cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calibration of a seafloor micro-topography laser high definition profiler

A two-part method for calibrating a laser high definition profiler is presented. The profiler consists of laser line sources and a video camera, and it is designed to be deployed on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). In the first part, distortions in the digital image were measured using images of a test grid, and corrected by an interpolation method based on a virtual pinhole camera model. In the second part, the equations of the laser planes were determined according to their intersections with a target of known geometry, whose position and orientation were obtained by a registration process.
Experimental bacteriophage treatment of honeybees (Apis mellifera) infected with Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood Disease

American Foulbrood Disease (AFB) is an infection of honeybees caused by the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. One potential remedy involves using biocontrol, such as bacteriophages (phages) to lyse P. larvae. Therefore, bacteriophages specific for P. larvae were isolated to determine their efficacy in lysing P. larvae cells. Samples from soil, beehive materials, cosmetics, and lysogenized P. larvae strains were screened; of 157 total samples, 28 were positive for at least one P. larvae bacteriophage, with a total of 30. Newly isolated bacteriophages were tested for the ability to lyse each of 11 P. larvae strains. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the phage isolates were from the family Siphoviridae. Seven phages with the broadest host ranges were combined into a cocktail for use in experimental treatments of infected bee larvae; both prophylactic and post-infection treatments were conducted. Results indicated that although both pre- and post-treatments were effective, prophylactic administration of the phages increased the survival of larvae more than post-treatment experiments. These preliminary experiments demonstrate the likelihood that phage therapy could be an effective method to control AFB.
Transcriptional Regulation of Cytosolic Sulfotransferase 1C2 by Intermediates of the Cholesterol Biosynthetic Pathway in Primary Cultured Rat Hepatocytes

Cytosolic sulfotransferase 1C2 (SULT1C2) is expressed in the kidney, stomach, and liver of rats; however, the mechanisms regulating expression of this enzyme are not known. We evaluated transcriptional regulation of SULT1C2 by mevalonate (MVA)-derived intermediates in primary cultured rat hepatocytes using several cholesterol synthesis inhibitors. Blocking production of mevalonate with the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor pravastatin (30 μM), reduced SULT1C2 mRNA content by ∼40% whereas the squalene synthase inhibitor squalestatin (SQ1, 0.1 μM), which causes accumulation of nonsterol isoprenoids, increased mRNA content by 4-fold. Treatment with MVA (10 mM) strongly induced SULT1C2 mRNA by 12-fold, and this effect was blocked by inhibiting squalene epoxidase but not by more distal cholesterol inhibitors, indicating the effects of MVA are mediated by postsqualene metabolites. Using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), we characterized the 5' end of SULT1C2 mRNA and used this information to generate constructs for promoter analysis. SQ1 and MVA increased reporter activity by ∼1.6- and 3-fold, respectively, from a construct beginning 49 base pairs (bp) upstream from the longest 5'-RACE product (-3140:-49). Sequence deletions from this construct revealed a hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) element (-2558), and mutation of this element reduced basal (75%) and MVA-induced (30%) reporter activity and attenuated promoter activation following overexpression of HNF1α or 1β. However, the effects of SQ1 were localized to a more proximal promoter region (-281:-49). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that cholesterol biosynthetic intermediates influence SULT1C2 expression in rat primary hepatocytes. Further, HNF1 appears to play an important role in mediating basal and MVA-induced SULT1C2 transcription.
Patent Damages Reform and the Shape of Patent Law

The shape of patent law is changing. Surprisingly, one of the most significant of these changes is rooted in the arcana of how damages are calculated for patent infringement. Current reform proposals before Congress, which are hotly contested by major technology-rich industries, would radically alter the shape of the patent grant by requiring courts to tease out the "economic value" of the claimed invention as compared with previously existing technology. This paper responds empirically and theoretically to this attempt to reshape patent law through the back door of damages.Advocates of the damages reform proposals cite empirical evidence that patent verdicts are growing excessively large. This paper reviews the existing empirical literature and presents an original study of patent verdict data obtained from the Administrative Office of the Courts. The literature review and original study presented in this paper suggest that the empirical arguments made by reform advocates are largely misplaced.This paper also examines the theoretical underpinnings of the remedial structure for patent infringement. It discusses a string of recent Supreme Court opinions in which patent law appears to be moving from a property rule towards a liability rule of remedies. Finally, the paper examines two key factors that have been ignored in the existing patent reform debate: price elasticity of demand and risk. Theoretical models are presented that demonstrate why attempts at reform should focus on shifting towards a restitutionary model of patent damages, with a possible premium for risk.
Mortgage Defaults and Prudential Regulations in a Standard Incomplete Markets Model

A model of mortgage defaults is built into the standard incomplete markets model. Households face income and house-price shocks and purchase houses using long-term mortgages. Interest rates on mortgages are determined in equilibrium according to the risk of default. The model accounts for the observed patterns of housing consumption, mortgage borrowing, and defaults. Default-prevention policies are evaluated. The mortgage default rate, housing demand, households’ ability to self-insure, and welfare are hump-shaped in the degree of recourse (the level of defaulters’ wealth that can be garnished). Two forces affect default. More recourse implies that the punishment for default is harsher; this reduces the default rate. But more recourse also decreases the interest rates offered; this increases borrowing and the default rate. Introducing loan-to-value (LTV) limits for new mortgages contains borrowing, lowering the default rate with negligible negative effects on housing demand. The combination of recourse mortgages and LTV limits reduces the default rate while boosting housing demand. The behavior of economies with alternative prudential regulations is evaluated during a boom-bust episode in aggregate house prices. In the economy with both recourse mortgages and LTV limits, the mortgage default rate is less sensitive to fluctuations in aggregate house prices.
Evaluation of the U.S. National Germplasm System Popcorn Collection for Resistance to Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and European Com Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The U.S. National Germplasm System’s active collection of popcorn, Zea mays L., is maintained at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station at Ames, IA. From 1983 to 1989 and from 1982 to 1990, 299 accessions of this collection were evaluated for sources of resistance to com earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and European com borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), respectively. During 1990, 32 accessions previously rated as resistant to com earworm, and in 1991, 39 accessions previously rated as resistant to leaf feeding by first-generation European com borer were retested for resistance. Com earworm larval weights, when grown on silks from 21 of the 32 accessions retested for resistance, were not significantly different from the weights of larvae grown on the resistant control but were significantly smaller than larvae grown on the susceptible control. Fourteen of the 39 accessions retested for first-generation feeding resistance to European com borer retained their resistance. Genetic studies will be necessary to determine if these new sources of resistance are governed by genes different from those in previously identified sources.
Effect of propylthiouracil on preference threshold of rats for NaCl solutions.

SummaryChronic administration of the antithyroid drug, propylthiouracil (PTU) reduced the NaCl preference threshold of rats from one-fifth to one-eighth that of untreated controls. Preference threshold of normal rats lay between .02 and .05 M while threshold of PTU-treated rats lay between .003 and .01 M. Differences between thresholds were significant. The reduction in preference threshold for NaCl solution adds further to the striking similarities of PTU-treated and adrenalectomized rats.
Experimental Study of Sustained Shock Initiated Detonation in a Multiple Pulse Detonation-Crossover System

A University of Cincinnati experimental study was carried out on a Multi-Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE) crossover system. Detonation tubes were connected through crossover tubes to allow a shockwave to transfer from one PDE to another. Only the driving PDE was ignited. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of sustainability of an annular array of shock initiated detonation tubes connected in tandem. Various parameters were studied to optimize the sustainability array. Results suggest that driver PDE length depends on DDT run-length in the driven PDE. Furthermore, results have shown that performance is dependent on initial skin temperature of the driven PDE, as postulated in previous studies 12,14 . Finally, results from the sustainability array show that if previously driven PDE tubes are operating nominally, all subsequently driven PDE tubes will also operate nominally.
History retweeting itself: imperial feminist appropriations of “Bring Back Our Girls”

AbstractRacist and imperialist narratives have long underpinned White and “Northern”/“Western” feminists’ representations of people of color and of Africans. Through textual analysis, this essay places Bring Back Our Girls—the recent campaign to locate and return 276 abducted Nigerian students—in the context of this troubled history. Within the Global North, both the appropriation and abandonment of Bring Back Our Girls fundamentally relied upon a conceptual framework rooted in imperialist and racist histories. By revealing the imbrication of the international campaign in existing power relations, this project challenges the assertion that digital campaigns are technologically determined or “outside” history.
Death Condition Analysis of Entire Population in Wanzhou District From 2004 to 2007

Objective To know the death condition of entire population in Wanzhou District from 2004 to 2007.Method The data on individual death cases were collected from whole population convcntional death cause reporting system in national diseases monitoring sites and from national unified retrospective investigation.The data were then coded according to ICD-10 code.The number of population in different age-groups and the crude and standardized death rate were calculated by population construction in Wanzhou District and whole China in 2000.Results In Wanzhou District,the annual death rate of entire population was 608.55/105,and the standardized death rate was 454.69/105.The death rate of male(700.35/105)was higher than that of female(512.08/105).The death rate in city(536.71/105) was lower than that in countryside(635.27/105).The tumor death rate in countryside(158.13/105)was lower than that in city.(172.24/105).The endocrinopathy death rate in countryside(2.85/105)was significantly lower than that in city(11.90/105).The first five death causes in male and female or in city and countryside were consistant with the total death causes,i.e.in order from high to low,circulatory system diseases,tumor,respiratory diseases,damage or poisoning,digestive system diseases.The death caused by infectious diseases situated sixth in the district,and countryside.From 2004 to 2007,death rate caused by tumor and endocrinopathy revealed asscending trend but respiratory,infectious diseases and parasitoses showed decending trend.The highest death rate was neonatal death in 0-age group,damage or poisoning in 1-39 years group,tumor in 40-69 years group and circulatory system diseases in 70 years group.Conclusion At present,Wanzhou District is faced with dual oppression of ascending trend of tumor and endocrinopathy year by year and high death rate of infectious diseases.It is suggested by the authors that the relevant departments should pay great attention to the fact and take corresponding countermeasures to conrtrol the relative diseases.
Effects of budesonide slurry inhalation on acute infantile asthma:clinical observation and nursing of 43 cases

Objective:To observe the effects of budesonide slurry inhalation on acute infantile asthma and it's nursing. Methods:A study group of 43 acute infantile asthma cases were treated with aerosol inhalation of budesonide slurry (1 mL combined with 1mL of physiological saline) which were processed by air-compression pump,twice per day,while the control group were treated with inhalation of budesonide slurry by telescope-feed,400μg ~800μg per time and twice per day. A treatment course was consisted of 7 days. Result: There was significant difference between the total effective rate of the treatment group (97.7%) and the control group (81.6%),(P0.05). Conclusions: With minor adverse reaction,budesonide slurry which is processed by air-compression pump is effective on acute infantile asthma.
Democracy and development: With Special attention to Korea

Academic discussions on the relationship between regime type and economic growth of developing countries have been drawn to three linkages, the contribution of a certain type of political authoritarianism to rapid industrial transformation, the trend towards democracy after a long period of sustained economic development, and possible negative economic consequences of democratization itself. There are theoretical reasons to support the first two assertions, but the third proposition is less tenable. The case of Korea shows that democratic changes have resulted in higher consumption, have induced inflationary policy, and have led to wage increases in excess of productivity gains. However, these might well be transitional rather than steady-state phenomena. Political learning can prevent young democracies from becoming captives to distributional coalitions.
Linguistic Crossings: African Essentialism in King Solomon’s Mines

Consider first a moment of cultural and comic play:Aboard the ship Dunkeld in the harbor at Durban, Allan Quatermain watches cargo being unloaded from the ship’s holds. The workers toss crates into...
In-situ calibration of the water vapor channel for multi-filter rotating shadowband radiometer using collocated GPS, AERONET and meteorology data

The difficulty of in-situ calibration on the 940 nm channel of Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) stems from the distinctive non-linear relationship between the amount of precipitable water vapor (PW) and its optical depth (i.e. curve of growth) compared to the counterpart of aerosols. Previous approaches, the modified Langley methods (MLM), require exact aerosol optical depth (AOD) values and a constant PW value at all points participating the regression. Instead, we propose a new method that substitutes the PW optical depth derived from collocated GPS zenith wet delay retrieval in conjunction with meteorology data and requires a constant AOD value at all points participating the regression. The main benefits of the new method include: (1) Aerosol stability is easier to fulfill than PW stability; (2) AOD stability could be inferred from adjacent channels (e.g. 672 and 870 nm) of MFRSR itself without measurements of a collocated AERONET sun photometer; and (3) When applicable, the time interval of GPS derived PW (i.e. 3 minutes) is more compatible with the MFRSR sampling interval (i.e. 3 minutes) than AERONET interpolated AOD (i.e. 15 minutes). Both MLM and the new method were applied to the MFRSR of USDA UV-B Monitoring and Research Program at the station in Billings, Oklahoma (active for 18 years so far) on July 28, 2015. The performances of the two methods are compared in order to assess their accuracy and the advantages and disadvantages.
Minnesota clergy’s attitudes on suicide prevention and likelihood to inquire about suicidal thoughts and intent

ABSTRACTClergy are a recognised profession for suicide prevention and intervention in the United States. The current objective was to determine if clergy’s suicide prevention training, perceived roles in suicide prevention, and suicide prevention self-efficacy predicted likelihood to inquire about suicidal thoughts and intent. Among 367 Minnesota clergy surveyed, 30% reported a suicide in their congregation in the past year, and about one-third reported adequate training in suicide intervention strategies. The majority (85%) reported it was their role to provide education on suicide and mental health to their congregations, although 32% reported no or low ability to do so. Most (70%) stated, if concerned about a parishioner’s mental health, they would inquire about suicidal thoughts, but fewer (59%) stated they would inquire about suicidal intent. Significant, but weak, predictors of likelihood to inquire about suicide included self-efficacy and perceived role. Clergy could benefit from suicide prevention...
The genetics of thermosensitive sex determination.

Temperature-dependent sex determination, TSD for short, was first discovered in reptiles and has been studied for decades. However, the mechanism underlying TSD has been remarkably hard to define. ...
Leaving the Skin Incision Open May Not Be as Beneficial as We Have Been Taught

Abstract Background: Currently, various methods of skin closures are used in contaminated and dirty abdominal wounds without solid, evidence-based guidance. This study investigates whether closure methods affect surgical site infection (SSI) and other incisional complications. We hypothesize that open management of the skin would have the lowest complications, including SSI. Patients and Methods: Patients age ≥18 who underwent trauma laparotomy (TL) or damage control laparotomy (DCL) from 2008–2013 and had class III/IV wounds were included. Demographic, injury, treatment, and outcome variables were compared based on skin closure methods: Primary closure, intermittently stapled with wicks, or open management. Subgroup analyses for TL, DCL, and high-risk patients with stomach, colon, or rectal injuries were performed. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression (MLR) analyses were performed to identify risk factors for superficial/deep SSI and surgical incision complications. Results: A total of 348 pa...
Resistance to Extinction Functions in Rats Exposed to Alternating Acquisition and Extinction Sessions

Albino rats were repeatedly conditioned and extinguished on a bar-pressing response in three experiments that employed number of reinforcements, and either pattern of reinforcement or schedule of reinforcement as the independent variables. The extinction functions obtained were interpreted as evidence that (a) number of reinforcements is not an unequivocal determinant of extinction responding, and (b) further investigation of the relative contributions of both the reinforcement and non-reinforcement histories of the organism to subsequent extinction responding is needed, if the extinction functions obtained from alternating aquisition-extinction paradigms are to be accurately predicted.
Abstract 2163: Combined targeting of MEK and MCL-1 induces apoptosis and tumor regression of KRAS mutant NSCLC

There are currently no effective targeted therapeutic strategies for KRAS mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Single agent MEK inhibitors have demonstrated showed disappointing clinical activity, partly due to inability to induce a robust apoptotic response. Combining MEK inhibitors with BCL-XL/BCL-2 inhibitors may be effective for a subset of KRAS mutant cancers that are dependent on BCL-XL for survival, however this combination is unlikely to be an effective strategy for cancers dependent on MCL-1. We investigated the effect of combining the MEK inhibitor trametinib with a novel MCL-1 inhibitor (compound A), which possesses potent and selective anti-MCL-1 activity in vitro and in vivo, on KRAS mutant cancers. In contrast to colorectal cancer models, which are largely sensitive to combined MEK + BCL-XL inhibition, a subset of cell line and patient-derived mouse xenograft (PDX) KRAS mutant NSCLC models were significantly more sensitive to MEK + MCL-1 inhibition compared to MEK + BCL-XL. To model potential clinical strategies, we tested intermittent dosing regimens and unexpectedly discovered a method strategy for dramatically sensitizing KRAS mutant NSCLC cells to the MEK + MCL-1 combination. These studies provide rationale for the clinical evaluation of combined MEK + MCL-1 inhibitors for KRAS mutant NSCLC. Citation Format: Aaron N. Hata, Faria M. Siddiqui, Maria Gomez-Caraballo, Samantha J. Bilton, Daria Timonina, Varuna Nangia, Angela Coxon, Sean Caenepeel, Paul Hughes. Combined targeting of MEK and MCL-1 induces apoptosis and tumor regression of KRAS mutant NSCLC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2163. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2163
Common variants in MMP20 at 11q22.2 predispose to 11q deletion and neuroblastoma risk

MYCN amplification and 11q deletion are two inversely correlated prognostic factors of poor outcome in neuroblastoma. Here we identify common variants at 11q22.2 within MMP20 that associate with neuroblastoma cases harboring 11q deletion (rs10895322), using GWAS in 113 European-American cases and 5109 ancestry-matched controls. The association is replicated in 44 independent cases and 1902 controls. Our study yields novel insights into the genetic underpinnings of neuroblastoma, demonstrating that the inherited common variants reported contribute to the origin of intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity in neuroblastoma.Chromosomal abnormalities such as 11q deletion are associated with poor prognosis in neuroblastoma. Here, the authors perform a genome-wide association study and identify an association between a variant within a Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) gene member, MMP20, and 11q-deletion subtype neuroblastoma.
BudgetROV: An ultra low cost robotics platform for education and research

With the proliferation of exciting tools such as GPS, voice assistants, and cloud computing, advanced technology is in the hands of the average person more than ever before. In the field of marine technology, this is especially true. Previously only the most well-funded research programs could afford equipment such as Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs), but in recent years more cost efficient solutions have become available such as OpenROV and BlueROV [1]. However, no current options are cost-effective enough for large fleet use in smaller institutions. BudgetROV is an alternative platform with a BOM of under $300, meant to act as a platform for many other experiments. With two full liters of internal space, simple construction, and minimal system requirements, fleets of BudgetROVs could easily be used for swarm sensing applications in the water. This paper describes in detail the properties, advantages, and drawbacks of this platform for educational and scientific use. BudgetROV has already proven useful in the realm of education, and will be adapted for underwater microscopy in the coming months.
A Prospective Phase 2 Study Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Combining Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy With Heat-based Ablation for Centrally Located Lung Tumors.

Purpose Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and heat-based ablation (HBA) are both potentially safe and effective treatments for primary and metastatic lung tumors. Both are suboptimal for centrally located tumors, with SBRT having a higher risk of significant toxicity and HBA having lower efficacy. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of combination SBRT-HBA to determine whether combined treatment can result in superior outcomes to each treatment alone. Methods and Materials Patients with 1 or 2 primary or metastatic lung tumors ≤ 5 cm in size were enrolled in a prospective phase 2 trial and treated with SBRT in 3 fractions followed by HBA. Tumors Results We treated 16 patients with 17 tumors. The median follow-up time was 26 months. Fifteen tumors were evaluable for local control. The 1- and 2-year actuarial local control rates were 93% and 81%, respectively. Three patients had grade ≥ 3 toxicity: bronchial stenosis, pain, and pulmonary hemorrhage. The percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second and functional vital capacity decreased by 8% and 8.5%, respectively, at 3 months after treatment (P Conclusions Combining SBRT and HBA for centrally located lung tumors offers reasonable local control and toxicity despite the anatomic challenges of this location. HBA may be a reasonable supplement to SBRT when trachea and bronchus, large vessel, or esophageal constraints cannot be met with full-dose SBRT and a biologically effective dose
Implantation via the Round Window and Cochlear Hook Anatomy

The round window of the human cochlea shows significant anatomic variability, which can make its use as a portal for implant electrode insertion somewhat challenging. However, round window insertion is potentially less traumatic to inner ear structures than is electrode placement via a standard promontory cochleostomy. Round window insertion is now widely used in cases in which hearing preservation is the goal, and it is particularly well suited for placement of thin, straight electrode arrays intended to track the lateral wall of scala tympani.
Champy, J. (1995). Reengineering management: The mandate for new leadership

(1996). Champy, J. (1995). Reengineering management: The mandate for new leadership. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 157-160.
Rethinking “Difficult” Conversations in Communication Instruction From an Intercultural Lens: Pedagogical Strategies for “SWAP-ping” the Communication Classroom

Intercultural communication offers both theoretical and pedagogical implications for communication instruction. As such, we interweave theories and concepts of intercultural communication and instr...
ADENOCYSTIC CARCINOMA OF THE MAXILLA; REPORT OF A CASE.

A 49-year-old Caucasian man was referred to the ITnivcrsity of Oregon Dental School for consultation regarding a swelling of the right sidtk of the maxilla. During the 2 pears preceding his first visit to this school, the patient had been seen by two physicians and three dentists and had complained to them of discomfort from an ill-fitting denture. He stated that during this Z-year period an ulcerlikc area in the right rn.axillary mucobuccal fold had come and gone but that during the last 6 months it had remained continuously. He thought that the right side of the palate was becoming larger, but the swelling had caused very little discomfort except for difficult,v in retaining th(h maxillary denture. He reported that during childhood he had suffered a fractur(t of the right maxilla after being kicked by a horse and since that, time> hc had experienced intermittent pain, with no distinct pattern, in thr right side of thcl face. Before contacting the University of Oregon Dental School the patient had visited a private dentist, who reduced the buccal denture flange opposing the ulcerated area in the mucobuccal fold and explained to the patient that, th(t ulcer was the result of an overextended denture. Tho patient could not rroall when roentgenograms had last been taken but st.atcd that it was many yc~rrs ago.
Understanding docetaxel and cabazitaxel modes of action in prostate cancer.

e23149Background: Despite the approval of several new agents, taxanes remains the main treatment with survival benefits for castration-refractory metastatic prostate cancer/mCRPC. Still their mecha...
Impact of Public Health Interventions on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: A Simulation Study

Introduction Little is known about what interventions worked or did not work in slowing the obesity epidemic. The long-term comparative effectiveness of environmental and behavioral public health interventions for obesity and type 2 diabetes prevention over an individual's life course is relatively unexplored. The potential impact and long-term collective effectiveness of environmental and behavioral interventions on obesity and type 2 diabetes throughout the life course was evaluated. Methods The Virtual Los Angeles Obesity Model developed in 2016 was used to estimate the incidence and prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes under current and hypothetical interventions among 98,000 individuals born in 2009 and followed from birth to age 65 years. Analyses were performed in 2016 and completed in 2018. Results The 48-year risk of type 2 diabetes was 0.533 (95% CI=0.446, 0.629) under the natural course, 0.451 (95% CI=0.334, 0.570) under the physical activity intervention, and 0.443 (95% CI=0.389, 0.495) under the fast-food intervention. The 64-year risk of obesity was 0.892 (95% CI=0.879, 0.903) under the natural course, 0.876 (95% CI=0.850, 0.899) under the physical activity intervention, and 0.864 (95% CI=0.856, 0.873) under the fast-food intervention. The other interventions had little or no long-term effects. When all the interventions were applied, the population risk ratios were 0.942 (95% CI=0.914, 0.967) and 0.634 (95% CI=0.484, 0.845) for obesity and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Conclusions Implementing health interventions continuously throughout the life span and in combination with other interventions could substantially halt the obesity and the type 2 diabetes epidemics.
Association of Obesity with Hearing Impairment in Adolescents.

Hearing loss (HL) is the third most common chronic physical condition in the United States. Obesity has become an increasingly important public health concern, as the prevalence in children, adolescents and adults has increased over the past few decades. The objectives of this study is to investigate whether obesity is associated with audiometric notches indicative of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), speech frequency hearing loss (SFHL), and high frequency hearing loss (HFHL) in adolescent participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2010. The prevalence of overall audiometric notches in the adolescent population was 16.0% with higher prevalence in females than males. The prevalence of SFHL and HFHL were higher in males than females (SFHL, 7.3% vs. 5.4%, respectively; and HFHL 14.3% vs. 8.1%, respectively). Obese adolescents had a higher adjusted OR to have audiometric notches (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.33–2.81) and HFHL (OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.19–3.21). Continued preventative efforts towards reducing obesity might also help to reduce the risk for HL and NIHL.
The Evolution of Management of Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcer disease occupies a prominent position in the development of modern general surgery and surgical thought. Surgical management has progressed from emptying procedures to patching procedures to physiologic operations involving nerve division, as the physiology of gastric function and acid production was better understood. The introduction of effective medical therapy to suppress acid production has significantly reduced the incidence of peptic ulcer disease requiring surgery, while the discovery of Helicobacter pylori gave an explanatory cause. Despite therapeutic targets, patients with complications of peptic ulcer disease requiring surgical therapy still arrive on the doorsteps of emergency departments across the world. Peptic ulcer disease remains an important part of general surgery training and practice.
Optimal $\varepsilon$-Biased Sets with Just a Little Randomness

Subsets of $\mathbb{F}_2^n$ that are $\varepsilon$-biased, meaning that the parity of any set of bits is even or odd with probability $\varepsilon$ close to $1/2$, are powerful tools for derandomization. A simple randomized construction shows that such sets exist of size $O(n/\varepsilon^2)$, and known deterministic constructions achieve sets of size $O(n/\varepsilon^3)$, $O(n^2/\varepsilon^2)$, and $O((n/\varepsilon^2)^{5/4})$. Rather than derandomizing these sets completely in exchange for making them larger, we attempt a partial derandomization while keeping them small, constructing sets of size $O(n/\varepsilon^2)$ with as few random bits as possible. Equivalently, we construct small ensembles of error-correcting codes, most of which meet the Gilbert--Varshamov bound. The naive randomized construction requires $O(n^2/\varepsilon^2)$ random bits. We give two constructions. The first uses Nisan's space-bounded pseudorandom generator to partly derandomize the classic Wozencraft ensemble of error-correcti...
Postanesthesia Care Unit Stay and Complications After Same-Day Discharge Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Objective: To identify associations between postanesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS) and postoperative complications among same-day discharged (SDD) laparoscopic hysterectomy patients. ...
Biblical Foundationalism and Religious Reflection: Polarization of Faith and Intellect Oriented Epistemologies within a Christian Ideological Surround:

Among other things, the Ideological Surround Model (ISM) argues that greater objectivity can be achieved through an empiricism that brings emic religious and etic social scientific perspectives int...
Chapter 7 – Fourier Analysis

In this chapter the main elements of the theory of Fourier series and Fourier transforms are presented, first in a classical setting, and then later for suitable distributions. In one space dimension, the completeness of trigonometric polynomials is proved, and the consequences elaborated for the convergence of partial sums of Fourier series, and associated Fejer means. Various equivalent forms of Fourier series are mentioned, and the relationship between smoothness of a function and decay of the corresponding Fourier coefficients is discussed. The Fourier transform is defined initially for integrable functions in any number of space dimensions, the classical inversion theorem and other standard properties are proved, and the extension of the Fourier transform to the space of square integrable functions is given. The chapter concludes by developing the needed theory by means of which Fourier series can be defined for distributions on the unit circle, and the Fourier transform can be defined for the class of tempered distributions.
Transformation and Stasis: An Exploration of LGBTQA Students Prefiguring the Social Practices of Engineering for Greater Inclusivity

The field of engineering continues to suffer from the underrepresentation of non-dominant groups despite concerted efforts towards change, particularly with respect to increasing women’s participat...
Uninvestigated fatal workplace injuries in the United States.

Background Approximately 5000 people are killed by an injury at work every year, but the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) only investigates 25%-35% of these deaths. The aim of this study was to identify industry, geographic, and worker demographic disparities in the proportion of fatal workplace injuries that are investigated by OSHA. Methods This cross-sectional analysis drew from 2 years of public data (2014-2015) from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and investigation data from OSHA. Differences by worker age and sex, geographic region, industry, and State Plan- versus Federal Plan-state were examined. Results Nationally, OSHA investigated about one in four (27.5%) of the 9657 fatal workplace injuries that occurred. Higher odds of uninvestigated fatalities were observed for female workers compared to male workers (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.89, 2.93), for workers over age 65 compared to those aged 18-24 (3.05; 2.44, 3.82), for worker deaths occurring in State Plan states compared to Federal Plan states (1.64; 1.49, 1.79), among other differences. Conclusions Although some of the disparities could be explained by OSHA jurisdiction restrictions, other areas of potential reform were identified, such as investigating a greater number of workplace violence deaths and increasing focus in industries with a low proportion of investigations but a high number of fatalities, such as transportation and warehousing. Consideration should be given to adapt policies, expand OSHA jurisdiction, and to increase OSHA resources for conducting both fatality investigations and proactive investigations that can identify and abate hazards before a worker is injured.
Longitudinal multiparametric MRI study of hydrogen-enriched water with minocycline combination therapy in experimental ischemic stroke in rats.

Abstract Free radicals are downstream mediators of several cytotoxic cascades contributing to ischemic brain injury. Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an antioxidant potentially useful in the treatment of stroke. Hydrogen is easy to deliver, biologically non-toxic and diffuses freely through all biological structures including the blood-brain barrier and cellular membranes. This study evaluated the efficacy of hydrogen treatments in a rat stroke model compared to vehicle-treated controls using multiparametric MRI and neurological tests. Additionally, comparison of H2 treatment alone was made with H2 combined with minocycline (H2M) treatment (12 rats per group). The primary findings were: i) H2 therapy reduced infarct volume in both H2 and H2M groups compared to controls at 1 and 7 days after stroke, and ii) both H2 and H2M improved neurologic functional recovery on day 7. The secondary outcomes were: iii) H2M treatment attenuated post-stroke hyperperfusion in the hyperacute phase, and iv) H2M markedly minimized white matter injury. In conclusion, this is the first study to use MRI to longitudinally study H2 and H2M treatment on ischemic stroke and the first study to compare H2 treatment combined with another potential stroke therapeutic (H2M).
Y si fuera el cuerpo quien animase al alma

This article explores the question of the body from a gender perspective. First, it reviews the philosophical evasion of the body, as well as its assimilation with the feminine. Second, it examines the capitalist negation of the body and discusses the possibility of understanding the differentiation between the logics of exploitation and expropriation through a previously posited differentiation among bodies. Finally, it proposes an analysis of the general exclusion of the body as a particular exclusion of the feminine and the popular, suggesting that the advent of bodies promulgated by the feminist movement, especially in the Latin American context, holds a democratic and emancipatory potential.
Targeting γ-secretase for familial Alzheimer’s disease

Familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) is a rare early-onset genetic form of common dementia of old age. Striking in middle age, FAD is caused by missense mutations in three genes: APP (encoding the amyloid precursor protein) and PSEN1 and PSEN2 (encoding presenilin-1 and presenilin-2). APP is proteolytically processed successively by β-secretase and γ-secretase to produce the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ). Presenilin is the catalytic component of γ-secretase, a membrane-embedded aspartyl protease complex that cleaves APP within its single transmembrane domain to produce Aβ of varying lengths. Thus, all FAD mutations are found in the substrate and the enzyme that produce Aβ. The 42-residue variant Aβ42 has been the primary focus of Alzheimer drug discovery for over two decades, as this particular peptide is highly prone to aggregation, is the major protein deposited in the characteristic cerebral plaques of Alzheimer’s disease and is proportionately elevated in FAD. Despite extensive efforts, all agents targeting Aβ and Aβ42 have failed in the clinic, including γ-secretase inhibitors, leading to questioning of the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer pathogenesis. However, processing of the APP transmembrane domain by γ-secretase is complex, involving initial endoproteolysis followed by successive carboxypeptidase trimming steps to secreted Aβ peptides such as Aβ42. Recent findings reveal that FAD mutations in PSEN1 and in APP result in the deficient trimming of initially formed long Aβ peptides. A logical drug discovery strategy for FAD could therefore involve the search for compounds that rescue this deficient carboxypeptidase activity. The rare early-onset FAD arguably presents a simpler path to developing effective therapeutics compared to the much more complex heterogeneous sporadic Alzheimer’s disease.
Head tracked 3-D audio using loudspeakers

Existing loudspeaker 3-D audio systems suffer from a fixed listening location. This paper proposes using a head tracker to steer the equalization zone to the position of the tracked listener. Sound localization experiments show that this strategy greatly improves localization when the listener is displaced from the ideal listening location, and also enables dynamic localization cues.
Biologically Inspired Methods in Data Mining

In this presentation we will discuss potential of biomimetics: how engineers can transform ideas coming from better understanding of living organisms, generated mainly by life scientists, for designing better, smarter systems (or devices) for solving everyday problems.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase: regulation subserves function

Nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was purified (Stuehr et al. 1991) and cloned (Xie et al. 1992) from interferon-γ (IFNγ)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophages. The primary structure, deduced from the cDNA and confirmed by HPLC-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, established that this inducible enzyme differs from the constitutive NOSs (cNOSs) cloned from cerebellar and endothelial libraries. Western blotting detected a highly similar enzyme in a wide variety of cell types after activation, including cardiac myocytes, where NO appeared to suppress rhythmicity (Roberts et al. 1992). Southern blotting and genomic cloning (Chartrain et al.1994) strongly suggest that there is a single iNOS gene. Thus, iNOS is a unique gene that can be expressed widely following activation.
Cultural Landscapes: Balancing Nature and Heritage in Preservation Practice

C ultural Landscapes is a selection of 10 papers presented at a conference at Goucher College in Towson, MD, in March 2004, the diversity of which provides new food for thought on how to approach t...
Adsorption of arsenic(V) from aqueous solutions by goethite/silica nanocomposite

Silica nanoparticles were synthesized and coated with goethite, creating a nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was tested for removal of arsenic, As(V), from aqueous solutions. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and a Zetasizer to characterize particle size, surface morphology, functional groups, and surface charge of the nanocomposite. SEM results showed that the size of the synthesized silica nanoparticles ranged from 150 to 250 nm. Batch sorption studies were carried out on the adsorption of As(V) as a function of pH, contact time, initial concentration, and ionic strength. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 3.0. The adsorption capacity did not change significantly with increasing ionic strength. A kinetics study revealed that adsorption of As(V) by the goethite/silica nanocomposite was rapid: Equilibrium was reached within 120 min. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption data were analyzed by both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity of goethite/silica nanocomposite for As(V) from the Langmuir isotherm was 17.64 mg g−1, which is larger than that of several other adsorbents. The nanocomposite adsorbent showed high efficiency in removing arsenic from aqueous solutions, even at low initial concentrations.
eNAP-2, a novel cysteine-rich bactericidal peptide from equine leukocytes.

Abstract We purified a novel cysteine-rich antibiotic peptide, eNAP-2 (M(r), approximately 6,500), from acid extracts of equine neutrophils by sequential gel filtration and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and determined its partial N-terminal amino acid sequence. Although its cysteine motif distinguished eNAP-2 from all other currently known endogenous antibiotic peptides, including defensins and granulins, it showed substantial sequence similarity to WDNM1, a putative member of the four-disulfide-core protein family that also includes animal and human antiproteases, snake venom neurotoxins, and rat and mouse whey proteins. The antibacterial properties of eNAP-2 were tested against several equine uterine pathogens, namely, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Killing of S. zooepidemicus was very efficient, as evidenced by a 94% decrease in numbers of CFU per milliliter after exposure to 100 micrograms of eNAP-2 per ml (approximately 15 microM) for 2 h. Exposure of E. coli and P. aeruginosa to 200 micrograms of eNAP-2 per ml for 2 h resulted in 90.2 and 77.6% reduction, respectively, in the numbers of CFU per milliliter. Bacteriostasis, without bactericidal activity, occurred after K. pneumoniae was incubated with 200 micrograms of eNAP-2 per ml. Additional studies will be required in other species and cell types to determine whether eNAP-2 is restricted to equine neutrophils or is the index member of a larger family of endogenous antibiotics.
Resource pulses can increase power acquisition of an ecosystem

Abstract Pulsing is prevalent in nature. As resource pulse has been recognized as one of the major factors influencing ecosystem structures and processes, it is important to investigate why nature pulses and what benefits an ecosystem obtains from pulsed resources. The main question of this study was that if a system could be exposed to either constant external resources or pulsed external resources of the same temporal average intensity, which resources would maximize power acquisition of a system. To answer the question, this study tested how matching of pulsed resources affects total empower acquisition of a system using numerical simulation models and a refined dynamic emergy accounting method. A producer–consumer model system was built and simulated by varying phases and frequencies of pulsed energy sources. It was hypothesized that matching of frequency and phase among two or more pulsed energy sources increases the empower acquisition of a system, compared with a system under constant energy sources. The simulation results showed that in systems of two energy sources, matching phases and frequencies of the pulsed energy sources involved in primary production is critical to increase total empower acquisition and consumer energy storage. The primary mechanism was that the matching of pulsed resources in phase and frequency promotes energy acquisition of primary producers that is further efficiently transferred for the production of consumers. Energy acquisition of consumers was strongly correlated with total empower acquisition of the system presumably because the consumers are in the high energy hierarchical position controlling the producers thus contributing to the total empower acquisition through the system.