cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Foraging-efficiency-predation-risk trade-off in the grey squirrel

Abstract Many animals must often respond to environmental patterns that simulatneously influence both foraging efficiency and predation risk. We noted that grey squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis ) sometimes immediately consume food items in areas of relatively great exposure to predators, and at other times carry food items to the safety of a tree prior to consumption. We outlined a hypothesis that the squirrels were somehow trading-off energy intake rate against predation risk. A simple model shows that maximal energetic efficiency is associated with immediate consumption, whereas (under the field conditions studied) carrying items to the safety of trees provides for minimal exposure to predation. Our analysis of the model predicts that the tendency to carry a food item should decrease with distance of food from cover (travel time) and increase with item size (handling time). To test our predictions, we presented free-roaming grey squirrels with patches containing a fixed number of identical food items. We estimated the proportion of items carried to trees before consumption for 12 different combinations of distance to the nearest tree and item size. The results support our hypothesis and indicate that a simple behavioural criterion based solely on foraging rate or time exposed to predators is insufficient to explain the variation in the data.
The Causal Factors Behind Internet Power-Law Connectivity

In this paper, we investigate the impact of layer-2 devices on our perception of the Internet IP topology and on the performance and security of the Internet. We make the case that a power law connectivity observed in the Internet IP topology is not an illusion as suggested by some researchers. It is mainly manifested due to the blindness of traceroute to layer-2 devices, and this manifestation will persist independent of the nature of the underlying physical topology. Furthermore, we make the case that the Internet physical topology is not likely to have a power law connectivity. Our conclusions challenge common wisdom about the Internet topology and highlight the need for more thorough investigations.
Kinematic analysis of mélange fabrics: examples and applications from the McHugh Complex, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Abstract Permian to Cretaceous melange of the McHugh Complex on the Kenai Peninsula, south-central Alaska includes blocks and belts of graywacke, argillite, limestone, chert, basalt, gabbro, and ultramafic rocks, intruded by a variety of igneous rocks. An oceanic plate stratigraphy is repeated hundreds of times across the map area, but most structures at the outcrop scale extend lithological layering. Strong rheological units occur as blocks within a matrix that flowed around the competent blocks during deformation, forming broken formation and melange. Deformation was noncoaxial, and disruption of primary layering was a consequence of general strain driven by plate convergence in a relatively narrow zone between the overriding accretionary wedge and the downgoing, generally thinly sedimented oceanic plate. Soft-sediment deformation processes do not appear to have played a major role in the formation of the melange. A model for deformation at the toe of the wedge is proposed in which layers oriented at low angles to σ1 are contracted in both the brittle and ductile regimes, layers at 30–45° to σ1 are extended in the brittle regime and contracted in the ductile regime, and layers at angles greater than 45° to σ1 are extended in both the brittle and ductile regimes. Imbrication in thrust duplexes occurs at deeper levels within the wedge. Many structures within melange of the McHugh Complex are asymmetric and record kinematic information consistent with the inferred structural setting in an accretionary wedge. A displacement field for the McHugh Complex on the lower Kenai Peninsula includes three belts: an inboard belt of Late Triassic rocks records west-to-east-directed slip of hanging walls, a central belt of predominantly Early Jurassic rocks records north–south directed displacements, and Early Cretaceous rocks in an outboard belt preserve southwest–northeast directed slip vectors. Although precise ages of accretion are unknown, slip directions are compatible with inferred plate motions during the general time frame of accretion of the McHugh Complex. The slip vectors are interpreted to preserve the convergence directions between the overriding and underriding plates, which became more oblique with time. They are not considered indicative of strain partitioning into belts of orogen-parallel and orogen-perpendicular displacements, because the kinematic data are derived from the earliest preserved structures, whereas fabrics related to strain partitioning would be expected to be superimposed on earlier accretion-related fabrics.
A new distribution metric for image segmentation

In this paper, we present a new distribution metric for image segmentation that arises as a result in prediction theory. Forming a natural geodesic, our metric quantifies "distance" for two density functionals as the standard deviation of the difference between logarithms of those distributions. Using level set methods, we incorporate an energy model based on the metric into the Geometric Active Contour framework. Moreover, we briefly provide a theoretical comparison between the popular Fisher Information metric, from which the Bhattacharyya distance originates, with the newly proposed similarity metric. In doing so, we demonstrate that segmentation results are directly impacted by the type of metric used. Specifically, we qualitatively compare the Bhattacharyya distance and our algorithm on the Kaposi Sarcoma, a pathology that infects the skin. We also demonstrate the algorithm on several challenging medical images, which further ensure the viability of the metric in the context of image segmentation.
Energy expenditure and dietary intake during high- volume and low-volume training periods among male endurance athletes

The primary purpose of this study was to examine dietary intake in endurance-trained athletes during a week of high-volume and a week of low-volume training while measuring exercise energy expendit...
Model for the Developing Microstructure in Portland Cement Pastes

A method is proposed for quantitatively predicting the volume of the major phases in hydrated cement pastes as a function of (1) the composition of the cement, (2) the degree of reaction, and (3) the initial water: cement ratio. This procedure is then used to develop a quantitative model for the surface area and volume of porosity that is accessible to nitrogen in calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). Published values for surface areas and volume of pores are compared with the predictions made by the model. An implication of the model is that there are two types of C-S-H, or perhaps regions within the C-S-H: one that nitrogen can penetrate and one that it cannot.
Positioning of Large Surface Vessels using Multiple Tugboats

In this paper, the positioning of large surface vessels using multiple, autonomous tugboats is investigated. Specifically, the paper investigates the development of an adaptive position controller that compensates for select system parameters such as mass and drag coefficients and also for an unknown thrust configuration matrix which is the result of unknown tugboat locations. The control design is facilitated by strategic placement of the tugs about the vessel hull such that it does not require transmission of information between the tugs. Performance of the controller is investigated by simulations for a scaled model of a surface vessel.
North Pacific deglacial hypoxic events linked to abrupt ocean warming

Marine sediments from the North Pacific document two episodes of expansion and strengthening of the subsurface oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) accompanied by seafloor hypoxia during the last deglacial transition. The mechanisms driving this hypoxia remain under debate. We present a new high-resolution alkenone palaeotemperature reconstruction from the Gulf of Alaska that reveals two abrupt warming events of 4-5 degrees Celsius at the onset of the Bolling and Holocene intervals that coincide with sudden shifts to hypoxia at intermediate depths. The presence of diatomaceous laminations and hypoxia-tolerant benthic foraminiferal species, peaks in redox-sensitive trace metals, and enhanced (15)N/(14)N ratio of organic matter, collectively suggest association with high export production. A decrease in (18)O/(16)O values of benthic foraminifera accompanying the most severe deoxygenation event indicates subsurface warming of up to about 2 degrees Celsius. We infer that abrupt warming triggered expansion of the North Pacific OMZ through reduced oxygen solubility and increased marine productivity via physiological effects; following initiation of hypoxia, remobilization of iron from hypoxic sediments could have provided a positive feedback on ocean deoxygenation through increased nutrient utilization and carbon export. Such a biogeochemical amplification process implies high sensitivity of OMZ expansion to warming.
Role of pH-responsiveness in the design of chitosan-based cancer nanotherapeutics: A review

There is a continuous demand for sensitive and efficient cancer drug delivery systems that, when administered at low concentrations, are capable of detecting early-stage pathological conditions and increasing patient survival without adverse side effects. Recent developments in the design of chitosan-based smart drug delivery nanocomplexes are able to respond to the distinctive features of the tumor microenvironment and have provided powerful tools for cancer targeted treatment. Due to its biocompatibility and pH-responsiveness, chitosan has emerged as a promising candidate for the formulation of novel, supramolecular multifunctional materials. This review will first present an overview of the characteristics of solid tumors and their microenvironment, with a particular emphasis on the role of pH as a key factor. In the second part of the review, the stimuli-responsive potential of chitosan-based micelles, current challenges in delivery, and strategies to improve therapeutic efficacy will be discussed.
Enantioselective Fluorescent Sensors: A Tale of BINOL

The development of automated, high-throughput organic synthesis and screening techniques has created an urgent demand for methods that rapidly determine the enantiomeric composition of chiral compounds. Enantioselective fluorescent sensors offer the potential for real-time, high-sensitivity techniques for determining enantiomeric data in high-throughput chiral assays. In this Account, we describe a range of fluorescent sensors derived from 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL), a readily available biaryl compound with axial chirality.We show that BINOL can be used to construct structurally diverse, chiral fluorescent sensors to carry out highly enantioselective, sensitive recognition of chiral amino alcohols, α-hydroxycarboxylic acids, and amino acid derivatives. For example, we prepared an (S)-BINOL derivative whose 3,3′-positions are attached to two chiral amino alcohol units, each having two phenyl substituents. This compound shows a fluorescence enhancement of 950-fold in the presence of (S)-mandelic acid but ve...
Approximations for certain hyperbolic functions by partial sums of their Taylor series and completely monotonic functions related to gamma function

Abstract In this paper, we establish some lower and upper bounds for certain hyperbolic functions in terms of partial sums of their Taylor series. These allow us to present two completely monotonic functions involving gamma function. As consequences, sharp Burnside type approximations for gamma function, sharp Detemple–Wang type approximations for psi function, and sharp bounds for polygamma functions are deduced, which generalize and improve some known results.
Interactions of two large antiviral polyamides with the long control region of HPV16

Abstract PA1 and PA25 are large hairpin polyamides that are effective in nearly eliminating HPV16 episomes (DNA) in cell culture, and PA25 has broad spectrum activity against three cancer-causing forms of HPV (Edwards, T. G., Koeller, K. J., Slomczynska, U., Fok, K., Helmus, M., Bashkin, J. K., Fisher, C., Antiviral Res. 91 (2011) 177–186). Described here are the interactions of these PAs with sequences in the long control region (LCR) of HPV16 (7348-122). Using an FeEDTA conjugate of PA1 (designed to recognize 5′-W 2 GW 7 -3′; W = A or T), 34 affinity cleavage (AC) patterns were detected for this fragment. These sites can be rationalized with sequences featuring perfect, single, double, triple and quadruple mismatches. Quantitative DNase I footprinting analysis indicates that perfect sites bind PA1 with K d s between 0.7 and 2.2 nM. K d s for single, double, triple and quadruple mismatch sites range from 1-3 nM–20 nM. Using AC and EDTA conjugates, we report that unlike smaller 8-ring hairpin PAs, introduction of a chiral turn in this large polyamide has no effect on binding orientation (forward vs. reverse). Despite its design to recognize 5′-W 2 GW 5 GW 4 -3′ via two Im residues, a motif not represented in this HPV sequence, a PA25-EDTA conjugate yielded 31 affinity cleavage sites on the region. Low nM K d s for PA25 without EDTA indicates a high tolerance for triple and quadruple mismatches. While there is extensive coverage of the sequence examined, AC cleavage patterns for the two PAs show discrete binding events and do not overlap significantly. This indicates that within the context of A/T rich sequences, these PAs do not recognize a simple shared sequence-related feature of the DNA. These insights continue to inform the complex nature of large hairpin PA-DNA interactions and antiviral behavior.
The levels of insulin-like growth factors in children with acute leukemia

Objective To detect the levels of insulin-like growth factors in children with acute leukemia(AL). Methods A total of 50 previously untreated AL patients were selected,meanwhile 30 healthy children were selected as normal controls.AL children were given regular chemotherapy. All cases were not given the brain radiotherapy. The levels of insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1),free insulin-like growth factor-1(fIGF-1),insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3(IGFBP-3) in AL patients before treatment and 6 months after complete remission were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and were compared with those in normal controls. Results Before treatment,compared with normal controls,the serum levels of IGF-1,IGFBP-3 in AL patients were lower while the level of fIGF-1 was higher,and the differences were significant(P0.01).At six months after complete remission,the levels of IGF-1 and fIGF-1 in AL patients were similar to those before treatment,but were significantly different from those in control group(P0.05); the level of IGFBP-3 was significantly higher than that before treatment(P0.01),but was similar to that in control group. Before treatment,the level of IGFBP-3 in AL patients was positively correlated with the level of IGF-1(r=0.777,P0.01),and negatively correlated with the level of fIGF-1(r=-0.714,P0.01).Conclusion Insuline-like growth factors were involved in the pathophysiological process in children with AL.
Epidemiological characteristics of rubella in Anshan City,Liaoning Province,China during 2005 ~ 2014

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics and trend of rubella in Anshan City,Liaoning Province,China and provide a scientific evidence for prevention and control of rubella.Methods The epidemiological data of 1 923 cases of rubella reported on China Disease Prevention and Control Information System in 2005 ~ 2013 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.Results A total of 1 923 cases of rubella were reported,of which the sex ratio was1.47 ∶ 1,indicating a mean annual incidence of 5.24 / 100 000.The epidemic cycle of rubella was 4 years.The incidence of the disease appeared with obvious seasonality,of which the peak appeared March to June,accounting for88.92% of the total cases.A portion of 63.13% of cases appeared in urban area,while 38.17% in adolescents at ages of15 ~ 19 years,and 65.09% in students.Most of the outbreaks of rubella occurred in schools.Conclusion After MR and MMR vaccines were included to the national immunization program in 2012,the epidemic of rubella decreased significantly.A series of measures,including keeping the high vaccination rates of MR and MMR vaccines,supply vaccination of rubella vaccine in students in time,strengthening the disease surveillance and the disposition of outbreak in school,are effective to control and eliminate rubella.
Postmortem MRI: a novel window into the neurobiology of late life cognitive decline.

This study tested the hypothesis that indices of brain tissue integrity derived from postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are associated with late life decline in cognitive function and dementia, over and above contributions from common age-related neuropathologies. Cerebral hemispheres were obtained from 425 deceased older adults who had undergone 2 or more annual cognitive assessments, which included clinical diagnosis of dementia. Specimens underwent MRI to produce maps of transverse relaxation rate, R2. Voxelwise regression revealed brain regions where R2 was associated with cognitive decline. We then used random effects models to quantify the extent to which R2 accounted for variation in decline, after adjustment for demographics and neuropathologic indices of the 3 most common causes of dementia: Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular disease, and Lewy body disease. We additionally tested whether R2 was tied to greater likelihood of clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia using logistic regression models. During an average of 8.1 years, the mean rate of decline in global cognitive function was 0.13 unit per year (p < 0.0001). The tissue alteration most commonly related to decline was R2 slowing in white matter. Each unit decrease in R2 was associated with an additional 0.053-unit per year steepening of the rate of global cognitive decline (p < 0.001). Furthermore, R2 accounted for 8.4% of the variance in rate of global cognitive decline, above and beyond the 26.5% accounted for by demographics and neuropathologic indices, and 7.1%-11.2% of the variance of the decline rates in episodic, semantic, and working memory and perceptual speed. Alterations in R2 were also related to an increased odds of clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's dementia (odds ratio = 2.000, 95% confidence interval 1.600, 2.604). Therefore, postmortem MRI indices of brain tissue integrity, particularly in white matter, are useful for elucidating the basis of late life cognitive impairment in older adults and complement traditional indices of neuropathology derived using histopathologic methods.
Predicting Risk: Who Knew It Was Such a Risky Business?

If one glanced at the working paper on the Center for Evidence-Based Corrections website entitled “Development of the California Static Risk Assessment, CSRA,” the most likely reaction a reader might have is a yawn. He or she might think the project was pretty dry and uneventful. Not so. What began as a fast turnaround project, done in collaboration with our client, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, morphed into a saga that would try the patience of any researcher.
Religious reform and consolidation, 1450–1600

In 1521, Martin Luther (1483–1546), a professor of theology at the German University of Wittenberg, stood before the Diet of Worms, an assembly of representatives from the nobility, church, and cities in the Holy Roman Empire. Speaking loudly to the group, which included the Emperor Charles V, Luther refused to give in to demands that he take back his ideas. “Unless I am convinced of error by the testimony of Scripture and plain reason,” he said, “I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.” By the nineteenth century, these words were viewed as the beginning of modern religious individualism and freedom of conscience, joining Renaissance art and the voyages of Columbus as the origins of the modern world. “Here I stand” was the title of what was for decades the most popular biography of Luther, published in 1950 by Roland Bainton, the leading Reformation scholar of his day. These words continue to be highlighted in the twenty-first century; they are on socks for sale in gift shops in Luther’s hometown, and in both television documentaries and movies, one of which describes Luther as “rebel … genius … liberator.”
The Association between Provider-Sponsored Health Plans and Nonprofit Hospital Bond Ratings

Objective: To test the association between provider-sponsored health plans (PSHPs) and nonprofit hospital bond ratings. Background: The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 has led to changes in both the delivery of care and how and which services are reimbursed. As a result, there has been widespread exploration of new models of care and a redesign of assessing hospital credit-worthiness. All stakeholders in the healthcare environment have been asked to redefine how they operate, including hospitals and health systems, the government, insurance companies, and consumers. Some hospitals and health systems are evaluating whether a PSHP is a tactic that could improve population health by aligning payer and provider financial incentives. Methods: This retrospective, cross sectional study included 390 nonprofit hospitals and health systems rated by Moody’s Investors Services that were categorized as either owning or not owning a PSHP. Hospital bond ratings were categorized into high or low based on high investment grade, medium investment grade, or speculative grade, respectively. A binary logistic regression model was fit to test the association between PSHP ownership and bond rating, controlling for hospital geographic region, organization type and liquidity, leverage and operating performance measures. Results: Of the 70 hospitals with PSHPs, 55 (79%) had high bond ratings while 168 (53%) of those without PSHPs had high bond ratings (p<0.001). After controlling for region, organization type and financial measures, hospitals that owned a PSHP were 3.1 times as likely to have a high bond rating as those without a PSHP (OR = 3.1, p = 0.004) with predictive accuracy of 0.87. Conclusion: Given the strong association between PSHPs and nonprofit hospital bond ratings, hospital senior leadership may consider PSHPs when assessing tactics of payer and provider incentive alignment.
Congenital Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Washington, DC.

Abstract Congenital malaria is rare in the United States, but is an important diagnosis to consider when evaluating febrile infants. Herein, we describe a case of congenital Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a 2-week-old infant born in the United States to a mother who had emigrated from Nigeria 3 months before delivery.
Evaluation and Optimization of Blood Micro-Sampling Methods: Serial Sampling in a Cross-Over Design from an Individual Mouse.

Purpose : Current practices applied to mouse pharmacokinetic (PK) studies often use large numbers of animals with sporadic or composite sampling that inadequately describe PK profiles. The purpose of this work was to evaluate and optimize blood microsampling techniques coupled with dried blood spot (DBS) and LC-MS/MS analysis to generate reliable PK data in mice. In addition, the feasibility of cross-over designs was assessed and recommendations are presented. Methods : The work describes a comprehensive evaluation of five blood microsampling techniques (tail clip, tail vein with needle hub, submandibular, retro-orbital, and saphenous bleeding) in CD-1 mice. The feasibility of blood sampling was evaluated based on animal observations, ease of bleeding, and ability to collect serial samples. Methotrexate, gemfibrozil and glipizide were used as test compounds and were dosed either orally or intravenously, followed by DBS collection and LC-MS/MS analysis to compare PK with various bleeding methods. Results : Submandibular and retro-orbital methods that required non-serial blood collections did not allow for inter-animal variability assessments and resulted in poorly described absorption and distribution kinetics. The submandibular and tail vein with needle-hub methods were the least favorable from a technical feasibility perspective. Serial bleeding was possible with cannulated animals or saphenous bleeding in non-cannulated animals. Conclusions: Of the methods that allowed serial sampling, the saphenous method when executed as described in this report, was most practical, reproducible and provided for assessment of inter-animal variability. It enabled the collection of complete exposure profiles from a single mouse and the conduct of an intravenous/oral cross-over study design. This methodology can be used routinely, it promotes the 3Rs principles by achieving reductions in the number of animals used, decreased restraints and animal stress, and improved the quality of data obtained in mouse PK studies. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW . Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page
Click and Fluoresce: A Bioorthogonally Activated Smart Probe for Wash-Free Fluorescent Labeling of Biomolecules

Bioorthogonally activated smart probes greatly facilitate the selective labeling of biomolecules in living system. Herein, we described a novel type of smart probes with tunable reaction rates, high fluorescence turn-on ratio, and easy access. The practicality of such probes was demonstrated by selective labeling of lipid and hCAII in Hela cells.
A Base in the 1920–29 Period for Farm Price Studies

Index numbers of farm prices serve many useful ends, the most important of which is undoubtedly the development of a statistical tool to measure the position of the agricultural industry relative to that of other industries, as well as to measure its own position at a given time relative to its position at some other period in its history. From purely a theoretical point of view, then, one base period should serve as well as another, since we are interested chiefly in relative comparisons. On the other hand, important considerations of a practical nature must influence the choice of a base period if the farm price series built upon it is to be most useful. It is the purpose of this manuscript to develop a number of factors which appear to favor the selection of a post-war base period for farm price studies. Specifically, the data presented will support the five-year period 1924-28 as a base; however, the majority of the argument following can be applied to any period during the decade of the 1920's with but minor qualifications. Although the manuscript is built largely around Indiana price and index comparisons, it is felt these data will be typical of the North Central states, and in the main, of the remainder of the country. The more in the past the base period, the less concrete is its meaning, even in the minds of those older individuals whose business experience antedates the base period. Ideally, considering this point alone, the base period should be as recent as is consistent with other important considerations. The majority of farmers and other people who use farm price index series today have entered business since 1910-14. A large proportion of trained agricultural economists, whether teacher, extension or research workers, are unable to connect any experience of their own with the 1910-14 period. A person under 45 years of age today is unlikely to have had any business experience during those years. Few students in agricultural colleges today even lived during the pre-war period. A survey of slightly over 100 students in the freshman farm accounting course at Purdue University this year showed that 99 per cent were born after 1914, while 78 per cent were born after 1918. These ratios are probably typical of the entire country. The majority of present day graduate students were very young, if indeed they had yet been born, during the 1910-14 period. Even at its best, the picture of pre-war normality
Monetary, prudential and fiscal policy: how much coordination is needed?*

ABSTRACTPrior to the crisis, central bankers, prudential authorities and fiscal policy-makers had clearly defined roles with little or no conflict. The crisis revealed a variety of overlaps, where policies seem to overlap in important ways. Does this mean that three policy realms can no longer remain separate? I address the question by examining the relationship of monetary policy to financial stability, the potential role for prudential policy in macroeconomic stabilization, and the importance of monetary and fiscal policy coordination. My conclusion is that the pre-crisis consensus largely holds. Each policy authority continues to have a distinct job. Monetary policy tools should retain their focus on price stability. Prudential authorities should retain their focus on financial stability. Similarly, in almost all instances, fiscal policy should retain their traditional focus on providing public goods and social insurance.
Asian American Dietary Sources of Sodium and Salt Behaviors Compared with Other Racial/ethnic Groups, NHANES, 2011-2012.

Objective: Asian Americans consume more sodium than other racial/ethnic groups. The purpose of this analysis was to describe major sources of sodium intake to inform sodium reduction initiatives. Methods: Cross-sectional data on adults (aged >18 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 with one 24-hour dietary recall were analyzed (n=5,076). Population proportions were calculated from “What We Eat in America” (WWEIA) food categories. Results: Asian Americans had a higher sodium density vs adults of other racial/ ethnic groups (means in mg/1000kcal: Asian American, 2031.1; Hispanic,1691.6; White: 1666.5; Black: 1655.5; P<.05, all). Half of sodium consumed by Asian Americans came from the top 10 food categories, in contrast to Hispanics (43.6%), Whites (39.0%), and Blacks (36.0%). Four food categories were a top source of sodium for Hispanics, Whites, Blacks, and others, but not among Asian Americans: cold cuts and cured meats; meat mixed dishes; eggs and omelets; and cheese. The top three food category sources of sodium among Asians were soups, rice, and yeast breads accounting for 28.9% of dietary sodium. Asian Americans were less likely to add salt at the table, but used salt in food preparation ‘very often’ (P for both <.01). Conclusions: Mean sodium consumption and sources vary across racial/ethnic groups with highest consumption in Asian Americans. Given the smaller number of food categories contributing to sodium intake in Asian Americans, results imply that targeted activities on a few food items would have a large impact on reducing sodium intake in this group. Ethn Dis. 2017;27(3):241-248; doi:10.18865/ed.27.3.241
The Future of Fracture Risk Assessment in the Management of Osteoporosis

There have been many advances in the field of osteoporosis that add to a greater understanding of skeletal integrity and the adverse effects menopause and aging have on bone. The World Health Organization, the International Osteoporosis Foundation, and numerous additional governmental and privately sponsored organizations, societies, and their respective task forces have provided guidance for the use of appropriate fracture assessment methodologies and fracture risk assessment tools, and for the prevention and management of osteoporosis. Despite these worldwide efforts, a majority of patients at high risk of fracture have not had bone density testing and are not diagnosed or offered osteoporosis treatment before or even after sustaining a fragility fracture. The future of fracture risk assessment and, in general, osteoporosis management requires health-care systems to develop customizable electronic medical record (EMR) systems that incorporate the tools necessary to identify patients at high fracture risk. As provided in the example of an advanced health-care osteoporosis model, an EMR can be fully customizable to identify fractures and patients at high risk of fracture, to assist clinicians in selecting the most efficacious osteoporosis treatments, and to provide long-term follow-up with or without serial bone density testing. Future fracture risk assessment models will likely be further refined by incorporating advanced fracture predictive technologies for integration into algorithms that have improved discrimination, calibration, risk reclassification capabilities, and clinical utility. These models will include accurate and reproducible bone biomarkers and genomic testing that will be automatically integrated into worldwide EMR systems for screening large numbers of at-risk populations and younger patients for future prediction and prevention of disease. The integration of this type of a fracture prediction model into future electronic medical record systems will result in the prevention of osteoporosis fractures.
Gonadal soma controls ovarian follicle proliferation through Gsdf in zebrafish

Background: Aberrant signaling between germ cells and somatic cells can lead to reproductive disease and depends on diffusible signals, including TGFB-family proteins. The TGFB-family protein Gsdf (gonadal soma derived factor) controls sex determination in some fish and is a candidate for mediating germ cell/soma signaling. Results: Zebrafish expressed gsdf in somatic cells of bipotential gonads and expression continued in ovarian granulosa cells and testicular Sertoli cells. Homozygous gsdf knockout mutants delayed leaving the bipotential gonad state, but then became a male or a female. Mutant females ovulated a few oocytes, then became sterile, accumulating immature follicles. Female mutants stored excess lipid and down-regulated aromatase, gata4, insulin receptor, estrogen receptor, and genes for lipid metabolism, vitellogenin, and steroid biosynthesis. Mutant females contained less estrogen and more androgen than wild types. Mutant males were fertile. Genomic analysis suggests that Gsdf, Bmp15, and Gdf9, originated as paralogs in vertebrate genome duplication events. Conclusions: In zebrafish, gsdf regulates ovarian follicle maturation and expression of genes for steroid biosynthesis, obesity, diabetes, and female fertility, leading to ovarian and extra-ovarian phenotypes that mimic human polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), suggesting a role for a related TGFB signaling molecule in the etiology of PCOS. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Mirror Worlds: Examining the Affordances of a Next Generation Immersive Learning Environment

As technologies continue to develop and evolve, it is imperative that instructional technologists, learning scientists, and educators involved with examining learning affordances of emerging technologies investigate the potential of innovative environments to promote and facilitate learning. This paper, as such, will describe a newly developed immersive, mixed-reality learning environment at Virginia Tech. The Mirror Worlds project, a cutting edge mixed-reality virtual world will be described in terms of the potential for this type of environment to engage participants in authentically situated social and embodied learning activities.
Firefighter Skin Cancer and Sun Protection Practices: Evidence From the Florida Firefighter Cancer Initiative.

This survey study examines skin cancer history, skin cancer screening, and sun protection habits among active Florida firefighters.
Fruitful Leadership: Leading with Love

Given the considerable turbulence throughout global societies, there is a ground-breaking shift in the way organizations view leadership. At the center of this is a shift toward leading with love and respect. The construct of love transcends Sacred and secular organizations. The chapter will examine how organizations can move from dysfunctional to functional conflict through leading with love. The analysis will show love to be the cardinal virtue from which all other virtues come, and that its position in Paul’s list of fruit was rhetorically designed to emphasize love as the preeminent source of all leadership virtues. The analysis will show that context of the use of the term in the fruit of the Spirit is descriptive of benevolence, affection, goodwill, and charity. Using the relationship between David and Jonathan as a starting point, the exegetical analysis will transcend the Old and New Testaments to examine the Biblical conceptualization of love and apply it to contemporary organizational constructs such as compassionate leadership, organizational culture, self-giving, and leadership motivation.
Rapid recombinant protein expression in cell-free extracts from human blood

Several groups have recently reported on the utility of cell-free expression systems to make therapeutic proteins, most of them employing CHO or E. coli cell-free extracts. Here, we propose an alternative that uses human blood derived leukocyte cell extracts for the expression of recombinant proteins. We demonstrate expression of nano luciferase (Nluc), Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and Erythropoietin (EPO) in cell-free leukocyte extracts within two hours. Human blood is readily available from donors and blood banks and leukocyte rich fractions are easy to obtain. The method described here demonstrates the ability to rapidly express recombinant proteins from human cell extracts that could provide the research community with a facile technology to make their target protein. Eventually, we envision that any recombinant protein can be produced from patient-supplied leukocytes, which can then be injected back into the patient. This approach could lead to an alternative model for personalized medicines and vaccines.
Regulatory Value from Cognitive Engagement in Electronic Commerce

When designing content for a market of one, creating an effective message is predicated on a deep and thorough understanding of each customer. Websites today often collect huge amounts of information that can help make this possible. While some of this is utilized in current recommendation system implementations, today’s information systems have the potential to go beyond product recommendation, and expand the level of customization to all aspects of site presentation and interface design. This study proposes a theory of online customization that is grounded in recent literature from marketing and psychology in the areas of problem solving and information presentation. Using this literature as a guide, we examine ways to individually customize online content in such a way as to create engagement and increased satisfaction. This personalization is shown to increase feelings of enjoyment and produce a myriad of benefits for electronic retailers.
Seeking equilibrium: The experiences of parents of infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard-of-hearing.

PURPOSE To identify key determinants of the quality of life of caregivers of infants and toddlers (< 3 years) who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (DHH). METHODS We conducted focus groups with providers for children who are DHH as well as interviews with hearing parents of infants and toddlers who are DHH. A multi-step qualitative analysis on interview data using grounded theory was performed, and an iterative analysis to investigate codes to characterize specific topics in caring for deaf infants and toddlers was conducted. RESULTS Four focus groups (n= 33) and six semi-structured interviews (n= 7) were conducted. The major theoretical code found was the "Search for Equilibrium" in parenting which arose from the three main categories of the caregiver role/experience: (1) being a parent - modifying parenting style as a result of their child's hearing loss, (2) being a mediator - modulating and filtering interactions between their child and their child's environment, and (3) being a navigator - managing the logistics of the medical and educational system. CONCLUSIONS For hearing parents, the diagnosis of hearing loss requires changes in multiple domains of parenting. Support in each of these areas is critical for parents to restore a sense of equilibrium that is central to their quality of life. This framework provides a way to categorize parent experiences and may act as a template for focused interventions in the three identified domains.
297 Environmental and atmospheric factors in systemic lupus erythematosus: a regression analysis

Background Understanding the role of environmental exposures in the development of SLE and their association with SLE activity may help identify modifiable risk factors and potential etiological mechanisms. We hypothesized that changes in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration, ozone concentration, temperature, resultant wind, relative humidity, and barometric pressure are predictive of organ specific flares in lupus. Methods 1628 patients who fulfill 4 of the 11 ACR or SLICC classification criteria for SLE were included in the analysis. The data ranged from 1999 to 2017. Maximum distance between visits was 110 days with 1 month time aggregation units. Disease activity was expressed as Physician Global Estimate (PGA), taken at every patient visit. A flare was defined as a PGA score increase of 1 point or more compared to the previous visit. Environmental and atmospheric data was obtained from the EPA, including PM2.5 and ozone concentration, temperature, residual wind, relative humidity, and barometric pressure. The average values of each factor 10 days prior to patient visit was calculated. Univariate and multivariate models were built in order to study the association of these variables with lupus disease activity. The models were adjusted for age, sex, income, racial distribution, and rural vs. urban patient residence. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify significant determinants associated with lupus flares. Regression was performed for each organ flare outcome. Regression inference was based on generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for the time repeated outcomes. Results Rash, serositis, hematologic, and joint flares were statistically significantly associated (p PM2.5 concentration was significantly associated (p Ozone concentration, residual wind, and relative humidity were significantly associated with lupus flares in univariate analysis only, while barometric pressure had no associations. Conclusions There is a strong association between changes in PM2.5 concentration and temperature 10 days prior to patient visit and organ specific lupus activity at the visit. These data could add an important aspect to lupus trials, the outcomes of which may be affected by so far unrecognized environmental factors, and ultimately it could allow predictive modelling of lupus flares which would revolutionize the approach to treatment. Funding Source(s): The Hopkins Lupus Cohort was funded by AR 69572
Turbulent flow and vortex characteristics in a blocked subchannel of a helically wrapped rod bundle

The study of flow and heat transfer through a bundle of rods is important, as this type of configuration is widely used in many engineering applications, for example, in heat exchangers, clusters of support structures, steam generators, and nuclear power reactors. This work experimentally investigated the flow-field characteristics of rod bundles with helically wrapped wires (wire-wrapped rod assemblies) proposed for advanced burner reactors. Subchannel blockage is one of the most interesting accident scenarios for liquid metal fast reactors as different mechanisms can lead to a partial or total subchannel blockage. It is of paramount important to understand the thermal-hydraulic behavior of the flow in the vicinity of such blockages. The flow mixing characteristics in two interior subchannels located near the core of the bundle, one without and one with the presence of a blockage, were experimentally investigated. The velocity fields within the spatial gaps of two subchannels were obtained by applying the matched-index-of-refraction and time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) technique for Reynolds numbers of 4000 and 17,000. The first- and second-order statistics, including the mean velocity, root-mean-square fluctuating velocity, and Reynolds stress, were computed from the obtained TR-PIV velocity vector fields. In the blocked sub-channel, the TR-PIV results revealed a large recirculation flow region in the vicinity of the blockage that was created by the interaction between inflows from neighboring subchannels. Spectral analysis was performed and the vortex shedding frequency indicated by the Strouhal number was found to be $$St=0.16$$ for the two Reynolds numbers investigated. The flow characteristics of the interior subchannels were investigated via the two-point cross-correlation of fluctuating velocities. In addition, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis was applied to the instantaneous vorticity fields to extract the statistically dominant flow structures. Finally, the statistical characteristics of the vortex, such as the vortex populations, spatial distributions, and vortex strengths, were acquired by combining POD analysis and the vortex identification algorithm.
The Macedonian Orthodox Church in the New Millennium

This chapter examines the political challenges, potential, and environment of the Macedonian Orthodox Church during the twenty-first century. It interprets the Church’s place in shaping Macedonian identity, expressed by the idea of Church as a national “pillar,” and support of its quest for acknowledged “autocephaly,” proclaimed unilaterally in 1967. The chapter develops several themes. First, it examines the Macedonian Church’s relations with the Serbian Orthodox Church, the abortive “Nis Agreement,” and Serbian formation of a rival Orthodox entity under Bishop Jovan Vraniskovski. Second, the chapter comments on a “syndrome” of attitudes and values associated with the Macedonian Church: intolerance, homophobia, nationalism, and conservatism. The final section considers Archbishop Stefan’s offer to the Ecumenical Patriarch, to rename the Church the “Archbishopric of Ohrid,” possibly in connection with the “Prespa Accord,” resolving the “name dispute” with Greece. A conclusion speculates whether an autocephalous Macedonian Church might diminish espousal of those aforementioned values conflicting with Macedonia’s EU membership.
Current situation of human resources of parasitic disease control and prevention organizations in Henan Province

OBJECTIVE To understand the current status of human resources of parasitic disease control and prevention organizations in Henan Province, so as to provide the reference for promoting the integrative ability of the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in Henan Province. METHODS The questionnaires were designed and the method of census was adopted. The information, such as the amounts, majors, education background, technical titles, working years, and turnover in each parasitic disease control and prevention organization was collected by the centers for disease control and prevention (CDCs) at all levels. The data were descriptively analyzed. RESULTS Totally 179 CDCs were investigated, in which only 19.0% (34/179) had the independent parasitic diseases control institution (department) . There were only 258 full-time staffs working on parasitic disease control and prevention in the whole province, in which only 61.9% (159/258) were health professionals. Those with junior college degree or below in the health professionals accounted for 60.3% (96/159) . Most of them (42.1%) had over 20 years of experience, but 57.9% (92/159) of their technical post titles were at primary level or below. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of the health professionals is low in the parasitic disease control and prevention organizations in Henan Province. The human resource construction for parasitic disease control and prevention at all levels should be strengthened.