cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PP08.10 – 2608: Multiple sclerosis: Two patients with isolated and multiple cranial neuropathies

Objective Abnormal motor signs in multiple sclerosis (MS) are typically due to upper motor neurone lesions. We present 2patients with MS, who developed lower motor neuron cranial nerve (CN) signs. Methods Retrospective review of case notes of two patients and literature review. Results AB was diagnosed with hemiplegic migraine aged 8 years with recurrent episodes of hemiplegia associated with headache but normal imaging. At 13 years, she developed severe left hemiplegia and right ptosis without headache. 4 months later, she had an isolated episode of right CN VI palsy, following which a repeat MRI showed numerous areas of demyelination in brain and spinal cord, leading to a diagnosis of MS. Following a second relapse, she had Avonex with good response. CD had relapsing-remitting MS since 12 years. In the first year, he had 6 relapses which involved right hemiparesis, right hemisensory syndrome and right optic neuritis. He was started on Avonex and remained clinically well for 10 months before representing with an exacerbation affecting the left CN VI, CN VII palsy and left CN V sensory deficit. We did not image him acutely but he responded well to oral Methylprednisolone. Conclusion Zaldro et al. [1] reports isolated CN palsies in 10.4% of 483 adult MS patients with only half showing corresponding brainstem MRI changes. CN III-VIII involvement have been reported with CN VI–VIII most commonly affected [1–3]. Also reported, but even rarer, are multiple CN involvement in MS [4,5]. Hence, the diagnosis of MS should be considered in children with isolated or multiple CN involvement. References: [1] Zaldro et al. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2008;110:886–8. [2] Thomke et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1997;63(5):682–685. [3] Rose et al. J Clin Neuroophthalmol 1992;12(1):17–20. [4] Renard et al. Arch Neurol 2012;69(4):541–542. [5] Thomas RW et al. Ear Nose Throat J 1999;78(2):118–21.
Effect of Lanthanum Exposure of Female Rats during Pregnancy and Lactation on Lipid Peroxidation in Brain and Morphological Changes in Hippocampus Cells of Their Offspring

Objective To explore the effect of lanthanum exposure of female rats during pregnancy and lactation on lipid peroxidation in brain and morphological changes in hippocampus cells of their offspring.Methods The female rats were administrated with lanthanum from pregnancy to the end of lactation.The malondialdehyde(MDA),reduced glutathione(GSH) content,glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) vitality,and superoxide dismutase(SOD) vitality and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) were tested.The morphological changes were observed under light microscope.Results The concentrations of MDA increased significantly(P0.05)and the levels of GSH decreased remarkably(P0.05)while the activities of GSH-Px,SOD,T-AOC and antioxidant capability decreased significantly(P0.05)compared with the control group correlating with the doses of lanthanum.The pathological morphology changes of hippocampus were observed.Conclusions Lanthanum exposure from pregnancy to the end of lactation of rats would injure the central nerve system for their offspring,the reason might be related to lipid peroxidation.
Pathology research on an acute gastroenteritis outbreak in Changzhou

Objective:To determine the pathogen and genogroup of an acute gastroenteritis outbreak by laboratory diagnosis of suspected cases samples.Methods:Thirty-six samples were tested for Norovirus by Real-time PCR.Eight positive samples were amplified by reverse transcriotion PCR,and the products were sequenced,then genotype was identified and phylogenetic tree was constructed.Results:Norovirus GII was detected positively in 15 of 36 samples.Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed that 8 strains of Norovirus belonged to GII/12.Conclusion:The epidemic event of acute gastroenteritis was caused by GII/12 Norovirus.
Sexually transmitted urogenital diseases.

Summary Patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) frequently present for care to the Emergency Department. Some of the more common STDs are increasing in number despite public health efforts to control their spread. Relatively simple diagnostic modalities for several of the more common STDs are presented. In addition, the most current treatment regimens for each STD discussed are described in detail.
When it comes to the efficacy of metastasectomy, biology is king.

“Biology is King; selection of cases is Queen, and the technical details of surgical procedures are princes and princesses of the realm who frequently try to overthrow the powerful forces of the King and Queen, usually to no long-term avail, although with some temporary apparent victories.”
Measurements and computer modeling of F-atom formation in electron-beam initiated chemical lasers

In a recent series of papers we reported results which establish a new operating regime for an electron-beam (e-beam) initiated pulsed chemical (DF CO2) laser. This new operating regime produces high specific energy output (~30 J/liter) with laser pulse lengths of 30-100 μs when initiated by only 2-4 J/liter of e-beam energy. The key process to establishing the chemical burn is the formation of fluorine atoms by the e-beam deposited energy. The fluorine immediately reacts with D2 to form vibrationally excited DF:
171 Older people, alcohol and safety issues at home – the perspective of home care workers

Background Finland is a rapidly ageing society. The Finnish ageing policy prioritises older people living at home. Alcohol use of older people has become more common. Heavy drinking in particular leads to the need of increasing daily assistance and care. This paper discusses the challenging social situations of daily work of home care workers visiting alcohol consuming older people in their homes. This study, called “Ageing, alcohol and needs for services in home care” (2014–2015), is a part of the larger project “Harms to others from drinking: effects on health, wellbeing and the burden to society”. Methods The data consists of 13 thematic interviews with home care workers (n = 10) and their supervisors (n = 3). The interviews were conducted in one home care district in the metropolitan area in Finland. Results When making their home visits home care workers have to handle challenging safety issues, such as alcohol-drug interactions, injury prevention and their own safety at work. Home care workers encounter unpredictable situations where they for safety reasons cannot fulfil their professional intentions. Conclusions Home care workers are in need of further training about special skills to manage alcohol-related safety questions. Collaboration crossing professional and sectoral boundaries should be created to help those older people who are at the risk of alcohol-related safety issues. Further research is needed on older peoples’ alcohol use from the point of view of home care workers.
A Study On Two Hint-level Policies in Conversational Intelligent Tutoring Systems

In this work, we compared two hint-level instructional strategies, minimum scaffolding vs. maximum scaffolding, in the context of conversational intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs). The two strategies are called policies because they have a clear bias, as detailed in the paper. To this end, we conducted a randomized controlled trial experiment with two conditions corresponding to two versions of the same underlying state-of-the-art conversational ITS, i.e. DeepTutor. Each version implemented one of the two hint-level strategies. Experimental data analysis revealed that pre-post learning gains were significant in both conditions. We also learned that, in general, students need more than just a minimally informative hint in order to infer the next steps in the solution to a challenging problem; this is the case in the context of a problem selection strategy that picks challenging problems for students to work on.
Patient‐reported barriers are associated with lower hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance rates in patients with cirrhosis

Background: Over 20% of patients with cirrhosis are non-adherent with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance recommendations; however, few studies have evaluated the impact of patient-level factors on surveillance receipt. We characterized the association between HCC surveillance receipt and patient knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers in a racially diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged cohort of patients with cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis followed at a large urban hospital were invited to complete a survey about HCC surveillance between August 2014 and December 2015. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with HCC surveillance receipt during the 12-month period preceding and 6-month period after survey administration. We achieved a response rate of 71.8% (n=541/753). Patients demonstrated high levels of HCC-related knowledge (summary score 77.7%); however 48.6% believed eating a healthy diet precluded the need for HCC surveillance, and 34.0% believed HCC surveillance was not necessary if they had a normal physical exam and/or lacked clinical symptoms. Patients expressed worry about developing and dying from HCC, but nearly half (49.9%) of patients reported barriers to receiving HCC surveillance including difficulty with the scheduling process (30.5%), costs of surveillance testing (25.3%), and transportation difficulties (17.3%). HCC surveillance receipt was significantly higher in patients who knew cirrhosis is a risk factor for developing HCC (OR 3.09, 95%CI 1.25-7.62) and significantly lower in those reporting barriers to surveillance (OR 0.42, 95%CI 0.25-0.70). Conclusions: Patients with cirrhosis are knowledgeable and interested in HCC surveillance; however, patient-reported barriers are associated with lower surveillance rates in clinical practice and represent potential intervention targets to improve HCC surveillance effectiveness. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Del (7)(q32) is associated with a subset of small lymphocytic lymphoma with plasmacytoid features

Deletions of the long arm of chromosome 7, previously documented in myelodysplasias and myeloid leukemias, have also been noted in lymphoid malignancies. Of 558 karyotypically abnormal specimens of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) serially ascertained over an 8-year period, del(7q) was identified in 24 cases, 10 of which were of the small lymphocytic (sm lym) subtype. Del(7q) was the third most common karyotypic abnormality among the cohort of 61 sm lym cases in this ascertainment. Mapping of the deletions identified a region of common deletion affecting 7q32, which was the sole karyotypic abnormality in 2 cases. Eight of the ten sm lym cases were characterized by plasmacytoid features in histologic sections of lymphoma tumors or circulating cells in the peripheral blood. The del(7)(q32) was accompanied by 14q32-associated translocations in 11 of the 14 cases with histologies other than sm lym, compared with 2 of the sm lym cases. Extranodal involvement was more frequent in the del(7)(q32) sm lym NHLs, although median survival was typical of other low-grade lymphomas. These results suggest that loss or inactivation of a putative tumor-supressor gene at 7q32 may play a role the progression of lymphomas as well as constitute an early event in the pathogenesis of lymphoplasmacytoid tumors.
SUMS OF INDEPENDENT RANDOM VARIABLES AS A MARKOV CHAIN

This chapter focuses on the sums of independent random variables as a Markov chain, and discusses the recurrence properties of sums of independent random variables. Various theorems are proven in the chapter. The local limit theorems are reviewed. The theory of stable laws is an elaborate area of probabihty theory of importance in applications particularly to, physics and astronomy. For special classes of Markov chains, finer results pertaining to the theory of recurrence, occupation time problems, the evaluation of distributions of various functionals of the process, and other results are usually available.
Making News in Global India: Media, Publics, Politics, by Sahana Udupa

In this book, Sahana Udupa develops a rich and complex analysis of the news media of Bangalore in the context of urban neo-liberal transformation. In a focused ethnography of the Bangalore edition ...
Functions of Anger in the Emotion System

This chapter considers the functions of anger as an emotion within an often functional emotion system. It is proposed that emotions are general-purpose coping strategies, usually comprising phenomenological, physiological, expressive, behavioral, and emotivational goal components, each of which fulfills specific functions within an emotion’s strategy. For example, typical instances of anger involve thoughts about undeserved harm, feeling hot and ready to explode, activity in circuits running through the medial amygdala and hypothalamus, lowered brows and squarish mouth, readiness to attack, and a goal of hurting its target or compelling change in the target’s behavior. Together they implement a strategy of interpersonal coercion. Emotions are typically elicited by combinations of appraisals about significant changes in motive-attainment (e.g., goal blockage caused by other persons, when there may be something that can be done about it, eliciting anger) and function to provide alternative ways to attain one’s motives (alternative to each other and to action governed by what have traditionally been considered motives, such as hunger and the need for achievement) in particular types of situations. The Emotion System theory offers an account of why people and other organisms have emotions and why they have the particular emotions that they do. Explanations for emotion dysfunctions, such as anger disorders, are also discussed. Finally, the theory is applied to examine anger in the political domain.
Octree data structure for support accessibility and removal analysis in additive manufacturing

Abstract Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes have made it possible to build parts with complex geometric features by adopting a layer-by-layer approach. However, additional support structures are needed to support overhanging surfaces and reduce distortion that may occur in these parts. This increases the overall build time of the part and leads to additional post processing efforts for removal of support structures. Often, removal of these supports becomes difficult due to complex part features that may interfere with support removal. Further, support structures have a detrimental effect on the surface finish on the areas of the part that come in contact with the supports. Thus, minimizing the need for support structures and ensuring its maximum removal is essential for an efficient part build in AM. Part build orientation is the main parameter that influences the need for support structures to build a part. This paper presents an approach to identify the best build orientation for a part such that the overall part build time is minimized while ensuring maximum removal of supports and minimizing the contact area between the part surface and supports. A hierarchical octree data structure has been used to analyze support accessibility and the area of support in contact with part. In addition, this paper also focuses on identification of optimal number/direction of part set-ups required to remove the maximum possible support structures from a part. A 2D setup map highlighting the feasible directions of setups for support removal has also been presented. The results of these analyses have been presented with the help of four sample parts.
Weatherization Adoption in A Multilayer Social Network: An Agent-based Approach

Energy conservation in residential buildings has been a topic of interest in recent years because of their high levels of energy consumption. Weatherization is set of approaches that can be used to make buildings more energy-efficient, thereby helping residents lower their energy bills and improving environmental sustainability. However, there are two significant challenges associated with weatherization adoption: high upfront investment costs with a long payback period, and minimal awareness of weatherization and its benefits. This paper proposes an agent-based model that will allow researchers to explore residents' socially-motivated energy conservation decisions by providing a realistic social context via a multilayer social network and incorporating opinion dynamics based on the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered epidemic model. Several experimental scenarios are run to demonstrate the model's potential to help policymakers determine how to encourage residential weatherization adoption.
Induction of Ovulation

The patient who desires to ovulate in order to conceive should first be given specific therapy for the underlying etiologic factor, i.e., psychotherapy for emotional causes, improved nutrition and thyroid supplements, corticosteroids for adrenal hyperplasia, or surgical removal of androgen-producing tumors.
Retention in Kindergarten: A Case Study of Teacher Perceptions and Practices

The educational practice of retention – holding a student back to repeat a year – is a strategy used in many schools in the USA to improve outcomes for students, even at the kindergarten level. Research findings on retention in kindergarten are inconsistent with regards to reasons for and benefits of retaining students. Examining the issue using a case study can provide valuable insight into how retention decisions are made and what the perceived benefits are. This study draws on data from a survey, an interview and 40 hours of classroom observations to explore one teacher’s views of kindergarten retention and the interventions she used to help students at risk of retention, as well as the type of feedback she gave at-risk students in the classroom. It was found that the teacher emphasized motivating and involving at-risk students and working with them one-on-one. Overall, though, she felt that parents working with their children at home could make the difference in whether a student was retained or not. Since three of the five students the teacher identified as being at risk for retention were Hispanic, and research indicates that the expectations for this type of parental involvement may not be familiar to Hispanic families, I conclude that teachers should explicitly communicate and explain these expectations to all parents.
A Review of: “Parrott, R. (2009). Talking About Health: Why Communication Matters.”

In a creative approach to teaching us about health communication, Roxanne Parrott uses her own stories as well as those of family members and friends to explain six questions people tend to ask whe...
Resuscitation of Dogs from Endotoxic Shock by Continuous Dextran Infusion with and without Perflubron Added

In the anesthetized dog infused with endotoxin, cardiac output falls and a hypodynamic shock state ensues (Cain and Curtis, 1992). If supportive therapy, boluses of donor red cells and dextran, is given then this can be converted to the hyperdynamic and hypermetabolic condition so often observed in human sepsis with adequate volume resuscitation (Cain and Curtis, 1991). Other evidence from experimental animals indicated that endotoxin infusion caused arterial conductance increases and venous constriction with consequent pooling in capillary beds of muscle (Bond et al., 1992) and the splanchnic bed (Abel and Beck, 1992). The decrease in venous return to the heart was one of the reasons that volume treatment was necessary to reverse the shock state. Other consequences of the powerful cytokines liberated by endotoxin infusions can be capillary plugging and endothelial damage so that microcirculatory function and peripheral oxygenation are adversely affected (Cain, 1986). As a result, even with adequate or elevated levels of cardiac output, the potential for severe tissue hypoxia in peripheral organ systems has been postulated to be very high as O2 consumption becomes markedly flow-dependent (Rackow and Astiz, 1991).
Intersections of the future: using fully autonomous vehicles (abstract)

Artificial intelligence research is ushering in a new era of sophisticated, mass-market transportation technology. While computers can already fly a passenger jet better than a trained human pilot, people are still faced with the dangerous yet tedious task of driving automobiles. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is the field of study that aims to use artificial intelligence to make transportation safer, cheaper, and more efficient. Recent advances in ITS point to a future in which vehicles themselves handle the vast majority of the driving task. Once autonomous vehicles become popular, autonomous interactions amongst *multiple* vehicles will be possible. Current methods of vehicle coordination, which are all designed to work with human drivers, will be outdated. The bottleneck for roadway efficiency will no longer be the drivers, but rather the mechanism by which those drivers' actions are coordinated. While open-road driving is a well-studied and more-or-less-solved problem, urban traffic scenarios, especially intersections, are much more challenging. This talk will address the question: "To what extent and how can a multiagent intersection control mechanism take advantage of the capabilities of autonomous vehicles in order to make automobile travel safer and faster?" First, I will introduce and specify the problem of intersection management as a multiagent system and define a metric by which solutions can be evaluated. Next, I will propose a novel multiagent intersection control mechanism in which autonomous driver agents "call ahead" and reserve space-time in the intersection, pending the approval of an arbiter agent called an intersection manager, which is located at the intersection.
For A Short Time Only: Itinerants and the Resurgence of Popular Culture in Early America. By Peter Benes. (Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 2016. Pp. 515. $49.50.)

In this book, the author introduces readers to a panoply of small‐time itinerants who have not gotten much attention from historians of early America. By scouring the advertisements in Readex's dig...
Abstract 231: Identification of susceptible loci and enriched pathways for post-radiotherapy pain in breast cancer patients

Pain is one of the most prevalent symptoms among breast cancer survivors, which negatively impact on their quality of life (QOL). Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) can increase the risk of development or persistence of pain; however, little is known about the mechanisms of RT-related pain or genetic susceptibility. The current study aimed to identify susceptible loci and enriched pathways for clinically relevant pain, which is defined as pain score ≥ 4, at the completion of RT (post-RT pain). We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 1,112 breast cancer patients with 1,344,832 tagging SNPs, gene-based analysis using PLINK set-based tests for 19,621 genes, and functional enrichment analysis of a gene list (875 genes having p Citation Format: Eunkyung Lee, Christina Takita, Jean L. Wright, Eden Martin, Susan Slifer, Jennifer Hu. Identification of susceptible loci and enriched pathways for post-radiotherapy pain in breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 231.
#MeToo, sexual harassment: an article, a forum, and a dream for the future

ABSTRACT#MeToo has breathed new life into the women’s movement and especially into understanding and rectifying sexual harassment, abuse and assault. It has galvanized activists around the globe. And it has placed thousands of stories of the harassed in full view of the public. Sexual harassment, abuse and assault may occur within the organizational context or beyond; but sexual harassment, in particular has been legally labeled an organizational phenomenon. With this in mind, Robin Clair frames the early part of this article around the most recent organizational communication theories (see the appendix for an overview of these theories). Following the essay is a forum, in which invited scholars address questions related to the #MeToo movement.
Revising Our Standards on Dual-Role Physicians: Proceed, but Proceed With Caution.

Morain and colleagues (Morain et al. 2019) propose two conditions for avoiding role conflicts: if “(A) research participation would not substantially disadvantage the patient as compared with usual...
Natural Language Interfaces

One of the most significant limitations in computer usability is the restrictive communicative power of the interface. Although the graphical user interface has improved this situation, its ‘select and use’ mode of communication still represents a cognitive barrier for many people and tasks. An alternative is a natural language interface that can allow people to use all the communicative power of language they already possess. This article explores the technical challenges in constructing natural language interfaces, including a discussion of representative interfaces that illustrate past, present, and future trends in natural language interface research and development.
Reconstitution, characterization, and [2Fe–2S] cluster exchange reactivity of a holo human BOLA3 homodimer

A new class of mitochondrial disease has been identified and characterized as Multiple Mitochondrial Dysfunctions Syndrome (MMDS). Four different forms of the disease have each been attributed to point mutations in proteins involved in iron-sulfur (Fe-S) biosynthesis; in particular, MMDS2 has been associated with the protein BOLA3. To date, this protein has been characterized in vitro concerning its ability to form heterodimeric complexes with two putative Fe-S cluster-binding partners: GLRX5 and NFU. However, BOLA3 has yet to be characterized in its own discrete holo form. Herein we describe procedures to isolate and characterize the human holo BOLA3 protein in terms of Fe-S cluster binding and trafficking and demonstrate that human BOLA3 can form a functional homodimer capable of engaging in Fe-S cluster transfer.
Barriers to Performing Soft Tissue Reconstruction Procedures among Orthopedic Surgeons in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Results of a Surgical Skills Training Course.

Background Appropriate management of soft tissue injury associated with orthopedic trauma is challenging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the lack of available reconstructive surgeons. The Surgical Management and Reconstructive Training (SMART) course teaches orthopedic surgeons reconstructive techniques aimed at improving soft tissue management. This study aims to identify additional barriers to implementing these techniques for surgeons in LMICs who have attended SMART courses. Methods This is a mixed-methods study including a Likert-scale-based survey administered to 150 surgeons from LMICs attending the 2018 SMART courses in Tanzania and San Francisco and key informant interviews with 20 surgeons who perform soft tissue coverage procedures. Results In surveys, respondents reported inadequate local plastic surgeon availability for lower extremity fracture requiring muscle flaps (88%). Surgeons agreed that flap surgeries are important for patients with significant soft tissue injury following open fractures (97%). They reported inadequate access to instruments, such as dermatomes (59%) and Humby knives (32%), and senior-level support (31%). Fewer than half of surgeons with flap experience (n = 85) felt confident in training peers (45%). In interviews, delays in returning patients to operating rooms were frequently cited as a barrier (90%). Conclusions Our study demonstrates that soft tissue procedures are perceived as a high priority among orthopedic surgeons, but there are multiple barriers, including a lack of plastic surgeons, and many modifiable barriers including a lack of surgical equipment, peer training, and senior colleague support.
Diagnosis in canine and feline dermatology

A structured approach to diagnosis in canine and feline dermatology is essential. Following a logical process through history taking, clinical examination and diagnostic tests, a final diagnosis ca...
Minimizing the duration of isolated attosecond pulses

We investigate theoretically how the duration of an isolated attosecond pulse (IAP) can be minimized by carefully selecting frequencies of high-order harmonic generation (HHG) spectra produced by ultrashort driving laser pulses. Based on numerical calculations of HHG by solving the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation for a single H atom, we provide three strategies for generating shorter IAPs. First, when the high-frequency region of an HHG plateau is selected one should use frequencies below the cutoff. Second, for a wide HHG plateau the low-frequency region can produce shorter IAPs than the high-frequency region. Third, we propose a method of producing IAPs with transform-limited duration by selecting special frequency stripes across the entire HHG plateau. Analytic analyses show that how our strategies work is related to the (Fourier-transform) properties of an Airy function. We also carry out HHG calculations considering macroscopic effects by means of intensity averaging over the focal region. We find that our conclusions for single-atom calculations can still apply for macroscopic HHG spectra as long as they resemble single-atom spectra.
Effects of feeding pomegranate peel silage on feed intake and growth performance of Turkey bred sheep

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding pomegranate peel silage with beet top silage, wheat straw, alfalfa hay, barley, cotton seed cake and mineral plus on feed intake and growth performance of Turkey bred sheep in research farm of Agriculture Faculty, Kabul University. Twelve, two and half years old turkey bred sheep with (57.240 ± 5.28) kg average initial body weight were used in a completely randomized design (CRD). Animals were caged individually in 3 groups and 4 replications. Groups included in this experiment were, first group (Control) or T1 pomegranate peel silage (PPS) 0%, second group or T2 (5% PPS) or 106 g and third group or T3 (10% PPS) or 211 g. In addition, animals were fed with 633 g barley, 633 g alfalfa hay, 211 g cotton seed cake, 106 g beet top silage, 4 g mineral plus with the same amount and wheat straw for control group or T1, T2 and T3, 528 g, 422 g and 317 g in dry matter (DM) basis, respectively once in a day at around 8 am. According to statistical analysis, there was a highly significant difference between groups in feed intake and significant difference in growth performance of sheep. According to L.S.D test, it was shown that the second group (T2) was better in feed intake and growth performance compared to other groups. The FCR of T1, T2 and T3 were 12.43, 7.88 and 15.13, respectively and the FCE were 8.05, 12.69 and 6.61 in control group, T2 and T3, respectively. Results of this study suggest that feeding (5%) pomegranate peel silage with wheat straw, alfalfa hay, cotton seed cake, barley, beet top silage and mineral plus affects the feed intake and growth performance of Tukey sheep. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(2): 146-154, December 2020
The Chicago Convention Should Not Be Used to Create Criminals

Increasingly, over the last fifty years, some ICAO Member States have pursued criminalizing pilot error above identifying and utilizing the lessons that can be learned from a thorough accident investigation to make the global aviation industry safer. The domestic legislation passed by these ICAO Member States violates the covenant created through their acceptance of the Chicago Convention and their adherence to subsequent guidelines promulgated by ICAO. This paper relies on the admirable goals set forth in the Chicago Convention, particularly those concerning accident investigation, to show how criminalizing pilot error fails to either make global aviation safer or to support the purposes of criminal justice, i.e. deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation, and retributivism. Finally, this article advances the premise that a change to the treaty language could serve to productively realign the Members States’ conduct toward ensuring that safety remains paramount when weighed against the reactionary temptation to pursue retribution through criminal prosecution of human error.
Predictors of Skeletal Related Events in Patients Treated With Surgical Stabilization for Bone Metastases With or Without Radiotherapy.

Purpose/Objective(s) In patients with metastatic disease involving weight-bearing bones, postoperative radiation (PORT) is commonly administered following surgical stabilization of an impending or confirmed pathologic fracture to reduce the risk of a seeded local recurrence. The goal of this analysis was to re-evaluate the beneficial effect of PORT in a modern cohort of patients, and to determine any clinical predictors of skeletal related events (SRE). Materials/Methods Consecutive patients undergoing surgical stabilization of metastatic disease to weight-bearing bones of the extremities between 2012-2019 were reviewed. Patient, disease, and treatment factors were abstracted. Freedom from skeletal related event (SRE, defined as pathologic fracture, necessity for (re)irradiation, or surgery of the involved bone) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Predictors of SRE were evaluated using backwards stepwise Cox proportional hazards models. Results A total of 82 patients were identified, 74% of whom had undergone intramedullary nail fixation and 26% internal fixation or replacement. 73% of surgeries were prophylactic and 27% were for pathologic fracture. The femur was the most commonly involved bone (94%) followed by the humerus (5%), and tibia (1%). Disease histology was breast (26%), lung (24%), prostate (10%), or other (40%). A majority (78%) had ECOG performance status of 1-2. Bone-strengthening agents were given to 38% and postoperative RT to 54%. Median PORT dose was 30 Gy in median 10 fractions and median percent coverage of surgical hardware was 100% (range, 25-100). SRE occurred in 10 of 82 patients. Overall, 1-year freedom from SRE was 90.4%, and notably was 89.8% vs 91% for those who did or did not receive PORT, respectively. The only identified predictors of SRE were the use of bone strengthening agents (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.05-1.06, P = 0.06) and malnutrition (HR 3.69, 95% CI 0.91-14.93, P = 0.07). For patients treated with PORT, biologically effective dose or percent coverage of the surgical hardware was not associated with SRE. Median OS was 11.3 months (95% CI: 8.0-24.6). Conclusion In this series, the addition of PORT following surgical stabilization of metastatic disease involving weight-bearing bones does not significantly affect rate of SRE, which remained approximately 10% at 1 year. The use of bone strengthening agents appeared to be protective, and malnourished patients were at particularly high-risk for future SRE.
Temperature sensing in Yersinia pestis: regulation of yopE transcription by lcrF.

Abstract In Escherichia coli, a yopE::lacZ fusion was found to be regulated by temperature in the presence of the cloned BamHI G fragment of Yersinia pestis plasmid pCD1, which contains the lcrF locus. Increasing the copy number of lcrF relative to that of the yopE reporter had a negligible effect on the induction ratio (26 versus 37 degrees C) but caused large reductions in the absolute levels of yopE transcription. We localized the lcrF gene by monitoring the induction phenotype of BamHI G deletion derivatives. Sequencing revealed an open reading frame capable of encoding a protein of 30.8 kDa. A protein product of this size was detected in a T7 expression system, and LcrF-dependent yopE-specific DNA binding activity was observed. As expected, LcrF exhibited 98% homology to VirF of Yersinia enterocolitica and significant homology to the carboxy termini of other members of the AraC family of transcriptional regulatory proteins. These proteins could be divided into two classes according to function: those regulating operons involved in catabolism of carbon and energy sources and those involved in regulating virulence genes. lcrF::lacZ transcriptional fusions were constructed and analyzed in Y. pestis and E. coli. The activity of the fusions was not affected by the native pCD1 virulence plasmid, an intact lcrF gene, or temperature. Thus, induction of lcrF transcription is not essential for temperature-dependent activation of yopE transcription. A portion of LcrF was found associated with the membrane fraction in E. coli; however, pulse-chase experiments indicated that this result is an artifact of fractionation.
Viruses and cancer

The obstacles in establishing a possible etiological role of a virus in a human cancer include (1) the long “incubation” period between exposure to the suspected agent and the development of the disease; (2) the relatively low incidence of most cancers, which makes prospective studies almost impossible because of the large number of persons who must be kept under observation; (3) the possibility that cancer may result as a consequence of a reactivated viral infection years later rather than as a direct consequence of a primary infection; (4) the widespread and ubiquitous nature of the viruses under greatest suspicion of oncogenicity; (5) the probable role of infectious, environmental and/or genetic cofactors in producing cancer in concert with the virus or in a sequence in which the virus is the initiator and the cofactors are the promoters of tumor growth and the possibility that both of these factors may finally operate through the activation of oncogenes already present in the cell; (6) the difficulty in reproducing the malignancy in an experimental animal; and (7) the ethical impossibility of deliberately trying to reproduce the tumor in human experimentation (Evans, 1982; Evans and Mueller, 1990; Mueller et al., 1993). In addition, there are many epidemiological biases and pitfalls in determining whether any exposure to a potential carcinogen, whether it be a virus, chemical, X-ray, or other agent, represents merely an association between the suspected cause and the malignancy, or a valid causal connection.
A sensitive mechanism for cation modulation of potassium current

The human ether a go-go-related gene (HERG)1 encodes ion channels that produce IKr (ref. 2), a potassium current that drives repolarization in many excitable cells3,4,5. When the concentration of extracellular potassium ions ([K+]o) is raised, outward K+ current through HERG channels is paradoxically increased, despite a reduced electrochemical gradient2, but the molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Here we show that extracellular sodium ions potently blocked HERG current in K+o-free conditions, and that low [K+]o (<5 mM) in the physiological range opposed block by sodium; hence the fine tuning that extracellular K+ confers on IKr actually represents modulation of sodium block by potassium.
Extractable Perfectly One-Way Functions

We propose a new cryptographic primitive, called extractable perfectly one-way (EPOW) functions . Like perfectly one-way (POW) functions, EPOW functions are probabilistic functions that reveal no information about their input, other than the ability to verify guesses. In addition, an EPOW function, f, guarantees that any party that manages to compute a value in the range of f"knows" a corresponding preimage. We capture "knowledge of preimage" by way of algorithmic extraction. We formulate two main variants of extractability, namely non-interactive and interactive. The noninteractive variant (i.e., the variant that requires non-interactive extraction) can be regarded as a generalization from specific knowledge assumptions to a notion that is formulated in general computational terms. Indeed, we show how to realize it under several different assumptions. The interactive- extraction variant can be realized from certain POW functions. We demonstrate the usefulness of the new primitive in two quite different settings. First, we show how EPOW functions can be used to capture, in the standard model, the "knowledge of queries" property that is so useful in the Random Oracle (RO) model. Specifically, we show how to convert a class of CCA2-secure encryption schemes in the RO model to concrete ones by simply replacing the Random Oracle with an EPOW function, without much change in the logic of the original proof. Second, we show how EPOW functions can be used to construct 3-round ZK arguments of knowledge and membership, using weaker knowledge assumptions than the corresponding results due to Hada and Tanaka (Crypto 1998) and Lepinski (M.S. Thesis, 2004). This also opens the door for constructing 3-round ZK arguments based on other assumptions.
Microscopic and Macroscopic Modeling of Thermonuclear Burning Fronts

Observational constraints as, for instance, the amount of intermediate mass elements needed to fit SN Ia spectra, in combination with numerical nucleosynthesis calculations imply that if these events are to be explained by thermonuclear explosions of Chandrasekhar mass C+0-white dwarfs, the explosions begin in the subsonic deflagration mode as opposed to supersonic detonations (Woosley 1990). In deflagrations, thin sheets of burning material (“flames”) propagate by means of electronic thermal conduction (Timmes & Woosley 1992). On scales larger than a few centimeters the flame is subject to various instabilities that deform its surface, making the macroscopic properties of the wrinkled burning front (the so-called “turbulent flame brush”) more complex than, or even independent of, its laminar propagation characteristics (Woosley 1990, Livne 1993, Khokhlov 1993, 1994, 1995, Niemeyer & Hillebrandt 1995a, b). According to our current knowledge, the turbulent deflagration phase can in principle terminate in three different ways: First, the released energy may be sufficient to unbind the star and produce an explosion which could be compared with SN Ia events. Alternatively, it was suggested that the flame brush makes a transition to a “delayed detonation” after the density has decreased to some 107 g cm-3 (Khokhlov 1991a, b, Woosley 1994). And, finally, if too little carbon is burned to unbind the star before the flame reaches densities below 107 g cm-3m.
Antifoundationalism and the Possibility of a Moral Philosophy of Medicine

The problem of developing a moral philosophy of medicine is explored in this essay. Among the challenges posed to this development are the general mistrust of moral philosophy and philosophy in general created by post-modernist philosophical and even anti-philosophical thinking. This reaction to philosophical systematization is usually called antifoundationalism. I distinguish different forms of antifoundationalism, showing that not all forms of their opposites, foundationalism, are alike, especially with regards to claims made about the certitude of moral thought. I conclude that we are correct to mistrust absolutist principles in a moral philosophy of medicine, but can find some center within the practice of medicine itself for a moral foundation.
Construcción de vivienda, correción monetaria y desarrollo nacional: Comentarios sobre el impacto del UPAC

La construccion de vivienda no es un sector lider porque tiene elasticidades-precio e ingresos y nexos limitados con otros sectores; esto es particularmente valido para vivienda de bajo costo. El empleo en el sector, herramienta importante de la politica anticiclica es -sin embargo- inestable y de baja remuneracion. La expansion en la construccion parece responder moderadamente a aumentos reales en el credito y parece que no ha limitado el flujo de fondos hacia otros sectores; la vivienda, en Colombia, ha tenido una alta prioridad en los ultimos lustros y el instrumento del credito ha permitido traducir en demanda efectiva a una gran parte de la demanda latente. Ahora bien, en el pais las corporaciones de ahorro y vivienda han descartado el financiamiento de vivienda popular, la que seria provista por la filtracion de unidades existentes. En fin, cambiar sustancialmente o aun eliminar el sistema de indexacion existente no seria facil dados los intereses en juego.
Unrecognized Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia: Potential for Misdiagnosis as Panic Disorder

Background: The diagnostic criteria for panic disorder include symptoms commonly experienced by patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). Since electrocardiographic documentation of PSVT can be elusive, symptoms may be ascribed to other conditions. Objective: To systematically evaluate the potential for PSVT to simulate panic disorder. Methods: A retrospective survey of 107 consecutive patients with reentrant PSVT was conducted. Objective and subjective assessments of PSVT symptomatology were made, including the application of theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), panic disorder criteria. Results: The criteria for panic disorder according to DSM-IV were fulfilled by 67% of patients. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia was unrecognized after initial medical evaluation in 59 patients (55%), including 13 (41%) of 32 patients with ventricular preexcitation by electrocardiogram, and remained unrecognized for a median of 3.3 years. Prior to eventual identification of PSVT, physicians (nonpsychiatrists) attributed symptoms to panic, anxiety, or stress in 32 (54%) of the 59 patients. When PSVT was unrecognized, women were more likely than men to have symptoms ascribed to psychiatric origins (65% vs 32%, respectively;P Conclusions: The clinical characteristics of patients with PSVT referred for electrophysiologically guided therapy can mimic panic disorder. Diagnosis of PSVT is often delayed by inappropriate rhythm detection techniques (Holter instead of event monitoring) and failure to recognize ventricular preexcitation on the sinus electrocardiogram; symptoms due to unrecognized PSVT are often ascribed to psychiatric conditions. Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:537-543
Genomic isolation of genes encoding starch branching enzyme II (SBEII) in apple: toward characterization of evolutionary disparity in SbeII genes between monocots and eudicots

Two genes encoding starch branching enzyme II (SBEII) have been identified in apple. These genes share 94 and 92% identity in coding DNA sequences and amino acid sequences, respectively; moreover, they have similar expression patterns. Both genes are expressed in vegetative and reproductive tissues, including leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits. Based on genomic Southern blots, there are two copies of SbeII genes in the apple genome. Comparisons of genomic sequences between monocots and eudicots have revealed that the genomic structure of SbeII genes is conserved. However, the 5′-terminal region of coding DNA sequences of SbeII genes shows greater divergence than the 3′-terminal region between monocots and eudicots. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences has demonstrated that the duplication patterns of SbeII genes are different between monocots and eudicots. In monocots, the duplication of SbeII genes must have occurred prior to the radiation of grasses (Poaceae); while, in eudicots, the expansion of SbeII genes must have followed the process of speciation.
A simplified procedure for thyroidectomy of the new-born rat without concomitant parathyroidectomy.

Surgical thyroidectomy of the very young rat is difficult because of the size of the animal and the condition of its tissues. The operation has been performed successfully, however, by two groups of workers. Salmon (1936), who first demonstrated the feasibility of surgical excision of the thyroid gland, along with the parathyroid, in this animal as early as one or two days after its birth, employed cold anesthesia and observed survival for longer than one week in about 36 per cent of the operated rats. Scow and Simpson (1945), who employed a similar technique, with even lower temperatures for anesthetic purposes, showed survival of less than seven per cent of their totally thyroidectomized rats. In view of these difficulties, we wish to report a simplified procedure for discrete total thyroidectomy of the new-born rat without recourse to the more complicated surgical technique.