cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monoterpenes as inhibitors of digestive enzymes and counter-adaptations in a specialist avian herbivore

Many plants produce plant secondary metabolites (PSM) that inhibit digestive enzymes of herbivores, thus limiting nutrient availability. In response, some specialist herbivores have evolved digestive enzymes that are resistant to inhibition. Monoterpenes, a class of PSMs, have not been investigated with respect to the interference of specific digestive enzymes, nor have such interactions been studied in avian herbivores. We investigated this interaction in the Greater Sage-Grouse (Phasianidae: Centrocercus urophasianus), which specializes on monoterpene-rich sagebrush species (Artemisia spp.). We first measured the monoterpene concentrations in gut contents of free-ranging sage-grouse. Next, we compared the ability of seven individual monoterpenes present in sagebrush to inhibit a protein-digesting enzyme, aminopeptidase-N. We also measured the inhibitory effects of PSM extracts from two sagebrush species. Inhibition of aminopeptidase-N in sage-grouse was compared to inhibition in chickens (Gallus gallus). We predicted that sage-grouse enzymes would retain higher activity when incubated with isolated monoterpenes or sagebrush extracts than chicken enzymes. We detected unchanged monoterpenes in the gut contents of free-ranging sage-grouse. We found that three isolated oxygenated monoterpenes (borneol, camphor, and 1,8-cineole) inhibited digestive enzymes of both bird species. Camphor and 1,8-cineole inhibited enzymes from chickens more than from sage-grouse. Extracts from both species of sagebrush had similar inhibition of chicken enzymes, but did not inhibit sage-grouse enzymes. These results suggest that specific monoterpenes may limit the protein digestibility of plant material by avian herbivores. Further, this work presents additional evidence that adaptations of digestive enzymes to plant defensive compounds may be a trait of specialist herbivores.
Free-energy profiles and scaling in polymer brushes.

Monte Carlo simulations have been performed for an unattached polymer in a grafted polymer layer (a polymer brush). The simulations employ a non-Boltzmann sampling method to calculate the free energy of the unattached chain as a function of its vertical position in the brush, W(z), and the free energy per chain in the grafted layer, f. Contrary to other recent reports, we find grafting conditions where the variation of f is consistent with scaling and analytical self-consistent field (SCF) theories. The free-energy profile, W(z), also follows a form predicted from SCF theory.
Creating an Environment for Successful Nonfamily CEOs: An Exploratory Study of Good Principals:

Nonfamily CEOs are an important part of the managerial efforts of many family businesses. However, little academic work has focused on these managers, who reside in the dual worlds of business and family. This article presents a study based on interviews with 27 family members and nonfamily CEOs (NFCs) with the objective of exploring what makes for successful NFCs. We find that successful nonfamily CEO engagements are characterized by the selection of an individual with both business and interpersonal competencies, and the support of both family business boards and councils.
Upregulation of GABAA Current by Astrocytes in Cultured Embryonic Rat Hippocampal Neurons

Embryonic rat hippocampal neurons were cultured on poly-d-lysine (PDL) or a monolayer of postnatal cortical astrocytes to reveal putative changes in neuronal physiology that involve astrocyte-derived signals during the first 4 d of culture. GABA-induced Cl − current (I GABA ) was quantified using outside-out and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings beginning at 30 min, when cells had become adherent. The amplitude and density (current normalized to membrane capacitance) of I GABA in neurons grown on astrocytes became statistically greater than that recorded in neurons grown on PDL after 2 hr in culture (HIC). Although the current density remained unchanged in neurons on astrocytes, that in neurons on PDL decreased and became statistically lower beginning after 2 HIC. The differences in amplitude and density of I GABA in the two groups of neurons were maintained during the 4 d experiment. The upregulation effect of astrocytes on neuronal I GABA required intimate contact between the neuronal cell body and underlying astrocytes. Suppression of spontaneous Ca c 2+ elevations in astrocytes by bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane- N,N,N′,N′ -tetra-acetic acid that was loaded intracellularly decreased their modulatory effects on I GABA . I GABA in all cells was blocked completely by bicuculline and exhibited virtually identical affinity constants, Hill coefficients, and potentiation by diazepam in the two groups. Outside-out patch recordings revealed identical unitary properties of I GABA in the two groups. More channels per unit of membrane area could explain the astrocyte enhancement of I GABA . The results reveal that cortical astrocytes potentiate I GABA in hippocampal neurons in a contact-dependent manner via a mechanism involving astrocyte Ca c 2+ elevation.
Esophageal dilatation and interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective A patulous esophagus on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the thorax is frequently observed in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Microaspiration has been purported to play a role in the development and progression of SSc interstitial lung disease (ILD), but studies examining the role of microaspiration in SSc ILD have yielded conflicting results. This study was conducted to determine the association between esophageal diameter and SSc ILD. Methods A cross-sectional study of Northwestern Scleroderma Registry patients with available HRCT exams was conducted. The predictor variable was the widest esophageal diameter (WED) on HRCT, and the primary and secondary outcome variables were radiographic ILD and pulmonary function tests respectively. The degree of radiographic ILD was assessed using a semi-quantitative score adapted from published methods. Estimated regression coefficients adjusted for age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking; SSc disease subtype, serum autoantibodies, and disease duration; modified Rodnan skin score, proton pump inhibitor, and immune suppressant medication use and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were calculated. Results A total of 270 subjects were studied. In the adjusted analyses, there were positive associations between WED and total ILD score ( β = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.09–0.41), fibrosis ( β = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.07–0.23), and ground glass opacities ( β = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.04–0.20); there were negative associations between WED and FVC % predicted ( β = −0.42; 95% CI: −0.69 to −0.13), and adjusted DLCO % predicted ( β = −0.45; 95% CI: −0.80 to −0.09) after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusions Increasing esophageal diameter on HRCT in patients with SSc is associated with more severe radiographic ILD, lower lung volumes, and lower DLCO % predicted. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine if esophageal dilatation is associated with the incidence and/or progression of ILD in patients with SSc.
Veristic variables

We distinguish between variables having only one solution (possibilistic) and those allowing multiple solutions (veristic). A representation of information contained in statements involving veristic variables is presented. Using this representation we begin to develop a structure for the manipulation of knowledge involving variables that can have multiple solutions. The verity distribution is introduced to capture information about these variables. We show how to combine information involving veristic variables. We study qualified and quantified statements as well as the entailment and extension principles in this framework.
Reduction of Selenites and Tellurites by the Sulphydryl Group

The reducing effect of compounds containing the sulphydryl group has been tested with sodium selenite and with sodium tellurite as indicators. The following test solutions were prepared: Reagent (1), an acid reagent made up of 100 cc. of 2% sodium selenite or sodium tellurite plus 20 cc. concentrated hydrochloric acid; reagent (2), 2% sodium selenite or sodium tellurite solution, which is slightly alkaline; reagent (3), a more alkaline reagent containing 2% sodium selenite or sodium tellurite in 10% sodium carbonate. The compounds studied were the thio compounds, ethyl mercaptan, thioacetic acid, thioglycollic acid, thiocresol, thiourea, glutathione, cysteine hydrochloride, and the sulphur containing compounds not possessing the SH group—cystine, and thiophene.On reduction sodium selenite yields free selenium in the form of a brick red precipitate or a red to brick red colloidal solution depending upon the intensity of the reaction and the quantity of the free element liberated. Sodium tellurite under sim...
National religious affiliation and integrated model of homicide and suicide

The current study assessed the relationship between national religious affiliation and lethal violence by simultaneously examining homicide and suicide rates. The information on homicide and suicide rates for 124 countries came from the World Health Organization (WHO). Regression results suggested no significant difference in lethal violence between predominantly Catholic and Protestant countries, although Islamic countries revealed significantly lower homicide, suicide, and overall lethal violence rates than non-Islamic countries. Countries with a high level of religious heterogeneity are subject to an increased suicide rate. The implications of these findings were discussed. Language: en
Trinity—a reminiscence

(1980). Trinity—a reminiscence. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 36, No. 6, pp. 19-22.
Auditory dysfunction associated with brain impairment.

Damage to the temporal lobe of the brain does not impair auditory sensitivity unless the peripheral auditory mechanism is also damaged. Brain damage and ear damage can and often do coexist, but the auditory evidence for brain damage must be found in something other than hearing loss.
Wellness assessment: A role for laboratory medicine.

Within the next 20-25 years, 20% of the U.S. population is expected to be 65 years old or older. Unless significant changes are made (ie, increased research, improved treatment, and promotion of health and disease prevention), medical costs will continue to rise but with fewer citizens to finance them. However, this need not be the case. The 10 most common causes of death in the U.S. are all, to a significant degree, lifestyle-related. Most of these diseases take years or even decades to develop. By the time a physician makes a diagnosis, the disease is already present. However, with a panel of laboratory tests, combined with age, sex, family history, body mass index, blood pressure, and information regarding lifestyle (diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol), an estimate can be made regarding the relative risk for developing the major diseases/disorders. If recommendations are followed, these conditions will decline, medical costs will be reduced, and people will enjoy longer, healthier, and more productive lives.
Enhancement of a Lightweight RFID Security Protocol

This article has a deep analysis on the potential danger of the Exclusive OR (XOR) and Hash chain based light weight Radio Frequency Edentification (RFID) security protocol brought by some articles. On the base of analysis, combining the traditional security schemes widely used in Internet or existing application systems and some light weight and resource-saving security mechanism, we enhance the lightweight RFID security protocol mentioning above and give a new light weight RFID security protocol. Special attention is focused on the deployment considerations for applying the protocol in real application to avoid the identified potential risk. Full consideration is given to the low cost demands for RFID tags, the power restrictions, and the non-resistant against physical tampering feature, which are common limitations in the RFID system.
Mortality of malignant tumor in Yanqing District of Beijing City from 2007-2013

[Objective]To understand the mortality rate of malignant tumor in Yanqing District of Beijing City, and provide a scientific foundation for preventing and curing malignant tumor. [Methods]The tumor mortality data of Yanqing County in 7years was analyzed statistically, the mortality, the composition of death cause and the order of death cause were calculated.[Results]The results showed that 2 340 persons died of malignant tumor in Yanqing District from 2007-2013, which was 19.89%of all deaths. The average mortality rate was 119.55/100 000, and the order of death cause showed upward trend. The top 5 in the death orders of malignant tumor were lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and leukaemia, which occupied 65.68% of all deaths of malignant tumor. [Conclusion]The malignant tumor is one of the main causes of death in Yanqing District. Therefore, relevant departments should take comprehensive interventions to prevent or reduce the incidence of malignant tumors based on different populations and different tumor characteristics.
Occurrence of low birthweight and preterm delivery among California infants before and after compulsory food fortification with folic acid.

Objectives Studies suggest that folic acid intake influences the occurrence of low birthweight and preterm delivery. Since 1998, there has been compulsory fortification of flour and other grains with folic acid in the U.S. The objective of this study was to investigate the frequencies of low birthweight and preterm delivery after mandatory folic acid fortification among approximately six million California births. Methods The authors investigated prevalences of low birthweight and preterm delivery before and after compulsory fortification among 5,916,630 singleton California live births that occurred from January 1990 through December 2000. Results The unadjusted prevalences of very low birthweight, low birthweight, and preterm delivery did not substantially vary across birth years. That is, substantial decreased prevalences during the fortification period relative to the period preceding it were not observed. However, analyses that simultaneously adjusted for maternal age, parity, race/ethnicity, education, year of birth, and fortification period revealed the following relative risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI): RR = 0.91, CI 0.88, 0.94 for very low birthweight, RR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.93, 0.96 for low birthweight, and RR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.94, 0.97 for preterm delivery. Conclusion Findings indicate small reductions in prevalences of these outcomes associated with the timing of fortification of the U.S. food supply.
Mitral valve replacement with the Smeloff-Cutter prosthesis. Experience with 154 patients and comparison with results of replacement with a Starr-Edwards prosthesis.

Mitral valve replacement with the Smeloff-Cutter (S-C) prosthesis was performed in 154 patients between September, 1965, and January, 1970. In 84, only the mitral valve was replaced; in the remainder, other valves were reconstructed or replaced. The hospital and late mortality rates for isolated replacement were 6 and 25 per cent, respectively. Comparable figures for the Starr-Edwards (S-E) (Models 6000 and 6120) prosthesis during this period were 11 and 23 per cent. Similar rates of thromboembolism were associated with the use of either prosthesis in surviving patients (27 per cent for the S-C valve and 30 per cent for the S-E valve). In spite of the acceptable hospital mortality rate for the S-C valve, it is not now considered suitable for clinical use because of the high late mortality rate and the high risk of thromboembolism that accompany its use.
Control comparison of conventional extractive distillation with a new split-feed configuration

Abstract Since distillation columns are major energy consumers, many studies have explored modifying conventional configurations to achieve process intensification by improving energy efficiency. In a conventional extractive distillation to separate a binary mixture that forms an azeotrope, the fresh feed enters an extractive column along with a heavy entrainer solvent. One key component goes overhead, and the other is recovered in a second column, with solvent recycled back to the extractive column. A recent paper proposed a new extractive distillation system in which the fresh feed is split between two columns. One key component is removed as a sidestream from the first column and the second is recovered in the distillate of the other column. Energy and total annual cost savings of 14% compared to a conventional system are claimed. The proposed new configuration is more complex and poses potential dynamic controllability problems. The purpose of this paper is to explore this issue.
Abstract 1542: Identification and utilization of molecular pathways correlated with osteosarcoma metastasis to predict targeted therapies

Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most prevalent primary bone tumor and accounts for approximately 2% of childhood cancers. Approximately 40% of all OSA patients succumb to metastatic disease within 5 years. Canine OSA occurs about 10 times more frequently than human OSA and has been shown to be very similar to pediatric OSA biologically, histologically, molecularly, and in treatment. This suggests that canine OSA is an excellent pre-clinical model to investigate better treatment options for metastatic OSA. We compared in-vitro markers of metastatic potential with gene expression data in eight canine OSA cell lines to identify molecular pathways that will be potential chemotherapeutic targets to treat and prevent metastatic OSA. The metastatic potential of 8 canine OSA cell lines was characterized utilizing Incucyte Zoom based migration and invasion scratch wound assays. Gene expression analysis was performed using Affymetrix GeneChip Canine Genome 2.0 Arrays. Genes that were statistically correlated with migratory and invasive phenotypes were used to enrich molecular pathways described in several databases utilizing Enrichr software. Altered pathways and associated targeted agents that would inhibit the pathways enriched by the correlated gene sets were identified. Chemotherapeutics targeting significantly enriched pathways were screened for their ability to inhibit metastatic potential. Dasatinib and Stattic were the only inhibitors screened to date that inhibit migration of the osteosarcoma cell lines at clinically relevant doses. The remaining significantly correlated pathways will be targeted as well as rational combinations of pathways. An orthotopic murine model is currently being tested to further explore the utility of efficacious chemotherapeutics in-vivo. Citation Format: Laird Klippenstein, Jared S. Fowles, Sierra K. Lear, Daniel L. Gustafson. Identification and utilization of molecular pathways correlated with osteosarcoma metastasis to predict targeted therapies. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1542.
Rules of play: the starting point matters

Introduction Classical game theory, as developed by von Neumann and Morgenstern (1944; 3rd edn, 1953), distinguishes between the extensive form of a game and the normal (or strategic) form . The extensive form is represented by a game tree, in which the players make sequential choices, not necessarily knowing all the prior choices of the other players. The normal form is represented by a payoff matrix , in which players independently choose strategies , or complete plans that specify what they will do in every contingency – that is, for each known choice of all the other players. TOM makes use of both forms. A payoff matrix defines the game configuration , which gives the basic structure of payoffs. An example of such a structure is shown in figure 1.1, which I identify as game 56. Note that Row ( R ) has two strategies, s 1 , and s 2 , and Column ( C ) also has two strategies, t 1 and t 2 , making this a 2 × 2 game (i.e., a game in which there are two players, each with two strategies). These strategies may be thought of as alternative courses of action that the players might choose, such as to cooperate or not to cooperate.
Efficient Calculation of Gas Diffusivity in Single-Component and Binary Mixtures of Spherical Adsorbates in Flexible 8MR Zeolites

We use two methods, the changing snapshot method and transition state theory (TST)/snapshot method, to characterize the effects of zeolite framework flexibility on diffusion of spherical molecules in 8MR zeolites. These methods are applied to noble gases (Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, and Rn) and CF4. We demonstrate the effect of the zeolite framework flexibility on diffusion by considering the size and loading of adsorbates and temperature. In both the methods, we approximate flexible structures as a set of discrete rigid snapshots obtained from molecular dynamics simulations of an empty framework. We show that the diffusivities predicted with these two efficient methods agree with direct MD simulations in the fully flexible structures. We studied in detail how the framework flexibility affects the loading dependence of diffusion. By looking at the computational costs, we demonstrated that both the methods are orders of magnitude more efficient than the fully flexible simulations. We then apply the changing snapshot m...
Immediate Postoperative Care Following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Increased experience with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) has been associated with decrease in postoperative hospital stay (Pierorazio et al., BJU Int 2013;112:45–53). A formal care program for a recovery pathway after RARP has been responsible for this decrease, allowing many institutions to consistently discharge patients the morning of postoperative day (POD) 1. Important elements of an RARP pathway include patient education, early postoperative feeding, avoiding postoperative ileus, early ambulation, pain control, appropriate antibiotic administration, and pelvic drain removal prior to discharge. A system-wide commitment is needed in all phases of RARP care to have a consistent and successful care pathway. A RARP care pathway not only can promote consistent discharge on POD 1, but also can decrease variation in practices and decrease complications.
Efficient message passing-based inference in the multiple measurement vector problem

In this work, a Bayesian approximate message passing algorithm is proposed for solving the multiple measurement vector (MMV) problem in compressive sensing, in which a collection of sparse signal vectors that share a common support are recovered from undersampled noisy measurements. The algorithm, AMP-MMV, is capable of exploiting temporal correlations in the amplitudes of non-zero coefficients, and provides soft estimates of the signal vectors as well as the underlying support. Central to the proposed approach is an extension of recently developed approximate message passing (AMP) techniques to the amplitude-correlated MMV setting. Aided by these techniques, AMP-MMV offers a computational complexity that is linear in all problem dimensions. In order to allow for automatic parameter tuning, an expectation-maximization algorithm that complements AMP-MMV is described. Finally, a numerical study demonstrates the power of the proposed approach and its particular suitability for application to high-dimensional problems.
Student Perceptions About Benefits From an Extracurricular Curriculum: A Qualitative Study of the Underserved Pathway

Introduction Too few medical graduates choose to care for underserved populations. This qualitative study explores medical student perceptions of the benefits of participating in the Underserved Pathway (UP), a 4-year extracurricular program designed to nurture interest in, and develop skills to serve vulnerable populations. Methods Fourteen of 28 graduating students in the class of 2013 who completed the UP were interviewed. Using conventional qualitative content analysis, an iterative process was used to code transcriptions until there was high concordance among the assigned codes. The research team analyzed the data for common themes, theme saturation, and unique perspectives. Results Four major thematic areas emerged: 1) the underserved curriculum scaffold, 2) influence on career choice, 3) influence on residency choice, and 4) capacity to match. Of all participants, 78.6% thought the UP influenced their career choice, 64.3% stated the UP played a role in residency choice and rank, and 85.7% thought participation in the UP would improve match success. No single curricular component of the UP was individually responsible for career or specialty choice, or as being most useful to student understanding of the underserved. Conclusions Students noted that participation in the UP provided them with a scaffold to support their interest in underserved careers, and influenced their specialty and residency choice. They also perceived it as making them more competitive as residency applicants. This study provides medical educators with insight into the importance of building robust frameworks, even extracurricular ones, to support student interests in serving vulnerable communities.
Renormalization Group Methods for Prase Separation Problems

The kinetic Ising model with both a non-conserved and a conserved order parameter has been extensively studied as a simple representation of the growth kinetics of binary alloys.1 When the order parameter is not conserved (NCOP), as in an order-disorder transition in a binary alloy, it is well known that the growth kinetics are governed by the curvature-driven dynamics developed by Lifshitz,2 Cahn, and Allen3 (LCA), which lead to a growth law for the typical domain size L(t)~t1/2, as a function of time, for dimensionality greater than one. For a conserved order parameter, (COP) (phase separation or spinodal decomposition in a binary alloy) it has been commonly asserted that the long-time growth kinetics are controlled by the evaporation-condensation mechanism of Lifshitz and Slyozov4 which gives L(t)~tn with exponent n=1/3 at least when the concentration of one of the two species is small. However, the available results from experiment, theory, or simulation on the growth law for spinodal decomposition in binary alloys give widely differing exponents5 (in the range 0,07 to 0,25) when they are fitted to a power law. There is no hard evidence for any single power law. This points out to the possibility of having a more complicated time dependence in this problem, which appears to be a power law only when a relatively restricted time interval is considered.
Popper's anti-utopianism and the concept of an open society

Defendant l'utopisme comme element necessaire de la philosophie politique, l'A. montre que l'argument de Popper est a interpreter moins dans le sens d'une critique liberale de l'utopisme, que dans le sens d'une defense epistemologique et utopiste du liberalisme, fonde sur une reconceptualisation de la societe liberale en termes de societe ouverte.
The Importance of Basic, Applied Research

Among many audiences there is a general sense that universitybusiness education is failing to meet the needs of the marketplace.Moore and Diamond (1996) suggest that the pressure to respondto the marketplace has increased in recent years because of thelow entry barriers for new education vehicles, the high exitbarriers for existing education institutions, and the proliferationof alternative ways to deliver university level education inbusiness.We illustrate this pressure by noting that non-conventional,distance learning educational opportunities increased by 800%between 1993 and 1997. We suggest business schools in researchuniversities can compete effectively if we focus on researchthat is both basic (influencing further knowledge development)and applied (problem driven), and if we differentiate our offeringby incorporating the findings of our basic, applied researchinto our curriculum.
Public Theology: Its Pastoral, Apologetic, Scientific, Political, and Prophetic Tasks

This blueprint for a constructive public theology assumes that Christian theology already includes public discourse. Following David Tracy’s delineation of three publics—church, academy, culture—further constructive work leads to a public theology conceived in the church, reflected on critically in the academy, and meshed with the wider culture. Public reflection on classic Christian doctrines in a post-secular pluralistic context takes the form of pastoral illumination, apologetic reason, a theology of nature, political theology, and prophetic critique.
Time and Tide Wait for No Man: A Response to Warwick Anderson and Michael M. J. Fischer

The two leading scholars of EASTS reflect on two approaches of STS studies in East Asia and Southeast Asia: one that discusses the reactions, reflections, and recreations of scientific intervention...
Growth of torsion of elliptic curves with full 2-torsion over quadratic cyclotomic fields

Abstract Let K = Q ( − 3 ) or Q ( − 1 ) and let C n denote the cyclic group of order n. We study how the torsion part of an elliptic curve over K grows in a quadratic extension of K. In the case E ( K ) [ 2 ] ≈ C 2 ⊕ C 2 we determine how a given torsion structure can grow in a quadratic extension and the maximum number of quadratic extensions in which it grows. We also classify the torsion structures which occur as the quadratic twist of a given torsion structure.
Systematic review of child restraint system interventions (2007-2018).

Objective: To systematically review and summarize articles evaluating the effectiveness of child restraint system (CRS) interventions targeting parents/caregivers’ knowledge of, overall rates of an...
The case for expanding abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Abstract Both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence are re-evaluating their screening paradigms for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Currently, most countries that screen for AAA do so only in male ever-smokers between the ages of 65 and 75 years and in patients with a family history of AAA. However, these recommendations are based primarily on screening trials predating the endovascular era. The wider applicability of endovascular aneurysm repair and its safety profile, especially in the elderly, have changed the risk-benefit of repair and, by extension, screening. This is despite the decreasing prevalence of AAA thanks to improved medical therapies and lower smoking rates. This evidence summary critically examines the evidence behind screening and the potential for expanded screening.
Differential winter and breeding range shifts: Implications for avian migration distances

AIM: For many migratory avian species, winter and breeding habitats occur at geographically distinct locations. Disparate magnitudes and direction of shifts in wintering and breeding locations could lead to altered migration distances. We investigated how shifts in the centre of abundance (COA) of winter and breeding ranges have changed for 77 species of short‐distance migratory birds. We addressed whether species tracked their historical average temperature and precipitation conditions at their winter and breeding COA, using data from 1990 to 2015. LOCATION: North America. METHODS: We calculated the COA for winter and breeding ranges from the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count and the North American Breeding Bird Survey. We regressed the annual change in distance (km) between the two annual COAs of each species as a proxy for change in migration distance. We constructed a series of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to evaluate changes in average temperature and precipitation at the wintering and breeding COAs. RESULTS: Winter shifts in COA were predominantly northward. For most species, average temperature and precipitation that species experienced had not changed. Breeding shifts in COA varied in direction. For breeding season COAs, average temperature warmed, but average precipitation had not changed. Thirty‐one species significantly decreased their migration distances, mainly driven by northward shifts in the winter range. Ten species increased their migration distances. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Winter and breeding range shifts in COA have not occurred at the same magnitude and direction and have therefore impacted migration distance. Our results suggest that wintering and breeding range shifts occur independently and under different climate pressures.
The Mediating Role of Family and Cultural Food Beliefs on the Relationship between Family Communication Patterns and Diet and Health Issues across Racial/Ethnic Groups.

Consumption of red meat has been linked to a variety of health issues, yet Americans are resistant to reducing their meat consumption. Family communication environments shape beliefs about food and...
ELEVATED LEFT VENTRICULAR CIRCUMFERENTIAL STRAIN IN WOMEN WITH CORONARY MICROVASCULAR DYSFUNCTION: A REPORT FROM THE WOMEN’S ISCHEMIA SYNDROME EVALUATION - CORONARY VASCULAR DYSFUNCTION STUDY

Women with symptoms of ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) often have coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). We previously found that left ventricular (LV) circumferential strain (CS) is impaired in INOCA compared to reference subjects, leading to the hypothesis that CMD
Research reactor fuels

Abstract Approximately 250 research and test reactors are used for materials research, education and training, neutron scattering, isotope production, and materials research in 55 countries. This class of nuclear reactors operate over an enormous range of core power densities, ranging from near zero to more than 30 times higher than conventional pressurized water reactors. Because research and test reactors are designed to meet a wide range of needs, a broad spectrum of fuel system designs and material chemistries are used to meet reactor performance objectives; this is most apparent in the class of high-performance research reactors. High-performance research reactors are designed with the overarching goal of producing a sustained high neutron flux focused toward a specific purpose; for example, neutron scattering, material testing, or isotope production. To achieve this goal requires fuel systems designed to operate at power levels and fission densities that exceed the requirements of commercial power reactors. The complex irradiation-enhanced chemical evolution of the fuel with respect to the cladding, noble fission gases, and solid fission products determines the performance and lifetime of these fuels.
Chapter 7 – Drug Interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on aspects of pharmacology, those of drug interactions. The context is that of use by patients of one or more drugs for preventive, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. When taking more than one drug at a time, a patient may experience effects that can be ascribed to the actions of one drug on the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of the other. This phenomenon is called a drug–drug interaction. Multiway interactions are also possible. When handling binary drug–drug interactions, the drug whose serum concentration or effectiveness is being changed is referred to as the “object drug.” The drug whose action causes the concentration of the object drug to change is called the precipitant drug. This relation between object drug and precipitant drug is not inherently symmetric although for some pairs of drugs, each one does affect the other. A large effort has gone into building drug knowledge resources, both online web accessible systems and products to be used on personal computers and hand-held devices. This discussion addresses issues such as how to organize this information in a way that supports computing interesting inferences. To start with, one must consider what types of information are available, what is actually needed, and finally what form it should take. It also presents the beginning of a framework for sound theoretical predictions for drug interactions, with potential for improving this situation.
Situational crime prevention strategies in schools: an assessment of principals’ perceptions of the effectiveness of security approaches in public high schools

This work examines the use of security strategies in schools that are consistent with situational crime prevention (SCP). Results from a mail survey of a random sample of public high schools in New England are used to understand approaches to prevent crime and other problems. School principals were asked about their use of 31 SCP strategies, such as cameras, locks, alarm systems, and rapid repair of damaged property. Five hundred questionnaires were mailed, and 165 principals completed the survey (33% response rate). On average, schools reported using 16 situational techniques. Bivariate analyses revealed numerous school and student characteristics that were associated with greater reliance on SCP strategies, while the multivariate analysis indicated that principals’ perceptions of neighborhood crime level was the best predictor of greater use of situational crime prevention in schools. In addition, school principals shared their perceptions concerning the effectiveness of current security strategies. Implications for school safety and future research considerations are also discussed.
Output-Feedback RLS-Based Model Predictive Control *

This paper presents recursive-least-squares-based model predictive control (RLSMPC). RLSMPC uses only output feedback, and thus does not require full-state measurements. Online learning is performed through concurrent system identification, and thus no a priori model is needed. RLSMPC employs separate RLS algorithms for identification, offset determination, and control. Variable-rate forgetting is used to facilitate system identification and offset estimation.
Cleft Lip Repair in Premature Infants With Cardiac Risk Factors.

ABSTRACT Despite cleft lip repair having demonstrated safety when performed in the outpatient setting, patients with comorbidities are significantly more likely to be hospitalized overnight. There are several comorbidities overrepresented with inpatient admission, but only cardiac risk has any association with adverse outcomes in premature patients. The severity of cardiac risk is significantly associated with adverse events at all degrees of prematurity (P all ≤0.002). In premature patients with major cardiac risk factors, adverse events are significantly associated with younger age (P = 0.016) and lower weight (P = 0.013). Performing cleft lip repair on children older than 125 days (P < 0.001, before cutoff: 50.0% vs after cutoff: 6.4%) and weight greater than 10 lbs (P < 0.001, before cutoff: 56.4% vs after cutoff: 6.1%) provides a significant reduction in postoperative adverse events in premature patients with major cardiac risk factors.
The Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Urban Land Use Patterns

Autonomous vehicles are coming. The only questions are how quickly they will arrive, how we will manage the years when they share the road with conventional vehicles, and how the legal system will address the issues they raise. This Article examines the impact the autonomous vehicle revolution will have on urban land use patterns. Autonomous vehicles will transform the use of land and the law governing that valuable land. Automobiles will drop passengers off and then drive themselves to remote parking areas, reducing the need for downtown parking. These vehicles will create the need for substantial changes in roadway design. Driverless cars are more likely to be shared, and fleets may supplant individual ownership. At the same time, people may be willing to endure longer commutes, working while their car transports them. These dramatic changes will require corresponding adaptations in real estate and land use law. Zoning laws, building codes, and homeowners’ association rules will have to be updated to reflect shifting needs for parking. Longer commutes may create a need for stricter environmental controls. Moreover, jurisdictions will have to address these changes while operating under considerable uncertainty, as we all wait to see which technologies catch on, which fall by the wayside, and how quickly this revolution arrives. This Article examines the legal changes that are likely to be needed in the near future. It concludes by recommending that government bodies engage in scenario planning so they can act under conditions of ambiguity while reducing the risk of poor decisions.
Głosy z czasu Zagłady. Dwie relacje świadków z getta w Stanisławowie

The author analyses two testimonies from the Stanislawow ghetto: Eliszewa/Elza Binder's and Juliusz Feuerman's. Binder's diary, found in the ghetto, begins on 13 December 1941 and ends on 18 July 1942, whereas Feuerman's notes are a chronicle of the ghetto and the destruction of its inhabitants. the purpose of this analysis, supplemented by a biographical context, is to portray - as well as Brenner can - the characters of their authors. The reading of these two accounts, written in the same historical situation is to demonstrate that both the ideological and the emotional reactions to the current events in the ghetto ghetto cannot be separated from their personal emotional situation or their pre-war lives.
Data-related resources and services in U.S.-based health sciences libraries: A survey of AAHSL member websites

Data services, including consultation services for data management and data visualization, have been increasingly needed among health sciences libraries over the past decade, arising from mandates ...
Solidification cracking susceptibility associated with a teardrop-shaped weld pool

For straight columnar dendritic grains growing side by side, |dT/d(fS)1/2| (T: temperature; fS: fraction solid) near their roots can be the crack-susceptibility index as verified against welds made...
Incorporating the Torrance and Sparrow model of reflectance in uncalibrated photometric stereo

Under the Lambertian reflectance model, uncalibrated photometric stereo with unknown light sources is inherently ambiguous. In this paper, we consider the use of a more general reflectance model, namely the Torrance and Sparrow model, in uncalibrated photometric stereo. We demonstrate that this can not only resolve the ambiguity when the light sources are unknown, but can also result in more accurate surface reconstructions and can capture the reflectance properties of a large number of nonLambertian surfaces. Our method uses single light source images with unknown lighting and no knowledge about the parameters of the reflectance model. It can recover the 3D shape of surfaces (up to the binary convex/concave ambiguity) together with their reflectance properties. We have successfully tested our algorithm on a variety of nonLambertian surfaces demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach. In the case of human faces, the estimated skin reflectance has been shown to closely resemble the measured skin reflectance reported in the literature. We also demonstrate improved recognition results on 4050 images of 10 faces with variable lighting and viewpoint when the synthetic image-based representations of the faces are generated using the surface reconstructions and reflectance properties recovered while assuming the extended reflectance model.
Comparative Ergative and Accusative Structures in Three Philippine Languages

Cebuano, Filipino, and Isamal are classified as Austronesian languages that are spoken in the Philippines. This paper deals with the comparative ergative and accusative structures of the aforementioned languages with focus on the syntactic relations and processes. The varieties of these languages are the ones used in Samal Island, Davao, Philippines. Aimed at the structural configurations, the verb phrase (VP) and the tense phrase (TP) are analytically scrutinized as the cartographic projections of the lexical information encoded in the argument structures and the thematic structures of the verbs. With the employment of the Minimalist Program in the analysis, the computation includes the movement, checking of features, and assignment of theta roles within the structures of the three languages. Findings include the (1) similarity of structural relations and processes in the VP and the TP of the three languages, (2) movement of the verb from the VP to the TP, and (3) merger of the verb complements occur in the VP that ensures the local assignment of theta roles and the checking of cases.
Characterization and utility of immobilized metal affinity-functionalized cellulose membranes for point-of-care malaria diagnostics.

Abstract Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) is a well-established technique for protein separation and purification. IMAC has been previously utilized to capture the malaria biomarker histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) from blood, enhancing the sensitivity of field-appropriate diagnostic tools such as lateral flow assays. However, little work has been done to translate this technique to a truly field-usable design. In this study, IMAC-functionalized cellulose membranes are created and characterized fully for future use in applied malaria diagnostics. IMAC-functionalized cellulose membranes were investigated across a range of cellulose substrates, IMAC ligands, and divalent transition metals before use in a capture and elution flowthrough workflow. Following characterization and optimization, it was found that iminodiacetic acid bound to Zn(II) was the most promising ligand-metal pair, with three available coordination sites and a molar loading capacity of 57.7 μmol of metal/cm3 of cellulose. Using these parameters, more than 99% of HRP2 was captured from a large-volume lysed blood sample in a simple flow-through assay and 89% of the captured protein was eluted from the membrane using the chelating compound ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Use of this enhancement protocol on an in-house HRP2 lateral flow assay (LFA) yielded a limit of detection of 7 parasites/μL, a 15.8x enhancement factor compared to traditional LFA methods.
Predicting synthesizability of crystalline materials via deep learning

Predicting the synthesizability of hypothetical crystals is challenging because of the wide range of parameters that govern materials synthesis. Yet, exploring the exponentially large space of novel crystals for any future application demands an accurate predictive capability for synthesis likelihood to avoid a haphazard trial-and-error. Typically, benchmarks of synthesizability are defined based on the energy of crystal structures. Here, we take an alternative approach to select features of synthesizability from the latent information embedded in crystalline materials. We represent the atomic structure of crystalline materials by three-dimensional pixel-wise images that are color-coded by their chemical attributes. The image representation of crystals enables the use of a convolutional encoder to learn the features of synthesizability hidden in structural and chemical arrangements of crystalline materials. Based on the presented model, we can accurately classify materials into synthesizable crystals versus crystal anomalies across a broad range of crystal structure types and chemical compositions. We illustrate the usefulness of the model by predicting the synthesizability of hypothetical crystals for battery electrode and thermoelectric applications. Predicting the synthesizability of unknown crystals is important for accelerating materials discovery. Here, the synthesizability of crystals with any given composition and structure can be predicted by a deep learning model that maps crystals onto color-coded 3D images processed by convolutional neural networks.