cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MALE‐MEDIATED AGGREGATION OF MALE, FEMALE AND 5TH‐INSTAR SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUGS1 AND CONCOMITANT ATTRACTION OF A TACHINID PARASITE, TRICHOPODA PENNIPES2

In 124 days of field tests, 88.7% of male, 87.3% of female, and 90.2% of 5th-instar Nezara viridula were caught on cages containing male N. viridula rather than on female or control cages. Likewise, 92% of the female and 86% of the male parasite, Trichopoda pennipes (F.), were caught on cages containing male N. viridula. Attraction of N. viridula occurs throughout the daylight hours, but is strongest in a 5-min period immediately prior to complete darkness. The data suggest the presence of a male-emitted aggregation pheromone in N. viridula, acting concomitantly as a kairomone for T. pennipes females. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG DURCH MANNCHEN VERURSACHTE ANSAMMLUNG VON MANNCHEN, WEIBCHEN UND 5. STADIUMLARVEN VON NEZARA VIRIDULA UND GLEICHZEITIGE ANLOCKUNG DER TACHINIDE, TRICHOPODA PENNIPES Es wurden im Sommer und Herbst Kafige auf Feldern verschiedener Kulturpflanzen aufgestellt. In jeden Kafig wurden Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)-Imagines eingesetzt, die geschlechtsweise so sortiert waren, dass jeder Kafig ausschliesslich Weibchen, ausschliesslich Mannchen, oder gleiche Mengen beider Geschlechter enthielt. Freilebende N. viridula wurden von den eingesperrten Insekten angelockt. Jeweils uber 87% der Mannchen, Weibchen und der Altlarven, die angezogen wurden, kamen an die Kafige, die Mannchen enthielten. Die Schmarotzerfliege Trichopoda pennipes (Diptera: Tachinidae) wurde auch angelockt — hier fanden sich 92% der weiblichen und 86% der mannlichen Fliegen auf den Kafigen, die mannliche Wanzen enthielten. Die Anlockung der Hemipteren dauerte den ganzen Tag an, mit einer vorubergehenden, aber sehr starken Zunahme direkt vor dem Einbruch der Dunkelheit. Wir nehmen an, dass N, viridula-Mannchen ein Pheromon abgeben, das nicht nur Weibchen, sondern auch andere Mannchen, Larven und auch Schmarotzerfliegen anzieht. Das Verhalten der Insekten blieb immer gleich in den beiden Jahreszeiten, und auch die verschiedenen Pflanzenarten hatten keinen Einfluss darauf.
Using a real chromosome in a genetic algorithm for wire antenna optimization

A genetic algorithm (GA) is composed of several elements: the chromosome representation of a design, the mating and mutation methods that generate new designs from existing populations, the cost function, selection and replacement schemes, and runtime parameters like population size. The first two of these elements, which determine in large part the effectiveness of the algorithm, are the main subject of this paper. The author applied the mating and mutation methods to wire antenna problems and shows how it has performed compared to traditional binary GAs for two very different wire antenna optimizations. The first example involves the Yagi antenna, which consists of a series of parallel wires, one of which is excited by the driving source. The design requires a value for every spacing and the length of every wire. The second example involves what has been called the crooked-wire genetic antenna. This antenna consists of seven wires connected in series over a ground plane, with endpoints designated by the GA.
Adaptive output tracking control of systems with actuator failures

An adaptive control problem is addressed for systems with actuator failures, with a focus on output tracking. Necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for parametrization and output matching. Compared with state tracking, the matching conditions for output tracking are less restrictive so that adaptive actuator failure compensation control can be applied to a larger class of systems with unknown dynamics parameters as well as unknown actuator failure parameters. Such an adaptive design is presented and its performance is verified by simulation results.
Rank Revealing QR Factorization for Jointly Time Delay and Frequency Estimation

The Rank-Revealing QR factorization (RRQR) is a valuable tool in numerical linear algebra because it provides accurate information about rank and numerical null-space. In this paper, we addressed the problem of estimating the time delay and the frequencies of noisy sinusoidal signals received at two spatially separated sensors using the well known RRQR, subspace decomposition technique. Although eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) of cross spectral matrix or Singular value decomposition SVD for the data matrix based techniques provide accurate estimation, they are hard to meet real time constraints due to computational load and cost. To explore compatibility with real time applications, we proposed a RRQR method in association with the well-known MUSIC/root-MUSIC algorithm to estimate unknown parameters without using any EVD or SVD. The simulation results verify that the proposed method provide better performance than the well known EVD or SVD based methods with less computational complexity. Index-Terms: Delay and Frequency estimation, Rank-Revealing
THE ROLE OF STRESS IN THE MORTALITY OF MIDWESTERN OAKS AS INDICATED BY GROWTH PRIOR TO DEATH

Tree mortality is a critical attribute of forest ecosystems. But the factors responsible for tree mortality are poorly understood, particularly for trees in relatively healthy forests. I evaluated a conceptual model of the tree-mortality process that attributes tree death to a sequence of environmental stresses: long-term stresses that predispose trees to injury by short-term, inciting stresses. Tree-ring growth data from 63 dead overstory oaks (Quercus spp. L.) from seven Midwestern (USA) oak–hickory forests were employed as long-term records of tree vigor. Tree-ring growth data from surviving oaks from the same sites were utilized for comparison and as an indicator of year-to-year variations in environmental stress at each site. Utilizing time-series regression analysis, evidence of the action of inciting stresses was sought in the form of sudden and permanent declines, or interventions, in individual tree growth rates coincident with environmental stresses. Utilizing hierarchical regression analysis, e...
Effects of prior hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on cognition in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Objective: Despite the general consensus that youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can experience modest cognitive impairment, debate continues over the role of severe hypoglycemia (Hypo) and/or hyperglycemia (Hyper) in producing such impairment. Our aim was to determine how Hypo and Hyper experienced during brain development predict patterns of subsequent cognitive performance in youth with T1DM. Methods: We tested youth aged 5–16 yr (T1DM, n = 117; non-diabetic sibling controls, n = 58) on cognitive tasks (verbal and spatial intelligence, verbal and spatial memory, and processing speed). T1DM participants were categorized as having experienced 0, 1–2, or 3 or more (3+) Hypo episodes, as having their first Hypo episode before or after 5 yr of age and as having early (before age 5) or late (after age 5) diabetes onset. Hyper exposure was estimated with median hemoglobin A1c, adjusted for diabetes duration for each subject. Results: The group with T1DM had lower estimated verbal intelligence than sibling controls. Within the T1DM group, verbal intelligence was reduced with increased exposure to Hyper, not to Hypo. In contrast, spatial intelligence and delayed recall were reduced only with repeated Hypo, particularly when Hypo episodes occurred before the age of 5 yr. Age of onset did not explain these results. Conclusions: Hypo and Hyper have qualitatively different effects on cognitive function in T1DM that depend in part on the timing of exposure during development, independent of onset age. This information extends the known benefits of avoiding both Hypo and chronic Hyper during childhood to include preservation of specific cognitive skills.
Trellis-Search Based Soft-Input Soft-Output MIMO Detector: Algorithm and VLSI Architecture

In this paper, we propose a trellis-search based soft-input soft-output detection algorithm and its very large scale integration (VLSI) architecture for iterative multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) receivers. We construct a trellis diagram to represent the search space of a transmitted MIMO signal. With the trellis model, we evenly distribute the workload of candidates searching among multiple trellis nodes for parallel processing. The search complexity is significantly reduced because the number of candidates is greatly limited at each trellis node. By leveraging the trellis structure, we develop an approximate Log-MAP algorithm by using a small list of largest exponential terms to compute the LLR (log-likelihood ratio) values. The trellis-search based detector has a fixed-complexity and is very suitable for parallel VLSI implementation. As a case study, we have designed and synthesized a trellis-search based soft-input soft-output MIMO detector for a 4 × 4 16-QAM system using a 1.08 V TSMC 65 nm technology. The detector can achieve a maximum throughput of 1.7 Gb/s with a core area of 1.58 mm2.
J. B. S. Haldane (1949) on Infectious Disease and Evolution

CHARLES Darwin was gratefully aware of the advances in microbiology and infectious disease (ID) associated with his contemporaries, Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch. Nevertheless, in none of his works does he make substantial mention of the role of ID as a driving force in natural selection. In
Choice of Substrate in Determining Peroxidase Activity in the Amniotic Fluid

Peroxidase activity in the amniotic fluid has been measured with two different chromogens, O-dianisidine and p-phenylenediamine. No activity was demonstrable with the former substrate but was present with the latter. These results show that choice of substrate is important in determining peroxidase activity, especially in the amniotic fluid.
Direct substitution of secondary allylic alcohols with O-silylated ketene acetals in 3.0 M lithium perchlorate-diethyl ether - An alternative to the [1,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of allyl vinyl ethers

Abstract Allylic alcohols of type 1 undergo unprecedented substitution with O-silylated ketene acetals in 3.0 M lithium perchlorate-diethyl ether.
History, Environment, and the Future of the Great Plains

On the coasts Americans refer to the Great Plains, with more than a hint of contempt, as flyover country. Looking out the window of a jet or an air-conditioned auto, it seems at first view to be vast, flat, and mostly empty. Although it can be green with the rains preceding summer solstice, more often the operative color of the place is yellow. This neutral tone combined with the two dimensions of linear horizons and bowl-shaped skies gives the Plains one of its ancient names: the Horizontal Yellow. In fact, many names have been given to this enormous expanse of country stretching from Texas to Saskatchewan. Llanos, a Spanish word, has been in common use for 400 years and was eventually adopted and translated as “plains” by Northern Europeans, who had no suitable word for dry, grassy steppes. Upon first approaching the region, English speakers had appropriated a French term, Gran Prairie, to name a place as alien to Scots and Englishmen as the British Highlands would be to a Bedouin.
Will Your Social Insurance Pay Off? Making Social Security Progressivity Work for Low-Income Retirees

Although the Social Security program is progressive - meaning that the replacement rate of preretirement earnings offered by Social Security tends to rise as lifetime earnings decline - this relationship is erratic. While individuals with lower lifetime earnings receive better treatment on average, lifetime earnings are only a weak predictor of how any one person will be treated by the Social Security program. Many high-earning households receive high replacement rates, and many low-earning households fail to receive them. Thus, Social Security is not entirely effective as a social insurance program protecting low lifetime wage earners against a meager retirement. In order to make Social Security more reliably progressive - thus protecting low-earning workers and allowing them to plan more effectively for their financial future - one possible approach would be to offer a flat dollar benefit for each retiree along with an individual account whose benefits are tied directly to contributions.
Origin of the Spectral Minimum in the High Harmonics of N 2

High harmonics of N 2 exhibit a spectral minimum consistent with either geometrical interference or HOMO-1 contributions. Angle- and intensity-dependent HHG measurements are compared to simulations. The purely geometrical model is ruled out.
Advances and perspective of Broussonetia papyrifera

The advances of Broussonetia papyrifera,including the biological characteristics and comprehensive applications,chemical compositions research and analyses of organs and propagation techniques such as cutting,tissure culture and so on,are reviewed.It provides a scientific basis for further study,rational utilizations and development of Broussonetia papyrifera.
Gravitational erosion process and its simulation study progresses

Based on summarizing the progresses from the study on the formation mechanism,influencing factors,experimentation and computational models for gravitational erosion at home and abroad,the main problems within the study on the process of the gravitational erosion and its simulation at present are pointed out herein,and then the trends of both the relevant study and its development are discussed as well.
Effects of noise of singing- dancing hall on working personnel's health

Objective To study the effects of noise of singing-dancing hall on working personnel's health. Methods The noise of the 16 singing-dancing halls was measured by precise ND2-sound-level-meter. Assessment of noise of singing-dancing hall was conducted according to Hygienic standard for public place of entertainment GB9664-1996. For the 158 cases of working personnel's the self symptoms were inquired by questionnaire. The physical examination were conducted by physician.Results In the 16 singing-dancing halls,the qualified rate of noise was 7. 14%. The heart rate,SBP,DBP and FPG of the subjects exposed to the noise≤85 dB and 85 dB was 73,133 mmHg,85 mmHg,4. 85 mmol /L and 85,141 mmHg,93 mmHg,5. 07 mmol /L. And their differences were significant(P 0. 05). With the increasing of the working age,the rate of abnormal electrocardiogram will also increase. Conclusion These results suggest that noise of dancing hall have an effect on risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The health laws and the publicity of the standards should be strengthened and measures should be adopted to improve the health condition.
An Analysis of "Universal Values"

The controversy of "universal values" is a complex issue with political overtones.From a pure academic perspective,the debate has some theoretical and practical significance in solving the global issues people are facing,getting consensus and establishing a socialist core value system in our country.We need to guard against such acts that some Western countries conduct peaceful evolution under the guise of universal values and attack China's socialist democratic system.Therefore,we should put high importance on and strengthen the study of the Marxist basic theory,enhance the discriminability towards ideological issues and strengthen our political sensitivity.At the same time,we should learn the essence of universal values with a tolerant attitude towards human civilization,so as to enrich China's socialist cultural construction.
Differences Among Older Adults in the Types of Dental Services Used in the United States

The purpose of this article is to explore differences in the socioeconomic, demographic characteristics of older adults in the United States with respect to their use of different types of dental care services. The 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) collected information about patterns of dental care use and oral health from individuals aged 55 years and older in the United States. We analyze these data and explore patterns of service use by key characteristics before modeling the relationship between service use type and those characteristics. The most commonly used service category was fillings, inlays, or bonding, reported by 43.6% of those with any utilization. Just over one third of those with any utilization reported a visit for a crown, implant, or prosthesis, and one quarter reported a gum treatment or tooth extraction. The strongest consistent predictors of use type are denture, dentate, and oral health status along with dental insurance coverage and wealth. Our results provide insights into the need for public policies to address inequalities in access to dental services among an older US population. Our findings show that lower income, less wealthy elderly with poor oral health are more likely to not use any dental services rather than using only preventive dental care, and that cost prevents most non-users who say they need dental care from going to the dentist. These results suggest a serious access problem and one that ultimately produces even worse oral health and expensive major procedures for this population in the future.
Impact that Timing of Genetic Mutation Diagnosis has on Surgical Decision Making and Outcome for BRCA1/BRCA2 Mutation Carriers with Breast Cancer

Background Deleterious BRCA mutation carriers with breast cancer are at increased risk for additional breast cancer events. This study evaluated the impact that timing of identification of BRCA+ status has on surgical decision and outcome.
Relative effectiveness of B12 and dimethylbenzimidazole B12-coenzyme in thymine methyl biosynthesis.

SummaryVit. B12 was more effective in stimulating conversion of formate to thymine methyl by chick bone marrow cells than was 5,6 dimethylbenzimidazole B12-coenzyme.
Lead Arranger Reputation and the Loan Syndication Market

What is the role of lead arranger reputation in the loan syndication market? We answer this question by examining the impact of borrower bankruptcy – which we use to identify loss of reputation – on a lead arranger’s ability to syndicate future loans. Consistent with a reduced syndication ability, there is a drop in the lead arranger’s aggregate level of activity in the loan syndication market. The lead arranger shifts lending to less risky borrowers and is more likely to include security and restrictive covenants in its loans. Controlling for loan amount and borrower fixed effects, the lead arranger syndicates loans less often and finances a larger percentage of the loans that it does syndicate. Other lenders are in general less willing to participate in the lead arranger’s syndicates, but this effect is weaker in case of lenders that have done several deals with the lead arranger in the past. The negative consequences of borrower bankruptcy are stronger for small lead arrangers and are weaker in years when several other lead arrangers also suffer borrower bankruptcy. Overall, our findings support the notion of borrower bankruptcy damaging the lead arranger’s reputation, and highlight the importance of lead arranger reputation in the loan syndication market. Our findings cannot be fully explained by alternate hypotheses that only emphasize pecuniary losses incurred by the lead arranger or poor investment prospects in the lead arranger’s area of specialization. ∗Gopalan is from the Olin Business School, Washington University; Nanda is from the W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University; and Yerramilli is from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. Please direct all correspondence to Vijay Yerramilli (email: vyerrami@indiana.edu; phone: 812.855.2694).
Radiation Polymerized Graft Copolymers for Leather

Radiation cured coatings for leather have been discussed in a series of publications (1–10). Somewhat less attention has been focused on the use of radiation polymerization of vinyl monomers within the leather to modify its properties in spite of an early suggestion by Buechler (1, 3) that this should also be possible and should be considered for full grain (unbuffed) leathers.
Iodine Nutrition in Weaning Infants in the United States.

Background: As iodine is a requisite micronutrient for infant brain development, infants are at risk for iodine deficiency during the weaning period when their diet transitions from milk (breast-mi...
AEKF-Based 3-D Localization of Road Surface Images with Sparse Low-Accuracy GPS Data

This paper presents a technique for localizing road surface images acquired by a downward-facing monocular camera on a vehicle with sparse low-accuracy Global Positioning System (GPS) readings. Images are collected by reading vehicle speed through on-board diagnostics (OBD) such that distance between two neighboring images is constant. The images are then stitched to create the road surface of arbitrary length. Lastly, the three-dimensional (3-D) road surface is created and globally corrected by using the GPS and the elevation map as well as the Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter (AEKF). The advantage of this technique is the possible deployment of a sparse low-accuracy GPS due to the use of the adaptive version of Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). The proposed technique was used for localization of local roads and highways of 6.9 km total length in Blacksburg, VA. The results of the localization show the reconstructed 3-D differ from the satellite imagery data only by 7.97%.
36 Outcomes of incidentally detected ovarian cancers diagnosed at time of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in brca mutation carriers

Objectives It has been suggested that women with BRCA mutation and incidentally detected occult invasive ovarian cancer (OOC) diagnosed at the time of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) have poorer prognosis than would be expected per stage. We sought to evaluate the prevalence and clinical outcomes of BRCA-mutated patients with OOC undergoing RRSO in a tertiary referral center. Methods Patients with a BRCA mutation who underwent RRSO from 01/2005–05/2017 were identified, and records reviewed. Women with preoperative suspicion for malignancy (e.g. adnexal mass or elevated CA125) were excluded. Results 532 patients with BRCA mutation undergoing RRSO were identified. 26 (4.8%) had OOC. Median age was 55 years (range 42–75). 15(58%) patients had BRCA1, 9(34%) BRCA2, and 2(8%) had a mutation in both genes. All OOCs were high-grade serous: 10 (38%) Stage I, 8 (31%) Stage II, 8(31%) Stage III. 24(92%) patients received adjuvant platinum/taxane therapy. Of Stage III patients, 4 (50%) had microscopic disease only, 4 (50%) had suspicious intraoperative findings. At a median follow-up of 53.6 mos (7–164) no Stage I patients have recurred; 1(13%) Stage II patient and 5(63%) Stage III patients have recurred. Five-year PFS was 74% (95%CI 44–87.7%); median PFS for the cohort was 129 months (35.9-not estimable). Five-year DSS was 96.2% (95%CI 73.9–99.4%), median DSS not reached. Conclusions Consistent with prior reports, almost 5% of patients had OOC detected at time of RRSO. In contrast to prior data, the majority had early-stage disease with excellent PFS and DSS outcomes as would be expected per stage.
STIM-TRP Pathways

Receptor-evoked Ca2+ influx is a central component of the Ca2+ signal. A ubiquitous form of Ca2+ influx is activated by depletion of endoplasmic Ca2+ stores, the SOC channels. The two established Ca2+ influx channels that are activated by depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ store are the TRPC channels and the newly discovered Orai channels. The two channels can function independently and are gated by different STIM1 domains. Yet, the two channels also affect the function of each other by competition for STIM1 and by yet unresolved mechanism in which their function is required for their mutual activity. This chapter will discuss the evidence for the regulation of the Orai and TRPC channels by STIM1 and the interrelations between the two activities. The function and properties of the Orai channels and their regulation by STIM1 is extensively covered in other chapters and will only be briefly discussed here as they relate to the function of TRPC channels.
髌内侧关节囊的热挛缩对髌骨外侧位移的影响

异常的解剖结构可以导致髌骨复发性脱位,例如滑车的发育不良、髌骨上移、软组织不平衡或者四头肌伸肌机制的异常[1,2].坚固的关节囊和髌骨周围组织将髌骨维持在滑车凹槽的中心.如果关节囊和髌骨周围组织失去平衡,在膝关节屈曲和伸展时髌骨会滑向一侧或者移至滑车的边缘.近期的尸体研究报告膝关节屈曲20°时髌骨向内移动4mm进入滑车,在膝关节屈曲90°时,髌骨向外移动7 mm[3].在膝关节的进一步屈曲过程中,髌骨位于滑车内对于防止髌骨脱位起到了重要作用。
RsmG forms stable complexes with premature small subunit rRNA during bacterial ribosome biogenesis

The ribosome is the ribonucleoprotein machine that carries out protein biosynthesis in all forms of life. Perfect synchronization between ribosomal RNA (rRNA) transcription, folding, post-transcriptional modification, maturation, and assembly of r-proteins is essential for the rapid formation of structurally and functionally accurate ribosomes. Many RNA nucleotide modification enzymes may function as assembly factors that oversee the accuracy of ribosome assembly. The protein RsmG is a methyltransferase enzyme that is responsible for N7 methylation in G527 of 16S rRNA. Here we illustrate the ability of RsmG to bind various premature small subunit ribosomal RNAs with contrasting affinities. Protein RsmG binds with approximately 15-times higher affinity to premature 16S rRNA with the full leader sequence compared to that of mature 16S rRNA. Various r-proteins which bind to the 5′-domain influence RsmG binding. The observed binding cooperativity between RsmG and r-proteins is sensitive to the maturation status of premature small subunit rRNA. However, neither the maturation of 16S rRNA nor the presence of various r-proteins significantly influence the methylation activity of RsmG. The capability of RsmG to bind to premature small subunit rRNA and alter its binding preference to various RNA–protein complexes based on the maturation of rRNA indicates its ability to influence ribosome assembly.
Tandem Heterogeneous Catalysis for Polyethylene Depolymerization via an Olefin-Intermediate Process

The accumulation of plastic waste in the environment has prompted the development of new chemical recycling technologies. A recently reported approach employed homogeneous organometallic catalysts ...
A Global Analysis of Progress in Household Electrification

Universal electricity access is an important element of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and global efforts to monitor progress in electrification have recently escalated. To inform these efforts, we describe a new database of total, rural, and urban electrification rates across the world. Using transparent coding criteria and decades of data, going back to 1960 for many countries, from nationally representative surveys and official reports from 124 non-OECD countries, we uncover evidence for rapid progress in household electrification relative to earlier estimates. Our comprehensive and freely available database offers a solid baseline for tracking progress in household electrification across the world. We confirm a robust association between per capita income and household electrification and identify population density and urbanization as additional key drivers.
Review and Analysis of Coaxial Magnetic Gear Pole Pair Count Selection Effects

Magnetic gears perform the same function as mechanical gears using magnetic fields instead of interlocking teeth. A review of the design processes used in the literature demonstrates that a critical design parameter, pole pair count, is often given inadequate consideration. In addition to reviewing existing prototypes, this paper uses a parametric simulation study to analyze the impacts of pole pair counts on gear performance and illustrate how the optimal pole counts vary with gear ratio and various design parameters. This paper also introduces new ripple factors, which better correlate with torque ripple than the cogging factor used in previous papers, and illustrates why designs with non-integer gear ratios tend to have much smaller torque ripples than designs with integer gear ratios. While selecting the pole counts to minimize symmetry can reduce torque ripple, designs without any symmetry are shown to experience unbalanced magnetic forces on each rotor. Thus, it is recommended to select pole counts that result in an even number of modulators but not an integer gear ratio. This paper also reveals that, for a fixed gear ratio, a nontrivial optimum pole count minimizes the electromagnetic losses.
Design with nature now, edited by Frederick Steiner, Richard Weller, Karen M’Closkey, and Billy Fleming: Philadelphia, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2019

1969 was a momentous year. Man landed on the moon, Richard Nixon began his doomed presidency, puppets took to the airwaves on Sesame Street, Woodstock gained pop culture cache, and Ian McHarg publi...
Implementation of a nutrition screening tool to improve nutritional status of children with cancer in Singapore's largest paediatric hospital.

Poor nutritional status in children with cancer can impact treatment outcomes and mortality. Nutrition screening is a simple yet effective approach to identify malnutrition risk for early intervention. We aim to improve the identification of children with cancer at high risk of malnutrition, so that nutritional intervention and rehabilitation can commence early for these children. Our multidisciplinary team conducted a root cause analysis and concluded that the generic screening tool did not differentiate malnutrition risk for different cancer types, stage and intensity of treatment. Hence, a screening tool that considered the identified factors was tested for reliability and validity first. Subsequently, we used the Plan, Do, Study, Act model with two improvement cycles to put in place a systematic process to facilitate the implementation. The interventions included (1) instituting the tool in the electronic medical records and (2) direct referral to dietitian based on screening score. We compared pre- and post-implementation cohorts and demonstrated better identification of nutritionally at-risk patients (36.4%–85.7%, p<0.001) with the new tool as well as improved timeliness of nutritional intervention (3 days to 1 day from admission, p=0.010). A lower malnutrition rate (17.4%–6.5%, p<0.001) in the postimplementation cohort was also demonstrated. Nutritional intervention within 48 hours of admission led to an overall positive weight change at 3 months (+2.68%, IQR: −1.14 to 9.09 vs −0.43%, −6.60 to 2.29; p=0.036) in the malnourished patients from both cohorts. Further studies will be conducted to evaluate the scale of the effectiveness of early intervention and close nutritional monitoring, in improving the nutritional status of children with cancer. The collaborative partnership among the doctors, nurses and dietitians has helped to streamline and simplify nutrition screening, making it an efficient and sustainable system in our hospital.
Tuning ensemble-averaged cargo run length via fractional change in mean kinesin number

The number of motors carrying cargos in biological cells is not well-defined, instead varying from cargo to cargo about a statistical mean. Predictive understanding of motility in cells therefore requires quantitative insights into mixed ensembles of cargos. Toward this goal, here we employed Monte Carlo simulations to investigate statistical ensembles of cargos carried by a Poisson-distributed number of motors. Focusing on the key microtubule-based motor kinesin-1, our simulations utilized experimentally determined single-kinesin characteristics and alterations in kinesin's on- and off-rates caused by cellular factors and/or physical load. We found that a fractional increase in mean kinesin number enhances the ensemble-averaged cargo run length and amplifies run-length sensitivity to changes in single-kinesin on-rate and off-rate. These tuning effects can be further enhanced as solution viscosity increases over the range reported for cells. Together, our data indicate that the physiological range of kinesin number sensitively tunes the motility of mixed cargo populations. These effects have rich implications for quantitative and predictive understanding of cellular motility and its regulation.
Zombies on the Brink: Evidence from Japan on the Reversal of Monetary Policy Effectiveness

How does unconventional monetary policy affect corporate capital structure and investment decisions? We study the transmission channel of quantitative easing and its potential diminishing returns on investment from a corporate finance perspective. Using a rich bank-firm matched data of Japanese firms with information on corporate debt and investment, we study how firms adjust their capital structure in response to the changes in term premia. Investment responds positively to a reduction in the term premium on average. However, there is a significant degree of cross-sectional variation in firm response: healthier firms increase capital spending and cash holdings, while financially vulnerable firms take advantage of lower long-term yields to refinance without increasing investment.
Predicted cardiovascular risk for United States adults with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and at least 65 years of age.

Background The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood pressure (BP) guideline recommends using 10-year predicted atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk to guide decisions to initiate antihypertensive medication. Methods We included adults aged 40-79 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2018 (n = 8803). We computed 10-year predicted ASCVD risk using the Pooled Cohort risk equations. Clinical CVD was self-reported. Analyses were conducted overall and among those with stage 1 hypertension, defined by a mean SBP of 130-139 mmHg or DBP of 80-89 mmHg. In subgroups defined by diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and age at least 65 years, we estimated the proportion of United States adults with high ASCVD risk (i.e. 10-year predicted ASCVD risk ≥10% or clinical CVD) and estimated age-adjusted probability of having high ASCVD risk. Results Among United States adults, an estimated 72.3, 64.5, and 83.9 of those with diabetes, CKD, and age at least 65 years had high ASCVD risk, respectively. Among United States adults with stage 1 hypertension, an estimated 55, 36.7, and 72.6% of those with diabetes, CKD, and age at least 65 years had high ASCVD risk, respectively. The probability of having high ASCVD risk increased with age and exceeded 50% for United States adults with diabetes and CKD at ages 52 and 57 years, respectively. For those with stage 1 hypertension, these ages were 55 and 64 years, respectively. Conclusion Most United States adults with diabetes, CKD, or age at least 65 years had high ASCVD risk. However, many with stage 1 hypertension did not.
The Major Tritone Progression in Recent Hollywood Science Fiction Films

In the 2002 film Treasure Planet, composer James Newton Howard accompanies the primary shot of the titular orb with an undulation between two major triads a tritone apart. I offer three approaches to understanding the appropriateness of this image/music pairing. First, I present several scenes from recent Hollywood films that conspicuously combine this triadic progression with settings of, or objects from, outer space. Second, I relay ways in which the intrinsic harmonic and voice-leading characteristics of this triadic progression invoke the concepts of great distance, ambiguity, and unfamiliarity. Third, I conclude with a more thorough study of Howard's harmonic language in the score for Treasure Planet, suggesting that this progression and the scene it accompanies represents the culmination of musical and visual/narrative processes, respectively.
Cabinet shielding inherent in standard equipment racks not designed to provide high-performance shielding

Information technology equipment is often housed in racks enclosed as cabinets that are either poorly designed as electromagnetic shields or have not been specifically designed to provide high-performance shielding. This study examines the shielding characteristics of a class of computer systems each housed in similar cabinet racks that were not designed to provide significant levels of shielding. At frequencies above a few hundred MHz, these cabinet racks can provide shielding sufficient to be important in compliance with regulatory EMC requirements on radiated emissions. At frequencies lower than a few hundred MHz, these cabinet racks do not reliably provide significant shielding. These conclusions are based on radiated emissions testing of equipment racks with and without doors and side panels.
White-light vs. short-wavelength ultraviolet illumination of fingerprints developed with columnar thin films of Alq3

AbstractThe deposition of a columnar thin film (CTF) of Alq3 on partial-bloody fingerprints has recently been shown to yield better development than many traditional development techniques. The Alq3-CTF-developed fingerprint is illuminated by short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV) light, to take advantage of the luminescence of Alq3. Experiments were undertaken to test the hypothesis that white-light illumination of Alq3-CTF-developed fingerprints is inferior to UV illumination. Objective and subjective grading of photographs of 18 Alq3-CTF-developed fingerprints on brass strongly indicate that white-light illumination is likely to be suitable for comparison; if that fails to yield a strong conclusion, then a photograph taken with short-wavelength UV illumination should be examined by a human. This procedure would reduce not only UV-induced health hazards in the laboratory but also the chance of denaturing potentially useful DNA information contained in the fingerprint.
UV resonance Raman study of TrpZip2 and related peptides: π-π interactions of tryptophan

Aromatic interactions are important stabilizing forces in proteins but are difficult to detect in the absence of high-resolution structures. Ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy is used to probe the vibrational signatures of aromatic interactions in TrpZip2, a synthetic β-hairpin peptide that is stabilized by edge-to-face and face-to-face tryptophan π-π interactions. The vibrational markers of isolated edge-to-face π-π interactions are investigated in the related β-hairpin peptide W2W11. The bands that comprise the Fermi doublet exhibit systematic shifts in position and intensity for TrpZip2 and W2W11 relative to the model peptide, W2W9, which does not form aromatic interactions. Additionally, hypochromism of the Bb absorption band of tryptophan in TrpZip2 leads to a decrease in the relative Raman cross-sections of Bb-coupled Raman bands. These results reveal spectral markers for stabilizing tryptophan π-π interactions and indicate that ultraviolet resonance Raman may be an important tool for the characterization of these biological forces.
On characterizing nilpotent lie algebras by their multiplierst(L) = 3,4,5,6

The nilpotent Lie algebras L of dimension n whose multipliers have dimension ½n(n-1)-t(L) have been found in [2] for t(L) = 0,1,2. Using a different method, we find similar results for t(L) = 3,4,5,6. The first author is extending the results to t(L) = 7 and 8.
The Role of Bone Marrow Edema and Lymphangiogenesis in Inflammatory-Erosive Arthritis

A common feature of autoimmune diseases is the perpetual production of macrophage, dendritic and/or osteoclast effector cells, which mediate parenchymal tissue destruction in end organs. In support of this, we have demonstrated previously that patients and mice with inflammatory-erosive arthritis have a marked increase in circulating CD11b+ precursor cells, which are primed for osteoclastogenesis, and that this increase in osteoclast precursors (OCPs) is due to systemically increased TNF production. From these data, we proposed a unifying hypothesis to explain these osteoimmunologic findings during the pathogenesis of inflammatory-erosive arthritis, which has three postulates: (1) myelopoiesis chronically induced by TNF has profound effects on the bone marrow and joint tissues that should be evident from a longitudinal MRI; (2) TNF alters the chemokine/chemokine receptor axis in the bone marrow to stimulate OCP release into the blood, and (3) OCP-mediated lymphangiogenesis occurs in the end organ as a compensatory mechanism to drain the inflammation and remove by-products of joint catabolism. Here, we describe our recent experimental findings that support these hypotheses and speculate on how this information can be used as diagnostic biomarkers and tools to discover novel therapies to treat patients with inflammatory-erosive arthritis.
Conservation Genetics of Pacific Salmon. II. Effective Population Size and the Rate of Loss of Genetic Variability

A simulation model for genetic change in Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations is extended to examine the loss of genetic variability
The decision to search: is race or ethnicity important?

This manuscript examines police officer decision making during automobile stops to determine whether Black and Hispanic drivers are searched at parity with nonminorities, with particular focus on officers’ legal authority to search and controlling for other explanatory factors. Using data collected by a large Midwestern police department, we observe Blacks are overrepresented among searches overall and among searches involving greater officer discretion to search. However, neither race nor ethnic effects were observed after introducing other explanatory variables into multivariate models, suggesting factors other than minority status provide greater understanding of officers’ decision making. Results indicate minorities are differentially involved in searches because police engage minorities under characteristics consistent with searches. This suggests that it is the social context of the stop, rather than the race or ethnicity of the driver, that primarily influences searches.
A Semisupervised Robust Hydrometeor Classification Method for Dual-Polarization Radar Applications

AbstractMost of the recent hydrometeor classification schemes are based on fuzzy logic. When the input radar observations are noisy, the output classification could also be noisy, since the process is bin based and the information from neighboring radar cells is not considered. This paper employs cluster analysis, in combination with fuzzy logic, to improve the hydrometeor classification from dual-polarization radars using a multistep approach. The first step involves a radar-based optimization of an input temperature profile from auxiliary data. Then a first-guess fuzzy logic processing produces the classification to initiate a cluster analysis with contiguity and penalty constraints. The result of the cluster analysis is eventually processed to identify the regions populated with adjacent bins assigned to the same hydrometeor class. Finally, the set of connected regions is passed to the fuzzy logic algorithm for the final classification, exploiting the statistical sample composed by the distribution of ...
Perceived Hunger Is Lower and Weight Loss Is Greater in Overweight Premenopausal Women Consuming a Low-Carbohydrate/High-Protein vs High-Carbohydrate/Low-Fat Diet

The impact of a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet compared with a high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet on ratings of hunger and cognitive eating restraint were examined. Overweight premenopausal women consumed a low-carbohydrate/high-protein (n=13) or high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet (n=15) for 6 weeks. Fasting body weight (BW) was measured and the Eating Inventory was completed at baseline, weeks 1 to 4, and week 6. All women experienced a reduction in BW (P<.01), although relative BW loss was greater in the low-carbohydrate/high-protein vs high-carbohydrate/low-fat group at week 6 (P<.05). Based on Eating Inventory scores, self-rated hunger decreased (P<.03) in women in the low-carbohydrate/high-protein but not in the high-carbohydrate/low-fat group from baseline to week 6. In both groups, self-rated cognitive eating restraint increased (P<.01) from baseline to week 1 and remained constant to week 6. Both diet groups reported increased cognitive eating restraint, facilitating short-term weight loss; however, the decrease in hunger perception in the low-carbohydrate/high-protein group may have contributed to a greater percentage of BW loss.
Value of single-photon emission-computed tomography in acute stroke therapeutic trials.

The current approach in clinical trials for acute stroke is early intervention, whether it be with thrombolytic or cytoprotective therapy. There are several reasons why it is important to attain a better understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of ischemic injury in these early hours. First, the degree, location, and duration of ischemia and reperfusion phenomena may influence response to therapy as well as predict potential catastrophic consequences, so that cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements may help select or stratify patients for therapeutic intervention. Second, such studies may give us insight into the frequency and degree of successful reperfusion. Third, because of inaccuracies in even the most widely accepted clinical grading scales, it would be useful to have an objective measurement that would reinforce the clinical exam for determining patient selection and response to therapy.
Fine control of call frequency by horseshoe bats

The auditory system of horseshoe bats is narrowly tuned to the sound of their own echoes. During flight these bats continuously adjust the frequency of their echolocation calls to compensate for Doppler-effects in the returning echo. Horseshoe bats can accurately compensate for changes in echo frequency up to 5 kHz, but they do so through a sequence of small, temporally-independent, step changes in call frequency. The relationship between an echo's frequency and its subsequent impact on the frequency of the very next call is fundamental to how Doppler-shift compensation behavior works. We analyzed how horseshoe bats control call frequency by measuring the changes occurring between many successive pairs of calls during Doppler-shift compensation and relating the magnitude of these changes to the frequency of each intervening echo. The results indicate that Doppler-shift compensation is mediated by a pair of (echo)frequency-specific sigmoidal functions characterized by a threshold, a slope, and an upper limit to the maximum change in frequency that may occur between successive calls. The exact values of these parameters necessarily reflect properties of the underlying neural circuitry of Doppler-shift compensation and the motor control of vocalization, and provide insight into how neural feedback can accommodate the need for speed without sacrificing stability.