cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemische Analyse durch Neutronenreaktionen

The assumptions and limitations of neutron activation analysis are explained. If a substance contains isotopes with sufficiently high effective cross sections for thermal neutrons and if the half lives of the ensuing products are long enough, very small traces of an element can be detected either by measurement of the decay radiation or by determination of the decay products. Often chemical separation is not essential to the analysis. A table shows to how many isotopes the neutron activation method may be applied. 134 references. (trauth)
Multilayer printed circuit with a uniaxial conducting layer

This paper focuses on searching the layer thickness conditions that produce non surface-waves. One method to suppress such an undesired surface-wave effect is integrating a unidirectional conducting layer (UCL) on top of the printed elements. The study uses the multilayered structure composed of 2 dielectric layers and a uniaxial conducting screen layer. Another approach is to place an electric dipole directly on a UCL. By changing the a UCL thickness, it can also prevent the occurrence of surface waves.
Inclusive anti-bullying policies and reduced risk of suicide attempts in lesbian and gay youth

Abstract Purpose To evaluate whether anti-bullying policies that are inclusive of sexual orientation are associated with a reduced prevalence of suicide attempts among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. Methods A total of 31,852 11th-grade public school students (1,413 lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals; 4.4%) in Oregon completed the Oregon Healthy Teens survey in 2006–2008. The independent variable was the proportion of school districts in the 34 counties participating in the Oregon Healthy Teens survey that adopted anti-bullying policies inclusive of sexual orientation. The outcome measure was any self-reported suicide attempt in the past 12 months. We stratified results by sexual orientation. Results Lesbian and gay youths living in counties with fewer school districts with inclusive anti-bullying policies were 2.25 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–4.49) more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year compared with those living in counties where more districts had these policies. Inclusive anti-bullying policies were significantly associated with a reduced risk for suicide attempts among lesbian and gay youths, even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics (sex, race/ethnicity) and exposure to peer victimization (odds ratio, .18; 95% CI, .03–.92). In contrast, anti-bullying policies that did not include sexual orientation were not associated with lower suicide attempts among lesbian and gay youths (odds ratio, .38; 95% CI, .02–7.33). Conclusions Inclusive anti-bullying policies may exert protective effects for the mental health of lesbian and gay youths, including reducing their risk for suicide attempts.
A comparison of mapping algorithms for author co-citation data analysis

A key process of any citation analysis study is to map the coded citation data from a high-dimensional dataset to a lower dimensional one while detecting the groups, clusters, patterns or other features of the citation relationships. Over the years, many methods have been used in various studies, including multi-dimensional scaling, Pathfinder networks, Kohonen's self-organizing mapping, etc. Many of these methods are fundamentally different, but their results are similar and comparable. In this study, we selected and applied four of the mapping methods to the same dataset, the author co-citation matrix of the top 100 highly cited information scientists. The results of the different mapping methods provide interesting comparisons among the different mapping algorithms as well as the different views of the dataset.
Improving efficiency of sow productivity: nutrition and health

This reviews research focused to understand the nutrient requirement and balance to meet the needs of fetal growth, mammary growth, and milk production. This summary will handle how feeding strategies can be adjusted according to the nutrient needs for a sow to enhance productivity and health. Most research data used in this summary are based on the studies conducted by the authors between 1996 and 2013. Nutrient requirements of sows are affected by stage of gestation and parity of sows. Dietary antioxidant concentrations need to be re-evaluated for its sufficiency in sow diets especially to prevent excessive oxidative stress during late gestation and lactation. When feeding sows, consideration of phase feeding of gestating sows and parity feeding of lactating sows could enhances production longevity and health of sows. Use of selected nutrients and additives seems to help productivity and health of sows.
A Prospective Examination of the Mechanisms Linking Childhood Physical Abuse to Body Mass Index in Adulthood

Previous research has reported associations between childhood physical abuse and body mass index (BMI) in adulthood. This article examined the role of four potential mediators (anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and coping) hypothesized to explain this relationship. Using data from a prospective cohort design, court-substantiated cases of childhood physical abuse (N = 78) and nonmaltreated comparisons (N = 349) were followed up and assessed in adulthood at three time points (1989-1995, 2000-2002, and 2003-2005) when participants were of age 29.2, 39.5, and 41.2, respectively. At age 41, average BMI of the current sample was 29.97, falling between overweight and obese categories. Meditation analyses were conducted, controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, and self-reported weight. Childhood physical abuse was positively associated with subsequent generalized anxiety, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms at age 29.2 and higher levels of depression and posttraumatic stress predicted higher BMI at age 41.2. In contrast, higher levels of anxiety predicted lower BMI. Coping did not mediate between physical abuse and BMI. Anxiety symptoms mediated the relationship between physical abuse and BMI for women, but not for men. These findings illustrate the complexity of studying the consequences of physical abuse, particularly the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and adult health outcomes.
Shooting for Fame: Spectacular Youth, Web 2.0 Dystopia, and the Celebrity Anarchy of Generation Mash-Up

In this essay, I argue that the stories from Columbine and Virginia Tech in the U.S. and Jokela High School in Finland betray a disconcerting dystopia of user-generated content gone wrong at a moment of much Web 2.0 hype. I use their actions and the subsequent reaction as case-study portals into an era of celebrity anarchy and narcissistic youth. I then contextualize these youth shooters within a generational context of purported narcissism—suggesting that their attacks are both premeditated as well as premediated. I conclude by pondering the challenges journalists face in complying with youth shooters' demand for celebrity and the possibility that, in the self-broadcasting world of Web 2.0, their role as gatekeepers may be more confounded than ever.
Systematic Differences in Impact across Publication Tracks at PNAS

Background: Citation data can be used to evaluate the editorial policies and procedures of scientific journals. Here we investigate citation counts for the three different publication tracks of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). This analysis explores the consequences of differences in editor and referee selection, while controlling for the prestige of the journal in which the papers appear. Methodology/Principal Findings: We find that papers authored and ‘‘Contributed’’ by NAS members (Track III) are on average cited less often than papers that are ‘‘Communicated’’ for others by NAS members (Track I) or submitted directly via the standard peer review process (Track II). However, we also find that the variance in the citation count of Contributed papers, and to a lesser extent Communicated papers, is larger than for direct submissions. Therefore when examining the 10% most-cited papers from each track, Contributed papers receive the most citations, followed by Communicated papers, while Direct submissions receive the least citations. Conclusion/Significance: Our findings suggest that PNAS ‘‘Contributed’’ papers, in which NAS–member authors select their own reviewers, balance an overall lower impact with an increased probability of publishing exceptional papers. This analysis demonstrates that different editorial procedures are associated with different levels of impact, even within the same prominent journal, and raises interesting questions about the most appropriate metrics for judging an editorial policy’s success.
Synthesis, modification with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and physicochemical studies of DNA model compound d(TACGTA).

Abstract The deoxyhexanucleotide d(TACGTA) was synthesized by a modified phosphotriester method. The modified procedure made rapid synthesis of deoxyoligonucleotide possible in gram quantity. N -Acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAAF) modified d(TACGTA). Thin layer chromatography and UV analysis of the acid treated AAF modified hexanucleotide showed that the covalent modification with AAF took place exclusively at C(8) of guanine in d(TACGTA). d(TACGTA) and AAF modified d(TACGTA) were purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pure products were characterized by 1 H and 31 P-NMR. The circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of d(TACGTA) was consistent with DNA in the B form even in the presence of 4M NaCl whereas the modified hexamer had nearly inverted spectrum in the absence of any added salt. Both NMR and CD analyses indicated profound alteration of conformation of d(TACGTA) upon covalent modification with AAF. The stabilization of the Z-like conformation in the modified hexamer under physiological conditions of salt and temperature suggests biological relevance.
A psychophysical study on the effect protective equipment has on contact sport athletes

The objective of this research was to determine if the use of helmet and shoulder pads had an impact on overall tackling form, perceived likelihood of getting hurt or injured, and pain levels throughout the body contact sport athletes (American football and rugby). Relationships between overall tackling form and concussion likelihood will be tested to determine whether or not the utilization of football helmets and shoulder pads have an effect on concussion rates. Using a qualitative design, 18 male rugby players (18-35 years of age) were used as subjects for tackling drills where overall tackling form was analyzed. Surveys determining perceived likelihood of getting hurt or injured, and pain levels, were administered before and after each set of drills respectively. Content analysis was conducted to determine whether the use of helmets and shoulder pads impacted overall tackling form, perceived likelihood of getting hurt or injured, and pain. There was a significant difference in the scores for overall tackling form for pads (M=5.001, SD=1.099) and without pads (M=2.516, SD=0.433) conditions; t(17) =6.314, p=.0001. Specifically, the results suggest that when an athlete wears padding, their overall tackling form decreases. With regards to mindset, there was not statistical significance in the participants’ perceived likelihood on getting hurt or injured and their tackling form. A Spearman Rank Test determined there was a positive correlation (.754 and .708) in head pain experienced in both the padded/non-padded tackles respectively meaning that for both padded/non-padded tackles, as form decreased, pain experienced in the head increased. This study provides an insight into the negative relationship between the use of shoulder pads and helmets, overall tackling form, and pain experienced in participants’ heads
A Crusted Papule in a Premature Neonate

Amale neonatewas born at 25 weeks’ gestation by cesarean delivery because of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome in his primigravid mother, who also had systemic lupus erythematosus managed with hydroxychloroquine, aspirin, and prednisone during pregnancy. The patient’s premature birth was complicated by acute respiratory distress that necessitated intubation and necrotizing enterocolitis that required parenteralnutrition.Atbirth, thepatientwasfoundtobemildly anemic (hemoglobin level, 11.0g/dL[toconvert tograms per liter, multiply by 10]) and thrombocytopenic (platelet count, 120 × 103/μL [to convert to 109/L,multiply by 1]) with concomitant intraventricular hemorrhage. Although afebrile, hewas treated empirically for sepsis with vancomycin hydrochloride and cefepime hydrochloride. A cerebrospinal fluid culture result was positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis, but the resultsofadditionalbloodcultureswerenegative fororganisms.Onday8afterbirth, a 0.5-cm, circular, crusted papule with a surrounding rim of erythema on the left hip was noted (Figure, A). A punch biopsy of the lesion was performed (Figure, B and C). Quiz at jamapediatrics.com A B
Co-Evolutionary Algorithms: A Useful Computational Abstraction?

Interest in co-evolutionary algorithms was triggered in part with Hillis 1991 paper describing his success in using one to evolve sorting networks. Since then there have been heightened expectations for using this nature-inspired technique to improve on the range and power of evolutionary algorithms for solving difficult computation problems. However, after more than two decades of exploring this promise, the results have been somewhat mixed.
Computing in mammalian cells with nucleic acid strand exchange

DNA strand displacement has been widely used for the design of molecular circuits, motors, and sensors in cell-free settings. Recently, it has been shown that this technology can also operate in biological environments, but capabilities remain limited. Here, we look to adapt strand displacement and exchange reactions to mammalian cells and report DNA circuitry that can directly interact with a native mRNA. We began by optimizing the cellular performance of fluorescent reporters based on four-way strand exchange reactions and identified robust design principles by systematically varying the molecular structure, chemistry and delivery method. Next, we developed and tested AND and OR logic gates based on four-way strand exchange, demonstrating the feasibility of multi-input logic. Finally, we established that functional siRNA could be activated through strand exchange, and used native mRNA as programmable scaffolds for co-localizing gates and visualizing their operation with subcellular resolution.
Heterogeneous dynamics, robustness/fragility trade-offs, and the eradication of the macroparasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis

The current WHO-led initiative to eradicate the macroparasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis (LF), based on single-dose annual mass drug administration (MDA) represents one of the largest health programs devised to reduce the burden of tropical diseases. However, despite the advances made in instituting large-scale MDA programs in affected countries, a challenge to meeting the goal of global eradication is the heterogeneous transmission of LF across endemic regions, and the impact that such complexity may have on the effort required to interrupt transmission in all socioecological settings. Here, we apply a Bayesian computer simulation procedure to fit transmission models of LF to field data assembled from 18 sites across the major LF endemic regions of Africa, Asia and Papua New Guinea, reflecting different ecological and vector characteristics, to investigate the impacts and implications of transmission heterogeneity and complexity on filarial infection dynamics, system robustness and control. We find firstly that LF elimination thresholds varied significantly between the 18 study communities owing to site variations in transmission and initial ecological parameters. We highlight how this variation in thresholds lead to the need for applying variable durations of interventions across endemic communities for achieving LF elimination; however, a major new result is the finding that filarial population responses to interventions ultimately reflect outcomes of interplays between dynamics and the biological architectures and processes that generate robustness/fragility trade-offs in parasite transmission. Intervention simulations carried out in this study further show how understanding these factors is also key to the design of options that would effectively eliminate LF from all settings. In this regard, we find how including vector control into MDA programs may not only offer a countermeasure that will reliably increase system fragility globally across all settings and hence provide a control option robust to differential locality-specific transmission dynamics, but by simultaneously reducing transmission regime variability also permit more reliable macroscopic predictions of intervention effects. Our results imply that a new approach, combining adaptive modelling of parasite transmission with the use of biological robustness as a design principle, is required if we are to both enhance understanding of complex parasitic infections and delineate options to facilitate their elimination effectively.
Joseph Hackin, Avec la Collaboration de Madame J. Hackin, Recherches archéologiques à Begram. Chantier No. 2 (1937)

(1940). Joseph Hackin, Avec la Collaboration de Madame J. Hackin, Recherches archeologiques a Begram. Chantier No. 2 (1937). The Art Bulletin: Vol. 22, No. 1, pp. 55-56.
The Influence of Favorable Pressure Gradients upon the Coherent Motions in a Mach 5 Turbulent Boundary Layer

The effects of streamline curvature-induced favorable pressure gradients on a Mach 4.9 turbulent boundary layer were investigated. The goal was to provide a physical explanation for the response of the Reynolds stresses, by examining the distortion, re-orientation, and attenuation of the turbulent structures. Pre-multiplied power spectra of the streamwise component displayed a peak at Λx + = 200 – 300 for all cases below y/δ = 0.1. The strong pressure gradient showed a greater relative amount of energy concentrated at that wavelength, suggesting that this length scale plays a more significant role in the SPG case. The swirling strength criteria, weighted by the sign of the vorticity to differentiate vortex orientations, was applied to each vector field. An initial inspection of the instantaneous distribution of turbulent structures shows strong similarities with incompressible flow, suggesting that the same hairpin packet model is applicable to the flowfields in question. Conditional averaging of the velocity fields was performed using prograde and retrograde vortices as the conditional event. The strong pressure gradient re-oriented the interface region to 20°, reduced the intensity of the induced low-speed fluid, and produced a more isotropic velocity distribution around the vortex. These observations suggest that the pressure gradient is attenuating the fluctuating velocity associated with the turbulent structures, thereby limiting their contribution to the Reynolds stress.
The 1970 APSA Elections

The annual election for officers and members of the Council of the American Political Science Association took place between November 2 and 23, 1970, with results reported in the Winter, 1971, issue of this journal. Voting was for one President-elect, three Vice Presidents, one Secretary, one Treasurer and eight members of the Council. There were two candidates each for Presidentelect, Secretary and Treasurer, five for Vice President and sixteen for Council. These candidates were nominated and supported by a variety of groups and three of these groups-The American Political Science Association nominating committee, the Ad Hoc Committee and the Caucus for a New Political Science-fielded complete or virtually complete slates.
Timing of Infestation by the Colorado Potato Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on the Suppressive Effect of Field Released Stinkbugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Washington

Delaying infestation of potatoes by overwintering Colorado potato beetles Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) by either 10 or 20 d following plant emergence increased damage to the potatoes. The egg deposition period was reduced from 5 to 3 wk; both increased rates of egg deposition and feeding occurred over a shorter period of time. Potatoes infested at plant emergence by Colorado potato beetle had fourth instars feeding during a 4-wk period of time while infestation 20 d after plant emergence reduced this feeding period to 2 wk and resulted in significantly greater defoliation than those infested at plant emergence. Delayed infestation by either 10 or 20 d had a negative effect on predation by Perillus bioculatus (Fabr.). Potato plants infested by Colorado potato beetles at plant emergence with releases of P. bioculatus 4 d later had the greatest percentage reduction in fourth instars and provided significantly greater foliage protection than plants infested at 10 or 20 d after plant emergence. Based on population levels of fourth instar Colorado potato beetles, multiple releases of P. bioculatus and P. maculiventris were not significantly more effective than a single release based on population comparisons of beetles. However, three releases (three predators per plant each release) of both species of predators provided greater potato foliage protection than a single release (three predators per plant).
148 PORTAL GLUCAGON-LIKE PROTEIN 1 PRODUCES AN INSULIN-INDEPENDENT REDUCTION IN GLYCEMIA BY INCREASING PERIPHERAL GLUCOSE DISPOSAL, WITHOUT CHANGING HEPATIC GLUCOSE BALANCE.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), an intestinal hormone released in response to a meal, is involved in glucose homeostasis via inhibition of gastric emptying and intestinal motility, increasing insulin secretion, and, possibly, via insulin-independent effects on glucose turnover. This latter effect appears to be mediated by receptors situated in the portohepatic area. In a previous study we have shown, in dogs, that infusion of intraportal glucose and GLP-1, at values and pattern simulating those seen during a meal, produces lower peripheral glucose than infusion of intraportal glucose alone. The lower glycemia occurred without a corresponding increase in peripheral insulin and was accompanied by a counterregulatory response, as indicated by increases in glucagon and cortisol. The aim of the current study was to identify the mechanism by which intraportal GLP-1 produces lower peripheral glycemia, namely to determine whether it is due to increased peripheral glucose uptake, decreased hepatic glucose output. or both. Experiments were performed in 24-hour fasted conscious dogs (n = 2), in which either intraportal glucose and GLP-1, or intraportal glucose and saline, were infused, in paired experiments performed at 1-week intervals. Tracer techniques and arteriovenous differences across the liver were used to determine whole body glucose turnover and net hepatic glucose balance. Intraportal glucose and GLP-1 infusion produced, similarly to our published results, lower glycemia than infusion of portal glucose alone: during the last 2 hours of the experiment the average glycemia was 101 ± 1 mg/dL with intraportal GLP-1 vs 109 ± 1 mg/dL without GLP-1. The lower peripheral glucose occurred in the absence of a corresponding increase in insulin secretion (AUC 26417 pmol/L*min with GLP-1 vs 28,064 pmol/L*min without GLP-1) as previously described. Tracer counts showed lower values during intraportal glucose and GLP-1, confirming the increased glucose disposal in the presence of GLP-1 indicated by the lower peripheral glucose. The liver appeared not to be involved in the increased glucose disappearance: hepatic vein plasma glucose concentration was not different between intraportal glucose and GLP-1 and intraportal glucose alone experiments. We conclude that the increased glucose turnover seen with intraportal GLP-1 is due to an increase in peripheral glucose disappearance, probably via an indirect, neural mechanism initiated in the portohepatic area.
Penile Frenulum Neurilemoma: A Rare and Unusual Genitourinary Tract Tumor

AbstractWe report a case of neurilemoma arising from the frenulum of the penis. This tumor is extremely rare at this location. Diagnosis is made easily by frozen section pathological study. We recommend simple excision as the treatment of choice.
Relationship of illness and intensive hospital treatment to length of stay.

The method and psychological rationale of intensive hospitalization is briefly described and is applied to short-, middle-, and long-term lengths of hospital stay and to different illnesses.
Paromomycin Resistance in Leishmania tropica: Lack of Correlation with Mutation in the Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Gene

Abstract The aminoglycoside antibiotic paromomycin is a potentially useful anti-leishmanial chemotherapeutic agent. Resistance to this antibiotic was studied using Leishmania tropica. Promastigotes resistant to 210 µg/ml of paromomycin were selected by exposing them to gradual increments of this drug. Previous work in Escherichia coli, Tetrahymena, and yeast mitochondrial mutants has demonstrated mutations in the E. coli small subunit ribosomal RNA at the 1409:1491 basepair position, or equivalent positions in other organisms, resulting in basepair disruption. When the nucleotide sequence at both the DNA and RNA levels of the resistant L. tropica promastigotes cultured in the presence of paromomycin was compared with those of the drug-sensitive parent, there was no sequence change at the putative mutation site. Paromomycin resistance in L. tropica is apparently due to other mechanisms.
Learning and teaching styles: implications for teachers of family medicine.

BACKGROUND Much attention has been given to learning and teaching "styles" in adult education and in medical education. Since style refers to assumptions and beliefs about how adults learn, it affects what teachers do to facilitate learning. A synthesis of two models views the educational process as a cycle: "experience," followed by "reflection," "abstraction," and "experimentation." Four styles of learning or teaching are possible by combining experience with observation, observation with abstraction, abstraction with experimentation, and experimentation with experience. Students and residents could use this information to negotiate with faculty to best meet their educational needs, and faculty could use this information to tailor their teaching strategies to best suit each encounter.
Paying for performance: Performance incentives increase desire for the reward object.

The current research examines how exposure to performance incentives affects one’s desire for the reward object. We hypothesized that the flexible nature of performance incentives creates an attentional fixation on the reward object (e.g., money), which leads people to become more desirous of the rewards. Results from 5 laboratory experiments and 1 large-scale field study provide support for this prediction. When performance was incentivized with monetary rewards, participants reported being more desirous of money (Study 1), put in more effort to earn additional money in an ensuing task (Study 2), and were less willing to donate money to charity (Study 4). We replicated the result with nonmonetary rewards (Study 5). We also found that performance incentives increased attention to the reward object during the task, which in part explains the observed effects (Study 6). A large-scale field study replicated these findings in a real-world setting (Study 7). One laboratory experiment failed to replicate (Study 3). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Perceived Burdensomeness in Older and Younger Adults: Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire

Objectives We evaluated measurement invariance of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-15) Perceived Burdensomeness subscale across younger and older adult age groups as well as the construct validity of the Perceived Burdensomeness subscale by comparing nomological networks across age groups. Method We used nested multigroup confirmatory factor analyses to address measurement invariance and Fisher's r-to-z transformations to compare correlations between perceived burdensomeness and other constructs in younger and older samples. Results Results generally supported measurement invariance, but signals of differences in fit in older adults were present. The INQ-15 Perceived Burdensomeness subscale exhibited a significantly lower correlation with depressive symptoms in older adults compared to younger adults. Correlations between perceived burdensomeness and all other constructs were similar across age groups. Conclusion This study provides marginal support for measurement invariance of the INQ-15 Perceived Burdensomeness subscale across younger and older adults, but results also suggest age differences in the perceived burdensomeness construct.
Nuclear Rocket Engine Testing

Before any flight test of a nuclear engine can take place, considerable testing of the engine will have to be performed both at the component and at the engine level. During the days of the NERVA program in the United States, open air testing of the engine was performed with little regard to the containment of fission products in the engine exhaust. Even though the contamination of the environment surrounding the NERVA test area was minimal, in today's regulatory environment, it is unlikely that such testing would be allowed again. As a result, the testing of nuclear rocket engines will probably require a variety of test facilities ranging from small nonnuclear facilities for component testing to very large facilities to test the entire engine assembly for long durations with total engine exhaust containment.
Consume, Connect, Conserve: Consumer Spectacle and the Technical Mediation of Neoliberal Conservation's Aesthetic of Redemption and Repair:

Global green grabs are facilitated by a logic in which environmental damage of economic growth is putatively mitigated by environmental repair elsewhere (Fairhead, Leach, and Scoones 2012: 242). A ...
Assessment of adenotonsillar size and caregiver-reported sleep symptoms among 3-6 year old children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Abstract Introduction Adenotonsillectomy remains the accepted first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children. Tonsillar size may be especially relevant in risk stratification as it may impact symptoms of sleep disordered breathing (SDB). This study assesses correlations among subjective tonsillar grading, measured tonsillar size, and degree of adenoid obstruction in patients age 3–6 years with caregiver-reported symptoms. Methods Children 3–6 years old undergoing adenotonsillectomy for OSAS were enrolled prospectively. The subjective tonsillar grade and degree of adenoid obstruction were recorded on physical examination by the otolaryngologist, and the objective tonsillar size was obtained from pathology reports. Spearman's rho was used to assess agreement among measures of tonsillar size and adenoid obstruction; and to correlate these measures with caregiver-reported SDB symptoms obtained from a pre-operative standardized questionnaire. Results The cohort included 103 boys and 97 girls of median age 4.8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.9, 5.9) years. Median subjective tonsillar grade was 3+ (IQR: 3+, 4+) while median tonsillar size was 2.7 cm (IQR: 2.5, 3) and median adenoid obstruction was 60% (IQR: 50%, 80%). The subjective tonsillar grade and measured tonsillar size were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.31, p Conclusion Subjective tonsillar grading by the otolaryngologist achieved better correlation than measured tonsillar size or degree of adenoid obstruction with caregiver-reported SDB symptoms in children 3–6 years of age undergoing adenotonsillectomy.
Update on non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli as a foodborne pathogen: analysis and control

Abstract: Although Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide, non-O157 STEC serogroups may cause more illnesses than O157:H7, and information on transmission and outbreaks is presented. The role of ruminants as a major reservoir for both O157 and non-O157 STEC is explored, and how ingestion of contaminated animal products or produce contaminated by animal feces can lead to illness is discussed. Intervention strategies that control STEC O157:H7 and also inactivate non-O157 STEC are identified. Methods for detection of highly virulent non-O157 STEC are described and the need for additional research to understand the prevalence, epidemiology, and virulence of these pathogens is emphasized for their effective control.
Acute Coronary Syndromes: Focus on Unstable Angina

Unstable angina is a diverse clinical syndrome of variable severity and clinical expression linking stable angina with acute myocardial infarction. The importance of this condition is evident given the fact that it not infrequently portends the development of acute myocardial infarction (1). Indeed, approximately one half of patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction experience an initial acceleration of their usual anginal symptoms (2,3). The clinical recognition of unstable angina therefore represents an opportunity for intervention, the specific goal being a reduction in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction.
A graph-based representation to support structural design innovation

Abstract We introduce a graph-based representation to make structural design innovation possible. In this representation, an abstract delineation of geometry is modeled via graph nodes and links, while a generic expression of design knowledge is associated with similar classes of graph nodes. Design space expansion occurs by expanding the nodes in the graph model, automatically expanding the symbolic model of the design. One expansion technique based on optimization criteria and implemented with the graph representation is called Dimensional Variable Expansion (DVE). This expansion is extremely efficient; because the design knowledge is independent of the graph structure, the expansion of the graph automatically expands the complete set of design constraints. The connectivity of the graph acts as a filter for operations of region removal which are not valid based on discontinuous load paths. Although the graph representation is employed for structural innovation, it can be utilized to model general design problems of various physical domains.
Home visiting program impacts on reducing homelessness among young mothers

ABSTRACTIn the current study, we aimed to determine the effects of Healthy Families Massachusetts (HFM), a statewide home visiting program, on young mothers’ experiences with homelessness during enrollment and after program completion. Data were drawn from a longitudinal, randomized control trial evaluation of HFM. Data collection occurred across 5 time points between 2008 and 2015 from a sample of 704 participants. The current analyses were restricted to a subsample of mothers (n = 443) with Time 5 data (74 months post-enrollment; 59.1% program, 40.9% control), which was representative of the Time 1 sample. We used data from maternal phone interviews to assess program effects on experiences with homelessness. Young mothers who participated in HFM were less likely to experience homelessness when their children were preschool-age or older than mothers in the control group. During program participation, the number of home visits was negatively associated with concurrent homelessness when children were infan...
Concept analysis of dietary biculturalism in Filipino immigrants within the context of cardiovascular risk

Background Dietary biculturalism is an emerging phenomenon among the Filipino immigrant population. Determining the concept of dietary biculturalism on this specific population will unravel some of the obscurities of emerging dietary patterns within the context of cardiovascular risk. Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide a concept analysis of dietary biculturalism within the health context of cardiovascular risk using Walker and Avant's method as an organizing framework. Methods A detailed literature review was performed on the basis of population specificity (Filipinos) use of dietary patterns as variable and theoretical literary models of acculturation. Findings The generalizability of published research on this issue is problematic since researchers have not addressed the unhealthy traditional foods component that one may consume in addition to the Western foods. Nursing implications Nurse researchers should focus on the detrimental effects of unhealthy traditional foods that may be relevant in explaining some of the cardiovascular risk factors affecting this population. Nurses and practitioners should take care to query not only about the frequency of ethnic food consumption, but also types, and amounts among their Filipino patients.
Stabilization of Ag-Au Bimetallic Nanocrystals in Aquatic Environments Mediated by Dissolved Organic Matter: A Mechanistic Perspective.

Gold and silver nanoparticles can be stabilized endogenously within aquatic environments from dissolved ionic species as a result of mineralization induced by dissolved organic matter. However, the ability of fulvic and humic acids to stabilize bimetallic nanoparticles is entirely unexplored. Elucidating the formation of such particles is imperative given their potential ecological toxicity. Herein, we demonstrate the nucleation, growth, and stabilization of bimetallic Ag–Au nanocrystals from the interactions of Ag+ and Au3+ with Suwannee River fulvic and humic acids. The mechanisms underpinning the stabilization of Ag–Au alloy NPs at different pH (6.0–9.0) values are studied by UV–vis spectrophotometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Complexation of free Ag+ and Au3+ ions with the Lewis basic groups (carbonyls, carboxyls, and thiols) of FA and HA, followed by electron-transfer from redox-acti...
Zones of refuge: Resisting conquest in the northern Philippine highlands through environmental practice

Abstract Environmental practice in Ifugao, Philippines is considered to have anchored the successful resistance against Spanish conquest in the highlands of the Philippine Cordillera. The social practice associated with wet-rice production in the region is argued to promote community solidarity and cohesion, past and present. By looking at the wet-rice cultivation and its associated rituals, this paper contends that habitus played a major role in the perpetuation and preservation of Ifugao culture during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. Recent dating of the Ifugao rice terraces suggests that the agricultural marvels were constructed as late as ca. 400 years ago. Previously thought to be at least 2000 years old, the recent findings of the Ifugao Archaeological Project (IAP) show that landscape modification for terraced wet-rice cultivation started at ca. 1650 CE. The archaeological record implies that economic intensification and political consolidation occurred in Ifugao soon after the appearance of the Spanish empire in the northern Philippines (ca. 1575 CE). The foremost indication of this shift was the adoption of wet-rice agriculture in the highlands, zones that served as refuge for local populations. I argue that the subsistence shift was precipitated by political pressures and was then followed by political and economic consolidation. The imperial resistance was expressed through wet-rice agriculture; it also facilitated political integration. Using paleoethnobotanical, faunal, and artifactual datasets, this paper documents the process that allowed the Ifugao to resist conquest.
Stakeholder involvement in collaborative regulatory processes: Using automated coding to track attendance and actions

Author(s): Scott, TA; Ulibarri, N; Scott, RP | Abstract: Regulation increasingly mandates collaborative approaches to increase stakeholder input and streamline approval processes. However, understanding how to maintain stakeholder involvement over the course of a long collaborative process is vital to optimize effectiveness. This paper observes more than 700 stakeholders involved in developing and implementing a dam operating license over 16 years. We use text mining and Bayesian hierarchical modeling to observe meeting attendance and recorded actions in meeting minutes. We find that involvement decreased after the initial planning phase, but steadily increased through license development and implementation. After the regulatory mandate to consult with external stakeholders dissolved, overall attendance declined while attendance stability increased, meaning that the non-mandatory stage involved a smaller cadre of dedicated actors. This indicates that high-performing mandated stakeholder involvement processes rely on a constrained group of conveners to sustain interaction and have less turnover than what might be expected given existing evidence from grassroots involvement; assumptions about group dynamics based on involvement in grassroots processes may lead to improper predictions about who will participate, and how, in processes where stakeholder involvement is mandated.
Disulfiram reduces metastatic osteosarcoma tumor burden in an immunocompetent Balb/c or-thotopic mouse model.

// Jared Anthony Crasto 1, * , Mitchell Stephen Fourman 1, * , Alejandro Morales-Restrepo 1 , Adel Mahjoub 1, 2 , Jonathan Brendan Mandell 1 , Kavita Ramnath 1, 3 , Jessica C. Tebbets 1 , Rebecca J. Watters 1, 4 and Kurt Richard Weiss 1, 5 1 Musculoskeletal Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 2 School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 3 Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA 4 Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA 5 Departments of Anatomic Pathology and General Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA * Co-first authors: These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Kurt Richard Weiss, email: WeisKR@UPMC.edu Keywords: osteosarcoma; disulfiram; bad; Akt; aldehyde dehydrogenase Abbreviations: OS: osteosarcoma; DSF: disulfiram; DXR: doxorubicin; ALDH: aldehyde dehydrogenase; ICG: indocyanine green Received: April 17, 2018 Accepted: June 14, 2018 Published: July 10, 2018 ABSTRACT Introduction: The overall survival rate of patients with osteosarcoma (OS) and pulmonary metastases has remained stagnant at 15–30% for several decades. Disulfiram (DSF) is an FDA-approved aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor that reduces the metastatic phenotype of OS cells in vitro . Here we evaluate its in vivo efficacy, as compared to doxorubicin chemotherapy, in a previously-validated orthotopic model of metastatic OS. Results: All treatment groups displayed a significantly reduced quantitative OS metastatic burden compared with controls. The metastatic burden of Lo DSF-treated animals was equivalent to the DXR group. Ninety-five percent of control animals displayed evidence of metastatic disease, which was significantly greater than all treatment groups. Discussion: Disulfiram treatment resulted in a reduced burden of OS metastatic disease compared with controls. This was statistically-equivalent to doxorubicin. No additive effect was observed between these two therapies. Materials and Methods: One-hundred twenty immunocompetent Balb/c mice received proximal tibia paraphyseal injections of 5 × 10 5 K7M2 murine OS cells. Therapy began three weeks after injection: saline (control), low-dose disulfiram (Lo DSF), high-dose disulfiram (Hi DSF), doxorubicin (DXR), Lo DSF + DXR, and Hi DSF + DXR. Transfemoral amputations were performed at 4 weeks. Quantitative metastatic tumor burden was measured using near-infrared indocyanine green (ICG) angiography.
Inhibition of human B cell proliferation by ion channel blockers.

Resting B cells can be activated by cross-linkage of their membrane immunoglobulins (Ig)(1–4). Anti-Ig antibodies, especially anti-IgM, causes resting B cells to enter and to progress through G1 phase of the cell cycle (5–6). B cells activated with anti-IgM antibody have shown to express Interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) and proliferate in response to exogenous IL-2 (7,8). Recently, calcium and calcium-activated K+ channels have been demonstrated in B cell hybridomas and B cell lymphoma lines (9–11). The role of these ion channels in B cell activation, proliferation and differentiation is however, not clearly understood. In this investigation, we have taken an indirect pharmacological approach to study a role of ion channels in anti-IgM-stimulated human B cell activation and proliferation.
Banding Resolution of Amniotic Cell Chromosome Preparations for Prenatal Diagnosis

Fifty consecutive routine female karyotypes of amniotic fluid cells were analyzed to determine: (1) the banding resolution of each metaphase in routine preparations, (2) whether all haploids in the same metaphase had the same level of banding resolution, and (3) which chromosomes showed the least/most variation in regard to banding resolution. For each karyotype, the number of dark bands for each right-hand-side chromosome were counted and compared with an ideogram (ISCN 1985). Banding resolution was separated into three groups: 400-band, 550-band, and 850-band. It was found that all 50 metaphases showed at least a 400-band resolution, and 1 metaphase showed a banding resolution between a 550-band and 850-band level. Although the chromosome preparations were sufficient for routine purposes, additional effort and banding techniques are required to detect small chromosomal abnormalities that require a higher level of resolution.
Morpholino Studies in Xenopus Brain Development

Antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (MOs) have become a valuable method to knockdown protein levels, to block with mRNA splicing and to interfere with miRNA function. MOs are widely used to alter gene expression in development of Xenopus and Zebrafish, where they are typically injected into the fertilized egg or blastomeres. Here we present methods to use electroporation to target delivery of MOs to the central nervous system of Xenopus laevis or Xenopus tropicalis tadpoles. Briefly, MO electroporation is accomplished by injecting MO solution into the brain ventricle and driving the MOs into cells of the brain with current passing between 2 platinum plate electrodes, positioned on either side of the target brain area. The method is relatively straightforward and uses standard equipment found in many neuroscience labs. A major advantage of electroporation is that it allows spatial and temporal control of MO delivery and therefore knockdown. Co-electroporation of MOs with cell type-specific fluorescent protein expression plasmids allows morphological analysis of cellular phenotypes. Furthermore, co-electroporation of MOs with rescuing plasmids allows assessment of specificity of the knockdown and phenotypic outcome. By combining MO-mediated manipulations with sophisticated assays of neuronal function, such as electrophysiological recording, behavioral assays, or in vivo time-lapse imaging of neuronal development, the functions of specific proteins and miRNAs within the developing nervous system can be elucidated. These methods can be adapted to apply antisense morpholinos to study protein and RNA function in a variety of complex tissues.