cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
444 ACCEPTABILITY OF A FEMALE CONTROLLED METHOD OF HIV PROTECTION IN WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN AN ANTENATAL PROGRAM IN NAIROBI

HIV transmission through heterosexual sex increasingly predominates, with women in sub-Saharan Africa now making up the majority of people living with HIV. In many countries gender inequalities result in further economic, social, and cultural marginalization of women These factors serve to minimize the effectiveness of male controlled HIV prevention devices, such as the condom. At least 17 microbicide candidates have reached some stage of clinical testing. Although safety and efficacy are of importance, acceptability will help determine the impact that microbicides have and shape its effectiveness as a tool in prevention. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that are associated with acceptability of vaginal microbicides among women participating in an antenatal program in Nairobi. 808 women were enrolled in the study. All of those enrolled completed the enrollment questionnaire, 589 were tested for HIV, and 536 completed the two-week questionnaire. 5.6% of women replied positively when asked whether they had ever heard of substances capable of neutralizing viruses that may be applied into the vagina before intercourse (microbicides), while 94.1% replied negatively. Prior to the HIV test, 340 women were definitely willing to take part in a study that used a microbicide to test if it protects against HIV (63.3%). After testing, 66.1% of the HIV negative women were willing, while 86.8% of the HIV positive women were definitely willing (P = .009). 68.9% of women who felt like they had been at risk of HIV infection in the past year were definitely willing to take part in a study, while 61.2% of women who did not feel like they had been at risk were willing (P = .043). These results demonstrate the importance of educating women about microbicides while also indicating that women are more likely to enroll in a microbicide trial if they feel at risk for HIV or are HIV positive. Conducting public health campaigns on microbicides, including side effects and their potential effectiveness, may help to increase awareness and ultimately enhance the accuracy of acceptability studies. This would allow women that are willing to participate in a microbicide study or use microbicides to do so in an informed way.
Leukocytic pyrogen and sodium acetylsalicylate on hypothalamic neurons in the cat

Leukocytic pyrogen and sodium acetylsalicyclate (NaASA) were microinjected into the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic (PO/AH) area of cats to examine the direct effects of these agents on identified thermoregulatory neurons. The pyrogen and NaASA were administered under thermoneutral conditions to preparations that displayed peripheral or peripheral and central thermoreceptor input. The majority of neurons studied with proximate injection of pyrogen responded in a manner consistent with the set-point hypothesis; i.e., units responding to heating with increased activity were depressed and those showing a decreased discharge with the heat test were excited by the pyretic agent. Injection of NaASA without pyrogen pretreatment caused no significant modification of thermoregulatory neuron discharge in most cases. However, when NaASA was administered after pyrogen, it uniformly antagonized the pyretic effect causing a return of the discharge to the control rate. It may be concluded that pyrogen and NaASA act directly in the PO/AH area to produce fever and antipyresis, respectively, by appropriately offsetting the activity of thermoregulatory neurons.
Angiotensin II stimulation of Na(+)-H+ exchange in proximal tubule cells.

Experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) on the sodium transport activity of isolated intact rabbit proximal tubule cells. Initial rates of 22Na(+) uptake were m...
THE ECONOMICS OF TIMBER SUPPLY: AN ANALYTICAL SYNTHESIS OF MODELING APPROACHES

The joint supply of timber and other services from forest environments plays a central role in most forest land debates. This paper defines a general conceptual model of timber supply that provides the context for discussing both individual harvest choice and aggregate supply models. While the structure and breadth of these models has developed considerably over the last twenty years, unresolved issues remain. Supply formulations that account for the quality and vintage distribution of forest capital will be necessary for improving medium- and long-run forecasts. This will be especially important for examining the potential impacts of structural changes in forest production and timber markets. In addition, consistent aggregation of individual owners to total supply will be required to address changing forest land ownership patterns.
Preventing Balancing: China’s Territorial Concessions and Threat Reduction

Whether China’s rise can be peaceful or not draws a lot of attention in the study of international relations. Some argue that China’s active territorial disputes with Japan, South East Asian states and Taiwan could spark fierce conflicts in the foreseeable future. However, the fact that since 1949 China has tried to solve 15 of its 19 territorial disputes with neighbors by offering 26 concessions draws a sharp contrast with its current standing. Why China made territorial concessions instead of bargaining hard over the territory lost through “unequal treaties” is puzzling. This paper tries to answer the question for what purpose China made territorial concessions. I argue that China conceded its disputed territory in order to ameliorate the threat it imposed on neighboring states so as to avoid the latter’s direct confrontation or formation of a joint balancing coalition against China. China is able to reassure the threatened neighbors and to prevent balancing from them because territorial concession, with the feature of high cost and irreversibility, serves as a credible signal of a state’s benign intention.
Determinants of data sharing in U.S. city governments

Abstract Although the rise of big data, open government, and social media imply greater data sharing, expectations currently do not match reality as many consider data exchange in government to be inadequate. Based on prior research, Additionally, the paper distinguishes technical management capacity and technical engagement capacity effects on agencies' sharing behavior. We test hypotheses predicting sharing behavior of municipal government agencies with other agencies and with non-government organizations using data from a 2012 national survey of U.S. municipal government managers. We find that data sharing with both government and non-government organizations is more strongly determined by persuasive mechanisms and technical engagement capacity, although technical management capacity is also important for sharing with other government agencies. Conclusions provide insights for future research directions and practice.
Langmuir−Blodgett Thin Films of Fe20Pt80 Nanoparticles for the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formic Acid

The electro-oxidation of formic acid catalyzed by Fe20Pt80 nanoparticles was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) where the particles were deposited onto a gold electrode surface by the Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) technique at varied film thickness/coverage. It was found that the particle assembly thickness strongly affected the electrocatalytic activity for HCOOH oxidation. For a single monolayer and two layers of FePt particles, extensive CO adsorption (poisoning) was observed in CV measurements, whereas with a four-layer assembly of the FePt particles, the tolerance to CO poisoning improved drastically. Furthermore, from the current density for formic acid oxidation, the electrodes functionalized with LB layers of nanoparticles exhibited higher activities than those with dropcast films of similar thickness, suggesting the importance of the ordering of the particle layers in the electrocatalytic performance. The reaction kinetics in the HCOOH oxidation on the th...
Status of Antiarrhythmic Drug Development for Atrial Fibrillation New Drugs and New Molecular Mechanisms

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with a lifetime risk exceeding 20% by 80 years of age.1 AF is associated with a significant burden of morbidity and increased risk of mortality.2 Even with advances in catheter ablation procedures, antiarrhythmic drug therapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of AF both to restore and maintain sinus rhythm. However, most are of modest efficacy and have significant side effects (Table). Antiarrhythmic drug development has remained slow, despite much effort given our limited understanding of what role various ionic currents play in arrhythmogenesis and how they are modified by arrhythmias.3 In addition, potentially life-threatening hazards (proarrhythmia) and significant noncardiac organ toxicity have posed a challenge for new drug development. Multichannel blockade, atrial selectivity, and the reduction of the risk of adverse events have all constituted the main theme of modern AF drug development with a shift in emphasis to include composite clinical end points rather than arrhythmia suppression alone.4 In this article, we will focus on recent advances in drug therapy for AF, reviewing molecular mechanisms, and the possible clinical use of novel antifibrillatory agents. View this table: Table. Vaughn–Williams Classification of Currently Used Antiarrhythmic Drugs Advantages of using drug therapy over direct current cardioversion for AF include avoiding the need for general anesthesia or conscious sedation, a potentially lower risk of immediate AF recurrence and arguably reduced psychological stress for the patient.5 Ibutilide and dofetilide are currently licensed for the use in AF cardioversion, but are limited by their side effect of QT prolongation and, therefore, possible induction of Torsade de Pointes. Amiodarone and class Ic antiarrhythmics such as flecainide are also used for cardioversion, but are limited by delayed onset of action and ventricular proarrhythmia, respectively. There is therefore an unmet need to find safe and effective …
First Impressions Matter: Navigating Graphic Novels Utilizing Linguistic, Visual, and Spatial Resources.

Graphic novels in the K-12 classroom are most often used to motivate marginalized readers because of the lower text load and assumption of easy reading. This assumption has thus far been unexplored...
Food justice and municipal government in the USA

AbstractThis article examines the role of municipal food systems planning practice in the USA in advancing “food justice”. Specifically, two cases are investigated: the Puget Sound Regional Food Policy Council (PSRFPC) and the City of Seattle in western Washington state. I assess how these two planning organizations address five major contours of food justice: trauma/inequity, exchange, land, labor, and democratic process. Drawing on document analysis, observations, and interviews, I point out where each institution has made strong or tentative progress on advancing food justice, and where progress has halted. The principal aim of the article is to understand the opportunities and constraints of municipal governments in the USA in fostering food justice.
Coulomb excitation of odd-A neutron-rich π(s-d) and ν(f-p) shell nuclei

A group of odd-mass neutron-rich nuclei with neutron excesses of 9--11 in the $13l~Zl~17$ region has been produced and studied by in-beam intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation using an array of NaI(Tl) detectors. The excitation energies of the observed states in ${}^{35}\mathrm{Al},$ ${}^{37}\mathrm{Si},$ ${}^{39}\mathrm{P},$ ${}^{41}\mathrm{S},$ ${}^{43}\mathrm{S},$ and ${}^{45}\mathrm{Cl}$ have been measured, and the $B(E2)$ values connecting these states to the ground states have been extracted. For the ${}^{41}\mathrm{S}$ and ${}^{43}\mathrm{S}$ cases the measurements have been compared to particle-rotor and particle-vibrator calculations. The measurements for ${}^{41}\mathrm{S}$ are consistent with an interpretation of the low-energy behavior of this nucleus as rotations of a deformed core, whereas for ${}^{43}\mathrm{S}$ no distinction can be made between the deformed (rotational) and spherical (vibrational) calculations.
Factors Affecting Platelet Concentration in Platelet Concentrates from Canine Blood Donors.

Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.Background: Physiologic factors in dogs that might contribute to enhanced platelet yield in platelet concentrates (PCs) are largely unknown. Objective: To determine whether individual differences in weight, age, preprocessing blood chemistry, and CBC variables predict the final platelet concentrations in PCs. Our hypotheses were (1) increased lipemic indices would be positively associated with increased platelet concentrations in PCs and (2) increased preprocessing platelet concentrations would be associated with higher platelet concentrations in the PCs. Animals: All blood donation records of dogs from February 2, 2009 through April 1, 2015 at the University of California—Davis Veterinary Blood Bank were examined with 104 cases included in this study. Methods: In this retrospective study, data were collected from medical records of canine blood donors. Records were reviewed for internal consistency and accuracy and subjects were included in the study if donor screening and donation occurred on the same day and a viable PC was obtained. Univariate and multivariable regressions were used to test the impact that each variable had on the final platelet concentration in PCs. Results: Final platelet concentration in PCs was positively associated with the predonation CBC platelet values (P <.001), lipemic index (P =.01), and phosphorous levels (P =.001). Collectively these 3 variables explained 29% of the variance in platelet concentrations in PCs. Conclusions and clinical importance: Future prospective studies are required to determine if canine blood donations from dogs with lipemia yield PCs with higher platelet concentrations without negatively affecting other blood components.
Rabbit surfactant protein C: cDNA cloning and regulation of alternatively spliced surfactant protein C mRNAs.

Surfactant protein C (SP-C), a hydrophobic protein of pulmonary surfactant is essential for surfactant function. Toward elucidating molecular mechanisms that mediate regulation of SP-C gene expression in rabbit lung, we isolated and characterized cDNAs encoding rabbit SP-C and studied the regulation of SP-C gene expression during fetal lung development and by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and dexamethasone in fetal lung tissues in vitro. We found that rabbit SP-C is highly homologous to SP-C of other species and is encoded by two mRNAs that differ by an insertion of 31 nucleotides in the 3' untranslated regions. SP-C mRNAs were classified into two types based on the nucleotide sequence; type I represents RNA without the 31 nucleotide insert and comprises approximately 80–90% of total SP-C mRNA content, whereas type II represents RNA containing the insert and comprises approximately 10–20% of total SP-C mRNA content. SP-C mRNAs were induced in a coordinate manner during fetal lung development...
Reversed Heat Flux Study of Impinging-Jet Water Cooling for Helium-Cooled Finger-Type Divertors

Experimental evaluation of the thermal-hydraulic characteristics of helium-cooled divertor concepts is important in developing commercial magnetic fusion energy (MFE). Although experimental studies...
Introduction: Kant the Revolutionary

The era of German Idealism stands alongside ancient Greece and the French Enlightenment as one of the most fruitful and influential periods in the history of philosophy. Beginning with the publication of Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason in 1781 and ending about ten years after Hegel’s death in 1831, the period of “classical German philosophy” transformed whole fields of philosophical endeavor.
Satellite Investigation of the M2 Internal Tide in the Tasman Sea

AbstractThe M2 internal tide in the Tasman Sea is investigated using sea surface height measurements made by multiple altimeter missions from 1992 to 2012. Internal tidal waves are extracted by two...
Australian Leadership: Saving Lives with Crush Prevention Devices.

Abstract. The burden of injury and death due to quad bike [all-terrain vehicle, or ATV] use cannot be allowed to continue unchecked, and ongoing delay in action may permit to further avoidable tragedies.â€ —Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2016, p. 13).
MPA: Model-assisted PCB attestation via board-level RO and temperature compensation

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the most common chip carriers of modern electrical systems. Compared with integrated circuits, it is more straightforward to apply attacks such as reverse engineering, unauthorized access and tampering on PCBs. Among these attacks, tampering is a serious threat to modern electronic devices such as smart meters, digital media players, and video game consoles. By tampering a PCB, an attacker can eavesdrop and/or manipulate critical inter-component communications. In the case of home electronics, this is often done to bypass the device's copyright protection mechanisms. In this paper, a model-assisted attestation framework, MPA, is presented to mitigate these concerns. This framework exploits JTAG ports to create board-level ring oscillators which monitor critical PCB traces. The impact of temperature on the framework is also analyzed, and modeling is used to compensate for this effect. Besides the methodology, we also present the detailed hardware implementation and enrollment-detection flow in this paper. Finally, the performance of our proposed framework is validated with commercial SoCs and custom PCBs. A high detection accuracy (> 99.7%) is achieved across various testing corners.
Chemistry and Biology of Iron Storage

It is said that nearly 20% of all iron in the human organism is associated with the protein ferritin and hemosiderin, which represent the storage forms of iron. Ferritin, but not hemosiderin, is water soluble. For this reason, ferritin has been rather thoroughly characterized, whereas little information is as yet available on the properties of hemosiderin. The latter can be visualized both via the light and electron microscopes and appears in the form of granular structures. Such granules react with Perls’ solution [K4Fe(CN)6] to give the Prussian blue color. Ferritin also reacts with Perls’ solution; however, under the light microscope, ferritin appears as a diffuse blue coloration. Ferritin particles can be discerned via the electron microscope. Ferritin is present in the cytosol and the lysosomes and to a much lesser extent in other subcellular structures. All available evidence indicates that insofar as the liver is concerned, hemosiderin is normally located almost exclusively in the Kupffer cells, whereas ferritin is present largely in the parenchymal cells. Both hemosiderin and ferritin are also present in other tissues of the mammalian organism (Arora et al., 1970), and ferritin is found in both vertebrate and invertebrate animals as well as in some plants and even in microorganisms (Richter, 1978).
Influenza vaccination among veterans with spinal cord injury: Part 2. Increasing vaccination rates.

AbstractBackground/Objective: Respiratory complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Influenza vaccination is effective in reducing the likelihood of contracting influenza and of subsequent respiratory complications, hospitalizations, and deaths. Historically, vaccination rates for veterans with SCI treated in Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities have been low. The objective of this study was to increase vaccination rates in this population using a multi pronged strategy.Methods: A quasi-experimental design involving 2,2 84 veterans treated at 8 VA SCI Centers was used. Patients at 4 centers received reminder letters and educational materials tailored to SCI. Provider education included mailed reminders and posters in SCI clinical areas. Clinical champions were identified at each site. Four other centers, matched to the study sites in program size and prior vaccination rates, served as comparison sites providing usual care. Vaccination rates...
Birational Geometry of Toric Varieties

This chapter is intended as a coffee break after the previous thirteen chapters of hard work. We will just play around with the tone varieties and see all the ingredients of the Mori program at work in terms of the concrete geometry of convex cones, following the paper Reid [5]. It is more of my personal note to his beautiful paper, only to “draw legs on the picture of a snake”
Partially Averaged Navier Stokes (PANS) Method for Turbulence Simulations: Theory and Practice

Variable-resolution (VR) turbulence simulations possess ideal attributes for engineering applications as they purport to yield the best accuracy possible for any prescribed level of computational effort. However, at the current time, these accuracy-on-demand approaches are not considered theoretically rigorous. It is argued that pragmatic considerations that motivate the formulation of VR methods automatically preclude a theoretically rigorous approach. In this paper, we argue that VR approaches can be based on strong theoretical underpinnings without sacrificing numerical robustness and practical utility. We demonstrate that the partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) VR approach is based on strong physical and mathematical foundation and yet is robust enough for complex practical flows. We present important PANS theoretical attributes followed by results from complex flow computations.
Venous Thromboembolism: A Survey of Oral Anticoagulant Preferences in the Treatment of Challenging Patient Populations

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a highly morbid condition with several available oral anticoagulant treatment options. Numerous studies have been published comparing warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants; however, several populations remain underrepresented in these reports. We surveyed members of The Venous ThromboEmbolism Network U.S. working group regarding their oral anticoagulant preferences for the treatment of VTE in different and challenging populations. In individuals with VTE and no other medical comorbidities, respondents preferred either rivaroxaban (48.7%) or apixaban (48.7%). Apixaban (53.3%) was preferred in elderly individuals with an increased risk of bleeding. Warfarin was preferred in individuals with liver or kidney dysfunction (42% and 47%), altered metabolism (>55%), and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (84.2%). Low-molecular-weight heparin was preferred in individuals with malignancy (56.6%), followed by edoxaban (23.7%). These findings may help guide clinicians when choosing an anticoagulant in these challenging situations and demonstrate the urgent need for additional study in these groups.
Hormonal pleiotropy and the evolution of allocation trade‐offs

Recent empirical evidence suggests that trade-off relationships can evolve, challenging the classical image of their high entrenchment. For energy reliant traits, this relationship should depend on the endocrine system that regulates resource allocation. Here, we model changes in this system by mutating the expression and conformation of its constitutive hormones and receptors. We show that the shape of trade-offs can indeed evolve in this model through the combined action of genetic drift and selection, such that their evolutionarily expected curvature and length depend on context. In particular, the shape of a trade-off should depend on the cost associated with resource storage, itself depending on the traded resource and on the ecological context. Despite this convergence at the phenotypic level, we show that a variety of physiological mechanisms may evolve in similar simulations, suggesting redundancy at the genetic level. This model should provide a useful framework to interpret and unify the overly complex observations of evolutionary endocrinology and evolutionary ecology.
Is muscle growth a mechanism for increasing strength

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy commonly occurs with repeated bouts of resistance exercise as well as following the administration of exogenous drugs. This increase in muscle size is thought to be mechanistically important for the increase in muscle function. However, at present, there is no experimental evidence that would support any paradigm in which muscle hypertrophy is a mechanism for increasing strength with exercise. Therefore, it seems reasonable to also question the importance of changes in muscle size for changes in muscle strength (function) following exogenous drugs as well as aging, where both muscle size and strength decrease. The purpose of this paper is to discuss whether changes in muscle size contribute to changes in voluntary strength following exercise, pharmaceutical interventions, and aging. We also aim to provide potential mechanisms (central and peripheral) for the change in strength as well as outline study designs to better address this question. Herein, we suggest that there are dissociations between changes in muscle size and strength following exercise, anabolic drug administration, and aging (to a point). These dissociations occur throughout the literature, suggesting that these changes may be completely separate phenomena. We are not dismissing the potential importance of maintaining muscle mass, particularly in clinical populations. What we are suggesting, however, is that muscle function may not necessarily be improved by these exercise or pharmacological induced increases in muscle size. Exploring mechanisms and explanations beyond just changes in muscle size may improve therapy targeted at improving muscle function.
Reaction time impairments in decision-making networks as a diagnostic marker for traumatic brain injuries and neurological diseases

The presence of diffuse Focal Axonal Swellings (FAS) is a hallmark cellular feature in many neurological diseases and traumatic brain injury. Among other things, the FAS have a significant impact on spike-train encodings that propagate through the affected neurons, leading to compromised signal processing on a neuronal network level. This work merges, for the first time, three fields of study: (i) signal processing in excitatory-inhibitory (EI) networks of neurons via population codes, (ii) decision-making theory driven by the production of evidence from stimulus, and (iii) compromised spike-train propagation through FAS. As such, we demonstrate a mathematical architecture capable of characterizing compromised decision-making driven by cellular mechanisms. The computational model also leads to several novel predictions and diagnostics for understanding injury level and cognitive deficits, including a key finding that decision-making reaction times, rather than accuracy, are indicative of network level damage. The results have a number of translational implications, including that the level of network damage can be characterized by the reaction times in simple cognitive and motor tests.
Estimating the effect of hand hygiene compliance and surface cleaning timing on infection risk reductions with a mathematical modeling approach

Background Quantitative tools are needed to relate infection control interventions to infection risk reductions. Methods A model for predicting virus concentrations on hands was used to predict rotavirus, rhinovirus, and influenza A virus doses. Variability in behaviors, transfer efficiencies for various contact types, and surface areas of contact were included. Dose-response curves were used to relate estimated doses to infection risks. Percent reductions from baseline in average rotavirus, rhinovirus, and influenza A virus dose and infection risk were calculated for interventions. Results Baseline average infection risks for rotavirus, rhinovirus, and influenza A virus were 0.43, 0.20, and 5.51 × 10−6, respectively. One and 2 cleaning events decreased average viral infection risks by 6.98%-17.06% and 13.95%-34.66%, respectively. A 15% increase in hand compliance decreased average infection risks by 6.98%-20.51%. A 15% increase in hand hygiene compliance paired with 2 cleaning events decreased average infection risks by 20.93%-47.55%. Discussion This study demonstrates the infection risk benefits of combined interventions. Conclusions Models such as the one in this study could be used to optimize timing and frequency of cleaning events and to create hand hygiene compliance goals to achieve infection risk targets.
MAKNA SIMBOLIS MOTIF BARE-BARE PADA KAIN SONGKET KHAS LOMBOK KARYA RUWI DI LOMBOK TENGAH NUSA TENGGARA BARAT

Motif Bare-Bare yang bermakna kandang, dalam bahasa Indonesia berarti pelindung. Di sini menggambarkan tentang iman dan kehidupan manusia dari zaman terdahulu sampai sekarang, baik dari segi keagamaan dan sosial. Jadi Makna simbolis motif Bare-Bare adalah iman pelindung dalam kehidupan manusia. Bentuk Bare-Bare, segi enam dan diberikan sebuah bebet yang di artikan dalam hidup butuh pegangan dan benteng kehidupan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui dan menjelaskan : 1) Untuk mengetahui dan mendiskripsikan Makna Simbolis Kain Songket Motif Bare-Bare pada Kain Songket Khas Lombok Karya Ruwi di Kabupaten Lombok Tengah NTB. 2) Untuk mengetahui bagaimana proses pembuatan kain songket motif Bare-Bare pada Kain Songket Khas Lombok Karya Ruwi di Kabupaten Lombok Tengah NTB. 3) Untuk mengetahui bentuk motif Bare-Bare pada kain songket khas Lombok karya Ruwi di Kabupaten Lombok Tengah NTB. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah jenis penelitian kualitatif yaitu pengumpulan data-data yang di peroleh dan di ungkapkan dengan kata-kata dan ditulis dengan kalimat verbal. Variabelnya adalah tunggal yaitu Makna Simbolis pada kain songket khas Lombok karya Ruwi, Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah Kain Songket Khas Lombok karya Ruwi, Objek penelitian ini adalah makna simbolis motif Bare-Bare khas Lombok karya Ruwi, Adapun teknik pengumpulan datanya, melalui kepustakaan, observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Dalam penelitian ini menggunakan instrumen seperti, Questioner, kamera, tape recoder, dan laptop. Teknik analisis data dengan cara menghimpun data, mereduksi data, mengklasifikasi data, menarik kesimpulan dan menyusun laporan. Dari hasil Penelitian dapat disimpulkan: 1). Makna simbolis motif Bare-Bare adalah iman pelindung dalam kehidupan manusia. 2). Proses pembuatan kain songket motif Bare-Bare khas Lombok karya Ruwi, peralatan yang digunakan masih menggunakan alat tradisional karena proses pembuatannya masih dilakukan secara manual agar ciri khasnya terjaga. 3). Bentuk Motif Bare-Bare berbentuk geometris dan banyak memiliki makna. Kata Kunci : Makna, Simbolis, Motif, Kain Songket.
Building Blocks and Barriers to Educational Attainment and Learning in Kenyan Schools: Preserving or Changing Cultural Identity Markers

In recent decades, the world’s attention was focused on the second Millennium Development Goal (MDG2)—universal access to primary education. In Kenya, the government, like governments around the world, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries, has been building schools, training teachers, and improving learning inputs; and recently, in 2003, rolled out the Free Primary Education (FPE) policy. The new Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) has shifted focus and now emphasizes learning in schools. The debate around what translates to learning is ongoing, and important questions remain unanswered. This chapter lays out the Kenyan education system following the reforms over the years and attempts to highlight one important factor often ignored in the education space in Kenya (and more generally unexplored in Sub-Saharan Africa)—cultural practices (e.g., language, income generating activities) and gender norms.
The Dancing Cord: Inherent Spinal Cord Motion and Its Effect on Cord Dose in Spine Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

Background Spinal cord dose limits are critically important for the safe practice of spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). However, the effect of inherent spinal cord motion on cord dose in SBRT is unknown. Objective To assess the effects of cord motion on spinal cord dose in SBRT. Methods Dynamic balanced fast field echo (BFFE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained in 21 spine metastasis patients treated with SBRT. Planning computed tomography (CT), conventional static T2-weighted MRI, BFFE MRI, and dose planning data were coregistered. Spinal cord from the dynamic BFFE images (corddyn) was compared with the T2-weighted MRI (cordstat) to analyze motion of corddyn beyond the cordstat (Dice coefficient, Jaccard index), and beyond cordstat with added planning organ at risk volume (PRV) margins. Cord dose was compared between cordstat, and corddyn (Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Results Dice coefficient (0.70-0.95, median 0.87) and Jaccard index (0.54-0.90, median 0.77) demonstrated motion of corddyn beyond cordstat. In 62% of the patients (13/21), the dose to corddyn exceeded that of cordstat by 0.6% to 13.8% (median 4.3%). The corddyn spatially excursed outside the 1-mm PRV margin of cordstat in 9 patients (43%); among these dose to corddyn exceeded dose to cordstat >+ 1-mm PRV margin in 78% of the patients (7/9). Corddyn did not excurse outside the 1.5-mm or 2-mm PRV cord cordstat margin. Conclusion Spinal cord motion may contribute to increases in radiation dose to the cord from SBRT for spine metastasis. A PRV margin of at least 1.5 to 2 mm surrounding the cord should be strongly considered to account for inherent spinal cord motion.
Is Self-Quarantining a Deductible Medical Expense?

Self-quarantining expenses are probably not a deductible medical expense, under current law. I propose a statutory amendment to make them deductible under IRC section 213, provided: 1) they are required by the CDC or a comparable governmental authority; 2) they are limited to $200 per day for 14 days; 3) there is no reasonable alternative to moving out of the taxpayer's home; and 4) the place of quarantine is within 25 miles of taxpayer's principal residence.
The Effect of Liquidity Regulation on U.S. Bank Risk-Taking: Evidence from Non-Performing Loans and CDS Spreads

This paper illustrates channels by which regulations that require banks to hold liquid assets can either increase or decrease a bank’s incentive to take risk with its remaining ineligible assets. A greater capacity to respond to liquidity stress increases the potential profits a bank would put at stake by making risky investments, but it also mitigates the illiquidity disadvantages of holding risky assets. We then empirically estimate the effect of two liquidity regulations on bank risk-taking as measured by the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans and credit default swap (CDS) spreads. Using a regression discontinuity design, we do not find evidence that reserve requirements significantly affected non-performing loans ratios. Using a difference- in-differences specification, we also do not find evidence that the liquidity coverage ratio significantly affected non-performing loans ratios or CDS spreads.
Social Vulnerability Indices as a Risk Factor for Heart Failure Readmissions

Objectives: The objective of our study was to use the parameters of social vulnerability index (SVI) to observe their association with the 30-day hospital readmissions in the heart failure population.Methods: Data required for analysis were extracted from the electronic medical record. The geographic SVI data was then merged with the clinical data. Qualitative variables and reported as frequency and quantitative variables and reported as the mean ± standard deviation. Variables from univariate analysis with a P value of ≤ 0.10 were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression with stepwise backward variable selection and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis.Results: The odds ratio of readmission predicted by HOSPITAL score was 1.137 (P value = 0.004, 95% CI = 1.041-1.241). SVI parameter recording disability showed odds ratio of 1.521 (P value = 0.006, 95% CI = 1.125-2.058) and SVI parameter tracking vehicle ownership showed odds ratio of 15.355 (P value = 0.014, 95% CI = 1.755 - 134.383). The ROCs were generated for three scenarios: (i) HOSPITAL score only which had area under the curve (AUC) of 0.702 (P value = 0.015), (ii) SVI indicators tracking vehicle ownership and disability resulted in the AUC of 0.589 (P value = 0.016), and (iii) all of the above combined increased the AUC increased to 0.718 (P value = 0.015).Conclusions: Two social parameters (limited vehicle access and prevalence of disability) from the SVI showed a strong association with 30-day hospital readmissions.
Information sources utilized by Vermont foodservice businesses during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Our research team interviewed owners or managers (n ­=10) of commercial (restaurants, caterers, food hubs) and institutional (schools, hospitals) foodservice businesses in Vermont in the summer and fall of 2020 to gather information about their experiences and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article discusses the information sources they utilized to make decisions about operating procedures and business strategies as the pandemic unfolded. Though this is not a comparative analysis to other states, Vermont had strong networks and support systems in place before the onset of COVID-19 that were poised to respond quickly as events unfolded. In addition, these interviews highlighted the importance of both formal and informal information sources, which filled different niches in the information ecosystem.
Anti-Summaries: Enhancing Graph-Based Techniques for Summary Extraction with Sentiment Polarity

We propose an unsupervised model to extract two types of summaries (positive, and negative) per document based on sentiment polarity. Our model builds a weighted polar digraph from the text, then evolves recursively until some desired properties converge. It can be seen as an enhanced variant of TextRank type algorithms working with non-polar text graphs. Each positive, negative, and objective opinion has some impact on the other if they are semantically related or placed close in the document.
Large Capacity Multistory Frame Analysis Programs

In order to analyze large multistory building frames efficiently by digital computer, it is necessary to use special computation techniques that take advantage of the sparse nature of their stiffness matrices. Two different methods are described and compared in this paper. Both solution techniques are based on the displacement method of structural analysis. The first employs a special form of Gauss-Seidel iteration of the equilibrium equations. The second arranges the stiffness matrix in the form of a tri-diagonal system of submatrices, and then obtains the solution by using a recursion equation. Comparisons of the two methods, based on the computer time required, indicate that either may be preferred in appropriate conditions. In general, the iterative solution is faster if only a single loading condition is to be considered, and if the structure has a relatively large number of bays. The recursion solution is faster if the structure is tall and slender, and if many loading conditions are involved.
On a global information grid simulation platform for investigations of end-to-end performance

We have embarked upon the development of a reusable global information grid (DID) simulation platform in order to support GIG architecture, design and engineering. We followed a classical systems engineering approach to the design of the GIG simulation platform. We have identified a set of useful performance studies to perform related to GIG architecture and design. We present our approach to the design of our GIG simulation platform and the development of a GIG topology model allowing for automated simulation configurations. As an example of the platform's utility, we briefly discuss our initial studies of BGP performance in GIG-like environments. We conclude with a discussion of follow on work on our GIG simulation platform.
Mining Core Histone Sequences from Public Protein Databases

Publisher Summary Constructing an online database of histones and histone fold-containing proteins has allowed analyzing histone sequence variation in some detail. This chapter describes how one has inventoried core histone protein sequences. The issues involved in such an undertaking are for the most part not unique to histone sequences. The initial goal was to collect as many reported histone sequences as one could find. There are many variations on the basic Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) search protocol. For text-based searches of sequence annotation the Entrez search engine at the NCBI Web site is used. For sequence-based searching, several varieties of the popular BLAST are used for pair-wise alignment algorithm. To abnegate sequence redundancy all the unique sequence identifiers are extracted from the BLAST outputs into a file, and use this file to generate a corresponding library of FASTA records. Several parameters are investigated in this chapter for their effects in the identification of histone H3 sequences.
Opening the Doors to Picture Books for All Ages

This essay considers the misperception that picture books comprise a genre and that they are exclusively intended for the very young. It argues that educators, librarians, parents, and all who are involved in the promotion of children’s literature should promote the reality that the picture book is not a genre, but rather is a form of literature with benefits for people of all ages. To understand this form, it is imperative to consider the interplay of the words and pictures.
Metabolism of Myelin

By “metabolism of myelin,” we refer to the molecular events involved in the synthesis of myelin components, and the subsequent assembly, maintenance, and turnover of the myelin sheath. The deposition of myelin involves coordination of the synthesis of its various lipid and protein components, and the interaction of these components to give a stable membrane. Degradation of myelin components occurs as a reaction of the myelin sheath to injury, but may also be required for normal maintenance and remodeling of the membrane. The topographic features of the myelin sheath can be expected to limit partially the metabolism of myelin. The roles of membrane fluidity and cytoplasmic inclusions in the turnover of compact myelin lamellae are not well understood, but obviously metabolism in this system is integrally linked to both anatomical and membrane structure.
Spleen colony studies of leukemia L1210. VI. Quantitation of the surviving population of frozen-thawed L1210 cells using the spleen colony assay.

Summary The spleen colony assay showed that the percentage of viable L1210 cells frozen to −15°C and thawed was similar to that for nonfrozen leukemic cells as estimated by colonyforming units (CFU). At temperatures between −15 and −60°C, the CFU decreased exponentially, demonstrating cellular injury during the freezing or thawing process. The surviving CFU fraction at −60°C was 10% of the nonfrozen controls, and further reduction of the temperature to 195°C resulted in no further increase of cell destruction.
Results and future uses of heterodyne spatial interferometry at 11 microns

Properties of circumstellar dust shells are examined by heterodyne spatial interferometry at 11-micron wavelength. Over the course of the past two years, observations have been made for ten different sources including various M-type supergiants, Mira variables, and other peculiar infrared stars. These objects exhibit a variety of features which help determine the properties of circumstellar dust. The results obtained on four of these objects, for which the data are reasonably extensive, are presented. The future of IR heterodyne interferometry is highlighted.
The asymptotic distribution of Andrews’ smallest parts function

In this paper, we use methods from the spectral theory of automorphic forms to give an asymptotic formula with a power saving error term for Andrews’ smallest parts function spt(n). We use this formula to deduce an asymptotic formula with a power saving error term for the number of 2-marked Durfee symbols associated to partitions of n. Our method requires that we count the number of Heegner points of discriminant −D < 0 and level N inside an “expanding” rectangle contained in a fundamental domain for \({\Gamma_0(N)}\).
Reestablishing occlusal vertical dimension using a diagnostic treatment prosthesis in the edentulous patient: a clinical report.

To maintain a harmonious craniofacial system, the dental practitioner must establish an appropriate occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). Several methods can be used to determine an appropriate OVD. The patient presenting with decreased OVD represents a particular challenge for the dental practitioner in fabricating conventional dentures. This clinical report describes the use of a diagnostic treatment prosthesis to evaluate the patient's ability to manage such an increase in vertical dimension and to reestablish an appropriate occlusal vertical dimension. The use of a diagnostic treatment prosthesis at a vertical dimension 5 mm greater than what the patient presented with was determined to not cause discomfort over a 2-month period. A conventional complete denture was fabricated based on the patient's ability to handle the increase during the trial period. This report reviews the literature on this topic and describes a clinical technique for reestablishing the OVD in edentulous patients.
Older schizophrenia patients have more disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms than age-matched comparison subjects

Patient reports and laboratory studies suggest schizophrenia patients have disrupted sleep across age groups. Studies have not compared overall sleep/wake patterns or circadian (24-h) activity rhythms of older community dwelling schizophrenia patients to matched comparison subjects. This study examined whether older schizophrenia patients had more disrupted sleep/wake patterns and circadian activity rhythms than age- and gender-matched normal comparison subjects (NCS). Twenty-eight older schizophrenia patients and 28 age- and gender-matched NCS were studied with three days of continuous wrist actigraphy. Nighttime and daytime actigraphically estimated sleep and wake, circadian activity rhythms and light exposure patterns were compared with and without years of education as a covariate. Patients spent longer in bed, had more disrupted nighttime sleep, slept more during the day, and had less robust circadian rhythms of activity and light exposure compared to NCS. Differences persisted in education-adjusted analyses. Within patients, working was associated with improved sleep and circadian rhythms. Findings suggest the sleep and circadian rhythm disruption of older schizophrenia patients was more extensive than that of matched NCS suggesting patients' sleep disruption was above and beyond what is attributable to advanced age alone. A need exists to develop multicomponent interventions to address sleep difficulties specific to older schizophrenia patients.
Guillaume Postel and the Primordial Origins of the Middle East

Abstract Guillaume Postel is often credited as one of the founding fathers of the modern “orientalist” European study of the Middle East, and of Arabic, Islam, and the Quran in particular. He published his most influential work in 1544, calling on the French king to lead a Crusade against the Ottomans and usher in a new, apocalyptic age. Although usually credited as a pioneer in the comparative study of Semitic languages, an influential figure in French-Ottoman relations, and as one of the first Europeans to study the Quran in comparison with the Bible, it was the unique sixteenth-century renaissance combination of apocalyptism, European nationalism, and alchemy behind the specific formation of Postel’s universal linguistic theories that would most influence future scholarship. The following pages examine the historical context in which Postel produced his work with particular attention to the apocalyptism of his religious ideas and the kabbalistic sources of his linguistic scholarship.