cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T-wave inversions in athletes: a sheep in wolf's clothing?

12-lead ECG plays a central role in the cardiovascular evaluation of athletes and highly active patients. Based on the ability of the ECG to detect underlying structural and electrical cardiac disease, the ECG is the most widely used diagnostic test during pre-participation screening of asymptomatic athletes and individualised evaluation of symptomatic athletic patients. ECG interpretation in this population, however, may present a formidable challenge. Cardiovascular adaptations to routine high-intensity exercise coupled with factors including age, gender, and ethnicity result in ECG patterns that are uncommon among more sedentary people and, in come cases, similar to those associated with the key cardiac diseases responsible for sudden cardiac death. In an attempt to provide a conceptual and clinically applicable framework for ECG use in athletes, interpretation criteria have been developed. A working group from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) presented the first such criteria in 2005.1 While valuable as a starting point, the 2005 ESC criteria failed to differentiate benign ECG patterns associated with exercise training from those associated with occult disease and, as such, their application in clinical settings led to unacceptably high rates of false positive testing. Since that time, further work from the ESC writing group,2 paralleled by independent efforts from others,3 have led to revised criteria. Contemporary athlete ECG criteria rely on the principle that ECG patterns among athletes can be divided into ‘common and training-related ECG changes' (ie, benign adaptive findings) and ‘uncommon and training-unrelated ECG changes’, with this latter category touted as being highly suggestive of underlying disease. Recent …
Exact Design of Band-Stop Microwave Filters

An exact method for the design of band-stop filters which adapts synthesis techniques due to Ozaki and Ishii is discussed. This method places no theoretical limit on the width of the stop-band, although, for practical reasons, different (but equivalent) circuit configurations are used for stop-bands of different widths.These configurations include a form having open-circuited shunt stubs separated by lengths of line; a second form using resonators which are separate from the main line but parallel to it, so that coupling takes place by way of fringing fields; and a third form in which the resonators are attached directly to the main line, but are folded parallel to it so that coupling is both by direct connection and by fringing fields. Easy to use formulas are given for the exact design of band-stop filters from low-pass prototype filters and equations are given for converting from one form of filter structure to any of the other equivalent forms. The experimental results of trial designs are presented.
How Well Does the Vasicek-Basel Airb Model Fit the Data? Evidence from a Long Time Series of Corporate Credit RatingData

I develop methods that produce consistent estimates of the Vasicek-Basel IRB (VAIRB) credit risk model parameters. I apply these methods to Moody’s data on corporate defaults over the period 1920–2008 and assess the model fit and construct hypothesis tests using bootstrap methods. The results show that the VAIRB does not capture the variability in Moody’s default data: there are numerous episodes in which obligors default with much greater frequency than predicted. This pattern is consistent with a missing common factor that affects default correlation only intermittently — a missing factor similar to the frailty covariate in Duffie et al. (2009). Unlike Lopez (2004), I find the VAIRB correlation parameter to be larger for lower-rated credits. I use estimates of the VAIRB error distribution to construct capital allocations for model risk and find that the capital buffers for model risk are substantial, especially for lower-graded credits. VAIRB common factor estimates exhibit positive autocorrelation and thus long time series are usually necessary to produce reliable model estimates. Alternatively, I use common factor and correlation parameter estimates from the 1920-2008 data to control for common factor realizations when estimating unconditional default rates (PDs) from short samples. I estimate PDs and confidence intervals using default data for Moody’s alpha-numeric rating grades (1998-2008). After correcting for common factor effects, sample average default rates are shown to overstate the PD for most credit grades in this sample period.
[Breast cancer: incidence mortality and stage shifting in Norway]

The age-standardized incidence rate of breast cancer [in Norway] has increased by 50% over the period 1965-94. There has been a much lesser increase in the corresponding age-standardized mortality rate because of better treatment and stage shifting.... After correction for confounding effects of age and clinical stage the age-standardized 3-year relative survival rate increased from 90% to 95% and from 67% to 85% for stages 1 and 2 respectively. The impact of advancing breast cancer diagnosis independent of the screening programme is discussed. Finally the evaluation of screening programmes using shift migration models and simulations is discussed. (EXCERPT) (SUMMARY IN ENG)
History of the current understanding and management of tethered spinal cord

An understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) and modern management strategies have only developed within the past few decades. Current understanding of this entity first began with the understanding and management of spina bifida; this later led to the gradual recognition of spina bifida occulta and the symptoms associated with tethering of the filum terminale. In the 17th century, Dutch anatomists provided the first descriptions and initiated surgical management efforts for spina bifida. In the 19th century, the term "spina bifida occulta" was coined and various presentations of spinal dysraphism were appreciated. The association of urinary, cutaneous, and skeletal abnormalities with spinal dysraphism was recognized in the 20th century. Early in the 20th century, some physicians began to suspect that traction on the conus medullaris caused myelodysplasia-related symptoms and that prophylactic surgical management could prevent the occurrence of clinical manifestations. It was not, however, until later in the 20th century that the term "tethered spinal cord" and the modern management of TCS were introduced. This gradual advancement in understanding at a time before the development of modern imaging modalities illustrates how, over the centuries, anatomists, pathologists, neurologists, and surgeons used clinical examination, a high level of suspicion, and interest in the subtle and overt clinical appearances of spinal dysraphism and TCS to advance understanding of pathophysiology, clinical appearance, and treatment of this entity. With the availability of modern imaging, spinal dysraphism can now be diagnosed and treated as early as the intrauterine stage.
Abstract 484: Persistent activation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and tissue repair in the etiology of desmoid tumors (DT)

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can be isolated from various adult tissues and are implicated in a growing list of sarcomas. Desmoid tumors (DTs) have a clonal origin, are linked with wound healing, and mostly arise in the abdomen of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or sporadically. MSCs home to sites of tissue damage and the persistent activation of these cells in a wound healing context combined with deregulated Wnt signaling may lead to neoplasia. To test this idea, we performed immunohistochemistry on 17 sporadic and FAP-associated DTs from different individuals for the expression of multiple MSC markers (CD73, CD90, and Bmi1). While present in differing numbers, all specimens showed positive cells for all markers, and immunofluorescence (IF) showed co-localization of these markers and CD105 in cells within tumors. Matching adjacent normal fascia from a subset was negative for these antigens. A FAP DT-derived cell line was then made that also co-expressed these MSC markers but not CD34, a negative marker. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of surface antigen profiles confirmed that >90% of the cell population bore MSC positive, but not negative, markers. Although not genotyped, IF for the C- vs. N-termini of APC confirmed that only truncated APC product was expressed in our DT-derived MSC line. Upon growth for 5-6 weeks in differentiation medium, we confirmed by co-expression of CTGF and Sox9 (obligate chondrocyte markers) plus Alcian blue staining, PPARγ and c/EBPα (obligate adipocyte markers) plus Oil Red staining, and OPN and Runx2 (obligate osteocyte markers) plus von Kossa staining that the DT-derived MSCs were tripotent. In conclusion, this study supports the view that DT etiology involves the persistence of MSCs with deregulated Wnt signaling. The differentiation potential of these cells combined with expression of Bmi1, a transcriptional repressor downstream of Hedgehog and Notch signaling, suggest that inhibitors targeting these pathways may provide a rational systemic therapy to prevent primary or recurrent DT in high-risk patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 484. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-484
Unidentified growth factor (s) needed for optimum growth of newborn pigs.

SummaryThe addition of Reticulogen (a 20-unit anti-pernicious anemia liver extract) to a synthetic milk diet resulted in an increased growth rate in baby pigs over an 8-week period. The final Weights of pigs receiving Reticulogen averaged 19.96 and 21.6 kg as compared with 13.53 and 16.0 kg for those not receiving Reticulogen in two comparisons.
The Frictional Force Analysis of Drill String in Branch Horizontal Section

BHA friction calculation is always one critical problem of horizontal multiple branching wells in the drilling process and design.As the changes of the borehole curvature,the drilling tool friction will be increased and drilling capacity will be decreased,even cause the bit can't put pressure and early damage to the drill string.Thus it is not only related to the safety of drilling,but also will increase oil production cost.The differential equation for the frictional resistance on the drill string in branch horizontal wells is established and the total drill string friction during tripping is got.
270 REDUCE THE RISK OF COLON CANCER WITH COLON CANCER SCREENING.

Purpose There are very low rates of colon cancer screening in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, population 1,010. An educational project was designed to increase community awareness of the risk of colon cancer and the benefits from colon cancer screening. Four modalities for colon cancer screening are available: colonoscopy, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy, and fecal occult. Mountainview Medical Center is the only medical facility within a 100-mile radius. A gastroenterologist travels from Helena, MT, to perform screening exams in White Sulphur Springs on a quarterly basis, but the service is currently underutilized. Methods A literature search using MEDLINE and UW Healthlinks was completed looking at the epidemiology of colon cancer, risk factors, and screening efficacy. In addition, insurance coverage and costs of each procedure were evaluated. Interviews were conducted with local health care providers to identify available opportunities for colon cancer screening as well as possible barriers to screening in the community. Results Colorectal cancer ranks second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death. Colon cancer screening, including colonoscopy, can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer and prevent colon cancer. An article was written, including information about colon cancer risks, prevention, and costs, and was distributed to every household in the county by the local community hospital. Conclusion Education, increased awareness of the risks of colon cancer, screening modalities, and Medicare9s willingness to pay for colon cancer screening may increase dialogue between patient and practitioner regarding colon cancer as well as increase colon cancer screenings in White Sulphur Springs, Montana.
Abstract PR15: Functional analysis of diverse oncogenic driver mutations using an isogenic cell line library identifies novel drug responses and alterations in metabolism

There is an urgent need in oncology to link molecular aberrations in tumors with altered cellular behaviors, such as metabolic derangements, and to identify novel therapeutics for cancer treatment. We have sought to identify synthetic-lethal genetic interactions that cancer cells acquire in the presence of specific mutations. Using engineered isogenic cells, we generated an unbiased and quantitative chemical-genetic interaction map that measures the influence of 51 aberrant cancer genes on 90 drug responses. The dataset strongly predicts drug responses found in cancer cell line collections, indicating that isogenic cells can model more complex cellular contexts. Applied to triple-negative breast cancer, we report clinically actionable interactions with the MYC oncogene including resistance to PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitors and an unexpected sensitivity to dasatinib through LYN inhibition in a synthetic-lethal manner. These studies provide new drug and biomarker pairs for clinical investigation. We have also performed global metabolomics analysis in a subset of the isogenic cell lines demonstrating alterations in metabolic pathways that are shared across multiple oncogenes, as well as those that are distinct to specific oncogenic drivers. This scalable approach enables the prediction of drug responses from patient data and can be used to accelerate the development of new genotype-directed therapies. Citation Format: Maria M. Martins, Alicia Y. Zhou, Alexandra Corella, Dai Horiuchi, Christina Yau, Taha Rakshandehroo, John D. Gordan, Rebecca S. Levin, Jeff Johnson, John Jascur, Mike Shales, Antonio Sorrentino, Jaime Cheah, Paul A. Clemons, Alykhan Shamji, Stuart Schreiber, Stuart Schreiber, Nevan J. Krogan, Kevan M. Shokat, Kevan M. Shokat, Frank McCormick, Daniel Nomura, Sourav Bandyopadhyay, Andrei Goga. Functional analysis of diverse oncogenic driver mutations using an isogenic cell line library identifies novel drug responses and alterations in metabolism. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Translation of the Cancer Genome; Feb 7-9, 2015; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(22 Suppl 1):Abstract nr PR15.
Magnetically Actuated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We couple magnetic tweezer techniques with standard lithography methods to make magnetically actuated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) devices. Parallel arrays of 4-10 μm-long SWNT cantilevers are patterned with one end anchored to the substrate and the other end attached to a micron-scale iron magnetic tag that is free to move in solution. Thermal fluctuations of this tag provide a direct measurement of the spring constant of the SWNT cantilevers, yielding values of 10(-7)-10(-8) N/m. This tag is also a handle for applying forces and torques using externally applied magnetic field gradients. These techniques provide a platform on which interaction forces between SWNTs and other objects such as biomolecules and cells can be measured in situ.
How to Defeat the Islamic State: Crafting a Rational War Strategy

This essay examines Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) caliphate and the security challenges the jihadist state portends. These problems have been poorly addressed by the Obama Administration’s low cost/minimum risk containment policy. Above all the essay is concerned with crafting an alternative war strategy to destroy the caliphate’s institutional edifice. The analysis has four parts. First, the roots of ISIS’ formation are explained. Second, the caliphate’s emergence and the security challenges it presents to regional and international order are discussed. Third, the failure of Western policy makers to address this problem is presented. Fourth, an alternative war plan is developed to exploit the strategic vulnerabilities of the jihadist transnational state.
The Wave Equation in Spheroidal Coordinates and Its Solutions

Computations in spheroidal coordinates have become increasingly important in recent years. Such coordinates have been used for the study of the sound radiation of ellipsoids, of discs not enclosed in baffles, of cigarshaped bodies, and of the diffraction by circular apertures. The spheroidal functions have an important property which makes them very useful in practical work. In the limiting cases of the coordinate variables, they collapse into a number of very convenient shapes such as pistons, line sources, cylinders, and spheres, and many different relations and can easily be deduced from spheroidal computations. Many different integrals can be deduced as limiting cases from integrals in spheroidal coordinates.
Fire effects on cation exchange capacity of California forest and woodland soils

Abstract During natural and prescribed fires, combustion of heavy surface fuel loads can expose underlying soil to high temperatures causing thermal alteration of soil minerals and other changes in soil properties. We studied the effect of fire on soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) by comparing severely burned soils to nearby unburned soils at five forest and woodland sites in California, USA. Combusted logs and heavy fuel produced reddened zones of thermally altered soil underlain by blackened zones where heat exposure was lower. The cation exchange capacities of the reddened soils were 57 to 82% lower than the unburned soil while the blackened soils had 31 to 53% less CEC than unburned soil. The reddened soil experienced the highest burning temperatures resulting in the loss of organic carbon (OC), the conversion of goethite to maghemite or hematite, the destruction of kaolin, and dehydroxylation and permanent collapse of vermiculite and chlorite. Overall, most of the CEC loss was due to thermal destruction of soil organic matter (SOM), but this CEC will be restored in the post-fire ecosystem succession as biomass re-accumulates and rebuilds soil humus. The loss of CEC due to mineral alteration is longer lasting, though limited in spatial extent.
Visual Analysis Among Novices: Training and Trend Lines as Graphic Aids

The current study evaluated the degree to which novice visual analysts could discern trends in simulated time-series data across differing levels of variability and extreme values. Forty-five novice visual analysts were trained in general principles of visual analysis. One group received brief training on how to identify and omit extreme values. Participants rated 72 continuous time-series graphs. Inferential analyses were used to estimate the probability of correct responses. Participants who received the additional training were more likely to correctly identify intervention effects across all conditions. Nevertheless, extreme values had a substantial impact on decision accuracy for all participants. The impact of extreme values was exacerbated by increases in overall variability. Results support the notion that automated trend lines are useful but not infallible when interpreting continuous time-series data. Implications for practice and avenues for future research are discussed.
Colloidal molecules assembled from binary spheres under an AC electric field

Colloidal particles are envisioned as analogues of atoms and molecules, however they often lack the complexities present in their counterparts. In this work, we report the assembly of colloidal molecules from a binary mixture of polystyrene spheres (1, 1.6, 2, and 4 μm) under an alternating current electric field. The rich family of assembled oligomers typically consists of a large sphere that is closely surrounded by a number of smaller petal particles, driven by the dipolar attraction between large and small particles. In deionized water, the number of satellite particles, i.e., the coordination number increases with the increasing size ratio of the constituent particles. For a given size ratio, the coordination number decreases with the increasing frequency of the applied field. These trends have also been correctly captured by computing the electric energy of different oligomers based on induced dipolar and double-layer interactions. By suspending the particles in polyvinylpyrrolidone aqueous solution, we can further tune the bond length of the oligomers independent of their coordination numbers. The addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone also allows us to lock the assembled colloidal molecules so that they remain intact after the electric field is turned off. Our method provides a robust way to produce a family of colloidal molecules with well-defined geometry and high yield.
Application of Mass Cytometry to Measure Proliferation During Normal and Malignant Hematopoietic Differentiation

Abstract 4782 Mass cytometry is a recently introduced proteomic technology that permits simultaneous measurements currently of as many as 40 parameters per single cell, including surface markers and intracellular signaling molecules and has recently provided a system-wide view of immune/hematopoietic cell differentiation within human bone marrow (Bendall et al, Science 2011). Given the unprecedented level of detail at the single cell level this approach provides, this technology is ideal for delineating the molecular and cellular basis of tumor heterogeneity. As an extension from our recent mass cytometry studies, we have now developed a method to perform cell cycle analysis by utilizing uridine incorporation, simultaneously with determinations of other cell cycle phase markers such as cyclins A, B1, and D as well as phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein, histone H3, plus markers of apoptosis and other critical markers that demarcate malignant dysregulation. This allows for cell cycle state characterization that can be employed in both cell lines and primary cells growing in vitro or in vivo. We have combined this new method with a hierarchical clustering algorithm (SPADE) to profile the cell cycle state distribution across the continuum of hematopoietic differentiation in normal bone marrow. We observe the expected quiescence of terminally differentiated cells, hematopoietic progenitor and stem cell populations, and note that the majority of cell proliferation is confined to immunophenotypically immature cell populations of the myeloid, erythroid and monocytic linages. We have begun a broad comparison of these “normal” proliferation states to those observed across punctuated states of malignant progression that vary in “differentiation” of malignant cells in primary human sample in patients with acute myeloid leukemia revealing. The distribution of proliferation across these subpopulations generally parallels that of normal samples with more immunophenotypically “differentiated” AML cell populations having lower proliferative rates, however, not all AML patient samples follow this trend. Disclosures: Fantl: Nodality, Inc.: Equity Ownership.
An effective structure for a senior-level capstone design course

This paper presents a framework for a senior-level capstone design course. This structure is currently used in a one-semester course for Computer Engineering undergraduates at Virginia Tech entitled "Embedded Systems Design." The course has been taught in its current form over the past fourteen semesters. The course structure has been continually refined and tested, providing a solid framework upon which to develop a capstone design course. This course structure has allowed for the preservation of the underlying course organization, while allowing the project description and course details to change each semester. Students work in teams, and each team works within a common framework of tools, support, and base project description. Teams, however, must come up with their own solutions to satisfy the project goals. The common course framework allows us to provide effective student support, yet the open-endedness of solutions allows students to be creative and employ critical thinking. The role of the instructor and graduate teaching assistant is to act more as facilitators than as lecturers. Students are evaluated as individuals and teams with regular milestones, required documentation, and weekly meetings. Milestones work toward, and culminate, in a final project demonstration. Lastly we present student feedback on the perceived effectiveness of this framework.
Two Linguistic Case Studies of the Craft of Songwriting: 'Imagine' and 'Like a Rolling Stone'

The songs “Imagine” and “Like a Rolling Stone”, written by John Lennon and Bob Dylan respectively, demonstrate the musicians' acute awareness of the expressive force which saturates particular grammatical constructions, lexemes, tense/aspect combinations, and other linguistic phenomena. Lennon and Dylan brandish their linguistic savvy by connecting with their audiences, albeit in fundamentally different ways. This paper seeks to highlight some commonalities and differences between how two of the most famous singer/songwriters of the late 60s and early 70s both connected with and manipulated their listenership. Furthermore, it seeks to demonstrate how a close linguistic analysis contributes to the general understanding of the momentous socio-cultural responses these songs elicited in popular culture. The methodology involves a close investigation of linguistic forms, including line-by-line analyses and comparisons between the two writers.
Simulating the effect of boron doping in superconducting carbon

We examine the effect of boron doping in superconducting forms of amorphous carbon. By judiciously optimizing boron substitutional sites in simulated amorphous carbon, we predict a superconducting transition temperature near 37 K at 14% boron concentration. Our findings have direct implications for understanding the recently discovered high-${T}_{c}$ superconductivity in Q-carbon.
Comparative Assessment of Grit, Conscientiousness, and Self-Control in Applicants Interviewing for Residency Positions and Current Orthopaedic Surgery Residents.

Objective The purpose of this study was to quantify grit, conscientiousness, and self-control in orthopaedic residency applicants and current orthopaedic surgery residents. As part of a continual reassessment of the selection process, this study will help to improve this process by assessing the introduction of these non-cognitive assessments. This is the first study to both evaluate and compare the applicants’ scores to those of current residents. This introduction will allow selection of not only the current top performers but those who have the wherewithal (read grit) to sustain their efforts throughout their residency. Design A cross-sectional study composed of a confidential electronic survey consisting of a 17-item Grit scale, 10-item Self-control scale, and 9-item Conscientiousness scale was completed by medical school applicants and orthopaedic residents. Setting Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery. Participants Fifty-six (100%) medical student applicants (mean age = 27) were invited to participate in our study following a full day of interviews. Forty-five residents (mean age = 31) were asked and 32 (72%) completed the same surveys 4 months later. Results There was a significant difference in grit for medical students (M = 4.19, SD = 0.34) and residents (M =3.86, SD = 0.48); t(86) = 3.76, p = 0.000. All grit subscales were also significantly different for medical students versus residents. Medical students (conscientiousness M = 4.60, SD = 0.41; self-control M = 3.51, SD = 0.30) and residents (conscientiousness M = 4.42, SD = 0.53; self-control M = 3.31, SD = 0.73) scored similarly in the conscientiousness t(86) = 1.75, p = 0.084 and self-control scales t(86) = 1.74, p = 0.086. Academic performance indicators such as the USMLE scores and residency ranking were also compared among medical student applicants. Conclusions The similar and above average levels of conscientiousness and self-control demonstrate the persevering nature of the individual who elects to pursue an orthopaedic residency program. Although the grit levels were different between medical school student and residents, they were above average for both groups, again demonstrating the type of individual willing to pursue an orthopaedic residency program. This study was the first to demonstrate varying degrees of grit for high-performing students versus residents in a competitive program, which seems to suggest that grit can vary over time. Future studies will investigate the validity of these non-cognitive variables in predicting achievement prospectively in a residency program.
An analytical memory hierarchy model for performance prediction

As the US Department of Energy (DOE) invests in exascale computing, performance modeling of physics codes on CPUs remain a challenge in computational co-design due to the complex design of processors that include memory hierarchies, instruction pipelining, and speculative execution. We present Analytical Memory Model (AMM), a model of cache memory hierarchy, embedded in the Performance Prediction Toolkit (PPT) — a suite of discrete-event-simulation-based codesign hardware and software models. AMM enables PPT to significantly improve the quality of its runtime predictions of scientific codes. At its technical core, AMM uses a computationally efficient, stochastic method to predict the distributions of reuse distances of a scientific code, where reuse distance is a hardware architecture-independent measure of the patterns of virtual memory accesses. AMM relies on a stochastic, static basic block-level analysis of reuse distance distributions measured from the memory traces of the scientific applications on small instances. The analytical reuse distribution is useful to estimate the effective latency and throughput of a memory access, which in turn are used to predict the overall runtime of a scientific application. The experimental results show that the predicted and actual runtimes of two scientific mini-applications (matrix multiplication and Blackscholes) are similar, while AMM is a scalable approach.
Fleas as Vectors of Especially Dangerous Infections in Jermuk Region, 2010-2016

Objective The goal was to determine the impact of flea number variation on the epizootic situation in the Jermuk region. Introduction The Jermuk region of the Zangezur mezofocus is part of the transcaucasian highland focus of plague. This enzootic area is polyvectorial. The mezofocus has rich fauna with approximately eight species of fleas: Callopsylla caspia , Ctenophthalmus wladimiri , Frontopsylla elata , Amphipsylla rossica , Leptopsylla taschenbergi , Nosopsyllus consimilis , Palaeopsylla vartanovi , and Doratopsylla dampfi . Ct. wladimiri is the most abundant. However, special attention should be paid to C. caspia and N. consimilis as they are the only vectors specific for Yersinia pestis . In these fleas, the bacteria form a plug that blocks digestion and induces starvation. Afflicted fleas bite frenziedly in an effort to feed and the pressure that results releases bacteria from the plug, infecting a new host. Fleas infected with plague during an epizootic are a serious threat to humans, especially when in contact with synanthropic rodents. A survey was conducted to catalog fleas in the foci. Methods From 2010-2016 different species of fleas were collected in Jermuk region of Vayots Dzor by combing the hair of captured rodents and processing their nests with heat and light. Flea species, and their egg-laying status, were identified by microscopic examination. Results From 2010-2015 the density of C. caspia averaged 23 per hectare. Fleas that were laying eggs were quantified via microscopy. In 2016 a drastic increase in C. caspia density was recorded; flea numbers averaged 225 per hectare. Half of these were actively reproducing (Table 1). These changes in flea numbers occurred with a stable rodent population of 60 per hectare. Conclusions Because of the drastic increase in flea density of 2016 compared to the period of 2010-2015, it is likely that diseases that depend on fleas to spread will increase in the near future in Jermuk. So, it is necessary to monitor the epizootic situation of Jermuk, as it is a popular resort in Armenia.
On the Late Paleoindian temporal assignment for the Honey Run Site (33-Co-3), Coshocton County, Ohio: A morphometric assessment of flaked stone stemmed lanceolate projectile points

Abstract Based on flaked stone projectile point manufacture and proximity to stone outcrops, archaeologists designated the Honey Run site (33-Co-3), Coshocton County, Ohio, to be a Late Paleoindian workshop. Specifically, the Honey Run site yielded stemmed lanceolate points reminiscent of Late Paleoindian types found in Western North America. Here, we test the validity of the assertion that Honey Run is Late Paleoindian in age. Given the absence of samples for radiocarbon or luminescence dating, we do this by comparing a series of morphometric attributes recorded from the Honey Run point specimens to those recorded from the Burrell Orchard site, another Ohio site possessing stemmed lanceolate points, but that is well dated to the Late Archaic period. Our analyses demonstrate that the Honey Run point sample is not morphometrically different from the Burrell Orchard point sample. While we do not know the absolute age of the Honey Run points, and thus whether the point similarity between Honey Run and Burrell Orchard represents a case of technological convergence between a Late Paleoindian and Late Archaic site, or whether the similarity represents a contemporaneous cultural horizon between two Late Archaic sites, what our results do convey, however, is that automatically assuming Honey Run is Late Paleoindian based entirely on projectile point typology is precarious.
Contractile Function as a Determinant of Muscle Growth

One of the characteristics of a muscle is its ability to adapt to the extent and type of work it is required to perform, both in health and in disease. The adaptive response of muscle to altered physiological demands can take several forms: (1) changes in size, such as hypertrophy of existing muscle cells secondary to elevated afterload in the myocardium; (2) changes in the relative amount of constituent proteins, such as an increase in the cytochrome C content produced by endurance training; (3) changes in the properties of constituent proteins, such as appearance of the “slow” myosin isozyme after stimulation of fast muscles with the frequency that normally occurs in nerves that supply slow muscles; and (4) a combination of the foregoing changes, such as the hyperthyroid state in the rabbit, in which the size of the heart and its cytochrome C content are increased and in which synthesis of a new molecular form of myosin is initiated.
Kant and Racism

There are two strands in Kant’s moral theory. In one of them, he speculates about the ultimate source of morality; in the other, he offers a phenomenological account of moral experience. The speculative account centers around the meaning and the origin of the categorical imperative, a notion which remains controversial to this day. In the phenomenological account, Kant tries to characterize the circumstances which give rise to the use of moral language. This aspect of Kant’s theory, I believe, has not been given adequate attention, possibly because it was over-shadowed by the fascination with the notion of the categorical imperative. This is unfortunate. What Kant has to say about the nature of moral experience may be more important than his speculation about the ultimate source of morality.
Principle and Method of Silver Staining of Proteins Separated by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate–Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Silver staining is an excellent technique for detecting proteins which are separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis due to its efficiency of detecting proteins present in nanograms. The technique is based on the simple principle that selective reduction of silver into metallic silver occurs at the initiation site in the close proximity of protein molecules. The staining process sequentially consists of protein fixation, sensitization, washing, silver impregnation, and finally development of image. Depending upon the amount of silver incorporated into the protein bands, different color of gel is produced on silver staining. Though different protocols of silver staining exist, the method described here is easy, cheap, reliable, and very sensitive.
The Role of Castration-Resistant Bmi1+Sox2+ Cells in Driving Recurrence in Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND Recurrence following androgen-deprivation therapy is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in prostate cancer, but the cellular origins and molecular mechanisms underlying this process are poorly defined. We previously identified a population of castration-resistant luminal progenitor cells expressing Bmi1 in the normal mouse prostate that can serve as a cancer cell-of-origin. Here, we investigate the potential of Bmi1-expressing tumor cells that survive castration to initiate recurrence in vivo. METHODS We employed lineage retracing in Bmi1-CreER; R26R-confetti; Ptenf/f transgenic mice to mark and follow the fate of emerging recurrent tumor clones after castration. A tissue recombination strategy was used to rescue transgenic mouse prostates by regeneration as grafts in immunodeficient hosts. We also used a small molecule Bmi1 inhibitor, PTC-209, to directly test the role of Bmi1 in recurrence. RESULTS Transgenic prostate tumors (n = 17) regressed upon castration but uniformly recurred within 3 months. Residual regressed tumor lesions exhibited a transient luminal-to-basal phenotypic switch and marked cellular heterogeneity. Additionally, in these lesions, a subpopulation of Bmi1-expressing castration-resistant tumor cells overexpressed the stem cell reprogramming factor Sox2 (mean [SD] = 41.1 [3.8]%, n = 10, P < .001). Bmi1+Sox2+ cells were quiescent (BrdU+Bmi1+Sox2+ at 3.4 [1.5]% vs BrdU+Bmi1+Sox2- at 18.8 [3.4]%, n = 10, P = .009), consistent with a cancer stem cell phenotype. By lineage retracing, we established that recurrence emerges from the Bmi1+ tumor cells in regressed tumors. Furthermore, treatment with the small molecule Bmi1 inhibitor PTC-209 reduced Bmi1+Sox2+ cells (6.1 [1.4]% PTC-209 vs 38.8 [2.3]% vehicle, n = 10, P < .001) and potently suppressed recurrence (retraced clone size = 2.6 [0.5] PTC-209 vs 15.7 [5.9] vehicle, n = 12, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS These results illustrate the utility of lineage retracing to define the cellular origins of recurrent prostate cancer and identify Bmi1+Sox2+ cells as a source of recurrence that could be targeted therapeutically.
The millimeter Wave (mmW) radar characterization, testing, verification challenges and opportunities

The modern millimeter wave (mmW) Radar exhibits distinct advantages over lower band (L, C, X, Ku, K, Ka) radars providing lower radar cross-section (greater stealthiness), multimode multi-target acquisition/tracking capabilities, long target-detection range, enhanced spatial resolution, agile maneuverability, superior survivability, all weather capabilities and greater reliability including reduced SWaPC metric. The mmW Radars are also at the forefront of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which are making their way into many of the high end automobiles at present. Adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, backup object detection, blind-spot detection, cross-traffic alerts, and lane-change assist take advantage of many mmW radar capabilities. The goal of ADAS is to reduce driver error and, therefore, decrease the number of crashes, injuries, and fatalities. In fact, these systems have been so effective that the government is contemplating ADAS for most of the future cars. The mmW Radar also lends handsomely towards the compact and low cost design of phased array antennas capable of beamforming and beam steering (dynamically pointing them in the desired direction). They enable beam steering without any moving part and an antenna beam is formed by an array of smaller antenna elements, such as individual patches or dipoles. By varying the relative phases and amplitudes of the signals applied to the individual receiver/exciter elements, the antenna array can shape and steer a beam in the desired direction. The compactness and low profile design of mmW phased array system presents daunting challenges to test and verification engineers since many of these intermediary points are neither accessible nor adequate to calibrate and/or characterize the system performance (e.g. uniformity, linearity, coverage, sensitivity etc…). To overcome these challenges, two approaches are employed to characterize such a compact and complex system – far-field and near-field mode, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The far-field mode characterization can be done either outdoor or indoor but requires large anechoic chamber, sensitive and highly uniform and calibrated probe element as well specialized test equipment for injecting, collecting and analyzing the signals. The near-field mode testing has some unique advantages, where testing can be performed in a close range requiring far less complex anechoic chamber, simple test probe, easy test setup and majority of the characterization and error corrections can be done off-line utilizing sophisticated signal processing techniques. This paper analyzes the far-field and near-field testing methods of the mmW Radar systems and delineates the challenges and opportunities in enabling a low cost solution to the military and automotive world.
When in the Course of Human Events…—Hobbes, Locke, and the Long Parliament Against America

In this chapter, the standard arguments often made for the Lockean character of the American Revolution were rejected in one crucial aspect: They fail to explain the critical belief all revolutionary Americans shared—that they, as members of colonial political societies had a right to unilaterally secede from the mother country. This belief was expressly claimed not only in many political pamphlets but also in the very Declaration of Independence. The main problem with the theories of Lockean ancestry of the Revolution is that they fail to capture a territorial dimension of the dispute, and more radically—its constitutional dimension. Relying on Locke and language of natural rights fails to explain how it was possible that the North American colonials in the 1770s could have believed that the British Empire was a composite, complex, confederated polity, rather than a unitary kingdom, explicitly equated with “body politic” in Locke’s Second Treatise. The chapter sketches the evolution of the state-building theory and practice in England from the seventeenth century onwards and reviews the radical responses by Americans in the eighteenth century.
EFFECT OF CAFFEINE ON AMPLITUDE-INTEGRATED EEG IN PRETERM INFANTS

Background and Aim: Caffeine therapy for apnoea of prematurity improves the rate of survival without neurodevelopmental disability in infants with very low birth weight. The mechanisms leading to improved neurodevelopmental outcome, however, remain largely unexplained. Here, we investigated the acute effect of caffeine administration on cerebral cortical activity using amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in preterm infants. Patients and Methods: In 58 preterm infants, gestational age 29 weeks (median, range 24–33), birth weight 1130 g (550–2435), a caffeine loading dose of 10 mg/kg was administered intravenously over 30 minutes and aEEG, heart rate, oxygen saturation and pCO2 were registered continuously from 2 h before to 2 h after administration. Infants with an aEEG impedance rise >5 kOhm were excluded. Means of aEEG amplitudes—mean amplitude, lower margin and upper margin of band of activity—were calculated for each infant for the 2-h period before and the 2-h period after caffeine infusion. Data before and after caffeine infusion were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: Seven infants were excluded from analysis for a rise of impedance. In the remaining 51 infants, the mean aEEG amplitude increased from 9.8 μV (5.9–13.3) to 10.6 μV (6.6–14.9) (p Conclusions: Caffeine increases cerebral cortical activity in preterm infants. We speculate that the caffeine-mediated increase in neuronal activity fosters neuronal cell growth and survival in the developing human brain.
The nonlinear graviton in interaction with a photon

It is shown that Einstein-Maxwell complex space-times with self-(anti-self-) dual Weyl tensor and algebraically general anti-self-(self-) dual Maxwell tensor are completely characterized as quasi-Kahlerian space-times with vanishing scalar curvature. Following Penrose's interpretation ofH-spaces, we propose that an “electrifiedH-space” be interpreted as a nonlinear graviton in interaction with a photon. Two families of exact solutions are presented as examples.
The Exceptional Diversity of Homoleptic Uranium‐Methyl Complexes

Homoleptic σ-bonded uranium-alkyl complexes have been a synthetic target since the Manhattan Project. The current study describes the synthesis and characterization of several unprecedented uranium-methyl complexes. Amongst these complexes, the first example of a homoleptic uranium-alkyl dimer, [Li(THF)4 ]2 [U2 (CH3 )10 ], as well as a seven-coordinate uranium-methyl monomer, {Li(OEt2 )Li(OEt2 )2 UMe7 Li}n were both crystallographically identified. The diversity of complexes reported herein provides critical insight into the structural diversity, electronic structure and bonding in uranium-alkyl chemistry.
Model Driven Development Process for a Service-oriented Industry 4.0 System

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) provides new technologies and capabilities, which are characterized by a decentralized distribution of tasks and functions, thus replacing the centralized, function-oriented architecture of the third industrial revolution. The service-oriented architecture is an approach in the context of I4.0, which can be used to implement the decentralized task distribution. The high agility and changing customer requirements associated with I4.0 pose a major challenge to the previous phase-oriented development process of industry plants. Furthermore, the existing development process can only deal with static industry architecture, in the form of implemented functionality. In this paper, we propose a model driven development process of a service-oriented I4.0 system, which helps to deal with the above mentioned challenges. We extended and implemented a detailed I4.0 service metamodel based on the reference model of service architecture (RM-SA) for I4.0 to model the service-oriented architecture. The resulted model can be connected with the system model and later used for code generation. The proposed approach helps to increase the reusability of service and system design and accelerates the reconfiguration process in case of changing customer requirement. Our result show that an industry 4.0 system can be described in a service-oriented way with the help of a service metamodel and a faster deployment can be achieved with model based tool support.
Multi-Site Conference Hosting Initiative (MULCH): Enhancing the Human Aspect of Low-Carbon Long-Distance Conferencing

This multi-university collaboration, including Tufts University (Boston), the University of Washington (Seattle), and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta), will organize and pilot a format for hosting simultaneous in-person conferences. The events will offer links for 4 main conference components: keynote presentations, panel discussions, receptions and social settings, and online participation. This paper describes the need for this innovation, past experience with multi-site conferences, our preparations for a pilot event in early October, 2020, the potential business model for future multi-site conferences as a replacement for fly-in conferences, and critical questions on which expert input from the VR community is needed.