cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The "cut-in patch-out" technique for Pancoast tumor resections results in postoperative pain reduction: a case control study

Background Since 2001 we have utilized a novel surgical approach for Pancoast tumors in which lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection are performed directly though the chest wall defect. The defect is then patched at the completion of the procedure ("cut-in patch-out") thereby avoiding a separate thoracotomy with rib spreading. We undertook a study to compare outcomes of this novel "cut-in patch-out" technique with traditional thoracotomy for patients with Pancoast tumors.
Sleep Fragmentation and Morning Cerebrovasomotor Reactivity to Hypercapnia

Impaired vasomotor reactivity of the cerebral vessels on morning awakening has been suggested as one of the mechanisms underlying the predisposition to stroke in the morning. This study investigated cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia on morning awakening and its association with specific sleep-related parameters, including sleep-disordered breathing. Thirty patients undergoing nocturnal diagnostic polysomnography for sleep apnea underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasonography of the middle cerebral artery immediately before going to bed and immediately on morning awakening. Results indicated a morning reduction in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) relative to values from the preceding evening both while breathing room air and 5% CO2. Hypercapnia was associated with the expected increase in CBFV in both evening and morning. The evening-to-morning difference in CBFV during CO2 inhalation was independently associated with both overnight CO2 retention and number of movements with arousal per hour of s...
RECONSTRUCTING THE EVOLUTION OF COMPLEX BIRD SONG IN THE OROPENDOLAS

The elaborate songs of songbirds are frequent models for investigating the evolution of animal signals. However, few previous studies have attempted to reconstruct historical changes in song evolution using a phylogenetic comparative approach. In particular, no comparative studies of bird song have used a large number of vocal characters and a well-supported, independently derived phylogeny. We identified 32 features in the complex vocal displays of male oropendolas (genera Psarocolius, Gymnostinops, and Ocyalus) that are relatively invariant within taxa and mapped these characters onto a robust molecular phylogeny of the group. Our analysis revealed that many aspects of oropendola song are surprisingly evolutionarily conservative and thus are potentially useful characters for reconstructing historical patterns. Of the characters that varied among taxa, nearly two thirds (19 of 29) showed no evidence of evolutionary convergence or reversal when mapped onto the tree, which was reflected in a high overall consistency index (CI = 0.78) and retention index (RI = 0.88). Some reconstructed patterns provided evidence of selection on these signals. For example, rapid divergence of the songs of the Montezuma oropendola, Gymnostinops montezuma, from those of closely related taxa suggests the recent influence of strong sexual selection. In general, our results provide insights into the mode of vocal evolution in songbirds and suggest that complex vocalizations can provide information about phylogeny. Based on this evidence, we use song characters to estimate the phylogenetic affinities of three oropendola taxa for which molecular data are not yet available.
MACHETE: synthesis of sequential machines for easy testability

Test generation for sequential machines is known to be computationally expensive. The authors present a scheme, called MACHETE (MACHines for Easy TEstability), for synthesizing easily testable architectures for sequential machines by adding some state transitions and their associated output vectors to the state transition table. This is done to make the internal states of the machine easily controllable as well as observable. This can enable us to obtain a high fault coverage in reasonable amounts of CPU time. >
The accuracy of photoscreening at detecting treatable ocular conditions in children with Down syndrome

Background Children with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased prevalence of ocular disorders, including amblyopia, strabismus, and refractive error. Health maintenance guidelines from the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group recommend ophthalmologic examinations every 1 to 2 years for these children. Photoscreening may be a cost-effective option for subsequent screening evaluations after an initial complete examination, but no study has evaluated the accuracy of photoscreening in children with DS. The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of photoscreening in detecting treatable ocular conditions in children with DS. Methods Photoscreening and complete ophthalmologic evaluations were performed in 50 consecutive 3- to 10-year-old children with DS. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated with the use of ophthalmologic examination findings as the reference standard. Results Most children were able to complete photoscreening (94% with Medical Technology and Innovations [MTI] and 90% with Visiscreen OSS-C [VR]). Many children had an identified diagnosis on ophthalmologic examination (n = 46, 92%). Of these, approximately one-half (n = 27, 54%) had one or more condition(s) requiring treatment. Both the MTI and VR photoscreening devices had a sensitivity of 93% (95% confidence interval 0.76−0.99) for detecting treatable ocular conditions. The specificities for the MTI and VR photoscreening were 0.35 (0.18-0.57) and 0.55 (0.34-0.74), respectively. Conclusions Photoscreening is sensitive but less specific at detecting treatable ocular conditions in children with DS. In specific instances, the use of photoscreening in the DS population has the potential to save time and expense related to routine eye examinations, particularly in children with a normal baseline comprehensive examination.
A full-wafer SOI process for 3 dimensional integration

A full-wafer silicon-on-insulator (SOI) process using epitaxial lateral overgrowth is demonstrated. Merged selective epitaxial growth of silicon was used to create local area SOI islands. Chemical-mechanical polishing was used to form well-controlled submicrometer-thick single-crystal SOI film using local area nitride as etch stops. Epitaxial lateral growth which was initiated from a vertical seed is demonstrated. The technique produces a generic full-wafer SOI structure. To obtain multiple layers of silicon over oxide, this SOI process can be repeated several times without damage to the previously formed layers and therefore makes three-dimensional integration possible. >
Focused Cardiac Ultrasound in Place of Repeat Echocardiography: Reliability and Cost Implications

Background Health care systems are increasingly moving toward models that emphasize the delivery of high-quality health care at lower costs. Rates of repeat echocardiography (two or more transthoracic echocardiographic studies performed within a short interval) are high and can contribute substantially to the cost of providing cardiovascular care. Certain findings from handheld ultrasound scans performed by echocardiographers have been shown to correlate well with findings on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). It therefore may be feasible and cost effective to use expert focused cardiac ultrasound (eFCU) in place of repeat TTE for highly selected indications in certain settings. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and cost implications of using eFCU in place of repeat TTE in selected inpatients. Methods Inpatients who underwent repeat TTE (prior TTE within 30 days) ordered for the assessment of ventricular function, pericardial effusion, or inferior vena cava collapse were prospectively enrolled. Subjects underwent eFCU in addition to TTE, and results were compared for correlation using the weighted κ statistic. The potential cost savings of using eFCU in place of TTE were modeled from the provider perspective (i.e., physicians and hospitals). Results Over 45 days, 105 patients were enrolled. The majority of scans were performed for assessment of left ventricular function and pericardial effusions. eFCU showed excellent correlation with TTE for most parameters, including left ventricular systolic function (κ = 0.80) and the presence and size of pericardial effusions (κ = 0.81) ( P Conclusions Findings from eFCU correlate well with those from TTE when used in the setting of repeat testing for assessment of ventricular function, pericardial effusion, and inferior vena cava collapse. The judicious use of eFCU in place of repeat inpatient TTE has the potential to deliver quality cardiac imaging at reduced cost.
A Novel Cryptochrome-Dependent Oscillator in Neurospora crassa

Several lines of evidence suggest that the circadian clock is constructed of multiple molecular feedback oscillators that function to generate robust rhythms in organisms. However, while core oscillator mechanisms driving specific behaviors are well described in several model systems, the nature of other potential circadian oscillators is not understood. Using genetic approaches in the fungus Neurospora crassa, we uncovered an oscillator mechanism that drives rhythmic spore development in the absence of the well-characterized FRQ/WCC oscillator (FWO) and in constant light, conditions under which the FWO is not functional. While this novel oscillator does not require the FWO for activity, it does require the blue-light photoreceptor CRYPTOCHROME (CRY); thus, we call it the CRY-dependent oscillator (CDO). The CDO was uncovered in a strain carrying a mutation in cog-1 (cry-dependent oscillator gate-1), has a period of ∼1 day in constant light, and is temperature-compensated. In addition, cog-1 cells lacking the circadian blue-light photoreceptor WC-1 respond to blue light, suggesting that alternate light inputs function in cog-1 mutant cells. We show that the blue-light photoreceptors VIVID and CRY compensate for each other and for WC-1 in CRY-dependent oscillator light responses, but that WC-1 is necessary for circadian light entrainment.
IMPROVING THE PRECISION OF ESTIMATES OF THE FREQUENCY OF RARE EVENTS

The probability of a rare event is usually estimated directly as the number of times the event occurs divided by the total sample size. Unfortunately, the precision of this estimate is low. For typical sample sizes of N , 100 in ecological studies, the coefficient of variation (CV) of this estimate of the probability of a rare event can exceed 300%. Sample sizes on the order of 10 3 -10 4 observations are needed to reduce the CV to below 10%. If it is impractical or impossible to increase the sample size, auxiliary data can be used to improve the precision of the estimate. We describe four approaches for using auxiliary data to improve the precision of estimates of the probability of a rare event: (1) Bayesian analysis that includes prior information about the probability; (2) stratification that incorporates information on the heterogeneity in the population; (3) regression models that account for information correlated with the probability; and (4) inclusion of aggregated data collected at larger spatial or temporal scales. These approaches are illustrated using data on the probability of capture of vespulid wasps by the insectivorous plant Darlingtonia californica. All four methods increase the precision of the estimate relative to the simple frequency- based estimate (absolute precision 5 1.26, relative precision ( CV) 5 70%): stratification (absolute precision 5 1.10, CV 5 62%); regression models (absolute precision 5 1.59, CV 5 55%); Bayesian analysis with an informative prior probability distribution (absolute precision 5 4.28, CV 5 47%); and using temporally aggregated data (absolute precision 5 6.75, CV 5 36%). When informative auxiliary data is available, we recommend including it when estimating the probability of rare events.
The Prison and the Gallows: The Politics of Mass Incarceration in America. By Marie Gottschalk

The Prison and the Gallows: The Politics of Mass Incarceration in America. By Marie Gottschalk. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2006. Pp. xiii+451. $75.00 cloth; $28.99 paper; $23.00 e-book. Gottschalk's The Prison and the Gallows is a significant and welcome addition to the growing literature on the development of mass incarceration in the modern United States. Gottschalk successfully argues that, despite all the attention, the growth of the carceral state remains poorly understood as a historical phenomenon. While there is relatively little argument over just when incarceration rates began to increase, this book successfully demonstrates a deeper history at work. By better illuminating the long past of crime politics, this passionately argued work helps us better imagine what the future could be. Ideas, culture, or "public opinion" matter a great deal in this story, but only so far as they are able to intersect with political power in a way that creates momentum for change. Indeed, Gottschalk argues that when public opinion lacks a direct outlet in policymaking, such as popular support for the death penalty in Western Europe even in the midst of its abolition, a more dispassionate process results. Of course, this is precisely the conclusion that has led some scholars to call for a decisionmaking process in the United States that is better insulated from the popular will. To this, Gottschalk offers the caution that American attitudes on crime and punishment are more complex than they may appear at present, containing competing and contradictory impulses. From the first pages of this work, Gottschalk makes it clear that she regards the coming of the mass imprisonment regime as a major exercise of state-building power, on a par with the New Deal or the Great Society. While the New Deal comparison perhaps fails to fully account for the vast range of policy programs launched under that label, it is almost certainly correct that mass incarceration ranks among the most significant moments in the history of American social policy. Indeed, Gottschalk appears to be running well ahead of academic historians on this point, though the book's recent receipt of the Ellis W. Hawley Prize from the Organization of American Historians suggest that they are beginning to get the point. In her consideration of state-building, Gottschalk makes the very sensible point that mass incarceration depends upon the development of new state capacity. Where punitive impulses are not matched by state capacity, they will obviously fail to have the same kind of impact. Gottschalk offers a number of useful examples of this, such as the national experiment with the prohibition of alcohol, where any close reading of federal enforcement reveals a skeletal and confused enforcement effort. …
Distributed Lag Models of Cotton Acreage Response: A Further Result

The sensitivity of empirical results to changes in model specification is illustrated for a geometric-form distributed lag model of cotton acreage response. One plausible specification gives a distributed lag response of acreage to price. Another logical, and perhaps more reasonable, specification indicates no distributed lag response.
Putting the system back into systems change: a framework for understanding and changing organizational and community systems

Systems change has emerged as a dominant frame through which local, state, and national funders and practitioners across a wide array of fields approach their work. In most of these efforts, change agents and scholars strive to shift human services and community systems to create better and more just outcomes and improve the status quo. Despite this, there is a dearth of frameworks that scholars, practitioners, and funders can draw upon to aid them in understanding, designing, and assessing this process from a systemic perspective. This paper provides one framework—grounded in systems thinking and change literatures—for understanding and identifying the funda- mental system parts and interdependencies that can help to explain system functioning and leverage systems change. The proposed framework highlights the importance of attending to both the deep and apparent structures within a system as well as the interactions and interdependencies among these system parts. This includes attending to the dominant normative, resource, regulative, and operational characteristics that dictate the behavior and lived experi- ences of system members. The value of engaging critical stakeholders in problem definition, boundary construction, and systems analysis are also discussed. The implications of this framework for systems change researchers and practitioners are discussed.
Cutting Edge: Asymmetric Memory T Cell Division in Response to Rechallenge

Clonal selection of a T cell for use in the immune response appears to necessitate proliferative expansion and terminal effector differentiation of some cellular progeny, while reserving other progeny as less-differentiated memory cells. It has been suggested that asymmetric cell division may promote initial cell diversification. Stem cell-like models of adaptive immunity might predict that subsequent encounters with a pathogen would evoke reiterative, self-renewing, asymmetric division by memory T cells. In this study, we show that murine memory CD8(+) T cells can divide asymmetrically in response to secondary encounter with pathogen. Critical regulators of signaling and transcription are partitioned to one side of the mitotic spindle in rechallenged memory T cells, and two phenotypically distinct populations of daughter cells are evident from the earliest divisions. Memory T cells may thus use asymmetric cell division to generate cellular heterogeneity when faced with pathogen rechallenge.
Opioids for Nonmalignant Pain

Pain is the most common symptom in the world for which patients seek professional help. Opioids offer an appropriate and safe treatment for some but not all patients with nonmalignant chronic pain. Potential risks, including drug abuse and intolerable side effects, appear to be manageable or even preventable in most cases. Patients with persistent rheumatic pain who have failed traditional treatments should be considered for long-acting opioids. Opioids are best administered in the framework of weighing the good against the bad in each patient, recognizing the potential morbidity and sometimes mortality in untreated patients who have severe and disabling pain daily.
Synergistic interactions between airway afferent nerve subtypes mediating reflex bronchospasm in guinea pigs

The hypothesis that airway afferent nerve subtypes act synergistically to initiate reflex bronchospasm in guinea pigs was addressed. Laryngeal mucosal application of capsaicin or bradykinin or the ...
Adaptive data compression for high-performance low-power on-chip networks

With the recent design shift towards increasing the number of processing elements in a chip, high-bandwidth support in on-chip interconnect is essential for low-latency communication. Much of the previous work has focused on router architectures and network topologies using wide/long channels. However, such solutions may result in a complicated router design and a high interconnect cost. In this paper, we exploit a table-based data compression technique, relying on value patterns in cache traffic. Compressing a large packet into a small one can increase the effective bandwidth of routers and links, while saving power due to reduced operations. The main challenges are providing a scalable implementation of tables and minimizing overhead of the compression latency. First, we propose a shared table scheme that needs one encoding and one decoding tables for each processing element, and a management protocol that does not require in-order delivery. Next, we present streamlined encoding that combines flit injection and encoding in a pipeline. Furthermore, data compression can be selectively applied to communication on congested paths only if compression improves performance. Simulation results in a 16-core CMP show that our compression method improves the packet latency by up to 44% with an average of 36% and reduces the network power consumption by 36% on average.
Webdove: a Web-Based Collaboration System for Physical Tasks

While many systems are available for audio-visual people collaboration and data collaboration, systems for collaboration on physical objects are few. In this paper, we present WebDOVE, a system designed to address the needs of collaborative physical tasks. WebDOVE supports both live video streams and pen-based gesture recognition in multi-party bidirectional communication via inexpensive web cameras. WebDOVE allows distributed collaborators to draw over video streams to produce and interpret pointing and representational gestures as readily as they do in face-to-face settings. To accommodate potential diverse platform requirements from different participants, WebDOVE is designed to be a web-based platform-independent and browser-independent collaboration solution. We show via experiments that despite WebDOVE's platform independency, it requires moderate network bandwidth and CPU load, which make WebDOVE a practical solution for real-world applications.
Assessment of Learning Gains Associated with Independent Exam Analysis in Introductory Biology

This study evaluates the impact of an independent postmidterm question analysis exercise on the ability of students to answer subsequent exam questions on the same topics. It was conducted in three sections (∼400 students/section) of introductory biology. Graded midterms were returned electronically, and each student was assigned a subset of questions answered incorrectly by more than 40% of the class to analyze as homework. The majority of questions were at Bloom's application/analysis level; this exercise therefore emphasized learning at these higher levels of cognition. Students in each section answered final exam questions matched by topic to all homework questions, providing a within-class control group for each question. The percentage of students who correctly answered the matched final exam question was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the Topic Analysis versus Control Analysis group for seven of 19 questions. We identified two factors that influenced activity effectiveness: 1) similarity in topic emphasis of the midterm-final exam question pair and 2) quality of the completed analysis homework. Our data suggest that this easy-to-implement exercise will be useful in large-enrollment classes to help students develop self-regulated learning skills. Additional strategies to help introductory students gain a broader understanding of topic areas are discussed.
Genetics of Resistance to the Rust Fungus Coleosporium ipomoeae in Three Species of Morning Glory (Ipomoea)

We examined the genetic basis of resistance to the rust pathogen Coleosporium ipomoea in three host species: Ipomoea purpurea, I. hederacea, and I. coccinea (Convolvulaceae). In crosses between resistant and susceptible individuals, second-generation selfed offspring segregated in ratios that did not differ statistically from the 3∶1 ratio indicative of single-gene resistance with the resistant allele dominant. One out of three crosses between resistant individuals from two different populations revealed that resistance loci differed in the two populations, as evidenced by the production of susceptible individuals among the S2 generation. These results suggest that gene-for-gene interactions contribute substantially to the dynamics of coevolution in this natural pathosystem. They also suggest that evolution of resistance to the same pathogen strain may involve different loci in different Ipomoea populations.
Long-reach and high split ratio passive optical networks

Summary form only given: Optical amplification extends the capabilities of PON networks to address new applications and architectures. This paper reviews the optical amplification in legacy, presently deployed and next-generation PONs.
Surface Texture, Fatigue, and the Reduction in Stiffness of Fiber Reinforced Plastics

As Fiber Reinforced Plastics ~FRP!s become more frequently enrolled for commercial structures, the selection of manufacturing processes utilized in obtaining net-shape component parts becomes increasingly important. Although molded to near net-shape, FRP components often require edge trimming or drilling to achieve final form. Due to differences in mechanical properties of the primary constituents and relatively low interlaminar tensile strength, the machining of FRP materials can result in high surface roughness and/or process-related part damage @1,2#. Therefore, an understanding of the contributions from manufacturing defects and process dependent surface texture on the strength of FRPs is necessary. In comparison to more traditional structural materials, the influence of surface texture on the mechanical properties of FRPs remains relatively unknown. A preliminary study of edge effects resulting from laser and abrasive waterjet ~AWJ! machining of several FRP laminates reported that while laser machining was detrimental to the tensile strength, no degradation in strength resulted from AWJ machining @3#. Colligan and Ramulu @4# found that the ultimate compression strength of graphite/epoxy ~Gr/Ep! laminates decreased with increasing surface roughness, but the reduction in strength resulting from edge ply delamination was more significant than that attributed to surface roughness. The influence of surface texture on the strength of FRPs has also been examined under quasi-static and dynamic flexure @5,6# .I n an evaluation of the performance of both Gr/Ep and graphite bismaleimide ~Gr/Bmi! laminates it was found that the flexure strength was significantly dependent on the manufacturing process due to differences in the surface texture. Laminates trimmed with singlepoint cutting tools suffered the largest reduction in strength and energy to fracture due to the comparatively large surface roughness of off-axis plies @6#. Although these studies indicate that surface roughness is detrimental to the strength of FRP laminates, the effects of surface texture resulting from net-shape manufacturing on the fatigue behavior of FRPs have not been reported. In this study the influence of machined surface roughness on the fatigue life of FRPs is examined. An experimental evaluation of the degradation in laminate stiffness with fatigue loading has been conducted and experimental results are correlated with estimates for the effective stress concentration posed by the surface roughness.
Role of dendritic cells and alveolar macrophages in regulating early host defense against pulmonary infection with Cryptococcus neoformans

Successful pulmonary clearance of the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans requires a T1 adaptive immune response. This response takes up to 3 weeks to fully develop. The role of the initial, innate immune response against the organism is uncertain. In this study, an established model of diphtheria toxin-mediated depletion of resident pulmonary dendritic cells (DC) and alveolar macrophages (AM) was used to assess the contribution of these cells to the initial host response against cryptococcal infection. The results demonstrate that depletion of DC and AM one day prior to infection results in rapid clinical deterioration and death of mice within 6 days postinfection; this effect was not observed in infected groups of control mice not depleted of DC and AM. Depletion did not alter the microbial burden or total leukocyte recruitment in the lung. Mortality (in mice depleted of DC and AM) was associated with increased neutrophil and B-cell accumulation accompanied by histopathologic evidence of suppurative neutrophilic bronchopneumonia, cyst formation, and alveolar damage. Collectively, these data define an important role for DC and AM in regulating the initial innate immune response following pulmonary infection with C. neoformans. These findings provide important insight into the cellular mechanisms which coordinate early host defense against an invasive fungal pathogen in the lung.
The purse-string suture in facial reconstruction

Mohs surgical defects in 26 patients were reconstructed utilizing a purse-string suture and a full-thickness graft. The placement of the purse-string suture decreased the surface area of the wound an average of 53%. A full-thickness graft was then placed in the remaining defect. This technique enabled us to repair large wounds of the facial region with a relatively small full-thickness graft. There were no complications in our series. The resultant areas were cosmetically acceptable and resistant to trauma.
Epothilones and Sarcodictyins: From Combinatorial Libraries to Designed Analogs

The epothilones and sarcodictyins have shown to be potent cytotoxic compounds with a Taxol™-like mode of action. The clinical importance of Taxol™ has stimulated intense research into finding compounds with prospective superior chemotherapeutic properties to Taxol™. We have developed enabling synthetic technologies for the construction of combinatorial libraries of these two potentially important chemotherapeutics, which led, in both cases to compounds with superior biological activity.
DISAPPEARING BONE DISEASE WITH ARTHROPATHY AND SEVERE SCARRING OF THE SKIN: A Report of Four Cases Seen in South Vietnam

Four cases are presented of patients seen in a leper colony in South Vietnam. The patients presented with evidence of osteolysis, arthropathies and severe scarrings of the skin. They were without pain and in generally good health. There were no neurologic or vascular deficit. They had positive serological tests for syphilis. Other known types of osteolysis are discussed including leprosy and the treponemal diseases, and the cases are presented as a previously undescribed entity.
Religions as Failed Theodicies: Atheism in Hinduism and Buddhism

This essay intends to pursue two questions: First, in what sense might Hinduism and Buddhism be called “atheistic religions”; and, second, what is the cause of that atheism?
Inferior Vena Cava Filters: The Impact of Endovascular Technology

Anticoagulation is the accepted therapy for patients with venous thromboembolic disease. When a contraindication to anticoagulation therapy is present, however, interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVC) can be performed to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) as >80% of pulmonary emboli originate in the lower extremities and pelvis [1].
Sex differences in genomics in lupus: girls with systemic lupus have high interferon gene expression while boys have high levels of tumour necrosis factor-related gene expression

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease occurring up to 15 times more frequently in females than males. This bias extends to possible differences in disease flares and response to therapy. This study was initiated to investigate the differences between girls and boys with childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) at the molecular level.Method: We analysed the Gene Expression Omnibus National Center for Biotechnology Information (GEO NCBI) microarray data available for 88 girls and 16 boys with treatment-naive cSLE and compared the results to those from healthy controls. Transcriptional profiles were generated using the platforms of Affymetrix U133A and U133B gene chips and Bioconductor/R programming packages were used to process and compare the data.Results: Girls with cSLE overexpressed an interferon (IFN)-α signature that was absent in boys. Boys with cSLE were observed to overexpress tumour necrosis factor-related genes that were absent in girls. Both boys and girls were observed to overex...
Behavioral Momentum Theory: a Tutorial on Response Persistence

Behavioral momentum theory (BMT) provides an integrative framework for evaluating the strength of a response when it contacts a disruptor, such as the discontinuation of reinforcement (i.e., extinction). Grounded in Newtonian physics, BMT distinguishes response rate (behavioral velocity) from response strength or persistence (behavioral mass). Behavioral velocity is affected by response-reinforcer contingencies, whereas behavioral mass is affected by stimulus-reinforcer contingencies (Nevin and Wacker 2013). We describe the determiners of behavioral mass, as well as common sources of disruption that are used to measure behavioral mass. Learning activities are embedded throughout this discussion to help readers better understand BMT and its implications for practice across a range of contexts.
Antagonism of Sulfadiazine Inhibition of Psittacosis Virus by p-Amino-benzoic and Pteroylglutamic Acids.

SummaryThe chemotherapeutic action of sulfadiazine on psittacosis virus (strain 6BC) is antagonized competitively by p-aminobenzoic aoid and noncompetitively by pteroylglutamic acid. The implications of these findings 'with regard to the metabolic activities of this virus are discussed.
Hyperspectral in-vivo two-photon microscopy of intrinsic fluorophores

In-vivo two-photon imaging of intrinsic fluorescence allows metabolic function to be evaluated on a cellular level. A method of validating, identifying and separating the fluorophores present in an in-vivo two-photon image is described.
Ab initio study of the strain dependent thermodynamics of Bi doping in GaAs

The thermodynamics of Bi incorporation into bulk and epitaxial GaAs was studied using density functional theory (DFT) and anharmonic elasticity calculations. The equilibrium concentration of Bi was determined as a function of epitaxial strain state, temperature, and growth conditions. For a bulk, unstrained system, Bi in GaAs under typical growth conditions (Ga-rich and Bi-metal-rich at 400 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C) has a dilute heat of solution of 572 meV/Bi and a solubility of $x=5.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ in GaAs${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{x}$. However, epitaxial strain can greatly enhance this solubility, and under the same conditions an epitaxial film of GaAs${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{x}$ with 5$%$ in-plane tensile strain is predicted to have a Bi solubility of $x=7.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, representing approximately a hundred times increase in solubility over the unstrained bulk case. Despite these potentially large increases in solubility, the equilibrium solubility is still very low compared to values that have been achieved experimentally through nonequilibrium growth. These values of solubility are also sensitive to the choice of the Bi reference state. If the primary route for phase separation is the formation of GaBi within the same structure, rather than Bi metal, GaBi would serve as the source/sink for Bi. If GaBi is used as the Bi reference state, the epitaxial formation energy on a bulk unstrained GaAs substrate is reduced dramatically to 144 meV/Bi, yielding a Bi solubility of $x=0.083$ in GaAs${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{x}$. These calculations suggest that Bi solubility could be greatly enhanced if Bi metal formation is inhibited and the system is forced to remain constrained to the GaAs${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Bi${}_{x}$ structure. Although GaBi is not a naturally stable compound, it could potentially be stabilized through a combination of kinetic limitations and alloying.
Sterilization of Hippelates pusio with tepa and metepa.

Tepa and metepa sterilized the eye gnat Hippelates pusio Loew by: exposing adults to residues on nylonmesh screen, allowing newly eclosed adults to emerge through treated polystyrene foam strands, and allowing anesthetized adults to recover and crawl through treated polystyrene foam strands. The 3rd method however produced the greatest sterility with least mortality on both field and laboratory eye gnats.
Control of bovine virus diarrhoea virus.

Bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus is ubiquitous in cattle populations throughout the world. Strategies for controlling BVD virus infections are continually evolving. Current control procedures are based on identification and elimination of persistently infected cattle, which are a primary source of virus for non-infected cattle, and immunisation with killed or modified live virus vaccines. Additional concerns for control are the possible contamination of semen, embryos and biologicals with virus. In the near future, genetically engineered nucleic acid probes and subunit vaccines containing selected elements of the BVD virus may be available for incorporation into control procedures.
The rhetoric of terrorism and media response to the “Crisis in Iran”;

This paper examines television news coverage of the first days of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. Critical analysis of this coverage shows a pattern which reinforces the terrorist strategy by focusing causation for the crisis on institutional targets, and suggesting that military intervention would re‐establish control. This study supports the argument that the rhetorical impact of terrorism occurs in large measure through the response of others to the terrorist action, in particular, media portrayals of terrorist events.
Spiritual Rumblings in the Caribbean

Chapter 1 describes a scene depicting the fulfillment of a Pentecostal bishop’s vision to unite, at least verbally, the divided Christian churches to become a stronger force in shaping the affairs of the English-speaking Caribbean. This leads to an explosive confrontation between perceived demonic forces operating to sabotage God’s plan to accomplish the goal of church unity, providing further legitimacy to religious leaders and their adherents that they are warriors for Christ combating sinister supernatural forces operating in the physical realm of everyday Caribbean life. This scene highlights some major themes on Charismatic religious networking, its ability to impact the Caribbean world, and the fate of the Charismatic movement as it pushes toward an uncertain and precarious future.
Microstructural Evolution of AZ31 under the Application of High Density Electric Current Pulses

The microstructural evolution in annealed Mg-3Al-1Zn (AZ31) magnesium alloy during high density electric current pulses (ECP) treatment is investigated by using a same current density with different processing numbers. It is found when the processing number of the ECP treatment is not greater than four times, the grains are refined and more homogenized, and the texture intensity obtained from the (0002) pole figure appears an obvious enhancement from 11.22 to 22.88. However, increasing the repeated ECP processing number will cause the coarsening of grain size and the decreasing of the texture intensity. The mechanism of the microstructural evolution during ECP treatment is discussed from the point of view of grain boundary motion.
AN ENTOMOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE TRANSFER OF MELATONIN, NICOTINE, AND ZERANOL FROM TISSUE TO MAGGOT

Throughout daily life humans consume substances that are metabolized by the body and eventually secreted. When death occurs metabolism stops and substances are trapped inside the body for a limited amount of time. If the body is left out, eventually flies and other bugs will make their way to it and lay eggs. When the eggs hatch, maggots begin to eat the tissue of the body. Since the tissue contains the consumed substances they should be transferred to the maggots. This is important in forensics because any substances that have dissipated from the tissue of the body may still be found in the maggots. If the maggots are collected they can be analyzed to determine what substances they contain. Knowing what can and cannot be transferred is important, as well as knowledge of how long it will take different substances to dissipate from the body. To imitate dead human tissue, skinned pig muscle was soaked in solutions of melatonin, nicotine, and zeranol (an animal steroid). Maggots were introduced and allowed to feed on the tissue for 72 hours. Samples of maggots were collected every 12 hours, as well as a sample of tissue at the beginning and end of the experiment. All samples were digested in nitric acid. Analysis on the GC-MS of each sample was compared to standards to identify the substances they contained.
Retinoids in the Treatment of Psoriasis: Monotherapy and Combinations

The authors review the current knowledge of and experience with the vitamin A derivatives, or retinoids, in the treatment of psoriasis. Attention is focused on etretinate. While etretinate is most effective in the therapy of pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis, it can also be of great benefit in treating plaque-type psoriasis. Side effects mimicking the hypervitaminosis A syndrome, but mostly confined to mucocutaneous reactions, are the major limitations to treatment. However, studies combining etretinate with conventional psoriasis therapies, especially phototherapies, have shown a high degree of efficacy while allowing for reduced dosages and side effects.
Novel single-cell technologies in acute myeloid leukemia research

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a lethal malignancy because patients who initially respond to chemotherapy eventually relapse with treatment refractory disease. Relapse is caused by leukemia stem cells (LSCs) that reestablish the disease through self-renewal. Self-renewal is the ability of a stem cell to produce copies of itself and give rise to progeny cells. Therefore, therapeutic strategies eradicating LSCs are essential to prevent relapse and achieve long-term remission in AML. AML is a heterogeneous disease both at phenotypic and genotypic levels, and this heterogeneity extends to LSCs. Classical studies in AML have aimed at characterization of the bulk tumor population, thereby masking cellular heterogeneity. Single-cell approaches provide a novel opportunity to elucidate molecular mechanisms in heterogeneous diseases such as AML. In recent years, major advancements in single-cell measurement systems have revolutionized our understanding of the pathophysiology of AML and enabled the characterization of LSCs. Identifying the molecular mechanisms critical to AML LSCs will aid in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies to combat this deadly disease.
Hedging downside risk of oil refineries: A vine copula approach

Abstract The financial health of an oil refinery greatly depends on its refining margin or the difference between the prices of its refined products (typically, gasoline and heating oil) and the cost of crude oil. The refinery may hedge against the downside risk of unfavorable price movements using crude oil, gasoline, and heating oil futures. This paper examines the use of a vine copula approach to estimate multiproduct hedge ratios that minimize the downside risk of the refinery. The advantage of the vine copula approach is that it allows us to capture important characteristics of petroleum price changes, including skewness and fat-tailedness in the marginal distributions of individual price change series as well as heterogeneous (tail) dependence patterns between different pairs of price changes. The out-of-sample hedging effectiveness of two popular classes of vine copula models – canonical (C-) and drawable (D-) vine copula models – are evaluated and compared with that of the widely used nonparametric method and three standard multivariate copula models. The empirical results reveal that the D-vine copula model is a good and safe choice in managing the downside risk of the refinery.
Using Personal Information in Targeted Grammar-Based Probabilistic Password Attacks

Passwords are the primary means of authentication and security for online accounts and are commonly used to encrypt files and disks. This research demonstrates how personal information about users can be added systematically to enhance password cracking. Specifically, a dictionary-based probabilistic context-free grammar approach is proposed that effectively incorporates personal information about a targeted user into component grammars and dictionaries used for password cracking. The component grammars model various types of personal information such as family names and dates, previous password information and possible information about sequential passwords. A mathematical model for merging multiple grammars that combines the characteristics of the component grammars is presented. The resulting merged target grammar, which is also merged with a standard grammar, is used along with various dictionaries to generate guesses that quickly match target passwords. The experimental results demonstrate that the approach significantly improves password cracking performance.
Chemoreflex sensitization augments sympathetic vasomotor outflow in awake humans.

Prolonged exposure to a steady state of hypoxia causes a time-dependent increase in ventilation which persists even after return to normoxia (Dempsey & Forster, 1982). Although the precise mechanism is unknown, this persistent elevation in ventilation is critically dependent on an intact carotid chemoreflex (Forster et al, 1981; Lahiri et al., 1982; Smith et al., 1986). The goal of this research was to determine whether carotid chemoreflex control of sympathetic vasomotor outflow is similarly sensitized by short-term exposure to intermittent asphyxia. We measured ventilation, arterial pressure, and sympathetic outflow to skeletal muscle before, during, and after 20 minutes of intermittent asphyxia (combined hypoxia-hypercapnia) in healthy, awake humans.
Nutrition and Neuromuscular Disease

Nutrition is a critical aspect of the long-term management of a patient with neuromuscular disease. Nutrition assessment with routine monitoring from diagnosis is essential. With a thorough nutrition follow-up, nutrition risk and gastrointestinal issues can be appropriately identified and dealt with as soon as possible. Complications of undernourishment or overnourishment are minimized this way, thus improving the overall picture. Attention to nutrition assessment, nutrition requirement, gastrointestinal tolerance, and pharmacological side effects is all part of optimum nutritional care and can lead to clinical improvement and improved quality of life. With appropriate nutrition intervention including macronutrient and micronutrient supplements the natural progression of the disease can be slowed and quality of life improved.
Post-Agb Stars as Extragalactic Candles

The extragalactic distance scale depends heavily on one primary distance indicator: Cepheid variables. Given the conflict between stellar ages and the age of the Universe implied by H 0, it is worth checking the zero point with as many independent methods as possible.
Superconducting nano Josephson junctions patterned with a focused helium ion beam

We report the fabrication of nanoscale wires and Josephson junctions in 25 nm thick YBa2Cu3O7–δ thin films with wire widths as narrow as 50 nm. Our approach utilizes a finely focused gas field ion source from a helium ion microscope to directly modify the material on the nanometer scale to convert irradiated regions of the film into insulators. In this manner, the film remains intact and no material is milled or removed. Transport data show that the electrical properties, critical current and conductance, scale linearly with the lithographically defined width ensuring that the actual and lithographically defined dimensions are commensurate with each other. Unlike in typical ion damage proximity effect Josephson junctions, we observe a low temperature saturation of the critical current and near temperature interdependent resistance which we attribute to a narrower and more resistive barrier. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the ability to fabricate devices exhibiting high resistance and capacitance with hysteretic underdamped Josephson junction properties. This patterning technique allows for a broad range of electrical properties for Josephson devices that will expand potential applications.