cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmentally Delayed Children and Adults

Epidemiological studies have shown that epilepsy occurs much more often in people with intellectual disability than in the general population, with estimates ranging from 10 % to over 60 % of people with intellectual disability having some form of epilepsy (Forsgren et al., Epilepsy Research, 6(3), 234–248, 1990; Lhatoo & Sander, Epilepsia, 42(Suppl 1), 6–9, 2001). The severity of an indvidual’s seizures and their degree of intellectual impairment are highly correlated (Kaufman, Clinical neurology for psychiatrists (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier, 2007). There are several epilepsy syndromes that commonly have comorbid intellectual impairment and developmental delay, and there are several common developmental syndromes that are characterized by both intellectual impairment and seizures. This chapter will briefly outline a few syndromes that most commonly present with comorbid developmental delays and seizures. Additionally, the chapter outlines how neuropsychological assessment can assist in the evaluation and treatment of developmentally delayed children and adults with epilepsy. In particular, the chapter focuses on how various neuropsychological screenings and more comprehensive assessment measures can be used to elucidate and characterize neurocognitive strengths and weaknesses in the neuropsychological profile of individuals with global intellectual and cognitive impairments, which can further be used to optimize treatment of their seizures, acquire appropriate academic and social services, and inform families and caregivers about an individual’s overall capabilities.
The Extraordinary Chambers of Cambodia: Searching for Accountability for the Atrocities of the Khmer Rouge

The ECCC has faced substantial criticism, much of it with at least some level of justification. The cost and pace of trials are a significant concern. Despite these criticisms, however, the work of the ECCC is profoundly important. International courts will never try every perpetrator – such has never been the intent at any such tribunal, nor was it here. Rather, the goal is to focus on those most responsible, to bring them to trial and allow their victims to participate in efforts to bring those offenders to justice. Regardless of the number of cases that are ultimately concluded at the ECCC, the number of those tried will always be very small, as will be the number of victims who participate in the trials. Yet the ECCC brings a focus on this dark period in Cambodia’s history, making factual findings, beyond a reasonable doubt, regarding perpetrators of such acts, while, as described by the International Federation for Human Rights, affording civil parties “the most complete system of victim participation.” Moreover, as the ECCC is part of the Cambodian legal system, it provides jurisprudence and practice applicable in other Cambodian courts. While improvements can and should be made, even the most cursory review of the trial judgment in the Duch case proves the extraordinary value of the court. In the jurisprudence of the ECCC, current and future generations will always have a resource, comprised of findings made beyond a reasonable doubt, which details the unimaginable horrors occurred, the victims harmed, and the judgments meted out.
Correlation of Equilibrium Constants with Ionic Strength by Sit, Pitzer and Parabolic Models

The pcKa values of acetic acid (HAc) and hydrofluoric acid (HF), as well as pKw values of H2O, were measured in this study at 25 °C and ionic strengths of I = 0.1 ∼ 14 m (NaClO4). Potentiometric titration was the experimental technique for these measurements using either a glass pH electrode or a fluoride ion selective electrode.
The Myth of 'Legal' Consent in a Consumer Culture

This Essay challenges the legal default of unquestioned human capacity for consent. It posits that legal capacity for consent is not an “on/off” switch. It questions the notion that capacity – our rough filter for the ability to consent – flips on at some relatively arbitrary time that one might, as a matter of tradition, call “the age of consent,” and off again with early onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A more nuanced view of consumer capacities rests, in part, on the understanding neuroscience and psychosocial evidence provide. This perspective suggests that we should match our rules and jurisprudential approaches to the variable capacities that we all show in different contexts and stages of life. By highlighting that most negotiating parties, in a given moment or context, may possess rather less than legally presumed capacity to consent, this Essay emphasizes the need for legal reform.
Nonparametric Inference for Location Parameters via Fréchet Functions

Given a random object on a stratified space, one defines the Frechet mean, the Frechet antimeanand additional population parameters associated withits Frechet function, in case this function is a Morsefunction as well. In this paper we give large sampleand nonparametric bootstrap estimation methods for theseparameters, followed by the consistency of Frechet sampleantimean and the Central Limit Theorem of Frechetsample antimean.
Comparison of O−H, C−H, and C−O Bond Scission Sequence of Methanol on Tungsten Carbide Surfaces Modified by Ni, Rh, and Au

Controlling the decomposition pathways of methanol is of significant importance to applications such as methanol reforming and direct methanol fuel cells. An understanding of the reaction of methanol on tungsten carbide (WC) and metal-modified WC surfaces should provide useful input for the utilization of these materials as alternative catalysts for reforming and fuel cell applications. In this study, we have performed a combined theoretical and experimental investigation to determine how the O−H, C−H, and C−O bond scission pathways are affected by modifying WC surfaces with Ni, Rh, or Au. Density functional theory results show that the methoxy species bonds strongly on Rh/WC and Ni/WC and should lead to higher activity toward methanol decomposition. In comparison, the binding energy on Au/WC is considerably lower. Temperature-programmed desorption and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy show that Rh/WC has the highest activity, followed by Ni/WC and Au/WC. The current results are also compa...
Reactions of Swarms of Pentaneura Aspera (Diptera: Tendipedidae) to Sound

Swarms, consisting apparently of males only, respond to simple sounds produced by an audio-oscillator through loud speakers. A startle response occurs when sounds between 80 and 800 cps are broadcast to the swarms at intensities above about 80 db. A second response, an agitated circling and gathering around the sound source, occurs only near 125 and 250 cps, at intensities of 13–18 db. above ambient noise levels for 125 cps, and 3–8 db. for 250 cps. The second reaction, because of its sharply tuned frequency determination and occurrence at remarkably low intensities, could have significance in mating or swarming. The frequency of the male wing sound is about 600 cps, and broadcasts of recorded samples of this to the swarms had no effect. No females were captured at any time; thus the frequency of the female wing sound is unknown. The possible biological significance of the reaction was not determined.
Bargaining and Legal Development in the United States Courts of Appeals

Examining the systematic and private records of a former D.C. Circuit Court Judge, we examine the process by which federal circuit court judges craft legal opinions. We discover that private and contextual factors influence legal outcomes. More specifically, we find that workload considerations strongly influence circuit opinions, that some visiting and senior judges effect the process differently than do active circuit court judges, and that panel effects play but a minimal role in the creation of opinions. In short, we move the literature on circuit court decision making forward by employing private archival material that illuminates how private and contextual features influence opinion writing and legal policy.
An interdisciplinary method of classifying and monitoring medication errors

A system is described for reporting medication errors according to practitioner and type and using these data as part of a departmental quality-assessment program. Types of errors committed in prescribing, in dispensing, and in administering drugs in a teaching hospital were listed. Prescribers' and pharmacists' reports of errors committed. Data on dispensing errors by 16 staff pharmacists were collected over a 12-month period in 1982-83, and data on prescribing by resident physicians were collected during three separate one-month periods. For each pharmacist, data on dispensing errors were compiled monthly. Pharmacists were counseled if they had a large number of errors in one category, a high total number of errors, or a substantial number of errors in a single category over several months. Likewise, physicians who committed more errors than their department's mean were counseled by the clinical chairman. After 12 months, each pharmacist's monthly error rate was compared with the departmental average. The number of dispensing errors reported during the study period (average 60.7 per month for the department) was lower than expected. Serious prescribing errors were minimal. In spite of probable underreporting of errors in this voluntary system, these methods of classifying medication errors by type and practitioner group and of recording error rates were useful tools for monitoring and improving performance of pharmacists and prescribers.
Abstract 211: The mitochondrial protein MTP18 enhances chemosensitivity by promoting mitochondrial fission

Background: Chemotherapy plays a major role in cancer therapy. Yet, one of its greatest obstacles is the development of chemotherapy resistance. Hence, understanding the molecular basis of chemoresistance is crucial to improve its therapeutic outcome. A close relationship between mitochondrial dynamic and cellular apoptosis has recently been identified. Mitochondrial fission is necessary for initiation of cellular apoptosis, whereas mitochondrial fusion is able to inhibit apoptosis. However, the association of mitochondrial fission and chemo-sensitivity has not been widely explored. Recently, mitochondrial protein MTP18 has been shown to promote mitochondrial fragmentation in various cancer cell lines. However, its role in apoptosis and chemotherapeutic resistance remains elusive. Here, we aimed to detect 1) whether MTP18 is able to regulate mitochondrial fission and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells, and 2) by which mechanism it regulates these events. Methods and Results: Doxorubicin is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents in variety of cancers. Mitochondrial staining with MitoTracker Red CMXRos revealed doxorubicin was able to induce mitochondrial fission both in vitro and in vivo gastric cancer models. We observed doxorubicin led to a decreasing level of MTP18 expression in gastric cancer cell lines, and this effect was concentration- and time-dependent. To understand the role of MTP18 in doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial fission and apoptosis, endogenous MTP18 expression was knockdown using MTP18-shRNA. Strikingly, doxorubicin could not induce mitochondrial fission in gastric cancer cells transfected with MTP18-shRNA. On the other hand, upon enforced expression of MTP18, the same concentration of doxorubicin sensitized a significantly higher number of gastric cancer cells to undergo mitochondrial fission and apoptosis. These findings suggest that MTP18 is required for doxorubicin-induced mitochondrial fission and apoptosis. In exploring the molecular mechanism of MTP18, we found that MTP18 enriched dynamin-related protein Drp1 accumulation in mitochondria and mediated the signal of doxorubicin to induce mitochondrial fission. Drp1 accumulation in mitochondria caused the release of cytochrome-c to cytosol and subsequently promoted apoptosis. Conclusion: Taken together, our findings suggest that MTP18 induces mitochondrial fission and enhances apoptosis in gastric cancer cells, by promoting Drp1 accumulation in mitochondria. Thus, it is compelling us to conclude that MTP18 enhances doxorubicin sensitivity of gastric cancer cells by targeting mitochondrial fission machinery. Citation Format: Lynn Htet Htet Aung, Peifeng Li. The mitochondrial protein MTP18 enhances chemosensitivity by promoting mitochondrial fission. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 211.
Avolition, Negative Symptoms, and a Clinical Science Journey and Transition to the Future.

The current chapter reviews the history and progression of negative symptoms of schizophrenia, with a particular focus on avolition, highlighting major issues in the conceptualization, structure, assessment, and etiology of negative symptoms. Avolition has been a core pathology in schizophrenia constructs beginning with Kraepelin’s “weakening of the wellsprings of volition” and concepts of anhedonia and schizotaxia developed by Rado and Meehl and more recently in the positive and negative symptom distinctions proposed in 1974. The primary/secondary distinction of negative symptoms, usually ignored, is critical in ascertaining a core pathology in schizophrenia and defining a disease entity within the schizophrenia syndrome. Negative symptoms can be used as a dimensional construct and have been viewed as an unmet therapeutic need in schizophrenia. Assessment methods have been refined with two current instruments addressing two factors related to expressivity and motivation. Negative symptoms as a psychopathology dimension and as a category [taxon] have been validated. The role of anhedonia in avolition has been challenged by in-the-moment assessments, suggesting intact capacity for pleasure but difficulty using mental representations of affective value to guide decision-making and goal-directed behavior. Part II by Strauss et al. addresses laboratory-based investigations and provides a novel theoretical framework for understanding avolition, as well as future directions for negative symptom research and clinical care.
Mirroring Alterity: The Imaginary China and the Comedic Self in Chandni Chowk to China

This chapter examines the engagement between Bollywood and Hong Kong through a critical reflection on Chandi Chowk to China (2009). The film’s locative articulation of urban spaces, combined with an integrated use of vestment and language between Indian and Chinese characters, manifest the interstices between the dual cinematic allegories. Crucial to this examination is the power relation involved in controlling the visual image of India and China. The imagined spaces of India’s China and China’s India are reconfigured as the profane comedy and symbolically shifted through the circuit of Sino-Indic elisions. Similarly, the film’s fusion of Hong Kong martial arts with Bollywood music and dance unites the twin paragons of global cinema, enabling a reading of the film that engages with these narrative trajectories.
Narratives of Shoreline Erosion and Protection at Shishmaref, Alaska: The Anecdotal and the Analytical

Mitigating, or adapting to, the impacts of environmental change on coastal landscapes, from both social and engineering perspectives, requires accurate baseline data that must be related to geomorphic processes. However, the inherent social and environmental dynamics of the coastal zone set up a contentious situation for decision makers and researchers because of the real, perceived, and stochastic nature of catastrophic threats to human life and property loss. Anecdotal accounts and first person observations generally propel the media and influence governmental policy far more effectively than scientific data. However, claims of extreme erosion rates are more adequately addressed through photogrammetric studies of erosion. Contrary to anecdotal accounts from Shishmaref, Alaska, sequential aerial photographs from 1950 to 2007 reveal that erosion has increased on the south-facing shores of the Chukchi Sea, while prior to 1977, erosion was higher on the north-facing shores such as Shishmaref. In addition, comparisons of property records indicate that high rates of erosion prevailed prior to 1950. Several engineering solutions were attempted in Shishmaref between 1983 and 2003, including gabions and cinder block/boulder/cobble revetments, leading to increased end-around erosion downdrift and an erosion rate twice that of undeveloped, unarmored shorelines. To adapt to heightened erosion rates, societies should either retreat from the shore or confront ever-increasing engineering costs.
Wordsworth and the Green Romantics: Affect and Ecology in the Nineteenth Century / Romantic Sustainability: Endurance and the Natural World, 1780–1830

Lisa Ottum and Seth T. Reno’s Wordsworth and the Green Romantics and Ben P. Robertson’s Romantic Sustainability offer ecocritical analyses of a broad array of well- and lesser-known Romantic works ...
The demography of words: the global decline in non-numeric fertility preferences, 1993-2011

This paper examines the decline in non-numeric responses to questions about fertility preferences among women in the developing world. These types of response—such as ‘don’t know’ or ‘it’s up to God’—have often been interpreted through the lens of fertility transition theory as an indication that reproduction has not yet entered women’s ‘calculus of conscious choice’. However, this has yet to be investigated cross-nationally and over time. Using 19 years of data from 32 countries, we find that non-numeric fertility preferences decline most substantially in the early stages of a country’s fertility transition. Using country-specific and multilevel models, we explore the individual- and contextual-level characteristics associated with women’s likelihood of providing a non-numeric response to questions about their fertility preferences. Non-numeric fertility preferences are influenced by a host of social factors, with educational attainment and knowledge of contraception being the most robust and consistent ...
Efficiency optimization of a variable-capacity/variable-blower-speed residential heat-pump system with ductwork

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cooling operation of a variable-capacity/variable-fan-speed residential heat-pump connected to a typical single-zone duct system located outside the conditioned space in a hot-dry climate. This was accomplished through full-scale laboratory testing of prototype heat-pump equipment connected to a complete residential duct system within a climatic chamber wherein a range of summer conditions were simulated. Compressor speeds and evaporator airflows were manipulated over a range of practical combinations to characterize the efficiency of the entire system. The analysis includes the delivery effectiveness of the duct system (cooling delivered to the conditioned space over cooling delivered at the evaporator coil) and the efficiency of the HVAC equipment. Our results indicate that the effectiveness of the distribution system decreases as the compressor and evaporator-fan speeds are reduced, the effect being more pronounced at hotter duct-zone temperatures. Although the ducts perform more efficiently at higher evaporator fan speeds for a given compressor speed, the blower power usage increases, resulting in an optimum cooling Coefficient of Performance (COP) of the overall system at 80% airflow for the different equipment capacities tested. Finally, the delivery effectiveness at individual grilles of the duct system vary disproportionately as the compressor and fan speeds are changed, depending on the dimension and length of the ducts.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci: Emerging Problems and New Prospects for Management

Introduction Infections due to multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria are a growing worldwide problem, particularly among seriously ill patients. A number of studies have demonstrated that patients infected with either methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are at higher risk for mortality and medical resource expenditures. Methods A non-systematic evidence-based review of linezolid, the first commercially available oxazolidinone, and quinupristin/dalfopristin, the first injectable streptogramin, for management of these multidrug-resistant infections was conducted. Results As infections due to VRE increase and vancomycin-insensitive MRSA emerge, vancomycin is becoming less effective for managing Gram-positive infections. Preclinical comparative studies demonstrated that linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin are highly effective in eradicating both susceptible and resistant staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci. Clinical experience, including phase III and compassionate-use data, with these newer agents in the treatment of MRSA and VRE infections are discussed. Conclusions The clinical experiences thus far with linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin for MRSA and VRE infections have demonstrated efficacy, making these agents important additions to the limited number of therapeutic alternatives for Gram-positive infections.
Toxicity and Bioaccumulation of Munitions Constituents in Aquatic and Terrestrial Organisms

Explosives and their transformation products are present in terrestrial and aquatic environments around the globe and have the potential to cause toxicity to the biota inhabiting contaminated environments. This chapter summarizes the available data on the toxicity of explosives and their transformation products to microbes, soil and aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial plants, aquatic autotrophs, and terrestrial plants, as well as data on their potential to bioaccumulate. While RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) and HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) typically remain untransformed, nitroaromatic explosives undergo fast transformation when added to soils and sediment, posing challenges when establishing concentration-response relations. The cyclic nitramines RDX and HMX typically caused no or minor adverse effects on biological receptors whereas 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) caused lethal effects to most species investigated, in addition to sublethal effects on growth and reproduction reported for some species. Overall, nitroaromatic explosives are expected to pose greater risk to terrestrial and aquatic biota at contaminated sites compared to nitramine explosives. The toxicity of other explosives compounds was also summarized. As predicted mainly on the basis of their low hydrophobicity, bioaccumulation studies confirmed the low potential of explosives to accumulate in plants, fish, and invertebrates.
The Culture of Corruption in Pakistan

Pakistan is important. It is the fifth most populous country in the world; has the sixth largest military; has nuclear weapons; is a regional power; and is strategically located. Yet, Pakistan is far from reaching its full potential. This paper discusses one of the major reasons why that is.
Environmental Engel Curves: Indirect Emissions of Common Air Pollutants

Abstract Environmental Engel curves (EECs) describe households’ incomes and the pollution necessary to produce the goods and services they consume. We calculate 29 annual EECs from 1984 to 2012 for...
12-week treadmill exercise program elicits lower energy availability without changes in serum testosterone in male rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a treadmill endurance exercise program would reduce serum testosterone and leptin in male rats and assess the impact of increased dietary cholesterol on serum hormones. Male Sprague-Dawley Rats (n = 20) were randomly assigned to a control group (C) or an exercise training group (EX) that performed treadmill running 40 min/day, 6 days/week for 12 weeks. At study midpoint (week 6), rats were randomized to a high-cholesterol (HC) diet (n = 10) or remain on standard semi-purified (LC) diet (n = 10). Results are presented as median [IQR]. At end of week 6, EX + LC had significantly lower body weight (508 [460–527] vs 570 [516–606] g; p = 0.01), mean daily energy intake (76.3 [74.9–82.2] vs 90.9 [86.9–94.5] kcal; p < 0.01), and serum leptin (0.4 [0.3–0.6] vs 3.3 [2.0–4.0] ng/mL; p < 0.01) in comparison to C + LC. No difference was observed between EX + LC and C + LC in serum testosterone (12.6 [6.9–18.3] vs 11.7 [7.6–18.9] ng/mL). At end of week 12, EX + LC had significantly lower body weight (514 [483–568] g) compared to C + LC (644 [575–680] g; p < 0.01) and C + HC (650 [583–702] g; p < 0.01). Serum Leptin in both EX + LC (0.6 [0.2–0.8] ng/mL) and EX + HC (0.6 [0.3–1.6] ng/mL) was significantly lower than C + LC (3.0 [2.2–4.2] ng/mL; p < 0.01). No significant difference in testosterone was observed between C + LC and C + HC (4.3 [3.3–8.3] vs 6.3 [3.2–9.3] ng/mL, respectively). Despite lower energy availability, exercise-induced changes in sex hormones may not occur in training programs ≤ 12 weeks. Lower voluntary energy intake observed in exercise groups despite greater energy expenditure may indicate that lower energy availability in endurance-trained individuals may be inadvertent.
Conditional responding as a paradigm for observational, imitative learning and vicarious-reinforcement.

Publisher Summary This chapter considers some theoretical and empirical issues critical to the interpretation of phenomena that have often been termed observational, imitative learning and “vicarious-reinforcement.” Insofar as they are frequently assumed to involve neither overt responding nor extrinsic reinforcement from environmental agencies, such behavior-change phenomena have appeared to some theorists to be anomalous under the instrumental conditioning paradigm from which the term “reinforcement” has derived much of its contemporary tone. In some cases, it has even been proposed that new theories, for example those containing cognitive terms, may be required to order the seemingly anomalous phenomena. However, such pessimism about S-R theory is premature, and may be because of the fact that the behavior-change phenomena at issue have been considered by some mostly in an ahistorical frame. When considered in the framework of a subject's earlier conditioning history and the overall maintaining stimulus context, such phenomena are readily explicable in terms of routine conditioning concepts, in particular instrumental responding, extrinsic reinforcement, and acquired conditional stimulus control.
Zelda potentiates transcription factor binding to zygotic enhancers by increasing local chromatin accessibility during early Drosophila melanogaster embryogenesis

The maternally deposited transcription factor Zelda binds to and is required for the activation of a large number of genes in early Drosophila development, and has been suggested to act as a pioneer factor. In this study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of Zelda binding along with the maternal patterning factors Dorsal and Caudal during early embryogenesis. We found in regions bound by Zelda and either Dorsal or Caudal, Zelda binding was detected, and reached maximum levels, earlier than Caudal and Dorsal, providing support of its role as a pioneer factor. We found that Dorsal and Caudal binding correlated strongly with Zelda binding at mitotic cycle 12, suggesting that Zelda is important for early binding by these factors and early onset of their target gene expression. At the same time, we show that among Dorsal target enhancers, the dorsal and ventral ectoderm enhancers are much more strongly associated with Zelda than mesoderm enhancers, revealing an additional function of Zelda in coordinating spatial activity of enhancers. We have also investigated the role of Zelda on chromatin structure. We found that in early embryos, before Dorsal and Caudal are bound at significant levels, Zelda binding is associated with histone acetylation and local histone depletion. These chromatin associated changes accompanied with increased local chromatin accessibility were also detected around Zelda peaks in coding sequences that do not appear to play a role in subsequent transcription factor binding. These findings suggest that Zelda binding itself can lead to chromatin structural changes. Finally, we found that Zelda motifs, both bound and unbound, tend to be associated with positioned nucleosomes, which we suggest may be important for the regulatory specificity of enhancers.
Development and Validation of the Multicontextual Interpersonal Relations Scale (MIRS)

Abstract. Interpersonal relationships provide insight into a wide range of adult psychological health behaviors and well-being. Modern advancements in relational contexts (e.g., social media and ph...
An Exploratory Analysis on Cybersecurity Ecosystem Utilizing the NICE Framework

Within the past few decades, cybersecurity has grown from individual concerns into a national-level issue. With its explosive growth, there has been an increasing demand with cybersecurity workers struggling to catch up. Government, academia, and the private sector have all taken initiatives to fulfill these needs with varying methods and levels of success. Additionally, there has been considerable amount of research for each domain spanning across multiple disciplines. However, there is currently a lack for a holistic view on cybersecurity between all three domains and the relationships that exist between them. This research paper aims to explore the current cybersecurity ecosystem to allow future researchers and practitioners to understand the full scope and broaden cybersecurity knowledge. To achieve this, we use an ontological network and identify key relationships that exist within all three domains.
Water Processing for Isotope Recovery Using Porous Zero Valent Iron

AbstractReduction-oxidation cycles of metals can be harnessed to create a reusable tritiated water processing system. The concept is straightforward; a tritium-contaminated steam passes over a hot ...
Validation of 46 loci associated with female fertility traits in cattle

Subfertility is one challenge facing the dairy industry as the average Holstein heifer conception rate (HCR), the proportion of heifers that conceive and maintain a pregnancy per breeding, is estimated at 55–60%. Of the loci associated with HCR, few have been validated in an independent cattle population, limiting their usefulness for selection or furthering our understanding of the mechanisms involved in successful pregnancy. Therefore, the objectives here were to identify loci associated with HCR: 1) to the first artificial insemination (AI) service (HCR1), 2) to repeated AI services required for a heifer to conceive (TBRD) and 3) to validate loci previously associated with fertility. Breeding and health records from 3359 Holstein heifers were obtained after heifers were bred by AI at observed estrus, with pregnancy determined at day 35 via palpation. Heifer DNA was genotyped using the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip, and genome-wide association analyses (GWAA) were performed with additive, dominant and recessive models using the Efficient Mixed Model Association eXpedited (EMMAX) method with a relationship matrix for two phenotypes. The HCR1 GWAA compared heifers that were pregnant after the first AI service (n = 497) to heifers that were open following the first AI service (n = 405), which included those that never conceived. The TBRD GWAA compared only those heifers which did conceive, across variable numbers of AI service (n = 712). Comparison of loci previously associated with fertility, HCR1 or TBRD were considered the same locus for validation when in linkage disequilibrium (D’ > 0.7). The HCR1 GWAA identified 116, 187 and 28 loci associated (P < 5 × 10− 8) in additive, dominant and recessive models, respectively. The TBRD GWAA identified 235, 362, and 69 QTL associated (P < 5 × 10− 8) with additive, dominant and recessive models, respectively. Loci previously associated with fertility were in linkage disequilibrium with 22 loci shared with HCR1 and TBRD, 5 HCR1 and 19 TBRD loci. Loci associated with HCR1 and TBRD that have been identified and validated can be used to improve HCR through genomic selection, and to better understand possible mechanisms associated with subfertility.
Scalar Curvature Bound for Kähler-Ricci Flows over Minimal Manifolds of General Type

In this short paper, we prove that scalar curvature is uniformly bounded for the Kahler-Ricci flow over a minimal manifold of general type. This result can be compared with the result in [6] for the positive first Chern class case. A big part of the computation works for more general situation and we keep track of that for future application.
Work Experiences of Rural Social Workers in the United States

Rural social workers face unique challenges and opportunities as they seek to address the needs of rural Americans. Using social media, rural social workers in the U.S. were recruited to describe t...
Navigating Early Childhood Teachers Initial Resistance to Literacy Coaching in Diverse Rural Schools

Literacy coaching, an effective professional development strategy for early childhood teachers, is a respected component in educational reform initiatives. This qualitative case study explored and described interactive processes between literacy coaches (n = 5) and Kindergarten teachers (n = 6). This study focused on how established kindergarten teachers in four, diverse, rural impoverished schools in the southeastern United States exhibited initial resistance to literacy coaching. The data suggested that although relationship-focused strategies were important for all teachers, these strategies were essential for low-implementing, initially resistant teachers. Additionally, teachers who were low-implementing, initially resistant required intensive strategies to address cross-cultural challenges and to leverage principal’s support in positive ways. Although building relationships required trust, improving teaching skills required navigating resistance and bridging differences between the coach and teacher.
Hydrochemical characteristics and evolution processes of karst groundwater in Carboniferous Taiyuan formation in the Pingdingshan coalfield

Coal mining may affect the hydrochemical characteristics and evolution processes of groundwater, leading to a deterioration in groundwater quality. This study was conducted to understand the hydrochemical characteristics and determine the hydrochemical processes controlling the karst groundwater hydrogeochemistry in Carboniferous Taiyuan formation in the Pingdingshan coalfield, Henan Province, China. Statistical techniques and conventional methods were utilized to gain a comprehensive understanding of the hydrogeochemical processes of karst groundwater. Results showed that the groundwater was fresh water, and was slightly acidic-to-slightly alkaline. The main cations were Ca2+ and Na+, and the predominant anions were HCO3− and SO42−. Most of the groundwater was predominantly of the Ca–HCO3 type. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), ion correlation analysis, and conventional graphic methods (Piper and Gibbs diagrams) indicated that the dissolution of silicate, gypsum, and carbonate minerals controlled the formation of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, SO42−, and HCO3−. Meanwhile, cation exchange was another important process regulating karst groundwater quality. Moreover, the concentrations of SO42− and NO3− were high, suggesting that the karst groundwater in this study area had been affected by anthropogenic activities, such as agriculture and mining. To avoid water inrush and keep mines east of the study area safely operational, the Guodishan faults within the mining area should be grouted to cut off the connection between limestone aquifers in the east and west study areas. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen the scientific research on fertilizers that allow plants to absorb nitrogen rapidly and control the amount of fertilizer used to protect the groundwater from pollution. The results of this study are helpful for the prevention and control of water disasters, and are beneficial for groundwater resource protection in the Pingdingshan mining areas. They will also provide a reference for similar studies by other mining hydrogeologists across the world.
Looking Backward and Forward from the 24-Million-Word Mark: A Managing Editor’s Perspective on The International Journal of the History of Sport in Transition

With the completion of volume 36, the 2019 run of The International Journal of the History of Sport, this periodical has since 1984 published more that 24-million words. To mark that occasion, the ...
Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor expressing neurons in anterior cingulate cortex become sensitized after inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

The anterior cingulate cortex is a limbic region associated with the emotional processing of pain. How neuropathic and inflammatory pain models alter the neurophysiology of specific subsets of neur...
Clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with pulmonary marginal zone lymphoma: A single center analysis

Pulmonary marginal zone lymphoma (PMZL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma affecting the lung. PMZL is usually an indolent disease. Clinical and radiological variables associated with shorter survival are largely unknown and no consensus exists on preferred treatment strategy in PMZL. Herein we aimed to identify clinical and radiological features associated with shorter survival and inferior treatment outcomes. Forty patients with PMZL were analyzed. FDG-avid disease was evident in most patients (93%) with staging PET/CT (n = 15). With a median follow-up in treated patients (n = 38) of 8.4 years (range 0.07-18.44), the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 7.5 years (95% CI 1.8-9.5) and 15.7 years (95% CI 9.3-NE) respectively. Shorter PFS was observed in patients who presented at diagnosis with elevated LDH, B symptoms, advanced stage and failed to achieve complete response (CR) after initial treatment. Patients with multifocal lung disease, extrapulmonary MZL and cavitary lesions on CT scans exhibited shorter PFS. Nevertheless, no clinical or radiologic findings were associated with shorter OS. All patients treated with surgery (n = 4) and radiation therapy (n = 3) achieved and remained in CR. No higher grade transformations occurred during the follow-up period. PMZL exhibited excellent outcomes with a 15-year PMZL-related OS of 94.9% (95% CI: 81.25%-98.7%). Radiation therapy and surgery are potentially curative strategies in localized PMZL.
Assessment of the Medical Schools From Which Radiation Oncology Residents Graduate and Implications for Diversifying the Workforce.

PURPOSE To identify factors predictive of a medical school graduating a high volume of future radiation oncology (RO) residents to better understand potential pathways to effectively recruit women and underrepresented minority (URM) students into RO. METHODS AND MATERIALS Demographics for US allopathic medical schools and affiliated RO departments were collected from web resources and correlated with the percentage of graduates from each school currently enrolled in RO residency in 2019, and the probability of at least 1 female or URM student from each school pursuing RO. RESULTS The median percentage of students per medical school who pursued RO residency was 0.37% (interquartile range, 0.16%-0.66%). A total of 79.7% of schools graduated at least 1 RO resident, whereas 51.7% graduated at least 1 female RO resident and 14.0% graduated at least 1 URM RO resident. The 30 schools graduating the highest percentage of RO residents accounted for 52.1% of current RO residents, only 4 of which were in the top quartile for URM enrollment. Medical students were significantly more likely to pursue RO when there was an affiliated RO department (0.42% vs 0.18%, P < .001) or RO residency program (0.51% vs 0.18%, P < .001), more total RO faculty (rs = 0.521, P < .001), female RO faculty (rs = 0.481, P < .001), and URM RO faculty (rs = 0.197, P < .001). The probability of at least 1 female student pursuing RO was also correlated with the number of female faculty in the affiliated RO department (rpb = 0.348, P = .001), and a similar correlation was observed between URM students and URM faculty (rpb = 0.312, P = .011). CONCLUSIONS Most RO residents graduate from medical schools with larger affiliated RO departments but fewer URM students. To promote greater RO diversity, outreach should be considered among schools with greater URM enrollment but fewer affiliated radiation oncologists, and among female and URM students in schools that graduate many RO residents.
Associations between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing problems

This longitudinal study examined the moderating roles of language use and gender in the relations between maternal depressive symptoms and child internalizing behaviour problems in 242 preschool ch...
Model for self-replicating, self-assembling electric circuits with self-controlled growth

The authors propose a tile assembly model (rcTAM) to study self-assembly, self-controlled growth, and self-replication. The paper shows how self-replication can be achieved without biological mechanisms or organic chemistry.
Productive performance response of growing rabbits to dietary protein reduction and supplementation of pyridoxine, protease, and zinc.

Abstract An 8-week experiment was carried out to assess the impact of supplemental dietary pyridoxine (PY), protease (PR), zinc (Zn) and their mixture (MIX) with low protein diet (LP; 14.76% CP) or high protein diet (HP; 18.53% CP) on rabbit growth, feed utilization, and nutrients digestibility. Rabbits were divided into ten similar groups in a 2 (protein level) ×5 (treatments) factorial design. Treatments included a control group (without any additives), 5 mg PY/kg of diet, 100 mg Zn/kg of diet, 500 mg PR/kg of diet or a mixture of all tested feed additive with the same doses. Results indicated that growth performance, feed utilization, and nutrients digestibility indicators were retarded significantly with reduction of dietary crude protein. Growth performance and feed conversion were significantly enhanced as a result of PY, PR, Zn, and MIX supplementation. All feed supplements had significantly improved the digestibility of crude protein and digestible crude protein. No change in carcass traits was recorded in response to protein level and tested feed supplements. It is concluded that the growing rabbit responded positively to PY, Zn, PR, and MIX (particularly PY) supplemental of LP or HP diets, in terms of growth performance, feed conversion, and nutrient digestibility.
Health status of Medicare-enrolled autistic older adults with and without co-occurring intellectual disability: An analysis of inpatient and institutional outpatient medical claims.

Little is known about the extent to which the healthcare needs of autistic older adults with intellectual disability differ from autistic older adults without intellectual disability. We conducted ...
Looking Through the Lens of Size: Land Use Regulations and Micro-Apartments in San Francisco

Small studio apartments, or “micro-apartments,” represent a market response to high housing costs. San Francisco is one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets and the location of an innovative pilot micro-apartment policy. The literature on regulatory barriers to affordable housing pays little attention to minimum unit size requirements. This paper finds that San Francisco’s planning code is largely “unit-size-neutral,” but parking requirements are a regulatory obstacle in parts of the city. Other significant barriers include open space and unit-mix requirements. It is recommended that cities review their codes through the lens of size, and eliminate unnecessary obstacles to small units.
Strong and flaw-insensitive two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks

Summary Two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising polymeric crystalline nanomaterials with broad applications. However, the understanding of their mechanical properties and fracture mechanisms remains elusive. Here, we report a quantitative in situ tensile study of ultrathin COFTAPB-DHTA films. The fracture strength was measured to be 0.75 ± 0.34 GPa, and the tensile modulus was measured to be 10.38 ± 3.42 GPa, with a nominal density of 0.393 g/cc, thus having specific strength equivalent to Kevlar (2 GPa·cc/g), and specific modulus comparable with titanium alloys (23 GPa·cc/g). In addition, the fracture toughness was measured to be 0.55 ± 0.09 MPa√m, and it was found that the crack propagation could be insensitive to the pre-crack when the size of pre-crack is below a critical value, leading to intriguing flaw insensitivity in such ultrathin nanomaterials. This work provides in-depth insights into the fracture properties of 2D COF films and lays a foundation for their future applications.
The jaw-dropping costs of oral cavity cancer malpractice.

BACKGROUND Medical litigation is different than it was 20 years ago due to changes in health care. This study provides an updated analysis of oral cavity malpractice litigation from the past two decades (2000-2010 and 2011-2019). METHODS Verdict reviews from the Westlaw database were analyzed from January 2000 to August 2019. Data were collected and analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. RESULTS Sixty-five lawsuits were evaluated across 24 states. Failure to diagnose was the most common allegation in both decades. Adjusting for inflation, the average amount awarded from 2000 to 2010 was $1 721 068 and $3 925 504 from 2011 to 2019. CONCLUSIONS There has been a significant rise in allegations of failure to biopsy and failure to refer (p < 0.05). In addition, while award amounts appear different between decades, the difference is not statistically significant (p = 0.248). Education should focus on early diagnosis, biopsy, and referral to physicians who routinely care for this patient population.
The Pursuit of Questions

This Chapter offers an account of the pursuit of problems. Since it has been assumed that scientific discoveries are the novel solution of certain important scientific problems, and scientific research is the pursuit of these problems, we are attempting an account of scientific research. We shall also be particularly interested in instruments or strategies in scientific research that guide or facilitate the solution of scientific problems.
Fyn-phosphorylated PIKE-A binds and inhibits AMPK signaling, blocking its tumor suppressive activity

The AMP-activated protein kinase, a key regulator of energy homeostasis, has a critical role in metabolic disorders and cancers. AMPK is mainly regulated by cellular AMP and phosphorylation by upstream kinases. Here, we show that PIKE-A binds to AMPK and blocks its tumor suppressive actions, which are mediated by tyrosine kinase Fyn. PIKE-A directly interacts with AMPK catalytic alpha subunit and impairs T172 phosphorylation, leading to repression of its kinase activity on the downstream targets. Mutation of Fyn phosphorylation sites on PIKE-A, depletion of Fyn, or pharmacological inhibition of Fyn blunts the association between PIKE-A and AMPK, resulting in loss of its inhibitory effect on AMPK. Cell proliferation and oncogenic assays demonstrate that PIKE-A antagonizes tumor suppressive actions of AMPK. In human glioblastoma samples, PIKE-A expression inversely correlates with the p-AMPK levels, supporting that PIKE-A negatively regulates AMPK activity in cancers. Thus, our findings provide additional layer of molecular regulation of the AMPK signaling pathway in cancer progression.