cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical, therapeutic, and recreational use of cannabis among young men who have sex with men living with HIV

Cannabis plays a role in symptoms management in HIV, especially the alleviation of pain and nausea and stimulation of appetite, and prevalence of cannabis use in HIV-positive populations exceeds that of the general U.S. population. Previous research has described an "overlap" between medical and recreational cannabis use among persons living with HIV. To understand better the motives associated cannabis use among young men who have sex with men living with HIV (HIV+ YMSM), we conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 HIV+YMSM in Denver and Chicago. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded by a diverse team of analysts. In addition to findings that mapped onto previously identified medical motives and recreational motives, we identified several themes that straddled medical and recreational use in a domain we describe as therapeutic. Themes identified in this therapeutic domain of cannabis use include (a) enhanced introspection among individuals that promotes psychological adjustment to an HIV diagnosis, improved medical management, and future orientation; (b) reflection processes that mitigate interpersonal conflict and improve interpersonal communication; and (c) a social-therapeutic phenomena of cannabis use among young persons with living HIV that is characterized by both enhanced introspection and improved interpersonal communication. Our findings suggest a spectrum of cannabis use among HIV+ YMSM that may be characterized not only by an overlap between medical and recreational use, but also by a distinct therapeutic domain that incorporates stress alleviation and cognitive expansion processes to improve focus on HIV management and self-care.
Recognising Bias in Studies of Diagnostic Tests Part 1: Patient Selection

In this two-part series on sources of bias in studies of diagnostic test performance, we outline common errors and optimal conditions during three study phases: patient selection, interpretation of the index test and disease verification by a gold standard. Here in part 1, biases associated with suboptimal participant selection are discussed through the lens of partial verification bias and spectrum bias, both of which increase the proportion of participants who are the 'sickest of the sick' or the 'wellest of the well.' Especially through retrospective methodology, partial verification introduces bias by including patients who are test positive by a gold standard, since patients with a positive index test are more likely to go on to further gold standard testing. Spectrum bias is frequently introduced through case-control design, dropping of indeterminate results or convenience sampling. After reading part 1, the informed clinician should be better able to judge the quality of a diagnostic test study, its inherent limitations and whether its results could be generalisable to their practice. Part 2 will describe how interpretation of the index test and disease verification by a gold standard can contribute to diagnostic test bias.
The Multidimensional Organization of Interorgan Communication Networks

Secreted molecules coordinate organ function. In a recent issue of Cell, Hudry et al. (2019) uncover a Drosophila testis-midgut interaction via cytokine and citrate signaling that regulates intestinal metabolism, spermatogenesis, and food intake. This impressive study is a striking example of the role of spatial organization in sex-specific interorgan communication.
Amino acid exchangeabilities vary across the tree of life

Different amino acid pairs have drastically different relative exchangeabilities (REs), and accounting for this variation is an important and common practice in inferring phylogenies, testing selection, and predicting mutational effects, among other analyses. In all such endeavors, REs have been generally considered invariant among species; this assumption, however, has not been scrutinized. Using maximum likelihood to analyze 180 genome sequences, we estimated REs from 90 clades representing all three domains of life, and found numerous instances of substantial between-clade differences in REs. REs show more differences between orthologous proteins of different clades than unrelated proteins of the same clade, suggesting that REs are genome-wide, clade-specific features, probably a result of proteome-wide evolutionary changes in the physicochemical environments of amino acid residues. The discovery of among-clade RE variations cautions against assuming constant REs in various analyses and demonstrates a higher-than-expected complexity in mechanisms of proteome evolution.
Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Intraoperative Enteral Nutrition in Critically Ill Burn Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Major burn injuries incite a hypermetabolic response, and the initiation of early enteral nutrition is the standard of care in patients with large burns and contributes to improved outcomes. Perioperative fasting is a common cause of caloric deficits in burn patients and can be obviated with intraoperative enteral nutrition. However, the risks and benefits of this practice are unknown, and there is a concern for aspiration. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intraoperative enteral nutrition. We performed a systematic literature search using PubMed, Scopus, and OvidSP MEDLINE databases. We identified studies that evaluated the effects of intraoperative enteral nutrition in adult burn patients compared to those undergoing routine perioperative fasting. We performed a meta-analysis on the incidence of mortality, pneumonia, wound infections, and aspiration in burn patients receiving intraoperative enteral nutrition. We identified seven articles for qualitative review and four for quantitative review (N = 83 patients). There were no statistically significant increases in the risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49, 3.31), wound infections (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.16, 3.24), pneumonia (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 0.7, 6.1), and aspiration (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.07, 18.75) in patients receiving intraoperative enteral nutrition. Within individual studies, intraoperative enteral nutrition patients received significantly more calories than standard fasting patients. Intraoperative enteral nutrition may increase nutritional intake in burn patients without an increase in complications; however, this is based on limited studies. Randomized controlled trials are needed before recommendations on intraoperative enteral nutrition practice can be made.
Sociodemographic differences in single, dual, and poly tobacco use among Appalachian youth.

INTRODUCTION Patterns of youth tobacco use, including use of multiple products, have likely shifted as e-cigarettes have grown in popularity. However, there is limited understanding of dual and poly tobacco use and the associated disparities, especially among Appalachian youth. METHODS We analyzed Youth Appalachian Tobacco Study data (n=1116) to estimate prevalence of current (past-30 day) cigarette, e-cigarette, and smokeless tobacco use by gender, race/ethnicity, age, school type, state, smartphone use, and number of household tobacco users. We created a pattern of tobacco use variable (i.e. never, former, single, dual, poly) based on all possible combinations of the included products. Using multivariable multinomial logistic regression (outcome reference: never use), we evaluated associations between sociodemographic characteristics and patterns of tobacco use. RESULTS Former (16.2%) was the most common tobacco use group, followed by single (10.8%), dual (4.5%), and poly (2.4%) use. Dual and poly use were more prevalent among males, Whites/Caucasians, older participants, and participants living in households with tobacco users. Kentucky residents (vs New York) had higher odds of dual use (OR=5.15; 95% CI: 1.72-15.44), and youth who used smartphones for ≥20hours/week (vs <20 hours/week) had greater odds of poly use (OR=3.02; 95% CI: 1.34-6.80). CONCLUSIONS Differences in single, dual, and poly tobacco use were evidenced by sociodemographic characteristics. Additional inquiry should further examine these disparities so that tobacco prevention interventions can be appropriately tailored.
Three-dimensional evaluation of the mandibular symphyseal region in block graft harvesting for dental implants using cone-beam computed tomography

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the quantity and quality of the mandibular anterior alveolar bone in terms of alveolar width, density, and total alveolar height (TAH) based on dental status, gender, and age. Additionally, this study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the available alveolar height for graft harvesting (AHGH) and examine its variability based on the aforementioned factors. Materials and Methods This retrospective cone-beam computed tomographic study included a total of 100 subjects. On the basis of gender, dental status, and age, the scans were divided into 3 primary groups and 8 subgroups. The mandibular alveolar width and density were measured 5 mm mesial to the mental foramen bilaterally and at the midline. The TAH was measured at the midline, and the AHGH was measured as the midline distance between 5 mm apical to the root of the canines and 5 mm superior to the lower border. Results The mandibular alveolar width was statistically similar between dentulous and edentulous patients (P>0.05). A significantly greater density was observed at the midline in edentulous patients (P<0.05). The TAH was significantly greater in edentulous male patients than in edentulous female patients (P<0.05). Dentulous and male patients had significantly greater AHGH than edentulous and female patients, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion Based on the data evaluated in this study, it can be concluded that the mandibular symphyseal area has adequate bone quality and quantity for bone graft harvesting for dental implant therapy.
Feeling Hearing Seeing: Heidegger, Nietzsche, and Affect

The purpose of this short text is to query whether Heidegger’s attempted harmonizing of Nietzsche’s putatively discordant analysis of will to power as “the original affect” might provide insight into the critical potential and entrenched shortcomings of the contemporary “turn to affect.”
Proofs and Experiments in Scalable, Near-Optimal Search by Multiple Robots

In this paper, we examine the problem of locating a non-adversarial target using multiple robotic searchers. This problem is relevant to many applications in robotics including emergency response and aerial surveillance. Assuming a known environment, this problem becomes one of choosing searcher paths that are most likely to intersect with the path taken by the target. We refer to this as the Multi-robot Efficient Search Path Planning (MESPP) problem. Such path planning problems are NP-hard, and optimal solutions typically scale exponentially in the number of searchers. We present a finite-horizon path enumeration algorithm for solving the MESPP problem that utilizes sequential allocation to achieve linear scalability in the number of searchers. We show that solving the MESPP problem requires the maximization of a nondecreasing, submodular objective function, which directly leads to theoretical guarantees on paths generated by sequential allocation. We also demonstrate how our algorithm can run online to incorporate noisy measurements of the target's position during search. We verify the performance of our algorithm both in simulation and in experiments with a novel radio sensor capable of providing range through walls. Our results show that our linearly scalable MESPP algorithm generates searcher paths competitive with those generated by exponential algorithms.
Verifying Nondeterministic Implementations of Deterministic Systems

Some modern systems with a simple deterministic high-level specification have implementations that exhibit highly nondeterministic behavior. Such systems maintain a simple operation semantics at the high-level. However their underlying implementations exploit parallelism to enhance performance leading to interaction among operations and contention for resources. The deviation from the sequential execution model not only leads to nondeterminism in the implementation but creates the potential for serious design errors. This paper presents a methodology for formal verification of such systems. An abstract specification describes the high-level behavior as a set of operations. A mapping relates the sequential semantics of these operations to the underlying nondeterminism in the implementation. Symbolic Trajectory Evaluation, a modified form of symbolic simulation, is used to perform the actual verification. The methodology is currently being used to verify portions of a superscalar processor which implements the PowerPC architecture. Our initial work on the fixed point unit indicates that this is a promising approach for verification of processors.
Lord of the Flies (1963): The Development of Rules Within an Adolescent Culture

This essay, included in the book SCREENING JUSTICE--THE CINEMA OF LAW: Significant Films of Law, Order and Social Justice (Rennard Strickland, Teree E. Foster & Tauyna Lovell Banks, eds., William S. Hein & Co. 2006), discusses the development of the law in Goldman's Lord of the Flies and raises the question of whether an island populated by a mix of boys and girls - or an island populated by only girls - would have developed a different law.
New OVRO Results Show Disks are not Necessary for Focussing Bipolar Outflows

In order to better understand the outflow phenomenon in young, high mass stars, the three sources S87, LkH α 101, and S106 were chosen for closer study. High spatial resolution (5” millimeter line 13 CO (J=1→0) and CS (J=2→1) maps of these sources were obtained with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory’s (OVRO) millimeter array at 0.15 and 3.0 km s -1 resolutions, respectively.
Manhattan rule training for memristive crossbar circuit pattern classifiers

We investigated batch and stochastic Manhattan Rule algorithms for training multilayer perceptron classifiers implemented with memristive crossbar circuits. In Manhattan Rule training, the weights are updated only using sign information of classical backpropagation algorithm. The main advantage of Manhattan Rule is its simplicity, which leads to more compact hardware implementation and faster training time. Additionally, in case of stochastic training, Manhattan Rule allows performing all weight updates in parallel, which further speeds up the training procedure. The tradeoff for simplicity is slightly worse classification performance. For example, simulation results showed that classification fidelity on Proben1 benchmark for memristor-based implementation trained with batch Manhattan Rule were comparable to that of classical backpropagation algorithm, and about 2.8 percent worse than the best reported results.
Overwhelming Watery Diarrhea Associated with a Cryptosporidium in an Immunosuppressed Patient

A 39-year-old man with severe bullous pemphigoid developed overwhelming diarrheaafter 5 weeks' treatment with 150 mg of cyclophosphamide and 60 mg of prednisolone daily. Jejunal and ileal biopsies showed severe mucosal injury and tiny 2- to 4-μ organisms on the epithelial surfaces. Similar organisms were seen in smears of jejunal fluid. Electron microscopic examination of jejunal biopsies showed these spherical bodies to be trophozoites, schizonts, microgametocytes, and macrogametocytes typical of the genus Cryptosporidium. Diarrhea resolved 2 weeks after discontinuation of cyclophosphamide and coincided with disappearance of Cryptosporidia from the jejunal biopsies. Immunosuppression may have predisposed this patient to cryptosporidial diarrhea. Cryptosporidiosis is another infection which can be diagnosed by small bowel biopsy. When immunosuppressed patients develop severe diarrhea, opportunistic infection with this and other organisms should be considered as the possible cause.
Pathway for Biodegradation of p-Nitrophenol in a Moraxella sp

A Moraxella strain grew on p-nitrophenol with stoichiometric release of nitrite. During induction of the enzymes for growth on p-nitrophenol, traces of hydroquinone accumulated in the medium. In the presence of 2,2′-dipyridyl, p-nitrophenol was converted stoichiometrically to hydroquinone. Particulate enzymes catalyzed the conversion of p-nitrophenol to hydroquinone in the presence of NADPH and oxygen. Soluble enzymes catalyzed the conversion of hydroquinone to γ-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde, which was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mass spectroscopy. Upon addition of catalytic amounts of NAD+, γ-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde was converted to β-ketoadipic acid. In the presence of pyruvate and lactic dehydrogenase, substrate amounts of NAD were required and γ-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde was converted to maleylacetic acid, which was identified by HPLC-mass spectroscopy. Similar results were obtained when the reaction was carried out in the presence of potassium ferricyanide. Extracts prepared from p-nitrophenol-growth cells also contained an enzyme that catalyzed the oxidation of 1,2,4-benzenetriol to maleylacetic acid. The enzyme responsible for the oxidation of 1,2,4-benzenetriol was separated from the enzyme responsible for hydroquinone oxidation by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The results indicate that the pathway for biodegradation of p-nitrophenol involves the initial removal of the nitro group as nitrite and formation of hydroquinone. 1,4-Benzoquinone, a likely intermediate in the initial reaction, was not detected. Hydroquinone is converted to β-ketoadipic acid via γ-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde and maleylacetic acid.
Photochemical alkylation of inorganic arsenic Part 2. Identification of aqueous phase organoarsenic species using multidimensional liquid chromatography and electrospray mass spectrometry

The alkylation of arsenic via a new photochemical pathway was investigated. Photochemical alkylation was achieved by irradiating a solution of 5 mg l−1 As(III) containing 1.4 M (20% v/v) acetic acid with UV light. Water-soluble arsenic species formed during the alkylation process were separated using multidimensional LC (anion- and cation-exchange chromatography) and isolated for off-line identification by electrospray mass spectrometry (ES-MS) or on-line reverse phase LC-MS. The molecular ions of potential organoarsenic species were subjected to collision induced dissociation and identification was based on structural information obtained from fragments or by comparison of fragmentation spectra of known species. Mass Frontier software was employed to help elucidate the structures of unknown compounds. Thirteen organoarsenic species were identified, six of which are previously unreported organoarsenic species.
Properties of metastable alkaline-earth-metal atoms calculated using an accurate effective core potential

The first three electronically excited states in the alkaline-earth-metal atoms magnesium, calcium, and strontium comprise the $(nsnp)^{3}P_{J}^{o}(J=0,1,2)$ fine-structure manifold. All three states are metastable and are of interest for optical atomic clocks as well as for cold-collision physics. An efficient technique---based on a physically motivated potential that models the presence of the ionic core---is employed to solve the Schr\"odinger equation for the two-electron valence shell. In this way, radiative lifetimes, laser-induced clock shifts, and long-range interaction parameters are calculated for metastable Mg, Ca, and Sr.
Dietary carbohydrate restriction improves insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, microvascular function, and cellular adhesion markers in individuals taking statins.

Statins positively impact plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, inflammation and vascular endothelial function (VEF). Carbohydrate restricted diets (CRD) improve atherogenic dyslipidemia, and similar to statins, have been shown to favorably affect markers of inflammation and VEF. No studies have examined whether a CRD provides additional benefit beyond that achieved by habitual statin use. We hypothesized that a CRD (<50 g carbohydrate/d) for 6 weeks would improve lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure, decrease cellular adhesion and inflammatory biomarkers, and augment VEF (flow-mediated dilation and forearm blood flow) in statin users. Participants (n = 21; 59.3 ± 9.3 y, 29.5 ± 3.0 kg/m2) decreased total caloric intake by approximately 415 kcal at 6 weeks (P < .001). Daily nutrient intakes at baseline (46/36/17% carb/fat/pro) and averaged across the intervention (11/58/28% carb/fat/pro) demonstrated dietary compliance, with carbohydrate intake at baseline nearly 5-fold greater than during the intervention (P < .001). Compared to baseline, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased after 3 and 6 weeks (P < .01). Peak forearm blood flow, but not flow-mediated dilation, increased at week 6 compared to baseline and week 3 (P ≤ .03). Serum triglyceride, insulin, soluble E-Selectin and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 decreased (P < .01) from baseline at week 3, and this effect was maintained at week 6. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that individuals undergoing statin therapy experience additional improvements in metabolic and vascular health from a 6 weeks CRD as evidenced by increased insulin sensitivity and resistance vessel endothelial function, and decreased blood pressure, triglycerides, and adhesion molecules.
The geometry of gauge - particle field interaction: a generalization of Utiyama's theorem

The paper classifies the locally gauge invariant Lagrangians on the jet bundle J1 (E Θ C), for interacting particle and gauge fields. This serves to clarify the global nature of the Utiyama extension process (Yang-Mills trick) for arbitrary principal bundles P and gives the classical (local) results when P is trivial: P = M × G. The emphasis of the paper is a formulation of the results in terms of geometric objects on associated bundles over M rather than on bundles over P.
Service Awareness and Use Among Older North Carolinians

This article explores the effects of demographic, need, and access characteristics hypothesized to predict the use of services among 868 noninstitutionalized older adults. The results of a principal components analysis of the self-reported use of an array of services are used to classify services as either senior center or community based. Findings indicate that physically active Black respondents, although they suffer limitations from chronic conditions, are more likely than Whites to use senior center services. With community-based services, however, the propensity for Black elders to use services more than do Whites is accounted for by indicators of the need for and access to services. The conclusions suggest that the dynamics of service use vary depending upon the type of service, and that older adults use services when there is a need, regardless of access barriers. There is no suggestion that the more able elderly use services disproportionately.
Sustainable Playing Fields: 8 Steps to an Easy Field Facelift

Abstract According to the National Safe Kids Coalition, 30 million young people play organized sports in the United States annually. One million of them are treated annually in an emergency room and 50% of those treated injuries are preventable. As more people are encouraged to be active in their daily lives to combat health issues and obesity, an increased demand on recreational and sport facilities and playing surfaces will increase the degradation of the playing surfaces and thereby increase the risk of sports related injuries. Continual maintenance and upkeep of playing surfaces can be become a sinkhole for budgeted dollars if a facility use plan and a maintenance plan are not in place for dealing with the increase in play on athletic fields and parks. So why do the statistics of athletic injury matter? As we manage sports fields, our jobs are to reduce the number of injuries on our playing surfaces. We need to make our fields as safe as we can. There are a number of agronomic practices that many time...
Ionic exchange and statistical thermodynamics. II. Equilibria in irregular systems

Abstract 1. 1. Two types of irregular models for ionic-exchange systems are described. 2. 2. Whenever the internal partition function for any ionic species is markedly affected by strong bond forces, we may expect “irregular” behavior for any exchange involving this species. 3. 3. A mixture of two “regular” systems, with different invariant values of the equilibrium exchange constant k, will display a variable value of k for the mixed system.
SUBACUTE EFFECTS OF VAPORS OF NITRO-OLEFINS UPON EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS.

Abstract Rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits were exposed repeatedly six hours per day, five days per week for one to three months to the vapors of either 2-nitro-2-butene, 3-nitro-3-hexene, 2-nitro-2-nonene, or 4-nitro-4-nonene. Concentrations of 10 and 20 ppm and relative humidities of approximately 50% and 90% were used. Each material elicited signs typical of a potent irritant of the lower respiratory tract. The effects were more severe at the lower humidity. The hematologic changes are considered to be consistent with secondary polycythemia resulting from changes in the pulmonary epithelium. Central nervous system stimulation was observed only in rabbits exposed to 2-nitro-2-butene and deserves further study.
Hidden 12-dimensional structures in AdS 5 × S 5 and M 4 × R 6 supergravities

It is shown that ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{S}}^{5}$ supergravity has hitherto unnoticed supersymmetric properties that are related to a hidden 12-dimensional structure. The totality of the ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{S}}^{5}$ supergravity Kaluza-Klein towers is given by a single superfield that describes the quantum states of a 12-dimensional supersymmetric particle. The particle has super phase space ${(X}^{M}{,P}^{M},\ensuremath{\Theta}),$ with a $(10,2)$ signature and 32 fermions. The worldline action is constructed as a generalization of the supersymmetric particle action in two-time physics. $\mathrm{SU}(2,2|4)$ is a linearly realized global supersymmetry of the 2T action. The action is invariant under the gauge symmetries Sp $(2,R),$ $\mathrm{SO}(4,2),$ $\mathrm{SO}(6),$ and fermionic kappa. These gauge symmetries ensure unitarity and causality while allowing the reduction of the 12-dimensional super phase space to the correct super phase space for ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{S}}^{5}$ or ${M}^{4}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{R}^{6}$ with 16 fermions and one time, or other dually related one time spaces. One of the predictions of this formulation is that all of the SU$(2,2|4)$ representations that describe Kaluza-Klein towers in ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{S}}^{5}$ or ${M}^{4}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{R}^{6}$ supergravity universally have vanishing eigenvalues for all the Casimir operators. This prediction has been partially verified directly in ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{S}}^{5}$ supergravity. This suggests that the supergravity spectrum supports a hidden $(10,2)$ structure. A possible duality between ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathrm{S}}^{5}$ and ${M}^{4}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{R}^{6}$ supergravities is also indicated. Generalizations of the approach applicable 10-dimensional super Yang-Mills theory and 11-dimensional M theory are briefly discussed.
Resonance Raman De-enhancement Caused by Excited State Mixed Valence

Resonance Raman and absorption spectra of 9,10-bis(2-tert-butyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)-anthracene (2) are measured and analyzed. The contribution of the individual vibrational normal modes to the reorganization energy is investigated. Excited-state mixed valence in this system is analyzed using density functional theory electronic structure calculations. The resonance Raman excitation profiles exhibit a resonance de-enhancement effect around 20 725 cm -1 , but a corresponding feature is not observed in the absorption spectrum. This unusual observation is attributed to the presence of a dipole-forbidden, vibronically allowed component of the split mixed valence excited state. The de-enhancement dip is calculated quantitatively and explained in terms of the real and imaginary components of the polarizabilities of the two overlapping excited states.
Single-Pass Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for the Prediction of Protein Secondary Structure

Principal component regression (PCR) was applied to a spectral library of proteins in H2O solution acquired by single-pass attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. PCR was used to predict the secondary structure content, principally α-helical and the β-sheet content, of proteins within a spectral library. Quantitation of protein secondary structure content was performed as a proof of principle that use of single-pass ATR-FT-IR is an appropriate method for protein secondary structure analysis. The ATR-FT-IR method permits acquisition of the entire spectral range from 700 to 3900 cm-1 without significant interference from water bands. An “inside model space” bootstrap and a genetic algorithm (GA) were used to improve prediction results. Specifically, the bootstrap was utilized to increase the number of replicates for adequate training and validation of the PCR model. The GA was used to optimize PCR parameters, particularly wavenumber selection. The use of the boots...
Modeling of the all-gas-phase iodine laser (AGIL)

This work revisits the finite-rate chemistry mechanism for AGIL in light of recent rate measurements for kinetic processes. The effect of temperature dependence of kinetic processes measured only at room temperature conditions is explored by assuming a square-root dependence upon temperature in line with kinetic theory. A sensitivity study is performed to elucidate the relative impact of each chemical kinetic process modeled with respect to the larger set of modeled chemical kinetic processes. And reactant mixing is examined, with documentation of the effects of the reactant mixing predictions upon recent multi-watt power extraction experiments.
Absorbed energy distribution from radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation in a mammalian cell model: effect of membrane-bound water.

The spatial distributions of induced 27 or 2450 MHz radiofrequency (RF) electric fields (E-fields) and specific absorption rates (SARs) in a three-component spherical cell model (cytoplasm, membrane, extracellular space) were determined by Mie scattering theory. The results were compared to results for the same cell model but with 0.5 nm thick of bound water on the inner (cytoplasmic) and outer (extracellular) membrane surfaces (i.e., five-component cell model). The results provide insight regarding direct frequency-dependent RF radiation effects at the cellular level. Induced E-fields and SARs were calculated for two bound-water characteristic frequencies (400 or 1000 MHz) and ionic conductivities (1-1000 mS/m). In order to estimate the dependence of the results on bound water within the membrane per se, the model was revised to include bound water within the inner and outer membrane surfaces. The results were as follows: 1) on the x-axis, the y- and z-components of the induced E-field were of insignificant magnitude compared to the x-component for an incident E-field parallel to the x-axis; 2) the ratio of transmembrane E-fields induced by 2450 MHz vs. 27 MHz RF [i.e., Ex (2450 MHz)/Ex (27 MHz)] was 0.1; 3) for the three-component cell model, the corresponding SAR ratios [SAR (2450 MHz)/SAR (27MHz)] in the cytoplasm and extracellular space were 1.66 and 5.0, respectively; 4) the SAR rations [SAR (2450 MHz)/SAR (27 MHz)] for the cytoplasm and extracellular space for the five-component cell model were 1.66 and 5.0, respectively; 5) the ratio of the E-fields induced in the cytoplasmic and extracellular layers of bound water in the five-component cell model [E (2450 MHz)/ E (27Mhz)] were 0.62 and 0.63, respectively; 6) the SAR ratios [SAR (2450 MHz)/SAR (27 MHz)] for the cytoplasmic and extracellular bound-water layers were 66 and 65.3, respectively; and 7) variation of bound-water characteristic frequency, ionic conductivity, or bound-water incorporation inside the membrane surfaces, per se, did not significantly affect the E-field or SAR ratios. These results indicate that frequency-dependent nonuniformities may occur in the distribution of induced RF E-fields and SARs at the cellular level.
Settler wars and the national security state

These roundtable comments explore the relevance of settler conflicts on the frontier with Native Americans for the contemporary national security state. I argue that we tend to think of frontier wars between settlers and natives as episodes in a distant historical past that say very little about the present. But in actuality, it was precisely through these conflicts that American settlers developed key legal and political scripts – influential even today – about what constitutes war, which political communities can claim full sovereignty, and who enjoys meaningful wartime protections. I develop these thoughts through a reading of John Marshall's 1823 decision in Johnson v. M'Intosh and a discussion of its continued legacy.
Foundations of basic geometry

The basic notions of length, area and volume were not alien to the prehistoric civilizations. The pyramids, palaces and great baths built more than 4000 years ago provide ample evidence. We begin our investigation of geometry with a discussion of areas of simple geometric objects.
An Embedded Systems Laboratory to Support Rapid Prototyping of Robotics and the Internet of Things

This paper describes a new approach for a course and laboratory designed to allow students to develop low-cost prototypes of robotic and other embedded devices that feature Internet connectivity, I/O, networking, a real-time operating system (RTOS), and object-oriented C/C++. The application programming interface (API) libraries provided permit students to work at a higher level of abstraction. A low-cost 32-bit SOC RISC microcontroller module with flash memory, numerous I/O interfaces, and on-chip networking hardware is used to build prototypes. A cloud-based C/C++ compiler is used for software development. All student files are stored on a server, and any Web browser can be used for software development. Breadboards are used in laboratory projects to rapidly build prototypes of robots and embedded devices using the microcontroller, networking, and other I/O subsystems on small breakout boards. The commercial breakout boards used provide a large assortment of modern sensors, drivers, display ICs, and external I/O connectors. Resources provided include eBooks, laboratory assignments, and extensive Wiki pages with schematics and sample microcontroller application code for each breakout board.
Modular HTR confinement/containment and the protection against aircraft crash

Does an HTR need a containment – pressure resistant – or is it possible – licensable – to have only a so-called confinement. The answer depends on both the results of the safety analysis of the accidents considered in the design and the acceptance by the licensing authorities and the public of a safety approach only based on severe core damage exclusion. The safety approach to be developed for modular HTRs must describe the application of the defence in depth principle for such reactors. Whatever the requirements on the last confinement barrier could be, a convincing demonstration of the exclusion of any severe core damage is needed, relying on exhaustive and bounding considerations of severe core damage initiators and the use of non-questionable arguments. The paper presents the containment issues for HTRs based on German experience background and considerations for modern modular HTR safety approach including beyond design situations. • For the German HTRs (designed in the 80s), it could be shown in the licensing procedures in Germany that there was no need for a pressure retaining and gas tight containment to enclose radioactive nuclides released from the nuclear heat source. Instead, the confinement envelope acted in conjunction with other barriers to minimize the release of radioactive nuclides and the radiological impact on the environment. • The confinement envelope consisted of the reactor building, a sub-atmospheric pressure system, a building pressure relief system, an HVAC systems isolation and a filtration system. • During a major depressurization accident, unfiltered releases were discharged to the environment. The analyses results show that the environmental impact was far below the dose limits according to the German Radiological Protection Ordinance, even when the effect of filters was not taken into account. • The demonstration strongly relied on the assumptions made for the source term definition, e.g. the fuel particles failure rates (under irradiation and during accidental conditions), the diffusion data, the dust data and the deposition/lift-off mechanisms. • For modern modular HTRs, the last confinement barrier performances will have to be determined in accordance with the set of accidents to be considered in the design including internal and external hazards and the limits targeted for the public and the environment protection. Further more the paper presents an analysis of effects of a deliberate crash of a large commercial airliner on a former German HTR design.
the death penalty: An American history

Stuart Banner's thoughtful book, The Death Penalty: An American History (2002), serves as the basis of this review essay which explores the forces shaping the nation's experiences with capital punishment. The essay traces Banner's account of important death penalty developments throughout American history and examines justifications traditionally offered in support of capital punishment, issues of administration, and execution protocols. It concludes by projecting that, consistent with historical trends and nagged by serious and recurring administrative problems, the death penalty in America will in due course become a thing of the past.
The influence of temperature acclimation upon the metabolic rate of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus: Alternate interpretations

Abstract 1. 1. The purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, was acclimated at 9 and 18°C for 30 days. 2. 2. Following acclimation, metabolic rate-temperature relationships were determined. The effect of acclimation varies, dependent upon the metabolic rate expression used. 3. 3. Advantages of dry weight-standardized oxygen consumption rates are discussed.
Exporting status and firm performance: Evidence from a matched sample

Abstract This paper uses propensity score matching (PSM) techniques and difference-in-difference (DID) estimators to determine whether self-selection or learning-by-exporting is the more plausible explanation for the link between exporting status and plant performance in Turkish manufacturing plants. Our results suggest that learning-by-exporting may be the reason for the positive correlation between exporting status and firm performance in Turkey.
Mechanism of the ultraviolet laser ablation of polymethyl methacrylate at 193 and 248 nm: laser-induced fluorescence analysis, chemical analysis, and doping studies

The formation of C2 in the ablation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) by 193- and 248-nm laser pulses was studied by laser-induced fluorescence. The formation of C2 is observable at a fluence at 248 nm that is well below the fluence threshold where significant etching takes place. The opposite is true at 193 nm. The velocity distribution of the diatomic form was also measured and found to approach but not exactly fit a Maxwell–Boltzmann equation. Average translational energies as high as 6 eV were recorded even at the fluence threshold for this product. The other products of the laser ablation of PMMA at 193 or 248 nm are methyl methacrylate (MMA) and a solid that is a low-molecular-weight fraction of PMMA. Although the products are the same at both wavelengths, the mix is quite different. At 193 nm, 18% of the ablated polymer is MMA, whereas at 248 nm less than 1% of the polymer appeared as MMA. A semilog plot of the mass of material removed versus the fluence shows three distinct regions. The central portion at each wavelength (80–300 mJ/cm2 at 193 nm; 600–2000 mJ/cm2 at 248 nm), which corresponds to rapid etching, is identified as ablative photodecomposition. At lower fluences, the etching efficiency falls off rapidly, indicating that there is a threshold fluence. At fluences above the range for ablative photodecomposition, the etching levels off, probably because of the secondary absorption of the incoming photons by the products. The mass of material ablated per joule of energy absorbed in the ablated volume was remarkably similar at both wavelengths. It is suggested that ablative photodecomposition involves both a one-photon process that produces MMA and low-molecular-weight polymeric fragments and a many-photon process that gives rise to products such as C2 with high translational energy. In order to establish the role of the many-photon process, samples of PMMA doped with acridine were exposed to laser pulses. The presence of as little as 2% of acridine lowers the threshold for significant etching at 248 nm from 400 to 90 mJ/cm2. The absorption characteristics of the doped polymer at this wavelength show that the acridine molecules absorb >10 photons each, whereas the absorption of the polymer changes little. The drop in the threshold energy for etching should therefore be attributed to the many-photon decomposition of the acridine and the consequent ablation of the polymer as a whole.
The susceptibility of prosthetic biomaterials to infection

Despite the use of a sterile technique and the administration of prophylactic antibiotics during surgical procedures, mesh infection continues to complicate the use of biomaterials. The purpose of this study was to compare the susceptibility to infection of prosthetic biomaterials in a live-animal model. The following seven prosthetic mesh biomaterials were used in this study. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) with silver/chlorhexidine (DM+), ePTFE (DM), porcine intestinal submucosa (S), polypropylene (M), ePTFE/polypropylene (X), hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose/polypropylene (SM), and human acellular dermal matrix (A). Lewis rats (n = 108) underwent creation of a single ventral hernia; 105 of them were repaired with a different mesh (2-cm2 piece). Twelve pieces of each mesh were inoculated at the time of hernia repair with 108 Staphylococcus aureus (n = 84). Three pieces of each mesh were placed without bacterial inoculation (n = 21). In three animals, no mesh was placed; instead, the peritoneum of the hernia defect was inoculated (n = 3). After 5 days, the animals were killed and the mesh was explanted (peritoneum for the nonmesh control). The mesh was vortex-washed and incubated in tryptic soy broth. Bacterial counts were determined using serial dilutions and spot plates and quantified in colony-forming units (CFU) per square centimeter of mesh present in the vortex wash fluid (wash count) and the soy broth (broth count). Data are presented as the mean log10, with analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test used to determine significance (p < 0.05). The DM+ material had no detectable live bacteria in the wash or broth counts in 10 of 12 tested samples (p = 0.05). Of the samples that showed bacterial growth, the peritoneum control group had a lower wash count than A (p = 0.05) and the lowest broth count of all the materials except for DM+ (p = 0.05). In addition, SM had a significantly lower wash count than A (p = 0.05), with no broth count difference. In regard to wash and broth counts, DM, M, X, SM, S, and A were no different (p = NS). The DM+ material was the least susceptible to infection. Impregnation with silver/chlorhexidine killed the inoculated bacteria, preventing their proliferation on the mesh surface. Other than DM+, native peritoneal tissue appears to be the least susceptible to infection. Silver/chlorhexidine appears to be an effective bactericidal agent for use with mesh biomaterials.
Laparoscopic suturing technique for enteral access procedures

We have developed a technique to precisely place transabdominal-wall sutures to anchor the desired viscera to the abdominal wall during laparoscopic enteral-feeding access procedures. The use of an intravenous catheter and wire snare to achieve this is described.
Reverse guanine phosphoribosyltransferase selection of recombinant vaccinia viruses

We have developed a procedure for the selection of recombinant vaccinia viruses with applicability to poxvirus mutagenesis studies and to the use of vaccinia virus as an expression vector. The method depends on the specific inability of a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the Escherichia coli guanine phosphoriboxyltransferase gene (gpt) to form plaques on a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase-negative line of mouse fibroblasts in the presence of 6-thioguanine. Recombinant viruses that have the gpt removed can form plaques under selection conditions, thus providing a simple and efficient selection protocol. We have demonstrated the method by isolating a pseudo-wild type revertant virus and a simple deletion mutant virus from a recombinant vaccinia virus with gpt inserted into the vaccinia virus gene encoding the major 35,000-Da secretory protein.
Recent Developments in the Design of Factorial Experiments

Abstract Since 1965 almost all of the contributions to the design and analysis of factorial experiments have involved fractional factorial plans. These contributions may be categorized by three main classes of plans which are: (a) fractions of asymmetrical factorial arrangements, (b) irregular fraction plans and (c) sequences of fractional factorial plans. In this article the development of the design of factorial experiments since 1965 will be outlined. Some of the plans described have not as yet appeared in the statistical literature.
Women, islam, and the state in Pakistan

In this paper, I outline the history of Pakistan’s experience with “Islamic” laws and their impact on women. I also trace the links between the state, nationalism, religion, and women’s organizations, and demonstrate how they have shaped women's lives in Pakistan. I focus mainly on General Zia ul-Haq’s influence in fostering and reinforcing certain detrimental ideologies and policies regarding women. I argue that a close examination of the state, nationalism, the search for cultural authenticity in post-colonial nations, and the struggles and dilemmas of women's activism in Muslim cultures are all central to advancing the discussion of women in islam.
Mitochondrial DNA variation in human evolution and disease.

Abstract Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation has permitted the reconstruction of the ancient migrations of women. This has provided evidence that our species arose in Africa about 150 000 years before present (YBP), migrated out of Africa into Asia about 60 000 to 70 000 YBP and into Europe about 40 000 to 50 000 YBP, and migrated from Asia and possibly Europe to the Americas about 20 000 to 30 000 YBP. Although much of the mtDNA variation that exists in modern populations may be selectively neutral, studies of the mildly deleterious mtDNA mutations causing Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) have demonstrated that some continent-specific mtDNA lineages are more prone to manifest the clinical symptoms of LHON than others. Hence, all mtDNA lineages are not equal, which may provide insights into the extreme environments that were encountered by our ancient ancestor, and which may be of great importance in understanding the pathophysiology of mitochondrial disease.