cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evoked potentials and stages of information processing: Methods of analysis

The use of principal components analysis (PCA) for the study of evoked-response data may be complicated by variations from one trial to another in the latency of underlying brain events. Such variation can come from either random intra-and intersubject variability or from the effects of independent variables that are manipulated between conditions. The effect of such variability is investigated by simulation of these latency-varying events and by analysis of evoked responses in a behavioral task, the Sternberg memory search task, which is well known to generate variation in the latency of brain events. The results of PCA of within-subjects differences in these two situations are plausibly related to underlying stages of information processing, and the technique may augment reaction time data by providing information on the time of occurrence as well as the duration of stages of information processing.
Evidence that naloxonazine produces prolonged antagonism of central delta opioid receptor activity in vivo.

Abstract Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administrations of the postulated μ 1 opioid receptor antagonist naloxonazine produced an increase in the frequency of urinary bladder contractions recorded isometrically in the anesthetized rat. This substance also antagonized the inhibition of spontaneous bladder contractions produced by submaximal i.c.v. doses of the highly selective μ opioid agonist [ D -Ala 2 -MePhe 4 ,Gly-(ol) 5 ]enkephalin (DAGO) and the δ opioid agonist [ D -Pen 2 , D -Pen 5 ]enkephalin (DPDPE). The antagonism of DAGO was reversible but that of DPDPE lasted up to 30 h. These data suggest that endogenous opioids are involved in the central control of bladder motility and that naloxonazine is a long-lasting δ opioid receptor antagonist.
Opportunism and the rise of intelligence

Intelligence and creativity are thought to be highly dependent upon the diversity of the behavioral repertoire. Behavioral diversity was associated in ten species of non-human primates and was found to be much greater in the great apes than in lesser apes, monkeys and lemurs on several measures. Behavioral variability was also related to the opportunist/specialist distinction: the opportunists or generalists were more behaviorally diverse. It was hypothesized that early hominids and their precursors were opportunists and that this characteristic profoundly shaped their evolutionary development in that opportunists can place a greater evolutionary pressure upon their structure by a behavioral change, and because as the level of competence of an opportunist in a habitat increases, the probability that a viable specialization will evolve decreases. As a result, the generalist species changes rapidly but leaves only one type in the habitat rather than a spectrum of specialists, as is the normal mammalian pattern. Thus, a general behavioral characteristic rather than a specific behavioral function, such as tool using or language, is hypothesized as accounting for the speed and direction of human evolution. Tool using, language and other specific functions can all be seen as mechanisms for promoting the efficient exploitation of a diverse habitat in a variety of ways as unique opportunities arise.
Franchising vs. company ownership as a decision variable of the firm

This paper investigates the mix of franchised and company-owned outlets among franchise chains. Hypotheses are formulated about the proportion of franchised outlets and are tested using firm-level data from a national survey of franchisors. Empirical results support the hypothesis that company-owned outlets serve as a way for the franchisor to give itself an incentive to maintain system quality.
Evaluation of rendering algorithms for augmented reality using psychophysics and iCAM

Physically based global illumination rendering algorithms have matured to the point of being able to create physically and visually realistic imagery [Ferwerda 2003]. However, this realism comes at the expense of computation time, which is one reason these rigorous solutions have not been fully embraced, particularly by the entertainment industry. Previous visual experiments judging realism [McNamara 2000] have compared real and synthetic images created using different algorithms or varying the parameters within an algorithm. However, it is not necessarily valid to extend these results to different scenes or applications. The thrust of this research is to compare the visual differences and relative computation times between variations of several ray-traced based global illumination algorithms as applied to the problem of rendering synthetic objects into real imagery. Ultimately, this work will provide specific tradeoff information for the rendering algorithms used in this scene, a general pipeline for evaluating new algorithms based on specific criteria (e.g.visual realism), information regarding artifacts specific to realism in augmented reality, and the potential use of a computational vision model such as iCAM [Fairchild and Johnson 2004], in the loop. This poster presents the steps used to create the imagery and initial results.
Achieving web accessibility

The World Wide Web has long outgrown its novelty to become a necessity in academics. Internet access has enabled numerous activities-registration, research, and distance learning, to name a few-to reach more people than ever. Federal laws require state schools to provide accessible web sites for persons with disabilities-yet many fail to, perhaps due to webmasters' ignorance and misconceptions that enabling access is expensive and time-consuming. Public schools violate this obligation when they only respond on an ad-hoc basis to requests for accommodation; therefore, it is vital for webmasters to learn how to provide equal access. Whether a site is in its initial planning or is fully developed, there are common concerns to address: specifically, why do sites need to be accessible and to what degree? What is the process for creating or modifying pages to ensure accessibility? Can a web site use advanced technologies and still be accessible? How can accessibility be verified? What resources are available to assist in this process? Although comprehensive understanding of accessibility can be an undertaking, a significant amount of knowledge can be obtained through a broad introduction.
Wavelet Galerkin method in multi-scale homogenization of heterogeneous media

The hierarchical properties of scaling functions and wavelets can be utilized as effective means for multi-scale homogenization of heterogeneous materials under Galerkin framework. It is shown in this work, however, when the scaling functions are used as the shape functions in the multi-scale wavelet Galerkin approximation, the linear dependency in the scaling functions renders improper zero energy modes in the discrete differential operator (stiffness matrix) if integration by parts is invoked in the Galerkin weak form. An effort is made to obtain the analytical expression of the improper zero energy modes in the wavelet Galerkin differential operator, and the improper nullity of the discrete differential operator is then removed by an eigenvalue shifting approach. A unique property of multi-scale wavelet Galerkin approximation is that the discrete differential operator at any scale can be effectively obtained. This property is particularly useful in problems where the multi-scale solution cannot be obtained simply by a wavelet projection of the finest scale solution without utilizing the multi-scale discrete differential operator, for example, the multi-scale analysis of an eigenvalue problem with oscillating coefficients. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure of the new “1201” lead cuprate superconductor

Abstract The structure of the newly discovered “1201” lead cuprate superconductor (Pb, Cu) (Sr, La) 2 CuO 5−δ with T c =27.5 K at onset and a shielding fraction 38% at 5 K and 10 Oe, has been determined using neutron powder diffraction. The structure is similar to the other 1201 materials TlBa 1.2 La 0.8 CuO 5 and Tl 0.5 Pb 0.5 Sr 2 CuO 5 (where the former superconductors with a T c of K and the latter is not superconducting), belonging to the space group P4/mmm. The doping scheme in (Pb, Cu)(Sr, La) 2 CuO 5−δ combines the doping scheme used in these two compounds, in that both the TI and Sr sites are doped. The starting stoichiometry, the refined scale factors for the impurity phases and the refined site occupancies for oxygen suggests that the stoichiometry (relative to Cu) of the superconducting phase is Pb 0.60 Cu 0.40 Sr 1.08 La 0.92 Cu0 4.96 . Calculation of the average hole concentration in these compounds from charge summation is difficult with these compounds because the TI/PbO layers provide polarizable charge reservoirs that can participate in substantial covalent bonding and because of the probable mixed-valent nature of Tl and Pb. Nevertheless, bond valence sums calculated for the Cu ions in the CuO 2 layers for the three 1201 cuprates do provide a correlation with the values of T c or the absence of superconductivity.
Lingual thyroid carcinoma with nodal metastasis.

Objectives: To discuss treatment options and surgical management of lingual thyroid carcinoma with cervical metastasis. Study Design: Lingual thyroid is relatively uncommon, and carcinoma of the lingual thyroid is extremely rare, with only 40 cases reported. We report a new case of a young female who presented with a cervical neck mass found to represent metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Further workup revealed the patient's only thyroid tissue was located at the tongue base and was the site of the primary tumor. Management of lingual thyroid carcinoma and review of the literature is discussed. Methods: A case report and review of the literature of lingual thyroid carcinoma. Results: A young female presented with a left neck mass diagnosed as metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Review of the computed tomography scan of the neck revealed a tongue base mass, absence of an othotopic thyroid gland and bilateral cervical lymphandenopathy. Bilateral selective neck dissections with removal of the tongue base lesion confirmed the diagnosis of lingual thyroid carcinoma with multiple left cervical nodal metastases. Conclusions: A case of lingual papillary thyroid carcinoma with cervical metastasis is reported. Treatment is best managed with surgical excision of all thyroid tissue followed by radioactive iodine ablation. Surgical approaches to the tongue base need to be considered based on the size of the lingual primary tumor and the need to address lymph node metastases gland. This is the first reported case in the literature of lingual papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with cervical nodal metastasis in a female with absence of an orthotopic thyroid gland. This is also the first report to show that papillary and not follicular cell carcinoma is the predominating histopathology in lingual thyroid carcinoma.
Pristane-induced arthritis in mice : V. Susceptibility to pristane-induced arthritis is determined by the genetic regulation of the T cell repertoire

Objective Pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) is an experimental seropositive arthritis that is characterized by serologic and cellular immune abnormalities and is dependent on the presence of a competent CD4+ T cell population. We examined the regulation of PIA by genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the Mls-1 loci to determine whether the selection of the T cells that infiltrate arthritic joints is a critical factor in disease susceptibility. Methods Genetic regulation of PIA was investigated using F1 hybrid and congenic strain analysis to determine the influence of MHC and Mls-1 genes. The T cell receptor Vβ phenotypes of lymph node cells and T cells infiltrating arthritic joints were examined with 2-color flow cytometry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction techniques. Results F1 hybrid offspring from 2 major PIA-susceptible strains (DBA/1 × BALB/c) were resistant to the induction of arthritis because of the interaction between genes of the MHC and the Mls-1 loci, which modified the T cell repertoire. This conclusion was supported by the observed resistance to PIA in BALB/c-Mls-1a mice, where T cells expressing the Vβ8.1 and Vβ6 phenotypes were absent. The receptor phenotype of T cells infiltrating arthritic joints in DBA/1 mice was markedly skewed toward Vβ8.1 and Vβ6 compared with the population observed in lymph nodes from either PIA or normal control DBA/1 mice. Conclusion The data support the hypothesis that PIA is a T cell-mediated disease. While pristane causes a polyclonal T cell expansion that gives rise to lymphadenopathy, the development of arthritis in susceptible strains of mice occurs due to the preservation of specific T cell subsets with the capacity to infiltrate synovial joints.
The effect of take-all disease on gas-exchange rates and biomass in two winter wheat lines with different drought response

There have been no studies of the effect of take-all on leaf gas-exchange rates, despite the fact that take-all severely restricts plant water and nutrient uptake, which results in significant biomass and grain yield reduction. Here we describe the effect of inoculation with Gaeumannomyces graminis (Sacc.) var. tritici (Ggt) on carbon assimilation rate (A) and biomass production of wheat plants grown under two water regimes. We show that the impact of Ggt inoculation on plant growth and leaf A may be through reduced photosynthetic capacity of the leaves and not water stress per se. The nature of this reduced photosynthetic capacity remains uncertain but may involve nutrient deficiency and different enzymes produced by the fungus. In each of the 3 years the experiment was conducted, Ggt significantly reduced A, i.e. at anthesis by 18% in 2000, 15% in 2001, and 12% in 2002. In agreement with other field studies, Ggt reduced tiller number and production of all plant components, mostly root dry mass and grain mass per plant. Highly significant negative correlations were found between disease rating and A in all years, showing that at disease ratings equal or higher than 3 (on a scale from 1 to 4) A could practically be zero. While A decreased, intercellular CO2 concentration increased or did not change, and stomatal conductance was relatively high. In addition, A was more reduced under high than under low soil moisture content. These results support the idea that water stress per se did not contribute to the observed reduction of A. The mechanism of photosynthetic capacity reduction due to the Ggt root-rotting fungus is of interest as it may lead to the molecular mechanisms of plant resistance and ultimately to the development of take-all resistant plants.
Bayesian multiscale tomographic reconstruction

This paper describes a new Bayesian modeling and analysis method for emission computed tomography based on a novel multiscale framework. The class of multiscale priors has the interesting feature that the "non-informative" member yields the traditional maximum likelihood solution; other choices are made to reflect prior belief as to the smoothness of the unknown intensity. Remarkably, this Bayesian multiscale framework admits a novel maximum a posteriori (MAP) reconstruction procedure using an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, in which the EM update equations have simple, closed-form expressions. The potential of this new framework is assessed using the Zubal brain phantom and simulated SPECT studies.
Fire-related injuries requiring inpatient care: descriptive analysis, incidence and patients during 2000-2009

Background Incidence of fire-related deaths in Finland is higher than in majority of the westernised countries exceeding 2 deaths/100 000 persons. No nationwide epidemiological study focused on severe fire-related injuries existed. Aims/Objectives/Purpose This study attempts to provide comprehensive overview on injuries due to smoke, fire and flames during 2000–2009 in Finland. Methods Patients with fire-related injury following with inpatient care during 2000–2009 were studied in a register based study. Results/Outcome Annually 293 patients on average (population 5.3 million) had fire-related injuries with in-patient care. Majority of these patients were males (74%). Females were older in general having mean age of 51 years while mean age for males was 40 years. During the 10 year period the mean age of both males and females has been increasing. Significance/Contribution to the Field The nationwide picture was provided and the findings showed several implications for prevention. House fires were the most typical for late middle aged and older while injuries from campfires, barbecues, incinerating and flammable substances were distinctively more associated with younger age. Interesting is also the increasing trend among combustion gas poisonings.
Current research information in the USA

The paper describes the origins, development and present state of information services regarding current research projects in the USA. It covers individual agency systems, the combined Government-wide database (Federal Research in Progress - FEDRIP) and other means for locating information about ongoing research, such as laboratory directories, research newsletters and trade publications. Finally, it discusses new policy developments designed to strengthen research reporting and new technical develop ments that are influencing the diffusion of information about current research.
Do Hedge Funds Have a Future

On the question of whether “hedge funds have a future,” the author shows that the answer depends primarily on whether the message gets through to regulators and policymakers. If new regulations strip hedge funds of their comparative advantages and make them more like mutual funds, their future will not be secure. In the long run, of course, hedge funds will also have to provide the kind of attractive returns they have in the past if they are to have a future at all. This will be especially important because the returns on traditional asset classes are not as good as they have been in recent years.
A study of screen printed yttria-stabilized zirconia layers for solid oxide fuel cells

Screen printing of thin yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes onto NiO–YSZ anode supports was studied. Experimental parameters studied included screen printing ink composition and rheology, screen printer settings, NiO–YSZ anode support thickness pre-fire temperature, sintering temperature, and ramp rate. Viscoelastic rheology of the inks versus solids loading was measured and correlated with print results. Increasing ink solids loading from 20 to 40 vol% increased the thickness and roughness of fired layers, but did not affect film density. Bi-layer curvature after co-firing depended strongly on ink solids loading, support thickness, and support pre-fire temperature. A simple non-destructive permeability test apparatus was used to determine whether electrolytes were sufficiently dense to allow good cell performance. Cell test results at 800°C showed open circuit voltage values from 1.05 to 1.089 V, compared to a predicted Nernst voltage of 1.10 V, for optimized processing conditions. Power densities as high as 1.45 W/cm2 were attained, and impedance spectroscopy analysis showed a resistivity value of≈46 Ω·cm for the screen printed YSZ films.
Adenovirus E4 ORF3 Protein Inhibits the Interferon-Mediated Antiviral Response

The PML oncogenic domain (POD/ND10/PML body) is a common target of DNA viruses, which replicate their genomes in proximity to this nuclear structure. The adenovirus early protein E4 ORF3 is both necessary and sufficient to rearrange PODs from punctate bodies into track-like structures. Although multiple hypotheses exist, the precise reason for this activity has not yet been elucidated. PML, the protein responsible for nucleating PODs, is an interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene, implicating the participation of this nuclear body in an innate antiviral response. Here, we demonstrate that E4 ORF3 is critical to the replicative success of adenovirus during the IFN-induced antiviral state. When cells are pretreated with either IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma, a mutant virus that does not express E4 ORF3 is severely compromised for replication. This result suggests the functional significance of ORF3 track formation is the inhibition of a POD-mediated, antiviral mechanism. Replication of the E4 ORF3 mutant virus can be rescued following the introduction of E4 ORF3 from evolutionarily divergent adenoviruses, suggesting a conserved function for E4 ORF3 inhibition of the IFN-induced antiviral state. Furthermore, E4 ORF3 inhibition of an IFN-induced response is unrelated to the inhibition of adenovirus replication by the Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 DNA repair complex. We propose that the evolutionarily conserved function of the adenovirus E4 ORF3 protein is the inhibition of a host interferon response to viral infection via disruption of the PML oncogenic domain.
Influence of cognitive control and mismatch on the N2 component of the ERP: a review.

Recent years have seen an explosion of research on the N2 component of the event-related potential, a negative wave peaking between 200 and 350 ms after stimulus onset. This research has focused on the influence of ‘‘cognitive control,’’ a concept that covers strategic monitoring and control of motor responses. However, rich research traditions focus on attention and novelty or mismatch as determinants of N2 amplitude. We focus on paradigms that elicit N2 components with an anterior scalp distribution, namely, cognitive control, novelty, and sequential matching, and argue that the anterior N2 should be divided into separate control- and mismatch-related subcomponents. We also argue that the oddball N2 belongs in the family of attention-related N2 components that, in the visual modality, have a posterior scalp distribution. We focus on the visual modality for which components with frontocentral and more posterior scalp distributions can be readily distinguished.
Cumulative neurobehavioral and physiological effects of chronic caffeine intake: individual differences and implications for the use of caffeinated energy products

The use of caffeine-containing energy products has increased worldwide in recent years. All of the top-selling energy drinks contain caffeine, which is likely to be the primary psychoactive ingredient in these products. Research shows that caffeine-containing energy products can improve cognitive and physical performance. Presumably, individuals consume caffeine-containing energy products to counteract feelings of low energy in situations causing tiredness, fatigue, and/or reduced alertness. This review discusses the scientific evidence for sleep loss, circadian phase, sleep inertia, and the time-on-task effect as causes of low energy and summarizes research assessing the efficacy of caffeine to counteract decreased alertness and increased fatigue in such situations. The results of a placebo-controlled experiment in healthy adults who had 3 nights of total sleep deprivation (with or without 2-hour naps every 12 hours) are presented to illustrate the physiological and neurobehavioral effects of sustained low-dose caffeine. Individual differences, including genetic factors, in the response to caffeine and to sleep loss are discussed. The review concludes with future directions for research on this important and evolving topic.
Trans-striatocapsular contralateral interhemispheric resection of anterior inferior basal ganglia cavernous malformation.

Objective To describe a technique to approach the anterior inferior basal ganglia. Case Description A 29-year-old man presented with several episodes of facial droop and a cavernous malformation anterior, inferior, and lateral to the head of the caudate nucleus. Several possible surgical approaches were considered, including a transsylvian approach and a contralateral interhemispheric approach. Ultimately, the patient underwent a contralateral interhemispheric trans-striatocapsular approach to the lesion and was discharged without neurologic deficit within 72 hours. Conclusion The approach described here is a novel alternative to transsylvian or supracarotid approaches to the anterior inferior basal ganglia and in this patient provided a well-tolerated surgical corridor that allowed complete resection of his cavernoma. We discuss several advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches to the anterior inferior basal ganglia.
Tertiary Carbinamine Synthesis by Rhodium‐Catalyzed [3+2] Annulation of N‐Unsubstituted Aromatic Ketimines and Alkynes

A convenient and waste-free synthesis of indene-based tertiary carbinamines by rhodium-catalyzed imine/alkyne [3+2] annulation is described. Under the optimized conditions of 0.5-2.5 mol % [{(cod)Rh(OH)}(2)] (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) catalyst, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (DPPP) ligand, in toluene at 120 degrees C, N-unsubstituted aromatic ketimines and internal alkynes were coupled in a 1:1 ratio to form tertiary 1H-inden-1-amines in good yields and with high selectivities over isoquinoline products. A plausible catalytic cycle involves sequential imine-directed aromatic C-H bond activation, alkyne insertion, and a rare example of intramolecular ketimine insertion into a Rh(I)-alkenyl linkage.
Risk Factors Associated with Methamphetamine Production: A Spatial Predictive Modeling Approach

The estimated national cost due to methamphetamine (meth) abuse is 23.4 billion each year. Current law enforcement of dealing with the meth abuse is by 'fire fighting' strategy, that is, to direct the enforcement to the location after the problem occurs. A better strategy is to develop a proactive predictive model based strategy. This study attempts to develop a model to predict the risk of meth production for the seven most severe states in USA. Modern data mining supervised modeling techniques, including Decision Tree, Generalized Logistic Regression and Neural Network are applied to model the risk level of meth at the block group geographical area. The final best model found is a neural network model. The prediction accuracy is found at 87.5%. Fourteen important inputs are identified, which are further classified into three factor groups: culture, socio-economic and geographical factor groups. It is found that the culture factors, which reflects the specific behavioral models of people, are the most important for contributing to the risk of meth, and that the meth production activity is highly associated with crimes.
Rehabilitation for Subacromial Impingement Starts at the Scapula

Abstract Subacromial impingement, especially secondary subacromial impingement, is a common malady of athletes and non-athletes alike. Although several pathologies may lead to impingement, they all relate back to poor posture. Over time, postural changes increase stress to soft tissue structures to change both alignment and performance. Injury results as low-level stresses impact weakening tissues to the point of overload. Crucial to effective treatment of secondary subacromial impingement is the identification and correction of all causes. Basic to successful treatment is correction of posture, including scapular posture and muscles which control, stabilize, and move the scapula. An evidence-based approach to not only identifying the causes but also creating a treatment regimen to effectively resolve secondary subacromial impingement is presented.
Factors associated with hormone replacement therapy use in low-income urban women

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the postmenopausal period results in significant long-term health benefits for aging women. Epidemiologic data suggest it may prevent age-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) and bone loss. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and disability in women.1 African-American women have a higher incidence of CVD and suffer the highest mortality compared to other races.2,3 Hormone replacement therapy use has been shown to decrease the risk of developing CVD by 20 –50%3,4 and overall mortality by 25%.4,5 Osteoporosis effects approximately 50% of women over 50 and 90% of women over 75. It is the major cause of nearly 1.5 million bone fractures in the U. S. annually.6 Postmenopausal bone loss can be decreased with HRT use resulting in a 50% reduction in fractures.7 Although the relationship is less clear, preliminary studies suggest that HRT may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as well.8,9 In spite of evidence supporting the benefits of HRT use, on average less than 40% of women use HRT and less than 50% of those stay on therapy for longer than one year.10 These rates vary significantly for different populations, with many studies reporting the highest use among white, younger, educated women,11–15 although one study found HRT use was more common in older © 1999 by the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health Published by Elsevier Science Inc. 1049-3867/99/$20.00 PII S1049-3867(99)00025-0
Bubble motion and mass transfer in non‐Newtonian fluids

Instantaneous mass transfer coefficients were obtained for the absorption of carbon dioxide bubbles rising in an aqueous solution of sodium carboxymethylcellulose. The rheological character of the solutions was well described by the Ellis model. Mass transfer coefficients were high initially but trailed off rapidly with bubble age. Exceptions were found at specific diameters where the bubble shape went through a transition. At about 0.2 cm. a transition from ellipsoidal to a sphere shape occurred, which has also been observed in Newtonian fluids. At a larger diameter, however, the non-Newtonian fluid showed a shape change from a spherical “cap” to a “top” shape and finally to an ellipsoid. A sudden increase of mass transfer coefficient accompanied each shape transition. Drag coefficient data were correlated successfully with a new Reynolds number. The Newtonian and power law portion of the Ellis model each contributed a component to the Reynolds number, which, when added together, correlated drag data for the bubbles as well as for glass spheres. Attempts to account for transition shape changes and bubble tailing in the non-Newtonian fluid and their effects on bubble mass transfer are included.
Sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1) polymorphism and bladder cancer risk: a case-control study.

Abstract Sulfotransferases (SULT) catalyze both the bioactivation and detoxification of a wide range of promutagens and procarcinogens. SULT1A1 appears to be an important phenol SULT because of its abundance and distribution in many tissues and wide substrate specificity. The SULT1A1 gene possesses a G→A polymorphism that results in an Arg to His amino acid substitution, and the His213 allele has been shown to have low activity and low thermal stability. Because of its functional role and published data showing the influence of Arg213His polymorphism on the risk of some cancers, we hypothesized that the His213 allele of the SULT1A1 gene may modify bladder cancer risk. To test this hypothesis, we determined the SULT1A1 Arg213His genotypes in 384 incident bladder cancer patients and 386 healthy frequency-matched controls. A comprehensive epidemiologic interview was conducted on all participants to collect personal information, such as demographics and smoking status. The Arg/His and His/His genotypes were more common in the controls than the cases (P=0.035), resulting in a His213 allele frequency of 35.0% in controls and 28.8% in cases. When individuals with the His213 allele genotypes (Arg/His+His/His) were combined and compared to individuals with the Arg/Arg genotype, we observed a statistically significant reduced risk of bladder cancer (OR=0.72; 95% CI 0.54–0.97). When we examined the data by gender, there was a statistically significant reduced risk of bladder cancer only in women (OR=0.42; 95% CI 0.23–0.78) and not in men (OR=0.84; 95% CI 0.60–1.19) with the His213 genotypes. In addition, there was a reduced bladder cancer risk in never smokers (OR=0.59; 95% CI 0.36–0.98) with the His213 allele genotypes, but not in former (OR=0.82; 95% CI 0.54–1.25) or current smokers (OR=0.68; 95% CI 0.29–1.58). The His213 allele genotypes also appeared to provide some protective benefit for current and former smokers, as compared to those with the Arg/Arg genotype. In conclusion, this study provides epidemiologic evidence of a reduced bladder cancer risk associated with the SULT1A1 His213 polymorphism. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the function of this SULT1A1 polymorphism with regard to organ specificity, gene-environment interactions, and the gender-related difference we observed.
An Interdisciplinary Framework for Investigating Influences on Judgmental Marketing Decisions

Increased interest in improving judgmental decisions has resulted in increased research efforts from a very diverse set of disciplines, including marketing. Utilization of the contributions of each area of inquiry requires the integration of the many independent studies. This paper (a) summarizes three areas of research -- psychology, information systems, and marketing, (b) provides an initial framework for integrating past and future research, and (c) suggests future research directions.
Successful Treatment of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy with Plasmapheresis.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare, life-threatening disease of late pregnancy and early puerperium among previously healthy women. Management of this challenging disease is similar to other forms of systolic heart failure. Unfortunately, only 30% to 50% of patients recover completely. Among the remaining patients, continued poor ejection fraction indicates irreversible cardiomyopathy and portends a poor outcome. Immune complexes, autoantibodies, or toxic proteins are likely causative agents. Herein, we report first two PPCM cases that were successfully managed with plasmapheresis.
Low-depth quantum architectures for factoring

Quantum computing is a new field which combines computer science and quantum physics. Its most famous result, Shor's factoring algorithm, would enable us to one day compromise the widely-used RSA cryptosystem if we are able to design efficient quantum architectures. Studying the depth of these architectures would allow us to solve this human problem within a human lifetime. Toward that end, we contribute two hybrid factoring architectures in poly-logarithmic and sub-logarithmic depths, which are both exponential improvements over previous known works. We also present an improved procedure for generating quantum Fourier states useful for quantum compiling. Finally, we invent a new circuit resource called coherence which upper bounds the error-correcting effort needed in a future quantum computer. We use this to characterize a better time-space tradeoff for factoring as well as to provide configurable-depth factoring architectures.
Statistical Model Checking of Distributed Adaptive Real-Time Software

The problem of estimating quantitative properties of distributed cyber-physical software that coordinate and adapt to uncertain environments is addressed. A domain-specific language, called dmpl, is developed to both describe such a system and a target property. Statistical model checking (SMC) is used to estimate the probability with which the property holds on the system. A distributed SMC tool is developed and described. Virtual machines are used to implement a realistic execution environment, and to isolate simulations from one another. Experimental results on a coordinated multi-robot example are presented.
An agonist antibody that blocks autoimmunity by inducing anti-inflammatory macrophages

We have devised a method of using intracellular combinatorial libraries to select antibodies that control cell fates. Many agonist antibodies have been selected with this method, and the process appears to be limited only by the availability of a phenotypic selection system. We demonstrate the utility of this approach to discover agonist antibodies that engage an unanticipated target and regulate macrophage polarization by selective induction of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages. This antibody was used therapeutically to block autoimmunity in a classic mouse model of spontaneous systemic lupus erythematosus.
Crystallization and Morphology of Rubber

Abstract Naturally occurring materials like rubber predate the development of science and engineering as we know it today. Historically, rubber and more generally elastomers, known as a class of high polymers, are versatile and useful materials. Rubber is still an elastomer of choice for many engineering applications. After decades of R&D, scientists and engineers realized that technology needs good science. This position is nicely summarized in Figure 1. This scenario brings together four main items that are essential to create and to maintain quality industry(ies). In the case of rubber, particularly natural rubber, it is not only essential to understand these individual properties, but also to comprehend the important interrelationships that contribute to material behavior. In this respect, rubber has been an enabling resource material that has served as a paradigm amongst synthetic polymers in their developmental stages. In this article crystallization of natural rubber especially, is addressed in ord...
Estimating Hemoglobin Changes with an Extended Fusion Model Incorporating DOT, BOLD and ASL Data

Combining arterial spin labeling (ASL), diffuse optical tomography (DOT) and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) recordings, we obtained better estimates of changes in hemoglobin species and BOLD calibration factor M without a hypercapnia challenge.
Taxonomic Status of the Genera Chlorochroa Stål, Rhytidilomia Stål, Liodermion Kirkaldy, and Pitedia Reuter, and Their Included Species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

The taxonomic status of the genus-group names Chlorochroa, Pitedia, Rhytidilomia, and Liodermion is examined. As a result of a morphological study emphasizing genitalia, and in accordance with the rules of nomenclature, Chlorochroa emerges as the name for the genus. Rhytidilomia is retained in subgeneric status, whereas Liodermion and Pitedia are placed in synonomy with Rhytidilomia. Three new species are described, C. lineata and C. bajana in the subgenus Chlorochroa, and C. dismalia in the subgenus Rhytidilomia. Rhytidilomia schotti is placed in synonomy with Rhytidilomia saucia. Keys, figures, and diagnoses are provided to the subgenera, species groups, and species, except those of the Sayi-group, found in North America.
Another Round of Canon Fire: Feminist and Multi-Ethnic Theory in the American Literature Survey

When men were men, and men were white, when scholar-critics were white men, and when women and persons of color were voiceless, faceless servants and laborers, pouring tea and filling brandy snifters in the board rooms of old boy clubs.... Of course, when Bennett writes in To Reclaim a Legacy that "the core of the American college curriculum-its heart and soul should be the civilization of the West," and accounts for this so-called civilizing process in terms of M. Arnold's "the best that has been thought and written" by white males for white males about white males during the past three thousand years, we have very little choice but to identify his position as one inimical to our best interests and as antithetical to the large socio-economic changes in the academy and in this profession.... (12)
The Component-Based Network Offensive Task Management Model

Through analysis of the network offensive unit and the network offensive task,the target-weights definition of the network offensive effect are given,the component-based network offensive unit description and the control of attack sequence are proposed. The model of network offensive task management is modeled based on the theories of component. Then a task management algorithm is stated,which lays the foundations for the level information systems security test work. According to the mode,the network offensive task management system is designed and its related analysis is given.
Extraction of α-glucosidase Inhibitors from Eucommia ulmoides Leaves Assisted by Ultrasonic Wave

The study researched the effects of extraction time,ratio of material to liquid and extraction temperature on the yield of αglucosidase inhibitors of Eucommia ulmoides leaves,studied the inhibitory activity,and then employed the orthogonal experimental design to obtain the optimum extraction conditions of α-glucosidase inhibitors from Eucommia ulmoides leaves.The optimal conditions obtained for the extraction were that the solid-liquid ratio was 1∶10,the extraction temperature was 90℃,and the extraction time was 40 min.Under the conditions,the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity reached 34.8%.
Integrated Framework for Patient Safety and Energy Efficiency in Healthcare Facilities Retrofit Projects

There is a growing focus on enhancing energy efficiency in healthcare facilities, many of which are decades old. Since replacement of all aging healthcare facilities is not economically feasible, the retrofitting of these facilities is an appropriate path, which also provides an opportunity to incorporate energy efficiency measures. In undertaking energy efficiency retrofits, it is vital that the safety of the patients in these facilities is maintained or enhanced. However, the interactions between patient safety and energy efficiency have not been adequately addressed to realize the full benefits of retrofitting healthcare facilities. To address this, an innovative integrated framework, the Patient Safety and Energy Efficiency (PATSiE) framework, was developed to simultaneously enhance patient safety and energy efficiency. The framework includes a step -: by -: step procedure for enhancing both patient safety and energy efficiency. It provides a structured overview of the different stages involved in retrofitting healthcare facilities and improves understanding of the intricacies associated with integrating patient safety improvements with energy efficiency enhancements. Evaluation of the PATSiE framework was conducted through focus groups with the key stakeholders in two case study healthcare facilities. The feedback from these stakeholders was generally positive, as they considered the framework useful and applicable to retrofit projects in the healthcare industry.
Delay-constrained capacity for broadcast erasure channels: A linear-coding-based study

Supporting delay-sensitive traffic is critical to the next-generation communication network. This work studies the 1-to-2 broadcast packet erasure channels with causal ACKnowledgement (ACK), which is motivated by practical downlink access point networks. While the corresponding delay-constrained Shannon capacity remains an open problem (no existing analysis tools can be directly applied), this work focuses on linear codes and proposes three new definitions of delay-constrained throughput based on different outage metrics: the file-based, the rank-based, and the packet-based ones. It then fully characterizes the corresponding linear coding capacity regions for relatively-short-delay flows — flows for which the delay requirement is no larger than the interval of file arrivals.
Evaluating the transient stability impact of inertia less renewable generation

An analysis of the impact on transient stability of adding renewable generation capacity to a power system is performed and new approach to calculating the stability limit is proposed. Wind generation is being treated as inertia-less generation source. The results show that addition of wind generation has dissimilar impact depending on the transient event occurring in the system.
αMST: A Robust Unified Algorithm for Quadrilateral Mesh Adaptation

Mesh adaptation plays a critical role in balancing computational efficiency and numerical accuracy. Three types of mesh adaptation techniques exist today, namely, mesh improvement, mesh refinement and mesh simplification, and for each of these, several strategies have been proposed. Most of these strategies yield acceptable geometric mesh quality but provide limited control over topological quality. In this paper, we introduce a unified algorithm for all three types of mesh adaptation for quadrilateral meshes. The algorithm builds upon the Minimum Singularity Templates (MST) idea proposed by the authors for improving the topological quality of a quadrilateral mesh. The MST is extended here to define the concept of an αMST where a single parameter α controls mesh adaptation: α = 1 for mesh improvement, α > 1 for mesh refinement, and α < 1 for mesh simplification. The proposed algorithm generates mesh with high geometric and topological qualities. Further, it is non-hierarchical and stateless, and yet it provides an arbitrary level of mesh adaptation. Finally, since cyclic chords can play an important role in quadrilateral mesh adaptation, we provide a simple constructive algorithm to insert such chords using the αMST. Several examples are presented that demonstrate the robustness, efficiency, and versatility of the proposed concept and algorithm.
Chave de identificação e lista de referências bibliográficas para as espécies continentais sulamericanas de vida livre da ordem Cyclopoida (Crustacea, Copepoda)

Uma chave ilustrada e fornecida para auxiliar na identificacao das 108 especies, subespecies e formas de Copepoda, Cyclopoida (Crustacea) de vida livre, conhecidas da America do Sul continental, incluindo as Ilhas Malvinas/Falklands, Aruba e Curacao. Estao incluidos os membros dos generos predominantemente marinhos, gue podem ocorrer em estuarios e lagoas salobras. Cada especie e suprida de uma lista de referencias bibliograficas.
Prehospital Damage Control

The principles of damage control resuscitation and management should extend to the prehospital care of patients with hemorrhagic shock. This includes an enhanced focus on control of external hemorrhage, controlled fluid resuscitation with blood pressure targets, prehospital administration of blood and blood products when available, and rapid transport to an appropriate trauma center capable of immediate initiation of hemorrhage control procedures. This chapter will focus on identification of patients with hypovolemic shock in the prehospital setting and strategies to implement the principles of damage control management in this environment.
Management of acute heart failure

Acute heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that results from impaired cardiac performance, either in the setting of preserved or reduced contractile function. A systematic history and physical examination is needed to rapidly diagnose acute heart failure, as prompt diagnosis and treatment are required to avoid progressive hemodynamic and sometimes electrical decompensation, which can result in shock or death. While the mainstay of acute therapy includes diuretics and vasodilators, more refractory cases can require inotropes or mechanical circulatory support.
Awareness of the Link between Alcohol Consumption and Cancer across the World: A Review

Since 1988, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, the highest level of risk. Growing evidence suggests that alcohol increases the risk of several types of cancer including breast, bowel, prostate, and liver, and accounts for a significant proportion of preventable cancers. Despite ample evidence of this relationship, public awareness is less clear. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we reviewed 32 studies examining lay awareness of alcohol as a risk factor for cancer in 16 countries. Our results show that awareness appears to be low and varies internationally; it is relatively higher in the United Kingdom, Morocco, and Australia. Methodologic differences in assessment obfuscate cross-country and cross-sample comparisons. In general, people are more likely to endorse alcohol as a risk factor when presented with a list of possible risk factors than when asked to list risk factors in an open-ended format. Attempts to increase awareness have been limited and constitute a significant public health need. We provide potential strategies to increase awareness, such as alcohol bottle labeling and fostering patient/physician discussions regarding the link. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(4); 429-37. ©2018 AACR.