cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbial imbalance and intestinal pathologies: connections and contributions

Microbiome analysis has identified a state of microbial imbalance (dysbiosis) in patients with chronic intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer. The bacterial phylum Proteobacteria is often overrepresented in these individuals, with Escherichia coli being the most prevalent species. It is clear that a complex interplay between the host, bacteria and bacterial genes is implicated in the development of these intestinal diseases. Understanding the basic elements of these interactions could have important implications for disease detection and management. Recent studies have revealed that E. coli utilizes a complex arsenal of virulence factors to colonize and persist in the intestine. Some of these virulence factors, such as the genotoxin colibactin, were found to promote colorectal cancer in experimental models. In this Review, we summarize key features of the dysbiotic states associated with chronic intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer, and discuss how the dysregulated interplay between host and bacteria could favor the emergence of E. coli with pathological traits implicated in these pathologies.
Pipeline design based on self-resetting stage logic

In this paper, we present a novel synchronization approach to support data flow in clockless designs using single-rail encoding. This approach is based on self-resetting stage logic in which a pipeline stage resets itself before starting the next execution cycle. As such, a stage goes through a reset phase when its output is null, and an evaluate phase when its output is the result of the evaluation of its inputs. To insure a proper data flow, a latch-based synchronization mechanism is proposed, which yields an efficient and simple uni-directional handshaking scheme between stages that accommodates easy implementation. A concept design of a four-bit 16-stage pipeline is presented to illustrate the inner workings of self-resetting stage logic and its data-flow synchronization mechanism. The pipeline performance is examined through a detailed signal timing analysis. This analysis reveals some insights on how the duration of the evaluate phase gradually increases while the duration of the reset phase and the latch enable gradually decreases toward the left stages of the pipeline. This gradual decrease in the duration of the enable of the latches between stages is used to derive a bound on the maximum possible depth of the pipeline.
DDDAS Design of Drug Interventions for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in ApoE(-/-) Mice.

Computational models of complex systems, such as signaling networks and biological systems, can be used to explain the behavior of such systems under various conditions. The large number of integrated processes and variables, and the nonlinearities inherent in the fundamental processes, make it difficult for scientists unassisted by computer simulations to effectively predict the consequences of a particular intervention. For this reason, computer simulation has become an important tool for generating hypotheses about the behavior of these systems that can then be tested in the laboratory and clinic. A dynamic data-driven application simulation (DDDAS) was designed by Biospherics to model complex metabolic disease pathways by testing potential binary therapies in simulations at various combinations of two points in the pathways. Since DDDAS chooses the most effective pair-wise combinations, this data-driven system allows for the implementation of real-time data to model or predict a measurement or event. By incorporating data dynamically rather than statically, the predictions and measurements become more reliable. Dyslipidemia, a common precursor to atherosclerosis, can be manifested by high triglycerides, increased apolipoprotein (Apo) B, high levels of LDL, and low levels of HDL. SPX106 and D-tagatose is a combination drug therapy composed of a carbohydrate, D-tagatose, and SPX106. D-tagatose has been studied for the treatment of diabetes for several years, and has the ability to lower blood insulin levels and to decrease glycogen formation. SPX106 is a natural substance that accelerates lipid catabolism and inhibits dyslipidemia. In apolipoprotein E knockout mice (ApoE-/-), this drug combination has been shown to significantly lower both the amount of atherosclerosis and blood cholesterol levels. This study used 26 male ApoE-/- mice- (n=13 in each group, control and treated). The control group received the normal “Western” diet (Harlan TD88137) and the treatment group received a modified version in which the sucrose was replaced with D-tagatose and 1g of SPX106 was added for every kilogram of chow. Mice were fed the diet for 8 weeks and then sacrificed via cardiac puncture. Blood serum was analyzed for cholesterol concentration. A significant difference was observed between the control and treated groups for total cholesterol levels. FPLC separations were done on fractions from both control and treated groups. A significant difference between VLDL and HDL levels was found between the treated and control mice (p<0.05 for both). Aortas were also taken and preserved in formalin to be quantified for atherosclerosis. Aortic sinuses were frozen in OCT and sectioned using a cryostat and then quantified for atherosclerosis. Treated mice showed statistically significant reduction in atherosclerosis in the aortic arch (p<0.01), the thoracic aorta (p<0.05), and the aortic sinus (p<0.05) as well as a reduction of cholesterol (p<0.05).
Industrial manipulator control with feedforward dynamic compensation

The feasibility of implementing model-based control techniques on the existing hierarchical control architecture of industrial manipulators has been evaluated experimentally. Three critical issues are addressed: the impact of stiffer PD (proportional-derivative) loops on the performance of model-based controllers with incomplete dynamic compensation in the feedforward loop, the performance degradation produced by asynchronous calculation of feedforward and feedback compensation torques, and the PD loop gain payload adaption requirements. It is concluded that a constant-gain PD feedback with an asynchronous feedforward compensation algorithm outperforms conventional controllers and could be implemented on existing control structures without hardware modifications. >
Triglycerides and toggling the tummy.

Multiple mechanisms regulate adipose mass and body weight. In addition to factors controlling appetite and energy expenditure, mechanisms controlling adipocyte number, triglyceride synthesis and triglyceride breakdown have important functions. But recent studies challenge our concepts concerning each of these.
Intravascular Fluorocarbon-stabilized Microbubbles Protect Against Fatal Anemia in Rats

It has earlier been hypothesized that intravascular microbubbles, derived from a dodecafluoropentane (DDFP) emulsion, can transport physiologically significant amounts of oxygen in the animal body. To test this notion, anesthetized oxygen breathing rats were rendered severely anemic by bleeding and volume replacement. Rats treated with 0.014 ml/kg of DDFP in a 2% emulsion had normal circulatory parameters and behaved normally when waking up from anesthesia while controls died during anesthesia. Oxygen-breathing intact rats given 0.01 ml/kg of DDFP had muscle oxygen tensions which, for about 2.5 hours, exceeded those of controls by 50-100%. It was further verified in vitro that DDFP-derived microbubbles can exchange oxygen with a surrounding aqueous medium. Extrapolation from these experiments indicates that less than 1 ml of DDFP, in emulsion-form, could provide for the resting oxygen consumption of an adult person. This suggests various therapeutic uses of the emulsion.
Synthesis of Well-Defined N-Heterocyclic Carbene Silver(I) Complexes

A series of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)AgCl complexes [NHC = SIMes (1), IPr (2), SIPr (3), IPrMe (4), IMe (5), ICy (6), IAd (7), IsB (8), IDD (9), and TPh (10)] have been synthesized through reaction of the imidazolium chloride salts with Ag2O or by direct metalation of the corresponding imidazol-2-ylidene carbene in the presence of AgCl. All silver(I) complexes [(SIMes)AgCl] (11), [(IPr)AgCl] (12), [(SIPr)AgCl] (13), [(IPrMe)AgCl] (14), [(IMe)AgCl] (15), [(ICy)AgCl] (16), [(IAd)AgCl] (17), [(IsB)AgCl] (18), [(IDD)AgCl] (19), and [(TPh)AgCl] (20) have been spectroscopically and structurally characterized. The structure of these silver complexes is dependent on the halide and the solvent used for the synthesis. Adjusting these parameters has led to the previously reported complex, [(IMes)2Ag]+[AgCl2]- (21), and to a new silver complex, [(IMes)2Ag]+2[Ag4I6]2- (22).
A regression algorithm for transformer fault detection

A transformer's failure can lead to disruption in power, decrease in system reliability and monetary loss to the utility and distribution companies. Fault detection of transformers is a critical step for improving the reliability of distribution systems. Regular maintenance checks can detect most of faulty conditions, but due to high cost and difficulty, the maintenance checked can only be performed annually. This paper proposes a simple on-line monitoring algorithm that uses a minimum set of sensor information, including ambient temperature, hot spot temperature, and load, to estimate several system parameters such as oil and thermal properties of the transformer and detect abnormal behavior. Fault can be detected when these parameter estimations experience sudden changes or the estimated values have sufficient deviation from their nominal values.
Recent developments in antifungal susceptibility testing

Abstract The evolution of new test methods in laboratory medicine often subscribes to a well worn aphorism: "necessity is the mother of invention." Current information does not support routine testing of antifungal agents (14–16, 41). The future availability of several drugs with similar antifungal and pharmacological properties, such as triazoles, may offer the clinician a variety of nontoxic, effective therapies for systemic fungal disease. With a selection of agents to choose from, it is likely that clinicians will perceive a need for in vitro susceptibility data and the demand placed on laboratories for on-line testing will increase. The work of the NCCLS Subcommittee on Antifungal Susceptibility Testing indicates that standardization of in vitro sensitivity testing is possible and perhaps close at hand. Three remaining issues regarding in vitro testing should be mentioned. The first relates to the broth dilution method. The NCCLS Subcommittee recommends a modification of the broth macrodilution technique of Shadomy et al. (17) for yeast susceptibility testing (16, 24). However, most clinical microbiology laboratories are more familiar with the broth microdilution techniques used for antibacterial agents. Furthermore, advances in automation and instrumentation in this area have been geared toward microdilution methods. Antifungal testing by broth microdilution would probably be preferred by most laboratories, provided accuracy and reproducibility could be maintained. Recent evidence suggests this to be true (22, 31, 42, 43) but more data are needed. The second issue regards the expansion of antifungal susceptibility testing beyond isolates of Candida and Cryptococcus . Differences in growth rates and morphology (yeast versus mold), for example, would impact on inoculum preparation and length of incubation. The propensity and clinical significance of Candida and Cryptococcus species as agents of mycotic disease, however, justify them as initial targets for a standardized assay. A final consideration relates to the establishment of clinically relevant interpretive guidelines. With an available standardized method for antifungal testing it should be possible to approach the issue of interpretive guidelines according to proven NCCLS methods (44). Derivation of breakpoints should consider the distribution pattern of MICs for each drug-organism group, the clinical pharmacology of the antifungal agent, and clinical efficacy data (45). These measures are essential for producing a test that is not only accurate and reproducible, but also of medical relevance.
Letter by Replogle and Moore Regarding Article, “Efficacy and Safety of Apixaban Compared With Warfarin at Different Levels of Predicted International Normalized Ratio Control for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation”

Wallentin et al1 report post hoc analysis of the Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (ARISTOTLE) trial in which apixaban was compared with warfarin in the reduction of stroke. For the practicing clinician, they summarized the findings in the Clinical Summaries section of the same issue, reporting that apixaban reduced stroke by 21%. Given the reported stroke event rates among patients receiving apixaban (A-ER) of 1.27% and warfarin (W-ER) of 1.60%, we find 21%=(| W-ER−A-ER |)/W-ER or | 1.60%−1.27% …
Differential Orbit Element Constraints for Coulomb Satellite Formations

Recently the concept of controlling the relative motion of spacecraft using electrostatic charging has been proposed. For tight spacecraft formations with separation distances ranging from 10‐100 meters, the Coulomb forces between the spacecraft can be exploited to provide a very fuel and power efficient means of propulsion. As the charge of a single craft is varied, the relative motion of the entire formation is affected. The Coulomb force vector a craft experiences is restricted to be directed along the relative position vector, which results in constraints being imposed on how the Coulomb force can be used to control a formation. This paper investigates how the conservation of angular momentum and the formation center of mass limits the types of relative orbits that can be controlled. Considering the spacecraft formation to be a system of N particles, this internal force can not change the inertial system angular momentum vector. The center of mass definition and angular momentum constraint are expressed using differential orbit elements to describe the relative motion. First order transformations to the nonlinear solutions are presented. Their accuracy is evaluated both analytically and using numerical simulations.
Discussion of Valuation of Internet Stocks—An IPO Perspective

The discussion reviews BMS’s analysis of how summary financial data from the IPO prospectus are associated with the IPO offer price and the initial market price. The authors focus on whether the value drivers associated with these prices differ between internet and non-internet firms, and between the offer price and the day one ending price. They conclude that there are differences in the value drivers used to value Internet versus non-Internet firms, and further differences in the value drivers used to arrive at the offer price and the day one ending price. The review raises several concerns about these conclusions. One concern is that the reader confronts a challenge in trying to interpret the differences between the value drivers affecting the offer price and the day one ending price. The review discusses two factors for the reader to consider before interpreting these differences. The review also critiques the paper’s avoidance of disaggregated financial statement information in the value driver analyses and details several research design concerns.
Have you thanked your spouse today?: Felt and expressed gratitude among married couples.

Abstract Recent research has underscored the importance of gratitude to psychological and physical well-being ( Emmons & McCullough, 2003 ), and has shown that gratitude can help facilitate the development of close relationships ( Algoe, Haidt, & Gable, 2008 ). To date, however, little is known about gratitude among long-term married couples. The present investigation aims to examine the association between gratitude and marital satisfaction at both the individual and dyadic level. Furthermore, this study was designed to clarify the unique contributions of both feeling and expressing gratitude in marriage. Fifty couples (both husbands and wives) with a mean relationship length of 20.7 years participated in this study. Daily diary methodology was used to collect each individual’s self-reported ratings of felt and expressed gratitude as well as relationship satisfaction for 2 weeks. Consistent with hypotheses, results indicate that one’s felt and expressed gratitude both significantly relate to one’s own marital satisfaction. Cross-partner analyses indicate that the individual’s felt gratitude also predicts the spouse’s satisfaction, whereas surprisingly his or her expressed gratitude does not. Results are discussed in the context of relationship enhancement both at the individual and dyadic level.
Habitat Effects on Condition of Doe Mule Deer in Arid Mixed Woodland-grassland

Abstract Productivity of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus Raf.) populations is closely linked to individual nutritional condition. We modeled body fat of individual does as a function of vegetation cover, composition, and water characteristics of their annual, summer, and winter home ranges in north-central New Mexico. We also modeled home range size as a function of the same characteristics. Levels of body fat were most closely and negatively related to the amount of pinyon-juniper in an individual deer's annual home range ( F 1,21 = 7.6; P = 0.012; r 2 = 0.26). Pinyon-juniper types provided little (combined ground cover of preferred forbs and shrubs = 5.7%) mule deer forage but were included in home ranges in excess of their availability on the landscape, likely because of security cover attributes. Proportion of grasslands in home ranges was most strongly related to both annual ( F 1,23 = 4.9; P = 0.037; r 2 = 0.18) and summer ( F 2,25 = 5.7; P = 0.009; r 2 = 0.31) home range sizes, and home ranges increased as the grassland component increased, indicating that this habitat type was providing little value to mule deer. Grassland (0.2% combined cover of preferred forb and shrub) and montane conifer (3.2% ground cover of preferred forb and shrub) habitat types similarly lacked preferred mule deer food, and grasslands also lacked cover. Most immediate gains in mule deer habitat in north-central New Mexico may be attained by management of pinyon-juniper communities to increase forage quantity and quality while maintaining cover attributes. Gains can also be realized in grasslands, but here management must establish both cover and forage.
Intracellular Immunization of Rhesus CD34+ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells With a Hairpin Ribozyme Protects T Cells and Macrophages From Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Evaluation of candidate genes for stem cell gene therapy for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been limited by the difficulty of supporting in vitro T-cell differentiation of genetically modified hematopoietic progenitor cells. Using a novel thymic stromal culture technique, we evaluated the ability of a hairpin ribozyme specific for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) to inhibit viral replication in T lymphocytes derived from transduced CD34+ progenitor cells. Retroviral transduction of rhesus macaque CD34+ progenitor cells with a retroviral vector (p9456t) encoding the SIV-specific ribozyme and the selectable marker neomycin phosphotransferase in the presence of bone marrow stroma and in the absence of exogenous cytokines resulted in efficient transduction of both colony-forming units and long-term culture-initiating cells, with transduction efficiencies ranging between 21% and 56%. After transduction, CD34+ cells were cultured on rhesus thymic stromal culture (to support in vitro differentiation of T cells) or in the presence of cytokines (to support differentiation of macrophage-like cells). After expansion and selection with the neomycin analog G418, cells derived from transduced progenitor cells were challenged with SIV. CD4+ T cells derived from CD34+ hematopoietic cells transduced with the ribozyme vector p9456t were highly resistant to challenge with SIV, exhibiting up to a 500-fold decrease in SIV replication, even after high multiplicities of infection. Macrophages derived from CD34+ cells transduced with the 9456 ribozyme exhibited a comparable level of inhibition of SIV replication. These results show that a hairpin ribozyme introduced into CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells can retain the ability to inhibit AIDS virus replication after T-cell differentiation and support the feasibility of intracellular immunization of hematopoietic stem cells against infection with HIV and SIV. Protection of multiple hematopoietic lineages with the SIV-specific ribozyme should permit analysis of stem cell gene therapy for AIDS in the SIV/macaque model.
Alterations in aorta lipids with advancing atherosclerosis.

SummaryAnalysis of lipids of the intima and media of aortas with progressive stages of atherosclerosis reveals an increase in sterol and sterol ester fractions and a decrease in phospholipids. It is proposed that these changes reveal a very low rate of lipid turn-over in this tissue. The fatty acid composition of the cholesterol esters did not change with advancing atherosclerosis.
Genu Recuirvatum after Hamstring Lengthening for C. P. Children

Distal elongation of the Hamstrings was performed for contracture due to neurogenic disorders in forty-three patients. A follow-up study on twenty-eight of the patients with cerebral palsy is reported here. The success of the operation was judged by functional evaluation including joint measurement and gait analysis with T-V recorder. The disadvantages of this operation especially about genu recuirvatum and the need for prolonged aftercare are discussed.In the thirty-two knees, the spastic knee-flexion deformity was corrected, gait was improved, and a longer in eleven knees. It seemed that pre-operative ability for knee extension and ankle dorsi-flexion and age at operation were concerned to genu recuirvatum. In the five knees, recuirvatum was improved by fixed-ankle below-the-knee orthoses.
Uncertainty in gridded CO2 emissions estimates

We are interested in the spatial distribution of fossil-fuel-related emissions of CO2 for both geochemical and geopolitical reasons, but it is important to understand the uncertainty that exists in spatially explicit emissions estimates. Working from one of the widely used gridded data sets of CO2 emissions, we examine the elements of uncertainty, focusing on gridded data for the United States at the scale of 1’ latitude by 1’ longitude. Uncertainty is introduced in the magnitude of total United States emissions, the magnitude and location of large point sources, the magnitude and distribution of non-point sources, and from the use of proxy data to characterize emissions. For the United States, we develop estimates of the contribution of each component of uncertainty. At 1 resolution, in most grid cells, the largest contribution to uncertainty comes from how well the distribution of the proxy (in this case population density) represents the distribution of emissions. In other grid cells, the magnitude and location of large point sources make the major contribution to uncertainty. Uncertainty in population density can be important where a large gradient in population density occurs near a grid cell boundary. Uncertainty is strongly scale-dependent with uncertainty increasing as grid size decreases. Uncertainty for our data set with 1 grid cells for the United States is typically on the order of ±150%, but this is perhaps not excessive in a data set where emissions per grid cell vary over 8 orders of magnitude.
Changes of Signal Transduction of Toll-Like Receptors in Children with Acute Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Objective To investigate the role of signal transduction of toll-like receptors(TLRs)in immunological pathogenesis in children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP).Methods Thirty children with actue ITP and 30 age-matched healthy children were studied.Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the levels of TLR 1-10 and signal transducing molecules,and cytokines associated with TLRs,such as IL-1β,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF),macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF)and IFN-α/β mRNA.Expressions of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD40,CD80 and CD86 in mo-nocyte/macrophage(MC)was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared with healthy control group,the mRNA levels of TLR3,7,8 and 9 in ITP group were significantly up-regulated(Pa0.05),no difference was detected as to other TLRs(P0.05).Transcription le-vels of MyD88-dependent and-independent pathway molecules such as MD-2,MyD88,IRAK-4,TRAF6,TAK1,TRIF,TRAM,TBK-1 and IFN-β were significantly up-regulated in acute ITP(Pa0.05).Expression levels of cytokines associated with TLRs signaling in children with acute ITP were higher than those in healthy control group(Pa0.05),and expression level of CD86 was significantly elevated in MC(P0.05).There was no difference to be found between the 2 groups as to CD40 and CD80(Pa0.05).Conclusion Aberrant activation of toll-like receptors signaling may be one of the initiating factors of immune dysfunction in children with acute ITP.
Human Resource Management and Fortune's Corporate Reputation Survey

This study investigates the relationship between human resource objectives and Fortune's corporate reputation score. Questionnaires were received from 83 human resource executives of companies measured in Fortune's survey. The questionnaire measured the degree to which the following HR objectives underlie HR activities: (1) treating employees fairly, (2) improving organizational performance, and (3) complying with the law. Results show that a significant, positive correlation exists between emphasis placed on the fairness objective and corporate reputation.
Brief review of emerging photovoltaic absorbers

Photovoltaic solar cells have recently made significant commercial progress and are on track toward meeting more than 1% of global energy demand. However, further research is needed on photovoltaic technologies that face no scalability constraints in generating more than 10% of the world's electricity. This 2017 article briefly reviews emerging photovoltaic absorber materials, focusing on research progress over the past 2–3 years. Particular emphasis is given to emerging solar cell absorbers—for example, SnS, Sb2Se3, Cu2SnS3, and CuSbSe2—related to established solar cell technologies such as CdTe, Cu(In,Ga)Se2, and CH3NH3PbI3. Finally, the general publication and performance trends are discussed, and the promising future research directions are pointed out.
Clinically Ascertained Monoclonal B-Cell Lymphocytosis: Risk of Progression to Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Requiring Therapy and Outcomes

Background: Individuals with clinically ascertained monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (c-MBL) having the phenotype of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have a 1-4% per year risk of progression to CLL requiring therapy. The risk factors for progression and the outcomes of individuals with c-MBL are not well defined. Methods: Using the Mayo Clinic CLL Database, we identified individuals with c-MBL (absolute B-cell count of Results: Eight hundred and fifty-one individuals with c-MBL were identified and included in this analysis. Median age was 69 years (range, 38-95 years), and 527 (62%) were males. The median absolute B-cell count at the time of diagnosis was 2.6 x 109/L (range, 0.1-5.0 x 109/L). The median serum beta-2 microglobulin (β2M) was 2.2 mg/dL (range, 1.0 - 21.5 mg/dL). One hundred and nine (30%) individuals had unmutated IGHV genes, and 38 (7%) had high-risk FISH (defined as either del17p13 or del11q23). The CD38 (≥30%), ZAP-70 (≥20%), and CD49d (≥30%) status was positive in 19%, 23% and 34% individuals, respectively. After a median follow-up of 6.8 years, 99 individuals required therapy for progressive disease (at a rate of 2.1% per year, Figure 1). On multivariable analysis, the following factors were associated with a higher risk of progression to CLL requiring therapy: a) unmutated IGHV status (hazard ratio [HR]:3.8, 95%CI 2.1 - 7.0, p The median OS of individuals with c-MBL was 11.8 years. Although the OS among individuals with c-MBL and the age- and sex-matched general population of Minnesota appeared similar for the first 10 years of follow-up, OS was significantly shorter in the c-MBL group during the full follow-up interval (p=0.004, Figure 3). Conclusion: In this large cohort of individuals with clinically ascertained MBL, the risk of progression to CLL requiring therapy was 2.1% per year. Biological characteristics of the B-cell clone including IGHV mutation status, and CD49d and CD38 status predicted time to first CLL therapy. On extended follow-up, the OS of individuals with c-MBL was significantly shorter relative to age- and sex-matched general population. These findings have important implications for counselling individuals with clinically ascertained MBL. Disclosures Parikh:Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Research Funding. Ding:Merck: Research Funding. Kenderian:Novartis: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Shanafelt:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithkKine: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Hospira: Research Funding.
Qurʾanic Ethics and Islamic Law

The issue of Islamic law and morality has for the most part received scant attention in the modern age. This essay contributes to the exploration of possible ways of understanding the relationship of ethics to Shariʿah and Islamic law. The author’s objective in this essay is largely normative. While he makes every effort to root his arguments in the fabric of the Islamic tradition, this essay is not descriptive, but aspirational in the sense that he seeks to persuade readers of the desirability of specific understandings of the meaning of Shariʿah and the relationship between Islamic law and ethics. As a point of departure, the author accepts that the Qurʾan and the laws of God are binding, and that an Islamic theory has to be expressed within the framework of Islamic principles. He maintains that the dynamism and vitality of Islamic law must be preserved in the contemporary age, and that such a result is not possible without maintaining the liberty and innovative capacities of the individual.
A call for a new business model valuing water use and production: the Water, Energy and Food Nexus holistic system approach

Looking back on the last 11 years of the Nexus journey (Assi, Accola, Hovhannissian, Mohtar, & Braudeau, 2014; Braudeau & Mohtar, 2014; Daher & Mohtar, 2015; Mohtar, 2015; Mohtar, Assi, & Daher, 20...
An Online Project-Based Competency Education Approach to Marketing Education:

As the marketplace becomes more competitive, there is a growing demand for business educators to prepare graduates to adapt to the challenges of the marketplace. However, concerns regarding the ped...
Both “look and feel” matter: Essential factors for robotic companionship

Physical embodiment of robots provides users with a social environment. To design social robots further to be accepted as our companions, we need to understand the essential factors and implement them and so, users get to bring them to their personal environments. To this aim, we focused on two important factors in robotic companionship: robot appearance (look) and emotional expression (feel). Twenty-one participants played an online game with the help from two humanoid robots, Nao (more human-like looking) and Darwin (less human-like looking). Participants interacted with each robot either with emotional words or without emotional words. Results show that only when the robot both looks more human-like and speaks with emotional expression, participants perceive it as their companion. Implications are discussed with future works.
Trauma-informed supervision: Historical antecedents, current practice, and future directions

In this article, the author traces the development of the current emphasis on trauma-informed practice and care in behavioral and mental health treatment. Using the discrimination model of clinical...
Energy-efficient activity recognition via multiple time-scale analysis

In this work, we propose a novel power-efficient strategy for supervised human activity recognition using a multiple time-scale approach, which takes into account various window sizes. We assess the proposed methodology on our new multimodal dataset for activities of daily life (ADL), which combines the use of physiological and inertial sensors from multiple wearable devices. We aim to develop techniques that can run efficiently in wearable devices for real-time activity recognition. Our analysis shows that the proposed approach Sequential Maximum-Likelihood (SML) achieves high F1 score across all activities while providing lower power consumption than the standard Maximum-Likelihood (ML) approach.
The Role of Rhetoric in Rational Argumentation

The structure of this discussion will be tripartite. First it will set out a way of distinguishing between rhetoric and strictly rational argumentation. Next it will consider some of the ramifications of this proposed way of looking at the matter – in particular what its implications are for rationality and for rhetoric, respectively. Finally it examines how this perspective bears on the project of philosophizing. The paper's ultimate aim, accordingly, is to consider what light such an analysis can shed upon philosophy and philosophizing.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Pericardium

The pericardium is a membranous sac surrounding the heart and the roots of the great vessels that is composed of both fibrous and serosal layers (Fig. 1.1). The fibrous layer of pericardium forms a conical-like sac surrounding the heart; superiorly, the fibrous pericardium is attached to and is continuous with the adventitia of the great vessels as well as with the pretracheal fascia. The pericardium is attached anteriorly to the manubrium and xiphoid process by the sternopericardial ligaments, posteriorly to the vertebral column and inferiorly to central tendon of the diaphragm. The pericardium is separated from the anterior thoracic wall by the lungs and pleura but is in direct contact with it at the lower left half of the sternum and the sternal abutments of the left fourth and fifth costal cartilages [1]. The phrenic nerves contained within the pericardiophrenic bundles pass laterally along each side of the heart between the fibrous pericardium and mediastinal pleura. The serosal pericardium consists of two layers, a serous visceral layer (epicardium) that is adherent to the heart and epicardial fat and a serous layer which lines the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium together forming the parietal pericardium.
Benner and the critics: promoting scholarly dialogue

The research and theorizing of Patricia Benner and colleagues have been very influential in nursing around the world. In recent years, however, her work has been challenged on both methodological and philosophical grounds, primarily from critical-hermeneutic and postmodernist perspectives. Critics have identified concerns about Benner's work, including sample limitations, decontextualized exemplars, the exclusion of social and political concerns, the problematic issues of experience and interpretation, and the unacknowledged position of the researcher. This article attempts to synthesize those critiques, and offers a comprehensive framework for constructive dialogue. Disciplinary maturity and scholarly integrity require critical reevaluation of influential texts and research programs.
Geometric Implications of Linearizability

Linearizability for hyperbolic fixed points is shown to be equivalent to the existence of certain invariant foliations. The analogue for partial linearizability of nonhyperbolic fixed points is considered.
New Approaches in Treatment of Myofascial Pain

New techniques for the injection of trigger points and tender spots are described. The techniques consist of needling combined with infiltration of local anesthetic that is not limited to the trigger point itself, but extends over the tender and abnormal area. Pre-injection blocks represent a new concept that involves blocking the sensory output from the tender or trigger area before the trigger point injection is administered. Pre-injection blocks prevent pain that would be caused by a needle penetration into the tender tissue.
The Patagonian shelf circulation: Drivers and variability

Abstract A high-resolution ocean model is used to characterize the local and remote driving mechanisms of the variability of the Patagonian shelf circulation. Local forcing includes the effects of tides, buoyancy fluxes and wind, while remote forcing represents the impact of the adjacent deep-ocean currents. There is an abrupt change of the dynamical characteristics of the shelf circulation at 40°S. South of 40°S, the seasonal variations of the shelf circulation are out of phase with the local wind stress and are driven by deep ocean inflows originated in the Drake Passage. The inter-annual variability of the shelf circulation is principally driven by the wind and shows a significant correlation with the time variations of the Southern Annular Mode index. The variability of the circulation and upwelling at the shelfbreak region are modulated by the variability of the Malvinas Current transport at low frequency (periods higher than two years), and by the local wind stress at higher frequencies. North of 40°S, the local wind forcing drives the seasonal variations of the shelf transport. The inter-annual variability of the flow is driven by the combined action of the Rio de la Plata discharge (significantly correlated with the El Nino Southern Oscillation), local wind stress and the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence in the outer shelf. In agreement with previous studies, we show that while the position of the confluence marks the location of the largest offshelf transports, it does not determine their magnitude. The offshelf transport variability is controlled by the local wind at high frequency (periods less than a year) and by the equatorward inflow of southern waters at longer periods. Our simulation indicates that the variability of the Subtropical Shelf Front is modulated by the local wind stress forcing, position of the Brazil/Malvinas Confluence and the equatorward inflow of Subantarctic waters.
Modeling Autism-Related Disorders in Mice with Maternal Immune Activation (MIA)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has emerged as one of the most prevalent and poorly understood disorders of our time. The etiology of autism currently remains poorly understood; however, emerging clinical and experimental evidence suggests central roles for maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy in ASD. In particular, children whose mothers suffered from an infectious disease or other inflammatory conditions during pregnancy are at a substantially higher risk of developing ASD. It has been shown that MIA-induced ASD can be modeled by treating pregnant mice with the viral mimetic polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) during key neurodevelopmental time points. In this paradigm, PolyI:C treatment induces systemic inflammatory responses that model MIA during viral infections. Offspring from PolyI:C-treated mothers develop many of the defining features of ASD including defects in social interactions, communicative impairments, and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors, as well as neuropathologies that are commonly observed in human ASD. While the early use of this emerging ASD model system has provided important initial insights into the involvement of gestational immune dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorder pathogenesis, we have only just begun to scratch the surface in our understanding of how MIA affects brain maturation and contributes to neurodevelopmental disease. Here we describe best practices for how the PolyI:C model of MIA can be used to study autism-related disorders in mice.
Cordierite Design, Manufacturing, and Performance

The next generations of telescope mirrors require materials with low thermal expansion, high stiffness, long-term dimensional stability, and ease of manufacturability. CO720 cordierite is superior in these aspects when compared to competing glass materials.
Arthritis of the Thumb Interphalangeal and Finger Distal Interphalangeal Joint

The distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints are subjected to the highest joint forces in the hand, and at least 60% of individuals older than age 60 years have DIP joint arthritis. Debridement of degenerative distal interphalangeal joints with mild to moderate disease can provide satisfactory outcomes; however, those joints with more severe angular and rotation changes are reliably treated with fusions. Regardless of the fixation method, DIP fusions have high success rates, are well tolerated, and are extremely durable.
Geochemical and microbial characterizations of flowback and produced water in three shale oil and gas plays in the central and western United States

Abstract Limited understanding of wastewater streams produced from shale oil and gas wells impedes best practices of wastewater treatment and reuse. This study provides a comprehensive and comparative analysis of flowback and produced water from three major and newly developed shale plays (the Bakken shale, North Dakota; the Barnett shale, Texas; and the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) basin, Colorado) in central and western United States. Geochemical features that included more than 10 water quality parameters, dissolved organic matter, as well as microbial community structures were characterized and compared. Results showed that wastewater from Bakken and Barnett shales has extremely high salinity (∼295 g/L total dissolved solids (TDS)) and low organic concentration (80–252 mg/L dissolved organic carbon (DOC)). In contrast, DJ basin showed an opposite trend with low TDS (∼30 g/L) and high organic content (644 mg/L DOC). Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra demonstrated that more humic acid and fluvic acid-like organics with higher aromaticity existed in Bakken wastewater than that in Barnett and DJ basin. Microbial communities of Bakken samples were dominated by Fe (III)-reducing bacteria Geobacter, lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus and Enterococcus, and Bradyrhizobium, while DJ basin water showed higher abundance of Rhodococcus, Thermovirga, and sulfate reducing bacteria Thermotoga and Petrotoga. All these bacteria are capable of hydrocarbon degradation. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens dominated the archaeal communities in all samples.
Gallbladder Cancer: Managing the Incidental Diagnosis

Managing patients with incidental gallbladder cancer requires stratifying patients risk for recurrence and an appreciation for the recurrence patterns characterizing this malignancy. Although standard management includes reresection to remove sites at risk of harboring residual disease and to achieve negative resection margin status, the decision to perform surgery is tempered by an early and frequent distant recurrence, the most common cause of surgical failure. High-risk patients may benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy before reresection. The goal of curative-intent reresection is achieving R0 margin status and optimal staging while limiting morbidity and mortality.
Nucleobase mutants of a bacterial preQ1-II riboswitch that uncouple metabolite sensing from gene regulation

Riboswitches are a class of nonprotein-coding RNAs that directly sense cellular metabolites to regulate gene expression. They are model systems for analyzing RNA-ligand interactions and are established targets for antibacterial agents. Many studies have analyzed the ligand-binding properties of riboswitches, but this work has outpaced our understanding of the underlying chemical pathways that govern riboswitch-controlled gene expression. To address this knowledge gap, we prepared 15 mutants of the preQ1-II riboswitch—a structurally and biochemically well-characterized HLout pseudoknot that recognizes the metabolite prequeuosine1 (preQ1). The mutants span the preQ1-binding pocket through the adjoining Shine–Dalgarno sequence (SDS) and include A-minor motifs, pseudoknot-insertion helix P4, U·A-U base triples, and canonical G-C pairs in the anti-SDS. As predicted—and confirmed by in vitro isothermal titration calorimetry measurements—specific mutations ablated preQ1 binding, but most aberrant binding effects were corrected by compensatory mutations. In contrast, functional analysis in live bacteria using a riboswitch-controlled GFPuv-reporter assay revealed that each mutant had a deleterious effect on gene regulation, even when compensatory changes were included. Our results indicate that effector binding can be uncoupled from gene regulation. We attribute loss of function to defects in a chemical interaction network that links effector binding to distal regions of the fold that support the gene-off RNA conformation. Our findings differentiate effector binding from biological function, which has ramifications for riboswitch characterization. Our results are considered in the context of synthetic ligands and drugs that bind tightly to riboswitches without eliciting a biological response.
Shapelets for earthquake detection

This paper introduces EQShapelets (EarthQuake Shapelets) a time-series shape-based approach embedded in machine learning to autonomously detect earthquakes. It promises to overcome the challenges in the field of seismology related to automated detection and cataloging of earthquakes. EQShapelets are amplitude and phase-independent, i.e., their detection sensitivity is irrespective of the magnitude of the earthquake and the time of occurrence. They are also robust to noise and other spurious signals. The detection capability of EQShapelets is tested on one week of continuous seismic data provided by the Northern California Seismic Network (NCSN) obtained from a station in central California near the Calaveras Fault. EQShapelets combined with a Random Forest classifier, detected all of the cataloged earthquakes and 281 uncataloged events with lower false detection rate thus offering a better performance than autocorrelation and FAST algorithms. The primary advantage of EQShapelets over competing methods is the interpretability and insight it offers. Shape-based approaches are intuitive, visually meaningful and offers immediate insight into the problem domain that goes beyond their use in accurate detection. EQShapelets, if implemented at a large scale, can significantly reduce catalog completeness magnitudes and can serve as an effective tool for near real-time earthquake monitoring and cataloging.
Towards Digitally Controlled Ultrasonic IQ Modulator

This paper presents a digitally controlled transducer pixel that generates ultrasonic pulses with a quadrature phases based on the input digital code. Quadrature modulation is achieved by splitting the ultrasonic transducer into two identical transducers shifted in height by a step of λ/4. The step is implemented in a 3 μm PECVD silicon dioxide layer on top of silicon and forming a step using plasma reactive ion etching. For an ultrasonic wave frequency of 1.2 GHz, the step height in SiO 2 to achieve λ/4 shift is ~1.2 μm. Both transducers are actuated simultaneously by applying electrical RF pulse to the transducer electrodes at bulk mode resonance frequency of the transducers. Ultrasonic pulses from the two transducers propagate through the silicon substrate, interfere, and reflect from the back side of the silicon substrate and are received by a receiver transducer also placed at the transmitting side. Digitally controlled RF switches are used to switch applied RF signal from top to bottom electrodes of the transducers. Higher modulation schemes can be achieved by having binary weighted transducers areas at different steps and more than two step heights.