cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intestinal Neuromuscular Function after Preservation and Transplantation

While it is well known that prolonged preservation of the intestinal graft causes severe mucosal damage after transplantation, little is known about the effect on neuromuscular function. The entire small intestine of adult hound dogs was flushed and preserved with cold lactated Ringer’s solution and autotransplanted either immediately (n = 6) or after 24 hr (n = 6). Animals undergoing sham operation (n = 4) were used as a control. Fasting motility and the response of the intestinal smooth muscle and enteric nerves to bethanechol (100 μg/kg/0.5 hr, iv) and cisapride (0.5 mg/kg, iv) were determined by a multiple strain gauge method on Postoperative Days 2, 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Compared to the control, immediately transplanted grafts and those preserved for 24 hr developed delayed reappearance of migrating myoelectric complexes (MMC), hypercontractile activity, and reduced response to bethanechol and cisapride administration. Animals in the preservation group developed more abnormal fasting motility after transplantation, but responses to bethanechol and cisapride stimulation were not markedly different from those of the immediate group. The reappearance of MMC occurred 3 weeks postoperatively in the preservation group compared to 2 days in the immediate group. The results of our study indicate that intestinal dysmotility is augmented in prolonged-preservation grafts compared to those with brief preservation. The dysmotility was transient and normalized 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. Preservation and reperfusion injury to the neuromuscular system of intestinal grafts are reversible and are attenuated by simple hypothermia.
Killing of African Trypanosomes by Antimicrobial Peptides

Antimicrobial peptides are components of the innate immune systems of a wide variety of eukaryotic organisms and are being developed as antibiotics in the fight against bacterial and fungal infections. We explored the potential activities of antimicrobial peptides against the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, a vectorborne protozoan parasite that is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in both humans and animals. Three classes of mammalian antimicrobial peptides were tested: a-defensins, b-defensins, and cathelicidins. Although members of all 3 classes of antimicrobial peptides showed activity, those derived from the cathelicidin class were most effective, killing both insect and bloodstream forms of the parasite. The mechanism of action of the cathelicidins against T. brucei involves disruption of surface membrane integrity. Administration of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides to mice with late-stage T. brucei infection acutely decreased parasitemia and prolonged survival. These results highlight the potential use of antimicrobial peptides for the treatment of African trypanosomiasis.
Comparing Check-All and Forced-Choice Question Formats in Web Surveys

For survey researchers, it is common practice to use the check-all question format in Web and mail surveys but to convert to the forced-choice question format in telephone surveys. The assumption underlying this practice is that respondents will answer the two formats similarly. In this research note we report results from 16 experimental comparisons in two Web surveys and a paper survey conducted in 2002 and 2003 that test whether the check-all and forced-choice formats pro- duce similar results. In all 16 comparisons, we find that the two question formats do not perform similarly; respondents endorse more options and take longer to answer in the forced-choice format than in the check-all format. These findings suggest that the forced-choice question format encourages deeper processing of response options and, as such, is pref- erable to the check-all format, which may encourage a weak satisficing response strategy. Additional analyses show that neither acquiescence bias nor item nonresponse seem to pose substantial problems for use of the forced-choice question format in Web surveys.
Disproof of Cowling's theorem

Summary form only. In the study of planetary and stellar magnetic fields, a thermally driven MHD generator is generally assumed to be the source of the field. Cowling's theorem is used to prove that cylindrically symmetric models are not capable of producing steady-state magnetic fields. The theorem is based on the fact that there is a current loop that lies inside the conducting medium. This loop has no magnetic field at right angles to the current, and so a current fed by E= nu *B cannot exist. Thus the current loop must decay, and the model must be invalid. The author has demonstrated that mechanisms for feeding a current loop other than the nu *B process can occur. For example, collisional processes can cause a current to migrate into electric-field-free regions. >
Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) genotoxicity profile: Relevance for carcinogenicity

Vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) is a site-of-contact carcinogen in rodents. It is also DNA reactive and mutagenic, but only after its carboxylesterase mediated conversion to acetaldehyde (AA), a metabolic reaction that also produces acetic acid and protons. As VAM's mutagenic metabolite, AA is normally produced endogenously; detoxification by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is required to maintain intra-cellular AA homeostasis. This review examines VAM's overall genotoxicity, which is due to and limited by AA, and the processes leading to mutation induction. VAM and AA have both been universally negative in mutation studies in bacteria but both have tested positive in several in vitro studies in higher organisms that usually employed high concentrations of test agents. Recently however, in vitro studies evaluating submillimolar concentrations of VAM or AA have shown threshold dose-responses for mutagenicity in human cultured cells. Neither VAM nor AA induced systemic mutagenicity in in vivo studies in metabolically competent mice when tested at non-lethal doses while treatments of animals deficient in aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldh in animals) did induce both gene and chromosome level mutations. The results of several studies have reinforced the critical role for aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2 in humans) in limiting AA's (and therefore VAM's) mutagenicity. The overall aim of this review of VAM's mutagenic potential through its AA metabolite is to propose a mode of action (MOA) for VAM's site-of-contact carcinogenesis that incorporates the overall process of mutation induction that includes both background mutations due to endogenous AA and those resulting from exogenous exposures.
Inter-Rater Reliability of Quantifying Pleural B-Lines Using Multiple Counting Methods

Objectives Sonographic B-lines are a sign of increased extravascular lung water. Several techniques for quantifying B-lines within individual rib spaces have been described, as well as different methods for "scoring" the cumulative B-line counts over the entire thorax. The interobserver reliability of these methods is unknown. This study examined 3 methods of quantifying B-lines for inter-rater reliability. Methods Videotaped pleural assessments of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea and suspected acute heart failure were reviewed by 3 blinded pairs of emergency physicians. Each pair performed B-line counts within single rib spaces using 1 of the following 3 predetermined methods: 1, individual B-lines are counted over an entire respiratory cycle; 2, as per method 1, but confluent B-lines are counted as multiple based on the percentage of the rib space they occupy; and 3, as per method 2, but the count is made at the moment when the most B-lines are seen, not over an entire respiratory cycle. A single-measures interclass correlation coefficient was used to assess inter-rater reliability for the 3 definitions of B-line counts. Results A total of 456 video clips were reviewed. The interclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence intervals) for methods 1, 2, and 3 were 0.84 (0.81-0.87), 0.87 (0.85-0.90), and 0.89 (0.87-0.91), respectively. The difference between methods 1 and 3 was significant (P = .003). Conclusions All methods of B-line quantification showed substantial inter-rater agreement. Method 3 is more reliable than method 1. There were no other significant differences between the methods. We recommend the use of method 3 because it is technically simpler to perform and more reliable than method 1.
Epidemiology of Ankle Sprain at the United States Military Academy

BackgroundAnkle sprain is a common injury in athletic populations that results in significant time lost to injury.HypothesisThe incidence rates (IRs) of ankle ligament sprains are influenced by gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), physical conditioning, level of competition, type of sport, and athlete exposure to sport.Study DesignCohort study; Level of evidence, 2.MethodsA longitudinal cohort study was performed to determine the effect of risk factors for ankle sprain at the United States Military Academy between 2005 and 2007.ResultsA total 614 cadets sustained new ankle sprains during 10 511 person-years at risk, resulting in an overall IR of 58.4 per 1000 person-years. Women (96.4), compared with men (52.7), had a significantly increased rate ratio (IRR) for ankle sprain of 1.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-2.20). Men with ankle sprains had higher mean height, weight, and BMI than uninjured men (P < .001). Men with ankle sprains had higher average scores in push-ups, sit-ups, and run ...
Reduced swimming performance and increased growth in domesticated rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Domesticated populations of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) probably have been selected for high growth rates and large body size, which may have resulted in reduced sprint swimming performance...
A Versatile Fluorogenic Labelling Reagent for Primary and Secondary Amines: 9-Fluorenylmethyl Chloroformate

Abstract Both primary and secondary amines may be readily labelled with the 9-fluorenylmethoxy carbonyl group by the reaction with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOCCI). The reaction proceeds rapidly under alkaline aqueous conditions, allows for simple elimination of excess reagent by partitioning, improves chroatographic resolution of amino acid-like compounds by anion exchange liquid chromatography and introduces a fluorophore with a large quantum yield which is essentially unaffected by solvent-solute interactions.
Profiling Line-Averaged Compact Toroid Electron Density on CTIX With Arrayed Laser Deflectometry

The compact toroid (CT) injection experiment (CTIX) is a coaxial plasma rail gun originally designed for tokamak refueling. CTIX can form and accelerate CT plasmas of controllable densities and velocities. For a given chord through a plasma, changes in line-integrated transverse electron density gradient can be resolved by measuring the angle of deflection of a laser beam traversing the plasma. A vertical array of four temperature-controlled laser deflectometers was installed in the viewing section of CTIX and used to profile the line-averaged density of an unconstrained CT drifting at high velocity.
Toward the Development of Contextually Aware Business Applications via Model-Driven Transformations

While the traditional model driven development techniques are useful for building solutions in a reusable manner, they do not say much about how the existing assets in a client environment can be leveraged effectively and efficiently. In this work, we enhance model driven transformation techniques to generate implementation artifacts on a given platform from platform independent models while leveraging the existing assets in a client environment. We apply semantic Web service matching technology to achieve automatic binding of generated artifacts with available client assets. By generating implementation artifacts that are bound where appropriate with clientspsila existing functionality, our approach helps cut down the development time during project implementations and thereby resulting in reduced project durations and costs. We demonstrate the feasibility of the two platforms: IBM WebSphere and SAP NetWeaver. Lessons learned are presented.
Commentary: Introduction to The Year in Basic Science Series

This year, in response to member input and suggestions to highlight the vibrant basic science of endocrinology, The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting (ENDO 08) introduced a new feature, The Year in Basic Science series. Among the many interests and strengths of our members, three broad areas were chosen for initial consideration: nuclear receptors, kinase signaling, and hormones and cancer. Speakers were invited to present and discuss important publications during the past year between annual meetings (roughly June to June), and to put these findings into broad perspective for the endocrine community. Three distinguished researchers, Bert O'Malley, Tony Means, and Kate Horwitz, graciously agreed to participate in the inaugural venture, and this series of articles is based on their presentations at ENDO 08. Each individual approached this somewhat daunting task slightly differently. However, all three observed important and often common themes that ultimately link current basic molecular findings to broad t...
From Knowing-About To Knowing-To: Development Of Engineering Pedagogical Content Knowledge By Elementary Teachers Through Perceived Learning And Implementing Difficulties

The present study sought to reveal how elementary teachers develop their engineering pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) after leaving professional development programs to practice engineering teaching in real classroom settings. Participants of this study were the elementary teachers who received one-week training of engineering education provided by EfF (a P-12 Engineering teaching and learning institute in a Midwestern university). Data of this study were collected from these elementary teachers through face-to-face interviews and an online open-ended survey. Based on a phenomenological research method and a constructivist ELC (engineering instruction, learners, and contexts) framework developed by the researchers to investigate engineering PCK development, this study explored the elementary teachers’ lived engineering teaching experiences following the procedures of inductive qualitative data analysis. Findings yielded in this study revealed that the elementary teachers developed their knowledge about engineering teaching and learning situations through their engineering teaching practice. But such knowledge was the knowledge of knowing-about and it did not automatically transfer into the elementary teachers’ engineering PCK or knowing-to knowledge allowing them to act effectively and responsively to engineering teaching and learning situations at hand. In their engineering teaching practice, the elementary teachers engaged themselves in a dynamic and evolving trial-failure-success process. It was in this process that the elementary teachers made sense of new engineering teaching and learning situations and transformed their knowing-about into engineering PCK responsive to these situations.
Adolescent Smoking and Perceived Vulnerability to Smoking-Related Causes of Death

Tested adolescent smokers' perceptions of risk for smoking-related causes of death in comparison to nonsmoking peers. 408 high school Ss (11% regular smokers, 15% occasional smokers) estimated the likelihood of personal death from cancer, emphysema, and stroke. Smokers did not differ from nonsmokers on perceived risks for smoking-related deaths. Smokers and nonsmokers perceived the odds of dying from cancer as high but, unrealistically, smokers did not view it as higher than nonsmokers. Regular smokers who report high exposure to news appear to minimize the risks for cancer and stroke deaths. High sensation-seeking tendencies led to lower perceived risks for males but not for females. The "invulnerability syndrome" is discussed in relationship to adolescents' risk perceptions.
Unbiased Rare Event Sampling in Spatial Stochastic Systems Biology Models Using a Weighted Ensemble of Trajectories

The long-term goal of connecting scales in biological simulation can be facilitated by scale-agnostic methods. We demonstrate that the weighted ensemble (WE) strategy, initially developed for molecular simulations, applies effectively to spatially resolved cell-scale simulations. The WE approach runs an ensemble of parallel trajectories with assigned weights and uses a statistical resampling strategy of replicating and pruning trajectories to focus computational effort on difficult-to-sample regions. The method can also generate unbiased estimates of non-equilibrium and equilibrium observables, sometimes with significantly less aggregate computing time than would be possible using standard parallelization. Here, we use WE to orchestrate particle-based kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, which include spatial geometry (e.g., of organelles, plasma membrane) and biochemical interactions among mobile molecular species. We study a series of models exhibiting spatial, temporal and biochemical complexity and show that although WE has important limitations, it can achieve performance significantly exceeding standard parallel simulation—by orders of magnitude for some observables.
Mortality Salience, System Justification, and Candidate Evaluations in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election.

Experiments conducted during the 2004 and 2008 U.S. presidential elections suggested that mortality salience primes increased support for President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain, respectively. Some interpreted these results as reflecting “conservative shift” following exposure to threat, whereas others emphasized preferences for “charismatic” leadership following exposure to death primes. To assess both hypotheses in the context of a new election cycle featuring a liberal incumbent who was considered to be charismatic, we conducted four experiments shortly before the 2012 election involving President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. Contrary to earlier studies, there was little evidence that mortality salience, either by itself or in interaction with political orientation, affected overall candidate ratings or voting intentions. However, a significant interaction between mortality salience and system justification in some studies indicated a more circumscribed effect. The failure to “replicate” previous results in the context of this election may be attributable to disagreement among participants as to which of the candidates better represented the societal status quo.
16-PF study of personality patterns in alcoholics.

The 16-PF profiles of three groups of alcoholics were compared after factor analysis. Three groups, described as having inhibited neurotic, aggressive neurotic, and sociopathic symptoms, were ident...
A review of tin (II) monosulfide and its potential as a photovoltaic absorber

Abstract Research groups around the world are investigating tin (II) monosulfide (SnS) via various deposition methods and heterostructures for thin film solar cells. The maximum achieved efficiency has yet to reach 5% despite the promising properties of SnS. SnS devices have achieved high short-circuit current densities near 20 A/cm2, but open-circuit voltage and fill factor are significantly lower than models predict. The multi-valency of tin, complex Sn–S phase diagram, and layered nature of SnS result in a complex system and large variability in the microstructure of the material. Microstructure growth is largely dependent on the deposition method, thus impacting optoelectronic properties. As a result, thin film SnS made by different processing methods cannot be compared without first considering the differences in microstructure. This review evaluates SnS, including theoretical and experimental work, and its progress as a photovoltaic absorber. Single crystal and thin film growth methods as well as the properties of the material are reviewed. Solar cell structure, back contact metals and doping are evaluated to summarize the progress in implementing SnS into devices. The challenge of sulfur volatility is a serious issue for producing high-quality SnS, and is not weighted enough in the literature. In addition, the impact of device processing following SnS deposition is not considered in any studies. The best future approach for SnS-based devices will consider sulfur content a priority, and investigate the impacts of device processing on the SnS layer.
Regionaldarwinismus - Evolution von High-Tech-Regionen

Up to now, there is very little empirical evidence to give support to the idea that certain factors lead to success of high-tech-regions. But among politicians, as well as scholars, there is an increasing consciousness that, beside the traditional location factors, cultural aspects continue to gain importance for a prospering regional development. For instance, these cultural factors comprise of smart co-operations and learning organisations. The questions remains, whether these cultural factors are crucial for the evolution of regional economies.
Regulating outdoor advertisement boards; employing spatial decision support system to control urban visual pollution

Unmanaged placement, size, location, structure and contents of outdoor advertisement boards have resulted in severe urban visual pollution and deterioration of the socio-physical living environment in urban centres of Pakistan. As per the regulatory instruments, the approval decision for a new advertisement installation is supposed to be based on the locational density of existing boards and their proximity or remoteness to certain land- uses. In cities, where regulatory tools for the control of advertisement boards exist, responsible authorities are handicapped in effective implementation due to the absence of geospatial analysis capacity. This study presents the development of a spatial decision support system (SDSS) for regularization of advertisement boards in terms of their location and placement. The knowledge module of the proposed SDSS is based on provisions and restrictions prescribed in regulatory documents. While the user interface allows visualization and scenario evaluation to understand if the new board will affect existing linear density on a particular road and if it violates any buffer restrictions around a particular land use. Technically the structure of the proposed SDSS is a web-based solution which includes open geospatial tools such as OpenGeo Suite, GeoExt, PostgreSQL, and PHP. It uses three key data sets including road network, locations of existing billboards and building parcels with land use information to perform the analysis. Locational suitability has been calculated using pairwise comparison through analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted linear combination (WLC). Our results indicate that open geospatial tools can be helpful in developing an SDSS which can assist solving space related iterative decision challenges on outdoor advertisements. Employing such a system will result in effective implementation of regulations resulting in visual harmony and aesthetic improvement in urban communities.
Problems of Industrialisation of Underdeveloped Countries

In the following paper we shall consider, first, the relation between agricultural improvement and industrialisation of underdeveloped countries; second, problems of technology appropriate to industrialisation of underdeveloped countries; and third, population problems in relation to industrialisation. Between them, the three — the land, the people and the technique — contain the main problems arising.
Cerebellar Mutism after Posterior Fossa Surgery

Six children, aged 6 to 12 years, who developed cerebellar mutism after surgery for a posterior fossa mass or as a result of trauma are reported from the Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA.
Personal computing and the power of illusion [virtualisation]

In computing, what you see is not always the same as what you have - as PC users could soon be learning to their advantage. Virtualisation is a powerful computing technique: by presenting a logical, rather than physical view of resources, we can improve security, flexibility, manageability and, crucially, share and redistribute underlying physical resources such as memory, processors and networks. Operating systems allow many applications to share a single computer; virtual networks add enhanced security to a shared network and storage virtualisation offers increased manageability and fault resilience.
Old-Generation Antiepileptic Drugs

The new-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) became available in the USA after 1993, following a 15-year hiatus during which no new drugs were introduced for the treatment of epilepsy. In general, the newer AEDs have not improved on the efficacy of carbamazepine, the AED to which they have been most often compared.
Medienmanagement und öffentliche Kommunikation

Medienmanagement ist ein junges wissenschaftliches Fachgebiet, das je nach Lehrstuhl und Auspragung sehr unterschiedlich verstanden wird. Daher wird zunachst begrundet, wie sich Medienmanagement begrifflich von Medienwirtschaft als spezieller Betriebswirtschaftslehre und dem Management von Unternehmen, die Medien vermarkten, abgrenzen lasst. Medienmanagement ist in diesem Sinne der Einsatz von Medien und Kommunikation fur die Umsetzung unternehmerischer Ziele. Das bezieht sich auf zwei Dimensionen: Die Nutzung von Medien als Fuhrungsinstrument innerhalb des Unternehmens und die Instrumentalisierung von Medien fur das Marketing von Unternehmen.
Barriers and facilitators of the HIV care continuum in Southern New England for people with drug or alcohol use and living with HIV/AIDS: perspectives of HIV surveillance experts and service providers

Contemporary studies about HIV care continuum (HCC) outcomes within substance using populations primarily focus on individual risk factors rather than provider- or systems-level influences. Over 25% of people living with HIV (PLWH) have substance use disorders that can alter their path through the HCC. As part of a study of HCC outcomes in nine small cities in Southern New England (population 100,000–200,000 and relatively high HIV prevalence particularly among substance users), this qualitative analysis sought to understand public health staff and HIV service providers’ perspectives on how substance use may influence HCC outcomes. Interviews with 49 participants, collected between November 2015 and June 2016, were analyzed thematically using a modified social ecological model as the conceptual framework and codes for substance use, HCC barriers and facilitators, successes and failures of initiatives targeting the HCC, and criminal justice issues. Eight themes were identified concerning the impact of substance use on HCC outcomes. At the individual level, these included coping and satisfying basic needs and could influence all HCC steps (i.e., testing, treatment linkage, adherence, and retention, and viral load suppression). The interpersonal level themes included stigma issues and providers’ cultural competence and treatment attitudes and primarily influenced treatment linkage, retention, and viral load suppression. These same HCC steps were influenced at the health care systems level by organizations’ physical environment and resources as well as intra-/inter-agency communication. Testing and retention were the most likely steps to affect at the policy/society level, and the themes included opposition within an organization or community, and activities with unintended consequences. The most substantial HCC challenges for PLWH with substance use problems included linking and retaining in treatment those with multiple co-morbidities and meeting their basic living needs. Recommendations to improve HCC outcomes for PLWH with substance use problems include increasing easy access to effective drug and mental health treatment, expanding case management and peer navigation services, training staff about harm reduction, de-stigmatizing, and culturally competent approaches to interacting with patients, and increasing information-sharing and service coordination among service providers and the social service and criminal justice systems.
Victoria Khiterer. Jewish City or Inferno of Russian Israel? A History of the Jews in Kiev Before February 1917.

Book review of Victoria Khiterer. Jewish City or Inferno of Russian Israel? A History of the Jews in Kiev Before February 1917 . Academic Studies Press, 2016. Jews of Russia and Eastern Europe and Their Legacy, series editor, Maxim D. Shrayer. xx, 474 pp. Illustrations. Tables. Maps. Appendix. Bibliography. Index. $89.00, cloth.
The Fabrication and Characterization of Bimodal Nanoporous Si with Retained Mg through Dealloying

The fabrication and characterization of bimodal nanoporous silicon films with retained magnesium, achieved through a novel approach utilizing free corrosion dealloying of precursor Si–Mg films in distilled water, is studied. Investigation of film structure and chemical composition using various techniques reveals important characteristics potentially relevant to lithium-ion battery applications. Dealloying of precursor films results in a hierarchal structure, where larger ligaments have an average width of 83 nm and smaller ligaments an average width of 19 nm. A thin, porous surface layer is present on most dealloyed films and is largely composed of magnesium and silicon oxides, as verified by XPS surface analysis. TEM studies reveal that as-dealloyed films are amorphous, but nanocrystalline silicon grains form after vacuum annealing at 500 °C. EDS mapping and XPS reveal three distinct chemical composition regions through the film thickness, where residual magnesium generally increases as a function of film thickness, with the highest amount of retained magnesium at the surface. The ligament size, composition, and structure, combined with the simple, non-hazardous nature of the dealloying method, make this an attractive material and processing technique for efficient and scalable production of lithium-ion battery anode material.
Supply Chain Structures on the Internet

Spun.com, a small CD/DVD Internet retailer, has about 200,000 CD titles listed on its web site. Surprisingly, the company does not hold/own any inventory of CDs. Instead, the company partnered with the wholesaler Alliance Entertainment Corp. (AEC), which stocks CDs and ships them directly to Spun.com’s customers with Spun.com labels on the packages. In this way, the retailer avoided an estimated inventory investment of $8M Forbes (2000), since it only paid the distributor for sold products. AEC calls this distribution system “Consumer Direct Fulfillment.” According to the company’s web site, “... using AEC as a fulfillment partner gives you more time and resources to focus on attracting more consumers to your store ...”. The list of retailers practicing such forms of Internet business includes Zappos.com (Inbound Logistics 2000), Cyberian Outpost (Computer Reseller News 1999) and many others.
The impact of interest rate volatility on financial market inclusion: evidence from emerging markets

Interest rate uncertainty adversely affects financial market performance and, eventually, economic growth. This study investigates the relationship between interest rate volatility and financial market inclusion for five selected emerging economies over the period 1980–2015. To do this, we assess the long-run and short-run relationship using Pesaran et al. (J Appl Econ 16:289–326, 2001) bounds testing approach to cointegration and error-correction modeling and Shin et al. (2014) nonlinear cointegration estimation method (NARDAL). The latter method incorporates nonlinearity into the model and enables us to check the asymmetric effects of interest rate variability on financial market inclusion. The findings of our linear models indicate that short-run symmetric effects lead to long-run symmetric effects in four countries (Turkey is the exception) and there is a long-run symmetric effect for the other four countries. On the other hand, estimation of nonlinear models shows the short-run existence of asymmetric effects for all five emerging economies. We found that the long-run effect of interest rate volatility is asymmetric in all countries except for Mexico. We suggest that this group of countries should cautiously pay attention to laws and regulations related to their financial market and interest rate policies. Our estimation results show that interest rate uncertainty significantly affects financial market inclusion and has an important role in financial market development and eventually achieving higher economic growth.
Performance Funding Policy Impacts on STEM Degree Attainment

Performance funding policies for higher education allocate appropriations to public institutions based on student outcomes such as degree completions. This study investigates whether a special scie...
Safety and effectiveness of apixaban compared to warfarin in dialysis patients.

Background: The use of apixaban for stroke prophylaxis or for the treatment of venous thromboembolism in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients maintained on dialysis is based on one single-dose pharmacokinetic study. There is a deficiency of clinical evidence supporting safety in this population.Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of apixaban compared with warfarin in dialysis patients.Patients/methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at the University of Virginia Medical Center. A total of 124 ESRD patients maintained on dialysis who either received apixaban (n = 74) or warfarin (n = 50) between January 1, 2014 and October 31, 2016 were included in the study. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare the likelihood of patients experiencing a bleeding event based on anticoagulant therapy.Results: The apixaban group experienced fewer overall bleeding events than the warfarin group (18.9% vs 42.0%; P = .01); this significant difference persisted in adjusted analysis (OR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.05-0.46; P = .001). Major bleeding events were less frequent in the apixaban group compared with patients on warfarin (5.4% vs 22.0%; P = .01). There were no recurrent ischemic strokes in either groups. A lower, non-significant, incidence of recurrent VTE was found in patients on apixaban compared with warfarin (4.4% vs 28.6%; P = .99).Conclusion: Compared to warfarin, our findings suggest that apixaban is a safe and effective alternative in patients with ESRD maintained on dialysis, with apixaban patients experiencing fewer bleeding events than warfarin patients.
The Impact of Scrubber Sludge on Ground Water Quality at an Abandoned Mine Site

A sulfate-rich flue gas desulfurization scrubber sludge was used as a substitute backfill material in reclamation of an abandoned coal strip mine. The site was surrounded by monitor wells and the material was characterized for leaching behavior using open column experiments. A drain was placed directly beneath the 45 000 ton fill to enable sampling before dilution or attenuation. The column studies indicated that the scrubber sludge would adsorb manganese, iron, aluminium, cobalt, nickel, thallium and zinc contaminants from the water. Changes in pH appear inadequate to explain the removal by precipitation. The groundwater cleaning phenomenon has been confirmed on a field scale by the drain samples. Boron and molybdenum leach from the fly ash was used to fix the scrubber sludge and serve as marker elements enabling calibration of the dispersivity in computer models of the groundwater system at the site. The leachate front appears to be diluted by a factor of 8 : 1 within the first 15 meters. Since boron and molybdenum release are associated only with the first flush, environmental impacts will be minimal. Columns appear to create a time compression effect on the duration of leaching phenomenon. The effect for this site appears to be at least 5 : 1. The columns were effective in predicting which elements would leach or adsorb in the field and in predicting the actual source concentrations. Other shake tests such as the TCLP and the ASTM shake test were found to be less effective at predicting which elements would leach and were not helpful in predicting field concentrations.
Animal Models of Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Animal models have played major roles in understanding the pathogenesis and etiology of disease and this is no less true for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Since 1983, at least 15 animal models have been generated or identified representing the broad range of clinical outcomes and molecular/biochemical mechanisms responsible for OI. In this chapter we describe and summarize those animal models whose molecular defects have been characterized, attempting to subdivide them based on the three primary disease driving mechanisms (1) defects in type I collagen genes (COL1A1 and COL1A2), (2) defects in post-translational hydroxylation of type I procollagen and ER trafficking, and (3) abnormalities in type I procollagen chaperone activity.
Demethylation of O6-methylguanine in a synthetic DNA polymer by an inducible activity in Escherichiacoli☆

O6-Methyl[8-3H]deoxyguanosine in a synthetic DNA polymer, poly(dC, dG, m6dG), is demethylated by cell-free extracts of EscherichiacoliBr adapted by exposure to N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, as shown by the appearance of 3H-labeled deoxyguanosine in hydrolysates of the recovered DNA. The demethylating activity could not be detected in extracts of nonadapted E. coli. These results provide direct evidence that a previously described inducible repair activity in E. coli acts by demethylating O6-methylguanine at the DNA level.
Winter Site Fidelity of Orange-Crowned Warblers (Oreothlypis celata) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

We documented between-winter site fidelity of orange-crowned warblers (Oreothlypis celata) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, between 2004 and 2017. Overall, we recaptured 13.9% of the 201 banded birds in ≥1 subsequent winter season: 20.8% of the 101 birds banded in urban natural areas, and 7.0% of the 100 banded in rural areas. We recaptured 8 birds ≥3 winters after their initial capture, indicating extended winter site fidelity.
2,4,6-Tribromophenol Disposition and Kinetics in Rodents: Effects of Dose, Route, Sex, and Species.

2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP, CAS No. 118-79-6) is widely used as a brominated flame retardant and wood antifungal agent. TBP is frequently detected in environmental matrices, biota, and humans. In female SD rats, systemically available TBP (10 µmol/kg, IV) was rapidly excreted primarily via urine, with approximately 61% of the dose recovered after 4 h, and 89%-94% in 24 h; 5% was recovered in feces; and 1%-2% in blood/tissues. TBP administered to female SD rats (0.1-1000 µmol/kg) by gavage was well absorbed, with approximately 25% eliminated via urine after 4 h and approximately 88% after 24 h. Approximately 11% of a single oral dose was recovered in bile. Male SD rats and B6C3F1/J mice of both sexes had similar disposition profiles when administered a single oral dose of TBP (10 µmol/kg). Following administration, fecal recoveries varied only slightly by dose, sex, or species. TBP readily passed unchanged through both human (ex vivo only) and rat skin with between 55% and 85% of a 100 nmol/cm2 passing into or through skin. Concentrations of TBP in blood fit a two-compartment model after IV-dosing and a one-compartment model after oral dosing. Urine contained a mixture of TBP, TBP-glucuronide, and TBP-sulfate. Fecal extracts contained only parent TBP whereas bile contained only TBP-glucuronide. TBP did not appear to bioaccumulate or alter its own metabolism after repeated administration. TBP was readily absorbed at all doses and routes tested with an oral bioavailability of 23%-27%; 49% of TBP is expected to be dermally bioavailable in humans. From these data, we conclude that humans are likely to have significant systemic exposure when TBP is ingested or dermal exposure occurs.
The Student's Introduction to Mathematica and the Wolfram Language

The unique feature of this compact student's introduction to Mathematica® and the Wolfram Language™ is that the order of the material closely follows a standard mathematics curriculum. As a result, it provides a brief introduction to those aspects of the Mathematica® software program most useful to students. Used as a supplementary text, it will help bridge the gap between Mathematica® and the mathematics in the course, and will serve as an excellent tutorial for former students. There have been significant changes to Mathematica® since the second edition, and all chapters have now been updated to account for new features in the software, including natural language queries and the vast stores of real-world data that are now integrated through the cloud. This third edition also includes many new exercises and a chapter on 3D printing that showcases the new computational geometry capabilities that will equip readers to print in 3D.
Necrotic uveal melanoma presenting as orbital cellulitis with intraocular hemorrhage: A case report.

Abstract Purpose To report a case of necrotic uveal melanoma presenting as orbital cellulitis with an intraocular hemorrhage. Observations A 61 year-old non-verbal male presented with a two-week history of right eyelid swelling and erythema unresponsive to antibiotics. In addition to these signs of orbital cellulitis, he presented with an opaque media precluding fundus visualization. He was later found to have a collar-button shaped mass consistent with uveal melanoma on B scan ultrasonography during an exam under anesthesia. The patient underwent enucleation with histopathology confirming a necrotic uveal melanoma. Conclusion and Importance This case demonstrates how necrotic uveal melanoma can present as orbital cellulitis and the importance of keeping the diagnosis on the differential.
A Quality Mobility Program Reduces Elderly Social Isolation

Community programs on physical activity can alleviate social isolation among the older population. This case study explores the perceptions of seniors 50 years and above who participate in ‘Seniors...
Serious infection may systemically increase noradrenergic signaling and produce psychological effects.

Abstract Serious infection elicits inflammatory processes that act through a range of molecular pathways, including cytokine signaling. It is not established however that noradrenaline (NA), a widely distributed neurotransmitter in the brain that is also a principal output molecule of the sympathetic nervous system, can produce psychological effects associated with infection. This paper puts forth the hypothesis that through neural-immune crosstalk, serious infection increases noradrenergic signaling, both in the central nervous system and in peripheral organs. In this manner, elevated noradrenergic transmission may help produce basic symptoms of infection such as fever, fatigue, aches and pains (including headache), nausea, and loss of appetite. NA may also promote cognitive impairment, major depression, unipolar mania, and even epileptic seizures in some cases. The paper focuses on three major types of infection: influenza (viral), tuberculosis (bacterial), malaria (parasitic), while also summarizing the potential relationship between NA and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Four lines of evidence are used to test association between NA and influenza, tuberculosis, and malaria: direct measures of NA and its metabolites; and incidence of hypertension, bipolar mania, and epileptic seizures, since the latter three conditions may be associated with elevated NA. In addition, heart rate variability data are examined with respect to a number of infectious diseases, since those data provide information on sympathetic nervous system activity. While the data do not unequivocally support elevated noradrenergic signaling promoting psychological symptomatology with infection, many studies are consistent with this view.
Chapter 14 – Acromegaly

Publisher Summary Acromegaly, a spectacular clinical syndrome of disordered somatic growth and proportion, has intrigued physicians since earliest recorded history. It was, however, only in 1886 that Pierre Marie published the first clinical description of the disorder based on observing two of his patients, and his recognition of five other cases previously described by others. He described the features distinguishing the disorder from myxedema and osteodystrophy and proposed the name “acromegaly.” Marie did not recognize the relation of a pituitary tumor to this syndrome until 5 years later when an adenohypophyseal tumor was observed in a patient with acromegaly. In 1900, Benda recognized that pituitary adenomas in patients with acromegaly consisted mainly of adenohypophyseal eosinophilic cells, which he proposed to be hyperfunctioning. Subsequent careful clinicopathologic studies by Cushing, Davidoff, and Bailey were supplemented by demonstrating clinical remission of soft tissue signs of acromegaly after surgical resection of eosinophilic pituitary adenomas. The experiments of Evans and Long demonstrating features of gigantism in rats injected with anterior pituitary extracts confirmed the association of a pituitary factor with somatic growth. Establishment of the unequivocal link between hyperfunctioning adenoma and acromegaly was the earliest example of a pituitary disorder to be clinically and pathologically recognized and appropriately managed.
Hierarchical Construction of Higher-Order Exceptional Points

The realization of higher-order exceptional points (HOEPs) can lead to orders of magnitude enhancement in light-matter interactions beyond the current fundamental limits. Unfortunately, implementing HOEPs in the existing schemes is a rather difficult task, due to the complexity and sensitivity to fabrication imperfections. Here we introduce a hierarchical approach for engineering photonic structures having HOEPs that are easier to build and more resilient to experimental uncertainties. We demonstrate our technique by an example that involves parity-time symmetric optical microring resonators with chiral coupling among the internal optical modes of each resonator. Interestingly, we find that the uniform coupling profile is not required to achieve HOEPs in this system---a feature that implies the emergence of HOEPs from disorder and provides resilience against some fabrication errors. Our results are confirmed by using full-wave simulations based on Maxwell's equation in realistic optical material systems.
Grey to green: Tracing the path to environmental transformation and regeneration of a major industrial city

Abstract The current study investigates the environmental transformation of Chattanooga, a city imbued with environmental paradoxes, in the context of turning points and trajectories. The research analyses events beginning the industrial prominence of Chattanooga in the post-World War era, environmental decay in the late 1960s and early 1970s, to the present day ‘green’ economy. Twenty five key informants were interviewed one-onone. Data was corroborated with review of documents and archival records, and field observations. Findings show distinct trajectories and turning points in the city's environmental history, backed by key decisions that helped transform reliance on heavy manufacturing to environmentally cleaner industries and a thriving service industry. The study captures urban resilience and the power of citizen visioning and community engagement. Lessons could be used to inform United States' rustbelt cities that have the same natural endowments and are still struggling to revitalize themselves socioeconomically.