cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of bacterial infections in the hard tick Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae): evidence for the existence of antimicrobial proteins in tick hemolymph.

The ability of hard ticks to prevent infection by bacteria was investigated. During a 72-h period, virtually all Dermacentor variabilis females survived inoculation with Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli , and Staphyloccocus aureus but few survived infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The hemocyte population increased to peak abundance at 48 h to ≍6 times that of the uninfected controls. In contrast, the soluble hemolymph protein content decreased inversely as the hemocytes increased. D. variabilis hemolymph was found to be constitutively antimicrobial (i.e., hemolymph from bacteria-naive individuals inhibited bacterial growth). Infection with various bacterial species enhanced this innate capability. When hemolymph fractions separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography were tested for their ability to inhibit microbial growth, activity against the gram-positive bacterium, B. subtilis , was found in 2 polar fractions. Antimicrobial activity was lost when the fractions were incubated with protease. The least polar fraction contained 1 major protein, Mr 14.5 kDa, that comigrated with human lysozyme. This protein, tentatively identified as tick lysozyme, was abundant in bacteria-naive ticks but increased greatly (43%) following challenge with B. subtilis . The identity of the other, more polar protein is unknown. Studies to characterize these antimicrobial proteins are planned.
Ethics for the Pediatrician: Conceptual and Ethical Issues in the Declaration of Death

1. Armand H. Matheny Antommaria, MD, PhD* 1. *Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Inpatient Medicine; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Distinguish among the definition, criteria, and tests for death. 2. Contrast the whole and higher brain criteria of death. 3. Evaluate the major criticisms of and alternatives to the whole brain criteria of death. 4. Describe the controversy over when donation-after-cardiac-death donors are dead. Historically, death has been determined by the absence of breathing and circulation. The development of transplant and resuscitation technologies created practical problems for clinicians that the concept of “brain death” attempts to resolve. The persistent shortage of transplantable organs, however, has renewed interest in cardiac death. This article focuses primarily on the conceptual and ethical, as opposed to clinical, issues related to the determination of death. The discussion can be organized around the definition, criteria, and tests for death. Definitions state the necessary and jointly sufficient conditions for applying a word or concept correctly. Of note, some individuals contend that death is not definable. Criteria are measurable conditions and tests that are used by clinicians at the bedside. This article describes the current dominant paradigm of death, including the whole brain definition and the neurologic and cardiorespiratory criteria of death. The article also describes the major criticisms of this paradigm and proposals to revise or replace it. ### Definition The dominant definition of death contends that it is a single concept common to all organisms. This definition focuses on the organism rather than the organism's constituent parts because some of the parts may continue to function even after the organism is dead. Bernat and colleagues argue that death is “the cessation of functioning of the organism as a whole.” (1) This definition emphasizes the …
Active Aging and China: Perspectives and Issues

The increasing serious population aging is one of the challengeable problems attracting attentions of the international communities."Active aging"theory provides another perspective in problem-solving for how to meet the challenge of population aging.By reviewing both the development of international active aging theories and practices and China′s changes in population aging policies and practices,this article tries to analyze the aging problem in China in the political,economic,and cultural view to describe the realistic picture of China′s aging and to find a proper road for China′s active aging.
Tourism and Amenity Migration: A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract Researchers and planners often assume amenity-based rural communities encourage residential relocation by tourists. Researchers have explored this question using decisionmaking models, but few have analyzed this relationship from a rural development perspective. This study used a longitudinal design to model the relationship among tourism development, net migration, and residential development in a US city from 1950 to 2001. The model also included national economic and migration trends. Bivariate results showed tourism development was positively related to migration and residential development. When controlling for national economic and migration trends, however, this effect disappeared. These findings suggest that broader economic and social conditions are the primary condition for residence change, and that tourism amenities are only secondary considerations for migration and residential development.
Variations in the mechanical properties of cartilage from the canine scapulohumeral joint.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the intrinsic material properties of scapulohumeral joint cartilage in adult dogs and determine whether regional differences exist within or between the humeral and glenoid cartilages. SAMPLES: Paired shoulder joints from 7 clinically normal adult dogs. PROCEDURE: An automated indentation apparatus was used to obtain the intrinsic mechanical properties of the cartilage at 7 sites on each joint surface. RESULTS: Topographic variations in mechanical properties of the glenoid and humeral cartilages were observed. The largest aggregate modulus (HA) for the humerus was seen at the caudocentral site (0.92 MPa) and for the scapula was seen at the centrocenter site (0.84 MPa). The mean shear modulus (mu) of humeral cartilage (0.23 MPa) was significantly greater than that of the glenoid cartilage (0.19 MPa). The mean Poisson's ratio (v) of humeral cartilage (0.24) was significantly smaller than that for the glenoid cartilage (0.29). Mean humeral cartilage aggregate modulus (0.71 MPa) was larger than the value for glenoid cartilage (0.67 MPa), but these differences were not significant. There were no significant differences in the compressive stiffness of the opposing cartilage in the canine scapulohumeral joint. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in mechanical properties between opposing humeral and glenoid cartilages are not a cause of cartilage injury in the scapulohumeral joint of adult dogs. The mechanical properties of cartilage from young dogs with open physes and incomplete subchondral bone plates may be different from those of adult dogs.
Food intake regulation in pigs. II. The relationship between dietary protein concentration, body composition, cellular development and the efficiency of protein and energy utilization.

SUMMARY The growth, body composition, cellular development and efficiency of dietary protein and energy utilization was measured in pigs given diets ranging from 0–15 per cent crude protein. The relationship of growth up to 49 days (y) and dietary protein concentration (x) up to 9 per cent was described by the linear regression y = 4 · 45 x + 17 · 3, but the growth response to protein plateaued at 9 per cent. Protein retention in the body was directly related to total protein intake. Energy retention was not consistently related to energy consumption particularly in pigs re-fed a 15 per cent protein diet following 0, 3 and 6 per cent protein intakes. Upon refeeding there was a considerable compensatory synthesis of DNA in many of the tissues studied.
TLR Tolerance as a Treatment for Central Nervous System Autoimmunity

The role of TLR signaling in multiple sclerosis (MS) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is unclear. This role is especially controversial in models of adoptive transfer EAE in which no adjuvant and no TLR ligands are administered. We recently reported that a microbiome-derived TLR2 ligand, Lipid 654 (L654), is present in healthy human serum but significantly decreased in the serum of MS patients. This suggested that microbiome products that gain access to the systemic circulation, rather than being proinflammatory, may normally play an immune-regulatory role by maintaining a state of relative TLR tolerance. Therefore, a loss of microbiome-mediated TLR tolerance, as suggested by lower serum levels of L654, may play a role in the pathogenesis of MS. As proof of concept we asked whether administering low-level TLR2 ligands in adoptive transfer EAE induces TLR2 tolerance and attenuates disease. We administered low-level Pam2CSK4 or L654 to mice receiving encephalitogenic cells and in doing so induced both TLR2 tolerance and attenuation of EAE. Disease attenuation was accompanied in the CNS by a decrease in macrophage activation, a decrease in a specific proinflammatory macrophage population, and a decrease in Th17 cells. In addition, disease attenuation was associated with an increase in splenic type 1 regulatory T cells. Kinetic tolerance induction studies revealed a critical period for TLR2 involvement in adoptive transfer EAE. Overall, these results suggest that inducing TLR tolerance may offer a new approach to treating CNS autoimmune diseases such as MS.
Hidden costs of supply management in a small market

Canada regulates its dairy and poultry industries through supply management. The supply-management programs use target prices, production quotas and import tariff-rate quotas to raise domestic prices. Canadian supply-managed producers cannot export their output to world markets as exports would be considered subsidized under World Trade Organization rules. In this paper, we show that once foregone export opportunities are accounted for, supply management may no longer be beneficial to domestic producers of the supply-managed commodities. The extent to which foregone profits from exports dominate domestic rents depends on Canada's comparative advantage, domestic market elasticities and the extent of supply management distortion in the domestic market.
A feasibility study of two adaptive-control methods for vector-controlled induction motor drives

The authors evaluate two adaptive control methods for vector-controlled AC drives under parameter variations, namely a minimum variance controller (MVC) and a model reference exact-matching (MREM) method. They compare them to a nonadaptive model reference complementary controller (MRCC) and address their potential impact on designing PWM (pulse width modulation) inverters. Digital simulation results indicate that although all the methods considered had similar responses for nominal conditions, the MVC and MREM exhibited a higher performance than the MRCC under variations of the rotor time constant. However, the MVC PWM signal placed a more severe burden on the PWM stage. It is concluded that a comprehensive solution for the problem of parameter variations should include a combination of an identification method for the rotor parameters and adaptive control method to meet the desired specifications (rise time, bandwidth, speed range, etc.). >
Novel CNN architecture with residual learning and deep supervision for large-scale scene image categorization

One of the most investigated methods to increase the accuracy of convolutional neural networks (CNN) is by increasing its depth. However, increasing the depth also increases the number of parameters, which makes convergence of back-propagation very slow and prone to overfitting. Convolutional networks with deep supervision (CNDS) add auxiliary branch to addresses the problem of slower convergence and overfitting. However, CNDS does not resolve the issue of degradation, which can be addressed by residual learning. In order to effectively train deep neural networks, in this paper, we propose Residual-CNDS network, which adds residual learning to CNDS. Residual connections are parameter free and add only negligible amount of computation, thereby it has very little impact over complexity of the network. Results of our experiments on very large-scale MIT Places 205 scene dataset support our hypothesis that adding the residual connections to the CNDS will enhance the accuracy of the network. Our experiments show that the proposed network improves upon other recently introduced state of the art networks both in terms of top-1 and top-5 classification accuracy.
Fracton topological order via coupled layers

In this work, we develop a coupled layer construction of fracton topological orders in d=3 spatial dimensions. These topological phases have subextensive topological ground-state degeneracy and possess excitations whose movement is restricted in interesting ways. Our coupled layer approach is used to construct several different fracton topological phases, both from stacked layers of simple d=2 topological phases and from stacks of d=3 fracton topological phases. This perspective allows us to shed light on the physics of the X-cube model recently introduced by Vijay, Haah, and Fu, which we demonstrate can be obtained as the strong-coupling limit of a coupled three-dimensional stack of toric codes. We also construct two new models of fracton topological order: a semionic generalization of the X-cube model, and a model obtained by coupling together four interpenetrating X-cube models, which we dub the ‘four color cube model”. The couplings considered lead to fracton topological orders via mechanisms we dub “p-string condensation” and “p-membrane condensation”, in which strings or membranes built from particle excitations are driven to condense. This allows the fusion properties, braiding statistics, and ground-state degeneracy of the phases we construct to be easily studied in terms of more familiar degrees of freedom. Our work raises the possibility of studying fracton topological phases from within the framework of topological quantum field theory, which may be useful for obtaining a more complete understanding of such phases.
Prophylactic vertebral cement augmentation at the uppermost instrumented vertebra and rostral adjacent vertebra for the prevention of proximal junctional kyphosis and failure following long-segment fusion for adult spinal deformity.

Abstract Background Context Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and proximal junctional failure (PJF) are common problems after long-segment (>5 levels) thoracolumbar instrumented fusions in the treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD). No specific surgical strategy has definitively been shown to lower the risk of PJK as the result of a multifactorial etiology. Purpose The study aimed to assess the incidence of PJK and PJF in patients treated with prophylactic polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement augmentation at the uppermost instrumented vertebrae (UIV) and rostral adjacent vertebrae (UIV+1). Study Design/Setting This is a retrospective cohort-matched surgical case series at an academic institutional setting. Patient Sample Eighty-five adult patients over a 16-year enrollment period were identified with long-segment (>5 levels) posterior thoracolumbar instrumented fusions for ASD. Outcome Measures Primary outcomes measures were PJK magnitude and PJF formation. Secondary outcomes measures were spinopelvic parameters, as well as global and regional sagittal alignment. Methods The impact of adjunctive PMMA use in long-segment (≥5 levels) fusion for ASD was assessed in adult patients aged 18 and older. Patients were included with at least one of the following: lumbar scoliosis >20°, pelvic tilt >25°, sagittal vertical axis >5 cm, central sacral vertical line >2 cm, and thoracic kyphosis >60°. The frequency of PJF and the magnitude of PJK were measured radiographically preoperatively, postoperatively, and at maximum follow-up in controls (Group A) and PMMA at the UIV and UIV+1 (Group B). Results Eighty-five patients (64±11.1 years) with ASD were identified: 47 control patients (58±10.6) and 38 patients (71±6.8) treated with PMMA at the UIV and UIV+1. The mean follow-up was 27.9 and 24.2 months in Groups A and B, respectively (p=.10). Preoperative radiographic parameters were not significantly different, except the pelvic tilt which was greater in Group A (26.6° vs. 31.4°, p=.03). Postoperatively, the lumbopelvic mismatch was greater in Group B (14.6° vs. 7.9°, p=.037), whereas the magnitude of PJK was greater in controls (9.36° vs. 5.65°, p=.023). The incidence of PJK was 36% (n=17) and 23.7% (n=9) in Groups A and B, respectively (p=.020). The odds ratio of PJK with vertebroplasty was 0.548 (95% confidence interval=0.211 to 1.424). Proximal junctional kyphosis was observed in 6 (12.8%) controls only (p=.031). The UIV+1 angle, a measure of PJK, was significantly greater in controls (10.0° vs. 6.8°, p=.02). No difference in blood loss was observed. No complications were attributed to PMMA use. Conclusions The use of prophylactic vertebral cement augmentation at the UIV and rostral adjacent vertebral segment at the time of deformity correction appears to be preventative in the development of proximal junctional kyphosis and failure.
Irregular Gait Detection using Wearable Sensors

This paper presents a personalized system for detecting irregular gait parameters that may lead to a fall. Accurate detection of gait irregularities may be used to deliver targeted feedback for improving gait patterns and thereby reducing the risk of a fall. The proposed system uses Inertia Measurement Units(IMUs), proximity (PR) and infrared (IR) sensors. We separate the system into two distinct components. The first component is used to detect the current gait phase of the wearer based on the incoming sensor data. The second component combines the sensor data with the label produced by the first component used to classify the gait as regular or irregular in a manner that may potentially lead to a fall. The system can identify the occurrence of three distinct gait irregularities that may lead to a fall: small step width, low foot clearance and excessive trunk sway. For this, we use an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The system was trained on three healthy subjects to evaluate its ability to identify irregular gait. Results show that the system can provide real time results with an accuracy equal or greater to similar systems in the existing literature.
Regulation of Mononuclear Phagocyte Proliferation

The diversity of functions assigned to mononuclear phagocytes (MNP) leads to the view that either the system is composed of multiple functionally distinct subpopulations (Walker, 1976; Walker et al., 1981) or that expression of a particular function represents differentiation states through which all cells pass as they mature. Superimposed on either developmental sequence, environmental stimuli may modulate the expression fo MNP function. For example, surface markers such as Ia or C3b receptors might be the result of clonal expansion of a subpopulation (Walker et al, 1981). The expression of Ia could also be a modulatable activity. Several investigators have shown that incubation of macrophages with mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte products can induce Ia on the surface membrane of macrophages (Farr et al, 1979; Beller and Unanue, 1981).
Correlation of PROMIS CAT instruments with Oswestry Disability Index in chiropractic patients.

Abstract Background The inefficiency associated with collecting standard validated instruments has been a barrier to routine use. We utilized computer adaptive testing (CAT) instruments available through Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and correlated these with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Methods All measurements were collected at a routine chiropractic visit. The ODI assessment was used for comparison as a widely used patient reported outcomes instrument. Results The average time to complete all questions during an office visit was 170 ± 67 s (average ± Stdev) to answer 25 ± 6 questions. Regression analysis revealed a good linear fit between ODI and both PROMIS pain behavior and physical function with R2 values of 0.5219 and 0.6754 respectively, and a good linear fit between anxiety and depression with R2 values of 0.5236. Conclusions PROMIS CAT instruments can be efficiently administered during routine clinical visits and correlations values found validate the utility when compared to ODI.
“Color Does Not Equal Consciousness”: Educators of Color Learning to Enact a Sociopolitical Consciousness:

This study is based on an initiative for increasing college and career readiness for Black and Latino male high school students in New York City. From data that include 58 total hours of participan...
Internet: Psychological Perspectives

From its beginnings in the late 1960s as a US government research project, the Internet has evolved into a privately operated ‘network of networks’ that is having a profound effect on modern society. With the emergence of the World Wide Web in the 1990s, what began as a research and academic support tool has become a major economic force that has opened new channels of communication and information sharing on a global basis. Enabled by the societal penetration of personal computers, the Internet's rate of adoption since 1992 has exceeded those of other major twentieth century technological forces, such as radio, television, the automobile, and airline travel. In this article we introduce the Internet and the World Wide Web and then address their relevance to cognitive psychology and cognitive science: (a) the role of the Internet in support of cognitive science research (e.g., computer supported collaboration at a distance and issues in the use of the technology to support teamwork and distributed cognition), and (b) the influence of the Internet on modern society from a psychological perspective (e.g., both current issues and those that can be anticipated as the technology continues to advance and to reach a larger portion of the world's population).
Association of Weekend Admission and Weekend Discharge with Length of Stay and 30-Day Readmission in Children’s Hospitals

BACKGROUND Worse outcomes among adults presenting for/receiving care on weekends (ie, "the weekend effect") have been observed for many diseases. However, little is known about the overall impact of the weekend effect in hospitalized children. OBJECTIVE o determine the association between weekend admission and length of stay (LOS) and between weekend discharge and 30-day all-cause readmission. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of children hospitalized between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015 using the Pediatric Health Information System. Birth hospitalizations and planned procedures were excluded. We used generalized linear mixed modeling to assess the independent association between weekend admission and LOS and weekend discharge and readmission risk. RESULTS Among 390,745 hospitalizations across 43 hospitals, the median LOS was 41 hours (interquartile range [IQR] 24-71) and the 30-day readmission rate was 8.2% (IQR 7.2-9.4). We observed no association between weekend admission and LOS (adjusted LOS [95% CI: weekend 63.70 [61.01-66.52] hours vs weekday 63.40 [60.73-66.19] hours, P = .112). Weekend discharge was associated with slightly increased odds of readmission compared with weekday discharge (adjusted probability of readmission [95% CI]: weekend 0.13 [0.12-0.13] versus weekday 0.11 [0.11-0.12], P < .001) but was variable among individual hospitals. Patient characteristics (ie, number of chronic conditions) were more strongly associated with LOS and readmission risk than weekend admission or discharge. CONCLUSIONS Patient-level factors (ie, clinical and demographic characteristics) are more indicative of longer LOS and readmission risk than weekend admissions or discharges. The overall impact of the weekend effect across children's hospitals was minimal.
Intravascular Photoacoustic Imaging of Lipid-Laden Plaque: From Fundamental Concept Towards Clinical Translation

Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, with its vulnerability defined by the propensity for the plaque to rupture, contributes to the majority of acute coronary syndromes and sudden cardiac deaths.
Communicative Participation After Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck cancer (HNC) affects structures related to speech and voice, such as the tongue, floor of the mouth, nasal cavity, palate, mandible, and larynx, among others. As a result, one of the most significant difficulties experienced by HNC patients relates to changes in verbal communication. These difficulties may lead to problems in returning to work, developing and maintaining relationships, or participating in a variety of activities, which may lead to social isolation. All of these types of communication difficulties may result in a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. In this chapter, I describe challenges in everyday communication situations, or communicative participation, that may occur as a result of HNC. Next, a novel patient-reported outcome measure, the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB), is introduced. A framework is proposed that accounts for multiple factors that may relate to communicative participation. These factors not only include speech and voice severity but also include those related to a person’s environment, such as social support, or those related to the person, such as individual coping mechanisms. Therefore, these factors as well as related issues need consideration in the hope of directing future research and implementing new clinical practice patterns in this patient population.
The Hidden Power of Oral Histories

Abstract The original purpose of creating the NMSU library oral histories collection was to learn how senior library employees document and pass on their professional expertise. The project was set up in an effort to find ways of retaining institutional knowledge that would otherwise have vanished. After analysis of the audio recordings, it became apparent that oral histories are the perfect venue for institutional knowledge retention. The collected material on documentation practices went beyond expectations providing deep insight into the NMSU library culture. Given its broad scope, such recorded material may be used for a variety of purposes, including creating a unified documentation policy, developing a library-wide succession plan, establishing an institutional socialization program, and sharing institutional knowledge with new employees. This article presents the research findings on documentation practices among NMSU librarians, and also discusses various possible applications of oral histories in academic institutions.
Child Abuse and Deformational Plagiocephaly in a West Texas Hospital System.

Background The aim of this study was to assess deformational plagiocephaly's (DP) predictive value in neglect and physical abuse (nonaccidental trauma [NAT]) within the pediatric population. In addition, we sought to characterize the prevalence of DP and NAT for our hospital's mostly rural catchment area. Methods Data on hospitalized patients diagnosed with NAT and/or neglect between 2012 and 2018 were collected via retrospective chart review. All enrolled children were younger than the age of 4 years at the time of diagnosis, and those without legible head computed tomographies or magnetic resonance images during their initial hospitalization were excluded. Utilizing neuroimaging, we calculated the cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and cranial index for each patient to assess for DP. Differences between the two groups were assessed using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. A p -value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. All analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4 (Cary, North Carolina, United States). Results The prevalence of DP within the combined cohort of NAT and neglect patients is 21%, similar to that reported in the literature for the general population (20-50%). There was no significance between the prevalence of DP and a history of NAT ( p > 0.1) or neglect ( p > 0.1). Furthermore, there was no correlation between CVAI and characteristics of initial presentation or history of trauma for either NAT ( p -values: 0.359 and 0.250, respectively) or neglect groups ( p -values: 0.116 and 0.770, respectively). Conclusion While there are many limitations to this study, our results suggest that abused children are no more likely to have history of DP than the general population, and the degree of DP is not associated with severity of trauma history or initial presentation. We hope the results of this study promote future investigations for unique and subtle predictive factors of child abuse/neglect.
Providing a Tailored Educational Interaction with Cultural Treasures: A Study of Museum Docents.

Docents – volunteer adult educators in art museums – adapt their tour content and process to best suit their audiences. This interpretive qualitative study explores the strategies docents used in f...
Point-of-care platelet function tests: relevance to arterial thrombosis and opportunities for improvement

Studies using whole blood platelet aggregometry as a laboratory research tool, provided important insights into the mechanism and modulators of platelet aggregation. Subsequently, a number of point-of-care (POC) platelet function tests (PFTs) were developed for clinical use, based on the concept that an individual's thrombotic profile could be assessed in vitro by assessing the response to stimulation of platelet aggregation by specific, usually solo agonists such as adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and thrombin. However, adjusting antiplatelet medication in order to improve the results of such POC PFTs has not translated into a meaningful reduction in cardiovascular events, which may be attributable to important differences between the POC PFT techniques and in vivo conditions, including patient-to-patient variability. Important limitations of most tests include the use of citrate-anticoagulated blood. Citrate directly and irreversibly diminishes platelet function and even after recalcification, it may result in altered platelet aggregation in response to ADP, epinephrine or collagen, and interfere with thrombin generation from activated platelets. Furthermore, most tests do not employ flowing blood and therefore do not assess the effect of high shear forces on platelets that initiate, propagate and stabilize arterial thrombi. Finally, the effect of endogenous thrombolysis, due to fibrinolysis and dislodgement, which ultimately determines the outcome of a thrombotic stimulus, is mostly not assessed. In order to accurately reflect an individual's predisposition to arterial thrombosis, future tests of thrombotic status which overcome these limitations should be used, to improve cardiovascular risk prediction and to guide pharmacotherapy.
Prevalence and trends in obesity in the United States and affluent countries

Abstract According to recent studies on the trends of BMI worldwide, the prevalence of obesity has doubled in more than 80 countries since 1980. Moreover, nearly every country—excluding parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia—has observed an increase in obesity every year since 1975. Worldwide, 10.8% of adult males and 14.8% of adult females have obesity. Overall, this represents 3.4- and 2.3-fold increases in obesity in adult males and females, respectively, in 40 years. However, these trends are heterogeneous across countries with regard to the steepness of increase. The prevalence of a BMI ≥ 30 varies by country from 58% in the Micronesian island of Nauru. This wide range reflects the economic, environmental, ethnic, and social differences throughout the world. Moreover, the tabulation of the prevalence of obesity in each country is not conducted annually, as in the United States and other high-income countries. As a result, this chapter will focus on the trends of obesity in the United States and other affluent countries—defined in this chapter as the top 25 countries according to gross national income.
Acquirers’ financial reporting preferences and accounting for intangibles in acquisitions

We test whether an impending change in the accounting for goodwill mitigates bias in the initial values that acquirers assign to intangible assets. Results of two experiments with experienced professional participants suggest that the new accounting alters, but does not eliminate, bias in acquisition-date fair values. Specifically, we provide the new insight that acquirers have a preference to minimize the value of recognized goodwill when the initial fair values assigned to intangibles do not affect future earnings, as under the planned accounting change. Further, this preference regarding the composition of the balance sheet appears to be specific to goodwill. Our research also complements previous archival evidence by providing causal evidence that acquirers are more likely to bias initial fair values when there is significant uncertainty in their private information about asset value. In contrast, a low level of uncertainty “psychologically ties acquirers’ hands” such that they do not bias their fair value estimates. Our theory and results provide important input to standard setters and practitioners regarding an unanticipated consequence of the impending change in accounting for intangible assets.
RUSTEC: Greening Europe's energy supply by developing Russia's renewable energy potential

Abstract The North-West of Russia is characterized by a large renewable energy resource base in geographic proximity to the EU. At the same time, EU Member States are bound by mandatory renewable energy targets which could prove to be costly to achieve in the current budgetary context and which often face strong local opposition. Directive 2009/28/EC on Renewable Energy makes it possible for Member States to achieve their targets by importing electricity produced from renewable energy sources from non-EU countries. So far, most attention has been on the Mediterranean Solar Plan or Desertec. An EU–Russia Renewable Energy Plan or RUSTEC – being based on onshore wind/biomass/hydro energy and on-land interconnection, rather than solar power and subsea lines – could present a cost-efficient and short-term complement to Desertec. This article examines the political, geopolitical, economic, social and legal challenges and opportunities of exporting “green” energy from Russia to the EU. It argues that EU–Russian cooperation in the renewable energy field would present a win-win situation: Member States could achieve their targets on the basis of Russia's renewable energy potential, while Russia could begin to develop a national renewable energy industry without risking potential price increases for domestic consumers—a concern of great political sensitivity in Russia.
History of food fraud and development of mitigation requirements and standards

Abstract Since humans transitioned from subsistence agriculture to trading of food products, food fraud has been part of the food risk landscape. Also known as economically motivated adulteration, food fraud represents a wide array of devious acts by which one party deceives the other as to the true value or contents of a food product. From simple dilution (wine) to increasing density (flour) to substitution (vegetable oil for extra-virgin olive oil) to recent examples of complex fraud involving synthetic ingredients, the same basic characteristics are present: someone sees an opportunity for profit, someone suffers from the exchange, and then society looks to ways to prevent similar frauds. This chapter provides a brief history of the evolution of food fraud and, importantly, the evolution of the technological and public policy interventions intended to prevent or mitigate the harm from food fraud.
On the Front (Phone) Lines: Results of a COVID-19 Hotline.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the associated coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) have presented immense challenges for health care systems. Many regions have struggled to adapt to disruptions to health care practice and use systems that effectively manage the demand for services. Methods: This was a cohort study using electronic health records at a health care system in northeast Ohio that examined the effectiveness of the first 5 weeks of a 24/7 physician-staffed COVID-19 hotline including social care referrals for patients required to self-isolate. We describe clinical diagnosis, patient characteristics (age, sex race/ethnicity, smoking status, insurance status), and visit disposition. We use logistic regression to evaluate associations between patient characteristics, visit disposition and subsequent emergency department use, hospitalization, and SARS-Cov-2 PCR testing. Participants: In 5 weeks, 10,112 patients called the hotline (callers). Of these, 4213 (42%) were referred for a physician telehealth visit (telehealth patients). Mean age of callers was 42 years; 67% were female, 51% white, and 46% were on Medicaid/uninsured. Results: Common caller concerns included cough, fever, and shortness of breath. Most telehealth patients (79%) were advised to self-isolate at home, 14% were determined to be unlikely to have COVID-19, 3% were advised to seek emergency care, and 4% had miscellaneous other dispositions. A total of 287 patients (7%) had a subsequent emergency department visit, and 44 (1%) were hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Of the callers, 482 (5%) had a COVID-19 test reported, with 69 (14%) testing positive. Among patients advised to stay at home, 83% had no further face-to-face visits. In multivariable results, only a physician recommendation to seek emergency care was associated with emergency department use (odds ratio = 4.73, 95% confidence interval = 1.37-16.39, P = .014). Only older age was associated with having a positive test result. Patients with social needs and interest in receiving help were offered services to meet their needs including food deliveries (n = 92), behavioral health telephone visits (n = 49), and faith-based comfort calls from pastoral care personnel (n = 37). Conclusions and Relevance: Robust, physician-directed telehealth services can meet a wide range of clinical and social needs during the acute phase of a pandemic, conserving scarce resources such as personal protective equipment and testing supplies and preventing the spread of infections to patients and health care workers.
Analysis of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Content in Fish Oil Products:

Background:Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosehexaenoic acid (DHA), often found in fish oil supplements, have been linked to cardiovascular benefits in proper doses.Objective...
Entering Negotiations: Early-Career Perspectives on the UN Conference of Parties and the Unfolding Climate Crisis

As the pressure to address the climate crisis builds, scientists must walk the line between research and activism. This was apparent at the 2019 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC - COP), the largest annual meeting to address the climate crisis via supranational policymaking. COP has convened annually since 1995 in effort to establish international agreements for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and in 2015, was the launch pad for the UN Paris Climate Agreement (PCA). Here, we present our collective perspective as early-career researchers on COP, an institution that we believe plays a critical role in the future of our oceans. Given the current pledges from signatories to the PCA, Earth is expected to warm ~3°C by 2100, with the majority of anthropogenic heat content stored throughout the ocean. For this reason, among others, we feel it is crucial for ocean scientists to have a baseline understanding of the negotiations unfolding at COP and within the UNFCCC. We also provide evidence that certain features/structures of COP formalize colonial hierarchies, marginalize certain groups, and threaten to perpetuate the drivers of the environmental crises we all face. Thus, we urge that the future of such gatherings include purposeful and self-reflective acts of restructuring the space they occupy, the solutions they advocate, and the ways in which power is distributed amongst participants. We balance our critique with examples of how this has already been successful at COP, particularly with respect to organizing around ocean-climate issues.
The Role of Collaboration, Creativity, and Embodiment in AI Learning Experiences

Fostering public AI literacy (i.e. a high-level understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) that allows individuals to critically and effectively use AI technologies) is increasingly important as AI is integrated into individuals’ everyday lives and as concerns about AI grow. This paper investigates how to design collaborative, creative, and embodied interactions that foster AI learning and interest development. We designed three prototypes of collaborative, creative, and/or embodied learning experiences that aim to communicate AI literacy competencies. We present the design of these prototypes as well as the results from a user study that we conducted with 14 family groups (38 participants). Our data analysis explores how collaboration, creativity, and embodiment contributed to AI learning and interest development across the three prototypes. The main contributions of this paper are: 1) three designs of AI literacy learning activities and 2) insights into the role creativity, collaboration, and embodiment play in AI learning experiences.
Photophysical Dynamics in Semiconducting Graphene Quantum Dots Integrated with 2D MoS2 for Optical Enhancement in the Near UV

The hybrid structure of zero-dimensional (0D) graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and semiconducting two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 has been investigated, which exhibit outstanding properties for optoelectronic devices surpassing the limitations of MoS2 photodetectors where the GQDs extend the optical absorption into the near-UV regime. The GQDs and MoS2 films are characterized by Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, along with atomic force microscopy. After outlining the fabrication of our 0D-2D heterostructure photodetectors comprising GQDs with bulk MoS2 sheets, their photoresponse to the incoming radiation was measured. The hybrid GQD/MoS2 heterostructure photodetector exhibits a high photoresponsivity R of more than 1200 A W-1 at 0.64 mW/cm2 at room temperature T. The T-dependent optoelectronic measurements revealed a peak R of ∼544 A W-1 at 245 K, examined from 5.4 K up to 305 K with an incoming white light power density of 3.2 mW/cm2. A tunable laser revealed the photocurrent to be maximal at lower wavelengths in the near ultraviolet (UV) over the 400-1100 nm spectral range, where the R of the hybrid GQDs/MoS2 was ∼775 A W-1, while a value of 2.33 × 1012 Jones was computed for the detectivity D* at 400 nm. The external quantum efficiency was measured to be ∼99.8% at 650 nm, which increased to 241% when the wavelength of the incoming laser was reduced to 400 nm. Time-resolved measurements of the photocurrent for the hybrid devices resulted in a rise time τrise and a fall time τfall of ∼7 and ∼25 ms, respectively, at room T, which are 10× lower compared to previous reports. From our promising results, we conclude that the GQDs exhibit a sizable band gap upon optical excitation, where photocarriers are injected into the MoS2 films, endowing the hybrids with long carrier lifetimes to enable efficient light absorption beyond the visible and into the near-UV regime. The GQD-MoS2 structure is thus an enabling platform for high-performance photodetectors, optoelectronic circuits, and quantum devices.
Comparison of the dosimetric accuracy of proton breast treatment plans delivered with SGRT and CBCT setups

PURPOSE To compare the dosimetric accuracy of surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) setups in proton breast treatment plans. METHODS Data from 30 patients were retrospectively analyzed in this IRB-approved study. Patients were prescribed 4256-5040 cGy in 16-28 fractions. CBCT and AlignRT (SGRT; Vision RT Ltd.) were used for treatment setup during the first three fractions, then daily AlignRT and weekly CBCT thereafter. Each patient underwent a quality assurance CT (QA-CT) scan midway through the treatment course to assess anatomical and dosimetric changes. To emulate the SGRT and CBCT setups during treatment, the planning CT and QA-CT images were registered in two ways: (1) by registering the volume within the CTs covered by the CBCT field of view; and (2) by contouring and registering the surface surveyed by the AlignRT system. The original plan was copied onto these two datasets and the dose was recalculated. The clinical treatment volume (CTV): V95% ; heart: V25Gy , V15Gy , and mean dose; and ipsilateral lung: V20Gy , V10Gy , and V5Gy , were recorded. Multi and univariate analyses of variance were performed to assess the differences in dose metric values between the planning CT and the SGRT and CBCT setups. RESULTS The CTV V95% and lung V20Gy , V10Gy , and V5Gy dose metrics were all significantly (p < 0.01) lower on the QA-CT in both the CBCT and SGRT setup. The differences were not clinically significant and were, on average, 1.4-1.6% lower for CTV V95% and 1.8%-6.0% lower for the lung dose metrics. When comparing the lung and CTV V95% dose metrics between the CBCT and SGRT setups, no significant difference was observed. This indicates that the SGRT setup provides similar dosimetric accuracy as CBCT. CONCLUSION This study supports the daily use of SGRT systems for the accurate dose delivery of proton breast treatment plans.
Improving Student Confidence in Using Group Work Standards: A Controlled Replication.

Objective:This is a replication of a study that examined the effects of teaching foundation competencies in group work to social work students and assessed their self-confidence in applying these skills. This study improves on the first by utilizing a controlled design.Method:Twenty-six master of social work students were taught group work competencies derived from the International Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups’ (IASWG) Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups using didactic activities and micro-skill exercises. Students were assessed 4 times on their confidence in group work competencies using a validated 70-item inventory. Group work skills were divided into three blocks and taught successively in an abbreviated multiple-baseline design.Results:The t-tests indicated significant increases in confidence ratings after training on the respective skills but not before skills training.Conclusion:The results provide additional support for the effectiveness of the teaching ap...
Religion and Hip Hop

Introduction: (Re)Finding Religion 1. Scapegoats, Boundaries, and Blame: The Civic Face of Hip-Hop Culture 2. Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover 3. And the Word Became Flesh: Hip-Hop Culture and the (In)coherence of Religion 4. Inside-Out: Complex Subjectivity and Postmodern Thought 5. Youth Religiosity in America: The Empirical Landscape 6. Faith in the Flesh Conclusion: When the Religious Ain't So Religious, After All Notes Bibliography Index
A homology theory for hybrid systems: hybrid homology

By transferring the theory of hybrid systems to a categorical framework, it is possible to develop a homology theory for hybrid systems: hybrid homology. This is achieved by considering the underlying “space” of a hybrid system—its hybrid space or H-space. The homotopy colimit can be applied to this H-space to obtain a single topological space; the hybrid homology of an H-space is the homology of this space. The result is a spectral sequence converging to the hybrid homology of an H-space, providing a concrete way to compute this homology. Moreover, the hybrid homology of the H-space underlying a hybrid system gives useful information about the behavior of this system: the vanishing of the first hybrid homology of this H-space—when it is contractible and finite—implies that this hybrid system is not Zeno.