cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NO-donating aspirin inhibits angiogenesis by suppressing VEGF expression in HT-29 human colon cancer mouse xenografts

The inhibitory effect of NO-donating aspirin (NO-ASA) on colon cancer has been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro but its mechanism is still obscure. We investigated the effect of NO-ASA on angiogenesis. Four groups of athymic mice (N = 12) bearing subcutaneous xenotransplants of HT-29 human colon cancer cells were injected intratumorally twice a week for 3 weeks with vehicle or m-NO-ASA or p-NO-ASA; the fourth group received no injections. The necrotic area of tumors, expressed as percentage of total area, was similar in the non-injected and vehicle-injected groups (51.8 +/- 2.8 versus 52.2 +/- 4.1, P > 0.05; mean +/- SEM for these and subsequent values). Compared with the vehicle group, the necrotic area of tumors was higher in the m-NO-ASA-treated (61.0 +/- 2.7, P < 0.02) and p-NO-ASA (65.8 +/- 2.4, P < 0.001)-treated groups. NO-ASA decreased microvessel density: vehicle = 11.7 +/- 0.8; m-NO-ASA = 7.8 +/- 0.6 (P = 0.0003 versus vehicle) and p-NO-ASA 6.2 +/- 0.7 (P = 0.0001 versus vehicle). The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was significantly reduced in response to NO-ASA, with the p- isomer being more potent than the m-. NO-ASA altered the spatial distribution of VGEF expression, with 16.7% of the vehicle-treated xenografts displaying diminished VEGF in the inner region of the area between necrosis and the outer perimeter of the tumor, compared with those treated with m- (58.3%) or p-NO-ASA (75%, P < 0.01 for both versus control). Our findings indicate that NO-ASA suppresses the expression of VEGF, which leads to suppressed angiogenesis. The antiangiogenic activity of NO-ASA may be part of its antineoplastic effect.
Reporting Tendencies Underlie Discrepancies Between Implicit and Explicit Measures of Self-Esteem

The assumption that implicit measures assess associations that are not accessible to consciousness abounds in current social cognition research. In the present report, we question this assumption, focusing on the construct of implicit self-esteem as a case in point. Although researchers often argue that implicitly measured self-esteem is unconscious, we provide evidence that it is not, and that discrepancies between implicit and explicit measures of self-esteem are the result of reporting tendencies. Study 1 demonstrated that individuals for whom explicitly measured self-esteem is relatively high and implicitly measured self-esteem is relatively low admit to overpresenting themselves. In Study 2, implicit and explicit measures of self-esteem were related when subjects were urged to avoid over- or underpresenting themselves when responding to the explicit measures. We discuss the critical distinction between awareness of one's attitudes and awareness of their influence.
A soft systems approach to input distribution estimation for a non-stationary demand process

A soft systems methodology is undertaken to develop a design for a communications system to support a political campaign. The focus is on the methodology to estimate an input distribution for a SLAM-based simulation model. Two problems-the lack of referent system data and the expectation of non-stationary system demand-indicate a need for a soft systems approach. The results of this study suggest that the approach is effective for estimating an input distribution for simulation analysis. The case provides an example of the contrast between the soft systems and hard systems approaches.
A Brief History of Reference Assessment: No Easy Solutions

The author discusses the different methods of reference assessment that have been tried in libraries over the years to help improve service, justify the existence of the service itself, train new staff, and counter declining statistics.
Cellular Transcription Factors Sp1 and Sp3 Suppress Varicella-Zoster Virus Origin-Dependent DNA Replication

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) origin of DNA replication (oriS) contains a 46-bp AT-rich palindrome and three consensus binding sites for the VZV origin binding protein (OBP) encoded by VZV ORF51. All three OBP binding sites are upstream of the palindrome in contrast to the sequence of the herpes simplex virus oriS, which has required OBP binding sites upstream and downstream of the AT-rich region. We are investigating the roles that sequences downstream of the palindrome play in VZV oriS-dependent DNA replication. Computer analysis identified two GC boxes, GC box 1 and GC box 2, in the downstream region which were predicted to be binding sites for the cellular transcription factor Sp1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and supershift assays showed that two members of the Sp family (Sp1 and Sp3) stably bind to GC box 1, but not to GC box 2. A predicted binding site for the cellular factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) that overlaps with GC box 2 was also identified. Supershift and mutational analyses confirmed the binding of YY1 to this site. Mutation of GC box 1 resulted in loss of Sp1 and Sp3 binding and an increase in origin-dependent replication efficiency in DpnI replication assays. In contrast, mutation of the YY1 site had a statistically insignificant effect. These results suggest a model where origin-dependent DNA replication and viral transcription are coupled by the binding of Sp1 and Sp3 to the downstream region of the VZV replication origin during lytic infection. They may also have implications regarding establishment or reactivation of viral latency.
The Goodness of Fit of the Maximum-Likelihood Estimation Procedure in Factor Analysis

Several goodness of fit measures for factor analysis were applied to the results of maximum-likelihood factor analyses of data with known factors. Results showed that p was a fairly good measure of the degree to which the factor analytic model held in the population, although some values were large for smaller sample sizes. Two measures, c and r, were used to compare the obtained sample factors with the population factors. These measures could be used in confirmatory studies, when an hypothesized factor matrix could be written down. They showed that fairly good agreement with an hypothesis can be obtained, even when the factor analytic model does not exactly hold in the population. This would require that the investigator have a large sample size, variables with high communalities, and a low ratio of number of factors to number of variables.
Cervical tuberculosis: a decision tree for protecting healthcare workers.

Objectives/Hypothesis: The clinical presentation of cervical tuberculosis (TB) is a unique challenge to the otolaryngologist. To minimize the risk of nosocomial transmission, otolaryngologists must suspect the diagnosis and be familiar with recommendations for TB prevention. Study Design: Scientific review. Methods: We review current literature and recent changes in TB prevention strategies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Health-Care Settings, 2005.” Results: Nosocomial transmission may occur from either unrecognized pulmonary disease or from aerosolization of tubercle bacilli during diagnostic procedures. History of prior TB infection, residence in a country where TB is endemic, close contact with a TB patient, or positive tuberculin skin test should raise suspicion of cervical TB. Physical examination findings may include painless, unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Children and human immunodeficiency virus infected patients present unique challenges, as these groups may have atypical presentations. When cervical TB is suspected, the provider should always screen for pulmonary and laryngeal disease. Fine needle aspiration with polymerase chain reaction or culture may accurately identify cervical TB. In rare cases, excisional biopsy may be required. Conclusions: To facilitate interpretation and rapid diagnosis while minimizing risk to health care providers, we provide a decision tree based on new federal guidelines and the clinical experience of a team of infectious disease specialists and otolaryngologists.
Papers Societal Sources of Polish Renewal

The article analyses the social forces and processes which have led to recent developments in Poland, i.e. social crisis and the emergence of Solidarity. Arguments focus on responses to the cycles ...
Convergence, Polarization, or What?: Racially Based Changes in Attitudes and Outlooks, 1964–1984

Wilson (1978, 1987) argues that since the 1960s, race has become a less important determinant of the life chances and outlooks of individual blacks than has sociocconomic status; moreover, he sugge...
Extracoelomic approach to the spine

A modified transthoracic approach to the thoracic vertebral column is described. In this method, the parietal pleura is detached from the chest wall and retracted with the visceral pleura and its contents. A direct approach to the vertebral bodies is thus achieved without transgression of the intrapleural space. The technique can be extended to include exposure of the thoracolumbar spinal column, utilising a thoracoabdominal approach with extrapleural and extraperitoneal dissection. Management of the costophrenic detachment is thus simplified. This approach has significant advantages for orthopaedic, vascular and neurosurgical procedures.
EARLY ONSET OF INCUBATION BY WOOD DUCKS

Abstract I examined onset of incubation in Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) and evaluated the hypotheses that early onset improves hatchability, reduces brood parasitism, and shortens incubation periods. Most (21 of 22) females began incubating at night, a median of 4 days before egg laying ended. Nocturnal incubation bouts began 18 min before sunset, ended 15 min before sunrise, lasted 732 min each night, and totaled 47.2 hr before egg-laying ended (means). Nocturnal incubation did not begin earlier in the egg-laying period as the breeding season progressed, as would be expected if it improved hatchability of first-laid eggs. Early onset of incubation did not reduce brood parasitism. Females ended nocturnal incubation 35 min before egg laying began, the number of nights of incubation was not related to the number of parasitic eggs laid, and most (83%) nests were parasitized. In support of the third hypothesis, egg-laying females spending more nights incubating had somewhat shorter incubation periods. Inicio Tempr...
The Nature, Efficacy, and Future of Behavioral Treatments for Arthritis

The chapter reviews the historical context for the development and implementation of behavioral interventions for arthritis. The allied fields of health psychology and behavioral medicine have provided an appropriate conceptual foundation for understanding psychosocial influences on health outcomes and for the development of behavioral interventions for the management of chronic illness. This chapter summarizes the evidence for the efficacy of behavioral interventions in arthritis, showing that such interventions produce salutary changes across a range of clinical outcomes. The chapter addresses the importance of identifying mechanisms underlying the efficacy of behavioral interventions and the need for conceptual and statistical approaches that promote an understanding of mechanisms of change. Finally, the chapter discusses way of fostering better integration of psychosocial care in the clinic setting and the need for more efficient and effective collaborative frameworks between behavioral medicine professionals and the rheumatology health professionals.
Structural Aspects of Lock-Strip Gasket Glazing

Correlation studies between mock-up tests of lock-strip gasketed walls and unit push-out tests indicate a basis of developing an engineering approach to structural design paralleling the structural design procedures used for selecting glass. An exploration of the application of a lock-strip gasket for solar collectors suggests that design criteria should be determined from a statistical study of solar-climatic weather data. Further, the application of the unit-test approach will permit preliminary evaluation of new design concepts.
Self-assembly studies on triazolepolycarbodiimide-g-polystyrene copolymers

Abstract We report here the formation of polycarbodiimide-g-polystyrene copolymer secondary structures, i.e. nano-rings, “craters”, and spherical particles, resulted from dewetting phenomena that have been corroborated by combination of tapping mode AFM, SEM, DLS, and powder XRD techniques. These morphological findings represent certain interest in the area of novel functional materials. Well-defined ring-like aggregates are believed to be the transition motifs arising due to the concentration changes and, therefore, mainly seen when diluted CHCl3 stock solutions were used for AFM specimen preparation. Applying more polar THF or THF/EtOH (25% by volume) solvent systems influenced aggregation of grafted copolymers into spherical motifs with a particle size dependent on concentration that was also confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies in solution. Characterization performed by electron microscopy techniques (SEM and TEM) provides evidence that AFM-observed morphologies do exist beyond the thin film phase and XRD findings are suggestive that non-covalent interactions of macromolecules play an important role in their self-organization in solid state.
Deposition of Titanium Oxide Films from Metal-Organic Precursor by Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition

Titanium oxide thin films were deposited at room temperature by the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (ECR-PACVD) method. Effects of deposition temperature, microwave power and plasma gas pressure were investigated. Both Ar and O 2 plasma were used to deposit films from titanium isopropoxide (Ti(OC 3 H 7 ) 4 ) precursor. Transparent titanium oxide films were obtained with O 2 plasma. Refractive index and thickness were measured by ellipsometry and the films were characterized by x-ray diffraction.
On Pedagogy, Trauma and Difficult Memory: Remembering Namatjira, Our Beloved

One of the projects engaged in within the text Rethinking Indigenous Education (RIE) (McConaghy, 2000) was an analysis of the colonial regimes that are reproduced within Indigenous education, often despite our emancipatory intentions. Through a detailed critique of the various competitions for epistemic authority in the field, the book explores the structural processes by which certain knowledges are legitimated as 'truths' and the material and symbolic effects of these.The focus of the book was on the imagined worlds of various traditions of knowing Indigenous education and their claims to authority. It was a 'how' rather than a 'who' story that dealt with theoretical assumptions, broad-brush policy and curriculum inquiry and that attempted to avoid the identity politics that had gripped Indigenous education for more than a decade. Importantly the book also suggested that rather than being cumulative, critique is a process that needs to be ongoing, done again and again. This paper, Remembering Namatjira, has sought to move beyond the main projects of RIE, many of them structural in nature, to an analysis of more intimate aspects of Indigenous education. It addresses some of the 'who' issues, not in terms of representation politics,who can know and speak what,but in terms of the psychic difficulties that we attach to knowledge in Indigenous education.Whereas RIE drew upon postcolonial and feminist insights, this paper considers the contribution of psychoanalysis to thinking through some of the more intractable issues that remain unexamined or under-examined in the field. Among the issues addressed are the fundamental dilemmas around our ambivalences in education; the notion of pedagogical force (and transferences, resistances and obstacles to learning); the work of ethical witnessing; and issues of difficult knowledge, or knowledge and memories that we cannot bear to know. Central to the work of rethinking Indigenous education again, in moving beyond deconstruction, is the process of making meaning out of the ruins of our lovely knowledges (Britzman, 2003), our comfort knowledges, about what should be done in Indigenous education.
Effect of Hot Rolled Microstructure on Mechanical Properties of High Strength Cold Rolled TRIP Steel

The effect of hot rolled microstructure on the final microstructure and mechanical properties of the cold rolled TRIP steel containing Al was investigated by means of scanning electron microscope(SEM),X-ray-diffraction(XRD)and tensile test.Three different kinds of microstructure,fine grains F+B+P,F+P and F+B,were obtained under different cooling processes.After heat treatment,the fine grains sample contained granular bainite and a fewretained austenite.The tensile strength of the sample was 996 MPa and the elongation was 20.8%.The microstructure of other two samples was polygonal ferrite,granular bainite and some retained austenite.The elongation reached up to 29.4% and the strength-ductility balance of 26 812.8 MPa·% were obtained for F+B sample.The band structure of F+P sample was hard to eliminate after heat treating,which was harmful to final mechanical properties.
Product Quality Control Strategy in Three-Echelon Supply Chain under the Condition of Two Incentive Policies

Based on four-stage Stackelberg game theory,how to design product quality control strategy in the three-echelon supply chain is studied.A game model which composed by manufacture,retailers and customers is constracfed.The manufacture will make the product quality decision(high product quality or low product quality),the retailers will make the product purchasing decision and retail pricing decision,and the customers will make ordering quantities decision.When the retailers purchase high quality product,the manufacture will provide price discount strategy.When the retailers purchase low quality product,the manufacture will provide delay payment strategy.Optimization theory is used to solve the manufacture's product quality level,price discount,delay payment period,retailer's retailing price,customer's ordering quantities and expected profits function.The results of a numerical example show that: the retailing price of high product quality has a more decreasing according to price discount,the retailing price of low product quality has a more decreasing according to delay payment period;when the manufacture provide price discount much more and delay payment period much longer,the manufacture's expected profits will reduce,retailer's expected profits will increase,customer's ordering quantities will also increase;the manufacture's joint expected profits are inverse U-shaped.The maximum expected profits and contract parameters are solved,which demonstrate that the product quality control strategy is effective.
Cloacal and Urogenital Abnormalities Induced by Etretinate in Mice

AbstractEtretinate, a synthetic retinoid, is a potent teratogen. It has previously been shown that acute exposure of gestational day 8 (equivalent to human week 4 post-fertilization) C57BL/6J mouse embryos to this retinoid results in a spectrum of abnormalities that are recognized as constituting caudal regression (dysgenesis). These defects, which include spina bifida, imperforate anus, genitourinary anomalies, omphalocele and limb anomalies, result from a major insult to the primitive streak, that is the gastrulation process. Developmental stages present early on gestational day 9 in mice represent the final stages during which the primitive streak contributes to the trunk of the embryo and, therefore, the last opportunity for abnormalities within the realm of caudal regression to be induced. In fact, acute etretinate exposure on gestational day 9 resulted in anal and urethral atresia, bladder and ureteral dilatation, and tail deficiencies as observed in 251 near-term fetuses in this study. To examine i...
The North Atlantic Oscillation as a driver of rapid climate change in the Northern Hemisphere

The North Atlantic Oscillation has varied markedly on multidecadal timescales. Analyses of climate simulations show that these variations have contributed to Arctic sea ice loss, Northern Hemisphere warming and tropical storm activity.
Life Science Venture Formulation: A Review and an Outline of a Resource-Based Future

Life science firms compete in rapidly changing environments that demand substantial resources and capabilities. Nevertheless, there are a growing number of small life science firms, and these firms are having a profound impact on innovation in the industry. However, little is known on how these firms overcome resource constraints to finance and develop R&D resources and capabilities. The purpose of this paper is to help fill this gap by exhaustively reviewing the literature on the development of life science ventures. More specifically, this paper reviews and links together the work done on on the topic and offers future research directions.
Operation of a 1.5-MW, 110-GHz gyrotron depressed collector experiment

We report results from a 1.5 MW, 110 GHz gyrotron experiment. Operating in three microsecond pulses at 96 kV and 40 A, 1.4 MW was obtained in the TE/sub 22,6/ mode when power was taken along the axis. New results with an internal mode converter and depressed collector are presented.
Enhancing Ensemble Learners with Data Sampling on High-Dimensional Imbalanced Tweet Sentiment Data

High dimensionality and class imbalance are two important concerns when training tweet sentiment classifiers. Feature selection techniques reduce dimensionality by selecting an optimal subset of features. Class imbalance can be addressed by either using classifiers that are robust to the impact of class imbalance, such as those trained with an ensemble learning technique, or by using data sampling techniques to create a sampled training set with a more balanced class ratio. These separate techniques can be combined together to address both class imbalance and high-dimensionality; however, it is unclear if it is necessary to use data sampling and ensemble techniques together as both are used to target class imbalance. In our study, we investigate if the addition of random undersampling to Select-Boost (feature selection and boosting) significantly improves the performance of sentiment classifiers trained on imbalanced tweet data. We evaluate classifiers trained using four base learners and three feature subset sizes across two highly dimensional imbalanced datasets. Our results show, for tweet sentiment, the inclusion of random undersampling significantly improves classification performance and indicates this may be more noticeable on datasets with greater levels of class imbalance.
The logarithmic and power law behaviors of the accelerating, turbulent thermal boundary layer

Direct numerical simulation of spatially evolving thermal turbulent boundary layers with strong favorable pressure gradient (FPG) shows that the thermal fluctuation intensity, θ′+ and the Reynolds shear stress, u′v′¯+ exhibit a logarithmic behavior spanning the meso-layer (e.g., 50≤y+≤170). However, the mean thermal profile is not logarithmic even in the zero pressure gradient (ZPG) region; instead, it follows a power law. The maxima of u′2¯+ and v′θ′¯+ change little with the strength of acceleration, while v′+, w′+, and u′v′¯+ continue to decay in the flow direction. Furthermore, θ′+ and u′θ′¯+ surprisingly experience changes from constants in ZPG to sharp rises in the FPG region. Such behavior appears to be due to squashing of the streaks which decreases the streak flank angle below the critical value for “transient growth” generation of streamwise vortices, shutting down production [W. Schoppa and F. Hussain, “Coherent structure generation near-wall turbulence,” J. Fluid Mech. 453, 57–108 (2002)]. The ...
Mechanisms Underlying HIV-Associated Noninfectious Lung Disease

Pulmonary disease remains a primary source of morbidity and mortality in persons living with HIV (PLWH), although the advent of potent combination antiretroviral therapy has resulted in a shift from predominantly infectious to noninfectious pulmonary complications. PLWH are at high risk for COPD, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer even in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy. The underlying mechanisms of this are incompletely understood, but recent research in both human and animal models suggests that oxidative stress, expression of matrix metalloproteinases, and genetic instability may result in lung damage, which predisposes PLWH to these conditions. Some of the factors that drive these processes include tobacco and other substance use, direct HIV infection and expression of specific HIV proteins, inflammation, and shifts in the microbiome toward pathogenic and opportunistic organisms. Further studies are needed to understand the relative importance of these factors to the development of lung disease in PLWH.
Configurable Clouds

Hyperscale datacenter providers have struggled to balance the growing need for specialized hardware with the economic benefits of homogeneity. The Configurable Cloud datacenter architecture introduces a layer of reconfigurable logic (FPGAs) between the network switches and servers. This enables line-rate transformation of network packets, acceleration of local applications running on the server, and direct communication among FPGAs, at datacenter scale. This low latency, ubiquitous communication enables deployment of hardware services spanning any number of FPGAs to be used and shared quickly and efficiently by services of any scale throughout the datacenter. The authors deploy this design over a production server bed and show how it can be used to accelerate applications that were explicitly ported to FPGAs and support hardware-first services. It can even accelerate applications without any application-specific FPGA code being written. The Configurable Cloud architecture has been deployed at hyperscale in Microsoft's production datacenters worldwide.
Heterolytic H-H and H-B Bond Cleavage Reactions of {(IPr)Ni(μ-S)}2.

Kinetic and DFT computational studies reveal that the reaction of {(IPr)Ni(μ-S)}2 (1, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) with dihydrogen to produce {(IPr)Ni(μ-SH)}2 (2) proceeds by rate-limiting heterolytic addition of H2 across a Ni–S bond of intact dinuclear 1, followed by cis/trans isomerization at Ni and subsequent H migration from Ni to S, to produce the bis-hydrosulfide product 2. Complex 1 reacts in a similar manner with pinacolborane to produce {(IPr)Ni}2(μ-SH)(μ-SBPin) (3), showing that heterolytic activation by this nickel μ-sulfide complex can be generalized to other H–E bonds.
Responses to light in two blind cave fishes (Amblyopsis spelaea and Typhlichthys subterraneus) (Pisces: Amblyopsidae)

Explanations for the phenotypical features resulting from colonization of subterranean environments have always been a source of controversy. Although a great number of cave organisms are blind, they nevertheless display responses to light. The interpretation of this phototactic responsiveness in cave-dwelling animals may provide clues on the general issue of evolution of behavior in parallel with specialized structures. We studied the phototactic responses in two amblyopsid fishes of North America and found responses to light only in the species reported to have a functional pineal organ. Our findings are consistent with the hypotheses that (1) adaptation to the cave environment is a gradual process and (2) responsiveness to light in cave fishes may best be understood as a relict character, one that exists in an environment where it may never be expressed.
Challenges of Management and Modeling

To date, watershed management groups do not generally use simulation modeling. This chapter explores general ideas about modeling, how modeling is related to data collection, and under what conditions modeling can be cost effective. Justification for not using a model in a particular situation may be found here, but the chapter also encourages exploration of potentials of simulation modeling.
Genetic Regulation of Cytokinin Metabolism in Phaseolus Tissue Cultures

The regulatory mechanisms controlling hormonal metabolism play a central role in plant development. For normal development to occur, hormone levels appropriate to each tissue at each stage of development must be maintained. Mutations affecting the metabolism of particular plant hormones and resulting in various developmental abnormalities have been described, but the genetic controls operating on hormonal metabolism have not been extensively investigated and are likely to be complex.
Mathematical Issues in Loop Quantum Cosmology

Focusing on mathematical aspects, this article gives a review of loop quantum cosmology as an application of background independent quantization techniques to cosmological models. Mathematical issues arise at two different levels. First, the kinematical basis of loop quantum cosmology is derived as an induced representation of loop quantum gravity. The discrete spatial geometry exhibited by quantum gravity as a consequence of the loop quantization is then realized also in cosmological models. Dynamical equations formulated in such models are difference rather than differential equations, whose analysis provides the second class of mathematical applications. Suitable solutions display typical features in quantum regimes, where they can resolve classical space-time singularities, but should also approach semiclassical behavior in classical regimes. Such solutions can be found using generating function or continued fraction techniques. Semiclassical behavior and corrections to the classical one are derived using effective equations which approximate partial difference equations by ordinary differential equations.
HARPACTICOID COPEPODS ASSOCIATED WITH HERMIT CRABS IN THE MOLUCCAS

Paguridea in the Indo-Pacific have 10 harpacticoid copepod associates: 3 Sunaristes, 3 Brianola, 1 Porcellidium, and 3 Paraidya. Four of these copepods are reported from hermit crabs in the Moluccas: Sunaristes tranteri Hamond, 1973, from Dardanus guttatus, Dardanus lagopodes, Calcinus latens, Calcinus minutus, Calcinus gaimardi, Calcinus sp., and Trizopagurus strigatus; Porcellidium brevicaudatum Thompson and A. Scott, 1903, from Dardanus guttatus, Dardanus lagopodes, Dardanus megistos, Calcinus latens, Calcinus minutus and Trizopagurus strigatus; Paraidya minor Sewell, 1940, and Paraidya major Sewell, 1940, from Dardanus guttatus, Dardanus lagopodes, and Dardanus megistos.
Modeled exposure to tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water and the occurrence of birth defects: a case-control study from Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Residents of Massachusetts and Rhode Island were exposed to tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water from 1968 through the early 1990s when it leached from the vinyl lining of asbestos cement water distribution pipes. While occupational exposure to solvents during pregnancy has consistently been linked to an increased risk of certain birth defects, mixed results have been observed for environmental sources of exposure, including contaminated drinking water. The present case-control study was undertaken to examine further the association between prenatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water and the risk of central nervous system defects, oral clefts and hypospadias. Cases were comprised of live- and stillborn infants delivered between 1968 and 1995 to mothers who resided in 28 Massachusetts and Rhode Island cities and towns with some PCE-contaminated water supplies. Infants with central nervous system defects (N = 268), oral clefts (N = 112) and hypospadias (N = 94) were included. Controls were randomly selected live-born, non-malformed infants who were delivered during the same period and geographic area as cases (N = 771). Vital records and self-administered questionnaires were used to gather identifying information, birth defect diagnoses, and other relevant data. PCE exposure during the first trimester was estimated using water distribution system modeling software that incorporated a leaching and transport model. Prenatal PCE exposure was dichotomized as “high” or “low” exposure at the level corresponding to an estimated average concentration of 40 μg/L, the criterion for remediation when PCE contamination was discovered in 1980. Mothers with “high” levels of exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water during the first trimester (> 40 μg/L) had increased odds of having a child with spina bifida (OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 0.8–5.4), cleft lip with or without cleft palate (OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.2–12.3) and hypospadias (OR: 2.1, 95% CI:0.5–8.3). No increases in the odds of other defects were observed in relation to “high” exposure levels. The results of the present study suggest that mothers with “high” PCE exposure levels during the first trimester have increased odds of having a child with spina bifida, cleft lip with or without cleft palate, and hypospadias. These findings support several prior studies that observed an increased risk of selected birth defects following prenatal exposure to solvents in occupational and environmental settings. Even though PCE contamination from vinyl lined pipes was remediated many years ago, it remains a widespread contaminant across the U.S and so environmental regulations must be guided by a precautionary perspective that safeguards pregnant women and their offspring.
Comprehensive molecular profiling of pretreatment metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC): Secondary data from NCI 9012, a randomized ETS fusion-stratified phase II trial.

e16038 Background: Robust molecular subtypes have been identified in castration resistant prostate cancers (CRPC), including those that harbor ETS gene fusions. Preclinical studies suggest that tum...
Teaching Students to Write to Change the World

Research Question/Hypothesis:Opinion editorial writing remains a critical medium for sharing ideas and influence public dialogue. While more academics and health professionals are being encouraged to write opinion editorials, gaps remain in training students on this form of writing. Study context/student population and course:Undergraduate social work and/or public health students (N=27) enrolled in a social determinants of health course were assigned to write an opinion editorial on a social determinant of health. Methodological approach and methods:Over a 6-week period, students chose their topic, drafted sections of their opinion editorials, conducted peer review, and submitted for final grades. Students were instructed on audience engagement, providing evidence, providing counter-arguments, tying in their piece with a current news cycle, and providing relevant policy recommendations. Summary of results:The most frequent topics were discrimination and health, neighborhoods and health, and social isolation and health. Students demonstrated mastery with audience engagement. Two students published their pieces in local newspapers. Most students struggled with counter-arguments and policy recommendations.
Theorising the political economy of dams: towards a research agenda

The politics of dams has been analysed from a range of disciplinary perspectives – including comparative politics, international relations, political economy and political ecology – and at varying levels – international, national and local. This paper provides a critical review of this literature, highlighting key research themes and gaps in current analysis as a means of developing a broad framework and research agenda for the FutureDAMS project. This framework emphasises the importance of integrating material and ideational drivers of dams across multiple levels of analysis. Much valuable work has been done on the international politics of dams and the micro-politics of displacement and resistance to dam construction. However, a comparatively neglected area of study – particularly where the recent dam boom in developing countries is concerned – is to link these transnational and micro-political processes to national-level decision making. To this end, the paper proposes a central concern with such national-level processes, including process tracing decision making, the distributional politics of energy, the development of bureaucratic and technical capacity to carry out dam projects and the companies contracted to build, assess and design dams.
Allocation Decision: A Teaching Case for Accounting Classes

This paper presents a teaching case for use in several possible accounting classes. The case deals with the allocation of investment income among different segments of a nonprofit entity. Students are given the opportunity to determine if a proposed allocation is appropriate or to suggest a different allocation. In either case, students are expected to justify their responses. This case allows students to do some allocation calculations and to think critically to evaluate the proposed or alternative allocations.
On the condition number of the critically-scaled Laguerre Unitary Ensemble

We consider the Laguerre Unitary Ensemble (aka, Wishart Ensemble) of sample covariance matrices $A = XX^*$, where $X$ is an $N \times n$ matrix with iid standard complex normal entries. Under the scaling $n = N + \lfloor \sqrt{ 4 c N} \rfloor$, $c > 0$ and $N \rightarrow \infty$, we show that the rescaled fluctuations of the smallest eigenvalue, largest eigenvalue and condition number of the matrices $A$ are all given by the Tracy--Widom distribution ($\beta = 2$). This scaling is motivated by the study of the solution of the equation $Ax=b$ using the conjugate gradient algorithm, in the case that $A$ and $b$ are random: For such a scaling the fluctuations of the halting time for the algorithm are empirically seen to be universal.
Technocracy, Trust and Democracy: Evidence on Citizens’ Attitudes from a Natural Experiment in Italy

During the eurozone crisis, technocratic governments were appointed in several eurozone countries, becoming in the eyes of many the embodiment of the EU's democratic deficit. In spite of the central place that these technocratic governments occupy in the scholarly debate, however, we have remarkably little evidence on Europeans’ attitudes towards technocracy, and technocratic governments are under-studied from an empirical standpoint. We contribute to the very limited empirical literature on this topic by using a novel natural experiment design, in the context of the 2011 Italian crisis that led to the appointment of the Monti technocratic cabinet. We hypothesize that the effect of technocratic appointments on citizens’ satisfaction with democracy is a priori uncertain, and it depends on the balance of a trade-off between reduced input participation and increased output effectiveness. Overall, the results point to citizens’ attitudes towards technocracy being more complex than often assumed in the debate.
Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical factors associated with low atrial fibrillation knowledge among older adults with atrial fibrillation: The SAGE-AF study

Abstract Background Management of AF requires patient engagement in disease management which requires adequate knowledge about AF. Objective To identify the patient characteristics associated with low AF knowledge among older adults with AF. Methods The SAGE-AF cohort enrolled adults aged ≥65 diagnosed with AF in 2016−2018. Patient characteristics associated with low AF knowledge ( Results Participants (N = 950) were on average 74 years old (SD: 6.7), 50 % female, and 87 % non-Hispanic white. The average JAKQ score was 68.7 (SD: 17.1), and 78 % had low AF knowledge. Participants aged ≥ 75 (OR: 1.55, 95 % CI: 1.03, 2.33), without a college degree (OR: 0.46, 95 % CI: 0.32, 0.65), cognitively impaired (OR: 1.72, 95 % CI: 1.15, 2.58), with a history of anxiety (OR: 1.76, 95 % CI: 1.09, 2.83), myocardial infarction (OR: 1.82, 95 % CI: 1.08, 3.07), and heart failure (OR: 1.84, 95 % CI: 1.16, 2.91) were more likely to have low AF knowledge. Practice implications Characteristics available in the electronic medical record may identify patients at risk for low AF knowledge. Formal assessment of AF knowledge may identify areas of weakness and allow for targeted education.
Dolores Huerta, the United Farm Workers, and people power: Rhetorical participation in Latina/o/x suffrage and social movements

Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, was and still is involved in a number of social justice causes, including voter participation. Since her days working at the Community S...
Absorption of the Linear Polarization of the Galactic Background Radiation by the $\lambda$21-cm Line of HI

Absorption lines at $\lambda$ 21-cm are detected in the Stokes Q and U components of the Galactic synchrotron background. The lower limit distance implied for the emission region is 2 kpc in the direction (l,b) = (329.5$^{\circ}$,+1.15$^{\circ}$). The Australia Telescope Compact Array has the capability of mapping this absorption over large areas of the Galactic plane. Observations like these have the potential to reveal the three dimensional structure of the Galactic synchrotron emission throughout the Milky Way disk.
Sorcery and well-being: bodily transformation at Beckeranta

This paper examines bodily transformation and well-being within the context of a millenarian movement that emerged during the 1840s in the area surrounding Mount Roraima at the periphery of Brazil,...
Impact of 16 O(e ,e ' α ) 12 C measurements on the 12 C(α ,γ ) 16 O astrophysical reaction rate

The $^{12}\mathrm{C}(\ensuremath{\alpha},\ensuremath{\gamma})^{16}\mathrm{O}$ reaction, an important component of stellar helium burning, plays a key role in nuclear astrophysics. It has direct impact on the evolution and final state of massive stars, while also influencing the elemental abundances resulting from nucleosynthesis in such stars. Providing a reliable estimate for the energy dependence of this reaction at stellar helium burning temperatures has been a major goal for the field. In this work, we study the role of potential new measurements of the inverse reaction, $^{16}\mathrm{O}(\ensuremath{\gamma},\ensuremath{\alpha})^{12}\mathrm{C}$, in reducing the overall uncertainty. A multilevel $R$-matrix analysis is used to make extrapolations of the astrophysical $S$ factor for this reaction to the stellar energy of 300 keV. The statistical precision of the $S$-factor extrapolation is determined by performing multiple fits to existing $E1$ and $E2$ ground-state capture data, including the impact of possible future measurements of the $^{16}\mathrm{O}(\ensuremath{\gamma},\ensuremath{\alpha})^{12}\mathrm{C}$ reaction. In particular, we consider a proposed Jefferson Laboratory (JLab) experiment that will make use of a high-intensity low-energy bremsstrahlung beam that impinges on an oxygen-rich single-fluid bubble chamber in order to measure the total cross section for the inverse reaction. The importance of low-energy data as well as high-precision data is investigated.
Stentectomy for LAD "full metal jacket" with in-stent restenosis: How to do it.

We report our technique for the surgical revascularization of symptomatic severe in-stent restenosis of a "full metal jacket" (≥60 mm overlapping stents) of the left anterior descending coronary artery without suitable distal targets: on-pump cardioplegic-arrest stent removal (stentectomy) with endarterectomy and skeletonized left internal mammary artery onlay patch reconstruction. We also describe our follow-up protocol, including antiplatelet/anticoagulation and angiography. With proper patient selection, multidisciplinary collaboration, and surgical expertise, this advanced coronary procedure can be beneficial to a growing population of patients otherwise deemed to be untreatable.
A Constant-Area, Constant-Temperature Combustor

The theoretical performance of a piloted constant-area, constant-temperature combustor with mass addition is studied. Perpendicular injection of mass at constant injection velocity and temperature is assumed. Mixing between the injected mass and the main stream is regarded as instantaneous, and the flow is regarded as one-dimensional. The effect of chemical kinetics is considered by the use of a simple rate equation. The exit velocity corresponding to maximum throughput is found to be The combustor length required to accelerate the gases to this velocity is found to depend on the reaction rate constants, flame temperature, input flow variables, and the temperature of combustion. I t is determined that there exists a lower limit on the temperature below which the combustor is unstable.
Skeletons in the Closet: Transitional Justice in Post-Communist Europe

This book tackles three puzzles of pacted transitions to democracy. First, why do autocrats ever step down from power peacefully if they know that they may be held accountable for their involvement in the ancien regime? Second, when does the opposition indeed refrain from meting out punishment to the former autocrats once the transition is complete? Third, why, in some countries, does transitional justice get adopted when successors of former communists hold parliamentary majorities? Monika Nalepa argues that infiltration of the opposition with collaborators of the authoritarian regime can serve as insurance against transitional justice, making their commitments to amnesty credible. This explanation also accounts for the timing of transitional justice across East Central Europe. Nalepa supports her theory using a combination of elite interviews, archival evidence, and statistical analysis of survey experiments in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.
Differences in earthworm densities and nitrogen dynamics in soils under exotic and native plant species.

Previous studies of the invasion of two exotic plants – Berberis thunbergii and Microstegium vimineum – in hardwood forests of New Jersey have shown a significant increase of pH in soils under the invasive plants as compared with soils from under native shrubs (Vaccinium spp). We present a further investigation of soil properties under the exotic plants in question. We measured the densities of earthworms in the soil under the two exotics and the native shrubs in three parks in New Jersey. In the same populations we also measured the extractable ammonium and nitrate in the top 5 cm of the soil, as well as the respiration of the soils and the potential rates of mineralization (aerobic lab incubation). In addition, we measured the nitrate reductase activity in leaves of the two exotic plants and several native shrubs and trees. Although there were differences between parks, we observed significantly higher earthworm densities in the soil under the exotic species. The worms were all European species. Soil pH, available nitrate and net potential nitrification were significantly higher in soils under the two exotic species. In contrast, total soil C and N and net ammonification were significantly higher under native vegetation. Nitrate reductase activities were much higher in the leaves of exotic plants than in the leaves of native shrubs and trees. Changes in soil properties, especially the change in nitrogen cycling, associated with the invasion of these two plant species may permit the invasion of other weedy or exotic species. Our results also suggest that even if the two exotic species were removed, the restoration of the native flora might be inhibited by the high nitrate concentrations in the soil.
Child Labor in America: History, Policy and Legislative Issues

Excerpt] This report examines the historical issue of child labor in America and carries it through the 108th Congress.