cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary artery pressure: an intraoperative guide to limiting resection volume.

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has shown promising results in severe emphysema. However, intraoperative indicators are needed to define optimal resection volumes. Diffusing capacity (DLCO) worsens with larger LVRS and may correlate with pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. We hypothesized that there would be a greater increase in PA pressures with larger volume LVRS in an inhaled elastase animal emphysema model. Twenty-one rabbits were induced with 15,000 units of elastase via an endotracheal tube. Four weeks later, bilateral LVRS was performed through a median sternotomy using an endoscopic stapler. PA pressures were measured prior to LVRS, immediately after LVRS, and at sacrifice. Single-breath DLCO, static pressure-volume relationships, and forced expiratory flows were measured prior to induction and at corresponding times to PA pressures. Systolic PA pressures increased in both groups immediately after LVRS (small: 2. 67 +/- 9.2 mm Hg, ANOVA, P = 0.023; large: 3.8 +/- 8.5 mm Hg, P = 0. 002), and then decreased at time of sacrifice 1 week later (small: 9. 43 +/- 4.8 mm Hg, ANOVA, P = 0.053; large: 5.2 +/- 7.3 mm Hg, P = 0. 552). The decrease, at sacrifice, in PA pressures was greater for small LVRS animals than large LVRS animals. The mortality rate (MR) for the small resection group was 0%, whereas that for the large resection group was 24%. The MR associated with larger LVRS was appreciably greater than that associated with small LVRS. These studies suggest that PA pressures may prove to be a useful intraoperative indicator for limits of resection.
Khomaini and Fadayan's Society and Politics

Under the titular leadership of Ayatollah Khomaini, Iran is struggling to establish an Islamic republic. Such a system of government, based on an Islamic constitution and underpinned by Islamic laws which are “all-encompassing and complete,” is strongly believed by him and his followers to be the panacea for all the socioeconomic and political ills of Iran and, for that matter, the whole Islamic world.
Solvent‐induced structural changes in sulfonated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (SPET) fibers

The microstructure and macrostructure of sulfonated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (SPET) fibers were studied by subjecting them to solvents with solubility parameters similar to those of the PET. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methylene chloride (MeCl2), and pyridine, whose solubility parameters (δ) are close to those of the flexible aliphatic ester segment (COOCH2CH2), the semirigid aromatic segment (COC6H4), and the average δ of the PET repeating unit, respectively, were used. The solvent uptake levels of these three solvents, which were not affected by crimping or relaxing processes of the fibers, were related to their sizes, shapes, and solubility compatibility with SPET. The solventinduced effects were strongly dependent upon the fiber structure caused by the fiber-forming processes, but were generally not as strong as the processes. The most distinct changes brought about by the solvents include overall orientation determined by birefringence and the trans–gauche ratio and extent of chain fold by FTIR measurements. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
On the dispersive properties of the conical spiral antenna and its use for pulsed radiation

Conical spiral antennas can have an input impedance and gain that are nearly frequency independent over a wide bandwidth. However, these antennas normally have dispersive properties that produce significant distortion when they are used to radiate a pulse. We examine this dispersion in detail and the possibility of compensating for the dispersion so that the antenna can be used for pulse radiation. First, a simple, qualitative model for this antenna is described. This model provides physical insight into the causes for the dispersion. Next, the antenna is examined using an accurate, full electromagnetic analysis done with the finite-difference time-domain method. Results from this analysis support the conclusions reached with the simple model and provide additional insight into the dispersion. Finally, an approach for compensating for the dispersion in the antenna is described, and the interesting features of the pulse radiated from this antenna, after compensation, are discussed.
Integrating Selection, Training, and Performance Evaluation

This two year project was conducted at a major Minneapolis newspaper. It developed employee selection procedures, a performance-based training program, and on-the-job performance indicators for evaluating newly hired experienced truck drivers. It yielded generalizable techniques which met validity requirements of federal guidelines for employee selection.
Weak kappa-dominance model and bounds on k-l-3 decay parameters

The previously found bounds on the ${K}_{l3}$ form factors have been improved without assuming the validity of unsubtracted dispersion relations for two-point functions and without assuming specific SW(3)-symmetry-breaking Hamiltonians. As a price which we pay for this generality, it is necessary to assume a weak form of $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ dominance for the two-point function (but not for the three-point functions). Under this assumption the two-point function may still have a nonzero and sizable contribution from the high-energy region. The derived bounds still give results inconsistent with the present experiments if we utilize the soft-pion theorem as input information.
Testimony and Memory

The law distinguishes, among the things that a witness knows, those that he knows ‘of his own knowledge’, and allows him to testify only to them. This is in part because his confirmation of another witness’s testimony adds no weight to it if he derived his knowledge only from that other witness’s having told him. That is not the only reason, however. Only in special cases, such as a deathbed declaration, is second-hand evidence admitted at all. That is due both to the impossibility of testing it under cross-examination, that is, of probing its foundations, and to the well-known phenomenon of the corruption of information as it passes from its source along a chain of second-hand and third-hand transmitters. Historians, on the other hand, must perforce admit information given at second or later hand, since, very often, no other is available. The prejudice of the law against it has nevertheless often exerted a strong influence upon epistemologists; those subject to this influence consider that what a lawyer would deem me to know ‘of my own knowledge’ marks an upper bound to what I may genuinely be said to know at all.
A Novel Method of Deep Tissue Biomedical Imaging Using a Wearable Sensor

We present a novel monitoring method for continuous real-time imaging of deep human tissues using a body-worn sensor. The sensor operates at 40 MHz, and consists of a set of transmitting and receiving probes placed around the human body. For the first time, this portable and body-worn sensor provides for deep tissue pixel-by-pixel imaging. A demonstration of the concept is carried out by retrieving a 16-pixel image of the underlying cross section with accuracy better than 6%. This paper also provides a theoretical analysis for assessing the sensor’s accuracy. The analysis is based on line-source scattering by a two-layer cylindrical model of the human torso. Full-wave simulations are then carried out to demonstrate the sensor’s imaging capabilities pixel-by-pixel. Overall, the proposed sensor can be the basis for a portable and low-cost alternative to the conventional imaging techniques suitable for a wide range of applications (among them, the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and tumor growth monitoring).
Prevention of activation of HIV-1 by antiviral agents in OM-10.1 cells

The development of a reliable and simple system for evaluating compounds that could prevent activation of latent HIV would allow us to devise new therapeutic approaches. These compounds could eventually be used in combination with drugs that are effective against acute and chronic infections. The OM-10.1 cell line is a chronically infected clone which remains CD4+ until HIV-1 activation with tumour necrosis factor-α. A variety of compounds are known to have antiviral properties against either acutely or chronically infected cells were evaluated for their ability to inhibit HIV induced expression in these cells. We also examined the effect of several compounds that interact with biochemical pathways that may interfere with or enhance the reactivation process. These included nucleoside analogues, cytokines, steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, polyoxometalates, a TAT inhibitor, various natural products (including nerve growth factor, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, taxol, and interferons), TIBO, porphy...
The UKIRT Success Story

This is a personal overview of the great success of the UKIRT facility; a tribute to those who designed, built and operated it and helped put UK astronomy at the forefront of world infrared observations. I will illustrate this success with a small selection of science highlights.
A Geometric Approach to Positive Definite Sequences

In this chapter we present a geometric approach for studying positive definite sequences. First, we will obtain the Naimark dilation theorem which is the fundamental result of this chapter. Then we will use this theorem to show that there is a one to one correspondence between the set of all positive definite sequences on H, and the set of all choice sequences initiated on H. We also solve the positive definite Caratheodory interpolation problem in the operator setting, and present a geometric proof for many of the results in Chapter II. Then a recursive inverse scattering algorithm to compute the choice sequence from the positive definite sequence is presented. Further, we use a special matrix representation of the Naimark dilation to demonstrate how this choice sequence occurs in the Levinson algorithm for block Toeplitz matrices. This leads to another inverse scattering algorithm to compute the choice sequence. Also shown is how the Naimark dilation occurs in an operator version of the marine seismology and layered medium models discussed in Chapter III. Finally, we will show that there is a one to one correspondence through the Cayley transform, between the set of all positive definite sequences on H, and the set of all contractive analytic functions in H∞(H, H). From this it will follow that the positive definite operator valued Caratheodory interpalation problem is equivalent to the usual operator valued Caratheodory interpalation problem involving n by n contractive analytic Toeplitz matrices.
INFLUENCE OF AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA ON SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SALMONELLA INFECTION.

SummaryMice of the NZB/B1 strain with naturally occurring autoimmune hemo-lytic anemia are more susceptible to infection with S. typhimurium than NZB/B1 mice without autoimmune hemolysis. The increase in susceptibility can be demonstrated by comparing the response of the following groups of mice to challenge with Salmonella: 1. Old mice with positive Coombs tests compared with young mice with negative Coombs tests. 2. Mice with positive Coombs tests compared with mice of the same age with negative Coombs tests. 3. Young mice with negative Coombs tests transfused with erythrocytes from Coombs positive mice compared with young mice with negative Coombs tests transfused with Coombs negative erythrocytes. 4. Young mice with positive Coombs tests resulting from transfer of nucleated cells from Coombs positive donors compared with young mice with negative Coombs tests following transfer of nucleated cells from Coombs negative donors or following transfer of frozen and thawed cells from Coombs positive donors.Th...
Scaled Particle Theory for the Coil–Globule Transition of an Isolated Polymer Chain

We have developed a scaled particle theory for the coil–globule transition (CGT) of a chain of attractive hard spheres in an attractive hard sphere solvent. The model predicts a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) related CGT that merges with a high temperature upper critical solution temperature (UCST) related CGT at a high pressure hypercritical point. The predicted hypercritical point is in good agreement with simulations of a bead–spring polymer chain in a symmetric solvent, without the use of any adjustable parameters. The model predicts that increasing bulkiness of monomers relative to solvent molecules, decreasing polymer cohesive energy relative to solvent cohesive energy, and reduced chain length stabilize the expanded coil state, in qualitative agreement with simulations. These trends in the UCST-CGT and LCST-CGT are found to emerge from incompressible-solvent effects and equation-of-state effects, respectively, consistent with the enthalpic origin of the UCST and the entropic origin of t...
Rapid Identification of Chemoresistance Mechanisms Using Yeast DNA Mismatch Repair Mutants

Resistance to cancer therapy is a major obstacle in the long-term treatment of cancer. A greater understanding of drug resistance mechanisms will ultimately lead to the development of effective therapeutic strategies to prevent resistance from occurring. Here, we exploit the mutator phenotype of mismatch repair defective yeast cells combined with whole genome sequencing to identify drug resistance mutations in key pathways involved in the development of chemoresistance. The utility of this approach was demonstrated via the identification of the known CAN1 and TOP1 resistance targets for two compounds, canavanine and camptothecin, respectively. We have also experimentally validated the plasma membrane transporter HNM1 as the primary drug resistance target of mechlorethamine. Furthermore, the sequencing of mitoxantrone-resistant strains identified inactivating mutations within IPT1, a gene encoding inositolphosphotransferase, an enzyme involved in sphingolipid biosynthesis. In the case of bactobolin, a promising anticancer drug, the endocytosis pathway was identified as the drug resistance target responsible for conferring resistance. Finally, we show that that rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor previously shown to alter the fitness of the ipt1 mutant, can effectively prevent the formation of mitoxantrone resistance. The rapid and robust nature of these techniques, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism, should accelerate the identification of drug resistance targets and guide the development of novel therapeutic combination strategies to prevent the development of chemoresistance in various cancers.
Redefining risk boundaries in a shifting global chemical market.

ver the last 10−15 years, the global chemical industryan industry that includes specialty chemicals, petrochem-icals, polymers, basic inorganics, and consumer chemicalshasexperienced remarkable growth, an increase that has beenlargely driven by eastward migration of the global economytoward Asia. From 2001 to 2011 alone, world chemical salesincreased from €1.407 trillion to €2.744 trillion, representing a95% increase in growth over just one decade (http://www.ceﬁc.org/Facts-and-Figures/). This growth has also beencoupled with substantial redistribution of chemical productionamong major markets around the world. In 2001, the EuropeanUnion (EU) and North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) countries accounted for approximately 58% of worldchemical production (30% and 28%, respectively), whereasAsian countries contributed roughly 33% of total production(http://www.ceﬁc.org/Facts-and-Figures/). However, in 2011,the total percentage of sales within the EU and NAFTA sharplydeclined to approximately 37%, a loss that was, in large part,attributed to a nearly 60% increase in Asian chemicalproduction and market share (http://www.ceﬁc.org/Facts-and-Figures/). As a result, EU- and NAFTA-based multina-tional companiesin particular, those located within Germanyand the United Statesare rapidly losing ground to Asian-based multinational companies, with current projections thatAsia will own 75% of the global chemical market by 2030.
Outcomes of non-STEMI patients transported by emergency medical services vs private vehicle.

Abstract Background Non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (NSTEMIs) are more common but less studied than ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) treated by emergency medical services (EMS). Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in baseline characteristics and outcomes of NSTEMI patients when arriving by EMS vs self-transport. Methods We performed a retrospective medical record review of 96 EMS patients and 96 self-transport patients with the diagnosis of NSTEMI based on billing code. Results The mean age of patients arriving by EMS was 75 vs 65 years for self-transport patients ( P ≤ .000). Patients arriving by self-transport received cardiac catheterization more often than patients arriving by EMS (84% vs 49%, P ≤ .001). Emergency medical services patients had significantly longer average hospital length of stay and intensive care unit length of stay than did patients arriving by self-transport (6.5 vs 4 days [ P ≤ .001] and 4.1 vs 2.7 days [ P = .019]). Significantly more EMS patients were discharged to a new extended care facility (25% vs 3.1%, P ≤ .001). Finally, more EMS patients died in the hospital (18.8 vs 4.2%, P = .002). Conclusions Patients with NSTEMI who arrived by EMS are older, are more ill, and have worse outcomes compared with patients who arrived by self-transport. Further research into patient reasoning for mode of transportation to the ED may influence public health interventions, public policy development, and EMS and hospital protocols for management of NSTEMIs. The high mortality in prehospital cohort should prompt further investigation to develop evidence-based protocols.
Application of adaptive kernel time-frequency distribution in cross-components suppression

The limitations of time-frequency distribution (TFD) with fixed kernel on cross-components suppression are analyzed and the improvement of time-frequency resolution using signal-dependent adaptive kernel TFD is explored. An improved algorithm for calculating the signal-dependent adaptive kernel time-frequency distribution is put forward based on the radially-Gaussian signal dependent representation. The algorithm adopts the short-time ambiguity function (STAF) and the adaptive kernel varying with time. It can differentiate the details of multi-component signals in TFD. Simulation results show that the new algorithm possesses a high time-frequency resolution and has no interferency terms. At the same time it is applicable to analysis of long signals and on-line signal processing.
Epidermal growth factor rapidly activates the hexose monophosphate shunt in kidney cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen that rapidly activates plasma membrane Na+-H+ exchangers, thereby causing intracellular alkalinization. The rise in intracellular pH (pHi) may be a...
Introduction: Migration and Cultural Change

South Shields has been a crossroads of population since before recorded history. On a wind-scoured headland where the River Tyne joins the sea, the outermost reaches of the ancient world, Roman colonizers built a fort, securing their northern frontier in Britain.1 Yet frontiers imply not only border control but also border crossing.2 This border outpost stimulated migration and processes of cultural exchange that continue today. For two millennia, invaders and missionaries, merchants and other migrants circulated through South Shields, continually reshaping language, custom and landscape. Bearing goods and artifacts, ideas and practices from the Baltic, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and beyond, they wove South Shields into a widening world. In the past two centuries the insistent yet capricious demands of an industrializing global economy have reconfigured the town’s population anew.
On asymptotic solutions of the Lloyd-Max scalar quantization

The Lloyd-Max scalar quantization is to find a set of quanta {q1, ..., qn} and a set of partition endpoints {x1,..., xn-1] that minimize the mean squared error distortion, given a probability distribution p(x). For symmetrical distributions, optimal quantizers can be nonsymmetrical. Previous studies proved that the log-concavity of p(x) is sufficient for the uniqueness of a locally optimal solution, which is therefore globally optimal. When the distribution satisfies the log-concavity condition, the optimal quantizer is symmetrical. The condition covers the Gaussian, Laplace, and Rayleigh distributions. In this paper we show that there exist asymptotic solutions for such distributions that are numerically considered as the solutions to the Lloyd-Max problem within any finite machine precision, although theoretically they are not. We use MATLAB symbolic math toolbox to list these asymptotic solutions with 21 decimal digits of accuracy, with dqn smaller than 64-bit floating point spacing to be regarded as zero. These asymptotic solutions are degenerate solutions with some quanta and endpoints approaching to infinity. For such a log-concave distribution with an even number (n = 2 m ges 6) of quantization levels, the Lloyd- Max quantization seems to yield k = lceilm/2rceil-1 degenerate solutions with n - 4, ... , n - 4 k finite quanta, respectively. Furthermore, the k degenerate solutions of the Lloyd-Max quantization with n quantizer level correspond to the optimal solutions of the Lloyd-Max quantization with n-4, ... , n-4k quantizer levels, respectively. These asymptotic solutions are locally minimum mean-square error quantizers, but none of them is the globally optimal quantizer.
Baryogenesis, Cosmological Moduli and Gravitino Problems, and Dark Matter

SUSY GUTs provide a framework for describing cosmology. In particular, the LSP is a natural candidate for dark matter. In addition, since baryon and lepton number are violated, the theory allows for an understanding of why there is more matter than anti-matter in the universe. The particular scenario discussed in this chapter is known as baryogenesis via leptogenesis. SUSY GUTs also introduce some possible problems for cosmology. We discuss the so-called cosmological moduli problem and the gravitino problem. Note, we have no insight on the most serious problem of cosmology, i.e. the cosmological constant problem. Perhaps the solution to this problem is an accident of our location in a multi-verse.
Scaling, stacking, and printing: How 1D and 2D nanomaterials still hold promise for a new era of electronics

1D and 2D nanomaterials continue to show promise for use in electronic devices. Their atomically thin size and superb transport properties make them of great value for transistors scaled in size and, more importantly, in voltage. Meanwhile, their substrate independence and van der Waals nature allows for ready stacking of nanomaterials at the device (interdigitated channels) or chip (monolithic 3D integrated) level. Finally, with dispersion into solution-phase inks, nanomaterials can be printed into thin-film devices for a new era of low-cost, flexible electronics that outperform competing printable materials. Each of these areas — scaling, stacking, and printing — benefit from uniquely from nanomaterials and will be reviewed herein.
Electrical Characterization and Nanoindentation of Opto-electro-mechanical Percolative Composites from 2D Layered Materials

In this paper, we have developed composites with Poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) as the matrix material, while transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), MoS2 and WS2 and graphite served as the filler materials. The PMMA was chosen as the matrix material due to its low-cost, wide availability, as well as its promising mechanical and optical properties for enabling opto-electro-mechanical sensing devices. The amount of filler material used ranged from 100 mg/ml up to 400 mg/ml. With the aid of designed fixtures we related the electrical properties of the PMMA-based composite sensors to the degree of strain or deformation. Additionally, a nanoindenter was used to measure the modulus of elasticity, with values as low as 2 GPa and as high as 20 GPa for the graphite composites, and hardness values which ranged from 0.1 GPa to ~ 1.6 GPa.
Programmatic Moderators of CBT Correctional Treatment for Whites and African Americans.

A recent experimental evaluation of a cognitive behavioral intervention (Reasoning and Rehabilitation) reported significantly greater reductions in recidivism for White male parolees than African A...
Somatostatin Receptor/G Protein Coupling Directs the Regulation of Effector Systems

Somatostatin (SRIF) receptors have been implicated in many disease states of the central nervous and endocrine systems as well as various cancers. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the signal transduction pathways of SRIF receptors in order to understand the molecular basis for the action of SRIF drugs. This paper identifies the G proteins coupled to rat brain SRIF receptors. The interactions of a neurotransmitter with G proteins previous to and following agonist binding are revealed. The results of these studies indicate that the signalling pathways regulated by a given neurotransmitter are strongly influenced by G proteins. Depending on the complement of G proteins expressed in a given cell, a transmitter may regulate multiple effector systems or a single effector system. G proteins, are, therefore, critical components in determining the physiological action of a given transmitter on a given tissue or cell population.
Tea polyphenols for the prevention of UVB-induced skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer with increasing incidence rate and public health burden. Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes an array of damaging cellular and molecular events that eventually lead to the development of skin cancer. Despite increased awareness about sun protection, the exposure rate remains high with less than 15% of men and 30% of women using sunscreen on a regular basis. Therefore, there is an imperative need for the development of novel preventive approaches. Skin cancer chemoprevention using phytochemicals either as dietary supplements or by topical applications has gained considerable attention due to their low toxicity, availability, and anticarcinogenic properties. Tea, the second most commonly consumed beverage in the world, is a rich source of promising phytochemicals known as polyphenols. In this review, we discuss the findings of various in vitro, in vivo and human studies signifying the chemopreventive effects of tea polyphenols against UVB-induced skin cancer. This is accomplished by exploring the role of tea polyphenols in DNA repair, inflammation, oxidative stress, signaling pathways, and epigenetics. Finally, this review discusses a variety of innovative delivery methods that enhance the photochemopreventive effects of tea polyphenols against skin cancer.
Cross-linking of protein by peroxidase.

The reaction products of peroxidase, a hydrogen donor and hydrogen peroxide decreased the amount of lysine recovered from proteins after acid hydrolysis. Oxidation of peroxidase treated proteins with performic acid prior to hydrolysis formed α-amino adipic acid indicating that the peroxidase or the quinones formed by peroxidase had oxidatively deaminated some lysyl residues of the protein to form lysyl aldehyde. Gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed dimers, trimers and higher protein polymers that were not detected when peroxidase was omitted. Since some of the protein polymers were not dissociated by gel electrophoresis in the presence of dodecyl sulfate, urea and mercaptoethanol, it suggests that the free radicals or quinones formed by peroxidase had interacted with or cross-linked protein molecules by the formation of covalent bonds. Oxidative enzymes like peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase may lower the nutritive value of proteins by the oxidative deamination of lysine, reaction with cysteine and methionine and by cross-linking protein molecules to reduce their susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis.
Treatment Strategies for Dravet Syndrome

Dravet syndrome (DS) is a medically refractory epilepsy that onsets in the first year of life with prolonged seizures, often triggered by fever. Over time, patients develop other seizure types (myoclonic, atypical absences, drops), intellectual disability, crouch gait and other co-morbidities (sleep problems, autonomic dysfunction). Complete seizure control is generally not achievable with current therapies, and the goals of treatment are to balance reduction of seizure burden with adverse effects of therapies. Treatment of co-morbidities must also be addressed, as they have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with DS. Seizures are typically worsened with sodium-channel agents. Accepted first-line agents include clobazam and valproic acid, although these rarely provide adequate seizure control. Benefit has also been noted with stiripentol, topiramate, levetiracetam, the ketogenic diet and vagal nerve stimulation. Several agents presently in development, specifically fenfluramine and cannabidiol, have shown efficacy in clinical trials. Status epilepticus is a recurring problem for patients with DS, particularly in their early childhood years. All patients should be prescribed a home rescue therapy (usually a benzodiazepine) but should also have a written seizure action plan that outlines when rescue should be given and further steps to take in the local hospital if the seizure persists despite home rescue therapy.
Developmental Disability and Fragile X Syndrome: Clinical Overview

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by mutation of a single gene (FMR1) on the X chromosome and is the leading cause of inherited developmental disability, as well as the leading single gene cause of autism. Individuals with FXS have well-described physical and behavioral phenotypes; however, considerable variability in phenotype expression has been explained by a number of environmental, genetic, and biological/physiological factors. The brain and molecular genetic basis of FXS has been relatively well described through numerous human studies and animal models, and as such, it provides a useful model for understanding links between genes, brain, and behavior; specific conditions such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorders; and for testing pharmacological, behavioral, and gene therapies.
Using Virtual Doppelgängers to Increase Personal Relevance of Health Risk Communication

Virtual doppelgangers are human representations in virtual environments with photorealistic resemblance to individuals. Previous research has shown that doppelgangers can be effective in persuading users in the health domain. An experiment explored the potential of using virtual doppelgangers in addition to a traditional public health campaign message to heighten the perception of personal relevance and risk of sugar-sweetened beverages. Both virtual doppelgangers and an unfamiliar virtual human (i.e., virtual other) used in addition to a health pamphlet were effective in increasing risk perception compared to providing just the pamphlet. Virtual doppelgangers were more effective than virtual others in increasing perceived personal relevance to the health message. Self-referent thoughts and self presence were confirmed as mediators.
Realizable Rational Multiparty Cryptographic Protocols

In this work, we describe how to realize rational cryptographic protocols in practice from abstract game specifications. Existing work requires strong assumptions about communication resources in order to preserve equilibria between game descriptions and realized protocols. We argue that for real world protocols, it must be assumed that players have access to point-to-point communication channels. Thus, allowing signaling and strategy correlation becomes unavoidable. We argue that ideal world game descriptions of realizable protocols should include such communication resources as well, in order to facilitate the design of protocols in the real world. Our results specify a modified ideal and real world model that account for the presence of point-to-point communication channels between players, where security is achieved through the simulation paradigm.
MARBLE DETERIORATION IN THE URBAN ATMOSPHERE

Marble tombstones provide a homogeneous data base for documenting and analysing the effects of air pollution in North American cities. Using this data base we demonstrate the spatial characteristics, timing, source, and mechanism of marble deterioration in the urban atmosphere. By comparing marble weathering rates in 17 North American cities a marble damage function, based on sulfur dioxide emmissions is developed. Sulfur dioxide gas is found to be the major factor causing marble deterioration, and the extent of damage is largely dependent on the atmospheric concentrations of sulfur dioxide, and on the rates of sulfur dioxide delivery to the stone surface. Delivery rates of gases to the stone face are determined by both meteorological conditions on the large scale, and micro-climatic factors, such as wind profiles and stone boundary layers, on the smaller scale.
Toward a Membership Theory of Apologies

Governments are not in the habit of apologizing for their own injustices, let alone those perpetrated by former governments in distant and not-so-distant pasts. Yet they sometimes do, most often in response to the demands of organized citizen groups or former adversaries, but not always. In widely known instances, former belligerents have apologized for crimes committed during World War II. Similarly, in democratizing nations, former perpetrators of state crimes have apologized for their past actions. For both, the desired outcomes are clear, if not always achieved. Former belligerents may apologize, thereby easing relations between the two, as in the case of France and Germany. In contrast, Japan's repeated failures to apologize unambiguously for its war crimes have made reconciliation with neighboring countries difficult. For new democracies, proponents assert that apologies will advance societal reconciliation and strengthen democratic consolidation. But neither the latest wave of democratization nor World War II crimes account for all present-day apologies or demands for them. Groups have demanded and governments have offered apologies for historical injustices. Australian Aboriginal peoples have urged Prime Minister John Howard to apologize for the state policy, begun in the early twentieth century, of removing “half-caste” Aboriginal children from their parents' care, usually forcibly. Aboriginal Canadians and New Zealand Maori continue to press for greater political and economic autonomy, after receiving official apologies from the Canadian government and the British Crown, respectively. African Americans call for apology and reparations for two hundred years of slavery.
Hyperornithinemia, Hyperammonemia, and Homocitrullinuria Syndrome Causing Severe Neonatal Hyperammonemia.

Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome (OMIM 238970) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is caused by a deficiency of mitochondrial ornithine transporter 1, resulting in dysfunction of the urea cycle. HHH is the rarest of the urea cycle disorders, reported in fewer than 100 patients. It is characterized by extreme phenotypic variability, including diverse ages of onset and severity of phenotype. We report the first confirmed instance of HHH syndrome in a premature infant (31 2/7 weeks) with severe hyperammonemia (1,300 μmol/L).
AR Marker Aided Obstacle Localization System for Assisting Visually Impaired

As of in 2017, approximately 3.3% of the people in the world (253 million) are visually impaired. These people face mobility difficulties which impact their quality of life. We propose a system that will assist the visually impaired with their indoor environment mobility. It uses the information from preregistered AR (Augmented Reality) markers to identify specific accessible facilities, such as hallways, restrooms, staircases, and offices. An RGB-D sensor (a sensor that provides color and depth information of every pixel) captures the scene which includes the AR markers. This scene-based information is processed by a neural network to recognize and localize obstacles and accessible facilities. We present the processing algorithm for image and depth profiling. System performance in terms of obstacle localization and recognition was evaluated inside building.
Establishment of a humanized lupus model

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a systemic autoimmune disease, involves mild to severe manifestations in multiple organs. Currently, lupus-prone mouse models are used to understand the mechanisms of SLE development and discover new therapies. However, due to differences between rodents and humans, such as physiological development, disease progression, and response to therapies and drugs, many mechanisms and therapies discovered in mice may not be efficiently transferred from murine lupus models to SLE patients. Here we present a humanized mouse model of lupus as a new technology to bridge the gap between rodent models and patients. In our model, which involves vigorous selection of donors, we engraft peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SLE patients into NOD/SCID/IL2Rg null (NSG) mice to build a human-specific disease-based immune system in the mice. To avoid graft versus host disease, we stimulate PBMCs before transferring them into either female or male NSG mice. This method enhances the survival and maintenance of the engrafted cells. Human T cells and B cells that are critical to lupus development can be detected in the peripheral blood and spleen of humanized mice with no sex preference two weeks after engraftment. The model responds well to dexamethasone treatment with reduced proteinuria and decrease of spleen weight, indicating that our model could be used for preclinical studies for SLE. The therapeutic window can be as long as 3 weeks. This model allows for mechanistic studies and testing of potential therapies of SLE directly on human immune system in vivo without putting human life at risk.
Effects of multiple transmission pathways on Zika dynamics.

Abstract Although the Zika virus is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, it can also be sexually and vertically transmitted within both populations. In this study, we develop a new mathematical model of the Zika virus which incorporates sexual transmission in humans and mosquitos, vertical transmission in mosquitos, and mosquito to human transmission through bites. Analysis of this deterministic model shows that the secondary transmission routes of Zika increase the basic reproductive number ( R 0 ) of the virus by 5%, shift the peak time of an outbreak to occur 10% sooner, increase the initial growth of an epidemic, and have important consequences for control strategies and estimates of R 0 . Furthermore, sensitivity analysis show that the basic reproductive number is most sensitive to the mosquito biting rate and transmission probability parameters and reveal that the dynamics of juvenile mosquito stages greatly impact the peak time of an outbreak. These discoveries deepen our understanding of the complex transmission routes of ZIKV and the consequences that they may hold for public health officials.
Ageism and aging anxiety among young adults: relationships with contact, knowledge, fear of death, and optimism

Ageism refers to discrimination against individuals based on age, while aging anxiety is defined as fear about getting older. We were interested in whether ageism and aging anxiety had distinct cor...
Supercoil Levels in E. coli and Salmonella Chromosomes Are Regulated by the C-Terminal 35⁻38 Amino Acids of GyrA.

Prokaryotes have an essential gene—gyrase—that catalyzes negative supercoiling of plasmid and chromosomal DNA. Negative supercoils influence DNA replication, transcription, homologous recombination, site-specific recombination, genetic transposition and sister chromosome segregation. Although E. coli and Salmonella Typhimurium are close relatives with a conserved set of essential genes, E. coli DNA has a supercoil density 15% higher than Salmonella, and E. coli cannot grow at the supercoil density maintained by wild type (WT) Salmonella. E. coli is addicted to high supercoiling levels for efficient chromosomal folding. In vitro experiments were performed with four gyrase isoforms of the tetrameric enzyme (GyrA2:GyrB2). E. coli gyrase was more processive and faster than the Salmonella enzyme, but Salmonella strains with chromosomal swaps of E. coli GyrA lost 40% of the chromosomal supercoil density. Reciprocal experiments in E. coli showed chromosomal dysfunction for strains harboring Salmonella GyrA. One GyrA segment responsible for dis-regulation was uncovered by constructing and testing GyrA chimeras in vivo. The six pinwheel elements and the C-terminal 35–38 acidic residues of GyrA controlled WT chromosome-wide supercoiling density in both species. A model of enzyme processivity modulated by competition between DNA and the GyrA acidic tail for access to β-pinwheel elements is presented.
Monitoring of human neuromusculoskeletal system performance through model-based fusion of electromyogram signals and kinematic/dynamic variables:

This article demonstrates feasibility of utilizing model-based approach for monitoring the performance of human neuromusculoskeletal systems. The performance monitoring method utilizes an autoregre...
Photobiomodulation in animal models of retinal injury and disease

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and inflammation play key roles in retinal aging and retinal degenerative disease. Mitochondrial repair and attenuation of oxidative stress are critical to the long-term survival of the retina. Therapeutic strategies directed toward improving mitochondrial integrity and function and reducing oxidative stress have considerable potential for the treatment of retinal disease. Low-intensity far-red to near-infrared (FR/NIR) light has been shown to act on mitochondria-mediated signaling pathways to preserve mitochondrial function, attenuate oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, and prevent cell death. FR/NIR photons penetrate the brain, retina and optic nerve and this treatment, commonly known as photobiomodulation has documented efficacy in the prevention and treatment of retinal degenerative diseases in experimental and clinical studies.
Sepsis World Model: A MIMIC-based OpenAI Gym "World Model" Simulator for Sepsis Treatment.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection. In order to treat patients with sepsis, physicians must control varying dosages of various antibiotics, fluids, and vasopressors based on a large number of variables in an emergency setting. In this project we employ a "world model" methodology to create a simulator that aims to predict the next state of a patient given a current state and treatment action. In doing so, we hope our simulator learns from a latent and less noisy representation of the EHR data. Using historical sepsis patient records from the MIMIC dataset, our method creates an OpenAI Gym simulator that leverages a Variational Auto-Encoder and a Mixture Density Network combined with a RNN (MDN-RNN) to model the trajectory of any sepsis patient in the hospital. To reduce the effects of noise, we sample from a generated distribution of next steps during simulation and have the option of introducing uncertainty into our simulator by controlling the "temperature" variable. It is worth noting that we do not have access to the ground truth for the best policy because we can only evaluate learned policies by real-world experimentation or expert feedback. Instead, we aim to study our simulator model's performance by evaluating the similarity between our environment's rollouts with the real EHR data and assessing its viability for learning a realistic policy for sepsis treatment using Deep Q-Learning.
How to Do Things with BCIs.

In their very interesting article the authors present a number of arguments in support of the conclusion that BCI-mediated behavior presents a special set of issues regarding ascriptions of respons...
Foundations of Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience: An Introduction

History reveals that advances in our scientific understanding often accelerate after technological innovations improve upon our ability to observe and measure phenomenon more precisely (e.g., Kuhn, 1962). Also, more often than not, big leaps in knowledge are the result of the collective effort of teams of collaborating investigators rather than by individual scientists working in relative isolation independently. At least part of the argument in favor of team science is that the nature of most key phenomenon under study involves factors operating at multiple levels of analysis. Indeed, contemporary theorists assume that complex phenomenon, such as human development, disease, poverty, and public health, are determined by a confluence of effects involving interacting intrinsic individual differences, behavior, biological, and contextual factors. A major advantage of team science is that individual team members represent a deeper level of knowledge in a particular field or level of analysis than is efficient for any particular investigator to achieve and maintain. That, in theory, enables problems to be approached from dynamic inter- and trans-disciplinary perspectives with the intellectual capacity of the scientific collective being greater than the sum of the individual’s knowledge (Stokols, Hall, Taylor, & Moser, 2008).
ACTH Infusion Impairs Baroreflex Sensitivity-Implications for Cardiovascular Hypoglycemia-Associated Autonomic Failure.

CONTEXT Hypoglycemia attenuates cardiovascular homeostatic autonomic control. This attenuation, known as the cardiovascular component of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF), is characterized most notably by decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) that begins during hypoglycemia and persists until at least the next day, despite return to euglycemia. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this reduction in BRS is important because BRS attenuation is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE The objective of this work is to investigate the role of the adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-adrenal axis in decreasing BRS. We tested the hypothesis that infusion of ACTH 1-24 (cosyntropin), as compared to placebo, would acutely suppress BRS, and that this decrease in BRS would be present the next day. DESIGN A double-blind, placebo-controlled, random-order, cross-over study was conducted. SETTING This study took place in a clinical research center. PARTICIPANTS Participants included healthy men and women. INTERVENTIONS Interventions included an intravenous infusion of cosyntropin (70 μg/hour for 2.5 hours in the morning and again in the early afternoon) vs normal saline placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcome measures included BRS during and 16 hours after cosyntropin vs placebo infusions. RESULTS Cosyntropin infusion attenuated BRS (mm Hg/ms) as compared to placebo (baseline 17.8 ± 1.38 vs 17.0 ± 2.07; during 14.4 ± 1.43 vs 17.3 ± 1.65; and next day 14.8 ± 1.42 vs 18.9 ± 2.04; P < .05, time by treatment, analysis of variance). BRS was decreased during the final 30 minutes of the morning cosyntropin infusion as compared to baseline (P < .01) and remained suppressed the next day (16 hours after afternoon infusion) (P < .025). Placebo infusion did not significantly change BRS. Corrected QT interval was not affected. CONCLUSIONS ACTH attenuates BRS, raising the possibility that hypoglycemia-induced increases in ACTH may contribute to the cardiovascular component of HAAF.
Visions of the Tallgrass: Prairie Photographs by Harvey Payne

Review of:Visions of the Tallgrass: Prairie Photographs by Harvey Payne, photographs by Harvey Payne, essays by James P. Ronda.