cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

If one includes all types of chronic generalized airways obstruction under the heading of "COPD," diagnosis of this condition requires only the demonstration of an obstructive ventilatory impairment on spirometric testing that persists despite maximum medical therapy. However, as generally used, the term COPD implies that upper airways obstruction and "specific" lung diseases that can produce an obstructive type of physiologic abnormality have been excluded. Examples of these exclusions include silicosis, sarcoidosis, and even advanced tuberculous disease. It is more difficult to determine the type of disease that is causing the chronic airways obstruction in patients with COPD as defined above. A severe and persistent form of asthma, sometimes called "chronic asthmatic bronchitis," can mimic the typical emphysematous form of COPD that is characteristic of heavy cigarette smokers. Since these types of chronic airflow obstruction differ in regard to their clinical courses, prognoses, and treatments, their distinction is clinically important. One should not be discouraged by the fact that some patients appear to have a mixed type of disorder. Features that help differentiate the various forms of chronic airways obstruction are described in this report, and recommendations are offered to help guide the practitioner in the workup indicated for patients thought to have any type of chronic airways obstruction. It is also emphasized that patients vary markedly in regard to the relative importance of readily reversible bronchospasm, airways inflammation, and mucus hypersecretion in producing their disability. Assessment of these factors is critical in determining clinical management.
Trends in U.S. life expectancy gradients: the role of changing educational composition

Background: I examined age patterns and the role of shifting educational distributions in driving trends in educational gradients in life expectancy among non-Hispanic Whites between 1991 and 2005. Methods: Data were from the 1986–2004 National Health Interview Survey with mortality follow-up through 2006. Life expectancies were computed by sex, period and education. Age decompositions of life expectancy gradients and composition-adjusted life expectancies were computed to account for age patterns and shifting educational distributions. Results: Life expectancy at age 25 among White men increased for all education groups, decreased among the least-educated White women and increased among White women with college degrees. Much of the decline in measured life expectancy for White women with less than a high school education comes from the 85þ age group. Educational gradients in life expectancy widened for White men and women. One-third of the gradient is due to ages below 50. Approximately 26% (0.7 years) and 87% (0.8 years) of the widening of the gradient in life expectancy between ages 25 and 85 for White women and men is attributable to shifting education distributions. Over half of the decline in temporary life expectancy among the least-educated White women is due to compositional change. Conclusions: Life expectancy has increased among White men for all education groups and has decreased among White women with less than a high school education, though not to the extent reported in previous studies. The fact that a large proportion of the change in education-specific life expectancy among women is due to the 85þ age group suggests changes in institutionalization may be affecting estimates. Much of the change in education-specific life expectancy and the growth in the educational gradient in life expectancy is due to the shifting distribution of individuals across education categories.
Tumor-specific CD8+ Tc9 cells are superior effector than Tc1 cells for adoptive immunotherapy of cancers (VAC11P.1000)

Because cytokine-priming signals direct CD8+ T cells to acquire unique profiles that affect their ability to mediate specific immune responses, here we generated a novel IL-9-skewed (Tc9) CD8+ T cells by priming with Th9-polarized condition. Compared with Tc1 cells, Tc9 secreted different cytokines and were less cytolytic in vitro but surprisingly elicited greater antitumor responses against advanced tumors in OT-I/B16-OVA and Pmel-1/B16 melanoma models. After adoptive transfer, Tc9 cells persisted longer and differentiated into IFN-g- and granzyme-B (GrzB)-producing cytolytic Tc1-like effector cells. Phenotypic analysis revealed that adoptively transferred Tc9 cells secreted IL-2 and were KLRG-1low and IL-7Rahigh, suggesting that they acquired a signature of “younger” phenotype or became long-term lived cells with capacity of self-renewal. Our results also revealed that Tc9-mediated therapeutic effect was critically dependent on IL-9 production in vivo. These findings have clinical implications for the improvement of CD8+ T cell-based adoptive immunotherapy of cancers.
Efficient modeling and simulation of coupled transmission lines

We present a computationally efficient method to simulate transmission lines. Based on the generalized method of characteristics, transmission lines are modeled with characteristic impedances and waveform generators. Thus the first major task involves network synthesis. The second is efficient computation of the synthesized waveform generators which requires computationally expensive convolution integral evaluation during transient simulation of transmission lines. As solutions of the above tasks, we present iterative linear least square fitting (ILLSF) for the first task and PRC for the second. The superior performance of ILLSF and the efficiency of PRC will be demonstrated for the transient simulation of coupled transmission lines.
A diagnostic expert system for the dyeing of protein fibres

Coloration of protein fibres is characterised by many variables, each with a different effect on the final product. Because the process can be rather complicated, it is often difficult to achieve the right colour in the first dyeing attempt. Determining the root causes of a given problem tends to be even more challenging. While quality requirements in the textile industry have become increasingly rigorous, seasoned coloration experts have become rather scarce. This situation has exacerbated the need for the development and implementation of expert systems to augment available expertise in this domain. In addition, benefits associated with computer-based diagnostic systems have become increasingly evident over the past few decades, and the field remains an active area of research. Here we report the design and development of a diagnostic expert system for the dyeing of protein fibres. The system is designed to aid in the identification of root causes of problems with a view to enabling users to arrive quickly at remedial solutions. The performance of the system has been tested and evaluated by human experts and deemed to be highly satisfactory. This diagnostic system can be used to teach students, may be utilised by novice colourists as a problem-solving tool, and may be employed as a supplementary knowledge resource by seasoned dyers.
Social networks lack useful content for incontinence.

Objective To assess the incontinence resources readily available for patients among social networks. Social networks allow users to connect with each other and share content and are a widely popular resource on the Internet. These sites attract millions of users; however, social media are underused in the healthcare industry. Methods A search for “incontinence” was performed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in September 2010. The first 30 results were reviewed for each. The results were evaluated as useful or not useful and additionally catalogued as healthcare professionals, commercial products, or complementary and alternative medicine resources. Results On Facebook, 4 results (13%) were informative, 12 (40%) advertised commercial incontinence products, and 14 (47%) had no usable information. Of the live “tweets” reviewed on Twitter, 18 (60%) linked to incontinence-related healthcare information (none were from, or referred one to, healthcare professionals), 9 (30%) advertised for commercial incontinence products, 1 (3%) advertised complementary and alternative medicine resources, and 2 (7%) were humorous. Of 4 Twitter user results, 1 was comic, 1 provided incontinence-related health information, and 2 were incontinence medical supply companies. There were 14 (47%) informational YouTube videos, of which 9 came from healthcare professionals or professional organizations. Of the remainder, 12 (40%) were commercial, 1 (3%) advertised complementary and alternative medicine resources, and the remaining 3 (10%) were not useful. Conclusion The results of our study show that social networks have insufficient useful incontinence content, especially from healthcare professionals and incontinence organizations. Medical professionals and societies should target these avenues to reach and educate patients.
The effect of self-regulation instruction on the performance achievement, musical self-efficacy, and practicing of advanced wind players

This study is an investigation of the effect of self-regulation instruction on collegiate wind players’ performance achievement, practice behavior, and self-efficacy. Volunteers (N = 28) were randomly assigned to an experimental condition that included either (a) instruction in the application of practice strategies (slowing, repetition, whole-part-whole, chaining) or (b) instruction in self-regulation principles (concentration, goal-selection, planning, self-evaluation, rest/reflective activity) in addition to the aforementioned strategies. The instruction was delivered via videos across 5 days and consisted of narrative descriptions and aural/visual models of each approach. Recordings of pre-test performances, 20 minutes of practice, and post-test performances were collected at days 1 and 5. Participants provided ratings of self-efficacy beliefs at days 1 and 5. Both groups made significant gains in performance achievement at each day. Those who received the self-regulation instruction made significantl...
Dose Response of Listeria monocytogenes Invasion, Fetal Morbidity, and Fetal Mortality after Oral Challenge in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Mongolian Gerbils

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that can result in adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as stillbirth or premature delivery. The Mongolian gerbil was recently proposed as the most appropriate small-animal model of listeriosis due to its susceptibility to the same invasion pathways as humans. The objectives of this study were to investigate invasion and adverse pregnancy outcomes in gerbils orally exposed to L. monocytogenes, to compare the dose-response data to those of other animal models, and to investigate differences in the responses of pregnant versus nonpregnant gerbils. Gerbils were orally exposed to 0 (control), 10(3), 10(5), 10(7), or 10(9) CFU L. monocytogenes in whipping cream. L. monocytogenes was recovered in a dose-dependent manner from fecal samples, adult organs, and pregnancy-associated tissues. Dams exposed to 10(9) CFU had more invaded organs and higher concentrations of L. monocytogenes in almost all organs than nonpregnant animals, though no differences in fecal shedding were seen between the two groups. Adverse pregnancy outcomes occurred only in the dams treated with 10(9) CFU. A 50% infectivity dose (ID50) of 2.60 × 10(6) CFU for fetuses was calculated by fitting the data to a logistic model. Our results suggest that the 50% lethal dose (LD50) falls within the range of 5 × 10(6) to 5 × 10(8) CFU. This range includes the guinea pig and nonhuman primate LD50s, but the observation that L. monocytogenes-induced stillbirths can be seen in guinea pigs and primates exposed to lower doses than those at which stillbirths were seen in gerbils indicates that gerbils are not more sensitive to L. monocytogenes invasion.
Long-Term Immune Responses to Coxiella burnetii after Vaccination

ABSTRACT Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by infection with the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Infection with C. burnetii results in humoral and cellular immune responses, both of which are thought to contribute to protection against subsequent infection. Whole-cell formalin-inactivated vaccines have also been shown to induce both humoral and cellular immunity and provide protection. Whether measurement of cellular or humoral immunity is a better indicator of immune protection is not known, and the duration of immunity induced by natural infection or vaccination is also poorly understood. To better understand the measurement and duration of C. burnetii immunity, 16 people vaccinated against Q fever (0.2 to 10.3 years before analysis) and 29 controls with a low risk of Q fever exposure were tested for immune responses to C. burnetii by an indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFA) to measure circulating antibody and by a gamma interferon release assay (IGRA) to measure cellular immunity. Among vaccinated subjects, the IFA detected antibodies in 13/16, and the IGRA also detected positive responses in 13/16. All of the vaccinated subjects had a positive response in at least one of the assays, whereas 8/29 control subjects were positive in at least one assay. There was not a correlation between time since vaccination and responses in these assays. These results show that IFA and IGRA perform similarly in detection of C. burnetii immune responses and that Q fever vaccination establishes long-lived immune responses to C. burnetii.
Increasing Sibling Relative Risk of Survival to Older and Older Ages and the Importance of Precise Definitions of “Aging,” “Life Span,” and “Longevity”

The lack of a formal definition of human longevity continues to generate confusion about its genetic and nongenetic determinants. In order to characterize how differences in birth year cohorts and percentiles of survival are associated with familial contribution to variation in survival, we estimated sibling relative risk of living to increasingly rare percentiles of survival based on a dataset of 1,917 validated sibships each containing at least one individual living to age 90 years. About 1,042 of the sibships included at least one individual who survived to age 100 and 511 included at least one individual who survived to age 105 and older. We show that sibling relative risk increases with older ages, sex, and earlier birth year cohorts of the proband and siblings of male 90-year-olds (5th percentile of survival) have 1.73 (95% CI: 1.5; 2.0) times the chance of living to age 90, while siblings of both male and female probands who survived to age 105 years (~0.01 percentile of survival) have 35.6 (95%CI: 15.1; 67.7) times the chance of living to age 105 compared with population controls. These results emphasize the importance of consistently defining the longevity phenotype in terms of rarity of survival for appropriate comparisons across studies.
Thickness-fringe Contrast Analysis of Defects in GaN

The analysis of thickness-fringe contrast in weak-beam transmission electron microscope (TEM) images has been shown to be a reliable method for the complete determination of the character, as well as the magnitude, of a dislocation Burgers vector. By selecting multiple diffraction conditions and, for each condition, determining the number of terminating thickness fringes at the exit of a dislocation from a wedge-shaped sample, the Burgers vector can be unambiguously determined. Defect analysis of GaN pyramids grown on (111)Si by the lateral epitactic overgrowth (LEO) technique reveals a core region which contains a relatively high density of dislocations and a lateral-growth region where the defect density is decreased. The thickness-fringe contrast technique was used in the lateral growth regions of the pyramids to analyze the dislocation Burgers vectors.
Effects of an Uncomposted Municipal Waste Processing By‐Product on Prairie Grass Establishment

A garbage processing technology has been developed that sterilizes and separates inorganic and organic components of municipal solid waste. A study was initiated to evaluate the uncomposted organic byproduct of this process as a soil amendment for establishing native prairie grasses on disturbed Army training lands. The waste was incorporated into sandy soils at Fort Benning Military Reservation on two sites: a moderately degraded and a highly degraded soil. The waste material was applied at rates of 0, 17.9, 35.8, 71.6, and 143 Mg ha 21 and seeded with native prairie grasses to assess its effects on vegetation for twogrowingseasons, withanadditionalunseededcontroltreatmentfor comparison to natural recovery. The addition of uncomposted waste increasedpercentcompositionandbasalcoverofswitchgrass(Panicum virgatum L.) at both sites and percent composition of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) at one site. Indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash] was negatively affected by the addition of the waste material at both sites. Biomass in the 143 Mg ha 21 treatment increased 4180% compared to the seeded control at the highly degraded site. Plant uptake of P and Na increased at both sites and an apparent Fe toxicity problem was alleviated at the highly disturbed site with increasing application rates. Because perennial grass establishment improved so dramatically with increasing application rates, land application of this uncomposted waste material could be considered a viable and beneficial alternative to current waste management practices for degraded Army lands.
Direct Mapping of Phonon Dispersion Relations in Copper by Momentum-Resolved X-Ray Calorimetry

We have developed a new method of mapping phonon dispersion relations based on momentum-resolved x-ray calorimetry. X-ray scattering intensities are measured at selected points in reciprocal space with suitably chosen polarization configurations; the thermal part of the scattering intensity is extracted by scanning the temperature of the sample. The intensity variations, governed by the phonon populations, are analyzed to yield the energies of the phonons. This method is applied to copper. With high-order effects under control, the results are in excellent agreement with the known phonon dispersion relations.
NK Markers Are Expressed on a High Percentage of Virus-Specific CD8+ and CD4+ T Cells

NK cells have been phenotypically defined by the expression of specific markers such as NK1.1, DX5, and asialo-GM1 (ASGM1). In addition to NK cells, a small population of CD3+ T cells has been shown to express these markers, and a unique subpopulation of NK1. 1+CD3+ T cells that expresses an invariant TCR has been named "NKT cells." Here, we describe NK marker expression on a broad spectrum of MHC class I- and MHC class II-restricted T cells that are induced after acute viral infection. From 5 to >500 days post lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, more than 90% of virus-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells coexpress one or more of these three prototypical NK markers. Furthermore, in vivo depletion of NK cells with anti-ASGM1 Ab resulted in the removal of 90% of virus-specific CD8+ T cells and 50-80% of virus-specific CD4+ T cells. This indicates that studies using in vivo depletion to determine the role of NK cells in immune defense could potentially be misinterpreted because of the unintended depletion of Ag-specific T cells. These results demonstrate that NK Ags are widely expressed on the majority of virus-specific T cells and indicate that the NK and T cell lineages may not be as distinct as previously believed. Moreover, the current nomenclature defining NKT cells will require comprehensive modification to include Ag-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells that express prototypical NK Ags.
Alice: a 3-D tool for introductory programming concepts

In learning to program, many students struggle with developing algorithms, figuring out how to apply problem solving techniques in their programs, and with how to use common programming constructs. In this paper, we present a new tool that provides a possible approach to actively engage students in increasing their knowledge and skills in these areas. The tool is Alice, a 3-D interactive animation environment.
A criterion for ductile fracture based on continuum modeling of energy release rates

A continuum model of ductile fracture initiation is presented which is based on consideration of the work done on the system sufficient to cause release of the binding energy necessary for crack formation. The fracture criterion is posed for plastic materials with no pre-existing crack as a critical state reached when the energy release rate of the bulk system is balanced by the energy release rate associated with the fractured medium. Two fracture modes are considered which are commonly addressed in fracture mechanics: mode I crack opening perpendicular to the fracture plane and mode II shear rupture tangential to the fracture plane. A study of the use of the criterion for a plastic material with power law hardening is examined and compared with published experimental data and empirical criteria.
Long‐term shifts in the patterns and underlying processes of plant associations in Wisconsin forests

Aim Plant species co-occur within communities in response to variation in environmental conditions, limited species dispersal and biotic interactions. We used surveys and resurveys of the same sites of three temperate forest plant communities to study patterns of association between co-occurring species pairs and to infer how these mechanisms contribute to community assembly. Our goal was to compare these forces among communities occupying more and less disturbed landscapes and examine how these have changed over the last 50 years. Location Wisconsin, USA. Methods We resurveyed 266 sites first surveyed in the 1950s to assess the patterns and dynamics of co-occurrence among understorey plant species in three community types. We then used checkerboard scores, null models and a newly developed framework to infer the mechanisms likely to have driven community assembly. Finally, we compared these across the three communities and two time periods. Results Species co-occur less often than expected in all three vegetation types and both periods. We detected high fractions of aggregated and segregated species pairs (up to 14% and 17%, respectively). In the fragmented southern upland forests and central sand plains, both biotic interactions and dispersal limitation may play important roles in community assembly with inferred dispersal limitation becoming more important since the 1950s. In the more continuous and intact northern upland forests, environmental filtering and biotic interactions appear to dominate community dynamics with little change over time. Aggregated and segregated species pairs made a similar contribution to our ability to infer these mechanisms. Main conclusions Environmental filtering, biotic interactions and dispersal limitation all appear to affect plant community structure in both time periods. However, the influence of dispersal limitation seems to be increasing in more fragmented forest landscapes, portending shifts in community composition and dynamics. Because aggregated and segregated species pairs may be shaped by similar processes both can be used to infer processes of community assembly.
Anomalous Effects of Zinc-Insulin Upon Trypanosoma hippicum.∗

SummaryAerobically, insulin was found to greatly increase the oxygen assimilation and pyruvate production in T. hippicum, while at the same time the utilization of glucose was diminished.Anaerobically, it was found to inhibit the production of pyruvate while the diminution in glucose consumption was of the same order as that under aerobic conditions.
Hepatitis B virus infection in monocytes and their functional changes in patients with chronic hepatitis B

We detected the HBV DNA in peripheral blood monocytes of 70 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 20 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern transfer hybridization technique, the HLA-DR expression on monocytic membrane and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) content and interleukin 1 (IL 1) activity in their monocytic culture supernatant were also measured respectively by indirect immunofluorescence technique, ELISA, and thymocytic multiplication assay. HBV DNA sequences were detected in monocytes of 42(60%) of the 70 patients. The percentage of monocyte-expressing HLADR and the TNF alpha content in monocyte culture supernatant were significantly elevated in patients with HBV DNA-positive monocytes compared with those patients with HBV-DNA-negative monocytes. The percentage of monocyte-expressing HLA-DA and the level of TNF alpha produced by monocytes correlated markedly with the intensity of HBV DNA-positive signal in monocytes. These data suggested that HBV infection in monocytes might cause a series of functional changes in these cells.
Total Quality Improvement: Increase Quality and Efficiency

Total quality management (TQM) was developed to strengthen quality and productivity in manufacturing firms prior to World War II. After successful—and visible—application of these methods in large US firms during the 1980s, some healthcare providers began to explore strategies for using TQM principles and strategies to increase quality and reduce cost in the healthcare industry. This chapter provides an overview of these concepts and strategies.
Open Versus Arthroscopic Biceps Tenodesis: A Comparison of Functional Outcomes.

Background The proximal aspect of the long head of the biceps brachii (LHB) is a frequent source of anterior shoulder pain. Multiple techniques for LHB tenodesis have been described. However, comparative outcomes are lacking. The present study aims to compare functional results, patient reported outcomes, complications, and clinical failures for patients undergoing open versus arthroscopic LHB tenodesis.
Stability and accuracy of free surface time integration in viscous flows

Abstract Geodynamic simulations increasingly rely on models with a true free surface to investigate questions of dynamic topography, tectonic deformation, gravity perturbations, and global mantle convection. However, implementations of free surface boundary conditions have proven challenging from a standpoint of accuracy, robustness, and stability. In particular, time integration of a free surface tends to suffer from a numerical instability that manifests as sloshing surface motions, also known as the “drunken sailor” instability. This instability severely limits stable timestep sizes to those much smaller than can be used in geodynamic simulations without a free surface. Several schemes have been proposed in the literature to deal with these instabilities. Here we analyze the problem of creeping viscous flow with a free surface and discuss the origin of these instabilities. We demonstrate their cause and how existing stabilization schemes work to damp them out. We also propose a new scheme for removing instabilities from free surface calculations. It does not require modifications to the system matrix, nor additional variables, but is instead an explicit scheme based on nonstandard finite differences. It relies on a single stabilization parameter which may be identified with the smallest relaxation timescale of the free surface. Finally, we present numerical results to show the effectiveness of the new approach and discuss the free surface implementation in the open source, community based mantle convection software ASPECT .
Component validation process for high performance hybrid electric race vehicle

This paper presents a model-based validation process for selecting the components of a hybrid electric race vehicle. We analyze the performance of the electrical and mechanical systems of a high performance hydrogen fuel cell/ultracapacitor hybrid go-kart with four Brushless DC motors during its initial acceleration, top speed, and braking operation. Verification and refinement is made to achieve the required performance such as regenerative breaking capability. The final validation is made through the complete-car model simulation.
Using neuroscience as an outcome measure for behavioral interventions in Autism spectrum disorders (ASD): A review

Abstract Though medications have proven effective in improving associated symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), behavioral interventions remain the most effective method of improving core symptoms (e.g. social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors) in this population. Although the cause remains unknown, research provides evidence that ASD is a neurologically based disorder, with differences in brain activity contributing to observed social difficulties. Given the above, along with recent publications underscoring the importance of utilizing neuroscience to measure changes associated with intervention in ASD, it is surprising that studies that measure neurological changes in response to behavioral interventions remain quite rare. Using systematic searches of the PsychINFO and MEDLINE databases, the current review summarizes the extant literature on neural changes in response to behavioral interventions in ASD, and compares the state of the literature in ASD with other disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. We conclude that research utilizing neuroscience to measure changes in response to behavioral interventions in ASD is lacking, and suggest that future research make integrating these two lines of research a priority.
Immigration and support for redistributive social policy: Does multiculturalism matter?:

In this article, we examine the impact of multicultural immigration policy on the degree to which immigration reduces support for redistributive social policy among natives. Arguments linking immigration to support for redistributive social policy are hotly contested. Some suggest that immigration reduces support for social policy, while others suggest that it increases such support. To make matters worse, the empirical evidence is equally mixed. We take this confluence as a puzzle in need of explanation. Our point of departure is to introduce institutional context and multicultural immigration policy, in particular, as a key intervening factor. From the growing literature on multiculturalism, we derive three unique hypotheses by which immigration has different effects on native support for redistributive social policy across multicultural contexts. To subject these to empirical scrutiny, we examine the degree to which the effect of immigration on native support for redistributive social policy (regarding...
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Early-Stage Lung Cancer Survival

Background Black patients with lung cancer diagnosed at early stages—for which surgical resection offers a potential cure—experience worse overall survival than do their white counterparts. We undertook a population-based study to estimate the racial and ethnic disparity in death from competing causes and assessed its contribution to the gap in overall survival among patients with early-stage lung cancer. Methods We collected survival time data for 105,121 Hispanic, non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic white patients with early-stage (IA, IB, IIA, and IIB) lung cancer diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results registries. We modeled survival time using competing risk regression and included as covariates sex, age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, stage at diagnosis, histologic type, type of surgical resection, and radiation sequence. Results Adjusting for demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics, non-Hispanic blacks experienced worse overall survival compared with non-Hispanic whites (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08), whereas Hispanics and non-Hispanic Asians experienced better overall survival (aHR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89-0.98; and aHR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.79-0.86, respectively). Worse survival from competing causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease and other cancers—rather than from lung cancer itself—led to the disparity in overall survival among non-Hispanic blacks (adjusted relative risk, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12). Conclusions Narrowing racial and ethnic disparities in survival among patients with early-stage lung cancer will rely on more than just equalizing access to surgical resection and will need to include better management and treatment of smoking-related comorbidities and diseases.
Folding nucleus structure persists in thermally-aggregated FGF-1

An efficient protein-folding pathway leading to target structure, and the avoidance of aggregation, is essential to protein evolution and de novo design; however, design details to achieve efficient folding and avoid aggregation are poorly understood. We report characterization of the thermally-induced aggregate of fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1), a small globular protein, by solid-state NMR. NMR spectra are consistent with residual structure in the aggregate and provide evidence of a structured region that corresponds to the region of the folding nucleus. NMR data on aggregated FGF-1 also indicate the presence of unstructured regions that exhibit hydration-dependent dynamics and suggest that unstructured regions of aggregated FGF-1 lie outside the folding nucleus. Since it is known that regions outside the folding nucleus fold late in the folding pathway, we postulate that these regions unfold early in the unfolding pathway and that the partially folded state is more prone to intermolecular aggregation. This interpretation is further supported by comparison with a designed protein that shares the same FGF-1 folding nucleus sequence, but has different 1° structure outside the folding nucleus, and does not thermally aggregate. The results suggest that design of an efficient folding nucleus, and the avoidance of aggregation in the folding pathway, are potentially separable design criteria - the latter of which could principally focus upon the physicochemical properties of 1° structure outside the folding nucleus.
Social messengers as the new frontier of organization-public engagement: A WeChat study

Abstract Mobile-based social messengers have overtaken social networking sites as the new frontier for organizations to engage online stakeholders. This study provides one of the earliest empirical investigations on the antecedents and relational outcomes of pubic engagement with companies via WeChat—one of the world’s most popular social messaging apps. Publics’ social messenger dependency and privacy perception of the medium are found to effectively drive public engagement, which in turn enhances organization-public relationships. Strategic guidelines based on the study findings are provided.
Local Refractive Index Sensitivity of Nanoporous Gold Nanodisk Array

The local refractive index sensitivity of nanoporous gold nanodisk array is quantified using bulk media and alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer. A potential application is to detect biomarker binding on such surfaces.
Production in a Multimodal Corpus: how Speakers Communicate Complex Actions

We describe a new multimodal corpus currently under development. The corpus consists of videos of task-oriented dialogues that are annotated for speakers verbal requests and domain action executions. This resource provides data for new research on language production and comprehension. The corpus can be used to study speakers decisions as to how to structure their utterances given the complexity of the message they are trying to convey.
Changes in P and S Velocities Caused by Subduction Related Sediment Accretion Off Washington/Oregon

Based on the results of a seismic refraction experiment at the deformation front of the Cascadia subduction zone it appears that the accreted uplifted sediments in the deformation front (with the exception of the top few tens of meters) may well have a lower velocity (higher po-rosity) than the original undeformed Cascadia Basin sediments. This could be the result of tecton-ically induced folding causing a disruption (microfracturing ?) of the sediments which in turn leads to a reduction of rigidity, an increase in permeability and porosity, and a decrease in seismic veloc-ity.
Ergogenic Aids: Evaluating Sport Nutrition Products

The desire to win leads physically active individuals to look for anything to improve performance. Many ergogenic aids are available; however, claims made about many of these products are not appropriate. To evaluate such products, one must consider the physiological sense of the claims, the supportive evidence provided, the research articles quoted, and the legal and health implications of use.
Inborn Errors of Amino Acid Metabolism

Abstract Heritable disorders of amino acid metabolism affect the central nervous system in a variety of ways. The pathogenesis of clinical disease may reflect the accumulation of compounds proximal to the defective enzyme, such as phenylalanine or leucine, which cause toxicity. These compounds are essential nutrients but are highly toxic in large concentrations. Other compounds are natural neuropharmacologic agents or neurotransmitters, such as 4-hydroxybutyrate and glycine. Metabolic disease can also affect the brain by failing to make an essential product, such as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in the hyperphenylalaninemias. Characteristic of these disorders is a ­symptom-free period after birth during which toxic intermediates accumulate or deficiencies develop. This is the signature presentation of metabolic disease. Hereditary tyrosinemia due to defective activity of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase is characterized by hepatic failure, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal tubular dysfunction and porphyrin-like neurogenic dysfunction. Treatment with nitisinone, especially if combined by neonatal screening for succinylacetone, effectively abolishes these manifestations of disease. Carnitine deficiency occurs secondarily in disorders in which coenzyme A (CoA) derivatives accumulate; the carnitine esters formed are preferentially excreted in the urine. Supplementation with carnitine is therapeutically useful in amounts calculated to maximize the excretion of detoxifying carnitine esters, not in amounts simply sufficient to restore normal free carnitine concentrations. Because of the limited repertoire of response, especially in the very young infant, it is not necessary for the clinician to have intimate understanding of all of the pathways affected by genetic disease. Rather, there should be a logical approach to narrowing down the diagnosis. The initial laboratory tests necessary are available in standard clinical laboratories. Among the most important is the test for ketonuria. Its presence in a neonate signifies an organic aciduria. A positive dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) test is a screen for maple syrup urine disease. The blood should be examined for pH, electrolytes, glucose, and ammonia. Concentrations of lactic acid and uric acid are useful. Specific diagnostic biochemical genetic testing should be the next step, including quantitative assessment of amino acids in plasma, analysis of organic acids in urine, analysis of carnitine levels in blood and urine, and plasma acylcarnitine profiles. These tests usually lead to the diagnosis. Enzymatic or molecular mutational analysis provides confirmation and is critical to heterozygote detection and prenatal diagnosis. Expanded newborn screening by tandem mass spectroscopy of a blood spot allows the early detection of many disorders of amino acid metabolism.
Mullerian Inhibiting Substance: A Potential Nontoxic, Naturally Occurring Therapeutic Agent for Certain Human Cancers

A considerable body of in vitro and animal in vivo data support our hypothesis that Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS), a biological response modifier of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of genes, could be an effective, potentially nontoxic treatment for tumors of Mullerian origin and others expressing the MIS type II receptor (MISRII). Epithelial ovarian cancer will be the first targeted disease because this cancer affects approx 25,000 North American women each year and the high five-year mortality of over 70% results in over 16,000 deaths every year. Preclinical growth inhibition data suggest other much more frequent cancers such as cervical. endometrial, breast, and prostate cancers may be MIS targets as well.
Critical notes about Noether's theorem (Part I)

In this brief critical notes, we state and prove the classic Noether's theorem, in a language and in the mood of modern Differential Geometry. This modern approach, on one hand, wants to stimulate a dialogue between the classic Noether's theorem version users and the modern differential geometry developers, on the other hand, it opens the way for some extensions of the theorem, with possible physical insights about the matter.
Augmented reality as a medium for improved telementoring

Combat trauma injuries require urgent and specialized care. When patient evacuation is infeasible, critical life-saving care must be given at the point of injury in real-time and under austere conditions associated to forward operating bases. Surgical telementoring allows local generalists to receive remote instruction from specialists thousands of miles away. However, current telementoring systems have limited annotation capabilities and lack of direct visualization of the future result of the surgical actions by the specialist. The System for Telementoring with Augmented Reality (STAR) is a surgical telementoring platform that improves the transfer of medical expertise by integrating a full-size interaction table for mentors to create graphical annotations, with augmented reality (AR) devices to display surgical annotations directly onto the generalist's field of view. Along with the explanation of the system's features, this paper provides results of user studies that validate STAR as a comprehensive AR surgical telementoring platform. In addition, potential future applications of STAR are discussed, which are desired features that state-of-the-art AR medical telementoring platforms should have when combat trauma scenarios are in the spotlight of such technologies.
Microplastics as vectors of contaminants.

Abstract Pollution by microplastics and antibiotics is an emerging environmental, human and animal health threat. In spite of several studies documenting the widespread occurrence of plastic debris in aquatic ecosystems, research focusing on occurrence and concentration of biological and chemical contaminants attached on microplastic surface as well as on possible interactions of these contaminants with microplastics is still at its beginning. The present note addresses the role of microplastics as vectors of contaminants in water bodies, stressing the need for future investigations on this hot topic.
Reliability of labeling red cell units with minor antigen historical results and process considerations.

Background Several approaches are used by blood centers when providing minor (non-ABO/D) antigen-negative RBCs to hospitals. Details vary but include providing results on the unit labeling intended for clinical use without retyping or providing results on packing documents or via computer query requiring confirmation. Recent regulatory changes allow labeling with historical minor antigen results, defined as previously performed by the donor center on two different donations with results linked to the donor and confirmed concordant. Here we investigate causes of discrepancies and identify critical process steps. Study design and methods Nine years (2009-2017) of data were reviewed for number, antigen system, and root cause of discrepancies flagged by the computer when retyping donors prior to labeling (internal discrepancies) or reported by the hospital when retested (external discrepancies). Licensed automated (CcEeK) and tube methods were used. Results Among 300,000 samples phenotyped for CcEe, K, Fya/b , Jka/b , Ss (>3 million antigens), ∼1,389,960 were repeated on 2nd donation with 397 (1/3501) discordant; 205 Fy, 118 Rh, and 74 others. Of ∼682,691 antigen-negative phenotypes provided on unit labeling, ∼37.5% (256,118) were retyped by hospitals with 29 discrepancies (1/8832), primarily Rh variants. Conclusion When repeating minor antigen types by serology, discrepancies are primarily associated with weak Fyb , among Caucasian donors, and weak/partial Rh antigens in donors of African ancestry. DNA-based testing avoids these. To label with historical results, accuracy is increased by automated testing with direct computer interface. Testing on two donations with results confirmed to be concordant is not inferior to testing on the current donation.
Role of an active reserve stem cell subset of enteroendocrine cells in intestinal stem cell dynamics and the genesis of small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors

Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NET) are serotonin-secreting well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of putative enterochromaffin (EC) cell origin. Recent studies recognize a subset of...
The Alternative: The Pragmatic and Moral Advantages of Globalized Socialist Cooperation

Socialist economies, rejecting competitive profitability in favor of cooperation by which all benefit from the progress of each, consequently eschew “free rider,” development inhibiting, strategies. Furthermore, unlike competitive economies’ wasteful duplication and dispersion of RD remaining surpluses being reinvested in economic growth. Thus, notwithstanding the introduction of profit taking to motivate production in some non-essential economic areas, the direct reinvestment of surplus in the other areas further contributes to the dynamic growth of the Chinese economy; development in the USSR falling victim to an arms race.
Foreword for special issue on legislatures in the time of Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic which has swept the world this year is the greatest global public health crisis in over a century, since the Spanish flu of 1918–1919. That virus was estimated to have infecte...
Sequential Heterogeneous Feature Selection for Multi–Class Classification: Application in Government 2.0

Herein, the problem of multi-class classification of participatory civil issue reports in crowdsourcing platforms is addressed. Specifically, an efficient method is proposed to guide the selection of heterogeneous features, so as to account for different information facets of the reported issue. An optimization framework is devised to select the minimum number of informative features from each feature set, and switch between feature sets when deemed necessary to achieve an accurate classification decision. Evaluation on real-world data from SeeClickFix, a government 2.0 platform, shows the ability of the proposed framework to classify civil issue reports with up to 92.6% accuracy, while using 99.82% less features than the state-of-the-art.