cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Race, Gender, and SES Disparities in Self-Assessed Health, 1974-2004:

Despite improvements in the status of Blacks and women over the past 30 years, racial and gender disparities in mortality and morbidity persist. Using General Social Survey (GSS) data from 1974 to 2004, the authors explore the extent to which race, gender, and socioeconomic status converge to produce differences in self-assessed health. The intersectionality paradigm is used to guide this work on health disparities. The authors find that the gender gap in self-assessed health has narrowed significantly over this 30-year time period. This decreased gap is especially pronounced because of the marked improvement over time in Black women's reports of their health. However, Black women continue to report the lowest levels of self-assessed health even in 2004. In fact, Black women who hold a college degree report worse health than White men, White women, and Black men with a high school diploma.
N-Demethylation of levo-α-acetylmethadol by human placental aromatase

Abstract Levo-α-acetylmethadol (LAAM) is a methadone derivative used to treat the opiate addict. We previously reported on the kinetics for transplacental transfer of LAAM and its levels in the fetal circuit using the technique of dual perfusion of the placental lobule. The aim of this investigation was to identify the enzyme responsible for the biotransformation of LAAM and norLAAM and the metabolites formed in the term human placenta. Placental microsomes exhibited higher activities than the mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions in metabolizing LAAM to norLAAM. None of these subcellular fractions catalyzed the formation of dinorLAAM from either LAAM or norLAAM as determined by HPLC/UV. Evidence obtained from the effects of cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitors on the demethylation of LAAM to norLAAM by placental microsomes suggested that CYP 19/aromatase is the major enzyme involved. Out of 10 monoclonal antibodies raised against various CYP isoforms, only that for aromatase caused over 80% inhibition of norLAAM formation. The biotransformation of LAAM to norLAAM exhibited monophasic kinetics with apparent K m and V max values of 105±57 μM and 86.8±15.6 pmol mg −1 protein min −1 , respectively. The kinetic profile determined for a cDNA-expressed CYP 19 metabolism of LAAM to norLAAM was similar to that determined for placental microsomes. Taken together, the above data indicate that CYP 19/aromatase is the enzyme responsible for the N -demethylation of LAAM to norLAAM in term human placentas obtained from healthy pregnant women.
PTHrP regulates the modeling of cortical bone surfaces at fibrous insertion sites during growth

The sites that receive ligament and tendon insertions (entheses) on the cortical surfaces of long bones are poorly understood, particularly regarding modeling and regulation. Entheses are classified as either fibrocartilaginous or fibrous based on their structures. Fibrous entheses typically insert into the metaphysis or diaphysis of a long bone, bear a periosteal component, and are modeled during long-bone growth. This modeling forms a root system by which the insertions attach to the cortical surface. In the case of the medial collateral ligament, modeling drives actual migration of the ligament along the cortical surface in order to accommodate linear growth, whereas in other sites modeling may excavate a deep cortical root system (eg, the teres major insertion) or a shallow root system with a large footprint (eg, the latissimus dorsi insertion). We report here that conditionally deleting parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in fibrous entheses via Scleraxis-Cre targeting causes modeling to fail in these three iterations of osteoclast-driven enthesis excavation or migration. These iterations appear to represent formes frustes of a common modeling strategy, presumably differing from each other as a consequence of differences in biomechanical control. In sites in which PTHrP is not induced, either physiologically or because of conditional deletion, modeling does not take place and fibrocartilage is induced. These findings represent the initial genetic evidence that PTHrP regulates periosteal/intramembranous bone cell activity on cortical bone surfaces and indicate that PTHrP serves as a load-induced modeling tool in fibrous insertion sites during linear growth.
Synthesis, crystal structure, and anisotropic thermal expansion of Dy4.67(SiO4)3O

A new phase in the Dy–Si–O system, Dy4.67(SiO4)3O, was prepared in powderform using the mixed oxide method. Dy4.67(SiO4)3O was first observed at 1300 °C, and phase purity was achieved after 96 h at 1600 °C. The crystal structure was determined using single crystal diffraction using synchrotron radiation, and powder x-ray diffraction data was refined using the Rietveld method. The structure was found to be apatite-type, hexagonal, with space group P63/m and a = b = 0.93883(2) nm,c = 0.67820(1) nm, Z = 2. High-temperature x-ray powder diffraction was used to characterize the anisotropic thermal expansion over the temperature range of 24–1450 °C, providing the axial and cell volume expansion.
Familial renal adysplasia.

Renal dysplasia and agenesis as isolated findings are usually considered sporadic, noninherited abnormalities. We report three kindreds with familial renal adysplasia. Two or more children were affected in each of the families and at least one member-whether proband, sibling, or parent-had a clinically silent anomaly. Normal kidneys in the parents did not preclude the occurrence of renal adysplasia in more than one child. The empiric risks for offspring and first-degree relatives were 50% and 25%, respectively, suggesting a strong genetic factor such as a major dominant gene with variable expression. Because the disease appears to be genetic in some cases of renal adysplasia, careful screening of the proband's family, subsequent children, and pregnancies is important for the purpose of accurate genetic counseling.
Parametric analysis of cryogenic carbon dioxide cooling of shell eggs

Abstract Parametric analysis of cryogenic cooling of shell eggs was performed using finite element analysis. Two cooling temperatures (-50 and -70 C), three cooling convective heat transfer coefficients (20, 50, and 100 W/ m2K), two equilibration temperatures (7 and 25 C), and two equilibration heat transfer coefficients (0 and 20 W/ m2K) were considered in the analysis. Lower temperatures and higher cooling convective heat transfer coefficients resulted in higher cooling rates and lower final egg temperatures. A chart and equation were developed to identify combinations of processing parameters to yield the desired egg temperature (7 C) at the end of adiabatic equilibration. Results show that a cooling time of 8.2 min was required to reach a final egg temperature of 7 C for a cooling temperature of -50 C and a convective heat transfer coefficient of 20 W/m2K. The cooling time decreased to 2 min when the convective heat transfer coefficient increased to 100 W/m2K, at a cooling temperature of -50 C. Processing at -70 C and 20 W/m2K, required 5.3 min to reach a final temperature of 7 C. At a higher convective heat transfer coefficient (100 W/m2K) and -70 C, a processing time of 1.3 min was sufficient to reach the target temperature of 7 C. The results may be used as a reference in process or equipment design for shell egg cooling in cryogenic CO2.
METABOLIC STUDIES IN MYXEDEMA FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF l-TRIIODOTHYRONINE: 1) DURATION OF NEGATIVE NITROGEN BALANCE; 2) EFFECT OF TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE; 3) COMPARISON WITH NITROGEN BALANCE IN A HEALTHY VOLUNTEER*†

THE administration of thyroid hormone to a patient with myxedema produces a marked negative nitrogen balance (1–4). The purpose of this paper is to present metabolic studies on the administration of l-triiodothyronine1 to 2 patients with myxedema over a prolonged period, in an attempt to determine how long the negative nitrogen balance is maintained. The effect of testosterone propionate on the negative nitrogen balance induced by the l-triiodothyronine in the patient with myxedema, and the effect of ι-triiodothyronine on nitrogen balance in a normal human volunteer, will also be discussed. METHODS AND MATERIALS The 2 patients with myxedema (H. J. and O. S.; case histories in Appendix) were studied while hospitalized on a metabolic unit, where they were ambulatory and allowed a relatively constant amount of activity daily. The healthy volunteer carried on his customary medical school activities but was fed on the metabolic unit. The subjects were maintained on a constant diet containing approximately 1 gr...
Targeting Rho in Cardiovascular Disease

What began as molecular switches linking cell surface receptors to the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton has now emerged as an important mediator of cardiovascular disease. The low-molecular-weight GTPases of the Rho family have appeared with increasing frequency in the cardiovascular literature. This interest stems from two seemingly opposite disciplines. From a basic science perspective, increasing evidence suggests a central role of Rho-dependent actin cytoskeleton in mediating changes in cell shape, contractility, and motility.1 However, how these actin cytoskeletal effects of Rho translate into cardiovascular pathophysiology is not entirely evident. From a clinical perspective, large prospective trials with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins suggest that these agents may have beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease in addition to their cholesterol-lowering effects.2 The realization that statins also inhibit isoprenoid synthesis,3 which is required for the posttranslational modification of Rho, has shifted the focus from a lipid-dependent effect of statins to their direct effects on Rho in the vasculature. Several important pieces of the puzzle, which will bridge the biological functions of Rho with the clinical benefits of statins, are still missing. Foremost, what is the relationship between Rho and cardiovascular disease? In this issue of Circulation Research , Hernandez-Perera et al4 provide additional evidence that Rho GTPases may play an important role in mediating vascular disease. They show that Rho is required for basal expression of preproendothelin-1 in vascular endothelial cells and that statins inhibit preproendothelin-1 expression by blocking Rho geranylgeranylation. The clinical relevance of these findings is underscored by the fact that preproendothelin-1 gives rise to endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstrictor …
CONDITION OF THE CAPILLARIES IN HISTAMINE SHOCK

1. Histamine exerts a local dilator effect upon capillaries and upon the smallest arterioles and venules which border the capillary system. There occurs also an opening up of large numbers of capillaries of which no trace can be seen before the application of histamine. 2. When injected intravenously in amounts sufficient to produce shock, histamine causes a quickly progressive dilatation of both the visible and the occult capillaries and of their immediately adjacent arterioles and venules, all of which become engorged with blood that moves through them in a strikingly sluggish manner. The circulatory failure which characterizes histamine shock results from the dilatation of the peripheral vascular bed.
Pre-ESRD Changes in Body Weight and Survival in Nursing Home Residents Starting Dialysis

Summary Background and objectives Among patients receiving maintenance dialysis, weight loss at any body mass index is associated with mortality. However, it is not known whether weight changes before dialysis initiation are associated with mortality and if so, what risks are associated with weight gain or loss. Design, setting, participants, and measurements Linking data from the US Renal Data System to a national registry of nursing home residents, this study identified 11,090 patients who started dialysis between January of 2000 and December of 2006. Patients were categorized according to weight measured between 3 and 6 months before dialysis initiation and the percentage change in body weight before dialysis initiation (divided into quintiles). The outcome was mortality within 1 year of starting dialysis. Results There were 361 patients (3.3%) who were underweight (Quetelet’s [body mass] index Conclusions Among nursing home residents, changes in body weight in advance of dialysis initiation are associated with significantly higher 1-year mortality.
Laser speckle photography with optically addressed multiple-quantum-well spatial light modulators

We present a novel technique for recording and processing the speckle from a displaced object. We use an optically addressed, multiple-quantum-well spatial light modulator (MQW-OASLM). This device offers high resolution, speed, and sensitivity. It allows us to measure dynamic speckle patterns at rates up to tens of kHz.
Development and Verification of an Automated Sample Processing Protocol for Quantitation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA in Plasma

We developed and verified an automated sample processing protocol for use with the AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR test, version 1.5 (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, Ind.). The automated method uses the MagNA Pure LC instrument and total nucleic acid reagents (Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, Ind.) to extract human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA from plasma specimens. We compared the HIV-1 load results for a dilution series (1 to 5 nominal log10 copies/ml) and 175 clinical specimens processed by the automated method to those for the same samples processed by the manual methods specified by the manufacturer. The sensitivity, dynamic range, and precision of the viral load assay obtained by automated processing of specimens were similar to those obtained by an ultrasensitive manual processing method. The results were highly correlated (R2, 0.95), and were in close agreement, with a mean difference of 0.09 log10 (standard deviation, 0.292). The limits of agreement were ±0.58 log10 for results for samples processed by both the manual and the automated methods. These performance characteristics were achieved with a smaller sample volume (200 versus 500 μl) and without a high-speed centrifugation step and required only 15 min of labor for a batch of 32 samples. In conclusion, the automated sample preparation protocol can replace both the standard and the ultrasensitive manual methods used with the AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR test and can substantially reduce the labor associated with this test.
Beyond Dual-Processes: The Interplay of Reason and Emotion in Moral Judgment 8

Abstract A great deal of research in moral psychology has focused on the interplaybetween emotion and reason during moral judgment, characterizing the two asforcesworkinginoppositiontoinﬂuencejudgment.Below,recentpsychologicalresearch on morality is reviewed, with a special focus on disgust and the natureof its role in moral and political judgment. Behavioral, neuroscience, andphysiologicaldata arereviewedlooking attheroleof disgustinmoraljudgment,with a particular emphasis on the role of emotion regulation – the process ofshifting emotional responses in order to meet one’s goals. It is suggested thatdual-process theories of moral judgment are not well suited to understand therole of emotion regulation in inﬂuencing moral judgments and decisions. The-ories that emphasize the primacy of one process over another may ultimately bemissing the complexity how these processes interact to inﬂuence moraljudgment. C. Helion ( * ) • D.A. PizarroDepartment of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USAe-mail: cah298@cornell.edu; pizarro@gmail.comJ. Clausen, N. Levy (eds.), Handbook of Neuroethics,DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-4707-4_160,#109Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015
Programmable Multispectral Imager Development as Light Weight Payload for Low Cost Fixed Wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

In this paper, we have developed a light-weight and cost-efficient multispectral imager payload for low cost fixed wing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that need no runway for takeoff and landing. The imager is band-reconfigurable, covering both visual (RGB) and near infrared (NIR) spectrum. The number of the RGB and NIR sensors is scalable, depending on the demands of specific applications. The UAV on-board microcomputer programs and controls the imager system, synchronizing each camera individually to capture airborne imagery. It also bridges the payload to the UAV system by sending and receiving message packages. The airborne imagery is time-stamped with the corresponding local and geodetic coordinates data measured by the onboard IMU (Inertia Measurement Unit) and GPS (Global Positioning System) module. Subsequently, the imagery will be orthorectified with the recorded geo-referencing data. The application of such imager system includes multispectral remote sensing, ground mapping, target recognition, etc. In this paper, we will outline the technologies, demonstrate our experimental results from actual UAV flight missions, and compare the results with our previous imager system.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Modulation of the gravitational waveform by the effect of radiation reaction

When we calculate gravitational waveforms from extreme-mass-ratio inspirals by metric perturbation, it is a common strategy to use the adiabatic approximation. Under that approximation, we first calculate the linear metric perturbation induced by geodesics orbiting a black hole, then we calculate the adiabatic evolution of the parameters of geodesics due to the radiation reaction effect through the calculation of the self-force. This procedure is considered to be reasonable, however, there is no direct proof that it can actually produce the correct waveform we would observe. In this paper, we study the formal expression of the second order metric perturbation and show that it can be expressed as the linear metric perturbation modulated by the adiabatic evolution of the geodesic. This evidence supports the assumption that the adiabatic approximation can produce the correct waveform, and that the adiabatic expansion we propose in Ref. [Y. Mino, Prog. Theor. Phys. 115, 43 (2006); Y. Mino, Prog. Theor. Phys. 113, 733 (2005); Y. Mino and R. Price (unpublished).] is an appropriate perturbation expansion for studying the radiation reaction effect on the gravitational waveform.
The effect of parathyroid hormone on the renal accumulation of lead.

Abstract The effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on renal accumulation of lead has been assessed in two experiments on mature rats. In the first experiment, lead was given per os, followed by subcutaneous injections of PTH (100 units of parathyroid extract, Lilly) or vehicle alone over the next 2 days. In the second experiment, anesthetized rats were given lead ± PTH (bovine 1–34, Beckman; primed with 1.33 μg and a constant infusion of 4.2 ng/minute) intravenously over a 2-hour period. In both experiments, PTH caused significant increments in renal lead concentration (52 and 29%, respectively) compared to groups treated with lead but not PTH. Since total body lead is also increased with PTH treatment in the first experiment, a gastrointestinal (GI) mechanism is suggested; however, stimulation of GI absorption cannot account for the effect in the second experiment in which lead was administered iv. In both experiments, the increment in renal lead in the absence of changes in lead in other soft tissues (liver, red cell, or plasma) suggests a selective effect of PTH on renal lead. The possible mechanisms for this effect are discussed.
A SYMMETRIC RIEMANN-HILBERT PROBLEM FOR ORDER-4 VECTORS IN DIFFRACTION THEORY

Summary A class of n × n matrices of the form G = R1 + a R2 (a is a scalar Hfunction defined on a contour L, R1 and R2 are rational matrices), which admit a closed-form Wiener-Hopf factorization is analyzed. It is shown that the diffraction problem ( E-polarization) for a penetrable right-angled wedge with an electrically resistive and a perfectly magnetically conductive sides can be formulated as a Riemann-Hilbert problem for two order-4 vectors with a 4 × 4 matrix coefficient G = R1 + a R2. This problem reduces to two scalar Riemann-Hilbert problems and one vector problem for two order-2 vectors with a certain constraint. The order-2 vector problem is solved by employing the theory of the scalar Riemann-Hilbert problem on a genus-1 Riemann surface. The component Ez of the electric field and the diffraction coefficient are determined.
Characterization of Iodine Derivatives of Aflatoxin B1 and G1 by Thermospray Mass Spectrometry

Thermospray mass spectrometry (TSMS) was used to identify the derivatives formed when iodine is reacted with aflatoxins B1 and G1 at approximately 70 degrees C to enhance fluorescence. It was found that stable derivatives were formed by addition of an iodine atom and a methoxy group across the double bond located on the furan ring of the aflatoxin B1 and G1 molecules. TSMS and TSMS/MS daughter spectra of the reaction products of aflatoxin B1 and G1 with iodine provide evidence of the addition of each moiety to produce the iodo-methoxy derivative. The addition of an iodine atom to one carbon and a methoxy group to the other carbon of the furan ring provided molecular weights of 470 and 486 for the products of aflatoxin B1 and G1, respectively.
Defective insulin secretion and increased susceptibility to experimental diabetes are induced by reduced Akt activity in pancreatic islet β cells

The insulin and IGF signaling pathways are critical for development and maintenance of pancreatic β cell mass and function. The serine-threonine kinase Akt is one of several mediators regulated by these pathways. We have studied the role of Akt in pancreatic β cell physiology by generating transgenic mice expressing a kinase-dead mutant of this enzyme in β cells. Reduction of Akt activity in transgenic animals resulted in impaired glucose tolerance due to defective insulin secretion. The mechanisms involved in dysregulation of secretion in these mice lie at the level of insulin exocytosis and are not the result of abnormalities in glucose signaling or function of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Therefore, transgenic mice showed increased susceptibility to developing glucose intolerance and diabetes following fat feeding. These observations suggest that Akt plays a novel and important role in the regulation of distal components of the secretory pathway and that this enzyme represents a therapeutic target for improvement of β cell function in diabetes.
Mechanisms of Mycotoxicity

One reason to study mechanisms of action of mycotoxins is to reveal the initial biochemical lesions leading to the progression of diseases associated with consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated foods and feeds. The focus of this chapter will be on recent research on biochemical and cellular mechanisms of action of selected mycotoxins. There have been prior and excellent reviews covering the mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenicity of mycotoxins (Kiessling 1986; Betinaj 1989; Chu 1991; Ueno 1991; Coulombe 1993).
The Role of Serotonin in Cortical Development: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract This chapter provides a review of basic research as well as clinical literature in support of the idea that altered serotonergic homeostasis is prominently involved in the pathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Animal models of cortical serotonergic effects in development and plasticity are reviewed and juxtaposed to neuropathological and clinical findings in ASD. Based on the emerging conceptualization of ASD as a developmental disorder of cortical connectivity, we present a hypothesis about the role of serotonin in altered cortical network formation, as a substrate for altered cognitive function. Investigations into the role of serotonin in immune regulation, and particularly neuroimmune regulation, support a role for serotonin in a variety of homeostatic functions that may be impaired in ASD and can contribute to altered brain development and function. A unified hypothesis such as proposed here could provide an avenue towards early identification of biomarkers as well as therapeutic strategies. We hope to provide an impetus for new investigations into a ‘serotonergic hypothesis’ for ASD.
Spatially distributed functional data

Chapters 13, 14 and 16 focused on functional time series. The present chapter and Chapter 18 deal with curves observed at spatial locations. The data consist of curves \(X(\mathbf{\mathrm{S}}_{k} ; t) \in [0, 1]\) observed at spatial locations \(\mathbf{\mathrm{S}}_{1}, \mathbf{\mathrm{S}}_{2}, \ldots, \mathbf{\mathrm{S}}_{N}\). We propose methods for the estimation of the mean function and the FPC’s for such data. We also develop a significance test for the correlation of two such functional spatial fields.
Post-Earnings Announcement Drift Around the Time of Equity Offerings

This paper examines delayed market reactions to previously reported earnings during periods of equity financing. Increased regulatory and legal burdens during the time interval surrounding the equity offering and management's incentives to minimize the cost of capital may lead to an increase in firm specific information available to the market before the financing occurs. This information may cause stock prices to adjust to the value implications of prior period's earnings before the equity offering. The results indicate that returns after the offering are significantly and positively related to the unexpected portion of earnings announced before the offering. This relation is not significantly different from the unexpected earnings/returns found during a period of no financing.
Evaluating Early Case Capture of Pediatric Cancers in Seven Central Cancer Registries in the United States, 2013.

OBJECTIVE Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in children, but incidence data are not available until two years after diagnosis, thereby delaying data dissemination and research. An early case capture (ECC) surveillance program was piloted in seven state cancer registries to register pediatric cancer cases within 30 days of diagnosis. We sought to determine the quality of ECC data and understand pilot implementation. METHODS We used quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate ECC. We assessed data quality by comparing demographic and clinical characteristics from the initial ECC submission to a resubmission of ECC pilot data and to the most recent year of routinely collected cancer data for each state individually and in aggregate. We conducted telephone focus groups with registry staff to determine ECC practices and difficulties in August and September 2013. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded to identify themes. RESULTS Comparing ECC initial submissions with submissions for all states, ECC data were nationally representative for age (9.7 vs. 9.9 years) and sex (673 of 1,324 [50.9%] vs. 42,609 of 80,547 [52.9%] male cases), but not for primary site (472 of 1,324 [35.7%] vs. 27,547 of 80,547 [34.2%] leukemia/lymphoma cases), behavior (1,219 of 1,324 [92.1%] vs. 71,525 of 80,547 [88.8%] malignant cases), race/ethnicity (781 of 1,324 [59.0%] vs. 64,518 of 80,547 [80.1%] white cases), or diagnostic confirmation (1,233 of 1,324 [93.2%] vs. 73,217 of 80,547 [90.9%] microscopically confirmed cases). When comparing initial ECC data with resubmission data, differences were seen in race/ethnicity (808 of 1,324 [61.1%] vs. 1,425 of 1,921 [74.2%] white cases), primary site (475 of 1,324 [35.9%] vs. 670 of 1,921 [34.9%] leukemia/lymphoma cases), and behavior (1,215 of 1,324 [91.8%] vs. 1,717 of 1,921 [89.4%] malignant cases). Common themes from focus group analysis included implementation challenges and facilitators, benefits of ECC, and utility of ECC data. CONCLUSIONS ECC provided data rapidly and reflected national data overall with differences in several data elements. ECC also expanded cancer reporting infrastructure and increased data completeness and timeliness. Although challenges related to timeliness and increased work burden remain, indications suggest that researchers may reliably use these data for pediatric cancer studies.
A SPRINT to the finish, or just the beginning? Implications of the SPRINT results for nephrologists

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) demonstrated a significant reduction in major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with intensive blood pressure control in older individuals at high cardiovascular risk, including patients with chronic kidney disease and mild proteinuria. Nephrologists should consider the SPRINT results when determining the optimal blood pressure target for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Influence maximization in undirected networks

We consider the problem of finding a set of k vertices of maximum total influence in a given undirected network, under the independent cascade (IC) model of influence spread. It is known that influence is monotone and submodular in the IC model, and hence a greedy algorithm achieves a (1--1/e) approximation to this problem. Moreover, it is known to be NP-hard to achieve a better approximation factor in directed networks.We show that for undirected networks, this approximation barrier can be overcome: the greedy algorithm obtains an (1--1/e + c) approximation to the set of optimal influence, for some constant c > 0. Our proof proceeds via probabilistic analysis of bond percolation in arbitrary finite networks. We also show that the influence maximization problems remains APX-hard in undirected networks.
Reply to Hollingshead

Parsonian theory has more often than not been misunderstood by the sociological public. By way of a meaning analysis an attempt is made to uncover the basic premises of the theory which make all the difference-that is, those centering around the solution of two intrinsically connected problems: first, the methodological problem of order; second, the social problem of order. When writing on the general theory of action from a geographical distance one cannot help noticing-ethnomethodologically, if you likethe extent to which an exploration into its methodological and substantive structures may gain depth by widening one's focus to include the environment it exchanges with. Identities show up at boundaries. Investigating the premises of Parsonian theory, therefore, essentially includes illumination of the dialectics of its reflection in the professional discussion of its students and critics-and the stand the theory takes in return. The most relevant environment-i.e., forum This content downloaded from 157.55.39.35 on Fri, 02 Sep 2016 04:14:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
The effect of immunosuppression on oncogenesis by murine sarcoma virus.

SummaryIn adult CBA/Wh mice the incidence and mean latency periods of tumors appearing following infection with MSV were dependent upon the dose of virus inoculated and the immunological state of the host. Animals of reduced immunological competence had a 10-fold higher susceptibility to tumor induction as well as a decreased latency period to tumor appearance compared with controls. Moreover, whereas these tumors regressed in intact adult mice, they tended to grow progressively in immunosup-pressed hosts. These results indicate that the immunological competence of the host is a prime determinant of susceptibility to the oncogenic action of murine sarcoma virus.
Diversity in flowering plants and their characteristics: integrating humans as a driver of urban floral resources

Urban neighborhoods vary in development intensity and in the life style and demographics of their residents. Decisions made by urban residents affect plant communities, their functional characteristics, and the floral resources they provide. We recorded flowers in front-facing yards in 58 neighborhoods in Chicago, IL (USA) and examined patterns in community composition and species turnover between neighborhoods. We investigated how species richness and plant characteristics, including origin, cultivation intent, and life cycle, are affected by neighborhood socioeconomic factors. Urban plant species tended to be perennial, ornamental, and non-native. White clover had the broadest distribution and the highest floral abundance but was not present in several of the highest-income neighborhoods. Although we found 144 morpho-species across neighborhoods, most occurred infrequently. Species turnover was highest for ornamental species and lowest for weedy species, suggesting that intentional plantings are driving beta diversity across the landscape. We found the highest species richness in neighborhoods with intermediate numbers of Hispanic and white residents and with intermediate number of residential lots; neighborhoods with racially or ethnically homogenous populations had fewer plant species. The high frequency of weeds in low-income neighborhoods, the occurrence of certain ornamental plant species in whiter, wealthier communities, and high turnover of species from one neighborhood to another, all suggest a disparity in plant-related ecosystem services across cities. Complexity in urban plantings may be influenced by the suite of perspectives that residents bring towards habitat management. Cultivation sustains a diversity of plants and creates a disparity in plant traits by neighborhood socioeconomics.
Sialosis, Gout Induced or Idiopathic? Case Report

Sialosis is observed in relation to diabetes, alcoholism, and malnutrition. An assumed relation between gout and sialosis is probably based on confusion that originated from the therapeutic use of phenylbutazone for gout and the sialadenitis that the medication caused. This report describes a case of sialosis in a patient with a longstanding history of gout that was idiopathic in origin.
The On-Demand Economy and How We Live: Communication, Information, Media and Entertainment

DCT has provided choices over content and the vehicle for consuming media content. Unbundling enables the authors of content, the sellers, to be separate from the distributors, or buyers, of their creations. This induces both sides to innovate in the creation, curation and dissemination process, as exemplified by user-generated content in social media and product reviews. Consumption of content is a choice between ownership of individual units in the content bundle; renting via streaming or temporary ownership and the traditional format of purchasing the entire bundle via download. The distinction, from a consumption point of view, between a product that is owned and a service that incurs a one-time fee has been dissolved – access is all that matters.
Detecting central fixation by means of artificial neural networks in a pediatric vision screener using retinal birefringence scanning

Reliable detection of central fixation and eye alignment is essential in the diagnosis of amblyopia (“lazy eye”), which can lead to blindness. Our lab has developed and reported earlier a pediatric vision screener that performs scanning of the retina around the fovea and analyzes changes in the polarization state of light as the scan progresses. Depending on the direction of gaze and the instrument design, the screener produces several signal frequencies that can be utilized in the detection of central fixation. The objective of this study was to compare artificial neural networks with classical statistical methods, with respect to their ability to detect central fixation reliably. A classical feedforward, pattern recognition, two-layer neural network architecture was used, consisting of one hidden layer and one output layer. The network has four inputs, representing normalized spectral powers at four signal frequencies generated during retinal birefringence scanning. The hidden layer contains four neurons. The output suggests presence or absence of central fixation. Backpropagation was used to train the network, using the gradient descent algorithm and the cross-entropy error as the performance function. The network was trained, validated and tested on a set of controlled calibration data obtained from 600 measurements from ten eyes in a previous study, and was additionally tested on a clinical set of 78 eyes, independently diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. In the first part of this study, a neural network was designed around the calibration set. With a proper architecture and training, the network provided performance that was comparable to classical statistical methods, allowing perfect separation between the central and paracentral fixation data, with both the sensitivity and the specificity of the instrument being 100%. In the second part of the study, the neural network was applied to the clinical data. It allowed reliable separation between normal subjects and affected subjects, its accuracy again matching that of the statistical methods. With a proper choice of a neural network architecture and a good, uncontaminated training data set, the artificial neural network can be an efficient classification tool for detecting central fixation based on retinal birefringence scanning.
Stretch-dependent changes in molecular conformation in fibronectin nanofibers

Fibronectin (FN) is an extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein that plays an important role in a wide range of biological processes including embryonic development, wound healing, and fibrosis. Recent evidence has demonstrated that FN is mechanosensitive, where the application of force induces conformational changes within the FN molecule to expose otherwise cryptic binding domains. However, it has proven technically challenging to dynamically monitor how the nanostructure of FN fibers changes as a result of force-induced extension, due in part to the inherent complexity of FN networks within tissue and cell-generated extracellular matrix (ECM). This has limited our understanding of FN matrix mechanobiology and the complex bi-directional signaling between cells and the ECM, and de novo FN fiber fabrication strategies have only partially addressed this. Towards addressing this need, we have developed a modified surface-initiated assembly (SIA) technique to engineer FN nanofibers that we can uniaxially stretch to >7-fold extensions and subsequently immobilize them in the stretched state for high resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Using this approach, we analyzed how the nanostructure of FN molecules within the nanofibers changed with stretch. In fully contracted FN nanofibers, we observed large, densely packed, isotropically-oriented nodules. With intermediate extension, uniaxially-aligned fibrillar regions developed and nodules became progressively smaller. At high extension, the nanostructure consisted of highly aligned fibrils with small nodules in a beads-on-a-string arrangement. In summary, we have established a methodology to uniaxially stretch FN fibers and monitor changes in nanostructure using AFM. Our results provide new insight into how FN fiber extension can affect the morphology of the constituent FN molecules.
Economic Burden of Illness among Persons with Hemophilia B from HUGS Vb: Examining the Association of Severity and Treatment Regimens with Costs and Annual Bleed Rates

Abstract Objectives To determine US societal burden of illness, including direct and indirect costs and annual bleed rate (ABR), for persons with hemophilia B (HB), a rare and debilitating genetic disorder, and to examine associations of hemophilia severity and treatment regimens with costs and ABR. Methods From 2009 to 2014, the Hemophilia Utilization Group Studies Part Vb collected prospective data from 10 US hemophilia treatment centers. Participants with HB completed initial surveys on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and treatment patterns. During the 2-year follow-up, participants reported bleeding episodes, work absenteeism, and caregiver time quarterly. These data were used to calculate ABR and indirect costs. Direct costs were calculated using 1-year clinical chart records and 2-year dispensing records. Results Of the 148 participants, 112 with complete medical records and one or more follow-up survey were included. Total mean annual per-person costs were $85,852 (median $20,160) for mild/moderate HB, $198,733 (median $147,891) for severe HB, and $140,240 (median $63,617) for all participants without inhibitors ( P P P P P P = 0.17) and ABR ( P Conclusions HB is associated with high economic burden, primarily because of clotting factor costs. Nevertheless, prophylaxis treatment leads to clinical benefits and may reduce other nonfactor costs.
Modeling Net Photosynthesis Based on Temperature and Light in Colonial Phaeocystis Antarctica Karsten

The genus Phaeocystis plays an important role in polar ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. It blooms frequently and when abundant often contributes more than 50% of the total phytoplankton biomass (1). When blooms of this organism do occur, they are often monospecific in nature or either codominate with very few other species. By nature of the size difference between the single cells (3–8 μm) and millimeter-sized colonies of its lifecycle, it may preferentially offer a food source to the microbial food web while in its single cell stage or alternatively to the traditional food web while in its colonial life stage. It may serve as a significant dissolved organic matter source through exudation or colonial lysis to the microbial food web.
Anomalous Paramagnetism in Closed-Shell Molecular Semiconductors

Anomalous electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals from formally closed-shell phthalocyanines have been a longstanding mystery. For the past few decades, this illogical observation has remained unexplored because of the belief that it is unique to only the one class of chromophores, namely, phthalocyanines. Here we show that, in fact, a broad structural range of molecular semiconductors, including pentacene, diindenoperylenes, rylene diimides, pyrrolo[c]pyrroles, and indenofluorenes, show a strong, clear EPR signal (X-band) in the solid state, which is not present in the solution EPR spectra of the same compounds. Further, magnetic susceptibility measurements confirm that these formally closed-shell molecules are paramagnetic (as bulk powders), even at low temperatures. In some compounds, the intensity of the EPR signal or value of magnetic susceptibility increases after sample purification via physical vapor transport. EPR signal evolution can be directly correlated to the evolution of molecular agg...
Physical and Cognitive Functions, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.

Background and purpose Older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience age-related declines in physical and cognitive functions that may be compounded by the disease and its progression and worsened by physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. However, the extent to which impairments in physical and cognitive functions are manifestations of MS and disease progression, reflective of the general aging process, or perhaps 2 detrimental processes exacerbating the synergistic effects of the other is relatively unknown. This study compared physical and cognitive functions, sedentary behavior, and physical activity between 40 older adults with MS (ie, 60 years of age and older) and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy older adults. We further examined whether physical activity and/or sedentary behavior explained differences between groups in physical and cognitive functions. Methods Participants initially underwent the cognitive assessments, followed by the physical function assessments. The order of tests was standardized and participants were provided seated-rest between the administrations of the physical function assessments. Participants were then instructed to wear an accelerometer and document wear time in a log book for a 7-day period after the testing session. Results Multivariate analyses of variance indicated that older adults with MS (n = 40) performed worse on all measures of physical function, and 1 measure of cognitive function (ie, information-processing speed), compared with healthy controls (n = 40). Older adults with MS engaged in less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, more sedentary behavior, and longer duration of long sedentary bouts than healthy controls. Pearson correlations demonstrated that levels and patterns of physical activity were significantly associated with a majority of physical function variables but not cognitive function variables in both older adults with MS and healthy controls but to a greater extent in older adults with MS. Partial Pearson correlations further demonstrated that levels and patterns of sedentary behavior were significantly associated with a majority of physical function variables but not cognitive function variables primarily in older adults with MS. Linear regression analyses indicated that levels and patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior partially accounted for differences in physical and cognitive function variables between older adults with MS and healthy controls. Conclusion There is evidence of reduced function in older adults with MS, and this might be partially managed by behavioral interventions that target physical activity and sedentary behavior for the promotion of healthy aging in older adults with MS.
SRC: automatic extraction of phrase-level map labels from historical maps

Historical maps are important resources for various kinds of studies, providing insights for natural science and social science studies such as biology, landscape changes, and history [1]. However, text recognition on maps remains a challenging task because map usually has a complex background in which textual content appears in numerous colors, fonts, sizes, and orientations. Even if we were able to acquire perfectly recognized words and characters automatically, it is still difficult to generate useful information because individual words are not meaningful. For example, a typical result from OCR scanning or manual map digitization is that each recognized bounding box only contains a single word (Figure 1).
Halide Perovskites for Selective Ultraviolet-Harvesting Transparent Photovoltaics

Summary Halide perovskite materials have emerged as a potential Si replacement with excellent photovoltaic properties. There has been growing interest in applying halide perovskites to semitransparent and spatially segmented transparent photovoltaics (TPVs) to enable a greater range of deployment routes. However, the continuous-band absorption of these semiconductors prevents near-infrared selective harvesting typically targeted for TPVs with the highest efficiency and transparency needed to meet the aesthetic demands of many potential applications. In this work, we demonstrate TPVs based on perovskite semiconductors where the band gap is sensitively tuned with a range of compositions to selectively harvest only ultraviolet photons with band gaps between 410 and 440 nm. This approach offers theoretical efficiencies up to 7% with >99% visible transparency when precisely targeting band gaps around 435 nm. Practical optimization of these perovskite cells could quickly yield TPVs with power conversion efficiencies rivaling state-of-the-art near-infrared harvesting TPVs today while also providing a route to higher-efficiency multi-junction TPVs.
S-Wave Superconductivity in the t — J Model with Two Planes

We discuss an electronic model consisting of two planes, each described by a t — J model, coupled by an antiferromagnetic interaction J′ between planes. For J′≥ J we show the presence of a spin-gap in the spectrum and hole-pair formation upon doping. The model superconducts away from half-filling. We support our claims by numerical studies of binding energy of holes and pairing correlations on finite clusters. The pairing operator is an s — wave spin-singlet with one member of the pair in each plane. Although all interactions are explicitly repulsive, our model belongs to the universality class of the U < 0 Hubbard model with |U| ≫ t. We argue that this model can be physically realized in the two Cu-O layers of the unit cell of YBa2Cu3O6+x and also in the orthorhombic compound (VO)2P2O7.