cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison between intravenous and intragastric alcohol self-administration

Rats were allowed to self-administer solutions of either saline or alcohol (in unit doses of.03, .1, .3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/kg/infusion) by both intravenous and intragastric routes. Data from intravenous subjects showed a trend for the number of infusions to decrease and for the amount of drug self-administered to increase with increases in the unit dose made available. Data from the intragastric subjects showed a trend for both number of infusions and amount of drug self-administered to increase with increases in unit dose. Comparison between routes indicated that more infusions were taken, and a greater amount of drug was self-administered with the intravenous route at doses of .1, .3, and 1.0 mg/kg/infusion. However, more intragastric infusions were taken at 3.0 mg/kg/infusion.
TH9 cells are required for tissue mast cell accumulation during allergic inflammation

Background IL-9 is important for the growth and survival of mast cells. IL-9 is produced by T cells, natural killer T cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and innate lymphoid cells, although the cells required for mast cell accumulation during allergic inflammation remain undefined. Objective We sought to elucidate the role of T H 9 cells in promoting mast cell accumulation in models of allergic lung inflammation. Methods Adoptive transfer of ovalbumin-specific T H 2 and T H 9 cells was used to assess the ability of each subset to mediate mast cell accumulation in tissues. Mast cell accumulation was assessed in wild-type mice and mice with PU.1-deficient T cells subjected to acute and chronic models of allergic inflammation. Results Adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated that recipients of T H 9 cells had significantly higher mast cell accumulation and expression of mast cell proteases compared with control or T H 2 recipients. Mast cell accumulation was dependent on IL-9, but not IL-13, a cytokine required for many aspects of allergic inflammation. In models of acute and chronic allergic inflammation, decreased IL-9 levels in mice with PU.1-deficient T cells corresponded to diminished tissue mast cell numbers and expression of mast cell proteases. Mice with PU.1-deficient T cells have defects in IL-9 production from CD4 + T cells, but not natural killer T cells or innate lymphoid cells, suggesting a T H cell–dependent phenotype. Rag1 −/− mice subjected to a chronic model of allergic inflammation displayed reduced mast cell infiltration comparable with accumulation in mice with PU.1-deficient T cells, emphasizing the importance of IL-9 produced by T cells in mast cell recruitment. Conclusion T H 9 cells are a major source of IL-9 in models of allergic inflammation and play an important role in mast cell accumulation and activation.
Temporal shaping of Parabolic chirped pulses with 27 dB extinction ratio for fiber chirped pulse amplification systems

A novel temporal pulse shaping technique for chirped pulses is presented. Parabolic pulses with residual error of less than 5% and signal to noise ratio of 27dB is achieved, ideal for chirped pulse amplification applications.
Risk analysis in patients bridged to transplantation

Abstract Background . Efforts to predict mortality in bridge to cardiac transplant patients have concentrated on pre-ventricular assist device (VAD) status. To more fully identify factors influencing survival to transplant, we reviewed the preoperative and postoperative VAD courses of 105 bridge to transplant patients. Methods . Sixty-four parameters (34 pre-VAD, 30 post-VAD), including hemodynamics, complications, and evaluations of major organ function were examined and analyzed. Results . Thirty-three patients (31%) died on VADs and 72 were transplanted. There were two posttransplant operative deaths (3%). By univariate analysis 23 of 64 factors were significant. These 23 factors were entered into a stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of survival to transplant. Four factors, including pre-VAD intubation ( p p p p Conclusions . Other than the need for intubation, pre-VAD variables were of little value in predicting survival to transplant. Problems during VAD insertion (long CPB time) and post-VAD renal insufficiency were independent predictors. Severe complications that developed during the interval of VAD support, including cerebrovascular accident, bleeding and infection, were surprisingly not predictors for transplantation.
HLA-E and HLA-G Expression on Porcine Endothelial Cells Inhibit Xenoreactive Human NK Cells Through CD94/NKG2-Dependent and -Independent Pathways

Human NK cells contribute a significant role to host defense as well as xenogeneic cytotoxicity. Previous studies using human 721.221 cell line have shown that peptides derived from the leader sequence of the HLA-G binds and up-regulates the surface expression of HLA-E molecules, which was considered to consequently provide negative signals to human NK cells. However, the direct role of HLA-G in inhibiting human NK cells remains controversial. In this study, we showed that the expression of HLA-G or HLA-E in porcine endothelial cells directly protected sensitive porcine cells from human NK cell-mediated xenogeneic cytotoxicity. Ab blocking assays using F(ab')2 of the HLA class I-specific mAb PA2.6 indicated that the protection was directly mediated by the expression of HLA-G and HLA-E on the porcine cells. The HLA-E-mediated protection was blocked by anti-human CD94 Ab. In addition, the engagement of HLA-E lead to the phosphorylation of the CD94/NKG2 complex and the recruitment of SH2 domain-containing protein phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) to the complex. Therefore, HLA-E protected porcine cells from xenoreactive human NK cells through a CD94/NKG2-dependent pathway. In contrast, HLA-G inhibited human NK cells in the absence of CD94/NKG2 phosphorylation or SHP-1 recruitment, and the inhibition was not blocked by anti-CD94 Ab. Therefore, HLA-G protected porcine cells from human NK cells through a CD94/NKG2-independent pathway. These results demonstrated that both HLA-E and HLA-G could directly inhibit human NK cells in the absence of other endogenous HLA class I molecules. These results also have practical implications in preventing xenograft rejection mediated by human NK cells.
AML: an Architecture Meta-Language

The language AML (Architecture Meta-Language) is used to specify the semantics of architecture description languages (ADLs). It is a very primitive language, having declarations for only three constructs: elements, kinds and relationships. Each of these constructs may be constrained via predicates in temporal logic. The essence of AML is the ability to specify structure and to constrain the dynamic evolution of that structure. Dynamic evolution concerns arise with considerable variations in the time scale. One may constrain how a system can evolve by monitoring its development lifecycle. Another approach to such concerns involves limiting the systems' construction primitives to those from appropriate styles. One may wish to constrain what implementations are appropriate; concerns for interface compatibility are then germane. Finally, one may want to constrain the ability of the architecture to be modified as it is running. AML attempts to provide specification constructs that can be used to express all of these constraints without committing to which time scale will be used to enforce them.
Stroke risk profiles.

The impact of risk factors can be summarized in a quantitative way to provide a multivariate assessment of an individual’s probability of a stroke in a specified time period, usually 10 years. Multivariable risk factor modeling really was begun in Framingham in the 1960s and evolved to the present. Specific risk profiles for a number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes can be found at www.framinghamheartstudy.org, including the stroke risk profile published in 19911 with a modification for antihypertensive medication interaction in women.2 The ability to synthesize and summarize in a quantitative manner the additive impact of an array of CVD risk factors provides a way to identify persons at substantial elevated risk even if they have multiple borderline or slightly elevated risk factor levels. These persons whose significantly increased probability of stroke …
Initiation of Epstein-Barr virus lytic replication requires transcription and the formation of a stable RNA-DNA hybrid molecule at OriLyt.

ABSTRACT The genetic elements of herpesvirus origins of lytic replication have been characterized in detail; however, much remains to be elucidated concerning their functional role in replication initiation. In the case of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), we have found that in addition to the two well-defined critical elements required for lytic replication (the upstream and downstream essential elements, UEE and DEE), the origin of lytic replication (OriLyt) also requires the presence of a GC-rich RNA in cis. The BHLF1 transcript is similar to the essential K5 transcript identified at the Kaposi9s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus OriLyt. We have found that truncation of the BHLF1 transcript or deletion of the TATA box, but not the putative ATG initiation codon, reduce OriLyt function to background levels. By using an antibody specific for RNA-DNA hybrid molecules, we found the BHLF1 RNA stably annealed to its DNA template during the early steps of lytic reactivation. Furthermore, expression of human RNase H1, which degrades RNA in RNA-DNA hybrids, drastically reduces OriLyt-dependent DNA replication as well as recruitment of the viral single-stranded DNA binding protein BALF2 to OriLyt. These studies suggest that a GC-rich OriLyt transcript is an important component of gammaherpesvirus lytic origins and is required for initial strand separation and loading of core replication proteins.
Prenatal diagnosis of cyclopia

Two fetuses affected by cyclopia, holoprosencephaly, and malformations of the nasopharynx were diagnosed prenatally in association with acute polyhydramnios. The facial malformations, confirmed by fetography-amniography and proven at birth, were suspected on the basis of the ultrasonographic examination.
My personal distress over the inclusion of personal distress.

(2001). My Personal Distress Over the Inclusion of Personal Distress. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy: Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 123-125.
Structural biology: A transcriptional specialist resolved.

Three structures of the enzyme RNA polymerase III, which is responsible for the synthesis of abundant short RNAs, reveal the specializations that make it an adept terminator and reinitiator of transcription. See Article p.231 RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcribes structured small non-coding RNAs such as tRNAs and spliceosomal RNAs. It is the largest eukaryote polymerase, yet the least characterized structurally. Here Christoph Muller and colleagues determine the cryo-electron microscopy structures of budding yeast Pol III and build an atomic-level model of the complete 17-subunit complex, in both unbound and elongating conformations. The results allow a detailed comparison with the Pol I and Pol II enzymes and explain the adaptation of this polymerase towards its specific targets.
The Unit of Analysis Problem: Two Conjectures

Can the laws of information theory shed any light on the problem of why economic entities are of a particular “size” and why they do what they do? The question can be put a bit differently: Are there ways to observe entities that will reveal the workings of the laws of information theory? Can the laws of information theory be used to show how solutions to control problems are manifested in terms of the structure and behavior of entities?
Antigen Report: HLA-B13

HLA-B13 is unambiguously defined by sera submitted to the Ninth International Histocompatibility Workshop.
Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Supramolecularity of (O-methyl dithiocarbonato)(N,N-dimethylaminophenyl) mercury(II)

A new mercury(II) complex [Me2NC6H4HgS(S)COMe] (1) was synthesized and characterized by elemental anaylsis, FT-IR, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The structure of complex (1) has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction and proved to have a linear coordination geometry around the metal ion with Hg(S2COMe) being in S,S conformation. Intramolecular Hg···S secondary bond resulting in chelation [3.113 (1) A], while intermolecular Hg···S interactions in the 3.265–3.740 A range were also observed to form zig-zag supramolecular tapes. In addition, these supramolecular arrays are moreover connected by C-H···S, C-H···O, and C-H···π intermolecular interactions, consolidating a 3D network.
Webs of Belief or Practices: the Problem of Understanding *

Objectivity and There is No Such Thing as a Social Science make an odd pair: one is a substantive historical discussion of a philosophical concept central to philosophy and to scientific practice and debate which provides an explanation of the history of the development and changes in the concept; the other is a defense of a philosophical position which in effect denies that any such explanation is possible, and attacks “the craving for explanation” as a philosophical disease whose major symptom is social science itself. Galison and Daston, the authors of Objectivity , are historians of science whose approach is connected to the “social study of science” without explicitly adopting any of its methodological theses. But in taking on the concept of objectivity they go to the philosophical heart of the scientific enterprise itself.
Extending the Laserspray Ionization Concept to Produce Highly Charged Ions at High Vacuum on a Time-of-Flight Mass Analyzer

A new matrix compound, 2-nitrophloroglucinol, is reported which not only produces highly charged ions similar to electrospray ionization (ESI) under atmospheric pressure (AP) and intermediate pressure (IP) laserspray ionization (LSI) conditions but also the most highly charged ions so far observed for small proteins in mass spectrometry (MS) under high vacuum (HV) conditions. This new matrix extends the compounds that can successfully be employed as matrixes with LSI, as demonstrated on an LTQ Velos (Thermo) at AP, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) time-of-flight (TOF) SYNAPT G2 (Waters) at IP, and MALDI-TOF Ultraflex, UltrafleXtreme, and Autoflex Speed (Bruker) mass spectrometers at HV. Measurements show that stable multiple charged molecular ions of proteins are formed under all pressure conditions indicating softer ionization than MALDI, which suffers a high degree of metastable fragmentation when multiply charged ions are produced. An important analytical advantage of this new LSI matrix are the potential for high sensitivity equivalent or better than AP-LSI and vacuum MALDI and the potential for enhanced mass selected fragmentation of the abundant highly charged protein ions. A second new LSI matrix, 4,6-dinitropyrogallol, produces abundant multiply charged ions at AP but not under HV conditions. The differences in these similar compounds ability to produce multiply charged ions under HV conditions is believed to be related to their relative ability to evaporate from charged matrix/analyte clusters.
Thermodynamics of Water in an Enzyme Active Site: Grid-Based Hydration Analysis of Coagulation Factor Xa.

Water molecules in the active site of an enzyme occupy a complex, heterogeneous environment, and the thermodynamic properties of active-site water are functions of position. As a consequence, it is thought that an enzyme inhibitor can gain affinity by extending into a region occupied by unfavorable water or lose affinity by displacing water from a region where it was relatively stable. Recent advances in the characterization of binding-site water, based on the analysis of molecular simulations with explicit water molecules, have focused largely on simplified representations of water as occupying well-defined hydration sites. Our grid-based treatment of hydration, GIST, offers a more complete picture of the complex distributions of water properties, but it has not yet been applied to proteins. This first application of GIST to protein–ligand modeling, for the case of Coagulation Factor Xa, shows that ligand scoring functions based on GIST perform at least as well as scoring functions based on a hydration-s...
Appropriateness of Mathematical Programming in Marketing to Solve Discriminant Problems: A Monte Carlo Simulation Approach

Fisher’s linear discriminant function (LDF) is the most widely used method of discriminant analysis in marketing. Despite LDF’s advantages, Mathematical Programming (MP) approach to discriminant analysis, is a method that has been given considerable attention in recent years. The objective of this paper is to explore the appropriateness of including second order terms in MP models. We performed a Monte Carlo simulation in which the MSD (minimize the sum of the external deviation) model, presented by Ragsdale and Starn (1991), is evaluated with various sets of normal data, both with and without outliers.
Use of EMD-ESN model in temperature control system of hot roll

The temperature stability on the surface of hot roll directly affects the quality of spinning. In order to improve the stability of the surface temperature of hot roll,a new type of hot roll temperature control system was designed based on an EMD-ESN model. Since the temperature change of the hot roll is a time delay process,this paper introduces a predictive control method based on convenitional fuzzy PID control. First,empirical mode decomposition( EMD) and echo state network( ESN) was combined as the EMD-ESN combination forecast model to predict the surface temperature of the hot roll. And then,predicted values were put into a fuzzy PID controller,thus realizing the predictive control of the surface temperature of the hot roll. The experimental results showed that this method has higher prediction accuracy,good temperature stability,and better temperature control effect.
The Bottlenecks of Chinaese Rural Financial Service System and Its Countermeasures

From the current development of Chinaese rural financial service system,the article sums up the bottlenecks which hinder the development of rural financial system.The bottlenecks are protecting the financial interests of consumers,single service mode,lower level of financial and ecological destruction.Countermeasures and suggestions such as consumer protection,optimized mechanism,integrated functions,innovation and building financial ecology are proposed to break through these bottlenecks.
Chenodeoxycholic Acid Requires Activation of EGFR, EPAC and Ca2+ to Stimulate CFTR-dependent Cl- Secretion in Human Colonic T84 Cells

Bile acids are known to initiate intricate signaling events in a variety of tissues, primarily in the liver and gastrointestinal tract. Of the known bile acids, only the 7α-dihydroxy species, deoxy...
Consistency and Asymptotic Distributions of Statistics

Notions of convergence for large sample theory are introduced: almost sure convergence, convergence in probability and convergence in distribution. Consistency of several classes of estimators and their asymptotic distributions are derived, including those of sample moments, quantiles and linear regression coefficients.
Sensitivity Theory for the Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Depletion perturbation theory has been extended to the closed nuclear fuel cycle, and methods have been developed for computing the constrained sensitivities that account for fuel reprocessing and ...
Rural Women’s Explanatory Models of Postpartum Depressive Symptomatology

Purpose: To construct explanatory models of postpartum depressive symptomatology (PPDS) from the perspective of rural women and to compare these models to the traditional medical model. Sample: Purposive sample of 20 rural women from one Midwestern state who self-identified as having had PPDS in the past year. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was informed by Kleinman’s (1980) explanatory model of illness and used a semi-structured interview guide. Telephone interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis included content analysis within the categories of Kleinman’s (1980) explanatory model. Findings: Rural women were more likely to attribute their PPDS to nonphysiological causes than physiological causes. Rural women reported the onset, duration, and symptomatology of PPDS were similar to what is outlined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5 ). Women considered the effects of PPDS to be far-reaching and serious. Rural women in this study preferred a variety of often nonpharmacological treatment options and care from informal networks to that available from health care providers. Although the rural women in this study did not believe PPDS could be prevented, they believed women could better prepare themselves for PPDS by having a support system in place and by planning for practical life concerns. Conclusions: Nurses and other health care providers and researchers should consider rural women's explanatory models of PPDS when considering interventions and program development for women in rural communities. Keywords : Postpartum depression, Postnatal Depression, Qualitative, Maternal depression, depressive symptoms, Rural Nursing Theory DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v17i1.437
Homocysteine mediates transcriptional changes of the inflammatory pathway signature genes in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Aim To test whether homocysteine (Hcy) can influence the transcriptional profile, we hypothesized that Hcy can lead to the induction of proinflammatory molecules in the retinal cells of aging people. Methods An unbiased in vitro inflammatory pathway focused study was designed employing retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell line, ARPE-19. Cells were cultured in the presence or absence of Hcy to capture target genes' expression profile. Three different concentrations of Hcy were added in the culture medium of confluent monolayers. cRNAs were made from the isolated total RNAs and the labeled cRNA probes were hybridized to microarrays specific for human disease pathway inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and their receptor gene micro-array panels as per manufacture's recommendations. Two Hcy up-regulated molecules: IL6 and CEBPB were further validated via Western blot analysis. Hcy's effect on ARPE-19 cellular morphology and genomic DNA integrity were also evaluated. Results Gene microarray analyses of RPE cells in response to Hcy treatment revealed alterations in the expressions of several inflammatory gene transcripts such as CCL5, CEBPB, IL13RA2, IL15RA, IL6, IL8 and CXCL3 that were up-regulated. The transcripts for C3, CCL2, IL11RA and IL18 genes exhibited down-regulation. The IL6 and CEBPB expressions were subsequently validated at the protein levels. Treatment of the retinal cells with increasing Hcy concentration influenced their density in culture however their morphology and DNA integrity remained unaffected. Conclusion These findings suggest that Hcy can potentially mediate the expression of chemokines, cytokines and interleukins receptors in the retinal cells without having any debilitating effects on their morphology and the genomic DNA integrity.
Clinical needs assessment for sexual health among cancer patients receiving pelvic radiation: Implications for development of a radiation oncology sexual health clinic

Abstract Background Cancer patients treated with pelvic radiation therapy (RT) often experience sexual health–related side effects during and following treatment. A clinical needs assessment was used to evaluate sexual health needs and to determine how needs differed between patients receiving and who had completed RT. Methods and materials A questionnaire was used to evaluate sexual health needs among patients treated with pelvic RT. All answers were rated using a 4-point Likert scale. Convenience sampling was used, and patients were stratified by whether they were on-treatment or in follow-up. Charts were reviewed for demographic, diagnostic, and treatment information. Pearson's χ 2 test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the associations between sexual health–related topics and clinical variables. Results A total of 107 of 109 (98%) invited patients completed the questionnaire (46 females, 61 males; 52 undergoing RT, 54 completed RT). Most (75%) reported some degree of change in sexual health from the effects of cancer and/or treatment; 22% and 28% reported "quite a bit" or "very much" change, respectively. Sixty-nine percent reported that they experienced some degree of distress from sexual health changes (28% reported "very much" or "quite a bit" of distress). Seventy-six percent "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that they were interested in access to a multidisciplinary sexual health clinic (MSHC). Compared with patients currently receiving RT, patients in follow-up were significantly more likely to report worsening degrees of "change" ( P = .008) and "distress" ( P = .04) and to express interest in having access to an MSHC ( P = .03). Conclusion The majority of patients receiving pelvic RT reported a change in sexual health with associated distress, with more reports among those in follow-up. Patients undergoing pelvic RT expressed a high interest in attending a radiation oncology MSHC. Our findings emphasize the important role radiation oncologists can play in the quality of life of our patients.
Genome Assembly and Annotation of the Medicinal Plant Calotropis gigantea, a Producer of Anticancer and Antimalarial Cardenolides

Calotropis gigantea produces specialized secondary metabolites known as cardenolides, which have anticancer and antimalarial properties. Although transcriptomic studies have been conducted in other cardenolide-producing species, no nuclear genome assembly for an Asterid cardenolide-producing species has been reported to date. A high-quality de novo assembly was generated for C. gigantea, representing 157,284,427 bp with an N50 scaffold size of 805,959 bp, for which quality assessments indicated a near complete representation of the genic space. Transcriptome data in the form of RNA-sequencing libraries from a developmental tissue series was generated to aid the annotation and construction of a gene expression atlas. Using an ab initio and evidence-driven gene annotation pipeline, 18,197 high-confidence genes were annotated. Homologous and syntenic relationships between C. gigantea and other species within the Apocynaceae family confirmed previously identified evolutionary relationships, and suggest the emergence or loss of the specialized cardenolide metabolites after the divergence of the Apocynaceae subfamilies. The C. gigantea genome assembly, annotation, and RNA-sequencing data provide a novel resource to study the cardenolide biosynthesis pathway, especially for understanding the evolutionary origin of cardenolides and the engineering of cardenolide production in heterologous organisms for existing and novel pharmaceutical applications.
The Effect of Gender on Attributions for Women’s Anxiety and Doubt in a Science Narrative:

Although the effect of biases and stereotype threat on women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is well documented, less is known about how men and women attribute an undergraduate woman’s anxieties in a STEM class. We examined how undergraduate men and women perceive a woman facing emotional struggles in a physics class (Study 1: N = 309; Study 2: N = 271) and having her contributions ignored in an environmental science class (Study 3: N = 344) in three studies and an internal meta-analysis. Across the studies and meta-analysis, we found gender differences in reactions to the stories. Men were less likely than women to attribute the student’s anxiety to bias-related factors, such as awareness of stereotypes or instructor treatment, and more likely than women to attribute the anxiety to the student’s lack of preparation. Women were more likely to view the narratives as reflecting real-life experiences of women in STEM. The results indicate a lack of awareness, on the part of under...
Forced or Aggressively Coerced Copulation

Forced copulation is a type of sexual coercion that may occur most commonly when the fitness interests of the sexes conflict over a copulation. Forced copulation in nonhuman animals occurs when males use aggression or intimidation to force a female to copulate against her will. In nonhuman organisms, investigators rely on signs of female resistance to infer that a copulation is forced. Forced copulation occurs in a wide variety of taxa, including mollusks, insects, fish, reptiles, mammals, and the 3% of bird species that have intromittant organs. Female resistance signals are often dramatic; male force can maim or kill females; and female resistance is the basis for assigning a copulation to the category of ‘forced copulation.’ Four hypotheses potentially explain the adaptive significance of forced copulation: the inferior male hypothesis, the by-product hypothesis, the creation of a dangerous environment hypothesis, and the killing time hypothesis.
Chief Pilots of Regional Airlines Perceive Basic Instrument Skills as Most Important with Respect to Need for Additional Training of Entry-level Pilots

This study was conducted to identify areas of need for additional flight training of entry-level pilots, as perceived by chief pilots employed by regional airlines. The study used the mail-survey questionnaire method to collect data from 126 randomly selected regional airlines' chief pilots, from a population of 187 ("Regional airline," 1990, Annual). The major finding was that chief pilots perceive the most important training need of entry-level pilots to be basic instrument training (flight or simulator).
Peacemaking Referendums in Oceania: Making or Delaying Peace in New Caledonia and Bougainville

Secessionist conflicts present challenges for peacemaking. Separatists’ and states’ irreconcilable demands frequently prevent negotiated settlement. One peacemaking model for territorial conflict is temporary autonomy followed by a referendum on independence. Both sides have an opportunity to persuade voters of their positions while de-escalating conflict prior to a polarizing vote. This article examines the application of this model in two cases: the French territory of New Caledonia and the Papua New Guinean province of Bougainville, and argues that the model succeeds in temporary stabilization but may fail to alter the irreconcilable territorial claims of states and breakaway regions, risking conflict relapse.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome with primary group A streptococcus peritonitis in a healthy female

A 47-year-old female with a history of chronic alcoholism presented with nausea, vomiting and mild epigastric tenderness. She reported subjective fever, abdominal fullness and loose, watery stools and had stable vitals on arrival. Examination was positive for mild epigastric tenderness with hepatic enlargement. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed circumferential thickening of the stomach wall, lower esophagus and the first part of the duodenum in addition to peritoneal ascites. She was admitted for alcohol-related gastritis, acute alcoholic hepatitis, and acute kidney injury. She was started on fluid resuscitation and supportive management. After 8-hours, the patient became hemodynamically unstable with subsequent intubation and fluid resuscitation. She was started on empiric antibiotics. Blood and ascitic fluid cultures were obtained showing group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GAS). The patient was diagnosed with primary GAS peritonitis along with diffuse gastritis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. No cutaneous source of Streptococcus pyogenes was identified, and there was no personal or family history of streptococcal pharyngitis. Antibiotics were switched to IV ampicillin and clindamycin. However, the patient continued to deteriorate and succumbed to death within 2-days.
The importance of field experiments in testing of sensors for dietary assessment and eating behavior monitoring

The field of sensor-based dietary assessment and behavioral monitoring is rapidly expanding. New devices and methods for detection for food intake and characterization of ingestive behavior, energy intake and nutrition have been introduced. Quite often the testing of new devices is limited to restricted meals in laboratory setting, which has the advantage of being controlled, but may not be representative of real life conditions. To illustrate the importance of field testing, we performed a statistical comparison of meal microstructure metrics acquired in laboratory versus a field-like study. In the laboratory study, individual participants ate a self-selected meal in isolation. In the field-like study, participants consumed selfselected meals in a social setting. In both studies, the participants were monitored by both video observation and wearable food intake sensors. Statistically significant differences were observed in the duration of the meals, duration of ingestion, number of bouts of ingestion, duration of pauses between ingestive bouts, number of bites and other metrics. These results suggest that field testing presents a far different picture of ingestion process and therefore is needed for any realistic assessment of the monitoring devices.
Outcomes following liver SBRT for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

418Background: Traditionally, the role of localized therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC) has been limited. However, with more effective systemic therapies, recent studies have explored a ...
Comparison of 2-Hour Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Hemoglobin A1C in the Identification of Pre-Diabetes in Women with Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.

Research question:Does hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) predict pre-diabetes (pre-DM) in a population of women with infertility and/or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), when considering the 75 g, 2-hour oral g...
Evaluation of Artifact Subspace Reconstruction for Automatic Artifact Components Removal in Multi-Channel EEG Recordings

Objective: Artifact subspace reconstruction (ASR) is an automatic, online-capable, component-based method that can effectively remove transient or large-amplitude artifacts contaminating electroencephalographic (EEG) data. However, the effectiveness of ASR and the optimal choice of its parameter have not been systematically evaluated and reported, especially on actual EEG data. Methods: This paper systematically evaluates ASR on 20 EEG recordings taken during simulated driving experiments. Independent component analysis (ICA) and an independent component classifier are applied to separate artifacts from brain signals to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of the ASR. Results: ASR removes more eye and muscle components than brain components. Even though some eye and muscle components retain after ASR cleaning, the power of their temporal activities is reduced. Study results also showed that ASR cleaning improved the quality of a subsequent ICA decomposition. Conclusions: Empirical results show that the optimal ASR parameter is between 20 and 30, balancing between removing non-brain signals and retaining brain activities. Significance: With an appropriate choice of parameter, ASR can be a powerful and automatic artifact removal approach for offline data analysis or online real-time EEG applications such as clinical monitoring and brain–computer interfaces.
How to perform electroanatomic mapping-guided cardiac resynchronization therapy using Carto 3 and ESI NavX three-dimensional mapping systems.

Aims To examine the feasibility and safety of a novel protocol for low fluoroscopy, electroanatomic mapping (EAM)-guided Cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation and using both EnSite NavX (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) and Carto 3 (Biosense Webster, Irvine, CA, USA) mapping systems. Methods and results Twenty consecutive patients underwent CRT implantation using either a conventional fluoroscopic approach (CFA) or EAM-guided lead placement with Carto 3 and EnSite NavX mapping systems. We compared fluoroscopy and procedural times, radiopaque contrast dose, change in QRS duration pre- and post-procedure, and complications in all patients. Fluoroscopy time was 86% lower in the EAM group compared to the conventional group [mean 37.2 min (CFA) vs. 5.5 min (EAM), P = 0.00003]. There was no significant difference in total procedural time [mean 183 min (CFA) vs. 161 min (EAM), P = 0.33] but radiopaque contrast usage was lower in the EAM group [mean 16 mL (CFA) vs. 4 mL (EAM), P = 0.006]. Likewise, there was no significant change in QRS duration with BiV pacing between the groups [mean -13 (CFA) vs. -25 ms (EAM), P = 0.09]. Conclusion Electroanatomic mapping-guided lead placement using either Carto or ESI NavX mapping systems is a feasible alternative to conventional fluoroscopic methods for CRT-D implantation utilizing the protocol described in this study.
A short guide to being mentored: Tips for strong relationships

In the past several decades, scores of books about mentoring and librarianship have been published. There are academic articles, webinars, and workshops that librarians can use to learn more about why mentoring is important and how to be a good mentor. However, in my own experience, most of these resources explore mentoring from the perspective of the mentor, not the mentee. When I graduated from library school, my colleague Andrew Walsh and I began researching mentoring in academic libraries for an article that was eventually published in College & Research Libraries. As part of the research process, I decided to join as many mentoring programs as I could find to see what I could learn from the experience. In the intervening six years, I have continued to participate in mentoring programs at the national, state, and local level, and have even started one at my own library. In total, I have participated in seven formal mentoring programs.
Graph search of a moving ground target by a UAV aided by ground sensors with local information

The optimal control of a UAV searching for a target moving, with known constant speed, on a road network and heading toward one of many goal locations is considered. To aid the UAV, some roads in the network are instrumented with unattended ground sensors (UGSs) that detect the target’s motion and record the time it passes by the UGS. When the UAV flies over an UGS location, this time stamped information, if available, is communicated to it. At time 0, the target enters the road network and selects a path leading to one of the exit nodes. The UAV also arrives at the same entry UGS after some delay and is thus informed about the presence of the target in the network. The UAV has no on-board sensing capability and so, capture entails the UAV and target being colocated at an UGS location. If this happens, the UGS is triggered and this information is instantaneously relayed to the UAV, thereby enabling capture. On the other hand, if the target reaches an exit node without being captured, he is deemed to have escaped. We transform the road network, which is restricted to a directed acyclic graph, into a time tree whose node is a tuple comprising the UGS location and evader arrival time at that location. For a given initial delay, we present a recursive forward search method that computes the minimum capture time UAV pursuit policy, under worst-case target action. The recursion scales poorly in the problem parameters, i.e., number of nodes in the time tree and number of evader paths. We present a novel branch and bound technique and a pre-processing step that is experimentally shown to reduce the computational burden by at least two orders of magnitude. We illustrate the applicability of the proposed pruning methods, which result in no loss in optimality, on a realistic example road network.
Investigation of the electrical conduction mechanisms in P-type amorphous germanium electrical contacts for germanium detectors in searching for rare-event physics

For the first time, electrical conduction mechanisms in the disordered material system is experimentally studied for p-type amorphous germanium (a-Ge) used for high-purity Ge detector contacts. The localization length and the hopping parameters in a-Ge are determined using the surface leakage current measured from three high-purity planar Ge detectors. The temperature dependent hopping distance and hopping energy are obtained for a-Ge fabricated as the electrical contact materials for high-purity Ge planar detectors. As a result, we find that the hopping energy in a-Ge increases as temperature increases while the hopping distance in a-Ge decreases as temperature increases. The localization length of a-Ge is on the order of $$2.13^{-0.05}_{+0.07}\mathrm{{A}}^\circ $$ to $$5.07^{-0.83}_{+2.58}\mathrm{{A}}^\circ $$ , depending on the density of states near the Fermi energy level within bandgap. Using these parameters, we predict that the surface leakage current from a Ge detector with a-Ge contacts can be much smaller than one yocto amp (yA) at helium temperature, suitable for rare-event physics searches.
The S100 Protein Family as Players and Therapeutic Targets in Pulmonary Diseases.

The S100 protein family consists of over 20 members in humans that are involved in many intracellular and extracellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, Ca2+ homeostasis, energy metabolism, inflammation, tissue repair, and migration/invasion. Although there are structural similarities between each member, they are not functionally interchangeable. The S100 proteins function both as intracellular Ca2+ sensors and as extracellular factors. Dysregulated responses of multiple members of the S100 family are observed in several diseases, including the lungs (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer). To this degree, extensive research was undertaken to identify their roles in pulmonary disease pathogenesis and the identification of inhibitors for several S100 family members that have progressed to clinical trials in patients for nonpulmonary conditions. This review outlines the potential role of each S100 protein in pulmonary diseases, details the possible mechanisms observed in diseases, and outlines potential therapeutic strategies for treatment.
The Price Discovery Processes in China, India, and Russia’s Stock Index Futures Markets

In this paper, we examine the price discovery patterns in the three BRICS countries’ stock index futures markets which were launched after 2000 – China, India, and Russia. We find the futures marke...
The Effects of Biodiesel and Crude Oil on the Foraging Behavior of Rusty Crayfish, Orconectes rusticus

Environmental pollutants, such as crude oil and other petroleum-based fuels, inhibit and limit an organism's ability to perceive a chemical stimulus. Despite the increased use of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, there have been few studies investigating the impact of these chemicals on the behavior of aquatic organisms. The purpose of this study was to compare the sublethal effects of biodiesel and crude oil exposure on chemically mediated behaviors in a freshwater keystone species. Crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) were tested on their ability to respond appropriately to a positive chemical stimulus within a Y-maze choice paradigm. Behavior was quantified by measuring time spent finding an odor source, duration of time spent at the odor source, percentage of crayfish that found the odor source, and percentage of crayfish that chose the correct arm of the arena. Results indicated negative impacts of both biodiesel and crude oil on the ability of crayfish to locate the food source. However, there were no significant differences between behavioral performances when crayfish were exposed to crude oil compared with biodiesel. Thus, biodiesel and crude oil have equally negative effects on the chemosensory behavior of crayfish. These findings indicate that biodiesel has the potential to have similar negative ecological impacts as other fuel source toxins.
Some Aspects of Sensory-Motor Control and Adaptation in Man

The control of human movement and spatial orientation is notably complex. The body is multiply articulate and as the trunk and limbs change their orientation with respect to the gravitational-force vector, the forces necessary to move a limb through a given angle also change. Moving the forearm back and forth through the same angular distances in a vertical and then in a horizontal plane represents a simple example of this. Even though the motor commands necessary to bring about the “same movement” in the two cases differ because of the load and orientation changes, one nevertheless, unless fatigued, experiences little or no difference in the effort required to bring about the movements. This means that the skeletomuscular system is “calibrated” such that body movements of a given extent are perceived as equivalent in terms of apparent force despite often radical differences in the actual forces involved. Such a calibration is possible only through a continual monitoring of the relative configuration and orientation of the body in relation to the substrate of support and the gravitoinertial-force vector. Actually, as Mach (1897) pointed out long ago, the eyes are really the only movable parts of the body that can be controlled by means of innervation sequences that bring about the same movements regardless of body orientation.1
Distance to the Cygnus Loop from Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Primary Shock Front

We present a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 narrowband Hα image of a region on the northeastern limb of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant. This location provides a detailed example of where the primary blast wave first encounters the surrounding interstellar medium. The filament structure is seen in exquisite detail in this image, which was obtained primarily as an EARLY ACQuisition image for a follow-up spectroscopic program. We compare the HST image with a digitized version of the POSS-I red plate to measure the proper motion of this filament. By combining this value for the proper motion with previous measurements of the shock velocity at this position we find that the distance to the Cygnus Loop is 440-100+130 pc, considerably smaller than the canonical value of 770 pc. We briefly discuss the ramifications of this new distance estimate for our understanding of this prototypical supernova remnant.
Prediction of chemical speciation in stabilized/solidified wastes using a general chemical equilibrium model II: Doped waste contaminants in cement porewaters

Abstract In the previous paper, SOLTEQ demonstrated its ability to represent chemical speciation in the pure s/s binder systems. The objective of this paper is to provide a method for representing doped waste contaminants in SOLTEQ so that their speciation can be determined. To evaluate this method, model predictions were compared with measured concentrations in the porewaters expressed from cement pastes doped with various metal salts. Among doped metals, only mercury showed concentrations that indicated primary control by precipitation. The other metals, such as Cr(VI), Cd, Pb, and Na, showed behaviors that imply sorption as a major immobilization mechanism. The Langmuir isotherm was found to be well suited to describe the sorption of Na + ions onto the effective surface of CSH. To support the sorption of metal anions onto presumably negatively charged silica surface in cement porewater, a hypothesis of “super-equivalent adsorption” is proposed.
Surgical Repair of Femoral Pseudoaneurysm

Expanding hematoma following percutaneous femoral puncture. Persistent pseudoaneurysm following percutaneous femoral puncture.