cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Levels of (S)-N'-nitrosonornicotine in U.S. tobacco products.

Introduction: N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), an esophageal and oral carcinogen present in tobacco products, has a chiral center in its structure. Of its two enantiomers, (S)-NNN exhibits higher tumorigenic potency than (R)-NNN. There is no information available on the levels of (S)-NNN in various tobacco products currently marketed in the United States.
Sensitivity of Array-Like and Optimized Wind Farm Output to Key Factors and Choice of Wake Models

The creation of wakes, with unique turbulence characteristics, downstream of turbines significantly increases the complexity of the boundary layer flow within a wind farm. In conventional wind farm design, analytical wake models are generally used to compute the wake-induced power losses, wi th different wake models yielding significantly different estimates. In this context, the wake behavior, and subsequently the far m power generation, can be expressed as functions of a series o key factors. A quantitative understanding of the relative i mpact of each of these factors is paramount to the development of more reliable power generation models; such an understandi ng is however missing in the current state of the art in wind farm design. In this paper, we quantitatively explore how the far m
The environmental impact of war.

Although the principles mentioned in the CMAJ editorial commemorating Remembrance Day are certainly commendable,[1][1] the article in the same issue by Jennifer Leaning reads like an apology for the real instigators of the miseries inflicted on the world since 1939.[2][2] Leaning writes about the
Improvement in supine bicycle exercise performance in refractory congestive heart failure after isosorbide dinitrate: radionuclide and hemodynamic evaluation of acute effects.

Abstract The acute effects of oral isosorbide dinitrate on exercise performance in congestive heart failure were evaluated in 11 patients. All patients underwent rest and supine bicycle exercise equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography and hemodynamic measurements before and after oral administration of isosorbide dinitrate, 40 mg four times a day for 24 hours. Ninety minutes after the last dose, isosorbide dinitrate increased the duration of exercise (+ 28 percent, probability [p]
Corporate Governance, Debt, and Activist Institutions

We analyze simultaneously the determinants of governance, debt, and activist institutional ownership as a system of three equations. We find that governance relates positively to activist institutional ownership, but has no relation with leverage. Leverage is negatively related to governance and activist institutional ownership, and activist institutional ownership relates positively to governance but negatively to leverage. These results suggest that managers of firms with higher governance levels choose lower levels of debt. Furthermore, although managers have discretion over capital structure, they seem to consider governance levels as predetermined. Leverage and activist institutional ownership appear to be substitute devices. Activist institutions positively influence governance, but invest in firms with strong governance, possibly because stronger governance allows them to be "activists". Finally, we also find that larger firms and firms subject to greater public scrutiny have higher levels of governance, which highlights the importance of the firm's environment in shaping corporate governance. Our analysis provides insights into how governance, leverage, and activist institutional ownership jointly form a system that monitors the firm.
Designing and prototyping the polyhedral specular reflector, a spectrum-splitting module with projected >50% efficiency

We investigate a spectrum-splitting design, the polyhedral specular reflector, for an ultra-high efficiency module (>50%). The design employs a series of multilayer dielectric stack filters to divide the incident spectrum onto seven independently connected subcells. We optimized the geometry and components of the design through coupled wave-optics, device physics, electrical circuit, and ray tracing models. We show a wide design space where >50% module efficiencies are possible and have chosen a design with a projected 50.8% module efficiency to prototype. Initial efforts show excellent matching of the fabricated optical splitting prism (90.1% splitting efficiency) to the theoretical design (93% splitting efficiency). Additionally, integrating fabricated concentrators yields an optical structure consistent with a 30% efficiency module.
IFNbeta-1b Treatment Alters the Composition of Circulating B Cell Subsets, in Particular Reducing the Number of Autoantibody Secreting B1 Cells in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (P02.086)

Objective: The hypothesis tested is that B cell subsets in RRMS patients differ from healthy controls and that treatment with IFN-1b alters these subsets. Background Therapy directed at the depletion of CD20+ B cells has been shown in Phase II clinical trials to be effective in reducing relapse rate and improving MRI in those with RRMS. A subset of human autoantibody producing cells, B1 cells, has recently been described. B1 cells present antigen efficiently and induce naive CD4 T cells to become Th17 cells, a major pro-inflammatory compartment that is involved in the pathogenesis of human RRMS. These cells are found in low frequency in peripheral blood and are CD20+CD27+CD43+. This study investigates the phenotype of B cells from patients pre- and post-treatment with IFNbeta-1b. Design/Methods: Blood was drawn from 10 healthy donors and from 10 RRMS patients before treatment and again 2 and 6 months after daily injections of IFNbeta-1b. Cryopreserved PBMCs were thawed and stained with panels of antibodies against B cell surface antigens. Results: At baseline, RRMS patients have increased frequencies of CD19+CD20+ B cells and decreased frequencies of memory B cells. Notably, those with RMS have a 2-to-3-fold higher frequency of B1 cells compared to healthy controls at baseline. B1 cells from RRMS patients express more CD5 when compared with healthy controls. In response to treatment with IFNbeta-1b, the number of circulating B1 cells declines. Conclusions: This study demonstrates an increased frequency in the number of circulating B cells that carry a phenotype consistent with autoantibody-producing B1 cells in those with RRMS. This population of cells is reduced in response to treatment with IFNbeta-1b. Although the number of subjects in this study was limited, these findings suggest that this B1 population may be linked to an increase in disease activity. Supported by: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. Disclosure: Dr. Mielcarz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bergeron has nothing to disclose. Dr. DeLong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Heyn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mack has nothing to disclose. Dr. Conrad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oliver has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kasper has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Serono, Inc., Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Genentech, Inc., Mederex as a consultant and participant on a scientifc advisory board. Dr. Kasper has received research support from Teva Neuroscience, Serono, Inc. and Bayer Pharmaceutical Corporation. Dr. Channon has nothing to disclose.
Factor Interaction Effects in Mail Survey Response Rates

Researchers have investigated the effectiveness of a wide range of variables in their attempts to increase the response rates for mail questionnaire surveys. Among these variables are: monetary incentives (both large and small), advance letters, stamped vs. business reply envelopes, timing of follow-up mailings, printed vs. mimeographed questionnaire forms, and personal vs. nonpersonal wordings of cover letters [1, 2, 4-10]. In such investigations, a controlled experimental design is typically used to determine the effect of the one variable under study. Little attention has been given to a second important consideration-determining whether significant interaction effects exist among two or more factors applied simultaneously to increase the response rate. This latter area can be important since, for example, individual factors which improve response rates may in combination with other factors actually reduce the response. This study employs a 24 (four factors each at two levels) factorial design to identify the relationships existing among four variables previously used to increase the response rates in mail questionnaire surveys.
HETEROSIS AND FITNESS IN EXPERIMENTAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Evolution is a process which results in the genetic adjustment of an interbreeding group of organisms to its environment. The pervading principle in this adjustment is natural selection. Operating under the conditions imposed by the prevailing mutation rates, population sizes and recombination patterns, natural selection builds a gene pool which copes with the particular environmental vicissitudes that the population encounters. The present paper reports the results of laboratory experiments in which the kinetics of genetic adjustment are subjected to direct study at the level of integration of the sexual population. A set of environmental parameters is arbitrarily chosen, gene pools of various compositions are prepared and then are tested for performance under these conditions. The average size that the population maintains, when equilibrated over many generations by natural selection, is used as the measure of the performance of the group. A control or standard population is always maintained under identical conditions and is measured simultaneously with the experimental population being tested. That population which maintains the larger relative size is judged to be performing better from the overall biological point of view. Such a collective measure is referred to as the relative population fitness. These experiments, of which preliminary reports have been made in Susman and Carson (1958), Carson (1958 a and b), Bert (1960) and Smathers (1961), show that natural selection in certain populations of Drosophila melanogaster favors balanced polymorphism due to autosomal heterosis. This polymorphism develops rapidly and is associated with a pronounced and sudden rise in fitness. Fitness levels are greatest soon after genetic alteration of the base populations, suggesting that simple luxuriant heterosis rather than coadaptive integration is serving fitness. Decline rather than increase of fitness with time further indicates that coadaptation is not involved.
Discovery of Cytotoxic Dolastatin 10 Analogues with N-Terminal Modifications

Auristatins, synthetic analogues of the antineoplastic natural product Dolastatin 10, are ultrapotent cytotoxic microtubule inhibitors that are clinically used as payloads in antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). The design and synthesis of several new auristatin analogues with N-terminal modifications that include amino acids with α,α-disubstituted carbon atoms are described, including the discovery of our lead auristatin, PF-06380101. This modification of the peptide structure is unprecedented and led to analogues with excellent potencies in tumor cell proliferation assays and differential ADME properties when compared to other synthetic auristatin analogues that are used in the preparation of ADCs. In addition, auristatin cocrystal structures with tubulin are being presented that allow for the detailed examination of their binding modes. A surprising finding is that all analyzed analogues have a cis-configuration at the Val-Dil amide bond in their functionally relevant tubulin bound state, whereas in soluti...
Monitoring Pharmacy Student Adherence to World Health Organization Hand Hygiene Indications Using Radio Frequency Identification

Objective. To assess and improve student adherence to hand hygiene indications using radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled hand hygiene stations and performance report cards. Design. Students volunteered to wear RFID-enabled hospital employee nametags to monitor their adherence to hand-hygiene indications. After training in World Health Organization (WHO) hand hygiene methods and indications, student were instructed to treat the classroom as a patient care area. Report cards illustrating individual performance were distributed via e-mail to students at the middle and end of each 5-day observation period. Students were eligible for individual and team prizes consisting of Starbucks gift cards in $5 increments. Assessment. A hand hygiene station with an RFID reader and dispensing sensor recorded the nametag nearest to the station at the time of use. Mean frequency of use per student was 5.41 (range: 2-10). Distance between the student's seat and the dispenser was the only variable significantly associated with adherence. Student satisfaction with the system was assessed by a self-administered survey at the end of the study. Most students reported that the system increased their motivation to perform hand hygiene as indicated. Conclusion. The RFID-enabled hand hygiene system and benchmarking reports with performance incentives was feasible, reliable, and affordable. Future studies should record video to monitor adherence to the WHO 8-step technique.
Load-Aware Overlay Network Based on Structured P2P

Load balancing problem is an important issue in nowadays structured P2P networks due to the heterogeneous capacity of each node.This paper presents a new overlay network based on Treap which takes the load of each node as the priority of Treap node to stabilize network topology.This overlay network provides the interface for load balancing by implementing the load information gathering procedure.It is proved to be effective according to the simulation result.
An advance in condensable composites.

Abstract With the constant advance of technology and the public's increasing awareness of esthetically pleasing restorations, alternatives for amalgam and early composite materials have been brought to the forefront of dentistry. Condensable composites offer characteristics that distinguish them from their traditional hybrid counterparts: decreased wear, packability, and bulk curing with less polymerization shrinkage. Prodigy Condensable expands the first generation of condensables by altering its resin phase to make the material more packable. Through increased filler content and methacryoyloxyethlpolycaprolactonephosphate and rheological control additives, this second-generation condensable composite possesses strength and ease of use comparable to and even exceeding amalgam while demonstrating superior esthetics for all posterior restorations.
Bringing a Product to Market

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a methodology for converting ideas into products and for marketing and selling the product once it is developed and manufactured. It explores the roles and interaction of the customers, partners, and departments or people within a company. The discussions that are presented in the chapter include the preparation of the all-important business case with its financial considerations. The results of a well-developed business case may reveal some unpleasant realities about what seem to be wonderful ideas. The chapter also discusses the identification of key tracking factors during the business case process. If these factors are religiously tracked, they can keep a product development focused and thus make a product a success or cause management to terminate development. Finally, the chapter discusses ways to measure the success of a product in the marketplace.
Improved error bounds for the Fermat primality test on random inputs

We investigate the probability that a random odd composite number passes a random Fermat primality test, improving on earlier estimates in moderate ranges. For example, with random numbers to $2^{200}$, our results improve on prior estimates by close to 3 orders of magnitude.
Optimal routing in a network with unreliable links

An investigation is conducted of the routing of packets in a network in which the link error rates vary. A queuing network model that incorporates the effect of the link error rates is developed and is used to find optimal routing assignments for fixed error rates. Single-path and multiple-path dynamic routing algorithms that minimize the average packet delay or the failure probability of packet transmission are proposed. In case the network state is not exactly known, stochastic learning automata are proposed to drive the routing process. >
Table-top soft X-ray laser operating at 13.9 nm with increased average power

We have demonstrated a λ=13.9 nm table-top laser with pulse energies above 10 µJ in a laser created Ag plasma. Operation at 2.5 Hz resulted in an average power of 20 µW.
Endovascular Treatment of Below-the-Knee Chronic Total Occlusions

With the aging of the US population as well as the epidemic of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes, it is expected that lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and specifically critical limb ischemia (CLI) will continue to be a major healthcare challenge. Although a full discussion of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of CLI is beyond the scope of this chapter, a few points will help provide perspective for the reader. An important concept to convey is that the relationship between diabetes and CLI is not casual, but rather causal in nature. The associations between diabetic prevalence, complications, and mortality track closely with the rates of CLI and of nontraumatic amputations. Over the course of a lifetime, a diabetic patient is significantly more likely to undergo limb loss than a nondiabetic – with over 60% of nontraumatic amputations being performed in diabetic individuals. Although the pathophysiology leading to CLI in these patients is multifactorial – neuropathy, deformity, impaired immune response, and inflammation – the role of diffuse below-the-knee (BTK) atherosclerosis remains central to the failure of healing of foot ulcers. Traditionally, diabetic foot ulcers were classified as neuropathic or ischemic in nature. We now know that 50% of “neuropathic” ulcers may have impaired healing due to underlying ischemia. This ischemia is often microvascular, but in many cases due to distal BTK disease involving the plantar circulation.
Menopause and Rheumatic Disease

Menopause occurs naturally in women at about 50 years of age. There is a wealth of data concerning the relationship of menopause to systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis; there are limited data concerning other rheumatic diseases. Age at menopause may affect the risk and course of rheumatic diseases. Osteoporosis, an integral part of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, is made worse by menopause. Hormone replacement therapy has been studied; its effects vary depending on the disease and even different manifestations within the same disease. Cyclophosphamide can induce early menopause, but there is underlying decreased ovarian reserve in rheumatic diseases.
Accounting for detection gaps when evaluating reef fish habitat use in an acoustic array

Understanding the relationship between habitats and the distribution of fishes is critical to effective survey design and spatial management. Determining reef fish habitat utilization patterns from...
What an Emerging Trump Administration Means for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health.

Abstract The policies of the Trump administration are likely to have direct and indirect implications for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health. With the assistance of a Republican-controlled Congress, President Trump may repeal President Obama's health reform law, undermine same-sex marriage laws and other nondiscrimination protections, reduce funding for research on sexual and gender minority health, and institutionalize discrimination through new legislation, such as the First Amendment Defense Act. Public health researchers, healthcare providers, and professional organizations must continue to combat discrimination and advocate for LGBT health equity under an emerging Trump presidency.
Broad area, selective-emitters for high temperature operation

Thermophotovoltaic and rectenna devices can be greatly improved by frequency-selective emitters, which narrow the emission spectrum of a heat source to couple to the most efficient operating point of the device. We have simulated an alumina and titanium emitter using a Fabry-Perot design which is intended for use with thermal energy converters operating in the near to mid infrared region.
CD16-IL15-CD33 Trispecific Killer Engager (TriKE) induces NK cell expansion, persistence, and myeloid blast antigen specific killing.

NK cell infusions induce complete remissions in 30–50% of patients with refractory AML when combined with lymphodepleting chemotherapy and IL-2. NK cell therapy is limited by lack of antigen specificity and by IL-2 mediated induction of Tregs. To overcome these limitations we developed a 161533 trispecific killer engager (TriKE) molecule containing an anti-CD16 scFv, to engage NK cells, an anti-CD33 scFv, to engage AML targets, and an IL-15 molecule. We have shown previously that a 1633 bispecific killer engager (BiKE) is capable of creating an immunologic synapse between NK cells and AML targets leading to target killing. These molecules generate higher affinity interactions than natural CD16 binding to Fc portions of therapeutic antibodies, resulting in increased NK cell functionality. Addition of IL-15 in the TriKE molecule is meant to enhance NK cell priming, proliferation, and maintenance without inducing Tregs. Cytotoxicity assays and cytokine secretion assessment of NK cells incubated with CD33 + HL-60 target cells indicated that the TriKE induced greater NK cell activation than the BiKE or no molecule control. The TriKE was able to induce potent NK cell proliferation and survival when compared to the BiKE. Interestingly, when compared to recombinant IL-15 the TriKE induced less proliferation of T cells while inducing similar proliferation of NK cells from healthy donors, indicating specificity. The TriKE was capable of rescuing NK cell function of post-transplant patients. In vivo functionality was tested in an NSG xenogeneic model engrafted with HL-60-luc targets and NK cells. TriKE treatment resulted in reduced tumor burden and NK cell maintenance at day 21, displaying the immunotherapeutic potential of the molecule.
Hayakawa, Samuel Ichiye (1906–1992)

S. I. Hayakawa (1906–1992), born in Canada and educated in Canada and the United States, achieved a national reputation as an authority on semantics when his book Language in thought and action appeared in 1938. Hayakawa's book, which became a best seller, was a popular introduction to the basic analytical concepts developed by the Polish-American pioneer in semantics, Alfred Korzybski (1879–1950), and other early semanticists. Hayakawa joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin in 1935, became a professor at the University of Chicago in 1950, and moved to San Francisco State College in 1955. In 1943, Hayakawa founded the journal ETC: A Review of General Semantics, serving as editor until 1970. He was a well-known national publicist for linguistics in general, and semantics in particular, through his numerous popular essays, lectures, and television appearances. His Guide to synonyms and related words, a large-scale English thesaurus published in 1968, remains a basic reference work today. Hayakawa was president of San Francisco State from 1968 to 1973. He then began a new career as a politician, which culminated in his election as a U.S. Senator (1977–1983) from California. He remained active as a conservative intellectual figure until his death at the age of 85, in 1992.
Introduction to the Special Issue on “The Intersection Between Industrial Organization and Healthcare Economics”

This article introduces the special issue on the intersection between industrial organization and healthcare economics. This intersection has received increasing research interest, growing from 2% of the industrial-organization literature in 1991 to 6% in 2016. We describe the nine included articles, which cover a range of healthcare markets that include hospital services, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
The Tale of Two Communities: Residents’ Perceptions of the Built Environment and Neighborhood Social Capital:

Recent decades have seen a growing number of studies on the benefits and environmental determinants of community social capital. This study explored the relationship between neighborhood residents’...
Discontinuous conduction at Purkinje-ventricular muscle junction

Conduction through the cardiac syncytium varies from being nearly continuous, with very well coupled cells, to being clearly discontinuous, with significant conduction delays over very short distances. The Purkinje-ventricular muscle junction (PVJ) sites on the endocardial surface have characteristic delays of conduction and the presence of discrete groups of cells that suggest significant discontinuities of the conduction process at PVJ sites, as compared with the more nearly continuous conduction within either the Purkinje or the ventricular muscle layers of the papillary muscle. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relative sensitivity of conduction at PVJ sites versus conduction within the Purkinje or the ventricular muscle layer of the canine papillary muscle to agents that modulate L-type calcium current. We have used cadmium as a relatively specific blocker of L-type calcium current and isoproterenol as an agent to increase L-type calcium current to test the hypothesis that discontinuous conduction at the PVJ sites would be more sensitive to these agents than would continuous conduction within either the Purkinje layer or the ventricular muscle layer of a canine papillary muscle. Conduction delay at the PVJ sites was significantly increased by cadmium, with some PVJ sites reversibly becoming nonjunctional at 200-400 microM cadmium. Isoproterenol significantly decreased PVJ delay, and this effect was attenuated by carbachol. All of the effects on conduction delay at the PVJ sites were much greater than the effects for the same agents on conduction velocity within either the Purkinje or the ventricular muscle layer of the papillary muscle.
Self-Dual Wideband Absorbers

Self-dual balanced structures, comprising finite electric and magnetic regions, are invariant to 90 degrees rotation if electric and magnetic regions are interchanged with the rotation. Such structures will produce no backscattering when subject to plane wave illumination along the axis of rotation provided that the Weston balanced condition ∊ r = μ r is obeyed. When higher order spatial harmonics are suppressed, e.g. in a periodic structure whose unit cell is smaller than the wavelength, the entire incident power is forced to be transmitted through the structure. With proper design, this phenomenon can be exploited to produce absorbers over a wide range of frequencies, provided that the constitutive parameters adhere to the Weston condition throughout this range.
The Problem with Some Problems

We would like to share a problem with you that has some subtle features. We will examine how we believe students may approach this problem — students that we shall characterize as “marginal,” “good,” and “exceptional“ for convenience of discussion. We will see that one can use the incorrect response of the good student as a springboard to go into more advanced course content.
Prospective crossover clinical trial comparing transdermal with oral phenobarbital administration in epileptic cats

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare serum phenobarbital concentrations, adverse events and client satisfaction during 14 weeks of transdermal vs oral phenobarbital administration to epil...
Should Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa Undergo LASIK

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disease with immune dysregulation. While eye manifestations of HS are rare, a dilemma arises when these patients seek treatment for refractive errors. Although excimer laser surgery can be safely performed in patients with autoimmune and immune-mediated inflammatory disease, there are caveats. Aside from the routine laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) screening tests, in some instances, we recommend additional screening tests in patients with HS, such as dry eye tests, consultation with specialists regarding HS diagnosis and treatment, careful assessment of the eyelids and periorbital structures, and thorough history of past and current lesions and treatments. After these patients undergo LASIK, careful, frequent, and long-term follow-up is necessary. Any adverse event or complication should be managed immediately. FUNDING: Research to Prevent Blindness funded the study. Hoopes Vision funded the Rapid Service Fees.
ℋ2 control of SISO fractional order systems

Abstract In this paper, we propose a systematic method to design the optimal ℋ 2 output feedback controller for single input, single output plants of fractional order based on Wiener–Hopf spectral factorization. The plant is allowed to be unstable, non-minimum-phase, and incommensurate order. Using the fractional order Youla parameterization, the resulting controller satisfies the closed-loop internal stability requirement. Because of the branch point singularities associated with fractional order transfer functions, the spectral decompositions are effected via an integral technique. An example is provided to demonstrate the design procedure.
Increased cognitive load during acquisition of a continuous task eliminates the learning effects of self-controlled knowledge of results.

Previous research has demonstrated that providing learners with self-control over some aspect of practice enhances motor learning (for a review see Wulf, 2007). One explanation for the self-control...
Reconstruction of Paleofire Emissions Over the Past Millennium From Measurements of Ice Core Acetylene

Author(s): Nicewonger, MR; Aydin, M; Prather, MJ; Saltzman, ES | Abstract: Acetylene is a short-lived trace gas produced during combustion of fossil fuels, biomass, and biofuels. Biomass burning is likely the only major source of acetylene in the preindustrial atmosphere, making ice core acetylene a powerful tool for reconstructing paleofire emissions. Here we present a 2,000-year atmospheric record of acetylene reconstructed from analysis of air bubbles trapped in Greenland and Antarctic ice cores and infer pyrogenic acetylene emissions using a chemistry transport model. From 0 to 1500 CE, Antarctic acetylene averages 36n±n1npmolnmol−1 (meann±n1 SE), roughly double the annual mean over Antarctica today. Antarctic acetylene declines during the Little Ice Age by over 50% to 17n±n2npmolnmol−1 from 1650 to 1750 CE. Acetylene over Greenland declines less dramatically over the same period. Modeling results suggest that pyrogenic acetylene emissions during 1000–1500 CE were sustained at rates significantly greater than modern day and declined by over 50% during the 1650–1750 CE period.
Presidential Communication During the Legislative Process

Objective Presidents routinely employ public statements to inform Congress about their position on pending legislation. Position‐taking is strategic, with presidents choosing whether, how, how often, and when to intervene. We move beyond the traditional dichotomies of issuance and position to explore the timing and frequency of presidential position‐taking during the lawmaking process. Method We use Statements of Administration Policy (SAPs)–bill‐specific messages addressed to Congress–to analyze presidential communications. Our regression analyses examine both the frequency of SAPs usage on bills and when in the process presidents communicate their position. Results We find that presidents take positions sparingly and most often at the early stages of the lawmaking process. Conclusion Presidential communications during the lawmaking process are more about winnowing options and bargaining over bill text than influencing pivotal votes.
Relationship Between Oxidative Stress Markers and Endothelin-1 Levels in Newborns of Different Gestational Ages

Oxidative stress results from excessive reactive oxygen species formation and/or inadequate antioxidant defense. Premature and critically ill infants are especially susceptible due to an immature intrinsic antioxidant system that cannot fully compensate for a free radical load. Oxidative stress is also associated with endothelial dysfunction and alterations in Endothelin-1 (ET-1) signaling pathways. However, the effects of the complex interaction between oxidative stress and ET-1 in newborns are not well-understood. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the relationship between levels of common oxidative stress biomarkers [glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA)] and ET-1 in newborns of different gestational ages. In a level IV NICU, 63 neonates were prospectively enrolled and divided into groups based on gestational age at birth: Early Preterm (24 0/7-30 6/7 weeks), Late Preterm (31 0/7-36 6/7 weeks), and Term (37 0/7-42 weeks). Umbilical cord (1.5 mL) and 24(±4) h of life (24 h) (1 mL) blood samples were collected for GSH, MDA, and ET-1 analyses. GSH, MDA, and ET-1 were determined using established methodology. Mean cord MDA levels for all age groups, Early Preterm (2.93 ± 0.08 pg/ml), Late Preterm (2.73 ± 0.15 pg/ml), and Term (2.92 ± 0.13 pg/ml), were significantly higher than those at 24 h of life (p 0.05 and r2 = 0.001, p > 0.05, respectively) or 24 h of life (r2 = 0.001, p > 0.05 and r2 = 0.03, p > 0.05, respectively). Preterm neonates exposed to prenatal corticosteroids (1.87 ± 0.31 pg/ml) had lower cord MDA levels than non-exposed neonates (2.85 ± 0.12 pg/ml) (p < 0.05). Both cord and 24 h OS markers were significantly higher in neonates treated with oxygen therapy (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively) than those who did not receive supplemental oxygen. Oxidative stress markers (MDA and GSH) and ET-1 levels act independently. MDA is higher in cord blood than at 24 h of life regardless of gestational age. In preterm neonates, ET-1 levels are higher in umbilical cord blood compared to 24 h of life.
Mechanistic cross-talk between DNA/RNA polymerase enzyme kinetics and nucleotide substrate availability in cells: Implications for polymerase inhibitor discovery

Enzyme kinetic analysis reveals a dynamic relationship between enzymes and their substrates. Overall enzyme activity can be controlled by both protein expression and various cellular regulatory systems. Interestingly, the availability and concentrations of intracellular substrates can constantly change, depending on conditions and cell types. Here, we review previously reported enzyme kinetic parameters of cellular and viral DNA and RNA polymerases with respect to cellular levels of their nucleotide substrates. This broad perspective exposes a remarkable co-evolution scenario of DNA polymerase enzyme kinetics with dNTP levels that can vastly change, depending on cell proliferation profiles. Similarly, RNA polymerases display much higher Km values than DNA polymerases, possibly due to millimolar range rNTP concentrations found in cells (compared with micromolar range dNTP levels). Polymerases are commonly targeted by nucleotide analog inhibitors for the treatments of various human diseases, such as cancers and viral pathogens. Because these inhibitors compete against natural cellular nucleotides, the efficacy of each inhibitor can be affected by varying cellular nucleotide levels in their target cells. Overall, both kinetic discrepancy between DNA and RNA polymerases and cellular concentration discrepancy between dNTPs and rNTPs present pharmacological and mechanistic considerations for therapeutic discovery.
Density dependent mortality, climate, and Argentine ants affect population dynamics of an invasive citrus pest, Diaphorina citri, and its specialist parasitoid, Tamarixia radiata, in Southern California, USA

Abstract The effects of climate and ants on population regulation of an invasive citrus pest, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), by its parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), in southern California were examined over a four-year period. Densities of D. citri eggs, nymphs, and adults, and Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a mutualist which defends psyllid nymphs from natural enemies, citrus flush growth patterns, and parasitism rates of T. radiata, were monitored every four weeks on grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, and tangerine trees at 28 urban sites across three climate types (coastal, intermediate, and desert). Significant spatial and temporal effects on D. citri abundance and parasitism rates were observed over this four-year period. Highest D. citri densities and parasitism rates were found in the intermediate and coastal regions during peaks of flushing cycles of citrus plants over March-June and September-November each year. Over the course of this study, population densities of D. citri declined by over 75%. Parasitism by T. radiata was identified as a significant mortality factor often exceeding 60% during periods of peak parasitoid activity. Analyses indicated that parasitism resulted in delayed density-dependent mortality and subsequent reductions in D. citri densities lagged by ~ 1 yr. Trends in D. citri densities and parasitism rates over time were similar on grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, and tangerines. Presence of L. humile in citrus resulted in a 3-fold increase in D. citri densities and control of this pest ant is needed to maximize biological control of D. citri.
Cytoplasmic dynein-1 cargo diversity is mediated by the combinatorial assembly of FTS-Hook-FHIP complexes

Abstract In eukaryotic cells, intracellular components are organized by the microtubule motors cytoplasmic dynein-1 (dynein) and kinesins, which are linked to cargos via adaptor proteins. While ∼40 kinesins transport cargo toward the plus end of microtubules, a single dynein moves cargo in the opposite direction. How dynein transports a wide variety of cargos remains an open question. The FTS-Hook-FHIP (“FHF”) cargo adaptor complex links dynein to cargo in mammals and fungi. As human cells have three Hooks and four FHIP proteins, we hypothesized that the combinatorial assembly of different Hook and FHIP proteins could underlie dynein cargo diversity. Using proteomic approaches, we determine the protein ‘interactome’ of each FHIP protein. Live-cell imaging and biochemical approaches show that different FHF complexes associate with distinct motile cargos. These complexes also move with dynein and its cofactor dynactin in single-molecule in vitro reconstitution assays. Complexes composed of FTS, FHIP1B, and Hook1/Hook3 co-localize with Rab5-tagged early endosomes via a direct interaction between FHIP1B and GTP-bound Rab5. In contrast, complexes composed of FTS, FHIP2A and Hook2 colocalize with Rab1A-tagged ER-to-Golgi cargos and FHIP2A is involved in the motility of Rab1A tubules. Our findings suggest that combinatorial assembly of different FTS-Hook-FHIP complexes is one mechanism dynein uses to achieve cargo specificity.
Evaluation of binomial series with harmonic numbers

We define a special function related to the digamma function and use it to evaluate in closed form various series involving binomial coefficients and harmonic numbers.
Tennessee Williams and the Theatre of Excess: The Strange, the Crazed, the Queer

Introduction: 'sicker than necessary': Tennessee Williams' theatre of excess 1. 'Drowned in Rabelaisian laughter': Germans as grotesque comic figures in Williams' plays of the 1960s and '70s 2. 'Benevolent anarchy': Williams' late plays and the theater of cruelty 3. 'Writing calls for discipline!': chaos, creativity, and madness in Clothes for a Summer Hotel 4. 'Act naturally': embracing the monstrous woman in The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore, The Mutilated, and The Pronoun 'I' 5. 'There's something not natural here': grotesque ambiguities in Kingdom of Earth, A Cavalier for Milady and A House Not Meant to Stand 6. 'All drama is about being extreme': 'in-yer-face' sex, war, and violence Conclusion: 'the only thing to do is laugh'.
Water Loss by Evaporative Cooling

It is not our purpose to go fully into questions of body temperature determination, interesting though these matters are. For reviews, see Cloudsley-Thompson (1970); Heinrich (1974, 1975). However, one aspect of temperature regulation is directly relevant to water balance, namely evaporative cooling, and this will be discussed.
Microscopic model for studying radiation degradation of electron transport and photodetection devices

A microscopic-level model is proposed for exploring degraded performance in electron transport and photodetection devices, based on pre-calculated results as initial conditions for meso-scale approaches, including ultra-fast displacement cascade, intermediate defect stabilization and cluster formation, and slow defect reaction and migration. The steady-state spatial distribution of point defects in a mesoscopic-scale layered system will be studied by taking into account the planar dislocation loops and spherical neutral voids as well. These theoretical efforts are expected to be crucial in fully understanding the physical mechanism for identifying defect species, performance degradations, and the development of mitigation strategies. Additionally, verification of the current model by device characterization is discussed.
MAVR: Code Reuse Stealthy Attacks and Mitigation on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

As embedded systems have increased in performance and reliability, their applications have expanded into new domains such as automated drone-based delivery mechanisms. Security of these drones, also referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), is crucial due to their use in many different domains. In this paper, we present a stealthy attack strategy that allows the attacker to change sensor values and modify the UAV navigation path. As the attack is stealthy, the system will continue to execute normally and thus the ground station or other monitoring entities and systems will not be able to detect that an attack is undergoing. With respect to defense, we propose a strategy that combines software and hardware techniques. At software level, we propose a fine grained randomization based approach that modifies the layout of the executable code and hinders code-reuse attack. To strengthen the security of our defense, we leverage a custom hardware platform designed and built by us. The platform isolates the code binary and randomized binary in such a way that the actual code being executed is never exposed for an attacker to analyze. We have implemented a prototype of this defense technique and present results to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of this defense strategy.
Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Mellitus: Complication of the Disease or of Antihyperglycemic Medications

Cardiovascular disease is the principal complication and the leading cause of death for patients with diabetes (DM). The efficacy of antihyperglycemic treatments on cardiovascular disease risk remains uncertain. Cardiovascular risk factors are affected by antihyperglycemic medications, as are many intermediate markers of cardiovascular disease. Here we summarize the evidence assessing the cardiovascular effects of antihyperglycemic medications with regard to risk factors, intermediate markers of disease, and clinical outcomes.
Compact single-arm square spiral microstrip antenna with tuning arms

A compact single-arm microstrip square spiral antenna with tuning arms is presented. Measurements indicate that this antenna provides operating characteristics comparable to those of a traditional microstrip patch antenna while significantly reducing the antenna's physical extent and conductor area. These antennas are suitable for applications in portable communication devices or phased arrays.
The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fludarabine in rheumatoid arthritis

Study Objective. To describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fludarabine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Design. Open-label, staggered trial conducted in conjunction with a phase I-II clinical trial. Setting. Government research hospital. Patients. Twenty-six patients with refractory RA. Intervention. Fludarabine 20 or 30 mg/m2/day was administered as a 0.5-hour infusion for 3 consecutive days (1 cycle) for 6 months (1 cycle/mo). Measurements and Main Results. Serial plasma samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analysis on day 2 of the first cycle of therapy. Relationships between pharmacokinetic parameters and hematologic and efficacy parameters were examined. The disposition of fludarabine was characterized by a two-compartment model. There were no differences in pharmacokinetics between the low- and high-dose groups. The mean ± SD total clearance, volume of distribution at steady state, and β-half-life were 13.68 ± 5.1 L/hour, 170.08 ± 86.5 L, and 10.9 ± 3.1 hours, respectively. The volume of the peripheral compartment was approximately twice as large as the volume of the central compartment, indicating a significant amount of tissue distribution. No significant pharmacodynamic relationships were observed between pharmacokinetic parameters and hematologic and efficacy parameters. Conclusion. Fludarabine pharmacokinetics in patients with RA are characterized by an intermediate-length distribution phase (∼ 40 min), terminal half-life of 10.9 hours, and significant amount of tissue distribution.
A real-time computer controller for a Robotic Filament Winding system

This paper presents an integrated real-time control system for a Robotic Filament Winding manufacturing cell. The architecture is based on a multiprocessor system employing four processor boards. The system incorporates a hierarchical control layout with the task specification at the highest level and the robot and winder set point tracking at the lowest. Eventual design goals include a PC front-end unit capable of winding path generation and testing prior to actual part production. Preliminary experimental results on cylindrical, elbow and T-shaped pipe-fittings are included.
Modification of vital wheat gluten with phosphoric acid to produce high free swelling capacity

Wheat gluten reacts with phosphoric acid in the presence of urea to produce natural superabsorbent gels. Fourier Transform Infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) reveal chemical changes from the reaction. Temperatures above 120°C and dry conditions create the opportunity for reaction. FT-IR analyses confirm the formation of esters, carbamates, and phosphoramides on the gluten samples. 2DE protein composition topographies indicate a shift in the isoelectric point (pI) to lower values along with extensive inter-protein linkages. A free swelling capacity (FSC) in excess of 85× the mass of the converted gluten is obtainable using a conservative vacuum-assisted method to recover and quantify the properties of the wet gel. Other methods produce FSC values nearly twice as high. FSC for acid-treated gluten is lower for solutions containing solutes than the FSC for deionized water. Native gluten produces FSC values that are about 2% of those for treated gluten, but these values are less sensitive to the presence of ionic solutes and increase slightly in the presence of aqueous ethanol up to a mole fraction of 0.25.. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39440.