cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
It's financialization!

Wall Street's 2007-09 implosion and the ensuing global recession highlight the crucial relationship between finance and the economy. Governments, inter- national agencies and experts had failed to detect rising risk levels in the deregulated financial sector. The author outlines the resulting huge cost in lost jobs and likely reductions in public goods and growth, as economies restabilize budgets after paying for massive bailouts and stimulus packages. Specifically, he assesses the role of mon- etary incentives for rent-seeking in the decisions that led to the crisis. Finally, he makes the case for radical reform of the institutions linking finance and the real economy. n December 2009, the largest trucking firm in the United States, YRC, with I over 30,000 truck drivers on its payroll was close to bankruptcy. The firm was financially stressed not so much because its revenues were falling in the recession but because it owed US$1.6 billion in loans and bonds for acquisitions it had made in 2003 and 2005.1 To survive, YRC had to convince bondholders to swap bonds for equity. Ten or 20 years earlier, bondholders would readily have made the ex- change, since their bonds would essentially have proved worthless if the YRC had gone bankrupt. But in the 2000s era of financialization, Wall Street firms had issued credit default swaps (CDSs) against YRC bonds.2 Investors with CDSs who bought bonds and voted against restructuring would make more from the CDSs than they would lose from the bonds. Goldman Sachs developed a market in YRC bonds and CDSs, soliciting bonds for clients who would benefit from a 1 2
Effects of environmental change on radar backscatter in the Oregon Transect

During multisensor experiments in the Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research (OTTER) project, the JPL AIR-SAR collected data over six study sites in western Oregon. The SAR flights took place in June and August 1990 and March 1991. The sites ranged from the dense forests of the coastal region to the sparse inland Juniper forests, thus providing a wide range of above-ground biomass values (8 Tons/HA to 960 Tons/HA). The authors have previously reported the results of studying the polarimetric SAR data from June 1990. They concentrate on March 1991 data. These data were obtained under flooded conditions and colder temperatures. The variations of radar backscatter with biomass and other forest parameters are studied and compared to those from June 1990. Differences between radar backscatters of several dB have been observed. The authors' observations substantiate their earlier findings that the radar measurements cannot be used to uniquely obtain the biomass, and that instead, inversion algorithms to find the fundamental scattering properties of forest components need to be used. >
A Database Model for Integrating and Facilitating Collaborative Ethnomedicinal Research

A model for a database system that provides a standardized environment for submission, storage, and retrieval of ethnomedicinal data was developed. The model is based on object oriented database technology, and is suitable for not only storing data, digital images, sound and video, but also for modeling domain knowledge associated with plant-based medicinal preparations utilized in systems of traditional medicine. The model incorporates both linguistic and semantic elements. Terms in natural language are mapped to database objects that represent knowledge in various ethnomedicinal domains. The distributed object infrastructure permits integration with other authoritative taxonomic databases and includes an interface capable of supporting existing and emerging standards of data. The model provides a foundation for a globally current dynamic data resource that encourages comparative ethnomedicinal research through direct contributions by members of the research community. Examples of integrated domain models are presented incorporating medical terminology, plant systematics, ecology, and pharmacology.
Planar inductively coupled plasmas operated with low and high radio frequencies

Planar inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) powered with 13.56 MHz radio frequency (RF) are used increasingly by the semiconductor industry for close-coupled etching processes. Two planar ICPs operated with 0.46 and 13.56 MHz RF are described. Low-pressure argon discharges are compared in the same vacuum chamber. The two planar ICPs generate nearly identical plasmas, within experimental uncertainties, for similar gas pressures and RF powers. The ICP operation proves significantly easier with low RF frequency.
Scandium Tris(dodecylsulfate)

[211638-03-8] C36H75O12SSc (MW 841.13) InChI = 1S/3C12H26O4S.Sc/c3*1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-16-17(13,14)15;/h3*2-12H2,1H3,(H,13,14,15);/q;;;+3/p-3 InChIKey = JOHCLLAMYIRJOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-K (Lewis acid-surfactant combined catalyst, particularly useful for organic synthesis in water) Physical Data: mp 240 °C (dec.). Solubility: insoluble in most organic solvents; slightly soluble in water; forms stable dispersion systems in water when organic substrates are added. Form Supplied in: white solid, commercially available from Aldrich. Preparative Methods: this reagent can be conveniently prepared from ScCl3 and sodium dodecylsulfate as follows:1 to a solution of sodium dodecylsulfate (3.4 g, 11.6 mmol) in water (100 mL) is added a solution of ScCl3·6H2O (1.0 g, 3.85 mmol) in water (20 mL) at room temperature when a white precipitate appears immediately. After stirring for a further 10 min, the white solid is filtered, washed with water (50 mL × 5), and dried (0.1 mm Hg, 20 h) to afford scandium tris(dodecylsulfate) (2.3 g, 71%).
A Review of “5,000 Years of Chinese Jade: Featuring Selections from the National Museum of History, Taiwan, and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution”

Jade is the new gold, at least from the point of view of world markets where the demand for the precious stone from Chinese investors is changing fortunes in jade-rich areas from the ancient tradin...
Dealing with failure: the aftermath of errors and adverse events.

Abstract Wears RL, Wu AW. Dealing with failure: the aftermath of errors and adverse events. Ann Emerg Med. March 2002;39:344-346.
Understanding student resistance as a communicative act

In the current era of ‘zero tolerance’, disciplinary practices including punishment, expulsion, physical and psychological surveillance, and confinement are a major part of resistant students’ lived experiences. This article is an ethnographic study of student resistance that is observed in an alternative high school in the USA, which serves students expelled from regular schools for their acts of resistance. The purpose of this study is to explore how understanding of the meaning of student resistance can be used as a theoretical and pedagogical medium with which teachers can create an equitable educational milieu that upholds views and experiences of the marginalised students. The study also offers a new insight into resistance theory drawing upon Dewey's transactional theory of resistance as a communicative act to further suggest what might be possible for the teachers and students to transcend conflicts in order to establish a more meaningful teacher–student relationship moving beyond zero-tolerance p...
The Landsat Sensors' Spatial Responses

Based on the geometrical characteristics of the Landsat-4 and Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Multispectral Scanner (MSS), functions defining their spatial responses are derived, i. e., transfer functions (TF's) and line-spread functions (LSF's). These design LSF's and TF's are modified based on prelaunch component and system measurements to provide improved estimates. Prelaunch estimates of LSF/TF's are compared to in-orbit estimates where available. For the MSS instruments, only limited prelaunch scan direction squarewave response (SWR) measurements were available. Design estimates were modified by including a variable Gaussian blur, adjusted such that the derived LSF/TF's produced SWR's comparable to the measurements. The two MSS instruments were comparable at their temperatures of best focus; separate calculations were performed for bands 1 and 3, band 2, and band 4. The presample nadir effective instantaneous fields of view (EIFOV's), based on the 0.5 modulation transfer function (MTF) criteria, are 70-75 m in the track direction and 79-82 m in the scan direction. For the TM instruments, more extensive prelaunch measurements were available. Bands 1-4, 5 and 7, and 6 were handled separately, as were the two instruments. LSF's derived from component measurements differed from the limited measured LSF data only in the ringing response/overshoot behavior. Derived MTF's indicated nadir presample EIFOV's of 32-33 m in the track direction and 36 m in the scan direction (bands 1-5, 7) and 124 m track and 141 m scan (band 6) for both TM's.
Regulation of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 by Astrocytes: Links to HIV-1 Dementia

The neuropathogenesis of HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD) revolves around the secretion of toxic molecules from infected and immune-competent mononuclear phagocytes. Astrocyte activation occurs in parallel but limited insights are available for its role in neurotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction. One means in which astrocytes may affect disease is through their production of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). TIMPs are regulators of matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes that affect blood-brain barrier integrity through altering the extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that in response to injury and inflammation in HAD, astrocytes regulate the production of TIMP-1, the inducible type of TIMP that is important in inflammation. To address astrocyte-mediated TIMP-1 regulation in HAD, we evaluated the responses of primary human to IL-1β and HIV-1. TIMP-1 levels in plasma, CSF, and brain tissue of control, HIV-1 infected patients without cognitive impairment, and HAD patients were also studied. Our data show that an upregulation of TIMP-1 results from astrocytes acutely activated with IL-1β. In contrast, CSF and brain tissue samples from HAD patients showed reduced TIMP-1 levels compared to seronegative controls. MMP-2 levels in brains showed the opposite. Consistent with this, prolonged activation of astrocytes led to a reduction in TIMP-1 and MMP-2, but a sustained elevation in MMP-1. Our data suggest that in diseased brain tissue, the ability of astrocytes to counteract the destructive effects of MMP through expression of TIMP-1 is diminished by chronic activation. Our studies reveal new opportunities for repair-based therapeutic strategies in HAD.
Dental caries prevalence and treatment among Navajo preschool children.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the dental health of Navajo preschool children, a population about whom little dental information is published. Methods Caries data were collected and analyzed for 2,003 Navajo children aged 3-5 years in the Head Start program, and for a convenience sample of 115 children younger than three years old from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Results Each age group had an extremely high mean dmfs; however, as much as 70 percent of this index comprised treated surfaces. Maxillary anterior caries was observed in the WIC children under two years of age and posterior proximal caries was observed as early as two years of age. The prevalence of maxillary anterior caries reached a maximum of 68 percent in the three-year-old Head Start children, and may be associated with the high level of posterior caries in this population. Conclusions Most children in this population may be considered at risk for developing caries. This Navajo preschool population has perhaps the earliest caries onset, among the highest caries prevalence, and among the highest level of treatment of any reported population.
Wer verdient Hilfe

Zusammenfassung. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde der Einfluss von funf Empfangermerkmalen auf die prosozialen Handlungsentscheidungen von vier- bis achtjahrigen Kindern untersucht. Dazu wurden in einem Experiment die folgenden funf Empfangermerkmale (unabhangige Variable) systematisch variiert: Verantwortung fur eigenes Ungluck, Vertrautheit, Lebensalter, Reziprozitat und Schadensgrose. Insgesamt 277 Kinder ubernahmen in funf Puppenspiel-Szenen die Rolle des Protagonisten, der sich jeweils entscheiden muste (abhangige Variable), welchem von zwei potenziellen Empfangern mit jeweils unterschiedlicher Merkmalsauspragung er helfen wollte. Die vier- bis achtjahrigen Kinder bevorzugten bei ihren Entscheidungen uberzufallig oft denjenigen Empfanger, der keine Verantwortung am eigenen Ungluck hatte, der vertrauter war, der junger war, der ihnen auch schon einmal geholfen hatte und der den groseren Schaden erlitten hatte. Mit steigendem Alter der Kinder nahm der Einfluss der Rezipientenmerkmale zu. Als Fazit ergi...
Middle School Vaccination Requirements and Adolescent Vaccination Coverage

OBJECTIVE: To determine if middle school vaccination requirements are associated with higher coverage for adolescent vaccines. METHODS: School entry requirements for receipt of vaccination for school entry or education of parents for 3 vaccines recommended for adolescents: tetanus/diphtheria-containing (Td) or tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (TdaP), meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in place for the 2008–2009 school year were reviewed for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Vaccination coverage levels for adolescents 13 to 17 years of age by state requirement status and change in coverage from 2008 to 2009 were assessed by using the 2008–2009 National Immunization Survey-Teen. RESULTS: For the 2008–2009 school year, 32 states had requirements for Td/TdaP (14 specifically requiring TdaP) and none required education; 3 states required MenACWY vaccine and 10 others required education; and 1 state required HPV vaccine and 5 required education. Compared with states with no requirements, vaccination requirements were associated with significantly higher coverage for MenACWY (71% vs 53%, P P n = 6, P = .04) and states with preexisting vaccination requirements ( n = 26, P = .02) for Td/TdaP experienced a significant increase in TdaP coverage over states with no requirements. CONCLUSIONS: Middle school vaccination requirements are associated with higher coverage for Td/TdaP and MenACWY vaccines, whereas education-only requirements do not appear to increase coverage levels for MenACWY or HPV vaccines. The impact on coverage should continue to be monitored as more states adopt requirements.
Dual Roles of RNF2 in Melanoma Progression

Epigenetic regulators have emerged as critical factors governing the biology of cancer. Here, in the context of melanoma, we show that RNF2 is prognostic, exhibiting progression-correlated expression in human melanocytic neoplasms. Through a series of complementary gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies in mouse and human systems, we establish that RNF2 is oncogenic and pro-metastatic. Mechanistically, RNF2-mediated invasive behavior is dependent on its ability to mono-ubiquitinate H2AK119 at the promoter of LTBP2, resulting in silencing of this negative regulator of TGFβ signaling. In contrast, RNF2's oncogenic activity does not require its catalytic activity nor does it derive from its canonical gene repression function. Instead, RNF2 drives proliferation through direct transcriptional up-regulation of the cell cycle regulator CCND2. We further show that MEK1 mediated phosphorylation of RNF2 promotes recruitment of activating histone modifiers UTX and p300 to a subset of poised promoters, which activates gene expression. In summary, RNF2 regulates distinct biological processes in the genesis and progression of melanoma via different molecular mechanisms.
Malware detection inspired by the human immune system and making use of honeytokens

Computers are constantly faced with the threat of attack. Hackers are frequently updating their methods of attacking to severely damage computers. Advancement in technology has inspired new theories to explain the human immune system. Research in human immunology has proved to be a great competitor of viruses. In this paper we propose a multistage malware detection algorithm inspired by the human immune system. The first stage of the algorithm utilizes the Danger Theory while in the second stage it utilizes the Negative Selection Theory. To study our proposed malware detection system, we use three important performance measurements, namely, execution time, false positives, and false negatives. Our simulation shows the effectiveness of our system that detected malware 100% of the time.
The first five years of the Budapest twin register, 1970-1974.

The Budapest Twin Register recorded 88.6% of the 1739 multiple births that occurred between 1970 and 1974. Of these, 31.2% were male-female pairs. Based on the examination of the placenta (19.8% monochorial) and of genetic markers, 406 pairs proved to be monozygotic and 645 dizygotic. Sex ratio of twins at birth showed a female preponderance (1000 F: 1009 M) in comparison to singletons (1000 F: 1071 M). Average birth weight of the twins was 2101 g. The frequency of stillbirths was about four times higher in twins than in singletons, twice as high in monozygotic than in dizygotic twins, and 2.4 times higher among second than first-born twins.
The ALI Draft Proposal to Bypass the Aggregate Settlement Rule: Do Mass Tort Individual Clients Need (or Want) Group Decision-Making?

The American Law Institute has recently undertaken an entirely new project - Principles of the Law of Aggregate Litigation. The bulk of the project is devoted to class actions; however, a number of sections address various forms of non-class aggregations, and there is an extensive discussion of non-class aggregate settlements, including the controversial "aggregate settlement rule". Rule 1.8(g) of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct limits the lawyer's ability to participate "in making an aggregate settlement of or against the clients" without the informed consent of each client, in which the clients have been advised of "the existence and nature of all the claims or pleas involved and of the participation of each person in the settlement." The ALI Reporters propose to bypass the aggregate settlement rule by creating two exceptions. The first exception applies when the total value of the aggregated claims is more than $5 million and the total number of claimants is 40 or more. In these cases, the proposal allows individual claimants, after consultation with counsel, to agree in advance to be bound to a proposed settlement when 75% of the claimants approve the settlement or, "if the settlement significantly distinguishes among different categories of claimants, a separate 75 [%] vote of each category of claimants" approves the settlement. Limited judicial review is available, but only if the challenge is brought within 90 days, and even then, the settlement will be unenforceable only if the challenger's waiver was not adequately informed or the 75% approval or 40 person/$5 million. The second exception applies when advance client waivers have not been obtained. Here the lawyer may seek approval for the fairness and adequacy of an aggregate settlement, but the proposal provides no guidelines for determining under what circumstances courts should agree to do so. The reporters give two separate reasons for relaxing the aggregate settlement rule. First, they argue that the rule impedes multi-party settlement and is unnecessary to protect clients, given the 75% approval requirement. Second, they argue that waivers of important rights are routinely granted, and there is no reason not to honor such waivers to enable group decision-making. This article challenges the reporters' assumptions and argues in favor of maintaining the status quo. The author argues that the burden is on the reporters to justify change and that they have not met that burden with respect to either of the suggested rationales.
Galago demidovii (Demidoff’s bushbaby)

These karyotypes came from lymphocyte cultures of animals captured in Nigeria and are the gifts of Dr. L.E.M. de Boer, Holland. Two males and one female were studied. Identification of the Y is tentative; it is similar to other small acrocentrics.
Detroit's wealth of ruins

Sociologist Jonathan Jan Benjamin Mijs explores Detroit, the symbol of destructive global forces, and finds agency in a wealth of ruins.
Silk-backed structural optimization of high-density flexible intracortical neural probes

Many chronic neuroscience studies require neural probes that can reliably record with a large number of electrodes in a densely configured array. Previous works have shown that adverse tissue reaction can be significantly reduced as probe shanks are scaled down toward subcellular dimensions. In addition, flexible probes can mitigate shear stress-induced tissue damage due to micromotion. However, both size reduction and flexibility compromise probe's ability to penetrate the pia mater, especially when many electrodes are distributed across multiple probe shanks. In this paper, we present a method to lithographically pattern a biodegradable silk coating that provides temporary mechanical stiffness for the surgical insertion of flexible probes without any conventional design constraints on the probe size, shape, or material. After insertion, the silk is completely dissolved in the tissue, only leaving the flexible minimum-geometry probes inside the brain. We validated the design by successfully inserting silk-backed 64-channel parylene probes into the motor cortex of Long-Evans rats (n = 6) and recorded in vivo neural activity for six weeks.
Interferon-γ-Induced Unfolded Protein Response in Conjunctival Goblet Cells as a Cause of Mucin Deficiency in Sjögren Syndrome.

Goblet cells (GCs) are specialized secretory cells that produce mucins and a variety of other proteins. Significant conjunctival GC loss occurs in both experimental dry eye models and patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca due to the induction of interferon (IFN)-γ. With the use of a primary murine culture model, we found that GCs are highly sensitive to IFN-γ with significantly reduced proliferation and altered structure with low concentrations. GC cultures treated with IFN-γ have increased gene expression of Muc2 and Muc5AC but do not express these mucin glycoproteins. We hypothesized that IFN-γ induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) in GCs. Cultures treated with IFN-γ increased expression of UPR-associated genes and proteins. Increased GRP78 and sXBP1 expression was found in experimental dry eye and Sjogren syndrome models and was GC specific. Increased GRP78 was also found in the conjunctiva of patients with Sjogren syndrome at the gene and protein levels. Treatment with dexamethasone inhibited expression of UPR-associated genes and increased mucin production. These results indicate that induction of UPR by IFN-γ is an important cause of GC-associated mucin deficiency observed in aqueous-deficient dry eye. Therapies to block the effects of IFN-γ on the metabolically active endoplasmic reticulum in these cells might enhance synthesis and secretion of the protective GC mucins on the ocular surface.
Active Fault-Tolerant Control for Electric Vehicles With Independently Driven Rear In-Wheel Motors Against Certain Actuator Faults

An active fault-tolerant control (AFTC) system is proposed in this paper for electric vehicles with independently driven in-wheel motors (IWMs). It comprises a baseline controller, a set of reconfigurable controllers, a fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) mechanism, and a decision mechanism. The baseline controller, which is actually a passive fault-tolerant controller, is applied to accommodate actuator faults and stabilize the faulty vehicle when the actuator fault occurs. After the fault is detected and estimated by the FDD mechanism, a proper reconfigurable controller is switched ON to achieve optimal postfault performance. Taking advantage of the robust gain-scheduling algorithm, the loss-of-effectiveness and additive faults of the IWMs can be accommodated by the baseline controller, and the estimation error of the FDD mechanism can be tolerated by the reconfigurable controllers. The results of simulations in CarSim and vehicle experimental tests show the effectiveness of this AFTC system in dealing with certain IWM faults.
Application of Intersection Method in Test for GSM Software

In GSM software testing there are many combinations of various factors of test scenarios,software test engineer always worries about testing a huge workload,cannot complete the test in the limit project time,thus affecting the software version published,only selected part test cases random will cause lots of defects exposed in client.Using intersection experimental method to guide the design of test case can achieve fewer test cases to a scientific test coverage.It introduces intersection method's origin,basic concept and principle,describes the using in GSM software testing field in detail,and through some concrete examples,verify it can achieve the desired effect.
Intra-annual variation in responses by flying southern pine beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to pheromone component endo-brevicomin

The southern pine beetle Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is attracted to an aggregation pheromone that includes the multifunctional pheromone component endo-brevicomin. The effect of endo-brevicomin on attractive lures varies from strong enhancement to reduction of beetle attraction depending upon release rate, lure component spacing, and proximity of beetle infestations. Anecdotal observations have further suggested that the effects of endo-brevicomin vary during the year. We investigated this possibility under nonoutbreak conditions in southwestern Mississippi where for two-and-a-half years we monitored traps baited with frontalin and the host odor alpha-pinene either (a) alone, or with an endo-brevicomin release device either (b) located directly on the trap, or (c) displaced 6 m away. The endo-brevicomin devices in our tests increased D. frontalis catches during all times of year, and 6 m displacement of the endo-brevicomin release device from the trap did not significantly alter responses except during the spring flight peak when displacement increased catches. Our data suggest that flying D. frontalis have a stronger tendency to avoid the immediate proximity of a release point of endo-brevicomin during their springtime dispersal flight when catches are greatest. Catches of Thanasimus dubius (F.) (Coleoptera: Cleridae), a major predator of D. frontalis, were not altered by endo-brevicomin, and ratios of D. frontalis to T. dubius changed over the course of the year. We discuss the possible effects of intra-annual variation in D. frontalis response to endo-brevicomin both on beetle attack behavior and use of endo-brevicomin as a lure adjuvant in D. frontalis population monitoring.
The Role of Osteoclasts in Early Dissemination of Prostate Cancer Tumor Cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common neoplasms that metastasize to bone. The aim of this study was to determine if osteoclasts play a role in the seeding of disseminated tumor cells to the bone marrow by mobilizing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) out of their marrow niche. Human PC-3Luc cells were introduced into male SCID mice by intracardiac (i.c.) injection after mice were treated with the antiresorptive agent Zoledronic Acid (bisphosphonate (BP)) and/or AMD3100, which mobilizes HSCs out of the marrow. Short term homing of PC-3 was assessed at 24 hours by QPCR for human Alu and luciferase and HSC number was determined by FACS. Mice also received pre and/or post treatments of BP by intraperiteneal (i.p.) injections, in addition to PC-3 luc by intratibial (i.t.) injections. TRAP assays were used to determine the osteoclast (OC) number in both studies. AMD3100 enhanced the release of HSCs from the bone marrow, while BP increased the retention of HSCs. PCa entry into bone was facilitated in AMD3100, BP, and AMD3100+BP treatments. Before PCa injection, the number of TRAP+ OC was increased in mice treated with AMD3100, while treatment with BP resulted in relatively lower TRAP+ OCs. TRAP+ OCs were not detected in the AMD3100 + BP treatment. After PCa injection, however, the number of TRAP+ OCs was dramatically increased, but did not differ significantly amongst the treatment groups. The pre and post BP treatments in the Nude mice decreased the size of PCa lesions in the tibia compared to the control. The results indicate that OC activation is not necessary for PCa metastasis to bone at the earliest stages. These findings are critical in proving that OCs' contribution to metastasis occur during the growth phase of the tumor rather than at the initiation phase.
On the Foundations of the Theory of Non-Linear Viscoelasticity

The implications of various constitutive assumptions of the functional type with respect to material behavior are discussed. The restrictions imposed by invariance of the stress under superposed rigid body rotations are introduced. The implications of continuity assumptions on the constitutive functionals with respect to representations of the latter are discussed.
Treating Veterans for Helicobacter Pylori Infection: Retrospective Evaluation of Long-term Outcomes

Purpose: This study documented the long-term outcomes of patients treated in a pharmacist-managed Helicobacter pylori (HP) clinic. Background: An HP clinic was created in 1996 at a Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. Patientsreceived clarithromycin/amoxicillin-based therapy according to the clinic protocol. Clarithromycin use was restricted to treatment of HP infection. Metronidazole was used instead of amoxicillin in penicillin allergic patients. Results at 1 year showed that 53% of the patients were able to discontinue chronic heartburn therapy. Outcomes beyond 1 year were not established. Methods: The electronic records of patients treated at the HP clinic from June 1996 to March 2001 were evaluated. Patients with at least 2 years of follow-up information were included. Baseline demographic and long-term outcome data were collected. Discontinuation rate, failure rate, and need for retreatment were evaluated. Results: Of 229 patients treated during the period studied, at least 2 years of data was available for 198 individuals. Of these, 177 were men and 21 were women. Three of the 198 patients (1.5%) were unable to complete antibiotic therapy. Five patients (2.5%), two of them women, failed an initial course to eradicate HP. After treatment with bismuth-based therapy, four of these five patients showed documented eradication of infection. Forty-four percent of patients were off chronic therapy at the time of last review. Conclusions: A pharmacist-managed HP treatment clinic can facilitate discontinuation of chronic acid suppressive therapy in more than a third of patients. A low treatment failure rate - below the national average for clarithromycin-based regimens - was found in our population.
As Good as GOLD: Gram–Schmidt Orthogonalization by Another Name

Generalized orthogonal linear derivative (GOLD) estimates were proposed to correct a problem of correlated estimation errors in generalized local linear approximation (GLLA). This paper shows that GOLD estimates are related to GLLA estimates by the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization process. Analytical work suggests that GLLA estimates are derivatives of an approximating polynomial and GOLD estimates are linear combinations of these derivatives. A series of simulation studies then further investigates and tests the analytical properties derived. The first study shows that when approximating or smoothing noisy data, GLLA outperforms GOLD, but when interpolating noisy data GOLD outperforms GLLA. The second study shows that when data are not noisy, GLLA always outperforms GOLD in terms of derivative estimation. Thus, when data can be smoothed or are not noisy, GLLA is preferred whereas when they cannot then GOLD is preferred. The last studies show situations where GOLD can produce biased estimates. In spite of these possible shortcomings of GOLD to produce accurate and unbiased estimates, GOLD may still provide adequate or improved model estimation because of its orthogonal error structure. However, GOLD should not be used purely for derivative estimation because the error covariance structure is irrelevant in this case. Future research should attempt to find orthogonal polynomial derivative estimators that produce accurate and unbiased derivatives with an orthogonal error structure.
Isolating Spermathecae and Determining Mating Status of Drosophila suzukii: A Protocol for Tissue Dissection and Its Applications

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an emerging invasive pest, which attacks a wide variety of fruits and berries. Although previous studies have focused on different aspects of D. suzukii reproductive biology, there are no protocols available for determining the mating status of D. suzukii females and drosophilids in general. In this study, a step-by-step protocol for tissue dissection, isolating spermathecae, and determining the mating status of females was developed specifically for D. suzukii. This protocol is an effective and relatively quick method for determining female mating status. It has important applications from exploring reproductive output of D. suzukii females to understanding the biology of D. suzukii winter morph, which presumably plays the main role in the overwintering of this invasive species. We demonstrated applicability of this protocol for both field collected flies and flies reared in the lab, including fly specimens stored on a long-term basis.
Plasma waves in Jupiter's high-latitude regions: Observations from the Juno spacecraft

The Juno Waves instrument detected a new broadband plasma wave emission (~50 Hz to 40 kHz) on 27 August 2016 as the spacecraft passed over the low-altitude polar regions of Jupiter. We investigated the characteristics of this emission and found similarities to whistler mode auroral hiss observed at Earth, including a funnel-shaped frequency-time feature. The electron cyclotron frequency is much higher than both the emission frequency and local plasma frequency, which is assumed to be ~20–40 kHz. The E/cB ratio was about three near the start of the event and then decreased to one for the rest of the period. A correlation of the electric field spectral density with the flux of an upgoing 20 to 800 keV electron beam was found, with a correlation coefficient of 0.59. We conclude that the emission is propagating in the whistler mode and is driven by the energetic upgoing electron beam.
Abstract 3314: The Role of Bridging with Intravenous Thrombolysis in Endovascular Therapy of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Large vessel occlusions with a high clot burden are less likely to improve with the FDA-approved IV strategy. Endovascular therapy within the first 3 h of stroke symptom onset provides an effective alternative treatment in patients with large vessel occlusion. It is not clear if combination of IV thrombolysis and endovascular approach is superior to endovascular treatment alone. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion treated within the first 3 h stroke onset during the 2005-2010 period. First group received endovascular therapy within the first 3 h of stroke onset. Second group consisted of patients who received IV thrombolysis within the first 3 h followed by endovascular therapy. We compared the following outcomes: revascularization rates, NIHSS score at discharge, mRS at discharge and 3months, symptomatic hemorrhage rates and mortality. Results: Among 104 patients identified, 42 received combined therapy, and 62 received endovascular therapy only. The two groups had similar demographic (age and sex distribution) and vascular risk factors distribution, as well as NIHSS score on admission (14.8±4.7 and 16.0±5.3; p=0.23). We found no difference in TIMI recanalization rates (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction scale score of 2 or 3) following combined or endovascular therapy alone (83.3% and 79.0%; p=0.59). A preferred outcome, defined as a mRS of 2 or less at 90 days also did not differ between the combined therapy group and the endovascular only group (37.5% and 34.5%; p=0.76). There was no difference in mortality rate (22.5% and 31.0%; p=0.36) and the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (9.5% and 8.1%; p=0.73). There was a significant difference in mean time from symptom onset to endovascular treatment between the combined group (227±88 min) and endovascular only group (125±40 min; p Conclusion: Combining IV thrombolysis and endovascular therapy achieves similar rates of clinical outcomes, revascularization rates, complications and mortality rates, when compared with endovascular treatment alone. The combined therapy, however, significantly delays initiation of endovascular treatment. A randomized prospective trial comparing both treatment strategies in acute ischemic stroke is warranted
Genetic stability of Rift Valley fever virus MP-12 vaccine during serial passages in culture cells.

Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease endemic to Africa, which affects both ruminants and humans. Rift Valley fever causes serious damage to the livestock industry and is also a threat to public health. The Rift Valley fever virus has a segmented negative-stranded RNA genome consisting of Large (L)-segment, Medium (M)-segment, and Small (S)-segment. The live-attenuated MP-12 vaccine is immunogenic in livestock and humans, and is conditionally licensed for veterinary use in the US. The MP-12 strain encodes 23 mutations (nine amino acid substitutions) and is attenuated through a combination of mutations in the L-segment, M-segment, and S-segment. Among them, the M-U795C, M-A3564G, and L-G3104A mutations contribute to viral attenuation through the L-segment and M-segment. The M-U795C, M-A3564G, L-U533C, and L-G3750A mutations are also independently responsible for temperature-sensitive phenotype. We hypothesized that a serial passage of the MP-12 vaccine in culture cells causes reversions of the MP-12 genome. The MP-12 vaccine and recombinant rMP12-ΔNSs16/198 were serially passaged 25 times. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the reversion occurred at L-G3750A during passages of MP-12 in Vero or MRC-5 cells. The reversion also occurred at M-A3564G and L-U533C of rMP12-ΔNSs16/198 in Vero cells. Reversion mutations were not found in MP-12 or the variant, rMP12-TOSNSs, in the brains of mice with encephalitis. This study characterized genetic stability of the MP-12 vaccine and the potential risk of reversion mutation at the L-G3750A temperature-sensitive mutation after excessive viral passages in culture cells.
Chapter 21 – The Bunyaviridae

The Bunyaviridae is a large and diverse family of viruses whose members infect a wide range of arthropod vectors and animal or plant hosts. Bunyaviruses are distributed worldwide and their promiscuous use of an impressive variety of arthropod vectors amplifies the potential for bunyaviruses to increase their prevalence and geographic range given the right environmental or man-made conditions. Most bunyavirus infections are asymptomatic or present with a mild influenza-like illness. However, some members of the family are important human and veterinary pathogens that are the causative agents of devastating illnesses, including hemorrhagic fever, pulmonary disease, congenital abnormalities, and fatal encephalitis. In this chapter, we discuss the epidemiology, lifecycle, molecular biology, neuropathogenesis, and prevention and treatment strategies for emerging bunyaviruses that are predominantly associated with central nervous disease; these include members of the genera Phlebovirus (Rift Valley fever virus and Toscana virus) and Orthobunyavirus (La Crosse virus and Cache Valley virus).
Experimental and theoretical study of topology and electronic correlations in PuB 4

We synthesize single crystals of ${\mathrm{PuB}}_{4}$ using an Al-flux technique. Single-crystal diffraction data provide structural parameters for first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By computing the density of states, the ${Z}_{2}$ topological invariant using the Wilson loop method, and the surface electronic structure from slab calculations, we find that ${\mathrm{PuB}}_{4}$ is a nonmagnetic strong topological insulator with a band gap of 254 meV. Our magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and resistivity measurements are consistent with this analysis, albeit with a smaller gap of 35 meV. DFT plus dynamical mean-field theory calculations show that electronic correlations reduce the size of the band gap, and provide better agreement with the value determined by resistivity. These results demonstrate that ${\mathrm{PuB}}_{4}$ is a promising actinide material to investigate the interplay of electronic correlations and nontrivial topology.
Interviewing and Report Writing

The interview is probably the most widely used assessment procedure, regardless of one’s theoretical orientation (Haynes, 1978: Linehan, 1977; Morganstern, 1976; Swan & MacDonald, 1978), and it is typically the first contact one has with clients and the significant individuals in their environment (Atkeson & Forehand, 1981). The content and standardization of questions, the general style of inquiry, and the way in which one interprets the obtained information frequently vary with the theoretical orientation of the interviewer. Regardless of the orientation of the interviewer, the interview influences the client’s behavior and the consequent analysis and intervention that is based on the information obtained by the interviewer (Haynes, 1978). In short, the interview is the first critical link in the therapeutic process.
Abstract 774: Gene-Environment Regulatory Circuit of Right Ventricular Pathology in Cyanotic Congenital Heart Defects

Introduction: The phenotypic spectrum of congenital heart defects (CHDs) is contributed by both genetic and environmental factors. Their contributions are profoundly heterogeneous but may operate o...
The influence of correctional education, skill proficiency, and lifelong learning on social outcomes of incarcerated individuals: Results from PIAAC

Abstract A rich body of scientific research suggests a positive relationship between education and social and political engagement. Active social engagement is important for incarcerated individuals if they are to successfully reintegrate into communities and desist from further involvement in crime. While a plethora of research has focused on the importance of correctional education, the extent of association between other forms of human capital such as cognitive skills and adult lifelong learning is unclear. The current study utilized data from the U.S. PIAAC Prison Study (2014) to explore the relationship between educational attainment, adult cognitive skill proficiency, lifelong learning, and social outcomes among incarcerated individuals. At least one of the three types of human capital variables included was found to be positively and significantly related to the three social outcomes of political efficacy, interpersonal trust, and health perception, even after controlling for the other two human capital variables and a number of demographics, demonstrating that each has its own, distinct contribution to social outcomes. Policy implications regarding these findings are discussed.
Power injector for angiographic flow analysis using custom contrast density profiles

Catheter-based vascular interventions performed in the interventional radiology suite rely heavily on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for intraprocedural evaluation of vessel morphology. Recently, DSA methods have been reported which quantify blood flow based on the tracking of temporal oscillations in contrast agent density through vessels. This signal, termed contrast pulsatility, arises naturally from the mixing of a fixed rate contrast injection with periodic arterial blood flow. Although these tools promise quantitative intraprocedural evaluation of flow, quantification is limited by a decline in contrast pulsatility strength in distal arterial vasculature, and, in venous structures, minimally observable or no pulsatility. To improve pulsatility strength in DSA images, a custom dual-barrel power injector was constructed that dynamically modulates the injected contrast flow (or concentration). Each barrel can follow sinusoidal and square wave injection profiles of specified frequency, amplitude, phase, and duty cycle. Improvement in contrast pulsatility was evaluated in a vessel phantom with simulated 60 bpm arterial flow and low-frequency sinusoidal contrast injections of 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0Hz. The ability to establish contrast pulsatility in a venous structure was evaluated in a porcine study. In the arterial phantom, sinusoidal contrast injections at 0.25Hz, 0.5Hz, and 1.0Hz displayed increased distal contrast pulsatility relative to a DC contrast injection at the same mean rate, with energy spectral density (ESD) ratios of 215, 59.9, and 5.3 respectively. In the animal study, a custom 0.67Hz square wave injection into the inferior vena cava showed a large improvement in pulsatility relative to DC injection (ESD ratio of 7208).
Opioid abuse surveillance in patients with endocarditis

Abstract Background Opioid abuse is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and injection drug use (IDU) is a common form of opioid abuse. IDU is a major risk factor for infections including infective endocarditis (IE). Objectives To determine the prevalence of opioid abuse among patients with IE in both patient problem lists and diagnostic codes and describe underlying patient characteristics. Methods A retrospective chart review from 1-1–2010 to 11-19-2018 of a large academic medical center's patients with documented IE was performed. Demographic, comorbidity, opioid prescription data and records of drug abuse in both the patient's problem list and ICD9/10 codes were recorded. Results Of the 796 patients with documented IE, 105 patients (13.2%) had opioid abuse or related IDU in their problem list, but only 22 received an ICD-9/10 code associated with drug abuse. IE patients with opioid abuse were generally younger (43.6 vs 61.7 years [P Conclusions Opioid abuse and IDU are commonly recorded in the problem list of patients with IE, but opioid abuse is frequently not listed as a diagnosis in administrative billing codes.