cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sleep disorders and the prevalence of asymptomatic nocturnal acid and non-acid reflux

Background Nocturnal acid reflux is associated with symptomatic and asymptomatic sleep arousals, leading to fragmented sleep. The frequency and influence of acid reflux in patients with various forms of insomnia has not been reported. The aim of this study was to quantify nocturnal acid and nonacid reflux in patients with primary sleep disorders as previously diagnosed by polysomnography. Methods Thirty one subjects were studied: (A) 9 subjects with a polysomnographically diagnosed sleep disorder (1 with restless legs syndrome, 4 with narcolepsy, 4 with periodic limb movement disorder); (B) 12 subjects with primary insomnia (PI) and unrevealing polysomnography; and (C) 10 controls without disturbed sleep. All subjects underwent a physical examination and 24 h transnasal pH and impedance monitoring to detect acid and non-acid reflux. Results The 21 subjects with fragmented sleep due to a primary sleep disorder had significantly more recumbent acid exposure (>1.2% of time) as compared with control subjects (33% versus 0%). When fragmented sleep subjects were divided into two groups, 17% of PI subjects and 55% of subjects with a diagnosed sleep disorder had significant recumbent acid exposure (P=0.009). Likewise, the median recumbent nonacid events were increased in the sleep disordered group (P=0.011). Conclusions This study indicates that patients with primary sleep disorders have prominent nocturnal acid reflux without symptoms of daytime acid reflux. Acid reflux is most prominent in patients with polysomnographic findings of disturbed sleep as compared to patients with PI; while non acid reflux is increased minimally in these patients. Keywords Gastro-esophageal reflux, nocturnal acid reflux, non-acid reflux, sleep disorders, insomnia
Heightened Incidence of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents Involved in the Arts

Studies have shown a higher than average incidence of mental illness in adult artists. We asked whether an association between symptoms of affective disorders and the arts is found as early as adolescence, using a sample of 2,482 15- to 16-year-old adolescents. Teens involved in afterschool arts had higher depressive symptom scores than those not involved, and the association between arts involvement and depressive symptoms held only for those scoring above the median in working memory test scores. We consider reasons for these findings, including the possibility that shared cognitive vulnerabilities may underlie both the depressive symptoms and increased arts practice, and that cognitive resources (working memory) facilitate the adaptive use of these vulnerabilities.
Clusters of galaxies

Clusters and groups of galaxies are now recognized to be fundamental constituents of the Universe. According to modern theory, most of the material in the Universe that has collapsed into coherent structures lies in groups of galaxies, while clusters are the only entities in the Universe that should be representative of the Universe as a whole. Thus the study of groups and clusters of galaxies is of tremendous importance. One of the most surprising distinguishing characteristics of these, the largest and most massive objects in the Universe, is that they are filled with hot X-ray-emitting gas whose mass exceeds (often by factors of 3–7) the mass of the galaxies in the groups and clusters. This gas is enriched in heavy elements (e.g., oxygen and iron) and is thus the repository of most of the metals in the Universe.
Search for a baryon of positive strangeness

A search has been made for a baryon of strangeness +1 (the Z+) in the mass range from 940 to 1440 MeV/c2. Three production modes have been considered: K+ + p → Z+ + π+, K+ + p → Z+ + π+ + π0, π+ + d → Z+ +\(\overline {K^0 } \) + p. Candidates for the first two reactions came from a 2.26 GeV/c K+p bubble chamber experiment and were of two types: all 2-prong events in which one track decayed in the chamber and a sample of nondecaying 2-prongs in which there was no apparent neutral production (as determined by the momentum balance at the production vertex). The associated production events were taken from π+d exposures at 1.2 and 2.8 GeV/c. In all cases the data are consistent with the absence of a Z+, although kinematic ambiguities of various types prevent an absolute statement. In the K+-initiated reactions, the production cross-sections are less thean 1 μb for the 2-body production of the decaying Z+, less than 3 μb for the 3-body production of the decaying Z+, and less than 25 μb for a Z+ which does not have a visible decay (with reasonable assumptions on the ambiguities). The associated production cross-section for a Z+ is less than 18 μb.
Are measurements of geometric imperfections of plates and shells useful

This paper refers to the question whether it would be advantageous to make numerous measurements of geometric imperfections of shells. Measurements are presented of the geometric imperfections of sixteen flat plates of box columns and are compared with the effective imperfections of those plates during postbuckling; the two are not found to agree always. Therefore, the paper wishes to raise the question whether, for a program of imperfection measurements to be useful, it should not concentrate on effective imperfections.
Experimental production of skin lesions in human cutaneous porphyria.

Summary And ConclusionLight of the porphyrin Soret wave band, ca. 4050A, of intensity comparable to natural energy levels, failed to produce skin lesions in several cases of cutaneous porphyria. Simultaneous, or subsequent infra red irradiation (26000A) was followed by erythematous, often vesiculobullous lesions. Preliminary application of the same amount of heat of the same wave band followed by the 4050A light was ineffective. The unexposed skin of the abdomen regularly contained more porphyrin than that of previously light exposed skin of the hands. Lesions were more readily produced by exposure of the abdominal skin to 4050A and 26000A wave length energy.
Effects of Different Irrigation Patterns on Drought-resistance Physiological Indexes of Japonica Rice in Cold Region

The present work has been performed to study the effect of five different irrigation patterns on the physiological traits of drought tolerance in japonica rice of cold region.In this study,two japonica rice cultivars,Dongnong 425 and Dongnong 427,were used as the experiment materials and soil water potential as irrigation index was measured during the whole rice growth season.The result showed that the accumulation and the change magnitude of proline(Pro) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in the leaves under different irrigation treatments appeared basically the same trend during the whole growth period.The trend mentioned above was that dry farming sever dry-wet alternate irrigation(soil was re-watered when soil water potential reached at-30 kPa) mild dry-wet alternate irrigation(soil was re-watered when soil water potential reached at-10 kPa) moderate dry-wet alternate irrigation(soil was re-watered when soil water potential reached at-20 kPa) conventional irrigation.Pro and MDA were significantly increased under dry farming and severe dry-wet alternate irrigation.In addition,the content of Pro and MDA in leaves was negative correlated with drought-resistance and yield where the proline content significantly.Compared with the other three irrigation patterns,the content of chlorophyll(Chl) in the leaves under dry farming and severe dry-wet alternate irrigation was significantly decreased.With the advancement of reproductive process,the content of Chl under mild and moderate dry-wet alternate irrigation was higher than other treatments.Moreover,the moderate dry-wet alternate irrigation significantly increased the content of Chl and the content of Chl was significant correlative with drought resistance.The results suggested that moderate dry-wet alternate irrigation is a more reasonable way of irrigation and the drought resistance of Dongnong 425 is higher than Dongnong 427.
A Factor Analytic Assessment of Financial Sustainability: The Case of New South Wales Local Government

Financial sustainability in local government remains a pressing problem which has seen a host of public policy interventions, including compulsory consolidation and performance monitoring through financial sustainability ratios. In September 2014, the New South Wales (NSW) Government announced a reform program centred on increasing scale in local government to make councils ‘fit for the future’. We apply factor analysis to the financial ratios informing the NSW Government's reform initiative to identify the underlying factors for observed financial performance data. We find evidence indicating that three independent underlying factors account for the adopted measures of financial sustainability. The public policy implication arising from this study suggests that the reforms imposed by the NSW Government on NSW municipalities may only meet with limited successa.
Case Study: 75% Energy Savings at a Wastewater Treatment Plant

ABSTRACTThis article is a case study for an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) at the wastewater treatment plant for the City of Riverbank in California. The existing plant has an average of 1.67 million gallons per day (MGD) flow and consists of the headworks, four treatment ponds, and seven percolation ponds. Prior to the project, the treatment ponds used surface aerators to provide oxygen for the biologic process. The plant was primarily operated manually with limited dissolved oxygen control. The utility bills showed excessive energy use—annual usage was 5,673 kWh/MG/yr. Schneider Electric and the City of River-bank entered into a construction contract to retrofit the treatment ponds with blowers and fine-bubble diffusers for more efficient oxygen transfer. Additionally, a control system was installed to maintain a dissolved oxygen set point. This scope of work is estimated to save 75% of the electricity consumption at the wastewater treatment plant and will save the city 65% of their electric...
The Fixed Point Property for Ordered Sets of Interval Dimension 2

We provide a polynomial time algorithm that identifies if a given finite ordered set is in the class of d2-collapsible ordered sets. For a d2-collapsible ordered set, the algorithm also determines if the ordered set is connectedly collapsible. Because finite ordered sets of interval dimension 2 are d2-collapsible, in particular, the algorithm determines in polynomial time if a given finite ordered set of interval dimension 2 has the fixed point property. This result is also a first step in investigating the complexity status of the question whether a given collapsible ordered set has the fixed point property.
The Formal Ethics

Despite the thematic difference between Kant’s first and second Critiques they share one important feature: in both studies he rigidly adheres to the transcendental method of deduction. The following citation from Norman Kemp Smith serves as a particularly clear depiction of that method as well as an indication of its role in the Critique of Practical Reason. The moral law, though a form of pure Reason, exercises in the process of its transcendental proof, a function which exactly corresponds to that which is discharged by possible experience in the first Critique. Our consciousness of the moral law is, like sense-experience, a given fact. It is de facto and cannot be deduced from anything more ultimate than itself. But as given, it enables us to deduce its transcendental conditions. This does not mean that our immediate consciousness of it as given guarantees its validity. The nature of its validity is established only in the process whereby it reveals its necessary implications.1
Evaluation of a Point-of-Use Electrocoagulation System for Arsenic Removal

A point-of-use prototype electrocoagulation treatment system was designed and evaluated for its ability to remove arsenic from a synthetic groundwater. The system was comprised of an electrocoagulation reactor providing batch treatment, a rechargeable battery power source, an electrical monitoring and control module, and a granular media filter. The control module and the filter underdrain system were designed to improve user convenience. The system was able to consistently reduce arsenic concentrations to below 20 µg/L. Effluent soluble arsenic concentrations under 10 µg/L were deemed possible with enhanced effluent suspended solids removal techniques. Arsenic removal was found to be a function of the initial arsenic concentration and the cumulative charge dosage as measured in coulombs per liter of water treated. The steel plate size used in the electrocoagulation module influenced the current draw and the overall electrical efficiency of the system. The monitoring and control module allowed the system to produce up to 100 liters of treated water daily on a single battery charge and would automatically control charge and iron dosage. The point-of-use system was capable of meeting household potable demands for water where other treatment options are limited.
Interrelated Effects of Temperature and Environment on Wear and Tribochemistry of an Ultralow Wear PTFE Composite

A particular alumina–PTFE nanocomposite has distinguished itself with unusually large wear reductions at trace filler loadings. Recent studies have shown that the formation of carboxylic acid end groups in humid environments is a critical part of the wear reduction mechanism. This finding has significant implications for the utility of the material for space and high temperature applications. In this paper, wear rate, morphology, composition, and chemistry of the wear surfaces were characterized as a function of environmental composition and surface temperature to better understand the environmental limitations of this solid lubricating system and the associated wear resistance mechanisms. The following results were found: (1) ultralow wear rates were retained with increasing interface temperature up to 100 °C, (2) all samples ran in to low wear regardless of the environmental conditions (dry conditions caused an eventual transition to high wear), (3) carboxylates were detected after sliding in dry enviro...
Software development for multi-wavelength image correlation

The National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLSII) at Brookhaven National Laboratory offers a large variety of synchrotron based imaging techniques that provide users with structural and chemical information of materials at the nanoscale. Multiple imaging techniques such as light microscopy, infrared imaging and X-ray fluorescence microscopy are commonly used to correlate information from the same sample. Correlating the important information in such images presents a large technological challenge because the various imaging techniques generate images of different sizes and spatial resolutions. To overcome this challenge, there are two goals involving software development: the first to identify a method for using fiducial markers to correlate visible light images with Xray fluorescence microscope images at the micro- to nanoscale and the second to develop software for the fusion (i.e. overlap) and correlation of these images. Numerous programs were identified to complete this project such as Matlab, Python, Photoshop, ImageJ and Fiji. After doing much research and testing a variety of these programs, it was clear that Fiji was the best and most efficient program for solving these challenges. It has the capability to align images automatically by converting the image to 8-bit gray scale, finding the maxima, i.e. darkest points, and stacking as well as corresponding these max points to align images with pin point accuracy. Moreover, it has the capability to use manually chosen fiducial point markers where the user inputs landmarks or fiducial points on the image and the program triangulates the points to align them. In addition, a user manual was written so that other synchrotron users can benefit from this methodology as well. Overall, this process will prove to be very useful in the future of the laboratory in cases where image correlation is vital. The majority of photon sciences involve correlating images and analyzing the data that come out.
Neuron-Reactive Antibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Neuropsychiatric involvement is a frequent clinical problem in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), occuring in 25–60% of cases at some time during the course of the illness. As is true of the effects of SLE elsewhere, there are protean manifestations of central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, but most commonly it presents as seizures or organic brain syndrome with psychosis and/or impaired mentation. Despite advances in understanding some of the mechanisms of tissue damage that affect other organs, the pathogenesis of the diffuse CNS involvement in SLE remains uncertain. Inflammatory destruction of small blood vessels, the major pathogenic mechanism affecting other organs, does not appear to play an important role in the CNS (Ellis and Verity, 1979; Johnson and Richardson, 1968). However, accumulating evidence suggests that auto-antibodies reacting with cell surface molecules, the immune-mediated mechanism responsible for some of the hematological problems in SLE, is also a major contributor to the pathogenesis of much of lupus CNS disease.
Laparoscopic management of biliary obstruction secondary to sarcoidosis

Evaluation of the patient presenting with an elevated bilirubin often involves a study of the biliary tract for potential obstruction. Potential etiologies for obstruction of the common bile duct (CBD) include choledocholithiasis, pancreatic or ampullary neoplasm, cholangiocarcinoma, or extrinsic compression. Extrinsic compression can be from the gallbladder itself (Mirizzi’s syndrome) or a neoplasm in adjacent lymph nodes. We describe an unusual cause of CBD obstruction – sarcoidosis; as well as the workup, and the laparoscopic treatment of regional sarcoidosis.
Friend or faux? engineering your social network to detect fraudulent profiles

Social media has a tremendous impact on current culture and trends. It has revolutionized the way in which people communicate with one another. Malicious entities exploit the vulnerabilities brought upon by the availability of personal data content on these networks. Openly sharing personal information online can make a user vulnerable to threats such as identity theft, phishing attacks, and profile cloning. In this paper, we will report on our investigation of malicious threats on social networks. We will propose a simple yet effective methodology for detecting fraudulent profiles on Facebook, a social networking service.
Transcriptional regulation of mixed lineage kinase 3 by estrogen and its implication in ER-positive breast cancer pathogenesis

// Navin Viswakarma 1 , Rakesh Sathish Nair 1 , Gautam Sondarva 1 , Subhasis Das 1 , Lucas Ibrahimi 1 , Zhiyong Chen 4 , Subhash Sinha 4 , Basabi Rana 1, 2, 3 , Ajay Rana 1, 2, 3 1 Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA 2 University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA 3 Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA 4 Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA Correspondence to: Ajay Rana, email: arana@uic.edu Keywords: estrogen receptor, MLK3, transcriptional regulation, breast cancer, estrogen response element Received: January 30, 2017 Accepted: March 16, 2017 Published: March 25, 2017 ABSTRACT Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 (MLK3), also called as MAP3K11 is a tightly regulated MAP3K member but its cellular function is still not fully understood. Earlier we reported post-translational regulation of MLK3 by estrogen (E2) that inhibited the kinase activity and favored survival of ER + breast cancer cells. Here we report that MLK3 is also transcriptionally downregulated by E2 in ER + breast cancer cells. Publicly available data and in situ hybridization of human breast tumors showed significant down regulation of MLK3 transcripts in ER + tumors. The basal level of MLK3 transcripts and protein in ER + breast cancer cell lines were significantly lower, and the protein expression was further down regulated by E2 in a time-dependent manner. Analysis of the promoter of MLK3 revealed two ERE sites which were regulated by E2 in ER + but not in ER – breast cancer cell lines. Both ERα and ERβ were able to bind to MLK3 promoter and recruit nuclear receptor co-repressors (NCoR, SMRT and LCoR), leading to down-regulation of MLK3 transcripts. Collectively these results suggest that recruitment of nuclear receptor co-repressor is a key feature of ligand-dependent transcriptional repression of MLK3 by ERs. Therefore coordinated transcriptional and post-translational repression of pro-apoptotic MLK3 probably is one of the mechanisms by which ER + breast cancer cells proliferate and survive.
Molecular Diagnosis of Mosaic Overgrowth Syndromes Using a Custom-Designed Next-Generation Sequencing Panel.

Recent studies have discovered a group of overgrowth syndromes, such as congenital lipomatous overgrowth with vascular, epidermal, and skeletal anomalies (CLOVES) syndrome, Proteus syndrome, and megalencephaly-capillary malformation-polymicrogyria (MCAP) syndrome, are caused by somatic activating variants in genes involved in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway. Because of the low-abundance nature of these variants, Sanger sequencing often yields negative results. We have developed and validated a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel that targets all known variants associated with these syndromes. Fifty cases, including two prenatal cases, were tested using the panel. A pathogenic variant in the PIK3CA, PIK3R2, or AKT1 gene was identified in 28 of the 50 cases with the variant allele frequencies ranging from 1.0% to 49.2%. These variants were only present in the affected tissues in most of the cases, demonstrating a causal role in the development of these diseases. In vitro cell culture showed significant enrichment of the cells harboring variant alleles, suggesting that these variants render growth advantages to mutant cells. Phenotype-genotype correlation analysis showed PIK3CA mutation hotspots at residues E542, E545, and H1047 are often associated with CLOVES syndrome, whereas PIK3CA G914R is preferentially related to MCAP. We thus demonstrate that NGS technology is highly sensitive for detecting low-level mosaicism and can facilitate clinical diagnosis of mosaic overgrowth syndromes in both prenatal and postnatal settings.
Consent in Contract Law

Consent, in terms of voluntary choice, is - or, at least, appears to be or purports to be - at the essence of contract law. Contract law, both in principle and in practice, is about allowing parties to enter arrangements on terms they choose - each party imposing obligations on itself in return for obligations another party has placed upon itself. This freedom of contract - an ideal by which there are obligations to the extent, but only to the extent, freely chosen by the parties - is contrasted to the duties of criminal law and tort law, which bind all parties regardless of consent. At the same time, consent, in the robust sense expressed by the ideal of freedom of contract, is arguably absent in the vast majority of the contracts we enter these days, but its absence does little to affect the enforceability of those agreements. Consent to contractual terms often looks like consent to government: present, if at all, only under a fictional (as if) or attenuated rubric. This article explores a variety of topics relating to consent, and the role it plays in contract law doctrine and theory. The article begins by a brief examination of the nature of consent, then turns to contract doctrines that turn on the alleged absence of consent (e.g., duress and undue influence); contract rules and principles (e.g., implied terms) that turn on hypothetical consent; the challenges to consent that arise from electronic contracting and bounded rationality, and theories of contract law that emphasize consent.
Ammonia Formulations and Capture of Anastrepha Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Fruit flies in the genus Anastrepha, especially the reproductive age females, are attracted to protein baits. Synthetic lures based on the principal components of protein degradation, especially am...
Interactive Multimedia Publishing Systems

The advent of modern electronic multimedia publishing and delivery systems extends previous modes of publishing to incorporate new media and new features. For example, a growing number of conferences, particularly in the field of Computer Science, are creating electronic proceedings that are made available on CD-ROM or via networks and are extending the proceedings to incorporate non-textual materials, such as video or audio segments, and new features, such as retrieval mechanisms and hypertext cross-linking. In this paper we discuss interactive multimedia publications (IMMpubs), drawing on our experience creating such electronic conference proceedings and other multimedia publications. Our discussions emphasize the continuing role of text, highlight the pitfalls of some publication systems, and illustrate the potentials of interactive multimedia publications.
Multiband absorbers for the long-wave infrared regime.

We present the development of a long-wave infrared regime multiband absorption filter with simultaneous wavelength and intensity selectivity. The approach employs a technique we call “spectral dithering” to place single-band absorbing pixels across a unit cell such that their weighted sum describes a multiband absorption spectrum. The number of absorption bands is proportional to the number of unique pixels present. Pixel patterning controls wavelength selectivity, whereas pixel distribution controls intensity selectivity. Using the rigorous coupled-wave method for modelling, a filter with three absorption bands between 6 and 14 μm is designed using the spectral dithering technique. The device is fabricated and experimentally verified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
The Agile Systems Framework: Enterprise Content Management Case

In this paper, the researchers propose an agile systems framework (ASF) method to obtain quantitative measurements of a system’s inherent agility. Agility is defined as the ability of a system to quickly adapt and respond to change. The measurement of agility for information technology systems can help enterprises future-proof their systems. The researchers demonstrate the feasibility of the ASF by showing that interoperability, the ability of two systems to interact effectively (Beesemyer, Empirically characterizing evolvability and changeability in engineering systems, 2012), is positively related to agility. The design of the experiment to test this hypothesis is in an enterprise content management (ECM) case, but the ASF can be applied to different types of systems. The experiment consists of two tests on an ECM system, with the independent variable being the level of interoperability (one test is low interoperability and the other is high interoperability) and the dependent variable being the level of agility measured with the ASF. The experiment provides support for the hypothesis, with the level of agility increasing as the level of interoperability is increased, and shows the feasibility of the Framework. A survey was used to gather expert opinion on the importance of certain criteria of agility used in the ASF, so that the framework accurately measures agility. Further research can test the relationship of agility to other aspects of a system and include more criteria of agility.
“Known Unknowns”: Current Questions in Muscle Satellite Cell Biology

Our understanding of satellite cells, now known to be the obligate stem cells of skeletal muscle, has increased dramatically in recent years due to the introduction of new molecular, genetic, and technical resources. In addition to their role in acute repair of damaged muscle, satellite cells are of interest in the fields of aging, exercise, neuromuscular disease, and stem cell therapy, and all of these applications have driven a dramatic increase in our understanding of the activity and potential of satellite cells. However, many fundamental questions of satellite cell biology remain to be answered, including their emergence as a specific lineage, the degree and significance of heterogeneity within the satellite cell population, the roles of their interactions with other resident and infiltrating cell types during homeostasis and regeneration, and the relative roles of intrinsic vs extrinsic factors that may contribute to satellite cell dysfunction in the context of aging or disease. This review will address the current state of these open questions in satellite cell biology.
Lipid lunch for persistent pathogen.

A biochemical pathway called the glyoxylate shunt may be important for the long-term survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis - the bacterium that causes tuberculosis - in humans. These results give clues to where in the body the bacterium hides during 'latent' infection.
Variational principle and time-space finite element method for dynamic thermoelasticity based on mixed convolved action

Abstract A new variational formulation is proposed for time-domain analysis of initial/boundary value problems of dynamic thermoelasticity. By using the concept of mixed convolved action, the difficulties with dissipative phenomena and proper representations of the temporal end point conditions can be overcome to create a true stationary variational principle. After an elementary illustrative development for a lumped parameter thermoelastic model, the convolved action functional for linear thermoelastic continuum is written directly in terms of mixed variables, which include displacements and the impulses of stress, temperature and heat flux. Unlike previous variational approaches, based for example upon a generalization of Hamilton's principle , the present mixed convolved action formulation allows direct application of finite element methodology in both space and time. Here, simple linear shape functions are employed for the temporal representations. Meanwhile, standard three-noded triangular elements are used in the present two-dimensional numerical implementation. Several computational examples are considered to test this original approach and to investigate interesting aspects of coupled dynamic thermoelastic response.
Vergence Eye Movements Under Natural Viewing Conditions

Purpose. To determine whether there are any fundamental differences in vergence dynamics under different viewing conditions, both in instrument space and free space. Methods. Symmetric vergence responses were measured for a variety of conditions under the traditional instrument space as well as the more natural free space viewing environment. Vergence eye movements were recorded objectively in three subjects using the infrared reflection technique. Within each environment, four conditions were tested: aperiodic self-initiated voluntary gaze shifts between two simultaneously viewed targets; periodic (0.33 Hz) voluntary gaze shifts between the same two targets; gaze shifts in total darkness to the near target following initial far target fixation in the light; and gaze shifts in total darkness to the two remembered target positions. In addition, an experiment was performed in instrument space using randomized step changes of target disparity, in which the responses served as the standard for comparison. For all conditions, target disparities ranged from 0.5° to 10°. The peak velocity of each vergence response was calculated and plotted versus its amplitude. Results. It was found that the data for all conditions tested fell within the standard "main sequence" cluster, indicating similarity in dynamics and thus similarity in the motorneuronal controller signal. Also, the data from investigators who claimed differences in dynamics were also typically found to fall within the normal cluster. Conclusions. This indicates that the vergence motorneuronal controller signal produced the same dynamics for a particular response amplitude, independent of both viewing environment and test condition. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1994; 35:3486-3492.
Instabilities of metabolic regulations in aging

1) That non-invasive NMR and optical methods can a) quantify the work stress on mitochondria for ATP production, and b) indicate the tissue O2 tension in the capillary bed that is responsible for the rate of radical generation. 2) That free radical damage to mitochondrial function can be quantified by reciprocal plots of inverse slope giving the extrapolated Vm of mitochondria. 3) That a particular genetically deficient individual requiring high dosages of menadione has survived over 9 years. 4) That mitochondrial deficiency leads to an exercise hyperoxia.
Access to the Abdomen: Emergency Laparotomy

The emergency laparotomy includes tasks and strategies that are drastically different than the elective laparotomy. The surgeon is constantly fighting an unforgiving foe: time. A moderately longer operation has little effect in outcome on a patient who is physiologically stable and not losing blood. On the other hand, every intraoperative minute counts on patients in metabolic disarray and hemodynamic collapse. Therefore, the entire philosophy of emergency abdominal access is dominated by the focus on minimizing time, while not compromising adequate exposure and technique. A standardization of tasks will prevent missed injuries, wrong procedures, or retained sponges, all of which are associated with emergency operations.
Genotype/phenotype correlations in Duchenne/Becker dystrophy.

Genotype/phenotype correlations in Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy can be attempted at many levels: molecular genetics (dystrophin gene mutations), biochemistry (dystrophin protein abnormalities), cell biology (muscle fibre dysfunction), tissue physiology (muscle dysfunction and pathology), and clinical phenotype (disease presentation and progression). In many ways, Duchenne/Becker dystrophy represents an ideal genetic disorder in which to make such correlations (Table 2.1). The plethora of mutations of the massive and complex dystrophin gene are known to cause a dramatic range of clinical disorders, and the X-linked recessive expression enables study of solitary loss-of-function or change-of-function mutations in hemizygous males, and in the mosaic situation caused by X-inactivation in heterozygous females.
Metastasis to the Conus Medullaris and Cauda Equina Presenting with Primarily Motor Symptoms (P4.024)

Objective: To present two cases of metastatic disease with conus medullaris and cauda equina involvement presenting primarily with lower motor neuron type of weakness. Background: Conus medullaris and cauda equina syndrome typically presents with one or more of the following symptoms: saddle anesthesia, bowel or bladder dysfunction or sexual dysfunction with or without neurologic deficit in the lower limb. Causes include lumbar disc herniation, tumor, infectious or inflammatory conditions and trauma. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the lumbar spine is used to confirm diagnosis. Design/Methods: Case 1: 17 year old Male presented with subacute onset of lower limb weakness with predominant bilateral foot drop and diminished reflexes. Case 2: 60 year old Male with Multiple Myeloma presented with subacute onset of lower limb weakness with left greater than right foot drop and diminished reflexes. Sensation, bowel and bladder function were preserved and there was no preceding trauma in both cases. Results: Case 1 was found to have Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Epstein-Barr virus induced lymphopoliferative disease of the brain and spine. MRI lumbar and sacral spine reported nodular enhancement along the roots of the cauda equina and extramedullary lesion infiltrating the conus medullaris. Case 2 had MRI lumbar and sacral spine reporting extensive abnormal enhancement coating the conus medullaris and nerve roots of the cauda equina suggestive of leptomeningeal spread of neoplasm. Conclusions: Key words such as bowel or bladder dysfunction and saddle anesthesia raise red flags leading to suspicion of conus medullaris and cauda equina syndrome. However our two cases presented with primarily motor symptoms of bilateral foot drop. Metastasis to conus medullaris and cauda equina should be considered in patients with bilateral foot drop in the setting of malignancy. Disclosure: Dr. Kurian has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shafqat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Li has nothing to disclose.
Non-native honey bees disproportionately dominate the most abundant floral resources in a biodiversity hotspot.

Most plant-pollinator mutualisms are generalized. As such, they are susceptible to perturbation by abundant, generalist, non-native pollinators such as the western honey bee (Apis mellifera), which can reach high abundances and visit flowers of many plant species in their expansive introduced range. Despite the prevalence of non-native honey bees, their effects on pollination mutualisms in natural ecosystems remain incompletely understood. Here we contrast community-level patterns of floral visitation by honey bees with that of the diverse native pollinator fauna of southern California, USA. We show that the number of honey bees visiting plant species increases much more rapidly with flower abundance than does that of non-honey bee insects, such that the percentage of all visitors represented by honey bees increases with flower abundance. Thus, honey bees could disproportionately impact the most abundantly blooming plant species and the large numbers of both specialised and generalised pollinator species that they sustain. Honey bees may preferentially exploit high-abundance floral resources because of their ability to recruit nestmates; these foraging patterns may cause native insect species to forage on lower-abundance resources to avoid competition. Our results illustrate the importance of understanding foraging patterns of introduced pollinators in order to reveal their ecological impacts.
Further evidence for score reliability and validity of the Anxiety Depression Distress Inventory-27 scale

We conducted several analyses with data from undergraduate students (N = 309) and active duty US Air Force Security Forces personnel (N = 273) to examine the utility of scores on the Anxiety Depres...
The voice of the puppet

The puppet as performing object invites vocalization that is different from the normal human voice. Choices to suit body size, stylized features, and the animated objects tendency toward extra-daily sound—song and music—reinforce the otherness of the performing object. Three major types of vocal concepts are presented: 1) the one person, many voices show, which can use different resonators, pitches, and speeds as exemplified in the wayang golek of West Java; 2) the two-voice show, where the puppeteer may speak with a voice modifier such as a swazzle and the dialogue interpreted by a more normative human voice, in traditional puppetry it will often be a musician or interlocutor/back chat who sits outside the booth; and 3) the multi-voice show where individual speakers are often used for each figure, while dialogue may pre-recorded, delivered from the side by appropriate voice actors, or by each of the individual manipulators who speak for their own figure.Keywords: Voice. Puppet. Swazzle. Wayang Golek. Backchat.
Distribución de las luciérnagas (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) en La Hispaniola y su correspondencia con las paleoislas

The distribution of the firefly fauna of Hispaniola was investigated with respect to the island’s geological origin from two major paleoislands. It was found that out of 66 species, 57 species are exclusively found in one territory or the other, 27 species only in the South paleoisland and 30 species in the North paleoisland. Other 5 species are distributed in the North paleoisland plus the border of the South paleoisland, while other 4 species are distributed in both paleoislands. Based on this evidence, the firefly faunas of the territories corresponding to the paleoislands of Hispaniola appear to be significantly distinct and support the idea that the modern Hispaniolan fauna has a hybrid origin.
Analytics and the Future

The chapter explores the extent to which mathematical analysis helps us see the future. It looks at the challenge today’s “big data” presents to our mathematical abilities. Beginning with explanations of linear, logistic (s-shaped), and exponential growth, the chapter notes the limits to growth and where they apply. It introduces the “reaction curve” that for an industry incumbent mirrors the well-known “hype curve.” Following a discussion of price–performance curves, it addresses demographic forecasting, Kondratieff waves, and real options. The chapter concludes by showing why automating some white-collar functions can resolve the principal-agent problem.
Self-regulation mechanisms in health behavior change: a systematic meta-review of meta-analyses, 2006–2017

Self-regulation is one primary mechanism in interventions for health behavior change and has been examined in numerous recent meta-analyses. This pre-registered meta-review (PROSPERO CRD42017074018...
How Well Do Bibliometric Indicators Correlate With Scientific Eminence? A Comment on Simonton (2016):

Citing an earlier study on eminence in psychology, Simonton (2016) argued that associations between measures of scholars' reputation, scientific productivity, and citation counts are only small to moderate [Simonton, D. K. (2016). Giving credit where credit's due: Why it's so hard to do in psychological science. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11, 888-892]. However, this reading is based on partial regression coefficients, which underestimate the joint explanatory power of correlated variables. A reanalysis of the original data showed that a composite bibliometric index was substantially associated with reputation (β = 0.70; 46% explained variance). Very similar results were obtained with a newly calculated h index (β = 0.67; 42% explained variance). Although both Simonton's original analysis and the current reanalysis are inherently limited, the data suggest that the reputation of psychologists tracks their scientific contribution more closely than has been acknowledged in the recent literature.
Association of Vitamin D Deficiency and Treatment with COVID-19 Incidence

Abstract Importance Vitamin D treatment has been found to decrease incidence of viral respiratory tract infection, especially in vitamin D deficiency. It is unknown whether COVID-19 incidence is associated with vitamin D deficiency and treatment. Objective To examine whether vitamin D deficiency and treatment are associated with testing positive for COVID-19. Design Retrospective cohort study Setting University of Chicago Medicine Participants Patients tested for COVID-19 from 3/3/2020-4/10/2020. Vitamin D deficiency was defined by the most recent 25-hydroxycholecalciferol Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was testing positive for COVID-19. Multivariable analysis tested whether the most recent vitamin D level and treatment changes after that level were associated with testing positive for COVID-19 controlling for demographic and comorbidity indicators. Bivariate analyses of associations of treatment with vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 were performed. Results Among 4,314 patients tested for COVID-19, 499 had a vitamin D level in the year before testing. Vitamin D status at the time of COVID-19 testing was categorized as likely deficient for 127(25%) patients, likely sufficient for 291(58%) patients, and uncertain for 81(16%) patients. In multivariate analysis, testing positive for COVID-19 was associated with increasing age(RR(age Conclusions and Relevance Vitamin D deficiency that is not sufficiently treated is associated with COVID-19 risk. Testing and treatment for vitamin D deficiency to address COVID-19 warrant aggressive pursuit and study.
Secular Prayers: Genet’s Criminal Child

What are the aftereffects of a catastrophic event that does not intrude from the outside—as a natural disaster or terrorist attack—but is integral to a system broken from its foundation? In 1948, F...
Effect of Calcium ion on synaptotagmin-like protein during pre-fusion of vesicle for exocytosis in blood-brain barrier.

Abstract Background Calcium signaling and membrane fusion play key roles in exocytosis of drug-containing vesicles through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Identifying the role of synaptotagmin-like protein4-a (Slp4-a) in the presence of Ca2+ ions, at the pre-fusion stage of a vesicle with the basolateral membrane of endothelial cell, can reveal brain drug transportation across BBB. Methods We utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with a coarse-grained PACE force field to investigate the behaviors of Slp4-a with vesicular and endothelial membranes at the pre-fusion stage of exocytosis since all-atom MD simulation or experiments are more time-consuming and expensive to capture these behaviors. Results The Slp4-a pulls lipid membranes (vesicular and endothelial) into close proximity and disorganizes lipid arrangement at contact points, which are predictors for initiation of fusion. Our MD results also indicate that Slp4-a needs Ca2+ to bind with weakly-charged POPE lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine). Conclusions Slp4-a is an important trigger for membrane fusion in BBB exocytosis. It binds to lipid membranes at multiple binding sites and triggers membrane disruption for fusion in calcium-dependent case. General significance Understanding the prefusion process of the vesicle will help to design better drug delivery mechanisms to the brain through formidable BBB.