cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INDUSTRIAL CHALLENGES OF MILITARY ROBOTICS

Abstract This article evaluates the ‘drive toward greater autonomy’ in lethally-armed unmanned systems. Following a summary of the main criticisms and challenges to lethal autonomy, both engineering and ethical, raised by opponents of this effort, the article turns toward solutions or responses that defense industries and military end users might seek to incorporate in design, testing and manufacturing to address these concerns. The way forward encompasses a two-fold testing procedure for reliability incorporating empirical, quantitative benchmarks of performance in compliance with formalized and programmable rules of engagement, and a conception of ‘due care’ in product liability. This would be designed in analogy with procedures currently followed by well-intentioned governments and militaries with their own (human) military personnel, both to ensure against failure, and to accept responsibility and compensate victims of inadvertent and unintended accidents. The procedure is designed specifically to add...
Hobbes and international relations: a reconsideration

Hobbes has long been a central figure in the theory of international relations. He has also been a badly misunderstood one. While often invoked to support contemporary theories of international politics, Hobbes's thinking actually challenges rational-choice theories, the structural realism of Kenneth Waltz, and the “rationalist” approach of the English school. Indeed, the skeptical foundations of his political vision place him closer to contemporary postpositivist positions, though here, too, his views raise difficult and important questions for such a stance. In general, Hobbes's theory of international relations focuses not upon the determinations of anarchy in any conventional sense but upon issues of knowledge, ideology, and legitimacy in the construction of political orders both domestically and internationally.
Professional Development in Law, Health Care, and Aging A Model Fellowship Program

There is a growing need for a strong core of professionals with the knowledge, skills, and sensitivities necessary to integrate the fields of law, health care, and gerontology. This article describes a unique professional development program that attempted to address this need by making it possible for a small number of recently graduated attorneys to observe, experience, and question on a firsthand level the provision of various forms of health care to older patients.
Functionalized biomicroelectromechanical systems sensors for force response study at local adhesion sites of single living cells on substrates.

We present a method of measuring force response of a single living cell, attached to a substrate, in situ, by a functionalized microelectromechanical systems sensor that applies local deformation on the cell. The sensor is a single crystal silicon microcantilever beam with prescribed shape and geometry, and is coated by a thin layer of fibronectin. It is brought in contact with a cell to form adhesion cites, and is then moved by a piezoactuator to deform the cell locally. The force is transmitted from the adhesion site(s) on the cantilever to the sites on the substrate through the cytoskeleton. The interaction force between the cell and the cantilever is measured from the deformation of the cantilever and its spring constant, which can be obtained by several independent means. The force and the cell deformation can be 10 s of nano-Newtons and micrometers, respectively. We demonstrate the method using two families of force sensors with spring constants of 18 and 0.4 nN/μm. Several cells, endothelial and fibroblast, are deformed by tens of micrometers until the adhesion sites failed. Their force–deformation response shows strong linearity. Several possible mechanisms are discussed to explain the linear response. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society.
Fiber optic sagnac interferometer for characterizing ultrasound biomicroscopy transducers

There is a lack of hydrophones with sufficient spatial resolution and bandwidth for accurate measurements of ultrasound biomicroscopy transducers. Optical techniques achieve extremely fine spatial resolution and broad detection bandwidth. Furthermore, fiber optic technology can significantly improve portability and ease of use. We demonstrate a fiber optic Sagnac interferometer with an immersible probe head for characterizing high frequency ultrasound transducers. The fiber-coupled probe head contains optical components as well as the acoustic sensing surface, which is made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The entire probe head is encapsulated with PDMS for immersion applications. The fiber optic hydrophone is used to characterize a 100 MHz f/1 zinc oxide transducer (2 mm focal length). The Sagnac measurements show the transducer transmits a peak frequency of 105 MHz and a −6 dB bandwidth of 55 MHz. The detection bandwidth of the hydrophone is 350 MHz, limited by the photodetector bandwidth. The focal pattern is mapped by laterally scanning the transducer over a 50 × 50 pixel grid in 2 µm increments. The −3 dB transmit beam width is 14 µm along both x and y axes. These results demonstrate that a fiber optic Sagnac interferometer with an immersible probe head is well suited for characterizing ultrasound biomicroscopy transducers.
Images of Africa in news magazines: Is there a black perspective?

More than 20 years of research confirms the media ignore Africa unless there is a major famine or conflict. Why? Part of the answer is race. A comparison of news of Africa in Emerge, a news magazine for the black middle-class, and Newsweek indicates that the race of journalists and their audience influenced news content. Emerge published more news of Africa and news of more African countries. It published more positive news and reported fewer crisis events. It explained troubles in South Africa in terms of competing economic and political forces rather than tribal conflicts, and it avoided stereotypes. Emerge reported a sense of connectedness between African-American groups and Africa.
The development and validation of the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R)

The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale (PACS; Thompson, Heinberg, & Tantleff, 1991) was revised to assess appearance comparisons relevant to women and men in a wide variety of contexts. The revised scale (Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised, PACS-R) was administered to 1176 college females. In Study 1, exploratory factor analysis and parallel analysis using one half of the sample suggested a single factor structure for the PACS-R. Study 2 utilized the remaining half of the sample to conduct confirmatory factor analysis, item analysis, and to examine the convergent validity of the scale. These analyses resulted in an 11-item measure that demonstrated excellent internal consistency and convergent validity with measures of body satisfaction, eating pathology, sociocultural influences on appearance, and self-esteem. Regression analyses demonstrated the utility of the PACS-R in predicting body satisfaction and eating pathology. Overall, results indicate that the PACS-R is a reliable and valid tool for assessing appearance comparison tendencies in women.
An application of DEA to measure the efficiency of Spanish airports prior to privatization

Abstract Most airports compare their efficiency according to the results of some partial productivity ratios. However, this approach does not provide a good understanding of their overall performance. In this paper, we apply data envelopment analysis to analyze the technical efficiency and performance of each individual Spanish airport. Results are used to extract some policy considerations before the process of privatization of the Spanish airport system.
Relationship between soil densities of Aspergillus species and colonization of wounded peanut seeds.

Soil is a reservoir for Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, fungi that commonly colonize peanut seeds and produce carcinogenic aflatoxins. Densities of these fungi in soil vary greatly among fie...
Cast Shadow Removal Using Time and Exposure Varying Images

Shadows are the natural accomplice of objects. As such, they have affected various algorithms dealing with image segmentation, object tracking and recognition. A lot of research has been focused on removing shadows from images while preserving the information available in the shadow region. In this paper, we present a simple yet robust algorithm for cast shadow removal utilizing images taken at different times with different exposures. While different exposures allow good recovery of shadow regions, the time-varying feature is used to suppress the shadow edges.
Allelopathic Potential of Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)1

The allelopathic potential of wild radish was evaluated in controlled environments by determining if an aqueous extract from oven-dried wild radish shoots suppressed germination and radicle growth of some crops and weeds common to the southeastern United States. In addition, phytotoxicity from topical applications of the aqueous extract was assessed, along with crop and weed suppression by soil incorporated, air-dried wild radish residues. Germination and radicle growth of all species were reduced by the extract compared with distilled water. However, topical applications of the aqueous extract failed to induce injury on any species by 7 d after treatment. Emergence and shoot fresh weight of the bioassay plants were reduced by wild radish residue incorporated into soil, with the level of suppression dependent on the quantity of residue incorporated. Sicklepod and prickly sida were extremely sensitive to incorporated wild radish residues, with > 95% fresh weight reduction at 0.5% (wt/wt) residue, compared ...
Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of nucleoside prodrugs designed to target siderophore biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Abstract The nucleoside antibiotic, 5′- O -[ N -(salicyl)sulfamoyl]adenosine ( 1 ), possesses potent whole-cell activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( Mtb ), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB). This compound is also active in vivo, but suffers from poor drug disposition properties that result in poor bioavailability and rapid clearance. The synthesis and evaluation of a systematic series of lipophilic ester prodrugs containing linear and α-branched alkanoyl groups from two to twelve carbons at the 3′-position of a 2′-fluorinated analog of 1 is reported with the goal to improve oral bioavailability. The prodrugs were stable in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and under physiological conditions (pH 7.4). The prodrugs were also remarkably stable in mouse, rat, and human serum (relative serum stability: human ∼ rat ≫ mouse) displaying a parabolic trend in the SAR with hydrolysis rates increasing with chain length up to eight carbons ( t 1/2 = 1.6 h for octanoyl prodrug 7 in mouse serum) and then decreasing again with higher chain lengths. The permeability of the prodrugs was also assessed in a Caco-2 cell transwell model. All of the prodrugs were found to have reduced permeation in the apical-to-basolateral direction and enhanced permeation in the basolateral-to-apical direction relative to the parent compound 2 , resulting in efflux ratios 5–28 times greater than 2 . Additionally, Caco-2 cells were found to hydrolyze the prodrugs with SAR mirroring the serum stability results and a preference for hydrolysis on the apical side. Taken together, these results suggest that the described prodrug strategy will lead to lower than expected oral bioavailability of 2 and highlight the contribution of intestinal esterases for prodrug hydrolysis.
Extrinsic Motivations in Open Source Software Development Efforts and the Moderating Effects of Satisfaction of Needs

As a new phenomenon in the software industry, Open Source Software (OSS) development has attracted a high level of research interest. Examining what motivates participants in OSS projects and how to enhance the effects of motivations has received increased attention in recent years. This study is prompted by the significant but detail-lacking examination of differential effects of various types of extrinsic motivations on participants’ task effort in OSS projects and their interaction effects with participants’ psychological states. Drawing upon self-determination theory, we establish four types of extrinsic motivations in OSS communities (i.e., external, introjected, identified, and integrated motivation) and investigate how these types affect task effort differently. Also, integrating self-determination theory with affective event theory, we study how satisfaction of needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness moderates the relationships between extrinsic motivations and task effort. The research model is largely supported by data from 250 participants in various OSS projects. Theoretical contribution and practical implications are discussed.
Residential cancer cluster investigation nearby a Superfund Study Area with trichloroethylene contamination.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an industrial solvent associated with liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). It is unclear whether an excess of TCE-associated cancers have occurred surrounding the Middlefield–Ellis–Whisman Superfund site in Mountain View, California. We conducted a population-based cancer cluster investigation comparing the incidence of NHL, liver, and kidney cancers in the neighborhood of interest to the incidence among residents in the surrounding four-county region. Case counts and address information were obtained using routinely collected data from the Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry, part of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Population denominators were obtained from the 1990, 2000, and 2010 US censuses. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with two-sided 99 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for time intervals surrounding the US Censuses. There were no statistically significant differences between the neighborhood of interest and the larger region for cancers of the liver or kidney. A statistically significant elevation was observed for NHL during one of the three time periods evaluated (1996–2005: SIR = 1.8, 99 % CI 1.1–2.8). No statistically significant NHL elevation existed in the earlier 1988–1995 (SIR = 1.3, 99 % CI 0.5–2.6) or later 2006–2011 (SIR = 1.3, 99 % CI 0.6–2.4) periods. There is no evidence of an increased incidence of liver or kidney cancer, and there is a lack of evidence of a consistent, sustained, or more recent elevation in NHL occurrence in this neighborhood. This evaluation included existing cancer registry data, which cannot speak to specific exposures incurred by past or current residents of this neighborhood.
The Absorption of X-Rays from λ = . 08 TO 4.0 A

The mass-absorption coefficients of a number of elements from C to U for homogeneous rays from $\ensuremath{\lambda}.709$ to 1.933A and for filtered general rays from 1.93 to 4.0A have been measured. A Shearer gas tube, continuously pumped and arranged with a controlled side leak was used. The data from these observations, together with those from the two previous papers by the author at wave-lengths from $\ensuremath{\lambda}.08$ to.709A taken with the same apparatus and on the same samples throughout, form a set of continuous results from.08 to 4A, from which, after a careful analysis, the following conclusions can be stated. Over a wide range of wave-lengths, in which the mass-scattering coefficients $\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ can be neglected, the fluorescent absorptin coefficients $\frac{\ensuremath{\tau}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}$ cannot always be represented by the generally accepted formula, $\frac{o\ensuremath{\tau}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}=C{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{n}$ with $n$ and $C$ constant, but each element must be considered by itself, with values of $n$ and $C$ changing rather abruptly in certain regions of wave-length. In general the values of $n$ which best fit the results are a high value 2.92 and a low value 2.6. Nowhere does ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{3}$ over a long range accurately represent the data. Over the complete range of wave-length, the absorption of Al appears to be quite accurately represented by the formula, $\frac{\ensuremath{\mu}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}=(13.9 or 14.0){\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2.92}+(.14 \mathrm{to} .18)$ and is therefore well suited as a standard substance for the determination of effective wave-lengths from absorption coefficients. The $\frac{{N}^{4}}{A}$ law, although holding fairly well in those cases where $n$ is the same for all the elements involved, can at best be only approximate, and it therefore does not seem possible to express the absorption of x-rays by a universal formula of the form $\frac{\ensuremath{\tau}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}=\frac{C{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{3}{N}^{4}}{A}$, in which $C$ is a constant. The discontinuity magnitudes, ${J}_{K}=\frac{{C}_{K}}{{C}_{L}}$, extended to Fe, show steadily increasing values with decrease of atomic number $N$, reaching a maximum value for Fe of about 10. For the L-M series, ${J}_{L}(=\frac{{C}_{L}}{{C}_{M}})$ shows values following the same law as ${J}_{K}$ does, with probably somewhat higher values for the same elements than ${J}_{K}$. For the M-N series, ${J}_{M}(=\frac{{C}_{M}}{{C}_{N}}=10 \mathrm{to} 12 \mathrm{in}\mathrm{the}\mathrm{case}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{U})$ apparently indicates that ${J}_{M}$ with five discontinuities has much higher values than ${J}_{L}$ or ${J}_{K}$ for the same elements. The effect of impurities in the cases of Al, Cu, Sn and Pb was ascertained, and only the presence of Fe in the Al could make an error as great as 1 percent.
Cognitive slowing in Alzheimer's disease and geriatric depression.

Response slowing on psychological tasks is found both in Alzheimer's disease and depression. However, the underlying cause for this slowing may be different in the two disorders. This research examined whether the behavioral slowing found in Alzheimer patients results from a reduction in their rate of cognitive processing, whereas the slowing in depressed geriatric patients reflects a purely motor retardation. This hypothesis was tested using a task in which subjects had simply to determine the number of dots present in an array (i.e., enumeration). In all four subject groups (Alzheimer patients, depressed geriatric patients, healthy old controls, and healthy young controls), response time increased linearly with array size. The slope of this linear function (reflecting rate of enumeration) was the same in the normal and depressed patients, but was significantly greater in the Alzheimer patients, suggesting the presence of a cognitive slowing in Alzheimer's disease, but not in depression.
“What If I Don't Wanna Be White?”: Black Authenticity and White Privilege in Margaret Seltzer's Fake Memoir

ABSTRACTThis essay examines the discourse of black authenticity in Margaret Seltzer's fake memoir Love and Consequences (2008) and the author's fraudulent public performance as her narrator as a function of white privilege. Seltzer's hoax exploits stereotypes to appeal to a white middlebrow readership, demonstrating the continuing market value of black trauma.
More Equal than We Thought? Using Vote Validation to Better Understand Participation Inequality in the States

Inequality in political participation is a well-known and often studied feature of American politics. An important study examining misreporting of voter turnout in opinion surveys, however, calls into question the true extent of participation inequality. Ansolabehere and Hersh’s first-ever 50-state vote validation project shows that those with more political resources are more likely to misreport turnout. That is, those with higher incomes are more likely than others to report that they had voted when in fact they did not. These findings suggest that income disparities in participation are not as large as opinion surveys have led us to believe. Moreover, studies using differences between voters and nonvoters as a key political indicator may also be biased. This article presents the first assessment of whether vote misreporting creates systematic bias in measures of state participation inequality. An index of economic inequality in participation for the 50 states is developed using the Ansolabehere and Her...
Measurement of Iodide in Urine by Derivatization Capillary Gas Chromatography

Objective To build a derivatization capillary gas chromatography for determining iodide in urine. Methods Adopting reaction of pedantic dichromic potassium,sulfuric acid,butanone with iodic acid potassium,iodine was detected in urine with benzene as extraction agent,HP-5 capillary column separation,ECD detection,and peak area quantification. Results The detection limit was 0.025μg/ml,the linear relation of Iˉ was excellent within the range of 0～1.0μg/ml,and the mean recovery rate was between 82.7% and 93.2%,with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.0%. As compared with the arsenic cerium method,no significant difference was found between the two methods (P0.05). The urine fluoride and chloride did not interfere with the determination of iodide. Conclusions The method has the advantages of easy operation,high sensitivity,good accuracy and reliability,and high clinical applicative value in determination of urine sample.
Movement of the i.v. room to the postanesthesia care area: an alternative to an operating room satellite pharmacy.

The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis decided to combine the need for an operating room (OR) satellite pharmacy with the need to upgrade the existing intravenous (IV) room. This decision resulted in the movement of the move not only provided an upgraded IV room but its location allowed for direct access to the OR suites. The IV room can now provide the additional services of an OR satellite pharmacy. Cost savings estimates for a dedicated OR satellite pharmacy did not provide the hospital administration with the financial justification for the project. Only by combining the pharmacy's personnel and physical resources did the proposal become inviting enough for the hospital administration to support. The steps in the creation of the combined IV room/OR satellite pharmacy are presented.
Eosinophilic pneumonia associated with pirfenidone therapy

Pulmonary eosinophilia is a common manifestation of drug-induced lung disease and, at the time of writing, some 170 medications have been implicated in eosinophilic pneumonia [1]. Since the reaction occurs rarely for any given drug, however, establishing a causal relationship is difficult, and relies on reports of temporal relationship and exclusion of alternative causes of eosinophilic lung disease. Pirfenidone is an oral antifibrotic drug that is conditionally recommended as therapy for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), based on the results of three randomised controlled trials [2]. Here, we describe what we believe to be the first report of the association of pirfenidone therapy with eosinophilic pneumonia. Pirfenidone therapy may cause eosinophilic lung disease
Anorectal Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Anorectal involvement occurs in more than a quarter of cases. Primary anorectal involvement includes a variety of disease entities. Most common are anal tags, fissures, ulcers, abscesses, fistulas, and strictures. Anorectal squamous carcinomas and adenocarcinomas occur less frequently. Symptoms are exceedingly variable and can range from mild annoyance caused by anal skin tags to chronic pain, sepsis, and fecal incontinence caused by complex fistulas and cavitating ulcerations. Effective treatment of anorectal Crohn’s disease requires a thorough understanding of the involved anatomy. This often requires anorectal examination under anesthesia as well as studies by magnetic resonant imaging or endorectal ultrasound. Surgical amelioration of perianal sepsis is always required. Therapy is often multimodal and involves a variety of agents including antibiotics, immunomodulators, and biologics. Surgical intervention needs to be exercised judiciously. Close collaboration between the surgeon, the gastroenterologist, and other specialists is mandatory. Diversion and proctectomy are required in many cases. Desired outcomes of therapy for anorectal Crohn’s disease should include complete healing when possible, maintenance of rectal function and continence, elimination of sepsis, and overall improvement in quality of life.
Synergistic potentiation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gating by two chemically distinct potentiators, ivacaftor (VX-770) and 5-nitro-2-(3-Phenylpropylamino) benzoate

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by loss-of-function mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene encoding a phosphorylation-activated but ATP-gated chloride channel. Previous studies suggested that VX-770 [ivacaftor, N-(2,4-di-tert-butyl-5-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide], a CFTR potentiator now used in clinics, increases the open probability of CFTR by shifting the gating conformational changes to favor the open channel configuration. Recently the chloride channel blocker and CFTR potentiator 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoate (NPPB) has been reported to enhance CFTR activity by a mechanism that exploits the ATP hydrolysis-driven, nonequilibrium gating mechanism unique to CFTR. Surprisingly however, NPPB increased the activity of nonhydrolytic G551D-CFTR, the third most common disease-associated mutation. Here, we further investigated the mechanism of NPPB’s effects on CFTR gating by assessing its interaction with well-studied VX-770. Interestingly, once G551D-CFTR was maximally potentiated by VX-770, NPPB further increased its activity. However, quantitative analysis of this drug–drug interaction suggests that this pharmacologic synergism is not due to independent actions of NPPB and VX-770 on CFTR gating; instead, our data support a dependent mechanism involving two distinct binding sites. This latter idea is further supported by the observation that the locked-open time of a hydrolysis-deficient mutant K1250A was shortened by NPPB but prolonged by VX-770. In addition, the effectiveness of NPPB, but not of VX-770, was greatly diminished in a mutant whose second nucleotide-binding domain was completely removed. Interpreting these results under the framework of current understanding of CFTR gating not only reveals insights into the mechanism of action for different CFTR potentiators but also brings us one step forward to a more complete schematic for CFTR gating.
Analysis of minimum variance distortionless response and least mean square beamforming algorithm for smart antenna

Smart antenna attempt to enhance the received signal, suppress all interfering signals, and increase capacity. Beamforming is one of the mostly used antenna technique. It adjust the radiation beam in one specific direction also reduces multiple access interference. It also reduces common channel interference and multiple path fading, in result it increases capacity of mobile network. In this paper two antenna beam forming algorithms are analyzed. These two algorithms are Least Mean Square and Minimum Variance Distortionless Response. Outputs of these two algorithms are in weights. By using these outputs weights, two parameters i.e. Mean Square Error and Power Beam Width are calculated and two algorithm are compared by this parameters and respective results are discussed.
Cellular Infiltrate in Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Paracentral Corneal Ulceration.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To investigate an immunopathogenesis of central and paracentral corneal ulceration associated with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: Sparse infiltrating cells in the ulcer area were identified by immunohistochemistry applied to archived formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues that had been recovered from patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty necessitated by rheumatoid-associated central or paracentral corneal ulceration.Results: Clinically, the ulcers presented as non-infiltrated lesions with a modicum of other ocular inflammation. Sparse T-lymphocytes were consistently identified in the subepithelial areas adjacent to the ulcer, with some neutrophils and macrophages in the stroma. B-lymphocytes were not detected. MHC Class II antigens reactivity was noted on some infiltrating cells and on corneal endothelium of two specimens.Conclusions: Immunohistochemistry of archival tissue facilitated detection and identification of sparse infiltrate in this infrequent corneal melting. Selective...
Induction of γδ transposition in response to elevated glucose-6-phosphate levels

The nonenzymatic glycosylation of nucleic acids in vitro by the reducing sugars, glucose or glucose-6-phosphate, alters both physical and biological properties. Recent investigations have demonstrated that elevated intracellular levels of glucose-6-phosphate in glycolytic mutants of E. coli resulted in a concentration-associated increase in mutations of a target plasmid. The majority of the plasmid mutations were due to large (greater than 1 kb) insertions or deletions. We describe here the further analysis of mutant plasmids isolated from bacteria grown under conditions which were conducive to the intracellular accumulation of glucose-6-phosphate. We have found that a number of the insertional plasmid mutations were the result of the movement of the transposable element gamma delta from the host genome into the plasmid. The frequency of gamma delta transposition was also associated with the amount of glucose-6-phosphate accumulated in the bacterial cells. Furthermore, the presence of another transposable element, either Tn 5 or Tn 10 in the host genome increased the rate of gamma delta transposition without affecting its own movement. The observed increase in gamma delta transposition suggests a novel mechanism of induction by reducing sugars which may be the result of DNA modifications by reducing sugars.
A Comprehensive Outcome‐Specific Review of the Use of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Background Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful, debilitating affliction that is often difficult to treat. It has become common international practice to use spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of CRPS as other therapies fail to provide adequate relief, quality of life, or improvement in function. This comprehensive outcome-specific systematic review of the use of SCS for CRPS was performed to elucidate the available evidence with focus on clinically relevant patient-specific outcomes. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the effects of SCS on patients with CRPS for the following outcomes and provide summary levels of evidence in regard to each outcome: perceived pain relief, pain score, resolution of CRPS signs, functional status, quality of life, psychological impact, sleep hygiene, analgesic medication utilization, and patient satisfaction with SCS therapy. Search terms included “complex regional pain syndrome,” “spinal cord stimulation,” and “reflex sympathetic dystrophy,” without restriction of language, date, or type of publication, albeit only original data were included in analyses. Of 30 studies selected, seven systematic reviews were excluded, as were four studies reporting combination therapy that included SCS and other therapies (ie, concurrent peripheral nerve stimulation, intrathecal therapy) without clear delineation to the effect of SCS alone on outcomes. A total of 19 manuscripts were evaluated. Results Perceived pain relief, pain score improvement, quality of life, and satisfaction with SCS were all rated 1B+, reflecting positive high-level (randomized controlled trial) evidence favoring SCS use for the treatment of CRPS. Evidence for functional status improvements and psychological effects of SCS was inconclusive, albeit emanating from a randomized controlled trial (evidence level 2B±), and outcomes evidence for both sleep hygiene and resolution of CRPS signs was either nonexistent or of too low quality from which to draw conclusions (evidence level 0). An analgesic sparing effect was observed in nonrandomized reports, reflecting an evidence level of 2C+. Conclusions Spinal cord stimulation remains a favorable and effective modality for treating CRPS with high-level evidence (1B+) supporting its role in improving CRPS patients' perceived pain relief, pain score, and quality of life. A paucity of evidence for functional improvements, resolution of CRPS signs, sleep hygiene, psychological impact, and analgesic sparing effects mandate further investigation before conclusions can be drawn for these specific outcomes.
Self-validation and internalism in Velleman’s constitutivism

Metaethical constitutivists explain reasons or normativity in terms of what is (putatively) constitutive of agency. In Velleman’s paradigmatic constitutivist theory, that is the aim of self-understanding. The best-known objection to constitutivism is Enoch’s shmagency objection: constitutivism cannot explain normativity because a constitutive aim of agency lacks normative significance unless one has reason to be an agent rather than a “shmagent”. In response, Velleman argues that the constitutive aim is self-validating. I argue that this claim is false. If the constitutive aim of self-understanding structures an agent’s practical deliberation as Velleman describes, then some correctly deliberating agents will regard that aim as normatively arbitrary or unjustified. Moreover, I argue that the self-invalidation of the constitutive aim undermines or significantly qualifies Velleman’s claim that his constitutivism reconciles internalism with a kind of objectivity about reasons. Internalists typically hold that motives from which an agent is alienated do not generate reasons, but in cases of self-invalidation, agents are alienated from the aim of self-understanding in just this way. Thus, the larger cost of the constitutive aim’s possible self-invalidation is that Velleman’s constitutivism does not satisfy a plausible and widely accepted constraint on an internalist account of reasons.
Ordinals and graph decompositions

Abstract The theory of simplicial graph decompositions studies the infinite graphs that are built from a sequence of irreducible graphs which are attached together at complete subgraphs. In this paper, we study the logical complexity of deciding if a graph is prime decomposable. A large part of this analysis involves determining which ordinals must appear in these types of decompositions. A result of Diestel says that every countable simplicial tree decomposition can be rearranged to have length at most ω. We show that no such ordinal bound can be found for the lengths of non-tree decompositions. More generally, we show that for each ordinal σ, there is a decomposable graph whose shortest simplicial decomposition has length exactly σ. Adapting this argument, we show that the index set of decomposable computable graphs DECOMP is Π 1 1 hard by showing that WO is 1-reducible to DECOMP .
Spatially resolved intake fraction estimates for primary and secondary particulate matter in the United States

Abstract This study uses intake fraction, the fraction of emissions that are inhaled from a given source, to quantify how emissions from different regions proportionally contribute to human exposure to both primary and secondary particulate matter species. The intake fraction for secondary species is defined using the common atomic constituents between precursor species and products, allowing estimates to include both primary and secondary species. The Particulate Matter Source Apportionment Technology (PSAT) in the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) regional air quality model is used to calculate the intake fraction for twenty-five source regions throughout the contiguous United States over four seasons. The calculations use spatially explicit emissions and population density to more accurately capture the variation in intake fraction between regions. The spatially explicit emissions allow for the calculation of spatial trends and variations within the intake fraction. More specifically it allows for the calculation of the amount of intake that occurs within a given distance of the emissions source or source region. Based on the results sulfate inhalation occurs over larger distances than other particulate matter species. For most regions, a substantial fraction (>75%) of the inhalation occurs within 50 km for all seasons, demonstrating that efforts to reduce emissions will have the largest health impact on the local community. Furthermore the distance over which 75% of the inhalation occurs increases by 20% for all species during the winter and a larger percentage of pollutants emitted during the winter are inhaled relative to pollutants emitted during other seasons. This demonstrates that emission reductions during the winter will have a greater impact on health than reductions during other seasons.
Identifying switched capacitor relative locations and energizing operations

Capacitor banks are commonly connected to the power system to enhance its reliability by providing voltage support, improving power factor, and increasing the system capacity. They are usually switched in and out of the system according to the amount of connected load. This paper analyzes the measurement data of a distribution utility with shunt capacitor banks located downstream from the power quality monitor. An algorithm is proposed to identify both energizing and de-energizing capacitor switching events. It is tested in a dataset of 829 files, containing 358 energizing events, 8 de-energizing events, recloser operation during fault, and files with no transient event. Both capacitor energizing and de-energizing identification algorithms were observed to achieve high accuracy ratios, with a small number of misclassifications.
TRPC3 channels play a critical role in the theta component of pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus in mice

SummaryObjective Canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels constitute a family of cation channels that exhibit a regional and cell-specific expression pattern throughout the brain. It has been reported previously that TRPC3 channels are effectors of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/trkB signaling pathway. Given the long postulated role of BDNF in epileptogenesis, TRPC3 channels may be a critical component in the underlying pathophysiology of seizure and epilepsy. In this study, we investigated the precise role of TRPC3 channels in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). Methods The role of TRPC3 channels was investigated using TRPC3 knockout (KO) mice and TRPC3-selective inhibitor Pyr3. Video and electroencephalography (EEG) recording of pilocarpine-induced seizures were performed. Results We found that genetic ablation of TRPC3 channels reduces behavioral manifestations of seizures and the root-mean-square (RMS) power of SE, indicating a significant contribution of TRPC3 channels to pilocarpine-induced SE. Furthermore, the reduction in SE in TRPC3KO mice is caused by a selective attenuation of pilocarpine-induced theta activity, which dominates both the preictal phase and SE phase. Pyr3 also caused a reduction in the overall RMS power of pilocarpine-induced SE and a selective reduction in the theta activity during SE. Significance Our results demonstrate that TRPC3 channels unequivocally contribute to pilocarpine-induced SE and could be a novel molecular target for new anticonvulsive drugs.
Impact of Corporate Governance Practices on M&A – An Australian View

The last few years, have seen a vast change in the economic and political landscapes and influences globally. Australia, as one of the leading Asian economies has not been immune to such changes – both through increased diversity of corporate governance systems, as well as a changing relationship between companies, and their available sources of funds. As board members, often determining long term corporate strategy as well as funding and investment plans, it is interesting to explore how our actions in the board room are influenced, or perhaps influence, the type of transactions our companies embark on – especially in the context of mergers and acquisitions.
SILC degradation model to predict area scaling for gate dielectric breakdown in advanced technologies

High-K metal gate stack with bi-modal distribution provides the TDDB benefit in product usage condition at low percentile and large area. As the technology continues to scale, the precise area scaling projection is becoming important to provide necessary overdrive for circuit operation. A degradation rate based Monte-Carlo simulator is developed for the first time to predict NMOSFET TDDB degradation to product area based on two distinct degradation regimes, namely progressive regime with SILC increase due to trap generation in HK, followed by the thermal runaway regime leading to rapid current increase. The model is validated against experimental data and is shown to predict TDDB degradation for different gate oxide area, stress bias & process variation. Impact of Weibull slope and MTTF on area scaling ratio is also discussed. Finally it is shown that for an optimized process, the model can provide 50X higher lifetime at product usage condition as compared to conventional area scaling model, thus providing much needed headroom for overdrive in advanced technologies.
Medical Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically occurs in patients with advanced liver disease, so therapeutic decisions must account for the degree of underlying liver dysfunction and patient performance status in addition to tumor burden. Curative treatment options, including liver transplantation, surgical resection, and local ablative therapies, offer 5-year survival rates exceeding 60% but are restricted to patients with early-stage HCC. Surgical resection and local ablative therapies are also limited by high recurrence rates, highlighting a need for adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant therapies. A majority of patients with HCC are diagnosed beyond an early stage, when the tumor is no longer amenable to curative options. For patients with liver-localized HCC in whom curative options are not possible, transarterial therapies, either chemoembolization or radioembolization, can prolong survival but are rarely curative. Sorafenib and regorafenib are the only approved first-line and second-line systemic therapies, respe...
The safety of lumacaftor and ivacaftor for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Lumacaftor-ivacaftor is indicated for treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients homozygous for the Phe-508del cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations. In clinical trials, treated patients showed improved pulmonary function, reduced pulmonary exacerbations, and other benefits. This article reviews safety of this therapy.Areas covered: Safety findings in ivacaftor, lumacaftor and combined therapy trials, and reported subsequently through post-approval evaluation, were accessed by PubMed and Google searches using key words ‘VX-770’, ‘ivacaftor’, ‘VX-809’, and ‘lumacaftor’. Transaminitis was seen in ivacaftor and combination trials. Non-congenital cataracts were seen in pre-clinical animal studies and in children taking ivacaftor and combined therapy. Dyspnea occurs in some patients taking lumacaftor and combined therapy and usually resolves without stopping treatment. Lumacaftor is a strong inducer of CYP3A while ivacaftor is a CYP3A sensitive subst...
Engaged or Disengaged? Examining the Relationship Between Electoral Ambivalence and Indicators of Political Engagement in the 2012 U.S. Election

ABSTRACTThis study uses uncertainty theories to examine the relationship between presidential electoral ambivalence and three political belief variables: internal efficacy, skepticism, and apathy. ...
Memeingful memories and the art of resistance

This article explores the rhetorical function of Internet memes as memory actants. It contributes to an ongoing conversation about the ways in which digital communication has transformed the relati...
Collaborative scholarly communities and access in the study of material and visual cultures of religion

ABSTRACTThe Center for the Study of Material and Visual Cultures of Religion at Yale University (MAVCOR) does not simply, or even most fundamentally, shape a physical center at Yale University. Although MAVCOR organizes events at Yale and coordinates project cycles involving Yale affiliates as well as scholars from other universities in the United States and around the world, much of MAVCOR’s activity is conducted online. MAVCOR publishes a born-digital, open-access double-blind peer-reviewed journal, MAVCOR Journal. It also features a born-digital exhibition space, the Material Objects Archive. In at least two ways, MAVCOR is deliberately interstitial, invested in the connective spaces between both disciplines and technologies. First, the Center emerged from a desire to promote interdisciplinary conversation among scholars of religion, art history, anthropology, and others engaged with our subjects of inquiry. We have aimed to accomplish this goal by shaping a forum for conversation and an archive for mu...
DNA Methylation and Histone Deacetylation Inhibitors as Potential Therapeutic Agents for the Reconstitution of TGF-β Signaling in Breast Cancer

Neoplastic cells show reduced expression of TGF-β receptor type II (RII) in comparison to the normal breast tissue and benign lesions. Also, loss of RII expression correlates with high-tumor grade and invasive carcinomas. This correlation is also reflected in established primary breast carcinoma cell lines. Absence/reduced expression of RII was not associated with RII gene deletion, amplification, or mutations. The RII promoter is devoid of a distinct TATA box and is dependent on Sp1 transcription factor for its activity. While Sp1 activates RII gene transcription another member of the Sp gene family, Sp3 acts as a repressor, thus suggesting SP1/Sp3 activities control RII gene expression. Loss of RII expression in breast cancer cells involves two epigenetic mechanisms, DNA methylation and histone deacetylation. Inhibition of DNA methylation by decitabine (5 aza 2′ deoxycytidine) stimulated RII expression in breast cancer cells. However, loss of RII expression was not owing to methylation of the RII gene. The RII gene in breast cancer cells exhibited reduced Sp1 binding and increased Sp3 binding activities. Inhibition of DNA methylation led to increased Sp1 binding as a consequence of increased Sp1 protein stability and simultaneous loss of Sp3 binding owing to decreased Sp3 transcription, thus altering Sp1/Sp3 activities leading to RII expression in breast cancer cells. In contrast, inhibition of histone deacetylation by trichostatin A (TSA) induced RII expression without changing activator Sp1 and repressor Sp3 binding activities. However, in the TSA treated breast cancer cells, histone acetyltransferase (HATs) p300 mediated acetylation of Sp3 and converted Sp3 from a repressor to an activator of RII gene transcription. RII regeneration following inhibition of DNA methylation as well as histone deacetylation restored TGF-β response, thus suggesting that DNA methylation inhibitor decitabine and histone deacetylation inhibitor TSA either alone or in combination may be used as potential therapeutic agents for the reconstitution of TGF-β tumor suppressor pathway in breast carcinomas.