cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fallow season CO2 and CH4 fluxes from US mid-south rice-waterfowl habitats

Abstract Flooding rice fields in the US mid-south during the fallow season (November–March) for migratory waterfowl habitats provides revenue from hunting-related activities and helps with soil retention and water quality. However, flooding has the potential to increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Research on GHG emissions in US mid-south during the fallow season has been limited. Eddy covariance (EC) systems measuring CO2 and CH4 fluxes were installed during the 2015–2016, 2016–2017, and 2017–2018 fallow seasons at paired production-sized fields in NE Arkansas. Rice residue was burned after harvest at both field locations. The paired fields were separated by an access road and consisted of one field flooded (F) with precipitation by installing barriers to prevent drainage and the other field allowed to drain or non-flooded field (NF). Flooding did not influence CO2 emissions during the fallow season significantly. However, F fields emitted 45 ± 2% more CH4 than NF fields. The three-year fallow season average was 1408 ± 185 kg CO2-C ha−1 season-1 and 12.5 ± 2.0 kg CH4-C ha−1 season-1 in F fields and 1355 ± 132 kg CO2-C ha−1 season-1 and 8.6 ± 1.4 kg CH4-C ha−1 season-1 in NF fields. Methane contributed 5 to 10% global warming potential (GWP), reported as CO2 equivalents from CO2 and CH4 measurements. The three-year fallow season average GWP was not different by treatment. Increases in fallow season GWP were noted to increase after rice cultivation. These findings will improve our overall understanding and modeling of GHG emissions from agricultural fields during an understudied but important period of the year.
Laboratory accelerated and field exposure testing of MgRP and MgORP on AA2024-T351: Chemical and electrochemical protection effects

Abstract Two Mg-based coatings consisting of Mg-rich primer (MgRP) and MgO-rich primer (MgORP) with and without topcoat were exposed to laboratory accelerated lifecycle testing (LALT) and outdoor field environments. The coatings were tested in parallel exposure studies utilizing ASTM B117, modified ASTM B117 (cyclic wet-dry, dark-UV exposure in ASTM synthetic ocean water), rural inland (Charlottesville, VA), and coastal marine (Kennedy Space Center) field exposure. Several characterization and electrochemical diagnostic techniques were used to continuously assess coating performance as a function of time in various exposures, enabling comparison of LALT to field exposures. The coating systems were evaluated with respect to the intact coating and to a machined scribe defect. The fate of Mg2+ upon dissolution of Mg and MgO with respect to pigment depletion, corrosion product formation, and repartitioning from the coating into the scribe was monitored with XRD and EDS. The capacity for MgRP and MgORP to provide barrier, cathodic, and chemical corrosion protection to AA2024-T351 substrate was evaluated. The ultimate ability of these coatings to protect the AA2024-T351 substrate both in the scribe and under the coating was gauged with optical profilometry assessment of corrosion damage. The Mg and MgO-based coating systems exhibited several desirable aspects of a corrosion preventative coating. The corrosion damage quantified both under the intact coating and within the scribe was much less than the corrosion damage measured on uncoated controls. Within a given exposure, the reduction of corrosion damage in the scribe correlated with the amount of Mg2+ which was released from the coating and repartitioned into the scribe. The open circuit potential of the coated substrate was depressed to more negative potentials than the bare substrate in 5 wt% NaCl, with non-topcoated samples establishing more negative potentials. The barrier properties remained high throughout the exposures for topcoated samples, which also better preserved the pigment from depletion. Comments are made regarding differences between the Mg and MgO-based coatings and the various laboratory and field exposures.
Pentosan-associated maculopathy: prevalence, screening guidelines, and spectrum of findings based on prospective multimodal analysis.

Abstract Objective To describe the prevalence and spectrum of multimodal imaging findings of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS)–associated maculopathy and to recommend dosage-related screening guidelines. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Patients previously or currently treated with PPS at University of California, Los Angeles, were randomly ascertained and prospectively screened for PPS-associated maculopathy with multimodal retinal imaging. Daily and cumulative dosages of PPS exposure were calculated for each patient. Images were studied to identify the characteristic findings of toxicity. The prevalence of PPS-associated maculopathy and screening guidelines were determined. Results The prevalence of PPS-associated maculopathy in this cohort was 20% (10/50 patients). Both average duration of PPS therapy and average cumulative dosage were significantly lower in the unaffected (6.3 ± 6.6 years, 691.7 ± 706.6 g) versus the affected groups (20.3 ± 6.6 years, 3375.4 ± 1650.0 g, p Conclusions A prevalence of 20% in this study cohort suggests a significant risk of macular toxicity for PPS-treated patients. Characteristic alterations are best detected with FAF and NIR. More significant PPS exposure was associated with more severe atrophy. We recommend an initial baseline eye examination to include OCT and, most importantly, NIR and FAF with annual retinal imaging thereafter especially with cumulative dosages approaching 500 g. Patients exposed to greater than 1500 g of PPS are at significant risk of retinal toxicity.
College Student Chaotically-Disengaged Family Functioning, Depression, and Anxiety: The Indirect Effects of Positive Family Communication and Self-Compassion

Depression and anxiety are the most prominent mental health concerns among college campuses. Thus, it is important to examine factors linked with rising depression and anxiety symptoms. The purpose...
The impact of hospital boarding on the emergency department waiting room.

Background Patient boarding in the emergency department (ED) is a significant issue leading to increased morbidity/mortality, longer lengths of stay, and higher hospital costs. We examined the impact of boarding patients on the ED waiting room. Additionally, we determined whether facility type, patient acuity, time of day, or hospital occupancy impacted waiting rooms in 18 EDs across a large healthcare system. Methods This was a retrospective multicenter study that included all ED encounters between January 1, 2018, and September 30, 2019. Encounters with missing Emergency Severity Index (ESI) level were excluded. ESI levels were defined as high (ESI 1,2), middle (ESI 3), and low (ESI 4,5). Spearman correlation coefficients measured the relationship between boarded patients and number of patients in ED waiting room. A multivariable mixed effects model identified drivers of this relationship. Results A total of 1,134,178 encounters were included. Spearman correlation coefficient was significant between number of patients in the ED waiting room and patient boarding (0.54). For every additional patient boarded/hour, the number of patients waiting/hour in the waiting room increased by 8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-1.09). The number of patients waiting for a room/hour was 2.28 times higher for middle than for high acuity. The number of patients in waiting room slightly decreased as hospital occupancy increased (95% CI = 0.997-0.997). Conclusion Number of patients in ED waiting room are directly related to boarding times and hospital occupancy. ED waiting room times should be considered as not just an ED operational issue, but an aspect of hospital throughput.
Abstract IA08: Metabolic compartmentalization in the regulation of chromatin modification

Metabolic processes are compartmentalized within cells. Many chromatin modifying enzymes utilize metabolites as substrates, and localized metabolite production may play important roles in the regulation of the epigenome. A number of metabolic enzymes have been detected and shown to be dynamically regulated within the nucleus. For example, nuclear localization and phosphorylation of the enzyme ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) plays a key role in supplying acetyl-CoA for histone acetylation during DNA double strand break repair. A major barrier to understanding metabolic regulation of chromatin modification is the lack of methodology to reliably measure nuclear metabolite levels. In this talk, I will discuss efforts to quantify subcellular acyl-CoA levels, as well as insights into the regulation of nuclear metabolite pools emerging from this work. Citation Format: Kathryn Wellen. Metabolic compartmentalization in the regulation of chromatin modification [abstract]. In: Abstracts: AACR Special Virtual Conference on Epigenetics and Metabolism; October 15-16, 2020; 2020 Oct 15-16. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(23 Suppl):Abstract nr IA08.
JA:2021-28. The Next Generation of Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines: Process and Outcomes

Purpose: The goal of this project was to update the 1999 evidence-based North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT) into a mobile-friendly resource that could be widely dis...
Digital Clinics and Mobile Technology Implementation for Mental Health Care.

Interest in digital mental health, especially smartphone apps, has expanded in light of limited access to mental health services and the need for remote care during COVID-19. Digital clinics, in which apps are blended into routine care, offer a potential solution to common implementation challenges including low user engagement and lack of clinical integration of apps. While the number of mental health apps available in commercial marketplaces continues to rise, there are few examples of successful implementation of these apps into care settings. We review one example of a digital clinic created within an academic medical center and another within the Department of Veterans Affairs. We then discuss how implementation science can inform new efforts to effectively integrate mental health technologies across diverse use cases. Integrating mental health apps into care settings is feasible but requires careful attention to multiple domains that will influence implementation success, including characteristics of the innovation (e.g., utility and complexity of the app), the recipients of the technology (e.g., patients and clinicians), and context (e.g., healthcare system buy-in, reimbursement, and regulatory policies). Examples of effective facilitation strategies that can be utilized to improve implementation efforts include co-production of technology involving all end users, specialized trainings for staff and patients, creation of new team members to aid in app usage (e.g., digital navigators), and re-design of clinical workflows.
Data Augmentation for Improving Deep Learning Models in Building Inspections or Postdisaster Evaluation

AbstractCurrent building evaluations, whether for occupant safety or insurance appraisal, are conducted primarily via visual inspections performed by certified individuals. These inspections, which...
60 Ready-to-Use Coding Projects

In the post-COVID era, computer skills and technical knowledge will be increasingly important. Libraries can help provide students of all ages with relevant technical skills. While resources are av...
The Fast Kernel Transform.

Kernel methods are a highly effective and widely used collection of modern machine learning algorithms. A fundamental limitation of virtually all such methods are computations involving the kernel matrix that naively scale quadratically (e.g., constructing the kernel matrix and matrix-vector multiplication) or cubically (solving linear systems) with the size of the data set $N.$ We propose the Fast Kernel Transform (FKT), a general algorithm to compute matrix-vector multiplications (MVMs) for datasets in moderate dimensions with quasilinear complexity. Typically, analytically grounded fast multiplication methods require specialized development for specific kernels. In contrast, our scheme is based on auto-differentiation and automated symbolic computations that leverage the analytical structure of the underlying kernel. This allows the FKT to be easily applied to a broad class of kernels, including Gaussian, Matern, and Rational Quadratic covariance functions and physically motivated Green's functions, including those of the Laplace and Helmholtz equations. Furthermore, the FKT maintains a high, quantifiable, and controllable level of accuracy -- properties that many acceleration methods lack. We illustrate the efficacy and versatility of the FKT by providing timing and accuracy benchmarks and by applying it to scale the stochastic neighborhood embedding (t-SNE) and Gaussian processes to large real-world data sets.
Description of a novel curriculum on equity, diversity and inclusion for pediatric residents.

Abstract Background Accreditation standards in medical education require curricular elements dedicated to understanding diversity and addressing inequities in health care. The development and implementation of culturally effective care curricula are crucial to improving health care outcomes, yet these curricular elements are currently limited in residency training. Methods A needs assessment of 125 pediatric residents was conducted that revealed minimal prior culturally effective care instruction. To address identified needs, an integrated, longitudinal equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) curriculum was designed and implemented at a single institution using Kern's Framework. This consisted of approximately 25 h of instruction including monthly didactics and sessions which addressed (1) EDI definitions and history and (2) microaggressions. A mixed methods evaluation was used to assess the curricular elements with quantitative summary of resident session scores and a qualitative component using in-depth content analysis of resident evaluations. Thematic analysis was used to code qualitative responses and identify common attitudes and perceptions about the curricular content. Results 109/125 (87.2%) residents completed the needs assessment. Over one year, 323 resident evaluations were collected for curricular sessions. Average overall quality rating for sessions was 4.7 (scale 1-5), and 85% of comments included positive feedback. Key themes included lecture topic relevance, adequate time to cover the content, need for screening tools and patient resources, importance of patient case examples to supplement instruction, and novel/ “eye opening” content. In addition, several broader institutional impacts of the curriculum were noted such as recognizing the need for comprehensive support for residents of color, corresponding EDI faculty training, and a resident reporting system to identify learning climate issues. Conclusions The implementation of a comprehensive resident EDI curriculum was feasible earning positive evaluations in its first year, with requests for additional content. It has also spurred multiple institution-wide ripple effects. Suggestions for improvement included more case-based learning, skills practice, and simulation. Future steps include expansion of this EDI curriculum to faculty and examining its impact in resident of color affinity groups. Given ACGME requirements to improve training addressing equity and social determinants of health, this curriculum development process serves as a possible template for other training programs.
Potent Anticancer Effects of Epidithiodiketopiperazine NT1721 in Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of debilitating, incurable malignancies. Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) are the most common subtypes, accounting for ~65% of CTCL cases. Patients with advanced disease have a poor prognosis and low median survival rates of four years. CTCLs develop from malignant skin-homing CD4+ T cells that spread to lymph nodes, blood, bone marrow and viscera in advanced stages. Current treatments options for refractory or advanced CTCL, including chemotherapeutic and biological approaches, rarely lead to durable responses. The exact molecular mechanisms of CTCL pathology remain unclear despite numerous genomic and gene expression profile studies. However, apoptosis resistance is thought to play a major role in the accumulation of malignant T cells. Here we show that NT1721, a synthetic epidithiodiketopiperazine based on a natural product, reduced cell viability at nanomolar concentrations in CTCL cell lines, while largely sparing normal CD4+ cells. Treatment of CTCL cells with NT1721 reduced proliferation and potently induced apoptosis. NT1721 mediated the downregulation of GLI1 transcription factor, which was associated with decreased STAT3 activation and the reduced expression of downstream antiapoptotic proteins (BCL2 and BCL-xL). Importantly, NT1721, which is orally available, reduced tumor growth in two CTCL mouse models significantly better than two clinically used drugs (romidepsin, gemcitabine). Moreover, a combination of NT1721 with gemcitabine reduced the tumor growth significantly better than the single drugs. Taken together, these results suggest that NT1721 may be a promising new agent for the treatment of CTCLs.
Automatic Speech Separation Enables Brain-Controlled Hearable Technologies

People with hearing impairment have difficulty hearing a speaker’s voice amidst competing sound sources. While traditional hearing aids can suppress background noise, they cannot help a user listen to a single conversation among many without knowing which speaker the user is attending to. In this work, we design a brain-controlled hearing aid that can automatically determine the speaker that the user is focusing on and amplify that speaker. We propose a novel speech separation algorithm to automatically separate speakers in mixed audio without any need for prior training on the speakers. The separated speakers are compared to evoked neural responses in the auditory cortex of the listener to determine and amplify the attended speaker. We demonstrate that the proposed brain-controlled hearing aid significantly improves speech perception of the attended speaker. By combining the latest advances in speech processing technologies and brain-computer interfaces, the brain-controlled hearing aid can assist individuals with hearing impairments and reduce the listening effort for normal hearing subjects in adverse acoustic environments.
Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall for Them: by Seema Yasmin, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2021, 263 pp., $24.95, ISBN: 978-1-4214-4040-8

In this time of “fake news,” “alternative facts,” and “post-truth,” Dr. Yasmin tackles head on social media’s most widely circulating medical myths and pseudoscience, (what she so aptly refers to a...
A Conversation with Denise Levertov

The Conference on Christianity and Literature sponsored a reading by Denise Levertov at the 1994 Annual Convention of the Modern Language Association in San Diego. In addition, CCL presented the po...
Neuronal Growth Factors

This text compares and contrasts the biochemistry and biology of nerve growth factor (NGF) and acidic- and basic-fibroblast growth factors in the hope that these extensively characterized factors may serve as useful models for the growing list of less well characterized neurotrophic factors. Nerve growth factor represents one member of a family of several structurally and functionally related peptides; the fibroblast growth factors represent a second large family of peptides. Each family of factors illustrates the important concept that individual peptide factors may have a diverse array of functions on a variety of different cell types. This book covers a broad range of topics from the biochemistry of synthesis, processing and release of the factors, to the biochemistry of cell surface receptors and signal transduction mechanisms, to the regulation of expression of factors and receptors in development, to discussions of specific functional roles in the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. The volume will be of interest to those concerned with the mechanisms governing neural development, as well as those interested in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease.
Behavioral Betas and Mean-Variance Portfolios

This chapter demonstrates that the sentiment component oscillates. It also demonstrates that beta decomposes into a fundamental component and a sentiment component. The sentiment component underlies the traditional concept of expected abnormal return. The central question to be addressed here concerns the nature of beta and mean-variance efficiency when sentiment is nonzero and prices are inefficient. It establishes that both mean-variance efficiency and beta are meaningful concepts when prices are inefficient. However, both reflect sentiment. Sentiment also impacts the return distribution to the market portfolio. The higher the rate of risk aversion, the greater the impact of sentiment on the distribution. Notably, when all investors possess log-utility, the return distribution for the market portfolio is not impacted by sentiment. Misspecifying a mean-variance benchmark can give rise to the perception of abnormal returns. If the benchmark would be appropriate in an efficient market setting, then the abnormal returns must relate to the sentiment premium. Notably, the misspecified mean-variance benchmark can be used for the purpose of computing expected returns; however, a suitable correction to beta is required, one that reflects sentiment as an omitted variable. The chapter describes this relationship from the vantage point of beta, meaning how beta decomposes into a fundamental component and a sentiment component.
Visual exploration of malicious network objects using semantic zoom, interactive encoding and dynamic queries

This paper explores the application of visualization techniques to aid in the analysis of malicious and non-malicious binary objects. These objects may include any logically distinct chunks of binary data such as image files, word processing documents and network packets. To facilitate this analysis, we present a novel visualization technique for comparing and navigating among 600-1000+ such objects at one time. While the visualization technique alone has powerful application for both directed and undirected exploration of many classes of binary objects, we chose to study network packets. To increase effectiveness, we strengthened the visualization technique with novel, domain-specific semantic zooming, interactive encoding and dynamic querying capabilities. We present results and lessons learned from implementing these techniques and from studying both malicious and non-malicious network packets. Our results indicate that the information visualization system we present is an efficient and effective way to compare large numbers of network packets, visually examine their payloads and navigate to areas of interest within large network datasets.
Numbers: rational and irrational

A superb development that starts with the natural numbers and carries the reader through the rationals and their decimal representations to algebraic numbers and then to the real numbers. Along the way, you will see characterizations of the rationals and of certain special (Liouville) transcendental numbers. This material is basic to all of algebra and analysis. Professor Niven's book may be read with profit by interested high school students as well as by college students and others who want to know more about the basic aspects of pure mathematics.
Nucleotide sequence of Escherichia coli trpE. Anthranilate synthetase component I contains no tryptophan residues.

Abstract The nucleotide sequence of Escherichia coli trpE was determined. The correct translational phase of trpE was confirmed by analyzing the pattern of nucleotide differences between E. coli trpE and portions of Salmonella typhimurium trpE . The trpE gene product, anthranilate synthetase component I, is 520 amino acid residues long and contains no tryptophan residues. The absence of tryptophan from this polypeptide suggests a mechanism whereby chorismate can be channeled into the tryptophan-specific pathway under severe tryptophan starvation conditions.
Live Upgrade Techniques for CORBA Applications

The ability to perform live software upgrades is essential for long-running applications that provide critical services. Program modifications are necessary as programmer errors and new user requirements are uncovered. If software is to remain relevant, it must be upgradable. The Eternal Evolution Manager allows distributed CORBA applications to be upgraded while they continue to provide service. In addition to avoiding planned downtime, the Evolution Manager accomplishes the difficult tasks inherent to software evolution with minimal help from the application programmer. With our live upgrade techniques, and the underlying fault tolerance of the Eternal System, we can allow applications to run forever.
Coagulopathy screening in children with heparinized central venous catheters.

Objective To develop a method of screening for coagulopathy using blood drawn through heparinized central venous catheters. Methods Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were determined in paired blood samples with and without the addition of protamine, using an automated photo-optical method. A concentration of 4 micrograms/mL of citrated whole blood was chosen, based on preliminary experiments. This is sufficient to neutralize the expected heparin contamination in samples drawn through heparinized catheters while causing only a slight prolongation in APTT (due to the anticoagulant effect of protamine). Seventeen paired samples were drawn by venipuncture in patients without known coagulopathy. Twenty-five samples were drawn through heparinized central venous catheters. The first 5 mL of blood drawn from a catheter was discarded to avoid gross heparin contamination. Four samples from patients with coagulopathy were also analyzed with and without the addition of 2.5 micrograms/mL of heparin. Results Protamine increased PT by 9.0 +/- 0.8% and APTT by 9.0 +/- 3.4% (mean +/- SD) in the samples drawn by venipuncture. For samples drawn through heparinized catheters, 52% had a prolonged APTT, 44% a prolonged PT, and 68% had at least one prolonged test. With the addition of protamine, and after correction for the 9% mean increase in PT and APTT, 4% of samples had a prolonged APTT, 12% had a prolonged PT, and 16% had at least one prolonged test (P = .00006, .014, and .0001). All four samples from patients with coagulopathy were correctly identified as abnormal after the addition of protamine, with or without added heparin. Conclusions A protamine-supplemented APTT test on blood drawn through a heparinized catheter may be an adequate screening test for coagulopathy. This procedure reduces discomfort in patients with an indwelling catheter by avoiding venipuncture.
Functions of Twitter in Digital Libraries

Twitter is a popular social media tool for people to connect and communicate with one another. In recent years, digital libraries (DLs) have added Twitter to their lists of social media tools as a way to engage with users. However, how digital librarians and users actually use this social media tool is unknown. In order to gain more knowledge about the use of Twitter, the authors conducted an open coding analysis of Tweets from 15 different DLs for the course of one year. Five types of functions of Twitters in DLs were selected and discussed, which represent the problems, promotion, related resources, social connection and social identity of DLs. In addition, their relationships were also explored.
Photonic bandgap crystals by self-assembly

This paper describes the use of confined self-assembly in organizing monodispersed spherical colloids into face-center-cubic crystalline lattices for photonic crystals applications. Using this method, we were able to conveniently control the thickness, the density and structure of defects, and the orientation of a crystal. Inverse opals of polymers and ceramic materials were also synthesized by templating corresponding precursors against three-dimensional colloidal crystals. As an extension to this method, we also demonstrated the hierarchical self-assembly that involved building blocks with sizes on two different scales, and its application in forming inverse opals.
Post-graduate courses in information management and related areas

Information-related courses at post-graduate level are reviewed. The analysis is based on particulars of 17 courses at 16 different institutions and reveals great diversity of approach. Some of the literature is very informative; some at best may be described as vague. The courses were analysed under a number of headings and the findings are presented together with some discussion of the many issues and a number of further questions raised.
Environmental microbe and human pathogen: the ecology and microbiology of Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is a fascinating microorganism that occupies two distinct habitats: aquatic environments and human intestines. Although its activity in human hosts has received a great deal of attention because of its effect on human health, the microbe's behavior in natural ecosystems has received much less consideration. In this paper we briefly review the microbiology and ecology of V. cholerae, before highlighting four important areas for further research. First, V. cholerae acts as a typical heterotrophic bacterium while in aquatic environments, mineralizing organic matter for reuse within the food web. In addition, three key processes affect the microorganism's population dynamics and therefore its role in ecosystem processes: a viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) state, attachment to environmental substrates, and bacterivory. Several factors link V. cholerae in its human and aquatic habitats, especially human activities that influence its growth conditions while out...
Malnutrition in children with cancer: incidence and consequence.

Overt malnutrition in children with cancer is seen with surprising frequency: up to 37.5% in a group of patients with disease metastatic to or from bone, and 17.5% in a group of newly diagnosed patients with abdominal or pelvic tumors. It appears more frequent in some cancers. e.g., Ewing's sarcoma, than in others, e.g., osteosarcoma. Criteria for diagnosis of overt malnutrition are applicable to the child with cancer. Such overt malnutrition can be successfully and safely treated with intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH). Marginal malnutrition is a state that can be inferred from clinical behavior, although it cannot be objectively diagnosed as yet. Early data suggest that deterioration to overt malnutrition can be averted through IVH. Such nutritional intervention may increase chemotherapeutic tolerance and improve immune defenses. Since childhood cancer is beginning to frequently show excellent outcome, the association of malnutrition with progressive disease strongly suggests investigation of the role of nutritional support.
Assessing the Clinical or Applied Importance of Behavior Change through Social Validation

Applied behavior analysis has emphasized that the effects of treatment interventions should be evaluated in part on the basis of whether changes of clinical, social, or applied importance have been achieved. Recently, social validation has been proposed as a means of evaluating whether behavior changes achieved during treatment are clinically important. In the context of evaluating treatment outcome, social validation consists of two procedures. First, the behavior of the target subject is compared with that of his or her peers who have not been identified as problematic. Second, subjective evaluations of the target subject's behavior by individuals in the natural environment are solicited. Behavior changes can be viewed as clinically important if the intervention has brought the client's performance within the range of socially acceptable levels, as evidenced by the client's peer group, or if the client's behavior is judged by others as reflecting a qualitative improvement on global ratings. The present ...
Evaluation of the Heart Truth Professional Education Campaign on Provider Knowledge of Women and Heart Disease

Background: The Heart Truth Professional Education Campaign was developed to facilitate education of health care providers in evidence-based strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. Methods: As part of the 3-year campaign, lectures based on the American Heart Association’s evidence-based guidelines for CVD prevention in women were presented by local speakers to healthcare providers and students in three high-risk states: Delaware, Ohio, and New York. Participants’ responses to pretest and posttest questions about CVD in women are presented. We performed t-test and multivariable linear regression to assess the influence of provider characteristics on baseline knowledge and knowledge change after the lecture. Results: Between 2008 and 2011, 2,995 healthcare providers, students, and other participants completed the baseline assessment. Knowledge scores at baseline were highest for physicians, with obstetrician/gynecologists scoring lowest (63%) and cardiologists highest (76%). Nurses had intermediate total knowledge (56%) and students had the lowest total knowledge (49%) at baseline. Pre- and post-lecture assessments were completed by 1,893 (63%) of attendees. Scores were significantly higher after the educational lecture (p � .001), with greater increase for those with lower baseline scores. Baseline knowledge of the use of statins, hormone therapy, and antioxidants, as well as approaches to smoking cessation and treatment of hypertension, differed by provider type. Conclusion: Tailoring of lectures for non-physician audiences may be beneficial given differences in baseline knowledge. More emphasis is needed on statin use for all providers and on smoking cessation and treatment of hypertension for nurses, students, and other healthcare professionals. Copyright 2013 by the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Causes of death in patients with non-Hodgkin's lYMPHOMA

The causes of death and postmortem findings in patients treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at a single institution over a 13-year period were reviewed. Postmortem examination (70% of the entire sample) revealed evidence of lymphoma in 67 of 80 patients. The most frequent extranodal sites of involvement were the respiratory tract, bone marrow, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract in that order. The most common cause of death was infection (33% of cases). Predisposing factors for infection included the underlying disease, (i.e., lymphomatous infiltration of organ systems) and granulocytopenia secondary to combination chemotherapy. Other causes of death included hemorrhage and respiratory failure secondary to lymphomatous infiltration of the lung. Despite advances in therapy and supportive care of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, many patients still die of this disease or of sequelae related to its treatment.
PDGF and FGF induce focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation at Ser-910: Dissociation from Tyr-397 phosphorylation and requirement for ERK activation†

A rapid increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) has been extensively documented in cells stimulated by multiple signaling molecules, but very little is known about the regulation of FAK phosphorylation at serine residues. Stimulation of Swiss 3T3 cells with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) promoted a striking increase in the phosphorylation of FAK at Ser-910, as revealed by site-specific antibodies that recognized the phosphorylated state of this residue. FAK phosphorylation at Ser-910 could be distinguished from that at Tyr-397 in terms of dose-response relationships and kinetics. Furthermore, the selective phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitors wortmannin and LY 294002 abrogated FAK phosphorylation at Tyr-397 but did not interfere with PDGF-induced FAK phosphorylation at Ser-910. Conversely, treatment with U0126, a potent inhibitor of MEK-mediated ERK activation, prevented FAK phosphorylation at Ser-910 induced by PDGF but did not interfere with PDGF-induced FAK phosphorylation at Tyr-397. These results were extended using growth factors that either stimulate, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), or do not stimulate (insulin) the ERK pathway activation in Swiss 3T3 cells. FGF but not insulin promoted a striking ERK-dependent phosphorylation of FAK at Ser-910. Our results indicate that FAK phosphorylation at Tyr-397 and FAK phosphorylation at Ser-910 are induced in response to PDGF stimulation through different signaling pathways, namely PI 3-kinase and ERK, respectively.
A fuzzy supplier selection application using large survey datasets of delivery performance

A model is developed using fuzzy probability to screen survey data across relevant criteria for selecting suppliers based on fuzzy expected values. The values are derived from qualitative variables and expert opinion of membership in these variables found in industry survey data. The application is made to a supply chain management decision of supplier selection based upon delivery performance which is further divided into attributes that comprise this criterion. The algorithm allows multiple criteria to be considered for each decision parameter. Large sets of survey data regarding six suppliers in the electronic parts industry are gathered from over 150 purchasers and are analyzed through spreadsheet modeling of the fuzzy algorithm. The resulting decision support system allows supply chain managers to improve supplier selection decisions by applying fuzzy measures of criteria and associated beliefs across the dataset. The proposed model and method are highly adaptable to existing survey datasets, including datasets that have incomplete data, and can be implemented in organizations with low decision support resources, such as small and medium sized organizations.
A MODIFIED AVERAGE DERIVATIVES ESTIMATOR

We extend the average derivatives estimator to the case of functionally dependent regressors. We show that the proposed estimator is consistent and has a limiting normal distribution. A consistent covariance matrix estimator for the proposed estimator is provided.
On-chip pressure injection for integration of infrared-mediated DNA amplification with electrophoretic separation

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) membrane valves were utilized for diaphragm pumping on a PDMS-glass hybrid microdevice in order to couple infrared-mediated DNA amplification with electrophoretic separation of the products in a single device. Specific amplification products created during non-contact, infrared (IR) mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were injected via chip-based diaphragm pumping into an electrophoretic separation channel. Channel dimensions were designed for injection plug shaping via preferential flow paths, which aided in minimizing the plug widths. Unbiased injection of sample could be achieved in as little as 190 ms, decreasing the time required with electrokinetic injection by two orders of magnitude. Additionally, sample stacking was promoted using laminar or biased-laminar loading to co-inject either water or low ionic strength DNA marker solution along with the PCR-amplified sample. Complete baseline resolution (Res = 2.11) of the 80- and 102-bp fragments of pUC-18 DNA marker solution was achieved, with partially resolved 257- and 267-bp fragments (Res = 0.56), in a separation channel having an effective length of only 3.0 cm. This resolution was deemed adequate for many PCR amplicon separations, with the added advantage of short separation time—typically complete in <120 s. Decreasing the amount of glass surrounding the PCR chamber reduced the DNA amplification time, yielding a further enhancement in analysis speed, with heating and cooling rates as high as 13.4 and −6.4 °C s−1, respectively. With the time requirements greatly reduced for each step, it was possible to seamlessly couple IR-mediated amplification, sample injection, and separation/detection of a 278-bp fragment from the invA gene of <1000 starting copies of Salmonella typhimurium DNA in ∼12 min on a single device, representing the fastest PCR-ME integration achieved to date.
The protective effects of voluntary exercise against the behavioral consequences of uncontrollable stress persist despite an increase in anxiety following forced cessation of exercise

Humans who exercise are less likely to suffer from stress-related mood disorders. Similarly, rats allowed voluntary access to running wheels have constrained corticosterone responses to mild stressors and are protected against several behavioral consequences of uncontrollable stress which resemble symptoms of human anxiety and depression, including exaggerated fear and deficits in shuttle box escape learning. Although exercise conveys clear stress resistance, the duration of time the protective effects of exercise against the behavioral consequences of uncontrollable stress persist following exercise cessation is unknown. The current studies investigated (1) whether exercise-induced stress resistance extends to social avoidance, another anxiety-like behavior elicited by uncontrollable stressor exposure, and (2) the duration of time the protective effects of exercise persist following forced cessation of exercise. Six weeks of wheel running constrained the increase in corticosterone elicited by social exploration testing, and prevented the reduction in social exploration, exaggerated shock-elicited fear, and deficits in escape learning produced by uncontrollable stress. The protective effect of voluntary exercise against stress-induced interference with escape learning persisted for 15 days, but was lost by 25 days, following cessation of exercise. An anxiogenic effect, as revealed by a reduction in social exploration and an increase in fear behavior immerged as a function of time following cessation of exercise. Results demonstrate that the protective effect of voluntary exercise against the behavioral consequences of uncontrollable stress extends to include social avoidance, and can persist for several days following exercise cessation despite an increase in anxiety produced by forced cessation of exercise.
Beliefs of Smoking and Nonsmoking College Students about the Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Related Issues

The purpose of the present investigation was to survey beliefs on the aversiveness of environmental tobacco smoke held by smoking and nonsmoking college students. A few questions were also included on several closely related issues including the health hazards of smoking to smokers. Analysis was made of a thirty-one item section from a longer questionnaire that had been administered to sixty-one smoking and 246 nonsmoking college students at the University of New Hampshire. Although nonsmokers expressed a statistically significant degree of belief in most of the environmental smoke items there was considerable room for the beliefs to develop strength. In general smokers expressed slightly more skepticism or uncertainty. Both groups expressed quite strong levels of belief on a general statement on health hazards but considerably less strong belief on statements dealing with specific hazards. The question is raised whether most people really have an effective understanding of the health hazards.
Olfactory recognition of a trimethylsilylcarbamate as a carboxylic acid

This reaction has been implicated in the normal function of hemoglobin [2] and possibly of tubulin [3]. A strong case has recently been made that N-carboxylation is involved in the excitatory neurotoxicity of cysteine [4] and/3-Nmethylamino-L-alanine [5]. The NMDA receptor may recognize the carbamate moiety of N-carboxycysteine as equivalent to the -CHzCOOside chain of N-methyl-D-aspartate. In addition to degenerative neurotoxicity, such a mechanism may also contribute to reversible CO 2 intoxication [6] by causing simultaneous, transient changes in the structure of a number of chemical species in the brain. The implication of reversible N-carboxylation as broadly relevant to neuropathology recalls the accidental discovery of another case in which a cellular receptor appears to recognize a carbamate group as a carboxylic acid. Carbon dioxide inserts into the Si-N bond of silylamino groups to form silylcarbamates [7] : the characteristic odor for some time. Apparently the silylcarbamate hydrolyzed in contact with the olfactory epithelium to give the free carbamic acid or anion, an isostere of the powerful odorant, cyclohexane carboxylic acid. The piperidinium salt of the anion 3 lacked the fatty acid odor. The trimethylsilyl group apparently allowed the carbamate to have sufficient volatility and lipophilicity to reach the receptor site. Because of the lability of the -C(O)OSi(CH3) 3 group toward atmospheric moisture the more hindered triethylsilyl analog was synthesized. While the fatty acid odor was recognizable and more persistent, the effect was complicated by the camphoraceous odor contributed by the bulky triethylsilyl
Food Insecurity and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Homeless and Marginally Housed HIV-Infected Individuals in San Francisco

Food insecurity is common among HIV-infected populations in resource-rich and resource-poor countries. We hypothesized that food insecurity would be associated with risky sexual behaviors. We examined this hypothesis among all sexually active participants (n = 154) in the Research on Access to Care in the Homeless (REACH) cohort in San Francisco. The outcomes were unprotected vaginal or anal sex and multiple sexual partners during the prior 90 days. Associations were examined using repeated measures multivariable logistic regression analyses. Food insecurity was independently associated with unprotected sexual activity (AOR = 2.01 for each five point increase in HFIAS scale, 95 % CI 1.31–3.10) and multiple sexual partners (AOR = 1.54 for each five-point increase in HFIAS scale, 95 % CI 1.05–2.29). Food insecurity is a risk factor for unprotected sexual activity and multiple sexual partners among homeless and marginally housed HIV-infected individuals in San Francisco. Measures to alleviate food insecurity may play a role in decreasing secondary HIV transmission.
Mexico City's suburban land use and transit connection: The effects of the Line B Metro expansion

Over the past half century, government agencies in Mexico City have invested heavily in high-capacity public transit, particularly the 225-km Metro system. Nearly all of this investment has been in central locations of the metropolis. Only recently has service coverage been extended into the periphery, which has accounted for the majority of postwar metropolitan population growth. The Metro's Line B, which opened in phases in 1999 and 2000, significantly expanded Metro coverage into the densely populated and fast-growing suburban municipality of Ecatepec. Comparing travel behavior and land use measures at six geographic scales, including the investment's immediate catchment area, across two time periods—six years before and seven years after the investment opened—this paper investigates the effects of one of the first and only suburban high-capacity transit investments in Mexico City. While the investment sparked a significant increase in local Metro use, most of this increase came from people relying on informal transit, rather than cars. This shift reduced average transit expenditures and travel times for local residents. However, it also increased government subsidies for the Metro and had no apparent effect on road speeds. In terms of land use, the investment increased density around the stations but appears to have had little to no effect on downtown commercial development, where it might have been expected to have a significant influence. In short, the effects of Line B demonstrate much of the promise and problem with expanding high capacity transit service into the suburbs. Ridership is likely to be high, but so too will be the costs and subsidies, while the effects on car ownership and urban form are likely to be modest.