cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New synonymy and combination in Buprestidae (Coleoptera)

Abstract The subgenus Dicerca (Neoargante) Nelson 2006 is considered unnecessary and proposed as a new junior subjective synonym of Dicerca Eschscholtz 1829. Polybothris lesnei Thery 1926 is transferred to Holynskirbus Ozdikmen 2008 ( = Sororcula Holyňski 1993) and Sororcula gnomiphila Holyňski 1993 is proposed as a new junior subjective synonym of H. lesnei.
Static friction in polysilicon surface micromachines

Surface micromachines of polycrystalline silicon were used to investigate the dependence of static friction in microelectromechanical systems on the external load, apparent contact area, and environmental conditions. An analytical model of the micromachine at the inception of sliding was used to determine the normal load consisting of the restoring and levitation forces exerted by the micromachine's comb-drive actuators. The apparent shear strength at the contact interface(s) exhibited a nonlinear dependence on the apparent contact pressure. Relatively higher static coefficient of friction and interfacial shear strength were obtained in room air than vacuum ambient. The static coefficient of friction was found to depend on the normal load, apparent contact area, and ambient conditions (i.e., relative humidity). Electrical contact resistance measurements indicated that sliding in room air promoted thickening of the native oxide film at asperity contacts. The experimental evidence suggests that modification of the surface topography occurred at the asperity level. However, these submicroscopic changes in the surface topography did not affect the overall static friction behavior, for the test cycles simulated in the friction experiments.
Interpersonal Problems and Their Relationship to Sexual Revictimization Among Women Sexually Abused in Childhood

This study examined the relationship between sexual revictimization and interpersonal problems in a sample of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Fifty-two treatment-seeking women participated in this study. Research participants completed the Sexual Experiences Survey to assess sexual revictimization within the past 6 months and completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP). Revictimized participants reported overall greater interpersonal problems compared with nonrevictimized participants. Post hoc analyses showed significantly higher interpersonal problem scores for revictimized participants on the Hard to Be Assertive and Too Responsible subscales. On the circumplex IIP, revictimized participants were more socially avoidant, nonassertive, and overly nurturant.
A Rab10:RalA G protein cascade regulates insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes

Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in fat and muscle is mediated by the major facilitative glucose transporter Glut4. Insulin controls the trafficking of Glut4 to the plasma membrane via regulation of a series of small G proteins, including RalA and Rab10. We demonstrate here that Rab10 is a bona fide target of the GTPase-activating protein AS160, which is inhibited after phosphorylation by the protein kinase Akt. Once activated, Rab10 can increase the GTP binding of RalA by recruiting the Ral guanyl nucleotide exchange factor, Rlf/Rgl2. Rab10 and RalA reside in the same pool of Glut4-storage vesicles in untreated cells, and, together with Rlf, they ensure maximal glucose transport. Overexpression of membrane-tethered Rlf compensates for the loss of Rab10 in Glut4 translocation, suggesting that Rab10 recruits Rlf to membrane compartments for RalA activation and that RalA is downstream of Rab10. Together these studies identify a new G protein cascade in the regulation of insulin-stimulated Glut4 trafficking and glucose uptake.
Diffraction Contrast in TEM Images

This chapter explains diffraction contrast in bright- and dark-field conventional transmission electron microscopy, workhorse techniques in materials research. Materials parameters that affect diffraction intensity in kinematical theory are presented, and compared to parameters in dynamical theory. The phase-amplitude diagram is developed for kinematical diffraction theory, and is first used for problems that can be solved analytically, such as intensity fringes in bend and thickness contours. Including the effects of strain fields in phase-amplitude diagrams is shown to be a powerful method for determining qualitatively the diffraction contrast effects from the crystal containing a dislocation. The weak-beam dark-field method for a calculating dislocation strain contrast is described, and the quality of its images is discussed with examples. Phase shifts at interfaces are included in the phase amplitude diagram method. Intensity fringes in the diffraction contrast from moire effects, stacking faults, and domain boundaries are explained. Some results from dynamical theory are cited without proof, and used to describe diffraction contrast effects from crystals of modest thickness.
Sex, Parental Incarceration, and Violence Perpetration Among a Sample of Young Adults

Limited attention has been directed at adult children with a history of parental incarceration. The goal of the current study is to expand our understanding of the gendered effects of imprisonment on the adult offspring of incarcerated parents through the exploration of violence perpetration among a sample of young adults. Congruent with problem behavior theory, it is hypothesized that young adults who have been affected by parental incarceration will report greater aversive outcomes (i.e., more risk factors and violence perpetration) than their peers without a history of parental incarceration. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that parental incarceration predicts violent perpetration even after controlling for individual and familial risk factors and demographic characteristics. A series of bivariate and multivariate statistical models utilizing self-report data from 534 college students were generated to test said hypotheses. In addition, the moderating effects of students' sex and exposure to parental incarceration on the relationship between violence perpetration and risk factors were explored through the utilization of split logistic regression models. Roughly 1 in 10 (13.3%) students surveyed had experienced parental incarceration. As expected, students affected by parental incarceration were significantly more likely to perpetrate violence than their peers not affected by parental incarceration, net individual and familial risk. Although only a small percentage of students had experienced the imprisonment of a parent, parental incarceration predicted violence perpetration in young adulthood. These findings highlight the need to explore the long-lasting effects of parental incarceration on prisoners' offspring across the life course.
Mass and Fat Influence the Timing of Natal Dispersal in Belding's Ground Squirrels

We examined influences of body mass and content of body fat on the timing of natal-dispersal behavior in juvenile male Belding's ground squirrels ( Spermophilus beldingi ). We manipulated body mass and body fat of juveniles by provisioning them with food and we used unprovisioned juveniles as controls. We evaluated the percentage of body mass composed of fat in juvenile males, using the non-destructive method of measuring electrical conductivity of the body. Our results suggest that natal dispersal in this species is constrained by the energetic demands of depositing fat for hibernation. Our results further indicate that juvenile male S. beldingi postpone dispersal until they have attained a threshold body mass, and that the percentage of body mass composed of fat may importantly influence the timing of dispersal behavior.
Quantum-mechanical analysis of the energetic contributions to π stacking in nucleic acids versus rise, twist, and slide.

Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) is applied to pairs of hydrogen-bonded nucleobases to obtain the energetic components of base stacking (electrostatic, exchange-repulsion, induction/polarization, and London dispersion interactions) and how they vary as a function of the helical parameters Rise, Twist, and Slide. Computed average values of Rise and Twist agree well with experimental data for B-form DNA from the Nucleic Acids Database, even though the model computations omitted the backbone atoms (suggesting that the backbone in B-form DNA is compatible with having the bases adopt their ideal stacking geometries). London dispersion forces are the most important attractive component in base stacking, followed by electrostatic interactions. At values of Rise typical of those in DNA (3.36 A), the electrostatic contribution is nearly always attractive, providing further evidence for the importance of charge-penetration effects in π–π interactions (a term neglected in classical force fields). Comparis...
Coronary Artery Calcium and Shared Decision Making.

One of the important and least controversial concepts introduced by the 2013 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association cholesterol guidelines, with a class IIa recommendation, is shared decision making (SDM) [(1)][1]: informing patients about all available options and seeking
A Force to Be Reckoned With: Confronting the (Still) Unresolved Questions of Excessive Force Jurisprudence After Kingsley

In Kingsley v. Hendrickson, the Supreme Court finally resolved the outstanding question of what standard is used to determine whether a pretrial detainee’s right to be free from excessive force under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause has been violated. The Court held that the appropriate standard is an objective reasonableness test similar to the Fourth Amendment’s test for excessive force, rather than a subjective test similar to the malicious and sadistic purpose test under the Eighth Amendment. While resolving this longstanding question, the Court expressly reserved two related questions — the answers to which will either broaden or restrict the boundaries and definitions of what constitutes excessive force, and the rights of pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners. These questions are: (1) whether reckless acts (as opposed to purposeful acts) that cause objectively unreasonable force are sufficient to state a claim under the Fourteenth Amendment, and (2) whether the Court’s holding that an objective standard is sufficient to assess excessive force claims brought by pretrial detainees under the Fourteenth Amendment is in conflict with the Court’s prior holdings that a subjective standard is required to assess excessive force claims brought by convicted inmates under the Eighth Amendment. The note discusses these unresolved questions and predicts how the Court will eventually resolve them in the future.
A GENERAL CRYPTOGRAPH SYSTEM

In this paper,a general cryptograph system called GCS is presented.Its core is a general cipher de-vice based on the technique of coding the algorithm.GCS can lead to construct several differentcryptograph systems and make it possible to produce common cipher device automatically.
Epidemiology of Violence Behavior Among Primary and Middle School Students in Quxian

Objective To investigate the epidemiological features of violence among primary and middle school students in Quxian and develop intervention measures for violence prevention.Methods A total of 1532 students were selected by two stage stratified cluster sampling from 6 schools in Quxian to receive questionnaire survey. Results Totally 16.22% of the students reported having suffered from violence at least once every month. The rate was higher in boys than in girls(χ2=25.13,P=0.000).The attackers were mainly classmates (45.80%). The ways of violence included beating with hand (37.42%),insulting (31.21%),threatening (20.88%). and beating with stick and sharp instrument(10.49%). Most violence occurred at school (46.08%),followed by at home (28.41%) and outside school (25.51%). The difference was statistical significant (P=0.000). Fractures occurred in 3.33% of the students attacked,as the result 0.51% of them suffered from disability. Forty eight students often attacked others (3.21%),the main reason was being irritated (47.38%).Conclusion Violence among primary and middle school students in Quxian was serious,so it is necessary to strengthen the quality education and improve school environment to prevent and control the school violence.
Engaged by the Proposition: How the Use of Ballot Propositions Increase Voter Turnout

Research has suggested that states with citizen initiatives have higher turnout rates than states without them; however, these studies were conducted by analyzing elections decades after states have adopted and started using initiatives. Additionally, this literature has ignored the role of legislative and popular referenda in affecting voter’s decisions to turn out to vote. Using data from 1870 to 2008, we show that ballot propositions-both initiative and referenda, can indeed increase voter turnout. By using competitiveness as a proxy, we argue that mobilization is the mechanism through which direct democracy increases turnout. Our research is a step forward for this field because we analyze referenda, use historical data and employ a differences-in- differences estimation. This research design allows us to draw proper causal inferences because we measure turnout before and after the adoption of citizen initiative and referenda processes.
Fetal swallowing: correlation of electromyography and esophageal fluid flow

Patterns of fetal drinking behavior were quantified in five singleton fetuses (128 +/- 1 days gestation) by computer analysis of laryngeal-esophageal electromyography (EMG) and thoracic esophageal ...
Components of the Climate System

The surface of the earth is the intersection of distinct parts of the climate system. Understanding the different parts or components of the climate system is critical for modeling (or simulating) the system. This chapter describes the basic parts of the Earth that comprise the climate system, and the key scientific principles and critical processes necessary to model each of these components. These components include the Atmosphere, Ocean, Ice and Land. The climate system is typically represented as a set of building blocks, with individual processes collected into a model of one component of the system. The components are coupled to other components to represent the entire climate system. Understanding and then representing the interactions between processes and between components is critical for being able to build a representation of the system: a climate model.
An analog architecture for auditory feature extraction and recognition

Speech recognition systems have been implemented using a wide range of signal processing techniques including neuromorphic/biological inspired and Digital Signal Processing techniques. Neuromorphic/biologically inspired techniques, such as silicon cochlea models, are based on fairly simple yet highly parallel computation and/or computational units. While the area of digital signal processing (DSP) is based on block transforms and statistical or error minimization methods. Essential to each of these techniques is the first stage of extracting meaningful information from the speech signal, which is known as feature extraction. This can be done using biologically inspired techniques such as silicon cochlea models, or techniques beginning with a model of speech production and then trying to separate the vocal tract response from an excitation signal. Even within each of these approaches, there are multiple techniques including cepstrum filtering, which sits under the class of Homomorphic signal processing, or techniques using FFT based predictive approaches. The underlying reality is there are multiple techniques that have attacked the problem in speech recognition but the problem is still far from being solved. The techniques that have shown to have the best recognition rates involve Cepstrum Coefficients for the feature extraction and Hidden-Markov Models to perform the pattern recognition. The presented research develops an analog system based on programmable analog array technology that can perform the initial stages of auditory feature extraction and recognition before passing information to a digital signal processor. The goal being a low power system that can be fully contained on one or more integrated circuit chips. Results show that it is possible to realize advanced filtering techniques such as Cepstrum Filtering and Vector Quantization in analog circuitry. Prior to this work, previous applications of analog signal processing have focused on vision, cochlea models, anti-aliasing filters and other single component uses. Furthermore, classic designs have looked heavily at utilizing op-amps as a basic core building block for these designs. This research also shows a novel design for a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) decoder utilizing circuits that take advantage of the inherent properties of sub-threshold transistors and floating-gate technology to create low-power computational blocks.
Helicobacter pylori: The Past, Present, and Future in Management

Helicobacter pylori is a common bacterial pathogen responsible for substantial gastrointestinal morbidity worldwide. Helicobacter pylori infection can be clinically challenging, given the numerous diagnostic and therapeutic options available. In this article, we provide a systematic review of H pylori epidemiology and pathogenesis. In addition, we provide a simplified approach to the diagnosis and treatment of H pylori infection, suitable for application in the primary care setting. On completion of this article, one should be able to (1) state the indications for H pylori testing; (2) identify noninvasive and invasive tests to diagnose H pylori infection; and (3) describe the advantages and disadvantages of various treatment regimens.
Kinematics and Dynamics

This chapter continues the development of discrete quantum causal theory from Chapter 6, focusing on the background independent context. Section 7.1 reviews the notion of frames of reference in relativity, and describes how each frame defines a refinement of the causal relation, by specifying temporal orders between pairs of unrelated events. Section 7.2 examines the general theory of refinements in more detail. Section 7.3 introduces the concept of kinematic accounts, which are “partially fictional” descriptions of the evolution of directed sets. The “extraphysical information” contained in a kinematic account is analogous to the “fictional” ordering of spacelike separated events in relativistic spacetime under a particular choice of temporal order. Section 7.4 introduces the theory of kinematic schemes, which are “higher-level” structures organizing families of kinematic accounts. A kinematic scheme provides evolutionary pathways for every “permissible” classical history in a specified class of classical histories. It possesses the abstract structure of a multidirected set, whose relations represent co-relative histories. Section 7.5 focuses on the positive sequential kinematic scheme \(\mathbb {S}_{{\mathrm{{PS}}}}\), which organizes all evolutionary processes “adding one element at a time” to a directed set. The positive sequential kinematic scheme contains, as a subobject, the kinematic scheme \(\mathbb {S}_{\mathrm{{SR}}}\) appearing in Sorkin and Rideout’s theory of sequential growth dynamics for causal sets. Section 7.6 introduces the quantum causal metric hypothesis, which states that “quantum spacetime may be modeled in terms of kinematic schemes of directed sets.” Section 7.7 describes path summation over kinematic schemes, which leads to a background independent version of discrete quantum causal theory. Section 7.8 discusses an alternative to sequential growth in describing discrete causal dynamics; namely, generational growth. The generational kinematic scheme and the foliation scheme are two different kinematic schemes in which an entire generation of elements, rather than an individual element, is added to each directed set at each “stage of evolution.” Section 7.9 discusses completions of kinematic schemes, which are constructed by considering “limits” of evolutionary processes involving infinite numbers of stages. Section 7.10 introduces the idea of hyperquantum theory, which involves additional levels of hierarchy above the level of kinematic schemes.
Hypomethylating agents (HMA) treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes: alternatives in the frontline and relapse settings.

Introduction: Hypomethylating agents (HMA) have played a pivotal role for treating myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) over the past decade, inducing sustained hematological responses and delaying prog...
Reactive redundancy for data destruction protection (R2D2)

We demonstrate R2D2's ability to preserve files under destruction on a Windows 7 VM.R2D2 protects against modern Wiper Malware and secure delete methods.R2D2 improves prior work by isolating analysis/preservation from the protected system.R2D2 shows acceptable performance, suitable for the home user or office related tasks. Data destruction programs, such as Wiper Malware, cause substantial damage by overwriting critical digital assets on compromised machines, denying users access to computing resources. Our system, called R2D2, analyzes write buffers before they can reach a storage medium, determines if the write is destructive, and preserves the data under destruction. We interpose the inspection in the Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) through a technique known as Virtual Machine Introspection (VMI). This has the benefit that it does not rely on the entire OS as a root of trust. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our prototype implementation by preserving data targeted for destruction by Wiper Malware such as Shamoon and Stonedrill, and a host of secure delete tools. We discover that R2D2 detects data destruction with high accuracy (99.8% true negative and true positive rates) and preserves critical data for all the Wiper Malware samples in the wild that we experimented with. While our prototype is not optimized for performance, we show that it is applicable for common user tasks in an office or home setting, with a latency increase of 1%4% and 9%20% to complete batch tasks and interactive tasks respectively. VMI accounts for 90.7%98.5% of the latency overhead and thus R2D2 incurs a small cost for environments already using VMI.
Is pregnancy fatalism normal? An attitudinal assessment among women trying to get pregnant and those not using contraception.

Abstract Objectives To assess factors associated with pregnancy fatalism among U.S. adult women. Study design I used data from the Change and Consistency in Contraceptive Use study, which collected information from a national sample of 4634 U.S. women aged 18–39 at baseline (59% response rate). I assessed pregnancy fatalism based on agreement with the statement: “It doesn't matter whether I use birth control, when it is my time to get pregnant, it will happen.” I compared fatalism among all respondents to fatalism among respondents who were trying to get pregnant and those who did not want to get pregnant but were not using contraception. I used logistic regression to assess associations between nonuse of contraception and pregnancy fatalism at baseline and whether respondents were trying to get pregnant 6 months later. Results Overall, 36% of the sample expressed some degree of pregnancy fatalism, and proportions were higher for respondents trying to get pregnant (55%) and those not using contraception (57%). The association between pregnancy fatalism and trying to get pregnant was maintained after controlling for other characteristics [odds ratio (OR) 1.4, p=.01], as was the association for nonuse of contraception (OR 2.08, p Conclusions Pregnancy fatalism may be a common outlook among women who are trying to get pregnant. Associations between fatalism and nonuse of contraception may be more complex than previously recognized. Implications Gaining a better understanding of the dynamics of pregnancy planning might inform our understanding of why some women do not use contraception.
Staircase two-guard kernels of orthogonal polygons

Let S be a simply connected orthogonal polygon in the plane, and assume that S is two-guardable (but not starshaped) via staircase paths. If K is a component of two-kernel (S), then the set of partners of points in K determines a second component K' of two-kernel (S). Thus the components occur in pairs. Moreover, each component is geodesically convex. The results fail without the requirement that S be simply connected.
Experimental Study of Two-Photon Rabi Oscillations

A three-level system free from radiative damping is the simplest system in which multi- photon processes can be studied. Such a system therefore forms an ideal testing ground for coherent processes in the multiphoton domain. A familiar example is the coherent evolution of an atomic system driven by monochromatic radiation, often referred to as a Rabi oscillation.1 Two-photon Rabi oscillations have been observed by Hatanaka and Hashi2 and Gold and Hahn.3 We have performed a experimental study of two-photon Rabi oscillations in microwave transitions between Rydberg states of calcium. Our experiments include measurements of the dependence of the two-photon oscillation frequency on microwave power and detuning from resonance. Only one intermediate state is important, and our results agree well with theory. The strong radiation fields required for two-photon transitions make the ac Stark shift an important aspect of these experiments. This shift has been observed in a two-photon process by Liao and Bjorkholm.4 We have used the off-resonant behavior of the two-photon oscillation frequency to measure the ac Stark shift.
Implications of altered apoptosis in diabetes mellitus and autoimmune disease.

Lymphocyte development, selection and education represent tightly controlled immune processes that normally prevent autoimmunity. Lymphocyte development requires cellular selection through apoptosis to remove potentially autoreactive cells. Dysregulated apoptosis, both interrupted as well as accetuated apoptosis, are now demonstrated as central defects in diverse human and murine autoimmune disease. In murine models of autoimmune lupus, mutations in cell death receptor CD95 (Fas) and its ligand CD95L (FasL) have been identified; these errors create a lymphoid system resistant to apoptosis. In contract, select lymphoid subpopulations of auto immune diabetic mice have accelerated apoptosis due to faulty activation of transcription factor NF-κB that normally protects against apoptotic death. The genetic basis of interrupted NF-κB in diabetes is a gene defect in an essential subunit of the proteasome.Although no specific gene in most common forms of human autoimmune disease has been identified, functional assays repeatedly demonstrate apoptotic defects in multiple cellular signaling pathways for cell death.
An Automated SerDes Frontend Generator Verified with a 16NM Instance Achieving 15 GB/S at 1.96 PJ/Bit

In this paper we present an automated SerDes frontend generator along with experimental results from an instance produced in TSMC 16nm. The generator is an automated, parameterized design procedure that produces schematics and layouts based on top level performance and architecture specifications. A DDR current-integration SerDes instance was generated in TSMC 16nm technology with passive CTLE, 1-tap FFE, and 4-tap DFE equalization. The instance operates at 15 Gb/s with BER < 1E-12, and consumes 29.4 mW (1.9 pJ/bit) from 0.8V/0.9V supplies.
Vaccine Information Sources and Parental Trust in Their Child's Health Care Provider.

Background. Parental trust in their child’s health care provider and the number and type of vaccine information sources are important dimensions of vaccine hesitancy and may suggest intervention co...
Cost-utility of continuous-flow ventricular assist devices as bridge to transplant in pediatrics.

OBJECTIVE The initial costs of a CF-VAD exceed those of a PF-VAD. However, the safety profile of CF-VAD is superior and the possibility of outpatient device support may justify the additional initial costs. This study analyzed the cost-utility of CF-VAD use in the pediatric population. METHODS A Markov-state transition model was constructed for the clinical course of the two VAD subtypes from implantation until death with variables extracted from internal financial records and the published literature. The modeled population consisted of pediatric heart failure patients who met indications for VAD implant (INTERMACS profile 1 or 2) and were size-eligible for either a PF-VAD or CF-VAD. RESULTS The cost-utility analysis illustrated that CF-VAD is both more effective and less costly compared to PF-VAD at base-case conditions. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that only in extreme conditions did a CF-VAD strategy not meet criteria for cost-effectiveness (if readmission rate >20% weekly, neurologic event rate >8% weekly, or CF-VAD discharge rates <18% in a month) or VAD support duration shortens to ≤12 weeks. CONCLUSION While the implantation costs of a CF-VAD exceed those of a PF-VAD, after 12 weeks of device support CF-VAD becomes the more cost-effective strategy if the anticipated outpatient device care is sufficiently long. The cost efficacy of the CF-VAD will be further heightened as initiatives that result in earlier and safer discharges, as well as reductions in readmission rates continue to be successful.
“Now it is all over…I am practically No-Body”: Indigenous Veterans of Canada and Australia and the Great War for Civilization

At the onset of war in 1914, no imperialist European state, save for France, regarded its colonial Indigenous populations as a source of military manpower for a European war. Contemporary science, ...
Chapter 8 – Granulocytes

Publisher Summary Granulocyte collections are apheresis-derived white blood cell components, usually about 300 ml in volume, composed of a mixture of granulocytes and other elements that are considered contaminants. Granulocytes are collected by apheresis of volunteer donors who are primed with corticosteroids or hematopoietic growth factors using centrifugal separation with a commercial blood cell separator. In general, granulocyte collections are performed employing standard leukapheresis tubing sets via peripheral venous access. As an unlicensed product, granulocyte collections have no official product specifications established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Standards set by the American Association of Blood Banks have required the granulocyte apheresis unit to include a minimum of 1×1010 granulocytes in at least 75% of units tested. The minimal dosage should be at least twice this amount to detect a significant granulocyte increment in adults. The number of mature granulocytes in the product is the primary measure of the product efficacy, although control of infection in the neutropenic recipient is the ultimate indicator of the product's effectiveness. Granulocyte products contain significant numbers of T-lymphocytes, with an accompanying risk of transfusion associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) in immunocompromised patients. A small risk for immunocompetent recipients also exists but is not considered clinically significant. To prevent the occurrence of TA-GVHD, blood components should be gamma irradiated prior to administration to immunosuppressed individuals. Adverse events experienced by recipients of granulocyte transfusions—even when compatible transfusions are administered to nonalloimmunized patients—can be significant. Common risks include fever and shaking chills, both of which can result from too-rapid infusions.
Chapter 5 – FLOW IMMUNOSENSORS

Publisher Summary Immunosensors have become a predominant form of biosensor due primarily to the ready availability of many different well-characterized antibodies. Work on the kinetic exclusion sensor was initiated in the 1990s by engineers dissatisfied with the performance of fluorescent evanescent waveguide biosensors for the analysis of environmental samples. The goal was to develop an immunosensor system less susceptible than fluorescent waveguide sensors to variables that were difficult to control in real-world samples (pH, ionic strength, ion composition). Flow immunosensors combine the selectivity and sensitivity of traditional immunoassays with the rapid response of a sensor. This chapter describes two different flow immunosensors: a displacement immunosensor that utilizes a non-equilibrium displacement reaction and a kinetic exclusion immunosensor that measures the amount of free antibody-binding sites in an equilibrium mixture of antibody and antigen. It begins with an explanation of the principles of operation of immunosensors. It also presents the evolution of this technology from laboratory prototypes to field applications. Commercial versions of the flow immunosensors have been engineered that integrate fluidics, electronics, and computer control into both portable and autonomous instruments. More recently advanced laboratory prototypes of the displacement immunosensor have been fabricated to improve low-end detection, extend the applications to underwater sensing, enhance field ruggedness, and assist in the manufacturing process. Finally, the study presents the advantages and limitations of flow immunosensors.
The Art and Science of Disagreeing: How to Create More Effective Conversations About Opposing Views

Disagreement is an unavoidable part of social life. Because no two people hold identical beliefs, knowledge, values, or goals, opposing viewpoints are bound to arise at some point in the pursuit of...
miR‑769‑5p is associated with prostate cancer recurrence and modulates proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells

MicroRNAs (miRs) are relevant in biological processes, including human prostate cancer. In the present study, the role of miR-769-5p and its targets in prostate cancer were explored. Publicly available data on expression of genes, miRs and disease-free survival of patients with prostate cancer were analyzed along with RNAseq of transfected cell lines. miR-769-5p expression was inversely associated with patient survival and in vitro assays indicated that its inhibition reduced the proliferation and increased apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. miR-769-5p was revealed to target Rho GTPase activating protein 10 (ARHGAP10) and increased expression of ARHGAP10 in tumors was determined to be associated with a favorable prognosis regarding disease-free survival. Of note, ARHGAP10 is a purported tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer, where it inhibits cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) activity and increases apoptosis. Similar effects were observed in prostate cancer cells, where miR-769-5p inhibition increased ARHGAP10 and led to reduced CDC42 activity. Furthermore, miR-769-5p inhibition increased apoptosis, which was partly reversed by additional knockdown of ARHGAP10. These results suggested that miR-769-5p is an oncogene targeting ARHGAP10, which in turn is a candidate tumor suppressor in prostate cancer.
Tracing the development of nationalist attitudes in the EU

We discuss the relevance of national attachments for European integration, reviewing the existing literature and drawing connections across the articles in this issue. We also consider that the age...
Hypoxia and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Pregnancy Complications

Hypoxia is a common and severe stress to an organism’s homeostatic mechanisms, and hypoxia during gestation is associated with significantly increased incidence of maternal complications of preeclampsia, adversely impacting on the fetal development and subsequent risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Human and animal studies have revealed a causative role of increased uterine vascular resistance and placental hypoxia in preeclampsia and fetal/intrauterine growth restriction (FGR/IUGR) associated with gestational hypoxia. Gestational hypoxia has a major effect on mitochondria of uteroplacental cells to overproduce reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress. Excess mitochondrial ROS in turn cause uteroplacental dysfunction by damaging cellular macromolecules, which underlies the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and FGR. In this article, we review the current understanding of hypoxia-induced mitochondrial ROS and their role in placental dysfunction and the pathogenesis of pregnancy complications. In addition, therapeutic approaches selectively targeting mitochondrial ROS in the placental cells are discussed.
Performance characteristics of high-frequency percussive ventilation under hyperbaric conditions.

Introduction Safe administration of critical care hyperbaric medicine requires specialized equipment and advanced training. Equipment must be tested in order to evaluate function in the hyperbaric environment. High-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) has been used in intensive care settings effectively, but it has never been tested in a hyperbaric chamber. Methods Following a modified U.S. Navy testing protocol used to evaluate hyperbaric ventilators, we evaluated an HFPV transport ventilator in a multiplace hyperbaric chamber at 1.0, 1.9, and 2.8 atmospheres absolute (ATA). We used a test lung with analytical software for data collection. The ventilator uses simultaneous cyclic pressure-controlled ventilation at a pulsatile flow rate (PFR)/oscillatory continuous positive airway pressure (oCPAP) ratio of 30/10 with a high-frequency oscillation percussive rate of 500 beats per minute. Inspiratory and expiratory times were maintained at two seconds throughout each breathing cycle. Results During manned studies, the PFR/oCPAP ratios were 26/6, 22/7, and 22.5/8 at an airway resistance of 20cm H2O/L/second and 18/9, 15.2/8.5, and 13.6/7 at an airway resistance of 50 cm/H2O/L/second at 1, 1.9, and 2.8 ATA. The resulting release volumes were 800, 547, and 513 mL at airway resistance of 20 cm H2O/L/sec and 400, 253, and 180 mL at airway resistance of 50 cm/H2O/L/sec at 1, 1.9, and 2.8 ATA. Unmanned testing showed similar changes. The mean airway pressure (MAP) remained stable throughout all test conditions; theoretically, supporting adequate lung recruitment and gas exchange. A case where HFPV was used to treat a patient for CO poisoning was presented to illustrate that HFPV worked well under HBO2 conditions and no complications occurred during HBO2 treatment. Conclusion The HFPV transport ventilator performed adequately under hyperbaric conditions and should be considered a viable option for hyperbaric critical care. This ventilator has atypical terminology and produces unique pulmonary physiology, thus requiring specialized training prior to use.
Flexibility and dividends

Abstract We develop a model of corporate dividend policy based on the idea that management values operating flexibility. By reducing dividends and conserving cash, management increases its flexibility. This improves its ability to invest in projects that it believes are good for the shareholders in the long run but which shareholders would not provide the capital for because they think the projects are value reducing. However, the cost of not paying dividends is a reduction in the current stock price. Management trades off these two aspects of dividends. Flexibility considerations help us understand various dimensions of dividend policy that existing theories do not explain. Our theory generates numerous testable predictions that we confront with the data. The evidence is supportive of the model.
Oppy on Thomistic cosmological arguments

Graham Oppy has criticized several Thomistic versions of the cosmological argument in a series of publications over the years, most recently in a Religious Studies article responding to my book Five Proofs of the Existence of God. Here I reply to his criticisms, arguing that while Oppy raises important issues, a besetting weakness of his approach is a failure adequately to grapple with the metaphysical underpinnings of the arguments.
Explaining cancer information avoidance comparing people with and without cancer experience in the family.

Objectives Cancer information avoidance (CIA) serves as a barrier to preventive efforts. To learn how to combat this barrier, we aim to examine predictors of CIA in populations with and without cancer experience in the family, which are addressed differently in cancer prevention, according to specific informational barriers. Methods A subsample of people with and without cancer in the family (n = 2,757) of an online survey with a sample stratified for the German population by age, gender, education, and region was conducted via an online access panel. The survey instrument was adapted from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Separate stepwise regression analyses were conducted. Results Only a comparatively small proportion of the variance in CIA was explained by the predictors, ranging from R2 = .148 for people without cancer experience to R2 = .180 for participants with cancer experience in their family. Across the groups, the findings showed that people who were fatalistic about the risk of cancer, less health literate, who perceived less social pressure to be informed, and were less trusting in information sources more often avoided cancer information. Conclusions Our findings identify relevant target groups to be addressed and barriers to be removed for cancer communication efforts. Adequate information provision can be supported by programs for fostering health literacy and social network diffusion strategies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Concepts and definitions related to mechanical behavior of fiber reinforced composite materials

Abstract It is common in the composites literature to find usage of terminology that is a legacy of monolithic materials such as metals, ceramics and polymers. With the aim of alleviating ambiguity and misinterpretations that can result from such usage, this article attempts to clarify concepts and definitions related to the mechanical behavior of fiber reinforced composites. Focus is placed on failure mechanisms and modes in composite materials, and their comparison with metals. Of special interest is the limit to a material's load-carrying capacity, commonly described as “strength”, which is a subject of major confusion in the literature. The various versions of strength, e.g., residual strength, open-hole tensile strength, in-situ strength and compression after impact strength are scrutinized from the point of view of their being material properties. It is recommended that the practice of loose and ill-defined usage of the strength terminology should be abandoned in favor of resorting to proper use of critical stress states for relating those to the load-carrying capacity under consideration.
RFusion: Robotic Grasping via RF-Visual Sensing and Learning

We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of RFusion, a robotic system that can search for and retrieve RFID-tagged items in line-of-sight, non-line-of-sight, and fully-occluded settings. RFusion consists of a robotic arm that has a camera and antenna strapped around its gripper. Our design introduces two key innovations: the first is a method that geometrically fuses RF and visual information to reduce uncertainty about the target object's location, even when the item is fully occluded. The second is a novel reinforcement-learning network that uses the fused RF-visual information to efficiently localize, maneuver toward, and grasp target items. We built an end-to-end prototype of RFusion and tested it in challenging real-world environments. Our evaluation demonstrates that RFusion localizes target items with centimeter-scale accuracy and achieves 96% success rate in retrieving fully occluded objects, even if they are under a pile. The system paves the way for novel robotic retrieval tasks in complex environments such as warehouses, manufacturing plants, and smart homes.
Aspects of Intelligent Tutoring Systems Applied to Small Water Treatment Plant Expert Systems

An expert system has been developed to aid the operators of small water treatment plants. A tutorial component of the expert system explains the possible reasons for common problems by focusing on the jar test analysis for chemical dosage control. The tutor provides an operator with the opportunity to run the jar test, receive feedback on the parameters selected, visualize the results on the actual water treatment processes, and be tutored in the topics related to understanding the processes involved and additional supplemental areas such as concentrations and conversions. A background of Intelligent Tutoring Systems, along with a justification of the approach, is provided. The development of the jar test tutor including knowledge representation is described.
The Effects of Individualized and Cooperative Computer Assisted Instruction on Mathematics Achievement and Mathematics Anxiety for Prospective Teachers

AbstractIn this study, Basic Skills Mathematics achievement and mathematics anxiety of minority prospective teachers working individually on a computer assisted instruction mathematics program were compared with those working cooperatively on a CAI mathematics program. A total of 53 prospective teachers in a mathematics remediation program received treatment that either required individual work or encouraged cooperation with a partner. Prospective minority teachers who worked cooperatively significantly outperformed those who worked individually in mathematics achievement. Math anxiety scores did not significantly increase or decrease for either group. However, females significantly increased their anxiety scores.
Apollo 11 Lunar Samples: an Examination Using Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy and Other Microscopic Methods

We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the tapping mode, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDS) and light microscopy (LM) to study the morphological features of a rock sample collected during the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Wavelike patterns in the rocks measuring approximately 460 A across are indicative of rapid cooling, which probably took place following some catastrophic event during the formation of the moon. Microscopic information can be used to establish a database so that comparisons between surface morphologies of these and other rocks can be made.
Efficient determination of purine metabolites in brain tissue and serum by high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical and UV detection

The purine metabolic pathway has been implicated in neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is widely used to determine purines and metabolites. However, methods for analysis of multiple purines in a single analysis have not been standardized, especially in brain tissue. We report the development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method combining electrochemical and UV detection after a short gradient run to measure seven purine metabolites (adenosine, guanosine, inosine, guanine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and urate) from the entire purine metabolic pathway. The limit of detection (LoD) for each analyte was determined. The LoD using UV absorption was 0.001 mg/dL for hypoxanthine (Hyp), inosine (Ino), guanosine (Guo) and adenosine (Ado), and those using coulometric electrodes were 0.001 mg/dL for guanine (Gua), 0.0001 mg/dL for urate (UA) and 0.0005 mg/dL for xanthine (Xan). The intra- and inter-day coefficient of variance was generally <8%. Using this method, we determined basal levels of these metabolites in mouse brain and serum, as well as in post-mortem human brain. Peak identities were confirmed by enzyme degradation. Spike recovery was performed to assess accuracy. All recoveries fell within 80-120%. Our HPLC method provides a sensitive, rapid, reproducible and low-cost method for determining multiple purine metabolites in a single analysis in serum and brain specimens.
Trade and Public Health: The WTO, Tobacco, Alcohol, and Diet

1. Intersections between trade and non-communicable disease 2. Normative integration: using health instruments in interpretation of the WTO covered agreements 3. Freedom to use taxes, subsidies and restrictions on marketing 4. Necessity and regulatory autonomy under the GATT 5. Product regulation and labeling measures under the SPS and TBT agreements 6. Reallocating authority at the international level: delegation, legalisation and harmonisation 7. Conclusion.