cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Public and Peace: The Consequences for Citizenship of the Democratic Peace Literature

As policymakers are increasingly tempted to act on the apparent pacifying virtues of democratization, some scholars struggle to give them reliable reasons for why it occurs while others warn of the dangers of acting on empirical regularities whose nature and cause are not fully understood. This essay undertakes a review of the democratic peace literature in order to document its largely implicit, but sometimes explicit, conceptualizations of the role of democratic citizens in achieving or frustrating the democratic peace. Because citizenship is a distinctive and defining characteristic of democracy, it may well, and perhaps ought to, be the main source of explanation for the democratic peace. The essay begins by showing that the Enlightenment social contract tradition (for example, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Kant) is oriented toward the achievement of domestic and international peace and that the parties to the contract—the citizens—are responsible for desiring, achieving, and maintaining peace. The essay then proceeds to categorize and review the democratic peace literature according to the degree of support found for this proposition and the role of citizens in achieving or obstructing peace.
Two Models for Optimal Allocation of Aircraft Sorties

This paper presents two models for allocating general-purpose aircraft to missions in a multiperiod war. The models are two-person, zero-sum, sequential games with simultaneous moves each period. Ground forces as well as air forces are included. Three measures of effectiveness are available. The paper treats both a game allowing nonadaptive strategies and a game allowing behavioral strategies. It is shown that the latter game is equivalent to a game allowing the larger class of adaptive strategies.
Can breathing-like pressure oscillations reverse or prevent narrowing of small intact airways?

Periodic length fluctuations of airway smooth muscle during breathing are thought to modulate airway responsiveness in vivo. Recent animal and human intact airway studies have shown that pressure fluctuations simulating breathing can only marginally reverse airway narrowing and are ineffective at protecting against future narrowing. However, these previous studies were performed on relatively large (>5 mm diameter) airways, which are inherently stiffer than smaller airways for which a preponderance of airway constriction in asthma likely occurs. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of breathing-like transmural pressure oscillations to reverse induced narrowing and/or protect against future narrowing of smaller, more compliant intact airways. We constricted smaller (luminal diameter = 2.92 ± 0.29 mm) intact airway segments twice with ACh (10−6 M), once while applying tidal-like pressure oscillations (5–15 cmH2O) before, during, and after inducing constriction (Pre + Post) and again while only imposing the tidal-like pressure oscillation after induced constriction (Post Only). Smaller airways were 128% more compliant than previously studied larger airways. This increased compliance translated into 196% more strain and 76% greater recovery (41 vs. 23%) because of tidal-like pressure oscillations. Larger pressure oscillations (5–25 cmH2O) caused more recovery (77.5 ± 16.5%). However, pressure oscillations applied before and during constriction resulted in the same steady-state diameter as when pressure oscillations were only applied after constriction. These data show that reduced straining of the airways before a challenge likely does not contribute to the emergence of airway hyperreactivity observed in asthma but may serve to sustain a given level of constriction.
Does Active Learning Work? A Review of the Research

This study examines the evidence for the effectiveness of active learning. It defines the common forms of active learning most relevant for engineering faculty and critically examines the core element of each method. It is found that there is broad but uneven support for the core elements of active, collaborative, cooperative and problem-based learning.
City size distributions and spatial economic change.

The concept of the city size distribution is criticized for its lack of consideration of the effects of interurban interdependencies on the growth of cities. Theoretical justifications for the rank-size relationship have the same shortcomings, and an empirical study reveals that there is little correlation between deviations from rank-size distributions and national economic and social characteristics. Thus arguments suggesting a close correspondence between city size distributions and the level of development of a country, irrespective of intranational variations in city location and socioeconomic characteristics, seem to have little foundation.
Effects of smoking cessation on pain in older adults.

Introduction: Smokers are at increased risk of developing chronic pain and suffering higher pain intensity. However, nicotine has analgesic properties, and smokers may view smoking as a means to cope with pain. Smoking cessation is clearly beneficial to the long-term health of smokers. However, it is not known how abstinence from smoking affects pain. The aim of this study was to determine the association between smoking cessation and changes in pain symptoms by secondary analysis of a large longitudinal dataset of older adults.
Clinical Outcomes of Multiple Myeloma Patients with TP53 Gene Deletion after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: The MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience

Follicular (n [ 13) 52 yrs (29-63) 1 (0-4) 5 CR, 5 PR, 3 SD 4 (2-8) / 3/13 (23%) 3 MA 10 NMA 3-yr: 62% Diffuse large cell (n [ 13) 53 yrs (35-64) 2 (0-6) 8 CR, 4 PR, 1 SD 4 (1-7) / 3/13 (23%) 4 MA 9 NMA 3-yr: 23% Mantle cell (n [ 5) 57 yrs (37-71) 2 (1-6) 5 CR 3 (2-4) / 4/5 (80%) 5 NMA 2 disease-free (29-70 months) Hodgkins (n [ 15) 35 yrs (20-50) 3 (0-5) 10 CR, 3 PR, 1 SD, 1 PD 4 (2-13) / 12/15 (80%) 8 MA 7 NMA 3-yr: 47% T-cell rich B-cell NHL (n [ 1) 38 yrs 2 PR 7 / No auto 1 MA Died at 1.5 months Abstracts / Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 21 (2015) S79eS107 S85
Changes of Maternal Transcripts in Oocytes From Persistent Follicles in Cattle

A high incidence of early embryonic loss is associated with prolonged dominance of follicles. The objective of the present experiment was to determine if persistence of a follicle resulted in alterations in mRNA expression of important genes in the oocyte. Cows were assigned to four groups: growing follicles on day 6 (G0h) or day 8 (G48h) and persistent follicles on day 13 (P0h) or day 15 (P48h) of the estrous cycle (estrus = day 0). All cows were super-stimulated on day 1-4. Cows in G48h, P0h, and P48h groups received 25 mg prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha on day 6. Cows in P0h and P48h groups received progesterone from CIDR-B devices on day 5 through 13. Ovaries of cows in G0h, G48h, P0h, and P48h groups were removed on day 6, 8, 13, and 15, respectively. Oocytes were aspirated immediately after colpotomy and denuded of cumulus cells. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA abundances of 10 selected genes important for early embryogenesis in oocytes obtained from growing and persistent follicles. Relative abundances of MSY2, PARN, and YY1 mRNA (P < 0.05) were significantly lower in oocytes from persistent than from growing follicles. Oocytes from persistent follicles, however, had greater abundances of PAP and eIF-4E transcripts (P < 0.05). The data indicate that persistence of a follicle leads to altered abundances of mRNA for genes important for regulation of transcription and protein translation in the oocyte, which could compromise development of early embryos in cows that ovulate a persistent follicle.
Structural Studies of a Potent Insect Maturation Inhibitor Bound to the Juvenile Hormone Esterase of Manduca sexta

Juvenile hormone (JH) is an insect hormone containing an R,‚-unsaturated ester consisting of a small alcohol and long, hydrophobic acid. JH degradation is required for proper insect development. One pathway of this degradation is through juvenile hormone esterase (JHE), which cleaves the JH ester bond to produce methanol and JH acid. JHE is a member of the functionally divergent R/‚-hydrolase family of enzymes and is a highly efficient enzyme that cleaves JH at very low in vivo concentrations. We present here a 2.7 A crystal structure of JHE from the tobacco hornwormManduca sexta (MsJHE) in complex with the transition state analogue inhibitor 3-octylthio-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-one (OTFP) covalently bound to the active site. This crystal structure, the first JHE structure reported, contains a long, hydrophobic binding pocket with the solvent-inaccessible catalytic triad located at the end. The structure explains many of the interactions observed between JHE and its substrates and inhibitors, such as the preference for small alcohol groups and long hydrophobic backbones. The most potent JHE inhibitors identified to date contain a trifluoromethyl ketone (TFK) moiety and have a sulfur atom ‚ to the ketone. In this study, sulfur-aromatic interactions were observed between the sulfur atom of OTFP and a conserved aromatic residue in the crystal structure. Mutational analysis supported the hypothesis that these interactions contribute to the potency of sulfur-containing TFK inhibitors. Together, these results clarify the binding mechanism of JHE inhibitors and provide useful observations for the development of additional enzyme inhibitors for a variety of enzymes.
Seprafilm (modified hyaluronic acid and carboxymethylcellulose) acts as a physical barrier

Abstract Objective To characterize the molecular changes that occur in normal fibroblasts, adhesion fibroblasts, and mesothelial cells as a result of exposure to modified hyaluronic acid and carboxymethylcellulose (Seprafilm). Setting University research laboratory. Design Human mesothelial and fibroblast cell culture. Main outcome measure(s) Multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to examine control and Seprafilm-treated normal peritoneal fibroblasts, adhesion fibroblasts, and mesothelial cells in culture for levels of messenger RNA from molecules known to be associated with adhesion development (transforming growth factor-β1, type I collagen, matrix metalloproteinase-1, matrix metalloproteinase-2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and tissue plasminogen activator). Result(s) Seprafilm treatment of normal peritoneal fibroblasts, adhesion fibroblasts and mesothelial cells did not alter the expression of markers examined. Conclusion(s) In the absence of a biological effect of Seprafilm on markers known to be involved in postoperative adhesion development, the ability of Seprafilm to reduce postoperative adhesions is most likely caused by its effect as a physical barrier.
Interaction between discrete and rhythmic movements: reaction time and phase of discrete movement initiation during oscillatory movements.

This study investigates a task in which discrete and rhythmic movements are combined in a single-joint elbow rotation. Previous studies reported a tendency for the EMG burst associated with the discrete movement to occur around the expected burst associated with the rhythmic movement (e.g., [Exp. Brain Res. 99 (1994) 325; J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 40 (1977) 1129; Hum. Mov. Sci. 19 (2000) 627]). We document this interaction between discrete and rhythmic movements in different task variations and suggest a model consisting of rhythmic and discrete pattern generators that reproduces the major results. In the experiment, subjects performed single-joint elbow oscillatory movements (2 Hz). Upon a signal, they initiated a movement that consisted of a shift in the midpoint of the oscillation (MID), a shift in the amplitude of the oscillation (AMP), or a combination of both (MID + AMP). These shifting movements were performed either in a reaction time or in a self-paced fashion. The tendency for the EMG bursts associated with the discrete and rhythmic movements to synchronize was found similarly in all three tasks and instruction conditions, but the synchronization was most pronounced in the self-initiated discrete movement. Reaction time was increased for the combined task (MID + AMP), indicating higher control demands due to a combination of discrete and rhythmic components. This EMG burst synchronization was reproduced in a model based on a half-center oscillator with activation signals that produce either rhythmic or discrete activity. This activity was interpreted as torques driving a simple limb model. Summation of discrete and rhythmic activation signals of the pattern generators was sufficient to simulate the EMG burst synchronization. Further, simulation data reproduced the modulation of the reaction time as a function of the phase of the discrete movement.
Symposium 3: Function and Pathogenesis in Parkinson’s Disease

A dramatic paradigm shift in understanding Parkinson's disease (PD) has emerged with implications for Alzheimer's disease (AD) because: (1) Mutations in the alpha-synuclein (AS) gene cause familial PD, (2) Antibodies to AS detect Lewy bodies (LBs) and dystrophic Lewy neurites in PD, dementia with LBs (DLB), sporadic AD and the LB variant of AD (LBVAD), (3) Insoluble AS filaments are recovered from DLB brains and purified LBs, (4) Recombinant AS assembles into LB-like filaments and residues 71–82 are essential for filament assembly, (5) AS transgenic mice and flies develop a PD-like phenotype, (6) Cortical LBs detected with antibodies to AS correlate with dementia in PD, DLB and LBVAD, (7) Antibodies to AS detect LBs in 50% of familial AD, sporadic AD and Down's syndrome brains, (8) AS forms glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) in multiple system atrophy, (9) Epitopes throughout AS in LBs and GCIs, (10) Filamentous AS aggregates in LBs, GCIs and related lesions contain nitrated tyrosines, (11) Cells transfected with AS and treated with nitric oxide generators develop LB-like AS inclusions, (12) Bigenic mice overexpressing mutant human APP and AS show an augmentation in AS inclusions. Thus, neurodegenerative diseases characterized by AS pathologies are synucleinopathies, and the filamentous AS lesions in these disorders may result in part from oxidative/nitrative damage to AS. Abnormal interactions of brain proteins may underlie synucleinopathies and other neurodegenerative disorders. Acknowledgements: Supported by NIA/NIH and Alzheimer's Association.
Nonlinear Oscillations in an Electron Plasma

Consider the simple longitudinal oscillations of the electron in a plasma: plasma oscillations, which can be modelled by a one-dimensional cold plasma (since \( \omega /k \gg {V_{{{T_{e}}}}},{\text{ }}{V_{{{T_{e}}}}} \) being the thermal speed of the electrons) in the fluid approximation. For the high-frequency plasma waves, the ions can be assumed to be immobile and to provide a uniform background of positive charge. The one-dimensional electrostatic motions of the electrons are then governed by the following equations $$ \frac{{\partial n}}{{\partial t}} + \frac{\partial }{{\partial x}}\left( {nv} \right) = 0 $$ (1) $$ \frac{{\partial V}}{{\partial t}} + V\frac{{\partial V}}{{\partial x}} = - \frac{e}{m}E $$ (2) $$ \frac{{\partial E}}{{\partial x}} = - 4\pi e(n - {N_0}) $$ (3) $$ \frac{{\partial E}}{{\partial t}} - 4\pi env = 0 $$ (4) where V is the plasma velocity in the x-direction, E is the electrostatic field, n is the number density of the electrons, N0 is the unperturbed value of n, and all other quantities have their usual meaning.
Capital Surges and Credit Booms: How Tight is the Relationship?

It has been frequently argued that surges in capital inflows are a major cause of credit booms and banking crises in emerging market economies. This view suggests that there is little role that can be played by domestic policy to break this linkage. This need not be the case. We show that the linkage between surges and booms is not as strong as is often assumed. One problem with most previous studies is that a wide range of measures for both surges and booms has been used with little checking of the robustness of results. We deal with this issue by replicating 14 different measures of capital surges (gross and net) and 5 credit boom proxies from the literature on a sample of 46 countries from 1981–2010. A second difficulty is that some previous studies have not distinguished between the proportions of surges followed by booms and booms preceded by surges. We found substantial differences between these two relationships. While there is a good deal of variation in the individual correlations the vast majority of the calculated probabilities of a surge being followed by a credit boom fall within the range of 4 % to 13 %. Although the proportion of credit booms preceded by surges is higher, the correlations for both directions are much lower than are frequently assumed. While the probabilities of a surge being followed by a credit boom generally increased from the 1980s to the 1990s they fell again in the 2000s, suggesting the possibility that authorities have become better at limiting the adverse effects of surges on domestic credit growth.
The Pipeline program at West VIrginia University School of Dentistry.

This chapter presents an overview of the Pipeline, Profession, and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education program as it was conducted at West Virginia University School of Dentistry from 2002 to 2007. Pipeline programs, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The California Endowment
Investigating an Intrusion Prevention System for Brain-Computer Interfaces

Neurosecurity focuses on the security of the increasingly intimate coupling of human brains and computers, addressing issues surrounding modern computer security and how they relate to brain- computer interfaces (BCIs). Although several elements of this field are not yet relevant in today’s society, the goal is to examine what can be done to avoid the post-patch-just-in-time security solution seen in today’s computer architectures and networks. Modern computer security has been the unfortunate result of afterthought; patched on out of necessity, often just-in-time at best.
How to Decrease the Amortization Bias: Experience vs. Rules

We conduct an experimental study that tests the effectiveness of de-biasing a certain form of exponential growth bias found in household finance debt decisions, called the amortization bias. We provide 251 bachelor students at a German university with a short tutorial based on one of three learning methods: experiential learning, learning a simple “I Owe More” debt rule-of-thumb, as well as learning an extended, but more accurate version of the “I Owe More” debt rule. Immediately after completing these tutorials, we retest for the amortization bias and find a significant bias improvement in all three treatments. More importantly, after confronting the same participants with similar debt scenarios approximately three weeks later, we find that those who had previously received a debt tutorial maintain a significantly larger bias improvement over the control group. However, during this short period, most of the individuals who learned the simple and complex rules-of-thumb could no longer apply the rule and reverted back to their biased answers, while the experiential learning group best retained their improvement in bias. We find evidence in this experiment that experience-based learning may be better suited to produce long-lasting improvements for attenuating the amortization bias.
Health effects and biological monitoring results of Gulf War veterans exposed to depleted uranium.

A small group of Gulf War veterans have retained fragments of depleted uranium (DU) shrapnel, the long-term health consequences of which are undetermined. We evaluated the clinical health effects of DU exposure in Gulf War veterans compared with nonexposed Gulf War veterans. History and follow-up medical examinations were performed on 29 exposed veterans and 38 nonexposed veterans. Outcome measures used were urinary uranium determinations, clinical laboratory values, and psychiatric and neurocognitive assessment. Gulf War veterans with retained DU metal shrapnel fragments were found to be still excreting elevated levels of urinary uranium 7 years after first exposure to DU (range for exposed individuals is 0.01-30.7 μg/g creatinine vs. 0.01-0.05 μg/g creatinine in the nonexposed). The persistence of the elevated urine uranium suggests ongoing mobilization of uranium from a storage depot, resulting in chronic systemic exposure. Adverse effects in the kidney, a presumed target organ, were not seen at the time of the study; however, other subtle effects were observed in the reproductive and central nervous systems of the DU-exposed veterans.
Habituation of Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex to Repeated Emotionally Salient Pictures

Habituation of the neural response to repeated stimuli has been well demonstrated for subcortical limbic regions responding to emotionally salient stimuli. Although the rostral or affective division of the anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) is also engaged during emotional processing, little is known about the temporal dynamics of this region in sustained evaluation of emotional salience. Using a test/retest design, the present study assessed habituation in the human brain with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Eight healthy subjects were exposed to two repeated runs of aversive, neutral, and blank images. Activation of the rACC to negatively valenced pictures occurred only in the first session, and this activation was significantly greater in the first relative to the second session. Additionally, medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampal, and amygdalar activations were noted during the first, but not second, presentation of aversive pictures. These findings highlight the phasic activity of the rACC in emotional processing consistent with habituation.
Polymerization Of A Novel Liquid Crystalline Diacetylene Monomer

The polymerization of a liquid crystalline diacetylene monomer, 116 bis-[N-4-oxybenzylidene 4'-n-octylaniline) 2,4-hexadiyne, 1-0BOA, is reported both within the crystal and liquid crystal phases. The mono-mer exhibits smectic phase polymorphism at temperatures below the clearing temperature as shown by small angle X-ray scattering and optical microscopy. Polymerization kinetic results show first-order disappearance of monomer as seen by differential scanning calorimetr with a thermal activation energy of 31 kcal/mol. in the liquid crystal phase and ca. 71 kcal/mol. in the crystal phase. Poly(1-0BOA) exhibits a "soft" lamellar-like layer structure reminiscent of the monomer when polymerized within a low temerature liquid crystal phase. Consequently, the topochemicalpolymerization of diacetylene monomers within a liquid crystal phase top give ordered polymer structures is reported for the first time.
Academics and The Nursing Home

Several characteristics of the nursing home justify its new found status as an academic site, including a heterogenous patient population, a rich and varied milieu for teaching, opportunities for faculty development, and more importantly, the nursing home’s new found position in the health care continuum. Mandates from a number of professional and accrediting bodies pertaining to primary care training experiences further highlight the nursing home’s role in medical education. In addition to education, research in the nursing home has become increasingly recognized and valued. The incorporation of nursing facilities into the academic mainstream will impact positively not only on patient care and age-related clinical investigation but also on the breadth and quality of training for the primary care physician of the future.
Automated Generation of Finite-Element Meshes for Aircraft Conceptual Design

This paper presents a novel approach for automated generation of fully connected finite-element meshes for all internal structural components and skins of a given wing-body geometry model, controlled by a few conceptual-level structural layout parameters. Internal structural components include spars, ribs, frames, and bulkheads. Structural layout parameters include spar/rib locations in wing chordwise/spanwise direction and frame/bulkhead locations in longitudinal direction. A simple shell thickness optimization problem with two load conditions is used to verify versatility and robustness of the automated meshing process. The automation process is implemented in ModelCenter starting from an OpenVSP geometry and ending with a NASTRAN 200 solution. One subsonic configuration and one supersonic configuration are used for numerical verification. Two different structural layouts are constructed for each configuration and five finite-element meshes of different sizes are generated for each layout. The paper includes various comparisons of solutions of 20 thickness optimization problems, as well as discussions on how the optimal solutions are affected by the stress constraint bound and the initial guess of design variables.
Uric acid and neurocognitive function in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with chemotherapy only

Background: Hyperuricemia is implicated in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. This study evaluated associations between uric acid (UA), cardiovascular health and neurocognitive function in adolescent and adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with chemotherapy only. Methods: 126 adolescent (mean[SD] age 14.6[5.0]; 7.8[1.7] years post-diagnosis) and 226 adult survivors (age 25.4[4.2] years; 18.1[4.4] years post-diagnosis) completed comprehensive neurocognitive testing. Concurrent UA measurements were conducted for both groups. For adult survivors, cardiovascular risk factors were assessed; and UA measurements during adolescence (12.3[4.0] years before neurocognitive testing) were also collected. UA levels were categorized into quartiles for age- and gender-based ranking, and associations with neurocognitive outcomes were examined. Results: Survivors demonstrated worse attention, processing speed and executive functions than population norms (p's<0.05). Adolescent survivors with elevated UA had poorer attention (p=0.04), visual-processing speed (p=0.03) and cognitive flexibility (p=0.02). UA was not associated with neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors. Adult survivors developed dyslipidemia (46%), hypertension (32%) and abdominal obesity (26%), and high UA during adolescence was associated with these cardiovascular risk factors as adults (all p's<0.01). Fine-motor processing speed was slower in adult survivors with dyslipidemia (p=0.04) and abdominal obesity (p=0.04). Poorer attention was marginally associated with hypertension (p=0.06). Conclusions: Elevated UA is associated with neurocognitive performance in adolescent survivors. In adult survivors, relative elevation of UA during adolescence was predictive of cardiovascular health, which was associated with poorer neurocognitive outcomes. Impact: Future studies should evaluate the mediating role of chronic cardiovascular health conditions between elevated UA and subsequent neurocognitive impairment in survivors.
Idiom acquisition by second language learners: the influence of cross-linguistic similarity and context

ABSTRACTThis study of second language idiom acquisition investigates the interaction of two factors, the L1 effect and the effect of supportive context in the L2 input, when both are available to learners. An experiment consisting of a pretest, a computer-assisted instructional treatment session and a posttest employed three idiom types that differed in terms of shared similarities in first and second languages (Same L1–L2: identical linguistic form and figurative meaning; Different L1–L2: identical linguistic form but different figurative meaning and L2 Only: occurs only in L2), and three task types (a production, an interpretation and a meaning task). On the pretest, participants’ scores were the highest for Same L1–L2 type idioms in all tasks. On the posttest, participants’ scores were the highest for L2 Only type idioms in all tasks. The analysis of the posttest scores found significant main effects of idiom types and of tasks, indicating a strong treatment effect. This study’s findings suggest that t...
The contribution of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the bone metastasis of neuroblastoma

4788 Neuroblastoma is the second most common solid tumor in childhood and often metastasizes to the bone. Recently we have reported that human neuroblastoma cells recruit and activate osteoclasts to invade the bone (Sohara et al ., Cancer Research 63:3026-3031, 2003). The molecular mechanisms by which neuroblastoma cells activate osteoclasts are however poorly understood. In osteolytic lesions, tumor cells secrete a large variety of growth factors and cytokines that activate osteoclasts such as RANKL, TNF-α, M-CSF, IL-1 or IL-6 and PTHrP. We thus examined the expression of these proteins in several neuroblastoma cell lines by RT-PCR. To our surprise we found that most neuroblastoma cell lines that form osteolytic lesions in vivo failed to express these typical osteoclast stimulatory factors. Consistently, using an in vitro “pit assay” to measure osteoclast activation, we found no evidence that neuroblastoma cells can activate osteoclast precursor cells. However, when cultured in the presence of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC), neuroblastoma cells had a strong stimulatory activity on osteoclast maturation. This activity did not require direct contact between the neuroblastoma cells and the BM-MSC, and could be achieved in the presence of serum-free conditioned medium. We detected a marked increase in IL-6 expression (mRNA and protein level) in BM-MSC when they were co-cultured in the presence of human neuroblastoma cells or conditioned medium from these tumor cells. Using a function-blocking anti-human IL-6 antibody, we then obtained evidence that IL-6 expressed by BM-MSC, upon stimulation by neuroblastoma cells, was responsible for osteoclast activation. Thus the data provide evidence for a novel pathway for osteoclast activation in bone metastasis that requires the contribution of BM-MSC.
Wind Estimation in the Lower Atmosphere Using Multirotor Aircraft

AbstractUnmanned aerial vehicles are increasingly used to study atmospheric structure and dynamics. While much emphasis has been on the development of fixed-wing unmanned aircraft for atmospheric investigations, the use of multirotor aircraft is relatively unexplored, especially for capturing atmospheric winds. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the efficacy of estimating wind speed and direction with 1) a direct approach using a sonic anemometer mounted on top of a hexacopter and 2) an indirect approach using attitude data from a quadcopter. The data are collected by the multirotor aircraft hovering 10 m above ground adjacent to one or more sonic anemometers. Wind speed and direction show good agreement with sonic anemometer measurements in the initial experiments. Typical errors in wind speed and direction are smaller than 0.5 and 30°, respectively. Multirotor aircraft provide a promising alternative to traditional platforms for vertical profiling in the atmospheric boundary layer, especially...
Delivering Value Through Evidence-Based Practice

Abstract Unwanted variation in care is a challenge to high-quality care delivery in any healthcare system. Across the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) continuum, there is wide variation in care delivery for which best practices have demonstrated opportunities to minimize that variation through clinical standards (evidence-based pathways, protocols, and guidelines for care). A model of development of clinical standards is delineated and tools used in that process are described. Implementation strategies for improving utilization are also described with clinical decision support tools being a promising strategy for accelerating uptake of guidelines. Critical to implementing guidelines through improvement science strategies is the ability to make iterative improvements directed by data and analytics. The progression of sophistication in a system's informatics and analytics capabilities is driven by a maturity of data reporting to analytics that drives decision support for implementing clinical standards. Integration of financial data into the clinical standards processes and analytics platforms is necessary to determine value of the work. Within the EMSC continuum, a number of initiatives will drive national clinical standards activities and are fueled by current pockets of successful development and implementation activities within organizations and systems.
Adjusting for family size in the supplemental poverty measure

ABSTRACTWe point out an anomaly in the adjustment for family size in the US Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). The equivalence scale for the SPM implies an instance of increasing marginal costs for an additional adult. A similar criticism of the official US poverty measure was one of several concerns that led to the creation of the SPM. We propose two possible solutions for the problem and show that eliminating the anomaly from the SPM has the greatest effect on the poverty rate for the elderly, as that group is more concentrated near the poverty line.
Media and the Environment: Malaysian Press Coverage of the 1992 Earth Summit

This analysis of news reports during June 1992 when the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro was held reveals wide coverage of environmental issues in major newspapers. Many stories were published each day, but the news tended to be dominated by government officials and spokespersons. Although reports on environmental work by ordinary citizens were not uncommon, only a few stories concerned scientific experts or activists. Predictably, stories about the Rio meetings frequently concerned forestry management, but a range of other topics received attention also. One of the newspapers mounted its own environmental campaign to arouse readers' awareness of ecological problems. On the whole, the findings suggest that because government figures appear to overshadow all other parties as protectors of the environment in news reports, efforts to encourage individual action may be nullified. ABSTRAK Analisis laporan berita disepanjang bulan Jun 1992 semasa Persidangan Puncak Bumi diadakan di Rio de Janeiro menunjukkan liputan yang luas mengenai isu-isu alam sekitar oleh akhbar-akhbar utama. Banyak berita diterbitkan setiap hari, tetapi berita-berita ini mempunyai kecenderungan untuk memusat kepada pegawai-pegawai dan wakil-wakil kerajaan. Walaupun kerja-kerja berhubung dengan alam sekitar yang dilakukan oleh orang awam masih kedapatan, tetapi berita mengenai pakar sains dan aktivis adalah amat terhad. Seperti yang dijangka, berita mengenai perjumpaan di Rio sering menyentuh tentang pengurusan hutan, tetapi topik-topik lain juga mendapat perhatian. Sebuah daripada akhbar tersebut menganjurkan kempen alam sekitarnya sendiri untuk membangkitkan kesedaran pembaca tentang masalah ekologi. Secara keseluruhannya, penemuan-penemuan ini mencadangkan bahawa oleh kerana pegawai-pegawai kerajaan kelihatan seolah-olah mendahului kesemua kumpulan lain sebagai pelindung alam sekitar dalam laporan-laporan berita, maka usaha untuk menggalakkan tindakan individu mungkin tidak memberi apa-apa kesan.
Professor R.E. Kalman–Reflections on his way of thinking

Abstract Professor R. E. Kalman passed away on July 2, 2016. His remarkable impact on the field of system and control theory and wider domains of science and engineering is now enshrined in text books, archival scientific and engineering literature, and numerous products and achievements of modern technology. In this paper, I will share some thoughts on his way of thinking about research, science, and engineering.
Challenges in implementing and obtaining acceptance for J-Tpeak assessment as the clinical component of CiPA.

Abstract Introduction This paper is based on a presentation held at the Annual Safety Pharmacology Society meeting in September 2017, at which challenges for the clinical component of CiPA were presented. FDA has published an automated algorithm for measurement of the J-Tpeak interval on a median beat from a vector magnitude lead derived from a 12-lead ECG. CiPA proposes that J-Tpeak prolongation Methods We applied FDA's algorithm, complemented with iCOMPAS, to moxifloxacin and dolasetron data from the IQ-CSRC study with 9 subjects on active and 6 on placebo. The effect on QTcF and corrected J-Tpeak (J-Tpeak_c) was analyzed using concentration-effect modeling. Results There was a good correlation between QTcF and J-Tpeak_c prolongation after oral dosing of 400 mg moxifloxacin with placebo-adjusted, change-from-baseline (ΔΔ) J-Tpeak_c of ~12 ms at concentrations that caused ΔΔQTcF of ~20 ms. On dolasetron, J-Tpeak_c was highly variable, no prolongation was seen and an effect on ΔΔJ-Tpeak_c > 10 ms could be excluded across the observed plasma concentration range. Discussion In this limited analysis performed on the IQ-CSRC study waveforms using FDA's automated algorithm, J-Tpeak prolongation was observed on moxifloxacin, but not on dolasetron, despite clinical observations of proarrhythmias with both drugs. Challenges for the implementation of the J-Tpeak interval as a replacement or complement to the QTc interval, include to demonstrate that the proposed clinical algorithm using a J-Tpeak threshold of 10 ms, can be used to categorize drugs with a QT effect up to ~20 ms as having low pro-arrhythmic risk.
From Masturbation to Homosexuality: A Case of Displaced Moral Disapproval

I argue that the decline in moral disapproval of masturbation in the American religious culture over the last half-century is directly responsible for increased moral disapproval of homosexuality. Moral disapproval previously directed toward masturbators is being redirected instead toward homosexuals. Since masturbation has been practiced by the overwhelming majority of individuals who self-identify with the American religious culture, while homosexual acts have been engaged in by a significantly smaller number of individuals who self-identify with this culture, the displacement of moral disapproval from masturbatory behavior to homosexual behavior leads to the stigmatization of those who engage in homosexual behavior, and an attitude of moral superiority and personal condescension inevitably follows. Nineteenth and twentieth century writings on the perils and evils of masturbation are cited in support of this argument.
TEACHING COURSES ONLINE: HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE?

Studies show that temporal factors like workload and lack of release time inhibit faculty participation in developing and teaching online courses; however, few studies exist to gauge the time commitment. This longitudinal case study, presented at the Seventh Annual Sloan-C International Conference on ALN, examined the amount of time needed to teach three asynchronous online courses at The University of Michigan-Dearborn from Winter 1999 through Winter 2000. Twenty-five students were enrolled in each course. Self-monitoring was used to measure the amount of time required to complete the following activities: 1) reading and responding to emails; 2) reading, participating in, and grading 10 online discussions; and 3) grading 15 assignments. Using a stopwatch, the investigator timed and recorded the number of minutes needed for each activity. Also, all messages and assignments were archived and frequency counts were recorded. The weekly, mean number of minutes and assignments was entered on line graphs for analysis. The data showed that teaching each online course required 3 to 7 hours per week, with the greatest number of emails and amount of time required during the first and last 2-weeks of the semesters. Participation in and grading of the discussions took the greatest amount of time and remained steady across the semester. However unlike many live courses, the students participated more in the discussions than the instructor did. The number of assignments that were submitted each week steadily increased over each semester. This case study indicates that the time needed to teach online courses falls within the range of reasonable expectations for teaching either live or online courses and represents the beginning of this area of inquiry. Consequently, additional studies are needed with a variety of instructors across a variety of courses and disciplines to further pinpoint faculty time commitment.
Modes of Ammonia Transport Across Fish Gills

Fishes are ammonotelic, excreting some 6 mmol kg-1 day-1, compared with only 0.6 mmol kg-1 day-1 for humans. Homer Smith (1929) compared renal and extrarenal ammonia2 losses from two freshwater teleost species (Cyprinus carpio, the carp, and Carassius auratus, the goldfish) and found that the kidney could only account for some 5% of the total. Subsequent studies have corroborated these data, demonstrating that the vast majority of the total ammonia efflux from both freshwater and marine species is branchial (Table 1). Modes of transport of ammonia from ammoniogenic tissues to the branchial epithelium have been only rarely studied, but it appears that glutamine is not a carrier molecule, and that both blood ammonia and amino acids are cleared at the gills (Goldstein et al. 1964), with deamination of the amino acids taking place in the branchial cells. As might be expected, the major ammoniogenic tissues are the liver and kidney (Pequin and Serfaty 1963).
Methyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins in Bacteria

The sensory transducers of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium are the most extensively characterized of any methyl-accepting proteins. Their functions as central components in the chemotactic system of these species have been well defined and recent work has provided substantial information about structure of the proteins. In this report, we review current understanding of methyl-accepting transducer proteins, discuss evidence that homologous proteins occur throughout the entire spectrum of bacterial species, and consider specific mutational alterations that affect covalent modification of transducers.
Aggregation of Child Cardiac Progenitor Cells Into Spheres Activates Notch Signaling and Improves Treatment of Right Ventricular Heart Failure

Rationale: Congenital heart disease can lead to life-threatening right ventricular (RV) heart failure. Results from clinical trials support expanding cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) based therapies. ...
DO NO HARM: IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING IMPAIRED MEDICAL PROVIDERS: Session 308

Abstract There are many factors contributing to a greater level of awareness of providers who might lack the necessary physical, emotional or professional competence to practice in the medical field. Greater scrutiny of the medical profession (on-line reviews and patient satisfaction surveys), less tolerance of work-place bullying/harassment, a rapidly changing healthcare landscape (technology, policy), financial/productivity pressures, and an aging physician workforce represent several such factors. As health system and peer accountability increase, providers and administrators are often left navigating the complex and emotionally fraught process of identifying, reporting, assessing, and adjudicating peers and employees who may lack the competence to practice medicine. Educating medical teams regarding system and licensing board policies, identifying pathways for independent assessment, and strategies for counseling providers who can no longer safely practice can facilitate this challenging, but necessary aspect of the practice of medicine. With their expertise in aging, complex medical, occupational, and social dynamics, geriatric providers are uniquely equipped to function as a key resource for addressing matters related to provider impairment.
Nucleocytoplasmic transport: Mechanisms and involvement in neurodegenerative disease.

There is a bidirectional communication between the nucleus and the cytoplasm through highly regulated nucleocytoplasmic transport. This process allows the transport of proteins, RNAs, and ribonucleoproteins across the nuclear envelope via the nuclear pore complexes. The nuclear pore complexes are large macromolecular complexes composed of highly conserved proteins called nucleoporins (Nups). Proteins and RNAs are transported across the nuclear pore after binding of cargo transport receptors that interact with specific hydrophobic amino acid repeats of Nups that form a meshwork within the nuclear pore. These transporters include importins that recognize nuclear localization signals (NLS) in their cargo and mediate transport from the cytoplasm to the nucleoplasm and exportins that recognize nuclear export signals (NES) in their cargos and transport their cargo from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Whereas nucleocytoplasmic transport largely involves protein–protein interactions between transport proteins and nuclear pore Nups, the directionality of transport is determined by a gradient of the small Ras-related nuclear protein (Ran) guanosine triphosphatase (Ran-GTPase). Whereas proteins and most RNA species are transported by these mechanisms, the transport of messenger RNA ribunucleoprotein particles (mRNPs) utilize an independent transport system. Overall, normal nucleocytoplasmic transport mechanisms ensure that transported cargos are retained in their respective compartments and prevent the passage of nonspecific macromolecules. Impaired nucleocytoplasmic transport is a major disease mechanism in neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Huntington disease (HD), and tauopathies. Studies in fly and mouse models, in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and in brain obtained from autopsy have elucidated pathogenic mechanisms that affect nucleocytoplasmic transport in these disorders. The mechanisms of nucleocytoplasmic transport and its involvement on neurodegenerative disorders have been reviewed recently.1–10
Patients' Preference for Receiving Informed Consent Information Regarding Third Molar Surgery.

Purpose It is important that patients have adequate information about a surgical procedure and its risks and benefits before giving consent to proceed. The purpose of this study was to determine patients' satisfaction with various methods of presenting such information and their preferred method. Materials and Methods Patients presenting for removal of impacted third molars were shown an informational video discussing the diagnosis of impacted teeth, the potential risks of not having them removed, their treatment, the surgical complications, and the anesthetic options and risks. They subsequently met with the treating doctor, who again reviewed the material shown in the video and answered any questions before patients signed the informed consent document. Patients then completed a brief questionnaire asking them to rate their satisfaction with the 2 presentation methods and to indicate their preferred method. Results A total of 50 patients (18 male and 32 female patients; average age, 26 years) completed the questionnaire. Of these patients, 58% had a high school education whereas 42% had some college or a college degree. Sixty-six percent of patients found the video very helpful, and 78% found the oral presentation very helpful. However, when asked which format provided the best information, 62% indicated the video whereas 38% indicated the oral presentation. Conclusions Because there was no clear consensus among patients regarding the best format, providing both a video and an oral presentation is the ideal situation.
Geographic Variation in the Ecomorphology and Thermal Ecology of a Widespread Lizard

Abstract Studies of ecomorphology reveal fascinating examples of how natural selection can mold intra- and interspecific variation in morphology–habitat associations. Despite a growing appreciation...