cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heavy Alcohol Use Among Deceased Donors Does Not Impact Recipient Outcomes After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND Data on liver transplant (LT) outcomes using deceased donors with heavy drinking (HD) (>2 drinks per day) are scanty. METHODS Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database (2002-2014), we examined outcomes after LT in adults comparing deceased HD donors with non-HD (ND) donors. RESULTS Of 56 182 first LTs performed in the United States for 10 common indications using deceased donors, 47 882 with available information on alcohol use were analyzed. Of these 47 882 LT recipients, 7298 (15%) were from HD donors, with similar proportion over time (2002-2014, Armitage trend test P = 0.75) and for recipient liver disease etiology (χ P = 0.42). Proportion of liver organ used for LT was lower for HD donors compared with ND donors (63% vs 78%; P < 0.001). Five-year outcomes on first LT comparing 7166 HD donors and 21 498 ND donors matched based on propensity score were similar for liver graft (73.7% vs 73.7%, log rank P = 0.98) and patient survival (77.6% vs 77.0%, P = 0.36). On Cox regression analysis, history of HD in deceased donors did not affect liver graft 1.02 (0.97-1.08) or patient survival 1.03 (0.97-1.09). CONCLUSIONS Among LT recipients using select liver grafts, history of HD in deceased donors does not impact outcomes after LT.
Thiazide Therapy in Chronic Kidney Disease: Renal and Extra Renal Targets.

Background Thiazides are the most commonly used medications for the treatment of mild and moderate hypertension. Despite their recognized effect, the mechanism by which thiazides reduce systemic blood pressure remains uncertain. The prevailing belief is that thiazides reduce blood pressure primarily via enhancement of salt excretion consequent to the inhibition of the Na-Cl Cotransporter (NCC) in the Distal Convoluted Tubules (DCT). However, recent reports point to a reduction in peripheral vascular resistance as a major mechanism of antihypertensive effect of thiazides. It is plausible that both mechanisms, renal and extra-renal, may be operating simultaneously. Recent studies point to compensatory mechanisms in the kidney distal nephron that may play a role in blunting the diuretic effect of thiazides. Not much information is available about the efficacy of thiazides in controlling blood pressure in individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Objective This review will discuss the latest updates on the use and efficacy of thiazides derivatives as diuretics and antihypertensive medications in CKD patients. Conclusion Thiazides remain effective as diuretics and antihypertensive agents in individuals with low GFR.
Increased severity of tuberculosis in Guinea pigs with type 2 diabetes: a model of diabetes-tuberculosis comorbidity.

Impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes were induced in guinea pigs to model the emerging comorbidity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in diabetic patients. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by low-dose streptozotocin in guinea pigs rendered glucose intolerant by first feeding a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet before M. tuberculosis exposure. M. tuberculosis infection of diabetic guinea pigs resulted in severe and rapidly progressive tuberculosis (TB) with a shortened survival interval, more severe pulmonary and extrapulmonary pathology, and a higher bacterial burden compared with glucose-intolerant and nondiabetic controls. Compared with nondiabetics, diabetic guinea pigs with TB had an exacerbated proinflammatory response with more severe granulocytic inflammation and higher gene expression for the cytokines/chemokines interferon-γ, IL-17A, IL-8, and IL-10 in the lung and for interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the spleen. TB disease progression in guinea pigs with impaired glucose tolerance was similar to that of nondiabetic controls in the early stages of infection but was more severe by day 90. The guinea pig model of type 2 diabetes–TB comorbidity mimics important features of the naturally occurring disease in humans. This model will be beneficial in understanding the complex pathogenesis of TB in diabetic patients and to test new strategies to improve TB and diabetes control when the two diseases occur together.
Eddy Current Analysis

Eddy current analysis is essential in determining the behavior of electric machines. In some classes of machinery, such as induction motors, eddy currents are responsible for producing the main torque. In other situations an analysis of eddy currents is necessary to find losses, resistance and reactance (see chapter 5). In machines in which eddy currents do not play an important role during normal operation, such as synchronous machines, eddy current analysis is still necessary to find stray losses. In abnormal operating modes, such as a synchronous machine running asynchronously or with unbalanced currents, eddy currents are of fundamental importance in determining the losses, forces and general behavior of the machine.
Physical Therapy for Female Pelvic Pain

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the role of physical therapy in the management of women with pelvic pain disorders. Pelvic pain is a costly, prevalent, yet poorly understood condition, found to disproportionately affect women 4:1 [1]. Annual healthcare costs in the US are estimated in excess of $880 million for physician visits alone, and nearly three billion when out-of pocket expenses and mental health visits are included [2]. Prevalence of pelvic pain is found to be similar to prevalence rates of asthma and low back pain [3], and the 3-month prevalence of chronic pelvic pain is estimated at 24% [4]. The majority of prevalence studies of pelvic pain have excluded women with vulvar pain disorders, as well as women who were pregnant or who had been pregnant within the past year. Therefore, the prevalence of all pelvic pain conditions is likely greater than that commonly cited in the literature. For example, an investigation by Harlow and Stewart identified a 16% lifetime prevalence of unexplained chronic vulvar pain, equating to approximately 14 million US women; a much higher prevalence than that found in earlier studies [5]. This high prevalence of female pelvic pain and the changing healthcare landscape are contributing to the now widely accepted and promoted concept of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to diagnosis and treatment that includes physicians of multiple specialties, physical therapists, and mental health professionals [6, 7].
Right Posterior Oblique Plane

The cadaver for the right posterior oblique sections was that of a 20-year-old white male who died as the result of a close-range shotgun wound to the head. There was extensive soft tissue maceration of the skull base and neck with transsection of major vessels (jugular and carotid).
Synthetic Pathway for the Production of Olivetolic Acid in Escherichia coli.

Type III polyketide synthases (PKS IIIs) contribute to the synthesis of many economically important natural products, most of which are currently produced by direct extraction from plants or through chemical synthesis. Olivetolic acid (OLA) is a plant secondary metabolite sourced from PKS III catalysis, which along with its prenylated derivatives has various pharmacological activities. To demonstrate the potential for microbial cell factories to circumvent limitations of plant extraction or chemical synthesis for OLA, here we utilize a synthetic approach to engineer Escherichia coli for the production of OLA. In vitro characterization of polyketide synthase and cyclase enzymes, OLA synthase and OLA cyclase, respectively, validated their requirement as enzymatic components of the OLA pathway and confirmed the ability for these eukaryotic enzymes to be functionally expressed in E. coli. This served as a platform for the combinatorial expression of these enzymes with auxiliary enzymes aimed at increasing the...
Factors facilitating infusion of technology into primary and secondary education

Despite recent advances in the power and availability of educational technologies, technology use in K-12 schools remains sporadic. This study used a survey, interviews, and document analysis to determine the most effective methods for facilitating the use of technology in K-12 schools in Alabama. Four of the most interesting descriptive results of the study are: 1. Few school-based technology coordinators have large percentages of time assigned to the position. 2. Most school-based technology coordinators received no formal training. 3. Technology coordinators are satisfied with the level of technology infusion in their schools and districts. 4. Lack of time combined with competing tasks was identified as the main challenge technology coordinators face. Analysis of variance was used to determine statistically significant differences between groups related to research questions. Five statistically significant differences are: 1. Level of satisfaction with technology infusion based on time to work with teachers. 2. Level of satisfaction with technology infusion and participation in the technology planning process. 3. Level of satisfaction with technology infusion and technology resources. 4. Level of satisfaction with technology infusion and commitment of school and district-level administrators. 5. Level of satisfaction with technology infusion based on school location (Urban, rural, suburban).
Short-Term Aggressive Disease Management Programs for Heart Failure

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in developed countries. It is estimated that about 15 million people worldwide die every year from heart disease, with a substantial proportion of these deaths occurring in developing nations. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition that develops as a late complication from a variety of heart disease states. CHF remains a devastating disease. It exacts a high toll in terms of mortality and morbidity and carries a high price burden. As the population ages and treatments for conditions such as acute coronary syndrome and hypertension improve, the prevalence of heart failure can be expected to increase, because survivors of hypertension and myocardial infarction live long enough to develop complications such as congestive heart failure. Recent advances have clearly shown that treatment strategies including ACE inhibitors, β-adrenoceptor antagonists, and aldosterone inhibitors improve morbidity and survival. However, even among patients treated with recommended therapy at recommended doses, mortality remains high. Opportunities exist for further improvement of prognosis beyond current guidelines for heart failure. As new evidence emerges, it is evident that survival can be further improved by using other strategies such as angiotensin receptor antagonists as alternative or add-on therapy and ventricular resynchronization for qualifying candidates. The management of heart failure patients in the community presents unique challenges. Patients who are managed in community hospitals are often elderly and/or very ill, with several comorbidities and clinical characteristics that may be different from patients who qualify for clinical trials. Furthermore, there appears to be a delay in incorporating scientific evidence into practice and studies continue to show that many heart failure patients do not receive recommended medications at adequate doses. Disease management programs have evolved as a way of improving heart failure care. Different models have been established and some institutions have published the results of their specific programs. The consistent findings include reductions in hospitalization rates, improvements in quality of life, and reductions in cost. However, to date, such studies have not compared different models and until large prospective trials are available, the true benefits of these programs will continue to be debated.
Renal failure, dialysis, and transplantation in older adults

The application of comorbidity scales and the determination of performance status will assist in the assignment of treatment options for end-stage renal disease patients. Age matching of donors and recipients for deceased donor kidney transplantation will balance equity and justice. Recipient surgery is determined by vascular and urinary tract anatomy and function. Immunosuppression is tailored to immunologic competence. Management of post-transplant urologic problems is straightforward. Elderly people should not be automatically disqualified as renal donors.
Certain aspects of drug distribution to brain.

The wall of the general capillary (tissues other than brain) is freely permeable to all small molecules but the brain capillary wall, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), is impermeable to many small molecules but permeable to certain others. The fundamental difference between these quite different capillary permeability characteristics is diagrammed in Fig. 1. In general capillaries, blood plasma solutes exchange with the more stationary pericapillary extracellular fluid (ECF) largely by diffusion through clefts between the cells making up the capillary wall. This exchange is, accordingly, via extracellular pathways.
Heterozygous mutations in p97 and resistance to p97 inhibitors

In recent years, multiple studies including ours have reported on the mechanism of resistance towards p97 inhibitors. While all these studies outline target alteration via mutations in p97 as the primary mechanism of resistance, discrepancies persist in the current literature due to the occurrence of both heterozygous and homozygous mutations when using HCT116 cells. Here, we report a pre-existing heterozygous frameshift mutation at codon 616 (N616fs*) in one of the p97 alleles in HCT116 cells and show that this mutant allele is subjected to nonsense-mediated decay. Furthermore, we independently generated p97 inhibitor (CB-5083) resistant HCT116 cells, and we observed a single heterozygous mutation at codon 526 (L526S) in genomic DNA sequencing but a homozygous L526S mutation in complementary DNA sequencing, indicating that the missense mutation (L526S) occurs in the allele that does not harbor the frameshift N616fs* mutation. Our results underscore the importance of performing simultaneous genomic and complementary DNA sequencing when confirming mutations in p97.
Implementing adaptive scaling and dynamic well-tie for quantitative 4-D seismic evaluation of a reservoir subjected to CO2 enhanced oil recovery and associated storage

Abstract History-matched simulation modeling can be used to estimate field dynamic reservoir properties and connectivity between wells. However, results are less accurate away from the well locations where the field data are obtained. 4-D seismic data can help improve the accuracy between wells and across the field. This study used data from an oil field undergoing active CO2 injection for enhanced oil recovery and associated CO2 storage. The change in seismic amplitude, changes in inverted P-wave velocity, and impedance in the reservoir layer are in turn correlated with the pore volume scaled changes in the dynamic reservoir properties at well locations. Impedance and velocity changes yielded the most robust correlations. The correlated linear relations at three injectors were used to invert for the pore volume scaled changes in saturations and pressure between wells and across the field. Validation at the producer yielded 69% accuracy. By tying the 4-D seismic with the reservoir properties at the injectors using repeat pulsed-neutron log data and the simulation models, a good level of confidence is established in the inverted pore volume scaled changes in the dynamic reservoir properties in the interwell spaces. The inverted reservoir properties can be used to further history-match the simulation model to improve the interwell prediction of the long-term fate of the associated CO2 storage.
Fluctuations in cell density alter protein markers of multiple cellular compartments, confounding experimental outcomes

The life cycle of cultured proliferating cells is characterized by fluctuations in cell population density induced by periodic subculturing. This leads to corresponding changes in micro- and macroenvironment of the cells, accompanied by altered cellular metabolism, growth rate and locomotion. Studying cell density-dependent morphological, physiological and biochemical fluctuations is relevant for understanding basic cellular mechanisms and for uncovering the intrinsic variation of commonly used tissue culture experimental models. Using multiple cell lines, we found that expression levels of the autophagic markers p62 and LC3II, and lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D were altered in highly confluent cells as a consequence of nutrient depletion and cell crowding, which led to inactivation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, both Lamp1 and active focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were reduced in high-density cells, while chemical inhibition or deletion of FAK led to alterations in lysosomal and autophagic proteins, as well as in the mTOR signaling. This was accompanied by alterations in the Hippo signaling pathway, while cell cycle checkpoint regulator p-cdc2 remained unaffected in at least one studied cell line. On the other hand, allometric scaling of cellular compartments in growing cell populations resulted in biochemically detectable changes in the plasma membrane proteins Na+K+-ATPase and cadherin, and nuclear proteins HDAC1 and Lamin B1. Finally, we demonstrate how treatment-induced changes in cell density and corresponding modulation of susceptible proteins may lead to ambiguous experimental outcomes, or erroneous interpretation of cell culture data. Together, our data emphasize the need to recognize cell density as an important experimental variable in order to improve scientific rigor of cell culture-based studies.
Comparison of Agricultural Impacts of Climate Change Calculated from High and Low Resolution Climate Change Scenarios: Part I. The Uncertainty Due to Spatial Scale

We investigated the effect of two different spatial scales of climate change scenarios on crop yields simulated by the EPIC crop model for corn, soybean, and wheat, in the central Great Plains of the United States. The effect of climate change alone was investigated in Part I. In Part II (Easterling et al., 2001) we considered the effects ofCO2 fertilization effects and adaptation in addition to climate change. The scenarios were formed from five years of control and 2 ×CO2 runs of a high resolution regional climate model (RegCM) and the same from an Australian coarse resolution general circulation model (GCM), which provided the initial and lateral boundary conditions for the regional model runs. We also investigated the effect of two different spatial resolutions of soil input parameters to the crop models. We found that for corn and soybean in the eastern part of the study area, significantly different mean yield changes were calculated depending on the scenario used. Changes in simulated dryland wheat yields in the western areas were very similar, regardless of the scale of the scenario. The spatial scale of soils had a strong effect on the spatial variance and pattern of yields across the study area, but less effect on the mean aggregated yields. We investigated what aspects of the differences in the scenarios were most important for explaining the different simulated yield responses. For instance, precipitation changes in June were most important for corn and soybean in the eastern CSIRO grid boxes. We establish the spatial scale of climate changescenarios as an important uncertainty for climate change impacts analysis.
Hypoglycemic symptoms in the absence of diabetes: Pilot evidence of clinical hypoglycemia in young women

Abstract Aims Clinical visits of non-diabetic patients reporting hypoglycemic symptoms are common in endocrinology practices, but remain understudied and lack clinical definition and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis or treatment. Our goal was to pilot test the concordance of hypoglycemic symptoms with low glucose values in young non-diabetic individuals. Methods We recruited eight individuals who reported regularly experiencing symptoms consistent with hypoglycemia to wear a blinded Dexcom continuous glucose monitor and report symptoms for seven days. We excluded individuals with diabetes or other known causes of hypoglycemia or similar symptoms. Results Participants were all women with an average age of 29 years. 25% were African American and 25% had obesity. All participants experienced glucose values ≤ 70 mg/dL and half (4/8) experienced glucose ≤ 54 mg/dL for at least 15 min or 3 consecutive readings. Average time between last meal and reported symptoms was 4.4 h. Lower glucose values were significantly associated with higher odds of experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms 1.15 (CI: 1.07–1.24) for every −5mg/dL, (p Conclusions Individuals with hypoglycemic symptoms in the absence of diabetes experience clinical hypoglycemia, indicating the need to understand the etiology, behavioral responses, and other health risks that might be associated with this understudied condition.
Abstract 2756: A high-resolution G-quadruplex structure involved in cmyc oncogene regulation

Gene expression needs strict regulation in human cells to prevent tumorigenesis. Among other control mechanisms, guanine-rich sequences which are clustered in promoter regions of oncogenes can form four stranded nucleic acid structures, called G-quadruplexes (G4), and regulate their transcription. The cmyc protein is the most important cellular regulator for proliferation and is often overexpressed in cancer cells. The DNA G-quadruplex formed in the cmyc promoter is a transcriptional silencer element and stabilization of this G4 by small molecules suppresses cmyc transcription, making it a promising target for cancer therapy. High-resolution structures of the highly diverse G4s provide the opportunity to understand their molecular interactions with transcription factors and to design small molecules that specifically bind a particular G4 conformer. Characteristically, multiple G4s can be formed in gene promoter regions because their G-rich sequence generally contains more than the minimum of four G-stretches. While all reported cmyc G4s share the same core with parallel oriented strands, their overall shape is individualized by distinct combinations of varying flanking and loop motifs. In this study, we present a new high-resolution NMR structure of a G4 found to form in the cmyc promoter region. The determined cmyc G4 has a 1:6:1 loop-size arrangement and its conformation is largely defined by its long central loop of 6 nt. We show that this G4 structure is the preferred target of nucleolin protein in comparison to other G4s formed in the cmyc promoter, demonstrating how the polymorphism of a G-rich sequence can modulate the interaction with transcription factors and other regulators. Our NMR structure shows that, despite the length of the 6-nt loop motif and the associated increased flexibility, the folding converges well due to a base pairing between the central loop and the 5’-flanking. Thus, the long loop is pulled towards the 5’-end while analogous loop-flanking interactions are prevented at the opposite 3’-site. In conclusion, the presented new addition to the ensemble of possible cmyc promoter G4 conformations extends the folding landscape for this promoter region, in particular due to the long central loop. This may shed light on how proteins such as nucleolin can target specific G4 and shift the equilibrium of folding to fine-tune gene expression. Finally, this new structure is another promising target for cancer drug development. Citation Format: Jonathan Dickerhoff, Luying Chen, Guanhui Wu, Buket Onel, Clement Lin, Danzhou Yang. A high-resolution G-quadruplex structure involved in cmyc oncogene regulation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2756.
Acquired haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to multiple myeloma

A 56-year-old man who initially presented with immunoglobulin G lambda solitary sacral plasmacytoma 1 year ago treated with radiation therapy was hospitalised with severe anaemia. Oesophagoduodenoscopy performed 2 months prior had shown non-bleeding gastric mucosal involvement by plasma cell
252 – Carboxypeptidase M

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the structural chemistry and the biological aspects of carboxypeptidase M. Carboxypeptidase M is activated by cobalt and inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline, DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid, guanidinoethylmercaptosuccinic acid and cadmium acetate, demonstrating that it is a metallopeptidase. It has a neutral pH optimum; however, at lower pH values, it can be more efficiently activated by cobalt. Carboxypeptidase M cleaves only C-terminal -fArg or -f Lys from a variety of synthetic and naturally occurring peptide substrates, such as bradykinin, Arg6- and Lys6-enkephalins, and dynorphin A1–13. The enzyme prefers C-terminal arginine over lysine and however the penultimate residue can also dramatically affect the rate of hydrolysis. Enzyme activity is routinely measured using Dns-Ala-fArg in a fluorometric assay. Carboxypeptidase M gives a single band of molecular mass 62 kDa showing that it is a single-chain protein. Carboxypeptidase M is a glycoprotein with 23% carbohydrate content by weight as determined by chemical deglycosylation, which reduced the molecular mass to 47.6 kDa. A carboxypeptidase M clone was isolated from a human placental cDNA library coding for a mature protein of 426 residues. The deduced sequence contains six potential glycosylation sites and a C-terminal hydrophobic sequence that acts as a signal for glycosylphosphatidylinositol attachment.
Upregulated functionality of mitochondria-associated ER membranes in a mouse model of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. A history of TBI can lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD) in a severity- and frequency-dependent manner. We have previously reported that early stages of AD are characterized by alterations in lipid metabolism due to upregulated functionality of mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAM domains of the ER), a cellular hub of lipid metabolic regulation. This can be caused by increased localization of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) C-terminal fragment of 99 a.a. (C99) at MAM, which can promote cellular cholesterol uptake and trafficking to the ER to stimulate MAM functionality. In this study, we recapitulate these phenotypes in the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of TBI in adult mice. Specifically, we observed increased phospholipid synthesis, sphingomyelinase activity and cholesterol esterification in the cortex and hippocampus 1, 3 and 7 days after injury. These responses were predominant in microglia, and coincided with increased levels of MAM-localized C99. Altogether, we propose that upregulation of MAM functionality could contribute, in part, to the epidemiological connection between TBI and AD.
Stress Signal Regulation by Na/K-ATPase As a New Approach to Promote Physiological Revascularization in a Mouse Model of Ischemic Retinopathy

Purpose The identification of target pathways to block excessive angiogenesis while simultaneously restoring physiological vasculature is an unmet goal in the therapeutic management of ischemic retinopathies. pNaKtide, a cell-permeable peptide that we have designed by mapping the site of α1 Na/K-ATPase (NKA)/Src binding, blocks the formation of α1 NKA/Src/reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification loops and restores physiological ROS signaling in a number of oxidative disease models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of the NKA/Src/ROS amplification loop and the effect of pNaKtide in experimental ischemic retinopathy. Methods Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) and retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells were used to evaluate the effect of pNaKtide on viability, proliferation, and angiogenesis. Retinal toxicity and distribution were assessed in those cells and in the mouse. Subsequently, the role and molecular mechanism of NKA/Src in ROS stress signaling were evaluated biochemically in the retinas of mice exposed to the well-established protocol of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). Finally, pNaKtide efficacy was assessed in this model. Results The results suggest a key role of α1 NKA in the regulation of ROS stress and the Nrf2 pathway in mouse OIR retinas. Inhibition of α1 NKA/Src by pNaKtide reduced pathologic ROS signaling and restored normal expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Unlike anti-VEGF agents, pNaKtide did promote retinal revascularization while inhibiting neovascularization and inflammation. Conclusions Targeting α1 NKA represents a novel strategy to develop therapeutics that not only inhibit neovascularization but also promote physiological revascularization in ischemic eye diseases.
Abduction: A Pre-Condition for Intelligent Design in Strategy

Strategists can gain a lot from knowing how to use abduction well. Abduction is making inferences to the best explanation from information that is surprising or anomalous - both very typical in strategic decision making. Abduction is a process frequently integral to problem defining. Problem defining, in turn, sets the stage for possibility thinking, and choice of the best alternative. Therefore, good abductive thinking is a pre-condition for intelligent designing in strategy.
Tangled Incentives: Proportionality and the Market for Reputation Harm

Excessive litigation confidentiality and disproportionate discovery are symbiotic problems. Indeed, when a litigant uses discovery to obtain damaging information about an opposing party, the party will often pay money to avoid public disclosure through a confidentiality agreement. As a result, litigants have significant financial incentives to seek damaging information through discovery, whether it is connected to the case or not. Nevertheless, policy makers largely approach discovery proportionality and confidentiality as unrelated problems. Take, for example, the recent proportionality amendment to Rule 26 limiting the scope of discovery, or “sunshine” statutes aimed at reducing litigation confidentiality for the sake of public safety. The reforms ignore one another and the tangled incentives that connect both problems. This Article is the first to address the confidentiality-discovery incentive relationship in the post-proportionality-amendment era. It contends that making private confidentiality agreements illegal, at both the pretrial and settlement stages, would reduce incentives to seek low-merits-value discovery.
Lockout: Sparse Regularization of Neural Networks.

Many regression and classification procedures fit a parameterized function $f(x;w)$ of predictor variables $x$ to data $\{x_{i},y_{i}\}_1^N$ based on some loss criterion $L(y,f)$. Often, regularization is applied to improve accuracy by placing a constraint $P(w)\leq t$ on the values of the parameters $w$. Although efficient methods exist for finding solutions to these constrained optimization problems for all values of $t\geq0$ in the special case when $f$ is a linear function, none are available when $f$ is non-linear (e.g. Neural Networks). Here we present a fast algorithm that provides all such solutions for any differentiable function $f$ and loss $L$, and any constraint $P$ that is an increasing monotone function of the absolute value of each parameter. Applications involving sparsity inducing regularization of arbitrary Neural Networks are discussed. Empirical results indicate that these sparse solutions are usually superior to their dense counterparts in both accuracy and interpretability. This improvement in accuracy can often make Neural Networks competitive with, and sometimes superior to, state-of-the-art methods in the analysis of tabular data.
Deconstructing the Role of Adult Facilitators in Research Led by Young People

Academia and practice have increased their investment in young peoples’ participation. One key approach has been the shift from extracting data from young people to engaging them as researchers. Drawing on 2 case studies with young Syrian refugees and Bangladeshi young people, this paper critically reflects on the tensions between participation, power, and ethics whilst engaging young people as lead researchers. There are dual objectives to young people-led research: (a) the empowerment of young people as investigators and (b) the study of issues important to young people. If not clearly established from the outset, these objectives may be in conflict. In such projects, the process and methodology work to achieve the aims of the study and young people’s participation. The achievement of both objectives of young people-led research is partially dependent on adult facilitators’ support of the research process. This article explores the role of adult professionals towards achieving the goals of rigorous research and young people’s participation. These tensions commonly surface in research with young people and should be addressed by employing sensitive approaches that recognise young people as competent social actors with the ability to engage in research whilst taking into consideration relevant adult engagement and support.
The Legislation for Biodiversity Conservation in China

Biodiversity conservation depends on a sound legislation in both international and national levels.China has promulgated a series of laws and regulations concerning biodiversity conservation,especially for protection of wild animals and other natural resources.As the enforcement of the statutes,a great progress for in-situ and ex-situ biodiversity conservation has been achieved.But some gaps for the legislation are still existed.Based on the present status of conservation legislation in China and in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity,an attention for the legislation should be paid to conservation of genetic resources,wild plant species and various natural ecosystems.
Religious Conversion and Daʿwa Secularism: Two Practices of Citizenship in Lebanon

Religious Conversion and Daʿwa Secularism Two Practices of Citizenship in Lebanon MAYA M I K D A S H I T his dissertation is an ethnography that focuses on competing discourses and practices of secularity in contemporary Lebanon. It is situated at the intersections of legal anthropology, theories of secularism and religion, and interdisciplinary studies of the state and sexual/gendered citizenship. I focus on two phenomena.One is theLebanese state’s regulationof religious conversion, apractice the state and its courts consider proof of their secularity. The state actively protects the rights of citizens to change their religions or their sects, often to the consternation of religious leaders and personal status courts. The second phenomenon is a broad youth-led social movement calling for a sixteenth secular personal status law, an addition thatwould effectively produce a secular sectwithpolitical, legal, and sexual rights that are different from other sectarian communities. This social movement considers secularism to have its own “culture,” one that promotes religious and cultural tolerance, women’s rights, economic independence, gay rights, and free speech. The advocates believe that a cultural revolutionmust take place in Lebanon before political sectarianism as a system of rule is ended, and they strive to saturate the public sphere with expressions of this culture. They seek to shift the moral and cultural landscape of the Lebanese public sphere—and the political and affective sensibilities of their cocitizens—toward secular attachments and ways of life. I conceptualize this as a form of secular daʿwa or proselytizing secularism. Bringing ethnography, court records, and research in personal status and civil courts together, I suggest that both secularism as a political/legal space and secularity as embodied practice are constructed not only through the regulation of religious or JMEWS • Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies • 11:2 • July 2015 DOI 10.1215/15525864-2886694 • © 2015 by the Association for Middle East Women’s Studies 254 sectarian difference but also through sexual difference. In Lebanon this regulation of sexual difference often travels through discourses of pluralism, diversity, and tolerance in ways that mirror discourses on sectarianism and secularism more broadly. MAYA MIKDASHI is an Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at Rutgers University. She received her PhD in anthropology from Columbia University in 2014. She codirected the documentary film About Baghdad and is a founding editor of the Jadaliyya Ezine. Contact: maya.mikdashi@rutgers.edu. M IK D A SH I • R el ig io us C on ve rs io n an d D a w a Se cu la ri sm • D is se rt at io n A bs tr ac t
History and Prospects for First-Order Automated Deduction

On the fiftieth anniversary of the appearance of Robinson’s resolution paper [57], it is appropriate to consider the history and status of theorem proving, as well as its possible future directions. Here we discuss the history of first-order theorem proving both before and after 1965, with some personal reflections. We then generalize model-based reasoning to first-order provers, and discuss what it means for a prover to be goal sensitive. We also present a way to analyze asymptotically the size of the search space of a first-order prover in terms of the size of a minimal unsatisfiable set of ground instances of a set of first-order clauses.
Efficient Complete Local Tests for Conjunctive Query Constraints with Negation

We consider the problem of incrementally checking global integrity constraints without using all the relations under constraint. In many application areas such as collaborative design, mobile computing and enterprise information systems, total data availability cannot be assumed. Even if all base data is available, some of it may incur such a high cost that its use should only be considered as a last resort. Without looking at all the base data, how can one meaningfully check a constraint for violation? When the constraint is known to be satisfied prior to the update, the state of the relations that are available (aka local) can in principle be used to infer something about the relations that are not available (aka remote). This observation is the basis for the existence of tests that guarantee that data integrity is preserved under a given update, without looking at all the base data.
Combined endovascular and neurosurgical approach to the removal of an intraaortic pedicle screw: Technical note

Iatrogenic aortic injuries are a potentially devastating complication of spine surgery. In instrumented cases, injuries may occur in the perioperative period due to iatrogenic vessel injury, or they may occur years later as prominent implants erode or penetrate major vessels. The authors present a case of a 71-year-old man in whom a thoracic pedicle screw was found perforating the thoracic aorta during routine follow-up 6 months after surgery. Due to the risk of future complications, the screw was removed while simultaneously delivering an endovascular aortic stent to gain vascular control. Surgical considerations and potential technical limitations are discussed.
Two-Dimensional Irrotational Mixed Subsonic and Supersonic Flow of a Compressible Fluid and the Upper Critical Mach Number

The problem of flow of a compressible fluid past a body with subsonic flow at infinite is formulated by the hodograph method. The solution in the hodograph plane is first constructed about the origin by superposition of the particular integrals of the transformed equations of motion with a set of constants which would determine, in the limiting case, a known incompressible flow. This solution is then extended outside the circle of convergence by analytic continuation.
Tracers of Past Ocean Circulation

This chapter reviews the major geochemical methods used to reconstruct past ocean circulation. The carbon isotopic composition and trace metal concentrations in the calcite tests of benthic foraminifera are used to reconstruct the nutrient content of deep water masses. These water mass tracers reflect both biological cycling and physical circulation and mixing in the oceans. Conservative water mass tracers which reflect circulation and mixing alone are also discussed. These tracers include both the isotopic and chemical composition of the benthic foraminifera as well as information from sediment pore waters. Methods for inferring the rates of past ocean circulation are also examined, including radiocarbon, the accumulation of the decay products of uranium in sediments, and geostrophic shear estimates. Finally, the ocean circulation inferred for the Last Glacial Maximum based on these techniques is discussed.
Distributed filtering for discrete-time systems

The design of distributed filters for discrete-time systems is addressed. These filters are designed using independent local dynamical models. The decoupling is achieved through measurements of the interface variables. These independent filters are local information only and they are unbiased and stable. A sufficient condition for stability is given. >
Capacitive Transduction in Partially Disordered Systems: Application to LC-Based Biosensors

Capacitive transduction is investigated for use in a liquid crystal (LC) based sensors with potential applications to biological systems. The theory for tracking the average molecular orientation of a partially disordered liquid crystal film via capacitive transduction in an inhomogeneous, anisotropic media is presented. The sensitivity for the sensor at different alignment is discussed. Both the experimental and calculated values for fringing capacitance of a selected structure are presented.
In Search of Self Balancing the Good and the True

William James's views on self-seeking, truth, and reality suggest that apparently inconsistent models of self-knowledge acquisition can be reconciled by arguing that strategic "self-seeking, " or self-enhancement, relies on an accuracy-driven self-assessment of capabilities and limitations. This perspective holds promise for reconciling data that suggest that individuals do seek accurate information about the self but also hold biased beliefs about their abilities.
X-ray quantitative analysis of the phases developed upon air annealing of ZnSe, CdSe, and CdS semiconductors

The phases developed upon annealing of ZnSe, CdSe, and CdS semiconductors in air are investigated applying X-ray qualitative and quantitative phase analysis. The compositions of the thermally grown oxides over the 373–773 K temperature range are found to be ZnO and ZnSeO3 for ZnSe, CdSeO3 for CdSe and CdSO4 and Cd3O2SO4 for CdS. The percentage phase abundance of each phase is determined at each temperature applying a standardless method. At all temperatures, the oxides are predominantly ZnO with about 10% ZnSeO3 at 773 K in case of ZnSe and CdSO4 with about 9% Cd3O2SO4 at 773 K in case of CdS. The rate of oxidation with temperature is found to be nonlinear for the three chalcogenides. CdS is found to be more resistible for oxidation than CdSe and ZnSe. © 2002 International Centre for Diffraction Data. @DOI: 10.1154/1.1487862#
Diastereomeric Reissert Compounds of Isoquinoline and 6,7-Dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline in Stereoselective Synthesis‖

Chiral acid chlorides were reacted with isoquinoline and 6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline to form diastereomeric Reissert compounds 8−11 and 18−21, respectively. The best diastereoselectivity ...
Functional Contextualism in Instructional Design and Research: Introduction to the Special Forum

In February of each year, the Research section of Educational Technology Research and Development conducts a competition for the Young Scholar Award. The award recipient is invited, based on blind peer reviews, to further refine the paper for eventual publication in ETR&D. This issue includes the paper entitled, “Constructing a Pragmatic Science of Learning and Instruction with Functional Contextualism,” written by Eric Fox, the 2004 Young Scholar recipient. When Fox’s manuscript was originally reviewed, its contents evoked strong and diverse reactions by the referees regarding the implications for research and practice in instructional design. Accordingly, I decided to solicit additional formal reactions from several leading researchers and theorists in the field. Those contributing were Michael Hannafin, David Jonassen, William Winn, and Charles Reigeluth. Their critiques, along with a concluding rejoinder by Fox, also appear in this issue. I believe that most readers will find the dialogue and debate to be both scholarly and provocative.
A case-control study of persons with elevated blood levels of dieldrin

Twenty-seven pesticide workers with elevated blood levels of dieldrin (⩾15 ppb) were involved in a case-control study which included history and physical examination, comprehensive neurological evaluation, laboratory tests, and psychological and psychomotor testing. No clinically important differences were found on history, physical, specialized neurological tests, or laboratory examination. The exposed group showed a statistically significant difference in five out of 58 psychological (P) and psychomotor (PM) tests—at least three would be expected by chance (p⩽ .05). In only one of these tests was there any significant correlation with dieldrin levels. Even though the exposed group had worse scores than the control group in 47 of 58 P-PM tests, such scores were, with a few exceptions, in the normal range of values. Elevated blood levels of dieldrin encountered in this study do not appear to have any chronic deleterious effects on health, as measured by conventional medical work-up and extensive central nervous system testing.
Correlating the effects of flow and telepresence in virtual worlds: Enhancing our understanding of user behavior in game-based learning

Recent research on online learning suggests that virtual worlds are becoming an important environment to observe the experience of flow. From these simulated spaces, researchers may gather a deeper understanding of cognition in the context of game-based learning. Csikszentmihalyi (1997) describes flow as a feeling of increased psychological immersion and energized focus, with outcomes that evoke disregard for external pressures and the loss of time consciousness, issuing in a sense of pleasure. Past studies suggest that flow is encountered in an array of activities and places, including those in virtual worlds. The authors' posit that flow in virtual worlds, such as Second Life (SL), can be positively associated with degrees of the cognitive phenomenon of immersion and telepresence. Flow may also contribute to a better attitude and behavior during virtual game-based learning. This study tested three hypotheses related to flow and telepresence, using SL. Findings suggest that both flow and telepresence are experienced in SL and that there is a significant correlation between them. These findings shed light on the complex interrelationships and interactions that lead to flow experience in virtual gameplay and learning, while engendering hope that learners, who experience flow, may acquire an improved attitude of learning online.
Effects of Pressure and Temperature on the Dynamics of Liquid tert-Butyl Alcohol

The solution structure of tert-butyl alcohol was investigated as a function of pressure and temperature using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Simulations of the solut...