cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photofragment Spectroscopy of FeCH2 +, CoCH2 +, and NiCH2 + near the M+-CH2 Dissociation Threshold

Photofragment spectra of jet-cooled MCH2+ (M = Fe, Co, Ni) have been measured. Our investigation of NiCH2+ represents the first reported spectroscopic study of this molecule. A spectroscopic threshold is observed for each of the three systems. In addition to imposing strict upper limits on the M+−CH2 bond strengths, these results further the discussion concerning the interpretation of spectroscopic thresholds as thermodynamic limits. The measured upper limits are: D°0(Fe+−CH2) ≤ 342 ± 2 kJ/mol, D°0(Co+−CH2) ≤ 331 ± 2 kJ/mol, and D°0(Ni+−CH2) ≤ 295 ± 5 kJ/mol. Three distinct, 2-nm-wide peaks are observed in the photofragment spectrum of CoCH2+, but the spectra lack sharp structure above threshold.
A comparison of methods to evaluate mass transport in damaged mortar

Abstract The service life of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is directly influenced by the transport properties of concrete. These transport properties are adversely affected by the presence of cracks. Therefore, for accurate service life estimation of RC structures the effect of cracks on mass transport needs to be understood and quantified. To quantify the effect of cracks, different measurement methods have been developed. In this paper, we compare different mass transport measurement methods for quantifying the effect of damage, and investigate which method is more sensitive and provides the most information on the effect of damage. In this work, damage was induced by freeze-thaw in mortar specimens. Mass transport properties were measured using electrical resistivity, rapid chloride permeability, sorptivity, drying, air permeability, water permeability, and desorption isotherm. The results indicate that the measured effect of damage depends on the mechanisms of transport used in the measurement technique, and therefore, different measurement techniques do not necessarily provide the same measure of the effect of damage. The water and air permeability are comparatively more sensitive to the presence of damage.
Clinical Assessment of Electromagnetic Compatibility of Hearing Aids and Digital Wireless Phones

Research studies have shown that digital wireless phones interact with some hearing aids, creating a buzzing noise that may reduce speech intelligibility. Interference signals for three phone technologies were generated at five sound pressure levels (35 dB, 45 dB, 55 dB, 65 dB, and 75 dB) and mixed with speech at 65 dB SPL to test the speech intelligibility of 24 hearing-impaired people. A “No Noise” condition was also tested. Scores for the TDMA-217 Hz phone signal at low speech-to-noise ratios (<10 dB) were significantly lower than those for CDMA and TDMA-50 Hz at the same level. The CDMA and TDMA-50 Hz phone signals had a similar effect on speech intelligibility. Speech intelligibility scores at speech-to-noise ratios of 20 dB and 30 dB were similar to those for the “No Noise” condition. The articulation index represented the best index for predicting the impact of wireless phone interference on speech intelligibility.
Electricity and Water Conservation on College and University Campuses in Response to National Competitions among Dormitories: Quantifying Relationships between Behavior, Conservation Strategies and Psychological Metrics

“Campus Conservation Nationals” (CCN) is a recurring, nation-wide electricity and water-use reduction competition among dormitories on college campuses. We conducted a two year empirical study of the competition’s effects on resource consumption and the relationship between conservation, use of web technology and various psychological measures. Significant reductions in electricity and water use occurred during the two CCN competitions examined (n = 105,000 and 197,000 participating dorm residents respectively). In 2010, overall reductions during the competition were 4% for electricity and 6% for water. The top 10% of dorms achieved 28% and 36% reductions in electricity and water respectively. Participation was larger in 2012 and reductions were slightly smaller (i.e. 3% electricity). The fact that no seasonal pattern in electricity use was evident during non-competition periods suggests that results are attributable to the competition. Post competition resource use data collected in 2012 indicates that conservation behavior was sustained beyond the competition. Surveys were used to assess psychological and behavioral responses (n = 2,900 and 2,600 in 2010 and 2012 respectively). Electricity reductions were significantly correlated with: web visitation, specific conservation behaviors, awareness of the competition, motivation and sense of empowerment. However, participants were significantly more motivated than empowered. Perceived benefits of conservation were skewed towards global and future concerns while perceived barriers tended to be local. Results also suggest that competitions may be useful for “preaching beyond the choir”–engaging those who might lack prior intrinsic or political motivation. Although college life is distinct, certain conclusions related to competitions, self-efficacy, and motivation and social norms likely extend to other residential settings.
Chattering-free trending law for discrete-time sliding mode control

As the trending law of discrete-time sliding mode control is in different forms and difficult to avoid chattering,a general form of it is proposed,and the reaching condition without chattering is given with the academic proof,which provides a theory basis in general for the design and research of the chattering-free trending law for the discrete-time sliding mode control.As to the uncertain system that satisfies matching condition,the method to infer the convergent region of the switch function and the minimal value of it without chattering are provided.The classical exponential trending law is improved as a case of using the reaching condition without chattering based on its general form,which shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Acquiring Voting Rights

In the summer of 2013, the US Supreme Court changed the course of electoral history by striking down Section 4b of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). This part of the federal VRA defined jurisdictions that had a history of voting discrimination against minority populations. In effect, before the summer of 2013, election law was frozen in nine whole states and parts of six other states (56 counties and two townships), which were defined as “covered” jurisdictions and subject to Section 5 of the act.1 Every time one of those jurisdictions wanted to make even the smallest voting change, they had to apply to the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the DC Federal District Court. Together, the DOJ and the court halted a number of election changes deemed to be discriminatory to both African Americans and Native Americans.
Tax Expenditure Estimates in Ghana

Like many countries, Ghana provides tax incentives to encourage private investments and reduce the tax burden of certain sectors and the poor. However, these exemptions come at a cost. This chapter uses data provided by the Ministry of Finance of Ghana to estimate the cost of these exemptions, which are also known as tax expenditures. The data provided included the customs import data on exemptions, Ghana’s Supply and Use Tables, Value Added Tax (VAT) returns and data collected by the committee from income tax returns. The overall tax expenditure for the year 2013 was 5.2 percent of GDP, with tax expenditures on VAT constituting the biggest part at 4.2 percent followed by customs duty exemptions at 0.9 percent. This makes Ghana’s tax expenditure the 14th highest in a list of 30 countries for which tax expenditures estimates are publicly available. While data on the 2014 income tax and external VAT is not fully available, the tax expenditure for domestic VAT and customs was 5.1 percent in 2013 compared to 5 percent in 2014.
Learning to Eat Politely at the Chinese Homestay Dinner Table: Two Contrasting Case Studies

While study abroad homestays are often credited with providing opportunities for language and cultural learning, at times they can be characterized by communicative, cross-cultural, or interpersonal discord. In documenting these conflicts and their consequences, research to date has relied largely on students' self-reports, often focusing on their negative effect on students' orientations to learning. Grounded in Vygotskian sociocultural theory, this study adopts a longitudinal approach to the multimodal, multisensory process of learning table etiquette in Chinese homestays, including the perspectives of both hosts and students. Analysis of communicative interactions, photographs, diaries, and interviews reveals that the hosts directed students' attention to their inadequate etiquette at mealtimes through contextualized directives and accusations. These face-threatening acts stipulated dos and don'ts while also ultimately cultivating some habits of virtuous eating. Over time, face-threatening acts became repertoires of communicative resources invoked by students to control their social and mental activity. The findings suggest that students and hosts can collaboratively resolve homestay problems, transforming them into opportunities for learning.
“If There’s One Benefit, You’re not Going to Get Pregnant”: the Sexual Mis education of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Individuals

Despite growing attention to gay and lesbian concerns, today’s current sex education curriculum in schools and families is still centered upon heterosexuality. Those studies that examine family sex communication and school-based sex education commonly reflect and take place within a heterosexual context as well, which largely ignores the perspective of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. This study situates non-heterosexual individuals at the center of the sex education discussion. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 10 self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) young adults between the ages of 19–25, this study explores what these individuals learn when it comes to sex education in school and in the home. The findings show that LGB young adults experience sex education, whether at home, school, or through their own searching, that is heterosexually centered, revolves around sex as being dangerous, and is often lacking the most basic health and behavior information. Findings from my study indicate the importance of providing sexual information that covers a wide range of sexual orientations and behaviors as it benefits all teens, especially those who are not heterosexual. Implications for parents and schools regarding sex education are discussed in addition to limitations and directions for future research.
Relationship of FAP-alpha, ADAM12, WISP1, and SOX11 expression to tumor activity in aggressive fibromatosis: Demonstration of heterogeneity within and between cases.

10560 Background: Aggressive fibromatosis (AF) represents a group of tumors with an unpredictable clinical course and is characterized by a monoclonal proliferation of myofibroblasts. The optimal treatment for AF is unclear. In earlier gene expression studies we identified four genes, ADAM12, WISP1, SOX11, and FAP-alpha, that were uniquely overexpressed in AF compared with 16 different normal tissues. This study was designed to examine the expression of these four proteins in AF. Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in 29 cases of AF, and analyzed by a pathologist with expertise in the field. Automated imaging analysis was performed to independently quantify IHC staining, nuclear size, and nuclear chromatin density. Nuclear size was determined on control slides. Slides were scanned using ScanScope XT (Aperio) and images were divided into tiled regions of interest (ROIs) for measurements. A nuclear chromatin density ratio (CDR), defined as the measure of nuclear area with light staining divide...
Visual IoT/Robotics Programming Language in Pi-Calculus

As IoT/robotics research and applications expand explosively into many domains in computing, information, and control systems, schools and universities must prepare students to understand and be able to program IoT devices and robots. However, programming IoT and physical devices is hard and depends on good understanding of hardware and low-level programming. Workflow and visual programming environments have been developed to address this issue, including MIT App Inventor, Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio and VPL (Visual Programming Language), and Intel Service Orchestration Layer. We have developed a new visual programming language and its development environment: ASU VIPLE (Visual IoT/Robotics Programming Language Environment). ASU VIPLE is specifically developed to support different device platforms. It supports LEGO EV3 and all IoT devices based on an open architecture. ASU VIPLE integrates engineering design process, workflow, fundamental programming concepts, control flow, parallel computing, and event-driven programming seamlessly into the curriculum. It has been pilot tested at Arizona State University in summers 2015 and 2016, and is now taught in an ASU regular class, Introduction to Engineering. It has been adopted by numerous universities around the world. This paper focuses on the mathematical model of ASU VIPLE. π-calculus is used to describe the basic activities in VIPLE, as well as the workflow defined by the basic activities.
Survey of Modular Functions of One Variable

In this paper a survey is given of the theory of modular functions of one variable, including Dirichlet series, functional equations, compactifications, Hecke operators, Eisenstein series and the Petersson product. They are notes of an introductory course on the subject at the International Summer School 1972, held at Antwerp University. It is to be noted that much of the material presented is to be found in [7], where complete proofs of most of the theorems occur. However, the material goes beyond [7], and is complementary to it, in the sense that more attention is paid to the relation between Eisenstein series and elliptic curves. Also included is an exposition of some basic features of the work of Artin and Lehner on old and new forms. Little, if no attention at all, is paid to the relation between modular functions and quadratic forms.
Semi-automated quantification and neuroanatomical mapping of heterogeneous cell populations.

Abstract Background Our group studies the interactions between cells of the brain and the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Using an in vivo system that allows us to permanently mark and identify brain cells injected with Toxoplasma protein, we have identified that Toxoplasma-injected neurons (TINs) are heterogeneously distributed throughout the brain. Unfortunately, standard methods to quantify and map heterogeneous cell populations onto a reference brain atlas are time consuming and prone to user bias. New method We developed a novel MATLAB-based semi-automated quantification and mapping program to allow the rapid and consistent mapping of heterogeneously distributed cells on to the Allen Institute Mouse Brain Atlas. The system uses two-threshold background subtraction to identify and quantify cells of interest. Results We demonstrate that we reliably quantify and neuroanatomically localize TINs with low intra- or inter-observer variability. In a follow up experiment, we show that specific regions of the mouse brain are enriched with TINs. Comparison with existing methods The procedure we use takes advantage of simple immunohistochemistry labeling techniques, use of a standard microscope with a motorized stage, and low cost computing that can be readily obtained at a research institute. To our knowledge there is no other program that uses such readily available techniques and equipment for mapping heterogeneous populations of cells across the whole mouse brain. Conclusion The quantification method described here allows reliable visualization, quantification, and mapping of heterogeneous cell populations in immunolabeled sections across whole mouse brains.
A phase II study of nivolumab in combination with cabozantinib for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC).

TPS1119Background: Patients with mTNBC have a poor prognosis, and new therapies are needed. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and myeloid-derived suppressors cells (MDSCs) have been recog...
Education and Civic Engagement

Education is widely seen as a critical input into the creation of an engaged and informed citizenry. This article reviews the available evidence that examines the effects of investments in schooling on measures of civic engagement in adulthood, such as voter participation, volunteering, and support for democratic values. The comparative effectiveness of public and private secondary schools in promoting adult civic engagement is also discussed, along with suggested directions for future research.
Near infrared photoimmunotherapy using a fiber optic diffuser for treating peritoneal gastric cancer dissemination.

Peritoneal dissemination (PD) of abdominal malignancies is a common form of metastasis and its presence signals a poor prognosis. New treatment is required for patients with PD. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly selective tumor treatment that employs an antibody–photo-absorber conjugate (APC). In this study, we investigate in vitro and in vivo efficacy of trastuzumab (tra)-IR700DX NIR-PIT on a human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive gastric cancer cell line. NIR-PIT effects were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Disseminated peritoneal implants mice were separated into 5 groups: (1) no treatment; (2) tra-IR700 i.v. only; (3) NIR light only; (4) NIR-PIT; (5) repeated NIR-PIT. The peritoneal cavity was irradiated with NIR light using a fiber optic diffuser delivered through the catheter. Specific binding and cell-specific killing was observed after NIR-PIT in vitro. In the in vivo study, fluorescence endoscopy showed high tumor accumulation of tra-IR700 within tumors. Significantly prolonged survival was achieved in the three treatment groups (tra-IR700 i.v. only, NIR-PIT, and repeated NIR-PIT groups) compared with control and NIR light only group (p < 0.05 for tra-IR700 i.v. only, p < 0.01 for NIR-PIT, and p < 0.0001 for repeated NIR-PIT). Moreover, most prolonged survival was shown for the repeated NIR-PIT group (p < 0.0001 vs tra-IR700 i.v. only, p < 0.01 vs NIR-PIT). NIR-PIT using a fiber optic diffuser to deliver light is a promising candidate for the treatment of disseminated peritoneal metastases and could be readily translated to humans.
Pursuing productivity gains and risk reduction in a multi-hazard landscape: A case study from eastern Uganda

Abstract Agricultural land and natural resource management has an important role to play in reducing the vulnerability of rural populations to hazard risk and to promote increases in agricultural yields. Though strategies for hazard risk mitigation and productivity gains are sometimes viewed in opposition to each other, many of the practices promoted to achieve one goal provide co-benefits toward the other. Our understanding remains imperfect with respect to the mechanisms underlying the use of such practices, and how these motivations are weighted in the context of multiple environmental hazards, multiple practice alternatives, and multiple sources of information. This study addresses these knowledge gaps by investigating the voluntary adoption of agricultural land management practices among farmers in the Bugisu sub-region in eastern Uganda. A set of multinomial logistic (MNL) regression analyses reveal that socio-economic and risk perception factors contribute significantly to the use of the more labor-intensive practices, while others are best explained by variations in household income and income streams. The village context is an important factor in explaining variation in use rates, and the contributions of village characteristics beyond the household are discussed, as is the role that risk reduction and agricultural development organizations play in facilitating adoption. The results of this study are well placed to inform the intervention targets of development and disaster risk reduction organizations seeking to increase uptake of agricultural land management practices.
A Comprehensive Signal Integrity Study of Differential Pairs Routed within a PCB Via Field

Printed circuit board (PCB) via fields can cause signal integrity (SI) degradation to high speed bus channel PCB wiring in the form of: differential to common mode conversion, crosstalk and impedance mismatch. This is especially the case when differential pairs are close to via anti-pads, when trying to manage multiple differential pairs in between two vias which are tightly pitched from each other and/or when PCB layer misregistration is considered. An electromagnetic modelling study is carried out in this paper where two differential pairs are wired in between two columns of vias. Different design parameters are varied including the pitch between the two via columns, the spacing between the differential pairs and the number of vias in the column. Observations are made based on the presented results furthering the understanding of the phenomena that takes place and towards better PCB design implementations.
Patient-Specific Multiscale Modeling of the Assisted Bidirectional Glenn.

Background First-stage palliation of neonates with single-ventricle physiology is associated with poor outcomes and challenging clinical management. Prior computational modeling and in vitro experiments introduced the assisted bidirectional Glenn (ABG), which increased pulmonary flow and oxygenation over the bidirectional Glenn (BDG) and the systemic-to-pulmonary shunt in idealized models. In this study, we demonstrate that the ABG achieves similar performance in patient-specific models and assess the influence of varying shunt geometry. Methods In a small cohort of single-ventricle prestage 2 patients, we constructed three-dimensional in silico models and tuned lumped parameter networks to match clinical measurements. Each model was modified to produce virtual BDG and ABG surgeries. We simulated the hemodynamics of the stage 1 procedure, BDG, and ABG by using multiscale computational modeling, coupling a finite-element flow solver to the lumped parameter network. Two levels of pulmonary vascular resistances (PVRs) were investigated: baseline (low) PVR of the patients and doubled (high) PVR. The shunt nozzle diameter, anastomosis location, and shape were also manipulated. Results The ABG increased the pulmonary flow rate and pressure by 15% to 20%, which was accompanied by a rise in superior vena caval pressure (2 to 3 mm Hg) at both PVR values. Pulmonary flow rate and superior vena caval pressures were most sensitive to the shunt nozzle diameter. Conclusions Patient-specific ABG performance was similar to prior idealized simulations and experiments, with good performance at lower PVR values in the range of measured clinical data. Larger shunt outlet diameters and lower PVR led to improved ABG performance.
What Is the Most Sensitive and Specific Laboratory Test(s) for the Detection of Acute Mesenteric Ischemia? What Is the Utility of Lactate? Are There Other Laboratory Tests Which Are Helpful in Making the Diagnosis?

Current laboratory tests have overall poor sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI), despite multiple attempts to validate both old and novel biomarkers. Elevated WBC count is nearly ubiquitous among patients with AMI. Serum lactate levels correlate with both irreversible bowel necrosis and mortality but are not an early marker of disease. D-dimer may have use as a negative predictive marker, but it is not a sufficiently specific or sensitive when positive. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) shows promise as a novel biomarker but requires further validation before it is appropriate for clinical use.
The complete chloroplast genome of Cymbidium eburneum (Orchidaceae)

Cymbidium eburneum Lindl. is an endangered species of Orchidaceae and distributed in Guangxi, Yunnan and Hainan of China, and India, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam. Here, we report the complete chloroplas...
"I'd Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a [Tax Deduction] Today": Donor-Advised Funds and the Deferral of Charity

In recent years, donor-advised funds have become an increasingly-popular vehicle for charitable giving. In part, their popularity can be traced to a disconnect in the law: donor-advised funds look in many ways like private foundations, but the tax law treats them as public charities. This disconnect is advantageous to donors. Because Congress was worried about wealthy individuals’ ability to take advantage of the control they can exercise over private foundations, it imposed a series of additional tax rules on private foundations. These rules, among other things, limit the deductibility of donations to private foundations, require that private foundations make minimum annual distributions, and require a significant level of transparency from private foundations. The disconnect between donor-advised funds functioning like private foundations but being classified as public charities means that donors can use donor-advised funds to circumvent these more-onerous regulation of private foundations. Through a donor-advised fund, a taxpayer can take an immediate deduction for a charitable donation, with no requirement that the fund distribute any of its assets. The taxpayer enjoys a significant level of control over when and to whom the donor-advised fund eventually distributes the money, and the taxpayer enjoys complete privacy: as a public charity, the donor-advised fund does not have to disclose to the public what it does with its money. Donor-advised funds qualify as public charities because they are not individual entities. Rather, each fund is a segregated account in a larger sponsoring organization, which causes the donor base to be diverse, which in turn is how these funds qualify as public charities. Donor-advised funds do not have to provide a way for donors to circumvent the private foundations rules, though. This Article proposes that donor-advised funds be required to qualify as public charities individually, rather than at the sponsoring organization level. Doing so will ensure that the rules meant to prevent charitable abuses will look at donor-advised funds’ functions, not their forms.
Understanding, and Misunderstanding, State Sponsorship of Terrorism

The U.S. government list of state sponsors of terrorism is dated, politicized, analytically muddy, and in general not useful for distinguishing which states truly sponsor terrorism and how aggressi...
Evaluation of air quality and mobility policies in 14 large Italian cities from 2006 to 2016

Despite a connection between road traffic and air pollution has been clearly identified, few integrated analyses on air quality and mobility policies are currently available worldwide. Aim of this work is to build a framework for the evaluation of the impact of mobility policies on air quality in 14 major Italian cities, on a long-time scale (2006-2016). Air quality data was collected from all PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 monitoring stations, installed in compliance with the European directive 2008/50/EC. A large dataset was collected, including public transport, environmental, and fuel categorization of the private vehicular fleet, low emissions zones and modal split. In the analyzed time period, both public transportation use and private motorization decreased. Considering the environmental classification standards of vehicles, Northern cities are more readily switching to newer and less polluting cars (e.g. Euro 5 and Euro 6). There has been a general reduction in PM and NO2 concentration. Nevertheless, exceedances are still above the targeted limit value, mainly in some Northern cities who made major investments in sustainable and shared mobility: this highlights a strong influence of climatic conditions and other sources. Dramatic variations in the CO/NO ratio were observed in Turin, while smaller changes are observed in Milan, Rome and Palermo.
Pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy

When I commenced research on the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in 1984 the area was, to put it mildly, controversial. It seemed like every research laboratory had a different animal model of HE and few results could be reproduced elsewhere.1 The failure to show a consistent relationship between the degree of hyperammonemia and the severity of HE was potentially explained by a number of proposed mechanisms (Table 1). However, to many people the hypothesis that ammonia alone was responsible for HE seemed too simplistic. This reasoning had led to the development of a whole series of hypotheses on the pathogenesis of this disorder (Table 2), primarily based on experimental findings in animal modes of acute liver failure. Two hypotheses in particular attempted to include ammonia in a multifactorial pathogenic concept. These were the ingenious plasma amino acid imbalance/false neurotransmitter hypothesis championed by Joseph Fischer2 and the synergistic neurotoxins hypothesis of Leslie Zieve.3 Most other hypotheses largely ignored ammonia, despite the known strong correlation between cerebrospinal fluid levels of glutamine and the severity of HE.4 Table 1. Potential reasons for poor correlation between NH3 levels and severity of HE. 1. Poor assay techniques 2. Lack of arterial blood samples 3. Lag between NH3 accumulation and effect 4. Increased BBB permeability to NH3 5. Failure to distinguish between NH3 and NH 4 + Table 2. Hypotheses of the pathogenesis of HE Direct ammonia neurotoxicity Synergistic neurotoxins Plasma amino acid — imbalance GABA/benzodiazepine Cerebral edemalastrocytic swelling Tryptophan and its metabolites Histamine Opioids
Emergency Medicine Physician Attitudes toward Anticoagulant Initiation for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract Background and Aim Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke recognize the emergency department as a location for physicians to identify atrial fibrillation and to initiate oral anticoagulants. Numerous studies have shown low anticoagulant prescription rates—approximately 18%—in OAC-naive patients with atrial fibrillation discharged from the emergency department. We sought to obtain the opinions of Emergency Medicine physicians regarding anticoagulant decision-making for patients with atrial fibrillation seen in the emergency department. Methods 14-item paper surveys were distributed to emergency department physicians within a single hospital system. The survey consisted of single-, multi- answer and open-ended questions regarding knowledge and usage frequency of the CHA2DS2-VASc score, knowledge of anticoagulant options and reasons for why an anticoagulant was not initiated. Results 55 emergency department physicians completed the survey (overall response rate 59%). 89% (49/55) agreed the emergency department is an important location to initiate anticoagulation depending on comorbidities. A lower proportion reported ever starting a patient in the emergency department on a new anticoagulant prescription upon discharge (55% (30/55) p Conclusion Emergency Medicine physicians support initiating oral anticoagulants in the ED for patients with atrial fibrillation; however, discrepancies exist between their intentions and actual practice.
Mechano-chemical regulation of bat wing bones for flight.

Abstract Distal phalanges in bat wings have been hypothesized to be cartilaginous to allow for flight. We provide new evidence on how bat wing development might facilitate flight though protein-based regulation of bone mineralization and lead to more deflection at phalanx than humerus. Between Pteropus poliocephalus and Pteropus hypomelanus, two large bat species, we detected 112 proteins including 11 associated with mineralization and analyzed their distribution between the wing bones. Here, in contrast to previous reports, we found no cartilage-specific proteins and demonstrate that distal phalanges in bat wings are in fact low density bone that contain collagen I (the main constituent of bone's organic matrix) and proteins associated with mineralization in bone such as osteomodulin, bone-specific protein osteocalcin. The functional relevance of these changes was explored by measuring changes in mineral (crystal sizes, packing and density), material (Young's modulus and hardness) and structural characteristics. Consistent with changes in proteins associated with mineralization, mineral crystal thickness and alignment decreased from humerus to phalanges, and the mineral platelets were less densely packed along the wing length. Crystal thickness was negatively correlated with proteins associated with inhibition of mineralization as well as with two types of small leucine-rich proteoglycans, indicating the mineral growth and maturity is down regulated by these proteins independent of mineral quantity. The Young's modulus decreased across the wing and was significantly correlated with bone mineral density. Thus, the results from two bat species, studied here, demonstrate progressive alterations in bone mineralization occur in concert with the changes in secretion of bone regulatory proteins along the wing length. This altered mineralization together with structural changes serve to lighten the limb bone and optimize biomechanical properties conducive to flight.
Stability of Motion for Semilinear Equations

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the asymptotic behavior as t ➔ +∞ of solutions to semilinear equations of the form $$ {{\phi }_{t}} = A\phi + J(\phi ) $$ (1.1) where φ(t) takes values in a Banach space B, and A generates a Co semigroup on B. Of particular interest is the stability of equilibrium or periodic solutions of (1.1).
Self-ownership vs. Divine ownership: A Lockean solution to a Liberal democratic dilemma

While the role of religion in the public life of contemporary liberal democracies constitutes a significant and ongoing topic of debate in political theory, scholars have thus far stopped short of addressing the root of this contentious issue in the apparent contradiction between self-ownership and Divine ownership. I argue that a hitherto unnoticed and persuasive means of resolving this contradiction is implicit in the thought of John Locke. In fact, one of the more controversial issues in recent Lockean scholarship concerns the manner in which Locke's assertions of human self-ownership cohere with his prominent theological commitments. These two sides of Locke's thought may be reconciled, and a potential pathway through the liberal democratic dilemma illumined, by elaborating upon a sophisticated theory of ownership that is implicitly present in Locke's Two Treatises of Government and his An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.
The Magnetic Field Geometry in M82 and Centaurus A

Imaging polarimetry at 1.65 and 2.2 μm is presented for the classic starburst galaxy M82 and the advanced merger system Cen A. Polarimetry at near-IR wavelengths allows the magnetic field geometry in galaxies to be probed much deeper into dusty regions than optical polarimetry. In M82, the magnetic field throughout the nucleus has a polar geometry, presumably due to the massive vertical flow that is a result of the intense star formation there. Fully two-thirds of the line-of-sight dust through to the center of M82 contains a vertical magnetic field. In Cen A, the prominent dust lane shows a normal planar field geometry. There is no indication of significant disturbance in the field geometry in the dust lane and the polarization strength is near normal for the amount of extinction. Either the magnetic field geometry was well maintained during the merger, or it reestablished itself very easily.
Large-Scale Many-Class Learning.

A number of tasks, such as large-scale text categorization and word prediction, can benefit from efficient learning and classification when the number of classes (categories), in addition to instances and features, is large, that is, in the thousands and beyond. We investigate learning of sparse category indices to address this challenge. An index is a weighted bipartite graph mapping features to categories. On presentation of an instance, the index retrieves and scores a small set of candidate categories. The candidates can then be ranked and the ranking or the scores can be used for category assignment. We present novel online index learning algorithms. When compared to other approaches, including one-versusrest and top-down learning and classification using support vector machines, we find that indexing is highly advantageous in terms of space and time efficiency, at both training and classification times, while yielding similar and often better accuracies. On problems with hundreds of thousands of instances and thousands of categories, the index is learned in minutes, while other methods can take orders of magnitude longer. As we explain, the design of the algorithm makes it convenient to maintain a constraint on the number of prediction connections a feature is allowed to make. This constraint is crucial in yielding efficient learning and classification.
Sympathetic responses during saline infusion into the veins of an occluded limb

Animal studies have shown that the increased intravenous pressure stimulates the group III and IV muscle afferent fibres, and in turn induce cardiovascular responses. However, this pathway of autonomic regulation has not been examined in humans. The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that infusion of saline into the venous circulation of an arterially occluded vascular bed evokes sympathetic activation in healthy individuals. Blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) responses were assessed in 19 young healthy subjects during local infusion of 40 ml saline into a forearm vein in the circulatory arrested condition. From baseline (11.8 +/- 1.2 bursts min(-1)), MSNA increased significantly during the saline infusion (22.5 +/- 2.6 bursts min(-1), P < 0.001). Blood pressure also increased significantly during the saline infusion. Three control trials were performed during separate visits. The results from the control trial show that the observed MSNA and blood pressure responses were not due to muscle ischaemia. The present data show that saline infusion into the venous circulation of an arterially occluded vascular bed induces sympathetic activation and an increase in blood pressure. We speculate that the infusion under such conditions stimulates the afferent endings near the vessels, and evokes the sympathetic activation.
Characterization of a psychrotrophic Arthrobacter gene and its cold-active beta-galactosidase

Enzymes with high specific activities at low temperatures have potential uses for chemical conversions when low temperatures are required, as in the food industry. Psychrotrophic microorganisms which grow at low temperatures may be a valuable source of cold-active enzymes that have higher activities at low temperatures than enzymes found for mesophilic microorganisms. To find cold-active beta-galactosidases, we isolated and characterized several psychrotrophic microorganisms. One isolate, B7, is an Arthrobacter strain which produces beta-galactosidase when grown in lactose minimal media. Extracts have a specific activity at 30 degrees C of 2 U/mg with o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside as a substrate. Two isozymes were detected when extracts were subjected to electrophoresis in a nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel and stained for activity with 5-bromo-4-chloro-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-Gal). When chromosomal DNA was prepared and transformed into Escherichia coli, three different genes encoding beta-galactosidase activity were obtained. We have subcloned and sequenced one of these beta-galactosidase genes from the Arthrobacter isolate B7. On the basis of amino acid sequence alignment, the gene was found to have probable catalytic sites homologous to those from the E. coli lacZ gene. The gene encoded a protein of 1,016 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 111 kDa. The enzyme was purified and characterized. The beta-galactosidase from isolate B7 has kinetic properties similar to those of the E. coli lacZ beta-galactosidase but has a temperature optimum 20 degrees C lower than that of the E. coli enzyme.
The CD5 B Cell

Publisher Summary The international nomenclature established for cell differentiation antigens will be used. Historically, the CD5 B cell in mice or humans has been referred to as the Ly-1 B cell or Leu-1 B cell, respectively. Although these terms are still in use, their assigned CD number will refer to all defined surface differentiation antigens, including CD5. The relationship between the CD5 B cell and autoimmune disease and/or autoantibodies also is controversial. This chapter reviews current ideas concerning the CD5 B cell, hoping to resolve some of the controversy. With the advent of anti-CD5 Mabs and sensitive flow-cytometric analyses, CD5 was noted to be expressed by all T lymphocytes. CD5 B cells are lymphocytes that coexpress a 67-kDa pan-T lymphocyte surface glycoprotein, designated CD5, and surface antigens restricted to the B lymphocyte lineage. Surface expression of CD5 is defined by the reactivity of cells with Mabs Ly-1 in mice, or Leu-1 or its equivalent in humans. Both murine and human CD5 B cells express roughly 20% of the level of CD5 expressed by most T lymphocytes. Detection and enumeration of CD5 B cells require sensitive immunofluorescence or immunohistochemical methods. Even with the brightest of fluorochrome-labeled anti-CD5 Mabs and the most sensitive of immunofluorescence techniques, B cells expressing CD5 cannot be delineated into a separate subpopulation distinct from B cells that lack expression of this marker. Because of this, subtraction methods must be used to enumerate these cells within a mixed cell population.
Frequency-hopping code design for colocated MIMO radar using sparse modeling

We consider the problem of multiple target estimation using a colocated Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) radar system. We employ sparse modeling to estimate the unknown target parameters (delay, Doppler) using a MIMO radar system that transmits frequency-hopping waveforms. We derive analytical expressions for the correlations between the different blocks of columns of the sensing matrix. Using these expressions, we compute the block coherence measure of the dictionary. Next, we use this measure to optimally design the sensing matrix by selecting the hopping-frequencies for all the transmitters. We demonstrate the performance improvement using numerical simulations.
Effects of Age and Gender on Physical Performance

Our purpose was to examine the effects of age and gender on physical performance. We assessed a one-hour swimming performance and participation of 4,271 presumably healthy men and women, aged 19-91 years, from the 2001-2003 United States Masters Swimming long-distance (1 h) national competition. The decline in performance with increasing age was found to be quadratic rather than linear. The equation which best fit variation in 1 h swimming distance in meters (m) according to variations in age in years (y) in men was: distance (m) = 4058 + 2.18 age-0.29 age (http://www.acsmmsse.org/pt/re/msse/positionstandards.htm;jsessionid=DiRVACC7YS3mq27s5kV3vwpEVSokmmD1ZJLC7pdnol3KcfoSu0t!1096311956!-949856145!9001!-1), with the same equation for women except that 380 m needed to be subtracted from the calculated value at all ages (about a 10% difference). There was a large overlap in performance between men and women. The overall mean decline in performance with age was about 50% and was parallel in men and women. The mean difference in distance for a 1-year increment in age was -9.7 m at 21 y of age, -21.3 m at 40 y, and -44.5 m at 80 y. Far greater declines of about 96% in numbers participating with advanced age (80 y and over, 4% of peak numbers) were observed than in the 40-49 y age group. In conclusion, the declines in performance were parallel in men and women at all ages, and the 1-year age-related declines in performance were about twice as great at 40 y and more than four-times as great at 80 y than at 20 y of age, with even greater age-related declines in participation being noted for both men and women.
Neuroprotective Action of Cycloheximide Involves Induction of Bcl-2 and Antioxidant Pathways

The ability of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) to prevent neuronal death in different paradigms has been interpreted to indicate that the cell death process requires synthesis of "killer" proteins. On the other hand, data indicate that neurotrophic factors protect neurons in the same death paradigms by inducing expression of neuroprotective gene products. We now provide evidence that in embryonic rat hippocampal cell cultures, CHX protects neurons against oxidative insults by a mechanism involving induction of neuroprotective gene products including the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 and antioxidant enzymes. Neuronal survival after exposure to glutamate, FeSO4, and amyloid beta-peptide was increased in cultures pretreated with CHX at concentrations of 50-500 nM; higher and lower concentrations were ineffective. Neuroprotective concentrations of CHX caused only a moderate (20-40%) reduction in overall protein synthesis, and induced an increase in c-fos, c-jun, and bcl-2 mRNAs and protein levels as determined by reverse transcription-PCR analysis and immunocytochemistry, respectively. At neuroprotective CHX concentrations, levels of c-fos heteronuclear RNA increased in parallel with c-fos mRNA, indicating that CHX acts by inducing transcription. Neuroprotective concentrations of CHX suppressed accumulation of H2O2 induced by FeSO4, suggesting activation of antioxidant pathways. Treatment of cultures with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide directed against bcl-2 mRNA decreased Bcl-2 protein levels and significantly reduced the neuroprotective action of CHX, suggesting that induction of Bcl-2 expression was mechanistically involved in the neuroprotective actions of CHX. In addition, activity levels of the antioxidant enzymes Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase, Mn-superoxide dismutase, and catalase were significantly increased in cultures exposed to neuroprotective levels of CHX. Our data suggest that low concentrations of CHX can promote neuron survival by inducing increased levels of gene products that function in antioxidant pathways, a neuroprotective mechanism similar to that used by neurotrophic factors.