cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of a Duffing nanomechanical resonator coupled to a single-electron transistor: A master equation approach

We investigate the nonlinear dynamics of a classical Duffing nanomechanical resonator coupled to a single-electron transistor (SET) using a master equation formalism. We consider both the cases of hardening and softening stiffnesses of the Duffing regime while assuming linear coupling between the SET and the resonator. We first derive scaled master equations for the coupled system and define a parameter that characterizes the effective nonlinearity in the system. Solving the equations using a method of moment approximations and validating the approximations independently using finite element solutions, we conclude that the coupled system reaches a steady state and that interaction with the SET damps the motion of the resonator at a significantly higher rate in the hardening Duffing case in comparison with the case of a linear harmonic resonator. The concomitant conclusion that the steady state is attained more rapidly suggests that the hardening stiffness Duffing regime has better prospects for sensing applications than the linear regime. Moreover, analysis of the variance of the resonator displacement in the steady state indicates that lower steady-state effective temperatures are obtained in the nonlinear case. In the case of softening stiffness, dynamical instability occurs in certain parameter regimes implying that the SET transfers energy to the resonator in these regimes. Interestingly, the onset of instability is preceded by the appearance of periodic orbits in phase space. Since weak coupling between the SET and the resonator is assumed throughout, our analysis indicates that a variety of important phenomena, including negative damping, can arise from purely nonlinear motion of the nanomechanical resonator in this regime.
Universal thermal stabilization of the magnetization in ultrathin ferromagnetic films.

Very thin FeNi films are coupled over nonmagnetic interfacees of varied thickness to bulk FeNi generating exchange couplings ${\mathrm{J}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$/J of varied strength on a path perpendicular to the surface. The relative magnetization M(T)/M(0) decreases faster at low T for ${\mathrm{J}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$/J\ensuremath{\ne}0 than for ${\mathrm{J}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\perp}}}$/J=0. This implies a scarcity of spin waves in uncoupled films which we show to be very likely a universal property of ultrathin 2D ferromagnets on a nonmagnetic substrate.
A model for shifts in the gate turn-on voltage of insulated-gate field-effect devices induced by ionizing radiation

Insulated gate field-effect devices with thermally grown silicon dioxide and deposited nitride insulation were subjected to electron irradiation up to a total dose of sufficient magnitude to establish dynamic equilibrium. The resultant linear shift of the gate turn-on voltage with applied gate bias over a wide range of biasing conditions has been interpreted by a model postulating a positive space charge region bounded by the insulator-semiconductor interface and a negative space charge region bounded by the insulator-metal interface. It is shown that the linearity holds for an arbitrary space charge distribution within these two regions whose widths are independent of the gate voltage during irradiation. The conditions for obtaining completely radiation-resistant devices have also been derived.
Tourniquet Infusion Versus Hyperthermic Perfusion

The tourniquet infusion method was compared with hyperthermic perfusion in canine limbs by using Adriamycin, actinomycin-D, and melphalan. Tourniquet infusion provided comparable tissue levels with Adriamycin and significantly higher levels with actinomycin-D and melphalan in the treated extremity than hyperthermic perfusion with the same drugs and dosages. Higher systemic leak was observed, more so with melphalan, with the tourniquet infusion method. Tourniquet infusion has caused complete regression of four malignant tumors involving extremities (one malignant melanoma, two Kaposi's sarcomas, one squamous cell carcinoma) and partial greater than 50% regression of nine tumors (three malignant melanomas, three squamous cell carcinomas, one malignant schwannoma, one malignant fibrohistiocytoma, one liposarcoma) followed by excision of residual tumor. Five patients with extremity sarcomas precluding adequate surgical margins were treated preoperatively with the this method. Longer follow-up is needed, as is a larger number of patients for a valid comparison of tourniquet infusion with hyperthermic perfusion.
The Analysis of Sea Surface Imagery for Whitecap Kinematics

Visible sea surface images are analyzed to determine the distribution of the average length of breaking crests per unit sea surface area per unit speed increment L(c). The L(c) distribution offers a scale-dependent descriptionofwavebreakingthatisvaluableforunderstandingwaveenergydissipation,momentumfluxfrom the wave field to the surface currents, and air‐sea fluxes of gas and sea salt aerosols. Two independent processing techniques for determining L(c) from video images are implemented. In particular, the importance of the definition of the velocity of a breaking event is considered, as a single value, as a function of time, or as afunctionofspaceandtime.Thevelocitycanfurthermorebedefinedasthefulltranslationalvelocityorasthe velocity normal to the breaking front. The L(c) distributions resulting from various definitions of velocity, sensitivity to thresholds, observational resolution, and the effect of surface currents and long wave orbital velocityarepresented.Theappropriatenessandlimitationsofthecomparisonofthefirstmomentof L(c)with the breaking rate are discussed. Two previous field observations of L(c) give qualitatively different results: Melville and Matusov found an exponential form for L(c), whereas Gemmrich et al. obtained a function that peaks at intermediate speeds and is up to an order of magnitude higher than that of Melville and Matusov. Both results can qualitatively be reproduced using the current dataset by employing the definitions of breaking velocity used in the previous studies. The authors argue that the current optimal interpretation of breaking speed resolves the breaking velocity as a function of both space and time and considers the velocity orthogonal to the breaking crest.
Erythropoietin reduces Schwann cell TNF-α, Wallerian degeneration and pain-related behaviors after peripheral nerve injury

Chronic sciatic nerve constriction injury (CCI) induces Wallerian degeneration and exaggerated pain-like behaviors. These effects are mediated in large part by pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). In this study, we demonstrate that systemically administered recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) facilitates recovery from chronic neuropathic pain associated with CCI in rats. Because TNF-alpha has been implicated in the development of pain-related behaviors, we measured TNF-alpha mRNA at the nerve injury site. Systemically or locally administered rhEpo decreased TNF-alpha mRNA, compared with that observed in untreated animals. RhEpo also significantly (P < 0.05) decreased axonal degeneration. Immunohistochemistry of CCI nerve showed abundant TNF-alpha in Schwann cells, axoplasm and macrophages. In rhEpo-treated animals, TNF-alpha immunopositivity was decreased selectively in Schwann cells. These results suggest a model in which rhEpo counteracts the effects of TNF-alpha in CCI by blocking expression of TNF-alpha in Schwann cells. To further test this model, we studied primary Schwann cell cultures. RhEpo inhibited TNF-alpha expression in response to lipopolysaccharide, supporting the conclusions of our in vivo CCI experiments. In addition, rhEpo directly counteracted Schwann cell death induced by exogenously added TNF-alphain vitro. These results indicated that rhEpo regulates TNF-alpha by multiple mechanisms; rhEpo regulates TNF-alpha mRNA expression by Schwann cells but also may directly counteract TNF-alpha signaling pathways that lead to injury, chronic pain and/or death.
Psychosocial Work Characteristics Predict Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Health Functioning in Rural Women: The Wisconsin Rural Women's Health Study.

Background The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between psychosocial work characteristics and health functioning and cardiovascular disease risk factors among rural women of central Wisconsin and compare psychosocial work characteristics between farm and nonfarm women. Methods Stratified sampling was used to select a random sample (n = 1500) of farm and nonfarm women aged 25 to 71 years from the Central Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area. The baseline examination included measurements of blood pressure, height, weight, and fasting blood lipids, glucose, and insulin. Psychosocial job condition was measured with the Karasek Job Content Questionnaires (JCQ). Health functioning was assessed by the Short Form-36 Health Survey. Results The analysis of JCQ showed that nonfarm residents were more likely to have jobs with high demand and high decision latitude compared to farm residents. Also, the farm residents (40.3%) were more likely to be occupied in passive jobs (jobs with low levels of demand and control) than the nonfarm residents (26.9%). Among farm residents, psychological job demand was associated with HDL level (beta = 0.17), triglycerides (beta = 0.0), their ratio (beta = 0.005), and blood insulin level (beta = 0.014), and among nonfarm residents, psychological job demand was associated with diastolic blood pressure (beta = 0.17) and total cholesterol level (beta = 0.002). Conclusion Our results showed that rural farm residents had a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors and were more likely to be occupied in jobs with low levels of demand and control. Job stress predicted more CVD risk factors among farm residents compared to nonfarm residents. Therefore, interventions reducing job strain among rural farm residents are timely and necessary.
Multisystem organ failure.

3 m 1 i r. Regan Marsh: Today’s case is that of a 53-year-old an with metastatic colon cancer, who was transferred rom an outside Emergency Department (ED) for a hange in mental status. The patient had been well until he day prior, when he had the onset of confusion and iarrhea. The symptoms worsened and he was taken to he nearest ED. He was found to be agitated and did not ollow commands. Vital signs were: temperature of 8.5°C (101.3°F), heart rate (HR) 140 beats/min, blood ressure (BP) 141/80 mm Hg, and respiratory rate (RR) 2 breaths/min. An arterial blood gas (ABG) revealed pH .21, pCO2 71 mm Hg, and pO2 155 mm Hg, while eceiving oxygen by facemask. Given the degree of onfusion, tachypnea, and acidosis, he was intubated. He eceived intravenous (i.v.) midazolam 2 mg before intuation. The patient was transiently hypotensive with BP 0/40 mm Hg, requiring a dopamine infusion, which was iscontinued before transfer as the blood pressure noralized. Intavenous ceftriaxone was administered, and a omputed tomography (CT) scan of the brain was perormed, and reported as negative. Transfer was arranged o our facility; the patient received additional broadpectrum antibiotics, including vancomycin, levofloxain, and metronidazole. Dr. Susan Wilcox: Was there any other information r laboratory data from the sending facility regarding the valuation of sepsis? Dr. Marsh: A chest X-ray study (CXR) was negative or any acute process. Significant laboratory data in-
Roots and Routes: Understanding the Lives of the Second Generation Transnationally

While using a transnational optic to study first-generation immigrants is now widely accepted, most scholars assume that the same approach is not necessary when studying migrants’ children. They claim that, while immigrants might be involved in the economic, political and religious life of their homelands, their children are unlikely to follow suit. In this paper I argue against summarily dismissing the power of being raised in a transnational social field. When children are brought up in households that are regularly influenced by people, objects, practices and know-how from their ancestral homes, they are socialised into its norms and values and they learn how to negotiate its institutions. They also form part of strong social networks. While not all members of the second generation will access these resources, they have the social skills and competencies to do so, if and when they choose. Capturing these dynamics, and tracking how they change over time, requires long-term ethnographic research in the s...
Risk of osteoporotic fracture in a large population-based cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Although osteoporosis has been reported to be more common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), little is known whether the risk of osteoporotic fractures in these patients differs by age, sex, and anatomic site. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a health care utilization database. Incidence rates (IRs) and rate ratios (RRs) of osteoporotic fractures with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models compared the risk of osteoporotic fracture at typical sites between RA and non-RA patients. During a median 1.63-year follow-up, 872 (1.9%) of 47,034 RA patients experienced a fracture. The IR for osteoporotic fracture at typical sites among RA patients was 9.6 per 1,000 person-years, 1.5 times higher than the rate of non-RA patients. The IR was highest for hip fracture (3.4 per 1,000 person-years) in RA. The IRs across all age groups were higher for women than men and increased with older age in both groups. The RRs were elevated in RA patients across all common sites of osteoporotic fracture: hip (1.62, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.84), wrist (1.15, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.32), pelvis (2.02, 95% CI 1.77 to 2.30), and humerus (1.51, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.84). After confounding adjustment, a modest increase in risk for fracture was noted with RA (hazard ratio 1.26, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.38). Our study showed an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures for RA patients across all age groups, sex and various anatomic sites, compared with non-RA patients.
A minimum-mean-square-error noise reduction algorithm on Mel-frequency cepstra for robust speech recognition

We present a non-linear feature-domain noise reduction algorithm based on the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion on Mel-frequency cepstra (MFCC) for environment-robust speech recognition. Distinguishing from the MMSE enhancement in log spectral amplitude proposed by Ephraim and Malah (E&M) (1985), the new algorithm presented in this paper develops the suppression rule that applies to power spectral magnitude of the filter-banks' outputs and to MFCC directly, making it demonstrably more effective in noise-robust speech recognition. The noise variance in the new algorithm contains a significant term resulting from instantaneous phase asynchrony between clean speech and mixing noise, missing in the E&M algorithm. Speech recognition experiments on the standard Aurora-3 task demonstrate a reduction of word error rate by 48% against the ICSLP02 baseline, by 26% against the cepstral mean normalization baseline, and by 13% against the conventional E&M log-MMSE noise suppressor. The new algorithm is also much more efficient than E&M noise suppressor since the number of the channels in the Mel-frequency filter bank is much smaller (23 in our case) than the number of bins in the FFT domain (256). The results also show that our algorithm performs slightly better than the ETSI AFE on the well-matched and mid-mismatched settings.
Non-linear effects in MEMS tunable bandstop filters

This paper provides the first study of electromechanical non-linearities of MEMS tunable bandstop filters. The studied non-linearity sets a limit on the power handling capability of such filters. A two-pole MEMS tunable evanescent-mode (EVA) bandstop filter is fabricated and measured to validate the non-linear circuit modeling. Good agreement is observed between measurement and modeling. The fabricated tunable bandstop filter exhibits more than 2 W power handling capability around 2 GHz. To the authors' best knowledge this is the highest power handling reported for an L-band bandstop filter based on evanescent-mode cavity resonators.
Genetic anomalies associated with Cerion hybrid zones: the origin and maintenance of new electromorphic variants called hybrizymes

Natural hybrid zones involving the West Indian pulmonate land snail Cerion are characterized by the occurrence, in low to moderate frequencies, of allozymes that are unique to interspecific hybrid zones. As such electrophoretically detected genetic anomalies havr also becn reported in hybrid zones involving mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects this appears to be a general phenomenon. These unexpected allozymes are inappropriately called ‘rare alleles’ and the term hybrizyme is introduced. The origins of hybrizymes are discussed in terms of suppressor-mutation systems, transposon-induced hybrid dysgenesis and intragenic recombination, but available evidence will not resolve this issue. Similarly, it is not clear whether the relatively high frequencies of particular hybrizymes are due to selection or genetic drift or some combination of these agents. Finally, the evolutionary significance of hybrizymes and the possible role of hybridization in introducing new genetic variation into populations are discussed.
Forgetfulness in the Golden Tablets of Memory

With the publication in 1974 of an inscribed ‘Orphic’ gold leaf from Hipponium (Vibo Valentia) in Southern Italy, and that in 1977 of another, now at Malibu, California, we have a relatively extensive series of gold leaves from graves bearing brief instructions concerning the afterlife. Whether these are Orphic, Pythagorean or whatever, will not be in question here; but the relation between the different texts constitutes a problem interesting in itself, whose dispassionate exploration may also contribute to the eventual understanding of the religious background.
Paper 4: Analysis of Diesel Engine Structures with Special Reference to Traction Application

To judge the quality and safety of an engine structure today it is almost indispensable to employ experimental stress analysis methods. Merely testing prototype engines for locomotive service does not offer adequate security with regard to the danger of fatigue in the structure. This applies particularly to welded designs, because the scattering in production quality is an important factor here. The appropriate use of modern investigation methods is described with a number of examples. The decisive thing is to co-ordinate and exploit the available resources in design, research, and production so that optimum effectiveness is attained.
Exact Meta-Analysis Approach for Discrete Data and its Application to 2 × 2 Tables With Rare Events

This article proposes a general exact meta-analysis approach for synthesizing inferences from multiple studies of discrete data. The approach combines the p-value functions (also known as significance functions) associated with the exact tests from individual studies. It encompasses a broad class of exact meta-analysis methods, as it permits broad choices for the combining elements, such as tests used in individual studies, and any parameter of interest. The approach yields statements that explicitly account for the impact of individual studies on the overall inference, in terms of efficiency/power and the Type I error rate. Those statements also give rises to empirical methods for further enhancing the combined inference. Although the proposed approach is for general discrete settings, for convenience, it is illustrated throughout using the setting of meta-analysis of multiple 2 × 2 tables. In the context of rare events data, such as observing few, zero, or zero total (i.e., zero events in both arms) out...
To be or not to be my sister's keeper? A revised leagal framework safeguarding savior siblings' welfare.

The sole person who should be allowed to make that choice is the very one who lies at the heart of the issue. 1 1 Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper 409 (2004). This book was later turned into a majo...
Some computational approaches for situation assessment and impact assessment

This paper will provide an overview of several research efforts in the area of Information Fusion being conducted at the Fusion Technology Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory. It will describe a series of innovative approaches of traditional fusion algorithms and heuristic reasoning techniques to improve situational assessment and threat prediction. Approaches discussed include Bayesian techniques, knowledge based approaches, artificial neural systems (neural networks), fuzzy logic, and genetic algorithms.
Plant biomass and species composition along an environmental gradient in montane riparian meadows

In riparian meadows, narrow zonation of the dominant vegetation frequently occurs along the elevational gradient from the stream edge to the floodplain terrace. We measured plant species composition and above- and belowground biomass in three riparian plant communities—a priori defined as wet, moist, and dry meadow—along short streamside topographic gradients in two montane meadows in northeast Oregon. The objectives were to: (1) compare above- and belowground biomass in the three meadow communities; (2) examine relations among plant species richness, biomass distribution, water table depth, and soil redox potential along the streamside elevational gradients. We installed wells and platinum electrodes along transects (perpendicular to the stream; n=5 per site) through the three plant communities, and monitored water table depth and soil redox potential (10 and 25 cm depth) from July 1997 to August 1999. Mean water table depth and soil redox potential differed significantly along the transects, and characterized a strong environmental gradient. Community differences in plant species composition were reflected in biomass distribution. Highest total biomass (live+dead) occurred in the sedge-dominated wet meadows (4,311±289 g/m2), intermediate biomass (2,236±221 g/m2) was seen in the moist meadow communities, dominated by grasses and sedges, and lowest biomass (1,403±113 g/m2) was observed in the more diverse dry meadows, dominated by grasses and forbs. In the wet and moist communities, belowground biomass (live+dead) comprised 68–81% of the totals. Rhizome-to-root ratios and distinctive vertical profiles of belowground biomass reflected characteristics of the dominant graminoid species within each community. Total biomass was positively correlated with mean water table depth, and negatively correlated with mean redox potential (10 cm and 25 cm depths; P <0.01) and species richness (P <0.05), indicating that the distribution of biomass coincided with the streamside edaphic gradient in these riparian meadows.
Is there a relation between SIDS and long QT syndrome

A discussion of the evidence to date Long QT syndrome causes sudden unexpected death through rapid ventricular tachycardia (“torsades de pointes”) leading to ventricular fibrillation (see figs 1 and 2).1,2 The postmortem examination reveals no cause for the death. These characteristics make long QT syndrome a plausible cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and many research efforts have been made to investigate a possible link. The genetic forms of long QT syndrome are usually inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion (Romano-Ward syndrome). Yet gene carriers can be asymptomatic, and around a third can even have a normal ECG.3 Therefore the condition might theoretically cause multiple SIDS within a family, with apparently healthy parents. It has been suggested that parents in such families might have been wrongfully accused of murder.4,5 Figure 1 (A) This six lead rhythm strip from an infant with syndactyly and long QT syndrome shows gross prolongation of the QT interval. Two p waves are seen for each T wave. There is 2:1 atrioventricular block because the t wave has not even started when the next p wave appears; since ventricular repolarisation has not yet occurred, the ventricle cannot yet be depolarised again. This phenomenon has been reported in sudden infant death secondary to long-QT type 3.37 (B) This six lead rhythm strip was taken from the same infant as in (A), moments later. The QT interval is very long, and the t wave is alternately upright and then inverted. Repolarisation is disordered and swinging like a pendulum in one direction across the myocardium and then another. This typically precedes torsades de pointes. Figure 2 ECG strip recorded from an implanted digital loop recorder (Reveal device) during a syncopal episode from which recovery occurred spontaneously. Although taken from an 11 year old boy, this shows …
1 GENERATION OF A STABLE TRANSGENIC SWINE MODEL FOR CELL TRACKING AND CHROMOSOME DYNAMIC STUDIES

Transgenic pigs are an attractive research model in the field of translational research, regenerative medicine, and stem cell therapy due to their anatomic, genetic, and physiological similarities with humans. The development of a transgenic murine model with a fusion of green fluorescent protein (GFP) to histone 2B protein (H2B, protein of nucleosome core) resulted in an easier and more convenient method for tracking cell migration and engraftment levels after transplantation as well as a way to better understand the complexity of molecular regulation within cell cycle/division, cancer biology, and chromosome dynamics. Up to now the development of a stable transgenic large animal model expressing H2B-GFP has not been described. Our objective was to develop the first transgenic porcine H2B-GFP model via CRISPR-CAS9 mediated recombination and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Porcine fetal fibroblasts were cotransfected with CRISPR-CAS9 designed to target the 3′ untranslated region of ACTB locus and a targeting vector containing 1Kb homology arms to ACTB flanking an IRES-H2B-GFP transgene. Four days after transfection GFP cells were fluorescence activated cell sorted. Single cell colonies were generated and analysed by PCR, and heterozygous colonies were used as donor cells for SCNT. The custom designed CRISPR-CAS9 knockin system demonstrated a 2.4% knockin efficiency. From positive cells, 119 SCNT embryos were generated and transferred to a recipient gilt resulting in three positive founder boars (P1 generation). Boars show normal fertility (pregnancies obtained via AI of wild type sows). Generated P1 clones were viable and fertile with a transgene transmission rate of 55.8% (in concordance with Mendel’s law upon chi-square test with P = 0.05). Intranuclear H2B-GFP expression was confirmed via fluorescence microscopy on 8-day in vitro cultured SCNT blastocysts and a variety of tissues (heart, kidney, brain, bladder, skeletal muscle, stomach, skin, and so on) and primary cultured cells (chondrocytes, bone marrow derived, adipocyte derived, neural stem cells, and so on) from P1 cloned boars and F1 42-day fetuses and viable piglets. In addition, chromosome segregation could be easily identified during cell cycle division in in vitro cultured stem cells. Custom designed CRISPR-CAS 9 are able to drive homologous recombination in the ACTB locus in porcine fetal fibroblasts, allowing the generation of the first described viable H2B-GFP porcine model via SCNT. Generated clones and F1 generation expressed H2B-GFP ubiquitously, and transgene transmission rates were with concordance of Mendel’s law. This novel large animal model represents an improved platform for regenerative medicine and chromosome dynamic and cancer biology studies.
The role of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in predicting outcomes for lower extremity bypass

Objective The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has traditionally been used to prioritize liver transplantation. However, its use has been extended to predict overall and postoperative outcomes in patients with hepatic and renal dysfunction. Our objective was to use the MELD score to predict outcomes in patients undergoing lower extremity bypass. Methods Patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data sets from 2005 to 2012. The MELD score was calculated using serum bilirubin and creatinine values and the international normalized ratio. Patients were grouped into low ( Results There were 5967 patients who underwent infrainguinal bypass with the following MELD score distribution: P P = .048), and increased postoperative length of stay (median [range], 5 [0-93] vs 6 [0-73] vs 6 [0-86]; P P P P P P P = .03), extended postoperative length of stay (means ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2; P P P = .04; and OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.6-5.4; P = .01), respectively. Propensity matching between low, moderate, and high MELD score groups confirmed an increased risk of postoperative myocardial infarction/cardiac arrest ( P P = .05), and extended postoperative length of stay ( P Conclusions An elevated MELD score places patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass at higher risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality. This provides an evidence base for risk stratification and informed consent for these patients. Alternative treatment may be considered in these patients; however, the overall morbidity and mortality rates may still be acceptable, even in high-risk patients.
Adaptation of Insects to Nornicotine

Previous investigations of the adaptation of insects to nicotine showed that insects can be divided into 3 groups depending on whether they (1) excrete nicotine intact (Self et al. 1964a), (2) metabolize nicotine, primarily to continine (Self et al. 1964b), or (3) avoid nicotine by selective feeding in the phloem (Guthrie et al. 1962). It seemed desirable to examine the response of insects to nornicotine, the second most important toxic constituent of commercial tobacco leaves.
An Investigation of Neighborhood Disadvantage, Low Self-Control, and Violent Victimization Among Youth:

This research combines social disorganization and self-control perspectives to understand personal victimization among youth. In doing so, several research questions are investigated to explore the...
Detection of olaquindox residues in pork by high performance liquid chromatography

Objective To develop a high performance liquid chromatography method for determination of olaquindox residues in pork. Methods The study focused on the method of sample pretreatment. Water was mixed with various solvents in different proportions to find out the optimal pretreatment condition. Finally methanol-water(50∶50,V /V) was selected as appropriate extraction solvent for homogenized samples at 60 ℃ for 10 min,then the supernatant was cleaned up by n-hexane,concentrated by rotary evaporation and vacuum concentration,then the analyte was separated on C18 column with 0. 1% acetic acid-acetonitrile( 70 ∶ 30,V /V) as mobile phase,and determined by DAD with external standard method for quantification.Results The limit of detection for olaquindox in pork was 40 μg /kg. Calibration curve was linear in the rang of 2. 0 μg /ml ~10. 0 μg /ml( r = 0. 9998). The mean recoveries ranged from 83. 2% to 84. 6% at spiked concentration of 0. 5 mg /kg ~2. 25 mg /kg and the relative standard derivations were 1. 2% ~ 2. 2%. Conclusion The method was proved to have low detection limit,high recovery,accurate quantification,it is suitable for determination of olaquindox residues in pork.
Effect observation of traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of migraine

Objective To observe the cnilical effect of traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of migraine.Methods 31 cases patients with migraine were given treatment of traditional Chinese medicine,and observed the cnilical effect.Results After a course of treatment,among 31 cases patients,cured 6 cases(19.4%),markedly effective 13 cases(41.9%),effective 8 cases(25.8%),ineffective 4 cases(12.9%),the total effective rate was 87.1%.Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of migraine is significantly effective,low cost of treatment,and worthy of clinical application.
Pulmonary Pathophysiology in Surgical Patients

The reasons for the unique susceptibility of surgical patients to pulmonary disorders are presented in this article, along with a discussion of the mechanisms leading to lung dysfunction in surgical patients. Pulmonary response to insult or injury is manifested as alveolar collapse and edema. The effects of these two factors on lung physiology are presented as a preface to more detailed descriptions in later sections.
Landscape Complexity Effects on Fisheries: Insights from Marine Landscape Ecology

Fisheries management has typically focused on the use of mathematical modeling to estimate current and future population trends to maintain the maximum sustainable yield in managed populations. However, modern advances in geospatial technologies and the emerging field of marine landscape ecology now provide landscape approaches and theory that can be applied in the management of marine fisheries. The use of landscape ecological approaches can provide important insights into the role that landscape complexity plays in the population dynamics and habitat requirements of commercially important species. Here, I review recent advancements in geospatial technologies and marine landscape ecology and their application to one experimental marine landscape study, and three studies dealing with managed fisheries populations across complex marine landscapes. I close with a discussion of emerging approaches in marine geospatial technology and how they may further enhance our understanding of the relationship of landscape complexity to the ecological dynamics of managed marine populations.
Logic and Intellectual Intuition

This chapter shows that a direct route between transcendental logic and general and pure logic is impossible. An indirect route is possible, however, but it requires us to take a detour through Immanuel Kant’s sometimes confusing general estimation of the epistemological situation of the human standpoint. I argue in conclusion that the two logics are isomorphic. By this I mean that they are heterogeneous from one perspective, but homogeneous from another.
Analog-to-Digital Signal Conversion

The process of analog-to-digital signal conversion involves converting a continuous time and amplitude signal into discrete time and amplitude values. The steps followed to achieve analog-to-digital signal conversion include sampling and quantization. This chapter focuses on the process of conversion of analog-to-digital signals. It emphasizes on the underlying principles behind sampling and quantization, which must be known in order to minimize any loss of information during the conversion. Sampling refers to the process of generating discrete time samples from an analog signal. The chapter also illustrates the relationship between analog and digital frequencies. The difference between analog and digital frequencies can be evident by observing the same discrete time signal as obtained from different continuous time signals, when the sampling frequency remains the same. It is noted that an A/D converter has finite number of bits. As a result, continuous amplitude values are represented by discrete amplitude levels. The process of converting continuous into discrete amplitude levels is called quantization. This approximation often leads to errors called quantization noise.
Interrogating the Relationship between 'Legally Defensible' Tax Planning and Social Justice

This article, prepared for presentation on September 23, 2016 at a conference at NYU Law School, organized by the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice and entitled "Human Rights and Tax in an Unequal World," mainly takes the form of a dialogue between two fictional individuals. The conclusions that the discussants reach (insofar as they are able to agree) can be summarized as follows:Large-scale tax avoidance by wealthy individuals and large companies that is legally defensible under relevant national tax laws can nonetheless have major adverse effects on social justice and/or public morale. However, its legal defensibility complicates analyzing its ethical implications, as compared to the more straightforward case of committing tax fraud. Legal defensibility also complicates the analysis of the extent to which human rights advocates should focus on such desiderata as “good corporate tax behavior” and the ethics of tax professionals.Much of this complexity pertains to (1) issues of ex ante legal uncertainty regarding whether a defensible position would actually be upheld if closely scrutinized, (2) the multifaceted character both of tax professionals’ ethical obligations and of their incentives, and (3) the ambiguity of people’s personal ethical obligations to act altruistically, rather than just self-interestedly. It also is hard to judge the tactical questions associated with focusing on these issues, rather than on the tax rules’ content. Ethical challenges may help to undermine social acceptance of current practices, but also may distract from legal reform efforts.
Solar Probe Plus (SPP) wrap around automated testing

The Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission, under NASA's Living with a Star program, will fly a spacecraft (S/C) through the sun's outer corona. The mission will gather data on the processes of coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, and production, evolution and transport of solar energetic particles. The spacecraft has an Electrical Power System or EPS that has to undergo testing before delivery to the spacecraft for integration and testing. The specific unit to be delivered is called the Power System Electronic box or PSE. The PSE relies on a novel S/A control algorithm which autonomously positions the wings to optimize the thermal load while maintaining adequate electrical power. A Wrap Around Automated Testbed (WAAT) containing various Ground Support Equipment (GSE) has been designed to test the PSE in real-time. The major components of the Testbed consist of a dynamic solar array simulator (SAS); A Battery Simulator to emulate the spacecraft flight battery; An EPS emulator to control command and telemetry to the PSE. This EPS emulator also provides a fast serial link for incident radiant flux on the S/A wings for any wing angle, S/C attitude and shadow condition during any point in the mission computed via a Simulink model to the SAS based on PSE telemetry. The EPS emulator will also provide any necessary loads, power supplies and temperatures and A script engine that will allow communication between all GSE and provide complete automation. This WAAT provides the user the ability to test the PSE or any other Unit Under test including board or slice level designs by having command and telemetry specific to that particular GSE. Each GSE then becomes part of an entire Testbed completely under automated control by tying it to a single script engine on a server. With the exception of the script engine each GSE has a PXI controller and is using PXI modules to accomplish various tasks including controlling and communicating with multiple Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). The WAAT can travel with the PSE or the UUT to automate the process for environmental testing before delivery to the spacecraft. The WAAT can also be used for back up testing in the event any anomalies that occur during spacecraft integration or flight.
Recent advances in supervised learning for brain graph classification

Modelling brain networks as graphs has become a dominant approach in neuroimaging. Substantial recent efforts in this area has led to a large number of new methods for analysing such brain graphs. In this paper, we review recent methods for estimating brain graphs and highlight some recent advances in predictive modelling on graphs. We divide the existing methods into three main categories, namely machine learning approaches, statistical hypothesis testing approaches, and network science approaches, and discuss techniques associated with each approach as well as links between the approaches. Graph-based methods have strong roots in pattern recognition, computer vision, social sciences, and statistical physics, and many methods developed for brain graphs are readily transferable to other fields. We thus foresee this methodological upsurge in brain graph analysis will have a wide impact on applications beyond neuroimaging in years to come.
A low-power RF receiver front-end chip designed with methods to reduce third-order intermodulation distortion

This paper describes a linearized RF front-end design consisting of a subthreshold pseudo-differential common-source cascode low-noise amplifier (LNA) and a subthreshold active mixer. The applied linearization mechanisms can improve the third-order intermodulation intercept point (IIP3) without additional power consumption by using only passive components, which implies that the techniques do not require auxiliary amplifiers to suppress third-order distortion components. A 1.95 GHz RF receiver front-end was designed and fabricated in 110nm CMOS technology. Measurement results show that the linearized low-power front-end has a 20.6 dB voltage gain, a 9.5 dB double-sideband noise figure, and a −10.8 dBm IIP3 with a power consumption of 0.9 mW.
Enteric glial activity regulates secretomotor function in the mouse colon but does not acutely affect gut permeability

Key points The role of enteric glial cell activity in the acute regulation of epithelial barrier and secretomotor functions of the intestines under physiological conditions is not clear. We used transgenic mice to modify glial activity and found that enteric glia significantly contribute to the neurogenic ion transport while glial activity does not appear to play a major role in the acute regulation of barrier function. The selective activation of glial activity evoked electrogenic ion transport primarily through neural pathways and was sufficient to drive electrogenic ion transport to an extent equal to the direct activation of neurogenic ion transport. These findings provide novel insight into the cellular mechanisms that control fluid transport homeostasis in the intestine and might provide novel therapeutic avenues for functional diarrheal diseases. Abstract Enteric glial cells are often implicated in the regulation of epithelial barrier and secretomotor functions of the intestines. But whether glial cell activity regulates these functions acutely under physiological conditions is not clear. We addressed this issue by using transgenic animal models to modify the activity of enteric glia, either reducing glial expression of connexin 43 in Sox10::CreERT2+/- /Cx43f/f mice or activating glial calcium responses in GFAP::hM3Dq mice, and tested the effects on colonic barrier function and electrogenic ion transport in Ussing chambers. We assessed neuronal-dependent and -independent contributions by activating or inhibiting neurogenic activity with veratridine and tetrodotoxin, respectively. Our results show that the reduction of glial Cx43 expression in Sox10::CreERT2+/- /Cx43f/f mice significantly reduced neurogenic ion transport. The selective glial activation in tissues from GFAP::hM3Dq mice evoked electrogenic ion transport to an extent equal to the direct activation of neurogenic ion transport with veratridine and glial driven responses consisted of both tetrodotoxin-sensitive and -insensitive components. The selective glial stimulation did not affect transmural ion conductance or cell-impermeant dye flux but the baseline ion conductance was more variable in Sox10::CreERT2+/- /Cx43f/f tissues. Together, our findings show that glial activity contributes to the regulation of electrogenic ion transport in the intestine through effects on neurons and possibly direct effects on epithelial cells. However, glial activity does not appear to play a major role in the acute regulation of barrier function. These findings provide novel insight into the cellular mechanisms that control fluid transport homeostasis in the intestine.
High-throughput drawing and testing of metallic glass nanostructures

Thermoplastic embossing of metallic glasses promises direct imprinting of metal nanostructures using templates. However, embossing high-aspect-ratio nanostructures faces unworkable flow resistance due to friction and non-wetting conditions at the template interface. Herein, we show that these inherent challenges of embossing can be reversed by thermoplastic drawing using templates. The flow resistance not only remains independent of wetting but also decreases with increasing feature aspect-ratio. Arrays of assembled nanotips, nanowires, and nanotubes with aspect-ratios exceeding 1000 can be produced through controlled elongation and fracture of metallic glass structures. In contrast to embossing, the drawing approach generates two sets of nanostructures upon final fracture; one set remains anchored to the metallic glass substrate while the second set is assembled on the template. This method can be readily adapted for high-throughput fabrication and testing of nanoscale tensile specimens, enabling rapid screening of size-effects in mechanical behavior.
Deduction and Search Strategies for Regular Multiple-Valued Logics*

The inference rule ! -resolution was introduced in [27] as a technique for developing an SLD-style query answering procedure for the logic programming subset of annotated logic. The inference rule requires that the lattice of truth values be ordinary. In this paper, it is proved that all complete distributive lattices are ordinary. Properties of ! -resolution in the general theorem proving setting are explored, including the completeness of a variety of restrictions. It is shown that the pruning effects of classical restriction strategies (for example, ordering and the linear restriction) can be enhanced with the ! -operator. Two macro inference rules, annotated hyperresolution and annotated hypertableaux, both of which can also be enhanced with the ! -operator, are developed for annotated logics.
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Issue of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Enjoyment of a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment on His Mission to Mongolia

On the basis of a visit to Mongolia from September 19 to 27, 2017, this report by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment reviews the legal and policy framework for environmental protection in Mongolia; the environmental conditions in the country; and good practices and challenges in several areas, including air pollution; mining; conservation; access to information, participation and effective remedies; and protection of environmental defenders. The report concludes with recommendations designed to promote and protect human rights relating to the environment.
Differential Effects of Linagliptin on the Function of Human Islets Isolated from Non-diabetic and Diabetic Donors

Linagliptin is a dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor that inhibits the degradation of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and has been approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in clinic. Previous studies have shown linagliptin improves β cell function using animal models and isolated islets from normal subjects. Since β cell dysfunction occurs during diabetes development, it was not clear how human islets of T2D patients would respond to linagliptin treatment. Therefore, in this study we employed human islets isolated from donors with and without T2D and evaluated how they responded to linagliptin treatment. Our data showed that linagliptin significantly improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion for both non-diabetic and diabetic human islets, but its effectiveness on T2D islets was lower than on normal islets. The differential effects were attributed to reduced GLP-1 receptor expression in diabetic islets. In addition, linagliptin treatment increased the relative GLP-1 vs glucagon production in both non-diabetic and diabetic islets, suggesting a positive role of linagliptin in modulating α cell function to restore normoglycemia. Our study indicated that, from the standpoint of islet cell function, linagliptin would be more effective in treating early-stage diabetic patients before they develop severe β cell dysfunction.