cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumer Generalization of Nutrient Content Claims in Advertising

Although considerable research exists on consumer processing of nutrition labeling and package claims, less is known about consumer interpretation of nutrient content claims in advertising. This is...
Nucleosome structure controls rates of excision repair in DNA of human cells

EUKARYOTIC chromatin is now considered to be composed of structural units, nucleosomes (nu bodies), which consist of four pairs of histones around which DNA is coiled1–3. Approximately 200 base pairs of DNA are associated with each nucleosome, 140 base pairs are wrapped around each and a variable length of approximately 40 base pairs lies between1–3. The DNA wrapped around each nucleosome is less easily digested by micrococcal nuclease than the DNA between them, and brief periods of incubation with the enzyme allow isolation of nucleosomes as discrete particles2. The structural organisation of mammalian DNA into nucleosomes, and higher degrees of order in the packing of strings of nucleosomes into chromosomal fibres has been shown to play a major part in the control of DNA replication4,5, and transcription6. Previous studies have indicated that the accessibility of damage in DNA to repair enzymes is restricted by chromatin proteins7,8 and it is therefore likely that the repair of damaged sites in DNA is also controlled by some features of nucleosome structure and packing9. In the study described here I have measured the rates of degradation of repaired regions in mammalian DNA by micrococcal nuclease; the results suggest that the first sites of ultraviolet light-induced damage to be repaired are those in the DNA between nucleosomes and that there is little rearrangement of nucleosomes along the DNA during repair.
The U.S. vaccine and immunization enterprise: Working to sustain and foster vaccine innovation

The U.S. vaccine and immunization enterprise has been successful in introducing new vaccines to the U.S. and global markets. The vaccine sector of the pharmaceutical industry is experiencing growt...
ISAT and ISUIA: The Impact on Informed Consent

The International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) was a multicenter randomized trial that compared the safety and efficacy of endovascular coil treatment versus surgical clipping for the treatment of ruptured brain aneurysms. To be eligible for enrollment in the ISAT trial, each patient had to be deemed equally suitable for either coiling or clipping. The investigators used the term "clinical equipoise" to describe this balance. This study more than any other has set the playing field for the future of interventional radiology/endovascular neurosurgery politics.
Aircraft vertical profile implementation using directed-graph methods

Aircraft vertical profile simulation is realized using a demand-driven minimal-calculation directed graph structure to reduce calculation time and to force synchronization of the performance measurement functions with the system state variables. Performance-directed model adaptation makes dynamic vertical profile path corrections, in the presence of fixed drag variations, possible. Drag variations ranging from +10% to -10% yielded fuel consumption improvements of less than 1% in the majority of the cases. Calculation time improvement for path simulation ranges from a factor of 1.19 in the worst case to 1.5 in the best case. >
Nasal coarticulation in normal speakers: a re-examination of the effects of gender.

The purpose of this study was to re-examine the influence of gender on nasal coarticulation in normal speakers. Twenty adult speakers (10 men, 10 women) produced the vowel-nasal-vowel (VNV) sequence /ini/ within a carrier phrase using two stress patterns: (1) with equal stress placed on both syllables, and (2) with contrastive stress placed on the second syllable. A partitioned, circumferentially vented pneumotachograph mask and microphone were used to determine nasal airflow, ratios of nasal to oral-plus-nasal airflow, and sound pressure levels (SPLs) at the midpoints of the first and second vowels of the syllables. Volume ratios of nasal to oral-plus-nasal airflow that reflected the entire duration of the vowels were also obtained. Results indicated that all speakers except 1 woman exhibited nasal airflow at the midpoint of the first vowel when /ini/ was produced with equal stress; all speakers exhibited carryover nasal airflow during the second vowel. During contrastive stress, all speakers except 1 wo...
Water balance dynamics in the Nile Basin

Understanding the temporal and spatial dynamics of key water balance components of the Nile River will provide important information for the management of its water resources. This study used satellite-derived rainfall and other key weather variables derived from the Global Data Assimilation System to estimate and map the distribution of rainfall, actual evapotranspiration (ETa), and runoff. Daily water balance components were modelled in a grid-cell environment at 0·1 degree (∼10 km) spatial resolution for 7 years from 2001 through 2007. Annual maps of the key water balance components and derived variables such as runoff and ETa as a percent of rainfall were produced. Generally, the spatial patterns of rainfall and ETa indicate high values in the upstream watersheds (Uganda, southern Sudan, and southwestern Ethiopia) and low values in the downstream watersheds. However, runoff as a percent of rainfall is much higher in the Ethiopian highlands around the Blue Nile subwatershed. The analysis also showed the possible impact of land degradation in the Ethiopian highlands in reducing ETa magnitudes despite the availability of sufficient rainfall. Although the model estimates require field validation for the different subwatersheds, the runoff volume estimate for the Blue Nile subwatershed is within 7.0% of a figure reported from an earlier study. Further research is required for a thorough validation of the results and their integration with ecohydrologic models for better management of water and land resources in the various Nile Basin ecosystems.
Faith in the Age of Facebook: Exploring the Links Between Religion and Social Network Site Membership and Use

This study examines how religiousness influences social network site (SNS) membership and frequency of use for emerging adults between 18 and 23 years old utilizing Wave 3 survey data from the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR). Independent of religion promoting a prosocial orientation, organizational involvement, and civic engagement, Catholics and Evangelical Protestants are more likely than the “not religious” to be SNS members, and more Bible reading is associated with lower levels of SNS membership and use. We argue there are both sacred and secular influences on SNS involvement, and social behaviors, such as being in school and participating in more non-religious organizations, generally positively influence becoming a SNS member, yet certain more private behaviors, such as Bible reading, donating money, and helping the needy, lessen SNS participation. We also suggest four areas for future research to help untangle the influence of religiousness on SNS use and vice versa.
Static and dynamic vascular impact of large artery irradiation

Abstract Purpose : To evaluate functional post-radiotherapy arterial change in a select patient population. Methods and Materials : Thirty-five seminoma patients were identified in the Radiation Oncology departmental records at Indiana University Medical Center. In this group the ipsilateral pelvis is treated with the contralateral pelvis available for evaluation as a matched control. Additionally, this group is generally young and unlikely to have pre-existing vascular disease, and shows excellent radiocurability with historically standard radiotherapy. Nineteen patients volunteered for a noninvasive vascular evaluation which included: Doppler ultrasound, segmental leg pressures, pulse volume recordings, and post-exercise testing. Average age at treatment was 36 (range 14–68) with an average follow-up of 8.8 years (range 1–20) with five patients now over 15 years post-treatment. The majority of the patients received 2500–2600 cGy. Results : Three of 19 patients had abnormal vascular evaluations. Of these, two had bilateral abnormalities not felt to be solely associated with irradiation. The remaining patient showed both resting and post-exercise ipsilateral vascular abnormalities. Irradiation was the only identifiable etiologic agent for this patient's vascular abnormality. Conclusion : Subclinical vascular change attributable to low dose radiotherapy was identified in one of 19 patients (5%). Considering the radiocurability of seminoma patients this incidence is acceptable. In light of this slight, yet documented, arterial abnormality occurring with low dose radiotherapy, we recommend additional study of high dose radiotherapy patients to determine the incidence and morbidity of radiation-induced arteriopathy in this group.
Clinical exacerbations as a surrogate end point in heart failure research

Background We examined the utility of an index of clinical exacerbations of heart failure (HF) as a surrogate measure of outcome for use in modestly sized clinical trials and observational studies. Methods Electronic records of 189 outpatients with HF in a US Veterans Affairs Medical Center were examined over a 2- to 3-year period. Data collected included patient characteristics, clinical exacerbations of HF, hospitalizations, and deaths. Subsets of patient were also assessed for HF-related level of functioning. Results Episodes of clinical exacerbation could be detected reliably (kappa = .83). An index of episodes (number of episodes divided by the time in years) was associated with lower quality of life, higher functional class, increased rate of HF hospitalization, poorer exercise tolerance, and up to 30% increased risk of mortality across 2 years. Conclusions The index of HF exacerbations is potentially a useful surrogate end point for use in clinical HF research.
A rheumatoid nodule in an unusual location: mediastinal lymph node

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem inflammatory disease characterised by destructive synovitis and varied extra-articular involvement. Rheumatoid lung nodules are the most common pulmonary manifestations of RA. Rheumatoid nodules in mediastinal lymph nodes are extremely uncommon. We describe a male patient with long-standing RA and subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules presenting with multiple lung nodules and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. Definite histopathology of a lymph node was consistent with necrobiotic granuloma due to RA. Clinicians should be aware of rheumatoid nodules as a potential cause of mediastinal lymphadenopathies, mainly in advanced rheumatoid arthritis.
Organizational structures and practices are better predictors of suicide terror threats than individual psychological dispositions

Terror organizations tend to rely on a limited number of practices to reinforce commitment to suicide on the part of recruits. Therefore, given the many difficulties associated with identifying individuals willing to become suicide terrorists, understanding the organizational contexts in which most suicide terrorism takes place is likely to be more useful than psychological profiling for predicting future attacks. Language: en
Causal Explanation of Indonesian Forest Fires: Concepts, Applications, and Research Priorities

Problems with studies, claims, and assumptions that have been made about the causes of fires in Indonesia's tropical moist forests are identified, and the kinds of concepts, methods, prioritizing, and data needed to resolve the problems are discussed. Separate sections are devoted to studying ignitions, studying fire susceptibility and fire behavior, and using the goal of causal explanation to guide interdisciplinary research.
Molecular dynamics simulations of transitions for ECD epidermal growth factor receptors show key differences between human and drosophila forms of the receptors

Recent X-ray structural work on the Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (EFGR) has suggested an asymmetric dimer that rationalizes binding affinity measurements that go back decades (Alvarado et al., Cell 2010;142:568–579; Dawson et al., Structure 2007;15:942–954; Lemmon et al., Embo J 1997;16:281–294; Mattoon et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2004;101:923–928; Mayawala et al., Febs Lett 2005;579:3043–3047; Ozcan et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2006;103:5735–5740). This type of asymmetric structure has not been seen for the human EGF receptor family and it may or may not be important for function in that realm. We hypothesize that conformational changes in the Drosophila system have been optimized for the transition, whereas the barrier for the same transition is much higher in the human forms. To address our hypothesis we perform dynamic importance sampling (DIMS) (Perilla et al., J Comput Chem 2010;32:196–209) for barrier crossing transitions in both Drosophila and human EFGRs. For each set of transitions, we work from the hypothesis, based on results from the AdK system, that salt-bridge pairs making and breaking connections are central to the conformational change. To evaluate the effectiveness of the salt-bridges as drivers for the conformational change, we use the effective transfer entropy based on stable state MD calculations (Kamberaj and Der Vaart, Biophys J 2009;97:1747–1755) to define a reduced subset of degrees of freedom that seem to be important for driving the transition (Perilla and Woolf, J Chem Phys 2012;136:164101). Our results suggest that salt-bridge making and breaking is not the dominant factor in driving the symmetric to asymmetric transition, but that instead it is a result of more concerted and correlated functional motions within a subset of the dimer structures. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that the set of residues involved in the transitions from the Drosophila relative to the human forms differs and that this difference in substate distributions relates to why the asymmetric form may be more common to Drosophila than to the human forms. We close with a discussion about the residues that may be changed in the human and the Drosophila forms to potentially shift the kinetics of the symmetric to asymmetric transition.
One-on-one education and client reminders increase uptake of colorectal, breast and cervical cancer screening

Implications for practice and research: Client reminders and one-on-one education are effective community-based interventions for improving screening rates for colorectal cancer (CRC), breast and cervical cancers. Group education is now shown to be an effective approach for improving breast cancer screening rates. Needs particular to the target population should be considered in conjunction with published recommendations when choosing interventions to improve screening rates. Studies which address interventions for increasing CRC screening other than with faecal occult blood test are needed. An important area to address in future research is the effectiveness of electronic communications in improving screening rates.
DOK1 Mediates SHP-2 Binding to the αVβ3 Integrin and Thereby Regulates Insulin-like Growth Factor I Signaling in Cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Recruitment of the Src homology 2 domain tyrosine phosphatase (SHP-2) to the phosphorylated β3 subunit of the αVβ3 integrin is required for insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)-stimulated cell migration and proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells. Because SHP-2 does not bind directly to β3, we attempted to identify a linker protein that could mediate SHP-2/β3 association. DOK1 is a member of insulin receptor substrate protein family that binds β3 and contains YXXL/I motifs that are potential binding sites for SHP-2. Our results show that IGF-I induces DOK1 binding to β3 and to SHP-2. Preincubation of cells with synthetic peptides that blocked either DOK1/β3 or DOK1/SHP-2 association inhibited SHP-2 recruitment to β3. Expression of a DOK1 mutant that does not bind to β3 also disrupts SHP-2/β3 association. As a result of SHP-2/β3 disruption, IGF-I dependent phosphorylation of Akt and p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase and its ability to stimulate cell migration and proliferation were significantly impaired. These results demonstrate that DOK1 mediates SHP-2/β3 association in response to IGF-I thereby mediating the effect of integrin ligand occupancy on IGF-IR-linked signaling in smooth muscle cells.
Artificial repressors for controlling gene expression in bacteria

Transcriptional repression is a common approach to control gene expression in synthetic biology applications. Here, an engineered DNA binding protein based upon a transcription activator-like effector (TALE) scaffold was shown to outperform LacI in blocking transcription from a promoter and to repress expression of a downstream gene in an operon.
MELANOMA OF THE PENIS, SCROTUM AND MALE URETHRA: A 40-YEAR SINGLE INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Genitourinary melanoma is rare and classically associated with a poor prognosis. We describe our experience with 10 patients with penile or urethral involvement. In addition, we present what is to our knowledge the largest reported series of melanoma of the scrotum (6 cases).Materials and Methods:: We reviewed the records of 16 men who presented consecutively to our institution with genitourinary melanoma between 1962 and 2000. Clinical and pathological characteristics were assessed, including Breslow thickness, primary surgical intervention and clinical course.Results:: Of 10 patients with penile or urethral melanoma 1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer melanoma pathological stage was T1 (depth less than 0.75 mm) in 4, T2 (0.75 to 1.5 mm) in 3 and T3 (1.51 to 4 mm) in 3. Only 1 of 4 patients with clinically palpable inguinal nodes had inguinal metastases at lymphadenectomy (BILND) and 3 who underwent prophylactic superficial BILND had negative findings. In 7 patients with T1–2N0M0 di...
Obesity: Disability or Public Health Crisis?

In their article, Ruggs, Law, Cox, Roehling, Wiener, Hebl, and Barron (2013) address a number of underresearched groups that are subject to discrimination. We applaud the authors for calling attention to the neglected groups in the study of discrimination. However, it is likely that researchers have neglected some of these groups for practical reasons as the discrimination against these groups is either less intense or less widespread. For example, religious discrimination has accounted for between 2% and 4% of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charges, whereas race and sex discrimination together have accounted for approximately 65% of discrimination charges (EEOC, 2012a).
Agronomic and seed traits of soybean lines with high-oleate concentration

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] lines with the transgenic event DP-305423-1 produce a high-oleate oil and those with the fan1(C1640) and fan3(RG10) alleles produce a low-linolenate oil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic and seed traits of high-oleate and low-linolenate (HOLL) lines, high-oleate and normal-linolenate (HONL) lines, and normal-oleate and normal-linolenate (NONL) lines selected from four single-cross populations segregating for the three genes. A minimum of 14 F 3:5 lines of each class in the four populations were evaluated in five environments during 2009. The mean fatty ester concentrations averaged across populations were 786 g kg -1 oleate and 24 g kg- 1 linolenate for the HOLL lines, 784 g kg -1 oleate and 56 g kg -1 linolenate for the HONL lines, and 226 g kg -1 oleate and 75 g kg -1 linolenate for the NONL lines. The mean yield of the NONL lines was significantly greater than the HOLL lines by 4.5% and the HONL lines by 3.0%. Of the 10 highest yielding lines in each population, 60% were NONL, 25% HOLL, and 15% HONL, which indicated that it would be possible to select cultivars of both classes that yield as well as NONL cultivars. The overlap among the three classes in the distributions of lines for protein, oil, seed weight, maturity, height, and lodging indicated that it would be possible to develop HOLL and HONL cultivars comparable to NONL cultivars for those traits.
DNA Lesion-specific Co-localization of the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) Complex and Replication Protein A (RPA) to Repair Foci

The DNA damage response, triggered by DNA replication stress or DNA damage, involves the activation of DNA repair and cell cycle regulatory proteins including the MRN (Mre11, Rad50, and Nbs1) complex and replication protein A (RPA). The induction of replication stress by hydroxyurea (HU) or DNA damage by camptothecin (CAMPT), etoposide (ETOP), or mitomycin C (MMC) led to the formation of nuclear foci containing phosphorylated Nbs1. HU and CAMPT treatment also led to the formation of RPA foci that co-localized with phospho-Nbs1 foci. After ETOP treatment, phospho-Nbs1 and RPA foci were detected but not within the same cell. MMC treatment resulted in phospho-Nbs1 foci formation in the absence of RPA foci. Consistent with the presence or absence of RPA foci, RPA hyperphosphorylation was present following HU, CAMPT, and ETOP treatment but absent following MMC treatment. The lack of co-localization of phospho-Nbs1 and RPA foci may be due to relatively shorter stretches of single-stranded DNA generated following ETOP and MMC treatment. These data suggest that, even though the MRN complex and RPA can interact, their interaction may be limited to responses to specific types of lesions, particularly those that have longer stretches of single-stranded DNA. In addition, the consistent formation of phospho-Nbs1 foci in all of the treatment groups suggests that the MRN complex may play a more universal role in the recognition and response to DNA lesions of all types, whereas the role of RPA may be limited to certain subsets of lesions.
Theoretical determination of the admittance of the metal gate in a metal-oxide-semiconductor system and effect of the gate on Faraday rotation and ellipticity

Abstract We calculate the admittance of the metal gate in a metal-oxide-semiconductor system in the Faraday geometry using the Boltzmann transport equation. We find that the value of the admittance calculated from this model agrees well with experimentally determined values. Using this calculated value of the admittance, we find that the contribution of the metal gate to the Faraday rotation and ellipticity to be negligible and hence we may ignore the metal gate altogether except for its contribution as a reflecting surface.
Similar liability for trauma and nontrauma surgical anesthesia: a closed claims analysis.

BACKGROUND Trauma care has many challenges, including the perception by nonanesthesia physicians of increased medical malpractice liability. We used the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project database and the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to compare the rate of claims for trauma anesthesia care to national trauma surgery data. We also used the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project database to evaluate injury and liability profiles of trauma anesthesia malpractice claims compared to nontrauma surgical anesthesia claims. METHODS Surgical anesthesia claims for injuries that occurred between 1980 and 2005 in the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project database of 8954 claims were included in this analysis. Trauma was defined using cause of injury criteria in state trauma registries, including out-of-hospital falls. To estimate national trauma anesthesia rates, we used injury codes in NIS reports to define trauma discharges and NIS discharges with surgical procedure codes for the denominator. The year-adjusted odds ratio and P value comparing the national trauma anesthesia injury rates and American Society of Anesthesiologists' Closed Claims Project inpatient claim rates in the 1990 to 2001 time period were calculated by a multivariate logistic regression of the injury/trauma outcome on year and the NIS/Closed Claims Project indicator. Payments in claim resolution between trauma claims and nontraumatic surgical anesthesia claims were compared by χ(2) analysis, Fisher exact test for proportions, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for payment amounts. RESULTS Trauma claims represented 6% of the total 6215 surgical anesthesia claims in the study period. The inpatient trauma claims rates were consistently lower than the NIS injury rates for 1990 to 2001. The year-adjusted odds ratio comparing the trauma claims rates to the NIS injury rates was 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53 to 0.72; P < 0.001, likelihood ratio test). Trauma claims and nontrauma surgical anesthesia claims did not differ in appropriateness of care, whether or not a payment was made to the plaintiff, or size of payments. CONCLUSION Despite reported perceptions that trauma care involves a high risk of medical liability, there was no apparent increased risk of liability among inpatients presenting for trauma anesthesia care. The proportion in malpractice claims in trauma anesthesia care was not increased compared to nontraumatic surgical anesthesia care. With respect to medicolegal liability, these results support participation of anesthesia providers in multidisciplinary trauma care and organized systems.
Evaluation of application-aware heterogeneous embedded systems for performance and energy consumption

In this work, we first present an application-initiated strategy that aims to control the energy consumption, while simultaneously enhancing the performance of a heterogeneous embedded system. We assess the benefits of using this strategy by means of a traditional evaluation framework. Even though the overall benefits and improvements are apparent, the performance-energy tradeoffs are not prominently noticeable when the traditional framework is used during evaluation. Hence, we propose a framework based on a new metric called energy-resource efficiency (ERE). ERE defines a link between the performance and energy variations in a system. This metric also serves as a guide to determine the amount of resources needed to attain the desired performance and energy behavior. Our experimental results clearly indicate that a heterogeneous system running an application-aware strategy, when correctly calibrated using ERE, leads to great performance and energy gains.
Winter severity and phenology of spring emergence from the nest in freshwater turtles

Although many species of freshwater turtles emigrate to water soon after hatching, the offspring of some species overwinter on land and move to aquatic habitats in the following spring. Timing of emigration can affect the hatchlings' fitness, but the factors underlying phenology of nest emergence are incompletely understood. We tested the supposition that cold stress imposed during hibernation can influence the timing of nest emergence in three species of turtles in the central USA. In each year of the 6-year study, Chrysemys picta emerged in late March and early April and, on average, these hatchlings left their nests 2 weeks earlier than those of Graptemys geographica and 4 weeks earlier than those of Trachemys scripta. Emergence of conspecific hatchlings from different nests usually occurred over 3-7 weeks, but in some years lasted several additional weeks. Relatively few nests had siblings that emerged on the same day (i.e., synchronously); complete emergence of the typical sibling group required 1 to 2 weeks. In winter, subzero cold occurred with regularity in the nests of all species, though C. picta experienced the lowest temperatures owing to their shallower nests. However, for no species did emergence date or length of the emergence period correlate with winter minimum temperature and, at the level of the individual nest, neither did emergence synchrony or duration. Despite encountering lower temperatures, hatchlings of C. picta emigrated from their nests before those of sympatric species, suggesting that the fitness benefits of early emergence may lead to the improvement of cold-hardiness adaptations in northern populations of turtles.
Older driver fitness-to-drive evaluation using naturalistic driving data

PROBLEM: As our driving population continues to age, it is becoming increasingly important to find a small set of easily administered fitness metrics that can meaningfully and reliably identify at-risk seniors requiring more in-depth evaluation of their driving skills and weaknesses. METHOD: Sixty driver assessment metrics related to fitness-to-drive were examined for 20 seniors who were followed for a year using the naturalistic driving paradigm. Principal component analysis and negative binomial regression modeling approaches were used to develop parsimonious models relating the most highly predictive of the driver assessment metrics to the safety-related outcomes observed in the naturalistic driving data. RESULTS: This study provides important confirmation using naturalistic driving methods of the relationship between contrast sensitivity and crash-related events. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The results of this study provide crucial information on the continuing journey to identify metrics and protocols that could be applied to determine seniors' fitness to drive. Language: en
Immigration, Aging, and the Life Course

Today, immigrants make up one-eighth of the US population. Although this share has not yet reached the high point seen a century ago during the heyday of US immigration, the rising numbers of foreign-born are remaking American society in numerous ways and raising concerns about how well the US incorporates newcomers. Globalization means that a similar story is playing out around the world. This chapter examines the critical issues of immigration and immigrant incorporation through the lens of aging and the life course. We address international migration within a general framework of historically situated adaptation and change occurring over the lives of individuals. We do not attempt a comprehensive survey of the rich literature on immigrants and immigration, because useful introductions to research on immigration and aging are already available. We focus largely, but not exclusively, on immigration to the United States, historically “a nation of immigrants” and the country leading the world in the number of immigrants today.
Survey of leader-follower concepts in hierarchical decision-making

This presentation will summarize the leader-follower concepts in hierarchical decision-making, with particular emphasis on continuous-time dynamic systems with two decision-makers. Open-loop, state-feedback, and dynamic feedback control structures are discussed, consistent with initial state, instantaneous state, or output trajectory information available, as the case may be. Necessary conditions for leader-follower optimality are summarized.
Rethinking Plea Bargaining: The Practice and Reform of Prosecutorial Adjudication in American Criminal Procedure

This article proposes a new theoretical framework to analyze and reform prosecutorial adjudication and plea bargaining, two of the most heatedly debated and practically relevant topics in American criminal procedure. Relying on insights from moral philosophy, the article distinguishes between two different types of plea bargaining. In the first type, the prosecutor unilaterally decides who is innocent and guilty, and for which offense, by using coercive plea proposals, which make the defendant's guilty plea involuntary. In the second type of plea bargaining, the prosecutor and the defendant bilaterally adjudicate the case through a voluntary agreement. The article shows that it is only in the former type of plea bargaining that we may consider the prosecutor as the sole adjudicator of the case. The article also explains that this system of unilateral prosecutorial adjudication is neither an adversarial nor an inquisitorial system, but a hybrid system that has not been identified so far. In addition, the article also makes clear why the first type of plea bargaining that enables unilateral prosecutorial adjudication violates the requirements of due process, while the second type does not. With the adoption of key reforms, the article further argues, plea bargaining may be practiced in a manner preclusive of unilateral prosecutorial adjudication and consistent with due process.
Rates of Growth in Food Requirements during Economic Development

FOOD shortages in many developing nations will continue for a number of decades. These shortages present major obstacles to economic growth and political stability. Quantitative estimates of the magnitude of the challenge facing agriculture in developing countries can help nations avoid food crises. The United States and international organizations also need estimates of national food requirements in order to plan for changes in international trade in agricultural products and to mount more effective general-assistance and food-aid programs. This paper examines the effect of population growth, increased per-capita income, and changes in food-marketing channels on food requirements. Food requirements were estimated using Ohkawa's equation1 and recent estimates of the income elasticity of food at different points in the marketing channels. In estimating food requirements, because of the nature of the equation and the assumptions used in obtaining the income elasticities, relative prices between food and nonfood products are assumed not to change. Thus, if "food requirements" as defined here are not met, inflation in food prices occurs, which is likely to slow growth in real income. Further elaboration of this analysis could relax the restriction of constant relative prices. Food is measured as food expenditures; thus through a period of time there are changes in the quality of the foods and the mix of different foods within the total value estimated. A contrasting nutritional approach for estimating national food needs is illustrated by the USDA study, The World Food Budget-1962-1966.2 The value of food was estimated at four different points in the market structure and labeled as follows: Supplier Food-total food production as it leaves the farmer's field (including net imports); Food for Wholesale-food as it is sold at the farmer's gate; Food at Retail-food at the retail level; Total Food-total food consumption, including home-produced food which is consumed at home. Detailed definitions and justification for the use of these food measures have been given earlier.3
Debtors to Our Profession

The claim of modern surveyors to professional distinction is being debated among a number of factions. Possible causes for this debate are discussed in terms of Sir Francis Bacon’s call for all professionals to be debtors to their profession. Basic professional criteria are discussed along with the history of surveying professionalism. Courses of action, including concern for surveyor education and public esteem, are recommended to rebut claims against the professional stature of surveyors.
Habitat, diet, and activity patterns of free-ranging woolly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides E. Geoffroy 1806)

Results of a 10-month study of the ecology and behavior of free- ranging woolly spider monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides)in Brazil show that these animals are strongly folivorous. Leaf-eating accounted for more than 50% of the total feeding time in all samples but one and accounted for more than 80% of the total feeding time in three samples. Mature foliage was routinely eaten. Woolly spider monkeys consistently spend more than 50% of each day quietly resting and sleeping. Animals travel little except when actively feeding and show low levels of social interaction. Such an activity profile suggests that woolly spider monkeys may often be living near the limits of their energetic resources. The social organization of the species is unusual for a folivorous primate in that small groups of females and associated immature animals confine their activities to discrete home-range areas, whereas males are itinerant, traveling over the home ranges of various female groups. Animals sharing a common home-range area show no permanent daily pattern of association other than that of mother-dependent offspring. Foraging alone or with few conspecifics should maximize each individual’s returns from foraging by minimizing the day range that must be traveled each day to locate foods while simultaneously lowering interference competition for higher-quality dietary resources.
Study on microwave cured epoxy/anhydride resin

The condition of microwave curing and the effect of microwave curing on the properties of mechanical and thermal resistance of epoxy/acid anhydride resin system were studied by experiments.The results show that the compressive strength tensile strength and bending strength of microwave cured resin,are increased by 15.8%,13.2% and 10.7% respectively and thermal resistant temperature is 10℃ lower in comparison with thermal cured resin.
Study on voltage and flicker of wind turbines

When a wind turbine connects to a MV-network,which has other variable loads that may cause significant voltage fluctuations at the wind turbines terminals,the voltage fluctuations caused by the wind turbines depend on the grid characteristics.In order to achieve real test results which are independent of the grid conditions at the test site,the IEC 61400-21 specifies a method to calculate flicker emission by use of a fictitious grid.On the basis of studies of the standard method in IEC61400,flicker emission of direct-drive permanent magnet wind turbine and doubly fed induction wind turbine are calculated respectively,impact factors of wind turbines flicker emission are analyzed.Calculated flicker emission of fictitious grid is compared with ideal voltage conditions measurement flicker emission,the results validate effectiveness of the fictitious grid method for flicker emission test.
Biosynthesis of Sanguinarine by Elicitation of Surface Immobilized Cells of PapaverSomniferum L.

Upon exposure to a variety of elicitors, suspension cultures of the Papaver somniferum L. cell line PBI #2009, initiated more than ten years ago (2), produce the benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine and dihydrosanguinarine (1). Cells of this line, which when unelicited accumulate, at best, only trace quantities of these alkaloids, release a portion of the product into the culture medium, suggesting a possible long-term, continuous use of the cell material. Because of the potential use of sanguinarine as an antibiotic in oral hygiene products (3), an effort was made to develop efficient production methodology by eliciting and re-eliciting surface immobilized cells. The results of these investigations are presented here.
Review: Precision Cut Liver Slices for the Evaluation of Fatty Liver and Fibrosis.

Introduction: Ethanol metabolism in the liver results in oxidative stress, altered cytokine production and fat accumulation in the liver. Thus, it is thought that the accumulation of benign fat into the liver in conjunction with a “second hit” leads to liver failure. However, we have recently developed the use of precision-cut liver slices (PCLSs) as an in vitro culture model in which to investigate the pathophysiology of alcohol-induced liver injury. In this review, these studies will be discussed and newer data presented. Methods: Original investigations into the use of PCLS were obtained from chow fed rats (200-300g). PCLSs were cultured 24-96h in media, 25 mM ethanol, or 25 mM ethanol and 0.5 mM 4- methylpyrazole (4-MP). PCLSs were examined for at different times and evaluated for glutathione (GSH) levels, extent of lipid peroxidation (TBARS assay), cytokine production (ELISA and RT-PCR) and myofibroblast activation. Age-matched rats were fed high fat diets for 13 months, PCLSs were prepared, and evaluated as outlined above. In recently, human and mouse PCLSs were cut, equilibrated, and evaluated using the methods outlined as above. Results: In these studies, it was shown that the PCLSs from rats, mice and human livers retained excellent viability over a 96 hour period of incubation. During this time period, alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and cytochrome P4502E1 levels were viable. After 24 hours of ethanol exposure, fatty livers and fibrogenic responses developed and could be prevented/reversed with the 4-MP. In a separate study using overly obese rats, ethanol metabolism was decreased in PCLSs as compared to age-matched controls (AMC). However, higher levels of triglycerides and lipid peroxidation were found in PCLSs from obese rats compared to AMC. Also, increased concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) were found in the culture supernatants. In contrast, decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and heme oxygenase I (HO-1) levels were detected. Conclusion: Within 24h of incubation, ethanol metabolism by PCLSs initiates fat accumulation in the liver at which point there is an activation of myofibroblasts. Thus, fatty liver is the first response to ethanol and sensitizes the liver to other products of oxidative stress that result in inflammation and the start of liver failure ending in cirrhosis. Thus, from these studies it appears that PCLSs can be utilized to determine the mechanisms(s) by which ethanol exposure leads to the development and/or progression of alcoholic liver disease (ALD).
Bisphosphonates for controlling pain from metastatic bone disease

The rationale for and efficacy of bisphosphonates for pain due to cancer that has metastasized to bone are reviewed. Typical strategies for controlling metastatic bone pain have consisted of opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, surgery to stabilize bone, cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and radiopharmaceuticals. Cancer metastasis to bone can produce pain through the release of prostaglandins, bradykinin, substance P, and histamine; growth of tumor into surrounding tissue; stretching of the periosteum; and pathological fractures. It has been suggested that bisphosphonates can benefit these patients by decreasing the amount of pain or decreasing analgesic requirements. Bisphosphonates bind to hydroxyapatite crystals, making it more difficult for osteoclasts to recognize exposed unmineralized bone surfaces, and are directly toxic to osteoclasts. Etidronate disodium, pamidronate disodium, clodronate disodium, and alendronate sodium are bisphosphonates that have been studied in patients with painful bone metastases. Although each of these has shown at least some benefit, the most promising agent appears to be pamidronate, especially the i.v. formulation given monthly. Although oral formulations of this agent have been studied, poor bioavailability and adverse effects limit their usefulness. Adverse effects of bisphosphonates include GI reactions, impairment of renal function, anemia, and electrolyte abnormalities. Bisphosphonates are of some benefit in relieving metastatic bone pain, but the exact role, agent, route, and duration are issues that need further study.
Embedding Sapphire Spheres in Resorcinol Formaldehyde Aerogel for Astrophysical Jet Experiments

Single and double sapphire spheres have been precisely suspended in 300 mg/cm 3 RF aerogels without a supporting stalk by modifying parameters such as gelation time and stability of the aerogel precursor solution and use of a vacuum holder for the sphere placement. A process for fabricating a single-sphere target was also developed using a spider silk support (approximately) 100 times thinner than the earlier work on similar targets. Characterization of the ball placement and the aerogel was done by radiography. Data from the characterization of these targets showed that the ball was accurately placed and the aerogel matrix was not significantly altered.
Reliability Of A Surgeon-Reported Morbidity And Mortality Database: A Comparison Of Short-Term Morbidity Between The Scoliosis Research Society And National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Databases

Background There exists a lack of comparison between large national healthcare databases reporting surgical morbidity and mortality. Prior authors have expressed concern that the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) membership may have underreported complications in spinal surgery. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to compare the incidence of morbidity between the SRS and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) databases.
Culture-Directed Topical Antibiotic Treatment for Chronic Rhinosinusitis:

BackgroundTopical antibiotics, delivered optimally as high-volume culture-directed sinus irrigations, are being increasingly used for recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Their impact on subj...
Lowell Dittmer is Professor of Political Science and Editor of Asian Survey

Xi Jinping, the most powerful new leader of China since Deng Xiaoping, has proceeded with a new agenda of economic reform, deleveraging, and the rectification of corruption; at the same time he has been intent upon sustaining high growth. This he calls China’s “new normal.” Beginning with an analysis of the old normal, we analyze the political economy of Xi’s multifaceted approach and its contradictory consequences.
Hypothyroidism and Sturge-Weber Syndrome

Two children out of 83 (2.4%) with Sturge-Weber syndrome, who attended a multidisciplinary center at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, were found to have central hypothyroidism.
Garlic and Aging: Current Knowledge and Future Considerations

Publisher Summary Garlic (Allium sativum) ranks the highest of all the herbal remedies consumed for their health benefits. Garlic, one of the oldest plants used in medicine, has been an important part of life for centuries, across cultures and millennia. Garlic has been used to spice food, fortify soldiers for war, cure colds, heal infections, and treat ailments ranging from heart disease to cancer and even the plague. Garlic has proven to have a broad range of health benefits and anti-aging effects, helping prevent disease and age-related pathological conditions. Scientific and clinical studies have shown that garlic can enhance immunity, protect against infection and inflammation, and help lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, and dementia, the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s disease. From a medicinal point of view, and effectiveness in preventing age-related conditions, the stable water-soluble organosulfur compounds in garlic are highly effective. Present to some extent in fresh garlic, their level is increased by a process of aging. The extraction and aging process produces a high content of water-soluble organosulfur compounds, and converts unstable compounds, such as allicin, to stable compounds, thus increasing the antioxidant content of aged garlic extract (AGE), compared to fresh garlic. The major organosulfur compound in AGE is S-allyl cysteine. It is stable, has high antioxidant activity, and is highly bioavailable, with absorption of close to 98% into the circulation. S-allyl cystine is used for commercial standardization of the AGE products including tablets, capsules, and liquid forms.
On the effects of selective laser melting process parameters on microstructure and thermomechanical response of Ni-rich NiTi

Abstract Any variation in the processing parameters of selective laser melting fabrication could impact the performance of the final product. This study is concentrated on the effects of laser power and scanning speed alteration on the microstructure, transformation temperatures, texture, and shape memory response of Ni50.8Ti49.2. In this regard, multiple samples were systematically fabricated to demonstrate that careful selection of process parameters can lead to fabrication of parts with distinctive features and behaviors. The samples processed with low laser power showed significantly higher strain recovery and lower mechanical hysteresis compared to those processed with high laser power. It was demonstrated that the samples fabricated with same energy level, using a combination of different processing parameters each displayed unique responses. The sample fabricated with a laser power of 100 W and scanning speed of 125 mm/s exhibited almost perfect superelasticity with a recovery ratio of 96% and strain recovery of 5.77% in the first cycle. The corresponding stabilized superelastic response demonstrated full strain recovery of 5.5% after 10 cycles.