cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The hedgehog pathway in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

AbstractNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of obesity-associated liver diseases and it has become the major cause of cirrhosis in the Western world. The high prevalence of NAFLD-associated advanced liver disease reflects both the high prevalence of obesity-related fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) and the lack of specific treatments to prevent hepatic steatosis from progressing to more serious forms of liver damage, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and primary liver cancer. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex, and not fully understood. However, compelling evidence demonstrates that dysregulation of the hedgehog (Hh) pathway is involved in both the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis and the progression from hepatic steatosis to more serious forms of liver damage. Inhibiting hedgehog signaling enhances hepatic steatosis, a condition which seldom results in liver-related morbidity or mortality. In contrast, excessive Hh pathway activation promotes developme...
Confinement effects on fiber pullout forces for ultra-high-performance concrete

Abstract Fiber reinforcement of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is necessary for adding toughness and ductility to an otherwise very brittle matrix. The action of fibers pulling out of the concrete matrix is one of the primary mechanisms of energy dissipation. Of interest in this work is the effect of a compressive stress in the concrete matrix on the fiber pullout behavior. An experimental fixture was developed to apply confining forces to the UHPC matrix while a fiber is pulled out of the matrix. Approximately 90 pullout tests were conducted with specimens subjected to confinements of 2, 38, and 76 MPa. Complete force-pullout length data were recorded and analyzed. The results showed that confinement stresses had a positive correlation with both peak force and work of the pullout force, but the latter was only valid for the first few millimeters of pullout. When the entire response was considered, the correlation with work of pullout disappeared. An analytical pullout model was employed to isolate the effects of bond fracture energy and friction. Fitting the model to the data showed that bond fracture energy was not affected, but friction stress increased up to 60% for high confining stresses.
Confronting Inequity: Participatory Education Impacting Health At Work

Occupational health educators partnering with Latina/o immigrant communities are challenged to cross the boundaries of traditional dominant culture assumptions about knowledge and action. Together they seek to understand the risks that workers face daily, their pressing needs to work for survival, and the limitations of bringing institutional enforcement to their workplaces. A critical ethnographic approach may start with understanding how knowledge and practices are held and used in immigrant communities and the role of social agency in responding to learning and workplace hazards. Peer educators leading popular education curricula, in community-based organizations, is a promising approach. The effect of popular education in its most authentic form requires that curricula are created, presented and evaluated as a joint effort between communities needing skills and capacities in occupational health, organizers of workers in the communities, and occupational health experts willing to develop post-colonial knowledge and practices outside disciplinary and institutional boundaries. Educators responding to unique, local, social and cultural histories of communities recognize a social ecology of learning. As a critique of colonial approaches, an intentional educational science of mediation should be practiced to both describe native cultural funds of knowledge and ways of examining these processes in partnership. The human social ecology of learning approach seeks to decolonize dissemination by turning the focus away from decontextualized mechanisms; it promotes understanding the contemporary confluence of media, transnational hybridity, and the active role learners have across languages to use cultural capacities to design and re-design their lifeworlds. Occupational health educators should explore and document what these communities know and need to know in ways that peer educators and workers can trust and teach each other sustaining occupational health practices to strengthen worker community-based support.
CLP-1-Mediated Transcriptional Control of Hypertrophic Gene Programs Underlying Cardiac Hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy is the heart’s response to increased work, pressure, or volume overload. It begins with a compensatory phase that allows the heart to meet imposed demand through rapid expression of stress response genes. A decompensatory phase follows marked by additional adaptive stress response gene expression that with prolonged stress progressively turns maladaptive, leading the heart into failure. The transition from compensatory to decompensatory hypertrophy is likely to reflect changes in the transcription factors and regulatory molecules that control these programs in response to changes in stress stimuli and the status of cardiomyocytes throughout the hypertrophic process. Our laboratory has been studying the role of one such transcriptional regulatory molecule, CLP-1 (cardiac lineage protein-1), in the cellular response to hypertrophic stimuli. CLP-1, the mouse homolog of the human HEXIM1 gene, is an inhibitor of P-TEFb (transcription elongation factor b), a component of the transcriptional apparatus that controls RNA polymerase II activity and gene transcription. Knockout of the CLP-1 gene results in a severe form of hypertrophy in fetal mice suggesting that in the absence of the CLP-1 inhibitor, uninhibited P-TEFb activity may lead to unregulated expression of stress response genes and decompensatory hypertrophy. Because of its critical role in regulating the stress gene response to hypertrophic stimuli, we review our laboratory’s work on CLP-1, its control of P-TEFb under various hypertrophic conditions, and how it may play an important role in a novel gene control mechanism, called promoter proximal pausing, that ensures the rapid expression of stress response genes in response to hypertrophic stimuli.
(N-3) and (N-6) Fatty Acid Metabolism

Dietary (n−3) fatty acids mediate physiological processes in at least two different ways. The activities of the liver enzymes that metabolize fatty acids and synthesize triglycerides are modified by the type of fat that is fed. These changes include an elevated rate of fatty acid oxidation along with a reduced rate of fatty acid biosynthesis1,2. The mechanism of action of (n−3) acids at the enzyme level is still a matter of conjecture. Clarke and Armstrong3 have recently reported that rats fed a fish oil diet had reduced levels of mRNA for fatty acid synthetase. These findings suggest that (n−3) fatty acids, or one of their metabolites, regulate enzyme synthesis rather than enzyme activity.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Exacerbated By Menstrual Cycle (P6.025)

Objective: Describing a unique case of Trigeminal Neuralgia Background: A 43 y/o woman developed hypersensitivity of the right side of her face in all three distributions of the trigeminal nerve. She described the hypersensitivity as “ electric shocks”. The sensitivity was exacerbated by the cold and by light touch. The symptoms were occurring daily. She noted that the hypersensitivity was also exacerbated near the start of her menstrual cycle. She noted that about three to four days before the start of her menstrual cycle, the hypersensitivity of the right side of her face was worse. On examination she was found to have hypersensitivity of the right side of the face in the V1, V2, and V3 distribution compared to the left side of her face. When applying a cold object to the right side of her face, she winced from discomfort. The rest of her neurologic examination was unremarkable. Design/Methods: N/A Results: She immediately responded to 200mg twice a day of Tegretol but still continued to notice a flare of her symptoms prior to her menstrual cycle. Treatment is still ongoing with the patient. Conclusions: Catamenial Epilepsy and Catamenial Migraines have been well described in the literature but not catamenial trigeminal neuralgia. The fluctuation of estrogen plays a key role in precipitating breakthrough seizures and breakthrough headaches. This poses the question whether the fluctuation of estrogen can play a role in the exacerbation of this individuals trigeminal neuralgia pain. Disclosure: Dr. Mehta has nothing to disclose.
Changes in Behavior and Ultrasonic Vocalizations During Pair Bonding and in Response to an Infidelity Challenge in Monogamous California Mice

Despite recent exciting research about pair bonding, little is known about how mammalian vocalizations change with the initiation and maintenance of pair bonding in monogamous species. Moreover, even less is known about the significance of pair bond resilience in the face of social challenges. In the strictly monogamous California mouse (Peromyscus californicus), we measured changes in ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) and other behaviors within male-female dyads over the course of pair bonding and characterized associations of USVs with affiliation and aggression. After one week of cohabitation, pairs exhibited decreased aggression and “bark” USVs, and increased “simple sweep” and “sustained vocalization” (SV) USV types. Accordingly, the number of barks was associated with aggression, whereas the number of simple sweeps and the number, call duration and bout size of SVs corresponded with affiliation. We then experimentally assessed the impact of an infidelity challenge (one week cohabitation with an unfamiliar, opposite-sex, extra-pair individual) for both sexes on pair social behavior, acoustic behavior, and reproductive success. The infidelity challenge temporarily disrupted pair bond interactions during pair reunion, independent of which sex experienced the infidelity challenge, via both increases in aggression and barks, and a stunting of affiliation and SVs, compared to control pairs. Pair reproductive success, in the form of birth latency, litter size, pup survival and birth weight, did not differ between infidelity challenge pairs and controls. The quality of pair interactions, however, was associated with reproductive success: aggression during pair reunion across all pairs was associated with a lower likelihood of successfully producing a litter. Similarly, among infidelity challenge pairs, but not the controls, there was a positive association between pair affiliation and paternal care, and a negative association between pair aggression and paternal care. Overall, the infidelity challenge revealed a weak negative effect on reproductive success, but we speculate, based on our results, that greater resiliency of a pair bond can moderate negative effects of a social challenge.
Large-Area Junction Damage in Potential-Induced Degradation of c-Si Solar Modules

We report a large area of millimeter-scale p-n junction damage caused by potential-induced degradation (PID) of lab-stressed crystalline-Si modules. Kelvin probe force microscopy results show electrical potential change across the junction, and a recovery was observed after heat treatment. Electron-beam induced current results support the large-area damage instead of local shunts and a much lower collected current for the affected junction area. Furthermore, secondary-ion mass spectrometry indicates that the large-area damage correlates with sodium contamination. The consistent results shed new light on PID mechanisms to investigate that are essentially different than the widely reported local junction shunts.
STD Partner Services to Monitor and Promote HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background:Men who have sex with men (MSM) with bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are at elevated risk of HIV. We evaluated the integration of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) referrals into STD partner services (PS) for MSM.Setting:King County, Washington.Methods:Disease Intervention Sp
The role of working memory in syntactic sentence realization: A modeling & simulation approach

Abstract This paper examines the effects of working memory size in incremental grammatical encoding during language production. Our experiment tests different variants of a computational-cognitive model that combines an empirically validated framework of general cognition, ACT-R, with a linguistic theory, Combinatory Categorial Grammar. The model is induced from a corpus of spoken dialogue. This methodology facilitates comparison of different strategies and working memory capacities according to the similarity of the model’s produced sentences to the corpus sentences. The experiment presented shows that while having more working memory available improves performance, using less working memory during realization does as well, even after controlling sentence length. Sentences realized with a more incremental strategy also appear to more closely track the naturalistic data. As high incrementality is correlated with low working memory usage, this study offers a possible mechanism by which syntactic incrementality can be explained. Finally, this paper proposes a multi-disciplinary modeling and simulation-based approach to empirical psycholinguistic inquiry.
FLT PET/CT imaging of metastatic prostate cancer patients treated with pTVG-HP DNA vaccine and pembrolizumab.

Immunotherapy has demonstrated remarkable success in treating different cancers. Nonetheless, a large number of patients do not respond, many respond without immediate changes detectable with conventional imaging, and many have unusual immune-related adverse events that cannot be predicted in advance. In this exploratory study, we investigate how 3′-Deoxy-3’-18F-fluorothymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) measurements of tumor and immune cell proliferation might be utilized as biomarkers in immunotherapy. Seventeen patients with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer were treated with combination pTVG-HP DNA vaccine and pembrolizumab. Patients underwent baseline and 12-week FLT PET/CT scans. FLT PET standardized uptake values (SUVs) were extracted from tumors, non-metastatic lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, pancreas, and thyroid to quantify cell proliferation in these tissues. Regional immune cell responses to pTVG-HP DNA vaccine were assessed by comparing FLT uptake changes in vaccine draining and non-draining lymph nodes. Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized to relate FLT uptake and other clinical markers (PSA and tumor size) to progression-free survival. Area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curves and concordance indices were used to assess the predictive capabilities of FLT uptake. Changes in FLT uptake in vaccine draining lymph nodes were significantly greater than changes in non-draining lymph nodes (P = 0.02), suggesting a regional immune response to vaccination. However, the changes in FLT uptake in lymph nodes were not significantly predictive of progression-free survival. Increases in tumor FLT uptake were significantly predictive of shorter progression-free survival (concordance index = 0.83, P < 0.01). Baseline FLT uptake in the thyroid was significantly predictive of whether or not a patient would subsequently experience a thyroid-related adverse event (AUC = 0.97, P < 0.01). FLT PET uptake was significantly predictive of progression-free survival and the occurrence of adverse events relating to thyroid function. The results suggest FLT PET imaging has potential as a biomarker in immunotherapy, providing a marker of tumor and immune responses, and as a possible means of anticipating specific immune-related adverse events. NCT02499835 .
Quantifying an Interference-Assisted Signal Strength Breathing Surveillance Attack

A malicious attacker could, by taking control of internet-of-things devices, use them to capture received signal strength (RSS) measurements and perform surveillance on a person's vital signs, activities, audio in their environment, and other RF sensing capabilities. This paper considers an attacker who looks for periodic changes in the RSS in order to surveil a person's breathing rate. The challenge to the attacker is that a person's breathing causes a low amplitude change in RSS, and RSS is typically quantized with a significantly larger step size. This paper contributes a lower bound on an attacker's breathing monitoring performance as a function of the RSS step size and sampling frequency so that a designer can understand their relationship. Our bound considers the little-known and counter-intuitive fact that an adversary can improve their sinusoidal parameter estimates by making some devices transmit to add interference power into the RSS measurements. We demonstrate this capability experimentally. As we show, for typical transceivers, the RSS surveillance attack can monitor RSS with remarkable accuracy. New mitigation strategies will be required to prevent RSS surveillance attacks.
Moving from Dependency, Wastefulness and Risk Toward Sustainability and Resilience Through Designed Systems

Technology, automation, and their related systems, have been put in place to add efficiency and convenience to our lives, allowing modern cultures to live prosperous and “easy” lives compared to most cultures throughout history. Our lives of ease have many desirable attributes but, we have simultaneously developed a high level of dependency and a lack of resilience in the face of many common challenges. Through intentional and strategic design, our society could be nudged into a philosophical shift toward a life of resilience, independence, and greater humanness.
Using stakeholder perspectives to guide systematic adaptation of an autism mental health intervention for Latinx families: A qualitative study

Embedded within a Hybrid Type 1 randomized effectiveness-implementation trial in publicly funded mental health services, the current study identified stakeholder recommendations to inform cultural adaptations to An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder (AIM HI) for Latinx and Spanish-speaking families. Recommendations were collected through focus groups with therapists (n = 17) and semi-structured interviews with Latinx parents (n = 29). Relevant themes were identified through a rapid assessment analysis process and thematic coding of interviews. Adaptations were classified according to the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME) to facilitate fit, acceptability, and sustained implementation of AIM HI and classify the content, nature, and goals of the adaptations. Recommended adaptations were classified through FRAME as tailoring training and intervention materials, changing packaging or materials, extending intervention pacing, and integrating supplemental training strategies. Goals for adaptations included improving fit for stakeholders, increasing parent engagement, and enhancing intervention effectiveness. The current study illustrates the process of embedding an iterative process of intervention adaptation within a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. The next steps in this study are to integrate findings with implementation process data from the parent trial to develop a cultural enhancement to AIM HI and test the enhancement in a Hybrid Type 3 implementation-effectiveness trial.
Human–Animal Interaction Analysis

At some level, animal-assisted intervention (AAI) involves humans interacting with animals. However, it is unknown which kinds of interactions occur between humans and animals during interventions and which interactions, if any, elicit specific outcomes. Human–animal interaction (HAI) is studied as a construct affecting human health and well-being, without a clear understanding of its critical components. This chapter argues for analysis of HAI as a process variable in AAI. The Human–Animal Interaction Scale (HAIS) is introduced as a way of gathering behavioral interaction data to study intervention processes. Following a discussion of instrument development and validation, research is reviewed to demonstrate HAI analysis.
Who are you? Addressing the Identity Issue of Political Science Majors

Recent data and information from APSA describe a crisis for Political Science educators in terms of addressing the changing needs and challenges facing students as well as the declining enrollments in Political Science curriculum across the nation. Two issues found with these reports are that 1) none of them address major outcomes as a way to address creating curriculum standards across the board to meet the desired results of a better prepared major student and 2) the courses do little to address the multiple career paths of Political Science majors. This paper addresses these two areas and how they can create a better identity for a department.
Swelling Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Shells to Direct the Assembly of Particles at the Interface.

Cholesteric liquid crystals can exhibit spatial patterns in molecular alignment at interfaces that can be exploited for particle assembly. These patterns emerge from the competition between bulk an...
Improvement of motor and behavioral activity in Sandhoff mice transplanted with human CD34+ cells transduced with a HexA/HexB expressing lentiviral vector.

Background Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease are debilitating genetic diseases that affect the central nervous system leading to neurodegeneration through the accumulation of GM2 gangliosides. There are no cures for these diseases and treatments do not alleviate all symptoms. Hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy offers a promising treatment strategy for delivering wild-type enzymes to affected cells. By genetically modifying hematopoietic stem cells to express wild-type HexA and HexB, systemic delivery of functional enzyme can be achieved. Methods Primary human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and Tay-Sachs affected cells were used to evaluate the functionality of the vector. An immunodeficient and humanized mouse model of Sandhoff disease was used to evaluate whether the HexA/HexB lentiviral vector transduced cells were able to improve the phenotypes associated with Sandhoff disease. An immunodeficient NOD-RAG1-/-IL2-/- (NRG) mouse model was used to evaluate whether the HexA/HexB vector transduced human CD34+ cells were able to engraft and undergo normal multilineage hematopoiesis. Results HexA/HexB lentiviral vector transduced cells demonstrated strong expression of HexA and HexB and restored enzyme activity in Tay-Sachs affected cells. Upon transplantation into a humanized Sandhoff disease mouse model, improved motor and behavioral skills were observed. Decreased GM2 gangliosides were observed in the brains of HexA/HexB vector transduced cell transplanted mice. Increased peripheral blood levels of HexB was also observed in transplanted mice. Normal hematopoiesis in the peripheral blood and various lymphoid organs was also observed in transplanted NRG mice. Conclusions These results highlight the potential use of stem cell gene therapy as a treatment strategy for Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease.
Introducing Our New Chief Editor

Journal of Diabetes Research is delighted to announce the installation of Dr. Mark Yorek as the new Chief Editor for the journal. In this Editorial, Dr. Yorek discusses his research background, his ideas for the journal’s development, and his views on the direction of the field of diabetes.
Development of a Predictive Maintenance 4.0 Platform: Enhancing Product Design and Manufacturing

The current growth in digital technologies is transforming the working environment in all industries; even in traditional industries, scientists are experimenting with the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, sensor technology and most importantly machine learning. This paper addresses the use of predictive maintenance techniques to improve product lifecycle. The classical purpose of predictive maintenance is to diminish unexpected downtime, resulting in increased productivity and reduced production costs. However, the purpose of this study is to investigate and explore the potential of predictive maintenance and its relation to Industry 4.0, and product/process re-engineering through product lifecycle management (PLM), hence leading to Predictive Maintenance 4.0. During the operating phase of the product lifecycle, results from the Predictive Maintenance 4.0 model will not only help in predicting faults, but it will be crucial in product design and manufacturing advancement. This paper develops the architecture of a Predictive Maintenance platform connecting the industrial unit floor with design and manufacturing engineers. Feedback from the platform and interaction between different stakeholders from design, manufacturing, and operation will help in the advancement of the product itself.
CRA and CRAFT: Behavioral Treatments for Both Motivated and Unmotivated Substance-Abusing Individuals and Their Family Members

The Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) is a behavioral treatment for individuals with substance-use problems. It is predicated upon the belief that a non-drinking/non-using lifestyle must be experienced by individuals as rewarding in order for them to choose it consistently over substance use. As part of CRA, the client’s “community” (e.g., family, friends, colleagues, organizations, work) is explored to find new areas of potential reinforcement that can compete with substance use. CRA therapists work with clients to decide on which goals they want to pursue in life, and they then teach these clients the skills required to achieve these goals. An adaptation of CRA is the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA), which is geared specifically toward the treatment of adolescents, young adults, and their parents or caregivers. Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is a treatment for the family members or close friends (Concerned Significant Others, CSOs) of unmotivated, treatment-refusing substance abusers (Identified Patients, IPs). CRAFT therapists work with CSOs in an attempt to change the home environment of the unmotivated IPs such that a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle is supported over one dominated by substance use. CRAFT goals include getting IPs to seek treatment and reducing IP substance use, and also having CSOs increase their own happiness regardless. CRA, A-CRA, and CRAFT have solid empirical support, and each has been used successfully with diverse populations and various drugs of choice.
Optical emission sensing for laser-based additive manufacturing - What are we actually measuring?

Numerous sensing modalities have been utilized to monitor metal additive manufacturing, thus assessing process stability and build quality. One common directed energy deposition sensing method is coaxial “melt pool” imaging, wherein a camera mounted coaxially with the laser-focusing optics views the laser-interaction zone via a dichroic mirror. This work demonstrates that coaxial “melt pool” imaging does not always provide reliable, as-solidified, pool geometry measurements. First, coaxially acquired images captured using a charge injection device camera for a range of laser powers, translation speeds, and powder flow rates are compared to optical profilometry-measured true deposition geometries. Furthermore, coaxial “melt pool” images and plume geometries, measured using a bandpass filtered CCD camera, show significant, abrupt “melt pool” geometry changes, which correspond to plume geometry changes. Additionally, interbuild comparisons demonstrate a linear relationship between “melt pool” and plume geometry. The authors conclude that coaxial imaging, as commonly implemented, is an often unreliable melt pool geometry measurement because plume emissions in and around the laser-interaction zone may obscure the melt pool.
Prevalence of coccidiosis in the chickens of Diwaniya city, Iraq

Coccidiosis is an important disease in poultry industry with a high prevalence causing low food conversion rates with high death incidence. This study was conducted to evaluate the occurrence of coccidiosis in chickens in Al-Diwaniyah City. During August 2019 to January 2020, a total of 467 (277 broilers and 190 layers) chickens random gut and fecal samples were collected from local stores and farms. The samples were examined macroscopically and microscopically. Macroscopically, the results showed the presence of infection in the intestinal parts. The incidence findings of droppings were 30.68% ( n =85/277) and 10.52 % ( n =20/190), respectively. However, for the gut samples, higher occurrence rates (70.58 and 70%), respectively, were found. The results of the seasonal prevalence had effect on chicken based on month but varying from 5.88% in August to 36.47% in November in brioler, and 5% in August to 25% in October and November in Layer. A significantly increase ( P <0.05) incidence rate (23.52%) was revealed as a clinical form in broilers than layers (0%).
The effects of inorganic surface treatments on photogenerated carrier mobility and lifetime in PbSe quantum dot thin films

Abstract We used flash-photolysis, time-resolved microwave conductivity (TRMC) to probe the carrier mobility and lifetime in PbSe quantum dot (QD) thin films treated with solutions of the metal salts of Na2Se and PbCl2. The metal salt treatments tuned the Pb:Se stoichiometry and swept the Fermi energy throughout the QD thin film bandgap. A stoichiometric imbalance favoring excess Se heavily p-doped the QD thin film, shifted the Fermi energy toward the valence band, and yielded the highest TRMC mobility and lifetime. Introducing Pb first compensated the p-doping and shifted the Fermi level through mid-gap, decreasing the TRMC mobility. Further Pb addition created an excess of Pb, n-doped the QD thin film, moved the Fermi level to near the conduction band, and again increased the TRMC mobility. The increase in TRMC mobility as the Fermi energy was shifted toward the band edges by non-stoichiometry is consistent with the QD thin film density of states.
Faculty Promotion and Attrition: The Importance of Coauthor Network Reach at an Academic Medical Center.

Background Business literature has demonstrated the importance of networking and connections in career advancement. This is a little-studied area in academic medicine.
Medical complaints are more common in young school-aged children with parent reported insomnia symptoms.

In the past, sleep was considered a passive process; however, recent research has shown that it is an active process with physiological changes in several vital organs and organ systems in the body, particularly the brain and central nervous system. It is known that respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems undergo significant physiological changes during sleep.1 Sleep loss increases the risk of impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes and hypertension and alters immune function.2–5 Sleep disorders may lead to disturbances in functioning of various organs or organ systems and organ specific diseases may lead to disturbances in sleep. Moreover, the association between common medical symptoms/disorders (pain, infectious diseases) and sleep disturbances has been well documented.6–8 However, most of these findings came from investigations pertaining to adults. In children, sleep disturbances in certain medical disorders have been reported. Children with asthma have been found to have increased nocturnal awakenings with increased wake time and decreased mean sleep time.9 Infants and children with pathological reflux have difficulty initiating sleep, increased nocturnal awakenings, and increased daytime sleepiness.10 Children with obesity, scoliosis, progressive neuromuscular disease, and craniofacial abnormalities (Pierre Robin, Goldenhar syndrome, Treacher-Collins syndrome) are at increased risk for sleep related breathing disturbances and/or nocturnal hypoventilation.1 However, most of the published studies in children are limited to sleep disturbances in specific medical disorder in a clinical setting. Sleep disturbances are common in children with prevalence of parent reported sleep disturbances ranging from 20% to 30%.11–15 Even though there is substantial published literature examining sleep and medical disorders/symptoms in adults, there is a lack of studies exploring this complex association in children, particularly young school-aged children from the general population. In this study, we examined the prevalence of medical complaints in children with and without insomnia symptoms in a large general population sample of school aged children (5–12 years of age).
Physical and Psychological Follow-up on Offspring of Renal Allograft Recipients

In light of concern regarding the effect of pregnancy on renal allograft recipients and the lack of information about their offspring, we studied ten infants born to eight allograft recipients (five female and three male). In all five female recipients, allograft function remained normal throughout pregnancy and the puerperium. Complications of pregnancy were minimal. Four patients were delivered by cesarean section, three for obstetrical reasons and one electively. Three often infants were premature births. There were no significant neonatal complications. At time of follow-up study, the offspring were 4 months to 6[unknown] years of age; physical examination was normal on all offspring. Developmental test results ranged from 82 to 131. Parents tended to be overly cautious and sought medical attention at the first sign of illness. Our data indicated no adverse effect on renal allograft function of the female recipients and no physical or developmental abnormalities in the offspring.
Effect of curvature on the backscattering from a leaf

Using a model previously developed for the backscattering cross section of a planar leaf at X-band frequencies and above, the effect of leaf curvature is examined. For normal incidence on a rectangular section of a leaf curved in one and two dimensions, an integral expression for the backscattered field is evaluated numerically and by a stationary phase approximation, leading to a simple analytical expression for the cross section reduction produced by the curvature. Numerical results based on the two methods are virtually identical, and in excellent agreement with measured data for rectangular sections of coleus leaves applied to the surfaces of styrofoam cylinders and spheres of different radii.
PGT: a statistical approach to prediction and mechanism design

One of the biggest challenges facing behavioral economics is the lack of a single theoretical framework that is capable of directly utilizing all types of behavioral data. One of the biggest challenges of game theory is the lack of a framework for making predictions and designing markets in a manner that is consistent with the axioms of decision theory. An approach in which solution concepts are distribution-valued rather than set-valued (i.e. equilibrium theory) has both capabilities. We call this approach Predictive Game Theory (or PGT). This paper outlines a general Bayesian approach to PGT. It also presents one simple example to illustrate the way in which this approach differs from equilibrium approaches in both prediction and mechanism design settings.
Analysis of the Elastic and Plastic Stability of Sandwich Plates by the Method of Split Rigidities-I

in which P 0 is the joint critical thrust of the single faces (Case 0), P i is the critical thrust without taking account of the shear deformation of the core (Case 1), and P 2 obtains if only shear deformations of the core would occur (Case 2). In computing e Pi and Pi, the flexural rigidity of the faces is not taken into account. The method is applied to twelve different cases of loading and boundary conditions, for which the reduction coefficients for buckling in the plastic domain are also given and presented in graphs. A detailed explanation is included showing how the resulting formulas must be used to find the critical load P c r . The critical load PcrW for wrinkling of the faces is also considered.
Globalization and Labor Rights: Assessing the Impact

Labor Rights and Multinational Production. By Layna Mosley . New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 306 pp., $28.99 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0521694414). Layna Mosley asks a simple yet significant question in Labor Rights and Multinational Production : Under what conditions might globalization be good or bad for collective labor rights? Her answer is eloquent and persuasive. Direct ownership has a positive effect, whereas subcontracting (outsourcing) has a negative effect. This is because multinational corporations (MNCs) that directly own their production facilities have a material incentive to bring best practices to foreign affiliates, which includes respect for internationally recognized core labor rights. Direct ownership thus engenders a “climb to the top.” In contrast, where MNCs subcontract production, cost considerations hold sway. And since collective labor rights tend to increase production costs, violations of these rights by subcontractors are common. In these cases, the “race to the bottom” dynamic prevails. Academic debates on the impact of international economic integration on labor stretch back decades. Economic liberals and modernization theorists envisioned a world in which, as market relations expanded, countries would embark on stages of development that would lead to a strong middle class and ever improving conditions for labor (Kerr, Dunlop, Harbison, and Myers 1960; Rostow 1971). Scholars in the dependency tradition saw the world quite differently, arguing that the economic relationship between developed and developing countries created power imbalances in which MNCs and local capital benefited at the expense of workers (Cardoso and Faletto …
Pathogenicity of Phytophthora capsici to Brassica Vegetable Crops and Biofumigation Cover Crops (Brassica spp.)

The soilborne oomycete Phytophthora capsici causes root, crown, and fruit rot of many vegetable crops in the Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae families. P. capsici is a persistent problem in vegetable fields due to long-lived oospores that survive in soil and resist weathering and degradation. Vegetable crops in the Brassicaceae family have been considered nonhosts of P. capsici and are planted as rotational crops in infested fields. Brassica spp. are also grown as biofumigation cover crops to reduce inoculum levels of P. capsici and other soilborne pathogens, and this use has increased concurrent with restrictions on soil fumigation. Oriental mustard (Brassica juncea), oilseed rape (B. napus), and oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleiferus) contain high levels of glucosinolates and are widely recommended for biofumigation and as cover crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate vegetables and biofumigation cover crops in the Brassicaceae family for susceptibility to P. capsici. Brassica spp. used ...
Commodified romance in a Tokyo host club

Introduction My original paper title was “Queer Eyes For the Japanese Guy” but I changed it to “Commodified Romance in a Tokyo Host Club.” Based on 10 months of fieldwork in Tokyo host and hostess clubs that I’m currently doing for my doctoral dissertation, today I would like to talk a little bit about male hosts and their female clients, what kind of social context the female clients’ desires derive from, and finally what the host club phenomena means to the gender and heterosexual norms in Japan. Ultimately, I intend to demonstrate some aspects of how the Japanese host club simultaneously reinforces and destabilizes prevailing gender norms, and by extension heterosexual norms in Japan.
Droplet decomposition in a reactive atmosphere: Complete responses for large activation energies

Abstract A two-step combustion process, consisting of monopropellant (i.e. one-reactant) burning followed by bipropellant (i.e. two-reactant) burning, is considered. The original reactant, namely vapor from a liquid droplet, decomposes into a fuel that combines with oxidant in the surrounding atmosphere. Complete responses M ( D 1 , D 2 ) of the evaporation rate M of the droplet to the Damkohler numbers D 1 , D 2 of the two reactions are determined in the limit of large activation energies. Conditions under which the response is monotonic or multi-valued (thereby exhibiting auto-ignition and auto-extinction) are identified. Previous conjectures, based on Damkohler-number asymptotics, are found to be mostly correct. Once more the efficacy of activation-energy asymptotics in dealing with the strongly nonlinear Arrhenius term of reactive fluid mechanics is demonstrated.
Endovascular stent-graft as a bridge to definitive repair of aortic trauma

We report a case of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta immediately treated with endovascular covered stent placement. Follow-up demonstrated a small endoleak, and because of the improved overall condition of the young patient a conventional repair was performed. The stent-graft provided an acute, minimally invasive therapeutic option.
Approximations of Robust Stability of Polynomials

The paper discusses certain aspects of determination of stability region for a given stable polynomial with coefficients subject to perturbation. An approximation of this maximal stability region is proposed by means of Kharitonov's boxes. A method to compute such a box is presented.
Cytokinin stimulation of abscission in lemon pistil explants

The stylar abscission bioassay was used to identify five stimulators of lemon (Citrus limon cv. Lisbon) abscission in pistil explants. The stimulators (N-phenyl-N′-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea, N6-benzyladenine, kinetin, zeatin, and N6-isopentenyladenine), which are all cytokinins, accelerated the timing of expiant abscission when they were added as supplements (100 μM) to the test medium. To study possible relationships between cytokinins, ethylene, and abscission, we measured accumulating ethylene concentrations in sealed cultures and endogenous 1 -aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic aicd (ACC) in explants incubated on test medium plus or minus 100 μM N-phenyl-N′-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea (thidiazuron), 100 μM N6-benzyladenine (bzl6Ade), or 2 μM picloram, an inhibitor of stylar abscission. Although ethylene accumulated to similar levels in all treatments, the concentrations obtained with picloram and thidiazuron were, respectively, higher and lower than those obtained in control cultures. The accumulation of ethylene in cultures with bzl6Ade, on the other hand, was not significantly different from controls. ACC concentrations in explants remained fairly constant in all treatments during the incubations, except in explants on thidiazuron, in which case the ACC concentration declined slightly. We conclude that cytokinins can stimulateCitrus abscissionin vitro and that this stimulation is not accompanied by marked effects on either measurable ethylene or ACC concentrations. Our finding that 100 μM aminoethoxyvinylglycine, an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, counteracts the stimulation of abscission by bzl6Ade suggests that a minimum level of ethylene production is required for the cytokinin effect. The possibility that cytokinins affect other aspects related to ethylene, such as biosynthetic rates, metabolism, or tissue retention, is not excluded by our results.
Information retrieval as a network application

The nature of information retrieval applications, the Z39.50 protocol, and its relationship to other OSI protocols are described. Through Z39.50 a client system views a remote server's database as an information resource, not merely a collection of data. Z39.50 allows a client to build queries in terms of logical information elements supported by the server. It also provides a framework for transmitting queries, managing results, and controlling resources. Sidebars describe the Z39.50 Implementors Group, the Z39.50 Maintenance Agency, and international standards for OSI library application protocols.
Integrating Wellness Work into Mental Health Private Practice

Abstract The American public's interest in wellness has grown considerably. Thisarticle offers an introduction to incorporating wellness methods into private practice. A parallel is made between the use of theory, assessment, and treatment planning in traditional practice and a practice that has a wellness focus. Examples of wellness models are introduced, two wellness assessment instruments associated with the models are presented. The transtheoretical model of change is reviewed in relation to its utility of working with a client on wellness issues. Finally, a case study is given to illustrate the use of wellness methods with a client.
Exploring relationships between objective and subjective measures of instructional outcomes

This study reports on a pilot project in performance funding. A stratified random sample of 112 seniors at Tennessee Technological University participated in a special assessment exercise involving the ACT Battery and the ACT COMP (College Outcome Measures Project). The participants also completed a questionnaire designed to elicit self-reports of progress toward the realization of a set of institution-wide or general education goals. This article explores the relationships between “objective” ortest performance and “subjective” orstudent testimony instructional outcomes measures. Its specific focus is upon assessing the construct validity of student testimony data as indicators of selected general education outcomes. The implications of the findings for the better-informed selection, implementation, and interpretation of instructional outcomes measures are discussed.
Geometry, force field, and fundamental frequencies of 4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene, a scaled quantum-mechanical force field study

Abstract Geometries of both cis- and trans-4a,4b-dihydrophenanthrene are optimized by restricted Hartree—Fock method with 4–21G basis. At this level of theory, the trans-conformer is predicted 8.0 kcal/mol lower in energy than the cis one. The quadratic force field of the trans-conformer obtained from empirical scaling of the ab initio force constants reproduced the observed frequencies with mean deviation of about 10 cm −1 . Based on the calculation an earlier assignment of two observed frequencies is confirmed and assignment of the rest of the observed frequencies is given. The observed frequencies at 1555 and 1534 cm −1 are concluded not to be fundamental frequencies of the subject molecule. This study shows again the practical value of the scaled quantum-mechanical force field method in the assignment of fundamental frequencies and identification of reaction products.
An Update on Product Recalls

Abstract A firm producing consumer products cannot shield itself from product recalls 100% of the time. However, actions can be undertaken to decrease the likelihood of having to recall a product. Once a recall is inevitable, and the process begins, the firm can make the recall process a much smoother one than it would be for an unprepared firm. After the recall is complete, the firm will still have a great deal of work to do to bring it to the best possible conclusion. Regardless of the severity of the recall, there will almost always be opportunities for the firm to improve its processes and to gain the confidence of consumers.
Angiomyolipoma of the kidney. Report of two cases presenting as renal pelvic masses.

SUMMARY Two cases of angiomyolipoma of the kidney presenting as a mass in the renal pelvis with extension into the adjacent renal tissue of the hilus are recorded.
A Comparison of Linguistic Profiles in Subgroups of Children With Specific Language Impairment

Purpose To compare morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers in different subgroups of language impairment. Method Eighty-three children participated in this study. They represented 4 groups: (a) lang...