cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retiring some myths about aging and oral health.

Research on the oral health status of elderly populations has been limited in frequency and scope. There is a lack of good descriptive and longitudinal data on salivary gland function, oral mucosal status, and oral sensory performance in health and disease across the adult life span. Thus, confusion for practitioners and patients alike arises from unsubstantiated stereotypes about aging and oral health. There are some commonalities in the origins of the myths discussed in this article. First, many aging generalizations were based on studies that did not account for the health and medication status of the subjects. Second, most aging studies are cross-sectional designs which can result in misleading conclusions due to the age cohort effect. Third, many studies on the histology of aging oral tissues were laboratory animal studies, with results that cannot be generalized to human populations. Fourth, findings on oral health changes are often confounded or influenced by differences in functional status (e.g., the ability to care for oneself), nutritional health, health beliefs and expectations within the study subjects. Fifth, other changes due to aging may have an indirect effect on oral health, for example, an age-related decline in immune function. Sixth, the "older-old" group of elderly commonly labor under misconceptions of normal aging changes. Historically they have not sought dental care as often as the younger elders. This health care seeking behavior is expected to change dramatically when the baby boom generation joins the elderly ranks. The goals of oral health care for the elderly are consistent with those of other health care providers involved in geriatric care, namely maximizing functional performance, fostering independence, and enhancing their quality of life. Dental professionals would be well advised to apply a healthy dose of skepticism to any generalizations about debilitating changes in oral health due to aging alone. Most changes in oral health experienced by the elderly are not the result of age itself, but are the consequences of systemic disease, pharmacotherapy, functional disabilities, and cognitive impairment. When unexplained deleterious changes are seen in the oral health of elderly patients, the knowledgeable and reflective practitioner will account for local, systemic, and environmental factors in formulating a plan of care. In the opening paragraph, questions were posed about the mucosal integrity of a "little old lady." The most beneficial approach for her and all our older patients is to plan treatment utilizing current knowledge about aging and avoiding the traps created by myths and stereotypes. It is time to retire these myths before the baby boomers join the ranks of the retired.
Low temperature synthesis of hierarchical TiO2 nanostructures for high performance perovskite solar cells by pulsed laser deposition

A promising way to advance perovskite solar cells is to improve the quality of the electron transport material – e.g., titanium dioxide (TiO2) – in a direction that increases electron transport and extraction. Although dense TiO2 films are easily grown in solution, efficient electron extraction suffers due to a lack of interfacial contact area with the perovskites. Conversely, mesoporous films do offer high surface-area-to-volume ratios, thereby promoting efficient electron extraction, but their morphology is relatively difficult to control via conventional solution synthesis methods. Here, a pulsed laser deposition method was used to assemble TiO2 nanoparticles into TiO2 hierarchical architectures exhibiting an anatase crystal structure, and prototype solar cells employing these structures yielded power conversion efficiencies of ∼14%. Our approach demonstrates a way to grow high aspect-ratio TiO2 nanostructures for improved interfacial contact between TiO2 and perovskite materials, leading to high electron–hole pair separation and electron extraction efficiencies for superior photovoltaic performance. Compared to previous pulsed laser deposition-synthesized TiO2 mesoporous crystalline networks that needed post-thermal annealing at 500 °C to form mesoporous crystalline networks, our relatively low temperature (300 °C) TiO2 processing method may promote reduced energy-consumption during device fabrication, as well as enable compatibility with flexible polymer substrates such as polyimide.
Comparison of the effects of hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide on lithium disposition.

Objective: This study examined the interaction between lithium and diuretics, comparing both the pharmacokinetic and the pharmacodynamic variables of hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and placebo. Method: The study, which took place in an outpatient research clinic of a university hospital, used a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design
Effect of shade on animal welfare, growth performance, and carcass characteristics in large pens of beef cattle fed a beta agonist in a commercial feedlot

Feedlot cattle ( = 1,395; BW = 568 ± 43 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of shade on animal welfare, growth performance, and carcass quality during the summer of 2013 in a Kansas commercial feedlot. Seven lots of predominately black steers and heifers (4 and 3, respectively) visually determined to be approaching the final mo on feed were identified, randomly gate-sorted, and allocated to pens located across the feed alley from each other to receive 1 of 2 treatments: 1) Shade (mean shade area = 1.5 m/ animal) or 2) No shade. Shade was provided using a 13-ounce polyethylene fabric and pens were oriented northwest to southeast. The mean starting date was June 13 and the mean days on feed for lots while on the study was 38 d. Cattle were fed a 77.67% DM steam-flaked corn-based diet and had ad libitum access to water throughout the duration of the trial. Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZIL) was included in the finishing ration at an inclusion rate of 8.3 mg/kg of DM for the last 20 d on feed with a 3 d withdrawal period. Pen floor temperatures (PFT) were measured using an infrared thermometer and prevalence of cattle open-mouth breathing (OMB) was recorded on a pen basis. In addition to shade treatment, the effect of temperature humidity index (THI) on PFT and OMB was analyzed by classifying days as either "Alert" (THI 79). On the day of slaughter, pens within a replicate were kept separate through all stages of the marketing channel from loading at the feedlot until stunning at the plant. Pen served as the experimental unit for all measurements. There was a THI × shade treatment interaction for PFT and OMB ( 0.05). Heat stress, a significant animal welfare concern and cause of reduced performance in feedlot cattle during the final phase of the feeding period, was alleviated in shaded cattle and illustrates the importance of shade provision as 1 tool to protect the welfare and increase feed consumption in large pens of feedlot cattle during hot summer months.
On the impact of gaps on trend detection in extreme streamflow time series

Streamflow time series often contain gaps of varying length and location. However, the influence of these gaps on trend detection is poorly understood and cannot be estimated a priori in trend-detection studies. We simulated the effects of varying gap size (1, 2, 5, and 10 years) and location (one quarter, one third, and half of the way) on the detection rate of significant monotonic trends in annual maxima and peaks-over-threshold, based on the most commonly-used trend tests in time series of varying length (from 15 to 150 years) and trend magnitude (β1). Results show that, in comparison with the complete time series, the loss in trend detection rate tends to grow with (i) increasing gap size, (ii) increasing gap distance from the middle of the time series, (iii) decreasing β1 slope, and (iv) decreasing time series length. Based on these findings, we provide objective recommendations and cautionary remarks for maximal gap allowance in trend detection in extreme streamflow time series.
Linear systems approach to identifying performance bounds in indirect imaging

Light scattering on diffuse rough surfaces was long assumed to destroy geometry and photometry information about hidden (non line of sight) objects making ‘looking around the corner’ (LATC) and ‘non line of sight’ (NLOS) imaging impractical. Recent work pioneered by Kirmani et al. [1], Velten et al. [2] demonstrated that transient information (time of flight information) from these scattered third bounce photons can be exploited to solve LATC and NLOS imaging. In this paper, we quantify the geometric and photometric reconstruction limits of LATC and NLOS imaging for the first time using a classical linear systems approach. The relationship between the albedo of the voxels in a hidden volume to the third bounce measurements at the sensor is a linear system that is determined by the geometry and the illumination source. We study this linear system and employ empirical techniques to find the limits of the information contained in the third bounce photons as a function of various system parameters.
EFFECT OF OBESITY ON ACTIVE LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE UNITED STATES: CHANGES OVER TIME

In recent decades, life expectancy increase has slowed in the United States. Also, there have been striking increases in the prevalence of obesity, decreases in the age of obesity onset, and increases in the length of time people are living with obesity. In addition, the link between obesity and mortality appears to have weakened in more recent years. These trends indicate value in revisiting the links between obesity and active life expectancy. Building on earlier work using HRS data from 1993 to 1998 for the 70 plus population in the United States, we use HRS data from 2004 through 2008 to examine how the links between obesity, mortality, disability and subsequent active life expectancy have changed. We find that in the later cohort obesity is less related to mortality, more to disability, and remains a strong determinant of active life.
School Community Connectedness and Family Participation at School

Family involvement in a child’s education is a complex system that extends beyond the presence of partnerships between families, schools, and the community (Epstein, 2011). By measuring families’ feelings of connectedness and membership to the school community, this study explores families’ motivations for participating in their child’s learning and development at school. Results suggest that a family’s sense of connectedness to their child’s school community may be related to their level of participation. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for educational communities emphasizing the power of families’ community connectedness within the schools and expanding on the ways to enhance family involvement and participation.
Local Texture Evolution and Mechanical Performance of Ultra-High-Speed Friction Stir Weld of AA 6111-T4 Sheets

Friction stir welding has gained wide interest in industry and drawn large research attention due to its high level of automation and superior joint performance. In this study we further expand the welding parameters to be of magnitudes higher than those previously reported to lower the cost and enable high volume joint production. Sound butt-joints were produced with aluminum alloy 6111-T4 blanks with welding speeds up to 6000 mm/min. Tensile tests of the joint pieces show >97% joint efficiency in terms of ultimate tensile strength. The T4 natural aging and grain refinement is found to contribute to the superior joint properties. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis is used to qualitatively study the local shear texture inside the nugget zones of the welds. The shear texture result is a good indicator of the material flow directions in the nugget zones. The flow directions behind the rotation tool are found to be flattened towards the top surface of the workpiece when the welding speed is increased, suggesting intense material mixing and transportation along the longitudinal welding direction (WD).
Apical control of compression wood action in white pine branches

Cutting stems to remove apical control of branches caused branches to bend up. Compression wood (CW) cell production, ring width and taper toward the base increased on the under side of the branch. Decreases in stem growth were not significant. Indolebutyric acid (IBA) in lanolin applied to the cut stem replaced apical control at 0.1 and 1.0 percent, but not at 0.01 percent. Compressive bending stress developed on the underside of the branches was highly significantly correlated (r2=0.86) to the radial number of CW cells. Stress level per cell was unaffected by treatments. Microfibril angle of CW cells was reduced in the few CW cells produced at 1.0 percent IBA, but otherwise was unaffected by the treatments.
Carotid Subclavian Transposition

Carotid subclavian transposition is performed for occlusive disease of the proximal carotid artery or for diseases of the proximal subclavian carotid artery that were not amenable to endovascular therapy. It avoids the use of prosthetic material and constructing two anastomoses. This chapter describes indications, essential steps, variations, and complications of this procedure. It provides a detailed template operative note for the procedure.
General Introduction and Conceptual Differentiation of Topical and Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Since percutaneous absorption is pivotal to the effectiveness of both topical and transdermal systems, there is a tendency to view these systems as being functionally closely related. This is an unbefitting generalization for the simple reason that the microenvironments from which transdermal and dermatological systems operate are extremely different. For the most part, transdermal delivery involves delivery from compositionally stable matrices tailored such that the thermodynamic activity of the drug is at, or is set close to, its neat state activity (unit activity) over practically the full course of delivery. Where solubilizing and/or enhancing agents are used, they also have an even function for the greater part of the time the systems are in use. Packaging is built around the systems to keep them pristine until put into use, and impermeable backing materials are built in to keep them functioning as intended while worn. Thus, release tends to be zero-order, or something very close to this, for the duration of patch wear. Best of all, the processes of delivery lend themselves to careful definition in the laboratory. In contrast, topical delivery systems operate in totally uncontrolled environments after being applied. The spread film may be as little as 20 µm thin, covering areas measured in hundreds of square centimeters. Such thin, unprotected films experience rapid and profound compositional alterations as components evaporate and/or are absorbed into the skin. Wide swings in the thermodynamic activity of the drug are to be expected.
High-throughput Identification of Gene Regulatory Sequences Using Next-generation Sequencing of Circular Chromosome Conformation Capture (4C-seq)

The identification of regulatory elements for a given target gene poses a significant technical challenge owing to the variability in the positioning and effect sizes of regulatory elements to a target gene. Some progress has been made with the bioinformatic prediction of the existence and function of proximal epigenetic modifications associated with activated gene expression using conserved transcription factor binding sites. Chromatin conformation capture studies have revolutionized our ability to discover physical chromatin contacts between sequences and even within an entire genome. Circular chromatin conformation capture coupled with next-generation sequencing (4C-seq), in particular, is designed to discover all possible physical chromatin interactions for a given sequence of interest (viewpoint), such as a target gene or a regulatory enhancer. Current 4C-seq strategies directly sequence from within the viewpoint but require numerous and diverse viewpoints to be simultaneously sequenced to avoid the technical challenges of uniform base calling (imaging) with next generation sequencing platforms. This volume of experiments may not be practical for many laboratories. Here, we report a modified approach to the 4C-seq protocol that incorporates both an additional restriction enzyme digest and qPCR-based amplification steps that are designed to facilitate a greater capture of diverse sequence reads and mitigate the potential for PCR bias, respectively. Our modified 4C method is amenable to the standard molecular biology lab for assessing chromatin architecture.
Dissipation of Emergent Traffic Waves in Stop-and-Go Traffic Using a Supervisory Controller

This paper presents the use of a quadratic band controller in an autonomous vehicle (AV) to regulate emergent traffic waves resulting from traffic congestion. The controller dampens the emergent traffic waves through modulating its velocity according to the relative distance and velocity of the immediately preceding vehicle in the flow. At the same time, it prevents any collision within the range specified by the design parameters. The approach is based on a configurable quadratic band that allows smooth transitions between (i) no modification to the desired velocity; (ii) braking to match the speed of the preceding vehicle; and (iii) braking to avoid collision with the lead vehicle. By assuming that the lead vehicle's velocity will be oscillatory, the controller's smooth transition between modes permits any vehicle following the AV to have a smoother reference velocity. The configurable quadratic band allows design parameters, such as actuator and computation delays as well as the dynamics of vehicle deceleration, to be taken into account when constructing the controller. Experimental data, software-in-the-loop distributed simulation, and results from physical platform performance in an experiment with 21 human-driven vehicles are presented. Analysis shows that the design parameters used in constructing the quadratic band controller are met, and assumptions regarding the oscillatory nature of emergent traffic waves are valid.
Adult stem cells at work: regenerating skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a finely tuned process involving the activation of various cellular and molecular processes. Satellite cells, the stem cells of skeletal muscle, are indispensable for skeletal muscle regeneration. Their functionality is critically modulated by intrinsic signaling pathways as well as by interactions with the stem cell niche. Here, we discuss the properties of satellite cells, including heterogeneity regarding gene expression and/or their phenotypic traits and the contribution of satellite cells to skeletal muscle regeneration. We also summarize the process of regeneration with a specific emphasis on signaling pathways, cytoskeletal rearrangements, the importance of miRNAs, and the contribution of non-satellite cells such as immune cells, fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells, and PW1-positive/Pax7-negative interstitial cells.
Correction to: Improvement of seedling and panicle blast resistance in Xian rice varieties following Pish introgression

The original article unfortunately contains an incorrect grant number in the funding information.
Disparities in guideline-concordant treatment for node-positive, non-small cell lung cancer following surgery.

Abstract Objectives To examine guideline concordance across a national sample and determine the relationship between socioeconomic factors, use of recommended postoperative adjuvant therapy, and outcomes for patients with resected pN1 or pN2 non–small cell lung cancer. Methods All margin-negative pT1-3 N1-2 M0 non–small cell lung cancers treated with lobectomy or pneumonectomy without induction therapy in the National Cancer Database between 2006 and 2013 were included. Use of guideline-concordant adjuvant treatment, defined as chemotherapy for pN1 disease and chemotherapy with or without radiation for pN2 disease, was examined. Multivariable regression models were developed to determine associations of clinical factors with guideline adherence. Survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses. Results Of 13,462 patients, 10,113 had pN1 disease and 3349 had pN2 disease. Guideline-concordant adjuvant therapy was used in 6844 (67.7%) patients with pN1 disease and 2622 (78.3%) patients with pN2 disease. After multivariable adjustment, insurance status, older age, pneumonectomy, readmission, and longer postoperative stays were associated with lower likelihood of guideline concordance. Conversely, increased education level, later year of diagnosis, and greater nodal stage were associated with greater concordance. Overall, patients treated with guideline-concordant therapy had superior survival (5-year survival: 51.6 vs 36.0%; hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.70, P Conclusions Socioeconomic factors, including insurance status and geographic region, are associated with disparities in use of adjuvant therapy as recommended by National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. These disparities significantly impact patient survival. Future work should focus on improving access to appropriate adjuvant therapies among the under insured and socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Clinician-Patient Risk Discussion for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Importance to Implementation of the 2013 ACC/AHA Guidelines

Successful implementation of the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cholesterol guidelines hinges on a clear understanding of the clinician-patient risk discussion (CPRD). This is a dialogue between the clinician and patient about potential for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk reduction benefits, adverse effects, drug-drug interactions, and patient preferences. Designed especially for primary prevention patients, this process of shared decision making establishes the appropriateness of a statin for a specific patient. CPRD respects the autonomy of an individual striving to make an informed choice aligned with personal values and preferences. Dedicating sufficient time to high-quality CPRD offers an opportunity to strengthen clinician-patient relationships, patient engagement, and medication adherence. We review the guideline-recommended CPRD, the general concept of shared decision making and decision aids, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Risk Estimator application as an implementation tool, and address potential barriers to implementation.
Dynamic Wireless Charging: Reflexive Field Containment Using Saturable Inductors

In dynamic wireless charging applications, segmented transmitter coils transfer power to a moving receiver coil. This article proposes a method in which the field strength in coupled transmitter coils automatically adjusts based on the position of the receiver. Specifically, a saturable inductor is applied to provide a high uncompensated inductive reactance in the uncoupled condition. By exploiting the reflected reactance as the system approaches the maximum coupled condition, the inductor saturates and the field strength in the coupled transmitter coils automatically increases. The field strength is at its peak when the transmitting and receiving coils reach their maximum coupling and sharply decreases when the receiver is decoupled from the transmitter. Consequently, the difference between the coupled and uncoupled currents in the transmitter coil is maximized, resulting in a near six-fold improvement in field containment performance compared to previously reported findings. This allows for system-level efficient power transfer and compliance with electromagnetic emission standards without complex shielding circuits and auxiliary active position detection approaches. We present the analysis, design criteria of the compensation network, and experimental validation for the proposed method.
Measurement of conformational constraints in an elastin-mimetic protein by residue-pair selected solid-state NMR.

We introduce a solid-state NMR technique for selective detection of a residue pair in multiply labeled proteins to obtain site-specific structural constraints. The method exploits the frequency-offset dependence of cross polarization to achieve 13COi → 15Ni → 13Cαi transfer between two residues. A 13C, 15N-labeled elastin mimetic protein (VPGVG)n is used to demonstrate the method. The technique selected the Gly3 Cα signal while suppressing the Gly5 Cα signal, and allowed the measurement of the Gly3 Cα chemical shift anisotropy to derive information on the protein conformation. This residue-pair selection technique should simplify the study of protein structure at specific residues.
Paraesophageal Hernia Repair: How I Do It.

Although the results of a laparoscopic repair of a paraesophageal hernia are convincing and accepted, controversies still persist regarding indications for elective repair, the need for a concurren...
Using Color and Contrast to Modify the Educational Environment of Visually Impaired Students with Multiple Disabilities

All visually impaired students need environments that are “least restrictive.” For visually impaired students with multiple disabilities, the use of color and contrast can enhance their learning en...
Variegated work regimes of Chinese investment in Ethiopia

Abstract Chinese overseas companies remain a “black box” in the bourgeoning China-Africa research. Less is known about how inter-state diplomacy, firm strategies, and employee agency interact to shape the workplace dynamics of Chinese investment in Africa. This article first develops a “variegated work regimes” (VWR) framework that integrates path-dependent, processual, and relational perspectives to capture the heterogeneous and constantly evolving relationships among state, capital, and labor to influence the construction and transformation of Chinese workplaces in Africa. It then applies the framework to examine Chinese investment in Ethiopia based on empirical evidence from three flagship companies operating in construction, telecommunication, and automobile sectors respectively. Despite varied ownership status and industrial sectors, the three companies benefit from the bilateral cooperation between China and Ethiopia to establish themselves abroad. Yet, the specific local work regime of each company is intricately embedded in home and host countries with regard to institutional and financial resourcefulness, market conditions, industrial relations, and headquarters practices. Expatriate and local employees, given their diverse socio-economic positions and interests, are subject to different mechanisms of control and adopt varied strategies towards the Chinese management. Analyses of the three companies’ market entry strategies, management activities, and employee experiences reveal four key features of Chinese work regimes in Africa: the capitalist logics behind global investment activities, the (sub)national rootedness of overseas operational capacity, the local responsiveness to ever-changing business and institutional contexts, and the multiple rationalities to inform the development of work relations and employee agency.
A Review of Antipsychotics and Priapism.

Abstract Introduction Pharmacologically induced priapism is now the most common cause of priapism, with approximately 50% of drug-related priapism being attributed to antipsychotic usage. The majority of pharmacologic priapism is believed to result in ischemic priapism (low flow), which may lead to irreversible complications, such as erectile dysfunction. It is imperative that prescribing physicians be aware of potentially inciting medications. Objectives To identify medications, specifically antipsychotics, associated with priapism and prolonged erections and understand the rates and treatment of these side effects. Methods A PubMed search of all articles available on the database relating to priapism, prolonged erections, and antipsychotics was performed. Results Various typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs (APDs) have been implicated in pharmacologically induced priapism. In addition to dopaminergic and serotoninergic receptors, APDs have affinities for a wide array of other receptors in the central nervous system, including histaminergic, noradrenergic, and cholinergic receptors. Although the exact mechanism is unknown, the most commonly proposed mechanism of priapism associated with APDs is α-adrenergic blockade in the corpora cavernosa of the penis. Priapism appears in only a small fraction of men using medications with α1-receptor–blocking properties, indicating differential sensitivities to the α-blocking effect among men, and/or additional risk factors that may contribute to the development of priapism. The best predictor for the subsequent development of priapism is a past history of having prolonged and painless erections. The acute management algorithm of APD-induced priapism is the same as for other causes of low-flow priapism. Conclusion Clinicians should educate patients treated with antipsychotics about the potential for priapism and its sequelae including permanent erectile dysfunction. Appropriate patient education will raise awareness, encourage early reporting, and help reduce the long-term consequences associated with priapism through early intervention. Hwang T, Shah T, Sadeghi-Nejad H. A Review of Antipsychotics and Priapism. Sex Med Rev 2021;9:464–471.
Methylprednisolone and 60 Days in Hospital Survival in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia

OBJECTIVES: To determine methylprednisolone's dose, duration, and administration from onset of symptoms and association with 60 days in hospital survival of coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Thirteen hospitals in New Jersey, United States during March to June 2020. PATIENTS: Seven-hundred fifty-nine hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients. INTERVENTIONS: We performed a propensity matched cohort study between patients who received methylprednisolone and no methylprednisolone. Patients in the methylprednisolone group were further differentiated into dose (high dose and low dose), duration, and administration from onset of symptoms. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In the propensity matched sample, 99 out of 380 (26%) in no methylprednisolone, 69 out of 215 (31.9%) in low-dose methylprednisolone, and 74 out of 164 (55.2%) high-dose methylprednisolone expired. Overall median survival for no methylprednisolone (25.0 d), low-dose methylprednisolone (39.0 d), high-dose methylprednisolone (20.0 d), less than or equal to 7 days duration (19.0 d), 7-14 days duration (30.0 d), greater than 14 days duration (44.0 d), onset of symptoms less than or equal to 7 days (20.0 d), and onset of symptoms 7-14 days (27.0 d) were statistically significant (log-rank p <= 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression showed nursing home residents, coronary artery disease, and invasive mechanical ventilation were independently associated with mortality. Methylprednisolone was associated with reduced mortality compared with no methylprednisolone (hazard ratio, 0.40;95% CI, 0.27-0.59;p < 0.001) but no added benefit with high dose. Low-dose methylprednisolone for 7-14 days was associated with reduced mortality compared with less than or equal to 7 days (hazard ratio, 0.45;95% CI, 0.22-0.91;p = 0.0273), and no additional benefit if greater than 14 days (hazard ratio, 1.27;95% CI, 0.60-2.69;p = 0.5434). Combination therapy with tocilizumab was associated with reduced mortality over monotherapy (p < 0.0116). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose methylprednisolone was associated with reduced mortality if given greater than 7 days from onset of symptoms, and no additional benefit greater than 14 days. High dose was associated with higher mortality.
Theorizing Surveillance: The Panopticon and Beyond by Lyon, D. Global Surveillance and Policing by Zuriek, E., & Salter, M.

Although social theorists such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Simmel had written and theorized about surveillance well over a century ago, the foundation they provided is no longer able to support t...
An exploratory study of factors influencing emergency response performance

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a conceptual model for future theory building and provides guidance to emergency managers by identifying important organizational factors influencing emergency response performance. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual framework is developed linking organizational characteristics and incident types to emergency response performance, focusing on the “prepare” and “respond” stages in emergency management. Archival data are used to test the framework, using ANOVA to analyze 12,057 incidents over a nine-year period. Findings – The results indicate that organizational characteristics impact emergency response performance through Knowledge of Location. Several organizational factors impact Knowledge of Location, which then serves, with incident type, as a significant indicator for emergency response performance. Research limitations/implications – Researchers are constrained by the data collected in the database used for the study; however, the use of this commonly col...
Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Retinoic Acid: Roles of CRBP and CRABP in Retinoic Acid: Roles of CRBP and CRABP in Retinoic Acid Homeostasis

The enzymes that constitute the pathway of retinoic acid biosynthesis and metabolism may recognize retinoid binding proteins as effectors and substrates. Apocellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP) stimulates a bile-salt independent membrane-bound retinyl ester hydrolase resulting in the hydrolysis of endogenous retinyl esters and the formation of holoCRBP. HoloCRBP delivers retinol to a microsomal nicotin-amide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent dehydrogenase, protects it from artifactual oxidation and denies enzymes that cannot recognize the binding protein access to retinol. The retinal synthesized may be transferred from the microsomes to the cytosol by CRBP. A cytosolic retinal dehydrogenase has been purified that produces retinoic acid from retinal generated by microsomes in the presence of CRBP and from the complex CRBP-retinal itself. Thus, CRBP(type I) seems to channel retinoids through the reactions of retinoic acid synthesis via a series of protein-protein interactions. Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (type I) facilitates retinoic acid metabolism by sequestering it and by acting as a low Km substrate, thereby also modulating the steady-state concentrations of retinoic acid.
Expression and Purification of Maltose‐Binding Protein Fusions

This unit describes the procedure for subcloning the sequence encoding the protein of interest into an maltose-binding protein (MBP) vector, and expressing and purifying the fusion protein from the cytoplasm. MBP vectors include a sequence that encodes the four-amino-acid recognition site for the specific protease factor Xa. The site is placed so it can be used to separate the protein of interest from MBP after affinity purification. A support protocol provides a pilot experiment for analyzing the solubility, affinity for the amylose resin, and export of a particular fusion protein. An alternate protocol gives instructions for purifying a fusion protein from the periplasm for fusions that are made in the signal sequence vector and are exported. Additional support protocols detail two different chromatographic methods for separating the protein of interest from MBP after factor Xa cleavage.
A software infrastructure for government regulation analysis and compliance assistance

Government regulations are voluminous, heavily cross-referenced and often ambiguous. To cope with the complexity and diversity of regulations, we developed a formal information infrastructure for regulation management, analysis and compliance assistance. In this system demonstration, several aspects of the project are shown - a regulatory document repository, a regulation assistance system and an e-rulemaking analysis prototype. Together, our system aids in understanding and compliance of government regulations and related documents. In order to develop a prototype system, we focus on accessibility and environmental regulations. The compliance assistance system is illustrated in the domain of used oil management, while the e-rulemaking analysis is performed on accessible public rights-of-way rules.
A small model theorem for rectangular hybrid automata networks

Rectangular hybrid automata (RHA) are finite state machines with additional skewed clocks that are useful for modeling realtime systems. This paper is concerned with the uniform verification of safety properties of networks with arbitrarily many interacting RHAs. Each automaton is equipped with a finite collection of pointers to other automata that enables it to read their state. This paper presents a small model result for such networks that reduces the verification problem for a system with arbitrarily many processes to a system with finitely many processes. The result is applied to verify and discover counterexamples of inductive invariant properties for distributed protocols like Fischer's mutual exclusion algorithm and the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS).We have implemented a prototype tool called Passel relying on the satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) solver Z3 to check inductive invariants automatically.
Complex roles for telomeres and telomerase in breast carcinogenesis.

Telomerase – an enzyme that endows cells with unlimited proliferative potential – is differentially expressed in cancer cells and in normal cells. Although most primary human cells lack telomerase, the enzyme is upregulated in more than 90% of invasive breast cancers. As a result, much of breast cancer development occurs before telomerase is reactivated during a critical transition from a telomerase-negative to a telomerase-positive state. During this transition, the telomere shortening that accompanies cell division may either prevent or facilitate tumorigenesis by activating checkpoints and impairing chromosomal stability. In mature cancers, telomerase probably serves a crucial role in tumor progression and maintenance by stabilizing telomeres and supporting the immortal growth of breast cancer cells.
The Photovoltage of Macaque Cone Photoreceptors: Adaptation, Noise, and Kinetics

Whole-cell voltage and current recordings were obtained from red and green cone photoreceptors in isolated retina from macaque monkey. It was demonstrated previously that the cone photovoltage is generated from two sources, phototransduction current in the cone outer segment and photocurrent from neighboring rods. Rod signals are likely transmitted to cones across the gap junctions between rods and cones. In this study, the “pure” cone and rod components of the response were extracted with rod-adapting backgrounds or by subtracting the responses to flashes of different wavelength equated in their excitation of either rods or cones. For dim flashes, the pure cone component was similar in waveform to the cone outer segment current, and the rod component was similar to the photovoltage measured directly in rods. With bright flashes, the high frequencies of the rod signal were filtered out by the rod/cone network. The two components of the cone photovoltage adapted separately to background illumination. The amplitude of the rod component was halved by backgrounds eliciting ∼100 photoisomerizations sec−1 per rod; the cone component was halved by backgrounds of 8700 photoisomerizations sec−1 per cone. Coupling between rods and cones was not modulated by either dim backgrounds or dopamine. Voltage noise in dark-adapted cones was dominated by elementary events other than photopigment isomerizations. The dark noise was equivalent in magnitude to a steady light eliciting ∼3800 photoisomerizations sec−1 per cone, a value significantly higher than the psychophysical estimates of cone “dark light.”
Gender: Awareness, Identity, and Stereotyping

Gender is an extremely salient and important part of the way in which children’s social worlds are organized. Before they enter kindergarten, children have acquired a wide range of gender-related knowledge, including an understanding of themselves as members of a gender group and a variety of gender-stereotyped associations. As children develop, gender identity becomes important to the way in which children view and evaluate themselves. This article considers three types of gender knowledge (gender awareness, identity, and stereotypes), as well as how they develop in infancy and early childhood and relate to various behavioral and psychological outcomes.
Infantile hemangiomas: A review

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common eyelid and orbital tumors of childhood. Although they are considered benign lesions that have a generally self-limited course, in the periocular region, they have the potential to cause amblyopia, strabismus, and severe disfigurement. The decision for treatment can be a source of anxiety for patients, parents, and physicians alike. There are numerous treatment modalities, including emerging therapies that may make treatment safer and more effective than ever before. This review discusses our current understanding of this disease, its management, and future therapies.
Flat-sample and limited-field effects in integrating sphere measurements

The effect of large, flat diffuse samples on integrating sphere measurements is calculated exactly, based on an extension of the integral equation formalism of Jacquez and Kuppenheim [ J. Opt. Soc. Am.45, 460 ( 1955)]. The theory is further extended to include the effect of a limited detector field of view, and examples for different sphere configurations are provided. A variation of Taylor’s method for absolute reflectance measurements is presented that has the advantage of an improved signal-to-noise ratio.
Elasticity of single-crystal iron-bearing pyrope up to 20 GPa and 750 K

Abstract Elastic properties of the major constituent minerals in the Earth's upper mantle at relevant high pressure–temperature ( P–T ) conditions are crucial for understanding the composition and seismic velocity structures of this region. In this study, for the first time, we have measured the single-crystal elasticity of natural Fe-bearing pyrope, Mg 2.04 Fe 0.74 Ca 0.16 Mn 0.05 Al 2 Si 3 O 12 , using in situ Brillouin spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction at simultaneous high P–T conditions up to 20 GPa and 750 K in an externally-heated diamond anvil cell. The derived aggregate adiabatic bulk and shear moduli ( K S 0 , G 0 ) at ambient conditions are 168.2 (±1.8) GPa (the value in parentheses represents propagated uncertainties ±1 σ ) and 92.1 (±1.1) GPa, respectively, consistent with literature results. Using the third-order Eulerian finite-strain equation to model the high P–T data, the derived pressure derivatives of the bulk and shear moduli at constant temperature are ( ∂K S / ∂P ) T =4.4 (±0.1) and ( ∂G / ∂P ) T =1.2 (±0.1), respectively, whereas the temperature derivatives of these moduli at constant pressure are ( ∂K S / ∂T ) P =−16.8 (±1.3) MPa/K and ( ∂G / ∂T ) P =−5.1 (±1.1) MPa/K, respectively. Compared to literature values, our results show that addition of 25 mol% Fe in pyrope increases the pressure derivative of the bulk modulus by 7%, but has a negligible effect on other elastic parameters. Extrapolation of our results shows that Fe-bearing pyrope remains almost elastically isotropic at relevant P–T conditions of the upper mantle, indicating that it may not have a significant contribution to seismic V P and V S anisotropy in the upper mantle. Together with the elasticity of olivine and pyroxene minerals in the upper mantle, we have constructed new velocity profiles for two representative compositional models, pyrolite and piclogite, along a representative geotherm of the Earth's upper mantle. These velocity models show V S profiles consistent with seismic observations, although V P profiles are slightly lower than global seismic observations. Our analyses also show that approximately 30% garnet in a mineralogical model is needed to best match both seismic V P and V S profiles of the region, although such high garnet content needs to be reconciled with our current geochemical understanding. Our results here provide new insights into seismic profiles and mineralogical models of the upper mantle region.
Causes of low birth weight births in public and private patients

This examination of the cause of low birth weight births in two model populations, one of public and one of private patients, finds significant differences in the reasons for low birth weight births in the two groups. Idiopathic premature labor was related to 47.1% of private low birth weight births, but only 24.8% of public births; low birth weight term (26.7%) and premature rupture of fetal membranes (33.7%) were more common in public low birth weight births than in private births (13.8% and 23.0%, respectively). Medical problems were related to 16.1% of private and 14.9% of public low birth weight births. Since current prematurity prevention methods are most likely to prevent low birth weight births related to idiopathic premature labor, the relative success of such programs in reducing the rate of low birth weight births is likely to depend on the characteristics of the patient population to which the programs are directed.
Survey non-response and biases in wage regressions

Abstract In this paper we estimate wage equations for Austrian women which account for selectivity due to both non-participation in the labor market and survey non-response. This is done by a two-step procedure which involves the estimation of a bivariate probit model with partial observability. The results suggest that non-response may be an important source of selection bias.
TIME EFFICIENT GREEDY STRATEGY FOR SCHEDULING TRAINS ON A LINE

Abstract Scheduling trains on a single railway line is an issue in it own right, and is a building block for scheduling trains in railway networks. A local, state dependent, travel advance strategy combined with a discrete event model of a railway line represent a more efficient way of approaching the scheduling problem than nonlinear programming approaches used in the past. The approach also eliminates a deficiency of nonlinear programming formulations, which produce a programmed schedule that cannot be applied if any perturbation in train operations occurs.
Use of high-performance liquid chromatography to quantitative thymine-containing pyrimidine dimers in DNA

We have developed two high-performance liquid chromatographic systems for the measurement of pyrimidine dimers in hydrolysates of DNA. Normal-phase chromatography on an NH2 column in methanol-ethyl acetate (3.97) at an elution rate of 2.0 ml/min allowed quantitation of thymine-containing (thymine-thymine plus thymine-uracil) pyrimidine dimers at levels as low as 0.1% of the total radioactivity as thymine in DNA. This system was unaffected by the presence of up to 1 mg of contaminating protein (bovine serum albumin) or 40 micrograms of DNA in hydrolysates prepared for chromatography. Reversed-phase chromatography on a muBondapak C18 column allowed measurement of thymine-thymine dimers at concentrations as low as 0.02% of the total radioactivity. With 0.1% tetrahydrofuran in water as the solvent at a flow-rate of up to 0.6 ml/min, thymine-thymine, thymine-uracil, and uracil-uracil dimers were completely resolved. We were not able to quantitate the latter two dimeric forms, however, owing to the presence of other radioactive components of undefined origin that eluted concomitantly with the uracil-containing dimers.