cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An assessment of the greenhouse gas reducing activities being implemented in US cities

Local climate protection initiatives are receiving increased attention and support. However, most of the current understanding about their content, motivation, and impact is based on qualitative studies, whose findings cannot be generalised, or quantitative studies, which consider superficial measures of policy adoption. There is a lack of information about the type and extent of greenhouse gas (GHG)-reducing actions that “typical” cities have implemented, whether or not they are explicitly framed as part of a broader climate protection strategy. In an effort to address this gap, this paper examines original data collected from a nation-wide sample of US cities on their implementation of a comprehensive list of GHG-mitigating activities. An assessment of the data reveals considerable variation in the frequency with which the different activities are implemented, particularly when considered across policy instrument type and target population. Further analysis suggests that cities utilise three broad “type...
Molecular Rotations and Kinetics by Light Scattering

Molecular rotations and kinetics from spectral features of molecular Raman spectra, using light scattering spectroscopy
Comments on rhetoric and oratory in Cicero's letters

This examination of the comments on rhetoric and oratory in the letters of Cicero reviews the most significant of the orator's remarks on: (1) his own rhetorical works; (2) his attitude towards oratory; (3) the orations themselves; (4) the audience‐situation in Cicero's day; and (5) the subject of oratorical style.
Comparative studies of water sorption of hyaline cartilage.

Abstract Vapor phase, water sorption isotherms were obtained for specimens of bovine, sturgeon and shark cartilage and for membranes composed of collagen and various proportions of cartilage proteoglycan. The data were interpreted in the light of an elementary model for swelling of gels which regards equilibrium swelling a resultant of a balance between contractile forces of an elastic matrix and expansive forces, principally osmotic in nature. Swelling ratios for bovine and sturgeon cartilage compared at the same water vapor pressure are nearly indentical, whereas the swelling ratios for shark cartilage are elevated. These high values are due principally to a higher ratio of glycosaminoglycan to collagen but also reflect a higher salt and urea content and possibly also a different type of collagen fibril network.
A Review of “The Irish Establishment, 1879–1914”

One of the numerous paradoxes of Irish society in the period covered by this book is reflected in its title: the entity that contemporaries called the Irish Establishment—the Anglican state church ...
Auto-thermal and dry reforming of landfill gas over a Rh/γAl2O3 monolith catalyst

Abstract Auto-thermal and dry reforming of methane and carbon dioxide mixtures was investigated experimentally at temperatures between 300 °C and 800 °C at atmospheric pressures using a Rh/γAl2O3 monolith catalyst. CH4:CO2 ratios of 1:1 and 1.4:1 were tested. The Rh catalyst reached equilibrium conversions of CH4 and CO2 to H2 and CO for both CH4:CO2 ratios. Equilibrium analysis shows that carbon formation is likely for dry reforming but not for auto-thermal reforming. Experimentally, carbon formation was seen after long-term exposure to 1.4:1 CH4:CO2 ratios without oxygen, but the catalyst has shown the ability to be regenerated in air. Auto-thermal tests, with and without external heat input, operating at an equivalence ratio of 4.3 (O2:CH4 = 0.46) and maintaining the CH4:CO2 ratio of either 1:1 or 1.4:1, did not show signs of carbon formation or deactivation. ATR experiments resulted in H2:CO ratios between 1.0 and 2.0 that can be tuned depending on the monolith temperature, beneficial in the case of downstream Fischer–Tropsch processes. For the auto-thermal experiments, theoretical reaction extents were calculated based on experimental data and showed two primary regimes in catalyst operation: a CH4 combustion and partial oxidation regime, and reforming and water–gas shift regime.
Classifying rangeland vegetation type and coverage from NDVI time series using Fourier Filtered Cycle Similarity

We present a method for a supervised classification of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series that identifies vegetation type and vegetation coverage, absolute in %coverage or relative to a reference NDVI cycle. The shape of the NDVI cycle, which is diagnostic for certain vegetation types, is our primary classifier. A Discrete Fourier Filter is applied to time series data in order to minimize the influence of high-frequency noise on class assignments. Similarity between filtered NDVI cycles is evaluated using a linear regression technique. The correlation coefficients calculated between the Fourier filtered reference cycle and likewise filtered target cycles describe the similarity of their phenology, and the corresponding regression coefficients are an expression of coverage relative to the reference. The regression coefficients are correlated with field measured vegetation coverage. The Fourier Filtered Cycle Similarity method (FFCS) compensates phenological shifts, which are typical in areas with a strong climate gradient, and prevents the break-up of classes of identical vegetation types on the basis of vegetation coverage. Some other advantages compared to traditional unsupervised classifications are: synoptic visualization of vegetation type and coverage variation, independence from scene statistics, and consistent classification of biophysical characteristics only, without rock/soil reflectance dominating class assignment as it often does in unsupervised classifications of sparsely vegetated areas. Using the FFCS classification we differentiated a total of five rangeland vegetation types for the area of Syria including their intra-class coverage variation. Classified classes are dominated by one of two shrub types, one of two annual grass types or a bare soil/sparsely vegetated type.
Mothers with multiple illegitimacies.

Investigations were carried out concurrently by a psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker on 26 mothers who were pregnant with or had delivered their third (or more) illegitimate child at the time of the study. The data were then reviewed and integrated with attempts to offer etiological hypotheses and psychodynamic explanations.
Isomeric identification by laser control mass spectrometry.

The influence shaped femtosecond laser pulses have on molecular photofragmentation and ionization, coupled with the intrinsic sensitivity of mass spectrometry, results in a powerful tool for fast, accurate, reproducible and quantitative isomeric identification. Complex phase functions are introduced to enhance differences during the laser–molecule interactions, which depend on geometric structure, resulting in different fragmentation fingerprints. A full account is given on the setup and results leading to a technique that can be used to distinguish between compounds normally indistinguishable by conventional electron ionization mass spectrometry. We demonstrate geometric and structural isomer identification of cis-/trans-3-heptene, cis-/trans-4-methyl-2-pentene, o-/p-cresol and o-/p-xylene. For the positional isomers of xylene we present a complete dataset consisting of 1024 different phases to explore phase complexity. A selection of two phases from that data can then be used to achieve quantitative identification in mixtures of xylene isomers. Finally, we evaluate receiver operational curves obtained from our experimental data to demonstrate the reliability that can be achieved by femtosecond laser control mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A decomposition method for optimization of large-system reliability

The authors consider a decomposition approach for optimization of the reliability of a large system with a general network structure. A three-level methodology is developed for optimal allocation of available resources among subsystems in order to ensure maximization of system reliability. The decentralized nature of this methodology greatly reduces the complexity of the large problem and facilitates seeking the optimal solution. Two examples show that the complexity of a large system can be greatly reduced by solving several smaller-dimensional subproblems iteratively. Subproblems whose dimensions are small can be efficiently solved by an existing nonlinear programming method. Another important feature of the approach is the possible simplification of the objective function during the solution. This leads in some cases to an analytic solution for the lower-level optimization problems in the three-level decomposition solution. >
Debt Capacity and Tests of Capital Structure Theories

The impact of debt capacity on recent tests of competing theories of capital structure is examined. Controlling for debt capacity, the pecking order appears to be a good description of the financing policies of a large sample of firms. The main results are first, that internally generated funds appear to be the preferred source of financing. Second, if external funds are required, in the absence of debt capacity concerns, debt appears to be preferred to equity and, when possible, debt capacity is "stockpiled." Demonstration of this preference also provides evidence directly contradictory to the tradeoff theory. Finally, we present evidence consistent with the hypothesis that asymmetric information and its attendant costs are the basis for the observed pecking order of financing choice.
Efficacy of Spinosad Against Acaricide-Resistant and -Susceptible Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Acaricide-Susceptible Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis

Various acaricide-resistant strains of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, representative of the major resistance mechanisms found in Mexico and Brazil, were exposed to spinosad using the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations larval packet test and adult immersion test (AIT). Larvae of all strains tested were found to be susceptible to spinosad. Conversely, spinosad did not show toxic activity toward engorged females used in the AIT. In vitro tests against larvae, nymphs, and adults of acaricide-susceptible Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis revealed differences in activity that were dependent on tick species and parasitic life stage. Spinosad seemed to be a viable alternative to current acaricides available for tick control in the species tested. The larval packet test should be used for future monitoring of resistance, as the AIT did not provide useful information with this chemical. The potential benefit for the use of spinosad in integrated pest management or eradication programs is discussed.
Race, urban community stressors, and behavioral and emotional problems of children with special health care needs.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship of community-level stressors to behavioral and emotional problems among African-American and white children with special health care needs. METHODS: The authors interviewed 257 low-income caregivers of children with special health care needs in an urban Midwestern city who brought their child for a primary health care visit to a community health center between September 2001 and May 2002. Sociodemographic characteristics as well as information about the children's behavioral and emotional problems, the health status of the children, perceptions of urban community stress, access to health care, and satisfaction with health care were collected to determine racial differences in the impact of urban stress on behavioral and emotional problems. RESULTS: Urban community stressors, race, and child's health status were significantly associated with behavioral and emotional problems among children with special health care needs. The association between urban stress ...
ArchJava: connecting software architecture to implementation

Software architecture describes the structure of a system, enabling more effective design, program understanding, and formal analysis. However, existing approaches decouple implementation code from architecture, allowing inconsistencies, causing confusion, violating architectural properties, and inhibiting software evolution. ArchJava is an extension to Java that seamlessly unifies software architecture with implementation, ensuring that the implementation conforms to architectural constraints. A case study applying ArchJava to a circuit-design application suggests that ArchJava can express architectural structure effectively within an implementation, and that it can aid in program understanding and software evolution.
A computationally efficient method for incorporating spike waveform information into decoding algorithms

Spike-based brain-computer interfaces BCIs have the potential to restore motor ability to people with paralysis and amputation, and have shown impressive performance in the lab. To transition BCI devices from the lab to the clinic, decoding must proceed automatically and in real time, which prohibits the use of algorithms that are computationally intensive or require manual tweaking. A common choice is to avoid spike sorting and treat the signal on each electrode as if it came from a single neuron, which is fast, easy, and therefore desirable for clinical use. But this approach ignores the kinematic information provided by individual neurons recorded on the same electrode. The contribution of this letter is a linear decoding model that extracts kinematic information from individual neurons without spike-sorting the electrode signals. The method relies on modeling sample averages of waveform features as functions of kinematics, which is automatic and requires minimal data storage and computation. In offline reconstruction of arm trajectories of a nonhuman primate performing reaching tasks, the proposed method performs as well as decoders based on expertly manually and automatically sorted spikes.
Conjunctivitis: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Treatment

Importance Conjunctivitis is a common problem. Objective To examine the diagnosis, management, and treatment of conjunctivitis, including various antibiotics and alternatives to antibiotic use in infectious conjunctivitis and use of antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers in allergic conjunctivitis. Evidence Review A search of the literature published through March 2013, using PubMed, the ISI Web of Knowledge database, and the Cochrane Library was performed. Eligible articles were selected after review of titles, abstracts, and references. Findings Viral conjunctivitis is the most common overall cause of infectious conjunctivitis and usually does not require treatment; the signs and symptoms at presentation are variable. Bacterial conjunctivitis is the second most common cause of infectious conjunctivitis, with most uncomplicated cases resolving in 1 to 2 weeks. Mattering and adherence of the eyelids on waking, lack of itching, and absence of a history of conjunctivitis are the strongest factors associated with bacterial conjunctivitis. Topical antibiotics decrease the duration of bacterial conjunctivitis and allow earlier return to school or work. Conjunctivitis secondary to sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea requires systemic treatment in addition to topical antibiotic therapy. Allergic conjunctivitis is encountered in up to 40% of the population, but only a small proportion of these individuals seek medical help; itching is the most consistent sign in allergic conjunctivitis, and treatment consists of topical antihistamines and mast cell inhibitors. Conclusions and Relevance The majority of cases in bacterial conjunctivitis are self-limiting and no treatment is necessary in uncomplicated cases. However, conjunctivitis caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia and conjunctivitis in contact lens wearers should be treated with antibiotics. Treatment for viral conjunctivitis is supportive. Treatment with antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers alleviates the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis.
Comparing Texts and Faculty/Practitioner Priorities for MBA Marketing Research Course Content

A mail survey revealed general agreement and some differences in faculty and practitioner priorities for including specific data collection and analysis techniques in an MBA marketing research course. Texts give varying emphases to these techniques. Results from this analysis of texts and priorities have implications for curriculum planning and course content.
A respiratory gas exchange catheter: In vitro and in vivo tests in large animals☆

Objectives: Acute respiratory failure is associated with a mortality of 40% to 50%, despite advanced ventilator support and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A respiratory gas exchange catheter (the Hattler Catheter) has been developed as an oxygenator and carbon dioxide removal device for placement in the vena cava and right atrium in the treatment of acute respiratory failure to improve survival. Methods: Differing from a previously clinically tested intravenous gas exchange device (ie, IVOX), the Hattler Catheter incorporates a small, pulsating balloon surrounded by hollow fibers. The pulsating balloon redirects blood toward the fibers, enhances red cell contact with the membrane, and significantly improves gas exchange so that smaller catheter devices are still efficient on insertion and can be inserted through the jugular or femoral vein. Devices were tested in mock circulatory loops and in short-term (8 hours) and long-term (4 days) experiments in calves to study the effect of various sized balloons and the anatomic location of the device in the venous system as a function of hemodynamics and gas exchange. Results: In vitro performance in water demonstrates an oxygen delivery (VO 2 )o f
Spinal Tumors Found in the Athlete

Spine tumors in the athlete are rare but should be included in the differential diagnosis of any patient in the adolescent or young adult age group with persistent or severe pain. Presenting symptoms are often nonspecific, so a high index of suspicion is needed to diagnose these lesions in a timely fashion. Early recognition and referral to an appropriate multidisciplinary spine tumor center can greatly improve prognosis for these challenging cases.
A virtual perturbation method for singular systems

A virtual perturbation is introduced in a linear time-invariant system Ex(t)=Ax(t)+Bu(t) with E singular for the purpose of formal regularization. Methods for virtually adding in to get a regular state space system are presented, and a general perturbed form is derived. For the general form a necessary and sufficient convergence condition is derived. A theory of continuous triangularization of matrix functions is presented and applied to obtain an explicit solution of the perturbed system. With such a solution, the system and its asymptotic behavior can be analyzed. >
Lysis of brucellae by the combined action of glycine and a lysozyme-like agent from rabbit monocytes.

Ralston, Doris J. (University of California, Berkeley), B. S. Baer, and S. S. Elberg. Lysis of brucellae by the combined action of glycine and a lysozyme-like agent from rabbit monocytes. J. Bacteriol. 82:342–353. 1961.—An acid-extractable lytic material was obtained from rabbit monocytes. It acts on a substrate in the walls of brucellae and has properties similar to egg-white lysozyme. Brucella melitensis strain Rev Is is completely resistant to this agent and also to crystalline lysozyme, but when the cells are exposed to sufficient amounts of glycine, the surface is rendered susceptible to these lytic agents. Rough type Rev Is cells are more susceptible than smooth, and the virulent B. melitensis strain 6015 is most resistant.
Smad2 and 3 mediate transforming growth factor-beta1-induced inhibition of chondrocyte maturation.

Transforming growth factor-b (TGF-b) is a multifunctional regulator of a variety of cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, matrix synthesis, and apoptosis. In growth plate chondrocytes, TGF-b slows the rate of maturation. Because the current paradigm of TGF-b signaling involves Smad proteins as downstream regulators of target genes, we have characterized their role as mediators of TGF-b effects on chondrocyte maturation. Both Smad2 and 3 translocated to the nucleus upon TGF-b1 signaling, but not upon BMP-2 signaling. Cotransfection experiments using the TGF-b responsive and Smad3 sensitive p3TP-Lux luciferase reporter demonstrated that wild-type Smad3 potentiated, whereas dominant negative Smad3 inhibited TGF-b1 induced luciferase activity. To confirm the role of Smad2 and 3 as essential mediators of TGF-b1 effects on chondrocyte maturation, we overexpressed both wild-type and dominant negative Smad2 and 3 in virally infected chondrocyte cultures. Overexpression of both wildtype Smad2 and 3 potentiated the inhibitory effect of TGF-b on chondrocyte maturation, as determined by colx and alkaline phosphatase activity, whereas dominant negative Smad2 and 3 blocked these effects. Wild-type and dominant negative forms of Smad3 had more pronounced effects than Smad2. Our results define Smad2 and 3 as key mediators of the inhibitory effect of TGF-b1 signaling on chondrocyte maturation. (Endocrinology 141: 4728 ‐ 4735, 2000)
Histogram-based apparent diffusion coefficient analysis: an emerging tool for cervical cancer characterization?

OBJECTIVE. Numerous prior studies have shown the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient values in cervical cancer assessment, particularly in differentiation from benign cervix. This article will discuss histogram-based analysis for detection of adverse histologic features of cervical cancer. CONCLUSION. The study by Downey et al. in this issue investigates histogram-based analysis for detection of adverse histologic features of cervical cancer, including subtype and grade. This approach offers a more complete assessment of tumor texture and heterogeneity. Given the potential utility suggested by the results of this study, additional larger studies are warranted.
Evolutionary Relationships of Pocket Gophers of the Genus Pappogeomys (Rodentia: Geomyidae)

Once encompassing as many as 9 species of pocket gophers spread across most of the Mexican Altiplano, the genus Pappogeomys is now restricted to a single species, P. bulleri, occupying the mountains, tablelands, and coastal plains near the western end of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in west-central Mexico. Herein, we review the taxonomic history of Pappogeomys and examine relationships among populations of P. bulleri from throughout the geographic range of the species based on analyses of nonpreferentially stained karyotypes and mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Results of these analyses are concordant and reveal 3 major clades of P. bulleri that are separated by major physiographic features of the region, including the Sierra Madre del Sur
Trends in hospitality management literature: a content analysis.

The aim of this paper was to examine the growth in the body of literature in the discipline of hospitality management for the 20-year period from 1967 to 1986. The topics studied and the methodolog...
Foreword: Why Marc Galanter's "Haves" Article is One of the Most Influential Pieces of Legal Scholarship Ever Written

A few of the adjectives that I use when describing Marc Galanter's article published in 1974, entitled Why the "Haves" Come Out Ahead: Speculations on the Limits of Legal Change, include seminal, blockbuster, canonical, game-changing, extraordinary, pivotal, and noteworthy. But do not take my word for it. Consider for a moment the article's place in the history of legal scholarship. In 1996, an empirical study of the most-cited law review articles of all time revealed that Galanter's article placed thirteenth (Shapiro 1996). The Social Science Citation Index has named the article "a citation classic." Galanter's article was included in the 2006 volume entitled "The Canon of American Legal Thought" (Kennedy & Fisher 2006). Notably, the introduction to that volume considered the article's place in the development of American legal thought in the 20th century.
The Evolving Primary Care Physician

The primary care doctor is a rapidly evolving species — and could become an endangered one. As we grapple with making health care more widely available and reducing its cost, it's hard to say how primary care physicians will fit into emerging delivery models.
Silica-based post-wall waveguide with high-performance input and output transitions for E-band passive front-end

We proposed silica-based post-wall waveguides (PWWs) with input and output (I/O) transitions from microstrip line for 71–76 GHz and 81–86 GHz, respectively. The PWWs were designed so that their reflection keeps lower than ™20 dB at the aimed frequencies. They were fabricated in silica substrates and the performance was measured. Realization of the bandwidth of 23.6% was confirmed at the lower band. The transmission loss of the sole PWW was 0.0326 dB/mm and the insertion loss of the transition was 0.25 dB, both at 85 GHz. The silica-based PWWs can offer a practical platform for passive front-end including antenna feeds in E-band.
Can a transient exertion-related carotid (TERC) murmur heard during a symptom-limited exercise test be used as a means for managing sports concussion?

Abstract We hypothesize that a transient exertion-related carotid (TERC) murmur flow murmur similar in nature to a “bruit” heard best at the carotid artery during exercise in healthy individuals can be used as a means for assessing post-concussion injury exertion tolerance. Typically there are no arterial sounds heard at the carotid artery in healthy individuals. Bruit, heard at rest, is an indicator of cardiovascular disease. Listening for a flow murmur or bruit-like sounds during exercise may indicate brain blood flow autoregulation and that this audible change in brain blood flow autoregulation could be used to assess exercise tolerance. We present very preliminary evidence supporting our hypothesis in that a transient exertion-related carotid (TERC) murmur is heard at a HR (HR) of approximately 150 beats per minute (bpm) in healthy individuals and 120 bpm in concussion patients. Future prospective clinical studies to validate this hypothesis and these methods may aid clinicians who manage concussion patients by using this method to help guide exertion protocols.
STUDIES ON RADIATION INDUCED CROSSLINKED cis 1,4 POLYBUTADIENE BY 13 C NMR

C NMR spin lattice relaxation times ( T 1), line widths, nuclear Overhauser effcts (NOE) at room temperature have been measured for radiation induced crosslinked cis 1,4 polybutadiene. As crosslinking increases T 1 is almost invariant, line width of —CH 2— group increases markedly, NOE ratio of —CH 2— group decreases significantly too.This implies that long range chain segment motion is hindered and —CH is produced in crosslinking cis 1,4 polybutadiene.
Personal Actions to Minimize Mosquito-Borne Illnesses, Including Zika Virus.

Several mosquito-transmitted viral diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, and now Zika, have recently become substantial health threats in the Americas. Population-level actions, such as mosquito...
Activity Restriction and Depressive Symptoms in Older Couples

Objective: The present study aimed to clarify the circumstances under which activity restriction (AR) is associated with depressive symptoms among patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and their spouse...
Abstract 169: Targeting Patients with Multiple Readmissions in the Year after Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Could Lower Hospital Readmission Rates

Background: Bundled payment policies have focused on 30-day readmission rates after AMI, yet these are likely to lengthen over time. Identifying patients with multiple readmissions in the year after AMI could help focus transitional care efforts on these high risk patients. Methods: Data from the CRUSADE registry linked to Medicare billing data was used to examine longitudinal outcomes of 32,776 NSTEMI patients ≥ 65 years between 2003 and 2006 with 12-month follow-up. Defining frequent readmissions as ≥3 hospitalizations in 12 months, we compared characteristics of patients frequently readmitted vs. not. The association between frequent readmissions and patient characteristics was examined using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Readmission within 12 months after NSTEMI occurred: once (N=8,830, 26.9%); twice (N=4334, 13.2%); 3 times (N=2,319, 7.1%); ≥4 times (N=2470, 7.5%). Those with multiple (≥3) readmissions (14.6%) were older with recent prior hospitalization and greater prevalence of comorbidities. In multivariable analysis, these factors increased discrimination of patients with frequent readmissions, (c-statistic=0.714). Conclusions: Comorbidities and recent prior hospitalization can predict patients with frequent readmissions. Better understanding of the influence of these clinical factors in this high-risk group presents an opportunity to lower hospital readmission rates. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
‘I’ve broken my arm, Dick, but never mind me now’: The Hero in Victorian Popular Mythology

These lines from H.M.S. Pinafore, first performed in 1878, capture the exuberant essence of Victorian heroism: self-righteous, self-confident, and, thrusting a manly, square jaw forward, it offered a sound thrashing to any who might think otherwise. It was a curious combination of the romantic and the practical, all held in place with a stiff upper lip.
Contributions of the South Asian Society on Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis and the Indian Society for Atherosclerosis Research, to our understanding of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis

South Asians (Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans) have very high incidence of cardiometabolic diseases, such as hypertension, central abdominal obesity, metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and stroke. To create awareness, develop educational and a prevention program, a professional society was started at the University of Minnesota in 1993. This society (South Asian Society on Atherosclerosis Thrombosis) organized international conferences in India every other year, on the topic of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis and published several monographs on this subject. During the same period, another sister society, Indian Society of Atherosclerosis Research (ISAR) was started in India, which organized conferences on topics related to basic research and clinical aspects of atherosclerosis. Together, these professional societies have contributed significantly to our understanding of chronic cardiometabolic diseases. SASAT is currently located at the Division of Clinical and Preventive Cardiology, Medanta, The MediCity, New Delhi, India and is affiliated with the professional journal; Journal of Clinical and Preventive Cardiology. For information on ISAR, readers are urged to visit their web site: www. isar.co.in.
When perishing isn't a problem: publication tips for practitioners

I took my first course in experimental psychology in the mid-1970s. As part of our lab assignments, we were required to write reports in APA style for each experiment we conducted. The instructor told us that as experimental psychologists our publications would be the only permanent record of our work. Furthermore, if we pursued a career in academics, we would face a "publish or perish" environment in which promotions, including achievement of tenure, would greatly depend on our publication records. Some of my classmates did follow the academic path, but many (including me) moved into industrial work instead. Industrial usability practitioners generally experience little pressure to publish because their primary artifacts are products rather than reports. The goals of this editorial are (a) to argue that despite this lack of pressure there is value in publication by practitioners and (b) to provide some tips to practitioners about how to publish when working in a non-academic environment.
Ethical Aspects of Listening in Plato’s Timaeus

Plato’s Timaeus suggests two types of responses to consonances: the perception of consonance results in pleasure (ἡδονή) for fools, but delight (eὐφροσύνη) for the intelligent (80b5-8). By investigating the physical and psychological mechanisms of perception and hearing in the Timaeus , this paper argues that the pleasure and pain taken in auditory perception operate analogously to the pleasure and pain of other sensory modalities. Accordingly, the fools’ pleasure is (merely)a non-localized aesthetic pleasure of the mortal soul. Nevertheless, aesthesis of sounding material must be present to the intelligent individual in order for delight to arise: delight results from the correct perception of a sensory object as a mimesis of divine order.
A new analytical delay and noise model for on-chip RLC interconnect

In this paper, we develop a 2/sup nd/ order distributed RLC waveform model that captures both delay and overshoot effects more accurately than previous 1/sup st/ order models. We then present a new approach to decoupling a set of coupled RLC lines by examining current return paths. Noise and delay results from this technique match SPICE for a wide range of input parameters.
Cyberculture and E-health Communication in Africa

Culturally and traditionally, Africa is complex, and homogeneity is highly improbable. As it is complexed and diversified in its societal norms and customs, so too are the health issues on the continent. Cybercultural practices of telemedicine and other online access to e-health facilities on the World Wide Web have compounded matters for health issues for users, patients, doctors, and other health practitioners. Privacy seems to be the catchphrase and the practical reality for any given individual. With the open source facilities provided by the Internet, there appears to be no dividing line between public and private lives on cyberspace. There are health matters that must be discussed in the presence of a doctor through in-person contact. Nowadays, it is becoming rather an uphill battle to get to a doctor in Africa, and so electronic face-to-face meeting with a health practitioner in another country or state is the new norm.
The Politics of Global Value Chains

Most Fortune 500 corporations have transformed their production systems over the past 30 years of global capitalism. Instead of producing a product from start to finish, the dominant corporations in every major sector of the world economy have taken advantage of technological revolutions in computers and microprocessors to contract and subcontract the production of products to a range of firms whose activities cross the borders of states. High-tech firms have been in a unique position to profit from this qualitative and quantitative shift in global production strategies, because the products of these firms have been integrated systematically within the networks of global supply chains that link producers, suppliers, retailers, and consumers across state borders. Firms that profit the most from global supply chains are those that have been able to patent ownership rights over high-technology, automated processes embedded in global production. At the same time, the dominant Fortune 500 firms use this new automated technology to exercise greater control over their suppliers and producers, creating a pyramid structure of production that privileges ownership rights at the top of the system while expanding the tools to increase exploitation of small-scale producers and workers at the base of the pyramid. Ownership of high-technology, though, is rarely a product of private sector innovation alone, but instead is often derived from extensive public spending on research and development which is transferred from society to corporations that exercise disproportionate political and market power in their home states and in global capitalism. Future battles over the use of high-technology are likely to pit privileged quasi-monopoly firms against suppliers and workers who may be in a position to demand a larger share of the profits from global production.
Case 6 Medication Error in the Delivery Room

Neonatal medication errors occur in the delivery room, particularly when maternal medications are given in the same location by the same personnel. Ergot derivatives, given to control maternal postpartum hemorrhage, may cause seizures and vasoconstriction in the newborn. Treatment is directed at supportive management to reverse these effects. Other medications which may be involved in a delivery room error are discussed.
Radiation enhances engraftment of mesenchymal stem cells in murine 4T1 tumors

1329 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) migrate and proliferate within tumors as well as at other sites of inflammation. MSCs engineered to express IFN-β have been shown to reduce tumor burden and extend survival in murine breast cancer, leukemia and glioma models. Clinical trials are under development but this strategy could be limited by non-specific migration of MSCs to other sites of inflammation. Radiation increases expression of inflammatory cytokines and could be used to enhance engraftment of MSCs in tumors. To investigate this, we implanted 2 x 105 4T1 cells expressing renilla luciferase into bilateral hindlimbs of Balb/C mice. Nine days later, a dose of 1 or 2 Gy was delivered with 60Co to the right hindlimb. Control mice were not irradiated. Ten days after tumor implantation, 4 x 105 MSCs transduced with an adenoviral vector expressing firefly luciferase were injected intravenously. Mice were then serially monitored with bioluminescent imaging for expression of renilla and firefly luciferase. Two days after radiation, levels of MSC engraftment using luciferase imaging were 25% higher in tumors receiving 2 Gy (p=0.004, two-sided t-test) and 22% higher in tumors treated to 1 Gy (p=0.03) as compared to contralateral unirradiated tumors. Levels of MSC engraftment were the same in the right and left leg in unirradiated mice. Radiation did not appear to contribute to engraftment in the contralateral limb as MSC levels were similar in the unirradiated limb of mice treated with radiation and in unirradiated mice. At 4 and 6 days after treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in absolute levels of MSC engraftment. However, if normalization to renilla luciferase was performed to account for tumor shrinkage in response to radiation, there was a relative increase in MSCs in tumors radiated to 2 Gy at 4 days (1.4 fold higher in radiated limb, p=0.08) and 6 days (1.5 fold higher in radiated limb, p=0.003) after treatment. In conclusion, MSCs preferentially engraft in 4T1 tumors after a single low dose fraction of radiation. Additional experiments to maximize this effect are in progress. The concept proposed could be a useful strategy to selectively enhance delivery of anti-tumor agents in MSC to tumor sites.
Dynamic Filter: Adaptive Query Processing with the Crowd

Hybrid human-machine query processing systems, such as crowd-powered database systems, aim to broaden the scope of questions users can ask about their data by incorporating human computation to support queries that may be subjective and/or require visual or semantic interpretation. A common type of query involves filtering data by several criteria, some of which need human computation to be evaluated. For example, filtering a set of hotels for those that both (1) have great views from the rooms, and (2) have a fitness center. Criteria can differ in the amount of human effort required to decide if data satisfy them, due to criterion's subjectivity and difficulty. There is potential to reduce crowdsourcing costs by ordering the evaluation of each of the criteria such that criteria needing more human computation are not processed for data that have not satisfied the less costly criteria. Unfortunately, for queries specified on-the-fly, the information about subjectivity and difficulty is unknown a priori. To overcome this challenge, we present Dynamic Filter, an adaptive query processing algorithm that dynamically changes the order in which criteria are evaluated based on observations while the query is running. Using crowdsourced data from a popular crowdsourcing platform, we show that Dynamic Filter can effectively adapt the processing order and approach the performance of a "clairvoyant" algorithm.
Acute effects of inhaled menthol on the rewarding effects of intravenous nicotine in smokers.

Objective:This double-blind, placebo controlled study examined whether menthol inhaled from an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) would change subjective and withdrawal alleviating effects of intra...
3-O sulfation of heparin leads to hepatotropism and longer circulatory half-life.

Abstract Introduction Heparins are common blood anticoagulants that are critical for many surgical and biomedical procedures used in modern medicine. In contrast to natural heparin derived from porcine gut mucosa, synthetic heparins are homogenous by mass, polymer length, and chemistry. Materials & methods Stable cell lines expressing the human and mouse Stabilin receptors were used to evaluate endocytosis of natural and synthetic heparin. We chemoenzymatically produced synthetic heparin consisting of 12 sugars (dodecamers) containing 14 sulfate groups resulting in a non-3-O sulfated structure (n12mer). Half of the n12mer was modified with a 3-O sulfate on a single GlcNS sugar producing the 3-O sulfated heparin (12mer). Wildtype (WT), Stabilin-1 knock-out (KO), and Stabilin-2 KO C57BL/6 mice were developed and used for metabolic studies and provided as a source for primary liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. Results & conclusions Human and mouse Stabilin-2 receptors had very similar endocytosis rates of both the 12mer and n12mer, suggesting that they are functionally similar in primary cells. Subcutaneous injections of the n12mer and 12mer revealed that the 12mer had a much longer half-life in circulation and a higher accumulation in liver. The n12mer never accumulated in circulation and was readily excreted by the kidneys before liver accumulation could occur. Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells from the Stabilin-2 KO mice had lower uptake rates for both dodecamers, whereas, the Stabilin-1 KO mice had lower endocytosis rates for the 12mer than the n12mer. 3-O sulfation of heparin is correlated to both a longer circulatory half-life and hepatotropism which is largely performed by the Stabilin receptors.
An Antibody From a Patient With Ranitidine-Induced Thrombocytopenia Recognizes a Site on Glycoprotein IX That Is a Favored Target for Drug-Induced Antibodies

Although thrombocytopenia associated with the use of histamine H2 receptor (H2R) antagonists has been described, a drug-dependent, platelet-reactive antibody has not previously been identified in such cases. We studied serum from a patient who developed acute, severe thrombocytopenia after exposure to the H2 receptor antagonist, ranitidine, and identified an antibody that reacted with normal platelets in the presence of this drug at pharmacologic concentrations. In flow cytometric and immunoprecipitation studies, the antibody was shown to be specific for the glycoprotein Ib/IX complex (GPIb/IX). From the pattern of monoclonal antibody (MoAb) inhibition and the reactions of antibody with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with GPIX and GPIbbeta, we found that the patient's antibody is specific for an epitope on GPIX close to, or identical with a site recognized by the MoAb SZ1 that is a common target for antibodies induced by quinine and quinidine, drugs structurally unrelated to ranitidine. These findings provide evidence that immune thrombocytopenia can be caused by sensitivity to an H2 R antagonist and suggest that the SZ1 binding site on GPIX may be a common target for drug-induced antibodies. Further studies of the epitope for which SZ1 is specific may provide clues to the mechanism(s) by which drugs promote tight binding of antibody to a membrane glycoprotein and cause platelet destruction in patients with drug sensitivity.
The grading gradient: Teacher motivations for varied redo and retake policies

Abstract Standards-based grading has emerged as a leading progressive mode of classroom assessment. Although standards-based grading has several core components, there is appreciable anecdotal evidence that one component is being frequently implemented in the absence of the others. Namely, by allowing students to redo and revise work without regard to deadlines, some teachers are assessing what students know at the end of the course rather than at pre-specified intervals. Here, we surveyed 429 secondary teachers to quantitatively assess their grading practices and evaluate their connection to standards-based grading. Whether teachers allow redo’s/retakes was affected by school policies, teacher content area, and what the teacher’s personal beliefs were about the importance of deadlines and student ownership of learning and accountability. Additionally, our findings suggest that there is a disconnect between best practices in grading and teacher beliefs. Teachers displayed confusion regarding whether or not their schools had implemented standards-based grading policies.
Examining the influence of social support on the relationship between child behavior problems and foster parent satisfaction and challenges

Foster parents experience multiple challenges; however, managing problematic child behaviors can be especially difficult. Given the ecological nature of challenges associated with fostering, it is imperative that researchers identify means for combatting foster parent stress and factors that may contribute to placement disruption. The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of social support for foster parents, in regards to confidence and satisfaction, as well as perceived challenges with fostering. Additionally, social support was evaluated as a moderator between reported child behaviors and foster parents’ confidence and satisfaction with fostering. This study included 155 licensed foster caregivers across the United States. Participants completed standardized measures (i.e., child behaviors, satisfaction and challenges as a foster parent, social support) through an online survey after being recruited via social media. Variables were analyzed through simple and hierarchal linear regressions. Findings indicate that social support significantly predicted confidence and satisfaction as a foster parent; intensity of child behaviors is negatively associated with confidence as a foster parent and positively associated with an overall perception of challenges related to fostering; and social support moderates the relationship between perceived problem with child behaviors and perceived challenging aspects of fostering. This study indicates social support may be a protective factor for foster parents in regards to child behaviors and challenges associated with fostering. Social support is linked to variables that directly influence placement stability.
The Manifold Actions of Signaling Peptides on Subcellular Dynamics of a Receptor Specify Stomatal Cell Fate

Receptor endocytosis is important for signal activation and transduction. However, how a receptor interprets conflicting signals to adjust cellular output is not clearly understood. During plant development, the family of EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR (EPF) peptides fine-tunes stomatal patterning through ERECTA-family receptor kinases. Using genetic, cell biological, and pharmacological approaches, we report here that ERECTA-LIKE1 (ERL1), the major receptor restricting stomatal differentiation, undergoes dynamic subcellular behaviors in response to different signal inputs. ERL1 is constitutively recycled, whereas its activation by EPF1 peptide induces rapid internalization to multivesicular bodies (MVB). In contrast, the dominant-negative ERL1 resides predominantly in plasma membrane. The co-receptor, TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM), is essential for EPF1-induced ERL1 internalization but dispensable for EPFL6-induced ERL1 internalization. The peptide antagonist of EPF1, Stomagen/EPFL9, triggers retention of ERL1 in the endoplasmic reticulum. Our study elucidates that multiple related yet unique peptides specify cell fate by deploying the differential subcellular dynamics of a single receptor.