cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between the rising cesarean delivery and postpartum readmission rates

This study seeks to determine if the increasing rate of postpartum readmissions is related to the increasing rate of cesarean delivery. Readmitted patients were identified in the State Inpatient Databases of California, Florida and New York from 2004 to 2011. Relevant maternal comorbidities, pregnancy complications and intrapartum events were collected using ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes. The effects of cesarean delivery were first examined via univariate logistic regression to calculate the odds of readmission by year for patients who had delivered via cesarean section. Then, we used multivariate logistic regression models to isolate the effect of mode of delivery on the odds of readmission by adjusting for the effects of patient demographics, hospital characteristics and maternal comorbidities. Nearly one million deliveries were identified each year, and ~600 000 deliveries per year met inclusion criteria. During this time, the readmission rate increased from 1.72 to 2.16%, and the cesarean delivery rate increased from 30.4 to 33.9%. The odds of readmission for patients delivered via cesarean section decreased yearly, from 1.343 (95% CI: 1.295 to 1.392) in 2004 to 1.046 (95% CI: 1.012 to 1.108) in 2011. In a multivariate model, the odds based on year were 1.032 (95% CI: 1.030 to 1.035), demonstrating an increased odds of readmission over time. When cesarean delivery was added to the model, this odds estimate did not change (OR: 1.031, 95% CI: 1.028 to 1.035), suggesting it did not account for the increased odds of readmission over time, even though cesarean delivery rates increased. However, when maternal comorbidities were added to the model, the odds ratio for year became insignificant (OR: 1.001, 95% CI: 0.998 to 1.005), suggesting that they accounted for the increasing rate of readmissions. The increasing cesarean delivery rate does not explain the increasing rate of postpartum readmissions. Rather, the increasing postpartum readmission rate appears to be related to maternal comorbidities.
IGF2BP3 Moderately Increases Fetal Hemoglobin Levels in Human Adult Erythroblasts

Abstract Recent studies demonstrated that IGF2BP1 over-expression (IGF2BP1-OE) in adult erythroblasts has robust effects on fetal hemoglobin (HbF; >65% of the total globin levels), accompanied by reversal of the beta-like globin expression patterns to a fetal-like phenotype. Here we investigated if another member of the insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein family, IGF2BP3, also has potential for HbF regulation that may be useful for therapeutic application among patients with beta-hemoglobin disorders. The developmental pattern and expression levels for IGF2BP3 were initially determined in cord blood versus adult blood CD34(+) samples cultivated ex vivo in erythropoietin-supplemented serum-free media for 21 days. RNA samples were collected at culture day 14 and expression levels were measured by qRT-PCR. IGF2BP3 showed a developmentally regulated expression pattern similar to IGF2BP1 (IGF2BP1: cord blood: 1.3.E+03 ± 4.3.E+02 and adult blood: below detection limits; IGF2BP3: cord blood: 5.8.E+02 ± 2.4.E+02 and adult blood: below detection limits). These results were confirmed in vivo by comparing human fetal liver to adult bone marrow samples (IGF2BP1: fetal liver: 3.5.E+02 ± 5.7.E+01, adult bone marrow: below detection limits and IGF2BP3: fetal liver: 2.0.E+01 ± 2.7.E+00, adult bone marrow: below detection limits). To investigate the effects of IGF2BP3 upon erythropoiesis and globin expression, a lentiviral construct was designed for expression of IGF2BP3 driven by the erythroid-specific gene promoter region of the human SPTA1 gene (IGF2BP3-OE), with a matched empty vector control. Transductions were performed in CD34(+) cells from four adult healthy volunteers cultivated ex vivo in erythropoietin-supplemented serum-free media for 21 days. Over-expression of IGF2BP3 was confirmedby qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses at culture day 14. IGF2BP3-OE cells maintained their ability to differentiate and enucleate ex vivo compared to donor-matched controls. The expression levels of globin genes were evaluated at culture day 14 by qRT-PCR and showed that IGF2BP3-OE caused significantly increased gamma-globin expression levels compared to control transductions (control: 7.7.E+05 ± 1.7.E+05; IGF2BP3-OE: 8.4.E+06 ± 3.2.E+06; p=0.018). Consistent with increased gamma-globin, HbF rose to moderately high levels upon IGF2BP3-OE (control: 4.0 ± 2.1%; IGF2BP3-OE: 18.6 ± 1.0%; p=0.0021). In addition, the expression pattern of the erythroid transcription factor BCL11A was investigated by qRT-PCR at culture day 14 and no significant changes were observed (control: 5.6.E+02 ± 2.7.E+02; IGF2BP3-OE: 6.7.E+02 ± 3.5.E+02; p=0.694). However, minor decreases in BCL11A protein levels were detected by Western analysis. These results demonstrate that IGF2BP3 is developmentally regulated in human erythroid tissues with silencing during the fetal-to-adult transition. However, the effects of IGF2BP3-OE on HbF levels were less robust when compared to IGF2BP1-OE in cultured adult erythroblasts. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
German Cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattaria: Blattellidae), Feeding Activity in Apartment Kitchens

German cockroach, Blattella germanica (I), distribution within two low-income apartment kitchens was determined by monitoring feeding activity with capacitive proximity sensors for four consecutive...
Normal Age-Adjusted Sagittal Spinal Alignment Is Achieved with Surgical Correction in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Study Design Retrospective analysis. Purpose Our hypothesis is that the surgical correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) maintains normal sagittal alignment as compared to age-matched normative adolescent population. Overview of Literature Sagittal spino-pelvic alignment in AIS has been reported, however, whether corrective spinal fusion surgery re-establishes normal alignment remains unverified. Methods Sagittal profiles and spino-pelvic parameters of thirty-eight postsurgical correction AIS patients ≤21 years old without prior fusion from a single institution database were compared to previously published normative age-matched data. Coronal and sagittal measurements including structural coronal Cobb angle, pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, C2-C7 cervical lordosis, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis, and T1 pelvic angles were measured on standing full-body stereoradiographs using validated software to compare preoperative and 6 months postoperative changes with previously published adolescent norms. A sub-group analysis of patients with type 1 Lenke curves was performed comparing preoperative to postoperative alignment and also comparing this with previously published normative values. Results The mean coronal curve of the 38 AIS patients (mean age, 16±2.2 years; 76.3% female) was corrected from 53.6° to 9.6° (80.9%, p<0.01). None of the thoracic and spino-pelvic sagittal parameters changed significantly after surgery in previously hypo- and normo-kyphotic patients. In hyper-kyphotic patients, thoracic kyphosis decreased (p=0.003) with a reciprocal decrease in lumbar lordosis (p=0.01), thus lowering pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch mismatch (p=0.009). Structural thoracic scoliosis patients had slightly more thoracic kyphosis than age-matched patients at baseline and surgical correction of the coronal plane of their scoliosis preserved normal sagittal alignment postoperatively. A sub-analysis of Lenke curve type 1 patients (n=24) demonstrated no statistically significant changes in the sagittal alignment postoperatively despite adequate coronal correction. Conclusions Surgical correction of the coronal plane in AIS patients preserves sagittal and spino-pelvic alignment as compared to age-matched asymptomatic adolescents.
Clip, Slip, and Grip: Impact on Left Atrial Strain.

> It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer > > —Albert Einstein The impact of severe organic mitral regurgitation (MR) on left atrium (LA) size and function has been studied; however, changes in LA function after mitral valve (MV) interventions remain unclear. In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , Gucuk Ipek et al1 retrospectively studied LA and left ventricle (LV) strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) at baseline and at 12-month follow-up in 87 subjects with severe organic MR enrolled in the EVERST II trial (Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair Study), including 49 patients who underwent MitraClip placement and 38 patients who underwent surgical MV repair (MVr). Their findings suggest that LA strain post-MV interventions is complicated and may be affected by multiple factors (Figure), including patient demographics, baseline LA size/function, treatment modalities and MR reduction, among others. Figure. Left atrium (LA) strain post-mitral valve (MV) interventions is affected by multiple factors. LV indicates left ventricle. See Article by Gucuk Ipek et al Organic MR can lead to chronic volume overload on LA and consequent remodeling, which is manifested as LA dilatation and LA dysfunction. LA becomes less compliant because of chronic inflammation, LA myocyte hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and decreased matrix metalloproteinase expression.2 LA volume index ≥40 mL/m2 is an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation and combined end point of death or need for mitral surgery in patients with organic MR.3 Baseline LA volume index and its progressive increase can predict the development of symptoms and LV dysfunction in asymptomatic patients with moderate and severe organic MR.4 Baseline LA volume index was also shown to strongly predict survival independent of MR severity and other known risk factors, and mitral surgery was shown to markedly improve outcomes and restore life expectancy.5 LA function …
Languages for Parallel Processing of Images

Parallel processing of large data arrays is characteristic of image analysis. In order to be compatible with typical television systems, the usual image size is 512×512. If the image is a 3-color image, this means that approximately 1 million bytes of data are present in the single-frame output of an ordinary television scanner. If the television scanner operates at 15 frames per second, then the full data transfer rate is more than 10 megabytes per second, i.e., one picture element (pixel) is generated every 100 nanoseconds. In order that a computing system process images at this rate, several picture points operations (pixops) must be performed in this time interval.
Assessment of the Urinary System

History and physical examination alone will most often provide conclusive evidence of urinary tract disorders in ruminants. Detailed examination of the urinary system is described, and examples of disease are presented. Ancillary testing may be indicated to confirm the diagnosis, direct treatment, or clarify the prognosis. Serum chemistry interpretation, urinalysis, urinary tract endoscopy and radiography, ultrasonography, abdominocentesis, and renal biopsy are discussed.
Background and Previous Work

Recently, the multimedia database management has been intensively studied due to the rapid growth of multimedia information and the increasing demand of its access over the Internet. Because a prohibitive amount of labor is involved in manual indexing, video indexing based on automatic content analysis has been thoroughly studied as an attractive alternative. As a result, video content analysis, which consists of both visual content analysis and audio content analysis, has attracted many research interests in recent years. This research trend, in turn, further brings the areas which are primarily built upon the content analysis module such as the video abstraction, video browsing and video retrieval, to be actively developed. In this chapter, a comprehensive survey of all these research topics will be performed.
The Use of Longterm Ultrasonic Implants for the Location and Harvest of Schooling Fish

Abstract Carp (Cyprinus carpio) tagged with implanted ultrasonic transmitters, were tracked over 3 years to determine whether this species forms aggregations during the winter. Location of large numbers of fish by this method could greatly increase fishing efficiency. Two large aggregations which form in the late autumn and persist through spring were discovered. Radio tagged carp arrived at these two areas with relative synchrony from different parts of the lake Fish introduced from another lake also aggregated at these two areas. The use of fish equipped with transmitters to locate large aggregations could add to fishing technology.
The Role of Preoperative Duplex Ultrasound Vessel Mapping in Determining Primary Failure of Pediatric Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Fistula

The autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for pediatric and adult patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). However, the prevalent rate of AVF use in children remains...
Local Aeroelastic Instability of High-Speed Cylindrical Vehicles

Different levels of structural modeling fidelity are evaluated against experimental results for the local aeroelastic stability boundaries of an internally pressurized circular cylindrical shell. F...
Attentional control abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder: Functional, behavioral, and structural correlates

Abstract Background Attentional disruptions are common in PTSD, but findings across neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies have been variable. Few PTSD studies have investigated abnormalities in attention networks using a multi-modal imaging approach and attentional tasks that include emotionally-salient images. This study combined a behavioral task that included these images (emotional Stroop) with functional and structural neuroimaging (fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging; DTI) methods to comprehensively investigate attentional control abnormalities in a highly-traumatized civilian sample. Methods 48 traumatized women with and without PTSD received clinical assessments, fMRI and DTI. During fMRI, the Affective Stroop (AS), an attentional control task that includes emotionally-salient distractor images (trauma-relevant, positive, neutral) and variable task demands, was administered. Results In response to more difficult AS trials, participants with PTSD demonstrated lower activation in the dorsal and rostral anterior cingulate cortex and greater activation in the insula. This group also showed comparatively poorer performance on positive AS distractor trials, even after adjusting for trauma exposure. Performance on these trials inversely correlated with structural integrity of the cingulum bundle and uncinate fasciculus. Conclusions Even after adjusting for trauma exposure, participants with PTSD showed worse performance on an attentional control task in the context of emotional stimuli. They also showed relatively lower cognitive control network activation and greater salience network activation. Fronto-parietal and fronto-limbic white matter connectivity corresponded with AS performance. Our findings indicate that attentional control impairments in PTSD are most evident in the context of emotional cues, and are related to decrements in function and structure of cognitive control and salience networks.
A Long and Winding Road: Dementia Caregiving With Grit and Grace.

Background and objectives Many dementia caregivers provide care for numerous years. Exhibiting grit, or commitment and persistence in the face of adversity, may bolster their ability to manage caregiving challenges. We explored grit in relationship to memory and behavior problems and response to stressors among women engaged in long-term dementia care. Research design and methods Informed by a life course perspective, and guided by stress-process theory, we interviewed 10 women with a spouse or parent initially diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment 4 times over 10 years. Using Charmaz's analysis methods and grit as a sensitizing concept, we employed an unfolding analytic strategy involving (a) thematic analysis to identify expressions of grit in response to caregiving stressors across interviews and (b) case-by-case comparisons to assess associations of grit with the use of care strategies across caregivers over time. Results Dementia caregivers experienced unrelenting and changing psychosocial and physical challenges. Over time, most women exhibited a sustained commitment to the relationship through the ways in which they protected the identity of the person with dementia, modified their expectations for emotional intimacy, and managed their financial affairs. They persevered as their roles and relationships fluctuated, often finding purpose and relief through employment and leisure pursuits. As care intensified, women who took charge and consciously made decisions in the best interest of the care recipient and themselves minimized stress. Discussion and implications While some caregivers exhibited grit from the outset, all showed enhanced perseverance and commitment to the ways they managed memory-related changes over time. Developing confidence in their ability to manage and provide care helped the caregivers respond to stressors with purpose and sustain their roles and responsibilities. Enhancing grit in long-term dementia caregivers may result in better individual and relational outcomes.
How much does the method matter? An empirical comparison of ways to quantify the influence of residential self-selection

Abstract Various techniques have been applied to address residential self-selection (RSS) bias in estimating the impact of the built environment on travel behavior. We investigate how much the diverse results obtained are due to the method used, focusing on the most-often applied approaches of statistical control modeling, propensity score-based techniques, and sample selection modeling. First, a companion paper identifies 47 plausible ways to estimate a key quantity of interest, namely, the proportion of the total apparent effect of the built environment on travel behavior that is due to the built environment itself, which we call the “built environment proportion”, or BEP. Using a single sample, the present paper provides empirical estimates of 28 of the 47 BEP formulas, and creates and applies a framework for comparing those BEPs. We find that BEPs based on modular effects or treatment effects involving probability weights, and those applied to two-equation models, are among the ten best (based on the goodness of fit of the underlying models and on various measures of quality of the BEP). For our dataset, the ten best BEP averages fall between 0.506 and 0.772, with an overall average of 0.617. Thus, our best estimate is that for this application, about 38% of the total apparent effect of the built environment is due to RSS. However, the range of these averages indicates that even when controlling for as many confounding factors as possible, and even when using the best methods for computing the BEP, we still find substantial variation in the answer to the question: how much of the built environment’s apparent total influence on travel behavior is due to self-selection?
Malformations in mouse embryos induced by trypan blue.

Gillman, Gilbert, Gillman and Spence in a recent paper1 reported a series of malformations obtained in newborn rats as a result of injection of the dye trypan blue into female rats during varying stages of pregnancy. One of the interesting features of these malformations in rats is their remarkable resemblance to abnormalities known to occur in mice as effects of mutations2,3.
Capsule and Tablet Dosage Forms

This chapter provides an overview of the design, manufacturing, and formulation of capsule and tablet-based drug products. Manufacturing methods for producing both capsules and tablets are extensively discussed, and figures are incorporated to aid student understanding. Frequently used excipient categories are provided along with general functions and examples. A review of USP-recommended analytical tests is also included. Lastly, this chapter introduces techniques for formulating poorly water soluble drugs in capsule and tablet dosage forms.
Principles and Applications of Biological Membrane Organization.

Many critical biological events, including biochemical signaling, membrane traffic, and cell motility, originate at membrane surfaces. Each such event requires that members of a specific group of p...
The Influence of Implicit Theories of Depression on Treatment-Relevant Attitudes

Implicit theories (beliefs about the malleability of self-relevant traits) of emotion are associated with various motivational and emotional responses. Less is known about implicit theories of depression. The present study examined the effects of a manipulation of implicit theories of depression on depression symptom severity, engagement in a self-help task, and treatment-relevant attitudes. Participants experiencing clinically significant levels of depression (N = 142) were randomly assigned to receive education about depression emphasizing either the malleability of depression (incremental condition) or depression as a chronic condition (entity condition). Participants subsequently completed a self-help task for depression. Symptom severity, stigma, prognostic pessimism, psychotherapy and antidepressant credibility, psychological flexibility, and time spent on the self-help task were assessed. Participants in the incremental condition endorsed a greater incremental theory of depression than did those in the entity condition. To the extent that the experimental condition was associated with the adoption of an incremental theory of depression, depression symptom severity and stigma decreased, and treatment-relevant attitudes were more favorable. The experimental condition had no effect on self-help task persistence. Presenting depression as malleable may be associated with more positive attitudes towards treatment, although the impact on actual treatment engagement warrants future investigation.
Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy with Chlorin e6 Is Bactericidal against Biofilms of the Primary Human Otopathogens.

ABSTRACT Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are ubiquitous upper respiratory opportunistic pathogens. Together, these three microbes are the most common causative bacterial agents of pediatric otitis media (OM) and have therefore been characterized as the primary human otopathogens. OM is the most prevalent bacterial infection in children and the primary reason for antibiotic administration in this population. Moreover, biofilm formation has been confirmed as a primary mechanism of chronic and recurrent OM disease. As bacterial biofilms are inherently metabolically recalcitrant to most antibiotics and these complex structures also present a significant challenge to the immune system, there is a clear need to identify novel antimicrobial approaches to treat OM infections. In this study, we evaluated the potential efficacy of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) with the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) against planktonic as well as biofilm-associated M. catarrhalis, S. pneumoniae, and NTHi. Our data indicate aPDT with Ce6 elicits significant bactericidal activity against both planktonic cultures and established biofilms formed by the three major otopathogens (with an efficacy of ≥99.9% loss of viability). Notably, the implementation of a novel, dual-treatment aPDT protocol resulted in this disinfectant effect on biofilm-associated bacteria and, importantly, inhibited bacterial regrowth 24 h posttreatment. Taken together, these data suggest this novel Ce6-aPDT treatment may be a powerful and innovative therapeutic strategy to effectively treat and eradicate bacterial OM infections and, significantly, prevent the development of recurrent disease. IMPORTANCE Otitis media (OM), or middle ear disease, is the most prevalent bacterial infection in children and the primary reason for antibiotic use and surgical intervention in the pediatric population. Biofilm formation by the major bacterial otopathogens, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, has been shown to occur within the middle ears of OM patients and is a key factor in the development of recurrent disease, which may result in hearing impairment and developmental delays. Bacterial biofilms are inherently impervious to most antibiotics and present a significant challenge to the immune system. In this study, we demonstrate that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) using the photosensitizer chlorin e6 elicits significant bactericidal activity versus planktonic and biofilm-associated otopathogens and supports further analyses of this novel, efficacious, and promising technology as an adjunctive treatment for acute and recurrent OM.
The External Shock Model of Gamma-Ray Bursts: Three Predictions and a Paradox Resolved

In the external shock model, gamma-ray burst (GRB) emissions are produced by the energization and deceleration of a thin relativistic blast wave that interacts with the circumburst medium (CBM). We study the physical properties of an analytic function that describes temporally evolving GRB spectra in the limit of a smooth CBM with density n(x)∝x−η, where x is the radial coordinate. The hard-to-soft spectral evolution and the intensity-hardness correlation of GRB peaks are reproduced. We predict that (1) GRB peaks are aligned at high photon energies and lag at low energies according to a simple rule, that (2) temporal indices at the leading edge of a GRB peak display a well-defined shift with photon energy, and that (3) the change in the spectral index values between the leading and trailing edges of a GRB peak decreases at higher photon energies. The reason that GRBs are usually detected with νFν peaks in the 50 keV to several MeV range for detectors triggering on peak flux over a fixed time interval is shown to be a consequence of the inverse correlation of the peak flux and the duration of the radiation emitted by decelerating blast waves.
Bargain Purchase Gains in the Acquisitions of Failed Banks

Effective for years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, bargain purchase gains (BPGs) are recorded within income from continuing operations when the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the acquisition cost. Although the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) argues that the BPG treatment more faithfully represents the economics of the transaction, they also acknowledge that it creates an opportunity for inappropriate gain recognition. We examine management opportunism and investor valuations regarding the recognition of a BPG using a sample of 142 acquirers that made Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-assisted bank acquisitions in 2009 and 2010. We find that acquirer banks with relatively strong incentives to boost earnings are more likely to record a BPG, suggesting that firms use the BPG treatment opportunistically. Despite this finding, we observe that the market values the BPGs, albeit with less persistence than the other major components of operating income, and reacts p...
Screening for Gestational Diabetes: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.

Importance Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Prevalence of gestational diabetes in the US has been estimated at 5.8% to 9.2%, based on traditional diagnostic criteria, although it may be higher if more inclusive criteria are used. Pregnant persons with gestational diabetes are at increased risk for maternal and fetal complications, including preeclampsia, fetal macrosomia (which can cause shoulder dystocia and birth injury), and neonatal hypoglycemia. Gestational diabetes has also been associated with an increased risk of several long-term health outcomes in pregnant persons and intermediate outcomes in their offspring. Objective The USPSTF commissioned a systematic review to evaluate the accuracy, benefits, and harms of screening for gestational diabetes and the benefits and harms of treatment for the pregnant person and infant. Population Pregnant persons who have not been previously diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Evidence assessment The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that there is a moderate net benefit to screening for gestational diabetes at 24 weeks of gestation or after to improve maternal and fetal outcomes. The USPSTF concludes that the evidence on screening for gestational diabetes before 24 weeks of gestation is insufficient, and the balance of benefits and harms of screening cannot be determined. Recommendation The USPSTF recommends screening for gestational diabetes in asymptomatic pregnant persons at 24 weeks of gestation or after. (B recommendation) The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for gestational diabetes in asymptomatic pregnant persons before 24 weeks of gestation. (I statement).
Crying in a Russian preschool: Teachers' pragmatic acts in response to children's distress

Abstract The paper examines teacher pragmatic acts (verbal and embodied) in response to children's crying in a Russian preschool. It focuses on crying episodes associated with children's inability or unwillingness to follow the norms and expectations surrounding children's conduct (e.g., crying when not allowed to do something). The paper employs discourse analysis; the data are 40 h of video- and audio-recorded interactions. The analysis shows that teachers used directives and other pragmatic acts (e.g., assessments, explanations) that encouraged children to stop crying. The directives were produced in multi-party participation frameworks where peers were referred to or recruited as active participants. Teachers used positive and negative assessments of crying. Crying was presented in a negative light in contrast with positive non-crying behaviors; positive assessments (praise and affectionate touch) were offered when crying stopped. The consequences of crying were presented as negatively affecting others. It is argued that such discursive treatment of crying contributes to socializing children to conformity. The paper contributes to our understanding of how through the use of pragmatic acts, child crying is discursively treated in ways that invoke norms of pragmatic conduct (e.g., not crying when asked to participate in a planned activity) and social values regarding group membership.
Autoantibodies targeting telomere-associated proteins in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune fibrotic disease affecting multiple tissues including the lung. A subset of patients with SSc with lung disease exhibit short telomeres in circulating lymphocytes, but the mechanisms underlying this observation are unclear. Methods Sera from the Johns Hopkins and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Scleroderma Centers were screened for autoantibodies targeting telomerase and the shelterin proteins using immunoprecipitation and ELISA. We determined the relationship between autoantibodies targeting the shelterin protein TERF1 and telomere length in peripheral leucocytes measured by qPCR and flow cytometry and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (Flow-FISH). We also explored clinical associations of these autoantibodies. Results In a subset of patients with SSc, we identified autoantibodies targeting telomerase and the shelterin proteins that were rarely present in rheumatoid arthritis, myositis and healthy controls. TERF1 autoantibodies were present in 40/442 (9.0%) patients with SSc and were associated with severe lung disease (OR 2.4, p=0.04, Fisher’s exact test) and short lymphocyte telomere length. 6/6 (100%) patients with TERF1 autoantibodies in the Hopkins cohort and 14/18 (78%) patients in the UCSF cohort had a shorter telomere length in lymphocytes or leukocytes, respectively, relative to the expected age-adjusted telomere length. TERF1 autoantibodies were present in 11/152 (7.2%) patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fibrotic lung disease believed to be mediated by telomere dysfunction. Conclusions Autoantibodies targeting telomere-associated proteins in a subset of patients with SSc are associated with short lymphocyte telomere length and lung disease. The specificity of these autoantibodies for SSc and IPF suggests that telomere dysfunction may have a distinct role in the pathogenesis of SSc and pulmonary fibrosis.
A Genome-Edited ERα-HiBiT Fusion Reporter Cell Line for the Identification of ERα Modulators Via High-Throughput Screening and CETSA.

The estrogen receptor α (ERα) is a target of intense pharmacological intervention and toxicological biomonitoring. Current methods to directly quantify cellular levels of ERα involve antibody-based...
Radiographic Diagnostic Development for Testing Magnetic Field Uniformity Effects on Imploding Cylindrical Liner Stability

X-pinch radiography is a simple but effective technique for diagnosing imploding cylindrical plasmas [1]. Two or more crossed wires are placed in the return current path, which causes these wires to “pinch” and emit a burst of x-rays. These x-rays create a radiographic image that can provide a view into the structure of the imploding plasma column. The work presented here discusses the hardware upgrades that were necessary to implement this diagnostic on the MAIZE facility, a 1-MA, 100-ns rise time pulsed power machine at the University of Michigan. We will also present preliminary results from using this diagnostic during imploding cylindrical foil experiments, where the magnetic field uniformity at the surface of the foil has been varied from one experiment to the next.
Induction of labor. Readiness for induction.

Abstract 1. 1. A rating system is proposed to indicate “readiness for induction.” 2. 2. The factors composing the system are presented and the method of scoring (0, 1, or 2) is outlined. 3. 3. The ideal score is 20. Elective induction should be very successful with any score from 16 to 20 inclusive. From 11 to 15 inclusive, indicated induction may be performed, but the likelihood is that it will be somewhat prolonged. With a score of 10 or below, ripening only should be considered. 4. 4. The above thesis is corroborated in a prospective study by analysis of 332 inductions with calculated readiness for induction.
Learning through pop-culture: a practical, pedagogical methodology for teaching case studies and case analysis

This article describes an innovative pedagogical and practical methodology for the teaching of case analysis to students. We will show how popular media---specifically, the "Can This Marriage Be Saved?" column from The Ladies Home Journal and the television show Law & Order---can be used to teach the fundamentals of case analysis in a management information systems program. By examining the problem-solving procedures that these popular creations follow, students are led through the process of case analysis, from the collection and summary of information to the thoughtful and concise presentation of recommendations. This paper begins by identifying the problem areas students have with performing case analyses and describes in detail the elements of popular media that can help students learn to overcome their deficiencies. Upon request, authors will provide a ready version of the presentation which can be easily incorporated into the instructional technology available at the majority of higher education institutions.
Decay of Saturated and Unsaturated Persistent Currents in Superfluid Helium

Persistent current states in superfluid helium contained in a rotating superleak have been investigated1,2 using fourth-sound techniques.3 These investigations showed that every phenomenon observed in rotating, locked superfluid helium has an analogous counterpart in a highly irreversible, high-field type II superconductor. In the present paper we report some experimental results concerning decay of superfluid helium persistent currents.
Decentralized game-theoretic filters

Both continuous-time and discrete-time optimal decentralized game-theoretic filters (DGF) involving a K node interconnected network, where there is a sensor at each node, are derived. In the continuous-time case, a disturbance attenuation problem is solved to obtain the optimal DGF. In a contrasting approach, the solution to a stochastic formulation based on minimizing the expected value of an exponential of a sum of quadratic estimation errors produces the discrete-time DGF. The solution to both approaches reduces to solving a continuous-time or discrete-time linear-quadratic differential game. For both cases, the global state estimate is computed by combining from all the nodes the local estimates and an additional data dependent vector at each node. Finally, a generalization of the continuous-time decentralized filter based on the disturbance attenuation problem is established when the system dynamics for local and global filters are assumed to be different.
Diffusion mechanisms for fixed-point distributed Kalman smoothing

We consider the problem of fixed-point distributed Kalman smoothing, where a set of nodes are required to estimate the initial condition of a certain process based on their measurements of the evolution of the process. Specifically, we consider linear state-space models where the Kalman smoother gives us the MMSE estimate of the initial state of the system. We propose distributed diffusion solutions where nodes communicate with their neighbors and information is propagated through the network via a diffusion process. Hierarchical cooperation schemes are also described.
Foreign Investment and Political Regimes: Political Risks in Oil Investments: A History of Antagonistic Interdependence Between Companies and Host-Governments

The oil industry has historically been one of the most globalized in the world. Oil is a key fuel in industrial production, as well as a vital ingredient in the manufacture of a wide range of products. It is the backbone of capital-intensive industrial production, as it is the energy source for transportation, industry, military, communications, mechanized agriculture, and countless other services. Not only in terms of trade, but also in terms of oil exploration and production, the oil sector has historically been highly internationalized, involving many governments and multinational oil corporations. The reason I focus on oil investments in this book is because they provide a hard case to test the relationship between politics and the ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Generally, it is assumed that foreign oil companies do not have political preferences. Due to severe competition in the parceling out of scarce oil resources in the world as well as the high returns associated with oil investments, foreign investors seem indifferent to political regimes as long as they provide stability for their projects. This is not to say that oil companies do not face any political risks in their interactions with host governments. In fact, given the structure of the industry, political risks are arguably the highest facing any investor in the global economy. Even so, one of the most prominent international business theories posits that the degree of political risk is determined not by the domestic political structure but by the relative market power and bargaining positions of the host governments and the multinational corporations with respect to one another.
Differences in pain, psychological symptoms, and gender distribution among patients with left- vs right-sided chronic spinal pain.

Objective. To determine pain levels, function, and psychological symptoms in relation to predominant sidedness of pain (right or left) and gender in patients being treated for chronic spinal pain. Design. Prospective cohort study. Patients. Patients with chronic neck or low back pain undergoing a nerve block procedure in a specialty pain medicine clinic. Interventions/Outcomes. Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Brief Pain Inventory just prior to the procedure. Pain history and demographic variables were collected from a chart review. Chi-square, Pearson correlations, and multivariate statistics were used to characterize the relationships between side of pain, gender, pain levels, pain interference, and psychological symptoms. Results. Among 519 subjects, men with left-sided pain (N = 98) were found to have significantly greater depression and anxiety symptoms and worse pain-related quality of life ( P < 0.01), despite having similar pain levels as men with right-sided pain (N = 91) or women with left- or right-sided pain (N = 289). In men, psychological symptoms had a significantly greater correlation with pain levels than in women ( P < 0.01). Conclusion. In this sample, men with left-sided spinal pain report worse quality of life and more psychological symptoms than women. These data provide clinical evidence corroborating basic neuroscience findings indicating that the right cerebral hemisphere is preferentially involved in the processing of pain and negative affect. These data suggest that men appear more right hemisphere dominant in pain and affect processing. These findings have implications for multidisciplinary assessment and treatment planning in men.
Towards domain-based sequence design for DNA strand displacement reactions

DNA strand displacement has been used to construct a variety of components, devices, and circuits. The sequences of involved nucleic acid molecules can greatly influence the kinetics and function of strand displacement reactions. To facilitate consideration of spurious reactions during the design process, one common strategy is to subdivide DNA strands into domains, continuous nucleic acid bases that can be abstracted to act as a unit in hybridization and dissociation. Here, considerations for domain-based sequence design are discussed, and heuristics are presented for the sequence design of domains. Based on these heuristics, a randomized algorithm is implemented for sequence design.
Norm and Angle Preservation

This chapter contains sections titled: Some Difficulties Square-Root Factors Preservation Properties Motivation for Array Methods
When IT becomes a profession

To most of the hundred millions of computer-users around the world, the inner workings of a computer are an utter mystery. Opening the box holds as much attraction as lifting the hood of a modern car. Users expect Information Technology professionals to help them with their needs for designing, locating, retrieving, using, configuring, programming, maintaining, and understanding computers, networks, applications, and digital objects. Students expect Information Technology curricula to provide comprehensive coverage of all technical, research, and leadership principles and practices needed to make them effective professionals; they rely especially on the faculty for a comprehensive view of a fast-changing, fragmented world, for assistance in framing and answering important questions, and for training in standard professional practices. Professionals expect their professional societies to support their identities as professionals, to advocate lifelong continuing professional education, and to speak out in public policy issues affecting Information Technology. In short, everyone has greater expectations of IT professionals than of the Information Technologies themselves.
Screening of 563 Students for Cholinesterase Variants

Of 563 dental students screened for cholinesterase variants, 97.2% were homozygotes for the usual cholinesterase (E1uE1u), 2.1% were heterozygotes for the usual and the dibucaine-resistant cholinesterases (E1uE1a), and 0.7% were heterozygotes for the usual and the fluoride-resistant cholinesterases (E1uE1f).
Aseptic meningitis due to atheromatous material in the subarachnoid space

500 mg of sterile pooled human atheromatous material was injected into the cisterna magna of 6 mongrel dogs. Repeated cisternal punctures were done at various intervals until sacrifice from 1 day to 28 days following injection. CSF was obtained for cell count, sugar, protein and analysis in the Technicon 6/60 which measured 14 additional chemical and enzymatic variables. All 6 animals showed a prompt cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis which largely subsided during the first 2 weeks after injection. Increased CSF protein content developed more slowly, but was more prolonged than the pleocytosis. There was a variable decrease in CSF sugar and increase in CSF lactate dehydrogenase, calcium and inorganic phosphorous. Light and electron microscopic studies showed an intense acute inflammatory reaction with marked phagocytosis of the foregin material, probably by arachnoidal cells and moderate edematous changes in the astrocytic processes at the site of injection. During the first 2 weeks after the injection the inflammatory reaction became chronic and the edematous changes in the medulla subsided.
On the instability and evolutionary age of deep-sea chemosynthetic communities

Abstract Though not directly dependent on photosynthesis, deep-sea chemosynthetic communities have not been sheltered from catastrophic changes affecting Earth's photic zone. Instead, the constituent animals may be particularly vulnerable to large climatic changes that have historically affected ocean temperatures and circulation patterns. Chemosynthetic animals occupy narrow redox zones, mostly at hydrothermal vents, hydrocarbon seeps, or sites of organic deposition where subsurface fluids laden with reduced gases (e.g., sulfides, methane, hydrogen) meet oxygenated seawater. Dependence on chemolithoautotrophic bacteria as primary producers may render these deep-sea communities particularly susceptible to climatic changes that alter the breadth of the oxic/anoxic interface. The fossil record clearly reveals major transitions of chemosynthetic faunas during the middle to late Mesozoic, failing to support prior hypotheses that these environments harbor an extraordinary number of ancient relics and living fossils. The molecular phylogenetic analyses summarized herein support Cenozoic (
Standardized allergen extracts: past, present and future

Consistent high-quality allergen extracts are essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of allergic disease. Allergens represent complex heterogenous mixtures of allergenic and nonallergenic proteins, glycoproteins and polysaccharides. They are derived from natural sources (i.e., collected pollen) or cultures (dust mites and fungi). The goal of allergen standardization is to produce well-characterized extracts of known biologic potency and composition. This process requires the selection of an appropriate reference extract and methods to compare the test extract with the reference. Two methods are currently used in the standardization of these complex allergen extracts: marking and functional assays. Marking assays, which include allergen-specific, qualitative monoclonal antibody assays, indicate the presence of an individual protein but do not confer information regarding the biologic action of the protein. Functional assays, such as allergen skin tests, will provide information about the ...
Exploit the tripartite network of social tagging for web clustering

In this poster, we investigate how to enhance web clustering by leveraging the tripartite network of social tagging systems. We propose a clustering method, called "Tripartite Clustering", which cluster the three types of nodes (resources, users and tags) simultaneously based on the links in the social tagging network. The proposed method is experimented on a real-world social tagging dataset sampled from del.icio.us. We also compare the proposed clustering approach with K-means. All the clustering results are evaluated against a human-maintained web directory. The experimental results show that Tripartite Clustering significantly outperforms the content-based K-means approach and achieves performance close to that of social annotation-based K-means whereas generating much more useful information.