cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Perception of Children Regarding their Mother's Employment in Selected School, Ernakulam.

A descriptive study on the perception of children regarding their mother's employment in selected school was conducted with the objectives to (1) determine the perception of children regarding their mother's employment (2) find out the association between perception of children regarding mother's employment and selected demographic variables. The design used for the study was descriptive research design. The mother's employment is a multidimensional variable that has a differential impact on children depending on the number of hours a mother works, her job description, job stability and role satisfaction. Materials and Methods: The study sample size was 100 subjects of 6 th , 7 th , 8 th and 9 th classes who met the inclusion criteria. Convenience sampling technique was used. The data were collected using (5-point likert scale) semi-structured questionnaire on child's perception regarding mother's employment. Results: Overall 96(96%) subjects had good perception, 4(4%) of subjects with moderate perception regarding mother's employment. There were no subjects with poor perception. Regarding child's perception based on gender and ordinal level of class shows that both male and female subjects were 9(100.0%) and 11(100.0%) from 6 th standard with good perception. Male 9(100.0%) and female 9(81.8%) were from 7 th standard with good perception and female 9(100.0%) and male 20(95.2%) from 8th standard had good perception. Male 11(100.0%) and female 18(94.7%) from 9 th standard had good perception. There were no subjects from 6th standard with moderate perception. Female 2(18.2%) from 7 th standard had moderate perception. Male 1(4.8%) from 8 th standard had moderate perception, female 1(5.3%) from 9 th standard had moderate perception about their mother's employment. There were no subjects with poor perception based on gender and ordinal level of class. Based on child's perception with ordinal level of class shows majority 100% of subjects were from 6 th standard with good perception and minority 3% of subjects were from 8 th and 9 th standard with moderate perception. There were no subjects who had poor perception. There was no significant association between child's perception on mother's employment and selected demographic variables. Discussion: The study concluded that the perception of children is unaffected by the mothers work period because in the present study findings, majority of the subjects had good perception on mother's employment.
Reducing Training Environments in Evolutionary Robotics Through Ecological Modularity

Due to the large number of evaluations required, evolutionary robotics experiments are generally conducted in simulated environments. One way to increase the generality of a robot’s behavior is to evolve it in multiple environments. These environment spaces can be defined by the number of free parameters (f) and the number of variations each free parameter can take (n). Each environment space then has \(n^f\) individual environments. For a robot to be fit in the environment space it must perform well in each of the \(n^f\) environments. Thus the number of environments grows exponentially as n and f are increased. To mitigate the problem of having to evolve a robot in each environment in the space we introduce the concept of ecological modularity. Ecological modularity is here defined as the robot’s modularity with respect to free parameters in its environment space. We show that if a robot is modular along m of the free parameters in its environment space, it only needs to be evolved in \(n^{f-m+1}\) environments to be fit in all of the \(n^f\) environments. This work thus presents a heretofore unknown relationship between the modularity of an agent and its ability to generalize evolved behaviors in new environments.
Richard Wagner in Bayreuth

The final chapter of the book argues that in Richard Wagner in Bayreuth, Nietzsche elaborates the artistic characteristics of the culture-creating genius whose philosophic characteristics were presented in its prequel on Schopenhauer. Nietzsche says that Wagner was a creator of history whose relationship to it “closely resembles […] the relationship one has to things one shapes or poeticizes.” Wagner’s dramas thus serve as examples of the value-creating monumental history whose mythical foundations Nietzsche demonstrated a need for in the second Untimely Meditation. Wagner’s art provides the Germans with a new historical horizon beneath which life can flourish anew, and gradually reshapes their ethical nature. The chapter also gives an account of how Nietzsche thought the young Wagner became who he was. This account focuses on Nietzsche’s argument that Wagner was driven by a “ruling passion,” which I argue is an early form of Nietzsche’s later doctrine of the will to power.
Discovery-to-recall in the automotive industry: A problem-solving perspective on investigation of quality failures

Several recent high-profile product recalls raise the question of why companies take so long to recall defective products from the market. The recall timing decision is not a simple task, as companies constantly face multiple, often competing goals during the recall process. In this research, we examine variations in large automakers’ recall timing decisions after an initial report of a suspected quality failures. Drawing upon problem-solving theory, we theorize about how five recall attributes impact discovery-to-recall, defined as the time between a defective product's initial discovery and its officially announced recall. To test our hypotheses, we assembled a vehicle recall investigation dataset from recall reports filed by the six largest automakers that sold passenger cars in the United States from 2000-2012. Results from event history analysis reveal that discovery-to-recall is longer for: (1) recalls that are triggered by external initial reports, rather than internal initial reports, (2) recalls that are attributed to suppliers, rather than automakers, (3) recalls that are associated with design flaws, as opposed to manufacturing flaws, and (4) recalls with more models involved. We also find that cumulative recall experience, measured as the total number of previous recalls, shortens discovery-to-recall. These findings improve our understanding of why the timing of vehicle recalls varies considerably at the individual recall level. They also highlight the value of problem-solving theory in vehicle recall research, as well as quality management research. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths both in the United States and worldwide with estimates by the American Cancer Society for the year 2016 and GLOBOCAN for the year 2012 of 158,000 and 1.6 million deaths, respectively. Among patients with lung cancer, approximately 87% of patients have a broad group of histologies called non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC), whereas approximately 13% have small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC may be further subdivided into adenocarcinoma (ADC), squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC), and large cell carcinoma (LC). Most patients with NSCLC present with advanced stage, which is essentially incurable and treated with palliative intent. With the exception of selected patients with activating EGFR mutations or ALK translocations, for which targeted therapy with small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors is associated with a prolonged clinical benefit, the standard of care for most patients with metastatic NSCLC is a platinum-based chemotherapy doublet. Monoclonal antibodies against either the vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been approved based on a modest benefit over chemotherapy alone and are commonly used in the absence of contraindications.
How to Prepare Interprofessional Teams in Two Weeks: An Innovative Education Program Nested in Telehealth.

Problem Preparing health professional students for interprofessional collaborative practice, especially at a distance where provider shortages prevail remains difficult. Approach A two-week interprofessional education (IPE) immersion experience preparing students from 11 disciplines and four universities was implemented. Week-one, using online technology, students develop/present an interprofessional careplan for a complex patient. Students then meet face-to-face to conduct group interviews with two standardized patient dyads. Week-two, students develop a website for use of the patient dyads. Websites are presented to faculty and fellow students via an online virtual meeting space. Outcomes To date, 594 students have participated demonstrating capacity to: 1.effectively engage in interprofessional care, 2. utilize Telehealth to impact care and break down barriers of isolation, and 3. implement skills to advance healthcare. Conclusion IPE combined with Telehealth technology provides future providers with knowledge and skills for interprofessional care regardless of geographic barriers. Next Step: Integrate more technology using mobile devices and enhance the evaluation process.
DNA Replication, Mitochondrial

Nearly all eukaryotic cells contain organelles called mitochondria that contain enzymes which utilize oxygen and nutrient molecules, such as sugars, to produce most of the adenosine triphosphate that in turn provides energy to support cellular molecular activities. The mitochondria, in addition to being the principal sites of energy production, contain their own genome, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is different structurally and functionally from the much larger nuclear genome. DNA replication is the process by which new DNA genomes are synthesized by copying the strands of pre-existing DNA. Replication of mtDNA occurs by a distinctive mechanism independent of the replication of DNA in the cell nucleus. Proper synthesis and maintenance of mtDNA and the mitochondrion as a whole require the coordinated participation of both nuclear and mtDNA gene products.
Governor Vessel 督脈經穴

The governor vessel is the sea of the yang channels. It originates in the pelvic cavity, rises along the spine to the vertex, connecting forward along the midline of forehead, and ends in the upper gum.
NSAID-Avoidance Education in Community Pharmacies for Patients at High Risk for Acute Kidney Injury, Upstate New York, 2011

Introduction Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently associated with community-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI), a strong risk factor for development and progression of chronic kidney disease. Using access to prescription medication profiles, pharmacists can identify patients at high risk for NSAID-induced AKI. The primary objective of this analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of a community pharmacy–based patient education program on patient knowledge of NSAID-associated renal safety concerns.
GLB + T?: Gender/Sexuality Movements and Transgender Collective Identity (De)Constructions

In the United States during the 1990s, there emerged a “new” form of collective political organizing and action around “transgender” identity. In this essay, the author depicts the dynamics of transgender activism during the mid-1990s based on original research in the form of a postmodern ethnography of transgender activism. Using data from field research, interviews, and observation, the author illustrates the way that “transgender” activism was characterized by simultaneous claims to a shared “transgender” quasi-ethnic identity and the complications thereof. In particular, the author details transgender social movement processes of identity—both processes of collective identity construction and deconstruction—demonstrating that transgender politics are not simply identity politics nor deconstructive (queer) politics. Using constructionist social movement literature, the author argues that in sexuality/gender studies we must expand our understanding of “identity politics” in order to understand the simultaneity of constructions and deconstructions of identity and gender/sexuality movements today.
Use of nasal valve stent with anterior rhinomanometry to quantitate nasal valve obstruction.

Some patients have increased resistance in the nasal valve area that is static and does not collapse. Anterior rhinomanometry is unable to document nasal valve disorders in these instances. A simple stent was devised to open the nasal valve area during anterior mask rhinomanometry. Three groups of subjects were studied with and without the stent. These groups were 1) patients with anatomic findings of nasal valve obstruction, 2) normal control subjects, and 3) normal control subjects with artificially created midseptal nasal obstructions. At peak inspiration the median decrease in resistance with the stent in place when compared to nonstented values was 0.91 Pa.cm-3.s-1 for group 1, 0.27 Pa.cm-3.s-1 for group 2, and 0.25 Pa.cm-3.s-1 for group 3. Comparisons using the nonparametric Wilcoxon test had a significance level of p less than .001. An easily fashioned, well-tolerated nasal valve stent can be readily incorporated in anterior mask rhinomanometry technique. With use of the stent, nasal valve obstruction can be accurately diagnosed and quantitated.
The Exon Junction Complex: A Multitasking Guardian of the Transcriptome

In a recent issue of Molecular Cell, Boehm et al. (2018), Blazquez et al. (2018), and Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis et al. (2018) uncover novel mechanisms by which the cell regulates splicing of cryptic splice sites and microexons.
Genetic Factors in Alcohol Abuse: Animal Models

Whether animal studies of alcohol-related behavior will make any major contributions to our understanding of the human condition of alcoholism and to its amelioration remains to be seen. A rather widely shared view is that alcoholism is so peculiarly a human condition that study of the so-called lower animals is utterly irrelevant. Leaving that issue aside, other critics contend that the animal models employed up to this point have been uninformative because they are too narrow and refer only to a limited subset of the total set of phenomena that constitute alcoholism. We need, therefore, to examine models from the perspectives of both comprehensiveness and phylogenetic generalizability.
Does omeprazole (Prilosec) improve respiratory function in asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux? A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common among patients with asthma, and it has been speculated that high GER may exacerbate asthma in some. This study was designed to determine if suppression of acid reflux in patients with asthma would improve pulmonary function. A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study design was used to determine the effect of GER suppression with omeprazole (20 mg twice daily) on pulmonary function among asthmatic patients with esophagitis. Four of 15 (27%) asthma patients with GER were shown to have a≥20% net improvement in pulmonary function (FEV1) after treatment for six weeks with omeprazole. These results indicate that some patients with asthma and GER will have improved pulmonary function when acid GER is treated with omeprazole.
Hard to Park?: Estimating Parking Difficulty at Scale

In this paper we consider the problem of estimating the difficulty of parking at a particular time and place; this problem is a critical sub-component for any system providing parking assistance to users. We describe an approach to this problem that is currently in production in Google Maps, providing inferences in cities across the world. We present a wide range of features intended to capture different aspects of parking difficulty and study their effectiveness both alone and in combination. We also evaluate various model architectures for the prediction problem. Finally, we present challenges faced in estimating parking difficulty in different regions of the world, and the approaches we have taken to address them.
In‐Vivo Efficacy of Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) Injection for Accelerated Healing of Murine Retrocalcaneal Bursitis and Tendinopathy

The deposition of aggrecan/hyaluronan (HA)-rich matrix within the tendon body and surrounding peritenon impede tendon healing and result in compromised biomechanical properties. Hence, the development of novel strategies to achieve targeted removal of the aggrecan-HA pericellular matrix may be effective in treating tendinopathy. The current study examined the therapeutic potential of a recombinant human hyaluronidase, rHuPH20 (FDA approved for reducing HA accumulation in tumors) for treating murine Achilles tendinopathy. The 12-week-old C57Bl/6 male mice were injected with two doses of rHuTGF-β1 into the retrocalcaneal bursa (RCB) to induce a combined bursitis and tendinopathy. Twenty-four hours following induction of injury, treatment groups were administered rHuPH20 Hyaluronidase (rHuPH20; Halozyme Therapeutics) into the RCB. At either 6 h (acute), 9 days, or 25 days following hyaluronidase treatment, Achilles tendons were analyzed for gene expression, histology and immunohistochemistry, fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis, and biomechanical properties. The rHuPH20 treatment was effective, particularly at the acute and 9-day time points, in (a) removing HA deposits from the Achilles tendon and surrounding tissues, (b) improving biomechanical properties of the healing tendon, and (c) eliciting targeted increases in expression of specific cell fate, extracellular matrix metabolism, and inflammatory genes. The potential of rHuPH20 to effectively clear the pro-inflammatory, HA-rich matrix within the RCB and tendon strongly supports the future refinement of injectable glycosidase preparations as potential treatments to protect or regenerate tendon tissue by reducing inflammation and scarring in the presence of bursitis or other inducers of damage such as mechanical overuse. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:59-69, 2020.
The Contribution of Lipids to the Interindividual Response of Vitamin K Biomarkers to Vitamin K Supplementation.

SCOPE: A better understanding of factors contributing to interindividual variability in biomarkers of vitamin K can enhance the understanding of the equivocal role of vitamin K in cardiovascular disease. Based on the known biology of phylloquinone, the major form of vitamin K, it is hypothesized that plasma lipids contribute to the variable response of biomarkers of vitamin K metabolism to phylloquinone supplementation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The association of plasma lipids and 27 lipid‐related genetic variants with the response of biomarkers of vitamin K metabolism is examined in a secondary analysis of data from a 3‐year phylloquinone supplementation trial in men (n = 66) and women (n = 85). Year 3 plasma triglycerides (TG), but not total cholesterol, LDL‐cholesterol, or HDL‐cholesterol, are associated with the plasma phylloquinone response (men: β = 1.01, p < 0.001, R² = 0.34; women: β = 0.61, p = 0.008, R² = 0.11; sex interaction p = 0.077). Four variants and the TG‐weighted genetic risk score are associated with the plasma phylloquinone response in men only. Plasma lipids are not associated with changes in biomarkers of vitamin K function (undercarboxylated osteocalcin and matrix gla protein) in either sex. CONCLUSION: Plasma TG are an important determinant of the interindividual response of plasma phylloquinone to phylloquinone supplementation, but changes in biomarkers of vitamin K carboxylation are not influenced by lipids.
Bronchodilator Dose Responsiveness in Children and Adolescents: Clinical Features and Association with Future Asthma Exacerbations

Background Bronchodilator reversibility measures are often associated with poor asthma outcomes in children. Whether bronchodilator dose responsiveness is similarly useful in children is unclear. Objective We hypothesized that children and adolescents requiring higher doses of bronchodilator to achieve maximal bronchodilation would have unique risk factors and increased risk of future exacerbation. Methods Children (6-11 years, N = 299) and adolescents (12-21 years, N = 331) with confirmed asthma underwent clinical phenotyping procedures and a test of maximal bronchodilation with escalating doses of albuterol sulfate up to 720 mcg. Outcome measures were assessed at 12 months and included exacerbations treated with systemic corticosteroids, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for asthma. Results A total of 6.7% of children and 9.3% of adolescents had poor bronchodilator dose responsiveness, defined as attainment of maximal forced expiratory volume in 1 second with 720 mcg albuterol. Risk factors included type 2 inflammation, prior exacerbations, and greater asthma severity; historical pneumonia and tobacco exposure were also risk factors in children. Children and adolescents with poor bronchodilator dose responsiveness did not have increased current symptoms or impaired quality of life, but had approximately 2-fold increased odds of exacerbation or ED visit and approximately 3-fold increased odds of hospitalization by 12 months, independent of airflow obstruction. Conclusions Bronchodilator dose responsiveness may be useful for phenotyping and may be of utility in practice and future studies focused on asthma outcomes or quantification of treatment responses. In children and adolescents, this phenotype of poor bronchodilator responsiveness may be associated with periods of relatively stable disease yet marked airway constriction in response to triggers, including tobacco smoke, respiratory infections/pneumonia, and aeroallergens.
Impact of BDNF and sex on maintaining intact memory function in early midlife.

Abstract Sex steroid hormones and neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), play a significant neuroprotective role in memory circuitry aging. Here, we present findings characterizing the neuroprotective effects of BDNF on memory performance, as a function of sex and reproductive status in women. Participants (N = 191; mean age = 50.03 ± 2.10) underwent clinical and cognitive testing, fMRI scanning, and hormonal assessments of menopausal staging. Memory performance was assessed with the 6-Trial Selective Reminding Test and the Face-Name Associative Memory Exam. Participants also performed a working memory (WM) N-back task during fMRI scanning. Results revealed significant interactions between menopausal status and BDNF levels. Only in postmenopausal women, lower plasma BDNF levels were associated with significantly worse memory performance and altered function in the WM circuitry. BDNF had no significant impact on memory performance or WM function in pre/perimenopausal women or men. These results suggest that in postmenopausal women, BDNF is associated with memory performance and memory circuitry function, thus providing evidence of potential sex-dependent factors of risk and resilience for early intervention.
Space-Time Coded ARTM CPM for Aeronautical Telemetry

This paper shows that burst-based orthogonal spacetime block-coded ARTM CPM is capable of solving the two-antenna problem in aeronautical telemetry, but detection requires a prohibitively complex trellis detector. In single-input, single-output (SISO) applications, pulse truncation and state-space partitioning reduce the computational complexity of the trellis detector with only modest bit error rate (BER) performance penalties. In this paper it is shown that layering pulse truncation and state-space partition complexity-reducing techniques with a burst-based orthogonal space-time block-code does not introduce additional BER performance losses relative to the SISO case.
Posterior Approach for a Ventral Intradural Extramedullary Meningioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Ventral thoracic meningiomas are rare entities in which the spinal cord is attenuated and draped over the meningioma symmetrically. This is a challenging surgical entity compared to typical intradural meningiomas, which nearly always eccentrically displace the cord. In these more common meningiomas, surgical access is fairly straightforward as the meningioma is often visualized upon opening the meninges. Resection can be more safely performed with the cord largely shifted. In cases of ventral meningioma, the tumor is hidden ventral to the spinal cord, and techniques to safely mobilize the spinal cord must be utilized. We demonstrate that an entirely posterior approach allows complete resection of a ventrally situated mass. After careful identification and sectioning of the dentate ligament at multiple levels on the right side of the canal, we then suture and rotate the dentate ligament at each site, thereby allowing progressive visualization of the ventral meningioma. A narrow, but viable, working corridor to the tumor allows safe debulking. Once it is felt that the tumor can no longer be safely excised through the created corridor, we then disconnect our dentate sutures and move to the other side of the canal. Similarly, the dentate is sectioned and sutured so that the contralateral aspect of the meningioma can be visualized and debulked. The tumor can then be safely removed. A standard posterior approach and midline durotomy allows this bilateral approach to a ventrally situated meningioma and, therefore, in our mind, represents a safe and also highly effective road to resection. Patient consent was obtained prior to publication.
Grumpy old vets

The dairy industry of the upper Midwest is being restructured. The perceived long-term value of a 50-cow tie-stall barn with a vertical silo is low. If the owner is fifty-five years old, the plan is to ride the depreciation out to an unsaleable dairy. If the owner is forty years old, the question is whether to expand substantially or get out now. Paralleling the uncertainty of dairy operators is the palpable uncertainty of upper Midwestern dairy practitioners. The daily activities of a typical Midwestern dairy practice are changed very little from thepractice style that developed thirty years ago. However, that mix of sick cow exams, scheduled reproductive exams, the displaced abomasum surgery, and emergency services are not well accepted in the expanded dairy herds of several hundred cows. The 1960's dairy practice has arrived on the 21st-century dairy farm and whilethe cows look familiar, everything else has changed! This paper will explore some issues, problems, and possible solutions for adapting veterinary services for dairies in the next decade.
Opening the black box of conservation philanthropy: A co-produced research agenda on private foundations in marine conservation

Abstract In the ‘new Gilded Age’ of mega-wealth and big philanthropy, academics are not paying enough attention to private foundations. Mirroring upward trends in philanthropy broadly, marine conservation philanthropy has more than doubled in recent years, reaching virtually every globally salient marine conservation issue in all corners of the planet. This paper argues that marine conservation philanthropy warrants a dedicated research agenda because private foundations are prominent, unique, and under-studied actors seeking to shape the future of a “frontier” space. We present a co-produced social science research agenda on marine conservation philanthropy that reflects the priorities of 106 marine conservation donors, practitioners, and stakeholders who participated in a research co-design process in 2018. These “research co-designers” raised 137 unique research questions, which we grouped into five thematic research priorities: outcomes, governance roles, exits, internal foundation governance, and funding landscape. We identify issues of legitimacy, justice, and applied best practice as cross-cutting research priorities that came up throughout the five themes. Participants from the NGO, foundation, and government sectors identified questions within all five themes and three cross-cutting issues, underscoring shared interest in this work from diverse groups. The research we call for herein can inform the practice of conservation philanthropy at a time when foundations are increasingly reckoning with their role as institutions of power in society. This paper is broadly relevant for social and natural scientists, practitioners, donors, and policy-makers interested in better understanding private philanthropy in any environmental context globally.
More than a Modern Day Green Book: Exploring the Online Community of Black Twitter

The Negro Motorist Green Book was a tool used by the Black community to navigate systemic racism throughout the U.S. and around the world. Whether providing its users with safer roads to take or businesses that were welcoming to Black patrons, The Negro Motorist Green Book fostered pride and created a physical network of safe spaces within the Black community. Building a bridge between this artifact which served Black people for thirty years and the current moment, we explore Black Twitter as an online space where the Black community navigates identity, activism, racism, and more. Through interviews with people who engage with Black Twitter, we surface the benefits (such as community building, empowerment, and activism) and challenges (like dealing with racism, appropriation, and outsiders) on the platform, juxtaposing the Green Book as a historical artifact and Black Twitter as its contemporary counterpart. Equipped with these insights, we make suggestions including audience segmentation, privacy controls, and involving historically disenfranchised perspectives into the technological design process. These proposals have implications for the design of technologies that would serve Black communities by amplifying Black voices and bolstering work toward justice.
Effectiveness of Vaccination Against Reported SARS-CoV-2 Infection in United States Coast Guard Personnel Between May and August 2021: A Time-Series Analysis

BackgroundThe United States Coast Guard (CG) began voluntary use of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines under an Emergency Use Authorization on December 16, 2020. Vaccination status is monitored through a service-wide immunization registry. Active Duty and Reserve (military) CG members are required to report any new positive test for COVID-19 to a centralized database. MethodsBetween May and August 2021, vaccination effectiveness (VE) against any new report of COVID-19 was calculated according to standard formulas, using registry immunization status of cases and monthly mid-point vaccine coverage data. CG members recorded as fully vaccinated with a two-dose vaccine were compared with those with any other vaccine status. Sub-analyses were also conducted according to geographic area (Atlantic vs Pacific), age, and type of vaccine received. ResultsEffectiveness of full vaccination reached a peak of 89.0% in June, then declined over the rest of the study period to 62.7% in August. In July and August, steeper declines in VE were seen in the Atlantic region. The rate of breakthrough infections remained under 1% in two-dose vaccine recipients, and did not differ between those who received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. No hospitalizations or deaths due to COVID-19 disease were recorded in fully vaccinated Coast Guard members. ConclusionCoincident with the national spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, overall vaccine effectiveness among CG personnel decreased during the summer months of 2021, but continued to provide substantial protection, as well as full protection against the most serious outcomes. Policy initiatives and outreach intended to increase vaccine coverage within this and other military populations could extend the disease prevention benefits seen in this study.
Theoretical studies of thyroid hormone analogs.

The thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4; 1) and 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3; 2) are Open image in new window necessary for the maintenance of normal growth and metabolism in a variety of organisms [1]. Since their isolation and structure elucidation in the first half of this century many theories regarding their mechanism of action have been proposed [2]. Also, because of the rather simple nature of their structure much work has been done on structural analogs of the hormones and, therefore, much is known about the structural features necessary for activity. However, no theory has yet evolved which ties together this detailed understanding of the structural requirements for hormone activity and those biochemical events governed by the hormones. It was thought that a molecular orbital study comparing the endogenous hormones and a highly active methylene-bridged analog 3,5-diiodo4-(4′-hydroxy-3′-iodobenzyl)-DL-phenylalanine (MB-T3) with less active analogs, 3,5-diiodo-4-(3′-iodo-4′-aminophenoxy)-DL-phenyl-alanine (4′-NH2) and 3,5,3′-trimethyl-L-thyronine (Me3), might reveal characteristics of the structural features which would lead to deductions regarding the functional role of the hormones.
From Partners to Parents: The Second Revolution in Family Law

Introduction: From Parents to Partners--The Second Revolution in Family LawPart I. From Partners to Parents: The Philosophical Divide 1. Economics and the Family: Reformulating the Old Order2. Feminism and Political Theory: The Traditional Family and Its Discontents3. Feminism and Economics: Becker Meets Okin4. Law, Public Policy, and the Feminism of Difference5. Liberal Feminism vs. the Feminism of Difference: Or, The Huxtables vs. Grace Under Fire6. Fineman and Becker: Feminism vs. Economics7. Morality, Family, and the State8. What Is the Purpose of Family Policy? Galston vs. Fineman--with the Others Watching from the Sidelines9. ConclusionPart II. From Partners to Parents: The Empirical Debate 10. History and the Making of the Modern Family (with Apologies to Edward Shorter)11. Race, Class, and Controversy12. What Did Happen? Economics Revisited13. Economics and History: The Chapter Yet to Be Written14. And What About the Children?15. ConclusionPart III. From Partners to Parents: The Legal Revolution 16. The Meaning of Marriage17. Partnership Revisited18. Child Support and the Parenthood Draft19. The Remaking of Fatherhood20. Child Custody at Divorce: Ground Zero in the Gender Wars21. Welfare Reform and the Permissibility of Motherhood22. Renegotiating ChildhoodConclusion: From Partners to Parents--The Unfinished Revolution
DNA Probe Method for the Detection of Specific Microorganisms in the Soil Bacterial Community

We developed a protocol which yields purified bacterial DNA from the soil bacterial community. The bacteria were first dispersed and separated from soil particles in the presence of polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, which removes humic acid contaminants by adsorption to this insoluble polymer. The soil bacteria were then collected by centrifugation and lysed by using a comprehensive protocol designed to maximize disruption of the various types of bacteria present. Total bacterial DNA was purified from the cell lysate and remaining soil contaminants by using equilibrium density gradients. The isolated DNA was essentially pure as determined by UV spectral analysis, was at least 48 kilobases long, and was not subject to degradation, which indicated that there was no contaminating nuclease activity. The isolated DNA was readily digested by exogenously added restriction endonucleases and successfully analyzed by slot blot and Southern blot hybridizations. Using single-stranded, P-labeled DNA probes, we could detect and quantitate the presence of a specific microbial population in the natural soil community on the basis of the presence of a DNA sequence unique to that organism. The sensitivity of our methodology was sufficient to detect Bradyrhizobium japonicum at densities as low as 4.3 x 10 cells per g (dry weight) of soil, which corresponds to about 0.2 pg of hybridizable DNA in a 1-mug DNA sample.
Distributed diagnosis of Byzantine processors and links

The problem of correctly identifying the faulty processors and links in a distributed system where faulty behavior is unrestricted (Byzantine) is examined. A very general class of algorithms called evidence-based diagnosis algorithms is proposed that encompasses all past approaches to the diagnosis problem. An algorithm is presented which is proven optimal in this class. It is further shown that, in the worst case, no evidence-based diagnosis algorithm can guarantee that its diagnosis is both correct and complete, when evidence can be false. It is argued both analytically and from experimental data that in systems of N processors of which t can be faulty, the complexity of this algorithm is O(max(2 to the power of t/sup 2/, N/sup 2/)). >
How Symbiosis Can Guide Evolution

Hinton and Nowlan have demonstrated a model of how lifetime plasticity can guide evolution. They show how acquired traits change the shape of the reward landscape in which subsequent genetic variation takes place, and in so doing encourage the discovery of equivalent heritable traits. This enables the seemingly Lamarkian inheritance of acquired characteristics without the direct transfer of information from the phenotype to the genotype. This paper draws direct inspiration from their work to illustrate a different phenomenon. We demonstrate how the formation of symbiotic relationships in an ecosystem can guide the course of subsequent genetic variation. This phenomenon can be described as two phases: First, symbiotic groups find solutions where individual organisms cannot, simply because lifetime interaction produces new combinations of abilities more rapidly than the relatively slow genetic variation of individuals. Second, these symbiotic groups subsequently change the shape of the reward landscape for evolution, providing a gradient that guides genetic variation to the same solution. Ultimately, an individual organism exhibits the capabilities formerly exhibited by the group. This process enables the combination of characteristics from organisms of distinct species without direct transfer of genetic information.
The Hearsay-I Speech Understanding System: An Example of the Recognition Process

This paper describes the structure and operation of the Hearsay-I1speech understanding system by the use of a specific example illustrating the various stages of recognition. The system consists of a set of cooperating independent processes, each representing a source of knowledge. The knowledge is used either to predict what may appear in a given context or to verify hypotheses resulting from a prediction. The structure of the system is illustrated by considering its operation in a particular task situation: Voice-Chess. The representation and use of various sources of knowledge are outlined. Preliminary results of the reduction in search resulting from the use of various sources of knowledge are given.
In situ hydrogen consumption kinetics as an indicator of subsurface microbial activity.

There are few methods available for broadly assessing microbial community metabolism directly within a groundwater environment. In this study, hydrogen consumption rates were estimated from in situ injection/withdrawal tests conducted in two geochemically varying, contaminated aquifers as an approach towards developing such a method. The hydrogen consumption first-order rates varied from 0.002 nM h−1 for an uncontaminated, aerobic site to 2.5 nM h−1 for a contaminated site where sulfate reduction was a predominant process. The method could accommodate the over three orders of magnitude range in rates that existed between subsurface sites. In a denitrifying zone, the hydrogen consumption rate (0.02 nM h−1) was immediately abolished in the presence of air or an antibiotic mixture, suggesting that such measurements may also be sensitive to the effects of environmental perturbations on field microbial activities. Comparable laboratory determinations with sediment slurries exhibited hydrogen consumption kinetics that differed substantially from the field estimates. Because anaerobic degradation of organic matter relies on the rapid consumption of hydrogen and subsequent maintenance at low levels, such in situ measures of hydrogen turnover can serve as a key indicator of the functioning of microbial food webs and may be more reliable than laboratory determinations.
Necrotizing Otitis Externa During Induction Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

In three children who were receiving acute lymphoblastic leukemia induction therapy and were severely neutropenic, necrotizing otitis externa developed. Two patients had a probing maneuver to their ear canal. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in heavy growth from the external canal of three patients and other tissues of one patient. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the ear canal and tissues of one patient and Streptococcus faecalis from the ear canal of another patient. Necrotizing otitis externa resolved in two patients after 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics, debridement, and resolution of neutropenia. One patient required prolonged intravenous antibiotics and several surgical procedures. The occurrence of necrotizing otitis externa in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and severe neutropenia, the association of Gram-positive cocci with necrotizing otitis externa, and the importance of protecting anatomic barriers like the external ear canal in immunocompromised patients are emphasized.
A new route to dimethylsilanone [(CH3)2Sio]; deoxygenation of dimethylsulfoxide by dimethylsilylene

Abstract Dimethylsilylene has been shown to insert in SiO SiO single bonds of hexamethyl-cyclotrisiloxane to yield 1,1,2,2,4,4,6,6-octamethyl-3,5,7-trioxo-1,2,4,6-tetrasilacycloheptane. Dimethylsilylene has also been shown to deoxygenate dimethyl sulfoxide to yield dimethyl sulfide and dimethylsilanone which can be trapped.
Continuity and Development in Roman Catholic Ecclesiology

An overview of the conceptualizations of the Catholic Church from the theology of Bellarmine to contemporary understanding of the church as communion shows both continuity and development from one concept to the next rather than an abrupt change to a new model that discards the model preceding it. This essay examines the church as perfect society, church as mystical body, church as sacrament, church as people of God, and church as communion, demonstrating that the various conceptualizations represent development, balance, correction, and a deeper penetration in the understanding and articulation of the prior conceptualizations. The church as body of Christ develops the spiritual and Christological dimension of the church as society. The church as sacrament offers a way of differentiating between Christ and the church while at the same time retaining the close correlation between the two. The church as people of God introduces historical consciousness into the definition of the church. The church as communion synthesizes the strong sacramental and spiritual identity of the church with its organizational structure.
Measurement of Thermodynamic Interactions in Ternary Polymer Blends by Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

The feasibility of evaluating thermodynamic interactions between polymer species by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements on ternary blends was investigated. Results were analyzed for two ternary systems of saturated hydrocarbon polymers by means of the multicomponent random phase approximation (RPA) as applied to the Flory−Huggins (FH) model. In one ternary blendhead-to-tail polypropylene, head-to-head polypropylene, and a saturated polyisoprene with 50% 3,4 contentthe interaction coefficient X(T) had been determined independently by SANS measurements on binary blends for all three component pair combinations, permitting a direct test of internal consistency for the ternary RPA. The ternary blend data were found to agree well with RPA predictions despite some highly unusual behavior among its binaries, including negative values of X(T) for saturated hydrocarbon pairs. In the other ternary blendthree statistical copolymers of ethylene (E) and 1-butene (B) with different E−B compositionsvalues...
Molecular cloning of a human immunoglobulin λ chain variable sequence

We have cloned a human V lambda cDNA sequence from an Ig lambda-producing human Burkitt lymphoma cell line (BL2) by taking advantage of a cloned constant region gene as a primer for cDNA synthesis instead of an oligo(dT) primer. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of V lambda clones is highly related to that of the NEW V lambda protein of subgroup I. Southern blot hybridization of human DNAs with the V lambda I probe showed at least 12 hybridizing V lambda fragments. These fragments are amplified in K562 cells which derive from a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia and contain an amplified c-abl oncogene and amplified C lambda sequences.
Ca2+ regulates the interaction between synaptotagmin and syntaxin 1.

While there is compelling evidence that the synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin serves as the major Ca2+ sensor for regulated exocytosis, it is not known how Ca2+ binding initiates membrane fusion. Here we report that Ca2+ increases the affinity, by approximately 2 orders of magnitude, between synaptotagmin and syntaxin 1, a component of the synaptic fusion apparatus. This effect is specific for divalent cations which can stimulate exocytosis of synaptic vesicles (Ca2+ > Ba2+, Sr2+ Mg2+). The Ca2+-dependence of the interaction was composed of two components with EC50 values of 0.7 and 180 μM Ca2+. The interaction is mediated by the carboxyl-terminal region of syntaxin 1 (residues 194-288) and is regulated by a novel Ca2+-binding site(s) which does not require phospholipids and is not disrupted by mutations that abolish Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding to synaptotagmin. We propose that this interaction constitutes an essential step in excitation-secretion coupling.
Isotopic evidence of sea-surface freshening, enhanced productivity, and improved organic matter preservation during sapropel deposition in the Tyrrhenian Sea

Multiple layers of sapropels occur widely in the sedimentary record of the Mediterranean Sea and record repetitions of paleoclimatic conditions that favored increased production and preservation of marine organic matter. A combination of hydrogen and carbon isotope analyses of Pleistocene sapropels from the Tyrrhenian Sea reveals new aspects of the factors leading to their deposition. Organic matter dD values that are significantly more negative in sapropels than in adjacent marls indicate a combination of dilution of surface waters by meteoric waters and increased burial of lipid-rich organic matter during periods of sapropel deposition. Organic δ 13 C values in sapropels that are less negative than those in marls suggest periods of markedly elevated marine biological production. The opposite but concordant excursions of these two isotopic parameters imply that the sapropel layers formed from increased export of marine organic matter from the photic zone to the sea floor during periods of greater fluvial delivery of continental nutrients to the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, the isotopic evidence indicates that periods of wetter climate were widespread in southern Europe at the same times as in northern Africa.
Comparative capture efficiencies of frame and hoop nets for white crappie (Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque)

Abstract We compared the capture efficiencies of frame nets and hoop nets for white crappie (Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque) during a 16 month study in Lake Carl Blackwell, OK, USA. The nets were fished simultaneously and in the same habitats (within 15–20 m of each other). The mean catch per unit effort (CPUE) was significantly higher (36.7 vs. 19.1 fish net-night−1) for hoop nets than for frame nets (P