantage Plans that include drug benefits provides monetary incentives for health plans to achieve good adherence to oral antihyperglycemic (OAH)...
Cognitive Behavior Therapy of DSM-IV-TR Personality Disorders: Highly Effective Interventions for the Most Common Personality Disorders, Second Edition

Freeman, Foreword. Part I: Cognitive Behavior Therapy of the Personality Disorders. Cognitive Behavior Therapy of the Personality Disorders: Basic Considerations. Cognitive Behavior Therapy Interventions with Personality Disorders: I. Cognitive Behavior Therapy Interventions with Personality Disorders: II. Part II: CBT Strategies with Specific Personality Disorders. Avoidant Personality Disorder. Borderline Personality Disorder. Dependent Personality Disorder. Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Histrionic Personality Disorder. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. References. Index.
Many True Religions, And Each An Only Way: The Diversity of Religious Ends

This paper proposes the hypothesis that distinct religions and practices lead to equally real but substantively different final human conditions. This hypothesis has two sides. On the one side, it ...
Strategic autonomy and EU-NATO cooperation: threat or opportunity for transatlantic defence relations?

The EU’s common security and defence policy was launched in the 1990s as a quest for ‘autonomy.’ Fifteen years of efforts failed to deliver. The coherence of the EU member states in their security ...
Autistic social behaviors and the half‐empty, half‐full cup

Unusual social behaviors have been central to our notions of autism spectrum disorders since their original descriptions. We have come to recognize that such behaviors are broadly distributed beyond the classic phenotype and may be induced by postnatal experiences involving insufficient care. Sex differences have also been noted, and a paper in the current issue by Mandy and colleagues, demonstrates different longitudinal trajectories in boys and girls in autistic social traits from middle childhood to mid-adolescence. These and related findings are evidence of both progress in our understanding and how much we still need to learn to understand the social behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders.
Toward Point-of-Care Assessment of Platelet Count-induced Changes in Whole Blood Coagulation with a Dielectric Microsensor

This paper reports on the assessment of changes in coagulation dynamics of human whole blood induced by depletion of platelet count using a microfluidic dielectric sensor. The sensor, termed ClotChip, is based on a three-dimensional, parallel-plate, capacitive sensing structure with sensing and floating electrodes integrated into a microfluidic channel. Whole blood samples with quantitative platelet defects are created ex vivo by mixing plasma samples having different platelet counts with red blood cells at a hematocrit level of 0.5. Using an impedance analyzer, the ClotChip readout is shown to be sensitive to changes in the coagulation process dynamics arising from the depleted platelet count. ClotChip performance is benchmarked against rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), a clinically important assay for whole blood coagulation. The ClotChip readout parameter, Δe r, max, exhibits a strong positive correlation (r = 0.75 P < 0.001, n = 28) with the ROTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF) parameter. We also demonstrate that the depletion of platelet count affects the time of coagulation onset captured by both the ClotChip and ROTEM assays. This work establishes the ClotChip potential as a point-of-care (POC) platform for rapid assessment of the platelet count-induced changes in coagulation dynamics using only 9µL of whole blood.
The vertical structure and thickness of Saturn's rings

Observations of Saturn's rings over the last few years have contributed greatly to unravelling questions as to their nature and origin. However, some fundamental issues concerning the vertical structure and thickness of the rings have remained in dispute. In this note we present a synthesis of our results which reconciles most of the conflicting data. We first discuss the vertical structure and show how the many-particle-thick model appears to be feasible, but permits a local ring thickness of only a few tens of metres, much less than the thickness suggested by observations at ring-plane passage. We then describe how solar and satellite perturbations, which are coherent and not dispersive, do not significantly affect the true local vertical thickness of the rings, but do affect the tilt of the mean ring plane in a way that could be relevant to an understanding of the ring-passage observations.
Koda-Kimble and Young's Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs

koda-kimble and young's applied therapeutics:the clinical use of drugs , koda-kimble and young's applied therapeutics:the clinical use of drugs , کتابخانه الکترونیک و دیجیتال - آذرسا
GEMCITABINE INDUCED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Gemcitabine is a pyrimidine antimetabolite that inhibits DNA synthesis and is used commonly as an adjuvant chemotherapy agent for resectable pancreatic cancer as a single agent. Gemcitabine is generally not considered as a cardiotoxic agent and very few case reports exist in literature about
Labor Report: State and Regional Analysis for North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota - Q3 2017

This quarterly labor report provides insight into trends in non-farm employment in the Upper Great Plains. It includes state-level data for North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota and local-level data for the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) of Fargo, ND-MN; Bismarck, ND; Grand Forks, ND-MN; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI; Duluth, MN-WI; Rochester, MN; St. Cloud, MN; Sioux Falls, SD; and Rapid City, SD. In addition to reporting employment and wage figures, this report provides context for labor market and industry trends by conducting regional comparisons and using economic theory to interpret results. By using data to signal the health and functioning of regional labor markets and local economies, this report seeks to offer meaningful analysis for employers, job seekers and policymakers at the state and local levels.
Building Resilience for Vulnerability

Vulnerability has been discussed in various situations, including regional management policy. The global economic crisis has caused much confusion, with events such as the Lehman shock, the destructive influence of natural disasters, and so on; the concept of resilience is said to be effective in absorbing these shocks in a flexible manner. The aim of this chapter is to determine how to build resilience in individuals and organisations working on various tasks; examples of how to enhance resilience will be examined. The first two sections provide an overview of the transition of concepts as applicable to multiple fields, as resilience concepts are used in various fields. These concepts are based on the two aspects of continuity and recovery when facing environmental changes. The third section presents specific examples of resilience. The paper discusses reports of the recovery process from disasters; regions rich in social capital recovered from the crisis efficiently and effectively through collaborative work and activities. In other words, social capital is a recovery engine. The concept of Resilience Engineering is becoming more sophisticated through its application to fields requiring improved safety measures, including air traffic control and medical safety. The fourth section details the act of building resilience. The chapter concludes by summarizing that individuals and organisations need to build resilience, predict the extent of the impact on the environmental change in advance, and cope with actions to minimize the impact of the disaster. It is necessary to prepare a recovery plan to overcome such influences.
Molecular Docking Studies on Anticonvulsant Enaminones Inhibiting Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

Epilepsy is described as the most common chronic brain disorder. A typical symptom of epilepsy results in uncontrolled convulsions caused by temporary excessive neuronal discharges. Although, several new anticonvulsants have been introduced, some types of seizures have still not been adequately controlled with these new and current therapies. There is an urgent need to develop new anticonvulsant drugs to control the many different types of seizures. Many studies have shown that the epilepsies involve more than one mechanism and therefore may be responsible for the various types of observed seizures. Recently reported studies have shown that a group of newly synthesized 6 Hz active anticonvulsant fluorinated N-benzamide enaminones to exhibited selective inhibitions of voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels. Nav channels are responsible for the initial inward currents during the depolarization phases of the action potential in excitable cells. The activation and opening of Nav channels result in the initial phases of action potentials. We hypothesize that there is an essential pharmacophore model for the interactions between these enaminones and the active sites of Nav channels. The research reported here is focused on molecular docking studies of the interactions that occur between the fluorinated N-benzamide enaminones and the Nav channels. These studies may open an avenue for designing anticonvulsant drugs by inhibiting Nav channels.