cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear and Decision-Oriented Signal Processing for OFDM-Based Wireless Communications

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation has several attributes which favor it for high speed wireless communications. But its high peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR) seriously limits the linear range, and hence the power efficiency, of the transmitter's high power amplifier (HPA). The authors present two complementary approaches to the solution of this problem. The first approach uses an adaptive nonlinear predistorter (PD) to compensate for the nonlinearity in the HPA. The analytical expressions used, for the HPA and the corresponding PD, lead to satisfactory overall system operation up to the saturation region of the HPA, under rapidly time-varying conditions. The second approach reduces the PAPR to an acceptable range by means of a decision-oriented modification of the partial transmit sequence (PTS) technique. It uses a decision tree in seeking the best trade-off between the high-performance/high-complexity behavior of the ordinary PTS algorithm and the low-performance/low-complexity behavior of the iterative flipping PTS (IF-PTS) algorithm
Genetic determinants of plasma lipid response to dietary intervention: the role of the APOA1/C3/A4 gene cluster and the APOE gene.

Polymorphisms at the APOA1/C3/A4 gene cluster and the APOE gene have been extensively studied in order to examine their potential association with plasma lipid levels, coronary heart disease risk and more recently with inter-individual variability in response to dietary therapies. Although the results have not been uniform across studies, the current research supports the concept that variation at these genes explains a significant, but still rather small, proportion of the variability in fasting and postprandial plasma lipid responses to dietary interventions. This information constitutes the initial frame to develop panels of genetic markers that could be used to predict individual responsiveness to dietary therapy for the prevention of coronary heart disease. Future progress in this complex area will come from experiments carried out using animal models, and from carefully controlled dietary protocols in humans that should include the assessment of several other candidate gene loci coding for products that play a relevant role in lipoprotein metabolism (i.e. APOB, CETP, LPL, FABP2, SRBI, ABC1 and CYP7).
Electrocardiographic changes and arrhythmias following percutaneous atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale device closure

OBJECTIVES To compare pre- and post-procedure electrocardiograms (ECGs) in a large cohort of patients after percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO). BACKGROUND Percutaneous device closure of ASD or PFO is commonplace. Conduction and rhythm anomalies associated with percutaneous device placement have been reported. METHODS We reviewed records for all patients who underwent percutaneous device closure of ASD or PFO at our institution from 1999 to 2008. Pre-procedure ECG and Holter studies were compared to available short term ( 2 months) ECG or Holter. RESULTS Pre- and post-procedural ECGs were available in 610 patients (305 females, average age 50 ± 18.1 years, range 1-91 years, 384 PFO, 184 ASD, 42 with multiple defects, mean device size 16 mm, range 5-38 mm). We report an incidence of 5.2% (32/610) of arrhythmias in the 4 months following device placement, including 29 patients with atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs, 22 fibrillation, 7 flutter), 1 with junctional tachycardia, and 2 with heart block. Among other findings, the average P-wave duration was increased on intermediate follow-up as compared to early follow-up (P < 0.001). Development of new-onset 1st degree AV Block after the procedure was associated with an increased risk of ATs post-procedure (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION We report a low risk of clinically significant post-procedure arrhythmias after device placement. Clinically significant heart block occurred in only two patients (0.3%). Changes in several markers of atrial conduction were found, suggesting an effect of device closure on intra-atrial conduction.
Genetic Characterization of the ‘New’ Harlan Sprague Dawley Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats

Abstract In 1994, it was reported that Dahl salt-sensitive SS/Jr rats supplied by Harlan Sprague Dawley were genetically contaminated and resistant to the pressor effects of a high salt diet. Harlan Sprague Dawley subsequently developed new pedigree expansion and production colonies from their foundation colony to supply new, purportedly inbred, Harlan Sprague Dawley SS/Jr (S HSD ). To evaluate the genetic integrity and salt sensitivity of these new S HSD , we performed genotyping (microsatellite DNA markers) and phenotyping (radiotelemetric arterial pressure) of 12 S HSD , 16 “authentic” SS/Jr from the inbred colony of John Rapp (S Rapp ), 9 Harlan Sprague Dawley salt-resistant SR/Jr (R HSD ), and (genotyping only) 6 known “contaminated” Harlan Sprague Dawley Dahl SS/Jr (S*). In the genotyping studies, 20 of 22 markers revealed polymorphisms between S Rapp and S* and 18 were polymorphic between S Rapp and R Rapp , but none of the 22 markers revealed polymorphisms between S Rapp and the new S HSD . The phenotyping studies showed that during an ultra–low salt diet, mean arterial pressure was higher ( P Rapp (129±2 mm Hg; mean±SE) and new S HSD (120±2 mm Hg) than in R HSD (93±1 mm Hg). A high salt diet increased mean arterial pressure in every S HSD and S Rapp . Increases in mean arterial pressure after 4 weeks of a high salt diet were significantly ( P Rapp (+51±3 mm Hg) than in new S HSD (+39±3 mm Hg). In addition, salt-induced mortality was significantly greater in S Rapp (62.5%) than S HSD (8.3%) after 8 weeks ( P HSD were genotypically indistinguishable from S Rapp , had an elevated arterial pressure on a low salt diet, and had a pressor response to salt. Thus, the new S HSD supplied to us had several characteristics of inbred Dahl SS/Jr and did not have evidence of the previously detected genetic contamination. However, phenotypic characteristics such as body weight, salt-induced hypertension, and mortality were significantly different in S HSD compared with S Rapp . This may reflect genetic differences between these two strains or differences in environmental factors and suggests that the S HSD and S Rapp may now constitute distinct substrains of Dahl SS/Jr.
Structure, Empowerment and the Liberalization of Cross-National Abortion Rights

Economic, cultural, and political opportunity structures have been separately shown to facilitate and constrain abortion rights. We examine two central and related questions: First, which factors explain liberalization of different types of abortion laws? Second, which factor or set of factors is the most important in explaining abortion laws? The cross-national literature suggests a three-pronged explanation for the existence of abortion rights, including politics, economics, and culture. We parse these out into the structural and empowerment components of each, and posit a theory of rights in which empowerment factors are at least as important, if not more important, for explaining change than structural factors. To test this, we examine the impact of these components on the liberalization of abortion rights globally utilizing a distributed lag model. We find that an empowerment approach explains the liberalization of abortion laws better than a structural approach in terms of politics, but that a structural approach is a better predictor in terms of culture, and that both empowerment and structural factors are important predictors when economic factors are taken into account. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of these findings for understanding policy change and human rights on a global scale.
An Investigation Of Organizational Information Security Risk Analysis

Despite a growing number and variety of information security threats, many organizations continue to neglect implementing information security policies and procedures. The likelihood that an organization’s information systems can fall victim to these threats is known as information systems risk (Straub & Welke, 1998). To combat these threats, an organization must undergo a rigorous process of self-analysis. To better understand the current state of this information security risk analysis (ISRA) process, this study deployed a questionnaire using both open-ended and closed ended questions administered to a group of information security professionals (N=32). The qualitative and quantitative results of this study show that organizations are beginning to conduct regularly scheduled ISRA processes. However, the results also show that organizations still have room for improvement to create idyllic ISRA processes.
A Reinforcement-Learning Neural Network for the Control of Nonlinear Systems

Reinforcement learning in neural nets is an approach to the problem of credit assignment during learning. As opposed to gradient descent techniques such as backpropagation, a reinforcement learning scheme uses a single reinforcement signal from the environment to adjust the network weights. In this short paper we describe reinforcement learning and propose a multilayer neural network with real-valued outputs which learns using a combination of reinforcement learning and backpropagation. This method combines several ideas from the literature. We illustrate the use of the method with an example of the control of a nonlinear system.
Terrestrial mammals of the Smoky Hills Army National Guard Training Facility, Saline County, Kansas

Abstract We documented 22 species of mammals on the Smoky Hills Army National Guard Training Facility in Saline Co., Kansas during a 3-year study initiated in 1998. These mammals included 12 species of rodents, 4 of carnivores, 3 of insectivores, and 1 each of deer, lagomorph and opossum. During our sampling surveys of small mammals, the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) was the most common species captured, but it was captured only in our 1 woodland site and in grassland sites that had scattered woody vegetation. The most common small mammals in our 13 grassland sites were the deer mouse (P. maniculatus) and hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus). Additional records of mammals came from incidental captures in pitfall and funnel traps set for herps, sightings of live and dead individuals and observations of species-specific sign during the 3-year period.
Parametric Assumptions of Some "Nonparametric" Measures of Sensory Efficiency:

Nonparametric measures of sensory efficiency suggested by Craig (1979) for use in sustained monitoring tasks are shown to be dependent on distributional assumptions when based on one point in ROC space.
Montagu (A) & (B)

SUBJECT AREAS: Financial strategy, Intangible assets, Negotiations, Subsidiaries CASE SETTINGS: United Kingdom; 25 employees; 2002-2003 Describes the dilemma facing Chris Masterson, the head of HSBC's private equity division, in negotiating this team's buyout of its organization from HSBC, its corporate parent since 1992. Discusses the pros and cons of being a captive fund and the delicate balance among many interests - limited partners, team members, the parent, and the investee companies - that must be maintained.
Repeated Games Played by Finite Automata: A Survey

In this paper we survey the recent literature on games played by finite automata. We discuss issues regarding players' rationality, procedural costs of decision making, and cooperation among players.
A method for the detection of multiple surface antigens on small heterogeneous cell populations.

A technic using fluorescent immunospheres was developed to identify simultaneously two surface antigens on individual lymphocytes while preserving Wright’s stained cell morphology. Small numbers (10,000–20,000) of cells were studied from peripheral blood or bone marrow samples from normal control subjects and from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Samples were studied for surface antigens using OKT-11, OK-Ia-1, B1, and J5. Comparison was made with results obtained from the same patients by indirect immunofluorescence. Correlation between results obtained with immunospheres and indirect immunofluorescence was excellent (r = 0.97). In addition, 35 cerebrospinal fluid samples from children with ALL were tested using the immunosphere method alone. Results obtained with spinal fluid lymphocytes agreed with previously reported results using similar methodology. It is concluded that the use of fluorescent microspheres provides a method for the combined evaluation of cell morphology and surface antigens on small, heterogeneous cell populations.
A D-Vac Calibration Technique

Removal samples from an irrigated pasture were used as a calibration technique for the D-Va.®. Plots 4 m2 were enclosed with a frame and 1 initial and 3 removal samples were taken. Equations are given for computing the population and probability of collecting an insect. For leafhopper adults, leafhopper nymphs, Orius insidiosus (Say), and corn flea beetle, Chaetocnema pulicaria Melsheimer, calibrations (m2/linear m) were 0.405, 0.328, 0.272, and 0.490, respectively.
An opportunity to combat obesity lies in the at-risk college population.

AbstractPurpose:Approximately 70% of United States [or U.S.] adults are either overweight or obese. Obesity increases the risk of chronic disease and strains healthcare access, quality, and cost. Weight gain occurs in college students threatening optimal weight maintenance. Physical activity is fund
Permeability of normal and artificially constructed canine urinary bladders to I131, Na22 and P32.

SummaryA method for determining ion transportation through the mucosa of the urinary bladder is described. This method has been used on normal and artificially constructed bladders in dogs.Rapid and continuous absorption of iodide, sodium and phosphorus ions takes place through the mucous membrane lined bladders, while only minimal amounts of these ions are absorbed through the normal bladder and through bladders constructed by means of seromuscular grafts.
Total body water in growing domestic fowl by antipyrine dilution technic.

ConclusionTotal body water was estimated by the antipyrine dilution technic. There was considerable variation between the ages studied. In comparison with the direct method it appeared that in chickens the antipyrine technic underestimates body water, the range being from 85.2% for a one-week-old chick to 55% for the 32-week-old bird.
Involvement of potassium channel in AQP1-mediated water and gas transport in erythrocytes

Elevated plasma cholesterol affects nearly 100 million Americans, a third of the US population, resulting in devastating health consequences and nearly one million deaths annually. Although the long-term effect of elevated plasma cholesterol is known for its accretion in arterial walls, little was understood of its immediate effects until recently (Jena and Lee, 2010). Cholesterol in blood plasma is known to rapidly enter and incorporate into the red blood cell (RBC) plasma membrane (Tall, 1993; Glomset et al., 1995; Ishizake et al., 1994). As early as the 1970s, it was demonstrated in human studies that blood plasma and RBC membrane cholesterol levels are inversely associated with the transmembrane O2 diffusion rate of RBC (Steinbach et al., 1974): as cholesterol levels in the blood plasma and consequently in the RBC membrane decrease, O2 diffusion in RBC increases (Steinbach et al., 1974; Menchaca et al., 2004). Then in 2010 (Jena and Lee, 2010), we reported for the first time that the immediate effect of elevated plasma cholesterol is dysfunction of active water and CO2 transport via the AQP1 channel through the RBC membrane. The effect of the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor ONO-RS-082 (ONO) on ameliorating the detrimental effects of cholesterol was further demonstrated from that study (Jena and Lee, 2010). In the past decade, the tetradecapeptide wasp venom mastoparan, GTP, the GTP-binding heterotrimeric Gαi/ Gαo proteins, vH +-ATPase, PLA2, the K+ and Cl– channels, and aquaporins (Abu-Hamdah et al., 2004), have been implicated in the gating of water into secretory vesicles. A similar mechanism operating at the RBC membrane is therefore hypothesized. Gαi3 has been implicated in various tissues to regulate both K+ and Cl– ion channels at the plasma membrane (Delport et al., 1997; Knepper and Inoue, 1994, 1997). PLA2 has also been found to regulate both K+ and Cl– ion channels. Since Gαi3 and PLA2 are present at the RBC membrane (Mukherjee and Maxfield, 2004; Hillman et al., 2005), I hypothesize the involvement of both Gαi3 and PLA2 in the regulation of AQP1 activity. Furthermore, since K+ and Cl– ion channels are present at the RBC membrane (Hillman et al., 2005), the involvement of Gαi3 in the regulation of K+ and Cl– ion channels at the RBC membrane and its possible implication for AQP1-mediated water entry were investigated. Results from my studies demonstrate that K+ and Cl– ion channels are associated with AQP1 at the RBC membrane, and that the K+ channel inhibitor Glyburide currently used in treating diabetes reverses the detrimental effects of cholesterol on RBC function. Involvement of potassium channel in AQP1-mediated water and gas transport in erythrocytes Siddhartha G. Jena*
Modeling and Optimization of Airbag Helmets for Preventing Head Injuries in Bicycling

Bicycling is the leading cause of sports-related traumatic brain injury. Most of the current bike helmets are made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and ultimately designed to prevent blunt trauma, e.g., skull fracture. However, these helmets have limited effectiveness in preventing brain injuries. With the availability of high-rate micro-electrical-mechanical systems sensors and high energy density batteries, a new class of helmets, i.e., expandable helmets, can sense an impending collision and expand to protect the head. By allowing softer liner medium and larger helmet sizes, this novel approach in helmet design provides the opportunity to achieve much lower acceleration levels during collision and may reduce the risk of brain injury. In this study, we first develop theoretical frameworks to investigate impact dynamics of current EPS helmets and airbag helmets—as a form of expandable helmet design. We compared our theoretical models with anthropomorphic test dummy drop test experiments. Peak accelerations obtained from these experiments with airbag helmets achieve up to an 8-fold reduction in the risk of concussion compared to standard EPS helmets. Furthermore, we construct an optimization framework for airbag helmets to minimize concussion and severe head injury risks at different impact velocities, while avoiding excessive deformation and bottoming-out. An optimized airbag helmet with 0.12 m thickness at 72 ± 8 kPa reduces the head injury criterion (HIC) value to 190 ± 25 at 6.2 m/s head impact velocity compared to a HIC of 1300 with a standard EPS helmet. Based on a correlation with previously reported HIC values in the literature, this airbag helmet design substantially reduces the risks of severe head injury up to 9 m/s.
Wildlife health and supplemental feeding: A review and management recommendations

Abstract Humans provide supplemental food to wildlife under many contexts, ranging from professional feeding areas for game species to backyard bird feeders. Such resources benefit wildlife by providing reliable resources during periods of food shortages, but may also alter the risk of pathogen transmission and development of disease. While several reviews have summarized the detrimental effects of supplemental food on infection risk, we conducted a comprehensive review to quantify support for mechanisms by which intentional wildlife feeding influences host condition (i.e. malnutrition and stress) and pathogen transmission on a global scale and provide a framework to mitigate these risks. We also examined whether the purpose of feeding, whether for game management, conservation, tourism, or in residential areas, influenced health outcomes. We found 115 studies that evaluated the health of wildlife with supplementary feeding, representing 68 species in 35 countries, although nearly half (46% of studies) were from North America. Supplemental feeding tended to increase the risk of pathogen transmission by increasing contact rates between hosts (95%) and promoting pathogen accumulation at feeders or the surrounding environment (77%). Provisioned food was also often a source of immunosuppressive contaminants (80%). Feeding associated with tourism frequently increased wildlife stress, rates of injury, pathogen prevalence, or malnutrition (85%), while feeding for conservation purposes had mostly positive effects on wildlife health (63%). We recommend adopting feeding practices that validate the nutritional appropriateness of wildlife feed for the target species, make food available at lower densities for short periods at unpredictable times and places to prevent aggregation, and avoid feeding during times of migration, pulses of new recruits, and epidemics. These strategies will help retain the recreational and management benefits of wildlife provisioning while mitigating negative effects for many species around the world.
Total Carbohydrate by Phenol-Sulfuric Acid Method

The phenol-sulfuric acid method is a simple and rapid colorimetric method to determine total carbohydrates in a sample. While the method detects virtually all classes of carbohydrates (mono-, di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides), the absorptivity of the different carbohydrates varies. Thus, unless a sample is known to contain only one carbohydrate, the results must be expressed arbitrarily in terms of one carbohydrate. In this laboratory exercise, the total carbohydrate content of soft drinks and beers is determined with the phenol-sulfuric acid method, using a glucose standard curve. Data generated are used to calculate the caloric content of those beverages.
SUBSTANCE AND SEMANTICS IN THE AUDITOR'S STANDARD REPORT

The most recent effort at restating the auditor's standard report, SAS 58, is the most comprehensive statement of the auditor's role that has ever been adopted. It is an acknowledgment that the previous report had become an ineffective communication of the audit function and was perhaps too cautious in circumscribing the auditor's public responsibilities. This paper compares and analyzes the terminology of the standard report throughout the professions's history with particular emphasis on the recent years leading up to SAS 58. An exhibit compares the parallel terminology and the social, economic and political issues that resulted in each revision. Additionally, some assessment of the potential future changes to the report are presented.
CUBA AND THE CUBANS

This chapter contains an edition of George Kennan’s (1845–1924) lecture “Cuba and the Cubansˮ, which the famous journalist and travel writer presented throughout the United States since 1899. The document is an important source on the U.S. perception of Cuba in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War (1898) and provides an insight into American attitudes towards the Caribbean neighbor and into arguments that were summoned during the later discussion about the political future of the island.
Gender differences in obtaining and maintaining patent rights.

An examination of the prosecution and maintenance histories of approximately 2.7 million US patent applications indicates that women have less favorable outcomes than men.
Assessment of Scaling of Pressurized Water Reactor Emergency Core Coolant Bypass Flow Tests

The Emergency Core Coolant (ECC) is injected in the reactor cold legs to flow down the downcomer and to cool the hot core during a Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident. The ECC flows down in the downcomer before reaching the core entrance. The delivery of ECC to the core is critical to the safety. The portion of ECC not delivered to the core is bypassed to the break. Linearly scaled small test facilities have been designed to determine ECC delivery rates for the Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). However, based on the data, it is concluded that linearly scaled small facilities do not capture the phenomena of the NPP. In the small facilities the liquid distribution facilities is a combination of pure film and liquid slugs. In the full scale facilities the ECC flows as a column beneath the cold legs almost unaffected by the pressure of the gas. In addition, the correlation recommended by the USNRC for NPP based on scaled facilities underpredicts the ECC delivery rate when compared to the data from Upper Plenum Test facility which is a full scale test facility.It is recommended that the ECC bypass phenomena experiments be performed in full scale facilities.
Evolution of Arthropod Locomotion: A Crustacean Model

In the sea, crustaceans occupy a role which is as rich as that of arthropods on land. They are diverse, both in species numbers and range of morphologies. They are ubiquitous, both spatially and environmentally. There seem to be crustacean examples for every conceivable life style, ranging from obligate endoparasitism to pelagic herbivory. They have invaded land and fresh water more often and more successfully than land-based arthropods have penetrated the sea. The breadth of the crustacean spectrum bespeaks a wide range of locomotory abilities: swimming, walking, burrowing, climbing, and so on; the only talent that has eluded them is an ability to fly.
Design and Test of a Planarized High Power Density 100 kW SiC Traction Inverter with 1kV DC-Link

A SiC MOSFET based 1kV DC-link planarized traction inverter is designed to achieve high power density and high common mode noise immunity of the gate driver. To achieve high power density, a planarized structure is adopted to reduce the overall height of the whole system. Significantly, PCB based busbar, gate driver planar transformer and shunt-based current sensor are the main concepts for planarized inverter design. Moreover, a split gate driver concept is used to shrink the overall size of inverter and reduce driving loop inductance as well. An optimized planar transformer winding layout has been used to reduce the coupling capacitance between primary and secondary side in order to achieve high common mode noise immunity. The inverter is designed for 100kW continuous power and has been tested with a novel closed-loop high power circulating strategy that requires only a small rating DC power supply. Testing results verify the design concepts and the high performance of the traction inverter.
A Historical Perspective on Project-Based Instruction Origination, Design, and Evolution

The idea of projects emerged with John Dewey and the progressive movement (1876–1957). Dewey and other progressives looked at redefining education via seeing the child at the center, emphasizing learning by doing, including diverse real-world contacts, making curriculum relevant and meaningful to the learner, and making the teacher more than a “taskmaster” (Ruopp, Gal, Drayton, & Pfister, 1993, p. 52). Progressives like John Dewey, E. L. Thorndike, and William Heard Kilpatrick promoted “vocational training, curriculum differentiation based upon student desire, intelligence testing, project learning, and other devices that were divorced from the traditional liberal arts curriculum” to fit the industrial era in which they were living as opposed to the traditional liberal arts curriculum of the past (Null, 2007, p. 1015). This shift away from the traditional curriculum sets up a division between the traditionalists who favored the liberal arts curriculum and the progressives who were focused on student-centered, practical curricula for all students (Null, 2007). The first use of the term “project” can be traced to the year 1908 when project-based agricultural work was established at Smith’s Agricultural school in Massachusetts (Alberty, 1927). The agricultural student projects were focused on community and/or home improvements, such as planting trees, building walks, and increasing crop yield.
Effects of iron and copper treatments on the bacterioplankton assemblages from surface waters along the north branch of the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, USA.

The effects of varying concentrations (ranging from 0 to 10 μM) of two different metals that is, iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) on indigenous bacterial populations and their hydrolytic enzyme activities within the bacterioplankton assemblages from the surface waters of the Kalamazoo River were examined under controlled microcosm conditions. The two metals were added to water samples collected from the Kalamazoo River and examined for bacterial abundance and leucine aminopeptidase activities at various time intervals over a 48 h incubation period in the dark. Results revealed no concentration effects on the bacterial populations in the presence of both Fe and Cu, although the bacterial numbers varied significantly over time in both microcosms. Conversely, leucine aminopeptidase activities based on post-hoc tests using Bonferroni correction revealed significant differences to increasing concentrations of both metals over the study period. These results further validate previous knowledge regarding the importance of various metal ions in regulating bacterial community structures and also suggest that aminopeptidase have the potential of effectively functioning using diverse trace and heavy metals as extracellular peptidase cofactors in aquatic systems.
Effect of Exercise on Adult Stem Cells

Obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are rapidly increasing worldwide. Regular participation in physical activities or exercise programs of adequate intensity and volume to promote substantial increases in cardiorespiratory fitness attenuates the incidence of these diseases. For several decades, the effect of exercise has mostly been estimated by biochemical parameters. Relatively little is known about the effects of exercise on adult stem cells which play a major role in tissue remodeling and tissue regeneration. In this review we will focus mainly on the effects of aerobic exercise on two adult stem/progenitor cells: endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). These two cell types are precursors for endothelium and mesenchymal tissue (fat, bone, muscle, and cartilage), respectively, and are key players in maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis.
Development and Implementation of Health Surveys in Asian American Communities

The methodological, cultural, and research challenges associated with conducting surveys among community based Asian American (AA) organizations was explored. The cultural content and cultural conflict models were employed. Also discussed are the strategies that were adopted to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment survey of tobacco use and associated cancer risk among an AA population in the Delaware Valley region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Research among AA populations pose data collection difficulties. These difficulties include gaining access to membership lists, language barriers, need for one-on-one explanation of survey items, reduced uniformity of conditions, the need to maintain confidentiality, and the need to establish trust with the members of the organization prior to gaining an invitation to conduct the survey and reluctance of AA to give personal information to researchers. Community methods included gaining trust of community leaders, and establishment of an Asian Community Cancer Coalition. A comprehensive questionnaire was translated into four Asian languages. Methods used to develop a reliable and valid survey are presented.
Comparison of the effects of a liquid breakfast meal with varying doses of plant-based soy protein on appetite profile, energy metabolism and intake.

Abstract A dose dependent satiating and thermogenic effect of animal-based protein has been observed, however, less is known wherever plant-based protein elicits same response. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a breakfast meal containing varying doses of plant-based soy protein (SP) on appetite profile, hormone response, energy metabolism and energy intake. METHODS: Seventeen participants (age: 27 ± 7 y, body fat: 21.5 ± 6.9%) in randomized order consumed one of three isoenergetic liquid breakfast meals (482 ± 5 kcals): high SP (HSP; 50 g), low SP (LSP; 25 g) and control (CON; 50 g carbohydrate) followed by an ad libitum lunch 3 h later. Appetite profile was measured before, immediately after and hourly during the 3 h postprandial period. Plasma concentrations of leptin and insulin were measured before, at 30 and 180 min. RESULTS: Energy intake at lunch per kilogram of body weight was significantly higher after CON (11 ± 3.6 kcal/kg) compared to HSP (9.1 ± 3.0 kcal/kg) but not compared to LSP (10.2 ± 2.7 kcal/kg). Participants hunger was higher, whereas, satiety and fullness were lower after CON (p 0.05) observed in leptin or insulin responses between meals, however, a significant change over time was observed for insulin (p = 0.02) but not leptin (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Liquid breakfast meals with higher dose of soy protein reduced energy intake when adjusted by body weight at lunch and was rated as more satiating compared to an isoenergetic CON meal.
The parallel repetition of non-signaling games: counterexamples and dichotomy

Non-signaling games are an important object of study in the theory of computation, for their role both in quantum information and in (classical) cryptography. In this work, we study the behavior of these games under parallel repetition. We show that, unlike the situation both for classical games and for two-player non-signaling games, there are k-player non-signaling games (for k ≥ 3) whose values do not tend to 0 with sufficient parallel repetition. In fact, parallel repetition sometimes does not decrease their value whatsoever. We show that in general, every game’s non-signaling value under parallel repetition is either lower bounded by a positive constant or decreases exponentially with the number of repetitions. Furthermore, exponential decrease occurs if and only if the game’s sub-non-signaling value (Lancien and Winter, CJTCS ’16) is less than 1.
Imaging as a Noninvasive Tool for Evaluating Interstitial Fibrosis in Kidney Allografts.

Interstitial fibrosis is an almost universal histologic finding in progressive kidney parenchymal disease, both in native and transplanted kidneys. When established, it is a nonreversible lesion. In kidney transplantation, chronic kidney allograft dysfunction is clinically characterized by
Protecting women, protecting the state: Militarism, security threats, and government action on violence against women in Jordan:

Contrary to our understanding of when states act on women’s rights, Jordan adopted a policy on violence against women at the same time as it faced a number of external and internal security threats...
1985 Coevolution of bacteria and phage

Abstract The simple prediction of the Red Queen hypothesis ( Chapter 36 ) is that species engaged in antagonistic interactions (such as predators and prey or host and parasites) will engage in an endless arms race fueled by evolution. Lenski and Levin (1985) sought to experimentally test this with laboratory communities of bacteria and phage. They found that evolution is constrained and that endless responses by phage and their host bacteria are not what is observed.
Origins of Cardiopulmonary Disease in Early Life

The association between lung disease and cardiovascular disease later in life has been well described. Both obstructive and restrictive lung physiology as measured with spirometry have been associated with cardiovascular disease and poor health outcomes.
CRISPR-Cas Immune System of a Prevalent Human Gut Bacterium Reveals Hypertargeting Against Gut Virome Phages

Bacteriophages are the most abundant entities found within the human gastrointestinal tract, yettheir interaction with bacterial hosts remain poorly understood, particularly with respect to CRISPRCas immunity. Here, we show that the Type IC CRISPRCas system in the prevalent gut Actinobacterium Eggerthella lenta i s active both transcriptionally and catalytically, cleaving foreign and self DNA. Comparative analyses of E. lenta CRISPRCas systems across genomes and metagenomes revealed two distinct clades according to their shared cas gene sequence similarity and spacer content. To identify putative CRISPR targets, we assembled a human virome database (HuVirDB) encompassing 1,831 samples, revealing matches for the majority of the identified spacers, including “hypertargeted” phage with as many as 96 protospacers. Modeling observed spacer/protospacer pairs, we mapped positional mismatch tolerance in crRNAs. This work emphasizes the utility of merging computational and experimental approaches for determining the function and targets of human gut bacterial CRISPRCas systems.
Allocating Ventilators During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Conscientious Objection.

Increasing demand for ICU beds and ventilators in response to the growing number of critically ill COVID-19 patients has raised the specter of rationing (McGuire et al. 2020; White and Lo 2020). Se...
Unique Multidisciplinary Training Practices in Cytopathology: Simulation Training in Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration of the Thyroid:

The training of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in pathology residency and fellowship programs can be a challenging task with variable outcomes, particularly when there is a lack of a stan...
New horizons in trans and non-binary health care: Bridging identity affirmation with chronicity management in sexual and reproductive services.

Transgender and non-binary people experience erasure, stigma, and discrimination in sexual and reproductive health care. Previous research shows worse sexual and reproductive health outcomes and hi...
A Comparative Study on the Performance of Aluminum Nitride Thickness and quasi-Thickness Extensional Mode Resonators

This paper reports on a comparative study regarding the performance of three different Aluminum Nitride (AIN) acoustic resonant technologies, based on thickness extensional or quasi-thickness extensional modes of vibration. In the last decades, Film-Bulk-Acoustic-Resonators (FBARs) have been extensively used in radio frequency (RF) front-ends because of their high electromechanical coupling coefficient (kt2~7%). However, monolithic integrated FBARs with different resonance frequency (fres) can only be attained through an augmented fabrication complexity because their fresis set by the thickness of the forming layers. Just recently, Two-Dimensional-Mode-Resonators (2DMRs) and Two-Dimensional-Resonant-Rods (2DRRs) have been discovered. Both devices provide new means to achieve high-kt2 and a lithographic tunability of fres. In this work, to evaluate the real potential of 2DMRs and 2DRRs in replacing FBARs in future RF applications, we compared, through Finite Element Methods (FEM), the electromechanical performances (quality factor (Q) and kt2) exhibited by a 2DMR and a 2DRR with those of an FBAR made of the same material stack. We show that the 2DRR exhibits the highest Figure of Merit (FoM=Qloaded·kt2), exceeding 81, among the analyzed devices.
Katz and COVID-19: How a Pandemic Changed the Reasonable Expectation of Privacy

COVID-19 spread to 188 countries and infected tens of millions of people in the matter of months. Organizations, including governments and employers, turned to health surveillance technologies to slow the spread and combat the disease. Protected health information and personal information are required for the proper and effective functioning of the health surveillance technologies. The collection, use, and dissemination of protected health and personal information raised data privacy and security concerns. But under the current data privacy and security regime—based on the reasonable expectation of privacy standard—protected health and personal information is not protected to the extent that it needs to be. Unlike other scholarly work, this article presents deeper analysis into the technologies, the data that powers them, and the applicable legal standards. The objective is to provide a better understanding of (i) the data privacy and security risks, and (ii) whether the current data privacy and security regime in the United States provides sufficient protections for individuals. This article explores two health surveillance technologies (contact tracing applications and health monitoring platforms), presents three categories of data (user-inputted, queried, and autogenerated data), and describes the data supply chains that power technology and organizations. I discuss the benefits and risks of collecting the protected health and personal information in response to the pandemic. I explore the current legal standards and jurisprudence, and I propose the Privacy Continuum to explain how the pandemic shifted the reasonable expectation of privacy. I present a case study to synthesize the foregoing, and I conclude by proposing a new legal standard—the right to control—and other reforms to effectuate true data privacy and security protections. Only then can we reclaim our right to privacy.
Zgłębiając zawiłości struktur, funkcji i lekowalności cis motywów RNA u koronawirusów

Coronaviruses are the causative agents of mild to severe respiratory and intestinal infectionsin humans. They are the largest RNA viruses, which genomes and encoded RNAs are known to fold into the highly-order structures that play essential roles in the viral replication and infectivity cycle. The recent outbreaks of new pathogenic coronaviruses steered researchersâ attention into the possibility of targeting their RNAs directly with novel RNA-specific drugs and therapeutic strategies. In this manuscript, weÂ highlight the recent biochemical and biophysical methodological advancements that yielded more in-depth insight into the structural and functional composition of coronaviruses cis-acting RNA motifs.We discuss the complexity of these RNA regulatory elements, their intermolecular interactions,post-transcriptional regulation, and their potential as druggable targets. We also indicate the location and function of unstructured and highly-conserved regions in coronaviruses RNA genomes representing viable aims for antisense oligonucleotide or CRISPR-based antiviral strategies.
Vulvar Endometriosis Mimicking as Primary Vulvodynia in a Young Nulliparous Woman: Algorithm of Care Following a Rapid Literature Review

Endometriosis occurs in 10% of women aged 19 - 45 years. There is a rare incidence of spontaneous vulvar endometriosis, a possible subset of cutaneous endometriosis. Few cases of vulvar endometriosis have been reported in literature and are often related to large lesions. The occult cases of vulvar endometriosis have been identified mistakenly following response to hormone use after being misdiagnosed as intractable primary vulvodynia. With this mis- or delayed diagnosis comes increased psychological distress adding to the burden of disease. This management algorithm following a rapid literature review of cases using recognized databases such as PubMed, Medline, SCOPUS, CINAHL and EMBASE addresses the needs of this group of vulvar endometriosis. Vulvar endometriosis is rare and can present as primary vulvodynia in the young woman. It may mimic vulvodynia or other chronic pelvic pain disorders such as interstitial cystitis leading to conflicting management. However, a strong correlation of vulvar pain or discomfort to her menstrual cycle activity with or without a visible lesion should raise the likelihood of this condition. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2021;10(2):35-39 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo735
The Woman Suffrage Movement in America: A Reassessment

1. Bringing politics back in: suffrage supply and demand 2. Political meaning for woman suffrage 3. Programmatic enfranchisement: coalitional strategies for voting rights 4. Strong leverage: third party support 5. Coalitional impossibilities: race, class, and failure 6. The national story 7. From the outside in.
Protest, Collaboration, and Creation of Alternative Models

Many women reject the disease model of health and illness. The popular model they reject proffers biochemical, genetic, and proteomic1 internal processes as the core, and often the sole, etiological factors causing states of health2 or illness. Women who are dissatisfied with the disease model and who voice objections to the model, and to the service provisions that follow from its assumptions,3 include a substantial minority of recipients, and former recipients, of mainstream services; researchers; providers of alternative services; and mainstream providers who include a nonconventional approach in their practices. Well considered attention to the essential and shared concerns of women who reject the disease model may be a necessary step in the development of complete, effective approaches to enhancement of health and prevention and treatment of illness.
METSCHNIKOWIA KAMIENSKII, SP. N., A YEAST ASSOCIATED WITH BRINE SHRIMP

Spencer, J. F. T. (University of California, Davis), H. J. Phaff, and N. R. Gardner. Metschnikowia kamienskii sp. n., a yeast associated with brine shrimp. J. Bacteriol. 88: 758–762. 1964.—A description is given of Metschnikowia kamienskii sp. n., four strains of which were isolated from brine shrimp ( Artemia salina ) collected from a saline lake near Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada. In addition, we obtained from N. van Uden a fifth strain which was originally isolated by L. J. Wickerham from sporocysts of the trematode Diplostomum flexicaudum parasitizing the hepatopancreas of a lymnaeid snail found in Lake Douglas, Michigan, in which material the yeast was first observed by Kathleen Hussey of Columbia University. All strains were identical and formed long club-shaped asci, containing a single needle-shaped spore, pointed at both ends. M. kamienskii differs in several of its physiological properties and by the size of its asci from the two previously isolated members of the genus, M. krissii and M. zobellii . A key differentiating the three species is given. Images
The Status of the Marketplace Exemption from State Securities Registration

The marketplace exemption has undergone significant revisions since its inception. The Uniform Securities Act of 1956 exempts all securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), American Stock Exchange (AMEX), or Midwest Stock Exchanges, or other regional stock exchanges deemed appropriate by the states. In 1977, the North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. (NASAA) proposed a blue-chip exemption, due to the variations in listing criteria and resultant contrast in quality among the exchanges. Additionally, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) demanded the same exemptive treatment for over-the-counter securities quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) and designated National Market System (NMS) securities. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and NASAA conducted public hearings, focusing on whether the states should exempt generally either exchange-listed or NASDAQ/NMS securities given the wide latitude in quantitative and qualitative criteria necessary for inclusion in these respective markets. This article describes the progressive events and then surveys the most recent developments affecting the evolving marketplace exemption from state registration.