cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of myristic-2-hydroxy-3-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt

The myristic-2-hydroxy-3-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt was synthesized from sodium bisulfite,epichlorohydrin,sodium phosphate and myristic acid.The influence factors of temperature,amount of catalyst,reaction time and reactant ratio on conversion were studied.The favorable conditions of synthesizing were determined:Epichlorohydrin was dropped into the solution of sodium bisulfite at 85 ℃ and reaction time 3.5 h,3-chlorine-2-hydroxy-propane sulfonic acid sodium was synthesized;3-chlorine-2-hydroxy-propane sulfonic acid sodium was dropped into the solution of sodium phosphate at 55 ℃ and reaction time 4.0 h.The oxiranemethane sulfonic acid sodium salt was synthesized;The oxiranemethane sulfonic acid sodium salt solution was dropped into the solution of myristic acid at 90 ℃ and reaction time 3.0 h.Myristic acid-2-hydroxy-3-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt was synthesized.The yield of myristic acid-2-hydroxy-3-propane sulfonic acid sodium salt was 85.2 %.The product was characterized by FTIR.The surfactant product showed good surface activity.
Top Picks from the 2015 Computer Architecture Conferences

The guest editors introduce the Top Picks and Honorable Mentions from the 2015 computer architecture conferences.
Kinetics of the particle beam-pumped 585-nm atomic Ne laser using He/Ne/Ar mixtures

The high pressure particle beam-excited Ne laser operates on transitions between the 3p' [1/2] and 3s' [1/2] levels (585.3 and 659.9 nm), and the 3p[1/2]1 and 3s[3/2] levels (724,5 and 703.2 nm). Quasicontinuous oscillation on the 585-nm transition has been obtained with both electron beam1 and fission fragment excitation2 using He/Ne/Ar mixtures at pressures of a few atmospheres.
Cranial–Cervical Dystonia

Cranial–cervical dystonia causes involuntary muscle contractions of the eyes, face, jaw, and neck leading to abnormal twisting movements and postures. For most patients, the cause remains elusive, though advances in the pathophysiology of this syndrome have been made in recent years. Some patients respond to medications, but dose-related side effects often limit their effectiveness. Botulinum toxin has revolutionized the treatment of cranial–cervical dystonia and improved quality of life for many patients. Case reports of deep brain stimulation appear promising to treat patients refractory to conventional interventions, but long-term controlled studies are still needed.
Representing colonizers: An archaeology of creolization, ethnogenesis, and indigenous material culture among the Haida

Rather than reduce colonial encounters to a universal creolization process, creolization is examined as conflict between various colonial powers and indigenous groups with distinct social and resource organizations. The concept of ethnogenesis focuses analysis of creolization by probing colonial power relations and approaching material culture as the active negotiation of colonization and colonial inequality. The subject of analysis is indigenous objects that depict European colonizers; such material culture should provide a sensitive insight into indigenous perceptions of colonization and illuminate the relations between various colonizers and indigenous peoples throughout the world. This examination of material culture from the Haida of the Pacific Northwest demonstrates how one indigenous group developed distinctive strategies to negotiate colonial power relations.
Dynamic Model Selection in the Interpretation of Discourse

In this paper we argue that the interpretation of discourse involves primarily the selection of semantic models, rather than their construction, as is suggested in a number of recent proposals (e.g., Stenning, 1977; Reichman, 1978). We begin with a modified version of a logical framework developed by van Fraassen (1971) (based on Tarski (1936)) and specifically augment it to allow for relativized quantification (Cushing, 1976) and a dynamic reading of satisfaction rules (Cushing, 1977). We then argue that a selection account of discourse interpretation falls right out of the relativized rule, along with an explanation for at least some “conventional implicatures” (Karttunen and Peters, 1979).
Religious Experience, Chosenness, and Political Expression

I find it hard to believe that principles can exist which make no difference in facts. But all facts are particular facts, and the whole interest of the question of God's existence seems to me to lie in the consequences for particulars which that existence may be expected to entail. That no concrete particular of experience should alter its complexion in consequence of a God being there seems to me an incredible proposition…. The appearance is that in [“prayerful communion”] something ideal, which in one sense is part of ourselves and in another sense is not ourselves, actually exerts an influence, raises our centre of personal energy, and produces regenerative effects unattainable in other ways. —William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience
Assessing disruptions in adherence to antidepressant treatments after breast cancer diagnosis.

Purpose Long-term treatment with antidepressants can lessen the symptoms of depression, but health-related crises—such as a cancer diagnosis—may disrupt ongoing depression care. The study aims to estimate the effect of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis on antidepressant adherence among women with depression. Methods Using SEER-Medicare administrative claims, we identified women aged 65+ with newly diagnosed breast cancer between 2008 and 2011, who were diagnosed with depression and used antidepressants during the year before pre-diagnosis year. We compared antidepressant adherence among women with breast cancer to similar women without cancer using generalized estimation equations. Antidepressant adherence was estimated using the proportion of days covered 1 year before and after the index date. Results We included 1142 women with breast cancer and pre-existing depression and 1142 matched non-cancer patients with pre-existing depression. Mean antidepressant adherence was similar for both groups in the year before and after the index date (all around 0.71); adherence decreased by approximately 0.01 following breast cancer diagnosis in cancer group, with similar reductions among non-cancer group (p = 0.19). However, substantial proportion of patients had inadequate adherence to antidepressants in the post-diagnosis period, and almost 40% of patients in each group discontinued antidepressants over the study period. Conclusions Antidepressant adherence was not associated with receiving a breast cancer diagnosis beyond what would have been expected in a similar cohort of women without cancer; however, adherence was poor among both groups. Ensuring adequate ongoing depression care is important to improve cancer care and patient quality of life in the long term. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization and Isolation of Ten Microsatellite Loci in False Map Turtles, Graptemys pseudogeographica (Emydidae, Testudines)

Abstract False map turtles (FMT, Graptemys pseudogeographica) are found along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers throughout the United States but are a protected species in South Dakota (SD). Graptemys pseudogeographica blood samples were collected from two sites above and below the Gavins Point Dam along the Missouri River near Yankton, SD for the purposes of creating a microsatellite library. We isolated and characterized ten microsatellite loci in G. pseudogeographica, and only one locus (FMT201) shows as deficit of heterozygotes relative to expectations.
An Augmented Lagrangian distributed algorithm for an in-network optimal resource allocation problem

This paper studies distributed solutions for an optimal resource allocation problem over networked systems with connected graph communication topologies. The problem setting consists of a group of agents in a network cooperatively meeting a demand by supplying a resource whose commitment incurs a cost on them. The objective in the optimal resource allocation problem is to obtain a commitment value for each agent such that the total cost, which is the sum of the costs of the agents, is minimized. In this paper we discuss how using ideas from Augmented Lagrangian method for convex optimization problems with affine constrains, we can arrive at a distributed solutions whose convergence guarantees holds for networks where the local costs are convex. We also show that if the local costs are all strongly convex and their gradients are globally Lipschitz then the convergence guarantees are exponential and the results can be extended to a special class of time-varying network interaction topologies. Simulations illustrate our results.
Land in African Agrarian Systems. Thomas J. Bassett and Donald E. Crummey, editors. Madison, WI. and London: University of Wisconsin Press. 1993

Land in African Agrarian Systems. Thomas J. Bassett and Donald E. Crummey, editors. Madison, WI. and London: University of Wisconsin Press. 1993. xi, 418 pp. Reviewed by Stephen P. Reyna, Professor and Chair of Anthropology, University of New Hampshire, Durham.
integrated intra-cardiac catheter for polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation (Conference Presentation)

Cardiac arrhythmias are a major source of mortality in the United States. Ablation is the only curative therapy for cardiac arrhythmias, and catheter-based radiofrequency ablation (RFA) through percutaneous access has emerged as the standard care for many arrhythmias. However, current procedures only monitor temperature, impedance and pressure measurements during ablation, which results in incomplete lesion formation (e.g., high recurrence rate for atrial fibrillation patients) and complications. In our previous work, we have shown integration of a commercially available RFA catheter with polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT). This was accomplished by housing the PSOCT probe inside of the RFA catheter with a window at the catheter tip that allows for forward viewing PSOCT imaging. Data from ex vivo experiments have shown that the integrated RFA catheter can be used to confirm catheter tissue apposition and monitor tissue change during ablation by measuring retardance. It was also demonstrated that the PSOCT window does not interfere with normal lesion formation. However, only the catheter tip was integrated, enabling only in vitro experiments. Therefore, we have developed a fully integrated PSOCT RFA catheter based on a commercially available catheter to enable experiments in living swine via percutaneous access. By properly choosing a middle layer sheath to house the PSOCT probe, we reduced the non-uniform rotation distortion (NURD), reduced PSOCT probe tip longitudinal movement due to winding back, improved image quality and stability. Further validation of functionality by simulating RFA procedures in living swine through percutaneous access is ongoing.
Learn, Expand, Engage: A Model for Teaching Clinical Skills in the Helping Professions

Drawing upon foundations in constructivist philosophies, learner-centered and flipped-classroom pedagogies, the Learn, Expand, Engage (LEE) Model for teaching clinical skills across the mental heal...
Dyslipidemia is associated with pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Background With the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the most common cause of pediatric chronic liver disorder. Factors underlying the pathophysiology of NAFLD remain poorly defined. Objective This study aimed to describe the metabolic characteristics of children with NAFLD differing in race/ethnicity and to test associations between dyslipidemia and NAFLD. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary referral university hospital among 309 children with a diagnosis of NAFLD. Results Participants (mean age 12.5 ± 3.4 years) were 64% male, 63% white, 23% Hispanic, and 14% black. Hispanic children were diagnosed with NAFLD at a significantly younger age (10.6 ± 3.1 years, P 2 , P P = .01; r = 0.16, P = .02), respectively, and persisted after adjusting for age and body mass index. Conclusion Cardiometabolic derangements, especially dyslipidemia, are highly prevalent in children with NAFLD and differ based on race/ethnicity. Serum TG and non–HDL-C may play an important role in the pathophysiology of pediatric NAFLD.
A Nitinol-Actuated Worm Robot Bends for Turning and Climbing Obstacles

Earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris, are multi-segmented invertebrate animals that have the ability to crawl over land, burrow beneath the soil, and bend their bodies to turn and coil. Each of these motions can be performed while maintaining a small form factor. The low profile locomotion is made possible via peristalsis, a locomotion method in which waves of circumferential and longitudinal contraction propagate in a retrograde manner (opposite to the direction of motion) down the length of the animal’s many-segmented body. We have previously tested peristaltic locomotion on planar surfaces, but here we explore additional actuators in a smaller form factor for bending a pre-fabricated mesh body with nitinol shape memory alloy springs. This new robot, MiniWorm, has a minimum diameter of 1.7 cm, is capable of moving forward at a speed of 0.88 cm/min and can lift its front segment 1.5 times its diameter. We show that without lifting, the robot cannot cross even very small obstacles (14% of diameter), but that a head-lifting gait enables this motion. Future work will enable the robot to move farther with better integrated electronics.
Legal and Ethical Issues in Forensic DNA Phenotyping

In the recent Supreme Court case of Maryland v. King, which addresses the constitutionality of compulsory collection of DNA samples from felony arrestees, the state and federal government repeatedly underscored that forensic tests of biological samples look only at meaningless, non-sensitive information. These non-coding, non-expressive parts of the genome have even earned a nickname, “junk,” that alone does much to assure the public that the police are not scrutinizing confidential information. The distinction is important in the legal community as well: Judges have consistently privileged the benefits to crime-solving against the minimal privacy intrusion posed by revelation of this otherwise meaningless string of numbers.But of course, efforts at unlocking the deeper secrets of the human genome continue apace. In 2012, researchers debuted the first commercially available tool that can simultaneously analyze genetic information from an array of sites on the genome and produce information related to biogeographic ancestry, eye and hair color, relatedness, and sex. Developments that predict age, facial morphology, height and other physical traits may loom on the horizon, and primitive research has even drawn connections between the MAOA gene and propensity to violence. This paper examines the legal and ethical implications of forensic DNA genotyping, or "FDP." It canvasses existing rules and regulations that might hasten or thwart such testing, and considers its potential utility for criminal cases. It further considers the moral and ethical questions implicated by testing for more than just "junk" DNA.
Evolution of Elastin Structure

The aortae of a number of vertebrates and invertebrates were tested for the presence of elastin to determine when this protein first appears phylogenetically. Using several criteria, including amino acid composition, presence of desmosines, and histological characteristics, we found that all representative vertebrate groups have elastin except the primitive jawless fishes (lampreys and hagfishes). All the invertebrates tested, representing most major phyla, were found lacking in elastin as well. Comparison of purified elastins from several vertebrate groups reveals some striking differences in their amino acid compositions and properties, including the arrangement of the elastic fibers in the aorta. The patterns of variations in amino acid composition suggest a mode of evolution which is different from the slow accumulation of point mutations observed with globular proteins.
Tissue Culture of Conifers Using Loblolly Pine as a Model

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is a good model for conifer tissue culture, since studies include three methods of in vitro propagation, long-term field evaluations of tissue-culture plantlets, and the development of in vitro trait selection methods. Abbreviated protocols are outlined for the following: (a) organogenesis of adventitious shoots and roots; (b) shoot micropropagation via fascicular and axillary shoots obtained from juvenile, adolescent, and mature explants; and (c) embryogenesis via immature zygotic embryos. Regulatory features of these processes, especially adventitious organ induction and shoot and root elongation, are examined. Field data on four- to six-year height growth, morphological characteristics, and fusiform rust resistance of tissue-culture plantlets derived from cotyledon explants are summarized from multiple plantings. Histological and immunological studies on fusiform rust resistance, evaluated in vitro in loblolly pine embryos, are presented as examples of in vitro trait selection.
New Business Exercise: The Pop-Up Store Project

In this hands-on exercise, students develop and manage a successful retail pop-up store for one week in Tucson Mall in the city of Tucson. This is the final process in a two-semester project that involves the comprehensive business planning and execution process from idea generation, business planning, merchandise planning, investor pitch, vendor selection, product development, vendor selection and execution. Students work as teams to achieve maximum revenue and profits over a full week and, most importantly, develop a genuine understanding of the challenges of developing and executing a retail concept. The learning objectives of this year-long project are 1) to help students to understand how learning by doing in an ever-changing and unpredictable environment may have substantial advantages over traditional analysis, research, and business planning; 2) to find solutions for customers' wants; 3) to execute an actual business with their own innovative products; 4) to explore the trade-offs that entrepreneurs face as they start a new business or launch a product or service; 5) to build team work, communication, and leadership skills.
Optimal anticoagulant treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism remains unclear.

Commentary on: Kahale LA, Hakoum MB, Tsolakian IG, et al . Anticoagulation for the long-term treatment of venous thromboembolism in people with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2018;6:CD006650. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) complicates the course of 5%–10% of patients with cancer and remains the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer after the malignancy itself.1 Until recently, the standard-of-care treatment for cancer-associated VTE has been low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for extended periods based on the results of several randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing LMWH with vitamin K antagonists (VKA). As an injectable, expensive agent, adherence may be poor by both patients and providers.1 The direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are a new oral treatment option that does not require regular anticoagulant monitoring, and therefore an attractive potential alternative to LMWH and VKAs. Published evidence for the efficacy and safety of DOACs in comparison with LMWH is currently limited to two RCTs. This systematic review examines the …
Differences in the Performance of Male and Female Students in Partially Online Courses at a Community College.

ABSTRACTMany scholars argue that female students are more motivated than their male counterparts. This study examines evidence from 435 students, 237 males and 198 females, in 19 partially online I...
Feeding the Forgotten: Wild and Cultivated Ceratotheca and Sesamum (Pedaliaceae) That Nourish and Provide Remedies in Africa

The usage and cultural importance of wild and weedy edible leaves of wild relatives of sesame, Ceratotheca and Sesamum in Africa, is reported from herbarium records, published sources, and firsthand observations. They contribute not only nutritionally—protein, lipid, and micronutrients, especially calcium and iron—but release a little scrutinized valuable product, water-soluble polysaccharide mucilage, that serves as a source of fiber and provides beneficial dietary bulk, enhances gastrointestinal function, alleviates constipation, protects against diabetes, and lowers cholesterol. Dissimilar genera and species are used in similar ways. Their utility was discovered by women gathering edible leaves to accompany dry cereal staples. African vernacular names from several disparate cultures refer to their slimy consistency. Corresponding nutritional and mucilage constituents of several other popular African vegetables are evaluated for comparison.
Increasing rates of surgical treatment for paediatric tibial shaft fractures: a national database study from between 2000 and 2012.

Abstract Purpose Tibia fractures are the third most common long bone fracture in children. Because of the remodelling potential of the tibial diaphysis, nonoperative treatment has historically been...
Expository text difficulty for elementary emerging bilingual students: Does it matter?

The author explored text difficulty for third-grade bilingual students reading below grade level. In six small-group discussions, students read and discussed informational texts matched to their re...
Strengthening communities with neighborhood data, by G. Thomas Kingsley, Claudia J. Coulton, and Kathryn L. S. Pettit: Washington, DC, Urban Institute, 2014

Many community groups and researchers seeking to support neighborhood development appreciate the necessity and scarcity of high-quality small-area data. The data need to be valid and reliable mea- ...
G91(P) Auditing the use of medical photography (MP) in suspected non-accidental injury (NAI) cases in a community paediatric setting

Aims Safeguarding advice from the RCPCH states that ‘It is good practice to photograph any visible finding in suspected child abuse’. In this audit we aimed to review: Our referral pathway for MP in NAI cases Whether consent was adequately documented How MP is recorded in Child Protection (CP) reports CP reports are distributed to multi-disciplinary safeguarding teams and it is therefore important to document whether MP has been performed and whether the captured images are in keeping with what was seen on examination (e.g. lighting making bruises appear less prominent). Methods A closed loop audit was performed of the use of MP for paediatric NAI cases from January 2017 to June 2018. Data was collected retrospectively and prospectively from all CP reports and electronic records. This included how MP was requested, how consent was recorded and if images were described in CP reports. Results In 2017 there were 136 NAI cases, of which 4.4% were referred for MP From January to June 2018 there have been 55 NAI cases, of which 21.8% were referred for MP. Review of Request Forms: 23% had the correct hospital ID 84% had legible body maps. Review of CP reports: 100% documentation of consent 100% confirmed if MP requested 0% confirmed MP performed 0% described/interpreted the images obtained Conclusion More children are being sent for MP in suspected NAI cases. However, we are inadequately completing referral forms and have not commented on MP in CP reports. This will impact on the wider safeguarding team, e.g. social services and police, who may be unaware if/when MP is performed. These findings were presented at a clinical governance meeting and a new MP protocol produced. Paper forms were updated to electronic requests and all reports must now include clinicians’ comments about the images captured. This will optimise medical documentation in CP cases and provide superior, objective evidence if cases are taken through CP/legal proceedings.
The Horseshoe-Like Regularization for Feature Subset Selection

Feature subset selection arises in many high-dimensional applications of statistics, such as compressed sensing and genomics. The l0 penalty is ideal for this task, the caveat being it requires the NP-hard combinatorial evaluation of all models. A recent area of considerable interest is to develop efficient algorithms to fit models with a non-convex lγ penalty for γ ∈ (0,1), which results in sparser models than the convex l1 or lasso penalty, but is harder to fit. We propose an alternative, termed the horseshoe regularization penalty for feature subset selection, and demonstrate its theoretical and computational advantages. The distinguishing feature from existing non-convex optimization approaches is a full probabilistic representation of the penalty as the negative of the logarithm of a suitable prior, which in turn enables efficient expectation-maximization and local linear approximation algorithms for optimization and MCMC for uncertainty quantification. In synthetic and real data, the resulting algorithms provide better statistical performance, and the computation requires a fraction of time of state-of-the-art non-convex solvers.
Dynamics of acoustic impedance matching layers in contactless ultrasonic power transfer systems

The acoustic impedance mismatch between transducer materials and medium in ultrasonic power transfer systems narrows the transduction bandwidth and causes losses through the back reflection of progressive pressure waves at the boundary between the transducers and medium. Capturing both resonances and losses due to impedance mismatch of interwoven elements is essential for advancing the development of these systems. We present a unified approach, based on the multiplication of a sequence of transfer matrices, to determine an equivalent acoustic impedance. The analytical model couples the properties of the transmitter and receiver with multiple matching layers and a single classical quarter-wave layer in controlled setups with the objective of minimizing reflections through acoustic impedance mismatch alleviation. Losses due to ultrasonic attenuation in the material layers and medium are also considered. The acoustic field at the receiver location constitutes the input to the coupled electro-elastic equations of the fluid-loaded and electrically-loaded piezoelectric receiver. Experiments are performed to identify the input acoustic pressure from a cylindrical transmitter to a receiver disk operating in the 33-mode of piezoelectricity. The results show significant enhancements in terms of the receiver's electrical power output when implementing a two-layer matching structure. We present the results showing non-dimensional wave number variations vs. characteristic impedance, which can be used to calculate the materials' thicknesses for acoustically matching ultrasonic power transfer systems to an acoustic medium of interest at any desired resonant frequency while considering any type of glue or epoxy as the bonding layer. The derived physical models facilitate the development of high-fidelity matched systems with enhanced contactless power transmission.
Bifurcation analysis of a free boundary model of plaque formation associated with the cholesterol ratio

The low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ratio has been shown a high correlation with the cardiovascular risk assessment. Is it possible to quantify the correlation mathematically? In this paper, we develop a bifurcation analysis for a mathematical model of the plaque formation with a free boundary in the early stage of atherosclerosis. This bifurcation analysis, to the ratio of LDL/HDL, is based on the explicit formulation of radially symmetric steady-state solutions. By performing the perturbation analysis to these solutions, we establish the existence of bifurcation branches and derive a theoretical condition that a bifurcation occurs for different modes. Then we also analyze the stability of radially symmetric steady-state solutions and conduct numerical simulations to verify all the theoretical results.
The Biomaterials of Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: Their Features, Function, and Effect on Outcomes

The materials that are used in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) implants have been carefully chosen in an attempt to minimize hardware-related complications. The 2 main metal alloys used in TSA implants are Ti-6Al-4V (titanium-aluminum-vanadium) and CoCrMo (cobalt-chromium-molybdenum). Ti alloys are softer than CoCr alloys, making them less wear-resistant and more susceptible to damage, but they have improved osseointegration and osteoconduction properties. Although controversial, metal allergy may be a concern in patients undergoing TSA and may lead to local tissue reaction and aseptic loosening. Numerous modifications to polyethylene, including cross-linking, minimizing oxidation, and vitamin E impregnation, have been developed to minimize wear and reduce complications. Alternative bearing surfaces such as ceramic and pyrolytic carbon, which have strong track records in other fields, represent promising possibilities to enhance the strength and the durability of TSA prostheses.
Source Separation and Depthwise Separable Convolutions for Computer Audition.

Given recent advances in deep music source separation, we propose a feature representation method that combines source separation with a state-of-the-art representation learning technique that is suitably repurposed for computer audition (i.e. machine listening). We train a depthwise separable convolutional neural network on a challenging electronic dance music (EDM) data set and compare its performance to convolutional neural networks operating on both source separated and standard spectrograms. It is shown that source separation improves classification performance in a limited-data setting compared to the standard single spectrogram approach.
Rabbit Elastase Aneurysm: Imaging and Histology Correlates for Inflammation and Healing.

Objective Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage remains a devastating event with poorly understood pathophysiology. Previous studies have suggested that aneurysm wall inflammation may play a part in the development and potential rupture of aneurysms. The rabbit elastase aneurysm model is a well-established model, which produces aneurysms closely mimicking human cerebral aneurysms in flow dynamics and histopathology. The primary aim of this study was to correlate inflammatory changes after aneurysm formation using sequential vessel wall imaging with histopathologic analysis. A secondary aim was to evaluate the potential effect of gender and anti-inflammatory treatment with aspirin on this inflammatory response. Methods Twenty-seven New Zealand rabbits underwent surgery to create an aneurysm using elastase infusion at the right common carotid artery origin. Vessel wall imaging and histopathologic analysis was obtained at different time points after aneurysm creation. The rabbits were also randomized by gender and to treatment groups with or without aspirin. Results Histopathologic analysis revealed 3 distinct phases after aneurysm formation. These phases were an initial inflammatory phase, followed by a regeneration phase, and finally a connective tissue deposition phase. Vessel wall imaging demonstrated 2 distinct imaging patterns. No appreciable differences were seen in histology or imaging when comparing gender or treatment with aspirin. Conclusions Inflammatory changes induced by the rabbit elastase aneurysm model can be correlated with histopathologic findings and observed on noninvasive vessel wall imaging. This may provide a method to study the inflammatory pathway as it pertains to aneurysmal development and subsequent rupture.
The effects of fiber source on extrusion parameters and kibble structure of dry dog foods

Abstract Beet pulp (BP) and cellulose (CE) are fibrous ingredients commonly used by pet food companies to produce diets targeting weight management and gut health. Miscanthus grass (MG) is a novel fibrous ingredient that might affect food manufacturing in a similar manner to CE. The objective was to determine the effects of these three fiber sources on extrusion processing and kibble characteristics of dog foods. Diets were composed of 90 % basal ration and 10 % of each MG (827.4 g/kg insoluble fiber, 72.6 g/kg soluble fiber), CE (1000 g/kg insoluble fiber), or BP (360.0 g/kg insoluble fiber, 263.7 g/kg soluble fiber). Three batches of each treatment were mixed separately prior to extrusion. During production, processing conditions were recorded every 20 min after steady state was achieved. At each time point, 10 kibbles were randomly sampled to measure diameter and length out of the extruder and exiting the dryer. Sectional expansion ratio index (SEI) was calculated using the die and kibble diameter. Diet total dietary fiber (TDF) was similar among treatments (MG = 199.7 g/kg, CE = 204.7 g/kg, BP = 175.9 g/kg). The fiber source did not affect preconditioner and extruder parameters, except specific mechanical energy (SME), in which BP was higher than MG and CE (P 0.10) to have greater volume than MG kibbles. MG kibbles had a smaller volume than CE and BP kibbles. CE kibbles were less dense than BP kibbles. These results indicate that a diet containing MG can be processed with similar conditions to a diet containing CE. In conclusion, the extrusion parameters were minimally affected by fiber source, and differences in kibble characteristics could be corrected with modest process adjustments.
Virus Transmission Risk in Urban Rail Systems: Microscopic Simulation-Based Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Characteristics

The transmission risk of airborne diseases in public transportation systems is a concern. This paper proposes a modified Wells-Riley model for risk analysis in public transportation systems to capt...
Farming, Pesticides, and Brain Cancer: A 20-Year Updated Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Twenty additional years of epidemiologic literature have become available since the publication of two meta-analyses on farming and brain cancer in 1998. The current systematic literature review and meta-analysis extends previous research and harmonizes findings. A random effects model was used to calculate meta-effect estimates from 52 studies (51 articles or reports), including 11 additional studies since 1998. Forty of the 52 studies reported positive associations between farming and brain cancer with effect estimates ranging from 1.03 to 6.53. The overall meta-risk estimate was 1.13 (95% CI = 1.06, 1.21), suggesting that farming is associated with a 13% increase in risk of brain cancer morbidity or mortality. Farming among white populations was associated with a higher risk of brain cancer than among non-white populations. Livestock farming (meta-RR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.18, 1.53) was associated with a greater risk compared with crop farming (meta-RR = 1.13; 95% CI = 0.97, 1.30). Farmers with documented exposure to pesticides had greater than a 20% elevated risk of brain cancer. Despite heterogeneity among studies, we conclude that the synthesis of evidence from 40 years of epidemiologic literature supports an association between brain cancer and farming with its potential for exposure to chemical pesticides.
Motivations for Continued Use of Critical Thinking Skills among First-Year Seminar Graduates

Many first-year seminar courses, as well as other programs aimed at first-year undergraduate students, actively incorporate critical thinking into the curriculum. What factors motivate students who purposefully develop these critical thinking skills to continue using them during subsequent semesters? This article discusses results of a study on this topic. Twenty-four students participated in a study approximately one semester after completing a first-year seminar at their university. The study uses mixed methods to (a) discuss students’ self-reported responses regarding nine potential motivating factors for continuing use of critical thinking skills, (b) examine correlations with critical thinking performance on a writing sample, and (c) briefly compare students’ self-reported motivating factors for continued use of critical thinking skills with parallel self-reported motivating factors for continued use of information literacy skills. The article ends with recommendations for applying the findings in the undergraduate classroom.
Branches, Subsidiaries and Foreign Bank Insolvency

On March 28, 1980, the central bank of Argentina revoked the authorization of Banco de Intercambio Regional (Intercambio), an Argentine banking corporation with a branch in New York, to operate as a commercial bank within and outside Argentina and directed that the bank be liquidated under the provisions of Argentine law. On the same day, the New York State Superintendent of Banks took possession of Intercambio's New York branch on the grounds that Intercambio was in liquidation in Argentina [1]. Depositors of the New York branch at first feared that they would not be able to recover on their claims against the bank. Ultimately, the New York State Bank Examiner found that the branch was solvent, with assets of approximately $19.9 million and liabilities of $5.2 million [2]. Under these circumstances, the Superintendent of Banks was able to pay in full all depositors of the New York branch [3]. Notwithstanding this satisfactory outcome, the Intercambio liquidation underscored the complicated regulatory and supervisory [4] issues associated with banks [5] operating outside their home countries. To what extent, for example, should the bank's home country be responsible for the supervision and solvency of the bank's foreign operations? In the Intercambio incident, the Argentine central bank was unwilling to provide financial assistance to Intercambio's troubled international operations [6]. If assistance from the home country is not guaranteed, how should the bank regulations of a host country be modified to assure the safety and soundness of the host's [7] banking system? In the case of a country with a dual banking system [8], such as the United States, what division of regulatory functions among the various federal and state authorities will promote safety and soundness without unnecessarily sacrificing the economic efficiency of the system? This article examines these issues in the context of the United States' bank regulatory system. Section 2 sets out the nature and extent of the expanding
Criminalizing Humanitarian Relief: Are US Material Support for Terrorism Laws Compatible with International Humanitarian Law?

In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s recent decision in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project there has been much discussion about the potentially chilling effect that US material support laws may have on the provision of humanitarian assistance in both disaster and war zones. This essay aims to consider this issue in depth, providing an analysis of the material support legal regime and the Humanitarian Law Project decision, its potential legal impact on humanitarian organizations and the interaction between these laws and international law. In so doing, this essay will advance a number of arguments. First, it posits that the material support laws do potentially pose a serious threat to the provision of much needed humanitarian relief. Next, it is argued that that the material support laws as applied to humanitarian relief organizations place the US in violation of its legal obligations under international humanitarian law, more specifically under the Geneva Conventions. It then considers the impact of this conflict between the statutes and the Conventions on the US domestic plane and looks at the literature and jurisprudence on the self-execution of treaties to examine whether the Conventions are judicially enforceable in US courts in order to assert that some provisions of the Conventions could arguably furnish humanitarian workers and organizations facing criminal prosecution with a defense against allegations of providing material support. Finally, this essay considers a possible enlarged humanitarian exception to the existing statutory regime, as well as the particular difficulty faced by the International Red Cross movement in adapting its activities to ensure compliance with the material support laws.
Effect of vitamin E and selenium on iron utilization in neonatal pigs.

Supplying adequate iron (Fe) to neonatal pigs to support normal growth and hemato- logical and antioxidant status, while preventing iron toxicity, is a challenge for producers. Three experi- ments were conducted to determine the effect of frequency and route of Fe administration with or without vitamin E ( E ) and selenium (Se) on growth, Fe, and antioxidant status of neonatal pigs. In Exp. 1, 12 pigs from dams with reduced E status were fed a semipurified diet without added Fe from d 3 to d 14 of age. At d 6 of age, pigs received the following i.m. injections: 1 ) FE, 1 mL containing 200 mg of Fe (iron dextran); 2 ) FEE, treatment FE plus 1 mL containing 300 IU of vitamin E (d-a tocopherol); or 3 ) FESEE, 1.03 mL containing 200 mg of Fe (iron dextran), .15 mg of Se (sodium selenite), and 15 IU of vitamin E (d-a tocopherol). Pigs were weighed daily and blood was collected at 3, 7, and 14 d of age. From d 8 to 14, growth was depressed ( P < .05) in pigs injected with FESEE. At 14 d of age, pigs injected with FE or FEE had increased ( P < .05) hemoglobin (Hb) concentra- tion. Ceruloplasmin activity (CP) was greater ( P < .05) at d 7 of age than at d 3 or 14 regardless of treatment. In Exp. 2, 3-d-old pigs (n = 94) received the following: 1 ) FE, 200 mg Fe (iron dextran) i.m.; ( 2 ) FEE, treatment FE plus 300 IU vitamin E i.m.; 3 ) EFE, 300 IU vitamin E i.m. followed by 200 mg Fe (iron dextran) i.m. 24 h later; or 4 ) OFE, 100 mg Fe and 10 mg Cu orally. On d 21 of age, one-half of the pigs in each treatment received a second dose of their respective treatment. Blood samples (n = 60) were obtained on d 3 and 21 of age. Pigs injected with FE, FEE, or EFE had greater ( P < .05) Hb at d 21 than pigs given OFE. Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD) activity was greater ( P < .05) at d 21 with OFE than with the other treatments. At 65 d of age, ADG did not differ among treatments. In Exp. 3, pigs (n = 150, in three farrowing groups) were injected with 200 mg of Fe (iron dextran) on d 1 or d 1 and 14. Blood samples were obtained on d 7 and 21 of age. Hemoglobin concentration on d 21 was improved equally by both treatments. Catalase and Cu/ZnSOD activities were increased ( P < .05) on d 21 of the experiment compared with d 7 regardless of treat- ment. Growth was not affected by injection frequency. Results from these experiments indicate that one Fe injection (200 mg) for pigs from sows fed adequate vitamin E will result in adequate growth and hemoglobin concentration with today's improved genetics.
RNA Interference in Mammals: Journey to the Center of Human Disease

This chapter contains sections titled: * Mechanics of RNA Interference * RNA Interference in Mammals * Journey to the Center of Human Disease * Using RNA Interference in Animal Models for Human Disease * RNA Interference in the Clinic * Summary * References
Colonel Utley's Empancipation-- or , How Lincoln Offered to Buy a Slave

The reputation of Abraham Lincoln has see-sawed over the last half-century on the fulcrum of race, and the results have not been happy for that reputation. As Gerald Prokopowicz has written, "the big question" about Lincoln and slavery runs today like this: "Was Lincoln really the Great Emancipator that we have traditionally been brought up to admire, or was he just a clever, lying, racist, white male politician who had no interest in the well-being of black America other than when it served his political interests?" No longer is it necessary, as one historian has wryly remarked, for politicians to "get right with Lincoln." Historians now yearn to "get right" with Frederick Douglass, and to judge by the recent freshet of literature on Lincoln and Douglass, it is now incumbent on Lincoln to be gotten right with Frederick Douglass, too. One of the most damaging accusations leveled against the possibility of justifying Lincoln on race appears in Lerone Bennett's infamous screen, Forced into Glory: Abraham Lincoln's White Dream, where, as the finale to a battery of accusations of racism, Bennett's Lincoln "personally ordered Union officers to return runaway slaves to slavemasters" and turned a blind eye to "Kentuckians, for example," who "were selling and reenslaving African-Americans freed by the war and congressional acts." [excerpt]
Structure noise reduction and deconvolution of ultrasonic data using wavelet decomposition (ultrasonic flaw detection)

The split-spectrum processing (SSP) technique is known to improve flaw detection in materials in which the coarse microstructure produces broadband noise of large amplitude, which masks useful signals. It is shown that the spectral decomposition used in the SSP is equivalent to the time-frequency Gabor decomposition. A generalized SSP based on a wavelet decomposition, in which the received signal is decomposed over a basis of elementary wavelets translated in frequency and dilated in time, and followed as in the conventional SSP by an optimization algorithm is introduced. The flexibility in the choice of the wavelet basis allows implementation of efficient signal decomposition. Three wavelet bases are presented: Gaussian-shaped wavelets, binary wavelets, and autoregressive wavelets. Applications of the SSP with wavelet decomposition to noise reduction and deconvolution are illustrated with experimental and simulated data. >
Molecular Phenotype, Multigene Assays, and the Locoregional Management of Breast Cancer

Molecular profiling has revealed that breast cancer is not a single disease entity, but rather a class of heterogeneous subtypes, each with its own inherent biology and natural history. As a result, different treatment approaches have been optimized for the various subtypes and, in turn, the ability to identify subtypes has become a critical element in the management of breast cancer. Comprehensive transcriptional profiling studies have revealed at least 4 principal subtypes that, in practice, are often distinguished by immunohistochemical staining of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2, along with a determination of histologic grade or Ki-67 staining: luminal A (ER+/HER2-/grade 1 or 2), luminal B (ER+/HER2-/grade 3), HER2 enriched (any HER2+ tumor), and basal like (ER-/PR-/HER2-). Although these immunohistochemically derived subtypes show robust prognostic and predictive ability, there remain many cases that demand profiling that more closely approximates the original transcriptionally derived definitions of the intrinsic subtypes. The need for improved prognostication and risk stratification has led to the development of several multigene assays in breast cancer. Although there is little molecular overlap between current assays, they all rely heavily on quantifying the transcriptional output of ER signaling and proliferation-related genes. These data are typically then used in multivariate prediction models that incorporate other canonical risk factors such as the tumor size, lymph node involvement, and patient demographic parameters, among others. Indeed, the advent of scalable molecular profiling technologies has brought a number of assays into routine clinical use for optimizing risk prediction and treatment assignment. The landscape of these assays and the clinical utility of contemporary molecular profiles are the main focus of this overview. In addition to the clinical advances in transcriptional subtyping, recent reports have characterized the most common genomic and epigenomic alterations that are likely to drive certain breast cancers. The identification of these "driver" lesions has heralded an era of precision medicine in which vulnerable oncogenic pathways may be targeted to disrupt the etiologic lesion(s) of a specific tumor. A number of such early targeted approaches have yielded success in treating breast cancer, demonstrating the critical need for molecular diagnostics in this disease.
Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress

Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress. Lawrence E. Harrison and Samuel P. Huntington. eds. New York: Basic, 2000. 348 pp.