cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is statistical significance always significant

One way in which we learn new information is to read the medical literature. Whether or not we do primary research, it is important to be able to read literature in a critical fashion. A seemingly simple concept in reading is to interpret p values. For most of us, if we find a p value that is .05, we discard the paper and look elsewhere for useful information. Unfortunately, this is too simplistic an approach. The real utility of p values is to consider them within the context of the experiment being performed. Defects in study design can make an interpretation of a p value useless. One has to be wary of type I (seeing a “statistically significant” difference just because of chance) and type II (failing to see a difference that really exists) errors. Examples of the former are publication bias and the performance of multiple analyses; the latter refers to a trial that is too small to demonstrate the difference. Fin...
Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibition: Targeting Multiple Mechanisms of Ischemic Brain Injury with a Single Agent.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a key enzyme in the metabolic conversion and degradation of P450 eicosanoids termed epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). Genetic variations in the sEH gene, designated EPHX2, are associated with ischemic stroke risk. In experimental studies, sEH inhibition and gene deletion reduce infarct size after focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Although the precise mechanism of protection afforded by sEH inhibition remains under investigation, EETs exhibit a wide array of potentially beneficial actions in stroke, including vasodilation, neuroprotection, promotion of angiogenesis and suppression of platelet aggregation, oxidative stress and postischemic inflammation. Herein, we argue that by capitalizing on this broad protective profile, sEH inhibition represents a prototype ‘combination therapy’ targeting multiple mechanisms of stroke injury with a single agent.
Expressive AI: Games and Artificial Intelligence

In recent years, as dramatic increases in graphic sophistication began yielding diminishing returns, the technical focus in game design has been turning towards Artificial Intelligence (AI). While game AI might be considered a “purely technical” phenomenon not of interest to game designers and theorists, this paper argues that AIbased art and entertainment constitutes a new interdisciplinary agenda linking games studies, design practice, and technical research. I call this new interdisciplinary agenda expressive AI.
Joint Prostheses and Internal Fixation Devices

Orthopedics, as a specialty, is traced back to 1741, when Nicholas Andre coined the term “orthopaedic” from the Greek words orthos (meaning straight, or free from deformity) and paedia (meaning child). His book, entitled L’Orthopaedie, describes the recognition of deformity and ways in which these deformities could be prevented (1). No invasive surgical procedures were described for treatment of musculoskeletal disease. There were external remedies, various ingested remedies, and some descriptions of manipulations. It was not until the work of Lister, in the 19th century, and the understanding of the importance of asepsis, that orthopedic implants were accepted as a technique in the management of orthopedic diseases.
Stability of Edge-Reinforced Circular Plate

Many authors have concerned themselves with the problems of the stability of a circular plate under the action of axisymmetric in-plane edge loading. The edge of the plate was considered to be either simply supported, elastically restrained, or clamped but free to move in the direction of loading. These boundary conditions are however not always representative of those encountered in practice. The easiest way to obtain a restraint is by reinforcing the edge of the plate of a beam. Herein the stability of such a reinforced plate under the action of a uniform radial load is considered.
Negative Feedback Inhibition of Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion in Humans

The evidence is quite solid that a feedback inhibition system of the pancreatic exocrine secretion exists in a number of animal species. Whether or not such a regulatory system is operative in man remains controversial. Studies in normal human subjects which have been interpreted as evidence that such a regulatory system is not present in man suffer from serious flaws in experimental design, such as the inability to completely divert pancreatic enzymes (chymotrypsin, elastase) as important principles in this control mechanism. Studies in both normal human subjects and patients with chronic pancreatitis will be reviewed.
Supplementing the Assumed Definitions: A Commentary on Professor Brownstein's Analysis of Abortion Protest Restrictions

This Commentary agrees with Professor Brownstein's analysis of the proper scope of abortion protest speech restrictions in many respects. But crucial to applying the general analyses are the definitions contained within them. This Commentary proposes that several of the definitions assumed within Professor Brownstein's analysis and the analysis of courts that have reviewed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act are too narrowly understood. Instead, there is a supplementary concept appropriate to each. These are to add “impact” to the definition of viewpoint discrimination, add “equality” to the definition of the abortion right, and add “women's perspective” to the definition of a threat within the FACE Act.
Temporal trends of persistent organic pollutant concentrations in precipitation around the Great Lakes.

The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and several chlorinated insecticides in precipitation have been measured in samples collected every month since 1997 at six sites on the shores of the North American Great Lakes. We report here the geometric mean concentrations for each of these compounds for each year and at each site. Assuming a first-order rate decline for these data, we have calculated the time it takes for these concentrations to decrease by half. The halving times are not statistically distinguishable among the sites. Overall, the observed halving times are 11 ± 2 years for the PCBs, 14 ± 3 years for the PAHs, 4.0 ± 0.2 for the hexachlorocyclohexanes, 8.0 ± 0.9 for the DDTs, 5.1 ± 0.8 for the chlordanes, and 8.4 ± 0.6 for the endosulfans. In general, the halving times calculated from precipitation concentrations agree with those calculated from atmospheric vapor and particle phase concentrations.
IP3-activated Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane of cultured vascular endothelial cells

Although it is clear that D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) plays an important role in the activation of Ca2+ influx, the mechanisms by which this occurs remain controversial. In an attempt to determine the role of IP3 in the activation of Ca2+ influx, patch-clamp single-channel experiments in the cell-attached, inside-out, and outside-out configurations were performed on cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). The results presented indicate that both IP3 and intracellular Ca2+ can modulate the activity of a Ca(2+)-selective channel found in the plasma membrane of these cells. Addition of 10 microM IP3 increased channel open probability (P(o)) from a control value of 0.12 +/- 0.05 to 0.7 +/- 0.13 at a constant intracellular Ca2+ of 1 nM in excised inside-out patches. D-Myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate at 50 microM was ineffective in altering channel P(o). Channel activity declined after approximately 2 min in the continuous presence of IP3. Three to four minutes after addition of IP3, channel P(o) was reduced from 0.7 +/- 0.2 to 0.2 +/- 0.1, indicating that an additional regulator might be required to maintain channel activity in excised patches. The channel was reversibly blocked by application of 1 microgram/ml heparin to the intracellular side of inside-out patches. This Ca(2+)-selective channel is indistinguishable from the depletion-activated Ca2+ channel we have previously described in BAEC.
Dietary intakes of female basketball and gymnastics athletes

A study characterized and compared the diets of 13 college women basketball players and 9 college women gymnasts for energy and nutrient intakes. Mean energy intakes were similar between the 2 groups (ca. 30 kcal/kg/day), and the total mean energy intake for all subjects (1932 kcal/day) was 325 kcal/day higher than that of US women of the same age. While the overall mean intakes of all subjects were adequate for vitamins A, B2, B12, C, and niacin, their intakes of vitamin B6, Fe, Mg, and Zn were less than 70 per cent of the RDA's. Height, weight, and nutrient intake data for these women are presented.(wz)
Other Voices/Other Rooms: Towards a Care-Centered Public Administration

One of the key contributions of the theorist is to present alternatives—in Truman Capote's (1948) telling phase, “other voices/other rooms”—to taken for granted disciplinary realities through the i...
The Artificially Stimulated Decidual Cell Reaction in the Mouse Uterus Studies of RNA Polymerases and Histone Modifications

Implantation involves changes in all cell types of the uterine endometrium in preparation for attachment of the blastocyst to the uterine wall. The artificially stimulated decidual cell reaction (DCR) has been used as a model system for studying the uterine responses to implantation (Finn and Porter, 1975; Classer and Clark, 1975). In the decidual cell reaction, uterine stromal cells proliferate and are transformed into decidual cells. The hormonal requirements for the oil-stimulated DCR closely approximate the hormonal preparation of the uterus at the time of natural implantation. The principal advantages offered by the artificially stimulated DCR in hormone-primed ovariectomized animals include (a) a more extensive reaction than that occurring in natural implantation; (b) a more precise time course of the reaction, particularly short times after stimulation; (c) the ability to study the roles of estrogen and progesterone in the reaction; and (d) the ability to use large numbers of animals in a single experiment.
Abstract 1179: Unique metabolic profile of Vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells: a quantitative proteomics approach

Malignant melanoma is noted for its aggressive clinical behavior and propensity for lethal metastasis. Despite the remarkable success of BRAF inhibitor Vemurafenib in clinics, emergence of resistance remains a limiting factor in increasing overall survival. Thus, comprehensive studies are needed to increase the biological understanding of BRAF-resistant tumors in order to develop effective therapeutic regimens. To study the molecular mechanism(s) involved in acquired resistance, we generated a Vemurafenib-resistant cell line in the BRAFV600E mutated SK-Mel28 melanoma cell background. Incubation of SK-Mel28 cells with Vemurafenib (0.1 μM) resulted in an initial loss of cell viability after which majority of cells resumed proliferation. Thereafter, cells were exposed to gradually increasing Vemurafenib concentrations and allowed to proliferate in the presence of 5 μM Vemurafenib, to generate the A2-1b resistant cell line. Viability assays established the IC50 of parental SK-Mel28 cells as 0.2 μM, while IC50 > than 12 μM was noted for the Vemurafenib-resistant A2-1b population. We utilized a quantitative proteomics strategy, employing label-free nano-LC-MS/MS technology on a Q-exactive, to compare the proteome of A2-1b with SK-Mel28 cells. The data searched against the human proteome using the Sequest search engine and further analyzed with SIEVE software resulted in the positive identification of 1720 proteins (≤1% FDR). This data set containing proteins with only uniquely identified peptides with a high level of confidence (p Citation Format: Deeba N. Syed, Rahul K. Lall, Iram Majeed, Feng Liu, Frank L. Meyskens, Hasan Mukhtar. Unique metabolic profile of Vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells: a quantitative proteomics approach. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1179. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1179
Parallel volcano trends and geochemical asymmetry of the Society Islands hotspot track

Volcanism in three Pacific Ocean hotspot tracks, Hawaii, Samoa, and the Marquesas Islands, has been shown to be organized into two geographically distinct, subparallel trends. On all three tracks, the pairs of volcanic trends are geochemically distinct, with magmas from the southern trend possessing an enriched isotopic signature (e.g., lower 143 Nd/ 144 Nd and higher 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and 208 Pb * / 206 Pb * ) relative to the northern trend. The systematic difference between northern and southern trends at these three hotspots, with the possible exception of Samoa, has been attributed to their location near the northern boundary of the DUPAL belt (acronym after Dupre and Allegre), a region of isotopic enrichment in the Southern Hemisphere mantle that coincides with a seismic large low shear-wave velocity province in the lowermost mantle beneath the Pacific. This model invokes azimuthal, bilateral zoning within the plume conduits beneath each hotspot; the southern side of the plume conduits entrain isotopically enriched material from the DUPAL region, and the northern sides entrain comparatively depleted mantle. Here we present evidence of volcanism with subparallel trends in a fourth Pacific hotspot track (the Society Islands archipelago) located on the southern side of the DUPAL belt. As with the other three hotspots, magmas from the northern and southern volcanic trends are geochemically distinct. However, in the Society Islands the loci of enrichment are reversed, i.e., the northern trend is isotopically enriched relative to the southern. This reversed pattern of enrichment at the Society Islands archipelago is consistent with the hypothesis that spatial variations in enrichment at each Pacific hotspot reflect its position relative to the DUPAL belt. This indicates that volcanism at hotspots may be used as a window on the geometry of deep mantle reservoirs.
Luminescence from SiOx Nanoclusters

SiOx nanoclusters (7 nm to 17 nm) are produced by evaporation of SiO (or Si) in Ar (+O2) atmospheres. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements in vacuum reveal a broad band centered at 1.65 eV. Upon exposure to gas this PL band is extinguished in a matter of seconds, and another band centered at 2.12 eV appears. This effect occurs regardless of the gas used (He, Ar, N2, O2, H2O vapor or air) and is entirely reversible upon evacuation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman, infrared transmission, and X-ray photoluminescence spectroscopy (XPS) measurements are used to characterize the clusters. They are noncrystalline, and the oxidation state is a suboxide rather than SiO2 The PL spectra are independent of cluster size. The PL does not occur without sufficient oxidation and does not require the presence of bonded hydrogen. We are led to speculate that the radiative recombination occurs in electron states derived from a suboxide.
Photo-Induced Reversible Modification of II-VI Semiconductor Surface Composition and Structure

It is shown that the composition and structure of CdTe and CdS surfaces can be reversibly controlled by excimer laser irradiation at fluences below the melting threshold. The removal rate is observed to depend exponentially on laser fluence up to the melting threshold. The translational energies of products desorbed from laser-irradiated CdTe surfaces were determined using time-of-flight spectrometry and are well-described by a Maxwellian velocity distribution. The dynamics of the photo-stimulated desorption process are correlated with the laser-induced changes in composition, and it is shown that the data are consistent with a thermal mechanism for desorption. A model is introduced which describes the reversible, fluence-dependent changes in composition and structure in terms of the kinetic competition between formation and desorption processes at the semiconductor surface.
Autonomous Navigation of UAV through GPS-Denied Indoor Environment with Obstacles

The autonomous navigation of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) around obstacles in an indoor environment is a challenging task. The challenges arise from a number of factors including localization and mapping, and path planning for navigation to the goal position while avoiding collisions using limited knowledge about the environment generated from on-board sensors. Moreover, the environment in which the UAV ies poses many constraints over the type of sensors and the kind of algorithms employed for the localization and path planning. For example, infrared proximity sensors are not suitable for outdoor use due to ambient infrared radiation. Similarly, in indoor environments, GPS is not available for localization and cameras cannot be eectively used in low/varying lighting conditions. This paper suggests and simulates a quad-copter UAV system equipped with inertial and sonar sensors to enable autonomous ight in a GPS-denied indoor environment with obstacles. The UAV can autonomously navigate around the obstacles to the target without the need of any user interaction. The performance of the UAV platform alongwith the software algorithms developed for navigation and control is tested with the help of a realistic simulation environment designed in Matlab. The simulation uses quad-copter dynamical equations for motion simulation and detailed sensor models for simulation of sensor data.
Corticosterone may interact with peripubertal development to shape adult resistance to social defeat

Studies of social stress in adult mice have revealed two distinct defeat-responsive behavioral phenotypes; "susceptible" and "resistant," characterized by social avoidance and social interaction, respectively. Typically, these phenotypes are observed at least 1day after the last defeat in adults, but may extend up to 30days later. The current study examined the impact of peripubertal social defeat on immediate (1day) and adult (30day) social stress phenotypes and neuroendocrine function in male C57BL/6 mice. Initially, peripubertal (P32) mice were resistant to social defeat. When the same mice were tested for social interaction again as adults (P62), two phenotypes emerged; a group of mice were characterized as susceptible evidenced by significantly lower social interaction, whereas the remaining mice exhibited normal social interaction, characteristic of resistance. A repeated analysis of corticosterone revealed that the adult (P62) resistant mice had elevated corticosterone following the social interaction test as juveniles. This was when all mice, regardless of adult phenotype, displayed equivalent levels of social interaction. Peripubertal corticosterone was positively correlated with adult social interaction levels in defeated mice, suggesting early life stress responsiveness impacts adult social behavior. In addition, adult corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) was elevated in all defeated mice, but there were no differences in CRF mRNA expression between the phenotypes. Thus, there is a delayed appearance of social stress-responsive phenotypes suggesting that early life stress exposure, combined with the resultant physiological responses, may interact with pubertal development to influence adult social behavior.
Pericardiocentesis followed by thoracotomy and repair of penetrating cardiac injury caused by nail gun injury to the heart

Introduction Work site injuries involving high projectile tools such as nail guns can lead to catastrophic injuries. Generally, penetrating cardiac injuries are associated with a high mortality rate.
Experimental reduction and analysis of the negative inhomogeneity of CeO_2 films

The influence of the negative inhomogeneity of CeO2 films on the spectral characteristics of antireflection coatings was simulated by using coating design software.The results indicated that the negative inhomogeneity will increase the reflectance of AR coatings,which brings the whole spectral curve of reflectance to move towards the longer wavelength,as a result the spectral characteristics of antireflection coatings will deviate from ideal conditions greatly.Therefore,the negative inhomogeneity of CeO2 films was researched by way of mixing TiO2 of three proportion into CeO2.The experimental results indicated that the negative inhomogeneity of CeO2 films is related to the proportion of TiO2,substrate temperature and vacuum degree.At certain temperature,in order to eliminate the negative inhomogeneity of CeO2,CeO2 need to be mixed with more TiO2 for lower vacuum degree and less TiO2 for higher vacuum degree.
Study on Anti-missile With Range Gate Pull-off Jamming in Support of Radar

Concerned with the problem of the operation platforms that is of some maneuverability and equipped with radar and electronic warfare system antagonizing radar end guided missiles,a method of anti-missiles using the range gate pull-off jamming in support of radar was proposed.In this method,while the jammer interferences the missile,the instant of turning-on or off interference can be automatically controlled and adjusted in terms of the range information between the missile and platform,provided by radar,which makes the missile properly change from tracking to searching as it is on the target.Meanwhile,the operation platform takes advantage of the missile's searching time to carry out properly maneuverable avoiding,flee away the missile's attacking range and get rid of its attack.Simulation results show that this method is of effectiveness.
Risk of obesity in the neutered cat

Surgical neutering is one of the most common procedures performed on pets in the USA among other countries. There are known effects of neutering on the physiology and behavior of the cat that predispose to obesity, which is the most significant sequela from a nutritional perspective. Increased food intake is the most likely factor influencing weight gain in the neutered cat. Proactively addressing these changes with nutritional management strategies can help prevent weight gain and associated negative consequences.
Instincts and the Invisible Order: The Possibility of Progress

The ‘invisible hand’ means a variety of things to modern writers, who use the phrase loosely to imply the market, the price system, efficiency, laissez-faire, greed is good, and so on (Samuels et al., 2011; Medema, 2009; Rothschild, 1994). In some circles the invisible hand is referred to with reverence and in others with mockery. What Smith wrote, and meant, is quite different from current constructions. At first reading, Smith’s three references to an invisible hand appear to be unconnected turns of phrase. One can find ample reason for agreeing with Kennedy (2009) that in its current use the expression has been blown out of all proportion to its author’s original intent and any reasonable extrapolation thereof. On the other end of the spectrum are authors like Klein and Lucas (2011), who argue that the invisible hand is the central concept of Smith’s work and that Smith consciously placed it at the exact physical midpoint of both his books as a rhetorical piece de resistance, the most nourishing part of the meal. This proposition is implausible on many levels. If there were such an intended dialectical message it is curious that it remained hidden from all of Smith’s friends and closest colleagues. It is possible to argue a middle ground, however, as this chapter does, that the concept behind the invisible hand is central to Smith’s work, but that the phrase itself is only one of many spread out through his work, and that the placement, as well as the exact phraseology, are non-issues.
Complex Adaptive Systems and a Sustainability Framework

This chapter describes the key features of complex adaptive systems (CAS) and presents a framework for analyzing sustainability of coupled human-environment systems (CHES). The framework uses two concepts to characterize and quantify sustainability: well-being and resilience. Well-being describes the state of a CHES at a given point in time, and resilience describes the state change of the system. The framework suggests some quantitative measures for well-being in the context of climate change and variability. It also includes specific analyses that are intended to undertsand the complex processes in a CHES and to provide scientific support for policy to promote sustainable development. The chapter closes with an overview of the study of rural development in the Poyang Lake Region of China.
A Case Study of an English Learner Speech Community

Chapter 2 introduces our Dallas area case study of Hispanic older adult English second language learners. Our 4-year case study data of an English second language literacy program reveals the relevance of place and safe language socialization in mediating the acculturation process. Our analysis draws upon focus group interviews and participant observations with a core sample of 40 Hispanic older adult ESL students. Participants were recruited through a face-to-face announcement in our ESL family literacy program located in a predominantly Hispanic community in Dallas, Texas. Our longitudinal data set allows us to explore a wide range of issues associated with the complex and transitional nature of older adult immigrant second language socialization. We utilize a qualitative, active interviewing approach that has the advantage of producing insights about meanings, contexts, and processes related to older adult immigrants’ unique experiences and their efforts toward language resocialization.
Abstract 18248: Development and Evaluation of a Novel Algorithm for Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation Using Wristband Technology

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of ischemic stroke by 5-fold, yet is often asymptomatic and undiagnosed. Wristband technologies using photoplethysmography (PPG) for pulse ...
Panniculectomy Outcomes in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease in Preparation for Renal Transplant

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors, electrolyte imbalances, and iron deficiency anemia. These factors may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing panniculectomy. There is a paucity of data regarding outcomes in patients with ESRD undergoing panniculectomy. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether ESRD is associated with increased rate of complications following a panniculectomy. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2006–2011) was used to identify patients who underwent a panniculectomy. Among this cohort, patients diagnosed with end-stage renal disease were identified. Patients excluded from the study were emergency admissions, pregnant women, patients less than 18 years old, and patients with concurrent nephrectomy or kidney transplants. Demographic factors, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were evaluated. Chi-squared and risk-adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether end-stage renal disease was associated with increased rate of postoperative complications. A total of 34,779 panniculectomies were performed during the study period. Of these, 613 (1.8%) were diagnosed with ESRD. Patients with ESRD were older (mean age 58.9 vs. 49.3, p < 0.01) and more likely to have Medicare (63.5 vs. 18.4%, p < 0.01). They had higher rates of comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease, chronic anemia, liver disease, peripheral artery disease, obesity, and coagulopathies (p < 0.01). The procedure was more likely to occur at a large, teaching hospital (p < 0.01). Postoperatively, patients with ESRD had a higher rate of death (3.3 vs. 0.2%, p < 0.01), wound complications (10.6 vs. 6.2%, p < 0.01), venous thromboembolism (4.9 vs. 0.8%, p < 0.01), blood transfusions (25.3% vs. 7.0%, p < 0.01), non-renal major medical complications (40.0% vs. 8.4%), and longer hospital stay (9.2 vs. 3.8 days, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for age, race, sex, hospital location/teaching hospital, payer, and all comorbidities demonstrated that ESRD was independently associated with increased venous thromboembolisms (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.48–3.83) and non-renal major medical complications (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.19–1.91). ESRD was not independently associated with increased rate of wound complications or transfusions. Patients with ESRD are at increased risk of VTE and non-renal major medical complications following panniculectomy. Moreover, patients with ESRD have longer hospital stays and higher rates of mortality. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Improvement in racial disparities in years of life lost in the USA since 1990

Objective To examine changes in cause-specific Years of Life Lost (YLL) by age, race, and sex group in the USA from 1990 to 2014. Methods 60 million death reports from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) were categorized by age group, sex, race, and cause of death. YLL were calculated using age-specific life expectancies. Age groups were: infants <1, children 1–19, adults 20–64, and older adults 65+. Results Blacks have historically experienced more years of life lost than whites or other racial groups in the USA. In the year 1990 the YLL per 100,000 population was 21,103 for blacks, 14,160 for whites, and 7,417 for others. Between 1990 and 2014 overall YLL in the USA improved by 10%, but with marked variations in the rate of change across age, race, and sex groups. Blacks (all ages, both sexes) showed substantial improvement with a 28% reduction in YLL, compared to whites (all ages, both sexes) who showed a 4% reduction. Among blacks, improvements were seen in all age groups: reductions of 43%, 48%, 28%, and 25% among infants, children, adults, and older adults, respectively. Among whites, reductions of 33%, 44%, and 18% were seen in infants, children, and older adults, but there was a 6% increase in YLL among white adults. YLL increased by 18% in white adult females and declined 1% in white adult males. American Indian/Alaska Native women also had worsening in YLL, with an 8% increase. Asian Pacific Islanders consistently had the lowest YLL across all ages. Whites had a higher proportion of YLL due to overdose; blacks had a higher proportion due to homicide at younger ages and to heart disease at older ages. Conclusions Race-based disparities in YLL in the USA since 1990 have narrowed considerably, largely as a result of improvements among blacks compared to whites. Adult white and American Indian / Alaskan Native females have experienced worsening YLL, while white males have experienced essentially no change. If recent trajectories continue, adult black/white disparities in YLL will continue to narrow.
Counting extensions of function fields with bounded discriminant and specified Galois group

We discuss the enumeration of function fields and number fields by discriminant. We show that Malle’s conjectures agree with heuristics arising naturally from geometric computations on Hurwitz schemes. These heuristics also suggest further questions in the number field setting.
L-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion and migration

L-selectin, which is expressed by the majority of leukocytes, plays a pivotal role in the generation of rapid and efficient immune responses by mediating the interaction of circulating leukocytes with the vascular endothelium. Specifically, L-selectin functions to mediate the attachment of leukocytes to the vascular wall at sites of inflammation and the attachment of lymphocytes to specialized post-capillary venules termed “high endothelial venules” (HEV) located within secondary lymphoid tissues. This initial adhesive event termed “capture” or “tethering” occurs through selective interaction of L-selectin with its appropriately displayed ligand(s). While this adhesive function has largely defined L-selectin, it is now clear that L-selectin functions in a highly complex manner during leukocyte recruitment. For example, L-selectin has been demonstrated to function cooperatively and synergistically with other adhesion molecules under in vivo inflammatory conditions to mediate optimal leukocyte recruitment [1, 2]. In addition, L-selectin function can be positively and negatively regulated following leukocyte activation, both of which significantly impact leukocyte recruitment. Specifically, L-selectin ligand binding activity is transiently increased following leukocyte activation [3] followed by its rapid endoproteolytic cleavage or “shedding” from the leukocyte surface [4]. Interestingly, the generation of this soluble form of L-selectin (sL-selectin) that retains functional activity may serve to dampen inflammatory responses by competing with cell-surface L-selectin for ligand binding [5, 6].
Population Projection and Projection Matrices

This chapter and the next focus on population estimation and projection. The distinction between these two terms is temporal: estimation usually implies a judgment or guess as to the size or attributes of a historic or present population; projection implies a judgment or guess as to its future direction.* We will not maintain this distinction as rigorously as we might. The term reverse projection is given to applications of projection methodologies to the estimation of past populations.
Design and implementation of semi-preemptible IO

Allowing higher-priority requests to preempt ongoing disk IOs is of particular benefit to delay-sensitive multimedia and real-time systems. In this paper we propose Semi-preemptible IO, which divides an IO request into small temporal units of disk commands to enable preemptible disk access. We present main design strategies to allow preemption of each component of a disk access--seek, rotation, and data transfer. We analyze the performance and describe implementation challenges. Our evaluation shows that Semi-preemptible IO can substantially reduce IO waiting time with little loss in disk throughput. For example, expected waiting time for disk IOs in a video streaming system is reduced 2.1 times with the throughput loss of less than 6 percent.
H 2 Oxidation over Supported Au Nanoparticle Catalysts: Evidence for Heterolytic H 2 Activation at the Metal-Support Interface.

Water adsorbed at the metal–support interface (MSI) plays an important role in multiple reactions. Due to its importance in CO preferential oxidation (PrOx), we examined H2 oxidation kinetics in the presence of water over Au/TiO2 and Au/Al2O3 catalysts, reaching the following mechanistic conclusions: (i) O2 activation follows a similar mechanism to that proposed in CO oxidation catalysis; (ii) weakly adsorbed H2O is a strong reaction inhibitor; (iii) fast H2 activation occurs at the MSI, and (iv) H2 activation kinetics are inconsistent with traditional dissociative H2 chemisorption on metals. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using a supported Au nanorod model suggest H2 activation proceeds through a heterolytic dissociation mechanism, resulting in a formal hydride residing on the Au and a proton bound to a surface TiOH group. This potential mechanism was supported by infrared spectroscopy experiments during H2 adsorption on a deuterated Au/TiO2 surface, which showed rapid H–D scrambling with s...
New Strategies and In Vivo Monitoring Methods for Stem Cell-Based Anticancer Therapies

Cancer is a devastating disease and the second cause of death in the developed world. Despite significant advances in recent years, such as the introduction of targeted therapies such as receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy, current approaches are insufficient to stop the advance of the disease and many cancer types remain largely intractable. In this review, we describe the latest and most revolutionary stem cell-based approaches for the treatment of cancer. We also summarize the emerging imaging modalities being applied for monitoring anticancer stem cell therapy success and discuss the implications of these novel technologies for precision medicine.
Consumer Medical Complaint Behavior: Determinants of and Alternatives to Malpractice Litigation:

Medical malpractice is a major societal, consumer, and public policy issue with wide ranging and significant litigation and cost dimensions. One approach to analyzing the medical malpractice proble...
Exploring the Differences Between Early and Traditional Diet Advancement in Postoperative Feeding Outcomes in Patients With an Ileostomy or Colostomy.

BACKGROUND We assessed the differences in postoperative feeding outcomes when comparing early and traditional diet advancement in patients who had an ostomy creation. METHODS At a U.S. tertiary care hospital, data from patients who underwent an ileostomy or colostomy creation from June 1, 2013, to April 30, 2017 were extracted from an institutional database. Patients who received early diet advancement (postoperative days 0 and 1) were compared with traditional diet advancement (postoperative day 2 and later) for demographics, preoperative risk factors, and operative features. The postoperative feeding outcomes included time to first flatus and ostomy output. Mann-Whitney U tests determined bivariate differences in postoperative feeding outcomes between groups. Poisson regression was used to adjust for unequal baseline characteristics. RESULTS Data from 255 patients were included; 204 (80.0%) received early diet advancement, and 51 (20.0%) had traditional diet advancement. Time to first flatus and time to first ostomy output were significantly shorter in the early compared with traditional diet advancement group (median difference of 1 day for both flatus and ostomy output, P < 0.001). Adjusting for baseline group differences (American Society for Anesthesiology Physical Status Classification System, surgical approach, resection and ostomy type) maintained the significant findings for both time to first flatus (β = 1.32, P = 0.01) and time to first ostomy output (β = 1.41, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Early diet advancement is associated with earlier return of flatus and first ostomy output compared with traditional diet advancement after the creation of an ileostomy or colostomy.
Intimate Partner Violence among Women with Disabilities in Uganda

Violence against women with disabilities is pervasive, yet a paucity of research examines intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by women with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study is to document the prevalence and consequences of IPV exposure among Ugandan women with disabilities. Cross sectional data from the 2011 and 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys (UDHS) were used to study married and/or partnered women aged 15⁻49 who answered specific questions about lifetime intimate partner violence (N = 8592). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between disability, IPV, and indicators of maternal and child health. Compared to women without disabilities, women with disabilities were more likely to experience lifetime physical violence (odds ratio (OR) 1.4, p < 0.01), sexual violence (OR = 1.7, p < 0.01), and emotional abuse (1.4, p < 0.01) after controlling for sociodemographic and household characteristics. Study findings suggest that women with disabilities in Uganda may experience increased risk for IPV compared to women without disabilities, with concomitant risks to their health and the survival of their infants. Further research examining the prevalence and correlates of IPV in low- and middle-income countries is needed to address the needs and rights of women with disabilities.
Procedures in the Retrieval and Evaluation of Vascular Grafts

The methods for vascular graft preservation and evaluation techniques are summarized. No single preservation technique permits the complete spectrum of evaluation procedures to be used in characterizing retrieved vasculargrafts. The positive and negative aspects of the different methods for vascular graft preservation are given.
Training school administrators in the writing of quality professional improvement commitments

or may be more sequential than random in their processing. The following descriptions of the four major learning preference modes are offered by Gregorc and Ward (44). The Abstract Sequential Learner The abstract sequential learning preference is characterized by excellent decoding abilities in the area of written, verbal, and image symbols. Such a learner has a wealth of conceptual 'pictures' in his mind against which he matches what he reads, hears, or sees in graphic and pictorial form. He has and likes to use reading skills, listening skills, and visual translation abilities. A symbol or picture is worth a thousand words to this person. This type of learner prefers a presentation that has substance, is rational, and is sequential in nature. He is able to extract main ideas from such an approach. Such a learner is not deterred by a dull lecturer if the material presented is well organized and meaningful. This preference also Includes deference to authority in a learning situation and a low tolerance for environmental distractions which could cause him to divert energy from the task at hand. Teaching approaches which utilize extensive reading, lectures, audio-tapes, instructional phonograph records, and a quiet, well-controlled environment appeal directly to people who exhibit a strong abstract sequential learning preference. The Abstract Random Learner The abstract random learner is distinguishable by his attention to human behavior and an extraordinary ability to sense and interpret 'vibrations.' He is attuned to nuances of atmosphere and mood. This type of learner associates the medium with the message. He ties a speaker's manner, delivery, and personality to the message being conveyed. In doing so, he evaluates a learning experience as a whole. The abstract random learner prefers to receive Information in an unstructured manner and is therefore comfortable In group discussions, activities which involve multi-sensory use, and busy environments. He seems to gather information and delay reaction. He then organizes material through reflection to get what he wants.
Real-Time Measurement of Airborne Carbon Nanotubes in Workplace Atmospheres

With growing applications of carbon nanomaterials, there is a concern over health risks presented by inhalation of carbon nanotube (CNT) aerosol in workplace atmospheres. Current methods used for CNT aerosol measurement lack selectivity to specific form of carbonaceous component or allotrope of interest. Moreover, the detection limits of these methods are also inadequate for short-term monitoring. Here, we describe, for the first time, a near real-time, field-portable instrument for selective quantification of airborne CNT concentration. The approach uses an automated cyclical scheme involving collect-analyze-ablate steps to obtain continuous near real-time measurement using Raman spectroscopy. The method achieves significantly lower detection limits by employing corona-assisted particle microconcentration for efficient coupling with laser Raman spectroscopy. A combination of techniques involving (i) use of characteristic Raman peaks, (ii) distinct ratio of disordered and graphitic peaks, and (iii) principal component classification and regression is employed to identify and quantify the specific form of the aerosolized carbonaceous nanomaterial. We show that the approach is capable of selectively quantifying trace single-walled CNT in the presence of interfering agents such as diesel particulate matter. The detection limit of the method for the single-walled CNT studied in this work was 60 ng m-3, corresponding to a 10 min aerosol collection period, which is significantly lower than that for the NIOSH Method 5040 (∼0.15 μg m-3 for an 8-h collection on a 25 mm filter at 4 L min-1), a commonly used method for elemental carbon. We demonstrate the automated real-time capability of this field-portable method by continuously measuring a transient single-walled CNT aerosol.
Ovulatory signals alter granulosa cell behavior through YAP1 signaling

The Hippo pathway plays critical roles in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and survival among species. Hippo pathway proteins are expressed in the ovary and are involved in ovarian function. Deletion of Lats1 causes germ cell loss, ovarian stromal tumors and reduced fertility. Ovarian fragmentation induces nuclear YAP1 accumulation and increased follicular development. At ovulation, follicular cells stop proliferating and terminally differentiate, but the mechanisms controlling this transition are not completely known. Here we explore the role of Hippo signaling in mouse granulosa cells before and during ovulation. To assess the effect of oocytes on Hippo transcripts in cumulus cells, cumulus granulosa cells were cultured with oocytes and cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured with a pSMAD2/3 inhibitor. Secondly, to evaluate the criticality of YAP1 on granulosa cell proliferation, mural granulosa cells were cultured with oocytes, YAP1-TEAD inhibitor verteporfin or both, followed by cell viability assay. Next, COCs were cultured with verteporfin to reveal its role during cumulus expansion. Media progesterone levels were measured using ELISA assay and Hippo transcripts and expansion signatures from COCs were assessed. Lastly, the effects of ovulatory signals (EGF in vitro and hCG in vivo) on Hippo protein levels and phosphorylation were examined. Throughout, transcripts were quantified by qRT-PCR and proteins were quantified by immunoblotting. Data were analyzed by student’s t-test or one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test or Dunnett’s post-hoc test. Our data show that before ovulation oocytes inhibit expression of Hippo transcripts and promote granulosa cell survival likely through YAP1. Moreover, the YAP1 inhibitor verteporfin, triggers premature differentiation as indicated by upregulation of expansion transcripts and increased progesterone production from COCs in vitro. In vivo, ovulatory signals cause an increase in abundance of Hippo transcripts and stimulate Hippo pathway activity as indicated by increased phosphorylation of the Hippo targets YAP1 and WWTR1 in the ovary. In vitro, EGF causes a transient increase in YAP1 phosphorylation followed by decreased YAP1 protein with only modest effects on WWTR1 in COCs. Our results support a YAP1-mediated mechanism that controls cell survival and differentiation of granulosa cells during ovulation.
Differential interference contrast microscopy with adjustable plastic Sanderson prisms

Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy is a technique to image spatially dependent gradients in optical path lengths. Contrast is produced through the splitting of polarized light with quartz Wollaston prisms. Here we demonstrate that light splitting for DIC microscopy can also be achieved with Sanderson prisms consisting of polycarbonate bars under a bending load. Comparable image contrast while imaging cultured cells was achieved with this alternative technique. These results demonstrate an inexpensive and easily adjustable alternative to traditional quartz Wollaston prisms.