cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Out-of-state, out of mind? Non-operating farmland owners and conservation decision making

Although non-operating landowners control a growing percentage of farmland in the U.S., not enough is known about them. Modern agricultural practices have increased the global food supply, yet they have also contributed to environmental degradation, meaning more information about all stakeholders involved in farmland decision making is necessary. Using data from a 2014 survey in Indiana, this paper provides needed information about the characteristics of out-of-state non-operating farmland owners (e.g., absentee), their views toward conservation practices on their land, and their relationships with their tenants. We find that support for conservation practices is generally high, but varies by the type of practice. Landowners are more comfortable with informally encouraging their tenants to use specific practices than including conservation provisions in their leases. Major barriers in encouraging their tenants to use conservation practices include the need for more information and the potential costs for themselves and their tenants. Landowners' relationships with their tenants generally play no role in whether or not they encourage conservation practices, however, more frequent land visitation, more emphasis on the environmental views of their tenant, and positive views toward government programs are significant predictors of encouragement. These findings can be used to more effectively design targeted outreach campaigns that encourage absentee landowners to work with their tenants to voluntarily implement conservation practices on their land.
Structure, Biochemistry, and Inhibition of Essential 4′-Phosphopantetheinyl Transferases from Two Species of Mycobacteria

4′-Phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTase) post-translationally modify carrier proteins with a phosphopantetheine moiety, an essential reaction in all three domains of life. In the bacterial genus Mycobacteria, the Sfp-type PPTase activates pathways necessary for the biosynthesis of cell wall components and small molecule virulence factors. We solved the X-ray crystal structures and biochemically characterized the Sfp-type PPTases from two of the most prevalent Mycobacterial pathogens, PptT of M. tuberculosis and MuPPT of M. ulcerans. Structural analyses reveal significant differences in cofactor binding and active site composition when compared to previously characterized Sfp-type PPTases. Functional analyses including the efficacy of Sfp-type PPTase-specific inhibitors also suggest that the Mycobacterial Sfp-type PPTases can serve as therapeutic targets against Mycobacterial infections.
A Method to Determine the Pressure Dependent Distortion of a Simple Piston Gage Based on Dimensional Metrology

Elastic distortion of the piston and cylinder is the leading cause of inaccuracy in piston gages at higher pressures. The distortion depends upon the pressure profile between the piston and the cylinder. One possible method of determining the pressure profile is demonstrated.
The Roots of Resistance: Cultivating Critical Parental Involvement

The three voices above belong to immigrant, working-class women who have become leaders in the struggle to create an empowering education for their children and their neighborhoods. In most schools that serve poor and working-class students of color, parents are systematically shut out of meaningful participation in their children's education. Working-class parents are welcomed in schools insofar as they do not question the power relations or the nature of the oppression that pervades schooling. In contrast, during the past seven years, I have been involved in a community movement to change two elementary schools in the Southern California area. This movement is led by Latina immigrant mothers. Through my work with these mothers, I have developed a theoretical model based on parental involvement that can be used by other educational activists. I call this model "Critical Parental Involvement." This model is based on two key processes – critical analysis, and collective social action and reflection - that ...
Microsurgical resection of tumors of the lateral and third ventricles: operative corridors for difficult-to-reach lesions

Tumors of the lateral and third ventricles are cradled on all sides by vital vascular and eloquent neural structures. Microsurgical resection, which always requires attentive planning, plays a critical role in the contemporary management of these lesions. This article provides an overview of the open microsurgical approaches to the region highlighting key clinical perspectives.
Clinically significant psychiatric symptoms among male carriers of the fragile X premutation, with and without FXTAS, and the mediating influence of executive functioning.

AbstractObjectives: To clarify the neuropsychiatric phenotype of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), and assess the extent to which it is mediated by the dysexecutive syndrome that is a major feature of the disorder.Methods: We examined the prevalence of clinically meaningful psychiatric symptoms among male carriers of the fragile X premutation, with and without FXTAS, in comparison with men with a normal allele. Measures included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Behavioral Dyscontrol Scale, a measure of executive functioning. Between-group differences were evaluated using logistic regression, followed by a mediation analysis with ordinary least squares regression to assess the contribution of dysexecutive syndrome to the observed psychiatric domains.Results: Men with FXTAS showed higher rates of clinically significant symptoms overall and in specific domains: somatization, obsessive compulsive, depression, anxiety, psychoticism, agitation/a...
From Playing to Programming: The Effect of Video Game Play on Confidence with Computers and an Interest in Computer Science:

Research on the effects of playing video games has been limited by a preoccupation with possible negative repercussions. Nevertheless, research has shown that video games can have positive effects ...
Faith and Marital Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring the Links Between Religious Affiliation and Intimate Partner Violence Among Women in Ghana:

Research shows that intimate partner violence is quite widespread throughout the world. In the case of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), studies have concluded that cultural and economic factors help to sustain the spread and maintenance of intimate partner violence in the region. Although the cultural interpretations predominate in current research, few have examined the links between religion, an important cultural variable, and intimate partner violence in SSA. Given the growth and importance of religion in African cultures, we used data from the 2008 Ghana Demographic Health Survey (n = 1,831) and ordinary least squares regression method to investigate the links between religious affiliation and intimate partner violence. Findings from our study point to some variations in intimate partner violence by affiliation. This is especially true with regard to women's experience with sexual violence and emotional violence. Besides religion, we also found ideologies that support wife abuse, the nature of decision-making process at the household level, and husband's use of alcohol to be important determinants of intimate partner violence in Ghana. We examined the implications of these findings.
Playing to the edge: American intelligence in the age of terror

Retired General Michael Hayden can be described as the senior statesman of American intelligence solely on the basis that he has held more of the most senior positions in the US Intelligence Commun...
Segmental resection is a safe oncological alternative to total proctocolectomy in elderly patients with ulcerative colitis and malignancy

Aim The standard approach for the surgical management for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the setting of ulcerative colitis (UC) involves total proctocolectomy (TPC). However, some patients also undergo a partial resection (PR). This may be an attractive option in older patients with a high for surgery. The aim of this study is to compare the risk of metachronous cancer after PR or TPC for CRC in the setting of UC. Method This was a retrospective cohort study conducted through the Nationwide Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VA). Patients who had UC and underwent a PR or TPC for CRC were followed from the time of their surgery to their most recent clinical follow up. The primary outcome was development of metachronous cancer in the PR group. Secondary outcomes included surgical and medical outcomes. Results Fifty nine patients were included. 24 patients (40.7%) underwent PR while 35 (59.3%) patients underwent TPC. The median age at cancer diagnosis was 73 and 61.7 years in PR and TPC groups, respectively (p<0.0005). Amongst PR patients, 15 (60%) had no active ulcerative colitis at the time of operation while 8 (23.5%) of the TPC patients had no active disease (0.005). No patient who underwent a partial colectomy developed a metachronous cancer in the retained colonic segment during the follow up period (median 7 years). Conclusion Our study suggests that partial resection for CRC in the setting of UC may be a viable option in a selected cohort of patients, especially among the elderly. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Clostridium difficile extraintestinal abscess: a rare complication

Extraintestinal Clostridium difficile is rare. A 74-year-old man with a history of ulcerative colitis presented after a fall. Trauma work-up showed liver cirrhosis. Two days later he developed abdominal pain, distension, diarrhoea and leucocytosis. Stool tested positive for C. difficile. CT abdomen showed pancolitis with toxic megacolon. Total abdominal colectomy and ileostomy with a rectal stump was performed. He was discharged, but was readmitted with sepsis. CT abdomen showed a 10.4×7.2 cm fluid collection in the pelvis. C. difficile stool was negative. CT-guided abscess drainage grew C. difficile. Barium enema was negative for communication from the rectal stump to the abscess. The patient was treated with metronidazole for 2 weeks. In summary, extraintestinal C. difficile can develop from recent antibiotics use, gastrointestinal surgery and microperforations from toxic megacolon. We recommend abscess drainage, concomitant treatment with metronidazole and or vancomycin, and reimaging of abscess location 2–4 weeks after cessation of antibiotics.
When study participants are vulnerable: getting and keeping the right team.

Background Research assistants (RAs) are critical members of all research teams. When a study involves vulnerable populations, it is particularly important to have the right team members. Aim To describe the motivations, personal characteristics and team characteristics that promoted the job satisfaction of RAs who worked on two multi-year, randomised clinical trials involving older adults with dementia. Discussion A survey was conducted with 41 community members who worked as RAs for up to five years. Measures included demographics, work engagement, personality and characteristics of effective teams, as well as open-ended questions about respondents' experiences of the study. Quantitative analyses and coding of open-ended responses were used to summarise results. Almost all the RAs surveyed joined the team because of previous experiences of interacting with cognitively impaired older people. The RA respondents scored higher in 'dedication to work', 'extraversion', 'agreeableness' and 'conscientiousness' than average. An important aspect of their job satisfaction was team culture, including positive interpersonal interaction and the development of supportive team relationships. Conclusion A positive work culture provides RAs with an opportunity to work with a study population that they are personally driven to help, and promotes motivation and satisfaction in team members. Implications for practice Results from this study can guide the recruitment, screening and retention of team members for studies that include vulnerable populations.
A logic of deliberation

Deliberation typically involves the formation of a plan or intention from a set of values and beliefs. I suggest that deliberation, or "practical reasoning," is a form of normative reasoning and that the understanding and construction of reasoning systems that can deliberate and act intentionally presupposes a theory of normative reasoning. The language and semantics of a deontic logic is used to develop a theory of defeasible reasoning in normative systems and belief systems. This theory may be applied in action theory and to artificial intelligence by identifying expressions of values, beliefs, and intentions with various types of modal sentences from the language.
Heat shock protein 47 and 65-kDa FK506-binding protein weakly but synergistically interact during collagen folding in the endoplasmic reticulum

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the extracellular matrix in humans and is critical to the integrity and function of many musculoskeletal tissues. A molecular ensemble comprising more than 20 molecules is involved in collagen biosynthesis in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Two proteins, heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47/SERPINH1) and 65-kDa FK506-binding protein (FKBP65/FKBP10), have been shown to play important roles in this ensemble. In humans, autosomal recessive mutations in both genes cause similar osteogenesis imperfecta phenotypes. Whereas it has been proposed that Hsp47 and FKBP65 interact in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, there is neither clear evidence for this interaction nor any data regarding their binding affinities for each other. In this study using purified endogenous proteins, we examined the interaction between Hsp47, FKBP65, and collagen and also determined their binding affinities and functions in vitro Hsp47 and FKBP65 show a direct but weak interaction, and FKBP65 prefers to interact with Hsp47 rather than type I collagen. Our results suggest that a weak interaction between Hsp47 and FKBP65 confers mutual molecular stability and also allows for a synergistic effect during collagen folding. We also propose that Hsp47 likely acts as a hub molecule during collagen folding and secretion by directing other molecules to reach their target sites on collagens. Our findings may explain why osteogenesis imperfecta-causing mutations in both genes result in similar phenotypes.
Diffuse granulomatous panniculitis associated with anti PD-1 antibody therapy.

Melanoma is one of the deadliest type of skin cancer, with a dismal 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic melanoma. However, in the last decade, the development of novel immune therapy and targeted therapy has significantly improved overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma, and these therapies have replaced cytotoxic chemotherapy as the mainstay of systemic treatment. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti CTLA-4 and anti–PD-1 antibodies, have shown durable tumor control among responders and have emerged as the front-line therapies in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. The co-inhibitory checkpoint receptor molecule PD-1 is highly expressed on T lymphocytes. When PD-1 binds to its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2), it inhibits T-cell activation and proliferation in the tumor microenvironment.1 Therefore, PD-1 binding to its ligands ultimately results in immune suppression against cancer cells. Nivolumab is an anti–PD-1 antibody that disrupts the binding of PD-1 to its ligands and restores T-cell activation and the body's immunologic response to cancer cells. It has demonstrated superior clinical efficacy, including significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival over anti–CTLA-4 antibody and cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs.2, 3 Common side effects associated with nivolumab include fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea but, more importantly, immune-related adverse events such as dermatitis, colitis, hepatitis, and endocrinopathies.2 Here we describe a case of granulomatous panniculitis mimicking disease progression in a patient with metastatic melanoma who was treated with nivolumab.
Wholesale produce auctions and regional food systems: The case of Seneca produce auction

Produce auctions are local aggregation points that facilitate access for small-scale fruit, flower and vegetable farmers to wholesale buyers from a broader geography. Buyers purchase lots from multiple farmers to fulfill wholesale demand and then retail the product to the consumers. Sales are held multiple times per week to create a consistent supply for buyers and a regular market for the farmers. With over 70 produce auctions located in eastern North America, this is a growing trend of intermediated markets. Currently, there are six active produce auctions in New York State, with two more in planning stages. Produce auctions have a positive economic impact on the communities in which they are located, as well as on those who sell and/or buy at the auction. Community values inherent to these populations contribute to the success of produce auctions as an intermediated market. As the auction market channel continues to grow, buyer and consumer education on the benefits of local auctions is important. As these auctions are based in horse-and-buggy communities, extension education needs to be tailored to Amish and Mennonite populations. Auction houses, as well as farmers, will need to stay current with federal food safety regulations and market-based requirements to remain competitive.
Optimal wavelength selection for optical spectroscopy of hemoglobin and water within a simulated light-scattering tissue

An algorithm that selects optimal wavelengths for spectral fitting of diffuse light reflectance spectra using a nonnegative least squares method is presented. Oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and water are considered representative absorbers, but the approach is not constrained or limited by absorber selection provided native basis spectra are available. The method removes wavelengths iteratively from a scattering-modulated absorption matrix by maximizing the product of its singular values and offers considerable improvements over previously published wavelength selection schemes. Resulting wavelength selections are valid for a broad range of optical properties and yield lower RMS errors than other wavelength combinations. The method is easily modified and broadly applicable to tissue optical spectroscopy. Adaptation of the algorithm to select optimal light-emitting diodes for fitting blood is described.
Thinking With Materials in Early Childhood

What if materials shape us just as much as we shape them? What if we were to attend with greater care to the effects of things, to the manner in which objects move together? And what if, rather tha...
Simultaneous Reaction and Chromatography

We review theories describing the operation of chromatographic reactors. Such devices can be used to force to completion reactions ordinarily limited by equilibrium by virtue of the separating action of fixed and moving sorption beds. Some opportunities for application in biotechnology are discussed.
Auditory Image Perception and Amplitude Modulation: Frequency and Intensity Discrimination of Individual Components for Amplitude-modulated Two-tone Complexes

The detection of amplitude modulation, but not frequency discrimination or intensity discrimination, for either tone of a two-tone complex (carrier frequencies of 987 and 4000 Hz) was disrupted if both tones were amplitude modulated at the same low rate (2–32 Hz) as compared to conditions in which the tones were not amplitude modulated. This finding suggests that if amplitude modulation is used to form an auditory image from tonal components, then the auditory system cannot process amplitude modulation as accurately as it can other stimulus dimensions such as frequency and intensity.
Shift Work and Heart Rate Variability Coherence: Pilot Study Among Nurses.

This study used ambient heart rate monitoring among health care workers to determine whether a novel measure of heart rate variability (HRV), as well as sleep disturbances, fatigue, or cognitive performance differed among non-rotating night shift nurses relative to those working permanent day shifts. Continuous ambulatory HRV monitoring was performed among night nurses (n = 11), and a comparison group of permanent day nurses (n = 7), over a 36-h period coinciding with the last two 12-h shifts of each participant’s work week. Symptoms and psychomotor vigilance were assessed at the end of the ambient HRV monitoring period, and no differences between shifts were observed. Day nurses exhibited an increase in hourly mean HRV coherence ratios during their sleep period, suggesting a circadian pattern of cardiorespiratory phase coupling, whereas night nurses had no increase in HRV coherence ratios during their sleep period. The HRV coherence patterns were similar to high frequency HRV power among nurses on the same shift. To the authors knowledge, this study was the first to quantify patterns of the HRV coherence ratio among shiftworkers in a non-experimental (work/home) setting. The results suggest a pattern of autonomic dysregulation among night workers during their sleep period relative to those working day shifts. The HRV coherence ratio may serve as a novel indicator of HRV dysregulation among shift workers.
Why do investment funds have special securities regulation

For almost every type of company, the United States has just one body of securities regulation. Pet stores, hospitals, for-profit universities, and iron mines all have to comply with the same securities laws in basically the same way. There is, however, one important exception: investment funds. Mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, and venture capital funds have their own special body of securities regulation that applies in place of or in addition to the regular securities laws that apply to other types of companies. Why? This 7,000-word essay, prepared for publication in the Research Handbook of Mutual funds, contemplates a number of possible answers and concludes that the most distinctive and legally salient feature of an investment fund is its structure. Investment funds divide their assets from their managements in much more radical ways than other types of companies. The surprising implication is that for purposes of regulation, an investment fund’s investments are much less important than its pattern of organization.
Extracellular cold inducible RNA-binding protein mediates binge alcohol-induced brain hypoactivity and impaired cognition in mice.

Alcohol abuse affects the brain regions responsible for memory, coordination and emotional processing. Binge alcohol drinking has shown reductions in brain activity, but the molecular targets have not been completely elucidated. We hypothesized that brain cells respond to excessive alcohol by releasing a novel inflammatory mediator, called cold inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP), which is critical for the decreased brain metabolic activity and impaired cognition. Male wild type (WT) mice and mice deficient in CIRP (CIRP−/−) were studied before and after exposure to binge alcohol level by assessment of relative brain glucose metabolism with fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET). Mice were also examined for object-place memory (OPM) and open field (OF) tasks. Statistical Parametric Analysis (SPM) of 18FDG-PET uptake revealed marked decreases in relative glucose metabolism in distinct brain regions of WT mice after binge alcohol. Regional analysis (post hoc) revealed that while activity in the temporal (secondary visual) and limbic (entorhinal/perirhinal) cortices was decreased in WT mice, relative glucose metabolic activity was less suppressed in the CIRP−/− mice. Group and condition interaction analysis revealed differing responses in relative glucose metabolism (decrease in WT mice but increase in CIRP−/− mice) after alcohol in brain regions including the hippocampus and the cortical amygdala where the percent changes in metabolic activity correlated with changes in object discrimination performance. Behaviorally, alcohol-treated WT mice were impaired in exploring a repositioned object in the OPM task, and were more anxious in the OF task, whereas CIRP−/− mice were not impaired in these tasks. CIRP released from brain cells could be responsible for regional brain metabolic hypoactivity leading to cognitive impairment under binge alcohol conditions.
Review: Sex-Based Differences in Treatment Outcomes for Persons With Opioid Use Disorder.

Background and objectives In order to address the current opioid crisis, research on treatment outcomes for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) should account for biological factors that could influence individual treatment response. Women and men might have clinically meaningful differences in their experience in OUD treatment and might also have unique challenges in achieving successful, long-term recovery. This review summarizes and synthesizes the current literature on sex-based differences in OUD treatment outcomes. Methods Relevant literature was identified via automated and manual searches using the terms "opioid treatment outcome sex [or gender] differences" and "opiate treatment outcome sex [or gender] differences." Search methodology was consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and were conducted within the PubMed electronic database during March and April of 2018. Results The initial PubMed search yielded 241 manuscripts and 31 original research articles that met inclusion/exclusion criteria were synthesized in this review. Several important trends emerged, including findings that women are more likely than men to present to treatment with co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression, and that women might respond particularly well to buprenorphine maintenance. Discussion and conclusions While much of the literature on this topic is subject to potential cohort effects, interventions that address co-occurring mental health conditions and psychosocial stress might improve treatment outcomes for women with OUD. Scientific significance Funding agencies and researchers should focus attention toward human laboratory studies and clinical trials that are prospectively designed to assess sex-based differences in OUD recovery. (Am J Addict 2019;28:246-261).
The Effect of Incorrect HU on Standardized Uptake values

2729 Objectives Contrast enhanced computed tomography converts Hounsfield units (HU) into Positron Emission Tomography (PET) attenuation correction (AC) factors (1). On a PET/CT system, standardize uptake values (SUV) are used to determine maximum 18F FDG activity within a region of interest (ROI) (2). Comparing serial SUV values provides a quantitative measurement of cancer therapy effectiveness within the ROI. Generally, a decrease of 25 percent in the SUV indicates a positive response to therapy. Failure to indicate whether iodinated IV contrast was used prior to PET images can affect the SUV (3). This is important for head and neck cancers, where contrast may be in close proximity to tumors. The purpose of this study determined how patient data is affected if the technologist omits indicating that contrast was given. Methods Raw data were obtained using a GE Discovery 710 PET/CT system. 31 patients were been given IV CT contrast immediately prior to a PET scan. These data were reconstructed with HU indicative of IV contrast versus the HU of blood vessels. A ROI was drawn and copied onto the renal pelvis of each image and the SUVmax was recorded. Results The data with incorrect HU values showed a SUV of 4.06 percent greater than the calculated SUVmax of the data with the correct HU value. The mean SUVmax percent difference was 4.06 for the incorrect AC values assigned to the blood vessels. The median percent difference was 1.73 percent, with a range of 0.24-18.13 percent. Conclusions A twenty-five percent reduction in SUVmax is viewed as a good response to therapy. This study determined how the patients9 SUVmax was changed by the incorrect HU values when using IV contrast. In all of the patients the ROI with incorrect HU values showed an increase in SUVmax when compared to those with the correct HU values. Over AC due to the incorrect HU consistently affected the SUVmax; however, none of the patient’s SUVmax were altered by more than 25 percent. The SUVmax error alone would not affect the patient’s outcome. In the future, using a larger patient database may improve the statistical relevance of this study.
Enhancing Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine Training During General Cardiology Fellowship.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, and preventing ASCVD is a public health priority. In the wake of increasing burden of cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity, halting this trend is a challenge
Effects of craving on opioid use are attenuated after pain coping counseling in adults with chronic pain and prescription opioid addiction.

OBJECTIVE Risk for prescription opioid addiction is an endemic public health concern, especially for adults with chronic pain. This study examined craving as a mediator from pain to opioid use outcomes during prescription opioid addiction treatment and tested whether counseling in pain coping skills moderated the effects of craving on treatment outcomes. METHOD Secondary analysis on a sample (N = 148) randomized to standard or enhanced counseling for 12 weeks with adjunct opioid maintenance medication. Multilevel analyses examined mediated effects between weekly pain, craving, and opioid use, and tested the interaction between craving and a counseling module on pain coping skills. RESULTS Greater pain predicted greater craving (β = 0.25, p < .001), which predicted next-week opioid use (β = 0.17, p < .001). A statistically significant indirect effect of craving (β = 0.04, 95% CI [0.02, 0.06]) mediated 95% of the total effect from pain to opioid use. A significant interaction (b = -0.22, p < .01) revealed that after receiving the pain coping module, the association between craving and next-week opioid use was reduced, with greater exposure to the module associated with stronger effects (b = -0.12, p < .01). CONCLUSION More severe pain predicts greater opioid use due to the association between pain and cravings. Pain coping skills counseling suppressed the association between cravings and opioid use. For adults with chronic pain receiving treatment for prescription opioid addiction, interventions that address cravings through behavioral pain coping skills may be crucial for achieving optimal treatment outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Potential Risk for Localized Aggressive Periodontitis in African American Preadolescent Children.

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the potential risk for localized aggressive periodontitis (LAgP) in African American children by detection of the potential periodontal pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microbiome analysis. Methods Twenty-one pre-adolescents (age range equals 10.7 to 13.1 years old) were recruited, for this IRB-approved study. Oral examination included limited periodontal examination determining bleeding index (BOP) and periodontal probing (PD). An oral mucosa sample was used for analysis. Results Nine of 21 children were Aa+ by PCR. The Aa+ group had a significantly higher proportion of teeth with BOP and PD greater than four mm than the Aa- group (P=0.014 and 0.006 for percent BOP and percent PD equal to or greater than four mm, respectively; Mann Whitney Test). No significant differences in microbe abundance or composition were found from comparison of Aa+ versus Aa- samples. Conclusions Detection of Aa from preadolescent African American children was associated with signs of periodontal inflammation. Although none of these children were diagnosed with LAgP, PCR targeting Aa could be a risk factor. Further study is indicated; however, the usefulness of PCR in dental practice setting to assess risk may be cost-effective for early diagnosis and prevention of LAgP.
Crowd Estimation via Thermal Images Analyzed by Convolutional Neural Network

This research focuses on improving the method of crowd estimation by using a single thermal picture as input. To be more specific, the purpose of this research is to combine state-of-the-art computer vision techniques and convolutional neural network on thermal image inputs to tackle the problem of estimating crowd density. Current crowd estimation methods are either too computationally expensive and privacy-invading like Switch Convolutional Neural Network or too complicated, needing multiple cameras or sensors. Different from preexisting methods, our approach focuses on developing different methods to estimate crowd density that utilized a single thermal image and the knowledge of the environment setting as the only input. Dataset used to train are collected during school events and are accurately labeled. The result shows that our method of using a single thermal camera in a given space to estimate crowd density is a promising approach. This approach offers high accuracy, low computational cost, and privacy protection. Additionally, using thermal images as input can easily avoid errors like counting pictures of faces on clothes or posters. Future improvements for this research include extending the data collection and building an online public database. The neural network will also be fine-tuned, and other state-of-the-art methods will be implemented. Future applications can include a low-cost approach in event reporting and security services in public places like subways and airports.
A Review of Zinc-L-Carnosine and Its Positive Effects on Oral Mucositis, Taste Disorders, and Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Zinc-L-carnosine (ZnC), also called polaprezinc known as PepZin GI™, is a chelated compound that contains L-carnosine and zinc. It is a relatively new molecule and has been associated with multiple health benefits. There are several studies that support ZnC’s benefits in restoring the gastric lining, healing other parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, improving taste disorders, improving GI disorders, and enhancing skin and liver. Oral mucositis is a common complication of cytotoxic radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. It occurs in almost every person with head and neck cancer who receive radiotherapy. It is often overlooked because it is not considered life threatening. However, mucositis often leads to a decreased quality of life and cessation of treatment, ultimately decreasing positive outcomes. Therefore, solutions to address it should be considered. The primary mechanisms of action are thought to be localized and related to ZnC’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to discuss the research related to ZnC and to explore its benefits, especially in the management of conditions related to damaged epithelial cells, such as oral mucositis. Evidence supports the safety and efficacy of ZnC for the maintenance, prevention, and treatment of the mucosal lining and other epithelial tissues. The research supports its use for gastric ulcers (approved in Japan) and conditions of the upper GI and suggests other applications, particularly for oral mucositis.
Measuring Reference Image Resolutions for Efficient Texture Mapping on 3D Modeling

The image resolution is given for each type of film format in terms of the Cineon scanning system because most other film scanners and recorders traditionally follow the standards. The Cineon system refers to the 4k scans as full resolution and the 2k scans as half resolution. Depending on the needs of productions, formats of an image may be specified through image resolutions, aspect ratios, or both. Major visual effects studios use 2k as a standard aspect ratio in most VFX productions in high-end feature films. However, 3D artists who work on those films do have limitations by professional applications, hardware as well as time efficiency. This naturally requires artists to treat each visual component differently and give priorities to those elements that are close to the primary cameras seeing by viewers. For example, assign high-resolution textures to main CG characters that are close to the cameras but relatively lower textures to other 3D objects that are further away from the main cameras. This approach inevitably raises a question to 3D artists on how to define texture resolutions based on the distances towards the main cameras so that efficient texture resolutions can be produced for mapping 3D objects in each scene. This paper has introduced a baseline concept for visualizing and defining texture resolutions according to distances of the primary camera.
The effect of magnetic spots on stellar winds and angular momentum loss

We simulate the effect of latitudinal variations in the location of star spots, as well as their magnetic field strength, on stellar angular momentum loss (AML) to the stellar wind. We use the Michigan solar corona global magnetohydrodynamic model, which incorporates realistic relation between the magnetic field topology and the wind distribution. We find that the spots' location significantly affects the stellar wind structure, and as a result, the total mass loss rate and AML rate. In particular, we find that the AML rate is controlled by the mass flux when spots are located at low latitudes but is controlled by an increased plasma density between the stellar surface and the Alfven surface when spots are located at high latitudes. Our results suggest that there might be a feedback mechanism between the magnetic field distribution, wind distribution, AML through the wind, and the motions at the convection zone that generate the magnetic field. This feedback might explain the role of coronal magnetic fields in stellar dynamos.
Resilient Consensus in Robot Swarms With Periodic Motion and Intermittent Communication

In this article, we propose an approach to construct a time-varying communication topology with a resilient consensus performance for robot swarms with limited communication ranges. The robots are deployed to explore a large task space and achieve consensus despite the existence of a finite number of noncooperative members in the team. Existing methods encouraged robots to stay close to each other to achieve certain robustness requirements on the connectivity of the communication topology. We leverage on the robots’ mobility to design a time-varying integrated topology composed of several subgroups of robots deployed on nonoverlapping closed-loop paths. Robots are spread out and move along the paths, forming periodic communication links within or across groups. We analyze the time-varying topology synthesized and provide sufficient conditions for individual subgroups and the interconnection between them. We show designs satisfying the conditions with simulated examples in a lattice space, as well as in a task space with predefined paths.
Obol: integrating language and meaning in bio-ontologies: Conference Papers

Ontologies are intended to capture and formalize a domain of knowledge. The ontologies comprising the Open Biological Ontologies (OBO) project, which includes the Gene Ontology (GO), are formalizations of various domains of biological knowledge. Ontologies within OBO typically lack computable definitions that serve to differentiate a term from other similar terms. The computer is unable to determine the meaning of a term, which presents problems for tools such as automated reasoners. Reasoners can be of enormous benefit in managing a complex ontology. OBO term names frequently implicitly encode the kind of definitions that can be used by computational tools, such as automated reasoners. The definitions encoded in the names are not easily amenable to computation, because the names are ostensibly natural language phrases designed for human users. These names are highly regular in their grammar, and can thus be treated as valid sentences in some formal or computable language. With a description of the rules underlying this formal language, term names can be parsed to derive computable definitions, which can then be reasoned over. This paper describes the effort to elucidate that language, called Obol, and the attempts to reason over the resulting definitions. The current implementation finds unique non-trivial definitions for around half of the terms in the GO, and has been used to find 223 missing relationships, which have since been added to the ontology. Obol has utility as an ontology maintenance tool, and as a means of generating computable definitions for a whole ontology.The software is available under an open-source license from: . Supplementary material for this article can be found at: Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Review of 1977 Year Book of Pathology and Clinical Pathology

Keeping abreast of current medical literature is rapidly becoming an impossible task. The >1977 Yearbook of Pathology and Clinical Pathology is one publisher's attempt to provide a source book of recent informative articles (in this instance through May 1976) to update the practicing pathologist's fund of current literature developments.
Effects of Polyacrylic Acid Concentration on Its Conformation and on the Stability of Alumina Suspensions

Effect of polyacrylic acid concentration on the stability of alumina suspension is studied here and interpreted on the basis of the conformation of the adsorbed polyacrylic species. The conformation of polyacrylic acid species was monitored using fluorescence technique with pyrene as probe. By allowing polyacrylic acid first to adsorb on alumina in coiled form at low pH and then raising the pH, a drastic increase in flocculation was seen at low polyacrylic concentrations, while dispersion of the slurry was observed at higher concentrations. Analysis of the slurry showed that the adsorbed polyacrylic acid underwent concentration-dependent conformational changes which affected the stability of the slurry. At low concentrations conformation of the adsorbed polyacrylic acid transformed from coiled to stretched, resulted in better bridging of the extended polymer chain between the particles, and enhanced flocculation. At higher polymer concentrations such conformational transition was absent because of crowding of the polymer chains on the particles; as a result, the suspension remained dispersed. This study shows for the first time how correlation of adsorbed polymer configuration, determined by fluorescence, with stabilization can be utilized to obtain better dispersion or flocculation of colloidal suspensions.
Physician-Rating Web Sites: Ethical Implications.

Purpose To understand the ethical and professional implications of physician behavior changes secondary to online physician-rating Web sites (PRWs). Methods The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) Ethics and Professionalism Committee surveyed the ASSH membership regarding PRWs. We sent a 14-item questionnaire to 2,664 active ASSH members who practice in both private and academic settings in the United States. Results We received 312 responses, a 12% response incidence. More than 65% of the respondents had a slightly or highly unfavorable impression of these Web sites. Only 34% of respondents had ever updated or created a profile for PRWs, although 62% had observed inaccuracies in their profile. Almost 90% of respondents had not made any changes in their practice owing to comments or reviews. One-third of respondents had solicited favorable reviews from patients, and 3% of respondents have paid to improve their ratings. Conclusions PRWs are going to become more prevalent, and more research is needed to fully understand the implications. There are several ethical implications that PRWs pose to practicing physicians. We contend that it is morally unsound to pay for good reviews. The recourse for physicians when an inaccurate and potentially libelous review has been written is unclear. Some physicians have required patients to sign a waiver preventing them from posting negative comments online. We propose the development of a task force to assess the professional, ethical, and legal implications of PRWs, including working with companies to improve accuracy of information, oversight, and feedback opportunities. Clinical relevance It is expected that PRWs will play an increasing role in the future; it is unclear whether there will be a uniform reporting system, or whether these online ratings will influence referral patterns and/or quality improvement.
Distributed data acquisition and monitoring system for an integrated energy application

This paper describes a distributed data acquisition and monitoring system using a multi-agent framework for a demonstration project for integrated energy application implemented in the National Research Council Canada, Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. The physical energy system includes three major components: renewable energy source - a building integrated photovoltaic system; a hydrogen generator - an electrolyser and a hydrogen storage system. A distributed data acquisition and monitoring system based on our previously developed agent system framework is implemented for remotely acquiring real-time parameters from the individual devices and real-time monitoring the system running status. As the first step to approach the distributed cooperation and coordination among different technologies in an integrated energy application, this implementation of a distributed data acquisition and monitoring system paves the way for its further deployment in the distributed coordination and control for each individual device to further make the entire system more scalable and robust.
A Practical Guide to Habitat Conservation Banking Law and Policy

This article describes and evaluates the habitat conservation banking program the Clinton Administration conceived and the Bush Administration adopted under the Endangered Species Act.
Self-adjusting real-time search: a summary of results

Real-time search algorithms need to address the deadlines imposed by applications like process control and robot navigation. Possible deadline violations should be predicted ahead of time to allow remedial actions to prevent the undesirable consequences of missing deadlines. The algorithms should also demonstrate progressively optimizing behavior. That is, they should improve the quality of the solutions as time constraints are relaxed. To successfully address these issues, a real-time search algorithm must address the central problem of choosing the proper values for its parameters, which control the time allocated to planning. The authors propose a new approach to determine the parameter values of a real-time search algorithm, in order to enable the algorithm to meet deadlines, exhibit progressively optimizing behavior, and to predict deadline violation prior to the deadline. They provide a theoretical and experimental characterization of the proposed algorithm.
Gesture’s Role in Learning and Processing Language

People of all ages gesture as they talk. Gesure and speech form an integrated system in communication at every level of analysis, ranging from phonology to discourse. This chapter explores the role gesture plays in language learning and language processing. We first provide evidence that gesture has cognitive significance—gesture not only reflects a speaker’s thoughts but also has a hand in changing those thoughts. We then review the role gesture plays in developing vocabulary, syntax, and discourse skills in children at the earliest stages of language learning, and in how language is processed in proficient speakers. We end with a discussion of the implications of the findings for the neurobiology of language.