cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distributed knowledge representation in fully connected networks

Fully-connected binary networks, in addition to implementing content addressable memories, have been shown to be capable of encoding arbitrary limit cycles using synchronous dynamics. A stochastic knowledge representation paradigm is proposed, and a way to encode this knowledge form into cycles in fully-connected networks is described. This new representation format stores information in a truly distributed manner across the network, as opposed to previous schemes which store one knowledge atom per neuron.
A teachable moment for oncologists: cancer survivors, 10 million strong and growing!

During the last 25 years we have witnessed the remarkable transformation of cancer from an immediately fatal disease to one in which the majority of individuals receive highly effective treatments that result in long-term, diseasefree survivorship. 1 One need only think about the remarkable public achievements of cyclist Lance Armstrong to understand that life after cancer can permit continued high levels of physical and psychological performance. Although Armstrong’s achievements after cancer may not reflect the norm, they do represent one end of the spectrum for the quality of life after cancer treatment. More often, however, cancer patients are left with subtle and sometimes more overt sequelae from their cancer treatments that follow
Metabolomic analysis and identification of a role for the orphan human cytochrome P450 2W1 in selective oxidation of lysophospholipids

Human cytochrome P450 (P450) 2W1 is still considered an “orphan” because its physiological function is not characterized. To identify its substrate specificity, the purified recombinant enzyme was incubated with colorectal cancer extracts for untargeted substrate searches using an LC/MS-based metabolomic and isotopic labeling approach. In addition to previously reported fatty acids, oleyl (18:1) lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC, lysolecithin) was identified as a substrate for P450 2W1. Other human P450 enzymes tested showed little activity with 18:1 LPC. In addition to the LPCs, P450 2W1 acted on a series of other lysophospholipids, including lysophosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidic acid but not diacylphospholipids. P450 2W1 utilized sn-1 18:1 LPC as a substrate much more efficiently than the sn-2 isomer; we conclude that the sn-1 isomers of lysophospholipids are preferred substrates. Chiral analysis was performed on the 18:1 epoxidation products and showed enantio-selectivity for formation of (9R,10S) over (9S,10R). The kinetics and position specificities of P450 2W1-catalyzed oxygenation of lysophospholipids (16:0 LPC and 18:1 LPC) and fatty acids (C16:0 and C18:1) were also determined. Epoxidation and hydroxylation of 18:1 LPC are considerably more efficient than for the C18:1 free fatty acid.
Chronic kidney disease predicts long-term mortality after major lower extremity amputation.

Background: Despite low peri-operative mortality after major lower extremity amputation, long-term mortality remains substantial. Metabolic syndrome is increasing in incidence and prevalence at an alarming rate in the USA. Aim: This study was to determine whether metabolic syndrome predicts outcome after major lower extremity amputation. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of charts between July 2005 and June 2010. Results: Fifty-four patients underwent a total of 60 major lower extremity amputations. Sixty percent underwent below-knee amputation and 40% underwent above-knee amputation. The 30-day mortality was 7% with no difference in level (below-knee amputation, 8%; above-knee amputation, 4%; P = 0.53). The mean follow-up time was 39.7 months. The 5-year survival was 54% in the whole group, and was independent of level of amputation (P = 0.24) or urgency of the procedure (P = 0.51). Survival was significantly decreased by the presence of underlying chronic kidney disease (P = 0.04) but not by other comorbidities (history of myocardial infarction, P = 0.79; metabolic syndrome, P = 0.64; diabetes mellitus, P = 0.56). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is not associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes after lower extremity amputation. However, patients with chronic kidney disease constitute a sub-group of patients at higher risk of postoperative long-term mortality and may be a group to target for intervention.
Category Learning Increases Discriminability of Relevant Object Dimensions in Visual Cortex

Learning to categorize objects can transform how they are perceived, causing relevant perceptual dimensions predictive of object category to become enhanced. For example, an expert mycologist might become attuned to species-specific patterns of spacing between mushroom gills but learn to ignore cap textures attributable to varying environmental conditions. These selective changes in perception can persist beyond the act of categorizing objects and influence our ability to discriminate between them. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging adaptation, we demonstrate that such category-specific perceptual enhancements are associated with changes in the neural discriminability of object representations in visual cortex. Regions within the anterior fusiform gyrus became more sensitive to small variations in shape that were relevant during prior category learning. In addition, extrastriate occipital areas showed heightened sensitivity to small variations in shape that spanned the category boundary. Visual representations in cortex, just like our perception, are sensitive to an object's history of categorization.
Modulation of the electrical conductance of phthalocyanine films by circularly polarized light

Abstract The modulation of the electrical conductance by circularly polarized light of phthalocyanine films sublimed onto an interdigital electrode surface (metal/semi- conductor/metal structure) is reported. The influence of bound oxygen in creating the p-type semiconductor behavior of the phthalocyanines has been investigated. The Fermi level of the phthalocyanine electrode system may be changed by circularly polarized light acting as an effective magnetic field in an inverse Faraday effect.
Introduction: Applications and Issues

This is the first of three chapters describing many concrete applications of stochastic approximation. The emphasis is on the problem description. Proofs of convergence and the derivation of the rate of convergence will be given in subsequent chapters for many of the examples. Since the initial work of Robbins and Monro in 1951, there has been a steady increase in the investigations of applications in many diverse areas, and this has accelerated in recent years, with new applications arising in queueing networks and manufacturing systems and in learning problems and neural nets, among others. We present only selected samples of these applications to illustrate the great breadth. The basic stochastic approximation algorithm is nothing but a stochastic difference equation with a small step size, and the basic questions for analysis concern its qualitative behavior over a long time interval, such as convergence and rate of convergence. The wide range of applications leads to a wide variety of such equations and associated stochastic processes.
Provoking Coronary Vasospasm for Diagnosis of Variant Angina: Outdated Trick of the Trade or a Resurgent Diagnostic Modality?

In 1959, Prinzmetal et al. [(1,2)][1] reported on 32 patients with a form of angina pectoris that was not generally precipitated by increased cardiac workload, as described by Heberden [(3)][2]. During an attack of this variant type of angina, Prinzmetal et al. noted that ST segments were
Lexical Selection for Hybrid MT with Sequence Labeling

We present initial work on an inexpensive approach for building largevocabulary lexical selection modules for hybrid RBMT systems by framing lexical selection as a sequence labeling problem. We submit that Maximum Entropy Markov Models (MEMMs) are a sensible formalism for this problem, due to their ability to take into account many features of the source text, and show how we can build a combination MEMM/HMM system that allows MT system implementors flexibility regarding which words have their lexical choices modeled with classifiers. We present initial results showing successful use of this system both in translating English to Spanish and Spanish to Guarani.
Valuation of Patent Licenses

This paper first reviews two current methods to value patent licenses (industry standard royalty rates and the 25 percent rule). The paper then describes the Competitive Advantage Valuation (CAV) method and explains its application in valuing non-competitor and competitor licenses, in valuing non-exclusive and exclusive licenses, and in valuing the financial impact of licenses on non-licensees.
Syntheses and Structures of Digold Complexes of Macrobicyclic Dibridgehead Diphosphines That Can Turn Themselves Inside Out

When isomers of the dibridgehead diphosphine P((CH2)14)3P (2) are treated with Me2SAuCl, 2·(AuCl)2 is obtained in high yields. With in,in-/out,out-2 (97:3 equilibrium mixture), only a single isomer can be detected by low-temperature NMR, which is assigned as out,out-2·(AuCl)2 on the basis of the crystal structure. With in,out-2, in,out-2·(AuCl)2 is obtained, as confirmed by a crystal structure. Both lattices show hydrogen bonding between the AuCl moieties of one molecule and the PCH2 hydrogen atoms of a neighboring molecule. This requires access to the backside of the P–Au–Cl linkages, distorting the diphosphine cages. When out,out-2·(AuCl)2 is treated with CH3Li, out,out-2·(AuCH3)2 can be isolated (91%). Analogous hydrogen bonding is impossible, and this molecule crystallizes with a much more symmetrical cage, the center of which is occupied by a methylcyclopentane solvate.
Middle-Range Theory, Behavioral Archaeology, and Postempiricist Philosophy of Science in Archaeology

This paper examines middle-range theory (MRT) within processual and postprocessual archaeology. An analysis of the Binford-Schiffer dispute serves as a means of clarifying what MRT in processual archaeology is or is intended to be. Postprocessualists, despite their vigorous criticisms of MRT-based approaches, are found to rely on the same resources and types of reasoning to make their inferences. In their practice they tacitly turn to processualist middle-range principles, and so the justification of postprocessual interpretations is equivalent to that of MRT-based processualist models. If the middle range is functionally defined — a space within a research program occupied by varying theories that are taken from the body of general theory to which the program is committed and that function as background knowledge in the verification of theories — MRT bridges the epistemological gap between processual and postprocessual approaches.
EasySketch: A Sketch-based Educational Interface to Support Children’s Self-regulation and School Readiness

Fine motor skills and executive attentions play a critical role in determining children’s self-regulation. Self-regulation contributes to children’s school readiness. Fine motor skills and executive attentions can be taught through sketching and writing activities. The growing ubiquity of touch-enabled computing devices can enhance children’s sketching ability via sketch-based playful educational applications. From the applications, children can draw sketches and potentially develop their fine motor skills. Unfortunately, those applications do not analyze the maturity of children’s fine motor skills in order to help parents and teachers understand the strengths and weaknesses of a child’s drawing ability. If an intelligent user interface can determine children’s fine motor skills automatically, teachers and parents can assess children’s fine motor skill ability and help children to improve via practicing drawings with touch-enabled devices or pencil and paper. The improvements can also extend to the children’s self-regulation ability and thus their school readiness. In this paper, we present our sketch-based educational application EasySketch. The application teaches children how to draw digits and characters, classifies the sketcher’s level of fine motor skill automatically, and returns feedback corresponding to that result.
Chapter 6 Lipoprotein receptors

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights the structure and metabolic role of lipoprotein receptors. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and the chylomicron remnant receptor play important roles in the normal catabolism of lipoproteins and in defense against atherosclerosis. The function of the LDL receptor is two-fold: (1) catabolism of plasma LDL and (2) delivery of cholesterol to cells. The importance of the LDL receptor in cholesterol homeostasis is underscored by the severe imbalances and premature deaths because of atherosclerosis that are seen in familial hypercholesterolemic (FH) subjects, who are genetically lacking or defective in this receptor. In keeping with its critical role in cellular metabolism (supplying cells with cholesterol for membrane or hormone synthesis), the LDL receptor is expressed on virtually every type of cell that are tested, although at low levels on nondividing cells because of their lower-cholesterol requirements. LDL bind via apolipoprotein (Apo)B to LDL receptors that cluster in clathrin-coated pits on the plasma membrane surface; the receptor/LDL complexes are then internalized in coated endocytic vesicles.
Methods for Intelligent Control in the Process of Hydraulic Fracturing Operation

According to the traits of the field control of the hydraulic fracturing operation, several intelligent control algorithms, such as position PID algorithm and incremental PID algorithm are put forward and the algorithm principle and the software implementation are described.
Endoscopic Management of the Obliterated Ureteroileal Anastomosis

AbstractEndoscopic restoration of a totally obstructed ureteroileal anastomosis was accomplished in 3 patients. The combined use of rigid endoscopy of the ileal conduit and flexible nephroureteroscopy provided full visualization of the blind-ending segments and allowed location of the shortest segment between the lumina. A guide wire was passed through intervening tissue with fluoroscopic monitoring to re-establish internal drainage. This technique offers an alternative to laparotomy and reimplantation in selected cases of ureteroileal stricture.
Carbon dioxide fluxes from Tifway bermudagrass: early results

This paper reports for the first time preliminary data on carbon uptake of warm-season turfgrass at a well-managed sod farm in south central Georgia. It examines the changes in carbon uptake from one of the most widely used warm-season turfgrass cultivars in the world, Tifway Bermudagrass. It elucidates the role of canopy density and light avalaibility on the net carbon uptake using the eddy-covariance technique. Preliminary evidence suggests that turfgrass is effective at sequestering carbon dioxide during the summer months even when the canopy is being reestablished following a grass harvest.
Case Studies of Social Capital at Work

This chapter defines social capital within the context of twentieth-century American history. Social capital is explained as a longstanding and foundational part of Americans’ conceptions of citizenship, and ways in which social capital in the United States has been increased through national service and civic engagement are highlighted. Four notable examples of government-sanctioned social capital-building initiatives are described: Works Progress Administration, the GI Bill, Head Start, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). The effects of these programs, and the improvements in Americans’ lives as a result of participating in the programs, are reviewed and summarized with case examples. Contemporary twenty-first-century programs which hold promise for continuing America’s social capital tradition are also identified.
Inelastic frontier: Discovering dark matter at high recoil energy

There exist well-motivated models of particle dark matter which predominantly scatter inelastically off nuclei in direct detection experiments. This inelastic transition causes the dark matter to upscatter in terrestrial experiments into an excited state up to 550 keV heavier than the dark matter itself. An inelastic transition of this size is highly suppressed by both kinematics and nuclear form factors. In this paper, we extend previous studies of inelastic dark matter to determine the present bounds on the scattering cross section and the prospects for improvements in sensitivity. Three scenarios provide illustrative examples: nearly pure Higgsino supersymmetric dark matter, magnetic inelastic dark matter, and inelastic models with dark photon exchange. We determine the elastic scattering rate (through loop diagrams involving the heavy state) as well as verify that exothermic transitions are negligible (in the parameter space we consider). Presently, the strongest bounds on the cross section are from xenon at LUX-PandaX (when the mass splitting $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\lesssim}160\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$), iodine at PICO (when $160\ensuremath{\lesssim}\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\lesssim}300\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$), and tungsten at CRESST (when $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}300\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$). Amusingly, once $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$, weak scale (and larger) dark matter--nucleon scattering cross sections are allowed. The relative competitiveness of these diverse experiments is governed by the upper bound on the recoil energies employed by each experiment, as well as strong sensitivity to the mass of the heaviest element in the detector. Several implications, including sizable recoil energy-dependent annual modulation and improvements for future experiments, are discussed. We show that the xenon experiments can improve on the PICO results, if they were to analyze their existing data over a larger range of recoil energies, i.e., 20--500 keV Intriguingly, CRESST has reported several events in the recoil energy range 45--100 keV that, if interpreted as dark matter scattering, is compatible with $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\sim}200\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$ and an approximately weak scale cross section. Future data from PICO and CRESST can test this speculation, while xenon experiments could verify or refute this upon analyzing their higher energy recoil data.
S-adenosylmethionine metabolism as a target for adenosine toxicity.

Adenosine exerts marked cytostatic and cytotoxic actions to mammalian cells. The nucleoside has been reported to inhibit pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis, to foster cyclic AMP accumulation and to cause the accumulation of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy).1,2 Adenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.20) deficient mammalian cells do not phosphorylate adenosine, but adenosine still blocks their growth, and this Is not reversed by addition of uridine. 2,3 Thus, adenosine may exert toxicity at the nucleoside level. Also, some adenosine analogs are cytotoxic without being converted to nucleotides.4
Characterization of nanoscopic calcium fluoride films

Nano metal fluorides are appropriate materials for different applications e.g. heterogeneous catalysis, ceramic materials for laser applications and antireflective layers on glass, respectively. An easy way to synthesize such nano metal fluorides is the fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis which was developed some few years ago for HS-AlF 3 [1] and MgF 2 . [2] CaF 2 exhibits similar optical properties as MgF 2 , and thus, is a promising candidate for antireflective (AR) coatings. That means, CaF 2 exhibits a lower refractive index (n 500 = 1.44) as compared to common soda lime glass (n 500 = 1.53). Hence, we present an easy synthesis approach toward nanoscaled CaF 2 sols to fabricate finally AR-CaF 2 films by dip coating. Irrespective of the choice of the calcium precursor, the CaF 2 films are porous in comparison to thin dense CaF 2 films which are generated by physical vapor deposition. The characterization of CaF 2 films was performed by different analytical methods like HR-SEM, XPS, EDX, EP (ellipsometric porosimetry), DLS (dynamic light scattering) and CA (contact angle measurement). Beside the good optical and mechanical properties, we have investigated the surface properties of CaF 2 films on glass and silicon wafer e.g. surface morphology with elemental composition, open porosity, zeta potentials at the surfaces as well as the free energy of interaction between water and the CaF 2 film.
Clean Metal Oxide Semiconductor Systems

Aspects of sodium contamination of metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) systems associated with silicon surface preparation, the oxidation plenum, and post-oxidation procedures, including contact application, are discussed. The validity of neutron activation analysis to determine sodium distributions in MOS samples is established. Refractory materials for furnace construction are examined and shown to contain as much as 1 - 5 percent sodium or potasium. Use of multiwall quartz furnace tubes as well as cold wall r-f heated systems is shown to give low sodium content oxides. Sodium levels as low as 4×1015 atoms/cc in the oxide, have been attained. Silicon crystals are shown to contain ? 1014 atoms-Na/cc. A typical chemically polished silicon surface generally retains an oxide contaminated at ? 1013 atoms-Na/cm2. This native oxide is sufficient to account for the shape of the sodium distribution, as well as the amount of sodium found in thermal oxides. Additional discussion is made of the impurity levels associated with contact application. The combination of oxidation and contact procedures is shown to yield MOS samples which suffer no change in C-V characteristics after stress at 300° C and 1 x 106 V/cm applied across the oxide.
Implementation of a Clinical Documentation Improvement Curriculum Improves Quality Metrics and Hospital Charges in an Academic Surgery Department.

Background Accurate clinical documentation (CD) is necessary for many aspects of modern health care, including excellent communication, quality metrics reporting, and legal documentation. New requirements have mandated adoption of ICD-10-CM coding systems, adding another layer of complexity to CD. A clinical documentation improvement (CDI) and ICD-10 training program was created for health care providers in our academic surgery department. We aimed to assess the impact of our CDI curriculum by comparing quality metrics, coding, and reimbursement before and after implementation of our CDI program. Study design A CDI/ICD-10 training curriculum was instituted in September 2014 for all members of our university surgery department. The curriculum consisted of didactic lectures, 1-on-1 provider training, case reviews, e-learning modules, and CD queries from nurse CDI staff and hospital coders. Outcomes parameters included monthly documentation completion rates, severity of illness (SOI), risk of mortality (ROM), case-mix index (CMI), all-payer refined diagnosis-related groups (APR-DRG), and Surgical Care Improvement Program (SCIP) metrics. Financial gain from responses to CDI queries was determined retrospectively. Results Surgery department delinquent documentation decreased by 85% after CDI implementation. Compliance with SCIP measures improved from 85% to 97%. Significant increases in surgical SOI, ROM, CMI, and APR-DRG (all p Conclusions Clinical documentation improvement/ICD-10 training in an academic surgery department is an effective method to improve documentation rates, increase the hospital estimated reimbursement based on more accurate CD, and provide better compliance with surgical quality measures.
One further step to cell behaviour understanding

In a recent report, a dynamically regulated processing approach used to align Ag nanowires was developed and applied to the fabrication of bi-functional extracellular matrix. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering characteristic of cells on this substrate demonstrated advancement in the direction of mechanistic study on cellular adhesion and stretched growth.
A study on blast and fragment resistance of composite metal foams through experimental and modeling approaches

Abstract Composite metal foam (CMF) is known for its high strength to density ratio and extraordinary energy absorption capabilities. In this study, stainless steel CMF panels are manufactured and tested against high explosive incendiary (HEI) rounds to study their resistance against explosive blast pressure and the resulting fragments. It is shown that the CMF panels were able to stop the imparted fragments of various sizes, with speeds up to 1500 m/s, and absorb the blast energy without cracking or bowing. The experimental findings were verified using IMPETUS Afea Solver and compared to the performance of a conventional aluminum armor. It is observed that despite their similar mass, the depth of penetration of the fragments into the aluminum plate is higher than that of the CMF panel. Significant front petaling and bulging is observed in aluminum plate following impact of the blast and frags. No petaling and minimal bulging is observed in all CMF panels. In addition, CMF panels are far less stressed when compared to the aluminum plate at any interval following the blast. The experimental and analytical results prove that novel CMF material can be the solution for the pressing need for effective light-weight vehicular armors.
Formation of self-assembled gold nanoparticle supercrystals with facet-dependent surface plasmonic coupling

Metallic nanoparticles, such as gold and silver nanoparticles, can self-assemble into highly ordered arrays known as supercrystals for potential applications in areas such as optics, electronics, and sensor platforms. Here we report the formation of self-assembled 3D faceted gold nanoparticle supercrystals with controlled nanoparticle packing and unique facet-dependent optical property by using a binary solvent diffusion method. The nanoparticle packing structures from specific facets of the supercrystals are characterized by small/wide-angle X-ray scattering for detailed reconstruction of nanoparticle translation and shape orientation from mesometric to atomic levels within the supercrystals. We discover that the binary diffusion results in hexagonal close packed supercrystals whose size and quality are determined by initial nanoparticle concentration and diffusion speed. The supercrystal solids display unique facet-dependent surface plasmonic and surface-enhanced Raman characteristics. The ease of the growth of large supercrystal solids facilitates essential correlation between structure and property of nanoparticle solids for practical integrations.
Production systems with interruptions, arbitrary topology and finite buffers

We consider a production system with finite buffers and arbitrary topology where service time is subject to interruptions in one of three ways, viz. machine breakdown, machine vacations or N‐policy. We develop a unified approximation (analytical) methodology to calculate the throughput of the system using queueing networks together with decomposition, isolation and expansion techniques. The methodology is rigorously tested covering a large experimental region. Orthogonal arrays are used to design the experiments in order to keep the number of experiments manageable. The results obtained using the approximation methodology are compared to the simulation results. The t‐tests carried out to investigate the differences between the two results show that they are statistically insignificant. Finally, we test the methodology by applying it to several arbitrary topology networks. The results show that the performance of the approximation methodology is consistent, robust and produces excellent results in a variety of experimental conditions.
Increased cell genesis in retinal pigment epithelium of perinatal vitiligo mutant mice.

vll /ffK vlt mice and congenic +/ + controls were injected once with bromodeoxyuridine 1 hour before they were killed between embryonic day 18 and postnatal day 8. Wholemounts of Carnoy-fixed posterior eyecups, minus lens and neural retina, were stained immunohistochemically to detect DNA synthesis (bromodeoxyuridine incorporation) and mitotic cells (R3 antibody binding). Cells were counted in carefully controlled sampling sites, and total RPE area and face-view cell areas were calculated. Retinal pigment epithelial cell heights were measured on light and electron micrographs. Results. Total surface areas of the mutant and control RPE monolayer were similar (i.e., RPE wholemount area was normal), but cell number was approximately doubled in the mutant RPE. By postnatal day 6, mutant cells had approximately 70% the face-view area as controls, but their heights were increased approximately 80%, so that cell volumes were near normal despite the higher packing density. Regional differences in cell size in the control RPE were absent in the mutant specimens. The mutant RPE showed an increased bromodeoxyuridine labeling index, as well as an absolute increase in the number of cells engaged in DNA synthesis and in mitosis. Conclusions. Cell genesis in the vitiligo RPE is quantitatively abnormal perinatally, well before the neural retina has been recognized to display functional or morphologic defects. Cells are being generated at an abnormally high rate, so that twice the normal number of cells are packed into a RPE of normal total area. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996;37:1116-1124.
Advanced Control Design

In this chapter, HSSPFC is utilized to design advanced control laws for distributed parameter systems (PDE’s), fractional calculus control, optimal power flow control, robust tracking control, and adaptive tracking control.
The secondary role of UV light in swimmers melanoma genesis

Background Swimmers are known to have a higher incidence of cutaneous melanoma Experimental studies are unable to explain the role of ultraviolet radiation UV as the sole factor in swimmers cutaneous melanomas Other mechanisms such as the prevalence of the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide H O in the hair follicles has been hypothesized by several authors as another etiological factor For example the H O generated by keratinocytes diffuses into melanocytes and may play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of cutaneous melanoma Other in vitro experiments document that in water submerged hairs sites such as the infundibulum and at wounded hair follicles is where exogenous H O couldpenetrate The energy released during the decomposition of H O by catalase in the eukaryotic cell was also hypothesized to be an additional factor for the origin of cancer Epidemiological studies attribute the low incidence of Melanoma genesis in countries such as Japan to the beneficial effect of the consumption of the seaweed Sargasum filipendula which has antiproliferative and antioxidant properties This manuscript supports H O as being the missing attributable risk in swimmers cutaneous melanomas Methods A literature survey was performed which aimed to identify exogenous H O as a key factor in the causation in cutaneous swimmers Melanoma genesis Results In Swimmers all published theories as well as actual in vitroexperiments identify H O as essential factors for cutaneous melanoma In water submerged hairs there are two sites where exogenous H O can penetrate thehuman hair follicle At the hair shaft skin junction and sites where injury has damaged the external follicular wall Conclusion Published evidence demonstrates that the incidence of cutaneous melanomas is higher in swimmers that in the general population H O forms by the conversion of dissolved organic matter by the sun UV light in fresh or salt water bodies In Swimmers spontaneously penetrating into the hair follicles Melanoma tumor cells are then formed by the decomposition of H O by catalase and the malignant cells then spread into the surrounding tissues The sun UV light playing a secondary role with H O hypothesized as the primary attributable risk
Provider-Level Characteristics Associated With Adolescent Varicella, Meningococcal, and Human Papillomavirus Immunization Initiation

Purpose. We examined patient- and provider-level factors associated with initiation of three adolescent immunizations among 13 to 18 year olds in an adolescent primary care clinic. Methods. Data were extracted retrospectively from medical records. Logistic regression models identified associations with immunization initiation. Post hoc analyses stratified by gender were conducted to examine provider-type contribution to human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization initiation. Results. Among 2932 adolescents, rates of meningococcal and varicella immunization initiation differed by age. Girls were more likely to have initiated HPV immunization than boys. The probability of girls initiating HPV immunization was the same when last seen by advanced practice nurses (APNs) versus physicians, but the probability of boys initiating HPV immunization was lower when last seen by APNs. Conclusions. Differences in HPV immunization initiation were observed between genders, and for boys, between APN versus physician at last c...
Associations among widely used French and U .S. maize hybrids as revealed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Eighty DNA Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) clones were used as probes to profile 47 hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.) that are of widespread usage in France and 49 hybrids that are either in common usage or are new releases in the U.S. The objectives were to 1) investigate the degree to which RFLPs provide unique characterization of hybrids; 2) show associations among hybrids using both cluster and principal coordinate analyses; 3) measure the ability of RFLPs to show associations among hybrids that reflect those to be expected on the basis of pedigree; and 4) compare the patterns and extent of genetic diversity among French hybrids with that found among a set of widely used U.S. hybrids. RFLPs showed all French hybrids to have different profiles, however, 3 hybrids were very similar with more than 90% of their profiles in common. Twenty-seven U.S. hybrids showed this level of similarity with one or more U.S. hybrids. High correlations (r=0.93, 0.94) were found for pedigree distance versus RFLP distance between pairs of French and of French and U.S. hybrids, respectively. Similar levels of correspondence for rank correlations between RFLP and pedigree data were also found. Similar groupings of hybrids were shown by two cluster analysis methods and by principal coordinate analysis. Inclusion of hybrids in cluster groupings was supported by observation of raw distance data for selected hybrids and their nearest neighbors. Most hectarage in France is planted to hybrids that fall within 2 related groups of germplasm on the basis of RFLP data. Minimum distance standards could promote breeders to surmount the challenge of introducing elite yet diverse germplasm into agriculture.
“Hate at school: victimization and disorder associated with school avoidance”

Previous research indicates that victimization at school and school disorder are associated with school avoidance. The appearance of hateful words and symbols at schools and verbal hateful attacks ...
Montesquieu: Discourses, Dissertations, and Dialogues on Politics, Science, and Religion

A number of Montesquieu's lesser-known discourses, dissertations and dialogues are made available to a wider audience, for the first time fully translated and annotated in English. The views they incorporate on politics, economics, science, and religion shed light on the overall development of his political and moral thought. They enable us better to understand not just Montesquieu's importance as a political philosopher studying forms of government, but also his stature as a moral philosopher, seeking to remind us of our duties while injecting deeper moral concerns into politics and international relations. They reveal that Montesquieu's vision for the future was remarkably clear: more science and less superstition; greater understanding of our moral duties; enhanced concern for justice, increased emphasis on moral principles in the conduct of domestic and international politics; toleration of conflicting religious viewpoints; commerce over war, and liberty over despotism as the proper goals for mankind.
Swine hepatitis E virus: Cross-species infection, pork safety and chronic infection

Swine hepatitis E virus (swine HEV) belongs to the species Orthohepevirus A within the genus Orthohepevirus in the family Hepeviridae. Four different genotypes of swine HEV within the species Orthohepevirus A have been identified so far from domesticated and wild swine population: genotypes 3 (HEV-3) and 4 (HEV-4) swine HEVs are zoonotic and infect humans, whereas HEV-5 and HEV-6 are only identified from swine. As a zoonotic agent, swine HEV is an emerging public health concern in many industrialized countries. Pigs are natural reservoir for HEV, consumption of raw or undercooked pork is an important route of foodborne HEV transmission. Occupational risks such as direct contact with infected pigs also increase the risk of HEV transmission in humans. Cross-species infection of HEV-3 and HEV-4 have been documented under experimental and natural conditions. Both swine HEV-3 and swine HEV-4 infect non-human primates, the surrogates of man. Swine HEV, predominantly HEV-3, can establish chronic infection in immunocompromised patients especially in solid organ transplant recipients. The zoonotic HEV-3, and to lesser extent HEV-4, have also been shown to cause neurological diseases and kidney injury. In this review, we focus on the epidemiology of swine HEV, host and viral determinants influencing cross-species HEV infection, zoonotic infection and its associated pork safety concern, as well as swine HEV-associated chronic infection and neurological diseases.
Enhanced Susceptibility of PINK1 Knockout Rats to α-Synuclein Fibrils.

Abstract The main neuropathological hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and intraneuronal protein aggregates immunoreactive for α-synuclein phosphorylated at serine 129 (pS129). Most cases of PD are idiopathic; however, genetic mutations have been identified in several genes linked to familial PD. Mutations in the gene encoding α-synuclein are causally linked to dominantly inherited forms of PD and mutations in the PTEN-induced kinase-1 (PINK1) gene are linked to recessively inherited forms of PD. Because abnormal α-synuclein protein aggregates appear spontaneously in PINK1 knockout (KO) rats, we hypothesize that PINK1-deficiency causes endogenous α-synuclein to be more prone to aggregation. α-Synuclein aggregation does not normally occur in mice or rats, however, it can be induced by intracranial injection of α-synuclein pre-formed fibrils (PFFs), which also induces loss of dopaminergic nigral neurons 3–6 months post-injection. Because PINK1-deficiency is linked to early-onset PD, we further hypothesize that PINK1 KO rats will show earlier PFF-induced neurodegeneration compared to wild-type (WT) rats. Herein, we report that intracranial injection of α-synuclein PFFs into the dorsal striatum induced more abundant pS129 α-synuclein in PINK1 KO rat brains compared to WT littermate controls. Moreover, the synuclein extracted from the brains of PFF-injected PINK1 KO rats was more insoluble compared to PFF-injected WT littermates, suggesting greater progression of α-synuclein pathology in PINK1 KO rats. Four weeks post-injection, PFFs caused significant loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of PINK1 KO rats, but not WT controls. Together, our results indicate that PINK1 deficiency increases vulnerability to α-synuclein aggregation and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in vivo.
Energy consumption parameter analysis of industrial robots using design of experiment methodology

During the last decade, industrial robot installations have increased greatly, contributing to higher energy consumption at the process level. To align with Industry 4.0 objectives to reduce energy...
Simultaneous Extraction of Lead, Copper, and Cadmium from Aqueous Solution using Emulsion Liquid Membrane Technique

A simultaneous extraction study of lead, copper, and cadmium from diluted aqueous solution through Emulsion Liquid Membrane (ELM) technique was conducted and extensive investigations of the impact of the pH of the feed phase, homogenizer speed, surfactant (Span 80) and carrier (D2EHPA) concentrations, and ratio of external to membrane phase on the system stability (breakage) and removal efficiencies of Pb2+, Cu2+,Cd2+ ions were experimentally carried out. Kerosene was used as the membrane and stabilized by Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) as the emulsifier. Bis-2-Ethylhexyl phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) as an extractant and H2SO4 as a reagent (internal phase) were utilized. Lead, Copper, and Cadmium extraction efficiencies of 100%, 100%, and 98% were obtained respectively under specific operating conditions. The emulsion stability of the system was studied, and breakage of 1.8% under the best operating condition was obtained. High reagent (H2SO4) concentration (0.5 M) maintained the simultaneous extraction of the three heavy metals (lead, copper, and cadmium) and minimizes the probable interaction and competing mechanism between them in the extraction stage.
Intersectional Perspectives on Teaching: Women of Color, Equity, and Computer Science

As high school computer science course offerings have expanded exponentially over the past decade, persistent gaps in terms of race and gender have remained a key characteristic in computer science classroom learning opportunities. This study aims to learn from the perspectives and knowledge of seven women of color who are high school computing teachers. Using ethnographic methods and data collected from professional development observations and interviews, this study examines how the intersectional identities and embodied experiences of these educators can inform efforts at broadening participation in computing for students. The findings of this study point to the importance of not playing it safe, commitment to teaching in historically underserved communities, intersectional identities and impact on teaching, and critical hope as key tenets in these teachers' standpoints towards broadening participation in computing. While some of these tenets can inform other educator's pedagogical efforts at broadening participation in computing, the embodied, gendered, and racialized nature of these findings highlight the need to prepare a diverse teacher cadre as part of building authentic opportunities to learn for all students.
Revisiting patient-related barriers to cancer pain management in the context of the US opioid crisis.

ABSTRACT Patient fear of addiction is a well-documented barrier to the use of analgesic medications for cancer pain control. Over the past 2 decades in the United States, an "opioid crisis" has arisen, accompanied by risk messages delivered through news outlets, public health education, and patient-provider communication. The purpose of this study was to determine if patient-related barriers to cancer pain management-specifically, fears of addiction-and related pain outcomes (pain severity, pain interference with daily life, and adequacy of pain management) have worsened over the last 20 years. A sample of 157 outpatients with active recurrent or active metastatic cancer completed the Barriers Questionnaire-II (BQ-II) and measures of pain and analgesic use. We identified 7 comparison studies published between 2002 and 2020 that reported patient-related barriers using the BQ-II. Significant linear relationships were found between later year of publication and greater fear of addiction (harmful effect subscale score, B = 0.0350, R2 = 0.0347, F1,637 = 23.19, P < 0.0001) and between year of publication and more pain management barriers overall (total BQ-II score, B = 0.039, R2 = 0.065, F1,923 = 73.79, P < 0.0001). Relationships between BQ-II scores (harmful effect and total) and pain outcomes did not change over time. Despite worsening in patient-related barriers, the proportion of patients with adequate vs inadequate analgesic use did not differ over time. Notably, 40% of participants reported inadequate analgesic use, a statistic that has not improved in 20 years. Additional research is necessary to clarify factors contributing to changing beliefs. Findings indicate a continuing need for clinical and possibly system/policy-level interventions to support adequate cancer pain management.
Abnormal movements in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A case series.

Abstract Background Abnormal movements in Covid-19 patients have been reported with varying degree of frequency, prompting neurologic consultation and additional diagnostic evaluation. We sought to evaluate the frequency and etiology of abnormal movements among hospitalized Covid-19 patients undergoing neurologic consultation. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the first 50 consecutive patients with confirmed Covid-19 hospitalized at our tertiary medical care center who underwent acute inpatient neurology consultation from March 2020 through May 2020. Indication for neurologic consultation and diagnostic studies performed were identified by electronic medical record review. Results Of the 50 initial consultation requests, 11 (22.0%) patients were evaluated for abnormal movements (nine male and two female). Myoclonus was diagnosed in 6/11 (54.5%) patients. Additionally, two patients were diagnosed with seizures (confirmed on EEG in one), while two additional patients were diagnosed with tremor (physiologic and probable functional). A single case of serotonin syndrome was also identified. Conclusion Abnormal movements observed in hospitalized Covid-19 patients can have a wide range of etiologies and were a frequent initial indication for neurologic consultation. Myoclonus was the most frequent type of abnormal movement observed. Early clinical recognition and directed diagnostic work-up is essential for accurate diagnoses in these patients.