cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fatty acid analysis tool (FAAT): An FT-ICR MS lipid analysis algorithm.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is becoming an established tool for the investigation of lipids. As the methods for lipid analysis become more mature and their throughput increases, computer algorithms for the interpretation of such data will become a necessity. Toward this end, an algorithm dedicated to the analysis of Fourier transform mass spectral data from lipid extracts has been developed. The algorithm, Fatty Acid Analysis Tool, termed FAAT, has been successfully used to investigate complex lipid extracts containing thousands of components, from various species of mycobacteria including M. tuberculosis and M. abscessus. FAAT is rapid, generally taking tens of seconds to interpret multiple spectra, and accessible to most users as it is implemented in Microsoft Excel Visual Basic Software. In the reduction of data, FAAT begins by scaling spectra (i.e., to account for dilution factors), identifying monoisotopic ions, and assigning isotope packets. Unique features of FAAT include the followin...
Filtered Indices and Their Use in Flexible Schema Scenarios

Efficient and convenient handling of heterogeneous data is a current challenge for data management systems. In this paper, we discuss several common relational approaches to represent heterogeneity and argue for a design based on a single wide-table, referred to as a flexible schema. For this scenario, we focus on partial indexation and its support for efficient data storage and processing. Filtered indices provide partial indexation functionality in the Microsoft SQL Server product. We describe here the implementation of this feature, including index utilization in queries, index maintenance and query parameterization issues. Our performance experiments validate the expected benefits of the approach in our implementation.
Multi-contrast Photoacoustic Microscopy

We developed multi-contrast photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) for in vivo anatomical, functional, metabolic, and molecular imaging. This technical innovation enables comprehensive understanding of the tumor microenvironment. With multi-contrast PAM, we longitudinally determined tumor vascular anatomy, blood flow, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, and oxygen extraction fraction.
The infant with chronic vomiting: the value of the upper GI series.

Background. Vomiting is very common in infants. It is usually attributed to gastroesophageal reflux and no radiological evaluation is performed. Pediatric radiologists, however, still perform many upper GI series in these infants to exclude an underlying anatomic abnormality as a cause for vomiting.
Multiple childcare arrangements and health outcomes in early childhood.

This study examined the associations between multiple childcare arrangements and young children’s health problems. This study used three waves of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Birth Cohort, collected from a nationally representative sample of children when they were 9 months old, 2 years old, and 4 years old (N = 7,150). ‘Multiple childcare arrangements’ was defined and measured by the number of non-parental childcare arrangements that occurred on a regular basis. During each wave of the data collection, the mother reported the number of regular childcare arrangements by three types: relative care, non-relative care, and center-based care. These numbers were summed to calculate the total number of arrangements. The mother also reported the incidence of ear infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, asthma diagnosis, and unintentional injuries of the child. Random effects and fixed effects regression models were used to estimate the association between the number of childcare arrangements and measures of early childhood health problems. Increases in the total number of childcare arrangements were associated with an elevated risk of ear infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, and diagnosed asthma in children. Further analysis indicates that increases in both the number of center-based care and non-relative care (but not relative care) arrangements can lead to a greater chance of health problems in young children. Multiple childcare arrangements are associated with communicable illness and diagnosed asthma in early childhood and appear to be a risk factor for health problems in early childhood.
Features of severe asthma in school-age children: Atopy and increased exhaled nitric oxide

Background Children with severe asthma have persistent symptoms despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). The differentiating features of severe asthma in children are poorly defined. Objective To identify features of severe versus mild-to-moderate asthma in school-age children using noninvasive assessments of lung function, atopy, and airway inflammation. Methods A total of 75 children (median age, 10 years) with asthma underwent baseline characterization including spirometry and lung volume testing, methacholine bronchoprovocation, allergy evaluation, and offline measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (F ENO ). Twenty-eight were followed longitudinally over 6 months. Participants were assigned to the severe asthma subgroup if they required high-dose ICS plus 2 or more minor criteria. Results Children with severe versus mild-to-moderate asthma had more symptoms, greater airway obstruction, more gas trapping, and increased bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. Subjects with severe asthma also had higher concentrations of F ENO and significantly greater sensitization to aeroallergens. With long-term study, both the reduction in FEV 1 and increase in F ENO persisted in the severe versus mild-to-moderate group. Furthermore, despite adjustments in ICS doses, the frequency of exacerbations was significantly higher in subjects with severe (83%) versus mild-to-moderate asthma (43%). Conclusion Severe asthma in childhood is characterized by poor symptom control despite high-dose ICS treatment and can be differentiated from mild-to-moderate asthma by measurement of lung function and F ENO . Clinical implications Clinicians should suspect severe asthma in children with poor response to ICS, airway obstruction, and high F ENO .
Nationalism, individualism, and capitalism: Reply to Greenfeld

Abstract Reversing the arguments of Anderson, Gellner, and Hobs‐bawm, Liah Greenfeld contends that it is nationalism that produces economic development. Specifically, she claims that nationalism inspired three seminal economic thinkers: Marx, List, and Smith. However, Greenfeld's ideological preferences lead her to a problematic conception of individualism as nationalism, as well as to flawed treatments of Smith, List, and Marx. Nationalism is better understood as an attempt to address the deepening conflict between the imperative of community and the secular trends of the marketplace, which challenge national sovereignty and democracy.
Preliminary evaluation of a high-resolution workstation for diagnostic interpretation of portable radiographs

A cost effectiveness study on the feasibility of using computed radiography (CR) instead of screen-film methods for portable radiographs indicates that we could only justify CR if film were eliminated. Before purchasing CR equipment, we needed to evaluate the use of softcopy to replace film for routine clinical use. The evaluation had to cover image quality, human factors, and efficiency measures. Screen-film radiographs were digitized and used to simulate CR in two studies. The first study evaluated the quality of digitized images and the workstation user interface. Twenty-one radiographs were selected at random from scopes in the radiology department, were digitized, and transferred to a megascan workstation. Five radiologists were asked to assess the quality of the images and the ease of operation of the workstation while an observer recorded their comments and scores. The second study evaluated the feasibility of using the workstation in a clinical environment. Four radiologists read adult and pediatric portable images in film and softcopy format. Reports were evaluated for differences and timing statistics were kept. The results of the first study indicate that image quality may be acceptable for diagnostic purposes and suggests some changes in the user interface. Newborn infant images were the least acceptable in softcopy, largely due to magnification artifacts introduced when viewing very small images. The evaluation was based on a digitizer as a simulator for a CR unit and the digitizer did not exhibit the same resolution characteristics as CR. Films that were unacceptable from the digitizer are expected to be acceptable with CR. The results of the second study indicated that the high resolution diagnostic workstation could be used in a clinical setting, and that the diagnostic readings were not significantly different between film and softcopy displays. The results also indicated that, depending on the radiologist and the type of images, more time was required to read from the workstation and that the increased time was spent using window/level and magnification/roam functions. This preliminary study suggests that the high resolution workstation developed at the University of Florida has adequate quality and functionality to be used for diagnostic interpretation of portable radiographs if given high resolution images. However, further investigation is indicated before we eliminate film in a CR environment.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Juvenile sparrows preferentially eavesdrop on adult song interactions

Recent research has demonstrated that bird song learning is influenced by social factors, but so far has been unable to isolate the particular social variables central to the learning process. Here we test the hypothesis that eavesdropping on singing interactions of adults is a key social event in song learning by birds. In a field experiment, we compared the response of juvenile male song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) to simulated adult counter-singing versus simulated solo singing. We used radio telemetry to follow the movements of each focal bird and assess his response to each playback trial. Juveniles approached the playback speakers when exposed to simulated interactive singing of two song sparrows, but not when exposed to simulated solo singing of a single song sparrow, which in fact they treated similar to heterospecific singing. Although the young birds approached simulated counter-singing, neither did they approach closely, nor did they vocalize themselves, suggesting that the primary function of approach was to permit eavesdropping on these singing interactions. These results indicate that during the prime song-learning phase, juvenile song sparrows are attracted to singing interactions between adults but not to singing by a single bird and suggest that singing interactions may be particularly powerful song-tutoring events.
An Ahemolytic Pneumolysin of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Manipulates Human Innate and CD4+ T-Cell Responses and Reduces Resistance to Colonization in Mice in a Serotype-Independent Manner

Background. Some Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes express an ahemolytic pneumolysin (PLYa). Serotypes that commonly express PLYa, including serotype 8 (ST8) and ST1, are often associated with a low prevalence during colonization but a higher propensity to cause invasive disease. We sought to study the host response to ST8 PLYa in a homologous and heterologous capsular background. Methods. We genetically exchanged the PLYa of ST8 strain 6308 with the hemolytic PLY (PLYh) of ST3 A66.1 and vice versa and determined the impact of the exchange on nasopharyngeal colonization in mice. Then, to compare the response of human cells to PLYa-expressing and PLYh-expressing strains, we infected human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with PLY-switched strains and assessed dendritic cell and CD4+ T-cell responses by intracellular cytokine staining. Result. Mice colonized with PLYa-expressing strains had significantly higher colonization densities than those colonized with PLYh-expressing strains, irrespective of capsular background. Compared with infection of PBMCs with PLYh-expressing strains, infection with PLYa-expressing strains induced diminished innate (dendritic cell cytokines, costimulatory receptor, and apoptotic) and adaptive (CD4+ T-cell proliferative and memory interleukin 17A) responses. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrate that PLYa has the potential to manipulate host immunity irrespective of capsule type. PLY exchange between STs expressing PLYa and PLYh could lead to unexpected colonization or invasion phenotypes.
Displacement history and slip rate on the Reelfoot fault of the New Madrid seismic zone

Abstract A displacement history and slip rates were determined for the Reelfoot fault in the New Madrid seismic zone from a seismic reflection profile and trench data. Based on calculations from the seismic reflection line the average slip rate over the last 80 million years is 0.0009 mm year −1 . Slip rate during the Late Cretaceous was 0.0007 mm year −1 , 0.002 mm year −1 during the Paleocene Midway Group, 0.001 mm year −1 during Paleocene–Eocene Wilcox Formation time, 0.0003 mm year −1 during the post-Wilcox/pre-Holocene period, and a Holocene slip rate of 1.8 mm year −1 . Based on trench data, slip rate on the Reelfoot fault has been 4.4 mm year −1 over the last 2400 years and a maximum of 6.2 mm year −1 during the two most recent earthquake cycles between AD 900 and AD 1812. The Holocene slip rate is at least four orders of magnitude higher than the average Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic slip rates for the Reelfoot fault. It would appear that there has been a Quaternary change in the stress field in the central United States or the Reelfoot fault is experiencing a short-lived burst of seismic activity.
Sustainable and Economical Precast and Prestressed Concrete Using Fly Ash as a Cement Replacement

Precast, prestressed concrete is used to construct a variety of structures. The primary Milwaukee area precast supplier chooses to make its product without using any fly ash. The argument is that using fly ash would reduce the early release strength of the concrete mix. This paper shows research to dispute that claim and then illustrates the monetary and environmental savings that could be achieved if fly ash is used as a cement substitute.
Multicast Queueing Delay: Performance Limits and Order-Optimality of Random Linear Coding

In this work we analyze the average queue backlog for transmission of a single multicast flow consisting of M destination nodes in a wireless network. In the model we consider, the channel between every pair of nodes is an independent identically distributed packet erasure channel. We first develop a lower bound on the average queue backlog achievable by any transmission strategy; for a single-hop multicast transmission, our bound indicates that the queue size must scale as at least Ω(ln(M)). Next, we generalize this result to a multihop network and obtain a lower bound on the queue backlog as it relates to the minimum-cut capacity of the network. We then analyze the queue backlog for a strategy in which random linear coding is performed over groups of packets in the queue at the source node of a single-hop multicast. We develop an upper bound on the average queue backlog for the packet-coding strategy to show that the queue size for this strategy scales as O(ln(M)). Our results demonstrate that in terms of the queue backlog for single-hop multicast, the packet coding strategy is order-optimal with respect to the number of receivers.
Optimal Slider-Disk Surface Topography for Head-Disk Interface Stability in Hard Disk Drives

In order to achieve an areal density of 1 Tb/in2 and beyond, not only the mechanical spacing between the slider and the disk but also the track misregistration (TMR) and the fly height modulation (FHM) should be reduced below current levels. But at reduced mechanical spacing there will be elevated excitation due to slider-disk contacts resulting in increased slider vibrations and head-disk interface (HDI) failures. Thus, there is a need to study the effect of slider-disk topography on the slider dynamics and stability at a higher level of complexity. In this paper, we do so by dividing the slider-disk surface features into three regimes based on the amplitude and the wavelength range of the features. Further, we have also proposed several ways of achieving an optimal slider-disk topography that can help reduce the slider vibrations and increase the stability of the HDI.
Genetic Dissection of Hematopoiesis Using the Zebrafish

Hematopoiesis during embryogenesis and adult life has been extensively studied in several vertebrate models. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has recendy provided a powerful genetic system to further dissect the molecular pathways of hematopoiesis. Large-scale genetic screens utilizing the zebrafish have identified blood mutants with defects in mesoderm patterning, hematopoietic stem cell generation and maintenance, hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, and erythoid differentiation. Cloning of the mutations has revealed both known and novel genes required for blood production, and served to underscore the strength of the zebrafish as a hematopoietic model. Continued study of zebrafish hematopoietic mutants offers an exciting venue to investigate hematopoiesis during vertebrate ontogeny, as well as to elucidate therapeutics for human blood diseases.
Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-Kinase-1β Is Essential for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-mediated Endocytosis

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is known to play an important role in signal transduction and membrane trafficking. We show that one enzyme responsible for PIP2 production, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type 1β (PIPKβ), is essential for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated endocytosis. Expression of murine PIPKβ in NR6 cells expressing EGFR strikingly increased receptor internalization. Moreover, the kinase was shown to form an immunoprecipitable complex with EGFR. Expression of either a truncated kinase or a kinase dead mutant inhibited EGFR endocytosis and also blocked the membrane recruitment of PIPKβ and both clathrin light chain and dynamin. Our results delineate a novel mechanism by which PIPKβ regulates receptor-mediated endocytosis and receptor tyrosine kinase membrane traffic.
What We Can Learn From Shamanic Healing: Brief Psychotherapy With Latino Immigrant Clients

The author, a medical anthropologist and licensed psychotherapist, draws on a database of 700 Latino immigrant families whom she has treated to demonstrate concepts and techniques of psychotherapeutic intervention that are derived from shamanic roots in the immigrant’s original culture. Congruences may exist between the shamanic techniques of the coastal and Amazonian regions of Peru and 3 Western psychotherapy techniques—hypnosis, behavior modification, and cognitive restructuring. By using historic links with Hispanic culture and the techniques discussed in the commentary, psychotherapists can acquire cultural competence that will enable them to effectively reduce mental illness symptoms presented by US Latino immigrants in clinical practice.
Performance Analysis of Space-Time Spreading DS-CDMA Systems over Fast-Fading General Time-Correlated Channels

This paper examines the performance of the space-time spreading (STS), DS-CDMA in a fast-fading general time-correlated Rayleigh channel. The transmitter employs two orthogonal codes to space-time spread the incoming symbols and generates STS symbols for transmission from two transmit antennas over a frequency flat channel. We present an analytical study of the performance of such system when the channel is rapidly varying from one symbol to another and show that it depends on the channel time correlation coefficient. A closed form expression for the probability of bit error as a function of the channel correlation and the input signal to noise ratio is also derived, showing that it increases as the channel correlation increases for a given signal-to-noise ratio. As expected, a lower bound on the bit error rate (BER) is achieved when the channel varies independently from one symbol to another while the upper bound is achieved when the channel is quasi-static. The analytical results depict total agreement with the simulation results.
Primordial rhythmic bursting in embryonic cochlear ganglion cells.

This study examined the nature of spontaneous discharge patterns in cochlear ganglion cells in embryonic day 13 (E13) to early E17 chicken embryos (stages 39–43). Neural recordings were made with glass micropipettes. No sound-driven activity was seen for the youngest embryos (maximum intensity 107 dB sound pressure level). Ganglion cells were labeled with biotinylated dextran amine in four embryos. In two animals, primary afferents projected to hair cells in the middle region along the length of the basilar papilla in which, in one cell, the terminals occupied a neural transverse position and, in the other, a more abneural location. Statoacoustic ganglion cells showing no spontaneous activity were seen for the first time in the chicken. The proportion of “silent” cells was largest at the youngest stages (stage 39, 67%). In active cells, mean spontaneous discharge rates [9.4 ± 10.4 spikes (Sp)/sec; n = 44] were lower than rates for older embryos (19 ± 17 Sp/sec) (Jones and Jones, 2000). Embryos at stages 39–41 evidenced even lower rates (4.2 ± 5.0 Sp/sec). The most salient feature of spontaneous activity for stages 39–43 was a bursting discharge pattern in >75% of active neurons (33 of 44). Moreover, in 55% of these cells, there was a clear, slow, rhythmic bursting pattern. The proportion of cells showing rhythmic bursting was greatest at the youngest stages (39–42) and decreased to
Multiparameter trend monitoring and intelligent displays using wavelet analysis

An Intelligent Patient Monitoring (IPM) framework is defined for the analysis and display of multiparameter trends from ICU patients. Wavelet analysis was utilized for detection of physiological events and artifacts in long-term trends. A group of 58 patients from the MIMIC database were identified in which the heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (ABP), and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were monitored. An estimated cardiac output (CO) signal, using HR and ABP, was shown to correlate strongly (r=.67) with actual CO measurements. Using wavelet analysis, automated artifact and physiological event detection algorithms were developed to monitor left ventricular hemodynamic function. Finally, an intelligent display system is presented for presentation of the data in ICU monitors.
Early therapy for Parkinson's disease.

The management of patients with early Parkinson’s disease should now take into account the possibility that MAO-B inhibitors may provide neuroprotective therapy, that dopamine undergoes oxidative metabolism and has the potential to generate cytotoxic free radicals, and that the early employment of drugs which provide sustained central dopamine agonism may delay the development of adverse effects associated with chronic levodopa therapy. The aim of treatment for patients with early Parkinson’s disease is to utilize strategies designed to address these issues without compromising clinical control. These approaches are reviewed.
HFE mutations in α-1-antitrypsin deficiency: An examination of cirrhotic explants

Increased iron deposition is often seen in liver explants with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, but it remains unclear if this is a nonspecific effect of end-stage liver disease or if individuals with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and excess iron are at increased risk for HFE mutations. To further examine this question, 45 liver explants with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and 33 control livers with chronic hepatitis C were examined for histological iron accumulation, graded on a scale of 0 to 4+, and HFE mutations. Interestingly, the alpha-1-antitrypsin cirrhotic livers showed a bimodal distribution of iron accumulation, with peaks at grades 1 and 3. In contrast, hepatitis C cirrhotic livers showed a unimodal distribution with a peak at grade 2. HFE mutations in livers with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency were as follows: C282Y=2%, H63D=42%. H63D mutations were more frequent in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency cases than in controls (42 vs 27%), but was not statistically significant, P=0.17. However, there was a significant association with HFE mutations in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency livers with grade 3+ or 4+ iron, P=0.02. In contrast, livers with hepatitis C showed a similar frequency of HFE mutations as the general population: C282Y=15%, H63D=27%. A rare S65C mutation and a novel A271S mutation were also found in this study; the latter patient had 4+ iron in the liver and later developed heart failure with cardiac iron. In conclusion, total H63D mutations were high (42%) in cirrhotics with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and there was a significant association between HFE mutations and high levels of iron accumulation.
A call for an evidence-based evaluation of late midtrimester abortion.

March 29, 2004 marked the beginning of the US government’s defense of the so-called ‘‘Partial-Birth’’ Abortion Ban (Public Law 108-105). The bill was signed into law by President Bush on November 5 of 2003 after considerable debate, but it has yet to be enforced after 3 court challenges were quickly filed in New York, San Francisco, and Lincoln, Nebraska. Initial physician testimony in defense of the ban has included reference to the fact there is little medical literature addressing the safety of the intact dilation and extraction (D & X) procedure. Indeed, on the occasion of its passage, Senate majority leader Bill Frist, a physician, suggested that the passage of the law would save lives. Given the paucity of published reports on this procedure, a variant of the far more commonly performed dilation and evacuation (D & E), it is timely that this month’s issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology includes an article by Chasen et al which compares the safety and outcome of D & E vs intact D & X in late second trimester abortions (O20 wk). While the study is retrospective and the number of cases evaluated modest, these results, presented from an academic medical center, provide considerable reassurance as to the safety of the intact D & X procedure in the hands of accomplished gynecologic surgeons. It has been widely suggested as part of the justification for the ‘‘partial-birth’’ abortion ban legislation that the maternal risks associated with the procedure are significantly increased over other available techniques for midtrimester pregnancy termination (D & E, induction). Specifically, Sprang and Neerhof suggested
X-Ray Diffraction Study of Cs5(HSO4)3(H2PO4)2, a New Solid Acid with a Unique Hydrogen-Bond Network☆

Solid solution investigations in the CsHSO₄-CsH₂PO₄ system, carried out as part of an ongoing effort to elucidate the relationship between proton conduction, hydrogen bonding, and phase transitions, yielded the new compound Cs₅(HSO₄)₃(H₂PO₄)₂. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods revealed that Cs₅(HSO₄)₃(H₂PO₄)₂ crystallizes in space group C2/c (or possibly Cc), has lattice parameters a=34.066(19)A, b=7.661(4)A, c=9.158(6)A, and β=90.44(6)°, a unit cell volume of 2389.9(24)A³, a density of 3.198 Mg m⁻³, and four formula units in the unit cell. Sixteen non-hydrogen atoms and five hydrogen sites were located in the asymmetric unit, the latter on the basis of geometric considerations rather than from Fourier difference maps. Refinement using anisotropic temperature factors for all non-hydrogen atoms and fixed isotropic temperature factors for all hydrogen atoms yielded residuals based on F² (weighted) and F values, respectively, of 0.0767 and 0.0340 for observed reflections F²>2σ(F²). The structure contains layers of (CsH₂XO₄)₂ that alternate with layers of (CsHXO₄)₃, where X is P or S. The arrangement of Cs, H, and XO₄ groups within the two types of layers is almost identical to that in the end-member compounds, CsH₂PO₄ and CsHSO₄-II, respectively. Although P and S each reside on two of the three X atom sites in Cs₅(HSO₄)₃(H₂PO₄)₂, the number of protons in the structure appears fixed, In addition, the correlation of S-O and S-OH bond distances with O ... O distances, where the latter represents the distance between two hydrogen-bonded oxygen atoms, was determined from a review of literature data.
Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in US Meat and Poultry

We characterized the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and genotypes of Staphylococcus aureus among US meat and poultry samples (n = 136). S. aureus contaminated 47% of samples, and multidrug resistance was common among isolates (52%). S. aureus genotypes and resistance profiles differed significantly among sample types, suggesting food animal–specific contamination.
FTIR‐ATR Study of pH Effects on Egg Albumin Secondary Structure

Abstract The pH effects on the secondary structures of egg albumin were investigated using Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflection (FTIR‐ATR) technique with a single‐bounce diamond crystal. The albumin was first denatured in a series of solutions with pH ranging from 1 to 12. The albumin film was then cast on the ATR crystal from the albumin solution for the IR spectrum collection. Significant secondary structure spectral differences were observed for these films. The findings are presented in terms of the shape and position of the albumin amide I band between 1600 and 1700 cm−1.
Improved Nutrition vs. Public Health Services as Major Determinants of World Population Growth

The growth in population from lowering the death rates in various parts of the world is discussed. Malaria control in Ceylon is not credited with being the major cause of the population increase as it involved only 38% of the people. Also a downward trend in population expansion was noted in Ceylon before the malaria control program with its 26% drop in death rate began. In sub-Sahara Africa 92% of the population live in endemic malaria areas and only 3% were protected by any malaria eradication program as late as 1966. The global effort against malaria did not begin until the late 1950s and there is no widespread use of antibiotics in developing countries so benefits of these drugs is not considered of major importance. Environmental sanitation has reduced infant and other mortality but a safe adequeate water supply is not available to 90% of the population of developing countries. Population growth rates accelerated by a factor of 3 between 1901 and 1950 as compared to 1850-1900. (Public health programs were not extensive before 1850). Improved medical care and better health procedures have not been the only factors in reducing global death rates. The authors point out that the current population explosion began in Europe about 1650 and until recently was generally restricted to whites who were 19% of the world population in 1650 and 27% almost 300 years later. Various diseases such as tuberculosis showed marked declines before any effective treatment was available. In a Guatemalan study between 1959 and 1964 improved nutrition for school children proved as effective as a medical program in reducing death rates but not morbidity. Neither had any effect on birth rates. Improved nutrition in Ireland China Newfoundland and Scandinavia has been associated with population expansion. Communications insect damage to crops storage rodent damage and food distribution influence nutritional benefits. Family planning is not popular in the presence of high infant and child mortality. The technology of contraception does not produce consistent results. Many give up the IUD devices after 18 months. Use of the pill is not popular in poorly motivated populations with fear of side effects high costs and need for daily doses. More food will reduce death rates in the absence of any medical input whatever. Those others than doctors influencing the population crisis are the food scientist the highway engineer the rail developer the irrigation expert the fertilizer manufacturer adn the merchant mariner. (Their influence is great though less obvious.
On The Relationship between the QBO and Tropical Deep Convection

Abstract The height and amount of tropical deep convection are examined for a correlation with the stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). A new 23-yr record of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and a corrected 17-yr record of the highly reflective cloud (HRC) index are used as measures of convection. When binned by phase of the QBO, zonal means and maps of OLR and HRC carry a QBO signal. The spatial patterns of the maps highlight the QBO signal of OLR and HRC in typically convective regions. Spectral analysis of zonal mean OLR and HRC near the equator reveals significant peaks at QBO frequencies. Rotated empirical orthogonal function (REOF) analysis is used to determine if ENSO variations of convection are aliased into the observed QBO signals. Some analyses are repeated using the OLR record after ENSO REOF modes have been removed, yielding very similar results compared to the original analyses. It appears that the QBO signal is distinct from the ENSO signal, although the relative brevity of the ...
50 Years of Human Capital Research: Assessing What We Know, Exploring Where We Go

The papers compiled in this symposium bridge human capital ideas across research domains (economics, entrepreneurship, human resources, industrial-organizational psychology, labor economics, organizational theory, and strategy) and research levels (macro and micro). These articles draw on conversations that took place during a human capital conference held in the spring of 2014 at the Darla Moore School of Business. The articles address the role of value capturing, networking, firm-specific human capital, micro contributions to strategy, the missing role of context, the role of the practitioner, and the processes that may be helpful for advancing science through pulling knowledge from across disciplines. In combination, the articles reveal ample opportunity for cross-discipline collaboration to extend knowledge by working in concert with researchers who hold different perspectives. However, these articles (and the lessons learned through the conference) show that differences in terminology, assumptions, a...
Airline policies: sickening results?

![Figure][1] CREDIT: MARCEL BRAENDLI/ISTOCKPHOTO The impact of modern air travel on magnifying the spread of communicable diseases to epidemic levels has been well recognized [“Coming to an airport near you,” A. R. McLean, Perspectives, 13 December 2013, p. [1330][1]; “The hidden
Abstract A119: Effect of weight‐bearing exercise on circulating biomarkers in breast cancer survivors

Breast cancer patients generally demonstrate a gain in body fat mass accompanied by loss of lean mass (i.e. muscle) during cancer therapy (Demark‐Wahnefried et al, J. Clin Oncol, 2001). These changes may lead to adverse metabolic and inflammatory phenotypes. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate changes in metabolic, inflammatory, and growth factor biomarkers among breast cancer survivors following 8 weeks of supervised resistance training combined with self‐reported cardiovascular training. No diet or weight loss component was included in the intervention. Twenty‐seven breast cancer survivors (78.3% Caucasian, mean age 56.5 ± 8.1 yrs, mean BMI 29.8 ± 4.4kg/m 2 ) who were on average 5 years post‐cancer treatment were recruited to participate in a prospective behavioral intervention trial to test the hypothesis that weight bearing activity including stretching, resistance, balance, and aerobic training would improve select metabolic and inflammatory indicators over an 8 week period. Height, weight, body composition (dual X‐ray absorptiometry), fasting plasma glucose, insulin, IL‐6, CRP, IL‐1Ra, and IGF‐1 were measured at baseline and 8 weeks. IL‐6, IL‐1Ra and IGF‐1 were analyzed using high sensitivity ELISA and glucose was measured by a glucose oxidase‐peroxide reaction; insulin and CRP testing were performed by the local hospital clinical laboratory. The homeostasis model of insulin resistance was computed (HOMA‐IR) from glucose and insulin values. Eighty‐one percent of the sample completed the 8‐week intervention. Among completers (n=22) there was no significant change in body weight. Inflammatory response, as assessed using IL‐1Ra, was improved (76.75 ± 161.39, p Breast cancer survivors participating in a pilot, short‐term structured physical activity intervention targeting resistance training, in the absence of diet or weight change, demonstrated a significant improvement in the anti‐inflammatory biomarker IL‐1Ra without concomitant increases in pro‐inflammatory biomarkers, IL‐6 and CRP. Larger studies with sufficient sample size to detect statistically significant differences should be pursued; combining structured exercise with diet to support weight reduction may also be superior and should be evaluated. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A119.
The Relative Influence of Work Commitment on Work Outcomes

Work commitment was studied as a multidimensional construct in relation to work outcomes that included turnover intentions, occupational turnover intentions, job search behavior, absenteeism, and j...
The Sex Pheromone of the Western Corn Rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera )

A sex pheromone from females of the western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera LeConte, was collected by a semi-continuous, nondestructive method; and an improved laboratory bioassay was developed. Field studies with the unfractionated pheromone showed that males of the WCR and northern corn rootworm (NCR), Diabrotica longicornus (Say), were attracted to traps baited with WCR pheromone. The NCR males displayed a distinct quotidian variation in their response to the baited traps. The field traps remained attractive for at least 22 days after a single application of pheromone providing a triglyceride extender was incorporated into the pheromone solution.
Epidemiology of pertussis in Xinjiang uyghur autonomous region,2004-2012

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of pertussis in Xinjiang from 2004 to 2012, and provide scientific evidence for developing pertussis immunization strategies and prevention / control measures. Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the incidence data of pertussis in Xinjiang from 2004 to 2012 collected from the Disease Reporting Information System. Results A total of 3760 pertussis cases,including 5 deaths,were reported during this period. The average annual incidence was 2. 02 / lakh. Most cases were children aged 0-15 years,accounting for 99. 36% of the total. The incidence in children aged 0-4 years was highest,and the average annual incidence in this age group was 28. 46 / lakh from 2010 to 2012. The southern region had more pertussis cases reported than in northern region,accounting for 73. 75% of the total. Conclusion The incidence of pertussis was still very high in Xinjiang. It is necessary to strengthen the surveillance of pertussis and improve pertussis immunization.
Deriving Moral Considerability from Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac

AbstractI argue that a reasonable understanding of Leopold’s ‘Land Ethic’ is one that identifies possession of health as being a sufficient condition for moral consideration. With this, Leopold extends morality not only to biotic wholes, but to individual organisms, as both can have their health undermined. My argument centers on explaining why Leopold thinks it reasonable to analogize ecosystems both to an organism and to a community: both have a health. My conclusions undermine J. Baird Callicott’s rhetorical dismissal of the organism analogy’s importance, a dismissal crucially serving his thesis that Leopoldians should hold community membership necessary for moral standing.
High Temperature Data Retention of Ferroelectric Memory on 130nm and 180nm CMOS

Abstract-Systematic evaluation of ferroelectric memory (FRAM) data retention mechanisms under high temperature exposure are reported. The FRAM devices are embedded on ultra-low power, analog-enhanced 130nm and 180nm CMOS technologies. Capability of the FRAM to retain data through 260°C Pb-free solder assembly reflow is demonstrated. The 130nm FRAM is shown to achieve the equivalent of 10 years data retention at 125°C, with intrinsic margin comparable to the 180nm FRAM, previously shown to achieve 10 years at 125°C retention.
Reactive Nitrogen Intermediates in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies with subsequent immune complex deposition resulting in inflammatory injury to target organs. Reactive intermediates and for the purpose of this chapter, specifically reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI), are important mediators of the innate immune system, tissue damage, and organ/cellular function in health and in lupus. RNI are under tight physiologic control due to the potency of their biologic activities. In SLE, enhanced production of RNI and/or impaired regulation may contribute to a break in immune tolerance, increase tissue damage, and alter enzyme function. This chapter reviews the latest evidence from both animal and human studies on the role of reactive nitrogen intermediates in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Dermatological disease detection using image processing and machine learning

Dermatological diseases are the most prevalent diseases worldwide. Despite being common, its diagnosis is extremely difficult and requires extensive experience in the domain. In this research paper, we provide an approach to detect various kinds of these diseases. We use a dual stage approach which effectively combines Computer Vision and Machine Learning on clinically evaluated histopathological attributes to accurately identify the disease. In the first stage, the image of the skin disease is subject to various kinds of pre-processing techniques followed by feature extraction. The second stage involves the use of Machine learning algorithms to identify diseases based on the histopathological attributes observed on analysing of the skin. Upon training and testing for the six diseases, the system produced an accuracy of up to 95 percent.
Coastal Wetland Response to Sea‐Level Rise in a Fluvial Estuarine System

Coastal wetlands are likely to lose productivity under increasing rates of sea-level rise (SLR). This study assessed a fluvial estuarine salt marsh system using the Hydro-MEM model under four SLR scenarios. The Hydro-MEM model was developed to apply the dynamics of SLR as well as capture the effects associated with the rate of SLR in the simulation. Additionally, the model uses constants derived from a 2-year bioassay in the Apalachicola marsh system. In order to increase accuracy, the lidar-based marsh platform topography was adjusted using Real Time Kinematic survey data. A river inflow boundary condition was also imposed to simulate freshwater flows from the watershed. The biomass density results produced by the Hydro-MEM model were validated with satellite imagery. The results of the Hydro-MEM simulations showed greater variation of water levels in the low (20 cm) and intermediate-low (50 cm) SLR scenarios and lower variation with an extended bay under higher SLR scenarios. The low SLR scenario increased biomass density in some regions and created a more uniform marsh platform in others. Under intermediate-low SLR scenario, more flooded area and lower marsh productivity were projected. Higher SLR scenarios resulted in complete inundation of marsh areas with fringe migration of wetlands to higher land. This study demonstrated the capability of Hydro-MEM model to simulate coupled physical/biological processes across a large estuarine system with the ability to project marsh migration regions and produce results that can aid in coastal resource management, monitoring, and restoration efforts.
Joachim Rosteutscher, Das ästhetische Idol: Bern: Francke, 1956. Pp. 300.

(1958). Joachim Rosteutscher, Das asthetische Idol. The Germanic Review: Literature, Culture, Theory: Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 54-55.
Mating and male pheromone kill Caenorhabditis males through distinct mechanisms.

In many animals, different sexes have different life expectancies. This holds true for a roundworm species called Caenorhabditis elegans that has commonly been used to study aging and lifespan. Unlike some related Caenorhabditis roundworm species (which consist of male and female worms), C. elegans worms are predominantly hermaphrodites and reproduce by self-fertilization. C. elegans males are normally rare. However, under stressful conditions the number of males increases to reduce inbreeding and so help the worm population to adapt to the environment. Investigations into the factors that affect the lifespan of C. elegans have mostly studied hermaphrodites. For example, one recent study showed that mating shortens the lifespan of hermaphrodites. Another study showed that pheromones – hormones that change the behavior of other worms – also shorten hermaphrodite lifespan. The male pheromone is produced by males and sensed by both males and hermaphrodites. But does mating and male pheromone affect the lifespan of male roundworms? Shi et al. have now studied Caenorhabditis worms of different species and sexes to investigate how sexual behaviors and male pheromone regulate the lifespan of male roundworms. The results of the experiments revealed two distinct mechanisms of male death. Firstly, mating caused the males of many different Caenorhabditis species to shrink and die, and also killed females and hermaphrodites. Secondly, the males of hermaphroditic species – and only these males – could also be killed by male pheromone. The results suggest that death from mating may be an unavoidable cost of reproducing that is seen across all sexes and species of roundworm. In contrast, death by male pheromone may be a way of culling the male population in hermaphroditic species, for example, after stressful conditions have caused a sudden increase in the number of male worms. Further work is now needed to investigate the finer details of the mechanisms by which mating and male pheromone cause death. Ultimately, this work in Caenorhabditis could be extended to help us to understand how other animals regulate their lifespan and maintain an optimum ratio of the sexes.
Reliability and validity of SF-12v2 among adults with self-reported cancer.

Abstract Background The SF-12v2 has been validated in general population and other conditions but the evidence is limited in Americans with cancer. Objective To assess reliability and validity of SF-12v2 among adults with self-reported cancer using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Methods Self-reported cancer participants (SCPs) were identified from 2003 MEPS. SF-12v2 was administered as part of self-administered questionnaires. Physical (PCS12) and mental (MCS12) component scores of SF-12v2 were evaluated for reliability (internal consistency, test-retest) and validity (convergent, discriminant, predictive, concurrent). Results 420 SCPs were identified with average age of 59.3 years (SE = 0.9). 10.7% had multiple cancers (>1) and 52% had at least one other chronic condition (OCC). Average PCS12 and MCS12 were 45.09 (SE = 0.5) and 50.75 (SE = 0.5). PCS12 and MCS12 demonstrated high internal consistency (αPCS12 = 0.89; αMCS12 = 0.88), acceptable test-retest reliability (ICCPCS12 = 0.82; ICCMCS12 = 0.73), strongly correlated with most of the expected EQ-5D domains (r = 0.51–0.71), and demonstrated strong convergent validity on perceived health (r = 0.61) and perceived mental health (r = 0.52). PCS12 and MCS12 were able to discriminate between groups with and without physical/cognitive limitations. Only PCS12 was negatively correlated with number of OCCs. Conclusion The SF-12v2 is a reliable and valid instrument to quantify health-related quality of life among adults with self-reported cancer.