cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interfacial formation of porous membranes with poly(ethylene glycol) in a microfluidic environment

In a microfluidic environment, the liquid- liquid interface, formed by laminar flows of immiscible solutions, can be used to generate thin membranes via interfacial polymerization. Because these thin nylon mem- branes have a very small pore size or lack porosity entirely, their utilization in some biological applications is greatly limited. We introduce an in situ fabrication method using the interfacial reaction of a two-phase system to gen- erate a porous nylon membrane. The membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and fluo- rescent beads. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs verified the asymmetrical structure of the porous mem- brane, and the membrane pore sizes ranged from 0.1 to
Territorial developments based on graffiti: A statistical mechanics approach

Abstract We study the well-known sociological phenomenon of gang aggregation and territory formation through an interacting agent system defined on a lattice. We introduce a two-gang Hamiltonian model where agents have red or blue affiliation but are otherwise indistinguishable. In this model, all interactions are indirect and occur only via graffiti markings, on-site as well as on nearest neighbor locations. We also allow for gang proliferation and graffiti suppression. Within the context of this model, we show that gang clustering and territory formation may arise under specific parameter choices and that a phase transition may occur between well-mixed, possibly dilute configurations and well separated, clustered ones. Using methods from statistical mechanics, we study the phase transition between these two qualitatively different scenarios. In the mean-fields rendition of this model, we identify parameter regimes where the transition is first or second order. In all cases, we have found that the transitions are a consequence solely of the gang to graffiti couplings, implying that direct gang to gang interactions are not strictly necessary for gang territory formation; in particular, graffiti may be the sole driving force behind gang clustering. We further discuss possible sociological—as well as ecological—ramifications of our results.
Dichroic microspectrophotometer: A computer-assisted, rapid, wavelength-scanning photometer for measuring linear dichroism in single cells*

A novel microspectrophotometer is described, which simultaneously resolves cell absorption into two mutually orthogonal components allowing the determination of linear dichroism as a function of wavelength in the range of 325–695 nm. This instrument uses a single plane-polarized light beam and a small general-purpose digital computer, and is equipped with a photo-flash apparatus for rapid photolysis. Following visual pigment bleaching, it can detect changes occurring on a time scale of seconds in the orientation and spectral character of chromophores in isolated cells. The spectral scanning is performed in either single or multiple sweeps which may be unidrectional or bidirectional. The scanning rate is set to 500 nm/s. Spectral resolution is 5 nm. Its signal and data processing are discussed. Its performance is illustrated on subcellular organelles of retinal photoreceptors from turtle and frog. Rhodopsin and its photoproducts are shown to lend dichroism to frog rod outer segments. Metarhodopsin II, when formed, is transversely dichroic as rhodopsin. The late products (retinol, retainal oxime, etc.) show axial dichroism. The corrected specific optical density (transverse component) of frog rod outer segments (in hydroxylamine) is found to be 0.0182±0.002/μm. The average absorption spectrum is presented for in situ rhodopsin.
The Impact of Trade on Managerial Incentives and Productivity

This paper examines the importance of trade-induced managerial incentives as a source of productivity gains. I introduce a principal-agent problem in a trade model with monopolistic competition and firm level heterogeneity, in which firms provide incentives to their managers to reduce costs. The model shows that trade liberalization, given by a reduction in trade costs, induces stronger managerial incentives among firms productive enough to export and weaker incentives for firms not productive enough to export. Among the exporters, the increase in incentives is higher for low-productive exporters than high-productive exporters. Examination of U.S. manufacturing firms yields evidence consistent with the model. I find that between 5% and 8% of the industry productivity growth during the 1993-1998 period can be attributed to productivity gains through managerial incentives.
Role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in mediating renal hemodynamic changes during pregnancy.

Renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are markedly increased during pregnancy. We recently reported that the renal hemodynamic changes observed during pregnancy in rats are a...
Geology and Petrology of Volcan Ceboruco, Nayarit, Mexico

Volcan Ceboruco is a moderately sized stratovolcanc located in the northwestern part of the Mexican Volcanic Belt. The bulk of the volcano consists of relatively alkali and incompatible element—poor hypersthene andesites erupted prior to the formation of two concentric calderas. These precaldera andesites were followed in the eruptive sequence by the eruption 1,000 yr ago of a white rhyodacite pumice, termed the Jala pumice. The eruption apparently caused the formation of Ceboruco9s outer caldera. A low-silica dacite dome and lava flow were then erupted and partially filled this caldera. These dacites contain xenoliths of high-Al basalt that were apparently partially molten at the time of their inclusion, suggesting that the dacite magma formed as a result of magma mixing involving Jala pumice and basaltic magmas. The dacite dome later collapsed to form the inner caldera, and Ceboruco again erupted andesites. These postcaldera andesites contain both augite and hypersthene and are enriched in alkalis and incompatible elements relative to the precaldera andesites. Finally, between 1870 and 1875, rhyodacite lava flows were erupted during Ceboruco9s only historic activity. Crystal fractionation models using both major and trace elements suggest that the 1870 dacites and the Jala pumice could have been derived from magma with postcaldera andesite composition. To determine the origin of the Ceboruco andesites, trace-element partial-melting models tested three possible sources: subducted oceanic crust in the eclogite facies and the amphibolite facies and mantle peridotite. All models were found unreliable because of the many assumptions involved. It is concluded that a complex process involving partial melting, fractional crystalization, magma mixing, and, perhaps, crustal assimilation was responsible for the generation of the andesites. Such a model cannot be tested, however, because there are at present no viable constraints that can be placed on this complex sequence of events.
Individual Social Security Accounts: Administrative Issues

This ERBI Issue Brief/Special Report presents an overview of the most salient administrative issues facing the current Social Security reform debate on potentially adding individual accounts to the program. It argues that comparisons between employment-based retirement savings plans and Social Security individual account reform options are difficult at best. In addition, it discusses the collection of payroll tax dollars and points out the potential costs to small employers of changing the present system. The report states that there is a way to design a system of individual accounts that could potentially be administered in a cost-effective and timely way-but, for a variety of inescapable reasons, that system most likely would bear little or no resemblance to a modern 401(k) plan.
Research and Design of General Text Processing Method

A rule is defined to describe the logic of text processing, and an engine is designed to execute the rule, with which text processing is simplified from programming to writing rule. A model of the rule is defined based on XML. The rule includes atom-rules, rule-sets, rule-applications and data contexts. The rule can match text with regular expression, and transform the matched results with escape character and script language. An experiment of extracting Web topic text is given to verify the rationality of the rule and the efficiency of the engine.
Anesthesia for trauma.

This article presents basic anesthetic management problems and procedures together with newer anesthetic drugs and monitoring techniques that are likely to be encountered by intensive care physicians. The author’s goal is to familiarize all critical care unit based members of the resuscitation team with current aspects of anesthetic management of the trauma patient.
Pulmonary surfactant proteins A and D enhance neutrophil uptake of bacteria

The collectins are a class of collagenous lectin proteins present in serum and pulmonary secretions [pulmonary surfactant protein (SP) A and SP-D] that are believed to participate in innate immune ...
The non-uniformity of fossil preservation

The fossil record provides the primary source of data for calibrating the origin of clades. Although minimum ages of clades are given by the oldest preserved fossil, these underestimate the true age, which must be bracketed by probabilistic methods based on multiple fossil occurrences. Although most of these methods assume uniform preservation rates, this assumption is unsupported over geological timescales. On geologically long timescales (more than 10 Myr), the origin and cessation of sedimentary basins, and long-term variations in tectonic subsidence, eustatic sea level and sedimentation rate control the availability of depositional facies that preserve the environments in which species lived. The loss of doomed sediments, those with a low probability of preservation, imparts a secular trend to fossil preservation. As a result, the fossil record is spatially and temporally non-uniform. Models of fossil preservation should reflect this non-uniformity by using empirical estimates of fossil preservation that are spatially and temporally partitioned, or by using indirect proxies of fossil preservation. Geologically, realistic models of preservation will provide substantially more reliable estimates of the origination of clades.This article is part of the themed issue 'Dating species divergences using rocks and clocks'.
Biochips as Pathways to Drug Discovery

Biochips as pathways to drug discovery , Biochips as pathways to drug discovery , کتابخانه مرکزی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تهران
Abstract 3147: Generation of exhaustion-resistant memory CD8 T-cells by simultaneous downmodulation of mTORC1 and PD-1 in activated CD8 T-cells

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA CD8 memory T cells play a crucial role in controlling chronic infections and certain malignancies. It is possible to expand the population redirecting early-activated T-cells toward memory differentiation by altering intracellular signaling of mTORC1 pathway. Indeed, treatment with mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin increased formation of memory cells as published previously; however, animals treated with the drug exhibited signs of immune suppression and rapamycin-generated CD8 memory T-cells failed to protect animals against melanoma challenge. We introduced highly efficient RNAi-based method to downmodulate mTORC1 signaling specifically in target cells. siRNA against raptor, a critical component of the signaling complex, was delivered in vivo into activated T-cells by conjugating to the 4-1BB-binding RNA aptamer resulting in expansion of CD8+ memory T-cells formation. Memory T-cells are generally resistant to immune suppression, yet in vivo, the population suffers from the gradual attrition mediated by PD-1 signalling. We developed the conjugate with two highly effective siRNAs against raptor and PD-1 linked to the same 4-1BB aptamer molecule. In vitro, both siRNAs efficiently dissociated from the conjugate inside target cells and simultaneously downregulated its respective mRNAs. In vivo, using OT-I adoptive transfer model, we demonstrated that treatment with 4-1BB-raptor-PD1 conjugates increased formation of memory CD8+ T-cells (as measured by absolute number of OT-1 cells 30 days after the treatment) in a rate similar to the 4-1BB-raptor conjugate. There was, however, qualitative difference between two populations, as CD8+ memory T-cells expanded with 4-1BB-raptor-PD1 conjugates expressed significantly less PD-1 on cell surface, and were, therefore, resistant to PD-1-mediated immune suppression. Thus, we introduced a new method to generate memory cells with enhanced functional potential and currently exploring its therapeutic usefulness in various models. Citation Format: Alexey Berezhnoy, Agata Levay, Anugraha Rajagopalan, Yvonne Puplampu-Dove, Eli Gilboa. Generation of exhaustion-resistant memory CD8 T-cells by simultaneous downmodulation of mTORC1 and PD-1 in activated CD8 T-cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3147. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3147
INTERNET RESOURCES: Science fiction and fantasy: A guide to resources on the Web

Les AA. presentent une selection de sites Web consacres a la science-fiction et au fantastique, principalement dans le domaine de la litterature mais avec un regard sur le cinema, la television et d'autres medias.
Entrapment Neuropathies of the Upper Extremity Nerves

This article reviews recent updates in the imaging for diagnosis and characterization of upper extremity nerve entrapments (UENE). We examine in detail the use of ultrasound and MRI, including state-of-the-art techniques such as dynamic nerve motion assessment, tissue elasticity measurement, and MR neurography. Ultrasound and MRI are the two advanced modalities most frequently used to assess UENE. MRI remains technically challenging, though techniques of MR neurography have steadily improved. Ultrasound is operator-dependent, but has dynamic and realtime imaging capabilities and no contraindications. New comparative techniques of measurement and elasticity assessment show promise for improved diagnostic accuracy. Up-to-date imaging techniques for peripheral nerves in the upper extremity from the shoulder to the hand are discussed, with a focus on the most common UENE such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndromes. Technical challenges and limitations are reviewed, with a focus on the current and future state of imaging for UENE.
THE INVESTIGATION OF OSCILLATORY PROCESSES BY PERTURBATION EXPERIMENTS II. A SINGULAR STATE IN THE CLOCK-OSCILLATION OF Drosophila pseudoobscura

Publisher Summary The interest in circadian rhythms has centered about their physiology and ecological involvements. The circadian clock of the fruit fly, Drosophila pseudoobscura, regulates the time of emergence of the fly from its pupal case. The D. pseudoobscura clock process is perturbable by irradiation with blue light. One of the intriguing properties of many circadian rhythms, including the one investigated in an all-female strain of D. pseudoobscura is that they return to the normal period rather soon after perturbation. Factors that influence clock dynamics weakly cause only small phase shifts in pulse-chase experiments. However, the same small displacement of state applied when the oscillator is at the singularity would initiate a distinct rhythm. All factors impinging on the clock in the same way would initiate from the singularity to the same phase. The number and nature of such classes may suggest the number and nature of the discrete processes or variables affected.
A scalable lysyl hydroxylase 2 expression system and luciferase-based enzymatic activity assay

Hydroxylysine aldehyde-derived collagen cross-links (HLCCs) accumulate in fibrotic tissues and certain types of cancer and are thought to drive the progression of these diseases. HLCC formation is initiated by lysyl hydroxylase 2 (LH2), an Fe(II) and α-ketoglutarate (αKG)-dependent oxygenase that hydroxylates telopeptidyl lysine residues on collagen. Development of LH2 antagonists for the treatment of these diseases will require a reliable source of recombinant LH2 protein and a non-radioactive LH2 enzymatic activity assay that is amenable to high throughput screens of small molecule libraries. However, LH2 protein generated using E coli- or insect-based expression systems is either insoluble or enzymatically unstable, and the LH2 enzymatic activity assays that are currently available measure radioactive CO2 released from 14C-labeled αKG during its conversion to succinate. To address these deficiencies, we have developed a scalable process to purify human LH2 protein from Chinese hamster ovary cell-derived conditioned media samples and a luciferase-based assay that quantifies LH2-dependent conversion of αKG to succinate. These methodologies may be applicable to other Fe(II) and αKG-dependent oxygenase systems.
Prediction and realization of a photonic topological phase transition

We predict a topological phase transition for paraxial light propagating through an array of evanescently-coupled helical waveguides. As a result of the transition, we observe a topological edge mode reverse its transverse propagation direction.
To what degree do situational influences explain spontaneous helping behaviour? A meta-analysis

Prosocial behaviour is an interdisciplinary topic, involving psychologists, philosophers, and educators. Based on experimental helping research, some moral philosophers have claimed that helping be...
Free Trade: The Inter-American's System Oldest and Newest Goal: The Evolution of Economic Themes in Inter-American Relations

The promotion of regional commercial and economic cooperation has been one of the oldest and most belabored objectives of inter-American relations. Although the American republics have recently pursued free trade with great impetus (both at the sub-regional and regional levels), they have had a very long history of negotiations about economic cooperation and commercial integration, a history that actually precedes the formal emergence of the Pan-American Movement in 1889-90. As the events detailed in this study will show, the recent effort of the American Republics to turn the Western Hemisphere into a regional free-trade area is, in fact, the newest phase of the painfully slow and difficult evolution of commercial and economic themes in the Inter-American System.
A Molecular Simulation Study of Carbon Dioxide Uptake by a Deep Eutectic Solvent Confined in Slit Nanopores

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the behavior of CO2 in varying amounts of a common deep eutectic solvent (DES), choline chloride and ethylene glycol (termed ethaline), confined in slit-like pores of width H = 5.2 nm with graphite or rutile walls at T = 318 K. In the absence of DES, CO2 adsorbs to the pore walls, but increasing amounts of ethaline inside the pores quickly displace carbon dioxide into the gas/liquid interfaces, and into dissolution within the confined DES. This process is driven by strong interactions of the ethaline components with the pore walls, especially in the case of rutile systems, which also cause the local ratio of choline chloride:ethylene glycol inside the pores to depart from the bulk value of 1:2. As the amount of DES inside the pores increases, the diffusivity of CO2 reaches a maximum in partially filled pores and decays to the values observed in pores filled with DES, which are similar to the diffusion coefficients of CO2 in the bulk DES. The average n...
Torticollis and Head Nodding

Children with neuro-ophthalmologic disorders often develop anomalous head postures (torticollis) or rhythmical movements of the head. The neuroophthalmologic evaluation of torticollis is greatly simplified by the probable association of a head tilt with superior oblique palsy and a horizontal or vertical head posture with incomitant strabismus or nystagmus. When strabismus and nystagmus are absent, the differential diagnosis includes a long list of ocular and systemic conditions. Head nodding in children usually signifies spasmus nutans or congenital nystagmus; however, an awareness of other rare causes is necessary to provide a complete evaluation. Abnormal head movements are less likely to be overlooked by parents than are abnormal head positions.
Worse Urinary, Sexual and Bowel Function Cause Emotional Distress and Vice Versa in Men Treated for Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Definitive therapy for prostate cancer (eg surgery or radiotherapy) often has side effects, including urinary, sexual and bowel dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to test whether urinary, sexual and bowel functions contribute to emotional distress during the first 2 years after treatment and whether distress may in turn decrease function.Materials and Methods: The study participants were 1,148 men diagnosed with clinically localized disease who were treated with surgery (63%) or radiotherapy (37%). Urinary, sexual and bowel functions were assessed with EPIC (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite). Emotional distress was assessed with the NCCN® (National Comprehensive Cancer Network®) Distress Thermometer. Assessment time points were before treatment, and 6 weeks, and 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after treatment. We used time lagged multilevel models to test whether physical function predicted emotional distress and vice versa.Results: Men with worse urinary, bowel and sexual functions repor...
Parallel sparse flow-sensitive points-to analysis

This paper aims to contribute to further advances in pointer (or points-to) analysis algorithms along the combined dimen- sions of precision, scalability, and performance. For precision, we aim to support interprocedural ow-sensitive analysis. For scalability, we aim to show that our approach scales to large applications with reasonable memory requirements. For performance, we aim to design a points-to analysis algo- rithm that is amenable to parallel execution. The algorithm introduced in this paper achieves all these goals. As an ex- ample, our experimental results show that our algorithm can analyze the 2.2MLOC Tizen OS framework with 10KLOC/second. Our points-to analysis algorithm, PSEGPT, is based on the Pointer Sparse Evaluation Graph (PSEG) form, a new analysis representation that combines both points-to and heap def-use information. PSEGPT is a scalable interprocedural flow-sensitive context-insensitive points-to analy- sis that is amenable to efficient task-parallel implementa- tions, even though points-to analysis is usually viewed as a challenge problem for parallelization. Our experimental results with 6 real-world applications on a 12-core machine show an average parallel speedup of 4.45× and maximum speedup of 7.35×. The evaluation also includes precision results by demonstrating that our algorithm identifies significantly more inlinable indirect calls (IICs) than SUPT and SS, two states of the art SSA-based points-to analyses implemented in LLVM.
Statistical Inference, the Distribution-Free Approach

(1972). Statistical Inference, the Distribution-Free Approach. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 210-211.
Improved eukaryotic promoter-detection vector carrying two luciferase reporter genes.

Understanding gene regulation is of fundamental importance to virtually all biological systems. A gene is regulated through cis-acting regulatory DNA se-quences (elements) in conjunction with trans-acting regulatory proteins. The cis-acting regulatory elements involved in transcription include, for example, the promoter, enhancer, silencer, spe-cific activator binding sites, and spe-cific repressor binding sites, whereas the trans-acting regulatory proteins include basic transcription factors, acti-vators, repressors, coactivators, and co-repressors. For the quantitative analysis of transcriptional regulatory elements, a variety of reporter vectors have been developed based on firefly luciferase and Renilla luciferase, chlorampheni-col acetyltransferase (CAT), β-galac-tosidase, β-glucuronase, β-lactamase, alkaline phosphatase, human growth hormone (hGH), and green fluores-cent protein (GFP) (1–11). Luciferase reporter vectors have become the vec-tors of choice for most investigations because of the availability of rapid and sensitive luciferase assay systems (1). Most of the currently available eu-karyotic promoter-detection vectors carry only a single reporter gene. The use of such a vector can generate er-roneous results due to the variability in transfection efficiency (intracellular copy number) in different samples of transfected cells. Many individual factors can affect the transfection effi-ciency of a plasmid, including contami-nating nucleases, endotoxins, and salts in DNA preparations. Dispensation of variable amounts of DNA during pipet-ting of small quantities of DNA can also influence transfection efficiency. The size of a plasmid also plays a role in transfection because some smaller plas-mids can enter cells more efficiently. To minimize the error due to variable trans-fection efficiency, current protocols generally use a second control plasmid to normalize the data for the test plas-mid. The normalized value of the test plasmid data is usually expressed as a percentage of the control plasmid data. However, the use of a control plasmid cannot completely eliminate variability in transcription efficiency because of contamination of individual samples and the variable quantity of individual plasmid from sample to sample. To solve this problem, which is associated with the use of two plasmids, Park (1) developed a promoter-detection vector, pJDL
Complete Genome Sequences of Extremely Thermoacidophilic Metal-Mobilizing Type Strain Members of the Archaeal Family Sulfolobaceae, Acidianus brierleyi DSM-1651, Acidianus sulfidivorans DSM-18786, and Metallosphaera hakonensis DSM-7519

The family Sulfolobaceae contains extremely thermoacidophilic archaea that are found in terrestrial environments. Here, we report three closed genomes from two currently defined genera within the family, namely, Acidianus brierleyi DSM-1651T, Acidianus sulfidivorans DSM-18786T, and Metallosphaera hakonensis DSM-7519T.
Abstract 389: Integrative genomic analyses of mutation signatures, immunogenicity and germline copy number variation of the APOBEC genes in multiple cancer types

The APOBEC-signature mutation has been frequently observed in multiple cancer types, including bladder, breast, and lung adenocarcinoma. Increased expression of the APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B genes is known to induce APOBEC-signature mutations in these cancer types. Limited studies have investigated whether the mutation patterns are associated with individual isoforms of the APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B genes, particularly the isoform uc011aoc from an APOBEC3A/3B chimera that is primarily generated by a common germline deletion. Previous studies have shown that somatic missense mutations contribute to neoantigen load and consequently may affect cancer immunogenic abilities such as attracting tumor infiltration lymphocytes (TILs). However, the influence of APOBEC-signature mutations on tumor immunology remains largely unknown. In this study, we systematically analyzed the APOBEC isoform expression and mutation signature, neoantigen load, and copy number variations in ~4000 tumor samples across 10 cancer types using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Using multiple regression analyses that included all isoforms of both APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B, we found that the isoforms uc003awn (APOBEC3A) and uc011awo (APOBEC3B) were significantly associated with APOBEC-signature mutations (defined as TCW change to either TTW or TGW mutations) in multiple cancer types, while the association for uc011aoc was observed only in breast cancer. We also observed that APOBEC-signature mutations were positively associated with neoantigen load in all cancer types except lung adenocarcinoma and kidney carcinoma (P Citation Format: Xingyi Guo, Xiao-ou Shu, Jiandong Bao, Wanqing Wen, Qiuyin Cai, Jirong Long, Wei Zheng. Integrative genomic analyses of mutation signatures, immunogenicity and germline copy number variation of the APOBEC genes in multiple cancer types [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 389.
Commodities as Products of Capital: A Reply to Skillman’s Review of Money and Totality:

This paper responds to the most important criticism in Skillman’s review of my book Money and Totality: A Macro-Monetary Interpretation of Marx’s Logic in Capital—that I misinterpret the fundamenta...
Geographic Association Between Income Inequality and Obesity Among Adults in New York State.

Introduction In addition to economic factors and geographic area poverty, area income inequality - the extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner across a population - has been found to influence health outcomes and obesity. We used a spatial-based approach to describe interactions between neighboring areas with the objective of generating new insights into the relationships between county-level income inequality, poverty, and obesity prevalence across New York State (NYS). Methods We used data from the 2015 American Community Survey and 2013 obesity estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for NYS to examine correlations between county-level economic factors and obesity. Spatial mapping and analysis were conducted with ArcMap. Ordinary least squares modeling with adjusting variables was used to examine associations between county-level obesity percentages and county-level income inequality (Gini index). Univariate spatial analysis was conducted between obesity and Gini index, and globally weighted regression and Hot Spot Analysis were used to view spatial clustering. Results Although higher income inequality was associated with lower obesity rates, a higher percentage of poverty was associated with higher obesity rates. A higher percentage of Hispanic population was associated with lower obesity rates. When tested spatially, higher income inequality was associated with a greater decrease in obesity in southern and eastern NYS counties than in the northern and western counties, with some differences by sex present in this association. Conclusion Increased income inequality and lower poverty percentage were significantly linked to lower obesity rates across NYS counties for men. Income inequality influence differed by geographic location. These findings indicate that in areas with high income inequality, currently unknown aspects of the environment may benefit low-income residents. Future studies should also include environmental factors possibly linked to obesity.
New very high-order upwind multi-layer compact (MLC) schemes with spectral-like resolution for flow simulations

Abstract Numerical simulations of multi-scale flow problems such as hypersonic boundary layer transition, turbulent flows, computational aeroacoustics and various other flow problems with complex physics require high-order methods with high spectral resolutions. For instance, the receptivity mechanisms in the hypersonic boundary layer are the resonant interactions between forcing waves and boundary-layer waves, and the complex wave interactions are difficult to be accurately predicted by conventional low-order numerical methods. High-order methods, which are robust and accurate in resolving a wide range of time and length scales, are required. Currently, the high-order finite difference methods for simulations of hypersonic flows are usually upwind schemes or compact schemes with fifth-order accuracy or lower [1] . The objective of this paper is to develop and analyze a new very high-order numerical scheme with the spectral-like resolution for flow simulations on structured grids, with focus on smooth flow problems involving multiple scales. Specifically, a new upwind multi-layer compact (MLC) scheme with spectral-like resolution up to seventh order is derived in a finite difference framework. By using the ‘multi-layer’ idea, which introduces first derivatives into the MLC schemes and approximates the second derivatives, the resolution of the MLC schemes can be significantly improved within a compact grid stencil. The auxiliary equations are required and they are the only nontrivial equations, which contributes to good computational efficiency. In addition, the upwind MLC schemes are derived based on the idea of constructing upwind schemes on centered stencils with adjustable parameters to control the dissipation. Fourier analysis is performed to show that the MLC schemes have small dissipation and dispersion in a very wide range of wavenumbers in both one- and two-dimensional cases, and the anisotropic error is much smaller than conventional finite difference methods in the two-dimensional case. Furthermore, the stability analysis with matrix method shows that high-order boundary closure schemes are stable because of compactness of the stencils. The accuracies and rates of convergence of the new schemes are validated by numerical experiments of the linear advection equation, the nonlinear Euler equations, and the Navier–Stokes equations. The numerical results show that good computational efficiency, very high-order accuracies, and high spectral resolutions especially on coarse meshes can be attained with the MLC schemes. Overall, the MLC scheme has the properties of simple formulations, high-order accuracies, spectral-like resolutions, and compact stencils, and it is suitable for accurate simulation of smooth multi-scale flows with complex physics.
Sex Chromosome Abnormalities

In human subjects, the sex chromosomes are the X and the Y chromosomes. Normally, a complement of two X chromosomes (46,XX) is seen in females and one X and one Y (46,XY) in males. The X-chromosome includes about 1500 genes, only a few of which are involved in sex development. The Y-chromosome contains very few genes, but one gene, SRY, is the most important gene in male sex development. Multiple autosomal genes are also involved in sex development. Abnormalities of sex chromosomes can involve errors in the number of sex chromosomes, such as 45,X0 (Turner syndrome), 47,XXX, 47,XXY (Klinefelter syndrome), 47,XYY or mosaicism. Sex chromosome abnormalities also include aberrations of a single gene of the sex chromosome, leading to a disorder of sex development (DSD). This can result in 46,XX DSD and 46,XY DSD. Key Concepts Turner syndrome occurs when females have a missing sex chromosome (45,X0) or have a mosaic complement of cells with one or more lines missing a sex chromosome. Girls with Turner syndrome have a variety of congenital anomalies, the most striking being short stature and premature ovarian failure. Klinefelter syndrome boys (47,XXY) have tall stature, marfinoid habitus, and may have difficulty with language development and verbal IQ (intelligent quotient). 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis, or Swyer syndrome, describes patients who have both external and internal female organs with a 46,XY chromosome complement. 46,XY disorders of sex development encompass a wide range of disorders including androgen insensitivity, partial gonadal dysgenesis and many more. 46,XX disorders of sex development can result from a multitude of virilising disorders or the presence of Y-chromosome material. Patients with disorders of sex development and intra-abdominal gonads may be at risk for gonadoblastoma, depending on their underlying disorder. Assignment of sex, timing of surgery and medical management of patients with disorders of sex development is controversial. Keywords: Turner syndrome; Klinefelter syndrome; triple X syndrome; the 47,XYY syndrome; 46,XX DSD; 46,XY DSD; gonadal dysgenesis; androgen insensitivity; Swyer syndrome
Channeling Our Legacy into Our Future: The Importance of the MCH Pipeline Training Program.

The MCH Pipeline Program, created in 2006, creates an important opportunity to identify and encourage undergraduate students from underrepresented populations to consider career paths in maternal and child health. These programs provide didactic instruction, experiential learning, and mentorship to a diverse group of young scholars in order to both enhance their opportunities to pursue graduate or professional degree training in the myriad professions that make up the MCH workforce and to provide them with essential grounding in the history, context and mission of MCH. The leaders of the funded programs meet periodically to exchange ideas; on this occasion, the author was asked to address the group responding to the question “what knowledge or skills are critical for emerging undergraduate scholars?”. Placing these programs squarely in their historical context, her remarks are provided here to encourage others to consider developing programs for undergraduate students who may be enlisted to join the MCH profession.
Plasticity in parental effects confers rapid larval thermal tolerance in Nematostella vectensis

Abstract Parental effects can prepare offspring for different environments and facilitate survival across generations. We exposed parental populations of the estuarine anemone, Nematostella vectensis, from Massachusetts to elevated temperatures and quantified larval mortality across a temperature gradient. We find that parental exposure to elevated temperatures results in a consistent increase in larval thermal tolerance (mean ΔLT50: 0.3°C), and larvae from subsequent spawns return to baseline thermal thresholds when parents are returned to normal temperatures. Histological analyses of gametogenesis in females suggests these dynamic shifts in larval thermal tolerance may be facilitated by maternal effects in non-overlapping gametic cohorts. We also compared larvae from North Carolina (a genetically distinct population with higher baseline thermal tolerance) and Massachusetts parents, and found larvae from heat-exposed Massachusetts parents have thermal thresholds comparable to larvae from unexposed North Carolina parents. North Carolina parents also increased larval thermal tolerance under the same high-temperature regime, suggesting plasticity in parental effects is an inherent trait for N. vectensis. Overall, we find larval thermal tolerance in N. vectensis shows both a strong genetic basis and phenotypic plasticity. Further understanding the mechanisms behind these shifts can elucidate the fate of thermally sensitive ectotherms in a rapidly changing thermal environment.
Mental Health Challenges of United States Healthcare Professionals During COVID-19

As COVID-19 continues to impact global society, healthcare professionals are at risk for a number of negative well-being outcomes due to their role as care providers. The objective of this study was to better understand the current psychological impact COVID-19 on healthcare professionals in the U.S. This study used an online survey tool to collect demographic data and measures of well-being of adults age 18 and older living in the U.S. between March 20, 2020 and May 14, 2020. Measures included anxiety and stress related to COVID-19, depressive symptoms, current general anxiety, health questions, tiredness, control beliefs, proactive coping, and past and future appraisals of COVID-related stress. The sample included 90 healthcare professionals and 90 age-matched controls (Mage = 34.72 years, SD = 9.84, range = 23 – 67) from 35 U.S. states. A multivariate analysis of variance was performed, using education as a covariate, to identify group differences in the mental and physical health measures. Healthcare professionals reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, past and future appraisal of COVID-related stress, concern about their health, tiredness, current general anxiety, and constraint, in addition to lower levels of proactive coping compared to those who were not healthcare professionals (p < .001, η2 = .28). Within the context of this pandemic, healthcare professionals were at increased risk for a number of negative well-being outcomes. Potential targets, such as adaptive coping training, for intervention are discussed.
Community-Based Participatory Research in Action: The Patient-Centered Medical Home and Neighborhood:

Background:The Morehouse School of Medicine Patient Centered Medical Home and Neighborhood Project was developed to implement a community-based participatory research driven, integrated patient-cen...
Dust to Dust: Three Years in the Evolution of the Unusual SN 2008S

We obtained late-time optical and near-IR imaging of SN 2008S with the Large Binocular Telescope, near-IR data with the Hubble Space Telescope, and mid-IR data with the Spitzer Space Telescope. We find that (1) it is again invisible at optical (UBVR) wavelengths to magnitude limits of approximately 25 mag, (2) while detected in the near-IR (H) at approximately 24.8 mag, it is fading rapidly, and (3) it is still brighter than the progenitor at 3.6 and 4.5 {mu}m in the mid-IR with a slow, steady decline. The IR detections in 2010 December are consistent with dust emission at a blackbody temperature of T {approx_equal} 640 K and a total luminosity of L {approx_equal} 200,000 L{sub Sun }, much higher than the L {approx_equal} 40,000 L{sub Sun} luminosity of the obscured progenitor star. The local environment also shows no evidence for stars significantly more massive than 10 M{sub Sun }, consistent with the progenitor being an 8-10 M{sub Sun} super asymptotic giant branch star.
Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of Clostridioides difficile infection following urological surgeries.

To assess the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes associated with (Clostridioides difficile infection) CDI following urological surgery, which is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea and a growing public health burden. We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to identify patients undergoing urological surgery in 2015–2016. We evaluated the 30-day incidence and factors associated with postoperative CDI and 30-day hospital readmission and length of stay as secondary outcomes. Among the subset of patients undergoing radical cystectomy with urinary diversion (surgery with highest CDI incidence) we used multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate independent clinical and demographic factors associated with postoperative CDI. We identified 98,463 patients during the study period. The overall 30-day incidence of CDI was 0.31%, but varied considerably across surgery type. The risk of CDI was greatest following radical cystectomy with urinary diversion (2.72%) compared to all other urologic procedures (0.19%) and was associated with increased risk of hospital readmission (p < 0.0001), re-operation (p < 0.0001), and longer mean length of stay (p < 0.0001) in this cohort. Among patients undergoing radical cystectomy with urinary diversion, multivariable logistic regression revealed that preoperative renal failure (OR: 5.30, 95% CI 1.13–24.9, p = 0.035) and blood loss requiring transfusion (OR: 1.67, 95% CI 1.15–2.44, p = 0.0075) were independently associated with CDI. In a nationally representative cohort, the incidence of CDI was low but varied substantially across surgery types. CDI was most common following radical cystectomy and associated with potentially modifiable factors such as blood transfusion and significantly longer length of stay.
Mobilizing justice in sociolegal research: a mixed methods meta-analysis

Justice as a concept has permeated sociolegal scholarship in the U.S. since the founding of Law and Society as a field in the mid 1960s. Much of this scholarship has focused on theoretically driven areas of justice, and here we consider empirically how such concepts have been mobilized in prominent law and society journals from their inception through 2014. Based on a meta-analysis of 438 articles from Law & Society Review, Law & Social Inquiry, and Law & Policy, we present a typology of the forms of justice represented in sociolegal scholarship and describe how justice concepts are used and to what ends. We find that the justice ideas presented and how they are conceptualized and operationalized is highly contextualized and perspectival, and the perspectives represented are limited. We reflect on these findings and the first fifty years of sociolegal research in the U.S. and offer suggestions for the future.
Common Clinical Conditions of the Knee

The knee is a hinged joint, which also allows for some translational and rotational movement. The femoral condyles articulate with the tibial plateau to form the basic structure. Additionally, the proximal fibula forms a joint and serves as an origin or insertion site for lateral knee joint stabilizers. The articulating surface of the distal femur and the proximal tibia are covered with articular cartilage, which functions to protect and lubricate the joint. Attached to the tibial plateau, the medial and lateral menisci provide stability and protection in the form of shock absorbers and joint nutrition. The patella rests anteriorly and is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. It serves as an anchor point for the quadriceps and patellar tendons and facilitates the action of the extensor mechanism. A number of ligamentous attachments further stabilize the knee. Found within the joint, specifically in the intercondylar notch of the femur, is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is the primary stabilizer medially, while the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is lateral.
Simultaneous Benzodiazepine and SSRI Initiation in Young People With Anxiety Disorders.

Objective: There are potential risks and benefits of combining benzodiazepine (BZD) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy at anxiety disorder treatment onset. We investigated how often adolescents and young adults with anxiety disorders simultaneously initiate BZD treatment with SSRI treatment and examined whether SSRI treatment duration varies by simultaneous BZD initiation.Methods: In a United States commercial claims database (January 2008-December 2016), we identified adolescents (10-17 years) and young adults (18-24 years) with ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM anxiety disorder diagnoses initiating SSRI treatment, without past-year SSRI and BZD treatment. We defined simultaneous initiation as filling a new BZD prescription on the date of SSRI initiation. We estimated time to SSRI treatment discontinuation and used stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting for adjusted estimates.Results: The study included 94,399 adolescents and 130,971 young adults initiating SSRI treatment with an anxiety disorder. Four percent of adolescents and 17% of young adults simultaneously initiated BZD treatment, varying by age, anxiety disorder, comorbidities, health care utilization, and provider type. Simultaneous BZD initiation among SSRI initiators declined from 2008 to 2016. SSRI treatment duration was similar in initiators of simultaneous therapy vs SSRI monotherapy: ≥ 6 months in adolescents (55% vs 56%, respectively) and in young adults (39% vs 40%). Nine percent of simultaneous initiators continued BZDs for ≥ 6 months.Conclusions: Simultaneous initiation of BZD and SSRI treatment is relatively common in young adults with anxiety disorders and was not associated with longer SSRI persistence. Given risks of BZD treatment, potential benefits and risks of adding a BZD at SSRI treatment initiation must be carefully weighed.
The Use of Visual Aids in Teaching Tennis

(1941). The Use of Visual Aids in Teaching Tennis. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 93-125.