cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
IPS-1 is essential for the control of West Nile virus infection and immunity.

The innate immune response is essential for controlling West Nile virus (WNV) infection but how this response is propagated and regulates adaptive immunity in vivo are not defined. Herein, we show that IPS-1, the central adaptor protein to RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling, is essential for triggering of innate immunity and for effective development and regulation of adaptive immunity against pathogenic WNV. IPS-1−/− mice exhibited increased susceptibility to WNV infection marked by enhanced viral replication and dissemination with early viral entry into the CNS. Infection of cultured bone-marrow (BM) derived dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages (Macs), and primary cortical neurons showed that the IPS-1-dependent RLR signaling was essential for triggering IFN defenses and controlling virus replication in these key target cells of infection. Intriguingly, infected IPS-1−/− mice displayed uncontrolled inflammation that included elevated systemic type I IFN, proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses, increased numbers of inflammatory DCs, enhanced humoral responses marked by complete loss of virus neutralization activity, and increased numbers of virus-specific CD8+ T cells and non-specific immune cell proliferation in the periphery and in the CNS. This uncontrolled inflammatory response was associated with a lack of regulatory T cell expansion that normally occurs during acute WNV infection. Thus, the enhanced inflammatory response in the absence of IPS-1 was coupled with a failure to protect against WNV infection. Our data define an innate/adaptive immune interface mediated through IPS-1-dependent RLR signaling that regulates the quantity, quality, and balance of the immune response to WNV infection.
SimiCon: a web tool for protein–ligand model comparison through calculation of equivalent atomic contacts

Summary: SimiCon is a web server designed for an automated identification of equivalent protein–ligand atomic contacts in different conformational models of a complex. The contacts are computed with internal coordinate mechanics (ICM) software with respect to molecular symmetry and the results are shown in the browser as text, tables and interactive 3D graphics. The web server can be executed remotely without a browser to allow users to automate multiple calculations. Availability: SimiCon is freely available at http://abagyan.ucsd.edu/SimiCon Contact: ude.dscu@naygabar
Design and performance of a fault-tolerant real-time CORBA event service

Developing distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems in which multiple quality-of-service (QoS) dimensions must be managed is an important and challenging problem. This paper makes three contributions to research on multi-dimensional QoS for DRE systems. First, it describes the design and implementation of a fault-tolerant real-time CORBA event service for the ACE ORB (TAO). Second, it describes our enhancements and extensions to features in TAO, to integrate real-time and fault tolerance properties. Third, it presents an empirical evaluation of our approach. Our results show that with some refinements, real-time and fault-tolerance features can be integrated effectively and efficiently in a CORBA event service.
The Economics of Promotion and Relegation in Sports Leagues The Case of English Football

In most of the world’s professional sports leagues, the worst teams in better leagues are demoted while the best teams in weaker leagues are promoted. This article examines the economics of promoti...
Ionic Processes in the Luminescence of High-Energy Excited Systems

The results obtained with charge scavengers confirm the assumption that ionic reactions are involved in the luminescence of high-energy-excited, dilute solutions of organic scintillators in aliphatic solvents. The non-exponentiality of the luminescence decay can be understood as the result of the neutralization of scintillator ions with non-uniform distribution. Within a limited time range, the neutralization may be treated as resulting from electrostatic interaction between ion pairs. An exponential distribution function for ion pair separation is obtained. Our current theoretical concepts of the interaction of high energy radiation with condensed media are presently being tested by extension of our luminescence decay-time studies and techniques to excitation by more energetic γ-radiation (for which short tracks are expected to play a smaller role). For such excitation, the luminescence decay curves should, according to the view here presented, differ from those obtained with soft x-rays.
W. Proctor Harvey: A master clinician-teacher's influence on the history of cardiovascular medicine

Medicine has become driven by research and technology, both of which have yielded indisputable benefits. Yet we are now so dependent upon such advancements that many practitioners have lost the basic clinical skills that enable bedside diagnosis. In the 2nd half of the 20th century, W. Proctor Harvey helped to keep alive the classic art of medicine. (Tex Heart Inst J 2002;29:182–92)
Predator‐induced modifications to diving behavior vary with foraging mode

Breath-hold divers are strongly interacting species whose top – down infl uence on aquatic communities is shaped by factors governing their diving decisions. Although some of these factors (e.g. physiological constraints, energetic needs) have been scrutinized, the possibility that predation risk infl uences diving behavior has been largely overlooked, and no study to date has asked if anti-predator responses by divers depend on foraging mode. We contrasted dive cycle changes by herbivorous dugongs Dugong dugon using two foraging tactics – cropping, which always permits anti-predator vigilance, and excavation, which limits surveillance at depth – in response to temporal variation in tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier abundance. Dugongs responded to increasing shark abundance (one component of predation risk) by diving more frequently without changing their surface times and thereby spending a greater proportion of time at the surface, but only while excavating. When threatened, in other words, excavating dugongs sacrifi ced foraging time at depth to facilitate shark detection. In contrast, cropping dugongs at risk from sharks were able to continue diving and foraging normally. By implication, future studies should consider the infl uence of predation risk on diving decisions, even by large-bodied species, and the possibility that behavioral responses by divers to predators may vary with foraging mode.
Management of neoplasms of the head and neck in children. I. Benign tumors

The otolaryngologist who treats children must have knowledge of the neoplasms that can occur in childhood. Such tumors are usually mesenchymal in origin and may be benign or malignant. Diagnosis and management of the more common benign tumors are undertaken by the otolaryngologist because local excision is generally curative. The proper treatment of malignant lesions requires a more extensive, multidisciplinary team, which includes a pediatric oncologist, diagnostic and therapeutic radiologist, and pathologist, in addition to the otolaryngologist. The purposes of this paper are to outline the types of benign and malignant neoplasms that occur in childhood and to discuss current approaches to therapy.
An Atypical Case of Islet Cell Hyperplasia in a Wistar Rat

The present article describes an unusual proliferative islet finding observed incidentally in a young male Wistar rat in a 2-week toxicity study. Histologically, the islet lesion was characterized by diffuse enlargement of the islets, which consisted of peripheral proliferation of non-insulin-containing islet cells surrounding normal-appearing insulin-containing cells in the center. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous proliferative islet lesion composed of non-insulin-containing cells in young rats.
Exploiting the bad eating habits of Ras-driven cancers

Oncogenic Ras promotes glucose fermentation and glutamine use to supply central carbon metabolism, but how and why have only emerged recently. Ras-mediated metabolic reprogramming generates building blocks for growth and promotes antioxidant defense. To fuel metabolic pathways, Ras scavenges extracellular proteins and lipids. To bolster metabolism and mitigate stress, Ras activates cellular self-cannibalization and recycling of proteins and organelles by autophagy. Targeting these distinct features of Ras-driven cancers provides novel approaches to cancer therapy.
A 0.622–10Gb/s inductorless adaptive linear equalizer with spectral tracking for data rate adaptation in 0.13-μm CMOS

This paper presents an adaptive equalizer based on dual-loop balancing technique and a third order nested feedback equalizing filter to achieve data rate up to 10Gb/s without using inductors. A spectral balancing circuit adjusts the equalizer boost, while a second servo loop automatically tracks the data rate using self-calibration and re-tunes the filters for optimal equalization. Third order nested feedback is introduced in the equalizing filters to compensate for ∼15dB channel loss for a highest data rate of 10Gb/s. Implemented in IBM 0.13-μm CMOS technology, the equalizer maintains an eye opening of 0.26, 0.44 and 0.5UI with BER<10−12 for 5 Gb/s, 8.5Gb/s and 10Gb/s PRBS31 inputs, respectively. The chip dissipates 130 mW from a 1.2V power supply, while occupying an active area of 0.34 mm2.
Bilateral Predictions in a Multilateral World? Revisting the Theory

This paper addresses Choi and Krishna's (2004) recent empirical test of a bilateral factor content of trade prediction, originally developed by Helpman (1984). I revisit the theory and show that, contrary to common belief, Helpman's paper does not generalize Brecher and Choudhri's 2-country prediction on the factor content of trade to multiple countries. I reconsider Helpman's proof and show that bilateral factor price differences restrict an arbitrary number of bilateral and multilateral factor flows. This implies that the basic lesson from the comparative advantage commodity trade literature applies also to the factor content of trade: bilateral comparisons are not relevant in a multi-country world.
Impossibility Attempts: A Speculative Thesis

Courts and commentators have struggled for years to identify rules to explain and justify certain widely-shared intuitions about impossibility attempts, and they have proposed rules variously based upon (1) what mistakes actors make, (2) what intentions actors possess, and (3) what conduct actors perform. None of the proposals fully succeeds, however, and none is able to explain the widely-shared intuition, which underlies Sandy Kadish's inventive hypothetical regarding Mr. Law and Mr. Fact, that some attempts based upon mistakes of law are just as blameworthy as attempts based upon mistakes of fact. I propose an alternative rule that, I believe, not only explains where and why people possess widely-shared intuitions regarding impossibility attempts (including regarding Mr. Law and Mr. Fact), but also explains where and why people have conflicting intuitions. I argue that widely-shared intuitions of blameworthiness and non-blameworthiness regarding impossibility attempts are a function, respectively, of whether informed citizens of the jurisdiction that enacted the statutory offense that the defendant allegedly attempted to commit widely believe or disbelieve that he would have been a threat to interests that the statute seeks to protect - a determination, in turn, that is a function of whether they widely believe or disbelieve that he would have committed the offense under counterfactual circumstances that they fear could have obtained.
Challenge Engineering and Design of Analog Push Pull Amplifier Based Physically Unclonable Function for Hardware Security

In the recent past, Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) have been proposed as a way of implementing security in modern ICs. PUFs are hardware designs that exploit the randomness in silicon manufacturing processes to create IC-specific signatures for silicon authentication. While prior PUF designs have been largely digital, in this work we propose a novel PUF design based on transfer function variability of an analog push-pull amplifier under process variations. A differential amplifier architecture is proposed with digital interfaces to allow the PUF to be used in digital as well as mixed-signal SoCs. A key innovation is digital stimulus engineering for the analog amplifier that allows 2X improvements in the uniqueness of IC signatures generated over arbiter-based digital PUF architectures, while maintaining high signature reliability over +/- 10 % voltage and -20 to 120 degree Celsius temperature variation. The proposed PUF is also resistive to model building attacks as the internal analog operation of the PUF is difficult to reverse-engineer due to the continuum of internal states involved. We show the benefits of the proposed PUF through comparison with a traditional arbiter-based digital PUF using simulation experiments.
Demonstrating HighFiveLive: A mobile application for recognizing symbolic gestures

Gestures are an important part of our social fabric, aiding our speech (and sometimes standing in for it) in face-to-face communications. In this demonstration, we present HighFiveLive, a smartwatch application that uses data from an onboard accelerometer to detect and classify fine-grained symbolic gestures, which convey semantic meaning and have social significance. We apply logistic regression to learn a representative model of 9 symbolic gestures as performed by 32 users; in an offline evaluation study, the model accurately classifies 92% of recognized gestures. Building on this work, we deploy the learned model in our HighFiveLive mobile application, which detects and classifies symbolic gestures in real-time as they are performed. HighFiveLive is implemented as an Android application with connection to a wrist-worn accelerometer stream (such as a Microsoft Band) as well as a standalone Apple Watch application.
Control Strategy Study of Dynamic Voltage Restorer

Aiming to the voltage compensation strategies of dynamic voltage restorer(DVR),this paper first introduces methods including voltage compensation before drop,same phase voltage compensation,minimum energy compensation,etc.Then vector plot is used to analyze the mechanisms of these compensation methods.Method determining optimum DVR compensation point is proposed based on previous theories.DVRs using this control method not only conserve DC side stored energy,and prolong voltage compensation time,but also avoid DC side over-voltage threat caused by energy back flow due to system side voltage rise.Finally,the effectiveness of this method is validated through simulation test.
BPD Following Preterm Birth: A Model for Chronic Lung Disease and a Substrate for ARDS in Childhood.

It has been suggested that pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) may be a different entity, vis-a-vis adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), based on its epidemiology and outcomes. A more pediatric-specific definition of PARDS to include the subgroup of patients with underlying lung (and heart) disease has been proposed. Epidemiological data suggest that up to 13% of the children with ARDS have a history of prematurity and/or underlying chronic lung disease. However, the specific contribution of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the most common chronic lung disease in infants, to the development of PARDS is not known. BPD leads to damaged lungs with long-term consequences secondary to disordered growth and immune function. These damaged lungs could potentially act as a substrate, which given the appropriate noxious stimuli, can predispose a child to PARDS. Interestingly, similar biomarkers [KL-6, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, sICAM-1, angiopoietin-2, and matrix metalloproteinase-8 and -9] of pulmonary injury have been associated both with BPD and ARDS. Recognition of a unique pattern of clinical symptomatology and/or outcomes of PARDS, if present, could potentially be useful for investigating targeted therapeutic interventions.
Ecological niche modelling requires real presence data and appropriate study regions: a comment on Medone et al. (2015).

Medone et al. [[1][1]] used ecological niche modelling (ENM) analyses to assess the climatic suitability expected by the year 2050 in Venezuela and Argentina for two vectors of Chagas disease, the kissing bugs Rhodnius prolixus and Triatoma infestans . Based on these analyses, and on epidemiological
Iron-Zinc Interactions in Relation to Infant Weaning Foods

High intakes of iron have been shown to impair zinc absorption, and this may have important implications for infants fed iron-supplemented foods1. A series of experiments were performed in rats to investigate the interaction between iron and zinc in detail, and to determine the effects of iron fortification of weaning foods on iron and zinc status.
Visible light based activity sensing using ceiling photosensors

This paper explores the feasibility of tracking motion and activities of humans using visible light. Shadows created by casting visible light on humans and objects are sensed using sensors that are embedded along with the light sources. Existing Visible Light Sensing (VLS) techniques require either light sensors deployed on the floor or a person carrying a device. Our approach seeks to measure light reflected off the floor to achieve an entirely device-free and light-source based system. We co-locate photosensors with LED light sources to observe the changes in light level occurring on the floor. Our system also uses a sensitive standard difference measurement technique to detect small voltage changes, together with a time division flickering scheme to differentiate between light nodes. We evaluate the feasibility of our system in detecting simple activities, and show that it can detect door opening events at 12% Equal Error Rate.
Geographic, Network, and Competitor Social Cues: Evidence from U.S. Venture Capitalists Internationalization Decisions

Research summary We examine how social cues drive strategic decision making under uncertainty, specifically in the context of U.S. VC firms’ first internationalization decisions. We compare the relative impacts of cues from: (a) geographically proximal firms, (b) syndicate partners, and (c) VCs investing in the same industries as the focal firm. Over the 23-year period from 1990 to 2012, we find that cues from geographically proximal peers are important, while syndicate partner actions play a significant but smaller role in driving focal firm internationalization decisions. Analogous, firm-specific experience in the form of nonlocal (but domestic) investing attenuates the effect of geographically proximal peers. Our findings have important implications on how the nature of information from social cues affects imitation decisions. Managerial summary The U.S. venture capital industry has globalized rapidly over the past two decades, but the decision to invest abroad is still a highly uncertain one, particularly for firms with no prior global experience. We examine the extent to which such initial internationalization decisions are driven by social cues, comparing the relative impacts of social cues from: (a) geographically proximal firms, (b) syndicate partners, and (c) VCs investing in the same industries as the focal firm. We find that the foreign investment decisions of geographically proximal peers have the strongest impact, while syndicate partner actions play a smaller role. The impacts of geographically proximal peers are also weaker for firms that have analogous experience, in the form of nonlocal (but domestic) investing. Copyright © 2017 Strategic Management Society
Home Modification Outcomes in the Residences of Older People as a Result of Cougar Home Safety Assessment (Version 4.0) Recommendations

The purpose of this study was to determine if recommendations made as a result of the administration of the Cougar Home Safety Assessment Version 4.0 (CHSA 4.0) were effective in causing older residents to make environmental safety modifications in their homes. Initial data were collected during the administration of the CHSA 4.0 in the homes of 40 older people in four northeastern states. After completing the initial assessments, the researchers provided the participants with recommendations for improving the environmental safety of their homes. Approximately one month later, each home was reassessed with the CHSA 4.0. Overall, improvement in environmental safety was demonstrated in the homes with the greatest increases being in fire safety, emergency phone number placement, and bathroom safety. A t-test demonstrated a significant gain in compliance (t = 7.8, p < .001) by comparing the difference between the mean initial and reassessment home safety scores. A very large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.7) was also found, indicating a high magnitude of difference between initial and reassessment safety ratings. The assessment proved to be beneficial in increasing the environmental safety of homes.
Some L p -Topics

Fix n ≥ 1, write B n for B, temporarily, let s be a nonnegative integer, and let P be the orthogonal projection of ℂ n+s onto ℂ n (regarding ℂ n as the subspace of ℂ n+s defined by z n+1 = ... = z n+s = 0).
The Epidemiology of Obesity and Hematologic Malignancies

Evidence from epidemiologic studies suggests that excess body fat may influence risk for hematologic malignancies including multiple myeloma, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and leukemia. Mechanisms related to adiposity and its effects on energy metabolism, immune function, and the endocrine environment are thought to act in the pathways that give rise to these malignancies. The research literature on this topic, however, is as yet insufficient for conclusion, and much more data may be required before any association between excess weight and this diverse group of cancers can be reliably established. Existing data to support such an association are compelling nonetheless and, given the extent and magnitude of the obesity epidemic and its implications for human health, deserve an exhaustive scientific evaluation. The aims of this chapter are to summarize the current state of research on obesity and hematologic malignancies in adults and children, and provide a focus for future study in this area.
Neuropsychological Functioning of Youth Receiving Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment.

Objective Chronic pain is associated with school difficulties; however, there is limited published evidence on the cognitive or neuropsychological functioning of youth with chronic pain. Method When beginning intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment, 94 youth (age = 10-18) with chronic pain completed neuropsychological assessment (e.g., intelligence, academic skills, learning and recall, and attention) and clinical questionnaires (e.g., pain and physical and psychological functioning). We compared neuropsychological scores with test norms and with clinical questionnaires. Results Youth with chronic pain had higher verbal comprehension and full scale IQ scores than expected, below-average nondominant hand dexterity, and difficulty with visual recall. Self-reported difficulties with executive functioning were associated with small-to-moderate difficulties with objectively measured attention. Performance on neuropsychological measures was generally not associated with pain, impairment, anxiety, or depression, though catastrophizing was negatively correlated with perceptual reasoning. An expected number of these youth had learning disorders (14%); however, more than expected had an autism spectrum disorder (9%) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (18%), and nearly a quarter demonstrated characteristics of nonverbal learning disability (22%). Conclusions Some of these cognitive findings may be a consequence of chronic pain, and others may reflect subtle neurodevelopmental differences that may predate or be comorbid with pain. Regardless of etiology, with more than half the current sample experiencing some type of learning challenge, often undiagnosed, pediatric psychologists evaluating youth with chronic pain may wish to screen for comorbid learning difficulties.
Evidence for peptidoglycan-associated protein(s) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Abstract Growth pH markedly influenced the composition of the cell envelope of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . The composition of the peptidoglycan from cells grown at pH 7.2 and 8.0 consisted primarily (91%) of muramic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, meso -diaminopimelic acid, and glucosamine in approximate molar ratios of 1:1:2:1:1. The peptidoglycan from cells grown at pH 6.0 contained an accessory protein(s) which accounted for 42% of the weight of the isolated complex.
Systemic Treatment for Unresectable Thyroid Carcinoma: Comprehensive Approach

Thyroid carcinomas comprise a diverse range of malignancies that all have potential for metastatic spread. They range from microscopic papillary carcinomas, which can be completely in situ or are unlikely to spread beyond local lymphatic regions, to rare and extremely aggressive anaplastic carcinomas that are almost invariably distantly metastatic at the time of diagnosis. Management of the primary tumor is typically initiated with surgical thyroidectomy and some degree of lymph node resection appropriate to the disease presentation. After surgery, thyroid epithelial malignancies of papillary or follicular histologies, including their many variants, receive radioiodine adjuvant therapy and lifelong monitoring. This suffices for the majority of such malignancies. On the other hand, around ten percent of these thyroid cancers, as well as all medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancers, are unable to concentrate radioiodine and require different therapeutic strategies.
Lie Subgroups of \mathrm{GL}(n, \mathbb{C})

If U is an open subset of \({\mathbb{R}}^{n}\), we say that a map \(\phi: U\longrightarrow {\mathbb{R}}^{m}\) is smooth if it has continuous partial derivatives of all orders. More generally, if \(X \subset {\mathbb{R}}^{n}\) is not necessarily open, we say that a map \(\phi: X\longrightarrow {\mathbb{R}}^{n}\) is smooth if for each x ∈ X there exists an open set U of \({\mathbb{R}}^{n}\) containing \(x\) such that ϕ can be extended to a smooth map on U. A diffeomorphism of \(X \subseteq {\mathbb{R}}^{n}\) with \(Y \subseteq {\mathbb{R}}^{m}\) is a homeomorphism \(F: X\longrightarrow Y\) such that both F and F −1 are smooth. We will assume as known the following useful criterion.
Psychopharmaceutical Restoration to Present Sanity (Mental Competency to Stand Trial)

Defendants considered under the influence of drugs have usually been found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial. In recent years the advent of psychopharmaceuticals in treatment of the mentally ill has created a number of interesting questions for psychiatry and law. How should the mentally ill defendant under the influence of psychotherapeutic drugs be considered? How mentally impaired should such a defendant be in order to be considered mentally incompetent to stand trial? What legal standards apply? Does the standard for level of competency differ, if the defendant is on psychopharmaceuticals? If his mental impairment has improved under the influence of drugs, should these drugs be removed in order for him to demonstrate his capacity for mental competency without drugs? If so, how long should such a drug-free period be before his return to trial? Should he be denied the right to stand trial while still under the influence of such drugs? If he relapses into mental illness after psychotherapeutic drugs have been discontinued, how does this affect his mental competency to stand trial? If he demonstrates that he requires ongoing medication for continued suppression of his impairing symptoms, can he then be returned to trial while under the influence of these drugs? For how long a period of time on drugs during which time he demonstrates mental competency to stand trial should he be considered mentally incompetent to stand trial? And finally, what trends are visible in the psychiatric and legal literature that predict the future direction of psychiatry and law in answering these questions?
Transport of Gases Between the Alveolus and the Blood

The gases within the exchange portion of the alveoli arrive there in part by bulk flow and in part by diffusion. Transfer across the alveolar surface from the alveolus to the blood occurs by diffusion alone. The barrier to this diffusion, the alveolocapillary membrane is thin but complex. After the nature of the barrier is given its obligatory description, we can safely consider it as a uniform structure for the time being. We will return to effects of variations in its composition later. For simplicity, this following discussion will emphasize the transport of oxygen from the alveolus to the blood. The transport of carbon dioxide across this barrier differs only slightly, other than in its direction.
Diversity dolls: a creative teaching method for encouraging social work students to develop empathy and understanding for vulnerable populations

This paper describes the use of a new teaching method that was developed to encourage students in their first years of study in social work at the Department of Social Work in Athens/Greece to impr...
An experimental investigation of changing cut mark cross-sectional size during butchery: Implications for interpreting tool-assisted carcass processing from cut mark samples

Abstract Butchery occurs at the intersection between technology, carcass processing behavior, and animal anatomy, and records traces on fragmentary specimens including cut marks. The causal factors and contexts that generate bone surface modifications have been well-studied in experimental archaeology but the ways in which cut mark size or morphology change with time during butchery in response to tool edge dulling or carcass desiccation is currently unknown. This study examines cut mark cross-sectional width and depth change during a sequence of experimental butchery trials that control for the effects of animal size, bone portion density, tool weight, and flake versus core tool type. Mark size is measured from vinyl molds under low-power magnification (40×) and compared to more precise 3d measurement techniques. Tool type and the order of carcass segment defleshing was systematically varied across the experiment, and a linear mixed effect regression model was used to explore the impact of these fixed factors and consider random variability introduced by potential differences in the four cows butchered by eight tools. Mark width and depth samples were negatively related to the density of the portion where marks occur, tool weight had a weak, but significant influence on mark size, and marks incised at different stages in the sequence of defleshing events were similar in width and depth. With current measurement techniques and the large variability in mark size produced during butchery, it is not impossible to infer the timing of mark creation during a tool's use life or its place in a sequence of butchery events, but methodological advancement may overturn this pessimistic conclusion.
Forum 4: the environmental privilege of borders in the anthropocene

ABSTRACTMobility can indicate a powerful or privileged relationship with one’s environment. The ability to exercise mobility or not (of oneself or others) is an exertion of power that demarcates wh...
A new passivity-based nonlinear causal control technique for wave energy converters with finite stroke

A new technique is proposed for the design of nonlinear causal feedback controllers for wave energy converters, which explicitly protect against stroke saturation. The technique is an improvement of a technique originally proposed in [1]. The primary challenge associated with the problem is the design of nonlinear controllers for which global closed-loop stability can be assured with probability 1 for stationary stochastic response, without also unduly sacrificing power generation performance. The proposed technique consists of three steps: 1) designing a linear feedback controller using multi-objective optimization techniques; 2) augmenting this design with an extra input channel that adheres to a closed-loop passivity condition; and 3) designing an outer, nonlinear passive feedback loop that controls this augmented input in such a way as to ensure stroke limits are maintained. The primary contribution of this paper is a fundamental improvement to the second of these steps, for which the previous technique was not guaranteed to return a valid solution. The proposed technique, by contrast, is shown to always produce a nonlinear controller with the desired properties, under very general modeling assumptions. The technique is illustrated on a simple heaving-buoy wave energy converter example.
Patient-reported Symptom Outcomes and Microsatellite Instability in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Abstract Background The survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is influenced by the genetic and epigenetic changes that might influence the patient experience of symptom burden. Understanding the association of molecular changes with the symptom burden could help clinicians gain insight into the molecular basis of symptom burden and improve treatment tolerance. To date, no studies have compared the patient-reported symptom burden with these molecular subsets among patients with mCRC. Patients and Methods We recruited patients with mCRC that was refractory to ≥ 1 line of therapy who had been enrolled in the Assessment of Targeted Therapies Against Colorectal Cancer trial at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. All patients completed a baseline gastrointestinal symptom inventory (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, gastrointestinal). The symptom burden across key demographic variables and molecular changes, including CRC-associated mutations, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) were compared using χ2 tests. Association of the symptom burden with overall survival was examined using Cox regression models. Results Patients with an MSI-high (MSI-H) phenotype reported greater pain (odds ratio [OR], 3.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.61-5.84), fatigue (OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.41-5.49), sleep (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.32-4.08); and drowsiness (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.32-4.78) compared with microsatellite stable patients. Patients with an MSI-H phenotype also had greater odds of overall symptom burden (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.29-4.74) compared with microsatellite stable patients. The CIMP-high patients experienced greater odds of pain compared with the CIMP-negative patients (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.06-2.80). A greater overall symptom burden was associated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.98-2.06]), although the difference was not significant (P = .06). Conclusion Correlation of MSI-H–associated tumor features with the symptom burden could help provide a better understanding of underlying mechanisms associated with our findings.
On the use of transmission electron microscopy to quantify dislocation densities in bulk metals

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used to study dislocations, but image stresses introduced during sample preparation may induce slip, potentially significantly modifying the microstructure. The present study quantifies these effects by simulating sample preparation in Al, Fe, Mg, and Zr using dislocation dynamics. Significant decreases in total density are seen, which average nearly 40% for all four metals. The extent of microstructure loss during sample preparation depends on crystal orientation in the HCP systems, and also exhibits substantial statistical variations between cases.
Evaluation of breach behavior due to plate fragment impact

Abstract This paper presents modifications to existing relationships that analyze the breach potential of concrete elements subjected to impact by plate fragments. Experimental data associated with a previous study that evaluated plate fragment impacts were analyzed to determine the impactor kinetic energy required to cause reinforced concrete to present a breached condition. This value was compared to the energy that the existing contact charge relationships indicate is required to breach a wall of the same thickness. Modifications were made to existing contact charge equations to account for the difference between the contact charge energy required to cause a breach condition and that required from fragment impact to produce a breach condition. A numerical model that simulates concrete slab breach response was also created and utilized to further evaluate the breach relationships. These modified relationships provide the ability to determine the thickness of wall required to prevent a breach due to impact from a plate fragment at varying impact velocities; however, they appear to be less reliable for thinner slabs and are not recommended for low aspect ratio projectiles.
Interannual variability of East African rainfall: role of seasonal transitions of the low-level cross-equatorial flow

During boreal spring and fall, the low-level cross-equatorial flow along the East African coast weakens and reverses. These transition periods are embedded within the East African rainy seasons—the spring long rains and the fall short rains. ERAI, ERA5, JRA-55, and MERRA2 atmospheric reanalyses and CHIRPS2 and ARC2 rainfall observations are examined to improve our understanding of how the transition periods vary on interannual timescales, and how these variations are related to regional rainfall. Transition period length is positively correlated with spring and fall East African rainfall regionally. Variations in transition period length are associated with the seasonal development and variability of three low-level circulation features, namely, the South Indian Convergence Zone, the Mascarene High over the South Indian Ocean, and the Arabian High over the Arabian Sea. In addition to affecting the low-level moisture transport and convergence over East Africa, these circulation features interact to influence the start and end dates that define the transition period. Composites are constructed and analyzed for different transition period types based on length, start date, and end date to distinguish differences among event types as well as seasonal differences. Air–sea coupling over the western Indian Ocean is stronger for the spring transition than for the fall, modifying precipitation through variations in specific humidity. In the fall transition period, rainfall variations are primarily controlled by circulation variations. These results have implications for climate change prediction over East Africa, for example, as the Indian Ocean warms.
Use of an Unguided, Web-Based Distress Self-Management Program After Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Sub-Analysis of CaringGuidance Pilot Study.

Background: Unguided, web-based psychoeducational interventions are gaining interest as a way to reach patients while reducing pressure on clinical resources. However, there has been little research on how patients with cancer use these interventions. Objective: The objective of this analysis was to evaluate how women newly diagnosed with breast cancer used the unguided web-based, psychoeducational distress self-management program CaringGuidance After Breast Cancer Diagnosis while enrolled in a pilot feasibility study. Methods: Women with stage 0 to II breast cancer diagnosed within the prior three months were recruited from clinics primarily in the Northeastern United States for participation in a 12-week pilot study of CaringGuidance plus usual care versus usual care alone. Usage prompts included sets of emails sent weekly for 12 weeks; standardized congratulatory emails after every two hours of program use, and informative emails for each cognitive-behavioral exercise. Individual user activity on the site was automatically tracked by an analytics system and recorded directly in the CaringGuidance database. Results: Complete usage data were available for 54 subjects. Ninety-eight percent of the intervention group logged into CaringGuidance independently at least once. Thirty-eight (70%) logged in during all three months, 15 (28%) were intermittent users, and one (2%) was a non-user. Users (n=53) averaged 15.6 (SD 9.85) logins. Mean logins were greatest in month 1 (7.26, SD 4.02) and declined in months 2 (4.32, SD 3.66) and month 3 (4.02, SD 3.82). Eleven (21%) used CaringGuidance with both the frequency and activity level intended at study outset, 9 (17%) exceeded intended frequency and activity (high-high users), and 10 (19%) were below expected usage on both login frequency and activity (low-low users). Low-low users and high-high users differed significantly (P<.001) in the total number of views and unique views of all program components. Change in depressive symptoms and the number of sessions (r=.351) and logins (r=.348) between study months 1 and 2 were significantly correlated (P=.018, .019). Higher baseline distress was associated with more unique views of program resources (r=.281, P=.043). Change in intrusive/avoidant thoughts from baseline to month 3, and the number of users’ unique exercise views were negatively correlated (r=–.319, P=.035) so that more unique exercise views, equated with greater decline in intrusive/avoidant thoughts from baseline to month 3. Conclusions: These findings favor the hypothesis that the key ingredient is not the amount of program use, but each user’s self-selected activity within the program. More research is needed on the ideal ways to maintain use, and capture and define engagement and enactment of behaviors by people with cancer accessing unguided, self-management web-based programs.
Crystal structure of the Escherichia coli transcription termination factor Rho.

During the crystal structure analysis of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter overexpressed in Escherichia coli, a contaminant protein was crystallized. The identity of the contaminant was revealed by mass spectrometry to be the Escherichia coli transcription terminator factor Rho, structures of which had been previously determined in different conformational states. Although Rho was present at only ∼1% of the target protein (a bacterial homolog of the eukaryotic ABC transporter of mitochondria from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans; NaAtm1), it preferentially crystallized in space group C2 as thin plates that diffracted to 3.30 A resolution. The structure of Rho in this crystal form exhibits a hexameric open-ring staircase conformation with bound ATP; this characteristic structure was also observed on electron-microscopy grids of the NaAtm1 preparation.
Relative Deprivation, Conspicuous Consumption, and Medical Financial Hardship: Potential Reasons for Debt and Mental Health

This paper examines the associations of potential reasons for debt–including relative deprivation, conspicuous consumption, and medical financial hardship, and how these reasons for debt are associ...
Leadership skills curriculum development for residents and fellows: A needs-assessment.

Abstract Background Non-technical skills (NTS) curricula have demonstrated success in surgical residencies. The purpose of this study is to examine the need for a structured leadership curriculum at our institution. Methods A needs-assessment survey analyzing the importance of leadership domains, previously validated by Kazley et al. was delivered to 240 general surgery staff. Respondent groups were broken down into: Attendings, Residents, and Multi-Disciplinary. Statistical analyses were conducted using Cronbach's Alpha (α = 0.9259) and Fisher's exact test (pre-set p-value = 0.05). The importance of each competency was compared among groups and importance was defined as >75% important and very important responses. Results Nineteen of 33 competencies were important for all groups, including 3 with 100% importance: interpersonal communication, team-work, and problem-solving. Several competencies showed statistically significant differences among groups. Conclusion A diverse range of surgery staff agreed that 19 leadership domains are important to teach residents, with some variance among respondent groups.
Lovemaps: Clinical Concepts of Sexual/Erotic Health and Pathology, Paraphilia, and Gender Transposition in Childhood, Adolescence, and Maturity

The word "lovemap" was first used by Dr. John Money in lectures at Johns Hopkins University in 1980 to symbolize "the neutral template expressed in every individual's sexuoerotic fantasies and practices." The word connotes our often subconscious pattern of erotic yearnings and desire. Each of us has a distinctive lovemap, as different and individual as a fingerprint. In this book, Dr. Money outlines healthy lovemap development as well as lovemap pathology - lovemaps gone awry. Such pathology falls into three categories: hypophilia (sexual dysfunction, such as impotence), hyperphilia (erotomania), and paraphilia (perversions). Paraphilia, another term coined by Money (from the Latin para - away from what is expected, and philia - love) can range from "those that are playful and harmless to those that are bizarre and deadly." Presenting case histories, Lovemaps describes the sexual practices of several patients and subsequent treatments of their paraphilias. Money pioneered the application of the hormone MPA, or Depo-Provera, to treat repeat sex criminals. He believes he has proved that science can prevent paraphilic sex offending, as is the case for other, physiological diseases. Lovemaps and its stirring accounts of lovemap pathology in case histories, (which are indexed under "paraphilia"), can be invaluable tools for those in the fields of sexology, child psychology, clinical psychology, criminology and, with its comprehensive glossary, the general reader - in short, anyone interested in human sexual development.
New Approaches to Water Utility Planning

Washington state has two recent laws aimed at facilitating water utilities' predictions of future service and assuring them that they will be able to implement their plans. The Water Resources Act of 1971 provides a system for setting aside sufficient water supply for future domestic needs. Water is reserved by region rather than by system, thereby allowing for a comprehensive look at available resources and mandating intersystem cooperation. The Public Water System Coordination Act of 1977 provides a step-by-step process for water utilities and local government to coordinate utility growth with local development poicies. Key concepts include the indentification of utility service areas and the establishment of regional design standards.
Respiratory loading causes right-to-left shunting through the PFO (1073.5)

Recruitment of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) while SCUBA diving has conventionally been thought to be caused by Valsalva maneuvers performed during ascent and may provide a route for venous air emboli to enter the arterial circulation. Alternatively, we hypothesized that mild increases in inspiratory and expiratory load, similar to that provided by a SCUBA regulator, would be sufficient to recruit the PFO. Two healthy adults with a PFO completed three randomized trials (inspiratory, expiratory, and combined (inspiratory/expiratory) loading) consisting of 6 levels of incrementally increasing load, to a maximum resistive load of 20 cmH2O/L/s. A saline contrast echocardiogram was performed at each resistive load to determine foramen ovale patency. Right atrial and pulmonary wedge pressures were obtained using a Swan Ganz catheter, and intrathoracic pressure was estimated using an esophageal balloon catheter. We found that PFO recruitment occurred in response to both inspiratory and expiratory loads. We will...
Behind the screen where today's bully plays: perceptions of college students on cyberbullying

This exploratory study of 168 undergraduate students examined the perceptions of college students about cyberbullying. The study focused on students' knowledge of the topic, opinions about cyberbullying, and personal experiences they may have had as either a victim or a witness of cyberbullying. Reporting of cyberbullying incidents was also explored, and participants were asked to indicate what can or should be done to prevent cyberbullying. Language: en