cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elucidating cannabinoid biology in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The number of annual cannabinoid users exceeds 100,000,000 globally and an estimated 9% of these individuals will suffer from dependency. Although exogenous cannabinoids, like those contained in marijuana, are known to exert their effects by disrupting the endocannabinoid system, a dearth of knowledge exists about the potential toxicological consequences on public health. Conversely, the endocannabinoid system represents a promising therapeutic target for a plethora of disorders because it functions to endogenously regulate a vast repertoire of physiological functions. Accordingly, the rapidly expanding field of cannabinoid biology has sought to leverage model organisms in order to provide both toxicological and therapeutic insights about altered endocannabinoid signaling. The primary goal of this manuscript is to review the existing field of cannabinoid research in the genetically tractable zebrafish model-focusing on the cannabinoid receptor genes, cnr1 and cnr2, and the genes that produce enzymes for synthesis and degradation of the cognate ligands anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol. Consideration is also given to research that has studied the effects of exposure to exogenous phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids that are known to interact with cannabinoid receptors. These results are considered in the context of either endocannabinoid gene expression or endocannabinoid gene function, and are integrated with findings from rodent studies. This provides the framework for a discussion of how zebrafish may be leveraged in the future to provide novel toxicological and therapeutic insights in the field of cannabinoid biology, which has become increasingly significant given recent trends in cannabis legislation.
Does Immigration Policy Look Differently through Color-Tinted Glasses? White, Latino, and Asian Attitudes toward Immigration in the 2010 California Election

Over the course of our history we have viewed ourselves as a “Land of Immigrants.” However, as we look back affectionately at our immigrant past, we remain divided over our immigrant future. While immigration remains a salient issue at the national level, it is particularly relevant to California voters given the state’s physical proximity to Mexico and Asia, and because of its status as the state with the largest immigration population. A large body of empirical work has sought to identify the individual (e.g. Citrin et al. 1997; Burns & Gimpel 2000) and contextual (e.g. Hopkins 2010; Sniderman et al. 2004; Oliver & Wong; Brader et al. 2008) variables that explain attitudes toward immigration policy; however, the literature predominantly focuses on the attitudes of non-Hispanic whites and the measure of immigration attitudes tends to focus only on whether levels of immigration should be increased/decreased. Using data from the 2010 USC College-Los Angeles Times Poll (N=1121), which includes oversamples of both Latino and Asian American voters, I examine whether attitudes toward immigration vary systematically by race. Furthermore, by incorporating 3 distinct forms of immigration policy – the Dream Act, a path to citizenship, and a Prop-187 style measure – which range from more permissive to more restrictive, the work tests whether attitudes toward different forms of immigration policy vary both within and across racial/ethnic groups. Furthermore, by modeling immigration attitudes separately by race/ethnicity, I am able to probe whether traditional determinants of immigrant attitudes are equally applicable to White, Latino, and Asian Americans.
Triangulating Testimonial Hearsay: The Constitutional Boundaries of Expert Opinion Testimony

Over thirty years ago, in a Comment in the Harvard Law Review, Laurence Tribe created what he termed the "testimonial triangle" as a framework for analyzing difficult definitional and theoretical issues raised by the hearsay rule. Today, a new hearsay problem demands a new triangle. The widespread use of expert testimony at trial has altered the shape of criminal and civil litigation. Much expert testimony rests, in whole or in part, upon inadmissible hearsay. Worse, the inadmissible hearsay is often hidden: through the vehicle of the expert's opinion, stealth hearsay sneaks into the jury box under the constitutional radar. This practice raises fundamental questions about our most basic constitutional Due Process rights, about the proper role of expertise at trial, and indeed about the very nature of our system of jury decision-making. It also forces us to question the conflicting paradigms of trust and distrust that bear on the treatment of expert opinion testimony. By drawing together three heretofore disconnected areas of constitutional and evidentiary law, this Article offers some answers to these questions. The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, the constitutional right to trial by jury, and the Daubert framework for admissibility of "expert testimony triangulate" at the point of expert reliance on inadmissible testimonial hearsay. In constructing a new expert testimonial triangle, this Article follows Tribe's example, seeking to reframe the problem of expert opinion testimony and offering a new lens through which to understand the larger issues. Now the important thing and the only important thing to notice is that the expert has taken the jury's place if they believe him.
Regulation of cytosolic free calcium in isolated perfused proximal tubules of Necturus

To study the role of intracellular Ca2+ in regulating renal tubular transport of ions and water, cytosolic calcium ion activity (aiCa), cytosolic sodium ion activity (aiNa), and intracellular pH (pHi) in cells of isolated perfused proximal tubules of Necturus kidney were measured with Ca2+-, Na+-, and H+-selective microelectrodes, respectively. In control conditions, i.e., HCO3-Ringer solution on both sides of the epithelium, aiCa was 82 +/- 7 (SE) nM (n = 54), aiNa averaged 12.8 +/- 0.4 mM (n = 53), and pHi was 7.33 +/- 0.03 (n = 27). When the Na-K pump was inhibited by nominally K-free Ringer circumfusion, aiCa increased from a control level of 75 +/- 13 to 237 +/- 40 nM (paired t test; n = 16; P less than 0.001); in a different set of tubules, aiNa rose from 11.3 +/- 0.6 to 51.5 +/- 5.8 mM (n = 11; P less than 0.001). When organic solutes were deleted in the luminal perfusate, aiCa decreased from 73 +/- 11 to 61 +/- 11 nM (n = 9; P less than 0.001) and aiNa decreased from 14.6 +/- 0.6 to 8.3 +/- 0.7 mM (n = 9; P less than 0.001). Depolarization of the peritubular cell membrane with high-K, low-Na Ringer decreased aiCa from 90 +/- 12 to 55 +/- 9 nM (n = 13; P less than 0.001) and reduced aiNa from 13.1 +/- 1.0 to 7.5 +/- 0.6 mM (n = 16; P less than 0.001). Ionomycin (2 X 10(-6) M) increased aiCa from 67 +/- 10 to 158 +/- 26 nM (n = 10; P less than 0.001) and pHi from 7.33 +/- 0.03 to 7.39 +/- 0.03 (n = 27; P less than 0.001) but reduced aiNa from 11.8 +/- 0.9 to 10.3 +/- 0.7 mM (n = 11; P less than 0.001). The data are consistent with the view that aiCa is determined, in part, by the magnitude of the electrochemical potential gradient for Na ions across the basolateral cell membrane.
Synergism of Amphotericin B and 5-Fluorocytosine for Candida Species

The in vitro activity of amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine against 40 isolates of different species of Candida was studied. Synergism was seen in 35 of 40 organisms studied (88%) with achievable serum concentrations of the antibiotics. Synergism was striking in many strains that were resistant to 5-fluorocytosine. When the minimal inhibitory concentration of 5-fluorocytosine was greater than 400 mug/ml, synergism was seen in 18 of 20 isolates of Candida (90%).
Orthonormal functions for airfoil and wing parametrization

In an attempt to reduce the expenditure associated with aerodynamic shape optimization, the suitability of orthonormal functions for an efficient, accurate, and user-independent parametrization of twoand three-dimensional aerodynamic shapes is explored, To permit assessment of a variety of such functions, they were numerically generated. The construction of the orthonormal functions accommodates geometric constraints as they typically occur in aerodynamic shape optimization. The relative performance of several orthonormal functions is demonstrated for applications to the NACA 0012 airfoil and to two unconventional airfoils. Three-dimensional configurations such as the ONERA-M6 wing and a wing for a supersonic transport aircraft were directly parametrized using orthonormal functions of two independent variables. The applications make a strong case for further pursuing orthonormal functions for geometry representations in aerodynamic shape optimization. Introduction In aerodynamic shape optimization, a configuration is specified by a set of design variables (e.g., twist, camber, thickness distribution). The changes in the aerodynamic characteristics of the subject configuration with variations in these design variables are called sensitivities. They can be evaluated with, for instance, direct,l adjoint,2 or " o n e ~ h o t " ~ methods. These sensitivities are fed to an optimizer that selects values of the design variables for which a criterion of merit (such as lift, drag, lifvdrag, etc.) is optimal. The more complete the control over the geometric definition of the configuration is (Le., the wider the design space is), the more effective this optimization process will be. For example, directly shaping the wing contour will lead to a wider class of wing shapes than manipulating the wing shape through variations in parameters such as twist, camber, thickness, etc. There has been a long quest for efficient and accurate means for representing aerodynamic shapes. Shape function^,^?^ if judiciously chosen and placed, proved *Principal Engineerkientist. High Speed Aerodynamics tManager. High Speed Aerodynamics Technology. Technology. Senior Member AIAA. Associate Fellow AIAA. Copyright
Electric Field Directed Fabrication of Biosensor Devices From Biomolecule Derivatized Nanoparticles

An electronic microarray has been used to carry out directed self-assembly of higher order 3D structures from Biotin/Streptavidin and DNA derivatized nanoparticles. Structures with more than forty layers of alternating biotin and streptavidin and DNA nanoparticles were fabricated using a 400 site CMOS microarray system. In this process, reconfigurable electric fields produced by the microarray device have been used to rapidly transport, concentrate and accelerate the binding of 40 and 200 nanometer biotin, streptavidin, DNA and peroxidase derivatized nanoparticles to selected sites on the microarray. The nanoparticle layering process takes less than one minute per layer (10–20 seconds for addressing and binding nanoparticles, 40 seconds for washing). The nanoparticle addressing/binding process can be monitored by changes in fluorescence intensity as each nanoparticle layer is deposited. The final multilayered 3-D structures are about two microns in thickness and 50 microns in diameter. Work is now focused on assembling “micron size” biosensor devices from bio-molecule derivatized luminescent and fluorescent nanoparticles. The proposed structure for a nanolayered glucose sensor device includes a base layer of biotin/streptavidin nanoparticles, a layer of glucose oxidase derivatized nanoparticles, a layer of peroxidase derivatized nanoparticles, a layer of quantum dots, and a final layer of biotin/streptavidin nanoparticles. Such a device will serve as a prototype for a wide variety of applications which includes other biosensor devices, lab-on a-chip devices, in-vivo drug delivery systems and “micron size” dispersible bio/chem sensors for environmental, military and homeland security applications.© 2007 ASME
An assay for small scale screening of candidate β cell proliferative factors using intact islets

Current protocols for screening proliferative factors for β cells ex vivo are time-consuming, require cell lines or dissociated islets, and often entail expensive specialized screening equipment. Here we present an efficient and lower cost alternative that utilizes intact mouse islets for the initial screening of proliferative compounds and allows confirmation of β cell proliferation from the same islets. This protocol simplifies the process, saves money, and provides a way to identify β cell proliferative factors using equipment that is ubiquitous in most laboratories.
State-Society Relations in Post-Soviet Systems: Trade Unions in Ukraine

State-society relations in Russia have changed (as mentioned in Chapter 5), though not as dramatically as some outside observers predicted in 1991. Ukraine has experienced less change in terms of state-society relations and in terms of economics;indeed, some would argue that Ukraine has remained virtually unchanged. In part because Ukraine only began seriously debating a post-Soviet constitution in 1996, economic change has been piecemeal and unambitious, and property rights have lagged. Most importantly for the argument dis- cussed here, whereas Russia removed control of state resources from the trade unions, Ukraine has not. This key factor, control of state resources, should lead to differences in the rate of new union formation between Russia and Ukraine. As noted in Chapter 5, Russia has had significant new union formation. The model used in this research would predict that Ukraine will have little or no new union formation because of state policy. The risk of leaving the official trade unions while they fully control state resources such as social insurance is too great for most trade union leaders. While control of state resources is a key indicator for new union formation, we posit several other variables which also affect the probability that union leaders will form new unions: labor power, profitability, and union organization. These variables should have less effect in the Ukrainian case than in Russia, though, because of the overriding importance of state policy. Chapter 5 analyzed the probability of new union formation in Russia using these variables and this chapter will look at the Ukrainian case.
The Free-Will Defence, I

Another version of the free-will defence — called the’ soul-making theodicy’ by its most eloquent and able defender, John Hick1 — can be stated as follows. We do not have to view all suffering as the result of sin, since free virtuous responses to suffering are sufficiently valuable to outweigh the negative value of the suffering. Indeed, God may well be the ultimate author of suffering. God’s causing suffering is compatible with his omnipotence cum perfect goodness, since (1) free virtuous responses to suffering are of great value and (2) not even an omnipotent being could make free virtuous responses to suffering possible if suffering did not exist. Moreover, God’s permitting people not to respond virtuously with respect to some instances of suffering is compatible with his omnipotence cum perfect goodness, since not even an omnipotent being could cause people to exhibit free virtuous responses. (This latter thesis makes the soul-making theodicy a version of the free-will defence.)
Atrophic Rhinitis: A Review of 242 Cases:

Atrophic rhinitis is a debilitating nasal mucosal disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by progressive nasal mucosal atrophy, nasal crusting, fetor, and enlargement of the nasal space with paradoxical nasal congestion. Primary atrophic rhinitis has decreased markedly in incidence in the last century. This probably relates to the increased use of antibiotics for chronic nasal infection. Secondary atrophic rhinitis resulting from trauma, surgery granulomatous diseases, infection, and radiation exposure accounts for the majority of cases encountered by the rhinologist today. Excessive turbinate surgery has been both acquitted and accused in the literature as an etiology for secondary atrophic rhinitis. We saw 242 patients with the diagnosis of atrophic rhinitis between 1982 and 1999. The diagnosis was confirmed by physical examination, biopsy, and imaging studies. Patients were diagnosed with primary atrophic rhinitis if their condition developed in a previously healthy nose and secondary atrophic rhinitis if their condition developed after sinonasal surgery, trauma, or chronic granulomatous disease. Prevention and treatment of the disease is discussed.
Double pylorus: two sides to one story.

Key Clinical Message It is important to recognize that “congenital” double pylorus is a benign condition, so that extensive work-up can be avoided. Also, endoscopists should be aware of the double pylorus and demonstrate extra caution during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
Processes of developing 'community livability' in older age.

Abstract Objective ‘Community livability’ is a widely used term that is still under-conceptualized. The purpose of the project was to theorize key dynamics of livability for older adults who are aging in place in their homes and communities. Methods Twelve community-dwelling adults (70 +) were recruited in a multiple-case study design. Interviews and naturalistic observations were used over the course of 6 months. Global positioning system (GPS) devices were used to generate maps (routines, routes, type and duration of activities) to elicit additional insights through interviews. We used grounded theory analysis. Results For older adults, livability is not experienced as the presence of amenities, but rather involves active and ongoing negotiation of physical and social dimensions of their communities. We identify three core processes of livability including enacting an ideology of aging , building social infrastructure , and negotiating daily participation . These three processes unfolded in varied ways, yet closely shaped—and were shaped by—the older adults' participation in their necessary and chosen daily activities. Discussion Community livability is a process that varies considerably from the current conceptualizations. Understanding and expanding livability considerations will have positive implications for older adults' well-being while aging in community settings.
Activating Politics with Poetry and Spoken Word

Millennial activism, so often maligned, finds new purchase in a revival of spoken word poetry as an adaptable advocacy, organizing, and mobilizing tool.
Retinal Manifestations of Juvenile Dermatomyositis: Case Report of Bilateral Diffuse Chorioretinopathy with Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy and Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACTPurpose: To review a case of bilateral diffuse chorioretinopathy as a presenting sign of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and review the literature regarding retinal manifestations associated with this disease.Methods: Review of case record and literature regarding retinal manifestations related to juvenile dermatomyositis.Results: A 13-year-old girl presented with bilateral diffuse chorioretinopathy as the presenting sign of juvenile dermatomyositis. A review of the literature suggests that retinopathy associated with JDM is a rare finding that is symptomatic to patients and often responds to systemic treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis. This is also the first documented case of paracentral acute middle maculopathy in the setting of juvenile dermatomyositis.Conclusion: Chorioretinopathy is a rare finding in juvenile dermatomyositis. While all patients with JDM likely do not warrant screening ophthalmologic examinations, any patient who has visual symptoms should have a careful dilated examination...
The Transsexual Adult

Abstract Overall, data suggest an increase in transgendered-related diagnoses, possibly reflecting accelerated openness and awareness in both the lay and medical communities about health concerns specific to transsexual individuals. It is hypothesized that a combination of prenatal sex hormonal milieu, genetics, and differences in sexually dimorphic brain structures may be important in the pathophysiology of transsexualism. The diagnosis of transsexualism is generally made by a mental health professional and it is key to identify potential psychiatric comorbidities prior to consideration of hormonal or surgical therapy. Both the Endocrine Society guidelines and WPATH Standards of Care provide excellent clinical guidance on the management of transsexual adults. Gender-affirming hormone therapy for transsexual women typically includes an antiandrogen agent and estrogen and for transsexual men includes testosterone. If the decision to go forward with gender-affirming surgery is made, it is recommended that individuals live as the desired gender for at least 1 year prior. Prior to going forward with hormone or surgical therapy, it is important to address fertility preservation. Lifelong surveillance is recommended to address the unique primary care concerns of this population. There is a clear need for well-conducted research in characterizing health disparities, comorbid disease, and the effects of gender-affirming hormonal and surgical interventions on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.
Examining Changes in Maternal and Child Health Inequalities in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has made considerable progress in maternal, newborn, and child health in terms of healthoutcomes and health services coverage. This study examined how different groups have fared in the process. It alsolooked at possible factors behind the inequalities. The study examined 11 maternal and child health outcomes and services: stunting, underweight,wasting, neonatal mortality, infant mortality, under-5 mortality, measles vaccination, full immunization, moderncontraceptive use by currently married women, antenatal care visits, and skilled birth attendance. It explored trendsin inequalities by household wealth status based on Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2000, 2005,2011, and 2014. The study also investigated the dynamics of inequality, using concentration curves for differentyears. Decomposition analysis was used to identify the role of proximate determinants.The study found substantial improvements in health outcomes and health services: Although there is still a considerable gap between the rich and the poor, inequalities in health services have been reduced. However, child nutrition outcomes have mainly improved for the rich. The changes observed in wealth-related inequality tend toreflect the changing direct effect of household wealth on child health and health service use.The country’s efforts to improve access to health services have shown some positive results, butattention should now turn to service quality and to identifying multisectoral interventions that can change outcomes for the poorest.
Advanced space power technology

Photovoltaics continue to be the primary source of electrical power for most near-Sun space missions. The desire to enhance or enable new space missions through higher efficiency, increased specific power density, increased volumetric power density and improved radiation resistance, along with decreased costs, continues to push the development of novel solar cell and array technologies. To meet present and future space power requirements, advanced multijunction solar cells and novel cell technologies are being pursued. These efforts have resulted in a continual advancement in performance, but new paradigms will be required to continue that performance trend. Similarly, new array technologies are being investigated and developed to meet the ever increasing power system performance requirements.
cCLIP-Seq: Retrieval of Chimeric Reads from HITS-CLIP (CLIP-Seq) Libraries

HITS-CLIP (High-Throughput Sequencing after in vivo Crosslinking and Immunoprecipitation, CLIP-Seq) libraries contain fragments of the RNA sequences bound in vivo by an RNA binding protein (RBP). Such fragments, especially if they represent RNA duplexes bound in vivo by the RBP, can occasionally be ligated together to form chimeric CLIP tags. Chimeric CLIP tags from Argonaute CLIP libraries can provide the exact base pairing profiles of small RNAs with their target RNA sequences, thus solving a critical problem in the field of post-transcriptional regulation. We recently reported an analysis of chimeric reads from the Drosophila Piwi protein Aubergine, which revealed a novel mechanism for mRNA entrapment within germ RNP granules. We term this novel approach chimeric CLIP (cCLIP) and present here the main steps that a researcher can take after the acquisition of the deep sequencing data, for the identification of candidate chimeric reads in Piwi CLIP libraries. Extending the scope beyond small-RNA binding proteins, we believe that cCLIP can be utilized to elucidate the in vivo functions of RNA-binding proteins in general, and especially those that modulate RNA secondary structures. We, therefore, also describe aspects of the generalized chimeric read identification problem, which can find use in the analysis of the CLIP libraries of any RNA-binding protein.
Nonlinear machine learning in simulations of soft and biological materials

Interpretable parameterisations of free energy landscapes for soft and biological materials calculated from molecular simulation require the availability of ‘good’ collective variables (CVs) capabl...
User experience and interaction performance in 2D/3D telecollaboration

Abstract Affordable 3D cameras, mixed reality headsets, and 3D displays have recently pushed the Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies into the consumer market. While these technologies have been adopted in video-game and entertainment industry, the adoption for professional use, such as in industrial and business environment, health-care, and education is still lagging behind. In light of recent advances in mobile communications, AR/VR could pave the way for novel interaction and collaboration of geographically distributed users. Despite the technology being available, majority of communication is still accomplished using traditional video conferencing technology which lacks interactivity, depth perception, and ability to convey non-verbal cues in communication. 3D systems for communication have been proposed to overcome these limitations; however, very few studies looked into the performance and interaction with such technologies. In this paper, we report on a study that examined telecollaboration scenario with three different modalities: 2D video-conferencing, 3D stereoscopic interface, and 3D stereoscopic interface with augmented visual feedback. Twenty participants worked in pairs, assuming the roles of instructor and worker, to remotely interact and perform a set of assembly tasks.
Is Arming Teachers Our Nation's Best Response to Gun Violence? The Perspective of Public Health Students

An editorial is presented which addresses the perspectives of graduate public health students regarding the potential arming of teachers as a means of preventing gun violence in American schools. Gun-related injuries and deaths at U.S. schools in 2018 are examined, including a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Mental well-being is assessed, along with a gag rule which is designed to prevent the number of gun violence-related deaths from being revealed.
The viscoelastic behavior of β-In3Sn and the nature of the high-temperature background

The damping behavior in torsion of single phase β-In3Sn has been evaluated at room temperature over a broad range of frequencies (10−4 to 103 Hz) and as a function of various mechanical and thermal treatments. The results are consistent with a model for the power-law (tan δ ∝ f −n), high-temperature-background absorption being effected by diffusional processes on grain and, particularly, on subgrain boundaries. The results are compared/contrasted with those for damping in single-phase γ-InSn4 and in the two-phase β-γ eutectic. Failure of the eutectic material to follow a composite model for damping, combined with a thermal aging effect that lowers damping only for certain frequencies, shows that the boundary-based absorption model for the high-temperature background applies, too, to phase boundaries.
The Isotypes of Tubulin

The tubulin molecule is an α/β heterodimer. In most eukaryotes both α-and β-tubulin consist of isotypes encoded by different genes and differing in amino acid sequence. Differences among isotypes are often highly conserved in evolution, suggesting that they have functional significance. The complex isotype families in mammals, Drosophila and higher plants have been particularly well studied. Different isotypes often have different cellular and tissue distributions. In addition, purified isotypes display different properties including assembly, GTPase, conformation, dynamics, and ability to interact with anti-tumor drugs. The different cellular, tissue, and species distribution, as well as their primary structures and their in vitro properties give clues as to the possible functions of the different isotypes, which will be discussed in this chapter.
LpMultipliers and Nested Sigma-Algebras

Throughout this note (X, F, µ) denotes a complete probability space. All sub sigma algebras of F considered are assumed to be complete with respect to p. We shall explore the relationship between a sigma algebra B ⊂.F and the set of multiplication operators which map L p (X, B, µ) into L p (X,.F, µ). (All vector spaces encountered are with respect to the scalar field ℂ.) These operators are closely related to averaging operators on order ideals in Banach lattices and to operators called conditional expectation-type operators in [1]. However, our primary interest in studying these operators lies in their use in investigating chains of sigma algebras. The next section contains some basic notation and several predominantly measure-theoretic facts frequently referred to in the sequel. Since conditional expectations play a central role in this investigation, a subsection of Section I is devoted to a discussion of these operators.
Cerebral Lateralization of Human Languages Clinical and Experimental Data

In most human beings linguistic fumctions tend to be lateralized in the left cerebral hemisphere. Several experimental data showed that bilingual and polyglot subjects have a more symmetric language representation in both hemispheres. This paper presents a series of experimental studies which have been carried out with various neuropsychological techniques (dichotic listening, verbal-manual and musical-manual interference paradigms, as well as tachistoscopic presentation) in order to investigate possible functional modifications of cerebral organization patterns that follow intensive language or music acquisition processes, or that are due to particular states of consciousness. The results suggest that the acquisition of a second language as well as of musical skills implies a reorganization of linguistic and musical functions in the brain. Similarly, a variation of the states of consciousness is related to a new asset of cerebral representation of linguistic functions.
Peptide Hormones, Regulated Secretion

A prominent feature of neuroendocrine cells is the large dense-core vesicles that contain concentrated stores of protein hormones. Keeping stores of hormones in these vesicles, commonly known as secretory granules, means that large amounts of protein hormones can be rapidly released when needed, so the delay required to synthesize, fold, process, and transport hormones through the secretory pathway is avoided. The release of hormones is triggered by an increase in the concentration of cytosolic Ca2+, which causes the membranes of the secretory granule to fuse with the plasma membrane, releasing the contents into the extracellular space. All vesicular traffic in cells occurs by membrane fusion; the membrane fusion of these other vesicles differs from the membrane fusion that leads to regulated protein hormone release from secretory granules, because other vesicles fuse constitutively and the fusion of these vesicles is not stimulated by increases in Ca2+ in the cytosol. In the last decade of the 20th century, definite progress was made in understanding the mechanisms by which the release of protein hormones occurs; much of the progress came about because most membrane fusion processes have characteristics in common, regardless of whether they occur in yeast or human.
Maternal space and (re)production in Les Rougon-Macquart, by Emile Zola

The mythological aspects of Zola's work have been described as the very foundation of his novels by such eminent critics as David Baguley, Jean Borie and Naomi Schor. Yet the differences between human mothers and maternal spaces in the mythic context remain to be examined. Baguley points out that the earth in La Terre is the central character, la Terre-Mare, that the mythic perspective surpasses the human dramas, comprising the essence of the novel. The centrality of the earth in a novel about fertility and production naturally leads to questions about this displacement of human drama by the mythic and its effects on Zola's mother characters. This paper undertakes the analysis of maternal spaces of Les Rougon-Macquart in regard to the themes of generativity and the obstetrics that structure them, exploring themes of creation, regeneration and reproduction as production-related activities, with emphasis on male participation and male usurpation of female functions.
Association of Genetic Variation to Healthfulness of Beef

The objective was to determine the natural variability in beef fatty acid composition and to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene to test the association of SNPs with fatty acid composition. We have used common gas chromatographic techniques to determine the fatty acid composition of phospholipids and triacylglycerols (TAGs) extracted from beef muscle (longissimus dorsi) from 800 sire-identified cattle originating from Iowa State University beef cattle breeding selection projects. Heritability of individual fatty acids and indexes of fatty acid desaturase and elongase systems were calculated by evaluating specific ratios of fatty acids (product/precursor). In general, we found that TAG composition is heritable, but phospholipid composition is not. The atherogenic index of TAGs as proposed by Ulbright and Southgate had a heritability estimate of 0.55 and 0.45 for the TAG and total lipids, respectively. Individual fatty acids of TAGs also had high heritability estimates. For example, the heritability estimates of 14:0 and 16:0 in TAG were 0.49 and 0.40, respectively. Monounsaturates 16:1 and 18:1 in TAGs both had heritability estimates greater than 0.5. Future research will focus on DNA sequencing of candidate genes from sires that are phenotypically divergent for a trait of interest. Ultimately, we plan to develop DNA markers for use in selecting breeding stock to improve healthfulness of fatty acids in beef. Three SNP candidates in the SCD gene were tested by using Iowa State University beef cattle. Two of the potential SNPs were homozygous in this population (n=123). We have classified 172 cattle into two genotypes, VA and VV, based on the third SNP. The ratio of palmitoleic acid (C16:1) concentration vs palmitic acid (C16:0) concentration of TAG is significantly associated with the SNP (P=0.02). There is no significant association of the SNP with the fatty acid composition of phospholipids.
Linear Operators on a Hilbert Space

In Chapter II we have briefly considered linear operators. It is now desirable to explore in some detail the nature of bounded linear operators on a Hilbert space. We shall again encounter an adjoint operator, eigenvalues, and operator convergence, but in a different context. Our final goal in this chapter will be to write a large class of operators as integrals. When we finally encounter partial differential equations, these integral representations will help immeasurably in formulating solutions to them.
Clinical features and survival outcomes in a prospective spontaneous regression (SR) protocol of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and melanoma (M) patients.

e16585Background: There are multiple case reports of spontaneously regressing metastatic RCC and M patients but little information about the natural history of disease after regression has been doc...
Comparison of Perceived and Observed Hand Hygiene Compliance in Healthcare Workers in MERS-CoV Endemic Regions

This study investigated healthcare workers’ perceptions of hand hygiene practices by comparing personal reports, as assessed by questionnaires, to direct observations of the workers’ hand hygiene practices. The study employed a cross-sectional research design. Observations were made using a 16-item checklist, based on three sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Boyce and Pittet’s guidelines of hand hygiene. The checklist was used for both direct-observation and self-reported data collection purposes. Pearson correlation and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) were utilized to statistically determine the relationship between healthcare workers’ reports of hand hygiene practices and observed hand hygiene behaviors. The study was conducted in the outpatient examination rooms and emergency departments of three types of hospitals in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia where Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is endemic and is observed in routine cases and outbreaks. The total sample size included 87 physicians and nurses recruited while on duty during the scheduled observation periods, with each healthcare worker being observed during individual medical examinations with at least three patients. No statistically significant correlations between the healthcare workers’ perceptions of hand hygiene practices and healthcare workers’ actual behaviors were evident. Based on the self-report questionnaires, significant differences were found between physicians’ and nurses’ hand hygiene practices reports. Healthcare workers clearly understand the importance of careful hand hygiene practices, but based on researchers’ observations, the medical personnel failed to properly implement protocol-driven hand hygiene applications. However, the significant differences between physicians’ and nurses’ self-reports suggest further inquiry is needed to fully explore these discrepancies.
(When) Is Hiring Strategic? Human Capital Acquisition in the Age of Algorithms

This paper examines when and under what conditions whom to hire is a strategic decision. We identify four mechanisms involved in hiring that add to the “strategicness” of human capital decisions. W...
Mannitol ingestion causes concentration-dependent, sex-specific mortality in adults of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster).

Abstract Mannitol, a sugar alcohol used in commercial food products, induced sex-specific mortality in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster when ingested at a single concentration (1M), and female mortality was greater than male mortality. We hypothesized that sex differences in energy needs, related to reproductive costs, contribute to increased mortality in females compared to males. To test for the effects of reproductive costs, we compared longevity to 21 days of actively mating and non-mating flies fed various concentrations of mannitol. We also asked whether mannitol-induced mortality was concentration-dependent for both males and females, and if mannitol’s sex-specific effects were consistent across concentrations. Females and males both showed concentration-dependent increases in mortality, but female mortality was consistently higher at all concentrations above 0.75M. Fly longevity to 21 days decreased further for both sexes when housed in mixed sex vials (as compared to single sex vials), suggesting the increased energetic demands of reproduction for both sexes may increase ingestion of mannitol. Mannitol fed to larvae did not alter emerging adult sex ratios, suggesting that sex-specific mortality due to mannitol occurs only in adults.
Ductal stenting to improve pulmonary blood flow in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and critical pulmonary stenosis after balloon valvuloplasty.

Objective To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficiency of ductal stenting in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum or critical pulmonary stenosis after balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. Background Ductal stenting in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is a re-emerging and promising technique. There is little data available on its outcomes after establishing prograde pulmonary blood flow. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all neonates with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum or critical pulmonary stenosis who underwent ductal stenting after balloon valvuloplasty. Ductal stenting was performed either in the same setting (group A) or a few days later after balloon valvuloplasty (group B). We compared the two groups. Results Eighteen coronary stents were transvenously delivered and successfully deployed in 18 newborns. There was no procedure-related mortality. The median hospital stay post-intervention was 6 days with a mean discharge oxygen saturation of 94%. Group A had a shorter overall hospital stay with a shorter overall time of irradiation but with a longer overall procedural time. On a follow-up of 18 months, no re-intervention for stent failure or overflow was undertaken. The median stent patency based on echocardiography was 12 months. Conclusion Stenting the arterial duct in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum or critical pulmonary stenosis is a feasible, safe, and efficient technique. It avoids surgery or long hospital stay with prostaglandin infusion. The minimal 6 months stent longevity provides a period of time long enough to decide whether the right ventricular diastolic function is normalised or Glenn surgery is still needed.
Value of the Multibiomarker Disease Activity Score to Predict Remission in RA: What Does the Evidence Show?

The achievement of true full clinical remission of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the goal of both patients and rheumatologists. There still is much discrepancy, with resulting confusion, in how remission is defined despite the consensus reached by the American College of Rheumatology and the European League Against Rheumatism that the most reliable definition of true remission is either a Boolean definition or a Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) score < 3.31. Other proposed remission cutoffs, including those for Disease Activity Score (DAS), 28-joint DAS (DAS28), and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID-3), are much less stringent, and thus allow far more patients to be considered as having achieved “remission” despite the possibility of continued active disease in the joints with systemic inflammation (Figure 1)2. The accurate measurement of disease activity with a fully validated instrument is a key component of RA management. Figure 1. Relationship between disease measures defining remission in the AMPLE trial (Abatacept Versus Adalimumab Comparison in Biologic-Naive RA Subjects with Background Methotrexate). Each of the diagrams shows the percentage of patients achieving either DAS28-CRP < 2.6 (“remission”) or RAPID-3 “remission,” and of those, the percentage of patients who achieved Boolean, SDAI, or CDAI remission. Panels A–D: SC abatacept + MTX arm. Panels E–H: SC adalimumab + MTX. RA: rheumatoid arthritis; DAS28-CRP: 28-joint Disease Activity Score using C-reactive protein; RAPID-3: Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3; Boolean: Boolean remission; SDAI: Simple Disease Activity Index; CDAI: Clinical DAI; SC: subcutaneous; MTX: methotrexate. Over the past decade there has been much interest in the discovery of biomarkers that can identify the complex and heterogeneous biology of RA and have the ability to reliably demonstrate the absolute degree of disease activity, both peripherally and systemically, in all patients. One instrument, which has claimed to be … Address correspondence to Dr. R. Fleischmann, 8144 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 810, Dallas, Texas 75231, USA. E-mail: rfleischmann{at}arthdocs.com
Asymmetric Induction in η2-Arene Complexes of Pentaammineosmium(II)

A series of η2-arene complexes (2a−i) of the form [Os(NH3)5(ArOCHR1CH3)]2+ was prepared in which the alkoxy substituent R1 bears a potential hydrogen bond acceptor. Using an ester or amide group as the hydrogen bond acceptor, a two-point interaction was achieved between the pentaammineosmium system and the organic ligand. For these complexes, a single coordination diastereomer was observed. For compound 2a, evidence for hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl oxygen and the pentaammineosmium fragment was obtained through 1H NMR studies and by a comparison of the rate of arene displacement for 2a compared to that of the parent complex [Os(NH3)5(anisole)]2+. Complex 2a undergoes stereospecific protonation to form a 4H-anisolium product 3a. Complex 3a undergoes nucleophilic addition of a silylketene acetal at C3 to generate an alkoxydiene complex (4) as a single diastereomer. Hydrolysis of 4 removes the chiral auxiliary, and subsequent oxidative decomplexation yields a cyclohexenone with a new stereogenic center.
Chemoprophylaxis for the Hip Fracture Patient: A Comparison of Warfarin and Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin

Objective To compare the rates of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), rates of pulmonary embolus (PE), and complication profiles of warfarin and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in patients undergoing operative fixation of hip fractures. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Insurance-based database of more than 22 million patient records. Patients Adult hip fracture patients who were treated operatively and received chemoprophylaxis from 2007 to 2016. A total of 7594 patients met inclusion criteria and were available for final analysis. Intervention Pharmacological anticoagulation with warfarin or LMWH to prevent postoperative venous thromboembolism after hip fracture surgery. Main outcome measures Development of DVT or PE within 30 and 90 days of surgery. Results Patients prescribed warfarin had higher rates of DVT and PE compared with those prescribed LMWH. Patients on warfarin were more likely to develop a postoperative hematoma and to be readmitted within 30 and 90 days compared with those on LMWH. Patients in both groups had similar rates of total complications. Conclusions Patients prescribed warfarin after hip fractures had higher rates of DVT and PE compared with those prescribed LMWH, although both agents had similar complication profiles. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Detecting Black hole attack by selecting appropriate routes for authentic message passing using SHA-3 and Diffie-Hellman algorithm in AODV and AOMDV routing protocols in MANET

Ad hoc network is sensitive to attacks because it has temporary nature and frequently recognized insecure environment. Both Ad hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV) and Ad hoc On-demand Multipath Distance vector (AOMDV) routing protocols have the strategy to take help from Wireless and mobile ad hoc networks. A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is recognized as an useful internet protocol and where the mobile nodes are self-configuring and self-organizing in character. This research paper has focused on the detection and influence of black hole attack on the execution of AODV and AOMDV routing protocols and has also evaluated the performance of those two on-demand routing protocols in MANETs. AODV has the characteristics for discovering a single path in single route discovery and AOMDV has the characteristics for discovering multiple paths in single route discovery. Here a proposed method for both AODV and AOMDV routing protocol, has been applied for the detection of the black hole attack, which is the merge of both SHA-3 and Diffie-Hellman algorithm. This merge technique has been applied to detect black hole attack in MANET. This technique has been applied to measure the performance matrices for both AODV and AOMDV and those performance matrices are Average Throughput, Average End to End delay and Normalized Routing Load. Both AODV and AOMDV routing protocol have been compared with each other to show that under black hole attack, AOMDV protocol always has better execution than AODV protocol. Here, NS-2.35 has been used as the Network Simulator tool for the simulation of these particular three types of performance metrics stated above.