cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mortal and Immortal Souls, Ghosts and the (Restless) Dead in Ancient Mesopotamia

Ever since their original creation from mortal clay mixed with the flesh and blood of an immortal god, Ancient Mesopotamians had a part of themselves that survived death. We call this death-surviving part the soul. Ancient Mesopotamians, however, like ancient Greeks, understood this surviving bit as a complex of elements with differing possibilities of survival or, if you will, multiple souls of differing levels of immortality. Of these spiritual essences, one is what we would call a ghost. Unfortunately this was not, like our own ghosts, limited to haunting houses, but fully capable of doing serious harm to the living. Partly this was because the dead, although no longer living, continued to feel hunger and thirst without being able to provide food and drink for themselves, and partly it was because certain bad deaths produced very unhappy ghosts. Ancient Mesopotamians dealt with this problem using a multiplex strategy. Former members of the family received a continual round of offerings as long as the family survived to supply them. If afflicted with spectral attack, there were healing rituals designed to deal with the troublemaker. Finally, special entertainment was provided at festivals of the dead (similar to our Halloween) when ghosts were released from the Netherworld prison to which they were confined for the rest of the year. These festivals also provided an opportunity for last visits with dead family members, consultation with the dead for advice (necromancy) and even witchcraft to revenge oneself on personal enemies. In what follows, I will give a brief overview of the current state of knowledge, with suggestions for further reading.
Sociodemographic disparities in treatment and survival of small localized renal cell carcinoma: surgical resection versus thermal ablation

Aim: To investigate national practice trends in the use of surgical resection (SX) versus thermal ablation (TA) for the management of T1aN0M0 renal cell carcinoma with regard to sociodemographic factors and associated outcomes. Materials & methods: Patients diagnosed in 2004–2011 were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry. Sociodemographic factors predicting the use of surgery versus TA were determined using logistic regression. Cancer-specific survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Overall, 19,136 (92.9%) patients underwent SX versus 1468 (7.1%) TA. Patients who were unmarried, diagnosed between 2008 and 2011, Caucasian, aged ≥70 years, insured, residing in Pacific Coast and Northern Plains, and in metropolitan areas with higher median family income had higher likelihoods of undergoing TA. Age-adjusted cancer-specific survival was similar in the two groups. Conclusion: Despite similar survival outcomes between SX versus TA, management of T1a renal ce...
Martin Luther King Jr. and the Morality of Legal Practice: Lessons in Love and Justice

This book seeks to reframe our understanding of the lawyer's work by exploring how Martin Luther King, Jr built his advocacy on a coherent set of moral claims regarding the demands of love and justice in light of human nature. King never shirked from staking out challenging claims of moral truth, even while remaining open to working with those who rejected those truths. His example should inspire the legal profession as a reminder that truth-telling, even in a society that often appears morally balkanized, has the capacity to move hearts and minds. At the same time, his example should give the profession pause, for King's success would have been impossible without his substantive views about human nature and the ends of justice. This book is an effort to reframe our conception of morality's relevance to professionalism through the lens provided by the public and prophetic advocacy of Dr King.
Fiber Bragg Grating

A fiber Bragg grating, with periodical perturbation of the refractive index in the fiber core, is a very attractive optical device. The fiber Bragg grating functions as a wavelength selective reflection filter in an optical line. Because of its excellent optical properties and easy integration into fiber optic systems, the fiber Bragg grating is expected to find many applications. In this article, the mechanism of refractive index changes in the fiber core, fiber Bragg grating fabrication techniques and some applications of fiber Bragg grating are described.
111Indium-labelled lymphocytes do not image or label the pancreas of the BB/W rat

Autologous transfusions of 111indium-labelled peripheral blood lymphocytes reportedly image the pancreas of patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes at the time of onset. We attempted to apply this technique to the spontaneously diabetic BB/W rat. First, acutely diabetic BB/W rats, diabetes-prone BB/W rats, diabetes-resistant W-line BB/ W rats, and Wistar Furth rats were given autologous transfusions of labelled peripheral blood lymphocytes. Radioactivity recovered from the pancreas was similar in all groups. No correlation was found between the intensity of imaging and the presence or intensity of insulitis. To decrease non-specific intravascular radioactivity, acutely diabetic, diabetes-prone, and W-line rats were perfused 48 h after autologous transfusion of labelled lymphocytes. Again, the intensity of recovered activity was similar in all groups, using both macroautoradiography and numerical counting techniques. A second set of experiments studied diabetes and insulitis induced by passive transfer of concanavalin A-treated splenic lymphocytes from acutely diabetic donors. Activated lymphocytes were labelled with 111Indium and given to groups of diabetes-prone and diabetes-resistant rats. There were no differences in pancreatic localization 72–96 h after injection. Groups of diabetes-prone and diabetes-resistant rats were also given concanavalin A-activated lymphocytes and then challenged 2–10 days later with autologous transfusions of labelled peripheral blood lymphocytes. Again, no differences in organ labelling or imaging were detected. We conclude that the autologous transfusions of 111indium-labelled lymphocytes do not label or image the pancreas of the BB/W rat.
Pathogenesis and Therapy of a New Model of SOD2 Deficiency-Induced Sideroblastic Anemia.

Abstract Manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) is a major antioxidant protein which protects cells against the toxicity of superoxide anion, a by-product of mitochondrial respiration. While knockout of SOD2 results in late embryonic or early neonatal death, SOD2 deficient hematopoeitic stem cells (HSC) are capable of rescuing lethally irradiated normal hosts. The resulting hematopoeitic chimeric mice show a persistent hemolytic anemia similar to human sideroblastic anemia. Loss of SOD2 in erythroid progenitor cells results in mitochondrial proliferation and excess iron deposition within mitochondria of reticulocytes. Mature red blood cell (RBC) show abundant iron inclusions with evidence of a defect in iron incorporation into heme and altered survival. SOD2 deficient cells show both enhanced reactive oxygen species production and protein oxidative damage. We recently published a comparative RBC proteome analysis. Our results show that the expression of several proteins involved in folding/chaperone function, redox regulation, ATP synthesis and RBC metabolism is altered in SOD2 deficient cells. To define early events in the pathogenesis, we are currently performing a gene expression array strategy. The overall goal of this procedure is to characterize differential gene expression at the level of TER-119+ CD71+ erythroid precursor cells from the bone marrow of SOD2 deficient HSC mice versus wild-type and antioxidant-treated SOD2 deficient recipients. Preliminary analysis generated a list of 718 genes as significantly discriminating between wild-type and SOD2 deficient RBC progenitors. Taken together, our results and subsequent validation of candidate genes in in vivo experiments will identify genes involved in response of erythroid progenitors to oxidative stress as well as determinants of RBC lifespan in other hemolytic disorders.
Ubiquitination and regulation of AURKA identifies a hypoxia-independent E3 ligase activity of VHL

The hypoxia-regulated tumor-suppressor von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is an E3 ligase that recognizes its substrates as part of an oxygen-dependent prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) reaction, with hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIFα) being its most notable substrate. Here we report that VHL has an equally important function distinct from its hypoxia-regulated activity. We find that Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is a novel, hypoxia-independent target for VHL ubiquitination. In contrast to its hypoxia-regulated activity, VHL mono-, rather than poly-ubiquitinates AURKA, in a PHD-independent reaction targeting AURKA for degradation in quiescent cells, where degradation of AURKA is required to maintain the primary cilium. Tumor-associated variants of VHL differentiate between these two functions, as a pathogenic VHL mutant that retains intrinsic ability to ubiquitinate HIFα is unable to ubiquitinate AURKA. Together, these data identify VHL as an E3 ligase with important cellular functions under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions.
Deterring the Green Revolution: Greenwash and the Threat of Green Entry

This paper considers a vertically differentiated products market, in which consumers internalize the environmental harm caused by the products they consume. A brown incumbent falsely represents its product as more green than it actually is. ConsumersÂ’ beliefs regarding the harm caused by consuming the incumbentÂ’s variant determine whether a greener entrant can profitably enter the market. Greenwash by the incumbent firm can profitably increase its own market share, but it may also have important implications for market structure. I show that (1) consumers benefit from some amount of greenwash advertising, (2) greenwash advertising can reduce aggregate environmental harm when it is used to deter entry, and (3) some (small) amount of greenwash advertising may enhance total welfare. These results should inform market regulators and environmental groups that wish to combat (or facilitate) false advertising by polluting firms.
Perioperative considerations for patients with sickle cell disease: a narrative review

Approximately 200,000 individuals worldwide are born annually with sickle cell disease (SCD). Regions with the highest rates of SCD include Africa, the Mediterranean, and Asia, where its prevalence is estimated to be 2-6% of the population. An estimated 70,000-100,000 people in the United States have SCD. Due to enhanced newborn screening, a better understanding of this disease, and more aggressive therapy, many sickle cell patients survive into their adult years and present more frequently for surgery. The authors identified relevant medical literature by searching PubMed, MEDLINE®, EMBASE™, Scopus™, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases for English language publications appearing from 1972-September 2016. Case reports, abstracts, review articles, and original research articles were reviewed—with particular focus on the pathophysiology and medical management of SCD and any anesthesia-related issues. Perioperative physicians should be familiar with the triggers of a sickle cell crisis and vaso-occlusive disease. Sickle cell disease affects various organ systems, including the central nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal systems. Preoperative assessment should focus on end-organ dysfunction. Controversy continues regarding if and when sickle cell patients should receive transfusions and which anesthetic technique (regional or general) confers any benefits. Timely, appropriate, and sufficient analgesia is critical, especially when patients experience a vaso-occlusive crisis, acute chest syndrome, or acute postoperative pain. Effective management of SCD patients in the perioperative setting requires familiarity with the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of SCD.
Forced-Choice Personality Measures and Academic Dishonesty: a Comparative Study

Extant research (e.g., Wilks et al. 2016; Williams et al. 2010) has shown personality to be a predictor of engagement in academic dishonesty. The current study seeks to determine whether the type of personality measure affects predictive efficacy by comparing single stimulus and forced-choice measures of personality using a sample of 278 undergraduate students in two U.S. universities. Students scoring high on conscientiousness reported as engaging in fewer academic cheating behaviors than those scoring low on conscientiousness regardless of whether conscientiousness was measured using the forced-choice or single stimulus scale format. In addition, the forced-choice and single stimulus measures each contributed significant unique variance to prediction of academic dishonesty. For agreeableness, scores on the single stimulus measure were negatively correlated with academic dishonesty whereas there was a positive relationship found for the forced-choice measure. Overall, the forced-choice format of the Occupational Personality Questionnaire 32r (OPQ32r) did not show higher validities than the single stimulus IPIP counterpart in predicting self-reported academic dishonesty. Implications for future research and management education are discussed.
Italian Psychology and Jewish Emigration under Fascism: From Florence to Jerusalem and New York

Italian Psychology and Jewish Emigration under Fascism: From Florence to Jerusalem and New York is a meticulously researched monograph by an author who has written widely on the history of Italian ...
Meaningful use in the safety net: a rapid ethnography of patient portal implementation at five community health centers in California

Objective:US health care institutions are implementing secure websites (patient portals) to achieve federal Meaningful Use (MU) certification. We sought to understand efforts to implement portals in “safety net” health care systems that provide services for low-income populations. Materials and Methods:Our rapid ethnography involved visits at 4 California safety net health systems and in-depth interviews at a fifth. Visits included interviews with clinicians and executives (n = 12), informal focus groups with front-line staff (n = 35), observations of patient portal sign-up procedures and clinic work, review of marketing materials and portal use data, and a brief survey (n = 45). Results:Our findings demonstrate that the health systems devoted considerable effort to enlisting staff support for portal adoption and integrating portal-related work into clinic routines. Although all health systems had achieved, or were close to achieving, MU benchmarks, patients faced numerous barriers to portal use and our participants were uncertain how to achieve and sustain “meaningful use” as defined by and for their patients. Discussion:Health systems’ efforts to achieve MU certification united clinic staff under a shared ethos of improved quality of care. However, MU’s assumptions about patients’ demand for electronic access to health information and ability to make use of it directed clinics’ attention to enrollment and message routing rather than to the relevance and usability of a tool that is minimally adaptable to the safety net context. Conclusion:We found a mismatch between MU-based metrics of patient engagement and the priorities and needs of safety net patient populations.
Restricted IgG-Kappa and Free Alpha-Heavy-Chain Bands in an Asymptomatic 62-Year-Old Man

A 62-year-old Virginia man in good health was found on routine testing to have a decreased platelet count of 124k/μL (reference interval: 150–450k/μL). There was no evidence of bruising or bleeding, and there was no family history of thrombocytopenia. His weight was stable, and he had no complaints of pain and no gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, or hematological symptoms. He denied fatigue, fevers, chills, and night sweats. Past medical history included hypothyroidism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Physical examination was unremarkable. Other laboratory test results included hemoglobin of 13.8 g/dL (reference interval: 14.0–18.0 g/dL) and mean red-cell volume of 98.1 fL (reference interval: 83.0–95.0 fL). Plasma potassium was 4.1 mmol/L (reference interval: 3.5–4.5 mmol/L), calcium 8.8 mg/dL (reference interval: 8.8–10.5 mg/dL), albumin 4.23 g/dL (reference interval: 3.4–5.0 g/dL), and alkaline phosphatase 61 U/L (reference interval: 40–150 U/L). Review of a peripheral blood smear found no obvious evidence of pseudothrombocytopenia. Serum ferritin was 53 ng/mL (reference interval: 20–275 ng/mL) and iron saturation was 18% (reference interval: 16%–48%). Serum protein electrophoresis (Fig. 1A) revealed 2 restricted bands in the γ region, identified by immunofixation (IFE)3 electrophoresis (Fig. 1B) as IgG κ proteins. The combined concentration of these 2 bands was <1.0 g/dL as estimated by densitometry of the stained serum protein electrophoresis gel. IFE (Fig. 1B) also revealed an α-heavy chain band in the α-2 region with no corresponding light-chain band. Immunoglobulin quantification results were as follows: IgA 107 mg/dL (reference interval: 60–263 mg/dL), IgG 1376 mg/dL (reference interval: 694–1618 mg/dL), and IgM 36 mg/dL (reference interval: 60–263 mg/dL). Serum free κ light chain was 3.01 mg/dL (reference interval: 0.33–1.94 mg/dL), and serum free λ light chain was 1.85 mg/dL (reference interval: 0.57–2.63 mg/dL). The κ:λ free-light-chain ratio was 1.6 (reference interval: 0.26–1.65). Urine IFE showed no monoclonal immunoglobulins. ### QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER 1. What …
Recent Findings Related to Wife Abuse

When communities have not developed adequate measures to deal with violent behavior to spouses, often the blame is placed on the victims
Loss-Framed Financial Incentives and Personalized Goal-Setting to Increase Physical Activity Among Ischemic Heart Disease Patients Using Wearable Devices: The ACTIVE REWARD Randomized Trial.

Background Regular physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular events, but most ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients do not obtain enough. Methods and Results ACTIVE REWARD (A Clinical Tr...
An Ecosystem Approach to Problem Solving

Forest ecosystems exert considerable control over chemical, hydrologic, and meteorologic relationships of regional landscapes. To quantify man’s effect, we have for the past ten years intensively studied chemical, hydrologic and biologic aspects of both natural and man-manipulated ecosystems in Northeast U.S.A. The data show that forests not only regulate amounts and flow rates of streamwater, but also closely regulate streamwater chemistry and erosion. Clear-cutting severely upsets natural relationships mainly through its effects on hydrology and on microbial populations. Large quantities of nutrients are lost from the ecosystem, erosion is greatly accelerated, and streamwater is eutrophied. However, nature has designed responses which tend to lessen these adverse effects.
Complex variable boundary integral method for linear viscoelasticity: Part II—application to problems involving circular boundaries

Abstract Complex variable integral equations for linear viscoelasticity derived in Part I [Huang Y, Mogilevskaya SG, Crouch SL. Complex variable boundary integral method for linear viscoelasticity. Part I—basic formulations. Eng Anal Bound Elem 2006; in press, doi: 10.1016/j.enganabound.2005.12.007 .] are employed to solve the problem of an infinite viscoelastic plane containing a circular hole. The viscoelastic material behaves as a Boltzmann model in shear and its bulk response is elastic. Constant or time-dependent stresses are applied at the boundary of the hole, or, if desired, at infinity. Time-dependent variables on the circular boundary (displacements or tractions in the direct formulation of the complex variable boundary integral method or unknown complex density functions in the indirect formulations) are represented by truncated complex Fourier series with time-dependent coefficients and all the space integrals involved are evaluated analytically. Analytical Laplace transform and its inversion are adopted to accomplish the evaluation of the associated time convolutions. Several examples are given to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the method. Generalization of the approach to the problems with multiple holes is discussed.
Dynamic semantics for tense and aspect

A semantics for tense, modality, and aspect in natural language must capture causal and contingent relations between events and states as welt as merely temporal ones The paper investigates a non-reified dynamic logic based, formulation of the situation calculus is a formalism for a computational semantics for a number of temporal categories in English and suggests that some recent claims that dynamic logics are inherently unsuitable for this purpose have taken too narrow a view of the situation calculus.
SOL-GEL ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, A 1991 PERSPECTIVE

Abstract Recent developments in the wet chemical synthesis of ceramic materials in the United States are surveyed. Attention is restricted to bulk glasses (monoliths) and to films and coatings. Where appropriate, examples are employed from work in our laboratories. The need for improved coupling between chemical processing scientists and device technologists is emphasized.
HYDROLOGICAL MODELLING FOR KHUSHKHERA-BHIWADI-NEEMRANA INVESTMENT REGION, RAJASTHAN USING SWAT

In India the availability of accurate information of observed runoff is insufficient. However due to water scarcity great emphasis is now placed on preparation of proper watershed management program for conservation and development of land and water management. For the present study, watershed spanning Jaipur and Alwar districts of Rajasthan state of India, with outlet in Khushkhera-Bhiwadi-Neemrana Investment Region (KBNIR) in Rajasthan, under proposed Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor has been selected as the study area for deriving the optimum water use policies. Basic data of the study area were generated with the help of freely available remotely sensed information. Total watershed area is 2995.84 km2, in which 73.27% is agriculture area. The major soil in watershed area is older alluvial soil. On digitization, ArcSWAT created four hundred sixty four hydrological response units by defining unique combinations of the land use, soil cover and slope conditions. By providing all the inputs for model set up, SWAT model was run for the period of thirty five years (1979–2014). Result of actual evapotranspiration and discharge is validated with the output of other modelling exercises of same area. Total average annual surface runoff is calculated to be 94.79 mm out of which highest average monthly runoff is 34.79 mm in the month of July. Total average runoff for the monsoon month is 92.55 mm which is 97.63% of total runoff. Output of this model can be utilized for development of optimum water resource and agricultural management policies of newly development of KBNIR.
Abstract TP339: Off Hours Presentation is Not Associated With Poor Functional Outcomes or Faster Recanalization Times in Stroke Patients Receiving Mechanical Thrombectomy in a Large Volume Comprehensive Stroke Center

Background: Faster revascularization times are associated with better functional outcome in patients undergoing thrombectomy. We aim to evaluate the impact of time of day presentation on thrombecto...
An active-set strategy to solve Markov decision processes with good-deal risk measure

This paper proposes a quasi closed-form solution for the reweighting of transition probabilities in finite state, finite action distributionally robust Markov decision processes with good-deal risk measure. The relation to the expected (risk-neutral) and minimax (worst-case) discounted cumulated cost objectives is discussed, as well as possible methods for the choice of the risk measure parameters. Numerical results illustrate the computational effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Nonlinear Dynamics in the Switched Reluctance Motor Drive with Time-delay Feedback Control

This paper examines the modes of operation and potential subharmonic and chaotic behaviors exhibited in the switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive which employs modified PI controller with time-delay feedback. An 8/6 pole, 2.32 kW SRM is used as the model for this study. The analytical modelling of the SR drive system, and simulation analysis of phase current, electromagnetic torque, and motor speed are presented. The bifurcation diagrams of motor speed under parametric variations of the time-delay function are also demonstrated. Based on these results, the effect of time-delay feedback on motor operation is briefly discussed.
Using Laboratory Settling Experiments to Characterize the Suspended Load or Movable Matrix Portion of an Urban Aquifer: Potential Relationships to Land Use

AbstractUrban groundwater has received considerable study over the past several decades due to dissolved contamination and subsequent remediation; however, less attention has been paid to the solid...
The Frontiers of Uncertainty Estimation in Interdisciplinary Disaster Research and Practice

Conceptualizing, assessing, and managing disaster risks involve collecting and synthesizing pluralistic information-from natural, built, and human systems-to characterize disaster impacts and guide policy on effective resilience investments. Disaster research and practice, therefore, are highly complex and inherently interdisciplinary endeavors. Characterizing the uncertainties involved in interdisciplinary disaster research is imperative, since misrepresenting uncertainty can lead to myopic decisions and suboptimal societal outcomes. Efficacious disaster mitigation should, therefore, explicitly address the uncertainties associated with all stages of hazard modeling, preparation, and response. However, uncertainty assessment and communication in the context of interdisciplinary disaster research remain understudied. In this "Perspective" article, we argue that in harnessing interdisciplinary methods and diverse data types in disaster research, careful deliberations on assessing Type III and Type IV errors are imperative. Additionally, we discuss the pathologies in frequentist approaches, calling for an increasing role for Bayesian methods in uncertainty estimations. Moreover, we discuss the potential tradeoffs associated with information and uncertainty, calling for deliberate consideration of the role of diversity of information prior to setting the scope in interdisciplinary modeling. Future research guided by further reflections on the ideas raised in this article could help push the frontiers of uncertainty estimation in interdisciplinary hazard research and practice.
Pain and Catastrophizing in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Observational Cohort Study.

BackgroundThe aims of this study were to define changes in catastrophizing that occur with initiation of a new disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and to examine the relationship between changes in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and changes in catastrophizing.MethodsParticipants in
Role of Iron on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Brushite Cements, and Interaction with Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells.

Abstract Improving the physical, mechanical and biological properties of brushite cements (BrC) is of a great interest for using them in bone and dental tissue engineering applications. The objective of this study was to incorporate iron (Fe) at different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 wt%) to BrC and study the role of Fe on phase composition, setting time, compressive strength, and interaction with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Results showed that increase in Fe concentration increases the β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) ratio and prolongs the initial and final setting time due to effective role of Fe on stabilizing the β-TCP crystal structure and retarding its dissolution kinetic, in a dose dependent manner where the highest setting time was recorded for 1.00 wt% Fe–BrC sample. Addition of low concentrations of Fe (0.25 and 0.50 wt%) did not have adverse effect on compressive strength and strength was in the range of 5.7-7.05 (±∼1.4) MPa; however, presence of 1.00 wt% Fe decreases the strength of BrC from 7.05 ± 1.57 MPa to 3.12 ± 1.06 MPa. Interaction between the BrCs and hDPSCs was evaluated by cell proliferation assay, scanning electron microscopy, and live/dead staining. Low concentrations of 0.25, and 0.50 wt% of Fe did not have any adverse effect on cell attachment and proliferation; while significant decrease in cellular activity was evident in BrC samples doped with 1.00 wt %. Together, these data show that low concentrations of Fe (equal or less than 0.50 wt %) can be safely added to BrC without any adverse effect on physical, mechanical and biological properties in presence of hDPSCs.
Durable Changes to Airway Mucus and Fluid Secretion Following Cholinergic Challenge

Purpose: Mucus abnormalities are central to the pathophysiology of several chronic airway diseases. Mucus secretion and clearance are regulated, in part, by cholinergic innervation. Prolonged cholinergic stimulation may contribute to mucus abnormalities in disease. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that prolonged cholinergic stimulation gives rise to lasting mucus abnormalities in airways. Methods: We delivered aerosolized bethanechol, a cholinergic agonist, to pig airways. Forty-eight hours later, we measured mucus secretion and mucociliary transport in tracheal segments ex vivo. Tracheal and bronchoalveolar lavage concentrations of the major secreted mucus glycoproteins, mucin5B (MUC5B) or mucin5AC (MUC5AC), were measured with ELISA and antibody labeling. Pig airway epithelia were cultured at the air-liquid interface and treated with bethanechol for forty-eight hours. Stimulated fluid secretion was measured with reflected microscopy and Ussing chambers were used to measure ion transport. Results: Airways from bethanechol-challenged pigs exhibited sheet-like mucus films, which were not associated with a greater abundance of MUC5AC or MUC5B. Epithelia treated with bethanechol had diminished fluid secretion and decreased Cl- transport. However, mucus and fluid alterations were not associated with impaired mucociliary transport. Conclusions: These data suggest that cholinergic transmission induces sustained alterations in airway mucus properties. Such defects might compound and/or contribute to persistent mucus phenotypes found after the resolution of airway inflammation.
Existential–Humanistic Therapy and Disaster Response: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected the mental health field. The unique distress caused by the pandemic along with the need for many to transition their therapy practices to TeleHealth/...
Integrating Polystore RDBMS with Common In-Memory Data

A polystore system is composed of multiple heterogeneous databases which are used to store data that best suites its features for faster processing and querying. A single database does not fit all data formats, which has resulted in the development of a polystore system that leverages databases belonging to different categories such as relational, NoSQL, and NewSQL. Retrieving data from relational databases for analytics is a costly operation. This paper presents an extension to a polystore system which queries data from different relational databases using a standard in-memory data format for analytical queries with low latency.
Unjustified Defeaters

A number of philosophers have recently claimed that unjustified beliefs can be defeaters. However these claims have been made in passing, occurring in the context of defenses of other theses. As a result, the claim that unjustified beliefs can be defeaters has been neither vigorously defended nor thoroughly explained. This paper fills that gap. It begins by identifying problems with the two most in-depth accounts of the possibility of unjustified defeaters due to Bergmann (Justification without awareness. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006) and Pryor (Philos Issues 14:349–378, 2004). It then offers a revised version of Pryor’s account. On this proposal, an unjustified belief can be a defeater if it is rational, all things considered. If a belief is rational, all things considered, it can require one to abandon other beliefs with which it conflicts—even if it is unjustified. Finally, this paper shows that the proposed account of unjustified defeaters is one that can and should be embraced by leading accounts of justified belief as diverse as reliabilism and evidentialism.
Zeta function of projective hypersurfaces with ADE singularities

Given a hypersurface, $X$, prime $p$, the zeta function is a generating function for the number of $\mathbb{F}_{p}$ rational points of $X$. Until now, there is no algorithm for computing hypersurfaces with ADE singularities. Scott Stetson and Vladimir Baranovsky provided an algorithm with Mathematica for the ordinary double point case. In this paper, I go over a Sage algorithm for computing the zeta function of a hypersurface with ADE singularities over 3-dimensional projective space. To make the algorithm more efficient, I established an equivalence between a polynomial belonging to the Jacobian ideal with a polynomial satisfying a set of differential operators. I will also provide the link to the Sage code I constructed.
A Novel Approach to Pulse Pressure Variation Estimation

We describe a novel algorithm to estimate the pulse pressure variation index (PPV) from arterial blood pressure signals (ABP). PPV has been shown to be one of the best predictors of fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated subjects. Our PPV algorithm uses a non-linear technique for envelope estimation, eliminating the need for automatic beat detection. Additionally, the algorithm makes use of nonparametric spectral techniques to extract the respiratory rate, and a median filter for artifact removal. The algorithm was validated against the continuous PPV output obtained from the commercially available PiCCO R system and gold standard expert PPV manual annotations. The data consists of ABP taken from subjects who experienced rapid changes in hemodynamics. This data comprised over six hours of continuous ABP monitoring. Index Terms— Pulse pressure variation index (PPV), stroke volume variation index (SVV), PiCCO R , pulse contour anal- ysis, hemodynamic monitoring, fluid responsiveness.
Neurotrophic factors in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathies are common and frequently debilitating disorders which may include various subpopulations of motor, sensory or autonomic neurons depending on the underlying aetiology. They are likely to be the first group of neurological disorders to be successfully treated with growth factors since peripheral nerves are accessible to proteins given systemically. Preclinical and ongoing clinical trials of nerve growth factor (NGF) suggest that it will be useful for the treatment of diabetic, toxic and compressive sensory neuropathies. At appropriate doses NGF has no significant side effects in humans. Since NGF administration to mature animals stimulates synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and perhaps other neurotrophins in peripheral nerves, the spectrum of neuropathies treatable with NGF is wider than might be predicted. Preclinical studies suggest that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) will be useful for the treatment of mixed motor and sensory neuropathies. For example, IGF-1 treatment can prevent the experimental motor and sensory neuropathies caused by the antitumour drugs, vincristine and cisplatin. Other neurotrophic factors have also shown promise in preclinical trials. The successful use of growth factors in the treatment of peripheral neuropathies may provide the first true therapy for this previously untreatable and devastating group of neurological disorders.
Structure of the Ribonucleoprotein of Influenza Virus

The ribonucleoprotein (RNP) internal components of influenza virus were separated into distinct size classes by sedimentation in glycerol gradients and examined by electron microscopy by using positive staining with uranyl acetate. The large RNP have a peak in length distribution at 90 to 110 nm, the medium, at 60 to 90 nm, and the small, at 30 to 50 nm. These lengths can be correlated with the estimated molecular weights of the ribonucleic acids contained in the various RNP size classes. The RNP structure appears to consist of a strand which is folded back on itself and coiled in a regular double-helical arrangement.
The effect of caffeine on repair in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: I. Enhancement of recombination repair

The effect of caffeine on repair was studied in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Treatment of UV-irradiated wild-type (UVS+) cells with a sublethal level of caffeine caused a significant increase in survival compared to untreated UV-irradiated cells. Caffeine did not affect survival in the repair-deficient strain UVSE1, which is deficient in repair of UV-induced damage carried out by enzymes associated with recombination during meiosis. A significant increase in survival in the presence of caffeine was observed in the repair-deficient strain UVSE4 in which recombination during meiosis is not affected. Treatment of zygotes homozygous for UVS+, UVSE1, or UVSE4 with sublethal levels of caffeine caused marked increases in recombination frequency in UVS+ and UVSE4 zygotes and no increase in recombination in UVSE1 zygotes. These results indicate that caffeine increases recombination in normal strains. Increased opportunity for recombination caused by caffeine would not result in increased recombination frequency in the UVSE1 strain, assuming limited-recombination enzyme activity in this strain. The observed increase in survival following UV-irradiation in the presence of caffeine in strains having normal recombination would therefore be associated with a caffeine-induced increase in opportunities for recombination repair.
Cinemas of the Wild

Reel Nature America's Romance with Wildlife on Film. By Gregg Mitman . Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1999. 303 pp. $29.95. ISBN 0-674-71571-3. Wildlife Films . By Derek Bouse, . University of Pennsylvania Press. Philadelphia, 2000. 296 pp. $55. ISBN 0-8122-3555-X. Paper, $22.50. ISBN 0-8122-1728-4. These books examine the long and rich history of nature films. Mitman focuses on how the interaction of science, cultural values, and motion-picture technologies has shaped American views of wildlife. Bouse, argues that the genre's emphasis on telling stories rather than revealing fact has made it so successful at popularizing science.
Markov random field driven region-based active contour model (MaRACel): application to medical image segmentation

In this paper we present a Markov random field (MRF) driven region-based active contour model (MaRACel) for medical image segmentation. State-of-the-art region-based active contour (RAC) models assume that every spatial location in the image is statistically independent of the others, thereby ignoring valuable contextual information. To address this shortcoming we incorporate a MRF prior into the AC model, further generalizing Chan & Vese's (CV) and Rousson and Deriche's (RD) AC models. This incorporation requires a Markov prior that is consistent with the continuous variational framework characteristic of active contours; consequently, we introduce a continuous analogue to the discrete Potts model. To demonstrate the effectiveness of MaRACel, we compare its performance to those of the CV and RD AC models in the following scenarios: (1) the qualitative segmentation of a cancerous lesion in a breast DCE-MR image and (2) the qualitative and quantitative segmentations of prostatic acini (glands) in 200 histopathology images. Across the 200 prostate needle core biopsy histology images, MaRACel yielded an average sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of 71%, 95%, 74% with respect to the segmented gland boundaries; the CV and RD models have corresponding values of 19%, 81%, 20% and 53%, 88%, 56%, respectively.
Molecular analysis of plasmid DNA repair within ultraviolet-irradiated Escherichia coli. II. UvrABC-initiated excision repair and photolyase-catalyzed dimer monomerization

In this study, a novel approach to the analysis of DNA repair in Escherichia coli was employed which allowed the first direct determination of the mechanisms by which endogenous DNA repair enzymes encounter target sites in vivo. An in vivo plasmid DNA repair analysis was employed to discriminate between two possible mechanisms of target site location: a processive DNA scanning mechanism or a distributive random diffusion mechanism. The results demonstrate that photolyase acts by a distributive mechanism within E. coli. In contrast, UvrABC-initiated excision repair occurs by a limited processive DNA scanning mechanism. A majority of the dimer sites on a given plasmid molecule were repaired prior to the dissociation of the UvrABC complex. Furthermore, plasmid DNA repair catalyzed by the UvrABC complex occurs without a detectable accumulation of nicked plasmid intermediates despite the fact that the UvrABC complex generates dual incisions in the DNA at the site of a pyrimidine dimer. Therefore, the binding or assembly of the UvrABC complex on DNA at the site of a pyrimidine dimer represents the rate-limiting step in the overall process of UvrABC-initiated excision repair in vivo.
Thermal Inactivation of Poliovirus in the Presence of Selective Organic Molecules (Cholesterol, Lecithin, Collagen, and β-Carotene)

Poliovirus type 1 strain LS-a exhibited the typical thermal inactivation pattern observed previously by other investigators for poliovirus strains sensitive to the temperatures used in these experiments. However, when the virus suspension was thermally treated at 121 C for 5 sec in the presence of 2% collagen, a stabilizing effect on the virus was observed. The stabilizing effect in the presence of other food additives, such as cholesterol, lecithin, or β-carotene, was less dramatic or there was no effect at all. Pretreatment of the cells with the same additives before inoculation induced various changes in the susceptibility of the cells to infection by poliovirus. Lecithin and cholesterol treatment appeared to increase HeLa cell susceptibility to the invading virus, thereby enhancing infectivity. Ultraviolet examination of thermally inactivated virus (121 C) suspensions did not indicate any severe denaturation of the nucleic acid core. Subsequent phenol extraction of the infectious nucleic acid from the heat-inactivated virions revealed that infectious nucleic acid was still present in the denatured heat-treated (62 to 72 C) samples of virion. The immediate past history of treatment of the uninoculated cells appeared to be important, since pretreatment of the cells with cholesterol before inoculation resulted in a noticeable increase in infectivity. In addition, cholesterol-treated uninoculated cell sheets also exhibited an increase in longevity compared to the uninoculated, untreated controls.
Sociocultural Factors as a Deterrent to Students’ Pursuit of the Sciences

Much of the area of the southwestern United States is one of vast expanses, clear blue skies, and impregnable solitude. Young women and men in some localities of this region can live their formative years only moderately influenced by the Atomic Age. In many instances, fathers and mothers of the current generation of college students in this area came to know the Industrial Revolution firsthand only during and immediately following World War II. Among these inhabitants of the Southwest are Mexican-Americans and American Indians, who formerly constituted a majority of the population of this largely uninhabited land.
Edwin J. Kenney, Jr.: telling stories

Evocation de l'oeuvre critique de E. J. Kenney - notamment sur E. Bowen, V. Woolf, A. Bennett, G. Eliot, S. Johnson...
A 3.5 Watt High Efficiency Frequency Quadruple for X-Band Applications

A microwave integrated circuit x4 frequency multiplier has been developed which has a peak output power of greater than 3.5 watts at 9.5 GHz and a 6 percent 1 dB bandwidth. This performance was achieved with an input power of 12 watts peak at S-band and at 10 percent duty cycle.
Design of decentralized projective controls for disturbance rejection

A two-stage design problem is formulated to achieve disturbance rejection using low-order decentralized controllers. Using the H/sub infinity /-optimal state feedback solutions as the reference, the authors parameterize all decentralized controllers of a given order retaining the dominant poles in the closed-loop system. Using a Frobenius-Hankel norm-minimization approach, they determine the free parameters in the parameterization that can be used to place the remaining zeros and poles for disturbance rejection. The procedure is illustrated on a seventh-order example for which two first-order controllers were designed. >
Discrete differential operators for computer graphics

This thesis presents a family of discrete differential operators. Since these operators are derived taking into account the continuous notions of differential geometry, they possess many similar properties. This family consists of first- and second-order properties, both geometric and parametric. These operators are then analyzed and their practical use is tested in several example applications. First, the operators are used in a smoothing application. Due to the properties of the operators, the resulting smoothing algorithm is general, efficient and robust to sampling problems. The smoothing can be applied to many different inputs ranging from images to surfaces to volume data. Second, a surface remeshing technique using the operators is presented. Given the operators, we present an algorithm that resamples a surface mesh according to several geometric criteria (integrated curvature, directional curvature, geometric distortion). The resulting algorithm is efficient, general and user-tunable. Next, a surface mesh parameterization technique is presented. Using geometric invariants associated with the discrete operators, we present an efficient, tunable parameterization algorithm that is robust to sampling irregularities in the input model. Using the properties of the differential operators allows us to make a parameterization algorithm that relies only on geometric information and not the original parameterization of the input model. Finally, we conclude and present future work including physical simulation and sampling theory.