cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survey on chronic disease and related behavioral risk factors among citizens in Yongan city

Objective To understand the health status among citizens in Yongan,and provide strategies for disease control,health education and health promotion.Methods Stratified random sampling was adopted and 3000long-term residents aged 18or above were sampled and were investigated with questionnaire including smoking,alcohol consumption and Physical exercise.All the respondents were measured of their height,weight,waistline and blood pressure and the portable blood glucose meter was used to measure fasting plasma glucose.Data analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0software.Results The rates of smoking,passive smoking and alcohol consumption were 27.0%(811/3 000),45.7%(1371/3 000)and 46.5%(1 395/3 000)respectively among 3 000respondents and males are higher than females(P0.01).Physical exercise rate was 19.8%(594/3 000).The rates of overweight,obesity,central obesity,hypertension,diabetes mellitus were 23.4%(702/3 000),4.5%(135/3 000),18.4%(552/3 000),15.7%(471/3 000)and 6.7%(201/3 000)respectively.Conclusions The prevalence rates of chronic disease are still high in Yongan due to high prevalence of behavioral risk factors.The essential related interventions should be implemented immediately.
Repetitive Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Similarities and Differences with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Repetitive behaviors are essential features in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Both conditions show a wide range of repetitive behaviors and some of the same repetitive behaviors can be observed in both conditions. Although some children with ASD warrant a separate diagnosis of OCD, there are differences that have important clinical implications. Repetitive behavior in children with OCD is often driven by unwanted and bothersome thoughts that cause anxiety. Compulsive behaviors result in temporary reduction in anxiety, which reinforces the repetitive behavior. In contrast to obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children with OCD, repetitive behaviors may not cause distress for children with ASD. Indeed, distress may occur when the preferred behavior is interrupted. The preoccupations observed in children with ASD reflect areas of restricted interest and are fundamentally different from intrusive and bothersome concerns in children with OCD. Here we review the similarities and differences in repetitive behaviors in ASD and OCD. Examination of similarities and differences may help clinicians disentangle the repetitive behaviors attributable to OCD from those attributable to ASD, plan treatment, and monitor progress.
Linear Partial Differential Equations

In this chapter, we focus on the case of linear partial differential equations. In general, we consider a partial differential equation to be linear if the partial derivatives together with their coefficients can be represented by an operator L such that it satisfies the property that L ( αu + βv ) = αLu + βLv , where α and β are constants, whereas u and v are two functions of the same set of independent variables. This linearity property allows for superposition of basis solutions to fit the boundary and initial conditions. We limit our discussion in this chapter to three approaches: operator factorization of reducible linear operators, separation of variables, and similarity transformations. Another set of solution methods known as integral transforms approach are discussed instead in Chapter 12. The method using operator factorization is described in Section 11.2, and it is applicable to a class of partial differential equations known as reducible differential equations . We show how this approach can be applied to the one-dimensional wave equation to yield the well-known d'Alembert's solutions. In Section K.1 of the appendix, we consider how the d'Alembert solutions can be applied and modified to fit different boundary conditions, including infinite, semi-infinite, and finite spatial domains. The separation of variables method is described in Section 11.3. It may not be as general at first glance, but it is an important and powerful approach because it has yielded useful solutions to several important linear problems in science and engineering. These include the linear diffusion, wave, and elliptic problems.
International Agricultural Policy: A Role for National Food Programmes?

International Agricultural Policy brings to mind that diffuse area of international relations where nations collectively confront the problems of world food and agriculture. To some it is the interplay of national policy actions as they impinge on each other through the trading system and to others it is defined by an endless stream of meetings in the international bureaucracy. In this paper, I want to use a specific and somewhat narrow definition of the area: international agricultural policy will be taken as the set of decisions taken collectively by the international community in pursuit of widely held objectives. The articulation of such objectives need not delay us greatly. As with national policy, too close a definition merely raises issues which hinder the development of programmes: some things are best left implicit. For present purposes, it is enough to assume that they include (i) the development of agricultural potential in the world consistent with general development aims and with the provision and distribution of adequate supplies of food, (ii) the enhancement of stability in the world’s food system to encourage sensible long-run decisions and to avoid disruptions arising from the inevitable fluctuations in food availability, and (iii) the equitable distribution of burdens of adjustment and the transfer of necessary funds internationally to support national efforts.
Early Impact Of The Affordable Care Act On Oral Contraceptive Cost Sharing, Discontinuation, And Nonadherence.

The oral contraceptive pill is the contraceptive method most commonly used by US women, but inconsistent use of the pill is a contributor to high rates of unintended pregnancy. The relationship bet...
Low-loss RF filter through a combination of additive manufacturing and thin-film process

Combination of thin-film process and 3D printing is utilized to demonstrate a low-loss maximally flat five element stepped impedance low-pass filter with a cutoff frequency of 3 GHz. The filter is patterned on a thin LCP substrate with no ground plane and it is mounted on a metal coated 3D printed plastic cavity using a Lego-like process. This leads to the formation of a filter on a thin membrane suspended in air above the ground plane. Simulations were carried out using a commercial FEM simulation tool and measurements are carried out over a frequency range of 0.1–8 GHz. Simulation and measured results match very closely. This paper demonstrates that a combination of 3D printing and thin-film processes allows the fabrication of novel RF structure that would be difficult to realize using conventional approaches.
Gene Therapy 2017: Progress and Future Directions

Gene therapy has changed dramatically in the 28 years since the first human gene transfer experiment in 1989. Alipogene tiparvovec, GlyberaR®, a recombinant adeno‐associated virus (rAAV) product for lipoprotein lipase deficiency, and Strimvelis®, a lentivirus vector for severe combined immune deficiency are approved in Europe. An rAAV2 product for a congenital form of blindness is currently under review in the United States, likely to be followed by numerous other gene therapies. Nonviral gene transfer The success of gene therapy has largely been driven by improvements in nonviral and viral gene transfer vectors. An array of physical and chemical nonviral methods have been used to transfer DNA and mRNA to mammalian cells and a substantial number of these have been developed as clinical stage technologies for gene therapy, both ex vivo and in vivo. Cationic liposome technology is based on the ability of amphipathic lipids, possessing a positively charged head group and a hydrophobic lipid tail, to bind to negatively charged DNA or RNA and form particles that generally enter cells by endocytosis. Some cationic liposomes also contain a neutral co‐lipid, thought to enhance liposome uptake by mammalian cells.4, 5, 6, 7 Similarly, other polycations, such as poly‐l‐lysine and polyethylene‐imine, complex with nucleic acids via charge interaction and aid in the condensation of DNA or RNA into nanoparticles, which are then substrates for endosome‐mediated uptake.8 Several of these cationic‐nucleic acid complex technologies have been developed as potential clinical products, including complexes with plasmid DNA (pDNA), oligodeoxynucleotides, and various forms of synthetic RNA.9, 10, 11 Modified (and unmodified or “naked”) DNA, RNA, and oligonucleotides have also been shown to mediate successful gene transfer in a number of circumstances. These include the use of pDNA by direct intramuscular injection for DNA vaccines, the use of intratumoral injection of pDNA to deliver cytokine and/or suicide genes, systemic (s.c. or i.v.) injection of antisense nucleotides to induce RNAse H1 or exon‐skipping.12, 13, 14 The most recent of these developed for induction of RNAi are discussed in a later section. Ex vivo introduction of pDNA and/or other nucleotides using physical methods has been well developed for certain cell types, including T lymphocytes.15 Electroporation techniques have become the standard with T cells for the introduction of a variety of molecular cargoes, including ribonucleoproteins composed of Cas9 and short‐guide RNAs for genome editing (see section below) and transposons for long‐term integration of transgenes.
Next‐generation restoration for sage‐grouse: a framework for visualizing local conifer cuts within a landscape context

The expansion of coniferous trees into sagebrush ecosystems is a major driver of habitat loss and fragmentation, resulting in negative impacts to wildlife. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) respond directly to conifer expansion through decreased breeding activity, nesting, and overall survival; thus, small amounts of conifer expansion can have significant impacts on sage-grouse habitat and populations. To this end, conservation partners have collaborated across private and public lands to reduce the threat of conifer expansion through targeted removal of conifer trees. Here, we demonstrate the use of the Marxan framework to incorporate important ecosystem attributes in the prioritization of conifer removal within the Oregon range of sage-grouse. We prioritized conifer removal relative to three separate goals: (1) enhancement of existing sage-grouse breeding, nesting, and early brood-rearing habitats; (2) facilitation of sage-grouse movement between breeding and brood-rearing habitats; and (3) improvement of connectivity among sage-grouse priority areas for conservation (PACs). Optimization models successfully identified areas with low conifer canopy cover, high resilience and resistance to wildfire and annual grass invasion, and high bird abundance to enhance sage-grouse habitat. The inclusion of mesic resources resulted in further prioritization of areas that were closer to such resources, but also identified potential pathways that connected breeding habitats to the late brood-rearing habitats associated with mesic areas. Examining areas outside of PACs resulted in the selection of potential corridors to facilitate connectivity; although areas with low conifer cover were selected similarly to the other optimization models, areas with high cover were also chosen to be able to enhance connectivity. Areas identified by optimization models were largely consistent with and overlapped ongoing conifer removal efforts in the Warner Mountains of south-central Oregon. Land ownership of preferential areas selected by models varied with priority goals and followed general ownership patterns of the region, with public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and private lands being selected the most. The increased availability of landscape-level datasets and assessment tools in sagebrush ecosystems can reduce the time and cost of both planning and implementation of habitat projects involving conifer removal. Most importantly, incorporating these new datasets and tools can supplement expert-based knowledge to maximize benefits to sagebrush and sage-grouse conservation.
Rocking bodies with arbitrary interface defects: Analytical development and experimental verification

Summary The rocking response of a rigid, freestanding block in two dimensions typically assumes perfect contact at the base of the block with instantaneous impacts at two distinct, symmetric rocking points. This paper extends the classical two-dimensional rocking model to account for an arbitrary number of rocking points at the base representing geometric interface defects. The equations of motion of this modified rocking system are derived and presented in general terms. Energy dissipation is modeled assuming instantaneous point impacts, yielding a discrete angular velocity adjustment. Whereas this factor is always less than unity in the classical model, it is possible for this factor to exceed unity in the presented model, yielding a finite increase in the angular velocity at impact and a markedly different rotational response than the classical model predicts. The derived model and the classical model are numerically integrated and compared to the results of recent shake table tests. These comparisons show that the new model significantly enhances agreement in both peak angular displacement and motion decay. The equations of motion and the energy dissipation of the presented model are further investigated parametrically considering the size of the defect, the number of rocking points, and the aspect ratio and size of the block.
Reviewing Procedure vs. Judging Substance: The Scope of Review and Bureaucratic Policymaking

How does the scope of review affect bureaucratic policymaking incentives? To explore this ques- tion, I consider a simple policymaking environment in which an expert agency develops policy that is upheld or overturned by an overseer who may have different policy goals. The agency can affect the quality of implementation through effort investments in addition to choosing the substantive content of policy. Under procedural review the overseer only reviews the agencys effort, which allows the agency to fully utilize its expertise, but may harm effort incentives. Sub- stantive review also tasks the overseer with judging agencies substantive policy choices, which introduces a fundamental trade-off between agency utilization of expertise and effort investment due to pathological policy choices made by the agency. The theory characterizes when less trans- parent oversight, procedural review, is optimal relative to more transparent, substantive review. The results speak to when agencies should be insulated from substantive review.
Research at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory

Abstract The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Kentucky operates a 7-MV CN Van de Graaff accelerator that produces primary beams of protons, deuterons, and helium ions. An in-terminal pulsing and bunching system operates at 1.875 MHz and is capable of providing 1 ns beam bunches at an average current of several microamperes. Nearly all ongoing research programs involve secondary pulsed neutrons produced with gas cells containing deuterium or tritium, as well as with a variety of solid targets. Most experiments are performed at a target station positioned over a deep pit, so as to reduce the background created by backscattered neutrons. Recent experiments will be described; these include: measurements of n-p scattering total cross sections from En = 90 to 1800 keV to determine the n-p effective range parameter; the response of the plastic scintillator BC-418 below 1 MeV to low-energy recoil protons; n-p radiative capture cross sections important for our understanding of nucleosynthesis approximately 2 minutes after the occurrence of the Big Bang; γ-ray spectroscopy following inelastic neutron scattering to study nuclear structure relevant to double-β decay and to understand the role of phonon-coupled excitations in weakly deformed nuclei; and measurements of neutron elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections for nuclei that are important for energy production and for our global understanding of the interaction of neutrons with matter.
A genetic analysis of an important hydrophobic interaction at the P22 tailspike protein N-terminal domain.

P22 bacteriophage has been studied extensively and has served as a model for many important processes such as in vivo protein folding, protein aggregation and protein-protein interactions. The trimeric tailspike protein (TSP) serves as the receptor-binding protein for the P22 bacteriophage to the bacterial host. The homotrimeric P22 tail consists of three chains of 666aa in which the first 108aa form a trimeric dome-like structure which is called the N-terminal domain (NTD) and is responsible for attachment of the tailspike protein to the rest of the phage particle structure in the phage assembly pathway. Knowledge of this interaction requires information on what amino acids are interacting in the interface and how the NTD structure is maintained. The first 23aa form the “stem peptide” which originates at the dome top and terminates at the dome bottom. It contains a hydrophobic valine patch (V8-V9-V10) located within the dome structure. It is hypothesized that the interaction between the hydrophobic valine patch located on stem peptide and the adjacent polypeptide is critical for the interchain interaction which should be important for the stability of the P22 TSP NTD itself. To test this hypothesis, each amino acid in the valine residues is substituted by an acid, a basic, and a hydrophobic amino acid. The results of such substitutions are presented as well as associated studies. The data strongly suggest that the valine patch is of critical importance in the hydrophobic interaction between stem peptide valine patch and an adjacent chain.
Birth defects in relation to Bendectin use in pregnancy. II: Pyloric stenosis

To test the hypothesis that the use of Bendectin in pregnancy increases the risk of pyloric stenosis, we determined rates of antenatal Bendectin exposure among 325 infants with pyloric stenosis and among two control groups comprising infants with other defects; one consisted of 3,153 infants with other conditions, and the other, a subset of that group, consisted of 724 infants with defects that may have had their origins at any time in pregnancy. Comparisons between the cases and the two control series yielded estimated relative risks of 0.9 (95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 1.2) and 1.0 (0.7 to 1.4), respectively. The findings from this large case-control study suggest that Bendectin does not increase the risk of pyloric stenosis.
Evaluation of the Hip: History and Physical Examination

Examination of a painful hip is fairly concise and reliable at detecting the presence of a hip joint problem. Hip joint disorders often go undetected, leading to the development of secondary disorders. Using a thoughtful approach and methodical examination techniques, most hip joint problems can be detected and a proper treatment strategy can then be implemented based on an accurate diagnosis. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to present a systematic examination process that outlines important components in each of the evaluation areas of history and physical examination (including inspection, measurements, symptom localization, muscle strength, and special tests).
Ground-State Properties of s=1 Easy-Plane Ferromagnetic Heisenberg Chains

One-dimensional (1-d) magnetic systems have been the subject of intensive experimental [1] and theoretical studies [2–5]. Since exact results are scarce for all but s = 1/2 models [2–5] and the Ising-Heisenberg ferromagnet for arbitrary s [6], theoretical predictions and the interpretation of experimental data have been based on the classical approximation (ħ → 0, s → ∞, ħs = const). Another striking feature is the large number of mappings between quantum spin chains and a wide assortment of 1 − d and 2 − d models [2–4,7]. Up to now, such isomorphisms have been established almost exclusively for s = 1/2 and s ≫ 1 only.
A Highly Active Star Decahedron Cu Nanocatalyst for Hydrocarbon Production at Low Overpotentials.

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO_2RR) presents a viable approach to recycle CO_2 gas into low carbon fuels. Thus, the development of highly active catalysts at low overpotential is desired for this reaction. Herein, a high‐yield synthesis of unique star decahedron Cu nanoparticles (SD‐Cu NPs) electrocatalysts, displaying twin boundaries (TBs) and multiple stacking faults, which lead to low overpotentials for methane (CH_4) and high efficiency for ethylene (C_2H_4) production, is reported. Particularly, SD‐Cu NPs show an onset potential for CH_4 production lower by 0.149 V than commercial Cu NPs. More impressively, SD‐Cu NPs demonstrate a faradaic efficiency of 52.43% ± 2.72% for C_2H_4 production at −0.993 ± 0.0129 V. The results demonstrate that the surface stacking faults and twin defects increase CO binding energy, leading to the enhanced CO_2RR performance on SD‐Cu NPs.
A Fast Method to Estimate the Total Delivered Power of a 2-Channel MRI Radio Frequency Coil

The total delivered power of an MRI radio frequency (RF) coil is an important parameter for MRI safety control. For a 2-channel MRI coil, this parameter is not only dependent on the excitation strength on each channel, but also dependent on the object loading inside the coil. The purpose of this investigation is to propose a fast method to assess the total delivered power of a 2-channel MRI RF coil. Four hundred and ninety simulations for a high-resolution anatomical model were performed to validate this method. Among these simulations, ten random excitation-pairs of the 2-channel coil and forty-nine patient landmarks ranging between −200 to 1000 mm were considered. It is proved that this fast estimation method can calculate the total delivered power of a 2-channel RF coil with any excitation pairs by only two simulations and its relative error is less than 1.5%.
Ultrasonic Wake-Up With Precharged Transducers

We present an ultralow-power millimeter-sized ultrasonic wake-up receiver (WuRx) that uses precharged ultrasonic transducers to wirelessly receive wake-up signatures. Our WuRx takes advantage of the low carrier frequency afforded by the low speed of sound to achieve high impedance, and thus high sensitivity, operation in a millimeter-sized form factor. We discuss the system-level considerations that arise from the use of ultrasound as a mode of signature transmission, including the choice of operating frequency and the effect of transducer miniaturization on WuRx sensitivity. We describe the design of the receiver electronics and support our case for ultrasonic wake-up with thorough wireless measurements of error rate and electrical characterization of multiple dice from the same wafer lot. The receiver electronics are fabricated in 65-nm CMOS technology, while the receiver transducer is fabricated by means of a custom in-house process. The receiver achieves a sensitivity of −59.7 dBm at a bit error rate (BER) of 10−3 with a power consumption of 8 nW and a footprint of 14.5 mm2. Our benchmarking shows that the proposed WuRx achieves the lowest system area/aperture of all RF and acoustic WuRxs in the literature (1.45 $\times $ smaller than the state of the art) while maintaining competitive sensitivity and power consumption.
Early Outcomes After Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair With Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest

Background A variety of intraoperative strategies are currently used for organ protection during open operations on the thoracoabdominal aorta. We report our experience with cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermic circulatory arrest as the primary modality for organ protection, focusing on the early outcomes. Methods During a 30-year interval, 285 patients underwent thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass with an interval of circulatory arrest (72 Crawford extent I, 107 extent II, 104 extent III, and 2 extent IV). Degenerative aneurysms were present in 72.6% and aortic dissections in 26.4% of patients. Emergent operations for rupture or acute dissection were required in 6.7% of the patients. Results Thirty-day mortality was 7.4% and was highest for the Crawford extent II and extent III patients (10.3% and 6.7%, respectively). Permanent paralysis or paraplegia occurred in 15 patients (5.3%). The rates were highest for the extent II and extent III patients (6.5% and 6.7%, respectively). Cerebrospinal fluid drainage had no impact on the development of spinal cord injury, and implantation of intercostal/lumbar arteries had a protective effect only in patients with extent II repair. Stroke occurred in 4.2% of patients and renal failure that required dialysis occurred in 6.2%. One-year actual survival was 90.4%. Conclusions Our extended experience with this technique confirms its safety and effectiveness when used on a routine basis. The rates of spinal cord injury and permanent renal failure are among the lowest reported in the literature. Particularly favorable outcomes were observed in younger patients and patients undergoing elective operations.
Cognitive effects of androgen receptor (AR) directed therapies for advanced cancer of the prostate (COGCaP).

TPS5098Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the cornerstone of treatment for prostate cancer (CaP). However, the relationship between ADT and the development of cognitive dysfunction i...
Fibroblasts in the Infarcted, Remodeling, and Failing Heart

Expansion and activation of fibroblasts following cardiac injury is important for repair but may also contribute to fibrosis, remodeling, and dysfunction. The authors discuss the dynamic alterations of fibroblasts in failing and remodeling myocardium. Emerging concepts suggest that fibroblasts are not unidimensional cells that act exclusively by secreting extracellular matrix proteins, thus promoting fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction. In addition to their involvement in extracellular matrix expansion, activated fibroblasts may also exert protective actions, preserving the cardiac extracellular matrix, transducing survival signals to cardiomyocytes, and regulating inflammation and angiogenesis. The functional diversity of cardiac fibroblasts may reflect their phenotypic heterogeneity.
Mediating Proactive Criminal Thinking with Perceived Parental Acceptance of Child Delinquency: Assessing the “Mediators within Mediators” Hypothesis

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to determine whether parental acceptance of child delinquency, as perceived by the child, mediates proactive criminal thinking in adolescents. The hypothesis t...
Direct transmesenteric venous interventions in the acute post liver transplant setting.

Abstract Introduction Portal venous thrombosis and stenosis are uncommon but serious causes of liver transplant graft failure. While surgical thrombectomy can be utilized for the treatment of portal steno-occlusive disease, venous interventions with IR have been performed with encouraging results. Case description 69-year-old female with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis who received a liver transplant complicated by portal vein thrombus. Efforts between transplant surgery and IR allowed for successful thrombus removal via direct SMV access. Results The advantages of direct SMV access with the surgery team include direct approach to accessing thrombus, sparing of liver parenchyma, and significant hemostatic control.
Characterization of encapsulated energetic materials for trace explosives aids for scent (TEAS)

Encapsulation is proposed as a safer way of handling energetic materials. Different encapsulation methods for explosives, such as solvent evaporation, spray coating and supercritical carbon dioxide...
Evening binge alcohol disrupts cardiovagal tone and baroreflex function during polysomnographic sleep.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Binge alcohol consumption is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The effects of evening binge alcohol consumption (i.e. 4-5 beverages within 2 h) on the vagal components of HRV and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (cvBRS) during sleep remain largely equivocal. The present study examined the effects of evening binge alcohol consumption on nocturnal cardiac vagal tone and baroreflex sensitivity during stage N2, slow wave (SWS), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. We hypothesized that evening binge drinking would reduce HRV and cvBRS in each sleep stage. METHODS Following a familiarization night within the laboratory, twenty-three participants were examined following a night of binge alcohol consumption and a fluid control (randomized, crossover design). A quality nocturnal beat-to-beat blood pressure signal was obtained in both conditions in 16 participants (seven men, nine women; 25 ± 1 years). RESULTS Binge drinking reduced both the high frequency (HF) and time-domain components (i.e. pNN50 and RMSSD) of HRV in stage N2 sleep, SWS, and REM. In addition, cvBRS up-up (vagal activation) was reduced following binge alcohol consumption in stage N2 (21 ± 3 vs. 15 ± 3 ms/mmHg, p = 0.035) and REM (15[11-28] vs. 11[9-18] ms/mmHg, p = 0.009). Binge alcohol consumption reduced cvBRS down-down (vagal withdrawal) in stage N2 (23 ± 2 vs. 14 ± 2 ms/mmHg, p < 0.001), SWS (20[14-30] vs. 14[9-17] ms/mmHg, p = 0.022), and REM (14[11-24] vs. 10[7-15] ms/mmHg, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Evening binge alcohol consumption disrupts cardiac vagal tone and baroreflex function during nearly all sleep stages. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the potential role of binge drinking and alcohol abuse on cardiovascular risk. CLINICAL TRIALS DETAILS Alcohol and Neural Cardiovascular Control in Binge Drinkers, www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03567434, NCT03567434.
Epidemiology of child playground equipment-related injuries in the USA: Emergency department visits, 1995–2019

AIM To analyse the most recent trends and characteristics of playground equipment-related injuries in children. METHODS We used the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database to acquire cases of playground equipment-related injuries in children ≤17 years old between 1995 and 2019. A total of 184 580 unweighted cases met our study inclusion criteria. RESULTS A total of 5 356 703 (95% confidence interval 4 235 530-6 477 876) emergency department visits for playground-related injuries in the USA were estimated during the study period which was equal to an average of 29.4 annual injuries per 10 000 US population ≤17 years. The mean age was 6.5 (standard error 0.049) years. School-aged (42.7%) and pre-school children (35.3%) accounted for most playground injuries. More than half of the injuries were reported in males (53.6%). Most injuries occurred with climbing apparatuses (36%), followed by swings (25.9%) and slides (20.9%). Overall number of injuries (∆ - 22.3%, P = 0.01) and incidence (∆ - 21.6%, P = 0.01) had a declining trend after 2012. However, reported concussion injuries showed an increasing trend during the study (∆ + 28.3%, P < 0.001). A marked seasonal variation in number of injuries existed with most injuries in May and September. CONCLUSIONS Although injuries arising from playground equipment have decreased during the past 8 years, there was an increase in number of reported concussions. The outcomes of this study suggested that further efforts should be directed towards such serious injuries.
Attitudes towards social distancing in response to COVID-19.

Objectives COVID-19 has highlighted differences in our engagement in health prevention behaviors. The Health Belief Model (HBM), personality traits (conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism), and sociodemographic variables were used to evaluate social distancing during the first month of a state-mandated Stay At Home (SAH) order. Design A web-based convenience sample of 645 Ohioans was surveyed. Hierarchical linear regression and mediation analysis were used to examine predictors of social distancing attitudes and behaviors and whether health beliefs mediated the relationship between personality and social distancing. Results Most respondents agreed with and adhered to social distancing guidelines. HBM constructs were strong predictors of SAH attitudes, while personality accounted for little additional variance. Anxiety was indirectly related to overall social distancing attitudes and behavior through its relationship with health beliefs. However, violations of social distancing were best explained by situational factors (e.g., being an essential worker). Conclusion The results demonstrate the power of components of the HBM to explain attitudes and behaviors regarding the SAH order beyond any contribution from personality. By examining the role of personality and health beliefs on social distancing attitudes and behaviors, this research will benefit public health nurses and others tasked with communicating and promoting preventative health behavior.
Two-By-Two Table

This article summarizes the most commonly used statistical techniques for analyzing two by two frequency tables. It presents methods for the estimation of measures of association (risk ratios, risk differences, odds ratios) and agreement (kappa). Tests of hypotheses are described for large samples (based on asymptotic theory) and for small samples (exact tests). Both conditional (Fisher's exact test) and unconditional exact tests are discussed, and the controversy regarding the use of conditional versus unconditional tests is summarized. The article advocates the use of the mid p-value exact test for small sample sizes. Methods for the determination of sample sizes for tests on two by two tables are also described. Keywords: chi-square test; contingency table; exact conditional test; exact unconditional test; mid p-value test; odds ratio; risk ratio; sample size determination
Characterization of Mutants of Escherichia coli Temperature-Sensitive for Ribonucleic Acid Regulation: an Unusual Phenotype Associated with a Phenylalanyl Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase Mutant

Abstract A mutant strain AA-522, temperature-sensitive for protein synthesis, was isolated from a stringent strain (CP-78) of Escherichia coli K-12. The mutant strain has a relaxed phenotype at the nonpermissive growth temperature. Protein synthesis stops completely at 42 C, whereas the rate of ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis is maintained at 20% of the 30 C rate. Sucrose-gradient centrifugation analysis of RNA-containing particles formed at 42 C indicated the presence of “relaxed particles.” These particles possess 16S and 23S RNA and are precursors to normal 50S and 30S ribosomal subunits. A search for the temperature-sensitive protein responsible for the halt in protein synthesis implicated phenylalanyl transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase. Essentially no enzyme activity is detected in vitro at 30 or 40 C. Analysis of phenylalanyl tRNA synthetase activity in revertants of strain AA-522 indicated the presence of intragenic suppressor mutations. Revertants of strain AA-522 analyzed for the relaxed response at 42 C were all stringent; strain AA-522 was stringent at 30 C. These data indicate that a single mutation in phenylalanyl tRNA synthetase is responsible for both a block in protein synthesis and the relaxed phenotype at 42 C.
The Brain Training Revolution: A Proven Workout for Healthy Brain Aging, by Paul E. Bendheim

The Brain Training Revolution: A Proven Workout for Healthy Brain Aging offers a healthy lifestyle program that is designed to reduce the effects of age-related memory impairment and the risk of de...
Eukaryotes and Multicells: Origin

Among the most important evolutionary events of all time are the origins of eukaryotic cells and of multicellularity. Both the evolution of eukaryotes and the origins of multicellularity (convergently evolved in numerous taxa) can be studied using insights from both palaeontology and molecular biology. Keywords: archaea; endosymbiosis; acritarchs; metazoa; algae
A Review of “China, Oil and Global Politics”

One of the most important developments in global politics over the last decade has been the revolution in the global energy markets brought about by technological innovation. Less than a decade ago...
Molecular determinants of dysplasia in colorectal lesions.

One hallmark of malignant potential is dysplasia, the disruption of normal morphology. While it is generally recognized that cancer is the result of a series of genetic changes, the relationship of these alterations and their timing to the advent of dysplasia remains obscure. To address this issue, 54 small benign colorectal lesions of various malignant potential were analyzed for APC and K-RAS mutations, two alterations which have been implicated in the early stages of colorectal tumorigenesis. APC mutations were closely associated with dysplasia. In contrast, K-RAS mutations were found to be remarkably common in small nondysplastic lesions which apparently have a limited potential to progress to larger tumors. These results provide evidence that the nature and order of genetic changes can have a specific impact on both tumor morphology (e.g., dysplasia) and the likelihood of tumor progression.
CDI: linking material property databases to analysis codes

Abstract Integration among programs designed to solve complex engineering problems is often lacking, and this is particularly a problem in the area of thick composite materials analysis and design where a large volume of inout must be provided. Another problem is the lack of an archival repository in which to store input information in a generic format. To address these problems, we have developed a prototype of a finite element material property reprocessing system, called the composites data-base interface (CDI). In this computer-aided analysis system, a materials database is integrated with several software components, including commercially available finite element analysis (FEA) programs and preprocessors, and tools for manipulating and using composite materials data, resulting in the transfer of two- and three-dimensional composite materials property data into an FEA program. This paper presents the capabilities of this system, discusses the overall system integration through R:BASE, and provides a civil engineering application involving the design of a large cylindrical tank to illustrate the execution of the CDI system's various components. The paper ends by discussing the current status of this computer-aided analysis system.
Clinical relevance of the expression of the CD31 ligand for CD38 in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND CD31 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 [PECAM-1]) is the ligand for CD38, a transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed on the surface of leukemic cells in many patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). In a previous study, the authors showed that CD38 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis in patients with B-CLL. In the current study, blood samples from patients with B-CLL were examined to identify CD31 surface marker expression, and CD31 expression was correlated with several other known prognostic variables, including CD38. METHODS Using flow cytometry, peripheral blood samples from 120 patients with B-CLL were analyzed for CD31 and CD38 expression on CD19 positive leukemic B cells. RESULTS Thirteen of 120 patients (11%) had CD31 expression on < 20% of their B cells, and the remaining patients had various levels of CD31 expression. The median expression of CD31 was 76% of leukemic, CD19 positive cells. Levels of CD31 expression were not correlated with survival outcomes or with any of the known prognostic parameters when all patients were considered. Patients who had high CD38 expression (≥ 20%), as expected, had significantly shorter survival (P = 0.001) compared with patients who had low CD38 expression (< 20%). However, in patients with low CD38 expression, a subgroup with low CD31 expression (< 76%) had significantly longer survival compared with the survival for the entire group (P = 0.0001). Moreover, the survival pattern of patients with low CD38 expression and high CD31 expression was not significantly different from the survival pattern seen in patients with high CD38 expression. CONCLUSIONS CD31 expression further defined a subgroup of patients with B-CLL who had a different survival outcome. Defining the interaction between CD31 expression and CD38 expression in patients with CLL will require further exploration. Cancer 2003;97:1914–9. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11264
Reduction of ventricular arrhythmias by atropine during coronary arteriography

Sustained ventricular arrhythmia is a well-recognized complication of cardiac catheterization, often occurring after selective coronary artery injection of contrast medium. The role of autonomic reflexes in the pathogenesis of this phenomenon is unclear. Although the muscarinic antagonist atropine is often administered prophylactically before coronary angiography to reduce the likelihood of sinus bradycardia and vasovagal reactions, its influence on ventricular arrhythmias in this setting has not been established. This case-control trial studied 648 patients undergoing coronary arteriography to investigate this issue. Eleven case subjects (those with ventricular tachyarrhythmia) were identified. Control subjects (those without ventricular tachyarrhythmia) were matched for baseline heart rate (+/- 6 beats/min), age (+/- 10 years), sex and calendar year of procedure using a 1:3 sampling ratio. All 26 potential clinical, anatomic and hemodynamic covariates were statistically similar between groups. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias were more likely to occur after selective right coronary injection (odds ratio 15.1, p = 0.0008) but not after multiple contrast injections (odds ratio 0.918, difference not significant). Most importantly, atropine sulfate was administered prophylactically to 18 of 33 control subjects (55 +/- 9%) but only 1 of 11 cases (9 +/- 9%), generating a significant odds ratio of 12.0 (p = 0.02). Thus, the odds of experiencing sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias during coronary arteriography may potentially be reduced 12-fold by prior administration of atropine, even in patients with normal baseline heart rates.
Taste-evoked drinking in the rat: The influence of maintenance diet

Abstract Non-deprived rats consume substantial amounts of a sweet solution offered for 1 hr a day, when maintained on pelleted food. Under these conditions, amount ingested varies inversely with carbohydrate concentration offered over the hypertonic range, just as it does in deprived rats. It is shown here that such “taste-evoked drinking” is maintained when a bland liquid diet is substituted for pelleted food. But such drinking is sharply reduced when a sweet liquid diet is used as maintenance fare. In addition, the effect of concentration on volume intake changes from inverse to direct. We conclude (1) that such drinking is taste-evoked, not texture-evoked; (2) that it depends on a contrast between the solution offered during the test and the maintenance diet available at other times; and (3) the use of a palatable maintenance diet, by discouraging large intakes which bring postingestive controls into play, uncovers the positive effect of taste factors on volume intake.
Activity of 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with demyelinating disorders.

Abstract The use of a recently developed highly sensitive method for measuring 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase activity has permitted the detection of this enzyme in the cerebrospinal fluid of normal subjects and of patients with demyelinating disorders. Elevated activity was found in several (but not all) patients with evidence of demyelinating disorders. Concomitant measurement of myelin basic protein showed that, in general, those patients with higher 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase activity also had increased levels of myelin basic protein. However, not all samples containing high levels of myelin basic protein showed elevated enzyme activity.
Book review: The Intemet Quickstart by Mary Ann Spike and Todd Spike (Que 1994)

The reviewers have a positive impression of the book. The material is well organized and presented in a clear fashion without the introduction of undo detail prior to being necessary.
Visual properties of neurons in the posterior suprasylvian gyrus of the cat

Abstract Recordings were made from single units in the posterior suprasylvian gyrus of anesthetized, paralyzed cats and their responses to various sensory stimuli were studied. The majority of units was situated along the descending limb of the suprasylvian gyrus in cortex, designated posterior suprasylvian cortex, or areas 20 and 21. Responsive units could be driven by visual stimuli, but auditory and tactile stimulation proved ineffective. Many types of visual stimuli, such as diffuse light, slits, dark bars, or edges evoked powerful responses from neurons of the posterior suprasylvian cortex. Half of the cells showed orientation and direction specificity; the remainder did not. For many neurons visual receptive fields could be plotted. These fields were usually large, often as large as the 67 × 67° tangent screen. About half the receptive fields were bilateral, and some cells displayed unusual response characteristics, different from those of units found in other cortical visual regions. The results concur with studies suggesting that posterior suprasylvian cortex is a cortical visual association region many synapses removed from striate cortex. The data also suggest that posterior suprasylvian cortex may be analogous to inferotemporal cortex of the macaque.
Optimal models for social change

By assigning coordinates to the environmental function space comprising all physical and mental stimuli, mathematical interpretations can be based on such terms as adaptability, and reactivity which relate to individuals interacting with their environment within a society. These psychometric concepts are incorporated into a framework of functional analysis, which permits the optimization of social change by maximizing the satisfaction integral through the use of variational or dynamic programming methods in conjunction with some optimal social policy. The approach provides a mathematical connection between psychology and sociology, and further demonstrates that existing forms of government are simulated by differential equations belonging to the same general class. The synthesis of new classes of functional equations describing social progress is visualized as a legitimate objective for abstract mathematical sociology.
The good guys don't always win: the effect of valence on service perceptions and consequences

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance a new conceptualization of the service encounter that highlights the role of outcome valence as a key antecedent of customer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach – This study develops and tests a conceptual model using structural equation modeling. Specifically, it adopts recent procedures for assessing direct, mediated, and moderated effects.Findings – The findings demonstrate that valence has a stronger effect on satisfaction than both functional and service environment quality, that satisfaction fully mediates the effects of valence on behavioral intentions, and that consumer involvement moderates the valence‐satisfaction relationship.Research limitations/implications – This research draws attention to the fact that valence is an important research topic and researchers should focus attention on how valence might influence customer evaluations of services. Specifically, it is important to replicate these findings across industries, develop models th...
Analytic deuteron wave functions

Abstract The numerical deuteron wave function computed using the Yale nucleon-nucleon potential has been approximated by simple analytic expressions involving only exponential functions.