cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The First Russian Constitutional Court, 1991–93

In contrast to the experience of the Soviet Constitutional Oversight Committee, early on in the democratization process, the first Russian Constitutional Court between 1991 and 1993 was directly involved in conflicts regarding the distribution of power. Several explanations for this emerge from the analysis below. First, the delineation of powers in the old and heavily modified Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (RSFSR) constitution was unclear, and politicians quickly identified the court as a means to win political disputes regarding these powers. Authority under the old Russian constitution was ambiguous, and the court experienced a meteoric rise in stature while it was perceived by the major political actors as the arena for redefining, in their favor, the distribution of authority among institutions and individuals in the government. Second, the ability of political actors to appeal to the constitutional court was practically unlimited because any office holder had standing. Third, the court demonstrated a willingness to hear political cases, choosing high-profile political issues over citizen complaints regarding civil rights. Willingness, on the justices’ part, to take on matters of high political importance account for why the court found itself in the middle of the political battlefield in 1993.
Sir Protein-Independent Repair of Dicentric Chromosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sir2 has been reported to be recruited to dicentric chromosomes under tension, and these chromosomes are especially vulnerable to breakage in sir2Δ mutants. Loss of viability in such mutants is an ...
The Group Problems and Subadditive Functions

Publisher Summary Inequalities based on the integer nature of some or all of the variables are useful in almost any algorithm for integer programming. This chapter describes the methods for producing such inequalities with the help of group problems and subadditive functions. It outlines a general approach, taking the pure integer case. The chapter discusses a pure integer problem, such as Ax = b , x 0 in which A is an m × (m + n) matrix, x is an integer m + n vector, and b an m-vector. It discusses valid inequalities and minimal valid inequalities. The minimal valid inequalities are important because a valid inequality that is not minimal is implied by some other valid inequality. The chapter discusses extreme valid inequalities and presents the theorem of it that says that the extreme valid inequalities are also minimal. These inequalities are in some sense the best possible as they cannot be derived from any other valid inequalities. The chapter also discusses subadditive valid inequalities.
On the variability of PD results among expert independent laboratories

In spite of the fact that no evidence exist that PD amplitudes can somehow be used to estimate the expected “life” of generator components such as Roebel stator bars and multi-turn coils, certain portions of industry have assumed that pass-fail criteria based upon absolute PD amplitudes are meaningful enough to be used as pass-fail tests for Roebel bars and Multi-turn coils. In this context the present work evaluated the ability of expert independent laboratories to generate reproducible PD readings when performing PD tests on the very same set of bars
MiR‐590 Promotes Transdifferentiation of Porcine and Human Fibroblasts Toward a Cardiomyocyte‐Like Fate by Directly Repressing Specificity Protein 1

Background Reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte‐like cells represents a promising potential new therapy for treating heart disease, inducing significant improvements in postinfarct ventricular function in rodent models. Because reprogramming factors effective in transdifferentiating rodent cells are not sufficient to reprogram human cells, we sought to identify reprogramming factors potentially applicable to human studies. Methods and Results Lentivirus vectors expressing Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT); Hand2 (H), Myocardin (My), or microRNA (miR)‐590 were administered to rat, porcine, and human cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. induced cardiomyocyte‐like cell production was then evaluated by assessing expression of the cardiomyocyte marker, cardiac troponin T (cTnT), whereas signaling pathway studies were performed to identify reprogramming factor targets. GMT administration induced cTnT expression in ≈6% of rat fibroblasts, but failed to induce cTnT expression in porcine or human cardiac fibroblasts. Addition of H/My and/or miR‐590 to GMT administration resulted in cTNT expression in ≈5% of porcine and human fibroblasts and also upregulated the expression of the cardiac genes, MYH6 and TNNT2. When cocultured with murine cardiomyocytes, cTnT‐expressing porcine cardiac fibroblasts exhibited spontaneous contractions. Administration of GMT plus either H/My or miR‐590 alone also downregulated fibroblast genes COL1A1 and COL3A1. miR‐590 was shown to directly suppress the zinc finger protein, specificity protein 1 (Sp1), which was able to substitute for miR‐590 in inducing cellular reprogramming. Conclusions These data support porcine studies as a surrogate for testing human cardiac reprogramming, and suggest that miR‐590‐mediated repression of Sp1 represents an alternative pathway for enhancing human cardiac cellular reprogramming.
Safe Sleep Guideline Adherence in Nationwide Marketing of Infant Cribs and Products

BACKGROUND: Sudden infant death syndrome and sleep-related sudden unexpected infant death remain leading causes of infant mortality in the United States despite 4 safe sleep guideline restatements over the previous 24 years. Advertising and retail crib displays often promote infant sleep environments that are counter to the most recent American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines. METHODS: Magazine advertisements featuring sleep in parenting magazines from 1992, 2010, and 2015 were reviewed for adherence. Crib displays from nationwide retailers were surveyed for adherence to the latest AAP safe sleep guidelines. The primary outcome was adherence to the guidelines. RESULTS: Of 1758 retail crib displays reviewed, only half adhered to the latest AAP guidelines. The most common reasons for nonadherence were the use of bumper pads and loose bedding. The depiction of infant cribs and sleep products in magazine advertising has become significantly more adherent over time; however, 35% of current advertisements depict nonadherent, unsafe sleep environments. Magazine advertising portraying safe sleep environments revealed racial and ethnic disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Although improvements have been made over time with increased adherence to AAP safe sleep guidelines, significant deficiencies remain. Advertising continues to depict unsafe sleep environments. Crib manufacturers and retail establishments continue to market and sell bedding and sleep products considered unsafe by the AAP in approximately half of retail crib displays. Pediatric and public health care providers should continue educational and advocacy efforts aimed at the public, but should also include retailers, manufacturers, and advertising professionals to foster improved sleep environments for all children.
Alcohol Use and Comorbid Psychiatric and Subsyndromal Disorders Among Older Adults

There is a growing public health concern that older adults who use alcohol may present with a complex array of comorbid disorders that complicate assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. Very little is known about comorbid alcohol use and other substance use and psychiatric disorders among older adults. This chapter reviews the aspects of aging that cause older adults to be particularly vulnerable to the consequences of comorbidity. In addition, the prevalence rates of substance use and substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, their subsyndromal counterparts, and the scant existing literature on comorbidity among older adults are reviewed. The most common disorder among older adults is depression, followed by social phobia and alcohol use disorder. Among older adults, available empirical evidence suggests relatively high rates of comorbid depression and alcohol use or alcohol use disorder, as well as alcohol use disorder with comorbid tobacco use disorder. Among adults 65 years old and older, just over 2 % endorse criteria for a diagnosis of two or more mental health and substance use disorders.
JUSTICE, EQUALITY, AND NATURAL RIGHTS CLAIMS: A RECONSIDERATION OF AQUINAS'S CONCEPTION OF RIGHT

According to a widely held view, Aquinas does not have a notion of subjective natural rights, understood as moral powers inhering in individuals. This article argues that this way of reading Aquinas is wrong, or at best, seriously misleading. Aquinas does identify the right, the object of justice, with the relation established between parties to an equitable exchange or interaction, and in this sense he identifies right with an objective state of affairs. But this line of analysis does not commit him to any particular construal of what constitutes a just relation. In particular, it leaves open the possibility that in some situations, the right, understood as an objectively equitable relation, presupposes that someone's claim of a right, is duly acknowledged. Moreover, in many contexts Aquinas says that individuals can claim certain liberties and immunities on the basis of some natural right, in terms that make it clear that these claims lie within the discretion of the individual. His overall conception of natural law and natural right implies that individuals can legitimately make certain claims by right, claims that emerge within some contexts and not others. He does not have a theory of rights, but neither do the scholastic jurists of the time, and his appeals to what someone can claim by right are reminiscent of their views. If they can be said to have a notion of subjective natural rights, the same can be said of Aquinas himself.
Digital Photographic Technique to Quantify Plume Opacity During Daytime and Nighttime

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) developed opacity standards for sources of visible emissions to protect the visual quality of ambient air. Method 9 is USEPA’s standard method to quantify plume opacity by visual observations from qualified human observers during daytime. These observers are required to be certified twice a year at a “smoke school”. “Smoke school” is more formally referred to as “Visible Emissions Training”, which generally consists of a lecture session and a certification event where observers are field tested for their ability to determine the opacity of plumes. However, the use of observations by humans to quantify plume opacity introduces subjectivity, and is expensive due to semi-annual certification requirements of the observers. In addition, sources may emit plumes during nighttime that also need to be monitored to determine compliance for those sources. Digital Optical Method (DOM) was developed to quantify plume opacity from digital photographs for both daytime and nighttime conditions. Daytime field campaigns were completed during smoke schools with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and with industrial stacks during daytime. Field campaigns were also completed during nighttime with a smoke generator operated by IEPA. The field tests demonstrated that DOM has advantages when compared to Method 9 by its lower cost, improved objectivity, and availability of photographs of the visible emissions and their environments. Errors in results from DOM when compared to a reference in–stack transmissometer or a Method 9 observer are within USEPA’s error limits for Method 9. These encouraging results indicate that DOM has the potential to serve as an alternative method to Method 9 to determine the opacity of plumes for regulatory compliance of stationary sources.
A privacy-preserving distributed medical insurance claim clearinghouse & EHR application

In this paper we introduce a distributed approach to storing and processing electronic health records along with a distributed insurance claims clearinghouse. The fundamental assumption governing our work is that every system can and will be compromised, therefore, our approach improves privacy by mitigating the effect of an attack on the system when components are hacked or otherwise compromised. This improvement is achieved by separating the patient's identity from their medical and demographic data and also splitting the clearinghouse processing of the CMS-1500 insurance claim form across six processing units, these processing units are autonomous and anonymous to one another, however, are able collaborate on a common task. We use Shannon entropy to compare the performance of this distributed application to a centralized one, Shannon entropy is a measure of the information stored in the system and the information divulged when components are compromised. This distributed approach reduces the amount of entropy eliminated in the event of an attack on the clearinghouse by approximately 79%. We also compare our approach to the MyPHRMachines architecture. In our analyses we assume one component is compromised in the distributed or centralized systems.
SYNEXIN: AN ADRENAL MEDULLARY PROTEIN THAT MAY BE AN INTRACELLULAR RECEPTOR FOR Ca2+ IN THE PROCESS OF EXOCYTOSIS

ABSTRACT Adrenal medullary tissue contains a soluble protein of M.W. 47,000 which specifically binds Ca2+ and, in the presence of Ca2+, induces the fusion of the outer leaflets of chromaffin granule membranes. We have named this protein synexin, from the Greek word “synexis” which means “a meeting”. We suggest synexin may be an intracellular receptor for Ca2+ in the process of exocytosis, acting to promote fusion between secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane, or, in the case of compound exocytosis, between vesicles.
Introduction: Science and Government in Drug Development, Regulatory Assessment, and Postmarketing Surveillance

The papers included in this volume--like the international meeting from which they are taken--all deal to some extent with the roles of, and relationships between, science and government in the development and use of prescription drugs. The purpose of this introduction is to survey the current nature of government participation, and to identify changes and future trends in the impact of both science and government.
Competitive and Cooperative Dynamics in Optical Neural Networks

Real-time holographic materials are in many ways ideally suited to neural network implementation. In an associative memory, for example, information may be stored in a distributed manner so that, from a partial or distorted input, an entire pattern can be recalled. When several distinct items of information are stored together in a distributed memory, how do the various information chunks become separated again when something is to be recalled? In particular, if an input resembles more than one stored pattern, how does a system decide on a single output? Such questions lead us to consider decision making in neural networks as a dynamical process that involves a competitive and cooperative interaction among the stored items in the memory. The mathematics describing this mode interaction is familiar to several areas of physics. In particular, the competitive cooperative process is aptly described by general Lotka-Volterra equations. Photorefractive two-beam coupling can be employed to establish a wide array of dynamical mode interactions. I will discuss the photorefractive flip-flop as the prototype example of a competitive system. The mode interaction of the two-state flip-flop can be extended to a multimode system to establish what is known in neural network parlance as “winner take all” dynamics. Cooperation can also be implemented with photorefractive two-beam coupling. We demonstrate the application of cooperative dynamics to “playback” a time sequence of modes in an optical ring resonator.
Effect of Processing Parameters on Interlayer Fracture Toughness of Fused Filament Fabrication Thermoplastic Materials

Additive manufacturing by fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a promising method for rapid manufacturing of complex components for a wide variety of applications. FFF is often limited to non-structural and non-load bearing applications due to insufficient strength and stiffness of the end-material. This is particularly true in the direction of layer deposition, due to poor adhesion between FFF layers. Processing parameters such as extrusion temperature and print speed have been shown to have significant effect on the mechanical performance of FFF components, but these studies have often neglected interlayer properties. This work develops and experimental approach for quantifying the relationship between processing parameters and interlayer fracture toughness of FFF specimens. The processing parameters considered include extrusion and bed temperatures, extrusion speed, raster spacing, and cooling-fan speed. FFF test blocks were fabricated to identify which parameters would best optimize interlayer fracture toughness. To measure interlayer fracture toughness, unidirectional ABS double cantilever beam specimens were fabricated according to the parametric test matrix with guidance from the test block results. In situ full-field thermography was used to record the specimen thermal history during fabrication. X-ray computed tomography was used to determine the internal void resulting from varying the raster spacing. Finally, optical and SEM fractography was used to perform post mortem categorization of specimen fracture surfaces. The fracture toughness data measured in this study is used to develop an approach for rapid optimization of interlayer properties of FFF components.
Early palliative care interventions in patients with glioblastoma.

e22203Background: Glioblastomas (GBMs) are primary malignant brain tumors that, in spite of aggressive treatment, carry a poor prognosis and a significant emotional and socioeconomic burden. Early ...
InGaAs FinFETs Directly Integrated on Silicon by Selective Growth in Oxide Cavities

III-V semiconductors are being considered as promising candidates to replace silicon channel for low-power logic and RF applications in advanced technology nodes. InGaAs is particularly suitable as the channel material in n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), due to its high electron mobility. In the present work, we report on InGaAs FinFETs monolithically integrated on silicon substrates. The InGaAs channels are created by metal⁻organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) epitaxial growth within oxide cavities, a technique referred to as template-assisted selective epitaxy (TASE), which allows for the local integration of different III-V semiconductors on silicon. FinFETs with a gate length down to 20nm are fabricated based on a CMOS-compatible replacement-metal-gate process flow. This includes self-aligned source-drain n⁺ InGaAs regrown contacts as well as 4 nm source-drain spacers for gate-contacts isolation. The InGaAs material was examined by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and the epitaxial structures showed good crystal quality. Furthermore, we demonstrate a controlled InGaAs digital etching process to create doped extensions underneath the source-drain spacer regions. We report a device with gate length of 90 nm and fin width of 40 nm showing on-current of 100 µA/µm and subthreshold slope of about 85 mV/dec.
Perceived Parental and Peer Social Support Is Associated With Healthier Diets in Adolescents.

Abstract Objective Investigate associations between perceived parental/peer support for a healthy diet and adolescent dietary behaviors using data from the 2009–2011 School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey. Design A secondary analysis of SPAN, a cross-sectional statewide study using a validated self-administered questionnaire, assessed obesity-related behaviors. Setting Probability-based sample of Texas 8th- and 11th-grade students. Participants A total of 6,716 8th- and 11th-grade students. Main Outcome Measures Obtained by self-report and included sugary beverage consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, and SPAN healthy eating score. Analysis Multiple logistic regression and linear regression were used to determine associations, controlling for demographic variables. Results For every 1-point increase in parental support (range, 0–12), adolescents had 1.19 times higher odds of consuming ≥1 fruits or vegetables/d (P Conclusions and Implications Parental/peer support was associated with healthier dietary behaviors. Future research could conduct pre-post intervention studies to determine whether an increase in parental/peer support is associated with positive changes in healthier eating.
Targeting Metastatic Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer: Chemohormonal Therapy and New Combinatorial Approaches

Purpose:Androgen deprivation therapy alone has been the standard of care for metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer for the last 75 years. This review focuses on recent trials and mechanisms ...
Improving quality of high-frame-rate imaging with coherent and incoherent processing

High-frame-rate (HFR) imaging methods using delay-and-sum (D&S), steered plane waves (SPW), and limited-diffraction beams (LDB) have been studied in 1990s. In the HFR imaging methods, multiple transmissions can be used to obtain sub-images that can be combined coherently or incoherently to form a final frame of image. Coherent superposition of sub-images can obtain images of a high image contrast and resolution but has a low signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio on speckle. In opposite, incoherently-superposed images have low image contrast and resolution but have a high SNR. To maintain high image contrast and resolution of the coherently-superposed images while also having the high SNR of the incoherently-superposed images, a new imaging method using coherent and incoherent processing is developed. In this method, a ratio image is first obtained by dividing the incoherently-superposed image with the coherently-superposed image. Then, the ratio image is used in a nonlinear process to obtain the final image that is a combination of the coherently- and incoherently-superposed images. To verify the method, an experiment was performed with a home-made HFR imaging system and the results show that the new method can obtain high image contrast and resolution while having a high SNR. Due to its simplicity, the method has a potential to be incorporated into existing commercial imaging systems to obtain high contrast, high resolution, and low speckle images. The high SNR may also improve the accuracy of image segmentations for various applications.
Job-Embedded Professional Learning: Federal Legislation and National Reports as Levers

Key U.S. federal legislation and national reports from 1965 to 2015 are examined as they served as levers within accountability reform efforts influencing professional development to move towards job-embedded learning. Included in this examination are the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and reauthorizations of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and Race to the Top are explored. Running parallel to legislation and reports, professional learning evolved from training to job-embedded learning, a construct that connects teacher learning to their teaching and work with colleagues. The old and new views of professional learning are examined considering state accountability measures that include professional development as part of teacher evaluation systems.
Circulating tumor cell clusters are a potential biomarker for detection of non-small cell lung cancer.

Abstract Objectives Circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters (≥2 CTCs in aggregate) detected in the peripheral blood have predictive value in solid cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The goal of the study was to investigate the presence of CTC clusters in NSCLC patients and in high-risk screening subjects having no or benign nodules in a screening low-dose CT (LDCT). Materials and methods In a prospective pilot trial, 7.5 ml peripheral blood was collected from treatment-naive NSCLC patients, LDCT screening subjects (55–80 years, ≥30 pack-year smoking history) with no (Lung-RADS 1) or benign lung nodules (Lung-RADS 2), and healthy never-smoking controls. CTCs were enriched by size, also allowing CTC cluster isolation. For CTC identification and enumeration, immunofluorescence staining was performed for cytokeratins (CK) 8/18 and/or 19, EpCAM, CD45, and nuclei were stained with DAPI. Clinicopathological data were collected, and LDCT interpreted by the American College of Radiology Lung-RADS criteria. Results CTC clusters were detected in 12/29 (41.4%) of all NSCLC patients, but not found in 31 high-risk screening subjects with Lung-RADS 1 or Lung-RADS 2 (P Conclusion This pilot study suggests that CTC clusters are a useful and specific liquid biomarker to further explore for screening by LDCT and risk stratification of NSCLC patients. Future prospective studies with higher subject numbers will need to be performed.
Parametric control of fiber morphology and tensile mechanics in scaffolds with high aspect ratio geometry produced via melt electrowriting for musculoskeletal soft tissue engineering.

Abstract Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an additive manufacturing technique that has the potential to create fibrous scaffolds that reproduce the scale and organization of collagen fiber networks in musculoskeletal soft tissues. For musculoskeletal soft tissue engineering, it is useful for scaffolds to have a high aspect ratio (length to width ratio of 5:1 or higher). However, the relationship between MEW process variables and the structural and mechanical properties of such scaffolds is not well understood. In addition, prior studies have cut samples from larger MEW structures, resulting in test specimens with discontinuous fibers. In this study, MEW scaffolds with low (square, 12 mm × 12 mm) and high aspect ratio (rectangular, 35 mm × 5 mm) macroscale geometries were fabricated at varying stage translation speeds or melt extrusion temperatures. Fiber morphology in both geometries and mechanical properties of the continuous rectangular structures were then quantified. Fiber diameter in both square and rectangular scaffolds generally decreased with increasing stage speed, but increased with melt temperature, though the effect of the latter was greater in square scaffolds. Interfiber spacing in both geometries was closer to the intended value as stage speed increased. Spacing became less accurate in square scaffolds with increasing melt temperature but changed little in rectangular scaffolds. Transverse fiber angle in rectangular scaffolds improved with increasing stage speed and had a median value within 1.4% of the intended angle at all temperatures. Finally, apparent tensile modulus in rectangular scaffolds decreased with increasing speed and temperature. These findings highlight the need to tailor MEW process parameters in scaffolds with high aspect ratio geometry in order to consistently generate specific structural and mechanical properties. Because of the potential to reproduce the structural anisotropy, fiber size, and mechanical properties of collagenous extracellular matrix, MEW structures are promising as musculoskeletal soft tissue scaffolds.
Teachers of Students With Learning Disabilities: Assistive Technology Knowledge, Perceptions, Interests, and Barriers:

Assistive technology (AT) helps bridge the gap between students with learning disabilities (LD) and their peers without LD. However, this implies a need for teachers to become well-trained and prof...
Large Pericardial Angiosarcoma Encasing the Ostial Right Coronary Artery Requiring Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

A 37-year-old man, an active smoker, presented with progressive chest pain, radiating into left shoulder and arm, associated with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diaphoresis, and shortness of breath. Electrocardiogram showed T-wave inversions in precordial leads V1 to V3, troponin T peaked at 0.78,
Origins of the concepts cause, cost, and goal in prereaching infants

We investigated the origins and interrelations of causal knowledge and knowledge of agency in 3-month-old infants, who cannot yet effect changes in the world by reaching for, grasping, and picking up objects. Across 5 experiments, n = 152 prereaching infants viewed object-directed reaches that varied in efficiency (following the shortest physically possible path vs. a longer path), goal (lifting an object vs. causing a change in its state), and causal structure (action on contact vs. action at a distance and after a delay). Prereaching infants showed no strong looking preference between a person's efficient and inefficient reaches when the person grasped and displaced an object. When the person reached for and caused a change in the state of the object on contact, however, infants looked longer when this action was inefficient than when it was efficient. Three-month-old infants also showed a key signature of adults' and older infants' causal inferences: This looking preference was abolished if a short spatial and temporal gap separated the action from its effect. The basic intuition that people are causal agents, who navigate around physical constraints to change the state of the world, may be one important foundation for infants' ability to plan their own actions and learn from the acts of others.
MEASUREMENT OF T = 2 ELASTIC $pi$$pi$ CROSS SECTIONS.

Experimental differential cross sections from data on the reaction ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}){\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{++}$ at beam momenta of 2.7, 3.0, 3.2, 3.9, and 4.2 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ have been extrapolated to the one-pion-exchange pole to obtain the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ elastic scattering cross section. An attempt is made to correct for background due to kinematic overlap with the competing one-pion-exchange process ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{0}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p)$. Analyses done independently on the data in two beam-momentum groupings at \ensuremath{\sim}3.0 and \ensuremath{\sim}4.0 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ give consistent results of a roughly constant 7-11-mb cross section for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ over the dipion mass range 440-750 MeV. Our results are compared with available results from other analyses and with several theoretical predictions for the $T=2$ $s$-wave phase shift ${{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}}^{2}$.
Amplex Red Assay for Measuring Hydrogen Peroxide Production from Caenorhabditis elegans

Reagents such as Amplex® Red have been developed for detecting hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and are used to measure the release of H2O2 from biological samples such as mammalian leukocytes undergoing the oxidative burst. Caenorhabditis elegans is commonly used as a model host in the study of interactions with microbial pathogens and releases reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a component of its defense response. We adapted the Amplex® Red Hydrogen Peroxide/Peroxidase Assay Kit to measure H2O2 output from live Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to microbial pathogens. The assay differs from other forms of ROS detection in the worm, like dihydrofluorescein dyes and genetically encoded probes such as HyPer, in that it generally detects released, extracellular ROS rather than intracellular ROS, though the distinction between the two is blurred by the fact that certain species of ROS, including H2O2, can cross membranes. The protocol involves feeding C. elegans on a lawn of the pathogen of interest for a period of time. The animals are then rinsed off the plates in buffer and washed to remove any microbes on their cuticle. Finally, the animals in buffer are distributed into 96-well plates and Amplex® Red and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) are added. Any H2O2 released into the buffer by the worms will react with the Amplex® Red reagent in a 1:1 ratio in the presence of HRP to produce the red fluorescent excitation product resorufin that can be measured fluorometrically or spectrophotometrically, and the amount of H2O2 released can be calculated by comparison to a standard curve. The assay is most appropriate for studies focused on released ROS, and its advantages include ease of use, the ability to use small numbers of animals in a plate reader assay in which measurements can be taken either fluorometrically or spectrophotometrically.
Traumatic Chylothorax: Approach and Outcomes

Traumatic chylothorax occurs more often now than in historic reports. In part, this is due to the increased ability to perform more advanced and aggressive thoracic resections and cardiovascular surgeries as well as the improved mortality of cancer patients. If untreated, chylothorax can result in significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with underlying malignancy. Thoracic duct embolization for chylothorax was the first successful lymphatic intervention and has been performed for over 20 years. An overview of the clinical and technical approach to thoracic duct embolization for traumatic chylothorax is presented in addition to a review of outcomes.
The Yersinia pestis GTPase BipA Promotes Pathogenesis of Primary Pneumonic Plague.

ABSTRACT Yersinia pestis is a highly virulent pathogen and the causative agent of bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. Primary pneumonic plague caused by inhalation of respiratory droplets contaminated with Y. pestis is nearly 100% lethal within 4 to 7 days without antibiotic intervention. Pneumonic plague progresses in two phases, beginning with extensive bacterial replication in the lung with minimal host responsiveness, followed by the abrupt onset of a lethal proinflammatory response. The precise mechanisms by which Y. pestis is able to colonize the lung and survive two very distinct disease phases remain largely unknown. To date, a few bacterial virulence factors, including the Ysc type 3 secretion system, are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of primary pneumonic plague. The bacterial GTPase BipA has been shown to regulate expression of virulence factors in a number of Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. However, the role of BipA in Y. pestis has yet to be investigated. Here, we show that BipA is a Y. pestis virulence factor that promotes defense against early neutrophil-mediated bacterial killing in the lung. This work identifies a novel Y. pestis virulence factor and highlights the importance of early bacterial/neutrophil interactions in the lung during primary pneumonic plague.
Ion Transport Across Inner Ear Epithelia

The sensory functions of the auditory and vestibular peripheral organs (inner ear) depend on vigorous transepithelial ion transport processes under the control of hormones and other signal pathways. The most salient of these are secretion of K+ and absorption of Na+ and Ca2+ by the concerted action of multiple epithelial cell types. Much has been learned of the molecular bases and development of these processes, as well as the genetic basis of common cochlear and vestibular diseases. The salient aspects are concisely reviewed in this chapter.
Smoking reduction is associated with lower alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms among young adults over one year

Abstract Background This secondary analysis examined whether smoking reduction among young adults participating in a Facebook-based smoking cessation intervention study was associated with corresponding reductions in alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms. Methods Participants were young adults who smoked and engaged in heavy episodic drinking (HED). Alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C, days of HED), depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), and past-month cigarettes per day (CPD) were self-reported at baseline and 12 months (N = 150). Linear regression estimated the relationship between the mean change in CPD and mean changes in alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms. Results CPD, alcohol consumption, and depressive symptoms decreased significantly between baseline and 12 months. The adjusted mean reduction in CPD was significantly associated with mean reductions in AUDIT-C (Beta [β] = 0.09, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.04−0.14), days of HED (β = 0.17, 95 % CI = 0.04−0.29) and PHQ-2 (β = 0.05, 95 % CI = 0.01−0.08). Smoking abstinence (n = 48) was associated with a significantly larger mean reduction in AUDIT-C compared to a ≥50 % reduction (n = 45) (-2.9 vs -1.7 points, p = 0.03) or Conclusion Smoking reduction was associated with reductions in alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms. Reductions appeared to be greater for those who achieved abstinence compared to a reduction in smoking.
Determination of DNA lesion bypass using a ChIP-based assay

DNA lesion bypass facilitates DNA synthesis across bulky DNA lesions, playing a critical role in DNA damage tolerance and cell survival after DNA damage. Assessing lesion bypass efficiency in the cell is important to better understanding of the mechanism of carcinogenesis and chemoresistance. Here we developed a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-based method to measure lesion bypass activity across cisplatin-induced intrastrand crosslinks in cancer cells. DNA lesion bypass enables the replication to continue in the presence of replication blocks. Thus, the successful lesion bypass should result in the coexistence of DNA lesions and the newly synthesized DNA fragment opposite to this lesion. Using ChIP, we precipitated the cisplatin-induced intrastrand crosslinks, and quantitated the precipitated newly synthesized DNA that was labeled with BrdU. We validated this method on ovarian cancer cells with inhibited TLS activity. We then applied this method to show that ovarian cancer stem cells exhibit high lesion bypass activity relative to bulk cancer cells from the same cell line. In conclusion, this novel ChIP-based lesion bypass assay can detect the extent to which cisplatin-induced DNA lesions are bypassed in live cells. Our study may be applied more broadly to the study of other DNA lesions, as specific antibodies to these specific lesions are available.
In Defense of Cognitive Phenomenology: Meeting the Matching Content Challenge

Bayne and McClelland (2016) raise the matching content challenge for proponents of cognitive phenomenology: if the phenomenal character of thought is determined by its intentional content, why is it that my conscious thought that there is a blue wall before me and my visual perception of a blue wall before me don’t share any phenomenology, despite their matching content? In this paper, I first show that the matching content challenge is not limited to proponents of cognitive phenomenology but extends to cases of cross-modal perception, threatening representationalism about consciousness in general. I then give two responses to the challenge, both of which appeal to intentional modes. The difference in intentional mode between a thought and a visual perception can either explain why we should not expect any phenomenal overlap between the two experiences, or it can make it clear why the phenomenal overlap is easy to overlook. I show that these responses are available to the representationalist about perceptual consciousness, as well as the proponent of cognitive phenomenology. The upshot is that, when it comes to the matching content challenge, both perceptual representationalism and cognitive representationalism stand on equal dialectical footing.
Utility of GPI+VIM dual-lead deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease patients with significant residual tremor on medication.

Objective Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of both the globus pallidus internus (GPI) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) for Parkinson's disease (PD) is superior to the best medical therapy. Tremor is particularly responsive to DBS, with reports of 70%-80% improvement. However, a small number of patients do not obtain the expected response with both STN and GPI targets. Indeed, the authors' patient population had a similar 81.2% tremor reduction with a 9.6% failure rate. In an analysis of these failures, they identified patients with preoperative on-medication tremor who subsequently received a GPI lead as a subpopulation at higher risk for inadequate tremor control. Thereafter, STN DBS was recommended for patients with on-medication tremor. However, for the patients with symptoms and comorbidities that favored GPI as the target, dual GPI and ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (VIM) leads were proposed. This report details outcomes for those patients. Methods This is a retrospective review of patients with PD who met the criteria for and underwent simultaneous GPI+VIM DBS surgery from 2015 to 2020 and had available follow-up data. The preoperative Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores were obtained with the study participants on and off their medication. Postoperatively, the GPI lead was kept on at baseline and scores were obtained with and without VIM stimulation. Results Thirteen PD patients with significant residual preoperative tremor on medication underwent simultaneous GPI+VIM DBS surgery (11 unilateral, 2 bilateral). A mean 90.6% (SD 15.0%) reduction in tremor scores was achieved with dual GPI+VIM stimulation compared to a 21.8% (SD 71.9%) reduction with GPI stimulation alone and a 30.9% (SD 37.8%) reduction with medication. Although rigidity and bradykinesia reductions were accomplished with just GPI stimulation, 13 of the 15 hemispheres required VIM stimulation to achieve excellent tremor control. Conclusions GPI+VIM stimulation was required to adequately control tremor in all but 2 patients in this series, substantiating the authors' hypothesis that, in their population, medication-resistant tremor does not completely respond to GPI stimulation. Dual stimulation of the GPI and VIM proved to be an effective option for the patients who had symptoms and comorbidities that favored GPI as a target and had medication-resistant tremor.
Robert James Graves

Robert James Graves (1795–1853) is best known for his classical description of the syndrome that bears his name. In 1835, he described three female patients with palpitations, exophthalmos, and goiter. This clinical observation was one of many that he delivered in a series of lectures and publications. His skills as a lecturer were legendary, with no fewer than 140 in attendance at his daily scheduled presentations. Despite the fact that he is most associated with Graves’ disease of the thyroid gland, his biggest contribution to medicine was that as an educator.
Oligopeptide inhibitors of metalloendoprotease activity inhibit catecholamine secretion from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells by modulating intracellular calcium homeostasis.

Abstract Synthetic oligopeptide inhibitors of metalloendoprotease activity were found to inhibit catecholamine release from intact bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The efficiency of these compounds in blocking secretion was dependent on the type and dose of the secretagogues employed. By contrast, catecholamine release from digitonin-permeabilized cells stimulated with micromolar calcium was virtually not affected. Using a different model system mimicking protein-mediated membrane fusion during exocytosis (Bental, M., Lelkes, P.I., Scholma, J., Hoekstra, D., and Wilschut, J. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 774, 296-300) we found that exposure of chromaffin granules to a genuine metalloendoprotease, thermolysin, impaired their fusion competence with liposomes. The same oligopeptide inhibitors of metalloendoprotease activity that interfered with secretion from the intact cells were also found to cause an increase in 45Ca2+ efflux concomitant with a slight elevation of the free intracellular calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) to levels not sufficient to elicit secretion. Subsequent stimulation of the cells in the presence of the potent inhibitors resulted in a reduced increase in the cytosolic calcium concentration, as compared to nontreated control cells. The reduction in the secretagogue-evoked rise in [Ca2+]i was also dependent on the time of pretreatment of the cells with the metalloendoprotease inhibitors. Consistently, none of these effects were seen with structurally similar oligopeptides that are not metalloendoprotease substrates/inhibitors. We conclude that potent inhibitors of metalloendoprotease activity and hence, presumably, the enzymes per se modulate stimulus-secretion coupling by interfering with calcium homeostasis rather than directly with membrane fusion.
Voice in Japanese written discourse: Implications for second language writing

Abstract While the study of written discourse that informs the field of L2 writing has generated many insights into its generalizable features, individual variations have largely been neglected. This article explores the possibilities for the study of divergent aspects of discursive practices by focusing on the notion of voice and considers the implications for L2 writing research and instruction. I begin by examining recent critiques of the notion of voice that emphasize its strong association with the ideology of individualism and argue that the notion of voice is not exclusively tied to individualism. To demonstrate that the practice of constructing voice is not entirely foreign to so-called “collectivist cultures,” I present evidence of voice in Japanese electronic discourse, focusing on how voice is constructed through the use of language-specific discursive features. Based on this analysis, I argue that the difficulties that Japanese students face in constructing voice in English written discourse are due not to its incompatibility with their cultural orientation but to the different ways in which voice is constructed in Japanese and English as well as the lack of familiarity with the strategies available in English.
Shootings and Shamans: Local Civilian Authority Structures and Civil War Violence in Colombia

Can local organizations give civilians the capacity to protect themselves from the vagaries of civil war violence? Civilians have traditionally been considered powerless when facing armed groups but new research suggests organized communities may be able to promote security through strategies such as resolving disputes between neighbors and managing relations with macro-armed actors. This paper tests civilian organizations as an explanation for reduced violence with evidence from Colombia on the experiences of indigenous group communities. In Colombia there has been great publicity about both violence against indigenous groups in the armed conflict and about indigenous movements for autonomy from the conflict. At the same time, there is evidence that ethnic minority populations have on average suffered relatively less violence compared to campesino communities. I explore whether the unique organizational forms of indigenous groups help explain how and why some groups have been better able to overcome armed conflict violence than others. I develop a theory about the importance of strong tribal authority structures to regulate the internal order of indigenous communities and reduce entanglements with external armed groups. To test this theory, I leverage never used before micro-level quantitative data on the incidence of violence against members of different ethnic groups and on these groups’ cultural and organizational characteristics. Interviews and second-hand reports are used as qualitative evidence to confirm the presence of specific mechanisms through which authority structures may operate. The findings yield important implications for managing violence against civilians and protecting human rights in Colombia and in weak states where local institutions or tribal structures play roles in the provision of local order.