cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thiotepa-Based High-Dose Chemotherapy With Autologous Stem-Cell Rescue in Patients With Recurrent or Progressive CNS Germ Cell Tumors

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by autologous stem-cell rescue (ASCR) in patients with relapsed or progressive CNS germ cell tumors (GCTs). Patients and Methods Twenty-one patients with CNS GCTs who experienced relapse or progression despite having received initial chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were treated with thiotepa-based HDC regimens followed by ASCR. Results Estimated overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates for the entire group 4 years after HDC were 57% ± 12% and 52% ± 14%, respectively. Seven of nine (78%) patients with germinoma survived disease-free after HDC with a median survival of 48 months. One patient died as a result of progressive disease (PD) 39 months after HDC, and another died as a result of pulmonary fibrosis unrelated to HDC 78 months after ASCR without assessable disease. However, only four of 12 patients (33%) with nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) survived without evidence of disease, with a me...
Hemodynamic Effects of Bradykinin Antagonism in Porcine Gram-Negative Sepsis

Activation of the kallikrein-kinin system in sepsis has long been recognized, but its role, beneficial or pathologic, has not been defined. Recently, however, specific bradykinin (BK) antagonists h...
Design and analysis of multiple-bus arbiters with different priority schemes

The authors present four multiple-user and multiple-server arbiter designs of multiple-bus multiprocessors. All designs are based on decentralized control, which has the advantage of good reliability and potentially high throughput. The priority protocols considered are fixed priority, rotating priority, round-robin priority, and equal priority. For the first two priority protocols, lookahead techniques are used to speed up the arbitration process. The round-robin protocol is based on the decentralized daisy-chain idea and is operated in an asynchronous fashion. Analytical models are developed for the four different priority protocols to evaluate the performance of the different designs. The analyses are based on a probabilistic model for the synchronous case and simple queuing analysis for the asynchronous system. Numerical results obtained from the proposed model show that the equal priority protocol performs better than the others in the system with a few buses. The performance difference is not significant when the number of buses is relatively large. >
Asynchronous failure detectors

Failure detectors - oracles that provide information about process crashes - are an important abstraction for crash tolerance in distributed systems. Although current failure-detector theory provides great generality and expressiveness, it also poses significant challenges in developing a robust hierarchy of failure detectors. We address some of these challenges by proposing a variant of failure detectors called asynchronous failure detectors and an associated modeling framework. Unlike the traditional failure-detector framework, our framework eschews real time completely. We show that asynchronous failure detectors are sufficiently expressive to include several popular failure detectors. Additionally, we show that asynchronous failure detectors satisfy many desirable properties: they are self-implementable, guarantee that stronger asynchronous failure detectors solve more problems, and ensure that their outputs encode no information other than process crashes. We introduce the notion of a failure detector being representative of a problem to capture the idea that some problems encode the same information about process crashes as their weakest failure detectors do. We show that a large class of problems, called finite problems, do not have representative failure detectors.
Finding Boundaries in Images

In computational vision, finding the boundaries of the regions in a image which correspond to different surfaces in the scene is usually approached as a problem of detecting brightness edges. In this paper, we argue that this is a limited view. Boundaries in images could be associated with differences on a number of visual attributes-brightness, color, texture, stereoscopic disparity and motion-all of which are utilized in human vision. Machine vision systems should do the same. We argue that convolution of the image with a bank of Gaussian derivative filters is a suitable common first stage for this task. We also present some new results on the problem of detecting and localizing brightness edges composed of step, peak and roof profiles.
AN UNUSUAL RH AGGLUTINOGEN LACKING BLOOD FACTORS RH-A, RH-B, RH-C, AND RH-D.

A case is presented whose red blood cells were typed as Rhabcd1rh and whose serum contained an antibody resembling anti-Rho in specificity. This serum sensitized all Rho-positive cells tested except the cells of the patient herself.
FREE-LIVING SPIDERS OF THE GENUS ARIAMNES (ARANEAE, THERIDIIDAE) IN HAWAII

Abstract This study examines species in a relatively diverse lineage of Ariamnes spiders in the Hawaiian archipelago, where they appear to have undergone adaptive radiation, with several species generally co-occurring at any one locality. The lineage was initially described by the single species A. corniger Simon 1900. The Hawaiian representatives of this lineage are characterized by variably elongate abdomens and are mostly free-living, at least as adults, although a number have been found to occur, at least facultatively, as kleptoparasites on the webs of other spiders. These spiders are all nocturnal. Their phylogenetic affinities with other representatives of the genus outside the Hawaiian Islands are unclear. Ten new species are described here: A. kahili, A. huinakolu, A. makue, A. uwepa, A. poele, A. melekalikimaka, A. alepeleke, A. laau, A. waikula, and A. hiwa. These species, together with the single described species Ariamnes corniger, include all known representatives of the lineage in the Hawai...
Global attractor of atmospheric equations

We consider the three-dimensional primitive equations of the atmosphere with humidity and saturation associated with suitable boundary conditions. These equations have been shown to lead to well-posed problem producing a continuous semigroup despite the discontinuities due to the change of phase between vapor water and liquid water. In this article, we aim to show the existence of a global attractor for a model problem.
Injection Force Effects on Propidium Iodide Uptake in Nanoinjected HeLa Cells

The ability to deliver DNA sequences and molecular loads into the nucleus of a cell is a large area of interest in the medical community, and has numerous applications including gene therapy. Different methods of gene delivery each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Experimentation was performed using a new technique called nanoinjection to determine how force affects the efficiency and viability of the injection process. Nanoinjection, which utilizes an array of millions of solid microlances made on a 2 cm square silicon chip to inject cells, allows us to inject hundreds of thousands of cells at a time with high efficiencies. The solid nature of the lances allows them to be smaller, increasing cell viability. HeLa cells were used for testing in conjunction with an injection device that allowed for precise control of the injection force. Propidium iodide (PI), a dye that fluoresces when bound to DNA and doesn’t penetrate the membrane of living cells, was injected to monitor the efficiencies of transporting molecular loads across the cell membrane. The data was normalized to the controls for both efficiency (PI uptake) and viability to make it easier to see and determine trends. Results indicate a slow rise in injection efficiency from 0 to 1.8 Newtons of force where it reaches a maximum efficiency of 4.11 when normalized to the PI uptake of the positive controls. The data then levels, averaging an efficiency of approximately 3.1. The slow rise is likely due to more of the cells being punctured as the force increases until most have been punctured and the efficiency levels off. Viability had no clear trend, only varying between 0.97 and 1.04 when normalized to the viability of the negative controls.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
MetaKTSP: a meta-analytic top scoring pair method for robust cross-study validation of omics prediction analysis

Motivation Supervised machine learning is widely applied to transcriptomic data to predict disease diagnosis, prognosis or survival. Robust and interpretable classifiers with high accuracy are usually favored for their clinical and translational potential. The top scoring pair (TSP) algorithm is an example that applies a simple rank-based algorithm to identify rank-altered gene pairs for classifier construction. Although many classification methods perform well in cross-validation of single expression profile, the performance usually greatly reduces in cross-study validation (i.e. the prediction model is established in the training study and applied to an independent test study) for all machine learning methods, including TSP. The failure of cross-study validation has largely diminished the potential translational and clinical values of the models. The purpose of this article is to develop a meta-analytic top scoring pair (MetaKTSP) framework that combines multiple transcriptomic studies and generates a robust prediction model applicable to independent test studies. Results We proposed two frameworks, by averaging TSP scores or by combining P-values from individual studies, to select the top gene pairs for model construction. We applied the proposed methods in simulated data sets and three large-scale real applications in breast cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pan-cancer methylation. The result showed superior performance of cross-study validation accuracy and biomarker selection for the new meta-analytic framework. In conclusion, combining multiple omics data sets in the public domain increases robustness and accuracy of the classification model that will ultimately improve disease understanding and clinical treatment decisions to benefit patients. Availability and implementation An R package MetaKTSP is available online. (http://tsenglab.biostat.pitt.edu/software.htm). Contact ctseng@pitt.edu Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Value of Qualitative Dissertations: A Panel Symposium

This symposium is aimed at bringing together a panel of scholars to discuss the value of qualitative dissertations for students, faculty advisors, and the academy overall. The panel discussion will...
Biological Mineral Range Effects on Biomass Conversion to Aromatic Hydrocarbons via Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis over HZSM-5

A set of 20 biomass samples, comprising 10 genotypes of switchgrass, sorghum, and miscanthus grown in two different soils with high and low poultry manure input conditions and having a wide biological range of mineral content, were subjected to catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) over HZMS-5 using pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS). The resulting products, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), naphthalenes, and gases, including carbon oxides, methane, and olefins, were quantified in terms of product carbon yield and chemical selectivity. The effects of the total ash content as well as the individual mineral components were compared to evaluate the effect of the natural range of these components on the product distribution. While there was considerable variation in the data because of the biological influence, a positive correlation was found between ash content and carbon conversion to aromatic hydrocarbons, which was particularly strong when considering only the ...
Study on Insulin Secretion's Characteristic of Stagnation of Liver Qi and Stomach Heat of Obesity Type 2 Diabetes

Objective:Study on the insulin secretion's characteristic of stagnation of liver Qi and stomach heat of obesity type 2 diabetes was made to reveal pathological mechanism of TCM syndrome.Methods:We selected the patients of obese T2DM as subjects,observe the features of insulin-secretion through insulin tolerable test by contrast with normal person and obese person,observe the change of IRI、TI、PI in zero point、 30 minute point、 120 minute point.Results:The patients of stagnation of liver Qi and stomach heat of obesity type 2 diabetes's insulin-secretion is low and delayed and especially in early-phase of insulin secretion,fasting PI of subjects is double than normal contrast group's,and subjects' insulin secretion index and insulin sensitivity index are poor.Conclusion:Distinctive difference exists in the quality and quantity of insulin-secretion between the patients of stagnation of liver Qi and stomach heat of obesity type 2 diabetes and normal contrast group,it is the true reason that insulin resistance(IR)and impaired β-cell function makes subjects blood sugar very high,and it's feasible to evaluate β-cell function by true insulin.
Recombination and purification of IL-23 gene and its effect on immune response to airway inflammation in asthma during pregnancy

Aim To investigate the immune regulation of IL-23 fusion gene and the correlation between its biological function and the airway inflammation in asthma during pregnancy. Methods The eukaryotic expression plasmid,which was constructed to express the IL-23p40 + p19 double subunit,was used to transform E.coilBL21 bacteria,and the expression products,which were induced by IPTG,were purified and detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The transfection,mediated by recombinant protein,was identified by fluorescence microscopy and plasmid's Western blot,while DNA binding activity of nuclear proteins was measured by gel electrophoresis. To evaluate the impact of foreign protein in vivo,mouse serum inflammatory cytokines levels and inflammation injury in lung tissue were measured by ELISA method and HE staining. The CD4+T cell subset's proportion of mononuclear cells in peripheral blood was verified by flow cytometry. Results The results showed that soluble exogenous recombinant protein,which was obtained successfully,had the ability of trans-membrane transport and could effectively mediate EGFP into the target cells. Its stable expression and transcriptional activity were higher than those of simple plasmid's effect. The specific binding between GST/pCEP4-IL-23 and plasmid DNA formed macromolecular complexes,which could decrease the mobility of gel. The combined effect with LPS significantly increased the IL-17A levels in serum(P 0. 05) and the inflammation reaction in lung tissue of sensitized mice. Mean while,it also reduced the IFN-γ,Foxp3 level in serum,promoted the activation of IL-4 and IL-17A,and then increased the ratio of Th2/Th1and Th17/Treg(P 0. 05). Conclusions The recombinant IL-23 protein is pathogenic,and it adjusts the inflammation of asthma in pregnancy. The immune imbalance of CD4+T subsets affects the immune tolerance of pregnant body and the development of asthma during pregnancy.
Cotton phenotyping with lidar from a track-mounted platform

High-Throughput Phenotyping (HTP) is a discipline for rapidly identifying plant architectural and physiological responses to environmental factors such as heat and water stress. Experiments conducted since 2010 at Maricopa, Arizona with a three-fold sensor group, including thermal infrared radiometers, active visible/near infrared reflectance sensors, and acoustic plant height sensors, have shown the validity of HTP with a tractor-based system. However, results from these experiments also show that accuracy of plant phenotyping is limited by the system’s inability to discriminate plant components and their local environmental conditions. This limitation may be overcome with plant imaging and laser scanning which can help map details in plant architecture and sunlit/shaded leaves. To test the capability for mapping cotton plants with a laser system, a track-mounted platform was deployed in 2015 over a full canopy and defoliated cotton crop consisting of a scanning LIDAR driven by Arduinocontrolled stepper motors. Using custom Python and Tkinter code, the platform moved autonomously along a pipe-track at 0.1 m/s while collecting LIDAR scans at 25 Hz (0.1667 deg. beam). These tests showed that an autonomous LIDAR platform can reduce HTP logistical problems and provide the capability to accurately map cotton plants and cotton bolls. A prototype track-mounted platform was developed to test the use of LIDAR scanning for High- Throughput Phenotyping (HTP). The platform was deployed in 2015 at Maricopa, Arizona over a senescent cotton crop. Using custom Python and Tkinter code, the platform moved autonomously along a pipe-track at <1 m/s while collecting LIDAR scans at 25 Hz (0.1667 deg. beam). Scanning data mapped the canopy heights and widths, and detected cotton bolls.
Rumor Source Obfuscation on Irregular Trees

Anonymous messaging applications have recently gained popularity as a means for sharing opinions without fear of judgment or repercussion. Messages in these applications propagate anonymously (without authorship metadata) over a network that is typically defined by social connections or physical proximity. However, recent advances in rumor source detection show that the source of such an anonymous message can be inferred by statistical inference attacks. Adaptive diffusion was recently proposed as a solution that achieves optimal source obfuscation over regular trees. However, in real social networks, node degrees differ from node to node, and adaptive diffusion can be significantly sub-optimal. This gap increases as the degrees become more irregular.In order to quantify this gap, we model the underlying network as coming from standard branching processes with i.i.d. degree distributions. Building upon the analysis techniques from branching processes, we give an analytical characterization of the dependence between the probability of detection achieved by adaptive diffusion and the degree distribution. Further, this analysis provides a key insight: passing a rumor to a friend who has many friends makes the source more ambiguous. This leads to a new family of protocols that we call Preferential Attachment Adaptive Diffusion (PAAD). When messages are propagated according to PAAD, we give both the MAP estimator for finding the source and also an analysis of the probability of detection achieved by this adversary. The analytical results are not directly comparable, since the adversary's observed information has a different distribution under adaptive diffusion than under PAAD. Instead, we present results from numerical experiments that suggest that PAAD achieves a lower probability of detection, at the cost of increased communication for coordination.
Diagnosis of Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Using Real-Time PCR.

A real-time PCR assay is reported for identification of Lobesia botrana (Denis and Schiffermuller) collected in California. This assay multiplexes two independent TaqMan probe systems in a single reaction tube to reduce handling time and sample exposure to environmental contaminants. One probe system targets a segment of DNA located in the internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) that is present in the L. botrana genome but absent in native North American Tortricidae. The second probe system serves as a control for DNA quality by targeting a segment of the 18S rDNA gene that is conserved in L. botrana and all of the tested nontarget species. The assay successfully diagnosed 70 Lobesia botrana specimens and 95 nontarget specimens. No false-positive or false-negative results were observed supporting its application for identification of this pest in California.
Ultrasonic Echography in Renal Disease

This ultrasound technique has been used to define the overall size of the kidney, often a key parameter in the management of patients with renal insufficiency and other conditions. It can localize regions for renal biopsy, is especially useful during pregnancy, and can be employed in a number of diagnostic situations. Moreover, the method is quick, inexpensive, painless, and essentially risk-free.
5G roadmap

The fifth generation (5G) mobile communication networks will require a major paradigm shift to satisfy the increasing demand for higher data rates, lower network latencies, better energy efficiency, and reliable ubiquitous connectivity. With prediction of the advent of 5G systems in the near future, many efforts and revolutionary ideas have been proposed and explored around the world. The major technological breakthroughs that will bring renaissance to wireless communication networks include (1) a wireless software-defined network, (2) network function virtualization, (3) millimeter wave spectrum, (4) massive MIMO, (5) network ultra-densification, (6) big data and mobile cloud computing, (7) scalable Internet of Things, (8) device-to-device connectivity with high mobility, (9) green communications, and (10) new radio access techniques. In this paper, the state-of-the-art and the potentials of these ten enabling technologies are extensively surveyed. Furthermore, the challenges and limitations for each technology are treated in depth, while the possible solutions are highlighted.
Inside-Out Repair for Radial Meniscus Tears

Understanding of meniscal function through basic science, natural history, and biomechanics has highlighted the importance of preserving the meniscus to maintain normal knee biomechanics. Tears that may alter these biomechanics can contribute to the progressive nature of degenerative joint disease in the knee. Radial tears result in the disruption of the circumferential fibers causing inability of the native meniscus to resist normal hoop stresses, thereby leading to increased focal areas of pressure that cause complications such as early onset arthrosis. In this technical note, we describe our preferred operative technique to repair radial meniscal tears using an arthroscopic inside-out approach with satisfactory clinical outcomes and healing response.
Conditional Probability/Independence

We will motivate the definition of conditional probability by looking at a particular case wherein we can count. As before, we let #(A) denote the number of elements in the set A.
LDV, PIV and Les Investigation of Flow Over a Fixed Dune

Investigations of flow over sand dunes are too numerous to list here. However, Table 1 gives a summary of some recent experimental studies of flow over fixed dune-like disturbances in open channels. All of them have used LDV to explore various facets of the flow. The present investigation was motivated by the need for a more complete picture of the flow than is available from these previous studies.
The androgen metabolite 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol (3βAdiol) induces breast cancer growth via estrogen receptor: pharmacogenomic implications for aromatase therapy

1586 Nearly 180,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States. It is known that estrogens play a central role in breast cancer biology. While the role of androgens is far less understood, they are believed to inhibit tumor growth. The steroid hormone precursor dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is metabolized to testosterone (TS) by 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSD). TS can be converted to 17β-estradiol (E2) by CYP19 aromatase or to the potent androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5α-reductase. DHT can be metabolized by 3β-HSD into 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol (3βAdiol), which is further metabolized to an inactive compound by the genetically polymorphic cytochrome P450 7B1 (CYP7B1). It is believed that 3βAdiol is growth inhibitory to prostate cancer by activating estrogen receptor beta (ERβ), accordingly, CYP7B1 has been shown to be over-expressed during prostate cancer progression. However, the role of CYP7B1 in breast cancer development has not been explored. In breast cancer cell lines, 3βAdiol has been shown to induce gene transcription using ERβ-luciferase reporter systems, but studies with ERalpha (ERα) have produced mixed results. We hypothesized that 3βAdiol is a potent ERα agonist and that its production by breast cancer cells might present a mechanism for the acquisition of resistance to aromatase inhibitors (AIs). To test this hypothesis, the E2-dependant breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, BT-474, and T47D cell lines were grown in E2-free conditions, treated with increasing concentrations of TS, DHT, 3βAdiol or the synthetic androgen receptor (AR) agonist R1881, and monitored for proliferation. TS, DHT, and 3βAdiol induced proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion, whereas R1881 did not. The lack of R1881-induced growth and the observation that the AR antagonist bicalutamide was unable to block growth stimulation by TS, DHT and 3βAdiol suggest that the effects are being not mediated by AR. Furthermore, the aromatase inhibitors (AIs), while able to block TS-induced proliferation, had no effect on DHT- or 3βAdiol-induced growth. The growth effects of DHT and 3βAdiol were, however, both blocked by the ER antagonist ICI 182,780. As DHT is known to not bind ER, it is likely that DHT is metabolized to 3βAdiol, which then activates ER. These data demonstrate that androgen metabolites can induce ER-mediated proliferation in breast cancer cells, and suggest that while aromatase inhibition prevents TS metabolism into E2, TS can be metabolized by alternate pathways involving HSDs that produces a metabolite, 3βAdiol, with strong estrogenic properties. We propose that AI resistance may be caused by the production of 3βAdiol, which can induce breast cancer growth. Further, we postulate that polymorphisms that decrease functional CYP7B1 will cause increased 3βAdiol levels, and lead to AI resistance.
Enhanced oxidative capacity of ground squirrel brain mitochondria during hibernation.

During hibernation, thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) regularly cycle between bouts of torpor and interbout arousal (IBA). Most of the brain is electrically quiescent dur...
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Targeting Primary Motor Versus Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortices: Proof-of-Concept Study Investigating Functional Connectivity of Thalamocortical Networks Specific to Sensory-Affective Information Processing

Abstract The pain matrix is comprised of an extensive network of brain structures involved in sensory and/or affective information processing. The thalamus is a key structure constituting the pain ...
Resonant fast-slow interactions and breakdown of quasi-geostrophy in rotating shallow water

In this paper we investigate the possibility of fast waves affecting the evolution of slow balanced dynamics in the regime of a rotating shallow water system, where and are the Rossby and Froude numbers respectively. The problem is set up as an initial value problem with unbalanced initial data. The method of multiple time scale asymptotic analysis is used to derive an evolution equation for the slow dynamics that holds for , being the inertial frequency. This slow evolution equation is affected by the fast waves and thus does not form a closed system. Furthermore, it is shown that energy and enstrophy exchange can take place between the slow and fast dynamics. As a consequence, the quasi-geostrophic ideology of describing the slow dynamics of the balanced flow without any information on the fast modes breaks down. Further analysis is carried out in a doubly periodic domain for a few geostrophic and wave modes. A simple set of slowly evolving amplitude equations is then derived using resonant wave interaction theory to demonstrate that significant wave-balanced flow interactions can take place in the long-time limit. In this reduced system consisting of two geostrophic modes and two wave modes, the presence of waves considerably affects the interactions between the geostrophic modes, the waves acting as a catalyst in promoting energetic interactions among geostrophic modes.
Hydrodynamics of gas–liquid flow in micropacked beds: Pressure drop, liquid holdup, and two-phase model

Hydrodynamics of gas–liquid two-phase flow in micropacked beds are studied with a new experimental setup. The pressure drop, residence time distribution, and liquid holdup are measured with gas and liquid flow rates varying from 4 to 14 sccm and 0.1 to 1 mL/min, respectively. Key parameters are identified to control the experimentally observed hydrodynamics, including transient start-up procedure, gas and liquid superficial velocities, particle and packed bed diameters, and physical properties of the liquids. Contrary to conventional large packed beds, our results demonstrate that in these microsystems, capillary forces have a large effect on pressure drop and liquid holdup, while gravity can be neglected. A mathematical model describes the hydrodynamics in the micropacked beds by considering the contribution of capillary forces, and its predictions are in good agreement with experimental data. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 4694–4704, 2017
Video Game Therapy as an Intervention for Children With Disabilities: Literature Review and Program Protocol

Childhood obesity, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental disability are among a long list of physical and cognitive conditions facing many youth today that can all benefit from a treatment program that includes a video game therapy intervention administered by a recreation therapist. Video game therapy is a modern method of assistive technology treatment that uses interactive video games to promote health benefits. This manuscript examines evidence based outcomes of the positive effects of therapeutic video games and digital assistive technology particularly for children with obesity and children with mental or developmental disorders. In addition, a working program protocol for a video game therapy program for children with obesity is provided.Subscribe to TRJ
In Search of Community: Lessons from Idealized Independence for Adults with Disabilities.

In this article, Amy Boele presents a conceptualization of community that challenges the goal of independence as an ultimate ideal. Building on in situ tensions within independence ideologies, she illustrates the contradictions that exist when the approach to achieving community access for individuals with developmental disabilities requires full independence. Such an approach serves as a kind of assimilation to the dominant, nondisabled group's practices, which brings about contradictions that maintain oppressive forces. Using excerpts from interviews and personal recollections, she theorizes how a reconceptualization of community might empower individuals with disabilities to be contributors to their communities. She argues against considering independence as the emancipatory opposition to institutionalization. She contends that true community, as a mutual site of unconditional giving and resisted oppression, is what counters discrimination, segregation, and control, rejecting the false dichotomy of ind...
Special Issue: Response of Microbial Communities to Environmental Changes.

Environmental issues such as eutrophication, ocean acidification, sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, increase in carbon dioxide levels, or rise of average global temperatures, among many others, are impacting and changing whole ecosystems [...]
The Orient on Ice: Transnational Cultural Portrayals by Asian and Asian American Figure Skaters

In the 1990s, Chinese and Chinese-American competitors in ladies’ figure skating used Oriental cultural elements in their winning World Championship programs. The cultures reflected were drawn from multiple regions within those considered the “Orient,” both Near Eastern, in the European conception, and Far Eastern, in the American conception. Although always a transnational performance form, figure skating has, from the 1980s onward, expanded from Euro American cultural dominance into greater prevalence among Asian countries and Asian American skaters within the US. This did not initially lead to greater presence of non-Western cultures in figure skating performances, until 1995 World Champion Chen Lu of China and 1996 World Champion Michelle Kwan of the US engaged in cultural portrayals beyond pure Euro American movement and visuality. Their choreography, however, drew much from Oriental performance already mediated by Western dance forms, and their performances were only “in character” within limits, in performances still dominated by technical elements.
THE MACRO-ALLOCATION OF HEALTH CARE RESOURCES

There is little doubt that there is greater concern today in most countries about health care policy than there has been for a long time. I think that the reason for this concern is fairly evident. On the one hand, the tremendous rise in the cost of health care has made every society look at ways to control the cost of that care. At the very same time, there is a great concern that this control of costs not interfere either with the quality of health care or with the growing access of the less fortunate to that health care. So the current discussion of health care policy reflects, I submit, a conflict between the value of controlling health care costs, on the one hand, and the values of maintaining a high quality of health care and of maintaining an appropriate level of access of all citizens to health care, on the other hand.
Creating Capitalism in Europe, 1400–1820

Whereas the preceding chapters have focused on the theory of capitalism, the present chapter and those that immediately follow focus on the early history of capitalism. Why should a book devoted to putting forth a coherent, accurate conception of capitalism digress into a narrative of its origins? Such a switch is not a digression in the least.
Heterosexual anal intercourse: an understudied high-risk sexual behavior.

Differences between heterosexuals who have or have not engaged in anal intercourse were analyzed. Though anal intercourse is widely recognized as an activity that greatly increases the risks for HIV transmission, it has received little attention in heterosexual populations. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of university students, a population in which many people engage in vaginal intercourse with several partners each year. The three largest minorities were randomly oversampled in order that all four major ethnic/racial groups could be statistically evaluated for possible differences. Almost 23% of nonvirgin students had engaged in anal intercourse. Regression analysis indicated that people who had participated in anal intercourse were more likely than people without anal experience to have been younger at first vaginal intercourse, to be older when the data were collected, to have engaged in vaginal intercourse in the last three months before data collection, to be more erotophilic, to use less effective contraceptive methods, and to have used no condom at last coitus. Overall, people who engage in anal intercourse take more sexual risks when engaging in vaginal intercourse than do people without anal experience. No major ethnic/racial differences were detected. Sexologists have not explored anal sex in much detail, hence we have been weak in educating those 20 to 25% of young adults who are not reluctant or (inhibited about) exploring anal intercourse. As young adults use condoms less for anal than vaginal intercourse, they have not learned enough about the risk of anal sex.
Magnetic Linear Bearing: Theory and Experiment

1 Abstract A novel magnetic bearing system has been constructed. The bearing is controlled in five degrees of freedom with seven electromagnets and in the sixth degree of freedom with a permanent-magnet linear motor. In the laboratory, a prototype has demonstrated position stability of 3 nm in the bearing axes and 20 nm in the linear motor axis. The bearing system appears to be promising for precision positioning applications such as photolithography.
Culturing Mouse Cerebellar Granule Neurons

The cerebellum plays an important role in motor control, motor skill acquisition, memory and learning among other brain functions. In rodents, cerebellar development continues after birth, characterized by the maturation of granule neurons. Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) are the most abundant neuronal type in the central nervous system, and they provide an excellent model for investigating molecular, -cellular, and physiological mechanisms underlying neuronal development as well as neural circuitry linked to behavior. Here we describe a procedure to isolate and culture CGNs from postnatal day 6 mice. These cultures can be used to examine numerous aspects of CGN differentiation, electrophysiology, and function.
Associations Between Masculine Norms and Health-Care Utilization in Highly Religious, Heterosexual Men:

The purpose of this study was to use focus groups to explore married men’s avoidance of health-care utilization. Five focus groups of 8 to 10 married, heterosexual, male participants (N = 44) were ...
Financial Toxicity of Prescription Drugs.

In their article, Luo and colleagues examined variation by pharmacy type and ZIP code in the prices of 6 on-patent and 10 off-patent (generic) prescription drugs throughout the United States in 201...
Directing the separated laser beams at the BSM into other fiber optics

A simulation of two laser beam launched through carrier fiber using an SDM system. Separating them at the demultiplexer, they are pointed within two fiber cables.
Disruption of RNA editing in Leishmania tarentolae by the loss of minicircle-encoded guide RNA genes.

Abstract RNA editing in kinetoplastids appears to be a labile genetic trait that is affected by prolonged cell culture. The transcripts of the G1-G5 cryptogenes are pan-edited in the recently isolated LEM125 strain of Leishmania tarentolae, but not in the UC strain which has been in culture for 55 years. At least 32 minicircle-encoded guide RNAs (gRNAs) for the editing of G1-G5 transcripts are present in LEM125 and absent in UC. We hypothesize that specific minicircle sequence classes encoding gRNAs for the editing of these transcripts were lost during the long culture history of the UC strain. The protein products, which include components of complex I of the respiratory chain, are probably not required during the culture stage of the Leishmania life cycle.
Commentary on In Re Strittmater's Estate

This commentary on Strittmater’s Estate, 53 A.2d 205 (N.J. 1947), accompanies the rewritten Strittmater opinion in Feminist Judgments: Rewritten Trusts and Estates Opinions (Deborah S. Gordon, Browne C. Lewis & Carla Spivack, eds.) In the original opinion, the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals ruled that the decedent’s will should be set aside a product of an insane delusion, disregarding the evidence that Strittmater had long supported the named charitable beneficiary of her will (the National Woman’s Party) and that Strittmater had infrequent contact with the extended family members contesting the will. The feminist judgment of Professor Kristen Konrad Tiscione, writing as Justice Tiscione, reaches the opposite result to that of the Court of Errors and Appeals: Justice Tiscione upholds the lower court’s decision to admit the will to probate. Tiscone makes a robust and authentic presentation of Strittmater’s life story: that of a dutiful daughter who had assisted two aged immigrant parents and who became an eccentric (and possibly angry, lonely, or mentally ill) woman. Strittmater’s personal development should be understood in the context of the larger women’s rights movement in the U.S. The case raises basic questions how much autonomy the law grants to decedents upon death. The level of autonomy afforded by the law may depend on whether the decedent is male or female, socially conforming or more eccentric, and the particular biases of the deciding judges. This commentary understands the feminist judgment in Strittmater to be consistent with the foundational principle of testamentary freedom. Had Tiscione’s rewritten opinion been the actual decision, insane delusion would have been revealed in this case as a male pretense for mounting a will challenge. A person may be eccentric, difficult, lonely, unusual, or even insane in some clinical sense, but that does not mean she lacks the ability to create a valid will. Strittmater's disposition in favor of the National Woman's Party should have been upheld.
Malware Persistence Mechanisms

Abstract In the public imagination Cybersecurity is very much about malware, even though malware constitutes only part of all the threats faced by Cybersecurity experts. However, malware is still one of the best methods to gain persistent access and control of a target system. Malware is often combined with a well socially-engineered phishing attack that deceives a user to gain a foothold on a system. Once the attakcer gains a beachhead in the victim’s network, it may be used to download additional payloads and exploit vulnerabilities, to gain more control and access within a network. Using malware as their foothold, attackers are able to to conduct reconnaissance, gather intelligence (e.g., exfiltration of intellectual property) or simply inflict damage or extortion (e.g., ransomware). All of this has to be done in a way that allows an attacker to retain access for as long as possible; the ability to do so is called persistence, and this paper examines the different techniques used by malware to accomplish persistence in an ever evolving landscape.
Vaporization enthalpies and vapor pressures of the major components of opopanax oil, α-santalene, cis α-bisabolene, cis α-bergamotene

The vapor pressures and vaporization enthalpies of the major components of opopanax oil, a medicinal that has been in use since biblical times, are evaluated by correlation gas chromatography. Two sets of hydrocarbon standards are used, n-alkanes and a mixture of cyclic and polycyclic hydrocarbons. Two of the oil’s sesquiterpene components, evaluated in a previous study, were used both as standards and also as targets. Their use as targets was in an effort to confirm both their identity in the oil and the reproducibility of their properties. All correlations produce reproducible vaporization enthalpies and vapor pressures at ambient temperatures. At elevated temperatures, the use of the two different sets of standards resulted in some divergence in vapor pressure. Experiments are described aimed at attenuating this divergence. The results are compared to existing data.
Coherent Amplitude-Modulated RF Photonic Link

The advantages of optical fiber as a transmission medium for microwave signals have led to an increasing interest in implementing RF photonic links in radar frontends. Many critical radar applications, such as those found in modern military systems, often require a large spur-free dynamic range (SFDR) that is beyond the reach of conventional intensity modulated-direct detection (IM-DD) fiber-optic links. For a solution, we propose a coherent amplitude-modulated link with optical down-conversion that can achieve high dynamic range by employing a receiver with balanced detection and digital linearization. The link is presented along with experimental validation. The measurements show notable dynamic range enhancements over prior arts in down-conversion RF photonic links.
Understanding the Interactions between Unicast and Group Communications Sessions in Ad Hoc Networks

In this paper, our objective is to study and understand the mutual effects between the group communication protocols and unicast sessions in mobile ad hoc networks. The motivation of this work is based on the fact that a realistic wireless networks would typically have to support different simultaneous network applications, many of which may be unicast but some of which may need broadcast or multicast. However, almost all of the prior work on evaluating protocols in ad hoc networks examine protocols in isolation. In this paper, we compare the interactions of broadcast/multicast and unicast protocols and understand the microscopic nature of the interactions. We find that unicast sessions are significantly affected by the group communication sessions. In contrast, unicast sessions have less influence on the performance of group communications due to redundant packet transmissions provided by the latter. We believe that our study is a first step towards understanding such protocol interactions in ad hoc networks.
Hume and Locke on Scientific Methodology: The Newtonian Legacy

Hume follows Newton in replacing the mechanical philosophy's demonstrative ideal of science by the Principia 's ideal of inductive proof (especially as formulated in Newton's Rule III); in this respect, Hume differs sharply from Locke. Hume is also guided by Newton's own criticisms of the mechanical philosophers' hypotheses. The first stage of Hume's skeptical argument concerning causation targets central tenets of the mechanical philosophers' (in particular, Locke's) conception of causation, all of which rely on the a priori postulation of a hidden configuration of primary qualities. The skeptical argument concerning the causal inductive inference (with its implicit principle that nature is, in Newton's words, "ever consonant with itself") then raises doubts about what Hume himself regards as our very best inductive method. Hume's own "Rules" (T 1.3.15) further substantiate his reliance on Newton. Finally, Locke's distinction between "Knowledge" and "Probability" ("Opinion") does not leave room for Hume's Newtonian notion of inductive proof.
Source coding and channel requirements for unstable processes

Our understanding of information in systems has been based on the foundation of memoryless processes. Extensions to stable Markov and auto-regressive processes are classical. Berger proved a source coding theorem for the marginally unstable Wiener process, but the infinite-horizon exponentially unstable case has been open since Gray's 1970 paper. There were also no theorems showing what is needed to communicate such processes across noisy channels. In this work, we give a fixed-rate source-coding theorem for the infinite-horizon problem of coding an exponentially unstable Markov process. The encoding naturally results in two distinct bitstreams that have qualitatively different QoS requirements for communicating over a noisy medium. The first stream captures the information that is accumulating within the nonstationary process and requires sufficient anytime reliability from the channel used to communicate the process. The second stream captures the historical information that dissipates within the process and is essentially classical. This historical information can also be identified with a natural stable counterpart to the unstable process. A converse demonstrating the fundamentally layered nature of unstable sources is given by means of information-embedding ideas.