cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heritability of Teat-End Shape and the Relationship of Teat-End Shape with Somatic Cell Score for an Experimental Herd of Cows,

Teat-end shapes were categorized for 1443 Holstein cows with 3582 lactations, in the Iowa State University herd at Ankeny, approximately 40 d postpartum between 1970 and 1995. Frequencies of teat-end shapes were as follows: round, 52.2%; prolapsed, 0.8%; flat, 14.2%; plate, 3.4%; funnel, 8.9%; and mixed, 20.5%. Cows were coded as mixed if all four teat-end shapes were not the same. Heritability estimates were obtained with an animal model with pedigrees traced back to registration numbers roughly conforming to birth year 1955. The heritability estimates for first, second, and third and later lactations were 34, 21, and 13%, respectively. Lactation averages for linear somatic cell scores were adjusted for days in milk, and month and age at calving, and were available for 255 cows with 431 lactations categorized from 1992 to 1995. Frequencies of teat-end shape on the 255 cows were as follows: round, 58%; prolapsed, 3%; flat, 11%; plate, 2%; funnel, 6%; and mixed, 20%. Least-squares means of somatic cell score for categories of teat-end shape were computed from a mixed model that included year, parity, and teat-end shape as fixed effects and cow as a random effect. Teat-end shape did not significantly affect somatic cell score.
Assessing Survey-Based Measurement of Personnel Red Tape With Anchoring Vignettes:

Despite an upsurge of red tape research, a central issue remains unresolved. The most widely used red tape measures draw on key informant reports about red tape. The starkest objection to such measures is that key informant reports are mere perceptions—perceptions that are subject to distortion. We assess the validity of key informant perception-based measures of personnel red tape by using “anchoring vignettes.” Findings suggest that anchoring vignettes can be used to improve the accuracy of survey measures of red tape. Implications of findings for red tape scholarship and survey measurement in public management are discussed.
Current and emerging maintenance therapies for ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic idiopathic intestinal disease that requires life-long maintenance therapy to maintain clinical remission. This article reviews the current literature on maintenance treatments in UC. It examines the natural history of the condition and the proposed benefits of treatment. These include improving quality of life parameters, decreasing corticosteroid intake, the prevention of relapse, the prevention of colorectal cancer and the avoidance of colectomy. The immunosuppressive era appears to be reducing the need for elective colectomy in UC. The article explores the classes of drug currently used for maintenance of UC, reviews the literature around adherence issues, and summarizes emerging agents in this space.
Progress towards cell-mediated gene transfer in zebrafish

Although the zebrafish possesses several favourable characteristics that make it an ideal model for genetic studies of vertebrate development, one disadvantage of this model system is the absence of methods for the production of gene knockouts. The authors’ laboratory, and others, are working to develop zebrafish pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) and primordial germ cell (PGC) cultures that can be used for cell-mediated gene transfer and the production of knockout mutant lines of fish. Progress has been made in developing short-term cell cultures that possess the ability to contribute to multiple tissues, including the germ line of a host embryo, and transgenic lines of zebrafish have been established using the embryo cell cultures. Work is in progress to extend the length of time that the embryo cells can be maintained in culture without losing their ability to generate germ-line chimeras.
A Constellation of Concerns Exploring the Present and the Future Challenges for Adult Day Services

While adult day services (ADS) continues to grow within the home and community-based services sector, questions remain as to the challenges that the industry faces and anticipates facing in the future. In this study, a national sample of ADS centers (N = 557) responded to open-ended questions regarding current and future challenges. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed that funding was a central concern around which a complex and interconnected constellation of challenges revolved, such as adequate staffing, marketing their services, physical space, and complicated care needs.Given the challenging economic times, these findings suggest that the continued evolution of the ADS industry depends largely on the implementation of changes in policy and funding mechanisms.
Two-track codes for magnetic recording channels

A reduction in the track-width in disc-recording systems results in a desirable increase in areal density, but also in the undesirable appearance of inter-track interference (ITI) and loss in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), in addition to intersymbol-interference (ISI). One way the effects of ITI may be alleviated is through the use of multiple-head systems simultaneously writing and reading a number of adjacent tracks. We investigate the performance of two-track detectors, and design codes that combat two-dimensional interference patterns, ISI in the axial dimension and ITI in the radial dimension. >
Are complex behaviors specified by dedicated regulatory genes? Reasoning from Drosophila.

We thank S. McConnell, R. Lewontin, R. Sapolsky, M. Siegal, W. Newsome, W. Baker, I. Herskowitz, I. Marin, and E. Kiesman for valuable comments on the manuscript and discussions. This work was supported by a grant from the NIH.
Introducing A Calculus for Services Innovation

Innovation in the services area - especially in the electronic services (e-services) domain -can be systematically developed by first considering the strategic drivers and foci, then the tactical principles and enablers, and finally the operational decision attributes, all of which constitute a process or calculus of services innovation. The developed process or calculus serves to identify the potential white spaces or blue oceans for innovation. In addition to expanding on current innovations in services and related experiences, white spaces are identified for possible future innovations.
Metapopulation Dynamics and Amphibian Conservation

In many respects, amphibian spatial dynamics resemble classical metapopulation models, in which subpopulations in breeding ponds blink in and out of existence and extinction and colonization rates are functions of pond spatial arrangement. This "ponds-as-patches" view of amphibian spatial dynamics is useful in several respects. First, it highlights the importance of regional and landscape processes in determin- ing local patterns of abundance. Second, it offers a straightforward, pond-based approach to monitoring and managing amphibian populations. For many species, however, the ponds-as-patches view may be an over- simplification and metapopulation structure may be more apparent than real. Changes in distribution may be caused by processes other than extinction and recolonization, and most extinctions probably result from deterministic factors, not stochastic processes. In addition, the effects of pond isolation appear to be impor- tant primarily in disturbed environments, and in many cases these isolation effects may be better explained by the distribution of terrestrial habitats than by the distribution of breeding ponds. These complications have important implications for both researchers and managers. For researchers, future efforts need to determine the mechanisms underlying patterns of abundance and distributional change and patterns in amphibian pop- ulations. For managers, effective conservation strategies must successfully balance metapopulation consider- ations with careful attention to local habitat quality. Furthermore, translocations and active management may be indispensable tools for conserving amphibians in landscapes containing multiple breeding ponds.
Assessment of laser-induced thermal load on silicon nanostructures based on ion desorption yields

Experimental assessment of the thermal load induced by fast laser pulses on micro- and nanostructures through IR imaging is currently too slow and lacks the spatial resolution to be useful. In this paper, we introduce a method based on measuring the laser-induced yields of ions to compare the thermal loads on nanofabricated silicon structures, when exposed to nanosecond laser pulses. The laser fluences at which the ion yields of, for example, sodiated and potassiated peptides ions are equal for two different structures correspond to equivalent thermal loads. Using alkalinated peptides is a convenient choice because the corresponding ion intensities are easily measured up to the melting point of silicon. As an example, we compare the nanosecond laser heating of silicon nanopost arrays with diverse post diameters and periodicities. Assessment of the thermal load through ion yield measurements can also be used to verify model assumptions for heat transport regimes in nanostructures.
A Comparative Review of Canine and Human Rhabdomyosarcoma With Emphasis on Classification and Pathogenesis

Rhabdomyosarcomas are a diverse group of malignant mesenchymal neoplasms exhibiting variable levels of differentiation toward skeletal myocytes. Neoplastic cells may resemble relatively undifferentiated myoblasts, satellite cells, or more differentiated elongated spindle cells and multicellular myotubes. In veterinary medicine, classification into subtypes and variants is based on an outdated system derived from human pathology and is solely based on histologic characteristics. In contrast, classification of human rhabdomyosarcoma is based on histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular diagnostic techniques, and subclassification has clinical and prognostic relevance. Relevance of tumor subtyping has not been established in veterinary medicine. Recent discoveries of components of the molecular pathogenesis and genomes of human rhabdomyosarcomas have led to new diagnostic techniques and revisions of the human classification system. The current classification system in veterinary medicine is reviewed in light of these changes. Diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma using histopathology, electron microscopy, and the clinical aspects of human and canine rhabdomyosarcomas is compared. The clinical features and biologic behavior of canine rhabdomyosarcomas are compared with canine soft tissue sarcomas.
Leader-Driven Primacy: How Attribute Order Can Affect Consumer Choice

Leader-driven primacy in consumer choice uses initial product information to install a targeted brand as the early leader. Then the biased evaluation of subsequent attributes builds support for that brand. The end result is that the manipulation of information order impacts the proportion of consumers who prefer the installed (leading) brand. Study 1 finds leader-driven primacy in the choice between two equally attractive brands. Study 2 extends this result to a situation where one brand is slightly better and to a method where the leader is not explicitly identified. Study 3 installs a leading brand, but then eliminates leader-driven primacy by inhibiting attribute-based processing in favor of processing by brand.
Graphene oxide. Origin of acidity, its instability in water, and a new dynamic structural model.

The existing structural models of graphene oxide (GO) contradict each other and cannot adequately explain the acidity of its aqueous solutions. Inadequate understanding of chemical structure can lead to a misinterpretation of observed experimental phenomena. Understanding the chemistry and structure of GO should enable new functionalization protocols while explaining GO’s limitations due to its water instability. Here we propose an unconventional view of GO chemistry and develop the corresponding “dynamic structural model” (DSM). In contrast to previously proposed models, the DSM considers GO as a system, constantly changing its chemical structure due to interaction with water. Using potentiometric titration, 13C NMR, FTIR, UV–vis, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy we show that GO does not contain any significant quantity of preexisting acidic functional groups, but gradually generates them through interaction with water. The reaction with water r...
Study on Drinking Water Quality in Rural Areas of Xiamen

Objective To provide scientific basis for ensuring water safety in rural areas,and to improve water supply reconstruction and public health. Method The data of drinking water hygiene and water related diseases data of 1985 and 2002 in rural areas of Xiamen were reviewed and conducted a comparative analysis. Results The tap water,spring water and well water were the 3 drinking water sources,and the quality of well water was the worst among them.The well water total bacteria colony outnumbered the standard by 61.6% and coliform group 85.1%.High fluorine content was found in some districts.Fortunately,the incidence of fluorine disease declined to approach the national standard after water supply reconstruction.On the other hand,iodine content was low in most districts,but iodine deficiency disease had eliminated through iodination of salt.Conclusion Biological pollution is the leading problem of well drinking water in Xiamen rural districts.The improvement of water supply reconstruction is still a difficult and long road task.
Very high serum estradiol levels are not detrimental to clinical outcome of in vitro fertilization

The use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists as adjuncts to ovulation induction for in vitro fertilization (IVF) has resulted in increases in oocyte recovery rates. Along with increased oocyte number, greatly increased estradiol (E2) levels have been found. We sought to determine the clinical effect of very high E2 levels on the outcome of IVF cycles. Estradiol levels were measured in 141 patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with leuprolide acetate and human menopausal gonadotropin for IVF. Whereas the number of oocytes recovered and fertilized and the number of embryos available for cryopreservation were directly proportional to the E2 level, the fertilization rate and embryo cleavage rates were unrelated to the E2 level. When the patients were grouped in thirds according to E2 levels, pregnancy rate (PR) was highest in the patients with the highest E2 levels (E2 greater than 2,777 pg/mL, PR = 37%). One mild, one moderate, and one severe case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurred in patients with E2 greater than or equal to 3,000 pg/mL (n = 21), but in general, high E2 levels were attained with few complications. We conclude that high E2 levels are not detrimental to the pregnancy outcome of IVF. Our experience further suggests that cycles with E2 levels of less than or equal to 5,000 pg/mL need not be canceled and can proceed to oocyte recovery and embryo transfer.
Modeling and Tracking Brain Nonstationarity in a Sustained Attention Task

In real-life situations, where humans optimize their behaviors to effectively interact with unknown and dynamic environments, their brain activities are inevitably nonstationary. Electroencephalogram EEG, a widely used neuroimaging modality, has a high temporal resolution for characterizing the brain nonstationarity. However, quantitative measurements of EEG nonstationarity and its relations with human cognitive states and behaviors are still elusive. This study hypothesized that EEG nonstationarity could be modeled as changes of active sources decomposed by an Independent Component Analysis and proposed a model-based nonstationarity index NSI to quantitatively assess these changes. We tested the hypothesis and evaluated the NSI on EEG data collected from eight subjects performing a sustained attention task. Empirical results showed that values of the proposed NSI were significantly different when the subjects exhibited different levels of behavioral performance that inferred their brain states. The proposed approach is online-capable and can be used to track EEG nonstationarity in near real-time, which enables applications such as monitoring brain states during a cognitive task or predicting human behaviors in a brain-computer interface.
Human parainfluenza virus-3 can be targeted by rapidly ex vivo expanded T lymphocytes.

Abstract Background aims Human parainfluenza virus-3 (HPIV) is a common cause of respiratory infection in immunocompromised patients and currently has no effective therapies. Virus-specific T-cell therapy has been successful for the treatment or prevention of viral infections in immunocompromised patients but requires determination of T-cell antigens on targeted viruses. Methods HPIV3-specific T cells were expanded from peripheral blood of healthy donors using a rapid generation protocol targeting four HPIV3 proteins. Immunophenotyping was performed by flow cytometry. Viral specificity was determined by interferon (IFN)-γ ELISpot, intracellular cytokine staining and cytokine measurements from culture supernatants by Luminex assay. Cytotoxic activity was tested by 51 Cr release and CD107a mobilization assays. Virus-specific T cells targeting six viruses were then produced by rapid protocol, and the phenotype of HPIV3-specific T cells was determined by immunomagnetic sorting for IFN-γ-producing cells. Results HPIV3-specific T cells were expanded from 13 healthy donors. HPIV3-specific T cells showed a CD4 + predominance (mean CD4:CD8 ratio 2.89) and demonstrated specificity for multiple HPIV3 antigens. The expanded T cells were polyfunctional based on cytokine production but only had a minor cytotoxic component. T cells targeting six viruses in a single product similarly showed HPIV3 specificity, with a predominant effector memory phenotype (CD3 + /CD45RA – /CCR7 – ) in responder cells. Discussion HPIV3-specific T cells can be produced using a rapid ex vivo protocol from healthy donors and are predominantly CD4 + T cells with Th1 activity. HPIV3 epitopes can also be successfully targeted alongside multiple other viral epitopes in production of six-virus T cells, without loss of HPIV3 specificity. These products may be clinically beneficial to combat HPIV3 infections by adoptive T-cell therapy in immune-compromised patients.
Quality of Life of the Ostomate

Creation of an ostomy can have a detrimental effect on a patient’s quality of life leading to depression, social isolation, and body image issues. While construction of a well-sited, well-made stoma without complications is the basis of good function, perioperative education is an essential part of maximizing postoperative satisfaction. Perioperative education should start with a detailed assessment of all aspects of the patient’s life, a basic introduction to the structure and function of stomas, and a realistic description of how their life is likely to change. Preoperative marking and education by enterostomal therapists not only improves patient satisfaction and quality-of-life scores, but decreases hospital length of stay and stoma-related readmission rates.
Authenticity, Power, and Pluralism: A Framework for Understanding Stakeholder Evaluations of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities

We explore the essential contestedness of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by framing the interplay between CSR activities and stakeholder evaluations as a contest for jurisdiction over what it means to be socially responsible. This contest arises because firms and stakeholders are often guided by incompatible sensemaking systems. To show why context matters we show how stakeholders evaluate the authenticity of CSR activities on the basis of schemas for responsible behavior on one hand and their perceptions of firm identity on the other. This process can generate complex evaluations whose meaning depends on the distribution of power in fields and the extent to which pluralistic sensemaking systems are compatible. By positioning authenticity evaluations within a framework that describes the state of power and pluralism within which they are produced, we are able to present a systematic explanation of how and why stakeholder responses to CSR vary over a range of settings.
Is computerized psychoeducation sufficient to reduce anxiety sensitivity in an at-risk sample?: A randomized trial

Abstract Background Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or a fear of anxiety-related sensations, has become one of the most well researched risk factors for the development of psychopathology and comprises three subfactors: physical, cognitive, and social concerns. Fortunately, research has demonstrated brief protocols can successfully reduce AS, and in turn improve psychopathological symptoms. Computerized AS reduction protocols have combined psychoeducation with interoceptive exposure (IE), but they have not been dismantled to evaluate the effects of psychoeducation alone. Method: The current study sought to determine the efficacy of a brief single-session psychoeducation intervention for AS, compared to a control intervention, in a sample of at-risk individuals (N=54) with elevated AS cognitive concerns. Results Individuals in the active condition displayed greater reductions in self-reported AS (β=.198, 95% CI [.065, .331]) and less fear reactivity (β=.278, 95% CI [.069, .487]) to the induction of AS cognitive-relevant sensations through a behavioral challenge compared to those in the control condition. Further, fear reactivity to the challenge was mediated by reductions in self-reported AS cognitive concerns. Limitations Study limitations include use of an at-risk nonclinical student sample, lack of a long-term follow-up assessment, and inability to discern whether AS reductions due to CAST psychoeducation prevent future, or improve current, psychological symptoms. Conclusions These results suggest that psychoeducation alone can produce significant AS reduction.
Early Childhood Teacher Beliefs About STEAM Education After a Professional Development Conference

The success of new pedagogies depends on teachers’ beliefs about what they entail, and the promises and challenges they hold. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to understand the beliefs of early childhood teachers who attended a professional development conference on STEAM teaching, an emerging approach that combine STEM disciplines and the arts through problem-based learning to engage students and push deep thinking. Data from a post-conference survey (N = 41) and follow-up interviews (N = 4) showed teachers varied in their beliefs about STEAM and the supports they needed to implement it successfully. Implications for teacher education are discussed.
Body mass index and tobacco-product use among U.S. youth: Findings from wave 1 (2013-2014) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Abstract Introduction Tobacco and obesity are leading contributors to mortality in the United States. Due to emerging changes in youth tobacco use, further examination of co-occurrence of these issues is warranted. Methods This study examined associations between body mass index (BMI) and tobacco-product use and whether these varied by gender in a nationally representative sample of 12,416 Wave 1 (2013–2014) U.S. youth (12–17 years) from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the odds of past 30-day tobacco-product use according to BMI. BMI was analyzed categorically using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI-for-age weight status categories (underweight/healthy weight, overweight, and obese) and as a continuous variable. Results Youth classified as overweight or obese were not more likely to use any tobacco, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, any cigar, or hookah. However, youth who were obese were more likely to use smokeless tobacco (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.68, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01, 2.81). There were no significant gender interactions for these associations. When BMI was analyzed continuously, a 5-unit and 10-unit increase was significantly associated with using any tobacco, cigarettes, any cigar, and smokeless tobacco. This linear association was supported by similar results for a log-transformed BMI variable. Conclusions Findings suggest a continuum between weight increase and tobacco-product use among American youth. Clinicians should consider screening for tobacco use among youth who gain weight within any weight class, not just those considered overweight or obese.
Continuum Mechanics of Large Deformation Contact

In this chapter we concentrate upon the conceptual and mathematical details necessary to generalize the problem structure introduced previously for kinematically linear problems, such that our formulation for contact interaction becomes suitable for large deformation, large motion behavior. As was seen for the kinematically linear case in Chapter 3, one may consider in general two broad classes of contact problems: one where a single deformable body comes into contact with a rigid, immobile obstacle, and another in which two deformable bodies come into contact with each other. This being said, it has also been established that the rigid obstacle (or Signorini) problem is easily obtained as a subcase of the two body contact problem, such that most key details associated with either problem class can be illuminated through consideration of the two body contact problem only. We therefore follow this procedure here, remarking also that problems involving the mutual contact of more than two bodies may also be addressed following the spirit of the presentation given.
Fluids in abdominal surgery: what is the goal?

In the early 2000s, the approach to perioperative fluid management in major abdominal surgery underwent a paradigm change in favor of restrictive, rather than standard or liberal, fluid regimens. The basis for this shift in philosophy was a result of randomized controlled trials such as one by Brandstrup et al ., which demonstrated improved morbidity and outcomes with perioperative fluid restriction (1). With similar results reported across a variety of other prospective trials, the practice of perioperative fluid restriction garnered more support and acceptance (2,3).
Ethics and Genetically Modified Foods

In this chapter, Gary Comstock considers whether it is ethically justified to pursue genetically modified (GM) crops and foods. He first considers intrinsic objections to GM crops that allege that the process of making GMOs is objectionable in itself. He argues that there is no justifiable basis for the objections — i.e. GM crops are not intrinsically ethically problematic. He then considers extrinsic objections to GM crops, including objections based on the precautionary principle, which focus on the potential harms that may result from the adoption of GM organisms. He argues that these concerns have some merit. However, they do not justify giving up GM crops altogether. Instead, they require that GM crops be developed carefully and with appropriate oversight. Comstock then presents the positive case for GM crops that he endorses. It is based on three considerations: (i) the right of people to choose to adopt GM technology; (ii) the balance of likely benefits over harms to consumers and the environment from GM technology; and (iii) the wisdom of encouraging discovery, innovation, and careful regulation of GM technology.
Editorial: Lymphocytopenia in Hodgkin’s Disease

The lymphocytopenia of Hodgkin’s disease has been reviewed in the light of recent knowledge of lymphocyte function. It is suggested that the anergy of early Hodgkin’s disease is a peripheral defect—a manifestation of abnormal lymphocyte function. Later in the course of the condition profound lymphocytopenia develops and most probably contributes to the more severe immunologic deficiencies of advanced Hodgkin’s disease.
Carcinoma of the Unknown Primary

The presence of metastatic cancer without evidence of its source is a common clinical entity representing between 3 and 15% of all cancer diagnoses. Patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) are heterogenous, having a wide variety of clinical presentations and pathological findings, resulting in diagnostic and treatment dilemmas for both the patient and clinician. Despite having a widely varying prognosis, with optimal treatment, some patients have the potential for long-term survival, whereas others are unlikely to respond to any type of treatment.
Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED): Paradoxical Effect of Clonazepam.

A 9-year-old boy with primary myoclonus dystonia with comorbid severe attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) also had sleep onset and maintenance insomnia. Polysomnography showed features of...
Geometric and dosimetric evaluation of atlas based auto-segmentation of cardiac structures in breast cancer patients.

Abstract Background and purpose Auto-segmentation represents an efficient tool to segment organs on CT imaging. Primarily used in clinical setting, auto-segmentation plays an increasing role in research, particularly when analyzing thousands of images in the “big data” era. In this study we evaluate the accuracy of cardiac dosimetric endpoints derived from atlas based auto-segmentation compared to gold standard manual segmentation. Material and methods Heart and cardiac substructures were manually delineated on 54 breast cancer patients. Twenty-seven patients were used to build the auto-segmentation atlas, the other 27 to validate performance. We evaluated accuracy of the auto-segmented contours with standard geometric indices and assessed dosimetric endpoints. Results Auto-segmented contours overlapped geometrically with manual contours of the heart and chambers with Dice-similarity coefficients of 0.93 ± 0.02 (mean ± standard deviation) and 0.79 ± 0.07 respectively. Similarly, there was a strong link between dosimetric parameters derived from auto-segmented and manual contours (R2 = 0.955–1.000). On the other hand, the left anterior descending artery had little geometric overlap (Dice-similarity coefficient 0.09 ± 0.07), though acceptable representation of dosimetric parameters (R2 = 0.646–0.992). Conclusions The atlas based auto-segmentation approach delineates heart structures with sufficient accuracy for research purposes. Our results indicate that quality of auto-segmented contours cannot be determined by geometric values only.
NON-INTRUSIVE AND NON-CONTACT SLEEP MONITORING WITH SEISMOMETER

Monitoring sleep quality and status is important to learn health condition for improvement and prevent sleep apnea. A bed-mounted seismometer system is proposed to monitor the heart and respiratory rates, and body movement and posture, during the sleep. To effectively monitor sleep status, an innovative local maxima statistics based approach and an instantaneous property based method are developed to estimate heart and respiratory rates, respectively. These methods are more robust and stable compared to previous works. Besides, algorithms for body movement and posture identification are also investigated based on instantaneous properties. A prototype system is demonstrated, showing great potentials in monitoring a person’s sleep status under different conditions.
Studies in the cyperaceae of Thailand: III. New and critical species of the cariceae

Ten species ofCarex and one species ofKobresia from Thailand are taxonomically discussed, and some new range extensions into Thailand are noted. Described as new areCarex subinclinata andC. thailandica, both belonging to the sectionIndicae, andC. speciosa ssp.latifolia of the sectionRadicales. Two new combinations proposed areCarex helferi ssp.mapanifolia, andC. speciosa ssp.platyrhina.
Costs and factors associated with heart failure following kidney transplantation – a single‐center retrospective cohort study

The number of adults with heart failure (HF) will increase by ~50% between 2012 and 2030. Among kidney transplant recipients, HF accounts for 16% of all post-transplant admissions. We describe the burden of HF and predictors of healthcare utilization following kidney transplantation. We retrospectively identified adults who underwent kidney transplantation at our institution (01/2007-12/2017). Data were acquired from electronic health records, with healthcare utilization obtained from a statewide database. The HF incidence rate and prevalence were estimated for each year, total charges for HF and non-HF patients were compared, and logistic regression was employed for a 3-year predictive model of healthcare utilization associated with HF. Among 1731 kidney transplant recipients, the post-transplant HF incidence rate ranged from 1.91 (year 3) to 6.80 (year 10) per 100 person-years, while the prevalence increased from 31.7% (year 1) to 48.1% (year 10). Median charges were $75 837 (HF) compared to $42 940 (non-HF) per person-year (P < 0.001). Pretransplant HF [odds ratio (OR) = 3.12] and an eGFR < 45 (OR = 4.73) were the strongest predictors of HF encounters (P < 0.05 for both). We observed a high and increasing prevalence of HF, which was associated with twice the costs. Kidney transplant recipients would benefit from interventions aimed at mitigating HF risk factors.
The Construction of Case-Specific Resident Learning Goals.

Objective Developing resident autonomy in the operating room is a complex process and resident established case specific learning goals may increase resident operating room training efficiency. However, little is understood about residents’ experience identifying learning goals for a given case. The aim of this study was to explore the essential components contributing to surgery residents’ identification of specific learning goals for surgical cases. Design We conducted focus group interviews with general surgery residents across all post-graduate years (PGY) through convenience sampling. Audio recordings of each interview were transcribed and iteratively analyzed. Emerging themes were identified using a framework method. Setting The study was conducted within the Department of General Surgery at the Ohio State University Medical Center, a tertiary academic medical center. Participants Eight junior (PGY 1-2) and 10 senior (PGY 3-5) residents participated, of whom 10 were female and 8 were male. Results On average, each focus group interview lasted 57.00 (SD ± 12.99) minutes. Three essential components of residents’ creation of case-specific learning goals emerged from the focus group interviews: medical knowledge, surgical experience and entrustment. Residents require baseline knowledge and surgical experience with an operation to identify the learning goal they would aim to execute. They also require entrustment of themselves and support of the attending to accomplish the case specific learning goal. Differences in the possession of these three components would likely influence differences in the ability to create learning goals between junior and senior residents. Conclusions Medical knowledge, surgical experience and entrustment are 3 factors that are imperative to the creation of a resident's case specific learning goal. The complex combination of these three components contributes to the building of the learning goal prior to the start of the operation. Elucidating these aspects provides additional information for targeted interventions in the future.
Examining the Effects of Internal Communication and Emotional Culture on Employees’ Organizational Identification:

As one of the first empirical attempts investigating the emerging role of positive emotional culture within organizations, the study examined how a symmetrical internal communication system and lea...
Patterns and changes in life expectancy in China, 1990-2016

Objective To achieve the goal of “healthy China 2030”, reasonable health policies must be developed based on the changes of death spectrum. We aim to investigate the temporal patterns of life expectancy (LE) and age/cause-specific contributions from 1990 to 2016. Methods Joinpoint regression model was used with Arriaga’s decomposition method. Results LE in China has reached to 76.3 years in 2016 with an increase of 9.44 years from 1990. From 1990 to 2002, a remarkable reduction in infant mortality accounted for an increase of 1.27 years (35.39%) to LE which mainly resulted from diarrhea, lower respiratory, and other common infectious diseases (1.00 years, 27.79%). After 2002, those aged 65+ years contributed most to increased LE and the most prominent causes included cardiovascular diseases (0.67 years, 23.36%), chronic respiratory diseases (0.54 years, 18.76%) and neoplasms (0.39 years, 13.44%). Moreover, the effects of transport injuries changed from negative to positive. After 2007, contributions of transport and unintentional injuries increased especially for males. And for females contributions of cardiovascular diseases sharply increased LE by 1.17 years (32.26%). Conclusion More attention should be paid to cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and neoplasms which were mainly attributed to the increase of LE, especially for males and elderly population.
Lisinopril-Induced Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that is used as one of the first-line antihypertensive medications. Necrotizing pancreatitis induced by the use of ACE inhibitors is an extremely rare occurrence. Although an uncommon risk factor, our aim is to further highlight that patients with chronic use of lisinopril can develop such complications and should be considered among the list of differential diagnoses for pancreatitis. A 53-year-old Caucasian male with a history of hypertension treated with lisinopril presented with a one-day history of nausea, vomiting, and severe epigastric pain. On physical examination, there was tenderness to palpation in the epigastric region and left lower quadrant without rebound tenderness or guarding. A complete blood count showed a slight increase in white blood cell count to 12,000 cells/mm3 and serum lipase level was elevated at 1028 U/L. A subsequent CT scan of the abdomen with contrast revealed findings supporting necrotizing pancreatitis. The patient was treated with conservative medical management with goal-directed intravenous fluid support, early enteral feeding, and pain control. His condition resolved, and he was found doing well on follow-up visits.
Statins and the progression of age-related macular degeneration in the United States.

Purpose To study the effect of statin exposure on the progression from non-exudative to exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods Retrospective cohort study of commercially insured patients diagnosed with non-exudative AMD (n = 231,888) from 2007 to 2015. Time-to-event analysis of the association between exposure to lipid-lowering medications and time from non-exudative AMD to exudative AMD diagnosis was conducted. Outcome measures included progression to exudative AMD, indicated by diagnosis codes for exudative AMD or procedural codes for intravitreal injections. Results In the year before and after first AMD diagnosis, 11,330 patients were continuously prescribed lipid-lowering medications and 31,627 patients did not take any lipid-lowering medication. Of those taking statins, 21 (1.6%) patients were on very-high-dose lipophilic statins, 644 (47.6%) on high-dose lipophilic statins, and 689 (50.9%) on low-dose lipophilic statins. We found no statistically significant relationship between exposure to low (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.38) or high-dose lipophilic statins (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.45) and progression to exudative AMD. No patients taking very-high-dose lipophilic statins converted from non-exudative to exudative AMD, though this difference was not statistically significant due to the subgroup size (p = .23, log-rank test). Conclusions No statistically significant relationship was found between statin exposure and risk of AMD progression. Interestingly, no patients taking very-high-dose lipophilic statins progressed to exudative AMD, a finding that warrants further exploration.
“I Belong Because It Wasn’t Made for Me”: Understanding Working-Class Students’ Sense of Belonging on Campus

Sense of belonging has been used to gauge students’ adjustment to and persistence within higher education. Social class is associated with sense of belonging and working-class students report lower...
Immunoglobulin and T Cell Receptor Gene Rearrangements

The antigen binding receptor molecules on B and T lymphocytes are synthesized and expressed on the surface of the cells during development in the bone marrow for B cells and in the thymus for T cells. The genes encoding the B cell receptor and T cell receptor undergo rearrangements and recombination with the aid of lineage specific recombinases which together with DNA repair enzymes facilitate the recombination of the variable genes of heavy and light chain genes of BCR and TCR. RAG (recombination activating genes)-1 and -2 encode recombinases that initiate recombination and rearrangements of the immunoglobulin (Ig) in B cells and T cell receptor (TCR) in T cells. A deficiency of RAG-1 and RAG-2 genes leads to severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), with no mature B and T cells in the periphery. Missence mutations in the RAG genes can lead to Omenn syndrome with no B lymphocytes and severe reduction in T lymphocyte populations. The heavy (H) and light (L) chain genes for immunoglobulins are located on different chromosomes. The H chain genes are located on chromosome 14 in humans and chromosome 12 in mice. The kappa gene in humans is on chromosome 2 and in mice on chromosome 6. The lambda gene in humans is on chromosome 22 and in mice on chromosome 16. Rearrangements of the variable genes in H and L chains occurs in B and T lymphocytes to generate receptors that can bind to diverse antigens leading to adaptive immune responses. Receptor specificity is important for antigen recognition and reactivity. In addition to multiple variable genes available for recombination and nucleotide additions that generate new binding sites for epitopes on antigens, only one H chain and one L chain bind to form an Ig. The process of allelic exclusion ensures antibody specificity by having only one H and L chain synthesized. In B cells following H chain recombination, a surrogate light chain is synthesized and combines with the H chain, followed by L chain recombination and the expression of a mature Ig molecule. Human Ig molecules contain more V lambda genes in the L chain than mouse Ig. Up to 40% of the L chain variable genes are lambda compared to 5% in mice. How is variable gene diversity obtained in the antigen binding receptors of B and T cells? We will discuss the mechanisms involved below. It will be important to note that the mechanisms are very similar in both cell types with the use of the same recombinases and recombination rules. Differences unique to T and B cells will be highlighted. The mechanisms for Ig recombination will be examined first.
Self-Defense Against Terrorists: The Meaning of Armed Attack

The last decade has witnessed increased recourse by states to military force to respond to terrorist attacks on their soil that have originated from abroad. A number of states -- including the United States -- have justified these military actions as lawful self-defense in response to an armed attack, as permitted under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. These claims raise multiple interpretive questions about the meaning of "armed attack" under Article 51 and of the various options that are allowed in response to one. This essay explores the contemporary understanding of an "armed attack" in terms of an attack's origins (i.e., can an attack under the Charter originate from nonstate actors?), scale (i.e., must such attacks meet a threshold of intensity to trigger lawful self-defense?), and military nature. It also focuses on the the permissibility of attributing an attack by nonstate actors to a particular state, as well as the consequences of such an attribution. It then identifies a number of outstanding areas of disagreement in the law as well as practical issues for states contemplating the use of force in response to terrorist attacks. The essay concludes with a series of recommendations for resolving these disagreements in a way that respects the imperative of avoiding an escalation in force while deterring such attacks.
Management Education Abroad: Adaptation versus a Cookie-Cutter Approach.

Abstract How might educators effectively deliver management education abroad -by adapting to the local environment or by using a cookie-cutter approach? We propose the decision depends on international orientation (divergence or convergence), international experience, desired control over foreign programs, and home and host environmental factors. Adaptation makes sense if educators believe management theories are embedded in culture. However, maintaining academic standards and containing costs becomes the issue. The cookie-cutter approach, while cost-effective and easier, may jeopardize program quality. We present cases for both approaches to management education abroad, discuss implementation issues of both approaches and possible solutions to these issues.
The structural gene for AMP nucleosidase. Mapping, cloning, and overproduction of the enzyme

A mutant of Escherichia coli which contained no detectable AMP nucleosidase activity (EC 3.2.2.4) was produced by treatment with nitrosoguanidine and identified by a colorimetric assay for AMP nucleosidase in individual colonies from agar plates. Conjugation experiments indicated a close linkage between the AMP nucleosidase locus (amn) and his. Assays for AMP nucleosidase in E. coli strains with deletions in the his region established that amn is not located between attP2H and mgl . Transduction experiments with bacteriophage P1 were used to construct a linkage map in the his and amn region of the 100-min chromosome map of E. coli, which places amn at 43.3 min. A Rec- strain of E. coli ( FP4102 ) which carries the uvrC to his region (42.1-44.1 min) as an F' episome was used to confirm this location. The episome from FP4102 was used as the source of DNA for cloning amn. BamHI restriction fragments of the episome were inserted into the homologous site of pBR322 and used to transform the Amn- strain of E. coli to Amn+. The transforming plasmid contained a 9-kb (kilobase) insert. Partial restriction of plasmid with ClaI and religation gave a plasmid with a 6-kb insert which retains the amn gene. Restriction mapping of the plasmid has identified ClaI and PstI sites which appear to be within the amn locus. E. coli (Rec-) which contains the 9-kb plasmid of pBR322 containing amn overproduces AMP nucleosidase when grown in the presence of ampicillin. The specific activity of AMP nucleosidase increases from 0.016 mumol/min/mg of protein to 0.32 mumol/min/mg of protein in extracts of the wild type and the plasmid-bearing strains, respectively. A simple purification procedure yields 10 mg of homogeneous AMP nucleosidase from 25 g of packed cells.