cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis on the Immunization Status of Category B Vaccine among Children Aged 2 to 6 Years in Tianjin

Objective This study was conducted to analyze the immunization status of category B vaccine among children aged 2 to6 years, and to provide references for the management of category B vaccine. Methods A total of 541194 children aged 2 to 6 years were enrolled in the study and the coverage of Category B vaccine was studied. Results The coverage of varicella attenuated live vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine, oral rotavirus attenuated live vaccine, 23-valent Pneumococcal Polyvalent vaccine, influenza vaccine and 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was respectively 78.31%, 64.16%, 47.99%, 35.83%,10.96% and 3.38%, with an average coverage of 40.11% and the difference was significant between the different vaccine coverages.The coverage of children vaccinated by category B vaccines was higher in urban and suburbs than adjacent counties. There is significant difference between the coverages of different age groups. For the category B vaccines requiring multiple doses, the completion of whole coverage was low. Conclusion The coverage of Category B vaccine is still insufficient and needs further measures to establish an effective immune protection barrier.
Rethinking on “the Second North Paradox” and its Solutionalso on the Relation between Two Kinds of Transaction Cost

Through a deeply study on the relationship among transaction cost, institution and economic performance, especially on two kinds of transaction cost, say, “transaction cost of each business” and “aggregate transaction cost of a society”, distinguished by North, we can get the conclusion that the so-called “the second North Paradox” discussed by domestic economists doesn't exist as a paradox in fact. And at the same time, “aggregate transaction cost of a society”is not the simple summation of “transaction cost of each business”. The former prefers “exogenous transaction cost” whereas the latter emphasize particularly on “endocentric transaction cost”.
Distinct NF-κB and MAPK Activation Thresholds Uncouple Steady-State Microbe Sensing from Anti-pathogen Inflammatory Responses

The innate immune system distinguishes low-level homeostatic microbial stimuli from those of invasive pathogens, yet we lack understanding of how qualitatively similar microbial products yield context-specific macrophage functional responses. Using quantitative approaches, we found that NF-κB and MAPK signaling was activated at different concentrations of a stimulatory TLR4 ligand in both mouse and human macrophages. Above a threshold of ligand, MAPK were activated in a switch-like manner, facilitating production of inflammatory mediators. At ligand concentrations below this threshold, NF-κB signaling occurred, promoting expression of a restricted set of genes and macrophage priming. Among TLR-induced genes, we observed an inverse correlation between MAPK dependence and ligand sensitivity, highlighting the role of this signaling dichotomy in partitioning innate responses downstream of a single receptor. Our study reveals an evolutionarily conserved innate immune response system in which danger discrimination is enforced by distinct thresholds for NF-κB and MAPK activation, which provide sequential barriers to inflammatory mediator production.
The In’s and Out’s of Incumbent Sales Rep Consultation in the Pre-decision Stage of Organizational Purchasing

Historically, sales reps’ main source of influence came from their ability to demonstrate that their products and services were the best fit after the customer had defined their own needs and requirements (Farrell and Schroder 1996). However, as Tuli et al. (2007) point out, customers are including suppliers much earlier in the organizational buying process. In many cases, customers have come to expect suppliers to be an integral part of needs identification and requirements definition, a step in the process traditionally owned solely by the organizational buying center (Galbraith 2005; Handfield and Giunipero 2009). This has led sales organizations to realize that sales people who are able to influence the buying center much earlier by helping to identify customer problems or opportunities will have a significant advantage over reps consulted later in the buying process.
Who Reads Outcome Research

To explore patterns of outcome research consumption, we conducted a national survey of 313 family therapists currently practicing in the United States. Participants were asked about their reading practices, as well as about attitudes toward and barriers to reading marriage/couple and family therapy (M/CFT) outcome research. Results suggest that most therapists perceive outcome research as at least somewhat important. However, they spend relatively little time reading it: The average is 1.7 h per month. Therapist-identified barriers to reading outcome research articles include access, applicability, quality of writing, and quality of research. Recommendations for addressing some of these barriers are offered.
Heat emission as a protective mechanism against high-irradiance stress in sugar maple leaves

High-irradiance (HI) induced changes in heat emission, fluorescence, and photosynthetic energy storage (EST) of shade grown sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) saplings were followed using modulated photoacoustic and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. HI-treatment at 900-4400 µmol m-2 s-1 for 15 min caused an increase in heat emission and a decrease in EST. In some leaves, HI-treatment of 900 µmol m-2 s-1 for 1 min induced a rapid increase in heat emission with a marginal decrease in EST. Parallel to the increase in heat emission, there was a decrease in fluorescence, and this phenomenon was reversible in darkness. Quenching of thermal energy dissipation and a recovery in EST were observed during the first 15 min after the HI-treatment. This down-regulation of photochemical activity and its recovery may be one of the photoprotective mechanisms in shade grown sugar maple plants. The increase in thermal energy dissipation was greater in the red absorbing long wavelength (640-700 nm) region than in the blue absorbing short wavelength region of photosynthetically active excitation radiation. The photochemical activity was affected more in short wavelengths (400-520 nm) than in the long wavelength region of the spectrum. This can be due to the migration of light-harvesting chlorophyll (Chl) a/b protein complex from photosystem (PS) 2 to PS1 and/or to the disconnection of carotenoid pool from Chls in the pigment bed of photosynthetic apparatus.
Hope and Worry: Gendered Emotional Geographies of Climate Change in Three Vulnerable U.S. Communities

AbstractClimate scientists have proposed that many people have not yet felt the results of climate change. This explains, at least in part, why some people are so unmotivated to make changes to mitigate climate change. Yet, a range of studies focused on other types of weather-related anticipated and experienced disasters, such as drought, clearly demonstrate that climate-related phenomena can elicit strong emotional reactions. Using a combination of open-ended interview questions and close-ended survey questions, the authors conducted semistructured interviews in three biophysically vulnerable communities (Mobile, Alabama; Kodiak, Alaska; and Phoenix, Arizona). The relatively high number of respondents who expressed sadness and worry at the possible outcomes of climate change indicates emotional awareness, even among climate change skeptics. The patterns were significantly gendered, with men across the three sites less likely to indicate hope. Results suggest that emotional aspects of climate change might...
Paying students to learn: An ethical analysis of cash for grades programmes:

A growing number of schools have begun experimenting with giving students cash rewards to improve academic performance. This practice has come to be known as ‘cash-for-grades’. In this article, I e...
Low-variation SRAM bitcells in 22nm FDSOI technology

We present the SRAM bitcell offering from 22FDXTM (a 22nm FDSOI technology) with competitive 1.46mV-µm FinFET-like transistor mismatch coefficient (AVt) built with low cost planar architecture. Extremely low minimum operating voltages (V min ) are reported for both the high-density (HD) 0.110μm2 and high-current (HC) 0.124μm2 bitcells without any assist, showing 95% limited yield (LY) Vmin values of 0.6V and 0.5 V for 64Mb HD and 128Mb HC arrays, respectively. Due to FDSOI architecture, bitline capacitance (Cbl) of the HD 0.110um2 bitcell is similar to 14nm FinFET Hd 0.064um2 bitcell, and more than 30% lower compared to 28nm high-k metal gate (HKMG) HD 0.127um2 bitcell. Finally, we tune SRAM performance and stability with the use of back-gate bias to demonstrate HD standby leakage of 5pA/cell and two-port (TP) 0.185 μm2 assisted 64Mb 95% LY V min of 0.44 V.
Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy for Polymer Blends

Physical properties of the polymer can be altered by mixing one or more polymers together also known as polymer blending. The miscibility of polymers is a key parameter in determining the properties of polymer blend. Conventional transmission electron microscopy (CTEM) plays a critical role in determining the miscibility and morphology of the polymers in blend system. One of the most difficult part in polymer microscopy is the staining by heavy metals to generate contrast in CTEM. RuO4 and OsO4 are commonly used to stain the polymer materials for CTEM imaging. CTEM imaging is difficult to interpret for blends due to lack of clear distinction in contrast. Apart from having difficulty in contrast generation, staining procedures are extremely dangerous as improper handling could severely damage skin, eyes, lungs etc. We have used scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to image polymer blends without any staining processes. In current work, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)/Methacrylate Butadiene Styrene (MBS) and Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) along with filler additive were dispersed on Polycarbonate (PC) matrix and studied by STEM/HAADF (high angle annular dark field). By using HAADF, contrast was generated through molecular density difference to differentiate components in the blend.
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Gastrointestinal Features

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of the small bile ducts in the liver. This ultimately leads to cholestasis followed by fibrosis and cirrhosis. There is a 9:1 female to male ratio, with prevalence as high as one in 4,000.
Pseudo Bond Graph Structural Models for Heat Exchangers

Almost all energy systema involve the exchange of hest between flowing streams of fluid, and for efficient operation, heat exchangers must not only be optimized for steady operation but allo effici...
Towards automatic infrastructure provisioning for highly dynamic streaming applications

In recent years, there has been an increasing need for flexible stream processing platforms that focus on enabling domain experts to model data processing pipelines using graphical user interfaces. Such pipelines can then be automatically deployed and executed in a distributed big data infrastructure. However, a still remaining problem of such stream systems is the manual management of resources, which could be automated by adding an infrastructure manager. The manager uses available information about running pipelines, especially their semantics. This information combined with the real-time information of the underlying services executing pipelines can be used to automate the configuration of modern cluster management tools. With those tools, it is possible to add new resources into the infrastructure of existing systems and to allocate the running application accordingly. This paper presents a novel approach how information about the application and its usage can be used to adapt the infrastructure, which further reduces the manual configuration effort of such systems.
Pharmacotherapy for obesity in individuals with type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Obesity is one of the main risk factors for T2DM and its management requires a multidisciplinary approach, which may include pharmacotherapy.Areas covered: In this paper, data on efficacy, tolerability and safety of FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for obesity (orlistat, phentermine/topiramate extended-release, lorcaserin, bupropion sustained release/naltrexone sustained release and liraglutide) are reviewed, focusing on individuals with type 2 diabetes.Expert opinion: Obesity is the major pathophysiologic driver of T2DM; conversely 5–10% weight loss leads to significant improvement in glycemic control, lipids and blood pressure. Weight loss maintenance is difficult with lifestyle interventions alone and may require adjunctive therapies. There is good evidence for the efficacy and tolerability of approved anti-obesity pharmacotherapies in individuals with T2DM, with current cardiovascular safety data being m...
Simultaneous Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopy for Bladder and Bowel Reconstruction

Abstract Introduction: Patients with neurogenic bladder frequently also have bowel dysfunction and a simultaneous urologic and colorectal reconstruction is possible. We present our experience with ...
Data mining with sparse and simplified interaction selection

We introduce a novel, greatly simplified classifier for binarized data. The model contains a sparse, "digital" hidden layer of Parity interactions, followed by a sigmoidal output node. We propose priors for the cases: a) input space obeys a metrics, b) inputs encode discrete attributes. Stochastic search for the hidden layer allows capacity and smoothness of the approximation to be controlled by two complexity parameters. Aggregation of classifiers improves predictions. Interpretable results are obtained in some cases. We point out the impact of our model on real-time systems, suitability for sampling and aggregation techniques, and possible contributions to nonstandard learning devices.
An Analysis of Dynamic Crack Propagation in A Rail Web with Longitudinal Residual Stresses

To gain an improved understanding of the synergistic effects of toughness and residual stresses, a simple beam-on-elastic foundation model of a longitudinally split rail was developed. This model supplemented finite element fracture mechanics analyses that were unable to effectively address these conditions. The findings of this research specifically indicate that, if the rail does not have adequate dynamic fracture resistance, rail residual stresses can give rise to crack driving forces that are sufficient to maintain a long-running web fracture. These results are quantitatively consistent with the absence of long-running dynamic crack propagation events in standard rail and with the actual occurrence of a fracture event in a premium alloy rail.
The Patient Package Insert The FDA Concept and Plans

Abstract The programs of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are designed to achieve a single over-all objective — consumer protection. Originally, the labeling or product monograph for prescription drugs was intended as prescribing information for the physician. More recently, written information for the patient beyond the instructions given on the container label is in demand as an increasingly important part of the communications between physicians, pharmacists and the patient. This results from two movements — the “Right-to-Know” and the interest of consumers in participating in decision-making regarding their own treatments. Moreover, in today's world, both the visual and written media serve to augment and reinforce our thinking and concepts of the impact of verbal communications. The taking of drugs requires clear, precise information regarding their desired benefits, possible side effects and instructions for proper use. Studies have shown that patient knowledge of warnings, precautions and side effects is consistently improved by written information. On September 12, 1980, the FDA adopted the final regulation establishing the requirements and procedures for the preparation and distribution of patient labeling for prescription drugs. The patient package inserts (PPIs) are intended to promote the safe and effective use of drugs and ensure that patients have the opportunity to be informed of the benefits and risks involved. The regulation will be applied initially to 10 drugs or drug classes. Evaluation over a 3-year period of the costs and benefits will guide the FDA in deciding whether to extend, revise or defer these requirements with respect to the majority of prescription drug.
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in rats with malignant hypertension.

Unilaterally nephrectomized rats given desoxycorticosterone and salt load developed malignant hypertension with widespread vascular lesions and, coincidentally, a hemolytic anemia. The anemia was characterized by red cell fragmentation, increased erythrocyte osmotic fragility, and evidence of both intravascular and extravascular hemolysis. Thrombocytopenia was not observed. Male rats were more severely affected than female animals. The degree of anemia correlated well with the severity of the vascular lesions, but not with the level of blood urea nitrogen. Based upon electron microscopic observations of the relationship of red cells to damaged endothelial cells and thrombi, possible mechanisms for the red cell fragmentation are discussed.
Framework for Location Data Fusion and Pose Estimation of Excavators Using Stereo Vision

AbstractThe application of computer vision (CV) in construction projects has been investigated for many years, resulting in several advanced algorithms and methods. However, there is still a need t...
Optimal cutoffs for the Montreal Cognitive Assessment vary by race and ethnicity.

Abstract Introduction The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), scored from 0 to 30, is used as a screening tool for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The current cutoff (26) may not be optimal among minorities. Methods Data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set March 2018 data freeze was used to calculate optimal cutoffs for detection of MCI and dementia by race/ethnic group and education. Results Of the 3895 individuals included, 80.7% were non-Hispanic White, 15.0% were non-Hispanic Black, and 4.2% were Hispanic. Optimal cutoffs for detection of MCI were 25 among non-Hispanic Whites, 24 among Hispanics, and 23 among non-Hispanic Blacks. Optimal cutoffs for detection of dementia were 19 among non-Hispanic Whites and 16 for both non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics. Lower educational attainment produced lower optimal cutoffs. Discussion Our findings suggest cutoffs may need to be stratified by race/ethnicity and education to ensure detecting MCI from normal and MCI from dementia.
Brèves de billot : fonctions de l’argot des louchébems de Paris

Souvent classe comme un argot obsolete des bouchers de la Villette, le louchebem, l’argot des bouchers de Paris, continue de se pratiquer beaucoup plus qu’on ne le croit. Cependant, il faut s’inquieter de sa vitalite en raison du nombre sans cesse decroissant des bouchers traditionnels. Meme si on peut citer quelques auteurs, force est de constater que l’argomuche a suscite peu de travaux. Ce projet documentaire, la premiere grande etude de terrain sur le louchebem, integre les temoignages de 201 bouchers, interroges sur leur lieu de travail (les boucheries artisanales de Paris et de sa petite couronne) a l’aide d’un questionnaire sociolinguistique, principal outil a notre disposition. Cet article en presente les premiers resultats : il rappelle d’abord le procede de formation de cet argot a cle et esquisse l’histoire, ou plutot l’origine, du louchebem ; il decrit ensuite la demarche methodologique mise en œuvre pour recueillir les donnees et s’entretenir avec les bouchers ; enfin il identifie et analyse les fonctions pour lesquelles on utilise actuellement le louchebem dans la communaute linguistique que constitue la corporation bouchere parisienne.
New vs. Given

This squib begins with an argument emphasizing that the grammar of English makes a distinction between constituents that are focused and those that are merely new, hence not given. If the distinction is made via features, we need two features: one indicating focus and one indicating either given or new information. Which one of the two? Semantically, the choice doesn’t matter: whatever information is given is not new and the other way round. For the phonology, there is a difference, however. If the prosody of all-new constituents is default prosody, but the prosody of given constituents is special, we would want to indicate givenness, rather than newness.
Pledge: A Private Ledger Based Decentralized Data Sharing Framework

Blockchain startups are basing their business models on disrupting the centralized way of data storage by highlighting the value of data to the public. A distributed approach to storing data is the safer way to prevent attacks is what is being evangelized. GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon) have monopolized data, therefore bringing in the most revenue whilst depriving the data generators of any form of compensation. In our work, we propose a platform where a user can store his/her own personal data. Here, we present to the user the right to decide what happens to their data. These decisions include selling, renting, and deleting data. The deletion of data undermines the fundamentals the blockchain is built on (data immutability). We address the issues of personal data sharing and how a user’s right to delete his/her data can be enforced in a blockchain based network such as ours.
Postoperative acute pain challenges in patients with cancer

It is expected that the number of surgical procedures to diagnose, treat, and palliate cancers will increase in the near future. While many of those interventions can be performed with minimally invasive techniques, others require surgical large incisions and in some instances, they involve multiple areas of the body (i.e., tumor resections with flap reconstructions). Pain after major oncological procedures can be severe and many times difficult to treat as patients can present to the operating room with several conditions including preoperative pain (i.e., rapidly growing tumors and painful neuropathies), opioid tolerance, and contraindications to nonopioid analgesics or regional anesthesia. Inadequately treated postoperative pain is associated with activation of the sympathetic system, postoperative complications, large perioperative opioid use, and an increased risk of developing postoperative persistent pain. Furthermore, it has been theorized that poorly treated pain is associated with cancer recurrence and a reduced survival. Lastly, recent research questions the oncological safety of robotic surgery in gynecological procedures and indicates the need of open surgeries, which will be associated with an increased risk in moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. In conclusion, the management of acute postoperative pain in patients with cancer can be challenging.
Compression of 280-fs Pulses to two Optical Cycles using Nitrogen-Filled Hollow-Core Fiber

Two-cycle pulses (7.2 fs FWHM) are obtained from a Yb: KGW laser amplifier through Raman-enhanced supercontinuum generation in a nitrogen filled hollow-core fiber and chirped mirror compressor with an overall 50% throughput efficiency.
Status, kinship, and place of burial at Early Bronze Age Bab adh‐Dhra': A biogeochemical comparison of charnel house human remains

Objectives The Early Bronze Age (EBA; ca. 3,600-2000 BCE) of the southern Levant underwent considerable transformation as agro-pastoral communities began to utilize their land more intensively, constructing larger, fortified towns prior to site abandonment at the end of the third millennium. At the site of Bab adh-Dhra' in Jordan, the dead of the Early Bronze (EB) II-III (ca. 3,100-2,500 BCE) period were communally interred within charnel houses, but important disparities between these structures and their contents may be reflective of ownership and use by particular extended kin groups whose activity patterns, subsistence strategies, and even social status may have differed from one another. Subsequently, we hypothesized that differences in mobility and dietary intake may differentiate tomb groups from one another. Materials and methods Dental enamel from 31 individuals interred in three different Early Bronze Age charnel houses (A56, A22, A55) at Bab adh-Dhra', Jordan were analyzed for strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope values. Results Strontium isotope ratios (range: 0.70793-0.70842) possessed medians that did not differ statistically from one another, but had ranges that exhibited significant differences in variance. Carbon isotope values ( x ¯ = -13.2 ± 0.5‰, 1σ) were not significantly different. Discussion General similarities in human isotopic signatures between EB II-III charnel houses A22 and A55 suggest that their activities were likely similar to one another and agree with findings from excavated domestic spaces with little archaeological evidence for economic, social, or political differentiation. More variable strontium isotope ratios and lower carbon isotope values from A22 could reflect a greater involvement with pastoralist practices or regional trade, including the consumption of more 13 C-depleted foods, while those in A55 may have led a more sedentary lifestyle with greater involvement in cultivating orchard crops. All charnel houses contained nonlocal individuals likely originating from other Dead Sea Plain sites with no EB II-III cemeteries of their own, supporting the idea that extended kin groups throughout the region returned to Bab adh-Dhra' to bury their dead.
Consequentialism, Collective Action, and Causal Impotence

This paper offers some refinements to a particular objection to act consequentialism, the ‘causal impotence’ objection. According to proponents of the objection, when we find circumstances in which...
When Disclosure Isn’t the Goal: Exploring Responses to Partner Violence Victimization Screening and Universal Education among Youth and Adults

Efforts to connect intimate partner violence (IPV) and teen dating violence (TDV) survivors with services rely heavily on victimization screening, despite extensive evidence that many will not disclose abuse even with the best-available screening tools. This study examines how two forms of brief IPV/TDV intervention (screening and universal education) affect important outcomes other than disclosure, including participants’ perceptions of options and resources for addressing IPV/TDV and maintaining safety. This study applies regression models and inductive qualitative analysis to survey data from adults (N = 646) and youth (N = 648) and accompanying qualitative interview data to explore participants’ perceptions of safety-related resources and options after completing a set of randomly assigned brief IPV/TDV interventions. Brief IPV/TDV interventions (including screening and universal education) may influence safety options and connection to resources, even in the absence of disclosure. The brief interventions examined in this study supported participants’ awareness of available resources and sparked personal reflection and insight. Organizational-level outcomes included stronger community partnerships, increased capacity for communicating about IPV/TDV, and expanded services for survivors. These outcomes appeared to be strongly shaped by how staff approached IPV/TDV-related interactions with participants. Implementation of brief IPV/TDV interventions in the context of high school and community-based relationship education programs represent a promising strategy for promoting safety and safety-related empowerment among youth and adult survivors. Future research should continue to examine outcomes of such interventions beyond disclosure.
Missed Opportunities for HIV Prevention in Puerto Rico: An Argument for Inclusivity and Community Coalitions

The nearest no-cost HIV testing center was a 45-minute drive away and hidden in a lot behind the biggest hospital in the region, thus making HIVtesting, the most basic tenet of our national HIV/AIDS strategy for ending the epidemic, out of reach for those with limited resources. [...]sexual health education, pivotal to understanding one's risk for HIV and howto manage it, is limited in both outreach and scope because it is based on a heteronormative assumption of sexuality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes sexual health education as an evidence-based intervention for HIV prevention. STRUCTURAL AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HIV VULNERABILITY The series of natural disasters and ensuing sociopolitical turmoil over the past three years, increasing local poverty, and now the global COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the poor infrastructure for supporting HIV prevention efforts, a situation caused by an overburdened health workforce and poor distribution of federal funds.2 These are just some of the myriad examples of years of US government colonization and inequity;recently, a fiscal oversight board instituted by the federal government imposed severe austerity measures that have crumbled an already weakened public health infrastructure.
Oxidation of Energy Substrates in Tissues of Fish: Metabolic Significance and Implications for Gene Expression and Carcinogenesis.

Fish are useful animal models for studying effects of nutrients and environmental factors on gene expression (including epigenetics), toxicology, and carcinogenesis. To optimize the response of the animals to substances of interest (including toxins and carcinogens), water pollution, or climate changes, it is imperative to understand their fundamental biochemical processes. One of these processes concerns energy metabolism for growth, development, and survival. We have recently shown that tissues of hybrid striped bass (HSB), zebrafish, and largemouth bass (LMB) use amino acids (AAs; such as glutamate, glutamine, aspartate, alanine, and leucine) as major energy sources. AAs contribute to about 80% of ATP production in the liver, proximal intestine, kidney, and skeletal muscle tissue of the fish. Thus, as for mammals (including humans), AAs are the primary metabolic fuels in the proximal intestine of fish. In contrast, glucose and fatty acids are only minor metabolic fuels in the fish. Fish tissues have high activities of glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate–oxaloacetate transaminase, and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, as well as high rates of glutamate uptake. In contrast, the activities of hexokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 in all the tissues are relatively low. Furthermore, unlike mammals, the skeletal muscle (the largest tissue) of HSB and LMB has a limited uptake of long-chain fatty acids and barely oxidizes fatty acids. Our findings explain differences in the metabolic patterns of AAs, glucose, and lipids among various tissues in fish. These new findings have important implications for understanding metabolic significance of the tissue-specific oxidation of AAs (particularly glutamate and glutamine) in gene expression (including epigenetics), nutrition, and health, as well as carcinogenesis in fish, mammals (including humans), and other animals.
Thyroid surgery outcomes at a Children's Hospital: The value of a multidisciplinary team approach.

Abstract Background Our purpose is to describe the structure, function and outcomes of our multidisciplinary pediatric thyroid program and to evaluate our experience in comparison to other high-volume centers. Methods We reviewed all thyroid operations performed 10/2012 through 09/2019, and examined number of cases per year, patient demographics, procedures, final diagnoses and results. Primary outcomes were hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury at 12 months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and univariate analyses. Results We performed 294 thyroid operations on 279 patients. Seventy-nine percent were female. Median age was 15 years (IQR: 12–17). Operations included total thyroidectomy (65%), lobectomy (30%) and completion thyroidectomy (5%). Most common diagnoses were Graves’ disease (35%), malignancy (29%), and benign nodule (20%). We developed an evidence-based clinical pathway and conducted weekly multidisciplinary meetings. A clinical data specialist reviewed process and outcome measures routinely. Overall, 6 patients (2.0%) had hypoparathyroidism and 2 (0.7%) had unilateral RLN injury at 12 months. Two of the patients with clinical suspicion of permanent hypoparathyroidism were ultimately weaned off calcium. Both patients with RLN injury had extensive locally advanced malignant disease involving the nerve. Conclusions Our multidisciplinary team achieved excellent long-term outcomes for pediatric thyroid surgery comparable to other high-volume pediatric and adult centers. Level of Evidence IV
Perceptions and Voices of South Sudanese About the North-South Sudan Conflict

The conflict in Sudan reflects historic hatred and ethnic discrimination between Northern Arab Muslims and Southern African Christians and Animists. The longest and worst conflict began in 1983 and ended in 2005, when African Christians and Animists struggled to form an interim autonomous government. This conflict claimed 2 million lives from both sides and displaced almost 4 million people from the South. This thesis attempts to understand how people from Southern Sudan perceive the root causes and sustaining factors of the Sudanese conflict between Arab Muslims and African Christians. This research looks specifically into the roles of ethnic differences and religion. In this study, 10 emigrants from South Sudan were chosen to present their perceptions and views about the conflict, in the form of written responses to 22 questions. Analysis of their responses in light of conflict resolution literature suggests that the North-South Sudan conflict involves complex issues primarily fueled by ethnic and religious differences. This research reveals that South Sudanese refugees from varying backgrounds and professions expressed similar experiences of racial, religious discrimination and political and economic marginalization, and suggests that Sudan’s July, 2011 declaration of independence, creating two separate nations, North and South Sudan, was a positive solution to achieving a just peace.
Excavating Self: Archaeology and Life Writing in Penelope Lively's Oleander, Jacaranda

(2008). Excavating Self: Archaeology and Life Writing in Penelope Lively's Oleander, Jacaranda. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 245-263.
End of Exile: Practical Solutions to the Palestinian Refugee Question

The objective of this Essay is to add new information and analytical insights to the debate, namely, research about how refugee and compensation solutions have been implemented in other situations. Practical implementation options are examined from a variety of comparative experiences. Examining these options could help soften the political absolutism that characterizes the current impasse on the refugee issue. But there is value in any event in understanding the international system context, and mapping realistic scenarios for such matters as an institutional framework to implement a settlement, the criteria and procedures for relocating refugees, and techniques and methods to award adequate compensation. It is, in effect, a tutorial on what has worked in other settings, assuming a settlement of the conflict.
Looking Beyond the Whiz-Bang Technology: Using Mobile Learning Technology Tools to Improve Economic Instruction

This paper discusses the use of mobile computer learning technology tools for teaching economic courses and offers suggestions to improve student learning outcomes and to assist professors in becoming more efficient in their use of time. The use of computer-based teaching technologies is becoming increasingly prevalent at American universities. Two common technologies are course management systems and wireless network systems. When these are combined with the use of Tablet PCs that allow the use of digital ink-enabled software by instructors and students, new pedagogical tools become easier to use in and out of the classroom. In addition, web-based support tools have been developed to support economic instruction and innovations continue to appear. When combined, the use of computer-based teaching technologies can combine to form a dynamic teaching environment that is highly mobile, ubiquitous, and stimulating. The purpose of this paper is to describe the mobile learning technology that harnesses the academic versatility and power of a Tablet PC to enhance student learning and engagement while increasing the efficiency of instructor's use of time. The paper discusses current software and hardware tools in general terms and follows with specific examples of how this environment can be used to augment economics instruction within and outside of the classroom. The paper discusses specific areas of instruction where the use of these technologies exhibits especially significant net benefits to student learning, with a focus in the following areas: Computer-assisted presentations, assignments and student self-evaluation; electronic evaluation of student written work; virtual office hours and distance learning. The paper also provides information on effective use by experienced instructors who have used these technologies in their own classrooms.
Episodic Fluid Flow in an Aseismic Overpressured Growth Fault, Northern Gulf of Mexico

Aseismic creep events may represent particularly instructive manifestations of the coupling between fault slip and fluid flow since the velocities of the rock and fluid may be similar. As an example of this interaction, the highly-overpressured sedimentary rocks of the Gulf of Mexico are cut by numerous active but seismically "quiet" normal faults that have acted as conduits for large volumes of fluid. The South Eugene Island Block 330 Field, offshore Louisiana, contains hydrocarbons and brine that flowed up a set of aseismic faults into a section of Pliocene-Pleistocene reservoir sands at fluxes that are orders of magnitude higher than allowed by the ambient fault permeability. The 'A' Fault, adjacent to the reservoirs, is the locus of paleotemperature anomalies indicative of the discontinuous ascent of hot fluids in the past. Discontinuous present-day fluid flow in the fault system has also been imaged on successive dip-filtered 3D seismic surveys, which show a migrating pulse of highly-pressured fluid within a splay of the 'A' Fault; the high fluid pressure is corroborated by drilling records. Relatively high effective stress in the fault system at depths shallower than about 2.5 km limits fluid flow up the faults. Fluid ascent in, and lateral escape from, the faults requires slip events to produce the necessary fracture network. Fluid flow and fault movement are probably coupled in the growth fault system at South Eugene Island Block 330.
Phagocytic processing of exogenous particulate antigens by macrophages for presentation by class I MHC molecules.

Exogenous Ags that are processed in vacuolar endocytic compartments are generally presented by class II MHC molecules and not class I MHC (MHC-I) molecules, which conventionally present cytoplasmic or endogenous Ags. Accordingly, i.v. immunization of C57BL/6 mice with soluble OVA did not elicit a CD8 T cell response. However, i.v. immunization with OVA coupled to Latex particles (Latex-OVA) elicited an OVA-specific CD8 T cell response in vivo (particles from 59 to 2000 nm diameter were effective). In vitro, Latex-OVA was processed by H-2b macrophages and presented by Kb at least 100- to 1000-fold more efficiently than was soluble OVA. Inhibition of phagocytosis by cytochalasin D blocked the processing of Latex-OVA, whereas processing was not blocked by Brefeldin A. Latex-OVA was presented directly by H-2b macrophages or after "regurgitation" of processed OVA peptide from viable MHC-disparate macrophages for binding to surface Kb molecules on fixed H-2b macrophages. Peptide regurgitation was observed during processing of both Latex-OVA and Salmonella typhimurium 14028s that express an OVA fusion protein (Crl-OVA). However, the regurgitation pathway was less efficient than direct processing by viable H-2b macrophages. Thus, macrophages express an alternate pathway that allows MHC-I presentation of vacuolar exogenous particulate Ags, including inert synthetic particles without lipid membranes and intravacuolar bacteria. Peptides from these Ags are released from intracellular compartments to bind to surface MHC-I molecules, but peptide-MHC-I complexes also may be generated within intracellular compartments.
Developmental trajectories of marijuana use from adolescence to adulthood: relationship with using weapons including guns.

This is the first study to assess the associations between the trajectories of marijuana use and other predictors of violent behavior with the use of guns or other weapons as well as stealing without the use of weapons among inner-city African Americans and Puerto Ricans (N = 838). Logistic regression analyses examined whether the longitudinal trajectories of marijuana use compared with the trajectory of no/low marijuana use predicted violent behavior. A higher Bayesian posterior probability (BPP) for the increasing marijuana use trajectory group (AOR = 3.37, P Language: en
Surface roughness and thickness analysis of contrast-enhanced articular cartilage using mesh parameterization.

Summary Objective Articular cartilage (AC) morphology is an important metric for characterizing degeneration. We propose a novel morphologic analysis using mesh parameterization, enabling the use of surface roughness and thickness metrics to characterize degeneration in a rodent model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Methods Six rats underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACL-T) and six were controls (Control). At 4-weeks, femora and tibiae were harvested and imaged using contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (μCT). Cartilage surfaces were manually outlined, and 2-dimensional thickness maps were generated using mesh parameterization and analyzed by thickness and surface roughness (S a ). The parameterization technique was validated against the direct distance transform (DDT) and histologic AC thickness from sagittal Safranin-O/Fast-Green sections. Parameterization and DDT measurements were also validated using known, virtual shapes with zero, one, and two planes of curvature. Results Parameterization had 0.00–6.26% error and DDT had 5.06–12.02% error in determining thicknesses of known shapes. Parameterization thickness correlated highly to DDT thickness (femur: r = 0.978, P r = 0.992, P r = 0.952, P r = 0.959, P a was higher in the whole femur and medial and lateral condyle, and the whole tibia and medial and lateral plateau. The largest increases in S a were observed on the medial femoral condyle. Conclusions Cartilage analysis using parameterization effectively characterized early degeneration in AC, including sub-compartmental thickening/thinning, and is a powerful tool for assessing degeneration in preclinical osteoarthritis.
Families in confining theory of quarks, leptons, and additional fermions.

Based on anomaly cancellation, a natural extension of the standard model is proposed. Quark-lepton families are extended to include 23, rather than 15 helicity states; the extra states, called sarks, transform under a new confining SU(2). The standard SU(2){sub {ital L}} is assumed strongly coupled and allows no more than three families.
Sculpting and Aerosolizing Pinned Liquid Films With Localized Acoustic Pressures of Surface Acoustic Waves

Due to viscous decay, a planar surface acoustic wave (SAW) diffracting from a solid substrate into a liquid film produces a time-averaged, exponentially decaying acoustic pressure in the film. We show that if the film is pinned against a bounding wall, the localized acoustic pressure generates a sequence of surface drops at the contact line, whose dimensions decay in the same exponential manner as the localized acoustic pressure. The undulating interfacial profile near the contact line also inherits this exponential decay, such that the averaged contact angle is exponentially small. The bulk film topology and the aerosolization mechanism are hence insensitive to the wettability of the surface but are controlled only by the localized acoustic pressure and the decaying undulations it produces at the contact line. The size distribution of surface drops is collapsed under the exponential scaling that depends only on the SAW decay rate and amplitude. Numerical modeling based on the Young-Laplace equation is used to model the liquid profile and to predict two aerosolization regimes.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Operator‐based interpolation for bootstrap algebraic multigrid

Bootstrap algebraic multigrid (BAMG) is a multigrid-based solver for matrix equations of the form Ax=b. Its aim is to automatically determine the interpolation weights used in algebraic multigrid (AMG) by locally fitting a set of test vectors that have been relaxed as solutions to the corresponding homogeneous equation, Ax=0, and are then possibly improved later using a multilevel eigensolver. This paper introduces a flexible variant of BAMG that determines the interpolation weights indirectly by ‘collapsing’ the unwanted connections in ‘operator interpolation’. Compared to BAMG, this indirect BAMG approach (iBAMG) is more in the spirit of classical AMG, which collapses unwanted connections in operator interpolation based on the (restrictive) assumption that smooth error is locally constant. This paper studies the numerical performance of iBAMG and establishes an equivalence, under certain assumptions, between it and a slightly modified (standard) BAMG scheme. To focus on camparing BAMG and iBAMG and exposing their behavior as the problem size grows, the numerical experiments concentrate on Poisson-like scalar problems. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Angular Orientation of the Retinyl Chromophore of Bacteriorhodopsin: Reconciliation of 2H NMR and Optical Measurements

It is argued on the basis of MNDO−PSDCI calculations that, at the wavelength of electronic dichroism studies used to infer structure, the transition dipole moment of the retinyl Schiff's base chromophore of bacteriorhodopsin makes an angle of 10.5 ± 3.5° with respect to the long axis of the chromophore. The magnitude and direction of this off-axis angle helps to reconcile the differences between the deuterium NMR and optical determinations of the angular orientation of the chromophore in bacteriorhodopsin. Reconciliation of the NMR and optical dichroism structures is only possible, however, when the chromophore is oriented so that the imine proton points toward the extracellular surface. After correction, the published electronic dichroism data predict a chromophore angle of Ω = 61 ± 7°, where Ω is defined as the angle of a line connecting chromophore atoms C5 and C15 relative to the membrane normal. The corresponding NMR results are Ω = 53.7 ± 4.1°. The combined data with equal weighting yield Ω = 57 ± 8...
Protein Production in the Bovine. Comparison of Daily Protein, Fat, and Milk Production During the Entire Lactation Period

Summary The production level of the milk proteins was evaluated during the entire lactation period of several cows and compared to the production of total milk and fat. In contrast to the normal attainment of maximum daily production of milk and fat after about the first month, the total amount of protein produced per day tended to be at a maximum on the day of parturition and either remain constant or decrease during this time. Maximum casein production was reached in but a few days; however, the simultaneous decrease in serum protein output tended to maintain the total protein production in the first few days or to decrease it. Large variations were found to occur during the lactation periods in the ratio of protein to fat production.