cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial/ethnic standards for fetal growth: the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies

Objective Fetal growth is associated with long-term health yet no appropriate standards exist for the early identification of undergrown or overgrown fetuses. We sought to develop contemporary fetal growth standards for 4 self-identified US racial/ethnic groups. Study Design We recruited for prospective follow-up 2334 healthy women with low-risk, singleton pregnancies from 12 community and perinatal centers from July 2009 through January 2013. The cohort comprised: 614 (26%) non-Hispanic whites, 611 (26%) non-Hispanic blacks, 649 (28%) Hispanics, and 460 (20%) Asians. Women were screened at 8w0d to 13w6d for maternal health status associated with presumably normal fetal growth (aged 18-40 years; body mass index 19.0-29.9 kg/m 2 ; healthy lifestyles and living conditions; low-risk medical and obstetrical history); 92% of recruited women completed the protocol. Women were randomized among 4 ultrasonography schedules for longitudinal fetal measurement using the Voluson E8 (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). In-person interviews and anthropometric assessments were conducted at each visit; medical records were abstracted. The fetuses of 1737 (74%) women continued to be low risk (uncomplicated pregnancy, absent anomalies) at birth, and their measurements were included in the standards. Racial/ethnic-specific fetal growth curves were estimated using linear mixed models with cubic splines. Estimated fetal weight (EFW) and biometric parameter percentiles (5th, 50th, 95th) were determined for each gestational week and comparisons made by race/ethnicity, with and without adjustment for maternal and sociodemographic factors. Results EFW differed significantly by race/ethnicity >20 weeks. Specifically at 39 weeks, the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles were 2790, 3505, and 4402 g for white; 2633, 3336, and 4226 g for Hispanic; 2621, 3270, and 4078 g for Asian; and 2622, 3260, and 4053 g for black women (adjusted global P Conclusion Significant differences in fetal growth were found among the 4 groups. Racial/ethnic-specific standards improve the precision in evaluating fetal growth.
Portable non-player character tutors with quest activities

Massively multiuser online games such as World of Warcraft employ computer controlled non-player characters (NPCs) and quest activities extensively in tutoring capacities that incorporate active learning, incremental progress, and creative repetition. This poster explores ways to use this model in educational virtual environments (VE), using NPCs as anthropocentric keys to organize and deliver educational content. Our educational NPC design includes a knowledge model and a user performance model, in addition to the physical traits, behavior model, and dialog model necessary to make them interesting, credible members of the environment. Formatted web-based educational content, exercises, and quizzes are imported into the virtual worlds (VWs), reducing the effort needed to create new educational NPCs. The NPC architecture in this poster supports simple multi-platform NPCs that offer educational quests to users in two VEs, CVE and Second Life.
Facilitating focused internet measurements

This paper describes our implementation of and initial experiences with DipZoom (for "Deep Internet Performance Zoom"), a novel approach to provide focused, on-demand Internet measurements. Unlike existing approaches that face a difficult challenge of building a measurement platform with sufficiently diverse measurements and measuring hosts, DipZoom implements a matchmaking service instead, which uses P2P concepts to bring together experimenters in need of measurements with external measurement providers. DipZoom offers the following two main contributions. First,since it is just a facilitator for an open community of participants, it promises unprecedented availability of diverse measurements and measuring points. Second, it can be used as a veneer over existing measurement platforms, automating the planning and execution of complex measurements.
Comparison of a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction assay with a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for detection of Gallid herpesvirus 1

A TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay were developed to detect Gallid herpesvirus 1 (GaHV-1, formerly Infectious laryngotracheitis virus). The standard curve of real-time PCR was established, and the sensitivity reached 10 copies/μl. In the current study, the conversion between viral titer and GaHV-1 genomic copy number was constructed. Six primers for LAMP assay amplified target gene at 65°C within 45 min, and the detection limit was 60 copies/μl. The 6 primers were highly specific, sensitive, and reproducible for detection of GaHV-1. Although the sensitivity of LAMP was lower than that of real-time PCR, LAMP was faster, less expensive, and did not require a thermocycler. The LAMP assay would be a viable alternative assay in diagnostic laboratories that do not employ real-time PCR technology.
Measurement of the τ lifetime at SLD

A measurement of the lifetime of the {tau} lepton has been made using a sample of 1671 {ital Z}{sup 0}{r_arrow}{tau}{sup +}{tau}{sup {minus}} decays collected by the SLD detector at the SLC. The measurement benefits from the small and stable collision region at the SLC and the precision pixel vertex detector of the SLD. Three analysis techniques have been used: decay length, impact parameter, and impact parameter difference methods. The combined result is {tau}{sub {tau}}=297{plus_minus}9 (stat){plus_minus}5(syst) fs.
Using Growing Degree Days to Predict Nitrogen Availability from Livestock Manures

duced by both eliminating unneeded application and better matching mineral N supply with crop demand. Predictive tools are needed to better match N release from manure Season-long mineralization constants for the organic with crop demand. Growing degree days (GDD) have been successfully used to predict N release from crop residues and other amend- N component of manure are broadly based on the recalments. A 112-d incubation experiment was conducted at 10, 17, and citrance of the organic N fraction. Mineralization con248C to evaluate GDD (08C base temperature) predictions of N trans- stants for composted manures are commonly 5 to 10% formations from beef (Bos taurus ), dairy, poultry (Gallus gallus ), yr 21 (Hadas and Portnoy, 1994). Conversely, Bitzer and and swine (Sus scrofa ) manure. Manure was incorporated at rates Sims (1988) found that an average of 66% of the organic estimated to provide 150 kg N ha2 1 (or 75 mg N kg2 1
An Efficient Method for Large-Scale Gate Sizing

We consider the problem of choosing the gate sizes or scale factors in a combinational logic circuit in order to minimize the total area, subject to simple RC timing constraints, and a minimum-allowed gate size. This problem is well known to be a geometric program (GP), and can be solved by using standard interiorpoint methods for small- and medium-size problems with up to several thousand gates. In this paper, we describe a new method for solving this problem that handles far larger circuits, up to a million gates, and is far faster. Numerical experiments show that our method can compute an adequately accurate solution within around 200 iterations; each iteration, in turn, consists of a few passes over the circuit. In particular, the complexity of our method, with a fixed number of iterations, is linear in the number of gates. A simple implementation of our algorithm can size a 10 000 gate circuit in 25 s, a 100 000 gate circuit in 4 min, and a million gate circuit in 40 min, approximately. For the million gate circuit, the associated GP has three million variables and more than six million monomial terms in its constraints; as far as we know, these are the largest GPs ever solved.
Effect of Alanine and Glycine on Glucagon Secretion in Postabsorptive and Fasting Obese Man

Changes in blood levels of glucagon, insulin and glucose in response to infusions of alanine and glycine have been studied in postabsorptive and fasting obese human subjects. Four-to-five-fold elevations of baseline plasma alanine levels stimulated glucagon secretion significantly. Supraphysiological plasma levels of glycine had a small but insignificant stimulatory effect on glucagon secretion. The glucose increase (6 to 10 mg per 100 ml) observed within 30 min of a supraphysiologic alanine infusion in subjects fasted for 2 or more weeks may be secondary to glucagonmediated glycogen breakdown. However, despite equivalent glucagon rises in the other two study periods, no significant rise in blood sugar was noted during the period of infusion.
Anesthetic Considerations in Cortical Mapping and Awake Surgery

The awake craniotomy can be divided up into four stages: exposure, intraoperative electrophysiological testing, resection of target lesion, and closure.
Abuse of the Convention Against Torture: A Tortured Reading of the Law

In this piece, the author argues that the UN's Committee Against Torture abused its authority when it called the Holy See (the Vatican) and suggested that individual cases of rape or sex abuse by Catholic priests constituted torture under the Convention Against Torture. The author uses traditional criminal law analysis, defendants' rights, and international law precedent to show that the Committee Against Torture's reading is improper.
Transmission and Passage in Horses of the Agent of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis

The human granulocytotropic ehrlichia and Ehrlichia equi produce similar diseases in their respective host species (humans, horses). Currently, the phylogenetic and biologic relationships of these 2 uncultured pathogens remain unclear. Previous studies have revealed nucleotide sequence similarity approaching identity at the level of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. To investigate the biologic similarities of these 2 ehrlichiae, the susceptibility of horses to the human agent was tested by intravenous inoculation of infected human blood. The results demonstrate that the human granulocytotropic ehrlichia produces a disease in the horse indistinguishable from that caused by E. equi, providing biologic evidence that these 2 organisms are highly related and potentially conspecific. It is possible that cases of human illness now attributed to human granulocytotropic ehrlichia may in fact be caused by 1 or more strains of an ehrlichia known chiefly as an equine pathogen.
Analysis of SF_6 Byproducts of Gas Insulated Switchgear (220 kV and Above) in Guangdong Province

In the occurrence of arcs discharges, spark discharges and corona discharges, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) would be decomposed to complicated byproducts such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon tetrafluoride (CF4), etc. Analyzing the concentrations of these byproducts, which can be determinated when the electric equipment is electriferous, is an effective method to judge the internal condition of GIS. The fault of GIS and the position of the fault can be known by SF6 byproducts analysis. There are many cases about how to judge the electric equipment faults by analyzing SF6 byproducts, but with little experience about how to judge the latent faults. The article concluded the concentrations of SF6 byproducts in 74 220 kV and 550 kV GIS transformer substation (3770 gas chambers in total) in Guangdong Province. The concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), CF4, thionyl sulfide (SOF2), sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2), disulfuryl decafluoride (S2OF10), SO2 and sulfureted hydrogen (H2S) were in partial normal distribution. The concentrations of CO2, CF4, SOF2, SO2F2, S2OF10 were all below 1000×10-6; the concentrations of SO2 were below 3×10-6; the concentrations of H2S were below 1×10-6. The SF6 byproducts concentrations in 500 kV GIS were lower than those in 220 kV GIS. The SF6 byproducts concentrations were higher in GIS that have been operating longer.
Visualization of copper(II) in velvet mesquite (Prosopis Juliflora-Velutina) and soybeans (Glycine max) by earth field magnetic resonance imaging

ABSTRACTThe goal of this research was to visualize the uptake of copper by plants to promote phytoremediation. The hypothesis was that regions of the plant that contain more copper have enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance using copper as a paramagnetic contrast agent. Earth field magnetic resonance imaging (EFMRI) spectrometry uses a magnetic field 300,000 times weaker than a 600 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. As in conventional human MRI, this portable instrument is capable of recording one-, two-, and three-dimensional images, although the sample size is reduced. The enhancement of signal was first demonstrated recording the two dimensional images of different concentrations of aqueous copper sulfate. The study also focused on growing mesquite and soybean plants in hydroponic media containing 0.25 mM copper nitrate for four and three weeks, respectively, and recording their EFMRI images with plants grown without copper nitrate. The results showed that EFMRI allows the probing the plant abs...
Critical factors in the establishment of allopolyploids

Premise of the study The growth and spread of new polyploid populations have been explained in terms of fitness advantages over their diploid progenitors. However, a fitness advantage is not sufficient to insure the establishment of a polyploid; it must also overcome the obstacles of demographic stochasticity and minority disadvantage. Several studies have addressed the population dynamics of autopolyploids, but the present study is the first to consider allopolyploids, which are affected by more factors than autopolyploids. Methods We constructed a population dynamic model of four types of plants (two parent species, hybrids, allopolyploids) that also included an explicit breeding system. Key results The numbers of plants of each type were the most important factors determining whether the new allopolyploid would become established. More polyploid plants greatly increased the likelihood of polyploid persistence. More plants of the parent species and more hybrids resulted in more polyploids being produced. The model parameters with the most effect on polyploid establishment were potential population size (K), individual plant fecundity, and niche separation (α). The most important breeding system parameters were selfing rates, which mitigated minority disadvantage imposed by pollen limitation. Conclusions The importance of population sizes, and the parameters that controlled them, in overcoming demographic stochasticity parallels the well-recognized role of propagule pressure in determining the success of invasive species. We modeled the establishment of a new allopolyploid; analogous considerations would affect the establishment of a new autopolyploid. The critical role of population sizes in polyploid establishment should be more widely recognized.
Searching for the endogenous benzodiazepine using the graph theoretical approach.

The graph theoretical indices of several compounds with reported benzodiazepine receptor binding affinities were calculated. Our results demonstrate a structural similarity among diazepam, triazolam, and the β-carboline nucleus and a structural dissimilarity to the purines and nicotinamide. This result correlates with their respective binding affinities. Using the graph theoretical indices as structural descriptors of the benzodiazepines and the significant ligands of the β-carbolines, a search for peptide sequences as potential ligands was explored. Single amino acids through pentapeptides with all possible amino acid substitutions and chemical modifications were calculated. The peptides generated were subjected to graph theoretical analysis, and their indices were compared to those of the benzodiazepines. Comparisons resulted in seven dipeptides and six tripeptides that are topologically similar to the benzodiazepines and β-carbolines. The dipeptides are histidine- or tryptophan-containing compounds with pyroglutamine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine residues in the second position. The tripeptides have two aromatic amino acid residues and a pyroglutamine or glycyl terminal residue. These structures are promising candidates because (1) they are structurally (topologically) similar to the benzodiazepines, represented by diazepam and triazolam, and to the β-carbolines; and (2) they are sequences that may reasonably form a part of a larger peptide or that may be formed metabolically by proteolysis.
Lactic acidosis: a factor associated with equine laminitis.

SUMMARY Plasma L-lactate was measured in 31 horses subsequent to carbohydrate overload of the gastrointestinal tract. The greatest increase in lactate was observed in horses dying of circulatory collapse; horses developing laminitis had a lesser increase, while horses with neither syndrome had only a slight increase. In retrospect, either death associated with complete circulatory collapse or laminitis associated with survival could have been predicted 16 to 24 hr after carbohydrate overload. Only two of five horses that died of cardiovascular collapse exhibited signs of lameness prior to death. (Key Words: L-Lactate, Horses, Acute Laminitis, Carbohydrate Overload, Gastrointestinal, Circulatory.)
Picornaviruses of Fish

Abstract Picornaviruses of fish belong to the family Picornaviridae . Fish picornaviruses are single stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses with a genome of 7.0 to 9.0 kb in length. This rapidly growing group of viruses affects a wide range of ray-finned fish species (class Actinopterygii ) from marine and freshwater environments around the world. Clinical signs range from apparently healthy to hemorrhage at the base of fins and diffuse hemorrhage of the skin. Multiple picornaviruses have been associated with mortality in fish hosts. Fish picornaviruses can be detected with classical methods such as electron microscopy, virus isolation and immunofluorescence, as well as molecular techniques. Recently, these viruses have been characterized by molecular analysis based on Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing. Little is known about the epidemiology and disease causing potential of many fish picornaviruses, thus proactive measures to prevent or control these viruses is warranted.
Crack die elimination by comprehensive optimization throughout all assembly process steps

Over years, the crack die defect was proven cannot be screened effectively through Final Test, therefore it has high risk reaching the end applications. This issue can affect many devices, including some miniature devices such as Small Outline Transistors, SOTXXX Eutectic. In order to eliminate the die crack defect, entire assembly process required optimization; including Saw, Die Attach, Wire Bond, Mold, Plating, Trim/Form and Final Test. Each process step has its own risks and therefore full analysis was conducted on all the possible opportunities. At wafer sawing process, several sawing methods were evaluated, including single cut, step cut, 3 channels cutting, cutting directions and selection of various blade types. With the optimum sawing process, die chipping was minimized to lowest level (only few microns), that resulting to minimum die cracking risk. With that performance, further risk investigation was carried on to understand the stress amount inside the package. There were 2 significant stress factors, die location on flag and trim/form impact to the leads. In order to minimize the effect of the stress, die was attached to the location with the least amount of stress. As for trim/form, this involved new design leadframe fabricated and experimented in production. The leadframe design optimization was completed after compliance to the reasonable stress level, as calculated in the trim/form stress analysis. When new leadframe was subjected to actual trim/form process, actual performance was verified by reliability testing. With the optimum assembly configurations, further safety action was depended to the Final Test capability. There were 2 additional test parameters added to increase effectiveness of screening potential die crack rejects. With the total compilation of all the optimum assembly and test configurations, actual performance monitoring showed total elimination of die crack occurrence. This project becomes good benchmark of any die crack reduction or elimination project.
Timing of disturbance affects biomass and flowering of a saltmarsh plant and attack by stem-boring herbivores

In salt marshes, disturbance by wrack (floating mats of dead vegetation) is common and affects plant productivity and species composition, but little is known about how the timing of disturbance mediates these effects, nor how it interacts with herbivory. Using a field experiment on the Georgia coast, we simulated the effects of wrack disturbance at different times of the year on the marsh grass Spartina alterniflora and its stem-boring herbivorous insects. The timing of disturbance throughout the growing season strongly affected fall biomass, stem height, the proportion of stems flowering, and the proportion of stems colonized by stem-boring herbivorous insects. End-of-season biomass in plots disturbed in March did not differ from undisturbed controls, but biomass was reduced by 50% in plots disturbed in May, and by over 90% in plots disturbed in September. Disturbance in March and May stimulated flowering, but disturbance later in the growing season suppressed it. Plots disturbed late in the growing season had a low frequency of stem-boring herbivores. Stems containing stem borers rarely flowered. These results indicate that the timing of disturbance matters in coastal salt marshes. Late-season disturbances had the strongest effects on S. alterniflora and its herbivores. Disturbances early in the growing season did not affect end-of-season biomass, and stimulated flowering, suggesting parallels between fire disturbance in grasslands and wrack disturbance in salt marshes. Late-season disturbance did reduce herbivory by stem-boring insects, but not enough to compensate for the direct effects of disturbance on the plants. Future studies of disturbance in salt marshes should consider how the timing of experimental disturbance treatments relates to the timing of natural disturbances.
Key-Frame Analysis for Face Related Video on GPU-Accelerated Embedded Platform

Since video monitoring cameras now are implemented widely, video analytics has drawn much attention as a new research area. Correspondingly, there is an emerging need to detect faces through a period of video or a great number of videos to make comparisons with the stored identities in the database for personal identification or other purposes. Thus, face detection in video has gained great attention. However, when there are lots of videos or when the video is very long, the workload for face detection becomes very huge. As a result, the detecting time is prolonged. Thus, there is a need to detect faces quickly with reduced computation time. In this paper, we added key frame analysis into the face detection process and employed the mobile graphic processing unit (GPU) platform to improve the overall performance. Our experimental results show that our system is capable of handling relative complex scenarios and achieve high success rate. Our performance analysis shows the potential in applying GPU towards this type of applications to improve the overall processing speed.
Antibiotic Stewardship Programs in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Introduction Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) are coordinated interventions promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics to improve patient outcomes and reduce microbial resistance. These programs are now mandated in nursing homes (NHs) but it is unclear if these programs improve resident outcomes. This systematic review evaluated the current evidence regarding outcomes of ASPs in the NH. Methods PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for intervention trials of ASPs performed in NHs that evaluated final health outcomes (mortality and Clostridium difficile infections), healthcare utilization outcomes (emergency department visits and hospital admissions) and intermediate health outcomes (number of antibiotics prescribed, adherence to recommended guidelines). Results A total of 14 studies rated good or fair quality were included. Eight studies reported a reduction in antibiotic prescriptions. Ten found an increase in adherence to guidelines proposed by the studied ASP. None reported a statistically significant change in NH mortality rates, C. difficile infection rates, or hospitalizations. Discussion The limited research to date suggests that NH ASPs can affect intermediate health outcomes, but not key health outcomes or health care utilization. Conclusion Larger trials evaluating more intensive interventions over longer durations may be needed to determine whether ASPs in NHs improve health outcomes as they have in hospitals.
Automated Protein Chain Isolation from 3D Cryo-EM Data and Volume Comparison Tool

In electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM), manual isolation of volumetric protein density map data surrounding known protein structures is a time-consuming process that requires constant expert attention for multiple hours. This paper presents a tool, Volume Cut, and an algorithm to automatically isolate the volumetric data surrounding individual protein chains from the entire macro-molecular complex that runs in just minutes. This tool can be used in the data collection and data pre-processing steps to generate good training datasets of single chain volume-structure pairs, which can be further used for the study of protein structure prediction from experimental 3D cryo-EM density maps using data mining and machine learning. Additionally, an application of this tool was explored in depth that compares the cut experimental cryo-EM data with simulated data in an attempt to find irregularities of experimental data for the purpose of validation. The source for both tools can be found at https://github.com/nissensonm/VolumeCut/.
Discussion Summary: Other Applications of Fibrinolytic Agents in the Central Nervous System

In the discussion of Dr. Zeumer’s paper on central retinal artery occlusion and the therapeutic effects of thrombolysis, three major points were raised. The first was the time course of revascularization. Dr. Zeumer was asked how long it took to demonstrate clinical and angiographic revascularization. It was Dr. Zeumer’s experience that normally one would see clinical or angiographic improvement within 1 h. In the 70% of patients who revascularized, there was some evidence of clinical improvement within the first hour. It has been his experience that if no change in the patient’s condition is noted within the first hour, there is little likelihood of successful treatment.
THE CELLULAR BASIS FOR SIGNAL PROCESSING IN THE MAMMALIAN COCHLEAR NUCLEI

Ramon y Cajal taught us that information in the central nervous system is differentiated and transmitted between individual nerve cells. Lorente de No taught us that the cells in the CNS are individuals with unique personalities, which depend on the exact arrangement of the synaptic contacts on their dendrites and the precise distributions of their axons, all of their branches and synaptic endings. In fact Lorente de No (’43) emphasized the axonal branching pattern as a criterion for distinguishing neurons.
Strategic Pentablock Copolymer Nanomicellar Formulation for Paclitaxel Delivery System

Nanomicelles (NM) enhance solubility and absorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Various polymers and non-polymers are utilized to prepare nanomicellar formulations to achieve high absorption and delivery of drugs. The main purpose of this study was to develop drug-loaded nanomicelles with pentablock copolymers for paclitaxel delivery. Monomers of lactide, e-caprolactone, and polyethylene-glycol were utilized to prepare pentablock copolymer by ring opening technique. The pentablock nanomicelles (PBNM) were formulated by evaporation and rehydration. Both copolymers and nanomicelles were analyzed by H-NMR, FTIR, and XRD. Nanomicelles were further analyzed for size and zeta potential using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and by H-NMR and TEM. The XRD, FTIR, and H-NMR analyses confirmed the structures of the pentablock copolymers. Average size was 20 nm ± 5.00 nm, and ζ-potential is around zero. H-NMR and FTIR analyses for Paclitaxel-PBNM indicated peaks of paclitaxel and the polymer, confirming successful encapsulation. TEM showed spherical morphology and size range similar to that obtained by DLS. In vitro release studies revealed slow first-order paclitaxel release rate from pentablock nanomicelles in phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis with coumarin-6-loaded in PBNM indicated that pentablock nanomicelles were efficiently taken into prostate cancer (PC-3) cells. Cell proliferation assay showed that nanomicelles were able to ferry adequate amounts of paclitaxel drug into PC-3 cells and subsequently inhibiting PC-3 cell proliferation significantly. Results confirmed that pentablock copolymer can generate drug-loaded nanomicelles with desirable sizes and zeta potential. These demonstrate potentiality of pentablock nanomicelles as carrier for anticancer delivery.
Recruiting with ethics in an online era: Integrating corporate social responsibility with social media to predict organizational attractiveness

Abstract Job seekers are beginning to place greater emphasis on the contributions organizations make to society before deciding where to work ( Nielsen, 2014 ). In the present research, role theory, media richness theory, and theories employed in the organizational attractiveness literature were integrated to examine the impact of employers' online advertisement of different types of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on organizational attractiveness. Mock corporate websites and Facebook profiles were created and presented to a sample of 850 United States business professionals. Organizations advertising philanthropic or environmental CSR were perceived to be more socially responsible than organizations advertising economic or legal CSR. With the exception of environmental CSR, the advertisement of all types of CSR resulted in more positive global CSR perceptions when presented on a Facebook profile in addition to a corporate website. In turn, global CSR perceptions were positively related to organizational attractiveness, and the joint effects of CSR information and presentation medium on organizational attractiveness operated through individuals' global CSR perceptions. Conscientiousness was also positively related to organizational attractiveness, in part due to individuals' global CSR perceptions.
Successive Nucleophilic and Electrophilic Allylation for the Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of 2,4-Disubstituted Pyrrolidines

Successive nucleophilic and electrophilic allylation mediated by the bis-Boc-carbonate derived from 2-methylene-1,3-propane diol enables formation of enantiomerically enriched 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolidines. An initial enantioselective iridium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenative carbonyl C-allylation is followed by Tsuji–Trost N-allylation using 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide. Subsequent Mitsunobu cyclization provides the N-protected 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolidines.
On the Conversion of Bauxite Ores to Highly Activated Alumina Media for Water Remediation

Author(s): Haddad, AZ; Pilgrim, CD; Sawvel, AM; Hohman, JN; Gadgil, AJ | Abstract: Good quality drinking water is necessary to maintain a high quality of life. Millions lack access to clean and safe drinking water, and current trends suggest that billions will face acute water shortages in the coming decades. Development of new materials has led to technological impacts on water purification, from desalination membranes to atmospheric water scavenging. However, the most challenging aspect of technological solutions is cost: if the community being serviced cannot afford the solution, it is not likely to be sustainable. Repurposing Earth-abundant materials to replace highly engineered solutions is an atractive solution. Herein, minimal processing of bauxite rocks produces a high-porosity and reactive activated alumina in situ, without purification directly from the ore. This acid-treated, thermally activated bauxite (ATAB) exhibits a high surface area of 401 ± 6 m2 g−1, a 40-fold increase relative to its parent ore, and a 2× increase relative to the state-of-the-art fluoride adsorbent, activated alumina. The composition, preparation, and mechanism of adsorption are studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The maximum adsorption density of ATAB is comparable with that of activated alumina, but ATAB requires fewer processing steps, thus warranting future consideration as a primary adsorbent of choice for fluoride removal from water.
NAVA-synchronized compared to nonsynchronized noninvasive ventilation for apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation events in VLBW infants.

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assistance (NAVA) can overcome technical difficulties with synchronizing noninvasive ventilation breaths with the patient, a modality often used in very low birthweight infants (VLBW) with apnea of prematurity (AOP). This study is a retrospective single-center investigation into whether NAVA-synchronized noninvasive (niNAVA) ventilation is better than nonsynchronized (nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation [nIPPV]) for symptomatic apnea in VLBW infants. Nursing records of apnea, bradycardia, and/or desaturations were abstracted from the electronic medical records of 108 VLBW infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from 2015 to 2017 who received either of the two modalities, 61 epochs of niNAVA totaling 488 days and 103 epochs of nIPPV totaling 886.5 days. niNAVA was associated with a significant reduction in the number of isolated bradycardic events/day (0.48 ± 0.14 vs 1.35 ± 0.27; P = .019) and overall bradycardias/day (2.42 ± 0.47 vs 4.02 ± 0.53; P = .042) and there were more epochs with no events with niNAVA compared with nIPPV (23.0% vs 6.8%; P = .004). These results justify a prospective trial of NAVA-synchronized noninvasive ventilation for VLBW infants with caffeine-resistant AOP.
Association of change in the neighborhood obesogenic environment with colorectal cancer risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study.

Abstract Background Neighborhood environment has been associated with health behaviors. Despite the evidence of the influence of neighborhood social and physical factors on cancer risk, no research has evaluated whether changes in the neighborhood obesogenic environment, either by physical moves to different neighborhoods or experiencing neighborhood redevelopment or neglect, affect cancer risk. Methods The association of change in neighborhood environment attributes (socioeconomic status, population density, restaurant and retail food environments, numbers of recreational facilities and businesses, commute patterns, traffic density, and street connectivity) with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk was examined among 95,472 Los Angeles, CA, Multiethnic Cohort participants, including 2295 invasive CRC cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2010 using Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, other risk factors including BMI and physical activity, and baseline levels of neighborhood attributes. Stratified analyses were conducted by racial/ethnic group and moving status. Results 40% of participants moved (changed physical residence) during follow-up. Across all races/ethnicities, upward change in population density was statistically significantly associated with higher CRC risk among male and female non-movers (HR: 1.35 and 1.41, respectively). The same association was also observed separately among female African American and Japanese American non-movers, male Latino non-movers, female African American and male White movers. Downward change in population density was significantly related to higher CRC risk among female non-movers (HR: 1.33). Downward change in traffic density was associated with lower CRC risk among male non-movers but with higher CRC risk among female movers (HR: 0.66 and 1.43, respectively). Downward changes in street connectivity or the number of recreational facilities were associated with higher CRC risk (HR: 1.34 and 1.54, respectively). Upward change in the number of recreational facilities was associated with lower CRC risk among female non-movers (HR: 0.70). Changes in the other neighborhood attributes did not exhibit significant associations with CRC risk within more than one racial/ethnic group. Conclusion Changes over time in neighborhood attributes have an effect on the risk of colorectal cancer, which is separate from the baseline levels of the same attributes and individual-level risk factors, and differs between sexes, movers and non-movers and across racial/ethnic groups.
A clinical trial to evaluate the effect of statin use on lowering aldosterone levels

Statins are the first-line pharmaceutical agent in the management of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular (CV) risk reduction, and the most commonly prescribed class of drugs worldwide. Studies describing CV risk reduction independent of LDL-cholesterol lowering have evoked an interest in the pleiotropic mechanisms of statins’ benefits. We recently demonstrated that administration of statins in animal models lowers aldosterone levels and observed an association between statin use and reduced aldosterone levels in two human cohorts, with lipophilic statins displaying a greater effect than hydrophilic statins. Therefore, we designed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded intervention study to assess whether statin treatment lowers aldosterone in a type-dependent manner in humans, with simvastatin (lipophilic) showing a greater effect than pravastatin (hydrophilic). One hundred five healthy participants will be recruited from the general population to enroll in a 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, 3-arm clinical trial. Ninety participants are anticipated to complete the protocol. After baseline assessment of aldosterone levels, participants will be randomized to daily simvastatin, pravastatin, or placebo. Aldosterone levels will be assessed after 2 days on study drug and again after 6 weeks and 12 weeks on study drug. Prior to each aldosterone assessment, participants will consume an isocaloric sodium and potassium-controlled run-in diet for 5 days. Assessments will occur on an inpatient research unit to control for diurnal, fasting, and posture conditions. The primary outcome will compare 12-week angiotensin II-stimulated serum aldosterone by study drug. Secondary outcomes will compare baseline and 12-week 24-h urine aldosterone by study drug. Results from this rigorous study design should provide strong support that statins lower aldosterone levels in humans. These results may explain some of the beneficial effects of statins that are not attributed to the LDL-lowering effect of this important class of medications. Results would demonstrate that statin lipophilicity is an important attribute in lowering aldosterone levels. The outcomes of this program will have implications for the design of studies involving statin medications, as well as for the differential use of classes of statins. ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02871687 ; First Posted August 18, 2016.
Keeping the Patient at the Center of Machine Learning in Healthcare.

Char et al. (2020) aspire to provide “a systematic approach to identifying … ethical concerns” around machine learning healthcare applications (ML-HCAs), which includes artificial intelligence and ...
Culture Warlords: My Journey into the Dark Web of White Supremacy

Review of the book Culture Warlords: My Journey into the Dark Web of White Supremacy, by Talia Lavin.
Identification of interventions to improve employee morale in physically demanding, repetitive motion work tasks: A pilot case study

Employee morale is a determinant of productivity and retention. This study explores relationships and morale levels between employees and supervisors in a large service industry. An open-ended ques...
Pathological correlates of impaired self-awareness of memory function in Alzheimer's disease

Introduction Impaired self-awareness of memory function, a.k.a. anosognosia, is a common symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, its pathological correlates remain unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of amyloid and tau on memory self-awareness. Methods Two hundred thirty-six clinically normal (N) and 102 impaired (I) participants from the ADNI cohort were included. Amyloid (global) and tau burden (in entorhinal and inferior temporal cortices) were assessed using positron emission tomography (PET). Self-awareness of memory was assessed using discrepancy indexes of subjective participant-informant ratings, as well as participant-objective scores of memory performance. Subjective and objective values were derived from the Everyday Cognition memory questionnaire and Logical Memory (delayed recall). Results Lower awareness (both methods) of memory function was associated with higher levels of pathology in the I group as compared to N. There was a significant effect of tauopathy, but not amyloidosis, on individual complaint, such that higher levels of tau associated with lower awareness. Discussion Impaired self-awareness appears progressively in the evolution of the disease related to AD biomarkers. Discordant subjective and objective measures may be important for clinical consideration.
Investigating the flexibility of attentional orienting in multiple modalities: Are spatial and temporal cues used in the context of spatiotemporal probabilities?

Attention can be oriented in both space and time in response to trial-variant cues when, say, their colour predicts the spatial location and their shape predicts cue-to-target stimulus onset asynch...
The number of cytokinesis nodes in mitotic fission yeast scales with cell volume

Cytokinesis nodes are assemblies of stoichiometric ratios of proteins associated with the plasma membrane, which serve as precursors for the contractile ring during cytokinesis by fission yeast. The total number of nodes is uncertain, because of the limitations of the methods used previously. Here we used the [~]140 nm resolution of Airyscan confocal microscopy to resolve a large population of dim, unitary cytokinesis nodes in 3D reconstructions of whole fission yeast cells. Wild-type fission yeast cells make about 200 unitary cytokinesis nodes. Most, but not all of these nodes condense into a contractile ring. The number of cytokinesis nodes scales with cell size in four strains tested, although wide rga4{Delta} mutant cells form somewhat fewer cytokinesis nodes than expected from the overall trend. The surface density of Pom1 kinase on the plasma membrane around the equators of cells is similar with a wide range of node numbers, so Pom1 does not control cytokinesis node number. However, varying protein concentrations with the nmt1 promoter showed that the numbers of nodes increase above a baseline of about 200 with the total cellular concentration of either Pom1 or the kinase Cdr2.
CT of acute abdominopelvic hemorrhage: protocols, pearls, and pitfalls

Abdominal and pelvic hemorrhage may be secondary to a number of causes and is often a medical emergency. Patient presentation ranges from obvious trauma with evidence of hemodynamic instability to vague symptoms. CT has become the imaging modality of choice for identifying abdominopelvic hemorrhage. Recognizing acute hemorrhage as well as identifying its location and severity are key to expediting management. In the Emergency Department, ultrasound often used in the initial evaluation of trauma patients, but is not sensitive for subtle bleeds or injuries. CT is the best first-line imaging tool to identify abdominal hemorrhage and, compared with angiography, has been shown to be superior in detecting intra-abdominal bleeding, especially when the bleeding rate is low. Depending on location and etiology, abdominopelvic hemorrhage may have a characteristic appearance, such as the “sentinel clot” sign associated with blunt trauma to the solid organs or the “triangle sign” of a mesenteric bleed. The following pictorial essay reviews CT technique, study interpretation, and interpretative pearls and pitfalls in the recognition of acute abdominopelvic hemorrhage.
Wage Policy, Income Distribution, and Democratic Theory

1. Introduction 2. Democratic Theory 3. Evolution of Wage Policy 4. Post New Deal Era and the Demise of Wage Policy 5. New Living Wage Movement 6. Wage Policy for the Middle Class 7. Wage Policy and the Path Towards Democracy Bibliography
Diet, Changes in Gene Expression and Human Evolution

Changes in food availability and diet represent selective pressures that acted on multiple biological processes and anatomical features during human evolution. Anthropological studies have long investigated these dietary transitions; however, many questions are still open and aspects of these events are still strongly debated. More recently, evolutionary geneticists have provided evidence, both genome-wide and from single-gene studies, that diet is an important evolutionary force in humans. Changes in regulation of gene expression have played a major role during human evolution in response to a variety of selective pressures including dietary transitions. Furthermore, recent studies have highlighted the role of variation in gene regulation in risk for common diseases. Future studies promise to leverage the information from variation in gene expression to learn about adaptations to dietary shifts and disease predisposition in humans. Key Concepts: Changes in food availability and diet composition during hominin evolution created strong selective pressures on multiple biological processes and anatomical features. Genes involved in metabolism carry a signature of selection in single-gene and genome-wide studies. The two most interpretable examples of genetic adaptations to dietary shifts in humans have implied changes in the expression level of the lactase and amylase genes. Adaptations to dietary changes may have acted on different molecular aspects of regulation of gene expression. By gaining further knowledge on past human diets, it is possible to achieve a better understanding of potential adaptations to and clinical consequences of our current ones. Keywords: natural selection; evolutionary genetics; dietary shift; transcription factor; eQTL; mRNA
Industry Size and the Distribution of R&D Investment

We analyze the link between industry size and R&D spending distribution. We consider amonopolistically competitive market in which firms can invest in cost-cutting R&D by paying a fixed cost first. For an intermediate level of fixed cost, there is a unique equilibrium in which the market segments into investing and non-investing firms. Using this equilibrium, we study howthe distribution and level of R&D expenditure changes as industry size increases. In particular, we show that, as the market size increases, R&D spending can become more concentrated. Data motivating these results are drawn from the Taiwanese and Korean semiconductor industries.
Robust Design of Glass Run-Channel Seal

Glass run-channel seals are located between DIW (Door in White) and window glass. They are designed to allow window glass to move smoothly while other two major requirements are met; (1) Provide insulation to water leakage and noise, and (2) Stabilize the window glass during glass movement, door slamming and vehicle operation. For a robust glass guidance system, it is critical to minimize the variation of seal compression force. In addition, it is desired to maintain a low seal compression force, which meets the minimum requirement for insulating water leakage/noise and stabilizing the window glass, for enhancing the durability of glass guidance system. In this paper, a robust synthesis and design concepts on the glass run-channel seal is presented. The developed concept is demonstrated with test data.