cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-Transcriptional Regulation of the GAP-43 Gene by Specific Sequences in the 3′ Untranslated Region of the mRNA

We have shown previously that GAP-43 gene expression during neuronal differentiation is controlled by selective changes in mRNA stability. This process was found to depend on highly conserved sequences in the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR) of the mRNA. To map the sequences in the GAP-43 3′ UTR that mediate this post-transcriptional event, we generated specific 3′ UTR deletion mutants and chimeras with the β-globin gene and measured their half-lives in transfected PC12 cells. Our results indicate that there are two distinct instability-conferring elements localized at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the GAP-43 3′ UTR. Of these destabilizing elements, only the one at the 3′ end is required for the stabilization of the mRNA in response to treatment with the phorbol ester TPA. This 3′ UTR element consists of highly conserved uridine-rich sequences and contains specific recognition sites for two neural-specific GAP-43 mRNA-binding proteins. Analysis of the levels of mRNA and protein derived from various 3′ UTR deletion mutants indicated that all mutants were translated effectively and that differences in gene expression in response to TPA were attributable to changes in GAP-43 mRNA stability. In addition, the phorbol ester was found to affect the binding of specific RNA-binding proteins to the 3′ UTR of the GAP-43 mRNA. Given that, like the GAP-43 mRNA, its degradation machinery and the GAP-43 mRNA-binding proteins are expressed primarily in neural cells, we propose that these factors may be involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of GAP-43 gene expression during neuronal differentiation.
Comment: Got Language? Law, Property, and the Anthropological Imagination

This comment reflects on the legal (specifically, proprietary) tropes of linguistics, and the linguistic tropes of legal anthropology.It suggests analogies between discussions around "language rights" in contemporary political struggles, and discussions around the delineation of objects and subjects in anthropological theory. Such analogies may help side-step the relativism-universalism impasse that has beset the critique of rights and the critique of the objectification of language. [Keywords: language, law, anthropological theory, value]
Less Daily Computer Use is Related to Smaller Hippocampal Volumes in Cognitively Intact Elderly

Background: Computer use is becoming a common activity in the daily life of older individuals and declines over time in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The relationship between daily computer use (DCU) and imaging markers of neurodegeneration is unknown. Objective:The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between average DCU and volumetric markers of neurodegeneration on brain MRI. Methods: Cognitively intact volunteers enrolled in the Intelligent Systems for Assessing Aging Change study underwent MRI. Total in-home computer use per day was calculated using mouse movement detection and averaged over a one-month period surrounding the MRI. Spearman’s rank order correlation (univariate analysis) and linear regression models (multivariate analysis) examined hippocampal, gray matter (GM), white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and ventricular cerebral spinal fluid (vCSF) volumes in relation to DCU. A voxel-based morphometry analysis identified relationships between regional GM density and DCU. Results: Twenty-seven cognitively intact participants used their computer for 51.3 minutes per day on average. Less DCU was associated with smaller hippocampal volumes (r = 0.48, p = 0.01), but not total GM, WMH, or vCSF volumes. After adjusting for age, education, and gender, less DCU remained associated with smaller hippocampal volume (p = 0.01). Voxel-wise analysis demonstrated that less daily computer use was associated with decreased GM density in the bilateral hippocampi and temporal lobes. Conclusions: Less daily computer use is associated with smaller brain volume in regions that are integral to memory function and known to be involved early with Alzheimer’s pathology and conversion to dementia. Continuous monitoring of daily computer use may detect signs of preclinical neurodegeneration in older individuals at risk for dementia.
Abstract IA24: Science of surviving cancer: Lessons learned from our cancer survivors

The 5-year overall survival rate for childhood cancer now exceeds 80%. As a result of this improvement in survival, the number of childhood cancer survivors now exceeds 375,000. The increasing number of long-term survivors is attended by a growing awareness that many will develop health conditions as a direct or an indirect consequence of their cancer therapy. While some of these conditions occur during therapy and persist well after the therapy has been completed (such as steroid-induced osteonecrosis, or alkylating agent /radiation-induced hypogonadism), many outcomes are not evident until 10-20 years later, such as subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs) and anthracycline-related late onset congestive heart failure (CHF). Individuals exposed to radiation and chemotherapy are vulnerable to long-lasting organ toxicity. While clear and unambiguous associations exist between therapeutic exposures and specific complications, considerable inter-individual variability is observed in the risk of developing an outcome for any given exposure. Genetic predisposition and especially its interaction with therapeutic exposures can potentially exacerbate the toxic effect of treatment on normal tissues and organ systems, and can possibly explain the inter-individual variability. Thus, it becomes imperative to understand the individual variability in: i) the internal dose of the therapeutic agent; ii) the biologically effective dose; iii) the alterations in structure or function of the tissue or organ; and iv) the consequent development of preclinical disease, in order to understand the pathogenesis of therapy-related complications, and also develop a better idea of the individual susceptibility. Over the past decade, there have been several reports describing the role of genetic susceptibility in anthracycline-related CHF, in chemotherapy-related leukemia, radiation-related solid SMNs, and corticosteroid-related osteonecrosis. These studies have varied in their investigative approach – from a candidate gene investigation to a genome-wide association study. Understanding the etiology and pathogenetic pathways that lead to the morbidity is critical to developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies, optimizing risk-based health care of cancer survivors, thus minimizing chronic morbidities and improving quality of life. Citation Format: Smita Bhatia. Science of surviving cancer: Lessons learned from our cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research: From Mechanisms and Models to Treatment and Survivorship; 2015 Nov 9-12; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(5 Suppl):Abstract nr IA24.
Systemic Risk and the Dynamics of Financial Networks

This paper has two main objectives: first, to provide a formal definition of endogenous systemic risk that is firmly grounded in equilibrium dynamics of financial networks; and second, to construct a discounted stochastic game (DSG) model of the emergence of equilibrium network dynamics that fully takes into account the feedback between network structure, strategic behavior, and risk. Based on our definition of systemic risk we also propose a formal definition of tipping points. Using these tools we then provide a strategic approach to making global assessments of systemic risk in financial networks. Our approach is based on three key facts: (1) the equilibrium dynamics which emerge from the game of network formation generate finitely many disjoint basins of attraction as well as finitely many ergodic measures (implying that, starting from any financial network, in finite time with probability one, the dynamic sequence of financial networks arrives at one of these basins and once there stays there), (2) each basin of attraction is homogenous with respect to its default characteristics (meaning that if a basin contains states having a particular set of defaulted players, then all states contained in this basin have the same set of defaulted players), and (3) the unique profile of basins generated by the equilibrium dynamics carries with it a unique set of tipping points (special states) - and these tipping points provide an early warning of network failure.
Basal cell carcinoma of the sole of the foot.

A case of basal cell epithelioma of the sole is presented. The literature and the differential diagnosis are reviewed.
Evaluation of an updated insulin infusion protocol at a large academic medical center

Purpose The performance of an updated insulin infusion protocol was evaluated at a large, academic medical center. Methods A retrospective medical record review was performed after a one-month run-in period for all patients at a large, academic, tertiary care medical center in whom the insulin infusion per protocol was administered from January 1 through February 28, 2014. Data were evaluated to determine the median blood glucose (BG) level, time to achieve BG in the target range, number of BG checks per patient per day, time elapsed between each BG check, and the frequency of hypoglycemia (BG concentration of ≤70 mg/dL). Results A total of 170 patients were included. The median preinfusion BG was 244 mg/dL (interquartile range [IQR], 204–304 mg/dL), which decreased to a median of 168 mg/dL (IQR, 147.5–199.5 mg/dL) when the protocol was utilized. However, 70 patients (41%) had a median BG concentration of ≥180 mg/dL, and 25 patients’ (15%) BG value remained above 180 mg/dL. The median time to achieve the goal BG value was 4.2 hours (95% confidence interval, 3.2–5.1 hours). BG checks were performed a median of every 2.1 hours (IQR, 1.4–2.3 hours). Hypoglycemia was rare, occurring in only 2 (1.2%) patients. Conclusion The median BG with an updated insulin infusion protocol approached the upper limit of the target BG range, and 41% of patients had a median BG above the goal range. Protocol specifications for the frequency of BG monitoring were not commonly followed, but the frequency of hypoglycemia was extremely low.
Chemokine gene expression in bone marrow stromal cells : downregulation with sodium salicylate

Chemotactic cytokines, chemokines, have been shown to influence the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Thus, regulation of chemokine production by bone marrow accessory cells is a critical aspect of stromal cell regulation of hematopoiesis. We have previously reported that monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1 or MCP-1/JE) and interferon inducible protein 10 kD (IP-10) are both induced in murine bone marrow stromal cells +/(+)-1.LDA11 after stimulation with the inflammatory agents interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the present study, we have investigated the effect of sodium salicylate, an antiinflammatory agent, on the IL-1 alpha-induced expression of MCP-1/JE and IP-10 genes in stromal cells. Sodium salicylate attenuates the levels of MCP-1/JE and IP-10 mRNA in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The suppression of MCP-1/JE mRNA is reversible, whereas IP-10 mRNA expression is more or less irreversibly affected as its recovery from the effect of sodium salicylate is slow and partial. Sodium salicylate-mediated suppression of mRNA expression is attributable neither to de novo synthesis of intermediary protein(s) nor to the destabilization of mature mRNA transcripts. On the other hand, sodium salicylate downregulates the transcriptional activity of both genes. Furthermore, IL-1 alpha induces activation of transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kB, and sodium salicylate suppresses it in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that while posttranscriptional events remain unaffected, inhibition of NF-kB activation by sodium salicylate may account for the suppression of chemokine gene expression at the transcriptional level.
Fairness in Admission: Voices from Rural Chinese Female Students in Selective Universities in Chinese Mainland

As the Chinese mainland has transitioned from elite to mass higher education, the race to attend university has escalated to become a race to attend selective universities. This study focuses on rural female university students and explores how they make sense of their higher education admission experiences. We rationalize that the inquiry into fairness is crystallized through examining rural female students’ voices, which remain largely marginalized from the literature. Drawing from in-depth interviews with 22 rural female undergraduates from five selective universities in northern China, we focus on their perspectives towards three key issues in higher education admission: entrance exams, region-based quotas that put them at distinct disadvantages, and new reform initiatives.
Theme Poster Session: Lithotripsy II

Significant developments continue in the management of all types of stones regardless of location in the urinary tract. Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) was initially confined to fragmenting relatively small stones (less than 1 cm) localized in the kidney. This technology has since been applied to include both larger stones and those located in all portions of the ureter as well. Although complications rise with increases in stone burden, and fragmentation rates fall when lower ureteral stones are treated, modifications in equipment, instrumentation, and technique continue to improve the over-all success rate. Similarly, ureteroscopy and stone manipulation and/or fragmentation were initially confined to stones impacted in the lower ureter; stones localized in all parts of the ureter are now being managed with these techniques and, although success rates diminish with the more proximal stones, modifications in the instrumentation of techniques have also been associated with improved results.
Differential Diagnosis, Decision-Making, and Pathways of Care for VTOS

Venous thoracic outlet syndrome (VTOS) may presents with a variety of symptoms and at different stages of the disease process. Thrombolysis, angioplasty, stenting, and surgical decompression are appropriate for some presentations, but may not serve for others. Best results are obtained with the correct diagnosis, evaluation and treatment. This chapter focuses on the different presentations, the evaluation, and the care pathways which lead to best outcomes for patients presenting with VTOS.
Gallbladder abnormalities in children with metachromatic leukodystrophy

Abstract Background Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disease that leads to neurological deterioration and visceral involvement, including sulphatide deposition in the gallbladder wall. Using our institution's extensive experience in treating MLD, we examined the incidence of gallbladder abnormalities in the largest cohort of children with MLD to date. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all children with MLD, adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), or Krabbe disease who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at our institution between 1994 and 2015. Baseline characteristics and unadjusted outcomes were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test for continuous variables and Pearson χ2 test for categorical variables, with significance defined as P Results In total, 87 children met study criteria: 29 children with MLD and 58 children with ALD or Krabbe disease. Children with MLD were more likely to demonstrate gallbladder abnormalities on imaging, both before HSCT (41.4% versus 5.2%, P Conclusions Children with MLD have a significantly greater incidence of gallbladder abnormalities than children with other lysosomal storage diseases. Biliary disease should be considered in children with MLD who develop abdominal pain, and cholecystectomy should be considered for persistent, symptomatic gallbladder abnormalities.
Design, Synthesis, and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Novel Tubulysin Analogues as ADC Payloads.

The tubulysin class of natural products has attracted much attention from the medicinal chemistry community due to its potent cytotoxicity against a wide range of human cancer cell lines, including significant activity in multidrug-resistant carcinoma models. As a result of their potency, the tubulysins have become an important tool for use in targeted therapy, being widely pursued as payloads in the development of novel small molecule drug conjugates (SMDCs) and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). A structure-based and parallel medicinal chemistry approach was applied to the synthesis of novel tubulysin analogues. These efforts led to the discovery of a number of novel and potent cytotoxic tubulysin analogues, providing a framework for our simultaneous report, which highlights the discovery of tubulysin-based ADCs, including use of site-specific conjugation to address in vivo stability of the C-11 acetate functionality.
Association Between County-Level Characteristics and Eye Care Use by US Adults in 22 States After Accounting for Individual-Level Characteristics Using a Conceptual Framework.

Importance Individual-level characteristics are associated with eye care use. The influence of contextual factors on vision and eye health, as well as health behavior, is unknown. Objective To examine the association between county-level characteristics and eye care use after accounting for individual-level characteristics using a conceptual framework. Design, Setting, and Participants This investigation was a cross-sectional study of respondents 40 years and older participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys between 2006 and 2010 from 22 states that used the Visual Impairment and Access to Eye Care module. Multilevel regressions were used to examine the association between county-level characteristics and eye care use after adjusting for individual-level characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, annual household income, employment status, health care insurance coverage, eye care insurance coverage, personal established physician, poor vision or eye health, and diabetes status). Data analysis was performed from March 23, 2014, to June 7, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Eye care visit and receipt of a dilated eye examination in the past year. Results Among 117 295 respondents who resided in 828 counties, individual-level data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys. All county-level variables were aggregated at the county level from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys except for a high geographic density of eye care professionals, which was obtained from the 2010 Area Health Resource File. After controlling for individual-level characteristics, the odds of reporting an eye care visit in the past year were significantly higher among people living in counties with high percentages of black individuals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.24; P = .04) or low-income households (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.00-1.25; P = .045) or with a high density of eye care professionals (aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.29; P P = .002) or low-income households (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04-1.32; P = .01). However, the odds of reported receipt of a dilated eye examination in the past year were lower in counties with the highest percentages of people with poor vision and eye health compared with counties with lower percentages (aOR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.94; P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance Contextual factors, measured at the county level, were associated with eye care use independent of individual-level characteristics. The findings suggest that, while individual characteristics influence health care use, it is also important to address contextual factors to improve eye care use and ultimately vision health.
Ubres, Patas y Piernas Saludables = Vacas Sanas y Productores Contentos

Optimizing animal health and performance is critical for quality, safe dairy products and the economic vitality of dairy operations. Producing both high quality and quantities of milk is the main income side of dairies and crucial for economic success, so attention to optimizing animal nutrition and care and practicing proper milk harvesting practices is essential. Bovine mastitis is one of the most economically expensive diseases of dairy cattle. Proper and rapid identification of mastitis problems and cows (clinical and subclinical) is critical and programs for both prevention and appropriate therapy including culling of problem cows are important for maximizing udder health. Lameness is dairy cattle is another of the top 3 dairy health expenses that leads to decreased production and performance, and often premature culling from dairy herds. Like mastitis, proper and rapid lameness identification coupled with appropriate prevention programs and therapy strategies are critical for dairy economic success.
Oil permeability variations on lagoon sand beaches in the Patos-Guaíba system in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Permeability is the ability of a sediment deposit to allow fluids to pass through it. It depends on the local types of sediments. When the fluid is oil, high permeability implies greater interaction with the site and more extensive damage, which makes recovery most difficult. Knowledge of permeability oscillations is necessary to understand oil behavior and improve cleanup techniques. The goal is to determine oil permeability variations on lagoon sand beaches. Oil permeability tests were performed at the beach face, using a Modified Phillip Dunne Permeameter and parameters were sampled. Permeability of lagoon beaches is driven by grain diameter and roundness, soil compaction, and depth of the water table. Factors that enhance permeability include: sand sorting, vertical distribution of sediments and gravel percentage. High permeability on lagoon beaches is related to polymodal distribution, to the sediment package, and to the system's low mobility.
Oral Antibacterial Therapy for Acne Vulgaris: An Evidence-Based Review

To some degree, acne vulgaris affects nearly every individual worldwide. Oral antibiotic therapy is routinely prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne; however, long-term use of oral antibiotics for acne may have unintended consequences. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic evaluation of the scientific evidence on the efficacy and appropriate use of oral antibiotics in the treatment of acne. A systematic search of MEDLINE was conducted to identify randomized controlled clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses evaluating the efficacy of oral antibiotics for acne. Overall, 41 articles that examined oral antibiotics compared with placebo, another oral therapy, topical therapy, alternate dose, or duration were included in this study. Tetracyclines, macrolides, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole are effective and safe in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory acne. Superior efficacy of one type or class of antibiotic could not be determined, therefore the choice of antibiotic is generally based on the side-effect profile. Although different dosing regimens have been studied, there is a lack of standardized comparator trials to determine optimal dosing and duration of each oral antibiotic used in acne. The combination of oral antibiotics with a topical therapy is superior to oral antibiotics alone. This article provides a systematic evaluation of the scientific evidence of the efficacy of oral antibiotics for acne. Due to heterogeneity in the design of the trials, there is insufficient evidence to support one type, dose, or duration of oral antibiotic over another in terms of efficacy; however, due to increasing resistance to antibiotics, dermatologists should heed consensus guidelines for their appropriate use.
Quickest detection in the Wiener disorder problem with post-change uncertainty

AbstractWe consider the problem of quickest detection of an abrupt change when there is uncertainty about the post-change distribution. In particular, we examine this problem in the continuous-time Wiener model where the drift of observations changes from zero to a random drift with a prescribed discrete distribution. We set up the problem as a stochastic optimization in which the objective is to minimize a measure of detection delay subject to a constraint on frequency of false alarms. We design a novel composite stopping rule and prove that it is asymptotically optimal of third order under a weighted Lorden’s criterion for detection delay. We also develop the strategy to identify the post-change drift and analyze the conditional identification error asymptotically. Our composite rules are based on CUSUM stopping times, as well as their reaction periods, namely the times between the last reset of the CUSUM statistic process and the CUSUM alarm. The established results shed new light on the performance of...
Effect of an angular trajectory kick in a high-gain free-electron laser

In a free-electron laser, a transverse momentum offset (or ``kick'') results in an oscillation of the centroid of the electron beam about the undulator axis. Studying the influence of this effect on the free-electron laser (FEL) interaction is important both from a tolerance point of view and for its potential diagnostic applications. In this paper, we present a self-consistent theoretical analysis of a high-gain FEL driven by such a ``kicked'' beam. In particular, we derive a solution to the three-dimensional, linearized initial value problem of the FEL through an orthogonal expansion technique and also describe a variational method for calculating the average FEL growth rate. Our results are benchmarked with genesis simulations and provide a robust theoretical background for a comparison with previous analytical results.
Use of Water Ice for Removal of Surface Contaminants

The use of water ice (or ice blasting) has been developed as a nonsolvent, dry method for removing surface contaminants in a variety of cleaning applications. The basic principle is based on the impact of ice particles on the surface of the part. Contaminants on the surface are displaced by impact energy and the melting ice flushes away the debris. A discussion of the process is provided along with description of the cleaning systems employing ice blasting. The advantages and disadvantages of ice blasting are discussed, along with cost considerations. Several applications of ice blasting in different industries are described.
A LiDAR-based analysis of the effects of slope, vegetation density, and ground surface roughness on travel rates for wildland firefighter escape route mapping

Escape routes are essential components of wildland firefighter safety, providing pre-defined pathways to a safety zone. Among the many factors that affect travel rates along an escape route, landscape conditions such as slope, low-lying vegetation density, and ground surface roughness are particularly influential, and can be measured using airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. In order to develop a robust, quantitative understanding of the effects of these landscape conditions on travel rates, we performed an experiment wherein study participants were timed while walking along a series of transects within a study area dominated by grasses, sagebrush and juniper. We compared resultant travel rates to LiDAR-derived estimates of slope, vegetation density and ground surface roughness using linear mixed effects modelling to quantify the relationships between these landscape conditions and travel rates. The best-fit model revealed significant negative relationships between travel rates and each of the three landscape conditions, suggesting that, in order of decreasing magnitude, as density, slope and roughness increase, travel rates decrease. Model coefficients were used to map travel impedance within the study area using LiDAR data, which enabled mapping the most efficient routes from fire crew locations to safety zones and provided an estimate of travel time.
A Concentrated Certificate Program Incorporating Experiential Education: Helping Students Prepare for a Career in the Dynamic Area of Health Law

Law students who wish to practice in the area of health law must acquire knowledge, skills, and values that are necessary for them to have an understanding of the legal issues that challenge lawyers and that prepare them for life-long learning in this rapidly growing and changing industry. This paper explores how a concentrated health law certificate program provides students a focused path through the law curriculum. Not only does the program require students to take a range of health law courses, but students take multiple courses that incorporate experiential learning, including clinics, externships, and other courses that integrate clinical teaching methodology. This article highlights the development of a health law certificate program, designed to guide students through the law curriculum to choose among the most beneficial courses for a health law practice. To identify the necessary courses, health law faculty and health law practitioners first explored the knowledge, skills and values that a successful health law practitioner needs. This article also examines the process of developing and implementing the certificate program.
Automated Management and Control of a Multi-Vendor Disaggregated Network at the L0 Layer

We propose to demonstrate automated service management and automated optical power controls over Infinera and Lumentum Open Optical Line Systems using an Infinera Layer-0 SDN controller.
Bootstrapping a Graduation

The bootstrap is one of several resampling methods that have been developed recently by statisticians. Bradley Efron (1982, pp. 2–3), who developed the bootstrap, notes that these methods “are prodigious computational spendthrifts.… An important theme…is the substitution of computational power for theoretical analysis. The payoff…is freedom from the constraints of traditional parametric theory, with its over-reliance on a small set of standard models for which theoretical solutions are available.…
Health of parents of individuals with developmental disorders or mental health problems: Impacts of stigma.

Abstract Objective Parents of individuals with developmental disorders or mental health problems often provide life-long care and support to their children, which negatively affects their health in part due to chronic stress. This study aimed to examine the experience of stigma as a source of chronic stress among parents of individuals with developmental disorders or mental health problems and the effect of stigma on parental health outcomes. Method Using data from the Survey of Midlife in the United States (MIDUS 2 and 3), we constructed a sample for a longitudinal analysis including 128 parents of individuals with developmental disorders (e.g., autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, brain injury, ADD/ADHD) or mental health problems (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression) and 2256 parents whose children were nondisabled. Results Parents who had children with developmental disorders or mental health problems prior to the beginning of the study (i.e., at MIDUS 1) reported higher levels of stigma related to embarrassment/shame and daily discrimination than parents of nondisabled individuals ten years later at MIDUS 2, which in turn were associated with poorer parental health outcomes (poorer self-rated health and a greater number of chronic conditions) nearly a decade after that at MIDUS 3. Conclusions The findings suggest that the stigma associated with parenting a child with disabilities may be one mechanism that places such parents at risk for poor health. Efforts to alleviate the stigma associated with developmental disorders or mental health problems may have beneficial effects on health of parents of individuals with such conditions.
Comparing the Perceptions of Reentry Challenges: An Examination of Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judges, Probation/Parole Officers, and Inmates

This study explores the issues associated with offender reentry from the perspectives of magistrate judges, probation and parole officers, and current inmates throughout Pennsylvania. The research ...
Continuous Optical Measurement of Dynamic Colloidal Droplets

We demonstrate the use of spatiotemporal coherence-gated light scattering for measuring the dynamics of colloidal droplets during drying. The measurement is non-contact, non-invasive, and label-free, and permits monitoring the internal structure in optically-isolated, picolitter-sized volumes. © 2019 The Author(s)
Vestibular training promotes adaptation of multisensory integration in postural control.

Abstract Background Postural stability depends on the integration of the multisensory system to produce motor outputs. When visual and somatosensory input is reliable, this reduces reliance on the vestibular system. Despite this, vestibular loss can still cause severe postural dysfunction. Training one or more of the three sensory systems through vestibular habituation and adaptation can alter sensory weighting and change postural behavior. Aim The purpose of this study was to assess sensory reweighting of postural control processing after combined vestibular activation with voluntary weight shift training in healthy adults. Methods Thirty-three healthy individuals (18–35 y.o.) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: No training (control), visual feedback weight shift training (WST) coupled with an active horizontal headshake (HS) activity to elicit a vestibular perturbation, or the same WST without HS (NoHS). Training was performed 2x/day, every other day (M, W, F), totaling six sessions. Pre- and post- assessments on the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) were performed. Separate between- and within- repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze the six SOT equilibrium scores, composite scores, sensory ratios and center of pressure (COP) variables by comparing baseline to post-training. Alpha level was set at p Results There was a significant group x session x condition change (p = .012) in the COP multiscale entropy (MSE) velocity sway in the HS group during SOT conditions 5 and 6. Similarly, COP medio-lateral standard deviation sway (ML Std) showed group x session x visual condition (p = .028), due to HS in condition 6 relative to other two groups. Conclusion Postural training can alter sensory organization after a visual feedback-vestibular activation training protocol, suggesting a possible sensory reweighting through vestibular adaptation and/or habituation. Significance Translating these findings into a vestibular-impaired population can stimulate the design of a rehabilitation balance protocol.
Correction to: Moving Beyond Global Warming Potentials to Quantify the Climatic Role of Ecosystems

In our 2015 paper, we dropped the e(− dt/τ) term from Equations (1) and (2) when an ecosystem removed CH4 or N2O from the atmosphere, reasoning that greenhouse gases that are not in the atmosphere cannot undergo atmospheric oxidation or photolysis. The flaw in this logic is that the uptake of greenhouse gases by an ecosystem has the effect of reducing the pool of bulk atmospheric greenhouse gases and, consequently, lowering the decay rate of those gases. This violates our implicit assumption that the pool of bulk atmospheric greenhouse gases is in steady state and not affected by the ecosystem. To account for this, the e(− dt/τ) term needs to remain in the model, with the result that the exact same equation is used when an ecosystem exhibits sustained greenhouse gas emissions or uptake. We thank Paavo Ojanen for bringing this error to our attention.
Speaking from Silence: On the Intimate Relation Between Silence and Speaking

In understanding the world through language, silence, regarded simply as the absence of speech, appears to be the enemy of understanding. But in fact, it can be shown that silence is always a function of language. As we learn from Merleau-Ponty, Heidegger, and others, the relation between silence and the word of language is a positive one. There are acts of silence that can generate the movement towards meaning in language. The focus of my remarks in this paper will explore three modalities of silence that characterize the positive relation between silence and the word of language. First, there is silence as the withdrawal of the word. This is the silence of the voice that wants to hold back from speaking and to hold back the word from falling into chatter. Second, there is silence as giving voice to words. This is the silence that enacts the spacing within language that possibilizes the intentions of meaning within speech and the efforts of communicative understanding. Third, there is silence as the beginning of the word. This is the silence that stands in relation to a hidden or absent origin, such as an unknown god, generating thereby a word from silence that is a beginning.
Antagonistic coevolution of Y and X.

The recently evolved Y chromosome of Drosophila miranda shows a massive increase in gene number and signatures of antagonistic coevolution of the Y and X.
Heartbeat: is the keyword 'atrial' or 'fibrillation'?

The association of left atrial (LA) enlargement, atrial fibrillation (AF) and adverse cardiovascular outcomes is well known. However, it remains unclear whether this association is simply related to AF or whether LA size also is an important prognostic variable. In a meta-analysis of over 50 000 patients from studies that included patients with (n=23) or without (n=68) AF, Froehlich and colleagues1 found stronger associations between LA size and cardiovascular outcomes in patients without compared with those with AF (figure 1). For example, a larger LA diameter was significantly associated with stroke and thromboembolic events (risk ratio (RR) 1.38, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.87; p=0.03) in patients without AF, but not in those with AF (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.07; p=0.27; p for difference=0.05). The authors propose that these associations likely are due to LA size reflecting atrial myopathy even when AF is not present. Figure 1 Association of LA diameter index and risk of cardiovascular outcomes. Association of LA diameter index with incident stroke or thromboembolic events (A) and major adverse cardiac events (B). Data are risk ratios with corresponding 95% CIs from inverse variance (IV)-weighted random-effects models. Meta-analysis results are separately presented as diamonds for studies including patients with AF and studies without patients with AF. AF, atrial fibrillation; LA, left atrial. In the accompanying …
Anti-Müllerian hormone as a marker of abortion in the first trimester of spontaneous pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE To assess anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels as a marker of early abortion in the first trimester among women younger than 35 years. METHODS Prospective study of women aged 18-34 years with a spontaneous pregnancy at less than 12.6 gestational weeks in Łodź, Poland, between January 2017 and November 2018. Cases of anembryonic abortion and assisted conception were excluded. Blood samples were collected and assayed for serum AMH levels. Data were compared between women with an embryo with no cardiac activity by ultrasound (n=30) and those with a normal embryo (n=33) by using Statistica12 software. RESULTS The 10th and 90th percentiles of serum AMH concentration among control women were used to identify a reference AMH range (1.1-4.5 ng/mL). Risk of pregnancy loss in the first trimester was found to be higher for both low AMH ( 4.5 ng/mL; RR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.61-5.59; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Both very low and very high AMH concentrations were found to significantly increase the risk of abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. Serum AMH might be a valuable marker to predict the risk of early abortion.
Throughfall Reduction × Fertilization: Deep Soil Water Usage in a Clay Rich Ultisol Under Loblolly Pine in the Southeast USA

Forests in the Southeast USA are predicted to experience a moderate decrease in precipitation inputs over this century that may result in soil water deficiency during the growing season. The potential impact of a drier climate on the productivity of managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations in the Southeast USA is uncertain. Access to water reserves in deep soil during drought periods may help buffer these forests from the effects of water deficits. To better understand the potential impact of drought on deep soil water, we studied the combined effects of throughfall reduction and fertilization on soil water usage of a clay rich Piedmont Ultisol to a depth of 3 m in a 6-year-old loblolly pine plantation by applying a throughfall reduction treatment (ambient versus ~30% throughfall reduction) and a fertilization treatment (no fertilization versus fertilization). Throughfall reduction lowered soil moisture for all depths and differences were significant in the surface soils (0-0.3 m) (1.2-3.6%) and deep soils (below 2 m) (2.6-3.6%). Fertilization also lowered soil moisture for all depths and differences were significant at 0.3-0.6 m (2.9%) and 1.94-3.06 m (4.5%). Fertilization when combined with the throughfall reduction treatment significantly decreased soil water at 0.1-0.9 m depth. Soils of all depths were rarely depleted of plant available water with the exception of 0-0.1 m, mainly during the growing season. Under throughfall reduction treatment, soil below 0.9 m consistently accounted for more than half of the change in plant available water during months when transpiration exceeded precipitation. When considering the whole soil profile in this clay rich Ultisol, soil water storage buffered transpirational demand in the face of increasing dryness.
Uncertainty and Contract Law

The modern scholarship on contract law, particularly that which draws on the methods of law and economics, assumes substantial certainty in the outcomes of making contract decisions. For example, contract parties presumably know when they have entered into an advantageous agreement or when an efficient breach – harming no one and benefiting at least someone – is possible. Yet, in many instances, significant uncertainty exists. In this Article, Professor Seita argues that, under conditions of significant uncertainty, common beliefs in contract law may be mistaken. He explains that the presence of uncertainty and risk may cause contract parties – through no fault of their own – to make bad bargains, encourage inefficient breaches when contract parties of differing risk attitudes confront each other, and lead the courts to misallocate contract risks when they uphold standardized agreements. In short, he believes that modern contract law should take into account more fully how contract parties behave when uncertainty is present and when they have differing risk attitudes.
Preparation of Cr2O3 crucibles and the defect structure of Cr2O3

It is shown that Cr2O3 crucibles with less than 5 per cent porosity may be prepared by cold pressing and sintering a powdered mixture of Cr2O3 with 1 or 2 per cent metallic chromium, to provide a low oxygen potential, and a small amount of salicylic acid as lubricant. A rubber form is used to provide the cavity and to insure a reasonably uniform hydrostatic pressure. Sintering is done in vacuum or in an inert atmosphere at 1500°C. Consideration of available data on electrical conductivity and tracer diffusivities as well as on sintering leads to the conclusion that at 1600°C the principal defects at high po2 (about 10−6 to 1 atm) are electrons and holes (divalent and tetravalent Cr ions), whereas at low po2 (10−12 to about 10−6 atm) the principle defects are electrons (divalent Cr ions) and vacant oxygen sites. The latter defects give rise to an off-stoichiometry which appears to be observable (about 1/10 per cent of the oxygen sites vacant).
Host phenology can drive the evolution of intermediate virulence strategies in some parasites

1 Abstract Mechanistic trade-offs resulting in a negative correlation between transmission and virulence are the foundation of nearly all current theory on the evolution of parasite virulence. Although several ecological factors have been shown to modulate the optimal virulence strategies predicted from mechanistic trade-off models, none have been shown to be sufficient to explain the intermediate virulence strategies observed in any natural system. The timing of seasonal activity, or phenology, is a common factor that influences the types and impact of many ecological interactions but is rarely considered in virulence evolution studies. We develop a mathematical model of a disease system with seasonal host activity to study the evolutionary consequences of host phenology on parasite virulence. Results from this model demonstrated that seasonal host activity is sufficient to drive the evolution of intermediate parasite virulence, in the absence of traditional mechanistic trade-offs, in some types of natural disease systems. The optimal virulence strategy in these systems can be determined by both the duration of the host activity period as well as the variation in the host emergence timing. Parasites with low virulence strategies are favored in environments with long host activity periods and in environments in which hosts emerge synchronously. The results demonstrate that host phenology can be sufficient to select for intermediate optimal virulence strategies, providing an alternative mechanism to account for virulence evolution in some natural systems.
Biomarkers in Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease: Optimizing Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment Response

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) comprises a heterogenous group of diffuse lung disorders that commonly result in irreversible pulmonary fibrosis. While idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the prototypical progressive fibrosing ILD (PF-ILD), a high proportion of patients with other ILD subtypes develop a PF-ILD phenotype. Evidence exists for shared pathobiology leading to progressive fibrosis, suggesting that biomarkers of disease activity may prove informative across the wide spectrum of ILDs. Biomarker investigation to date has identified a number of molecular markers that predict relevant ILD endpoints, including disease presence, prognosis, and/or treatment response. In this review, we provide an overview of potentially informative biomarkers in patients with ILD, including those suggestive of a PF-ILD phenotype. We highlight the recent genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic investigations that identified these biomarkers and discuss the body compartments in which they are found, including the peripheral blood, airway, and lung parenchyma. Finally, we identify critical gaps in knowledge within the field of ILD biomarker research and propose steps to advance the field toward biomarker implementation.
Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk: by J.S. Grewal, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2019, xv + 297 pp., US$55.00 (hardback) ISBN 978-0-19-949494-1

In 1967, J.S. Grewal and S.S. Bal published Guru Gobind Singh (A Biographical Study). Over fifty years later, eminent historian J.S. Grewal has published another study of the tenth Sikh guru, suppl...
Progress on the Fabrication and Test of an Extended Interaction Klystron with a New Photonic Bandgap Topology

Prior research regarding the development of a W-band extended interaction klystron (EIK) with a photonic bandgap (PBG) based interaction circuit suggests that conventional PBG geometries, which have been demonstrated with larger dimensions are not the ideal choice for smaller, millimeterwave EiKs. In this presentation, a new, practical PBG geometry, which may be directly machined is presented. A 2D finite element Eigenmode solver is developed and utilized to calculate the electromagnetic properties of the PBG, including the global frequency bandgaps.