cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Technology-Based Quality Innovation to Identify Undiagnosed Hypertension Among Active Primary Care Patients

PURPOSE The goal of this study was to develop a technology-based strategy to identify patients with undiagnosed hypertension in 23 primary care practices and integrate this innovation into a continuous quality improvement initiative in a large, integrated health system. METHODS In phase 1, we reviewed electronic health records (EHRs) using algo- rithms designed to identify patients at risk for undiagnosed hypertension. We then invited each at-risk patient to complete an automated office blood pressure (AOBP) protocol. In phase 2, we instituted a quality improvement process that included regular physician feedback and office-based computer alerts to evalu - ate at-risk patients not screened in phase 1. Study patients were observed for 24 additional months to determine rates of diagnostic resolution. RESULTS Of the 1,432 patients targeted for inclusion in the study, 475 completed the AOBP protocol during the 6 months of phase 1. Of the 1,033 at-risk patients who remained active during phase 2, 740 (72%) were classified by the end of the follow-up period: 361 had hypertension diagnosed, 290 had either white-coat hypertension, prehypertension, or elevated blood pressure diagnosed, and 89 had normal blood pressure. By the end of the follow-up period, 293 patients (28%) had not been classified and remained at risk for undiagnosed hypertension. CONCLUSIONS Our technology-based innovation identified a large number of patients at risk for undiagnosed hypertension and successfully classified the majority, including many with hypertension. This innovation has been imple- mented as an ongoing quality improvement initiative in our medical group and continues to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of hypertension among primary care patients.
Functional diversification of vitamin D receptor paralogs in teleost fish after a whole genome duplication event.

The diversity and success of teleost fishes (Actinopterygii) has been attributed to three successive rounds of whole-genome duplication (WGD). WGDs provide a source of raw genetic material for evolutionary forces to act upon, resulting in the divergence of genes with altered or novel functions. The retention of multiple gene pairs (paralogs) in teleosts provides a unique opportunity to study how genes diversify and evolve after a WGD. This study examines the hypothesis that vitamin D receptor (VDR) paralogs (VDRα and VDRβ) from two distantly related teleost orders have undergone functional divergence subsequent to the teleost-specific WGD. VDRα and VDRβ paralogs were cloned from the Japanese medaka (Beloniformes) and the zebrafish (Cypriniformes). Initial transactivation studies using 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 revealed that although VDRα and VDRβ maintain similar ligand potency, the maximum efficacy of VDRβ was significantly attenuated compared with VDRα in both species. Subsequent analyses revealed that...
Axonal transport: how high microtubule density can compensate for boundary effects in small-caliber axons.

Long-distance intracellular axonal transport is predominantly microtubule-based, and its impairment is linked to neurodegeneration. In this study, we present theoretical arguments that suggest that near the axon boundaries (walls), the effective viscosity can become large enough to impede cargo transport in small (but not large) caliber axons. Our theoretical analysis suggests that this opposition to motion increases rapidly as the cargo approaches the wall. We find that having parallel microtubules close enough together to enable a cargo to simultaneously engage motors on more than one microtubule dramatically enhances motor activity, and thus minimizes the effects of any opposition to transport. Even if microtubules are randomly placed in axons, we find that the higher density of microtubules found in small-caliber axons increases the probability of having parallel microtubules close enough that they can be used simultaneously by motors on a cargo. The boundary effect is not a factor in transport in large-caliber axons where the microtubule density is lower.
Posttranslational heterocyclization of cysteine and serine residues in the antibiotic microcin B17: distributivity and directionality.

To produce the antibiotic Microcin B17, four Cys and four Ser residues are converted into four thiazoles and four oxazoles by the three subunit Microcin B17 synthetase. High-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) was used to monitor the kinetics of posttranslational heterocyclic ring formation ( -20 Da per ring) and demonstrated the accumulation of all intermediates, from one to seven rings, indicating distributive processing. All of the intermediates could be converted by the enzyme to the eight ring product. Enzymatic chemoselectivity (Cys vs Ser cyclization rates) was assessed using iodoacetamido-salicylate to alkylate unreacted cysteines (+193 Da) in the 8 kDa biosynthetic intermediates; three of the first four rings formed were thiazoles, and by the five ring stage, all four of the cysteines had been heterocyclized while three of the original four serines remained uncyclized. Finally, tandem MS using a 9.4 T Fourier transform instrument with electrospray ionization was used to elaborate the major processing pathway: the first two rings formed are at the most amino proximal sites (Cys 41 then Ser 40 ) followed by the remaining three cysteines at positions 48, 51, and 55. The cyclization of serines at positions 56, 62, and 65 then follows, with Ser 62 and Ser 65 the last to heterocyclize and the first of these at a slower rate. Thus, despite free dissociation of intermediates after each of seven ring-forming catalytic cycles, there is an overall directionality of ring formation from N-terminal to C-terminal sites. This remarkable regioselectivity is determined more by the substrate than the enzyme, due to a combination of (1) initial high-affinity binding of the posttranslational catalyst to the N-terminal propeptide of substrate 88mer, and (2) a chemoselectivity for thiazole over oxazole formation. This mechanism is consistent with antibiotic biosynthesis in vivo, yielding microcin with six, seven, and eight rings, all with bioactivity.
A high-performance multilane microdevice system designed for the DNA forensics laboratory

We report preliminary testing of “GeneTrack”, an instrument designed for the specific application of multiplexed short tandem repeat (STR) DNA analysis. The system supports a glass microdevice with 16 lanes of 20 cm effective length and double-T cross injectors. A high-speed galvanometer-scanned four-color detector was specially designed to accommodate the high elution rates on the microdevice. All aspects of the system were carefully matched to practical crime lab requirements for rapid reproducible analysis of crime-scene DNA evidence in conjunction with the United States DNA database (CODIS). Statistically significant studies demonstrate that an absolute, three-sigma, peak accuracy of 0.4–0.9 base pair (bp) can be achieved for the CODIS 13-locus multiplex, utilizing a single channel per sample. Only 0.5 μL of PCR product is needed per lane, a significant reduction in the consumption of costly chemicals in comparison to commercial capillary machines. The instrument is also designed to address problems in temperature-dependent decalibration and environmental sensitivity, which are weaknesses of the commercial capillary machines for the forensics application.
Racial Disparities in VR Use and Job Placement Rates for Adults with Disabilities

Racial and ethnic disparities in access to vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and the efficacy of those services are a perennial concern of rehabilitation practitioners. This study used data f...
A New Species of Sucking Louse (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Linognathidae) from Günther's Dikdik (Madoqua guentheri) in Kenya

Linognathus samburi n. sp. is described from adult male and female specimens collected from a juvenile female Gunther's dikdik (Madoqua guentheri) live-trapped near Olturot Village, Samburu district (Rift Valley Province) in northern Kenya. The new species is distinguished from other species of Linognathus including Linognathus geigyi and Linognathus damarensis, both of which parasitize Kirk's dikdik (Madoqua kirkii). A dichotomous key to the species of Linognathus that are known to parasitize dikdiks is included.
Are We Ready for Mass Fatality Incidents? Preparedness of the US Mass Fatality Infrastructure

OBJECTIVE: To assess the preparedness of the US mass fatality infrastructure, we developed and tested metrics for 3 components of preparedness: organizational, operational, and resource sharing networks. METHODS: In 2014, data were collected from 5 response sectors: medical examiners and coroners, the death care industry, health departments, faith-based organizations, and offices of emergency management. Scores were calculated within and across sectors and a weighted score was developed for the infrastructure. RESULTS: A total of 879 respondents reported highly variable organizational capabilities: 15% had responded to a mass fatality incident (MFI); 42% reported staff trained for an MFI, but only 27% for an MFI involving hazardous contaminants. Respondents estimated that 75% of their staff would be willing and able to respond, but only 53% if contaminants were involved. Most perceived their organization as somewhat prepared, but 13% indicated "not at all." Operational capability scores ranged from 33% (death care industry) to 77% (offices of emergency management). Network capability analysis found that only 42% of possible reciprocal relationships between resource-sharing partners were present. The cross-sector composite score was 51%; that is, half the key capabilities for preparedness were in place. CONCLUSIONS: The sectors in the US mass fatality infrastructure report suboptimal capability to respond. National leadership is needed to ensure sector-specific and infrastructure-wide preparedness for a large-scale MFI. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;0:1-11). Language: en
Cell Tracking and Single Cell Imaging by MRI

Cellular MRI technology utilizing superparmagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles has progressed quickly over the past decade. Current research is increasingly using clinical MR field strengths, and has demonstrated extremely high detection sensitivity, all the way down to single cell detection in vivo, at both 1.5T and 3T. Our recent work has focused on the optimization of these methods at 3T, and the demonstration of the benefits of 3T over 1.5T for single cell applications such as metastatic cancer cell detection.
Gains Made By Walmart's Healthier Food Initiative Mirror Preexisting Trends

Healthier food initiatives conducted by national food retailers may offer opportunities to improve the nutritional profile of food purchases. Using a longitudinal data set of packaged food purchases made by US households, we examined the effect of a healthier food initiative officially launched by Walmart in 2011. From 2000 to 2013, household-level purchases of packaged foods at Walmart showed major declines in energy, sodium, and total sugar density, as well as in quantities of sugary beverages, grain-based desserts, snacks, and candy. These trends in packaged food purchases were more pronounced than similar concurrent trends seen at other major food retailers. However, the declines seen at Walmart after the initiative's official implementation did not exceed what would have been expected had pre-implementation trends continued, and therefore they cannot be attributed to the initiative. These results suggest that food retailer-based initiatives that purportedly create a healthier food environment may not suffice to improve the nutritional profile of food purchases. More systemic shifts in consumers' characteristics and preferences may be needed.
Linear Plasmids and the Rate of Sequence Evolution in Plant Mitochondrial Genomes

The mitochondrial genomes of flowering plants experience frequent insertions of foreign sequences, including linear plasmids that also exist in standalone forms within mitochondria, but the history and phylogenetic distribution of plasmid insertions is not well known. Taking advantage of the increased availability of plant mitochondrial genome sequences, we performed phylogenetic analyses to reconstruct the evolutionary history of these plasmids and plasmid-derived insertions. Mitochondrial genomes from multiple land plant lineages (including liverworts, lycophytes, ferns, and gymnosperms) include fragmented remnants from ancient plasmid insertions. Such insertions are much more recent and widespread in angiosperms, in which approximately 75% of sequenced mitochondrial genomes contain identifiable plasmid insertions. Although conflicts between plasmid and angiosperm phylogenies provide clear evidence of repeated horizontal transfers, we were still able to detect significant phylogenetic concordance, indicating that mitochondrial plasmids have also experienced sustained periods of (effectively) vertical transmission in angiosperms. The observed levels of sequence divergence in plasmid-derived genes suggest that nucleotide substitution rates in these plasmids, which often encode their own viral-like DNA polymerases, are orders of magnitude higher than in mitochondrial chromosomes. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the periodic incorporation of mitochondrial genes into plasmids contributes to the remarkable heterogeneity in substitution rates among genes that has recently been discovered in some angiosperm mitochondrial genomes. In support of this hypothesis, we show that the recently acquired ψtrnP-trnW gene region in a maize linear plasmid is evolving significantly faster than homologous sequences that have been retained in the mitochondrial chromosome in closely related grasses.
Ab initio calculation of scattering length and cross sections at very low energies for electron-helium scattering.

The multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock method for continuum wave functions has been used to calculate the scattering length and phase shifts over extremely low energies ranging from 0 to 1 eV very accurately for electron-helium scattering. The scattering length is calculated very accurately with wave functions computed exactly at zero energy, resulting in an upper bound of 1.1784. The electron correlation and polarization of the target by the scattering electron, which are very important in these calculations, have been taken into account in an accurate [ital ab] [ital initio] manner through the configuration-interaction procedure by optimizing both bound and continuum orbitals simultaneously at each kinetic energy of the scattered electron. Detailed results for scattering length, differential, total, and momentum-transfer cross sections obtained from the phase shifts are presented. The present scattering length is found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental result of Andrick and Bitsch [J. Phys. B 8, 402 (1975)] and the theoretical result of O'Malley, Burke, and Berrington [J. Phys. B 12, 953 (1979)]. There is excellent agreement between the present total cross sections and the corresponding experimental measurements of Buckman and Lohmann [J. Phys. B 19, 2547 (1986)]. The present momentum-transfer cross sections also show remarkable agreementmore » with the experimental results of Crompton, Elford, and Robertson [Aust. J. Phys. 23, 667 (1970)].« less
Discharge Annealing of Ion Implanted Silicon

A gas discharge system is used to produce a large area electron beam which can be used to anneal ion-implanted semiconductors. The sample temperature rise and amorphous-to-single-crystal regrowth were monitored using the change in optical reflectivity.
Ion-Chromatographic Analysis of the Composition of Low-Freezing Coolants

Low-freezing coolants for automotive engines are analyzed before and after oxidation. It is shown that ion chromatography can be used to monitor the composition change of ethylene-glycol-based coolants and to formulate recommendations for optimizing the method based on current specifications for automotive engine performance. Results for the corrosive effects of coolants on various metals at elevated temperatures are reported. The corrosion depends on the amount of ethylene-glycol oxidation products and the nature of the corrosion inhibitors.
Elastolytic activity from venom of the rattlesnake Crotalus atrox.

A specific collagenase from a vertebrate source was first demonstrated by Gross and Lapiere (1). Collagenase was subsequently found in the media from tissue cultures of a variety of normal animal tissues (2-7) as well as several human and animal tumors (8).Delaunay and co-workers (9) reported that solutions of Vipera aspis venom contained weak collagenolytic activity and Hadidian reported that venom from Agkistrodon piscivorus is known to liquefy gelatin (10). We have demonstrated that venom from four species of snakes contains collagenolytic activity. Also, venom from Crotalus atrox degrades mesenteric native collagen fibers during tissue cultures (11). This report describes further evidence that the collagenolytic activity from Crotalus atrox venom is due to a specific collagenase.Materials and Methods. Lyophilized venom from Crotalus atrox was purchased from Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Missouri.Rat-tail collagen solutions were prepared by extraction with acetic acid according to the procedure of...
Abstract 333: Maturation Of ß-adrenergic Receptor (ß-AR) Signaling In Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes (hipsc-cms)

hiPSC-CMs are a novel model system for cardiovascular diseases, with proven utility in cardiac channelopathies, however, how accurately hiPSC-CMs recapitulate the signaling pathways regulating contractility and remodeling of adult cardiomyocytes remains to be determined. As s-ARs are key regulators of both contractility and remodeling, we examined s-AR signaling at different stages of hiPSC-CM maturation. hiPSCs, derived from healthy controls, were studied at 0, 14, 30, and 60d after cardiac induction under isoproterenol (ISO) stimulation ± s1 or s2 antagonists. Flag-tagged s-ARs were transfected into hiPSC-CMs for trafficking studies. Compared to the s1:s2 ratio of 70:30 in adult ventricular cardiomyocytes, s2-AR expression was higher in early stage (d14-30) hiPSC-CMs; s1-ARs increased with maturation (d14-d60), reflective of the normal developmental pattern. Downstream signaling also matured from d14-60, regulating both function (PLB and TnI) and remodeling (ERK). The majority of cAMP generation and PKA activation at d30 was through s2-ARs; by d60-90, s1-AR signaling contributed equally. In contrast to studies in rodent cells, s2-ARs did not show compartmentalization of PKA signaling. Between d30-60, components of the SR (RYR, PLB and CSQ) and caveolae (Cav3) matured, suggesting development of functional compartmentalization machinery. Finally, hiPSC-CMs showed s2-AR downregulation and internalization in response to ISO, an important component of the normal cardiomyocyte response to pathologic stimulation. Thus, hiPSC-CM s-AR signaling matures with time after cardiac induction, recapitulating many of the features of post-natal and several of adult cardiomyocytes. hiPSC-CM models of human cardiomyopathies are a reasonable platform for studying s-AR signaling. Furthermore, the maturation of s-AR signaling can be used as a read-out for hiPSC-CM maturity.
The Influences of Daily Stressors on Morning Cortisol Levels in Midlife and Older Retirees: The Moderating Roles of Age and Gender.

Objectives: This study extends the field of retirement and health by examining the impacts of daily stressors on morning cortisol levels in 253 retirees between 55 and 75 years of age (M = 66.80, SD = 4.96) and the moderating roles of age and gender. Method: Participants derived from the second wave of the Daily Diary Study portion of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS-II). Across eight consecutive evenings, participants completed telephone interviews about their daily experiences and provided saliva samples across 4 days. Results: Findings from the multilevel models showed that in the context of navigating the day-to-day responsibilities, older retirees were at a greater risk for subsequent hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) dysregulation than younger retirees. Discussion: Together, better identification of the associations between daily stressors and physiological functioning will help contribute to the knowledge on ways to promote greater quality of life in retirement.
Globalization and the Quality of Government: an Analysis of the Relationship

This research seeks to investigate the relationship between globalization and the quality of government. By using the Quality of Government Institute data, the paper analyzes the relationships between globalization and the government quality. The paper uses both KOF scores and the scores by the Heritage Foundation to measure globalization. The results show that economic and political globalization is a significant predictor of the quality of government. When all the variables on economic freedom are taken into consideration, fiscal, business and trade freedoms are critical factors influencing the quality of governance.
Species differences in the activation of benzo[a]pyrene in the tracheal epithelium of rats and hamsters.

Model systems have been developed to study bronchogenic carcinoma in laboratory animals in order to better understand the pathogenesis and etiology of this disease in humans (1). By extrapolating the characteristics of experimental models for respiratory carcinogenesis, some risk factors for human lung cancer may ultimately be elucidated.
Review: The Xpress Transfer Protocol

The Xpress Transfer Protocol (XTP) offers new functionality and performance for modern distributed applications. Recently adopted by the United States Department of Defense for use in military mission-critical systems, XTP provides a rich set of communications mechanisms without forcing the user to adopt a predefined communications policy. The user is free to choose those XTP mechanisms which implement whatever communications paradigm best suits the user's application. In this paper, we discuss the background for XTP's invention, the motivation and rationale for developing a new transport and network layer protocol, the specific functional and performance advantages which XTP provides, and we describe the types of applications for which XTP has proven suitable.
Formation of redispersible polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles from gallic acid-chitosan conjugate and gum arabic

Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanoparticles between chitosan (CS) and biomacromolecules offer better physicochemical properties as delivery vehicles for nutrients than other CS-based nanoparticles. Our major objective was to fabricate PEC nanoparticles between water soluble gallic acid-chitosan conjugate (GA-CS) and gum arabic. The optimal fabrication method, physicochemical characteristics and stability were investigated. Furthermore, we also evaluated the effects of nano spray drying technology on the morphology and redispersibility of nanoparticle powders using Buchi B-90 Nano Spray Dryer. Results showed that the mass ratio between GA-CS and gum arabic and the preparation pH had significant contributions in determining the particle size and count rate of the nanoparticles, with the ratio of 3:1 and pH 5.0 being the optimal conditions that resulted in 112.2nm and 122.9kcps. The polyethylene glycol (PEG) played a vital role in forming the well-separated spray dried nanoparticles. The most homogeneous nanoparticles with the smoothest surface were obtained when the mass ratio of GA-CS and PEG was 1:0.5. In addition, the GA-CS/gum arabic spray dried nanoparticles exhibited excellent water-redispersibiliy compared to native CS/gum arabic nanoparticles. Our results demonstrated GA-CS/gum arabic nanoparticles were successfully fabricated with promising physicochemical properties and great potential for their applications in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Minimizing the Subscription Aggregation Cost in the Content-Based Pub/Sub System

Considering the heterogeneous subscriptions of the subscribers in the content-based publish/subscribe (pub/sub) system, the subscription aggregation technique is used to optimize the system performance, e.g., reducing the routing table, simplifying the matching procedure. However, introducing this technique also has disadvantages. If some subscribers leave the network, the brokers which aggregate subscriptions should re-configure the subscription aggregation strategy with its descendants. During this period false-positive publications, which are no longer needed by subscribers, are still propagated into the network. Therefore, it becomes paramount to examine the issue of how to conserve network resources through subscription aggregation, while simultaneously minimizing the false positive publication propagation. In this paper, we first prove the above problem is NP-hard. Then, we provide the dynamic programming approach when the re-configuration delay can be regarded as constant time. In the general case, we propose a greedy algorithm, and the corresponding performance bound is analyzed. Finally, we propose an overlay construction scheme to further fit the subscription aggregation. Extensive experimental results show that proposed algorithms achieve a good performance.
When farm work disappears: labor and environmental change in the Brazilian sugar-ethanol industry

What factors drive labor substitution in the biofuels sector? Can labor substitution engender positive environmental outcomes, such as decreasing carbon emissions? Using the Brazilian sugar–ethanol industry as a case study, this article examines the motivations and consequences of substituting machine harvesters for cane-cutters and ending field burning. Not only does this article interrogate key claims from techno-optimistic and sociological theories of environmental change on how and why producers adopt new practices, but it also highlights the role of labor in processes of environmental change. Using a multi-sited ethnographic method, I collected data in 3 ethanol-producing states in Brazil, where I interviewed 61 mill managers, variety breeders, consultants, and producer syndicate officials and conducted observations at 9 mills. Two main findings emerge. First, labor challenges with farmworkers, not environmental authority, were the primary motivations for changing production practices. Second, althou...
Expert Systems and Neural Networks

Expert system and neural network technologies have developed to the point that the advantages of each can be combined into more powerful systems. In some cases, neural computing systems are replacing expert systems and other artificial intelligence solutions. In other applications, neural networks provide features not possible with conventional AI systems and may provide aspects of intelligent behavior that have thus far eluded AI.
Lost in Translation: Journalistic discourse on news “fixers”

This study examines the war-reporting industry’s attitude toward news “fixers”—the locally based contacts who become news employees, by helping foreign reporters translate interviews, build contacts, and navigate the cultural contexts with which correspondents are increasingly unfamiliar in the era of “parachute journalism.” Conducting a critical discourse analysis of 189 articles published in English-language journalism trade publications, the study seeks to answer these research questions: (1) How do Anglophone editors and reporters understand and value the labor of news fixers working in conflict zones? (2) How do Anglophone editors and reporters discuss the safety of their news fixers? Drawing upon the critical frameworks found in the field of global media ethics, the study will suggest that news fixers have the potential to facilitate more complex and productive “global–local exchanges,” which could in turn lead to a global media ethics that is, in the words of Wasserman, “truly dialogic and critical...
Cluster Studies of La 2 CuO 4 Geometric Distortions Accompanying Doping

First principles cluster calculations, such as those discussed here, can and have been used to address some issues important in high-temperature superconductivity. In these studies, one grapples with the usual problems governing accuracy in small molecules: the completeness of the one- and many-electron basis sets. In addition, the appropriateness of the background potential and the convergence of the results as a function of cluster size must be concerns as well. Certain questions, such as the magnitude of the spin exchange constant, the positions of the crystal-field excitations, and the interpretation of the photoemission spectrum, can be addressed semi-quantitatively with first principles quantum chemistry methods applied to quite small clusters. Other properties (e.g. transport, pairing susceptibilities, etc.) require a more extended lattice, and therefore attempts to generate parameters for models which can be extended to larger clusters have also been the focus of SCF/CI and DFT studies. This bootstrap approach is pragmatic, but unsettling. There is always the worry that in mapping the results onto a simpler model, one throws out the baby with the bathwater. In the current context, I have discussed the origin and magnitude of an on-site electron-phonon coupling in single-band models of the cuprates. The correlations responsible for the broken-symmetry “electronic polaron” solutions are, however, not explicitly included in a single-band model; they require retention of both the O2p and Cu3d degrees of freedom. Are these important for the mechanism of superconductivity, or is it permissible to think of them as simply renormalizing the effective parameters of a single-band model? It is clear that there are many such unanswered questions in this field, and I believe cluster calculations will continue to contribute to their solution.
Approximating graph-constrained max-cut

An instance of the graph-constrained max-cut ( $$\mathsf {GCMC}$$ ) problem consists of (i) an undirected graph $$G=(V,E)$$ and (ii) edge-weights $$c:{V\atopwithdelims ()2} \rightarrow \mathbb {R}_+$$ on a complete undirected graph. The objective is to find a subset $$S \subseteq V$$ of vertices satisfying some graph-based constraint in G that maximizes the weight $$\sum _{u\in S, v\not \in S} c_{uv}$$ of edges in the cut $$(S,V{\setminus } S)$$ . The types of graph constraints we can handle include independent set, vertex cover, dominating set and connectivity. Our main results are for the case when G is a graph with bounded treewidth, where we obtain a $$\frac{1}{2}$$ -approximation algorithm. Our algorithm uses an LP relaxation based on the Sherali–Adams hierarchy. It can handle any graph constraint for which there is a dynamic program of a specific form. Using known decomposition results, these imply essentially the same approximation ratio for $$\mathsf {GCMC}$$ under constraints such as independent set, dominating set and connectivity on a planar graph G.
Income Inequality and the Differential Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences in US Children.

Abstract Objective Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can affect health and development across the life course. Despite a general understanding that adversity is associated with lower income, we know less about how ACEs manifest at different income levels and how these income-related patterns affect children's health and development. Methods Data from the 2011 to 2012 National Survey of Children's Health were used to examine the prevalence of 9 ACEs in US children, across 4 levels of household income, and in relationship to 5 parent-reported measures of child health. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between number of ACEs and children's health outcomes on the basis of the 4 income groups. Results When partitioned according to income strata, the proportion of children who experienced ACEs showed a steep income gradient, particularly for children who experienced ≥4 ACEs. The linear gradient across income groups was less pronounced for each specific ACE, with several ACEs (experience of divorce, drug and alcohol exposure, parental mental illness) showing high reported prevalence in all but the highest income group. Multivariate analysis showed a consistent income-related gradient for each of the health outcomes. However, higher income was not necessarily found to be a protective factor against ACEs. Conclusions ACEs are distributed across the income ladder and not just concentrated below the poverty level. This suggests that a more comprehensive policy strategy that includes targeted as well as universal interventions is warranted.
Selenium and Senescence: Centering on Genome Maintenance

Selenium at the nutritional level is integral for the biosynthesis of selenoproteins. At the supranutritional level, or in excess, selenium can induce the formation of reactive oxygen species. Senescence is a biological phenomenon that permanently arrests the cell cycle and regulates various physiological and pathophysiological conditions, such as embryonic development, tumorigenesis, tissue regeneration, and organismal aging. Inducers of cellular senescence include DNA damage, dysfunctional telomeres, acute changes in chromosomal conformation, and mitogenic stimuli. Available lines of evidence indicate that selenium is linked to senescence through oxidative stress and DNA damage. Understanding the biological functions of selenium in senescence may help to optimize human health through the delay of aging and age-related disorders, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic syndromes.
Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) as cancer-preventive agents

Reduction of incidence and mortality of common cancers requires successful preventive interventions both in high-risk populations and in the population at large. Agents chosen for intervention trials must have been demonstrated to have significant and plausible biological activity in animal, in vitro, and short-term human studies, and these should be supported by observational epidemiological analyses. This chapter reviews evidence about vitamins and minerals as possible cancer-protective agents, emphasizing carotenoids (notably beta-carotene), natural vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium, vitamin C, calcium, vitamin D and folic acid. It is helpful to group agents according to apparent primary mechanism of effect, such as antioxidant (and/or pro-oxidant) effects for beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, phenolic compounds and isothiocyanates. Certain conditions associated with increased concentrations of free radicals and reactive oxygen species-like smoking, aging and reduced glutathione levels-must be assessed as confounders. However, these chemicals generally have multiple effects, which also may complicate reliance on intermediate end points. To choose target populations, dosages and durations for interventions, it is essential to distinguish between overcoming a relative deficiency of the micronutrient in the diet and the circulation and providing a pharmacological dose. Selenium and beta-carotene are important examples of agents that may be protective at the high end of the normal diet-based distribution of serum values, but may be toxic-somehow-at much higher levels. We are becoming more aware that it is a long leap from associations observed or deduced in epidemiological studies to the design and demonstration of successful chemopreventive interventions with single agents or with combinations or mixtures. When interventions fail to support the hypotheses from observational epidemiology, it may be necessary to reconsider the hypotheses. Furthermore, effects may vary remarkably at different tumour sites.
The conditional Shapley–Shubik measure for ternary voting games

Abstract Ternary voting games (TVGs) model situations where a voter has three options, which can be thought of as yes, no, and abstention. This paper presents ϕ ˜ , an extension of the Shapley–Shubik power measure to ternary voting games. ϕ ˜ measures a voter's power as the probability that the voter will be pivotal given that they do not abstain. This contrasts with other extensions of the Shapley–Shubik measure to TVGs, which measure power as the probability that a player's vote is pivotal no matter what that vote is. Desirable properties of power measures in SVGs are extended to TVGs and ϕ ˜ is shown to satisfy these properties.
Profile of Alexander Y. Rudensky, winner of the 2018 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science.

In October 2017, the Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation announced the names of the latest winners of the renowned “genius” grants: fellowships awarded for “originality, insight, and potential,” to outstanding scientists, writers, visual artists, and members of other professions. Of the 24 fellows selected, at least one-third are immigrants to the United States, working in fields as varied as immunology, anthropology, psychology, social work, and creative writing. Foreign-born scientists in the United States are routinely well-represented among recipients of prestigious honors, including the Nobel Prizes and election to the National Academy of Sciences, to name but a couple of high honors bestowed on scientists. Alexander Y. Rudensky. Image courtesy of The Vilcek Foundation. T regs in the T cell zone of a lymph node. Foxp3 is shown in blue, CD4 in green, T-bet in red, and CD44 in white. Image courtesy of Alejandra Mendoza (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City). Immunohistochemical staining of a human triple-negative breast cancer tumor with anti-Foxp3 antibody (brown) and hematoxylin. Image courtesy of Hannah Y. Wen (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City). In 2005, the New York City-based Vilcek Foundation began an annual prize program to recognize exceptionally accomplished foreign-born scientists working in the United States. The program’s mission is to raise public awareness of the role of immigrant talent in sustaining the nation’s global leadership in science, technology, and the arts. The Vilcek Foundation’s prize winners are chosen by accomplished peers and receive a cash award of $100,000. Since 2009, the Vilcek Foundation has also recognized promising young scientists who have carved a niche for themselves early in their careers through pathbreaking work that has caught the attention of the scientific community; each winner of the Creative Promise Prize currently receives a $50,000 cash award* (concomitantly, the Vilcek Foundation recognizes foreign-born … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jan.vilcek{at}nyumc.org. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Structural analysis of affinity matured antibodies and laboratory-evolved enzymes.

Publisher Summary This chapter reveals that directed evolution and antibody affinity maturation offer efficient routes to redesigning proteins for new functional characteristics. Adaptive mutations and well-defined selection pressures allow structural analysis of the evolved products to provide insights into the molecular basis of protein structure and function. The chapter describes the structural studies that highlight the importance of mutations away from the active site. Importantly, both close and distant productive mutations in both affinity-matured and directed evolution generated enzymes are found to ‘‘tweak’’ the desired enzyme function, by interacting with key areas of the protein scaffolding. X-ray structural characterization of both the ‘‘before’’ and ‘‘after’’ evolved protein structures provided the first opportunity to point out the location of critical mutations and key areas of the protein scaffold that have been found to modulate and attenuate overall enzyme function.
Simulation as an Approach to Social-Ecological Integration, with an Emphasis on Agent-Based Modeling

In the past, research efforts in the ecological and social sciences were mostly independent endeavors, but that is changing rapidly. Today, questions regarding sustainability are broad in scope and with outcomes so important to societies that studying the linkages between ecological and social systems has become paramount. A means of understanding those linkages is through computer simulation. Here we focus on simulations that use processed-based or rule-based approaches to simulate events or behaviors through time. Such methods have been used in ecological research for decades, and are expanding in social sciences. We summarize the utility of simulation approaches, and then describe some aspects of integrated modeling. Agent-based modeling is introduced in more depth, and its advantages and disadvantages are reviewed. We give an example of integrated modeling in Samburu District, Kenya, review a long-standing example of agent-based modeling that uses learning by agents and network structures, and provide an analysis of wet- versus dry-season livestock dispersal using agents that represent Kenyan pastoralists.
The Normal Personality: Reinterpretation of Myers-Briggs Personality Types

The most widely used assessment of normal personality traits is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). In this chapter, I compare the RMP with the MBTI. I put forth the following four hypotheses relevant to both scientific and professional interests. Hypothesis 1. The MBTI is a valid measure of a narrow range of human motivation and is not a measure of “preferred ways of perception and judgment” as commonly claimed (Myers et al., 1998). Hypothesis 2. The MBTI's four personality dimensions are too few in number to provide a comprehensive explanation of personality type. Hypothesis 3. The RMP of sixteen basic desires can validly assess all of the personality traits assessed by the MBTI without paying any attention to MBTI type theory or to Jung's theory. In contrast, the MBTI cannot validly explain all of the personality traits assessed by the RMP. Hypothesis 4. In leadership training and human development workshops, the joint use of the MBTI and the RMP stimulates the self-discovery process more fully than when only one instrument is used. Historical background Galen ( a.d. 129– a.d. 200) held that combinations of four humors — black bile (melancholic), yellow bile (sanguine), blood (choleric), and phlegm (phlegmatic) — determine our personalities. Galen hypothesized that individuals produce different amounts of each humor — your personality, for example, depends on the relative amounts of each humor specific to your body. Galen's theory of humors dominated personality typing from about a.d. 200 until the nineteenth century.
THE REGULATION OF MEMBRANE LIPID COMPOSITION IN THERMALLY-ACCLIMATED POIKILOTHERMS

ABSTRACT This report reviews the effects of temperature acclimation upon membrane fatty acid and phosphatide composition in poikilothermic organisms and the metabolic adaptations presumed to be responsible for the restructuring of membrane lipids. The regulation of membrane fatty acid composition is discussed in the context of (1) those metabolic processes which may directly influence the composition of the fatty-acyl coenzyme A pool (such as the capacity to produce unsaturated fatty acids) and (2) those processes which may result in the selective incorporation of specific fatty acids (acyl- and phosphotransferase reactions) from the acyl CoA pool into membrane lipids. It is concluded that high rates of unsaturated fatty acid production may be more important during adaptation to cold temperatures than in fully cold-acclimated organisms, but that adjustments in the desaturation rates of specific fatty acids may contribute to the steady state fatty acid composition of cold-acclimated organisms. Results of experiments with isolated hepatocytes prepared from thermally-acclimated trout demonstrate: (1) higher absolute rates of lipogenesis in cold-acclimated trout; (2) a higher level of unsaturated fatty acid production in warm-acclimated trout; and (3) adjustments in the ability of hepatocytes from cold-acclimated trout to metabolize linolenic acid at cold temperatures, involving compensations in both desaturase and acyltransferase activities. It is further concluded that temperature dependent substrate preferences of acyl- and phosphotransferase enzymes may also contribute to the restructuring of membrane lipids.
Adenomatous polyposis coli interacts with flap endonuclease 1 to block its nuclear entry and function.

In previous studies, we found that adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) blocks the base excision repair (BER) pathway by interacting with 5′-flap endonuclease 1 (Fen1). In this study, we identify the molecular features that contribute to the formation and/or stabilization of the APC/Fen1 complex that determines the extent of BER inhibition, and the subsequent accumulation of DNA damage creates mutagenic lesions leading to transformation susceptibility. We show here that APC binds to the nuclear localization sequence of Fen1 (Lys365Lys366Lys367), which prevents entry of Fen1 into the nucleus and participation in Pol-β-directed long-patch BER. We also show that levels of the APC/Fen1 complex are higher in breast tumors than in the surrounding normal tissues. These studies demonstrate a novel role for APC in the suppression of Fen1 activity in the BER pathway and a new biomarker profile to be explored to identify individuals who may be susceptible to the development of mammary and other tumors.
Insect pollinator conservation policy innovations at subnational levels: Lessons for lawmakers

Abstract Global insect pollinator declines are caused by human behaviors of land uses, habitat alteration, pesticides, and others. Policies—as mutually agreed-upon limits to behaviors to achieve shared values—are necessary for addressing complex social-ecological problems like declines of insect pollinator diversity and abundance. Despite scientific calls and public outcry to develop policy that addresses declines, multi-state agreements have not delivered such legislation nor met basic monitoring needs recommended by experts. In the absence of sweeping international agreements targeting pollinator declines, national and sub-national governments are actively deploying policies to address the pollinator health crisis. Although global monitoring and conservation agreements are needed, small-scale policy innovations represent advances in laws. These sub-national actions are effectively piloting new policy instruments in terms that have proven amenable to polarized political parties. To showcase the spectrum of policy innovations, we examine pollinator-relevant polices passed by US state-level legislatures from 2000 to 2017. This timeframe captures pre- and post-publicity of pollinator declines via colony collapse disorder, the evolving research on neonicotinoids, and highly-visible bee kills. We found 110 new laws covering apiculture, pesticides, awareness, habitat, and research. Together, they narrate an evolution of bureaucratic thinking on insects. Yet when compared to policies proposed by biologists, legislators failed to address four of ten policy targets. In politically divided nations, policies that have successfully appealed to and passed laws through sub-national assemblies are predictive of large-scale conservation bills that could win broad support for national laws and international agreements.
Forecasting credit losses with the reversal in credit spreads

Abstract Lopez-Salido et al. (2017) find that there is predictable reversal in credit spreads. Because in theory credit spreads reflect expected future credit losses, we explore if the predictable reversal in credit spreads helps forecast loan charge-offs, particularly for big banks. Empirically, we find robust supporting evidence.