cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A podoscopic and descriptive study of foot deformities in patients with Down syndrome.

Abstract Introduction Subjects with Down syndrome (DS) are known to be affected by various foot deformities. Despite the fact that some of these deformities have been reported in the literature, a more comprehensive description would be of benefit. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of known foot deformities in patients with DS and of other previously non-described foot anomalies in this population. Hypothesis Subjects with DS have an increased prevalence of foot deformities compared to control subjects. Methods Fifty-five subjects with DS (age: 14.6 ± 7.4 years) had undergone podiatric clinical and podoscopic examinations to study their main foot deformities and their footprints, respectively. The results of these examinations were compared to those of an age-matched asymptomatic control group of fifty-three subjects (age: 13.4 ± 11.2 years). Results Significantly more prevalent foot deformities were found in the DS group: hallux valgus (36.4%), syndactyly between the 2nd and 3rd toes (9.1%), grade II pes planus (39.1%) and grade III pes planus (30%). Moreover, joint laxity (43.6%) was significantly more prevalent in the DS group. Furthermore, the presence of an increased space between the 1st and 2nd toes in patients with DS and its prevalence (73.6%) were described for the first time. A multivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between the presence of joint laxity and flatfoot in only the control but not the DS group. Other foot deformities were found to be consistently more frequent in the DS population but not significantly higher than the control group. Discussion Although subjects with DS had significantly greater joint laxity and BMI compared to the control group, neither of these factors was found to be related to the increased prevalence of flatfoot in DS patients. Level of evidence IV–retrospective study.
Ca2+/calmodulin/MLCK pathway initiates, and RhoA/ROCK maintains, the internal anal sphincter smooth muscle tone.

it is well known that smooth muscle contraction, whether spontaneous or following pharmacological stimulation, occurs in two phases: the initial phasic followed by the tonic phase ([1][1], [2][2], [5][3], [6][4], [11][5], [12][6], [14][7], [16][8], [17][9], [22][10], [23][11], [25][12], [33][13], [
Controversies in Secondary Stroke Prevention: Results of a Survey Study (PD7.006)

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze if there is uniformity of opinion among neurologists regarding the preferred secondary stroke prevention for certain causes of ischemic stroke. BACKGROUND: Due to the heterogeneous nature of etiologies for ischemic stroke, the recommended secondary stroke prevention also differs based on the identified cause. Controversy exists regarding the best secondary stroke prevention for some of the underlying causes. DESIGN/METHODS: An on-line survey questionnaire was prepared consisting of six demographic questions and six stroke-related scenarios. The demographic questions pertained to geographical location, fellowship training, experience, and practice setting. The clinical scenario questions asked for the preferred secondary stroke treatment for following situations: simple 5 mm aortic arch atherosclerotic plaque; complex 5 mm aortic arch atherosclerotic plaque with mobile component; LVEF of 30%; LVEF of 5-10%; presence of Factor V Leiden mutation but no PFO; and presence of Factor V Leiden mutation and a PFO. The survey was emailed to 4439 AAN members and neurologists with recent stroke-related publications. Incomplete responses or responses from non-neurologists were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 244 completed responses from neurologists were analyzed. The most preferred and second most preferred medications are as follows: simple aortic plaque: single antiplatelet therpay preferred by 88%, dual antiplatelet by 9%; complex aortic plaque: anti-coagulation by 43%, single antiplatelet by 37%; LVEF 30%: single antiplatelet by 79%, anti-coagulation by 18%; LVEF 5-10%: anti-coagulation by 63%, single antiplatelet by 32%; factor V Leiden but no PFO: single antiplatelet by 60%, anti-coagulation by 35%; factor V Leiden and PFO: anti-coagulation by 63%, single antiplatelet by 33%. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in opinion among neurologists regarding the preferred secondary stroke prevention for the above-mentioned clinical situations. These were not explained based on the geographical location, fellowship training, experience, or practice setting of the responders. Future clinical trials are clearly needed. Disclosure: Dr. Garg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Brabec has nothing to disclose. Dr. Barghols has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saucedo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shhadeh has nothing to disclose.
Combing Phototherapy with Acitretin: Re-PUVA and Re-UVB

In patients with very thick psoriasis plaques with micaceous scale, phototherapy alone may not be adequate, as UV light cannot penetrate through thick, hyperkeratotic lesions. In such a case, the addition of a systemic retinoid, namely acitretin, will likely thin the plaque and enhance the effectiveness of phototherapy. When acitretin is added to an already maximized phototherapy regimen, the dose of light should be reduced by 50%. Alternatively, acitretin can be started 2 weeks prior to starting phototherapy in which case the dosimetry can be initiated and increased per protocol. The effective cumulative doses of UVB and PUVA are often much lower in combination with a systemic retinoid.
type Riemannian metrics on the space of planar curves

Michor and Mumford have shown that the distances between planar curves in the simplest metric (not involving derivatives) are identically zero. We derive geodesic equations and a formula for sectional curvature for conformally equivalent metrics. We show if the conformal factor depends only on the length of the curve, then the metric behaves like an L 1 -metric, the sectional curvature is not bounded from above, and minimal geodesics may not exist. If the conformal factor is superlinear in curvature, then the sectional curvature is bounded from above.
Primary care physicians experiences of caring for cancer survivors: Toward developing a primary care-responsive cancer survivorship research agenda.

97Background: Understanding of the ecology of primary care can inform efforts that aim to build primary care capacity to address cancer survivorship issues. This study describes the experiences of primary care physicians (PCPs) delivering care to cancer survivors. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with PCPs (n=30) across two NCI-funded studies of cancer survivorship in primary care. PCPs were recruited from primary care practices enrolled in a qualitative case study of cancer survivorship in patient centered medical homes (R01 CA176545; n=21) and from a sample recruited for the formative development of a primary care mHealth and health coaching interventions for cancer survivors (R01 CA176838; n=9). Interviews averaged 30 minutes, were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A multi-step immersion/crystallization approach was used to identify emergent themes using Atlas.ti. Results: PCPs stated that their role in cancer survivorship care varies widely and is often shaped by pati...
A Design Pattern for Working Agreements in Human-Autonomy Teaming

Humans and machines are increasingly reliant upon each other in complex environments and military operations. The near future suggests human understanding of machine counterparts is a required, paradigmatic element. Knowing how to engineer and design for these environments is challenging. The complexity between levels of automation, human information processing, and function allocation authority issues in an adaptive system make it unlikely to find a “one-size-fits-all” approach. There may still be general strategies for engineering in these cases; for example, collaborating and coordinating are familiar requirements of all human team activities, and extend to human-automation teaming. Here, we outline what we believe is one so-called “design pattern” for working agreements. We use the loose structure of prior software design patterns to organize our thoughts on why working agreements are necessary, where and how they are applicable, what instantiating them requires, and how to measure their effectiveness. By choosing the design pattern structure, we end up carefully describing what might work best and what the limits are toward improving human-machine teaming.
Epithelial-derived IL-33 promotes intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc Min/+ mice

Increased expression of Interleukin (IL)-33 has been detected in intestinal samples of patients with ulcerative colitis, a condition associated with increased risk for colon cancer, but its role in the development of colorectal cancer has yet to be fully examined. Here, we investigated the role of epithelial expressed IL-33 during development of intestinal tumors. IL-33 expression was detected in epithelial cells in colorectal cancer specimens and in the Apc Min/+ mice. To better understand the role of epithelial-derived IL-33 in the intestinal tumorigenesis, we generated transgenic mice expressing IL-33 in intestinal epithelial cells (V33 mice). V33 Apc Min/+ mice, resulting from the cross of V33 with Apc Min/+ mice, had increased intestinal tumor burden compared with littermate Apc Min/+ mice. Consistently, Apc Min/+ mice deficient for IL-33 receptor (ST2), had reduced polyp burden. Mechanistically, overexpression of IL-33 promoted expansion of ST2+ regulatory T cells, increased Th2 cytokine milieu, and induced alternatively activated macrophages in the gut. IL-33 promoted marked changes in the expression of antimicrobial peptides, and antibiotic treatment of V33 Apc Min/+ mice abrogated the tumor promoting-effects of IL-33 in the colon. In conclusion, elevated IL-33 signaling increases tumor development in the Apc Min/+ mice.
STING is an essential mediator of the Ku70-mediated production of IFN-λ1 in response to exogenous DNA.

We previously identified Ku70, a subunit of a DNA repair protein complex, as a cytosolic DNA sensor that induces the production of interferon-λ1 (IFN-λ1) by human primary cells and cell lines. IFN-λ1 is a type III IFN and has similar antiviral activity to that of the type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β). We observed that human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells, which are deficient in the innate immune adaptor protein STING (stimulator of IFN genes), did not produce IFN-λ1 in response to DNA unless they were reconstituted with STING. Conversely, parental HEK 293 cells produced IFN-λ1 after they were exposed to exogenous DNA; however, when STING was knocked out in the HEK 293 cells through the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 genome editing system, they lost this response. Through confocal microscopy, we demonstrated that endogenous Ku70 was located in the nucleus and then translocated to the cytoplasm upon DNA exposure to form a complex with STING. Additionally, the DNA binding domain of Ku70 was essential for formation of the Ku70-STING complex. Knocking down STING in primary human macrophages inhibited their ability to produce IFN-λ1 in response to transfection with DNA or infection with the DNA virus HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus–2). Together, these data suggest that STING mediates the Ku70-mediated IFN-λ1 innate immune response to exogenous DNA or DNA virus infection.
What Happens When a Teacher's Science Belief Structure Is in Disequilibrium? Entangled Nature of Beliefs and Practice

This qualitative case study examined the process of change in an experienced elementary teacher’s belief structure during implementation of an inquiry-based science program. Difficulties generally associated with ascertaining beliefs were minimized by using Leatham’s (Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 9, 91-102 (2006) Sensible System Framework, enabling researchers to obtain rich descriptions of the teacher’s belief structure by focusing on words (professed beliefs), intentions (intended beliefs), and actions (enacted beliefs). Models were constructed of the teacher’s belief structure before and after implementation of the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach (Hand et al. International Journal of Science Education, 26(2), 131–149, 2004), an inquiry-based approach to teaching science. Key beliefs for this teacher were related to how students learn, goals for teaching science, focus of instruction, and roles of teacher and student. Ultimately, the teacher shifted her professed, intended, and enacted beliefs resulting in a shift from a teacher-centered to a student-centered classroom. Findings support Thagard’s Coherence Theory of Justification (2002), positing that change in one belief creates a state of disequilibrium that must be alleviated by changing/realigning other beliefs in order to re-establish coherence in the overall belief structure. This research focus is distinct from the general trend in teacher beliefs research in important ways. Most significant is that this study was not focused on the traditional two lists—those beliefs that were consistent with practice and those that were inconsistent with practice—but instead focused on the entwined nature of beliefs and practice and have shown that a teacher’s practice can be viewed as their enacted beliefs, an integral part of the teacher’s overall belief structure.
American Medical Association's Historical Health Fraud and Alternative Medicine Collection: An Integrated Approach to Automated Collection Description

From 1913 to 1975, the American Medical Association's Department of Investigation assembled more than 300 cubic feet of files on health fraud, quackery, "patent" medicines, and alternative medicine. In 1988, the AMA obtained a grant from the National Library of Medicine to process and catalog these materials, now known as the Historical Health Fraud and Alternative Medicine Collection. Using Minaret software (a stand-alone USMARC AMC cataloging system) in combination with WordPerfect word-processing software, the project staff developed procedures that allowed it to generate textual and index entries for the printed guide to the collection as well as upload USMARC AMC records directly to the OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) union catalog.
Reading War and Peace in Harry Potter

This chapter shows how J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter tales offer two visions of peace. The first is a hybrid idealist-liberal peace of elites and institutions pursuing just wars, and the second is gendered-relational peace, symbolized by nurturing home spaces, unconditional love, transgenerational transmission of knowledge and memory, political coalitions across difference, and nonviolent youth action. In the context of the War on Terror, Rowling exposes readers to some quite radical rejections of conventional wisdom. She gives her heroic protagonists a toolbox of nonlethal and defensive spells, and she has Harry choose nonviolence in opposition to his own older compatriots’ example and pressure to conform to just war norms. Both state and insurgent violence are critiqued and tolerance for difference is celebrated.
Problems With Potentiality: The Uncertainties of Prognostication and Meaningful Recovery

Vukov (2018) provides a cogent argument for looking beyond a person's actual level of consciousness and considering one's potential for consciousness as morally salient. He posits that if a person ...
Spinal hemangioma mimicking a dumbbell-shaped schwannoma: Case report and review of the literature

Spinal hemangiomas are common, benign vascular lesions that involve the bony portion of vertebral bodies and are generally asymptomatic. Rarely, they can become aggressive and present with predominantly epidural extension, mimicking other neoplasms. We present the case of a fifty-one year old woman who presented with myelopathy and was discovered to have a large mass causing epidural spinal cord compression, thought to be due to a peripheral nerve sheath tumor. She underwent surgery for tumor debulking. Intraoperatively, the mass was found to be mostly epidural with minimal bone involvement. Final pathology demonstrated a cavernous hemangioma. The patient did well post-operatively, with resolution of symptoms and stable size of residual tumor on eighteen month follow-up imaging.
The “Pretty” Lost Generation in Hemingway's THE SUN ALSO RISES

Ernest Hemingway's first published novel, The Sun Also Rises, explores Gertrude Stein's infamous designation of Hemingway and his peers as a “lost generation,” the label that is notably included as...
A rational account of human memory search

Performing everyday tasks requires the ability to search through and retrieve past memories. A central paradigm to study human memory search is the semantic fluency task, where participants are asked to retrieve as many items as possible from a category (e.g. animals). Observed responses tend to be clustered semantically. To understand when our mind decides to switch from one cluster/patch to the next, recent work has proposed two competing mechanisms. Under the first switching mechanism, people make strategic decision to switch away from a depleted patch based on marginal value theorem, similar to optimal foraging in a spatial environment. The second switching mechanism demonstrates that similar behavior patterns can emerge using a random walk on a semantic network, without necessarily involving strategic switches. In the current work, instead of comparing competing switching mechanisms over observed human data, we propose a rational account of the problem by examining what would be the optimal patch-switching policy under the framework of reinforcement learning. The reinforcement learning agent, a Deep Q-Network (DQN), is built upon the random walk model and allows strategic switches based on features of the local semantic patch. After learning from rewards, the resulted policy of the agent gives rise to a third switching mechanism, which outperforms the previous two switching mechanisms. Our results provide theoretical justification of strategies used in human memory research, and shed light on how an optimal AI agent under realistic human constraints can generate hypothesis about human strategies in the same task.
Subfertility and risk of spontaneous abortion.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between subfertility and spontaneous abortion. METHODS: A total of 1572 women in New York and Vermont reported 3269 pregnancies between 1980 and 1990 and were able to provide an estimate of the waiting time to conception for 2967. Subfertility was defined as a delay of 1 year or more before a recognized conception was achieved. Rates of spontaneous abortion were determined among women with and without subfertility, and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated via multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Spontaneous abortion rates were 23.0% in pregnancies preceded by subfertility and 14.0% in pregnancies without impaired fertility (adjusted OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.26, 2.94). The attributable risk of spontaneous abortion associated with subfertility was 6.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Subfertile women evidence an increased number of spontaneous abortions.
Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Low Levels of Toxic Materials

In the last few years, there has been considerable concern over the effects of long term exposure to low levels of toxic materials-especially chemical agents. Controlled data for such exposure paradigms are extremely limited; most studies have been for relatively short exposures to high levels. Where long-term data exist, chemical agents were often administered by routes inappropriate to the exposure scenario for which allowable levels are required, and there was no long-term follow-up after termination of exposure. Although it is known that some agents produce long-term effects and others may, it is often not clear that long-term effects are produced in the absence of a symptomatic exposure. Extrapolation of such data to “safe” exposure levels is not advocated, but it is recognized that, too often, interim exposure limits must be derived from existing data. In doing the risk assessment for estimating allowable exposure levels (AELs), it is important to fully characterize the exposure scenario, and to understand the concentration-time relationship for the chemical(s) in question. Although the fundamental process of establishing exposure limits is independent of the type of available data, the quality of the data affects the confidence in the exposure limits so derived. Risk Management should be the final step in the process of implementing AELs and should be independent of the Risk Assessment.
Organic Redox Mediators Enable High-Power Fuel Cells

Recently in Joule, Preger et al. reported the development of a hydroquinone-based redox mediator in an acidic H2-O2 fuel cell. It facilitates O2 reduction in a catalyzed packed-bed reactor, enabling a maximum power density > 100 mW/cm2 and several hours of stable operation.
RNF216 is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility

Ring finger protein 216 (RNF216) belongs to the RING family of E3 ubiquitin ligases that are involved in cellular protein degradation. Mutations in human Rnf216 gene have been identified in Gordon Holmes syndrome, which is defined by ataxia, dementia, and hypogonadotropism. However, the gene function of Rnf216 in mammalian species remains unknown. Here, we show that targeted deletion of Rnf216 in mice results in disruption in spermatogenesis and male infertility. RNF216 is not required for female fertility. These findings reveal an essential function of RNF216 in spermatogenesis and male fertility and suggest a critical role for RNF216 in human gonadal development.
Accelerating Deep Neural Networks with Analog Memory Devices

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) are very large artificial neural networks trained using very large datasets, typically using the supervised learning technique known as backpropagation. Currently, CPUs and GPUs are used for these computations.Over the next few years, we can expect special-purpose hardware accelerators based on conventional digital-design techniques to optimize the GPU framework for these DNN computations. Here there are opportunities to increase speed and reduce power for two distinct but related tasks: training and forward-inference. During training, the weights of a DNN are adjusted to improve network performance through repeated exposure to the labelled data-examples of a large dataset. Often this involves a distributed network of chips working together in the cloud. During forward-inference, already trained networks are used to analyze new data-examples, sometimes in a latency-constrained cloud environment and sometimes in a power-constrained environment (sensors, mobile phones, “edge-of-network” devices, etc.)Even after the improved computational performance and efficiency that is expected from these special-purpose digital accelerators, there would still be an opportunity for even higher performance and even better energy-efficiency from neuromorphic computation based on analog memories (Fig. 1).
Functionalism Yesterday, Functionalism Tomorrow: Thoughts Inspired by Adorno’s Address to the Deutscher Werkbund, “Funktionalismus Heute,” Delivered in Berlin on October 3, 1965

On October 23, 1965, Theodor Adorno delivered a lecture to the German Werkbund in Berlin in which he addressed the relation between the supposedly “fine” and the so-called “applied” arts—a polarity he finds highly problematical. This essay analyzes Adorno’s discourse in the context both of the German Werkbund and subsequent developments in design and design theory. We conclude with some reflections on the meaning of functionalism today.
A Tutorial on Current Controlled DC-DC Converter used in Microgrid System

A microgrid system is a small-scale power generation system which can connect to other utility grids or operate independently as a stand-alone system. With the advancement in power electronics, DC/DC converters are widely used in remote data communication, manufacturing and aerospace industry, and energy field. In this tutorial paper, we represent an entire microgrid system to explain different operational modes of DC/DC converters. DC/DC converters can be classified as a boost converter, buck converter, and bi-directional converter. We represent a simple structure bi-directional DC/DC converter connected to the DC bus and battery storage to achieve two-directional energy flow: from the battery to DC bus or DC bus to the battery. With a simple control scheme, the bi-directional DC/DC converter operates in two modes: buck and boost. In discharge mode, the bi-directional DC/DC converter acts as a boost converter and power flows from the battery to DC bus, whereas in charge mode, the bi-directional DC/DC converter acts as a buck converter and transmits energy from DC bus to the battery. Also, a stand-alone photovoltaic power system is connected to the battery to supply power for the battery storage. The entire microgrid system is utilized to supply power for the DC load in a sustainable way. The proposed model is implemented and simulated on MATLAB and effective results are demonstrated.
Traveling Wave Based Method for Protecting Power Distribution Systems with Distributed Generations

Active distribution systems with high penetration of inverter based distributed generations such as solar generation have characteristics of varied fundamental frequency fault current contributions and lack of zero and negative sequence fault currents. Therefore, existing protection methods based on increase of short circuit currents due to faults may not work well. On the other hand, faults usually generate high frequency transients which are affected little by the output of solar generations. So, harnessing the fault generated high frequency transients may be a promising way to design new, effective protection scheme for inverter based generation dominated distribution systems. This paper presents a novel graph theory and traveling wave based method for protecting power distribution systems. Methods for accurate pinpointing of the fault through use of multiple and single recording of traveling waves are described. Different factors including sampling rates, number of recordings, system configurations, etc., which may affect the performance of the methods, are discussed. Evaluation studies based on simulation are reported.
The evolving landscape of donor egg treatment: success, women’s choice, and anonymity

To analyze donor oocyte (DE) data across 6 years for oocyte usage efficiency, trends, and whether changes impacted outcomes. From 2014 to 2019, 323 DE embryo transfers were completed in 200 recipients using oocytes derived of 163 donors. We assessed data for oocytes being freshly retrieved (FRESH-EGG) vs. purchased frozen (FROZEN-EGG); embryos transferred fresh (FRESH-ET) vs. frozen (FROZEN-ET); cycles SHARED (two recipients) vs. SOLE (one recipient); single (SET) vs. double (DET) embryo transfers and usage of PGT-A. Primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy plus live birth (OP/LB) rate. A total of 229 FRESH-EGG (70%) and 94 FROZEN-EGG (30%) cycles were completed. Overall, the use of FRESH-EGG yielded a higher OP/LB compared to FROZEN-EGG (49% vs. 30%, p = 0.001); within the FRESH-EGG group, OP/LB was similar when comparing FRESH-ET vs. FROZEN-ET (58% vs. 45%, p = 0.07). Within the FRESH-ET group, those using FRESH-EGG had a higher OP/LB than those using FROZEN-EGG (58% vs. 27%, p < 0.001). SHARED vs. SOLE cycles (p = 0.6), donor age (21–32 years; p = 0.4), and age of intended parents (maternal p = 0.3, paternal p = 0.2) did not significantly impact OP/LB. Notably, the use of PGT-A did not improve odds for an OP/LB (p = 0.7). The use of FRESH-EGG with FRESH-ET without PGT-A remains superior to newer DE treatment combinations. Specifically, the use of FROZEN-EGG and PGT-A did not improve outcomes. Although changing DE practices may enhance experience and affordability, patients and providers must appreciate that choices do not always favorably impact success. Additionally, newly available genetic-ancestry testing may pose longer-term ramifications mandating change in treatment and/or counseling.
COVID-19 disaster preparedness

Abstract Proper preparation, resource allocation, and education contribute to disaster response. The capacity and capability of a community and health system to respond to emergencies determine preparedness. Essential aspects of preparedness, including assessing resources (stuff/space), training for providers (staff), and increased communication/collaboration across networks/programs are required. Adequate response requires an understanding of emergency networks and the current state’s analysis. The initial assessment includes the identification of all stakeholders. In addition to capacity, the capability of the existing health-care network to respond with increased staffing and stuff (resources) should be addressed. The dynamic nature of an infectious disaster highlights the need for flexibility and fluidity in the organization. This coordinated effort must be collaborative, and evidence-based protocols are necessary to ensure basic practice standards. Innovation improves health-care delivery and resource utilization. Other disasters, both natural and human-made, occur during a global pandemic. Contact tracing and early mitigation are essential for coronavirus disease 2019-positive patients.
Google street view image availability in the Bronx and San Diego, 2007-2020: Understanding potential biases in virtual audits of urban built environments

Google Street View's 'Time Machine' feature holds promise for longitudinal street audits of built and natural environments for urban health research. As images are only available when Google collected data, differential image availability over time and place could bias audit data quality. We assessed image availability at 2000 randomly selected locations within the Bronx and San Diego from which Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) participants were recruited. In the Bronx, a mean of 7.4 images (95% CI: 7.2,7.5) were available at each location, and 63% of those locations had imagery in 2007 and 2019. In San Diego, fewer images were available (mean 5.4, 95% CI: 5.2,5.6) especially on minor streets (mean 4.4, 95% CI: 4.1,4.6). Image availability was more spatially clustered in San Diego (Moran's I 0.14) than the Bronx (Moran's I 0.04). Differential image availability may affect precision of neighborhood change estimates assessed by longitudinal virtual audit.
It is time to drop principal components analysis as a “receptor model”

This editorial discusses why we should no longer use Principal Components Analysis (PCA) as a receptor model.
A Spatio-temporal Access Control Model Supporting Delegation for Pervasive Computing Applications

The traditional access control models, such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Bell-LaPadula (BLP), are not suitable for pervasive computing applications which typically lack well-defined security perimeters and where all the entities and interactions are not known in advance. We propose an access control model that handles such dynamic applications and uses environmental contexts to determine whether a user can get access to some resource. Our model is based on RBAC because it simplifies role management and is the de facto access control model for commercial organizations. However, unlike RBAC, it uses information from the environmental contexts to determine access decisions. The model also supports delegation which is important for dynamic applications where a user is unavailable and permissions may have to be transferred temporarily to another user/role in order to complete a specific task. This model can be used for any application where spatial and temporal information of a user and an object must be taken into account before granting access or temporarily transferring access to another user.
Comorbid Anxiety Disorder Among Patients With Substance Abuse Disorders: Risk Factors on Initial Evaluation

The authors sought to determine whether early assessment of newly abstinent alcoholic/addicted patients can help identify those patients at risk for later anxiety disorder (AD). Diagnoses of AD were made after 3 weeks. From a sample of 642 consecutive outpatients and inpatients, 294 were assessed as having only substance-related disorders (SRD) and 36 had both an SRD and an AD. The remaining 312 patients had other comorbid conditions with SRD. After 3 weeks of abstinence (Time 2), a psychiatrist made a current DSM-III-R diagnosis based on all available data. This study revealed that the following characteristics at Time 1 (intake) were associated with diagnosis of an AD at Time 2: female sex, history of panic attacks or suicidal ideation, previous outpatient care, previous antidepressant or neuroleptic medication, and higher scores on most of the self-rated scales and all of the psychiatric scales.
GALEX Studies of Early-type Galaxies: the UV Rising Flux and Residual Star Formation

We report on studies of early-type galaxies using the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite. UV radiation in these galaxies can arise either from hot evolved stars, or by ongoing star formation. GALEX observations have shown that earlier suggestions of a correlation between metallicity and UV rising flux in early-type galaxies are not substantiated in larger samples. The UV excess (UVX) may decline with redshift, the increasing importance of low level star formation makes this a very difficult issue to track. It is possible to match GALEX photometry with that from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and to construct NUV-optical color-magnitude diagrams. We see clearly a red sequence of quiescent early type galaxies, and a blue sequence of star forming galaxies. Between the two are found AGN in a Green Valley; there is the suggestion that some galaxies in the star forming blue sequence might transform into red sequence galaxies, perhaps by merging or by the quenching of star formation. We consider these possibilities and report on new observations aimed at further studies of the issue.
Abstract P244: Urinary Triclosan Concentrations Are Associated with Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference in US Population, NHANES 2003-2010

Introduction: Triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent, is widely used in personal care and household products such as toothpaste. Its effect on human health, however, has not been well investigated. No study has examined the potential consequences of triclosan exposure on obesity traits. Objective: To examine whether triclosan exposure is associated with obesity traits. Methods: This study included 3,659 children (1,884 boys and 1,775 girls, 6-20 years old) and 6,566 adults (3,251 men and 3,315 women, 20 years and older) with detectable levels of urinary triclosan from the 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) database. Urinary triclosan concentrations were measured by automated solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The association of triclosan levels with body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference was examined using multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, race, education, househol...
Phosphorus Sorption and Availability from Biochars and Soil/Biochar Mixtures

In an energy-limited world, biomass may be converted to energy products through pyrolysis. A byproduct of this process is biochar. A better understanding is needed of the sorption characteristics of biochars, which can influence the availability of plant essential nutrients and potential water contaminants such as phosphorus (P) in soil. Knowledge of P retention and release mechanisms when applying carbon-rich amendments such as biochar to soil is needed. The objectives of this study were to quantify the P sorption and availability from biochars produced from the fast pyrolysis of corn stover (Zea mays L.), Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson and C. Lawson) wood residue, and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). We determined the impact of biochar application to soils with different chemical characteristics on P sorption and availability. Sorption of P by biochars and soil–biochar mixtures was studied by fitting the equilibrium solution and sorbed concentrations of P using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Biochar produced from Ponderosa pine wood residue had very different chemical characteristics than corn stover and switchgrass. Corn stover biochar had the highest P sorption (in average 79% of the initial solution P concentration) followed by switchgrass biochar (in average 76%) and Ponderosa pine wood residue biochar (in average 31%). Ponderosa pine wood residue biochar had higher bicarbonate extractable (available) P (in average 43%) followed by switchgrass biochar (33% of sorbed P) and corn stover biochar (25% of sorbed P). The incorporation of biochars to acidic soil at 40 g/kg (4%) increased the equilibrium solution P concentration (reduced the sorption) and increased available sorbed P. In calcareous soil, application of alkaline biochars (corn stover and switchgrass biochars) significantly increased the sorption of P and decreased the availability of sorbed P. Biochar effects on soil P was aligned with their chemical composition and surface characteristics.
Toward a multi-sensor neural net approach to automatic text classification

Many automatic text indexing and retrieval methods use a term-document matrix that is automatically derived from the text in question. Latent Semantic Indexing, a recent method for approximating large term-document matrices, appears to be quite useful in the problem of text information retrieval, rather than text classification (Deerwester, et al., 90). Here we outline a method that attempts to combine the strength of the LSI method with that of neural networks, in addressing the problem of text classification. In doing so, we also indicate ways to improve performance by adding additional “logical sensors” to the neural network, something that is hard to do with the LSI method when employed by itself. Preliminary results are summarized, but much work remains to be done.
GALAXY package for N-body simulation

This posting announces public availability of the GALAXY software package developed by the author over the past 40 years. It is a highly efficient code for the evolution of (almost) isolated, collisionless stellar systems, both disk-like and ellipsoidal. In addition to the N-body code galaxy, which offers eleven different methods to compute the gravitational accelerations, the package also includes sophisticated set-up and analysis software. This paper gives an outline of the contents of the package and provides links to the source code and a comprehensive on-line manual. While not as versatile as tree codes, the particle-mesh methods in this package are shown, for certain restricted applications, to be between 50 and 200 times faster than a widely-used tree code.
Observed Antagonistic Effect of Linezolid on Daptomycin or Vancomycin Activity against Biofilm-Forming Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an In Vitro Pharmacodynamic Model

Pharmacodynamic activity in antibiotic combinations of daptomycin, vancomycin, and linezolid was investigated in a 48-h in vitro pharmacodynamic model. Using human-simulated free drug concentrations, activity against clinical biofilm-forming methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates was evaluated. Linezolid antagonized vancomycin activity at 24 and 48 h. Linezolid antagonized daptomycin at 24 and 48 h depending on dose and strain. Adding daptomycin increased vancomycin activity at 48 h (P < 0.03). These results may be strain dependent and require further clinical investigation.
Interaction between Early Intervention Curricula and Student Characteristics

This study examined the relative effects of two highly contrasting early intervention programs, Mediated Learning (ML) and Direct Instruction (DI), in a randomized design. Subjects were children (ages 3–7 years) with mild to moderate disabilities in cognitive, language, socioemotional, and motor development. No main effect differences between the two groups were found on a battery of cognitive, language, and motor measures. Aptitude-x-Treatment Interaction (ATI) analyses of pretest and posttest results indicated that, contrary to conventional wisdom, relatively higher performing students gained more from DI, whereas relatively lower performing students gained more from ML. Although ATIs were significant, the effect sizes were modest (3%-8% of variance) and do not yet warrant major changes in educational practices
Neurohormonal Factors in Functional Dyspepsia: Insights on Pathophysiological Mechanisms

Abstract Neurohormonal factors were investigated in 10 patients with functional dyspepsia who had normal or slow upper gut transit and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Gastric and small bowel motility and transit, jejunal responses to luminal distention and IM neostigmine, gut hormones, and vagal and sympathetic functions were studied. Slow upper gut transit was defined by a gastric emptying slope 300 minutes. Four patients with slow transit had reduced postprandial antral motility and gut hormone responses. Two of the four patients had vagal and sympathetic dysfunction. In 6 patients with normal transit, balloon distention in the jejunum was perceived at a lower volume (32.7 ± 5.9 mL) than in controls (46.6 ± 3.0 mL). Pressure responses to balloon distention were reduced in 5 and exaggerated in 1 patient; abnormal efferent vagal (2 patients) and sympathetic (1 patient) function were also documented. In view of the normal transit, motility, and jejunal pressure responses to neostigmine in all 6 patients, the abnormal response to distention suggests afferent dysfunction. Functional dyspepsia is a heterogenous disorder. Abnormal transit is sometimes associated with disorders of extrinsic neural control, but the latter are also found in patients with normal transit. Increased perception of intraluminal stimuli in those with normal transit suggests a disturbance in afferent function.
Binding of multiple nuclear factors to the 5' upstream regulatory element of the murine major histocompatibility class I gene.

Abstract Transcription of mouse major histocompatibility complex class I genes is controlled by the conserved class I regulatory element (CRE) in the 5' flanking region. The CRE, approximately 40 base pairs long, acts as a negative control element in undifferentiated F9 embryonal carcinoma cells which do not express the major histocompatibility complex genes. The same element, however, acts as a positive control element in cells expressing the genes at high levels. To investigate the molecular basis of the regulatory role of the CRE, we studied the binding of nuclear proteins to the CRE of the H-2Ld gene by gel mobility shift and methylation interference experiments. Nuclear extracts from L fibroblasts and LH8 T lymphocytes revealed three distinct factors that bind discrete sequences within the CRE. The three sequences correspond to the inverted and direct repeats within the CRE. In contrast, F9 extracts exhibited factor binding to only two of the three sequences and lack a major factor detected in the above two cell types. Protein-binding sites within each of the three sequences were identified by methylation interference experiments. These data were in full agreement with results obtained by a competition assay performed with a series of mutant oligonucleotides containing a few nucleotide substitutions in each of the three regions. The results illustrate complex DNA-protein interactions in which several independent proteins bind to overlapping sequences in the CRE in a cell type-specific fashion.
Effects of Massage Therapy on African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study:

Aims: African American (AA) subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were studied to determine effects of Massage Therapy/Acupressure (MTA) on vital signs (VS): blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), ...
Effects of Solar Activity on the Ionosphere and Radio Communications

The relationships of solar activity on the ionosphere and radio communications may be roughly classified as follows: (1) There are occasional solar flares or outbursts of ultraviolet light which instantaneously produce radio fade-outs of short duration. (2) Occasionally solar streams of particles sweep across the earth's orbit producing magnetic storms and auroral displays. The associated ionospheric disturbances may seriously affect radio communication for several days although the effects are more pronounced in polar regions. (3) The general change of solar ionizing wave radiation in the course of the sunspot cycle governs the average intensity of ionization in the ionosphere. This trend is an important factor governing selection of operating frequencies for radio communication.
Rheological Analysis of Hydrogel Composites Containing Carbon Nanobrushes

The objective of this work is to examine the rheological properties of hydrogel comosites containing carbon nanobrushes. The composite, which is electrically conductive, is comprised of carbon nanobrushes embedded in a biocompatible poloxamer gel. This work assesses the ability of such composite gels to act as a matrix for tissue engineering, specifically for connective tissue. In such a model, chondrocytes would be seeded within the hydrogel matrix and then injected into the body. This work analyzes the rheological differences between hydrogels of different concentrations. The work also demonstrates that carbon nanobrushes can be dispersed within poloxamer gels. Previously it has been shown that fibroblasts and myocytes can proliferate within homogenously dispersed carbon nanobrush-containing poloxamer gels. Future work will examine the effects of design parameters including carbon nanobrush content and matrix structure on wound healing, chondrocyte proliferation within the hydrogel composites, and mechanical properties of the gels. This work has relevance for tissue engineering and tissue regeneration in clinical medicine.
Hydrothermal synthesis of a one-dimensional bimetallic, mixed valence oxide [{Cu 4 (terpy) 4 (PO 4 )(H 2 O) 2 }{W 10 (VI)W 2 (V)O 36 (PO 4 )}]·5H 2 O, a material constructed from {PW 12 O 40 } 5− and novel {Cu 4 (terpy) 4 (PO 4 )(H 2 O) 2 } 5+ cluster building blocks

Abstract The hydrothermal reaction of Na2WO4 · 2H2O, CuSO4 · 5H2O, 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy), H3PO4 and H2O at 150 °C for 120 h yielded a mixture of [{Cu4(terpy)4(PO4)(H2O)2}{W12O36(PO4)}] · 5H2O (1 · 5H2O) and [{Cu(terpy)(H2O)2}2{W12O36(PO4)}] · 6H2O (2 · 6H2O). The structure of 2 consists of discrete {W12O36(PO4)}4− Keggin clusters whose surface is decorated by two {Cu(terpy)(H2O)}2+ charge-compensating subunits. In contrast, the structure of 1 is one-dimensional with the chain constructed from {W12O36(PO4)}5− Keggin clusters and the cationic {Cu4(terpy)4(PO4)(H2O)2}5+ clusters. Both materials are mixed valence. In the case of 1, the tungstate core is formally {W10(VI)W2(V)}, while for 2 the oxidation states are {W11(VI)W(V)}. Crystal data: C30H27N6Cu2W6O24.5P (1 · 5H2O), monoclinic, C2/c, a=14.5025(6) A, b=22.2102(9) A, c=26.566(1) A, β=101.813(1)°, V=8375.6(6) A3, Z=8. C15H21N3CuO25W6P0.5 (2 · 6H2O), monoclinic, C2/c, a=17.6263(9) A, b=16.6990(9) A, a=22.944(1) A, β=112.285(1)°, V=6249.0(6) A3, Z=8.
Left Ventricular Function in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Although many cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy have been reported in the literature, detailed data from left heart catheterization and contrast ventriculography are unavailable. A patient with peripartum cardiomyopathy had catheterization performed to clarify the diagnosis. Hemodynamics at rest and with exercise, angiographic volumes, and indices of left ventricular function are presented. The data indicate no serious abnormality of global systolic left ventricular function in this patient although a segmental wall motion abnormality was noted. Volume overload or diminished diastolic compliance may explain the symptoms of heart failure in some patients with this disease.