cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 346: Change in Alcohol Consumption Status Associated with Changes in Fibrinogen Levels over 13 Years of Follow-up: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study

Introduction: Moderate alcohol consumption is inversely related to coronary/cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality. Conversely, fibrinogen has been positively associated with atherosclerosis and thrombosis. No studies to date have examined longitudinal associations between alcohol consumption and blood fibrinogen levels. Methods: We included 2548 CARDIA participants (55% women, 43% black) with fibrinogen and alcohol use data at year 7 (1992-93; ages 25-37) and year 20 examinations (2005-06). Fibrinogen was measured using automated nephelometry. Alcohol use was self-reported and categorized as current, former or never drinkers at each exam. ANCOVA models were used to relate changes in alcohol use to changes in mean fibrinogen levels stratified by sex and race, after controlling for year 7 fibrinogen. Subsequent models also adjusted for conventional cardiovascular risk factors (Figure). Results: Over 13 years, mean fibrinogen increased by 71mg/dL vs. 70mg/dL (p-difference=NS) in black men (BM) vs. ...
Mental health issues in survivors of sex trafficking

There are more than three million trafficked women, many of who are children. This population has been largely forgotten because the victims are geographically transitory and exist within an illega...
The accuracy of self-reported pregnancy-related weight: a systematic review.

Summary Self-reported maternal weight is error-prone, and the context of pregnancy may impact error distributions. This systematic review summarizes error in self-reported weight across pregnancy and assesses implications for bias in associations between pregnancy-related weight and birth outcomes. We searched PubMed and Google Scholar through November 2015 for peer-reviewed articles reporting accuracy of self-reported, pregnancy-related weight at four time points: prepregnancy, delivery, over gestation and postpartum. Included studies compared maternal self-report to anthropometric measurement or medical report of weights. Sixty-two studies met inclusion criteria. We extracted data on magnitude of error and misclassification. We assessed impact of reporting error on bias in associations between pregnancy-related weight and birth outcomes. Women underreported prepregnancy (PPW: −2.94 to −0.29 kg) and delivery weight (DW: −1.28 to 0.07 kg), and over-reported gestational weight gain (GWG: 0.33 to 3 kg). Magnitude of error was small, ranged widely, and varied by prepregnancy weight class and race/ethnicity. Misclassification was moderate (PPW: 0–48.3%; DW: 39.0–49.0%; GWG: 16.7–59.1%), and overestimated some estimates of population prevalence. However, reporting error did not largely bias associations between pregnancy-related weight and birth outcomes. Although measured weight is preferable, self-report is a cost-effective and practical measurement approach. Future researchers should develop bias correction techniques for self-reported pregnancy-related weight.
Systems neuroscience: Diversity in sight.

A systematic analysis of bipolar cells, which act as a central signalling conduit in the retina, reveals that the neurons' diverse responses to light are generated largely by feedback from neighbouring amacrine cells. See Article p.439
UrbanAccess: Generalized Methodology for Measuring Regional Accessibility with an Integrated Pedestrian and Transit Network

Measures of accessibility have long been an important metric in regional transportation planning and modeling. However, new methods are needed to provide computationally efficient, multiscale, free...
Biogeochemical N signatures from rate-yield trade-offs during in vitro chemosynthetic NO3− reduction by deep-sea vent ε-Proteobacteria and Aquificae growing at different temperatures

Abstract NO 3 − reduction is a metabolism that is widespread among e-Proteobacteria and Aquificae , two abundant classes of microorganisms found at deep-sea vents. In this study, we used Sulfurovum lithotrophicum , Caminibacter mediatlanticus and Thermovibrio ammonificans as representatives of these groups to study ecophysiological, metabolic and biogeochemical parameters associated with chemolithoautotrophic NO 3 − reduction under different temperature regimes. We observed that while S. lithotrophicum and C. mediatlanticus achieved higher cell densities than T. ammonificans , the overall NO 3 − consumption by the latter was on average ∼9 and ∼5 times faster on a per cell basis, respectively. Comparison with previously published data from other cultured vent e-Proteobacteria and Aquificae suggests that the rate-yield trade-offs observed in our experiments are generally conserved between these two groups in line with their ecophysiologies. Kinetic isotope effects of N from NO 3 − reduction were 9.6 ± 2.7‰ for S. lithotrophicum , 6.4 ± 0.7‰ for C. mediatlanticus and 8.8 ± 0.6‰ for T. ammonificans . Our results help evaluate how metabolic partitioning between growth efficiency and reaction kinetics during chemolithoautotrophic NO 3 − reduction affect the concentration and isotope composition of N compounds at deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error (SPADE): a conceptual framework and methodological approach for unearthing misdiagnosis-related harms using big data.

Background The public health burden associated with diagnostic errors is likely enormous, with some estimates suggesting millions of individuals are harmed each year in the USA, and presumably many more worldwide. According to the US National Academy of Medicine, improving diagnosis in healthcare is now considered ‘a moral, professional, and public health imperative.’ Unfortunately, well-established, valid and readily available operational measures of diagnostic performance and misdiagnosis-related harms are lacking, hampering progress. Existing methods often rely on judging errors through labour-intensive human reviews of medical records that are constrained by poor clinical documentation, low reliability and hindsight bias. Methods Key gaps in operational measurement might be filled via thoughtful statistical analysis of existing large clinical, billing, administrative claims or similar data sets. In this manuscript, we describe a method to quantify and monitor diagnostic errors using an approach we call ‘Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error’ (SPADE). Results We first offer a conceptual framework for establishing valid symptom-disease pairs illustrated using the well-known diagnostic error dyad of dizziness-stroke. We then describe analytical methods for both look-back (case–control) and look-forward (cohort) measures of diagnostic error and misdiagnosis-related harms using ‘big data’. After discussing the strengths and limitations of the SPADE approach by comparing it to other strategies for detecting diagnostic errors, we identify the sources of validity and reliability that undergird our approach. Conclusion SPADE-derived metrics could eventually be used for operational diagnostic performance dashboards and national benchmarking. This approach has the potential to transform diagnostic quality and safety across a broad range of clinical problems and settings.
Reservoir effects on the temperature dependence of the relaxation to equilibrium of three simple quantum systems

Abstract The approach to thermal equilibrium of each of three simple quantum systems in interaction with a reservoir is analyzed by calculating the time evolution of an observable appropriate for each system. Two types of interaction with the reservoir are considered: a single-phonon modulation of the interaction matrix element and a multiphonon interaction arising from a polaronic transformation for a given single-phonon, but strong, modulation of energy or frequency. The methodology employed is a recent formalism based on a coarse-grained generalized master equation. Interesting results are obtained for the multiphonon case including a nonmonotonic dependence of the time-dependent observables in the multiphonon system as the temperature is varied. Such a result does not appear in the single-phonon case, i.e., for weak coupling. In addition to contributing towards the understanding of the detail in the approach to thermal equilibrium, the analysis has practical applications to the vibrational relaxation of molecules embedded in phonon baths and to the transport of charge in crystals subjected to electric fields strong enough to lead to the formation of Stark ladders.
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Soft-Tissue Masses.

Abstract Imaging is an integral component of the evaluation of patients with a suspected soft-tissue mass. Imaging can not only confirm the presence of a mass but can provide essential information necessary for diagnosis, local staging, and biopsy planning. Although the objectives of the evaluation have not changed, the choices available for imaging of musculoskeletal masses have evolved dramatically in recent years. The purpose of this document is to identify the most common clinical scenarios and the most appropriate imaging for their assessment on the basis of the current literature and to provide general guidance for those scenarios that are not specifically addressed. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.
Factors Influencing Academic Success Among African American College Women: The Impact of African American Acculturation and Religiosity:

African Americans are historically an underresearched, underrepresented, and underserved population. Furthermore, academic success research has primarily focused on White students, thus creating qu...
Rate of production of P32-labeled lymphocytes.

1. Lymphocytes in dogs have been labeled by means of the DNA-P32 incorporation technic. 2. In the thoracic duct, a high level of lymphocyte DNA-P32 specific activity is reached within two hours. After 24 to 30 hours, the activity falls to a lower level which is then maintained for at least 160 hours. 3. Lymphocyte-granulocyte separations on the blood revealed that DNA-P32 specific activity reached a peak on the fourth day for both lymphocytes and granulocytes. 4. These findings are consistent with a short maturation time for the lymphocyte and a short intravascular time.
ASI conference presentations: a content analysis of major topics, 1997-2012

Article on the American Society for Indexing (ASI) conference presentations. This article identifies major topics discussed at ASI conferences from 1997 through 2012 and explores how topics have changed over time.
Bradykinin-stimulated calcium influx in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Bradykinin (BK)-stimulated release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor has been linked to a rise in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration and a change of K+ permeability of the endothelial cell. In the present study, measurement of BK-induced changes in fura-2 fluorescence and 86Rb+ efflux were used to monitor changes in cytosolic Ca2+ and K+ permeability in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells. In the presence of normal extracellular Ca2+, BK induced a fourfold increase in cytosolic Ca2+, which peaked at 20 s and declined within 1 min to a value that was 50% of the peak level. Subsequently, cytosolic Ca2+ decreased and approached basal levels within 8 min. In the absence of Ca2+, BK produced a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in cytosolic Ca2+ that peaked within 20 s and declined to basal levels within 2 min. Addition of Ca2+ to the Ca-free reaction buffer 3-5 min after addition of BK resulted in a two-to threefold increase in cytosolic Ca2+ that declined slowly back to basal levels. Thus Ca2+ influx can occur in response to BK at a time when there is minimal elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ above the resting level. Under all conditions tested, 86Rb+ efflux paralleled changes in the cytosolic Ca2+, suggesting that efflux occurred through Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Isosmotic substitution of Na+ with N-methyl-D-glucamine did not affect the BK-stimulated changes in cytosolic Ca2+ or 86Rb+ efflux, suggesting that Na+-Ca2+ exchange plays little role in the BK response. These results suggest that BK stimulates Ca2+ influx via a BK receptor-operated channel or a channel activated by some internal messenger other than Ca2+.
Varian Halcyon dosimetric comparison for multiarc VMAT prostate and head-and-neck cancers

The Varian Halcyon linear accelerator is designed for faster treatment time and fewer treatment errors than conventional linear accelerators. Its increased gantry speed (4 rpm), dose rate (800 MU/min), and leaf speed (5 cm/s) reduce treatment time. The 2 multileaf collimator banks of 1 cm leaf width could cause planning difficulties, but utilizing many arcs could address this challenge. While 3 or more arcs are often avoided due to the increased treatment time, the Halcyon can deliver 5 arcs in under 3 minutes. For prostate and head-and-neck, we hypothesized plan quality would increase with increasing arcs without compromising treatment time. Fifteen prostate and fifteen head-and-neck previously treated patients were replanned to 78 and 66 Gy, respectively. A total of 150 volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans, ranging from 1 to 5 arcs, were created to compare organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing, target coverage, homogeneity, and hotspot volume. Plans were normalized to the prescribed dose of 98% and 95% of the primary target volume for prostate and head-and-neck, respectively. All prostate 4-arc and 5-arc plans met MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) constraints, while 86.7%, 20%, and 6.7% of the 1-arc, 2-arc, and 3-arc plans did not meet constraints, respectively. As the number of arcs increased, all OAR maximum doses decreased. All head-and-neck 5-arc plans met MDACC constraints, while 73.3%, 26.7%, 13.3%, and 6.7% of the 1-arc, 2-arc, 3-arc, and 4-arc plans did not meet constraints, respectively. The contralateral parotid mean dose and the spinal cord maximum dose decreased with increasing arcs. Homogeneity and conformity indices decreased when increasing from 1 to 5 arcs for both prostate and head-and-neck. Overall, homogeneity and conformity indices and OAR doses improved when using three or more arcs. Therefore, using at least 3 arcs for VMAT plans on the Halcyon will increase plan quality without compromising treatment time.
13α–Hydroxylucilactaene and Other Metabolites of an Endophytic Strain of Fusarium acuminatum:

A liquid fermentation culture of Fusarium acuminatum, endophytic in the root of Larrea tritentata, afforded a new furanopyrrolidone, 13α–hydroxylucilactaene (1), together with four known metabolite...
The Use of Group Strategies with the Visually Impaired: A Review.

Comprehensive review of almost all literature in past 25 years on group therapy with the visually impaired. Discusses uses of groups with different age groups, for adjustment and for relief of stre...
A multipeptide vaccine plus toll-like receptor agonists LPS or polyICLC in combination with incomplete Freund's adjuvant in melanoma patients.

Cancer vaccines require adjuvants to induce effective immune responses; however, there is no consensus on optimal adjuvants. We hypothesized that toll-like receptor (TLR)3 agonist polyICLC or TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS), combined with CD4 T cell activation, would support strong and durable CD8+ T cell responses, whereas addition of an incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) would reduce magnitude and persistence of immune responses. Participants with resected stage IIB-IV melanoma received a vaccine comprised of 12 melanoma peptides restricted by Class I MHC (12MP), plus a tetanus helper peptide (Tet). Participants were randomly assigned 2:1 to cohort 1 (LPS dose-escalation) or cohort 2 (polyICLC). Each cohort included 3 subgroups (a-c), receiving 12MP + Tet + TLR agonist without IFA (0), or with IFA in vaccine one (V1), or all six vaccines (V6). Toxicities were recorded (CTCAE v4). T cell responses were measured with IFNγ ELIspot assay ex vivo or after one in vitro stimulation (IVS). Fifty-three eligible patients were enrolled, of which fifty-one were treated. Treatment-related dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed in 0/33 patients in cohort 1 and in 2/18 patients in cohort 2 (11%). CD8 T cell responses to 12MP were detected ex vivo in cohort 1 (42%) and in cohort 2 (56%) and in 18, 50, and 72% for subgroups V0, V1, and V6, respectively. T cell responses to melanoma peptides were more durable and of highest magnitude for IFA V6. LPS and polyICLC are safe and effective vaccine adjuvants when combined with IFA. Contrary to the central hypothesis, IFA enhanced T cell responses to peptide vaccines when added to TLR agonists. Future studies will aim to understand mechanisms underlying the favorable effects with IFA. The clinical trial Mel58 was performed with IRB (#15781) and FDA approval and is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov on April 25, 2012 (NCT01585350). Patients provided written informed consent to participate. Enrollment started on June 24, 2012.
Hope and Humility for Azithromycin.

Azithromycin, which was discovered by Croatian scientists in 1980, has broad antimicrobial activity. Its seeming broad-spectrum activity led its discoverers to name it Sumamed, invoking the summum ...
CRASH SENSOR DEVELOPMENT

THE PASSIVE INFLATABLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AIR BAG) IS DESCRIBED, INCLUDING THE COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM AND THE TIME HISTORY OF AN IMPACT. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CRASH DETECTOR ARE DISCUSSED; THE BASIC PARAMETERS ARE AMPLITUDE, TIME, AND DIRECTION. THE RELIABILITY OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS DISCUSSED. DEVELOPMENTS IN CRASH DETECTORS ARE DESCRIBED. /HSL/
Individual-level explanations of corruption within an intercollegiate context.

Understanding why individuals engage in sport corruption is an emerging topic of research. Micro-level accounts of corruption have generally used a single disciplinary approach toward understanding why actors commit corruption (e.g., doping and match-fixing) in specific sports. The purpose of this study was to first examine individual-level explanations of corruption in the context of intercollegiate athletics; and, second, to generate an interdisciplinary framework. A multi-case analysis was conducted of 20 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) major infractions (corruption) reports that occurred between 2005 and 2015. The findings showed that actors’ explanations were based on psychological factors—motivations (social relationship and self-interest) and personal norms, professional factors (abuse of power and failure of responsibilities), and justification factors (rationalizing strategies). This research builds on existing scholarship by generating an interdisciplinary framework of micro-level accounts of sport corruption in intercollegiate athletics.
Saving lives and costs through screening (Sc) for colorectal cancer (CRC): Implications for limited-resource healthcare systems (LRHS).

6545 Background: While USPSTF and ACP have determined that Sc for CRC is beneficial, the practice of Sc and its benefits are not established in LRHS caring for the uninsured. We tested the hypothes...
Correction to: Spatiotemporal Pattern Extraction by Spectral Analysis of Vector-Valued Observables

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in Acknowledgement section. The authors would like to correct the error with this erratum. The correct text should read as:
Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer Using Subharmonic Imaging

This study assessed the prostate cancer (PCa) detection rates of contrast-enhanced, transrectal subharmonic ultrasound imaging (SHI). This IRB-approved study enrolled 55 subjects. The initial 5 subjects were studied for SHI optimization, while the remaining 50 were evaluated with conventional grayscale, continuous color and power Doppler as well as contrast-enhanced continuous SHI, color and power Doppler and SHI combined with maximum flash replenishment. A maximum of 6 directed biopsy cores were obtained from sites of greatest asymmetrical enhancement, followed by 12 spatially distributed systematic cores. SHI time-intensity parameters, including time to peak intensity, peak intensity and estimated perfusion were also evaluated for each biopsy core. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and conditional logistic regression were employed to assess the benefit of each modality and the quantitative SHI parameters. Cancer was detected in 22 of 50 subjects. Among subjects with clinically significant PCa (n=11), targeted cores were more likely to be positive (odds ratio 1.39, p=0.02). The majority of patients detected by SHI demonstrated significant PCa (5/8) and SHI remained an independent marker of malignancy in a multivariate logistic regression model (p=0.027). ROC analysis of imaging findings compared to biopsy results yielded diagnostic accuracies ranging from 0.59 to 0.80 for all imaging modalities with the highest being for quantitative subharmonic perfusion estimates. In conclusion, this first-in-humans study provides a preliminary estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of SHI for detection of clinically significant PCa (up to 80%).
Revisiting Philosophic Ideals

Tragic oppositions transformed into comical incongruities bring about a humorous state of mind or mood that retains both the tragic and comic elements of the human condition. This humorous mood brings valuable philosophic benefits. It may facilitate (1) self-knowledge by enabling recognition of conflict and familiarization with its components Self-knowledge comprises the (2) acceptance of ambivalence, and the (3) inclusion of all aspects of the self and of the situation in which one is involved while deliberating. Further, the humorous mood may provide (3) assistance to coping with unresolvable conflict, or alternatively, promote (4) conflict resolution through (5) successful personal transformation, which is at the root of both approaches to conflict. Conflict-resolution is explained in the next chapter, and the other benefits are clarified below.
Interview 12 Arlie R. Hochschild

Arlie R. Hochschild is currently Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley and well known as the founder of the Sociology of Emotion. She received her B.A. in international relation from Swarthmore College in 1962 and then earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1965 and 1969 respectively. Her first position in academia was at the University of California, Santa Cruz, after that she had been teaching in the University of California at Berkeley until she retired.
The Crucial Calculation as a Motivating Force In Particle Physics

Crucial experiments have a long history of contributions to progress in physics. Similarly, we claim that in the period roughly from 1955 to 1985 crucial calculations played a significant role in setting the agenda for elementary particle physics. The highlights of the contributions of theoretical physics to the achievement of the standard model is emphasized
South Asians, social justice and the black lives matter movement

The eclectic collection of writings included in this series of ‘Working Notes’ intervene in the existing topography of work that intersects with African/American and South Asian historical, cultura...
Blood preservation techniques in complex spine surgery: Illustrative case and review of therapeutic options.

Background Complex spine surgery predisposes patients to substantial levels of blood loss, which can increase the risk of surgical morbidity and mortality. Case description A 29-year-old achondroplastic male required thoracolumbar deformity correction. However, he refused potential allogeneic blood transfusions for religious reasons. He, therefore, underwent pre-operative autologous blood donation and consented to the use of the intraoperative cell salvage device. Immediately prior to the incision, he underwent acute normovolemic hemodilution. Throughout the case, we additionally utilized meticulous hemostasis. Postoperatively, he was supplemented with iron and erythropoietin and recovered well. When he required a revision procedure 3 months later, similar strategies were successfully employed. Conclusion Numerous strategies exist pre-operatively, intraoperatively, and post-operatively to optimize blood loss management for patients who refuse blood transfusions but warrant major spinal deformity surgery.
Clinical Practice to Academia: A Guide for New and Aspiring Health Professions Faculty: (2021), by Crystal A. Gateley, SLACK Incorporated, Thorofare, NJ, 232 page soft cover book, Price: $69.95, ISBN 10 1-63091-436-3

The need for healthcare workers is expected to rise at rates much higher than average through at least 2026, creating many job opportunities for students entering the health professions (Gateley, 2...
Phase I trial of continuous infusion 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine.

To identify a dose of the demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (DAC) with acceptable side effects, and to study its effect on the methylation patterns of relevant genes in tumor biopsies before and after treatment with a novel methylation assay using real-time PCR. A group of 19 patients with metastatic solid tumors were treated with DAC by continuous intravenous infusion over 72 h, days 1–3 of a 28-day cycle. Tumor biopsies were taken before and 7 days after starting DAC. The dose levels studied were 20, 30 and 40 mg/m2. Grade 4 neutropenia was found in two of five patients at 40 mg/m2 and one of six patients at 30 mg/m2. No objective responses were seen in this study. Steady-state DAC levels of 0.1 to 0.2 μM were achieved in the 30 and 40 mg/m2 cohorts. Changes in methylation were observed, but no single gene consistently demonstrated evidence of demethylation. DAC was tolerated at a dose of 30 mg/m2 per day for a 72-h intravenous infusion. Changes in gene methylation were observed.
Ann's fraction schemes

A longitudinal constructivist teaching experiment that lasted approximately one academic year was conducted with six third graders. The purpose of the teaching experiment was to analyze the itinerary of children's ways of operating while solving fraction tasks. Ann was one of the third graders who participated in the teaching experiment, and her case study presents the author's interpretation of the generation and evolution of Ann's fraction schemes.
Closing Argument: Through the Eyes of a Trial Advocate

The author, an experienced trial lawyer, shares some of his techniques andstrategiesforgivingan effective closing argument. While word choice, gestures, and multimedia play an important role, nothing is as important as knowing yourjury.
The effect of solute convection upon macrosegregation in off-eutectic composite growth

Vertical solidification experiments have been carried out on Pb-Sn and Pb-Cd alloys at hypereutectic compositions where solute convection was present. A significant amount of macrosegregation was observed due to the convection, and the macrosegregation was found to be independent of tube diameter for those diameters studied, 3 to 6 mm. The resulting macrosegregation correlated well with existing theories. The experiments employed a temperature gradient of 360°C/cm and it was found that thermotransport made a significant contribution to the observed macrosegregation at growth rates below around 5 μm/s.
Identification, RNAi knockdown, and functional analysis of an ejaculate protein that mediates a postmating, prezygotic phenotype in a cricket.

Postmating, prezygotic phenotypes, especially those that underlie reproductive isolation between closely related species, have been a central focus of evolutionary biologists over the past two decades. Such phenotypes are thought to evolve rapidly and be nearly ubiquitous among sexually reproducing eukaryotes where females mate with multiple partners. Because these phenotypes represent interplay between the male ejaculate and female reproductive tract, they are fertile ground for reproductive senescence – as ejaculate composition and female physiology typically change over an individual's life span. Although these phenotypes and their resulting dynamics are important, we have little understanding of the proteins that mediate these phenotypes, particularly for species groups where postmating, prezygotic traits are the primary mechanism of reproductive isolation. Here, we utilize proteomics, RNAi, mating experiments, and the Allonemobius socius complex of crickets, whose members are primarily isolated from one another by postmating, prezygotic phenotypes (including the ability of a male to induce a female to lay eggs), to demonstrate that one of the most abundant ejaculate proteins (a male accessory gland-biased protein similar to a trypsin-like serine protease) decreases in abundance over a male's reproductive lifetime and mediates the induction of egg-laying in females. These findings represent one of the first studies to identify a protein that plays a role in mediating both a postmating, prezygotic isolation pathway and reproductive senescence.
Diets for Successful Aging

The effects of different dietary patterns on specific age-related illness and overall longevity are discussed.
Network Positioning from the Edge - An Empirical Study of the Effectiveness of Network Positioning in P2P Systems

Network positioning systems provide an important service to large- scale P2P systems, potentially enabling clients to achieve higher performance, reduce cross-ISP traffic and improve the robustness of the system to failures. Because traces representative of this environment are generally unavailable, and there is no platform suited for experimentation at the appropriate scale, network positioning systems have been commonly imple- mented and evaluated in simulation and on research testbeds. The performance of network positioning remains an open question for large deployments at the edges of the network. This paper evaluates how four key classes of network po- sitioning systems fare when deployed at scale and measured in P2P systems where they are used. Using 2 billion network measurements gathered from more than 43,000 IP addresses probing over 8 million other IPs worldwide, we show that network positioning exhibits noticeably worse performance than previously reported in studies conducted on research testbeds. To explain this result, we identify several key properties of this environment that call into question fundamental assumptions driving network positioning research.
No need to routinely discontinue anticoagulants before dental extractions

Question: In patients who need anticoagulant therapy and require dental extraction, is it safe to continue with anticoagulation? Aim To investigate whether people taking warfarin with an international normalised ratio (INR) within the normal therapeutic range require anticoagulants to be stopped before dental extractions. Design Randomised controlled trial of 117 patients in a hospital environment. Intervention The control group stopped taking warfarin 2 days before extraction if the INR was >2 and the procedure was rebooked for following day. The intervention group continued to take medication. If the INR was >4 on the day of the procedure the patient was withdrawn. The use of tranexamic acid mouth-rinse was not permitted. Extractions were performed under local anaesthetic using as atraumatic a technique as possible. Outcome measure Clinical notes and patient logbooks were used to record any complications. Results The rate of bleeding complications was higher in the group continuing with anticoagulation but the difference was not significant. Conclusions The study shows that dental extractions can be carried out safely in a hospital without stopping anticoagulation if the patient's INR is <4.1. Evans IL, Sayers MS, Gibbons AJ, Price G, Snooks H, Sugar AW. Can warfarin be continued during dental extraction? Results of a randomised controlled trial. Br J Oral Maxillofacial Surg 2002; 40:248–242
The impact of gender disempowerment on the welfare of Zimbabwean women

This article utilizes a feminist structural perspective in demonstrating how the cultural, economic, political and resource disempowerment of Zimbabwean women and children perpetuates impoverishment. It proposes strength-based community organizing for local and international social networking with grassroots women, NGOs, governments and other professionals to ensure women’s and children’s human rights.
Possible uniform-flux chiral spin liquid states in the SU(3) ring-exchange model on the triangular lattice

We consider a SU(3) model with antiferromagnetic three-site ring exchanges, in addition to two-site exchanges, on the triangular lattice. We first present numerical site-factorized state studies on the magnetic ordered states, which show two different three-sublattice-ordered states---the antiferroquadrupolar phase and the standard ${120}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ antiferromagnetic phase---along the axis of the strength of the three-site ring exchanges. We further study the model using slave-fermion mean field approaches in which we rewrite the exchange operators in terms of three flavors of fermions. At the mean-field level, we find that the main competing trial states are the trimer state (triangular plaquette state), gapped uniform $\ensuremath{\pi}/3$-flux chiral spin liquid, and gapped uniform $2\ensuremath{\pi}/3$-flux chiral spin liquid. The filled band of the $\ensuremath{\pi}/3$-flux chiral spin liquid has Chern number $+1$, and that of the $2\ensuremath{\pi}/3$-flux chiral spin liquid has Chern number $+2$. We also give the effective Chern-Simons theory for each chiral spin liquid at the mean-field level.
TEMPORAL TRENDS IN THE POPULATION ATTRIBUTABLE RISK FOR CORONARY HEART DISEASE: ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK IN COMMUNITIES STUDY

Whether the relative contributions of traditional risk factors to incident coronary heart disease (CHD) have changed over time, in the population at large or in important subgroups, is unclear. 14,682 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study participants (57% women, 27% black) were aged 52-66
Analysis of Dscam Diversity in Regulating Axon Guidance in Drosophila Mushroom Bodies

Dscam is an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily member that regulates axon guidance and targeting in Drosophila. Alternative splicing potentially generates 38,016 isoforms differing in their extracellular Ig and transmembrane domains. We demonstrate that Dscam mediates the sorting of axons in the developing mushroom body (MB). This correlates with the precise spatiotemporal pattern of Dscam protein expression. We demonstrate that MB neurons express different arrays of Dscam isoforms and that single MB neurons express multiple isoforms. Two different Dscam isoforms differing in their extracellular domains introduced as transgenes into single mutant cells partially rescued the mutant phenotype. Expression of one isoform of Dscam in a cohort of MB neurons induced dominant phenotypes, while expression of a single isoform in a single cell did not. We propose that different extracellular domains of Dscam share a common function and that differences in isoforms expressed on the surface of neighboring axons influence interactions between them.
Gabapentin for relief of upper motor neuron symptoms in multiple sclerosis

Abstract Objective: To examine the efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of spasticity and painful muscle spasms in patients with multiple sclerosis. Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Setting: Free-standing, 93-bed, university-affiliated rehabilitation hospital. Participants: There were 15 patients between the ages of 18 and 50 who had laboratory-supported definite multiple sclerosis with spasticity and leg cramps severe enough to interfere with daily activities, including sleep. Intervention: The patients received the placebo or 400mg gabapentin orally three times a day for 48 hours with an 11-day washout period. If the patients were on currently accepted modes of therapy, including oral baclofen, their current medication was not changed. Main Outcome Measures: The outcome measures were Visual Faces Scale rating, Kurtzke Disability Scale, quantitative surface electromyography, Ashworth Scale, presence or absence of clonus in response to rapid ankle dorsiflexion and wrist extension, presence or absence of reflex withdrawal in response to nailbed pressure to the first finger, and assessment of Babinski response. Results: Statistically significant improvements for the gabapentin-treated patients were found in the Ashworth Scale, Visual Faces Scale, and Kurtzke Disability Scale. Conclusions: At a dose of 400mg orally three times a day, gabapentin may be of value in the treatment of the spasticity and painful muscle cramping experienced by patients with multiple sclerosis.
Comparative Species Richness in Fluctuating and Constant Environments: Coral-Associated Decapod Crustaceans

The number of decapod species associated with the coral Pocillopora damicornis is compared between two regions on the Pacific coast of Panama which are of the same geologic age but differ in environmental characteristics. The relationship between number of species and coral head size does not differ between the two regions but species composition among coral heads is more variable in the fluctuating environment. Thus there are more species (55 compared to 37) associated with corals in the fluctuating environment than in the constant environment. These data impugn the concept that environmental constancy increases species richness. They support the hypothesis that species equilibrium within habitats is maintained by measurable ecological factors—in this case, the effects of a natural physical disturbance .
Clinical Implications of the Relationship Between Attention‐Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders

The author explores the nature of the relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and psychoactive substance use disorder (PSUD). Researchers of ADHD in children and adolescents have posited that the development of conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder is an unavoidable step in the path to PSUD. Some investigators of adult substance abusers do not subscribe to this opinion, and others give considerable weight to the self-medication theory. me choice of cocaine as a preferred drug for self-medication by adults with attention deficit disorder has been specifically reported. me author presents a critical review of this issue as well as methodological, nosological, and interpretive problems, and intervention implications.
A note on neutron capture correlation signals, backgrounds, and efficiencies

Abstract A wide variety of detection applications exploit the timing correlations that result from the slowing and eventual capture of neutrons. These include capture-gated neutron spectrometry, multiple neutron counting for fissile material detection and identification, and antineutrino detection. There are several distinct processes that result in correlated signals in these applications. Depending on the application, one class of correlated events can be a background that is difficult to distinguish from the class that is of interest. Furthermore, the correlation timing distribution depends on the neutron capture agent and detector geometry. Here, we explain the important characteristics of the neutron capture timing distribution, making reference to simulations and data from a number of detectors currently in use or under development. We point out several features that may assist in background discrimination, and that must be carefully accounted for if accurate detection efficiencies are to be quoted.
Discrimination ofBrettanomyces/Dekkerayeast isolates from wine by using various DNA finger-printing methods

In the recent yearsBrettanomyces/Dekkerayeasts are posing an increasingly severe quality problem in the wine industry. The early and specific detection of these yeasts is therefore needed. Here, we describe the application of genetic techniques in addition to routinely performed physiological tests to identify yeasts isolated from Cabernet Sauvignon wines characterized by wine-makers panels as having `betty' aromas.Brettanomyces/Dekkerareference strains from a type culture collection were included for comparison. A RAPD–PCR assay was developed for species- and strain-specific discrimination of these yeasts. These data were compared to the chromosomal patterns of uncleaved, Sfi 1-digested DNA, and to the physiological behavior of the yeasts. Karyotyping gave clear distinctions, but did not allow for relatedness studies due to the lack of pattern conservation among species and strains. Conversely, RAPD–PCR allowed for species discrimination within the genusBrettanomycesand strain discrimination within the speciesD. bruxellensis.All wine-isolatedBrettanomyces/Dekkerayeasts belonged to the speciesB. bruxellensis.Populations derived from one single clone were found in the 1992 and 1994 vintage wines, but in contrast, the 1989 yeast population differed from these two vintages: two different strains were found instead of a homogenous population. In conclusion, we show that RAPD–PCR can be successfully applied to discriminateBrettanomyces/Dekkerayeasts on the species and strain level, representing an accurate alternative to coventional physiological tests.
Effects of disopyramide on left ventricular function: Assessment by radionuclide cineangiography

Abstract To determine the effects of disopyramide on resting systolic left ventricular (LV) function and LV functional reserve, gated equilibrium radionuclide cineangiography was performed at rest and during maximal symptom-limited supine bicycle exercise in 12 patients after a single 300 mg oral loading dose of disopyramide, and in 22 patients (including the 12 patients just mentioned) after they received disopyramide 150 mg 4 times daily for 5 to 10 days (average 7). The oral loading dose (average serum level 3.6 ± 1.3 μg/ml [standard deviation]) produced decreases in ejection fraction in 9 of 12 patients with a decrease in average resting ejection fraction from 40 ± 15% to 33 ± 11% (p
Dissemination does not equal public engagement.

Engaging key decision-makers in your research—namely, potential funders, elected officials, donors, community leaders, advocacy organizations, potential students, patients, and the general public—is more crucial than ever. Only 31% of Americans believe scientists communicate the impact of
Controlling Diffusion of Light inside a Disordered Photonic Waveguide

We control diffusion of light inside a disordered waveguide by modifying the waveguide geometry. Our results demonstrate that the localization effects inside a disordered system can be enhanced via geometry without increasing the structural disorder.
Improving Intrusion Prevention Models: Dual-Threshold and Dual-Filter Approaches

Intrusion detection, once considered as the last line of defense in the layered architecture for technical security, is observed not to deliver the promised protection. It suffers from high false-alarm rates and puts too much of a burden on the information security officers. Intrusion prevention has evolved from intrusion detection technologies to overcome difficulties faced in intrusion detection and more actively encounter ever-increasing attacks. While intrusion prevention provides immediate/real-time protection, it suffers from two deficiencies, which are the sensitivity and specificity trade-off and the accuracy and efficiency trade-off. To address these issues, we introduce two models of intrusion prevention. The first model is for a hybrid system playing both detection and protection roles. The second model suggests the use of dual filters in the evaluation of activities. Mathematical programming formulations for both models are developed and optional configuration solutions are proposed.
Biomarkers for glioma immunotherapy: the next generation

The term “biomarker” historically refers to a single parameter, such as the expression level of a gene or a radiographic pattern, used to indicate a broader biological state. Molecular indicators have been applied to several aspects of cancer therapy: to describe the genotypic and phenotypic state of neoplastic tissue for prognosis, to predict susceptibility to anti-proliferative agents, to validate the presence of specific drug targets, and to evaluate responsiveness to therapy. For glioblastoma (GBM), immunohistochemical and radiographic biomarkers accessible to the clinical lab have informed traditional regimens, but while immunotherapies have emerged as potentially disruptive weapons against this diffusely infiltrating, heterogeneous tumor, biomarkers with strong predictive power have not been fully established. The cancer immunotherapy field, through the recently accelerated expansion of trials, is currently leveraging this wealth of clinical and biological data to define and revise the use of biomarkers for improving prognostic accuracy, personalization of therapy, and evaluation of responses across the wide variety of tumors. Technological advancements in DNA sequencing, cytometry, and microscopy have facilitated the exploration of more integrated, high-dimensional profiling of the disease system—incorporating both immune and tumor parameters—rather than single metrics, as biomarkers for therapeutic sensitivity. Here we discuss the utility of traditional GBM biomarkers in immunotherapy and how the impending transformation of the biomarker paradigm—from single markers to integrated profiles—may offer the key to bringing predictive, personalized immunotherapy to GBM patients.
Evolution of the tribological characteristics of several forming die materials

Abstract The purpose of the present study is to investigate the friction and wear characteristics of forming die materials. Three automotive sheet steels and five die materials were tested. The steels were aluminum-killed drawing quality (AKDQ) uncoated sheet, galvannealed sheet and hot-dipped galvanized sheet. The die materials were A2 tool steel, weld overlay, tungsten carbide, titanium nitride coated and zirconia. Bending-under-tension friction tests were performed to evaluate frictional characteristics and to examine the initial stages of wear. The sheet materials exhibited frictional characteristics that are relatively independent of the die surface. The galvannealed sheet had the greatest overall coefficient of friction, the hot-dipped galvanized coated sheet had the lowest and the AKDQ sheet had a value between that of the two coated sheets. Of the die materials tested, the tungsten carbide and the zirconia die materials exhibited the lowest coefficients of friction. The A2 tool steel and the tungsten carbide die materials maintained a relatively constant coefficient of friction throughout testing. Overall, the tungsten carbide die material had the best performance with respect to the lowest coefficient of friction and highest resistance to wear.
Bacteremia following colonoscopy

Although bacteria has been reported following proctosigmoidoscopy, bacteria of enteric origin were not cultured from the peripheral venous blood of 52 patients undergoing colonoscopy, with or without mucosal interruption.