cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease among Older Men and Women: A Prospective Study of Community-dwelling Elderly

Data from a community-based sample of 2,812 men and women aged 65 years and over, living in New Haven, Connecticut, were used to examine the associations between blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, anginal chest pain, and relative weight and 6-year incidence (1982-1988) of myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that history of diabetes was associated with increased risk of incident myocardial infarction among women (odds ratio (OR) = 3.20; 95% confidence interval 1.46-7.01), while higher relative weight was a significant risk factor among men (OR = 3.46, 95% confidence interval 1.34-8.95 for middle vs. lowest tertile and OR = 3.24; 95% confidence interval 1.10-9.53 for highest versus lowest tertile). For coronary heart disease mortality, age and diabetes (OR = 4.47, 95% confidence interval 1.85-10.79) were associated with increased risk among women, as was current smoking (OR = 3.96; 95% confidence interval 1.66-9.45). Among men, age, prevalent heart disease, and use of antihypertensive medication (OR = 1.84; 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.00) were risk factors for coronary heart disease mortality. These risk estimates and the relatively high prevalences of these risk factors suggest that attributable risks may be substantial. Observed sex differences as well as differences in patterns of risk factor associations for the two endpoints suggest that there may be different risk profiles for older men and women and for different coronary heart disease endpoints.
π + − p Interactions at 500 Mev

The interaction of ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ mesons with protons at an energy of 500 Mev has been studied in a hydrogen bubble chamber. Phase-shift analyses with $S$ and $P$ waves were made, and a near degeneracy was found between the Fermi and Yang solutions. When $D$ waves were included, an additional ambiguity was found. The $D$-wave phase shifts are small, but they have a considerable effect on the other phase shifts. The cross section for single pion production is 2.85\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 mb. The ratio $\frac{(p+0)}{(n++)}$ is ${1.5}_{\ensuremath{-}0.5}^{+1.5}$. The cross section leading to $p++\ensuremath{-}$ was found to be of the order of 30 \ensuremath{\mu}b.
Influence of angiotensin II on pressure natriuresis and renal hemodynamics in volume-expanded rats

This study examined whether angiotensin II (ANG II) influences the pressure-natriuretic (PN) response by altering renal cortical or medullary hemodynamics. Studies were performed in Inactin-anesthetized rats that were acutely volume expanded to maintain plasma renin activity and ANG II levels in the physiological range. Neural influences on the kidney were eliminated by renal denervation, and plasma levels of norepinephrine, vasopressin, cortisol, and aldosterone were fixed by intravenous infusion. In control rats (n = 8), sodium excretion increased from 3 to 17 microeq.min-1.g kidney wt-1 as renal perfusion pressure (RPP) was elevated from 96 to 141 mmHg (n = 8). Captopril (2 mg/kg, n = 9) reduced plasma levels of ANG II from 48 +/- 5 to 18 +/- 2 pg/ml, but it did not alter the PN relationship. Infusion of ANG II (20 ng.kg-1.min-1, n = 9) increased plasma levels of ANG II to 232 +/- 42 pg/ml and shifted the PN relationship to the right by 14 mmHg. Captopril increased renal blood flow, and infusion of ANG II returned it to control. Captopril had no effect on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or glomerular capillary pressure (Pglom); however, subsequent ANG II infusion decreased Pglom from 56 +/- 2 to 48 +/- 2 mmHg and reduced GFR by 30%. Neither captopril nor ANG II altered papillary bloodflow or vasa recta capillary pressure at normal levels of RPP. These results indicate that the shift of the PN relationship during infusion of ANG II is due to a decrease in filtered load and enhanced tubular reabsorption of sodium. Acute blockade of the renin-angiotensin system had little effect on the PN response in volume-expanded rats despite affecting renal hemodynamics, because either the plasma and/or intrarenal levels of ANG II were already suppressed below those needed to influence tubular function or volume expansion inhibits tubular reabsorption in the nephron segments normally influenced by ANG II.
Diagnostic Imaging of Pediatric Abdominal Masses

This overview delineates the clinical and pathological features of various abdominal mass lesions found in neonates and in older infants and children. The application and limitations of imaging procedures currently available are reviewed with emphasis on the principles and advantages of advanced imaging techniques. Selected pediatric abdominal masses are discussed and their radiologic features illustrated. Integrated imaging strategies for abdominal masses in the newborn and in the older infant and child are proposed.
Ethical considerations in pervasive health research

The pervasive health field has matured over the last few decades and the community has begun to converge on commonly accepted practices. In this work, we argue for a need to consider the ethical implications of the choices we make as researchers, particularly when working with vulnerable or sensitive populations. We outline a number of considerations that should be given more attention moving forward. We discuss these considerations as they have emerged from our work with people with rare diseases and with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, both sensitive communities requiring a careful attention to ethics. We organize these ethical considerations around two main themes: the importance of involving participants in the research process and the need for flexible approaches to both research methods and the design of tools. We provide recommendations for researchers towards a successful, ethical future of pervasive health research.
Learning by Invention: Small Group Discussion Activities that Support Learning in Statistics

Learning by invention is an alternative approach to teaching statistics where students are tasked with attempting to solve a problem before being taught the canonical formula for solving it, often resulting in increased understanding of material compared with traditional instruction. The first study, conducted in a college statistics classroom with mixed-skill groups, extended previous work showing an advantage for learning-by-invention activities compared with a lecture-first control. A second study explored group interactions that led to benefits from learning-by-invention activities. Successful groups were more likely to propose solutions and less likely to propose arbitrary formulas or highlight group members' math skills. The features of small group interactions that may help or harm learning during invention activities are discussed.
Kinetic Physics of Homogeneous Turbulence in Collisionless Plasmas

We present results of large scale, fully kinetic 3D simulations of decaying plasma turbulence that span a range of scales from tens of ion gyroradii to the electron Debye length. A significant fraction of the dissipated energy is transferred to ions, in contrast to the scenario where the dominant dissipation is due to Landau damping of wave-like fluctuations. Intense current sheets are formed in the simulation with thicknesses over a range of scales approximately between electron and ion inertial scales. The rate of ion heating is well correlated with intermittency level. Geometrical analysis of the current sheets suggest that magnetic reconnection is active in the present simulation.
Protein l -Arginine Methylation of RNA-Binding Proteins and Their Impact on Human Diseases

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are important for regulating the transcriptional expression of genes, as well as controlling the production of multiple transcriptional isoforms from a single gene by modulating pre-mRNA splicing [Lunde et al. (Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 8:479–490, 2007)]. These proteins influence multiple aspects of RNA metabolism, including maturation, surveillance, subcellular localization, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and degradation [Lunde et al. (Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 8:479–490, 2007)]. RNA-binding proteins contain one or more RNA-binding domains (RBDs) that specify their association with RNAs. Examples of common RBDs include the RNA recognition motif (RRM), K-homology (KH) domain, RGG box/domain, Sm domain, zinc finger, and Piwi/Argonaute/Zwille domain [Lunde et al. (Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 8:479–490, 2007)]. These RBDs act as modules that can be combined and arranged to expand the functional ability of an RBP. This modular architecture provides versatility: RBP binding with high affinity and specificity to a specific target can be achieved by combining different RBDs that individually recognize shorter RNA sequences with weak affinity. Many RBPs contain additional post-translational modifications that can influence their biochemical properties. One such modification that has been found in many RBPs is protein arginine methylation [Bedford and Clarke (Mol Cell 33:1–13, 2009)]. Recent findings have implicated this modification as a major regulator of RBP function within a cell [Bedford and Clarke (Mol Cell 33:1–13, 2009)], thereby pointing to the potential of this modification serving an important role in the cause or progression of human diseases.
The impact of militarism on anthropology

Comment on Price, David. 2016. Cold War anthropology: The CIA, the Pentagon, and the growth of dual use anthropology . Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
The Use of Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgical Stapling Devices During Minimally Invasive Colon and Rectal Surgery: A Comparison.

Abstract Purpose: To date there exists no published study examining the safety and efficacy of the EndoWrist 45 (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.) robotic stapler. We compared outcomes between the robotic and comparable laparoscopic stapler in robotic-assisted colorectal procedures. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 93 patients who underwent robotic-assisted colorectal surgery at our institution from 2012 to 2014. Surgeries included left, sigmoid, subtotal and total colectomies, and low anterior rectal resections. Indications were malignancy and diverticular and inflammatory bowel disease. Preoperative demographics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes were examined. Student's t-test and Fischer's exact used were appropriate. Results: Forty-five millimeters laparoscopic staplers were used in 58 cases, while the 45 mm robotic stapler was used in 35 cases. There was no difference in age (P = .651), gender (P = .832), or body mass index (P = .204) between groups. There was no d...
Development of a simple, rapid, and robust intrathecal catheterization method in the rat

Abstract Background The blood brain barrier (BBB) is an impediment to the development of large and highly charged molecules as therapeutics for diseases and injuries of the central nervous system (CNS). Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are large (6000–8000 MW) and highly charged and therefore do not cross the BBB. A method of circumventing the blood brain barrier to test ASOs, and other non-BBB penetrant molecules, as CNS therapeutics is the direct administration of these molecules to the CNS tissue or cerebral spinal fluid. New method We developed a rapid, simple and robust method for the intrathecal catheterization of rats to test putatively therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides. This method utilizes 23-gauge needles, simply constructed ½ in. long 19-gauge guide cannulas and 8 cm long plastic PE-10 sized catheters. Comparison with existing methods Unlike the cisterna magna approach, this method uses a lumbar approach for intrathecal catheterization with the catheter residing entirely in the cauda equina space minimizing spinal cord compression. Readily available materials and only a few specialized pieces of equipment, which are easily manufactured, are used for this intrathecal catheterization method. Conclusions This method is easy to learn and has been taught to multiple in house surgeons, collaborators and contract laboratories. Greater than 90% catheterization success is routinely achieved with this method and as many as 100 catheters can be placed and test substance administered in one 6-h period. This method has allowed the pre-clinical testing of hundreds of ASOs as therapeutics for CNS indications.
A Glimpse at Eternity

ABSTRACTNaoki Ueno was a keen observer of social interaction as the context for people solving problems together. He was particularly interested in how people made various problems and their solutions visible to each other. In appreciation of his work, I offer a slightly contrasting case of people handling a problem that remains mostly invisible and unsolved. He would have enjoyed bringing it into view and showing how it might be approached.
Farm Management Facts in Building Area and State Programs

The need for farm management facts has become of increasing importance during the last few years, especially since the emergency period began. A large number of the agricultural institutions had been collecting and analyzing some farm data for a number of years, but it took the depression years to arouse interest in the value and importance of the greatest possible use of such data in an effort to meet the situation. The subject of farm management touches all rural life, as well as the activities of all extension specialists and agents. It takes a number of years of work to secure sufficient economic data from farm records to build the background for a state extension program. Our first records were secured in 1927. That year there were only 27 records obtained, and by 1934 the number had increased to 1,400. Since that time, the number has run from 2,400 to 3,600 per year. With the exception of two areas, our records are reasonably well distributed throughout the state. This has given our farm management department the opportunity to furnish considerable basic data to practically all county agents in the state, and at least a limited amount to all. It is to be recognized that no extension plan is of any real value until it is put into operation upon the farm or in the home, or both. Too many plans made at headquarters give the appearance of having been drawn too far from the farm to be usable to those for whom they are intended. Therefore, data coming from records kept by men who have both feet in the furrow should serve as a balance wheel to our thinking when plans are being made. For some years there has been a growing need for a closer coordination of the work of the various extension subject matter specialists and county extension workers. Developing along with the above need, has been the growing demand for comprehensive state rural programs with long-time objectives that would more adequately serve the farm people in the different agricultural areas of the state, the counties and the communities. All data furnished to the county agents should be made available to, and used by, the district agent, specialist, and administrative force. This is necessary if work of all personnel is to be coordinated into an effective, workable program. The specialist, for example, needs to know how well the particular enterprise with which he is working fits into the agriculture
Our Bodies in the Trolley’s Path, or Why Self-driving Cars Must *Not* Be Programmed to Kill:

The discourse around self-driving cars has been dominated by an emphasis on their potential to reduce the number of accidents. At the same time, proponents acknowledge that self-driving cars would ...
IL-4 alters mast cell activation by FcγR

Mast cells are involved in many inflammatory diseases, partly by their production of cytokines that promote inflammation. IgG signaling through FcγRIII/IIb in mast cells is linked to autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, but factors controlling this signaling remain unclear. Our group has previously shown that IL-4 augments IgG- mediated TNF production by murine mast cells, but other cytokine secretion was not examined. This may be critical, since we recently found that TNF is not always co-regulated with other cytokines during mast cell activation. In fact, our current data show that IL-4 suppresses IgG-mediated MCP-1 production. Current work is examining a broader range of cytokines and chemokines. These studies suggest that mast cell responses are altered by cytokines in their microenvironment, with distinct and even opposite effects on specific cytokines and chemokines.
Immunochemical analysis of the expression of SV2C in mouse, macaque and human brain

The synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2C (SV2C) is an undercharacterized protein with enriched expression in phylogenetically old brain regions. Its precise role within the brain is unclear, though various lines of evidence suggest that SV2C is involved in the function of synaptic vesicles through the regulation of vesicular trafficking, calcium-induced exocytosis, or synaptotagmin function. SV2C has been linked to multiple neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease and psychiatric conditions. SV2C is expressed in various cell types-primarily dopaminergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic cells. In mice, it is most highly expressed in nuclei within the basal ganglia, though it is unknown if this pattern of expression is consistent across species. Here, we use a custom SV2C-specific antiserum to describe localization within the brain of mouse, nonhuman primate, and human, including cell-type localization. We found that the immunoreactivity with this antiserum is consistent with previously-published antibodies, and confirmed localization of SV2C in the basal ganglia of rodent, rhesus macaque, and human. We observed strongest expression of SV2C in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, dorsal striatum, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens of each species. Further, we demonstrate colocalization between SV2C and markers of dopaminergic, GABAergic, and cholinergic neurons within these brain regions. SV2C has been increasingly linked to dopamine and basal ganglia function. These antisera will be an important resource moving forward in our understanding of the role of SV2C in vesicle dynamics and neurological disease.
NHS trusts, the market and occupational therapy

The current health service reforms have central significance to all health service workers, including the professions allied to medicine. The impact of the internal market is changing both the way in which therapy services operate and the relationships between and within different professions. This article considers some of these developments for occupational therapists and the service they provide, and in doing so identifies pertinent areas of concern.
Social Determinants of Treatment Response

Socioeconomic status is consistently linked to population health and specifically to the finding that there is decreasing health associated with decreasing social position. Despite the substantial literature, an analogous literature that is focused on clinical practice, and especially consideration of the individual, is almost nonexistent. Even in the absence of these data, physicians routinely incorporate patient life experience (biography) into their estimation of a patient's clinical trajectory (prognosis) and when making therapeutic decisions. Some advances have occurred that strengthen the evidence base, such as the US Food and Drug Administration decision to show all results from randomized controlled trials on newly approved drugs by age, sex, and race. In this article we review the current status of research on the impact of social determinants of treatment response and illustrate the important role of the therapeutic context in both research and practice. Examples are provided in which a patient's "biography" alters treatment response in subgroups of the population studied. We also provide examples in which multi-omic data and biographical information in a single individual can illuminate the clinical expression of disease. Finally, we suggest a research agenda that would better support physicians who use social and behavioral features as important elements in their decision making in clinical care.
High Mobility in Nanocrystal-Based Transparent Conducting Oxide Thin Films.

Charge carrier mobility in transparent conducting oxide (TCO) films is mainly limited by impurity scattering, grain boundary scattering, and a hopping transport mechanism. We enhanced the mobility in nanocrystal (NC)-based TCO films, exceeding even typical values found in sputtered thin films, by addressing each of these scattering factors. Impurity scattering is diminished by incorporating cerium as a dopant in indium oxide NCs instead of the more typical dopant, tin. Grain boundary scattering is reduced by using large NCs with a size of 21 nm, which nonetheless were sufficiently small to avoid haze due to light scattering. In-filling of the precursor solution followed by annealing results in a NC-based composite film which conducts electrons through metal-like transport at room temperature, readily distinguished by the positive temperature coefficient of resistance. Cerium-doped indium oxide (Ce:In2O3) NC-based composite films achieve a high mobility of 56.0 cm2/V·s, and a low resistivity of 1.25 × 10–3...
Stage Three: Internalizing

Stage three marks the beginning of emotional and intellectual deliberation about the hazard. Here, the compact group and the broader population (1) experience emotional response, (2) seek redress, (3) change normal activities, and (4) assess vulnerabilities and capacities. The onset of stage three will vary, but it is to some extent marked by the passing of immediate danger from the hazard. Emotional responses are a key feature at this point as well, but may operate differently from previous stages. On the individual level, emotions may range from acute relief, acute disbelief, sadness, and shock, to chronic mental disorders. Now the compact group, and the larger community of which it is a part, are left to consider how life must shift in a changed post-disaster world. The population also engages in a re-evaluation of vulnerability to the hazard. These reflections later motivate behaviors in the fourth stage.
Marc Tool’s Social Value Theory and the Family

The social value theory developed by Marc Tool is a useful perspective to bring to bear upon the manifold issues of family, gender, and nurturing of children at the close of the American Century (J.R. Stanfield 1992). Tool’s theory, developed on the basis of the instrumental value theory tradition of Thorstein Veblen, John Dewey, C.E. Ayres, J.F. Foster, among others, suggests that the principle of institutional adjustment is capable of clarifying the issues posed by this dramatic social change, thereby indicating the way forward to a more effective meshing of institutional practice with current social valuations and individual development.
Axially Loaded Members

The primary motivation in prestressing concrete is to offset tensile stresses that develop in flexural members. Consequently, using prestressed concrete in members that are largely loaded in axial compression or loaded in tension might appear contradictory. Furthermore, concrete’s low tensile strength makes its use as a tension member immediately doubtful. Nonetheless, there are cases where axially loaded prestressed concrete contributes to the engineer’s design options. Applications include ring girders for shells and foundations, circular tanks, columns, and piles.
Going Against the Grains: Gluten-Free Diets in Patients Without Celiac Disease-Worthwhile or Not?

While the gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only known effective therapy for celiac disease, in recent years it has become increasingly popular in the USA and worldwide, with many believing it to be more “healthful” and others claiming that it has beneficial effects for health conditions, many extraintestinal, other than celiac disease. This review examines the evidence for use of the GFD in patients without celiac disease who self-report intestinal and/or extraintestinal symptoms (non-celiac gluten sensitivity), as well as for enhancement of athletic performance and treatment of autism, rheumatoid arthritis, and psychiatric disorders. Overall, the evidence for use of GFDs in conditions other than celiac disease is poor. Though non-celiac gluten sensitivity may ultimately emerge as a biomarker-defined condition, a large proportion of patients with apparent non-celiac gluten sensitivity have, after careful investigation, an alternative diagnosis. In light of this, and coupled with the potential physical and psychological harms associated with the avoidance of gluten, initiating a GFD should not be encouraged for people who have these other conditions or are seeking physical/athletic enhancement.
Overcoming the Challenges of the Last Mile: A Model of Riders for Health

Healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa is acutely inadequate. The last mile of the health delivery supply chain, in particular, is a critical bottleneck to healthcare access in this and other regions. There are a number of challenges to building relevant models for resource-limited settings, including a lack of data and performance indicators. Nonetheless, operations research methodology can be used to evaluate and improve the last mile of health delivery. We present a case study of our work with Riders for Health, a nonprofit organization that addresses the problem of last-mile distribution by providing transportation solutions for health workers in Africa. In particular, Riders uses driver training programs, routine maintenance, and efficient spare parts management to improve vehicle uptime. The inventory and queuing model that we have developed of Riders’ fleet management program was informed by numerous visits and interviews conducted over the past two years, as we set up a trial to evaluate Riders’ effectiveness. With our model, we identify Riders’ most effective initiatives as well as advise the organization on its priorities.
SIFamide peptides modulate cardiac activity differently in two species of Cancer crab.

Abstract The SIFamides are a broadly conserved arthropod peptide family characterized by the C-terminal motif –SIFamide. In decapod crustaceans, two isoforms of SIFamide are known, GYRKPPFNGSIFamide (Gly 1 -SIFamide), which is nearly ubiquitously conserved in the order, and VYRKPPFNGSIFamide (Val 1 -SIFamide), known only from members of the astacidean genus Homarus . While much work has focused on the identification of SIFamide isoforms in decapods, there are few direct demonstrations of physiological function for members of the peptide family in this taxon. Here, we assessed the effects of Gly 1 - and Val 1 -SIFamide on the cardiac neuromuscular system of two closely related species of Cancer crab, Cancer borealis and Cancer irroratus . In each species, both peptides were cardioactive, with identical, dose-dependent effects elicited by both isoforms in a given species. Threshold concentrations for bioactivity are in the range typically associated with hormonal delivery, i.e. , 10 -9 to 10 -8 M. Interestingly, and quite surprisingly, while the predicted effects of SIFamide on cardiac output are similar in both C. borealis and C. irroratus , frequency effects predominate in C. borealis , while amplitude effects predominate in C. irroratus . These findings suggest that, while SIFamide is likely to increase cardiac output in both crabs, the mechanism through which this is achieved is different in the two species. Immunohistochemical/mass spectrometric data suggest that SIFamide is delivered to the heart hormonally rather than locally, with the source of hormonal release being midgut epithelial endocrine cells in both Cancer species. If so, midgut-derived SIFamide may function as a regulator of cardiac output during the process of digestion.
RECENT IMPROVEMENTS TOWARDS THE SYNTHESIS OF THE C-GLUCURONOSYL CANCER CHEMOPREVENTIVE (β-d-GLUCOPYRANOSYLURONATE)-4-RETINAMIDOPHENYLMETHANE

Evidence suggests that the glucuronide conjugates of retinoids may be active metabolites of the parent compounds with potential utility as drugs.1 We have recently shown that the O-glucuronide metabolite 1 of the synthetic retinoid N-4-hydroxyphenylretinamide (2) shows reduced toxicity and a significant chemopreventive advantage relative to the parent retinoid in a carcinogen-induced rat mammary cancer model.2 In efforts to determine whether these conjugates function as intact molecules or must be hydrolyzed back to 2, we designed and synthesized a series of C-glycosyl and C-glucuronosyl analogues of 1 3. Our syntheses of these compounds are lengthy (10-12 steps) and lead to the desired products in less than 4% overall yields. Limitations on the availability of these compounds led us to evaluate them using a modified protocol for the carcinogen-induced rat mammary tumor model. While many of our analogues showed cancer chemopreventive activity in this assay, C-glucuronosyl analogue 3 has proven to be the m...
“I Didn’t Really Want to Leave”: A Case Study of Public Housing Relocation under Pressure

With the United States’ welfare state coming to rely on market-based policies, the notion of choice has come to the forefront of public housing policy. This study investigated choice within a Chicago public housing community slated for redevelopment. In theory, the utilization of the private market creates broader options, empowering citizens to exercise greater autonomy in major life decisions. The housing authority emphasized the choices available to tenants, including the choice to remain on-site during redevelopment. Yet relocatees reported experiencing pressure to relocate, through either explicit actions from housing authority officials or nuanced channels including steering and coercion tactics. The incongruence between the narratives presented by the housing authority and those presented by the public housing residents demonstrates that the distinction between “voluntary” and “involuntary” relocation is not always clear. We offer several areas for consideration moving forward, including substantive inclusion of residents in planning processes, development of a more effective incentive structure to reward public housing agencies for relocating residents into higher quality neighborhoods, and shifting the overall framing of subsidized housing residents from consumers to civic agents who hold the potential to shape the future directions of their communities.
Wicking in Cross-Connected Buried Nanochannels

In this work, wicking is studied in ∼728 nm height cross-connected nanochannels buried under a SiO2 surface. Pores of diameter ∼2 μm, present at each intersect of nanochannels, allow a water drople...
American Afterlives: Ghosts in the Commodity

In the United States, death practices have been undergoing a rapid transformation in the last 20 years. Moves towards creative, individualized observances are accompanied by new material practices. I deploy ethnographic examples of three entrepreneurs who make objects from cremated human remains. The entities discussed here cannot be comfortably called either human or non-human. They are both. And they are designed to facilitate on ongoing relationship with the dead. These new entities are not exactly commodities, although they may be produced through similar means. Embraced primarily by agnostics, they are not exactly religious relics, although they contain preserved parts of the human body. They come closest to being a personal fetish, or a radically material type of ghost.
Fibrinogen Activates PAK1/Cofilin Signaling Pathway to Protect Endothelial Barrier Integrity.

Introduction We recently demonstrated that fibrinogen stabilizes syndecan-1 on the endothelial cell (EC) surface and contributes to EC barrier protection, though the intracellular signaling pathway remains unclear. P21 (Rac1) activated kinase 1 (PAK1) is a protein kinase involved in intracellular signaling leading to actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and plays an important role in maintaining endothelial barrier integrity. We therefore hypothesized that fibrinogen binding to syndecan-1 activated the PAK1 pathway. Methods Primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells were incubated in 10% lactated Ringers (LR) solution or 10% fibrinogen saline solution (5 mg/mL). Protein phosphorylation was determined by Western blot analysis and endothelial permeability measured by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran. Cells were silenced by siRNA transfection. Protein concentration was measured in the lung lavages of mice. Results Fibrinogen treatment resulted in increased syndecan-1, PAK1 activation (phosphorylation), cofilin activation (dephosphorylation), as well as decreased stress fibers and permeability when compared with LR treatment. Cofilin is an actin-binding protein that depolymerizes F-actin to decrease stress fiber formation. Notably, fibrinogen did not influence myosin light chain activation (phosphorylation), a mediator of EC tension. Silencing of PAK1 prevented fibrinogen-induced dephosphorylation of cofilin and barrier integrity. Moreover, to confirm the in vitro findings, mice underwent hemorrhagic shock and were resuscitated with either LR or fibrinogen. Hemorrhage shock decreased lung p-PAK1 levels and caused significant lung vascular leakage. However, fibrinogen administration increased p-PAK1 expression to near sham levels and remarkably prevented the lung leakage. Conclusion We have identified a novel pathway by which fibrinogen activates PAK1 signaling to stimulate/dephosphorylate cofilin, leading to disassembly of stress fibers and reduction of endothelial permeability.
Thermal stability and deformability of annealed nanotwinned Al/Ti multilayers

Abstract Recent studies showed that nanotwinned Al/Ti multilayers have outstanding mechanical properties at room temperature. However, the thermal stability of these multilayers remains unclear. Here, we show that after annealing at 400 °C, nanotwinned Al/Ti multilayers demonstrate excellent thermal stability and limited intermixing when individual layer thickness exceeds 22 nm. Whereas nanolayers of TiAl formed in the annealed Al/Ti 4.5 nm multilayer. Annealing induced substantial hardening, and the magnitude of hardening is greater at smaller layer thickness. In situ micropillar compression tests show the annealed Al/Ti multilayers have high flow stress (exceeding 3 GPa), work hardening capability, and good deformability.
The oligomeric subunit C rotor in the fo sector of ATP synthase: unresolved questions in our understanding of function.

We have proposed a model for the oligomeric c-rotor of the Fo sector of ATP synthase and its interaction with subunit a during H+-transport driven rotation. The model is based upon the solution structure of monomeric subunit c, determined by NMR, and an extensive series of cross-linking distance constraints between c subunits and between subunits c and a. To explain the complete set of cross-linking data, we have suggested that the second transmembrane helix rotates during its interaction with subunit a in the course of the H+-translocation cycle. The H+-transport coupled rotation of this helix is proposed to drive the stepwise movement of the c-oligomeric rotor. The model is testable and provides a useful framework for addressing questions raised by other experiments.
A QED Model for the Origin of Bursts from SGRs and AXPs

We propose a model to account for the bursts from soft gamma repeaters (SGRs) and anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) in which quantum electrodynamics (QED) plays a vital role. In our theory, that we term ``fast-mode breakdown,'' magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves that are generated near the surface of a neutron star and propagate outward through the magnetosphere will be modified by the polarization of the vacuum. For neutron star magnetic fields $B_\rmscr{NS} \gtrsim B_\rmscr{QED} \approx 4.4 \times 10^{13}$ G, the interaction of the wave fields with the vacuum produces non-linearities in fast MHD waves that can steepen in a manner akin to the growth of hydrodynamic shocks. Under certain conditions, fast modes can develop field discontinuities on scales comparable to an electron Compton wavelength, at which point the wave energy will be dissipated through electron-positron pair production. We show that this process operates if the magnetic field of the neutron star is sufficiently strong and the ratio of the wavelength of the fast mode to its amplitude is sufficiently small, in which case the wave energy will be efficiently converted into an extended pair-plasma fireball. The radiative output from this fireball will consist of hard X-rays and soft $\gamma$-rays, with a spectrum similar to those seen in bursts from SGRs and AXPs (abridged).
Automatic Sublining for Efficient Sparse Memory Accesses

Sparse memory accesses, which are scattered accesses to single elements of a large data structure, are a challenge for current processor architectures. Their lack of spatial and temporal locality and their irregularity makes caches and traditional stream prefetchers useless. Furthermore, performing standard caching and prefetching on sparse accesses wastes precious memory bandwidth and thrashes caches, deteriorating performance for regular accesses. Bypassing prefetchers and caches for sparse accesses, and fetching only a single element (e.g., 8 B) from main memory (subline access), can solve these issues. Deciding which accesses to handle as sparse accesses and which as regular cached accesses, is a challenging task, with a large potential impact on performance. Not only is performance reduced by treating sparse accesses as regular accesses, not caching accesses that do have locality also negatively impacts performance by significantly increasing their latency and bandwidth consumption. Furthermore, this decision depends on the dynamic environment, such as input set characteristics and system load, making a static decision by the programmer or compiler suboptimal. We propose the Instruction Spatial Locality Estimator (ISLE), a hardware detector that finds instructions that access isolated words in a sea of unused data. These sparse accesses are dynamically converted into uncached subline accesses, while keeping regular accesses cached. ISLE does not require modifying source code or binaries, and adapts automatically to a changing environment (input data, available bandwidth, etc.). We apply ISLE to a graph analytics processor running sparse graph workloads, and show that ISLE outperforms the performance of no subline accesses, manual sublining, and prior work on detecting sparse accesses.
Using Electoral Cycles in Police Hiring to Estimate the Effect of Police on Crime: Comment

Previous empirical studies have uncovered little evidence that police reduce crime, possibly due to simultaneity problems. This paper uses the timing of mayoral and gubernatorial elections as an instrumental variable to identify a causal effect of police on crime. Increases in the size of police forces are shown to be disproportionately concentrated in mayoral and gubernatorial election years. Increases in police are shown to substantially reduce violent crime, but have a smaller impact on property crime. The null hypothesis that the marginal social benefit of reduced crime equals the costs of hiring additional police cannot be rejected.
Maya Ta Maya Ho (Love is Love): A Qualitative Study on LGBTQI+ Experiences in Hospice & Palliative Care in Nepal

Purpose: LGBTQI+ disparities in hospice and palliative care have been vastly underrecognized in medical practice and research. This may result in LGBTQI+ community members distrusting health care professionals, avoiding encounters due to fears of discrimination or mistreatment; and seldom disclosing their identities to health care professionals. LGBTQI+ patients often lack familial emotional and caregiver support, a central theme of hospice care – for example, older LGBTQI+ people are twice as likely as cisgender heterosexual people to live alone and four times as likely to not have children. The LGBTQI+ population is also highly intersectional, thereby members may be further stigmatized. This study examined palliative care in a Nepali facility that specializes in LGBTQI+ patient care. Methods: 29 interviews were conducted with patients, health care professionals, family members, and administrators with Blue Diamond Society (BDS), a Nepali NGO advocating for LGBTQI+ equality. Questions were developed based on open-ended questioning to abstract relevant life and health history information pertaining to experiences with BDS and palliative care. These interviews were translated and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was conducted to identify prevalent themes. Results: Seven themes were identified: experience of discrimination; importance of community; non-medical elements of care; finding hope and meaning; intersectionality of multiple identities; advocacy and activism; and breaking down notions of LGBTQI+ community members as a monolith. Conclusion This study elucidated multiple ways that Blue Diamond Society integrates an LGBTQI+ affirming environment into their cultural competence frameworks, providing an opportunity to identify ways for other hospice and palliative care initiatives to integrate LGBTQI+ affirming care. Funding: We would like to acknowledge the Northwestern University Department of Global Health John and Martha Mabie Fellowship for Public Health for grant funding to support this study Declaration of Interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. Ethical Approval: This study was approved by the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board and BDS Executive Board.
Normative Values for the Sonographic Measurement of the Pediatric Median and Ulnar Nerves.

Rational and Objectives Ultrasound investigation of peripheral nerves, long used in the adult population, has been shown to be of value in diagnosing a variety of peripheral nerve abnormalities. More recently, nerve sonography has also been shown to be of use in pediatrics. However, normative values for nerve size in children have been lacking. As such, the goal of this research was to establish normative data for cross sectional area (CSA) measurements of the median and ulnar nerves in children. Materials and methods The median and ulnar nerves of 48 children ranging in age from 2 years to 17 years were imaged by ultrasound. CSA measurements were made at 2 separate sites for each nerve and measured independently by 6 pediatric radiologists. Reliability of ultrasound measurements between the radiologists was assessed by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients. Linear mixed-effects modeling was performed to develop prediction models for nerve cross sectional area for each nerve segment; 95% prediction values were generated from these models to approximate normal ranges. Results Agreement in nerve cross-sectional area measurements among the 6 radiologists for all nerve segments was good (ICC 0.82, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.85). CSA for both the median and ulnar nerves is larger in older children. However, statistical models to predict CSA using height perform better rather than those using a child's age. The range of normal nerve segment CSA using these prediction models based on child height are reported. Conclusion Median and ulnar nerve CSA can be reliably measured with ultrasound. Normal reference values for ulnar and median nerve CSA correlate with patient age but may be more optimally determined based on a child's height.
Application of a Scaled Ground Vehicle in a Testbed of Heterogeneous Autonomous Systems

This paper presents the application of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle(UGV) in a testbed of heterogeneous autonomous systems. The UGV comprises of three essential factors of navigation: A Mapping System, Localization system, and an Obstacle Avoidance System. The UGV will avoid obstacles using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology compatible with a controller to prevent it from colliding with objects while reaching a goal. While the UGV is exploring the territory, it will use mapping techniques for visual reference. Robot Operating System manages the sensors into individual topics, which communicate together to link data for navigation.
THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENTLY FRAMED INFORMATION ON DECISION MAKING IN THE PUBLIC BUDGETING PROCESS: DOES BUDGET REFORM MEAN A DAMN?

Public budgeting has become a central artifact of American government – the principal means for establishing and implementing policy. Modern public budgeting was introduced in the early Twentieth Century as an adaptation of objects of revenue and expenditure budgeting used in commercial businesses. Since then over a hundred years a series of budget reform movements have sought to overcome a major drawback to this model: the lack of a direct link between revenues and expenditures and any measure of the quality or quantity of public benefits derived from budget allocations. While a number of major budget reforms have come and gone (or came and stayed), that provided additional information on government activities linked to allocations, little research has been done to assess whether this new information has actually been used in the legislative budget decision making process, and if so, whether it influenced final budget decisions. Framing theory holds that information about a problem presented in different ways will be perceived as a different problem by decision-makers. Using framing theory as a theoretical basis, a laboratory experiment was conducted, where groups using budgets differently framed budget documents deliberated over an identical budget scenario. It was found that the nature of the debate did vary based on type of framed budget, but that the final allocations were not significantly different. This document was prepared using Microsoft WORD 2003
Down regulation of trk but not p75NTR gene expression in single cholinergic basal forebrain neurons mark the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Dysfunction of cholinergic basal forebrain (CBF) neurons of the nucleus basalis (NB) is a cardinal feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and correlates with cognitive decline. Survival of CBF neurons depends upon binding of nerve growth factor (NGF) with high-affinity (trkA) and low-affinity (p75(NTR)) neurotrophin receptors produced within CBF neurons. Since trkA and p75(NTR) protein levels are reduced within CBF neurons of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild AD, trkA and/or p75(NTR) gene expression deficits may drive NB degeneration. Using single cell expression profiling methods coupled with custom-designed cDNA arrays and validation with real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and in situ hybridization, individual cholinergic NB neurons displayed a significant down regulation of trkA, trkB, and trkC expression during the progression of AD. An intermediate reduction was observed in MCI, with the greatest decrement in mild to moderate AD as compared to controls. Importantly, trk down regulation is associated with cognitive decline measured by the Global Cognitive Score (GCS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). In contrast, there is a lack of regulation of p75(NTR) expression. Thus, trk defects may be a molecular marker for the transition from no cognitive impairment (NCI) to MCI, and from MCI to frank AD.