cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Constitutions old and new: Henrion de Pansey before and after the French revolution*

Henrion de Pansey (1742–1829) is an important but neglected constitutional historian whose views on the French past served as a commentary on the unwritten and written constitutions of his own age. A feudal lawyer before the revolution and an appeal judge under Napoleon and the restored Bourbons, he published a variety of works combining liberal sentiment with judicial traditionalism. His career illustrates the shift of moderate conservative opinion across the revolutionary divide. The alteration in his political thought is best understood through its conjunction with the three historical modes prevalent in his time: a discontinuous approach, accepting the past as a series of different regimes interrupted by revolutions; a developmental view, charting the progressive growth of institutions from seeds planted in antiquity; and a fundamentalist habit of thought that saw change as decline from pristine perfection. The jurists of sixteenth-century France remained Henrion's most admired models, and he used his roseate vision of the early modern French monarchy as a sometimes critical commentary on the constitutions designed in his own day. In prerevolutionary days he recast the ideas of the sixteenth-century rationalizer of feudalism, Charles Dumoulin, into Enlightenment terms. After the revolution, De l'Autoritejudiciaire (1810) depicted the moderating role of the judiciary as defenders of past constitutions, and formed an oblique commentary on Napoleon's civil code. Des Pairs et de l'ancienne constitution (1816) appraised the charter of 1814. It accepted a measure of popular participation in government, but held judicial expertise essential in legislation. Des Assemblees nationales (1826) shifted the emphasis from judicial oversight to the separation of powers and representative government, although Henrion, like Guizot and the doctrinaires, remained critical of popular democracy.
FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SPERMATOGENESIS IN THE DIATOM THALASSIOSIRA WEISSFLOGII (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

Flow cytometry was used to detect and quantify sexual differentiation in the centric diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii (Grun.). Size (light scatter), chlorophyll, protein and DNA contents were measured for each cell throughout the process of differentiation. Male gametes were small round cells characterized by one complement of DNA and a lower protein and chlorophyll content than vegetative cells. Male gamete formation was induced by a long period of darkness (2 days) followed by a transfer to continuous light. Up to 30% of the initial cell population produced male gametes which appeared in the culture 14 h after release from darkness. Male gamete production was also detected in exponentially growing cultures in continuous light, but to a much smaller degree.
Regulation of Mouse spermatogonial Stem Cell Differentiation by STAT3 Signaling

Homeostasis of many tissues is maintained by self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells. Spermatogenesis is one such system relying on the activity of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Several key regulators of SSC self-renewal have been identified, yet knowledge of molecules that control SSC differentiation is undefined. In this study, we found that transient impairment of STAT3 signaling enhances SSC self-renewal in vitro without affecting general spermatogonial proliferation, indicating an alteration in the balance of SSC fate decisions that inhibited differentiation. Confirming this observation, short hairpin RNA-mediated stable reduction of STAT3 expression in cultured SSCs abolished their ability to differentiate beyond the undifferentiated spermatogonial stage following transplantation into recipient testes. Collectively, these results demonstrate that STAT3 promotes the differentiation of SSCs. In contrast, STAT3 plays a central role in maintaining self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells, and STAT signaling is essential for self-renewal of male germline stem cells in Drosophila.
Geographic Variation in Body and Clutch Size of Gopher Tortoises

Abstract We present body and clutch size information for two Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) populations, the southernmost populations for which such information is available. We combine these data with previous studies of 17 other populations to evaluate geographic variation in body and clutch size. Our study sites were Okeeheelee County Park, Palm Beach Co., Florida (OCP), and Archbold Biological Station, Highlands Co., Florida (ABS). Mean clutch sizes were 8.2 and 6.3 and mean adult female carapace lengths 308 mm and 274 mm at OCP and ABS, respectively. At OCP, clutch size showed a polynomial relationship with body size, with largest clutches at intermediate adult body sizes. This relationship may reflect senescence. Clutch sizes at ABS were not significantly associated with body size. Body size variation among populations showed a polynomial relationship to latitude, temperature, productivity, and seasonality; body sizes were smallest at intermediate values of all independent variables. Gopher T...
Variation in clover response to small broomrape (Orobanche minor)

Abstract The genus Orobanche includes chlorophyll-lacking root parasites that parasitize many dicotyledonous species and cause severe damage to vegetable and field crops worldwide. In the United States, small broomrape is a federally listed noxious weed that has been found in red clover seed production fields in Oregon. In this study, we classified the susceptibility of red clover, white clover, and crimson clover to small broomrape infection under controlled conditions. Red, white, and crimson clover seeds were sown in pots containing small broomrape–inoculated soil. Differences in susceptibility to infection were observed among clover species; red clover was severely infected, white clover was slightly infected, and crimson clover was not infected. Nomenclature: Small broomrape, Orobanche minor J. E. Smith. # ORAMI; crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum L. # TRFIN; red clover, Trifolium pratense L. # TRFPR; white clover, Trifolium repens L. # TRFRE.
Revising an assessment plan to conform to the new ABET-CAC guidelines

This paper will describe the changes made to an existing student outcomes assessment system to more closely conform to the new assessment guidelines of the Computer Accreditation Commission of ABET. The processes, results and effectiveness of the techniques will be examined.
Caught on Capsule: Iron-deficiency Anemia Due to Hookworm Infection.

PRESENTATION A tiny ingestible camera identified an otherwise elusive source of anemia in a 63-year-old man. The patient presented to an outside hospital with a 2-week history of generalized weakness, malaise, nausea, and loss of appetite. He denied rectal bleeding. His past medical history was significant for a Billroth II gastric bypass and prior gastric angioectasias. Initial laboratory studies showed that his hemoglobin level, at 7.3 g/dL, was lower than it had been 1 week earlier, when it was 9.9 g/dL, and that, in turn, was reduced from a baseline measurement of 13-15 g/dL, which had been obtained several months prior. Results were also remarkable for leukocytosis at 21.4 10 cells/mm. A rectal examination revealed brown stool that proved positive for blood with a Hemoccult test. Push enteroscopy, with intubation of afferent and efferent limbs of the patient’s Billroth reconstruction, showed mild erythema in the gastric remnant but no angioectasias, ulcers, or evidence of bleeding. Colonoscopy subsequently disclosed internal grade I hemorrhoids and melena throughout the colon and distal small bowel. No source of bleeding was evident. Five units of packed red blood cells did not produce an appreciable increase in his hemoglobin. He was then transferred to our hospital for further workup for a presumed source of bleeding in the small bowel. Upon the patient’s presentation, his wife reported that he had been having dark-colored stools for the past 3-4 years. He had undergone upper endoscopy 1 year earlier and been diagnosed with an angioectasia. This was treated with argon plasma coagulation.
Viscosity of Ultrathin Water Films Confined between Aluminol Surfaces of Kaolinite: Ab Initio Simulations

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of water confined between kaolinite walls were conducted in an effort to make contact with experiments implying dramatic viscosity enhancement for water in nanometer-scale, hydrophilic channels. An earlier ground-state structural optimization of a single water layer on a flat kaolinite(001) surface had yielded a molecular arrangement, which, by appearing hydrophobic to subsequent layers, suggested the possibility of very low flow resistance. Well above the freezing point, however, and under shear, the surface became hydrophilic, as a percentage of first-layer water molecules flipped to expose dangling hydroxyls. This led to simulated steady-state velocity fields consistent with a “no-slip” boundary condition and viscous flow. The magnitude of the viscosity derived from the simulations, only a few times that of bulk water, does not lend theoretical weight to the notion of dramatic enhancement under nanoconfinement.
Factors Affecting Mental Health Service Utilization Among California Public College and University Students

Objective:Unmet need for mental health treatment among college students is a significant public health issue. Despite having access to campus mental health providers and insurance to cover services, many college students do not receive necessary services. This study examined factors influencing college students’ use of mental health services.Methods:Online survey data for 33,943 students and 14,018 staff and faculty at 39 college campuses in California were analyzed by using logistic regressions examining the association between students’ use of mental health services and student characteristics, campus environment, and the presence of a formal network of campus mental health clinics.Results:Nineteen percent of students reported current serious psychological distress in the past 30 days, and 11% reported significant mental health–related academic impairment in the past year. Twenty percent reported using mental health services while at their current college, 10% by using campus services and 10% off-campus...
Human papillomavirus in the male patient.

SUMMARY Human papillomavirus is a double-stranded DNA virus associated with a broad spectrum of clinical states including condylomata acuminata, latent and subclinical in fection (acetowhitening), Bowen's disease, and carcinoma of the penis and anus. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with site-subtype specificity; additional studies are needed to elucidate the exact transmissibility and disease course of HPV infection. The association of HPV-16 and HPV-18 with anogenital malignancy increases the importance of treating such infections and raises questions about the role of HPV in oncogenesis. Treatment modalities for HPV include cytotoxic agents, surgical excision, immunotherapy, and laser ablation. Success rates appear best for laser ablation of evident disease. No therapeutic modality appears superior for treating latent disease. The public health ramifications of HPV are vast and warrant investigation to further our scientific and clinical understanding of oncogenesis and its prevention.
Expectant management of preterm ruptured membranes: Effects of antimicrobial therapy

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the addition of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy to traditional expectant management improves pregnancy outcome in patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) remote from term. METHODS Patients with preterm PROM before 34 weeks' gestation who were not in labor and had no signs of infection or fetal distress were randomized to one of two study groups: 1) expectant management alone and 2) expectant management plus antimicrobial therapy. Women in the latter group received intravenous ampicillin, gentamicin, and clindamycin for 24 hours, followed by amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid orally for 7 days. Other than antibiotic use, management of the two groups was identical. RESULTS Significantly more women (P < .01) treated with antibiotics (20 of 48, 42%) remained undelivered 7 days after admission compared with those managed expectantly without antibiotics (seven of 46, 15%). In addition, more neonates in the group managed with antibiotics were admitted to the routine nursery (nine of 48 versus two of 45; P = .03). However, there was no difference between the groups in the frequency of serious maternal or neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSIONS The addition of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy to traditional expectant management of pregnancy complicated by preterm PROM may increase the number of gestations undelivered 7 days after admission. It may also decrease the proportion of infants admitted to special care nurseries. Whether these effects result in significant short- or long-term maternal or neonatal benefit remains to be determined.
Dual Energy-Spectral CT in Neurovascular Imaging

Dual energy CT leverages the acquisition of information obtained at high and low energies to provide enriched tissue characterization and material manipulation capability. Providing improved assessment of vascular stenosis, enhanced contrast visualization and reduction in artifacts associated with normal anatomy and implanted hardware, dual energy CT is increasingly popular in cross sectional and vascular imaging of neurologic disease.
Surgical treatment of atypical pulmonary tuberculosis

During a 12 year period from January 1962 to December 1973, 48 patients wtih atypical mycobacterial infection of the lung were treated surgically with excellent results. There were no deaths, and sputum conversion was achieved in all of them. The considerable drug resistance of the atypical mycobacteria and the possible ill effects of prolonged conservative treatment in cases with active disease and drug resistant organisms are pointed out. Early surgical treatment is recommended in such circumstances. Some bacteriological and biological characteristics of atypical mycobacteria are also discussed.
Airway Involvement in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

The evaluation and diagnosis of a patient with suspected tracheobronchial granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly called Wegener’s granulomatosis, requires a combination of clinical assessment, serologic testing, sinus and chest imaging, pulmonary function tests, bronchoscopy, and tissue biopsy. The diagnosis is established when serologic and histopathologic evidence of vasculitis and granulomatous inflammation is present in a patient with a compatible clinical presentation. In contrast to surgical lung biopsy, bronchoscopic tissue sampling of tracheobronchial luminal abnormalities only reveals histologic features of GPA in a minority of cases. The general principles of medical therapy for GPA also apply to patients who have tracheobronchial involvement. For those patients who remain symptomatic despite appropriate medical management, endoscopic management is an option.
A Holistic Approach for Predicting Links in Coevolving Multilayer Networks

Networks extracted from social media platforms frequently include multiple types of links that dynamically change over time; these links can be used to represent dyadic interactions such as economic transactions, communications, and shared activities. Organizing this data into a dynamic multiplex network, where each layer is composed of a single edge type linking the same underlying vertices, can reveal interesting cross-layer interaction patterns. In coevolving networks, links in one layer result in an increased probability of other types of links forming between the same node pair. Hence we believe that a holistic approach in which all the layers are simultaneously considered can outperform a factored approach in which link prediction is performed separately in each layer. This paper introduces a comprehensive framework, MLP (Multilayer Link Prediction), in which link existence likelihoods for the target layer are learned from the other network layers. These likelihoods are used to reweight the output of a single layer link prediction method that uses rank aggregation to combine a set of topological metrics. Our experiments show that our reweighting procedure outperforms other methods for fusing information across network layers.
Introduction to Orbifold Theory

The notion of an orbifold is a generalization of the notion of a manifold which appears naturally in the context of properly discontinuous nonfree actions of groups on manifolds. Orbifolds were first invented by Satake [Sat57] in the 1950s under the name of V-manifolds. They were reinvented under the name of orbifolds by Thurston in the 1970s as a technical tool for proving the Hyperbolization Theorem. Our discussion of orbifolds follows mainly [Thu81, Chapter 13] and [Sco83a]. For a more detailed discussion of foundational issues of orbifold theory, we refer the reader to [Rat94, Chapter 13]. Note that many definitions that we take for granted in manifold theory are rather mysterious in the category of orbifolds. For instance, it is unclear what the correct definition of characteristic classes of orbifolds is (compare [Kaw78] and [HH90]). Even if one can define the Euler characteristic of an orbifold, it is unclear what the Betti numbers are. We will define the fundamental group of an orbifold, but it is far from obvious what the correct definition of higher homotopy groups, etc., is. All in all, it seems that orbifolds live in the grey area between the “good old manifold kingdom” and the dark world populated by the “wild creatures” of Alain Connes’ noncommutative geometry.
Three-Dimensional Visualization Using Acoustical Fields

The development of a three-dimensional visualization system using acoustical energy as the investigating field has been the objective of extensive efforts for a considerable period of time. Such an imaging system would be of considerable value in both nondestructive testing and in all probability for medical diagnostic use. Three-dimensional visualization is a highly subjective and complex process. Acoustical holography offers one method by which three-dimensional visualization may be achieved in the future. To date, however, this goal has not been achieved because of the image distortion inherent in the process.
States in the Developing World

What should states in the developing world do and how should they do it? How have states in the developing world addressed the challenges of promoting development, order, and inclusion? States in the developing world are supposed to build economies, control violence, and include the population. How they do so depends on historical origins and context as well as policy decisions. This volume presents a comprehensive theory of state capacity, what it consists of, and how it may be measured. With historical empirical illustrations it suggests that historical origins and political decisions help drive the capacity of states to meet their goals.
Accounting for Diversity in Suicide Research: Sampling and Sample Reporting Practices in the United States.

Research on suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) has identified many risk factors, but whether these findings generalize to diverse populations remains unclear. We review longitudinal studies on STB risk factors over the past 50 years in the United States and evaluate the methodological practices of sampling and reporting sample characteristics. We found that articles frequently reported participant age and sex, less frequently reported participant race and ethnicity, and rarely reported participant veteran status or lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender status. Sample reporting practices modestly and inconsistently improved over time. Finally, articles predominantly featured White, non-Hispanic, young adult samples.
Prediction of heat capacities of solid inorganic salts from group contributions

A group contribution technique is proposed to predict the coefficients in the heat capacity correlation, C p = a + bT + c/T 2 + dT 2 , for solid inorganic salts. The results from this work are compared with experimental data from the literature. The technique is shown to give good predictions for both simple and complex solid inorganic salts. Literature heat capacities for a large number (664) of solid inorganic salts covering a broad range of cations (129), anions (17), and ligands (2) have been used in regressions to obtain group contributions for the parameters in the heat capacity temperature function. A mean error of 3.18% is found when predicted values are compared with literature values for heat capacity at 298 K.
Asymmetric evolution of egg laying behavior following reciprocal host shifts by a seed-feeding beetle

Colonization of new environments can lead to rapid changes in fitness-related traits. For herbivorous insects, switching to a new host plant can be comparable to invading a new habitat. Behavioral, physiological, and life-history traits commonly vary among insect populations associated with different plants, but how host shifts cause trait divergence is often unclear. We investigated whether experimental host shifts would modify a key insect trait, egg-laying behavior, in a seed beetle. Beetle populations associated long-term with either a small-seeded host (mung bean) or a large-seeded host (cowpea) were switched to each other’s host. After 36–55 generations, we assayed three aspects of oviposition behavior known to differ between the mung bean- and cowpea-adapted populations. Responses to the host shifts were asymmetrical. Females from lines transferred from mung bean to cowpea produced less uniform distributions of eggs among seeds, were more likely to add an egg to an occupied seed, and were more likely to “dump” eggs when seeds were absent. These lines thus converged toward the cowpea-adapted population. In contrast, the reciprocal host shift had no effect; oviposition behavior was unchanged in lines transferred from cowpea to mung bean. We suggest that these results reflect an asymmetry in the fitness consequences of each host shift, which in turn depended on differences in larval competitiveness in the original populations. Interactions among multiple fitness components are likely to make evolutionary responses less predictable in novel environments.
Leveraging Resources: Shortening contact time without negatively impacting efficacy

Nationally, the population of female undergraduate engineering students has fluctuated between 17.2% and 19.8% for the past decade (Engineering Workforce Commission, 2006). These low numbers will continue because even though the academic gender gap is decreasing in advanced high school mathematics and science courses, girls are less likely to report an interest in pursuing a career in engineering or other physics-based-science fields (National Science Foundation, 2008). To increase girls’ interests in pursuing a career in engineering, research advocates outreach activities for female middle and high school students (i.e. Lee & Smith, 2008; Secola et al, 2001). These outreach activities include visits to middle and high schools, inviting students for one, or multi-day campus visits, and on-campus programs that introduce young women to the various engineering fields. The Academy at Rutgers for Girls in Engineering & Technology (TARGET) is designed to increase awareness in middle and high school girls about the career opportunities available in engineering. The objectives of TARGET are to familiarize girls with different engineering disciplines and negate negative stereotypes concerning their ability to do well in math and science. TARGET was first launched in 1997 and ran as a two-week summer program for 20 middle school girls. Over the course of 12 years, TARGET has evolved to offer six, one-week summer sessions for 144 middle and high school girls and academic year sessions. Program evaluation indicates that the one-week sessions are as effective at meeting program goals as the two-week sessions. Girls consistently reported an increased interest in engineering and greater confidence in accomplishing engineering tasks. In times of economic hardship, leveraging resources is essential, but it is especially important to maintain the integrity of pre-college programming. TARGET offers a model that leverages resources by shortening contact time without sacrificing efficacy. In our presentation, we will discuss the evolution of our program and share results from pre- and post-test surveys from the past 10 years that evidence the consistent positive impact TARGET has had on the lives of over 300 middle and high school girls (25% Caucasian, 30% Asian, 25% African American, and 20% Latina). References Engineering Workforce Commission (2006). Engineering & Technology Enrollments: Fall 2006. Washington, D.C. Lee, F. & Smith, P.E. (2008). Encouraging Girl Scouts through a Saturday Workshop. Proceedings of the Women in Engineering Pro-Active Network Conference , St. Louis. MO. National Science Foundation (2008). Science and Engineering Indicators, 2008, Table 2-16. Secola, P.M., Smiley, B.A., Anderson-Rowland, M.R., Castro, M., & Tomaszweski, B., 2001. Assessing the effectiveness of Saturday academies in an engineering outreach program. Proceedings – Frontiers in Education Conference: Volume 3, pp. S1F/16-S1F/21. IEEE.
Are the Standards for Tax Jurisdiction and Personal Jurisdiction Identical

This article discusses whether the standards for tax jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction are the same. Many believe that International Shoe is dispositive on this issue, but this article shows why that proposition is problematic. If International Shoe intended to equate the standards for tax jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction, the dissent in Bellas Hess would have relied heavily on International Shoe. There was no mention of International Shoe in the Bellas Hess dissent whatsoever. The article is not intended to determine whether the standards for tax jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction should be the same, but instead whether International Shoe is dispostive on the issue. It is not.
Home Monitoring for Age-related Macular Degeneration

This article seeks to summarize the history of patient-based monitoring systems for age-related macular degeneration, as well as recent new and emerging technologies in the field of home surveillance. New commercially available products, such as ForeseeHome and Paxos, offer improved modalities for home monitoring of macular degeneration, and home optical coherence tomography provides the potential for further improvement in the future. While traditional Amsler grid monitoring has provided a useful test for patients to monitor their vision, it has found to have limited specificity and sensitivity as a screening tool for neovascular macular degeneration. Technologies such as ForeseeHome offer a new standard of care with improved accuracy in detection neovascularization early in its disease course, allowing for early intervention to improve patient outcomes.
Temporal analysis of cardiovascular control and function following incomplete T3 and T10 spinal cord injury in rodents.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that results in whole-body dysfunction, notably cardiovascular (CV) disruption and disease. Injury-induced destruction of autonomic pathways in conjunction with a progressive decline in physical fitness contribute to the poor CV status of SCI individuals. Despite the wide use of exercise training as a therapeutic option to reduce CV dysfunction, little is known about the acute hemodynamic responses to the exercise itself. We investigated CV responses to an exercise challenge (swimming) following both high and low thoracic contusion to determine if the CV system is able to respond appropriately to the challenge of swimming. Blood pressure (BP) telemetry and echocardiography were used to track the progression of dysfunction in rodents with T3 and T10 SCI (n = 8 each) for 10 weeks postcontusion. At 1 week postinjury, all animals displayed a drastic decline in heart rate (HR) during the exercise challenge, likely a consequence of neurogenic shock. Furthermore, over time, all groups developed a progressive inability to maintain BP within a narrow range during the exercise challenge despite displaying normal hemodynamic parameters at rest. Echocardiography of T10 animals revealed no persistent signs of cardiac dysfunction; T3 animals exhibited a transient decline in systolic function that returned to preinjury levels by 10 weeks postinjury. Novel evidence provided here illustrates that incomplete injuries produce hemodynamic instability that only becomes apparent during an exercise challenge. Further, this dysfunction lasts into the chronic phase of disease progression despite significant recovery of hindlimb locomotion and cardiac function.
APS・GSECARS ビームラインにおける大容量プレス(LVP)を用いた実験技術開発

GSECARS (GeoSoilEnviroCARS, the University of Chicago) operates a bending magnet and an undulator beamlines at Sector 13, Advanced Photon Source. Experimental technique for High Pressure X-ray Tomographic Microscope (HPXTM) using monochromatized X-rays has been developed. The module for HPXTM also has shear deformation capability, which enables us to perform HPXTM experiments for microstructure developed by shear deformation under high pressure. A combination of Deformation DIA (D-DIA) and monochromatic X-rays has been developed for quantitative deformation experiments under pressure above 10 GPa. Deformation experiments of e-iron was performed at pressures up to 19 GPa and temperatures up to 700 K.
Edge-plasmas and wall protection in RFPs

The Reversed-Field Pinch (RFP) has the ability to operate as a compact, moderate-to-high beta, high-power-density system. A compact system requires careful control of the particle and heat fluxes impinging on plasma-facing components. A strongly recycling, toroidal-field open divertor combined with a highly radiating (>90% of plasma heating power) plasma is required. An open divertor configuration locates the plate near the field null to take advantage of flux expansion and minimum poloidal asymmetries to minimize peak heat fluxes. The physics and engineering requirements are quantitatively discussed for an evolutionary sequence of impurity/ash-control schemes.
Modality Issues in Signed and Spoken Language

There are at least two ‘modalities’ available to human languages, the oral–aural modality of spoken languages and the visual–gestural modality of signed languages. This entry reviews effects (and noneffects) of modality on the structure, acquisition, and processing of language. Among the factors considered are: (i) The different properties of the articulators used in the two language modalities, (ii) The capacity for iconic representation in the visual–gestural modality, and (iii) The use of space in visual–gestural languages. Linguistic outcomes of modality-specific properties include the possibility that vocabulary can be rapidly innovated in signed languages and also the possibility that signed and spoken languages may differ in what grammatical properties are most favored.
Review: More-intensive vs less-intensive LDL-cholesterol lowering reduces mortality.

Source Citation Navarese EP, Robinson JG, Kowalewski M, et al. Association between baseline LDL-C level and total and cardiovascular mortality after LDL-C lowering: a systematic review and meta-ana...
In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Shows Alterations in Nerve Density and Dendritiform Cell Density in Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate corneal nerve and immune cell alterations in Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) by laser in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) as correlated to sensation and endothelial cell loss. Design Prospective, cross-sectional, controlled study. Methods 33 eyes with FECD were compared to 13 eyes with PBK and 17 normal age-matched control eyes at a tertiary referral center. FECD was classified into early (without edema) and late stage (with edema). Corneal IVCM (HRT3/RCM) and esthesiometry (Cochet-Bonnet) were performed. Corneal nerve and immune dendritic cell (DC) alterations were evaluated and correlated to clinical parameters. Results FECD and PBK eyes showed significantly (p=0.001) diminished total nerve length (11.5±1.3 and 2.9±0.7mm/mm 2 ) and number (8.8±1.1 and 2.2±0.4 n/frame), compared to controls (23.3±8.1 and 25.9±1.3). Decreased nerves corresponded to diminished sensation in FECD (4.9±0.2cm; R=0.32; p =0.045), compared to controls (5.9±0.04). Early and late stage FECD showed significantly reduced total nerve length (13.1±1.4 and 9.9±1.2 mm/mm 2 , respectively) and number (8.2±2.5 and 6.5±2.1 n/frame), compared to controls ( p 2 ; p =0.01), but not in PBK (47.7±11.6; p =0.60) compared to controls (22.5±4.5). A subset of early FECD patients (7/22) demonstrated very high DC density (>100/mm 2 ). Conclusion IVCM demonstrates profound diminishment of subbasal corneal nerves in early, late stage FECD, and PBK, correlating to decreased sensation. Increased DC density in early FECD demonstrates potential subclinical inflammation. The data suggest that reduction in subbasal nerves and increased immune activation may play a role in pathophysiology of FECD.
Abstract 011: Cardiovascular Consequences of Cantu Syndrome and Response to Glibenclamide Treatment in Two Novel KATP Channel Mutant Mouse Models

The rare heritable disorder Cantů syndrome (CS) arises from gain-of-function mutations in the genes encoding the cardiovascular KATP channel subunits Kir6.1 and SUR2 (KCNJ8 and ABCC9, respectively)...
α-Defensin HD5 Stabilizes Human Papillomavirus 16 Capsid/Core Interactions.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to nearly all cases of cervical cancer. Despite available vaccines, a deeper understanding of the immune response to HPV is needed. Human α-defensin 5 (HD5), an innate immune effector peptide, blocks infection of multiple serotypes of HPV, including high-risk HPV16. While a common mechanism of α-defensin anti-viral activity against nonenveloped viruses such as HPV has emerged, there is limited understanding of how α-defensins bind to viral capsids to block infection. Methods: We have used cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM), mass spectrometry (MS) crosslinking and differential lysine modification studies, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to probe the interaction of HPV16 pseudovirions (PsVs) with HD5. Results: CryoEM single particle reconstruction did not reveal HD5 density on the capsid surface. Rather, increased density was observed under the capsid shell in the presence of HD5. MS studies indicate that HD5 binds near the L1 and L2 capsid proteins and specifically near the C-terminal region of L1. MD simulations indicate that favorable electrostatic interactions can be formed between HD5 and the L1 C-terminal tail.Conclusions: A model is presented for how HD5 affects HPV16 structure and cell entry. In this model, HD5 binds to disordered regions of L1 and L2 protruding from the icosahedrally ordered capsid. HD5 acts to cement interactions between L1 and L2 and leads to a closer association of the L2/genome core with the L1 capsid. This model provides a structural rationale for our prior observation that HD5 interferes with the separation of L1 from the L2/genome complex during cell entry.
Using directional acoustics for mapping the spatial distribution of low frequency mammals

Long-term passive acoustic monitoring programs have been conducted over several years using directional acoustic recorders. The data from these recorders provide an indication of the direction to each detected signal, which includes calls from blue, fin, sei, and minke whales. The directional results provide new information on the spatial distribution of these animals, including the type of habitat by each species as well as the number of animals vocalizing in an area. Examples will be presented using data recorded at the edge of the Grand Banks as well as from a site off Savanah Ga in waters 800 m deep.Long-term passive acoustic monitoring programs have been conducted over several years using directional acoustic recorders. The data from these recorders provide an indication of the direction to each detected signal, which includes calls from blue, fin, sei, and minke whales. The directional results provide new information on the spatial distribution of these animals, including the type of habitat by each species as well as the number of animals vocalizing in an area. Examples will be presented using data recorded at the edge of the Grand Banks as well as from a site off Savanah Ga in waters 800 m deep.
The GPM Ground Validation Program

We present a detailed overview of the structure and activities associated with the NASA-led ground-validation component of the NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The overarching philosophy and approaches for NASA’s GV program are presented with primary focus placed on aspects of direct validation and a summary of physical validation campaigns and results. We describe a spectrum of key instruments, methods, field campaigns and data products developed and used by NASA’s GV team to verify GPM level-2 precipitation products in rain and snow. We describe the tools and analysis framework used to confirm that NASA’s Level-1 science requirements for GPM are met by the GPM Core Observatory. Examples of routine validation activities related to verification of Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) products for two different regions of the globe (Korea and the US) are provided, and a brief analysis related to IMERG performance in the extreme rainfall event associated with Hurricane Florence is discussed.
Metabolic adaptation to calorie restriction

Calorie restriction (CR) enhances health span (the length of time that an organism remains healthy) and increases longevity across species. In mice, these beneficial effects are partly mediated by the lowering of core body temperature that occurs during CR. Conversely, the favorable effects of CR on health span are mitigated by elevating ambient temperature to thermoneutrality (30°C), a condition in which hypothermia is blunted. In this study, we compared the global metabolic response to CR of mice housed at 22°C (the standard housing temperature) or at 30°C and found that thermoneutrality reverted 39 and 78% of total systemic or hypothalamic metabolic variations caused by CR, respectively. Systemic changes included pathways that control fuel use and energy expenditure during CR. Cognitive computing-assisted analysis of these metabolomics results helped to prioritize potential active metabolites that modulated the hypothermic response to CR. Last, we demonstrated with pharmacological approaches that nitric oxide (NO) produced through the citrulline-NO pathway promotes CR-triggered hypothermia and that leucine enkephalin directly controls core body temperature when exogenously injected into the hypothalamus. Because thermoneutrality counteracts CR-enhanced health span, the multiple metabolites and pathways altered by thermoneutrality may represent targets for mimicking CR-associated effects.
Evaluating the Effect of Incidents on Freeway Facilities and Updating the Incident Capacity Adjustments for HCM

This paper investigates the effect of incidents on freeway segment capacity. Currently, the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) provides a look-up table linking the remaining segment capacity fraction du...
Disentangling feedforward versus feedback processing in numerosity representation.

Abstract Numerosity is a fundamental aspect of the external environment, needed to guide our behavior in an effective manner. Previous studies show that numerosity processing involves at least two temporal stages (~100 and ~150 msec after stimulus onset) in early visual cortex. One possibility is that the two stages reflect an initial feedforward processing followed by feedback signals from higher-order cortical areas that underlie segmentation of visual inputs into perceptual units that define numerosity. Alternatively, multiple stages of feedforward processing might progressively refine the input leading to the segmented representation. Here, we distinguish these two hypotheses by exploiting the connectedness illusion (i.e., the systematic underestimation of pairwise-connected dots), backward masking (to suppress feedback signals), and serial dependence (i.e., a perceptual bias making a stimulus appear to be more similar to its preceding one). Our results show that a connected dot array biases the numerosity representation of the subsequent dot array based on its illusory perception, irrespective of whether it is visible or suppressed by masking. These findings demonstrate that feedback processing is not strictly necessary for the perceptual segmentation that gives rise to perceived numerosity, and instead suggest that different stages of feedforward activity presumably carrying low and high spatial frequency information are sufficient to create a numerosity representation in early visual areas.
Epigallocatechin gallate alters leukotoxin secretion and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans virulence.

Objectives We and others have previously shown that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) inhibits the activity of an important virulence factor, leukotoxin (LtxA), produced by the oral bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, suggesting the potential use of this molecule as an anti-virulence strategy to treat periodontal infections. Here, we sought to better understand the effects of EGCg on toxin secretion and A. actinomycetemcomitans pathogenicity in a co-culture model. Methods We used a quantitative immunoblot assay to determine the concentrations of LtxA in the bacterial supernatant and on the bacterial cell surface. Using a co-culture model, consisting of A. actinomycetemcomitans and THP-1 cells, we studied the impact of EGCg-mediated changes in LtxA secretion on the toxicity of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Key findings EGCg increased production of LtxA and changed the localization of secreted LtxA from the supernatant to the surface of the bacterial cells. In the co-culture model, a single low dose of EGCg did not protect host THP-1 cells from A. actinomycetemcomitans-mediated cytotoxicity, but a multiple dosing strategy had improved effects. Conclusions Together, these results demonstrate that EGCg has important, but complicated, effects on toxin secretion and activity; new dosing strategies and comprehensive model systems may be required to properly develop these anti-virulence activities.
Quebec, Bengal, and the Rise of Authoritarian Legal Pluralism

This chapter is part of a collection of essays that reexamines the Quebec Act of 1774, which was a transformative event in North American and British imperial history. This chapter argues that the debate over the Quebec Act — and especially about its retention of French law — reflected a broader debate over the place of English law in the British Empire. Although that debate initially took place along partisan lines, it ultimately produced a new orthodoxy in Britain’s colonial legal policy. From 1774, the question would no longer be whether to embrace legal pluralism, but how.
Race to the Top of the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Medicare's Hospital Valued-Based Purchasing (HVBP) program measures hospitals' total performance score (TPS); its measurement strategies have changed regularly since its rollout in 2013. Because the program influences care delivery, it is important to examine how the policy has changed hospitals' behavior and how it may inform future policies. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between hospitals' performance on TPS annually from 2013 to 2018 and organizational characteristics. Using the HVBP TPS from 2013 to 2018 and associated hospital characteristics-hospital size, teaching hospital status, system membership, ownership type, urban/rural location, average percentages of patients from Medicare and Medicaid, operating margins, percentages of inpatient revenue as a proportion of total revenue, and case mix index-we conducted a retrospective cohort study of all U.S. hospitals participating in the HVBP program. Regression and panel analyses found that organizations that were expected to have robust and rigid resources were unable to score in the superior category consistently. In addition, organizations were unable to consistently perform positively over time because of changes in the HVBP program measurement and the required organizational responses. Policymakers should consider the ability of organizations to respond to changes to the HVBP program. Likewise, healthcare managers, particularly those in larger organizations, should seek to remove bureaucracy or allow for greater resource slack to meet these changes.
Prediction of patient disposition: comparison of computer and human approaches and a proposed synthesis.

Objective To compare the accuracy of computer versus physician predictions of hospitalization and to explore the potential synergies of hybrid physician-computer models. Materials and methods A single-center prospective observational study in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Nine emergency department (ED) attending physicians participated in the study. Physicians predicted the likelihood of admission for patients in the ED whose hospitalization disposition had not yet been decided. In parallel, a random-forest computer model was developed to predict hospitalizations from the ED, based on data available within the first hour of the ED encounter. The model was tested on the same cohort of patients evaluated by the participating physicians. Results 198 pediatric patients were considered for inclusion. Six patients were excluded due to incomplete or erroneous physician forms. Of the 192 included patients, 54 (28%) were admitted and 138 (72%) were discharged. The positive predictive value for the prediction of admission was 66% for the clinicians, 73% for the computer model, and 86% for a hybrid model combining the two. To predict admission, physicians relied more heavily on the clinical appearance of the patient, while the computer model relied more heavily on technical data-driven features, such as the rate of prior admissions or distance traveled to hospital. Discussion Computer-generated predictions of patient disposition were more accurate than clinician-generated predictions. A hybrid prediction model improved accuracy over both individual predictions, highlighting the complementary and synergistic effects of both approaches. Conclusion The integration of computer and clinician predictions can yield improved predictive performance.
CeAid: a smartphone application for logging and plotting Caenorhabditis elegans assays

Caenorhabditis elegans is used as a model organism to study a wide range of topics in molecular and cellular biology. Conventional C. elegans assays often require a large sample size with frequent manipulations, rendering them labor-intensive. Automated high-throughput workflows may not be always the best solution to reduce benchwork labor, as they may introduce more complexity. Thus, most assays are carried out manually, where logging and digitizing experimental data can be as time-consuming as picking and scoring worms. Here we report the development of CeAid, C. elegans Application for inputting data, which significantly expedites the data entry process, utilizing swiping gestures and a voice recognition algorithm for logging data using a standard smartphone or Android device. This modular platform can also be adapted for a wide range of assays where recording data is laborious, even beyond worm research.