cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Personal responsibility for systemic inequality

Equality has faded as a guiding ideal for legal theory and policy. An updated message of personal responsibility has helped rationalize economic policies fostering increased inequality and insecurity. In this revised message, economic “losers” should take personal responsibility not only for the harmful effects of their individual economic decisions, but also for the harmful effects of systemic failures beyond their individual control or action. In response to the 2008 financial crisis, this re-tooled message of personal responsibility promoted mass austerity in place of targeted financial industry culpability and penalty. By presenting unequal economic loss as the inevitable result of generally beneficial systems, this flawed logic concludes that the most legitimate response to systemic failure is unequal personal sacrifice, not political mobilization in support of stronger protection from unequal risk and plunder. This chapter explores how this message weakened the majority report of Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, despite its voluminous evidence of institutional problems. Further, it shows how this message inverts legal responsibility for devastating corporate wrongdoing, so that sacrifice by innocent victims appears to be more productive and proper than fair and meaningful law enforcement. Finally, I analyze how this troubling message is implicitly advanced in the seemingly progressive intellectual defense of equality by legal scholar Daniel Markovits. Markovits challenges the traditional personal responsibility argument that unequal poverty and insecurity stem from bad individual choices. Yet because he assumes that this inequality generally comes from benign institutions limited by natural scarcity, his reasoning nonetheless tends to suggest that responsible policy requires accepting substantial individual sacrifice by those who lose out. To instead revive the ideal of equality, we must go further to challenge the assumption that political economic structures and institutions regularly producing unequal and severe economic harm deserve submission rather than reform.
Social trends and social problems

Earlier articles in this series have dealt with Soviet deficiencies in housing and consumer goods, with the strengths and weaknesses of Soviet scientific and technical education and planning, and with some of the social implications of the Soviet Union's ethnic diversity, religious (and anti-religious) practices, and political institutions. We have tried to convey a sense of the complexity of Soviet life as well as some notion of the scale of Soviet successes and failures. This month David Powell, after evoking the essential trauma of Soviet history, focuses on several major and interrelated social problems: the “graying” of the Soviet population, the high levels of labor turnover, low worker morale in both agriculture and industry, excessive or too-rapid rural-urban migration and the growing abuse of alcohol. Like other of our authors, he suggests that in many respects Soviet life today is not so unlike life elsewhere; or again, that major Soviet problems are often the reverse of astonishing Soviet achie...
Intracranial Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis from Breast Cancer Detected on 18F-FDG PET.

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is an uncommon manifestation of non–central nervous system (CNS) metastatic disease. Diagnosis, however, has important prognostic and treatment implications. We present a case in which intracranial leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from a primary breast cancer was detected with 18F-FDG PET/CT, despite its low sensitivity for detection of CNS metastases from non-CNS primary tumors.
A simplified method for determination of amino acid amidases in tissue cultures.

SummaryA simple enzymic-diffusion reactor flask is described for the enzymic assay of amino acid amidases from tissues grown in vitro. The procedure is rapid, precise, and applicable for measuring enzymic reactions which involve the determination of ammonia.
A Naturalistic Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Extended-Release Metformin to Prevent Weight Gain Associated With Olanzapine in a US Community-Dwelling Population.

ObjectiveThis 24-week pilot study assessed the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of adjunctive metformin versus placebo for the prevention of olanzapine-associated weight gain in community-dwelling adult patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression wi
Graphical Representation of Proximity Measures for Multidimensional Data: Classical and Metric Multidimensional Scaling

We describe the use of classical and metric multidimensional scaling methods for graphical representation of the proximity between collections of data consisting of cases characterized by multidimensional attributes. These methods can preserve metric differences between cases, while allowing for dimensional reduction and projection to two or three dimensions ideal for data exploration. We demonstrate these methods with three datasets for: (i) the immunological similarity of influenza proteins measured by a multidimensional assay; (ii) influenza protein sequence similarity; and (iii) reconstruction of airport-relative locations from paired proximity measurements. These examples highlight the use of proximity matrices, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and linear and nonlinear mappings using numerical minimization methods. Some considerations and caveats for each method are also discussed, and compact Mathematica programs are provided.
“Taking a Turn for the Better”: Does Self-reported Recovery From Walking Limitation Improve Disability and Mortality Outcomes?

Objectives Recovery from self-reported walking limitation may be a turning point in an individual's health trajectory and may lead to better physical and mental health in the future. This research examines whether recovery from walking limitation is associated with onset of mobility disability, activities of daily living (ADLs) disability, or mortality among a national sample of older Americans. Data and methods Using Waves 4 through 11 (1998-2012) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), discrete-time event history models (N = 12,579 person-intervals) with multiple competing events were estimated using multinomial logistic regression. The risk group was defined as respondents with walking limitation, but free of disability. A lagged measure of recovery was created using 2 adjacent waves, and disability and mortality outcomes were assessed in the subsequent wave (i.e., 2 years later). Results Recovery from walking limitation (i.e., difficulty walking one or several blocks) was associated with lower odds of mobility disability (i.e., difficulty walking across the room) onset, ADL with mobility disability onset, ADL without mobility disability onset, and mortality. Recovery from walking limitation was not only predictive of mobility-related outcomes, but also nonmobility-related ADLs and mortality-suggesting that the predictive capacity of recovery extends to multiple physical health outcomes. Discussion This research suggests that self-reported recovery from walking limitation may be a turning point in the disabling process and signals a meaningful change in an older adult's functional health trajectory.
Synthesis of S-linked trisaccharide glycal of derhodinosylurdamycin A: Discovery of alkyl thiocyanate as an efficient electrophile for stereoselective sulfenylation of 2-deoxy glycosyl lithium

Stereoselective synthesis of S-linked trisaccharide glycal of angucycline antitumor antibiotic derhodinosylurdamycin A is described. The synthesis has been accomplished employing our previously reported umpolung S-glycosylation strategy - stereoselective sulfenylation of 2-deoxy glycosyl lithium. It was found that sugar-derived thiocyanate was a better electrophile than corresponding asymmetric disulfide in this type of stereoselective sulfenylation.
Applications of photorefractors for signal processing

Applications of photorefractive devices for radio frequency signal processing problems are reviewed. The problems of signal correlation, filtering and adaptive filtering are addressed using the time integrating property of grating formation in photorefractive crystals. The dynamic range of photorefractive crystals is sufficiently large for critical applications such as adaptive signal processing. New system architectures that use photorefractive two-beam coupling to substantially simplify overall complexity are shown and demonstrated for the problems of tunable notch filtering and adaptive notch filtering.
Algorithm for Predicting Disease Likelihood From a Submaximal Exercise Test.

We developed a simplified automated algorithm to interpret noninvasive gas exchange in healthy subjects and patients with heart failure (HF, n = 12), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, n = 11), chronic obstructive lung disease (OLD, n = 16), and restrictive lung disease (RLD, n = 12). They underwent spirometry and thereafter an incremental 3-minute step test where heart rate and SpO2 respiratory gas exchange were obtained. A custom-developed algorithm for each disease pathology was used to interpret outcomes. Each algorithm for HF, PAH, OLD, and RLD was capable of differentiating disease groups ( P P
Simple Method for Preparation of Fluor/Hapten-Labeled dUTP

Many projects, such as multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) karyotyping, require the use of relatively large amounts of multiple fluor- or hapten-labeled nucleotides for the prepar...
Visualizing the effects of metformin on tumor growth, vascularity, and metabolism in head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND The antidiabetic drug metformin (Met) is believed to inhibit tumor proliferation by altering the metabolism of cancer cells. In this study, we examined the effects of Met on tumor oxygenation, metabolism, and growth in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using non-invasive multimodal imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice bearing orthotopic FaDu HNSCC xenografts were treated with Met (200 mg/kg, ip) once daily for 5 days. Tumor oxygen saturation (%sO2 ) and hemoglobin concentration (HbT) were measured using photoacoustic imaging (PAI). Fluorescence imaging was employed to measure intratumoral uptake of 2-deoxyglucosone (2-DG) following Met treatment while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was utilized to measure tumor volume. Correlative immunostaining of tumor sections for markers of proliferation (Ki67) and vascularity (CD31) was also performed. RESULTS At 5 days post-Met treatment, PAI revealed a significant increase (P < .05) in %sO2 and HbT levels in treated tumors compared to untreated controls. Fluorescence imaging at this time point revealed a 46% decrease in mean 2-DG uptake compared to controls. No changes in hemodynamic parameters were observed in mouse salivary gland tissue. A significant decrease in Ki-67 staining (P < .001) and MR-based tumor volume was also observed in Met-treated tumors compared to controls with no change in CD31 + vessel count following Met therapy. CONCLUSION Our results provide, for the first time, direct in vivo evidence of Met-induced changes in tumor microenvironmental parameters in HNSCC xenografts. Our findings highlight the utility of multimodal functional imaging for non-invasive mapping of the effects of Met in HNSCC.
Hemoglobin I: an inherited hemoglobin anomaly.

A hitherto undescribed hemoglobin anomaly has been detected in a North Carolina Negro family. This new hemoglobin, designated type I, which has been electrophoretically characterized, was found in combination with normal adult A hemoglobin in 6 of 17 members of one family. In each, the ratio of normal to abnormal hemoglobin was similar. Hematologic abnormalities were not observed in any of the affected individuals. Ultracentrifugation sedimentation constants, absorption spectra, solubility and oxygen carrying capacity studies showed no differences from hemoglobin A. It is proposed that the I hemoglobin gene is an allele of hemoglobin A and is transmitted as a simple dominant character in a manner similar to that of sickle cell hemoglobin. The homozygous form of I hemoglobin has not as yet been observed.
Physiological Functions of TR2 and TR4 Orphan Nuclear Receptor

The human testicular receptor 2 and 4 (TR2 and TR4) are two evolutionarily related orphan nuclear receptors belonging to the same nuclear receptor subfamily (Lee et al. 2002, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 81(4–5), 291–308). They regulate gene expression by binding to DNA as homodimers or a heterodimer with each other. TR4 may also cross-talk with other nuclear receptors, to control its target genes. In vitro and in vivo studies have identified several TR4 target genes, including ciliary neurotrophic factor alpha (CNTFRα) (Young et al. 1997, J Biol Chem 272(5), 3109–3116), apolipoprotein E (ApoE) (Kim et al. 2003, J Biol Chem 278(47), 46919–46926) and phosphenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) (Liu et al. 2007, Diabetes 56(12), 2901–2909). Recent studies using TR4 knockout (TR4–/–) mice suggested that TR4 may play essential roles in growth, development, and metabolism (Zhang et al. 2007, Mol Endocrinol 21(4), 908–920; Kim et al. 2005, Biochem Biophys Res Commun 328(1), 85–90; Chen et al. 2005, Mol Cell Biol 25(7), 2722–2732; Mu et al. 2004, Mol Cell Biol 24(13), 5887–5899; Collins et al. 2004, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101(42), 15058–15063). Mice with a germline deletion of TR4 are viable but have high early postnatal mortality, growth retardation, and profound reduction in body weight. Further studies showed that TR4 plays essential roles in the development and functioning in the central nervous system (Chen et al. 2005, Mol Cell Biol 25(7), 2722–2732), such as proper myelination and oligodendrocyte differentiation (Zhang et al. 2007, Mol Endocrinol 21(4), 908–920). Studies also showed that TR4 is important for spermatogenesis in male mice (Mu et al. 2004, Mol Cell Biol 24(13), 5887–5899) and folliculogenesis in female mice (Chen et al. 2008, Mol Endocrinol 22, 858–867). In addition, TR4 might be involved in skeletal muscle function and bone remodeling. TR4 and TR2 also regulate embryonic and fetal globin gene transcription (Tanabe et al. 2002, EMBO J 21(13), 3434–3442; Tanabe et al. 2007, EMBO J 26(9), 2295–2306). Surprisingly, mice lacking TR2 are viable and have no serious developmental defects. Thus, TR2 may either not be important in spermatogenesis and testis development, or its roles may be compensated by other closely related proteins such as TR4. Therefore, this chapter will focus on the in vivo roles of TR4.
An Approach to Brine and Freshwater Fluxes Interpreted from Radar and Microwave Radiometer Data

Abstract Carsey, F. D., 1990, An approach to brine and freshwater fluxes interpreted from SAR and microwave radiometer data. Methods are discussed for the estimation of fluxes of brine and freshwater from sea ice formation and melt in ice-covered seas. These estimates will be drawn from a combination of Synthetic aperture Radar (SAR) data, Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) microwave brightnesses and environmental analyses. The approach is to use SAR data to generate ice motion and divergence fields to both track the ice and to provide open-water production while using the SSM/I data to monitor the development of the in time.
Biological Risk and Infection Profiles of Young Adult Male Mexican American Gang Members

Objectives:Little research has examined the long-term health consequences of gang affiliation among Mexican Americans. The objectives of this study were to (1) measure biological indicators of card...
A highly sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method with in-source fragmentation for rapid quantification of raspberry ketone.

Abstract Raspberry ketone (RK) is the characteristic aromatic compound in raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) with wide applications as food additive and anti-obesity agent. However, quantification of RK has presented difficulties in MS detection and reliable LC-MS method for RK analysis in literature is in limit to date. In order to facilitate quality control of raspberry derived products and RK metabolomics study, this study aimed to develop a validated and sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method. Strong in-source fragmentation was noted and the fragmental ion of 107 m/z produced was selected as the precursor ion for MRM detection, and as such the electrospray ionization performance was optimized by fractional factorial design to accommodate such ion-source dissociation behavior as well as its moderate volatility. A pathway involving the formation of quinone-like structure with strong conjugation was proposed to explain the intense in-source fragmentation. The MRM transition was optimized with product ion of 77 m/z selected as the quantifier ion. The method featured low limit of quantification of ∼2 ng/mL and allowed for rapid detection of RK in fresh raspberries following direct sample preparation. RK contents were found to be higher from locally grown and harvested farm sources compared to commercial products shipped into the state, and higher in those at late-stage compared with early-stage maturity. No correlations in RK content between organic and non-organic labels were noted.
The Role of Precision Medicine in Child Psychiatry: What Can We Expect and When?

In the United States, nearly 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 children suffer with a mental illness, and for most, these illnesses confer significant social, occupational, or academic impairment.1,2 Whereas considerable progress has been made toward diminishing the impact of mental illness, in the last few decades, advances toward new, more effective, and more refined psychiatric treatments have slowed. First-line medications for depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were all introduced decades ago,3-6 and little progress has been made in augmenting their effectiveness.7,8.
Unraveling Confined Dynamics of Guests Trapped in Self-Assembled Pd6L4 Nanocages by Ultrafast Mid-IR Polarization-Dependent Spectroscopy

Self-assembled coordination cages form host–guest complexes through weak noncovalent interactions. Knowledge of how these weak interactions affect the structure, reactivity, and dynamics of guest m...
Does the benefit from treating to lower blood pressure targets vary with age? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Recommendations differ regarding how blood pressure targets should vary with age. Crucial to this controversy is whether treatment benefit varies with age. Methods Systematic searches were conducted for trials randomizing treatment in intensive arms to the recommended SBP targets: 120-140 mmHg. Head-to-head meta-analyses and meta-regression were conducted. Results Sixteen trials met criteria. Relative to higher targets, lower targets reduced cardiovascular events, but treatment benefit differed significantly among trials due to patient age. Treatment significantly benefited older patients (mean age 77, SD = 72-81), relative risk (RR) = 0.77 (0.61,0.97), P = 0.025, but not younger patients (mean age 61, SD = 53-70), RR = 0.90 (0.78,1.03), P = 0.121, even though the latter had much greater statistical power. The (RR in 80 year olds)/(RR in 55 year olds) = 0.68 (0.47,0.97), P = 0.036. Though statistically nonsignificant, corresponding trends for more specific outcomes favored older patients: Coronary artery disease 0.80, stroke 0.85, heart failure 0.54, and total mortality 0.76. For adverse effects this trend was 0.86 (0.33,2.26). The number needed to treat to lower targets to prevent one cardiovascular event over 10 years in eight populations declined with age by 94%+. Conclusion In these novel results, for both RR and absolute risk, treating to SBPs of 120-140 mmHg versus higher targets benefited older patients more than younger patients without an age-related increase in the RR for adverse effects. Nonetheless, because all clinical trials excluded the most frail older patients, clinicians must consider individual patient characteristics such as frailty, autonomy, and cognitive ability when choosing blood pressure targets.
A chemical counterpunch: Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC31532 produces violacein in response to translation-inhibiting antibiotics

ABSTRACT Bacterially produced antibiotics play important roles in microbial interactions and competition. Antibiosis can induce resistance mechanisms in target organisms and may induce other countermeasures as well. Here, we show that hygromycin A from Streptomyces sp. 2AW induces Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC31532 to produce the purple antibiotic violacein. Sublethal doses of other antibiotics that similarly target the polypeptide elongation step of translation likewise induced violacein production, unlike antibiotics with different targets. C. violaceum biofilm formation and virulence against Drosophila melanogaster were also induced by translation-inhibiting antibiotics, and we identified an antibiotic-induced response (air) two-component regulatory system that is required for these responses. Genetic analyses indicated a connection between the Air system, quorum-dependent signaling, and the negative regulator VioS, leading us to propose a model for induction of violacein production. This work suggests a novel mechanism of interspecies interaction in which a bacterium produces an antibiotic in response to inhibition by another bacterium.
A comparison of hematology/oncology clinic attendance between insured and under-insured patients at an urban academic hospital: Identifying barriers and ways to overcome them

16015 Background: There are persistent disparities in cancer outcomes based on non-clinical factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and access to care. Successful treatment outcomes in oncology...
Primary Care Opioid Taper Plans Are Associated with Sustained Opioid Dose Reduction.

Primary care providers prescribe most long-term opioid therapy and are increasingly asked to taper the opioid doses of these patients to safer levels. A recent systematic review suggests that multiple interventions may facilitate opioid taper, but many of these are not feasible within the usual primary care practice. To determine if opioid taper plans documented by primary care providers in the electronic health record are associated with significant and sustained opioid dose reductions among patients on long-term opioid therapy. A nested case-control design was used to compare cases (patients with a sustained opioid taper defined as average daily opioid dose of ≤ 30 mg morphine equivalent (MME) or a 50% reduction in MME) to controls (patients matched to cases on year and quarter of cohort entry, sex, and age group, who had not achieved a sustained taper). Each case was matched with four controls. Two thousand four hundred nine patients receiving a ≥ 60-day supply of opioids with an average daily dose of ≥ 50 MME during 2011–2015. Opioid taper plans documented in prescription instructions or clinical notes within the electronic health record identified through natural language processing; opioid dosing, patient characteristics, and taper plan components also abstracted from the electronic health record. Primary care taper plans were associated with an increased likelihood of sustained opioid taper after adjusting for all patient covariates and near peak dose (OR = 3.63 [95% CI 2.96–4.46], p < 0.0001). Both taper plans in prescription instructions (OR = 4.03 [95% CI 3.19–5.09], p < 0.0001) and in clinical notes (OR = 2.82 [95% CI 2.00–3.99], p < 0.0001) were associated with sustained taper. These results suggest that planning for opioid taper during primary care visits may facilitate significant and sustained opioid dose reduction.
Phase field benchmark problems targeting fluid flow and electrochemistry

Abstract In this work, we continue our development of phase field model benchmark problems with the addition of a third set, complimenting our previously developed problems for diffusion, precipitation, dendritic growth and linear elasticity. These benchmark problems are being jointly developed by the Center for Hierarchical Materials Design (CHiMaD) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) along with input from the phase field community. The first problem in this third set targets Stokes flow, with a particular emphasis on flow around an obstruction placed asymmetrically in the domain. While Stokes flow is not traditionally in the canon of phase field problems, it is a class of problems gaining importance in areas such as filtration and water purification. The second problem deals with coupled Cahn-Hilliard diffusion and electrostatic forces, which is an important area in energy storage and battery sciences. We present our own solutions and discuss sources of numerical errors for the Stokes problem as well as simple checks to avoid fundamental issues in the coupled diffusion-electrostatics problem. The latter problem contains some subtleties that we expand on in an Appendix.
Chapter 16 – Folic Acid

: Thymidylate synthase is required for the synthesis of DNA. Folic acid can be synthesized by bacteria, but not animals. Drugs that inhibit H2 folate reductase, or thymidylate synthase, are effective anticancer agents. The megaloblastic anemia associated with vitamin B12 deficiency can be partially alleviated by extra folate in the diet. Serine becomes a methyl donor in dTMP, and thus contributes positively to DNA formation. Thioredoxin and NADPH aid in the conversion of NDPs to their corresponding dNDPs for DNA synthesis. Antimetabolites that inhibit ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase (RDR) reduce the number of dNTPs available for DNA synthesis.
LocalSTAR3D: a local stack-based RNA 3D structural alignment tool

A fast-growing number of non-coding RNA structures have been resolved and deposited in Protein Data Bank (PDB). In contrast to the wide range of global alignment and motif search tools, there is still a lack of local alignment tools. Among all the global alignment tools for RNA 3D structures, STAR3D has become a valuable tool for its unprecedented speed and accuracy. STAR3D compares the 3D structures of RNA molecules using consecutive base-pairs (stacks) as anchors and generates an optimal global alignment. In this article, we developed a local RNA 3D structural alignment tool, named LocalSTAR3D, which was extended from STAR3D and designed to report multiple local alignments between two RNAs. The benchmarking results show that LocalSTAR3D has better accuracy and coverage than other local alignment tools. Furthermore, the utility of this tool has been demonstrated by rediscovering kink-turn motif instances, conserved domains in group II intron RNAs, and the tRNA mimicry of IRES RNAs.
Protocol for Barcoding T Cells Combined with Timed Stimulations.

Stimulation of naive T lymphocytes via the T cell receptor (TCR) induces distinct phosphorylation patterns that can be used to explore various signaling pathways within the cell. This protocol can be used to characterize different perturbations to the signaling pathways and the variations in time of stimulation. Here, we provide a method of barcoding and consolidating a maximum of 24 different sample conditions using two florescent dyes. This single sample for phospho-staining and flow cytometry saves time and reagents. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Krutzik and Nolan (2006), Krutzik et al. (2012), Vercoulen et al. (2017), Ksionda et al. (2018), and Myers et al. (2019).
Ambient Discrimination, Victimization, and Suicidality in a Non-Probability U.S. Sample of LGBTQ Adults

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) are at a higher risk for suicidality compared to the general population. A growing body of research has investigated this risk, particularly with attention to systemic factors such as discrimination and harassment. Unfortunately, research has only examined the impact of direct discrimination on suicidality and has neglected to examine how ambient discrimination (i.e., witnessing or being made aware of discriminatory behaviors directed at someone other than yourself in your group) relates to suicidality. Additionally, although some links exist between discrimination and suicidality, the mechanisms by which these are related are understudied. This study aimed to address these gaps by exploring the effect of ambient discrimination on suicidal ideation and examining psychological pain as a mediator in this relationship. Data were collected from a sample of 200 LGBTQ-identified individuals (M age = 35 years; 53.5% female; 86% White). Results of independent t tests and a one-way multivariate ANOVA revealed greater vulnerability for ambient/direct discrimination and psychache among individuals identifying as transgender, queer, and other. Regression and mediation analyses revealed that while both ambient and direct discrimination predicted suicidal ideation, only direct discrimination accounted for unique variance in the outcome; however, both ambient and direct discrimination contributed unique variance to psychological pain, which fully mediated their relationships to suicidal ideation. Results of this study may begin to provide insight into the pathways of risk and points of intervention for suicidality in the LGBTQ community.
Towards Multi-objective Co-evolutionary Problem Solving

Co-evolutionary algorithms deal with two co-evolving populations, each having its own objectives. The linking of the two populations comes from the fact that the evaluation of the objective of a member of the first population requires a companion member from the second population, and vice versa. These algorithms are of great interest in cooperative and competing games and search tasks in which multiple agents having different interests are in play. While there have been significant studies devoted to single-objective co-evolutionary optimization algorithms and applications, they have not been paid much attention when each population must be evolved for more than one conflicting objectives. In this paper, we propose a multi-objective co-evolutionary (MOCoEv) algorithm and present its working on two interesting problems. This proof-of-principle study suggests that the presence of multiple Pareto solutions for each population and the ensuing multi-criterion decision-making complexities make the MOCoEv research and application be challenging. This paper should spur immediate further attention to multi-objective co-evolutionary problem solving studies.
Who gains and who loses? Sociodemographic disparities in access to special education services among autistic students.

Little is known about differences in the allocation of special education services to students with autism compared with students with other primary learning differences (e.g., intellectual disability [ID], specific learning disability [SLD]) and the comparative impact of sociodemographic factors on special education service receipt. The present study aimed to compare allocation of services (i.e., quantity and types) between students eligible for special education services under autism, SLD and ID, and to identify differences in sociodemographic predictors (e.g., race, neighborhood income) of service allocation. Data were culled from special education administrative records from a large urban, primarily Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish-serving school district from academic years 2011-2012 to 2016-2017. Participants included N = 76,428 students (Nautism = 18,151, NSLD = 54,001, NID = 4,276) ages 2-18. Results showed that autistic students received, on average, more services than students with SLD. Services received by students served under autism and SLD eligibility were more congruent with areas of need (e.g., language, occupational therapy) relative to students served under ID. Student-level socioeconomic status (free and reduced lunch) was more positively predictive of the number of special education services received than the neighborhood income of the school the student attended. Finally, the most significant racial disparities in service allocation were observed among students served under autism eligibility. The present study demonstrates the critical role of economic resources in the quantity and types of services received, and the desirability of a public education for well-resourced families who are possibly best situated to navigate special education services. LAY SUMMARY: An eligibility of autism in special education confers a significant advantage in the number of services a student receives. Disparity in the quantity of special education services exists among autistic students across many sociodemographic factors. Most notably, greater allocation of services to non-Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish, White American, European American, or Middle Eastern American students and students who do not receive free and reduced lunch.
A Pediatric Lateral Submental Mass: A Rare Presentation of Dermoid Cyst:

Dermoid cysts are benign cutaneous neoplasms that contain germ cells from the ectoderm and mesoderm. Approximately 70% are diagnosed during childhood before the age of 5. Although they can present throughout the body, the prevalence is 7% for those arising from the head and neck. These lesions present primarily as midline masses and are classified as sublingual, submental, or overlapping depending on their relationship with the muscles of the floor of mouth. A 10-year-old female presented with a 2-week history of right submental swelling. She denied pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, or respiratory distress. Physical examination showed nontender fullness of the submental region without erythema or induration and no palpable cervical lymphadenopathy. Ultrasound showed an oval-shaped cystic mass measuring 4.8 × 4.0 × 2.6 cm. After a course of clindamycin, a computed tomography was obtained which showed a right 4.5 × 4.0 × 2.6 cm fluid filled lesion, within the right lateral floor of mouth. Intraoral resection was performed and the mass was freed from the geniohyoid and mylohyoid. Histopathology was consistent with a dermoid cyst. Submental masses have a broad differential, but rarely are they dermoid cysts if they arise lateral to the midline. With appropriate diagnosis and total surgical excision, patients and their families can be reassured in similar cases.
Tetrahydrocannabinol and Its Major Metabolites Are Not (or Are Poor) Substrates or Inhibitors of Human P-Glycoprotein [ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) B1] and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (ABCG2).

(−)-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis. In humans, 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH) are psychoactive and nonpsychoactive circulating metabolites of THC, respectively. Whether these cannabinoids are substrates or inhibitors of human P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is unknown. Previous animal studies suggest that THC and its metabolites could be substrates of these transporters. Therefore, we performed Transwell, cellular accumulation, and vesicular transport assays, at pharmacologically relevant concentrations of these cannabinoids, using Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) II cells or plasma membrane vesicles overexpressing human P-gp or BCRP. Neither THC nor 11-OH-THC was found to be a substrate or inhibitor of P-gp or BCRP. The efflux ratio of THC-COOH in MDCKII-BCRP cells was 1.6, which was significantly decreased to 1.0 by the BCRP inhibitor Ko143. Likewise, cellular accumulation of THC-COOH was significantly increased 1.6-fold in the presence versus absence of Ko143. THC-COOH also significantly inhibited BCRP-mediated transport of Lucifer yellow, a BCRP substrate; however, THC-COOH was neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of P-gp. Collectively, these results indicate that THC and 11-OH-THC are not substrates or inhibitors (at pharmacologically relevant concentrations) of either P-gp or BCRP. THC-COOH is a weak substrate and inhibitor of BCRP, but not of P-gp. Accordingly, we predict that P-gp/BCRP will not modulate the disposition of these cannabinoids in humans. In addition, use of these cannabinoids will not result in P-gp– or BCRP-based drug interactions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study systematically investigated whether Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its major metabolites, 11-hydroxy-THC and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC, are substrates and/or inhibitors of human P-gp and BCRP at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. The results obtained are highly valuable for mechanistic understanding and prediction of the roles of P-gp and BCRP in determining the human pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and drug interactions of cannabinoids.
Heart disease detection in school children. Evaluation of heart sound tape-recordings as a mass screening method.

Abstract To evaluate the performance and cost of tape-recorded heart sounds in the detection of heart disease among school children, 99.6 per cent of 17,366 Denver parochial school children were screened by tape-recordings, by duplicate physician examinations, and by 8-lead electrocardiograms. Students suspected of heart disease by any of the screening methods or by history were re-examined by cardiologists. None of the screening methods was perfect. Of 87 cases of uncorrected heart disease, 83 per cent were detected by physician examinations, 45 per cent by tape-recorded heart sounds and 41 per cent by electrocardiogram; and 7 per cent were missed by all three methods. The tape-recorded heart sound method was particularly poor for detection of rheumatic heart disease, atrial septal defects, congenital semilunar valve disease, and coarctation of the aorta. These categories included 78 per cent of the uncorrected cases of heart disease identified. The total assignable cost of heart disease detection per individual screened was 81 cents for duplicate physician examinations, 68 cents for heart sound tape-recordings, and 83 cents for the electrocardiogram. However, costs per heart disease case detected were $193.48 for physician examination, $301.29 for heart sound tape-recordings and $396.77 for the electrocardiogram. Since the undetected cases remain a potential community problem and since lower sensitivity of screening method results in higher cost per case detected, it would seem that the cheapest screening method in the long run is that which is the most sensitive case detector. It was concluded that the tape-recorded heart sound screening method tested was not yet suitable for routine mass application. Its screening specificity is satisfactory, but its sensitivity is not yet high enough to provide an advantage over the physicians it is designed to replace in mass primary screening for pediatric heart disease. However, the tape-recording method is promising and deserves further development. Future evaluation studies should be scientifically designed and performed in suitable populations.
Effects of metyrapone on microsomal-dependent Salmonella mutagenesis: Studies with chloroallyl ethers and model compounds

Metyrapone (2-methyl-1,2-di-3-pyridyl-1-propanone, MTP) is used as an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 enzymes, particularly those induced by phenobarbital (PB). We examined the effects of MTP on the microsomal dependent mutagenesis of a newly isolated promutagen, 3-(2-chloroethoxy)-1,2-dichloropropene (CP), three S-chloroallyl thiocarbamate herbicides, and four model promutagens aflatoxin B1 (AFB), 2-acetylaminofluorene (2AAF), 2-aminoanthracene (2AA) and benzo[a]pyrene (BP). Salmonella tester strains TA98, TA100 and TA1535 and liver microsomal preparations (S9) from rats induced with PB or Aroclor 1254 (PCB) were employed. For statistical analysis, mutagenesis data were transformed and subjected to two-way analysis of variance. Metyrapone alone was not mutagenic in the absence or presence of S9. In a dose-dependent manner, MTP inhibited mutagenesis of AFB for strains TA98 and TA100 and enhanced mutagenesis of 2AAF, 2AA and BP for these strains. 3-(2-Chloroethoxy)-1, 2-dichloropropene and the herbicides diallate, triallate and sulfallate are all chloroallyl ethers. They are similar in their mutagenesis for Salmonella with respect to strain specificity, mutagenic potency, and requirement for activation by specifically-induced microsomes. Metyrapone inhibited the mutagenesis of CP, triallate and sulfallate for strain TA100 in the presence of either PB- or PCB-induced S9, and had no apparent effect on diallate mutagenesis; the same results were obtained for TA1535 with PCB-induced S9. On this basis, the mutagenic activation of diallate appears to be different from that of the other chloroallyl ethers tested. Our results indicate that MTP can inhibit as well as enhance microsomal dependent mutagenesis for Salmonella. We conclude that MTP may be a useful tool in characterizing pathways for promutagen activation.
N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors influence neuronal survival in developing spinal cord cultures

Abstract Neuronal cell death, which exhibits precise spatial and temporal regulation, serves to remodel and optimize function in the developing nervous system. The mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death are poorly understood, but electrical activity and trophic substances appear to be among the important determinants of survival. We find that N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists induce neuronal cell death in developing spinal cord cultures. The magnitude of cell death is similar in amount to that produced by blocking action potentials with tetrodotoxin (TTX). The NMDA antagonists and TTX accelerate neuronal death in 2-week-old cultures but not in those that are 1 month old. Low concentrations of NMDA increased neuronal survival under conditions of electrical blockade with TTX. In addition, treatment with low levels of a calcium ionophore also decreased cell death associated with TTX. These results suggest that the NMDA receptor is an important determinant of neuronal survival and that this influence is stage-dependent and likely to be calcium-mediated.
Functional derivatives, Schrodinger equations, and Feynman integration

Schrodinger equations in functional derivatives are solved via quan- tized Galerkin limit of antinormal functional Feynman integrals for Schrodinger equations in partial derivatives.
God Images following Hurricane Katrina in South Mississippi: An Exploratory Study:

God image appears to affect an individual's ability to cope, either positively or negatively, following stressful life events. This qualitative investigation explored God images of Hurricane Katrin...
Vibrational spectra and structure of some silicon containing compounds. III. vinyltrifluorosilane

The Raman spectrum of liquid vinyltrifluorosilane [CH2HSiF3] has been recorded with Toronto arc excitation and quantitative depolarization values were measured for all lines of reasonable intensity. The infrared spectrum of the vapor was recorded from 33 to 3500 cm−1. The spectra have been interpreted in detail and all twenty-one normal vibrations have been assigned for a molecule of Cs symmetry. The interesting torsional mode of the trifluorosilyl moiety was observed at 84 cm−1 and the three-fold barrier restricting rotation was calculated to be 1.7 ± 0.1 kcalmole.
Complementary and alternative medical therapies for chronic low back pain: What treatments are patients willing to try?

Although back pain is the most common reason patients use complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies, little is known about the willingness of primary care back pain patients to try these therapies. As part of an effort to refine recruitment strategies for clinical trials, we sought to determine if back pain patients are willing to try acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, meditation, and t'ai chi and to learn about their knowledge of, experience with, and perceptions about each of these therapies. We identified English-speaking patients with diagnoses consistent with chronic low back pain using automated visit data from one health care organization in Boston and another in Seattle. We were able to confirm the eligibility status (i.e., current low back pain that had lasted at least 3 months) of 70% of the patients with such diagnoses and all eligible respondents were interviewed. Except for chiropractic, knowledge about these therapies was low. Chiropractic and massage had been used by the largest fractions of respondents (54% and 38%, respectively), mostly for back pain (45% and 24%, respectively). Among prior users of specific CAM therapies for back pain, massage was rated most helpful. Users of chiropractic reported treatment-related "significant discomfort, pain or harm" more often (23%) than users of other therapies (5–16%). Respondents expected massage would be most helpful (median of 7 on a 0 to 10 scale) and meditation least helpful (median of 3) in relieving their current pain. Most respondents indicated they would be "very likely" to try acupuncture, massage, or chiropractic for their back pain if they did not have to pay out of pocket and their physician thought it was a reasonable treatment option. Most patients with chronic back pain in our sample were interested in trying therapeutic options that lie outside the conventional medical spectrum. This highlights the need for additional studies evaluating their effectiveness and suggests that researchers conducting clinical trials of these therapies may not have difficulties recruiting patients.
Do hospitalists overuse proton pump inhibitors? Data from a contemporary cohort

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used to treat acid-related disorders, but are associated with an increased risk of pneumonia and Clostridium difficile associated-diarrhea.1,2 Initiation of PPIs in hospitalized patients should therefore be limited to specific clinical situations, such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding or stress ulcer prophylaxis in the critically ill.3 Prior studies suggest significant overuse of PPIs in hospitalized patients exists,4–7 but these were published before the widespread implementation of local and national quality improvement efforts targeted at reducing PPI use in medical inpatients (e.g. Society of Hospital Medicine’s (SHM) “Choosing Wisely” list8). We aimed to determine the frequency of inappropriate use of PPIs in a contemporary cohort of hospitalized patients in a tertiary care academic medical center.
Comparison of sequential drug release in vitro and in vivo

Development of drug-delivery devices typically involves characterizing in vitro release performance with the inherent assumption that this will closely approximate in vivo performance. Yet, as delivery devices become more complex, for instance with a sequential drug release pattern, it is important to confirm that in vivo properties correlate with the expected "programming" achieved in vitro. In this work, a systematic comparison between in vitro and in vivo biomaterial erosion and sequential release was performed for a multilayered association polymer system comprising cellulose acetate phthalate and Pluronic F-127. After assessing the materials during incubation in phosphate-buffered saline, devices were implanted supracalvarially in rats. Devices with two different doses and with different erosion rates were harvested at increasing times post-implantation, and the in vivo thickness loss, mass loss, and the drug release profiles were compared with their in vitro counterparts. The sequential release of four different drugs observed in vitro was successfully translated to in vivo conditions. Results suggest, however, that the total erosion time of the devices was longer and that release rates of the four drugs were different, with drugs initially released more quickly and then more slowly in vivo. Many comparative studies of in vitro and in vivo drug release from biodegradable polymers involved a single drug, whereas this research demonstrated that sequential release of four drugs can be maintained following implantation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1302-1310, 2016.