cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The X-Ray Diagram of a Buna-S Vulcanizate

Abstract Sebrell and Dinsmore (India Rubber World 103, 37 (1944); Rubber Chem. Tech. 16, 857 (1943)) found that the x-ray diffraction pattern of Buna-S consists of a broad halo similar to that obtained with liquids. This type of pattern was obtained whether the Buna-S was unstretched or stretched. Unstretched natural rubber gives a similar pattern, but stretched natural rubber gives a characteristic fiber pattern. This fiber pattern demonstrates the existence of three-dimensional crystallites. Buna-S would not be expected to yield a fiber diagram while stretched because the molecules of this synthetic rubber are probably not constructed in a regular fashion. The styrene residues are presumably distributed at random along the length of the molecule, and there may be side-chains which branch off the main chain. However, when considerably stretched, a Buna-S vulcanizate would be expected to exhibit some indication in its x-ray diagram that alignment of the molecules has occurred.
Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colony Performance in Relation to Supplemental Carbohydrates

The increasing use of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as a supplemental carbohydrate source for honey bee colonies suggested the need for research concerning potential deleterious effects of HFCS on colony performance. Sucrose,42% HFCS, and 55% HFCS were compared as supplemental carbohydrate sources for colonies established from packages during 1982 and 1983 at Madison, Wis. During 1982, there were no significant differences among treatments in early season weight gains, season honey production, or sealed brood measurements. There were no significant differences among treatments in winter consumption. During 1983, there were no significant differences among treatments in cluster size or newly emerged worker whole-body dry weights in the spring or head and thorax dry weights. Spring sealed brood was significantly greater in the sucrose treatment than in the HFCS treatments. Differences among treatments in season honey production were not significant. We concluded that feeding either 42 or 55% HFCS as carbohydrate supplements does not adversely affect honey bee colony performance.
The Mechanization of Biological Abstracts/BIOSIS

Mechanization came slowly to Biological Abstracts, more through unawareness of new developments and new technologies than by intent. Exactly the same manual procedures for all aspects of preparing each issue for the printer were still in effect for more than twenty years after the first issue was published. In his annual reports during the 1940s, Flynn mentioned rather casually that he had contemplated changing from the traditional letterpress printing techniques to offset reproduction of abstracts from camera-ready manuscript, but that he also each time rejected the idea. However, the post-World War H inflation was so shocking in its enormity that printing not only more than doubled in cost but it also became extremely unreliable in terms of scheduling. As a consequence, late in 1948 Flynn finally decided to make the change, with warm encouragement from the board of trustees. The necessary IBM typewriters were purchased—but much delayed in their delivery—and the first issue of Biological Abstracts for 1949 was produced by the offset method. This first step to modernize methodology did serve the purpose for which it was intended, as it reduced the cost of printing nearly 50 percent. Also, the preparation of manuscript in the central office ready for offset printing gave infinitely better control over printing schedules to the editor in chief. Unless Flynn had adopted this relatively new technology, and gained the advantage of the economies that ensued, Biological Abstracts might very well have had to suspend its activities or curtail them drastically for lack of adequate funds.
Abstract 248: Impact of the Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act on Abdominal Ultrasound Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Context: Since January 1, 2007, Medicare has covered the costs of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening for new male enrollees with a history of smoking under the Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act. The association of the Act with changes in rates of screening for AAA has not been well established. Objective : To determine whether the implementation of the SAAAVE Act was associated with changes in use of abdominal ultrasound for AAA screening among 65-year-old men (eligible) compared with a control group of 70-year-old men (not eligible). Design, Setting, and Patients : Retrospective, observational study of 65-year-old and 70-year-old men from a 20% random sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2009 (N%781,264). Data from the 2004 to 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to estimate the prevalence of prior smoking among men 65 to 75 years of age. Logistic regression was used to examine the change in abdominal ultrasound use for 65-year-old versus 70-year-old men before (2004-2006) and after (2007-2009) SAAAVE Act implementation, adjusting for patient comorbidities, state-level smoking prevalence, geographic variation, and time trends. Main Outcome Measures : Abdominal ultrasound use, elective repair of AAA, hospitalization for AAA rupture, and all-cause mortality over 365 days of follow-up. Results : The prevalence of prior smoking among 65-to-75-year-old men during the study period was 65.6%. Prior to SAAAVE, in 2004, 7.6% (6965/91,836) of 65-year-old beneficiaries and 8.9% (8975/100,987) of 70-year-old beneficiaries received abdominal ultrasound. Following SAAAVE, in 2008, both age groups had similar rates of use at 9.6% (age 65: 9235/95,980; age 70: 9328/97,336). After multivariate adjustment, the relative increase in abdominal ultrasound use among 65-year-old Medicare beneficiaries after the SAAAVE Act was statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.19, p < 0.001). The association of the SAAAVE Act with increases in abdominal ultrasound use differed by region (Northwest, AOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19, p < 0.011; Midwest, AOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.15-1.33, p < 0.001; South, AOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.18; p < 0.001; West, AOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.28; p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant association of the SAAAVE Act with 365-day rates of AAA repair (AOR 0.76, 95% CI 0.55-1.05, p=0.10), hospitalization for ruptured AAA (AOR 0.87, 95% CI 0.28-2.68, p=0.81), or all-cause mortality (AOR 0.98, 95% CI 0.91-1.05, p=0.61). Conclusion : The SAAAVE Act was associated with a modest, yet significant, increase in abdominal ultrasound use during the first three years of implementation. The proportion of male Medicare enrollees that received AAA screening was a small fraction of the men eligible to be screened, suggesting substantial underuse of a service with proven clinical benefit.
Pathobiologic effects of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main cause of non-A, non-B hepatitis around the world. It frequently leads to chronic hepatitis which may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Characteristic, although not pathognomonic, histologic changes in chronic hepatitis C include bile duct damage and lymphoid aggregates in portal tracts. Hepatocyte and bile duct injury seem to be mediated by both a direct cytopathic effect of HCV and immune mechanisms, perhaps triggered by HCV. Most HCC are related to HCV, HBV, or both. HCV appears to persist and replicate in hepatocytes during malignant transformation, but it is not clear whether the virus plays a direct or indirect role in hepatocarcinogenesis
Obesity in Pediatric Practice: Obesity in the Preschool and School-Age Child

Although obesity often starts in infancy, a more common onset is probably in the mid-childhood years. Aspects of this problem explored include prevalence, harmful effects, socioeconomic factors, evaluation and management, and resources available to the physician.
Detecting Plasma Tumor DNA in Early-Stage Breast Cancer--Reply.

We appreciate the comments of Kodahl and colleagues. However, there are several notable differences between their study and ours ([1][1]), which we believe explain the significant dissimilarities in the detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Kodahl and colleagues suggest the majority of our
A new framework for information security to avoid information anarchy

The purpose of information security that most infosec specialists identify is to preserve the three elements of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. The 1991 paper, Restating the Foundation of Information Security1, argues that this is a dangerously oversimplified definition of infosec. The preservation of these three elements does not include many kinds of information losses that infosec should prevent. My intent is to demonstrate in more rigorous fashion that the preservation of these elements must be expanded for infosec to be sufficiently comprehensive to protect information appropriately in all of its security aspects.
On the resolution of plenoptic PIV

Plenoptic PIV offers a simple, single camera solution for volumetric velocity measurements of fluid flow. However, due to the novel manner in which the particle images are acquired and processed, few references exist to aid in determining the resolution limits of the measurements. This manuscript provides a framework for determining the spatial resolution of plenoptic PIV based on camera design and experimental parameters. This information can then be used to determine the smallest length scales of flows that are observable by plenoptic PIV, the dynamic range of plenoptic PIV, and the corresponding uncertainty in plenoptic PIV measurements. A simplified plenoptic camera is illustrated to provide the reader with a working knowledge of the method in which the light field is recorded. Then, operational considerations are addressed. This includes a derivation of the depth resolution in terms of the design parameters of the camera. Simulated volume reconstructions are presented to validate the derived limits. It is found that, while determining the lateral resolution is relatively straightforward, many factors affect the resolution along the optical axis. These factors are addressed and suggestions are proposed for improving performance.
A novel approach to CAD system for the detection of lung nodules in CT images

Grouping of nodules helped in the reduction of false positive rate and computational time.Shape specific morphological operations were used for the refinement of juxtavascular nodules.Intensity based, geometrical and statistical features assisted in the elimination of false positives. Display Omitted Detection of pulmonary nodule plays a significant role in the diagnosis of lung cancer in early stage that improves the chances of survival of an individual. In this paper, a computer aided nodule detection method is proposed for the segmentation and detection of challenging nodules like juxtavascular and juxtapleural nodules. Lungs are segmented from computed tomography (CT) images using intensity thresholding; brief analysis of CT image histogram is done to select a suitable threshold value for better segmentation results. Simple morphological closing is used to include juxtapleural nodules in segmented lung regions. K-means clustering is applied for the initial detection and segmentation of potential nodules; shape specific morphological opening is implemented to refine segmentation outcomes. These segmented potential nodules are then divided into six groups on the basis of their thickness and percentage connectivity with lung walls. Grouping not only helped in improving system's efficiency but also reduced computational time, otherwise consumed in calculating and analyzing unnecessary features for all nodules. Different sets of 2D and 3D features are extracted from nodules in each group to eliminate false positives. Small size nodules are differentiated from false positives (FPs) on the basis of their salient features; sensitivity of the system for small nodules is 83.33%. SVM classifier is used for the classification of large nodules, for which the sensitivity of the proposed system is 93.8% applying 10-fold cross-validation. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve is used for the analysis of CAD system. Overall sensitivity of the system is 91.65% with 3.19 FPs per case, and accuracy is 96.22%. The system took 3.8 seconds to analyze each image.
The US Foreign Tax Credit Regime

This chapter explains how US foreign tax credit aims to reduce the double tax burden that would otherwise arise when foreign source income is taxed by both the United States and the foreign country from which the income is derived. It goes on to analyze the complexities of the direct foreign tax credit, the indirect foreign tax credit, and the limitations imposed under Internal Revenue Code Section 904, foreign tax credit limitations, redeterminations, and generation.
Seasonal patterns of reproduction of Norops humilis (Sauria: Iguanidae) in Costa Rica

Monthly samples of Norops humilis were collected from Dec. 1973 through Dec. 1974. Dissection of sacrificed animals revealed that females reach sexual maturity at a body length of 32 mm, whereas males reach maturity at lengths as low as 25 mm. Sexually mature lizards of both sexes were found throughout the year, confirming that reproduction occurs year-round. However, a gap in the occurrence of juveniles occurred during the months of Feb. and Mar. 1974, indicating that recruitment of juveniles was not constant throughout the year. Contrary to previous data on N. humilis from Costa Rica, lizards were more abundant during the dry season (Jan. - May) than during the wet season.
In response—ultrasound assisted lumbar puncture on infants in the pediatric emergency department

I read with interest the recently published article on ultrasound assisted pediatric lumbar puncture (UALP) by Gorn and colleagues1. As an advocate of point-of-care ultrasound in the pediatric emergency department setting, I am greatly encouraged by the study results. However, I would suggest clarification on several details of the study, some of which could potentially lead to biased outcomes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
In Vivo Imaging of Glutamine Metabolism to the Oncometabolite 2-Hydroxyglutarate in IDH1/2 Mutant Tumors.

Summary The oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) is a signature biomarker in various cancers, where it accumulates as a result of mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH). The metabolic source of 2-HG, in a wide variety of cancers, dictates both its generation and also potential therapeutic strategies, but this remains difficult to access in vivo . Here, utilizing patient-derived chondrosarcoma cells harboring endogenous mutations in IDH1 and IDH2, we report that 2-HG can be rapidly generated from glutamine in vitro . Then, using hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging (HP-MRI), we demonstrate that in vivo HP [1- 13 C] glutamine can be used to non-invasively measure glutamine-derived HP 2-HG production. This can be readily modulated utilizing a selective IDH1 inhibitor, opening the door to targeting glutamine-derived 2-HG therapeutically. Rapid rates of HP 2-HG generation in vivo further demonstrate that, in a context-dependent manner, glutamine can be a primary carbon source for 2-HG production in mutant IDH tumors.
Quantifying Collaboration with a Co-Creative Drawing Agent

This article describes a new technique for quantifying creative collaboration and applies it to the user study evaluation of a co-creative drawing agent. We present a cognitive framework called creative sense-making that provides a new method to visualize and quantify the interaction dynamics of creative collaboration, for example, the rhythm of interaction, style of turn taking, and the manner in which participants are mutually making sense of a situation. The creative sense-making framework includes a qualitative coding technique, interaction coding software, an analysis method, and the cognitive theory behind these applications. This framework and analysis method are applied to empirical studies of the Drawing Apprentice collaborative sketching system to compare human collaboration with a co-creative AI agent vs. a Wizard of Oz setup. The analysis demonstrates how the proposed technique can be used to analyze interaction data using continuous functions (e.g., integrations and moving averages) to measure and evaluate how collaborations unfold through time.
Effective integration of autonomous robots into an introductory computer science course: a case study

We present a detailed overview of how autonomous robots can be integrated into an introductory computer science course. We outline the specific details of a new introductory computer science course at our institution in which students are first exposed to Java programming using the LEGO Mindstorms. This programming component consumes approximately one third of the total class time during the semester. To effectively integrate autonomous robots into a course, there are several logistical and pragmatic issues that need to be carefully resolved if the approach is to be both successful and sustainable. Furthermore, the scope and content of the robot-related course work needs to be very carefully crafted so that the students absorb valuable computer science foundational concepts and not an over abundance of robotics related material. This case study provides a detailed blue print for creating a sustainable introductory computer science with a Mindstorm programming component that is intended for first semester freshman undergraduate students with no previous programming experience.
Expected Utility as a Paradigm for Decision Making in Agriculture

The assumption that a decision maker maximizes expected utility has been, and still is, a frequently employed model specification. This is true in economics and in agricultural economics. Decision models, where maximization of expected utility is the goal of the decision maker, have developed significantly during the forty or so years they have been in use. There now exists a substantial set of definitions, theorems, and empirical procedures available to those applying this paradigm. The goal of this chapter is to briefly describe the development of this expected utility (EU) decision model and to describe in some detail its current state.
Risks From Occupational and Dietary Exposure to Mevinphos

Mevinphos (trade name Phosdrin®; 2-carbomethoxy-l-methyl-vinyl dimethyl phosphate; CAS# 7786-34-7) was originally developed by Shell Chemical in 1954. AMVAC Chemical Corporation purchased the chemical rights, and had four products containing mevinphos registered in California (Durham Duraphos® EM 4, Phosdrin® IPA 4, Phosdrin® 10.3 WS, and Phosdrin® 4 EC) in 1994. The technical formulation (Phosdrin® 10.3) consisted of 60% alpha isomer (E-mevinphos) and 40% beta isomer (Z-mevinphos) (Fig. 1). Product formulations consist of two different aqueous dilutions of the technical material, an organophosphate insecticide used to control aphids, mites, grasshoppers, cutworms, leafhoppers, caterpillars, and many other insects on a broad range of field, forage, vegetable, and fruit crops. More than 71,000 kg of mevinphos were sold in California in 1992 (DPR 1994). Reported applications involved a wide variety of crops for pest control as a “clean-up” prior to harvest. The principal uses in California in 1992 were for lettuce, broccoli, celery, and cauliflower (DPR 1994).
Vasopressin in Patients with Liver and Cardiac Disease

Hyponatremia is a marker of abnormal water metabolism and frequently complicates the clinical course of patients with cirrhosis and chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) (1,2,3,4,5). Both of these hyponatremic disorders are associated with an increased total body sodium and a larger excess of total body water.
The Melanins: Their Synthesis and Structure

Although the melanins are among the most widely distributed and visible of the biological pigments, the understanding of their synthesis, structure, and function has been a story so prolonged as to constitute a case study in the history of biology. From the early commentary by Aristotle (315 b.c.), to the most recent investigations, the study of melanins has involved virtually every applicable chemical and physical technique, and the motivation in this research has reflected the biological fashions of each era. Notwithstanding these efforts, we still do not know their chemical structures or molecular weights, their mode of. synthesis is not yet agreed upon, a satisfactory nomenclature remains to be devised, and even their biological roles are more a matter of surmise than proof.
Diffuse Myocardial Fibrosis Is a Common Feature of Sickle Cell Anemia That Is Associated with Diastolic Dysfunction and Restrictive Cardiac Physiology

Background: We have recently shown that the cardiomyopathy of sickle cell anemia (SCA) is characterized by restrictive physiology (diastolic dysfunction, left atrial [LA] enlargement and normal systolic function) superimposed on hyperdynamic features (left ventricular [LV] enlargement and eccentric hypertrophy) (JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 9:244-253;2016; PNAS 2016 in press). Similar to other restrictive cardiomyopathies, SCA-related cardiomyopathy may lead to mild, secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH) with elevated tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV), and can be complicated by arrhythmias and sudden death. Diastolic dysfunction is the principal pathology leading to restrictive physiology. Myocardial fibrosis is a common cause of non-SCA restrictive physiology, but the cause of the diastolic dysfunction that underlies SCA-related cardiomyopathy is undetermined. Focal fibrosis, as detected by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), is rare in SCA. However, diffuse myocardial fibrosis, which is not detected by LGE, has not been studied before in SCA. Therefore, we aimed to detect myocardial fibrosis in SCA using a novel CMR T1-mapping technique to quantify the myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) fraction, which correlates with histologic diffuse fibrosis. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of children and adults with SCA (NCT02410811) who underwent CMR, echocardiography, and laboratory testing (including N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], a marker of ventricular stress). ECV was measured from pre- and post-gadolinium T1 maps using a modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence. Chamber sizes and cardiac performance were evaluated using CMR, while TRV and diastolic parameters were measured by echocardiography. Results: Twenty-five patients with a median age of 19 years (range 6-61 years) were evaluated. ECV was increased in all SCA patients (mean 44 ± 8% vs. 25 ± 3% in normal subjects, P 2 , P=0.04) compared to patients with ECV Conclusions: ECV is markedly elevated in SCA, indicating the presence of significant diffuse myocardial fibrosis in all patients studied. High ECV is associated with more severe anemia, diastolic dysfunction, and high NT-proBNP. Diffuse myocardial fibrosis is a novel process underlying diastolic dysfunction and SCA-related cardiomyopathy, the features of which may be mistaken for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Identifying and therapeutically targeting the root-cause of myocardial fibrosis, or interrupting the development of myocardial fibrosis, should be studied to mitigate cardiopulmonary disease and decrease early mortality in SCA. Disclosures Quinn: Silver Lake Research Corporation: Consultancy; Eli Lilly: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding.
A Scoping Review of Medications Studied in Pediatric Polypharmacy Research.

The purpose of this study is to describe medications most commonly studied in pediatric polypharmacy research by pharmacologic classes and disease using a scoping review methodology. A search of electronic databases was conducted in July 2019 that included Ovid Medline, PubMed, Elsevier Embase, and EBSCO CINAHL. Primary observational studies were selected if they evaluated polypharmacy as an aim, outcome, predictor, or covariate in children 0–21 years of age. Studies not differentiating between adults and children or those not written in English were excluded. Study characteristics, pharmacologic categories, medication classes, and medications were extracted from the included studies. The search identified 8790 titles and after de-duplicating and full-text screening, 414 studies were extracted for the primary data. Regarding global pharmacologic categories, central nervous system (CNS) agents were most studied (n = 185, 44.9%). The most reported pharmacologic category was the anticonvulsants (n = 250, 60.4%), with valproic acid (n = 129), carbamazepine (n = 123), phenobarbital (n = 87), and phenytoin (n = 83) being the medications most commonly studied. In studies that reported medication classes (n = 105), serotonin reuptake inhibitors (n = 32, 30.5%), CNS stimulants (n = 30, 28.6%), and mood stabilizers (n = 27, 25.7%) were the most studied medication classes. While characterizing the literature on pediatric polypharmacy in terms of the types of medication studied, we further identified substantive gaps within this literature outside of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. Medications frequently identified in use of polypharmacy for treatment of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders reveal opportunities for enhanced medication management in pediatric patients.
Clostridium difficile infection in a children's hospital with specific patterns among pediatric oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation populations.

Background: Clostridium difficile (CD) is often classified as a healthcare-associated infection (HAI) and a hospital-acquired condition (HAC) in the hospital setting. However, pediatric oncology pa...
Plasma Biomarkers of Tubular Injury and Inflammation Are Associated with CKD Progression in Children.

Background After accounting for known risk factors for CKD progression in children, clinical outcomes among children with CKD still vary substantially. Biomarkers of tubular injury (such as KIM-1), repair (such as YKL-40), or inflammation (such as MCP-1, suPAR, TNF receptor-1 [TNFR-1], and TNFR-2) may identify children with CKD at risk for GFR decline. Methods We investigated whether plasma KIM-1, YKL-40, MCP-1, suPAR, TNFR-1, and TNFR-2 are associated with GFR decline in children with CKD and in subgroups defined by glomerular versus nonglomerular cause of CKD. We studied participants of the prospective CKiD Cohort Study which enrolled children with an eGFR of 30-90 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and then assessed eGFR annually. Biomarkers were measured in plasma collected 5 months after study enrollment. The primary endpoint was CKD progression, defined as a composite of a 50% decline in eGFR or incident ESKD. Results Of the 651 children evaluated (median age 11 years; median baseline eGFR of 53 ml/min per 1.73 m2), 195 (30%) had a glomerular cause of CKD. Over a median follow-up of 5.7 years, 223 children (34%) experienced CKD progression to the composite endpoint. After multivariable adjustment, children with a plasma KIM-1, TNFR-1, or TNFR-2 concentration in the highest quartile were at significantly higher risk of CKD progression compared with children with a concentration for the respective biomarker in the lowest quartile (a 4-fold higher risk for KIM-1 and TNFR-1 and a 2-fold higher risk for TNFR-2). Plasma MCP-1, suPAR, and YKL-40 were not independently associated with progression. When stratified by glomerular versus nonglomerular etiology of CKD, effect estimates did not differ significantly. Conclusions Higher plasma KIM-1, TNFR-1, and TNFR-2 are independently associated with CKD progression in children.
Chapter 29 – Setting Up a Laboratory

Whole genome sequencing is not at present cost-effective in most settings. But today’s molecular genetic laboratory can effectively sequence panels of several hundred genes, and even entire exomes without a core facility. Diagnostic and research genetics laboratories use identical instruments and methods, but the clinical diagnostic laboratory is subject to an array of regulations and quality assurance practices, all designed to minimize error and maximize the likelihood of a diagnostically useful result. This chapter outlines major areas and points to useful resources for setting up a laboratory. The most important advice is that the accuracy and value of a genetic research finding or of a genetic diagnosis is critically dependent on communication among the ordering clinician, the clinical laboratorian or researcher, and the genetic counselor.
Reward-Related Neural Predictors and Mechanisms of Symptom Change in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Adolescent Girls.

Abstract Background Approximately half of depressed adolescents fail to respond to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Given the variability in response, it is important to identify pretreatment characteristics that predict prognosis. Knowledge of which depressed adolescents are likely to exhibit a positive versus poor outcome to CBT may have important clinical implications (e.g., informing treatment recommendations). Emerging evidence suggests that neural reward responsiveness represents one promising predictor. Methods Adolescents with major depressive disorder (n = 36) received CBT and completed a reward task at 3 time points (pretreatment, midtreatment and posttreatment) while 128-channel electroencephalographic data were acquired. Healthy control participants (n = 29) completed the same task at 3 corresponding time points. Analyses focused on event-related potentials linked to 2 stages of neural processing: initial response to rewards (reward positivity) and later, elaborative processing (late positive potential). Moreover, time-frequency analyses decomposed the reward positivity into 2 constituent components: reward-related delta and loss-related theta activity. Results Multilevel modeling revealed that greater pretreatment reward responsiveness, as measured by the late positive potential to rewards, predicted greater depressive symptom change. In addition, a group × condition × time interaction emerged for theta activity to losses, reflecting normalization of theta power in the group with major depressive disorder from baseline to posttreatment. Conclusions An event-related potential measure of sustained (late positive potential)—but not initial (reward positivity)—reward responsiveness predicted symptom improvement, which may help inform which depressed adolescents are most likely to benefit from CBT. In addition to alleviating depression, successful CBT may attenuate underlying neural (theta) hypersensitivity to negative outcomes in depressed youths.
Surgeon-Placed Continuous Wound Infusion Pain Catheters Markedly Decrease Narcotic Use and Improve Outcomes After Pancreatic Tumor Resection

Pancreatectomy results in significant postoperative pain and typically requires opioid analgesia for adequate pain control. Local anesthetics may decrease postoperative pain and opioid requirements but can be limited by onset of action, duration of effect, and inability to titrate dosing after administration. This can be overcome by surgeon placement of tunneled peri-incisional catheters with continuous wound infusion (CWI). This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients undergoing open pancreatic tumor resection. All the patients received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), enabling an objective comparison of opioid requirements, and underwent the same recovery pathway. The patients received CWI (n = 45), PCA alone (n = 11), or epidural analgesia (EA) (n = 9). The primary outcome was total opioid use in terms of intravenous morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) and patient-reported pain scores on a numeric rating scale (NRS) of 0 to 10. No differences in baseline patient or tumor characteristics were observed. In both the uni- and multivariate analyses, CWI was associated with lower opioid use than PCA (MME, 83 vs 207 mg; p = 0.004) or EA (MME, 83 vs 156 mg; p < 0.001) without having a negative impact on pain scores. Furthermore, CWI was associated with a greater percentage of time that patients experienced optimal pain control (NRS, ≤ 4: 63% vs 50%; p = 0.033) and a shorter time to PCA independence (4.0 vs 4.9 days; p = 0.004) than PCA alone. In addition, CWI was associated with earlier ambulation [EA vs CWI: odds ratio (OR), 0.05; p = 0.021], improved spirometry performance (CWI vs PCA: regression coefficient (coef), 267; p = 0.013), and earlier urinary catheter removal (EA vs CWI: coef, 1.30; p = 0.013). The findings showed no differences in time to return of bowel function, antiemetic use, or hospital length of stay. After open pancreatic tumor resection, CWI is safe and associated with decreased opioid requirements and improved functional outcomes without a negative impact on pain scores, supporting its potential for preferred use over PCA or EA alone.
Implications of Sea Level Rise for Bee Communities in Rural Eastern Virginia Coastal Habitats

In the coastal mid-Atlantic region of the USA, landscapes are a mosaic of upland habitats (woodland, grassland, old fields and farmland) and low-lying coastal salt marsh. Flooding and salinization of coastal areas due to sea-level rise result in the conversion of upland habitats to salt marsh, and change the relative proportion of habitat types surrounding coastal farmland. This has the potential to influence population sizes of organisms living in this area and could alter the ecosystem services, such as pollination, that these habitats provide. To examine the potential outcome of these habitat conversions, we used blue vane traps at 14 sites along the Eastern Shore of Virginia (USA) to compare the bee communities of salt marsh, old fields and agricultural fields. Although there was no difference among habitat types for total bee abundance per site, we found that the coastal marsh is depauperate in bee species relative to old fields and agricultural fields, and that the bee species using the marsh habitat tend to be specialists of plant families that are common in the marsh (Asteraceae and Malvaceae) but are relatively uncommon in local agriculture. Thus, the transition of upland areas to marsh not only has the potential to impact agricultural productivity directly through salt water intrusion, ultimately it may also reduce the species richness of native bees available to provide pollination services to coastal agriculture.
The Acceptance and Usage Intention of Menstrual Underwear

This exploratory research aims to study the consumer perception, acceptance and adoption of menstrual underwear as it provides a sustainable option to the current feminine hygiene management solutions widely used in the consumer market in the U.S. Employing a longitudinal qualitative research design, researchers explore the social psychological effect the usage of the underwear will have on consumer adoption, in addition to the functional aspect of the underwear.
Pre-evaluation on occupational hazards of cogeneration project in a coal-fired power plant

[Objective]To determine the occupational hazard factors existed in this proposed construction project,analyze the damage degree as well as its influence on laborers' health,evaluate the effect of corresponding protective measures of the hazards,and present the critical control point of the occupational hazards.[Methods]Check list and analogy method were used to carry out the comprehensive analysis and evaluation.[Results]By the analogy method,all of 41 poison detection sites were qualified with the qualified rate of 100.0%,82.4% of 51 dust detection sites were qualified,and 85.5% of 69 noise detection sites were qualified,while all 3 detection sites of power frequency electric field were qualified.Combined with on-site inspection of a coal-fired power plant,it was predicted that the critical control points of occupational hazards included fuel storage,handling and ash transportation,turbine patrol,water treatment system,and boiler patrol.[Conclusion]The occupational hazard factors in the workplace of this proposed construction project are toxicant,noise,dust and power frequency electric field.Only the protective measures of occupational hazards are implemented in the new construction project,can the concentration(intensity) of possible occupational hazard factors in the productive process be controlled within the national occupational exposure limits.The proposed project is feasible from the view of occupational health.
The metal age of Thailand and Ricardo's Law of Comparative Advantage

Abstract After several decades of archaeologists interpreting Thailand's metal age development using top-down approaches drawn from 1980s archaeological theory, it has become evident they do not work for this region. When the metal assemblages from Ban Chiang and related sites in northeast Thailand were studied with a systematic methodology, alternative perspectives emerged for how to better interpret the resilient, peaceful prehistoric societies dating from approximately 2100 BCE – 300 CE. A testable model is proposed applying “Ricardo's Law of Comparative Advantage” that focuses on “regional exchange systems.” Exchange networks existed in the middle Mekong and Chao Phraya basins from the pre-metal period through the metal age and underpinned heterarchical political and economic systems whereby goods and valuables were exchanged among decentralized networks of communities.
Contracts with Aftermarket Substitution: The Case of PG&E and Electric Batteries

Electric batteries are rapidly growing technologies that allow storing electricity at one time to be used in another. In recent years, many battery companies have entered the market for end-user batteries. These behind-the-meter batteries allow end-users (e.g. households) to store electricity at off-peak prices for use in peak price periods in order to reduce their bills. They also allow arbitrage on retailer's temporal electricity prices. Electricity retailers facing increased use of batteries by end-users should respond by updating their offered prices. By finding the new optimal prices, the retailers would like to understand the impact of end-user battery technology on their surplus. In this paper, we focus on electricity retailer's optimal electricity pricing considering incentives when batteries are available to the end-users, and study the impact of these batteries on retailer's welfare. We consider an economy consisting of an electricity retailer, and heterogeneous end-users. The retailer buys electricity in the wholesale market and offers contracts to end-users, while the end-users can access behind-the-meter batteries via battery companies. To isolate the impact of batteries, we do not consider access to rooftop solar as alternative source of electricity in this study; in other words, the retailer is a monopolist.
Clearview, an Improved Temporal GIS Viewer and Its Use in Discovering Spatiotemporal Patterns

A GIS must have correct, efficient temporal functionality to be an effective visualization tool for spatiotemporal processes. Nevertheless, the major commercial GIS software providers have yet to produce GIS software packages that consistently function correctly with temporal data. This paper explains some of the serious errors in these existing software packages. The paper then shows how an efficient and correct temporal GIS viewer called Clearview can be designed and implemented. We also look at how Clearview can uncover new spatiotemporal patterns and knowledge in an HGIS (Historical GIS) database, Harvard and Fudan Universities’ CHGIS (China Historical GIS).
Consent for Use of Genetic Data among US Hispanics/Latinos: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/ Study of Latinos.

Inclusion of historically underrepresented populations in biomedical research is critical for large precision medicine research initia­tives. Among 13,721 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) enrollees, we used multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios to describe characteristics associated with participants’ willingness to consent to different levels of biospecimen and genetic data analysis and sharing. At baseline (2008-2011), HCHS/SOL par­ticipants almost universally consented to the use of biospecimens and genetic data by study investigators and their collabora­tors (97.6%; 95%CI: 97.1, 98.0). Fewer consented to biospecimen and genetic data sharing with investigators not affiliated with the HCHS/SOL research team (81%, 95%CI: 80, 82) or any data sharing with commer­cial/for-profit entities (75%, 95%CI: 74, 76). Those refusing to share their data beyond the study investigators group were more often females, Spanish language-speakers and non-US born individuals. As expected, participants who were retained and recon­sented at the six-year follow up visit tended to embrace broader data sharing, although this varied by group. Over time, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans were more likely to convert to broader data sharing than individuals of a Mexican background. Our analysis suggests that acculturation and im­migration status of specific Hispanic/Latino communities may influence decisions about participation in genomic research projects and biobanks. Ethn Dis. 2021;31(4):547- 558; doi:10.18865/ed.31.4.547
Structural analysis of cross-linking domains in cartilage type XI collagen. Insights on polymeric assembly.

The collagen framework of hyaline cartilage is based on copolymers of types II, IX, and XI collagens. Previous studies have established specific covalent interactions between types II and IX collagens. The present study examined cross-linking sites in type XI collagen to define better the full heteropolymeric assembly. Pepsin-solubilized type XI collagen was purified from fetal bovine cartilage. The cross-linking amino acids in the preparation were primarily divalent, borohydride-reducible structures; pyridinoline residues were essentially absent. Individual α1(XI), α2(XI), and α3(XI) chains were resolved by high performance liquid chromatography. Telopeptides still attached by cross-links to helical sites were released by periodate oxidation and identified by microsequencing. Analysis of cross-linked peptides isolated from trypsin digests of each α-chain identified the attachment helical sites for the telopeptides. A high degree of interchain specificity was evident in the cross-linking between type XI collagen molecules. The dominant cross-links were between N-telopeptides and the COOH terminus of the triple-helix, consistent with a head-to-tail interaction of molecules staggered by 4D (D = 67 nm) periods. In addition, α1(II) C-telopeptide was linked to the amino-terminal site of the α1(XI) triple helix. In summary, the results show that type XI collagen molecules are primarily cross-linked to each other in cartilage, implying that a homopolymer is initially formed. Links to type II collagen are also indicated, consistent with an eventual cofibrillar assembly. Analysis of cartilage extracts showed that all three chains, α1(XI), α2(XI), and α3(XI), had at least in part retained their N-propeptides in cartilage matrix and that the α3(XI) chain was the IIB splicing variant product of the COL2A1 gene. Of particular note was the finding that the N-telopeptide cross-linking site in both α1(XI) and α2(XI) is located amino-terminal to the putative N-propeptidase cleavage site. This structural feature provides a potential mechanism for the proteolytic depolymerization of type XI collagen by proteases that can cleave between the cross-link and the triple helix (e.g. stromelysin).
An Abstraction-Based Data Model for Information Retrieval

Language ontologies provide an avenue for automated lexical analysis that may be used to supplement existing information retrieval methods. This paper presents a method of information retrieval that takes advantage of WordNet, a lexical database, to generate paths of abstraction, and uses them as the basis for an inverted index structure to be used in the retrieval of documents from an indexed corpus. We present this method as a entree to a line of research on using ontologies to perform word-sense disambiguation and improve the precision of existing information retrieval techniques.
1 Keynote address by Nobel Laureate Phillip A. Sharp the 21st century opened with a revolution in RNA biology.

The discoveries of RNA interference and the evolutionary conservation of microRNAs at the turn of the century heralded a revolution in RNA Biology and the development of important innovations. Of p...
ESTIMATING THE SUPPLY CURVE OF WORKING HOURS

IT is now widely recognized that the shape of the aggregate supply curve of working hours cannot be determined by a priori analysis. In the most common formulation of this problem, labour supply is treated as part of the theory of consumer behaviour. Each worker is assumed to decide the number of hours that he will work at the exogenously determined wage rate. A rise in this wage rate may either increase or decrease the number of hours supplied, depending on whether the substitution or income effect dominates.2'3 Several economists have therefore tried to estimate supply curves of aggregate hours by using time series data or comparisons across industries, occupations, or areas. The results of this work have been widely regarded as evidence that the supply curve is backward sloping, i.e. that the income effect of higher wages dominates the substitution effect. Section I of this paper briefly reviews these results, indicates that they cannot be interpreted as estimates of supply curves, and suggests an alternative approach using data for particular occupations within local labour markets. Section II describes the data and gives definitions of the variables used in the current study. The results are presented and discussed in Section III. I. Previous studies and the identification problem
Parathyroid hormone-related peptide protects cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress-induced cell death: First evidence of a novel endocrine-cardiovascular interaction.

Although there is a growing interest in the molecular cross-talk between the endocrine and cardiovascular systems, the cardiac effects of calcium-regulating hormones (i.e., parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP)) have not been explored. In this study, we examined the effect of PTHrP on the viability of isolated adult mouse cardiomyocytes subjected to oxidative stress. Myocytes from 19 to 22 week old male 129J/C57BL6 mice were exposed to oxidative insult in the form of H2O2 which led to more than 70% loss of cell viability. Herein we demonstrate, for the first time, that pretreatment with 100 nM PTHrP prior to 100 μM H2O2 incubation prevents H2O2 -induced cell death by more than 50%. Immunoblot analysis revealed H2O2 induction of MKP-1 protein expression while PTHrP decreased MKP-1 expression. Moreover, myocytes derived from MKP1 KO mice were resistant to oxidative injury. No added benefit of PTHrP treatment was noted in MKP-1 null cardiomyocytes. Using specific pharmacological inhibitors we demonstrated that P-p38, P-ERK and P-AKT mediated PTHrP's cardioprotective action. These data provide novel evidence that: i) down-regulation of MKP1 affords profound protection against oxidative stress; and ii) PTHrP is cardioprotective, possibly via down-regulation of MKP-1 and activation of MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling.