cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Group Lifestyle Phone Maintenance for Weight, Health, and Physical Function in Adults Aged 65-80 Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background Group lifestyle sessions with phone maintenance could improve weight, health, and function in vulnerable older adults. Methods Community-dwelling adults (N = 322) with body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) ≥27 and additional risk factors received 12 one-hour in-person behavioral weight management group sessions then were randomized to 8 half-hour telephone sessions (n = 162) or newsletter control (n = 160) from 4 to 12 months with no treatment contact thereafter. Primary outcome was 0- to 12-month weight change. Cardiometabolic, short physical performance battery (SPPB), and self-reported activity changes were assessed at 12 and 24 months. Results At baseline, the mean (SD) age was 71.2 (4.3) and BMI was 33.8 (5.1). Participants were 77% women, 13% Black, 85% retired, averaging 4 medical conditions, and taking blood pressure (67.4%) and lipid-lowering (51.6%) medications. At 12 months, a greater proportion of the phone group (66.0%) achieved ≥5% weight loss compared with newsletter control (53.2%; p = .02). Mean (95% CI) weight loss was greater for phone (-6.6 kg [-7.5, -5.8]) than newsletter (-5.1 kg [-7.2, -3.0]); p = .01. Modest lipid, glucose, and blood pressure improvements were found, but did not differ significantly between groups. Small SPPB and activity improvements were maintained at 12 and 24 months in both groups. Conclusions Brief phone contacts compared to newsletters enhanced weight loss maintenance among older high-risk adults at 1 year, but not cardiometabolic outcomes. Modest functional improvements were observed in both. Lower-intensity maintenance contacts (phone or newsletter) for weight, health, and physical function in older adults warrant further study. Clinical trials registration number NCT03192475.
Supporting Privacy, Trust, and Personalization in Online Learning

Privacy is a rather murky concept, but the absence of privacy is clearly felt in today’s digital world. With the significant increase in surveillance power of software and hardware, storage capacity, computing power as well as advancement in data science technologies, the threat to privacy is ever increasing. Within the digital realm, privacy has been studied in different platforms, contexts, and environments. In this capacity, Professor Jim Greer is one of the pioneering thought leaders to study privacy in online learning environment. Additionally, strongly related to privacy, trust and personalization are two important components of online learning. This article reflects on Greer’s contributions to grapple with the following questions: (1) To what extent are privacy, trust, and personalization desired in online learning? (2) How can privacy, trust, and personalization be supported in online learning? In this vein, we study three theories (i.e., limitation theory, control theory, and contextual integrity theory) and different mechanisms (e.g., privacy preferences, identity management, contextual information flow) for privacy. Additionally, this article discusses the ways to achieve trust and personalization without compromising privacy.
Toward Automatic Parabolized Stability Equation-Based Transition-to-Turbulence Prediction for Aerodynamic Flows

The inclusion of transition-to-turbulence effects in computational fluid dynamics simulations is essential to accurately predict drag reduction from the use of laminar flow technologies. The parabo...
Identification of Prognostic Markers in Cholangiocarcinoma Using Altered DNA Methylation and Gene Expression Profiles.

Background Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare disease, but it is amongst the most lethal cancers with a median survival under 1 year. Variations in DNA methylation and gene expression have been extensively studied in other cancers for their role in pathogenesis and disease prognosis, but these studies are very limited in CCA. This study focusses on the identification of DNA methylation and gene expression prognostic biomarkers using multi-omics data of CCA tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Method We have conducted a genome-wide analysis of differential DNA methylation and gene/miRNA expression using data from 36 CCA tumor and 9 normal samples from TCGA. The impact of DNA methylation in promoters and long-range distal enhancers on the regulation and expression of CCA-associated genes was examined using linear regression. Next, we conducted network analyses on genes which are regulated by DNA methylation as well as by miRNA. Finally, we performed Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses in order to identify the role of selected methylation sites and specific genes and miRNAs in patient survival. We also performed real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to confirm the change in gene expression in CCA patients' tumor and adjacent normal samples. Results Altered DNA methylation was observed on 12,259 CpGs across all chromosomes, of which 78% were hypermethylated. We observed a strong negative relationship between promoter hypermethylation and corresponding gene expression in 92% of the CpGs. Differential expression analyses revealed altered expression patterns in 3,305 genes and 101 miRNAs. Finally, we identified 17 differentially methylated promoter CpGs, 72 differentially expressed genes, and two miRNAs that are likely associated with patient survival. Pathway analysis suggested that cell division, bile secretion, amino acid metabolism, PPAR signaling, hippo signaling were highly affected by gene expression and DNA methylation alterations. The qPCR analysis further confirmed that MDK, HNF1B, PACS1, and GLUD1 are differentially expressed in CCA. Conclusion Based on the survival analysis, we conclude that DEPDC1, FUT4, MDK, PACS1, PIWIL4 genes, miR-22, miR-551b microRNAs, and cg27362525 and cg26597242 CpGs can strongly support their use as prognostic markers of CCA.
Age Differences in Sexual Minority Stress and the Importance of Friendship in Later Life.

This study examined whether younger and middle-aged and older sexual minorities (YSM, MAOSM) experience minority stress differently in relation to social support and depressive symptomatology.Cross...
Zygomatic Implants: A Solution for the Atrophic Maxilla: 2021 Update.

Restoring the dentition of an edentulous patient is often challenging. Endosseous dental implants have allowed for far more versatility in this area but still require adequate maxillary and mandibular alveolar bone. Often, unless significant bone grafting techniques are used, true restoration of the dentition can be impossible with traditional endosseous implants. The advent of zygomatic implants, however, may provide a viable, predictable, and stable alternative for the restoration of the dentition in patients with severe maxillary alveolar bone loss.
The role of acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in the biosynthesis of O-alkyl glycerolipids by microsomal enzymes of Ehrlich ascites tumor.

Abstract Palmitoyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate and [1-14C]hexadecanol were found to serve as precursors of O-alkyl lipids in a microsomal system from Ehrlich ascites tumor. Both acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate were tested. The system required no CoA when acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate was used as the glycerol source, and significantly lower concentrations of acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate than dihydroxyacetone phosphate were required for the optimal biosynthesis of O-alkyl lipids; a similar reaction was catalyzed by microsomal preparations from mouse preputial gland tumors. These findings indicated that acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate is a more efficient precursor of O-alkyl lipids than dihydroxyacetone phosphate. The CoA, ATP, and Mg++ that are required when dihydroxyacetone phosphate is the glycerol source are necessary for the formation of the acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate; the synthesis of acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate from [14C]dihydroxyacetone phosphate and palmitic acid was demonstrated in the microsomal system. The O-alkyldihydroxyacetone phosphate formed in the system was reduced by either NADPH or NADH to 1-O-alkylglycerophosphate and subsequently acylated to form 1-O-alkyl-2-acylglycerophosphate. The data also indicated that acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate was reduced to acylglycerophosphate by both NADH and NADPH. The organic synthesis of acyldihydroxyacetone phosphate is outlined as well as the identification of biosynthetic products.
Activated Metals : VI*. Preparation and Reactions of Higly Reactive Indium Metal

Abstract Highly reactive indium powder, prepared by alkali metal reduction of indium salts in hydrocarbon solvents, reacts at moderate temperatures in hydrocarbon solvents with alkyl iodides to give dialkylindium iodides, and with iodine to give indium monoiodide.
Global Access to Medicine: The Influence of Competing Patent Perspectives

Promoting access to affordable medicine for poor countries is considered important by a wide range of actors, including not only rich and poor countries, but also public health advocates, patent owners, and scholars. However, promoting access has been a challenge. Public health advocates argue that access to medicine is increasingly difficult due to changes in domestic and international laws that limit access to unpatented and low-cost generic drugs by expanding the scope of patent rights. Patent owners and some countries deny these claims while simultaneously advocating for more expansive patent rights as necessary to promote innovation and development. This article addresses this seemingly intractable problem by building upon social science research to show that interpretations of laws and facts are significantly influenced by differing views of patent policy. This article illustrates the impact of differing views by exploring recent events involving seizures of in-transit generic drugs. Depending upon one’s perspective, these seizures may be characterized as either justified policing of counterfeit drugs or as a clear violation of international law. An examination of the power of these perspectives provides important insights that can be harnessed to ultimately promote access to affordable medicine.
Hypochromism in Two Low-Energy Transitions of B2 (B 2u ) Symmetry in the Electronic Spectrum of the Carbazole Crystal

The effect of intermolecular interactions on oscillator strengths of individual electronic transitions of B2 ( B 2u ) symmetry in the carbazole crystal was studied. We have shown that the two lowes...
Energy efficient dual threshold voltage dynamic circuits employing sleep switches to minimize subthreshold leakage

A sleep switch dual threshold voltage domino logic circuit technique for placing idle domino circuits into a low leakage state is proposed in this paper. The circuit technique reduces the leakage energy by up to 830 times as compared to a standard low threshold voltage domino logic circuit in a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The sleep switch circuit technique significantly enhances the effectiveness of a dual threshold voltage CMOS technology to reduce subthreshold leakage current by strongly turning off all of the high threshold voltage transistors. The circuit technique reduces leakage energy by up to 714 times as compared to a standard dual threshold voltage domino logic circuit. A domino adder enters and leaves the low leakage sleep mode within a single clock cycle. The energy overhead of the circuit technique is low, justifying the activation of the proposed sleep scheme by producing a net savings in total power consumption during idle periods as short as 57 clock cycles.
Dark current in an active pixel complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor sensor

We present an analysis of dark current from a comple- mentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) active pixels sensor with global shutter. The presence of two sources of dark current, one within the collection area of the pixel and another within the sense node, present complications to correction of the dark current. The two sources are shown to generate unique and characteristic dark current behavior with respect to varying exposure time, temperature, and/or frame rate. In particular, a pixel with storage time in the sense node will show a dark current dependence on frame rate and the appearance of being a "stuck pixel" with values independent of expo- sure time. On the other hand, a pixel with an impurity located within the collection area will show no frame rate dependence, but rather a linear dependence on exposure time. A method of computing dark frames based on past dark current behavior of the sensor is pre- sented and shown to intrinsically compensate for the two different and unique sources. In addition, dark frames requiring subtraction of negative values, arising from the option to modify the bias offset, are shown to be appropriate and possible using the computational method. © 2011 SPIE and IS&T. (DOI: 10.1117/1.3533328)
(+/‐)‐4‐(2‐Oxo‐1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7‐octahydroquinolin‐8‐yl)butan‐2‐one. A Michael‐reaction adduct from acid‐catalyzed alkylation of a bicyclic enamide

The title racemate, C13H19NO2, was isolated from the Michael condensation of methyl vinyl ketone with 3,4,5,6,7,8-hexa­hydro-2-quinolone under acidic conditions. The compound aggregates as dimers by centrosymmetric hydrogen-bonded pairing of the carboxamide groups [N⋯O = 2.9321 (16) A and N—H⋯O = 174 (2)°]. The packing includes three close inter­molecular dipolar contacts, involving both O atoms.
Implications of the marked artifacts of the middle stone age of Africa

Study of the marked objects made of bone, ochre, and ostrich eggshell reported for the Middle Stone Age in Africa indicates that they are nonrepresentational, relatively small, and rare and that they may have been made in a single sitting with a design intended from the outset. Explanations for their appearance may involve a change in mental abilities and, ultimately, a change in early modern human society.
Physiological responses to carbon dioxide in embryonic red-eared slider turtles, Trachemys scripta

In the red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta, sex is determined by the incubation temperature of the egg: warm temperatures produce females, cool ones produce males, and a narrow range of intermediate temperatures produce both sexes. We asked whether the influence of temperature is modified by the effects of carbon dioxide. Under one current hypothesis, sex is more closely linked to total incubation time and than to temperature. Higher levels of carbon dioxide should lengthen total incubation time and thus mimic the longer incubation times produced by low incubation temperatures. By this hypothesis longer incubation times should increase the tendency to produce males. Trachemys scripta eggs were incubated in atmospheres containing various concentrations of carbon dioxide. While total incubation times were significantly lengthened with elevated carbon dioxide (as if mimicking cool temperatures), sex ratios were altered in favor of females (as if mimicking warm temperatures). This result is compatible with a hypothesis that pH changes affect sex in turtles with TSD. Turtles incubated at elevated levels of carbon dioxide absorbed less yolk, and had more residual yolk, and were somewhat smaller than turtles incubated at lower of carbon dioxide. In some cases, clutches were heterogeneous in their responses to the various levels of carbon dioxide. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Strength Testing—Predicting a One-Rep Max from Reps-to-Fatigue

(1993). Strength Testing—Predicting a One-Rep Max from Reps-to-Fatigue. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 64, No. 1, pp. 88-90.
Transfer of instrumental control mediated by a devalued outcome

In three instrumental learning experiments, rat subjects were used to explore transfer of an instrumental discriminative stimulus to a new response. The stimulus increased the likelihood of that response to the degree that the stimulus and response had a history of association with the same outcome. Moreover, devaluation of the outcome by pairing with lithium chloride had no detrimental effects on its ability to mediate transfer to a new response. This result helps one choose among various accounts of transfer.
Are selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) a therapeutic option for HPV-associated cervical lesions and cancers?

This Commentary highlights the article by Spurgeon et al which evaluates oral SERM raloxifene as a potential therapeutic agent for HPV-associated cancer.
Positional distribution of fatty acids in liver lecithin of rats as a function of dietary linoleate or linolenate

Abstract 1. 1. Weanling female rats were fed for 100 days, either a fat-free diet or a fat-free diet supplemented with increasing levels of either linoleate or linolenate, and the fatty acid distribution on liver lecithins was then determined. The pattern of distribution was governed by fatty acid composition of the diet and by the level of fatty acids fed. 2. 2. As the level of dietary linoleate increased, changes in fatty acid composition of lecithin occurred in the greatest magnitude in the β-position. Most of the response to changes in dietary linoleate occurring in the fatty acid components esterified at both positions of liver lecithin took place at levels of dietary linoleate 1.2% of calories and less. 3. 3. When linoleate was fed in increasing doses responses of the three principal fatty acids in the α-position of liver lecithin (18 : 0, 16 : 0, and 18 : 1 ω 9) were opposite to those when linolenate was fed. 4. 4. Both linoleate and linolenate exerted strong effects on fatty acid components esterified in the β-position and lesser effects on those in the α-position of liver lecithin.
Serum-free medium for growth factor-dependent and -independent plasmacytomas and hybridomas

A serum-free medium was developed for culture of plasmacytomas and hybridomas that are dependent upon or independent of the presence of specific P388D1-derived polypeptide growth factors. Possibly due to the stringency of requirements for culturing such plasmacytomas, a highly advantageous combination of components was developed. The medium, SFM, contains RPMI 1640, beta-mercaptoethanol, Hepes buffer, reduced glutathione (GSH), selenite (Se), pyruvate, transferrin, albumin, soybean lipids, and low density lipoproteins. A cooperative effect of GSH and Se is observed. SFM supports the continuous, prodigious growth of every B cell line tested, including a variety of the plasmacytomas, hybridomas, myeloma fusion partners and lymphoma cell lines, as well as the macrophage-like cell line P388D1. All of the B cell lines grow equally as well in SFM as in serum-containing medium. Hybridoma lines from mouse-mouse and rat-mouse fusions continue to produce monoclonal antibodies which can then be purified in a single-step procedure. The cells can be cloned out and frozen down in SFM. In addition, the medium is highly effective for establishment of plasmacytoma cell lines from some transplantable plasmacytomas, including early generation tumors.
Wide-Line NMR Studies of the Influence of Solvent Polarity on the Conformation and Dynamics of Silica-Immobilized Alkylamine and Alkylamide Ligands

In the present study, selectively deuterated alkylamine ligands were prepared and subsequently used to modify the surface of porous silica. The resulting material was then reacted with either hexanoyl chloride or heptanoyl chloride to produce the corresponding alkylamide-modified surfaces. The wide-line 2H NMR spectra of the intermediate and final materials were measured in the dry state and in the presence of both protic and aprotic solvents. The shapes of the resulting resonances are complex and are made up of spectrally broad and narrow components with widths in the restricted motion range (i.e., about 40 kHz) and widths characteristic of more motionally dynamic species. The relative contribution of the broad component is dominant in the dry state and in aprotic solvent spectra and is significantly decreased or absent in the spectra collected in polar solvents. These results can be explained via changes in the degree of interfacial hydrogen bonding between the amine and amide groups in the attached lig...
Continuous Mobile Authentication Using Virtual Key Typing Biometrics

Due to the increasing popularity of mobile technologies, sensitive user information is often stored on mobile devices. However, the essential task of mobile user authentication is rendered more challenging by the conflicting requirements of security and usability: usable solutions are often insecure, while secure solutions hinder device accessibility. In this paper we propose TAP (Typing Authentication and Protection), a virtual key typing based authentication system for mobile devices that takes steps toward addressing this tradeoff. TAP transparently enhance the security of the mobile device in two stage, the login stage and the post-login stage. In the login stage, TAP leverages the biometric information embedded in the typing habit and hand morphology to accomplish secure user identity management with a simple password. While in the post-login stage, TAP transparently monitors the user's virtual key dynamics behavior to continuously authenticate the user. We evaluated three user studies which compare authentication performance under different virtual key typing settings, without pressure and haptics feedback, with pressure information, and with both pressure and haptics feedback. The experiments demonstrated our TAP can maintain both security and usability for the mobile system.
Maximum vehicle cabin temperatures under different meteorological conditions

A variety of studies have documented the dangerously high temperatures that may occur within the passenger compartment (cabin) of cars under clear sky conditions, even at relatively low ambient air temperatures. Our study, however, is the first to examine cabin temperatures under variable weather conditions. It uses a unique maximum vehicle cabin temperature dataset in conjunction with directly comparable ambient air temperature, solar radiation, and cloud cover data collected from April through August 2007 in Athens, GA. Maximum cabin temperatures, ranging from 41-76 degrees C, varied considerably depending on the weather conditions and the time of year. Clear days had the highest cabin temperatures, with average values of 68 degrees C in the summer and 61 degrees C in the spring. Cloudy days in both the spring and summer were on average approximately 10 degrees C cooler. Our findings indicate that even on cloudy days with lower ambient air temperatures, vehicle cabin temperatures may reach deadly levels. Additionally, two predictive models of maximum daily vehicle cabin temperatures were developed using commonly available meteorological data. One model uses maximum ambient air temperature and average daily solar radiation while the other uses cloud cover percentage as a surrogate for solar radiation. From these models, two maximum vehicle cabin temperature indices were developed to assess the level of danger. The models and indices may be useful for forecasting hazardous conditions, promoting public awareness, and to estimate past cabin temperatures for use in forensic analyses.
Simultaneous-switching noise analysis for Texas instruments FIFO products☆

Abstract Analysis of circuit-noise immunity during simultaneous switching of multiple outputs is crucial in the high-speed advanced logic families including ACT and ABT FIFO products. Consequently, reduction of simultaneous-switching noise is of the utmost concern to the FIFO design team at Texas Instruments (TI). In this application note, a thorough explanation of noise-reduction techniques for TI's FIFO devices is provided. This assists component and system design engineers in their evaluations of simultaneous-switching noise for TI's ACT and ABT FIFO products.
A modified flavodoxin with altered redox potentials is less efficient in electron transfer to nitrogenase.

Abstract The flavodoxins of the Azotobacter vinelandii wild-type and a mutant strain TZN 200 have been studied. Although the primary structure of the two proteins is the same, the ability of the mutant flavodoxin to donate electrons to nitrogenase is reduced by 75%. One reason may be the raised mid-point potential of −435 mV for the semiquinone/hydroquinone couple in the mutant flavodoxin. The respective redox potential for the wild-type flavodoxin was found to be −480 mV. As shown by paper chromatography and light absorption spectroscopy, the structure of FMN is modified in the TZN 200 flavodoxin.
Methodological Challenges of Multiple-Component Intervention: Lessons Learned from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Functional Recovery After Hip Fracture

We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of a multiple-component intervention designed to improve functional recovery after hip fracture. One hundred seventy-six patients who underwent surgery for a primary unilateral hip fracture were assigned randomly to receive usual care (control arm, n = 86) or a brief motivational videotape, supportive peer counseling, and high-intensity muscle-strength training (intervention arm, n = 90). Between-group differences on the physical functioning, role-physical, and social functioning domains of the SF-36 were assessed postoperatively at 6 months. At the end of the trial, 32 intervention and 27 control patients (34%) completed the 6-month outcome assessment. Although patient compliance with all three components of the intervention was uneven, over 90% of intervention patients were exposed to the motivational videotape. Intervention patients experienced a significant (P = 0.03) improvement in the role-physical domain (mean change, -11 +/- 33) compared to control patients (mean change, -37 +/- 41). Change in general health (P = 0.2) and mental health (P = 0.1) domain scores was also directionally consistent with the study hypothesis. Although our findings are consistent with previous reports of comprehensive rehabilitation efforts for hip fracture patients, the trial was undermined by high attrition and the possibility of self-selection bias at 6-month follow-up. We discuss the methodological challenges and lessons learned in conducting a randomized controlled trial that sought to implement and assess the impact of a complex intervention in a population that proved difficult to follow up once they had returned to the community.
Electric field variability and model uncertainty: A classification of source terms in estimating the squared electric field from an electric field model

[1] Joule heating by high-latitude electric fields is thought to be underestimated by electric field models, and it has been conjectured that the source of the underestimation is “electric field variability,” although the interpretation of this term is not necessarily straightforward. We perform a classification of source terms in estimating the squared magnitude of electric field from an electric field model, and find that the phenomenon summarily referred to as electric field variability canonically decomposes into two distinct components: small-scale electric field variability, and resolved-scale model uncertainty. The latter contribution is a statistical estimation uncertainty, and not related to physical small-scale fluctuations. We argue that the two sources should be characterized separately. An illustration is given in a comparison of the Joule heating measured by the Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar during a 40-h period containing a storm, with the Joule heating modeled by the Assimilative Mapping of Ionospheric Electrodynamics (AMIE) procedure, after removing the Sondrestrom data from the AMIE assimilation. A quantitative assessment of the relative importance of the two sources is drawn from a recent satellite study.
Monotone systems under positive feedback: Multistability and a reduction theorem

For feedback loops involving single input, single output monotone systems with well-defined I/O characteristics, a recent paper by Angeli and Sontag provided an approach to determining the location and stability of steady states. A result on global convergence for multistable systems followed as a consequence of the technique. The present paper extends the approach to multiple inputs and outputs. A key idea is the introduction of a reduced system which preserves local stability properties.
Parenting as Phenotype: A Behavioral Genetic Approach to Understanding Parenting

SYNOPSIS This article discusses the behavioral genetic (BG) approach to parenting. Parenting is considered a phenotype that can be influenced by nature and nurture. Genetic contributions to parenting are conceptualized as evidence of genotype–environment correlation (rGE). Early BG studies focused on demonstrating that some parenting dimensions were heritable due to passive and evocative rGE processes. Current studies are investigating moderators and mediators of genetic and environmental contributions to parenting. The paper uses parent and child report data on parental warmth from the Twins, Adoptees, Peers, and Siblings study to illustrate the BG approach. Results show that heritability is significant for parent and child reports, but environmental influences differ by information source. Three questions are addressed concerning the BG approach to parenting: What is the nature of parenting? How does the approach inform parenting practice and interventions? What are the future directions?
A new world syndrome of metabolic diseases with a genetic and evolutionary basis

Currently, many Amerindian peoples, including European- Amerindian admixed groups such as Mexicans, are experiencing a major epidemic of a series of diseases which includes a tendency to become obese at an early adult age, adult onset diabetes mellitus, the formation of cholesterol gallstones, and gallbladder cancer, especially in females. Other cancer sites, and morbid consequences of these primary disorders, also occur at elevated rates. This epidemic has begun, or at least increased dramatically since World War II, and seems to be due to an interaction between susceptible Amerindian genotype(s) and some recently changed aspect of the environment, probably involving dietary components. This paper reviews the epidemiology of this New World Syndrome (NWS), quantifying incidence, prevalence, and risk in susceptible genotypes. This pattern is distinct from the rise of similar diseases associated around the world with “westernization.” The susceptible genes probably arose by virtue of a selective advantage during or before the initial peopling of the Americas.
China's price stability: Its meaning and distributive consequences

Abstract The Chinese government stabilized the price level and the basic cost of living quite soon after its rise to power. This accomplishment did not preclude variations in the price structure, but the method of cost-of-living control complicated the relations between the prices paid to producers and the prices charged to consumers. In the end, subsidies were made available for the production of grain and of other basic foods in order to redistribute income from the nonagricultural to the agricultural sector. The paper explores the relationship between changes in the price structure and changes in the pattern of income differentiation. It also considers the limits to the future practice of this policy.
Role of Ornithine Decarboxylase in Cardiac Growth and Hypertrophy

Inhibition of cardiac ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) did not prevent normal cardiac growth in mature rats but attenuated isoproterenol-induced hypertrophy. Hypertrophy caused by triiodothyronine was not prevented by DFMO. There appear to be both ODC-dependent and ODC-independent processes contributing to the subcellular mechanisms associated with growth, which must be considered in the potential laboratory and clinical use of DFMO.
Laser Beam Combing For High-Power, Broadband Sources, Using Two-Step Refractive Grating

An efficient method for combining mutually incoherent laser sources in a single mode fiber using two diffractive gratings is presented. Multiple laser beams in different range of wavelength could be combined with the efficiency greater than 70%.
The untrustworthy Web services revolution

The commoditization of the Web is bringing tremendous benefits, but also some serious risks. The benefits are obvious: Web-based technologies are becoming a universal standard. At the same time, however, the economics of the Web favor an untrustworthy technology base. The key driver for this concern is service-oriented architectures. Major database products, embedded systems platforms, and turnkey solutions in areas ranging from process planning to supply-chain and customer-relations management are adopting a service-oriented approach.
Two derivable relationships between quark masses and mixing angles.

In addition to the well-known empirical relationship {vert bar}{ital V}{sub {ital u}{ital s}}{vert bar}{congruent} {radical}{ital m}{sub {ital d}}/{ital m}{sub {ital s}} , a new possible relationship {ital m}{sub {ital s}}{sup {ital b}}/{ital m}{sub {ital s}}{sup 2}{congruent}{minus}{ital V}{sub {ital u}{ital b}V{ital c}{ital b}}/{ital V}{sub {ital u}{ital s}} is proposed. Both are then derived in the context of the standard model supplemented by the discrete symmetry {ital S}{sub 3}{times}{ital Z}{sub 3}.
Mode-I fracture toughness testing of thick section FRP composites using the ESE(T) specimen

Experimental and numerical analyses are performed to determine the translayer mode-I fracture toughness of a thick-section fiber reinforced polymeric composite using the eccentrically loaded, single-edge-notch tension, ESE(T) specimen. Finite element analyses using the virtual crack closure technique were performed to assess the effect of material orthotropy on the mode-I stress intensity factors in the ESE(T) specimen. The stress intensity factors for the proposed ESE(T) geometry, are calculated as a function of the material orthotropic parameters. The formula is validated for a class of thick composite materials. The thick composite tested in this study is a pultruded composite material that consists of roving and continuous filament mat layers with E-glass fiber and polyester matrix materials. Data reduction from the fracture tests was performed using two methods based on existing metallic and composite ASTM [ASTM E 1922, Standard Test Method for Translaminar Fracture Toughness of Laminated Polymer Matrix Composites, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, 1997; ASTM E 399, Standard Test Method for Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness of Metallic Materials, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, 1997] fracture testing standards. Criteria for assessing test validity and for determining the critical load used in calculating the fracture toughness were examined. Crack growth measurements were performed to determine the amount of stable crack growth before reaching critical load. The load versus notch mouth opening displacement, for different crack length to width ratios is affected by material orthotropy, nonlinearity, and stable crack propagation. The mode-I translayer fracture toughness and response during crack growth is reported for ESE(T) specimen with roving layers oriented both, transverse and parallel to the loading direction.
Use of the Likelihood Ratio Test on the Inverse Gaussian Distribution

Abstract In the following article, the likelihood ratio test is determined for four tests of hypotheses involving the inverse Gaussian distribution. For three of the hypotheses, the test produces the same statistic as the uniformly most powerful unbiased test.
Association of dyslipidemia in moderate to severe meibomian gland dysfunction.

Purpose To determine whether meibomian gland disease, a major contributor to dry eye syndrome, is associated with dyslipidemia. Design Retrospective case-control study. Methods setting: Clinical practice. patient or study population: Sixty-six patients from January 2008 to July 2009 with moderate to severe meibomian gland disease whose serum lipid levels were obtained. We excluded patients who were already taking lipid-altering substances and patients with rheumatologic disease. We analyzed several parameters in prevalence of dyslipidemia (total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein [LDL] > 130 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] 150 mg/dL) in MGD patients and compared these patients to the general population as reported by data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). main outcome measure: The prevalence of dyslipidemia (elevated total cholesterol, elevated LDL, decreased HDL, or elevated triglycerides) in patients with moderate to severe MGD. Results Patients with moderate to severe MGD had a higher incidence of dyslipidemia with respect to elevated total cholesterol (>200 mg/dL), 67.4% to 45.1% ( P = .0012) when compared to population controls. There was a smaller number of MGD patients with low HDL (HDL P = .045). The incidence of increased LDL was not statistically significant ( P = .184). There was a statistically smaller number of MGD patients with high triglycerides (TG > 150 mg/dL), 15.2%, when compared to controls, 33.1% ( P = .0049). Conclusions Patients with moderate to severe MGD have a higher incidence of dyslipidemia with respect to elevated total cholesterol than the general population. Surprisingly, the component of total cholesterol that contributed most to this increase in total cholesterol came from elevated serum HDL levels. To our knowledge, elevated HDL has not been associated with any pathologic state. Patients with MGD had a statistically significant lower incidence of hypoalphalipoproteinemia (low HDL) than the general population. Patients with MGD also had a lower incidence of hypertriglyceridemia than the general population.
Restriction endonuclease mapping of the DNA of Rous-Associated virus 0 reveals extensive homology in structure and sequence with avian sarcoma virus DNA

Abstract We have prepared a physical map of the DNA of Rous-associated virus O (RAV-O), an endogenous virus released by certain chicken lines, in order to examine the relationship between the genome of this virus and closely related proviruses endogenous to chickens. Nineteen recognition sties for 11 restriction endonucleases have been mapped on the unintegrated linear and circular forms of RAV-O DNA isolated from acutely infected quail cells.PvuI is the only enzyme tested which does not cleave RAV-O DNA. Most of the sites (18 of 19) occur at similar or identical positions in the DNA of avian sarcoma virus (ASV). Significant differences between the maps of corrseponding regions of RAV-O and ASV DNA are observed only with those endonucleases which recognize sites encoded near the 3′ terminus of ASV RNA (PvuI andEcoRI). Both ends of RAV-O linear DNA contain sequences copied from both the 3′ and the 5′ ends of viral RNA. Two species of closed circular DNA were found: one the same size as the terminally redundant linear DNA (5.0 × 106Mr and the other lacking ca. 0.35 kb from an end of linear DNA. Thus the unintegrated forms of RAV-O DNA appear structurally similar to those of ASV DNA[ Shank, P. R.,et al. (1978b) .Cell15, 1383–1395; Hsu, W.,et al. (1978) .J. Virol.28, 810–818]; presumably one copy of a ca. 0.35-kb terminal repeat unit is lost during formation of the smaller circle from linear DNA. The following paper illustrates the utility of the physical map for differentiating between endogenous proviruses which might or might not have sequence identity with the RAV-O genome.
Notes on gamete production in Lanice conchilega (Annelida, Polychaeta, Terebellidae)

Summary Male and female gametogenesis in Lanice conchilega are described and illustrated as seen by light microscopy. There is no evidence for size-selectivity in the uptake of male gametes by the hypertrophied reproductive nephromixia, since undissociated motile sperm platelets as well as spermatozoa appear to be taken up by the genital funnels, and such funnels show no sexual dimorphism. Maturation of the coelomic oocytes is marked by a change in shape and the appearance of a surface reticulum of ridges.
The extra credit activist

Dr Jon Fairplay has just put the finishing touches on the syllabus for his undergraduate wetland ecology class. Instead of doing rote labs, Jon wants to try something new. The class will be divided into groups, and each group will work on a research project for most of the term. Jon will have students present their work at a student research fair, which will be open to the public. Jon has five potential projects ready to go, all centered around Atwater Marsh, a local estuarine salt marsh. The marsh is city property and the city also owns several adjoining parcels of land. This area is currently undeveloped, but a developer is proposing to build shore-view condos on the site. Jon hopes that the student projects will show the ecological value of the site and help the newly formed "Friends of Atwater Marsh (FOAM)" fight the developer.
An Ethics Curriculum for the Pediatric Residency Program: Confronting Barriers to Implementation

Background: The 1997 Residency Review Committee requirements in pediatrics mandate a structured curriculum in medical ethics for all accredited pediatric residency programs. To our knowledge, there are no published models for the development of an ethics curriculum for pediatric residents. Several obstacles may confront those attempting to begin an ethics teaching program. Objective: To describe the successful implementation of a structured ethics curriculum for pediatric residents. Methods: Our program was designed to overcome the following obstacles: (1) time constraints of faculty and residents, (2) scheduling difficulties and lack of continuity, (3) attitudes of residents toward the material, and (4) inadequate ethics training among faculty. In addition to traditional topics in medical ethics, the curriculum focuses on issues that confront residents primarily during their training, issues that may shape their professional values in important ways. Results: This ethics curriculum has been successfully implemented in our own program and offers solutions to common barriers faced by those seeking to implement an ethics curriculum for pediatric residents. Conclusion: We present the ethics curriculum currently in use at our institution as a tool that may be adopted as it stands or as altered by others as they develop their own program's ethics curriculum. We believe the proposed curriculum directly confronts many of the barriers to successful ethics education of pediatric residents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:609-614
Ventilation of enclosed porous media by the application of periodic pressure variations

Periodic pressure oscillations applied to the opening of closed containers packed with small beads or granular material result in an enhanced washout of undesired gases from those containers. The amplitude of oscillation pressures need not be higher than a small fraction of an atmosphere and the oscillation frequency is just below the auditory range. The time constant of the washout is reduced by two to three orders of magnitude compared to the passive equilibration by diffusion alone. The mechanism is based on gas dispersion within the gaseous phase of the containers and on gas compressibility. It may be used to remove an undesired gas out of a closed container or space filled with granular material such as solid fuel. It is also useful in the purging of porous material such as active coal.
Pancreatic exocrine function is preserved after distal pancreatectomy.

Introduction Our objective was to measure human stool elastase-1 to determine the effect of distal pancreatectomy on exocrine function.
The control of robot manipulators with bounded input

The problem of tracking a desired trajectory in the state space of an n -link robotic manipulator with bounds on the allowable input torque is considered. Using a so-called optimal decision strategy (ODS), a pointwise optimal control law is derived which, at each time t , minimizes the deviation between the vector of joint accelerations and a desired joint acceleration vector, subject to the input constraints. The design of the optimal control law is reduced to the solution of a quadratic programming problem which is solved using the primal-dual method. The solution gives an on-line feedback control scheme for trajectory following in the presence of input constraints. In addition, we extend the above optimal decision strategy to the case where the controller design is based on a simplified model or where the plant itself is imprecisely known. The resulting torque optimization scheme may be incorporated into any existing control scheme to account for input bounds. This has important implications for the problem of deriving robust control schemes that take into account parameter uncertainty and model simplification. Simulations are presented for the case of a three-link manipulator with bounded torque, and our results are compared to the computed torque method. Our simulations show that by optimally adjusting the input torque to each joint when one or more of them saturates, significant improvement in tracking performance can result.
Use of The ART Technique Within the School Setting Can be A Practical and Effective Method of Treating Caries Among Large Populations of Underserved Children

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Six-year follow up of atraumatic restorative treatment restorations placed in Chinese school children. Lo ECM, Holmgren CJ, Hu D, van Palenstein Helderman W. Community Oral Epidemiol 2007;35(5):387-92. Reviewer David G. Pendrys, DDS, PhD Purpose/Question The study sought to determine if atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) could be provided to children within the school setting in China and to evaluate outcome after 6 years. Source of Funding Industry: 3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany. Type of Study/Design Cohort study. Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Dispersion of the π resonance in the superconducting state of the cuprates

We study the dispersion of tr resonance in the superconducting state within the projected SO(5) model [S.C. Zhang et al., Phys. Rev. B 60, 13 070 (1999)]. Away from the commensurate momentum, the propagation of the pi resonance creates phase flips in the
Biology of the microsporidan parasite Pleistophora crangoni n. sp. in three species of crangonid sand shrimps

Abstract The microsporidium Pleistophora crangoni n. sp. is a common parasite of Crangon franciscorum, C. nigricauda, and C. stylirostris in the vicinity of Yaquina Bay, Oregon. Characteristics of the parasite are described. Skeletal muscle was the only host tissue infected. The seasonal prevalence and intensity of the parasite in crangonids are described, based on examination of 1556 C. franciscorum, 3877 C. nigricauda, and 1674 C. stylirostris collected at monthly intervals from June 1975 through June 1976. Prevalence in C. franciscorum and C. stylirostris increased through the autumn and reached winter peaks of 30.3 and 41.0%, respectively, then decreased in the spring. Prevalence in C. nigricauda remained below 8% through the year. Intensity increased with size of the shrimps in the three species. Infection experiments and field observations suggest that only very young shrimps are susceptible to infection during a relatively short period during the summer months. Following natural infection, the parasite spreads within the host, indicating repeated schizogonic cycles. Parasitic castration was indicated by the absence of gravid infected female shrimps and was confirmed by histological examination. Ovaries of infected shrimps did not develop beyond a very early stage. A shift in sex ratio toward females in infected shrimps indicates that the parasite may influence sex determination. Shrimps showed little cellular response to infection. Only rarely in heavily infected shrimps was encapsulation of parasite cysts observed; necrotic tissue was occasionally observed. Infected shrimps usually succumbed before uninfected shrimps when subjected to oxygen stress. The collection of infected shrimps that were unusually large may indicate that these individuals grew faster or lived longer than uninfected shrimps.