cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Washing Stem Cells Cryopreserved in Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) before Infusion Prevents DMSO-Related Side Effects with Little Loss of CD34 Positive Cells and Prompt Engraftment.

Abstract Autologous peripheral blood stem cells are harvested and cryopreserved for weeks to months or even years in advance of the autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT). The stem cells are cryopreserved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a cryoprotectant agent that prevents ice crystals from forming and puncturing the stem cell membranes during the freezing process. Infused with the thawed cells, the DMSO can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, seizures, renal insufficiency and stem cell death. We report on the results of 103 consecutive PBSCT, in which the DMSO was washed out before reinfusion. Viability, CD 34+ cell recovery as well as clinical endpoints such as time to engraftment (neutrophil and platelet counts) and infusion reactions for the 103 cases were assessed. The cryoprotectant solution used consisted of either 10% DMSO or a combination of 5% DMSO with 6% Hydroxyethyl starch. The stem cells were frozen using a rate-controlled freezer (Cryomed™ 1010) to −180°C and then stored in the liquid phase of liquid nitrogen (kept at approximately −190°C) for up to 4.7 years (mean duration of 42 days) following collection. The sample was thawed rapidly in a 37°C water bath and then washed manually with a washing solution of 0.9% Normal Saline (NS) and 10% anticoagulant citrate dextrose solution. After the sample was resuspended, it was centrifuged (RC-3, Sorvall™) and then suspended again in NS before infusion. Endpoints examined included CD 34+ cell recovery, viability, infusion reactions, and febrile episodes within 24 hours post-infusion, time to engraftment of platelets and neutrophils, highest serum creatinine (Cr) within 4 days following the transplant, and length of hospital stay. Automated WBC differentials were performed on a Beckman Coulter™ AcT Diff Analyzer and manually (when the WBC count was
What Is the Rule of Law? Perspectives from Myanmar

What is the rule of law? This much celebrated concept serves as the basis for policy advocacy, reform movements, and rankings. Yet it remains very difficult to define. In Opposing the Rule of Law, Nick Cheesman takes a new approach. Instead of asking what the rule of law is, he asks what it is not. His deep historical and contextual analysis of the way the law works in Myanmar shows both that the concept of rule of law blurs with ideas of law and order and also that understanding how it works requires examining how it is embedded within political and ideological systems.
„Ich erinnere mich (glaube ich).“ Zur Rolle der Zeitlichkeit in der hermeneutischen und technozentrischen Schriftauffassungen

Das Spannungsverhaltnis der Gedachtnisfunktion und der Kommunikationsfunktion von Sprache und Schrift wird in Das unerbittliche Gedachtnis anhand der Diskrepanz der kognitiven Fahigkeiten des Erzahlers und der von ihm beschriebenen Person verhandelt. Die Beschreibungen von Funes’ Umgang mit Zeichensystemen und die Reflexionen des Erzahlers uber die beschriebenen Ereignisse lassen sich mit Hilfe verschiedener Strategien literaturwissenschaftlicher Texterschliesung kategorisieren. Der Zugang der Figuren zu ihrem Gedachtnis soll hier deshalb mit zwei zueinander kontraren Perspektiven der Textanalyse verglichen werden. Das Entwerfen einer zeitlichen Ordnung alphabetischer Schrift in den verschiedenen Ansatzen spielt dabei eine entscheidende Rolle.
James Neil Gilliam, MD—the career arc of a patient-oriented translational clinical investigation changemaker in rheumatologic skin disease

James Neil Gilliam, MD, was an American academic physician who was trained in internal medicine, dermatology, dermatopathology and rheumatology. This “quadruple-threat” profile of postgraduate medical training provided him with a rather unique perspective on genetically-complex, environmentally-impacted human autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematosus (LE). Both the skin and vital internal organs can be damaged by LE autoimmunity. And, LE is clinically-expressed quite variably from one individual to another making prognosis difficult. As such it can be very challenging to know what the optimal treatment approach might be for new patients presenting with this potentially-fatal disorder. Dr. Gilliam’s major career focus was to better understand the complex relationships that exist between the clinical expression of LE in the skin and vital internal organs. In the late 1970s, Dr. Gilliam first described a new clinical form of LE skin disease that he designated as “subacute cutaneous LE.” Subacute cutaneous LE would subsequently serve as the linchpin for a new classification scheme for LE skin disease that would later become known as the “Gilliam classification” of LE skin disease. In addition, he was among the first to apply modern immunologic insight to the classification of cutaneous LE. This work was carried out in the Divisions of Dermatology and Rheumatology and the Department of Dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas (UT Southwestern) starting in 1972. Dr. Gilliam served as the Founding Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at UT Southwestern in 1982, 2 years before his untimely death. Dr. Gilliam’s clinical research accomplishments were matched by his ability to identify and encourage like-minded young people. A high percentage of his trainees went on to successful academic research careers and leadership positions in American Dermatology. Dr. Gilliam’s untimely death from cancer deprived several generations of dermatologists and rheumatologists the benefit of his warm support and insightful guidance. In addition, American Dermatology and Rheumatology leadership organizations were deprived of his strong leadership skills.
Developments with GPS

This paper points out that, since its inception, the basic idea of the General Problem Solver (GPS) has been followed and sharpened by a number of researchers. It describes how their research has shed light on various aspects of GPS, examines their limitations, and tries to remove these limitations. Special consideration is given to work aimed at automating the construction of problem dependent heuristic information guidance for GPS.
Protecting natural landforms and habitats by nourishing an eroding estuarine beach

An important issue facing coastal managers is how natural coastal habitats can be protected against wave erosion by human action. An assessment is made of attempts to protect a rare maritime forest on the bay side of a barrier island at Fire Island, New York, USA using artificial beach fill. The sediment deficit is caused by human attempts to stabilize the island by restricting inlet formation, overwash, and dune migration, and it is exacerbated by a nearby marina bulkhead. A total of 1099 m3 of sand dredged from the navigation channel was placed near the bulkhead. Loss of fill was 5.54–7.87 m3 m−1 in the first 6 months. The fill was gone 18 months after placement. Sediment moving out of the fill area caused almost 4 m of shoreline advance 40 m downdrift after 6 months (gain of 3.28 m3 m−1), followed by retreat of about 5 m at that location over the next 12 months (loss of 5.51 m3 m−1). These results reveal how small changes in volume of microtidal estuarine beaches can cause great shoreline displacement rates. The amount of fill from maintenance dredging is insufficient to replenish erosion losses. Placing additional fill sediment on the bayside to create artificial washover fans can mimic natural landforms and overcome loss of sediment inputs caused by stabilizing the ocean shore. Mechanical placement may be preferable to natural processes, which would deliver sediment across the island and through pre-existing stable habitat, eliminating some of the features that take long to form.
Data electronically extracted from the electronic health record require validation.

OBJECTIVES Determine sources of error in electronically extracted data from electronic health records. STUDY DESIGN Categorical and continuous variables related to early-onset neonatal hypoglycemia were preselected and electronically extracted from records of 100 randomly selected neonates within 3479 births with laboratory-proven early-onset hypoglycemia. Extraction language was written by an information technologist and data validated by blinded manual chart review. Kappa coefficient assessed categorical variables and percent validity continuous variables. RESULTS 8/23 (35%) categorical variables had acceptable Κappa (1-0.81); 5/23 (22%) had fair-slight agreement, Κappa < 0.40. Notably, "hypoglycemia" had poor agreement, Κappa 0.16. In contrast, 6/8 continuous variables had validity ≥ 94%. After correcting extraction language, 6/9 variables were corrected and inter-rater validation improved. However, "hypoglycemia" was not corrected, remaining an issue. CONCLUSIONS Data extraction without validation procedures, especially categorical variables using International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) codes, often results in incorrect data identification. Electronically extracted data must incorporate built-in validating processes.
Nanoparticle assisted nuclear relaxation-based oligonucleotide detection.

Abstract We present a proof-of-concept “on-off” detection scheme, which uses gadolinium phthalocyanine (GdTcPc)-grafted silica nanoparticles as paramagnetic centers, capable of modifying the transverse relaxation time (T2) of water protons in solution. A DNA strand (as probe) was conjugated to the GdTcPc to act as a recognition element. In the presence of the target DNA, which was complementary to the probe, an increase in the T2 value was detected, with magnitude proportional to the target DNA concentration. The linear range was observed from 30 to 140 nM, with limit of detection of 15 nM. The developed nuclear relaxation-based detection scheme is shown to be a simple, fast and selective method to detect DNA and could be useful in point-of-care diagnostic applications.
Differences in Mental Health between Students in a Jointly Offered Computer Engineering Program and the two Home Departments

This Research Work-In-Progress Paper explores potential causes of measured differences in mental health between students in a joint Computer Engineering Program and students in the two home departments (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science). California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) currently runs its Computer Engineering Program (CPE) as a joint offering of the Electrical Engineering (EE) and Computer Science and Software Engineering (CSSE) Departments. The curriculum for this program is made up of roughly 50% computer science courses and 50% electrical engineering courses. With the exception of a single senior level capstone course, all CPE courses are also available to (and in many cases required for) students from the two home departments. As a result of this blended curriculum, it has long been assumed that CPE students would have a similar experience and a similar level of mental wellness to their peers in EE and CSSE. A recent study conducted at Cal Poly, however, indicates that CPE students are substantially more likely to screen positive for risk of Serious Mental Illness (SMI) than their peers. This study uses qualitative interviews with CPE, EE, and CSSE students try to determine potential stressors unique to each program. This study also delves into the quantitative survey data to look for population specific trends that may be feeding into this result.
Obese trauma patients have increased need for dialysis

Obesity is a risk factor for the development of acute kidney injury but its effect on the need for dialysis in trauma has not been elucidated. Additionally, the contribution that obesity has towards risk of mortality in trauma is unclear. We hypothesized that patients with a higher body mass index (BMI) will have a higher risk for need of dialysis and mortality after trauma. This is a retrospective analysis using the National Trauma Data Bank. All patients ≥ 8 years old were grouped based on BMI: normal (18.5–24.99 kg/m2), obese (30–34.99 kg/m2), severely obese (35–39.99 kg/m2) and morbidly obese (≥ 40 kg/m2). The primary outcome was hemodialysis initiation. The secondary outcome was mortality during the index hospitalization. From 988,988 trauma patients, 571,507 (57.8%) had a normal BMI, 233,340 (23.6%) were obese, 94,708 (9.6%) were severely obese, and 89,433 (9.0%) were morbidly obese. The overall rate of hemodialysis was 0.3%. After adjusting for covariates, we found that obese (OR 1.36, CI 1.22–1.52, p < 0.001), severely obese (OR 1.89, CI 1.66–2.15, p < 0.001) and morbidly obese (OR 2.04, CI 1.82–2.29, p < 0.001) patients had a stepwise increased need for hemodialysis after trauma. Obese patients had decreased (OR 0.92, CI 0.88–0.95, p < 0.001), severely obese had similar (OR 1.02, CI 0.97–1.08, p = 0.50) and morbidly obese patients had increased (OR 1.06, CI 1.01–1.12, p = 0.011) risk of mortality after trauma. Obesity was associated with an increased risk for dialysis after trauma. Mortality risk was reduced in obese, similar in severely obese, and increased in morbidly obese trauma patients suggesting an inflection threshold BMI for risk of mortality in trauma.
Muc5ac null mice are predisposed to spontaneous gastric antro-pyloric hyperplasia and adenomas coupled with attenuated H. pylori-induced corpus mucous metaplasia.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is strongly associated with chronic Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. The ability of Hp to closely adhere to the gastric surface protective mucous layer containing mucins (MUC in humans and Muc in animals), primarily Muc5ac, is integral in the stepwise pathogenesis from gastritis to cancer. To probe the role of Muc5ac in Hp-induced gastric pathology, Muc5ac−/− and Muc5ac+/+ (WT) mice were experimentally infected with Hp Sydney strain (SS1). At 16 weeks and 32 weeks post infection (wpi), groups of mice were euthanized and evaluated for the following: gastric histopathological parameters, immunohistochemical expression of mucins (Muc5ac, Muc1, Muc2), Trefoil factor family proteins (Tff1 and Tff2), Griffonia (Bandeiraea) simplicifolia lectin II (GSL II) (mucous metaplasia marker) and Clusterin (Spasmolytic Polypeptide Expressing Metaplasia (SPEM) marker), Hp colonization density by qPCR and gastric cytokine mRNA levels. Our results demonstrate that Muc5ac−/− mice developed spontaneous antro-pyloric proliferation, adenomas and in one case with neuroendocrine differentiation; these findings were independent of Hp infection along with strong expression levels of Tff1, Tff2 and Muc1. Hp-infected Muc5ac−/− mice had significantly lowered gastric corpus mucous metaplasia at 16 wpi and 32 wpi (P = 0.0057 and P = 0.0016, respectively), with a slight reduction in overall gastric corpus pathology. GSII-positive mucous neck cells were decreased in Hp-infected Muc5ac−/− mice compared to WT mice and clusterin positivity was noted within metaplastic glands in both genotypes following Hp infection. Additionally, Hp colonization densities were significantly higher in Muc5ac−/− mice compared to WT at 16 wpi in both sexes (P = 0.05) along with a significant reduction in gastric Tnfα (16 wpi—males and females, P = 0.017 and P = 0.036, respectively and 32 wpi—males only, P = 0.025) and Il-17a (16 wpi—males) (P = 0.025). Taken together, our findings suggest a protective role for MUC5AC/Muc5ac in maintaining gastric antral equilibrium and inhibiting Hp colonization and associated inflammatory pathology. The authors show that Muc5ac−/− mice develop spontaneous gastric antro-pyloric hyperplasia and adenomas. Interestingly, Muc5ac−/− mice have suppression of gastric corpus mucous metaplasia and key proinflammatory cytokines (Tnfα and Il-17a) in a setting of enhanced Helicobacter pylori colonization, thus implying a complex role for Muc5ac in gastric homeostasis.
A Geometric Interpretation of Reference Frames and Transformations: dq0, Clarke, and Park

Transformations between abc, stationary dq0 ( $\alpha \beta 0$ ) and rotating dq0 reference-frames are used extensively in the analysis and control of three-phase technologies such as machines and inverters. Previous work on deriving the matrices describing these transformations follows one of two approaches. The first approach derives Clarke's matrix by modifying symmetrical components. Park's matrix can be subsequently found from a rotation matrix. The second approach derives Park's matrix using trigonometric projection by interpreting the transformation as a rotation in the plane of the cross-section of a machine. Then, Clarke's matrix can be found trivially using a reference angle of zero in Park's matrix. This paper presents a third approach to deriving the Clarke and Park transformation matrices: a geometric interpretation. The approach exploits properties of the linear transformation using the Cartesian representation. We introduce the locus diagram of a three-phase quantity and show how these diagrams have applications in power quality. We show that, unlike a phasor diagram, a single locus diagram can fully represent a three-phase system with harmonics.
Treatment of Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma With Venetoclax: A Single-Center Evaluation of Off-Label Use.

Abstract Introduction Venetoclax is a highly effective agent in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Phase I/II clinical trials have shown it to be safe and effective in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Adverse events were consistent with package labeling despite escalation to high doses. To the best of our knowledge, venetoclax use outside the setting of a clinical trial of NHL has not been reported. Patients and Methods We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of 34 adult patients who had been treated off-label with venetoclax-containing regimens from 2016 to 2018. Results Of the 34 patients with NHL treated with venetoclax therapy, 13 had had high-grade B-cell lymphoma/diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 10 mantle cell lymphoma, 5 transformed follicular lymphoma, 2 Richter transformation, 2 marginal zone lymphoma, 1 follicular lymphoma, and 1 post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. The patients had received a median of 4 previous therapies. The overall response rate was 26% (3% with a complete response and 35% with stable disease). The median venetoclax dose achieved was 400 mg. Of those receiving combination therapy, 18% had undergone radiation and 62% had received other systemic antineoplastic therapy. The median progression-free and overall survival for the cohort was 2 and 4.5 months, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 76% of the patients during venetoclax therapy. The adverse events included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, tumor lysis syndrome, infection, neutropenic fever, diarrhea, and 1 opportunistic infection. Conclusion Venetoclax therapy in a real-world cohort offered modest benefits in heavily pretreated patients. Adverse events were observed at a greater incidence than in the clinical trials. A wide heterogeneity of venetoclax dose escalation, multiagent combinations, and timing of initiation were identified and require investigation in subsequent clinical trials.
On weak convergence of Monge-Ampere measures for discrete convex mesh functions

To a mesh function we associate the natural analogue of the Monge-Ampere measure. The latter is shown to be equivalent to the Monge-Ampere measure of the convex envelope. We prove that the uniform convergence to a bounded convex function of mesh functions implies the uniform convergence on compact subsets of their convex envelopes and hence the weak convergence of the associated Monge-Ampere measures. We also give conditions for mesh functions to have a subsequence which converges uniformly to a convex function. Our result can be used to give alternate proofs of the convergence of some discretizations for the second boundary value problem for the Monge-Ampere equation and was used for a recently proposed discretization of the latter. For mesh functions which are uniformly bounded and satisfy a convexity condition at the discrete level, we show that there is a subsequence which converges uniformly on compact subsets to a convex function. The convex envelopes of the mesh functions of the subsequence also converge uniformly on compact subsets. If in addition they agree with a continuous convex function on the boundary, the limit function is shown to satisfy the boundary condition strongly.
Electropermeabilization-based fluorescence in situ hybridization of whole-mount plant parasitic nematode specimens

Abstract A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol was developed for nematodes in which nucleic acid probes are introduced within the organism via electroporation. This modification of existing FISH protocols removes numerous chemical wash steps, and thus, reduces protocol time and specimen loss while improving hybridization sensitivity. The presented work is optimized for juveniles of soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines) and has been used to identify both host and associated-microbial (viral) targets. Moreover, through the use of two different long wavelength fluorophores, two probes can be colocalized within one individual. This protocol may be adapted to identify targets-of-interest within other life stages and nematode species. This protocol improves: • Hands-on protocol time (by approximately 1.5 h). • Specimen loss (fewer aspiration steps). • Hybridization (allows colocalization with two nucleic acid probes and increases sensitivity).
Chapter 6 – Datalinks

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a new Structured Query Language (SQL) facility, called datalinks (including a new data type, DATALINK), that allows the substantial control over the security, consistency, and even recoverability of non-SQL data—even when there is no need to access that data using SQL statements. Datalinker is a new software component that mediates between the applications, the SQL server, and the file manager to protect the contents of referenced files. But SQL is the only interface that applications use to access data. Even today, there is probably more data stored in ordinary files, hierarchical database systems, and network (CODASYL) database systems than in SQL database systems. The application environment includes many programs that access such data using some application programming interface (API) other than SQL that is referred as the native API of the data. SQL/MED provides a facility, called datalinks that gives the ability to bring non-SQL data under the control of an SQL database management system without requiring that one moves his or her data into the SQL databases. Datalinks permits one to exercise control over certain aspects of non-SQL data through a cooperative relationship between SQL server and external data's native manager; that cooperative relationship is provided through the services of a datalinker.
Discrepant Tc-99m PYP Planar grade and H/CL ratio: Which correlates better with diffuse tracer uptake on SPECT?

1633 Introduction: Planar Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) scans can be interpreted using the Perugini grade (≥ 2 considered positive) and the heart to contralateral lung ratio (H/CL, ≥ 1.5 considered positive). The frequency of a discrepancy between the Perugini grade and H/CL, and its implications are unknown. Method and Result: We analyzed the 1-hour images of 373 PYP scans of which 38 (10%) had a discrepancy between the Perugini grade and H/CL. Diffuse tracer uptake on SPECT was considered the final arbitrator of PYP positive or negative status. In 29 (76%) of the discrepant cases, the planar grade corresponded with the SPECT finding (p=0.001, table1, figure 1). All 9 cases where the grade was discordant with SPECT occurred in grades 1 and 2. Conclusions: In PYP scans with discrepant Perugini grade and H/CL, the grade corresponded more often with SPECT. Discordance between Perugini grade and SPECT occurred only when the grade was marginally negative or positive (1 or 2) and may reflect subjectivity of interpretation.
Long-Stay Nursing Facility Resident Transfers: Who Gets Admitted to the Hospital?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The Optimizing Patient Transfers, Impacting Medical Quality, and Improving Symptoms: Transforming Institutional Care (OPTIMISTIC) project is a successful, multicomponent demonstration project to reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations of long-stay nursing facility residents. To continue to reduce hospital transfers, a more detailed understanding of these transfer events is needed. The purpose of this study was to describe differences in transfer events that result in treatment in the hospital versus emergency department (ED) only. DESIGN OPTIMISTIC project nurses collected data on residents who transferred. Transfer events that resulted in treatment in ED versus hospitalization were compared using t-tests and chi-square tests. A generalized estimating equations regression model was used to assess the associations between hospital admission and transfer characteristics. PARTICIPANTS A total of 867 long-stay nursing facility residents enrolled in OPTIMISTIC, January 2015 to June 2016. MEASUREMENTS Resident and transfer characteristics from Minimum Data Set and project REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) database, including demographics, cognitive status, comorbidities, symptoms at time of transfer, and diagnoses. RESULTS The most common symptoms associated with treatment in the ED only were falls, trauma, or fracture (38% vs 10% admitted). Residents with cognitive impairment were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (odds ratio (OR) = 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-1.98; P = .011). Residents with respiratory complaints were more likely to be admitted (OR = 2.098; 95% CI = 1.198-3.675; P = .009); residents with hematological/bleeding (nongastrointestinal) (OR = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.107-0.494; P = .0002), pain (OR = 0.421; 95% CI = 0.254-0.698; P = .0008), or fall/trauma/fracture (OR = 0.181; 95% CI = 0.12-0.272; P < .001) were less likely to be admitted to the hospital. CONCLUSION Some presenting symptoms and other characteristics are more associated with ED only treatment versus hospitalization. A knowledge of who is likely to receive ED only care could prompt adoption of targeted resources and protocols to further reduce these types of transfer events. Opportunity may exist in the ED as well to reduce hospitalizations and increase discharges back to the facility.
Immunotherapies and Unexplained Infertility

Human fertility is a vast, complex, and entirely imperfect system. Overall 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies result in first trimester miscarriage with up to 50% attributed to chromosomal abnormalities. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) defines recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) as at least two failed clinical pregnancies. By these estimates, 5% of the population have RPL, 1% will experience three or more losses, and up to 50% of these individuals with an unknown etiology.
The Initial Months of COVID-19: Dog Owners' Veterinary-Related Concerns

Veterinarians, like many other professions, were significantly impacted by the onset of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020. Standard practices were disrupted, and veterinary hospitals had to quickly modify standard protocols to safely serve their clients and patients. The purpose of this study was to better understand dog owners' fears and concerns pertaining to veterinary care and obtainment of pet care products and food during the lock down phase of a pandemic to be better prepared to address these concerns now and in the future. To this end, an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was designed and distributed to adult dog owners via social media. The results, from a total of 4,105 participants (the majority from the United States and Canada), indicated substantial areas of concern. The number one concern of dog owners during this time was the availability of emergency veterinary care. Owners under 30 years of age, compared to older owners, were significantly more concerned about both availability and cost of veterinary care (emergency and non-emergency). The ability to care for one's dog if they were to become ill was a concern for many owners, yet only 60% had identified a caretaker for their dog if one was needed. These results suggest that the majority of dog owners remained true steadfast guardians of their dogs, continuing to make them a priority, even during pandemic times. Suggestions to help mitigate dog owners' concerns and improve communication between owners and veterinarian teams are offered.
Design of block copolymers for directed self-assembly

Design rules for block copolymer (BCP) materials used in directed self-assembly (DSA) to meet the constraints for manufacturing were defined in a combined experimental and theoretical approach to quantitative three-dimensional characterization of nanoscale structure and analysis of defect annihilation kinetics and mechanisms. Subsequently we developed a materials platform based on (A-block-(B-random-C) architectures to satisfy those design rules to enable current and future patterning resolution requirements. We realize feature size-specific BCPs (18 to 8 nm full pitch) with balanced block surface energies between blocks for thermal annealing, controllable segregation strength for simultaneous optimization of defectivity and dimensional uniformity, and etch selectivity.
Reciprocal control of obesity and anxiety-depressive disorder via a GABA and serotonin neural circuit

The high comorbidity between obesity and mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, often exacerbates metabolic and neurological symptoms significantly. However, neural mechanisms that underlie reciprocal control of feeding and mental states are largely elusive. Here we report that melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) neurons located in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminus (dBNST) engage in the regulation of mentally associated weight gain by receiving GABAergic projections from hypothalamic AgRP neurons onto α5-containing GABAA receptors and serotonergic afferents onto 5-HT3 receptors. Chronic treatment with a high-fat diet (HFD) significantly blunts the hyperexcitability of AgRP neurons in response to not only hunger but also anxiety and depression-like stimuli. Such HFD-mediated desensitization reduces GABAergic outputs from AgRP neurons to downstream MC4RdBNST neurons, resulting in severe mental dysregulation. Genetic enhancement of the GABAAR-α5 or suppression of the 5-HT3R within the MC4RdBNST neurons not only abolishes HFD-induced anxiety and depression but also robustly reduces body weight by suppression of food intake. To gain further translational insights, we revealed that combined treatment of zonisamide (enhancing the GABAAR-α5 signaling) and granisetron (a selective 5-HT3R antagonist) alleviates mental dysfunction and yields a robust reversal of diet-induced obesity by reducing total calorie intake and altering food preference towards a healthy low-fat diet. Our results unveil a neural mechanism for reciprocal control of appetite and mental states, which culminates in a novel zonisamide-granisetron cocktail therapy for potential tackling the psychosis-obesity comorbidity.
How Ya Gonna Keep ’Em Down on the Farm after Baur v. Baur Farms, Inc.? An Analysis and Defense of the 'Reasonable Expectations' Standard for Iowa Oppression Cases

Lawmakers and courts in nearly all states, including Iowa, have long recognized that special considerations apply in the closely-held business context because there is no meaningful market available for minority owners who want to sell their interests in the firm. Closely-held business owners, including farmers, can and should address this issue through binding control and buy-sell agreements that comply with Iowa’s business entity statutes, which are intentionally designed to facilitate such plans. But when these contractual planning arrangements are absent, ambiguous, or insufficient, minority owners of farms and other closely-held businesses may find themselves trapped and mistreated by majority owners. Although the Iowa Supreme Court has repeatedly held that, in closely-held firms, majority owners owe fiduciary duties to the minority, the court’s decisions to date have not clearly defined what those duties require. Nor has the Iowa Supreme Court ever established standards for application of the statutory remedy of judicial dissolution for minority owner “oppression,” a remedy that has been available in Iowa and most other states for decades. The Baur decision addresses the latter omission, and thereby relieves some of the pressure for further development of Iowa’s fiduciary duty jurisprudence in the closely-held business context. As the article describes, in Baur the Iowa Supreme Court adopted the most widely-accepted definition of oppression: majority shareholder conduct that frustrates the objectively reasonable expectations of minority shareholders. So defined, the oppression inquiry requires courts to consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including not only the majority owners’ legitimate business objectives, but also the interests of minority owners in receiving a return on their investment. The court thereby clarified a well-established statutory remedy and struck a blow for minority owners of closely-held firms. While some commentators have questioned Baur’s holding, the Article concludes that the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision provides no cause for concern. The court’s oppression definition does not require majority owners of closely-held Iowa enterprises to cede control of those businesses to minority owners or to satisfy minority owners’ subjective beliefs about what constitutes “fair treatment.” Instead, Baur requires majority owners to accommodate minority owner expectations, whether concerning returns on investment or otherwise, only if those expectations are objectively reasonable considering all of the circumstances. Moreover, the court’s decision in no way interferes with Iowa laws that permit closely-held business owners to design their own management arrangements, buy-sell agreements, or estate plans. To the contrary, Baur highlights the advisability of unambiguous advance planning that reasonably accommodates the interests of both majority and minority owners.
Collisions, Rings, and Other Newtonian -Body Problems

Introduction Central configurations Finding central configurations Collisions-Both real and imaginary How likely is it? Bibliography Index.
A Guide to Advanced Real Analysis

A Guide to Advanced Real Analysis is an outline of the core material in the standard graduate-level real analysis course. It is intended as a resource for students in such a course as well as others who wish to learn or review the subject. On the abstract level, it covers the theory of measure and integration and the basics of point set topology, functional analysis, and the most important types of function spaces. On the more concrete level, it also deals with the applications of these general theories to analysis on Euclidean space: the Lebesgue integral, Hausdorff measure, convolutions, Fourier series and transforms, and distributions. The relevant definitions and major theorems are stated in detail. Proofs, however, are generally presented only as sketches, in such a way that the key ideas are explained but the technical details are omitted. In this way a large amount of material is presented in a concise and readable form.
Stimulus Selection and A “Modified Continuity Theoryrdquo;1

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the data which support the contention that stimulus selection is a potent effect, even in experimental situations that allow considerable control over the schedules of stimulation and reinforcement to which S is exposed. Yet, it is questioned whether or not such data demand an “attentional” interpretation. A theoretical alternative suggested “modified continuity theory” is discussed, and new data is presented for which this approach appears to offer a relatively unique account. Although at this time the theory must be regarded as especially tentative and incomplete, opportunity will be taken to suggest its potential usefulness in interpreting several phenomena that have been in search of theoretical integration. There are a number of common experimental procedures for evaluating the degree of focusing or stimulus selection. Perhaps the most obvious involves a comparison of the degree of learning exhibited to some stimulus when it is the only relevant cue available, as compared to a condition in which there are additional relevant cues. The degree to which the presence of additional relevant cues reduces the apparent amount learned is taken to indicate the degree of stimulus selection.
Semiparametric modeling of autonomous nonlinear dynamical systems with applications

In this paper, we propose a semi-parametric model for autonomous nonlinear dynamical systems and devise an estimation procedure for model fitting. This model incorporates subject-specific effects and can be viewed as a nonlinear semi-parametric mixed effects model. We also propose a computationally efficient model selection procedure. We prove consistency of the proposed estimator under suitable regularity conditions. We show by simulation studies that the proposed estimation as well as model selection procedures can efficiently handle sparse and noisy measurements. Finally, we apply the proposed method to a plant growth data used to study growth displacement rates within meristems of maize roots under two different experimental conditions.
A Crop Yield Expectation Stochastic Process with Beta Distribution as Limit

The modeling of price risk in the theory and practice of commodity risk management has been developed far beyond that of crop yield risk. This is in large part due to the use of plausible stochastic price processes. We use the PA³lya urn to identify and develop a model of the crop yield expectation stochastic process over a growing season. The process allows a role for agronomic events, such as growing degree days. The model is internally consistent in adhering to the martingale property. The limiting distribution is the beta, commonly used in yield modeling. By applying binomial tree analysis, we show how to use the framework to study hedging decisions and crop valuation.
Am I Thin Enough Yet?: The Cult of Thinness and the Commercialization of Identity

In The Cult of Thinness, Sharlene Hesse-Biber builds on interviews with young women about their weight and body image and connects women's eating patterns to images in popular culture. Linking eating disorders to contemporary social, cultural, and economic pressures on women to be thin, Hesse-Biber argues that diet and workout industries profit from this cult of thinness and help to perpetuate it.
Ewald method for 3D periodic dyadic Green's functions and complex modes in composite materials made of spherical particles under the dual dipole approximation

[1] We derive the Ewald representation for the dyadic periodic Green's functions to represent the electromagnetic field in a three dimensional (3D) periodic array of electric and magnetic dipoles. Then we use the developed theory to analyze the modes with real and complex wave number in a 3D periodic lattice of lead telluride (PbTe) microspheres at infrared frequencies and in a 3D periodic lattice of titanium dioxide (TiO2) microspheres at millimeter waves. Each microsphere is equivalently modeled with both an electric and a magnetic dipole, via a method here called the dual dipole approximation (DDA). The 3D lattices exhibit first a magnetic-induced then an electric-induced feature determined by microsphere magnetic and electric resonances. The DDA wave number results are compared to the ones computed with single electric or single magnetic dipole approximation and to the ones retrieved by using the Nicolson-Ross-Weir (NRW) retrieval method from reflection and transmission of finite thickness slabs computed by a full-wave simulation. It is shown that the DDA method is in very good agreement with NRW, in contrast to the previously reported single dipole approximation methods that fail to predict one of the two features (either electric or magnetic). A mode with transverse polarization is found to be dominant and able to propagate inside the lattice, and therefore the composite material can be treated as a homogeneous one with effective refractive index. This is obtained by adopting five different retrieval procedures for each lattice, and their agreement or disagreement is discussed.
The Isolation and Metabolism of Brown Fat Cells

Abstract A procedure is described by which free brown fat cells can be obtained from the dorsal interscapular brown fat of rats. The brown fat cells accounted for less than 25% of the cells present in the intact tissue. The ratio of triglyceride to nitrogen in brown fat cells was about 10% of that in white fat cells. Growth hormone and 9α-fluoro-11β, 17α,21-trihydroxy-16α-methyl-1,4-pregnadien-3,20-dione (dexamethasone) did not accelerate brown fat cell lipolysis. The response of brown fat cells to adrenocorticotrophic hormone was less marked than that of white fat cells. However, the dose-response curve for stimulation by epinephrine of glycerol or fatty acid release in brown fat cells was similar to that observed in white fat cells. Epinephrine markedly stimulated oxygen consumption by brown fat cells. The Qoo2 for brown fat cells (based on lipid-free dry weight) was greater than 100 in the presence of epinephrine. Brown fat cells utilized considerably more free glycerol for re-esterification of fatty acids than did white fat cells. The conversion of labeled glycerol to carbon dioxide and fatty acid by brown fat cells was much greater than that by white fat cells and was unaffected by insulin. The metabolism of glucose by brown fat cells increased progressively over an 8-hour incubation period and was not inhibited by dexamethasone. Insulin accelerated the metabolism of glucose by brown fat cells and also decreased the stimulation of both fatty acid and glycerol release by epinephrine in either the presence or absence of glucose. Epinephrine increased glucose conversion to glyceride glycerol only in the presence of insulin.
A Hybrid Agent — Genetic Algorithm Approach to General Arrangements

The continuing development of an agent-genetic algorithm hybrid optimization kernel for the allocation of spaces to Zone-decks in a preliminary ship general arrangements design system is presented. In this system, design agents representing the interests of the spaces and the Zone-decks arc utilized to propose possible improvements to a population of candidate solutions. Their design change requests arc accepted or denied by a domain agent if they will improve the overall ship space allocation design. In parallel, a design judge agent monitors the population and reseeds dominated or infeasible solutions and a genetic algorithm agent provides periodic stochastic manipulation of the population to improve the algorithm’s global search capabilities. The algorithm is used to optimize the Zone-deck allocation of spaces for a Notional Corvette-sized vessel.
Solving the nuclear shell model with an algebraic method

We illustrate algebraic methods in the Nuclear Shell Model through a concrete example, the Fermion Dynamical Symmetry Model (FDSM). We will use this model to introduce important concepts such as dynamical symmetry, symmetry breaking, effective symmetry, and diagonalization within a higher-symmetry basis.
Modelling formal integrated component retrieval

A fundamental problem associated with libraries of software components is that of retrieval: how to find specific components that can be used in the construction of a particular application. Approaches to this problem can be classified into three categories based upon the way components are represented: synthetic classification, structural matching and behavioral matching. The objective of the paper is to unify these existing approaches to the component retrieval problem into a formally specified framework, thereby enabling a rigorous description of integrated retrieval schemes.
NEPHROTIC SYNDROME: Effect of Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone

The effects of short term ACTH treatment (4 to 6 days) in 14 patients with the nephrotic syndrome are presented. Five patients given eight courses showed complete clearing of edema in seven instances, one failing to show any response to a second course. Four patients given six courses showed significant but incomplete clearing of edema each time. Five patients showed no clinically significant response to seven courses.[See Table 5 in Source Pdf] The type of diuresis with regard to salt and water excretion was similar to that seen with spontaneous diuresis. In all but one instance the patients who failed to have a clinically significant response did, nevertheless, show a slight sodium diuresis after with drawal of the drug. There were no consistent changes in the significant chemical findings in the blood, except that in most cases, regardless of clinical results, a drop in the level of total cholesterol was observed after treatment. Several patients who received sodium lactate by mouth following diuresis did not accumulate edema and had a pronounced increase in the urinary sodium. This suggests that at least temporarily their kidneys were capable of dealing with sodium in normal fashion. The period of post-treatment studies on these patients varies from 7 to 15 months. Some of the patients have remained symptom-free, others have relapsed several times but responded to subsequent periods of treatment, still others after early successes have failed to respond to later ACTH administration. Only one of the group has shown clearing of the urine suggesting a permanent remission. Thus the use of this hormone at best offers only a means of controlling edema of the nephrotic syndrome. Whether its repeated use may alter the over-all prognosis can only be determined after a much longer period of observation. It should, however, prove useful in the study of the mechanism of diuresis.
Extending Latent Variable LISREL Analyses of the 1969 Westinghouse Head Start Evaluation to Blacks and Full Year Whites.

Abstract In this study, structure equation models were applied to reanalyze the data of the 1969 Westinghouse Head Start evaluation. Unlike previous reanalyses, in which structural equation models were only applied to data of the first grade Whites in summer programs, this study extended the analyses to the most policy-relevant sections of the full data set, i.e. Blacks and full-year programs. The results indicated that the selection bias found for summer Whites turned out to be absent for Blacks and full-year Whites. Full-year Head Start was effective for Blacks.
Therapeutic and prophylactic DNA vaccines for HIV-1.

Introduction: DNA vaccines have moved into clinical trials in several fields and their success will be important for licensure of this vaccine modality. An effective vaccine for HIV-1 remains elusive and the development of one is troubled by safety and efficacy issues. Additionally, the ability for an HIV-1 vaccine to induce both the cellular and humoral arms of the immune system is needed. DNA vaccines not only offer a safe approach for the development of an HIV-1 vaccine but they have also been shown to elicit both arms of the immune system. Areas covered: This review explores how DNA vaccine design including the regimen, genetic adjuvants used, targeting, and mode of delivery continues to undergo improvements, thereby providing a potential option for an immunogenic vaccine for HIV-1. Expert opinion: Continued improvements in delivery technology, in particular electroporation, and the use of prime-boost vaccine strategies will aid in boosting the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. Basic immunology research...
A “direct” time-dependent coupled perturbed Hartree—Fock—Roothaan approach to calculate molecular (hyper)polarizabilities

Abstract A “direct” scheme to compute Fock matrices in the time-dependent Hartree—Fock—Roothaan method is presented. Applicability of the method to compute frequency-dependent (hyper)polarizabilities of large organic molecules on low-end workstations is illustrated by considering three model systems, hexapentaene, trans-octatetraene and trans-diphenylbenzobisthiazole.