cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL METALS ON MALE REPRODUCTION

A review of the literature has revealed that the reproductive effects of metals such as aluminum, boron, nickel, vanadium, chromium, lead, mercury, methylmercury and cadmium on male laboratory animals are inconsistent among studies. Varying physiochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic factors along with interactions between two or more metals, the nutritional status of animals, and genetic factors complicate reproductive toxicity of metals. Although attention is usually focused on the so-called “heavy metals”, the general reactivity of metallic ions and their role in biological processes demand a broader review. Occupational exposure to such elements as arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel and vanadium is a concern. In humans, only lead has been reported to have male reproductive effects while data concerning cadmium, mercury, nickel, chromium, vanadium and aluminum suggest no effect. In most of the laboratory studies, animals were treated with high parenteral doses of the metals for short periods of time. Humans, however, are usually exposed to low level doses for prolonged periods of time. Hence, discrepancies in dose, duration and route of exposure drastically complicate extrapolation of laboratory data to man. Furthermore, the entire process of gametogenesis and the hypothalmic-pituitary axis is an important target for toxicity. More sensitive approaches may evolve from more basic studies of molecular and reproductive biology, hormonal action and regulation, accessory sex organ function, and improved animal models. Only with improved laboratory techniques will we be able to reliably assess toxic chemicals and determine health risks in humans.
Product Restructuring, Exports, Investment, and Growth Dynamics

This paper estimates a dynamic general equilibrium model of entry, exit, and endogenous productivity growth. Productivity is endogenous both at the industry level (rms enter and exit) and at the rm level (rms invest in productivity-enhancing activities). The focus of the paper is on two activities that make productivity-enhancing investments more attractive, namely, exporting and product-mix choices. A rm that increases its exports and/or its number of products will have higher sales { and this makes investing in productivity more attractive because there are more units (sales) across which the productivity gains can be applied. These insights are taken to rm-level Spanish data. We compute the Markov Perfect Equilibrium using a nested
The Oxford Handbook of Polictical Economy

Over its long lifetime, "political economy" has had manydifferent meanings: the science of managing the resources of a nation so as to provide wealth to its inhabitants for Adam Smith; the study of how the ownership of the means of production influenced historical processes for Marx; the study of the inter-relationship between economics and politics for some twentieth-century commentators; and for others, a methodology emphasizing individual rationality (the economic or "public choice" approach) or institutional adaptation (the sociological version). This Handbook views political economy as a grand (if imperfect) synthesis of these various strands, treating political economy as the methodology of economics applied to the analysis of political behavior and institutions.
The effect of angiotensin on renin production and release in vitro.

SummaryA preparation of a renal cell suspension system suitable for renin studies was utilized to investigate the in vitro effects of angiotensin which has previously been shown to influence renin production in vivo. The addition of angiotensin to the incubated samples caused a significant inhibition of renin production and release. It is suggested that the renin-inhibitory effect of angiotensin in the intact animal might be due, at least in part, to a direct chemical action on the renal cells.
Critical differences in the surface electronic structure of Ge(001) and Si(001): Ab initio theory and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Even with renewed interest in Ge as a competitor to Si in field-effect transistors, several key features of the surface electronic structure of Ge(001) have remained controversial. Notably, the origin of strong Fermi-level pinning in Ge has been heavily debated. Using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles hybrid density functional theory calculations, we compare and unambiguously establish the critical differences between the electronic structure of the Si and Ge (001) surfaces. We explicitly show that the surface state that determines the charge neutrality level, and thus the Schottky barrier height in Si, is actually a surface resonance in Ge. It means that the evanescent states near the Ge surface play an essential role in the strong Fermi-level pinning. Additionally, we identify the origin of a number of highly debated ARPES features for Ge(001) and Si(001).
AD Treatment: The Future

The development of more effective medications for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related disorders depends primarily on the basic and clinical research enterprise discovering and demonstrating the effects of medications to improve the quality of life of affected individuals. The social and political contexts in which this research is being conducted are changing; other forces are affecting our ability to find new treatments for these conditions. In this paper we will briefly review short-, intermediate-, and long-term approaches to the development of effective therapies but then focus our attention on three critical issues that will affect our ability to implement these approaches. We will discuss the need for more international harmonization in drug development, review concerns about pharmacoeconomics, and, finally, discuss ethical issues that we face in doing research in patients with dementia.
Experimental study on triaxial tensile property of compacted clay

A new-type of horizontal triaxial tension-compression apparatus for soil test was developed.It adopts strain-control loading mode and can eliminate the influence of self weight of soil specimen.It has a large axial rigidity and can be used to obtain a full stress-displacement curve of compacted clay in tensile failure under triaxial condition.Application to the triaxial tensile(extensile) test on the core clay materials of the Nuozhadu and Shuangjiangkou high earth-rockfill dams reveals three failure modes,i.e.pure tensile failure under low cell pressure,pure shear failure under high cell pressure,and tensile-shear coupled failure under middle cell pressure.Based on the test results,a joint strength criterion for triaxial tensile failure of compacted clay is proposed.
Intravenous Lidocaine in the Treatment of Seizures

Bien que la therapie anticonvulsivante traditionnelle soit generalement efficace, le clinicien fait occasionnellement face a des convulsions refractaires. Differentes approches ont ete suggerees dans de tels cas: Le paraldehyde, l' anesthesie generale et la lidocaine. Les auteurs nous presentent deux cas de convulsions tonico-cloniques generalisees, refractaires a la therapie conventionnelle, ou la lidocaine fut employee avec succes.Lors de l'utilisation de la lidocaine dans une situation semblable, le clinicien devrait considerer que: (1) la lidocaine n'a pas ete approuvee par la FDA comme anticonvulsivant; (2) la lidocaine peut induire des convulsions a fortes doses; (3) l'usage de la lidocaine n'elimine pas pour autant le besoin de corriger l'etiologie des convulsions; (4) un monitorage constant de l'ECG et de la pression arterielle est necessaire afin de detecter les complications cardiovasculaires.Bien que des etudes cliniques controlees soient necessaires pour conclure de facon decisive a l'efficaci...
Completion, Time-in-intervention, and Movement: Relationships between Dimensions of Participation in oTPD and Knowledge Growth

In this study, we examined the effects of participation in a self-paced, online teacher professional development (oTPD) program to support the implementation of the GlobalEd 2 problem-based curriculum. We report on the effects on self- reported teacher knowledge as a result of the oTPD program as mediated by three participatory dimensions that were captured via digital interaction logfiles: course completion, time-in-intervention, and movement between the training curriculum. The results indicate that time-in-intervention is consistently positively related to teacher knowledge gains. However, the completion status of teachers in an oTPD program was not a significant predictor. In addition, deviation from curricular sequence was negatively related to teacher knowledge gains. These findings suggest that multiple participatory measures might be valuable in analyzing oTPD efficacy.
52.3 NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSING OF EMOTION IN CHILDREN OF MOTHERS WITH A HISTORY OF DEPRESSION: THE MODERATING ROLE OF PRESCHOOL PERSISTENT IRRITABILITY

Research on emotion-processing biases in offspring of depressed parents has produced a variety of findings. Child persistent irritability may be a useful clinical feature that demarcates subgroups of offspring with distinct patterns of emotion processing. The present study examined whether early persistent irritability moderated the relationship between maternal lifetime history of a depressive disorder and appetitive- and aversive-emotion processing in 338 never-depressed pre-adolescent children (43.8% female). When children were 3, mothers were interviewed about children’s persistent irritability. Six years later, EEG was recorded while children completed a task in which the late positive potential (LPP), a neural index of emotional reactivity, was measured in response to appetitive, aversive, and neutral images. At both assessments, mothers were interviewed about their own psychopathology. Among offspring of depressed mothers, children characterized by high levels of early persistent irritability showed an enhanced LPP to appetitive and aversive compared to neutral images (i.e., ΔLPP), whereas children with low levels of early irritability showed attenuated ΔLPPs. In offspring of mothers with no history of depression, there was no association between irritability and emotion processing. Findings suggest that persistent irritability influences the pattern of emotion-processing aberrations in offspring of depressed mothers.
CrossFit ® Instructor Demographics and Practice Trends.

CrossFit® is an increasingly popular exercise modality that uses high intensity power training. The literature to date regarding CrossFit® has focused on its benefits to VO2 Max, body composition and the motivational variables of participants of CrossFit®. A computerized survey was distributed to CrossFit® instructors using Survey Monkey® (Palo Alto, CA, USA). One hundred and ninety-three CrossFit® instructors responded to the survey. Of these 86.6% (155/179) reported being a certified CrossFit® instructor with 26.7% (48/180) having a bachelor's degree in an exercise-related field. Instructors with a CrossFit® certification have less bachelor's (P=0.04) or master's (P=0.0001) degrees compared to those without a CrossFit® certification, more utilization of Olympic weightlifting (P=0.03), one-on-one teaching (P=0.0001), 1-RM max on snatch (P=0.004), 1-RM on clean and jerk or hang clean (P=0.0003), kettlebell use (P=0.0001) and one-on-one training (P=0.0001). Instructors report differences in their education and differences in use of weightlifting platforms and various types of footwear. Non-certified instructors differ from CrossFit® certified instructors in regards to teaching of Olympic weightlifting and exercise programming.
ERM UX: Electronic Resources Management and the User Experience

Library websites can be very confusing to users due to their complexity, and part of this complexity is a result of the way we manage and provide access to electronic resources. Libraries use a number of different systems to manage electronic resources, from knowledgebases and OpenURL link resolvers to OPACs and web-scale discovery tools. Unfortunately, this systems-based approach to organizing electronic resources may not align with user expectations when they are doing their research. The growing field of User Experience (UX) design may provide strategies libraries can employ to base the management of electronic resources around user needs and expectations instead of around the systems used to manage them.
A Non-Intrusive Algorithm for Sensitivity Analysis of Chaotic Flow Simulations

We demonstrate a novel algorithm for computing the sensitivity of statistics in chaotic flow simulations to parameter perturbations. The algorithm is non-intrusive but requires exposing an interface. Based on the principle of shadowing in dynamical systems, this algorithm is designed to reduce the effect of the sampling error in computing sensitivity of statistics in chaotic simulations. We compare the effectiveness of this method to that of the conventional finite difference method.
Therapeutic benefits in grid irradiation on Tomotherapy for bulky, radiation-resistant tumors

AbstractIntroduction: Spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT or grid therapy) has proven to be effective in management of bulky tumors. The aim of this project is to study the therapeutic ratio (TR) of helical Tomotherapy (HT)-based grid therapy using linear–quadratic cell survival model.Material and Methods: HT-based grid (or HT-GRID) plan was generated using a patient-specific virtual grid pattern of high-dose cylindrical regions using MLCs. TR was defined as the ratio of normal tissue surviving fraction (SF) under HT-GRID irradiation to an open debulking field of an equivalent dose that result in the same tumor cell SF. TR was estimated from DVH data on ten HT-GRID patient plans with deep seated, bulky tumor. Dependence of the TR values on radiosensitivity of the tumor cells and prescription dose was analyzed.Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of TR was 4.0 ± 0.7 (range: 3.1–5.5) for the 10 patients with single fraction maximum dose of 20 Gy to GTV assuming a tumor cell SF at 2 Gy (SF2...
Automorphic Forms on O s +2,2 (ℝ + and Generalized Kac-Moody Algebras

We discuss how modular forms and automorphic forms can be written as infinite products, and how some of these infinite products appear in the theory of generalized Kac-Moody algebras. This paper is based on my talk at the ICM, and is an exposition of [B5].
Biogeography and phenology of oviposition preference and larval performance of Pieris virginiensis butterflies on native and invasive host plants

In invaded environments, formerly reliable cues might no longer be associated with adaptive outcomes and organisms can become trapped by their evolved responses. The invasion of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) into the native habitat of Pieris virginiensis (West Virginia White) is one such example. Female butterflies oviposit on the invasive plant because it is related to their preferred native host plant Cardamine diphylla (toothwort), but larvae are unable to complete development. We have studied the impact of the A. petiolata invasion on P. virginiensis butterflies in the Southeastern USA by comparing oviposition preference and larval survival on both plants in North Carolina (NC) populations without A. petiolata and West Virginia (WV) populations where A. petiolata is present. Larval survival to the 3rd instar was equally low in both populations when raised on A. petiolata. Mean oviposition preference on the two plants also did not differ between populations. However, we found a seasonal effect on preference between early and late season flights within WV populations. Late season females laid 99% of total eggs on A. petiolata while early season females utilized both host plants. Late season females were also less likely to lay eggs than early season females. This change in preference toward A. petiolata could be driven by the early senescence of C. diphylla and suggests a seasonal component to the impact of A. petiolata. Therefore, the already short flight season of P. virginiensis could become further constrained in invaded populations.
Computation of the string tension in three dimensional Yang-Mills theory using large N reduction

We numerically compute the string tension in the large N limit of three dimensional Yang-Mills theory using Wilson loops. Space-time loops are formed as products of smeared space-like links and unsmeared time-like links. We use continuum reduction and both unfolded and folded Wilson loops in the analysis.
ENZYME ADAPTATION TO NUTRITIONAL AND HORMONAL CHANGE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the adaptation of enzymes to nutritional and hormonal change. The reactions involved in fatty acid synthesis in mammalian and avian liver are catalyzed by two enzyme complexes—acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase. The general mechanisms of regulation that might be involved in the control of the enzymes of fatty acid synthesis can be divided into short- and long-term changes in enzyme activity. Short-term regulation is considered to be a change in activity that occurs in a short period of time, generally from 0 to 3 hours, whereas long-term regulation occurs beyond 3 hours and within 24–48 hours. Short-term regulation may involve a change in the concentration of substrates or products. The long-term regulation of enzyme activity involves a change in the quantity of an enzyme and this change usually results from an increase or a decrease in the rate of synthesis of the enzyme. The long-term regulation of enzyme activity is effected by nutritional or hormonal factors or both.
Risk-Constrained Stochastic Virtual Bidding in Two-Settlement Electricity Markets

Virtual bidding is a financial instrument implemented by most two-settlement electricity markets in the United States in which the profits of the virtual traders are determined by the electricity prices in the day-ahead and real-time energy markets. This paper proposes stochastic optimization models to generate optimal bidding strategies for virtual traders. In the proposed models, the scenarios of electricity prices are generated by using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model and reduced to a small number by using a fast forward scenario reduction algorithm; and the conditional value at risk (CVaR) is used for risk management for the virtual trader. By using the proposed stochastic optimization models, either an optimal increment or decrement bidding curve can be generated for each hour of the operating day. Case studies using real-world data are carried out for a virtual trader using the proposed models. Results show that the proposed models can help the virtual trader earn profits by using the price differences in the day-ahead and real-time markets effectively, and the bidding strategy of a virtual trader is very sensitive to its risk aversion degree.
Similarity laws for the velocity distribution and the Reynolds tensor components in the wall region of a turbulent boundary layer with injection and suction

Similarity laws of the distributions of the average velocity, tangential stress, and mean-square transverse velocity fluctuation are established in an intermediate zone of a turbulent boundary layer with injection and suction. This zone is located in the neighborhood of the wall outside the viscous sublayer. The similarity relationship for the velocity profile is a generalization of the well-known logarithmic law to include the case of the presence of a mass flow at the wall.
Many-Particle Limits in Molecular Solvation

In this paper, the authors study the limit of a sharp interface model for the solvation of charged particles in an implicit solvent as the number of solute particles and the size of the surrounding box tend to infinity. The energy is given by a combination of local terms accounting for the physical presence of the particles in the solvent and a nonlocal electric energy with or without an ionic effect. In the presence of an ionic effect, the authors prove a screening effect in the limit, i.e., the limit is completely localized and hence electric long-range interactions of the particles can be neglected. In the absence of the ionic effect, the authors show that the behavior of the energy depends on the scaling of the number of particles with respect to the size of the surrounding box. All scaling regimes are identified and corresponding limit results proved. In regimes with many solute particles this limit includes electric interactions of $$H^{-1}$$-type between the particles.
American Capital Punishment Over Changing Times: Policies and Practices

This chapter provides a brief history of capital punishment in the United States, including legislative developments and the Supreme Court’s major constitutional rulings through the present. It discusses the principal objectives offered in support of the death penalty, identifies several important issues concerning the administration of capital punishment laws, and concludes by describing emergent trends in the death penalty’s usage nationwide.
Multi-center analysis of intraocular biopsy technique and outcomes for uveal melanoma: Ocular Oncology Study Consortium report 4

To investigate the relationship between surgical approach for intraocular tumor biopsy of uveal melanoma and tumor morphologic features such as size and intraocular location and the effect of these variables on diagnostic yield and biopsy outcome. Consecutive patients from nine Ocular Oncology centers with uveal melanoma (UM) undergoing tumor biopsy immediately preceding I125 plaque brachytherapy with tissue sent for gene expression profiling (GEP) testing were reviewed retrospectively. Three hundred sixty patients were included (50% men, mean age 60.2 years). Overall biopsy yield was 99% and 83% for GEP and cytopathology, respectively. Surgeon choice of biopsy approach (trans-vitreal vs. trans-scleral) was found to associate with both tumor location and tumor thickness. A trans-scleral rather than trans-vitreal approach was used more commonly for anteriorly located tumors (92% vs. 38% of posterior tumors, p < 0.001) and thicker tumors (86% vs. 55% of thin tumors, p < 0.001). When performing trans-vitreal biopsies, ocular oncologists with previous vitreoretinal surgery fellowship training were more likely to use wide-field surgical viewing systems, compared with indirect ophthalmoscopy (82.6% vs. 20.6%, p < 0.001). Surgical complications were rare and occurred more frequently with trans-vitreal biopsies (3.6% vs. 0.46%, p = 0.046). In this multi-center analysis of UM tumor biopsy, surgical yield was high for obtaining tumor tissue for GEP and cytopathology analysis with both trans-scleral and trans-vitreal techniques. Fellowship-trained ocular oncologists’ preferred intraocular biopsy techniques associated strongly with tumor location, tumor thickness, and fellowship training of the surgeon. Short-term complication rates were low.
Statistical Inference and Making Estimates of the Truth

To know how inferential tests work, it is important to understand the underpinnings associated with these tests. This chapter covers probability which is critical for all inferential tests and the likelihood of making a correct decision about a population based on a small sample taken from that population. This chapter considers characteristics associated with symmetrical and asymmetrical distributions. If it can be assumed that the population is symmetrically distributed, it is required that each level of the independent variable has similar dispersions. If the population is not normally distributed, nonparametric or distribution-free statistics should be considered. The center for the population can be estimated with a confidence interval, and tolerance limits can approximate a range of values representing the outcomes for the vast majority of the population.
Compliant Micron-Sized Patterned InGaN Pseudo-Substrates Utilizing Porous GaN.

The compliant behavior of densely packed 10 × 10 µm2 square patterned InGaN layers on top of porous GaN is demonstrated. The elastic relaxation of the InGaN layers is enabled by the low stiffness of the porous GaN under layer. High resolution X-ray diffraction measurements show that upon InGaN re-growths on these InGaN-on-porous GaN pseudo-substrates, not only was the regrown layer partially relaxed, but the degree of relaxation of the InGaN pseudo-substrate layer on top of the porous GaN also showed an increase in the a-lattice constant. Furthermore, methods to improve the surface morphology of the InGaN layers grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) were explored in order to fabricate InGaN pseudo-substrates for future optoelectronic and electronic devices. The largest a-lattice constant demonstrated in this study using this improved method was 3.209 A, corresponding to a fully relaxed InGaN film with an indium composition of 0.056.
CReP mediates selective translation initiation at the endoplasmic reticulum

Eukaryotic protein synthesis control at multiple levels allows for dynamic, selective responses to diverse conditions, but spatial organization of translation initiation machinery as a regulatory principle has remained largely unexplored. Here we report on a role of constitutive repressor of eIF2α phosphorylation (CReP) in translation of poliovirus and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident chaperone binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) at the ER. Functional, proximity-dependent labeling and cell fractionation studies revealed that CReP, through binding eIF2α, anchors translation initiation machinery at the ER and enables local protein synthesis in this compartment. This ER site was protected from the suppression of cytoplasmic protein synthesis by acute stress responses, e.g., phosphorylation of eIF2α(S51) or mTOR blockade. We propose that partitioning of translation initiation machinery at the ER enables cells to maintain active translation during stress conditions associated with global protein synthesis suppression.
E-189 Systematic review and meta-analysis of vessel wall imaging of intracranial aneurysms: a second look

Our group has previously performed a systematic review and meta-analysis regarding the utility of vessel wall imaging with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging which demonstrated an association between intracranial saccular aneurysm wall enhancement and aneurysm instability. Given the likely increased utilization of vessel wall imaging technology in the time since our previous review, we sought to perform an updated analysis of the association between aneurysm wall enhancement and unstable intracranial aneurysms. This study was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Eligible studies were identified through a comprehensive literature review. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the association between aneurysm wall enhancement and aneurysm instability by using a random-effects model. Seven studies constituting 728 saccular aneurysms in 564 patients were included. Aneurysms that showed vessel wall enhancement had statistically significant higher odds of being unstable (odds ratio [OR]: 10.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.8–16.8; I2: 64.3%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of vessel wall imaging in identifying unstable aneurysms were 87.2% (81.8–91.5), 61.1% (56.8–65.3), 46.5% (43.5–49.4) and 92.5% (89.6–94.7), respectively. A statistically significant association between vessel wall enhancement and aneurysm instability is once again demonstrated. The lack of wall enhancement is a strong predictor of aneurysm stability. Vessel wall imaging may represent a useful tool in guiding the management of intracranial aneurysms. Disclosures A. Larson: None. G. Lanzino: None. W. Brinjikji: None.
The Absence of Adiponectin Alters Niacin’s Effects on Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Mice

Obesity is an immunometabolic disease associated with chronic inflammation and the dysregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. One hallmark of obesity is reduced concentrations of the anti-inflammatory adipokine, adiponectin. Pharmacologic doses of niacin produce multiple metabolic benefits, including attenuating high-fat diet (HFD)-induced adipose tissue inflammation and increasing adiponectin concentrations. To determine if adiponectin mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of niacin, male C57BL/6J (WT) and adiponectin null (Adipoq-/-) mice were maintained on a low-fat diet (LFD) or HFD for 6 weeks, before being administered either vehicle or niacin (360 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. HFD-fed mice had increased expression of genes associated with macrophage recruitment (Ccl2) and number (Cd68), and increased crown-like structure (CLS) number in adipose tissue. While niacin attenuated Ccl2 expression, there were no effects on Cd68 or CLS number. The absence of adiponectin did not hinder the ability of niacin to reduce Ccl2 expression. HFD feeding increased gene expression of inflammatory markers in the adipose tissue of WT and Adipoq-/- mice. While niacin tended to decrease the expression of inflammatory markers in WT mice, niacin increased their expression in HFD-fed Adipoq-/- mice. Therefore, our results indicate that the absence of adiponectin alters the effects of niacin on markers of adipose tissue inflammation in HFD-fed mice, suggesting that the effects of niacin on tissue cytokines may involve adiponectin.
“Look At It Carefully Now”: Athenian Tragedy And The “Talking Cure”:

It is often suggested that the Greek tragedians present clinically credible pictures of mental disturbance. For instance, some modern interpreters have compared the process by which Cadmus brings Agave back to sanity in Euripides' Bacchae with modern psychotherapy. But a reading of medical writers' views on the psychological dimension of medicine offers little evidence for believing that these scenes reflect the practices of late fifth-century Athenian doctors, for whom verbal cures are associated with older traditions of non-rational thought, and thus are scorned in favor of more "scientific cures" based on diet or medication. This paper will argue that Athenian tragedians, working from older traditions that advocated verbal cures for some mental ailments, do understand the potential psychological effects that their work can have on audiences, since tragedy requires psychological interaction with its audience in order to be effective. From a close reading of select scenes in Euripidean tragedy, this paper suggests that the experiences of the characters who experience suffering in Euripides' Heracles and Bacchae are analogues of the experiences undergone by the spectators of tragedy at large. Parallels are made between the way that Agave and Heracles are both talked back to sanity by looking upon what has happened, and the way that tragedians make their audiences observe lamentations and meditations that follow the central tragic act, to help them return from the intense emotion provoked, perhaps, by the violence they have seen.
Self-Morphing, Chemically Driven Gears and Machines

Summary In fluid-filled microchambers, chemical energy released from catalytic reactions on hard surfaces fuels the spontaneous flow of fluids and propulsion of particles. This energy release, however, produces far richer behavior when the catalytic reactions occur on flexible sheets. Here, we model deformable, catalyst-coated sheets that resemble a flat wheel, with spokes that interconnect an outer rim and inner center. The catalysis not only generates fluid flow but the generated flow also morphs the 2D layer into 3D shapes that spontaneously rotate. With the addition of cogs to the outer rim, the structure forms a chemically driven, active gear, which can drive the motion of passive (non-coated) units. The studies provide design rules for creating “chemical machines” from chains of active and passive gears that act in concert to perform mechanical work. The machine's motion does not require external power other than the addition of chemical reactants to the solution.
Narrow-band Internet of Things Protocol Standards: Survey of Security and Privacy Control Effectiveness

A survey was conducted on the effectiveness of security and privacy control trade-offs for competing Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) protocol standards including those from SigFox, LoRa, and 3GPP. As a basis for the comparative review, a novel approach was undertaken to apply a combination of STRIDE threat modeling methodology and simplified risk rating system in order to support recommendations for risk remediation necessary to treat elevated risk. The findings suggested that SigFox had a relatively high overall simplified risk rating, LoRa had a slightly greater simplified risk rating than 3GPP, and a 3GPP had a relatively low overall simplified risk rating among the three network protocols reviewed. Likewise, treatment associated with elevated simplified risk rating was suggested as an approach to increase control effectiveness identified for each of the NB-IoT network protocols within the survey.
An estimate of 90Y dosimetry for bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT imaging in liver therapy with 90Y microspheres.

Abstract Objective Bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT (bSPECT/CT) is one of the most common methods for post-therapy imaging in 90Y microspheres selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) of liver cancers. Here, we are proposing a simple approach using bSPECT/CT to estimate mean absorbed dose to the liver in patients undergoing treatment with 90Y microspheres. Materials and methods In our previous study comparing 90Y dosimetry obtained using bSPECT/CT vs PET/CT, we found that there was a large difference between the mean absorbed dose values to the whole-liver. However, there was a high linear correlation between the doses, which presented an opportunity for quantitative assessment using bSPECT/CT 90Y imaging. In this study, after treatment with 90Y microspheres, 43 patients were immediately imaged on a dual-head Infinia SPECT/CT gamma camera and on a mCT PET/CT system. Images from 25 of the patients, randomly selected, were used to calculate the correlation of mean liver doses obtained from bSPECT/CT vs. PET/CT. For the remaining 18 patients, the calculated correlation was used to estimate doses obtained from bSPECT/CT, and these estimations were then compared to the doses obtained from PET/CT, considered the gold standard for quantitative analysis. Results From the 25 selected patients, the calculated linear correlation between bSPECT/CT and PET/CT 90Y mean absorbed doses in whole liver was high (r^2 = 0.97), with a slope of 2.80 and an intercept of -0.63. This linear fit was used to calculate the bSPECT/CT doses for the remaining 18 patients. For these patients, the mean whole-liver dose obtained from bSPECT/CT fitted data vs that obtained from PET/CT were 50.59 Gy and 50.81 Gy, respectively. The average dose difference was 0.2 ± 5.4 Gy (range −18.2%–13.0%). The repeatability coefficient was 10.5 (20.8 % of the mean). Conclusion Although quantitative bremsstrahlung imaging is difficult, it is possible to calculate adequate estimates of whole-liver dosimetry from bSPECT/CT imaging that is calibrated using its correlation with post-therapy PET/CT 90Y images.
MEDICOLEGAL CORNER. Failure to replace obstructed lumbar drain after thoracic-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair leads to paraplegia.

Background To avoid spinal cord ischemia following endovascular/open thoracic-abdominal aortic aneurysm (T-AAA) repair, lumbar drains (LDs) are placed to reduce intraspinal pressure, and increase spinal perfusion pressure. Here, we present a medicolegal case in which a critical care (CC) physician knew that the LD was obstructed following a T-AAA repair, but did not replace it until the patient became paraplegic. The patient was left with permanent sphincter loss, and a severe paraparesis. Methods A geriatric patient with multiple medical/cardiovascular comorbidities first underwent an endovascular T-AAA (Crawford Type II T-AAA) repair several years ago. Due to continued expansion of the aneurysm, the patient now required an open T-AAA repair. Results Prior to the open T-AAA surgery, a prophylactic LD was placed. Postoperatively, the patient required a second emergency operation to repair a leaking intercostal artery anastomosis. The next morning, the CC physician clearly documented the drain was obstructed, but chose to follow the patient; 3.5 hours later, the patient became paraplegic. The LD was replaced after the patient was first sent to MRI to rule out a spinal cord hematoma, resulting in a total delay of more than 6.5 h from when the CC physician first became aware of the non-functioning LD. The patient later regained only partial function, remaining significantly paraparetic with total loss of bowel/bladder function. Conclusion LD for endovascular/open T-AAA repairs reduce spinal fluid pressure, increase spinal cord perfusion pressures, and limits the frequency (i.e. 2.3-2.6%) of resultant spinal cord ischemia/paralysis. Here, despite the CC physician's failure to replace an obstructed LD after an open T-AAA, repair, the jury rendered a defense verdict.
Large-scale 3D modeling of projectile impact damage in brittle plates

Abstract The damage and failure of brittle plates subjected to projectile impact is investigated through large-scale three-dimensional simulation using the DG/CZM approach introduced by Radovitzky et al. [Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 2011; 200(1–4), 326–344]. Two standard experimental setups are considered: first, we simulate edge-on impact experiments on Al 2 O 3 tiles by Strassburger and Senf [Technical Report ARL-CR-214, Army Research Laboratory, 1995]. Qualitative and quantitative validation of the simulation results is pursued by direct comparison of simulations with experiments at different loading rates and good agreement is obtained. In the second example considered, we investigate the fracture patterns in normal impact of spheres on thin, unconfined ceramic plates over a wide range of loading rates. For both the edge-on and normal impact configurations, the full field description provided by the simulations is used to interpret the mechanisms underlying the crack propagation patterns and their strong dependence on loading rate.
Other Transfusion-Transmitted Infections

Publisher Summary In the United States, protozoal infections are infrequent complications associated with transfusion therapy. Increase in immigration from and travel to parasite-endemic areas pose a small but significant risk to the domestic blood supply. Donor screening by history and physical examination remain the cornerstone of efforts to prevent such infections. The principal protozoal infections with the potential for transmission by transfusion are malaria, babesiosis, American trypanosomiasis, and toxoplasmosis. Other parasitic infections such as microfilariasis and leishmaniasis have not been associated with transfusion-transmitted infections. 26 cases of transfusion-transmitted malaria are documented in the United States. Plasmodium falciparum and P. oale infection become clinically evident 12 days after transfusion, while the incubation period for P. malariae is 35 days. Signs and symptoms included intermittent fever, chills, diaphoresis, malaise, headache, and nausea. The potential for reactivation of infection and asymptomatic infection forms the basis for the deferral of prospective blood donors. In addition to screening donors by travel history, proposed strategies for the prevention of transfusion-transmitted malaria include serologic screening of donors and examination of blood films from donors.
Enzymic degradation of isotopically labeled compounds: II. Glucose labeled with 14C and tritium☆

Abstract An enzymic degradation of glucose labeled with 14C and tritium has been developed. Glucose is converted in a single step to phosphoglycerol and phosphoglyceric acid. Phosphoglyccrol contains carbons 1, 2, 3 of glucose and hydrogens from positions 1, 4, and 3. Phosphoglyceric acid contains carbons 4, 5, and 6 and hydrogens from positions 5 and 6. The two compounds are separated and phosphoglycerol oxidized enzymically to phosphoglyceric acid. The phosphoglycerates are converted to glyceric acid, which is oxidized with periodate to CO2, formic acid, and formaldehyde. The method is applicable to fructose, mannose, and hexose phosphates, and fructose-1,6-diP can be degraded, as well as glucose. Only a few micromoles of compound is required.
The 'Re-Identification' of Governor William Weld's Medical Information: A Critical Re-Examination of Health Data Identification Risks and Privacy Protections, Then and Now

The 1997 re-identification of Massachusetts Governor William Weld’s medical data within an insurance data set which had been stripped of direct identifiers has had a profound impact on the development of de-identification provisions within the 2003 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. Weld’s re-identification, purportedly achieved through the use of a voter registration list from Cambridge, MA is frequently cited as an example that computer scientists can re-identify individuals within de-identified data with “astonishing ease”. However, a careful re-examination of the population demographics in Cambridge indicates that Weld was most likely re-identifiable only because he was a public figure who experienced a highly publicized hospitalization rather than there being any certainty underlying his re-identification using the Cambridge voter data, which had missing data for a large proportion of the population.The complete story of Weld's re-identification exposes an important systemic barrier to accurate re-identification known as “the myth of the perfect population register”. Because the logic underlying re-identification depends critically on being able to demonstrate that a person within health data set is the only person in the larger population who has a set of combined characteristics (known as “quasi-identifiers”) that could potentially re-identify them, most re-identification attempts face a strong challenge in being able to create a complete and accurate population register. This strong limitation not only underlies the entire set of famous Cambridge re-identification results but also impacts much of the existing re-identification research cited by those making claims of easy re-identification. This paper critically examines the historic Weld re-identification and the dramatic reductions (thousands fold) of re-identification risks for de-identified health data as they have been protected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule provisions for de-identification since 2003. The paper also provides recommendations for enhancements to existing HIPAA de-identification policy, discusses critical advances routinely made in medical science and improvement of our healthcare system using de-identified data, and provides commentary on the vital importance of properly balancing the competing goals of protecting patient privacy and preserving the accuracy of scientific research and statistical analyses conducted with de-identified data.
Effects of Vitamin E From Supplements and Diet on Colonic α- and γ-tocopherol Concentrations in Persons at Increased Colon Cancer Risk

The available evidence indicates that γ-tocopherol has more potential for colon cancer prevention than α-tocopherol, but little is known about the effects of foods and supplements on tocopherol levels in human colon. This study randomized 120 subjects at increased colon cancer risk to either a Mediterranean or a Healthy Eating diet for 6 mo. Supplement use was reported by 39% of the subjects, and vitamin E intake from supplements was twofold higher than that from foods. Serum α-tocopherol at baseline was positively predicted by dietary intakes of synthetic vitamin E in foods and supplements but not by natural α-tocopherol from foods. For serum γ-tocopherol, dietary γ-tocopherol was not a predictor, but dietary α-tocopherol was a negative predictor. Unlike with serum, the data supported a role for metabolic factors, and not a direct effect of diet, in governing concentrations of both α- and γ-tocopherol in colon. The Mediterranean intervention increased intakes of natural α-tocopherol, which is high in nuts, and decreased intakes of γ-tocopherol, which is low in olive oil. These dietary changes had no significant effects on colon tocopherols. The impact of diet on colon tocopherols therefore appears to be limited.
Substance Abuse as a Precipitant of Wife Abuse Victimizations

This study examines the question of whether drug and alcohol use by victims constitutes a risk factor increasing the chances of their being assaulted by their partners. Data from a subsample of the 1985 National Family Violence Survey consisting of the 2,033 female respondents who were currently married or living in a male-female couple relationship are used as the basis of the analysis. The logistic analysis revealed that, of the ten variables in the model, the most important for distinguishing abused from nonabused women are husband's drug use, a history of paternal violence in womens' family or origin, husband's drunkenness, low income, and wife's drunkenness. Women who abuse alcohol are more likely to be victims of minor marital violence, but female substance abuse of any type is not a significant factor in severe violence.
Multiple forms of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase from monkey skin

Abstract Multiple forms of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate-dependent (cyclic AMP-dependent) protein kinase (ATP: protein phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.37) which catalyze the phosphorylation of various protein acceptors by ATP have been demonstrated in rhesus monkey skin. The enzymes are stimulated most efficiently by cyclic AMP whereas its analogs are less effective. They resemble one another in several of their kinetic parameters and also substrate specificities. The pH optimum for the kinases is between 8.0 and 9.0. The K m values for cyclic AMP are 1.2 and 2.5·10−8 M for kinases I and III, respectively; and for histones the corresponding values are 0.23 and 0.50 mg/ml. The kinases have similar K m values for ATP which are not significantly affected by cyclic AMP. The interrelationship between the kinases and their possible clinical significance in skin disorders remain to be established.
A stochastic algorithm for explorative goal seeking extracted from cockroach walking data

Cockroach shelter-seeking strategy may look like an undirected random search, but we show that they are attracted to darkened shelters, arriving at a shelter in about half the time it would otherwise take. We were able to identify four statistically significant trends from the behavior of 134 cockroaches in one-minute naive walking trials with four different arena configurations. By combining these trends into a model, we arrive at an algorithm that significantly directs a simulated agent to a location. This algorithm was then adapted and tested on a small mobile robot equipped with an onboard camera and antenna-like contact sensors.
Energy harvesting using the FER–FEO phase transformation in [011] cut single crystal PIN-PMN-PT

This study addresses the effects of frequency and load resistance on energy harvesting using a mechanically excited ferroelectric rhombohedral to ferroelectric orthorhombic phase transformation in [011] cut Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) single crystals. The crystals were mechanically driven through the phase transformation, and voltage across a resistive load was measured. The effects of frequency and resistive load on the electrical energy generated were measured. Over the range of frequencies and load impedances tested, the crystals behaved as a charge source. The current increased linearly with frequency, and the voltage increased linearly with load impedance. Impedance matching to maximize the energy harvested is discussed. The energy harvested using the phase transformation was on average 27 times, with a peak of 108 times, the energy harvested using the same crystals operating in the linear piezoelectric regime under the same stress excitation amplitude.