cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of multi-port VNA architectures — Measured results

Multi-port vector network analyzers (VNA) have become important measurement tools for the characterization of high frequency/high speed computer system and communications interconnects. These systems utilize many parallel channels of differential transmission lines to carry the high bandwidth data between devices. The need to measure the differential transmission line and crosstalk characteristics of these structures has driven the need for 4, 8, and 12 ports on microwave VNA's. 4-port VNA's have been commercially available for some time to address part of this need. In order to avoid additional complexity and cost these early architectures are unable to utilize the more recent, non-redundant calibration algorithms. These faster, more flexible algorithms can reduce the calibration and measurement time for multi-port devices at some cost to measurement accuracy. Through the evaluation of commercial verification devices after multiple calibrations, this paper illustrates that by comparing algorithms across two 4-port architectures, this compromise in accuracy may not be significant when compared to the savings in time and fewer standard connections.
Ten Tips Palliative Care Pharmacists Want the Palliative Care Team to Know When Caring for Patients.

Abstract As palliative care (PC) moves upstream in the course of serious illness and the development of drugs and their indications rapidly expand, PC providers must understand common drug indications and adverse effects to ensure safe and effective prescribing. Pharmacists, experts in the nuances of medication management, are valuable resources and colleagues for PC providers. This article will offer PC providers 10 useful clinical pharmacy tips that PC pharmacists think all PC providers should know for safe and effective symptom management. Close collaboration with or addition of a trained pharmacist to your PC team can improve clinical care for all PC patients.
The Evolving Leadership Path of Visual Analytics

Visual analytics has become internationally recognized as a growing research area, producing increasingly sophisticated analytic technologies. The pioneers of this multidisciplinary field blazed a leadership path, which continues to evolve as the field develops. Key leadership strategies were 1) recognizing the need for a different approach, 2) establishing the vision and concept, 3) enlisting mission-driven champions and resource providers, 4) establishing enabling structures and collaborations, and 5) developing and deploying visual analytics tools. Strategies for future growth include increasing domains and applications, improving integration within research communities, and broadening bases of support.
Hilos de continuidad y cambio. Tejiendo unidad en antropología

In this article, I compare backstrap-loom weaving in three cultural contexts: the ancient Maya, the ancient Aztecs, and 20th century Mesoamerica. Although continuities are present, important differences exist in the ways that weaving was situated historically. Among the Classic Maya, weaving defined class; in Aztec Mexico, weaving defined gender; and in 20th-century Mesoamerica, weaving defined ethnicity. A comparison of these cases suggests that historical study is a useful tool for both archaeologists and ethnographers. It promotes recognition of the diversity of practice and belief in ancient societies. It helps to define the scope of contemporary ethnographic study. It combats cultural essentialism and injects agency into our accounts. It enables us to acknowledge both the rich heritage of indigenous peoples and the fact of culture change. Comparative historical study provides a strong rationale for the continued association of archaeology and cultural anthropology as parts of a wider anthropological whole.
Activity and Context — A Conceptual Framework for Mobile Geoservices

This chapter unfolds a theoretical-based conceptual framework to describe and model activity and context as essential parameters for mobile geoservices. It gives an introduction in the general ideas of activity theory and shows how these ideas can be transferred to mobile geoservices. The proposed concept points out how activities supported by geoservices can be defined and structured, it gives an idea how to model users of mobile geoservices and shows what social and spatial context parameters have to be considered.
AREA-WIDE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND THE STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE

Area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) focuses on the preventive management of pest populations throughout the ecosystem. It seeks to treat all habitats of the pest population so that none produces migrants to re-establish significant infestations in areas of concern. In contrast, the conventional strategy focuses narrowly on defending the valued entity (crop, livestock, people, buildings, etc.) from direct attack by pests. AW-IPM requires multiyear planning, and an organization dedicated exclusively to its implementation, whereas conventional pest management involves minimal forward planning, tends to be reactive, and is implemented independently by individual producers, businesses, or households. AWIPM tends to utilize advanced technologies, whereas the conventional strategy tends to rely on traditional tactics and tools. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a species-specific form of birth control imposed on the pest population. It is a powerful tool for “mopping up” sparse pest populations, and is most efficient when applied as a tactic in a system deployed on an area-wide basis. On environmental, economic and biological grounds, the case for the SIT is compelling.
Mathematical and Structural Characterization of Strong Nonadditive Structure-Activity Relationship Caused by Protein Conformational Changes.

In medicinal chemistry, accurate prediction of additivity-based structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis rests on three assumptions: (1) a consistent binding pose of the central scaffold, (2) no interaction between the R group substituents, and (3) a relatively rigid binding pocket in which the R group substituents act independently. Previously, examples of nonadditive SAR have been documented in systems that deviate from the first two assumptions. Local protein structural change upon ligand binding, through induced fit or conformational selection, although a well-known phenomenon that invalidates the third assumption, has not been linked to nonadditive SAR conclusively. Here, for the first time, we present clear structural evidence that the formation of a hydrophobic pocket upon ligand binding in PDE2 catalytic site reduces the size of another distinct subpocket and contributes to strong nonadditive SAR between two otherwise distant R groups.
Self-Reflexivity for Social Change: The Researcher, I, and the Researched, Female Street-Based Commercial Sex Workers,’ Gendered Contexts

Dominant communication research that valorizes objectivity in order to prescribe top-down measures of social change removes the researcher from the process and erases voices of the communities. In contrast, I argue that positioning the self in relation to those “studied” enables the communication scholar to foster participatory coconstructive spaces for change. Through a case study, I explore gendered context of the participants and my narratives to illustrate the significance of self-reflexivity for social change. Through narratives of lived experiences of female commercial sex workers and my self-reflexivity, I am able to juxtapose our stories and locate both the “researched” and the “researcher” as active participants in the research process. In doing so, we connect our gendered selves to the broader context within which these stories transpire moving toward a change that is embedded in a coconstructive process. In fact, I argue that self-reflexivity moves us toward social change projects aimed to achieve social justice, that is, projects that reflect a culturally meaningful knowledge that is coconstructed by both the researcher and the researched.
A Comparison of Finite-Rate Kinetics and Flamelet-Generated Manifold Using a Multiscale Modeling Framework for Turbulent Premixed Combustion

Turbulent premixed flames observed in combustion devices exhibit the presence of multiscale and nonlinear turbulence–chemistry interactions, which make predictions using large-eddy simulation (LES)...
Calculation of flexor pollicis longus moment arm for wrist motion in a cadaver model validates the tenodesis effect for therapy

Abstract Introduction Synergies of fingers and wrist motion have been incorporated into therapies for finger flexor tendon injuries to improve repair outcomes. Similar synergistic therapy strategies have not been well documented for the thumb. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which wrist motion enables a synergistic effect at the thumb in a cadaveric model by measuring flexor pollicis longus excursion and calculating the moment arm of this tendon at the wrist joint. Study Design This is a basic science research. Methods Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric arms were obtained from our anatomical bequest program. The proximal arm was fixed in neutral pronation/supination position, and motion of the wrist was guided through either flexion/extension or radial/ulnar deviation. Fingers were fixed in extension, thumb interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints were fixed in neutral extension, and the carpometacarpal joint was fixed at 30° palmar abduction. The flexor pollicis longus tendon was exposed proximal to the wrist crease and connected to a rotary potentiometer to measure tendon excursion. Optical markers were attached to the hand to capture kinematics. Wrists were moved from a neutral position over the range of flexion and extension and then from the neutral position through the range of radial to ulnar deviation. Moment arms were calculated. Results Moment arm calculation indicated that the flexor pollicis longus acts as a wrist flexor over the entire motion range and as a weak radial deviator at ulnarly-deviated positions. Conclusions This study provides a mechanistic rationale for passive interphalangeal joint motion in varying wrist positions when treating thumb flexor tendon injuries, with benefits seen primarily for wrist extension.
Stepwise and standardized training for minimally invasive surgery for thoracic surgery trainees

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been associated with faster recovery, lower morbidity and mortality rates, decreased length of hospital stay, and lower costs. It was proven that VATS is a good oncologic procedure as well. VATS lobectomy for early stage cancer is widely recognized as the standard of care for early stage cancer (1). This statement should also be extended to all lung resections for any pathology, and as expected in the near future open lobectomy should be restricted only to lobectomies being unfeasible by VATS. Currently VATS becomes the “bread and butter” of thoracic surgeons, and it is absolutely essential for the trainees in thoracic surgery fellowship to master thoracoscopic skills, and it is also our responsibility as educators to ensure that our trainees are competent and able to carry these procedures safely in proficient fashion.
A Multisite Examination of Everyday Discrimination and the Prevalence of Spontaneous Preterm Birth in African American and Latina Women in the United States.

Objective African American women have a higher risk of spontaneous preterm birth than White and Latina women. Although Latina women are exposed to similar social determinants of health, they have lower rates of spontaneous preterm birth. One theory for this difference is the maternal stress biological pathway, whereby lifetime stressors, such as racial discrimination, lead to a premature activation of parturition. We investigated the prevalence of self-reported discrimination and its association with the prevalence of spontaneous preterm birth. Study Design Using data from the Community Child Health Research Network Study, a multisite cohort study from 2008 to 2012, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,154 African American women and 578 Latina women. Results Adjusting for multiple risk factors, African American and Latina women who experienced the highest tertile of discrimination had a higher prevalence of preterm birth compared with those who experienced discrimination less than once per year, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.5 (0.7–3.1) and 3.6 (0.9–14.4), respectively. Conclusion In our cohort, we found a statistically significant association only in the medium discrimination group in Latina women, but we did not find a statistically significant association in African American women. Reduction in experienced discrimination may be an important intervention for reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Bedside Ultrasound in Fluid Assessment: Correlation of Internal Jugular and Subclavian Vein Diameter Variation with Invasive Right Heart Catheterization

Introduction Accurate estimation of fluid status is of paramount importance in patients with heart failure. Frequent invasive right heart catheterization is not feasible and accurate inferior vena cava imaging requires training. Internal jugular vein (IJV) and subclavian vein (SCV) could provide easier alternatives. Methods Patients scheduled to undergo right heart catheterization were prospectively enrolled in the study. Body surface area (BSA) was noted. Patient was positioned flat supine. IJV was imaged at the apex of the right sternocleidomastoid muscle and SCV was imaged at the lateral third of the right clavicle. Using M-mode on a portable ultrasound machine, the maximum (Dmax) and minimum (Dmin) anteroposterior diameters were noted during normal breathing, without applying any external pressure. Respiratory collapsibility was assessed with sniff. Respiratory variation in diameter (RVD) was calculated as: [(Dmax - Dmin)/ Dmax] and expressed as percent. Diameter variation index (DVI) was calculated as: (Dmax - Dmin)/ BSA. Results Total 72 patients enrolled with mean age 61 ± 14 years, mean BSA 2 ± 0.3m2, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction 45 ± 20%. SCV could not be imaged in 7 patients. Elevated right atrial [RA] pressure (>=10mmHg) patients showed less RVD with resting respiration (14 vs. 41% for IJV and 24% vs. 46% for SCV, p= 0.01) and less likely to show total collapsibility with sniff (table 1). Similarly, DVI was lower with high RA pressure. Dmax alone did not correlate for SCV (table 1). For RA pressure >=10mmHg, lack of IJV collapsibility with sniff had a sensitivity of 84% and ROC area 0.75. Dmax >1cm and RVD =10mmHg. Conclusion There is a positive correlation between fluid status with IJV and SCV diameters (absolute and respiratory variation). The diagnostic performance of these veins was similar to inferior vena cava, but easier to perform.
Simulator Sickness Coping Strategies: Findings From Reddit

The purpose of this study was to examine trends in online postings about at-home VR users’ simulator sickness coping strategies. Virtual reality devices have gained in popularity, with an estimated...
When Sinus Tachycardia Becomes Too Much: Negative Effects of Excessive Upright Tachycardia on Cardiac Output in Vasovagal Syncope, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, and Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia.

Background: Upright posture reduces venous return, stroke volume, and cardiac output (CO) while causing reflex sinus rate (heart rate [HR]) increase. Yet, in inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST), ...
Discrete Choice Models with Different Levels of Utility Uncertainty

In this paper, we relax the restriction on the identical distribution for the random utility parts under discrete choice models. The derived new choice model can allow more flexible substitution pattern, and has the potential to describe choice behavior more accurately. If an alternative's nominal utility is relatively high, its choice probability is higher when an individual uses its mean of utility in her choice process, whereas the choice probabilities for other alternatives are lower. We show that in the pricing problem the optimal prices are product-invariant for products with the same levels of utility uncertainty and use this result to simplify the multi-product pricing problem. We also characterize the oligopolistic problems for competition in price and choice probability respectively, and provide efficient algorithms to compute the Nash equilibrium. The assortment problem is generally NP-hard, so we develop a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme that can find an arbitrarily near-optimal solution in a timely manner. Surprisingly, if the utility of a product of the focal firm rather than the outside option is deterministic, the revenue-ordered assortment is optimal for the assortment problem. To implement the newly proposed choice model with different levels of utility uncertainty, we develop an efficient estimation algorithm with estimated product attractiveness in closed form. Several extensions are also considered, including relaxing the restriction under the multi-stage nested logit model.
China and Bollywood: The Potential for Building the World’s Largest Film Market

In 2018, China briefly became the world’s largest box office, beating Hollywood’s global take in the first quarter of the year. The country also witnessed a major expansion in the number of movie screens available for domestic exhibition as developers built multiplex theaters in new shopping malls catering to the rapidly rising Chinese middle class. Parallel with these developments, however, has been the reported growth in popularity of Bollywood films in the middle kingdom. After ratifying a co-production treaty with India in 2014, Chinese audiences reportedly began to flock to the newly available Bollywood blockbusters at their local multiplexes, cultivating large fan bases for Indian stars like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and others. In this chapter, we analyze publicly available box office data focusing on the expanding market of Indian films in China, then review the explanations often given for the rise of Chinese interest in Indian cinema. Given that China reportedly has relatively few Indian residents compared to diasporic locations like North America, Europe, southeast Asian, and the like, we suggest that the high Chinese box office returns reported in the media potentially challenges previous findings linking diasporic enclaves and potential overseas profits. We conclude by reflecting upon how these trends may impact the development of a “Chindian” film market.
Metabolic Modeling in Altered Gravity

This paper explores the extension of an existing 21-compartment lumped-parameter hemodynamic model of the cardiovascular system to incorporate pulmonary function and metabolic gas transport. The existing model allows study of the acute responses of cardiovascular system parameters (pressures, volumes, resistances, heart rate) with and without exercise under a variety of gravitational conditions, including constant gravity as well as scenarios where gravity gradients are artificially induced, such as centrifugation or lower body negative pressure. The extended model can provide additional insight into human physiology in space as well as future development of integrated countermeasures, especially with regards to the identified reduced aerobic capacity risk for future exploration class missions. We propose to enhance the existing model by incorporating pulmonary function, a gas transport model, and a respiratory control system. Thus, the model will be able to generate gravitational dose-response curves for additional parameters such as respiration rate, tidal volume, oxygen uptake, and carbon dioxide output. The modeling effort will follow a six-stage development process using techniques and elements either newly developed or adapted from a broad range of human and animal physiological modeling studies. This paper outlines the motivation for developing such a model, and it includes a thorough literature review of various aspects of pulmonary and metabolic modeling physiology, before describing in detail our approach to building the model. Future work includes completing the development effort and validating our model via human experiments using a tilt platform and a short-radius centrifuge. This research effort will generate acute responses to altered-gravity with and without exercise, providing important insight into the operational risks of altered-gravity on aerobic performance for future exploration class missions as well as the development of integrated countermeasure protocols. Finally, our modeling efforts also have many applications outside the space domain.
Fearing the Loss of the Black Body: Why Coates' Between the World and Me is an Origin Story and Creation Myth of His Lost Neurobiological History of ACE

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ piece tells us that America’s white Plunderers and Dreamers seek to kill black males abirthing. By reading Coates’ meditation through early childhood development, childhood trauma, and attachment literature, and through non-psychoanalytic models, it becomes clear that the Plunderers and Dreamers who hurt him and who ushered his neurotic process were his black caregivers. Within the framework of this paper, it is the earliest disruption of the caregiver-infant relationship, especially if the disruptive parenting style is specific, patterned and maturing, and especially if that style negatively affects the infants attachment behavior, that not only affects the child’s sense of self but also influences how the child sees herself in the world. If so, it’s caregivers who are the most significant SelfObject in the golden years of an infant’s life and who pen an infant’s autobiographical narrative, in which she’ll distort how she sees herself and her world. In Between the World and Me, Coates does not want his son, and thus all sons, to see or to talk about their actual experiences, not with white racism, but with abuse, neglect, and trauma, which helped Samori see the “world” as racist and unwelcoming. Rather as Freud did after 1896, after he published his famed Aetiology of Hysteria, Coates wants black males not to fear their parents or to confess how they were abused, neglected, and traumatized by them, but to rage at the white Dreamers and Plunderers wish to steal to death the black body. In this vein, Coates is little different from Freud who suppressed Seduction Theory, which contributed to countless adult children remaining neurotics, as Coates wants blacks to stay neurotics and emotionally blind, helpless before a narrative that disempowers and annihilates their already pushed under Real Self, just so that Samori specifically won’t come realize how much hate he may have for his father’s ways of being, and so that black males generally don’t turn against their abusive black parents. By implication, upon arriving home, Coates implicitly tells us newborn black male infants, upon arriving home, were assaulted, abused, neglected, or traumatized not by loving and attuned black caregivers, but by white racism who eagerly awaited the black infant’s arrival in the crib. Unfortunately, Coates doesn’t care to realize that if black males continue to believe and internalize not the truth of real, actual experiences of abuse, neglect, and trauma at the hands of black caregivers, but in the ubiquity of white racism that rends them of their authenticity, spontaneity, sense of self, self-esteem, and vitality, black males will not ever throw off the annihilating lie and embrace the empowering truth: every child, regardless of race, is affected by her childhood, and the author of that affect, for good or ill, is not white racism but adult caregivers.
Digitalization management system of Russia’s federal cities focused on prospective application throughout the country

The spread of digital technology around the world is accompanied by the uneven development of digitalization processes on the territory of different countries. Russia is no exception. The problem of digitalization management in the Russian Federation must be solved by building an effective system of its management. In order to implement digitalization management throughout the country, it is necessary, first of all, to establish this process on the territory of federal cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sevastopol. Federal cities have all opportunities for building an effective system of digitalization management which in the future could be applied in other Russia’s regions without any serious failures and significant losses. The review and assessment of trends in the current development of digitalization in Russia’s cities of federal importance, the identification of priority digital technologies and priority areas of digitalization in them, the evaluation of their digital life level indicates the unresolved issues of digitalization management in the cities under consideration. A competent organization of digitalization management in federal cities based on the proposed directions will ensure the successful development of digital transformation processes within their territories, and other Russia’s regions will be able to adopt their experience in the future.
Strategies for high order wavefront sensing and control (HOWFSC) computation on future space telescopes

Future planned space telescopes such as HabEx and LUVOIR will be used to directly image exo-Earths. These telescopes use coronagraph instruments to suppress starlight and resolve dim exoplanets. They will employ high order wavefront sensing and control (HOWFSC) to correct static and slow wavefront errors in the image plane to achieve contrasts above 109. This work evaluates architectures to meet the computational requirements for HOWFSC algorithms with available processors. We find that the computational requirements of HOWFSC will impose unprecedented requirements on space-based components and that typical combinations of computational resource and control architecture will consume significant observation time. Science yield from the space telescope can be improved, and mission risk and cost reduced, by using co-flying or ground-in-the loop computational offload architectures. In particular, a high-capability co-flying processor could use commercial components 104 times more powerful than typical radiation hardened options. This would enable key HOWFSC algorithms to run in seconds rather than hours or days, removing operational constraints on the science mission. While commercial processors may be more susceptible to total ionizing dose radiation effects over the expected mission lifetime of 5-10 years, the relatively low cost of development and replacement launches make these co-flying processors an attractive option. We evaluate three major co-flying architecture trades: (i) inter-spacecraft distance, (ii) risk classification, and (iii) processor selection. We find that one or more low-cost replaceable co-flying processors with COTS components and flying several kilometers from the telescope spacecraft can provide all needed computation.
Standardized Strength Testing Methods for Population Descriptions

Over the last two decades, a substantial number of strength measurements have been gathered on a variety of populations from Olympic athletes to industrial laborers to infant toddlers. The primary intent of these data has been to develop guidelines for engineering design, to evaluate training and conditioning programs, and to determine potential risk of musculoskeletal injury for those engaged in manual materials handling.
Sea slugs - divers' favorites, taxonomists' problems

Sea slugs, or opisthobranch molluscs, are small, colorful, slow-moving, non-aggressive marine animals. This makes them highly photogenic and therefore favorites among divers. The highest diversity is found in tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region. Many illustrated guidebooks have been published, but a large proportion of species remain unidentified and possibly new to science. Lack of funding as well as expertise is characteristic for taxonomic research. Most taxonomists work in western countries whereas most biodiversity occurs in developing countries. Cladistic analysis and molecular studies have caused fundamental changes in opisthobranch classification as well as “instability” of scientific names. Collaboration between local and foreign scientists, amateurs and professionals, divers and academics can help discovering new species, but the success may be hampered by lack of funding as well as rigid regulations on collecting and exporting specimens for taxonomic research. Solutions to overcome these obstacles are presented. Siput laut, atau moluska golongan opistobrancia, adalah hewan laut berukuran kecil, berwarna, bergerak lambat, dan tidak bersifat agresif. Alasan inilah yang membuat hewan ini sangat fotogenik dan menjadi favorit bagi para penyelam. Keanekaragaman tertinggi hewan ini ditemukan di perairan tropis Indo-Pasifik bagian Barat. Banyak buku petunjuk tentang hewan ini telah diterbitkan, tetapi sebagian besar spesimen belum teridentifikasi dan bisa menjadi hal baru bagi ilmu pengetahuan. Kekurangan dana dan keahlian merupakan cirikhas dari penelitian taksonomi. Umumnya para taksonom bekerja di negara-negara Barat sedangkan keanekaragaman tertinggi hewan ini berada di negara-negara berkembang. Analisis cladistik dan kajian molekuler menyebabkan perubahan mendasar dalam klasifikasi opistobrancia, demikian juga sering berubahnya nama ilmiah hewan ini. Kerjasama antara ilmuan lokal dan asing, amatir dan profesional, penyelam dan akademisi dapat membantu dalam menemukan jenis-jenis baru, tetapi keberhasilannya dapat dihambat oleh kurangnya biaya dan peraturan yang kaku dalam mengumpul dan mengirim spesimen untuk penelitian taksonomi. Solusi dalam menyelesaikan masalah tersebut disampaikan dalam tulisan ini.
Political Change Comes to Japan

Changing Politics in Japan. By Ikuo Kabashima, Gill Steel . Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2010. 186 pp., $19.95 paperback (IBSN-13: 978-0801476006). Asia's Flying Geese: How Regionalization Shapes Japan. By Walter F. Hatch . (Cornell Studies in Political Economy.) Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2010. 304 pp., $24.95 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0801476471). The study of Japanese politics and political economy in the United States has been an ongoing case study in the difficulties of cross-cultural (that is, comparative) analysis. The Kabashima and Steel book, Changing Politics in Japan , under review describes how election laws, the party system, the mass media, and voter behavior explain Japan. However, the “Japan Problem” is the fact that, except for a 10-month period, the conservative Liberal Democratic Party did not lose control of the Lower House (which chooses the government and passes budgets) for 54 years (from 1955 to 2009). Incidentally, the LDP's brief loss of control in 1993 was not produced by an election, but by an internal revolt that caused some LDP Diet Members to quit the party. If we expect free and fair elections in a multiparty system to produce more or less regular changes of party in power, this conservative monopoly on power seems somewhat counterintuitive, if not antithetical, to the paradigm. Thus, every study of Japanese democracy must deal with questions such as: Is there something “wrong” with the institutions and process? Does the liberal democratic paradigm not fit? Explaining Japan in standard (rather than exceptional) terms was especially important during the Cold War, when one wanted to see Japan solidly in the camp of the Free World led by the United States. For those who disagreed with the premise of liberal democracy and argued that Japan really was a disguised authoritarian system, an equally vexing problem was to explain the degree of civil liberties and constitutional order that one saw in Japan. The country did not appear unfree and undemocratic in ways typical of totalitarian or authoritarian systems. In this kind of situation, as Imre Lakatos would have predicted, like-minded analysts sorted themselves into research communities and argued over relatively …
Energetic neutral atom observations during recurrent magnetic storms

Recurrent storms are triggered by Earth's encounters with corotating interaction regions (CIR) in the solar wind, they occur most frequently in the declining phase of the solar cycle. CIRs are regions of strong magnetic field accompanied by high pressure. They form in the interplanetary medium by the interaction of low- and high-speed solar wind streams co-rotating with the Sun. Typically, CIRs are not fully developed at 1 AU. A forward shock is commonly lacking, and a reverse shock is absent in the majority of events. Compared to interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) driven events this results in "weak" storms, with minimum Dst excursions that can fall short of even -50 nT. On the other hand, the recovery of Dst to background levels during high-speed stream (HSS) intervals following a CIR can take many days, much longer than for storms caused by ICMEs. Recovery is accompanied by prolonged intervals of Auroral Electroject index (AE) activity, indicating sustained levels of substorm and plasma sheet activity during Dst recovery. In this paper we present IMAGE energetic neutral atom (ENA) observations of recent CIR/high-speed stream intervals, contrasting those observations with recent findings of ENA imaging during ICME-induced storms. We discuss the presence and composition (H + and O + ) of the ring current during recurrent storms, characterize the magnetospheric activity during the prolonged recovery of Dst, and describe the overall magnetospheric convection associated with the solar wind Alfven wave activity associated with those events.
Long-term follow-up is not indicated after routine interventional closure of persistent arterial ducts.

Background Little is known about the necessity for long-term follow-up after interventional closure of persistent arterial duct (PDA). Potential side effects and complications include residual shunts, haemolysis, device embolization, and obstruction to flow in the adjoining vessels. Methods Single centre retrospective study of paediatric patients undergoing interventional PDA occlusion. Results 315 patients who underwent interventional occlusion of a PDA between November 2002 and September 2013 were included. Of these, eight needed re-intervention (three for device embolization, five for residual shunt). Seven had mild obstruction to flow in the adjoining vessels, but did not require any intervention. All sequelae were found latest at the first follow-up appointment after the procedure (usually within 3 months); whilst none developed during further follow-up. Conclusion Complications of interventional closure of PDA were apparent immediately after the procedure or by three months of follow-up. Long-term follow-up is not indicated in cases when no complications are seen early after the procedure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cost and outcomes of pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia among adults in the United Kingdom

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among adults in the United Kingdom (UK). S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of CAP. Aims and objectives: The study objective was to evaluate the clinical and economic burden of pneumococcal CAP among adults in the UK. Methods: A cost-outcomes model was developed to estimate the inpatient costs and health outcomes associated with pneumococcal CAP among adults above 50 years old in the UK. Health outcomes were measured in terms of life-year (LY) and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) lost. National data sources were used to estimate hospital admissions, deaths and costs with CAP as primary diagnosis for 2009/10. Since specific pathogens for pneumonia are not commonly identified, the proportion of CAP attributable to S. pneumoniae was estimated based on literature findings. A structured literature review was conducted to identify UK specific quality of life data. Results: It was estimated that there were 58,604 annual hospital admissions for pneumococcal CAP for adults above 50 years old in UK, costing more than £122 million per year. In addition, there were 13,161 deaths per year resulting in 87,533 LYs lost. The total annual number of QALYs lost was 64,653. The disease burden was higher among older age groups with approximately 84% of pneumococcal CAP occurring in adults above 65 years. Conclusions: Pneumococcal CAP in adults presents a substantial burden both to individuals and to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. The cost and outcomes of pneumococcal CAP should be incorporated into economic evaluations of adult pneumococcal vaccination strategies.
Development of a novel echocardiography ramp test for speed optimization and diagnosis of device thrombosis in continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices: the Columbia ramp study.

Objectives This study sought to develop a novel approach to optimizing continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) function and diagnosing device malfunctions. Background In CF-LVAD patients, the dynamic interaction of device speed, left and right ventricular decompression, and valve function can be assessed during an echocardiography-monitored speed ramp test. Methods We devised a unique ramp test protocol to be routinely used at the time of discharge for speed optimization and/or if device malfunction was suspected. The patient's left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, frequency of aortic valve opening, valvular insufficiency, blood pressure, and CF-LVAD parameters were recorded in increments of 400 rpm from 8,000 rpm to 12,000 rpm. The results of the speed designations were plotted, and linear function slopes for left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, pulsatility index, and power were calculated. Results Fifty-two ramp tests for 39 patients were prospectively collected and analyzed. Twenty-eight ramp tests were performed for speed optimization, and speed was changed in 17 (61%) with a mean absolute value adjustment of 424 ± 211 rpm. Seventeen patients had ramp tests performed for suspected device thrombosis, and 10 tests were suspicious for device thrombosis; these patients were then treated with intensified anticoagulation and/or device exchange/emergent transplantation. Device thrombosis was confirmed in 8 of 10 cases at the time of emergent device exchange or transplantation. All patients with device thrombosis, but none of the remaining patients had a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension slope >−0.16. Conclusions Ramp tests facilitate optimal speed changes and device malfunction detection and may be used to monitor the effects of therapeutic interventions and need for surgical intervention in CF-LVAD patients.
Lung Recoil: Elastic and Rheological Properties

The sections in this article are: 1 Historical Background 2 Pressure-Volume Relationships 2.1 Excised Lungs 2.2 Liquid Filling 2.3 Temperature 2.4 Quantification 3 Rheological Properties 3.1 Hysteresis, Stress Adaptation, and Creep 3.2 Structural Basis 3.3 Rheological Models 4 Force-Bearing Structures 4.1 Airways and Vasculature 4.2 Pleura and Interlobular Septa 4.3 Alveolar Septa 5 Connective Tissue 5.1 Components 5.2 Collagen-Elastin Interactions 6 Interfacial Tension 6.1 Air-Liquid Interface 6.2 Estimation of Interfacial Tension From Pressure-Volume Curves 6.3 Direct Estimation of Interfacial Tension in Situ 6.4 Cell Medium Interfacial Tension 7 Contractile Elements 7.1 Airways 7.2 Alveolar Duct 7.3 Septa 7.4 Functional Implications 8 Postmortem Changes 8.1 Lung Tissue 8.2 Lung Surface 8.3 Airways 9 Nonuniformities of Ventilation 9.1 Synchrony of Ventilation 9.2 Gas Dilution
Rapid Evolution of Galactic Nuclei

An evolutionary sequence is suggested for Virgo cluster galaxies, in a radial velocity-nuclear magnitude diagram. This evolution, on a time scale of about 100 m.y., is discussed in terms of the morphology and radial color variations of the galaxies, nuclear size and radio emission. An area scan and profiles of nuclei, obtained with image dissector equipment, are presented.
Sertoli Cell‐Conditioned Medium Affects Nucleoside Utilization In Vitro

Rat Sertoli cell-conditioned medium (SCCM) or low molecular weight filtrate of SCCM (< 1,000 Da molecular weight) inhibited the uptake of [3H]thymidine into cells in culture; [3H]thymidine is incorporated into DNA by means of a salvage pathway. The incorporation of radioactivity into DNA from [14C]N5,N10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate, required for the thymidylate synthetase reaction, was not inhibited by SCCM and reflected the increase in cell number. SCCM specifically inhibited the incorporation of pyrimidines ([3H]uracil, [3H]thymidine) with no effect on the transport or incorporation of [3H]adenosine. Inhibition of thymidine uptake by SCCM could have occurred by a direct competition, i.e., the secretion of thymidine into the medium by the Sertoli cells, or by an indirect mechanism that would result in an inhibition of transport. The activity was partially purified by membrane ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography, and sequential extraction. Addition of SCCM filtrate (< 1,000 Da molecular weight) to growth-arrested cells cultured in the presence of inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase resulted in cell proliferation, suggesting that the factor is involved in thymidine biosynthesis. This activity may play a role in the regulation of nucleoside biosynthesis and/or utilization in the testis.
Development of a sperm cell toxicity test for marine waters

Preliminary methods for conducting a quick and sensitive sperm cell toxicity test for marine waters have been developed. This paper presents a simple static test in which sea urchin or sand dollar sperm cells are exposed to test or control solutions for short periods of time (typically 15 to 60 min). Eggs are added to the test containers after the sperm exposure period has ended, and a standard time is allowed for fertilization to take place before the eggs are fixed with formalin. Samples are then tabulated for fertilization success by noting the presence or absence of the fertilization membrane. The results are analyzed by standard statistical methods to yield a time-dependent median effective concentration (EC 5 0 ) (that is, the concentration of the test material that is effective in reducing fertilization success by 50 percent) after a specified period of exposure. Sperm cell toxicity tests with two reference toxicants (silver nitrate and the pesticide endosulfan) showed that toxic responses were directly related to sperm exposure time. The 60-min EC 5 0 s and 95 percent fiducial limits for green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) sperm were 76 (57 to 103) and 168 (99 to 285) μg/litre for silver and endosulfan, respectively. The 60-min EC 5 0 s for sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) sperm were 45 (34 to 61) and 147 (123 to 175) μg/litre for silver and endosulfan, respectively. Matrix bioassays using temperature, salinity, and toxicant concentration as variables showed that the toxic response to both silver and endosulfan generally increased with increasing temperature and decreasing salinity. One test series of silver and endosulfan in combination showed that toxicity was additive. Comparative sea urchin and sand dollar embryo tests (72 to 96 h) showed embryo sensitivity to be similar to sperm sensitivities with levels of effect (retardation of development) of 50 and 25 μg/litre, respectively, for silver and 253 and 158 μg/litre for endosulfan. Additional development and refinement of this sperm cell toxicity test should yield a rapid and sensitive procedure for screening large numbers of toxicants in marine waters, aid in the prediction of ecological effects, and provide an additional tool for the biomonitoring of receiving water quality.
Group Mating in the Domestic Rat as a Context for Sexual Selection: Consequences for the Analysis of Sexual Behavior and Neuroendocrine Responses

Publisher Summary This chapter uses the social context of group mating to re-evaluate the units of behavior that are appropriate for the study of mating behavior and neuroendocrine function in the Norway rat. It also evaluates the ways that sexual selection at both the individual and group level is mediated by copulatory behavior, which in turn triggers the neuroendocrine mechanisms required for successful reproduction in the domestic strain. The ejaculatory series is one of the fundamental units of analysis for mating behavior in the rat. In the male, the ejaculatory series is used to quantify sexual motivation and to document its endocrine and neural mechanisms. In the female, it is used as an independent variable to quantify her receptivity and assess the neuroendocrine consequences of copulation. During group mating, the ejaculatory series is a robust unit of analysis for male sexual behavior. The amount and timing of copulatory behavior can be conceptualized as a central mechanism through which competition, mate choice, and cooperation are expressed in this species. The aspect of social structure of mating can be intrasexual selection or intersexual selection. When rats mate in groups, males cooperate with other males and females cooperate with other females during copulation.
Why Ethics Matters for Autonomous Cars

If motor vehicles are to be truly autonomous and able to operate responsibly on our roads, they will need to replicate—or do better than—the human decision-making process. But some decisions are more than just a mechanical application of traffic laws and plotting a safe path. They seem to require a sense of ethics, and this is a notoriously difficult capability to reduce into algorithms for a computer to follow.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND FIBROCYSTIC BREAST DISEASE AMONG PRE- AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

The association between use of oral contraceptives and fibrocystic breast disease was assessed among women aged 20-74 years in a hospital-based case-control study conducted between November 1979 and November 1981 in Connecticut. The study groups comprised 633 women with biopsy-proven fibrocystic breast disease and 1,062 controls who had been admitted, as inpatients or outpatients, to general surgical services. For the premenopausal women, there was no evidence that long-term use of oral contraceptives was associated with a decreased frequency of fibrocystic breast disease among either current or past users. For the postmenopausal women, previous oral contraceptive exposure was associated with an increased occurrence of cystic disease. These findings contradict previous investigations reporting a negative association between oral contraceptive use and the development of fibrocystic breast disease.
Computational limits of classical molecular dynamics simulations

The system sizes and time scales accessible by classical molecular dynamics techniques on current-generation parallel supercomputers are briefly discussed. The implications for simulation of glasses and glass-forming materials now and in the near future are highlighted.
NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES WITH REPORTS OF MEETING DECEASED PEOPLE

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` Few scientists have taken seriously the interpretation of near-death experiences (NDEs ) as evidence for survival after death, even though most people having such an experience have become convinced that they will survive death and several features of NDEs are at least suggestive of survival. This article compares survival and some nonsurvival interpretations of NDEs in light of one feature suggestive of survival, that of reports of having seen deceased persons during the NDE. Several features of 74 NDEs involving such reports were compared with those of 200 NDEs not involving such reports. Although some of the endings could support either a survival or a nonsurvival interpretation, several other endings may weaken the primary nonsurvival hypothesis, that of expectation. Additionally, the convergence of several features suggesting survival and the convergence of features that require multiple kinds of alternative explanations, in individual cases as well as in large groups of cases, warrant our considering the survival hypothesis of NDEs more seriously than most scientists currently do.