cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Relative Performance of 12 Urinary Biomarkers for Renal Safety Across 22 Rat Sensitivity and Specificity Studies

Novel urinary kidney safety biomarkers have been identified recently that may outperform or add value to the conventional renal function biomarkers, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr). To assess the relative performance of the growing list of novel biomarkers, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted for 12 urinary biomarkers in 22 rat studies including 12 kidney toxicants and 10 compounds with toxicities observed in organs other than kidney. The kidney toxicity studies included kidney tubular toxicants and glomerular toxicants. The 12 urinary biomarkers evaluated included Kim-1, clusterin, osteopontin, osteoactivin, albumin, lipocalin-2, GST-α, β2-microglobulin, cystatin C, retinol binding protein 4, total protein, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for each biomarker and for BUN and SCr to compare the relative performance of the 12 biomarkers in individual animals against the microscopic histomorphologic changes observed in the kidney. Among the kidney toxicity biomarkers analyzed, Kim-1, clusterin, and albumin showed the highest overall performance for detecting drug-induced renal tubular injury in the rat in a sensitive and specific manner, whereas albumin showed the highest performance in detecting drug-induced glomerular injury. Although most of the evaluated kidney biomarkers were more sensitive in detecting kidney toxicity compared with BUN and SCr, all biomarkers demonstrated some lack of specificity, most notably NGAL and osteopontin, illustrating the need for caution when interpreting urinary biomarker increases in rat samples when organ toxicity is unknown.
Geo-Ontology Tools – the missing link

Numerous authors have presented ontology building tools that have all been developed as part of academic projects and that are usually adaptations of more generic tools for geo-spatial applications. While we trust that these tools do their job for the special purpose they have been built, the GIScience user community is still a long way away from off-the-shelf ontology builders that can be used by GIS project managers. In this article, we present a comparative study of ontology building tools described in some twenty peer-reviewed GIScience journal articles. We analyze them from the perspective of two application domains, crime analysis and transportation/land use. For the latter, we developed a database schema, which is substantially different from the three main templates commonly used. The crime analysis application uses a rule base for an agent-based model that had no precursor. In both cases, the currently available set of tools cannot replace manual coding of ontologies for use with ESRI-based application software. Based on these experiences, we outline a requirements list of what the tools described in the first part of the article are missing to make them practical from an applications perspective. The result is an R&D agenda for this important aspect of GIScience.
Syntactic Complexity and Competition: The Singular-Plural Distinction in Western Armenian

There is much debate in the linguistic literature about what mechanisms are responsible for accessing, implementing, and restricting grammatical competition. Building on this line of research, this article explores competition between plural and singular marking in Western Armenian, a language where grammatical competition results in a restricted interpretation of singular nouns. Of interest to competition theories in general, this restriction only occurs in certain grammatical environments: namely, definite NPs. As argued here, an adequate treatment of these facts requires comparing utterances in terms of their syntactic complexity (as Katzir (2007) proposes).
Online discussion effects on intention to participate in genetic research: A longitudinal experimental study.

Objective: The National Human Genome Research Institute has emphasised community engagement and public dialogue in the U.S. on issues related to genetics. This study examines how online discussions among the U.S. public directly or indirectly influence psychosocial constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior, including intention to take part in genetic research.Design: After completing the baseline questionnaire, participants (n = 3754) were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: the discussion group, the pre-/post-only group and the End-of-Project group. The discussion group (n = 1824) was invited and participated in up to three online discussions, which were held from November 2008 to May 2009.Main outcome measures: Behavioural intention, beliefs, attitudes, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control variables were assessed.Results: The most interesting finding was that those participating in online discussions had fewer negative beliefs about volunteering for genetic research, ...
Effects of Hydrocortisone on Survival in Neonatal Beagles Given Endotoxin

SummaryIn beagles 6-9 days old, hydrocortisone sodium succinate (5—150 mg/kg), given intravenously 1 hour before intravenous lethal doses (2 mg/kg) of E. coli endotoxin, increased the rate of survival, and, in some animals, the duration of survival; the effect of hydrocortisone was not dependent on the dose given. Hydrocortisone (50 mg/kg) given immediately after endotoxin (0.1—2 mg/kg) did not increase the rate or duration of survival.
Statistical Analysis of Strategic Interaction with Unobserved Player Actions: Introducing a Strategic Probit with Partial Observability

The strategic nature of political interactions has long captured the attention of political scientists. A traditional statistical approach to modeling strategic interactions involves multi-stage estimation, which improves parameter estimates associated with one stage by using the information from other stages. The application of such multi-stage approaches, however, imposes rather strict demands on data availability: data on the dependent variable must be available for each strategic actor at each stage of the interaction. Limited or no data make such approaches difficult or impossible to implement. Political science data, however, especially in the fields of international relations and comparative politics, are not always structured in a manner that is conducive to these approaches. For example, we observe and have plentiful data on the onset of civil wars, but not the preceding stages, in which opposition groups decide to rebel or governments decide to repress them. In this article, I derive an estimator that probabilistically estimates unobserved actor choices related to earlier stages of strategic interactions. I demonstrate the advantages of the estimator over traditional and split-population binary estimators both using Monte Carlo simulations and a substantive example of the strategic rebel–government interaction associated with civil wars.
High Photoresponsivity and Short Photoresponse Times in Few-Layered WSe2 Transistors.

Here, we report the photoconducting response of field-effect transistors based on three atomic layers of chemical vapor transport grown WSe2 crystals mechanically exfoliated onto SiO2. We find that trilayered WSe2 field-effect transistors, built with the simplest possible architecture, can display high hole mobilities ranging from 350 cm2/(V s) at room temperature (saturating at a value of ∼500 cm2/(V s) below 50 K) displaying a strong photocurrent response, which leads to exceptionally high photoresponsivities up to 7 A/W under white light illumination of the entire channel for power densities p < 102 W/m2. Under a fixed wavelength of λ = 532 nm and a laser spot size smaller than the conducting channel area, we extract photoresponsitivities approaching 100 mA/W with concomitantly high external quantum efficiencies up to ∼40% at room temperature. These values surpass values recently reported from more complex architectures, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides based heterostructures. Also...
Management of Astigmatism in Children

Uncorrected moderate to high degrees of astigmatism are risk factors for the development of refractive amblyopia in infants and young children. The magnitude of astigmatism that needs to be corrected to prevent the development of amblyopia is relatively well established and has become the basis of preferred practice patterns for prescribing glasses in the pediatric age group (Donahue SP. Prescribing spectacles in children: a pediatric ophthalmologist’s approach. Optom Vis Sci. 2007;84(2):110–4). The critical period during which refractive amblyopia can be prevented or reversed with spectacle correction remains however a topic of ongoing debate. In addition to the issue of amblyopia induced by uncorrected astigmatism, the pediatric eye care provider must be aware of specific eye conditions that lead to progressive regular or irregular astigmatism in childhood. Specific diseases that affect the curvature of the cornea or lens can cause degradation of vision over time and, in some cases, may be related to important systemic diagnoses.
An optical-chemical sensor using rhodamine B on anodized-aluminum for surface temperature measurement from 150 to 500 K

Abstract Temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) provides surface temperature measurements over the surface of a test body. It can be used to obtain surface temperature measurements which can be also useful in determining heat flux and visualizing the location of boundary layer transition. In this study, a rhodamine B (RhB)-based anodized-aluminum temperature-sensitive paint (AA-TSP) is developed as a surface temperature sensor. Anodized aluminum offers advantages over a polymer base, including an increased melting point and increased resistance to stiffening and cracking at cryogenic temperatures, making it well-suited for wide range temperature measurements. In this study, the influence of different dipping solvents to apply the RhB onto the anodized-aluminum is characterized. Two groups of dipping solvents were found with respect to the luminescent intensity and temperature sensitivity based on the polarity index of the solvents. By using anodized-aluminum as opposed to a polymer as the platform for the RhB, the sensor provides an expanded temperature detection range from 150 to 500 K. The highest temperature sensitivity given by the AA-TSP approached −3%/K at 150 K, which is determined by fitting a sigmoidal curve to the temperature calibration results.
Epilogue: Emergent Trends and Threads

In addition to highlighting the complexities (theoretical and practical) of preparing school teachers to effectively support learning at the intersection of science and second language acquisition, chapters in this volume provide us with a more sophisticated, theory-based understanding of the target pedagogical activity toward which science teacher preparation in content-based second language acquisition is aimed. More specifically, they help us better understand the nature of content-language integration in science as a pedagogical endeavor that involves simultaneous lexicalization and conceptualization of one’s experiences in a science classroom. Additionally, the preceding chapters illuminate the specific type of pedagogical expertise (i.e., knowledge and skills) that science teachers need to develop in order to effectively accomplish such an educational endeavor. These emergent themes are discussed below.
On-Task Behavior, Academic Performance, and Classroom Disruptions: Untangling the Target Selection Problem in Classroom Interventions

At a minimum, research can indirectly affect the practice of school psychology. In the area of classroom management, practitioners perceive a lack of skills and a need for relevant research while r...
On the robustness of power systems: Optimal load-capacity distributions and hardness of attacking

We consider a power system with N transmission lines whose initial loads (i.e., power flows) L 1 ,…, L N and capacities C1,…, C N are independent and identically distributed with the joint distribution P LC (x, y) = P [L ≤ x, C ≤ y]; the capacity C i defines the maximum flow allowed on line i. We survey some results on the robustness of this power system against random attacks (or, failures) that target a p-fraction of the lines, under a democratic fiber bundle-like model. Namely, when a line fails, the load it was carrying is redistributed equally among the remaining lines. We then consider the case where an adversary can launch a targeted attack, and present several results on the hardness of attacking optimally.
Cavity-nesting bird abundance in thinned versus unthinned Massachusetts oak stands

Cavity-nesting birds provide significant benefits to forest communities, but timber management techniques may negatively affect cavity-nesting species by reducing the availability of suitable nest and foraging sites. We surveyed cavity-nesting birds from transects in eight Massachusetts oak stands to examine the effect of thinning with retention of snag and wildlife trees on bird use of those stands. We found no difference (P > 0.05) in number of primary- and secondary-cavity nesters detected per km among thinned and unthinned stands when snag and wildlife trees were retained during thinning. Our stands ranged from 13.0-51.9 ha and were surrounded by pole- and sawtimber-sized stands. Intermediate cuttings on areas of similar size can be conducted without reducing cavity-nesting bird abundance if forest managers include wildlife considerations when planning and marking stands for harvest.
The Problem with Square Pegs: Sexual Orientation Concordance as a Predictor of Depressive Symptoms:

The author uses a nationally representative sample of cisgender young adults to examine the relationship between sexual orientation concordance and the prevalence of depressive symptoms. In these a...
A dual agonist of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the G protein–coupled receptor TGR5, INT-767, reverses age-related kidney disease in mice

Even in healthy individuals, renal function gradually declines during aging. However, an observed variation in the rate of this decline has raised the possibility of slowing or delaying age-related kidney disease. One of the most successful interventional measures that slows down and delays age-related kidney disease is caloric restriction. We undertook the present studies to search for potential factors that are regulated by caloric restriction and act as caloric restriction mimetics. Based on our prior studies with the bile acid-activated nuclear hormone receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and G protein-coupled membrane receptor TGR5 that demonstrated beneficial effects of FXR and TGR5 activation in the kidney, we reasoned that FXR and TGR5 could be excellent candidates. We therefore determined the effects of aging and caloric restriction on the expression of FXR and TGR5 in the kidney. We found that FXR and TGR5 expression levels are decreased in the aging kidney and that caloric restriction prevents these age-related decreases. Interestingly, in long-lived Ames dwarf mice, renal FXR and TGR5 expression levels were also increased. A 2-month treatment of 22-month-old C57BL/6J mice with the FXR-TGR5 dual agonist INT-767 induced caloric restriction-like effects and reversed age-related increases in proteinuria, podocyte injury, fibronectin accumulation, TGF-β expression, and, most notably, age-related impairments in mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial function. Furthermore, in podocytes cultured in serum obtained from old mice, INT-767 prevented the increases in the proinflammatory markers TNF-α, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and TLR4. In summary, our results indicate that FXR and TGR5 may play an important role in modulation of age-related kidney disease.
On hydrogen transport and edge plasma modeling of liquid-metal divertors

The steady-state operational conditions for large tokamaks impose high performance requirements that cast suspicion on the employment of conventional solid surface divertors. Flowing liquid-metal divertors are thus being considered as an alternative. A preliminary evaluation is made of some aspects of this concept. To understand the hydrogen (i.e., deuterons and tritons) recycling behavior in liquid metals, the transport and chemistry aspects of the hydrogen/liquid-metal interaction are investigated, including hydrogen gettering, tritium inventory, and blistering caused by hydrogen bubble eruptions. It is shown that when operating in the high-recycling model (i.e., as the liquid metal is filled with deuterons and tritons, one implanting ion will immediately cause the emission of one neutral particle), lithium would have a large tritium inventory. Gallium, on the other hand, does not have the same problem because of its negligible hydrogen solubility and the decomposition of its hydrides in the temperature range of interest. However, to avoid blistering, the flow speed of a gallium neutralizer has to be high. An edge plasma simulation model is briefly introduced, and its outcome for the high-recycling liquid-metal (lithium and gallium) divertors is presented. This model gives more realistic predictions of plasma temperature than some of the existing simulation models.more » Results of this model show that denser and cooler edge plasmas can be achieved by liquid-metal divertors than by conventional stationary surface divertors. Evaporation and sputtering of liquid-metal divertors are shown not to be as serious a problem as might be suspected at first glance. 22 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.« less
PRECIPITATION OF LYSOZYME WITH THYROXINE OR THYROGLOBULIN.

SUMMARY 1. L-Thyroxine and lysozyme form a complex at pH 7.6 which is insoluble. L-Triiodothyronine also forms an insoluble com- plex with lysozyme, but is much less effective t,han thyroxine. An insoluble complex does not form between lysozyme and ap- propriate similar amounts of nn-thyronine, diiodotyrosine, potas- sium iodide, or iodine. The formation of an insoluble complex does not occur when lysozyme is replaced by isomolecular masses of ribonuclease or cytochrome c. 2. Formation of an insoluble complex also occurs between lysozyme and thyroglobulin. The complex forms to about the same extent over a pH range of 6.4 to 8.0 and is reproducible owing to the greater solubility of thyroglobulin than of thyroxine. The formation of an insoluble complex does not occur when lysozyme is replaced by isomolecular masses of ribonuclease, cytochrome c, or performate-oxidized lysozyme. The insoluble complex has been identified by sucrose density gradient centri- fugation, and results of sucrose density gradient analysis have been confirmed with free boundary electrophoresis. 3. Addition of increasing amounts of L-thyroxine to thyro- globulin causes a linear increase in the formation of an insoluble complex with lysozyme until about, 80% of the total protein in the system has been precipitated. Higher amounts of n-thy- roxine added to the thyroglobulin-lysozyme system continue increase the amount of precipitate formed, but at a lower rate. Addition of increasing amounts of L-thyroxine to ribonuclease and thyroglobulin, or to cytochrome c do not result in insoluble complex formation. 4. Experiments with 13iI-thyroxine and with 3H-lysozyme, which retains 70% of its enzymatic activity after exposure to tritium gas, confirm the participation of the two reactants in the insoluble complex. REFERENCES
The Saudi 2014 gambit: a counterfactual analysis

The November 2014 Saudi gambit to increase oil production and drive down prices was a deliberate decision to quell the shale oil revolution. Ostensibly, that decision has been very costly to the Saudis, but the relevant question is would they find themselves worse off had they not acted. This paper presents a counterfactual analysis of that decision and finds that to have continued to cut production to sustain high prices would have been worse yet. Consequently, because of the shale revolution, future oil prices appear likely to fluctuate between a new floor and new ceiling price. A critical question then becomes what role will OPEC play in affecting prices within this new range of variation. This paper presents two contrasting views.
Assessing the role of turbulence-radiation interactions in hydrogen-enriched oxy-methane flames

Abstract Statistical analysis of scalar data obtained from single-shot laser measurements in four turbulent oxy-fuel flames were carried out to develop a functional relationship for the temperature self-correlation (TSC) term for use in Turbulence Radiation Interaction (TRI) models. The developed relationship was found to be invariant with the hydrogen enrichment in the fuel, fuel jet Reynolds numbers and correlated reasonably well with the root-mean-square of temperature (Trms). The TSC and the absorption-coefficient temperature correlation (ATC) were both modeled in terms of Trms and employed as add-on functions in time-averaged flame simulations. Including the effects of TRI enhanced the radiant fraction by 40% and reduced outlet CO concentrations by 30% across all flames. Further, there was significant flame absorption due to the high concentrations of radiatively participating gases that would deem optically thin radiation approximations in these flames to be erroneous.
Traction alopecia: the root of the problem

Traction alopecia (TA) affects one-third of women of African descent who wear various forms of traumatic hairstyling for a prolonged period of time. The risk of TA is increased by the extent of pulling and duration of traction, as well as the use of chemical relaxation. The frequent use of tight buns or ponytails, the attachment of weaves or hair extensions, and tight braids (such as cornrows and dreadlocks) are believed to be the highest risk hairstyles. TA can also occur in the setting of religious and occupational traumatic hairstyling. In its later stages, the disease may progress into an irreversible scarring alopecia if traumatic hairstyling continues without appropriate intervention. The most common clinical presentation includes marginal alopecia and non-marginal patchy alopecia. A clue to the clinical diagnosis is the preservation of the fringe sign as opposed to its loss in frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). Dermoscopy can be helpful in the diagnosis and can detect the ongoing traction by the presence of hair casts. Histopathology can distinguish TA from alopecia areata, FFA, and patchy central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Currently, there is no cure. Therefore, it is imperative that clinicians educate high-risk populations about TA and those practices that may convey the risk of hair loss.
Preoptic area cooling increases the sympathetic outflow to brown adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue thermogenesis

Modest cold exposures are likely to activate autonomic thermogenic mechanisms due to activation of cutaneous thermal afferents, whereas central thermosensitive neurons set the background tone on wh...
Difference and Differential Equation Population Growth Models

Ordinarily, the derivative is defined by the following limit: $$ \frac{{dy}}{{dx}} = \mathop{{\lim }}\limits_{{h \to 0}} \frac{{y(x + h) - y(x)}}{h} $$ (1a) Similarly, when a computer is used to “solve” a differential equation numerically, derivatives are ordinarily replaced by finite difference approximations such as $$ \frac{{dy}}{{dx}} \simeq \frac{{y(x + h) - y(x)}}{h} $$ (1b) These two operations are really just inverses of one another. At times, the conversion of a difference equation into the analogous differential equation is convenient because the calculus can be employed, so the finite interval of the independent variable is made to vanish. At other times, this limit is “undone” so that numerical methods can be used on the difference equation analog of a differential equation. Unfortunately, these inverse operations have a profound effect upon the nature of the solutions found. This frequently neglected point is the main topic of this chapter.
Archives of identity

Questions of nature and culture, identity and biology, and certainly the nature of establishing ‘fact’ cut through multiple disciplines in ways that few other themes could. The duality of science and society could not be more clearly articulated than in The Genealogical Science: The Search for Jewish Origins and the Politics of Epistemology. Indeed, Nadia Abu El-Haj brilliantly describes the intellectual interplay between anthropology, epistemology, popular memes of society and political order, political commitments, ideologies, and how these factors influence cultural imaginations specifically through genetic anthropology. Situating her work at the intersection of history of science, philosophy of science, sociology, and anthropology, Abu El-Haj offers specific, precise, and well-grounded arguments about how the meanings of biological difference have changed over time—and, specifically, about the explanatory role that history and the historical sciences can offer to these multi-striated themes as she works to unpack the complexity of: (1) Jewish origins and the subsequent questions: (2) ‘‘Who are the Jews?’’ and (3) ‘‘Who determines this?’’ Structurally, The Genealogical Science is broken in six chapters with each chapter tackling a specific component of Abu El-Haj’s broader intellectual project. There is, however, a particular undercurrent to all of the chapters, focusing on the social construction of knowledge and the question of ‘‘Jewishness’’ or ‘‘Jewish origins.’’ This undercurrent centers around several types of social knowing. Abu El-Haj describes one type of ‘‘social knowing’’ that is relatively more common within history of science and anthropology literature—the collective identity or collective history of origins. The second type of ‘‘social knowing’’ is certainly interestingly unique to the questions and themes of the book’s broader project. This type of knowing centers around the social epistemology and politics of genetic ancestry testing and what it means ‘‘to be Jewish’’ and how one might define that
Dependence of Ductile and Brittle Response on Initial Energy Dissipation Mechanism at Crack Tip

The criteria which determine the initial energy dissipation mechanism that is activated at or near a crack tip are derived. The possible mechanisms considered are cleavage, crack tip dislocation nucleation and also Frank-Read source activation near the tip. The criteria can be succinctly expressed in graphical form. It is suggested that a change in the initial energy dissipation mechanism may determine the conditions under which the brittle to ductile transition occurs. The criteria compare favourably to several experiments in the literature which address the competition between the various energy dissipation mechanisms.
Biochemical Liver Tests: Recent Developments and Challenges

Concurrent with the explosive growth of clinical laboratory testing during the last 30 years, an enormous number of biochemical tests have been proposed for diagnosis and monitoring of hepatobiliary disorders. The wealth of candidate tests obviously reflect the myriad of functions performed by the liver. Their development has also been spurred by the intense interest of clinicians who are confronted daily with the question of whether a patient has a hepatobiliary disorder. Notwithstanding this enormous and continuing activity at the drawing boards in hepatological reseach and clinical biochemistry laboratories, almost no change has occurred in the armamentarium of biochemical liver tests routinely employed in clinical practice. Assays of total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubins in serum and bilirubins in urine have been used widely for clinical purposes since the second decade of this century. Measurement of alkaline phosphatase and transaminase activities in serum became widespread in the early 1950s. Together with the one-stage prothrombin time and some form of assessment of serum albumin and gamma-globulins, these analyses continue to be the only biochemical tests to enjoy general acclaim and are considered indispensable clinical tools in the follow-up of patients with suspected or established liver disease.
A Model of Joint Action for Literacy Coaching: The Intersection of Consonance and Dissonance With Responsive and Directive Approaches:

This 7-month multiple case study investigated the nature of mediation through literacy coaching, a reflective framework, and video of classroom instruction and its impact on the development of four...
Temperature sensitivity of nitrogen mineralization in agricultural soils

As concerns continue to mount over nitrogen (N) use efficiency and the fate of excess N lost to the environment, the need for accurate assessments of the contribution of non-fertilizer sources is increasing. Nitrogen mineralization from soil organic matter (SOM) can supply large quantities of plant-available N through a growing season and is affected by numerous factors including soil temperature and soil properties. The objective of this study was to determine the temperature sensitivity of N mineralization in soils under annual crops in California and to determine whether growing region and soil properties affect the temperature sensitivity of N mineralization. Nitrogen mineralization was assessed for 55 soils from different regions in central and northern California by incubating undisturbed soil cores at 5, 15, and 25 °C for 10 weeks. Modeling was done by fitting the data to both an S-shaped curve and a Q10 function. Q10 values averaged 2.87 and ranged from 2.67 to 3.15 in the different regions. While the magnitude of N mineralized varied greatly, the temperature response did not differ significantly across regions and was not affected by SOM content and quality, texture, electrical conductivity, or pH. Coupling the temperature response curve with daily soil temperature data measured in the field highlighted the differences in regional and seasonal mineralization rates and underscored the importance of taking soil temperature into account when determining N mineralization rates for N budgets. This is especially important in regions where crops are grown year-round.
Self-judgments of authenticity

People feel more authentic at certain times than at others, and people differ in how authentic they believe they are overall. Although self-judgments of authenticity and inauthenticity are importan...
Socioeconomic gradients in chronic disease risk behaviors in a population-based study of older adults in rural South Africa

To investigate the associations between household wealth, household consumption, and chronic disease risk behaviors among older adults in rural South Africa. Data were from baseline assessments of 5059 adults aged ≥ 40 in the population-based “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa” in 2015. Confounder-adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated for the associations between each of household wealth and household consumption quintiles with low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), current smoking, frequent alcohol intake, and overweight/obese body mass index (BMI). Low MVPA and overweight/obese BMI were common (57% and 58%, respectively), and linearly increased in prevalence across household wealth quintiles. Low MVPA decreased and overweight/obese BMI increased in prevalence across household consumption quintiles. Smoking and frequent alcohol intake were rare (9% and 6%, respectively); they decreased in prevalence across wealth quintiles, but did not vary by consumption quintile. Chronic disease risk behaviors are socioeconomically graded among older, rural South African adults. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in rural South Africa is a public health concern requiring urgent attention.
Saving embryos in stem cell science and embryo adoption

The million frozen human embryos accumulated in IVF clinic freezers across the United States have become premier targets for saving by groups committed to repurposing reproductive remainders. Based...
Arthroscopic Treatment of the Failed Shoulder Arthroplasty

Traditionally, treatment of failed shoulder arthroplasty has been limited to open procedures; however, as experience and comfort with shoulder arthroscopy have evolved, there has been growing interest in adapting its use to management of problems that occur after shoulder replacement. Diagnostic arthroscopy can be helpful to provide additional information when clinical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging are inconclusive. The most common indications for arthroscopy after failed shoulder arthroplasty include evaluation for pain without loss of motion, soft-tissue biopsy to rule out infection, evaluation of the rotator cuff, or evaluation for loosening of the glenoid component. Several pathologies can be treated successfully with arthroscopy, including rotator cuff impingement syndrome, loose body removal, loose glenoid component removal, rotator cuff tears, and arthrofibrosis. Before arthroscopy, the surgeon should have exhausted all nonoperative diagnostic measures and have a clear understanding of the treatment goals and must recognize the technical difficulties of arthroscopy in the setting of implanted prosthetic components.
Towards Integrated Microcomb Systems for Hertz-Scale Accuracy Optical Signal Generation

The history and physics of soliton microcombs are briefly overviewed. Several applications under active investigation are described including recent demonstrations of dual-comb spectroscopy and optical frequency synthesis to Hertz-level absolute accuracy over C-band.
Back to Reality: Cross domain deterrence and cyberspace

This paper examines cross domain deterrence strategies involving cyber incidents. By focusing on efforts to halt Russian and Chinese cyber operations against the United States this paper examines the importance of developing, maintaining and implementing (when necessary) cross domain deterrence strategies. This paper departs from more theoretic debates on the value and potential success, or lack thereof relating to cyber deterrence strategies and focuses on two cases in which cross domain retaliations were utilized to halt adversary behavior. From these two cases this paper posits a preliminary theory of cross domain deterrence applicable to cyber interactions between states and advances the debates in the field by shifting the center of gravity away from within domain responses to other mechanisms to deter adversary behavior.
Exploring the association between heart rate control and patient outcomes: A retrospective medical record review of patients hospitalized with systolic heart failure

Introduction Previous studies report an association between elevated heart rate (HR) and increased mortality and rehospitalizations in patients with HFrEF and have also found that reduction in HR reduced HF rehospitalization. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that for patients with an index HFrEF-related hospital admission, HR at discharge and change in HR between hospital admission and discharge would be associated with subsequent increased risk for rehospitalization. Methods 180 US physicians contributed record abstraction data for patients hospitalized with a confirmed, primary diagnosis of HFrEF defined as LVEF ≤35% + ≥1 at admission: administration of an IV diuretic, BNP levels >200pg/mL, or N-terminal proBNP levels >600pg/mL. The association of HR at discharge and change in HR from admission to discharge with rehospitalization at any time post-discharge were assessed using multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results 1002 patients (63% male, mean±SD age 62.5±13.3y, LVEF 27.2±6.0%) were included. At admission, 59% of patients were prescribed beta blockers (BB); 48%, ACE inhibitors (ACEi); and ARBs, 17%. At discharge, 71% received BB; 54%, ACEi; and 19%, ARBs. Among all patients, 39% had ≥1 post-discharge rehospitalization anytime (14% within 30 days). Mean HR at discharge was 73.51±11.47. HR at discharge of >80bpm (n=188) had a trend towards increased rehospitalization (hazard ratio=1.28, CI 0.98-1.68, P=0.07). The mean change in HR from admission to discharge was −19.5±17.2bpm. Mean change in HR correlated significantly with rehospitalization rate. Patients with >0%-20% reduction in HR (hazard ratio=0.61, 95%CI 0.43-0.85, P=0.004) and >20% reduction (0.62, 0.45-0.87, P=0.005) were less likely to be rehospitalized when compared to patients with no change or an increase (Figure). Conclusions In patients with HFrEF receiving similar treatment as reported in large registries, a reduction in HR during a HFrEF-related admission is associated with reduced rehospitalization. Further investigation of clinical drivers of change in HR could potentially identify management strategies to reduce rehospitalization.
pMUT-based Real-Time (RT) Acoustic Discovery Architecture (ADA) for Intrabody Networks (IN)

This paper reports on the first Acoustic Discovery Architecture (ADA) for Intrabody Networks (IN) [1]. The main objective of ADA is to discover, in Real-Time (RT), all the implanted medical devices (IMDs) [2] that are part of an IN. This permits non-invasive RT diagnosis for patients with multiple IMDs. ADA will allow medical doctors (MDs) to have vital information, on-the-go, for treating patients and constantly monitoring them [3]. The architecture was implemented in a network simulator to emulate a real life IN, based on experimental results. ADA is in charge of scanning a body volume by exploiting the beam-forming and beam-steering capability of Piezoelectric Micro-Machined Ultrasonic Transducers (pMUTs) arrays [4] and efficiently interrogating all the reached devices for their status. As a result, a full IN map can be reconstructed together with all the vital signs of a patient. ADA shows very good RT capabilities, with a full scanning time from 1500msec down to 100msec and energy consumption from 2.6mJ down to 0.2mJ, depending on the scanning accuracy, for a body torso volume of 60x30x20cm $^{\mathbf {3}}$.
Infrastructure Related Road Safety Interventions

Approximately 1.35 million people die on the world's roads every year (That is about 3700 every day!!). Nearly half (49%) of the fatalities are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. In addition, there are 20-50 million people injured every year due to road traffic. Studies have shown that road design deficiencies largely contribute to road traffic injuries. A holistic and integrated approach to road safety must be taken to improve traffic safety. From the five Es of traffic safety (engineering, education, enforcement, emergency services, and evaluation) the emphasis is placed on infrastructure design and improvements and their roles on improving traffic safety. Traffic safety is a key factor in planning, designing and operating of a safe road network. Roadway design and traffic operation/management are key components of the 5 Es of improving traffic safety. Roadway design elements and traffic operation and management decision that directly affects roadway safety are discussed. Actions to be taken are presented and effectiveness of infrastructure related road safety intervention are discussed.
FFmpeg360 for 360-degree videos: edge-based transcoding, view rendering, and visual quality comparison: poster

360-degree video streaming is an emerging technology that provides immersive experiences to users. However, it both requires high streaming bandwidth and wastes a significant portion of the bandwidth. To improve bandwidth-efficiency, researchers have proposed oriented projections and FOV rendering. However, existing software and tools are unable to perform these tasks in an online manner under stringent processing latency and throughput constraints. In this paper, we present FFmpeg360, an open source software that leverages the GPU to accelerate video processing, making it possible to deploy video transformation tasks on edge computing devices. In addition, "view videos" generated by FFmpeg360 can be used to compare visual quality of views rendered from various spatial and bitrate adaptation schemes designed for 360-degree video streaming.
Large-N c analysis of magnetic and axial two-nucleon currents in pionless effective field theory

We analyze magnetic and axial two-nucleon contact terms in a combined large-$N_c$ and pionless effective field theory expansion. These terms play important roles in correctly describing, e.g., the low-energy cross section of radiative neutron capture and the deuteron magnetic moment. We show that the large-$N_c$ expansion hints towards a hierarchy between the two leading-order magnetic terms that matches that found in phenomenological fits. We also comment on the issue of naturalness in different Lagrangian bases.
Conterminous United States land cover change patterns 2001–2016 from the 2016 National Land Cover Database

Abstract The 2016 National Land Cover Database (NLCD) product suite (available on www.mrlc.gov ), includes Landsat-based, 30 m resolution products over the conterminous (CONUS) United States (U.S.) for land cover, urban imperviousness, and tree, shrub, herbaceous and bare ground fractional percentages. The release of NLCD 2016 provides important new information on land change patterns across CONUS from 2001 to 2016. For land cover, seven epochs were concurrently generated for years 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2016. Products reveal that land cover change is significant across most land cover classes and time periods. The land cover product was validated using existing reference data from the legacy NLCD 2011 accuracy assessment, applied to the 2011 epoch of the NLCD 2016 product line. The legacy and new NLCD 2011 overall accuracies were 82% and 83%, respectively, (standard error (SE) was 0.5%), demonstrating a small but significant increase in overall accuracy. Between 2001 and 2016, the CONUS landscape experienced significant change, with almost 8% of the landscape having experienced a land cover change at least once during this period. Nearly 50% of that change involves forest, driven by change agents of harvest, fire, disease and pests that resulted in an overall forest decline, including increasing fragmentation and loss of interior forest. Agricultural change represented 15.9% of the change, with total agricultural spatial extent showing only a slight increase of 4778 km2, however there was a substantial decline (7.94%) in pasture/hay during this time, transitioning mostly to cultivated crop. Water and wetland change comprised 15.2% of change and represent highly dynamic land cover classes from epoch to epoch, heavily influenced by precipitation. Grass and shrub change comprise 14.5% of the total change, with most change resulting from fire. Developed change was the most persistent and permanent land change increase adding almost 29,000 km2 over 15 years (5.6% of total CONUS change), with southern states exhibiting expansion much faster than most of the northern states. Temporal rates of developed change increased in 2001–2006 at twice the rate of 2011–2016, reflecting a slowdown in CONUS economic activity. Future NLCD plans include increasing monitoring frequency, reducing latency time between satellite imaging and product delivery, improving accuracy and expanding the variety of products available in an integrated database.
Red Blood Cell-Mediated S-Nitrosohemoglobin-Dependent Vasodilation: Lessons Learned from a β-Globin Cys93 Knock-in Mouse

Significance: Red blood cell (RBC)-mediated vasodilation plays an important role in oxygen delivery. This occurs through hemoglobin actions, at least in significant part, to convert heme-bound nitric oxide (NO) (in tense [T]/deoxygenated-state hemoglobin) into vasodilator S-nitrosothiol (SNO) (in relaxed [R]/oxygenated-state hemoglobin), convey SNO through the bloodstream, and release it into tissues to increase blood flow. The coupling of hemoglobin R/T state allostery, both to NO conversion into SNO and to SNO release (along with oxygen), under hypoxia supports the model of a three-gas respiratory cycle (O2/NO/CO2). Recent Advances: Oxygenation of tissues is dependent on a single, strictly conserved Cys residue in hemoglobin (βCys93). Hemoglobin couples SNO formation/release at βCys93 to O2 binding/release at hemes ("thermodynamic linkage"). Mice bearing βCys93Ala hemoglobin that is unable to generate SNO-βCys93 establish that SNO-hemoglobin is important for R/T allostery-regulated vasodilation by RBCs that couple blood flow to tissue oxygenation. Critical Issues: The model for RBC-mediated vasodilation originally proposed by Stamler et al. in 1996 has been largely validated: SNO-βCys93 forms in vivo, dilates blood vessels, and is hypoxia-regulated, and RBCs actuate vasodilation proportionate to hypoxia. Numerous compensations in βCys93Ala animals to alleviate tissue hypoxia (discussed herein) are predicted to preserve vasodilatory responses of RBCs but impair linkage to R/T transition in hemoglobin. This is borne out by loss of responsivity of mutant RBCs to oxygen, impaired blood flow responses to hypoxia, and tissue ischemia in βCys93-mutant animals. Future Directions: SNO-hemoglobin mediates hypoxic vasodilation in the respiratory cycle. This fundamental physiology promises new insights in vascular diseases and blood disorders.
Can a children's hospital still cut it? Comparing outcomes of pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients undergoing thoracic surgery for lung metastases

BACKGROUND Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer have unique medical challenges compared with younger children and older adults. Dedicated centers have been established to deliver cancer therapy to the AYA population; many of these programs are located in pediatric hospitals. Outcomes of AYA patients on pediatric protocols are generally superior to those on adult protocols. Little is understood about the impact of care within a pediatric environment for surgical care of young adults. METHODS A retrospective institutional review was performed of patients undergoing thoracic metastectomy between 2012 and 2017. Demographics, procedural factors, cost, and outcomes were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: > 18 and 18 years old. The median age was 6.5 years for 18 years old. Older patients had a significantly longer operative time on thoracoscopic cases; 91 versus 63 minutes. Fifty percent of the > 18 group had > 1 lesion resected compared with one lesion resected in 80.8% in <18 years old. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the duration of chest tube or length of stay. The AYA group demonstrated more "adult type" comorbidities. CONCLUSION AYA patients have unique developmental and emotional challenges. Surgical intervention in this special population of patients cared for within a pediatric environment shows no significant difference in outcome compared with pediatric patients undergoing the same procedure. AYA patients with "adult type" comorbidities can safely undergo multidisciplinary care including surgery within a pediatric environment without the need to fragment care.