cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of C-Reactive Protein, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and Adiponectin by Diet, Exercise, and Weight Loss

Chronic disease has been strongly correlated with inflammation resulting from the body's release of inflammatory cytokines as a result of injury or infection. Specific interventions promoting weight loss, exercise, or intake of antioxidants have been used by several investigators in an effort to decrease inflammatory cytokines. C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver and its role in the development of inflammation has been well established. However, the strong association between CRP and risk for heart disease is a more recent discovery. During the inflammation process, the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor kappaB leads to the increased production of inflammatory cytokines associated with atherosclerosis, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). Increased concentrations of TNFalpha have been reported in obese patients; thus, weight loss is considered a key intervention to reduce the concentrations of this cytokine. In contrast to CRP and TNFalpha, adiponectin increases during weight loss and insulin sensitivity. Additionally, lower concentrations of this cytokine have been reported in cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. Recent epidemiological studies and clinical interventions have reported contradictory findings related to dietary or exercise interventions and the resulting alterations in plasma cytokines. Part of the discrepancies may be due to the population studied, the time of the treatment, and the lack of weight loss in some studies. Although it is clear from the literature that these cytokines play a major role in the development of chronic disease, the best strategy to favorably alter the inflammatory response is still debatable.
Elucidating the mechanism of substrate recognition by the bacterial Hsp90 molecular chaperone.

Hsp90 is a conformationally dynamic molecular chaperone known to promote the folding and activation of a broad array of protein substrates (“clients”). Hsp90 is believed to preferentially interact with partially folded substrates, and it has been hypothesized that the chaperone can significantly alter substrate structure as a mechanism to alter the substrate functional state. However, critically testing the mechanism of substrate recognition and remodeling by Hsp90 has been challenging. Using a partially folded protein as a model system, we find that the bacterial Hsp90 adapts its conformation to the substrate, forming a binding site that spans the middle and C-terminal domains of the chaperone. Cross-linking and NMR measurements indicate that Hsp90 binds to a large partially folded region of the substrate and significantly alters both its local and long-range structure. These findings implicate Hsp90's conformational dynamics in its ability to bind and remodel partially folded proteins. Moreover, native-state hydrogen exchange indicates that Hsp90 can also interact with partially folded states only transiently populated from within a thermodynamically stable, native-state ensemble. These results suggest a general mechanism by which Hsp90 can recognize and remodel native proteins by binding and remodeling partially folded states that are transiently sampled from within the native ensemble.
Effects of thermal relaxation on an amorphous superconducting Zr–Rh alloy

The electronic and superconducting properties of an amorphous transition metal alloy are used to evaluate the effects of low temperature annealing. It is observed that the superconducting transition temperature and the electrical resistivity relax exponentially in time from their initial value to a final relaxed value. From this an activation energy for the relaxation process is derived and an explanation is suggested which involves internal stress.
Efficient Verification Solutions for Message Passing Systems

We examine the problem of automatically and efficiently verifying the absence of communication related bugs in message passing systems, specifically in programs written using Message Passing Interface (MPI) API. A typical debugging or testing tool will fail to achieve this goal because they do not provide any guarantee of coverage of non-deterministic communication matches in a message passing program. While dynamic verification tools do provide such a guarantee, they are quickly rendered useless when an interleaving explosion is witnessed. The general problem is difficult to solve, though we propose that specialized techniques can be developed that can work on top of dynamic verification schedulers thus making them more efficient. In this work, we provide point solutions to deal with the interleaving explosion. Specifically, we present algorithms that accomplish the following tasks: (i) identifying irrelevant message passing operations (Barriers) in MPI programs that add to the verification complexity and degrade application's performance and (ii) reducing sub-stantially the relevant set of interleavings using symmetry patterns, that needs to be explored for the detection of refusal deadlocks in MPI programs.
An Emerging Typology of Community Aging Initiatives

A growing number of initiatives across the country are working to bring about comprehensive changes in community physical and social environments to help older persons meet their long-term care needs and age in place. This study seeks to address gaps in the literature by developing a typologyof community aging initiatives and examining variations in community change processes, including the methods they use, roles of participants, funding sources, and challenges. Based on responses to online surveys and the existing community change literature, 124 initiatives were grouped into 5 categories: (a) communitywide planning, (b) consumer-driven support networks, (c) cross-sector systems change initiatives, (d) residence-based support services, and (e) single-sector services. This emerging typology may serve as a useful organizing framework from which to develop future evaluations of the effectiveness and sustainability of these initiatives.
Does weight loss cause the exercise-induced increase in plasma high density lipoproteins?

Abstract Studies showing an increase in plasma concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) with moderate exercise have usually rejected the role of body weight change in the HDL-C raising process, ostensibly because the amount of weight lost has been negligible. To investigate HDL-C changes more thoroughly, we followed initially sedentary middle-aged men randomly assigned to either a moderate running (n = 36) or a sedentary control (n = 28) group for one year. Among runners, one-year changes in plasma HDL-C concentrations correlated strongly with their body weight changes ( r = −0.53, P 2 sub-component. Further, the interaction between weight change and plasma HDL-C concentration was significantly different ( P
The Broad Value of a PhD in Political Science

Today I am a researcher at Google and one of a handful of employees, out of a global workforce of more than 30,000, the with a PhD in political science. But less than two years ago, I was a tenure track professor of political science at a research university and could barely have imagined the unusual path my professional life would take. That path has been incredibly rewarding, as well as instructive both of the broad value a PhD in political science (and the social sciences more generally) and of the growing role for quantitative research outside of the academy. I recount much of that path below, with the hope that it might prove useful for those graduate students, post-docs, and professors who might be inclined to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in unconventional professional paths of their own.
Seasonal production of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in ponds using different feeding practices

Abstract. In temperate regions of North America, the culture of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in ponds is constrained to the period mid-November to early April by water temperature. Feeding practice may influence production time. The effects of three feeding practices on growth and body composition of rainbow trout raised in ponds during a 142-day winter growth period were investigated. Feeding practices were (1) hand-feeding to satiation, (2) feeding according to a fish size/water temperature chart, and (3) feeding by demand feeder. Fish fed to satiation consumed 66% more diet than fish fed according to a feeding chart and 163% more than fish fed by demand feeders. Fish fed to satiation had significantly higher (P 0·05) in percentage body fat or feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the other two treatments. Survival percentage did not differ significantly (P > 0·05) between treatments. These data indicate that by using satiation feeding, marketable size rainbow trout can be produced in temperate region ponds without increases in percentage body fat or FCR.
What's a Grandparent to Do? The Legal Status of Grandparents in the Extended Family

Grandparents have recently been the subject of much research; however, there has been little discussion of how they are affected by social institutions outside the extended family. This article focuses on government expectations of family relationships by describing state legislation regarding grandparents. These statutes are spread throughout all areas of law, not only family code. Some evidence exists for the importance of state interests and class issues in legislation. Grandparents are mentioned in statutes and are included in definitions of family more often than grandchildren, implying that children are defined in relation to their parents, whereas grandparents are defined in relation to the children. Grandparents appear to have more legal rights than responsibilities to grandchildren, but both privileges and obligations seem to be limited to situations of disruption in the middle generation.
Reduced exercise capacity and stress-induced pulmonary hypertension in patients with scleroderma.

Objectives We sought to determine the incidence of stress-induced pulmonary artery (PA) systolic hypertension in a referral population of patients with scleroderma, and to examine the relation between stress-induced pulmonary systolic hypertension and exercise capacity in this population. Background Early detection of patients with scleroderma at risk for pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) could lead to more timely intervention and thus reduce morbidity and improve mortality. The change in PA systolic pressure (PASP) with exercise provides a possible tool for such detection. Methods Sixty-five patients with scleroderma (9 men and 56 women; mean age 51 ± 12 years [SD]), normal resting PASP, and normal resting left ventricular function underwent exercise Doppler echocardiography using a standard Bruce protocol. Tricuspid regurgitation velocity was measured before and after exercise. Exercise variables including workload achieved in metabolic equivalents (METS), total exercise time, percentage of target heart rate achieved, and PASP at rest and within 60 s after exercise were recorded. Results Thirty patients (46%) demonstrated an increase in PASP to > 35 mm Hg plus an estimated right atrial pressure of 5 mm Hg. Postexercise PASP inversely correlated to both the maximum workload achieved ( r = − 0.34, p = 0.006) and exercise time ( r = − 0.31, p = 0.01). In women, the correlation was more significant ( r = − 0.38, p = 0.003). Patients in the lowest quartile of exercise time, with the least cardiac workload achieved, produced the highest postexercise PASP. Conclusion Stress-induced PHTN is common in patients with scleroderma, even when resting PASP is normal. Stress Doppler echocardiography identifies scleroderma patients with an abnormal rise in PASP during exertion. Peak PASP is linearly related to exercise time and maximum workload achieved. Measurement of PASP during exercise may prove to be a useful tool for the identification of future resting PHTN.
Introgression of Luxilus Cornutus mtDNA into Allopatric Populations of Luxilus Chrysocephalus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Missouri and Arkansas

The cyprinid fishes Luxilus cornutus and Luxilus chrysocephalus hybridize extensively in a zone extending through the Great Lakes region with extensive introgression of L. cornutus mtDNA occurring in populations of L. chrysocephalus south of the present hybrid zone in Ohio. Western populations of these two species occur adjacent to one another in Missouri but hybridization has never been observed. In order to determine if hybridization has occurred historically in Missouri, allopatric populations of L. chrysocephalus were analysed for mtDNA introgression. Extensive introgression of L. ***cornutus mtDNA was observed in most populations of L. chrysocephalus in Missouri resulting in the elimination of L. chrysocephalus mtDNA in many populations. Luxilus cornutus mtDNA in L. chrysocephalus is found approximately 300 km south of extant L. cornutus populations in Missouri. Luxilus chrysocephalus mtDNA was replaced by four unique L. cornutus mtDNA haplotypes, with one particular haplotype becoming fixed in several L. chrysocephalus populations. The pattern of introgression suggests that historically L. cornutus occupied a more southern distribution in Missouri bringing it into contact with western populations of L. chrysocephalus and resulting in a hybrid zone.
Reproductive Biology of PMSG-Primed Immature Female Rats

The reprodutive performance of PMSG-pnimed immature female rats (8 lU PMSG at 30 days of age)was studiedto determinewhether theyaresuitablemodelsorsubstitutes foradultanimalsin studies of reproduction. Pseudopregnancy, induced by cervical stimulation on day 33, lasted 12 days as indicated by leukocytic vaginal smears. Decidual cell reaction was elicited by uterine trauma on day 5 of pseudopregnancy, and resulted in a fifteen-fold increase in the mean weight of the traumatized horn within 4 days. PMSG-treated immature rats can conceive, maintain viable fetuses to term, and deliver live pups in a normal mannner (mean length of gestation: 24.2 days; mean litter size: 7.1 pups). Serum levels of progesterone, 20o-dihydroprogesterone (20�-DHP), LH, and FSH were measured by radioimmunoassay in samples taken at 3-day intervals between days 6 and 21 of pregnancy. Progesterone decreased from 86.7 ng/ml on day 6 to 69.7 ng/ml on day 9, was elevated to 111.4 ng/ml on day 12, and decreasedto 64.4ng/mlon day 21.20a-DHP increasedfrom 7.2ng/mlon day 6 to a peak of 14.5 ng/ml on day 15, and decreased significantly to 5.8 ng/ml on day 18. Serum LU and FSH did not vary significantly. These hormone profiles are similar to those reported by others in adult pregnant rats. Implantation was delayed in PMSG-pnimed pregnant rats by bilateral ovariectomy on day 3 and
The influence of Cicero on John Adams

In the United States of America we recently commemorated the 350th anniversary of the birth of the study of Latin and Greek in North America. Despite the distance :from the great centers of classical learning in Europe, and the complete absence Of relics of the Roman (not to mention the Greek) presence in our landscape, the classical curriculum was imported and speedily naturalized with the founding of th~ Boston Latin School in 1635 an Harvard College in Cambridge in 1636. The memory of Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare, King Jaines I and the King Jarp.es Bible were still :fresh to the American pioneers, and they carried witli them in their intellectual baggage across the Atlantic Ocean the models of the European educational system. This curriculum had at its core in the colonial grammar schools and colleges the study of the Latin and Greek languages, literatures and antiquities. In this country, :from its beginnings until the early 19th Century, besides the Sacred Bible, stood what some called the "Sacred Classics" ( 1 ). The aims of this learning were to expose students to classical authors :from whomthey could derive "useful knowledge". And among these selected Classics in early America Cicero took pride of place in the admiration of many liberally educated men as model authority for diction and style, as orator, lawyer, political theorist, letter writer, and guide to "private and public virtue". As role model in the political arena Cicero was also idealized as a sort of secular "saint" for his patriotism, devotion to the Roman Republic, and opposition to tyranny (2). Despite the powerful impact of Cicero on many early Americans, little clarification of this pervasive influence was hot made until quite recently. In 1950 Bruno Weil in preparation for a book commemorating
ON THE FOLLY OF REWARDING A+, WHILE ONLY NEEDING A: THE TRADEOFF BETWEEN JACKS OF ALL TRADES AND MASTERS OF ONE.

The paper extends Kerr's (1975) seminal observations about distorted incentives. The current research theoretically and empirically identifies another important bias of distorted rewards, namely, t...
Renal hemodynamics in response to a kinin analogue antagonist

The influence of endogenous kinins on renal hemodynamics was studied using a kinin analogue antagonist ([DArg0-Hyp3-Thi5-DPhe7-Thi8]bradykinin) in eight sodium-restricted anesthetized dogs. Clearan...
Proton Solitons in Hydrogen-Bonded Networks

A two component soliton model is proposed for the study of defect formation and dynamics in a hydrogen-bonded network. Both ionic and orientational defects are described as distinct topological excitations in a doubly periodic substrate potential. Numerical studies of the interaction properties of both types of solitons present in the model are discussed.
Remaining competitive in a world of outsourcing

Outsourcing of goods and services presents a significant challenge to domestic companies. Engaging in outsourcing presents a company with significant costs and risks which are often not fully analyzed prior to the outsourcing decision. Despite the reversal in some foreign factories of the principles of Lean, judicious use of Lean principles and automation can make domestic production not only competitive with outsourcing, but has allowed some factories and companies to recapture outsourced production
RFID technology: a retrospective look at firm adoption with a view towards the future

This study examines the earliest stage of RFID technology development and the factors that led firms to adopt RFID technology, so as to establish a baseline to examine the present adoption of the technology. We looked for differences between voluntary and required adoption of RFID, and factors that increased the likelihood of voluntary RFID adoption. It was found that firms required to adopt RFID technology did so with a limited number of customers, while those that voluntarily adopted RFID technology did so with more customers. Firms voluntarily choose to adopt RFID technology due to external pressure, a weak power position in the supply chain and a history of prior technology adoption. Positive perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of RFID technology increased the likelihood of RFID adoption. Several research questions are posed that when investigated, would provide insights into the changes that have occurred in the industry.
Remote monitoring of structural health in composites

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Eng. Akimitsu Kurita on his 70th birthday, in honour of his scientific achievements, guidance and the education of his students. This paper explores a new interdisciplinary method for internal damage detection and tracking in composite materials using thermo-chemical sensing. A micro-sized network of strings is interwoven into the composites. Each string consists of a pair of tubes containing one of two different non-polar reactants. A local defect within the composites causes straining and cracking of the tube shell, resulting in direct contact between the two non-polar reactants. The latter undergo a chemical reaction resulting in a polar product. When exposed to a microwave energy source, a polar product heats up dramatically within seconds in comparison to the surrounding composite material or the non-polar reactants. This localized thermal signature can be rendered visible by an infrared camera. This study summarizes the findings of an in-depth computational and experimental study of this sensing technology which is expected to be applicable across industries using composites, among them aerospace, automotive, offshore and bridge engineering. Potential applications in steel offshore or steel bridge engineering involve using composite sensing patches to cover fatigue fracture-critical components. Defects initiating on the steel substrate surface are expected to be sensed on demand with this proposed sensing technology.
High-temperature superconducting undulator magnets

This paper presents test results on a prototype superconducting undulator magnet fabricated using 15% Zr-doped rare-earth barium copper oxide high temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes. On an 11-pole magnet we demonstrate an engineering current density, J e, of more than 2.1 kA mm−2 at 4.2 K, a value that is 40% higher than reached in comparable devices wound with NbTi-wire, which is used in all currently operating superconducting undulators. A novel winding scheme enabling the continuous winding of tape-shaped conductors into the intricate undulator magnets as well as a partial interlayer insulation procedure were essential in reaching this advance in performance. Currently, there are rapid advances in the performance of HTS; therefore, achieving even higher current densities in an undulator structure or/and operating it at temperatures higher than 4.2 K will be possible, which would substantially simplify the cryogenic design and reduce overall costs.
Effect of intervention on a quality measure of pain management at Medstar Washington Cancer Institute (MWCI).

144 Background: Medstar Washington Cancer Institute (MWCI) has participated in Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) since 2008. Adherence to pain assessment and intensity documentation was h...
Sphingosine-1-Phosphate as the Lymphocyte's Ticket to Ride and Survive.

An established role of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-1 in T cells is to guide their exit from lymph nodes. Reporting in Nature, Mendoza et al. (2017) now show that lymphatic endothelial sphingosine 1-phosphate signals through sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-1 to prevent mitochondria degradation and thereby support survival of naive T cells.
Correcting Conditional Bias

A non-linear correction function K(Z*) is proposed to transform any initial linear estimator Z* into a conditionally unbiased estimator Z** = K(Z*) with reduced conditional estimation variance. The correction is based upon an isofactorial representation of the bivariate distribution of the true grade Z and Z*; it is designed to deal with the problems of change of support and clustered information. A detailed case-study is presented.
A multi-scale ensemble-based framework for forecasting compound coastal-riverine flooding: The Hackensack-Passaic watershed and Newark Bay

Abstract Estuarine regions can experience compound impacts from coastal storm surge and riverine flooding. The challenges in forecasting flooding in such areas are multi-faceted due to uncertainties associated with meteorological drivers and interactions between hydrological and coastal processes. The objective of this work is to evaluate how uncertainties from meteorological predictions propagate through an ensemble-based flood prediction framework and translate into uncertainties in simulated inundation extents. A multi-scale framework, consisting of hydrologic, coastal and hydrodynamic models, was used to simulate two extreme flood events at the confluence of the Passaic and Hackensack rivers and Newark Bay. The events were Hurricane Irene (2011), a combination of inland flooding and coastal storm surge, and Hurricane Sandy (2012) where coastal storm surge was the dominant component. The hydrodynamic component of the framework was first forced with measured streamflow and ocean water level data to establish baseline inundation extents with the best available forcing data. The coastal and hydrologic models were then forced with meteorological predictions from 21 ensemble members of the Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) to retrospectively represent potential future conditions up to 96 hours prior to the events. Inundation extents produced by the hydrodynamic model, forced with the 95th percentile of the ensemble-based coastal and hydrologic boundary conditions, were in good agreement with baseline conditions for both events. The USGS reanalysis of Hurricane Sandy inundation extents was encapsulated between the 50th and 95th percentile of the forecasted inundation extents, and that of Hurricane Irene was similar but with caveats associated with data availability and reliability. This work highlights the importance of accounting for meteorological uncertainty to represent a range of possible future inundation extents at high resolution (∼m).
Why Burgers Equation: Symmetry-Based Approach

In many application areas ranging from shock waves to acoustics, we encounter the same partial differential equation known as the Burgers’ equation. The fact that the same equation appears in different application domains, with different physics, makes us conjecture that it can be derived from the fundamental principles. Indeed, in this paper, we show that this equation can be uniquely determined by the corresponding symmetries.
Costal Margin Tenderness and the Risk for Intraabdominal Injuries in Children With Blunt Abdominal Trauma.

Background The risk of radiation exposure from computed tomography (CT) imaging in children is well recognized. Patient history and physical examination findings, including costal margin tenderness (CMT), influence a physician's decision to image a child with blunt torso trauma. The objective of this study was to determine the importance of CMT for identifying children with intraabdominal injuries (IAI) found on CT and IAI undergoing acute intervention. Methods We conducted an analysis of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) IAI public use data set, representing a large prospective multicenter cohort study from May 2007 to January 2010. Isolated CMT was defined as CMT without other identified PECARN risk factors for IAI (i.e., abdominal or thoracic wall trauma, abdominal tenderness or pain, decreased breath sounds, or vomiting). Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds of IAI in children presenting with isolated and nonisolated CMT. Risk differences were calculated to estimate the risk of IAI independently attributable to CMT in the setting of isolated PECARN risk factors. Finally, CT use among exposure groups was estimated to quantify potentially avoidable imaging. Results Among 9,174 children with Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 14 or 15 who sustained blunt torso trauma, 1,267 (13.8%) had CMT. Among those with CMT, 177 (14.0%) had isolated CMT and 1,090 (86.0%) had nonisolated CMT. No children (0/177; 0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.0%-2.1%) with isolated CMT had IAI, compared to 17.2% (187/1,090; 95% CI = 15.0%-19.5%) of those with nonisolated CMT. The risk differences were not statistically significant. 36/177 (20.3%; 95% CI = 14.7%-27.0%) children with isolated CMT underwent abdominal CT scans. Conclusions The risk of IAI associated with isolated CMT is minimal. For children with blunt abdominal trauma and isolated CMT, abdominal CT scan is of low yield.
PROBING ENCOUNTERED DATA, META ANALYSIS AND WEIGHTED DISTRIBUTION METHODS

Fisher (1934) recognized that the method of ascertainment can influence the form for the distribution of recorded observations, a concept that was later formalized by Rao (1965) into what is termed “weighted distribution.” This paper has two parts. The first reviews various structural properties of weighted distributions, both univariate and bivariate. The effect of weighted observations on Bayesian inference is also considered. The second part deals with three applications of weighted distributions: (1) in stochastic population dynamics, the exploited population size distribution is a weighted form of the natural (unexploited) size distribution; (2) Diaconis and Efron have introduced the double exponential family (DEF) for addressing overdispersion in data. The DEF is shown to be a weighted distribution with the unusual feature that the weight function involves the parameters (specifically, the mean) of the original distribution; (3) weight functions have been employed by Iyengar and Greenhouse (1988) to model the effects of publication bias in a meta-analysis study. We extend their model so as to account for heterogeneity as well as publication bias. For the particular data examined by Iyengar and Greenhouse, likelihood ratio tests indicate that heterogeneity, and not publication bias, is responsible for the observed pattern of effect sizes.
A modular parser for French

In this paper, we describe an efficient parser for French based on an adaptation of Chomsky's Government-Binding (GB) theory. Reflecting the modular conception of a GB grammar, the parser consists of several distinct procedures corresponding to the subsystems of the grammar (e.g. phrase-structure rules, binding, control, 'theta'-theory, etc.). The interaction of these fairly simple modules produces the kind of complexity required in order to build all the linguistically motivated structures for a given sentence.
Usability Impact of User Perceptions in mHealth—The Case of Ghanaian Migrants

The use of mHealth applications in health services delivery is widely documented. However, the literature on actual usability studies conducted among migrant consumers in the United States is sparse. Migrant communities in the U.S. have been sidelined when it comes to studies in usability and acceptance of mobile health applications. This pilot study reports the findings of usability of mHealth applications from the perception of Ghanaian migrants, specifically their satisfaction using mobile technology to manage their health challenges.
Bariatric surgery before and after kidney transplantation: long-term weight loss and allograft outcomes

Abstract Background Severe obesity is frequently a barrier to kidney transplantation, and kidney transplant recipients often have significant weight gain following transplantation. Objectives The goals of this study were to evaluate the long-term risks and benefits of bariatric surgery before and after kidney transplantation. Setting University Hospital, United States. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of 43 patients who had pretransplantation bariatric surgery and 21 patients who had posttransplantation bariatric surgery from 1994 to 2017 with propensity-score matching to identify matched controls using national registry data. Results Body mass index at the time of transplantation was similar in patients who underwent bariatric surgery before versus after transplantation (32 versus 34 kg/m2, P = .172). There was no significant difference in body mass index in the 5 years after bariatric surgery among patients who underwent bariatric surgery before versus after kidney transplantation (36 versus 32 kg/m2, P = 0.814). Compared with matched controls, bariatric surgery before (n = 38) and after (n = 18) kidney transplantation was associated with a decreased risk of allograft failure (hazard ratio .31 [95% confidence interval .29–0.33] and .85 [95% confidence interval .85–.86] for pre- and posttransplant, respectively) and mortality (hazard ratio .57 [95% confidence interval .53–.61] and .80 [95% confidence interval .79–.82] for pre- and posttransplant, respectively). Conclusions Bariatric surgery before and after kidney transplantation results in similar maintenance of weight loss and improved long-term allograft survival compared with matched controls. Bariatric surgery appears to be a safe and reasonable approach to weight loss both before and after transplantation.
Arrows of Time and Initial and Final Conditions in the Quantum Mechanics of Closed Systems Like the Universe

A model quantum cosmology is used to illustrate how arrows of time emerge in a universe governed by a time-neutral dynamical theory constrained by time asymmetric initial and final boundary conditions represented by initial and final density matrices. In a quantum universe universe arrows of time are described by the probabilities of appropriately coarse grained sets of histories of quantities like entropy that grow or decay. We show that the requirement of that these sets of histories decohere implies two things: (1) A time asymmetry between initial and final conditions that is a basis for arrows ot time. (2) How a final state of indifference that is represented by a final density matrix proportional to the unit density matrix is consistent with causality, and allows a finer-grained description of the model universe in terms of decoherent histories than any other final state.
Use of Telehealth in Substance Use Disorder Services During and After COVID-19: Online Survey Study.

Background: Social distancing guidelines for COVID-19 have caused a rapid transition to telephone and video technologies for delivering treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Objective: This study examined the adoption of these technologies across the SUD service continuum, acceptance of these technologies among service providers, and intent of providers to use these technologies after the pandemic. Additional analysis using the validated technology acceptance model (TAM) was performed to test the potential applications of these technologies after the pandemic. The study objectives were as follows: (1) to assess the use of telehealth (telephone and video technologies) for different SUD services during COVID-19 in May-June 2020, (2) to assess the intended applications of telehealth for SUD services beyond COVID-19, (3) to evaluate the perceived ease of use and value of telehealth for delivering SUD services, and (4) to assess organizational readiness for the sustained use of telehealth services. Methods: An online survey on the use of telephonic and video services was distributed between May and August 2020 to measure the current use of these services, perceived organizational readiness to use these services, and the intent to use these services after COVID-19. In total, 8 of 10 regional Addiction Technology Transfer Centers representing 43 states distributed the survey. Individual organizations were the unit of analysis. Results: In total, 457 organizations responded to the survey. Overall, the technology was widely used; >70% (n>335) of organizations reported using telephone or video platforms for most services. The odds of the intent of organizations to use these technologies to deliver services post COVID-19 were significantly greater for all but two services (ie, telephonic residential counseling and buprenorphine therapy; mean odds ratio 3.79, range 1.87-6.98). Clinical users preferred video technologies to telephone technologies for virtually all services. Readiness to use telephone and video technologies was high across numerous factors, though telephonic services were considered more accessible. Consistent with the TAM, perceived usefulness and ease of use influenced the intent to use both telephone and video technologies. Conclusions: The overall perceived ease of use and usefulness of telephonic and video services suggest promising post–COVID-19 applications of these services. Survey participants consistently preferred video services to telephonic services; however, the availability of telephonic services to those lacking easy access to video technology is an important characteristic of these services. Future studies should review the acceptance of telehealth services and their comparative impact on SUD care outcomes.
Cangjie's poetry

Cangjie's Poetry is an interactive art installation that provides a conceptual response to the semantic human-machine reality. In the Cangjie's Poetry art installation, an intelligent system constantly observes the surroundings through the lens of a camera, writes poetry using a symbolic system based on its interpretation of the surroundings, and explains the evolving poem in natural language to audiences in real-time. This work prioritizes the ambiguity and tension between machinic vision and human perception, the actual and the virtual, past and present.
Perspectives and Challenges of Phenotyping in Rice Research

With the advancement of sequencing technology, rapid progress in genomic studies has been achieved; however, the lack of large-scale accurate estimation of phenotypic data is one of the major bottlenecks slowing down the progress in functional genomics and crop breeding studies. With the advancement of recent high-throughput phenotyping technologies, researchers can explore complex traits that are impossible to measure with conventional phenotyping methods. In this chapter, the major phenotyping tools and techniques used in field conditions and controlled environments have been discussed, along with their advantages and limitations. Some conceptual challenges have been proposed, and our perception to bridge the gap between phenotype and genotype are also discussed. There is no doubt that the recent developments in high-throughput plant phenotyping will accelerate crop genetic improvement and promote next-generation green revolution.
Navigators of the Contemporary: Why Ethnography Matters

As the image of anthropologists exploring exotic locales and filling in blanks on the map has faded, the idea that cultural anthropology has much to say about the contemporary world has likewise diminished. In an increasingly borderless world, how can anthropology help us to tackle the concerns of a global society? David A. Westbrook argues that the traditional tool of the cultural anthropologist - ethnography - can still function as an intellectually exciting way to understand our interconnected, yet mysterious worlds."Navigators of the Contemporary" describes the changing nature of ethnography as anthropologists use it to analyze places closer to home. Westbrook maintains that a conversational style of ethnography can help us look beyond our assumptions and gain new insight into arenas of contemporary life such as corporations, financial institutions, science, the military, and religion. Westbrook's witty, absorbing book is a friendly challenge to anthropologists to shed light on the present and join broader streams of intellectual life. And for those outside the discipline, his inspiring vision of ethnography opens up the prospect of understanding our own world in much greater depth.
Periodontal status and pregnancy.

Abstract 1. 1. Three hundred and sixty-six pregnant and postpartum patients were studied in five obstetrical clinics in Birmingham, Alabama. 2. 2. A definite relationship could not be demonstrated between pregnancy and the periodontal state. In other words, the average PMA index was essentially the same for the pregnant versus the postpartum patient. 3. 3. Among the pregnant patients, tooth-brushing and tooth mobility appear to be factors related to the state of the periodontium. 4. 4. The evidence seems to point out that gravidity plays a role in periodontal pathosis but that its effect becomes apparent only with the passage of time. 5. 5. It appears, from this study, that there is a significant difference in the PMA index in the older as opposed to the younger age groups among both the pregnant and post-partum individuals. 6. 6. The evidence suggests that the periodontal diseases may well be the result of the interplay of a host of factors.
Near-optimal pricing in near-linear time

We present efficient approximation algorithms for a number of problems that call for computing the prices that maximize the revenue of the seller on a set of items. Algorithms for such problems enable the design of auctions and related pricing mechanisms [3]. In light of the fact that the problems we address are APX-hard in general [5], we design near-linear and near-cubic time approximation schemes under the assumption that the number of distinct items for sale is constant.
Molecular phylogenetics and the historical biogeography of dippers (Cinclus)

I used combined sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b and ND2 genes to determine the molecular phylogenetic relationships of all five extant species of dipper (Cinclus), as well as the relationships of Cinclidae to postulated nearest relatives. All methods of analysis resulted in a single best tree of dipper relationships, uniting the two South American taxa (as sisters) with the single North American exemplar, and the two Eurasian taxa forming a sister clade to the New World taxa. Further, each tree identified thrushes (Turdidae) as the closest relative to Cinclidae. Based on relationships within Cinclus, a Eurasian ancestral area is proposed, with subsequent movement into the New World. Dating of species divergences suggest that dippers arose approximately 4 mya, and achieved their present continental distributions soon after.
Human follicle stimulating hormone receptor signaling is membrane cholesterol and internalization dependent (609.16)

Human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH) is a dimeric glycoprotein secreted by the gonadotropic cells of the anterior pituitary that is essential for reproduction. Its receptor, (hFSHR), is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed on the surface of granulosa cells in females and Sertoli cells in males. FSH stimulates the maturation of ovarian follicles in females and triggers sperm production in males. Based on previous research in our lab, we proposed that hFSHR resides in lipid rafts and/or caveolae on the cell membrane and that its signaling is cholesterol and internalization dependent. To test this hypothesis, we treated HEK-293 cells stably transfected with human FSHR cDNA with the cholesterol depleting compound methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD) or the anti-fungal compound Nystatin which alters the selective permeability of the cell membrane by sequestering cholesterol. Western blotting was used to measure the phosphorylation of map kinases p38 and p42/44 (ERK 1/2). MBCD did not alter FSH dependent acti...
Polarisation sensing with resonant cavity enhanced photodetectors

The authors describe a new method of polarisation sensing using resonant cavity enhanced (RCE) photodetectors. The RCE detectors are constructed by integrating a thin absorption region into an asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity formed by a bottom mirror composed of a distributed Bragg Reflector and the semiconductor air interface. Quantum efficiency of these RCE devices can be controlled by tuning the cavity length by recessing the top surface of the detector. For off-normal incidence of light, the reflectivity of the semiconductor-air interface can be significantly different for TE (s) and TM (p) polarisations. A pair of monolithically integrated RCE photodetectors with cavity lengths tuned for resonance and anti-resonance provide a large contrast in response to TE and TM polarisations. The device formed by this technique eliminates the need for external polarisation filters and beam splitters, thus alleviating the problems associated with the bulkiness of the polarisation sensors in many applications.
Fifty shades of chronic colitis: Non-infectious imposters of inflammatory bowel disease

Chronic colitis is a common injury pattern that invokes a wide range of etiologic considerations. Any process that causes chronic mucosal injury can result in this nonspecific injury pattern. Inflammatory bowel disease is among the differential diagnoses, but it should only be rendered in the appropriate setting, after all possible mimics have been reasonably excluded. This review will detail the landscape of non-infectious IBD imposters.
Development of anti-pp60src serum with antigen produced in Escherichia coli.

Abstract We have purified p60src from bacterial recombinants which direct the synthesis of the Rous sarcoma virus transforming gene (src) product. This protein was injected into rabbits, and they produced a highly cross-reactive serum which can recognize the src protein from many different strains of Rous sarcoma virus.
Exceptions: The Criminal Law's Illogical Approach to HIV-Related Aggravated Assaults

This Article identifies logical and due process errors in HIV-related aggravated assault cases, which usually involve an HIV-positive individual having unprotected sex without disclosing his or her HIV status. While this behavior should not be encouraged, this Article suggests that punishing this conduct through a charge of aggravated assault - which requires a showing that the defendant’s actions were a means likely to cause grievous bodily harm or death - is fraught with fallacies in reasoning and runs afoul of due process. Specifically, some courts use the "rule of thumb" that HIV can possibly be transmitted through bodily fluids as sufficient evidence for finding that a particular HIV-positive defendant who had unprotected sex did so in a manner likely to cause substantial harm. This leads to two due process errors: (1) the conflation of what is theoretically possible for what is likely, and (2) the use of data about a hypothetical, average, HIV-positive individual as proof of the effects of a particular HIV-positive individual’s behavior. By relying on the rule of thumb that HIV can be transmitted through bodily fluids rather than investigating the unique features of the particular defendant on trial, these jurisdictions violate the Due Process Clause’s requirement of "personal guilt." Aristotle’s "Fallacy of Accident" is then committed when this generalization is applied to an HIV-positive defendant whose viral load is undetectable, making him an exception to the general rule. After explaining these concepts, this Article identifies various cases from the states and the military that commit these errors. These cases are then compared to similar aggravated assault cases from Canada that do not make the same mistakes and use the kind of particularized proof that is required by both common logic and the Due Process Clause.
Evaluation of Error Reduction Techniques on a LIDAR-Derived Salt Marsh Digital Elevation Model

ABSTRACT McClure, A.; Liu, X.; Hines, E., and Ferner, M.C., 2016. Evaluation of error reduction techniques on a LIDAR-derived salt marsh digital elevation model. Accurate elevation information is a necessity for conservation and management of tidal salt marshes where elevation differences can be as little as 2 m and where sea-level rise is a critical threat. This study applied an existing method to evaluate and improve the vertical accuracy of a 1-m LIDAR-derived digital elevation model (DEM) using a real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS dataset with a vertical accuracy of ±0.02 m and local vegetation data within a tidal salt marsh. Correction factors were generated for vegetation species within each major vegetation class and produced a modified DEM of the site. Comparison between the original and modified DEM showed that the mean error was reduced from 0.16 m to −0.004 m and the root mean squared error was reduced from 0.212 m to 0.098 m. These results demonstrate that it is possible to significantly reduce ver...
Covariability of visually evoked potentials and simple motor reaction times

Abstract Visually evoked potentials (VEPs) were recorded during simple motor reaction time (RT) experiments using spatially localized, constrast modulated visual stimuli. VEPs were averaged in groups, called “subensembles”, depending on the speed of the subject's motor response. To a specific visual stimulus, the VEP response time of a subensemble covaries with motor response latency according to the same linear relationship found to describe conventionally averaged VEPs and RTs over a wide range of stimuli.