cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactive analysis of the spatial distribution of disease using a geographic information systems

Geographic information systems (GIS) provide a variety of tools for the manipulation and display of public health data. Few, however, enable users to interactively evaluate hypotheses on spatial trends in disease risk that may be suggested by maps of measures of disease impact. We addressed this limitation by developing a seamless interface between a commercial GIS and a suite of spatial analysis algorithms. Users of the system can utilize the GIS's capability to interactively select and manipulate geographically referenced data and, through a series of pull-down menus, apply a variety of exploratory analysis methods to this information. In the presented application, we illustrate this capability by including algorithms for the reduction of random noise in observed incidence rates, for the detection of unusual aggregations of disease events, and for the statistical evaluation of inferences drawn from spatial trends. We demonstrate this application by examining lung cancer mortality in the state of Ohio.
Long-term mechanical durability of dental nanocomposites containing amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles.

Half of all dental restorations fail within 10 years, with secondary caries and restoration fracture being the main reasons. Calcium phosphate (CaP) composites can release Ca and PO4 ions and remineralize tooth lesions. However, there has been no report on their long-term mechanical durability. The objective of this study was to investigate the wear, thermal-cycling, and water-aging of composites containing amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (NACP). NACP of 112-nm and glass particles were used to fabricate four composites: (1) 0% NACP+75% glass; (2) 10% NACP+65% glass; (3) 15% NACP+60% glass; and (4) 20% NACP+50% glass. Flexural strength and elastic modulus of NACP nanocomposites were not degraded by thermal-cycling. Wear depth increased with increasing NACP filler level. Wear depths of NACP nanocomposites after 4 × 105 cycles were within the range for commercial controls. Mechanical properties of all the tested materials decreased with water-aging time. After 2 years, the strengths of NACP nanocomposites were moderately higher than the control composite, and much higher than the resin-modified glass ionomers. The mechanism of strength loss for resin-modified glass ionomer was identified as microcracking and air-bubbles. NACP nanocomposites and control composite were generally free of microcracks and air-bubbles. In conclusion, combining NACP nanoparticles with reinforcement glass particles resulted in novel nanocomposites with long-term mechanical properties higher than those of commercial controls, and wear within the range of commercial controls. These strong long-term properties, plus the Ca-PO4 ion release and acid-neutralization capability reported earlier, suggest that the new NACP nanocomposites may be promising for stress-bearing and caries-inhibiting restorations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 2012.
Plant Response to Bacterial Pathogens. Overlap between Innate and Gene-for-Gene Defense Response

The immune system's role as defense from opportunistic microbes also necessitated the ability to distinguish between “self” and “non-self” to ensure that an immune response is not mounted against the organism's own tissues. This discrimination is partially achieved by the recognition of an
Keeping the Kell away from immunity.

In this issue of Blood , Stephen et al report significant strides forward in mapping out the peptide determinants of alloimmunization to the K antigen and have taken initial steps to translate these findings into therapeutic interventions.[1][1] The “K” antigen, carried by the Kell glycoprotein
Master fields for QCD3+1 and the variational method☆

Abstract Master fields are formulated for finite- N QCD 3+1 . They satisfy classical Yang-Mills equations with an infinite number of internal indices and an infinite number of constraints. In the large- N limit explicit solutions for these constraints are given and used as trial functions in the Hartree-Fock variational calculation which should be a good approximation for the study of gluon condensation effects in the QCD 3+1 -vacuum.
Electron attachment and dynamics of alkali atoms in Al 13 X (X=Li-Cs) clusters

Theoretical electronic structure studies on the anionic and neutral ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}X$ $(X=\mathrm{Li}--\mathrm{Cs})$ clusters have been carried out using a gradient corrected density-functional approach. The alkali atoms occupy the hollow sites on the ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}$ icosahedron surface and the calculated vertical transition energies from the ground state of the anions to various neutral states are found to be close to the recent preliminary experimental data. A detailed investigation of the Born-Oppenheimer surface of ${\mathrm{Al}}_{13}\mathrm{K}$ shows that the minimum energy path for the motion of K atoms to the neighboring hollow sites passes through a bridge site and has a barrier of 0.13 eV. If energy could be imparted that will enable the K atoms to overcome the barrier and slide freely on the surface, the cluster will exhibit a small orbital magnetic moment that could be observed at low temperatures.
The Role Of Moral Awareness In Computer Security

Maintaining security of databases and other computer systems requires constraining the behavior of those persons who are able to access these systems so that they do not obtain, alter, or abuse the information contained in these systems. Three types of constraints are available: Physical contraints are obstructions designed to prevent (or at least make difficult) access to data by unauthorized persons; external constraints restrict behavior through threat of detection and punishment; internal constraints are self-imposed limitations on behavior which are derived from a person's moral standards. This paper argues that an effective computer security program will require attention to internal constraints as well as physical and external ones. Recent developments in moral philosophy and the psychology of moral development have given us new understanding of how individuals grow in moral awareness and how this growth can be encouraged. These insights are the foundation for some practical proposals for encouraging morally responsible behavior by computer professionals and others with access to confidential data. The aim of this paper is to encourage computer security professionals to discuss, refine and incorporate systems of internal constraints in developing methods of maintaining security.
The contribution of magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex to the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Correlation of central motor conduction to distal and proximal upper limb muscles with clinical and MRI findings

Magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex and cervical spine was performed on 24 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy documented by MRI. Compound motor action potentials (CMAPs) were recorded from the biceps and thenar muscles to study the central motor pathways of two different myotomes, C5-C6 and C8-D1. Central motor conduction was abnormal in all 24 patients for thenar muscles and in 5 patients for biceps brachii. In patients with a single compression level, central motor conduction abnormalities were confined to the myotomes caudal to the site of compression documented by MRI, in both proximal and distal upper limb muscles in the patients with upper spondylotic compression, and in distal muscles only in the patients with lower compression. In the patients with multilevel compression, central motor conduction time was abnormal for thenar muscles and always normal for the biceps muscle, but its mean value was significantly greater than in the control subjects, suggesting a slight involvement of central motor pathways for proximal upper limb muscles and major damage of the lower cervical segments. Owing to their high degree of sensitivity, central motor conduction studies may be of considerable value in the functional assessment of central motor pathways in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Radiative transfer in inhomogeneous atmospheres

Radiative transfer in plane-parallel inhomogeneous atmospheres is discussed from the points of view of the integral and the integro-differential forms of the equation of transfer.
Trigonelline in mature seeds and developing seedlings of Glycine max

Trigonelline (TRG) is known as a compatible solute in response to stress as well as a cell cycle regulator, and is more concentrated in legumes than other non-legume dicots. Four Glycine max L. genotypes (Essex, ExF 67, Forrest and Stressland) were used to examine TRG concentration in seeds and seedlings exposed to 30 or 100 mM NaCl, and to determine the association of TRG concentrations in seedlings with seedling growth. Seed germination across genotypes was inhibited by elevated salinity (71 - 91 %) in ExF 67 and Forrest and by accelerated aging (77 - 92 %) in Forrest. Length of seedlings in most genotypes stressed with NaCl apparently decreased. The TRG content in mature seeds of four genotypes was 44.4 - 74.6 µg g -1 (d.m.). TRG content significantly increased during early young seedling development, but remained or significantly reduced in some genotypes stressed with NaCl.
Robust Time-Referenced Segmentation of Moving Object Trajectories

Trajectory segmentation is the process of partitioning a given trajectory into a small number of homogeneous segments w.r.t. some criteria. Conventional segmentation techniques only focus on the spatial features of the movement and could lead to spatially homogeneous segments but with presumably dissimilar temporal structures. Furthermore, trajectories could be over-segmented in the presence of outliers. In this paper, we propose a family of three trajectory segmentation methods that takes into account both geospatial and temporal structures of movement for the segmentation and is also robust with respect to time-referenced spatial outliers. The effectiveness of our methods is empirically demonstrated over three real-world datasets.
Heteroepitaxial Nucleation of Diamond

The heteroepitaxial nucleation and eventual growth of large area single crystal diamond films has long eluded researchers interested in tapping it’s many enabling properties, specifically in the field of active electronics. The uncertainty surrounding the diamond nucleation mechanism(s) and corresponding inability to carefully control this process are often blamed for the difficulty in achieving true heteroepitaxial growth. Bias- enhanced nucleation (BEN) has been shown to provide in-situ control of the nucleation process. Subsequent advancements in both nucleation and deposition stages has resulted in highly oriented diamond films, approaching single crystal quality yet still plagued by arrays of medium to low angle grain boundaries that can degrade the electronic transport properties. To further improve upon these results and achieve large area, single crystal films it is believed that development must focus on the more fundamental problems of diamond nucleation. This paper presents a review of recent progress pertaining to the bias-enhanced process and focuses on data specific to the epitaxial nucleation dilemma.
Trends in the Competitive Position of Poultry Products Relative to Red Meats

Abstract THE competitive relationship between poultry products and the red meats has changed decidedly in recent years. Trends in per capita consumption, price levels, and marketing margins have differed and diverged substantially for the two groups of foods since 1930. It appeared useful, therefore, as a possible indication of the future of the poultry industry, to learn how these changes had affected the competitive relationship between the poultry products (chickens, eggs, and turkeys) and the principal red meats (pork, beef, lamb and mutton). Data on major factors affecting these relationships were available in the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The approach taken was to consider changes for various products in regard to (1) per capita consumption, (2) prices received by farmers, (3) retail prices, and (4) marketing margins. Changes that have occurred in regard to these factors are presented in Table 1. These, when considered together, aid in understanding changes in …
Effect of alternative temozolomide schedules on glioblastoma O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity and survival

Effect of alternative temozolomide schedules on glioblastoma O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity and survival
Cryo-electron tomography of microtubule-kinesin motor complexes

Microtubules complexed with molecular motors of the kinesin family or non-motor microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) such as tau or EB1 have been the subject of cryo-electron microcopy based 3-D studies for several years. Most of these studies that targeted complexes with intact microtubules have been carried out by helical 3-D reconstruction, while few were analyzed by single particle approaches or from 2-D crystalline arrays. Helical reconstruction of microtubule-MAP or motor complexes has been extremely successful but by definition, all helical 3-D reconstruction attempts require perfectly helical assemblies, which presents a serious limitation and confines the attempts to 15- or 16-protofilament microtubules, microtubule configurations that are very rare in nature. The rise of cryo-electron tomography within the last few years has now opened a new avenue towards solving 3-D structures of microtubule-MAP complexes that do not form helical assemblies, most importantly for the subject here, all microtubules that exhibit a lattice seam. In addition, not all motor domains or MAPs decorate the microtubule surface regularly enough to match the underlying microtubule lattice, or they adopt conformations that deviate from helical symmetry. Here we demonstrate the power and limitation of cryo-electron tomography using two kinesin motor domains, the monomeric Eg5 motor domain, and the heterodimeric Kar3Vik1 motor. We show here that tomography does not exclude the possibility of post-tomographic averaging when identical sub-volumes can be extracted from tomograms and in both cases we were able to reconstruct 3-D maps of conformations that are not possible to obtain using helical or other averaging-based methods.
Enhancements of Nucleate Boiling Under Microgravity Conditions

This paper presents two means for enhancing nucleate boiling and critical heat flux under microgravity conditions: using micro-configured metal-graphite composites as the boiling surface and dilute aqueous solutions of long-chain alcohols as the working fluid. In the former, thermocapillary force induced by temperature difference between the graphite-fiber tips and the metal matrix plays an important role in bubble detachment. Thus boiling-heat transfer performance does not deteriorate in a reduced-gravity environment. In the latter cases, the surface tension-temperature gradient of the long-chain alcohol solutions turns positive as the temperature exceeds a certain value. Consequently, the Marangoni effect does not impede, but rather aids in bubble departure from the heating surface. This feature is most favorable in microgravity. As a result, the bubble size of departure is substantially reduced at higher frequencies. Based on the existing experimental data, and a two-tier theoretical model, correlation formulas are derived for nucleate boiling on the copper-graphite and aluminum-graphite composite surfaces, in both the isolated and coalesced bubble regimes. In addition, performance equations for nucleate boiling and critical heat flux in dilute aqueous solutions of long-chain alcohols are obtained.
Miscellaneous other models

The preceding sections of this book have each focused on a particular model construct and its subsequent variants and elaborations. This section is quite different in that several different models are described. These are, for the most part, unrelated.
Examining Hispanic Student Mathematics Performance on High-Stakes Tests: An Examination of One Urban School District in Colorado

Hispanic students, born both inside and outside the United States, comprise over 80% of the US English language learner population. The difference in mathematics achievement among Hispanic students and other populations has been well documented. As a result, it is important to understand the effects of using standards-based mathematics curriculum with high school Hispanic students. Mathematics achievement scores from the Colorado Student Assessment Program and Measurement of Academic Progress for Hispanic 9th and 10th grade students (n = 1,318) who used the Core-Plus Mathematics Program were compared to the progress of other student demographics (n = 2,003) who used the same curriculum. In following the recommendations of the National Research Council (On evaluation curricular effectiveness: judging the effectiveness of K-12 mathematics evaluations. National Academies Press, Washington, DC 2005), a meta-analysis (Glass in Educ Res 5:3-8, 1976) of Hispanic students using National Science Foundation Funded (NSFF) curricula was conducted to contextualize this study's findings within the findings of previous studies. The results of this study indicated that Hispanic stu- dents have shown modest gains; however, their relative position compared to other ethnic groups is unremarkable. The meta-analysis Cohen's d results ranged from ?.673 (SE = .131) to -.670 (SE = .045) with slightly positive effects for Hispanic students using an NSFF curriculum when compared to those not using an NSFF curriculum (.043, SE = .012).
Rhox8 Ablation in the Sertoli Cells Using a Tissue-Specific RNAi Approach Results in Impaired Male Fertility in Mice

The reproductive homeobox X-linked, Rhox, genes encode transcription factors that are selectively expressed in reproductive tissues. While there are 33 Rhox genes in mice, only Rhox and Rhox8 are expressed in Sertoli cells, suggesting that they may regulate the expression of somatic-cell gene products crucial for germ cell development. We previously characterized Rhox5-null mice, which are subfertile, exhibiting excessive germ cell apoptosis and compromised sperm motility. To assess the role of Rhox8 in Sertoli cells, we used a tissue-specific RNAi approach to knockdown RHOX8 in vivo, in which the Rhox5 promoter was used to drive Rhox8-siRNA transgene expression in the postnatal Sertoli cells. Western and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed Sertoli-specific knockdown of RHOX8. However, other Sertoli markers, Gata1 and Rhox5, maintained normal expression patterns, suggesting that the knockdown was specific. Interestingly, male RHOX8-knockdown animals showed significantly reduced spermatogenic output, increased germ cell apoptosis, and compromised sperm motility, leading to impaired fertility. Importantly, our results revealed that while some RHOX5-dependent factors were also misregulated in Sertoli cells of RHOX8-knockdown animals, the majority were not, and novel putative RHOX8-regulated genes were identified. This suggests that while reduction in levels of RHOX5 and RHOX8 in Sertoli cells elicits similar phenotypes, these genes are not entirely redundant. Taken together, our study underscores the importance of Rhox genes in male fertility and suggests that Sertoli cell-specific expression of Rhox5 and Rhox8 is critical for complete male fertility.
Operating Characteristics of Thin Thermophotovoltaic Cells with Minority Carrier Mirrors and Optical Mirrors Using Selective Radiators of Erbium and Ytterbium Oxides

The performance of thermophotovoltaie (TPV) germanium based systems in which the radiation emitters are coated with selective absorber-emitters of erbium (Er2O3) and ytterbium (Yb2O3) oxides is studied. The principal characteristic of these high efficiency TPV cells is that they are thin optimized p-n junctions which incorporate minority carrier mirrors and optical mirrors at the end surfaces of the photovoltaically active volume of the cells. The efficiency of a single germanium cell (in excess of 20%) and of a two-junction tandem silicon-germanium cell (in excess of 22%) having an optimized opto-electronic structure is found to be higher for an Er2O3 coated emitter than with a conventional blackbody, this advantage being more pronounced for the lower temperatures in the range considered (1300-2000°K).
NVision-PA: A Process Accounting Analysis Tool with a Security Focus on Masquerade Detection in HPC Clusters

In the UNIX/Linux environment the kernel can log every command process created by every user with process accounting. Thus process accounting logs have many potential uses, particularly the monitoring and forensic investigation of security events. Previous work successfully leveraged the use of process accounting logs to identify a difficult to detect and damaging intrusions within high performance computing (HPC) clusters, masquerade attacks, where intruders pose as legitimate users with purloined authentication credentials. This paper incrementally advances the goal of more accurately identifying masqueraders on HPC clusters by seeking to identify features within command sets that distinguish masqueraders. To accomplish this goal, we created NVision-PA, a software tool which produces text and graphic statistical summaries describing input processing accounting logs. This research is both a promising next step toward creating a real-time masquerade detection sensor for production HPC clusters as well as providing another tool for system administrators to use for statistically monitoring and managing legitimate workloads in HPC environments.
Reciprocal influences between parenting and adolescent problem-solving behavior

This investigation evaluated the hypothesis that the development of either effective or disruptive adolescent problem-solving behavior is reciprocally associated with the child-rearing strategies of parents. Longitudinal data collected over 3 time points from a large sample of families were analyzed at 1-year and 2-year measurement intervals by using structural equation modeling. Parent and adolescent behavior was assessed by independent observers. Reciprocal parent--adolescent interactions occurred primarily in the presence of disruptive adolescent behavior. Analyses involving positive adolescent behavior produced unidirectional effects from parent behavior to adolescent behavior. Also, reciprocal associations were most evident when the 2-year measurement interval was used.
The Role of Emotions in the Construction of Masculinity Guatemalan Migrant Men, Transnational Migration, and Family Relations

This article examines how migration contributes to the plurality of masculinities among Guatemalan men, particularly among migrant men and their families. I argue that migration offers an opportunity to men, both migrant and nonmigrant, to reflect on their emotional relations with distinct family members, and show how, by engaging in this reflexivity, these men also have the opportunity to vent those emotions in a way that offsets some of the negative traits associated to a hegemonic masculinity, such as being unemotional, nonnurturing, aggressive, and dispassionate. This study contributes to transnational migration studies in three ways: (1) by examining the more personal and emotional side of transnational life, (2) by examining ways in which men step away from culturally expected hegemonic masculine identity, and (3) by providing an empirical study of subaltern masculinities, particularly among transnational immigrant men. Drawing on multi-sited, in-depth interviews conducted in Guatemala and Californi...
Combination oral contraceptives.

Oral contraceptives (OC) are the most popular and reliable method of reversible contraception in the US. Their safety record has been studied and improved over the course of three decades of use. Deaths from OC-induced thromboembolism were related to doses higher than 80 mcg of synthetic estrogen in each pill. OC formulation has therefore been changed repeatedly over the years to reduce the estrogenic content to 50 mcg or less in an effort to eliminate this serious adverse effect. Currently most practitioners prescribe OC with 35 mcg or less of ethinyl estradiol. With the low-dose pill typical protection for users from unwanted pregnancy remains more than 95% effective. The author gives his OC use recommendations for first-time users; women with sedentary lifestyles; women who previously used a brand-name OC without any serious side effect; women with premenstrual symptoms; postpartum postoperative and postabortal patients; women of perimenopausal age; women with signs of hyperandrogenism or idiopathic hirsutism; and patients receiving long-term concurrent therapy with other drugs. He also discusses the use of OC as emergency/postcoital contraception and for noncontraceptive purposes.
Reducing Oral Mucositis Using Cryotherapy and Near Infra-Red Light Emitting Diodes in Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Melphalan Chemotherapy Prior to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

s / Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 22 (2016) S19eS481 S471 stress may inform self-management strategies to improve survivorship. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis: This was a secondary analysis of a correlational study that enrolled 24 adults (>21 years) with cGVHD. After obtaining informed consent, data for this study (IRB# 201400992) was collected by medical record and validated self-report measures. Blood (3ml) was collected from a vein and stored in a -80o freezer until analysis. Inflammatory markers were analyzed using BioPlex multiplex and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results were reported using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlations. All statistics were done using SAS version 9.3 with the level of significance set at .05. Findings & Interpretation: The mean age (years) was 53. Most (87.5%) were Caucasian and female (58.3%). Most (29.2%) had AML. Most (83.3%) had moderate to severe cGVHD (NIH criteria). Over half (62.5%) had involvement of 3-5 organs. Participants reported the lowest scores on nutrition, activity and stress management behavior subscales. Spiritual growth and perceived stress were significantly related (r1⁄4 -.68, p< .01). Several behaviors and perceived stress items significantly correlated with markers of inflammation. Discussion & Implications: Associations were demonstrated among lifestyle behaviors, perceived stress and inflammation. Individuals did not routinely engage in healthpromoting lifestyle behaviors reported by the American Cancer Society as essential for cancer survivorship. Nurses are in the unique position to educate and assess transplant survivors with cGVHD on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Future research to understand why these behaviors are neglected and nurse led interventions focusing on these quality of life indicators may increase longevity and quality of life for individuals with cGVHD.
A Brief Inquiry into Octavio Paz' Laberinto of Mexicanidad

One Of The salient characteristics of 20th century Mexican art and intellectual history has been preoccupation with the problem of national identity, or, put in another fashion, with the problem of defining lo mexicano . Most commonly, concern for lo mexicano and mexicanidad has been associated with the Mexican Revolution. The generally accepted assumption is that inasmuch as the Mexican Revolution was a revolution without ideology, it was not until Mexicans began questioning the meaning of their revolution that they asked—what are we? who are we? Yet, the volume and importance of the intellectual and artistic production of the post-revolutionary period notwithstanding, it is certainly true that Mexicans were concerned with the problem of national identity even before 1910.
Description of a technique to use POAM to estimate wind velocity

The turbulent atmosphere induces photonic orbital angular momentum (POAM) on a propagating laser beam. Conventional wave front sensor measurements can use POAM to interrogate the velocity of the atmosphere.
Evaluation of Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence is a socially disabling disease and should be corrected only when the loss of urine is demonstrable and produces sufficient symptomatology to be noted by the patient. Careful evaluation of the history, physical examination results, and laboratory studies will indicate weight reduction, control of respiratory disease, or treatment of neurologic deficits or severe emotional problems more often than surgery.
Crustal failure on icy Moons from a strong tidal encounter

Abstract Close tidal encounters among large planetesimals and Moons should have been more common than grazing or normal impacts. Using a mass spring model within an N-body simulation, we simulate the deformation of the surface of an elastic spherical body caused by a close parabolic tidal encounter with a body that has similar mass as that of the primary body. Such an encounter can induce sufficient stress on the surface to cause brittle failure of an icy crust and simulated fractures can extend a large fraction of the radius of body. Strong tidal encounters may be responsible for the formation of long graben complexes and chasmata in ancient terrain of icy Moons such as Dione, Tethys, Ariel and Charon.
Effect of Spinal Manipulation of Upper Cervical Vertebrae on Blood Pressure: Results of a Pilot Sham-Controlled Trial

Abstract Objective The purpose of this pilot sham-controlled clinical trial was to estimate the treatment effect and safety of toggle recoil spinal manipulation for blood pressure management. Methods Fifty-one participants with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension (systolic blood pressure ranging from 135 to 159 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ranging from 85 to 99 mm Hg) were allocated by an adaptive design to 2 treatments: toggle recoil spinal manipulation or a sham procedure. Participants were seen by a doctor of chiropractic twice weekly for 6 weeks and remained on their antihypertensive medications, as prescribed, throughout the trial. Blood pressure was assessed at baseline and after study visits 1, 6 (week 3), and 12 (week 6), with the primary end point at week 6. Analysis of covariance was used to compare mean blood pressure changes from baseline between groups at each end point, controlling for sex, age, body mass index, and baseline blood pressure. Results Adjusted mean change from baseline to week 6 was greater in the sham group (systolic, −4.2 mm Hg; diastolic, −1.6 mm Hg) than in the spinal manipulation group (systolic, 0.6 mm Hg; diastolic, 0.7 mm Hg), but the difference was not statistically significant. No serious and few adverse events were noted. Conclusions Six weeks of toggle recoil spinal manipulation did not lower systolic or diastolic blood pressure when compared with a sham procedure. No serious adverse events from either treatment were reported. Our results do not support a larger clinical trial. Further research to understand the potential mechanisms of action involving upper cervical manipulation on blood pressure is warranted before additional clinical investigations are conducted.
A Problematical Case

In a situation approximating S the conversation is likely to gravitate towards the central doctrines of the religions, though it may verge on them gradually and circuitously by way of peripheral questions. Speakers may have to feel their way along as they try to find out how other speakers formulate the central doctrines of their religions and what these formulas imply. It may take time and patience to understand the central issues at stake.
Let's interplay! Does co-evolution enable or constrain?

Abstract In various domains, there is an interplay at work: elements form and influence a structure, but this structure in turn influences the elements. By time, rigidity often turns in: the structure start to have its own goals, and cant be influenced anymore by the elements. How can one avoid this from happening? I propose two strategies: make sure there is enough diversity, and endorse a constant opposition. To illustrate this last countermeasure, I built a simulation. This showed that it is possible to avoid the emergence of the classical power-law distribution, giving rise to a more dynamical situation where the top agent is constantly changing. These considerations are applied to the concept of the global brain, in order to avoid that this becomes another imposing structure.
Mozambique's thriving kidnapping business : regional analysis - southern africa

Kidnapping for ransom is conducted by perpetrators in Mozambique, the only Southern African country where this crime occurs as a regular, organised activity, and has a different motivation from kidnappings in Western and Eastern Africa. While the intention of all kidnappings is profit, the impetus in Nigeria, where kidnappings are part of thet error campaign of Boko Haram, and in Somalia, where the jihadists of al-Shabaab kidnap victims for ransom, is to finance insurgencies. In Mozambique, kidnapping is strictly a criminal activity conducted to enrich criminal syndicates or individuals. As such, the targets are foreign business people of Asian and European origin who have settled in the country and whose financial situations are generally known in the localities where they reside. Families of kidnap victims are contacted directly and negotiations for ransom prices are usually carried out without government involvement.
Unwinding Non-Native Control over Native America's Past: A Statistical Analysis of the Decisions to Return Native American Human Remains and Funerary Objects under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 1992–2013

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA or the Act), which notched its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2015, is one of the most important human rights laws in the United States. The hard-fought legislation enshrines the fundamental right of Native Americans to control their ancestral dead, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony. Its 1990 enactment initiated an abrupt break from the prior emphasis on preserving human remains and cultural items for scientific study, requiring federal agencies and museums to: review their collections; consult Native people; and repatriate culturally affiliated remains as well as their associated funerary objects.As demonstrated by the return of the “Kennewick Man” case to national headlines, NAGPRA and the repatriation of Native American human remains, particularly ancient remains, continue to be controversial. Given this ongoing tension and NAGPRA’s quarter-century of implementation, the time is ripe to examine the federal agency and museum repatriation decisions and assess the Act’s effectiveness. This paper attempts to do so by collecting and synthesizing baseline cultural affiliation data, identifying patterns, evaluating compliance, addressing criticisms, and analyzing the decision-making institutions’ choices as well as interactions with Native Americans. The result is the first comprehensive statistical analysis of federal agency and museum decisions to transfer human remains and funerary objects to Native Americans. In its concluding remarks, this paper proposes using the evidence type, chronology, and provenance data from the published repatriation decisions to reassess the status of the culturally unidentifiable remains still held in collections, which agencies and museums initially determined were not related to present-day Native Americans. This paper argues that comparing temporal and geographic information from the culturally affiliated human remains with similar data from culturally unidentifiable remains will assist agencies and museums identify prospective Native consultants. Engaging these consultants in conjunction with the corresponding affiliation decision evidence might switch many of the unidentifiable remains in collections to affiliated status and clear a path for their repatriation or at least provide sufficient evidence for their disposition under NAGPRA despite not meeting the cultural affiliation standard.
Hyperprogressors after Immunotherapy: Analysis of Genomic Alterations Associated with Accelerated Growth Rate

Purpose: Checkpoint inhibitors demonstrate salutary anticancer effects, including long-term remissions. PD-L1 expression/amplification, high mutational burden, and mismatch repair deficiency correlate with response. We have, however, observed a subset of patients who appear to be "hyperprogressors," with a greatly accelerated rate of tumor growth and clinical deterioration compared with pretherapy, which was also recently reported by Institut Gustave Roussy. The current study investigated potential genomic markers associated with "hyperprogression" after immunotherapy.Experimental Design: Consecutive stage IV cancer patients who received immunotherapies (CTLA-4, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or other [investigational] agents) and had their tumor evaluated by next-generation sequencing were analyzed (N = 155). We defined hyperprogression as time-to-treatment failure (TTF) 50% increase in tumor burden compared with preimmunotherapy imaging, and >2-fold increase in progression pace.Results: Amongst 155 patients, TTF <2 months was seen in all six individuals with MDM2/MDM4 amplification. After anti-PD1/PDL1 monotherapy, four of these patients showed remarkable increases in existing tumor size (55% to 258%), new large masses, and significantly accelerated progression pace (2.3-, 7.1-, 7.2- and 42.3-fold compared with the 2 months before immunotherapy). In multivariate analysis, MDM2/MDM4 and EGFR alterations correlated with TTF <2 months. Two of 10 patients with EGFR alterations were also hyperprogressors (53.6% and 125% increase in tumor size; 35.7- and 41.7-fold increase).Conclusions: Some patients with MDM2 family amplification or EGFR aberrations had poor clinical outcome and significantly increased rate of tumor growth after single-agent checkpoint (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors. Genomic profiles may help to identify patients at risk for hyperprogression on immunotherapy. Further investigation is urgently needed. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4242-50. ©2017 AACR.
Abstract 188: Contractile Function and Myofilament Proteins of the Naked Mole-rat Heart Show Resistance to Oxidative Stress

The naked mole-rat (NMR) is the longest-lived rodent, with a maximum lifespan of >31 years. Unlike every other mammal studied to date, this species withstands cardiovascular structural and functional changes for at least 75% of its lifespan. Due to the intersection of oxidative stress, aging, and cardiovascular disease, we questioned if NMRs were more resistant to oxidative stress-induced cardiac dysfunction compared to short-lived mice. Echocardiography showed that 7 days after a 20 mg/kg dose of doxorubicin (DOX), mice had a 25% decline in fractional shortening (36 ± 1% to 27 ± 2%). In contrast, the fractional shortening of NMRs was unchanged with DOX treatment (27 ± 1%). Previously we observed that while basal cardiac function is low, NMRs have a robust cardiac reserve, displaying a 1.7 fold increase in fractional shortening under exercise-like conditions. DOX-treated NMRs had a significant reduction in their dobutamine response, signifying a diminished cardiac reserve. Intriguingly, we found no changes in phosphorylation or expression of myofilament proteins in the NMR heart with DOX treatment. Mice on the other hand, increased the phosphorylation of cardiac myosin binding protein-C and switched expression from predominantly α-myosin heavy chain to the β-isoform. Electron microscopy showed that DOX caused marked mitochondrial swelling and loss of cristae as well as massive cardiac myofibrillar disarray in mice. Conversely, DOX-treated NMRs had only slight alterations to myofilament structure. NMRs additionally had twofold higher levels of glutathione in their hearts, indicating a high antioxidant capacity. These findings reveal that long-lived NMRs are less susceptible to oxidative stress-induced cardiac dysfunction than mice. The NMR’s low basal cardiac function, unique regulation of myofilament proteins, and high glutathione levels may all be integral in the species’ ability to withstand oxidative damage and preserve cardiac function well into its third decade of life.
Tumor Metastasis in VWF Deficient Mice: The Contributions of PGE2 and VEGF

Abstract Dysregulation of the hemostatic system in malignancy leads to a hypercoagulable state and thrombotic complications. In addition to thrombosis, growing evidence from both human and animal studies, suggests that constituents of the hemostatic system also play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. Platelets contribute to metastasis by protecting tumor cells from immune detection and inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thereby facilitating the extravasation of circulating tumor cells out of the vasculature. Moreover, platelet-tumor cell interactions have been shown to promote prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis, an important modulator of angiogenesis and proliferation. The role of von willebrand factor (VWF) in malignancy has been of particular interest as it serves as an adhesive link between platelets and endothelium, and could possibly facilitate platelet interactions with tumor cells. Yet, the absence of VWF is associated with increased metastatic potential in a B16 melanoma mouse model, suggesting that the primary contribution of VWF to the metastatic model may not be platelet mediated. We employed a combined approach using cell lines and mouse models to explore the interaction of platelets and VWF in metastasis. In vitro studies using lung and melanoma cells lines show that the interaction of resting and activated platelets with tumor cells leads to upregulation of COX-2 expression and PGE2 biosynthesis but does stimulate VEGF-A production. In an experimental metastasis model of C57BL/6 wild type and VWF null mice, the injection of B16 melanoma cells by tail vein yielded a significant increase in the number of pulmonary metastatic foci. PGE2 measurements from mouse serum showed reduced levels of prostaglandin in VWF deficient mice injected with tumor, suggesting that the absence of VWF precludes an important tumor cell-platelet interaction that facilities PGE2 production. Moreover, preliminary results show increased VEGF-A in VWF deficient mice, suggesting that increased metastasis in this model may be the result of dysregulated angiogenesis. In conclusion, platelet-tumor cell interaction yield a pro-metastatic effect, in part mediated by PGE2 production. Despite its unique role in platelet adhesion and thrombus formation, VWF does not facilitate the interaction of platelets and tumor cells to produce PGE2. Its protective effect may lie in its ability to modulate angiogenesis via VEGF-specific pathways. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Characterizing ESD stress currents in human wearable devices

Currents induced on an I/O of a human wearable device IC are predicted using a test IC as a wearable device capable of transient event detection and level sensing. ESD on this pseudo wearable device using the test IC is characterized for different test scenarios and compared to the prediction.
Attentional Factors and Individual Differences Reflected in the EEG

For the last few years the work in my laboratory has been directed toward understanding how individual differences are reflected in psychophysiological measures of cognitive and emotional processing. This program has brought together two somewhat different approaches to research. On the one hand we have sought to find the relationship between such psychophysiological processes as EEG and the processing of cognitive and emotional material (e.g., Ray & Cole, 1985). In this traditional approach to experimental research, the relationship between the dependent and independent variable is emphasized and individual differences minimized or ignored. On the other hand we have also used the opposite research approach which emphasizes individual differences. With this approach we seek to find situations which allow us to demonstrate performance differences between individuals or groups of individuals. These differences have been organized in terms of sex, gender, anxiety, introversion/extraversion, or spatial ability and are also present in behavioral measures and the EEG (cf., Ray, Newcombe, Semon and Cole, 1981; Ray & Geselowitz, 1985; Berfield, Ray & Newcombe, 1986). In this chapter I will discuss research from each of these parallel lines of inquiry. After a brief overview of the EEG hemispheric activation literature, two recent studies from my laboratory examining the role of basic attentional mechanisms will be presented.
Carbon-skeleton chromatography for the qualitative identification of selected insecticides

The reaction gas chromatographic process known as carbon-skeleton chromatography has been developed by Beroza (1962 a and b, 1963) and his co-workers (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) as an aid in determining the chemical structure of a wide variety of compounds, especially natural products, and in structure proofs in microsyntheses. A description of the technique and its analytical applications have been included in a review on reaction gas chromatography by Beroza and Coad (1966). A diagram of the apparatus is shown in Figure 1 and some of its applications are collated in Table I. In use, the apparatus is connected to the injection port of a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame-ionization detector; thus, samples injected into the catalyst assembly are carried through it in a stream of hydrogen into the gas chromatograph where the resulting products are separated on the column and peaks are recorded in the usual manner.
Performing Identities: State-ISKCON Interactions in Singapore

This chapter discusses the growth and expansion of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), popularly referred to as the “Hare Krishnas,” within the context of the socio-political situation in Singapore. It will focus on the interactions between the State and ISKCON and the strategies undertaken by the latter to establish its presence in Singapore. The choice of Singapore serves as a suitable exemplar of a dynamic cosmopolitan city-state composed of people from a variety of religious orientations and a democratic authoritarian government. Moreover, the availability of a range of empirical studies on religiosity in Singapore and the benefit of a rich database of policies of a four-decade rule of a single political party renders the Singapore State an ideal case study. ISKCON, which until the late 1980s was widely accepted as a world-rejecting new religious movement (NRM) both in Western and Asian societies, serves as a good example of a classic NRM that emerged during the counterculture period in the 1960s and has undergone various forms of internal and external transformations in its struggle for survival and expansion. The intersection of a new authoritarian state exercising a large measure of control over the lives of its citizens who are engaged in meeting the state’s objective of material prosperity and modernization with that of a new but traditional religious movement with monastic inclinations and whose proselytizing methods are deliberately of high public visibility promises to be a dramatic encounter. According to Rosalind Hackett, the right to express and practice one’s religion is subject to restrictions that can be imposed by the state in the interests of public order, security, and decency. Specifically the recognition of the right to proselytize in any particular context is a good indicator of respect for the range of rights related to freedom of religion and belief. It is often the minority or sectarian groups like ISKCON that are the litmus test, and therefore its measure of freedom to proselytize in Singapore will be discussed here.