cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal floor infarction/massive perivillous fibrin deposition: a manifestation of maternal antifetal rejection?

Objective Massive perivillous fibrin deposition (MPFD) and maternal floor infarction (MFI) are related placental lesions often associated with fetal death and fetal growth restriction. A tendency to recur in subsequent pregnancies has been reported. This study was conducted to determine whether this complication of pregnancy could reflect maternal antifetal rejection. Methods Pregnancies with MPFD were identified (n = 10). Controls consisted of women with uncomplicated pregnancies who delivered at term without MPFD (n = 175). Second-trimester maternal plasma was analyzed for panel-reactive anti-HLA class I and class II antibodies. The prevalence of chronic chorioamnionitis, villitis of unknown etiology, and plasma cell deciduitis was compared between cases and controls. Immunohistochemistry was performed on available umbilical vein segments from cases with MPFD (n = 4) to determine whether there was evidence of complement activation (C4d deposition). Specific maternal HLA-antibody and fetal HLA-antigen status were also determined in paired specimens (n = 6). Plasma CXCL-10 concentrations were measured in longitudinal samples of cases (n = 28 specimens) and controls (n = 749 specimens) by ELISA. Linear mixed-effects models were used to test for differences in plasma CXCL-10 concentration. Results (i) The prevalence of plasma cell deciduitis in the placenta was significantly higher in cases with MPFD than in those with uncomplicated term deliveries (40% versus 8.6%, P = 0.01), (ii) patients with MPFD had a significantly higher frequency of maternal anti-HLA class I positivity during the second trimester than those with uncomplicated term deliveries (80% versus 36%, P = 0.01); (iii) strongly positive C4d deposition was observed on umbilical vein endothelium in cases of MPFD, (iv) a specific maternal antibody against fetal HLA antigen class I or II was identified in all cases of MPFD; and 5) the mean maternal plasma concentration of CXCL-10 was higher in patients with evidence of MPFD than in those without evidence of MFPD (P < 0.001). Conclusion A subset of patients with MPFD has evidence of maternal antifetal rejection.
Disaster metrics: a proposed quantitative model for benchmarking prehospital medical response in trauma-related multiple casualty events.

IntroductionQuantitative benchmarking of trauma-related prehospital response for Multiple Casualty Events (MCE) is complicated by major difficulties due to the simultaneous occurrences of multiple prehospital activities.Hypothesis/ProblemAttempts to quantify the various components of prehospital medical response in MCE have fallen short of a comprehensive model. The objective of this study was to model the principal parameters necessary to quantitatively benchmark the prehospital medical response in trauma-related MCE. METHODS: A two-step approach was adopted for the methodology of this study: an extensive literature search was performed, followed by prehospital system quantitative modeling. Studies on prehospital medical response to trauma injuries were used as the framework for the proposed model. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) triage categories (T1-T4) were used for the study. RESULTS: Two parameters, the Injury to Patient Contact Interval (IPCI) and Injury to Hospital Interval (IHI), were identified and proposed as the principal determinants of the medical prehospital response in trauma-related MCE. IHI is the time interval from the occurrence of injury to the completion of transfer of care of critical (T1) and moderate (T2) patients. The IHI for each casualty is compared to the Maximum Time Allowed described in the literature (golden hour for T1 and Friedrich's time for T2). In addition, the medical rescue factor (R) was identified as the overall indicator for the prehospital medical performance for T1 and T2, and a numerical value of one (R = 1) was proposed to be the quantitative benchmark.ConclusionA new quantitative model for benchmarking prehospital response to MCE in trauma-related MCE is proposed. Prospective studies of this model are needed to validate its applicability.Bayram J, Zuabi S. Disaster metrics: a proposed quantitative model for benchmarking prehospital medical response in trauma-related multiple casualty events. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2012;27(2):-7. Language: en
New strategies to overcome limitations of reversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a member of the HER family of receptors, has become a well-established target for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several EGFR-targeted agents produce objective responses in a minority of unselected patients, but a majority of those with EGFR-activating mutations; however, all responders eventually develop resistance. The modest activity of agents that target only EGFR may be due, in part, to the complexity and interdependency of HER family signaling. The interdependent signaling that occurs between EGFR and HER2 provides a rationale for the simultaneous inhibition of these receptors with reversible and irreversible inhibitors. Several agents with activity against both EGFR and HER2 are currently under development. Irreversible EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (e.g., BIBW 2992, HKI-272) and pan-HER TKIs (e.g., PF00299804) comprise a novel class of agents in clinical development that may prevent and overcome inherent and acquired resistance to first-generation reversible EGFR TKIs. Other agents in development include the monoclonal antibody pertuzumab, and XL-647, which inhibits EGFR and HER2, as well as multiple vascular endothelial growth factor receptor family members. Here we briefly review the currently available EGFR-targeted agents, discuss the rationale for extending inhibition to other HER family members, weigh the merits of irreversible HER family inhibition, and summarize preclinical and clinical data with EGFR/HER2 and pan-HER inhibitors under clinical development.
Sequence-based Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction Optimized for Target Selection in Biological Experiments

A set of protein pairs predicted to be interacting with high ratio of true positive is valuable for target selection in experiments like protein structure determination. Our goal in this paper is to investigate the problem of finding such a set of protein pairs in an organism by machine learning methods. Yeast genome was taken for this study and support vector machine was adopted as the classification model. Domain information of each protein was extracted and transformed into features of a protein pair. We specifically analyzed the effect of negative sample selection based on different principles. We also evaluated the feasibility to adjust the intercept parameter of a trained SVM model to improve the ratio of predicted true positive. Our result shows that the approximate 1:3 ratio of positive samples to negative ones in the testing data can be significantly improved to 2:1 of the positive to negative in the predicted data
BEHAVIOR OF AVIRULENT YERSINIA PESTIS IN LIQUID WHOLE EGG AS AFFECTED BY STORAGE TEMPERATURE, ANTIMICROBIALS AND THERMAL PASTEURIZATION

Yersinia spp. are psychrotrophic bacteria capable of growth at temperatures as low as −2C, known to contaminate shell eggs and liquid eggs in the U.S.A. and South America. A study was performed to determine the thermal sensitivity of avirulent Yersinia pestis in liquid whole egg (LWE), evaluate the growth pattern of the bacterium in LWE at temperatures of 4–22C and assess the ability of 10 antimicrobial compounds to inhibit the growth of attenuated Y. pestis in LWE. The estimated decimal reduction values of avirulent Y. pestis in LWE at 54C (D54) were 1.39–1.58 min, and D60 values were 13.8 and 11.4 s by the addition of 0 and 965 IU of nisin (MP Biomedicals, LLC, Solon, OH), respectively. Low molecular weight chitosan (0.5%) and an activated lactoperoxidase system (2.18 U/mL) were ineffective at inhibiting growth of Y. pestis, while 500 IU/mL of nisin inhibited populations by up to 1 log cfu/mL at 4, 10 and 15C when compared with the control. Allyl isothiocyanate, diacetyl, diethyl dicarbonate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, methylparaben, monolaurin and benzoyl peroxide inhibited the growth of attenuated Y. pestis when added at high levels. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The genus Yersinia does not currently pose a problem in pasteurized liquid egg products, although it has been isolated from eggs in the U.S.A. and Argentina. Yersiniae, which are psychrotrophic bacteria, can grow at temperatures as low as −2C; therefore, incidental or intentional contamination of liquid whole egg (LWE) with Yersinia spp. could result in multiplication to high populations, even when stored under refrigeration (ca. 4C). We have shown that avirulent Yersinia pestis is able to multiply to populations of >2, 5 and 8 log cfu/mL in LWE at 4C within 6, 14 and 26 days, respectively. This study provides information that will be helpful in determining thermal and nonthermal means of controlling yersiniae in LWE products.
The Bopyridae (Crustacea, Isopoda) parasites of the Stylodactylidae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea)

Two new species of bopyrid isopods, Pseudione stylopoda n. sp. and P. clevai n. sp., are reported from species in the family Stylodactylidae and are the first species described from members of this enigmatic caridean family. One of the new species is very close to the New Zealand taxon P. pontocari Page, 1985, especially in the form of the distinctive styliform shape of the endopods of pleopods IV and V in the female. The second new species has some similarity to P. elongata elongata (Hansen, 1897) in the shape of the female pleotelson, but is otherwise very distinctive within the genus. Additional literature records of bopyrids from species of Stylodactylidae for which specimens cannot be located are discussed.
Thrombolytic Therapy in Ischemic Stroke: Relevance and Limitations of Animal Models

We have recently asked the question: “why model stroke?” [29] in reaction to still further proliferation of new devices and techniques for inducing infarction. Currently the combinations of methodologies and various animal species have produced options as variable as the natural history of stroke itself. Indeed we may select the model that gives us the results we want. Unfortunately it is the enthusiasm generated by such planned optional results that places patients at risk in premature clinical trials [7, 12, 23].
Guantanamo: America's Foreign Supermax in the Fight Against Terrorism

Much of what we know about the conditions at Guantanamo and the treatment of the detainees has been obtained through visits by US politicians, monitoring by representatives from international nongovernmental and human rights organizations, reports from individuals who have been released, statements by lawyers defending those who have been detained, books written by individuals who worked at this facility, and information from reporters. Not only the decision to detain enemy combatants but also the conditions to which they have been subjected have been vigorously debated.Many of the conditions of the detention facilities and processes at Guantanamo can also be found in a traditional American supermax prisons, where detainees are confined to their cells twenty-three out of twenty-tour hours a day, movement inside the facility is very limited, if not highly controlled, access to visitors is either nonexistent or severely curtailed, and access to typical amenities is sharply curtailed (Ross 2007b) . In fact, two of the camps were modeled on American supermax prisons. Moreover, supermax prisons typically house convicted gang leaders and political criminals such as spies and terrorists, and the enemy combatants at Guantanamo are suspected of committing and/or aiding in the commission of terrorism. To demonstrate the similarities, we begin by providing a brief history of Guantanamo. We then explain why the United States's choice to use Guantanamo provided the opportunity for state crime and how the classification of detainees as enemy combatants and the use of torture circumvent existing treaties to which the United States is a signatory. Finally. we provide an analysis of the US government's policies and sanctioned behaviors toward the detainees.
Cu++-dependent Thiol Stimulation of Glucose Metabolism in White Fat Cells

Abstract EDTA, added either alone or with equimolar concentrations of CaCl2 or MgCl2, was without effect on the increase in fat cell glucose oxidation due to insulin, vitamin K5, menadione, or sucrose hyperosmolarity. In contrast, EDTA markedly inhibited the action of cysteine, glutathione, and an "insulin-like" factor from serum on fat cell glucose metabolism. The inhibition by EDTA was greater on high concentrations of cysteine (1.5 or 2 mm) than lower concentrations (0.5 or 1 mm). In fat cells incubated in a 3% albumin medium which had been incubated for 30 min with 2 mm cysteine prior to addition of EDTA and cells, EDTA was ineffective in blocking the action of cysteine. The stimulation by cysteine, glutathione, and vitamin K5 of white fat cell glucose oxidation was inhibited in the absence of albumin while the response to insulin or sucrose hyperosmolarity was unaffected. The effect of albumin on the action of cysteine was biphasic. The stimulatory effect of 0.05 or 0.5 mm cysteine was about 3-fold greater than 1.5 mm cysteine in the presence of 0.75% albumin while with 3% albumin present the response of cells to 1.5 and 0.5 mm cysteine was maximal and that to 0.05 mm cysteine was nearly abolished. Dialysis of albumin reduced its ability to support the effect of cysteine as did passage over Sephadex G-50. The stimulation by cysteine and glutathione of glucose metabolism was inhibited by almost 90% if fat cells were incubated in albumin which had been exposed to 3.3 mm phenanthroline and then chromatographed on Sephadex G-50 while the increase due to insulin was diminished by only 25%. Cu++ at 3 x 10-6 and 10-5 m, but not 10-4 m, restored the stimulatory effect of cysteine on fat cell glucose metabolism in the presence of the phenanthroline, Sephadex-treated albumin. These results indicate that the stimulatory effects of cysteine on white fat cell glucose utilization involve a mechanism dependent on the presence of divalent copper.
Skew-Unfolding the Skorokhod Reflection of a Continuous Semimartingale

The Skorokhod reflection of a continuous semimartingale is unfolded, in a possibly skewed manner, into another continuous semimartingale on an enlarged probability space according to the excursion-theoretic methodology of [14]. This is done in terms of a skew version of the Tanaka equation, whose properties are studied in some detail. The result is used to construct a system of two diffusive particles with rank-based characteristics and skew-elastic collisions. Unfoldings of conventional reflections are also discussed, as are examples involving skew Brownian Motions and skew Bessel processes.
A new class of harmonic components for millimeter-wave applications: Research Articles

This article presents several new harmonic components for millimeter-wave applications. These components include a commonly used patch antenna and a bandpass filter operating at 35 GHz. The components have the advantages of easier fabrication and feeding compared with the commonly used traditional components operating at fundamental frequencies. The harmonic components are also used to build an antenna array. Good performance is obtained from these harmonic components in comparison with the traditional components. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2008.
Policing "perversions": Depo-Provera and John Money's new sexual order.

The use of the drug Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA]) in the treatment of sexual minorities, such as sadomasochists, transvestites, sexually active children and teenagers, and adults sexually attracted to minors, is the latest developement in a long tradition of dangerous and crude experimentation by psychiatrists and clinical psychologists with biodeterministic and reductionist views of human sexuality. Among them is clinical psychologist John Money, whose zealous advocacy of such treatments ignores or downplays critical issues of ethics, informed consent, and the side effects of the drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has failed to effectively regulate such uses of Depo-Provera. Public outcry, more stringent regulation, and a new acceptance of the rights of sexual minorities are necessary to forestall the imposition of a repressive, new sexual order.
CONVERGENT EVOLUTION OF COURTSHIP SONGS AMONG CRYPTIC SPECIES OF THE CARNEA GROUP OF GREEN LACEWINGS (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE: CHRYSOPERLA).

Although traits of related species are likely to be similar due to common ancestry, mating signals are an exception. In singing insects, for example, song similarity has been documented only for allopatric or allochronic species pairs, and even then, not often. Where song similarity does occur, it has been logically attributed to the inheritance of ancestral traits rather than convergence. It is quite common for related, sympatric insect species to differ dramatically in calling song, which is predicted by evolutionary theory to maximize intraspecific mating success. Given that there are a limited number of ways to make sounds on anatomically similar organs and given that there would be no selective pressure for songs to differ in widely separated geographic areas, convergence in songs among related species living on different continents might be expected. Here we present the first well-documented case of such convergence, in a group of sibling, cryptic species characterized by substrate-borne vibrational mating songs. In this example from green lacewings of the carnea group of the genus Chrysoperla, a variety of statistical tests shows that one species in North America and another in Asia possess songs that are strikingly similar to each other. DNA data demonstrate that the species involved belong to divergent speciose lineages, and behavioral data demonstrate that the convergent songs are readily accepted by members of both species.
Harpellales: generic confusion due to precocious development

The two genera of Harpellales (Tricho- mycetes) found most frequently in Chironomidae (midge) larvae, namely Smittium in the hindgut and Stachylina in the midgut, are easily distinguished in most instances. However, cases are reported in which Smittium trichospores extrude prematurely as they pass through the midgut, with the sporangiospore at- taching to the peritrophic membrane and thereby leading to very limited thallic growth that resembles an immature Stachylina thallus. This development ap- pears to be common in Smittium longisporum and Sm. perforatum, and may occur less frequently in some other species of Smittium. Methods to identify such "false" Stachylina thalli are discussed.
The Hum: Hmm? Turnstile

Discusses the possible origins of the so-called humming sound heard around the world by some people.As it happens, there was at least a theoretical breakthrough of sorts in 2015. The Independent (United Kingdom) reported in April 2015, "Scientists have confirmed the cause of a strange humming noise that emanates from the Earth and has baffled people for more than forty years—and was even a factor in one reported suicide…However, the search for the truth could now be over because researchers claim that microseismic activity from long ocean that makes our planet vibrate and produces the droning sound. The pressure of the waves on the seafloor generates seismic waves that cause the Earth to oscillate." Examines this phenomenon.
Procidentia Incarcerated by Vesical Calculi

AbstractWe report the fifth case of uterine prolapse with incarceration secondary to vesical calculi. This entity with multisystem involvement may herald a true medical emergency and the principles pertinent to the management of such a case are reviewed.
Analysis of fumonisins and Alternaria alternata toxin by liquid chromatography-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Use of a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a postcolumn monitoring system after liquid chromatography (LC) is described for analysis of different fumonisin analogs. Without cleanup and derivatization, sample extracts are directly injected into a C 18 reversed-phase column and then subjected to LC. Fractions (0.5 mL each) are collected and then analyzed by ELISA. LC using a water-methanol gradient separated the 3 major fumonisins FmB1, FmB2, and FmB3, and as low as 0.1 ng FmB1 could be detected. Recovery of FmB1 added to ground corn (100-1000 ng/g) and then extracted with CH 3 CN-H 2 O (1 + 1, v/v) was 78.8%. Analysis of fumonisins in one starch and 14 naturally contaminated corn samples showed that FmB1 was the major fumonisin. Ten samples also were contaminated with FmB2, but only 2 samples were contaminated with FmB3. The method also was used to analyze extracts from cultures of 3 Alternaria alternata (AAL) strains. Both FmB1 and the AAL toxin TA were detected in the culture extracts, and their amounts varied considerably with the cultures tested.
Untersuchungen innerer Grenzflächen mit elektronenspektroskopischen Methoden

The physical and chemical properties of interfaces such as grain boundaries and phase boundaries are very important for the mechanical properties of materials, for the grain boundary corrosion and grain boundary diffusion processes. The cohesive energy of interfaces can be significantly influenced by the microchemistry. Phosphorus, tin and antimony segregated to the grain boundaries, reduce the fracture toughness and the yield strength of technical steels. The concentrations of these elements causing these effects are in the range of a few ppm. The analytical problem is the characterisation of the microchemistry of grain boundaries and to correlate this information with the material properties. Fractions of atomic monolayers can be identified with a high lateral resolution. However, the interfaces have to be opened by fracturing the samples under UHV-conditions in the spectrometer.
Effects of changing climate on ice cover in three morphometrically different lakes

A one-dimensional hydrodynamic lake model (DYRESM-WQ-I) is employed to simulate ice cover and water temperatures over the period 1911-2014. The effects of climate changes (air temperature and wind speed) on ice cover (ice-on, ice-off, ice cover duration, and maximum ice thickness) are modeled and compared for the three different morphometry lakes, Fish Lake, Lake Wingra, and Lake Mendota, located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America. It is found that the ice cover period has decreased due to later ice-on dates and earlier ice-off dates, and the annual maximum ice cover thickness has decreased for the three lakes during the last century. Based upon simulated perturbations of daily mean air temperatures across the range of -10 °C to +10 °C of historical values, Fish Lake has the most occurrences of no ice cover and Lake Wingra still remains ice covered under extreme conditions (+10 °C). Overall shallower lakes with larger surface areas appear more resilient to ice cover changes caused by climate changes.
Synthesis and characterization of hydrotris(3-phenylpyrazolyl)borate ligands on low-valent uranium

Abstract Treating both UI3(THF)4 and UI4(dioxane)2 with one equivalent of potassium hydrotris(3-phenylpyrazolyl)borate, KTpPh, resulted in the formation of new low-valent uranium derivatives, TpPhUI2(THF)2 (1) and TpPhUI3 (2), respectively. Spectroscopic characterization of these species shows that the TpPh ligand is 1,2-borotropically shifted, causing one phenyl group to point towards the B–H rather than the uranium center. Derivatization of these materials was possible via salt metathesis reactions, and in each case, the borotropically shifted phenyl group is maintained. Treating trivalent 1 with one equivalent of potassium phenoxide, KOPh, afforded trivalent TpPhU(OPh)I(THF)2 (1-OPh), whereas, a uranium(IV) derivative, TpPhUI2(Phpz)(THF) (2-Phpz), was synthesized by treating 2 with potassium 3-phenylpyrazolide, KPhpz. All compounds were characterized by 1H and 11B NMR, infrared, and electronic absorption spectroscopies, and where possible, X-ray crystallography.
REAL-TIME RT-qPCR DETECTION OF CHERRY RASP LEAF VIRUS, CHERRY GREEN RING MOTTLE VIRUS, CHERRY NECROTIC RUSTY MOTTLE VIRUS, CHERRY VIRUS A AND APPLE CHLOROTIC LEAF SPOT VIRUS IN STONE FRUITS

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) was developed for the detection of Cherry rasp leaf virus (CRLV), Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV), Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV), Cherry virus A (CVA) and Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) in stone fruits, including apricot, cherry, peach, plum and almond. The RT-qPCR assays were designed after aligning nucleotide sequences derived from the most conserved regions of the coat protein gene of geographically diverse isolates and isolates for which sequence information is available in GenBank. RT-qPCR assays were validated and compared to conventional RT-PCR using 221 isolates. Our data showed that more isolates were detected by RT-qPCR than by RT-PCR; 0.9%, 6.3%, 1.29%, 5% and 8.14% more for CRLV, CGRMV, CNRMV, CVA and ACLSV, respectively.
Perpetuities, Taxes, and Asset Protection: An Empirical Assessment of the Jurisdictional Competition for Trust Funds

This chapter provides an accessible overview of our previous work on the impact of the abolition of the Rule Against Perpetuities (RAP) on trust fund situs. The implementation of the Generation Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 sparked a movement to repeal the RAP. Since 1986, nearly half the states have abolished or effectively abolished the RAP as applied to interests in trust. Prior to 1986, only three states had abolished the RAP. We find no evidence that abolishing the RAP prior to the 1986 GST tax attracted trust business. By contrast, between 1986 and 2003, abolishing states reported an average increase in trust assets of $6 billion (a 20 percent increase). In addition, average account size in abolishing states increased by $200,000, implying that abolishing the rule attracted relatively larger trusts. Our findings imply that roughly $100 billion in trust funds have moved to take advantage of the abolition of the RAP. Further, we can trace these results to the subset of abolishing states that did not levy a tax on income accumulated in trusts attracted from out of state. This finding, which implies that abolishing the RAP does not directly increase state tax revenue, bears on the scholarly debate over the mechanisms of jurisdictional competition. Our analysis also controls for whether a state validated the so-called self-settled asset protection trust (APT). We did not find consistent evidence that validating APTs increases a state's reported trust business, but in the period studied few states had validated APTs, so we draw no firm conclusions. We conclude that the jurisdictional competition for trust funds is real and intense, with the primary margin of competition being the rules that bear on trust duration, and that the enactment of the GST tax sparked the rise of the perpetual trust. In future work using more refined data, we intend to revisit the jurisdictional competition for trust funds and to expand our inquiry to include directed trustee statutes and the recent reforms to trust-investment laws.
Influence of Diphenhydramine HCl and Caffeine on Embryonic Development and Adult Reproductive Success of the Freshwater Gastropod Helisoma trivolvis

Abstract: Diphenhydramine HCl (DH) and caffeine are commonly detected contaminants in waterways and drinking water nationwide (U.S.A.) and yet little is known of their influence on the development of aquatic molluscs. The antihistamine diphenhydramine blocks the chemical effects of histamine by inhibiting the re-uptake of serotonin (5-HT). Caffeine can influence the regulation of calcium (Ca2+) and neurotransmitters, such as 5- HT, by inhibiting the re-uptake of adenosine. Serotonin receptor-mediated signaling is key during embryonic development in the freshwater snail Helisoma trivolvis (Say 1816). Embryonic development rates of H. trivolvis depend upon external conditions such as oxygen concentration and temperature. We examine the effects of diphenhydramine (DH) and caffeine on development and reproductive potential of this common aquatic snail. Concentrations of DH at 40.0, 50.0 and 60.0 µM affect the in-capsule embryonic development and hatching rate. Caffeine at 40.0, 50.0 and 60.0 µM show no influe...
Control and performance analysis methodology for scale-up of MMC submodules for back-to-back HVDC applications

The modular multilevel converter (MMC) is a promising topology for both Medium Voltage (MV) and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) applications. The MMC employs a large number of “submodule” (SM) cascaded in series per phase arm to achieve the MV- or HVDC voltage. The SM numbers per phase arm can be as high as 256 or 512 SMs for +/− 300kV DC bus voltage for typical 300–600MW Back-to-Back (B2B) and also point to point HVDC applications. The MMC AC side interface voltage Total Harmonics Distortion (THD) requirements are normally < 3% which can be achieved by 48-pulse stepped AC waveform. This paper addresses the first step towards scale-up control and performance analysis such that the behavior of a large number of SMs can be predicted by a cumulative set of a smaller number of SMs. The SM capacitor voltage control is analyzed for scale-up of MMC. Simulation results of B2B HVDC application based MMC system with minimum values of MMC components (SMs capacitors and arms inductors) based on a parametric search are performed using Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) system.
Combining algebraic and side channel attacks on stream ciphers

A cryptanalysis technique can be termed successful if its complexity is better than brute force attack, even though it may not be practically feasible due to high complexity. However, it is a proven fact that combining different type of attack techniques in past has paid dividends with regards to overall complexity. We, in this paper propose novel idea of combining algebraic and side channel attacks on stream ciphers. Algebraic cryptanalysis has a high cost when pitched against stream ciphers with nonlinear update and for side channel attacks, adversary needs to have a continued access to cipher's implementation. On the other hand combining both these attacks can overcome their individual shortcomings to a great extent, thereby making it practically feasible. Algebraic and side channel attacks have been earlier combined on block ciphers, but no work on applying such attacks against stream ciphers has been published so far.
Hierarchical social networks shape gut microbial composition in wild Verreaux's sifaka

In wild primates, social behaviour influences exposure to environmentally acquired and directly transmitted microorganisms. Prior studies indicate that gut microbiota reflect pairwise social interactions among chimpanzee and baboon hosts. Here, we demonstrate that higher-order social network structure-beyond just pairwise interactions-drives gut bacterial composition in wild lemurs, which live in smaller and more cohesive groups than previously studied anthropoid species. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and social network analysis of grooming contacts, we estimate the relative impacts of hierarchical (i.e. multilevel) social structure, individual demographic traits, diet, scent-marking, and habitat overlap on bacteria acquisition in a wild population of Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) consisting of seven social groups. We show that social group membership is clearly reflected in the microbiomes of individual sifaka, and that social groups with denser grooming networks have more homogeneous gut microbial compositions. Within social groups, adults, more gregarious individuals, and individuals that scent-mark frequently harbour the greatest microbial diversity. Thus, the community structure of wild lemurs governs symbiotic relationships by constraining transmission between hosts and partitioning environmental exposure to microorganisms. This social cultivation of mutualistic gut flora may be an evolutionary benefit of tight-knit group living.
Efficacy and complications of the use of Gardner-Wells Tongs: a systematic review

We conducted a thorough review of the literature to examine the risks and complications associated with the use of Gardner-Wells Tongs (GWT). Twenty-three articles were included in this review for final analysis. One article reported a 37.5% (6/16) incidence rate of minor complications with the usage of GWTs, which included pin loosening, asymmetrical pin positioning, and superficial infections. Various cases reported more serious yet rare complications, including perforation of the skull, brain abscesses, and neurovascular damage. Overall, the complication rate is low, and often associated with only minor and transient complications, which can be easily managed. Therefore, we conclude that GWT are safe and effective, with only rare, more serious complications reported in the literature.
The Protective Role of Connectedness on Depression and Suicidal Ideation Among Bully Victimized Youth.

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between connectedness subtypes (family, school, community) and youth depression and suicidal ideation across a 6-month period within a sample of bu...
Additional Inferential Procedures

In this chapter we discuss the confidence interval. This is an interval of numbers that, we are very confident, contains the parameter of interest. Such intervals are very useful when our interest is in what the value of the parameter actually is, rather than just whether our hypothesis about it is or is not supported. After that, we revisit hypothesis testing with a more elaborate test in which we test whether two means in the population are the same. Following this, we consider the issue of statistical power in hypothesis testing. Power is a very important consideration, particularly when researchers are deciding how large a sample they need to collect in order to effectively answer their research questions.
ON LOGNORMALITY AND SCALING IN SPATIAL RAINFALL AVERAGES

Empirically-motivated assumptions of lognormality and statistical self-similarity (or scaling) of fluctuations of spatially-averaged rainfall are examined theoretically. Various basic properties of self-similarity are described in an effort to keep the exposition self-contained. It is shown that if the rainfall probability distributions are assumed to be lognormal, then the fluctuation field can be scaling in at most a second order sense; but not in the sense of the full distribution. Therefore, an application of this framework to rainfall requires some modification of the notion of scaling or the assumption of lognormality, or both.
After the Supreme Word: The Effect of Van Orden v. Perry (2005) and McCreary County v. ACLU (2005) on Support for Public Displays of the Ten Commandments

In this paper, I explore the role that comprehension of Supreme Court cases plays in attitude change. I conduct a natural experiment during June 2005 to test whether understanding Van Orden v. Perry or McCreary v. ACLU increases the probability of attitude change on public displays of the Ten Commandments. Extending John Zaller's (1992) theory of elite driven public opinion, I find that receiving the Court's message increases support for policies announced in both cases. Understanding McCreary is associated with less support for the unconstitutional Kentucky display. For Van Orden, understanding the case increases support for the Texas display among individuals consuming more of the cues provided by elites other than the Court.
85°C Operation of Single-Mode 850 nm VCSELs for High Speed Error-Free Transmission up to 1 km in OM4 Fiber

Single-mode 850 nm oxide-confined VCSELs with integrated mode-selective filter are developed. The fabricated devices have demonstrated 32 Gb/s (room temperature) & 26 Gb/s (85°C) error-free transmission over 500 m OM4 fiber, and 28 Gb/s (room temperature) & 22 Gb/s (85°C) over 1 km OM4 fiber.
Comparison of veracity and application of different CFD turbulence models for refrigerated transport

Abstract The objective of this study was to establish a comprehensively verified 3D CFD model of this experimental platform to simulate the airflow and heat transfer at different unsteady turbulence model (standard κ-e, RNG κ-e, Realizable κ-e, standard κ-ω, SST κ-ω and RSM), and to predict the temporal-spatial temperature and velocity variations during cooling. Good agreement between model prediction and measured data was obtained. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) were 1.049 °C, 1.033 °C, 1.039 °C, 1.037 °C, 1.014 °C and 1.064 °C for standard κ-e, RNG κ-e, Realizable κ-e, standard κ-ω, SST κ-ω and RSM, respectively. There were no significant differences in different turbulence models on simulating the temperature distribution, and it was similar to solve the energy equation on different turbulence models with two-equation eddy viscosity. This study also revealed that the simulation values of high Reynolds numbers turbulence model (e.g. standard κ-e, RNG κ-e, Realizable κ-e and RSM) were slightly lower than measured values near the plane wall. After comparing the accuracy of six two-equation turbulence models, the SST κ-ω model shows more accurate predictions by a comparison of the experimental and simulated results. This research provided reliable method for better understanding and selecting CFD turbulence models to refrigerated transport of fresh fruit.
Sequence Parameters Estimation for Two Mutually Coupled Lines that Are Magnetically and Capacitively Coupled but Not Electrically Coupled

This paper presents a new method to estimate positive and zero-sequence transmission line parameters for two mutually coupled lines. The two lines are parallel for part of a distance and are magnetically and capacitively coupled but not electrically coupled. The current and voltage measurements are taken from synchronized phasor measurements (PMUs) installed at both ends of each line. Two cases were considered; the first one is when the two lines are transposed, and in the second case, both lines are untransposed. A transient simulation software tool was used to perform simulation and validate the proposed method for different power system configurations.
A Metric Framework for Evaluating the Resilience Contribution of Hydropower to the Grid

This paper will describe a proposed framework for expressing the resilience of hydropower generation and provide initial case studies for three classes of hydropower, run-of-river hydropower, hydropower with reservoirs, and pumped storage hydropower. Hydropower has great flexibility to provide support during and after natural and man-made events that can disrupt critical infrastructure functionality. The concept of the framework provides for consideration of policy and rules, constraints of the water shed and other allocations of water, storage and plant capabilities to produce real and reactive power, and the strength of the delivery network. The paper details a resilience response metric that has inputs of state of storage and plant level constraints on real and reactive power production. Using the definition of resilience, based on maintaining a minimally normal operations, we provide a qualitative assessment of hydropower’s ability to address the various time scales comprising the "R"s of resilience.
Bacteriophage T7 DNA packaging. III. A "hairpin" end formed on T7 concatemers may be an intermediate in the processing reaction.

An unusual left end (M-end) has been identified on bacteriophage T7 DNA isolated from T7-infected cells. This end has a “hairpin” structure and is formed at a short inverted repeat sequence centered around nucleotide 39,587 of T7, 190 base-pairs to the left of the site where a mature left end is formed on the T7 concatemer. We do not detect the companion right end that would be formed if the M-end is produced by a double-stranded cut on the T7 concatemer. This suggests that the hairpin left end may be generated from a single-stranded cut in the DNA that is used to prime rightward DNA synthesis. The formation of M-end does not require the products of T7 genes 10, 18 or 19, proteins that are essential for the formation of mature T7 ends. During infection with a T7 gene 3 (endonuclease) mutant, phage DNA synthesis is reduced and the concatemers are not processed into unit length DNA molecules, but both M-end and the mature right end are formed on the concatemer DNA. These two ends are also found associated with the large, rapidly sedimenting concatemers formed during a normal T7 infection while the mature left end is present only on unit length T7 DNA molecules. We propose that DNA replication primed from the hairpin end produced by a nick in the inverted repeat sequence provides a mechanism to duplicate the terminal repeat before DNA packaging. Packaging is initiated with the formation of a mature right end on the branched concatemer and, as the phage head is filled, the T7 gene 3 endonuclease may be required to trim the replication forks from the DNA. Concatemer processing is completed by the removal of the 190 base-pair hairpin end to produce the mature left end.
PROGRESS TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS

Over the last decade, American social policy has increasingly focused on encouraging and requiring work for those receiving government supports. This study analyzes the dynamics of the low-wage labor market and the role of work supports in helping workers move toward economic self-sufficiency. Monthly data from January 2001 through January 2003 shows that over one-quarter of workers earn low wages. We find evidence that low-wage workers are moving to higher-wage jobs, but two years later, the majority of low-wage workers either remain in low-wage jobs or are not working. Our analysis provides some, although limited, evidence that government-provided work supports promote self-sufficiency.
Variations on a Theme: Convergent Thinking and the Integration of Faith and Learning

Given the volatile nature of American higher education, the need for institutions to promote a distinct purpose has become critical. For Protestant colleges and universities, the historical answer to questions of identity has traditionally been the “integration of faith and learning.” Scholars have focused on this concept since its articulation over 40 years ago, and the result has been the proliferation of various sets of integration models, paradigms, and approaches. Although many debates over the nature of Protestant higher education rightly cast a broad perspective, often lost is how the integration of faith and learning is understood by the individual faculty member. Using convergent thinking as a conceptual framework, and meta-synthesis as the specific convergent instrument, this article analyzes four decades' worth of theory to offer a taxonomy of seven faith-learning integration approaches. Implications exist for institutional leaders in defining the expectation regarding the paradigm(s) of integr...
Oesophageal involvement in bullous pemphigoid. A possible cause of gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

SUMMARY An elderly patient with bullous pemphigoid who had extensive oesophageal bullae is described. The diagnosis was confirmed by routine histopathological examination and immunofluorescence studies. These large oesophageal bullae may have caused massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage in this patient.
Convection of discontinuities in solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible flow

We report here on results concerning the existence, uniqueness, and continuous dependence on initial data of discontinuous solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for one-dimensional compressible fluid flow: $$ \left\{ \begin{gathered} {\upsilon_t} - {u_x} = 0 \hfill \\ {u_t} + p{(\upsilon, e)_x} = {\left( {\frac{{ \in {u_x}}}{\upsilon }} \right)_x} \hfill \\ {\left( {\frac{{{u^2}}}{2} + e} \right)_t} + {(up(\upsilon, e))_x} = {\left( {\frac{{ \in u{u_x} + \lambda T{{(\upsilon, e)}_x}}}{\upsilon }} \right)_x} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \right. $$ (1) with Cauchy data $$ \left[ \begin{gathered} \upsilon \hfill \\ u \hfill \\ e \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \right](x,0) = \left[ \begin{gathered} {\upsilon_0} \hfill \\ {u_0} \hfill \\ {e_0} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \right](x) $$ (2) Here v, u, e, p, and T represent respectively the specific volume, velocity, specific internal energy, pressure, and temperature in a fluid; x is the Lagrangian coordinate, so that x = constant corresponds to a particle path; and ∈ and λ are fixed positive viscosity parameters.
The effects of porcine somatotropin and dietary lysine on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing swine.

Seventy-two finishing pigs (initial weight = 57.6 kg) were utilized to determine the effects of porcine somatotropin (pST) and dietary lysine level on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Pigs were injected daily with 4 mg pST in the extensor muscle of the neck and fed either a pelleted corn-sesame meal diet (.6% lysine, 17.8% CP) or diets containing .8, 1.0, 1.2 or 1.4% lysine provided by additions of L-lysine.HCl. All diets were formulated to contain at least twice the required amounts of other amino acids. Control pigs received a placebo injection and the .6%-lysine diet. Increasing levels of dietary lysine resulted in increased ADG and improved feed conversion (quadratic, P less than .01) for pST-treated pigs. The calculated daily lysine intake was 16.6, 13.6, 19.6, 25.1, 29.6 and 33.6 g for the control and pST-treated pigs fed .6, .8, 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4% lysine, respectively, over the entire experiment. Breakpoint analysis indicated that cumulative ADG and feed conversion were optimized at 1.19 and 1.22% lysine, respectively. Longissimus muscle area and trimmed ham and loin weights increased as dietary lysine was increased among pST-treated pigs (quadratic, P less than .01). Breakpoint analysis indicated that 1.11% lysine maximized longissimus muscle area, whereas trimmed ham and loin weights were maximized at .91 and .98% lysine, respectively. Adjusted backfat thickness was not affected by dietary lysine, but pST-treated pigs had less backfat (P less than .05) than control pigs did. Percentage moisture of the longissimus muscle increased (linear, P less than .05), as did percentage CP (quadratic, P less than .05), whereas fat content decreased (linear, P less than .05) as lysine level increased. Similar trends in composition were observed for muscles of the ham (semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris). Shear-force values from the longissimus and semimembranosus were lowest for control pigs, but they increased as dietary lysine level increased among pST-treated pigs. Sensory panel evaluations indicated that juiciness and tenderness decreased (linear, P less than .05) as dietary lysine level increased. Plasma urea concentrations decreased linearly (P less than .01) on d 28 as lysine level increased, whereas plasma lysine and insulin were increased (quadratic, P less than .01). Plasma glucose and free fatty acid concentrations on d 28 tended to increase (quadratic, P less than .10) with increasing dietary lysine level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)