cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex-based differential regulation of bacterial-induced bone resorption.

Background and Objective Periodontal disease pathogenesis is comprised of the complex inflammatory immune response to oral bacterial dysbiosis. Like other inflammatory diseases, there is sexual dimorphism evident in periodontal diseases. During periodontitis, inflammatory chemokines direct neutrophils to migrate to the site of infection to neutralize the pathogen. Interestingly, these same chemokines are also involved in regulating pathogen-induced osteoclast formation. Previous reports show differences in bone turnover and lymphocyte recruitment between sexes. We hypothesize that chemokine expression is differentially regulated by sex and thus results in differential osteoclast formation. Material and Methods Male and female mice were utilized to isolate neutrophils based on expression of Ly6G-specific, as well as defined osteoclast progenitors. Cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ng/mL) then analyzed for neutrophil infiltration and gene expression. Defined osteoclast progenitors were primed: macrophage-colony stimulating factor (25 ng/mL), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (50 ng/mL), then stimulated with LPS. Osteoclasts were enumerated via TRAP stain and mRNA isolated for gene expression analysis via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results In response to LPS, male neutrophils in vitro respond with increased chemokine expression and significantly more osteoclast formed in response to LPS compared to females. Conclusions Findings support observations in humans regarding a sexual dimorphism in oral bacterial infections of alveolar bone loss. Males have a strong inflammatory response to bacterial infection, resulting in increased inflammatory microenvironment, reduced pathogenic bacteria clearance and increased osteoclast-driven bone loss in response to differential expression of key chemokines.
Estimating relationships between phenotypes and subjects drawn from admixed families

Estimating relationships among subjects in a sample, within family structures or caused by population substructure, is complicated in admixed populations. Inaccurate allele frequencies can bias both kinship estimates and tests for association between subjects and a phenotype. We analyzed the simulated and real family data from Genetic Analysis Workshop 19, and were aware of the simulation model. We found that kinship estimation is more accurate when marker data include common variants whose frequencies are less variable across populations. Estimates of heritability and association vary with age for longitudinally measured traits. Accounting for local ancestry identified different true associations than those identified by a traditional approach. Principal components aid kinship estimation and tests for association, but their utility is influenced by the frequency of the markers used to generate them. Admixed families can provide a powerful resource for detecting disease loci, as well as analytical challenges. Allele frequencies, although difficult to adequately estimate in admixed populations, have a strong impact on the estimation of kinship, ancestry, and association with phenotypes. Approaches that acknowledge population structure in admixed families outperform those which ignore it.
Multistage torrefaction and in situ catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon biofuels: analysis of life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

A well-to-wheel life cycle assessment (LCA) model is developed to characterize the life cycle energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions profiles of a series of novel multistage torrefaction and pyrolysis systems for targeted thermochemical conversion of short rotation woody crops to bio-oil and in situ catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon transportation fuels, and to benchmark the results against a base-case fast pyrolysis and hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) platform. Multistage systems utilize a staged thermal gradient to fractionate bio-oil into product streams consisting of distinct functional groups, and multi-step chemical synthesis for downstream processing of bio-oil fractions to hydrocarbon fuels. Results at the process scale reveal that multistage systems have several advantages over the base-case including: (1) ∼40% reduction in process hydrogen consumption and (2) the product distribution for multistage systems are skewed towards longer carbon chain compounds that are fungible with diesel-range fuels. LCA reveals that the median Energy Return On Investment (EROI) and life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for multistage systems range from 1.32 to 3.76 MJ-fuel/MJ-primary fossil energy and 17.1 to 52.8 gCO2e/MJ-fuel respectively, over the host of co-product scenarios and allocation schemes analyzed, with fossil-derived hydrogen constituting the principle GHG and primary energy burden across all systems. These results are compelling and indicate that multistage systems exhibit comparatively higher gasoline/diesel-range fuel yield relative to current technology, and produce a high quality infrastructure-compatible hydrocarbon transportation fuel capable of achieving over 80% reduction in life cycle GHG emissions relative to baseline petroleum diesel.
Agriculture When the War Ends

N RECENT weeks there has been a noticeable increase in the discussion of post-war problems. This no doubt is a reflection in part of the improving military situation in favor of the United Nations, both in the Russian and African theatres as well as in the Southwest Pacific. It also has been occasioned in part by the release of the long awaited Beveridge Report in England, by Queen Wilhelmina's speech on the Netherlands Commonwealth of Nations, and by numerous speeches and developments in the United States.
Agile curriculum design for the creative industries

The creative industries thrive on novelty and technology, demanding professionals who can innovate, deliver to demanding briefs and constantly reinvent processes to match new problems. Traditional educational approaches can deliver some of these to a high level, but the demand for graduates who can thrive in these conditions is increasing. Escape Studios has reputation for rapidly upskilling graduates and making them 'studio ready' and is now moving to offer degree programmes including team working skills and commercial awareness impossible to include in its existing short intensive courses. This paper outlines the design process involved in creating these new programmes and provides case studies of some experiments in studio-based learning using industry briefs, peer and self-assessment and iterative working.
Surgical Technique and Difficult Situations from Nathaniel J. Soper

The upside-down stomach (UDS) is a rare presentation of a Type III paraesophageal hernia with organo-axial rotation. Symptoms typically manifest as postprandial chest pain or dysphagia. Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair is indicated in operable patients with symptomatic paraesophageal hernias.
Collegial Decision Making in the U.S. Courts of Appeals

In July 2017, I participated with a number of other judges from various courts in both civilian and common law jurisdictions in a conference at All Souls College, University of Oxford, on “Collective Judging in Comparative Perspective.” The purpose of the conference was to explore the internal decision-making processes of modern collegiate courts in a comparative perspective. Participants were asked to share and discuss their respective views from the bench, focusing on procedural rules and conventions within their own judicial systems to facilitate comparative discussion of the themes which arise. In preparation for the conference, I asked every Circuit Chief Judge to fill out a questionnaire regarding how her or his court pursues decision making. After completing my research on collegial decision making and reviewing the survey forms, I wrote this paper, entitled “Collegial Decision Making in the U.S. Courts of Appeals.” In the paper, I note that too often commentators attempt to equate the decision-making practices of the U.S. Courts of Appeals with those of the U.S. Supreme Court. This is a mistake because our organizational structures and judicial responsibilities are strikingly different. And, unlike the Supreme Court, most of the decisions issued by the Courts of Appeals are unanimous. For the terms between 2011 and 2016: The Courts of Appeals issued over 172,000 total decisions on the merits. Only 1.3% of these decisions included a dissent. Less than 1% of the total decisions included a concurring opinion. And 90% of our “published” decisions were issued without a dissent. During the same time period: 56% of the decisions issued by the Supreme Court included a dissent; 40% of the signed decisions included a concurring opinion; and only 46% of the Supreme Court’s decisions were unanimous. The extraordinarily high number of unanimous decisions issued by the Courts of Appeals says a lot about our decision making. This paper explains how Court of Appeals judges pursue their decision-making responsibilities. In particular, the paper considers the methods and quality of collegial decision making in addressing the following questions: What procedures and policies do the courts follow to facilitate decision making? Do decision-making practices facilitate genuine and effective efforts by the judges to reach unanimous decisions? How should we measure the quality of the decisions rendered by the Courts of Appeals? The paper also considers the effects of collegiality on collegial decision making, addressing the need for collegiality; how a court instills and maintains collegiality; and the potential threats to collegiality. The survey responses from the Chief Judges are included in the paper, along with ample data confirming that very few dissenting and concurring opinions accompany the decisions issued by the U.S. Courts of Appeals.
Nanoparticle Synthesis, Characterization, and Ecotoxicity: A Research-Based Set of Laboratory Experiments for a General Chemistry Course

A series of laboratory experiments were developed to introduce first-year chemistry students to nanoscience through a green chemistry approach. Students made and characterized the stability of silver nanoparticles using two different methods: UV-visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. They then assessed the ecotoxicity of silver nanoparticles in Escherichia coli sublethal growth curve assays. Bacterial growth was monitored via optical density and carbon dioxide measurements. Finally, students designed and implemented their own nanomaterial characterization and ecotoxicity experiments based upon the insights gained in previous tests. The experiments translated current research in sustainable nanomaterials to an undergraduate population while introducing them to research methodology and experiences early in their undergraduate career. Moreover, the experiments emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the sciences to provide real-world applications and connect concepts learned within general che...
Increasing Competition: Measuring the Impact of Policy Prescription in Hospice Provision

This study sheds light on the effects of policies that introduce competition into the marketplace of the provision of government services. The outcomes indicate that both nonprofit and government m...
A social ecological study of access to breast cancer survivorship services.

31Background: Survivorship research has largely focused on the survivorship care plan and the transition back to primary care. Long-term survivor service needs remain understudied, particularly in ...
CLASS TENSIONS IN THE GAMES OF HOMER: EPEIUS, EURYALUS, ODYSSEUS, AND IROS

Three contest scenes in Homer reveal a thematic concern with class tension: the two contests with Epeius in Iliad 23, Odysseus's encounter with Euryalus in Odyssey 8, and Odysseus's boxing match with Iros in Odyssey 18. Epeius is a comic scapegoat who succeeds in challenging the elite Euryalus, boasts ineptly, and is later ridiculed. Odysseus in Odyssey 8 is also challenged by a (different) nobleman named Euryalus, whom Odysseus rebukes, saying that a man cannot be skilled in all things and that one ought not judge by appearances. The ‘skilled man’ phrase found both in the Epeius episode and in that with Odysseus (Il. 23.670–71; Od. 8. 59–60), highlights the intertextuality and focuses on the theme of merit over appearances. Finally the Iros–Odysseus boxing match parodies and parallels the above epic‐challenge scenes. Each episode fosters consideration of the essential ambiguity of class relations in the period of transition to the polis c. 700 bce.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Central Nervous System

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be performed using either an exogenous contrast agent such as a gadolinium-containing compound or an endogenous contrast material such as the subject’s own deoxyhemoglobin. The blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast technique of fMRI utilizing relative deoxyhemoglobin concentration has been performed on a 4.0 tesla (T) magnetic resonance (MR) system to study normal cerebral physiology and to localize eloquent cortex relative to vascular malformations and cerebral tumors. The technique is a powerful one, allowing multiple experiments to be performed in the same sitting to study cerebral physiology without the need for invasive contrast injections. The technique will prove to be important for detection of eloquent cortex relative to cerebral pathology. Most importantly, this is a technique that can be performed on a 1.5 T system as part of routine clinical diagnosis and evaluation.
Medicine's Role in Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change.

Medicine, a high-energy consumer and generator of much waste—some of it toxic—must scale back the health care enterprise in the interest of preserving a livable environment. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Much ado about nothing: Critical realism examined

Critical realism is the view that fictional characters arecontingent, actual, abstract individuals, ontologically on a par with such things as plots and rhyme schemes, andquantified over in statements such as “A character inHamlet is a prince.” A strong contender for thecorrect account of fictional characters, critical realismnevertheless has difficulty satisfying all that we intuitivelyrequire of such an account.
S AND L SPACES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the S and L spaces. An S space is a T3 topological space that is hereditarily separable but not Lindelof. An L space is a T3 topological space that is hereditarily Lindelof but not separable. There is no obvious duality between separability and Lindelofness. Spaces such as the Cantor tree or the tangent disk space are separable but not Lindelof. However, these spaces all have uncountable discrete subspaces and are, thus, neither hereditarily Lindelof nor hereditarily separable. The S and L problems are a part of a vital movement in general topology to think of topological properties as cardinal functions [Ju1], [Ru3]. For a cardinal α, a space can be defined to to be α-separable if α is the minimal cardinality of a dense set and α-Lindelof if α is the minimal cardinal such that every open cover has a subscover of that cardinality.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms, pathogenesis, and treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes obtained through study of a transgenic model of molecular mimicry.

The portrait of autoimmune diabetes mellitus or type I diabetes can be copied by a transgenic model in which either the nucleoprotein (NP) or glycoprotein (GP) of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is expressed in beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. In the absence of further environmental insult, diabetes does not occur. However, when LCMV or a dissimilar virus that shares cross-reactive T cell epitopes with LCMV initiates infection, diabetes ensues. If the self “viral” transgene is expressed only in the beta cells, then diabetes occurs acutely within 8 to 12 days. Specific antiviral (self) CD8 T cells are mandatory for disease, but CD4 T cells are not. In this instance, diabetes can occur in the absence of infection if interferon γ or B7.1 molecules are also expressed in the islets but not when IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, or IL-12 is similarly expressed. In contrast, both CD8 and CD4 antiviral (self) specific T cells are required when the self “viral” transgene is expressed concomitantly in beta cells and in the thymus. In this instance, infection by LCMV or cross-reacting virus is essential to cause diabetes. Further, the time from onset of infection until disease depends, in part, on the host’s MHC background and its quantitative influence on negative selection of high-avidity antiviral (self) T cells. Knowledge of the cells, their numbers, and the molecules required to cause diabetes allows the design of successful strategies to treat and prevent the autoimmune disease.
Pseudo-valuation rings and C(X)

Abstract A well-known line of study in the theory of the ring C ( X ) of continuous real-valued functions on the topological space X is to determine when, for a prime P ∈ Spec ( C ( X ) ) , the factor ring C ( X ) / P is a valuation domain. In the context of commutative rings, the notion of a pseudo-valuation domain plays a fascinating role, and we investigate the question of when C ( X ) / P is a pseudo-valuation domain for compact Hausdorff space X and, more generally, when A is a pseudo-valuation domain for bounded real closed domain A. In this context, we note that C ( X ) / P is always a divided domain and show that it may be a pseudo-valuation domain without being a valuation domain.
“Catfishing,” cyberbullying, and coercion: An exploration of the risks associated with dating app use among rural sexual minority males

This qualitative study (N = 20) examined the online and mobile dating app use of sexual minority males living in non-metropolitan areas. Many participants reported negative experiences while using ...
Matrix-matched standards in the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry determination of neonicotinoids in soil and sediment

Abstract The use of matrix-matched standards with a solid-liquid extraction and salting out without the addition of further cleanup steps or costly cleanup procedures associated with the quick, easy, cheap, effective, robust, and safe (QuEChERS) method was evaluated to address variations in ionization efficiency in the LC–MS/MS determination of neonicotinoid pesticides in complex environmental samples. Limits of detection (1.4–3.4 ng/g) and limits of quantitation (4.6–11.3 ng/g) for various neonicotinoid analogs were comparable to previously reported QuEChERS extraction methods. Mean recovery of standard neonicotinoid samples spiked with 10 ng/g was found to be 78.0–100.5%, while samples spiked with 100 ng/g were found to be 55.1–99.9%. Recovery of analytes was matrix dependent; the highest recovery was from sediment (86.2–100.5%) followed by laboratory sand (70.9–81.7%) and agricultural soil (55.5–102.6%), respectively. Optimization of this methodology resulted in the reduction of procedure time and cost, and can aid in environmental monitoring efforts of common neonicotinoid pesticides in soils and sediments.
An analytical method for interpreting distortion effects on fatigue test results of thin plate panel specimens

This paper presents an analytical treatment of stress concentration caused by two dominant types of welding-induced distortions prevalent in thin plate structures, i.e., angular and buckling distortions. The use of these newly developed solutions is then demonstrated by their applications in analyzing some recent fatigue test data on thin plate specimens in which significant angular distortions were present in the form of local and angular distortions, as defined by Lillemae et al. (Int J Fatigue 44:98–106, 2012). In doing so, the stress concentration factor solution corresponding to global angular distortion given in BS 7910 (2013) incorporating nonlinear geometry effects is shown to be a special case of the present solution. Through a superposition scheme among local and global angular distortions, as well as axial misalignments, it is shown that the test data can be satisfactorily correlated with the 2007 ASME master S-N curve scatter band.
The discourse of (mis)construction and national history exams

The American media has historically favored conservative critiques when reporting about national history exam results. Utilizing the frameworks of critical media studies and collective memory, this...
Active Surveillance of Grade Group 1 Prostate Cancer: Long-term Outcomes from a Large Prospective Cohort

Abstract Background Active surveillance (AS) is the preferred management option for most men with grade group (GG) 1 prostate cancer (PCa). Questions persist regarding long-term outcomes and the optimal approach to AS. Objective To determine survival and metastatic outcomes in AS patients. Secondary objectives were to measure the cumulative incidence and association of patient-level factors on biopsy grade reclassification. Design, setting, and participants A prospective, active, open-enrollment cohort study was conducted from 1995 through July 2018 at a tertiary-care academic institution. Patients with very-low-risk or low-risk PCa were enrolled. Intervention AS with semiannual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination, serial prostate biopsy, and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis The 10- and 15-yr cumulative incidences of primary and secondary outcomes were determined. Results and limitations Overall, 1818 men were monitored on AS for a median of 5.0 yr (interquartile range 2.0–9.0). There were 88 non-PCa deaths, four PCa deaths, and one additional case of metastasis. The cumulative incidence of PCa-specific mortality or metastasis was 0.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.04–0.6%) at both 10 and 15 yr. The 5-, 10-, and 15-yr cumulative incidences of biopsy grade reclassification were 21%, 30%, and 32%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, biopsy grade reclassification was associated with older age, African-American race, PSA density, and increased cancer volume on biopsy, and men who underwent mpMRI prior to enrollment were less likely to undergo grade reclassification. Our selection and monitoring are more stringent than many other contemporary AS programs. Conclusions In a large, single-institution, prospective AS cohort, the risk of cancer death or metastasis was Patient summary This study investigated long-term outcomes in patients with grade group 1 prostate cancer managed with active surveillance (AS). Ten years after enrolling in AS, the risk of metastasis or death from prostate cancer was
The process of exploitation and victimization of adolescents in digital environments: the contribution of authenticity and self-exploration

Abstract The current chapter takes a process-oriented approach to examining the exploitation and the peer victimization of adolescents in digital environments. In considering the processes that contribute to adolescent experiences with both cyberexploitation and cybervictimization, special considerations are made for the degree to which adolescents’ self-explorations and authentic self-expressions in digital environments enhance their risk of these experiences and exacerbate the negative socioemotional effects. Digital technologies encourage identity exploration and enhance adolescents’ willingness to share authentic details about themselves. While this is adaptive in the context of prosocial interactions, sharing intimate aspects of one’s thoughts and emotions provides individuals seeking to exploit and harm adolescents with information that can be used for maladaptive purposes. Discussions of these risks and preventative strategies are also considered.
Revisiting the High John experiment through a contemporary lens

In 1967, the University of Maryland’s School of Library and Information Services created a public library in Prince George’s County, Maryland, named the High John Experiment, to give Librarianship ...
Molecular radiobiology and the origins of the base excision repair pathway: an historical perspective

To demonstrate how the search by the Molecular Radiobiologists for enzymes that could recognize and remove DNA damage produced by ionizing radiation was intertwined with the development of the Base...
From Silos to Solidarity: Case Study of a Patient-Centered, Integrative Approach to Opioid Tapering and Chronic Pain Mitigation in a Multidisciplinary AIDS Clinic.

Background People with HIV (PWH) are at a disproportionate risk for experiencing both chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD). Prescription opioid tapering is typically addressed within the "silo model" of medical care, whereby attention is focused solely on opioid addiction rather than also addressing chronic pain management, and limited communication occurs between patient and providers. Objective This descriptive case study examined an integrative, collaborative care model consisting of Provider, Physical Therapist (PT), and Patient aimed at decreasing chronic pain and opioid use within a multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS clinic. Method A physical-therapy based model of chronic pain mitigation and physician-driven opioid tapering was implemented. The Provider, PT, and Patient worked collaboratively to address physiological pain, pain coping skills and opioid tapering. A patient case example was used to illustrate the implementation of the model for a future, larger study in the same patient population. Results This model was feasible in this case example in terms of clinic workflow and acceptability to both the Patient and Providers in this clinic. After the intervention, the Patient's pain was fully eliminated, and he had ceased all opioid use. Conclusion Results of this case study suggest that utilizing an integrative, patient-centered approach to both chronic pain management and opioid tapering may be feasible within the context of a multidisciplinary HIV/AIDS clinic. Generalizability is limited by case study model; however, this gives insight into the value of a collaborative alternative compared to a "silo" model of opioid tapering and chronic pain management in preparation for a larger study.
Family Caregivers and Health Care Providers: Developing Partnerships for a Continuum of Care and Support

Contrary to popular opinion, most American families do not abandon family members with chronic disease and disability to paid professionals and paraprofessionals. Family caregivers “…constitute the largest group of care providers” in the United states (Parish et al., Mental Retardation 41(3):174–187, 2003), and as they provide the majority of long-term care in this country, the market value of their activity far exceeds that spent on formal health care and nursing home care (Vitaliano et al., Current Directions in Psychological Science 13:13–16, 2004). The number of family caregivers will continue to increase as our society changes with an aging populace and an escalating rate of chronic, debilitating health conditions (Carter, Preventing Chronic Disease 5(1):1–2, 2008). As the number of caregivers in society increases and the health of care recipients is dependent upon the ability of the family caregivers to operate competently as de facto health care providers, the health and well-being of family caregivers is a public health priority (Talley and Crews, American Journal of Public Health 97:224–228, 2007). Yet, most health care service delivery systems and practitioners fail to acknowledge and affirm the central role families play in extending health care services.
Information Systems and Technology for the Non-Information Systems Executive: An Integrated Resource Management Guide for the 21st Century

From the Publisher: Thirty years ago, computers seemed more science fiction than business fact. Today we have e-commerce, e-marketing, computerized scheduling,manufacturing, and a whole new field called information technology. Computers now have applications for every facet of your business. Information Systems and Technology for the Non-Information Systems Executive explores the practical and efficient use of computer technology-both software and hardware-for all types of business applications. In a simple and reader friendly style Shim presents information on data bases, networking, and telecommunications. He explains popular accounting, tax, finance, management, manufacturing, and marketing software-making them easy to understand and use. In addition, he provides real-life examples that illustrate the applications of decision support systems, executive information systems, and artificial intelligence systems such as financial modeling, budgeting, strategic planning and control, forecasting, data analysis, inventory planning, and optimization software. You do not need to know programming to understand your information systems. Written for business managers and entrepreneurs who may not have extensive computer experience, Information Systems and Technology for the Non-Information Systems Executive covers information systems in all phases and functional areas of business to help you make the best decisions. It provides a wealth of current and essential information for managers and executives of all types of organizations. Your success depends on keeping abreast of the latest applications and thinking in information technology. This book gives you the competitive edge.
AIR-BREATHING FISHES | Respiratory Adaptations for Air-Breathing Fishes

The diversity of air-breathing fishes is reflected in the range of organs they use for aerial respiration, which include the lung, the gas bladder, the buccal, branchial, and opercular chambers, the esophagus, pneumatic duct, stomach and intestine, the gills, and skin. These organs are collectively termed air-breathing organs (ABOs). Lungs are the functional ABO in two primitive groups, the lungfish and the polypterids; all other primitive air breathers use a respiratory gas bladder. Although these two organs are homologous and it is thought that the gas bladder evolved from the lung, the steps in this transition remain problematic. In addition, respiratory gas bladders appear to have independently evolved in many derived teleosts. The other types of ABOs reflect the evolutionary course of teleosts in which the gas bladder became lost or so specialized that its morphology was beyond the point remodeling for aerial respiration. The respiratory epithelium in fish ABOs ranges from complex to simple. Many amphibious fishes breathe air using little more than gills and skin, which in some cases have specializations for amphibious breathing. Air-breathing ventilation entails gulping, buccal force pumping, swallowing, organ contraction, coughing, emesis, and flatulence. In anabantoids and channids, which have noncompliant ABOs, hydraulic pumping and normal and reversed flows similar to coughing are used to replace old air with new air.
MALA IN SE

Although the terms mala in se and mala prohibita appear in legal treatises, in court opinions, and in statutes, their definitions are far from clear. In the following article, the doctrine of mala in se is examined in regard to its historical genesis, the rationales which lie behind it, and its legal utility. Discussion of the concept involves questions about the relationship of the mala in se doctrine to common law, to mens rea, to the idea of sin or moral turpitude, and to statutory law. When viewed from an historical perspective, the distinction between the designations of mala in se and mala prohibita is far from precise; this definitional difficulty may presage gradual disappearance of the classifications from legal literature.
Two-time Scale Sliding Control of Manipulators with Flexible Joints

This paper applies a two-time scale sliding control approach to the control of robot manipulators with flexible joints in the presence of model uncertainty. A singular perturbation model is used to decompose the manipulator dynamics into a slow and a fast submodel, using the concept of slow manifold. A slow sliding controller is designed in order to account for parametric uncertainty on the slow manifold. Further, a fast sliding controller guarantees that the slow manifold is attractive (i.e. all fast system trajectories converge to the slow manifold) despite parametric uncertainty.
The MIT Collaboratorium: Enabling Effective Large-Scale Deliberation for Complex Problems

While current online discussion tools such as email, chat, wikis, and web forums have been enormously successful at enabling unprecedented global knowledge sharing, they face significant limitations from the perspective of enabling effective large-scale deliberation around complex and controversial issues such as climate change. This paper describes the design and rationale of a system, called the Collaboratorium, which was developed to transcend these limitations by supporting large-scale on-line argumentation.
Meeting Principles and Lifeworlds Halfway: Jürgen Habermas on the Future of Europe:

Although Jurgen Habermas is widely recognized as a philosopher and social theorist, his political philosophy is often accused of excessive formalism. Habermas has not only responded to these critiques in his theoretical writings, but also by showing how his critical theory can be applied to concrete situations in his Short Political Writings (Kleine politische Schriften). Using his political commentaries on the future of Europe and the European Union (EU), I explore Habermas' melding of abstract principles with concrete political developments. The case of Europe reveals an ongoing process of adjustment, where Habermas' theoretical insights and the place of the EU in his political thought have to respond to political developments. I argue that this process of ‘meeting halfway’ (Entgegenkommen), a concept I borrow from Habermas' social theory, demonstrates how the formalism of his theoretical commitments may be applied to politics. This approach also allows me to critique Habermas when he does not go far en...
Enhanced Sequence Reconstruction with DNA Microarray Application

DNA sequencing by hybridization is potentially a powerful alternative to standard gel electrophoresis techniques.An important aspect of the approach is the design of the probing scheme and of the associated sequence reconstruction algorithm.Recen tly a novel probing scheme, whose performance is within a constant factor of the information theory bound, has settled the issue of asymptotic optimality.Th us, the research focus has shifted to the fine tuning of actual performance, with enormous potential for the life sciences.In this paper we discuss a new algorithmic device, called voting upon failure, which, exploiting the knowledge acquired in the course of the sequence reconstruction process, achieves typically a 20% performance improvement over the previous best technique, and comes at 90%-confidence within a factor 0.5 of the information-theory bound.
A Sequential Test Algorithm for DNA Pooling/ Bootstrap-Based Studies

DNA pooling is a practical way to reduce the cost of large-scale association studies to identify susceptibility loci. In contrast to individual genotyping, in DNA pooling we can combine samples from N cases and M controls into two single pooled sample tests and estimate the allele frequency of hundred of thousand SNPs using high-throughput genotyping technologies. Selection of disease-associated SNPs is performed based on their P-value after a statistical test has been run. For the subset of those SNPs determined to be significant, all individuals are then genotyped to corroborate results from the pooled samples. The strategy described above has been successfully used for years. However, there are situations in which either it is not possible to recruit the number of patients (cases) needed based on power estimations or replication of DNA pools is important. In both situations, the limitation is the availability of DNA samples. When using sequential testing, formally presented in 1945 as sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), units of interest are sequentially included as they are generated, and a statistical test is run at every stage. In the context of DNA pooling, units would be represented by the pooled samples coming from each group of cases and controls while using a bootstrapping re-sampling strategy. We have developed a SPRT algorithm for identifying diseaseassociated SNPs when comparing cases and controls via DNA pooling that is at least as powerful as the strategy previously described, but that needs less DNA samples than the strategy described above. Along with our algorithm, we also provide a way to estimate the number of stages needed, i.e., the number of SNP-chip pairs to stop the algorithm a hieving a desired significance and power levels. We illustrate how our approach works using GWAS on Oppositional Conduct Disorder (OCD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Rejection after pediatric liver transplantation is not the limiting factor to survival

Liver transplantation became a very successful therapy when cyclosporin A was introduced as an immunosuppressive agent. In an effort to evaluate the contribution of difficult or uncontrolled allograft rejection to mortality, the authors determined the most important factors that limited survival after liver transplantation. Eighty-two children received a total of 94 liver transplants from January 1987 to the present. Patients' records were reviewed for complications that contributed to morbidity and mortality and to assess which complications were preventable. Twelve patients died (15%), nine within 6 weeks of liver transplantation. The chief contributing cause of death was hepatic artery thrombosis (one patient), brain death after liver transplantation for fulminant hepatic failure (two patients), primary allograft nonfunction or dysfunction (two patients), allograft rejection (three patients), or other problems (four patients). Overall, hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in 3.1%, allograft rejection in 57%, fulminant hepatic failure in 7%, and donor organ dysfunction in 7%. Allograft rejection contributed directly to the cause of death in three children (4%). The authors conclude that few deaths after pediatric liver transplantation are caused by failure of immunosuppression. A high survival rate can be achieved after transplantation by eliminating the correctable complications that most frequently occur in the early postoperative period.
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum

This 52-year-old man with diabetes reported a 3-month history of a pretibial rash. The lesions had begun to ulcerate but were not painful.
Applying the quality function deployment on the V-22 Osprey

Developing1,2 requirements for correction of deficiencies requires detailed analyses of top-level system requirements and subsystem specifications. Application of the quality function deployment provides a rigorous systems engineering process to define the correct requirements accurately. In addition, performing a gap analysis is another important task in order to compare the requirements at the interfaces between systems especially with respect to external environmental factors. On the V-22 Osprey, these tools and processes were applied to optimize cost-wise readiness of the lower nacelle system through a holistic review of inter-related systems in the propulsion function. A dedicated team of systems engineers and subject matter experts from Bell-Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) performed a thorough requirements analysis of the lower nacelle system. This review traced the requirements flow from external environmental factors into the engine inlet, through the engine air particle separator, to the engine, and exhausting through the infrared suppressor.
Rapid estimation of biochemical oxygen demand

The feasibility of using columnar reactors containing immobilized microorganisms for the rapid estimation of BOD was demonstrated in this study. Dilutions of three types of industrial effluents were tested by the BOD5 test and by this experimental system. A high degree of correlation (r = 0.98) was observed between results of the two tests. The mean standard error of estimation of the experimental system was 11%.
IMPACT OF SEX OF EXPERIMENTER ON THE DRAW-A-PERSON TEST

-A significant relationship was obtained between first figure drawn on the Draw-A-Person Test and sex of experimenter of 140 male and 143 female students in introductory psychology. Of the men who made drawings of the opposite sex, most drawings were elicited by a female experimenter. A like finding held for women; most drawings of the opposite sex were elicited by a male experimenter. The impact of the sex of examiner on an individual at the time of response to the Draw-A-Person Test in a diagnostic setting should be assessed.
Head-disk interaction in gas-lubricated slider bearings

Abstract The concept of critical operating conditions, the band of operating lines which marks the transition from stable to unstable operation, is presented to study the behaviour of the head-disk interface (HDI) under ultra-low flying conditions. The level of slider-disk interaction resulting from intermittent contact at the HDI is used as the criterion for this transition. Critical conditions have been determined experimentally for three-rail minimonolithic ferrite sliders flying in air and helium over a carbon-coated thin-film disk, and are compared to numerical results obtained from a simple scaling analysis. A flying tester has been developed to investigate constant velocity, ultra-low flying height operation over a range of velocities and ambient pressures. Accelerated wear of thin-film media has also been investigated with this apparatus. Utilizing a linear velocity slightly higher than the critical value, it is possible to delay failure for several hours to several days. Worn slider and disk surfaces have been examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy, and debris has been characterized using Auger electron spectroscopy. These observations, coupled with measurement of the friction force, have enhanced understanding of the wear process leading to failure under dry, unlubricated conditions.
Comparison of the nuclear reactions 18O(p, α)15N and 16O(d, α)14N to study the oxygen effects in Pt silicide formation☆

Abstract 2 MeV backscattering spectrometry (BS) and nuclear reactions (NRs) 18 O(p, α) 15 N induced by 1.5 MeV H 2 + and 16 O(d, α) 14 N induced by 900 keV D + have been used to study the effect of implanted oxygen on Pt silicide formation. The location of oxygen before and after silicide formation was deduced from NR spectra. Advantages and disadvantages of these two NRs in this application are discussed.
Adolescent nonsmokers, triers, and regular smokers' estimates of cigarette smoking prevalence: When do overestimations occur and by whom?

The present study tested three assumptions often made by smoking prevention researchers and practitioners regarding the nature and causes of smoking prevalence estimates. Specifically, it is often assumed that (a) adolescent prevalence estimates of all levels of smoking are inflated, (b) youths at different stages of smoking onset all overestimate smoking prevalence, and (c) the predictors of these estimates are the same for youths at different stages of smoking onset. Measures of smoking behavior based on self-reports using a bogus pipeline procedure, estimates of cigarette smoking prevalence (trying behavior and weekly use), and reports of smoking in significant others were obtained by the same youths when they were in eighth and ninth grades. Results indicated that, taken over all youths, estimates of trying cigarettes were accurate, whereas estimates of weekly use were inflated. When responders were defined by their stage of smoking onset, either as a nonsmoker, trier, or regular smoker, analyses revealed that triers were accurate regarding prevalence estimates of trying, whereas non-smokers made gross underestimations and regular smokers made overestimations of trying. All groups of youths overestimated prevalence of weekly smoking. Analyses of variance revealed that both youths' smoking status and interpersonal smoking environment additively predicted prevalence estimates, and estimates of smoking prevalence were relatively higher in youths who began to smoke, or increased their levels of smoking, within the next year. Thus, previous assumptions were partially confirmed. Future research and prevention programming should focus more on regular smoking as the focus of normative smoking distortion effects and correction efforts.
Pharmacologic, Pharmacokinetic, and Therapeutic Differences Among Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists

Over the past 4 years, six angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) were approved for treating essential hypertension. They differ with respect to dosing, metabolism, elimination, clinical efficacy, and investigational applications. Candesartan cilexetil is the only prodrug among the agents. Losartan is distinguished from other ARBs by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4- and CYP2C9-mediated biotransformation to its active metabolite EXP-3174. No ARB requires dosage adjustment for renal impairment, but the initial dose of losartan should be reduced 50% in hepatically impaired patients. None of the drugs is significantly cleared by hemodialysis. Completion of continuing trials will elucidate the drugs' role in treating heart failure, cerebral stroke, and myocardial infarction.
Temporally regularized direct numerical simulation

Abstract Experience with fluid-flow simulation suggests that, in some instances, under-resolved direct numerical simulation (DNS), without a residual-stress model per se but with artificial damping of small scales to account for energy lost in the cascade from resolved to unresolved scales, may be as reliable as simulations based on more complex models of turbulence. One efficient and versatile manner to selectively damp under-resolved spatial scales is by a relaxation regularization, e.g. Stolz and Adams [S. Stolz, N.A. Adams, An approximate deconvolution procedure for large eddy simulation, Phys. Fluids II (1999) 1699–1701]. We consider the analogous approach based on time scales, time filtering and damping of under-resolved temporal features. The paper explores theoretical and practical aspects of temporally damped fluid-flow simulations. We prove existence of solutions to the resulting continuum model. We also establish the effect of the damping of under-resolved temporal features as the energy balance and dissipation and prove that the time fluctuations → 0 in a precise sense. The method is then demonstrated to obtain both steady-state and time-dependent coarse-grid solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations.
A statistical dynamics approach to the study of human health data: Resolving population scale diurnal variation in laboratory data

Statistical physics and information theory is applied to the clinical chemistry measurements present in a patient database containing 2.5 million patients' data over a 20-year period. Despite the seemingly naive approach of aggregating all patients over all times (with respect to particular clinical chemistry measurements), both a diurnal signal in the decay of the time-delayed mutual information and the presence of two sub-populations with differing health are detected. This provides a proof in principle that the highly fragmented data in electronic health records has potential for being useful in defining disease and human phenotypes.
Spatial distribution and development of root sprouts in Fagus grandifolia (Fagaceae).

Root sprouts around 31 Fagus grandifolia parent trees, some declining due to beech bark disease, were studied to describe the pattern of sprout distribution, the ecological importance of this pattern, and the relationship between sprout patterns and parent vigor. Microtome sections of roots were studied to determine the histological origin of sprouts. Sprout distribution was circular and usually centered on the parent tree. Most sprouts were within 8 m of the parent and remained attached to the parent root system even after the sprouts reached 10 yrs of age. Root sprouting in F. grandifolia may be effective in replacing dead parent trees, but the potential for clones to spread is limited. Spatial distribution of sprouts was mostly unaffected by tree vigor. Root sprouts originated from callus tissues associated with wounds on superficial woody roots.