cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Access to Removal of Long-acting Reversible Contraceptive Methods Is an Essential Component of High-Quality Contraceptive Care.

A case study that illustrates the importance and effectiveness of advocacy efforts that are timely and relevant to current issues and events. Advocates took advantage of the momentum from a national family planning conference and convened a meeting with district-level policymakers to assess how best to to increase access to contraceptives in their districts and act upon their family planning commitments.
Immunoaffinity nanogold coupled with direct analysis in real time (DART) mass spectrometry for analytical toxicology

A rapid, definitive trace drug identification technique using nanogold surfaces with mass spectrometry was developed. High-surface area nanogold was deposited on gold wires and functionalized with antibodies. Effective drug capture in toxicological matrices with detection using LC-MS/MS and DART-MS/MS was demonstrated.
The Toll of Racial/Ethnic Discrimination on Adolescents' Adjustment

Experiences of racial/ethnic discrimination are all too common in the lives of adolescents of color. In this article, I identify who is at risk for discriminatory treatment and describe the far-reaching effects of discrimination on adolescents' adjustment, including their mental and physical health, academic performance and engagement, and risky behaviors. After establishing the impact of racial/ethnic discrimination during adolescence, I then address how personal relationships and individual assets can protect youth from some of the detrimental effects of discrimination. Finally, I discuss the limits of research on this topic and explore promising areas of inquiry, including the contexts in which discrimination occurs and the potential for interventions to reduce discrimination.
Glycoprotein Nonmelanoma Clone B Regulates the Crosstalk between Macrophages and Mesenchymal Stem Cells toward Wound Repair.

The process of wound repair requires the coordinated participation of multiple types of cells, which are sequentially recruited during the healing process. In response to tissue injury, both macrophages and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recruited to the site of injury, where they participate in the repair process. Despite considerable understanding of the role of each cell type in the process of wound repair, the nature of the dynamic interplay between these two cell types and how this interaction influences the process of wound repair are not well understood. Here, using an in vivo model of cutaneous wound healing in mice, we provide evidence that GPNMB is functionally important in promoting the recruitment of MSCs to the site of skin injury, which in turn modulates inflammatory responses by directing the M2 polarization of macrophages in acute wound healing. Furthermore, we show that GPNMB activity is impaired in a diabetic wound environment, which is associated with impaired MSC recruitment that is reversed by the topical administration of recombinant GPNMB protein to the wounds of diabetic mice. Our study provides important insight into the crosstalk between macrophages and endogenous MSCs toward wound repair.
Water quality changes in a short-rotation woody crop riparian buffer

Abstract Converting riparian buffers in agricultural areas from annual row crops to short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) grown for biofuel can provide both water quality benefits and a financial incentive for buffer adoption among agricultural producers. A randomized complete block design was used to determine water quality changes resulting from converting plots previously cultivated in corn to SRWC willow (Salix. spp) adjacent to a stream in Storrs, CT. Both overland flow and ground water samples were analyzed for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Additionally, overland flow was analyzed for suspended solids concentration (SSC) and ground water samples were analyzed for nitrate + nitrite (NO2+NO3-N). Lower (p = 0.05) concentrations of TN (41%) and TP (53%) were observed in overland flow from willow plots than from corn plots. Shallow ground water concentrations at the edge of willow plots were lower in TN (56%) and NO3+NO2-N (64%), but 35% higher in TP, than at the edge of corn plots. SSC was also lower (71%) in overland flow associated with willow compared to corn. The treatment had no effect on the depth or volume of overland flow or mass export. The changes in concentrations resulting from conversion of corn to SRWC in a riparian buffer are similar to those observed in restored and established buffers.
Protective Design Practice

Even though unlike the other chapters in this book in the contents of this section there is no reference or direct relationship to the general flow of other chapters which is energy conscious design and construction, but in a surprising relevant way, it would be reasonable to assume that a firm which has not worries about, and is not engaged in lawsuits or legal problems can produce higher quality designs and products. In other words, the personnel and economical resources that is utilized for fighting these unnecessary and unpleasant realities of professional world can be diverted and focused on better training of the employees, achieving basic and fundamental goals of any conscious architectural or engineering firm such as designing and constructing high-performance buildings and saving energy as a result. Also as I explained in earlier chapters of this book more energy efficient and sustainable building design can be achieved from utilization of performance based design due to its natural openness to innovations and new techniques that naturally make this type of design more vulnerable to possible lawsuits. Therefore understanding the basics of a protective design can indirectly but effectively help the advancement of the general goal of this book. It should be noted here that the material discussed in this chapter are just a few elementary, but important concepts and by no means are intended to replace the requirement of consultation with a professional attorney at all.
A Complex Systems Investigation of Group Work Dynamics in L2 Interactive Tasks

Working with Korean university‐level learners of English, this study provides a detailed analytical comparison of 2 task work groups that were video‐recorded, with 1 group scoring very high and the other relatively low based on the results of a Group Work Dynamic (GWD) measuring instrument. Adopting a complexity theory (CT) perspective and utilizing what Dornyei (2014) has termed a retrodictive qualitative modeling (RQM) approach to research, the study sought to identify how various elements interacted to influence the emerging GWD patterns. Based on different layers of data from the GWD measuring instrument, affect‐related state questionnaires, interviews, and extracts from the transcribed interaction, the signature dynamics for a strong and weak GWD related to a combination of (a) positive and negative GWD behaviors, (b) affect‐related states in the form of motivation, emotional state, and perceived difficulty, (c) critical moments in the interaction, and (d) the system's initial conditions, which were characterized by specific task characteristics and the learners’ affective states just prior to beginning the task. Acting as key control parameters in the shaping of GWD outcomes were task conditions associated with the use of imagination, planning time, humorous content, difficulty level, and multiple task outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Hybrid-comp: A criticality-aware compressed last-level cache

Cache compression is a promising technique to increase on-chip cache capacity and to decrease off-chip bandwidth usage. While prior compression techniques always consider a trade-off between compression ratio and decompression latency, they are oblivious to the variation in criticality of different cache blocks. In multi-core processors, last-level cache (LLC) is logically shared but physically distributed among cores. In this work, we demonstrate that, cache blocks within such nonuniform architecture exhibit different sensitivity to the access latency. Owing to this behavior, we propose a criticality-aware compressed LLC that favors lower latency over higher capacity based on the criticality of the data blocks. Based on our studies on a 16-core processor with 4MB LLC, our proposed criticality-aware mechanism improves the system performance comparable to that of with an 8MB uncompressed LLC.
Characterizing the Antimicrobial Function of a Dairy-Originated Probiotic, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, Against Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Heidelberg in Turkey Poults

Antimicrobial potential of a dairy-origin probiotic bacteria, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) in turkey poults was determined in the current study. Employing in vitro experiments, two strains (subsp.) of P. freudenreichii: P. freudenreichii freudenreichii B3523 (PF) and P. freudenreichii shermanii B4327 (PS) were tested for their ability to resist low pH (2.5) and bile salts (0.3%). In addition, the ability of the strains to adhere to and invade avian epithelial cells was determined after exposure to Propionibacterium strains followed by SH challenge. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the strains’ cell-free culture supernatants (CFCSs) were tested against three major foodborne pathogens, including SH. Furthermore, the susceptibility of the strains to common antibiotics used for human therapy was determined. The hemolytic properties of the strains were determined in comparison to Streptococcus pyogenes, a known hemolysis-causing pathogen. Appropriate controls were kept in all studies. Using two in vivo experiments, PF was tested against SH colonization of poult ceca and dissemination to liver and spleen. The 4 treatment groups were: negative control, PF control (PFC), SH control (SC) and a test group (PFS; PF+SH). The poults in the PFC and PFS groups were inoculated with 1010 CFU ml-1 PF from day 1 through crop gavage and subsequently supplemented through drinking water. On day 7, SC and PFS groups were challenged with SH at 106 CFU ml-1, and after 7 days, cecum, liver, and spleen were collected for determining surviving SH populations. Results indicated that both PF and PS resisted pH=2.5 and 0.3% bile salts with surviving populations comparable to the control and adhered well onto the avian epithelial cell lines. The strains were susceptible to antibiotics and did not invade the epithelial cells or exhibit hemolytic properties. The CFCSs were highly bactericidal against all tested pathogens. In turkey poults, PF significantly reduced cecal colonization of SH and the dissemination of the pathogen to the liver, compared to the SH challenge controls (P<0.05). Results reveal that PF, a non-host GIT-derived probiotic, could be an antibiotic alternative to prevent the early colonization of SH in poults, improving the preharvest safety of turkeys.
Diagnostic Value of Myelin Basic Protein in Cerebrospinal Fluid

Four years ago we described a chemical test relating to a component of the central nervous system (CNS) [3]. Our original aim was to provide a means for objective evaluation of demyelinating activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). A specific protein of myelin, the basic protein, was detected by radioimmunoassay in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients undergoing exacerbation. Moreover, the levels of myelin basic protein (MBP) correlated with the clinical course of MS. In contrast, we could not detect any MBP in spinal fluid from inactive MS patients or patients with non-demyelinative neurologic disease. In this report, based on 500 additional samples from patients with a wide variety of neurological diseases, we confirm the usefulness of this test in evaluating activity in MS. In addition, radioimmunoassay of MBP in CSF may be a useful adjunct to the clinical assessment of other neurological diseases in which myelin breaks down acutely. These include leukodystrophies, severe anoxia, and the myelopathies and encephalopathies due to radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Navier-Stokes Numerical Algorithms for Free-Surface Flow Computations: An Overview

A survey of fixed-grid methods for the calculation of free-surface flows is presented. These methods are based on a single-fluid formulation that is described first. Then concise overviews of the volume-of-fluid, level-set, and front-tracking algorithms are given.
Numerical investigation of the cumulant expansion for fourier path integrals

Recent developments associated with the cumulant expansion of the Fourier path integral Monte Carlo method are illustrated numerically using a simple one-dimensional model of a quantum fluid. By calculating the Helmholtz free energy of the model we demonstrate that 1) recently derived approximate asymptotic expressions for the cumulants requiring only one-dimensional quadrature are both accurate and viable, 2) expressions through third-cumulant order are significantly more rapidly convergent than either the primitive Fourier method or the partial average method, and 3) the derived cumulant convergence orders can be verified numerically.
Features and Ellipticity Analysis of a Discrete Constitutive Equation

One approach for describing material failure is that of using a discrete constitutive equation which relates traction to displacement discontinuity on a failure surface. Here we propose a failure function that might be considered a generalization of the Mohr-Coulomb criterion. One of the unique features is the capability for predicting axial splitting under uniaxial compression. Other experimentally plausible aspects of the model are shown. If the discontinuity is smeared over a shell, then a conventional ellipticity analysis can be performed. For a particular choice of material parameters, it is shown that ellipticity holds provided the thickness of the shell is sufficiently small.
Association of the response to tumor necrosis factor antagonists with plasma type I interferon activity and interferon-β/α ratios in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A post hoc analysis of a predominantly Hispanic cohort

Objective Despite substantial clinical efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF)-antagonist therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), some patients respond poorly to such agents. Since an interferon (IFN) signature is variably expressed among RA patients, we investigated whether plasma type I IFN activity might predict response to TNF-antagonist therapy.
Hydrogen production via natural gas steam reforming in a Pd-Au membrane reactor. Comparison between methane and natural gas steam reforming reactions

Abstract High-purity hydrogen to be fed directly to a PEMFC was produced by carrying out natural gas steam reforming under moderate operating conditions in a Pd-Au composite membrane reactor packed with a commercial Ni-based catalyst. The Pd-Au composite membrane with a thickness of approximately 12 µm was fabricated by using both electroless and electroplating techniques to deposit Pd and Au layers, respectively, over a porous stainless-steel support. After annealing, the membrane showed a hydrogen permeance of 1.30 × 10−3 mol/s-m2-Pa0.5 at 450 °C, and near-infinite ideal selectivity of H2/Ar at pressures lower than 300 kPa and at temperatures lower than 400 °C. The natural gas reforming reaction was performed at 450 °C with a steam-to-methane ratio of 3.5 and gas hourly space velocity of 2600 h−1 at different operating pressures varying from 100 kPa to 300 kPa. As a comparison, the steam methane reforming reaction was also carried out at the same operating conditions. The natural gas reforming reaction showed better performance than the steam methane reforming reaction and reached > 80% conversion of the higher hydrocarbons and almost 65% of hydrogen recovery at 450 °C and 300 kPa. High-purity hydrogen was obtained in all the experimental tests. No coke formation was observed. Post-reaction analysis of the membrane is discussed via scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Epilepsy in Adults: A Database Risk Analysis and Review of the Literature

Background Epilepsy is one of the most common neurologic disorders and often remains refractory despite pharmacologic treatment. In patients who are not amenable to surgical resection of seizure foci, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) may be beneficial. Multiple case series have attempted to construct a risk profile for VNS, but they are largely confined to pediatric or single-center populations. We aimed to compile a risk profile for adults undergoing VNS, using multicenter patient data from an international database. Methods The 30-day outcomes of adults undergoing VNS from 2005 to 2016 were collected from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Readmission rates, reoperation rates, length of hospital stay, operative time, and complications were assessed. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify historically reported complication rates. Results Inclusion and exclusion criteria were met by 77 patients. A 30-day risk profile revealed low readmission (6.2%), reoperation (1.3%), and postoperative infection (1.3%) rates. Mean operative time was 81.7 minutes, and average length of stay was 0.27 days. Most (87.0%) patients were discharged on the day of operation. Conclusions This study provides a current snapshot of risks and outcomes in VNS, revealing a safe 30-day risk profile. Greater use of VNS may be beneficial in this fragile population.
Magnetopause Surface Reconstruction from Tangent Vector Observations

Entire fields of science, most notably in astrophysics, rely on line-of-sight observations. In planetary science and heliophysics, the techniques of soft X-ray and energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging also produce line-of-sight measurements. An important question is whether the geometry of the surface, for example the magnetopause, can be reconstructed using only line-of-sight observations from a single spacecraft. Under a broad range of conditions, the peak emission corresponds to the tangent to the boundary surface, such as the planetary surface or magnetopause, the so-called "limb brightening" phenomenon. Thus, line-of-sight observations frequently provide information concerning the tangent to the surfaces being observed. We present an algorithm to reconstruct the cross-section of the magnetopause using line-of-sight soft X-ray observations (and, in principle, ENA observations). The algorithm successfully reconstructs the cross section of the magnetopause in the orbit plane. The threedimensional magnetopause structure can be recovered from observations by a spacecraft whose orbit precesses around the magnetosphere.
Impact of a Mobile App-Based Health Coaching and Behavior Change Program on Participant Engagement and Weight Status of Overweight and Obese Children: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Effective treatment of obesity in children and adolescents traditionally requires frequent in-person contact, and it is often limited by low participant engagement. Mobile health tools may offer alternative models that enhance participant engagement. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess child engagement over time, with a mobile app–based health coaching and behavior change program for weight management, and to examine the association between engagement and change in weight status. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of user data from Kurbo, a commercial program that provides weekly individual coaching via video chat and supports self-monitoring of health behaviors through a mobile app. Study participants included users of Kurbo between March 2015 and March 2017, who were 5 to 18 years old and who were overweight or obese (body mass index; BMI ≥ 85th percentile or ≥ 95th percentile) at baseline. The primary outcome, engagement, was defined as the total number of health coaching sessions received. The secondary outcome was change in weight status, defined as the change in BMI as a percentage of the 95th percentile (%BMIp95). Analyses of outcome measures were compared across three initial commitment period groups: 4 weeks, 12 to 16 weeks, or 24 weeks. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to adjust outcomes for the independent variables of sex, age group (5-11 years, 12-14 years, and 15-18 years), and commitment period. A sensitivity analysis was conducted, excluding a subset of participants involuntarily assigned to the 12- to 16-week commitment period by an employer or health plan. Results: A total of 1120 participants were included in analyses. At baseline, participants had a mean age of 12 years (SD 2.5), mean BMI percentile of 96.6 (SD 3.1), mean %BMIp95 of 114.5 (SD 16.5), and they were predominantly female 68.04% (762/1120). Participant distribution across commitment periods was 26.07% (292/1120) for 4 weeks, 61.61% (690/1120) for 12-16 weeks, and 12.32% (138/1120) for 24 weeks. The median coaching sessions (interquartile range) received were 8 (3-16) for the 4-week group, 9 (5-12) for the 12- to 16-week group, and 19 (11-25) for the 24-week group (P<.001). Adjusted for sex and age group, participants in the 4- and 12-week groups participated in –8.03 (95% CI –10.19 to –5.87) and –9.34 (95% CI –11.31 to –7.39) fewer coaching sessions, compared with those in the 24-week group (P<.001). Adjusted for commitment period, sex, and age group, the overall mean change in %BMIp95 was –0.21 (95% CI –0.25 to –0.17) per additional coaching session (P<.001). Conclusions: Among overweight and obese children using a mobile app–based health coaching and behavior change program, increased engagement was associated with longer voluntary commitment periods, and increased number of coaching sessions was associated with decreased weight status.
Evolutions: Fifteen Myths that Explain Our World

Oren Harman’s Evolutions: Fifteen Myths that Explain Our World is a captivating compendium of ancient myths and modern science, a dazzling kaleidoscope of “the secrets of civilization… [and] the pl...
Mitochondrial transplantation for myocardial protection in diabetic hearts

OBJECTIVES Type 2 diabetes causes mitochondrial dysfunction, which increases myocardial susceptibility to ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We investigated the efficacy of transplantation of mitochondria isolated from diabetic or non-diabetic donors in providing cardioprotection from warm global ischaemia and reperfusion in the diabetic rat heart. METHODS Ex vivo perfused hearts from Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF fa/fa) rats (n = 6 per group) were subjected to 30 min of warm global ischaemia and 120 min reperfusion. Immediately prior to reperfusion, vehicle alone (VEH) or vehicle containing mitochondria isolated from either ZDF (MTZDF) or non-diabetic Zucker lean (ZL +/?) (MTZL) skeletal muscle were delivered to the coronary arteries via the aortic cannula. RESULTS Following 30-min global ischaemia and 120-min reperfusion, left ventricular developed pressure was significantly increased in MTZDF and MTZL groups compared to VEH group (MTZDF: 92.8 ± 5.2 mmHg vs MTZL: 110.7 ± 2.4 mmHg vs VEH: 44.3 ± 5.9 mmHg; P < 0.01 each); and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was significantly decreased (MTZDF 12.1 ± 1.3 mmHg vs MTZL 8.6 ± 0.8 mmHg vs VEH: 18.6 ± 1.5 mmHg; P = 0.016 for MTZDF vs VEH and P < 0.01 for MTZL vs VEH). Total tissue ATP content was significantly increased in both MT groups compared to VEH group (MTZDF: 18.9 ± 1.5 mmol/mg protein/mg tissue vs MTZL: 28.1 ± 2.3 mmol/mg protein/mg tissue vs VEH: 13.1 ± 0.5 mmol/mg protein/mg tissue; P = 0.018 for MTZDF vs VEH and P < 0.01 for MTZL vs VEH). Infarct size was significantly decreased in the MT groups (MTZDF: 11.8 ± 0.7% vs MTZL: 9.9 ± 0.5% vs VEH: 52.0 ± 1.4%; P < 0.01 each). CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial transplantation significantly enhances post-ischaemic myocardial functional recovery and significantly decreases myocellular injury in the diabetic heart.
Amber: a debuggable dataflow system based on the actor model

A long-running analytic task on big data often leaves a developer in the dark without providing valuable feedback about the status of the execution. In addition, a failed job that needs to restart from scratch can waste earlier computing resources. An effective method to address these issues is to allow the developer to debug the task during its execution, which is unfortunately not supported by existing big data solutions. In this paper we develop a system called Amber that supports responsive debugging during the execution of a workflow task. After starting the execution, the developer can pause the job at will, investigate the states of the cluster, modify the job, and resume the computation. She can also set conditional breakpoints to pause the execution when certain conditions are satisfied. In this way, the developer can gain a much better understanding of the run-time behavior of the execution and more easily identify issues in the job or data. Amber is based on the actor model, a distributed computing paradigm that provides concurrent units of computation using actors. We give a full specification of Amber, and implement it on top of the Orleans system. Our experiments show its high performance and usability of debugging on computing clusters.
De novo somatic mutations and KRAS amplification are associated with cholangiocarcinoma in a patient with a history of choledochal cyst.

Abstract Background/Purpose Choledochal cysts are congenital dilations of the bile ducts, and are associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation. The purpose of this study is to report the outcomes of a large series of patients with choledochal cysts and to highlight our analysis of one patient who developed malignancy after cyst resection. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients Results One patient of the 48 included in our study developed cholangiocarcinoma after choledochal cyst resection. We observed de novo somatic mutations in TP53 and RBM10, and KRAS amplification in this patient's tumor. Conclusions In our series, the rate of malignancy after choledochal cyst resection was low. One patient developed de novo mutations in the remnant bile ducts after cyst resection. While it is a rare occurrence, the risk of malignancy following cyst resection supports the need for lifelong surveillance. Level of evidence IV
Dynamic Restoration Strategy for Distribution System Resilience Enhancement

In electric power distribution systems, distributed energy resources (DERs) can act as controllable power sources and support utility operators to minimize power outages after extreme weather events (e.g., hurricane, earthquake, wildfire) and thus help enhance the grid's resilience. Meanwhile, the influences of extreme events and the capabilities of DERs are dynamic and difficult to predict. Hence, the desired distribution system restoration strategy should be able to evolve according to real-time fault/dis-turbance information and the availability of DERs. In this paper, we propose a new dynamic restoration strategy for distribution systems to enhance system resilience against potential hazards. An efficient reconfiguration algorithm is developed to eliminate the use of integer variables to relieve the computational burden. Model predictive control is implemented to adjust the system topology and DER operation set points based on the updated fault information and DER forecasts. The effectiveness of the proposed restoration model in enhancing distribution system resilience is validated through an IEEE 123-bus test system. Simulation results also validate that the proposed restoration model can mitigate the occurrence of unexpected events and the fluctuations of DERs.
Ductal carcinoma in situ in patients younger than 30 years: differences in adjuvant endocrine therapy and outcomes

To use the National Cancer Database to assess treatment patterns in very young women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) given their propensity for higher risk features and increased risk of recurrence. We used the NCDB to identify female patients who underwent surgery for a first cancer diagnosis of DCIS within three different age groups: ≤30, 31–50, and >50. Demographic information, tumor characteristics, and initial treatment patterns were characterized and compared. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression of individuals with hormone-receptor-positive disease who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was conducted to assess for group differences in adjuvant endocrine therapy utilization. Survival analysis was conducted via Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. We identified 236,832 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Individuals in the youngest group were more likely to be a minority, had better Charlson-Deyo scores, lived further from their treatment facility, and were less often insured. This group also had more unfavorable tumor features and were more likely to undergo bilateral mastectomy. In subgroup analysis of patients with hormone-receptor-positive disease who underwent BCS, the youngest group was significantly less likely to have received endocrine therapy. There was also a trend toward worse overall survival in the youngest group. We report differences in demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment of very young women with DCIS. Given the known reduction in recurrence with use of adjuvant endocrine therapy, there may be room for increasing therapy rates or otherwise altering guidelines for treatment of young women with hormone-receptor-positive DCIS who undergo BCS.
Inferring life history characteristics of the oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus from vertebral bomb radiocarbon

Oceanic whitetip sharks Carcharhinus longimanus are a cosmopolitan epipelagic species that was once prolific throughout the tropics and subtropics but was recently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and as Threatened under the United States Endangered Species Act. Although historically conspicuous in oceanic fisheries catches, relatively little is known about their habitat use, movement, and life history during migration. Given the paucity of data on migratory patterns and lack of age estimate validation available for this species, we evaluated vertebral growth bands for bomb radiocarbon (14C) patterns to derive additional information on these metrics. Individual growth bands (n = 62) were milled from vertebrae of eight individuals caught in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Age estimates based on vertebral growth bands ranged 1 – 13 years, with capture dates spanning 1978 – 1983. Plots of vertebral ∆14C relative to regional coral, shark, and fish otolith reference curves suggest age estimates based on presumed annual growth bands were accurate, although specimens were not old enough to capture the most informative portion of the bomb radiocarbon reference period. The magnitude of ∆14C varied among individuals, and individual chronologies demonstrated semi-cyclic patterns of ∆14C depletion and subsequent enrichment, which may be indicative of changes to diet as a function of migratory patterns and is supported by recently published telemetry, diet, and stable isotope studies. Although preliminary in nature, these data provide some evidence that ∆14C patterns in vertebrae can serve as a multi-purpose tool for life history studies of oceanic sharks.
A Fenofibrate Diet Prevents Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Mice

Background: Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is a major adverse effect of this chemotherapeutic agent that is used in the treatment of a number of solid malignancies. PIPN leads notably to burning pain, cold and mechanical allodynia. PIPN is thought to be a consequence of alterations of mitochondrial function, hyperexcitability of neurons, nerve fiber loss, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord (SC). Therefore, reducing neuroinflammation could potentially attenuate neuropathy symptoms. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) nuclear receptors that modulate inflammatory responses can be targeted by non-selective agonists, such as fenofibrate, which is used in the treatment of dyslipidemia. Methods: Our studies tested the efficacy of a fenofibrate diet (0.2% and 0.4%) in preventing the development of PIPN. Paclitaxel (8 mg/kg) was administered via 4 intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections in C57BL/6J mice (both male and female). Mechanical and cold hypersensitivity, wheel running activity, sensory nerve action potential (SNAP), sciatic nerve histology, intra-epidermal fibers, as well as the expression of PPAR-α and neuroinflammation were evaluated in DRG and SC. Results: Fenofibrate in the diet partially prevented the development of mechanical hypersensitivity but completely prevented cold hypersensitivity and the decrease in wheel running activity induced by paclitaxel. The reduction in SNAP amplitude induced by paclitaxel was also prevented by fenofibrate. Our results indicate that suppression of paclitaxel-induced pain by fenofibrate involves the regulation of PPAR-α expression through reduction in neuroinflammation. Finally, co-administration of paclitaxel and the active metabolite of fenofibrate (fenofibric acid) did not interfere with the suppression of tumor cell growth or clonogenicity by paclitaxel in ovarian and breast cancer cell lines. Conclusions: Taken together, our results show the therapeutic potential of fenofibrate in the prevention of PIPN development.
The Emergence of English Commercial Law: Analysis Inspired by Ottoman Experience

Thirteenth-century England was a commercial backwater whose trade was dominated by foreigners. To accommodate and encourage foreign merchants, England modified its legal system by creating legal institutions which were available to both domestic and foreign traders. Among the most important of these institutions were streamlined debt collection procedures and mixed juries composed of both Englishmen and foreigners. By introducing institutions which treated locals and foreigners equally, England created a level playing field which enabled English merchants to become increasingly prominent in the later Middle Ages. England's ability to modernize its law was facilitated by the secular nature of English law, the representation of merchants in Parliament, and legal pluralism. Medieval England contrasts sharply with the early modern Ottoman Empire. The latter created special institutions for foreign merchants, which eventually put Ottoman Muslims at a competitive disadvantage.
Relying on their own hands: Examining the causes and consequences of supermarket decentralization in Detroit

This paper examines the historical evolution of uneven neighborhood food environments in tri-County Detroit, Michigan from 1970 to 2010. It demonstrates how broader economic conditions and business...
XAlgo: a Design Probe of Explaining Algorithms’ Internal States via Question-Answering

Algorithms often appear as ’black boxes’ to non-expert users. While prior work focuses on explainable representations and expert-oriented exploration, we propose and study an interactive approach using question answering to explain deterministic algorithms to non-expert users who need to understand the algorithms’ internal states (students learning algorithms, operators monitoring robots, admins troubleshooting network routing). We construct XAlgo—a formal model that first classifies the type of question based on a taxonomy and generates an answer based on a set of rules that extract information from representations of an algorithm’s internal states, the pseudocode. A design probe based on an algorithm learning scenario with 18 participants (9 for a Wizard-of-Oz XAlgo and 9 as a control group) reports findings and design implications based on what kinds of questions people ask, how well XAlgo responds, and what remain as challenges to bridge users’ gulf of algorithm understanding.
The Pink Pad: A Method of Post-Free Distraction During Hip Arthroscopy.

Abstract Distraction is essential during hip arthroscopy to allow for adequate working space during central and peripheral compartment procedures. Pudendal posts are frequently used with traction boots to achieve distraction, but use of these posts is believed to be associated with the iatrogenic pudendal area and perineal nerve injuries seen with hip arthroscopy. Current post-free distraction tables are costly and cumbersome. The pink pad positioning device allows for post-free distraction through the creation of friction between the patient, the pad, and the bed. This device can be used with a standard hip arthroscopy table, is easy to learn, allows for adequate distraction, and allows for greater access to the femoral neck during osteochondroplasty, as there is less restriction of the patient’s range of motion without a post present. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe a method of post-free distraction using the pink pad positioning device.
Can I Talk to You about Your Social Needs? Understanding Preference for Conversational User Interface in Health

Conversational User Interfaces (CUI) are becoming increasingly utilized in Health applications due to their ability to engage patients and support clinical workflows. Yet recent reviews show that our understanding of CUI performance and user preferences towards them is still lacking. This work examines factors that explain people’s preference for engaging with a social needs screening CUI in a clinical context with 41 emergency department visitors. We demonstrate that people with low health literacy and high attitude towards emotional interaction (AEI) prefer responding to questions via CUI rather than a form-based survey. Specifically, participants with low health literacy appreciate the improved understandability offered by the CUI, whereas participants with high AEI appreciate the added level of engagement offered through conversational interactions. Our work advances the understanding of the benefits of CUI for different user groups in health contexts and beyond.
Prevalence of food insecurity and association with mental health in an indigenous population in Panamá.

OBJECTIVE Understanding food insecurity and its health consequences is important for identifying strategies to best target support for individuals and communities. Given the limited information that exists for indigenous groups in Latin America, this study aimed to understand the association between food insecurity and mental health in an indigenous population in Panama. DESIGN Cross-sectional data were collected using a survey conducted with Kuna Indians residing off the coast of Panama. Data sources included measures from the Panamanian prevalence of risk factors associated with CVD survey, and validated measures for psychosocial factors and standardised health outcome measures. Regression models with each of the mental health outcomes (depression, serious psychological distress, perceived stress) were used to examine the association between food insecurity and mental health outcomes. SETTING Indigenous Kuna community residing on the San Blas Islands of Panama. PARTICIPANTS Two-hundred nine adults. RESULTS Food insecurity was reported by 83 % of the participants. Across demographic categories, the only significant difference was by age with higher prevalence in younger ages. After adjusting for demographics, higher food insecurity was significantly associated with higher number of depressive symptoms and more serious psychological distress, but not with levels of perceived stress. CONCLUSIONS Based on these findings, treatment for mental health in the Kuna community may need to account for social determinants of health and be tailored to meet the needs of younger age groups in this population. In addition, interventions designed to decrease food insecurity should be considered as a possible means for improving mental health.
Statin Use and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Incidence and Progression in Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) Trial.

Purpose:Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease often manifested by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We previously found statins were associated with modest attenuations in prost...
Memory in Vergil's Aeneid: Creating the Past

Introduction 1. Turning toward Rome 2. The challenge of Troy 3. A personal affair: memories of Dido 4. The narrator's song 5. Imperatives of memory: foundation and fury in Aeneid 12 Conclusion.
Uterine blood flow and 02 consumption following fetal death in sheep

Abstract Uterine blood flows and O 2 consumptions were compared before and after fetal death in 9 unanesthetized pregnant ewes in the last month of gestation. Fetal death was produced by the injection of a bolus of air in a fetal pedal vein. Uterine blood flow did not change significantly in the first hour following fetal death. Afterward, there was a slow decline of the uterine blood flow to approximately 70 per cent of the control value at 24 hr. The abrupt removal of fetal metabolism produced a large drop in uterine O 2 consumption. This drop was more pronounced late in pregnancy in agreement with previous data showing that the fraction of the total uterine O 2 consumption which is fetal is related to fetal size.
On the Ethics of Teacher–Student Friendships

THE DIMENSIONS OF FRIENDSHIP Fifteen years ago, when I was teaching at an elementary school in Krakow, Poland, a student became my friend. I taught his class English in fourth, and then fifth, grade, and he participated in an after-school program I ran. The school was in a gritty industrial suburb of the city, and most of the boys were, in the way of boys of such places, sweet but acquiring a pose of exterior toughness. The boy who became my friend, however, loved butterflies. He also loved art, and after I’d been teaching there for a few months, he stayed after class one day to show me some watercolor paintings he’d made of sunflowers. I loaned him a children’s book in English, and in thanks he gave me one of the sunflower paintings that I’d admired. Throughout my year and a half of teaching, he continued to show me his paintings and his photographs of butterflies, and occasionally he’d accompany me to my tram stop, explaining the key geographical features of his neighborhood, like where Tomasz broke his arm and which dumpster the older boys stood behind to smoke. Once, after some students in his class had been unusually rowdy during their English lesson, he came up to me afterwards and told me “Don’t get upset about it. They do that to all the teachers.” We never engaged in more conventional friendship activities such as socializing on weekends, sharing a wide range of details of our thoughts and lives, or asking for help with personal problems, but I thought of the relationship as a real friendship and so did Olaf. We stayed in touch over the years, and I last saw Olaf, now 27 and still photographing butterflies, when I was in Krakow last summer.
Solid-Supported Reagents for Synthesis of Nucleoside Monothiophosphates, Dithiodiphosphates, and Trithiotriphosphates

This unit describes procedures for the selective synthesis of nucleoside monothiophosphates, dithiodiphosphates, and trithiotriphosphates from solid-supported phosphitylating reagents. Rigid and sterically hindered polymer-bound 1,3,2-oxathiaphospholane is reacted selectively with the 5'-hydroxyl group of nucleosides in the presence of 1H-tetrazole. Sulfurization in the presence of Beaucage's reagent (3H-1,2-benzodithiole-3-one 1,1-dioxide) followed by ring-opening with 3-hydroxypropionitrile and basic cleavage in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) through the elimination of polymer-bound ethylene episulfide afford nucleoside monothiophosphates. Furthermore, reaction of polymer-bound diphosphitylating and triphosphitylating reagents, prepared from polymer-bound benzyl alcohol, with unprotected nucleosides, sulfurization with Beaucage's reagent, and acidic cleavage using trifluoroacetic acid cocktail produce nucleoside dithiodiphosphates and trithiotriphosphates in moderate yields.
Coupling alkane dehydrogenation with hydrogenation reactions on cation-exchanged zeolites

Thiophene desulfurization was achieved using hydrogen surface species formed during dehydrogenation of alkanes on H-ZSM5 modified by exchanged cations (M=Co, Mo, Zn) with the selective formation of H2S without direct involvement of the H2 formed in alkane reactions. Thiophene reactions in the absence of a hydrogen source (H2, C3H8) lead to significant formation of benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene by-products. Propane markedly increases desulfurization rates and H2S selectivities, while inhibiting catalyst deactivation on all catalysts. Rates, selectivities, and deactivation rates using propane (20 kPa) as a direct hydrogen source are equivalent to those obtained at >200 kPa H2 on H-ZSM5 and to 50–100 kPa H2 on Co/H-ZSM5 and much higher than at the H2 pressures prevalent during alkane reactions (1–2 kPa). Alkane reactions on M/H-ZSM5 are limited by hydrogen desorption bottlenecks that lead to surface hydrogen chemical potentials higher than those in the contacting H2 gas phase. The addition of these hydrogen species to thiophene leads to the observed desulfurization, which provides an alternate path for hydrogen removal and leads to higher alkane dehydrogenation rates. This synergistic coupling occurs on H-ZSM5, but cations appear to provide a promotional effect. Cations provide recombinative desorption sites that decrease the availability and chemical potential of adsorbed hydrogen, but they also appear to be involved in providing alternate binding sites for hydrodesulfurization reactions.
Effects of epidermal growth factor on human sperm cell function.

The effects of human recombinant epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the fertilizing capacity of human sperm were investigated. At lower concentrations (0.1-10 nM) EGF did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes (SPA). At higher concentrations (25-100 nM), EGF significantly (P = 0.01 to or = 25 nM), EGF also significantly inhibited the spontaneous as well as calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reaction and release of acrosin from human sperm. There was no effect of EGF on percent sperm motility, but at higher concentrations (> or = 25 nM) it significantly affected various sperm motility characteristics especially velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement. EGF was detected by radioimmunoassay as well as radioreceptor assay in seminal plasma of fertile men. However, there were no statistical differences between the levels of EGF or EGF/transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha) in seminal plasma of fertile, infertile, and immunoinfertile men. Also, there was no significant correlation of the EGF or EGF/TGF-alpha levels with total sperm number, sperm motility characteristics, and penetration rates in SPA in these patients. These results indicate that EGF has either no effect or an inhibitory/negative effect on the human sperm cell capacitation and/or acrosome reaction, especially at higher concentrations (> 25 nM).
Parents' Beliefs About Preventing Gun Injuries to Children

Data were collected from parents bringing children to selected pediatric practices in Maryland using questionnaires and focus group discussions. Gun ownership ranged from 27% in the suburban practice to 53% in the rural practice. Unrealistic perceptions of children's capabilities and behavioral tendencies with regard to guns were common among gun owners. Half of all gun-owning parents believed that active strategies (eg, education, supervision) were the best method of preventing gun injuries to children older than 12 years of age. Nearly all gun owners indicated a willingness to follow their pediatrician's advice about gun storage, but only 19% of the mothers and 10% of the fathers said they would follow advice to remove guns from the home. Among parents who did not have a gun in the home, 40% said they would consider obtaining one if they felt threatened; however, 73% of these parents indicated they would be dissuaded from doing so by a pediatrician's advice about the risks of keeping guns in the home. Results suggested that pediatricians will be most effective if they recommend passive strategies (eg, removing guns from the home or storing guns unloaded and locked) on the basis of children's developmental capabilities and behavioral tendencies and make their recommendations part of general counseling about child safety.