cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prune Belly Syndrome

Prune belly is a lax, wrinkled abdominal wall and frequently is associated with other anomalies. The prune belly syndrome is a specific constellation of anomalies consisting of an abdominal wall deficient in muscular tissue, dilated urinary tract, and bilateral cryptorchidism. This group of anomalies is also called the Eagle-Barrett syndrome and the triad syndrome. In about 3 of 4 patients with the prune belly syndrome, there are associated malformations of the cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, and orthopedic systems.
Control theory and multiple placebo effects

The importance of the placebo in medicine is well documented, yet our understanding of placebo effects remains limited. One obstacle to a greater understanding is the fact that the phrase "placebo effect" has been used to refer to a number of qualitatively distinct behavioral events. Thus, different theories have been promulgated, each one tending to explain a selective portion of the placebo phenomenon. To help clarify matters, three kinds of placebo effects are described, and theories that have been used to explain them are reviewed. Limitations of these theories are then discussed, and a general model of placebo effects, based on a control theory perspective, is presented. Some implications and limitations of this model are outlined.
So, Doctor, How's Your Sex Life? A Cross-Examiner's View of Countertransference

ABSTRACT Bias can taint the forensic work product to a far greater degree than many lawyers and judges, as relatively unsophisticated consumers of psychological expertise, are aware. Daniel Pickar's article, “Countertransference Bias in the Child Custody Evaluator” (this issue) describes the deep roots and potential impact on evaluations that can emerge from countertransference thoughts and feelings forming in the shadows of the evaluator's psyche. This article examines countertransference bias primarily from the perspective of the cross-examining attorney charged with the obligation of revealing possible sources of invalidity underlying the expert's conclusions. It addresses also the legitimate concerns raised by David A. Martindale and Jonathan W. Gould that the wholesale importation of a highly nuanced and potentially confusing lexicon from psychoanalytic theory may yield more confusion than clarity. Finally, this article cautions as to the potentially fatal implications to evidentiary admissibility wh...
Positive Psychology and Philosophy of Social Science

Many of the shortcomings of `positive psychology' seem to stem from its unreflectively perpetuating key assumptions of the very mainstream social science it censures for being too `negative.' Philosophical hermeneutics and related social theory perspectives allow us to identify and critically examine such assumptions, including a one-sided individualism and narrow instrumentalism. Hermeneutics allows us to make sense of the `disguised ideology' that imbues positive psychology and much modern social science, suggests that social inquiry is best seen as a kind of dialogic understanding, and may allow us to take the measure of deep human limitations without falling into cynicism or despair.
Analysis of Process Parameters Affecting Spray-Dried Oily Core Nanocapsules Using Factorial Design

The purpose of this work was to optimize the process parameters required for the production of spray-dried oily core nanocapsules (NCs) with targeted size and drug yield using a two-level four-factor fractional factorial experimental design (FFED). The coded process parameters chosen were inlet temperature (X1), feed flow rate (X2), atomizing air flow (X3), and aspiration rate (X4). The produced NCs were characterized for size, yield, morphology, and powder flowability by dynamic light scattering, electron microscope, Carr’s index, and Hausner ratio measurement, respectively. The mean size of produced NCs ranged from 129.5 to 444.8 nm, with yield varying from 14.1% to 31.1%. The statistical analysis indicated an adequate model fit in predicting the effect of process parameters affecting yield. Predicted condition for maximum yield was: inlet temperature 140°C, atomizing air flow 600 L/h, feed flow rate 0.18 L/h, and aspiration air flow set at 100%, which led to a yield of 30.8%. The morphological analysis showed the existence of oily core and spherical nanostructure. The results from powder flowability analysis indicated average Carr’s index and Hausner ratio of 42.77% and 1.76, respectively. Spray-dried oily core NCs with size lower than 200 nm were successfully produced, and the FFED proved to be an effective approach in predicting the production of spray-dried NCs of targeted yield.
Female Mating History Influences Copulation Behavior but Not Sperm Release in the Orb-Weaving Spider Tetragnatha versicolor (Araneae, Tetragnathidae)

We examined the influence of female mating history on copulation behavior and sperm release in the haplogyne spider Tetragnatha versicolor. Despite significant behavioral differences during mating, males released equivalent amounts of sperm to virgin and non-virgin females. When mating with non-virgin females, males showed twice as many pedipalp insertions and half the copulation duration as compared to virgin females; however, males were as likely to mate with non-virgin as virgin females. Even with these overt behavioral differences, males released half of the sperm contained within their pedipalps during mating, regardless of female mating history. With respect to male mating order, first or second, we suggest the numbers of sperm released would lead to an expectation of unbiased paternity. In this species, sperm release is not directly proportional to total copulationduration.
Trying to Return Home: A Trinidadian's Experience of Becoming a “Native” Ethnographer

In this article, the author draws on the experiences of doing an ethnography of mas' making practices in Trinidad Carnival mas' camps to explore and dialogue with her perception of self as a becoming native ethnographer and her valuing of the perceptions of a member of the community's view of her role as another colonizer. She addresses the tensions between contestation, arrogant perceptions, and deep dialogue; the various forms of identification that informed the research process; and the various ways in which she positioned herself. She adapts and interprets some of the theoretical concepts she gained as a member of the community of educational researchers as she explores the challenges she faced as a native-born Trinidadian, educator, mas' player, and a becoming ethnographer.
Clinical Feasibility of Microscopically-Guided Breast Needle Biopsy Using a Fiber-Optic Probe with Computer-Aided Detection

Needle biopsy of small or nonpalpable breast lesions has a high nondiagnostic sampling rate even when needle position is guided by stereotaxis or ultrasound. We assess the feasibility of using a near-infrared fiber optic probe and computer-aided detection for the microscopic guidance of needle breast biopsy procedures. Specimens from nine consented patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery were assessed intraoperatively using a needle device with an integrated fiber-optic probe capable of assessing two physical tissue properties highly correlated to pathology. Immediately following surgical resection, specimens were probed by inserting the optical biopsy needle device into the tissue, simulating the procedure used to position standard biopsy needles. Needle positions were marked and correlated with histology, which verified measurements obtained from 58 needle positions, including 40 in adipose and 18 in tumor tissue. This study yielded tissue classifications based on measurement of optical refractive index and scattering. Confidence-rating schemes yielded combined sensitivity of 89% (16/18) and specificity of 78% (31/40). Refractive index tests alone identified tumor tissue with a sensitivity of 83% (15/18) and specificity of 75% (30/40). Scattering profiles independently identified tumor tissue with a sensitivity of 61% (11/18) and specificity of 60% (24/40). These results show that a biopsy needle with an integrated fiber optic probe can be used to identify breast tumor tissue for sampling. Integration of this probe into current practices offers the potential to reduce nondiagnostic sampling rates by directly evaluating in situ microscopic tissue properties in real-time, before removal.
Historical Perspectives: Perinatal Profiles: Geoffrey S. Dawes: A Neonatologist's Appreciation

When neonatology was emerging as a clinical discipline in the late 1950s and early 1960s, it had the advantage of a strong foundation of basic research in fetal and neonatal physiology. In particular, the new clinical enterprise (it was not yet a subspecialty) focused on cardiorespiratory pathophysiology. This foundation came from a few distinguished research laboratories studying fetal and neonatal physiology and the processes of the transition from fetal to neonatal life. The preeminent laboratory in the field was the Nuffield Institute for Medical Research at Oxford, directed by Geoffrey S. Dawes. Geoffrey Dawes became the director of the Institute in 1948. He received his medical degree in 1943, and in the following 5 years, he gained recognition as a prominent investigator in pharmacology and physiology. The very short interval between receiving his degree and being named director of an important research institute indicates how quickly the academic leadership recognized his exceptional qualities. As the new director, Dawes set the primary focus of research for the Nuffield Institute as developmental physiology. In this role, the Nuffield became the successor to the path of research started by Sir Joseph Barcroft at Cambridge early in the twentieth century. Dawes and his coinvestigators concentrated particularly on the preparations for and mechanisms of adaptation to extrauterine life. A central focus of the research was the adaptive mechanisms in the circulatory and respiratory systems, including placental function, establishment of lung function, and changes in the pulmonary and systemic circulations. Although most of the work examined cardiorespiratory physiology and its neurohumoral regulation, researchers also studied fetal growth and metabolism, and their studies included the responses to stresses such as hypoxia and hemorrhage. One of the hallmarks of the research of this highly productive group was the elegance of their experimental designs. The clinical implications of this …
Empirical Bayesian LASSO-logistic regression for multiple binary trait locus mapping

Complex binary traits are influenced by many factors including the main effects of many quantitative trait loci (QTLs), the epistatic effects involving more than one QTLs, environmental effects and the effects of gene-environment interactions. Although a number of QTL mapping methods for binary traits have been developed, there still lacks an efficient and powerful method that can handle both main and epistatic effects of a relatively large number of possible QTLs. In this paper, we use a Bayesian logistic regression model as the QTL model for binary traits that includes both main and epistatic effects. Our logistic regression model employs hierarchical priors for regression coefficients similar to the ones used in the Bayesian LASSO linear model for multiple QTL mapping for continuous traits. We develop efficient empirical Bayesian algorithms to infer the logistic regression model. Our simulation study shows that our algorithms can easily handle a QTL model with a large number of main and epistatic effects on a personal computer, and outperform five other methods examined including the LASSO, HyperLasso, BhGLM, RVM and the single-QTL mapping method based on logistic regression in terms of power of detection and false positive rate. The utility of our algorithms is also demonstrated through analysis of a real data set. A software package implementing the empirical Bayesian algorithms in this paper is freely available upon request. The EBLASSO logistic regression method can handle a large number of effects possibly including the main and epistatic QTL effects, environmental effects and the effects of gene-environment interactions. It will be a very useful tool for multiple QTLs mapping for complex binary traits.
Effects of hypercapnia on cerebral blood flow following prophylactic and delayed experimental superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass

Cerebral blood flow was studied in dogs to ascertain whether preexisting superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass could preserve hypercapnic reactivity following acute ischemia and whether postischemic-delayed revascularization would restore hypercapnic reactivity. In six dogs flow was preserved and some degree of hypercapnic response remained following proximal occlusion with a patent bypass. During complete ischemia (bypass occluded) there was no hypercapnic reactivity in the ischemic zone. Significant flow was restored to the ischemic area following bypass reopening, but a cerebral blood flow decrease was seen with subsequent hypercapnia. In the opposite (control) hemisphere hypercapnia always produced significant cerebral blood flow increases. These data support the superiority of prophylactic over delayed superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass in appropriate clinical situations.
Trauma Recidivism in the Elderly

Background: The incidence of recurrent trauma in the elderly is unknown. This study evaluated the risk of readmission for injury among elderly trauma patients compared with an uninjured geriatric cohort. The effects of age, sex, race, preexisting illness, and ISS on trauma recidivism were determined. Methods: Population based retrospective cohort analysis of the elderly using administrative data from the Health Care Financing Administration was performed. The measured outcome was trauma admission within 5 years. The injured were identified using hospital discharge data and the Injury Severity Score generated by ICD-Map. The uninjured were identified from Medicare eligibility files. Comorbid illness was assessed using ICD-9CM codes from outpatient and inpatient data files. Results: The injured members of the cohort had increased risk of subsequent new trauma admission (p < 0.001). Increasing Injury Severity Score, age, and comorbid illness are associated with trauma recidivism. Conclusion: Trauma in the elderly is recurrent. Further study is required to develop age and injury specific interventions to prevent recurrent injury.
Immune and non-immune responses to hepatitis C virus infection

The host innate and adaptive immune systems are involved in nearly every step of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In patients, the outcome is determined by a series of complex host-virus interactions, whether it is a natural infection or results from clinical intervention. Strong and persistent CD8(+) and CD4(+) T-cell responses are critical in HCV clearance, as well as cytokine-induced factors that can directly inhibit virus replication. Newly available direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are very effective in viral clearance in patients. DAA treatment may further result in the down-regulation of programmed death-1, leading to rapid restoration of HCV-specific CD8(+) T cell functions. In this review, we focus on recent studies that address the host responses critical for viral clearance and disease resolution. Additional discussion is devoted to the prophylactic vaccine development as well as to current efforts aimed at understanding the host innate responses against HCV infection. Current theories on how the ubiquitin system and interferon-stimulated genes may affect HCV replication are also discussed.
Entrainment of Shovelnose Sturgeon by Towboat Navigation in the Upper Mississippi River

Summary Estimated number of shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus impacted annually by towboat entrainment in navigation pools of the Upper Mississippi River were compared against estimates of fishery harvest and ambient population densities to evaluate the relevance of entrainment at the population level. Mean number of sturgeon entrained per kilometer of navigation was estimated at 0.02, and mean number entrained annually considering towboat traffic was estimated at 0.38 sturgeon/ha. Losses associated with entrainment were mostly lower than fishery harvest, although differences were not large. The two sources of mortality combined could potentially reduce the mature adult population to a level where it no longer has the reproductive capacity to replenish itself. Thus, through a combination of entrainment and fishing mortality shovelnose sturgeon may be looming near unsustainable population levels. These estimates are preliminary considering the many uncertainties associated with quantifying entrainment and its effects. Additional research is needed not only to derive better estimates, but also to develop options for managing entrainment.
Enhanced Vascular Responsiveness to Bay K 8644 in Mineralocorticoid- and N-Nitro Arginine-Induced Hypertension

The present study evaluates the response to the L-type voltage gated calcium channel agonist Bay K 8644 in two forms of experimental hypertension (mineralocorticoid- and hypertension induced by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine (N-Nitro arginine)) and under conditions of acute stretch. These studies test the hypothesis that increased L-type calcium channel activity in vasculature is a hallmark or general characteristic of hypertension. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were made hypertensive by subcutaneous implantation of deoxycorticosterone acetate (200 mg/kg DOCA) and given normal or high salt water (1% NaCl + 0.2% KCl); other rats were made hypertensive by ingestion of N-Nitro arginine (2% in water). Systolic blood pressures (SBP) were taken by the standard tail cuff method. Following development of hypertension, rats were anesthetized, and aortae or mesenteric arteries were isolated for measurement of isometric contractile force. Cumulative concentration response curves to Bay K 8644 (10(-10) to 10(-6) M), KCl (6 to 100 mM), or phenylephrine (10(-10)-3 x 10(-7) M) were evaluated. Isolated mesenteric arteries from rats given both DOCA and salt were most sensitive to Bay K 8644 (SBP = 191 +/- 6 mmHg, -log EC50 = 7.78 +/- 0.13), followed by rats receiving high salt alone (SBP = 118 +/- 6 mmHg, -log EC50 = 7.30 +/- 0.17), DOCA alone (SBP = 152 +/- 2 mmHg, -log EC50 = 7.25 +/- 0.15), and finally normal sham rats (SBP = 111 +/- 5 mm Hg, -log EC50 > or = 6.80 +/- 0.10). These data indicate that both DOCA and salt intake can independently influence responsiveness to Bay K 8644.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
NMEGylation: A novel modification to enhance the bioavailability of therapeutic peptides

We have evaluated "NMEGylation"--the covalent attachment of an oligo-N-methoxyethylglycine (NMEG) chain--as a new form of peptide/protein modification to enhance the bioavailability of short peptides. OligoNMEGs are hydrophilic polyethylene glycol-like molecules made by solid-phase synthesis, typically up to 40 monomers in length. They have been studied as nonfouling surface coatings and as monodisperse mobility modifiers for free-solution conjugate capillary electrophoresis. However, polyNMEGs have not been demonstrated before this work as modifiers of therapeutic proteins. In prior published work, we identified a short peptide, "C20," as a potential extracellular inhibitor of the fusion of human respiratory syncytial virus with mammalian cells. The present study was aimed at improving the C20 peptide's stability and solubility. To this end, we synthesized and studied a series of NMEGylated C20 peptide-peptoid bioconjugates comprising different numbers of NMEGs at either the N- or C-terminus of C20. NMEGylation was found to greatly improve this peptide's solubility and serum stability; however, longer polyNMEGs (n > 3) deleteriously affected peptide binding to the target protein. By incorporating just one NMEG monomer, along with a glycine monomer as a flexible spacer, at C20's N-terminus (NMEG-Gly-C20), we increased both solubility and serum stability greatly, while recovering a binding affinity comparable to that of unmodified C20 peptide. Our results suggest that NMEGylation with an optimized number of NMEG monomers and a proper linker could be useful, more broadly, as a novel modification to enhance bioavailability and efficacy of therapeutic peptides.
Democracy and the Environment: The Visibility Factor

There are compelling theoretical arguments as to why democracy should have a positive effect on environmental performance, yet the empirical findings are mixed. These mixed results are likely in part due to the fact that the mechanism linking democracy to the environment varies based on how the characteristics of specific environmental indicators relate back to the political process. I develop a theory that explains the relationship between democracy and the environment as a function of how visible the areas of environmental policy and performance are to the public. Using cross-sectional analysis and data from the Environmental Performance Index, I show that the provision of highly visible environmental public goods that affect human health is primarily a function of a country’s level of economic development, whereas the provision of less visible environmental public goods that affect ecosystem vitality is a function of both the levels of economic development and democracy. The finding that the effect of democracy differs across different areas of environmental policy suggests that the global spread of democracy will lead to environmental improvements in some, but not all areas.
ROLE OF EXTERNAL AUDITORS IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING: CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENTS, AND THE FINANCE THEORY

How can a mismatch of resources and abilities be addressed?Further, how can regulatory design involving the external auditor be targeted at incorporating regulation, monitoring and supervisory activities at minimal cost for those businesses and institutions involved?The Role of External Auditors in Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting not only recommends means whereby a variety of internal issues can be addressed but also considers various ways in which the external auditor and audit committees contribute to the process of corporate governance. Problems related to asymetric information, information disclosure, transparency between corporate managers and shareholders, and factors contributing to insider trading are covered as well as the various ways in which the external auditor and audit committees can contribute towards enhancing corporate governance structures and measures. The impact of bank regulations, such as Basel III capital requirements, on risk taking and the need for a consideration of ownership structures are other issues which are examined. In acknowledging the issues raised by ownership structures, the book considers theories such as the banking theory and corporate governance theory. It also considers other alternatives whereby risk taking can be controlled, including developments which are contributory to the rise of Finance Theory. In recommending the external auditor’s expertise as appropriate for addressing agency problems whereby corporate managers, at the expense of shareholders, are compelled to act in their own interests, The Role of External Auditors in Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting, draws attention to the audit committee’s roles, presenting them as being both as a vital and complementary as corporate governance tools. It also highlights the importance of measures which need to be in place if the external auditor’s contribution to corporate governance is to be maximised. Even though an ideal and single model for corporate governance does not exist, through an analysis of selected jurisdictions, this book aims to provide corporate managers and business executives with a better understanding of how their corporate governance structures can be modelled to maximise the benefits which effective corporate governance mechanisms could provide.
Satisfaction With Police in Violent Crime Hot Spots Using Community Surveys as a Guide for Selecting Hot Spots Policing Tactics

This article argues that citizens’ perceptions of police can aid in selecting appropriate hot spots policing tactics and models satisfaction with police as evidenced by respondents who live or work in violent crime hot spots. Survey data (N = 630) were collected by randomly sampling addresses within violent crime hot spots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The results reveal that being younger, or more educated, or perceiving higher procedural injustice, or higher social disorder, or being more fearful of crime, all link to lower satisfaction with police in violent crime hot spots. To maintain or improve public satisfaction with police services in hot spots, police departments should adopt tactics that are not only effective in reducing crime but also procedurally just, reduce fear of crime, and address social disorder problems.
Exposure to blue wavelength light modulates anterior cingulate cortex activation in response to 'uncertain' versus 'certain' anticipation of positive stimuli

Blue wavelength light has been used as an effective treatment for some types of mood disorders and circadian rhythm related sleep problems. We hypothesized that acute exposure to blue wavelength light would directly affect the functioning of neurocircuity implicated in emotion regulation (i.e., ventromedial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex [ACC]) during 'certain' and 'uncertain' anticipation of negative and positive stimuli. Thirty-five healthy adults were randomized to receive a thirty-minute exposure to either blue (active) or amber (placebo) light, immediately followed by an emotional anticipation task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In contrast to placebo, participants in the blue light group showed significantly reduced activation within the rostral ACC during 'uncertain' anticipation (i.e., uncertainty regarding whether a positive or negative stimulus would be shown) in comparison to 'certain' anticipation of a positive stimulus. These findings may be explicable in terms of interactions between blue light exposure and the influence of specific neuromodulators on ACC-mediated decision-making mechanisms.
Lesser Included Offenses

After hearing the state's evidence of a Newark homicide, the grand jury indicted the defendant for murder. The government publicized its theory of the case - felony-murder. At trial, direct examination of the prosecutor's principal witness involved testimony about a killing in the course of an attempted robbery. But cross-examination exploited the witness' weaknesses with impeachment evidence. As a result, the record evidence about the felony-murder was disputable.The adversaries rested, and the judge reviewed the intended instructions for the jury. The court would tell the jury to use these instructions to apply the law to the evidence. The prosecutor asked the jury to convict on the felony-murder theory, while the defendant advocated for acquittal. Somewhere in the middle, the jury could have acquitted the defendant for first degree murder, and convicted for second degree murder, a lesser included offense. A trial court's failure to instruct the jury accordingly in any criminal trial will result in a reversal because this error inhibits the jury's ability to reach an accurate conclusion.This is the Doctrine of Lesser Included Offenses. Far more than just "courtroom drama," this doctrine involves the constitutional right to notice and protection against double jeopardy, substantive criminal law, statutory interpretation, the record evidence, trial procedure and strategy, scope of appellate review, and legal policy. This paper explains all of these aspects of this doctrine under the law of New Jersey.The author wishes to thank Prof. Richard G. Singer for his direction with this research.
Investigation on health education requirement and sanitation status of hand-foot-mouth disease and influenza cases in Zhejiang Province

Objective To understand the health education requirement and sanitaion status of communicable disease in Zhejiang Province,and to provide scientific basis for community disease control. Methods Cases of Hand,foot,mouth disease and influenza who were reported from China Information System For Disease Control And Prevention from August to October 2012 in Zhejiang province were randomly selected. Questions on diagnosis,source of infections,health habits,family and community health environment,and health knowledge were asked by telephone survey. Meanwhile,health populations were surveyed as controls. Results A total of 601 questionnaires were collected,with the response rate of 85. 2%. The average age was 32. 8 ± 7. 3 years old,and male to female ratio was 0. 9 ∶ 1. Cases visited doctors 1. 7 ±0. 8 days after onset,close contact with patients was an important source of infection( 36. 2%,195 /538). The community sanitation facilities were relatively difficult to access and the sanitation status in public community places were in the case group,for instance,the animal manure was common,moreover,the personal hygiene habits and family sanitation were not as good as control group. The hand,foot,mouth disease group had a higher proportion of scattered children and rash cases contacting. The influenza group had the poorly family sanitation status,community health propagandization and lowest vaccination proportion( all P 0. 05)). People were interested in knowledge of how to control communicable diseases( 63.1%,379/601). Leaflets,pamphlets and network were acceptable. Conclusions The community sanitation status needs to be improved. Moreover,the health education in community should be enhanced.
Brian James Baer, Translation and the making of modern Russian literature

The birthplace of Russian poetry, according to the poet and religious philosopher Vladimir Solov'ev, was Vasilii Zhukovsky’s 1802 translation of Thomas Gray's “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard...
An Integrated Sensory-linguistic Approach for Drug Addiction: A Synthesis of the Literature and New Directions for Treatment Research

ABSTRACT A literature review of current neuroscientific research on stress vulnerability and addiction processes is presented, with implications for incorporating such basic science findings into new addiction treatment developments. Specifically, synthesis of the research shows that substance abuse disrupts brain structure and functioning in ways that may require multi-modal interventions that utilize both verbal and nonverbal treatment strategies.
Cold Sintering Process: A Novel Technique for Low‐Temperature Ceramic Processing of Ferroelectrics

Research on sintering of dense ceramic materials has been very active in the past decades and still keeps gaining in popularity. Although a number of new techniques have been developed, the sintering process is still performed at high temperatures. Very recently we established a novel protocol, the “Cold Sintering Process (CSP)”, to achieve dense ceramic solids at extraordinarily low temperatures of <300°C. A wide variety of chemistries and composites were successfully densified using this technique. In this article, a comprehensive CSP tutorial will be delivered by employing three classic ferroelectric materials (KH2PO4, NaNO2, and BaTiO3) as examples. Together with detailed experimental demonstrations, fundamental mechanisms, as well as the underlying physics from a thermodynamics perspective, are collaboratively outlined. Such an impactful technique opens up a new way for cost-effective and energy-saving ceramic processing. We hope that this article will provide a promising route to guide future studies on ultralow temperature ceramic sintering or ceramic materials related integration.
Dispersing Asymmetric DDoS Attacks with SplitStack

This paper presents SplitStack, an architecture targeted at mitigating asymmetric DDoS attacks. These attacks are particularly challenging, since attackers can use a limited amount of resources to trigger exhaustion of a particular type of system resource on the server side. SplitStack resolves this by splitting the monolithic stack into many separable components called minimum splittable units (MSUs). If part of the application stack is experiencing a DDoS attack, SplitStack massively replicates just the affected MSUs, potentially across many machines. This allows scaling of the impacted resource separately from the rest of the application stack, so that resources can be precisely added where needed to combat the attack. We validate SplitStack via a preliminary case study, and show that it outperforms naive replication in defending against asymmetric attacks.
The Value of Teaching Classical Modern Dance Technique in Higher Education

In this article, I promote the teaching of classical modern dance forms at the college and university level as preparation for multiple career paths in dance. The understanding of specific modern d...
Inflammatory Disorders of the Cutaneous Appendages

Inflammatory infiltrates centered on eccrine and apocrine structures and pilosebaceous units give rise to a range of cutaneous disorders. These conditions range from alopecia to acne vulgaris to blistering diseases of childhood, all of which have in common a peri-appendageal inflammatory infiltrate. The varying cell types and location of the infiltrates result in a wide range of cutaneous disorders.
Methyl Bromide Alternatives for Control of Root-knot Nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) in Tomato Production in Florida

The following work was initiated to determine the scope of application methodology and fumigant combinations for increasing efficacy of 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and metam sodium for management of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in Florida. A series of five experiments were set up during spring and fall seasons to evaluate the potential of different fumigants, alone or in combination, in polyethylene film tomato production. The most promising chemical alternatives to methyl bromide, in terms of root-knot nematode management, were the combinations 1,3-D-chloropicrin, chloropicrin-proprietary solvent ,and 1,3-D-metam sodium. Sprayed or injected metam sodium generally provided only short-term nematode management and by harvest nematode infection was not different from the nontreated control. Drip-applied metam sodium gave good nematode management under high nematode pressure, but needs further verification to establish (i) the importance of soil moisture and temperature on treatment efficacy and (ii) whether similar management can be obtained with fewer than three drip tubes. Broadcast applications of 1,3-D showed better efficacy as compared to applications on a preformed raised bed. Fumigation did not increase tomato yields in spring when root-knot nematode pressure was low, but during fall all chemical treatments increased yields three to five-fold, as root-knot nematode was a major yield-limiting factor.
Effects of livestock grazing on rangeland biodiversity: A meta‐analysis of grouse populations

Livestock grazing affects over 60% of the world's agricultural lands and can influence rangeland ecosystem services and the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat, resulting in changes in biodiversity. Concomitantly, livestock grazing has the potential to be detrimental to some wildlife species while benefiting other rangeland organisms. Many imperiled grouse species require rangeland landscapes that exhibit diverse vegetation structure and composition to complete their life cycle. However, because of declining populations and reduced distributions, grouse are increasingly becoming a worldwide conservation concern. Grouse, as a suite of upland gamebirds, are often considered an umbrella species for other wildlife and thus used as indicators of rangeland health. With a projected increase in demand for livestock products, better information will be required to mitigate the anthropogenic effects of livestock grazing on rangeland biodiversity. To address this need, we completed a data-driven and systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature to determine the current knowledge of the effects of livestock grazing on grouse populations (i.e., chick production and population indices) worldwide. Our meta-analysis revealed an overall negative effect of livestock grazing on grouse populations. Perhaps more importantly, we identified an information void regarding the effects of livestock grazing on the majority of grouse species. Additionally, the reported indirect effects of livestock grazing on grouse species were inconclusive and more reflective of differences in the experimental design of the available studies. Future studies designed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of livestock grazing on wildlife should document (i) livestock type, (ii) timing and frequency of grazing, (iii) duration, and (iv) stocking rate. Much of this information was lacking in the available published studies we reviewed, but is essential when making comparisons between different livestock grazing management practices and their potential impacts on rangeland biodiversity.
Ambient energy harvesting from two-way talk radio for on-body autonomous wireless sensing network using inkjet and 3D printing

A novel wearable and flexible energy harvesting circuit from a hand-held two-way radio for an energy autonomous on-body sensing network is proposed. The proposed circuit is more efficient than conventional ambient RF energy harvesting architectures because both the dc and the harmonics generated by the rectifier is simultaneously utilized to serve two different functions. The dc power is used to drive dc loads and the harmonic is used to build a carrier emitter for backscatter RFID tags for on-body sensing. The 3D printed substrate is used to alleviate the limitations imposed by the substrate. Both the energy harvester and the custom backscatter RFID tags are fabricated and characterized. The measured dc and the second harmonic, 928 MHz, output power from the proposed rectifier are 17.5 dBm and 1.43 dBm while a two-way talk radio is 9 cm away. The reading range of the custom tag is extended to 17 m with the help of the proposed energy harvester.
Assessing the impact of the edge-weighting function in a graph-based approach to anomaly detection

Spectral anomaly detection in hyperspectral imagery is concerned with identifying unusual spectra that occur infrequently within the image. The modelappliedinthis paper is based on the idea that background pixels reside on, or near, lower dimensional manifolds (surfaces) in the higher-dimensional spectral space. Using a similarity graph to approximate the theoretical background manifold(s), we investigate how edge-weighting functions influence the detection of anomalous spectra. The edge-weighting functions used here include the reciprocal Euclidean distance and the heat kernel with varying parameters. The data are then transformed into a vector space that preserves graph structure and the Reed-Xiaoli (RX) anomaly detection algorithm is applied to expose anomalies.
Bariatric surgery and kidney health

Medically complicated obesity is a clearly recognized public health concern in the United States and other Western countries. The underlying cause(s) are not entirely understood, nor are there any perfect solutions. Bariatric surgery is one approach to this vexing problem that has gained in
Adverse effects of Gulf War Illness (GWI) serum on neural cultures and their prevention by healthy serum

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic debilitating disease of unknown etiology that affects the brain and has afflicted many veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War (GW). Here we tested the hypothesis that brain damage may be caused by circulating harmful substances to which GW veterans were exposed but which could not be eliminated due to lack of specific immunity. We assessed the effects of serum from GWI patients on function and morphology of brain cultures in vitro, including cultures of embryonic mouse brain and neuroblastoma N2A line. Blood serum from GWI and healthy GW veterans was added, alone and in combination, to the culture and its effects on the function and morphology of the culture assessed. Neural network function was assessed using electrophysiological recordings from multielectrode arrays in mouse brain cultures, whereas morphological assessments (neural growth and cell apoptosis) were done in neuroblastoma cultures. In contrast to healthy serum, the addition of GWI serum disrupted neural network communication and caused reduced cell growth and increased apoptosis. All of these detrimental effects were prevented or ameliorated by the concomitant addition of serum from healthy GW veterans. These findings indicate that GWI serum contains neuropathogenic factors that can be neutralized by healthy serum. We hypothesize that these factors are persistent antigens circulating in GWI blood that can be neutralized, possibly by specific antibodies present in the healthy serum, as proposed earlier1.
Interface energetics and structure of the pearlitic microstructure in steels: An atomistic and continuum investigation

Abstract Atomistic modeling is used to investigate the energetics and structures of commonly reported orientation relationships between ferrite and cementite within pearlite: the Bagaryatskii, the Isaichev, and the Pitsch-Petch, as well as their associated near orientations. Dislocation arrays are found to form for all orientation relationships, with their spacing and direction a function of lattice mismatch. Within each orientation relationship, different interfacial chemistries are found to produce identical dislocation spacings and line directions, but differing interfacial energies. This chemistry component to the interfacial energy is characterized and it is determined that in addition to the lattice mismatch, there are two structural factors within the cementite terminating plane that affect the energetics: the presence of like site iron pairs and proximity of carbon atoms to the interface. Additionally, an alternate method for determining the interfacial energy of systems in which there are multiple chemical potentials for a single element is developed and implemented, an approach which is likely valid for other similar systems. The Isaichev orientation relationship is found to be the most favorable, while the “near” orientation relationships are found to be at least as energetically favorable as their parent orientation relationships. A continuum model based on O-lattice theory and anisotropic continuum theory was also applied to the atomistic results, yielding interfacial energy approximations that match well with those from atomistics and allowing for the characterization of the Burgers vectors, which are found to lie in high symmetry directions of the ferrite within the interface plane.
Rebuilding the Family–Professional Partnership Through Facilitated Individualized Education Program Meetings: A Conflict Prevention and Resolution Practice

Decades of research identify the need to improve the individualized education program (IEP) meeting process. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of parents, advocates, educator...
Activation of SV40 DNA replication in vitro by cellular protein phosphatase 2A.

Abstract We have made use of the cell-free SV40 DNA replication system to identify and characterize cellular proteins required for efficient DNA synthesis. One such protein, replication protein C (RP-C), was shown to be involved with SV40 large T antigen in the early stages of viral DNA replication in vitro. We demonstrate here that RP-C is identical to the catalytic subunit of cellular protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Ac). The purified protein dephosphorylates specific phosphoamino acid residues in T antigen, consistent with the hypothesis that SV40 DNA replication is regulated by modulating the phosphorylation state of the viral initiator protein. We also show that purified RP-C/PP2Ac preferentially stimulates SV40 DNA replication in extracts from early G1 phase cells. This finding suggests that the activity of a cellular factor that influences the net phosphorylation state of T antigen is cell cycle dependent.
Late Blight of Potato

History has recorded the great famines in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe during the 1840’s due to the failure, in part, of the potato crops. In Ireland, alone, during those years from 1845 to 1860, one million people died and one and one half million more emigrated.
Smoothing Ordered Categorical Data

All the examples described in Chapters 2 – 4 referred to continuous data and estimation of a smooth density function f. This is reasonable, since smoothness and continuity would seem to be naturally linked to each other.
Abstract P317: Nocturnal Blood Pressure Variability is associated with hs-CRP in Hypertensive Patients

Background: 24-hr Blood pressure (BP) variability and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) have been found to be independently associated with increased cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Studi...
Food Allergy: What It Is and What It Is Not?

Purpose of review Food allergy is defined as an adverse health effect arising from a specific immune response that occurs reproducibly on exposure to a given food. Food intolerance, certain gastrointestinal or systemic diseases are often confused with or mislabeled as food allergy because of symptomatic similarity and general improvement from food avoidance. The differences between these diseases are crucial. Recent findings Compared with many food-related diseases that are isolated to gastrointestinal organs, food allergy can affect not only local but the whole immune system and may lead to a life-threatening allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis. In this review, the differentiation between food allergy, food intolerance, and other comparable diseases is discussed. Summary With recent medical advances reflecting on the importance of accurate diagnosis in food hypersensitivity, healthcare providers who are treating food hypersensitivity should familiarize with latest science progress, identify and treat active disease, and refer to appropriate specialists if needed.
Managing dissolved methane gas in anaerobic effluents using microbial resource management-based strategies.

Abstract This study reports the findings of three independent microbial resource management-based strategies to manage dissolved methane (D-CH4) gas in anaerobic effluents. In the first approach, an aerobic methanotroph Methylococcus capsulatus was immobilized. A maximum of 1.75 kg COD m−3 d−1 at a hydraulic retention time of 0.5 h was recorded in the attached growth aerobic methane oxidizing reactor. In the second strategy, denitrifying methane oxidizing organisms (DAMO) were first enriched in a lab-scale batch reactor which enabled a maximum methane oxidation rate of 0.31 kg COD m−3 d−1. In the last strategy, a mixed community of aerobic ammonia oxidizers was immobilized on sponge carriers and used to convert the D-CH4 gas into useful biofuel methanol at a rate of 0.73 kg COD m−3 d−1 equivalent of COD with a methanol production of 31.5 g COD m−3 d−1. On a COD basis, the amount of methanol generated could denitrify nearly 7 mg L−1 of NO3-N.
Self-efficacy and response-efficacy: critical components of sexual and reproductive health interventions targeting condom use intention among American Indian adolescents

ABSTRACTThe Respecting the Circle of Life (RCL) intervention is a comprehensive, skills-based sexual/reproductive health program shown to be effective for reducing sexual risk among American Indian...