cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Empowering “Professional” Relationships: Organizational Communication Meets Feminist Practice

This article revisits the relationship between feminist and bureaucratic organization. Much feminist critique has denounced bureaucratic impersonality and proposed the reunion of professional and personal. Yet, little is known of what happens when actual organization members merge “private” matters with “public” life. This article turns to feminist practice as a way to enhance feminist organization theory and, thus, to enrich organizational communication studies with pragmatic alternatives to gendered organization. The author reports an ethnographic study of one feminist organization’s efforts to personalize work relations, which ironically reproduced the division of public and private. The case challenges feminist assumptions about the role of emotionality and sexuality in empowering “professional” relationships and extends an alternative, provisional form of theorizing about feminist practice.
Analysis of myocardial response to significant weight loss in obese rats.

We evaluated cardiac response to weight loss induced by a very-low-energy (VLE) diet similar to commer- cially available protein-sparing diets. Such diets have been im- plicated in sudden death, and whether organ and tissue responses to them are untoward is not known. Rapid weight loss was in- duced in rats with weights ranging from obese to normal, and cardiac mass and myocardial histomorphometry were assessed. Over 3 wk body weight dropped from 544 ± 12 to 417 ± 21 g (P < 0.001). Heart weight was less in the VLE group than in obese controls (1246 ± 115 vs 1625 ± 179 mg, P < 0.001), as were the weights of the left ventricle (805 ± 81 vs 1061 ± 134 mg, P < 0.001) and right ventricle (198 ± 27 vs 265 ± 40 mg, P < 0.002). Reduction in heart weight was commensurate with loss of body weight (r = 0.89). Myocyte cross-sectional area was reduced in the VLE group (452.6 ± 108.6 to 331.8 ± 41.5 j.�m2, P < 0.05), with no structural abnormalities. We conclude that weight loss in the weight range studied is accompanied by pro- portional reduction in cardiac mass and myocyte size. Myocar- dial regression is not accompanied by myocyte dropout or edema, and likely represents a simple adaptation to reduced body size. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59:566-71.
Anthrax Lethal Toxin Enhances IκB Kinase Activation and Differentially Regulates Pro-inflammatory Genes in Human Endothelium

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT) was previously shown to enhance transcriptional activity of NF-κB in tumor necrosis factor-α-activated primary human endothelial cells. Here we show that this LT-mediated increase in NF-κB activation is associated with the enhanced degradation of the inhibitory proteins IκBα and IκBβ but not IκBϵ. Moreover, this was accompanied by enhanced activation of the IκB kinase complex (IKK), which is responsible for targeting IκB proteins for degradation. Importantly, LT enhancement of IκBα degradation was completely blocked by a selective IKKβ inhibitor, whereas IκBβ degradation was attenuated, suggesting a mechanistic link. Consistent with the above data, LT-cotreated cells show elevated phosphorylation of two IKK substrates, IκBα and p65, both of which were blocked by incubation with the IKKβ inhibitor. Consistent with NF-κB activation, LT increased transcription of the NF-κB regulated gene CD40. Conversely, LT inhibited transcription of another NF-κB-regulated gene, CCL2. This inhibition was linked to the LT-mediated suppression of another CCL2-regulating transcription factor, AP-1 (activator protein-1). These data suggest that LT-mediated enhancement of NF-κB is IKK-dependent, but importantly, the net effect of LT on the transcription of proinflammatory genes is driven by the cumulative effect of LT on the particular set of transcription factors that regulate a given promoter. Together, these findings provide new mechanistic insight on how LT may disrupt the host response to anthrax.
Essay contest reveals misconceptions of high school students in genetics content.

National educational organizations have called upon scientists to become involved in K–12 education reform. From sporadic interaction with students to more sustained partnerships with teachers, the engagement of scientists takes many forms. In this case, scientists from the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), the Genetics Society of America (GSA), and the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) have partnered to organize an essay contest for high school students as part of the activities surrounding National DNA Day. We describe a systematic analysis of 500 of 2443 total essays submitted in response to this contest over 2 years. Our analysis reveals the nature of student misconceptions in genetics, the possible sources of these misconceptions, and potential ways to galvanize genetics education.
Effects of dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid and 5-hydroxytryptamine on incorporation of 32P into phosphatides in slices from the guinea pig brain.

(1) Dopamine–In slices from guinea pig corpus striatum, dopamine significantly inhibited incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylethanolamine-plus-phosphatidylserine at a concentration of 0001 mM, and into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine at 001 mM. In eight areas of the guinea pig brain in which the effects of 01 mM-dopamine were studied, the only significant increase in incorporation of 32P into phosphatides was into phosphatidic acid in the hypothalamus; there was significant inhibition of incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylcholine in cerebellar cortex and thalamus, and into phosphatidylethanolamine-plus-phosphatidylserine in the olfactory bulbs. (2) Gamma-aminobutyric acid—In slices of guinea pig cerebral cortex, GABA (1 mM) significantly inhibited incorporation of 32P into only phosphatidic acid, diphosphoinositide and phosphatidylinositol and did not significantly affect the level or the specific activity of the nucleotide ∼P. GABA (10 mM), significantly inhibited incorporation of 32P into diphosphoinositide, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine, and significantly lowered the specific activity of the nucleotide ∼P. (3) 5-Hydroxytryptamine—In slices of guinea pig cerebral cortex, 5HT, (1 mM) significantly increased incorporation of 32P into phosphatidic acid; in a concentration of 10 mM, 5HT increased incorporation of 32P into phosphatidic acid four-fold and into both diphosphoinositide and phosphatidylinositol two-fold; other phosphatides were not significantly affected and the specific activity of the nucleotide ∼P was not significantly different. In eight brain areas studied, 5HT (10 mM) significantly increased incorporation of 32P into phosphatidic acid in all areas; into phosphatidylinositol in six areas (excepting cerebellar cortex and hypothalamus); and into diphosphoinositide in the olfactory bulbs, cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and corpus striatum. Incorporation of 32P into triphosphoinositide was not significantly affected in any area. Incorporation of 32P into phospha-tidylethanolamine-plus-phosphatidylserine was significantly greater than the control in the olfactory bulbs and incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylcholine was significantly less than the control in the cerebellar cortex, olfactory bulbs and hypothalamus. (4) The possibility is discussed that increased incorporation of 32P into phosphatidic acid and/or phosphatidylinositol in response to neurotransmitters might be associated with excitatory, but not inhibitory, neurotransmission; and that inhibition of incorporation of 32P into various phosphatides may be associated with inhibitory neurotransmission or neuromodulation.
A second generation user interface design environment: the model and the runtime architecture

Several obstacles exist in the user interface design process which distract a developer from designing a good user interface. One of the problems is the lack of an application model to keep the designer in perspective with the application. The other problem is having to deal with massive user interface programming to achieve a desired interface and to provide users with correct help information on the interface. In this paper, we discuss an application model which captures information about the application to specifications of a desired interface. The application model is then used to control the dialogues at runtime and can be used by a help component to automatically generate animated and textual help. Specification changes in the application model will automatically result in behavioral changes in the interface.
Treatment with 8-OH-DPAT attenuates the weight loss associated with activity-based anorexia in female rats

Serotonin (5-HT) plays an important role in controlling food intake and regulating body weight. In addition, clinical studies suggest a possible role for 5-HT in the etiology of anorexia nervosa. Recently, we have examined the effects of pharmacological manipulation of the 5-HT system in female rats exposed to conditions that promote activity-based anorexia (ABA). In this animal model of anorexia nervosa, rats are food restricted (2 h access/day) while given the opportunity to exercise in running wheels. These conditions promote symptoms of anorexia nervosa including hypophagia, hyperactivity, progressive weight loss, and disruptions of the ovarian reproductive cycle. Previously, we demonstrated that increased 5-HT activity increased the weight loss associated with ABA in female rats. Here, we investigated whether decreased 5-HT activity would attenuate symptoms of ABA. Food-restricted female rats received injections of 8-OH-DPAT, a drug that reduces serotonergic neurotransmission, or saline vehicle 40 min prior to food access. During this restricted-feeding phase, food intake was similar between groups; however, 8-OH-DPAT prevented the hyperactivity observed in saline-treated rats. This resulted in less weight loss in 8-OH-DPAT-treated rats, suggesting that decreased activation of the 5-HT system attenuates the development of ABA.
Wildfire Policy and Public Lands: Integrating Scientific Understanding with Social Concerns across Landscapes

Efforts to suppress wildfires have become increasingly problematic in recent years as costs have risen, threats to firefighter safety have escalated, and detrimental impacts to ecosystems have multiplied. Wildfires that escape initial suppression often expand into large, high-intensity summer blazes. Lost is the legacy of smaller fires that likely burned outside extreme weather and fuel conditions and resulted in less severe impacts. Despite the recognized need for modifications to existing policies and practices, resource agencies have been slow to respond. The spread of exotic species, climate change, and increasing human development in wildlands further complicates the issue. New policies are needed that integrate social and ecological needs across administrative boundaries and broad landscapes. These policies should promote a continuum of treatments with active management and reduction of fuel hazard in wildland-urban interface zones and reintroduction of fire in wildlands. Management goals should focus on restoration of the long-term ecological health of the land. Projects that reduce fuel loads but compromise the integrity of soil, water supplies, or watersheds will do more harm than good in the long run. Despite significant ecological concerns, learning to live with fire remains primarily a social issue that will require greater political leadership, agency innovation, public involvement, and community responsibility.
The impact of occupational stress on academic and administrative staff, and on students: an empirical case analysis

This article examines the impact of occupational stress among academic staff, administrative staff, and students in a well-established US university environment. The results show that there are different correlations associated with stress such as organisational demand, health issues, and stress management. Findings suggest that occupational stress levels differed between academic staff, administrative staff, and students. However, at the aggregate level, stress levels were similar by either gender or age. Different stress factors, such as work overload, feeling overwhelmed, and interrelated relationships were analysed. Students reported significant outcomes from stress: having sleep problems, depression, and irritability.
Conversation and Cooperation in Social Dilemmas: A Meta-Analysis of Experiments from 1958 to 1992

This article presents an analysis of 35 years of published experiments testing decision making in prisoners' dilemmas. The objective is to begin to reconnect the theory and the evidence of rational behavior by accumulating the experience of the laboratory and examining this record for those factors that consistently altered subjects' choices. It is shown that a model of pure self-interest is usually inconsistent with the results of experimental decision making, predicting either the wrong sign, as in the case of monetary stakes, or ignoring influential variables, such as the content of instructions. This incongruity is widest with respect to the role of language in encouraging cooperation.
Quellcode der Unit Spell

Korrekturprogramme suchen die in einem Text enthaltenen Worter in einem Referenz-Worterbuch; werden diese darin gefunden, kann angenommen werden, das das zu prufende Wort korrekt geschrieben ist. Damit ein Korrektur-Programm brauchbar ist, mus ein Wort in sehr kurzer Zeit innerhalb des Referenz-Worterbuches gefunden werden; auserdem sollte ein einzelnes Wort so wenig Speicherplatz wie moglich benutzen, da Referenz-Worterbucher oft viele tausend Worter enthalten.
Reproductive Techniques in Sheep

This article reviews current methods of evaluating reproductive performance in the sheep industry. The reproductive technologies of breeding soundness examination, reproductive ultrasonography, estrus manipulation, artificial insemination, and embryo transfer are also extensively discussed. The veterinarian's current and future role application of these technologies is discussed.
Of Dissent and Discretion

A review essay centering around Clay S. Conrad's Jury Nullification: The Evolution of a Doctrine, and focusing on the largely unexamined - and not always positive - role of prosecutorial discretion. Plus, some suggestions on how to ensure that such discretion is better supervised in the future.
Temperature Dependence of the Fluorescence Lineshape and Fluorescence Lifetime of Titanium Doped Sapphire

The fluorescence spectra of Czochralksi grown titanium doped sapphire crystals have been investigated for temperatures ranging from 13K to 578K. Selected spectra are shown in Figure 1. An emission band peaked at about 13,300cm−1 is observed at temperatures above 125K to be broad and structureless except for persistent lines tentatively identified as due to chromium impurities. Zero- and multi-phonon assisted electronic transitions are observed at temperatures below 125K on the high energy side of the fluorescence spectra. Three lines (two narrow and strong, and one broad and weak) near 16,200cm−1 are attributed to zero phonon transitions from the upper 2Eg level to the E3/2, 1E1/2 and 2El/2 levels. The energy difference between these peaks agree with experimental and theoretical values published in the literature.(1-5) Analysis of the line structure on the low energy side of the zero phonon lines suggest two modes of lattice vibration couple to the electronic 2T2g state with energies of 220cm−1 and 260cm−1.
Integrated Methods for Verification and Validation of GNC Systems

This paper describes a comprehensive set of methods that have been successfully adapted for the verification and validation of several highly successful GNC systems currently in operation – namely, Messenger currently on-route to the planet Mercury; New Horizons onroute to the dwarf planet Pluto; and Stereo two nearly identical spacecraft in heliocentric orbit. The methods developed and adapted for all three programs originated with the development of the GNC algorithms at the very basic and fundamental level, then progressed to the development of the Flight and Simulation software, and then finally became the core set of methods used in independent testing. Algorithm development was achieved using so-called “Track Files” in a MATLAB environment. PERL-based utilities extracted the time-ordered logic as well as the corresponding command and telemetry points to auto-generate methods in a hardware-in-the-loop environment. It has been shown that the corresponding test results can be directly compared with the workstation simulations on a one-to-one basis. Also, IV&V test engineers used these tools to create an independent set of tests that were run first at the workstation level then in a hardware-in-the-loop environment, and ultimately on the spacecraft themselves. The heart of these methods is based on a design methodology that carefully defines and mnemonically identifies a comprehensive set of GNC commands, telemetry points, and parameters.
Designing and Refining of Questions to Assess Students' Ability to Mentally Simulate Programs and Predict Program Behavior (Abstract Only)

Mental simulation is an important skill for program understanding and prediction of program behavior. Assessing students' ability to mentally simulate program execution can be challenging in graphical programming environments and on paper-based assessments. This poster presents the iterative design and refinement process for assessing students' ability to mentally simulate and predict code behavior using a novel introductory computational thinking curriculum for Microsoft's Kodu Game Lab. We present an analysis of question prompts and student responses from data collected from three rising 3rd - 6th graders where the curriculum was implemented. Analysis of student responses suggest that this type of question can be used to identify misconceptions and misinterpretation of instructions. Finally, we present recommendations for question prompt design to foster better student simulation of program execution.
Perceptual Shaping via Syntax and Textual Layout: Additional Insights for US Copywriters

In recent years, psycholinguistic research of advertising text in US-based publications has contributed substantially to our understanding of advertising language. However, most of this effort has been directed towards the semantics of advertising rather than the language itself—the syntax. Consequently, in an advertising context, this study addresses the effects of one of the most interesting and problematic syntactic structures, the passive. This syntactic structure is examined both in isolation and in conjunction with text layout. The results of our study confirm the view that passive syntax, both independently and in conjunction with layout, elicits significant responses from readers of advertising. However, most interestingly, these responses are often counter-intuitive and raise significant questions about copywriters' assumptions regarding the effects of both passive syntax and text layout. Practical applications of our findings and future research are discussed.
Confirmation of proposed human papillomavirus risk-adapted staging according to AJCC/UICC TNM criteria for positive oropharyngeal carcinomas.

BACKGROUND Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)–related oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) have superior outcomes in comparison with patients with non–HPV-induced OPCs. This study confirms that a previously proposed HPV risk–adapted restaging system better reflects disease outcomes. METHODS The National Cancer Data Base was used to analyze 8803 HPV+ OPC patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the utility of both American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) staging and HPV risk–adapted staging in predicting the outcomes of patients with HPV+ OPC and other factors influencing survival. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 27.1 months, 3.2% had AJCC stage I disease and 6.6%, 19.4%, and 70.9% had stage II, III, and IV disease, respectively. When the patients were restaged according to HPV risk–adapted staging, 76.6% had stage I disease, 9.9% had stage II disease, and 13.5% had stage III disease. The 4-year overall survival rates according to HPV risk–adapted staging were 85.8%, 77.3%, and 64.6% for stages I, II, and III, respectively, but the rates for AJCC stages I, II, III, and IV were 90.1%, 86.1%, 87.0%, and 80.1%, respectively. Patients with HPV+ metastatic disease at diagnosis had a significantly improved median survival of 20.5 months versus 11.1 months with HPV– disease (P < .01). In the multivariate analysis, survival was also affected by the age at treatment, a nontonsillar or base-of-tongue primary site, private insurance, an annual income ≥ $48,000/y, and the comorbidity index (all P values < .01). CONCLUSIONS Outcomes of HPV+ OPC are significantly improved in comparison with HPV– OPC outcomes, and the current AJCC staging system does not accurately reflect disease outcomes. This study has retrospectively confirmed that an HPV risk–adapted restaging structure more accurately stratifies patients. Under this new risk-stratified staging system, patients may be more accurately stratified for investigation into treatment escalation or de-escalation studies. Cancer 2016. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
William E. Webb — Civil War Correspondent, Railroad Land Baron, Town Founder, Kansas Legislator, Adventurer, Fossil Collector, Author

In the early history of paleontology in the United States, much of the attention (and notoriety) was centered around the two giants in the field, Othniel Charles Marsh of Yale College and Edward Drinker Cope of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Both of these men were certainly major contributors to the science of paleontology, but they often overshadowed the work of many of the other people who actually collected and donated the fossils that subsequently made them famous. Nearly all of the important specimens discovered in Kansas during the late 1860s were collected by individuals who had no special training or real knowledge of fossils. While some did receive a brief credit in a scientific journal for their discovery, others were simply lost in history. This paper sheds some light on the adventurous life, and the important contributions of William E. Webb to the science of paleontology.
Determination of sodium cyclamate in soy sauce by capillary gas chromatography

Objective: To develop a rapid and simple method for the determination of sodium cyclamate in soy sauce by gas chromatography.Methods: The sample was processed with protein precipitation,then the sodium cyclamate in sample reacted with nitrite in acid medium,and the product was separated by HP-5 or HP-1 capillary column and determined by flame ionization detector.Results: In the range of 0 mg/ml～2.00 mg/ml,the correlative coefficient of the method was 0.9994 with the recoveries of 89.0%～96.2% and the relative standard deviations of 3.4%～5.0%.The minimum detectable concentration was 1.0 mg/kg.Conclusion: The method was simple,rapid and sensetive with low detection limit,which can be applied to the batch sample analysis.
Establishment and spread of two invasive subterranean termite species (Coptotermes formosanus and C. gestroi; Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in metropolitan southeastern Florida (1990-2015)

Abstract This study reports the spread of 2 major invasive subterranean termite species (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in metropolitan southeastern Florida: Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and C. gestroi (Wasmann). Termite records from 1990 to 2015 were analyzed to determine the expansion of their distribution. Our results suggest that the ranges of their distribution have increased exponentially during this time frame. This observation raises concerns about potential structural damage in this urbanized area, which includes 6 million residents. The risk to structures located in an area with known Coptotermes infestation increased from 0.49% in 2000 to 7.3% in 2015, with some species distributional overlap. In addition, several localities that had Coptotermes records before 2000 have registered an increased density of termite infestation and swarming activity. We argue that the subterranean termite problem in metropolitan southeastern Florida is still in its early phase of invasion, and we predict that the dis...
Qatar's security alignment with the United States: strategic constraint or facilitating condition?

espanolLas relacion entre Catar y los Estados Unidos constituye un tipo de jerarquia bilateral mutuamente beneficiosa, que seria util considerar como si fuera un protectorado. La dinamica inherente a los protectorados situa en el inicio al estado protector en una posicion de fuerza desproporcionada, e impone severas restricciones sobre las actividades del estado socio. Con el paso del tiempo, esta distribucion inicial de beneficios cambia, y el estado socio es capaz de tomar iniciativas en politica exterior que pueden contravenir, e incluso danar, los intereses de seguridad del protector. Simultaneamente, la capacidad del estado protegido de iniciar acciones autonomas e interesadas en las escenas regional y global esta determinada por el nivel de amenaza al que se enfrenta proveniente de los estados colindantes. Tomados en conjunto, estos dos factores ofrecen una explicacion convincente a las ultimas tendencias de la diplomacia catari. EnglishRelations between Qatar and the United States constitute a mutually beneficial form of bilateral hierarchy that can usefully be considered to be a protectorate. The dynamics inherent in protectorates put the protector state in a disproportionately strong position early on, and place severe constraints on the activities of the protected partner. As time passes, this initial distribution of leverage shifts and the protected state becomes able to undertake foreign policy initiatives that contravene, and sometimes even cause damage to, the security interests of the protector. At the same time, the protected state’s capacity to engage in autonomous, self-interested action in the regional and global arenas is shaped by the level of threat that it confronts from surrounding states. Taken together, these two factors offer a cogent explanation for recent trends in Qatari diplomacy.
A T Cell Receptor Signaling Mutant Reveals Two Distinct Populations of IL-17 Producing CD4+ T Cells

Abstract Abstract 186 Interleukin-17 (IL-17) producing CD4+ T cells (Th17 cells) are essential for immune responses in mucosal and epithelial sites which are the first line of host defense. Th17 cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and the role of IL-17 and Th17 cells in cancer has recently become the focus of extensive investigation. Most studies to date have focused on elucidating the cell extrinsic requirements for differentiation of Th17 cells from naive CD4+ T cells in peripheral effector sites. Here we report an unconventional population of Th17 cells, “natural Th17 cells” (nTh17), that acquire effector function during development in the thymus, thereby distinguishing them from conventional Th17 cells which require antigen encounter and differentiation in the periphery. We show that these nTh17 cells are present and indeed develop in the thymus using fetal thymic organ culture. nTh17 cells express surface markers consistent with an innate and/or activated phenotype and their development is dependent on selection by MHC class II in the thymus. Yet unlike conventional CD4+ T cells, MHC class II expression on thymic cortical epithelium is not sufficient for their development, rather expression on medullary epithelium is necessary. In addition, T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis of nTh17 cells revealed unique characteristics in TCR gene usage compared to conventional Th17 cells. A mouse model with a mutation in the TCR signaling protein SLP76 (SLP76 Y145F mice) further highlights the difference between the two distinct Th17 populations. SLP76 Y145F mice have increased numbers of nTh17 cells in the thymus compared to wild-type mice. However, peripheral naive CD4+ T cells from these mice showed severely defective IL-17 production when cultured in vitro under conditions promoting Th17 cell differentiation. This defect was reflected in vivo as CD4+ T cells in the small intestinal lamina propria of SLP76 Y145F mice fail to produce IL-17. Using mixed radiation bone marrow chimeras, we found that the aberrant Th17 phenotype in the thymus and periphery of SLP76 Y145F mice is cell-intrinsic. Finally, adoptive transfer of purified nTh17 cells into RAG-deficient host mice revealed preferential homing of nTh17 cells to thymus and lung compared to other comparison/competitive populations that were co-transferred. Taken together, our data suggest a distinct population of Th17 cells that have characteristics of innate lymphocytes that function at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity. Understanding the biology of nTh17 cells will provide insight into the recently identified Th17 cells in human thymi and umbilical cord blood. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Abstract 80: Drive-Time Proximity to Certified Stroke Centers in California, 2015

Introduction: As access to timely, optimal treatment for acute stroke is associated with lower stroke mortality, understanding the relative access to acute stroke care at a certified primary and/or...
The relationship of blood glucose with cardiovascular disease is mediated over time by traditional risk factors in type 1 diabetes: the DCCT/EDIC study.

Chronic hyperglycaemia, as measured by HbA1c levels, is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in type 1 diabetes. Our aim was to describe the degree to which the effect of HbA1c on the risk of CVD is mediated by its effect on traditional risk factors over time, and how these mediation pathways change over time. The DCCT and its observational follow-up study, the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC), followed 1441 participants for a mean of 27 years, with periodic measurement of HbA1c and risk factors over time. We assessed the proportion of the HbA1c effect on risk of CVD that was mediated through its effects on systolic BP (SBP), pulse rate, triacylglycerols and LDL-cholesterol (LDLc) levels, and how the proportion mediated changed over time. The association of HbA1c with CVD outcomes was stable over time, while that of traditional risk factors (SBP, pulse rate, triacylglycerols and LDLc) increased. At 10 years of follow-up, the effect of HbA1c on 10 year CVD risk was minimally mediated by SBP (2.7%), increasing to 26% at 20 years. Likewise, from 10 year follow-up to 20 year follow-up, the proportion of HbA1c effect mediated through pulse rate increased from 6.3% to 29.3%, through triacylglycerols from 2.2% to 22.4%, and through LDLc from 9.2% to 30.7%. As participants age, the predictive association of mean HbA1c on subsequent CVD events is increasingly mediated by its effect on standard risk factors. Thus, management of traditional non-glycaemic CVD risk factors may have increasing benefits in an ageing type 1 diabetes population with longstanding hyperglycaemia. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00360893 and NCT00360815.
Nonantimicrobial drug targets for Clostridium difficile infections

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major public health problem worldwide. Treatment has become complicated due to the emergence of strains with increased toxigenicity and sporulation rate, together with rampant antibiotics use that disrupts colonization resistance of the colonic microbiota. As a result, there is a critical need for nonantibiotic treatments. Therapies based on inhibiting the toxins, bacterial structures responsible for colonization, virulence and restoration of the gut microbiota are the most important nonantibiotic targets to combat CDI. This report outlines these targets and how they could become the focus of future therapeutic agents. Inhibiting colonization and virulence factors during CDI will disrupt pathogen persistence and decrease exposure to the inflammatory toxins, allowing the immune system to clear the infection.
Adult and Juvenile Drug Courts

Drug courts provide judicially supervised substance abuse treatment and other needed services in lieu of prosecution or incarceration. Two decades of research confirms that adult drug courts reduce crime and substance abuse, improve family relationships, and return average net cost savings that are two to three times the initial investment. The optimal target population for adult drug courts has been identified and fidelity to key components of the model has been demonstrated to be necessary for favorable outcomes. Less can be confidently concluded about juvenile drug courts, but recent studies suggest the programs are becoming more effective with increasing experience. Future directions are considered for bringing this blended public health/public safety model to scale.
Llengua i mobilitat social a Catalunya

L’article analitza la relacio entre la llengua habitual i la mobilitat social a Catalunya destacant com el factor linguistic no ha estat un obstacle ni un factor determinant per a les trajectories de mobilitat social intergeneracional entre pares i fills. L’article contextualitza els antecedents historics de la pauta de mobilitat social a Catalunya i com es distribueix l’us del catala i l’expressio de la identitat catalana en l’estructura contemporania de classes socials. Finalment, analitza l’ascens, el descens i l’herencia social de classe en funcio de la llengua habitual i el lloc de naixement de pares, avis i enquestats fent servir les dades del Panel d’Analisi de les Desigualtats (PaD 2012) de la Fundacio Jaume Bofill.
Money Over Marriage: Marriage Importance as a Mediator Between Materialism and Marital Satisfaction

While the negative relationship between materialism and marital satisfaction is well documented, mediators that possibly explain this association have not been widely explored. Based on the Incompatibility of Materialism and Children Model and Marital Paradigms Theory, this article explores the perception of marriage importance as a potential mediator between materialism and marital satisfaction. Using a sample of 1310 married individuals, we found evidence of partial mediation in that materialism was negatively associated with perception of marriage importance, and this association partially explained why being materialistic was associated with lower marital satisfaction. Thus, as counselors, therapists, and financial planners work with married clients, it is important that they consider how their clients’ materialistic tendencies may influence the family both financially and relationally. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
A framework to integrate mode choice in the design of mobility-on-demand systems

Abstract Mobility-on-Demand (MoD) systems are generally designed and analyzed for a fixed and exogenous demand, but such frameworks fail to answer questions about the impact of these services on the urban transportation system, such as the effect of induced demand and the implications for transit ridership. In this study, we propose a unified framework to design, optimize and analyze MoD operations within a multimodal transportation system where the demand for a travel mode is a function of its level of service. An application of Bayesian optimization (BO) to derive the optimal supply-side MoD parameters (e.g., fleet size and fare) is also illustrated. The proposed framework is calibrated using the taxi demand data in Manhattan, New York. Travel demand is served by public transit and MoD services of varying passenger capacities (1, 4 and 10), and passengers are predicted to choose travel modes according to a mode choice model. This choice model is estimated using stated preference data collected in New York City. The convergence of the multimodal supply-demand system and the superiority of the BO-based optimization method over earlier approaches are established through numerical experiments. We finally consider a policy intervention where the government imposes a tax on the ride-hailing service and illustrate how the proposed framework can quantify the pros and cons of such policies for different stakeholders.
A twist defect mechanism for ATP-dependent translocation of nucleosomal DNA

As superfamily 2 (SF2)-type translocases, chromatin remodelers are expected to use an inchworm-type mechanism to walk along DNA. Yet how they move DNA around the histone core has not been clear. Here we show that a remodeler ATPase motor can shift large segments of DNA by changing the twist and length of nucleosomal DNA at superhelix location 2 (SHL2). Using canonical and variant 601 nucleosomes, we find that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Chd1 remodeler decreased DNA twist at SHL2 in nucleotide-free and ADP-bound states, and increased twist with transition state analogs. These differences in DNA twist allow the open state of the ATPase to pull in ~1 base pair (bp) by stabilizing a small DNA bulge, and closure of the ATPase to shift the DNA bulge toward the dyad. We propose that such formation and elimination of twist defects underlie the mechanism of nucleosome sliding by CHD-, ISWI-, and SWI/SNF-type remodelers.
Compositional and Thermal Characterization of Potential Nano-Carbon Copper Composite

Covetic materials have been claimed to be new types of metal matrix nano-composite materials. These materials are formed from face-centered-cubic metals which are alleged to be super-saturated with up to ~ 10 wt pct of activated nano-carbon. The focus of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of copper covetic materials of varying nano-carbon concentrations, and characterize the thermal properties of these materials in order to determine if these materials exhibit enhanced material properties.
Searching for complex patterns over large stored information repositories

Although Information Retrieval (IR) systems, including search engines, have been effective in locating documents that contain specified patterns from large repositories, they support only keyword searches and queries/patterns that use Boolean operators. Expressive search for complex text patterns is important in many domains such as patent search, search on incoming news, and web repositories. In this paper, we first present the operators and their semantics for specifying an expressive search. We then investigate the detection of complex patterns - currently not supported by search engines - using a pre-computed index, and the type of information needed as part of the index to efficiently detect such complex patterns. We use an expressive pattern specification language and a pattern detection graph mechanism that allows sharing of common sub-patterns. Algorithms have been developed for all the pattern operators using the index to detect complex patterns efficiently. Experiments have been performed to illustrate the scalability of the proposed approach, and its efficiency as compared to a streaming approach.
Effect of threadfin shad density on production of threadfin shad and gizzard shad larvae in a Tennessee reservoir

Production of larvae by threadfin shad, Dorosoma petenense, and gizzard shad, D. cepedianum, varied over two orders of magnitude and was regulated by adult threadfin shad abundance over five years in Normandy Reservoir, Tennessee. Significantly more larvae of both species were produced in years following winterkills of threadfin shad (repeated-measures ANOVA, df=4, 75; F > 21.44, p=0.0001). Peak geometric mean catch of threadfin shad larvae in neuston samples was inversely related to biomass (kg ha−1; r = − 0.91; p=0.031) and density (no. ha−1; r=− 0.89; p = 0.043) of adult (> 70 mm total length) threadfin shad in mid-summer cove samples. Peak geometric mean catch of gizzard shad larvae was also inversely related to adult threadfin shad biomass (r = − 0.93; p=0.022) and density (r=− 0.88; p=0.046) in cove samples. Winterkills of threadfin shad were size selective, killing all fish under 60 mm total length but allowing some unknown percentage of larger fish to survive. When threadfin shad stocks were reduced by winterkills, surviving threadfin shad and gizzard shad may have taken advantage of less competition for food resources in early spring and increased condition enough to spawn successfully.
Robot-Assisted Endocrine Surgery: Indications and Drawbacks

Abstract Background: Over the last few decades, robotic surgery with the da Vinci system has become increasingly prevalent. Endocrine surgeons are witnessing a rapid growth in enthusiasm for roboti...
Improving Power Distribution System Situational Awareness Using Visual Analytics

Traditionally, distribution system operators had limited visibility beyond distribution system substations. It was not unusual for electric utilities to have insufficient information about the network and phase connectivity model for the distribution system. This resulted in limited situational awareness at the distribution system level. In this paper, a visual analytics approach to gleaning intelligence from the vast amounts of data accumulated in the distribution system is proposed. The web-based visual analytics interface integrates data from heterogeneous datasets such as AMI, GIS and SCADA. The interface is designed to enable distribution system operators visualize and analyze the state of the distribution system over time. This paper presents the use of the visual analytics system to identify mismatched meter-to-transformer associations and to visualize voltage violations in a real-world distribution network.
Ordered polymeric membranes using metals

By combining metal ions, organic linkers and polymers, ordered frameworks with controlled crystallite size can form. When fabricated into membranes, they combine superlative CO2/N2 separation properties with good hydrolytic stability.
Epiphytic macrolichen patterns along an elevation gradient in the White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire1

We conducted lichen surveys on mixed broadleaf-conifer plots along an elevation gradient in a northern hardwood forest to test whether current community patterns were more indicative of a gradient in atmospheric inputs of sulfur and nitrogen or a gradient of moisture availability with elevation gain. Our lichen surveys of 12 0.38-ha plots throughout the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in north-central New Hampshire revealed four new species records for the state: Heterodermia squamulosa, Hypotrachyna afrorevoluta, Parmelia fertilis, and Parmotremaarnoldii. Lichen composition was related to elevation, tree basal area and size of the largest tree. The percent of fruticose lichen species was significantly, positively related to elevation. Species richness also increased with elevation, but was only significantly related to aspect, particularly southness. Species abundance is related positively to tree basal area. The pollution indices were mainly correlated to each other though the sulfur index was correlated to the second ordination axis. Overall, the Hubbard Brook valley appears to have a relatively diverse lichen assemblage related more strongly to plot characteristics than to pollution indices.
The synthesis and characterization of a clickable-photoactive NAADP analog active in human cells

Abstract Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a potent Ca2+ mobilizing second messenger which triggers Ca2+ release in both sea urchin egg homogenates and in mammalian cells. The NAADP binding protein has not been identified and the regulation of NAADP mediated Ca2+ release remains controversial. To address this issue, we have synthesized an NAADP analog in which 3-azido-5-azidomethylbenzoic acid is attached to the amino group of 5-(3-aminopropyl)-NAADP to produce an NAADP analog which is both a photoaffinity label and clickable. This ‘all-in-one-clickable’ NAADP (AIOC-NAADP) elicited Ca2+ release when microinjected into cultured human SKBR3 cells at low concentrations. In contrast, it displayed little activity in sea urchin egg homogenates where very high concentrations were required to elicit Ca2+ release. In mammalian cell homogenates, incubation with low concentrations of [32P]AIOC-NAADP followed by irradiation with UV light resulted in labeling 23 kDa protein(s). Competition between [32P]AIOC-NAADP and increasing concentrations of NAADP demonstrated that the labeling was selective. We show that this label recognizes and selectively photodervatizes the 23 kDa NAADP binding protein(s) in cultured human cells identified in previous studies using [32P]5-N3-NAADP.
Energy Efficiency: An Experiential-Based Energy Unit for Youth Ages 13-18.

Abstract: Not all 16 year olds can buy hybrid cars to help save gas emissions, but they can learn new, easy ways to save energy. Youth are more likely to develop a greater sense of positive impact on the environment if they learn easy and creative ways to use energy more efficiently at a young age. Through the use of practical applications, youth can begin to make a difference in our environment. By implementing energy-related materials, programs like 4-H can teach communities the importance of saving energy. If youth are educated on ways to be energy conscious, they will teach others.
Informed Trading, Return Synchronicity and Equilibrium Asset Pricing

This paper brings together the traditional asset pricing models, such as the CAPM, with the noisy rational expectations equilibrium models, by investigating two main questions: First, how does heterogeneous private information affect the risk and return of a stock, and second, in such an economy, how does the extent and the kind of information capitalized into prices affect the degree to which stocks move together? I derive a CAPM-like asset pricing relationship where information differences in equilibrium are reflected in asset prices, and the cross-section of expected stock returns is determined by market covariance risk as well as the extent of information heterogeneity in the economy. I then use this equilibrium pricing relationship to examine the theoretical relationship between informed trading and return synchronicity. I find that both market-wide and firm-specific price variation are negatively related to private information precision. This suggests that in contrast to earlier empirical conjectures in the literature, the link between return synchronicity and the amount of information capitalized into prices is tenuous. Finally, I find that while greater noise risk increases the systematic risk of an asset, its effect on firm-specific price variation is ambiguous.
Echolocating electricity through the skull, in HD

Ultrasound can make high-resolution images of electrical fields across intact human skulls.
Closed-loop feedback control of microbubble diameter from a flow-focusing microfluidic device.

Real-time observation and control of particle size and production rate in microfluidic devices are important capabilities for a number of applications, including the production, sorting, and manipulation of microbubbles and droplets. The production of microbubbles from flow-focusing microfluidic devices had been investigated in multiple studies, but each lacked an approach for on-chip measurement and control of microbubble diameter in real time. In this work, we implement a closed-loop feedback control system in a flow-focusing microfluidic device with integrated on-chip electrodes. Using our system, we measure and count microbubbles between 13 and 28 μm in diameter and control their diameter using a proportional–integral controller. We validate our measurements against an optical benchmark with R 2 = 0.98 and achieve a maximum production rate of 1.4 × 10 5/s. Using the feedback control system, the device enabled control in microbubble diameter over the range of 14–24 μm.