cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of antihypertensive prescription at emergency department discharge.

Background Poor blood pressure (BP) control is a primary risk factor for target organ damage in the heart, brain, and kidney. Uncontrolled hypertension is common among emergency department (ED) patients, particularly in underresourced settings, but it is unclear what role ED providers should play in the management of chronic antihypertensive therapy. Objectives The objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prescribing antihypertensive therapy from the ED. Methods This was a retrospective study of data pooled from two prospective, longitudinal, randomized controlled trials, both of which enrolled ED patients with asymptomatic hypertension. Antihypertensives were prescribed at emergency physician discretion, and this was not related to randomization arm. Demographic data, BP at screening and randomization visit, and data on adverse effects potentially related to antihypertensive therapy were compiled. Means were compared using Student's t-tests, and proportions were compared using chi-square tests. The effect of antihypertensive therapy on BP control was further analyzed using multivariable regression modeling controlling for age, race, sex, hypertension history, study cohort, and ED BP. Results Data were abstracted for 217 subjects. The median interval from ED visit to randomization was 12 days. Seventy-six subjects (35%) received one or more prescriptions for antihypertensive therapy. Age, sex, race, hypertension history, and mean duration of hypertension were equivalent between groups. Although mean ED BP was higher among those who received prescriptions, the mean systolic BP (sBP) reduction from ED to randomization was significantly greater (difference = 19 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval = 12 to 26 mm Hg). No patient in either group had an sBP less than 100 mm Hg at randomization. On multiple regression modeling, randomization sBP reduction was independently associated with antihypertensive prescription (p = 0.001). The incidence of adverse effects was equivalent and low in both groups. No new neurological deficits, ischemic events, or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions were reported in either group. Conclusions Prescription of antihypertensive medication from the ED is associated with significantly lower sBP at short-term outpatient follow-up. Antihypertensive therapy was not associated with an increased incidence of adverse events, and BP reduction did not exceed potentially harmful levels. Initiation of chronic antihypertensive therapy in the ED is safe and effective and may be a reasonable consideration for at-risk populations.
A New Family of Retroviral Long Terminal Repeat Elements in the Human Genome Identified by Their Homologies to an Element 5′ to the Spider Monkey Haptoglobin Gene

A new family of retroviral long terminal repeats that we name Spm-LTR has been identified as a result of DNA sequence comparisons between the entire GenBank databank and an element, SPHP, located 5' to the haptoglobin gene of spider monkeys. The 18 human Spm-LTR sequences so identified fall into three subtypes. There is no sequence similarity between Spm-LTR elements and any endogenous retroviral LTR sequences previously reported except for general features that define LTRs. However, a previously described repeated sequence (MER-4) forms a portion of the Spm-LTR sequence.
A comparison of psychiatric diagnoses among HIV-infected prisoners receiving combination antiretroviral therapy and transitioning to the community

The criminal justice system (CJS), specifically prisons and jails, is ideally suited for uniform screening of psychiatric (PD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), who are concentrated in these settings. By accurately diagnosing PDs and SUDs in these controlled settings, treatment can be initiated and contribute to improved continuity of care upon release. In the context of PLWHA, it may also improve combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) adherence, and reduce HIV transmission risk behaviors. A retrospective data analysis was conducted by creating a cohort of PLWHA transitioning to the community from prison or jail enrolled who were enrolled in a controlled trial of directly administered antiretroviral (DAART). Participants were systematically assessed for PDs and SUDs using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), a standardized psychiatric assessment tool, and compared to diagnoses documented within the correctional medical record. Findings confirm a high prevalence of Axis I PDs (47.4%) and SUDs (67.1%) in PLWHA even after prolonged abstinence from alcohol and drugs. Although prevalence of PDs and SUDs were high in the medical record, there was fair to poor agreement among PDs using the MINI, making evident the potential benefit of more objective and concurrent PD assessments to guide treatment. Additional PD diagnoses may be detected in PLWHA in CJS using supplementary and objective screening tools. By identifying and treating PDs and SUDs in the CJS, care may be improved and may ultimately contribute to healthier outcomes after community release if patients are effectively transitioned.
Differential Factors Influencing the Hierarchical Level and Number of Promotions of Males and Females Within an Organization1

A study of perceptions of the promotion process for males and females within a large organization revealed that, after control of certain other factors, males had higher job grades than did females...
Placental ischemia increases seizure susceptibility and cerebrospinal fluid cytokines.

Abstract Eclampsia is diagnosed in preeclamptic patients who develop unexplained seizures and/or coma during pregnancy or postpartum. Eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, accounting for ~13% of maternal deaths worldwide. Little is known about the mechanisms contributing to the pathophysiology of eclampsia, partly due to the lack of suitable animal models. This study tested the hypothesis that placental ischemia, induced by reducing utero‐placental perfusion, increases susceptibility to seizures, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammation, and neurokinin B (NKB) expression in brain and plasma. Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), a pro‐convulsive drug, was injected into pregnant and placental ischemic rats (40 mg/kg, i.p.) on gestational day 19 followed by video monitoring for 30 min. Seizure scoring was blindly conducted. Placental ischemia hastened the onset of seizures compared to pregnant controls but had no effect on seizure duration. Placental ischemia increased CSF levels of IL‐2, IL‐17, IL‐18 and eotaxin (CCL11), had no effect on plasma NKB; however, PTZ increased plasma NKB in both pregnant and placental ischemic rats. NKB was strongly correlated with latency to seizure in normal pregnant rats ( R 2 = 0.88 vs. 0.02 in placental ischemic rats). Lastly, NKB decreased in the anterior cerebrum in response to placental ischemia and PTZ treatment but was unchanged in the posterior cerebrum. These data demonstrate that placental ischemia is associated with increased susceptibility to seizures and CSF inflammation; thus provides an excellent model for elucidating mechanisms of eclampsia‐like symptoms. Further studies are required to determine the role of CSF cytokines/chemokines in mediating increased seizure susceptibility.
Charitable Checkoffs on the Income Tax Return: A Modest Success Story

The authors evaluate the use of charitable checkoffs on state income tax returns. Taxpayers with higher incomes are more likely to contribute via checkoffs. But, as incomes rise, taxpayers contribute increasingly smaller proportions of their income, the authors say.
Photoperiodic time measurement in Djungarian hamsters evaluated from T-cycle studies

We investigated the photoperiodic response to T-cycles (0.5 h of light at intervals ranging from 23.0 h to 25.3 h) of two phenotypes of Djungarian hamsters that either exhibit or lack physiological short-day adjustments under a photoperiod of 9 h light:15 h darkness. Illumination of the same circadian time caused a similar photoperiodic response in both phenotypes. Thus hamsters found to be insensitive under a full short-day photoperiod can exhibit short-day adjustments after exposure to certain T-cycles. Given these results we conclude that the absence of photoperiodic adjustments normally found in short-day-insensitive hamsters results from their atypical entrainment under a full short-day photoperiod. We further suggest that the photoperiodic phenomena seen in Djungarian hamsters cannot be adequately explained by an external coincidence model of photoperiodic time measurement. As a more suitable model, we propose one form of internal coincidence where duration of daily motor activity reflects the phasing of multiple, endogenous oscillators. This conclusion is supported by the close relationship between duration of activity and the photoperiodic response as well as by the observation that a light pulse modulates duration of activity in a phase-dependent manner.
Comparing Methods for Establishing Multiscale Material Properties of 0.2 mm Thick Annealed ASTM 304

Producing fuel cells bipolar plates and other devices such as microscale heat exchangers for electronics requires both macroscale and microscale forming processes. At the macroscale, typically, mechanical properties of sheet metal are determined by performing tensile tests. In addition, it has long been recognized that bi-axial tension tests, dome tests, and hydroforming or viscous bulge tests provide the basis for improved understanding of the mechanics of sheet metal forming. At the microscale strain gauges are too large for measuring strains in small regions and membrane theory is only valid at the poles of the bulge. Continuum mechanics models are useful but require tedious thickness measurements for multiple work pieces, requiring extensive sample preparation and analysis.In this paper experimental results from hydroforming tests for 0.2-mm thick annealed ASTM 304 stainless steel sheet in 11 mm, 5 mm, and 1 mm diameter open dies at various pressures were evaluated. The height of the bulge at the pole and strains based upon measurements of 127 micron strain grids were determined. These dies represent the transition from a small macroscale process to a microscale forming process. Two methods were used to estimate material properties: an analytical model and an iterative method which compared experimental strain results with the strains from a finite element model where the Holloman constitutive properties of the sheet were varied. The problems estimating material properties based upon grid strain measurement, membrane theory, and the iterative finite element approaches were investigated and the results were compared. This study indicates that membrane theory will provide adequate predictions for Holloman constructive properties provided the assumptions for membrane theory are not violated. However, using measured microscale grid deformation strains does not produce very good agreement estimates of the Holloman constitutive model when comparing experimental results with FEA strains. It is believed that while the grid strain measurement method used results in strain measurement errors of less than 1.5% of strain, this error is sufficient to result in enough uncertainty to produce results that are inconsistent with other methods.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The Species of Nyssorhynchus Confused under Tarsimaculatus Goeldi, and a New Name, a. Emilianus, for One Species Found in Para, Brazil (Diptera, Culicidae)

There exists in the American tropics a complex of Anopheles mosquitoes of the group Nyssorhynchus , placed by Edwards in his series tarsimaculatus . Many members of this group may be readily separated from one another by definite characters of the male terminalia and larvae, but there remains a number of other closely related species which have hitherto been lumped under the name tarsimaculatus Goeldi, and which cannot be so easily separated. The purpose of this paper is to trace the growth of our knowledge of this complex, and to show that at least two, probably more, species have been confused under the name “tarsimaculatus.”
Some New Potential ASAS Applications in the Terminal and En Route Domains

This paper documents new Airborne Separation Assistance System (ASAS) applications for consideration by the ASAS community for further analysis and development. It identifies several potential applications of the information displayed on a cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI) which may substitute for direct visual contact with a particular airplane of interest. CDTI assisted “visual” separation (CAVS) may provide operational efficiency in the terminal area under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) that could approach that of pure visual operations in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). If proved feasible IMC CAVS applications would provide significant capacity benefits in the terminal domain. Several CAVS applications are presented, including CDTI based spacing during instrument approaches (IMC CAVS) to single and parallel runways and departure spacing during high demand departure operations (Departure CAVS). The document describes the problems associated with holding patterns in the National Airspace System (NAS) and postulates an evolutionary ASAS application of ADS-B based spacing and separation for reducing ATC workload during holding and improving the spacing accuracy out of holding patterns. The paper also includes description of an application of merging and spacing for departures. The proposed applications include a need statement citing examples from current NAS operations, and conclude with a brief application description. It is recommended that these proposals be analyzed in greater detail to determine their NAS-wide benefits and feasibility.
A TECHNIQUE FOR THE CANNULATION AND PERFUSION OF ISOLATED RAT EPIDIDYMAL FAT PAD.

A method for study of the rat epididymal fat pad in vitro is described, in which perfusion via the internal spermatic artery is employed. The time interval between the stoppage of the blood flow and the establishment of the perfusion is less than 30 sec. Observations of perfusion pressure, flow rate, tissue edema, and oxygen consumption indicate that this system can be used to study the metabolism of adipose tissue. The sensitivity of the method with respect to free fatty acid release stimulated by epinephrine and ACTH is greater than that of incubated tissue, probably because of the increase in surface area of the fat cells exposed to the medium
δ- and γ-tocopherols inhibit phIP/DSS-induced colon carcinogenesis by protection against early cellular and DNA damages.

Tocopherols, the major forms of vitamin E, are a family of fat-soluble compounds that exist in alpha (α-T), beta (β-T), gamma (γ-T), and delta (δ-T) variants. A cancer preventive effect of vitamin E is suggested by epidemiological studies. However, past animal studies and human intervention trials with α-T, the most active vitamin E form, have yielded disappointing results. A possible explanation is that the cancer preventive activity of α-T is weak compared to other tocopherol forms. In the present study, we investigated the effects of δ-T, γ-T, and α-T (0.2% in diet) in a novel colon cancer model induced by the meat-derived dietary carcinogen, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and promoted by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in CYP1A-humanized (hCYP1A) mice. PhIP/DSS treatments induced multiple polypoid tumors, mainly tubular adenocarcinomas, in the middle to distal colon of the hCYP1A mice after 10 wk. Dietary supplementation with δ-T and γ-T significantly reduced colon tumor formation and suppressed markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress (i.e., 8-oxo-dG and nitrotyrosine) as well as pro-inflammatory mediators (i.e., NF-κB p65 and p-STAT3) in tumors and adjacent tissues. By administering δ-T at different time periods, we obtained results suggesting that the inhibitory effect of δ-T against colon carcinogenesis is mainly due to protection against early cellular and DNA damages caused by PhIP. α-T was found to be ineffective in inhibiting colon tumors and less effective in attenuating the molecular changes. Altogether, we demonstrated strong cancer preventive effects of δ-T and γ-T in a physiologically relevant model of human colon cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effective Management of Human Resources

This chapter singles out for special discussion the needs of employees on the grounds that human resources are the most important assets of any purposeful system. It is argued that decentralization, self-management, participative management practices, management by incentives, and extensive democratization of the workplace is conducive to effective management of human resources, and thereby to the enhancement of organizational efficiency, quality, and effectiveness.
Respiratory depression detected by capnography among children in the postanesthesia care unit: a cross-sectional study.

SummaryBackground Children are at risk for respiratory depression while recovering from anesthesia. Currently, monitoring children in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) with pulse oximetry is recommended. However, pulse oximetry does not reliably recognize hypoventilation or apnea, particularly in the presence of supplemental oxygen. Capnography is a sensitive monitor of ventilation that is not often used in the PACU. Aim To determine the frequency of hypoventilation and apnea as detected by capnography among children in the PACU. Methods In a cross-sectional study, capnography monitoring was applied to healthy children of age 1–17 years in the PACU of a tertiary care hospital. Staff was blinded to the capnography monitor; alarms were disabled. Staff provided routine care and monitoring with pulse oximetry to all patients. Vital signs, patient interventions, and medication administration were recorded by a research assistant every 30 s until all monitoring was discontinued by staff. Outcome measures included frequency of hypoventilation and apnea as measured by capnography and oxygen desaturations as measured by pulse oximetry, as well as staff interventions for these events. Results Data from 194 children were analyzed. Capnography detected hypoventilation or apnea in 45.5% (95% CI 38.5%, 52.5%) of patients. Oxygen desaturations occurred in 19% (95% CI 13%, 24%) of patients. Interventions occurred in 9% (95% CI 5%, 13%) of patients. Patients who received narcotic medications were more likely to experience hypoventilation (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.02, 5.3) and apnea (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1, 7). Hypoventilation was seen more often among children who received supplemental oxygen (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1, 12). Conclusions Hypoventilation and apnea are common among children in the PACU; however, few interventions occur to address these events. Routine monitoring with capnography may improve recognition of respiratory depression and enhance patient safety in the PACU.
Risk Factors for Hyperaluminemia in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

The authors evaluated risk factors for hyperaluminemia and aluminum toxicity in 51 CAPD patients, who received aluminum-containing phosphate binders. Serum aluminum correlated with total intake of ...
Grieving without hope

Introduction In order to determine whether the situations underlying 1 and 2 Thessalonians can reasonably be regarded as compatible, we must reconstruct the eschatological dimension of the situation underlying 1 Thessalonians. That requires that we focus particularly on 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11, where Paul explicitly turns his attention to the community's eschatological concerns. In this chapter we shall examine 4:13–18. Paul has just received a report concerning the Thessalonian church from Timothy (1 Thess. 3:6), which presumably included an account of the situation underlying this section. Some members of the Thessalonian community have unexpectedly died and the others have apparently responded by ‘grieving’. Paul writes to comfort the Thessalonians by removing the cause of their distress, which he presupposes is reflective of a defective eschatology. Precisely how their eschatology is deficient has been the locus of significant debate among exegetes. Gnostic, enthusiastic and chiliastic notions have all been proposed as keys to the Thessalonians' eschatological confusion; other explanations have included Jewish assumption theology and over-imminentist expectation. We shall attempt to mark a path through this labyrinthian puzzle by raising and answering questions of the text, thereby moving steadily to a clearer understanding of the nature of the eschatological confusion underlying 4:13–18. Our initial three questions relate to verse 13.
Global Developments in Trust Arbitration

Over the last few decades, arbitration has become increasingly popular in a wide variety of contexts and jurisdictions. However, up until recently, one field - trust law - has stood apart and resisted the pull toward arbitration. Over the last few years, this tradition has begun to change. Indeed, an increasing number of jurisdictions have begun to embrace the arbitration of internal trust disputes, meaning disputes involving trustees and beneficiaries and relating to the inner workings of the trust. Although trust arbitration has received support from numerous courts, legislatures and commentators, the procedure is still in its infancy, and numerous questions exist about the use, scope and validity of arbitration provisions found in trusts. This chapter describes the key issues in the area of trust arbitration as a matter of both national and international law and introduces the work of other contributors to a new volume of collected essays on trust arbitration. Both the chapter and the book in which it is found consider trust arbitration from both a trust law and arbitration law perspective, which is critical to a proper understanding of the issues at stake. The chapter and the book also discuss trust arbitration as a matter of domestic and international law, thereby recognizing the differences in national approaches to trust arbitration while also respecting the importance of offshore jurisdictions in trust law and practice. Trust arbitration is a new and exciting area of law, practice and scholarship, and one that will be growing rapidly in the coming years. This chapter provides an important introduction to the comparative, international and interdisciplinary issues that arise when settlors seek to require arbitration of trust-related disputes through inclusion of an arbitration provision in a trust.
Phase I Study of Gemcitabine, Fludarabine and Mitoxantrone for Relapsed or Refractory Leukemia.

Abstract Purpose: To estimate the maximum tolerated duration (MTD) of gemcitabine given as a continuous infusion in combination with fludarabine and mitoxantrone for patients with relapsed or refractory leukemia. Patients and Methods: Patients received gemcitabine at 10mg/m2/min (day 1) with fludarabine at 25mg/m2/day for 5 days (days 1–5) and mitoxantrone at 10mg/m2/day for 3 days (days 1–3). The duration of gemcitabine infusion was escalated using the modified continuous assessment method (mCRM) at 3 hour increments (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 hours). This three-drug regimen was build upon our previous studies with fludarabine, mitoxantrone and continuous infusion gemcitabine (Blood 2003; 102:250bAbstract). The MTD was estimated as the duration of gemcitabine infusion in combination with fludarabine and mitoxantrone at which 33% of the patients would experience a dose limiting toxicity (DLT). DLT was defined as either neutropenia for more than 28 days with less than 5% blasts in the marrow, a non-hematologic grade 4 toxicity lasting ≥ 3 days, or a non-hematologic grade 3 toxicity lasting ≥ 7 days. Results: Ten patients with relapsed or refractory leukemia have been treated so far since Aug 2004 and fully evaluated. The median age was 55 years (range 30 – 67). The median number of prior regimens was 3 (range 1 – 5) and the median range of prior cycles was 4 (range 1 – 6). As expected, hematologic toxicity, mucositis and nausea were common but did not meet criteria for DLT in any patient. One patient had parainfluenza lung infection with alveolar hemorrhage and this was the only DLT on the study. 2/10 patients achieved CR. Both patients are alive, 20 weeks and 52 weeks later, respectively but have received further therapy in the form of chemotherapy or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Toxicity by Duration of Gemcitabine Infusion Duration of Infusion (hrs) # of Patients with DLT/Total Probability of Toxicity at this Dose Probability that Dose is MTD 3 0/1 0.001 0.0 6 0/2 0.009 0.005 9 0/3 0.1 0.22 12 1/4 0.36 0.59 15 0/0 0.6 0.18 Conclusion: Only one patient on this study had a DLT. This combination therapy is myelotoxic and has some anti-leukemia activity with 2/10 patients achieving CR. The duration of gemcitabine infusion as part of the above three drug regimen will be studied further on this ongoing study to more accurately estimate the MTD and determine if phase II trials are warranted.
Design, synthesis, and cytotoxicity of stabilized mycolactone analogs.

Abstract On exposure to visible light, mycolactone A/B, the causative toxin of Buruli ulcer, rearranges to a mixture of four photo-mycolactones apparently via a rare photochemically-induced [4πs + 2πa] cycloaddition. In order to prevent the rearrangement, two C6′-C7′ dihydromycolactone analogs 6′α-15 and 6′β-15 were designed and synthesized. 6′α-15 and 6′β-15 were shown to be stable under not only photochemical, but also acidic and basic conditions. Cytotoxicity was tested against arbitrarily chosen four cell lines (human Hek-293, human lung carcinoma A-549, human melanoma LOX-IMVI, and mouse L-929), thereby revealing that: (1) both analogs maintain potent cytotoxicity; (2) 6′β-15 exhibits significantly higher potency against human cell lines than 6′α-15; (3) in comparison with parent mycolactone A/B, 6′β-15 exhibits equal potency against human Hek-293, whereas significantly lower potency against human lung carcinoma A-549 and human melanoma LOX-IMVI.
Pharmacotherapies for Menopause Management: Hormonal Options

Prior to the release of the initial findings of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) in 2002, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was not only used to relieve hot flashes and night sweats but had widespread acceptance for the prevention of heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Following the release of the initial results [1] from the estrogen/progestin arm of the trial (EPT-conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg/medroxyprogesterone 2.5 mg), sales of MHT products dropped precipitously, and women and providers were frightened to start or continue hormone therapy. Although the estrogen-only arm of the WHI trial (ET) released in 2004 [2] showed a reduction in breast cancer cases with conjugated estrogen 0.625 when used in hysterectomized women, fear of cardiovascular events remained a predominant deterrent against resurgent use of hormonal therapies. In 2007, Rossouw et al. [3] published the evaluation of the WHI with findings that MHT had differing effects depending on age and timing of initiation. Today, MHT remains the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) [4] and other symptoms of the climacteric for postmenopausal women without contraindications (Table 4.1) [5]. We know now that benefits may exceed risks for the majority of symptomatic postmenopausal women who at the time of initiation of MHT are less than age 60 or less than 10 years since the onset of menopause and at low baseline risk for cardiovascular events [6]. In addition to timing and duration of therapy, there also appears to be differences in the risk/benefit profiles between different types of hormonal regimens, including formulation, dose, and route of administration [7–9]. Prior to initiating MHT, women should be screened for cardiovascular and breast cancer risk, and the most appropriate therapy should be recommended depending on benefit/risk profile, indications, and goals of therapy. Therapy should be individualized based on clinical issues including risk factors, treatment goals, and patient preference [7–9].
DIVERSITY, BIOGEOGRAPHY, BODY SIZE AND FOSSIL RECORD OF PARASITIC AND SUSPECTED PARASITIC FORAMINIFERA: A REVIEW

We review the ecology and fossil record of parasitic and suspected parasitic foraminifera. Nine species of foraminifera are known to be parasitic, obtaining nutrients from their host, and 13 are suspected parasites that require taxonomic and ecologic work to document their trophic relationships. Roughly 0.22% and 0.32% of all benthic foraminifera are known or suspected parasites, respectively. Endo- and ectoparasites are most common, followed by kleptoparasites and putatively hermit endoparasites. While most diverse in the shallow-water tropics, the best-known foraminiferal parasites live in colder North Atlantic and Antarctic waters. Body size comparisons reveal patterns similar to parasitic metazoans: 1) a few parasitic foraminifera are larger than most benthic foraminifera and most are larger than their free-living relatives; 2) most are smaller than their metazoan hosts, but are roughly similar in size to protozoan hosts with one exception; and 3) larger parasitic foraminifera infest larger hosts, consistent with Harrison’s rule. Ectoparasitic foraminifera also follow Harrison’s rule, but endoparasites do not because they are spatially constrained by living within the host. Suspected foraminiferal parasites are first recorded from the Late Jurassic and parasitic foraminifera from the Early Cretaceous, while the majority evolved in the Cenozoic. Cretaceous Talpinella cunicularia has one of the longest known host-parasitic relationships of 18 Myr. Sixteen species bioerode their hosts, but only two trace fossils from parasitic foraminifera are known. Their abundance, broad geographic distribution and excellent fossil record make parasitic foraminifera and their hosts an excellent model to study how climate and environmental change affects intimately-associated species.
Hydrogenous Zintl Phases: Interstitial Versus Polyanionic Hydrides

Hydrogen may be incorporated in Zintl phases in two different ways: either hydridic where H is exclusively coordinated by electropositive metals (interstitial hydrides), or as part of the polyanion ...
Low genetic differentiation between populations of an endemic prairie katydid despite habitat loss and fragmentation

Tallgrass prairie habitats within North America have suffered severe fragmentation and habitat loss as land has been converted for agricultural purposes. Habitat loss and fragmentation can affect gene flow and the genetic structure of insect populations. Neoconocephalus bivocatus is a prairie obligate katydid found only in isolated prairie patches. We compared genetic diversity and population differentiation using AFLP markers in N. bivocatus and N. robustus, a grassland generalist that is not isolated to prairie fragments and occupies a more contiguous range. Similar levels of genetic diversity were present within populations of both species. While population genetic structure was found in both species, there was no relationship between assigned genotypes and sampling localities. This genetic structure may instead be evidence of a past barrier to gene flow that has since been removed. Genetic differentiation within both species was low, with no evidence of a correlation with geographic distance, indicating neither species is dispersal limited at these distances. We see no significant reduction in genetic diversity or genetic differentiation within N. bivocatus when compared to N. robustus. We therefore conclude that while N. bivocatus utilizes a fragmented landscape, long-distance dispersal likely maintains gene flow between isolated prairie patches.
Assessment of QoS adaptation and cyber-defense mechanisms in networked systems

The paper describes methods to evaluate the QoS capability of a networked system S operating under hostile environment conditions. We evaluate the run-time compliance of system S with the QoS prescription of applications in terms of non-functional attributes that capture the QoS behavior of S (e.g., transaction latency & drop rate in an on-line web service). We benchmark the QoS capability of S by exercising stress-tests on a simulation model of S with artificially injected environment conditions. Our model-based system assessment methods are anchored on PO-MDP frameworks that are currently advocated for network reliability and performance analysis. As case study, we describe the assessment of a CDN (content distribution network) vis-a-vis the content read latency and overhead experienced by clients. Our CDN assessment employs models of the internal algorithmic processes that strive to optimally place the content caching nodes in a distribution topology.
Superoxide Dismutases and Catalases

The past two decades have produced a renaissance and tremendous growth in the study of the toxic effects of oxygen on living organisms. The1 subject of oxygen toxicity in fact has become a large subdiscipline of biology. The current state of this field owes much to the discovery of bovine copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (McCord and Fridovich 1969) and to a subsequent proposal that the intracellular production of superoxide (O 2 − ) is a major mediator of oxygen toxicity in aerobic organisms (McCord et al. 1971). Additional interest in this field has been stimulated by the implication of active-oxygen species in many aspects of human biology including cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases, aging, and cancer (Halliwell and Gutteridge 1984; Chambers et al. 1985; Ames and Gold 1991; Rusting 1992; Rosen et al. 1993).
Linking environmental cancer with occupational epidemiology research: the role of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Background. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) provides the most credible assessment of carcinogencity for the scientific community. IARC Monographs also suggest areas where new laboratory and epidemiology research on cancer should be focused. Review. This presentation examines two recent IARC reports on silica and coal dust (from 1997), and on occupational exposures to insecticide and pesticide applications (from 1991). Results. From the Silica Monograph, the research implications suggest that laboratory and epidemiology studies would be useful focusing on mixtures of hazards where silica is a significant component of the respirable environment: in coal mining (which has an excess of gastric cancers) with variations in silica exposure; in uranium mining where there is silica dust plus radon decay products, in foundries and steel-making plants where silica exposure is common as are other carcinogenic hazards; in agriculture where dusty farming may be common, and comparisons are needed with other polymorphs of silica, including amorphous quartz. Additional studies of lymphatic, dermal, and gastrointestinal malignancies are needed to determine if the evidence of silicocarcinogenesis extends to these tumor sites. Finally, some fundamental studies of adsorptive capability of silica and resultant biologic activity, including biomarker studies, are needed. In the pesticide realm, there are many active ingredients that have been shown to be 2B (or possible) carcinogens based on animal studies (or other evidence). Industrial epidemiology studies of workers manufacturing or handling chemicals such as atrazine, chlordane, dichlorvos, 2,4-D, and DDT should be undertaken. Cancer epidemiology associations have been demonstrated for chemicals such as phenoxy acid herbicides, 2,4,5-T, lindane, methoxychlor, toxaphene, and several organophosphate insecticides for which laboratory studies are needed. Conclusions. IARC reviews offer many leads for future research and insightful protocols that can provide new leads for studying these common exposures under novel environmental conditions.
Truth in Fiction: An Economic Interpretation of the Modern Novel with Case Studies of Lolita, a Bend in the River, and the House of Mirth

Economic analysis offers a powerful tool for analyzing fictional works. In turn, fiction can vividly illustrate the truths of economics. As others have recognized, literature can help introduce students to economic ideas in a non-mathematical way. Yet current empirical research consists primarily of interpreting literary passages deliberately chosen to illustrate particular economic concepts. I suggest that, by adopting the literary community's methodology of dissecting entire works and by analyzing novels considered great for reasons unrelated to economics, economists can reach an even wider audience. Here, I use three classic novels - Lolita, A Bend in the River, and The House of Mirth - to illuminate concepts in game theory, dynamic modeling and Schumpeterian competition, and optimization within informal markets.
Integrated problem solving in manufacturing

Abstract A central tenet of this paper is that in addressing complex manufacturing problems, the major focus should be on key decisions and tasks, with the specific aim of improving the effectiveness of the manager's problem solving process. That entails modeling the decision-making process and integrating that with the rest of the problem solving process. A decision support system (DSS) framework that attempts to address these concerns in a unified manner is proposed. Possible applications are discussed.
Proceedings of the fifth international workshop on Mobile cloud computing & services

We are pleased to welcome you to the fifth ACM Workshop on Mobile Cloud Computing and Services, co-located with ACM MobiSys 2014. The workshop had an open call for papers; the TPC Co-chairs and TPC members also reached out to their colleagues for potential invited papers. In the end, all authors opted for the open call and all submissions underwent the standard peer review process by the TPC. We received nine submissions. The reviews were double-blind but we allowed the authors to disclose their identities if they so preferred. Each submission received at least four reviews in a single round; most submissions received five. This was followed by on-line and email discussion by the reviewers to reach a consensus. One of the submissions was co-authored by a TPC Co-chair and was therefore handled by the other Co-chair out of the band. The reviewers were instructed that the submission should not be accepted if it was borderline. We ended up accepting six submissions with half of them being Vision papers. We are very pleased by the quality of the accepted papers. The papers cover a wide range of technological problems about using cloud for mobile services, from networking to novel applications in home automation. The workshop program also includes one keynote and three invited talks that feature speakers from academia, industry, and non-profit organization.
Neurosteroid and benzodiazepine combination therapy reduces status epilepticus and long-term effects of whole-body sarin exposure in rats.

Objective Our objective was to evaluate the protective efficacy of the neurosteroid pregnanolone (3α-hydroxy-5β pregnan-20-one), a GABAA receptor-positive allosteric modulator, as an adjunct to benzodiazepine therapy against the chemical warfare nerve agent (CWNA) sarin (GB), using whole-body exposure, an operationally relevant route of exposure to volatile GB. Methods Rats implanted with telemetry transmitters for the continuous measurement of cortical electroencephalographic (EEG) activity were exposed for 60 minutes to 3.0 LCt50 of GB via whole-body exposure. At the onset of toxic signs, rats were administered an intramuscular injection of atropine sulfate (2 mg/kg) and the oxime HI-6 (93.6 mg/kg) to increase survival rate and, 30 minutes after seizure onset, treated subcutaneously with diazepam (10 mg/kg) and intravenously with pregnanolone (4 mg/kg) or vehicle. Animals were evaluated for GB-induced status epilepticus (SE), spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS), impairment in spatial memory acquisition, and brain pathology, and treatment groups were compared. Results Delayed dual therapy with pregnanolone and diazepam reduced time in SE in GB-exposed rats compared to those treated with delayed diazepam monotherapy. The combination therapy of pregnanolone with diazepam also prevented impairment in the Morris water maze and reduced the neuronal loss and neuronal degeneration, evaluated at one and three months after exposure. Significance Neurosteroid administration as an adjunct to benzodiazepine therapy offers an effective means to treat benzodiazepine-refractory SE, such as occurs following delayed treatment of GB exposure. This study is the first to present data on the efficacy of delayed pregnanolone and diazepam dual therapy in reducing seizure activity, performance deficits and brain pathology following an operationally relevant route of exposure to GB and supports the use of a neurosteroid as an adjunct to standard anticonvulsant therapy for the treatment of CWNA-induced SE.
The landmark case that almost never was

The U.S. Supreme Court9s 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency is widely seen as the most important U.S. environmental ruling of all time. But the suit, which led to a ruling that the Clean Air Act of 1970 empowered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate greenhouse gases, was almost never brought. Richard J. Lazarus9s new book, The Rule of Five, is the inside story of how this case came to be, how its lawyers struggled and fought over theories and roles, and how the late Justice John Paul Stevens patched together the five votes needed to secure a majority.
Existing problems and preliminary investigation on the clinical teaching of first-aid medicine

This article analyzes and summaries the problems and difficulties existing in the first-aid medicine's clinical teaching.Combined with his own teaching experience,the author has made some exploration on the teaching time,the way of teaching and inspection form,which has got a good teaching effect.It provids the reference and development for the clinical teaching of first-aid medicine. Key words: First-aid medicine; Clinic teaching; Teaching reform
The Role of the Criminal Law in Regulating Pornography

Over the last decades, especially with the arrival and persisting rise of the internet’s influence on culture and communication, the prevalence of pornography has seen a massive increase. Corresponding cultural shifts have taken place, gradually bringing pornography into the mainstream and even moving towards its normalization. It is not unconnected that prosecutions for the production or distribution of pornography involving adult actors are rare. But such a culture awash in pornography does not come out unscathed; there is growing evidence of pornography’s profound detrimental effects on individuals, groups, and the culture at large. The law always has an important culture-shaping role to play, and thus society’s goal should be for public actors who shape the law to contribute to morally stigmatizing pornography. Although this effort would likely span decades and, even if successful, not eradicate pornography completely, it would nevertheless instill in the broader culture a sense that pornography is morally wrong and should be avoided. In Part I of this paper, I shall consider the genesis of today’s dominant cultural narrative in the United States about pornography. This narrative is the story that pornography is good for many people and no worse than harmless entertainment for all those who like it. Successfully stigmatizing pornography must explode this master narrative. In Part II, I explore how digitalized porn envelops even the unwilling in a pornified culture; I will identify some of the leading social harms of contemporary pornographic traffic. Part III responds to a paternalistic objection against pornography criminalization. Finally, in Part IV, I offer several specific legal proposals, including recommended prosecutions, as part of an overall cultural offensive to stigmatize pornography.
An AIB1 isoform alters enhancer access and enables progression of early stage triple-negative breast cancer.

AIB1Δ4 is an N-terminally truncated isoform of the oncogene Amplified In Breast Cancer 1 (AIB1) with increased expression in high-grade human ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). However, the role of AIB1Δ4 in DCIS malignant progression has not been defined. Here we CRISPR-engineered RNA splice junctions to produce normal and early stage DCIS breast epithelial cells that expressed only AIB1Δ4. These cells showed enhanced motility and invasion in 3D cell culture. In zebrafish, AIB1Δ4-expressing cells enabled invasion of parental cells when present in a mixed population. In mouse xenografts, a subpopulation of AIB1Δ4 cells mixed with parental cells enhanced tumor growth, recurrence, and lung metastasis. AIB1Δ4 ChIP-seq revealed enhanced binding to regions including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) genomic recognition sites. H3K27ac and H3K4me1 genomic engagement patterns revealed selective activation of breast cancer-specific enhancer sites by AIB1Δ4. AIB1Δ4 cells displayed upregulated inflammatory response genes and downregulated PPAR signaling gene expression patterns. In the presence of AIB1Δ4 enabler cells, parental cells increased NFκB and WNT signaling. Cellular crosstalk was inhibited by the PPARγ agonist efatutazone but was enhanced by treatment with the GR agonist dexamethasone. In conclusion, expression of the AIB1Δ4-selective cistrome in a small subpopulation of cells triggers an "enabler" phenotype hallmarked by an invasive transcriptional program and collective malignant progression in a heterogeneous tumor population.
Influence of Brand Attractiveness and Brand-Self Connections on Brand Evangelism: An Abstract

In the digital and social marketing age, characterized by ubiquitous usage of smartphones and social media, marketers leverage the power of the brand to cultivate strong consumer-brand relationships which have the ability to transform consumers into a powerful “communication medium,” i.e., consumers become the vehicles to spread messages to other consumers, just as traditional media operates. Heightened consumer-brand relationships transcend mere product or service dimensions to include deep psychological attachments and active supportive behaviors directed toward the focal brand. Ultimately, such consumer-generated behaviors and communication are important because they affect brand choices including brand purchase decisions, brand expectations, and brand attitudes.
A Mixed Methods Comparison of Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Conceptualization of Teaching Engineering

This sequential explanatory mixed methods study (quant + QUAL) examined elementary preservice teachers’ conceptions of teaching engineering. Participants (n = 104) from two large western universities completed the Draw-An-Engineering-Teacher-Test (DAETT) as part of their elementary science methods course. Additionally, a subgroup of participants (n = 34) engaged in a case-based reasoning intervention around engineering design–based teaching, while remaining participants (n = 70) did not. No significant differences were detected between the two subgroups for DAETT scores. Upon examination of DAETT for evidence of engineering design-based teaching, it was noted that participants in both groups gravitated towards specific constructs of engineering design, such as building and testing, while constructs such as student problem scoping and optimization were less likely to be represented. Participants from both groups also conflated science and engineering, with roughly half of participants’ drawings being void of engineering design–based teaching. The drawings that lacked evidence of engineering design often exhibited characteristics of traditional science teaching (e.g., teacher lectures or demonstrations of science concepts). Preservice teacher artifacts indicated an increase in participants’ breadth of knowledge around engineering teaching but not their depth of knowledge on the topic. Researchers argue this evidence supports the need for primary school science methods courses to include additional opportunities for engineering engagement.