cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preschool acuity of the approximate number system correlates with school math ability

Previous research shows a correlation between individual differences in people’s school math abilities and the accuracy with which they rapidly and nonverbally approximate how many items are in a scene. This finding is surprising because the Approximate Number System (ANS) underlying numerical estimation is shared with infants and with non-human animals who never acquire formal mathematics. However, it remains unclear whether the link between individual differences in math ability and the ANS depends on formal mathematics instruction. Earlier studies demonstrating this link tested participants only after they had received many years of mathematics education, or assessed participants’ ANS acuity using tasks that required additional symbolic or arithmetic processing similar to that required in standardized math tests. To ask whether the ANS and math ability are linked early in life, we measured the ANS acuity of 200 3- to 5-year-old children using a task that did not also require symbol use or arithmetic calculation. We also measured children’s math ability and vocabulary size prior to the onset of formal math instruction. We found that children’s ANS acuity correlated with their math ability, even when age and verbal skills were controlled for. These findings provide evidence for a relationship between the primitive sense of number and math ability starting early in life.
Fuzzy belief pattern classification of incomplete data

Fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm is popularly used as a tool in various classification applications, yet it cannot be applied directly to a data set with missing values. Unfortunately, it is inevitable that a real world data set always contains missing values. Consequently, finding an effective way to handle incomplete data becomes an essential and important task. In this paper, an approach based on combining FCM and Dempster-Shafer theory is proposed. FCM is used as a preprocessing unit to obtain the initial degrees of belief on complete data and to construct pieces of evidence in a decision rule set. Then Dempster-Shafer theory is applied to make the final decision on which class incomplete data should belong to. It shows that the combined method achieves a better classification result compared with a popular imputation algorithm.
Subthalamic nucleus—sensorimotor cortex functional connectivity in de novo and moderate Parkinson's disease

Previous research has indicated increased functional connectivity between subthalamic nucleus (STN) and sensorimotor cortex in off-medication Parkinson's disease (PD) compared with control subjects. It is not clear if the increase in functional connectivity between STN and sensorimotor cortex occurs in de novo PD, which is before patients begin dopamine therapy. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was carried out in 20 de novo (drug naive) patients with PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage: I-II), 19 patients with moderate PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage: II-III), and 19 healthy controls. The functional connectivity analysis in de novo and moderate PD patients focused on the connectivity of the more affected STN and the sensorimotor cortex. Using resting-state functional connectivity analysis, we provide new evidence that people with de novo PD and off-medicated moderate PD have increased functional connectivity between the more affected STN and different regions within the sensorimotor cortex. The overlapping sensorimotor cortex found in both de novo and moderate PD had functional connectivity values that correlated positively with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III. This key finding suggests that changes in functional connectivity between STN and sensorimotor cortex occur early in the disease following diagnosis and before dopamine therapy.
Historical trends in the age at menarche and menopause.

Although more historical research is required, the pattern for menarche is reasonably well established. During classical and medieval times the typical age for menarche was around the 14th year of ...
The demand for game day attendance in college football: an analysis of the 1997 Division 1-A season

This paper develops a predictive model which includes game, team and university specific factors that are likely to influence game day demand for Division 1-A college football. Attendance during the 1997 regular season is used as the dependent variable. Tobit estimates of two separate equations reveal that the quality of both teams, traditional rivalry and membership of specific conferences have a significant influence on demand. In addition, colleges with lower enrollments and a higher percentage of off-campus students attract smaller crowds. The presence of a nearby professional football team also detracts from a college team's drawing power. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Warfarin monitoring in ambulatory older individuals receiving antimicrobial therapy.

Study Objective. To determine the frequency of monitoring of international normalized ratio (INR) within 14 days of coprescription of warfarin and antimicrobial therapy and to evaluate differences in INR monitoring among antimicrobials. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Group model health maintenance organization. Subjects. Patients aged 65 years or older who were taking warfarin and an antimicrobial agent. Measurements and Main Results. Patients who received dispensings of both warfarin and an antimicrobial agent were identified. We found 2959 coprescribing instances in 1816 patients. The INR values were obtained for 2267 (77%) coprescribing situations within 14 days. Monitoring occurred more frequently (p<0.001) when warfarin was coprescribed with fluoroquinolones (641 [85%] of 755 situations), metronidazole (59 [81%] of 73), tetracyclines (274 [80%] of 341), or macrolides (201 [83%] of 243) than when warfarin was coprescribed with sulfonamides (35 [66%] of 53), penicillins (604 [71%] of 856), or cephalosporins (419 [71%] of 591). Among monitored patients, a higher proportion of monitoring (p<0.001) occurred within 7 days for patients prescribed antifungals (87%), fluoroquinolones (88%), tetracyclines (82%), metronidazole (86%), sulfonamides (86%), or macrolides (85%) than for patients prescribed cephalosporins (68%) or penicillins (75%). Conclusion. Most older patients coprescribed warfarin and an antimicrobial in our organization had INR monitoring within 7 days. This is consistent with appropriate practice to manage a risk of clinically important drug-drug interaction between an antimicrobial agent and warfarin. Prospective identification of patients requiring INR monitoring after coprescription of interacting drugs by using merged administrative pharmacy and laboratory data should be further evaluated as a tool to improve clinical outcomes.
The Lyn Tyrosine Kinase Differentially Regulates Dendritic Cell Generation and Maturation

The Src family kinase Lyn plays both stimulatory and inhibitory roles in hemopoietic cells. In this report we provide evidence that Lyn is involved in dendritic cell (DC) generation and maturation. Loss of Lyn promoted DC expansion in vitro from bone marrow precursors due to enhanced generation and accelerated differentiation of Lyn-deficient DC progenitors. Differentiated Lyn-deficient DCs also had a higher survival rate. Similarly, the CD11c-positive cell number was increased in aged Lyn-deficient mice in vivo. In contrast to their enhanced generation, lyn −/− DCs failed to mature appropriately in response to innate stimuli, resulting in DCs with lower levels of MHC class II and costimulatory molecules. In addition, IL-12 production and Ag-specific T cell activation were reduced in lyn −/− DCs after maturation, resulting in impaired Th1 responses. This is the first study to characterize Lyn-deficient DCs. Our results suggest that Lyn kinase plays uniquely negative and positive regulatory roles in DC generation and maturation, respectively.
Optical interconnect demonstrator with embedded waveguides and butt-coupled optoelectronic modules

Building blocks and experimental results of an optical card-backplane-card link with waveguides embedded into the boards and butt-coupled optoelectronic modules are presented. Important next steps for acceptance of the technology by system developers are listed.
Response to Letter Regarding Article "Transdifferentiation of Human Fibroblasts to Endothelial Cells: Role of Innate Immunity".

We thank Drs Li and Hao for their thoughtful comments on our recent article on the role of innate immunity in transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts to endothelial cells.1 They correctly state that the epigenetic landscape is different from one somatic cell to another and that the determinants of that epigenetic landscape (such as small RNAs, transcriptional factors, and chromatin modifiers) also differ from one somatic cell to another. Accordingly, they pose an excellent question: Because of the known differences between somatic cells in their epigenetic landscape and …
Twists and turns-How we stepped into and had fun in the “boring” lipid field

Compared to proteins and RNAs, functional specificities associated with structural variations in fatty acids and lipids have been greatly underexplored. This review describes how our lab naively started to work on lipids 14 years ago, and how we have gradually overcome obstacles to address some interesting biological questions by combining genetics with biochemical methods on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Our studies have revealed lipid variants and their metabolic pathways, in specific tissues, impact development and behaviors by regulating specific signaling events. The review also discusses the general research approach, style of lab management, and funding mechanisms that have facilitated the frequent research direction changes in the lab, including the journey into the lipid field.
Alteration of Cx43:Cx40 expression ratio in A7r5 cells.

Connexins (Cx) 40 and 43 are coexpressed by several cell types at ratios that vary as a function of development, aging, and disease. Because these connexins form heteromeric channels, changes in ex...
Adrenalectomy and the Absorption of Different Fats.

SummaryThe rate of absorption of corn oil (Mazola), olive oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil (Crisco) and mutton tallow is not significantly changed from the normal by adrenalectomy. The absorption of hydrogenated vegetable oil fed as an emulsion with skim milk is significantly decreased following this operative procedure. Evidence for certain changes in fat absorbing mechanisms that are brought about by removal of the adrenals is presented, and it is pointed out that these changes need not result in an altered rate of absorption.
Fabrication of Functional Nanowire Devices on Unconventional Substrates Using Strain-Release Assembly

We report three representative nanowire (NW) devices for applications in stretchable electronics, strain sensing, and optical sensing. Fabrication of such devices is based on a recently developed s...
"La misma realidad de cada lugar es diferente" ("The same reality of each place is different"): A Case Study of an Organic Farmers Market in Lima, Peru

Studies of alternative food networks have proliferated in Europe and North America while relatively little attention has been paid to similar networks in the global South. An organic farmers market in Lima, Peru, serves as a case study to examine developments in the domestic market for organic produce in Peru. Drawing from interview data and participant observations with pioneering organic farmers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) affiliated with the farmers market, this paper investigates how the context of a developing country reaffirms and/or challenges alternative food network (AFN) conceptualizations derived from Northern research sites. The aim of this research is to expand our understanding of alternative food networks in a global context. Findings suggest that while the farmers market in Peru replicates many challenges and opportunities ascribed to similar market-based initiatives in the global North, the developing country context encourages a different reading of these similarities. This exploratory examination of an AFN in Peru suggests that this organic farmers market has created novel economic opportunities for ecologically minded entrepreneurs and organic farmers in rural communities far from the point of sale. Although constrained by a relatively small demographic of affluent, conscientious consumers, the organic market demonstrates the potential to improve rural livelihoods while raising consumer awareness about the benefits of organic agriculture.
Determination of e m from the H α − D α Interval

Photographs were taken with a 3 mm \'etalon of the interference pattern of $\mathrm{H}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and $\mathrm{D}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ from a discharge in the two gases mixed in equal proportions. The interval between the intensity peaks due to the low frequency major components of the two isotopes was measured with the microphotometer used as a comparator. Corrections were made to the observed positions of the intensity peaks to change them to the positions of the centers of the components. These corrections were based on the intensities, positions, and half-intensity breadths of the components as experimentally determined, and upon certain assumptions relative to the shape of the components. An interval between components of 4.14700\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, when reduced to vacuum, was obtained. By combining this with recently determined values of the atomic weights of hydrogen and deuterium as reported by Livingston and Bethe, the wave number of $\mathrm{H}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ as determined by Houston, and the physical Faraday as computed by Birge, a value of 1.7579\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0004\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{7}$ e.m.u./gram is obtained for the value of $\frac{e}{m}$.
Nodular Renal Blastema in the Multicystic Kidney

AbstractOf 60 surgically removed multicystic, dysplastic kidneys examined for the presence of nodular renal blastema only 1 (2 per cent) had blastematous elements. Of the 60 patients 35 were from the authors’ personal series and they were examined in clinical detail. The results of this study and those in the literature are discussed in relation to the over-all management of the asymptomatic multicystic, dysplastic kidney.
Lipoprotein(A) with An Intact Lysine Binding Site Protects the Retina From an Age-Related Macular Degeneration Phenotype in Mice (An American Ophthalmological Society Thesis).

To test the hypothesis that the accumulation of oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) in the macula is toxic to the retina unless neutralized by a variety of mechanisms, including binding by lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], which is composed of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] and apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB).Human maculas and eyes from two Lp(a) transgenic murine models were subjected to morphologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical analysis. "Wild-type Lp(a)" mice, which express human apoB-100 and apo(a) that contains oxidized phospholipid, and "mutant LBS(-) Lp(a)" mice with a defective apo(a) lysine binding site (LBS) for oxidized phospholipid binding, were fed a chow or high-fat diet for 2 to 12 months. Oxidized phospholipid-containing lipoproteins were detected by immunoreactivity to E06, a murine monoclonal antibody binding to the phosphocholine headgroup of oxidized, but not native, phospholipids.Oxidized phospholipids, apo(a), and apoB accumulate in maculas, including drusen, of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) samples and age-matched controls. Lp(a) mice fed a high-fat diet developed age-related changes. However, mutant LBS(-) Lp(a) mice fed a high-fat diet developed retinal pigment epithelial cell degeneration and drusen. These changes were associated with increased OxPL, decreased antioxidant defenses, increased complement, and decreased complement regulators.Human maculas accumulate Lp(a) and OxPL. Mutant LBS(-) Lp(a) mice, lacking the ability to bind E06-detectable oxidized phospholipid, develop AMD-like changes. The ability of Lp(a) to bind E06-detectable OxPL may play a protective role in AMD.
A general equilibrium model for public sector analysis

Chapter 2 develops a baseline analytical model of an economy, variations of which have been used for almost all mainstream public sector analysis. The objective of the mainstream model is to maximize a Bergson-Samuelson social welfare function. The chapter develops the two sets of necessary conditions for a social welfare maximum, the pareto-optimal conditions, and the interpersonal equity conditions.
Quantifying the Impact of Material-Model Error on Macroscale Quantities-of-Interest Using Multiscale a Posteriori Error-Estimation Techniques

An a posteriori error-estimation framework is introduced to quantify and reduce modeling errors resulting from approximating complex mesoscale material behavior with a simpler macroscale model. Such errors may be prevalent when modeling welds and additively manufactured structures, where spatial variations and material textures may be present in the microstructure. We consider a case where a fiber texture develops in the longitudinal scanning direction of a weld. Transversely isotropic elastic properties are obtained through homogenization of a microstructural model with this texture and are considered the reference weld properties within the error-estimation framework. Conversely, isotropic elastic properties are considered approximate weld properties since they contain no representation of texture. Errors introduced by using isotropic material properties to represent a weld are assessed through a quantified error bound in the elastic regime. An adaptive error reduction scheme is used to determine the optimal spatial variation of the isotropic weld properties to reduce the error bound.
The European Background

The involvement of European governments in overseas expansion was rendered urgent by a long-standing struggle over power and authority at home, one that the specific character of European expansion helped meet. This European political structure would determine how the Atlantic world developed politically as it was created by European exploration and commerce. The power struggle in question was particularly between the kings of emerging states and the nobility in those same areas, complicated by the role of a powerful and wealthy ecclesiastical establishment with local power and significant international connections. The crucial element of European political structure that shaped its politics was the struggle between the kings, or other officials who wished to hold supreme sovereign executive authority (titled princes, dukes, or other noble titles, or alternatively emperors), and the nobility. Monarchs wished to centralize power, income, and decision making in their own hands or in the hands of officials who they controlled exclusively; nobles contested this and sought a more decentralized decision-making process, involving one or another sort of deliberative body that could check or instruct the monarch. Control of military power was essential to this balance, and the period of European expansion corresponded to major shifts in the nature of war and, more importantly, of armies.
Internal Oxidation of Binary Alloys

Alloys can be protected from corrosion by their ability, under some circumstances, to form a continuous thin metal-oxide layer at the alloy surface which acts as a barrier, separating the alloy from corrosive agents of the environment. This layer is called an external oxide scale; see Figure 1.1 (a).
Obesity and Neonatal Cord Blood Gas Results at Cesarean: Effect of Intraoperative Blood Pressure.

Objective Our aims were to evaluate whether there is an inverse association between body mass index (BMI) and umbilical artery pH and to investigate the contribution of intraoperative hypotension on the umbilical artery pH. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all women with a nonanomalous singleton at 37 to 41 weeks who underwent a scheduled cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia at our facility from January 2006 to March 2012. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients in each BMI category with arterial cord pH Results In total, 717 mother–infant pairs met enrollment criteria. Mean arterial pH was significantly lower in women with elevated BMI (p = 0.014), notably with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. Baseline blood pressure increased linearly with increasing BMI (p Conclusion For women undergoing a scheduled cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, umbilical artery pH is lower in women with BMI ≥40 kg/m2. Relative hypotension after spinal anesthesia is more pronounced with increasing BMI and may explain this effect.
The solar constant and spectral distribution of solar radiant flux

Abstract The data currently available on the solar constant and the spectral distribution of the solar radiant flux have been surveyed. The relevant theoretical considerations on radiation, solar physics, and scales of radiometry have been briefly discussed. A detailed review has been attempted of the methods of data analysis and the many revisions of the results. The survey shows that the results from different sources have wide discrepancies, that no new experimental data have been taken in recent years, and that the conventional technique of extrapolation to zero air mass leaves large uncertainties. The feasibility of further measurements and of a new method of approach has been discussed in the light of the results of this survey.
Interrater and Test-Retest Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and Subsystems With Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background and purpose Falls are a common cause of injuries and hospital admissions in older adults. Balance limitation is a potentially modifiable factor contributing to falls. The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), a clinical balance measure, categorizes balance into 6 underlying subsystems. Each of the subsystems is scored individually and summed to obtain a total score. The reliability of the BESTest and its individual subsystems has been reported in patients with various neurological disorders and cancer survivors. However, the reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the BESTest with community-dwelling older adults have not been reported. The purposes of our study were to (1) determine the interrater and test-retest reliability of the BESTest total and subsystem scores; and (2) estimate the MDC of the BESTest and its individual subsystem scores with community-dwelling older adults. Methods We used a prospective cohort methodological design. Community-dwelling older adults (N = 70; aged 70-94 years; mean = 85.0 [5.5] years) were recruited from a senior independent living community. Trained testers (N = 3) administered the BESTest. All participants were tested with the BESTest by the same tester initially and then retested 7 to 14 days later. With 32 of the participants, a second tester concurrently scored the retest for interrater reliability. Testers were blinded to each other's scores. Intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC(2,1)] were used to determine the interrater and test-retest reliability. Test-retest reliability was also analyzed using method error and the associated coefficients of variation (CVME). MDC was calculated using standard error of measurement. Results Interrater reliability (N = 32) of the BESTest total score was ICC(2, 1) = 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.99). The ICCs for the individual subsystem scores ranged from 0.85 to 0.94. Test-retest reliability (N = 70) of the BESTest total score was ICC(2,1) = 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.96). ICCs for the individual subsystem scores ranged from 0.72 to 0.89. The CVME (N = 70) of the BESTest total score was 4.1%. The CVME for the subsystem scores ranged from 5.0% to 10.7%. MDC (N = 70) for the BESTest total score at the 95% CI was 7.6%, or 8.2 points. MDC at the 95% CI for subsystem scores ranged from 11.7% to 19.0% (2.1-3.4 points). Discussion Results demonstrated generally good to excellent interrater and test-retest reliability in both the BESTest total and subsystem scores with community-dwelling older adults. Conclusions The BESTest total and individual subsystem scores demonstrate good to excellent interrater and test-retest reliability with community-dwelling older adults. A change of 7.6% (8.2 points) or more in the BESTest total and a percentage change ranged from 11.7% to 19.0% (2.1-3.4 points) in the subsystem scores are suggested for clinicians to be 95% confident of true change when evaluating change in this population.
Job security provisions and work hours

This study explores the impact of job security provisions on workplace absence and overtime work. We hypothesize that job security provisions give individuals bargaining power to resolve work hour ...
Complications and Readmission After Cervical Spine Surgery in Elderly Patients: An Analysis of 1786 Patients

Abstract Objective To investigate risk factors and complications from cervical spine surgery in elderly patients Methods A retrospective study was performed using data from the American College of Surgeons - National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). Patients aged 65 and older who underwent cervical spine surgery from 2005-2013 were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and CPT codes. Outcome data was classified as: major complication, minor complication, readmission, or mortality. Results 1,786 patients 65 and older undergoing cervical spine surgery were identified. 175 (9.80%) patients experienced at least one complication or death. Patients aged 75 and older were at higher risk of developing a complication or death (OR: 1.72 [1.13-2.61]. Increased operative times (OR: 3.54 [2.27-5.53], patients who were partially or total dependent (OR: 3.01 [1.79-5.07]) and patients listed as an ASA Class > 2 (OR: 1.87 [1.20-2.94]) were associated with perioperative complications. Patients between the age of 70-74 (OR: 1.94 [1.03-3.65]) and those with at least one postoperative complication (OR: 9.59 [5.17-17.80]) had increased risks of unplanned readmissions. Patients aged 75 and older undergoing a laminectomy/laminotomy were at higher risk of complication (OR: 3.20 [1.33-7.70]), while there was no difference in risk of complication based on age for elderly patients undergoing a fusion. Conclusions Patient comorbidities and clinical factors, such as longer operating time and emergency cases, impact risk of adverse events. Patients between the age of 70-74 and those with at least one postoperative complication had an increased risk of unplanned readmission.
DualDB: An Efficient LSM-based Publish/Subscribe Storage System

Publish/Subscribe systems allow subscribers to monitor for events of interest generated by publishers. Current publish/subscribe query systems are efficient when the subscriptions (queries) are relatively static -- for instance, the set of followers in Twitter -- or can fit in memory. However, an increasing number of applications in this era of Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) are based on a highly dynamic query paradigm, where continuous queries are in the millions and are created and expire in a rate comparable, or even higher, to that of the data (event) entries. For instance moving objects like airplanes, cars or sensors may continuously generate measurement data like air pressure or traffic, which are consumed by other moving objects.In this paper we propose and compare a novel publish/subscribe storage architecture, DualDB, based on the popular NoSQL Log-Structured Merge Tree (LSM) storage paradigm, to support high-throughput and dynamic publish/subscribe systems. Our method naturally supports queries on both past and future data, and generate instant notifications, which are desirable properties missing from many previous systems. We implemented and experimentally evaluated our methods on the popular LSM-based LevelDB system, using real datasets. Our results show that we can achieve significantly higher throughput compared to state-of-the-art baselines.
Skin-to-skin care is an effective and safe intervention to reduce procedural pain in neonates

Commentary on: Johnston C, Campbell-Yeo M, Fernandes A, et al . Skin-to-skin care for procedural pain in neonates. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014:CD008435. Unrelieved pain caused by invasive procedures in early life is associated with detrimental outcomes in all major organ systems and has lasting implications for impairment of biobehavioural and neurodevelopment outcomes in neonatal period and later life.1 2 However, 40%–90% of infants still do not receive effective pain-relieving interventions.3 4 Non-pharmacological interventions, especially those incorporating …
Safety Impacts of Queue Warning in a Connected Vehicle Environment

Queue warning systems (QWSs) have been implemented to increase traffic safety by informing drivers about queued traffic ahead so that they can react in a timely manner to the queue. Existing QWSs rely on fixed traffic sensors to detect the back of a queue. It is expected that if the transmitted messages from connected vehicles (CVs) are used for this purpose, detection can be faster and more accurate. In addition, with CVs, delivery of the messages can be done with onboard units instead of dynamic message signs and provide more flexibility on how far upstream of the queue the messages are delivered. This study investigates the accuracy and benefits of the QWS on the basis of CV data. The study evaluated the safety benefits of the QWS under different market penetrations of CVs in future years. Surrogate safety measures were estimated with simulation modeling combined with the surrogate safety assessment model tool. Results from this study indicate that a relatively low market penetration—about 3% to 6%—for...
Hepatitis C and HIV Neurological Implications

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a blood-borne viral infection that disproportionately affects individuals in the birth cohort encompassing from 1945 to 1965, as well as those who have received unscreened blood transfusions or blood products (including tattoos), and those who use intravenous drugs or who may have been exposed to contaminated materials in a healthcare setting. HCV infection exerts systemic inflammatory effects on all organ systems including the central nervous system as evidenced by activity in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Those with uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection show higher sequelae of neurological, cognitive, and somatic symptoms. New direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for HCV infection holds promise to eradicate the disease from the body and thus eliminate any further neurological, systemic, and hepatic morbidity.
Liquid bridge microstereolithography

Abstract Microstereolithography (MSL) has been employed to create 3D microstructures for a wide range of applications. Despite the many advantages of using this process, there are still several drawbacks such as the need to use a large amount of a material compared to the volume of the microstructure to be built, oxygen inhibition, and difficulty in processing highly viscous photopolymers. To minimize the amount of material required, the use of a liquid bridge has been suggested as a modification to the existing microstereolithography process. A liquid bridge can be easily found in nature after a rainfall. Basically, a bridge can be formed between two solid bodies, where surface tension can sustain a liquid bridge against a gravitational force, which tends to destroy it. With this natural phenomenon, a photopolymer can be intentionally formed between two substrates: a transparent substrate with a low surface energy can be used as a top substrate, while another substrate with a higher surface energy can be used to hold the fabricated structure together. This process, called liquid bridge microstereolithography (LBMSL), is advantageous since it uses a relatively small amount of a material, removes oxygen inhibition due to the constraint of the material surface, and offers the possibility of utilizing a highly viscous material. In this study, a mathematical model was taken to simulate a liquid bridge with a certain volume and height. Adhesion tests were accomplished to ensure the fabricated layer detaches from the top substrate while the fabricated structure remains attached to the bottom structure. Photopolymers with different viscosities were employed in LBMSL, and the results were compared with those in the traditional MSL. Finally, various 3D microstructures were fabricated by LBMSL; these fabricated microstructures provide compelling evidence that LBMSL is advantageous over the existing process for MSL.
Case 19-2018: A 15-Year-Old Girl with Acute Kidney Injury.

A Girl with Acute Kidney Injury A 15-year-old girl presented with acute kidney injury. Eight days earlier, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramping had developed. On admission, the creatinine level w...
Côte d’Ivoire and Benin: Different but not Parallel Trajectories

West Africa has long been a region of migrations. In pre-colonial times, war, trade and the search for greener pastures, fertile land and security led people to migrate across the region. Since European penetration and colonization, migration patterns have changed but have continued unabated, despite and against borders. The expansion of wage labor and the development of means of transportation have contributed further to the flow of people, goods and services. With the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the Right of Residence and Establishment of May 1979, the integration of the region is accelerating at a rapid pace with people fleeing conflict zones, running away from poverty, hopelessness, and repressive governments, and seeking new opportunities away from their own village or towns. A remarkable feature of all those migrations is that language has not been a major issue, except for politicians or ethnic or flag chauvinists.
Family planning--birth control.

It was found in a study on 166 Negro women and also in personal experience that the less affluent patients do not relate the term family planning to birth control child spacing and family size. They think that family planning is only for married couples or that it refers to household budgeting. Also they believe it means counseling and assistance related to infertility or miscarriages. Therefore appropriate action must be taken to clarify the term by putting "birth control" side by side with the term "family planning" in clinics and directories.
Plasmonically Enhanced Amorphous Silicon Photodetector With Internal Gain

Photodetectors made of amorphous materials enable low-cost optical imaging and communications over non-semiconductor platforms. The key challenges are to improve efficiency, sensitivity, and frequency response. Using the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect and an efficient carrier multiplication process, cycling excitation process (CEP), the plasmonically enhanced amorphous silicon photodetector (PEASP) with a thin (60 nm) absorption layer achieves a high external quantum efficiency with a record fast impulse response of 170 ps (FWHM). This approach offers the possibility of making detectors out of amorphous material for high frame rate imaging and optical communications in spite of the material’s low carrier mobility.
Adaptive lasso for the Cox regression with interval censored and possibly left truncated data

We propose a penalized variable selection method for the Cox proportional hazards model with interval censored data. It conducts a penalized nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation with an adaptive lasso penalty, which can be implemented through a penalized EM algorithm. The method is proven to enjoy the desirable oracle property. We also extend the method to left truncated and interval censored data. Our simulation studies show that the method possesses the oracle property in samples of modest sizes and outperforms available existing approaches in many of the operating characteristics. An application to a dental caries data set illustrates the method's utility.
Hierarchical Task Analysis for Driving under Divided Attention

Although researchers have made various models of driving behavior, the behavior model under divided attention is not well studied. In this paper, the driver’s behavior differences under divided-att...
110th Anniversary: Integration of Scheduling and Robust Model Predictive Control

In order to achieve optimal operational conditions, the integration of decision making across different layers of a company and the consideration of uncertain parameters in view of dynamic market c...
The Relentless Business of Treaties: How Indigenous Land Became U.S. Property

Review of: "The Relentless Business of Treaties: How Indigenous Land Became U.S. Property," by Martin Case.
Generative Adversarial Domain Adaptation for Nucleus Quantification in Images of Tissue Immunohistochemically Stained for Ki-67.

PURPOSEWe focus on the problem of scarcity of annotated training data for nucleus recognition in Ki-67 immunohistochemistry (IHC)–stained pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET) images. We hypothesiz...
A Modified Two Kidney One Clip Mouse Model of Renin Regulation in Renal Artery Stenosis

Renal artery stenosis is a common condition in patients with coronary or peripheral vascular disease where the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is overactivated. In this context, there is a narrowing of the renal arteries that stimulate an increase in the expression and release of renin, the rate-limiting protease in RAAS. The resulting rise in renin expression is a known driver of renovascular hypertension, frequently associated with kidney injury and end organ damage. Thus, there is a great interest in developing novel treatments for this condition. The molecular and cellular mechanism of renin control in renal artery stenosis is not fully understood and warrants further investigation. To induce renal artery stenosis in mice, a modified 2 kidney 1 clip (2K1C) Goldblatt mouse model was developed. The right kidney was stenosed in wild type mice and sham operated mice were used as control. After renal artery stenosis, we determined renin expression and kidney injury. Kidneys were harvested, and fresh cortices were used to determine protein and mRNA expression of renin. This animal model is reproducible and can be used to study pathophysiological responses, molecular and cellular pathways involved in renovascular hypertension and kidney injury.
How Specific Are Learning Disabilities

Despite historical emphasis on “specific” learning disabilities (SLDs), academic skills are strongly correlated across the curriculum. Thus, one can ask how specific SLDs truly are. To answer this ...
Globalization, lawyers and India: toward a theoretical synthesis of globalization studies and the sociology of the legal profession

Despite the importance of globalization for Indian lawyers, there have been surprisingly few attempts to integrate the rich scholarship on the processes of globalization with the sociology of the Indian legal profession, and to conceptualize and explain major recent legal developments in India in this context. This article uses three globalization processes – economic globalization, globalization of knowledge and globalization of governance – as lenses for analyzing the Indian legal profession. It argues that understanding these processes and their intersections can help frame a much-needed empirical investigation into the globalization of the legal profession in India, and possibly in other major emerging economies.
The ketogenic diet preserves skeletal muscle with aging in mice

The causes of the decline in skeletal muscle mass and function with age, known as sarcopenia, are poorly understood. Nutrition (calorie restriction) interventions impact many cellular processes and increase lifespan and preserve muscle mass and function with age. As we previously observed an increase in life span and muscle function in aging mice on a ketogenic diet (KD), we aimed to investigate the effect of a KD on the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass with age and the potential molecular mechanisms of this action. Twelve-month-old mice were assigned to an isocaloric control or KD until 16 or 26 months of age, at which time skeletal muscle was collected for evaluating mass, morphology, and biochemical properties. Skeletal muscle mass was significantly greater at 26 months in the gastrocnemius of mice on the KD. This result in KD mice was associated with a shift in fiber type from type IIb to IIa fibers and a range of molecular parameters including increased markers of NMJ remodeling, mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative metabolism, and antioxidant capacity, while decreasing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, protein synthesis, and proteasome activity. Overall, this study shows the effectiveness of a long-term KD in mitigating sarcopenia. The diet preferentially preserved oxidative muscle fibers and improved mitochondrial and antioxidant capacity. These adaptations may result in a healthier cellular environment, decreasing oxidative and ER stress resulting in less protein turnover. These shifts allow mice to better maintain muscle mass and function with age.
The mitotic spindle mediates nuclear migration through an extremely narrow infection structure of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

Abstract The blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, causes severe destruction to rice and other crops worldwide. As the fungus infects rice, it develops unique cellular structures, such as an appressorium and a narrow penetration peg, to permit successful invasion of host rice cells. Fundamental knowledge about these cellular structures and how organelles, such as the nucleus, are positioned within them is still emerging. Previous studies show that a single nucleus becomes highly stretched during movement through the narrow penetration peg in an extreme nuclear migration event. Yet, the mechanism permitting this nuclear migration event remains elusive. Here, we investigate the role of the mitotic spindle in mediating nuclear migration through the penetration peg. We find that disruption of spindle function during nuclear migration through the penetration peg prevents development of invasive hyphae and virulence on rice. Furthermore, regulated expression of conserved kinesin motor proteins, MoKin5 and MoKin14, is essential to form and maintain the spindle, as well as, properly nucleate the primary hypha. Overexpression of MoKin5 leads to formation of aberrant microtubule protrusions, which contributes to formation of nuclear fragments within the appressorium and primary hypha. Conversely, overexpression of MoKin14 causes the spindle to collapse leading to the formation of monopolar spindles. These results establish a mechanistic model towards understanding the intricate subcellular dynamics of extreme nuclear migration through the penetration peg, a critical step in the development of rice blast disease. Importance Magnaporthe oryzae, also known as the blast fungus, is a formidable hinderance to global food production, including rice. The destructive fungal pathogen develops highly-specialized cells and structures, such as appressoria and penetration pegs, to permit successful invasion of rice cells. Our understanding of M. oryzae’s fundamental biology during host cell invasion and colonization is still developing. For instance, it is not yet known how organelles, such as the nucleus, migrate through the narrow penetration peg. Moreover, few previous studies examine the role of motor proteins in M. oryzae. In this study, we determined that the mitotic spindle propels a single nucleus through the penetration peg to permit successful development of fungal hyphae inside the first-invaded rice cell. We also identified two conserved kinesin motor proteins, MoKin5 and MoKin14. Our analyses suggested that MoKin5 and MoKin14 exhibit canonical functions in M. oryzae during rice infection. This study addressed long-standing questions in rice blast biology, and our results offer opportunities for future research.
Comparison of Different Functional Tests for Leg Power and Normative Bilateral Asymmetry Index in Healthy Collegiate Athletes.

Background Bilateral leg power is being increasingly investigated as a proxy for the recovery of muscle performance after injury. Functional tests like the single leg hop for distance (SLHD) and single leg vertical jump (SLVJ) are often used to determine symmetry and return to play (RTP) readiness. As an injury predictor, leg power is accurately measured with the Keiser Air420 seated leg press. Purpose To measure and analyze lower leg asymmetry in healthy collegiate athletes across each test battery. Methods Eighty-eight healthy student-athletes (44 males, 44 females) across 14 varsity teams at Wake Forest University performed the SLHD, SLVJ, and the Keiser. Horizontal and vertical displacement were measured via the SLHD and SLVJ, respectively. Peak power was recorded via the Keiser Air420 leg press. Pearson correlations and repeated measures ANOVA were used to calculate associations and compare bilateral asymmetry indices (BAI) and raw scores. Results There was a significant effect on each test's raw BAI (P < 0.01). The mean absolute BAI were 5.42 ± 4.9%, 6.64 ± 4.9% and 5.36 ± 4.7% for the SLHD, SLVJ and Keiser, respectively. The SLVJ and Keiser (dominant leg r = 0.832, nondominant leg r = 0.826) were more highly correlated than the SLHD and Keiser (dominant leg r = 0.645, nondominant leg r = 0.687), all of which were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Conclusion At the 90th percentile, healthy collegiate athletes attained <15% BAI. We recommend the implementation of a battery of tests to determine normative lower limb asymmetry. A battery of functional tests may present different asymmetry indices as opposed the 10% reference asymmetry.
Methods for In-Sourcing Authority Control with MarcEdit, SQL, and Regular Expressions

This is a report on a developing method to automate authority control in-house (that is, without an outside vendor), especially for batch-loaded bibliographic records for electronic resources. A SQ...