cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in and dorsal to the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus during early pregnancy

Circadian rhythms in behavior and physiology change as female mammals transition from one reproductive state to another. The mechanisms responsible for this plasticity are poorly understood. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus contains the primary circadian pacemaker in mammals, and a large portion of its efferent projections terminate in the ventral subparaventricular zone (vSPZ), which also plays important roles in rhythm regulation. To determine whether these regions might mediate changes in overt rhythms during early pregnancy, we first compared rhythms in Fos and Per2 protein expression in the SCN and vSPZ of diestrous and early pregnant rats maintained in a 12:12-h light/dark (LD) cycle. No differences in the Fos rhythm were seen in the SCN core, but in the SCN shell, elevated Fos expression was maintained throughout the light phase in pregnant, but not diestrous, rats. In the vSPZ, the Fos rhythm was bimodal in diestrous rats, but this rhythm was lost in pregnant rats. Peak Per2 expression was phase-advanced by 4 h in the SCN of pregnant rats, and some differences in Per2 expression were found in the vSPZ as well. To determine whether differences in Fos expression were due to altered responsivity to light, we next characterized light-induced Fos expression in the SCN and vSPZ of pregnant and diestrous rats in the mid-subjective day and night. We found that the SCN core of the two groups responded in the same way at each time of day, whereas the rhythm of Fos responsivity in the SCN shell and vSPZ differed between diestrous and pregnant rats. These results indicate that the SCN and vSPZ are functionally re-organized during early pregnancy, particularly in how they respond to the photic environment. These changes may contribute to changes in overt behavioral and physiological rhythms that occur at this time.
The Role of Extracellular Signal-Related Kinase During Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation

Background It is hypothesized that activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) is critical in activating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) during abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. Study Design C57BL/6 male mice underwent either elastase or heat-inactivated elastase aortic perfusion (n = 9 per group). Mouse aortic smooth muscle cells were transfected with ERK-1 and 2 siRNA along with or without elastase treatment. Mouse and human aortic tissue were analyzed by Western blots, zymograms, and immunohistochemistry, and statistical analysis was done using Graphpad and Image J softwares. Results Western blot and immunohistochemistry documented increased phospho-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-1/2 (pMEK-1/2; 153%, p=0.270 by Western) and pERK (171%, p=0.004 by Western blot) in the elastase perfused aortas. Male ERK-1 −/− mice underwent elastase perfusion, and aortic diameter was determined at day 14. ERK-1 −/− mice failed to develop AAA, and histologic analysis depicted intact collagen and elastin fibers in the aortas. Zymography of aortas of elastase-treated ERK-1 −/− mice showed lower levels of proMMP2 (p Conclusions The MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK pathway is an important modulator of MMPs during AAA formation. Targeting the ERK pathway by reagents that inhibit either the expression or phosphorylation of ERK isoforms could be a potential therapy to prevent AAA formation.
Evaluation of multicast routing algorithms for real-time communication on high-speed networks

Multicast (MC) routing algorithms capable of satisfying the quality of service (QoS) requirements of real-time applications will be essential for future high-speed networks. We compare the performance of all of the important MC routing algorithms when applied to networks with asymmetric link loads. Each algorithm is judged based on the quality of the MC trees it generates and its efficiency in managing the network resources. Simulation results over random networks show that unconstrained algorithms are not capable of fulfilling the QoS requirements of real-time applications in wide-area networks. Simulations also reveal that one of the unconstrained algorithms, reverse path multicasting (RPM), is quite inefficient when applied to asymmetric networks. We study how combining routing with resource reservation and admission control improves the RPM's efficiency in managing the network resources. The performance of one semiconstrained heuristic, MSC, three constrained Steiner tree (CST) heuristics, Kompella, Pasquale, and Polyzos (1992), constrained adaptive ordering (CAO), and bounded shortest multicast algorithm (BSMA), and one constrained shortest path tree (CSPT) heuristic, the constrained Dijkstra heuristic (CDKS) are also studied. Simulations show that the semiconstrained and constrained heuristics are capable of successfully constructing MC trees which satisfy the QoS requirements of real-time traffic. However, the cost performance of the heuristics varies. The BSMA's MC trees are lower in cost than all other constrained heuristics. Finally, we compare the execution times of all algorithms, unconstrained, semiconstrained, and constrained.
Female Partners of Bisexual Men What They Don't Know Might Hurt Them

Individual interviews with 350 behaviorally bisexual men aged 18-30 revealed that 71% of their female sexual partners and 59% of their steady female sexual partners in the past 6 months had not been aware of their homosexual activity. Rates of nondisclosure were higher for African-American than White men. Compared to nondisclosers, men who disclosed to all their female partners were less self-homophobic and perceived their friends, families, and neighbors as more accepting of their homosexual behavior. Compared to men who had disclosed, the nondisclosers had more female partners and used condoms less consistently with women.
Passband shaping of grating-based WDM using cylindrical microlenses

We exploit spatial beam shaping in the dispersion plane to demonstrate channel broadening and flattening in a 25-GHz grating-based wavelength-division multiplexer. The figures of merit of different schemes using cylindrical microlenses are compared.
Free fluoride of the Pamlico River in North Carolina. A new method to localize the discharge of polluted water into an estuary

Abstract The commonly employed method of referring ion contents to the salinity of the water may lead to misinterpretation with regard to the degree of pollution when applied to complex water systems such as estuaries where the water of tributaries mix with ocean water and industrial water. Experimental Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ data were used to underline the problem. Fluoride concentrations of approx. 100 estuarine water samples were referred both to distance from an arbitrarily selected sampling site and to the salinity of the water. The comparison of the two relations revealed that the method of referring the ion content to distance is a suitable means to localize the discharge of polluted waste into an estuary.
Anterior chamber intraocular lens implantation in patients with a history of chronic uveitis: five-year follow-up.

Purpose To compare the incidence of long-term complications after cataract surgery with primary anterior chamber intraocular lens (AC IOL) implantation in uveitic patients and patients without a history of intraocular inflammation (control group). Setting Single-center private practice. Design Retrospective clinical study. Methods The study comprised patients who between November 2005 and August 2010 had cataract extraction followed by AC IOL implantation because conventional placement was not possible. Outcome measures were the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications, preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and CDVA after 1 year. Results Of the 39 patients identified through electronic medical records, 17 (17 eyes) had a history of chronic uveitis and 22 (23 eyes) had no intraocular inflammatory disease. There were no significant differences in the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications between the 2 groups during follow-up (range 12 to 68 months) ( P =.702). Although uveitic eyes had a greater risk for epiretinal membrane formation, the incidence of uveitis flareups attributed to the IOL and deposits on IOL surfaces was comparable to that in the control group ( P P P Conclusion In uveitic eyes with inadequate capsule support, AC IOL implantation restored visual function without a significant increase in long-term postoperative complications compared with eyes that had no history of uveitis. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
OFDM Receiver Performance in Fading Channels and The Effects Of The Phase Noise Distribution with Imperfect Channel Estimation

The time-varying nature of multipath channels in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) systems causes intercarrier interference (ICI) and complicates the channel estimation at the receiver. The introduction of the local oscillator phase noise further destroys the orthogonality between subcarriers, thus increasing the ICI contribution. In this paper, we investigate the combined effects of channel estimation errors and receiver oscillator phase noise. Furthermore, the common phase error (CPE) is also accounted for in the OFDM system. Using M-QAM modulation in Rayleigh fading channels, we also compare the system performance when the phase noise process assumes different distributions, and present analytical results for illustration, followed by simulation results for validation.
AinS Quorum Sensing Regulates the Vibrio fischeri Acetate Switch

The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri uses two acyl-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL) quorum-sensing systems. The earlier signal, octanoyl-HSL, produced by AinS, is required for normal colonization of the squid Euprymna scolopes and, in culture, is necessary for a normal growth yield. In examining the latter requirement, we found that during growth in a glycerol/tryptone-based medium, wild-type V. fischeri cells initially excrete acetate but, in a metabolic shift termed the acetate switch, they subsequently utilize the acetate, removing it from the medium. In contrast, an ainS mutant strain grown in this medium does not remove the excreted acetate, which accumulates to lethal levels. The acetate switch is characterized by the induction of acs, the gene encoding acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) synthetase, leading to uptake of the excreted acetate. Wild-type cells induce an acs transcriptional reporter 25-fold, coincident with the disappearance of the extracellular acetate; in contrast, the ainS mutant did not display significant induction of the acs reporter. Supplementation of the medium of an ainS mutant with octanoyl-HSL restored normal levels of acs induction and acetate uptake. Additional mutant analyses indicated that acs regulation was accomplished through the regulator LitR but was independent of the LuxIR quorum-signaling pathway. Importantly, the acs mutant of V. fischeri has a competitive defect when colonizing the squid, indicating the importance of proper control of acetate metabolism in the light of organ symbiosis. This is the first report of quorum-sensing control of the acetate switch, and it indicates a metabolic connection between acetate utilization and cell density.
Routed planar networks

Modeling a road network as a planar graph seems very natural. However, in studying continuum limits of such networks it is useful to take {\em routes} rather than {\em edges} as primitives. This article is intended to introduce the relevant (discrete setting) notion of {\em routed network} to graph theorists. We give a naive classification of all 71 topologically different such networks on 4 leaves, and pose a variety of challenging research questions.
Metis, migrants, and the autonomy of migration

This paper interweaves an ancient conceptualization of movement and mobility with the paradigmatic case of early twentieth-century Chinese migration to the USA in order to explore migrants’ ability to both re-interpret institutional control of movement and generate identities that garner institutional and community acceptance. By not ‘settling’ migrants into the discourse of (undocumented) immigrants, the paper (i) develops a framework for the study of migrants–state interactions that goes beyond claims to citizenship and demands for rights and (ii) explores practices and means through which migrants gain access to restricted territories and maintain presence in otherwise unwelcoming communities. The paper argues that such practices explicate the autonomy of migration: a phenomenon that is constitutive to processes of political transformation and is critical to the study of state sovereignty, citizenship rights, and political agency.
Analytically tractable model for community ecology with many species.

A fundamental problem in community ecology is understanding how ecological processes such as selection, drift, and immigration give rise to observed patterns in species composition and diversity. Here, we analyze a recently introduced, analytically tractable, presence-absence (PA) model for community assembly, and we use it to ask how ecological traits such as the strength of competition, the amount of diversity, and demographic and environmental stochasticity affect species composition in a community. In the PA model, species are treated as stochastic binary variables that can either be present or absent in a community: species can immigrate into the community from a regional species pool and can go extinct due to competition and stochasticity. Building upon previous work, we show that, despite its simplicity, the PA model reproduces the qualitative features of more complicated models of community assembly. In agreement with recent studies of large, competitive Lotka-Volterra systems, the PA model exhibits distinct ecological behaviors organized around a special (``critical'') point corresponding to Hubbell's neutral theory of biodiversity. These results suggest that the concepts of ecological ``phases'' and phase diagrams can provide a powerful framework for thinking about community ecology, and that the PA model captures the essential ecological dynamics of community assembly.
Prevalence and Treatment of Sleep Apnea in Safety-Critical Railroad Employees

On December 1, 2013 four passengers on a Metro North passenger train in New York City died and 70 were injured as the result of an over speed derailment [1]. Subsequently, it was announced by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that the locomotive engineer operating the train had sleep apnea [2]. Five NTSB recommendations following rail accidents since 2009 [3-7] have called for medical screening of safety-critical employees for sleep apnea. This short communication provides data on the prevalence and treatment of sleep apnea in three groups of safety-critical railroad employees in order to provide an estimate of the magnitude of this problem for the railroad industry. Table 1 is a summary of data on sleep apnea in railroad employees from three surveys conducted between 2006 and 2009 [8-10] by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The surveys collected information on railroad worker patterns of sleep and work in daily diaries as well as information about demographics and health. The surveys included the following yes/no questions: “Do you have sleep apnea?” and “Are you receiving medical treatment for your condition?” The surveys were conducted by mail with the assistance of railroad labor unions and were random samples of each labor union population. All surveys were approved by the Office of Management and Budget as required by U.S. law.
Spatial Ion Peak Compression and its Utility in Ion Mobility Spectrometry

A novel concept for ion spatial peak compression is described, and discussed primarily in the context of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). Using theoretical and numerical methods, the effects of using non-constant (e.g., linearly varying) electric fields on ion distributions (e.g., an ion mobility peak) is evaluated both in the physical and temporal domains. The application of a linearly decreasing electric field in conjunction with conventional drift field arrangements is shown to lead to a reduction in IMS physical peak width. When multiple ion packets (i.e., peaks) in a selected mobility window are simultaneously subjected to such fields, there is ion packet compression (i.e., a reduction in peak widths for all species). This peak compression occurs with only a modest reduction of resolution, which can be quickly recovered as ions drift in a constant field after the compression event. Compression also yields a significant increase in peak intensities. Ion mobility peak compression can be particularly useful for mitigating diffusion-driven peak broadening over very long path length separations (e.g., in cyclic multi-pass arrangements), and for achieving higher S/N and IMS resolution over a selected mobility range. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
Bovine growth hormone uptake by epididymal adipose tissue.

SummaryThe rat epididymal adipose tissue uptake of tritium-labeled bovine growth hormone was found to depend upon the species of serum which was added to the incubation medium.
The impact of developing a pectus center for chest wall deformities

In 2011, we established a dedicated center for patients with chest wall deformities. Here, we evaluate the center’s effect on patient volume and management. A retrospective review of 699 patients with chest wall anomalies was performed. Patients were compared, based on the date of initial consultation, before the pectus center opened (July 2009–June 2011, Group 1) versus after (July 2011–June 2013, Group 2). Analysis was performed utilizing Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests. 320 patients were in Group 1 and 379 in Group 2, an 18.4 % increase in patient volume. Excavatum patients increased from 172 (Group 1) to 189 (Group 2). Carinatum patients increased from 125 (Group 1) to 165 (Group 2). Patients undergoing operative repair of carinatum/mixed defects dropped significantly from 15 % (Group 1) to 1 % (Group 2) (p < 0.01), whereas those undergoing nonoperative bracing for carinatum/mixed defects rose significantly from 19 % (Group 1) to 63 % (Group 2) (p < 0.01). Patients traveled 3–1249 miles for a single visit. Initiating a dedicated pectus center increased patient volume and provided an effective transition to nonoperative bracing for carinatum patients. The concentrated focus of medical staff dedicated to chest wall deformities has allowed us to treat patients on a local and regional level.
Vector antenna and maximum likelihood imaging for radio astronomy

Radio astronomy using frequencies less than ∼100 MHz provides a window into non-thermal processes in objects ranging from planets to galaxies. Observations in this frequency range are also used to map the very early history of star and galaxy formation in the universe. Much effort in recent years has been devoted to highly capable low frequency ground-based interferometric arrays such as LOFAR, LWA, and MWA. Ground-based arrays, however, cannot observe astronomical sources below the ionospheric cut-off frequency of ∼10 MHz, so the sky has not been mapped with high angular resolution below that frequency. The only space mission to observe the sky below the ionospheric cut-off was RAE-2, which achieved an angular resolution of ∼60 degrees in 1973. This work presents alternative sensor and algorithm designs for mapping the sky both above and below the ionospheric cutoff. The use of a vector sensor, which measures the full electric and magnetic field vectors of incoming radiation, enables reasonable angular resolution (∼5 degrees) from a compact sensor (∼4 m) with a single phase center. A deployable version of the vector sensor has been developed to be compatible with the CubeSat form factor. Results from simulation as well as ground testing of the vector sensor are presented. A variety of imaging algorithms, including expectation-maximization (EM), space-alternating generalized expectation-maximization (SAGE), projected gradient ascent maximum likelihood (PGAML), and non-negative least squares (NNLS), have been applied to the data. The results indicate that the vector sensor can map the astronomical sky even in the presence of strong interfering signals. A conceptual design for a spacecraft to map the sky at frequencies below the ionospheric cut-off is presented. Finally, the possibility of using multiple vector sensors to form an interferometer is discussed.
Nephrotoxicity of epigenetic inhibitors used for the treatment of cancer

Abstract This study determined the anti-neoplastic activity and nephrotoxicity of epigenetic inhibitors in vitro . The therapeutic efficacy of epigenetic inhibitors was determined in human prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and LNCaP) using the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2ʹ-deoxycytidine (5-Aza) and the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA). Cells were also treated with carbamazepine (CBZ), an anti-convulsant with histone deacetylase inhibitor-like properties. 5-Aza, TSA or CBZ alone did not decrease MTT staining in PC-3 or LNCaP cells after 48 h. In contrast, docetaxel, a frontline chemotherapeutic induced concentration-dependent decreases in MTT staining. Pretreatment with 5-Aza or TSA increased docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity in LNCaP cells, but not PC-3 cells. TSA pretreatment also increased cisplatin-induced toxicity in LNCaP cells. Carfilzomib (CFZ), a protease inhibitor approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma had minimal effect on LNCaP cell viability, but reduced MTT staining 50% in PC-3 cells compared to control, and pretreatment with 5-Aza further enhanced toxicity. Treatment of normal rat kidney (NRK) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells with the same concentrations of epigenetic inhibitors used in prostate cancer cells significantly decreased MTT staining in all cell lines after 48 h. Interestingly, we found that the toxicity of epigenetic inhibitors to kidney cells was dependent on both the compound and the stage of cell growth. The effect of 5-Aza and TSA on DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase activity, respectively, was confirmed by assessing the methylation and acetylation of the CDK inhibitor p21 . Collectively, these data show that combinatorial treatment with epigenetic inhibitors alters the efficacy of chemotherapeutics in cancer cells in a compound- and cell-specific manner; however, this treatment also has the potential to induce nephrotoxic cell injury.
The Development of a Xenograft-Derived Scaffold for Tendon and Ligament Reconstruction Using a Decellularization and Oxidation Protocol

Purpose To evaluate the biological, immunological, and biomechanical properties of a scaffold derived by architectural modification of a fresh-frozen porcine patella tendon using a decellularization protocol that combines physical, chemical, and enzymatic modalities. Methods Porcine patellar tendons were processed using a decellularization and oxidation protocol that combines physical, chemical, and enzymatic modalities. Scaffolds (n = 88) were compared with native tendons (n = 70) using histologic, structural (scanning electron microscopy, porosimetry, and tensile testing), biochemical (mass spectrometry, peracetic acid reduction, DNA quantification, alpha-galactosidase [α-gal] content), as well as in vitro immunologic (cytocompatibility, cytokine induction) and in vivo immunologic nonhuman primate analyses. Results A decrease in cellularity based on histology and a significant decrease in DNA content were observed in the scaffolds compared with the native tendon ( P P P P Conclusions Porcine tendon was processed via a method of decellularization and oxidation to produce a scaffold that possessed significantly less inflammatory potential than a native tendon, was biocompatible in vitro, of increased porosity, and with significantly reduced amounts of α-gal epitope while retaining tensile properties. Clinical Relevance Porcine-derived scaffolds may provide a readily available source of material for musculoskeletal reconstruction and repair while eliminating concerns regarding disease transmission and the morbidity of autologous harvest.
The Acute Hemolytic Anemias: The Importance of Emergency Diagnosis and Management

Abstract Background Hemolytic anemias are defined by the premature destruction of red blood cells. These anemias have many causes that are mostly due to chronic diseases, but, occasionally, cases of acute life-threatening hemolysis can occur. Objective The objectives of this article were to review the pathophysiology of hemolytic anemias, to discuss the general emergency department (ED) evaluation, and to discuss the assessment and treatment of important and “cannot miss” hemolytic diseases. Discussion Because hemolytic anemias are rarely seen, the emergency physician may consider a patient's anemia as due to blood loss rather than hemolysis, and the workup and treatment may not be appropriate. The primary goal for the emergency provider is to resuscitate, but he or she also must recognize that a hemolytic process is present. Appropriate laboratory work and specialist consultation should be obtained. While focused treatment is rarely necessary in the ED, the avoidance of certain treatments, such as early platelet transfusion in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, may be necessary. Conclusions Hemolytic anemias are rare, but should still be considered in the ED differential diagnosis of low hemoglobin. Emergency physicians should first resuscitate, but should also be able to identify the presence of hemolysis and obtain the appropriate laboratory tests. Occasionally, specific treatments are needed but should be discussed in conjunction with a specialist.
Polarization, Number of Parties, and Voter Turnout: Explaining Turnout in 26 OECD Countries

Objectives The objective of this study is to explore how party systems can affect turnout by exploring the conditional effect of number of parties and party polarization on democracies. Methods Using Comparative Manifesto Project data from 26 democracies, this study develops a measure of party systems that interacts party polarization and number of parties to explain turnout. Results Findings show that the composition of the party system as a whole is a key determinate of a voter's propensity to vote. Highly polarized systems with few parties spur individuals to vote, while low levels of polarization and many parties reduce incentives to vote. Conclusions Results have important implications for theories of turnout, resolving the confusion surrounding how party systems affect political participation.
Pediatric ventricular assist device simulation: Constructing an in situ simulation training program to facilitate education and competency

Abstract The last decade has seen a significant increase in ventricular assist device (VAD) utilization in children. Challenges remain in acquiring adequate hands-on training for trainees and clinical staff and maintaining device competency given the number of different devices in use and the relatively small number of patients in a given center. Medical simulation provides a mechanism to establish and maintain VAD experience as the field grows. Herein, we describe the creation of a VAD simulation program and knowledge gained to date.
Trichinosis. A world problem with extensive sylvatic reservoirs.

The world prevalence of human trichinosis is small, but every case is important to the individual and to health authorities responsible for protection of the public. Hence, we must maintain a constant surveillance of human and animal trichinosis and take the necessary action when outbreaks occur so as to determine the epidemiology and how future episodes of disease can be prevented. We cannot hoe to eradicate T. spiralis but we should be able to prevent it from entering the human food chain.
Prescription Opioids for Pain Management in Patients on Dialysis.

Pain is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in patients with ESRD, and it is experienced by approximately 50% of patients with ESRD.[1][1]–[3][2] Yet, how to best treat pain in patients with ESRD is not clear.[1][1]–[3][2]A few earlier studies reported undertreatment of pain in these
Exploring 2D Shape Complexity

In this paper, we explore different notions of shape complexity, drawing from established work in mathematics, computer science, and computer vision. Our measures divide naturally into three main categories: skeleton-based, symmetry-based, and those based on boundary sampling. We apply these to an established library of shapes, using k-medoids clustering to understand what aspects of shape complexity are captured by each notion. Our contributions include a new measure of complexity based on the Blum medial axis and the notion of persistent complexity as captured by histograms at multiple scales rather than a single numerical value.
Structure-function relationship of anticoagulant and antithrombotic well-defined sulfated polysaccharides from marine invertebrates.

Marine sulfated polysaccharides (MSPs), such as sulfated fucans (SFs), sulfated galactans (SGs), and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) isolated from invertebrate animals, are highly anionic polysaccharides capable of interacting with certain cationic proteins, such as (co)-factors of the coagulation cascade during clotting-inhibition process. Primarily, these molecular complexes between MSPs and coagulation-related proteins seem to be driven mostly by electrostatic interactions. However, through a systematic comparison using several novel well-defined sulfated polysaccharides composed of repetitive oligosaccharides with clear sulfation patterns, it was proved that those molecular interactions are essentially regulated by the stereochemistry of the glycans (which depends on a conjunction of anomeric configurations, sugar types, conformational preferences, glycosylation, and sulfation sites), rather than just a mere consequence of the electronegative density charges (mainly from number of sulfate groups). Here, we present an overview about the structure–function relationship of the invertebrate MSPs with regular structures as potential anticoagulant and antithrombotic agents, as pathologies related to the cardiovascular system are one of the major causes of mortality in the world.
The Marriage Squeeze

The “marriage squeeze” is a graphic but imprecise term that refers to the effects on marriage behavior of an imbalance between the numbers of males and females. Marriage squeezes are typically a consequence of differential cohort size. Consider a hypothetical population where males aged 23 marry females aged 20. If that population has experienced a steady increase in the number of persons born each year, males aged 23 will be looking for brides among the larger cohort of females born three years later, while females aged 20 will be looking for grooms among the smaller cohort of males born three years earlier. The females thus face a marriage squeeze, because a relative shortage of males reduces their marriage prospects. If our hypothetical population had instead experienced a steady decline in the annual number of births, a similar imbalance would arise, except that the marriage squeeze would operate to the disadvantage of males.
Prognostic Ability of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Parameters among Severely Injured Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) represents the most common primary intra-axial form of traumatic brain injury (TBI), comprising approximately half of all such injuries. Patients presenting with DAI follow a highly variable clinical course, with initial status frequently discrepant from long-term neurological outcome. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is sensitive to disruptions in neuronal structure that may not be appreciated on CT or conventional MRI and may serve as an important prognostic imaging marker. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the data from 84 patients to determine if the whole brain DTI parameters (axial diffusivity λ1, radial diffusivity λ PERP , apparent diffusion coefficient ADC, and fractional anisotropy FA) are predictive of their clinical outcome as determined by discharge Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The first group consisted of 52 severely injured patients (GCS≤8) that either died (n=10), had poor outcome (n=12) or good outcome (n=27). The second group was comprised of mildly injured patients (GCS≥14 during entire hospitalization) that served as the reference group. Whole brain measurements of the DTI parameters were measured on each patient, and using non-parametric statistics, the measures from within each group were compared. Significant differences were found in ADC, λ1, and λ PERP between the three outcome groups. Further, these measures were shown to be significantly related to GCS at scan. Using ordinal logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, and admission GCS, DTI parameters were shown to significantly predict outcomes in severe TBI patients (death, poor outcome, good outcome, or mild injury). Evaluation of TBI patients may be improved using DTI measures as they correlate well with clinical measures, reflect the severity of injury, and can predict outcome. This method may provide a valuable independent tool to predict clinical outcomes in DAI.
Expression of Cyclooxygenase Isoforms in the Baculovirus Expression System

Prostaglandin synthase-1 and 2, also known as cyclooxygenase-1 and 2 (COX) catalyze the rate limiting step in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and other potent lipid mediators. As such, COX enzymes represent important pharmacological targets in the treatment of pain, inflammation, and fever. However, due to the typically low expression level of COX enzymes in most primary tissues, large amounts of highly purified enzyme for in depth study is difficult to obtain. Overexpression of COX in the baculovirus expression system represents a quick and efficient way to overcome this problem and obtain large amounts of catalytically active enzyme. Here, we present a step-by-step approach for COX expression in the baculovirus system.
Sequence analysis of the NSP4 gene from human rotavirus strains isolated in the United States.

Two major and one minor genotype of the rotavirus NSP4 gene have been described. The sequences of 29 NSP4 genes from rotavirus isolates obtained in the United States during the 1996–1997 rotavirus season (types P[8]G1, P[8]G9, P[4]G2 and P[6]G9) and 10 strains isolated during previous rotavirus seasons (types P[8]G1 and P[4]G2) were determined. All NSP4 genes from strains with short E types (6 P[4]G2, 4 P[6]G9) belonged to genotype NSP4A, whereas all 19 strains with long E types (16 P[8]G1, 3 P[8]G9) had NSP4 genes of genotype NSP4B. Genetic variation within genotypes was low (≤2.3% for both NSP4A and NSP4B), confirming that the NSP4 genes are highly conserved. Nonetheless, at least two distinct sub-lineages could be detected within each genotype: strains isolated in the same year, regardless of geographic location, were more closely related or even identical at the deduced amino acid level; strains isolated in different years were more distinct. Thus, geographic distance did not affect genetic distance. Northern hybridization analysis with NSP4A and NSP4B total gene probes failed to detect any unusual combinations of the VP6 and NSP4 genes in 31 additional isolates from the 1996–1997 rotavirus season.
Fishing for a Diagnosis, the Impact of Delayed Diagnosis on the Course of Mycobacterium marinum Infection: 21 Years of Experience at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background Mycobacterium marinum is a common but underreported mycobacterial infection. We conducted a large retrospective study to determine risk factors and describe the therapeutic interventions and outcomes in patients with uncomplicated and complicated M. marinum infection. Methods Culture-confirmed M. marinum infection cases were identified from the Mayo Clinic Clinical Mycology Laboratory from January 1998 to December 2018. Complicated M. marinum infection was defined as the presence of tenosynovitis, septic arthritis, or osteomyelitis. Differences in complicated vs uncomplicated M. marinum infections were analyzed using statistical comparisons. Results Twelve cases had a complicated M. marinum infection. Patients with a complicated infection were older (64.3 ± 11.1 vs 55.8 ± 14.5; P = .03), had longer duration of symptoms (5 vs 3 months; P = .011), and had more surgical debridements (1 vs 0; P < .001). Length of treatment and number of drugs used were not statistically significant. Complicated M. marinum cases received more medications (2 vs 1; P = .263) and were treated longer (5.7 vs 3.5 months; P = .067). Antibiotic susceptibilities were performed in 59% of the patients. All isolates were susceptible to clarithromycin. From the tetracyclines, doxycycline had a better susceptibility pattern. Conclusions M. marinum infection is an important cause of skin and soft tissue infection. Poor water exposure documentation, unusual clinical presentation, and empiric antibiotic treatment before definitive M. marinum diagnosis often contribute to a delayed diagnosis. Complicated M. marinum cases had longer duration of symptoms and more surgical debridements. No difference in the number of drugs used or clinical outcome was observed.
Calcualtors and Connecticut's Eighth-Grade Mastery Test.

An Agenda for Action (NCTM 1980) recommends that "mathematics ^ programs take full advantage of the power of calculators and computers at all grade levels" and that "the success of mathematics programs and student learning be evaluated by a wider range of measures than conventional testing." On 8 January 1986, the Connecticut State Board of Education voted to endorse the use of calculators by students on parts of the state's new eighth-grade mastery test. In taking this action, the board took a critical step toward the improvement of mathematics instruction by linking technology and testing. The board's action allowed eighthgrade students to use calculators on the problem-solving-application and measurement-geometry items on the test beginning in October 1986. Students do not have access to calculators on items assessing conceptual understanding or computational skills. The board also authorized the purchase and distribution of one calculator for each eighth-grade student for use on the test and in the class-
Reactor neutrino applications and coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering

Potential applications of neutrino detection to nuclear security have been discussed since the 1970s. Recent years have seen great progress in detector technologies based on inverse beta decay, with the demonstration of ton-scale surface-level detectors capable of high quality neutrino spectrum measurements. At the same time coherent elastic neutrino nucleus scattering has been experimentally confirmed in 2017 with neutrinos from stopped pion decay and there is a number of experiments aimed at seeing this reaction with reactor neutrinos. The large cross section and threshold-less nature of this reaction make it plausible to consider it for applications to nuclear security and here, we present a first direct comparison of the two reaction modes.
Software techniques for a distributed real-time processing system

The paper describes software techniques developed for the Unified Data System (UDS), a distributed processor network for control and data handling onboard a planetary spacecraft. These techniques include a structured language for specifying the programs contained in each module, and a small executive program in each module which performs scheduling and implements the module task.
SiC Based Interleaved Voltage Source Converter for Active Power Filter Applications

An interleaved voltage source converter (VSC) based on commercially available SiC power devices is proposed and implemented for active power filter (APF) application to reach an effective switching frequency of 300 kHz. We developed a hybrid current controller combining multiple resonant (MR) and plug-in-repetitive (PIRC) compensators that enable enhanced transient and steady-state performance with a low computational burden. Leveraging a high performance FPGA based digital controller, a control update rate of 100 kHz is achieved. We analytically show that the high control update rate combined with enhanced ripple attenuation capability of the SiC-based interleaved topology facilitates natural damping of harmonic resonances: no passive or active damping measures are necessary to retain stable operation irrespective of variation in grid impedance over a very wide range. The need for load harmonics detection is eliminated by indirect harmonic compensation using only the grid current measurement. Active current balancing among the interleaved sub-phases is achieved by low-cost and low-bandwidth current sensors. Experimental results are presented to validate the performance of the proposed APF.
Efficacy and safety of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs

Recent progress in our understanding of the pathways linked to progression from hepatic insult to cirrhosis has led to numerous novel therapies being investigated as potential cures and inhibitors of hepatic fibrogenesis. Liver cirrhosis is the final result of prolonged fibrosis, which is an intimate balance between fibrogenesis and fibrinolysis. A number of these complex mechanisms are shared across the various etiologies of liver disease. Thankfully, investigation has yielded some promising results in regard to reversal of fibrosis, particularly the indirect benefits associated with antiviral therapy for the treatment of hepatitis B and C and the farnesoid receptor agonist for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis and metabolic associated fatty liver disease. A majority of current clinical research is focused on targeting metabolic associated fatty liver disease and its progression to metabolic steatohepatitis and ultimately cirrhosis, with some hope of potential standardized therapeutics in the near future. With our ever-evolving understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, these therapeutics focus on either controlling the primary disease (the initial trigger of fibrogenesis), interrupting receptor ligand interactions and other intracellular communications, inhibiting fibrogenesis, or even promoting resolution of fibrosis. It is imperative to thoroughly test these potential therapies with the rigorous standards of clinical therapeutic trials in order to ensure the highest standards of patient safety. In this article we will briefly review the key pathophysiological pathways that lead to liver fibrosis and present current clinical and experimental evidence that has shown reversibility of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, while commenting on therapeutic safety.
Alkene Epoxidations with H2O2 over Groups 4–6 Metal-Substituted BEA Zeolites: Reactive Intermediates, Reaction Pathways, and Linear Free-Energy Relationships

Rates and selectivities for alkene epoxidations depend sensitively on the identity of the active metal center for both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. While group 6 metals (Mo, W) have gre...
What Is Press Freedom Now? New Media, Gatekeepers, and the Old Principles of the Law

The concept of media freedom, in modern European philosophical and legal thinking, is constantly changing. Originally, back in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it did not necessarily mean more than the exclusion of state intervention prior to publication, while still allowing prosecutions to begin after publication. By the twentieth century, in the age of mass media, this narrow definition was no longer sustainable. With the recognition in various jurisdictions of the idea that the media have a fundamental task in the democratic public sphere, these states needed to draw the respective conclusions which, in turn, affected the concept of media freedom. This concept is about to be redefined once again, thanks to new participants that have become active players in transmitting various content to the general public. In this paper we wish to examine whether it is justified to rethink the notion of media freedom, having regard to these new participants. In part 1, we examine the differences between freedom of speech and media freedom (freedom of the press) in order to identify the content of the currently used notion of ‘media freedom’. Part 2 provides an overview of the different elements of the legal notion of ‘media’. In part 3 we shall reveal who might be the holders of the right to media freedom, which new players might claim protection under this right and the unique tasks they play in the operation of the democratic public sphere. Part 4 discusses the relationship between the internet and the democratic public sphere, and briefly assesses the fading hopes that were present at the dawn of the internet age. In part 5 we briefly draw possible conclusions from the previous parts with respect to the future role of the state.
Designing Efficient Omni-Channel Services

Motivated by the popularity of mobile-order-and-pay applications that are especially prevalent in coffee shops, we explore how to design efficient omni-channel service systems — where customers have the option to employ mobile applications for self-ordering — with respect to sojourn times, throughput, and/or social welfare. Our models are two-stage queues with two customer classes: walk-ins require service at both stages, while mobile customers skip the first stage by self-ordering. We identify Pareto efficient prioritization policies, highlighting trade-offs between each class's mean sojourn times. We allow for customers to make strategic joining decisions based on their anticipated delays under an information structure where walk-ins observe the queue length of the first stage, and are left to infer that of the second. Our performance evaluations draw from a wide array of techniques, including steady-state, transient, busy period, and hitting-time analyses, together with matrix analytic methods. We showcase the significance of the choice of prioritization policy on the system throughput and social welfare, and we demonstrate the existence of settings where the (typically beneficial) transformation of a traditional service system to an omni-channel one can reduce throughput.
X-ray Bursts

Most of the variable phenomena of high-luminosity (≳1036 erg s−1) stellar X-ray sources can be explained, at least qualitatively, within the general framework of binary accretion models in which thermal X-rays are emitted in the vicinity of a neutron star or blackhole by plasma that has flowed downhill from the surface of a nuclear burning companion and been heated by conversion of its gravitational potential energy. The yield of X-ray energy in this process is so high, exceeding in some cases O.lc2 per unit mass, that X-ray luminosities in excess of 104L⊙ can be generated with accretion rates of only ~10−8 M⊙ per year. Since the transfer process depends strongly on many parameters that specify the relevant properties of two stars and their interaction, one finds a remarkable variety and range of X-ray phenomena. If the compact object is a magnetized neutron star, rotation will cause its X-ray emission pattern to sweep over a distant observer and thereby produce regular pulsations like those observed with periods in the range from 1 to 103 seconds. Orbital motions can cause regular eclipses and absorption dips like those observed with periods in the range from hours to days. Changes in the rate of mass loss by the nuclear burning star or in the transfer efficiency can account for the variations in intrinsic X-ray luminosities that appear as flares, novae and on-off transitions. Irregularities in the flow of plasma near the compact star can also affect the intrinsic luminosity and appear as erratic fluctuations, spikes and shot-noise in the observed intensity.