cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of abdominal fat with serum amylase in an older cohort: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Abstract Aims Abdominal fat is a major determinant of metabolic diseases in older individuals. Obesity and diabetes are associated with low serum amylase (SA) levels, but the association between SA and metabolic disease is poorly understood. We investigated the association of low SA with diabetes and sex-specific associations of serum amylase with abdominal fat in older adults. Methods In community-dwelling volunteers from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (778 participants, age 66.8±13.6years), we assessed abdominal fat by computed tomography and diabetes status using the American Diabetes Association criteria. Linear regression analyses assessed the cross-sectional associations between abdominal fat and SA, and logistic regression assessed the odds of diabetes, given low SA. Results In unadjusted analyses, individuals in the lowest SA quartile ( 2 ), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT, dm 2 ) or BMI. In adjusted analyses, VAT and SAT were significantly associated with SA in both sexes. Among women, SA was more strongly associated with VAT than with SAT or BMI; VAT ( β =−0.117±0.048, P β =−0.023±0.025, P =0.346) and BMI ( β =−0.0052±0.075, P =0.49). Conclusions The association between SA and diabetes was explained mainly by abdominal visceral fat. In women, SA was more strongly associated with VAT than with BMI or SAT. These findings provide motivation for future mechanistic studies on SA's role in metabolic diseases.
Ophthalmic disorders among the homeless and nonhomeless in Los Angeles.

BACKGROUND Few studies have addressed ocular disorders among the homeless and nonhomeless poor. METHODS To better understand the health problems of the homeless, ophthalmic disorders were analyzed among 512 homeless and 413 nonhomeless poor individuals receiving vision-screening examinations in Los Angeles. RESULTS Significantly, more 4- to 17-year-old nonhomeless poor were diagnosed with uncorrected visual acuity worse than or equal to 20/50 without correction (p = 0.001), total refractive errors (p < 0.0005), astigmatism (p = 0.001), and myopia (p < 0.0005) than were a control group of 4- to 17-year-old homeless individuals. More homeless individuals had extraocular muscle imbalance (p < 0.040), but fewer had external eye diseases (p2 = 0.016) than the nonhomeless poor, when age adjusted. In addition, higher rates of glaucoma and cataracts were observed in both homeless and poor nonhomeless populations than in the general population. CONCLUSIONS Health care professionals should provide vision screenings intended to detect these ocular disorders. Screening and correction of myopia and glaucoma, in particular, can greatly improve the quality of life for those treated.
The mantra of empowerment talk: an essay

ABSTRACTProjects around the world use the ‘mantra of empowerment talk’, calling for engagement that is civic, appreciative of local diversity, transformative, sustainably self-reliant, helpful for alleviating suffering, and transparent. These noble missions clash in everyday practice, so organizations that share the mantra also share predictable dilemmas. By gathering together studies of projects that share the mantra, and observing their typical efforts at resolving typical dilemmas, this article characterizes this newly prevalent organizational form: ‘The empowerment project’. When one dilemma pops up here, immediately, another pops up elsewhere.
Student Course Evaluation

Based on approximately 25,000 Student Course Evaluation Questionnaires (SCEQ) covering 16 semesters from Spring 2005 through Fall 2012 and publicly available at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Countyâs website http://www.umbc.edu/oir/sceq/index.html, we analyze the effect of class level and discipline on student responses. We compare the results obtained and conclusions drown with those already reported in the literature.
Low phase noise microwave signal generation by injection locking to the sidebands of a multi-tone photonic oscillator

We report low phase noise (-110 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset frequency) tunable microwave signal generation via a new technique of injection locking of DFB lasers to the optical sidebands of a multi-tone photonic oscillator.
Detection of Viral Sequences in Formalin Fixed, Paraffin Embedded Tissues from HIV-1 Infected Patients Using the PCR

The development of new techniques can further the elucidation of the biology of many diseases. The invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the 1980’s by Mullis and co-workers at the Cetus Corporation (Saiki et al. 1985) has revolutionized the field of molecular virology. The ability of the PCR to detect as few as one target present among 100,000 to 1,000,000 human cells has permitted the direct examination of in vivo viral infections. Prior to the PCR, extremely low numbers of virus were often “invisible” by many techniques. Culture techniques were generally the most sensitive method of direct viral detection. However, it was theoretically possible that some latent viruses would not grow in culture. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques can detect the expression of viral antigens or RNA, or the presence of multiple viral genomes. Unfortunately, these techniques suffer from various drawbacks. In particular, latent viral infection with small numbers of viral genomes (generally less than 50 copies per cell) would escape detection. The Southern blot technique can detect viral DNA regardless of its state of activation, but generally needs at least one viral genome present per 100 cells for detection.
Fast radio burst source properties and curvature radiation model

We use the observed properties of fast radio bursts (FRBs) and a number of general physical considerations to provide a broad-brush model for the physical properties of FRB sources and the radiation mechanism. We show that the magnetic field in the source region should be at least 10^{14} Gauss. This strong field is required to ensure that the electrons have sufficiently high ground state Landau energy so that particle collisions, instabilities, and strong electric and magnetic fields associated with the FRB radiation do not perturb electrons' motion in the direction transverse to the magnetic field and destroy their coherent motion; coherence is required by the high observed brightness temperature of FRB radiation. The electric field in the source region required to sustain particle motion for a wave period is estimated to be of order 10^{11} esu. These requirements suggest that FRBs are produced near the surface of magnetars perhaps via forced reconnection of magnetic fields to produce episodic, repeated, outbursts. The beaming-corrected energy release in these bursts is estimated to be ~10^{36} ergs, whereas the total energy in the magnetic field is at least ~10^{45} ergs. We provide a number of predictions for this model which can be tested by future observations. One of which is that short duration FRB-like bursts should exist at much higher frequencies, possibly up to optical.
Power-law liquid in cuprate superconductors from fermionic unparticles

Recent photoemission spectroscopy measurements (T. J. Reber et al., arXiv:1509.01611) on cuprate superconductors have inferred that over a wide range of doping, the imaginary part of the electron self-energy scales as ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}}^{\ensuremath{''}}\ensuremath{\sim}{({\ensuremath{\omega}}^{2}+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}{T}^{2})}^{a}$ with $a=1$ in the overdoped Fermi-liquid state and $al0.5$ in the optimal to underdoped regime. We show that this non-Fermi-liquid scaling behavior can naturally be explained by the presence of a scale-invariant state of matter known as unparticles. We evaluate analytically the electron self-energy due to interactions with fermionic unparticles. We find that, in agreement with experiments, the imaginary part of the self-energy scales with respect to temperature and energy as ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}}^{\ensuremath{''}}\ensuremath{\sim}{T}^{2+2\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{2+2\ensuremath{\alpha}}$, where $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is the anomalous dimension of the unparticle propagator. In addition, the calculated occupancy and susceptibility of fermionic unparticles, unlike those of normal fermions, have significant spectral weights even at high energies. This unconventional behavior is attributed to the branch cut in the unparticle propagator which broadens the unparticle spectral function over a wide energy range and nontrivially alters the scattering phase space by enhancing (suppressing) the intrinsic susceptibility at low energies for negative (positive) $\ensuremath{\alpha}$. Our work presents evidence suggesting that unparticles might be important low-energy degrees of freedom in strongly coupled systems such as the cuprate superconductors.
Professional development as product implementation training

Abstract Efforts to maintain tighter control over the curriculum by external stakeholders in the United States are evolving, and one such way this is occurring is through the reshaping of required professional development for practicing educators. To demonstrate how this is happening, this article critically analyses the seemingly common practice of bundling professional development session with the sale of curriculum materials and programs marketed to schools and districts. By approaching inservice teacher education as linked to specific curricula, these types of professional development sessions are constructed in a manner more likely to have greater similarity with forms of product implementation training.
Short-term impact of a church-based approach to lifestyle change on cardiovascular risk in African Americans.

While lifestyle modification decreases cardiovascular risk, there are barriers to lifestyle education in usual clinical practice, especially among the medically underserved. To address this gap, "Lighten Up," a church-based lifestyle program was developed in collaboration with the local African-American Christian community. Lighten Up includes a baseline health assessment (week 1), eight educational sessions (weeks 2-9) combining study of scripture and a health message, a short-term health check (week 10) and a long-term health check (week 52). Baseline and 10 week risk factor data have been obtained in 133 African Americans from eight sites (83% women) and form the basis of this report. At baseline, 76% of participants had two or more modifiable risk factors (overweight, hypertension, borderline high cholesterol, or diabetes). The entire group had significant short-term reductions in weight (-2.3 pounds, P<.01), mean blood pressure (BP, -2.1 mm Hg, P<.05), and triglycerides (-11 mg/dl, P<.05). Risk factor improvement was greater among the 60 subjects who attended 75% or more of the educational sessions. In this group, weight fell 2.9+/-0.6 pounds (mean +/- SEM; P<.01), mean BP declined 3.8+/-1.2 mm Hg (P<.01), total cholesterol was lowered 6+/-4 mg/ dl (P = .12), and triglycerides were reduced 17+/-9 mg/dl (P = .05). Lighten Up is reaching a group with multiple cardiovascular risk factors that is not optimally managed by existing healthcare resources. Of the 133 participants, 70% attended half or more of the sessions, and several components of the risk factor cluster were favorably affected.
Stimulus-responsive viral vectors for controlled delivery of therapeutics

Virus-based therapies have gained momentum as the next generation of treatments for a variety of serious diseases. In order to make these therapies more controllable, stimulus-responsive viral vectors capable of sensing and responding to specific environmental inputs are currently being developed. A number of viruses naturally respond to endogenous stimuli, such as pH, redox, and proteases, which are present at different concentrations in diseases and at different organ and organelle sites. Additionally, rather than relying on natural viral properties, efforts are underway to engineer viruses to respond to endogenous stimuli in new ways as well as to exogenous stimuli, such as temperature, magnetic field, and optical light. Viruses with stimulus-responsive capabilities, either nature-evolved or human-engineered, will be reviewed to capture the current state of the field. Stimulus-responsive viral vector design considerations as well as gaps in current research efforts will be identified.
Model selection criteria based on cross-validatory concordance statistics

In the logistic regression framework, we present the development and investigation of three model selection criteria based on cross-validatory analogues of the traditional and adjusted c-statistics. These criteria are designed to estimate three corresponding measures of predictive error: the model misspecification prediction error, the fitting sample prediction error, and the sum of prediction errors. We aim to show that these estimators serve as suitable model selection criteria, facilitating the identification of a model that appropriately balances goodness-of-fit and parsimony, while achieving generalizability. We examine the properties of the selection criteria via an extensive simulation study designed as a factorial experiment. We then employ these measures in a practical application based on modeling the occurrence of heart disease.
Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Reminders for Children with High-Risk Conditions: A Registry-Based Randomized Trial

Results: Among 3618 children with a high-risk condition, 2730 (75.5%) had not received a 2008 - 2009 influenza vaccination and were eligible at the time of notification. Among children assigned to the reminder group (n1374), 42.6% had an address determined to be either invalid, undeliverable, or both. Among those with valid addresses (n2001), a greater percentage of children with deliver- able reminders received at least one influenza vaccination (30.8%) during the outcome observation period than did children assigned to no reminder (24.3%, OR1.39, 95% CI1.13, 1.72); children with an undeliverable reminder had an influenza vaccination rate (22.8%) similar to children assigned to no reminder. Conclusions: Receipt of a reminder was positively associated with seasonal influenza vaccination. However, more than 40% of children assigned to receive a reminder were determined to have an invalid or undeliverable address, emphasizing the need for increased quality of IIS contact information.
Stress concentrations in bolt-thread roots

The apparent geometric origin of fatigue fractures in oversize shank bolts is considered in this report. Bolt-nut interaction between the bolt and both a standard nut and a special nut are investigated. The “frozen stress” method of three-dimensional stress analysis was used to determine the magnitudes and locations of points of stress concentration in plastic models of both the oversize shank bolt and a standard bolt in combinations with standard and special nuts. The results indicate that, for installations in which the special nut is used, bolt geometry may be the controlling factor in determining the fatigue life of the boltnut combination, because the stress-concentration factors due to the nut loading are of the same order of magnitude as the stress-concentration factors due solely to bolt geometry. On the other hand, for installations in which standard nuts are used, the nut-induced stress-concentration factors are much larger than those due to bolt geometry; so, bolt geometry will have less effect on the fatigue performance of the combination. If the nut is threaded onto the bolt so far that the first loaded thread of the nut is in the thread-runout area of the bolt, fatigue performance of the installation will be greatly reduced due to the combination of stress-concentration factors from thread loading and section change and, again, bolt geometry may be a prominent causative factor.
Implementation of Smart Antennas for Wireless LAN Systems

The IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN) standard has achieved world-wide acceptance. However, current products have been excluded from greater adoption due to limitations that include range, capacity, high power drain, coverage dead spots, co-channel interference, and security. Smart antenna sys-tems have demonstrated significant promise to alleviate all of these problems (aside from security) while still remaining compatible with the 802.11 (b/a/g) standards. This paper discusses the history of smart antenna systems, including a brief overview of how smart antennas are being implemented by various companies in the cellular, fixed wireless, and wireless LAN spaces. The cate-gories of smart antenna systems are discussed, including a basic theoretical model of a typical smart antenna setup. Smart antenna implementations gen-erally can be categorized as either switched diversity, beamforming, sector-ization, Space-Division Multiple-Access, or MIMO systems. The reasons that smart antenna systems are not implemented more today are also discussed. This paper then examines the benefits that smart antenna systems provide, focusing on the benefits for WLAN systems. The benefits are analyzed for range, fading reduction, power drain, dead spots, and co-channel interference, and are shown to be significant.
Communication by mosaic signals: Individual recognition and underlying neural mechanisms

Although the mechanisms of individual recognition have not been thoroughly studied, they are central to understanding how the brain regulates social behavior and emotional reactions to others. Such reactions necessarily involve the integration of a variety of different processes. By studying recognition in a variety of different social contexts, however, it may be possible to untangle some of the complex webs of interacting brain areas. In particular, the study of individual recognition by odors is likely to be a valuable model for the investigation of other behaviors that are guided by similar complex odors.
The Effect of Flow Distribution in Parallel Channels of Counterflow Heat Exchangers

It has long been known that poor flow distribution in parallel channels causes a degradation in heat exchanger performance. Examples of this can be found in air liquefaction plants, where the gradual plugging of a few of the tubes in a parallel array reduces performance of the plant, not only because of the increased pressure drop, but also because of a reduction in the thermal effectiveness of the exchangers. As this paper will illustrate, the reduction in performance can be particularly severe in balanced flow cryogenic heat exchangers of very high thermal effectiveness.
Dynamically Determined Preferred Values and a Design-for-Testability Approach for Multiplexer Select Inputs under Functional Test Sequences

Earlier works observed that certain primary inputs have preferred values, which help increase the gate-level fault coverage when they appear in a functional test sequence. This article observes that multiplexers present additional opportunities for increasing the fault coverage of a functional test sequence, which are not captured by preferred primary input values. Because multiplexers are prevalent, their effect on the fault coverage can be significant. A static analysis that is independent of any functional test sequence is performed in this article to identify preferred values for the outputs of multiplexers. This is followed by a dynamic analysis that adjusts the select inputs of the multiplexers for a given functional test sequence to ensure that the preferred values appear on the outputs of the multiplexers more often. The analysis yields design-for-testability logic for the select inputs of the multiplexers that have preferred values. The logic is independent of the functional test sequence, and it allows the fault coverage to be increased when the select inputs are not primary inputs, or when the same select inputs are used for different multiplexers. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate that this approach has a significant effect on the fault coverage of functional test sequences.
Respiratory muscle activation patterns during maximum airway pressure efforts are different in women and men

Abstract Maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure values (PImax and PEmax) are indirect measures of respiratory muscle strength that, in healthy adults, are known to be significantly lower in women compared to men. In part, sex differences in breathing kinematics, lung size, body composition, muscle mass, and muscle fiber composition are thought to be responsible for these effects. However, it is not known whether respiratory muscle activation during maximum respiratory efforts is also sex-specific. In this study, we addressed whether respiratory multi-muscle activation patterns during PImax and PEmax efforts are different between healthy women and men. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), PImax, PEmax, and surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity recorded from respiratory muscles during these maximum airway pressure efforts were obtained in 13 women and 11 men. Percent predicted values of FVC and FEV1 were not significantly different in these two groups (women vs. men: 112 ± 14 vs. 105 ± 15%, p = 0.29; and 92 ± 12 vs. 93 ± 13, p = 0.82, Mean ± SD, respectively), while PImax and PEmax measures were significantly lower in women compared to men (68 ± 16 vs. 88 ± 19 cmH2O, p = 0.011; and 69 ± 13 vs. 94 ± 17, p = 0.0004, respectively). Using vector-based methodology, by calculating the Similarity Index (SI) as measure of the resemblance between two sEMG patterns and the Magnitude (Mag) representing the overall amount sEMG during motor task, we have found that although the Mag values for both PImax and PEmax tasks were not significantly different in two groups, the SIs revealed significant sex-dependent differences in muscle activation patterns (0.89 ± 0.08 vs. 0.97 ± 0.02, p = 0.016; and 0.77 ± 0.11 vs. 0.92 ± 0.04, p = 0.0006, respectively). During the PImax effort, presented as the percentage of total sEMG amplitude, activity of upper trapezius muscle was significantly larger (p = 0.001) while activation of rectus abdominus, oblique, and lower paraspinal muscles were significantly smaller (p = 0.002, p = 0.040, p = 0.005, respectively) in women when compared to the men (50 ± 21 vs. 22 ± 11%; 2 ± 2 vs. 8 ± 7; 4 ± 3 vs. 9 ± 7, 2 ± 3 vs. 7 ± 6, respectively). During PEmax effort, the percentage of sEMG activity were significantly larger in upper and lower trapezius, and intercostal muscles (p = 0.038, p = 0.049, p = 0.037, respectively) and were significantly smaller in pectoralis, rectus abdominus, and oblique muscles (p = 0.021, p
A review of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of grooming disorders.

Background Pathologic grooming disorders can lead to clinically significant distress and functional impairment. Studies on treatment of these disorders with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and anticonvulsants have led to inconsistent findings. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown promise in treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. The objective of this article is to perform an updated review of NAC in the treatment of grooming disorders. Methods PubMed was searched from inception to October 2017 to identify literature on the use of NAC in the management of trichotillomania, onychophagia, and pathological skin picking. Case reports, case series, and randomized controlled trials were included. Data on study design, dosing regimens, comorbidities, concurrent treatment, and side effects were extracted from the included articles. Results Fifteen articles were included in this review, which consisted of 10 case reports, one case series, and four randomized controlled trials. Dosing of oral NAC ranged from 450 to 2,400 mg per day, and treatment periods lasted from 1 to 8 months. Side effects were uncommon, mild, and usually gastrointestinal in nature, with severe aggression reported in one child. Conclusions While there are multiple reports of the safety and efficacy of NAC in the treatment of grooming disorders, there are currently few randomized controlled trials on this topic, and more research is needed to develop a formal treatment algorithm. While current data should be considered very preliminary, case reports have demonstrated mostly positive results and a lack of significant side effects. A trial of NAC may be a viable option for pathologic grooming disorders, especially in patients who have failed prior psychologic or pharmacologic treatment.
From Carbon Democracy to Carbon Rebellion: Countering Petro-Hegemony on the Frontlines of Climate Justice

This essay combines salient instances of climate justice activism in key battlegrounds against the fossil fuel industry in the United States and Canada with theoretical interventions in studies of corporate power, grassroots democracy, and counter hegemony. It explores Timothy Mitchell's Carbon Democracy and the term’s relevance to understanding the conditions in which climate justice activists must combat the entrenched interests of fossil fuel companies. It suggests that Carbon Democracy is a helpful concept for understanding how fossil fuel dependency both shapes and distorts democratic governance. Drawing upon insights in three case studies - activism against Chevron in Richmond California, the Water Protectors and the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, and the First Nations-led fight against the Trans Mountain Pipeline in British Columbia - the essay supplements Carbon Democracy with two more terms: Petro-Hegemony and Carbon Rebellion. These reveal three power relations, namely consent, compliance, and coercion, upon which fossil fuel companies depend and in which climate justice activists must strategically intervene to move beyond conditions of Carbon Democracy. I show that dual power is a logic of strategic intervention that climate justice activists are successfully using to intervene in all three of these relations to reign in corporate power and assert their own sovereignty.
Estimating Proposal and Status Quo Locations Using Voting and Cosponsorship Data

Theories of lawmaking generate predictions for the policy outcome as a function of the status quo. These theories are difficult to test because the widely applied ideal point estimation techniques do not recover the locations of proposals or status quos. Instead, such techniques only recover cutpoints. This limitation has meant that most existing tests of theories of lawmaking have been indirect in nature. I propose a method of directly measuring ideal points, proposal locations, and status quo locations on the same scale, by employing a combination of voting data, bill and amendment cosponsorship data, and the congressional record. My approach works as follows. First, we can identify the locations of legislative proposals (bills and amendments) on the same scale as voter ideal points by jointly scaling voting and cosponsorship data. Next, we can identify the location of the final form of the bill using the location of the last successful amendment (which we already know). If the bill was not amended, the...
Mesenchymal stromal cells contract collagen more efficiently than dermal fibroblasts: Implications for cytotherapy.

Background Stem cell therapy is the next generation a well-established technique. Cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has been demonstrated to enhance wound healing in diabetic mice, at least partly due to improved growth factor production. However, it is unclear whether MSC can biomechanically affect wound closure. Utilizing the well-established cell-populated collagen gel contraction model we investigated the interactions between MSC and the extracellular matrix. Methods Murine fetal liver-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) or fetal Dermal Fibroblasts (DFs) were cultured in cell–populated collagen gels (CPCGs). The effect of cell density, conditioned media, growth factors (TGF-B1, FGF, PDGF-BB), cytoskeletal disruptors (colchicine, cytochalasin-D), and relative hypoxia on gel contraction were evaluated. Finally, we also measured the expression of integrin receptors and some growth factors by MSCs within the contracting gels. Results Our results show that at different densities, MSCs induced a higher gel contraction compared to DFs. Higher cell density resulted in faster and more complete contraction of CPCGs. Cytoskeletal inhibitors either inhibited or prevented MSC-mediated contraction in a dose dependent fashion. Growth factors, conditioned media from both MSC and DF, and hypoxia all influenced CPCG contraction. Discussion The results suggest that MSCs are capable of directly contributing to wound closure through matrix contraction, and they are more effective than DF. In addition, this study demonstrates the importance of how other factors such as cell concentration, cytokines, and oxygen tension can provide potential modulation of therapies to correct wound healing impairments.
Characterization of Immune Cells from Adipose Tissue

Adipose tissue (AT) serves a crucial role in maintaining organismal metabolic homeostasis. Studies have demonstrated that AT is populated with a diverse array of immune cells that coordinate and regulate AT function. This adipo-immune system is highly dynamic, reflecting the physiologic state of the organism (e.g., obese, lean, aged, or young) as well as the constant physiologic remodeling of AT associated with the daily rhythms of fasting and feeding. Many of the adaptive and maladaptive functional changes of AT are regulated by changes in the quantity and quality of distinct sets of AT-resident immune cells. Here we present protocols to assess the dynamic state of the immune system within AT by constructing censuses of adipose-resident immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, eosinophils, NK cells, innate lymphocytes, T cells, and B cells, etc.) based on flow cytometry, which we term adipo-immune profiles (AIPs). Constructing AIPs can be an integral part of assessment for AT health and function. This article describes the protocols to generate such AIPs. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Behavior change, health, and health disparities 2019: Opioids, tobacco, and treatment adherence

This Special Issue of Preventive Medicine (PM) is the 6th in a series on behavior change, health, and health disparities. This is a topic of critical importance to improving U.S. population health. There is broad consensus that personal behavior patterns or lifestyle such as substance abuse, physical inactivity/obesity, and non-adherence with medical regimens are among the most important modifiable causes of chronic disease, premature death and population health. Hence, effectively promoting health-related behavior change needs to be a key component of health care research and policy. In this issue we devote the majority of space (14 of 20 reports) to the U.S. opioid epidemic, especially the ongoing but still woefully inadequate efforts to build the necessary clinical infrastructure in rural communities to effectively address the epidemic. The remaining six reports focus on addressing the substantive challenges that tobacco use and non-adherence with medical regimens represent in these same communities. While giving the opioid epidemic the attention that it well deserves, we cannot afford to do so at the expense of these other longstanding and also devastating public health problems. Across each of these topics we include contributions from well-regarded investigators, clinicians, and policymakers to acquaint readers with recent accomplishments while also noting knowledge gaps and unmet challenges.
Offering modest supports to extend professional development outcomes and enhance elementary science teaching

Given the time and resources invested in professional development, it makes sense to find ways to extend positive outcomes over the long term. However, there is little research investigating what e...
Creativity and Cognitive Ability: Typology Contributions and a Meta-Analytic Review of Moderators

In today’s rapidly changing organizations, the importance of workplace creativity in contributing to organizational performance, growth and competitiveness is indisputable. There is little consensu...
Maximum dry density of sand–kaolin mixtures predicted by using fine content and specific gravity

Numerous studies have covered the comparison of maximum dry density (MDD) toward the combination of soil properties and compaction parameters. These combinations are dominated by Atterberg limits, moisture content, and compaction effort. Nevertheless, minimal efforts have been expended in predicting the MDD using two simple soil properties, i.e., fine content (FC) and specific gravity (Gs). Sand–kaolin mixtures were compacted and then used to examine the correlation between MDD, FC, and Gs through different moisture content, and FC ranged from 20 to 70%. The results showed the importance of considering both Gs and FC in the correlation estimation in order to reduce the uncertainty of using only FC as a single parameter. A linear relationship was obtained with an excellent correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.99) between MDD and the ratio of FC/Gs2. The empirical correlation equation was justified using data from 163 measured MDD obtained from previous studies. All predicted MDD were within the confidence interval of ± 10, which confirmed a low error range of the predicted MDD. The application of the equation was limited to FC and FC/Gs less than 77% and 0.302, respectively. It should, however, be noted that the presence of a high amount of gravel in the soil mixture will not be applicable for this correlation.
High-power, mid-infrared, picosecond pulses generated by compression of a CO_2 laser beat-wave in GaAs

We report on the generation of a train of ∼2 ps, 10 μm laser pulses via multiple four-wave mixing and compression of an infrared laser beat-wave propagating in the negative group velocity dispersion region of bulk GaAs and a combination of GaAs and NaCl crystals. The use of a 200 ps, 106 GHz beat-wave, produced by combining laser pulses amplified on the 10P(20) and 10P(16) transition of a CO2 laser, provides a novel method for generating high-power, picosecond, mid-IR laser pulses at a high repetition rate. By using 165 and 882 GHz beat-waves, we show that cascaded phase-mismatched difference frequency generation plays a significant role in the four-wave mixing process in GaAs.
Challenges in providing adequate and reliable nutrition for extremely low birth weight infants.

Summary Background There is limited data on macronutrient content and its variability in mothers’ milk of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. The primary objectives were to determine the mean and the range of macronutrient content in milk from mothers of ELBW infants. Methods A near-infrared milk analyzer was used to measure fat, protein and carbohydrate. Data is presented as mean ± SD, median, and minimum/maximum values. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and linear regression were used to examine differences between repeat analyses. Results The mean GA and BW of infants were 25.6 ± 1.9 weeks and 678.6 ± 78.6 g respectively. The mean caloric content of 212 milk samples (10 infants) was 20.1 ± 5.4 cals/oz. The mean fat, protein and carbohydrate content were 3.2 ± 1.8, 1.6 ± 0.5 g% and 8.0 ± 0.8 g% respectively. Large subject to subject and day to day variations were observed. The range of calories, fat, protein and carbohydrate content were 10.4–42.3 cals/oz, 0.2–14.1, 0.6–3.3 and 6.4–13.7 g% respectively. Nearly half of all samples had 17 or less cals/oz and 10% had 15 or less cals/oz. There were no significant differences between repeat readings on a single sample. Conclusions Standard fortification in presence of significant variation in macronutrient and caloric content of mother's milk can lead to large day to day variation in macronutrient and caloric intake of ELBW infants. Clinical significance of variable intake from one day to another in infants at high risk of NEC and growth failure is unclear and needs further study.
Tail autotomy is associated with boldness in male but not female water anoles

Sex differences in personality traits, such as boldness, are often driven by differences in life history strategies. Specifically, in a polygynous mating system where males defend territories to acquire mates, it may be beneficial for males to exhibit higher levels of boldness compared to females. However, males may also suffer a higher cost due to their bold behavior. Yet, few studies have documented evidence of the differential costs of boldness between the sexes. We examined these relationships in water anoles (Anolis aquaticus), using tail autotomy as a proxy for predation risk and/or injury from intraspecific competition. We measured boldness as latency to emerge from a refuge into a novel environment. We predicted that (1) males would exhibit bolder behavior than females, (2) boldness would be positively associated with tail autotomy (i.e., lizards with evidence of autotomized tails would be bolder than lizards without evidence of tail autotomy), and (3) a higher proportion of males would exhibit evidence of tail autotomy than females. We found that in our behavioral test, (1) boldness did not differ between the sexes, but that (2) there were sex differences in the costs of boldness, such that boldness was positively associated with tail autotomy in males but not in females, and (3) males tended to be more likely to exhibit evidence of tail autotomy. Together, these results suggest that males may suffer a higher cost of boldness due to sex differences in reproductive strategies. The sexes often differ in behavior because males and females use different tactics to fulfill reproductive success. Boldness is a personality trait that benefits both sexes in terms of acquiring resources. However, boldness should benefit males more when they defend territories and compete for mates. Though what is the cost of bold behavior and does this differ between the sexes? Here, we found that boldness is associated with risk-induced injuries (tail loss) in male water anoles, but not in females. The loss of the tail has been shown to have serious fitness consequences in lizards. Thus, male water anoles suffer a higher cost of bold behavior than females. Our results provide insight on the ecological relevance of boldness, and how selection may have led to differences in personality between the sexes.
Mechanisms Governing Target Search and Binding Dynamics of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors

Transcription factors (TFs) are classically attributed a modular construction, containing well-structured sequence specific DNA-binding domains (DBDs) paired with disordered activation domains (ADs) responsible for protein-protein interactions targeting cofactors or the core transcription initiation machinery. However, this simple division of labor model struggles to explain why TFs with identical DNA binding sequence specificity determined in vitro exhibit distinct non-overlapping binding profiles in vivo. The family of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors (HIFs) offer a stark example: aberrantly expressed in several cancer types, HIF-1α and HIF-2α subunit isoforms recognize the same DNA motif in vitro — the hypoxia response element (HRE) — but only share a subset of their target genes in vivo, while eliciting contrasting effects on cancer development and progression under certain circumstances. To probe the mechanisms mediating isoform-specific gene regulation, we used live cell single particle tracking (SPT) to investigate HIF nuclear dynamics and how they change upon genetic perturbation or drug treatment. We found that HIF-α subunits and their dimerization partner HIF-1β exhibit distinct diffusion and binding characteristics that are exquisitely sensitive to concentration and subunit stoichiometry. Using domain-swap variants, mutations, and a HIF-2α specific inhibitor, we found that although the DBD and dimerization domains are important, a major determinant of chromatin binding and diffusion behavior is dictated by the AD-containing intrinsically disordered regions. These findings reveal a previously unappreciated role of IDRs in regulating the TF search process that may play a role in selective functional target site binding on chromatin.
Structural properties of guinea pig liver transglutaminase.

Evidence is presented that transglutaminase is composed of a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight 80,000 to 90,000. (a) Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of dodecyl sulfate and mercaptoethanol gave a single band with a mobility corresponding to a molecular weight of approximately 85,000. (b) Gel filtration in guanidine HCl of the 14C-carbamidomethyl carboxymethylated enzyme protein showed a single peak of absorbance and radioactivity from which a molecular weight of approximately 85,000 was estimated. (c) Amino-terminal analysis by conventional methods showed no evidence of free α-amino groups. A peptide, believed to contain the amino-terminal residue, was obtained by Pronase digestion and was isolated at levels of 0.75 and 0.8 mole/90,000 g of enzyme. The sequence of this peptide was determined as pyroglutamylalanylaspartylleucine. (d) Digestion by carboxypeptidase A of the carboxymethylated enzyme protein in denaturing solvents released glycine and serine at equal rates to the level of 1 mole/90,000 g of protein. Hydrazinolysis gave approximately 1 mole of glycine. These findings, together with earlier evidence that the molecular weight of the native enzyme is 80,000 to 90,000 and that the enzyme protein contains 17 or 18 —SH groups, but no disulfide bonds, form the basis for the view of an unbridged monomeric structure of transglutaminase. Indication that transglutaminase performs its catalytic functions in the monomeric form was obtained from a comparison of the gel filtration patterns for the enzyme protein in the presence and absence of calcium ion. The identical nature of these patterns is in accord with the suggestion that this metal, which is essential for activation of transglutaminase, does not affect a change in enzyme molecular weight. A revised enzyme purification procedure is presented. Rabbit antiserum against transglutaminase has been prepared and used to characterize the enzyme purified by this procedure as immunologically homogeneous.
Modeling the evolution of complex genetic systems: the gene network family tree.

In 1994 and 1996, Andreas Wagner introduced a novel model in two papers addressing the evolution of genetic regulatory networks. This work, and a suite of papers that followed using similar models, helped integrate network thinking into biology and motivate research focused on the evolution of genetic networks. The Wagner network has its mathematical roots in the Ising model, a statistical physics model describing the activity of atoms on a lattice, and in neural networks. These models have given rise to two branches of applications, one in physics and biology and one in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Here, we review development along these branches, outline similarities and differences between biological models of genetic regulatory circuits and neural circuits models used in machine learning, and identify ways in which these models can provide novel insights into biological systems. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 1–12, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Compressible Flow of Gases

When the density change of fluid is small (ρ1/ρ2 < 2) and the velocity not too high (Mach number, Ma < 0.3), then the mechanical energy balance reduces to the forms developed in Chapter 2. These equations represent the flow of all liquids as well as relatively slow moving gases. This is called incompressible flow.
Integrating Position Reporting, Routing and Mobility Management in Multishop Packet Radio Networks

In this paper we propose an integrated proactive routing and mobility management strategy that makes feasible the realization of a flat single-tier routing architecture in multihop packet radio networks. The integration of the routing and mobility management functions is achieved via the use of the geographic position reporting mechanism and the generalization of the zone routing concept. The underlying principle behind the proposed routing strategy is to reduce the network routing overhead by making the accuracy of the routing information in each node “inversely proportional” to its distance from any other node in the network. The proposed integrated scheme provides for a flat routing architecture with no hierarchical entry/exit points, where every node can act as a router, therefore increasing the network’s routing flexibility and robustness. Finally we show through modeling and simulation that the proposed routing protocol is a bandwidth-efficient routing mechanism that can be applied across large-scale networks.
The Economic Value of a Sustainable Supply Chain

The economic rationale to operate a global supply chain in a sustainable manner is developed. Arguments are made based on marketing, finance, and production theories that by engaging in socially responsible behavior the firm will increase sales, decrease costs, reduce financial risk, and increase profits, which will ultimately increase returns to the firm's shareholders. A model is developed of the mechanism by which modern production methods such as lean production and quality management result in sustainable corporate behavior that, in the long run, translates into higher stock valuations. The production effects cause marketing and financial risk effects that are complementary, and all three channels of influence synergistically result in higher stock values in the model. These effects also provide important benefits to other stakeholders of the firms including employees, customers, the environment, and the community. An important ethical issue in global supply chains is working conditions in foreign plants often leading to allegations of sweatshop labor conditions. This issue is used to illustrate how lean production practices can affectconsumers, employees, and financial risk. Conclusions from the sweatshop labor issue are shown to apply to other sustainability issues as well.
Solid-state modulated kicker pulser

A solid-state high voltage pulse generator for highspeed beam kicker applications has been designed and tested at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This kicker pulser uses multiple stages stacked in an inductive-adder configuration where the energy is switched from each stage of the adder by a parallel array of MOSFETs. Features include pulse width, format and amplitude agility all at a high pulse-repetition rate. The modulator can drive a 50%o load at voltages up to 18 kV with +/-10% amplitude modulation at several MHz burst frequency. Rise and fall times are on the order of 10 ns, and the pulser can easily be configured for either positive or negative polarity. The presentation will include test and operational data collected from both the ETA II accelerator kicker and resistive dummy loads.
ASIC implementation of efficient line spectral frequency computation for speech coding applications

One of the more computationally intensive portions of speech coding algorithms using linear predictive (LP) methods is the calculation of line spectral frequencies (LSFs) from the predictor coefficients. Methods for the efficient computation of LSFs have been developed. A very large scale integration (VLSI) design implementing one such method is presented. The architecture is designed to be optimized for speed and area and is suitable for integration into larger speech coding systems.
A Review of “Queneau et les formes intranquilles de la modernité. 1917–1938: Lectures du récit anglo-saxon des XIXe-XXe siècles”

When Raymond Queneau began vetting English-language titles for Gallimard in 1938, he had read scores of books by Anglo-Saxon authors in the original (Lord Jim, Dubliners), in French translation (Th...