cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public Participation in Election Management The Case of Language Minority Voters

The 2000 presidential election brought to the fore many problems that have existed in the administration of elections. This article examines the importance of public involvement in the management o...
Academic Integrity: Comparing Faculty and Student Attitudes.

(1984). Academic Integrity: Comparing Faculty and Student Attitudes. Improving College and University Teaching: Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 140-144.
An intelligent consultant system for chess

This study presents a new approach for an interactive chess consultant that combines the techniques of fuzzy logic and case-based reasoning in order to produce high level advice for specific chess positions. The implementation focuses on chess middlegames, although the approach may be applied to other types of positions and even other domains. The Interactive Consultant for Chess Middlegames (ICONCHESS), implemented in this study, produces advice either by evaluating relevant features of the specific position or by comparing the position to a case base of well-studied chess positions. The advice provided for a position can be presented in different formats--summary, textual, and visual. ICONCHESS uses a similarity metric based on high-level features in order to retrieve relevant cases from the case base. This similarity metric combines several important chess features to characterize a chess position. Fuzzy logic techniques are used to compute some of the features that make up this metric and also to combine those features into one final similarity metric. Once a similar case is retrieved, a case adaptation procedure is used to determine the sections of the advice obtained from that case that can be applied to the chess position under study. In order to test the unique consultant environment implement in ICONCHESS, an experiment was conducted to determine its usefulness on different subjects. The main results of the experiment follow: (1) the evaluation of ICONCHESS given by the users was positive, particularly the visual advice and the advice obtained from similar cases; (2) the sessions with ICONCHESS helped most users to improve their evaluation of chess positions; (3) subjects profited from ICONCHESS at different levels; and (4) subjects who had more than one session with ICONCHESS had an easy time remembering how to use the program in subsequent sessions. These results give a preliminary indication that the approach used in ICONCHESS is feasible and useful in a tutoring environment for chess.
Sources of Ideas and Their Effectiveness in Parallel R & D Projects

Information sources and their effectiveness in parallel research and development programs for laboratory facilities
Arterial calcification: Conscripted by collagen.

In atherosclerotic plaques, patterns of calcification — which have profound implications for plaque stability and vulnerability to rupture — are determined by the collagen's content and patterning throughout the plaque.
Swimming velocities and behavior of blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus rathbun) megalopae in still and flowing water

Habitat selection capabilities of the recruiting larval stages of marine invertebrates are limited, in part, by their ability to maneuver in flowing water. Distributional and experimental evidence suggest that blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) megalopae may preferentially settle into vegetated habitats. However, the behavior and swimming capabilities of megalopae in flowing water have not previously been investigated. Laboratory experiments were conducted in a small, recirculating seawater flume to determine the swimming response of megalopae to varying flow velocities. Nighttime trials were conducted at six flow velocities: 0, 1.9, 3.6, 4.8, 6.3, and 9.3 cm s−1. Behavior and swimming velocities of field-collected C. sapidus megalopae were video recorded. Megalopae exhibited negative phototaxis and were found in the water column at all flows in the dark. The maximum sustained swimming speed observed was 12.6 cm s−1 and the mean swimming speed in still water was 5.0 cm s−1, with short bursts in excess of 20 cm s−1. Megalopae frequently oriented into the current and were capable of swimming upstream against the current at flow speeds <4.8 cm s−1; at greater velocities they were not able to do so. The results suggest that at low to moderate current velocities C. sapidus megalopae have the ability to actively move in search of settlement sites and to maintain their positions in desirable sites rather than relying strictly on passive movements by currents.
Winter Survival of Culex Tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) Hibernating in Mine Tunnels in Boulder County, Colorado, USA

The mark-release-recapture technique was applied to the study of winter survival among hibernating Culex tarsalis for the first time. Three hundred and seventy-seven hibernating Cx. tarsalis females were collected from an abandoned gold mine tunnel near Jamestown, Colorado, on 19 October 1977, marked with a zinc sulfide dust, and released into the mine. Recovery of 8.7% of the marked population 3 to 5 months later provided only a crude estimate of survival rates; however, this study represents the first attempt to quantify survival rates among an unrestrained overwintering population of Cx. tarsalis . A total of 1088 female Cx. tarsalis were collected from this and surrounding mines from September 1977 through March 1978. The parity status of 606 specimens was 2.8% parous, 89.9% nulliparous, and 7.3% undetermined. A total of 905 Cx. tarsalis collected from September through March was tested for arboviruses, generally after being kept alive in the laboratory for 2 weeks at 26.7 °C and a 16-h photophase and after having fed on a chick, but no virus was isolated from either the mosquitoes or the chicks.
Methanospirillum respiratory mRNA biomarkers correlate with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis rate during growth and competition for hydrogen in an organochlorine-respiring mixed culture.

Molecular biomarkers hold promise for inferring rates of key metabolic activities in complex microbial systems. However, few studies have assessed biomarker levels for simultaneously occurring (and...
Adsorption of Plutonium Oxide Nanoparticles

Adsorption of monodisperse cubic plutonium oxide nanoparticles (“Pu-NP”, [Pu38O56Clx(H2O)y](40-x)+, with a fluorite-related lattice, approximately 1 nm in edge size) to the muscovite (001) basal plane from aqueous solutions was observed in situ (in 100 mM NaCl background electrolyte at pH 2.6). Uptake capacity of the surface quantified by α-spectrometry was 0.92 μg Pu/cm2, corresponding to 10.8 Pu per unit cell area (AUC). This amount is significantly larger than that of Pu4+ needed for satisfying the negative surface charge (0.25 Pu4+ for 1 e–/AUC). The adsorbed Pu-NPs cover 17% of the surface area, determined by X-ray reflectivity (XR). This correlates to one Pu-NP for every 14 unit cells of muscovite, suggesting that each particle compensates the charge of the unit cells onto which it adsorbs as well as those in its direct proximity. Structural investigation by resonant anomalous X-ray reflectivity distinguished two different sorption states of Pu-NPs on the surface at two different regimes of distance...
How well do time-averaged J-coupling restraints work?

A comparison is made of the consequences of using time-averaged and conventional vicinal 3J-coupling restraints in molecular dynamics refinement of an adenosine nucleoside model system. The target values for the restraints are derived from a 3-ns unrestrained molecular dynamics simulation. A comparison of the results from the restrained refinements and the unrestrained trajectory reveals that while both restraint types (time-averaged and conventional) are capable of acceptably reproducing the averaged values of the restrained parameters, time-averaged J-coupling restraints allow a more realistic and thorough description of conformational fluctuations. The full description of conformational behavior for the sugar ring using time-averaged J-coupling restraints is in excellent agreement with the unrestrained results. J-coupling restraints can result in a localized ‘heating effect’ about the underlying torsion. This allows a restrained torsion to sample all low-energy rotomers separated by modest barriers in an appropriately weighted mixture that reproduces the J-restraint target value. This will generally be advantageous for experimentally derived data, though it can be misleading if all these low-energy rotomers did not contribute to the ensemble that yields the measured J-value. An analysis of how the force constant used in the restraint terms affects the refinement indicates that smaller force constants are to be preferred, and that constants in the range of Kj≥0.4 kcal s2/mol are acceptably large to overcome the intrinsic preferences of the force field.
ACRL 2015 Conference

A look at selected sessions and programs from the Association of College and Research Libraries 2015 Conference, held in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Robust nonlinear estimation and control of clutch-to-clutch shifts

Shift quality is an integral component of driveability. Thus, it is of paramount importance that control methods be developed for ensuring good shift quality. Increasingly, automatic transmissions employ a combination of two actively controlled clutches to implement shifts, which makes the gearshifts clutch-to-clutch shifts. In the current study, nonlinear control techniques are used to ensure good shift quality for a typical clutch-to-clutch shift. Closed loop control is achieved for both torque and inertia phases of the shift through manipulation of clutch pressures, observers being used to estimate the required information. Robustness is ensured for the observer based controller using loop shaping techniques. Controller performance is evaluated through numerical simulation of the proposed observer based controller on an experimentally validated high order model of a stepped production automatic transmission.
Socioeconomic Disparities in the Presentation and Treatment of Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Eye Disease

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an inflammatory, autoimmune orbitopathy with multifactorial etiology. Clinical presentation of TED spans a range from mild surface irritation to vision threatening compressive optic neuropathy. Potential vision loss underscores the importance of understanding genetic and environmental factors influencing the severity of TED presentation. This review will describe the classic risk factors for TED, outline treatments for Graves' disease (GD) and TED, and describe newer evidence of socioeconomic disparities in TED presentation.
Alternative polyadenylation of apolipoprotein B RNA is a major cause of B-48 protein formation in rat hepatoma cell lines transfected with human apoB-100 minigenes

The human apoB gene encodes an mRNA of 14121 nucleotides. In liver the apoB gene products a full-length mature protein of 4,536 amino acids (B-100), whereas in the intestine this gene produces a truncated protein of 2,152 amino acids (B-48). B-48 results from RNA editing of nucleotide 6666 from C to U, thereby producing a stop codon at position 2153. Rat liver has been shown to contain apoB RNA editing capability resulting in production of both B-100 and B-48. To create an in vitro expression system for human B-100, a minigene with a wild type coding sequence for the entire B-100 protein (B-100/Gln) was stably transfected into rat hepatoma cells (McA-RH7777). Similarly, a minigene with mutation at nucleotide 6667 that allowed translation even after editing of nucleotide 6666 (B-100/Leu, nonstop mutant), a minigene with an additional nonsense mutation at nucleotide 7053 to produce B-50 (B-50/Leu), and a truncated wild type minigene with a stop signal at codon 3261 to produce B-74 and an mRNA of 10 kb (B-74/Gln) were also transfected. Very little full-length B-100 and B-74 was produced by any of the respective constructions, including the B-100/Leu with the nonstop mutation. Transfection with B-100/Gln, B-100/Leu and B-74/Gln constructions produced greater than 90% of apoB as B-48, whereas the B-50/Leu construction produced 76% B-50 and 24% B-48. The inability of the B-100/Leu construction to produce B-100 suggested an explanation for B-48 production other than RNA editing. Northern blot analysis showed that the RNA produced by all four transfectants was shortened to a size of about 7 kb. A 10-kb but no 7-kb RNA was observed in the B-74/Leu construction when transfected to Chinese hamster ovary cells suggesting cell type specificity in generation of a shortened RNA. The 3' end of apoB RNA from McA-RH7777 B-100/Leu transfectants was reverse transcribed, cloned, and sequenced. This revealed two species of RNA: one polyadenylated at or near nucleotide 6775 capable of coding for B-48, the other polyadenylated at nucleotide 7080 capable of coding for B-50. In 18% of the cDNA clones, nucleotide 6666 was edited from C to T. In 6 of 34 clones, addition of the poly(A) tail after nucleotide 6774 created a TAA stop codon, whereas no stop signals could be detected in the remaining clones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Study of Two-Step Reaction Mechanism and Compound Nucleus Contributions in (d,p) Reactions

The (d,p) reaction mechanism involved in populating low-lying non-single particle 7/2+ states in s-d shell nuclei has been discussed in the literature.1–2 For s-d shell nuclei which possess low-lying collective states, a two-step process involving the excitation of the 2+ state in the target nucleus followed by an l = 2 neutron transfer has been suggested as the reaction mechanism. The compound nuclear reaction mechanism is a possible alternative.
Adjunctive Pharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Alcohol and Drug Dependence

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the neurobiology of addiction that represents the basis for applying evidence-based pharmacotherapies for addictive disorders. The clinical course of patients with addictive disorders is characterized by phases of repeated intoxication, withdrawal, and abstinence. Each of these states is associated with characteristic neurobiological changes in the brain that are amenable to modification by pharmacological agents. Advances in understanding the neurobiology of addiction have identified specific brain neurotransmitter systems that are associated with these phases of addiction; medications that target these neurotransmitter systems have the potential to be effective treatments. Accordingly, using medications to lessen withdrawal, alter the effects of drug and alcohol intoxication, and maintain abstinence or at least reduce substance use can reduce the impact of substance use and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Considerable evidence exists that adding adjunctive pharmacological treatment to traditional psychosocial treatments can improve therapeutic success significantly.
Evaluating a smartphone application to improve child passenger safety and fire safety knowledge and behaviour.

Background Although proven measures for reducing injury due to motor vehicle collision and residential fires exist, the number of families properly and consistently using child passenger restraints and smoke alarms remains low. This paper describes the design of the Safety In Seconds (SIS) 2.0 study, which aims to evaluate the impact of a smartphone app on parents9 use of child restraints and smoke alarms. Methods SIS is a multisite randomised controlled trial. Participants are parents of children aged 4–7 years who are visiting the Pediatric Emergency Department or Pediatric Trauma Service. Parents are randomised to receive tailored education about child passenger safety or about fire safety via the SIS smartphone app. A baseline and two follow-up surveys at 3 months and 6 months are conducted. Primary outcomes are: (1) having the correct child restraint for the child9s age and size; (2) restraining the child in the back seat of the car; (3) buckling the child up for every ride; (4) having the restraint inspected by a child passenger safety technician; (5) having a working smoke alarm on every level of the home; (6) having hard-wired or lithium battery smoke alarms; (7) having and (8) practising a fire escape plan. Discussion Finding ways to communicate with parents about child passenger and fire safety continues to be a research priority. This study will contribute to the evidence about how to promote benefits of proper and consistent child restraint and smoke alarm use. Trial registration number NCT02345941; Pre-results.
External Cardioversion of Supraventricular Tachycardia in Omphalo-Thoracopagus Conjoined Twins

A pair of omphalo-thoracopagus twins was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) on the first day of life. Twelve-lead electrocardiography was performed with leads placed on twin A ([Figure 1][1]). The 2:1 ratio of the 2 QRS populations was thought to be the result of SVT in twin A, with
A review of the genus Eclipidrilus (Annelida: Clitellata: Lumbricul-idae), with description of a new species from western North America

Eclipidrilus pacificus n. sp., from northwestern USA, is distinguished from other Eclipidrilus by having a single atrium with midventral male pore, small penis, prostomium without a proboscis, and non-spiraling atrial musculature. Most populations also differ from congeners in having paired spermathecal pores anterior to the ventral chaetae, but specimens from the Columbia River have variable number and placement of the spermathecae. An unusual spiral orientation of the atrial musculature has previously been used to define Eclipidrilus. However, orientation of the atrial muscle layers varies among the previously described species, and does not provide a distinctive synapomorphy for the genus as a whole. Consequently, the genus is redefined to include species having elongate-petiolate atria with an inner, near-transverse muscle layer and an outer, longitudinal to spiral muscle layer.
Roman collecting and the biographies of Egyptian Late Period statues

ABSTRACTStudies of Egyptian Late Period statuary often assume that the extant corpus is a representative sample of the artistic output of the Twenty-Sixth to Thirty-First Dynasties (c. 664–332 bce). This assumption ignores the various human processes that affect the survival of statues after their initial dedication. In particular, the Roman practice of collecting Egyptian naophorous statues for reuse in cult spaces of Egyptian gods in Italy has skewed the chronological distribution of the corpus in favour of statues of Twenty-Sixth Dynasty date. This in turn informs perceptions of the Twenty-Seventh Dynasty, the period of Achaemenid rule in Egypt, as being a time of artistic poverty. This paper examines the biographies of Egyptian statues in order to better distinguish between the products of ancient agency and modern scholarly constructs.
Biological obstacles and technological leaps

Technology can address biological threats like viral epidemics and bioterrorism that could put humankind on the brink of biological disaster.
Accuracy and Area Estimation

The quality, quantity, and availability of remote sensing data and products are greater now than in any other point in time. Free data policies and increasing processing power combined with a need to better understand how the Earth is changing, have made it easy and inexpensive to acquire satellite imagery and making maps. But if remote sensing is to become an essential component in the monitoring of a changing Earth, proper estimation protocols are required. In this context, maps are not subject to an assessment where the end-product is a measure of map accuracy but are integral components of the inference framework. Maps provide important information to stratify landscapes and to construct statistical estimators. They thereby reduce the uncertainty in estimates of parameters of importance to a changing Earth such as areas of deforestation and forest degradation, rather than provide such parameters directly. This article outlines the development of statistical inference within the remote sensing science and application communities. It reviews various approaches to statistical inference, accuracy assessment, and area estimation.
Case Study Validation of Common Torsional Rotordynamic Practices for Integrally Geared Compressors

Drivetrains for turbomachinery used in plant operations generally consist of a centrifugal compressor driven by turbines or electric motors, and may include intermediate speed reducing gearboxes. Each of these drivetrain components require accurate torsional modelling to ensure safe operation. Shaft modelling assumptions for these component sections can significantly alter the location of predicted torsional criticals and responses. One essential modelling assumption is the calculation of effective torsional stiffness in stepped shafts. Industry accepted methods include shaft penetration, the 45 degree rule and FEA approaches. A comparison of the three methods and the torsional impacts on a case study are presented.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Reactor-fuel-independent reactivity determinations

Curves for the reciprocal asymptotic period versus positive reactivity for ENDF/B-IV delayed neutron data are presented for /sup 232/Th, /sup 233/U, /sup 235/U, /sup 238/U, /sup 239/Pu, /sup 240/Pu, and /sup 241/Pu nuclides. A procedure is described for reducing the dependence of reactivity interpretations, through period measurements, on the nuclidic composition of the fuel. The sensitivity of the results to incremental changes in the delayed neutron parameters is also presented. Reactivity, in dollar units, is sensitive to the relative yields of the delayed neutron groups.
Applying the Mathematical Work of Teaching Framework to Develop a Computer Science Pedagogical Content Knowledge Assessment

Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is specialized knowledge necessary to teach a subject. PCK integrates subject-matter content knowledge with knowledge of students and of teaching strategies so that teachers can perform the daily tasks of teaching. Studies in mathematics education have found correlations between measures of PCK and student learning. Finding robust, scalable ways for developing and measuring computer science (CS) teachers' PCK is particularly important in CS education in the United States, given the lack of formal CS teacher preparation programs and certifications. However, measuring pedagogical content knowledge is a challenge for all subject areas. It can be difficult to write assessment items that elicit the different aspects of PCK and there are often multiple appropriate pedagogical choices in any given teaching scenario. In this paper, we describe a framework and pilot data from a questionnaire intended to elicit PCK from teachers of high school introductory CS courses and we propose future directions for this work.
Teaching Clinical Precepting: A Faculty Development Workshop Using Role-Play.

Introduction Precepting is when a medical educator listens to a learner's presentation and must teach and assess the learner while rendering safe patient care. A popular framework for this type of ...
Nice guys and gals can finish first: Personality and speed-dating success among Asian Americans

In Western culture, both pop theory and recent behavioral research support the “nice guy stereotype,” suggesting that communal qualities that emphasize caring for others may be unattractive in men....
Mechanisms Behind Resistance to PI3K Inhibitor Treatment Induced by the PIM Kinase.

Cancer resistance to PI3K inhibitor therapy can be in part mediated by increases in the PIM1 kinase. However, the exact mechanism by which PIM kinase promotes tumor cell resistance is unknown. Our study unveils the pivotal control of redox signaling by PIM kinases as a driver of this resistance mechanism. PIM1 kinase functions to decrease cellular ROS levels by enhancing NRF2/ARE activity. PIM prevents cell death induced by PI3K-AKT inhibitory drugs through a non-canonical mechanism of NRF2 ubiquitination and degradation and translational control of NRF2 protein levels through modulation of eIF4B and mTORC1 activity. Importantly, PIM also controls NAD(P)H production by increasing glucose flux through the pentose phosphate shunt decreasing ROS production, and thereby diminishing the cytotoxicity of PI3K-AKT inhibitors. Treatment with PIM kinase inhibitors reverses this resistance phenotype making tumors increasingly susceptible to small molecule therapeutics which block the PI3K-AKT pathway.
A systematic evaluation of mobile apps to improve the uptake of and adherence to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, has been shown to be effective at reducing the risk of HIV infection, yet persons at-risk for acquiring HIV exhibit suboptimal uptake of and adherence to this prevention modality. Although PrEP use among all at-risk groups is low, mobile apps have been shown to increase the use of PrEP; however, it is unknown whether currently available apps have been designed with features to facilitate PrEP uptake and adherence. Methods: The Google Play store and Apple App store were systematically searched for currently available PrEP-related apps. A qualitative evaluation was conducted on apps that met the inclusion criteria for the presence of features that can contribute to PrEP uptake and adherence, and the quality of apps was assessed using the Mobile Apps Rating Scale (MARS) tool. Results: From the systematic search, less than 2% (11/621) of the identified apps were relevant to improving PrEP uptake and adherence. Demonstrating a moderate capacity for facilitating PrEP use, the 11 PrEP-related apps, on average, contained features that addressed two of four factors that can contribute to the uptake of PrEP, particularly features that provided comprehensive information on PrEP and resources to locate providers and clinics offering PrEP services. Findings from the app quality assessment suggested that existing PrEP-related apps are of acceptable quality (mean overall MARS score: 3.2 on a five-point scale). Conclusion: Overall, currently available mobile apps for PrEP demonstrate some promise as potential avenues for increasing PrEP uptake and adherence among persons at-risk for HIV infection.
A medium-throughput screen for inhibitors of human metapneumovirus

Human metapneumovirus, a paramyxovirus discovered in 2001, is a major cause of lower respiratory infection in adults and children worldwide. There are no licensed vaccines or drugs for human metapneumovirus. We developed a fluorescent, cell-based medium-throughput screening assay for human metapneumovirus that captures inhibitors of all stages of the viral lifecycle except budding of progeny virus particles from the cell membrane. We optimized and validated the assay and performed a successful medium-throughput screening. A number of hits were identified, several of which were confirmed to inhibit viral replication in secondary assays. This assay offers potential to discover new antivirals for human metapneumovirus and related respiratory viruses. Compounds discovered using the medium-throughput screening may also provide useful probes of viral biology.
13.03 – Cardiac Physiology and Pharmacology

Under normal circumstances, the heart's rate and force of contraction is tightly regulated to meet the circulatory demands of the body. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are primary regulators of cardiac output but a number of integrated systems of the body including the renal system, adrenal glands, vascular endothelium, immune system, and cardiac tissue itself play important roles in regulating circulation and hydroelectrolytic homeostasis. This chapter describes the cellular and molecular basis of myocardial excitation–contraction coupling, explains how the autonomic nervous system regulates excitation–contraction coupling, and examines emerging information on the mechanisms of arrhythmias and the new pharmacologic approaches being taken to treat arrhythmias and chronic heart failure. Much of the organizational structure and some informational content of the first edition of this chapter, written by Sheu and Colecraft (1997), has been retained; however, significant revisions and additions have been made to include dramatic advancements in understanding the molecular biology of ion channels, the autonomic receptor signaling pathways, and the genetic basis of some forms of arrhythmias.
Replacement Management in Cattle | Growth Diets

The feeding program for the dairy heifer comprises 50–70% of the cost of rearing. Successful programs facilitate weaning from liquid diets to dry feeds and encourage a desired rate of gain to assure early breeding and calving at body weights and body condition conducive to good health and high milk yield. Heifer feeding programs vary widely from those based upon pasture to confinement feeding programs utilizing stored feeds. Often they are a combination of both types. Pasture-based feeding programs are frequently most economical assuming that the land resources are available. Successful managers must account for variation in nutrient quality and supply through supplement feeding programs. Confinement-based programs utilize hay and silage crops. There is a significant opportunity for developing economical feeding programs when by-product feeds are incorporated into these diets.
Craniofacial characterization of Marfan Syndrome

Objective The morbidity and mortality associated with the Marfan Syndrome (MFS) warrant timely diagnosis and intervention that can improve long-term prognosis. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a distinct craniofacial morphology exists for patients with MFS that can be described quantitatively and qualitatively. Methods Subjects with a positive diagnosis of MFS were recruited for this study (N = 36). Craniofacial anthropometric measurements were made on each subject and compared to established norms of age- and sex-matched controls using z-scores calculated for measurements of MFS patients. Lateral and frontal photographs were obtained to make qualitative assessments and describe facial features of subjects, and a clinical examination was completed to document occlusal relationships. Results The subjects were primarily female (58%) ranging in age between 4 and 57 years (mean age 10.7 ± 6.0 years). Comparison of craniofacial measurements revealed that for 10 of the 12 measurements, ≥65% of the study population had a z-score of ± 2 and fell within the normal range for facial dimension. For 2 of the 12 measurements, over half of the subjects fell outside of the normal range (z-score 2) for facial dimension. Specifically, the majority of participants resided in the supernormal category for biocular width and the subnormal category for width of the face. Photographic assessment revealed retrognathia (54%) and down-slanting palpebral fissures (62%) were most prevalent in MFS patients. Conclusion Our data suggest there are quantitative differences in the facial morphology of patients with MFS when compared to a control population.
Modeling the joint effects of adolescent and adult PrEP for sexual minority males in the United States

Background Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective and safe intervention approved for use to prevent HIV transmission. PrEP scale-up strategies and clinical practice are currently being informed by modeling studies, which have estimated the impact of PrEP in adult and adolescent MSM populations separately. This partitioning may miss important effects or yield biased estimates by excluding dependencies between populations. Methods We combined two published models of HIV transmission among adults and adolescent MSM. We simulated an HIV epidemic among MSM aged 13–39 without PrEP, with PrEP for adult MSM ages (19–39) and with the addition of PrEP for adolescents ages (16–18), comparing percent of incident infections averted (impact), the number of person-years on PrEP per infection averted (efficiency), and changes in prevalence. Results PrEP use among eligible 19–39 year old MSM averted 29.0% of infections and reduced HIV prevalence from 23.2% to 17.0% over ten years in the population as a whole. Despite being ineligible for PrEP in this scenario, prevalence among sexually active 18 year-olds declined from 6.0% to 4.3% due to reduced transmissions across age cohorts. The addition of PrEP for adolescents ages 16–18 had a small impact on the overall epidemic, further reducing overall prevalence from 17.0% to 16.8%; however prevalence among the sexually active 18 year-olds further declined from 4.3% to 3.8%. Conclusions PrEP use among adults may significantly reduce HIV prevalence among MSM and may also have significant downstream effects on HIV incidence among adolescents; PrEP targeting adolescents remains an important intervention for HIV prevention.
Structural properties of the evolution of CTAB/NaSal micelles investigated by SANS and rheometry

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules that spontaneously self-assemble in aqueous solution into various ordered and disordered phases. Under certain conditions, one-dimensional structures in the form of long, flexible wormlike micelles can develop. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is one of the most widely studied surfactants, and in the presence of sodium salicylate (NaSal), wormlike micelles can form at very dilute concentrations of surfactant. We carry out a systematic study of the structures of CTAB/NaSal over a surfactant concentration range of 2.5-15 mM and at salt-to-surfactant molar ratios of 0.5-10. Using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), we qualitatively and quantitatively characterize the equilibrium structures of CTAB/NaSal, mapping the phase behavior of CTAB/NaSal at low concentrations within the region of phase space where nascent wormlike micelles transition into long and entangled structures. Complementary rheological assessments not only demonstrate the significant influence of the inter-micellar Coulombic interaction on the micellar structure but also suggest the potential existence of a hierarchical structure which is beyond the accessibility of the SANS technique.
Accommodating various policy goals in matching with constraints

Distributional constraints are common features in many real matching markets, such as medical residency matching, school admissions, and teacher assignment. We present a model of matching with constraints that accommodates a wide variety of policy goals and apply that model to the setting of Kamada and Kojima (Am Econ Rev 105(1):67–99, 2015). We also formalize a number of other policy goals to show that they are subsumed by our model. We prove several comparative statics results such as showing that a mechanism we propose is a Pareto improvement for doctors upon the constrained medical matching mechanism currently used in Japan.
ADHD in Adults and Its Relation with Methamphetamine Use: National Data

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and methamphetamine use disorder are common comorbidities. National data regarding methamphetamine use is available per the most recent SAMSHA report. Even though attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and methamphetamine seem to commonly coexist, we do not have national figures which would provide a more comprehensive picture. The purpose of the article is to highlight this comorbidity and discuss some of the possible shared neurobiological and other pertinent overlapping features. Per the 2017 SAMSHA report, among the 8.3 million younger adults (18–24) using illicit drugs, 2.1% have used methamphetamine and 0.5% met the criteria for methamphetamine use disorder. Among the 20.2 million adults in the age group of 25 and older using illicit drugs, 0.5% have used methamphetamine and 0.4% have had a diagnosis of methamphetamine use disorder. ADHD per report is about 2–6 times more common in methamphetamine users than non-users. The risk-taking component in ADHD can fuel methamphetamine use and methamphetamine in return can be used as self-medication for ADHD core symptoms. Both seem intrinsically connected, and we need more data to determine the actual impact of the dual diagnosis which would further beget more research.
An investigation of spatial and temporal drinking water quality variation in green residential plumbing

Abstract Drinking water chemical quality can deteriorate after water enters building plumbing. This study aimed to better understand seasonal and spatial water quality differences in a highly monitored net-zero energy residential building. Water flow rate and temperature were monitored for one year at the service line and at every fixture throughout the crosslinked polyethylene plumbing. Discrete water sampling events (58) were conducted at the service line, 1st floor kitchen sink, 2nd floor bathroom sink, the water heater, and 2nd floor shower. More than 2.4 billion online monitoring records were collected for fixture flow and temperature. In-building water stagnation time varied seasonally and across fixtures. Significant spatial and temporal water chemical quality variations were found. Average seasonal variability was found for service line temperature (15–23 °C) for the total chlorine residual (0.4–0.9 mg/L-Cl2), NH3 (
O13.2 Mixed methods analysis: role of parents, peers, and perceived severity of sexual health outcomes among native american youth

Background Native American youth experience the highest rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Past research has demonstrated the influence of parents and peers on adolescent sexual health decision making. Yet few studies have explored how the threat of negative health outcomes, specifically STIs and unintended pregnancy, impact youth’s intentions, perceptions of reactions from peers and parents, and ultimate behaviors. Methods This study used a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected from Native, reservation-based youth ages 11–19. N=558 completed a survey and 62 participated in a focus group discussion (FGD). Multivariate logistic regression assessed associations between the perceived severity of STI and unintended pregnancy with the outcomes of lifetime sexual experience, sexual intention, condom use, and condom use intention (CUI). Qualitative data was analyzed using a descriptive, directed method. Results Mean age was 13.4 and 51.6% were female. Youth who reported they would be upset (OR=2.43, p=0.001) or their parents would be upset (OR=2.95, p≤0.001) if they got pregnant/got someone pregnant had higher odds of CUI. FGD data differ slightly, with some youth (mostly females) saying they didn’t use condoms because they want to become pregnant. Youth saying friends would lose respect for them if they had an STI had higher odds of CUI (OR=2.37, p=0.001). FGD data endorse peers as major influencers on sexual activity, especially among males. Conclusion Results show the perceived severity of STIs and unintended pregnancy combined with anticipated negative reactions from parents and peers are associated with Native youth’s intention to use condoms, but not actual condom use behavior or sexual initiation. To bridge this intention-behavior gap, future programming should engage both parents and peers, reinforce the severity of not using condoms, and develop Native youth’s skills for actual condom use. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Mining twitter to explore the emergence of COVID-19 symptoms.

Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in United States initially alerted the public to three COVID-19 signs and symptoms-fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. Concurrent social media posts reflected a wider range of symptoms of COVID-19 besides these three symptoms. Because social media data have a potential application in the early identification novel virus symptoms, this study aimed to explore what symptoms mentioned in COVID-19-related social media posts during the early stages of the pandemic. Methods We collected COVID-19-related Twitter tweets posted in English language between March 30, 2020 and April 19, 2020 using search terms of COVID-19 synonyms and three common COVID-19 symptoms suggested by the CDC in March. Only unique tweets were extracted for analysis of symptom terms. Results A total of 36 symptoms were extracted from 30,732 unique tweets. All the symptoms suggested by the CDC for COVID-19 screening in March, April, and May were mentioned in tweets posted during the early stages of the pandemic. Discussion The findings of this study revealed that many COVID-19-related symptoms mentioned in Twitter tweets earlier than the announcement by the CDC. Monitoring social media data is a promising approach to public health surveillance.
Pediatric Patient Encounter in the Emergency Department

Pediatric ophthalmologic complaints in the emergency department include a wide spectrum of emergent and non-emergent conditions that require thorough evaluation. A sound foundation in eye anatomy and visual development is essential to approaching this unique patient population. A complete assessment includes a comprehensive patient and maternal history, as well as a physical examination that evaluates visual acuity, the external eye, extraocular movements, pupils, and the fundus. The emergency medicine physician must utilize these elements to determine severity of disease, management plan, and when to consult the ophthalmologist.
In-situ characterization of solidification and microstructural evolution during interrupted thermal fatigue in SAC305 and SAC105 solder joints using high energy X-ray diffraction and post-mortem EBSD analysis

Abstract Sn based solders used in the electronic packaging industry exhibit unpredictable failures due to their highly anisotropic properties, where thermal stresses, position within a package and microstructure evolution affect the property evolution and hence, lifetime of solder joints. In the present work, non-destructive high energy-X-ray diffraction measurements were performed in-situ on Sn–1Ag-0.5Cu (SAC105) and Sn–3Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) solder joints in the corner position in chip array ball grid array packages in order to follow the grain evolution in the same joints starting with melting, solidification/cooling rate, and thermal cycling up to 750 cycles. Most of the SAC305 joints had ‘beachball’ (solidification twinned) microstructures, whereas most of the SAC105 joints were single crystals. Following solidification, the initial solder microstructure was affected in some joints by the thermal strain history during cooling, as new orientations emerged during cooling. During the first 100 thermal cycles, a major shift of dominant orientations was observed in all of the samples, and these orientations were stable thereafter, but the relative volume fractions of three twin-related orientations changed with increasing number of thermal cycles. All of the joints were cross-sectioned following the last increment of thermal cycling (750 thermal cycles), indicating that all of the joints had fully cracked. Electron backscatter diffraction mapping is compared to x-ray measurements, indicating that most of the orientations in the x-ray measurements were present in the cross section, but there were also significant differences, consistent with the fact that the 2-D section represents a small fraction of the entire joint. There was no obvious effect on microstructure or fracture associated with the initial cooling rate.
Striking out women: preferential voting and gender bias in Latvian Saeima elections

The 2018 parliamentary elections were a watershed year for women in Latvian politics where women's descriptive representation increased from 18% to 31% in one election with no gender quota. This pa...
Does Employer-Paid, Job-Protected Maternity Leave Help or Hurt Female IT Workers? Evidence from Millions of Job Applications

Paid maternity leave is considered an important pathway to increasing women’s participation in IT because it helps address work and family balance concerns, which are pronounced in the field due to long hours, travel, and the need to keep up with technology. Many governments require that employers pay for maternity leave. Using micro-level data on millions of applications from an online job portal, our study examines whether a policy change in India that expanded employer-paid, job-protected maternity leave from short-term to medium-term (12 to 26 weeks) changes companies’ likelihood of considering female applicants to IT jobs and women’s likelihood of applying to such jobs. We find that post-legislation, there is a 4% decrease in the probability of women being invited for interviews and an 8% increase in the probability of a female applicant. Interestingly, in regions with low women’s labor force participation rates, we find a 31% decrease in the probability of women being invited for an interview, post legislation. In contrast, regions with high rates did not change their hiring practices, suggesting that the reform may increase regional inequality in women’s representation. Post legislation, women were significantly more likely to apply to jobs in regions with high women’s labor force participation rates relative to those with low rates. Our study identifies an important source of leakage in the pipeline for female IT workers and may inform policies aimed at reducing gender gaps in representation.
Cell surface receptors: physical chemistry and cellular regulation.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the physical chemistry and cellular regulation of cell surface receptors and discusses the situations in which signal induction follows binding of ligand to a cell surface receptor, without requiring crosslinking or clustering of ligand-receptor complexes. The fundamental aspects of ligand-receptor kinetics are reviewed, with special emphasis on the difference between cell surface receptors and receptors free in solution. The chapter also describes various possible dose-response curves, expected for simple receptor-occupancy mechanisms. The magnitude of a signal transmitted by receptors to the cell's interior is directly dependent on the degree to which they are occupied, but totally independent of their spatial distribution. Such simple occupancy-dependent mechanisms can be thought of in terms of a static surface with uniformly distributed receptors and equilibrium controlled receptor-ligand interactions. Interactions between two cells or between a cell and a surface are mediated through ligand–receptor binding. Examples include agglutination of lymphocytes by lectins, rosetting of lymphocytes or erythrocytes by antibodies, phagocytosis of particles by leukocytes or macrophages, and regulatory cell interactions during an immune response.
Formyltetrahydrofolate Synthetase MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDIES OF THE REACTION

Abstract Interactions of tetrahydrofolate synthetase with its substrates were examined by measuring the effects of the reaction components on the relaxation rate of the water protons caused by manganese. A small enhancement (1.5) of the relaxation rate was observed when the enzyme was added to a solution of MnCl2 (in 0.5 m KCl) and was attributed to the presence of multiple nonspecific binding sites for Mn2+. Upon the addition of ATP or ADP much larger enhancements, 6.3 and 13.4, respectively, were observed. This result indicates that the metal-nucleotide complex, and not the free nucleotide, is the substrate in the reaction. De-enhancement of the relaxation rate and inhibition of the initial velocity were observed when the ratio of ATP to Mn2+ became greater than 10, an indication of competition between MnATP and free ATP. Dissociation constants for enzyme-MnATP and enzyme-MnADP calculated from the magnetic resonance data agreed fairly well with the Km of ATP and Ki of ADP. The addition of dl-tetrahydrofolate or dl-10-formyltetrahydrofolate to solutions of enzyme-MnATP or enzyme-MnADP caused a 2- to 3-fold de-enhancement. The deenhancement is attributed to the formation of enzyme-Mn-nucleotide-tetrahydrofolate quaternary complexes. From a titration of the effect of dl-tetrahydrofolate on et of the ternary complexes, the dissociation constant of dl-tetrahydrofolate from the quaternary complex was found to be in good agreement with the Km value determined kinetically. It is proposed that the change in the enhancement of the proton relaxation rate, observed when tetrahydrofolate or its formyl derivative binds to the enzyme, results from a conformational change in the protein in the region of the Mn-nucleotide binding site which is essential for enzyme activity.