cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mammalian conservation: scientific frontiers and socio-political pitfalls

Introduction: The frontiers of conservation biology are rapidly advancing. This is partly because of scientific achievements, but also it is because the human predicament continues to deteriorate in spite of heroic but inadequate efforts to make the human enterprise sustainable. Of greatest importance is the need to escape from the confrontational mode that pervades our social and political discussions. We must trade this conflict for a realization that there is only one objective for all of humanity, and that is the sustainability of human civilization. Mammalian conservation can play a major role in this struggle, but to do this we must take the initiative to promote meaningful dialogue with politicians, policy makers, economists, sociologists, and the public at large. At the same time, we must continue to be at the frontiers of our science while not neglecting the pursuit of much needed basic research on taxonomy, life history, and distribution of the world’s mammals. Some social, political, and strategic considerations: Themes suggested to enhance such communication are: non-confrontational cooperation, life support services, optimism, systems thinking, and adapting to various political regimes. Frontiers of conservation science: Eight leading edge topics are suggested for the science component of conservation: 1) community tipping points, 2) trophic cascades, 3) landscape or ecoscape perspective, 4) role of common species in community dynamics, 5) climate change complications, 6) role of genetics, 6) social dynamics, 7) microorganism synergisms, and 8) translocations. Mammalian conservationists are poised to play a significant role in humanity’s efforts to confront the myriad of intertwined problems that we face. Given that humans belong to the same taxonomic class that is the subject of our expertise, we have special responsibility to provide that leadership. Key words: captive breeding, climate change, community tipping points, conservation genetics, cooperation, landscape perspective, life support services, microbiota synergisms, new conservation, optimism, social behavior, sustainable civilization, systems perspective, translocations, trophic cascades.
Effect of street connectivity on incidence of lower-body functional limitations among middle-aged African Americans

Abstract Purpose We hypothesize that lower street connectivity increases the risk of incident lower-body functional limitations (LBFLs) among urban African Americans aged 49–65 years. Methods This population-based cohort was interviewed in home visits. Five items measuring LBFL were obtained at baseline and after 3 years. Participants were considered to have LBFL if they reported difficulty on at least two of the five tasks. Census-tract street connectivity was measured as the ratio of the number of street intersections to the maximum possible number of intersections. Results Of 563 subjects with zero or one LBFL at baseline, 109 (19.4%) experienced two or more LBFLs at the 3-year follow-up. Adjusted logistic regression showed that persons who lived in census tracts with the lowest quartile of street connectivity were 3.45 times (95% confidence interval, 1.21–9.78) more likely to develop two or more LBFLs than those who lived in census tracts with the highest quartile of street connectivity independent of other important environmental factors. Conclusions Areas with low street connectivity appear to be an independent contributor to the risk of incident LBFL in middle-aged African Americans.
History of Childhood Abuse and Intergenerational Support to Mothers in Adulthood

The authors examined the association between maternal childhood abuse and the frequency of providing social support to mothers when the victim is an adult and investigated the mediating effects of internal working models (self-esteem, positive relations with others) and maladaptive coping. Using data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States II, they analyzed a sample of 887 adult children using a structural equation modeling approach. The results showed that maternal childhood abuse was associated with providing less frequent emotional support to mothers, although the authors did not find significant mediating effects of internal working models and maladaptive coping in the association between child abuse and intergenerational support giving. The findings suggest implications for theory, practice, and policy to address specific concerns and possible challenges that adults with a history of childhood abuse may experience in the relationship with their mothers. Language: en
Use Existing Data First: Reconcile Metadata before Creating New Controlled Vocabularies

The use of controlled vocabularies is essential in the creation of metadata for digital collections in order to provide consistency and ease of use for patrons and researchers. The University of Utah has been working to clean up metadata for digital collections to ensure that data adheres to best practices with the use of specific, controlled vocabularies. This has included a major data-cleanup project utilizing multiple approaches including a vendor's authority control service, data reconciliation in OpenRefine, and the exploration of different tools used for the creation and maintenance of local controlled vocabularies.
Paralog analyses reveal gene duplication events and genes under positive selection in Ixodes scapularis and other ixodid ticks

Hard ticks (family Ixodidae) are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites of worldwide medical and veterinary importance. The haploid genomes of multiple species of ixodid ticks exceed 1 Gbp, prompting questions regarding gene, segmental and whole genome duplication in this phyletic group. The availability of the genome assembly for the black legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and transcriptome datasets for multiple species of ticks offers an opportunity to assess the contribution of gene duplication to the genome. Here we developed a bioinformatics pipeline to identify and analyze duplicated genes (paralogs) using gene models from the prostriate tick, I. scapularis IscaW1.1 annotation and expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from I. scapularis and the metastriate ticks, Rhipicephalus microplus (southern cattle tick), R. appendiculatus (brown ear tick) and Amblyomma variegatum (tropical bont tick). Approximately 1-2 % of I. scapularis gene models and 2-14 % of ESTs from the four species represent duplicated genes. The ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitution rates suggests ~ 25 % of duplicated genes are under positive selection pressure in each species. Analyses of synonymous substitution rates provide evidence for two duplication events in I. scapularis and R. microplus involving several hundred genes. Conservative molecular clock estimates based on synonymous substitution rates for species of Anopheles mosquitoes and the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, suggest these events occurred within the last 50 MYA. Mapping of paralogs to the I. scapularis genome assembly supports tandem, or possibly segmental duplication events. The present study marks the first genome-level analyses of gene duplication for the Ixodidae and provides insights into mechanisms shaping genome evolution in this group. At least two duplication events involving hundreds of genes may have occurred independently in the lineages prostriata and metastriata, with tandem and segmental duplication the most likely mechanisms for paralog generation. Duplicated genes under positive selection pressure may be linked to emerging functions in the tick and represent important candidates for further study.
‘Appropriate Technology’ in the First World

The article by Grace Goodell (Bull. Entomol. Soc. 30[3]: 18–26) on research and extension in the Third World was superb. The opportunities (i.e., problems) she outlines are those we in extension deal with daily. A major issue she perceives is the research versus extension role in technology transfer to Third-World cultures. This, in my judgment, is precisely the applied versus basic issue that plagues ESA from the personal and department level to the national organization level. She gives it international flavor, as well.
Image based sensor for distributed wall shear stress measurement

There is a need for a sensor to measure global, spatially and temporally resolved wall shear stress on wall bounded ∞ows in various engineering flelds. A wall shear stress sensor using a micro pillar array made out of silicone rubber is presented. This sensor is based on the principle that, if such a pillar is inside the viscous sub layer the de∞ection of the pillar is proportional to the drag forced experienced by the pillar, which in turn is proportional to the wall shear stress. The displacements of individual pillars in the array are tracked to obtain the wall shear stress fleld in a turbulent boundary layer ∞ow. Design and manufacturing considerations are discussed along with typical sensor calibrations in a fully developed turbulent channel ∞ow. Based on the resolution needed the sensor can be tuned for various applications. To demonstrate the feasibility of these types of sensors, the turbulent statistics in a fully developed channel ∞ow is studied. The instantaneous wall shear stress distribution around a cylinder in cross ∞ow was also mapped. I. Introduction The measurement of skin friction or wall shear stress is important for several everyday engineering problems. The time averaged values of the wall shear stress are a measure of the global state of wall bounded ∞ows and is used to determine quantities such as skin friction drag on a body moving in a ∞uid. The time resolved measurement of wall shear stress gives an estimate of the turbulent activity in the ∞ow and describes the momentum transfer events between the body and the ∞uid. The instantaneous wall shear stress is a foot print of the individual unsteady ∞ow structures that transfer momentum to the wall. 14 Wall shear stress is signiflcant especially in improving the performance and e‐ciency of transportation vehicles by reducing drag. In the airline industry skin friction drag accounts for about 45 % of the drag on an aircraft at cruise conditions. 4 Measurement of skin friction, thus assumes signiflcance as a reduction in drag directly results in a reduction in fuel consumption. Likewise, skin friction is responsible for a great part of the power expended in pumping oil and natural gases through pipes across countries and even continents. These ∞ows fall under the broad classiflcation of ∞ows called high Reynolds number ∞ows. The flnancial implications of measuring wall shear stress in a spatially and temporally resolved manner in a high Reynolds number ∞ow is hence signiflcant. Skin friction is also an important measured quantity because it helps in characterizing the state of the turbulent boundary layer, which is important both to the fundamental understanding of these ∞ows and also to assist in the fleld of ∞ow control. Flow control deals with the controlling of these ∞ows by using spatially distributed values of the instantaneous wall shear stress in manner such as to efiect changes in the boundary
Hypertension in elderly patients: treatment reduces mortality, but is underused

Recently published clinical trials provide compelling evidence of the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy to reduce cardiovascular mortality. The Sixth Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hypertension emphasizes that hypertension is undertreated in this country: only approximately one fourth of hypertensive persons have their blood pressure controlled to the current recommended level of less than 140/90 mm Hg. The point is especially pertinent to elderly patients, most of whom have hypertension. Moreover, most elderly hypertensive persons have systolic hypertension, which has an even stronger association with risk than does diastolic pressure. Current recommendations are reviewed.
Can Commercially Available Pedometers Be Used For Physical Activity Monitoring In Patients With COPD Following Exacerbations

Background Commercially available pedometers have been used as tools to measure endpoints in studies evaluating physical activity promotion programs. However, their accuracy in patients recovering from COPD exacerbations is unknown. The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the relative accuracy of different commercially available pedometers in healthy volunteers and 2) evaluate the accuracy of the top-performing commercially available pedometer in patients recovering from COPD exacerbations following hospital discharge.
Ion acoustic turbulence and ion energy measurements in the plume of the HERMeS thruster hollow cathode

Hollow cathodes serve as the electron source in ion and Hall thrusters. One of the life limiting factors of the propulsion system is cathode failure due to erosion from high energy ion bombardment. Despite the successful application of hollow cathodes on commercial and deep-space missions, the fundamental physical processes of erosion are not fully understood, particularly the source of the high energy ions. A recent experimental study of the near-plume in a high current hollow cathode confirmed the existence of ion acoustic turbulence (IAT), a phenomenon that was only previously suspected and modeled in numerical simulations. Theoretical analyses and turbulence measurements in the plume established that ion acceleration due to turbulence could explain the existence of high energy ions. This paper is a continuation of this work, focusing on detecting and quantifying instabilities in the cathode near-plume under conditions relevant for the thruster being developed for the proposed Asteroid Robotic Redirect Mission (ARRM). Ion acoustic turbulence and ion energy measurements were taken at the nominal discharge currents and cathode flow rates expected for ARRM, as well as off-nominal conditions to determine where it might be susceptible to erosion by high energy ions. Dual ion saturation probes were used to measure fluctuations in ion saturation current and assess the wave dispersion relation. A retarding potential energy analyzer was used to measure ion energy distribution functions for ions with velocities perpendicular to the plume flow. The effect of cathode orifice size on the onset of IAT has also been studied. Peaks in wave amplitude were found at extremely low flow rates and high discharge currents, where instabilities other than IAT dominate. In addition, the onset of IAT was found to occur at discharge currents as low as 35 A. Measurements also confirm that at high discharge currents above 30 A, a larger orifice size reduces the magnitude of turbulence. However, large orifices are more susceptible to low frequency instabilities at flow rates below 10 sccm.
Financial development and poverty reduction in developing countries: New evidence from banks and microfinance institutions

Abstract The literature on financial development and growth has received a lot of attention over the past two decades. Unlike growth, not much of consideration has been given to poverty reduction. Moreover, most of the past studies focus on bank and stock market development. The advent of microfinance institutions (MFIs) lets to think about the potential role MFIs can play in a countrywide economy. In this study, we consider to what extent banks and MFIs reduce poverty. We apply the instrumental variables approach, namely the fixed-effects two-stage least squares, to a panel of 71 developing countries over the period 2002–2011. Using credit to GDP as the main financial development indicator, the results indicate that banks reduce poverty when poverty is measured by the headcount ratio and poverty gap. As for the squared poverty gap, there is no significant effect of banks. On the other hand, MFIs do not appear to have any impact on poverty regardless of the measure of poverty employed. These results imply that while banks have some ability to reduce poverty, MFIs do not, at least at the aggregate level. Our results are robust to the use of assets to GDP as an alternative measure of financial development.
Structure of myosin filaments from relaxed Lethocerus flight muscle by cryo-EM at 6 Å resolution

We describe a cryo–electron microscopy three-dimensional image reconstruction of relaxed myosin II–containing thick filaments from the flight muscle of the giant water bug Lethocerus indicus. The relaxed thick filament structure is a key element of muscle physiology because it facilitates the reextension process following contraction. Conversely, the myosin heads must disrupt their relaxed arrangement to drive contraction. Previous models predicted that Lethocerus myosin was unique in having an intermolecular head-head interaction, as opposed to the intramolecular head-head interaction observed in all other species. In contrast to the predicted model, we find an intramolecular head-head interaction, which is similar to that of other thick filaments but oriented in a distinctly different way. The arrangement of myosin’s long α-helical coiled-coil rod domain has been hypothesized as either curved layers or helical subfilaments. Our reconstruction is the first report having sufficient resolution to track the rod α helices in their native environment at resolutions ~5.5 A, and it shows that the layer arrangement is correct for Lethocerus. Threading separate paths through the forest of myosin coiled coils are four nonmyosin peptides. We suggest that the unusual position of the heads and the rod arrangement separated by nonmyosin peptides are adaptations for mechanical signal transduction whereby applied tension disrupts the myosin heads as a component of stretch activation.
Epigenetic control of cancer by neuropeptides (Review)

Neuropeptides act as neurohormones, neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators. Neuropeptides maintain physiological homeostasis and are paramount in molecular mechanisms of disease progression and regulation, including in cancer. Neuropeptides, by their definition, originate and are secreted from the neuronal cells, they are able to signal to neighboring cells or are released into the blood flow, if they act as neurohormones. The majority of neuropeptides exert their functions through G protein-coupled receptors, with certain exceptions. Although previous studies indicate that neuropeptides function in supporting proliferation of malignant cells in many types of solid tumor, the antitumorigenic action of the neuropeptides and their receptors, for example, in gastric cancers and chondrosarcoma, were also reported. It is known that epigenetically modified chromatin regulates molecular mechanisms involved in gene expression and malignant progression. The epigenetic modifications are genetically heritable, although they do not cause changes in DNA sequence. DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNA expression are subject to those modifications. While there is substantial data on epigenetic regulation of neuropeptides, the epigenetic control of cancer by neuropeptides is considered to be uncharted territory. The aim of the current review is to describe the involvement of neuropeptides in the epigenetic machinery of cancer based on data obtained from our laboratory and from other authors.
Minimizing Hazards Associated With Live-Virus Immunotherapeutic Cancer Vaccines

Therapeutic cancer vaccines that use attenuated vaccinia viruses as delivery vectors are undergoing clinical trials at dozens of sites internationally. Even in an attenuated form, these live viruses can cause severe illness if they are accidentally transmitted to immunocompromised people, pregnant women, or people with certain skin conditions. Oncology nurses should become familiar with how to manage patients' vaccine injection sites to minimize these risks to patients' close contacts and the community at large. .
Estudos funcionais na hemoglobina de componente simples do peixe faca amazônico, Sternopygos macrurus

Resumo O sangue completo dogimnotideo teleosteo de respiracao aquatica, Sternopygus macrurus esta 50% saturada com oxigenio a 5,2 mm Hg (valor aparente) a 30°C na ausencia de CO2. A adicao de 5,6% CO2 causa um aumento de 3 vezes o valor P50 aparente. A afinidade de oxigenio da hemoglobina de componente simples "stripped" a 20°C aumenta umas 20 vezes entre pH 5,8 e 8,6 na ausencia de ATP. Esta diferenca aumenta a 100 vezes na presenca de 1mM ATP. Ha um efeito Root marcado: A hemoglobina "stripped" so esta 70% saturada com O2 a pH menor que 6 quando equilibrado com o ar. O valor do coeficiente de Hill, n, e maximo entre pH 7,0 e 7,5, e chega perto de 1,0 a pH alto. O valor e aproximadamente 1,5 a pH baixo na ausencia de ATP e 1,0 na presenca de 1mM ATP. As cineticas de O2 sao heterogeneas a todos os valores de pH, sendo mais heterogeneo a pH mais baixo. A taxa aumenta sustancialmente a medida que o pH diminui. As cineticas de combinacao de CO como medida pela tecnica de fluxo detido sao em grande parte homogeneas exceto a pH alto; porem as cineticas de combinacao depois de fotolise de "flash" sao marcadamente heterogeneas.
Endoscopic Stricturotomy with Needle Knife in the Treatment of Strictures from Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background:Fibrotic strictures in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are often not amenable to medical therapy. Therapy with endoscopic balloon dilation usually requires frequent repeat treatments. Therefore, we developed the novel needle knife stricturotomy (NKSt) for the treatment of s
Linear Robust Adaptive Control Design Using a Nonlinear Approach

Abstract In this paper, we propose a new approach of designing robust adaptive controllers for minimum phase linear time invariant systems. The approach combines the recently developed nonlinear design tools and the traditional certainty equivalence concept and is based on the separation of the control and adaptive laws design. With this approach, a wide claw of adaptive controllers is developed that, despite their nonlinear nature, guarantees robustness with respect to a wide class of unmodeled dynamics and bounded disturbances.
Sustainable Autarky of Food-Energy-Water (Safe-Water)

Urban wastewaters (UWW) are now being recognized as a resource, rich in nutrients and energy, rather than a waste stream that has to be treated and disposed of at the input of considerable energy and associated environmental emissions. This paper presents an algal-based approach for treating UWWs to the mandated discharge levels in a single step and at the same time, recover net energy, nutrients, and water from UWWs for use in the food-energy-water sectors. The proposed approach entails cultivation of energy-rich algal biomass in primary-settled UWW, followed by hydrothermal liquefaction of the resulting algal biomass to recover its energy- and nutrient-contents. Results from a pilot scale field demonstration project are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. The pilot scale study conducted at a local wastewater treatment plant confirmed that the discharge standards for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen, and phosphorous could be met with a batch process time of 3 days. Recovery experiments showed that more than 20% of the ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3) and more than 90% of the phosphorous (P) in the primary-settled wastewater could be recovered as struvite by the proposed process.
Gender Differences in Nonprescribed Psychostimulant Use in Young Adults.

ABSTRACTBackground: In order to better understand the recent rise in nonprescribed use of psychostimulants on college campuses, motives, outcomes, and acceptability of nonprescribed psychostimulant...
Lung Cancer and Pleural Mesothelioma

Carcinomas arising in the lung are the most common noncutaneous cancers in humans in the United States. In the year 2001, the estimated number of new diagnoses of lung cancer in this country was 169,500 (55% in men, 45% in women) [1]. These tumors constituted about 14% of the cancer incidence (men, 15%; women, 13%) and 28% of the cancer-related mortality (men, 32%; women, 28%) exclusive of skin cancers and carcinoma in situ of the cervix [2]. Lung cancer has been increasing in women and now exceeds breast cancer in the frequency of cancer-related mortality.
The Role of Synapsins in Neurological Disorders

Synapsins serve as flagships among the presynaptic proteins due to their abundance on synaptic vesicles and contribution to synaptic communication. Several studies have emphasized the importance of this multi-gene family of neuron-specific phosphoproteins in maintaining brain physiology. In the recent times, increasing evidence has established the relevance of alterations in synapsins as a major determinant in many neurological disorders. Here, we give a comprehensive description of the diverse roles of the synapsin family and the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to several neurological disorders. These physiologically important roles of synapsins associated with neurological disorders are just beginning to be understood. A detailed understanding of the diversified expression of synapsins may serve to strategize novel therapeutic approaches for these debilitating neurological disorders.
Global Dietary Surveillance: Data Gaps and Challenges:

Background:Detailed information on global individual-level consumption patterns is imperative for informed policy making. However, such data are dispersed and incomplete.Objective:To review and dis...
Estimating traffic conditions from smart work zone systems

This article evaluates the effectiveness of sensor network systems for work zone traffic estimation. The comparative analysis is performed on a work zone modeled in microsimulation and calibrated w...
Models of Adrenal Cortical Control

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the models of adrenal cortical control. Mathematical models can sub-serve a variety of functions. In every case they render explicit what is of necessity implicit in the minds of those who plan and conduct experiments—a fundamental set of hypotheses about how the system “works.” To the extent that it is comprehensive, a model also can serve as a means of collecting the various results of experiments performed upon the system and of unifying the hypotheses made about the system. Because of its explicit nature, a model may often be useful in teaching others how the system works or at least how one thinks it works. As every model represents an abstract representation of a real system, it is immediately evident that the properties of a model and much of its ultimate utility depend upon which features have been neglected in the course of abstraction.
Abstract 1199: Adult Hispanic males experience a higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared to non-Hispanic Whites

Introduction: Acute leukemia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality with differences in incidence and outcomes between patients of different ethnic backgrounds. We conducted this study to examine the ethnic disparities in incidence of ALL as well as other types of acute leukemia in the Latino population in South Texas. Methods: Data were obtained from the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results 18 (SEER) Program and the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) under Limited-Use Data Agreements between sources and authors. Adult patients (15 years or older) were identified in both SEER and TCR databases from 2000 to 2014 and ICD-O-3 codes were used to select specific malignancies: ALL (9727-9729, 9835-9837), acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) (9866) and non-APL acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (9840, 9861, 9867, 9870-9874, 9891, 9895-9897, 9910, 9920, 9930, 9931). Ethnicity was classified as Hispanic (H) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) per the North American Association of Central Cancer Registry (NAACR) Hispanic Identification Algorithm. Cases were obtained from SEER 18 and TCR, including Texas and the 38 counties of South Texas. Comparisons used the SEER population of NHW as reference. We used SEER*Stat software v 8.3.4 (SEER*Stat, NIH), to generate 2000-2014 average annual age-specific and age-adjusted acute leukemia incidence rates (per 1000000), rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for Hispanic and NHW populations in SEER, Texas, and South Texas. Results: Table 1 shows Hispanic males in South Texas had significantly higher RR for development of ALL (p Conclusion: Latinos in South Texas experience a higher incidence of ALL and a lower incidence of non-APL AML compared to NHW. Future studies are needed to identify specific risk factors associated with this higher burden in Hispanic population. Citation Format: Manuel R. Espinoza-Gutarra, Edgar Munoz, Dimpy P. Shah, Anand Karnad, Ruben A. Mesa, Amelie G. Ramirez. Adult Hispanic males experience a higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared to non-Hispanic Whites [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1199.
Preparing Substrates Encoding Cell Patterning and Localized Intracellular Magnetic Particle Stimulus for High-Throughput Experimentation

Magnetic particles, beyond the simple cell sorting and drug delivery applications for which they are typically known, have become a powerful tool in permitting remote control of biological activity. While this functionality is traditionally accomplished by linking particles to extracellular, membrane localized moieties (such as ion channels and integrins), the intracellular stimulation of cells via magnetic nanoparticles has recently shown to be a unique and powerful method by which to spatially polarize cell behavior. More traditional magnetic stimulation approaches, whereby single magnetic tweezers or permanent magnets are placed in proximity to cells growing on substrates lack resolution, control, and scalability. Conventional single cell-patterning approaches, while having large precision and scalability, typically allow the evaluation of the response of cells to only their immediate extracellular, protein environment. Here, we detail the protocol combining the above approaches to resolve the problems hampering many biomagnetic studies. By integrating the scalability and resolution of traditional silicon microfabrication with modern surface patterning capabilities, we demonstrate a method of conducting thousands of biomagnetic experiments in parallel, whereby individual cells with designed, patterned matrix are subjected to controlled, repetitive magnetic stimulus introduced by electroplated, micromagnetic elements.
Accommodative and binocular vision disorders associated with video display terminals: diagnosis and management issues.

Background : With the rapid computerization of the workplace, school and home office, it is likely that a vast majority of Americans will be using computers for significant amounts of time in the near future. Research has demonstrated a high prevalence of accommodative and binocular vision disorders in symptomatic VDT users, which underscores the importance of the assessment and management of accommodation and binocular vision for patients working with computers. Methods/Results : This paper presents a simplified approach for the diagnosis and management of accommodative and binocular vision disorders in VDT users. The emphasis is on modifications of the traditional examination routine to make the assessment as sensitive as possible to the vision problems associated with VDT use. Conclusions : To meet the needs of symptomatic VDT users, optometrists must perform a comprehensive assessment of accommodation and binocular vision. The use of appropriate testing, when combined with attention to the environmental factors associated with VDT use, will enable optometrists to understand the reasons for symptoms and design an effective treatment program.
Social factors affecting the development of mounting behavior in male rhesus monkeys.

In primates as well as in other mammalian species, the development of normal sexual behavior in the male depends upon adequate social experience (Nissen, 1954; Valenstein et al., 1955, Mason, 1960; Gerall, 1963; Harlow et al., 1966; Evans, 1967; Beach, 1968; Gruendel and Arnold, 1969; Davenport and Rogers, 1970; Riesen, 1971). In such nonprimate mammals as rats, guinea pigs, and dogs, the effects of early social deprivation on the later expression of sexual behavior seem to be less profound and less permanent than in primates (Kagan and Beach, 1953; Valenstein and Goy, 1957; Zimbardo, 1958; Beach, 1968). These effects are often transitory and can be eliminated with repeated opportunities for sexual and social experience at advanced ages. In male rhesus monkeys, by contrast, deprivation of early social experience has led to long-lasting and probably permanent inadequacies in sexual behavior (Senko, 1966; Missakian, 1969).
Systematics at the Turn of a Century

What is the status of plethodontid systematics as we end a century and begin a new one? This symposium brings together contributions from leading figures in this field, giving the reader an outstanding sample of research in this discipline. These papers also herald the triumphs of systematics in general. The systematics of plethodontids are also special in a couple of ways. Compared with other vertebrate groups, the sample sizes routinely used to study plethodontids are huge. Because of the fine scale of geographic differentiation, scores and sometimes hundreds of populations are sampled. Often a standard sample of 25 individuals per population is used for traits that vary appreciably within populations (e.g., allozymes). As a consequence of these standards, and the indefatigable efforts of leading investigators, we know more about species formation in plethodontids than in any other vertebrate group. Thus, the story of plethodontid systematics is the story of an especially successful variety of systematics.
Food Additives and Behavior

It would be easy for a casual reader to fasten on one or another of the several studies we have reported here and come to quite opposite opinions from those of another reader who is more impressed with a different facet of the evidence. In our first study, we compared children who were following the Feingold diet with children on a pseudodiet and found that greater improvement was seen in the children while on the Feingold diet. Score one for Dr. Feingold. A closer reading, however, shows some discomforting qualifications: the effect only occurred for the teachers, not the parents; the effect occurred more for the children when they had the Feingold diet following the control diet; parents may not have been blind to the treatment; the effect was clearly present in only 2–4 of the 15 children, depending on what level of improvement one selects. Score one for the opposition.
STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF THE DNA MOLECULES FROM HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS

ABSTRACT From a summation of the sizes of restriction enzyme cleavage fragments we estimate a total genome size of 235 kilobase pairs or 145 × 106 daltons for non-defective CMV (Towne) DNA. Electron microscopy of self-annealed single-strands and blot hybridization experiments with isolated restriction enzyme fragments have shown that all CMV(Towne) DNA molecules contain an internal inverted duplication of 7.5% of their sequences creating a “transposable element” -like region occupying almost 30% of the genome. The particular arrangement of these duplicated regions in linear virion DNA resembles that in herpes simplex virus and effectively subdivides the molecule into a large L and a smaller S -segment. The L -segment consists of a unique region of 170 kb surrounded by inverted repeats of 10.5 kb and in the S segment a unique region of 37 kb is encompassed by inverted repeats of 2 to 3 kb. From the complicated patterns of submolar restriction enzyme fragments we conclude that all four possible isomeric forms of the molecules exist in equal proportions i.e. both the L and S -segments can be in either leftward or rightward orientations. However the expected simple ratios of four 0.5 molar terminal fragments and four 0.25 molar internal joint fragments are masked by “stepwise” terminal heterogeneity in which some molecules have one or more additional copies of a 750 bp sequence within both copies of the inverted repeats around the S-segment. Complete cleavage maps for 15 Xba I sites and 23 Hin dIII sites and a prototype standardized fragment nomenclature have been constructed as a basis for subsequent studies on localizing gene functions. Differences between CMV(Towne) and CMV(Davis) DNAs indicate that deletions or substitutions at the junctions between the L -repeats and L -unique region may be a major source of CMV strain variation.
Correlation between Ionic Mobility and Microstructure in Block Copolymers. A Coarse-Grained Modeling Study

Molecular simulations of coarse-grained diblock copolymers (DBP) were devised to unveil correlations between microstructure and ionic mobility (μ) in the limit of high salt dilution. It is found that three key microstructural features had a significant effect on ion transport: the extent of microdomains mixing (β), the local unit-cell tortuosity of the conductive domain (λ), and the local fluctuations in the density (ρ) of the polymer matrix. While the β effect has been previously studied in some detail for lamellae morphology, the effects of ρ nonhomogeneities and λ have received much less attention. To control the local fluctuations in ρ, a polymer design variant is explored that incorporates a second conductive block (A′) that is incompatible with the other two blocks (A′–A–B). It is found that increasing the fraction of A′ beads increases the frequency and amplitude of the local ρ depleted regions within the conductive domain, resulting in an increase in μ. Additionally, the effect of morphology on μ ...
Editorial Commentary: What Is the Best Graft Source for Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

Abstract In 2018, the best available evidence has failed to show any significant clinical or functional difference between autograft and allograft for posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Autograft patients may have higher complication rates. Both groups show good functional outcome after reconstruction.
EXCIMER LASER FOR STENT UNDER-EXPANSION AND CORONARY ATHERECTOMY: A SINGLE-CENTER PROCEDURAL EXPERIENCE

Excimer laser (EL) has re-emerged as a tool for complex coronary intervention in two scenarios. First, for treatment of stent under expansion, where EL coupled with contrast is used to ablate tissue external to the stent as demonstrated in small case series and secondly, for the modification of
Ten Years of Kidney Paired Donation at Mayo Clinic: The Benefits of Incorporating ABO/HLA Compatible Pairs.

BACKGROUND We examined the 10-year experience of Mayo Clinic's kidney paired donation (KPD).We aimed to determine the benefits for the recipients of enrolled ABO/HLA compatible pairs and determine the factors associated with prolonged KPD waiting time. METHODS We performed a retrospective study of 332 kidney transplants facilitated by the Mayo 3-site KPD program from September 2007 to June 2018. RESULTS The median (interquartile range) time from KPD entry to transplantation was 89 days (42-187 days). The factors independently associated with receiving a transplant >3 months after KPD entry included recipient blood type O and calculated panel reactive antibodies ≥98%. Fifty-four ABO/HLA compatible pairs participated in KPD for the following reasons: cytomegalovirus mismatch (18.5% [10/54]), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) mismatch (EBV) (9.3% [5/54]), age/size mismatch (51.9% [28/54]), or altruistic reasons (20.3% [11/54]). Cytomegalovirus and EBV mismatch were avoided in 90% (9/10) and 100% (5/5) of cases. Recipients who entered KPD for age/size mismatch and altruistic reasons received kidneys from donors with lower Living Kidney Donor Profile Index scores than their actual donor (median [interquartile range] 31.5 [12.3-47]; P < 0.001 and 26 (-1 to 46); P = 0.01 points lower, respectively). Median time to transplant from KPD entry for compatible pair recipients was 70 days (41-163 days), and 44.4% (24/54) of these transplants were preemptive. All chains/swaps incorporating compatible pairs included ABO/HLA incompatible pairs. CONCLUSIONS KPD should be considered for all living donor/recipient pairs because the recipients of these pairs can derive personal benefit from KPD while increasing the donor pool for difficult to match pairs.
Renal vein thrombosis.

AbstractThe manifestations, clinical course and treatment of 14 patients with non-malignant renal vein thrombosis are described. Most patients (10 of 14) had generalized vague illness and nephrotic syndrome but 4 were initially seen with acute symptoms of flank pain, hematuria or hypertension. Renal vein thrombosis affected young men 2.5 times more often than women and occurred on the left side 2.6 times more commonly than on the right or both sides. Red blood cell casts in the urinary sediment, heavy proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia were useful indicators of the disease. Excretory urographic signs were suggestive of renal vein thrombosis in all patients and these were corroborated by angiographic studies.Systemic anticoagulation with or without a renal failure program and diuretics, or simply a combination of the last 2 modalities, was used in 9 patients. In 2 of the 9 patients who were unresponsive the adjuvant use of cyclophosphamide and steroids effected a cure. The remaining 5 patients underwent nephr...
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Human Milk Intake at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge among Very Low Birth Weight Infants in California

Objectives To examine how infant and maternal factors, hospital factors, and neighborhood-level factors impact or modify racial/ethnic disparities in human milk intake at hospital discharge among very low birth weight infants. Study design We studied 14 422 infants from 119 California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative neonatal intensive care units born from 2008 to 2011. Maternal addresses were linked to 2010 census tract data, representing neighborhoods. We tested for associations with receiving no human milk at discharge, using multilevel cross-classified models. Results Compared with non-Hispanic whites, the adjusted odds of no human milk at discharge was higher among non-Hispanic blacks (aOR 1.33 [1.16-1.53]) and lower among Hispanics (aOR 0.83 [0.74-0.93]). Compared with infants of more educated white mothers, infants of less educated white, black, and Asian mothers had higher odds of no human milk at discharge, and infants of Hispanic mothers of all educational levels had similar odds as infants of more educated white mothers. Country of birth and neighborhood socioeconomic was also associated with disparities in human milk intake at discharge. Conclusions Non-Hispanic blacks had the highest and Hispanic infants the lowest odds of no human milk at discharge. Maternal education and country of birth were the biggest drivers of disparities in human milk intake, suggesting the need for targeted approaches of breastfeeding support.
The Persistence of Gender Inequality: Evidence from Labor Market Reactions to Bank Deregulation

Do gender pay gaps transform into more covert forms of gender inequity in the labor market? Exploiting divergent industrial responses to U.S. bank deregulation, we document how industrial differences in credit access propel this transformation. This is because in less equitable industries (where we show new entry is limited and incumbents increase R&D investments), credit increases rents, which disproportionately benefit male workers. In response, equitable industries (where we show credit increases competition) shift labor demand towards women. These divergent industrial responses in net reduce the gap, but also exacerbate sorting across industries, accentuate workplace gender bias, and make female wages vulnerable to credit contractions. Gender inequities, thus, transform rather than disappear.
The asymmetry and cooperativity of tandem glycine riboswitch aptamers.

Glycine riboswitches utilize both single- and tandem-aptamer architectures. In the tandem system, the relative contribution of each aptamer toward gene regulation is not well understood. To dissect these contributions, the effects of 684 single mutants of a tandem ON switch from Bacillus subtilis were characterized for the wild-type construct and binding site mutations that selectively restrict ligand binding to either the first or second aptamer. Despite the structural symmetry of tandem aptamers, the response to these mutations was frequently asymmetrical. Mutations in the first aptamer often significantly weakened the K 1/2, while several mutations in the second aptamer improved the amplitude. These results demonstrate that this ON switch favors ligand binding to the first aptamer. This is in contrast to the tandem OFF switch variant from Vibrio cholerae, which was previously shown to have preferential binding to its second aptamer. A bioinformatic analysis of tandem glycine riboswitches revealed that the two binding pockets are differentially conserved between ON and OFF switches. Altogether, this indicates that tandem ON switch variants preferentially utilize binding to the first aptamer to promote helical switching, while OFF switch variants favor binding to the second aptamer. The data set also revealed a cooperative glycine response when both binding pockets were maximally stabilized with three GC base pairs. This indicates a cooperative response may sometimes be obfuscated by a difference in the affinities of the two aptamers. This conditional cooperativity provides an additional layer of tunability to tandem glycine riboswitches that adds to their versatility as genetic switches.
Adrenal Histologic Stress-related Changes in Third Trimester Stillbirth.

Adrenal histologic changes, including compact cell change (CCC), cystic change (CYC), and adrenal hemorrhage (AH), and their clinical correlations have only infrequently been investigated in stillbirth. We evaluated 75 third trimester singleton stillborns with complete autopsies (30 term and 45 preterm). A total of 58 had unexplained stillbirth and 17 had clinical placental abruption. The mothers were predominantly African-American (89%). CCC and CYC were diagnosed as cytoplasmic eosinophilia and cystic cavities in the definitive cortex, respectively. Adrenal changes were correlated with acute thymic involution (ATI), thymic petechiae, and clinical features, including abruption. CCC, CYC, and AH were present in 58 (77%), 51 (68%), and 15 (20%) of the 75 stillborns, respectively. CCC and CYC were frequently seen together ( P < .001). CCC and CYC were associated with higher ATI grade ( P < .001 and P = .010, respectively). The presence of CCC, but not CYC, was associated with absence of thymic petechiae ( P = .013) and was more frequent with unexplained stillbirth compared to abruption ( P = .017). AH was associated with lower ATI grade ( P = .002), with thymic petechiae ( P < .001), and with abruption ( P = .004). CYC was associated with diabetes ( P = .015). Overall, CCC and CYC were frequent findings and correlated with higher ATI grade, suggesting similar causes and time frames. CCC, but not CYC, correlated with unexplained stillbirth compared to abruption, but its high frequency in both groups limits its usefulness in their separation. AH was more frequent in the abruption group and correlated with lower ATI grade and thymic petechiae, supporting an association with sudden asphyxial death.