cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Animal Models of Human Type I Diabetes

Experimental and clinical evidence indicates that human diabetes is not a single disease, but a heterogeneous group of syndromes having hyperglycemia as the common denominator (Fajans et al., 1978; Rotter and Rimoin., 1981; Nerup and Lernmark, 1981; Rizza et al., 1981). The diabetic syndromes in animals are similarly complex and include a broad spectrum of pathophysiology. Since hyperglyemic states in animals may or may not parallel the human diseases, (which are themselves ill-defined), animal syndromes should not be expected to serve as exact “models” of various types of diabetes in humans. However, they can be used to simulate certain genotypic or phenotypic expressions that may have a role in human diabetes. The availability of nondiabetic animals of genetic makeup similar or identical to their diabetic counterparts constitutes an important resource for diabetes research because these nondiabetic control animals can be used for physiological comparisons as well as tissue transplantation studies.
Youth Workers’ Role in Engaging Youth in Health Advocacy for Community-Level Change

Youth development professionals and volunteers, here referred to collectively as “youth workers,” need to be prepared to engage young people as health advocates. Youth workers need an understanding of public health principles; policy, systems, environment change approaches; and effective youth–adult strategies to move from viewing youth as participants to engaged leaders in community health issues. Embracing youth as partners will create effective partnerships and yield substantial positive health impacts for the youth, adults, and their communities.
Predictive Validity of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale among a Cohort of At-risk Veterans.

Objective To examine the psychometric properties of the Columbia- Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) among a cohort of veterans identified to be at risk for suicide. Method Convergent, divergent, and predictive validity of the C-SSRS were examined using secondary data from a study of veterans who presented to the psychiatric emergency room (n = 237). Data were collected 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months following emergency room discharge. Results Results demonstrated good evidence for convergent and divergent validity. Baseline intensity subscale scores predicted actual and interrupted attempts, and any behavior for all available data and for the subsample who had 6-month follow-up data, and also predicted preparatory behavior in the full sample. Baseline severity subscale scores predicted preparatory behavior and any behavior for the full sample and for those with 6 months of follow-up, and actual attempts for the full sample. Severity of ideation cutoff scores was significantly associated with actual attempts and any behavior in both samples. Adding a prior behavior criterion demonstrated similar results. Conclusions Findings suggest that the C-SSRS is a psychometrically sound measure that can be used to augment suicide risk assessment with veterans who are already identified to be at risk for suicide.
Efficient CdTe photovoltaics by co-passivating grain boundaries

Efficiency improvements in poly-CdTe can be achieved by fundamental understanding of the role of impurity atoms that can effectively passivate grain boundaries. In the present work, we investigated CdTe grain boundaries using TEM and SMIM, and studied effect of Se and Cu passivation on CdTe grain boundaries using first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Se and Cu segregation to grain boundaries are thermodynamically feasible. Both Cu and Se can effectively reduce midgap states, but most improvement was achieved when Cu and Se are co-doped together, which is predicted to increase the PV efficiency of CdTe. The study we presented can be extended to dopant studies in other solar cell materials.
Streptavidin cooperative allosterism upon binding biotin observed by differential changes in intrinsic fluorescence.

Abstract While the binding of biotin by streptavidin does not appear to be cooperative in the traditional sense of altered binding strength, it has been suggested that it may be cooperative in terms of differential structural changes in the protein. In this work we present intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence data as evidence of a cooperative structural change. The technique involves examination of the differences in fluorescence emission corresponding to distinct tryptophan populations accompanying protein-ligand binding. Specifically we note that the 335 nm emission population (i.e. more hydrophobic) saturates prior to the saturation of the 350 nm emission population commonly used in the standard binding activity assay. We also note that the wavelength of maximum emission, total integrated fluorescence emission and full width at half maximum during the titration of ligand into streptavidin also reach saturation before the expected 4:1 stoichiometric end point. This suggests that the binding of the first 3 biotins effect greater structural changes in the protein than the final ligand.
Unconditionally Stable Pressure-Correction Schemes for a Nonlinear Fluid-Structure Interaction Model

We consider in this paper numerical approximation of a nonlinear fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model with a fixed interface. We construct a new class of pressure-correction schemes for the FSI problem, and prove rigorously that they are unconditionally stable. These schemes are computationally very efficient, as they lead to, at each time step, a coupled linear elliptic system for the velocity and displacement in the whole region and a discrete Poisson equation in the fluid region.
Non-trapping surfaces of revolution with long-living resonances

We study resonances of surfaces of revolution obtained by removing a disk from a cone and attaching a hyperbolic cusp in its place. These surfaces include ones with non-trapping geodesic flow (every maximally extended non-reflected geodesic is unbounded) and yet infinitely many long-living resonances (resonances with uniformly bounded imaginary part, i.e., decay rate).
Cyberbullying, mental health, and violence in adolescents and associations with sex and race: data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Background. Cyberbullying is a serious issue among adolescents, but little is known about how demographics are associated with mental health conditions and violent behaviors. The present study examined the association of cyberbullying victimization with mental health conditions and violent behaviors among adolescents, specifically examining potential differences by sex and race. Methods. National data obtained from a representative sample of 9th to 12th grade students (N = 15 465) in the United States were examined using bivariate and logistic regression analysis. Results. More than 15% of students reported cyberbullying victimization. Females were twice as likely to report victimization than males, and non-white students were 50% less likely to report cyberbullying victimization. Cyberbullying victimization was significantly more likely in students who reported depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, carrying a weapon, and engaging in a physical fight. These associations were more pronounced in males. Conclusions. Our findings show that female and white adolescents are at increased risk of being cyberbullied. However, negative mental health outcomes and violent behaviors are more pronounced in males, indicating potential negative effects of being a cyberbullying victim based on sex. We envisage the best way to combat cyberbullying is to develop programs that are sensitive to potential demographic differences to empower students based on individual risks.
Using Bender’s Decomposition for Optimal Power Control and Routing in Multihop D2D Cellular Systems

In this paper, multihop device-to-device (D2D) communications for cell coverage extension are studied. An in-band underlay D2D mode is considered, and the aim is to satisfy the signal-to-noise-ratio requirements for pre-allocated resource blocks (RBs) on the downlink connections, the signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio requirements on pre-allocated RBs for every D2D sidelink connection, and a maximum allowable interference at the base station receiver on all uplink RBs. Power control and routing are performed to minimize the expended user equipment energy in the system while meeting these requirements. An optimization problem is formulated that turns out to be a mixed-integer nonlinear program, which is solved using the generalized Benders decomposition (GBD). The GBD breaks down the formulation into a master sub-problem, an auxiliary sub-problem, and a feasibility sub-problem. In this paper, we focus on finding efficient solution methods for the relaxed version of the master sub-problem that is responsible for generating lower bounds on the optimal objective function. Also, an efficient solution technique for the feasibility sub-problem is proposed. Furthermore, a benchmark disjoint scheme for the same problem is proposed, which performs routing and power control separately. The simulations are conducted to compare the performance of both schemes, which show the superiority of joint routing and power control scheme.
When does anger boost status

Abstract A substantial literature asserts that anger expressions boost status. Across seven studies (N = 4027), we demonstrate that this assertion is often wrong. Rather than boosting status, many anger expressions predictably diminish status. We find that the intensity of expressed anger profoundly influences social perceptions and status conferral. Compared to mildly or moderately angry individuals, extremely angry people are perceived to be less competent and warm, and are thus accorded less status. We also contrast expressions of anger with expressions of sadness across different levels of intensity. At low levels of intensity anger expressions boost status conferral compared to sadness expressions and a neutral control condition, but at high levels of intensity anger expressions harm status conferral compared to sadness expressions and a neutral control condition. Taken together, our findings reveal that the relationship between expressed emotion and status is far more nuanced than prior work has assumed, and that the magnitude of an emotion can substantively moderate its effects.
Impact of postoperative complications on oncologic outcomes after rectal cancer surgery: An analysis of the United States Rectal Cancer Consortium.

41Background: Postoperative complications (POCs) are associated with worse oncologic outcomes in several cancer types. The implications of complications after rectal cancer surgery are not known. M...
Sport as a vehicle of change for livelihoods, social participation and marital health for the youth: Findings from a prospective cohort in Bihar, India.

Abstract Background Adolescent participation in pro-social activities such as sport can promote identity formation, self-efficacy and social support, but its benefits in India remain unassessed. We examined longitudinal effects of adolescent sport participation on economic, social and political engagement, marital health and family planning among young adults in India. Methods We analyzed prospective data from unmarried adolescents (n = 2,322, ages 15–19) who participated in the Youth in India 2007–8 study (wave 1) and were followed in the UDAYA study 2015–16 (wave 2), in Bihar, India. Sport participation was assessed in wave 1. Outcomes assessed in wave 2 were economic engagement (vocational training, past year paid employment), social group participation, political participation, marriage (any and prior to 18), and among those married, marital violence [MV] and contraceptive use. We used logistic and multinomial models to assess longitudinal associations between sport and our outcomes, adjusting for age, residence and wealth at baseline and secondary schooling completion at follow-up. Results In multivariate models for males, adolescent sport participation was associated with higher odds of vocational training [AOR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.17, 3.15], social program engagement [AOR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.15], and a trend effect for political participation [AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 0.97, 2.24]. Among females, sport in adolescence was associated with lower child marriage [ARRR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.96], and higher vocational training [AOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.16] and family planning use [AOR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.63]. Crude effects were noted for delayed marriage, paid work and perpetration of marital violence among males. Interpretation Evidence from India shows that sport can be an instrument supporting pro-social engagement for boys and girls. Further understanding of the gendered nature of sport and the mechanisms linking sport to agency among youth is needed. Funding This work was supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation (Grant number: 2017-66705).
Improved analysis framework for axion dark matter searches

In experiments searching for axionic dark matter, the use of the standard threshold-based data analysis discards valuable information. We present a Bayesian analysis framework that builds on an existing processing protocol [B. M. Brubaker, L. Zhong, S. K. Lamoreaux, K. W. Lehnert, and K. A. van Bibber, Phys. Rev. D 96, 123008 (2017)] to extract more information from the data of coherent axion detectors such as operating haloscopes. The analysis avoids logical subtleties that accompany the standard analysis framework and enables greater experimental flexibility on future data runs. Performing this analysis on the existing data from the HAYSTAC experiment, we find improved constraints on the axion-photon coupling ${g}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ while also identifying the most promising regions of parameter space within the $23.15--24.0\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$ mass range. A comparison with the standard threshold analysis suggests a 36% improvement in scan rate from our analysis, demonstrating the utility of this framework for future axion haloscope analyses.
Chemical Lands: Pesticides, Aerial Spraying, and Health in North America's Grasslands Since 1945

Review of: Chemical Lands: Pesticides, Aerial Spraying, and Health in North America’s Grasslands Since 1945, by David D. Vail.
Virome Variation during Sea Star Wasting Disease Progression in Pisaster ochraceus (Asteroidea, Echinodermata)

Sea star wasting disease (SSWD) is a condition that has affected asteroids for over 120 years, yet mechanistic understanding of this wasting etiology remains elusive. We investigated temporal virome variation in two Pisaster ochraceus specimens that wasted in the absence of external stimuli and two specimens that did not experience SSWD for the duration of our study, and compared viromes of wasting lesion margin tissues to both artificial scar margins and grossly normal tissues over time. Global assembly of all SSWD-affected tissue libraries resulted in 24 viral genome fragments represented in >1 library. Genome fragments mostly matched densoviruses and picornaviruses with fewer matching nodaviruses, and a sobemovirus. Picornavirus-like and densovirus-like genome fragments were most similar to viral genomes recovered in metagenomic study of other marine invertebrates. Read recruitment revealed only two picornavirus-like genome fragments that recruited from only SSWD-affected specimens, but neither was unique to wasting lesions. Wasting lesion margin reads recruited to a greater number of viral genotypes (i.e., richness) than did either scar tissue and grossly normal tissue reads. Taken together, these data suggest that no single viral genome fragment was associated with SSWD. Rather, wasting lesion margins may generally support viral proliferation.
NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a coenzyme for redox reactions, making it central to energy metabolism. NAD+ is also an essential cofactor for non-redox NAD+-dependent enzymes, including sirtuins, CD38 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases. NAD+ can directly and indirectly influence many key cellular functions, including metabolic pathways, DNA repair, chromatin remodelling, cellular senescence and immune cell function. These cellular processes and functions are critical for maintaining tissue and metabolic homeostasis and for healthy ageing. Remarkably, ageing is accompanied by a gradual decline in tissue and cellular NAD+ levels in multiple model organisms, including rodents and humans. This decline in NAD+ levels is linked causally to numerous ageing-associated diseases, including cognitive decline, cancer, metabolic disease, sarcopenia and frailty. Many of these ageing-associated diseases can be slowed down and even reversed by restoring NAD+ levels. Therefore, targeting NAD+ metabolism has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach to ameliorate ageing-related disease, and extend the human healthspan and lifespan. However, much remains to be learnt about how NAD+ influences human health and ageing biology. This includes a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate NAD+ levels, how to effectively restore NAD+ levels during ageing, whether doing so is safe and whether NAD+ repletion will have beneficial effects in ageing humans. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a central redox factor and enzymatic cofactor that functions in a plethora of cellular processes, including metabolic pathways and DNA metabolism, and affects cell fate and function. NAD+ levels gradually decline with age, and therapeutic elevation of NAD+ levels is being trialled for extending human healthspan and lifespan.
Trauma Registries and Other Data Sources

In this chapter, we discuss the essential role that the trauma registry plays in performance improvement: what the registry is used for, how to administer it, how to validate data, and the difference between trauma research and trauma PI. This chapter will not be a complete discussion of registry operations, but it describes the ways in which the trauma registry can be used to enhance performance improvement. The registry should also be available to analyze outcomes of populations of patients and answer specific research questions.
Psychoactive Substance Use Among Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Patterns and Characteristics.

Abstract Objective To identify the patterns of nonprescription psychoactive substance (PAS) use among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and the relationships with demographic and injury characteristics. Design Cross-sectional, self-report assessment (SRA). Setting A medical university in the southeastern United States. Participants The participants (N=4670) were identified through a specialty hospital and 2 state-based surveillance registries. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Participants completed SRAs and reported the past 3 months’ use of the following substances for which they did not have a prescription: cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, inhalants, sedatives/hypnotics and sleeping pills, hallucinogens, and opioids. PAS use was grouped into 4 categories: none, cannabis use only, use of cannabis and other PAS, and use of other PAS only. Results Of the 4577 participants who responded to the PAS use questions, 24.1% reported using at least 1 PAS without a prescription. Cannabis was the most frequently reported substance (16.4%), followed by sedatives or sleeping pills (8.0%). By PAS use group, 12.1% reported use of cannabis use only, followed by use of other PAS only (7.7%) and use of cannabis and other PAS (4.3%). There were significant differences among the groups of use by nearly all personal characteristics. Conclusions The use of nonprescription PASs is prevalent among adults with chronic SCI, and there are clear differences in patterns and characteristics of use.
Juan Montaño Escobar, el jazzman de Black Lives Matter, y su son de los 8 minutos 46 segundos

This essay analyses the Ecuadorian Juan Montano Escobar’s literary response to the Black Lives Movement and the tragic death of George F. Floyd, Jr. on May 25, 2020. More than a protest or denouncement, Montano Escobar presents a declaration of collective appropriation of those 8 minutes 46 seconds in order to reclaim them as an act of (re)existence and (re)signification precisely because Black Lives Matter and because the movement transcends its time and place as it highlights the systemic racism that defines the history of the Americas.
Advances in Carburizing — Vacuum Carburizing

Steel components having appropriate combinations of wear resistance, mechanical strength, impact strength, etc., especially at higher temperatures (above 500°F) can be produced by employing the well-known conventional carburizing process or a suitably modified process. In carburizing a carbon-rich layer ranging from ~.005 inch to more than ~.100 inch is produced on some or all of the surfaces of a relatively low carbon component. By suitable post-carburizing treatment the carbon-rich layer can be caused to be quite hard (> 60 Rc) but also relatively brittle while the low carbon interior (< 35 RQ) retains adequate strength and ductility.
Patient Satisfaction Surveys and Treatment of Pain in the Emergency Department (ED) Setting

After receiving low marks in the latest Press Ganey patient satisfaction survey, an emergency physician (EP) was counseled by the medical director of his group, who stated that patient satisfaction metrics were an important component of performance evaluation, that financial incentives were tied to these results, and that suboptimal results influence hospital decisions regarding contract renewal for the entire physician group. During the physician's next shift, a 42-year-old female presented with pelvic pain. She was visiting from a distant city, and had a long history of both chronic and recurrent pain for which she had been taking hydromorphone 6 mg capsules every 3 hours for progressively increasing pain over 3 days. She had run out of medication, …
Consumer-Directed Home and Community Services Programs in Eight States: Policy Issues for Older People and Government

This study assesses consumer-directed home and community services for older persons by examining public programs that serve this population in eight states. These programs give beneficiaries, rather than agencies, the power to hire, train, supervise, and fire workers. Most stakeholders interviewed, in addition to the quantitative research, indicate that many older beneficiaries want to and can manage their services, although significant issues arise for persons with cognitive impairments. Research results suggest better, or, at least, no worse, quality of life for beneficiaries when they direct their services, although quality of services remains a contentious issue. For workers, consumer-directed care has some disadvantages, including fewer fringe benefits. With exceptions, state agencies have not provided extensive consumer or worker support of aggressively regulated quality of care. (Journal of Aging and Social Policy 2001 12(4); 1-2).
Balloon-assisted Onyx embolization of cerebral single-channel pial arteriovenous fistulas

Object Pial arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) of the brain are rare vascular malformations associated with significant risks of hemorrhage and neurological deficit. Depending on their location and high-flow dynamics, these lesions can present treatment challenges for both endovascular and open cerebrovascular surgeons. The authors describe a novel endovascular treatment strategy that was used successfully to treat 2 pediatric patients with a pial AVF, and they discuss the technical nuances specific to their treatment strategy. Methods A single-channel high-flow pial AVF was diagnosed in 2 male patients (6 and 17 years of age). Both patients were treated with endovascular flow arrest using a highly conformable balloon followed by Onyx infusion for definitive closure of the fistula. Results Neither patient suffered a complication as a result of the procedure. At the 6-month follow-up in both cases, the simple discontinuation of blood flow had resulted in durable obliteration of the fistula and stable or improve...
Recent advances in leaky-wave antennas

Recent advances in leaky-wave antennas are reviewed, with special emphasis on achieving radiation at broadside and endfire (often challenging for leaky-wave antennas). The interesting optical phenomenon known as directive beaming from periodic plasmonic structures is also discussed and related to leaky-wave antennas.
Optional Federal Chartering of Insurance: Rationale and Design of a Regulatory Structure

The U.S. insurance industry is primarily regulated by the states. This is in contrast to the regulatory structure for other financial intermediaries which have a federal regulator. Banks, for example, may choose to be regulated by either the federal government or by the states. Recent legislation proposes to provide a similar optional federal chartering (OFC) system for insurers. Given the proposed legislation we make two contributions to the discussion. First, we examine the case for optional federal charters focusing on the costs and benefits of regulation at the federal versus the state level and conclude that and optional federal chartering system dominates the status quo. Second, we add to the discussion by describing what additional issues need to be addressed if we adopt an insurance OFC system. While the merits of OFC have been much debated, comparatively little consideration has been given to the matter of how such a system should function if enacted.
The effect of salt and site-directed mutations on the iron(III)-binding site of human serum transferrin as probed by EPR spectroscopy.

The effects of site-directed mutation and salt on the iron(III)-binding site of the recombinant half-molecule of the N-terminal lobe (hTf/2N) of human transferrin was studied by EPR spectroscopy. Changes were observed in the EPR spectra of all variants investigated (D63S, D63C, G65R, K206Q, H207E, H249E, H249Q, K296E and K296Q) compared with that of the wild-type protein. The most pronounced changes in the metal site were caused by replacement of the coordinating residues, Asp-63 and His-249, and the non-coordinating residue Lys-296, which is located in the hinge region of the iron-binding cleft. The EPR spectral changes from replacement of other non-coordinating residues were more subtle, indicating small changes in Fe3+ coordination to the protein. The EPR spectrum of variant G65R suggests that it adopts two distinct conformations in solution, one in which the two domains forming the iron-binding cleft are closed and one in which they are open; in the latter instance Asp-63 is no longer coordinated to the Fe3+. Chloride-binding studies on hTf/2N, K206Q, H207E, K296Q and K296E showed similar binding isotherms, indicating that none of the hinge region residues replaced, i.e. Lys-206, His-207 or Lys-296, are the sites of chloride binding. The results show that the coordination environment of the Fe3+ is sensitive to structural changes from site-directed mutation of both remote and coordinated residues and also to chloride-binding and ionic strength effects.
Distributed process networks in Java

Kahn (1974, 1977) defined a formal model for networks of processes that communicate through channels carrying streams of data tokens. His mathematical results show the necessary conditions for an implementation to be determinate, that is, for the results of the computation to be identical whether the processes are executed sequentially, concurrently, or in parallel. In our Java implementation channels enforce blocking reads and each process has its own thread in order to ensure determinacy and avoid deadlock. The network connections required to maintain the communication channels between processes executing on separate servers are automatically established when parts of the program graph are distributed to other servers by Java object serialization. Our Java implementation of process networks is suitable for execution on a single computer, a cluster of servers on a high-speed LAN, or geographically dispersed servers on the Internet.
Efficiency in the water industry

Abstract This paper considers the use of efficiency measurement in the regulation of the water industry in England, Wales, and Scotland. Ofwat employs econometric models; some examples of these are provided together with an explanation of the way Ofwat applies them to the financial model for each company. Finally we consider the question of the accuracy of these models and conclude that, while the models probably do contain information about companies' scope for cost reductions, Ofwat probably overestimates the quality of its models. Specifically Ofwat's estimate that 90% of the water model residuals and 80% of the sewerages models can be attributed to efficiency has not been given an explicit justification and probably overstates the case.
Distortion in Memory for Emotions: The Contributions of Personality and Post-Event Knowledge

Undergraduates (N = 189) rated their test anxiety and emotions immediately before a midterm examination and recalled those feelings 1 week later. Students who learned they had done well on the exam underestimated, and those who learned they had done poorly overestimated, pre-exam test anxiety. Personality traits and emotional states together predicted memory distortion. Specifically, traits predicted the intensity of pre-exam states, such as test anxiety, which in turn predicted later distortion in recalling pre-exam negative and positive emotions. Also, students with positive personality traits were particularly likely to be influenced by current feelings when recalling test anxiety. Overestimating pre-midterm test anxiety predicted intentions to study more as well as feelings of unpleasantness just prior to the final exam.
Relative ecological footprints based on resource usage efficiency per capita: macro-level segmentation of 121 countries

This paper makes a vital contribution to the fields of sustainability studies, environmental policy-making and green business planning by presenting evidence that contradicts widely accepted conventional wisdom about the relative environmental efficiency of countries as determined by resource usage per capita. Using model-based cluster analysis, this study forms and compares groups of countries that are statistically similar in terms of their global ecological impact per person. The three measures of efficiency – energy consumption per capita, emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) per capita, and per capita paper and paper products consumption – are all related to a country's comparative resource usage efficiency and contribution to climate change, a primary global concern. The authors offer theoretical and practical motivations for using model-based cluster analysis as well as provide interpretation and insight of the resulting clusters.
Studies on the effect of phenobarbital on γ-glutamyl transferase activity in various housefly strains

Abstract The effect of pretreatment with phenobarbital (PB) on γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity in an insecticide-susceptible housefly strain (CSMA) and three insecticide-resistant housefly strains (Fc, Rutgers, and Hirokawa) was investigated. Pretreatment with PB had little if any effect on GGT activity in the susceptible and resistant housefly strains, indicating that not all the enzymes involved in mercapturic acid biosynthesis in the housefly are inducible.
Harmonic analysis with a MEMS-based Raman spectrometer

This paper discusses the incorporation of a novel method of signal processing with a MEMS Raman-based chemical/biological sensor. The method utilizes an absolute sum-difference calculation performed on the FFT of a periodic Raman signal that will be obtained from the MEMS sensor. The result of the sum-difference calculation is used in a threshold determination of the presence of an analyte of interest.
Blunt pelvic trauma with urethral injury in the female: A case report and review of the literature

A case of blunt pelvic trauma with injury to the urethra in a female is reported. Although uncommon, this type of injury is by no means as rare as previously thought. If the morbidity associated with delayed diagnosis is to be avoided, urethral injury should be a consideration in any case of major pelvic trauma in females.
Transventricular Balloon Catheter Aortic Valvotomy in Neonates

Surgical intervention for critical aortic stenosis in neonates is associated with an appreciable risk. Refinements in the technique of aortic valvotomy have been developed in an attempt to lower the operative mortality. This case report summarizes our experience with transventricular balloon dilation of critical aortic stenosis in 2 neonates. Both patients survived operation with objective evidence of hemodynamic improvement.
Response of the photosynthetic apparatus of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae) to nitrate, phosphate, or iron starvation

The effects of nitrate, phosphate, and iron starvation and resupply on photosynthetic pigments, selected photosynthetic proteins, and photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry were examined in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin (CCMP 1327). Although cell chlorophyll a (chl a) content decreased in nutrient-starved cells, the ratios of light-harvesting accessory pigments (chl c and fucoxanthin) to chl a were unaffected by nutrient starvation. The chl a-specific light absorpition coefficient (a*) and the functional absorption cross-section of PSII (σ) increased during nutrient starvation, consistent with reduction of intracellular self-shading (i.e. a reduction of the “package effect”) as cells became chlorotic. The light-harvesting complex proteins remained a constant proportion of total cell protein during nutrient starvation, indicating that chlorosis mirrored a general reduction in cell protein content. The ratio of the xanthophylls cycle pigments diatoxanthin and diadinoxanthin to chl a increased during nutrient starvation. These pigments are thought to play a photo-protective role by increasing dissipation of excitation energy in the pigment bed upstream from the reaction centers. Despite the increase in diatoxanthin and diadinoxanthin, the efficiency of PSII photochemistry, as measured by the ration of variable to maximum fluorescence (Fv/Fm) of dark-adapted cells, declined markedly under nitrate and iron starvation and moderately under phosphate starvation. Parallel to changes in Fv/Fm were decreases in abundance of the reaction center protein D1 consistent with damage of PSII reaction centers in nutrient-starved cells. The relative abundance of the carboxylating enzyme, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RUBISCO), decreased in response to nitrate and iron starvation but not phosphate starvation. Most marked was the decline in the abundance of the small subunit of RUBISCO in nitrate-starved cells. The changes in pigment content and fluorescence characteristics were typically reversed within 24 h of resupply of the limiting nutrient.
Production of Muramic δ-Lactam in Bacillus subtilis Spore Peptidoglycan

Bacterial spore heat resistance is primarily dependent upon dehydration of the spore cytoplasm, a state that is maintained by the spore peptidoglycan wall, the spore cortex. A peptidoglycan structural modification found uniquely in spores is the formation of muramic δ-lactam. Production of muramic δ-lactam in Bacillus subtilis requires removal of a peptide side chain from the N -acetylmuramic acid residue by a cwlD -encoded muramoyl-l-Alanine amidase. Expression of cwlD takes place in both the mother cell and forespore compartments of sporulating cells, though expression is expected to be required only in the mother cell, from which cortex synthesis derives. Expression of cwlD in the forespore is in a bicistronic message with the upstream gene ybaK . We show that ybaK plays no apparent role in spore peptidoglycan synthesis and that expression of cwlD in the forespore plays no significant role in spore peptidoglycan formation. Peptide cleavage by CwlD is apparently followed by deacetylation of muramic acid and lactam ring formation. The product of pdaA ( yfjS ), which encodes a putative deacetylase, has recently been shown to also be required for muramic δ-lactam formation. Expression of CwlD in Escherichia coli results in muramoyl l-Alanine amidase activity but no muramic δ-lactam formation. Expression of PdaA alone in E. coli had no effect on E. coli peptidoglycan structure, whereas expression of CwlD and PdaA together resulted in the formation of muramic δ-lactam. CwlD and PdaA are necessary and sufficient for muramic δ-lactam production, and no other B. subtilis gene product is required. PdaA probably carries out both deacetylation and lactam ring formation and requires the product of CwlD activity as a substrate.
Bayesian multiple response kernel regression model for high dimensional data and its practical applications in near infrared spectroscopy

Non-linear regression based on reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS) has recently become very popular in fitting high-dimensional data. The RKHS formulation provides an automatic dimension reduction of the covariates. This is particularly helpful when the number of covariates (p) far exceed the number of data points. In this paper, we introduce a Bayesian nonlinear multivariate regression model for high-dimensional problems. Our model is suitable when we have multiple correlated observed response corresponding to same set of covariates. We introduce a robust Bayesian support vector regression model based on a multivariate version of Vapnik's @e-insensitive loss function. The likelihood corresponding to the multivariate Vapnik's @e-insensitive loss function is constructed as a scale mixture of truncated normal and gamma distribution. The regression function is constructed using the finite representation of a function in the reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS). The kernel parameter is estimated adaptively by assigning a prior on it and using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques for computation. Practical applications of our model are demonstrated via applications in near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and simulation studies. Our Bayesian kernel models are highly accurate in predicting composition of materials based on its near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy signature. We have compared our method with popularly used methodologies in NIR spectroscopy, like partial least square (PLS), principal component regression (PCA), support vector machine (SVM), Gaussian process regression (GPR), and random forest (RF). In all the simulation and real case studies, our multivariate Bayesian RKHS regression model outperforms the standard methods by a substantially large margin. The implementation of our models based on MCMC is fairly fast and straight forward.
Pancreatic cancer: current standards, working towards a new therapeutic approach.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths with a 5-year survival of 4–6%. Clinical challenges remain to be addressed, since few promising approaches to treat pancreatic cancer have been reported. Here we discuss the potential of a new biotherapeutic agent composed of a lysosomal protein (Saposin C, SapC) and an acidic phospholipid (dioleoylphosphatidylserine, DOPS) which can be assembled into stable nanovesicles (SapC-DOPS) for tackling pancreatic cancer. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a lipid biomarker on membrane surface of pancreatic cancer cells and can be effectively targeted by SapC-DOPS nanovesicles for cancer-selective therapy. SapC-DOPS nanovesicles have shown excellent pre-clinical therapeutic and safety profiles. Safety profiles which suggests that this new approach is potentially a viable option for pancreatic cancer therapy that is worthy of further clinical development.
Gastroesophageal Reflux in Infants and Children

Gastroesophageal reflux is a common pediatric complaint and a frequent reason for pediatric patients to be referred to a gastroenterologist. The pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of this disorder differ according to patient age. The diagnosis is suggested by the history and can be confirmed by a pH probe. In the appropriate clinical setting, anatomic obstruction may need to be ruled out by contrast study. Endoscopy is used to assess associated complications, including esophagitis, esophageal strictures, Barrett's transformation, and failure to thrive. Other complications are controversial, including pulmonary disease, apnea, and sudden infant death syndrome. Treatment depends on the severity of disease. Conservative therapy includes behavorial modifications, prokinetic agents, and H2 antagonists. Proton pump inhibitors are generally reserved for refractory esophagitis. Surgical treatment may be necessary for gastroesophageal reflux resistant to medical management or for severe complications. Gastroesophageal reflux beyond infancy tends to be chronic; therefore, lifelong behavioral modifications or repeated courses of medical therapy may be necessary. An algorithm for the suggested diagnostic approach to gastroesophageal reflux is presented herein.
Phase and Pupil Amplitude Recovery for JWST Space-Optics Control

Phase and pupil amplitude recovery are presented for the JWST NIRCam using OMA test data. Two algorithm approaches are considered to establish error bars and to provide an optical characterization of the NIRCam.
Mating system of Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

. 1 We report on the mating system of a field population of the parasitic wasp, Bracon hebetor, on a corn pile infested by the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella. We demonstrate that the mating system is based upon male scramble competition polygyny with male aggregations on high places on the corn. 2 The sex ratio among adults was greater than 80% males on the surface of the corn, whereas below the surface the sex ratio was less than 45%. Males actively courted females on the surface, but there were no aggressive interactions among males during courtship or mating. 3 Approximately 20% of the females found on the surface of the corn had no sperm in their spermathecae, regardless of age, but the numbers of unmated females decreased later during the day. 4 In laboratory studies we showed that females from this population oviposit a female biassed sex ratio, and that only 14% of females were mated before dispersing from their place of emergence. 5 Thus sib-mating is unlikely in this gregarious parasitoid. This outcrossing mating system probably arose because of severe inbreeding depression that B.hebetor suffers via a sex locus: diploids that are heterozygous at the sex locus develop into females, but homozygous diploids are male and are generally inviable. The female biassed sex ratio may have evolved in B. hebetor in response to males being the more expensive sex, females dispersing more frequently from the population than males, or a fraction of females remaining unmated in the population.
Effect of peak radius on design of W-type donut shaped laser textured surfaces

Friction/stiction behavior of ultra high density magnetic disk drives can be controlled by controlling the size and shape of the laser bumps using a laser texturing tool. Different laser bump parameters like rim radius, rim height, peak radius and number of bumps (under the slider) play an important role in the design of laser textured disk surfaces. In the present study, an algorithm is developed for generation of W-type laser bumps on the computer. W-type laser surfaces with a Gaussian height distribution have been generated and contact analyses of these surfaces have been carried out. Design curves have been generated to calculate critical number of asperities required to minimize wear and stiction. Effect of the coefficient of friction on the number of bumps has also been studied.
An error-correcting system for mobile radio data transmission

An error-correcting system for mobile radio data transmission with improved reliability and simple implementation is presented here. The new rate one-half code absolutely corrects two errors within 12 consecutive bits, while the (15, 7, 2) Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenquem (BCH) code corrects two errors within 15 bits and Hagelbarger's code corrects two errors within 14 bits. Error propagation in the feedback majority logic decoder is discussed, and it is proved empirically that the new code does not propagate infinite errors. In order to correct burst errors, a 12-column interleaving is proposed for fading channels.
The soliton solutions of (1 + 3)-dimensional real ø6 field theory at finite temperature

Abstract By means of the method of coherent states and generalised Bogoliubov transformation, the isotropic soliton solutions and the anisotropic soliton solutions of (1 + 3)-dimensional real o 6 field at finite temperature are given. We find that the energy of the anisotropic soliton is higher than that of the isotropic soliton. Two critical temperatures, one corresponding to the topological soliton disappearance and the other to the symmetry breaking restoration, are given.
Bending granite revisited: the command rank structure of American police organizations

For 30 years, critics have noted a number of ailments caused by police rank structure. This paper adds to this literature by exploring the command rank structure of American police organizations in four parts. First, police rank structure is defined. Second, the hypothesized problems and benefits of tall rank structures are culled from the prior literature and described. A review of these contentions finds little reason to believe that tall rank structures are either beneficial or detrimental. Third, a systematic review of empirical studies of a range of organizations reveals that the impact of rank structure on three classes of organizational attributes is not wholly clear. This article closes with suggestions for conducting research to better ascertain the impact of hierarchy on police agencies, and how police executives can apply this knowledge.
PU.1 Functions in a Cell-Autonomous Manner to Control the Differentiation of Multipotential Lymphoid–Myeloid Progenitors

Abstract Transcription factor PU.1 is required for the development of lymphoid and myeloid progenitors during fetal hematopoiesis. By generating chimeric animals using PU.1 −/− ES cells or PU.1 −/− hematopoietic progenitors, we demonstrate that PU.1 functions in an exclusively cell-autonomous manner to regulate the development of the lymphoid–myeloid system. Multipotential lymphoid–myeloid progenitors (AA4.1 + , Lin − ) are significantly reduced in PU.1 −/− embryos and fail to differentiate into B lymphoid or myeloid cells in vitro. These results suggest that the lymphoid and myeloid lineages develop in the fetal liver from a common hematopoietic progenitor not shared with erythrocytes and megakaryocytes. Finally, the Ikaros gene is expressed in PU.1 mutant embryos, suggesting that PU.1 and Ikaros are independently required for specification of embryonic lymphoid cell fates.
The Qatar cardiovascular biorepository (QCBio): Design and progress to date

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) poses a major health burden in the Gulf countries. Knowledge of novel genetic and proteomic markers of CHD will provide more precise estimates of risk while defining the pathways important in individual patients, revealing new targets for intervention, and ultimately enabling an individualized approach to care. We describe design of a biorepository with linkage to medical records to facilitate discovery of biomarkers for CHD. Methods: The goal of the Qatar Cardiovascular Biorepository (QCBio) is to archive plasma and DNA of 1000 Qatari patients with CHD and 1000 age, gender, and ethnicity-matched controls who have no history of CHD. Cases will include patients needing percutaneous intervention for symptomatic CHD or admitted with an acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction or unstable angina). Controls will be identified from the blood bank as adults who have no history of CHD. Relevant risk factors and comorbid conditions will be ascertained by electronic me...