cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superiority of the DNA amplification assay for the diagnosis of C. difficile infection: a clinical comparison of fecal tests.

Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major infectious concern, accounting for substantial morbidity and resource utilization. Advances in microbiological and molecular techniques have resulted in an increasing number of testing options for CDI. A glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and a DNA amplification (DNA-A) test for the diagnosis of CDI have recently become commercially available.
Cystine and theanine: amino acids as oral immunomodulative nutrients

The decreases in the glutathione (GSH) level in the mouse spleen and liver after immune stimulation are suppressed by the oral administration of cystine and theanine (CT). GSH is considered to be important for the control of immune responses. Antibody production in mice after infection is enhanced by the oral administration of CT. In humans, also, the oral administration of CT has been confirmed to enhance antibody production after vaccination against Flu and also reduce the incidence of cold. However, the GSH level is reduced by intense exercise and surgery. In clinical studies of body-builders and long-distance runners, the intake of CT suppressed excessive inflammatory reactions and a decline in immune functions after intense training. Surgery as well as intense exercise induces excessive inflammatory reactions. In mice, the preoperative administration of CT suppressed excessive inflammatory reactions associated with surgery and promoted the postoperative recovery. Moreover, in clinical studies of gastrectomized patients, CT intake suppressed excessive postoperative inflammatory reactions and induced early recovery. If infection is regarded as invasive stress, CT intake is considered to exhibit an immunomodulatory effect by suppressing the decrease in GSH due to invasive stress. The clarification of their detailed action mechanisms and their application as medical or function foods is anticipated.
6.4.1 A Case Study of the Near‐Catastrophic Mir‐Progress 234 Collision with Emphasis on the Human Factors/Systems‐Level Issues Surrounding this Mishap

This paper examines the June 1997 collision between the Progress 234 Supply Ship, and the Russian Mir Space Station. The unmanned Progress 234 cargo supply ship was being flown manually on a practice approach to MIR, when it collided with the Spektr module of the MIR station. The result was a punctured pressure hull, which resulted in a decompression that nearly forced the crew to leave the station in an emergency mode. An analysis of this collision reveals that a host of systems and human factors issues combined to promote the chances for such a collision occurring. These systems-level attributes that increased the probability of a collision happening included: ground-control pressure to perform a difficult task, a hectic pace of operations, and previous “close calls” with a variety of on-board systems failures that left the crew in a stressed state. Systems failures in the docking apparatus itself contributed to making the attempted docking more difficult than would normally have been the case. The general deterioration of economic conditions in Russia and the Ukraine also appears to have played a subtle predisposing role for this type of practice approach to be attempted to begin with due to the mission payment/incentive structure that required the crew to complete certain tasks, and the difficulties involved with obtaining automatic docking devices from the Ukrainians for a reasonable price. Human factors issues that are noted as contributing to this mishap include chronic fatigue from the loss of sleep for an extended period just prior to the mishap, very poor display-control interfacing under the conditions that the docking was attempted, and embedded psychological/financial pressures resulting from the previous docking failure with Progress 233. From a human factors perspective, the MIR Commander's situation awareness was dramatically degraded during the manual Progress 234 docking attempt due to inadequate visual display and control information, particularly with regard to the position, range, and velocity information of the Progress 234 supply ship.
The effects of school poverty on adolescents' sexual health knowledge

Using National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data, hierarchical linear modeling was conducted to estimate the association of school poverty concentration to the sexual health knowledge of 6,718 adolescents. Controlling for individual socio-economic status, school poverty had modest negative effects on sexual health knowledge. Although not directly associated with sexual health knowledge, after controlling for demographic characteristics, school poverty interactions showed that sexual health knowledge was associated with higher grade point average (GPA) and age. The combination of low GPA and high-levels of school poverty was especially detrimental for students' sexual health knowledge. There are differences in the sexual health knowledge of adolescents attending low poverty and high poverty schools that can be attributed to the school environment.
The DSM-IV-TR ‘Glossary of Technical Terms’: A Reappraisal

Many of the entries in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition – Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) are problematic along multiple axes, including, but not limited to, clarity, l
Mount St. Helens a decade after the 1980 eruptions: magmatic models, chemical cycles, and a revised hazards assessment

Available geophysical and geologic data provide a simplified model of the current magmatic plumbing system of Mount St. Helens (MSH). This model and new geochemical data are the basis for the revised hazards assessment presented here. The assessment is weighted by the style of eruptions and the chemistry of magmas erupted during the past 500 years, the interval for which the most detailed stratigraphic and geochemical data are available. This interval includes the Kalama (A. D. 1480–1770s?), Goat Rocks (A.D. 1800–1857), and current eruptive periods. In each of these periods, silica content decreased, then increased. The Kalama is a large amplitude chemical cycle (SiO2: 57%–67%), produced by mixing of arc dacite, which is depleted in high field-strength and incompatible elements, with enriched (OIB-like) basalt. The Goat Rocks and current cycles are of small amplitude (SiO2: 61%–64% and 62%–65%) and are related to the fluid dynamics of magma withdrawal from a zoned reservoir. The cyclic behavior is used to forecast future activity. The 1980–1986 chemical cycle, and consequently the current eruptive period, appears to be virtually complete. This inference is supported by the progressively decreasing volumes and volatile contents of magma erupted since 1980, both changes that suggest a decreasing potential for a major explosive eruption in the near future. However, recent changes in seismicity and a series of small gas-release explosions (beginning in late 1989 and accompanied by eruption of a minor fraction of relatively low-silica tephra on 6 January and 5 November 1990) suggest that the current eruptive period may continue to produce small explosions and that a small amount of magma may still be present within the conduit. The gas-release explosions occur without warning and pose a continuing hazard, especially in the crater area. An eruption as large or larger than that of 18 May 1980 (≈0.5 km3 dense-rock equivalent) probably will occur only if magma rises from an inferred deep (≥7 km), relative large (5–7 km3) reservoir. A conservative approach to hazard assessment is to assume that this deep magma is rich in volatiles and capable of erupting explosively to produce voluminous fall deposits and pyroclastic flows. Warning of such an eruption is expectable, however, because magma ascent would probably be accompanied by shallow seismicity that could be detected by the existing seismic-monitoring system. A future large-volume eruption (≥0.1 km3) is virtually certain; the eruptive history of the past 500 years indicates the probability of a large explosive eruption is at least 1% annually. Intervals between large eruptions at Mount St. Helens have varied widely; consequently, we cannot confidently forecast whether the next large eruption will be years decades, or farther in the future. However, we can forecast the types of hazards, and the areas that will be most affected by future large-volume eruptions, as well as hazards associated with the approaching end of the current eruptive period.
Atypical and columnar cell lesions in breast needle biopsies for indeterminate microcalcifications: predictors of higher risk findings requiring surgical excision.

CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2008 Abstracts Abstract #3004 Background: Columnar cell lesions (CCL) are frequently identified in biopsies performed for calcifications. The primary objective of this study is to identify histologic features of CCL in directional vacuum-assisted needle biopsies (DVAB) that could predict a higher risk lesion requiring excision. Design: From June 2002 to January 2008, we retrieved the materials for 88 DVABs and their subsequent segmental resections. We excluded carcinomas, intraductal papillomas, fibroadenomas, adenosis, or radial scars. Using World Health Organization criteria, CCLs were classified as CCL with no atypia (CCL-NA), CCL with cytologic atypia (CCL-CA; flat epithelial atypia), or architectural atypia/atypical ductal hyperplasia (CCL-ADH) in the background of CCL. In cases with atypia, the involved terminal duct lobular units/ducts (TDLUs) were quantified. Atypical cases were separated two groups as follows: minimal ADH (≤2 TDLU and minimal cytologic atypia) and extensive ADH/borderline DCIS (≥3 TDLU and/or significant cytologic atypia bordering on DCIS).Radiographs were evaluated to assess amount of calcifications removed. Biopsy results were correlated with the subsequent surgical excision results. Results: Eight of 88 biopsies were excluded because of overdiagnosis or because the lesions were not associated with microcalcifications. The remaining 80 biopsies included 5 cases of CCL-NA, 4 pure CCL-CA, 20 mixed CCL-CA + ADH and 51 pure CCL-ADH. Microcalcifications were identified in association with the targeted lesions. There were no higher risk findings in any of the resection specimens with CCL-NA and pure CCL-CA. Ten of the atypical lesions showed carcinoma on excision (9 DCIS and 1 invasive cancer). Twenty-five percent (9/36) extensive ADH/borderline DCIS showed carcinoma on excision. In contrast, only 2.5% (1/39) of minimal ADH cases showed carcinoma on excision. Radiologic review revealed residual abnormality in this one case. Conclusion: In summary, the extent of lobular involvement by atypia (CCL-CA or CCL-ADH) correlated with the presence or absence of higher risk lesions upon subsequent excision. These results suggest that additional surgery may not be necessary for CCL-CA or CCL-ADH that is limited to ≤ 2 foci provided sampling of the microcalcifications is adequate. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 3004.
Structural water in oxidized and reduced horse heart cytochrome c

The existence of structural water in the interior of both oxidized and reduced horse-heart cytochrome c in solution is demonstrated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Six water molecules have been located in ferrocytochrome c and five in ferricytochrome c, with residence times greater than a few hundred picoseconds. Two water molecules are located in the haem crevice, one of which is found to undergo a large change in position with a change of oxidation state. Both of these observations indicate that buried structural waters in the haem crevice have, by microscopic dielectric effects, significant roles in the setting of the solvent reorganization energy associated with electron transfer.
Efficiency characteristics of crescent-shaped wings and caudal fins

Caudal (tail) fins of fish and aquatic mammals that cruise long distances, and wings of certain birds, often have the shape of a crescent moon. This study investigates how the crescent shape contributes to the traveling performance of these animals. A steady-flow theory (Maskew, 1982) that correctly models the trailing wake was used to analyze lifting surface efficiency, which is dependent on the level of induced (or vortex) drag for a given lift and span of the lifting surface. This analysis shows that backward curvature of a wing improves induced efficiency to a value greater than that of the flat untwisted wing of elliptical shape considered optimal in classical wing theory (Prandt, 1921 and Munk, 1921). This increase of induced efficiency results from the nonplanar trailing vortex sheet produced by the crescent-shaped wing at a given angle of attack.
The Migrant/Special Education Training Program:

Data from a variety of sources indicate that migrant students are underidentified and underserved in special education programs. One major obstacle in providing special education services to migrant students and their families is the shortage of qualified personnel to work with these students. The purpose of this article is to describe the Migrant Special Education Training Program (MSETP) at SUNY/The College at New Paltz. The MSETP is a specially designed master's-level teacher-training program to prepare special educators to work with migrant students and their families.
Genome sequencing of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells reveals retroelement stability and infrequent DNA rearrangement during reprogramming

The biomedical utility of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will be diminished if most iPSC lines harbor deleterious genetic mutations. Recent microarray studies have shown that human iPSCs carry elevated levels of DNA copy number variation compared with those in embryonic stem cells, suggesting that these and other classes of genomic structural variation (SV), including inversions, smaller duplications and deletions, complex rearrangements, and retroelement transpositions, may frequently arise as a consequence of reprogramming. Here we employ whole-genome paired-end DNA sequencing and sensitive mapping algorithms to identify all classes of SV in three fully pluripotent mouse iPSC lines. Despite the improved scope and resolution of this study, we find few spontaneous mutations per line (one or two) and no evidence for endogenous retroelement transposition. These results show that genome stability can persist throughout reprogramming, and argue that it is possible to generate iPSCs lacking gene-disrupting mutations using current reprogramming methods.
A NEURAL NETWORK CLASSIFIER BASED ON CODING THEORY

The new neural network classifier we propose transforms the classification problem into the coding theory problem of decoding a noisy codeword. An input vector in the feature space is transformed into an internal representation which is a codeword in the code space, and then error correction decoded in this space to classify the input feature vector to its class. Two classes of codes which give high performance are the Hadamard matrix code and the maximal length sequence code. We show that the number of classes stored in an N-neuron system is linear in N and significantly more than that obtainable by using the Hopfield type memory as a classifier.
Synuclein activates microglia in a model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder afflicting >500,000 patients in the United States alone. This age-related progressive disorder is typified by invariant loss of dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons (DAN), dystrophic neurites, the presence of α-synuclein (SYN) positive intracytoplasmic inclusions (Lewy bodies) in the remaining DAN, and activated microglia. As such, microglial activation and resultant increase in proinflammatory molecules have moved to the forefront of PD research as a potential pathobiologic mechanism of disease. Herein, we present data demonstrating early microglial activation in mice that over-express wild-type SYN, the release of SYN from a SYN overexpressing MN9D cell line, and dose-dependent SYN-mediated activation of primary microglial cultures with consequent increases in proinflammatory molecules. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the CD36 scavenger receptor and downstream kinases are involved in SYN-mediated microglial activation. Together, our data suggest an early role for SYN and inflammation in PD pathogenesis.
Causes of mortality in primary and secondary school teachers.

A proportionate mortality study was conducted on 809 deaths occurring among New Jersey primary and secondary teachers between 1980 and 1984. Three separate sets of expected number of deaths were used, based on U.S. and New Jersey proportionate mortality ratios in the general population and proportionate cancer mortality ratios. Increased cause of death was found for digestive, breast, other genital, and lymphopoietic cancer, and motor vehicle accidents for white female teachers; digestive cancer, heart disease, and nonmalignant genitourinary disease for white male teachers; digestive, brain, and thyroid cancer in black female teachers; and kidney and prostate cancer in black male teachers. Deficits in lung cancer were found for white male teachers and in heart disease for white and black female teachers. Mortality ratios were examined by duration worked and latency since first hired. Further analysis using a nested-case control methodology is recommended. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Might hyperoxia during surgical anaesthesia contribute to older patients’ higher dementia risk?

Chen et al [1][1] present data showing that patients aged 50 and over have an earlier onset and higher hazard ratios for dementia following surgery and anaesthesia than controls, irrespective of the type of anaesthesia used - intravenous or intramuscular, regional or general. This finding begs the
Perinatal and maternal outcome following abruptio placentae.

Objective: To characterize the maternal and fetal presentation of abruptio placentae and associated maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality by mode of delivery and fetal status on admission.Study Design: Perinatal data (gestational age > 24 weeks) from women with abruptio placentae at a tertiary referral center were analyzed. For the purpose of evaluating fetal morbidity and mortality, group 1 included women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (preeclampsia or chronic hypertension), PROM, cocaine abuse, and > 20% abruptio placentae without regard to fetal status on admission (reassuring, nonreassuring, or stillborn). In group 1, either umbilical artery pH 12 mmol/L represented perinatal hypoxia for this evaluation. Group 2 included women with stillborn fetuses on admission without regard to etiology or size of abruptio placentae. Comparisons between groups were made with one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis, or χ2 tests; p < 0.05 was considered significa...
Computational Improvements Reveal Great Bacterial Diversity and High Metal Toxicity in Soil

The complexity of soil bacterial communities has thus far confounded effective measurement. However, with improved analytical methods, we show that the abundance distribution and total diversity can be deciphered. Reanalysis of reassociation kinetics for bacterial community DNA from pristine and metal-polluted soils showed that a power law best described the abundance distributions. More than one million distinct genomes occurred in the pristine soil, exceeding previous estimates by two orders of magnitude. Metal pollution reduced diversity more than 99.9%, revealing the highly toxic effect of metal contamination, especially for rare taxa.
Effectiveness of Two Generative Learning Strategies in the Science Classroom

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of two generative learning strategies, concept mapping and laboratory experiments involving object manipulation, to determine if either one is more-effective with individual learners or learning groups in a science classroom. Eighty sixth-grade science-students were randomly assigned to group or individual conditions and to one of two experimental treatments. Experimental treatments were changed between a first and second posttest. Long-term retention was evaluated with a third, delayed posttest. Students starting with concept maps showed higher achievement on the delayed posttest than students beginning with the laboratory experiment. No difference was found between students working as individuals or in groups, but a significant interaction between generative learning strategy and grouping condition was revealed. Implications for sequencing generative learning strategies are discussed.
Phase 1 Trial of the Dengue Virus Type 4 Vaccine Candidate rDEN4Δ30-4995 in Healthy Adult Volunteers

rDEN4Δ30-4995 is a live attenuated dengue virus type 4 (DENV4) vaccine candidate specifically designed as a further attenuated derivative of the rDEN4Δ30 parent virus. In a previous study, 5 of 20 vaccinees who received 105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of rDEN4Δ30 developed a transient elevation of the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and an asymptomatic maculopapular rash developed in 10 of 20. In the current study, 28 healthy adult volunteers were randomized to receive 105 PFU of rDEN4Δ30-4995 (20) or placebo (8) as a single subcutaneous injection. The vaccine was safe, well-tolerated, and immunogenic. An asymptomatic generalized maculopapular rash and elevations in ALT levels were observed in 10% of the rDEN4Δ30-4995 vaccinees. None of the rDEN4Δ30-4995 vaccinees became viremic, yet 95% developed a four-fold or greater increase in neutralizing antibody titers. Thus, rDEN4Δ30-4995 was demonstrated to be safe, highly attenuated, and immunogenic. However, an asymptomatic localized erythematous rash at the injection site was seen in 17/20 rDEN4Δ30-4995 vaccinees. Therefore, alternative DENV4 vaccine strains were selected for further clinical development.
The Integrative Biology of Phenotypic Plasticity

Gene-environment interactions are of interest not only for the study of human behavior but have also become a focus of research on other species. Recent developments in the field of plasticity studies, which examines such interactions, are given a thorough survey in Pigliucci’s new book. The first in a series of monographs on integrative biology edited by Samuel Scheiner, Phenotypic Plasticity summarizes the results of research in many disciplines, giving equal time to plants and animals. Following a discussion of the definition and history of plasticity, there are chapters on the genetics of plasticity and the significance of phenotypic plasticity in molecular and developmental biology and ecology, each of which can be read independently and provides an informative review of the field with which it deals. This project is motivated in part by recent debates about the influences of nature and nurture on human behavior. Genetic determinists such as Jensen maintain that the human intelligence quotient depends on genotype whereas Gould, Lewontin, and others have emphasized the importance of environmental factors. Pigliucci presents phenotypic plasticity as a way of moving beyond the gene-environment dichotomy because in many cases plasticity results from non-additive interactions between genotype and environment.
Combustion efficiency optimization and virtual testing: a data-mining approach

In this paper, a data-mining approach is applied to optimize combustion efficiency of a coal-fired boiler. The combustion process is complex, nonlinear, and nonstationary. A virtual testing procedure is developed to validate the results produced by the optimization methods. The developed procedure quantifies improvements in the combustion efficiency without performing live testing, which is expensive and time consuming. The ideas introduced in this paper are illustrated with an industrial case study
Socio-economic, dietary, activity, nutrition and body weight transitions in South Korea

OBJECTIVE Socio-economic development influences many factors that affect health, especially diet and nutrition. This investigation proposes that a system of transitions occur as societies develop, with socio-economic, physical activity, dietary, nutrition and body weight transitions operating in relationship with each other. This model of transitions was examined empirically using South Korea as an example of a nation that has undergone considerable changes. DESIGN Data were drawn from published government reports: the Korean National Nutrition Survey and annual reports at the national level for the years between 1969 and 1993. The socio-economic transition was assessed by gross national product. The physical activity transition was assessed using annual proportions of the population involved in primary, secondary and tertiary industries, as well as the number of cars and driver's licences. The dietary transition was measured by plant and animal food consumption. The nutrition transition was assessed by percentages of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat. The body weight transition was measured by body mass index calculated from the average height and weight of adolescents. RESULTS Results revealed that the transitions were highly correlated as expected, with the socio-economic transition exhibiting major changes. South Koreans tended to decrease their physical activity and plant food consumption, and to increase animal food consumption, percentage of energy from dietary fat and body weight, in relationship to the socio-economic transition. CONCLUSION Examining a system of transitions on a national level in one country that has undergone rapid economic development may provide a strategy for examining how such transitions operate in other nations.
Stroke Genetics Update

The genetics of cerebrovascular disease is an area of increasing interest and advances. During the past year there have been a number of significant discoveries in the area that have increased our knowledge and understanding of the importance of genetics factors in the epidemiology of, etiology of, pathophysiology of, and recovery from cerebrovascular disease. This review will highlight some of the publications that have advanced our knowledge in these areas. One of the most significant advances in understanding stroke etiology and genetics was reported by the deCode group based in Iceland. In that country, there exist medical data on many multigenerational families with a variety of common disorders (ie, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, asthma). Using these extensive family resources, the deCode researchers conducted a genome-wide screen on 179 pedigrees with at least 2 members having mostly ischemic strokes. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage were excluded, but a few patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were included in the initial screen. Evidence for linkage was found to a region of chromosome 5 (5q12) with a logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 4.40 at marker D5S2080. When the patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were excluded, the LOD score increased to 4.86 at the same locus.1 There are many possible candidate genes in the area of established linkage. The researchers have indicated that they have identified a very promising gene within this region that has an important function related to vascular stability. It will be most interesting to see the actual identity and function of this gene. Despite these positive and exciting results, some degree of caution is urged before we can conclude that this putative gene is the root cause of most cases of ischemic stroke. First, the Icelandic population is relatively isolated and has a distinct …
Cobalamin increased activity of thymidylate synthetase in the stimulated human lymphocyte

Using PHA stimulated normal human lymphocytes, it is shown that when cobalamin is added on day 2 to the cultures of these cells it causes a highly significant increase in the activity of the enzyme thymidylate synthetase if the cells are harvested on day 3. The results support and extend a previous study where the enzyme was shown to be absent or low in patients with cobalamin deficiency. It is suggested that the action of cobalamin in preventing the megaloblastic development relates to its capability to induce thymidylate synthetase.
Analysis of helical transmission lines by means of the complete circuit equations

A set of integro-differential equations, called the "complete circuit equations," are derived from Maxwell's equations and applied to the solution of the parallel-wire transmission lines the double-helix transmission line, and the single helix, or helical waveguide. These equations take into account the effects of inductance and capacitance distribution, retardation, and outward radiation. A generalization of earlier concepts of distributed inductance and elastance (or inverse capacitance) is manifest in the solution of the helical lines where these quantities become functions of the phase coefficient or wavelength of propagation and are Fourier transforms of certain closed-form distribution functions. In general, phase velocity is a complicated implicit function of frequency, but under a hypothesis of "mode segregation on the basis of wavelength" the phase velocity and frequency can be obtained parametrically in terms of a third variable, called the phase parameter. Using this hypothesis, plots of phase velocity and characteristic impedance versus frequency were obtained for the double helix and the helical waveguide.
Automated Method for Isolation of Human Pancreatic Islets

We describe an automated method for the isolation of human pancreatic islets. The procedure meets the following requirements: 1 ) minimal traumatic action on the islets, 2 ) continuous digestion in which the islets that are progressively liberated can be saved from further enzymatic action, 3 ) minimal human intervention in the digestion process, and 4 ) high yield and purity of the isolated islets. After purification on Ficoll gradients, an average of 164,600 islets/pancreas was obtained (2279 islets/g), with an average purity of 78.5% islets. The average volume and average insulin content of the final islet preparation were 348 mm3 and 93.4 U, respectively. The islets were morphologically intact with a normal degree of β-granulation and responded to glucose stimulation with a fivefold increase of insulin secretion over basal levels. The procedure is now being used for the initiation of the second phase of clinical trials on human islet transplants.
Suboptimal Nutritional Characteristics in Male and Female Soldiers Compared to Sports Nutrition Guidelines

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutrient intake of male and female Soldiers in the 101 st Airborne Division (Air Assault) compared to sports nutrition standards for athletes, and to identify suboptimal eating characteristics that may impair physical performance and jeopardize military readiness. Male and female Soldiers from the 101 st Airborne Division (Air Assault) completed a 24-hour dietary recall and nutrition history questionnaire before anthropometric and body composition measurements were taken. Compared to sports nutrition guidelines, Soldiers of the 101 st under consume carbohydrates (males: 3.9 ± 2.0 vs. 5.0 g/kg, p < 0.001; females: 4.0 ± 2.1 vs. 5.0 g/kg, p = 0.001), male Soldiers eat too much fat (32.4% of kcal vs. <30% of kcal, p = 0.000) and saturated fat (males: 10.5 ± 3.9% of kcal vs. 10.0% of kcal, p = 0.044), and both males and females follow a meal pattern that may not optimize energy availability throughout the day. Eating too much fat and under fueling carbohydrate may negatively impact the adaptations to physical training and compromise overall health. Although Soldiers continue to participate in arduous training programs, future research should be aimed at determining the energy and macronutrient needs to fuel and recover from specific types of military training.
Can collective sentiment expressed on twitter predict political elections

Research examining the predictive power of social media (especially Twitter) displays conflicting results, particularly in the domain of political elections. This paper applies methods used in studies that have shown a direct correlation between volume/sentiment of Twitter chatter and future electoral results in a new dataset about political elections. We show that these methods display a series of shortcomings, that make them inadequate for determining whether social media messages can predict the outcome of elections.
Rubricking Like a Boss: Writing and Using Rubrics For Faster, Fairer Grading of Student Assignments (Abstract Only)

Educators responsible for coordinating a staff to grade a large volume of exams or projects have learned, sometimes the hard way, the importance of writing good rubrics: they keep the graders on track, grading equitably, consistently, and quickly. But these benefits of a well-written rubric extend also to those of us without a grading staff, even to single classrooms of twenty or so students. Good rubrics will change your life!In this workshop, we will present various principles we have found to write effective analytic rubrics for student programming work, helping to keep our grading unbiased and to assess the student work more quickly. We will show specific examples of good rubrics, and then participants will jointly grade some sample work according to a shared rubric, discussing what works and what doesn't. Finally, participants will break into small groups to workshop a rubric for an assignment they've given in their own class. Most examples will be at the CS1/CS2 level (and CS1-only educators are welcome), but some of the discussion will address higher-level courses as well.Participants should bring the specification/handout for a programming assignment they have recently given in class (which need not be CS1/CS2), and are encouraged (if possible) to bring a small number of handed-in student solutions for that assignment. Laptops are not necessary unless that's how the participant is bringing or accessing their student solutions.
Seeing Miss Saigon

He dreamt he was home again. It was raining fiercely - a sea born squall, a roaring wind. He thought he heard the rain hitting the windows, at times an angry spate with huge droplets sheeting down the glass, at times a subdued spray. But it was only the noise of the air conditioner in his hotel room, switching itself from "cool" to "fan" then back again. And knowing it was only the air conditioner, he slipped back again to the dream of rain - of a place he knew in childhood, where typhoons wrought fury on the land. In fitful rest he no longer knew where he was and wished he was in neither place.
Multi-Strata Stealth Dicing Before Grinding for Singulation-Defects Elimination and Die Strength Enhancement: Experiment and Simulation

We report on defects characterization and reduction as well as die strength enhancement using stealth dicing (SD) on high-backside reflectance (82%) 2-D NAND memory wafers. This is performed using three-strata subsurface infrared (1.342 μm) nanosecond pulsed laser die singulation with a partial-SD before grinding integration approach. In this paper, a combination of simulation, characterization, and optimization of the multi-strata SD process has led to the elimination of mechanical and absorptive laser singulation related defects such as frontside and backside surface ablation, and topside, backside, and edge chipping. At the same time, the kerf width and kerf straightness are robust against the effects of test element structures located along the dicing streets. There is a consistent coverage of high-quality SD kerf production with near-zero kerf loss across the 300 mm wafer. Multi-strata SD-unique defects such as interference effects and inter-strata cleavage plane {111} damage have been addressed. SD-related integrated defects including Si dust residue post-backgrinding and die attach film-related defects post-die separation have also been resolved. We illustrate the performance of this approach by demonstrating defect-free eight die stacks of 25 μm thick memory dies.
Breeding of Three-line Hybrid Rice Xiangfeiyou 785

Xiangfeiyou 785 was a new three-line hybrid rice combination developed from the cross between male sterile line Xiangfei A(introduced from Keyulong company in Hunan) and male restorer line Qianhui 785(bred by Guizhou Rice Institute).The average yield of Xiangfeiyou 785 was 8.85 t/ha,5.23% higher than that of CK in multiple-location regional experiment test for two years(2009-2010).The average yield was 9.87 t/ha,6.52% higher than that of CK for one-year productive experiment test in 2011 in Guizhou Province.The new combination is suitable for the region of single cropping of rice in Guizhou Province and has good prospect of utilization.It was registered as commercial variety in 2012 in Guizhou Province(accreditation certificate No.Qianshendao 2012001).
Toward Radical Risk Reduction and Revolutionary Adaptation: Climate Disasters, Agriculture, and Capitalist Modernity

Disasters happen with increasing frequency, resulting in greater devastation, due to global warming. This happens all over the world, particularly in the Global South. Risk reduction and adaptation...
The effect of micronized fenofibrate on lipid profiles of patients converted from gemfibrozil

Although numerous studies have established the efficacy of micronized fenofibrate (MF) and gemfibrozil in improving lipid profiles, there are limited comparative data on the lipid-lowering effects of these two agents. Theobjective of this study was to evaluate the mean changes in lipid values of hypertriglyceridemic patients crossed over from gemfibrozil to ME The Medical charts of 21 patients were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were maintained on gemfibrozil 600 mg twice daily for a minimum of 3 months. The patient's last fasting lipid profile on gemfibrozil was compared to the first lipid profile after crossover to MF 200 to 201 mg/day. Patients were excluded if there were alterations in other lipid-lowering therapy during the cross-over or documented nonadherence. The lipid profiles after the crossover showed a significant reduction in triglycerides (56%; P < 0.05) and TC/HDL ratio (38%; P < 0.05) and a significant increase in HDL (22%; P < 0.05). There were nonsignificant changes in other lipid values: TC (-22%; P = 0.058), LDL (+5%; P = 0.866) and LDL/HDL ratio (+6; P = 1.0). The results show that MF had additional favorable effects on triglycerides, HDL, and TC/HDL ratio compared with gemfibrozil.A larger, randomized trial to confirm these effects is warranted.
Presocratics and Sophists

From the fragmentary evidence of Presocratic thought we find the seeds of subsequent debate over core topics in the philosophy of language, including naming, communication, truth and falsity, and the role and purpose of rhetoric. This section includes selections from Parmenides, who aligned speech and thought with extramental reality and questioned the limits of what can be said, and the sophists Gorgias and Prodicus, who challenge Parmenides’ thesis and question how communication is possible at all.
Sales of Nicotine-Containing Electronic Cigarette Products: United States, 2015.

Objectives. To assess the proportion of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) products sold in the United States that contain nicotine according to retail scanner data.Methods. We obtained unit sales data from January 11, 2015, to December 12, 2015, from The Nielsen Company for convenience stores; supermarkets; mass merchandisers; drug, club, and dollar stores; and Department of Defense commissaries. The data did not include purchases from tobacco specialty shops, “vape shops,” or online sources. Nicotine content was assessed by product type (disposables, rechargeables, and refills), region, and flavor status based on nicotine strength listed in the Universal Product Codes. For the 36.7% of entries lacking nicotine content information, we conducted Internet searches by brand, product, and flavor.Results. In 2015, 99.0% of e-cigarette products sold contained nicotine, including 99.0% of disposables, 99.7% of rechargeables, and 98.8% of refills. Overall, 98.7% of flavored e-cigarette products and 99.4% of nonf...
Nondestructive evaluation of composite materials via scanning laser ultrasound spectroscopy

Composite materials pose a complex problem for ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation due to their unique material properties, greater damping, and often complicated geometry. In this study, we explored acoustic wavenumber spectroscopy (AWS) as a means of rapid inspection of laminate and honeycomb composites. Each aerospace sample was tested at different ultrasonic frequencies using steady-state excitation via a piezo electric actuator. We measured the velocity response of the composite at each pixel via a raster scan using a laser Doppler vibrometer. We were able to detect radial inserts along corners, delamination, and facing-core separation by analyzing local amplitude and wavenumber responses. For each honeycomb composite, we excited the sample at the first resonant frequency of the individual cells. The local mode shape for each cell was extracted from the local amplitude response. Analyzing local amplitude and phase responses for each cell provided an accurate indication as to the presence, size, shape, and type of defect present in the composite. We detected both delamination and deformation of cells within a honeycomb composite. For the laminar composites, we analyzed the non-resonance steady-state response at several excitation frequencies.
Progression of Coronary Artery Calcium and Incident Heart Failure: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

BackgroundAlthough the association between coronary artery calcium (CAC) and future heart failure (HF) has been shown previously, the value of CAC progression in the prediction of HF has not been i...
Germinal Center Selection and Affinity Maturation Require Dynamic Regulation of mTORC1 Kinase

Summary During antibody affinity maturation, germinal center (GC) B cells cycle between affinity-driven selection in the light zone (LZ) and proliferation and somatic hypermutation in the dark zone (DZ). Although selection of GC B cells is triggered by antigen-dependent signals delivered in the LZ, DZ proliferation occurs in the absence of such signals. We show that positive selection triggered by T cell help activates the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which promotes the anabolic program that supports DZ proliferation. Blocking mTORC1 prior to growth prevented clonal expansion, whereas blockade after cells reached peak size had little to no effect. Conversely, constitutively active mTORC1 led to DZ enrichment but loss of competitiveness and impaired affinity maturation. Thus, mTORC1 activation is required for fueling B cells prior to DZ proliferation rather than for allowing cell-cycle progression itself and must be regulated dynamically during cyclic re-entry to ensure efficient affinity-based selection.
Efficient and selective catalysis for hydrogenation and hydrosilation of alkenes and alkynes with PNP complexes of scandium and yttrium

Scandium and yttrium congeneric complexes, supported by a monoanionic PNP ligand, were studied as catalysts for alkene hydrogenation and hydrosilation, and alkyne semihydrogenation and semihydrosilation. The yttrium congener was found to be much more active in all cases, but this greater activity is accompanied by more rapid catalyst decomposition and therefore higher total yields for some of the reactions with the scandium catalyst. Calculations indicate that the reactions may proceed via σ-bond metathesis of the alkyl complexes to form metal hydride intermediates into which alkenes/alkynes insert.
Schwerölbetrieb von Schiffs- und Stationärdieselmotoren

Bei der Herstellung von Benzin und Diesel in der Raffinerie bleibt ein hochsiedender Ruckstand, der nur durch hohen Energieaufwand weiter verarbeitet werden kann. Dieses Ruckstandsol wird Schwerol genannt und wird international in grosen Mengen als Kraftstoff fur Schiffe verwendet, da es verglichen zu Diesel zu einem niedrigen Preis angeboten wird.
Motivating Men: Social Science and the Regulation of Men’s Reproduction in Postwar India:

This article analyzes efforts to govern men’s reproduction in postwar India’s population control program from 1960 to 1977. It argues that the Indian state’s unconventional emphasis on men was linked to a gendered strand of social scientific research known as family planning communications and its investments in reframing reproductive control in behavioral terms. Communication scientists’ goal to understand the role of mass communications in shaping “reproductive decision-making” dovetailed with prevailing cultural ideologies of masculinity that readily associated men with economic rationality and calculative reasoning. Consequently, scientists cast Indian men as indispensable targets of behavioral interventions into reproduction due to their ostensible status as familial and social “decision-makers.” This reframing prompted Indian family planning officials to create novel interventions into men’s reproductive bodies and beliefs, exhorting them to use contraception and desire fewer children. The study thu...
Fierce climate, sacred ground: an ethnography of climate change in Shishmaref, Alaska

Iconic photographs of houses tumbling into the sea at Shishmaref, Alaska, have brought this Inupiaq village (pop. 600) international recognition as a victim of global warming. The community’s predi...
Pre-Treatment and Post-Treatment Evaluation of Prostatic Adenocarcinoma for Prostatic Specific Acid Phosphatase and Prostatic Specific Antigen by Immunohistochemistry

AbstractProstatic specific acid phosphatase and prostatic specific antigen have been used as specific markers of prostatic adenocarcinoma in immunohistochemical studies, particularly when seeking the primary site of a poorly differentiated metastasis. We herein evaluate the effect of therapy on the persistence of these markers in surgically obtained tissues. Prostatic biopsies from 30 patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland before and after treatment with orchiectomy alone, diethylstilbestrol, external beam radiation or combined radiation and diethylstilbestrol were studied for prostatic specific acid phosphatase and prostatic specific antigen using the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The interval between biopsies ranged from 3 to 72 months, with an average of 28 months. All pre-treatment biopsies stained positively for prostatic specific acid phosphatase and prostatic specific antigen. Staining for prostatic specific antigen and prostatic specific acid phosphatase was seen easily in 29 of...
The Agave Platform: An Open, Science-as-a-Service Platform for Digital Science

The Agave Platform first appeared in 2011 as a pilot project for the iPlant Collaborative [11]. In its first two years, Foundation saw over 40% growth per month, supporting 1000+ clients, 600+ applications, 4 HPC systems at 3 centers across the US. It also gained users outside of plant biology. To better serve the needs of the general open science community, we rewrote Foundation as a scalable, cloud native application and named it the Agave Platform. In this paper we present the Agave Platform, a Science-as-a-Service (ScaaS) platform for reproducible science. We provide a brief history and technical overview of the project, and highlight three case studies leveraging the platform to create synergistic value for their users.