cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in left ventricular functional response to aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND To characterize gender differences in recovery of ventricular function and survival after aortic valve replacement (AVR), baseline characteristics related to outcome were analyzed in 1012 consecutive patients (329 women and 683 men) undergoing AVR in 1983 through 1990. METHODS AND RESULTS Seventy-seven percent of patients had aortic stenosis (AS), 11% insufficiency (AI), and 12% mixed AS/AI; 42% underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass. Women as a group had a greater mean age (P < .0001), had AS more frequently than AI or AS/AI (P < .01), had coronary disease less frequently (P < .01), and had a higher preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (P < .0001), although preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was similar (P = NS) compared with men. Male sex (P < .0001), advanced age (P < .0003), AI rather than AS (P < .01), and greater extent of coronary disease (P < .04) were independently associated with lower preoperative EF. Women with coronary disease were as likely as men (P = NS) to undergo concomitant coronary bypass, and completeness of revascularization did not differ (P = NS) by gender. Observed survival probabilities after AVR (expressed as 30-day/5-year) were .97/.81 overall, .94/.77 for women, and .98/.83 for men (P < .02). Cox model analysis showed advanced age, decreased preoperative EF, greater extent of coronary disease, requirement for annular enlargement, smaller prosthetic valve size, and advanced NYHA class (all P < .04) but neither female sex nor smaller body surface area (both P = NS) as multivariate risk factors for overall mortality. In 664 patients (66%), postoperative EF was measured a mean 1.4 years after AVR. In patients with preoperative EF < or = 45% (n = 167), the change in EF after AVR was greater (P < .02) in women (from 33 +/- 8% to 48 +/- 15%, P < .001) than in men (from 32 +/- 9% to 42 +/- 15%, P < .001). By multivariate regression analysis, female sex (P < .02) and lesser extent of coronary disease (P < .05) were independent predictors of early improvement in EF. Improvement in EF conveyed an independent subsequent survival benefit to both women (P < .03) and men (P < .001), and the magnitude of benefit did not differ (P = .4) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that gender-related factors importantly influence the adaptive and recovery response of the left ventricle to pressure and volume overload. However, gender differences in LV adaptation do not influence survival after AVR.
Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) Targets Neuronal G Quadruplex Containing mRNAS.

Fused in sarcoma (FUS), identified as the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein P2, is expressed in neuronal and non-neuronal tissue, and has the ability to shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Among other functions, FUS has been implicated in mRNA transport and the deletion of FUS in cultured hippocampal cells has been shown to result in abnormal spine and dendrite morphology. This evidence suggests that FUS may have a role in synaptic function regulation, potentially through a mechanism involving the transport and translation of neuronal mRNAs. We hypothesize that FUS is able to target neuronal mRNAs forming G quadruplex structures in their 3′-untranslated region (UTR). This study used electrophoretic mobility shift assays and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy to analyze the binding of the C-terminal RGG box and of the full-length FUS to RNA G quadruplex structures formed in the 3′-UTR of the post-synaptic density (PSD) 95 and Shank1 mRNAs.
Strategic Minerals Revisited

The issue of Western vulnerability to interruptions in the supply of ‘strategic’ or ‘critical’ non-fuel minerals, particularly as a result of direct or indirect Soviet action, has become increasingly prominent in recent years. Concern over strategic minerals supply at the time of the Korean War, and continuing through the Eisenhower Administration, was followed by a period of complacency lasting into the 1960s in which the primary concern was the economic problem of excess supply. By 1973–74, however, US mineral requirements exceeded existing production capacity as a result of Vietnam War demand coupled with substantial growth throughout the OECD economies. Rapidly increasing prices, together with the nationalization of major producing facilities in the Third World (all this in the wake of the OPEC challenge) raised new fears of potential mineral shortages.1
A graphical approach to quickest outage localization in power grids

Line outage detection and localization play pivotal roles in contingency analysis, power flow optimization, and situational awareness delivery in power grids. Hence, agile detection and localization of line outages enhance the efficiency of operations and their resilience against cascading failures. This paper proposes a stochastic graphical framework for localizing line outage events. This framework capitalizes on the correlation among the measurements generated across the grid, where the correlation is induced by the connectivity topology of the grid. By formalizing a proper correlation model, this paper designs data-adaptive coupled data-acquisition and decision-making processes for the quickest localization of the line outages. This leads to efficient outage localization by partially observing the grid and is shown to outperform the existing dimensionality reduction methods.
The effect of sub-oxide phases on the transparency of tin-doped gallium oxide

There have been a number of studies on the fabrication of Sn-doped gallium oxide (Ga2O3:Sn) films with both conductive and transparent properties using a variety of deposition methods. However, often, synthesis results in films that are not transparent. In this paper, we examine the mechanisms underlying these results in Ga2O3:Sn thin films prepared at various growth temperatures, Sn concentrations, and oxygen partial pressures. With X-ray absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy, we find that when films are grown under the oxygen deficient conditions there are Ga sub-oxide and SnOx phases in the Ga2O3:Sn thin film. These Ga sub-oxide phases are only found in non-transparent films, and so we infer that the Ga sub-oxide is responsible for the non-transparency. These observations suggest that to obtain transparent Ga2O3:Sn, films deposition or subsequent annealing must be carefully controlled in both temperature and oxygen partial pressure to avoid the formation of Ga sub-oxide phases.
A Critical Review of Past Research

Chapter 2 examines the development of models of residential mobility, location, and relocation in the literature. The study of residential mobility has generally proceeded independently of the study of residential location; rarely does a work in one of these studies refer to works in the other. This dichotomy may be largely due to discipline bias. Until recently the study of residential mobility has been the turf of geographers, demographers, and sociologists. On the other hand, economists have dominated the study of residential location. Regardless of why this dichotomy has occurred, there is reason to believe that both studies are relevant to the investigation of residential relocation.
Caring: An Undiscovered "Super -ility" of Smart Healthcare

As new and exciting healthcare applications arise that use smart technologies, the Internet of Things, data analytics, and other technologies, a critical problem is emerging: the potential loss of caring. Although these exciting technologies have improved patient care by allowing for better assessment, surveillance, and treatment, their use can disassociate the caregiver from the patient, essentially removing the "care" from healthcare. So, you can view caring as an undiscovered -ility that ranks at least as important as other well-known -ilities in healthcare systems. The Web Extra at https://youtu.be/bDyZ2geRyJE is an audio podcast of author Phil Laplante reading this article.
Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia: Pathogenesis, etiologies, clinical presentations and treatment strategies

Abstract Background Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a rare condition characterized by an unexplained deficit of circulating CD4 T cells leading to increased risk of serious opportunistic infections. The pathogenesis, etiology, clinical presentation, and best treatment options remain unclear. Objective To describe the clinical presentation, treatment strategies, and outcome of patients with ICL seen in a single referral center. Methods In a retrospective study, from January 1993 to January 2014, the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and treatments of patients diagnosed with ICL were reviewed. Results Twenty-four patients (14 female [58%] and 10 male [42%]) were evaluated. The mean age was 45 ± 17.6 years (range 7–76 years). Mean CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts at the time of diagnosis were 119 ± 84/mm 3 (range 4–294/mm 3 ) and 219 ± 258/mm 3 (range 7–630/mm 3 ), respectively. Seventeen patients (71%) had opportunistic infections, 4 (17%) had malignancies, and 3 (13%) had unexplained demyelinating disease and neurologic problems. Most patients had normal levels of immunoglobulins. Thirteen patients had abnormally low to absent response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and antigens (candida and tetanus). Three patients had resolution of warts and 1 had mycobacterial lung infection on interleukin-2 with increases in CD4 count. The 11 patients on trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole had no further hospital admissions for infections. Conclusion The pathogenesis of ICL remains unclear. Although only some patients are healthy, most patients present with opportunistic infections. There is no known standard treatment aside from prophylactic antibiotics.
15 Years Later: Considering the ALA/CIPA Dispute Through Uncertainty Reduction Theory

Uncertainty reduction theory describes how individuals and organizations react when faced with a new relationship, including information seeking about the new entity. In 2002, the American Library Association entered into conflict with the new Children’s Internet Protection Act, and this paper will demonstrate how the resulting lawsuit (and defense against the Department of Justice’s appeal) illustrate information seeking behavior on behalf of the American Library Association in order to reduce uncertainty regarding the new Act. This paper offers uncertainty reduction theory as a theoretical framework for conceptualizing this series of events, and will describe the American Library Association’s uncertainty, consider possible factors behind their uncertainty level, and describe the uncertainty-reduction information seeking behavior demonstrated.
Connections among soil, ground, and surface water chemistries characterize nitrogen loss from an agricultural landscape in the upper Missouri River Basin

Abstract Elevated nitrate in shallow aquifers is common in agricultural areas and remediation requires an understanding of nitrogen (N) leaching at a variety of spatial scales. Characterization of the drivers of nitrate leaching at the mesoscale level (102–103 km2) is needed to bridge from field-scale observations to the landscape-scale context, allowing informed water resource management decisions. Here we explore patterns in nitrate leaching rates across a depositional landform in the northern Great Plains within the Upper Missouri Basin, where the predominant land use is non-irrigated small grain production, and nitrate-N concentrations above 10 mg L−1 are common. The shallow Moccasin terrace (260 km2) aquifer is bounded in vertical extent by underlying shale and is isolated from mountain front stream recharge, such that aquifer recharge is dominated by infiltration of precipitation through agricultural soils. This configuration presents a simple landform-scale water balance that we leveraged to estimate leaching rates using groundwater nitrate concentrations and surface water discharge, and quantify uncertainty using a Monte Carlo approach based on spatial variation in observations of groundwater nitrate concentrations. A participatory research approach allowed local farmer knowledge of the landscape to be incorporated into the study design, improved selection of and access to sample sites, and enhanced prospects for addressing nitrate leaching through collaborative understanding of system hydrology. Mean landform-scale nitrate-N leaching rates were 11 and 18 kg ha−1 yr−1 during the 2012–2014 study for the two largest catchments draining the terrace. Over a standard three-year crop rotation, these leaching rates represent 19–31% of typical fertilizer N application rates; however, leaching losses are likely derived not only from fertilizer but also from soil organic N mineralization, and are apparently higher during the post-fallow phase of the crop rotation. Groundwater apparent age is relatively young (0–5 yr) based on tritium–helium analysis, but whole-aquifer turnover time calculations are an order of magnitude longer (20–23 yr), suggesting changes in groundwater may lag behind changes in land management by years to decades.
Benchmarking the "Question, Persuade, Refer" Program Against Evaluations of Established Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Trainings.

Gatekeeper training is a common approach for aiding suicidal youth. This study utilizes comparative effectiveness "benchmarks" from established programs to evaluate the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) program. The QPR program was implemented with adults (N = 2,389) working in youth-serving community agencies. Questionnaires assessed suicide prevention knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behaviors. Consistent with benchmarked studies, participants in QPR demonstrated knowledge and suicide prevention behavior gains compared with control groups. Future research should utilize benchmarking methods as a measure of effectiveness, and more thoroughly assess mechanisms that promote behavior change.
Interest in prescribing buprenorphine among resident and attending physicians at an urban teaching clinic.

Background: Opioid use disorders are a major medical and public health concern. Buprenorphine is approved for the treatment of opioid use disorders; however, a shortage of physicians prescr...
Shifting the Focus in Intimate Partner Violence Research

The article responds to an issue article on risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. Topics include the quality of research on IPV as evaluated using the criteria of the Cambridge Quality Checklists, the research review that the authors conducted, and variables connected to IPV in the context of meta-analysis.
Coronary calcium as a risk factor: role in global risk assessment∗

The introduction of new imaging techniques offers the opportunity for identification of the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic persons. The ability to measure the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis could be of value in the selection of persons for more intensive primary
Fourier transform light scattering of tissues

We review the basic principles of light-tissue interaction and common methods of investigation. The mathematical framework for describing weakly scattering regime (the Born approximation) as well as the strong scattering regime (the diffusion equation) are described. Traditional techniques based on polarization, time-resolved, single and multiple scattering are reviewed. We then introduce
Will the Mortgage Market Correct - How Households and Communities Would Fare if Risk Were Priced Well

The dominant narrative of the subprime lending crisis is that recent mortgage market problems are the fallout of the bursting of a speculative housing bubble. The conventional wisdom derived from bubbles past is that markets self-correct. Certainly, house prices increased unsustainably, but whether the deflating of the bubble is leading to a “correct” mortgage market is less clear. Yet wise public policy depends on the answer to that question. If the cause of the crisis is a cyclical swing that ultimately rights itself through market forces, then the appropriate policy response need only stabilize the market and help those knocked down in the pendulum’s arc. However, if the market will not self-correct, longer term policy changes are necessary. This Article concludes that as a result of the crisis, lenders and investors are likely to identify and price the risk of foreclosure-related losses more accurately and in the process decrease foreclosure risk somewhat. But because the supply side can bear more foreclosure risk than borrowing households or third-party renters and communities, supply-side corrections alone will not result in a correctly functioning market. Borrowing households will attempt to avoid overly-risky loans in the aftermath of the crisis, yet are unlikely to acquire either the ability to determine hich loans are overly-risky or the habit of consistently refusing these loans. Left to market devices, renters will never know which dwellings are security for overly-risky mortgages. The market will not force the transacting parties to internalize social costs of foreclosure, and therefore will produce overly-risky loans. Without policies that reduce foreclosure risk, borrowers will continue to misjudge it, renters will remain unable to account for it, and neighborhoods will not consistently benefit from mortgage transactions that take place along their streets.
On the feasibility of a temperature state observer for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing

Powder bed fusion (PBF) is the additive manufacturing (AM) process that has arguably the highest potential for the elevation of AM from rapid prototyping tools to the use in the manufacture of final products. The initial success of PBF has been in spite of the primary mechanism material addition, directed energy by a laser or electron beam, being controlled in open-loop using detailed process maps and heuristics. This manuscript details an exploratory study of one enabling control tool in the system of tools required for closed-loop control of directed energy: state-observation for the estimation of temperature states throughout the part from measurements of surface temperatures. We pose the fundamental physics of PBF with the variational calculus of the finite element method (FEM), and then repose FEM as a state-space model. From the state-space model, we define a temperature state observer and corresponding observability criteria. The significant outcomes of this study are the first definition of a state observer for PBF temperature fields and the successful estimation of the temperature evolution of several simulated test parts.
The Common Core Grammar Toolkit: Using Mentor Texts to Teach the Language Standards in Grades 6-8

The Common Core’s language standards can seem overwhelming—students need to learn specific, complex grammar rules at each grade level. The Common Core Grammar Toolkit to the rescue! This comprehensive guide makes grammar instruction fun and meaningful. You will learn how to… • Teach the Common Core’s language standards for grades 6–8 by presenting each grammar rule as a useful writing tool.• Use mentor texts—excerpts from great literature—to help students understand grammar in action.• Promote metacognition along the way, so that students become responsible for their own learning. The book thoroughly covers how to teach the Common Core’s language standards for grades 6-8, on topics such as understanding intensive pronouns, using commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses, maintaining consistency in style and tone, forming verbs in different moods, and much, much more. You’ll learn how to present each of these grammar rules to your students as tools that will help them improve their writing. You’ll also find classroom snapshots that show the tools in action, and handy, reproducible charts that you can use with your own students. Bonus! The book includes a free annotated bibliography, which is offered as a Supplemental Download on our website. The bibliography lists high-quality young adult literature and gives examples of key grammatical concepts found in each work, so you can use additional mentor texts with your students.
Quizalofop interactions when mixed with clomazone and pendimethalin in acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase–inhibiting herbicide-resistant rice

A study was conducted in 2017 and 2018 at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station near Crowley, LA, to evaluate quizalofop at 120 g ai ha−1 applied independently or in a mixture with clomazone, pendimethalin, clomazone plus pendimethalin, or a prepackaged mixture of clomazone plus pendimethalin when PVLO1 rice reached the two- to three-leaf stage. A second application of quizalofop at 120 g ha−1 was applied 21 d after the initial application. At 7 days after treatment (DAT), antagonism of quizalofop occurred when mixed with clomazone at 334 g ai ha−1, clomazone at 334 g ai ha−1 plus pendimethalin at 810 g ai ha−1, or a prepackaged mixture of clomazone plus pendimethalin at 334 plus 810 g ai ha−1, respectively, when applied to barnyardgrass. At 7 DAT, a neutral interaction occurred with a mixture of quizalofop plus pendimethalin at 810 g ha−1. These data indicate the antagonism of quizalofop was overcome at 14, 28, and 42 DAT with a neutral interaction for barnyardgrass control, 94% to 98%, with all herbicide mixtures evaluated. A neutral interaction occurred for CL-111, CLXL-745, and red rice control when treated with all the herbicide mixtures evaluated across all evaluation dates. Rice yield decreased when not treated with the initial quizalofop application.
Patient-Centered Care for Persons with Multiple Conditions

In the first part of the following chapter, important principles to consider when caring for patients with multiple conditions will be presented and applied to a patient case. These principles include eliciting patient preferences, incorporating the evidence, estimating prognosis, considering treatment complexity and feasibility, and optimizing and prioritizing a care plan. How these principles help to foster a patient-centered approach to care will be explored. In the second part of the chapter, care models that support patient-centered care for patients with multiple conditions and some tools for shared decision-making and polypharmacy management in this patient population will be reviewed.
Quantum Mechanics As a Theory of Observables and States (And, Thereby, As a Theory of Probability)

Itamar Pitowsky contends that quantum states are derived entities, bookkeeping devices for quantum probabilities, which he understands to reflect the odds rational agents would accept on the outcomes of quantum gambles. On his view, quantum probability is subjective, and so are quantum states. We disagree. We take quantum states, and the probabilities they encode, to be objective matters of physics. Our disagreement has both technical and conceptual aspects. We advocate an interpretation of Gleason’s theorem and its generalizations more nuanced—and less directly supportive of subjectivism—than Itamar’s. And we contend that taking quantum states to be physical makes available explanatory resources unavailable to subjectivists, explanatory resources that help make sense of quantum state preparation.
The Veil of Esteem: On Seeing Oneself Being Seen (Part Two: Riddle and Accident)

This article is the second of a three-part series entitled: The Veil of Esteem: On Seeing Oneself Being Seen. Inspired by Walter Benjamin’s “reflection through vignette” method, the author inquires...
Epigenetic Toxicity of Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) are being used in an increasingly wide range of fields which leads to increased human exposure. It is evident from mounting data that exposure to NPs leads to cell toxicity, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, non-genotoxic carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, etc. Recently there is abundant proof available to link sublethal NP toxicity to epigenetic variations, which may lead to reprogramming of variety of gene expression. Being the most sensitive and first retort, epigenetic modifications are extensively studied and used as potential biomarkers in several disease conditions. The early NP exposure biomarker may go unnoticed by traditional toxicity assays, but epigenetic variations being more sensitive can be used as fingerprint for nanotoxicity and provide guidance for creating safe nanomaterials. This review collates the literate on “nanoepigenetic toxicity” and its contribution to both genotoxicity and cytotoxicity experienced by cell. Even at concentration at which NPs do not exert any harm to cell, it is remarkable to observe that they can affect the epigenetic profiles of cells, which can sustain for several cell generation. Lastly, identification of key factors and establishing reliable screening tests to predict toxicity that improve our understanding of nanomaterial-induced epigenetic toxicity are discussed.
The role of stress concentration in calcified bicuspid aortic valve

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common valvular heart disease in the aging population, and is now believed to be a slow, progressive, yet actively regulated process. The disease progression can be divided into two phases: initiation phase associated with lipid deposition and inflammation response, and the later propagation phase with active calcification growth. It has been hypothesized that elevated mechanical stress plays a major role in both phases of disease progression. In order to identify a direct link between leaflet stress and calcification development, we performed patient-specific finite-element (FE) analyses of six bicuspid aortic valves (BAV), where the leaflets, raphe and calcifications were all considered. The results showed that during the initiation phase, calcium buildup is likely to occur along the leaflet-root attachment curve (ATC), and the commissures, which are subject to the most drastic changes in stress during the cardiac cycle. During the propagation phase, the presence of calcification would lead to local stress concentration along its boundary, hence further calcification growth. Three patterns of calcification formation were identified on BAV leaflets: 'radial', which extended radially from ATC into the leaflet belly region; 'commissure to commissure', which extended circumferentially along the coaptation; and 'raphe', which located in the vicinity of the raphe. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation between regions with a high risk of calcium buildup and regions with elevated mechanical stress. The high-risk regions predicted at diastole on the non-calcified leaflet from FE models agreed reasonably well with the in vivo calcification locations, which indicates that patient-specific FE modelling could help us to evaluate the potential risk of calcification formation in the early stage of CAVD.
How antiporters exchange substrates across the cell membrane? An atomic-level description of the complete exchange cycle in NarK

Major facilitator superfamily (MFS) proteins operate via three different mechanisms: uniport, symport, and antiport. Despite extensive investigations, molecular understanding of antiporters is less advanced than other transporters due to the complex coupling between two substrates and the lack of distinct structures. We employ extensive (~300 μs)all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to dissect the complete substrate exchange cycle of the bacterial NO3−/NO2− antiporter, NarK. We show that paired basic residues in the binding site prevent the closure of unbound protein and ensure the exchange of two substrates. Conformational transition only occurs in the presence of substrate, which weakens the electrostatic repulsion and stabilizes the transporter by ∼1.5 kcal/mol. Furthermore, we propose a state-dependent substrate exchange model, in which the relative spacing between the paired basic residues determines whether NO3− and NO2− bind simultaneously or sequentially. Overall, this work presents a general working model for the antiport mechanism within MFS family.
Cell nucleus as a microrheological probe to study the rheology of the cytoskeleton.

Abstract Mechanical properties of the cell are important biomarkers for probing its architectural changes caused by cellular processes and/or pathologies. The development of microfluidic technologies has enabled measuring the cell’s mechanical properties at high throughput so that mechanical phenotyping can be applied to large samples in reasonable timescales. These studies typically measure the stiffness of the cell as the only mechanical biomarker and do not disentangle the rheological contributions of different structural components of the cell, including the cell cortex, the interior cytoplasm and its immersed cytoskeletal structures, and the nucleus. Recent advancements in high-speed fluorescent imaging have enabled probing the deformations of the cell cortex while also tracking different intracellular components in rates applicable to microfluidic platforms. We present a, to our knowledge, novel method to decouple the mechanics of the cell cortex and the cytoplasm by analyzing the correlation between the cortical deformations that are induced by external microfluidic flows and the nucleus displacements, induced by those cortical deformations, i.e., we use the nucleus as a high-throughput microrheological probe to study the rheology of the cytoplasm, independent of the cell cortex mechanics. To demonstrate the applicability of this method, we consider a proof-of-concept model consisting of a rigid spherical nucleus centered in a spherical cell. We obtain analytical expressions for the time-dependent nucleus velocity as a function of the cell deformations when the interior cytoplasm is modeled as a viscous, viscoelastic, porous, and poroelastic material and demonstrate how the nucleus velocity can be used to characterize the linear rheology of the cytoplasm over a wide range of forces and timescales/frequencies.
Gender Differences in Psychosocial Predictors of Sexual Activity and HIV Testing Among Youth in Kenya

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) carries a disproportionate burden of HIV in the world relative to its population. Youth are at particular risk. Understanding HIV risk factors, as well as factors affecting HIV testing among SSA youth, is important given that HIV testing, linkage to care, and viral suppression are part of the global strategy to end HIV. Because young women face disparate sexual and reproductive health outcomes, exploring gender differences related to HIV risk and testing is vital. Using existing program evaluation data from a larger project, the purpose of this study was to explore gender differences related to sexual activity and HIV testing among youth in SSA. Participant data from 581 youth ages 13-24 in Kenya was analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, and binomial logistic regression. Findings revealed that young men were more likely to report sexual activity than young women. Age was a predictor of sexual activity for all youth. However, among psychosocial variables, depression predicted sexual activity for young women while stress predicted sexual activity for young men. Although there were no gender differences in HIV testing after controlling for demographic and psychosocial variables, there were some differences between young women and young men with regard to predictors of HIV testing. Age and full-time self-employment predicted HIV testing among young women, while part-time self-employment, education, and substance abuse risk predicted HIV testing among young men. Findings suggest a need for gender-friendly strategies for addressing the HIV treatment cascade and care continuum.
ATP-binding cassette protein ABCF1 couples transcription and genome surveillance in embryonic stem cells through low complexity domain

OCT4 and SOX2 confer pluripotency by recruiting coactivators to activate stem cell-specific transcription. However, the composition of coactivator complexes and their roles in maintaining stem cell fidelity remain unclear. Here we report the ATP-binding cassette subfamily F member 1 (ABCF1) as a coactivator for OCT4/SOX2 critical for stem cell self-renewal. The intrinsically disordered low complexity domain (LCD) of ABCF1 forms phase-separated condensates and stimulates pluripotency gene transcription by mediating multivalent interactions with SOX2 and co-dependent coactivators XPC and DKC1. These LCD-driven transcription factor-coactivator interactions at pluripotency genes are disrupted by aberrant intracellular DNAs arising from genome instability, due to strong propensity of ABCF1 to form condensates with DNA. These results support the idea that the LCD of ABCF1 directly couples pluripotency gene transcription with sensing aberrant DNAs and acts as a checkpoint for self-renewal to safeguard stem cell genome integrity.
Fault-Criticality Assessment for AI Accelerators using Graph Convolutional Networks

Owing to the inherent fault tolerance of deep neural networks (DNNs), many structural faults in DNN accelerators tend to be functionally benign. In order to identify functionally critical faults, we analyze the functional impact of stuck-at faults in the processing elements of a 128×128 systolic-array accelerator that performs inferencing on the MNIST dataset. We present a 2-tier machine-learning framework that leverages graph convolutional networks (GCNs) for quick assessment of the functional criticality of structural faults. We describe a computationally efficient methodology for data sampling and feature engineering to train the GCN-based framework. The proposed framework achieves up to 90% classification accuracy with negligible misclassification of critical faults.
Counterterrorism and Modern White Supremacy

Too often the terrorist threat is judged by lives lost, but less quantifiable metrics like political impact and strategic plausibility are also vital for understanding the danger. The history of th...
Effect of Foliar Application of Moringa (Moringa Oleifera) Leaf Extract with Recommended Fertilizer on Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus)

A field experiment was carried out at the Crop farm of Eastern University, Sri Lanka during the period June 2018 to September 2018 to study the effects of different concentrations and frequencies of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Extract (MLE) as a foliar application on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants. This experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates with the following treatments; T0 – control (Distilled water), T1 – 10% MLE at once a week interval, T2 – 10% MLE at once in two weeks interval, T3 – 20% MLE at once a week interval, T4 – 20% MLE at once in two weeks interval, T5 – 30% MLE at once a week interval and T6 – 30% MLE at once in two weeks interval. Foliar application of MLE was initiated at two weeks after germination and each plant is sprayed with 25 ml of MLE and the growth performance was recorded at 4, 6 and 7 WAP. The results showed that foliar application of MLE had a significant (p < 0.05) effects on tested parameters of okra over the control at all growth stages. MLE with 10% of the foliar application at once a week interval increased plant height, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area index, dry weight of leaves, stems, roots, total biomass, number of pods/ha and dry weight of pods. The results suggest that under the conditions in the experiment, yield could be increased by three-fold using MLE at 10%. The use of Moringa leaf extract as a plant growth booster is inexpensive, environmentally safe and low-cost technology to improve the yields by the small farmers.
Trauma and Alcohol Use Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Women: An Examination of the Stress-Buffering Hypothesis of Social Support

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) women (i.e., individuals who were assigned male at birth and identify as women or trans women) experience trauma at disproportionate rates compared to cisgender populations. While trauma is associated with increased alcohol use among TGD women, research regarding factors that are protective of this association is scant. The stress-buffering hypothesis of social support suggests that perceived social support, defined as the judgment that social network members will be helpful when individuals experience stress, may buffer and reduce the association between trauma symptoms and alcohol use. However, this relationship has not been examined among TGD women. We examined whether perceived social support moderates the association between trauma and alcohol use among 89 TGD women. Exploratory multiple regression analyses provided support for this hypothesis, insofar as trauma symptoms were related to alcohol use by individuals with low, relative to high levels of perceived social support. Exploratory analyses demonstrated that this finding was driven by perceived social support from friends and family. Our results are the first to suggest that social support reduces alcohol use among TGD women and add to the literature on their trauma and alcohol use.
The reputation of feminism and ‘celebrity feminists’

Abstract This paper will address the current reputation of feminism and explore whether the stereotypes and stigma associated with a feminist identity influences the number of public figures, or ‘celebrities,’ willing to take a stand and participate in the feminist movement. Further, the paper will aim to find out how public sentiment towards feminist celebrities is shaped and the public relations best practices that these celebrity feminists can implement to enhance their reputation and avoid alienating some audiences due to their activism. Upon reviewing existing literature on the topic, it is evident that although a large portion of the American population does not identify as a feminist in the absence of a clear definition, more and more celebrities are aligning themselves with the feminist cause. While some have faced public backlash, others have successfully gained public trust. Common themes that emerge are being authentic, being consistent and backing up statements with concrete action that benefits the feminist cause. Public figures risk their reputation if they come across as inauthentic, misinformed, unprepared or if a comment or action from their past contradicts their current stance. One-on-one interviews conducted with five prominent publicists in the entertainment industry reveal that identifying as feminists helps the reputation of public figures if they truly believe in the cause and actively participate in the movement. Despite the possibility of backlash, feminist celebrities gain respect in the long run if they are authentic and transparent in their activism. A ‘best practices guide’ will be developed by drawing insights from the interview responses of the publicists. A handbook of key public relations strategies that the feminist movement can use to improve its reputation will also be developed.
Why Patients Fail to Achieve a Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) after Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to compare patient reported outcomes (PRO) and range of motion (ROM) measurements between patients achieving and failing to achieve a patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) after anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) to determine which PRO questions and ROM measurements were the primary drivers of poor outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of a multicenter database identified 301 patients who had undergone primary TSA between 2015 and 2018 with ROM and PRO data recorded preoperative and at a minimum of two years postoperative. The primary outcome was the difference in active ROM between patients achieving or failing to achieve the PASS threshold for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores. The secondary outcome was the difference in self-reported pain levels between those achieving or failing to achieve PASS. Results Based on the ASES PASS threshold, 87% (261/301) of patients achieved PASS after TSA while 13% did not. Based on SANE PASS threshold, 69% (208/301) of patients achieved PASS after TSA while 31% did not. Patients who failed to achieve PASS after TSA were younger and had lower SF-12 mental health scores than those who did. There was a significant difference in pain between those who achieved and failed to achieve a PASS after TSA (ASES PASS Current shoulder pain 16.5% vs 95%, p Conclusion There is variability in the percentage of patients who achieve a PASS after TSA, ranging from 69% to 87% depending on the PRO used to define the threshold. Patients who did not achieve a PASS after TSA were significantly more likely to have pain, while there were very few differences in ROM, indicating pain as the primary driver of failing to achieve a PASS. Setting realistic postoperative expectations for pain relief may be important for improving patient reported results after TSA.
Progress in Measurement and Understanding of Beam Polarization in Electron Positron Storage Rings

A report is presented on the status of attempts to obtain and measure spin polarization in electron-positron storage rings. Experimental results are presented and their relationship to predictions of calculations discussed. Examples of methods for decoupling orbital and spin motion and thus improving polarization are discussed.
A History of Modern Libya: Fork in the road: Libya in the twenty-first century

By the end of the twentieth century, after three decades of its leader's self-proclaimed revolution, Libya found itself at an important junction. The country was starting to emerge from its diplomatic and economic isolation. The multilateral sanctions were suspended in April 1999, and European and other foreign investors were slowly making their way back to Tripoli. It was clear, however, that only a complete lifting of the US sanctions could deliver the kind of economic resurgence and the necessary international diplomatic imprimatur that the regime sought. This could only be accomplished if the Jamahiriyya was taken off the State Department's list of sponsors of state terrorism. The country's economy, beyond the oil sector, remained unproductive and actively involved few of the country's citizens. The infrastructure of the oil sector itself was aging, and Libya needed substantial investment to update it – conservatively estimated from $10-$30 billion in the medium to long term in order to increase its oil production to 3 million barrels per day within a decade. Although the LNOC had attempted to establish itself as a capable manager of the oilfields it had taken over, its officials were the first to admit that the country required international technology and know-how that would enable it to expand production, in part by drilling for oil beyond the Sirt Basin, and offshore.
Chapter 11. Human polymodal receptors in pathological conditions

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the normal and abnormal structure of human nociceptors, aspects of their normal and abnormal afferent sensory and efferent neurosecretory functions, and some interactions between nociceptors and the sympathetic system. In addition, two specific pathophysiologically based syndromes of nociceptor dysfunction are described and contemporary attribution of hypothetical secondary central somatosensory dysfunction to hypothetical chronic dysfunction of primary human nociceptors is critically analyzed. The idea of secondary centralization of pain mechanisms rests mainly on failure to detect a sufficient peripheral explanation for subjective or psychophysical neuromuscular symptoms and signs in patients who in reality lack organic disease. In turn, on human experimental grounds, the centralization hypothesis rests largely on failure to detect sensitization of primary nociceptors as a substrate for secondary hyperalgesia induced by algogenic substances. At present, industries engaged in therapeutic endeavors for chronic neuropathic pains focus on destroying the sympathetic nervous system and blocking excitability of second order pain-signalling neurons assumed to be decisively sensitized.
History of z-pinch research in the U.S.

Over the years, the scientific community has been fascinated with z pinches. Z-pinch references include papers on the quest for fusion, on applications for radiation effects testing, lithography, x-ray microscopy, and pumping x-ray lasers, and on the production of intense magnetic fields. Because much of the research has been pursued elsewhere-in the USSR, Russia, England, Germany, and Chile, among other countries-we must place the U.S. work in an international context. We assert here that the z pinch is a valuable asset for its applications, chiefly those related to the production of x rays, but it is a tool that has sometimes deceived us with its seeming simplicity.
The active E rosette test: correlation with delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity.

An active subpopulation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes, characterized by rapid (5-min) rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (A-RFC), was measured in normal individuals after they were skin tested with microbial antigens. A significant rise in A-RFC occurred in all individuals who developed positive delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) reactions, whereas skin test non-responders showed no significant rise in A-RFC. No similar consistent changes occurred in populations of total T cells, characterized by longer (60-min) rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes, or in B cells, measured by immunofluorescence of surface immunoglobulin. The A-RFC response paralleled the DCH response in timing, but not in intensity. These results provide in vivo evidence for a biologically distinct T cell subpopulation, and focus attention on the A-RFC as immunologically active cells.
Homo ergaster and Its Contemporaries

On the basis of their strong morphological differences from the Javan type materials, many authorities now consider the diverse East African fossils initially classified as “African Homo erectus” to be more properly allocable to the species H. ergaster. However, while this separation at the species level of the African and Indonesian hominids is certainly justified, the species H. ergaster as thus constituted still embraces a significant morphological variety. Indeed, although this grouping of African fossils seems to form a fairly coherent clade, it also appears quite diverse. The East Turkana type mandible of H. ergaster is matched by other specimens from Kenya and Tanzania, but not by the mandible of the iconic WT 15000 skeleton, and in its turn this specimen fails to match either in its cranial construction or its upper dentition most of the other comparable specimens usually referred to H. ergaster. Clearly there is a need for a systematic reappraisal of the entire “African Homo erectus” 1⁄4 Homo ergaster group, and equally clearly the hominid evolutionary story throughout the Old I. Tattersall (*) Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA e-mail: iant@amnh.org # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 W. Henke, I. Tattersall (eds.), Handbook of Paleoanthropology, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-39979-4_53 2167 World in the Early–Middle Pleistocene was more complex than is implied by the extension of the species H. erectus to cover the entire miscellaneous assemblage of hominid fossils from this time period.