cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SAMPLING PROPERTIES OF ESTIMATORS OF NUCLEOTIDE DIVERSITY AT DISCOVERED SNP SITES

SNP sites are generally discovered by sequencing regions of the human genome in a limited number of individuals. This may leave SNP sites present in the region, but containing rare mutant nucleotides, undetected. Consequently, estimates of nucleotide diversity obtained from assays of detected SNP sites are biased. In this research we present a statistical model of the SNP discovery process, which is used to evaluate the extent of this bias. This model involves the symmetric Beta distribution of variant frequencies at SNP sites, with an additional probability that there is no SNP at any given site. Under this model of allele frequency distributions at SNP sites, we show that nucleotide diversity is always underestimated. However, the extent of bias does not seem to exceed 10‐15% for the analyzed data. We find that our model of allele frequency distributions at SNP sites is consistent with SNP statistics derived based on new SNP data at ATM, BLM, RQL and WRN gene regions. The application of the theory to these new SNP data as well as to the literature data at the LPL gene region indicates that in spite of ascertainment biases, the observed differences of nucleotide diversity across these gene regions are real. This provides interesting evidence concerning the heterogeneity of the rates of nucleotide substitution across the genome.
Regulation of cell proliferation: late down-regulation of c-myb preceding myelo-monocytic cell differentiation.

Expression of the c-myb nuclear oncogene during the cell proliferation and differentiation of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells was characterized and compared to the expression of c-fos, another nuclear oncogene with transcriptional regulatory activity. During progression through the cell cycle, the amount of c-myb protein increased. The increase was commensurate with total cell size, thus preserving the relative abundance of c-myb protein present at the onset of the cell cycle. In HL-60 cells, the induced metabolic cascade leading to terminal myeloid or monocytic differentiation segregates into two steps occuring over two division cycles. Expression of c-myb did not diverge from the control until late in this metabolic cascade when it declined prior to onset of terminal differentiation. This course of expression was similar for both the retinoic acid induced myloid or the 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D2 induced monocytic terminal differentiation of the cells. Bromodeoxyuridine, which induces proliferative arrest but not phenotypic differentiation of these cells, induced the same course of c-myb expression as the inducers of terminal differentiation. The same course of c-myb expression with growth arrest induced by these three different means is consistent with a potential proliferation regulatory role for c-myb in late but not early events leading to terminal differentiation. The dynamics of c-myb expression during this process were qualitatively, out not quantitatively, similar to the course of c-fos expression. Thus, taken with previous results, then amongst the nuclear oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, c-myc, RB, c-fos, and c-myb, only c-myc and RB expression exhibit early regulation during induced HL-60 cell differentiation. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Image compression using iterated function systems and revolutionary programming: image compression without image metrics

A method which generates a compressed form for an input image without explicit reference to any complete image metrics is presented. The compressed form of the image is an iterated function system (IFS). The IFS is generated using an evolutionary programming optimization. This optimization simulates the competitive dynamics on an array of mapping cells. The result of the competition is a minimal number of parameters (mappings) which characterize the image. Because these parameters are calculated without using the overall image, it is believed that this method could lead to procedures for identifying objects without first segmenting them from their surroundings. >
Generation of Gamma Interferon Responses in Murine Peyer's Patches following Oral Immunization

To date, oral immunizations have been shown to generate only Th2 responses in murine Peyer's patches (PP), raising the possibility that T cells present in PP may be capable of mounting only Th2 responses or that the microenvironment of PP does not favor the generation of Th1 cells. However, it is also possible that antigens that can generate Th1 responses have not yet been used for oral immunizations. This study shows that T cells in PP of mice immunized orally with live Salmonella typhimurium secrete large amounts of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) when they are stimulated with bacterial sonicate in vitro. Moreover, oral challenge of mice with live bacteria 4 months after immunization elicits a secondary IFN-gamma response in PP and mesenteric lymph nodes. Parenteral immunization does not generate an IFN-gamma T-cell response in PP, and parenteral challenge of orally immunized mice does not elicit a secondary response in PP. However, oral challenge of intraperitoneally immunized mice elicits a secondary IFN-gamma response in PP and mesenteric lymph nodes, and intraperitoneal challenge of orally immunized mice elicits a secondary response in the spleen. The data suggest that memory T cells recirculate between mucosal and nonmucosal compartments and that they may be recruited to the site of antigenic challenge.
Content-based 3D mosaic representation for video of dynamic 3D scenes

We propose a content-based 3D mosaic representation for long video sequences of 3D and dynamic scenes captured by a camera on a mobile platform. The motion of the camera has a dominant direction of motion (as on an airplane or ground vehicle), but 6 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) motion is allowed. In the first step, a pair of generalized parallel-perspective (pushbroom) stereo mosaics is generated that captured both the 3D and dynamic aspects of the scene under the camera coverage. In the second step, a segmentation-based stereo matching algorithm is applied to extract parametric representation of the color, structure and motion of the dynamic and/or 3D objects in urban scenes where a lot of planar surfaces exist. Based on these results, the content-based 3D mosaic (CB3M) representation is created, which is a highly compressed visual representation for very long video sequences of dynamic 3D scenes. Experimental results are given
Accurate timing of a particle beam using laser ablation

We report on a new technique that we used to accurately time the velocity of a cluster beam. It involves deflecting particles away from their usual beam path by scattering with an ablation plume. We were able to time the occurrence of a C 60 cluster beam to better than 0.2%. This technique was critical in recent light-force polarizabilities experiments.
Neutron flux incore instrumentation of AREVA's EPR ™

SPND and AMS are two complementary systems designed to monitor local power density. Their accuracy provides great margins to the Limiting Conditions of Operation (LCOs) for EPR™'s core design and flexibility and accounts for the high load-following capability of its plants. The complementarity of this design is based on SPND-signals calibration performed at regular intervals using the AMS-results as reference data. The high degree of automation and the operating speed of the AMS can make calibration in the EPR− a routine task which will hardly interfere with scheduled power operation (according to 30 years of operating experience in German 1300MWe PWRs).
The Performance of Direct Investments in Real Assets: Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Commercial Real Estate

This paper considers the performance of direct investments in three real asset classes: natural resources (namely timberland and farmland), energy infrastructure and commercial real estate. Using publicly available data for a period starting in 1978 (for real estate) or 1996 (for infrastructure) and ending in 2012, we document that investing in these real asset classes would have provided significant diversification benefits relative to a traditional portfolio consisting of only public equities and government bonds, without evidence of deteriorating overall performance. However, and with the exception of timberland investments, the real asset classes did not provide any inflation hedging benefits over our time period. Further, the diversification benefits of direct investments in natural resources are lower in times that equity markets go down. Significant challenges of investing in real assets include illiquidity, generally long holding periods, and information uncertainty.
Enhanced Protein Profiling Arrays for Quantitative Measurement of Protein Expression in Multiple Samples

Simultaneous measurement of molecules from many samples is particularly useful for screening of certain molecules from different samples, for targeting verification of results obtained from protein and cDNA arrays, and for molecular epidemiology-based investigations. Described herein is a sensitive and quantitative approach, referred to as enhanced protein profiling arrays, that measures molecular expression levels from numerous samples. Enhanced protein profiling arrays can easily be constructed from tissue lysates, cell lysates, conditioned media, and body fluids, along with standard proteins and appropriate controls onto antibody-coated surfaces of solid supports. Coupled with many common detection techniques, the expression levels of certain molecules can be determined quantitatively. An account of the successful development and application of this enhanced protein profiling array technology is presented.
Developments in mass transit train control worldwide

This paper summarizes the role of signalling and train control systems within a mass transit railway and describes the evolution of such systems over the last 100 years; from wayside signals, to cab signals, to profile-based systems, to communications-based train control systems. Operational and performance benefits realized with the newer technology systems are discussed, together with the challenges of implementing such systems. Standardization initiatives are also described and industry trends presented.
Introduction: Contemporary Insights on Migration and Population Distribution

The contributions in this Handbook examine and advance the state of knowledge with regard to migration and population distribution. In the twenty-first century, migration is playing a highly consequential role in population dynamics. Processes of globalization and internal economic development have prompted the redistribution of populations, both within and across nations. The Handbook brings together a worldwide group of scholars from several disciplines. Contributions are grouped under four topical areas: theory, methods and data, regional perspectives, and policy.
A Novel EGFR Extracellular Domain Mutant, EGFRΔ768, Possesses Distinct Biological and Biochemical Properties in Neuroblastoma.

EGFR is a popular therapeutic target for many cancers. EGFR inhibitors have been tested in children with refractory neuroblastoma. Interestingly, partial response or stable disease was observed in a few neuroblastoma patients. As EGFR mutations are biomarkers for response to anti-EGFR drugs, primary neuroblastoma tumors and cell lines were screened for mutations. A novel EGFR extracellular domain deletion mutant, EGFRΔ768, was discovered and the biologic and biochemical properties of this mutant were characterized and compared with wild-type and EGFRvIII receptors. EGFRΔ768 was found to be constitutively active and localized to the cell surface. Its expression conferred resistance to etoposide and drove proliferation as well as invasion of cancer cells. While EGFRΔ768 had similarity to EGFRvIII, its biologic and biochemical properties were distinctly different from both the EGFRvIII and wild-type receptors. Even though erlotinib inhibited EGFRΔ768, its effect on the mutant was not as strong as that on wild-type EGFR and EGFRvIII. In addition, downstream signaling of EGFRΔ768 was different from that of the wild-type receptor. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that neuroblastoma express not only EGFRvIII, but also a novel EGFR extracellular domain deletion mutant, EGFRΔ768. The EGFRΔ768 also possesses distinct biologic and biochemical properties which might have therapeutic implications for neuroblastoma as well as other tumors expressing this novel mutant. Implications: Neuroblastoma expressed a novel EGFR mutant which possesses distinct biologic and biochemical properties that might have therapeutic implications. Mol Cancer Res; 14(8); 740–52. ©2016 AACR.
Dorsal nerve block for management of intraoperative penile erection

Intraoperative penile erection during general anesthesia can delay or prevent the completion of cystoscopic or penile surgical procedures. The dorsal penile nerve block is offered as a treatment for intraoperative erection. Advantages of this technique include less potential for cardiovascular complications and improved postoperative analgesia.
The Confluence of Aesthetics and Hermeneutics in Baumgarten, Meier, and Kant

Etude des relations entre l'appreciation esthetique et le probleme de l'interpretation chez Baumgarten, Meier et Kant. Etablissant un rapport entre la sensibilite et la raison a travers un processus de contextualisation, l'esthetique moderne definie par Baumgarten et Kant rencontre l'hermeneutique de Meier fondee sur l'idee d'une interpretation authentique
Mechanical structures feel the chill

The botanist Robert Brown is renowned for his observations of pollen grains suspended in water. He discovered that the grains move randomly in an endless thermal dance, a property that applies to all sufficiently small objects. Indeed, in one of his five famous 1905 papers, Einstein presented a theoretical framework for Brownian motion that led others to prove the existence of atoms (see Physics World January 2005 pp19–22).
Incidental paranasal sinusitis on routine brain magnetic resonance scans: association with atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND Incidental paranasal sinusitis (IPS) is common on imaging for non-sinusitis disorders, usually without symptoms or obstructive features, and possibly arising from periodontitis (PD). PD associations with atherosclerosis have been widely reported. We test if IPS may also be associated with atherosclerosis. METHODS IPS was scored retrospectively in a random sample of 180 magnetic resonance (MR) brain scans and compared with chart review for atherosclerosis (all subtypes), rhinosinusitis, and related factors (smoking, asthma, and relevant surgery). IPS was scored out of 30, from all sinuses, with maxillary sinuses weighted double volumetrically. Significant IPS (Sig IPS) was designated as 6 or more out of 30. Bivariate logistic regression was used to test for associations of Sig IPS to the clinical data, with multivariate analysis then testing for potential confounders. RESULTS A total of 173 subjects were analyzed (7 exclusions). MR indications included suspected acute/prior stroke (22.0%). Sig IPS found in 20 (11.6%). Positive histories for atherosclerosis were cerebral, 57 (32.9%); coronary, 48 (27.7%); and peripheral arterial disease, 14 (8.1%). IPS ≥6 was strongly associated with cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio [OR] 6.0, p < 0.001), and less robustly to smoking (OR 2.9, p = 0.07) and rhinosinusitis (OR 2.4, p = 0.09). No associations with coronary or peripheral artery diseases were found. After controlling for smoking and rhinosinusitis, yielding significant subclinical sinusitis, the link of Sig IPS to cerebrovascular disease persisted (modified OR 5.2, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION Significant incidental sinusitis, which is mostly subclinical sinusitis, is associated with cerebrovascular disease but not other atheroscleroses. This suggests possible common causation of both by PD.
Self-Determination and the Patient-Health Practitioner Relationship

Motivation is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of health as medical interventions have become more effective in lengthening life expectancy and improving quality of life. Those outcomes are affected by lifestyle, medication use, and elective operations; all require patients to be motivated to gain the benefits. Recent advances in technology have left us sedentary and overweight, with higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. America’s youngest generation is the first expected to have a shorter lifespan than its parents. Providing information about risks is necessary, but not sufficient to motivate healthy behaviors over the long term. Better understanding of motivation is needed to guide health interventions and training. Mounting empirical evidence from Self-Determination Theory and the recent promotion of patient autonomy to a primary outcome of health care by biomedical ethics and medical professionalism offer an opportunity to explore how motivation affects health and improve the practitioner-patient relationship.
The Axisymmetric Laminar Plume: Asymptotic Solution for Large Prandtl Number

On applique la methode des developpements asymptotiques raccordes aux equations de couche limite axisymetriques
Preliminary investigation into sport and exercise psychology consultants' views and experiences of an interprofessional care team approach to sport injury rehabilitation.

Sport injury rehabilitation has moved from predominately physical treatment to a more holistic care. However, limited research has explored the views and experiences of those involved in such an approach. The purpose of this study was to preliminarily investigate sport psychology consultants' (SPCs') views and experiences of an interprofessional team approach to sport injury rehabilitation. A cross-sectional online survey previously used with athletic trainers was distributed via a US-based sport/exercise psychology list-serve (N = 1245). A total of 62 (27 men, 35 women, M age 38.2 years, age range: 22-73 years) participants with 10.6 (SD = 9.8) years of experience as an SPC were included in the final analyses. On average, SPCs felt that it was very important (M = 6.6; SD = 0.6) for athletes to have access to an interprofessional care team. Of the sample, 64.5% (n = 40) typically worked as part of an interprofessional care team 44.7% of the time. The SPCs (n = 28; 45.2%) also indicated that the primary treatment providers (e.g., athletic trainer, physical therapist) were typically serving as the primary point person for such teams. Since gaining entry to sport medicine can be an area SPCs struggle with, building effective working relationships with treatment providers can help promote and increase SPCs involvement in providing holistic, interprofessional care to athletes with injuries. To ensure athletes' successful biopsychosocial return to sport, different individuals and professionals should work together for the benefit of the athlete by adopting holistic care during sports injury rehabilitation.
Making Sense of a Negative Clinical Trial Result: A Bayesian Analysis of a Clinical Trial of Lorazepam and Diazepam for Pediatric Status Epilepticus.

Study objective We demonstrate the application of a Bayesian approach to a recent negative clinical trial result. A Bayesian analysis of such a trial can provide a more useful interpretation of results and can incorporate previous evidence. Methods This was a secondary analysis of the efficacy and safety results of the Pediatric Seizure Study, a randomized clinical trial of lorazepam versus diazepam for pediatric status epilepticus. We included the published results from the only prospective pediatric study of status in a Bayesian hierarchic model, and we performed sensitivity analyses on the amount of pooling between studies. We evaluated 3 summary analyses for the results: superiority, noninferiority (margin Results Consistent with the original study's classic analysis of study results, we did not demonstrate superiority of lorazepam over diazepam. There is a 95% probability that the true efficacy of lorazepam is in the range of 66% to 80%. For both the efficacy and safety outcomes, there was greater than 95% probability that lorazepam is noninferior to diazepam, and there was greater than 90% probability that the 2 medications are practically equivalent. The results were largely driven by the current study because of the sample sizes of our study (n=273) and the previous pediatric study (n=61). Conclusion Because Bayesian analysis estimates the probability of one or more hypotheses, such an approach can provide more useful information about the meaning of the results of a negative trial outcome. In the case of pediatric status epilepticus, it is highly likely that lorazepam is noninferior and practically equivalent to diazepam.
31P Solid-State NMR Relaxation in the Zirconium Phosphate Network in the Presence of Paramagnetic Centers: A Detailed Relaxation Study in Static and Rotating Samples of Layered Zirconium Phosphate Materials

The careful study of MAS effects on the spin–lattice and spin–spin phosphorus NMR relaxation in two layered zirconium phosphate materials, α-ZrP and m-PEG-PO3/Zr(IV)/DOX/ZrP, has clearly shown that the fast spin-diffusion and limited spin-diffusion mechanisms are completely negligible in spite of the presence of paramagnetic centers detected in these materials by EPR. The 31P T1 relaxation is always nonexponential in static and spinning samples as well. The 31P T1 relaxation in α-ZrP follows a stretched exponential law to show the presence of a 31P T1 distribution. The 31P T1 time remarkably depends on spinning rates only in a 7 mm NMR probe head due to the frictional heating effects in 7 mm rotors but not due to the spin-diffusion mechanism. In accord, the 31P T1 and T2 times are independent of MAS rates in the experiments performed with 2.5 mm rotors. All the 31P T1 and T2 relaxation data support well the interpretation of the 31P T1 times in the zirconium phosphate network by dipolar proton–phosphorus ...
Diabetes Mellitus and Acute Hyperglycemia

Diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence is reported as high as 10% in the general population and is even higher in those with mental illness. An elevated blood sugar is seen in almost 20% patients with serious mental illness [1]. The cutoffs for accepted and commonly used measures to diagnose DM are shown in the section on diagnosis later.
Factors Associated with Bleeding and Thrombosis in Children Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Rationale: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for respiratory and cardiac failure in children but is complicated by bleeding and thrombosis.Objectives: (1) To measure the incidence of bleeding (blood loss requiring transfusion or intracranial hemorrhage) and thrombosis during ECMO support; (2) to identify factors associated with these complications; and (3) to determine the impact of these complications on patient outcome.Methods: This was a prospective, observational cohort study in pediatric, cardiac, and neonatal intensive care units in eight hospitals, carried out from December 2012 to September 2014.Measurements and Main Results: ECMO was used on 514 consecutive patients under age 19 years. Demographics, anticoagulation practices, severity of illness, circuitry components, bleeding, thrombotic events, and outcome were recorded. Survival was 54.9%. Bleeding occurred in 70.2%, including intracranial hemorrhage in 16%, and was independently associated with higher daily risk of mortality....
Psychometric properties of the Kids' Child Feeding Questionnaire-Restriction.

Summary Background Research exploring parental restrictive feeding is mixed and shows that it both negatively and positively affects children’s dietary intake. One hypothesis for these inconsistent findings is the use of parent-report vs. youth-report measures of parental restrictive feeding, but there are limited psychometrically-sound youth-report measures of this construct. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of a measure of parent restrictive feeding practices, the Kids’ Child Feeding Questionnaire-Restriction (KCFQ-R), from the youth perspective. Methods The 7-item, youth-report KCFQ-R is composed of the restriction subscale from the Kids’ Child Feeding Questionnaire. This measure was completed by 225 youth attending a primary care appointment. Results Initial exploratory factor analysis and communalities yielded a single factor solution explaining 39.93% of the variability in the data. Internal consistency using the seven items was .73. The KCFQ-R demonstrated external validity through its significant relationship with parent concern about child overweight. Conclusions Results provide preliminary support that the KCFQ-R is a psychometrically sound and reliable measure of youth-reported parental restrictive feeding practices. Given the mixed research on the effects of parent-reported parental feeding restriction on various child outcomes, this youth-report measure may help clarify these relationships. Future research should examine youth-report measures of other parent feeding domains.
Skepticism about the a priori justification: Self-evidence, defeasibiity, and cogito propositions

This article focuses on the cogito propositions and those propositions whose classification as a priori is disputed. It explains that a priori justification is commonly taken to be a kind of justification is based on reason rather than on experience and evaluates the skeptical view that no genuinely substantive proposition is a priori and that reason has far less power to reveal truth than has been supposed by a great many philosophers. It also discusses the domain of the a priori, empiricist skepticism about the a priori, and the case for a priori existential knowledge.
The Reliability and Reciprocity of a Social Network Measure

ABSTRACTThere have been few efforts to systematically develop reliable and valid measures of social networks, particularly in studies dealing with individuals having substance use disorders. In the current study, individuals living in recovery homes called Oxford Houses completed a 6-item measure of social networks. The Cronbach’s alpha was .85 and a confirmatory factor analysis found excellent fit statistics with all items having substantial (> .70) load factors. In addition, the measure was independent of age, sex, and ethnicity and significantly related to length of stay in the recovery homes and quality of life. The authors have found that this instrument works well as an ego network with adequate psychometric properties and empirical relations to other recovery variables.
A Physical-Inorganic Approach for the Elucidation of Active Iron Species and Mechanism in Iron-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling.

Detailed studies of iron speciation and mechanism in iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are critical for providing the necessary fundamental insight to drive new reaction development. However, such insight is challenging to obtain due to the prevalence of mixtures of unstable, paramagnetic organoiron species that can form in this chemistry. A physical-inorganic research approach combining freeze-trapped inorganic spectroscopic studies, organometallic synthesis and GC/kinetic studies provides a powerful method for studying such systems. Mossbauer, EPR and MCD spectroscopy enable the direct investigation of in situ formed iron species and, combined with GC analysis, the direct correlation of reactions of specific iron species to the generation of organic products. This review focuses on a description of the key methods involved in this physical-inorganic approach, as well as examples of its application to investigations of iron-SciOPP catalyzed cross-coupling catalysis.
Data‐Driven Approach for Analyzing Hydrogeology and Groundwater Quality Across Multiple Scales

Recent trends of assimilating water well records into statewide databases provide a new opportunity for evaluating spatial dynamics of groundwater quality and quantity. However, these datasets are scarcely rigorously analyzed to address larger scientific problems because they are of lower quality and massive. We develop an approach for utilizing well databases to analyze physical and geochemical aspects of groundwater systems, and apply it to a multiscale investigation of the sources and dynamics of chloride (Cl- ) in the near-surface groundwater of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Nearly 500,000 static water levels (SWLs) were critically evaluated, extracted, and analyzed to delineate long-term, average groundwater flow patterns using a nonstationary kriging technique at the basin-scale (i.e., across the entire peninsula). Two regions identified as major basin-scale discharge zones-the Michigan and Saginaw Lowlands-were further analyzed with regional- and local-scale SWL models. Groundwater valleys ("discharge" zones) and mounds ("recharge" zones) were identified for all models, and the proportions of wells with elevated Cl- concentrations in each zone were calculated, visualized, and compared. Concentrations in discharge zones, where groundwater is expected to flow primarily upwards, are consistently and significantly higher than those in recharge zones. A synoptic sampling campaign in the Michigan Lowlands revealed concentrations generally increase with depth, a trend noted in previous studies of the Saginaw Lowlands. These strong, consistent SWL and Cl- distribution patterns across multiple scales suggest that a deep source (i.e., Michigan brines) is the primary cause for the elevated chloride concentrations observed in discharge areas across the peninsula.
Introducing an analytical solution and an improved one-factor gaussian copula model for the pricing of heterogeneous CDOs

This paper introduced an analytical solution and improved one-factor Gaussian copula models to the pricing of tranches of a Collateralized debt obligations (CDO) portfolio. Prices of CDO tranches a...
Identification of quantitative trait loci affecting female reproductive traits in a multigeneration Meishan-White composite swine population.

A multigeneration crossbred Meishan-White composite resource population was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for age at first estrus (AP) and the components of litter size: ovulation rate (OR; number of ova released in an estrous period) and uterine capacity (UC). The population was established by reciprocally mating Meishan (ME) and White composite (WC) pigs. Resultant F1 females were mated to either ME or WC boars to produce backcross progeny (BC) of either 3/4 WC 1/4 ME or 1/4 WC 3/4 ME. To produce the next generation (F3), 3/4 WC 1/4 ME animals were mated to 1/4 WC 3/4 ME animals yielding half-blood (1/2 WC 1/2 ME) progeny. A final generation (F4) was produced by inter se mating F3 animals. Measurements for AP and OR were recorded on 101 BC, 389 F3, and 110 F4 gilts, and UC data were from 101 BC and 110 F4 first parity litters. A genomic scan was conducted with markers (n = 157) spaced approximately 20 cM apart. All parental, F1, BC, and F4 animals but only 84 F3 animals were genotyped and included in this study. The QTL analysis fitted a QTL at 1-cM intervals throughout the genome, and QTL effects were tested using approximate genome-wide significance levels. For OR, a significant (E[false positive] < .05) QTL was detected on chromosome 8, suggestive (E[false positive] < 1.0) QTL were detected on chromosomes 3 and 10, and two additional regions were detected that may possess a QTL (E[false positive] < 2.0) on chromosomes 9 and 15. Two regions possessed suggestive evidence for QTL affecting AP on chromosomes 1 and 10, and one suggestive region on chromosome 8 was identified for UC. Further analyses of other populations of swine are necessary to determine the extent of allelic variation at the identified QTL.
A Positive Correlation Between Gastric and Esophageal Dysmotility Suggests Common Causality

Gastric and esophageal dysmotility syndromes are some of the most common motility diagnoses, but little is known about their interrelationship. The aim of our study was to determine if a correlation exists between gastric and esophageal dysmotility syndromes. We reviewed the records of all patients who underwent both solid gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES) and high-resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) within a 2 year period, with both done between August 2012 and August 2017. All GESs were classified as either rapid, normal, or delayed. All HRMs were classified according to the Chicago Classification 3.0. Correlations were assessed using Fisher’s exact test and multiple logistic regression. In total, 482 patients met inclusion criteria. Of patients with a normal, delayed, and rapid GES, 53.1, 64.5, and 77.3% had an abnormal HRM, respectively (p < 0.05 vs. normal GES). Likewise, patients with an abnormal HRM were more likely to have an abnormal GES (54.9 vs. 41.8%, p = 0.005). Multiple logistic regression showed abnormal GES [odds ratio (OR) 2.14], age (OR 1.013), scleroderma (OR 6.29), and dysphagia (OR 2.63) were independent predictors of an abnormal HRM. Likewise, an abnormal HRM (OR 2.11), diabetes (OR 1.85), heart or lung transplantation (OR 2.61), and autonomic dysfunction (OR 2.37) were independent predictors of an abnormal GES. The correlation between an abnormal GES and HRM argues for common pathogenic mechanisms of these motility disorders, and possibly common future treatment options. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for another motility disorder if one is present.
SEXUAL DIMORPHISMS OF THE BRAIN

This discussion reviews, partially from the historical perspective of the author, the development and evolution of the concept of the sexual differentiation of the brain, a process that has profound implications for reproductive biology, animal behavior and developmental neurobiology. Although there are numerous sex differences in brain function, the mammalian brain appears to be fundamentally female. Characteristics of brain function typical of the male sex are imposed on the developing brain by the action of testicular hormones. In fact, estradiol produced intraneuronally by the aromatization of testicular testosterone, appears to be the hormonal molecule responsible for the masculine differentiation of the brain. Much of the research in this area has been descriptive in nature, and studies of the possible mechanisms of hormone action have been limited to very general approaches because of the complexities of the process and the lack of specific model systems. Recently, marked structural correlates of sexual differentiation have been identified. The sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA), for example, is now viewed as a morphological signature of the action of gonadal hormones on the developing brain and has become a model system to investigate the fundamental mechanism(s) by which hormones act to determine the structure and functional capacity of the brain. Although possible effects of estradiol on neurogenesis and(or) neuronal migration cannot be excluded, it currently appears that one mechanism of the sexual differentiation of the brain is the hormonal promotion of neuronal survival during a developmental phase of neuronal death. The discovery of the SDN-POA in the rat emphasizes the value of the comparative approach to sexual differentiation. It is likely that other animal species may prove to be species of choice for future investigations of components of the complex process of the sexual differentiation of the brain.
Writing effectively in print and on the web: a practical guide for librarians

Writing Effectively in Print and on the Web is part of the Practical Guides for Librarians Series from Rowman & Littlefield, a collection written and edited by librarians to offer practical advice ...
Spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy with splenic vessel preservation: challenges in measuring the learning curve

Laparoscopy developed in the late 20 th century with the aim of decreasing procedural invasiveness and improving patient outcomes. Multiple studies have demonstrated the utility of minimally invasive approaches in decreasing blood loss, shortening length of hospital stay, improving postoperative pain and lowering rates of surgical site infections (1,2).
University as a global actor in the international system of the 21st Century

Since its foundation, the university has always been a relevant actor within the international system as the main producer and transmitter of scientific knowledge. Considered as a global actor and historically interrelated with multiple agents at the national and international level, the university must now face new and powerful challenges within the international context. Since the last decades of the 20th Century, the world has entered a vertiginous path of transformation, driven by multiple and profound global processes that have generated significant changes in all the parameters of the international system and have prompted the creation of a new international system. The research problem that arises in this work focuses on studying whether this new international stage will mean an opportunity for the university as an international actor to assume new roles on a global scale or if, on the contrary, whether threats and pressures will erode its global position. The main objective of the present investigation is to analyze the role of the university within the changing world order of the 21st Century and for this purpose it is proposed to know the main changes that operate in the current international system, to decipher how these new global trends affect the university and, understand how the university is reacting to these systemic changes. To achieve these objectives, an extensive literature review has been carried out within the fields of International Studies, Education Sciences, and other Social Sciences. Finally, it is expected to obtain as a result some concrete answers about the context, the impact and the reactions of the university to the modified international system to contribute to a much broader, complex and necessary debate regarding the future of the university as a global actor in the new international system of the 21st Century. Received : 27 September 2018 Accepted : 12 November 2018 Published online : 29 November 2018
The combined survival effect of codon 72 polymorphisms and p53 somatic mutations in breast cancer depends on race and molecular subtype.

BACKGROUND The codon 72 polymorphism in the p53 gene relates to the risk of breast cancer (BC), but this relationship in racially diverse populations is not known. The present study examined the prognostic value of this polymorphism for African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) BC patients separately and considered the confounding variables of molecular subtypes and somatic mutations in p53. METHODS Tissue sections of BCs from 116 AAs and 160 CAs were evaluated for p53 mutations and genotyped for the codon 72 polymorphism. The relationships of phenotypes to clinicopathologic features were determined by χ2 analyses; patient survival was estimated by Kaplan-Meier univariate and Cox regression multivariate models in a retrospective cohort study design. RESULTS The proportion of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 72 alleles differed for races. Many cancers of AAs were Pro/Pro, but most for CAs were Arg/Arg. A higher frequency of missense p53 mutations was evident for AAs. There was an interaction between the SNP allele and p53 mutations for AA women only. The proportion of women with both the Pro/Pro allele and a p53 somatic mutation was higher for AA than CA women. The interaction between missense p53 mutations and Pro/Pro had a negative effect on survival, particularly for AAs with luminal cancers. CONCLUSIONS For BCs, the survival effect of SNP72 combined with a p53 missense mutation is dependent on race and molecular subtype. Although such a mutation is a marker of poor prognosis, it is relevant to identify the variant Pro/Pro in the case of AAs, especially those with luminal subtypes of BC.
“Opting out of that”: White feminism’s policing and disavowal of anti-racist critique in The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

ABSTRACTThe episode of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt titled “Kimmy Goes to a Play” is widely understood as Tina Fey's unapologetic response to anti-racist criticism of the show’s first season. By s...
Cost of saving natural gas through efficiency programs funded by utility customers: 2012–2017

Author(s): Schiller, Steven R; Hoffman, Ian M; Murphy, Sean; Leventis, Greg; Schwartz, Lisa C | Abstract: This study estimates the cost of saving a therm of natural gas from energy efficiency programs funded by utility customers during the period 2012 to 2017. Berkeley Lab researchers compiled and analyzed efficiency program data reported by investor-owned utilities and other program administrators in a dozen states representative of the four U.S. Census regions — Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island and Utah. Depending on the year, the dataset accounts for about 50 percent to 70 percent of annual national spending on natural gas efficiency programs. The estimated cost of saving natural gas during the study period is $0.40 per therm. The analysis also includes estimates of the program administrator cost of saved energy for three core sectors for natural gas: commercial and industrial, residential, and low-income households. It aggregates these sectors to provide regional and national values. Our metrics include savings-weighted averages, unweighted medians, and interquartile ranges (25th and 75th percentiles) of the levelized program administrator cost of saving gas, in constant 2017 dollars. In addition, the study analyzes cost trends during the study period, finding that average program costs trended downward. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office supported this work.
Assessment of the efficacy of teriparatide treatment for osteoporosis on lumbar fusion surgery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Treatment of osteoporosis with medications like teriparatide, a parathyroid hormone, is known to improve bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Anecdotal and limited surgical series have described the utility of this treatment for osteoporotic patients prior to spinal fusion surgery, but there is variability in adoption of this strategy as well as consensus regarding optimal treatment duration before and after surgery. In this study, the clinical results of the use of teriparatide for this application are reviewed and critically examined. We conducted a systematic review of electronic databases using different MeSH terms from 1980 to 2020. Pooled and subgroup analyses were performed using fixed and random effect models based upon the heterogeneity (I2). The results were reported as either mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 771 patients from 12 studies were identified. Three hundred seventy-seven patients (90.8% females) were treated with teriparatide. Lumbar spinal fusion rates were significantly higher among patients who received teriparatide compared to the non-teriparatide group (OR 2.15, 95%CI 1.56–2.97, p < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients receiving teriparatide demonstrated 2.12-fold and 2.23-fold higher likelihood of fusion compared to those in the bisphosphonate (OR 2.12, 95%CI 1.45–3.11, p = 0.0001) and placebo (OR 2.23, 95%CI 1.22–4.08, p = 0.009) cohorts, respectively. The treatment effect of teriparatide was associated with significantly reduced subsequent vertebral fractures (OR 0.16, 95%CI 0.06–0.41, p = 0.0002), sagittal malalignment (MD − 3.85, 95%CI: −6.49 to − 1.21, p = 0.004), limb visual analogue score (VAS) (MD − 0.36, 95%CI − 0.64 to − 0.09, p = 0.008), and spinal VAS (MD − 0.24, 95%CI − 0.44 to − 0.04, p = 0.02) compared to the non-teriparatide group. Patients using teriparatide had 30% less likelihood of screw loosening at last follow-up compared to the non-teriparatide group; however, this was not statistically significant (OR 0.70, 95%CI 0.43–1.14, p = 0.15). There did not exist any statistically significant difference between the two comparative groups in terms of pseudoarthrosis (OR 0.54, 95%CI 0.24–1.21, p = 0.13), cage subsidence (OR 1.30, 95%CI 0.38–4.52, p = 0.68), and bone mineral density (MD 0.04, 95%CI − 0.19–0.29, p = 0.74) at last follow-up examination. This meta-analysis corroborates the effectiveness of teriparatide resulting in higher fusion rates. Further study is required to determine the optimal duration of treatment and timing of surgery.
The Impact of Technology Procurement Regulations on Social Value and National Competitiveness

This study seeks to better understand the impact that government technology procurement regulations have on social value and national competitiveness. To do this, it examines the impact of a change in France’s technology procurement policy that required government agencies to favor open source software (OSS) over proprietary software in an attempt to reduce costs. Analysis using the rest of the EU as controls via difference-in-differences and synthetic control frameworks shows that these policy changes led to an increase of nearly 600,000 OSS contributions per year, creating social value by increasing the availability and quality of free and open source software. Estimates indicate this would have cost paid software developers roughly $20 million per year to replicate. However, the open nature of such goods means that any country can reap the benefits of these efforts. Therefore, additional economic outcomes that enhance France’s competitiveness are also considered. The results show that within France, the regulation led to a 0.6% - 5.4% yearly increase in companies that use OSS, a 9% - 18% yearly increase in the number of IT-related startups, a 6.6% - 14% yearly increase in the number of individuals employed in IT related jobs, and a 5% - 16% yearly decrease in software related patents. All of these outcomes help to increase productivity and competitiveness at the national level. In aggregate, these results show that changes in government procurement policy that favor OSS can have a positive impact on both global social value and domestic national competitiveness.
The Chairside Periodontal Diagnostic Toolkit: Past, Present, and Future

Periodontal diseases comprise a group of globally prevalent, chronic oral inflammatory conditions caused by microbial dysbiosis and the host immune response. These diseases specifically affect the tooth-supporting tissues (i.e., the periodontium) but are also known to contribute to systemic inflammation. If left untreated, periodontal diseases can ultimately progress to tooth loss, lead to compromised oral function, and negatively impact the overall quality of life. Therefore, it is important for the clinician to accurately diagnose these diseases both early and accurately chairside. Currently, the staging and grading of periodontal diseases are based on recording medical and dental histories, thorough oral examination, and multiple clinical and radiographic analyses of the periodontium. There have been numerous attempts to improve, automate, and digitize the collection of this information with varied success. Recent studies focused on the subgingival microbiome and the host immune response suggest there is an untapped potential for non-invasive oral sampling to assist clinicians in the chairside diagnosis and, potentially, prognosis. Here, we review the available toolkit available for diagnosing periodontal diseases, discuss commercially available options, and highlight the need for collaborative research initiatives and state-of-the-art technology development across disciplines to overcome the challenges of rapid periodontal disease diagnosis.