cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in Latinos: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.

Abstract Objective To estimate age- and gender-specific prevalences of ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in adult Latinos. Design Population-based, cross-sectional study. Participants Six thousand three hundred fifty-seven Latinos 40 years and older from 6 census tracts in Los Angeles, California. Methods The study cohort consisted of all self-identified Latinos of primarily Mexican ancestry 40 years and older residing in 6 census tracts in La Puente, California. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field (VF) testing using an automated field analyzer, and simultaneous stereoscopic fundus photography of the optic disc. Ocular hypertension was defined as IOP of >21 mmHg and the absence of optic disc damage or abnormal VF test results. Open-angle glaucoma was defined as the presence of an open angle and various criteria that included a glaucomatous VF abnormality and/or evidence of glaucomatous optic disc damage in at least one eye. Main outcome measures Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Results For the 6142 participants who underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination at the clinical center, the prevalence of OAG was 4.74% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.22%–5.30%). The prevalence of ocular hypertension was 3.56% (95% CI, 3.12%–4.06%). The prevalences of OAG and ocular hypertension were higher in older Latinos than in younger Latinos ( P Conclusion Our data suggest that the prevalence of OAG is high among Latinos of Mexican ancestry. The higher prevalence of OAG in older Latinos emphasizes the public health importance of providing eye care services for the early diagnosis and management of this condition in Latinos.
Early Cenozoic global plate reorganization

Synthesis of regional plate movements reveals a major reorganization of global plate motion from Mesozoic to Cenozoic patterns that occurred primarily during the Eocene epoch (53.5 to 37.5 m.y.B.P.). The reorganization involved reorientation of relative plate motions with large N-S components into large E-W components, continuation of pre-existing E-W sea floor spreading, initiation of new E-W spreading, deceleration of spreading rates, and obduction of ophiolites. The reorganization is attributed to increase in resistance imposed on the global plate system by increase in length of E-W-trending collisional plate boundaries from 2500 to 28,500 km during the interfal 55 to 40 m.y.B.P., forcing the system to reorient along lines of less resistance. The pattern of global plate motion resulting from the reorganization is constrained by the resistance imposed by 19,000 km of collisional plate boundaries.
Phosphorylation of Nox1 Regulates Association With NoxA1 Activation Domain

Rationale: Activation of Nox1 initiates redox-dependent signaling events crucial in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. Selective targeting of Nox1 is an attractive potential therapy, but requires a better understanding of the molecular modifications controlling its activation. Objective: To determine whether posttranslational modifications of Nox1 regulate its activity in vascular cells. Methods and Results: We first found evidence that Nox1 is phosphorylated in multiple models of vascular disease. Next, studies using mass spectroscopy and a pharmacological inhibitor demonstrated that protein kinase C-beta1 mediates phosphorylation of Nox1 in response to tumor necrosis factor-α. siRNA-mediated silencing of protein kinase C-beta1 abolished tumor necrosis factor-α–mediated reactive oxygen species production and vascular smooth muscle cell migration. Site-directed mutagenesis and isothermal titration calorimetry indicated that protein kinase C-beta1 phosphorylates Nox1 at threonine 429. Moreover, Nox1 threonine 429 phosphorylation facilitated the association of Nox1 with the NoxA1 activation domain and was necessary for NADPH oxidase complex assembly, reactive oxygen species production, and vascular smooth muscle cell migration. Conclusions: We conclude that protein kinase C-beta1 phosphorylation of threonine 429 regulates activation of Nox1 NADPH oxidase.
In-plane Thermal Conductivity Determination in Silicon on Insulator (SOI) Structures Through Thermoreflectance Measurements

Heat dissipation in Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) based microdevices is hindered in the silicon device layer by the low thermal conductivity of the neighboring oxide and reduced in-plane thermal conductivity in very thin layers. This work shows that the in-plane thermal conductivity of a 260 nm thick device layers in SOI substrates can be characterized by measuring the temperature distributions induced by AC joule heating through microfabricated heaters by a scanning thermoreflectance technique. These data were fitted to numerical solutions of the heat conduction equation calculated using COMSOL® Multiphysics modeling software, suggesting the in-plane thermal conductivity of the device layer is reduced to 90±10 W/(m.K), which is consistent with phonon boundary scattering theory predictions.
Reexpression of caveolin-1 in endothelium rescues the vascular, cardiac, and pulmonary defects in global caveolin-1 knockout mice

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is the principal structural component of caveolae organelles in smooth muscle cells, adipocytes, fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells (ECs). Cav-1–deficient (Cav-1 knockout [KO]) mice are viable and show increases of nitric oxide (NO) production in vasculature, cardiomyopathy, and pulmonary dysfunction. In this study, we generated EC-specific Cav-1–reconstituted (Cav-1 RC) mice and reexamined vascular, cardiac, and pulmonary phenotypes. Cav-1 KO pulmonary arteries had decreased smooth muscle contractility and increased endothelial NO synthase activation and hypotension; the latter two effects were rescued completely in Cav-1 RC mice. Cav-1 KO mice exhibited myocardial hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, and alveolar cell hyperproliferation caused by constitutive activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt. Interestingly, in Cav-1 RC mice, cardiac hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension were completely rescued, whereas alveolar hyperplasia was partially recovered because of the lack of rescue of Cav-1 in bronchiolar epithelial cells. These results provide clear physiological evidence supporting the important role of cell type–specific Cav-1 expression governing multiple phenotypes in the vasculature, heart, and lung.
The missing climate forcing

Observed climate change is consistent with radiative forcings on several time-scales for which the dominant forcings are known, ranging from the few years after a large volcanic eruption to glacial-to-interglacial changes. In the period with most detailed data, 1979 to the present, climate observations contain clear signatures of both natural and anthropogenic forcings. But in the full period since the industrial revolution began, global warming is only about half of that expected due to the principal forcing, increasing greenhouse gases. The direct radiative effect of anthropogenic aerosols contributes only little towards resolving this discrepancy. Unforced climate variability is an unlikely explanation. We argue on the basis of several lines of indirect evidence that aerosol effects on clouds have caused a large negative forcing, at least -1 Wm-2, which has substantially offset greenhouse warming. The tasks of observing this forcing and determining the microphysical mechanisms at its basis are exceptionally difficult, but they are essential for the prognosis of future climate change.
On defining the pulmonary extravascular water volume.

To evaluate the effect of diffusion on the pulmonary extravascular water volume determined from indicator dilution studies, simultaneous comparisons of the pulmonary extravascular distribution volumes of tritiated water (THO) and of three lipid soluble substances with higher molecular weights were made. In 21 studies on pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs, the distribution volume of antipyrine (AP) was slightly smaller than that of THO (mean difference=2.86 ml±1.49 SE; 0.1 0.01). Neither the differences between THO and AP in dogs nor those between IAP and THO in humans correlated with either flow (τ=0.25 for dog studies; τ=0.07 for human studies) or the mean transit time of the intravascular indicator (τ=-0.17 for dog studies; τ=0.14 for human studies). No significant difference between the distribution volume of 14 C-ethanol(ETOH)...
Development and evaluation of a cloud-gap-filled MODIS daily snow-cover product

article i nfo The utility of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) snow-cover products is limited by cloud cover which causesgaps inthedaily snow-covermap products. Wedescribe a cloud-gap-filled (CGF) daily snow-covermapusingasimplealgorithmtotrackcloudpersistence,toaccountfortheuncertaintycreatedbythe age of the snow observation. Developed from the 0.05° resolution climate-modeling grid daily snow-cover product,MOD10C1,eachgridcellofthe CGFmapprovidesacloud-persistencecount(CPC)thattellswhetherthe current or a prior day was used to make the snow decision. Percentage of grid cells "observable" is shown to increase dramatically when prior days are considered. The effectiveness of the CGF product is evaluated by conducting a suite of data assimilation experiments using the community Noah land surface model in the NASA Land Information System (LIS) framework. The Noah model forecasts of snow conditions, such as snow-water equivalent (SWE), are updated based on the observations of snow cover which are obtained either from the MOD10C1 standard product or the new CGF product. The assimilation integrations using the CGF maps provide domain-averaged bias improvement of ~11%, whereas such improvement using the standard MOD10C1 maps is ~3%. These improvements suggest that the Noahmodel underestimates SWE and snow depth fields, and that the assimilation integrations contribute to correcting this systematic error. We conclude that the gap-filling strategy is an effective approach for increasing cloud-free observations of snow cover.
Using multimedia and "active learning" techniques to "energize" an introductory engineering thermodynamics class

This paper describes an effort to "energize" an introductory engineering thermodynamics class that is a part of the core curriculum that all cadets at the USAF Academy must take before they graduate. The fact that humanities majors as well as engineering majors must take this course presents several interesting challenges for the instructor. Making the material "come alive" and seem "relevant" is always important but particularly so for the humanities majors who often do not wish to be enrolled in the course. This need to "humanize" the subject material must be balanced against the needs of the engineering majors who must have sufficient rigor to be successful in follow-on thermal science courses. The efforts made to satisfy these competing needs and to improve the learning experience fell into two categories: (1) laptop-based multimedia; and (2) "active learning" techniques. The laptop-based multimedia elements included photos, videos and news that in some way helped to introduce or illustrate important lesson topics. This material was gathered from a variety of sources including the web, magazines, newspapers, former students and fellow instructors. The "active learning" techniques included 'think-pair-share', pseudo-TV game show sessions and group boardwork. The effectiveness of these efforts was assessed using both formal and informal student feedback mechanisms, test scores, and instructor observations. The assessment results from this semester were compared to the author's results from an earlier semester. Improvements in both student performance and in student satisfaction were achieved. Furthermore, from the author's perspective, the course was more satisfying to teach. The experience described in this paper may be helpful to other instructors who seek straightforward techniques for boosting student performance and satisfaction.
Efficient measurement procedures for compound part profile by computer vision

Abstract It is apparent that automated inspection for manufacturing is on the threshold of broad industrial utilization. One key problem in manufacturing applications of automated inspection is how to find fast and efficient methods using economical computers that industry can afford. Moreover, most mechanical designers set only overall tolerances for part geometric features. In computer vision inspection, as well as in the use of other automated inspection devices and coordinate measuring machines (CMM) the errors of representing each geometric features should be identified separately. The proposed statistical inference method provides a scientific basis for setting inspection tolerances in original geometric space which are compatible with engineering specifications. The results of this presentation should supply industrial practitioners with an accurate and fast approach for on-line part profile inspection.
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-independent action of IGF-binding protein-3 in Hs578T human breast cancer cells. Cell surface binding and growth inhibition.

Estrogen receptor-negative Hs578T human breast cancer cells secrete insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and IGFBP-4 as major binding protein (BP) species. Our previous immunohistochemical studies (Oh, Y., Muller, H. L., Pham, H., Lamson, G., and Rosenfeld, R. G. (1992) Endocrinology 131, 3123-3125) have demonstrated the existence of cell surface-associated IGFBP-3 and release of cell surface-associated IGFBP-3 into conditioned media by addition of IGF peptide in Hs578T cells. In this study, we have demonstrated that IGFBP-3 binding on the cell surface is specific and receptor-mediated, by showing: 1) a dose-dependent increase of IGFBP-3 binding by addition of divalent cations (CaCl2 and MnCl2); 2) dose-dependent competition of 125I-IGFBP-3E. coli by unlabeled IGFBP-3E.coli (> 80% competition at 100 nM), but not by IGFBP-1 or fibronectin. In addition, exogenous IGFBP-3 treatment resulted in a significant inhibitory effect on monolayer growth of Hs578T cells. This inhibitory effect of IGFBP-3 was shown to be specific and IGF-independent by demonstrating: 1) dose-dependent inhibition on cell growth (60% inhibition at 20 nM) and inhibition on DNA synthesis (10 nM; p
Stability criteria for robot compliant maneuvers

A nonlinear approach for the stability analysis of robot manipulators in constrained maneuvers is presented. Stability of the environment and the manipulator taken as a whole has been investigated, and a bound for stable manipulation has been derived. The authors show that for stability of the robot, there must be some initial compliancy either in the robot or in the environment. The general stability condition has been extended to the particular case where the environment is very rigid in comparison with the robot stiffness. The stability analysis has been investigated using unstructured models for the dynamic behaviour of the robot manipulator and the environment. This unified approach of modeling robot dynamics is expressed in terms of sensitivity functions as opposed to the Lagrangian behavior of all the elements of a robot manipulator (i.e., actuators, sensors, and the structural compliance of the links) in addition to the rigid body dynamics. >
The Individual Response to Training and Competition at Altitude

Performance in athletic activities that include a significant aerobic component at mild or moderate altitudes shows a large individual variation. Physiologically, a large portion of the negative effect of altitude on exercise performance can be traced to limitations of oxygen diffusion, either at the level of the alveoli or the muscle microvasculature. In the lung, the ability to maintain arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SaO2) appears to be a primary factor, ultimately influencing oxygen delivery to the periphery. SaO2 in hypoxia can be defended by increasing ventilatory drive; however, during heavy exercise, many athletes demonstrate limitations to expiratory flow and are unable to increase ventilation in hypoxia. Additionally, increasing ventilatory work in hypoxia may actually be negative for performance, if dyspnoea increases or muscle blood flow is reduced secondary to an increased sympathetic outflow (eg, the muscle metaboreflex response). Taken together, some athletes are clearly more negatively affected during exercise in hypoxia than other athletes. With careful screening, it may be possible to develop a protocol for determining which athletes may be the most negatively affected during competition and/or training at altitude.
Lymphoid organ development and cell migration.

Summary: As we travel into a new century, confronted with new infectious diseases and bioweapon threats, with surgeons continuing to push the boundaries of what is transplantable, and with gene therapists working on ways to remedy a myriad of genetic diseases, the need for improved methods to augment and suppress immune function is paramount. The recent discovery that a novel immunosuppressant works by blocking lymphocyte egress from lymphoid organs provides a compelling example of how improved understanding of lymphoid organ function will contribute to future drug development and human health. This volume brings together reviews from leaders in the field of thymus and secondary lymphoid organ biology, including discussions on the roles of transcriptional regulators Foxn1, retinoid-related orphan receptor γ and nuclear factor-κB in lymphoid organ development, the function of lymphotoxin and other cytokines in lymphoid tissue organization, the guidance activity of chemokines in a multitude of immune cell-positioning events, the mechanism of action of the immunosuppressant FTY720, and the application of two-photon laser scanning microscopy to reveal the dynamic behavior of lymphoid cells in the depths of these essential tissues.
Seeking meaning and hope: self-reported spiritual and existential needs among an ethnically-diverse cancer patient population.

Spiritual beliefs and practices are believed to promote adjustment to cancer through their effect on existential concerns, including one's personal search for the meaning of life and death, and hope. This study sought to identify the nature, prevalence, and correlates of spiritual/existential needs among an ethnically-diverse, urban sample of cancer patients (n=248). Patients indicated wanting help with: overcoming my fears (51%), finding hope (42%), finding meaning in life (40%), finding spiritual resources (39%); or someone to talk to about: finding peace of mind (43%), the meaning of life (28%), and dying and death (25%). Patients (n=71) reporting five or more spiritual/existential needs were more likely to be of Hispanic (61%) or African–American (41%) ethnicity (vs. 25% White; p<0.001), more recently diagnosed (mean=25.6 vs. 43.7 months; p<0.02), and unmarried (49% vs. 34%; p<0.05), compared with those (n=123) reporting two or fewer needs. Treatment status, cancer site, education, gender, age, and religion were not associated with level of needs endorsement. Discriminant analysis found minority status to be the best predictor of high needs endorsement, providing 65% correct classification, p<0.001. Implications for the development and delivery of spiritual/existential interventions in a multi-ethnic oncology setting are discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ON THE NATURE OF THE INHIBITOR OF URINARY ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE.

The inhibition of urinary alkaline phosphatase has been shown to be caused principally by the inorganic phosphates which are naturally excreted in urine. An inorganic phosphate concentration of 15 mg./100 ml. resulted in approximately 50% inhibition, and that of 120 mg./100 ml. in an inhibition of about 90%. Evidence is presented which shows that the inhibition is of the competitive type.
Solving the Subset Sum Problem with Heap-Ordered Subset Trees.

In the field of algorithmic analysis, one of the more well-known exercises is the subset sum problem. That is, given a set of integers, determine whether one or more integers in the set can sum to a target value. Aside from the brute-force approach of verifying all combinations of integers, several solutions have been found, ranging from clever uses of various data structures to computationally-efficient approximation solutions. In this paper, a unique approach is discussed which builds upon the existing min-heap solution for positive integers, introducing a tree-based data structure influenced by the binomial heap. Termed the subset tree, this data structure solves the subset sum problem for all integers in time $O(N^3k\log k)$, where $N$ is the length of the set and $k$ is the index of the list of subsets that is being searched.
Elucidating the Roles of Zeolite H-BEA in Aqueous-Phase Fructose Dehydration and HMF Rehydration

The main paths by which zeolites carry out the dehydration of fructose to HMF and the rehydration of HMF to levulinic acid in aqueous solutions are elucidated using an H-BEA zeolite with SiO2/Al2O3 = 18 (H-BEA-18) as a representative solid acid catalyst. Specifically, the relative role of homogeneous chemistry (both solvent- and zeolite-induced), the effect of external surface acid sites, and the effect of adsorption of products and reactants on the catalyst for these reactions is delineated. We found that H-BEA-18 increases the conversion of fructose and HMF in part by catalyzing fructose isomerization to glucose and HMF rehydration to formic and levulinic acids, respectively. The glucose-to-fructose isomerization is caused by octahedral aluminum atoms that act as Lewis acid sites as shown by 1H and 13C NMR. These Lewis sites are formed during calcination and are stable under reaction conditions. They also catalyze reactions to unknown products from both fructose and HMF. The acids produced from HMF rehy...
Temperature-dependent variation in gas exchange patterns and spiracular control in Rhodnius prolixus.

Insects display an array of respiratory behaviors, including the use of discontinuous gas exchange. This pattern is characterized by periods of spiracular closure, micro-openings (flutter), and complete openings during which the majority of gas exchange takes place. A current model of insect spiracular control suggests that spiracles are controlled by two interacting feedback loops, which produce the discontinuous pattern. The flutter period is thought to be initiated by a critically low partial pressure of oxygen, while the open period is initiated by a critically high CO2 threshold. The goal of our study was to test this control model under conditions of feeding-induced or temperature-induced changes in metabolic rate. We manipulated the metabolic rate of the insect Rhodnius prolixus using two discrete mechanisms: (1) feeding the insects a bloodmeal or (2) exposing them to a range of temperatures (18–38°C). Examining the variation in the gas exchange patterns produced by insects in each of these treatments allowed us to determine whether spiracular control is sensitive to metabolic rate and/or temperature. We found that increases in temperature caused significant decreases in open phase burst volumes and premature abandonment of discontinuous gas exchange cycles. These effects were not observed in fed individuals maintained at a single temperature despite their higher metabolic rates. Our results indicate that some part of the spiracular control mechanism is temperature sensitive, suggesting a possible role for pH in CO2 sensing.
Is gender inequality a barrier to realizing fertility intentions? Fertility aspirations and realizations in South Korea

ABSTRACTResearch highlights the emergence of national low fertility regimes and the importance of understanding how institutional gender inequity supports low fertility. In South Korea, where gender inequality is high and a national low fertility regime exists, many women express a desire for two children but bear one child. Does gender equity, particularly within the household, influence the realization of fertility desires within the context of institutional inequality? Using the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women & Families, in this paper, I test the effect of gender equity within the family on second births. Evaluating a subsample of married women with one child who desire a second child, I find that women’s gender role attitudes, husbands’ housework and women’s responsibility for children’s education influence the likelihood of realizing a second birth. Results highlight the importance of men’s household contributions and women’s educational responsibilities on the realization of fertility intention...
Calculation of the Limited Load-bearing Capacity of the Pipe String Inside a Slip

With oil wells being deeper and deeper,the accurate determination of the limited load-bearing capacity become more and more important.On the basis of the analysis of API and former Soviet Union formulas used for calculation the limited load,a mechanical model was put forward. The dangerous section of the pipe string inside a slip was found out according to the bending moment theory of a cylindrical shell. A simple formula of the limited load was derived,and it can be used for well cementing design. Several examples illustrated that the calculating results of the formula are accurate.
Colonizing Europe: widescreen aesthetics in the 1950s’ American travel film

AbstractThis article uses textual methodologies adapted from postcolonial studies to explore the colonialist aesthetics of mid-century American cinema. It focuses on This is Cinerama (Merian C. Cooper, independent, 1952) and Three Coins in the Fountain (Jean Negulesco, Fox, 1954) – two films with early widescreen formats that engage with the techno-aesthetic tradition of the silent film travelogue, and that depict European space. These films confer power and metropole status not simply on the West but specifically on America, performing an imaginative act of appropriation of European space and culture. This is Cinerama engages with the long tradition of ethnographic cinema, mobilizing tropes of the racialized other in representing Europeans and constructing a mapping of European space that centres on the controlling gaze of the white American man. Three Coins deploys the colonial aesthetic tradition of the picturesque and its haptic corollary, the stroll, as a mode for managing the Italian landscape. It d...
Nerve growth factor-induced increase in phjthymidine incorporation into parotid and submandibular glands of young rats and its partial blockade by propranolol or partial sialoadenectomy

Abstract Administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) twice daily for 2 days to young rats (11 days old at the time of the initial injection) resulted in an 8.1-fold increase in [ 3 H]thymidine levels of the parotid gland, and a 9.7-fold increase in levels of the submandibular gland when compared to untreated controls. Isoproterenol (ISO), a β-adrenergic receptor agonist, caused an 8.7-fold increase in [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of the parotid gland, and a 10.7-fold increase in [ 3 H]thymidine in the submandibular gland when compared to controls. The increase in thymidine was accompanied by parotid gland enlargement as well as an increase in cell surface β1–4 galactosyltransferase, an enzyme whose expression has been associated previously with acinar cell proliferation. Administration of NGF and ISO together were not additive in their effects on the parotid and submandibular glands. The introduction of propranolol, a β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, completely negated the ISO effects on the salivary glands but was only partially effective in blocking the NGF effects on the glands. An assay of parotid levels of norepinephrine showed NGF treatment to cause an increase in gland-associated levels of neurotransmitter. Removal of the submandibular/sublingual glands prior to administration of ISO prevented the above changes in the parotid gland. NGF administered to partially sialoadenectomized rats was also less effective in inducing parotid gland hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Simultaneous administration of NGF and ISO to the partially sialoadenectomized rats had an additive influence on [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation, galactosyltransferase expression and gland hypertrophy. The results suggest that NGF influences salivary gland cell growth in part through activation of cell-surface β-adrenergic receptors.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1960–2013

Objective To evaluate the incidence and prevalence of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in Olmsted County, Minnesota in 1994-2013 and trends in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in 1960-2013. Methods Cases of arthritis in 1994-2013 were identified by diagnosis code with medical chart review to confirm diagnosis separately for JIA and JRA. Overall incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were age and sex adjusted to the 2010 US white population. Comparisons were made with an earlier (1960-1993) cohort from this same population. Results Seventy-one incident cases of JIA in 1994-2013 were identified, with an overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of 10.3 per 100,000 (95% CI 7.9-12.7). Forty-two (59%) were female, with an incidence of 12.4 per 100,000 (95% CI 8.6-16.2), as compared to 8.3 per 100,000 (95% CI 5.2-11.3) in males. The most common subtype was oligoarthritis (63%). The mean ± SD age at diagnosis was 8.2 ± 5.3 years. The prevalence of JIA on January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2010 was 51.0 per 100,000 (95% CI 25.2-76.8) and 57.6 per 100,000 (95% CI 31.0-94.5), respectively. When the annual incidence of JRA was compared over time from 1960 to 2013, there was no significant change in incidence overall; however, the incidence decreased among females (P = 0.003). A cyclic pattern of incidence was observed, with peaks approximately every 10 years. Similar to the findings with regard to incidence, prevalence did not change overall, but decreased among females (P = 0.048). There were 4 deaths in the cohort of JRA patients diagnosed in 1960-2013; the standardized mortality ratio was 1.50 (95% CI 0.41-3.83). Conclusion Incidence of juvenile arthritis overall in Olmsted County, Minnesota has not changed significantly in the past 53 years. A consistent cyclic pattern was noted.
Synthesis and Nanofiltration Membrane Performance of Oriented Mesoporous Silica Thin Films on Macroporous Supports.

Silica thin films with accessible hexagonal close-packed (HCP) pores have been deposited on macroporous supports to achieve composite nanofiltration membranes. The properties of these pore channels have been characterized through solvent flux and solute diffusion experiments. A chemically neutral surface (provided by a cross-linked layer of P123 copolymer) for silica thin film synthesis on the alumina macroporous support promotes the alignment of HCP channels vertical to the substrate, where the mesopore templating agent is block copolymer P123 (poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)). Vertical pore alignment is achieved for thin films (less than ∼100 nm) on a neutral surface and by sandwiching thicker films (∼240 nm) between two chemically neutral surfaces. Solvent flux through the composite membranes is consistent with accessible 10 nm diameter pores. Size selectivity of the membranes is characterized from the permeability of fluorescently tagged solutes (ranging ...
de novo Design and in silico Optimization of Antibody-Like Binders Targeting Ebola Viral Antigen

Since the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in February 2014, there has been an urgent need of a sensitive, rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for early detection of Ebola virus. Targeting viral antigens with antibodies is a strategy used extensively in diagnostic and therapeutic development. Therefore, obtaining high-affinity antibodies plays a crucial role in antibody-based methods for Ebola virus detection. Here, we present an in silico design procedure involving antibody generation and affinity maturation to identify antibody-like binders (ALBs) that target Ebola virus glycoproteins (GP) with high binding affinities. Initial germline ALB designs were performed under the framework of Optimal Method for Antibody Variable region Engineering (OptMAVEn) by targeting Ebola GP epitope. Twenty-three selected ALB designs were then optimized using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations for binding interfaces sampling and refinement. The binding interfaces were assessed in terms of binding free energies using MM/PBSA method. ALBs characterized with high stability and low binding free energies were selected and redesigned with an IPRO design protocol for antibody maturation. By calculating binding free energies for GP-ALBs complexes, we successfully identified eight ALBs with comparable binding affinity to the native antibody (KZ52) isolated from a human survivor. These results suggest that our computational method efficiently simulates the in vivo antibody generation and evolution, and that this method can design antibody-like models with high affinity to the Ebola viral antigen, an approach that may also be applied to other viruses.
Targeting Glial Mitochondrial Function for Protection from Cerebral Ischemia: Relevance, Mechanisms, and the Role of MicroRNAs

Astrocytes and microglia play crucial roles in the response to cerebral ischemia and are effective targets for stroke therapy in animal models. MicroRNAs (miRs) are important posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression that function by inhibiting the translation of select target genes. In astrocytes, miR expression patterns regulate mitochondrial function in response to oxidative stress via targeting of Bcl2 and heat shock protein 70 family members. Mitochondria play an active role in microglial activation, and miRs regulate the microglial neuroinflammatory response. As endogenous miR expression patterns can be altered with exogenous mimics and inhibitors, miR-targeted therapies represent a viable intervention to optimize glial mitochondrial function and improve clinical outcome following cerebral ischemia. In the present article, we review the role that astrocytes and microglia play in neuronal function and fate following ischemic stress, discuss the relevance of mitochondria in the glial response to injury, and present current evidence implicating miRs as critical regulators in the glial mitochondrial response to cerebral ischemia.
Puzzling Lack of Temperature Dependence of the PuO2 Magnetic Susceptibility Explained According to Ab Initio Wave Function Calculations.

The electronic structure and the magnetic properties of solid PuO2 are investigated by wave function theory calculations, using a relativistic complete active space (CAS) approach including spin–orbit coupling. The experimental magnetic susceptibility is well reproduced by calculations for an embedded PuO812– cluster model. The calculations indicate that the surprising lack of temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility χ of solid PuO2 can be rationalized based on the properties of a single Pu4+ ion in the cubic ligand field of the surrounding oxygen ions. Below ∼300 K, the only populated state is the nonmagnetic ground state, leading to standard temperature-independent paramagnetism (TIP). Above 300 K, there is an almost perfect cancellation of temperature-dependent contributions to χ that depends delicately on the mixing of ion levels in the electronic states, their relative energies, and the magnetic coupling between them.
Unpacking the variable context of quotatives: Evidence from U.S. Southwest Spanish

The present study analyzes the use of quotatives in Spanish among twenty-four Spanish-English bilinguals from Southern Arizona and assesses the possible influence of English contact in their use. Cameron (1998) defines the envelope of variation of quotatives in Spanish as verbs of direct report, bare-noun phrases, and null quotatives. This study identifies a fourth strategy of quotative discourse markers. A detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of the linguistic conditioning of these four strategies of direct quotation according to content of the quote and grammatical person points to the fact that quotative discourse markers appear to be conditioned differently than the other three strategies, but contact with English does not play a decisive role in their use. These results contribute to our knowledge of Spanish in the United States and variation in quotative systems by expanding on Cameron’s (1998) study to explore the quotative system of the Spanish of the U.S. Southwest and adding an analysis of quotative discourse markers.
Applications of Elliptic Curves

If we are going to be able to implement factorization techniques and primality tests using the arithmetic of elliptic curves, we need a fast way of computing (x, y)#i. Actually, the fastest techniques just compute the first coordinate.
Semiparametric Estimation in Network Formation Models with Homophily and Degree Heterogeneity

This paper considers a semiparametric version of the network formation model of Graham (2017). The two-way fixed-effects binary choice model allows for homophily and degree heterogeneity, but unlike Graham (2017) leaves the distribution of pair-specific unobservables unspecified. Identification of the slope parameters and fixed effects follows from a novel approach that does not rely on distributional assumptions. The identification strategy suggests an estimator for the slope parameters based upon tetrads of nodes within the network. A computationally simple version of this estimator is shown to be consistent with a non-parametric convergence rate. A consistent estimator of the fixed effects is also provided. Partial identification, for the case of discrete covariate support, and an extension to nonlinear fixed effects are also considered.
Impaired Mitophagy Plays a Role in Denervation of Neuromuscular Junctions in ALS Mice.

Motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and animal models show degeneration from the nerve terminal, known as dying-back neuropathy. To investigate the mechanism underlying this neuropathy, we analyzed the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and motor neuron cell bodies in SOD1G93A mice using electron microscopy. NMJs of SOD1G93A mice exhibited significantly higher numbers of autophagosomes and degenerated mitochondria compared to wild-type controls. Mitophagosomes were identified in the NMJ presynaptic terminals of wild-type mice and SOD1G93A mice. However, the number of mitophagosomes did not increase significantly in SOD1G93A NMJs indicating a defect in mitophagy, the autophagic process to degrade mitochondria. Consistent with this, proteins essential for mitophagy, p62/SQSTM1, Bnip3, Pink1, and Parkin were down-regulated in motor neurons in SOD1G93A mice. Importantly, SQSTM1 is one of the genes mutated in familial ALS patients. We evaluated the effect of impaired mitophagy on motor neurons by analyzing the double knockout mice of Pink1 and Parkin, two genes responsible for sensing depolarized mitochondria and delivering degenerated mitochondria to mitophagosomes. The double knockout mice exhibited NMJ degeneration, including axon swelling and NMJ fragmentation at four months of age. These phenotypes are rarely observed in wild-type control mice of the same age. The protein level of ATP synthase β subunit increased in the NMJ presynaptic terminals, suggesting the accumulation of mitochondria at NMJs of the double knockout mice. Importantly, NMJ denervation was observed in the double knockout mice. These data suggest that the reduced mitophagy function in motor neurons of SOD1G93A mice is one of the mechanisms causing degeneration of ALS NMJs.
Hydrogen isotherms for compositionally homogeneous and inhomogenous Pd1−xNix alloys

Abstract Compositional inhomogeneities have been introduced into fcc Pd–Ni alloy foil by arc-melting the pure elements together without annealing either the arc-melted buttons or the resulting cold-rolled foil. Alternatively inhomogeneities have been introduced by subjecting the homogeneous alloy foils to moderately high H 2 pressure at moderately high temperatures, hydrogen heat treatment, HHT. The alloys were then progressively annealed in vacuo and H 2 isotherms measured after the annealing treatments. The compositional inhomogeneities in the un-annealed alloys are reflected by sloping H 2 isotherms in the two phase region and for those subjected to HHT, by lower plateau pressures and by the elimination of hysteresis. Isotherms in the dilute phase region for the alloys prepared from unannealed buttons are largely unaffected by the compositional inhomogeneities. Progressive annealing of the inhomogeneous foils, leads to gradual isotherm changes eventually approaching that characteristic of the well-annealed alloys. The alloys subjected to HHT recovered at lower annealing temperatures than the unannealed buttons and foils. This research should help in the detection of compositional inhomogeneities from the isotherms of other Pd alloys.
A Program Notation

In this chapter, we introduce a notation for writing programs. It is sufficiently similar to Pascal and C to warrant only a short introduction, so we concentrate on describing the effects brought about by a program written in such a language. Let us start with an example of a Pascal program.
Linking nursing unit's culture to organizational effectiveness: a measurement tool

Organizational culture consists of the deep underlying assumptions, beliefs, and values that are shared by members of the organization and typically operate unconsciously. The four organizational culture traits of the Denison Organizational Culture Model (DOCM) are characteristics of organizational effectiveness, which include adaptability, involvement, consistency, and mission. Effective organizations demonstrate high levels of the four cultural traits which reflect their ability to balance the dynamic tension between the need for stability and the need for flexibility within the organization. The Denison Organizational Culture Survey (DOCS) is a measurement tool that was founded on the theoretical framework of the DOCM, and in the field of business, is one of the most commonly used tools for measuring organizational culture. The DOCS offers a promising approach to operationalizing and measuring the link between organizational culture and organizational effectiveness in the context of nursing units.
Preoperative risk analysis index for frailty predicts short-term outcomes after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

Abstract Background The Risk Analysis Index (RAI) for frailty is a rapid survey for comorbidities and performance status, which predicts mortality after general surgery. We aimed to validate the RAI in predicting outcomes after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. Methods Associations of RAI, determined in 162 patients prior to undergoing hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, with prospectively collected 30-day post-operative outcomes were analyzed with multivariate logistic and linear regression. Results Patients (age 62 ± 14, 51% female) had a median RAI of 7, range 0–25. With every unit increase in RAI, length of stay increased by 5% (95% CI: 2–7%), odds of ICU admission increased by 10% (0–20%), ICU length of stay increased by 21% (9–34%), and odds of discharge to a nursing facility increased by 8% (0–17%) (all P Conclusion While RAI and ACS-NSQIP Risk Calculator comparatively predicted short-term outcomes after HPB surgery, RAI has been specifically designed to identify frail patients who can potentially benefit from preoperative prehabilitation interventions.
Core curriculum: research ethics for radiology residents.

Rationale and Objectives Scholarly activity, which may include research, is now a required element of resident training. In addition, residents are required to participate in a systems-based practice or quality improvement project. Residency programs are expected to provide training for these endeavors but may lack the necessary resources. This work is intended to provide a core curriculum in research ethics for radiology residents to help fulfill that need. Materials and Methods The material was developed through discussion and collaboration of the authors, review of pertinent literature, and consultation with experts in the field. Results This work includes a brief introduction to the topic, followed by cases designed to highlight the issues inherent in informed consent, privacy, the disclosure of results, authorship, study subjects, and health services research. Conclusion Radiology residents are expected to learn about the design, performance, reporting, and critical evaluation of research. All of these elements can potentially raise ethical issues. Understanding the underlying ethical issues is critical for the future of radiology research.
Craniofacial Regenerative Medicine

Abstract The complex architecture of craniofacial anatomy, different mechanical demands, and variable local environments make the application of uniform tissue engineering strategies difficult within this region. However, over the past few decades, regenerative technology for craniofacial reconstruction has seen substantial innovation. Much of this advancement can be attributed to new tissue engineering discoveries. In this chapter, we discuss the craniofacial region and common defects that occur as a result of pathology, trauma, and the side effects of treatment. In addition, we describe current practices to aid the regeneration of native tissue. Finally, we highlight current bone tissue engineering strategies specific to the craniofacial region.
Case series: Extended wear of rigid gas permeable scleral contact lenses for the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects.

Abstract Objectives To report the successful treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects that failed to respond to alternative treatment methods using extended wear of three different rigid gas-permeable scleral lenses. Methods Eight eyes of eight patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects were treated with Blanchard Onefit 2.0 Scleral lens, BostonSight Scleral lens, and BostonSight PROSE device and were observed for defect resolution and improvement in best-corrected visual acuity over the duration of treatment. Results All eyes observed complete re-epithelialization with a mean time of 11.1 ± 5.5 days. At the conclusion of the treatment, visual acuity improved in all but one patient. No complications were observed during treatment. Conclusions Scleral lenses provide the corneal epithelium with hydration, oxygen permeation, and protection from mechanical forces; thereby facilitating healing of persistent corneal epithelial defects. This case series demonstrates the successful use of continuous wear scleral lenses in a number of patients for the treatment of persistent epithelial defects refractory to other interventions.
Assessing Global Awareness in Undergraduate Introductory Business Finance Course with a Reading Assignment of Wall Street Journal Articles

In light of the recent emphasis on globalization and technological skills in business education, this paper provides an example of how Global Awareness can be accessed in a finance course required of every undergraduate business student. International aspects of the financial management are likely not covered in detail (or not covered at all) in an introductory business finance course among most business programs nationwide. In the meantime, this course itself may be the only required finance course in most business schools’ core curricula. The method described in this paper offers an alternative to assess students’ global awareness with a Wall Street Journal reading assignment without allocating much of the seat time in a semester. In addition, the implementation of the assessment activities is not complex either. Overall, the results of this assessment have indicated that the level of students’ global awareness is satisfactory.