cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endogenous Hormone Levels and Risk of Breast, Endometrial and Ovarian Cancers:

Multiple lines of evidence support a central role of hormones in the etiology of breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers. Evidence of an association between circulating hormones and these cancers varies by both hormone and cancer site, with the most consistent associations observed for sex steroid hormones and breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. Recently, evidence has begun to accumulate suggesting an important role for endogenous hormones in premenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer and possibly ovarian cancer. In this chapter, prospective epidemiologic studies, where endogenous hormones are measured in study subjects prior to disease diagnosis, are summarized. Overall, a strong positive association between breast cancer risk and circulating levels of both estrogens and testosterone has now been well confirmed among postmenopausal women; women with hormone levels in the top 20% of the distribution (versus bottom 20%) have a two-to-three-fold higher risk of breast cancer. Evidence among premenopausal women is more limited, though increased risk associated with higher levels of testosterone is consistent. Evidence to date of hormonal associations for endometrial cancer is limited, though a strong association with sex steroid hormones is suggested. Studies of ovarian cancer have been few and small with no consistent associations observed with endogenous hormones. Clearly more evaluation is needed to confirm the role of endogenous hormones in premenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer.
Interrelationships of nuclear and cytoplasmic estrogen receptors.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the preliminary characterization of an estrogen-binding protein from the rat uterus and a theoretical model of its mechanism of amplification. The initial sensory or detection system in the uterus is the estrogen-binding site on the cytosol receptor protein. This site is analogous to the allosteric or feedback control site in aspartate transcarbamylase. The amplification system involves a conformational transition of the protein due to estrogen-binding, which, in turn, permits the protein to move into or on the nucleus. Once this protein is in the nucleus, it might regulate gene expression at any of a number of sites ranging from a direct interaction with DNA to control of nuclear membrane transfer of RNA to the cytoplasm. The complex events that must be involved in gene expression and nuclear function in animal cells are difficult to visualize as being responsible for some of the cellular responses that occur within minutes after estrogen administration.
Potentially traumatic experiences and sexual health among orphaned and separated adolescents in five low- and middle-income countries

ABSTRACTOrphans and separated children (OSC) are a vulnerable population whose numbers are increasing, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Over 153 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents, including 17 million orphaned by AIDS, and millions more have been separated from their parents. As younger orphans enter adolescence, their sexual health and HIV-related risk behaviors become key considerations for their overall health. Importantly, their high prevalence of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) may put OSC at additional risk for adverse sexual health outcomes. The Positive Outcomes for Orphans study followed OSC randomly sampled from institution-based care and from family-based care, as well as a convenience sample of non-OSC, at six sites in five low-and middle-income countries. This analysis focused on the 90-month follow-up, during which adolescents 16 and older were assessed for sexual health, including age at sexual debut, past-year sex, past-year condom use, an...
Alimentary Canal and Malpighian Tubules of Ceratomegilla Fuscilabris (Muls.) (Coccinellidae, Coleoptera)

The spotted lady beetle, Ceratomegilla fuscilabris (Muls.) (erroneously Megilla maculata Deg., a subtropical species), is abundant throughout temperate United States. The adults are gregarious at the time of hibernation and may be found during the winter in clusters under bark of trees or beneath fallen leaves on well-drained slopes.
Amaurosis and Pulselessness in a Young White Woman: A Case of Takayasu Disease

Takayasu disease, first described by a Japanese ophthalmologist in 1908, is a chronic inflammatory arteriopathy characteristically diagnosed in young Oriental women. I It might be more common among the white population than previously appreciated, as its incidence is estimated to be 2.6 in 1,000,000 each year. The median delay from the first symptom to the time of diagnosis in the United States is 18 months.2 The underappreciation of this disease might contribute to this delay in diagnosis. We describe a young white woman whose ocular symptoms led to the diagnosis of Takayasu disease.
Abstract B99: Immune profiling of NSCLC tumors and matching normal lung samples by multicolor flow cytometry

With the recent advancements in cancer immunotherapy, understanding of tumor microenvironment becomes crucial to progressing oncology research. Standard method for tumor immune characterization today is traditional IHC technique with 1-2 color staining which presents certain limitations. In order to simultaneously identify immune infiltrate cellular components and parallel it with the analysis of expression of activation/suppression markers in various subpopulations, we developed a multicolor flow cytometry pipeline for freshly resected tumors. Thirty one individual biomarkers were used in several antibody staining panels with suffficientdesigned redundancy to allow crossover and address intra-experiment variability. Aliquots of the samples were frozen and stained on separate days to test for inter-assay variability. We performed flow cytometry analysis of 23 NSCLC tumors (17 adenocarcinoma, 1 adenosquamous and 5 squamous carcinoma subtypes) and matcheding normal lung tissue. Unsupervised clustering ofby 70 parameters, including percentages of cellular subtypes as well as modulator marker expression, showed distinct segregation of normal and tumor tissue samples. The immune infiltrate in resected tumors exhibited significantly decreased CD66b+ granulocytes and CD56+ NK cells (especially cytotoxic CD56+CD16+ NK cells) and highly increased CD3+ T and CD19+ B cells when compared to flow analysis of normal lung tissue. Adeno and squamous carcinomas were not segregated into separate groups by clustering analysis but rather joined together to form 3 subgroups defined by exhaustion/activation marker expression. Grouping the tumor samples by the expression of the clinically relevant PD-L1 marker in immune cells indicated that “high PD-L1” tumors tend to have highly activated T cells populations. This finding correlates with the latest views on high PD-1/PD-L1 expressing immune cells being “negatively regulated” rather than “exhausted” as the result of their extensive interaction with cancer cells. As we continue to characterize the immune profile of NSCLC tumors and paired normal lung, in conjunction with genetic and clinical information, we aim to further understanding molecular and clinical correlates that influence the tumor microenvironment and to ultimately of the mechanisms of immune response to overcome both innate and acquired resistance to immune therapy agents. Citation Format: Elena Ivanova, Robert E. Jones, Mark M. Awad, Mark A. Bittinger, Meghana M. Kulkarni, Shohei Koyama, Christina G. Almonte, Abigail A. Santos, Jessie M. English, Julianne Barlow, William G. Richards, Peter S. Hammerman, Scott J. Rodig, Raphael Bueno, Kwok-Kin Wong. Immune profiling of NSCLC tumors and matching normal lung samples by multicolor flow cytometry. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B99.
Analyse on fluorosis of drinking tea in Eerduosi in 2006

Objective To understanding fluorine of drinking tea distributed situation in Eerduosi. Methods According to agricultural area, pastoral area, half agricultural half pastoral area, township development investigation work. The fluorine content was determined by the fluoride selective ion electrode. Dental fluorosis was examined with Dean’s index. Results The mean of fluorosis content in drinking water was 0.78mg/L and in drinking tea was 2.03mg/L, the fluorosis content in drinking tea was higher than in drinking water. The prevalence rate of dental fluorosis of the adult was 49.7% and the children was 38.2%. There were 63.35% the urinary fluorosis content of adults and 47.30% children beyond 1.5mg/L. The fluorosis popular condition extremely are still stern in Hangjinqi. Conclusion Eerduosi is area of fluorosis of drinking tea.
Design of Variable Spraying System and Influencing Factors on Droplets Deposition of Small UAV

A pulse width modulation( PWM) variable spraying system based on miniature unmanned aerial vehicle was developed,and based on controllable multi- speed environment,a droplet deposition test through droplets concentration method was studied for the PWM spraying system when the UAV was hovering. The system is consisted of airborne spraying device and ground measurement and control unit.The airborne spraying device with the MCU of STM32F103 VC was remotely controlled by the ground measurement and control unit which was developed by Lab Windows / CVI through wireless data transmission module. Frequency of 10 Hz square wave and adjustable duty ratio were evaluated to control micro electric diaphragm pump,and then pressure and flow rate of the system were changed. The experiments were carried on under the condition of different distance and wind speed to get the relationship among deposition volume,duty ratio,nozzle type,and the rotate speed of centrifugal nozzle.The results showed that wind speed was the most significant factor influencing the droplet deposition.Deposition volume was distributed in a parabolic type in the collection area,gradually decreased and the deposition peak was far away from the nozzle with increasing of wind speed. Droplet diameter was not very important to deposition when wind speed was smaller than 3 m / s. When the wind speed was greater or equal to 3 m / s,the droplet was drifted of different diameters,and the deposition volume reduced significantly and moved away from the nozzle. Small droplet size( 101. 74 μm) was much easier to be drifted,and the peak concentration was 4 m far from the nozzle. Also the deposition volume of small droplet size was much lower than droplet size of 164. 00 μm and 228. 16 μm. The optimization of spraying parameters and a theoretical support to improve the quality of aviation operations were provided by the results.
SU-G-206-02: Impact of Focal Spot Sizes On CT Image Quality

Purpose: To quantify a radiology team's assessment of image quality differences between two CT scanner models currently in clinical use, with emphasis on spatial resolution that could be impacted by focal spot size. Methods: Modulation Transfer Functions (MTF) measurements were performed by scanning the impulse source insert module of the Catphan 600 at 120/140 kVp with both large (LFS) and small (SFS) focal spots and reconstructed to 2.5mm and 5.0mm thicknesses on a GE Discovery CT750 HD and a LightSpeed VCT CT scanner. MTFs were calculated by summing the 2D PSF along one-dimension to obtain line-spread-function (LSF), and calculating the Fourier Transform of the zero-padded and background corrected LSF. Spatial resolution performance was evaluated by comparing MTF curves, 50% and 10% MTF cutoff, and total area under the MTF curve (AUC). In addition, images of the Catphan high-contrast module and a Kagaku anthropomorphic body phantom were acquired from the HD scanner for visual comparisons. Results: For each scanner model, SFS was superior to LFS spatial resolution with respect to 50%/10% MTF cutoff and AUC. For the HD, 50%/10% cutoff was 4.29/7.22cm-1 for the LFS and 4.43/7.45cm-1 for the SFS. VCT outperformed HD, with 50%/10% cutoff of 4.40/7.29 cm-1 for LFS and 4.62/7.47cm-1 for SFS. Scanner model performance in order of decreasing AUC performance was VCT SFS (7.43), HD SFS (7.20), VCT LFS (7.09) and HD LFS (6.93). Visual evaluations of Kagaku phantom images confirmed that VCT outperformed HD. Conclusion: VCT outperformed HD and small focal spot is desired for either model over large focal spot in term of spatial resolution – in agreement with radiologist feedback of overall image quality. In-depth evaluations of clinical impact and focal spot selection mechanisms is currently being assessed.
Optical coherence tomography angiography of stimulus evoked hemodynamic responses in individual retinal layers

Blood flow changes are highly related to neural activities in the retina. It has been reported that neural activity increases when flickering light stimulation of the retina is used. It is known that blood flow changes with flickering light stimulation can be altered in patients with vascular disease and that measurement of flicker-induced vasodilatation is an easily applied tool for monitoring functional microvascular alterations. However, details of distortions in retinal neurovascular coupling associated with major eye diseases are not well understood due to the limitation of existing techniques. In this study, flickering light stimulation was applied to mouse retinas to investigate stimulus evoked hemodynamic responses in individual retinal layers. A spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography imaging system was developed to provide dynamic mapping of hemodynamic responses in the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer and choroid layer before, during and after flickering light stimulation. Experimental results showed hemodynamic responses with different magnitudes and time courses in individual retinal layers. We anticipate that the dynamic OCT angiography of stimulus evoked hemodynamic responses can greatly foster the study of neurovascular coupling mechanisms in the retina, promising new biomarkers for retinal disease detection and diagnosis.
Estimation of the Transient Response of a Tuned, Fractionally Damped Elastomeric Isolator

Abstract This article addresses the frequency dependent properties of elastomeric vibration isolators in the context of lumped parameter models with fractional damping elements. A mass is placed between two fractional calculus Kelvin-Voigt elements to develop a minimal order system for the example case of a conventional elastomeric bushing typical of automotive suspension systems. Model parameters are acquired from measured dynamic stiffness spectra and a finite element model. The minimal order system model accurately predicts dynamic stiffness in both broadband resonant behavior as well as the lower-frequency regime that is controlled by damping. For transient response analysis, an inverse Laplace transform of the dynamic stiffness spectrum is taken via the Residue Theorem. Since the fractional calculus based solution is given in terms of problematic integrals, a new time-frequency domain estimation technique is proposed which approximates time-domain responses for a class of transient excitation functions. The approximation error is quantified and found to be reasonably small, and tractable closed-form transient response functions are provided along with a discussion of numerical issues.
High Speed Avalanche Photodiodes Beyond their Traditional Buildup Time

Due to their buildup time, the use InGaAs avalanche photodiiodes has been limited to 10-Gbps optical receivers. We review a patented technique that combats the buildup time and reduces the BER by orders of magnitude. Article not available.
Effects of Alcohol on Postoperative Adhesion Formation in Ischemic Myocardium and Pericardium

Background Postoperative formation of adhesions increases risk of complications during cardiac reoperations. We previously demonstrated that swine supplemented with vodka had a significant reduction in adhesions at sternotomy after previous thoracotomy. This follow-up study was conducted to determine reproducibility and the mechanism for adhesion reduction in swine supplemented with ethanol. Methods An ameroid constrictor was placed in the left circumflex in 14 male Yorkshire swine to induce chronic myocardial ischemia through left minithoracotomy. Animals were supplemented postoperatively with ethanol (45 g ETOH, n = 7) or sucrose (80 g SUC, n = 7) for 7 weeks, followed by a reoperative median sternotomy. Results The ETOH group had significantly fewer adhesions, thinner pericardial thickness, decreased intramyocardial fibrosis, and decreased myocardial collagen deposition compared with the SUC group. In the myocardium, ETOH animals had decreased expression of proadhesion proteins focal adhesion kinase, paxillin, integrin-β1, transforming growth factor-β1 and phosphorylated SMAD and increased expression of adhesion breakdown proteins matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9 compared with SUC animals. However in the pericardium, ETOH animals had increased expression of proadhesion proteins focal adhesion kinase, paxillin, phosphorylated paxillin, vinculin, integrin-β1, tumor necrosis factor-α, transforming growth factor-β, and phosphorylated SMAD3, and decreased expression of adhesion breakdown proteins MMP1, MMP3, MMP9, and plasmin compared with SUC animals. Conclusions Alcohol supplementation substantially reduced postoperative pericardial adhesion formation, attenuated pericardial thickening, and reduced myocardial fibrosis in response to chronic ischemia. Alcohol supplementation modulates adhesion protein and MMP/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase expression, favoring a profile associated with reduced pericardial adhesions. These results suggest that the myocardium is the driving factor in reducing pericardial adhesions and mediating the postoperative healing process.
U.S. Veteran Health Care Utilization Increases after Caregivers’ Use of National Caregiver Telephone Support Line

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established the national Caregiver Support Line (CSL) in February 2011. The CSL is operated by licensed master's degree social workers who provide caregivers of veterans with information about caregiver benefits and services, counseling, and referrals to a caregiver support coordinator at the nearest VA medical center. The authors compared differences in veteran health care utilization patterns in the six months before and after a caregiver call to the CSL, hypothesizing that veterans with caregivers using the CSL had improved access to health care services and improved access increased utilization of health care. A pre- and posttest design was used. CSL calls that resulted in referrals to VA health care services or to local VA caregiver support coordinators were included in the sample. Data were extracted from the CSL database and matched to veteran care utilization data using veteran medical record data. Veteran inpatient stays for general medicine, hospice, respite, and long-term care significantly increased after the CSL call, but other inpatient stays (surgery, neurology) did not. Outpatient services for home health, respite, and mental health all significantly increased. Caregivers' use of the national CSL may help facilitate access for veterans to needed care services.
Membership Matters: Why Members Engage with Professional Associations

Professional associations face the challenge of member engagement. This study examined the effects of members’ need fulfillment and perceived organizational support on their attitude toward the professional association and engagement with the association with a survey of 13,229 members from 18 associations. More specifically, this analysis focused on members’ perceptions of need fulfillment and organizational support as motivations of member engagement. Our results suggested that member perception of need fulfillment and organizational support positively influenced their attitude toward their association, which was positively related to their engagement with the association in volunteering and donating funds. In addition, members’ perceived support from the association was found to motivate their engagement with the association. Moreover, we identified gaps in members’ volunteering behavior between junior and senior members: career status significantly moderated the relationship between attitude toward and volunteering for the association, with junior members showing a stronger effect. The theoretical and practical implications of this study were discussed.
Abstract P121: Left Atrial Function Predicts Heart Failure Hospitalization in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease and Normal Ejection Fraction: Data from the Heart and Soul Study

Background: Half of all hospitalizations for heart failure (HF) occur in patients with normal ejection fraction (EF). Because left atrial (LA) function contributes up to thirty percent of left ventricular stroke volume, we hypothesized that LA function would predict HF hospitalization in subjects with normal EF. Methods: We performed resting transthoracic echocardiography in 855 patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) and normal EF (≥ 50%). We calculated left atrial functional index (LAFI) as [(LAEF x LVOT VTI)/(LAESVI)], where LAEF = LA emptying fraction, LAESVI = LA end-systolic volume indexed to body surface area, and LVOT VTI = left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral. LAEF was defined as (LAESV-LAEDV)/LAESV). We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate LAFI as a predictor of HF hospitalization during a median follow-up of 7.9 years. Results: LAFI was normally distributed with a mean of 42.3 ± 18.6 units. During 5621 person-years of follow-up, 106 subjects had a HF hospitalization. Rates of HF hospitalization were inversely proportional to quartile of LAFI: Q1 (0.5-29.2): 47 per 10 person-years; Q2 (29.3-40.8): 18; Q3 (40.8-53.4): 9.5; Q4 (53.4-160): 5.3 (p Conclusions: Reduced left atrial function strongly predicts HF hospitalization in subjects with CHD and normal EF, even after adjustment for a wide range of clinical and echocardiographic covariates. These findings suggest that LA failure plays an important role in HF and may represent a potential target for preventative or therapeutic efforts.
POLÍTICAS DE DES-ESPECIFICACIÓN Y LA “CONEXIÓN ARGENTINA” EN REX DE JOSÉ MANUEL PRIETO

Este articulo explora la produccion literaria del escritor cubano Jose Manuel Prieto (1962), mas especificamente, la tercera novela de su "trilogia rusa", Rex (2007). En Rex Prieto desarrolla una n...
Implementing directional Tx-Rx of high modulation QAM signaling with SDR testbed

One of the main factors for designing a wireless communication system is the bandwidth. Utilizing a higher modulation scheme, like 256-QAM, can improve the spectral efficiency and thus save the bandwidth. Other factors to be considered are the communication range for given Radio Frequency (RF) signal power and the achievable data rate. In this paper, new algorithms are proposed for obtaining a high modulation scheme in 256-QAM using directional transmission and reception for increasing spectral efficiency of the system. Our implementation uses a Software Defined Radio (SDR) testbed platform. The experimental results are obtained using Universal Software Defined Radio Peripheral (USRP) and LabVIEW software. The constellation diagram and eye diagram of 128-QAM and 256-QAM modulation schemes are plotted. Furthermore, the performance of the system is calculated by varying in the range between transmitter and receiver using the directional antennas. The impairments produced by the system like frequency offset, frequency drift, phase offset, In phase/Quadrature (I/Q) offset, modulation error ratio, IQ gain imbalance, magnitude error of peak, phase error of peak are measured. From the numerical values of these parameters, various performance metrics of the system are calculated.
Improving stability of cyclopentanone aldol condensation MgO-based catalysts by surface hydrophobization with organosilanes

Abstract Cyclopentanone is a promising building block in the conversion of biomass to fuels. It can be readily obtained from furanics derived from biomass and can be converted to intermediate products in the molecular weight range compatible with fuels via C C bond forming reactions. Among them, aldol condensation is a promising route. Conventional MgO catalysts are intrinsically active to catalyze this reaction, but they usually exhibit low surface areas and low stability in the presence of liquid water. The nitrate-citrate combustion method results in high surface area oxides with high condensation activity, but they are still susceptible to water attack. Here, we show that hydrophobic MgO-based catalysts functionalized with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) exhibit remarkable stability in the liquid phase under conditions in which a conventional MgO deactivates in short time.
Demystifying the hidden hand: capital and the State at Blair Mountain

The Battle of Blair Mountain is an important episode in American and world history that illuminates central tenets of the current American socioeconomic system. The artifacts from the battle as well as documentary evidence and oral history show that the events of the battle are part of a larger system of exploitation that continues today. Initial analysis of the artifacts from the battle allows insight into fundamental workings of the emergence and maintenance of capitalism. Archaeological work has been central in addressing issues and injustices within this system, as shown in preservation work at Blair Mountain.
Permian Global Bio-Events

Permian global bio-events have been largely overshadowed by the end-Permian mass extinction, the highest-order bio-event of the Phanerozoic, which seems to have affected much of the Upper Permian. Regional marine bio-events are known from Lower Permian, but lack of attention and correlation difficulties have made it difficult to determine whether these events are truly global in nature. At least two global tetrapods events are known from taxonomic studies during the Lower Permian but have not been tied to specific sections. The end-Permian Event is associated with numerous geologic, climatic and geochemical perturbations, several of which may have contributed to the extensive extinctions. Sea-level change and associated habitat destruction, climatic instability and other factors were particularly important.
Inflammation, Obesity, Barrett’s Esophagus, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Esophageal adenocarcinoma arising in metaplastic Barrett’s esophagus is one of the most rapidly increasing cancers in Western countries. Accumulating epidemiological evidence provides support that both chronic reflux injury and being overweight are strongly associated with the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is proposed that being overweight could contribute to increased predisposition to reflux by mechanically disrupting the physiological mechanisms that prevent reflux injury to the esophagus. Furthermore, mechanistic investigations also provide a link between being overweight to the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma through increased loco-systemic injury response and metabolic syndrome. Together these observations provide the basis for the hypothesis that being overweight could be a key early trigger for the initiation and an ongoing stimulus for the progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma. In this chapter we will summarize the existing data that supports this hypothesis and discuss ongoing and future investigations to address this hypothesis that links obesity to risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
"Family Process" Investments That Matter for Child Well-Being.

This chapter discusses family process investments in child well-being are defined as those parental actions aimed at preserving or enhancing child development. Indirect investments include such things as deciding where to live, determining what school or daycare a child will attend, joining the PTA, deciding to spend extra hours at work so that the family will have more money, taking part in a social or political organization, and so forth. Parent efforts to stimulate children take many forms, from talking to children to reading to them, to teaching specific skills, to involving children in household activities and family projects. Parents also often seek to protect children from pathogenic conditions such as pollutants, passive cigarette smoke, physical hazards, and exposure to heavy metals. The majority of preschool children have access to some type of electronic device to play music or story tapes and records.
Uncounted Deaths: Estimating Postdischarge Pediatric Mortality.

Madrid et al1 explored the “hidden” mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: children who die after hospital discharge. Their study revealed a postdischarge mortality within the first 90 days after hospital discharge of 3.6%, which is consistent with the results of previous studies.2,3 One-half of the deaths occurred within 30 days of discharge, and >80% of the deaths occurred without families subsequently seeking medical attention in this semirural setting. The authors used demographic and clinical variables collected at the time of hospital admission to derive models that were predictive of postdischarge mortality. Several models were derived, including those without laboratory variables that would be scalable in resource-limited settings and models used to specifically target postdischarge mortality in infants <3 months of age, when postdischarge mortality is highest. The validation of these models in other resource-limited settings will be crucial. An optimal risk-stratification tool for postdischarge mortality would include variables that were already collected as part of routine care (or low-cost, readily available tests), have high interobserver reliability, and can be used across different pediatric age cohorts. The model would be used to identify children early enough … Address correspondence to Andrea T. Cruz, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 6621 Fannin St, Suite A2210, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: acruz{at}bcm.edu
Levamisole adulterated cocaine associated ANCA vasculitis: review of literature and update on pathogenesis.

Levamisole is an antihelminth drug and a common cocaine contaminant, present in an estimated 71% of cocaine samples in the US. Levamisole-contaminated cocaine has been linked to an ANCA-associated ...
Estimating gene expression from high-dimensional DNA methylation levels in cancer data: A bimodal unsupervised dimension reduction algorithm

Abstract Recent molecular and genetic studies have revealed the importance of DNA methylation, a key epigenetic mark, in regulating gene expression and the abnormal profiles of DNA methylation in various diseases including cancer. Here, unsupervised learning methods that are geared towards high-throughput DNA methylation analysis are used to extract useful information from high-dimensional genome wide methylation data in order to provide crucial insights for accurate early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Herein, these methods are highly dependent on the performance of an earlier step of dimension reduction that aims to find the best subset of attributes to be retained for learning. Widely used algorithms in the literature commonly suffer from resulting in trivial cluster structures and failing to shed light on the relationship between DNA methylation and cancer types due to their myopic and arbitrary search mechanisms. Addressing this issue, we introduce a bimodal unsupervised dimension reduction algorithm (BOUNDER) that identifies the best subset of loci for downstream analysis considering the variability and redundancy across all the samples using bimodal modeling before it feeds into the learning method. BOUNDER models each locus as a bimodal representation using a piecewise linear function with two segments and filters the informative loci based on the fitted line characteristics. To the best of our knowledge, the work presented here is the first study that uses bimodal modeling in unsupervised learning in DNA methylation analysis. BOUNDER is tailored for DNA methylation analysis using a detailed parameter tuning analysis. The performance of BOUNDER is benchmarked against those of widely used conventional algorithms using real lung, breast, kidney, and urological cancer datasets obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus in terms of their accuracies in hierarchical clustering and k-means clustering. Computational experiments reveal that BOUNDER outperforms the PCA and filtering based approach by providing the highest accuracy in 6 out of 9 datasets while providing more interpretable results through a correlation analysis. The BOUNDER algorithm is also shown to be more robust when compared to multiple other conventional dimension reduction algorithms across different datasets.
What Is a Resource: Toward a Taxonomy of Resources for Employee Engagement:

Research detailing employee engagement has reliably stated that resources are significant to fostering engagement. Notwithstanding, no previous work has attempted to make meaning of those resources...
Actualizing Social Justice in Academic Advising: The Importance of Self-Care

This article focuses primarily on the necessity of critical self-care for staff dedicated to social justice while advising diverse student populations. Applying social justice approaches to academic advising is considered a best practice in the field of student affairs; however, making this a reality can be challenging and emotionally draining. As academic advisers commit to actualizing social justice in advising practices, feelings of burnout and fatigue may increase. This article pulls from currently recommended advising approaches while cross-referencing self-care in social justice work to supplement academic advising as a best practice. This article focuses on benefits, barriers, and action steps to nurture self-care while advising diverse students.
Sexual activity, contraceptive use and sexual violence among Asian high school students in the United States

Abstract Objective To compare the prevalence of sexual behaviors and experiences between Asian high school students in the U.S. and students of other race/ethnicities. Study Design We pooled the 2013, 2015 and 2017 rounds of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 42,854). Logistic regression was used to identify differences between racial/ethnic groups and by sex. Results Compared to their peers, a smaller proportion of Asian students reported engaging in sexual behaviors or using contraception, including prescription methods, at last sex. Asian students also reported fewer experiences of forced sexual intercourse compared to their peers. Conclusions These findings demonstrate distinct patterns in Asian students’ sexual health behaviors compared to their peers. Future research should examine determinants of these differences. Implications Filling a gap in the literature, these data can inform education and health practices that support the sexual and reproductive health needs of Asian and all adolescents in the country.
A Simplified Nicolson–Ross–Weir Method for Material Characterization Using Single-Port Measurements

We present a simplified Nicolson–Ross–Weir (NRW) material characterization procedure that employs only a single-port network analyzer for data collection. This approach is particularly attractive for mmW and THz applications, as it eliminates the need for costly two-port instrumentation required in the conventional NRW method. Akin to the well-known adapter removal techniques, we use two successive calibrations of the defined measurement ports and deduce the two-port response of the sample under test. Subsequently, the conventional NRW procedure can be employed to simultaneously determine permittivity and permeability of the material under test. We demonstrate our approach for the WR8.0 waveguide band (90–140 GHz) using a multioffset-short calibration method. Similar to the two-port through–reflect–line calibration, the multioffset-short process determines the propagation constant of the waveguide, which provides additional verification of the quality of the collected measurements and the validity of the NRW procedure. We demonstrate that the simplified one-port NRW method is as effective in performance as the conventional two-port procedure. To our knowledge, this is the first-time realization of the single-port NRW method for mmW and THz bands.
3D printed antimicrobial PLA constructs functionalised with zinc- coated halloysite nanotubes-Ag-chitosan oligosaccharide lactate

and S. epidermidis are the most common bacteria responsible for causing implant infections. We propose that 3D-printed antimicrobial biomedical devices are a rational solution for the prevention o...
Compositional Analyses Reveal Relationships among Components of Blue Maize Grains

One aim of this experiment was to develop NIR calibrations for 20-grain components in 143 pigmented maize samples evaluated in four locations across New Mexico during 2013 and 2014. Based on reference analysis, prediction models were developed using principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares (PLS). The predictive ability of calibrations was generally low, with the calibrations for methionine and glycine performing best by PCR and PLS. The second aim was to explore the relationships among grain constituents. In PCA, the first three PCs explained 49.62, 22.20, and 6.92% of the total variance and tend to align with nitrogen-containing compounds (amino acids), carbon-rich compounds (starch, anthocyanin, fiber, and fat), and sulfur-containing compounds (cysteine and methionine), respectively. Correlations among traits were identified, and these relationships were illustrated by a correlation network. Some relationships among components were driven by common synthetic origins, for example, among amino acids derived from pyruvate. Similarly, anthocyanins, crude fat, and fatty acids all share malonyl CoA in their biosynthetic pathways and were correlated. In contrast, crude fiber and starch have similar biosynthetic origins but were negatively correlated, and this may have been due to their different functional roles in structure and energy storage, respectively.
Anatomical Location of Initial and Repeat Mandible Fractures: A 5-Year, Multi-Institution Retrospective Study

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to investigate new fracture patterns resulting from low velocity mechanisms in subjects who had previously fractured their mandible and had been treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) or closed reduction. Methods and Materials A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was designed to analyze subjects presenting at 2 tertiary care centers with mandibular fractures with specific interest in subjects who had repeat mandible fractures. Variables recorded included demographic (age, sex, etc) data, fracture location of all fractures treated, and the location of previous fracture. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were completed of the data. Results The sample included a total of 492 subjects and 875 total fractures from both institutions. Four hundred fourty-four (91.1%) were male. The average age of all subjects was 36.4 ± 14.9 years. Twenty-six (5.28%) subjects were previously treated for a mandible fracture. All subjects’ subsequent fractures occurred outside of previous ORIF except for 1 subject. Original fracture location (P = .596) and previous ORIF type (P = .689) did not influence if the subsequent fracture was within a site of previous ORIF. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that repeat mandible fractures are relatively rare, likely to occur only 5% of the time at large tertiary care centers. The repeat fracture is not likely to occur in a site of previous ORIF, regardless of the ORIF modality. Furthermore, the fracture is likely to occur on the contralateral side. This is 1 of the largest data sets on repeat mandible fractures, which, given their rarity, are difficult to study.
Measuring The Impacts of a Natural Disaster on Visitor Confidence

This study examined the effect of Hurricane Matthew on visitor intent to travel to US South Atlantic destinations along the hurricane path two weeks after hurricane landfall. Researchers also studi...
Effectiveness of ph gene in inducing homoeologous chromosome pairing in agrotricum

We observed pairing, when the ph gene was present, between wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em. Thell.) chromosome 4B, and an Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauv. chromosome (Ai) carrying a gene resistant to wheat streak mosaic (WSM). In a monosomic addition polyhaploid [2n = 22 = 19' + 5B' (ph) + 4B' + Ai'], we recorded an average of 4.1 bivalents and 0.3 trivalents per cell. Induced homoeologous pairing was most effective when both 5B chromosomes carrying ph gene were present. Our data suggest that chromosome 4B of wheat and the Agropyron chromosome (Ai) carrying a gene for resistance to WSM are homoeologous and that it is possible to use either ph mutant or nullisomic 5B stock to induce genetic recombination between the two chromosomes.
Alienated Adolescents: How Can Schools Help?

Summary Although the actual causes of alienation are complex and perhaps situation-specific, recent research clearly demonstrates connections between adolescent alienation and the school environment. With public concern over increases in teenage suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, pregnancy, and violence, schools must find ways to decrease students' feelings of alienation, if possible. Proposed here are nine interventions that address many of the issues surfacing in research on alienated adolescents' perceptions of the school environment. All nine can be implemented fairly easily; the resources are available to nearly every school in the country. There is little that we, as educators, can do about students' socioeconomic status, ethnic affiliation, or academic ability. What we can change, however, is the school setting—students' relationships with each other, teachers' relationships with students, the learning experiences provided in the school, and the attention given to student concerns.
Leukocyte adhesion, edema, and development of postischemic capillary no-reflow

The aim of this study was to determine whether the formation of edema that occurs secondary to the neutrophil-dependent increase in microvascular permeability contributes to the genesis of no-reflow in postischemic skeletal muscle. To address this issue, four experimental approaches were used. In the first group, capillary perfusion was assessed in nonischemic canine gracilis muscles in which interstitial fluid volume was increased to a level similar to that in postischemic muscle. In the second and third groups, edema formation was prevented in postischemic skeletal muscles by administration of phalloidin or a hypertonic hyperosmotic saline-dextran solution (HSD; 7.5% saline-6% Dextran 70), and the extent of capillary no-reflow was assessed. In the final group of experiments, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) that binds to the common beta-subunit of the leukocyte integrin CD11/CD18 (MAb IB4) was administered after the development of postischemic edema, and capillary perfusion was determined. Formation of edema in nonischemic preparations and ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) were associated with marked reduction in the number of patent capillaries per fiber (1.2 +/- 0.1 and 0.4 +/- 0.1, respectively) compared with nonedematous nonischemic controls (2.5 +/- 0.3). Treatment with phalloidin or HSD prevented edema formation and attenuated the reduction in the number of patent capillaries per fiber (1.62 +/- 0.2 and 1.71 +/- 0.2, respectively) induced by I-R, whereas administration of MAb IB4 after the formation of edema in reperfused muscles failed to limit capillary no-reflow (0.5 +/- 0.1 patent capillaries/fiber).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ligand control in the photochemical generation of high-valent porphyrin-iron–oxo derivatives

Visible-light irradiation of photo-labile bromate porphyrin-iron(III) salts gave iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin radical cations (compound I model) or the neutral iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin (compound II model), depending on the electronic structure of porphyrin ligands.
Objective Estimates Improve Risk Stratification for Primary Graft Dysfunction after Lung Transplantation

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a major cause of early mortality after lung transplant. We aimed to define objective estimates of PGD risk based on readily available clinical variables, using a prospective study of 11 centers in Lung Transplant Outcomes Group (LTOG). Derivation included 1255 subjects from 2002–2010; with separate validation in 382 subjects accrued from 2011–2012. We used logistic regression to identify predictors of grade 3 PGD at 48/72 hours, and decision curve methods to assess impact on clinical decisions. 211/1255 subjects in the derivation and 56/382 subjects in the validation developed PGD. We developed 3 prediction models, where low-risk recipients had a normal BMI (18.5–25 kg/m2), COPD/CF, and absent or mild PH (mPAP< 40mmHg). All others were considered higher-risk. Low-risk recipients had a predicted PGD risk of 4–7%, and high-risk a predicted PGD risk of 15–18%. Adding a donor-smoking lung to a higher-risk recipient significantly increased PGD risk, although risk did not change in low-risk recipients. Validation demonstrated that probability estimates were generally accurate and that models worked best at baseline PGD incidences between 5–25%. We conclude that valid estimates of PGD risk can be produced using readily-available clinical variables.
Routes to Alkene and Epoxide Functionalized Nanoporous Materials from Poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-lactide) Triblock Copolymers

Nanoporous materials with inherently tunable surface chemistries are poised to have a considerable impact in catalysis, separations, and nanopatterning. Using core−shell cylinder forming polystyrene-b-polyisoprene-b-polylactide (PS−PI−PLA) triblock terpolymers as templates, we were able to prepare aligned PI-coated nanoporous PS monoliths via the degradative removal of the cylindrical PLA cores. PS−PI−PLA precursors were synthesized using a combination of anionic (PS, PI) and ring-opening (PLA) polymerizations. The degree of order, alignment, and PLA degradation achievable was a strong function of molecular weight at a given triblock terpolymer composition. For intermediate molecular weight samples (25−28 kg mol-1), greater than 95% of the PLA was hydrolyzed through exposure of the monolith to a 0.1 wt % sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution in 0.5 N NaOH. However, low (17.5 kg mol-1) and high (46.8 kg mol-1) molecular weight samples of identical composition showed considerable resistance to PLA degradati...
Estimation with Multitemporal Measurements

This paper studies measurements that are mathematical functions of states at more than one time instance where the exact time instances may not be known. For consistency of discussion, they are referred to as multitemporal measurements. Many sensors that rely on received light waves, sound waves, or other transmitted physical phenomena can have measurements that are classified as multitemporal. Even though there is a finite time between the sending and receiving of these signals, measurement estimates are commonly written as if these actions occurred simultaneously. The application of lasers for communication across large distances has provided a system where ignoring this phenomenon results in numerically significant errors. After mathematically describing the measurements, the overall multitemporal problem is discussed in the context of time-delay measurement, out-of-sequence measurement, relative state measurement, and Global-Positioning-System problems. While some research has explored the use of Global-Positioning-System signals as a means for Global-Positioning-System satellites to estimate their own orbits, that research has made simplifying assumptions that allow the multitemporal problem to be avoided. A solution using Taylor-series approximations within an extended Kalman filter is developed and shown to provide filter convergence, whereas a filter ignoring the multitemporal problem does not.