cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune cytokines and dexamethasone influence sensory regeneration in the avian vestibular periphery.

Prior studies have shown that macrophages are recruited to sites of hair cell lesions in the avian inner ear in vitro (Warchol, 1997) and in vivo (Bhave et al., 1998). Although the avian ear has a high capacity for sensory regeneration (Oberholtzer & Corwin, 1997; Stone et al., 1998), the role of macrophages in the regenerative process is uncertain. The present study examined the possible influence of macrophages and immune cytokines on regenerative proliferation in the avian utricle, one of the sensory endorgans of the vestibular system. Utricles from post-hatch chicks were placed in organ culture and hair cell lesions were created by incubation in neomycin. The cultures were then maintained for an additional 24–48 hours in vitro, and some cultures were treated with dexamethasone, which inhibits macrophage activation and cytokine production. Following fixation, resident macrophages were identified by immunoreactivity to CD68. Labeled macrophages were present in all specimens and increased numbers of macrophages were observed following neomycin treatment. Regenerative proliferation in dexamethasone-treated specimens was reduced by about 50%, relative to untreated controls. Additional experiments showed that two macrophage secretory products—TGF-α and TNF-α—enhanced the proliferation of utricular supporting cells. The results are consistent with a role for macrophages in hair cell regeneration.
MULTIMODAL IMAGING AND ELECTRORETINOGRAPHY IN LONG-CHAIN 3-HYDROXYACYL COENZYME A DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENCY

Purpose To report a case of pigmentary retinopathy in long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency using multimodal imaging techniques. Methods Case report. Results An 8-year-old boy with a history of failure to thrive and a diagnosis of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency was referred for examination. Examination revealed a pigmentary retinopathy with macular atrophy; electroretinography results were consistent with a rod-cone dystrophy. Fundus autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography revealed retinal pigment epithelium atrophy. Follow-up examination findings showed increased severity of retinopathy on electroretinography, with optical coherence tomography angiography revealing enhanced visualization of choroidal vessels. Conclusion This report reveals that long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency can be characterized as a progressive rod-cone dystrophy, with multi-modal imaging techniques used to describe this condition. In particular, optical coherence tomography angiography can be used to further characterize this condition.
Impact of Delirium After Hip Fracture Surgery on One-Year Mortality in Patients With or Without Dementia: A Case of Effect Modification

Objectives We evaluated whether delirium after hip fracture repair modifies the relationship between baseline dementia and one-year mortality after surgery. Methods Patients age 65 years and older undergoing hip fracture repair surgery at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center between 1999 and 2009 were eligible for this prospective cohort study. Baseline probable dementia was defined as either preoperatively diagnosed dementia per geriatrician or score less than 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method. Four cognitive groups were defined: 1) neither probable dementia nor delirium (NDD), 2) probable dementia only, 3) delirium only, or 4) delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). Primary outcome of mortality was obtained through hospital records, obituaries, the National Death Index, and Social Security Death Index. Results The current sample comprises 466 subjects (average age: 80.8 ± 7.0 years; 73.6% female). Of these, 77 (17%) were categorized as DSD, 68 (15%) probable dementia only, 73 (16%) delirium only, and 248 (53%) NDD. Cox regression revealed that DSD subjects had a significantly higher hazard of one-year mortality than NDD subjects (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.77) after adjusting for age, sex, medical comorbidity, and surgery duration. Trends toward greater mortality for probable-dementia and delirium only subjects were not significant (HR: 1.42 [95% CI: 0.80, 2.52] and 1.12 [95% CI: 0.64, 1.95], respectively). Conclusions Delirium after hip fracture repair surgery in patients with preoperative dementia modifies the risk of mortality over the first postoperative year. Patients with DSD have a nearly two-fold greater odds of one-year mortality than those without dementia or delirium.
Automatic Noise Figure and S-Parameter Measurements

The Hewlett Packard 8510B Automatic Network Analyzer has an additional feature available with the modified test set HP 8514B H01. This test set combines the network analyzer capability of the HP 8510B and the HP 8970B Noise Figure Meter for improved and convenient measurements of amplifiers. A software package written in BASIC 5.0 is included that will enhance operation through error correction and management of the tests. This capability of combining network measurements and noise figure measurements at a single test station is very important for the MMIC and hybrid production lines. A time saving can now be realized and some common noise figure errors may now be addressed.
Troubling Gender Norms and the Ideal Worker in Academic Life

We are suggesting that the power structure and hierarchy that are foundational to the notion of the ideal worker is more complicated for faculty who also have the ability to access forms of power. Faculty, at least full-time, tenure-line faculty, are not simply under immediate threat of dismissal and other forms of hierarchical power found in other more corporate-like organizations. And, faculty do often create the very processes of evaluation in tenure and promotion which gives them the agency to “run things themselves.” The lack of an immediate threat to job security and the agency to create the systems of evaluation initially appear to stand in contrast to the ideal worker where strict structural hierarchy and false notions of choice frame a discriminatory environment for women. In fact, evidence of some of these efforts is found in research on faculty.
Perspective: Thermal and thermoelectric transport in molecular junctions

With the advent of molecular electronics, tremendous attention has been paid towards understanding the structure-function relationship of molecular junctions. Understanding how heat is transported, dissipated, and converted into electricity in molecular junctions is of great importance for designing thermally robust molecular circuits and high-performance energy conversion devices. Further, the study of thermal and thermoelectric phenomena in molecular junctions provides novel insights into the limits of applicability of classical laws. Here, we present a review of the computational and experimental progress made in probing thermoelectric effects, thermal conduction, heat dissipation, and local heating/cooling in self-assembled monolayer and single molecule junctions. We also discuss some outstanding challenges and potential future directions.
The adverse effect of doctors’ skepticism toward prescription drugs

Purpose This study examines the use of high-expertise sources such as doctors to sell dietary supplements and the use of skeptical statements toward approved drugs in the act of selling dietary supplements. Design/methodology/approach The research questions are addressed by means of a scenario experiment that manipulated two independent variables: expertise (high- vs low-expertise) and skepticism toward prescription drugs (present vs absent). Findings Surprisingly, skeptical statements from a low-expertise source toward a prescription drug made while selling dietary supplements was found to have an insignificant effect on selling effectiveness (willingness to recommend and perceived product effectiveness). However, when a high-expertise source (doctor) did the same, selling effectiveness was reduced. Research limitations/implications The paper identifies a boundary condition for competitive selling claims of dietary supplements. Doctors are likely to get away with claims regarding the efficacy of dietary supplements until they criticize a more credible prescription drug in favor of supplements. Practical implications Claims made by a low-expertise sources and high-expertise sources in the act of selling dietary supplements must be carefully considered. Conventional wisdom tactics may be ineffective. Originality/value This paper uniquely demonstrates the role of competitive skepticism at different levels of expertise. The findings of this study suggest that managers, in especially the multi-level marketing industry, should reconsider some of their selling tactics.
Contradictions Between the Subversive and the Mainstream: Drag Cultures and RuPaul’s Drag Race

I explore contradictions between the subversive and mainstream dimensions of drag culture in RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR). I consider Butler’s (1990) gender performativity in terms of how drag is articulated by men performing femininity. I also interrogate authenticity (Hill 2009) for the way it contradicts the inauthentic spaces that drag occupies on RPDR. Additionally, I consider competition (Kavka 2012) and consumption (Silverstone 1999) as institutional and narrative aspects of RPDR. While competition and consumption imbue RPDR with purpose and legitimacy, they contradict drag culture’s fantasy and instability. I argue that while RPDR opens up unprecedented avenues of representation, it also demands identifying institutional strictures that constrain performativity. Ultimately, I interrogate the boundaries between drag as subversive and drag as mainstream in the context of RPDR.
Dreaming as inspiration: evidence from religion, philosophy, literature, and film

This paper presents evidence from the history of religion, philosophy, literature, and film to suggest that dreaming is a primal wellspring of creative inspiration. Powerful, reality-bending dreams have motivated the cultural creativity of people all over the world and throughout history. Examples include the dream revelations of Egyptian Pharaohs, the philosophical insights of Socrates, the dark literary themes of Fyodor Dostoevsky, and the cinematic artistry of Akira Kurusawa. Although the conclusions that can be drawn from these sources are limited by several methodological factors, the evidence gives contemporary researchers good reasons to explore the creative potentials of dreaming and the impact on waking life behavior of certain types of extraordinary dream experience.
Postoperative Complications of Dermis-Fat Autografts in the Anophthalmic Socket

Reconstruction of the anophthalmic socket allows the use of an ocular prosthesis and rehabilitation of facial appearance. Dermis-fat grafting is one option in volume augmentation of the anophthalmic socket and presents unique benefits, including increased surface area within the socket and the ability to grow with pediatric patients. Postoperative complications of this procedure are relatively common. Minor complications, such as graft hirsutism, keratinization, and conjunctival cysts or granulomas, are managed easily by observation or simple intervention. Major complications, such as graft atrophy, infection, or ulceration, may prevent good prosthesis fit and may require return to the operating room.
Distinguishing dynamic and static yield stress of fresh cement mortars through thixotropy

Abstract The dynamic and static yield stress of fresh cement mortar were measured in a rotational rheometer with a vane geometry using shear rate and shear stress-controlled protocols, respectively. Through a shear rate-controlled steady-state protocol, the equilibrium flow curve is measured and fitted with the Bingham model to obtain dynamic yield stress. A negative slope in the equilibrium flow curve, shear banding and stick-slip phenomena are observed and discussed. Through a stress-controlled creep-recovery protocol, viscosity bifurcation behavior is captured and static yield stress is marked as the creep stress when the bifurcation occurs. Finally, the discrepancy between dynamic and static yield stress is tied to thixotropy.
Sustained Reduction in Chlamydia Infections Following a School-Based Screening: Detroit, 2010-2015

We describe school-based screening events in four Detroit, Michigan public high schools. To examine trends, we analyzed Chlamydia trachomatis data from 2010 to 2015. Prevalence of C. trachomatis decreased significantly (P < .01): from 10.24% to 6.27%. Future school-based screening events may bring about similar results if the program is instituted in a high-prevalence area and can achieve high student participation.
Label and Immobilization Free Detection and Differentiation of Tumor Cells

This paper presents an electrical impedance spectroscopy based microfabricated sensor capable of detecting and differentiating tumor cells at single cell accuracy. Cell labeling, device functionalization, or cell capture were not required. Device consisted of a microfluidic channel etched in silicon with semi-parallel gold electrodes fabricated on channel side-walls. Device was tested with three human tumor cell lines and latex beads. All cell lines and latex beads were successfully detected. Differentiation between tumor cells from different cell lines was shown to be possible by analyzing channel impedance at two signal frequencies. Estimates for population opacity values were statistically calculated to be 1.119, 0.257, 0.664, and 0.332 for latex beads, MDA-MB-231 cells, MCF-7 cells, and SK-OV-3 cells, respectively. This device demonstrates a simple, mass-producible, and cost-effective approach for tumor cell detection in clinical and research procedures.
Revealing nonlinear neural decoding by analyzing choices

Sensory data about most natural task-relevant variables are confounded by task-irrelevant sensory variations, called nuisance variables. To be useful, the sensory signals that encode the relevant variables must be untangled from the nuisance variables through nonlinear transformations, before the brain can use or decode them to drive behaviors. The information to be untangled is represented in the cortex by the activity of large populations of neurons, constituting a nonlinear population code. Here we provide a new way of thinking about nonlinear population codes and nuisance variables, leading to a theory of nonlinear feedforward decoding of neural population activity. This theory obeys fundamental mathematical limitations on information content that are inherited from the sensory periphery, producing redundant codes when there are many more cortical neurons than primary sensory neurons. The theory predicts a simple, easily computed quantitative relationship between fluctuating neural activity and behavioral choices if the brain uses its nonlinear population codes optimally: more informative patterns should be more correlated with choices.
Aphorismi 5.28-63 and the gynaecological texts of the Corpus Hippocraticum.

This contribution examines the gynaecological sections in the fifth book of the Aphorismi, juxtaposing individual gnomai to similar information about women's diseases related elsewhere in the Corpus Hippocraticum. Although no startling contradictions exist between Aphorismi 5.28-63 and what is said in the major gynaecological treatises, the verbal similarities are not so striking as those between some Aphorismi and gnomic sections of Epidemiae. Further, it is not the major gynaecologies, but the treatise De sterilibus that displays an interest in birth prognoses similar to views offered at Aphorismi 41, 42, 44, 46, 48, 59. Finally, Galen's remarks in his commentary to the Aphorismi and elsewhere, coupled with what Soranus says in his Gynaecia about Hippocratic gynaecology, likewise underscore the fact that both authors quote from and paraphrase Aphorismi more readily than the major Hippocratic gynaecologies, such as De morbis mulierum.
Validity of the DSM-5 anxious distress specifier for major depressive disorder.

Background DSM-5 introduced the anxious distress specifier in recognition of the clinical significance of anxiety in depressed patients. Recent studies that supported the validity of the specifier did not use measures that were designed to assess the criteria of the specifier but instead approximated the DSM-5 criteria from scales that were part of an existing data base. In the present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project, we examined the validity of the specifier diagnosed with a semistructured interview. Methods Two hundred sixty patients with a principal diagnosis of major depressive disorder were evaluated with semistructured diagnostic interviews. The patients were rated on clinician rating scales of depression, anxiety and irritability, and completed self-report measures. Results Approximately three-quarters of the depressed patients met the criteria for the anxious distress specifier. Patients with anxious distress had a higher frequency of anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, as well as higher scores on measures of anxiety, depression, and anger. The patients meeting the anxious distress subtype reported higher rates of drug use disorders, poorer functioning during the week before the evaluation, and poorer coping ability compared to the patients who did not meet the anxious distress specifier. Moreover, anxious distress was associated with poorer functioning and coping after controlling for the presence of an anxiety disorder. Conclusions The results of the present study indicate that anxious distress is common in depressed patients and support the validity of the DSM-5 anxious distress specifier.
The Functional Proximal Proteome of Oncogenic Ras Includes mTORC2

Summary Proximity-dependent biotin labeling (BioID) may identify new targets for cancers driven by difficult-to-drug oncogenes such as Ras. Therefore, BioID was used with wild-type (WT) and oncogenic mutant (MT) H-, K-, and N-Ras, identifying known interactors, including Raf and PI3K, as well as a common set of 130 novel proteins proximal to all Ras isoforms. A CRISPR screen of these proteins for Ras dependence identified mTOR, which was also found proximal to MT Ras in human tumors. Oncogenic Ras directly bound two mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) components, mTOR and MAPKAP1, to promote mTORC2 kinase activity at the plasma membrane. mTORC2 enabled the Ras pro-proliferative cell cycle transcriptional program, and perturbing the Ras-mTORC2 interaction impaired Ras-dependent neoplasia in vivo. Combining proximity-dependent proteomics with CRISPR screening identified a new set of functional Ras-associated proteins, defined mTORC2 as a new direct Ras effector, and offers a strategy for finding new proteins that cooperate with dominant oncogenes.
Growth and longevity of Hawaiian grouper (Hyporthodus quernus) — input for management and conservation of a large, slow-growing grouper

Hawaiian grouper (Hyporthodus quernus) is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is regionally important, yet little is known about its life history. This large species is managed within the Deep 7 bo...
An Evaluation of the Impact of Assimilating AERI Retrievals, Kinematic Profilers, Rawinsondes, and Surface Observations on a Forecast of a Nocturnal Convection Initiation Event during the PECAN Field Campaign

AbstractNumerical weather prediction models often fail to correctly forecast convection initiation (CI) at night. To improve our understanding of such events, researchers collected a unique dataset...
Selenium Bioaccumulation Across Trophic Levels and Along a Longitudinal Gradient in Headwater Streams.

Toxic effects of selenium (Se) contamination in freshwaters have been well documented. However, study of Se contamination has focused on lentic and larger order lotic systems, whereas headwater streams have received little scrutiny. In central Appalachia, surface coal mining is a common Se source to headwater streams, thus providing a useful system to investigate Se bioaccumulation in headwater food chains and possible longitudinal patterns in Se concentrations. Toward that end, we assessed Se bioaccumulation in 2 reference and 4 mining-influenced headwater streams. At each stream, we sampled ecosystem media, including streamwater, particulate matter (sediment, biofilm, leaf detritus), benthic macroinvertebrates, salamanders, and fish, every 400 m along 1.2- and 1.6-km reaches. We compared media Se concentrations within and among streams and evaluated longitudinal trends in media Se concentrations. Selenium concentrations in sampled media were higher in mining-influenced streams compared with reference streams. We found the highest Se concentrations in benthic macroinvertebrates; however, salamanders and fish bioaccumulated Se to potentially harmful levels in mining-influenced streams. Only one stream demonstrated dilution of streamwater Se with distance downstream, and few longitudinal patterns in Se bioaccumulation occurred along our study reaches. Collectively, our results provide a field-based assessment of Se bioaccumulation in headwater food chains, from streamwater to fish, and highlight the need for future assessments of Se effects in headwater streams and receiving downstream waters. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:692-704. © 2020 SETAC.
Antidepressant Effects of (S)-Ketamine through a Reduction of Hyperpolarization-Activated Current Ih

Summary Compelling evidence suggests that a single sub-anesthetic dose of (R,S)-ketamine exerts rapid and robust antidepressant effects. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of (R,S)-ketamine remain unclear. Here, we show that (S)-ketamine reduced dendritic but not somatic hyperpolarization-activated current Ih of dorsal CA1 neurons in unstressed rats, whereas (S)-ketamine decreased both somatic and dendritic Ih in chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rats. The reduction of Ih by (S)-ketamine was independent of NMDA receptors, barium-sensitive conductances, and cAMP-dependent signaling pathways in both unstressed and CUS groups. (S)-ketamine pretreatment before the onset of depression prevented CUS-induced behavioral phenotypes and neuropathological changes of dorsal CA1 neurons. Finally, in vivo infusion of thapsigargin-induced anxiogenic- and anhedonic-like behaviors and upregulation of functional Ih, but these were reversed by (S)-ketamine. Our results suggest that (S)-ketamine reduces or prevents Ih from being increased following CUS, which contributes to the rapid antidepressant effects and resiliency to CUS.
A Pilot Evaluation of an Intervention to Improve Social Reactions to Sexual and Partner Violence Disclosures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an intervention (Supporting Survivors and Self [SSS]) created to increase positive social reactions and decrease negative social reactions to sexual assault and partner violence disclosures among informal support disclosure recipients. Participants were 1,268 college students from a medium-sized New England university who completed an online baseline survey and were assigned to either the treatment or control condition. The SSS intervention trained potential informal supports on what to say and not to say to disclosure recipients. Six months after the SSS intervention, participants in both conditions completed the follow-up survey online. Although intentions to provide positive social reactions significantly increased among participants in the treatment group compared with the control group and there were marginally significant effects in the anticipated directions for alcohol-specific intended social reactions, no overall difference was observed across conditions in actual social reactions provided. Moderation analyses suggested that, in general, the SSS intervention was more effective on various outcomes for students who were younger, male, non-White, sexual minorities, and/or non-victims. Moderation analyses also suggested that the intervention varied in efficacy depending on the circumstances of the disclosure. Despite the mixed outcomes of the SSS intervention, these data suggest that the SSS intervention was effective in improving social reactions for some students and under some circumstances. Future research is needed to further refine the SSS intervention to bolster its effectiveness in reducing negative social reactions and increasing positive social reactions for all students.
Low-Power and Energy-Efficient Full Adders With Approximate Adiabatic Logic for Edge Computing

The growing demands of data-intensive applications running on IoT edge devices require low-power and energyefficient circuits. Adiabatic logic recycles the energy and can develop energy-efficient circuits. Further, error-tolerant applications use approximate computing to reduce power consumption and area. Therefore, to investigate the benefits of approximate computing combined with adiabatic logic, we propose two adiabatic logic based approximate adders. The proposed approximate adders use the advantage of dual-rail logic to shrink the overall size and reduce energy consumption. The two proposed designs are True Sum Approximate Adder (TSAA) and True Carry-out Approximate Adder (TCAA). TSAA is approximating the Carryout based on the accurate Sum, and TCAA is approximating the Sum based on the accurate Carryout. We performed simulations using 45nm technology in Cadence Spectre. Comparing with CMOS based accurate mirror adder (AMA) at 100 MHz, a power-saving of 83.26% and energy saving of 66.54% in PFAL based TSAA (PFAL: Positive Feedback Adiabatic Logic) is achieved. Further, we achieved a power saving of 87.22% and an energy saving of 74.43% in PFAL based TCAA compared to CMOS based accurate mirror adder (AMA). It is illustrated that PFAL based TCAA consumes 24.0% less power and energy per cycle compared to PFAL based TSAA.
Characterizing Policy Divergence for Personalized Meta-Reinforcement Learning.

Despite ample motivation from costly exploration and limited trajectory data, rapidly adapting to new environments with few-shot reinforcement learning (RL) can remain a challenging task, especially with respect to personalized settings. Here, we consider the problem of recommending optimal policies to a set of multiple entities each with potentially different characteristics, such that individual entities may parameterize distinct environments with unique transition dynamics. Inspired by existing literature in meta-learning, we extend previous work by focusing on the notion that certain environments are more similar to each other than others in personalized settings, and propose a model-free meta-learning algorithm that prioritizes past experiences by relevance during gradient-based adaptation. Our algorithm involves characterizing past policy divergence through methods in inverse reinforcement learning, and we illustrate how such metrics are able to effectively distinguish past policy parameters by the environment they were deployed in, leading to more effective fast adaptation during test time. To study personalization more effectively we introduce a navigation testbed to specifically incorporate environment diversity across training episodes, and demonstrate that our approach outperforms meta-learning alternatives with respect to few-shot reinforcement learning in personalized settings.
Physics-Based SAR Modeling and Simulation for Large-Scale Data Generation of Multi-platform Vehicles for Deep Learning-Based ATR.

One critical challenge of Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) systems are that of effective modeling and interpretation of sensory data obtained under constantly changing dynamic environments. In this paper, we address physics-based modeling and simulation of multi-platform vehicles and propose a method for systematic generation of synthetic SAR Imagery for training of Deep Learning (DL) techniques. Starting with computer-aided design (CAD) models of aerial, ground and maritime vehicles, we present a multi-layer method for describing physics-based models of these objects. Next, by considering SAR system constraints and modeling far-field incident and backscattering radiation waves returns, we construct realistic simulated (i.e., synthetic) SAR imagery of the test vehicles and annotate them semantically to aid their DL training. To evaluate and verify the effectiveness of this approach, we compare our synthetically generated SAR imagery against the real SAR images. Several examples of our test scenarios are demonstrated and explained including our post image modulation technique that further enhances realisms of the synthetic SAR images. Finally, we discuss the implication of our technical approach in support of dynamic data-driven applications systems.
Serum Individual Nonesterified Fatty Acids and Risk of Heart Failure in Older Adults.

Background Heart failure (HF) is highly prevalent among older adults and is associated with high costs. Although serum total nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) have been positively associated with HF risk, the contribution of each individual NEFA to HF risk has not been examined. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the association of individual fasting NEFAs with HF risk in older adults. Methods In this prospective cohort study of older adults, we measured 35 individual NEFAs in 2,140 participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study using gas chromatography. HF was ascertained using review of medical records by an endpoint committee. Results The mean age was 77.7 ± 4.4 years, and 38.8% were male. During a median follow-up of 9.7 (maximum 19.0) years, 655 new cases of HF occurred. In a multivariable Cox regression model controlling for demographic and anthropometric variables, field center, education, serum albumin, glomerular filtration rate, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking, hormone replacement therapy, unintentional weight loss, and all other measured NEFAs, we observed inverse associations (HR [95% CI] per standard deviation) of nonesterified pentadecanoic (15:0) (0.73 [0.57-0.94]), γ-linolenic acid (GLA) (0.87 [0.75-1.00]), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (0.73 [0.61-0.88]) acids with HF, and positive associations of nonesterified stearic (18:0) (1.30 [1.04-1.63]) and nervonic (24:1n-9) (1.17 [1.06-1.29]) acids with HF. Conclusion Our data are consistent with a higher risk of HF with nonesterified stearic and nervonic acids and a lower risk with nonesterified 15:0, GLA, and DHA in older adults. If confirmed in other studies, specific NEFAs may provide new targets for HF prevention.
Implied Markov transition matrices under structural price models

This paper proposes an approach to compute the implied transition matrices from observations of market data on financial derivatives, when the price of the underlying originates from a structural m...
Randers Spaces and an Elegant Theorem

In 1941, G. Randers [Ra] studied a very interesting type of Finsler structures. These are called Randers metrics, and we first encountered them in §1.3. Randers metrics are important for six reasons.
Testing Foundations of Biological Scaling Theory Using Automated Measurements of Vascular Networks

Scientists have long sought to understand how vascular networks supply blood and oxygen to cells throughout the body. Recent work focuses on principles that constrain how vessel size changes through branching generations from the aorta to capillaries and uses scaling exponents to quantify these changes. Prominent scaling theories predict that combinations of these exponents explain how metabolic, growth, and other biological rates vary with body size. Nevertheless, direct measurements of individual vessel segments have been limited because existing techniques for measuring vasculature are invasive, time consuming, and technically difficult. We developed software that extracts the length, radius, and connectivity of in vivo vessels from contrast-enhanced 3D Magnetic Resonance Angiography. Using data from 20 human subjects, we calculated scaling exponents by four methods—two derived from local properties of branching junctions and two from whole-network properties. Although these methods are often used interchangeably in the literature, we do not find general agreement between these methods, particularly for vessel lengths. Measurements for length of vessels also diverge from theoretical values, but those for radius show stronger agreement. Our results demonstrate that vascular network models cannot ignore certain complexities of real vascular systems and indicate the need to discover new principles regarding vessel lengths.
Sub‐Critical Crack Growth Parameters for Low Temperature Co‐Fired Ceramic (LTCC)

Strength values of a sintered low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) tape system were measured over four orders of magnitude of stressing rate in dry (<2% relative humidity (RH)) and in wet (98% RH) conditions using a ring-on-ring biaxial-flexure test. As expected, the strength of the material increases with increasing stressing rate, and with decreasing RH. These data are analyzed to obtain the empirical sub-critical crack growth (SCG) exponent, n. It was found that the n value in high RH environment was higher than that in the low RH environment. Fractographic examination was used to identify failure origins, which ranged from surface and sub-surface pores, partially densified surface regions, inclusions, surface damage and unidentified surface defects. The implications of our results for design with this novel material system are outlined.
Social acceptability of methylphenidate and behavior modification for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The social acceptability of methylphenidate, behavior modification, and methylphenidate plus behavior modification was evaluated. Fifty mothers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 50 control mothers, along with 21 children with ADHD and 20 control children, read a case vignette of an 8-year-old boy with ADHD and descriptions of the three treatment conditions. Subjects then rated the acceptability of each treatment. The mothers of children with ADHD were reassessed 3.5 months later, after experience with interventions for their children. Both ADHD and control families rated behavior modification as the most acceptable, methylphenidate as least acceptable, and the combined condition intermediate between the other two. At follow-up, there was a significant improvement in the acceptability of methylphenidate and the combined condition. The increased acceptability of methylphenidate at follow-up was related to increases in parents' knowledge about ADHD but not to the significant improvements that occurred in the children's hyperactive behavior.
The role of dietary fiber in the development and treatment of childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is viewed as a public health problem in the United States because of its assumed high prevalence and increasing secular trend. The best estimate of the genetic contribution to obesity ranges from 5% to 25%. Environmental factors play a major role in obesity development. Low income and a low level of education have been associated with obesity, particularly among white women. Caloric intake as a risk factor for obesity has not been clearly established. This lack of a clear-cut association may be attributable to the problem of accurately measuring caloric intake. Several studies have linked increased total fat intake, rather than caloric intake, with obesity. Some studies have linked television viewing to obesity in children. Obesity is rare among the populations of developing countries, where dietary fiber intake is high. Explanations for the role of dietary fiber in obesity include a reduced caloric density of the foods, a slower rate of food ingestion, and possible effects on satiety. Most studies on the role of fiber in the treatment of obesity have been somewhat limited by lack of comparison groups, inadequate sample sizes, and short durations of the observations. However, although limited, the available evidence suggests that fiber potentially could play a useful role in weight reduction. For children, fiber administration should be considered as an adjuvant therapy rather than a primary modality, because fiber might aid in promoting satiety during meals and curbing hunger between meals. More research is needed, however, to assess further the efficacy of high-fiber diets in the treatment of childhood obesity. For now, however, increasing dietary fiber as a part of a health-promoting dietary pattern presents an attractive public health possibility as a means for prevention of chronic diseases. Preventing childhood obesity could be a part of the health benefit resulting from a population-based recommendation for optimal fiber intake.
Femoral trabecular patterns and bone mineral content.

Roentgenograms of seventy-three hips internally rotated 20 degrees in thirty-eight women who were at least forty-eight years old without rheumatoid arthritis were scored for the relative degree of osteoporosis according to criteria publislied by Singh and associates. Bone mineral content of the radial mid-shaft was measured in these women by 125I photon ahsorptiometric method developed by Cameron and associates. No significant correlation was found between these two parameters either directly or after correction of the bone mineral data for the subjects. We conclude that the trabecular scoring method as described by Singh and associates is of title or no help in establishing the diagnosis or severity of osteoporosis.
Emergence and properties of spice and bath salts: A medicinal chemistry perspective

Over the past five years the number of internet sites advertising "legal highs" has literally exploded, as have user reports of experiences (both pleasurable and frightening) with these substances and the number of emergency room visits by users. Although the majority of these "legal highs" have been described as bath salts and herbal extracts, most contain neither plant derived compounds nor components of personal hygiene products. So-called "bath salts" largely contain synthetic analogs of the natural compound Khat; spice-related materials, claimed to be "legal marijuana," are mostly synthetic analogs of cannabinoid receptor ligands that were developed as research tools. This review describes the emergence and properties of these two groups of "legal highs" from a medicinal chemist's perspective.
Limits on direct detection of gravitational waves.

We compute the energy density and strain induced by a primordial spectrum of gravitational waves on terrestrial- and space-based detectors (e.g., LIGO) as constrained by the COBE detection of microwave background anisotropy. For the case where the spectrum is created during inflation, we find new, stricter upper bounds on the induced strain, making detection unlikely. However, detectors might be useful for discovering (or ruling out) exotic, noninflationary sources.
The rock, the beach, and the tidal pool: People and poverty in natural resource‐dependent areas

Abstract Explaining why poverty exists in natural resource‐dependent areas (NRDAs) presents a formidable challenge, given variability in the nature, spatial manifestations, and social character of human well‐being. Nonetheless, there are structures and processes unique to NRDAs, including resource degradation, increasingly restrictive public land use policies, concentrated land ownership, and high rates of occupational injury that create the potential for impoverization in NRDAs. Given this complex context, we examine two theories of poverty. We find processes such as the shift from labor to capital‐intensive resource extraction, profit squeezes, and increased capital mobility identified in advanced capitalism theory help to explain NRDA poverty. In addition, processes identified in the theory of internal colonialism such as unequal exchange, the clash between traditional and secular cultures, and the control of public agencies by powerful private interests are more basic forces in creating NRDA poverty.
Some of My Best Friends Are Old: A Qualitative Exploration of Medical Students' Interest in Geriatrics.

This paper provides insight into the reasons underlying medical students' interest in geriatrics. Semi-structured interviews, informed by attitude theory, were conducted with first-year medical students who indicated that they were not interested in geriatric medicine (n = 10) and those who indicated that they were moderately to very interested in geriatrics (n = 10). The interviews were analyzed qualitatively. While most students in both groups did not plan on pursuing geriatric medicine, differences were found between the two groups. Students who expressed an interest in geriatrics had more positive and negative experiences with older adults, were more comfortable with palliative care, did not view their patients as responsible for their illnesses, and held more fears about aging and death than did those students who were not interested in geriatrics. The discussion of the results focuses on the role of experience in students' interest in geriatrics, and their beliefs about personal gain and loss and th...
REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES, CELLULAR REDOX SYSTEMS AND APOPTOSIS

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are products of normal metabolism and xenobiotic exposure, and depending on their concentration, ROS can be beneficial or harmful to cells and tissues. At physiological low levels, ROS function as "redox messengers" in intracellular signaling and regulation, whereas excess ROS induce oxidative modification of cellular macromolecules, inhibit protein function, and promote cell death. Additionally, various redox systems, such as the glutathione, thioredoxin, and pyridine nucleotide redox couples, participate in cell signaling and modulation of cell function, including apoptotic cell death. Cell apoptosis is initiated by extracellular and intracellular signals via two main pathways, the death receptor- and the mitochondria-mediated pathways. Various pathologies can result from oxidative stress-induced apoptotic signaling that is consequent to ROS increases and/or antioxidant decreases, disruption of intracellular redox homeostasis, and irreversible oxidative modifications of lipid, protein, or DNA. In this review, we focus on several key aspects of ROS and redox mechanisms in apoptotic signaling and highlight the gaps in knowledge and potential avenues for further investigation. A full understanding of the redox control of apoptotic initiation and execution could underpin the development of therapeutic interventions targeted at oxidative stress-associated disorders.
Exact finite difference scheme for linear differential equation with constant coefficients

An exact finite difference equation for the n-th order linear differential equation with real, constant coefficients is constructed. The exact finite difference scheme is expressed differently but equivalent to that given by Potts [3].
An Empirical Analysis on Propensity for Teachers to Strike.

Teacher militarism and the manifestation of this militarism in the form of teacher strikes is perhaps the single most important problem facing school officials. This study directs attention at the propensity of teachers to strike and examines, using a logit model, how this propensity can be affected by certain decision variables.
Design and synthesis of 2-methyl-2-[4-(2-[5-methyl-2-aryloxazol-4-yl]ethoxy)phenoxy]propionic acids: a new class of dual PPARalpha/gamma agonists.

Propionic acid derivative 8, which was designed and synthesized based on putative pharmacophores of known PPARγ- and PPARα-selective compounds, exhibits potent dual PPARα/γ agonist activity as demonstrated by in vitro binding and dose overlap in the newly introduced EOB mouse model for glucose lowering and lipid/cholesterol homeostasis.
A chemical approach to the identification of tensin-binding proteins.

Many protein–protein interactions are mediated by small modular domains, which recognize short peptide motifs in their partner proteins. However, for the great majority of these domains, the identity of their partner proteins remains unknown. In this work, a chemical/bioinformatics approach has been developed to identify phosphotyrosyl (pY) proteins that bind to tensin, a protein involved in the formation of actin cytoskeleton and signal transduction. A pY peptide library was chemically synthesized and screened against the Src homology 2 (SH2) domain of tensin to identify the peptide motifs that bind to the SH2 domain. Next, protein databases were searched for proteins containing the SH2 domain-binding peptide motifs. Finally, the potential tensin-binding proteins were confirmed (or disproved) by in vitro pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation assays. This procedure identified phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 and downstream of tyrosine kinase 2 as novel tensin-binding proteins. In addition, a cell-permeab...
Viscoelasticity using reactive constrained solid mixtures.

Abstract This study presents a framework for viscoelasticity where the free energy density depends on the stored energy of intact strong and weak bonds, where weak bonds break and reform in response to loading. The stress is evaluated by differentiating the free energy density with respect to the deformation gradient, similar to the conventional approach for hyperelasticity. The breaking and reformation of weak bonds is treated as a reaction governed by the axiom of mass balance, where the constitutive relation for the mass supply governs the bond kinetics. The evolving mass contents of these weak bonds serve as observable state variables. Weak bonds reform in an energy-free and stress-free state, therefore their reference configuration is given by the current configuration at the time of their reformation. A principal advantage of this formulation is the availability of a strain energy density function that depends only on observable state variables, also allowing for a separation of the contributions of strong and weak bonds. The Clausius–Duhem inequality is satisfied by requiring that the net free energy from all breaking bonds must be decreasing at all times. In the limit of infinitesimal strains, linear stress–strain responses and first-order kinetics for breaking and reforming of weak bonds, the reactive framework reduces exactly to classical linear viscoelasticity. For large strains, the reactive and classical quasilinear viscoelasticity theories produce different equations, though responses to standard loading configurations behave similarly. This formulation complements existing tools for modeling the nonlinear viscoelastic response of biological soft tissues under large deformations.
Interactions of particles and microbubbles with turbulence

Abstract Dilute, dispersed two-phase flows arise in many contexts ranging from solid particles or droplets in gas flows to bubbles in liquids. Many of the flows of interest are turbulent, which presents a complex problem to analyze or to determine the dominant physical processes contributing to the observed phenomena. Advances in experimental techniques have made it possible to measure directly turbulent and particle velocity fluctuations in dilute systems. This has provided a counterpart to advances in computational and analytical models and a basis on which to test these models. Three specific areas are considered: the fluctuating forces on an individual particle in an unsteady flow, the response of a solid particle to a turbulent air flow, and the corresponding response of a small bubble in turbulent liquid flows. Results from direct numerical simulations are presented for each of these, including the nonuniform distribution of particles generated by local instantaneous features of the flow. The issue of turbulence modulation at low to moderate void fractions is discussed.