cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Armed Arena: Arms Trafficking in Central America

To explain the high rates of violence in Central America’s Northern Triangle, this article argues that it is rooted in an armed arena comprised of state and nonstate actors with roles in security, ranging from the military to organized crime. In this space of collaboration, those actors bring resources and reap rewards, strengthening their relationships in the process. Of the many activities within the armed arena, one of the most destructive is the trafficking of firearms. Based on fieldwork in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, this article focuses on two sets of relationships that demonstrate the armed arena’s strength. The first set is the area of criminal justice, centered on investigations, ballistics, inventories, and destruction of arms. The second is the arms market: regional trafficking, internal arms sales, and the state’s licensing system. Evaluating governmental responses, the final section shows that arms control policies are most effective when they target and disrupt these relationships. Resumen Para explicar las tasas altas de violencia letal altas en el Triangulo Norte de America Central, este articulo sostiene que esta arraigado en lo que conceptualiza como una “arena armada”: la red de actores estatales y no estatales con roles de seguridad, desde el ejercito hasta el crimen organizado. En este espacio de colaboracion, esos actores aportan recursos y obtienen recompensas, fortaleciendo sus relaciones en el proceso. De las muchas actividades dentro de esta arena, una de las mas destructivas es el trafico de armas de fuego. Basado en investigaciones en Honduras, Guatemala y El Salvador, el articulo se enfoca en dos conjuntos de relaciones que demuestran la fuerza de la arena armada. El primer es la justicia penal, centrada en investigaciones, balistica, inventarios y destruccion de armas. El segundo es el mercado de armas: el trafico regional, el negocio interno, y el sistema estatal de licencias. Evaluando las respuestas gubernamentales, la seccion final muestra que las politicas contra el trafico de armas son mas efectivas cuando apuntan e interrumpen estas relaciones.
Review of Foucault and Feminist Philosophy of Disability

Shelley L. Tremain’s Foucault and Feminist Philosophy of Disability (2017) builds on the author’s over twenty years of professional labour and scholarly interventions within philosophy to provide a compelling and careful examination of a range of timely issues for researchers and students in disability studies.
Digital Health in Response to COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Opportunities and Challenges

COVID-19 has pulled back the curtain on health system fragility to expose persistent and deepening inequities worldwide. The limited capacity of low- and lower-middle income countries (LMICs) to respond to the pandemic and its impact on the health of populations - particularly the most vulnerable - presents a marked challenge. In this context, countries face the enormous task of rethinking the way essential services will be delivered. A critical and essential part of solving these challenges will be using information and communication technology and digital health to enhance direct communication with the public; scale proven and innovative service delivery models; and empower the frontlines. However, if the deployment, adaptation, or expansion of these innovations are not user-centered for the most marginalized or do not learn from past lessons, it could be highly wasteful at best. At worst, such shortcomings could exacerbate pre-existing weaknesses in the health care system such as exclusion of peripheral populations, disempowerment of health workers, and proliferation of unregulated private providers. We provide recommendations of which innovations should be prioritized and implementation principles to address the current challenges while responding to the need to fundamentally change service delivery for accelerated impact.
Taming the lion: methods of calming upset patients, families and referring physicians in radiology and nuclear medicine

1964 Learning Objectives -Background on why there may be upset patients, families and referring physicians and their effect on the department. 1) Long wait times 2) Staff not responding to questions 3) Issues with language and literacy 4) Procedure complications and bad results. -Importance and necessity of skills for diffusing a situation. -Skills needed to recognize a potential conflict and methods of communication and conflict resolution. 1) Recognize the signs of anger before it reaches a climax 2) Remain calm 3) Show empathy 4) Express concerns for the patients feelings 5) Allow the patient time to “cool off” or “calm down” if necessary 6) Be sensitive to non-verbal communication -Methods of building relationships -Discuss and summarize the importance of methods of recognizing and handling a stressful situation within the radiology and nuclear medicine departments. Radiologic and nuclear medicine examinations are sometimes performed in times of distress for patients. Effective communication skills in order to deal with high tension or emotional situations are needed to be able to deal with upset or angry patients. We discuss various skills needed to: 1)Recognize and engage an upset individual, preventing progression of the conflict 2)Provide methods of communication 3)Discuss methods of conflict resolution 4)Discuss methods of service recovery and methods of building relationships. Radiologic examinations may be performed on patients dealing with significant stress which may lead to patents becoming upset or angry. We present ways to effectively deal with upset or angry patients in order to avoid communication errors, to enhance patient satisfaction, keep the focus on patient health and safety, and avoid unnecessary legal action.
Outcomes of complex robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation after failed ipsilateral endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux.

Summary Background Endoscopic injection (EI) has been considered a minimally invasive option with high success rates. However, in clinical settings where EI has failed, and after repeat injections or worsening clinical presentation, different treatment modalities may be offered. Open ureteral reimplantation has emerged as a safe option in patients who have failed EI for VUR treatment. Currently there is limited literature describing success of complex robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation (RALUR) following primary EI for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Objective We aim to describe our surgical technique and outcomes using RALUR approach following failed EI for VUR. We hypothesize RALUR can be a safe, salvage option in patients who have failed EI for VUR in the setting of recurrent VUR or ureterovesical junction obstruction (UVJO). Methods A single site, retrospective study using electronic medical records of all patients who underwent RALUR between 2013 and 2019 following history of previous ipsilateral EI using dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (DHA) for diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was conducted. Primary outcomes were radiographic resolution and/or clinical resolution. Results A total of 17 RALUR procedures were reviewed in 16 patients. There were 14 females (87.5%) and 2 males (12.5%). Seven patients had two prior EI. Median (range) age at time of RALUR was 10.1 (5.7–17.9) years, and the average time between EI and RALUR was 5.9 years [1-13]. The average VUR recurrence grade after failed EI was 3 (ranges 2–4) on preoperative VCUG. History of bilateral EI using dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (DHA), was observed in 14 patients. Surgical diagnosis at time of RALUR included persistent VUR (N = 10) or symptomatic ureterovesical junction obstruction (UVJO, N = 6). Mean console times were 102 min (range 70–240 min) for RALUR vs 128 min (range 70–180 min) for cases requiring ureteral tailoring. Six complications occurred in 16 patients (37.6%): Using the Clavien-Dindo classification scale, four patients (25%) were grade I, one (6.3%) grade II, and one (6.3%) was grade IIIb, which required additional procedures for ureteral obstruction. Conclusion RALUR after failed EI should be considered a reasonably safe and effective surgical approach in older children with persistent VUR or acquired UVJO. Summary Table 1 . Postoperative complications following RALUR after failed EI. Complications N Acute Postoperative ( Clavien-Dindo Classification Indication for Surgery Ileus 1 Y I VUR Renal colic 1 N I VUR Urinary retention 2 Y∗ I VUR/UVJO Febrile UTI 1 N II UVJO Urine leak 1 N IIIb VUR
The Effect of Blocking Automatic Reclosing on Wildfire Risk and Outage Times

In recent years, several catastrophic wildfires in North America have been attributed to electrical faults. As a result, there is now a spotlight on the role of electrical grids in these natural disasters. Attempts to mitigate the effects of power grid faults in drought regions include major changes to grid operational procedures, such as the removal of automatic reclosing. This paper examines the operational ramifications of these changes. A study is performed to analyze over a decade of outage data examining the impact of automatic reclosing on normal power grid operation and performance. We conclude that for a majority of faults, the initial reclosing attempt is successful. This implies that many power system faults could be cleared by one reclose attempt without incurring significant additional fire ignition risk. However, if the initial reclose attempt is unsuccessful, subsequent reclose attempts appear to have lower probability of success and could be avoided without significantly impacting reliability.
Deriving deformable mirror performance requirements in simulation

Coronagraph instruments rely on predictable and stable deformable mirror (DM) surface displacement to achieve the contrast required to detect Earth-sized exoplanets in the habitable zone of their host star. Anomalous DM behavior, such as unstable or pinned actuators, can limit contrast in coronagraphs. Simulating how these undesired behaviors affect the performance of a high contrast imaging architecture is important for developing requirements on their associated hardware. Simulating a vortex coronagraph (VC) with two deformable mirrors, this study quantifies how the number of pinned actuators affects the performance of Focal Plane Wavefront Sensing and Control algorithms using both Grid Search Electric Field Conjugation (EFC) and Planned EFC, which uses Beta-Bumping. The simulations also quantify how various types of voltage noise such as zero-mean Gaussian noise, zero-mean periodic noise, and drift can affect the contrast of a VC during an observation run. A tolerance of a change in the Mean Normalized Intensity of 1 × 10−11 is allocated to both types of error. If Planned EFC is used, only 1 pinned actuator on both DMs can be tolerated. If only pure Grid Search EFC is used the DMs cannot have any pinned actuators. For the case of zero-mean Gaussian noise and zero-mean periodic noise, one can tolerate a noise standard deviation of no more than σ = 0.45 mV. For drift, one can only tolerate σ = 0.30 mV or less. These results show that the DM electronics and the DMs themselves need to be nearly defect free to avoid having more than 1 pinned actuator. It is important that the electronics designer attempts to minimize the noise by not only selecting high quality components but also control the output voltage to minimize drift.
Preoperative Psychosocial Factors and Short-term Pain and Functional Recovery After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome.

Context Low mental health scores, depression, and anxiety are associated with worse pain and functional outcomes after hip arthroscopy for patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Preoperative screening of psychosocial factors such as self-efficacy, kinesiophobia, and pain catastrophizing may further aid in identifying patients at risk for poorer outcomes. Objective To compare preoperative function and psychosocial factors between patients with and those without elevated postoperative pain 3 months after hip arthroscopy for FAIS. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting University health center. Patients or other participants Fifty-one individuals with FAIS (41 women, 10 men; age = 37.6 ± 12.3 years, body mass index = 27.1 ± 4.1 kg/m2). Main outcome measure(s) Preoperatively, participants completed the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), 12-Item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12), and a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) for hip pain at rest and during activity. Three months postoperatively, they completed the PSEQ, TSK, PCS, iHOT-12, and VAS. Preoperative scores were compared between those with (VAS ≥ 3) and those without (VAS Results Participants with elevated postoperative pain at rest and during activity had worse preoperative psychosocial health (P ≤ .04). Those with elevated postoperative pain at rest had worse preoperative function (P Conclusions Poor preoperative psychosocial health increased the odds of elevated pain and worse function 3 months after hip arthroscopy for FAIS. This is a first step in identifying the psychosocial factors that may contribute to poorer long-term hip arthroscopy outcomes.
Prevalence rates of anxiety, depressive, and eating pathology symptoms between the pre- and peri-COVID-19 eras: A meta-analysis.

Abstract COVID-19 emerged in 2019 and has since killed more than two and a half million people worldwide. Several studies have investigated the role of COVID-19 on the prevalence of mental health outcomes, with general findings indicating elevated rates of mental health issues as compared to the pre-COVID-19 era. However, the effect of specific demographic features is less clear. As such, we investigated whether anxiety, depressive, and eating pathology symptoms varied by gender, age, status as a medical provider (compared to the general public), race, or region of origin. Forty-three effect sizes from 36 studies indicated that all three symptoms increased from pre- to peri-COVID-19-eras across all regions. No symptom varied by age, status as a medical provider, or race, though females were significantly more likely to experience eating pathology than males. Findings from our study indicate that worldwide, regardless of age, status as a medical provider, race, or region of origin, respondents experienced significantly elevated rates of psychopathology symptoms during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Culture and Psychopathology

Anthropological research and, more recently, cross-cultural studies in general have played a delicate combination of roles as they converse with psychological theory. On the one hand, they provide a method of answering questions about human behavior and development, which are central to contemporary thought; on the other, they often return only partial answers and, in addition, a new set of questions. The interplay of psychological theory contributing to the agenda for anthropological research, and cross-cultural findings challenging accepted theories of the person, has shifted from time to time, responding in part to the needs and opportunities of the larger disciplines. Throughout the interdisciplinary dialogue are woven the complementary themes of human universals and cultural particulars, or, in modem developmental terms, how and to what degree general universals become the particular specifics. This is no less true for research on psychopathology than for studies of normal development.
Abstract P3-04-16: Estrogen receptor β agonists reduce breast cancer tumor growth in syngeneic mouse models

The estrogen receptors (ER) play a significant role in breast cancer, with the majority of breast cancers expressing estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and depending on its signaling. ERα has proliferative function, however, estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) has anti-proliferative functions. Recently, several selective ERβ agonists have been identified. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ERβ agonists in inhibiting the growth of distinct breast cancer cells both in-vitro and in-vivo, and to determine the mechanisms involved. The mouse mammary tumor cell lines, D2A1 and MM51, express both ERα and ERβ. Specifically D2A1 cells are dependent on estrogen for growth and have increased expression of aromatase. Additionally, D2A1 cells are very aggressive and highly metastatic; representing a good model of breast cancer progression. MM51 cells are Her2/neu positive and are an adequate model to study the crosstalk between growth factors and ER signaling. Syngeneic mouse tumor models were used to incorporate an intact immune system which plays a role in the tumor’s microenvironment. Our in-vitro studies demonstrate that ERβ agonists significantly inhibit cell growth in a dose dependent manner. Our syngeneic studies show that, in-vivo, ERβ agonists effectively reduce tumor volume and inhibit tumor progression. This study reveals that in addition to acting on ERβ, these agonists reduce the expression of ERα at both the mRNA and protein level, therefore modulating the ratio of ERα to ERβ. Additionally, treatment with ERβ agonists results in increases apoptosis through increased p53 expression, and cell cycle arrest through p27 and cyclin D1. Together, these studies demonstrate the therapeutic potential of ERβ agonists for the treatment of breast cancer. Citation Format: Cathy Samayoa, Naveen K Krishnegowda, Ratna K Vadlamudi, Rajeshwar R Tekmal. Estrogen receptor β agonists reduce breast cancer tumor growth in syngeneic mouse models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-04-16.
Housing Supply: The Other Half of the Market A Note from the Editor

When I first read Edgar Olsen’s (1987) excellent review of the literature on the demand and supply for housing several years ago I was reminded of a pamphlet I saw during graduate school. The pamphlet purported to be a guide to climbing and fishing at one of Wisconsin’s more obscure parks and included a description of various climbing opportunities. On its last page, the pamphlet reported that there was no fishing at the area. By contrast, Olsen’s review examines the lessons learned from a large amount of literature on housing demand but then concludes that there is a comparative dearth of research on housing supply. While the literature on housing supply (and demand) has certainly grown in the last ten years, housing supply remains enormously understudied relative to demand, a situation that at first glance is puzzling since housing supply comprises half of the housing market. Why then has housing supply received such limited attention? It is unlikely that lack of interest is the reason. Rather, I suspect there is a widespread belief that adequate data do not exist to properly examine empirical issues pertinent to housing supply or possibly that the conceptual foundations of housing supply are difficult to model. With these considerations as a backdrop, this issue seeks to accomplish three principle goals. First, to demonstrate that we can indeed study housing supply, both at the empirical and conceptual levels. Second, to summarize what we know about housing supply and provide an important increment to our knowledge of housing supply. Third, to highlight areas and questions that are both important and feasible to address in future research. To accomplish these goals this issue is organized as follows. The first article by DiPasquale conducts a selected review of the literature on housing supply. The review does not simply list what other studies have done but organizes the literature on housing supply into different categories and identifies areas in which our knowledge to date is lacking. An important point emphasized by DiPasquale is that most of the empirical work on housing supply has utilized aggregate time-series data and that there is a need to develop high-quality micro databases suitable for examining the micro foundations of housing supply. Both for readers familiar with the housing literature, and for readers new to the area, this article is a good starting point before examining the other articles in the issue. Blackley follows with an article that addresses the most frequently researched issue in the literature on housing supply: measuring the elasticity of new housing supply. Using a common database, Blackley estimates the long-run elasticity of new housing supply for four different specifications that have appeared in the literature since 1979 and
International Service for Human Rights Dossier on the International Criminal Court

This white paper discusses the negotiations during the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court held in Rome, Italy in 1998 that resulted in the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was drafted in my capacity as head of the delegation of the Geneva-based International Service for Human Rights on the basis of my delegation's notes, our discussions with delegates, official Conference documents, and reports issued by NGOs and the Coalition for an International Criminal Court during the Conference. The paper provides a brief overview of the Statute with an emphasis on the way in which the key outstanding issues were resolved at the Diplomatic Conference and the positions taken by various delegations. It focuses on the debates surrounding substantive law and the jurisdictional regime at the expense of the more technical provisions governing the conduct of investigations and trial.
Electronic Data Transmission Pathways: Implications for Site Selection

Current technology and cost of on-site data transmission hardware, site communications channels, and interface equipment allow a firm the capability to routinely achieve both high speed and high qu...
The DBAQ G35–26

The DQ G35-26 is spectroscopically analyzed and the results discussed in the context of dredge-up of carbon and the accretion of hydrogen. The best fit is T eff=13,000K with firm limits between 11,000K and 14,000K, log(g) between 9.0 and 9.5. The hydrogen abundance is close to 1% by number and the carbon abundance close to 3%. All other elements have less than solar abundance.
The Effects of Meteorites Upon the Earth (Including its Inhabitants, Atmosphere, and Satellites)

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effects of the meteorites upon the Earth. The first visible evidence of the infalling of a meteorite to the Earth is the appearance of what seems to be an ordinary shooting star. If the fall occurs during daylight hours, this first and extremely high-altitude luminous phase may pass wholly unobserved, the meteoritic fireball first attracting attention only when its brilliance begins to rival that of the Sun. In the lower, brighter portion of its trajectory, a falling meteorite frequently produces a curious whistling or whining sound, sometimes of variable pitch. On the basis of the relatively small number of the meteoritic specimens so far available for chemical and mineralogical investigation, it may be concluded that all the meteorites, exclusive of the tektites, are included in one of the main divisions: the aerolites (AE), the siderolites (SO), and the siderites (SI). The constituents entering into the meteorites may be classified on the basis of their genesis and quantitative importance, in much the same way that the rock-forming minerals are subdivided. On the basis of chemical composition, internal structure, and the genesis, quantitative importance, and characteristics of the component minerals, more detailed classifications of the meteorites are effected in various ways by several generations of meteoriticists.
The Physiologic Effects of Testosterone in Hydrogenated Soybean Oil Vehicle as Compared to Free Testosterone, Testosterone Propionate, and Testosterone Enanthate in a Conventional Oil Vehicle

We have recently described a new technique that utilizes hydrogenated soybean oil (HSO) as the vehicle for the controlled and sustained release of testosterone (T) (Gerrity et al., 1981). The purpose of the present study was to compare the physiologic effects of this mode of T administration with those of the clinically used T preparations (free T; T propionate, TP; or T enanthate, TE) when administered in liquid soybean oil (LSO), a conventional vehicle. Castrated male rats were treated with 5 mg T in either HSO or LSO, or an equivalent amount of TP or TE in LSO. Groups of four animals were sacrificed 1, 3, 5, or 7 days after injection. Serum concentrations of T and luteinizing hormone (LH) and accessory gland weights (AGW) were determined. The results of these experiments indicate that there is a difference in all three parameters of functional androgenicity when various testosterone preparations are administered. A single injection of free T in LSO was incapable of producing either a significant increase in AGWs, a sustained increase in serum concentrations of T, or suppression of the high serum concentrations of LH in the castrated rat. The same dose of free T administered in HSO produced a marked increase in serum concentrations of T and in AGW and a suppression of serum concentrations of LH. The difference in duration of action of T when administered in these two vehicles was dramatic. Whereas T was not detectable in the serum of rats five days after injection of T in LSO, serum concentrations of T in animals treated with T in HSO remained in the physiologic range throughout the period studied. TP produced an effect similar to that of T in LSO, and TE produced an effect similar to that of T in HSO. This study also presents evidence that T esters such as TP or TE may not act at the level of the pituitary gland in the same manner as T itself. The order of potency in LH suppression is TE > T in HSO > TP > T in LSO. This potency in decreasing serum LH levels does not correlate with peak serum T levels.
"VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN" REVISITED

A reanalysis of the child abuse data collected by David Gil in his study Violence Against Children indicates a strong role for child related variables in predicting abuse severity. Of particular importance is the child's age, with younger children experiencing more severe abuse. The data further suggests that the abuse of adolescents may be caused by different factors than those affecting the abuse of young children. This analysis may be of use to practitioners in helping them to identify abusive situations involving the greatest risk for severe physical injury to children.
Angel Investment Criteria

Start-up businesses often need external financing to grow. These new ventures frequently turn to business angel investors for capital. Angels, who are often wealthy individuals, provide early stage financing, called seed capital, for these start-up ventures. This study examines what a group of angel investors in Southern California consider when reviewing an investment opportunity, and how they prioritize their investment criteria. The study utilizes a two-phase approach consisting of a qualitative first phase and a quantitative second phase. The results of this study show that trustworthiness of the entrepreneur, quality of the management team, enthusiasm of the lead entrepreneur, and exit opportunities for the angel are the angels' top criteria.
Computing on the anatomical form for disease discovery (338.1)

Elucidating evolutionary processes, disease, and developmental dysfunction requires understanding variation in phenotype. However, anatomical information, integration, and retrieval are key challenges as reference to anatomy is largely unstructured or encoded in a variety of formats. An ontology is useful to annotate, link, and retrieve anatomical data, and can be computed on using a reasoner. The use of anatomy ontologies provides a new mechanism on which to base a systems biology approach to understanding phenotypic diversity and dysmorphology. Here, we present our efforts as part of the Monarch Initiative to support the identification of relevant genes linked to human diseases. Towards this end, we constructed the Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology to provide generalization and links between anatomical structures in model organisms. Use of Uberon with other modular ontologies, such as the Biological Spatial Ontology (BSPO) to record spatial and topological relationships among biological structures, ...
Cultural property ethics

After briefly discussing ethics in general, stating the public interest in cultural property, and positing that collecting and dealing in cultural objects are not inherently unethical activities, the writer contrasts ethical attitudes toward legal controls over the international movement of people and of cultural objects. He then discusses the ethical bases of cultural property export controls and ethical questions raised by dealing in and collecting cultural objects, and identifies particular applications of export controls that are ethically unproblematic or ethically clouded. He discusses the difficult area of antiquities and questions whether anyone involved in it - from source nations, archaeologists, and ethnographers to museums, collectors, and the art trade - has clean hands. Finally, he states a hypothetical case of invited theft and asks readers to decide what the ethical response would be.
BGG algebras and the BGG reciprocity principle

The BGG reciprocity principle is a famous result in the representation theary of complex, semisimple Lie algebras proved by Bernstein, Gelfand, and Gelfand in [BGG 21. It may be viewed as an analogue for the category 6 of the-Brauer reciprocity principle in the modular representation theory of finite groups and of Humphreys’ reciprocity principle in the representation theory of restricted Lie algebras. Indeed, the result of Humphreys served as motivation for the BGG result. Similar results have since been proved in a number of other settings, by various approaches. For all these results, one works in a suitable category of modules in which each simple module L has a projective cover P. In addition there is a family of intermediate modules {Mi} such that each P has a filtration with M,“s as quotients. Then the appropriate reciprocity principle states that M, occurs as a filtration quotient in P as often as L occurs as a composition factor in Mi. In the case of the category 0, the simple modules are the simple highest weight modules, the category is introduced as a setting for projective covers to exist, and the intermediate modules are the Verma modules. The proof of BGG reciprocity in [BGG 21 is fairly straightforward, once the basic facts about the category 0 are developed. The crucial point is the construction of enough projective modules in 0. Once these are constructed, the existence of projective covers, the existence of suitable filtrations on these, and the reciprocity principle are ail proved, with reference to the construction, However, another proof of reciprocity exists which is more natural in the sense that it makes no further reference to the construction of projective modules. This proof can be’used in some of the other settings as well. Although in any given setting no drastic simplifications result, I believe it is still worthwhile to draw attention to this more conceptual approach. The properties of the category 0 which are needed for the proof may be
Predaceous mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for control of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in nursery citrus

Phytoseiid mites were released on young potted citrus trees to evaluate their effectiveness in controlling twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), in single and mixed-species infestations. In infestations averaging 10 T. urticae per leaf, Phytoseiulus longipes Evans, Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt), Neosieulus californicus (McGregor), and Euseius stipulatus Congdon released at a rate of 1 per leaf reduced spider mites by >85% 1wk after release. When the infestation consisted of an average of 22 P. citri per leaf, releases of E. stipulatus, N. californicus , and Galendromus helveolus (Chant) required 3 wk to exert 74–80% control of P. citri . Amblyseius limonicus Garman & McGregor was not effective in controlling P. citri at any time during the 6-wk sampling period. When the infestation was mixed, G. occidentalis was the most effective species in controlling both pest species. Predaceous mites more effectively eliminated T. urticae eggs than P. citri eggs, resulting in more rapid and complete control of T. urticae . Of the effective predators, densities of the more specialized Galendromus, Neoseiulus , and Phytoseiulus species of predators declined as the prey declined, whereas densities of the Eusieus and Amblyseius species remained at levels of 0.2–1.5 predaceous mites per leaf even in the absence of prey.
Nonionic Surfactant Behavior in Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids are attracting increasing attention in many fields, including organic chemistry, electrochemistry, catalysis, physical chemistry, and engineering because of their distinctive properties. Due to their high polarity and their weak coordination ability, reactions carried out in ionic liquids may lead to enhanced reaction rates and higher yields. This research was designed to investigate the nonionic surfactant performance in ionic liquids. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim][PF6]) was used as the model ionic liquid and polyoxyethyleneglycol dodecyl ethers were used as nonionic surfactants. [Bmim][PF6] surface tension was observed to drop linearly with regard to the increase of the nonionic surfactant concentration until critical micelle concentration (CMC) was reached. In addition, interaction free energy between nonionic surfactant molecules immerged in ionic liquids was found to be the driving force for the aggregation potential of nonionic surfactant molecules at CMC. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2011.390]
Endogenous levels of β-carotene in human buccal mucosa cells by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract We have developed a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the measurement of low nanogram levels of β-carotene in a single sample of human buccal mucosa cells. The method includes a simple sonification step for cell disruption and release of the compounds into the supernatant. The limits of detection were 0.02, 0.02 and 0.07 ng/mg of protein for β-carotene, retinol and retinol palmitate, respectively. Two patient populations were analysed. Average endogenous levels for β-carotene normalized to protein were 0.25 ng/mg of protein (range 0.04–1.9 ng/mg, twelve patients). No evidence of endogenous retinol or retinol palmitate could be detected in the human samples. An oral dosing study of four normal individuals showed a wide variation of β-carotene uptake. This rapid and sensitive method will enable investigators to use the non-invasive technique of buccal mucosa cell harvesting to determine cellular depot levels of β-carotene in various patient populations.
Re-Inventing Fourier

Abstract Artists asked to represent sound in a visual way mysteriously re-invented many of the concepts that preside over the mathematical signal transforms used in computer music. Their drawings adopted a systematic 2-dimensional structure and sometimes resembled time-frequency representations such as the Fourier transform. This makes us ponder here over the different criteria of what makes a “good” computer representation for the scientist, and what makes a “good” visual work for the artist.
Relation of replacement fibrosis to left ventricular diastolic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background Previous studies have shown that delayed hyperenhancement (HE) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is related to left ventricular (LV) stiffness in a variety of cardiac diseases. However, it is not known whether this relation is also present in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), in which replacement fibrosis is less extensive. Methods Consecutive patients with DCM (n = 50, age 56 ± 13 years, 20 females) were studied with CMR and two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. CMR images with breath-hold segmented inversion-recovery sequence were acquired 10 minutes after an intravenous bolus of gadolinium. The scar tissue distribution and extent were calculated in the 17 LV segments. LV diastolic function was assessed using mitral inflow and tissue Doppler velocities at the septal and lateral sides of the mitral annulus. Results The group had an ejection fraction of 30% ± 11% and left atrial volume of 103 ± 50 mL by CMR. HE was present in 31 patients with a mean scar burden of 4% ± 7.6%. Patients with DCM without HE had a significantly higher septal E/e' ratio than patients with scar ( P = .05), and there was no significant correlation between deceleration time and extent of HE. Lateral late diastolic velocity (a') had a weak inverse relation with the number of segments with HE ( r = −0.44, P = .005) and with scar burden ( r = −0.31, P = .05). Conclusion Patients with DCM without HE have higher LV filling pressures than patients with HE. Our findings suggest that other factors influence LV stiffness to a larger extent than replacement fibrosis in this population.
Distribution and Composition of Dissolved and Particulate Organic Carbon in Northern San Francisco Bay During Low Flow Conditions

Dissolved and particulate organic matter were studied in northern San Francisco Bay estuary on seven dates from April to October 1996 when flow from the Sacramento and San Joaquin river Delta was declining. Measurements were made at three to 11 stations (usually eight) along the salinity gradient from the Sacramento River to the Central Bay. Dissolved constituents included monosaccharides (MONO), total carbohydrates (TCHO), dissolved primary amines (DPA), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the fluorescence of humic substances (HF). Particulate constituents included bulk suspended particulate matter (SPM), chlorophyll a (CHL), particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON). April was distinct from subsequent months due to very high DOC and MONO concentrations and somewhat elevated TCHO, DPA and HF concentrations. DOC, MONO, TCHO and HF concentrations generally decreased with increasing salinity suggesting an upper estuarine source of these constituents. In contrast, DPA had a bimodal distribution suggesting both upper and lower estuarine sources. There was evidence of a persistent, additional source of organic matter near Suisun Bay that was high in DOC and HF, but low in DPA. It was speculated that this material originated from one or more of the following: (a) the San Joaquin River, (b) exchange with the shoals and intertidal reaches of Suisun Bay, and (c) flux of DOC from particulate organic matter (POM). The particulate organic constituents, POC and PON, strongly correlated with SPM but not with CHL, suggesting that sediments were relatively important and phytoplankton were relatively unimportant contributors to POM pools.
Isotope dependence of the rotational constant of sulfur monoxide in the 3Σ-ground state

Abstract The rotational spectra of 32S16O, 34S16O and 32S18O were measured. The rotational constant B0 was accurately determined for all three isotopes whereas the spin-spin coupling λ0 and the spin-rotation coupling γ0 have less accuracy due to the strong correlation of these constants for the observed transitions. The evaluated breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation can primarily be attributed to the nonadiabatic correction term found for 1Σ-diatomic molecules. The small adiabatic correction for SO is obtained with the opposite sign as usually derived in 1Σ-molecules.
Joint deployment of undersea sensors for enhanced maritime security at perimeters and choke points

The US Coast Guard, US Navy and other maritime and port security units routinely conduct undersea inspections for a variety of mission requirements. However, current inspection techniques only sample a small number of vessels transiting into US waters, resulting in limited situational awareness in the undersea domain and creating an opportunity for introduction of threatening devices into harbors where they can inflict great harm. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Detachment San Diego, NUWC Division Newport, and Battelle have developed and demonstrated undersea systems that can be combined to address several of these mission requirements in a joint deployment, facilitating more efficient and complete harbor security. This paper will provide an overview of each system component, including hardware descriptions and test results to date, and discuss deployment Concept of Operations (CONOPS) at a candidate location.
A specific binding protein/receptor for 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is present in an intestinal caveolae membrane fraction

The steroid hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25(OH)2D3] produces biological responses by interaction with both a well-characterized nuclear receptor (VDRnuc) to regulate gene transcription and with an as-yet uncharacterized membrane-associated protein/receptor (VDRmem) to generate a variety of rapid, non-genotropic responses. We report for the first time that 1α,25(OH)2D3 binds with high affinity to a chick duodenal caveolae-enriched membrane fraction (CMF) isolated without the use of detergents. Caveolae are plasma membrane invaginations implicated in signal transduction and molecular transport processes. Using the CMF fraction as a possible source of VDRmem, we found that the in vitro binding of 1α,25(OH)2D3 was ligand dependent and saturable; the KD and Bmax were 1.3±0.6 nM and 29±11 fmol 1,25(OH)2D3/mg protein (n=17), respectively. Immunoblot analysis of the CMF confirms the presence of caveolin-1, a marker protein for membranes with caveolae. Therefore, chick CMF may represent a good source for isolation and characterization of the putative VDRmem for 1α,25(OH)2D3.
Clinically Significant Blunt Cardiac Trauma: Role of Serum Troponin Levels Combined with Electrocardiographic Findings

Background The true importance of blunt cardiac trauma (BCT) is related to the cardiac complications arising from it. Diagnostic tests that can predict accurately if such complications will develop or not may allow early and aggressive monitoring or early discharge. We investigated the role of two simple and convenient tests, serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and electrocardiogram (ECG), when used to identify patients at risk of cardiac complications after BCT. Methods Over a 10-month period, 115 patients with evidence of significant blunt thoracic trauma were prospectively followed to identify the presence of clinically significant BCT (Sig-BCT), defined as cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias requiring treatment, or structural cardiac abnormalities directly related to the cardiac trauma. An ECG was obtained at admission and at 8 hours. Cardiac troponin I was measured at admission, at 4 hours, and at 8 hours. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed when clinically indicated. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of ECG and cTnI to identify Sig-BCT were calculated. Clinical risk factors for Sig-BCT were examined by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Nineteen patients (16.5%) were diagnosed with Sig-BCT and, in 18 of them, symptoms presented within 24 hours of admission. Abnormal electrocardiographic findings were detected in 58 patients (50%) and elevated cTnI levels in 27 (23.5%). Electrocardiography and cTnI had positive predictive values of 28% and 48% and negative predictive values of 95% and 93%, respectively. However, when both tests were abnormal (positive) or normal (negative), the positive and negative predictive values increased to 62% and 100%, respectively. Other independent risk factors for Sig-BCT were head injury, spinal injury, history of preexisting cardiac disease, and a chest Abbreviated Injury Score greater than 2. Conclusion The combination of ECG and cTnI identifies reliably the presence or absence of Sig-BCT. Patients with an abnormal ECG and cTnI need close monitoring for at least 24 hours. Patients with a normal admission ECG and cTnI can be safely discharged in the absence of other injuries.
Developing an academic library assessment plan: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of developing an academic library assessment plan and its relation to the furtherance of a culture of assessment. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative study of a university library’s assessment planning process; findings based on documentary evidence as well as an employee survey; analysis framed in relationship to relevant literature. Findings – Planning for the future of assessment offered the Jerry Falwell Library a significant opportunity for organizational change. Evaluations of the planning process were mixed, but generally revealed evidence of conditions associated with the development of a culture of assessment. Participants saw planning as the product of both external and internal factors. The plan’s orientation toward value and impact, though clearly understood, was not universally appreciated. Implementation of the plan remains a substantial challenge. Research limitations/implications – Reliability is subject to the limitations...
Effective mechanical cardiac support in a child in the absence of a mitral valve.

From the Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Section, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Disclosures: Authors have nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication July 10, 2013; revisions received July 28, 2013; accepted for publication Aug 1, 2013; available ahead of print Sept 25, 2013. Address for reprints: Minoo N. Kavarana, MD, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Section, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas St, CSB 424/MSC 613, Charleston, SC 29425-6130 (E-mail: kavarana@musc.edu). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013;146:e61-2 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2013 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.08.002
N, N'-carbonyldiimidazole-induced diketopiperazine formation in aqueous solution in the presence of adenosine-5'-monophosphate.

3′(2′)-O-glycyl-adenosine-5′-monophosphate is an intermediate in the conversion of N-[imidazolyl-(1)-carbonyl]-glycine to diketopiperazine in the presence of adenosine-5′-monophosphate. The significance of these observations to prebiotic chemistry is discussed.
Pituitary activin receptor subtypes and follistatin gene expression in female rats: differential regulation by activin and follistatin.

The activins, hormones produced in the gonads and extragonadal tissues (including the pituitary), rapidly increase FSH beta messenger RNA (mRNA) and FSH secretion. In the rat, activin acts via a family of activin receptor (ActR) subunits that includes at least one type I (ActRI or ALK-2) and two homologous type II (IIA and IIB) subunits. We have previously reported that ActRIIA mRNA rises after ovariectomy (OVX). Potentially, the OVX-induced increases in ActR mRNAs could result from altered activin or the activin-binding protein follistatin. It was the purpose of the current studies to determine whether activin and/or follistatin regulated activin receptor subunit mRNAs. Adult female rat pituitaries were dissociated and plated for 48 h, transferred to wells containing follistatin or activin for 2 or 24 h, then RNA extracted for measurement of ActRI, IIA, and IIB and follistatin mRNAs. All three ActR mRNAs were easily detectable in pituitary RNA, with the relative abundance of ActRI > IIA >> IIB (18:9:1). ...