cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study on the relationship beteween waist circumference,body mass index with related diseases among adults in Jiangyin City

Objective The relationship of waist circumference(WC),body mass index(BMI) with some major related diseases among Jiangyin adults was studied.Methods Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was performed from November 2007 to January 2008,Residents of 537 households in 3 towns(streets),6 administrative villages(the RC) in Jiangyin City were surveyed by way of questionnaires and physical examination.Results The mean of BMI,over weight and obesity rate of the sample population was(23.00±0.19),29.8% and 8.4% respectively.The overweight and obesity proportion of male was higher than that of female.The central obesity rate was 47.27%(37.10% in male,47.56%,female),The rate of female with central obesity was higher than that of male.The rate of overweight and obesity increased with age.The rate of hypertension and high blood glucose in the two groups(overweight and obesity) was significantly higher than that of the normal group.Those with systemic overweight / obesity and central obesity had higher risk of having hypertension and diabetes.Conclusions The prevalence of overweight and obesity rate of the residents in Jiangyin City increased in recent years.The rate of BMI and WC had positive correlation with hyper tension and diabetes.Those with systemic overweight / obesity and central obesity had higher risk of having hypertension and diabetes.
Sex, Race, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Patients With Aortic Stenosis (from a Nationwide Inpatient Sample)

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the third most prevalent cardiovascular disease following hypertension and coronary artery disease. The primary objective of this cross-sectional study is to examine gender, racial, and socioeconomic disparities in AS-related health care utilization in patients aged ≥50 years using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. AS was identified among inpatient discharges with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, code 424.1. Using stratum-specific weighted totals, means, proportions, and regression models, we examined time trends and disparities for inhospital AS prevalence according to gender, race, and income over the 2002 to 2012 period, predictors of AS (gender, race, income, age, health insurance, co-morbidities, and hospital-level characteristics), and AS's role as a predictor of inhospital death, length of stay, and total charges. Inhospital AS prevalence increased from 2.10% in 2002 to 2.37% in 2012, with similar trends observed within gender, race, and income strata. Women were less likely to have AS compared with men (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83 to 0.86). Blacks (ORadj 0.68; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.71), Hispanics (ORadj 0.79; 95% CI 0.76 to 0.84), and Asians/Pacific Islanders (ORadj 0.68; 95% CI 0.64 to 0.74) were less likely than whites to have AS diagnosis that was directly associated with income. AS was inversely related to inhospital death but positively linked to total charges overall and longer hospital stays among men, whites, and middle-income patients. However, shorter stays with AS were observed among blacks. In conclusion, among older inpatients, AS prevalence was ∼2% and was higher among males, whites, and higher income groups. Although inhospital death was lower and total charges were higher in AS, length of stay's association with AS varied by gender, race, and income.
Aligned Bacterial Cellulose Arrays as “Green” Nanofibers for Composite Materials

Conventional bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes are formed by randomly aligned nanofibrils stacked in a reticulated fashion. While such membranes are used in many applications, full utilization of the mechanical properties of nanofibrils has not been achieved in composite materials because of their random alignment. In the present research, aligned BC, in the form of arrays, has been developed through an optimally designed polydimethylsiloxane grating substrate placed at the air–liquid interface of the culture medium. The substrate prepared with the help of a 3-D printed mold served as an alignment template providing bacteria a preferred direction for BC growth. Additional alignment in BC arrays was obtained by stretching the hydrogel at a controlled strain rate and strain ratio. The degree of orientation, Young’s modulus, and tensile strength of aligned BC arrays increased by approximately 184, 409, and 256%, respectively, compared to the conventional BC pellicle. Such aligned BC arrays could open up fut...
Long-Run Economic Growth: Stagnations, Explosions and the Middle Income Trap

This paper explores the empirics of long-run economic growth by studying the pattern of growth for every country in the world between 1950 and 2015. Special emphasis is placed on ascertaining how t...
The effect of distance on target to background ratios in quantitative nuclear medicine.

2708 Objectives In any medical field, quality studies are key to good patient care. Medical professionals strive to achieve the highest quality images or study possible. In nuclear medicine, it is beneficial for the target tissue or organ to have a high uptake of radioactive tracer in comparison to the background tissues. This results in a clearer image. Quantitative nuclear medicine deals with drawing regions of interest around an area to determine the count rate. The purpose of this study was to see if increasing collimator distance from a “patient” could alter the ratio of counts in target tissue to background tissue. Methods Two 50mL saline bags were filled with different amounts of Tc-99m-tetrofosmin and placed in conjunction to represent a target organ and background tissue uptake. Images were taken at fifteen different distances. A region of interest (ROI) was drawn in the target area and a ROI of the exact same size was placed in the background tissue. A ratio was created for each increasing distance to see if distance could alter the number of counts in the target area verses the background area. Results As the distance increased, the image quality decreased significantly and total count loss was apparent. The count loss in the target area was proportional to the background area. The ratio of counts in the target area to background area was not affected by distance. Conclusions Distance between the sources affected both the target area and background area equivalently. Collimator distance appears to have less effect on quantitative nuclear medicine than diagnostic imaging, as the image quality was decreased significantly.
Trust, Trustworthiness, and Motivation in the Natural Resource Management Context

ABSTRACTTrust is critical for natural resource management (NRM). In recognition of this, a noteworthy body of literature has investigated the construct but is, as yet, still developing. The current research proposes and tests an increasingly complete model that integrates the major advances in not only the NRM literature but in the social psychological literature addressing trust more generally as well. To that end, the current analyses were conducted with a large sample of Michigan hunters (n = 23,954). The results suggest that, as hypothesized, the theoretical model is a statistically defensible account of trust in this context and suggest that both trustworthiness and motivation have important roles to play in driving cooperation intention and behavior. Thus, the current work suggests that although it is important for NRM institutions to attend to their trustworthiness, they should not ignore the motivation that arises from benefits they provide.
Processing and Properties of Mo 5 Si 3 Single Crystals and Alloys

Among the high-temperature intermetallic systems, transition-metal silicides are attractive because of their high melting temperatures (many greater than 2273 K) and potential oxidation resistance. In particular, Mo5Si3 exhibits a very high melting point (2453 K) and also has a solubility range of 2–3 atomic percent, which can aid in processing and alloy design strategies. The focus of this study is to evaluate the processing and properties of Mo5Si3 and Mo5Si3-base ntermetallics. For the optimal baseline comparison, high-purity single crystals have been fabricated, and thermal and elastic properties have been experimentally measured. Although Mo5Si3 has a strong thermal expansion anisotropy, ts elastic anisotropy factors and the Poisson’s ratios indicate that Mo5Si3 is less anisotropic in elasticity. The combination of the thermal and elastic properties has been employed to calculate the thermal residual stress and to explain the potential for grain boundary cracking during processing. Room temperature Vickers indentation tests of Mo5Si3 have been performed. The orientation dependence of hardness and fracture toughness of Mo5Si3 single crystals have been obtained. The corresponding deformation and fracture modes have been revealed by microscopy studies. Finally, micro- and macroalloyed Mo5Si3 with aluminum and boron will be briefly explored with property assessments.
Biexciton Dynamics in Alloy Quantum Dots

The biexciton Auger dynamics of alloyed Zn1–xCdxSe/ZnS and Zn1–xCdxSe/CdS core/shell nanoparticles are examined. A series of particles with increasing cadmium mole fractions are prepared by synthesizing ZnSe nanocrystals followed by cation exchange with cadmium oleate. This is followed by the low-temperature deposition of a CdS or ZnS shell to passivate surface traps. The percent composition of cadmium in the core particles is determined from the absorption spectrum upon cation exchange, and the excited-state dynamics are measured using power-dependent transient absorption spectroscopy. The biexciton lifetimes are controlled by Auger processes, and the results show that Auger recombination is faster for alloys than for either pure ZnSe or pure CdSe. The lifetimes go through a minimum at a composition that is approximately 10–40% cadmium. This behavior is assigned to partial hole localization at clusters of cadmium atoms in the alloy, which increases Auger rates through the same mechanism that is responsib...
Does visual salience of action affect gesture production

Past research suggests that speakers gesture more when motor simulations are more strongly activated. We investigate whether simulations of a perceptual nature also influence gesture production. Participants viewed animations of a spider moving with a manner of motion that was either highly salient (n = 29) or less salient (n = 31) and then described each motion event. Speakers in the high-salience condition produced significantly more gestures that depicted manner information. However, they did not produce significantly more gestures overall, more gestures that depicted the spider's path and direction of motion, or more manner descriptions in speech. Moreover, the effect of visual salience on manner gestures persisted after controlling for expression of manner in speech. These findings suggest that speakers selectively produce gestures expressing features of perceptual representations that are highly salient. (PsycINFO Database Record
Agency and social constraint among victims of domestic minor sex trafficking: A method for measuring free will

Abstract Human agency has been a focus of philosophical and sociological concern from early debates about “free will” to recent themes in poststructuralism. Debates over the proper understanding of structure, agency, and constraint are hindered by the fact that few if any empirical measures of these concepts have been proposed. As sociologists have long recognized, the total results of the decisions of a group's members can be viewed as a distribution, and parameters can be fit to obtain a description of observed distributions. Here we propose the use of negative binomial curve to model population survival outcomes, and suggest that the parameters of such a curve represent reasonable surrogates for measures of agency, opportunity, and constraint when the decision process can be thought of as akin to a Bernoulli process. To provide an illustration of this approach, we discuss participation of legal minors in commercial sex (commonly referred to as victims of domestic minor sex trafficking (VDMST) or commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC)). In popular and advocacy-based accounts, considerable focus has been placed on the relative powerlessness of female VDMST. Using the proposed modeling technique, we test the extent to which male versus female VDMST appear to possess greater agency (or function under more limiting constraint) when deciding whether to remain in sex work or “leave the life”. Contrary to existing literature, our results indicate that male and female underage sex workers are experiencing similar levels of agency, and differ mainly in opportunity, and constraint. Other individual circumstances are shown to contribute to varying levels of agency and constraint among sex workers, including street work status, community trouble, drug use, and the availability of an alternative income.
Role of Schools in Monitoring Student Health

Several public school districts sought to identify health problems such as pediatric obesity and then requested that parents and physicians manage the problem. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Characterization of a commercial add-on couch, HexaPOD™ 6D Robotic Treatment CouchTOP

Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is a technique which uses imaging devices either on-line or off-line to accurately determine the location of the target within the patient before each treatment. It provides information to properly reposition the target with respect to the reference image. To realize the benefit of IGRT, a mechanism of both accurate and efficient target shift is necessary and a Medical Intelligent HexaPOD™ 6D Robotic Treatment CouchTOP has been implemented at University of Florida. In this study, accuracy and efficiency of HexaPOD™ CouchTOP were evaluated and compared with those of Varian and Elekta couch systems. Translational movements were made and measured by BrainLab ExacTrac infrared (IR) camera system to determine the accuracy of each system. Average time of couch movements was also measured to evaluate the efficiency. For HexaPOD system, the accuracy of angular movement was tested, too. The average times of couch movement were 25 sec/1-direction, 60 sec/1-direction, and < 20 sec/3-direction for Varian, Elekta, and HexaPOD, respectively. The average translational differences between the couches and the IR camera system were 0.33±0.21, 0.33±0.21, and 0.09±0.11 mm for Varian, Elekta, and HexaPOD, respectively in lateral direction. Similar results were observed for longitudinal and vertical directions. For angular movement, HexaPOD couch was accurate to within sub-degree. It is concluded that HexaPOD couch system has the capability to make target shifts to the accuracy of within sub-millimeter and sub-degree in a very efficient way.
Which Way of Designing

In this chapter I describe the framework within which I organize most of my work and teaching strategies, focusing on one of the most significant decisions which the geodesign team must make when organizing the methods for its study: Which of the change models—which of the many ways of designing—shall we use? I describe an experiment in which nine geodesign teams proposed designs for two complex situations while each team applied a different change model.
Fundamentals of Condensed Matter and Crystalline Physics: An Introduction for Students of Physics and Materials Science

This undergraduate textbook merges traditional solid state physics with contemporary condensed matter physics, providing an up-to-date introduction to the major concepts that form the foundations of condensed materials. The main foundational principles are emphasized, providing students with the knowledge beginners in the field should understand. The book is structured in four parts and allows students to appreciate how the concepts in this broad area build upon each other to produce a cohesive whole as they work through the chapters. Illustrations work closely with the text to convey concepts and ideas visually, enhancing student understanding of difficult material, and end-of-chapter exercises varying in difficulty allow students to put into practice the theory they have covered in each chapter and reinforce new concepts.
A methodology for the prediction of back-pressure induced stall in eductor-jet pumps

Abstract Eductor-jet pumps are used to transfer large quantities of fluids using a high-pressure fluid source without the need for moving parts, such as motors and impellers. The pump operates by creating the Venturi effect inside a convergent-divergent nozzle. These pumps can stall when a back pressure develops at the outlet. In this paper, the critical condition at which the stall occurs is determined by comparing the thrust force from the jets of the pump to the opposing force caused by backpressure at the pump outlet. This methodology predicts the stall conditions for both over-expanded and under-expanded flow conditions. The motive gas pressure and the backpressure ratios at which stall occurs is dependent upon the pump geometry, fluid properties, and the pump operating conditions. Experiments conducted on a 3D printed and a commercially available pump, as well as 3D computational fluid dynamics analyses, enabled verification of the proposed methodology.
Mixture of Experts for Predicting Antibody-Antigen Binding Affinity from Antigen Sequence

Antibodies provide a key mode of defense employed by the immune system to fight disease, so eliciting potent antibodies is one of the main goals in vaccine development. Antibodies are one of the most effective therapeutic agents, and engineering potent antibodies is one of the main goals in biologic drug development. The power of antibodies lies in their affinity and specificity in recognizing their cognate antigens. Unfortunately, experimental techniques to determine antibody-antigen binding affinities are difficult to scale up to large sets of new antibodies and antigens. Though computational methods are suitable for large-scale prediction, current methods lack sufficient accuracy. Here, we address the problem of predicting the binding affinity of an antibody against an antigen variant based on the amino acid sequence of that antigen variant. We develop a mixture of experts approach that learns models for individual antibodies against some antigen variants, and then combines information across the antibodies in order to make accurate predictions for a wide range of new variants. In evaluation on a dataset consisting of 52 antibodies and 608 strains of HIV, the predictive accuracy of our approach is demonstrated to be significantly better than that of an existing approach.
A Improved Current Mode Multi-phase Interleaving Control Method

The peak current mode has been widely used because of many advantages, such as fast dynamic response, instantaneous peak current limit etc., but it also has some problems, for example the sub-harmonic oscillations when the duty cycle is greater than 50%. In this paper, an improved peak current control method is proposed, it keeps all the advantages of traditional peak current, and has some further improvement.
Anthology Dramas: La rosa de Guadalupe, Como dice el dicho

This chapter analyzes two daily series that are both massively popular with Mexican youth audiences and much despised by critics. Arguing that they serve a pedagogic function in working through urgent social issues for young audiences, the chapter also traces how the series have, over some 1000 episodes, served as a school for novice actors who move on to radically different roles.
Modern Chicano Street Gangs: Ethnic Pride Versus “Gangsta” Subculture:

This article examines the subcultural characteristics of modern Chicano street gangs, using San Antonio, Texas, as a case study. It is informed by archival material, police data, and multifaceted f...
Elevated Plasma Ceramides Are Associated With Higher White Matter Hyperintensity Volume—Brief Report

Objective: Sphingolipids, including S1P (sphingosine-1-phosphate) and ceramides, have been associated with vascular tone, blood pressure regulation, cardiovascular outcomes, and mortality. However,...
Vestigial-like 1 is a shared targetable cancer-placenta antigen expressed by pancreatic and basal-like breast cancers

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-based cancer immunotherapies have shown great promise for inducing clinical regressions by targeting tumor-associated antigens (TAA). To expand the TAA landscape of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we performed tandem mass spectrometry analysis of HLA class I-bound peptides from 35 PDAC patient tumors. This identified a shared HLA-A*0101 restricted peptide derived from co-transcriptional activator Vestigial-like 1 (VGLL1) as a putative TAA demonstrating overexpression in multiple tumor types and low or absent expression in essential normal tissues. Here we show that VGLL1-specific CTLs expanded from the blood of a PDAC patient could recognize and kill in an antigen-specific manner a majority of HLA-A*0101 allogeneic tumor cell lines derived not only from PDAC, but also bladder, ovarian, gastric, lung, and basal-like breast cancers. Gene expression profiling reveals VGLL1 as a member of a unique group of cancer-placenta antigens (CPA) that may constitute immunotherapeutic targets for patients with multiple cancer types.
Integration of Transcriptome and Small RNA Sequencing to Decipher Molecular Interaction of Chenopodium quinoa Varieties with Cucumber Mosaic Virus

Abstract Saponins are secondary metabolites with antiviral properties. Low saponin (sweet) varieties of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) have been developed because seeds high in saponins taste bitter. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of saponin in resistance of quinoa to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Differential gene expression was studied in time-series study of CMV infection. High-throughput transcriptome sequence data were obtained from 36 samples (3 varieties × +/- CMV × 1 or 4 days after inoculation × 3 replicates). Translation, lipid, nitrogen, amino acid metabolism, and mono- and sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis genes were upregulated in CMV infections. In ‘Red Head’, (bitter), CMV-induced systemic symptoms were concurrent with downregulation of a key saponin biosynthesis gene, TSARL1, four days after inoculation. In local lesion responses (sweet and semi-sweet), TSARL1 levels remained up-regulated. Known microRNAs (miRNA) (81) from 11 miR families and 876 predicted novel miRNAs were identified. Differentially expressed miRNA and short interfering RNA clusters (24nt) induced by CMV infection are predicted to target genomic and intergenic regions enriched in repetitive elements. This is the first report of integrated RNASeq and sRNASeq data in quinoa-virus interactions and provides comprehensive understanding of involved genes, non-coding regions, and biological pathways in virus resistance.
Reactive Temporal Logic-Based Precursor Detection Algorithm for Terminal Airspace Operations

The air traffic management system is one of the most complex manmade systems, with stringent standards for safety and operational performance. Modern surveillance systems make available detailed fl...
Translanguaging outside the Academy: Negotiating Rhetoric and Healthcare in the Spanish Caribbean: Rachel Bloom-Pojar. Champaign, IL: NCTE, 2018. 157 pages. $29.99 paperback.

In Translanguaging outside the Academy: Negotiating Rhetoric and Healthcare in the Spanish Caribbean, Rachel Bloom-Pojar asks the following questions: What does it mean to speak well? Whose interes...
Data science literacy: Toward a philosophy of accessible and adaptable data science skill development in public administration programs:

Public administration is struggling to contend with a substantial shift in practice fueled by the accelerating adoption of information technology. New skills, competencies and pedagogies are requir...
Prototyping and Verification of ES

This chapter outlines various testing and verification approaches for embedded systems. Prototyping phases are discussed including simulation, developmental board, and custom PCB approach. Testing approaches outlined along with a brief discussion on design for testability. Various types of verification methods are listed including functional, timing, and formal verification. Debugging approaches are also discussed along with definition of validation and evaluation.
Mitochondrial respiration controls the Prox1-Vegfr3 feedback loop during lymphatic endothelial cell fate specification and maintenance

Recent findings indicate that mitochondrial respiration regulates blood endothelial cell proliferation; however, its role in differentiating lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) is unknown. We hypothesized that mitochondria could work as a sensor of LECs’ metabolic specific needs by determining their functional requirements according to their differentiation status and local tissue microenvironment. Accordingly, we conditionally deleted the QPC subunit of mitochondrial complex III in differentiating LECs of mouse embryos. Unexpectedly, mutant mice were devoid of a lymphatic vasculature by mid-gestation, a consequence of the specific down-regulation of main LEC fate regulators, particularly Vegfr3, leading to the loss of LEC fate. Mechanistically, this is a result of reduced H3K4me3 and H3K27ac in the genomic locus of key LEC fate controllers (e.g., Vegfr3 and Prox1). Our findings indicate that by sensing the LEC differentiation status and microenvironmental metabolic conditions, mitochondrial complex III regulates the critical Prox1-Vegfr3 feedback loop and, therefore, LEC fate specification and maintenance.
Evaluating interactions between emotion regulation strategies through the interpersonal context of female friends.

INTRODUCTION There is a growing interest in examining how interpersonal relationships may shape associations between emotion regulation (ER) strategies and psychopathology. METHODS We used multilevel modeling to test if respondents' self-reported intrapersonal ER, friends' self-reported intrapersonal ER, and their interaction were associated with psychopathology in a sample of 120 female friend dyads. RESULTS Respondents' use of brooding rumination, expressive suppression, and worry were positively associated with respondent psychopathology. Friend reappraisal moderated the association between respondent reappraisal and respondent psychopathology. Consistent with an interference hypothesis, respondent cognitive reappraisal was only associated with respondent psychopathology when friend cognitive reappraisal was low. Consistent with a compensatory hypothesis, respondent reappraisal was primarily associated with respondent psychopathology when friend repetitive negative thought was high. DISCUSSION Results support the extension of models of ER strategy interactions from intrapersonal to interpersonal contexts. Future research is needed to replicate the interference and compensatory interactions observed in the data.
Coexisting posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and ischemic hepatopathy: A case report

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is acute neurologic symptoms with specific radiologic findings. This unique case shows coexisting PRES with acute liver injury, which could suggest common pathophysiologic process.
Parasympathetic and Sympathetic Tone

In several nutritional neuroscience projects, W. David Crews III investigated the impact of antioxidants and dietary interventions on neurocognitive performance. In these investigations, memory and executive functions were assessed along with blood assays and measures of cardiovascular functions, including heart rate. Neurocognitive and psychophysiological effects were found subsequent to the use of Ginkgo biloba, cranberry juice versus placebo, and other putative antioxidant sources. A favorite investigation in this line of research was undoubtedly “the Hershey’s dark chocolate project.” One thousand five hundred pounds of Hershey’s antioxidant-rich chocolate, a placebo product, and 800 pounds of Hershey’s Cocoa arrived on the loading docks at Virginia Tech’s Roanoke Higher Education Center, formerly the home of Norfolk and Southern Railways executives. The rich treasure was carefully divided into packets for the participants to add to their dietary regime.
W.E.B. Du Bois

This article introduces some of the key philosophical contributions of W. E. B. Du Bois. Du Bois studied with Santayana and William James (among others), but chose social science, social theory, journalism, and activism over academic philosophy. Despite this detour, the philosophic depth of his work has won the attention of scholars in fields such as history, English, post-colonial theory, African-American Studies, American philosophy, and Africana philosophy, and it has belatedly begun to attract the interest of philosophers more generally. This brief overview will explore the philosophical dimensions of some of Du Bois’s best-known positions – his claims about the ‘color line’ and the Talented Tenth, his argument with Booker T. Washington, and his account of double-consciousness. These positions open onto a rich constellation of views in social ontology, epistemology, political theory, existential phenomenology, and more besides.
Deleuze's Monstrous Beckett: Movement and Paralysis

This article takes its title from a 1973 letter in which Gilles Deleuze describes “the history of philosophy as a kind of buggery” that involves “getting onto the back of an author, and giving him a child, which would be his and which would at the same time be a monster.” My suggestion is that we keep this in mind when considering Deleuze’s engagement with Beckett, particularly as Deleuze becomes increasingly important in Beckett territory. Deleuze’s readings of Beckett neglect Beckett’s early work—work that demonstrates a parodic engagement with the very idea of Deleuze-esque philosophies of movement and freedom. What Deleuze celebrates as the rhizomatic place where things pick up speed, Beckett describes as “an unsurveyed marsh of sloth.” I return to Beckett’s More Pricks Than Kicks and Dream of Fair to Middling Women to sketch a line between thinking philosophically and the concretion of ideas and method into a philosophy.
Developments in PDT Sensitizers for Increased Selectivity and Singlet Oxygen Production.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally-invasive procedure that has been clinically approved for treating certain types of cancers. This procedure takes advantage of the cytotoxic activity of singlet oxygen (1O2) and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by visible and NIR light irradiation of dye sensitizers following their accumulation in malignant cells. The main two concerns associated with certain clinically-used PDT sensitizers that have been influencing research in this arena are low selectivity toward malignant cells and low levels of 1O2 production in aqueous media. Solving the selectivity issue would compensate for photosensitizer concerns such as dark toxicity and aggregation in aqueous media. One main approach to enhancing dye selectivity involves taking advantage of key methods used in pharmaceutical drug delivery. This approach lies at the heart of the recent developments in PDT research and is a point of emphasis in the present review. Of particular interest has been the development of polymeric micelles as nanoparticles for delivering hydrophobic (lipophilic) and amphiphilic photosensitizers to the target cells. This review also covers methods employed to increase 1O2 production efficiency, including the design of two-photon absorbing sensitizers and triplet forming cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes.
A Return to Coercion: International Law and New Weapons Technologies

In recent years, the U.S. has threatened air strikes against Syria and insisted on the possibility of air strikes against Iran, in both cases to deter development of weapons of mass destruction. Such threats represent a return to the idea that international law allows states to impose punitive measures by force. Most academic specialists claim that the UN Charter only authorizes force in immediate self-defense. Many commentators embrace the related doctrine that lawful force can only be exercised against the opposing military force. But there remains more logic in the older view, that international law authorizes force for a wider variety of challenges and against a wider range of legitimate targets. Since there is no global protective service, nations must use force more broadly in self-defense and greater powers must sometimes use force to resist the spread of weapons of mass destruction, to disrupt terror networks, to stop aggressive designs before they provoke all out war. There are good reasons to insist on restraints that limit loss of life among civilians, but civilian property does not have the same claims. But with today's technologies, cyber attacks or drone strikes can focus on carefully chosen civilian targets. That approach can help resolve disputes between nations with less overall destruction -- the ultimate purpose of the laws of war.
Quasi-linear heat and mass transfer

Six experiments are described, each of which allows one to measure the dependence of the thermal conductivity (or molecular diffusivity) upon the temperature (concentration) gradient as a function of temperature (concentration).
AN APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP DECISION MAKING IN ORGANIZATION

This study examined the vital approach to understanding leadership decision making in organizational leadership and management activities. The purpose of this paper is focused and centered on the best approach to understanding the leadership decision making process (LDMP) among leaders and managers in organizational activities. This phenomenological qualitative paradigm which focused on essence or structure of an experience was used in order to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the issues and challenges affecting effectiveness, clarity, and success among organizational leadership and managements in business practices. Two hundred and sixteen organizational leaders from some cities and states in North America (Canada, Mexico, and United States) participated in this study and identified how they acquired their leadership role, knowledge, and skills. The findings from this investigation suggest that organizational leaders should allow their skilled subordinates - individuals and/or groups to participate in the decision making process mostly when their involvement will enhance the quality and/or acceptance of the decision by everybody at the workplace.
The Renal Dopamine System

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a review on the regulation of renal Na/KATPase by dopamine and on the regulation of dopamine availability in the renal tubular cells. Dopamine inhibits proximal tubular Na/KATPase in a dose-dependent manner. In the proximal tubule, Na/KATPase activity is synergistically inhibited by D1 and D2 agonists. The kidney expresses a dopamine and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-regulated phosphoprotein DARPP32. This phosphoprotein is a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). PP1 can dephosphorylate and activate Na/KATPase. In the kidney, dopamine and α -adrenergicreceptors bidirectionally regulate renal tubular Na/KATPase activity by exerting opposing forces on a common intracellular signaling system. Renal Na/KATPase is dose-dependently inhibited by the arachidonic acid metabolite 20HETE. There is also evidence that dopamine inhibition of renal tubular Na/KATPase most likely also involves PKC. The renal source of dopamine is the proximal tubular cell. The expression of aromatic acid decarboxylase is high in the proximal convoluted tubule, considerably lower in the proximal straight tubule, and not detectable in other renal cells. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) may play an important role in modulating the effects of intrarenal dopamine. The kidney has a very high COMT activity. Thus, the renal dopamine availability is to a large extent modulated by the activity of COMT.
Craving for Ecstasy and Natural Highs: A Positive Approach to Mood Alteration, by Harvey B. Milkman and Stanley G. Sunderwirth

In the last three decades, the study of neurochemistry has fundamentally altered our understanding of addictive behaviors. It is increasingly clear that the dopamine system is critical to the human...
Gallium Energy Bands and Fermi Surface via the Augmented-Plane-Wave Method

Results of numerical calculations of the band structure of gallium are reported; the calculations have been carried out according to the augmented-plane-wave (APW) method of Slater. Calculations have been carried out at 115 points in $\frac{1}{8}$ of the Brillouin zone. An approximate Fermi energy is determined by counting states; cuts of surfaces of constant energy have been constructed for two energies near this approximate Fermi energy. one set of cuts is presented in this paper. The potential used was an ad hoc one constructed from superposed free atoms and a ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\frac{1}{3}}$ exchange potential; the free-atom calculations used were those of Freeman and Watson. The lattice constants are taken as supplied by Barrett, viz., $a=4.5151\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ cm, $b=4.4881\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ cm, and $c=7.6318\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$ cm. The bands resemble perturbed free-electron bands, but the two Fermi surfaces exhibit considerable departures from the free-electron Fermi surface. Because of the inherent defects in the ad hoc potential, it is unlikely that the present calculations can be expected to explain all the experimental information, but it is hoped that they will furnish a better zeroth-order model than does the free-electron picture.
The Effect of Age on Thoroughbred Racing Performance

Using a dataset of 274 male Thoroughbred racehorses in the United States, we study the effect of age on racing performance. Beyer speed figures, which are uniform measures of racing performance across distance and racing surface, are utilized in this study. A system of equations is estimated to determine quadratic improvement and decline in racing performance. We find that a typical horse’s peak racing age is 4.45 years. The rate of improvement from age 2 to 4 1/2 is greater than the rate of decline after age 4 1/2. A typical horse will improve by 10 (horse) lengths in sprints (less than 1 mile) and 15 lengths in routes (one mile or greater) from age 2 to 4 1/2. Over the next five years the typical decline is 6 lengths for sprints and 9 1/2 lengths for routes.
Medial Preoptic Microimplants of the Antiestrogen, Keoxifene, Affect Luteinizing Hormone‐Releasing Hormone mRNA Levels, Median Eminence Luteinizing Hormone‐Releasing Hormone Concentrations and Luteinizing Hormone Release in Ovariectomized, Estrogen‐Treated Rats

Abstract We examined the temporal changes in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, median eminence luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) concentrations and LHRH mRNA levels in estrogen-treated, ovariectomized rats with empty or antiestrogen- containing microcannulae stereotaxically implanted into the medial preoptic area. Neither treatment disrupted the negative feedback effects of estrogen on LH secretion, but antiestrogen (Keoxifene) blocked the afternoon LH surges. In rats exhibiting LH surges, median eminence LHRH concentrations were similar at 0800, 1200 and 1600 h, but they were significantly elevated by 2000 h. In contrast, no alterations in LHRH concentrations occurred in the Keoxifene-treated group. LHRH mRNA levels in control rats were significantly elevated at 1200, 1600 and 2000 h compared with 0800 h, but LHRH mRNA levels in Keoxifene-treated rats did not change significantly over the time period examined. When we compared treatment effects over time we saw that serum LH levels were significantly higher in control than Keoxifene-treated rats only at 1600 and 2000 h. Median eminence LHRH concentrations did not differ between treatment groups until 2000 h when control animals had significantly higher levels than those of Keoxifene-treated animals. LHRH mRNA levels in Keoxifene-treated rats were significantly higher than those of controls at 0800 hand significantly lower at 1600 h. No differences in LHRH mRNA levels were detected between groups at either 1200 h or 2000 h. In summary, although it was not clear on which neuronal system estrogen acted, depriving medial preoptic neurons of this steroid in systemically estrogenized rats certainly disrupted the neural mechanisms involved in surge, but not basal LH release. In addition, neither LHRH mRNA levels nor median eminence LHRH concentrations showed variations within the period studied when the estrogen-sensitive mechanisms involved in LH release were disrupted. Therefore, the changes in LHRH mRNA levels and LHRH concentrations in the median eminence seen in surging animals probably resulted from the same neural events which triggered LH release.
Memory capacity of a random, recurrently connected network of neurons with multiple, biologically realistic facilitation and adaptation profiles

We developed a model of linear, integrate-and-fire neurons endowed with realistic firing rate facilitation and adaptation profiles (Figure ​(Figure1B,1B, green) based on parameters obtained from rodent cortical slice electrophysiology data [1]. The equations of dynamics of each model neuron contained facilitating and adapting currents, proportional to the intracellular concentration of different ionic species, which were modulated by each neuron’s spiking history. The adapting input network projected in a feed-forward manner through a high dimensional, recurrently connected network of spiking neurons whose activity was then projected to a linear readout, firing-rate neuron. We sought to inspect the recurrently connected network’s capacity for memory by injecting a time-varying “input signal” current into the adapting network (Fig. ​(Fig.1B,1B, red) and training the weights of the linear readout neuron so that its firing rate matched a teaching signal provided to the neuron; the teaching signal was a specified transformation of the input signal current to the adapting input network (Fig. ​(Fig.1B,1B, blue). Figure 1 (A) Average firing rates ( ) of recurrent and input networks, and trained linear read out neuron (B) Average adapting current, input and teaching currents Once trained, we could assess the memory capacity of the recurrently connected network. Specifically, we were interested in understanding the role of adaptation in extending the recurrently connected network’s capacity to remember the input. The limits of memory capacity in recurrently connected neural networks have been studied previously [2-4] but in networks lacking realistic adaptation and facilitation profiles. Including these firing-rate dependent currents should fundamentally alter the time-scale of the network dynamics and the memory network’s capacity for storing temporal signals. We studied the performance of the network for a variety of time varying signals and we analyzed its dependence on the inherent time constants of adaptation. We show one example in Figure ​Figure1A1A ,​,1B1B in which we found that the network is able to accurately generate a half-period time shifted version of a simple oscillatory input.
Endoscopic epiglottic mucosal banding as a cause of laryngospasm

A 54-yr-old male with severe Barrett’s esophagus presented for endoscopic mucosal resection for treatment of high-grade esophageal dysplasia. This procedure involves the use of an endoscopic banding device to create a pseudopolyp following submucosal injection, allowing resection (with a snare) of the neoplastic lesion. The banding device is a modification of a device used for treatment of esophageal varices (wherein the varices are suctioned into the cap and the band is fired, leading to coagulative necrosis of the varix). The patient’s airway examination showed adequate neck range of motion, adequate thyromental distance, and a Mallampati 2 view. Monitored anesthesia care was planned with intravenous fentanyl boluses and a propofol infusion. The patient initially did well; however, he later experienced a sudden inability to move air with a precipitous drop in oxygen saturations from 98% to 71%. Laryngospasm was suspected. Positive airway pressure was applied with a bag-mask device but was unsuccessful at terminating the event. Propofol and succinylcholine were administered, and the patient’s trachea was intubated easily by direct laryngoscopy. This resulted in immediate improvement in his oxygen saturations and air movement. During the intubation, the epiglottis appeared abnormal, and upon further examination, the mucosa on the lingual surface of the epiglottis showed that it had been inadvertently endoscopically banded (Figure A, arrow). The banding device has a two-way lock to prevent misfiring, but this likely malfunctioned, inadvertently fired during intubation of the esophagus, and snared the epiglottal mucosa. An otolaryngologist used forceps to remove the band without any apparent complication (Figure B). The patient’s trachea was extubated and he was discharged from the hospital that same day. Cardiopulmonary events cause up to 50% of the morbidity and mortality related to gastrointestinal endoscopy. The most common causes of respiratory failure during upper endoscopy are aspiration and drug-induced respiratory depression. Less frequently encountered respiratory complications include anaphylactic reactions, iatrogenic perforations, and mucosal damage during removal of foreign bodies. Tracheal compression from the endoscope or inadvertent endoscopic tracheal intubation may also lead to respiratory compromise. Procedural trauma to the epiglottis, as seen in this case, is an uncommon stimulus for laryngospasm and subsequent hypoxia during upper endoscopic procedures. Mortality following laryngospasm during upper endoscopy has been reported. In addition to expeditious management of laryngospasm, anesthesia personnel should consider the possibility of treatable and reversible iatrogenic causes of laryngospasm.
Climate change and Late Pliocene acceleration of erosion in the Himalaya

Studies of active mountain ranges suggest that atmospheric and geodynamic processes may be strongly coupled through erosion — a hypothesis that has led to a debate over the relative importance of climate and far-field tectonic forcing in influencing erosion. We addressed this debate by developing the detailed long-term erosional history of a transect in the central Annapurna Range of Nepal for comparison with the climate and tectonic forcing histories of the region. Patterns of apatite fission-track and muscovite 40 Ar/ 39 Ar apparent ages with elevation indicate a five-fold increase in apparent erosion rate between 2.5 and 0.9 Ma ago. The time frame for this change corresponds to that of global climate destabilization associated with the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation and an intensification of the Asian monsoon. There is no evidence for important changes in the farfield tectonics of the Himalayan–Tibetan orogenic system over that interval, suggesting a largely climatic driver for enhanced erosion at the Himalayan range front.
A new probe of the electron-hole-liquid free-exciton system in Ge: No-phonon luminescence

Abstract This paper reports the development of a powerful new probe of the electron-hole-liquid (EHL) free-exciton (FE) system. The measurement of impurity mediated EHL luminescence allows the determination of the size and number of EHL droplets as functions of excitation power, time, temperature, and position. From such experiments, as a first application of this technique, we find excellent quantitative agreement with the predictions of nucleation theory for the dynamic equilibrium of the EHL-FE system.