cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observations of Indirect Filial Cannibalism in Response to Nest Failure of Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax)

ABSTRACT During 2011, four separate instances of indirect filial cannibalism, whereby adults consumed their young that died from unknown causes, were observed using video-monitoring techniques in a nesting colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) on Alcatraz Island. Though they were not observed actively killing their young, in all four observations adult Black-crowned Night-Herons consumed their young following death (i.e., indirect filial cannibalism). We could not determine cause of chick mortality, but parental neglect was likely a contributing factor in at least two instances. Indirect filial cannibalism is not commonly documented among birds, and understanding how cannibalism contributes to nest failure can help researchers better understand factors that limit nesting populations.
Miniaturized VHF quartz MEMs resonator design methodology

The miniaturization of resonators for timing applications brings with it new challenges in terms of device optimization. As the device size is reduced, design intolerances lead to more significant differences between modeled and fabricated devices leading to poor performance. In this paper we present a methodology for improving resonator designs. A 32MHz AT-cut quartz thick VHF shear mode resonator is optimized for high Q and high thermal stability for integration on CMOS electronics. Uncompensated measured data agrees to within a few ppm of Comsol 3-d FEA simulations.
Methotrexate use in allergic contact dermatitis: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND Methotrexate, a folate antimetabolite, is used to treat atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Although methotrexate's therapeutic efficacy has been noted in the literature, there are few data on the efficacy of methotrexate treatment for allergic contact dermatitis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of methotrexate in treating allergic contact dermatitis at a single institution, and also to assess methotrexate efficacy in patients with chronic, unavoidable allergen exposure. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of 32 patients diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis by positive patch test reactions, and who received treatment with methotrexate from November 2010 to November 2014. Demographic and treatment-associated data were collected from electronic medical records. Ten patients were identified as allergen non-avoiders secondary to their occupation, and were subgrouped as such. RESULTS Seventy-eight per cent (25/32) of patients showed either a partial or a complete response. Methotrexate had a comparable efficacy rate in the allergen non-avoiders subset, at 10 of 10. Of the 32 patients, 23% (5/22) had complete clearance of their dermatitis, and 1/10 of allergen non-avoiders had complete clearance of their dermatitis. CONCLUSION Methotrexate is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for allergic contact dermatitis, and shows comparable efficacy to immunomodulatory agents such as cyclosporine and azathioprine, with robust efficacy despite persistent allergen exposure in patients with allergic contact dermatitis.
Superconducting Gap and Pseudogap in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

Because of its anisotropic, complex doping and temperature dependence, energy gap in cuprates is always a focusing point in the study of high temperature superconductivity. There are two scenarios were introduced to understand the relation between pseudogap and superconducting gap. One is “one gap” scenario that pseudogap is the precursor of superconducting gap that electrons pairing happens above T c but these pairs become coherent below T c , the other one is “two gap” that pseudogap is a competitive phase and has nothing to do with superconductivity. This chapter presents the study of the superconducting energy gap and the pseudogap in normal state. The high-precision ARPES measurements on momentum and temperature dependence of energy gap indicates that simple “two gap” or “one gap” scenarios cannot give a good description of the results.
Differences in L-type Ca2+ channel activity partially underlie the regional dichotomy in pumping behavior by murine peripheral and visceral lymphatic vessels

Lymphatic collecting vessels isolated from murine peripheral tissues, but not from the visceral cavities, display robust contractile behavior similar to lymphatic vessels from other animal models a...
Modulation Transfer Function for Distributed Temperature Measurements Using an Optical Fiber Sensor System

Optical fiber temperature sensors are useful as distributed temperature sensors in nuclear reactors and in other applications. In order to survive the nuclear reactor environment, an optical fiber temperature sensor would need to be surrounded by a capillary tube made of a tough material, such as stainless steel. The diffusion of heat energy through this capillary tube and the resulting gap between the capillary tube and fiber reduces the resolution in measurement by the fiber sensor system of a spatially varying input temperature profile. Using an analogy from optics, this paper addresses the issue of loss of spatial resolution by developing an expression for the modulation transfer function of the sensor system. The dependence of the modulation transfer function on the spatial frequency of the input temperature profile and the dimensions and properties of the components of the fiber sensor system are determined.
Barking Mosque and Quintessential Insight: Overcoming the Problematic Government/Community Counterterrorism Partnership in the UK

This article looks specifically at the front end of the radicalization problem and argues that vulnerability to political violence is first and foremost a social problem. The article explores the h...
Attention and Perceptual Learning Interact in the Development of the Other-Race Effect:

Face-processing abilities are biased such that some faces are differentiated, recognized, and identified more readily than others. Across the first year of life, experience with faces shapes the de...
A Function for Actual Examples in Philosophy of Science

In the early years of science, scientists emphasized, possibly exaggerated, the importance of actual experiments and observations in science in order to free themselves from what they took to be the sterile scholasticism of their predecessors. Their message was, instead of deciding that women have fewer ribs than men on the basis of a priori principles, count. However, thought experiments have also characterized science since its inception. The respective roles usually assigned to actual versus thought experiments is that actual experiments are used to decide truth while thoughts experiments test our conceptual boundaries, but as Kuhn (1964) has argued in his paper ‘A Function for Thought Experiments,’ matters of meaning and truth cannot be so clearly and conclusively distinguished. During the ongoing process of science, they are too closely intertwined. Only in retrospect, when a particular conceptual scheme is thought to be complete, can matters of truth and meaning be separated so neatly.
Modeling of prior exfoliation corrosion in aircraft wing skins

Publisher Summary This chapter presents preliminary results on the development of an analytical framework for evaluating the effects of prior exfoliation corrosion on the residual strength and remaining life of wing skins. A number of pristine and corroded specimens are cut from naturally exfoliated wing panels fabricated from 7075-T6511 alloys, and an ultrasonic nondestructive inspection (NDI) is carried out on the exfoliated specimens. The maximum depth and three-dimensional (3D) profile of the exfoliation damage are determined from the NDI data analysis. These specimens are tested using static tension and compression loading and the strain distributions on the specimens are measured using strain gauges, and photoelastic coating techniques. An analytical model is developed based on a “soft inclusion” technique, which is used to simulate the exfoliation damage. Using the PATRAN Command Language, automatic geometry and finite element (FE) model generation techniques are developed to create the “soft inclusion” for any shape and depth of exfoliation including the detailed 3D profile determined by NDI data analysis. The 3D FE model is first verified with the pristine specimen test results. FE analyses are then carried out on the exfoliated specimens and compared with the tests results. The good agreements between the modeling and testing results indicate that the analytical models are capable of evaluating the effects of exfoliation on the residual strength.
The efficacy of traditional, low-cost and nonsplint therapies for temporomandibular disorder: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background Treatment recommendations for patients with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) range from conservative treatments such as physiotherapy to aggressive and irreversible treatments such as restorative reconstruction and joint surgery. Methods The authors randomized 200 subjects diagnosed with TMD into three groups: usual conservative, dentist-prescribed self-care treatment without any intraoral splint appliance (UT); UT plus a conventional flat-plane hard acrylic splint (HS); and UT plus a soft vinyl (a low-cost athletic mouth guard) splint (SS). Subjects completed questionnaires and clinical examinations at three, six and 12 months. Results The authors observed no significant differences among the groups in TMD-related pain levels or other common signs and symptoms of TMD at baseline (BL) or at any follow-up. The changes from BL were comparable for all three groups. The authors did not note any significant differences at any follow-up for compliance with study protocols or for occurrences of adverse effects from either splint type. For HS versus SS, there were significant differences in rates of splint use, but these differences were not accompanied by differences in either self-reported symptoms or in clinical findings. Conclusions All patients improved over time, and traditional splint therapy offered no benefit over the SS splint therapy. Neither splint therapy provided a greater benefit than did self-care treatment without splint therapy. Clinical Implications These findings suggest that clinicians who treat patients with TMD should consider prescribing low-cost nonsplint self-care therapy for most patients.
Representation of blacks, women, and the very elderly (aged > or = 80) in 28 major randomized clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this manuscript is to precisely quantify the representation of women, blacks, and very old (aged 80 or more) participants in 28 past or ongoing randomized clinical trials on hypertension, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus. METHODS Selection of the 28 studies was arbitrary, based primarily on the reference being often quoted or cited as relevant data for women, blacks, the elderly, or persons with diabetes mellitus. RESULTS Twenty-three of the 28 studies enrolled a majority of men. Many of the completed trials had an under-representation of blacks (0% to 8%). An adequate number (1,091) of very old (aged 80 or more) persons have been studied for isolated systolic hypertension, but the number of such patients thus far studied for diastolic hypertension is too small to allow evidence-based recommendations for therapy. Reported studies in diabetes have included a majority of men (average, 58%) and four of the five trials reviewed enrolled relatively few blacks (average, 4.6%). CONCLUSIONS Women, blacks, and the very old (aged 80 or more) have been under-represented in many past randomized clinical trials, but ongoing studies will resolve this discrepancy in most instances. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) will provide data on 161,861 multi-ethnic postmenopausal women. ALLHAT results will include 15,133 hypertensive blacks, and AASK will have 1,094 hypertensive blacks with nephrosclerosis. ALLHAT, STOP-2, and HYVET will include more than 5,000 persons aged 80 or more. Future trials on diabetes mellitus must be designed to improve the representation of women and blacks.
Ankle and Foot Considerations

In the evaluation of distal tibial deformities, one must consider the position of the talus, calcaneus, and foot relative to the tibia. The talus has a squared cross-sectional appearance in the frontal plane. The superior dome of the talus is parallel to the tibial plafond. There is normally no joint line convergence between the tibial plafond and the dome of the talus. This is different from the knee, where up to a 3° lack of parallelism between the femoral condyle line and the tibial plateau line (JLCA) is normal. The medial and lateral diaphyseal cortical lines intersect the talus laterally and medially, respectively, to the adjacent borders of the talus (► Fig. 18-1 a). This normal relationship is important to know when considering fusion of the ankle after distal tibial resection (► Fig. 18-1 b). The medial border of the talus will be medial to the medial cortex of the tibia. If the two are made collinear on the medial side, the heel will be laterally translated (►Fig. 18-1 b).
The CXCR3/CXCL3 Axis in Cancer

CXCR3 is a G protein-coupled receptor that binds the chemokines CXCL9 (Mig), CXCL10 (IP-10), and CXCL11 (I-Tac). The murine receptor also binds CCL21. CXCR3 is expressed on activated T cells, B cells, Natural Killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, mast cells, and endothelial cells, and has now been reported on many malignant cells. There are several CXCR3 variants: CXCR3-A promotes chemotaxis and also plays a role in cell survival, CXCR3-B activation leads to inhibited DNA synthesis and apoptosis but less is known regarding the pathophysiologic role of CXCR3-alt. Melanoma, breast, and colon cancer cell lines express CXCR3, however, expression levels are not correlated with metastatic potential. Nevertheless, gene silencing of CXCR3 reduces the number of lymph node metastases from implanted melanoma or colon cancers without affecting expansion of the primary tumor implant or dissemination to the lungs. Gene silencing or antagonism of CXCR3 with a small molecular weight (m.w.) antagonist also inhibits breast cancer metastasis but in this setting, pulmonary metastases are reduced by receptor blockade. In all three histologic types, CXCR3 expression is associated with a poorer prognosis. In clear cell renal carcinoma and in chronic lymphocytic leukemia the opposite correlation is observed, where low CXCR3 is associated with shorter survival. In spite of the demonstrated contribution of tumor-expressed CXCR3 in promoting tumor metastasis in several disease settings, local overexpression of CXCR3 ligands leads to tumor inhibition in several cancer models. Antiangiogenic properties of CXCR3 ligands as well as the ability to attract CXCR3+ T lymphocytes and NK cells to the tumor contribute to the protective mechanisms. Manipulation of the CXCR3/CXCL3 axis should be considered as a potential therapeutic approach to prevent cancer progression.
Higher Education Regionalization in Asia Pacific: Implications for Governance, Citizenship and University Transformation

Higher education regionalization in Asia Pacific: Implications for governance, citizenship and university transformation edited by J. N. Hawkins, K. H. Mok, and D. E. Neubauer describes and summarizes the conversations happening around regionalization in the Asia-Pacific region, and is a potential resource for the higher education community interested in the Asia-Pacific region. The full text of the article can be found at 10.18275/fire201401031043
Incidence, outcomes, and predictors of in-hospital acute coronary syndrome following endovascular transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the United States.

BACKGROUND Incidence and outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) immediately following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remain largely unknown. OBJECTIVES This study sought to assess the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of ACS following TAVR. METHODS We queried the National Readmission Database from January 2012 to September 2015 for TAVR admissions with and without ACS, creating a propensity-matched cohort to compare outcomes. RESULTS A total of 48,454 patients underwent TAVR, with 1,332 (2.75%) developing ACS. TAVR patients with ACS compared to those without ACS had a significantly higher incidence of acute kidney injury (24.7 vs. 19.2%; p = .001), ischemic stroke (3.7 vs. 2.3%; p = .04), vascular complications (8.6 vs. 5.8%; p = .008), cardiogenic shock (9.8 vs. 1.9%; p < .001), cardiac arrest (5.1 vs. 2.8%; p = .002), mechanical circulatory support (8.1 vs. 1.5%; p < .001), and in-hospital mortality (9.6 vs. 3.4%; p < .001). Additionally, TAVR with ACS had longer lengths of stay (median 10 days vs. 6 days; p < .001) and hospital charges (median $23,200 vs. $19,000; p < .001). Positive predictors of ACS were history of PCI (odds ratio, 1.43; 95% CI: 1.25-1.63), hyperlipidemia (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07-1.34), chronic blood loss anemia (odds ratio, 2.16; 95% CI: 1.54-3.03), chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI: 1.04-1.31), fluid and electrolyte disorders (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI: 1.47-1.85), and weight loss (odds ratio, 1.53; 95% CI: 1.22-1.91). Heart failure (34%) was the most common reason for readmission in the ACS cohort. CONCLUSION ACS after TAVR is uncommon but is associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare resource utilization.
The microbiome responds to Evolve and Resequence experiments in Drosophila melanogaster

Experimental evolution has a long history of uncovering fundamental insights into evolutionary processes but has largely neglected one underappreciated component--the microbiome. As eukaryotic hosts evolve, the microbiome may also evolve in response. However, the microbial contribution to host evolution remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the metagenomes from 10 E&R experiments in Drosophila melanogaster to determine how the microbiome changes in response to host selection. Bacterial diversity was significantly different in 5/10 studies in traits associated with metabolism or immunity. Additionally, we find that excluding reads from a facultative symbiont, Wolbachia, in the analysis of bacterial diversity changes the inference, raising important questions for future E&R experiments in D. melanogaster. Our results suggest the microbiome often responds to host selection but highlights the need for more work to understand how the microbiome changes the host response to selection.
Chapter 13 – Diffusion Coefficient in Water – Inorganic Compounds

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the values for diffusion coefficient in water (inorganic compounds) in tabulated format. For the tabulation, an equation is selected for diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution in water as a function of temperature. The tabulation is arranged by alphabetical order such as Ag, Al, Ar, and Zr to provide ease of use in quickly locating the data by using the chemical formula. The compound name and chemical abstracts registry number (CAS No) are also provided in tabular form. Values for regression coefficients are given in the adjacent columns. The temperature range for use is also given in the columns (TMIN and TMAX). The equation should not be used for temperatures outside this range. The next column provides the code for the tabulation. The last three columns provide values for diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution in water at representative temperatures. Data for polar and high molecular weight compounds are very limited. Also, few experimental data are available at high temperatures. Thus, the values for these compounds and high temperatures should be considered rough approximations. The values at lower temperatures in the region of ambient conditions are more accurate. A comparison of calculated and data values is also presented for a representative compound. The graph shows favorable agreement of equation and data.
New Insights into the Structure and Reactivity of Uracil Derivatives in Different Solvents—A Computational Study

Ab initio calculations were carried out to understand the reactivity and stability of some uracil derivatives, cytosine, 1-methyl cytosine, and cytidine in solvents, water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO...
Intrapersonal Factors Impact Advance Care Planning Among Cancer Patients.

Background:Cancer patients infrequently engage in advance care planning processes. Establishing preferences for future medical treatment without advance care planning may not be patient-centered, a...
Narcissistic Personality Disorder in Children: Applying a Controversial Diagnosis to Guide Treatment

This paper examines the limited literature on narcissistic personality disorder in children, addressing the relevance of the concept of ‘personality’ or enduring and consistent traits during childh...
Gender, Benevolent Sexism, and Public Health Compliance

Growing research shows a correlation between gender, benevolent sexism, partisanship, and COVID-19 public health compliance. We show first that women are more likely than men to engage in protective behaviors to slow the spread of COVID-19. We also find that while Republicans and Independents are less likely to comply with these measures, benevolent sexism moderates the effect of partisanship and can increase compliance. These results suggest that framing public health directives in terms of chivalry and protection activates benevolent sexism, potentially offsetting patterns of noncompliance associated with partisanship. We discuss the negative consequences of these results and posit a need for bipartisan messages to reduce reliance on benevolent sexism in the future.
Группы враждебные реформам и возможности компромисса. Дополнительные материалы к главе 'Технология реформ' книги 'Стратегия долгосрочного процветания' (The Groups Hostile to Reforms and Chances for Compromise)

Russian Abstract: Данный материал содержит попытку выделить основные антиреформистские группы будущих реформ. Их благополучие построено на связях с Большим правительством и попытка разрушить эти связи равносильна для них потере внушительного запаса преимуществ, добывавшихся и охранявшихся десятилетиями. При этом отдельно выделяется государственная гражданская бюрократия. Соответственно анализируется значение института автономии гражданской государственной службы. Сделана попытка выделить группы заинтересованные в реформах и готовые предоставить поддержку реформаторам уже в краткосрочном периоде. Особое внимание уделено проблеме компромисса в ходе осуществления реформ. Причем речь идет о компромиссе с оппонентами реформ, а не с теми группами, которые их и так поддерживают (тут отношение может быть существенно иным, тем более что такие группы редко настаивают на требованиях, способных подорвать реформы в целом). English Abstract: The notes presented below are supplemental to the chapter "Technology of Reforms". We mean the reforms projected to cut off governmental power and spending. So, we mean the Reforms leading to the limited Government. The materials contain description of the groups interested to prevent the reforms implementation. Special attention is paid to the bureaucracy and to the Civil Service's Autonomy institution. We tried to project the list of the groups, highly motivated to support the reforms implementation. The Compromises being inevitable in the politics could under some circumstances to block the reforms so the reformists are urged to be very cautious about the compromises. Attempts to compromise with the staunch opponents of the reforms are especially problematic, because unintended translation of the message of weakness and lack of resoluteness of the reformist Government. This message encourages reform-hostile groups to invest all their resources in the political struggle instead of investment in the adaptation to the new post-reform realities.
Awareness and Preferences for Health Care Chaplaincy Services Among US Adults.

PURPOSE Health care chaplains intervene on unmet religious/spiritual (R/S) needs in health care settings that are associated with poor outcomes. Little is known about demand for their services. The purpose of this study was to describe population-level awareness and perceptions of health care chaplains and preferences for their services. METHODS Data came from a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of US adults ≥ 18 years of age (n = 1020). Participants were asked about preferences for chaplain services, previous experience and awareness of chaplains, and level of importance on having R/S needs and sources of meaning addressed. RESULTS Mean age of the sample was 47.6. Although the majority were aware of chaplains (85%), only 15% indicated they had previous experience with one. Adults who were unaware were younger (38 vs 49 years, p < .001), male (P = .007), non-white race/ethnicity (p < .001), and had lower educational attainment (P = .01). Seventy percent reported an interest in having R/S or existential needs met in the context of health care. CONCLUSIONS The majority of the US population say they are aware of chaplains and desire their services, yet few report previous experience with them in health care. More behavioral interventions are needed to better connect patients to chaplains.
Effectiveness of persuasive frames in advocacy videos

Abstract Using a three-condition, between-subjects experimental design (N = 152), this study investigates the persuasive effects of fear and humor in nonprofit advocacy-style videos. Findings indicate both fear and humor positively affect a behavioral willingness to change behaviors. Mediation analysis of the antecedent variables in the theory of planned behavior model also revealed significant indirect effects of each form of appeal through attitudes. Findings advance current conceptual and practical understanding of the persuasive power of nonprofit advocacy-style videos.
Proximal Extracapsular Tunneling: A Simple Technique for the Management of Impending Cylinder Erosion and Complications Related to Corporal Dilation.

Abstract Introduction Impending cylinder erosion and floppy glans secondary to an undersized penile prosthesis are rare complications that can cause cosmetic deformity and patient discomfort. Aim To demonstrate a technique for the management of impending cylinder erosion and floppy glans secondary to cylinder under-sizing. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 6 patients who required the proximal extracapsular tunneling technique during penile prosthesis revision surgery. Main Outcome Measure Main outcome was successful placement of a penile prosthesis with proper cylinder placement. Results Mean patient age for these 6 patients was 71.2 years (64–86 y). After a mean follow-up of 6.6 months, all 6 patients who underwent this procedure had a functional penile prosthesis without evidence of recurrence. Conclusion The proximal extracapsular tunneling technique is a simple approach performed through a single incision that can be used for proper cylinder replacement during penile prosthesis revision surgeries. It may be utilized for the management of impending cylinder erosion and other cases with coporal dilation-related complications in which the surgical pseudo-capsule has already formed around the implant. This technique can be safely performed without the need of a distal counter-incision on the penis. Clavell-Hernandez J. Proximal Extracapsular Tunneling: A Simple Technique for the Management of Impending Cylinder Erosion and Complications Related to Corporal Dilation. Sex Med 2021;XX:XXXXXX.
Production and composition of group B streptococcal membrane vesicles varies across diverse lineages

ABSTRACT Although the neonatal and fetal pathogen Group B Streptococcus (GBS) asymptomatically colonizes the vaginal tract of ∼30% of pregnant women, only a fraction of their offspring develops invasive disease. We and others have postulated that these dimorphic clinical phenotypes are driven by strain variability; however, the bacterial factors that promote these divergent clinical phenotypes remain unclear. It was previously shown that GBS produces membrane vesicles (MVs) that contain active virulence factors capable of inducing adverse pregnancy outcomes. Because the relationship between strain variation and vesicle composition or production is unknown, we sought to quantify MV production and examine the protein composition, using label-free proteomics on MVs produced by diverse clinical GBS strains representing three phylogenetically distinct lineages. We found that MV production varied across strains, with certain strains displaying nearly two-fold increases in production relative to others. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis of the proteomes revealed that MV composition is lineage-dependent but independent of clinical phenotype. Multiple proteins that contribute to virulence or immunomodulation, including hyaluronidase, C5a peptidase, and sialidases, were differentially abundant in MVs, and were partially responsible for this divergence. Together, these data indicate that production and composition of GBS MVs vary in a strain-dependent manner, suggesting that MVs have lineage-specific functions relating to virulence. Such differences may contribute to variation in clinical phenotypes observed among individuals infected with GBS strains representing distinct lineages.
Tethys App Store: Simplifying deployment of web applications for the international GEOGloWS initiative

Abstract Portability of web applications between web servers of different organizations can be challenging and can complicate sharing and collaborative use of such tools. Given the distributed nature of the web, this lack of portability is usually not a concern because a user in one organization can link to and use a web application hosted by another organization. However, access control or differentiation may be needed by an organization in terms of area of interest, input data, analytical techniques, access control, presentation, branding, and language. This is true for many government organizations, and their associated web sites, and servers. In such cases, there are compelling political, branding, security, and privacy motivations that require each organization or agency to host and manage web applications on their own servers rather than using third party web sites over which they have little or no control. We present the design, development, and testing of a system for discovering, installing, and configuring environmental analysis web applications on localized web servers. The system works with applications developed using Tethys Platform, which is an open-source software stack for creating geospatially enabled web-based applications. The developed Tethys App Store includes a Tethys application user interface that allows a server manager to retrieve applications from the central repository and install them on a local server with relative simplicity, similar to the installation of a mobile application to a mobile device from a mobile application store. The system was developed to support deployment of water and environmental analysis web apps for the international Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Global Water Sustainability (GEOGloWS) initiative of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and several partner organizations.
Stochastic Processes: Theory for Applications

This definitive textbook provides a solid introduction to discrete and continuous stochastic processes, tackling a complex field in a way that instils a deep understanding of the relevant mathematical principles, and develops an intuitive grasp of the way these principles can be applied to modelling real-world systems. It includes a careful review of elementary probability and detailed coverage of Poisson, Gaussian and Markov processes with richly varied queuing applications. The theory and applications of inference, hypothesis testing, estimation, random walks, large deviations, martingales and investments are developed. Written by one of the world's leading information theorists, evolving over twenty years of graduate classroom teaching and enriched by over 300 exercises, this is an exceptional resource for anyone looking to develop their understanding of stochastic processes.
The Comparison of Economic Assimilation Between Indian and Chinese Immigrants in the United States

The purpose of this research is to determine and compare economic assimilation of Indian and Chinese immigrants over time in the United States. On the one hand, because both groups come from fast growing developing countries in Asia, they could follow the same career path and face the same income disparity in the United States with natives. On the other hand, Indian immigrants have a higher level of English proficiency than Chinese immigrants do, so Indians might have an advantage over Chinese immigrants in terms of assimilation with natives. Based on data from IPUMS CPS (1995, 2000, 2005 & 2010), this paper applies the regression methodology, theories of assimilation and human capital, age earnings profile and the theoretical correlation between language proficiency and economic assimilation of immigrants. The study follows cohorts of Indian and Chinese immigrants in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010. It is designed to re-examine and expand the conclusions of previous studies and explain similarities and difference in economic assimilation for these two immigrant groups. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol21/iss1/19
Sildenafil promotes eNOS activation and inhibits NADPH oxidase in the transgenic sickle cell mouse penis.

Abstract Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD)‐associated vasculopathy in the penis is characterized by aberrant nitric oxide and phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 signaling, and by increased oxidative stress. Preliminary clinical trials show that continuous treatment with PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil unassociated with sexual activity decreases priapic activity in patients with SCD. However, the mechanism of its vasculoprotective effect in the penis remains unclear. Aims We evaluated whether continuous administration of PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil promotes eNOS function at posttranslational levels and decreases superoxide‐producing enzyme NADPH oxidase activity in the sickle cell mouse penis. Methods SCD transgenic mice were used as an animal model of SCD. WT mice served as controls. Mice received treatment with the PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil (100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 3 weeks. eNOS phosphorylation on Ser‐1177 (positive regulatory site), eNOS interactions with heat‐shock protein 90 (HSP90) (positive regulator), phosphorylated AKT (upstream mediator of eNOS phosphorylation on Ser‐1177), an NADPH oxidase catalytic subunit gp91(phox), and a marker of oxidative stress (4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal [HNE]) were measured by Western blot. Main Outcome Measures Effect of continuous sildenafil treatment on eNOS posttranslational activation, NADPH oxidase catalytic subunit, and oxidative stress in the penis of the sickle cell mouse. Results Continuous treatment with sildenafil reversed ( P Conclusion Our findings that sildenafil enhances eNOS activation and inhibits NADPH oxidase function in the sickle cell mouse penis offers a vasculoprotective molecular basis for the therapeutic effect of sildenafil in the penis in association with SCD. Musicki B, Bivalacqua TJ, Champion HC, and Burnett AL. Sildenafil promotes eNOS activation and inhibits NADPH oxidase in the transgenic sickle cell mouse penis. J Sex Med 2014;11:424–430.
Psychosocial issues in long-term space flight: overview

Anecdotal evidence of the individual and interpersonal problems that occurred during the Shuttle-Mir Space Program (SMSP) and other long-duration Russian/Soviet missions, and studies of personnel in other isolated and confined extreme (ICE) environments suggest that psychosocial elements of behavior and performance are likely to have a significant impact on the outcome of long-duration missions in space. This impact may range from individual decrements in performance, health and well being, to catastrophic mission failure. This paper reviews our current understanding of the psychosocial issues related to long duration space missions according to three different domains of behavior: the individual domain, the interpersonal domain and the organizational domain. Individual issues include: personality characteristics that predict successful performance, stress due to isolation and confinement and its effect on emotions and cognitive performance, adaptive and maladaptive coping styles and strategies, and requirements for the psychological support of astronauts and their families during the mission. Interpersonal issues include: impact of crew diversity and leadership styles on small group dynamics, adaptive and maladaptive features of ground-crew interactions, and processes of crew cohesion, tension and conflict. Organizational issues include: the influence of organizational culture and mission duration on individual and group performance, and managerial requirements for long duration missions. Improved screening and selection of astronaut candidates, leadership, coping and interpersonal skills training of personnel, and organizational change are key elements in the prevention of performance decrements on long-duration missions.
Factors influencing student intention to adopt online classes: a cross-cultural study

Even though there is a vast amount of research devoted to distance education and related topics, the study of factors that influence students' intention to take online classes has not been thoroughly developed. Furthermore, most of the existing studies have focused on homogeneous samples taken from one population. There is a lack of cross-cultural research that may help in explaining differences among students' perceptions about online instruction. This study proposed a research model to examine factors that influence students' intentions to take online courses. To validate the research model, data were collected from college students in the United States and South Korea. For American students, convenience, quality, subjective norm, and perceived ease of use were significant predictors of students' intention. Only quality and subjective norms were significant factors impacting Korean students' intentions. Self-efficacy was found to have indirect impact on students' intentions through perceived ease of use only for American students. Conversely, self-efficacy did not have indirect impact on student's intentions through perceived usefulness for students in both countries.
An Empirical Comparison of Probabilistic Coalition Structure Theories in 3-Person Sidepayment Games

This article reports a comparative test of the central-union theory vis-a-vis several other game-theoretic solution concepts in 3-person sidepayment games. Based on a laboratory experiment, this comparison utilizes nine games in characteristic function form. The solution concepts under test include the equal excess model, the Myerson–Shapley solution, the kernel, and two variants of the central-union theory (CU-1 and CU-2). With regard to the player's payoffs, results show that the CU-1, CU-2, kernel, and equal excess theories have essentially equal predictive accuracy and that all of these are more accurate than Myerson–Shapley. When the solution concepts are extended and coalition structure probability predictions are incorporated in the test, one version of the central-union theory (CU-2) is overall more accurate than the other solutions.
Influence of Schedule of Interleukin 2 Administration on Therapy with Interleukin 2 and Lymphokine Activated Killer Cells

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the toxicity, immunomodulatory changes, and antitumor efficacy of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cell therapy with two durations of IL-2 infusion. Patients with progressive melanoma, non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma, renal carcinoma, or colon carcinoma received IL-2 at 3 × 106 units/m2/day on days 1–5 and 13–17, either by bolus injection every 8 h (q8h) or by continuous i.v. (CIV) administration. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were harvested by leukapheresis on days 8, 9, and 10, were incubated in vitro for 5 days for generation of LAK cells, and were infused on days 13, 14, and 15. The first 11 patients were treated with IL-2 q8h, and the subsequent 13 patients were treated by CIV infusion. Toxicity consisted primarily of fever, chills, emesis, diarrhea, weight gain, and edema but did not require intensive care unit support and did not differ significantly between treatment groups. IL-2-induced lymphocytosis on day 8 was higher with CIV than with q8h administration with a mean lymphocyte count/el of 5610 ± 700 (SE) versus 3300 ± 500. Immunomodulatory changes observed on days 8 and 20 were also greater with CIV IL-2 and included an increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cell IL-2 receptor expression as well as a marked rise in the number of Leu-11+ and Leu-19+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The total leukapheresis yield per patient and total number of LAK cells infused per patient were higher with CIV than q8h administration, with 49.8 ± 4.9 × 109versus 39.4 ± 5.4 × 109 and 42.6 ± 5.0 × 109versus 34.0 ± 5.4 × 109, respectively. The cells infused displayed phenotypic evidence of activation and exhibited marked lytic reactivity to Daudi, Raji, and HT-144 targets. One complete and one minimal response were observed in 2 of 8 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received CIV IL-2 and LAK cells. The results show that IL-2 is more biologically active by CIV than q8h administration, as demonstrated by greater rebound lymphocytosis, LAK cell yield, and in vivo immunostimulation.
Integrating Practical Training and Professional Legal Education: Three Questions for Three Systems

This address deals with integrating theory and practice in practical professional training in US, German and Japanese systems of legal education.
A 55 year old man with bilateral pulmonary nodules, neuropathy and renal nodules

Case description: A 55-year-old previously healthy male presented with complaints of bilateral chest wall pain for the last 4 weeks. Patient denied any history of cough, fever, dyspnea, hoarseness, or any rash. He had smoked a half pack per day for about 30 years. Physical examination was normal as were laboratory studies. Chest CT scan demonstrated a 2.5 cm mass adjacent to the left diaphragm with small satellite nodules. Open lung biopsy did not yield any definite diagnosis. Further workup with MRI of spine, CSF analysis and a para-neoplastic antibody panel were negative. A nerve conduction study demonstrated an axonal polyradiculoneuropathy. Almost a year later a repeat chest and abdominal CT scan showed innumerable bilateral lung nodules and masses. It also showed peculiar mottling of the kidneys. A repeat thoracotomy and lung biopsy showed finding consistent with pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis (EBV positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the lungs). Discussion: Pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis is an uncommon multi-organ systemic disease with predilection to lungs and characterized by multiple pulmonary nodular lesions with lymphocytic invasion of vascular walls on biopsy. The skin, kidney, and neurologic system may be affected concurrently or independently. Cough and dyspnea are the most common presenting symptoms in patients with lung involvement. Physical examination and laboratory studies are generally non-diagnostic. Chest radiography typically reveals multiple poorly defined nodules and/or masses in the mid- and lower-lung zones; diffuse reticular abnormalities may also be present. Therapy ranges from observation to treatment with prednisone or chemotherapy.
Genetic and developmental regulation of the lipoprotein lipase gene: loci both distal and proximal to the lipoprotein lipase structural gene control enzyme expression.

Abstract We report here a study of the developmental and genetic control of tissue-specific expression of lipoprotein lipase, the enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of triglycerides in chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) mRNA is present in a wide variety of adult rat and mouse tissues examined, albeit at very different levels. A remarkable increase in the levels of LPL mRNA occurs in heart over a period of several weeks following birth, closely paralleling developmental changes in lipase activity and myocardial beta-oxidation capacity. Large increases in LPL mRNA also occur during differentiation of 3T3L1 cells to adipocytes. As previously reported, at least two separate genetic loci control the tissue-specific expression of LPL activity in mice. One of the loci, controlling LPL activity in heart, is associated with an alteration in LPL mRNA size, while the other, controlling LPL activity in adipose tissue, appears to affect the translation or post-translational expression of LPL. To examine whether these genetic variations are due to mutations of the LPL structural locus, we mapped the LPL gene to a region of mouse chromosome 8 using restriction fragment-length polymorphisms and analysis of hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids. This region is homologous to the region of human chromosome 8 which contains the human LPL gene as judged by the conservation of linked genetic markers. Genetic variations affecting LPL expression in heart cosegregated with the LPL gene, while variations affecting LPL expression in adipose tissue did not. Furthermore, Southern blotting analysis indicates that LPL is encoded by a single gene and, thus, the genetic differences are not a consequence of independent regulation of two separate genes in the two tissues. These results suggest the existence of cis-acting elements for LPL gene expression that operate in heart but not adipose tissue. Our results also indicate that two genetic mutations resulting in deficiencies of LPL in mice, the W mutation on chromosome 5 and the cld mutation on mouse chromosome 17, do not involve the LPL structural gene locus. Finally, we show that the gene for hepatic lipase, a member of a gene family with LPL, is unlinked to the gene for LPL. This indicates that combined deficiencies of LPL and hepatic lipase, observed in humans as well as in certain mutant strains of mice, do not result from focal disruptions of a cluster of lipase genes.
Perioperative Management of a Patient with Recently Placed Drug-Eluting Stents Requiring Urgent Spinal Surgery

Patients receiving drug-eluting coronary stents (DES) require antiplatelet therapy for at least 12 months to prevent stent thrombosis (ST), a potentially calamitous event. Since interruption of antiplatelet therapy is the greatest risk factor for ST, it is imperative that the decision to discontinue these agents be based on an accurate assessment of the patient’s risk for bleeding complications. Individuals who are regarded as being at a high risk are those undergoing intracranial, spinal or intraocular surgeries. These patients require alternative agents during the perioperative period to minimize both their risk of perioperative thrombosis and intraoperative hemorrhage. We report the case of a woman who required spinal surgery 3 months after she underwent placement of two drug-eluting stents. The patient’s clopidogrel was stopped 5 days prior to surgery and an infusion of eptifibatide was used to “bridge” antiplatelet therapy during the perioperative period. Postoperatively, anticoagulation therapy was reinstituted using aspirin with clopidogrel. This case serves as a successful example of bridging therapy using a short acting and gycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa inhibitor as a means of maintaining antiplatelet therapy during the perioperative period to minimize the risk of stent thrombosis and the risk of intraoperative bleeding.