cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systemic Risk, Missing Gold Flows and the Panic of 1907

This paper investigates the potential systemic risks posed to the U.S. securities markets by the banking crisis during the Panic of 1907. Past studies of 1907 have focused almost exclusively on the banking crisis. Our study examines the mechanisms that minimized the spill over of the banking crisis, and allowed the U.S. capital markets to remain not only open, but also relatively liquid, during the crisis. We show that contractual arrangements in the securities markets helped to minimize spill over effects, and that global arbitrage of U.S. securities allowed the U.S. to draw significant liquidity from European markets in times of crisis.
A Sampling Distribution for System Reliability Assessment

This paper introduces a sampling distribution (WGNSD) for Importance Sampling method, which can be used in structural system reliability assessment. Four numerical examples of various cases presented verify success of the approach. It is clarified that independent sampling distribution produces poor estimates for correlated structural system.
Flavored Versus Nonflavored Waterpipe Tobacco: A Comparison of Toxicant Exposure, Puff Topography, Subjective Experiences, and Harm Perceptions

Introduction Flavored waterpipe (WP) tobacco is the main type of tobacco used by young WP smokers, and a major factor attracting youth to smoke. However, evidence regarding the effect of limiting flavor on WP smokers' experience continues to be lacking. This study aims at evaluating the effect of flavor restriction on WP smokers' toxicant exposure, smoking topography, subjective experiences and harm perception. Methods Thirty-two WP smokers completed two, 45-minute ad libitum smoking sessions (preferred flavor vs non-flavored tobacco) in a crossover design pilot study. Plasma nicotine concentration and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) were measured before and after each smoking session. Puff topography was recorded throughout the smoking session. Participants completed survey questionnaires assessing subjective smoking experiences and harm perception. Results Significant differences were observed in plasma nicotine concentration between the two WP tobacco conditions, with a higher increase in plasma nicotine concentration following the flavored tobacco session. There were no significant differences between the two WP tobacco conditions for eCO and smoking topography measures. Compared with the non-flavored WP tobacco, we documented enhanced subjective smoking measures of satisfaction, calmness, taste, puff liking and enjoyment following the preferred flavored WP tobacco session. Cigarette harm perception was significantly higher among participants after smoking their preferred flavor compared with non-flavored WP tobacco. Conclusions Limiting tobacco flavor has a substantial effect on WP smokers' nicotine exposure, subjective experience and harm perception. Therefore, eliminating or restricting WP flavors could be an essential element of comprehensive tobacco control policies to reduce the appeal of WP tobacco products for youth. Implications This study highlights the important role of flavor in shaping WP smokers' experiences and exposures and the potential impact that regulating flavored WP tobacco may have on curbing WP use among youth in the US. Such regulations may reduce the appeal and the interest in WP smoking initiation and continued use.
Analysis of Mineral Matter in Coal, Coal Gasification Ash, and Coal Liquefaction Residues by Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction

Publisher Summary This chapter presents techniques for two analytical methods: X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It discusses the importance of mineral matter in coal conversion processes and resulting waste materials. The characterization of minerals in coal liquefaction residues and in coal gasification ash is necessary to assess the beneficial and detrimental effects that the mineral matter may have, both on the process in which it is involved and on its ultimate disposal. Beneficial effects of mineral matter to coal liquefaction processes include the possible catalysis of hydrogenation reactions and sulfur removal. The SEM is an instrument that can be used to study the surface features of specimens with a resolution of 100–200 A on the average and 50 A or better in some cases. With SEM, the morphology and interrelationships of minerals in coal and coal conversion residues and associated organic matter can be studied. An energy dispersive X-ray analyzer ancillary to the SEM provides an elemental analysis for elements with atomic numbers greater than ten for specimens analyzed.
Characterizing the Use of Health Care Services Delivered via Computer Networks

Objective : Evaluators must develop methods to characterize the use of the rapidly proliferating electronic networks that link patients with health services. In this article the 4-S framework is proposed for characterizing the use of health services delivered via computer networks. The utility of the 4-S framework is illustrated using data derived from a completed, randomized field experiment in which 47 caregivers of persons who had Alzheimer's disease accessed ComputerLink, a special computer network providing information, communication, and decision support to homebound caregivers of persons who have Alzheimer's disease. Design : Human-computer interaction theories characterize the use of health services delivered via computer networks in behavioral terms. The 4-S framework incorporates perspectives based on user (subject) behavior: access to and use of the total system, use of specific services, behavior within single sessions, and enduring behavioral characteristics. The 4-S framework was tested in a secondary analysis of data from over 3,800 uses of ComputerLink. Measurement : The 4-S framework was instantiated using data obtained from the ComputerLink evaluation. Three types of secondary data were obtained. A passive monitor of access to the computer network provided quantitative information, such as time of day when access occurred, duration of access, and sequence of services used. Full-text messages were available from the public message postings. Subjective appraisal of use was obtained from self-reporting by users at the end of the experiment. Results : The components of the 4-S framework were suitable to characterize operational aspects of ComputerLink use by Alzheimer's disease caregivers. Through application of the 4-S framework, an understanding of both quantitative use and qualitative use emerged (e.g., insight was gained into the differential use of specific services). Conclusions : The 4-S framework provided a mechanism for combining various measures of use into a coherent whole. The framework promotes a precise characterization of use and thereby facilitates evaluation of health services delivered via computer networks. It is suitable for evaluation of user satisfaction, measurement of needs resolution, and ascertainment of selected clinical outcomes.
The Secretory Pathway

Publisher Summary This chapter outlines the secretory pathway. The secretory pathway has two main functions. First, it transports newly synthesized proteins and lipids from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus and then on to their final destinations. Second, it modifies many of these proteins and lipids during the transport process. The organelles of the secretory and endocytic pathways collectively form the endomembrane system, which has the distinctive property that all of its compartments communicate with one another and with the extracellular environment by means of transport vesicles. This chapter also depicts the relationship between tER sites, ERGIC elements, and the Golgi in vertebrate cells. The mechanism by which secretory cargo molecules move through the Golgi has been debated for over 40 years. A new cisterna would form at the cis face of the stack by the homotypic fusion of ERGIC elements. Equally mysterious are the mechanisms that control Golgi organization. Some of the proteins that are initially translocated into or across the ER membrane are not destined for secretion or for delivery to the endosomal/lysosomal/vacuolar system, but instead reside permanently in the ER. Most resident Golgi enzymes are type II membrane proteins with short N-terminal cytosolic tails, and the localization signals for these proteins are contained within the transmembrane domains and flanking regions. Recently, several groups have proposed that blocking the microtubule-dependent transport of ERGIC elements to the Golgi ribbon leads to the formation of new Golgi stacks next to tER sites, with the concomitant shrinking of the preexisting Golgi ribbon.
Low Nonlinearity Fibers

Through judicious selection of glass composition, optical fibers with reduced susceptibility to deleterious light-matter interactions are achieved. The current state and future development of low nonlinearity fiber using this approach are discussed.
The Positive Effects of Olive Oil Toward Lipotoxicity and Obesity

Abstract Olive oil consumption helps reduce lipotoxicity within the body. Decreasing lipotoxicity reduces the amount of lipid cells being stored in adipose tissues. This results in a decline in saturated fatty acids that attach to the body's central organs, diminishing obesity. Obesity is associated with visceral fat which in turn contributes to insulin resistance and inflammation. These factors can ultimately lead to type 2 diabetes. Olive oil is low in saturated fatty acids and polyphenol antioxidants. These properties lead to a reduction in the chances of developing metabolic syndrome. This allows polyphenols to uphold complete oxidation, maintaining stability in the body, and over time reducing the process of lipotoxicity and, therefore, obesity.
Design of AAV Vectors for Delivery of Large or Multiple Transgenes

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy has evolved from bench to bedside, and now is the therapy of choice for certain inherited diseases. However, the small packaging capacity of AAV vectors prevents this technique from treating genetic diseases with mutations of large genes. Multiple strategies, including split AAV gene delivery and oversized AAV gene delivery, have been explored to deliver large gene expression cassettes. These strategies have gained some success in animal experiments. In this chapter, we review the progress of AAV-mediated delivery of large expression cassettes. We also review using AAV to deliver multiple transgenes.
Targeting the glutamatergic system to counteract organophosphate poisoning: A novel therapeutic strategy.

Abstract One of the devastating effects of acute exposure to organophosphates, like nerve agents, is the induction of severe and prolonged status epilepticus (SE), which can cause death, or brain damage if death is prevented. Seizures after exposure are initiated by muscarinic receptor hyperstimulation—after inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by the organophosphorus agent and subsequent elevation of acetylcholine—but they are reinforced and sustained by glutamatergic hyperexcitation, which is the primary cause of brain damage. Diazepam is the FDA-approved anticonvulsant for the treatment of nerve agent-induced SE, and its replacement by midazolam is currently under consideration. However, clinical data derived from the treatment of SE of any etiology, as well as studies on the control of nerve agent-induced SE in animal models, have indicated that diazepam and midazolam control seizures only temporarily, their antiseizure efficacy is reduced as the latency of treatment from the onset of SE increases, and their neuroprotective efficacy is limited or absent. Here, we review data on the discovery of a novel anticonvulsant and neuroprotectant, LY293558, an AMPA/GluK1 receptor antagonist. Treatment of soman-exposed immature, young-adult, and aged rats with LY293558, terminates SE with limited recurrence of seizures, significantly protects from brain damage, and prevents long-term behavioral deficits, even when LY293558 is administered 1 h post-exposure. More beneficial effects and complete neuroprotection is obtained when LY293558 administration is combined with caramiphen, which antagonizes NMDA receptors. Further efficacy studies may bring the LY293558 + caramiphen combination therapy on the pathway to approval for human use.
Luminescent Metal–Organic Framework for Lithium Harvesting Applications

We have synthesized a stable luminescent metal–organic framework (LMOF) through modification of an established Zr-based structure. The three-dimensional porous network of LMOF-321 represents a step forward in the development of robust, dual-ligand Zr-MOFs. This material is based on Zr6-nodes, which underlie chemically and thermally stable frameworks. LMOF-321 exhibits notable durability in diverse types of water samples (deionized, acidic/basic, seawater). The porosity, luminescence, and specific functionality from LMOF-321 establishes itself as a fluorescent chemical sensor and adsorbent for aqueous analytes. Studies have been implemented to analyze interactions of LMOF-321 with Li+ and other metals commonly found in water. The fluorescence intensity from LMOF-321 is responsive to Li+ at a parts per billion level (3.3 ppb) and demonstrates high selectivity for Li+ over other light metals, with detection ratios of 6.2, 14.3, and 44.9 for Li+/Na+, Li+/Ca2+, and Li+/Mg2+, respectively. These performances we...
Zeros of Zeon Polynomials and the Zeon Quadratic Formula

Zeon algebras arise as commutative subalgebras of fermions, and can be constructed as subalgebras of Clifford algebras of appropriate signature. Their combinatorial properties have been applied to graph enumeration problems, stochastic integrals, and even routing problems in communication networks. Analogous to real polynomial functions, zeon polynomial functions are defined as zeon-valued polynomial functions of a zeon variable. In this paper, properties of zeon polynomials and their zeros are considered. Nilpotent and invertible zeon zeros of polynomials with real coefficients are characterized, and necessary conditions are established for the existence of zeros of polynomials with zeon coefficients. Quadratic polynomials with zeon coefficients are considered in detail. A “zeon quadratic formula” is developed, and solutions of $$ax^2+bx+c=0$$ are characterized with respect to the “zeon discriminant” of the equation.
Dynamic BCMA Expression by Alloreactive B Cells Coupled with Donor Specific Antibody Production during De Novo Alloantibody Responses

Purpose BCMA, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF17), is selectively expressed during plasma cell differentiation while being nearly absent on naive and memory B cells. Therefore, BCMA appears as a highly selective antigen for mature B-cell targeting. The current study investigated BCMA expression by peripheral B cells and plasma cells during the development of de novo alloantibody responses. Methods A mouse model of allo-sensitization induced by skin allograft was used to study BCMA expression by B cell subsets and plasma cells. Blood samples were collected weekly for measurement of anti-HLA.A2 IgM and IgG titers. PBMCs and splenic lymphocytes were analyzed in FACS for identification of B cell subsets expressing surface BCMA. Splenic B-cells were isolated using EasySep B-cell isolation kit. mRNA expression of TNFRSF17 was studied in quantitative PCR. Results qPCR demonstrated a significant increase in TNFRSF17 mRNA expression by splenic B-cells isolated from HLA.A2 sensitized mice (p=0.004 vs. naive control). Multi-perimeter FACS analysis of splenic lymphocytic cells showed that cell surface BCMA (CD269) was expressed by the majority of CD38+CD138+ plasma cells (60-80%), and by members of CD19+CD23+sIgD+ mature B-cells. CD269 was scarcely expression by early transitional B-cells (CD93+/CD19+/CD23-). Following skin grafting BCMA was increasingly expressed on mature B cells and plasma cells at Days 14 (p=0.03 vs. naive control mice), 21(p=0.004) and 28(p=0.0001) PTx. Increase in BCMA expression by B cells was associated with high DSA IgG titers in the blood, indicating plasmablast differentiation. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that BCMA are increasingly expressed by B/plasma cells during the development of de novo alloantibody responses. Thus, targeting BCMA may serve as a new treatment strategy for desensitization in HLA highly sensitized transplant patients.
Evaluation of an Intervention to Reduce Low-Value Preoperative Care for Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery at a Safety-Net Health System

Importance Preoperative testing for cataract surgery epitomizes low-value care and still occurs frequently, even at one of the nation’s largest safety-net health systems. Objective To evaluate a multipronged intervention to reduce low-value preoperative care for patients undergoing cataract surgery and analyze costs from various fiscal perspectives. Design, Setting, and Participants This study took place at 2 academic safety-net medical centers, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California (LAC-USC) (intervention, n = 469) and Harbor–UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) (control, n = 585), from April 13, 2015, through April 12, 2016, with 12 additional months (April 13, 2016, through April 13, 2017) to assess sustainability (intervention, n = 1002; control, n = 511). To compare pre- and postintervention vs control group utilization and cost changes, logistic regression assessing time-by-group interactions was used. Interventions Using plan-do-study-act cycles, a quality improvement nurse reviewed medical records and engaged the anesthesiology and ophthalmology chiefs with data on overuse; all 3 educated staff and trainees on reducing routine preoperative care. Main Outcomes and Measures Percentage of patients undergoing cataract surgery with preoperative medical visits, chest x-rays, laboratory tests, and electrocardiograms. Costs were estimated from LAC-USC's financially capitated perspective, and costs were simulated from fee-for-service (FFS) health system and societal perspectives. Results Of 1054 patients, 546 (51.8%) were female (mean [SD] age, 60.6 [11.1] years). Preoperative visits decreased from 93% to 24% in the intervention group and increased from 89% to 91% in the control group (between-group difference, −71%; 95% CI, –80% to –62%). Chest x-rays decreased from 90% to 24% in the intervention group and increased from 75% to 83% in the control group (between-group difference, −75%; 95% CI, –86% to –65%). Laboratory tests decreased from 92% to 37% in the intervention group and decreased from 98% to 97% in the control group (between-group difference, −56%; 95% CI, –64% to –48%). Electrocardiograms decreased from 95% to 29% in the intervention group and increased from 86% to 94% in the control group (between-group difference, −74%; 95% CI, –83% to −65%). During 12-month follow-up, visits increased in the intervention group to 67%, but chest x-rays (12%), laboratory tests (28%), and electrocardiograms (11%) remained low (P Conclusions and Relevance This intervention was associated with sustained reductions in low-value preoperative testing among patients undergoing cataract surgery and modest cost savings for the health system. The findings suggest that reducing low-value care may be associated with cost savings for financially capitated health systems and society but also with losses for FFS health systems, highlighting a potential barrier to eliminating low-value care.
Characterization of intentional-abuse venlafaxine exposures reported to poison control centers in the United States.

Background: Venlafaxine use to achieve an amphetamine-like high has been described but data regarding the epidemiology and clinical effects are sparse. Objectives: Describe the prevalence and toxic...
Evaluation of Single Event Effects in SRAM and RRAM Based Neuromorphic Computing System for Inference

In this work, single event effects (SEEs) are analyzed in SRAM- and RRAM-based neuromorphic computing systems. SPICE simulation is employed to model single event upset (SEU) at the array level. Then SEU effects are mapped to the weight pattern change of a multi-layer perceptron (MLP), a representative artificial neural network for MNIST handwritten digit recognition. Simulations show that the RRAM-based MLP has less susceptibility to SEEs compared with the SRAM architecture. Improvements to the SRAM-based MLP reliability may be achieved by lowering bit-width and enlarging network size.
Delineating anatomy and function with multimodality imaging: a case report of giant right coronary artery aneurysms

Background Giant coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) are rare and have been reported in patients with connective tissue diseases, arteritides, and atherosclerosis. Given the rarity of the condition, multimodality imaging is essential for comprehensive evaluation of coronary aneurysms and determination of their haemodynamic significance. Case summary A 58-year-old Filipino female was evaluated for dyspnoea on exertion of one month. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed right coronary artery (RCA) aneurysms. Invasive coronary angiogram (ICA) confirmed two giant aneurysms of the RCA. Distal RCA could not be opacified due to contrast stagnation in the proximal aneurysms. Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) depicted an additional giant distal RCA aneurysm not visualized on ICA with intraluminal thrombosis. Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) revealed delayed time to peak perfusion in the mid to apical inferior walls, on first-pass imaging, without myocardial scarring. Late gadolinium images revealed aneurysmal wall inflammation. Discussion This case highlights the anatomical findings of giant CAA and the application of multimodality imaging for their accurate characterization. While ICA confirmed the presence of the aneurysms, CCTA enabled the assessment of their full extent and depict intraluminal thrombosis. Contrast-enhanced CMR delineated aneurysm wall characteristics, with first-pass images demonstrating reduced inferior wall perfusion at rest, which was likely the cause of patient's exertional symptoms. Management of giant coronary aneurysms involves surgical resection with bypass grafting.
11 – DISCRIMINATION LAW

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on employment discrimination, reverse discrimination, and housing discrimination. The scope of discrimination and segregation is vast and so is the area that potentially can be covered by antidiscrimination and anti-segregation laws. Racial housing discrimination is inefficient as it restricts the housing choices of minority families and their efficient access to housing, employment, and educational opportunities, among others. There are different theories to explain why the residences of ethnic minorities, particularly blacks, are physically separated from those of other groups. There are exclusion models, associated with Anthony Downs, John Kain, and Michelle Stengel. These models assume housing markets to be split into black and white submarkets, physically separated, as sellers in the white market refuse to sell to blacks. Exclusion is so all-pervasive that the sellers in the border neighborhoods will sell only to blacks when the price differential between the submarkets is extremely high. As a result, a large black-white price differential exists in equilibrium. Age discrimination is mainly of concern to tenants with children and to senior citizens in relation to gainful employment. A number of arguments have been advanced in opposition to anti-age discrimination laws. Traditional economic theory tends to indicate that landlords in highly competitive housing markets will seldom, if ever, refuse to rent to families with children. In such a setting, a landlord could satisfy his distaste for families with children only at the expense of a higher vacancy rate. Therefore, housing markets with age discrimination probably contain some elements of monopoly.
Outcome prediction based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DNA repair paths in patients (pts) with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) treated with preoperative (preop) cisplatin (C)-based chemoradiation (CRT): Results from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)

4530 Background: EAC has eluded cure even with platin-based CRT. Stratifying pts by likelihood of success is one approach to improving outcomes. We assessed whether SNPs in DNA repair paths are associated with complete pathologic response (pCR) in EAC pts who received C-based CRT followed by surgery. Methods: Patients and specimens: Pretreatment biopsy or post-CRT resection samples were obtained from pts (EAC, stage II-IVa) treated on a randomized phase II trial, E1201 (n=86), of preop CRT (RT to 45 Gy). Arm A: Preop C 30 mg/m2 + irinotecan (I) 50 mg/m2 days (d) 1, 8, 22, 29 with RT. Post-op C 30 mg/m2 + I 65 mg/m2 d 1, 8 q21 days x 3. Arm B: Preop C 30 mg/m2 + paclitaxel (P) 50 mg/m2 d 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 with RT. Post-op C 75 mg/m2 + P 175 mg/m2 d 1 q21 days x 3. Clinical outcome - pCR: (A) 14% [95% CI 5.5%, 28.5%]; (B) 16% [95% CI 6.7%, 30.1%]. Median overall survival (OS): (A) 34.9 m (months) [90% CI 23.5, not reached]; (B) 20.9 m [90% CI 17.4, 46.7]. Experimental procedure: Normal tissue was microdissec...
Shifting the Weight of Inaccessibility: Access Intimacy as a Critical Phenomenological Ethos

This paper offers a critical phenomenological view of the concept of access intimacy, a term coined by disability justice advocate Mia Mingus. Access intimacy refers to a mode of relation between disabled people or between disabled and non-disabled people that can be born of concerted cultivation or instantly intimated and centrally concerns the feeling of someone genuinely understanding and anticipating another’s access needs. Putting in conversation this notion of intimacy with Kym Maclaren’s critical phenomenological account of intimacy, I show how accessibility is not about what one person or institution can do for another but involves an ongoing, interpersonal process of relating and taking responsibility for our inevitable encroachment on one another in ways that enhance one another’s freedom.
Interpretable machine learning model for the deformation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We present an interpretable machine learning model to predict accurately the complex rippling deformations of multiwalled carbon nanotubes made of millions of atoms. Atomistic-physics-based models are accurate but computationally prohibitive for such large systems. To overcome this bottleneck, we have developed a machine learning model that comprises a novel dimensionality reduction technique and a deep neural network-based learning in the reduced dimension. The proposed nonlinear dimensionality reduction technique extends the functional principal component analysis to satisfy the constraint of deformation. Its novelty lies in designing a function space that satisfies the constraint exactly, which is crucial for efficient dimensionality reduction. Owing to the dimensionality reduction and several other strategies adopted in the present paper, learning through deep neural networks is remarkably accurate. The proposed model accurately matches an atomistic-physics-based model whereas being orders of magnitude faster. It extracts universally dominant patterns of deformation in an unsupervised manner. These patterns are comprehensible and explain how the model predicts yielding interpretability. The proposed model can form a basis for an exploration of machine learning toward the mechanics of one- and two-dimensional materials.
Understanding the influence of culture on customer engagement and recommendation intentions

In a digital, global world, a paradigm shift in marketing has led companies and customers to become increasingly interconnected through the Internet and social media. Drawing on online review data ...
Liger for Next-Generation Keck Adaptive Optics

We will present the status of the next generation near-infrared (0.84 - 2.45 micron) imager and integral field spectrograph (IFS) instrument, Liger, that is being designed for the W. M. Keck Observatory. The Liger imager and IFS operates concurrently on-sky and are optimized to sample the Keck All-sky Precision Adaptive optics (KAPA) system. The Liger IFS design is able to offer new science capabilities by extending to bluer wavelength coverage, larger field of views, and range of spectral resolving powers. We will discuss the overall Liger technical design, science requirements, and implementation plans for the entire program.
Gender and Psychotropic Poisoning in the USA

Background: This study focuses on gender-based trends in psychotropic agent poisoning across a 17-year span. The goal of the study was to determine whether there are statistically significant differences in the characteristics of male and female hospital stays for psychotropic agent poisoning. Methods: We used the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) national database to perform a retrospective cohort study analyzing trends for poisoning by psychotropic agents in males and females between 1997 and 2014. Results: Between 1997 and 2014, HCUP recorded a total of 1,368,649 psychotropic agent poisoning discharges. The overall number of discharges increased from 62,148 to 82,905 (P < 0.001). The average age at discharge increased from 37.36 to 40.85 years (P < 0.001). As the average length of stay increased from 2.3 to 3.2 days (P < 0.001), hospital charges increased from $6,357 to $27,892 (P < 0.001). Across the study period, the number of in-hospital deaths increased from 468 to 755 (P < 0.001). In each year of the study, both number of discharges and average age were found to be greater for females than for males (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Female discharges were consistently higher than male discharges, suggesting that female patients were more likely to experience psychotropic poisoning than male patients. This may possibly be due to a greater number of women being prescribed psychotropic medications, in concordance with higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders. Additionally, there exist notable differences in drug metabolism that should be considered to prevent overprescribing. J Neurol Res. 2020;10(6):220-225 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr640
La ideología y la camiseta: los exiliados argentinos ante el Mundial 78

Las comunidades de exiliados argentinos en los setenta fueron muy activas en su denuncia del programa dictatorial, especialmente respecto de los abusos de derechos humanos, pero su activismo fue menos prominente durante la celebracion de la copa mundial de futbol en Argentina en 1978. El boicot del evento propuesto desde Francia tuvo muy poca repercusion entre los exiliados, contradiccion que explicaron disociando la logica politica de la deportiva, o prefirieron dejar sin explicacion. De hecho, en el corpus de textos del exilio, el Mundial tiene una presencia casi nula. Por su parte, Osvaldo Soriano opta por una representacion alegorica del evento en su novela Cuarteles de invierno.
Lipidomic Profiling of Algae with Microarray MALDI-MS toward Ecotoxicological Monitoring of Herbicide Exposure

Misuse of agrochemicals has a long-lasting negative impact on aquatic systems. Mismanagement of herbicides in agri-food sectors is often linked to a simultaneous decline in the health of downstream waterways. However, monitoring the herbicide levels in these areas is a laborious task, and modern analytical approaches, such as solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, are low-throughput and require significant sample preparation. We report here the use of microchip technology in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) for the assessment of the ecotoxicological effect of agrochemicals on aquatic species at the single-cell level. This approach quantifies the fluctuations in lipid content in sentinel organisms and targets the microalga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii), as the model system. Specifically, we investigated the cytotoxicity of three herbicides (atrazine, clomazone, and norflurazon) on C. reinhardtii by analyzing the lipid component variation upon assorted herbicide exposure. Lipidomic profiling reveals a significantly altered lipid content at >EC50 in atrazine-exposed cells. The response for norflurazon showed similar trends but diminished in magnitude, while the result for clomazone was near muted. At lower herbicide concentrations, digalactosyldiacylglycerols showed a rapid decrease in abundance, while several other lipids displayed a moderate increase. The microchip-based MALDI technique demonstrates the ability to achieve lipidomic profiling of aquatic species exposed to different stressors, proving effective for high-throughput screening and single-cell analysis in ecotoxicity studies.
Development of purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) sherbet fortified with propolis extract using response surface methodology

The aim of this study was to develop a novel purple basil sherbet fortified with propolis extract. The levels of the purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) aerial parts (leaves, flowers and stems) (200–300 g/L), propolis extract (48–72 mg/100 mL) and infusion time (30–40 min) on total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, CUPRAC methods), color parameters (L*, a*, b*, C*, h°) and sensory properties were investigated by using Box-Behnken design. According to the model, the optimized values for the propolis extract concentration, purple basil concentration and infusion time were 58.66 mg/100 mL, 300 g/L and 40 min, respectively. Moreover, antimicrobial activity of the beverage samples against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium roqueforti was also determined.
Increasing student involvement in research: a collaborative approach between faculty and students

Baccalaureate nursing curriculum generally include a research or evidence-based practice course, but students may have little opportunity for specific application of the research process during their nursing education. Using Modeling and Role-modeling as a theoretical framework, a scholarly collaboration between faculty and student was developed to promote a unique and engaging undergraduate research endeavor. Faculty researchers developed an exploratory community-based research study to survey the local population about the immediate and lingering physical, financial, psychological, and emotional effects of Hurricane Harvey on the community. The project allowed students to gain invaluable knowledge about the research process, time management techniques, application of theory to the practice setting, community health assessment, collaboration among team members, and achieve student learning outcomes. Student participation in this research project provided necessary collaboration and leadership experiences that will benefit students during school and in their professional practice.
Regulation of surfactant protein and defensin mRNA expression in cultured ovine type II pneumocytes by all‐trans retinoic acid and VEGF

Beta-defensins and surfactant proteins are components of the pulmonary innate immune system. Their gene expression is regulated by development, hormones, growth and immunoregulatory factors. It was our hypothesis that growth and differentiation factors such as all-trans retinoic acid (RA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may affect expression of selected innate immune genes by respiratory epithelial cells. Ovine JS7 cells (alveolar type II pneumocytes) were incubated in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) complete media that contained: no treatment (negative control), RA (500 nM), or VEGF (100 ng/ml) for 6, 12 or 24 h incubation. Total RNA was isolated, cDNA synthesized, and relative mRNA levels of surfactant protein A (SP-A) and SP-D, and sheep beta-defensin-1 (SBD-1) were determined by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Cells had significantly increased expression of SP-D mRNA at 6 h and 24 h, decreased expression of SP-A mRNA at 12 h, and unchanged levels of SBD-1 mRNA after the treatment with RA compared with their respective negative controls. VEGF did not alter the expression of the three innate immune genes. These findings suggest that SP-A and SP-D have different transcription regulation pathways, and that expression of SBD-1 is not inducible by RA similar to its human homolog HBD-1. The lack of changes induced by VEGF treatment suggests that VEGF does not have a direct effect on epithelial cells, but may affect gene expression indirectly.
Reconfiguring HUMS architectures for changing environments

Reconfiguration of architectures is an attractive alternate to redesign when a system's operating environment changes. Our work focuses on contribution to the formal description of reconfiguration, which deals with changing as little as possible from the original configuration, keeping the attributes associated with them unchanged. Reconfiguration amounts to adding and removing components and connections. Our goal is to be able to formally specify architecture in a simple, flexible, explicit, and adequate way with minimum disruption caused by reconfiguration. Our research has resulted in an automated system model to reconfigure HUMS (health usage and monitoring system). The automated design process involves selection of solutions from a large design space (knowledge domain) and application of this solution to synthesize designs or parts of designs that form the entire system. The automation system attempts to capitalize on the domain-specific knowledge developed from years of experience in engineering, system design and operation of the HUMS systems in order to handle system reconfigurations.
Origin and chemistry of comets

Long-period and short-period comets are all derived from a steady flux of 'new' comets coming straight from the margin of a sphere whose radius is 50,000 AU (the Oort's cloud). No empirical evidence requires that the Oort's cloud be older than a few million years, but all satisfactory theories have so far linked its formation to the origin of the solar system. 'New' comets have a size distribution consistent with the accretion of planetesimals, in contrast with older comets that are consistent with a fragmentation distribution. The H, C, N, O elemental ratios to Si suggest the comets are more primitive than the most primitive meteorites, namely the C I chondrites. Their chemistry is poorly known, but observational data suggest a protosolar ratio of C/O at least as large as 0.66, and a drastic depletion of hydrogen in the solar nebula. This could for instance imply that the T Tauri phase of the sun happened prior to the condensation of comets. An alternate explanation is possible: the interstellar grains were relatively unprocessed during their contraction in the solar nebula, and their mantles, barely modified, would have followed suit in the accretion of comets.
Polycythemia vera in a child with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

A 10-year-old boy, who had been in an uninterrupted remission of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) for six years, developed polycythemia vera (PV). One and a half months after detection of PV, he was found to have active leukemia. Both the polycythemia and leukemia receded with anti-leukemia therapy. Three possible explanations for the development of PV in a child with ALL are discussed: 1) PV was a part of his original ALL and recurred when patient relapsed. The PV phase was detected only during relapse because the patient was under close observation. 2) PV was a second neoplasm independent of ALL. 3) PV was part of a second leukemia which was different from the original leukemia; this new ALL was derived from a pluripotential cell line involving both erythroid and lymphoid elements. A precedent for this explanation has been observed in chronic myelogenous leukemia.
A pilot randomized controlled trial of a clinic and home-based behavioral intervention to decrease obesity in preschoolers.

We evaluated the efficacy of a 6-month clinic and home-based behavioral intervention (Learning about Activity and Understanding Nutrition for Child Health; LAUNCH) to reduce obesity in preschool children ≥95th BMI percentile compared to enhanced standard of care (Pediatrician Counseling; PC). LAUNCH was a family-based behavioral intervention that taught parents to use child behavior management strategies to increase healthy eating and activity for their children and themselves. PC presented the same diet and activity recommendations, but was delivered in a one-time PC session. Eighteen children aged 2–5 years (mean 4.71 ± 1.01) with an average BMI percentile of 98 (±1.60) and an overweight parent were randomized to LAUNCH or PC. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6 months (end of LAUNCH treatment) and 12 months (6 months following LAUNCH treatment). LAUNCH showed a significantly greater decrease on the primary outcomes of child at month 6 (post-treatment) BMI z (−0.59 ± 0.17), BMI percentile (−2.4 ± 1.0), and weight gain (−2.7 kg ± 1.2) than PC and this difference was maintained at follow-up (month 12). LAUNCH parents also had a significantly greater weight loss (−5.5 kg ± 0.9) at month 6 and 12 (−8.0 kg ± 3.5) than PC parents. Based on the data from this small sample, an intensive intervention that includes child behavior management strategies to improve healthy eating and activity appears more promising in reducing preschool obesity than a low intensity intervention that is typical of treatment that could be delivered in primary care.
NCLB Accountability Collides With Court-Ordered Desegregation: The Case of Pinellas County, Florida

This article examines a conflict that arose in 2004 between a federal court's oversight of desegregation and the implementation of the public school choice provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act in Pinellas County, Florida. School system leaders challenged the statute on the grounds that it would likely disrupt a controlled-choice plan designed to achieve racial balance as part of a court settlement to its desegregation case. The judge ruled that no changes could be made to the prior court order mandating these balances through 2008. Drawing on interviews with the county school superintendent and school board attorney, the author describes the county's decision to seek the judge's protection and analyzes several attendant conflicts. These include the legal conflict between two federal mandates, desegregation and school choice; the political tension arising between local and federal officials resulting from the changing nature of federal authority with respect to desegregation; and the policy-related c...
The Madness of Franz Brentano: Religion, Secularisation and the History of Philosophy

Summary In recent decades, scholars have shown a distinct new willingness to concede the important place of religion in the life and thought of the philosopher Franz Brentano. However, these studies are still dominated by the presumption that Brentano's life and thought are best understood according to a model of secularisation as a progressive waning of religion. This essay asks whether such a presumption is the best way of understanding the complex interconnections between various elements of his philosophical and religious ideas. It posits that a better appreciation of his position entails a confrontation with Brentano's historical imagination, and especially the structuring role of his approach to the history of philosophy as one manifesting regular cycles of decline and regeneration. Brentano's theory of the four phases of philosophy, though not the final word on how he viewed history, was nevertheless an exercise in thinking about the ways history accommodates various forms of progress and repetitio...
Manufacturing complexity in assembly systems with hybrid configurations and its impact on throughput

A measure of product variety induced manufacturing complexity has been proposed based on the choices of assembly activities that operators make in serial, manual mixed-model assembly lines. In this paper we extend the complexity measure to assembly systems with parallel and hybrid configurations. The complexity measure takes into consideration operator choices at each station and the assembly system configuration. In addition, we develop throughout analysis models for assembly systems by incorporating complexity based on the operator reaction time and fatigue effects. The complexity and throughput models are applied to comparing performance of assembly systems with different configurations.
Studies of ion distribution in the inner ear: scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis of freeze-dried cochlear specimens.

Abstract Secondary and backscattered scanning electron imaging were combined with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) to investigate ion distribution in freeze-dried chinchilla inner ears. Fluid residues obtained from the perilymphatic and endolymphatic spaces consist of characteristically shaped crystals associated with an amorphous matrix. EDXA spectra obtained from crystals are consistent with the expected ion composition of the fluid of origin. In particular, potassium levels in perilymph and sodium levels in endolymph are very low. This indicates that the integrity of the major fluid compartments of the inner ear is maintained during freeze-drying, and that uncontaminated samples can routinely be obtained by microdissection. Spectra obtained from crystals on the underside of the tectorial membrane are typical of endolymph, strong evidence that this fluid occupies the subtectorial spaces. The spectra of vestibular endolymph crystals are essentially identical to those obtained from cochlear endolymph, indicating no difference in ionic composition of endolymph in the two divisions of the labyrinth. Fluid in the spaces of the organ of Corti does not form crystals, which suggests that the ‘cortilymph’ may contain more protein than perilymph or endolymph. Secondary scanning electron imaging of cochlear tissues revealed little or no disruption of cell membranes of most cochlear tissues, including outer hair cells and stria vascularis. The gross interior features of tissue, such as interior cell borders and cell nuclei, appeared well preserved when backscattered scanning electron imaging was employed. Backscattered imaging was found to be necessary for the identification of crystals of fluid origin upon the surfaces of tissue specimens.