cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Herbivory and plant water status of jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schn.] in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona

Herbivory may alter the ability of a plant to compete with ungrazed neighbors for limited resources such as water in arid environments. Water status parameters of grazed and ungrazed jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schn.], a drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub of the Sonoran Desert, were compared over a 2-year period in Arizona. Ungrazed shrubs were larger than grazed shrubs but had similar canopy leaf area to larger grazed shrubs and about four times the leaf area of smaller grazed shrubs. Xylem water potential, transpiration rate, and stomatal resistance were similar for grazed and ungrazed shrubs both in early spring and later in early summer at the peak of the drought period. Xylem water potential of jojoba was generally as low or lower than wolfberry (Lycium exsertum A. Gray) and was much lower than paloverde [Cercidium microphyllum (Torrey) Rose & Johnston], which apparently had deep roots in contact with wetter soil than jojoba. The ability of jojoba to transpire and take up water while enduring low plant water potential probably allows it to reduce the soil matric potential around its roots below that available to possible competitors. As evaporative demand increased and water potential decreased into the drought period, jojoba transpiration was greatly reduced by stomatal closure in mid-afternoon which resulted in increased xylem water potential as water uptake allowed recovery of transpirational water loss. The ability of jojoba to grow during short seasonal periods of water availability in the Sonoran Desert and its ability to endure low plant water potential while continuing limited photosynthesis are suggested as important factors in jojoba tolerance to herbivory as well as drought.
Revisiting Alzheimer's Disease from a New Perspective: Can “Risk Factors” Play a Key Role?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been intensively studied for decades, but why has its common pathological cause remained so enigmatic? Our studies have suggested that plaques and tangles occur spontaneously during aging as a result of a natural decline of energy metabolism and Ca2+ signaling, but not necessarily due to conventional pathogens. This view would lead to an unexpected outcome; that is, natural aging plays a more important role in neurodegeneration than is currently recognized. Does this model over-simplify the disease origin? We know that AD-type neurodegeneration typically occurs at the end stages of life when not only do plaques and tangles appear, but also many other bodily changes as well (bone loss and skin wrinkling, etc). Neurodegeneration differs from the latter changes mainly by "social" consequences, not by "physiological" origin. If neurodegeneration is a natural event, then why do only some people, but not others, develop AD? Obviously, additional factors are required for neurodegeneration to develop into AD. By comparing current models and ruling out other possibilities, we think that several known "risk factors" most likely play a critical role in the late-onset sporadic AD. These risk factors can exert their effects either by providing the conditions for ailing neurons to die (extended longevity and sedentary lifestyle), or by enhancing the individual's "vulnerability" to natural neurodegeneration (low synapse reserve). In this context, late-onset sporadic AD would be similar to many other age-related conditions where perhaps no single pathogen can be held exclusively responsible for most cases; rather, many risk factors are important to allow the initial defect to turn into clinical diseases. Accordingly, these factors should be the primary targets for AD prevention. Yet, some other AD cases, especially the early-onset ones, may be complicated by the concomitant involvement of other diseases in the brain.
Family Medical History

“Is there a family history?” As I stood there watching her cry from pain and fear, that question shattered my soul like a bullet entering a thorax. “Yes, there is a family history. A strong one.” This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Synthesis of an unusual, cage-functionalized molecular cleft

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of a novel, cage-functionalized bis(α-diketone), 4, is described. A molecular cleft is formed by two parallel planar aromatic diketone units bridged by a polycarbocyclic cage. Crystal data: T = 100(1) K, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 35.6383(2), b = 11.8110(1), c = 15.6319(2) A, β = 110.7745(2)°, V = 6152.04(9) A3, Z = 12, R = 0.0691. Compound 4 is of potential interest as a new type of “host” molecule for the study of host–guest interactions in solution.
High Glucose-Mediated Tyrosine Nitration Inhibits Survival Signal in Endothelial Cells

Introduction Evidence of retinal oxidative and nitrative stress has been well-documented in models of diabetic retinopathy. Here, we examined the effects of high glucose and peroxynitrite on tyrosine nitration and inhibition of the survival protein PI3-kinase and in particular p85 subunit in retinal endothelial cells. Methods Retinal endothelial cells were cultured in high glucose (25mM) for 3-days or peroxynitrite (100μM) for 1-day in the presence or absence a peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst (FeTPPs, 2.5μM) or the selective nitration inhibitor epicatechin (100μM). Tyrosine nitration of p85 subunit and its association with the p110 subunit were examined using immunoprecipitation. Endothelial cell apoptosis was examined using TUNEL assays and caspase-3 activity. Results High glucose or exogenous peroxynitrite caused significant increase in apoptosis of retinal endothelial cells compared to controls. Treatment with FeTPPs or epicatechin blocked these effects, implying a causal role of peroxynitrite. High glucose- or peroxynitrite-treated cells also showed significant increases in tyrosine nitration on the p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase that inhibited its association with p110 subunit and inhibition of PI 3-kinase/Akt kinase activity. Inhibiting peroxynitrite formation or blocking tyrosine nitration of p85 restored the activity of PI 3-kinase and Akt kinase and normalized pro-survival function. Conclusions High glucose impairs pro-survival signal and causes accelerated endothelial cell apoptosis via the action of peroxynitrite in causing tyrosine nitration of PI 3-kinase and inhibiting activity of Akt kinase. Inhibitors of nitration can be further developed to combat vascular complication in diabetes.
The Williams Syndrome Social Phenotype: Disentangling the Contributions of Social Interest and Social Difficulties

Abstract In this chapter, we provide an overview of the complex social phenotype associated with Williams syndrome (WS). We first outline the strong propensity for social interaction observed in WS, providing evidence related to the temperament, social attention, and hypersociability of individuals with WS. Second, we discuss the social cognitive difficulties, including significant weakness in interpersonal and social communication skills, observed to negatively impact reciprocal social interactions. Third, we discuss the real-world implications of pairing social disinhibition with a difficulty navigating social exchanges, examining how these behaviors lead to trouble with forming and maintaining friendships, difficulties getting along with peers at school and colleagues at work, and trouble recognizing the potential dangers associated with interacting with strangers. We end with a discussion for future directions in research and practice, focusing especially on the need to move from descriptive to intervention research.
On the Dynamics of Recursive Least-Squares and Lattices

Abstract Three results are given concerning the dynamics of conventional recursive least-squares and least-squares lattice parameter estimation algorithms. Firstly, a simulation shows a case of numerical instability of the normalized least-squares lattice algorithm, but not the unnormalized. Secondly, noise cancelling is proven to be the optimal estimate in the case of infinite signal variance. Thirdly, the criterion matrix P is shown to be finite and monotonically decreasing for nonzero forgetting factors A increasing to unity. Finally it is conjectured that the rate of convergence is exponential and decreases with increasing system order.
Just Say No: Explaining the Lack of International Mediation in Kashmir

The dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir is one of the world’s most protracted and potentially dangerous conflicts. While the international community has strong interest in limiting violent conflagration between the two states, third party action aimed at amelioration has been very limited. This contrasts with overall global mediation efforts, which have increased in the post-Cold War period. Using archival research, this study explores the reasons for the Government of India’s implacable opposition to any external intervention in the conflict. We argue that both strategic and ideational motivations have influenced its decisions. In particular, India’s strict adherence to the principle of strategic autonomy precludes the possibility of accepting external mediation. By exploring how and why strategic and ideational motivations intersect to become a formidable barrier to third party intervention, this article contributes to our understanding of why certain countries develop resistance to mediation.
Serving cancer its last meal

Abolishment of just one of the pathways activated by mTORC1 creates a metabolic imbalance that drives cancer cell death.
Tax Court Sends Message On Valuation in Richmond

In Estate of Helen P. Richmond, the Tax Court determined the proper value for estate tax purposes of a minority interest in a family-owned corporation holding mostly appreciated securities. The court also sustained an accuracy-related penalty against the estate, finding that it used an unsigned draft report by a noncertified appraiser as the basis for the stock valuation reported on Form 706.
When You are in Charge: Reflections on Managing Staff in the Library

At some point in our library career, we may find ourselves in charge of an intern, volunteer, part-timer or even full-time staff, whether of our own initiative or not. There might be an organizatio...
Chromosomal scale length variation of germline DNA can predict individual cancer risk

Inherited factors are thought to be responsible for a substantial fraction of many different forms of cancer. However, individual cancer risk cannot currently be well quantified by analyzing germ line DNA. Most analyses of germline DNA focus on the additive effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found. Here we show that chromosomal-scale length variation of germline DNA can be used to predict whether a person will develop cancer. In two independent datasets, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project and the UK Biobank, we could classify whether or not a patient had a certain cancer based solely on chromosomal scale length variation. In the TCGA data, we found that all 32 different types of cancer could be predicted better than chance using chromosomal scale length variation data. We found a model that could predict ovarian cancer in women with an area under the receiver operator curve, AUC=0.89. In the UK Biobank data, we could predict breast cancer in women with an AUC=0.83. This method could be used to develop genetic risk scores for other conditions known to have a substantial genetic component and complements genetic risk scores derived from SNPs.
Ultraviolet Selection Pressure in the Prephanerozoic

The late appearance of Metaphyta and Metazoa in the fossil record has often been attributed to low concentrations of ambient oxygen and restriction of Organisms to shielded habitats due to intense ultraviolet selection pressure (Berkner-Marshall Hypothesis).
Mining control flow abnormality for logic error isolation

Analyzing the executions of a buggy program is essentially a data mining process: Tracing the data generated during program executions may disclose important patterns and outliers that could eventually reveal the location of software errors. In this paper, we investigate program logic errors, which rarely incur memory access violations but generate incorrect outputs. We show that through mining program control flow abnormality, we could isolate many logic errors without knowing the program semantics. In order to detect the control abnormality, we propose a hypothesis testing-like approach that statistically contrasts the evaluation probability of condition statements between correct and incorrect executions. Based on this contrast, we develop two algorithms that effectively rank functions with respect to their likelihood of containing the hidden error. We evaluated these two algorithms on a set of standard test programs, and the result clearly indicates their effectiveness.
Coherence in CePd3

At high temperatures in periodic cerium valence fluctuation compounds1,2,3 the cerium atoms act as a set of uncorrelated scattering centers. In the archetypal compound CePd3 the resistivity ρ at high temperatures has a negative slope (Fig. 1a) as expected in the single-ion Kondo limit. Use of the inelastic neutron scattering linewidth4 as a measure of the Kondo temperature yields TK ≃ 250K. At the temperature Tmax = 125K the resistivity exhibits a maximum indicating the onset of coherence, i.e., of correlations amongst the 4f scattering centers resulting in strong renormalization of the conduction electrons. The nature of this coherence is loudly debated at present.
Family-Support Programs: Opportunities for Community-based Practice:

The authors present guidelines for social work practice in the growing, interdisciplinary field of family-support programs. The history and contemporary form of family-support programs are describe...
Vibrosight: Long-Range Vibrometry for Smart Environment Sensing

Smart and responsive environments rely on the ability to detect physical events, such as appliance use and human activities. Currently, to sense these types of events, one must either upgrade to "smart" appliances, or attach aftermarket sensors to existing objects. These approaches can be expensive, intrusive and inflexible. In this work, we present Vibrosight, a new approach to sense activities across entire rooms using long-range laser vibrometry. Unlike a microphone, our approach can sense physical vibrations at one specific point, making it robust to interference from other activities and noisy environments. This property enables detection of simultaneous activities, which has proven challenging in prior work. Through a series of evaluations, we show that Vibrosight can offer high accuracies at long range, allowing our sensor to be placed in an inconspicuous location. We also explore a range of additional uses, including data transmission, sensing user input and modes of appliance operation, and detecting human movement and activities on work surfaces.
Thirty-day Readmission Rates for Carotid Endarterectomy Versus Carotid Artery Stenting.

Abstract Background Because of the emergence of readmission-related Medicare penalties, efforts are being made to identify and reduce patient readmissions. The purpose of this study was to compare rates and risk factors for 30-d readmission and hospital length of stay (LOS) after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) among patients treated for carotid artery stenosis in Pennsylvania. Materials and methods Data were from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4). We identified 15,966 patients who underwent CEA (n = 13,557) or CAS (n = 2409) in Pennsylvania between 2011 and 2014. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for 30-d readmission, whereas linear regression was used to model factors influencing LOS. Propensity score analysis was used to control for imbalanced covariates between procedures. Results Thirty-day readmission rates in Pennsylvania after CEA and CAS for carotid artery stenosis were similar (9.8% and 9.6%, respectively; P = 0.794). Not home discharge destination, Charlson comorbidity index ≥2, and LOS >1 d were all significantly associated with readmission risk. Procedure type (CEA or CAS) did not significantly influence risk. A significant difference in LOS was found between CEA and CAS, but the magnitude of the difference was small (2.38 for CAS versus 2.59 for CEA; P = 0.007). Black race, urgent and emergent cases, and not home discharges significantly increased LOS by notable amounts (1, 1.5, 3.9, and 1.9 d, respectively). Conclusions Carotid artery stenosis patients in Pennsylvania undergoing CEA or CAS had similar 30-d readmission rates. Although LOS was significantly different, the magnitude of the difference was not large.
Readability of Sports Injury and Prevention Patient Education Materials From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Website.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to evaluate the readability of 114 Sports Injury and Prevention patient education materials provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Methods We evaluated all articles written in English posted under the Sports Injury and Prevention section of the AAOS website using readability software to compute six readability scores, which we compared with the eighth-grade level using a two-tailed one-sample Student t-test. Results The mean reading grade level calculated by each readability test was markedly higher than the eighth-grade level. We reported mean ± SD for each test: Flesch-Kincaid grade level (8.95 ± 1.51; P < 0.001), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (11.53 ± 1.18; P < 0.001), Coleman-Liau index (11.16 ± 1.33; P < 0.001), Gunning Fog index (11.06 ± 1.63; P < 0.001), New Dale-Chall (9.49 ± 1.66; P < 0.001), and FORCAST formulas (10.96 ± 0.60; P < 0.001). Discussion This study shows that patient education materials provided by the AAOS concerning sports injury and prevention are written at a readability level too high for patients to understand. On average, patient materials are written at least 2.5 grade levels higher than national recommendations. Only 7% of the 114 articles had readability scores in line with national recommendations. These findings indicate a need for revised patient education materials geared toward bringing the readability level down to the recommended eighth-grade level.
A review of basal ganglia circuits and physiology: Application to deep brain stimulation.

Abstract Introduction Drawing on the seminal work of DeLong, Albin, and Young, we have now entered an era of basal ganglia neuromodulation. Understanding, re-evaluating, and leveraging the lessons learned from neuromodulation will be crucial to facilitate an increased and improved application of neuromodulation in human disease. Methods We will focus on deep brain stimulation (DBS) – the most common form of basal ganglia neuromodulation – however, similar principles can apply to other neuromodulation modalities. We start with a brief review of DBS for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and Tourette syndrome. We then review hallmark studies on basal ganglia circuits and electrophysiology resulting from decades of experience in neuromodulation. The organization and content of this paper follow Dr. Okun's Lecture from the 2018 Parkinsonism and Related Disorders World Congress. Results Information gained from neuromodulation has led to an expansion of the basal ganglia rate model, an enhanced understanding of nuclei dynamics, an emerging focus on pathological oscillations, a revision of the tripartite division of the basal ganglia, and a redirected focus toward individualized symptom-specific stimulation. Though there have been many limitations of the basal ganglia “box model,” the construct provided the necessary foundation to advance the field. We now understand that information in the basal ganglia is encoded through complex neural responses that can be reliably measured and used to infer disease states for clinical translation. Conclusions Our deepened understanding of basal ganglia physiology will drive new neuromodulation strategies such as adaptive DBS or cell-specific neuromodulation through the use of optogenetics.
One Epoch Is All You Need.

In unsupervised learning, collecting more data is not always a costly process unlike the training. For example, it is not hard to enlarge the 40GB WebText used for training GPT-2 by modifying its sampling methodology considering how many webpages there are in the Internet. On the other hand, given that training on this dataset already costs tens of thousands of dollars, training on a larger dataset naively is not cost-wise feasible. In this paper, we suggest to train on a larger dataset for only one epoch unlike the current practice, in which the unsupervised models are trained for from tens to hundreds of epochs. Furthermore, we suggest to adjust the model size and the number of iterations to be performed appropriately. We show that the performance of Transformer language model becomes dramatically improved in this way, especially if the original number of epochs is greater. For example, by replacing the training for 10 epochs with the one epoch training, this translates to 1.9-3.3x speedup in wall-clock time in our settings and more if the original number of epochs is greater. Under one epoch training, no overfitting occurs, and regularization method does nothing but slows down the training. Also, the curve of test loss over iterations follows power-law extensively. We compare the wall-clock time of the training of models with different parameter budget under one epoch training, and we show that size/iteration adjustment based on our proposed heuristics leads to 1-2.7x speedup in our cases. With the two methods combined, we achieve 3.3-5.1x speedup. Finally, we speculate various implications of one epoch training and size/iteration adjustment. In particular, based on our analysis we believe that we can reduce the cost to train the state-of-the-art models as BERT and GPT-2 dramatically, maybe even by the factor of 10.
Procedure: Legal Aspects

Procedural systems—whether based in courts or agencies, whether addressing civil or criminal processing, and whether framed through constitutional provisions, statutes, rules, or practices—must address the theories, aspirations, and values that underlie decisions enforced by the state. Procedural systems consider the kinds of disputes that may prompt litigation; the means by which lawsuits are started and stopped, as well as what happens in between and who can participate; the identity and characteristics of the participants (parties, lawyers, witnesses, judges, juries, and other third party ‘neutrals’); the powers of decision makers; the structure of courts, and the roles courts play in a particular governmental structure or as trans-national institutions. Inevitably, procedural systems are founded on social and political values about fairness, justice, liberty, and economy.
Social Determinants and Mental Health Among Older Adults in the Criminal Justice System

Official statistics suggest that as many as half of adults aged 50 and older in prison are diagnosed with some type of mental health problem, including serious mental disorders, such as major depression, schizophrenia, and cognitive impairment. The social determinants of mental health, such as lack of access to housing, employment, and mental health services, also have been shown to influence older adults’ risk of the onset and prolongment of mental health issues and involvement in the criminal justice system. Weaving case vignettes with review of the literature, this chapter provides an overview of what is empirically known about research and practice at the intersection of mental health, aging, and criminal justice involvement. Gaining a better understanding of this intersection may have significant implications for advancing mental treatment and interprofessional practices and programs that integrate the social determinants of mental health among older adults at any point of the criminal justice trajectory, such as the courts, jails, and prisons. This chapter concludes with the application of case examples to forensic interprofessional assessment and intervention planning that account for geriatric mental health diagnosis and treatment, case management, and advocacy practice.
Robotic Urologic Surgery: Trends in Food and Drug Administration-Reported Adverse Events Over the Last Decade.

Background: The da Vinci Surgical System has led to a rapid growth in the volume of robot-assisted surgeries, with 877,000 surgeries performed in 2017. Despite the increasing prevalence of robotic urologic surgeries, few long-term studies exist that examine trends in reported adverse events (RAEs). We analyzed RAEs over the past decade. Materials and Methods: We extrapolated all entries from the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database with the manufacturer "Intuitive Surgical" from 2007 to 2017. Reports were analyzed for date and type of RAE (death, bodily injury, malfunction, and other). RAEs from urologic surgeries were analyzed further for specific information pertaining to death, bodily injury, and malfunction. Results: A total of 19,783 RAEs were analyzed. Instrument or robot malfunctions comprised the majority of RAEs (84.9%); bodily injuries comprised 8.2%. Death was the least common RAE (1.3%). RAEs for urologic robotic surgeries peaked in 2013 and 2014 and decreased since. A total of 69 (2.3%) deaths, 364 (12.2%) injuries, and 2544 (85.5%) instrument or robot malfunctions occurred. No reported deaths were attributed to system or mechanical malfunction, but rather to medical complications reported to be unrelated to surgery. The most common injuries were bowel (22.3%) and genitourinary (GU) (19.5%). Instrument malfunctions caused 16.8% of bodily injuries. Conclusions: RAEs for robotic urologic surgeries peaked in 2013 to 2014, and have decreased annually since. When malfunctions occurred, they did not result in death and infrequently resulted in bodily injury. Potential quality improvement targets include prevention of bowel and GU injuries through surgical coaching, and improved technology to prevent malfunction of the surgical system and instruments.
Combined Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant and Glaucoma Drainage Device Placement for Uveitic Glaucoma.

Author(s): Nguyen, Tran; Kim, Han; Mielke, Christy; Momont, Anna C; Brandt, James D; Liu, Yao | Abstract: PrecisAt 1-year postoperative follow-up, concurrent placement of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant and glaucoma drainage device effectively controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) and inflammation in eyes with uveitic glaucoma with no changes in systemic immunomodulatory therapy.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess 1-year postoperative outcomes in eyes with uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma following concurrent placement of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant and glaucoma drainage device.Materials and methodsThis is a retrospective, observational case series of patients with chronic, noninfectious uveitis and uveitic glaucoma uncontrolled on maximal tolerated medical therapy with at least 1-year postoperative follow-up. The main outcomes were visual acuity, IOP, number of glaucoma medications, recurrent inflammation, frequency of topical steroids, systemic immunomodulatory therapy, and adverse events. Success was defined as IOP l21 mm Hg and IOP reduced by g20% from baseline on at least 2 consecutive visits after 3 months either with or without glaucoma medications (ie, partial or complete success, respectively).ResultsEight eyes in 6 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average age was 44.1±19.7 years (range: 10 to 68 y) and 50% were female. At 1-year, there was no significant change in visual acuity. No eyes lost ≥3 lines of vision. The majority of eyes (87.5%) achieved complete (n=2) or partial success (n=5) with a decrease in average IOP from 36.5 to 11.8 mm Hg (P=0.002). Glaucoma medication use decreased from 3.0 to 1.3 medications (P=0.04). There was a significant decrease in the number of episodes of recurrent inflammation in the 6 months following surgery compared with the 6 months before surgery (P=0.004).ConclusionIn this small case series, dexamethasone intravitreal implant combined with Ahmed glaucoma drainage device appears to be an effective approach for the management of uncontrolled uveitic glaucoma.
Angiotensin I Infusion Reveals Differential Effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Aortic Resident Cells on Aneurysm Formation.

Background Angiotensin (Ang)I is cleaved by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) to generate AngII. The purpose of this study was to determine the roles of ACE in endothelial and smooth muscle cells in aortic aneurysms.Methods and Results:AngI infusion led to thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice, which were ablated by ACE inhibition. Endothelial or smooth muscle cell-specific ACE deletion resulted in reduction of AngI-induced thoracic, but not abdominal, aortic dilatation. Conclusions AngI infusion causes thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms in mice. ACE in aortic resident cells has differential effects on AngI-induced thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Readmission Outcomes of Sliding Scale Insulin Compared to Basal-Bolus Insulin Prescribed at Discharge in an Insulin-Naive Patient Population:

Background:Limited data are available that examine hospital readmission outcomes of sliding scale compared to basal-bolus insulin in indigent and insulin-naive patients.Objective:To evaluate hospit...
Intimate partner violence and child maltreatment: Definitions, prevalence, research, and theory through a cross-cultural lens

Abstract Family violence research has been plagued with inconsistencies in terms, definitions, and thresholds for intervention. Efforts to provide a normed standard for what constitutes intimate partner violence, child abuse, and neglect have clashed with attempts to recognize the impact of cultural variability on the experiences of family maltreatment. This chapter takes on this challenging intersection by answering vital questions about the operationalization of intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, including how to integrate the need for universal standards with considerations of cultural context. We first provide an overview of the research that refines the global guidelines for both partner and child maltreatment. We then review the prevalence of intimate partner violence and child maltreatment across cultures. Finally, we highlight cultural factors that can provide a more nuanced understanding of the impact of family maltreatment globally.
Urine PGE-M to assess prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

e19026 Background: COX-2 is often overexpressed in NSCLC leading to high systemic PGE2 levels that in turn play a role in NSCLC pathogenesis. Changes in urine PGE-M (the major PGE2 metabolite) refl...
A Tale of 2 Morphologies: Diagnostic Pitfalls in TFEB -Associated Renal Cell Carcinomas, Including a Novel NEAT1-TFEB Fusion.

AimsTranslocation-associated renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) have been extensively subcharacterized in recent years, such that each is largely recognized by the 2016 World Health Organization as categ...
Optimal method of lightning protection for power grids considering economic loss by voltage sag

The installation of lightning protection technical solutions on the power grid for lightning protection is an important measure to reduce the economic loss of sensitive users by voltage sag. Taking into account the relevance and contradiction between the mitigation investment and benefits of the lightning protection scheme, in order to establish the most economical lightning protection scheme, a power grid lightning protection optimization scheme model considering the user's enconomic loss caused by voltage sag is established. Consider a variety of lightning protection technologies and their combinations as alternatives for lightning protection, analyze their technical effects and evaluate the shielding failure flashover rate before and after the mitigation in combination with the regulation method, and apply it to the fault positions method and the voltage tolerance curve of sensitive users to evaluate the technical benefits of lightning protection scheme. Taking the sum of the economic loss of the sensitive users caused by voltage sag and the life cycle cost of the lightning protection scheme as the optimization target, the artificial bee colony(ABC) is used to solve the optimal power grid lightning protection scheme. The proposed model is simulated and verified by IEEE 30-bus system to prove the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Spexin modulates molecular thermogenic profile of adipose tissue and thermoregulatory behaviors

Thermoregulation is a physiological process by which a mammal regulates body temperature in response to its environment. Within the human body, thermoregulatory behaviors and metabolism are modulated by circulating metabolic factors. In our study, we tested the ability of the neuropeptide spexin, which shares sequence homology to galanin, to regulate these functions in female mice. Supraphysiological levels of spexin in C57BL/6 mice were insufficient to protect against diet-induced obesity after 50 days of treatment. Behavioral analysis of long-term spexin treatment appeared to modulate anxiety-like behaviors by promoting exploratory behaviors and thermoregulatory behaviors of nest building that ceased when animals were housed at thermoneutral temperatures. Upon examination of the molecular profile of brown and white adipose tissue, treatment disrupted the thermogenic profile of white adipose tissue, in which {beta}3-adrenergic receptor expression was downregulated. Our results reveal novel functions for spexin as a modulator of thermoregulatory behaviors and adipose tissue metabolism. HighlightsO_LISpexin treatment did not protect against diet-induced obesity in female mice. C_LIO_LISpexin-treatment promoted thermoregulatory behaviors of nest building. C_LIO_LIBehaviors normalized when animals were housed in thermoneutral temperatures. C_LI Funding SourcesNot applicable Disclosure SummaryNothing to disclose
Can online product reviews be more helpful? Examining characteristics of information content by product type

Many online retailers and other product-oriented websites allow people to post product reviews for use by shoppers. While research indicates that these reviews influence consumers' shopping attitudes and behaviors, questions remain about how consumers evaluate the product reviews themselves. With the current research, we introduce a new methodology for identifying the review factors that shoppers use to evaluate review helpfulness, and we integrate prior literature to provide a framework that explains how these factors reflect readers' general concerns about the diagnosticity (uncertainty and equivocality) and credibility (trust and expertise) of electronic word-of-mouth. Based on this framework, we offer predictions about how the relative importance of diagnosticity and credibility should vary systematically across search and experience product types. By analyzing secondary data consisting of over 8000 helpfulness ratings from product reviews posted by shoppers on Amazon.com, we find that, while review content affects helpfulness in complex ways, these effects are well explained by the proposed framework. Interestingly, the data suggest that review writers who explicitly attempt to enhance review diagnosticity or credibility are often ineffective or systematically unhelpful. Our findings have implications for both IS developers and retailers for designing online decision support systems to optimize communication practices and better manage consumer-generated content and interactions among consumers. Online review helpfulness is well-explained by a framework that incorporates diagnosticity, credibility, and product type.The research introduces a methodology for identifying review factors pertinent to consumers for evaluating helpfulness.Review writers who explicitly attempt to enhance diagnosticity or credibility are often ineffective or unhelpful.This research leads to actionable recommendations for designing more effective online review systems.
Prevalence and correlates of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) cohort

Background Vitamin D plays an important role in the mineral and bone disorder seen in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) is highly prevalent in the adult CKD population.
Initial membrane reaction in peptidoglycan synthesis. Lipid dependence of phospho-n-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide translocase (exchange reaction).

Abstract The initial membrane reaction in the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan is catalyzed by phospho-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide translocase (UDP-MurNAc - l - Ala - d - γ-Glu - l - Lys - d - Ala - d - Ala:undecaprenyl - phosphate phospho - MurNAc-pentapeptide transferase). In addition to the transfer reaction, the enzyme catalyzes the exchange of [3H]uridine monophosphate with the uridine monophosphate moiety of UDP - MurNAc - pentapeptide. Lipid-dependent translocase was obtained in an inactive form by gel filtration of membranes from Staphylococcus aureus Copenhagen on agarose A-50m in the presence of 1% Triton X-100. The excluded fraction was depleted of undecaprenyl-diphosphate-MurNAc-pentapeptide (g95%) and partially depleted of undecaprenyl-phosphate (g75%). After removal of Triton X-100, the translocase was reactivated with a lipid extract from membranes of S. aureus Copenhagen. The translocase was partially reactivated (10 to 30%) by the addition of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine (plant), phosphatidylglycerol, and, to a lesser extent, by phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine when added in the presence of 1 x 10-3 m sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. The optimal concentration of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine was 1.2 x 10-4 m. Maximal reactivation of the exchange reaction required the addition of either 5 x 10-7 m undecaprenyl-diphosphate - MurNAc - pentapeptide or 1 x 10-6 m undecaprenyl-phosphate to lipid-dependent translocase in the presence of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. Thus, for activity in the exchange reaction, the translocase requires a phosphatide and is markedly stimulated by the addition of either undecaprenyl-phosphate or undecaprenyl-diphosphate-MurNAc-pentapeptide. The implications of the results with the undecaprenyl derivatives are discussed in relation to proposed reaction mechanisms.
Constant envelope multi-carrier modulation

A constant envelope multi-carrier modulation scheme is proposed that combines DCT (discrete cosine transform) based multi-carrier modulation and continuous phase modulation (CPM) with the objective of producing a constant envelope waveform. Guard interval and frequency-domain equalization are used to remove ISI on frequency-selective multipath channels. Phase detection and correction is implemented with oversampling. On the AWGN channel, error probability performance is also given and compared with that of BPSK. Simulation results are presented on a multipath fading channel to compare its performance with that of OFDM.
Provenance in Sensornet Republishing

Sensornets are being deployed and increasingly brought on-line to share data as it is collected. Sensornet republishing is the process of transforming on-line sensor data and sharing the filtered, aggregated, or improved data with others. We explore the need for data provenance in this system to allow users to understand how processed results are derived and detect and correct anomalies. We describe our sensornet provenance system, exploring design alternatives and quantifying storage trade-offs in the context of a city-sized temperature monitoring application. In that application, our link approach outperforms other alternatives on saving storage requirement and our incremental compression scheme save the storage further up to 83%.
Interaction of acoustic beam with elastic structures

Xonspecular reflection from a two-layer curved elastic structure consisting of rubber bonded to the outer surface of a steel shell has been studied experimentally and theo­ retically. The reflected field, in a two-transducer experiment, is measured as a function of azimuthal scan angle. The bond rigidity between the rubber and steel is accounted for by a spring model. This model is incorporated into an asymptotic evaluation of the spectral reflection integrals, accounting for the receiver characteristics by electrome­ chanical reciprocity. Decreasing bond rigidity acts to weaken the leaky wave excited in the underlying steel shell and provides a method to assess bond integrity, while the damping loss of the rubber is found to be only a scale factor. .A. disbond completely suppresses the leaky wave. In comparisons between experimental data and predictions, good agreement is generally seen, also at incident angles diflerent from phase-matched Lamb mode coupling. P.ACS Codes: 43.20Fn. 43.20Mv. 43.30Dr. 43.3.5Zc
Markov Decision Processes, Learning of

Markov models are probabilistic models of dynamical systems, which can be used to predict the future and the consequences of one's actions. Keywords: dynamical systems; probabilistic models; hidden Markov models; EM algorithm; Kalman filter
Delineating the spectrum of impairments, disabilities, and rehabilitation needs in methylmalonic acidemia (MMA)

Methylmalonic acidemia patients have complex rehabilitation needs that can be targeted to optimize societal independence and quality of life. Thirty-seven individuals with isolated MMA (28 mut, 5 cblA, 4 cblB), aged 2–33 years, were enrolled in a natural history study, and underwent age-appropriate clinical assessments to characterize impairments and disabilities. Neurological examination and brain imaging studies were used to document movement disorders and the presence of basal ganglia injury. A range of impairments and disabilities were identified by a team of physical medicine experts. Movement disorders, such as chorea and tremor, were common (n = 31, 83%), even among patients without evidence of basal ganglia injury. Joint hypermobility (n = 24, 69%) and pes planus (n = 22, 60%) were frequent and, in many cases, under-recognized. 23 (62%) patients required gastrostomy feedings. 18/31 patients >4 years old (58%) had difficulties with bathing and dressing. 16 of 23 school-aged patients received various forms of educational support. Five of the 10 adult patients were employed or in college; three lived independently. Unmet needs were identified in access to rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy (unavailable to 14/31), and orthotics (unavailable to 15/22). We conclude that patients with MMA are challenged by a number of functional limitations in essential activities of mobility, self-care, and learning, in great part caused by movement disorders and ligamentous laxity. Early assessment, referral, and implementation of age-appropriate rehabilitation services should significantly improve independence and quality of life. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in schizophrenic patients treated with conventional antipsychotic medications or risperidone.

Abstract Objective: The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia during treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs or risperidone is under-recognized and requires further investigation. This open-label study was designed to determine the extent of this potential problem in a routine clinical setting. Methods: Four hundred and two adult inpatients or outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder were studied in a 1-day, point prevalence trial. Neither clinicians nor patients had any prior knowledge of serum prolactin levels or any potential associated adverse events, and patients were required to have been treated with a conventional antipsychotic drug or risperidone for a minimum of 3 months prior to study entry. Patients taking concomitant medications known to elevate prolactin were excluded. Rigorous assessment of serum prolactin was performed to estimate the prevalence rate of hyperprolactinemia, defined as a level above the upper limit of normal (>18.77 ng/ml for males, and >24.20 ng/ml for females). Patients were stratified within antipsychotic treatment by gender and, for females, by menopausal status. Results: Serum prolactin was obtained from 147 females (age range: 21–69 years; mean age=44.51 years) and 255 males (age range: 18–66 years; mean age=40.76 years). The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia among women of reproductive age ( n =90) was 65.6% (mean serum prolactin=69.0 ng/ml), and among postmenopausal women ( n =51), it was 45.1% (mean serum PRL=49.0 ng/ml). The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia across all males ( n =255) was 42.4% (mean serum PRL= 32.4 ng/ml). The prevalence of hyperprolactinemia among females taking risperidone ( N =42) was 88% versus 47.6% of those taking conventional antipsychotic drugs ( N =105), with 48% of those females of reproductive age on risperidone experiencing abnormal menstrual cycles (secondary amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, or polymenorrhea). Of all premenopausal females with hyperprolactinemia, 31.6% had estradiol levels ≤19.8 pg/ml (which is the mean estradiol level in postmenopausal female patients with normal prolactin). Across both genders, there were trends of low key reproductive hormone levels associated with prolactin elevations. Additionally, there was a trend correlation ( p =0.064) between prolactin concentration and the risk of menstrual abnormality among females of reproductive age. Conclusions: Hyperprolactinemia is very prevalent among women and men treated with conventional antipsychotic medications or risperidone. Due to the adverse effects associated with hyperprolactinemia, this likelihood should be seriously considered when choosing an antipsychotic suitable for the patient.
Optoelectronic page-oriented database filter based on photonic VLSI technology

We present a CMOS optoelectronic database filter for accessing page-oriented optical storage. This photonic VLSI chip includes a smart-pixel array that selects words matching a search criterion and control circuitry that interfaces the filter chip with an electronic host computer.
Frequency and significance of calcification in IPMN

The frequency and significance of calcification in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are unknown. We examined calcifications by computed tomography (CT) in a large cohort of IPMNs and correlated them with clinicopathologic characteristics.