cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scaling of stochasticity in gene cascades

Stochastic fluctuations in protein levels are inevitable due to the probabilistic nature of gene expression. These fluctuations are attributed to two factors: intrinsic noise (noise associated with random transcription and translation events) and extrinsic noise (noise associated with fluctuations in the reaction rates due to correspondent fluctuations in cellular enzyme levels). We present results on how stochastic noise in proteins scales in a cascade of genes both in the presence and absence of extrinsic noise. In particular, we derive analytical formulas relating the noise in the proteins to the length, per stage magnification of the cascade and the amount of extrinsic noise present in the cell. We show that when there is no extrinsic noise the gene cascade acts like a noise attenuator where downstream proteins exhibit reduced noise. Moreover, for two different cascades with the same average final protein level, the cascade with the larger number of stages will have lower stochastic noise in the final protein. We also show that adding extrinsic noise can change the qualitative behavior of the cascade from a noise attenuator to a noise magnifier where downstream protein have increased noise. Furthermore, there exists a critical level of extrinsic noise above which the cascade with lower number of stages will have lesser noise in the final protein.
Acute graft-versus-host disease: new treatment strategies.

Purpose of reviewGraft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), despite improvements in our understanding of its pathophysiology as well as the generation of new monoclonal antibodies, immunomodulatory chem
Classical equations for quantum systems

The origin of the phenomenological deterministic laws that approximately govern the quasiclassical domain of familiar experience is considered in the context of the quantum mechanics of closed systems such as the universe as a whole. A formulation of quantum mechanics is used that predicts probabilities for the individual members of a set of alternative coarse-grained histories that decohere, which means that there is negligible quantum interference between the individual histories in the set. We investigate the requirements for coarse grainings to yield decoherent sets of histories that are quasiclassical, i.e., such that the individual histories obey, with high probability, effective classical equations of motion interrupted continually by small fluctuations and occasionally by large ones. We discuss these requirements generally but study them specifically for coarse grainings of the type that follows a distinguished subset of a complete set of variables while ignoring the rest. More coarse graining is needed to achieve decoherence than would be suggested by naive arguments based on the uncertainty principle. Even coarser graining is required in the distinguished variables for them to have the necessary inertia to approach classical predictability in the presence of the noise consisting of the fluctuations that typical mechanisms of decoherence produce. We describe the derivation of phenomenological equations of motion explicitly for a particular class of models. Those models assume configuration space and a fundamental Lagrangian that is the difference between a kinetic energy quadratic in the velocities and a potential energy. The distinguished variables are taken to be a fixed subset of coordinates of configuration space. The initial density matrix of the closed system is assumed to factor into a product of a density matrix in the distinguished subset and another in the rest of the coordinates. With these restrictions, we improve the derivation from quantum mechanics of the phenomenological equations of motion governing a quasiclassical domain in the following respects: Probabilities of the correlations in time that define equations of motion are explicitly considered. Fully nonlinear cases are studied. Methods are exhibited for finding the form of the phenomenological equations of motion even when these are only distantly related to those of the fundamental action. The demonstration of the connection between quantum-mechanical causality and causality in classical phenomenological equations of motion is generalized. The connections among decoherence, noise, dissipation, and the amount of coarse graining necessary to achieve classical predictability are investigated quantitatively. Routes to removing the restrictions on the models in order to deal with more realistic coarse grainings are described.
Product and Occupational Liability

I ncreased liability for risks posed by jobs and products has transformed the cost structure of these markets. Premiums for general liability insurance, which provides protection for injuries and property damage to others, mushroomed from $6.5 billion in 1984 to $19.4 billion in 1986. The increase in workers' compensation premiums has been slightly less dramatic, rising from $11.3 billion in 1978 to $26.1 billion in 1988. In each case, these costs are in addition to any legal fees and self-insurance costs incurred by the firm (Insurance Information Institute, 1990). Moreover, although these institutions have separate functions-product liability remedies are for product-related injuries and workers' compensation is for job injuries-their responsibilities have begun to overlap increasingly, as workers file product claims for job injuries against the producers of products used in the workplace (such as the asbestos manufacturer). Liability costs used to be an incidental expense; now they are a factor of substantial economic consequence. Some markets, such as pharmaceuticals and private aircraft, have been hit particularly hard. Liability costs now account for 17 percent of the fares paid by riders on the Philadelphia mass transit system and from 15-25 percent of the purchase price of a new ladder. In addition, as insurance coverage decreased, some products have simply disappeared, such as certain amusement park rides and diving boards at many motel swimming pools.
The “No” Vote in the French and Dutch Referenda on the EU Constitution: A Spillover of Consequences for the Wider Europe

The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe is widely regarded as a turning point in the history of European integration. It was designed to reconcile two key dimensions of the European construction: the deepening of integration and the need to ensure the democratic character of the European Union (EU). The Constitution provides for the convergence of the model of regional integration and that of democratic government. It contains simplified legal instruments and procedures which enhance the status of the Union as a political system. The open deliberations on the constitutional text and its ratification through popular referenda or parliamentary endorsement extend democratic principles and procedures typical of domestic politics to regional integration.
KISS: keep it simple and sequential

The design of concurrent programs is error-prone due to the interaction between concurrently executing threads. Traditional automated techniques for finding errors in concurrent programs, such as model checking, explore all possible thread interleavings. Since the number of thread interleavings increases exponentially with the number of threads, such analyses have high computational complexity. In this paper, we present a novel analysis technique for concurrent programs that avoids this exponential complexity. Our analysis transforms a concurrent program into a sequential program that simulates the execution of a large subset of the behaviors of the concurrent program. The sequential program is then analyzed by a tool that only needs to understand the semantics of sequential execution. Our technique never reports false errors but may miss errors. We have implemented the technique in KISS, an automated checker for multithreaded C programs, and obtained promising initial results by using KISS to detect race conditions in Windows device drivers.
Context-sensitive data integration and prediction of biological networks

Motivation: Several recent methods have addressed the problem of heterogeneous data integration and network prediction by modeling the noise inherent in high-throughput genomic datasets, which can dramatically improve specificity and sensitivity and allow the robust integration of datasets with heterogeneous properties. However, experimental technologies capture different biological processes with varying degrees of success, and thus, each source of genomic data can vary in relevance depending on the biological process one is interested in predicting. Accounting for this variation can significantly improve network prediction, but to our knowledge, no previous approaches have explicitly leveraged this critical information about biological context. Results: We confirm the presence of context-dependent variation in functional genomic data and propose a Bayesian approach for context-sensitive integration and query-based recovery of biological process-specific networks. By applying this method to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we demonstrate that leveraging contextual information can significantly improve the precision of network predictions, including assignment for uncharacterized genes. We expect that this general context-sensitive approach can be applied to other organisms and prediction scenarios. Availability: A software implementation of our approach is available on request from the authors. Contact: ogt@genomics.princeton.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at http://avis.princeton.edu/contextPIXIE/
Reduction of the integral equations for high-frequency diffraction by disks and strips

The kernels of the integral equations for scalar diffraction by strips and disks are special cases of a kernel connected with the generalized axially symmetrical wave equation. A transformation of this kernel enables the original singular integral equations to be reduced to Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. These can be solved asymptotically at high frequencies. Applications are made to diffraction by strips and disks with incident waves of arbitrary form. Special results involving diffraction of plane waves are recovered from the general formulas.
New formulations for evaluating hypersingular and strongly singular integrals in electromagnetic integral equations

Electromagnetic (EM) integral equations include the singular integral kernels related to the Green's function. For surface integral equations (SIEs), there are two kinds of kernels, i.e. the L operator and K operator. The L operator is the dyadic Green's function which includes a double gradient operation on the scalar Green's function that results in 1/R3 hypersingular integrals (HSIs), where R is the distance between a source point and an observation point or field point. However, the HSIs could be reduced to 1/R weakly singular integrals (WSIs) in the method of moments (MoM) solutions if divergence conforming basis function like the Rao-Wilton-Glisson (RWG) basis function is used as an expansion and testing function. Without the help of these basis functions, we must carefully handle the HSIs and this happens in the implementation of Nystr¨om method (NM) or boundary element method (BEM). The K operator includes a single gradient operation on the scalar Green's function, yielding 1/R2 strongly singular integrals (SSIs) in the matrix elements. The SSIs also exist in the L operator in the MoM when the RWG-like basis functions cannot be used as a testing function. The accurate and efficient evaluation for the HSIs and SSIs is essential in solving the SIEs because they have a significant impact on the numerical solutions.
Calf Management Practices and Health Management Decisions on Large Dairies

Abstract Calf raising practices were studied to obtain a picture of managers approaches to calf management. Ten categories outlining calf management practices were used to formulate questions for on-farm surveys of 46 dairies. To assess consistency in management, managers decisions were scored to indicate whether they coincided with currently accepted recommendations for effective calf management. Results indicate that calving area sanitation is often not maintained with cows in the maternity area for long periods. Most calving areas are near constant activity with few scheduled observations performed. Treatment of the calf's navel is not universal nor is automatic supplementation of colostrum. Colostrum intake is often left to the calf with most operators unsure of the quantity being consumed. Veterinary advice or services are seldom used for calves; treatments are performed primarily by calf raisers. Large dairy operations showed inconsistency in calf management practices, inadequate use of calf records, and use of labor sources outside the operator's family. Large herd size often dictated labor-intensive calf management practices.
Utility of a Syndromic Surveillance System to Identify Disease Outbreaks with Reportable Disease Data

The sensitivity and predictive value of a surveillance system (ESSENCE-FL) originally designed for syndromic data to identify possible outbreak activity using data from a reportable disease system was examined. ESSENCE-FL-generated alerts were compared with confirmed outbreak activity for different infectious diseases over a 52-week period. Results showed that although overall sensitivity of the system to detect outbreak activity was fairly low, the positive predictive value was relatively high. This evaluation concludes that the application of reportable disease data within the ESSENCE-FL syndromic surveillance system is useful for prompting users of possible outbreak activity that warrants further inquiry.
The Role of Contact Adhesion in Friction and Wear of Graphene under Sliding Conditions

In this study, the failure mechanisms of graphene under sliding are examined using atomistic simulations. A 6nm diameter diamond tip is slid (at a controlled normal load) over a graphene monolayer that is adhered to a semi-infinite silicon substrate. The impact of tip adhesion on the wear and frictional behavior of graphene is studied by comparing two diamond tips, one of which has been hydrogen-passivated and the other which is bare carbon. By contrasting the passivated and unpassivated tips, the interplay of adhesive and abrasive wear on the graphene membrane can also be compared. The results of this work indicate that chemical bonding between the tip and the graphene greatly exacerbates tearing in the graphene monolayer by plowing ahead of the indenter, causing material build-up and increasing effective contact area.
The Taxing Postseason: The Potential Impact of Unrelated Business Income Taxation on College Football Bowl Organizers

College football bowl game associations and their organizers hold a distinct advantage over many for-profit sport and entertainment organizations as they are generally exempt from paying any income tax on profits made from their activities each year. However, recent behaviors from bowl game committees have begun to blur the lines between a for-profit company and a nonprofit organization that provides educational or charitable benefits. Specifically, critics have argued bowl associations should be taxed using the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT), which examines if certain business activities are related to the purpose of an exempt organization or more in-line with a for-profit company. With this concept in mind, this review looks to see if some of the latest business ventures and activities implemented and practiced by bowl committees and their partners are protected or subject to the UBIT.
Impact of the highly active antiretroviral therapy era on the epidemiology of primary HIV-associated thrombocytopenia

Primary HIV-associated thrombocytopenia (PHAT) typically improves with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); however, cases continue to occur. Data comparing the epidemiology of PHAT between the pre-HAART and HAART eras are limited. We retrospectively examined the incidence of PHAT over 28 years in the US Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS) from 1986 to 2013. Subjects had a nadir platelet count <100 × 109/l with no other identifiable cause. Time periods were categorized as pre-HAART (1986–1995), early HAART (1996–2001), and later HAART (2002–2013). Incidence, demographic data, and CD4 count were compared across the three eras. A generalized estimating equations model was used to assess any association of platelet count and HIV viral load in cases diagnosed during the HAART eras. 218 participants met the case definition. 86.2 % of cases occurred prior to 2002. The incidence of PHAT per 1000 person-years of follow-up was 16.3, 4.6, and 1.9 during pre-HAART, early HAART and later HAART eras respectively. CD4 cell counts were significantly higher in the HAART eras at the time of thrombocytopenia (p < 0.001). Of patients diagnosed after 1996, 96.4 % were viremic within six months preceding the platelet nadir and over half were antiretroviral naive. Viral load (per log10 copies/ml) inversely correlated with platelet count throughout the HAART eras (p < 0.0001). The incidence of PHAT has markedly decreased in the HAART era. However, viremic individuals, including those with healthy CD4 cell counts, may be at risk. Achieving viral suppression as early as possible may decrease the incidence further.
Logistic Regression, Categorical Predictors, and Goodness-of-Fit: It Depends on Who You Ask

Abstract The assessment of goodness-of-fit for logistic regression models using categorical predictors is made complicated by the fact that there are different ways of defining the saturated model. Three distinct approaches have been suggested: the casewise approach, the contingency table approach, and the collapsing approach. Assessments of goodness-of-fit using χ2 statistics are very different depending on which of these approaches is used, and different statistical packages do different things (often depending on how the data are entered into the package). In this article the different approaches are outlined, and the functionality of different statistical packages is described. Cautions for the unwary data analyst are offered, and suggestions for improvements to statistical software that would make logistic regression analysis easier for the data analyst are made. Some advice for data analysts using current versions of such software is also provided.
Toward a Better Understanding of the Delivery of Primary Care: The Patient, the Provider, and Their Interaction

A holistic theoretical model is presented which attempts to integrate various perspectives and findings in order to research questions related to the provision of high-quality, patient-sensitive, primary care. The model is divided into three broad components: the patient world, the provider world, and their interaction. "World" refers to the background, attitudes, and social support systems of each group. Following a detailed description of the paradigm and its underlying rationale, specific methodologies to better understand patient and provider satisfaction, patient compliance, and medical outcome are described. Hypotheses are proposed which are currently under investigation at a university-based municipal hospital. Initial findings and proposed strategies for later investigation are discussed, along with broader, nonmedical implications of this research.
Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate (CPPD) Crystal Deposition Disease

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease is a clinically heterogeneous disorder that is characterized by the presence of intraarticu-lar CPPD crystals. CPPD crystals deposit primarily in cartilage but can traffic within the joint space. CPPD crystals form in the normally unmineralized peri-cellular matrix of articular hyaline and fibrocartilage. The most common sites of involvement are the knee meniscus, the triangular fibrocartilage of the wrist, and the glenohumeral joint. Asymptomatic disease is common in these sites as well as in others (e.g., the symphy-sis pubis). Pathologic cartilage calcification is promoted by changes in inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) metabolism, extracellular matrix, and chondrocyte differentiation. CPPD deposition disease has a close and complex relationship with osteoarthritis. CPPD most commonly afflicts the elderly but can occur in younger patients who have a familial variant of the condition or who are afflicted with any of several metabolic diseases that predispose to CPPD deposition. No specific evidence-based therapies for CPPD exist. However, the inflammation promoted by CPPD crystal deposition can be managed successfully in most patients through strategies typically employed for the treatment and prophylaxis of gout.
Effects of pre-college engineering participation on first-year engineering outcomes

With the increased acceptance and inclusion of engineering as an area of study at the K-12 and the proliferation of outreach activities intended to increase students' interest in pursuing degrees and careers in engineering, first-year engineering students are increasingly arriving in university engineering programs with significant prior exposure to engineering content and practices. In this study, using a combination of a survey and follow-up transcript analysis, we explored the relationship between students' participation in pre-college engineering activities and their academic performance in their first year of studying engineering at a large research university. We found no significant relationships between either the type of pre-college engineering activity or the level of participation and students' grades in their first-year engineering classes. We did identify several trends in the data that suggest other areas of study, as well as changes to the data we request from students regarding their pre-college experiences.
Abstract 958: Treatment with a selective inhibitor of BRAFV600E increases melanocyte antigen expression and CD8 T cell infiltrate in tumors of patients with metastatic melanoma

Targeted therapy against oncogenic BRAF (BRAFV600E) is a promising new therapeutic approach for the treatment of melanoma with up to 80% of patients with stage IV melanoma responding to treatment. Despite these results, the median duration of response is only 8.5 months. Investigators propose combining this therapy with other targeted agents to address redundancy and signaling through different oncogenic pathways in hopes to improve the durability of response. An alternate approach is to combine BRAF-targeted agents with immunotherapy based on evidence that oncogenic BRAF contributes to immune escape. We recently reported data supporting this hypothesis, showing that treatment of melanoma cell lines with MEK or selective BRAFV600E inhibition results in increased expression of melanocyte differentiation antigens (MDAs) which is associated with enhanced recognition by antigen-specific T cells. The purpose of these studies was to validate these findings by assaying expression of MDAs in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with BRAFV600E inhibition. We also sought to test immune cell infiltrate in tumors to analyze host immune response. Patients with metastatic melanoma undergoing treatment with a selective BRAFV600E inhibitor were consented on a tissue procurement protocol approved through the IRB at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients underwent treatment with the BRAFV600E inhibitor (PLX4032) per protocol (960 mg given twice daily). Tumor biopsies and blood draws were performed pre-treatment and 10-14 days after initiation of treatment. RNA was harvested and expression of MDAs was assayed by quantitative RT-PCR. The level of MITF, the master transcriptional regulator of melanocyte which controls MDA expression, was also assayed. Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue for MDAs, as well as CD4 and CD8. The effect of BRAFV600E inhibition on T lymphocyte function was analyzed by assaying fold-expansion and viability in blood samples collected before and during treatment. Treatment with a selective inhibitor of BRAFV600E resulted in significantly increased levels of MDAs (up to 95-fold) which was associated with higher levels of MITF. In addition, CD8 T cell infiltrate also increased after treatment. Of note, T cell function was preserved after treatment with a specific inhibitor of BRAFV600E. These data provide in vivo correlates to our in vitro findings that selective BRAFV600E inhibition enhances MDA expression in melanoma and suggest a possible improved host immune response. The studies provide further support for potential synergy between BRAF-targeted therapy and immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 958. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-958
Analytical Investigation of Transport Aircraft Handling Qualities

An analytical technique for investigating transport aircraft handling qualities is exercised in a study using models of two such vehicles, a Boeing 747 and Lockheed C-5A. Three flight conditions are employed using the two vehicles. The analysis technique is based upon a “structural model” of the human pilot. The associated analysis procedure has been discussed previously in the literature, but centered almost exclusively on the characteristics of high-performance fighter aircraft. It is demonstrated that the analysis can accommodate nonlinear pilot/vehicle behavior and do so in the context of specific flight tasks, yielding estimates of handling qualities, pilot-induced oscillation tendencies and upper limits of task performance. A brief human-in-the-loop tracking study is employed to provide a limited validation of the pilot model employed.
Ornithosis in sea-shore birds.

SummarySerological evidence of ornithosis-like infections among several species of sea-shore birds is presented. Over 40% of the serums of sea gulls, willets, and skimmers which were examined showed complement-fixing antibodies for ornithosis. One strain of an ornithosis-like agent has been isolated from the willet species.
Diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R59022 and stimulated neutrophil responses

The generation of phosphatidic acid in neutrophils stimulated by the chemotactic factor formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMet-Leu-Phe) is inhibited by the diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R59022. Superoxide generation produced by fMet-Leu-Phe, leukotriene B4, platelet-activating factor, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate can be greatly increased in neutrophils pretreated with R59022. The potentiation occurs in the presence or absence of cytochalasin B and is evident in the absence of extracellular calcium. In addition, where the superoxide generated by fMet-Leu-Phe is not inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), the increase by R59022 is diminished by this compound. Unlike cytochalasin B, R59022 does not affect the increase in cytoskeletal actin produced by fMet-Leu-Phe or platelet-activating factor nor does it decrease the basal level. Furthermore, the basal intracellular concentration of free calcium, but not the rise produced by fMet-Leu-Phe or platelet-activating factor, is elevated by R59022. The data presented here suggest that the potentiation by R59022 of the oxidative burst is most likely mediated through protein kinase C.
Synchronous alkaline and subalkaline magmatism during the late Neoproterozoic–early Paleozoic Ross orogeny, Antarctica: Insights into magmatic sources and processes within a continental arc

Abstract Extensive exposure of intrusive igneous rocks along the Ross orogen of Antarctica—an ancient accretionary orogen on the margin of East Gondwana—provides an exceptional opportunity to study continental arc magmatism. There is significant petrologic and geochemical variability in igneous rocks within a ~ 500-km-long segment of the arc in southern Victoria Land. The conspicuous occurrence of carbonatite and alkaline silicate rocks (nepheline syenite, A-type granite, and alkaline mafic rocks) adjacent to large complexes of subalkaline granitoids is not adequately explained by traditional models for continental arc magmatism. Extensive geochemical analysis (> 100 samples) and zircon U–Pb geochronology (n = 70) confirms that alkaline and carbonatitic magmatism was partially contemporaneous with the emplacement of large subduction-related igneous complexes in adjacent areas. Major pulses of subalkaline magmatism were compositionally distinct and occurred at different times along the arc. Large bodies of subalkaline orthogneiss and granite (sensu lato) were emplaced over similar time intervals (ca. 25 Myr) to the north (ca. 515–492 Ma) and south (ca. 550–525 Ma) of the alkaline magmatic province, although the initiation of these major pulses of magmatism was offset by ca. 35 Myr. Alkaline and carbonatitic magmatism spanned at least ca. 550–509 Ma, overlapping with voluminous subalkaline magmatism in adjacent areas. The most primitive rocks from each area have similarly enriched trace element compositions, indicating some common characteristics of the magma sources along the arc. The samples from the older subalkaline complex have invariably low Sr/Y ratios (
Workplace Lactation Support in Milwaukee County 5 Years After the Affordable Care Act.

Background:Workplace lactation support has become increasingly important because returning to work is associated with discontinuing breastfeeding and women in the workforce are increasing.Research ...
Mass timber: evaluating construction performance

This research investigates the added value or negative impact of mass timber construction (MTC) when compared with traditional site built construction. The project documented mass timber case studi...
Geocaching on the Moon

The Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth—the closest celestial object to our home planet. Appearing in folktales of almost all cultures, the Moon has fascinated people for thousands of years. Even though humanity has accomplished great achievement of lunar exploration, only 12 people have thus far landed on the Moon; It remains inaccessible for the rest of us. To rectify this, The Moon Exploration is a geocaching, multiplayer, mixed reality game that brings the Moon down to the Earth so that people can have access to it. Using the most up to date scientific data, players can explore in the game as if they were the astronauts exploring on the Moon. The location-based mapping scheme maps a lunar location to places on the Earth, so people can explore the Moon in the virtual world while moving around on the Earth. The game-playing facilitates communication and social interactions among players, which could facilitate the formation of a large lunar geocaching community on the Earth.
Underestimation of Risk of Carotid Subclinical Atherosclerosis by Cardiovascular Risk Scores in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis: How Far Are We from the Truth?

Inflammatory disease states are associated with early cardiovascular (CV) events and are increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for developing atherosclerosis1,2. Several autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis1,3,4, systemic lupus erythematosus5, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)6,7,8 accelerate atherosclerosis through an increase in inflammatory signaling, thus predisposing to increased CV risk. Traditional CV risk scoring systems and risk score calculation are a cornerstone in the prediction of adverse CV events9. Further, risk score calculation plays an important role in shaping treatment guidelines that are tailored to fit each patient’s individual risk factors10,11, emphasizing the need to accurately predict and stratify a patient’s CV risk. Assessment of absolute CV risk is also integral to assess major prevention and treatment targets10,11. While current scoring systems provide a modestly accurate prediction for the general population11, each scoring system has certain inherent limitations. For example, the Framingham risk score (FRS) does not incorporate socioeconomic and genetic factors (e.g., family history)12. Further, FRS does not account for systemic inflammation and, therefore, has not performed well in inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis13 and RA14. Thus, almost all the risk scoring systems do not account for systemic inflammation except the Reynold’s Risk Score, which … Address correspondence to Dr. N.N. Mehta, Section of Inflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, 10 Center Drive, Clinical Research Center, Room 5-5140, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. E-mail: nehal.mehta{at}nih.gov
Using a Patient Decision Aid Video to Assess Current and Former Smokers' Values About the Harms and Benefits of Lung Cancer Screening With Low-Dose Computed Tomography.

Background. Recent policy changes require discussing the potential benefits and harms of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography. This study explored how current and former smokers ...
Response to Distress Varies by Social Impairment and Familiarity in Infants at Risk for Autism

Early impaired response to social partners' distress may negatively impact subsequent social development. Identifying factors contributing to successful responding may inform assessment and intervention. This study explores how: (1) social impairment, and (2) partner familiarity relate to response to partners' distress. Infants with and without older siblings with ASD were assessed at 12 (n = 29) and 15 (n = 35) months for social impairment markers, and responses to mother and experimenter each feigning distress. Infants with more social impairment showed less attention and affect at 15, but not 12 months. Infants attended more to the unfamiliar person, but exhibited greater affect toward the familiar person at 12 months. Results revealed social impairment and familiarity were separately related to infant response to partners' distress.
Uncertainty-Principle-Limited Position Measurement of Moving Atoms

We have developed all-optical techniques for position measurement and localization of moving atoms with suboptical wavelength precision. Based on resonance imaging in the potential of an intense spatially varying light-shifting field, the methods have achieved spatial resolution of 200 nanometers, with linearity over several microns. Centroids of localized distributions, which are created and measured in the experiments, are determined with an accuracy of ± 20 nanometers. Using larger light-shift gradients and single atom detection, these imaging methods can scale to yield nanometer spatial resolution limited by the uncertainty principle. Applications include the characterization of atom-optical elements, atomic interferometry, and the direct imaging of spatial distributions for ultracold trapped atoms, confined in the wells of a polarization gradient or in a dipole force microtrap. This method of ultra-high resolution resonance imaging also can be applied to measure two-point spatial correlation functions, which may prove useful for studies of the quantum statistical features of ultracold atoms.
Chronic care management to improve adherence: A comparison of approaches in the care of diabetes

CHRONIC CARE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE ADHERENCE: A COMPARISONOF APPROACHES IN THE CARE OF DIABETES By Mary Ellen Gervais A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Director: Dolores G. Clement, Dr.P.H., Professor, Department of Health Administration Managing chronic conditions is seen as the public health challenge of the 21 century. The number of Americans with chronic conditions is expected to rise to 157 million by 2020. Diabetes prevalence and costs contribute to the growing problem. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2006. Nationally, the cost of diabetes is expected to be $138 billion in 2020. Diabetes leads to multiple and significant complications. The desired outcomes of management of chronic conditions are improvement in clinical status, avoidance of complications, prevention of co-morbid conditions and avoidance of the costs associated with complications. In the 1990s, disease management programs were implemented in an attempt to effectively manage chronic conditions. The primary approach in these programs focuses on individual-level interventions. Despite these efforts, poor outcomes exist. As a result, other approaches to diabetes management are being explored. This study examines a system-level approach to diabetes management versus an individual level one. The system level approach is based on full implementation of the Chronic Care Model, framed in Social Ecology Theory. This retrospective, nonexperimental study explores changes in adherence to select diabetes screening guidelines based on the approach to adopted by two health plans. Analyses were conducted on adherence to LDL, A1c, retinopathy and nephropathy screening 2 1⁄2 years after program implementation. In addition, logistic regression analyses were conducted on the predictive impact of approach to chronic care management in relation to changes in adherence. Other variables known to impact health behaviors were factored into the analysis. There were two main findings of the study. The first is that for each of the screenings, there was a statistically significant difference between participants in the two plans. Comparisons of changes in adherence by approach from before implementation to after implementation resulted in a small number of subjects in some cells which can lead to accepting the null hypothesis when it is false. The second is that approach to management was associated with changes in adherence to three of the four screenings. The logistic models, however, account for less than 23% of the variance in adherence, a moderate effect size.
Determination of 239Pu and 241Am in Animal Tissues by Liquid Scintillation Spectrometry

Abstract Plutonium-239 or americium-241 in ashed samples of bone, liver, spleen, feces and urine, dissolved in 0.1N HCl, was assayed by a liquid scintillation method, using Triton N-101-xylene-PPO. A commercially available liquid scintillation spectrometer was used, and essentially 100% counting efficiency was achieved. There was close agreement between analytical results obtained with this liquid scintillation method and with a previous one employing toluene-ethanol-PPO; also between results obtained with liquid scintillation spectrometry (LS) as compared to proportional counting (PC). LS is generally superior to PC because it is less laborious and time-consuming, yields closer replication of analytical values, and permits more analyses per experiment, since tissues low in activity can be counted individually, rather than pooled. The Triton N-101-xylene-PPO scintillation fluid has advantages over toluene-ethanol-PPO: It permits the use of larger volumes of aqueous samples, holds more insoluble matter in suspension (due to gelation), and, in most cases, allows vials to be stored indefinitely without apparent loss of activity. Simple instrumental methods of detecting and correcting occasional aberrant samples are described.
Severe obstructive sleep apnea after cerivastatin therapy: a case report

All available 3-hydroxy-3-methyglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) have been implicated in causing rhabdomyolysis either as monotherapy or in combination with other myotoxic drugs such as cyclosporine, colchicine and fibrates. Cerivastatin (Baycol) is a third generation statin, which has been implicated in cases of fatal rhabdomyolysis. It was voluntary withdrawn from the U.S. market by Bayer after reports of fatal rhabdomyolysis appeared in the literature.1 We present here a case of an 85-year-old woman who developed rhabdomyolysis and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms after having been started on cerivastatin therapy for hypercholesteremia. Citation: Ebben MR; Sethi NK; Spielman AJ. Severe obstructive sleep apnea after cerivastatin therapy: a case report. J Clin Sleep Med 2008;4(3):255-256.
On the use of Relative Toxicity for Risk Estimation

Risk assessment may be viewed as the integration of comprehensive health and environmental studies for the estimation of human health risk. There is increasing impetus to use risk assessment to set priorities for research needs in health and environmental areas as well as to provide the best quantification of risk based on available data. Any general risk assessment methodology includes two components: measurement or estimation of exposure, and estimation of exposure-response relationships. These two components are usually called exposure assessment and health effects assessment.
Radical Orthodoxy: William Goodell and the Abolition of American Slavery

This essay examines the impact of New Divinity theology on the thought of abolitionist William Goodell. Over a 50-year career of ceaseless writing and speaking, he maintained that the central ideas...
Factors Impacting False Positive Recall in Screening Mammography

Rationale and Objectives Our objective was to identify factors impacting false positive recalls in screening mammography. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed our screening mammography database from August 31, 2015 to September 30, 2016, including full field digital mammograms (FFDM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) mammograms. False positive (FP) exams were defined as Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 1 or 2 assessments at diagnostic imaging with 1 year cancer-free follow-up, Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System 3 assessment at diagnostic imaging with 2 years cancer free follow-up, or biopsy with benign pathology. True positives were defined as malignant pathology on biopsy or surgical excision. We evaluated the association of FP recalls with multiple patient-level factors and imaging features. Results A total of 22,055 screening mammograms were performed, and 1887 patients were recalled (recall rate 8.6%). Recall rate was lower for DBT than full field digital mammograms (8.0% vs 10.6%, p Conclusion FP recalls were significantly less likely with DBT, in older women, in patients with prior mammograms available for comparison, and in patients with histories of benign breast biopsy. This study supports the importance of using DBT in the screening setting and obtaining prior mammograms for comparison.
Does Social Sensitivity Impact Virtual Teams

Working effectively as part of a team is an incredibly important skill to learn. Most jobs require interacting and working with others and the outcome of a team project relies on the processes of the group members. Naturally, a positive team experience yields better results than a negative experience. The biggest indicators of a positive team experience are communication and collaboration, which are both soft skills associated with the social sensitivity of the group members. Previous research has found that social sensitivity influences the amount of communication and the ultimate performance of traditional face-to-face teams. However, virtual teamwork is becoming more common. Does social sensitivity have a similar influence in virtual teams? Virtual teams have different interactions than face-to-face teams because they use communication technologies, which can hinder certain human cognitive processes. Our current research focuses on the influence of social sensitivity on the amount of communication and the performance of students who work as a virtual team using text-based communication in Discord. We find that teams with higher average levels of social sensitivity communicate more and perform better, even if they work in a virtual environment using only text messaging.
The Growth of Scientific Knowledge in MIS: The MIS Paradigm

Has the MIS discipline matured enough to be considered a paradigm? This paper will review the MIS discipline from its inception, arguing that the discipline was created by what Thomas Kuhn would call a revolution leading to a paradigm shift. Using Kuhnian philosophy, the paper will argue that the MIS discipline has now reached a point to be considered a paradigm, according to the standards set forth by Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The paper will identify several subject areas within the MIS paradigm that demonstrate a line of normal science. Finally, the paper will argue that to continue the growth of scientific knowledge within the MIS paradigm, researchers need to expand beyond what has been called the “IT artifact” and search for new discoveries that will create revolutions within the MIS paradigm.
A Young Black MSM on PrEP Is Lost to Follow-Up and Acquires HIV Infection: A Case to Call for Improved Strategies to Support Youth Adherence and Engagement in HIV Prevention:

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. High-risk sexual behaviors are difficult to modify; thus, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with a daily pill is a promising prevention tool for this vulnerable population. We present a case of a young black MSM who was able to successfully access PrEP with the help of a community program but was not able to adhere to the regimen or engage in care. He ultimately acquired HIV infection. We review the existing literature and advocate for increased services and research to support youth's adherence to PrEP and engagement in HIV prevention programs, with a focus on YMSM of color.
The authority of European law: Do we still believe in it?

It is to the credit of the prestigious Academy of European Law in Trier that it did not use the occasion of its 25th Anniversary to serve up the usual bland meal typical of these occasions, extoling yet again the wonders of European law, but instead provocatively called into question the Authority of European Law and invited a sober reflection of such. It would not have done so had there not been a pervasive feeling that indeed this authority is under stress.
Two systems in one country: the origin, functions, and mechanisms of the rural-urban dual system in China

This paper takes an interdisciplinary perspective to focus on the role played by the rural-urban dual system in China’s urbanization and migration. We explain its establishment in China in the 1950...
The Functions of Overlapping Pollution Control Federalism

Using the federal pollution control laws as examples, this chapter explores the significance of governmental function in understanding and prescribing overlapping authority. First, it shows how characterizations of pollution control federalism have neglected functional jurisdiction, either overlooking the extent of overlap entirely or more recently the extent to which respective agencies’ substantive and functional jurisdictions overlap. Second, it argues that assessments of pollution control federalism have routinely ignored the value of distinguishing among different regulatory functions in assessing the extent to which jurisdiction should overlap or be distinct. Finally, the chapter asserts that policymakers should systematically and explicitly distinguish among functions in deciding the extent to which authority should overlap. Focusing on functional jurisdiction thus provides opportunities to tailor the extent of overlap for each function to correspond to the concerns and opportunities that relate to the performance of that function.
Ischemic Stroke Vascular Territory

A key element of stroke imaging is to determine the affected vascular territory. This will allow the correlation with clinical symptomology and help identify the occluded vessels on vascular imaging. This chapter will briefly review the cerebral arterial anatomy, vascular territories, and associated major stroke syndromes.