cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism of the Repetitive Ventricular Response in Man

Abstract The electrophysiologic characteristics of the repetitive ventricular response that followed an electrically induced single premature ventricular complex were evaluated to determine its mechanism during atrial pacing or sinus rhythm in 30 patients. Seven patients had preexisting bundle branch block. His bundle or right bundle branch deflections did not precede the repetitive complex in 29 of the 30 patients, which implies that the proximal His-Purkinje system was not involved in the reentry circuit. In 24 of 30 patients the QRS axis of the repetitive complex was divergent 45 ° or more from the stimulated complex. In 22 of 30 patients the repetitive complex had a right bundle branch block configuration. In 14 of 18 patients with two or more repetitive complexes, the QRS pattern changed from beat to beat, which implies that either the reentry pathway or conduction was changing. Thus, the repetitive ventricular response, which can be associated with clinically important ventricular arrhythmias, probably represents intraventricular rather than proximal His-Purkinje system reentry.
WiFu: A composable toolkit for experimental wireless transport protocols

Extensive research has been performed on improving TCP performance in multi-hop wireless networks, but there have been relatively few experimental evaluations of this work. To make it easier to conduct research in this area, we are releasing WiFu, an open-source toolkit for developing experimental wireless transport protocols. WiFu provides for user-space development of reliable transport and rate control algorithms, greatly simplifying the implementation effort required. In this paper, we describe the architecture of the WiFu toolkit, which decomposes transport protocols into smaller components that enable rapid, plug-and-play development of new variants. We present experiments to demonstrate that the performance of WiFu compares favorably to the Linux kernel for wireless networks. We illustrate the utility of WiFu by using it to conduct experiments with several wireless transport protocols, and show that the performance of some protocols differs significantly from previously reported results.
Corrigendum to “Effects of mining-associated lead and zinc soil contamination on native floristic quality” [J. Environ. Manage. 119C (2013) 20–28]

A corrigendum has been requested by the authors of this paper due to the following error: 1) Correction of mislabeled data in Table 1: The data that had been under the heading for K (kg/hectare) were actually the concentrations for Zn (with cascading leftward shifts of concentrations for P, Ca, Mg, and K). Zn concentration data have been relocated under the proper heading. To make room for the Zn data, the data for nutrients have been pushed two columns right and are now aligned under their proper headings. 2) Correction of “0” values to ND: The nutrient (P, Ca, Mg, and K) data for which “0” values had been supplied but for which no nutrient data were available (plots B-1, F-1, G-6, and G-7) have been changed to “ND”. 3) All data for Pb, pH, NA, % organic matter and CEC are left unchanged. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.
The Use of Superlattice Reactants in the Synthesis of Ternary CU-NB-SE Compounds

The low temperature interdiffusion of superlattice reactants of the binary systems niobium-selenium and copper-selenium and the ternary copper-niobium-selenium were explored to synthesize amorphous reaction intermediates. Controlled crystallization of this intermediate, which depends upon nucleation energetics rather than the thermodynamic stability of the final product, was used as we attempted to prepare ternary niobium cluster compounds. We present data demonstrating the ability to prepare amorphous ternary intermediates without the formation of crystalline binary compounds as reaction intermediates. Crystallization of the amorphous intermediate resulted in the formation of known ternary compounds directly, also without the formation of binary compounds.
A selective phosphine-based fluorescent probe for nitroxyl in living cells

A novel fluorescein-based fluorescent probe for nitroxyl (HNO) based on the reductive Staudinger ligation of HNO with an aromatic phosphine was prepared. This probe reacts with HNO derived from Angeli’s salt and 4-bromo Piloty’s acid under physiological conditions without interference by other biological redox species. Confocal microscopy demonstrates this probe detects HNO by fluorescence in HeLa cells and mass spectrometric analysis of cell lysates confirms this probe detects HNO following the proposed mechanism.
What Works to Prevent Child Marriage: A Review of the Evidence

This article reviews 23 child marriage prevention programs carried out in low-income countries and employing a range of programmatic approaches and evaluation strategies. We document the types of child marriage programs that have been implemented, assess how they have been evaluated, describe the main limitations of these evaluations, summarize the evaluation results, and make recommendations to improve future prevention efforts. The evidence suggests that programs offering incentives and attempting to empower girls can be effective in preventing child marriage and can foster change relatively quickly. Methodological limitations of the reviewed studies, however, underscore that more needs to be learned about how the programs prevent child marriage and whether impact is sustained beyond program implementation.
A commentary on the use of multivariate statistical methods in anthropometric research.

A critical review of the increasing emphasis being placed on the use of multivariate statistical methods in anthropometric research is given. Particular attention is paid to multivariate techniques for testing hypotheses concerning mean vectors, principal components analysis and the use of discriminant functions, but some more general comments about the proper role of statistics in research are included. It is argued that multivariate techniques often do not allow the effective description and communication of the informational content of a body of data and that much additional research — both from the standpoint of theory and from the standpoint of practice — must be done before multivariate analysis can fulfill the promise it holds for the physical anthropologist.
β-Adrenergic Receptor Subtypes Differentially Affect Apoptosis in Adult Rat Ventricular Myocytes

BACKGROUND-Catecholamine-induced apoptosis is mediated by activation of the beta-adrenergic signaling pathway. We tested the hypothesis that beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (AR) subtypes differentially affect apoptosis in adult rat ventricular myocytes in vitro. METHODS AND RESULTS-Myocytes were first exposed to norepinephrine (NE) alone (10 mcmol/L) or NE+atenolol (AT) (10 mcmol/L) for 12 hours. AT, a beta(1)-selective AR antagonist, abolished the NE-induced increase in nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells compared with control (NE, 33+/-3% versus control, 3+/-1%, P beta(1)). ISO and ALB induced significantly less apoptosis than NE (beta(1)>beta(2)) at equimolar concentrations as assessed by TUNEL staining [1 mcmol/L: NE (8+/-2%) approximately ISO (7+/-1%)>ALB (2+/-1%); 10 mcmol/L: NE (35+/-2%)>ISO (23+/-1%)>ALB (3+/-1%); 100 mcmol/L: NE (50+/-2%)>ISO (29+/-2%)>ALB (14+/-1%), P<0.0001 except for NE versus ISO at 1 mcmol/L with P=0.62]. ALB-induced apoptosis at 100 mcmol/L was abolished by AT (10 mcmol/L), indicating a beta(1)AR-mediated effect. Importantly, ICI 118551 (0.1 mcmol/L), a highly selective beta(2)AR antagonist, did not decrease the percentage of NE-, ISO-, and ALB-induced apoptosis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction studies revealed that AT completely reversed the beta-adrenergic signaling-induced changes in the Bcl-2-to-Bax ratio. CONCLUSIONS-These observations provide evidence that beta AR-mediated apoptotic death signaling is largely dissociated from beta(2)ARs and selectively mediated by beta(1)ARs in adult rat ventricular myocytes.
Poverty, Defense, and the Environment: How Policy Optics, Policy Incompleteness, fastthinking.com, Equivalency Paradox, Deliberation Trap, Mailbox Dilemma, the Urban Ecosystem, and the End of Problem Solving Recast Difficult Policy Issues

In addition to being uncertain and complex, the policy world is incomplete; at any point in time, most of the work of policy makers and policy analysts is unfinished or yet to be done. Policy incompleteness, uncertainty, and complexity have made fastthinking imperative: just-in-time thinking to match our just-in-time schedules in our just-interrupted task environments. The usual remedy, more deliberation, is frequently no longer possible and, even if it were, it has its own difficulties. If fastthinking is here to stay and we are in the twilight of conventional problem solving, then policy analysts need new ways to deal with permanently incomplete policy issues. Policy optics allow us, the practicing policy analysts, to recast familiarly intractable problems of poverty, defense, and the environment into a more tractable light. They do not solve policy incompleteness, but they enable us to start tasks that we have a better chance of finishing.
The presence of written English on the streets of Rome

ENGLISH is a juggernaut whose sweep across the globe is marked not only by the ever-swelling ranks of those who speak it as a second language, but also by its intrusion into other languages and cultures. While far from omnipresent, English is seen and heard in enough contexts in non-English-speaking countries that social scientists must carefully explore its role alongside indigenous languages. This study, which focused on the city of Rome, examines one dimension of English as an invader – its presence on street signs, on store fronts, in shop windows, outside commercial and public buildings, in billboards and other street advertisements, and in graffiti. It takes a more expansive and comprehensive approach than previous studies in examining the use of English in a foreign locale, in order to get a better sense of how widespread it is on the streets of a non-English-speaking country and in what contexts it appears.
Distribution of Uranium in Middle Tertiary Volcanic Rocks, Mogollon-Datil Volcanic Field, New Mexico: ABSTRACT

The uranium abundances in middle Tertiary volcanic rocks of the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, southwestern New Mexico, have been determined as part of a major petrogenetic study. Over 350 samples of middle Tertiary to Quaternary volcanic rocks have been analyzed for their uranium content by delayed neutron activation analysis. Of the volcanic associations previously proposed for southwestern New Mexico, calc-alkalic andesite, ±43 to ±35 m.y., has a mean of 2.3 ppm U (range 0.9 to 5.4 ppm); calc-alkalic quartz latite to rhyolite, ±35 to ±29 m.y., has a mean of 3.9 ppm U (range 1.7 to 6.2 ppm); basaltic andesite and associated rocks, ±32 to ±18 m.y., has a mean of 2.3 ppm U (range 0.8 to 6.9 ppm); and high-silica rhyolite, ±32 to ±18 m.y., has a mean of 5.2 ppm U (range 1.6 to 9.4 ppm). Anomalous values in the range of 14 to 35 ppm U were found for a riebeckite-bearing lava from the central San Mateo Mountains, a sample of intrusive andesite from the Alum Mountain area, and a lithophysal rhyolite lava and associated ash-flow tuff from the Sierra Cuchillo. Post-13-m.y. b omodal basalt-rhyolite is sparse within the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field. A few determinations from this study, and published and unpublished data for other localities in New Mexico, indicate U abundance from 0.3 to 1.5 ppm U in post-13-m.y. basalt and about 7 to 8 ppm U in rhyolite. End_of_Article - Last_Page 755------------
Serum CA 19-9 as a marker of resectability and survival in patients with potentially resectable pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Purpose. The role of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 in the evaluation of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer treated with neoadjuvant therapy prior to planned surgical resection is unknown. We evaluated CA 19-9 as a marker of therapeutic response, completion of therapy, and survival in patients enrolled on two recently reported clinical trials. Patients and Methods. We analyzed patients with radiographically resectable adenocarcinoma of the head/ uncinate process treated on two phase II trials of neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Patients without evidence of disease progression following chemoradiation underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). CA 19-9 was evaluated in patients with a normal bilirubin level. Results. We enrolled 174 patients, and 119 (68%) completed all therapy including PD. Pretreatment CA 19-9 \37 U/ml had a positive predictive value (PPV) for completing PD of 86% but a negative predictive value (NPV)
A distributed algorithm for minimum weight spanning trees based on echo algorithms

A distributed algorithm based on echo algorithms is presented which constructs the minimum-weight spanning tree in a general undirected graph. In the worst case, the algorithm needs at most (2m+2(n-1) log (n/2)) messages and (2d log n) time, where d is the diameter of the network. In the best case, it needs only 2m messages and 2d time. The algorithm works in phases, and each phase consists of a down wave and an up wave. When the number of fragments is cut by at least one half in each phase, it needs at most O(log n) phases. On average, the algorithm needs only (m) messages and O(d) time. The algorithm itself is simple, so that other distributed algorithms based on it can be derived more easily. >
The anaphase-promoting complex promotes actomyosin-ring disassembly during cytokinesis in yeast.

The anaphase-promoting complex (APC) is a ubiquitin ligase that controls progression through mitosis by targeting specific proteins for degradation. It is unclear whether the APC also contributes t...
A performance analysis of selective diversity combining in indoor mobile radio communication environment

Stochastic channel characterization of indoor mobile radio communication (IMRC), is a long going research interest. Recently, with an extensive data base it has been shown that, amplitude distribution of fading signal in the IMRC channel is lognormal. Based on this model, in this paper, a performance analysis of selective diversity combining is presented. Two performance criterions: average system-output-SNR and the percentage of system-reliability are considered. The results show that, significant improvement can be obtained in the IMRC receiver performance, by using diversity combining.
Detecting Code Injection Attacks in Internet Explorer

Code injection vulnerabilities are a major threat to Internet security. The ability for a malicious website to install malware on a host using these vulnerabilities without its knowledge is particularly menacing. In this paper, we approach this problem from a new perspective by constructing a Markov chain graph from the system calls Internet Explorer executes and then modeling this graph over time. We apply a Gaussian process change-point algorithm to detect code injection attacks. To show the efficacy of this approach, we collect a novel dataset of system call traces of 6 code injection attacks using 3 distinct exploits against the Internet Explorer browser. Our algorithm was able to detect all of the code injection attacks with a limited number of false positives.
A Model for Distributed Curriculum on the World Wide Web

Educational material abounds on the Web, but still most designers of instructional material must start from scratch. Emerging interoperability standards for educational resources will accelerate progress toward reusability of this material. We describe a framework called Model for Distributed Curriculum (MDC) that uses a topic server architecture to allow one Web-based tutorial to include a specification for another tutorial, a "virtual tutorial", where the best fit to this specification will automatically be found at run time. This allows a designer of instructional material to re-use other Web-based tutorials without having to know what tutorials will exist at run time, i.e. without having to search and analyze material on the Web. Key to MDC is organizing Web-based curriculum into a "topic space" rather than a "page space," and making use of emerging metadata standards for educational resources to describe the pedagogically relevant properties of Web-based tutorials. Reviewers: Franz Schmalhofer (U. Kaiserslautern), Markus Stolze (IBM Research), Arthur Stutt (Open U.) This research is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation and the Advanced Research Projects Agency under Cooperative Agreement No. CDA-940860
On the spontaneous growth of soft metallic whiskers

The room temperature spontaneous growth of low melting point metal whiskers, such as Sn, poses a serious reliability problem in the semiconducting industry; a problem that has become acute with the introduction of Pb-free solder technology. Recently it was shown that the driving force is most probably a reaction between oxygen and the sprouting metal (Barsoum, 2004). The resulting volume expansion creates a compressive stress that pushes the whiskers up. The model proposed explains observations on In and Sn whiskers as well as many past observations. Herein further evidence is presented for, and discussion of, the proposed model. Stresses, calculated using finite element modeling, are reasonable and in line with measured values. Based on this work, a potential solution to the whisker problem is in principle simple: either slow or prevent the diffusion of oxygen into the soft metal or, more practically and effectively, work with larger grained solder, which should reduce the magnitude of the compressive stresses.
Fostering integrative problem solving in biomedical engineering: the PBL approach.

The rapidly changing ﬁeld of Biomedical Engineeringposes particular challenges for engineering education. Onthe educator front, medical technology changes at such arapid pace that it is hard is for BME educators to keepabreast of all the advancements in the related ﬁelds ofmolecular biology, computer science, tissue engineering,andgeneticengineering.Further,sincetextbooksforunder-graduate BME courses are few and far between, instructorseither have to patch together course material from multiplesources or use textbooks from related ﬁelds which ofteninvolves skipping over a great deal of irrelevant material.On the student front, the learning challenges are im-mense. The ﬁeld demands that students develop multi-disciplinary skills and knowledge in biology, chemistry,several engineering subdisciplines and computer science.They need the modeling and quantitative skills of tra-ditional engineers, but also the qualitative systems un-derstanding representative of a more biological approach.They also need exposure to the clinical side of the dis-cipline where design applications meet the real world ofpatients and doctors. In short, students need to be fullyconversant in three intellectual traditions, which are oftenat odds with one another and have historically been taughtby distinct faculties. For an individual to reconcile thesedisparate practices and historically separated intellectualtraditions she/he will need cognitive ﬂexibility and true in-tegrative thinking—appropriate learning goals for a BMEcurriculum.In an attempt to foster such integrative thinking andinterdisciplinary problem solving strategies, certain BMEprograms
Formulation of Canola-Diesel Microemulsion Fuels and Their Selective Diesel Engine Performance

Vegetable oils have been considered as an alternative to diesel fuel due to their comparable properties and performance. However, the high viscosity of vegetable oil causes engine durability problems with long-term usage. Vegetable oil viscosity can be reduced by blending with diesel fuel in thermodynamically stable mixtures using microemulsion fuel formulation techniques. This work focuses on the formulation of microemulsion fuels comprising diesel fuel and canola oil as the oil phase with ethanol and sec-butanol as viscosity reducers as well as 1-octanol and oleyl amine as surfactant/cosurfactant. Selective tests on an instrumented diesel engine were performed for formulated microemulsion fuels and No. 2 diesel fuel for comparison. The results show that formulated microemulsion fuels have fuel properties that meet the ASTM requirements for viscosity, cloud point, and pour point for biodiesel. Even more important, they have phase stability over a wide range of temperatures (−10 to 70 °C). Although all of the microemulsion fuels showed higher fuel consumption than diesel fuel, some of the microemulsion fuels had significantly reduced CO and NOx emissions as well as reduced particulates when compared to baseline diesel fuel. The research demonstrates the potential of these microemulsion fuels as alternative to neat diesel fuel.
ANALYSIS OF PREDATOR MOVEMENT IN PRAIRIE LANDSCAPES WITH CONTRASTING GRASSLAND COMPOSITION

Mammalian predation influences waterfowl breeding success in the U.S. northern Great Plains, yet little is known about the influence of the landscape on the ability of predators to find waterfowl nests. We used radiotelemetry to record nightly movements of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in two 41.4-km 2 study areas in North Dakota. Study areas contained either 15‐20% grassland (low grassland composition) or 45‐55% grassland (high grassland composition). Grasslands included planted cover, pastureland, and hayland. We predicted that the type and composition of cover types in the landscape would influence both predator movement across the landscape (as measured by the fractal dimension and displacement ratio) as well as localized movement (as measured by the rate of movement and turning angle between locations) within patches of different cover types. Red fox movements were straighter (lower fractal dimensions and higher displacements) across landscapes with a low grassland composition, indicating directed movement between the more isolated patches of planted cover. Striped skunk movements did not differ between landscape types, illustrating their movement along wetland edges, which had similar compositions in both landscape types. The high variability in turning angles by red fox in planted cover and pastureland in both landscape types is consistent with restricted-area foraging. The high rate of movement by red foxes in planted cover and by striped skunks in wetland edges suggests that spatial memory may influence movement patterns. Understanding the behavior of predators in fragmented prairie landscape is essential for managing breeding habitat for grassland birds and for predicting the spatial and temporal dynamics of predators and their prey.
Precision of Adjusted Variables by Least Squares

The principles of least squares adjustment of observations are described in this paper through the use of matrix algebra. Six possible cases of adjustment of observations are presented and completely solved. The precision estimates of the adjusted variables are being considered a part of the solution of each case. The general problem of least squares adjustment is then derived and solved through a simple approach. The solutions for two additional problems of adjustment are extracted from the solution of the general problem. In the same way, the solution of any particular case of adjustment can easily be found from that of the general problem. A summary for the equations which give the solution of most of the adjustment cases presented in this paper is given in tabulated form. A numerical example which solidifies the solution of the general problem of least squares is presented.
A chronic opioid therapy dose reduction policy in primary care.

ABSTRACTBackground: High-dose opioids prescribed for the treatment of chronic pain have been associated with increased risk of opioid overdose. Health systems and states have responded by developing opioid dose limitation policies. Little is known about how these policies affect prescribing practices or characteristics of patients who respond best to opioid tapers from high-dose opioids. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate change in total opioid dose after the implementation of a provider education intervention and a 120 mg morphine equivalents per day (MED) opioid dose limitation policy in one academic primary care clinic. We compared opioid prescriptions 1 year before and 1 year after the intervention. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess which patient characteristics predicted opioid dose reduction from high opioid dose. Results: Out of a total of 516 patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy, 116 patients (22%) were prescribed high-dose opioid t...
Integration of green design and manufacturing for sustainability in undergraduate engineering curriculum

Green design and manufacturing promises reduction in materials, energy use, disposal fees, and reduced pollution. Products should be designed keeping in mind the aspects of disassembly and recycling. Engineering curriculum has to catch up with the needs of society in general for sustainability considerations. There is no universal agreement on the particular goals to be pursued by green design. Some believe that green design and pollution prevention should be sole criteria; others focus on recycling to save raw materials, third group wants to direct all attention to global warming and environmental problem. Sometimes pollution prevention may be socially desirable but economically unwise. The most acceptable objective of green design and sustainable manufacturing can be stated clearly to develop more energy efficient devices that also reduce GHG & toxic gas emissions. The end-of-life considerations including recycling and reuse should be integrated in engineering curriculum. We can define green mechanical design as the selection of materials, processes, and geometry that satisfies specified and implied green functional requirements while remaining within the confines of unavoidable limitations. A curriculum revision and development of two separate courses on Green Design and Sustainable Manufacturing are being proposed. The course outlines are presented and they need to be integrated in undergraduate engineering curriculum. Engineers need an understanding of whole systems, life cycle, and end of life utility of the product and they have been emphasized in the course development.
Adding Consequence Information to Product Instructions: Changes in Hazard Perceptions:

Product instructions represent one possible medium through which product hazard and safety information can be conveyed. Recent research has demonstrated that the likelihood of precautionary behavior increases when such behaviors are explicitly described within the product-use instructions. Although precautionary information has been provided within the instructions, some users are unable to translate this information into action. Moreover, the inclusion of explicit actions within product-use instructions has not been shown to influence perceptions of product related hazards. The present effort evaluated the utility of adding consequence information to product instructions. A sample of 193 participants evaluated the likelihood that they would be injured while using two different products displaying instructions that outlined only the actions to be performed, actions followed by consequences, consequences followed by actions, and actions with the product warning repeated within the instructions. The data re...
Duty-cycle scheduling for intruder detection in wireless sensor networks

Energy consumption and detection delay are two major concerns in the application of intruder detection in sensor networks, where a low delay and a low energy consumption are hard to achieve at the same time. To address the problem, this paper proposes a novel duty-cycle scheduling scheme that minimizes the detection delay and energy consumption. To guarantee the detection, sensors are divided into shifts which monitor and scan the intruders in a distributed fashion. The scanning is performed by waking up the shifts in each group in turn under planned sequence. Extensive simulations show that the proposed scheme outperforms existing mechanism in terms of detection delay and energy consumption. It also achieves fault-tolerance when sensors fail.
The structural failures of the heavenly markets

Previous scholarship analyzing cross-sectional international data has noted that religious monopolies impede the efficiency of religious markets and that the benefits of competitive markets apply in religion as elsewhere. Our paper, analyzing U.S. state-level data, is premised on the complementary point that competitive markets in religion as elsewhere may fail if there are externalities, public goods, or asymmetries in information. In our model, we hypothesize that perfect competition will foster forms of religion that fail to create positive externalities and that in turn engender doubts about religious faith. We test empirically the Iannaccone hypothesis that more religious competition/diversity engenders more religious faith and our contrary hypothesis using state-level data showing overall levels of religious competition among Protestants provokes less religious faith.
Predicting Growth in Word Level Reading Skills in Children With Developmental Dyslexia Using an Object Rhyming Functional Neuroimaging Task

An object rhyming task that does not require text reading and is suitable for younger children was used to predict gains in word level reading skills following an intensive 2-year reading intervention for children with developmental dyslexia. The task evoked activation in bilateral inferior frontal regions. Growth in untimed pseudoword reading was associated with increased pre-intervention activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus, and growth in timed word reading was associated with pre-intervention activation of the left and right inferior frontal gyri. These analyses help identify pre-intervention factors that facilitate reading skill improvements in children with developmental dyslexia.
Isovector Effective Interactions. An Empirical Approach

In the last few years new data has been used to test more accurately models of the effective interactions which drive nucleon-nucleus scattering processes. At intermediate energies (E>100 MeV) where the impulse approximation is well justified, the effective interaction is identified with the free nucleon-nucleon t-matrix. At lower energies (E<100 MeV) nuclear medium effects become important and these effects need to be incorporated in the effective interaction via the G-matrix formalism. Charge exchange reactions uniquely select the isovector terms of the effective interaction and may be used to test the different models with data. The isovector terms may be empirically evaluated from a comparison of neutron and proton elastic scattering. If done in a model independent analysis, it provides a unique way to compare empirical and theoretical results.
Live Attenuated Borrelia burgdorferi Targeted Mutants in an Infectious Strain Background Protect Mice from Challenge Infection

Borrelia burgdorferi, B. garinii, and B. afzelii are all agents of Lyme disease in different geographic locations. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause significant and long-term morbidity, which may continue after appropriate antibiotic therapy has been administered and live bacteria are no longer detectable. The increasing incidence and geographic spread of Lyme disease are renewing interest in the vaccination of at-risk populations. We took the approach of vaccinating mice with two targeted mutant strains of B. burgdorferi that, unlike the parental strain, are avirulent in mice. Mice vaccinated with both strains were protected against a challenge with the parental strain and a heterologous B. burgdorferi strain by either needle inoculation or tick bite. In ticks, the homologous strain was eliminated but the heterologous strain was not, suggesting that the vaccines generated a response to antigens that are produced by the bacteria both early in mammalian infection and in the tick. Partial protection against B. garinii infection was also conferred. Protection was antibody mediated, and reactivity to a variety of proteins was observed. These experiments suggest that live attenuated B. burgdorferi strains may be informative regarding the identification of protective antigens produced by the bacteria and recognized by the mouse immune system in vivo Further work may illuminate new candidates that are effective and safe for the development of Lyme disease vaccines.
Medusa and Perseus, and the Relationship Between Myth and Science

This essay examines the Greek myth of Perseus killing the Gorgon Medusa as emblematic of the relationship between science and myth, and between culture and nature. While most people in the contemporary world dismiss myth as the product of a primitive imagination that has been superseded by scientific knowledge, scholars view myths as stories that are told and transmitted because they have social significance. Myths change to meet the interests and needs of their narrators and audiences. This will be demonstrated by examining three visual representations of the Medusa myth, as seen on three Greek vases (from 525 to 400 BC). In each case, the goddess Athena is a central figure for understanding how Perseus relates to Medusa. Athena not only gives him knowledge to defeat the monster, but she holds up her shield as a mirror through which he can reflect on his relationship to the Gorgon head. If Athena, the goddess of wisdom and technical skill, represents scientific knowledge and tools, what is the price a human like Perseus pays to conquer the sea goddess through Athena’s power? This essay juxtaposes myth and science as compatible but different discourses that in dialogue can suggest productive ways for human cultures to rethink and restructure themselves to live harmoniously with the physical world rather than to destroy it.
In silico analysis of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) polyprotein domains and their comparison with other pathogens and allergens to gain insight on pathogenicity mechanisms

Display Omitted Hepatitis C (HCV) is a Flaviviridae family virus causing acute or chronic liver inflammation.This in silico study analyses UniProt-retrieved HCV protein domains, using SMART tool and tailor-made scripts.Based on the results, insights on pathogenesis were garnered and hypotheses were formulated, worthy of empirical studies. Hepatitis C (HCV) is a deadly virus from family Flaviviridae, causing acute or chronic liver inflammation. Given its lethality and no known vaccine to curb it, understanding its pathogenic mechanism is critical. By analyzing the domains in its protein sequence, a plethora can be learnt about its immune manipulation strategies. In this regard, current in silico study compares publicly-available HCV polyprotein sequences and their domain profiles. Apart from using UniProt sequences and SMART (Simple modular architecture research tool) platform for domain profiling, a set of customized scripts were developed to extract the patterns of protein domain distribution. Also, the total domain set in representative HCV polyprotein sequences were compared with that of other viral pathogens (Ebola, HIV, Dengue, Zika) and allergens (plant pollen, cockroach allergens) to find the conserved domains of key role in pathogenesis.
An Analysis of Motivation in Three Self-Determination Curricula.

Self-determination skill development is a central construct in the field of secondary special education. Recently, there has been discussion to revisit the motivational theoretical roots that influ...
How does the gonad affect LHRH secretion? Effects of gonadectomy on LHRH release from median eminence nerve terminals incubated in vitro and on LHRH concentration in hypophyseal portal blood.

It is well established that the central nervous system exerts an important influence on many aspects of reproductive function, particularly by controlling the secretion of pituitary gonadotropins. This is accomplished by way of specific brain messengers which, in turn, regulate pituitary endocrine function. The primary hypothalamic hormonal messenger regulating luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion is the decapeptide LHRH, which is synthetized as a large molecular weight prohormone in the neuronal cell bodies. After axonal transport, the mature decapeptide LHRH is stored in nerve terminals in the median eminence (ME) from which it is secreted into the hypophyseal portal circulation. The secretion of LHRH seems to be under the influence of multifactorial regulatory mechanisms in which numerous extracellular messengers may participate, including the catecholamines (Negro-Vilar et al., 1979), peptides (Valenca et al., 1985; Kalra and Kalra, 1984) and sex steroid hormones (Rudenstein et al., 1979; Kalra and Kalra, 1984). A review of some of these regulatory mechanisms is included in this volume (see chapter by Negro-Vilar, Valenca and Culler).
Self-assembled nanostructures in mixed III–V and III–N layers and their influence on emitters

Abstract It is demonstrated that atomic species differing in covalent tetrahedral radii are not randomly distributed in mixed III–V and III–N layers. They self-assemble into phase separated and ordered regions. The salient features of phase separation in InGaAsP and InGaN layers are presented and discussed. The occurrence of atomic ordering in InGaAsP, InGaAs, and InGaN layers is considered. The mechanisms of the formation of double and triple period super-lattices in arsenides and phosphides are presented. The influence of these microstructural features on the degradation resistance of III–V emitters is discussed.
Functionalized polymer-iron oxide hybrid nanofibers: Electrospun filtration devices for metal oxyanion removal

Via a single-pot electrospinning synthesis, we developed a functionalized polymer-metal oxide nanofiber filter for point of use (POU) water treatment of metal oxyanions (e.g., arsenate and chromate). Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) functionalization was accomplished by inclusion of surface-active, quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) [cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB)] that provide strong base ion exchange sites. Embedded iron oxide [ferrihydrite (Fh)] nanoparticles were used for their established role as metal sorbents. We examined the influence of QAS and Fh loading on composite properties, including nanofiber morphology, surface area, surface chemical composition, and the accessibility of embedded nanoparticles to solution. Composite performance was then evaluated using kinetic, isotherm, and pH-edge sorption experiments with arsenate and chromate, and benchmarked to unmodified PAN nanofibers and freely dispersed Fh nanoparticles. We also assessed the long-term stability of QAS in the composite matrix. For composites containing QAS or Fh nanoparticles, increasing QAS/Fh nanoparticle loading generally yielded increasing metal oxyanion uptake. The optimized composite (PAN 7 wt%, Fh 3 wt%, TBAB 1 wt%) exhibited two distinct sites for simultaneous, non-competitive metal binding (i.e., iron oxide sites for arsenate removal via sorption and well-retained QAS sites for chromate removal via ion exchange). Moreover, surface-segregating QAS enriched Fh abundance at the nanofiber surface, allowing immobilized nanoparticles to exhibit reactivity comparable to that of unsupported (i.e., suspended or freely dispersed) nanoparticles. To simulate POU application, the optimized composite was tested in a dead-end, flow-through filtration system for arsenate and chromate removal at environmentally relevant concentrations (e.g., μg/L) in both idealized and simulated tap water matrices. Performance trends indicate that dual mechanisms for uptake are maintained in kinetically limited regimes. Although chromate removal via ion exchange is more susceptible to interfering counter-ions, arsenate removal in simulated tap water indicates that ∼130 g of the composite could produce an individual's annual supply of drinking water (assuming an influent contaminated with 100 μg As/L, which is 10 times the current MCL).
Approaching TERRA Firma: Genomic Functions of Telomeric Noncoding RNA.

Functions of the telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcribed from telomeres, have eluded researchers. In this issue of Cell, Graf el al. and Chu et al. uncover new regulatory roles for TERRA at the telomere and at distant genomic sites.
Anesthesia-Related Outcomes for Endovascular Stroke Revascularization: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and Purpose— There is currently controversy on the ideal anesthesia strategy during mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients undergoing general anesthesia (GA group) and those receiving either local anesthesia or conscious sedation (non-GA group). Methods— A literature search on anesthesia and endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke was performed. Using random-effects meta-analysis, we evaluated the following outcomes: recanalization rate, good functional outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Score≤2), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, death, vascular complications, respiratory complications, procedure time, and time to groin puncture. Results— Twenty-two studies (3 randomized controlled trials and 19 observational studies), including 4716 patients (1819 GA and 2897 non-GA) were included. In the nonadjusted analysis, patients in the GA group had higher odds of death (odds ratio [OR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66–2.45) and respiratory complications (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.22–2.37) and lower odds of good functional outcome (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.48–0.64) compared with the non-GA group. There was no difference in procedure time between the 2 primary comparison groups. When adjusting for baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, GA was still associated with lower odds of good functional outcome (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.29–0.94). When considering studies performed in the stent-retriever/aspiration era, there was no significant difference in good neurological outcome rates (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.67–1.06). Conclusions— Acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing intra-arterial therapy may have worse outcomes when treated with GA as compared with conscious sedation/local anesthesia. However, major limitations of current evidence (ie, retrospective studies and selection bias) indicate a need for adequately powered, multicenter randomized controlled trials to answer this question.
School Fights: Resisting Oppression in the Classroom in Gloria Velásquez’s Latina/o Young Adult Novel Juanita Fights the School Board

There is a long history of discrimination and marginalization of Chicanas/Latinas in the classroom due to xenophobia, language barriers, citizenship status, oversexualization, and much more. Through an analysis of Gloria Velasquez’s (Juanita Fights the School Board, Pinata Books, Houston, 1995) I seek to demonstrate the ways in which Chicanas/Latinas have been resisting the oppressions they experience in the classroom by creating alternative ways of knowing. In Velasquez’s narrative, Juanita is expelled for fighting and must appear before the school board to make a case for why she should be allowed to return to school. As the novel progresses, it is revealed that the policies, teachers, and administrators of Roosevelt High School are biased against students of color. By way of Juanita Fights the School Board, I introduce my concept of “conocimiento narratives” as a way to read stories like these as having the potential for healing in the lives of Chicanas/Latinas. Juanita uses the knowledges imparted by her family, her communities, and her culture to challenge and transform the discrimination she experiences at school.
Evaluation of a multicomponent pathway to address inpatient delirium on a neurosciences ward.

Delirium is a frequent and detrimental complication of inpatient hospitalization. Multicomponent intervention in selected groups has been shown to prevent and treat delirium, though little data exists on the effect of intervention in neurological patients. We studied the efficacy of a multicomponent delirium care pathway implemented on a largely neurology and neurosurgery hospital ward among unselected patients. We incorporated a multicomponent delirium care pathway into the workflow of a university hospital for patients older than 50 years. The pathway involved risk-stratification for development of delirium, delirium screening, and non-pharmacologic behavioral prevention and intervention. We then retrospectively reviewed admissions before and after implementation of the care pathway. Our primary endpoint was incidence of delirium; secondary endpoints included delirium days, length of stay, restraint use, readmission rates, and discharge disposition. Seven hundred ninety eight admissions from before the delirium care pathway went into effect and 797 admissions from afterwards were reviewed. Baseline characteristics between groups were similar. Delirium incidence between the two groups did not change (7.0% before vs 7.2% after, p = 0.89). Length of stay among delirious patients significantly decreased after implementation of the delirium care pathway (9.60 before vs 7.06 after, β = − 0.16, adjusted p-value = 0.001). Implementation of a delirium care pathway on a neurosciences ward was not associated with changes in the rate of delirium development, though length of stay among delirious patients decreased. In a largely neurologic population, multicomponent intervention to prevent and treat delirium may not change delirium incidence, but may be effective in mitigating delirium complications.
Childhood Plaque Psoriasis: Case Report of Successful Treatment with Ustekinumab and Review of Systemic Therapies:

Pediatric onset of psoriasis occurs in up to one third of psoriasis patients. Although the majority of pediatric patients with plaque psoriasis have mild disease that can be controlled with topical...
Model checking epistemic and probabilistic properties of multi-agent systems

Model checking, a formal automatic verification method, has been widely used in multi-agent systems to verify specifications that contain qualitative properties (e.g safety and liveliness) and quantitative properties. Decision making processes based on inherent knowledge are necessary for agents to act appropriately, particularly in uncertain settings. In order to check epistemic (i.e knowledge) and measurable properties in multi-agent systems, we propose a new logic PCTLK, which uses probabilistic, epistemic, and temporal modal operators. We exploit Discrete-Time Markov Chains (DTMC), in which we are able to represent measurable properties with probability, to model uncertainty in multi-agent systems. We extend the formalism of interpreted systems by adding probabilistic features to suit DTMC models and to present the model checking algorithm for our logic. At the end of this paper, we simulate our algorithm using an example of online shopping.