cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asbestos, an extrinsic factor in the pathogenesis of bronchogenic carcinoma and mesothelioma

In 55 asbestos textile workers who had pathologically proven asbestosis, 28 malignant neoplasms were found—23 bronchogenic carcinomas and 5 mesotheliomas of peritoneum or pleura. Of the 28 patients with neoplasms, 26 had been exposed to asbestos dust before 1936; the medium total occupational exposure was 20 years. The interval from initial exposure until the recognition of the neoplasms varied from 20 to 40 years. Thirteen of the individuals no longer were employed in the industry when evidence of the neoplasms appeared. The primary anatomical site of the carcinomas was in the lower lobes of the lungs in 22 patients and in one instance was multicentric in origin. In the morphologic classification of the neoplasms, 10 were the squamous cell variety; 7 were anaplastic; 5 were adenocarcinoma and one was bronchiolar. The frequent association of pulmonary asbestosis with bronchogenic carcinoma (42%) and mesothelioma (8%), as seen in this study, lends further support to the opinion that asbestos is a carcinogen in susceptible individuals after critical exposure in the textile phase of the industry.
Heterochromatin: condense or excise

In eukaryotes, condensing chromosomal DNA into heterochromatin is important for gene silencing and proper chromosome segregation. A recent study suggests a function for heterochromatin in protecting highly repeated genes and satellite DNA against excision caused by recombination or by joining of free DNA ends following DNA damage.
Kinetic processes in Ar-Kr- F 2 laser mixtures

Time-dependent fluorescence measurements were made on Ar-${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Kr-${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, and Ar-Kr-${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ mixtures excited by a short-pulse, low-current electron beam excitation in pressure ranges appropriate for rare-gas-halide lasers. A kinetic model was assembled that correctly analyzes integrated intensities and time dependences of the various emission bands of ArF*, ${\mathrm{Ar}}_{2}$F*, KrF*, and ${\mathrm{Kr}}_{2}$F*. We present the structure of the model and several revised rate coefficients obtained from it. The model also fits other published experimental data and agrees well with KrF laser pulse shapes and efficiencies. Cross sections for electron-impact dissociative excitation of ${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, which were obtained from analysis of published data, are also presented.
Stability, causality, and hyperbolicity in Carter's "regular" theory of relativistic heat-conducting fluids.

Stability and causality are studied for linear perturbations about equilibrium in Carter's regular'' theory of relativistic heat-conducting fluids. The regular'' theory, when linearized around an equilibrium state having vanishing expansion and shear, is shown to be equivalent to the inviscid limit of the linearized Israel-Stewart theory of relativistic dissipative fluids for a particular choice of the second-order coefficients {beta}{sub 1} and {gamma}{sub 2}. A set of stability conditions is determined for linear perturbations of a general inviscid Israel-Stewart fluid using a monotonically decreasing energy functional. It is shown that, as in the viscous case, stability implies that the characteristic velocities are subluminal and that perturbations obey hyperbolic equations. The converse theorem is also true. We then apply this analysis to a nonrelativistic Boltzmann gas and to a strongly degenerate free Fermi gas in the regular'' theory. Carter's regular'' theory is shown to be incapable of correctly describing the nonrelativistic Boltzmann gas and the degenerate Fermi gas (at all temperatures).
Robustness of coarse graining spectral analysis in estimating frequency and Hurst exponent from mixed time series with harmonic and fractal components

Abstract While several methods have been developed to estimate the Hurst exponent H for self-affine signals, they are not sufficiently accurate when the signal has a large harmonic component. Similarly, the frequency of harmonic components cannot be estimated accurately from signals which have an underlying power-law spectrum. Coarse graining spectral analysis (CGSA) has been suggested to be capable of separating random fractals from harmonic components. In this paper, we assess the robustness and effectiveness of the CGSA method and find that it is best suited for separating harmonic and fractal components from mixed time series with low-frequency harmonics and long-term positive correlations.
An experimental study of video conferencing over the Internet

Examines the feasibility of conducting a video conference over the Internet. For the study the authors transmitted packets at a fixed rate between two nodes. The question examined is how to determine the correct playout rate and the initial buffering required to ensure a 'good' reception. Two different algorithms to determine the playout rate are proposed and the authors examine their behavior using five different data sets that were collected at different times. The results indicate that the playout rate should be slower (by a fraction) than the packet generation rate and that, surprisingly, the initial prebuffering is irrelevant.
Historical trends of survival among widows and widowers

One of the most consistent findings in social demography is that recently widowed individuals, male or female, have higher rates of mortality than comparable married persons. These results are based generally on contemporary studies in developed nations where life expectancy is high. Because of data limitations, there are few studies available to determine whether these findings also occur when mortality rates were higher. This study uses the Utah Population Database that was developed from extensive family genealogies and now linked to Utah death certificates. These data make it possible to employ life course analysis of four marriage cohorts extending from 1860 through 1904 with mortality follow-up to 1990. This approach is used to compare mortality risks of widowed males and females relative to comparable married individuals. Covariates included in the study are remarriage, as well as religion and number of children ever born; these are all hypothesized to have protective effects on mortality risks for widowed men and women. Analysis of these data indicates that there are significant differences in the mortality risk for widowed men and women, and it is widowed men who have an excess risk of dying in every cohort and nearly every age. A consistent pattern of excess mortality in the comparison of married and widowed women was not observed. There are significant female and male differences in the effect of religion which was treated as a proxy for life style and social support; however, remarriage as a proxy for social support has similar protective effects on the surviving spouse.
EFFLUX OF ENDOGENOUS PROTEIN FROM NON‐MYELINATED OLFACTORY NERVE AS MONITORED BY TRYPTOPHAN FLUORESCENCE

Endogenous protein was lost from the olfactory nerve of the garfish (Lepisosteus osseus) when the excised but excitable nerve was bathed with normal physiological solution. The protein could be detected by its fluorescence at 340 nm when excited at 280 nm. The relative concentrations were expressed in terms of an equivalent fluorescence from a standard solution of tryptophan. From an initial fluorescence, equivalent to 5 × 10−10 mol of tryptophan/mg of nerve washed out during each 10 min, the efflux may decline slowly in rate to 10−11 mol/mg per 10 min. Depolarizing direct current or a several-fold increase of the concentration of KCl in the bathing solution might transiently double the rate of efflux above the resting rate during continuous monitoring of the fluorescence intensity. Changes in concentrations of external KCl, glucose or sucrose, in ionic strength (at constant osmolality), or in osmolality all produced a transient increase of fluorescence in the effluent from the nerve. An increase followed both introduction of the experimental solution and the return to the control solution. We interpreted the increase in intensity of fluorescence of the washout solution to indicate an increase in concentration of an intrinsic specific protein washed from the nerve. By electrophoresis, a single acidic fluorescent protein band was observed travelling with the marking dye. Chromatographic fractionation on Sephadex suggested a mol. wt. in excess of 100,000.
Noun Phrase Elaboration in Children's Spoken Stories

Purpose One feature of literate language, noun phrase elaboration, was examined in the oral fictional narratives of school-aged children. Method Two narratives were elicited from 5-, 8- and 11-year...
Amino acid specificity in translation

Recent structural and biochemical experiments indicate that bacterial elongation factor Tu and the ribosomal A-site show specificity for both the amino acid and the tRNA portions of their aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) substrates. These data are inconsistent with the traditional view that tRNAs are generic adaptors in translation. We hypothesize that each tRNA sequence has co-evolved with its cognate amino acid, such that all aa-tRNAs are translated uniformly.
The effect of genetic variation in chemokines and their receptors on HIV transmission and progression to AIDS

The pivotal discovery that two chemokine receptors, CCR5 and CXCR4, serve along with the T-cell receptor-interacting CD4 molecule as the principal co-receptors for HIV-1 entry stimulated a search for common genetic polymorphism in their genes which might affect the course of AIDS. Four mutational variants, CCR5-delta32, CCR5-P1, CCR2-641 and SDF1-3'A were discovered to play a regulatory role in HIV-1 infection, in the rate of progression to AIDS or both. Plausible physiological mechanisms to explain the population genetic association by these alleles have been advanced and are discussed critically here. Genetic ablation of AIDS progression by chemokine receptor and ligand gene variants has catalyzed development of novel therapies targeting the virus-co-receptor interaction. The functional and therapeutic implications of these AIDS restriction genes for disease progression and intervention are explored in this review.
Changes in α7β1 integrin signaling after eccentric exercise in heat-shocked rat soleus

Introduction α7β1 integrin links the extracellular matrix to the focal adhesion (FA) in skeletal muscle and serves as a stabilizing and signal relayer. Heat shock (HS) induces expression of proteins that interact with the FA. Methods Male Wistar rats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: control (CON); eccentric exercise (EE); or EE+HS (HS). Soleus muscle was analyzed at 2 h and 48 h post-exercise. Results The 120-kDa α7 integrin decreased in the EE and HS groups, and the 70-kDa peptide decreased in the EE group at 2 h post-exercise. Total expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and RhoA were decreased in EE and HS at 2 h post-exercise. Expression of phosphorylated FAK397 decreased in the EE group but not the HS group at 2 h post-exercise. Conclusions Long-duration EE may cause alterations in the FA in rat soleus muscle through the α7 integrin subunit and FAK. Muscle Nerve 51: 562–568, 2015
Role of plant pathology in integrated pest management.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a paradigm that is widely adopted by all pest control disciplines but whose early definitions and philosophical basis belong to entomologists. Plant pathology research and extension work has historically emphasized integration of several control strategies and fits both historical and modern definitions of IPM. While the term IPM has been used only sparingly in the phytopathology literature, the integrated disease management strategies emphasized are now considered to be at the forefront of ecologically based or biointensive pest management. While IPM is broadly endorsed by crop protection disciplines, farmers, other agriculturalists, and consumers, the potential for Integrated Pest Management has not been fully realized. Most IPM programs reflect a package of tools and decision aids for individual crop insect, weed, nematode, and plant disease management. IPM programs that integrate all types of pests with the agroecosystem, crop growth and loss models still await the formation of interdisciplinary teams focusing on growers needs. Lack of funding for both discipline and interdisciplinary developmental research and implementation is responsible for the paucity of comprehensive IPM programs for the majority of the U.S. crop acreage. This review explores the origins and evolution of the IPM paradigm and reviews efforts to achieve the body of knowledge and implementation structure to achieve IPM's full potential.
Performance of Adaptive MIMO System Based on Beam-Nulling

In this paper, "beam-nulling" is proposed to send signals over a generated subspace orthogonal to the weakest spatial subchannel fed back from the receiver. Signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of MMSE receiver is derived for beam-nulling. Then the associated average bit-error rate (BER) of beam-nulling is given numerically and verified by simulation results. Simulation results are provided to compare beam-nulling with beamforming at the same data rate. To improve performance further, beam-nulling is concatenated with linear dispersion code. Simulation results are also provided to compare the concatenated scheme with beamforming.
Aortic Arch Curvature and Atherosclerosis Have Overlapping Quantitative Trait Loci in a Cross Between 129S6/SvEvTac and C57BL/6J Apolipoprotein E–Null Mice

Rationale: Apolipoprotein E-null mice with a 129S6/SvEvTac strain background (129-apoE) develop atherosclerotic plaques faster in the aortic arch but slower in the aortic root than those with a C57BL/6J background (B6-apoE). The shape of the aortic arch also differs in the 2 strains. Objective: Because circulating plasma factors are the same at both locations, we tested the hypothesis that genetic factors affecting vascular geometry also affect the location and extent of atherosclerotic plaque development. Methods and Results: Tests on the F2 progeny from a cross between 129-apoE-null and B6-apoE-null mice showed that the extent of atherosclerosis in the aortic arch is significantly correlated in males, but not in females, with the shape of arch curvature ( r =0.34, P r =0.20, P =0.02). Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis identified 2 significant peaks for aortic arch lesion size on chromosome 1 (105 Mb, LOD=5.0, and 163 Mb, LOD=6.8), and a suggestive QTL on chromosome 15 (96 Mb, LOD=4.7). A significant QTL for aortic root lesion size was on chromosome 9 (61 Mb, LOD=6.9), but it was distinct from the QTLs for arch lesion size. Remarkably, the QTLs for susceptibility to atherosclerosis in the arch overlapped with a significant QTL that affects curvature of the arch on chromosome 1 (121 Mb, LOD=5.6) and a suggestive QTL on chromosome 15 (76 Mb, LOD=3.5). Conclusions: The overlapping QTLs for curvature of the aortic arch and atherosclerosis support that the ontogeny of the aortic arch formation is a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis.
A new Deep Space Network for the next century

NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) is responsible for providing communications, tracking, and science services to most of the world's non-geostationary spacecraft that travel beyond low Earth orbit. Changes occurring to the DSN's customers are forcing the DSN to change substantially. Spacecraft tracked by the DSN are becoming smaller and cheaper, while still requiring significant science returns. This places increased demands on the DSN to adopt new technologies and improve the quality of the services it provides. Some of these technologies include beam waveguide antennas, Ka-band communications, cooled HEMT amplifiers, adaptive microwave optics, new error correcting codes, and ultra-stable ionic frequency standards. At the same time, budget constraints from NASA have resulted in a significant decrease in funds spent on mission operations-including the DSN. This means the DSN must adopt all this new technology while halving the average cost for each tracking hour it provides. The DSN will achieve this increase in efficiency by a complete reengineering of its operations processes-redefining operations jobs and taking advantage of advances in information systems technology and automation. This paper describes both the new technologies and new operations concepts that, together, will allow the DSN to continue its leadership in deep space communications and tracking.
The Effects of Crisis Response Strategies on Relationship Quality Outcomes

This study investigated the effects of crisis response strategies on the attribution of an organization’s crisis responsibilities and relationship quality outcomes and determined the linkages among...
Glycemic control in non-critically ill hospitalized patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effect of intensive therapy to achieve tight glycemic control in patients hospitalized in non-critical care settings is unclear. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of intensive glycemic control strategies on the outcomes of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, incidence of infection, and hypoglycemia. We included randomized and observational studies. Bibliographic databases were searched through February 2010. Random effects model was used to pool results across studies. Results: Nineteen studies (nine randomized and 10 observational studies) were included. The risk of bias across studies was moderate. Meta-analysis demonstrates that intensive glycemic control was not associated with significant effect on the risk of death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. There was a trend for increased risk of hypoglycemia (relative risk, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.97–2.57), particularly in surgical studies and when the planned glycemic target was ...
Submillisecond mixing in a continuous-flow, microfluidic mixer utilizing mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging detection

We report a continuous-flow, microfluidic mixer utilizing mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging detection, with an experimentally determined, submillisecond mixing time. The simple and robust mixer design has the microfluidic channels cut through a polymer spacer that is sandwiched between two IR transparent windows. The mixer hydrodynamically focuses the sample stream with two side flow channels, squeezing it into a thin jet and initiating mixing through diffusion and advection. The detection system generates a mid-infrared hyperspectral absorbance image of the microfluidic sample stream. Calibration of the hyperspectral image yields the mid-IR absorbance spectrum of the sample versus time. A mixing time of 269 μs was measured for a pD jump from 3.2 to above 4.5 in a D2O sample solution of adenosine monophosphate (AMP), which acts as an infrared pD indicator. The mixer was further characterized by comparing experimental results with a simulation of the mixing of an H2O sample stream with a D2O sheath flow, showing good agreement between the two. The IR microfluidic mixer eliminates the need for fluorescence labeling of proteins with bulky, interfering dyes, because it uses the intrinsic IR absorbance of the molecules of interest, and the structural specificity of IR spectroscopy to follow specific chemical changes such as the protonation state of AMP.
Aliasing probability calculations for arbitrary compaction under independently selected random test vectors

This paper discusses a systematic methodology for calculating the exact aliasing probability associated with schemes that use an arbitrary finite-state machine to compact the response of a combinational circuit to a sequence of independently selected, random test input vectors. The proposed approach identifies the strong influence of fault activation probabilities on the probability of aliasing and uses an asymmetric error model to simultaneously track the states of two (fictitious) compactors, one driven by the response of the fault-free combinational circuit and one driven by the response of the faulty combinational circuit. By deriving the overall Markov chain that describes the combined behavior of these two compactors, we are able to calculate the exact aliasing probability for any test sequence length. In particular, for long enough sequences, the probability of aliasing is shown to only depend on the stationary distribution of the Markov chain. The insights provided by our analysis are used to evaluate the testing performance of simple examples of nonlinear compactors and to demonstrate regimes where they exhibit lower aliasing probability than linear compactors with the same number of states. Finally, by establishing connections with previous work that evaluated aliasing probability in linear compactors, our analysis clarifies the role played by the entropy of the stationary distribution of the compactor states.
Temporal characteristics and incidence of photorefractoriness in turkey hens.

Abstract We conducted experiments to determine the incidence and temporal components of photorefractoriness (PR) in first-year turkey breeder hens after photostimulation. In turkey hens, PR may be defined as a lack of responsiveness to photoperiods that previously induced or maintained egg production and is characterized by a spontaneous cessation of lay, usually followed by molt, as well as an absence of nesting behavior. In one experiment, groups of hens were photostimulated with 18 h of light (L):6 h darkness (D) for 12, 16, 19, or 22 wk and then were exposed to 13L:11D photoperiods to induce a change in egg laying that allowed an evaluation of the photoresponsive state of each group of hens. In two other experiments individual hens were photostimulated continuously with 16L:8D for 24 or 45 wk, and the onset of PR was evaluated by the spontaneous cessation of lay. Data were collected for time to onset of PR, percentage incidence, duration of PR, and the time required for the transition from the photosensitive to the PR state. The earliest onset of PR occurred 7 wk after photostimulation, and the mean onset occurred at about 18 wk of photostimulation. Hens that expressed PR did so within an 18-wk period ending at 25 wk of photostimulation, but not all of these first-year hens expressed PR. Incidence of PR was variable at 59 and 89% in Experiments 2 and 3, respectively. The transition from a photosensitive state to an overt PR state, and therefore a laying to nonlaying state, occurred abruptly within a 2-wk period. Photorefractoriness was permanent during 45 wk of photostimulation for 11% of the PR hens. In the remaining 89% of hens, PR persisted for at least 14 wk (mean of 20.0+/-0.9) but it was not permanent, because they subsequently spontaneously recrudesced. That is, they spontaneously terminated PR. It was concluded that most, but not all, first-year turkey hens become PR and that the incidence is highly variable; PR may be relative or absolute, and absolute PR occurs abruptly but with a highly variable onset time. In most hens, PR is not permanent.
Partially coherent DS-SS performance in frequency selective multipath fading

The bit-error rate (BER) performance of a direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) signal, operating over a multipath Rayleigh fading channel, is investigated when corrupted by phase noise as well as additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The phase noise arises from phase locked loop (PLL) dynamics and results in imperfect receiver phase estimates whereby the phase errors assume Tikhonov densities. The phase estimates are used by a multipath-combining RAKE receiver for demodulation. Approximate upper-bounds on the bit error probability are obtained and evaluated for different combinations of channel parameters and for various values of the average loop signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Results indicate that for a PLL with loop SNR 10 dB above the system E/sub b///spl eta//sub 0/, the degradation is less than 3 dB, and for a loop SNR of 20 dB above E/sub b///spl eta//sub 0/, the degradation is less than 1 dB.
Precision and Rhetoric in Media Reporting About Contamination in Farmed Salmon

This study examined how health risks and benefits are presented in newsprint stories about contamination in farmed salmon. Following recent research, the quality of information was captured as the level of numerical and contextual precision. The authors supplemented and critiqued this analysis with an examination of rhetorical markers of certainty and magnitude. In a census of 83 stories focusing on two research studies, most statements presented information in a qualitative format, deemed to be the least informative for readers, although most stories contained a limited amount of high-precision information, generally as guidelines for consumers. However, journalists’ rhetorical practices conveyed conflicting interpretations of the same data, leading to inconclusive messages about risks and benefits. Even highly precise numeric data were often presented in ways that were likely to confuse readers. Results illustrate a need to go beyond analyzing precision levels when studying how the media present scienti...
Climate and health in Florida: Changes in risks of annual maximum temperatures in the second half of the twentieth century

Spatial patterns of changes in the probability, or risks, of annual maximum temperatures over Florida during the second half of the 20th century are examined using a high resolution daily maximum temperature dataset of 833 grid cells. An Annual Maximum Series (AMS) coupled with Extreme Value Theory approach is applied to analyze changes in probabilities of annual maximum temperatures with a focus on the highest third tercile of all annual maximum temperatures during the time period. Three parameters are estimated from the data contained within each grid cell 1) location parameter which is closely related to mean and median, 2) scale parameter which is closely related to variance, and 3) shape parameter which is closely related to skew. The data are then divided into the periods 1949e1974 and 1975e2000 and changes in each of the parameters are mapped. Considerable spatial variability with respect to changes in parameters is found across the state. Much of the state exhibits a decline in both the value of the location and scale parameters with the exception of the southern portion and areas on the Gulf coast in the Panhandle and peninsular Florida. Almost all of the state shows an increase in skew. The Generalized Extreme Value distribution can be used to estimate the probabilities of experiencing particular temperatures or in computing a temperature associated with a certain risk or return period of interest. A simple non-parametric test of significance is carried out to detect changes in the number of annual maxima falling in the upper and lower terciles of events during the first and second halves of the record.
A propagation model for HF radiowave systems

A propagation model for HF radiowave systems is presented. The model is based on an efficient 2D ray tracing algorithm and an ionosphere that is derived from well known models such as IRI and FAIM. Calculations of Doppler shift, Doppler spread and signal loss are included to allow for a wide variety of uses. Some sample applications are included. >
A New Paradigm for Environmental Geochemistry

Kuhn (1970) noted that during the evolution of a scientific discipline major changes in thinking occur at irregular intervals. He called such changes “paradigms.” In this chapter landscape geochemistry is viewed as a new paradigm for environmental geochemistry. But before it is described from this viewpoint, let us outline briefly the evolution of thinking and action in geochemistry since the turn of the century.
Impact of distributed generators in the power loss and voltage profile of three phase unbalanced distribution network

Abstract In this paper, using particle swarm optimization (PSO) based method is developed to determine the optimal allocation of distributed generators (DGS) on a multi phased unbalanced distribution network. PSO algorithm has been programmed in MATLAB using open source software called OpenDSS in a co-simulation environment to solve the unbalanced three-phase optimal power flow (TOPF) and to find the optimal location and sizing of different types of distributed generators. Using the IEEE 123 node distribution feeder as a test bed, results from the proposed method is compared to those from the repeated load flow (RLF) method. For a realistic study, mixes of all type of DGs are considered. Results indicate that integrating optimally sized DGs at the optimal locations not only reduces the total power loss in the distributed system but improves the voltage profile as well.
The pieces fit: Constituent structure and global coherence of visual narrative in RSVP

Recent research has shown that comprehension of visual narrative relies on the ordering and timing of sequential images. Here we tested if rapidly presented 6-image long visual sequences could be understood as coherent narratives. Half of the sequences were correctly ordered and half had two of the four internal panels switched. Participants reported whether the sequence was correctly ordered and rated its coherence. Accuracy in detecting a switch increased when panels were presented for 1 s rather than 0.5 s. Doubling the duration of the first panel did not affect results. When two switched panels were further apart, order was discriminated more accurately and coherence ratings were low, revealing that a strong local adjacency effect influenced order and coherence judgments. Switched panels at constituent boundaries or within constituents were most disruptive to order discrimination, indicating that the preservation of constituent structure is critical to visual narrative grammar.
Characterizing the Impact of Extreme Heat on Mortality, Karachi, Pakistan, June 2015.

Introduction Karachi, Pakistan was affected by a heat wave in June 2015 during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Many media reports attributed the excess deaths in part to the practice of daylight fasting during Ramadan. As much of the published research reports on heat-related mortality in Europe and the United States, an exploration of the effects of extreme heat on residents of a South Asian mega-city address a gap in current disaster research. Hypothesis/Problem This report investigated potential risk factors for excess mortality associated with the June 2015 heat wave in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods Data were obtained through manual review of death certificates at public hospitals and private clinics in Karachi, Pakistan, conducted from July 1 through July 31, 2015 by a trained physician. Demographic data for any deaths with a primary cause of death of heat-related illness were recorded in Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp.; Redmond, Washington USA). EpiSheet (2012; Rothman. Modern Epidemiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA) was used to calculate risk differences (RD), rate ratios (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results Overall, residents of Karachi were approximately 17 times as likely to die of a heat-related cause of death during June 2015 (RR=17.68; 95% CI, 13.87-22.53) when compared with the reference period of June 2014. Residents with a monthly income lower than 20,000 Pakistani Rupees (US $196; RD=0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.05) and those with less than a fifth grade education (RD=0.03; 95% CI, 0.00-0.05) were at significantly higher risk of death during the 2015 heat wave compared to the reference period. Conclusion Fasting during Ramadan was not a significant risk factor for mortality from heat-related causes during the Karachi heat wave of June 2015. A large number of excess deaths were reported across all demographic groups, which due to the burden of record keeping in an under-resourced health system during a public health emergency, are almost certainly an underestimate. Ghumman U , Horney J . Characterizing the Impact of Extreme Heat on Mortality, Karachi, Pakistan, June 2015. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(3):263–266.
Determination of Inorganic Arsenic in Seaweed Food Under Different Extraction Conditions by Hydrid Generation-atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

Objective To understand the content of inorganic arsenic in seaweed food under different extraction conditions.Methods Inorganic arsenic from kelp and laver was extracted under different time and temperature by different concentrations of hydrochloric acid,and determined by hydrid generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Results The content of inorganic arsenic in seaweed food was increasing in accordance with the increase of temperature,time and concentrations of hydrochloric acid.Temperature was the most prominent influential factor.Inorganic arsenic in seaweed samples was in reasonable range with 6.0M HCl extraction for 18 hours at 40℃,and the recovery rate was 94.9%-105.4%.Conclusion The macromolecular organic arsenic in seaweed samples can be prevented from changing into DMA(Ⅴ) of fluorescence signal at lower temperature or lower concentrations of hydrochloric acid during extraction.The content of inorganic arsenic in samples was reflected correctly.
Determination of Strychnine in Shangke Qiwei Tablets by HPLC

Objective: To develop a method for the determination of th e contents of strychnine in Shangke Qiwei Tablets by HPLC. Methods: Determined by HPLC using Phenomenex SILTC (2) (15 0 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) column; n-Hexane: dichlorome thane: methanol: ammonia solu tion (42.5∶42.5∶5∶0.35) as mobile phase and UV detector at 254 nm. Results: The content of strychnine had a good linearity in the range of 0.164～3.28 μg (r=0.999 7). The average recovery was 99.57% a nd RSD was 0.69% (n=5). Conclusion: The method is rapid, reliable and simple and c an be used for the quality control of Shangke Qiwei Tablets.
IPTV Promotes Advent of Digital Home Living

Digital home has been attracting attention from various industries, however, its sluggish development situation should not be ignored. Communication and media entertainment services are major demands of the current digital home market, and digital home based on telecommunication networks can meet these demands well through IPTV audio/video and value-added application services. IPTV is able to deliver audio/video broadcast, audio/video on demand, time-shift services, as well as such value-added services as information services, audio/video communications, interactive games, instant communications, karaoke and distance learning. IPTV is well fit for digital home development and may make digital home applications more applicable. Breakthroughs in easy use and service innovation are expected to drive digital home forward, and, through cooperative devices, subscribers will be able to enjoy data, voice and video services all at the same time.
Effects of human serum on cathepsin D activity.

Abstract The proteolytic activity of bovine splenic cathepsin D was evaluated by using the digestion of tritiated hemoglobin. Acid-denatured human serum was an enhancer of cathepsin D activity. Concentrated serum sources showed decreased activity because of competition of serum albumin with tritiated hemoglobin for cathepsin D. The enhancing activity of serum did not separate with any isolated protein as assessed by Sephadex G-50–80 chromatography or protein electrophoresis. The extraction of serum with ethanol-ether and chloroform-methanol showed that the enhancing activity separated with the phospholipid fraction, which had 2.6 times as much activity as the total lipid fraction. The activity was stable to heat at 56 °C for 30 minutes and to freezethawing, and was not dependent on metal ions.
Avatar Types Matter: Review of Avatar Literature for Performance Purposes

The use of avatars as learning agents is becoming increasingly popular in the sports, education and military domains due to the rapid advancement in distributive technologies (e.g., internet, virtual worlds, etc.). When it comes to military and sports, Simulation-Based Training has proven to be cost-effective, due largely to restrictions on time, costs and safety [1]. As virtual reality and virtual worlds have become cheaper and more powerful in computer terms, the subject of how an avatar relates to an avateer (the avatar’s controller) is becoming increasingly popular. More precisely, interest rests on how an avatar’s appearance may promote or disrupt training objectives, by affecting the behavior or the psychology of a user, and thus subsequently raising or degrading learning. Virtual simulations for training have often shared the aspect of avatars found in Virtual Reality, video games, and Virtual Worlds. This paper examines how avatar representation can provide insight into manipulating avatar appearance for training demands. Existing literature suggests avatars act as drivers for affective changes in attitude and motivation, and can be integrated into an instructional strategy.
Using Cultural Algorithms to improve knowledge base maintainability

In this paper we discuss the use of a specific form of evolutionary computation known as Cultural Algorithms to improve the maintainability of knowledge bases in dynamic problem environments. One such dynamic problem environment involves process planning for vehicle assembly. Since 1990 Ford Vehicle Operations has used the Direct Labor Management System (DLMS) as an automated solution to managing the automobile manufacturing process system at Ford's vehicle assembly plants. Maintainability becomes very difficult over time due to changes in all of the following areas: the external business environment, the processes and physical concepts being modeled, and the underlying hardware and software architecture. We will discuss how Cultural Algorithms are applied using a bottom-up approach to re-engineer the DLMS semantic network knowledge base and improve the maintainability of the system. Our results show that Cultural Algorithms can be used to discover emergent knowledge by combining building blocks in our bottom-up semantic network re-engineering application. We demonstrate how the semantic networks generated by Cultural Algorithms compare favorably to both a decision tree approach and to the results obtained manually by the developers of the system in terms of reduced complexity.
Watching Textual Screens Then and Now: Text Movies, Electronic Literature, and the Continuum of Countertextual Practice

Contemporary works of electronic literature that focus on the use of moving text are aesthetically related to the text movies that arose in the experimental film community, particularly in the 1960s, and both share much in common with concrete and visual poetry. Though criticism has traditionally placed a barrier between works of electronic literature and cinematic text movies on the basis of their perceived medium (cinema characterised by emulsion and electronic literature characterised by computer code), textual screen works originating from both media utilise similar techniques in the presentation and manipulation of text. Interactivity is potentially a differentiator between electronic literature and cinema, but this distinction is negated by the fact that not all works of electronic literature are interactive (that is, they do not require an interactor in order to function). The increasing digitisation and, to a lesser extent, interactivity of cinema also argues against placing a gap between electron...
Digital flight plans for server access control: Restricting anomalous activity with path-based declarations of intentions

In response to increasing threats of malicious activity and data loss on servers, we propose a different and practical strategy for access control modeled after flight plans for pilots, which mixes existing role-based, object-based, and intention-based access models; it supports much finer grained, real-time, sequence-oriented anomaly detection. Users are required to declare their intended “flight path” in advance, a sketch of resource use: this may vary in detail, but could include database tables, file system directories, byte and bandwidth limits, use of encryption and archive creation, command sets, connection time, number and origin of connections, and ports. Sequence information provides especially strong constraint, even if it incomplete. We find an important place for active, on-line human sampling of flight plans, as well as pre-authorization for non-standard paths, and alerts for deviation from path. We also find a place for improved user profiling and a paradigm shift from ex-post log-based reconstruction of user activity to ex-ante declaration.
Chapter 13 – Nonequilibrium thermodynamics approaches

This chapter summarizes some attempts that have been made to overcome some fimdamental limitations of linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Some of the limitations of linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics are:(1) it does not incorporate mechanisms into the formulation, or provide values of the phenomenological coefficients and (2) it is based on the local-equilibrium hypothesis, and therefore confined to systems in the vicinity of equilibrium. Highly structured, organized, and coupled systems cannot be reduced to simple systems without losing their unique behavior. For such complex systems network thermodynamics combines classical and nonequilibrium thermodynamics along with the network theory and kinetics to provide a practical formulation. The bond graph method defines the structure and constitutive equations of the system prior to appropriate mathematical representation. Standard bond graph elements are used to build a model of the structure of the system. The mosaic nonequilibrium thermodynamics is another attempt to overcome the phenomenological character of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. The species and each process have been separately described and the biochemical and biophysical structure of the system are included in the description. The chapter describes the application of the theory of mosaic nonequilibrium thermodynamics to various biological free-energy converters. One of the important properties of the mosaic nonequilibrium thermodynamics approach is the presumed linearity between flows and forces.
Coded aperture coherent scatter spectral imaging for assessment of breast cancers: an ex-vivo demonstration

A Coded Aperture Coherent Scatter Spectral Imaging (CACSSI) system was developed in our group to differentiate cancer and healthy tissue in the breast. The utility of the experimental system was previously demonstrated using anthropomorphic breast phantoms and breast biopsy specimens. Here we demonstrate CACSSI utility in identifying tumor margins in real time using breast lumpectomy specimens. Fresh lumpectomy specimens were obtained from Surgical Pathology with the suspected cancerous area designated on the specimen. The specimens were scanned using CACSSI to obtain spectral scatter signatures at multiple locations within the tumor and surrounding tissue. The spectral reconstructions were matched with literature form-factors to classify the tissue as cancerous or non-cancerous. The findings were then compared against pathology reports to confirm the presence and location of the tumor. The system was found to be capable of consistently differentiating cancerous and healthy regions in the breast with spatial resolution of 5 mm. Tissue classification results from the scanned specimens could be correlated with pathology results. We now aim to develop CACSSI as a clinical imaging tool to aid breast cancer assessment and other diagnostic purposes.
Developmental exposures to bisphenol S, a BPA replacement, alter estrogen-responsiveness of the female reproductive tract: a pilot study

Developmental exposures to bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen receptor agonist, can disrupt development of the female reproductive tract in rodents and non-human primates. Due to an increased public knowledge of negative health effects associated with BPA exposure, BPA has begun to be phased out of many consumer products and in some cases it has been replaced with structurally similar compounds including bisphenol S (BPS). This study examined CD-1 mice exposed to a low dose of BPS during early development (200 µg/kg/day from gestational day 8 until postnatal day 19). BPS altered expression of estrogen-responsive genes in both the uterus and ovary, and induced increases in ovarian follicular development in pre-pubertal females evaluated at postnatal day 22. Prior studies have revealed that developmental exposures to environmental chemicals including BPA alter the response of animals to hormonal or carcinogen challenges experienced later in life. To evaluate whether early life exposures to BPS alter responses of females to an estrogen challenge, additional females were exposed to ethinyl estradiol from postnatal day 19 through postnatal day 21. BPS-treated females responded abnormally to this estrogen challenge, displaying heightened responses in the uterus and diminished responses in the ovary. Although additional studies are needed to characterize the mechanisms by which BPS alters the female reproductive tract, this pilot study provides evidence that a common BPA replacement chemical may have endocrine disrupting properties.
Prion-like Spreading in Tauopathies

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein that functions in regulating cytoskeleton dynamics, especially in neurons. Misfolded and aggregated forms of tau produce pathological structures in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathy dementias. These disorders can present with a sporadic etiology, such as in AD, or a familial etiology, such as in some cases of frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism. Notably, the pathological features of tau pathology in these diseases can be very distinct. For example, the tau pathology in corticobasal degeneration is distinct from that of an AD patient. A wealth of evidence has emerged within the last decade to suggest that the misfolded tau in tauopathies possesses prion-like features and that such features may explain the diverse characteristics of tauopathies. The prion-like concept for tauopathies arose initially from the observation that the progressive accumulation of tau pathology as the symptoms of AD progress seemed to follow anatomically linked pathways. Subsequent studies in cell and animal models revealed that misfolded tau can propagate from cell to cell and from region to region in the brain through direct neuroanatomical connections. Studies in these cell and mouse models have demonstrated that experimentally propagated forms of misfolded tau can exist as conformationally distinct "strains" with unique biochemical, morphological, and neuropathological characteristics. This review discusses the clinical, pathological, and genetic diversity of tauopathies and the discoveries underlying the emerging view that the unique features of clinically distinct tauopathies may be a reflection of the strain of misfolded tau that propagates in each disease.
Desire and the Law: Creative Resistance in the Reluctant Passenger and the Heart of Redness

This chapter offers a critique of animal rights approaches for their weakness in relying on the passage of laws, and in depending upon their proper administration by legal authorities to attempt the protection of animals. Where some thinkers espouse an animal rights perspective, this chapter argues that postcolonial desire is vital to protecting communities in ways that rights discourse and the law cannot in the context of the biopolitical workings of the state and globalized capitalism. Drawing from Deleuze and Guattari’s work on desire and the law in Kafka (1986), the chapter considers the potential of desire to offer creative alternatives, outside of legal discourse, toward the protection of animals and the larger community. Additionally, it recognizes how indigenous environmental knowledge and notions of desire offer ways of relating to animals that can challenge capitalist instrumentalization.