cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Added sugar intake and metabolic syndrome in US adolescents: cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2012

Objective To examine the association between added sugar intake and metabolic syndrome among adolescents. Design Dietary, serum biomarker, anthropometric and physical activity data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles between 2005 and 2012 were analysed using multivariate logistic regression models. Added sugar intake in grams per day was estimated from two 24 h standardized dietary recalls and then separated into quintiles from lowest to highest consumption. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were adjusted for physical activity, age, BMI Z -score and energy intake, and their interactions with race were included. Setting Nationally representative sample, USA. Subjects US adolescents aged 12–19 years ( n 1623). Results Added sugar was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome. The adjusted prevalence odds ratios for having metabolic syndrome comparing adolescents in the third, fourth and fifth quintiles v . those in the lowest quintile of added sugar were 5·3 (95 % CI 1·4, 20·6), 9·9 (95 % CI 1·9, 50·9) and 8·7 (95 % CI 1·4, 54·9), respectively. Conclusions Our findings suggest that higher added sugar intake, independent of total energy intake, physical activity or BMI Z -score, is associated with increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in US adolescents. Further studies are needed to determine if reducing intake of added sugar may help US adolescents prevent or reverse metabolic syndrome.
Selective encryption and component-oriented deduplication for mobile cloud data computing

As smart devices gain their popularity and usage applications become versatile, the users are also hoping to perform resource intensive tasks at anywhere and anytime as conveniently as using their static computers. To overcome the smart device's intrinsic resource limitations in processing, storage, and power, emerging collaborative mobile cloud technologies such as Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC), Mobile-Edge Computing (MEC), and Fog Computing (FC) augment the smart device's capabilities by leveraging distributed and remote cloud resources. However, in collaborative computing environments, the demand for big data processing and exchanges among smart devices is considered as a significant challenge. An effective technique to reduce data at a source device is essential to save network bandwidth and storage spaces. It, in turn, improves the data processing overhead as well as reduces the security vulnerability caused by data movement among the smart devices. In this paper, we design and develop a novel Selective Encryption and Component-Oriented Deduplication (SEACOD) application that achieves both fast and effective data encryption and reduction for MCC services. Specifically, SEACOD efficiently deduplicates redundant objects in files, emails, as well as images exploiting object-level components based on their structures. It also effectively reduces the overall encryption overhead on the mobile devices by adaptively applying compression and encryption methods according to the decomposed data types. Our evaluation using real datasets of structured files shows that the proposed scheme accomplishes as good of storage savings as a variable-block deduplication, while being as fast as a file-level or a large fixed-size block-level deduplication.
Effects of Predators on Structure of the Burrows of Voles

To test the hypothesis that voles reduce the amount of time spent burrowing when risk of predation is low, we excluded predators from four penned populations of voles and allowed access by predators to four other penned populations. Voles responded as expected; pens without predators had fewer entrances to burrows and fewer simple burrows (short, blind tunnels and escape burrows). Spatial distributions of entrances to burrows remained random or clumped in both treatments. Multiple-nest burrows were larger and more complex than single-nest burrows or escape burrows, but the structure within each type of burrow did not differ between treatments. Although voles altered the types of burrows they constructed in response to risk of predation, some other factor apparently constrained them from changing the structure of their burrow systems.
Adduction of the human N-ras codon 61 sequence with (-)-(7S,8R,9R,10S)-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a] pyrene: structural refinement of the intercalated SRSR(61,2) (-)-(7S,8R,9S,10R)-N6-[10-(7,8,9,10- tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrenyl)]-2'-deoxyadenosyl adduct from 1H NMR.

The structure of the (−)-(7S,8R,9S,10R)-N6-[10-(7,8,910-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrenyl)]-2‘-deoxyadenosyl adduct at X6 of 5‘-d(CGGACXAGAAG)-3‘·5‘-d(CTTCTTGTCCG)-3‘, derived from trans addition of the exocyclic N6-amino group of dA to (−)-(7S,8R,9R,10S)-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene [(−)-DE2], was determined using molecular dynamics simulations restrained by 369 NOEs from 1H NMR. This was named the SRSR(61,2) adduct, derived from the N-ras protooncogene at and adjacent to the nucleotides encoding amino acid 61 (underlined) of the p21 gene product. NOEs between C5, S,R,S,RA6, and A7 were disrupted, as were those between T17 and G18. NOEs between benzo[a]pyrene and DNA protons were localized on the two faces of the pyrenyl ring. The benzo[a]pyrene H3−H6 protons showed NOEs to T17 CH3, while H1, H2, and H3 showed NOEs to T17 deoxyribose; the latter protons and H4 showed NOEs to T17 H2‘,H2‘ ‘ and to T17 H6. NOEs were observed between H11 and H12 and C5 H1‘,H2‘,H2‘ ‘. G18 N1H showed NOEs...
Assessing pediatric trauma specimen integrity.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the quality of trauma specimens by comparing line draws to venipuncture. DESIGN: The draw type (line or venipuncture); container type (Vacutainer or Microtainer); and suitability for processing (processed/hemolyzed/clotted) of routinely collected trauma specimens was analyzed. SETTING: The clinical laboratory of a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hemolyzed trauma specimens were analyzed according to method of collection, collector, and type of container to identify issues resulting in unusable samples. RESULTS: The data shows that for 13% of all draws, portions of the results were affected by hemolysis. Sixteen percent of line draws and 6% of venipunctures were hemolyzed (p = 0.04). There was no statistical association with who collected the sample (p = 0.07) or type of container (p = 1.00). CONCLUSION: Based on this sample of data, the laboratory recommends that, whenever possible, venipunctures be performed for laboratory testing of blood specimens to improve trauma specimen integrity. ABBREVIATIONS:ED = Emergency Department; EMS = Emergency Medical Services; ID = identification; MLA = medical laboratory assistant; RBC = red blood cells; RN = registered nurse.
Empirical Study of Thematic Progression Theory in College English Writing Teaching

In this paper, the thematic progression theory is introduced into English writing teaching in order to discuss the relationship between them. By an empirical study, the paper compares the scores of the English compositions written by 60 sophomore non-English major students, and at the same time, ana-lyzes the types of theme and thematic progression patterns in the compositions of the experiment class before and after the experiment. The data are collected and processed by using the descriptive statis-tics and independent samples T-test of the statistical software SPSS17.0. The results demonstrate that more diversified and flexible types of theme and TP patterns are found in the compositions after the experiment and their compositions, especially the textual coherence, have been significantly improved.
Analysis on the epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease in Xuchang in 2012

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of hand-foot-mouth disease in Xuchang in 2012. Methods Analyzed the data of hand-foot-mouth disease in Xuchang in 2012 by descriptive epidemiology method. Results In 2012 there were 5184 common and 216 serious cases of hand-foot-mouth disease in Xuchang, the incidence of disease was 120.27/100000, death 2 cases, the mortality was 0.39/100000. There were two high incidence rate in May and December. The male-to-female sex ratio was 1.86,x2=328.61, P 0.001. About 79.88% of cases were younger than 3 years old. The main pathogen of HFMD was EV 71. Conclusion The main pathogen of HFMD is EV 71, the time distributing of HFMD is different from previous years.
Methods for Generating Random Orthogonal Matrices

Random orthogonal matrices are used to randomize integration methods for n-dimensional integrals over spherically symmetric integration regions. Currently available methods for the generation of random orthogonal matrices are reviewed, and some methods for the generation of quasi-random orthogonal matrices are proposed. These methods all have O(n 3) time complexity. Some new methods to generate both random and quasi-random orthogonal matrices will be described and analyzed. The new methods use products of butterfly matrices, and have time complexity O(log(n)n 2). The use of these methods will be illustrated with results from the numerical computation of high-dimensional integrals from a computational finance application.
Health care provider responses to initial parental reports of autism spectrum disorder symptoms: results from a nationally representative sample.

Background Health care provider (HCP) responses to initial parental report of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms were examined in relation to latency to diagnosis and child chronological age at diagnosis. Method Secondary data analyses were conducted for a sample of 1384 parents of children with ASD utilizing data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN, 2009–2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, 2009) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Pathways to Diagnosis and Services (CDC PDS, Survey of pathways to diagnosis and services, 2011). Results Approximately 44% of the sample experienced predominantly delayed HCP responses, 38% experienced predominantly proactive responses, while the remaining 18% experienced a relatively even mix of delayed and proactive responses across HCPs. With regard to outcomes correlated with the type of HCP response, individuals exposed to proactive HCPs were diagnosed with ASD almost a year earlier for child chronological age than individuals exposed to mixed HCPs. This difference increased beyond a year between individuals receiving proactive HCPs versus individuals experiencing delayed HCPs. Finally, after controlling for socioeconomic status, parent-reported severity of ASD symptoms, and age at time of referral, proactive HCP was correlated with decreased time to diagnosis from parental first report of ASD symptoms. Conclusions Results are discussed with regard to increasing proactive HCP responses to parental first concerns of ASD symptomology versus a mix or delayed responses.
Agent causation as a solution to the problem of action

My primary aim is to defend a nonreductive solution to the problem of action. I argue that when you are performing an overt bodily action, you are playing an irreducible causal role in bringing about, sustaining, and controlling the movements of your body, a causal role best understood as an instance of agent causation. Thus, the solution that I defend employs a notion of agent causation, though emphatically not in defence of an account of free will, as most theories of agent causation are. Rather, I argue that the notion of agent causation introduced here best explains how it is that you are making your body move during an action, thereby providing a satisfactory solution to the problem of action.
Gordon Shepherd and Gary Shepherd: Talking with the Children of God

In Talking with the Children of God, sociologists Gordon Shepherd and Gary Shepherd present a case study about The Family International, a secretive and often misunderstood religious movement that has overcome decades of hostile attacks and scandals to spread internationally. The purpose of the book is to understand the ways in which the developing leadership of a heretical religion can produce a successful religious movement, reaching a certain level of stability and continuity for new generations of believers. Emerging out of Southern California and originally known as Children of God, The Family International arose from the Jesus People movement of the late 1960’s. Family members share a religious calling to witness and save souls with a belief in an imminent apocalyptic end to humanity. Now a worldwide movement, the Family’s total current membership is about 10,500. A foundational belief of the Family is that their staff members are gifted with channels in which they receive prophecies to guide and justify Family practices such as proselytizing, communal living, and sexual sharing among consensual adults. They view Jesus Christ as the Family’s husband and lover, believing that when they are having sex with a fellow member, they are actually having sex with Jesus Christ himself. While the book is a product of sixteen years of survey and field observations, the focus is on data emerging from informal, open-ended ‘‘conversations’’ (p. xiii) with 35 staff members of World Services, the headquarters organization of Family International. Informal conversations, rather than structured interviews, were used because the researchers did not feel they had enough knowledge about their subjects to prepare a sequence of focused questions. Furthermore, they felt like the newest and richest insights would emerge through a process of discovery accomplished by informal conversations.
Quasioptimal Finite Element Approximations of first Order Hyperbolic and of Convection-Dominated Convection-Diffusion Equations

We show quasioptimal error estimates for bi-Lagrangian finite elements of odd degree over quasiuniform meshes, applied on first order hyperbolic and on singularly pertubed second order problems with small enough parameters affecting the highest derivatives.
Determinants of tonic and phasic reactions in transswitching

Forty-eight college students were assigned randomly to four groups in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of phasic conditional stimuli (same vs. different) and tonic conditional stimuli (same vs. different) to receive 2 days of classical conditioning with a transswitching procedure. Tonic stimuli were a 5-minute projected white triangle or circle; phasic stimuli were a 5-second red or green square superimposed over the tonic stimuli. There were six tonic stimulus segments each day, separated by 20-second periods of no stimulus, three containing six trials of the phasic stimulus paired with shock and three containing six trials of the phasic stimulus alone, in the counterbalanced order. Tonic responding at the onset of the tonic stimuli or during brief periods following its onset were recorded, along with phasic responses to the phasic stimuli. Responses included magnitude of skin conductance responses, frequency of unelicited skin conductance responses, and tonic heart rate. Both skin conductance measures of responding to the tonic stimuli differentiated significantly between positive and negative tonic segments during Day 2, but only in the group with two different tonic stimuli and one phasic stimulus ("standard" transswitching). This supported the hypothesis that tonic stimulus differentiation would be absent when two different phasic stimuli were present. The heart rate data did not support this hypothesis, showing tonic differentiation in both groups with two tonic stimuli. Phasic differentiation controlled by the different phasic stimuli was observed on Day 1; on Day 2, phasic differentiation was present only in the group with two tonic and one phasic stimuli and the group with one tonic and two phasic stimuli.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Distributed formation control under arbitrarily changing topology

The problem of controlling a group of agents to achieve a desired geometric formation is considered. We provide sufficient conditions under which agents autonomously achieve any feasible desired formation, while the sensing topology among them can change arbitrarily. The desired formation is defined in terms of inter-agent distances and angles. Agents do not need to have a common or global coordinate frame, and local relative position measurements of their neighbors suffices to achieve the desired formation. Stability analysis, illustrative examples, and simulation results are provided.
A Conversation Analytic Approach to Oral Placement Test Validation: Attending to Vertical and Horizontal Comparisons

Whereas previous research revealed the interactional variability occurring in oral assessments, demonstrating how it could undermine test validity (e.g., A. Brown, 2003), little has been published regarding how language programs can mine and analyze video recordings of in-house oral placement tests for validation purposes. Addressing this need, this article demonstrates how action research supplemented by an interventionist conversation analysis (CA) approach may be implemented as a tool for localized and cyclical test validation. This article reports on the process of how a team of oral placement test interviewers and CA researchers sought to iteratively improve interviewer training materials and testing protocols based on observed talk during placement test interactions. The study revolves around sample analyses of data excerpts to exemplify two data comparison procedures, involving different interviewers within the same iteration (i.e., horizontal comparison) and the same interviewer across different iterations after participation in a training session (i.e., vertical comparison). It showcases the ongoing process of collaboration with the goal of offering transferable insights to those who design, implement, and revise in-house oral placement tests. The authors contend that a holistic and unified approach to test validation, involving continued dialogue between researchers and practitioners, is crucial to in-house oral placement tests (Kunnan, 1998; Messick, 1989).
Incentives, Information Production, and Bias: Evidence from Analyst Text

I study how analysts’ performance depends on their incentives using a regulatory shock and the textual content of analyst reports. My results focus on two aspects of performance, information production and bias. After incentives are reduced, analysts produce less information that is also less biased. My identification of analyst incentives uses the Global Research Settlement as a shock that affected analysts at investment banks, but not other analysts, in a difference-in-difference design. I find that analyst reports become more similar to one another after the shock, an indication of less information production. Additionally, I find that text exhibits lower overall sentiment, which is driven by an increase in negativity, and that reports contain fewer markers of bias (less weaseling). The results highlight a mechanism through which there is a trade-off between information production and bias.
Impact of integrating DFIG and direct drive synchronous wind turbine generator on power system stability

This paper focuses on the small signal stability analysis of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) and Direct Drive Synchronous Generator (DDSG) integrated power system. For this purpose, one synchronous generator in the IEEE 14 bus test system is first replaced by a DFIG, and then by a DDSG while the wind penetration is varied between 24–40%. PSAT, a Matlab based power system analysis toolbox is used to perform small signal stability analysis, where eigenvalues give the insight into system oscillations and damping. In order to improve the damping of the Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) integrated system, Power System Stabilizers (PSS) are designed for synchronous generators. The key observations include the capability of WTGs to increase system stability under certain conditions, DDSG providing better damping for a certain range of penetration, and DFIG providing stability for a larger range of wind penetration. The findings were verified using time domain analysis, where the frequency response of the synchronous generators were observed.
Indications and Patient Referrals for Bariatric Surgery

The American Medical Association now recognizes obesity as a disease at a time when updated guidelines for referral and triage of patients to bariatric surgery and enhanced involvement of primary care physicians in obesity care are badly needed. The current body mass index-based eligibility criteria for bariatric surgery frequently exclude disabled severely obese patients for whom there is little else to offer for weight loss. In addition, patients with extreme obesity who have minimal health issues have uninhibited access to bariatric surgery. It is evident that updated guidelines based more on medical need than pure weight criteria are badly needed to improve access of deserving patients to bariatric surgery. The patients who actually receive bariatric surgery today are not a true reflection of the population of deserving patients with extreme obesity with respect to gender, race, insurance coverage, socioeconomic status, and comorbid disease burden. The vast majority of minority group patients with extreme obesity, limited education, limited income, and poor insurance coverage regularly obtain medical care at clinics and emergency rooms and currently have no access to bariatric surgery. This has created a major health problem because of the huge costs of inadequately treated extreme obesity and the potential cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery. One-fifth of patient visits to primary care physicians relate to health problems caused by extreme obesity. Despite this, primary care physicians are reluctant to refer eligible patients to bariatric surgery programs and do not provide patient education concerning alternative obesity treatments. Improved communication and collaboration between primary care physicians and bariatric treatment programs are essential in order to improve physician education and eliminate individual bias.
Deep-Sea Sediments

Deep-sea sediments typically have sedimentation rates less than 30 m/10 years, and rates as low 0.1 m/10 years have been reported. The slow sedimentation rates and unusual sediment compositions reflect the low fluxes of aluminosilicates eroded from continents. The terrigenous material that does deposit is often windblown dust. Other solids produced through biological activity, through hydrothermal leaching of basalts, or even by earth’s bombardment by meteorites can make up large fractions of a deepsea sediment deposit. Not all sediments in the deep ocean are deep-sea sediments depositing slowly. A significant portion of the deep ocean is filled by turbidites, which are gravity flow deposits that typically originate from the continental margins. These sediments will be discussed briefly in section “Turbidites and Hemipelagic Sediment Components” but are really extensions of continental margin sedimentation. Typically, the total sediment accumulation in the deep sea that is on basalt crust is less than 250 m (Fig. 1; Whittaker et al., 2013). For most ocean regions, sediment production is small compared to erosion of mountains and river transport. Because of plate tectonics, there is little time to accumulate a thick sediment pile because the ocean crust is young – the seafloor is totally resurfaced in about 160 million years. Thickest accumulations outside of the turbidite regimes are on older shallower crust or underneath zones of high biological productivity. Sediments are thicker under regions of high productivity because the CaCO3 and SiO2 tests of plankton are a major deep-sea sediment component (section “Biogenic Sediment Components”) and in shallow plateaus because there is better preservation (section “Seafloor Processes Affecting Deep-Sea Sediment Composition: Dissolution, Early Diagenesis, and Sediment Movement”; Berger, 1970).
Future Energy from Fossil Fuels

It is not possible in a short paper to describe the entire fossil fuel technology in any detail. However, for completeness, many of the more commonly used recovery techniques as well as some novel but untested methods are briefly described herein.
A Comparativist Critique of U.S. Judicial Review of Fundamental Rights Cases: Exceptionalisms, Paradoxes and Contradictions

The aim of this chapter is to place the longstanding controversy concerning the US Supreme Court (USSCt) adjudication of constitutional issues, and in particular those pertaining to fundamental rights, in comparative context. Moreover, two separate benefits are sought through approaching this familiar subject through a comparative perspective: on the one hand, to allow the foreign reader to obtain a better grasp of American exceptionalism in this area: and, on the other, to afford US constitutionalists with an “outside” look into familiar territory regarding a judicial practice that was once almost exclusively American, but that has become virtually universally adopted since World War Two. Particular attention is given to the most contentious and divisive fundamental rights decisions of the USSCt, and comparison concentrates on the contrast between the centralized hierarchical Kelsenian model followed in much of Europe and the common law approach implemented by the USSCt. Several paradoxes and contradictions are examined in light of foreign constitutional adjudication. Finally, the chapter seeks to shed further light, based on comparative insights, on the tension between ordinary and judicial politics as well as that between morals, mores, law and politics in the context of constitutional adjudication.
Analytical methods to investigate the effects of external influence on socio-cultural opinion evolution

This paper extends the framework for merging sociologically inspired rational cognitive models of decision making with social media inspired feedback mechanisms. This model, with certain simplifying assumptions, is used to analyze the effects of external influence on the dynamics of opinion evolution in a fully connected society. The master equation is shown to have the form of the Fokker-Planck equation, and the necessary and sufficient conditions for a polynomial solution are investigated. It is proved that the parameters of the model guarantees the existence of a polynomial solution.
First-line ibrutinib for Bing-Neel syndrome

The authors present a case of an elderly man with a history of Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia in remission who presented with progressively worsening gait abnormalities and falls for several months. His examination was notable for bilateral lower extremity weakness and an unsteady gait. Brain and spinal MRI showed focal leptomeningeal enhancement in the brain and spinal column. Lumbar puncture was performed and cerebrospinal fluid flow cytometry demonstrated a monoclonal CD5/CD10-negative, CD20-positive B-cell lymphocyte population consistent with a diagnosis of Bing-Neel syndrome. He was started on ibrutinib, an oral Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and had marked improvement in his weakness and gait. Repeat imaging 2 months after starting ibrutinib showed improvement in his leptomeningeal enhancement. During subsequent follow-up, he continued to tolerate ibrutinib and had a sustained clinical response.
Genetic analysis reveals functions of atypical polyubiquitin chains

Although polyubiquitin chains linked through all lysines of ubiquitin exist, specific functions are well-established only for lysine-48 and lysine-63 linkages in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To uncover pathways regulated by distinct linkages, genetic interactions between a gene deletion library and a panel of lysine-to-arginine ubiquitin mutants were systematically identified. The K11R mutant had strong genetic interactions with threonine biosynthetic genes. Consistently, we found that K11R mutants import threonine poorly. The K11R mutant also exhibited a strong genetic interaction with a subunit of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC), suggesting a role in cell cycle regulation. K11-linkages are important for vertebrate APC function, but this was not previously described in yeast. We show that the yeast APC also modifies substrates with K11-linkages in vitro, and that those chains contribute to normal APC-substrate turnover in vivo. This study reveals comprehensive genetic interactomes of polyubiquitin chains and characterizes the role of K11-chains in two biological pathways.
Li 6 Plus Neutron Configuration in Li 7

Energy levels of ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}$ are examined in the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}$ cluster plus neutron configuration. The main purpose is to determine whether a positive-parity level does exist at 6.54 Mev as indicated by some experiments. Our results show that the formation of such a state is not favored by the fundamental nucleon-nucleon interaction which yields the deuteron binding energy and explains the $s$- and $p$-wave scattering data. The energy of the $^{24}P_{\frac{5}{2}}$ state has also been computed. The resultant value of -27.2 Mev is in fair agreement with the experimental value of -31.7 Mev.
The Role of Risk Management and Compliance in Banking Integration

This article explores an important but little studied dimension of the ongoing transformation of banking markets: the growth of risk management and compliance as key governance functions and the focus on risk as a foundation stone for regulatory strategy. The developments in risk and compliance are in part mandated by government regulation, but also reflect practices and norms developed in the private sector. Parallel developments reflecting convergence of norms and practice are observed in banking markets around the world.
An Elasticity Solution for the Shear Stiffness of the Full-Grouted Resin Roofbolt

SUMMARY The bolt is modeled as a beam on an elastic foundation where the theory of elasticity in polar coordinates is employed to determine the foundation modulus (spring stiffness) of the resin-rock combination. Parameter studies are presented showing the effects of the rock and resin elasticity on the shear stiffness values. The results obtained are compared to values obtained using a three-dimensional finite element study. The agreement between the elasticity solution and the three-dimensional finite element model is close enough to preclude the need for using the finite element model in this type of an analysis.
Living on the frontier of Catholicism: Graham Greene’s disloyal conversions

Graham Greene’s novels are often discussed – and evaluated – in light of the author’s religious preoccupations. As Greene was a convert to the Catholic faith from a nominal Anglican upbringing, cri...
Refuting Myths about Secondary Chemistry Teaching: Getting the Facts Out to Current and Future Educators

Misperceptions about careers in STEM secondary school teaching keep interested students from pursuing teaching and explain why some chemistry educators may not recommend that their most successful students explore a career in teaching. The United States has a shortage of STEM teachers in middle and high school; highlighting the facts about STEM teaching can help to address this predicament. Get the Facts Out is an NSF-funded project designed to give chemistry and other STEM educators the tools to explain and correct misperceptions with data on salary, benefits, and career satisfaction of STEM secondary school teachers. Chemistry educators at all levels can access the Get the Facts Out toolkit, which includes resources to share with students, colleagues, and administrators, and can become change agents in this crucial conversation.
Abstract #536: Analysis of the Notch pathway-specific genes in human cancer cells

The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved cell signaling mechanism that regulates various developmental processes. Aberrant Notch signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a growing number of hematological and epithelial cancers via its potential roles in deregulated cell growth, differentiation and cell death. Moreover, Notch signaling may promote or suppress tumorigenesis depending on specific cancer types. Comprehensive understandings of the molecular mechanisms underlying diverse Notch-mediated functions in the development and cancer will be crucial for developing new therapeutics that manipulate this pathway. However, downstream genes and pathways known to be regulated by Notch signaling remain very limited and cannot account for Notch-mediated diverse biological activities. To gain insights into how such a highly conserved signaling pathway mediates biological diversity in development and cancer, we took advantage of the ChIP-Seq approach that combine chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing technology to identify potential Notch target genes that bind to the key Notch transcription factor CSL in cervical cancer cells. Combined with the genome-wide in silico identification and microarray mRNA profiling analysis, our preliminary studies reveal a number of target genes that may contribute to the varied biological activities of Notch signaling in cancer cells. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 536.
The orotrigeminal system

Abstract The trigeminal sensory nerve fiber branches supply afferent information from the skin and mucous membranes of the face and head and the oral cavity regarding information on temperature, touch, and pain. Under normal conditions, the trigeminal nerve serves to provide important information from nerve fibers and tissues using specialized receptors sensitive for irritant and painful stimuli. The current scientific consensus indicates that nerve endings responsible for chemical and thermal sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes are the same nerves responsible for nociception. This “chemesthetic sense” allows many vertebrates to detect chemical agonists that induce sensations such as touch, burning, stinging, tingling, or changes in temperature. Research has been under way for many years to determine how exposure of the oral and/or nasal cavity to compounds that elicit pungent or irritant sensations can produce these sensations. In addition, these chemicals can alter other sensory information such as taste and smell to affect the flavor of foods and beverages. We now know that these ‘chemesthetic molecules’ are agonists of molecular receptors, which exist on primary afferent nerve fibers that innervate the orofacial area. However, under pathophysiologic conditions, over- or underexpression or activity of these receptors may lead to painful orotrigeminal syndromes. Some of these individual receptors are discussed in detail, including transient receptor potential channels and acid sensing ion channels, among others.
Vertebroplasty Cement Augmentation Technique

Image-guided percutaneous vertebroplasty is a procedure that can be used to treat painful osteoporotic and pathologic fractures of the spine and has been shown to be safe and effective in patients with osteoporotic fractures who are not responding to medical management. The indications and contraindications for vertebroplasty as well as patient selection will be discussed. Technical aspects of the vertebroplasty procedure include accurate needle placement followed by the fluoroscopically monitored injection of the acrylic bone cement. Vertebroplasty can be used in the treatment of complex situations including multiple vertebral fractures, severe vertebral compression fractures, and painful sclerotic fractures. The occurrence of procedure related complications can be minimized.
Keyless Covert Communication in the Presence of Non-causal Channel State Information

We consider the problem of covert communication over a state-dependent channel, for which the transmitter and the legitimate receiver have non-causal access to the channel state information. Covert communication with respect to an adversary, referred to as the “warden,” is one in which the distribution induced during communication at the channel output observed by the warden is identical to the output distribution conditioned on an inactive channel-input symbol. Covert communication involves fooling an adversary in part by a proliferation of codebooks; for reliable decoding at the legitimate receiver the codebook uncertainty is removed via a shared secret key that is unavailable to the warden. Unlike earlier work in state-dependent covert communication, we do not assume the availability of a shared key at the transmitter and legitimate receiver. Rather, a shared randomness is extracted at the transmitter and the receiver from the channel state, in a manner that keeps the shared randomness secret from the warden despite the influence of the channel state on the warden’s output. An inner bound on the covert capacity, in the absence of an externally provided secret key, is derived.
Enhanced Product Evaluation Tools for State Transportation Agencies to Overcome Commonly Faced Challenges

AbstractMost state transportation agencies (STAs) maintain a qualified product list (QPL), which serves as the primary tool for project managers to select products, materials, and equipment during ...
Distinguishing between buried semiconductor/metal contacts and hybrid semiconductor/metal/liquid contacts at n-gallium arsenide/potassium hydroxide-selenium (Se-/2-)(aq) junctions

The current-voltage properties of n-GaAs photoanodes have been evaluated in KOH-Se[sup [minus]]/2[minus]/(aq), CH[sub 3]CN-Fe[sup +]/0, and CH[sub 3]CN-MV[sup 2+]/+ solutions. Chemisorption of transition-metal ions (Rh[sup III], Co[sup III], Ru[sup III], Os[sup III]) onto n-GaAs has been shown previously to effect improved photoanode behavior for n-GaAs/KOH-Se[sup [minus]]/2[minus](aq) contacts, but it is not clear whether the chemisorbed metal forms a buried semiconductor/metal junction or results in a hybrid semiconductor/metal/liquid contact. After chemisorption of transition-metal ions, n-GaAs photoanodes displayed different open circuit voltages in contact with each electrolyte solution investigated. The role of the chemisorbed metal in the n-GaAs/M/KOH-Se[sup [minus]]/2[minus](aq) system is, therefore, best described as catalyzing interfacial charge transfer at the semiconductor/liquid interface, as opposed to establishing a semiconductor/metal or semiconductor/insulator/metal contact that is exposed to, but not influenced by, the electrolyte solution. 65 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.
First confirmation of new bunyavirus-infected patients in Zhejiang province and molecular identification of the isolated virus

Objective To determine the potential natural foci of new bunyavirus,and isolate and identify the new bunyavirus strain in sera from suspected new bunyavirus-infected patients.Methods Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the antigens of new bunyavirus in different tissue specimens of wild rodent animals in Tiantai area of Zhejiang province.Fluorescence quantitative real-time RT-PCR was applied to detect the viral nucleic acid in sera of suspected new bunyavirus-infected patients and the amplification products were analyzed by sequencing.The new bunyavirus in the pateints'sera was isolated using Vero cells.Using nucleocapsid protein encoding gene of new bunyavirus as the target gene,the isolated suspected new bunyavirus strain was identified by RT-PCR and sequencing of the amplification product.Moreover,sequence identity of the amplification product of nucleocapsid protein encoding gene of new bunyavirus was analyzed and compared.Results Of the 70 wild rodent animals,5.71% were positive in the immunofluorescence assay.The fluorescence quantitative real-time RT-PCR confirmed that two of the four detected patients'serum specimens were positive.One suspected strain of new bunyavirus was isolated from one pf the two positive patients'serum specimens.The results of RT-PCR and sequencing confirmed that the viral strain exactly belongs to new bunyavirus with 92.2% sequence identity to that of the new bunyavirus isolates in Hubei province but distinct with the new bunyavirus isolates from other areas in China.Conclusion The presence of natural foci of new bunyavirus and new bunyavirus-infected patients in Zhejiang province are firstly confirmed by this study.There is a geographical diversity of the distribution of new bunyavirus in different groups. Key words: New bunyavirus; Virus isolation; Molecular identification; Phylogenetic analysis
The Role of HDL and HDL Mimetic Peptides as Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease

The role of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) in the cardiovascular system has been extensively studied and the cardioprotective effects of HDL are well established. As HDL particles are formed both in the systemic circulation and in the central nervous system, the role of HDL and its associated apolipoproteins in the brain has attracted much research interest in recent years. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia worldwide, for which there currently exists no approved disease modifying treatment. Multiple lines of evidence, including a number of large-scale human clinical studies, have shown a robust connection between HDL levels and AD. Low levels of HDL are associated with increased risk and severity of AD, whereas high levels of HDL are correlated with superior cognitive function. Although the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of HDL in the brain are not fully understood, many of the functions of HDL, including reverse lipid/cholesterol transport, anti-inflammation/immune modulation, anti-oxidation, microvessel endothelial protection, and proteopathy modification, are thought to be critical for its beneficial effects. This review describes the current evidence for the role of HDL in AD and the potential of using small peptides mimicking HDL or its associated apolipoproteins (HDL-mimetic peptides) as therapeutics to treat AD.
Abstract 13781: Recurrence of Papillary Fibroelastoma

Background: Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is the most common benign cardiac tumor. Because PFEs have the potential to embolize, they typically are surgically excised. Prior studies have suggested t...
Multimodal Political Deception Detection

Political statements are carefully crafted to garner public support for a particular ideology. These statements are often biased and sometimes misleading. Separating fact from fiction has proven to be a difficult task, generally accomplished by cross-checking political statements against an impartial and trustworthy news source. In this article, we make three contributions. First, we compile a novel multimodal dataset, which consists of 180 videos with accompanying audio recordings and transcripts, featuring 88 politicians categorized by political party. To our knowledge, this is the second multimodal deception detection dataset from real-life data and the first in the political field. Second, we extract features from the linguistic, visual, and acoustic modalities to develop a system capable of discriminating between truthful and deceptive political statements. Finally, we perform an extensive analysis on different multimodal features to identify the behavioral patterns used by politicians when it comes to deception.
Extreme Observations and Diversification in Latin American Emerging Markets

In this paper, we focus on the tails of the unconditional distribution of Latin American emerging markets stock returns. We explore their implications for portfolio diversification according to the safety first principle, first proposed by Roy (1952). We find that the Latin American emerging markets have significantly fatter tails than industrial markets, especially, the lower tail of the distribution. We consider the implication of the safety first principle for a U.S. investor. We find that a U.S. investor gains by adding Latin American equity markets to her purely domestic portfolio. For different parameter specifications, we find a more realistic asset allocation than the one suggested by the literature based on the traditional mean-variance framework.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy is one of the most common neuromuscular disorders of childhood and has high morbidity and mortality. Three different disease-modifying treatments were introduced in the last 4 years: nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec, and risdiplam. These agents have demonstrated safety and efficacy, but their long-term benefits require further study. Newborn screening programs are enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment and better outcomes, but respiratory care and other supportive measures retain a key role in the management of spinal muscular atrophy. Ongoing efforts seek to optimize gene therapy vectors, explore new therapeutic targets beyond motor neurons, and evaluate the role of combination therapy.
CHARGE CONVERSION OF IRRADIATED RARE-EARTH IONS IN CALCIUM FLUORIDE. I.

The mechanism by which the rare-earth ions in Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ can be reduced from the trivalent to the divalent state by exposure to x rays or $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays has been systematically studied for all the thirteen available ions in the lanthanide series. Each of the ions was irradiated at 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and its temperature subsequently raised above room temperature. During the heating process the intensity of the thermoluminescence and the changes in the optical absorption spectrum were measured as a function of temperature. An accompanying paper describes the changes in the emission spectrum with temperature. In general, the temperatures at which significant changes in absorption occur, and for which there is simultaneous thermoluminescent emission, are independent of the particular rare-earth ion, while the emission spectra is characteristic of the rare earth. The absorption spectra have parts characteristic of the individual ions and parts independent of the ion. On the basis of these observations, it is possible to formulate a consistent model of the irradiation-induced charge-reduction process and the subsequent thermal reoxidation process. From 77 to about 330\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K the oxidation process is attributed to thermal activation of a variety of hole traps.
High proportion of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals 1-6 months after illness and association with disease severity in an outpatient telemedicine population

BackgroundIndividuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have persistent symptoms following their acute illness. The prevalence and predictors of these symptoms, termed post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), are not fully described. MethodsParticipants discharged from an outpatient telemedicine program for COVID-19 were emailed a survey (1-6 months after discharge) about ongoing symptoms, acute illness severity, and quality of life. Standardized telemedicine notes from acute illness were used for covariates (comorbidities and provider-assessed symptom severity). Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed to assess predictors of persistent symptoms. ResultsTwo hundred and ninety patients completed the survey, of whom 115 (39.7%) reported persistent symptoms including fatigue (n= 59, 20.3%), dyspnea on exertion (n=41, 14.1%), and mental fog (n=39, 13.5%) among others. Proportion of persistent symptoms did not differ based on duration since illness ( 90 days: n=80, 40.4%, p = 0.61). Predictors of persistent symptoms included provider-assessed moderate-severe illness (aOR 3.24, 95% CI 1.75, 6.02), female sex (aOR 1.99 95% 0.98, 4.04; >90 days out: aOR 2.24 95% CI 1.01, 4.95), and middle age (aOR 2.08 95% CI 1.07, 4.03). Common symptoms associated with reports of worse physical health included weakness, fatigue, myalgias, and mental fog. ConclusionsSymptoms following acute COVID-19 are common and may be predicted by factors during the acute phase of illness. Fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms figured prominently. Select symptoms seem to be particularly associated with perceptions of physical health following COVID-19 and warrant specific attention on future studies of PASC.