cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Signaling mechanisms underlying Abeta toxicity: potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease.

The accumulation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is believed to be an early and critical event leading to synapse and neuronal cell loss in Alzheimers Disease (AD). Aβ itself is toxic to neurons in vitro and the load of Aβ in vivo causes the loss of synapses and neurons in brain in animal models. Therefore, there has been considerable interest in elucidating the mechanism(s) of Aβ neurotoxicity. Here, we review the molecular signaling pathways involved in Aβ-induced cell death, including signaling through the neuronal nicotinic receptor and the Aβ-triggered generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to the activation of the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and the ensuing phosphorylation of p66Shc and inactivation of the Forkhead transcription factors. This focused review not only provides a better understanding of the signaling mechanisms involved in Aβ-induced cell death, but also underscores the potential of JNK, p66Shc, Forkhead proteins, p25/cdk5, and neuronal nicotinic receptor, as therapeutic targets for AD.
Scanning Electron Microscope Studies on Chicken Gizzard Structure as Affected by Cooking

Abstract The microstructure of raw gizzard is sponge-like and no fiber-like structure is observed. Thermal treatment drastically changed the microstructure. Prolonged cooking coagulates myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins of gizzard and yields a fiber-like structure. The interfibrial melting between individual gizzard myofibers is more pronounced after autoclaving treatment than from the water boiling process. Scanning electron photomicrographs have revealed that the chicken gizzard fibers are shaped like flattened noodles. Prolonged cooking tenderized the texture of gizzard; the differences in shear forces perpendicular to and parallel with the main orientations increased as the length of cooking time increased.
Game-theoretic models for reliable path-length and energy-constrained routing with data aggregation in wireless sensor networks

Path length, path reliability, and sensor energy-consumption are three major constraints affecting routing in resource constrained, unreliable wireless sensor networks. By considering the implicit collaborative imperative for sensors to achieve overall network objectives subject to individual resource consumption, we develop a game-theoretic model of reliable, length and energy-constrained, sensor-centric information routing in sensor networks. We define two distinct payoff (benefit) functions and show that computing optimally reliable energy-constrained paths is NP-Hard under both models for arbitrary sensor networks. We then show that optimal length-constrained paths can be computed in polynomial time in a distributed manner (using O(E) messages) for popular sensor network implementations using geographic routing. We also develop sensor-centric metrics called path weakness to measure the qualitative performance of different routing schemes and provide theoretical limits on the inapproximability of computing paths with bounded weakness. Heuristics for computing optimal paths in arbitrary sensor networks are described along with simulation results comparing performance with other routing algorithms.
Architecture-Cognizant Divide and Conquer Algorithms

Divide and conquer programs can achieve good performance on parallel computers and computers with deep memory hierarchies. We introduce architecture-cognizant divide and conquer algorithms, and explore how they can achieve even better performance. An architecture-cognizant algorithm has functionally-equivalent variants of the divide and/or combine functions, and a variant policy that specifies which variant to use at each level of recursion. An optimal variant policy is chosen for each target computer via experimentation. With h levels of recursion, an exhaustive search requires \theta(vh) experiments (where v is the number of variants). We present a method based on dynamic programming that reduces this to \theta(vc) (where c is typically a small constant) experiments for a class of architecture-cognizant programs. We verify our technique on two kernels (matrix multiply and 2-D Point Jacobi) using three architectures. Our technique improves performance by up to a factor of two, compared to architecture-oblivious divide and conquer implementations. Further our dynamic programming approach succeeds in selecting the optimal variant policy.
Whole-exome Sequencing and an iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte Model Provides a Powerful Platform for Gene Discovery in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Rationale: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a heritable predictor of cardiovascular disease, particularly in blacks. Objective: Determine the feasibility of combining evidence from two distinct but complimentary experimental approaches to identify novel genetic predictors of increased LV mass . Methods: Whole exome sequencing (WES) was conducted in 7 African American sibling trios ascertained on high average familial LV mass indexed to height (LVMHT). WES identified 31,426 missense or nonsense mutations (MS/NS) which were examined for association with LVMHT using linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex, body weight, and family relationship. To functionally assess WES findings, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) were stimulated to induce hypertrophy; mRNA sequencing was used to determine expression differences associated with hypertrophy onset. Results: After correction for multiple testing, 295 MS/NS variants in 265 genes were associated with LVMHT. We identified 44 of 265 WES genes differentially expressed (P<0.05) in hypertrophied cells. To further prioritize these 44 candidates, 7 supportive statistical and annotation-based criteria were used to evaluate the relevance of these genes. Five genes, HLA-B, HTT, MTSS1, SLC5A12, THBS1, were each supported by 3 criteria. THBS1 encodes an adhesive glycoprotein that promotes matrix preservation in pressure-overload LVH and harbors conserved and predicted damaging variants. Conclusions: Combining evidence from cutting-edge genetic and cellular experiments can enable identification of novel LVH risk loci.
A very small frequency generator system for spread spectrum EHF applications

The author reports on a novel synthesizer architecture utilizing a hybrid direct digital/direct analog approach, which was optimized for small size, fast tuning, low spurious, and low phase noise for a hopping EHF (extra-high-frequency) terminal. Performance data for the completed frequency generator system are presented and show 500-ns frequency switching speeds over a 600-MHz tuning bandwidth centered at 11.1 GHz, with 2.2-Hz resolution. Single-sided phase noise L(f) is less than -80 dBc/Hz at a 1-kHz offset from the 11-GHz output and the worst-case spurious is -40 dBc. The complete unit was packaged in 72 in/sup 3/, weighs 3.0 lb, and requires 16.5 W of DC power during continuous operation. >
A twist in our understanding of enzyme elevation after coronary intervention.

Central to our understanding of acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the tight relationship between myonecrosis and the presence of elevated serum levels of certain enzymes known to originate from within myocardial cells. Together with presence of either chest discomfort or typical
Explaining Income Inequality and Intergenerational Mobility: The Role of Fertility and Family Transfers

Poor families have more children and transfer less resources to them. This suggests that family decisions about fertility and transfers increase income inequality and dampen intergenerational mobility. To evaluate the quantitative importance of this mechanism, we extend the standard heterogeneous-agent life-cycle model with earnings risk and credit constraints to allow for endogenous fertility, family transfers, and education. The model, estimated to the US in the 2000s, implies that a counterfactual at income-fertility profile would-through the equalization of initial conditions-reduce intergenerational persistence and income inequality by about 10%. The impact of a counterfactual constant transfer per child is twice as large.
Development and Impact of a Worksite Wellness Champions Program.

OBJECTIVES Wellness champions have potential to be a high-reach, low-cost intervention for improving employee health, but research is needed to support this premise. Therefore, this project assessed the impact of a worksite wellness champions program at a large integrated healthcare organization. METHODS A total of 2315 employees responded (56% response rate) to a survey. RESULTS Program participants (N = 666) were more likely to agree that the organization provides a supportive environment to live a healthy lifestyle (82.7% vs 69.4%, p < .001), more likely to agree co-workers support one another in practicing a healthy lifestyle (76.8% vs 53.7%, p < .001), and to rate their overall health and wellness higher (p < .005) compared to those not familiar with the wellness champions program (N = 675). CONCLUSIONS Employees participating in wellness champion activities have increased their awareness of wellness opportunities, feel supported for having a healthy lifestyle, and rate their perceived health and wellness higher.
Prophylaxis and Treatment of Snuffles

With Killed Bad. Lepisepticum and B. Bronchisepticus.?Young cultures (20-24 hours) of Bact. lepisepticum isolated from rabbits with typical snuffles were suspended in normal saline solution. The organisms were killed by heating in a water bath at 56 C. for 30 minutes. Virulent strains were injected into the mice seven days after the last injection with killed culture. The animals were kept under observation for five days. The rabbits which had received three vacine injections were protected in most cases (2 out of 3) against 4 MLD of Bact. lepisepticum, but not against 8 MLD. The rabbits which had received two injections were protected for the most part (2 out of 3) against 2 MLD. One of the three mice receiving only one injection lived after receiving 1 MLD, but 2 MLD killed all mice that had had only one injection.
Disorders of Sex Development: Pediatric Psychology and the Genital Exam

OBJECTIVE: To provide suggestions for clinical care of youth with disorders of sex development (DSD) and their families, by drawing on preexisting pediatric psychology literature with a particular focus on child sexual abuse (CSA) genital exams. METHOD: Relevant peer-reviewed papers published since 1990 in the CSA literature were systematically reviewed, as well as an illustrative sample of general pediatric psychology papers. RESULTS: Empirical research from the CSA literature provided information on prevalence of distress and the impact of provider behavior, the importance of preparation, and proposed interventions. Expert recommendations from CSA literature and general findings gleaned from pediatric psychology also address these issues. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological findings in the CSA pediatric population suggest that fears and anxieties are not universal and can be linked to a number of variables. Based on this review, we make a number of recommendations for potential interventions for youth with DSD and their families, emphasizing the need for further clinical research.© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. Language: en
Uniform Plasmonic Response of Colloidal Ag Patchy Particles Prepared by Swinging Oblique Angle Deposition

The plasmonic property of Ag patchy particles fabricated using a colloid monolayer and oblique angle deposition shows significant variations due to the multidomain nature of the monolayer. A swinging oblique angle deposition method is proposed to create uniform patchy particles. Both numerical calculations and experiment show that when the swinging angle is larger than 90°, the resulting plasmonic patchy particles have similar morphology and demonstrate uniform optical response that does not depend on the monolayer domain orientation. These uniform patchy plasmonic particles have great potential for plasmonic-based applications.
Association of rise in C-reactive protein with decline in renal function following partial nephrectomy.

INTRODUCTION To investigate association of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, with renal functional decline patients undergoing partial nephrectomy (PN) for renal mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective study of patients who underwent PN between February 2006-March 2011, with ≥ 6 months follow up. Data was analyzed between two groups: CRP increase ≥ 0.5 mg/L from 6 months postoperative ('CRP rise,' CRPR), versus no CRP increase = 0.5 ('CRP stable,' CRPS). Primary outcome was change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (ΔeGFR, mL/min/1.73 m²), with de novo postoperative stage III chronic kidney disease (stage III-CKD, eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²) being secondary. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was conducted to identify risk factors for development of de novo stage III-CKD. RESULTS A total of 243 patients (206 CRPS/37 CRPR) were analyzed. Demographics and R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry scores were similar. CRPR had significantly higher median ΔeGFR (-13.7 versus -32.0 mL/min/1.73 m², p < 0.001) and de novo stage III-CKD at last follow up (43.2% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001). Median time to CRP rise was 10 (IQR 6.5-12) months. Median time from CRP rise to de novo stage III-CKD was 9 (IQR 7.5-11) months. MVA found RENAL score (OR 1.89, p = 0.001), hypertension (OR 4.75, p = 0.016), and CRP rise (OR 55.76, p < 0.001) were associated with de novo stage III-CKD. Sensitivity of CRP increase ≥ 0.5 for predicting CKD was 69.6%, specificity 93.3%, positive predictive value 55.2%, and negative predictive value 96.3%. CONCLUSION Rise in CRP postoperatively is independently associated with renal functional decline after PN and may be useful in identifying patients to evaluate for renoprotective strategies. Further studies are requisite to clarify etiology of this association.
Investigation on Heavy Metal Contamination in Foods from Shijianzhuang Markets

[Objective]To investigate the content and distribution of heavy metal of lead,mercury and cadmium in foods from Shijianzhuang markets.[Methods]All samples were common food from the urban markets. The national standard methods (GB5009.12.15.17) were used in the treatment and measurement of the samples.[Results]The ratio of lightly contaminated food samples to all detected samples (≥30%) was 50% of meat,36.4% of marine fish,45.8% of crustaceans,44.05% of mollusks,36.0% of vegetables,and 30.0% of pig kidney,respectively. Cadmium contamination was mainly in pig kidney,10.0% of samples were severely polluted; mercury mainly polluted marine fish,the standard-exceeding rate of mercury content was 4.54%.[Conclusion]The contamination on food from urban markets of Shijiazhuang City is at a mild level,with safer levels of mercury and cadmium.
Model selection and configuration of direct circuit breaker in direct system

In electric power system,direct power supply is significant in power grid operation.By rated current caculation of direct power supply,model selection and stage difference coordination of direct circuit breaker was proposed according to related regulations.
Brucella Infection in White Mice

In 1911 Holth1 injected Br. bovis vaccine subcutaneously and intraperitoneally into mice and later injected a large dose of living Br. abortus into the animals. Ten of his 27 vaccinated animals survived. He recovered cultures of Br. abortus from the organs of all of the survivors, and found in the thoracic and peritoneal cavities a serofibrinous exudate chiefly polymorphonuclear cells, many of which contained numerous bacilli. By the injection of abortus immune serum, Holth was able to protect rats and mice against doses of living Br. bovis which proved fatal to control animals.
Purification and observation of inactivated hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome vaccine in human

肾综合征出血热(HFRS)足由汉滩病毒引起的急性传染病,世界各地均有发生.用长爪沙鼠肾原代细胞培养HFRS病毒,经β-丙内脂灭活病毒,研制成功汉坦型、汉城型及汉坦型加汉城型三种疫苗,已取得很好的预防效果[1,2].为使产品的质量进一步提高,进行了疫苗纯化的研究。
Odanacatib, a Cathepsin K Cysteine Protease Inhibitor, Kills Hookworm In Vivo.

Hookworm infection is chief among soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) for the chronic morbidly inflicted. Deworming via mass drug administration (MDA) programs most often employs single doses of benzimidazole drugs to which resistance is a constant threat. To discover new drugs, we employ a hamster model of hookworm infection with Ancylostoma ceylanicum and use albendazole (ABZ; 10 mg/kg orally) as the gold standard therapy. We previously showed that a single oral 100 mg/kg dose of the cathepsin cysteine protease (CP) inhibitor, K11777, offers near cure of infection that is associated with a 95% reduction in the parasite’s resident CP activity. We confirm these findings here and demonstrate that odanacatib (ODN), Merck’s cathepsin K inhibitor and post-clinical Phase III drug candidate for treatment of osteoporosis, decreases worm burden by 73% at the same dose with a 51% reduction in the parasite’s CP activity. Unlike K11777, ODN is a modest inhibitor of both mammalian cathepsin B and the predominant cathepsin B-like activity measureable in hookworm extracts. ODN’s somewhat unexpected efficacy, therefore, may be due to its excellent pharmacokinetic (PK) profile which allows for sustained plasma exposure and, possibly, sufficient perturbation of hookworm cathepsin B activity to be detrimental to survival. Accordingly, identifying a CP inhibitor(s) that combines the inhibition potency of K11777 and the PK attributes of ODN could lead to a drug that is effective at a lower dose. Achieving this would potentially provide an alternative or back-up to the current anti-hookworm drug, albendazole.
Review: A River Between Us

A River Between Us (DVD, 90 minutes; Green Planet Films, 2015; http://www.greenplanetfilms.org) The struggle in the West over water has been long and bitter, pitting family farmers against Native Americans, fishers, and environmentalists. No case has brought more attention to these multiuser conflicts than the fight over habitat restoration for the five species of Pacific salmon – most notably the favored commercial and sport fishing species, Chinook (or king) and coho salmon. Over the past hundred years, salmon populations have declined precipitously on the Pacific coast, and many stocks of Chinook and coho are now threatened or endangered due to declines in habitat quality and dams that block upstream passage of adults to their natal spawning grounds. A River Between Us highlights these conflicts in one of the formerly most productive and most politically sensitive river basins, the Klamath in California and Oregon. Historical records indicate that the Klamath River supported immense runs of salmon, including both Chinook and coho that sometimes numbered …
Optic Neuritis and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Risk factors for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) were determined by follow-up (mean 22 yrs) of 79 children who presented with a diagnosis of optic neuritis (ON) at the Mayo Clinic between 1950 and 1988.
Impact of bounded jitter on resource consumption in multi-hop networks

Jitter is, potentially, the largest source of degradation in the quality of voice in VoIP systems. This paper presents an analytical solution to the following question: How is jitter impacted by the number of hops that VoIP packets travel over and, if the end-to-end jitter were to be bounded to a predefined value, how would the resources in the network need to be scaled up as the number of hops increases? The paper also provides a way to compute the traffic handling capability of a multi-hop resource constrained network under a defined limit of end-to-end jitter.
Association of Physical Activity with Alcohol Abuse and Dependence in a Nationally-Representative U.S. Sample

ABSTRACTBackground: Alcohol use is a pervasive and costly public health problem in the United States. Relapse rates from alcohol use disorders are high. Although exercise has been proposed as a strategy to prevent relapse, lifestyle modification is the least studied aspect of relapse prevention programs, especially among racial/ethnic minority populations. Objective: The current study assessed whether being physically active was associated with remission from alcohol abuse or dependence among Black (African American and Afro Caribbean) adults in the U.S. Method: We utilized data on Black adult participants (n = 4,828) from the nationally representative National Survey of American Life (NSAL) conducted in 2001–2003. Logistic regression models were estimated to assess the odds of being in 12-month remission or currently meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence based on level of physical activity, adjusting for socio-demographic and neighborhood characteristics. Results: People who endorsed be...
Pain Acceptance as a Predictor of Medical Utilization and School Absenteeism in Adolescents With Chronic Pain.

Objective Identifying factors contributing to high medical utilization and productivity loss is important, given the high cost of pediatric chronic pain. The current study examined chronic pain acceptance as a predictor of medical utilization and school absenteeism in adolescents with chronic pain. Methods In all, 122 adolescents (aged 12-21 years) with chronic pain and their parents/guardians completed questionnaires assessing medical visits (past 6 months), medication usage, and number of school absences (past month). Homebound school status was also reported. Adolescents completed the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire and pain intensity ratings, and underwent a diagnostic psychological evaluation. Results Multivariate generalized linear model analyses indicated lower pain acceptance predicted increased inpatient hospitalizations and higher number of opioid and nonopioid prescription medications, controlling for pain intensity, age, and sex. Pain acceptance was not associated with outpatient consultations or number of nonprescription medications. Exploratory moderation analyses indicated lower pain acceptance significantly predicted increased emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations for patients diagnosed with an internalizing psychological disorder. Patients in homebound schooling reported low pain acceptance and for those in school full-time, linear regression indicated lower pain acceptance significantly predicted higher number of school absences. Conclusions Findings suggest that lower pain acceptance contributes to the use of higher-level medical care (especially for adolescents with internalizing disorders) and increased productivity loss owing to school absences or homebound school status. Clinical implications exist for recommending acceptance-based interventions for pain acceptance promotion and continued development of cost-effective, easily disseminated acceptance-based therapy modules to curb the economic burden of chronic pain.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and nonadherence to medications prescribed for chronic medical conditions: A meta-analysis.

Abstract Background Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at increased risk for adverse consequences from comorbid medical conditions. Nonadherence to medications prescribed to treat those comorbid conditions may help explain this increased risk. We sought to determine the association between PTSD and medication nonadherence and whether it varied according to the type of event inducing the PTSD. Methods Prospective observational cohort or cross-sectional studies relating PTSD and nonadherence among adults prescribed medications for a chronic medical illness were identified by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and the PILOTS Database and by hand-searching bibliographies from selected articles. Individual estimates of odds ratios were pooled using random effects meta-analysis with inverse variance weighting. Articles were pooled separately according to whether PTSD was induced by a medical versus non-medical event. Outcomes Sixteen articles comprising 4483 patients met eligibility criteria. The pooled effect size of the risk of PTSD to medication nonadherence was OR 1.22 (95% CI, 1.06–1.41). Among the 6 studies of medical event-induced PTSD, the OR was 2.08 (95% CI, 1.03–4.18); p = 0.04. Among the 8 studies in which PTSD was not induced by a medical event, the OR was 1.10 (95% CI, 0.99–1.24); p = 0.09. Interpretation Patients with PTSD were more likely to be nonadherent to medications prescribed for chronic medical conditions – an association that may exist specifically when PTSD was induced by a medical event. Medications may serve as aversive reminders among survivors of acute medical events, magnifying avoidance behaviors characteristic of PTSD. Funding NHLBI.
Undergraduate Student Preference for Client Age Groups: Why the Young Avoid the Old

The purpose of this study was to determine Therapeutic Recreation students' expressed desire to work with older adults, as well as environmental, and educational reasons for their attitudes. A surv...
Reflections on the Problem of Relevance

A book-length draft of the first part of Schutz’s never completed second book, The World as Taken for Granted. The perspective is arguably that of phenomenological psychology and, besides what is clarified about relevance, there are many points not well made elsewhere.
Effects of urban multi-stressors on three stream biotic assemblages

Abstract During 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project assessed stream quality in 75 streams across an urban disturbance gradient within the Piedmont ecoregion of southeastern United States. Our objectives were to identify primary instream stressors affecting algal, macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in wadeable streams. Biotic communities were surveyed once at each site, and various instream stressors were measured during a 4-week index period preceding the ecological sampling. The measured stressors included nutrients; contaminants in water, passive samplers, and sediment; instream habitat; and flow variability. All nine boosted regression tree models – three for each of algae, invertebrates, and fish – had cross-validation R2 (CV R2) values of 0.41 or above, and an invertebrate model had the highest CV R2 of 0.65. At least one contaminant metric was important in every model, and minimum daytime dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrients, and flow alteration were important explanatory variables in many of the models. Physical habitat metrics such as sediment substrate were only moderately important. Flow alteration metrics were useful factors in eight of the nine models. Total phosphorus, acetanilide herbicides and flow (time since last peak) were important in all three algal models, whereas insecticide metrics (especially those representing fipronil and imidacloprid) were dominant in the invertebrate models. DO values below approximately 7 mg/L corresponded to a strong decrease in sensitive taxa or an increase in tolerant taxa. DO also showed strong interactions with other variables, particularly contaminants and sediment, where the combined effect of low DO and elevated contaminants increased the impact on the biota more than each variable individually. Contaminants and flow alteration were strongly correlated to urbanization, indicating the importance of urbanization to ecological stream condition in the region.
A single KH domain in Bicaudal-C links mRNA binding and translational repression functions to maternal development.

ABSTRACT Bicaudal-C (Bicc1) is a conserved RNA-binding protein that represses the translation of selected mRNAs to control development. In Xenopus embryos, Bicc1 binds and represses specific maternal mRNAs to control anterior-posterior cell fates. However, it is not known how Bicc1 binds its RNA targets or how binding affects Bicc1-dependent embryogenesis. Focusing on the KH domains, we analyzed Bicc1 mutants for their ability to bind RNA substrates in vivo and in vitro . Analyses of these Bicc1 mutants demonstrated that a single KH domain, KH2, was crucial for RNA binding in vivo and in vitro , while the KH1 and KH3 domains contributed minimally. The Bicc1 mutants were also assayed for their ability to repress translation, and results mirrored the RNA-binding data, with KH2 being the only domain essential for repression. Finally, maternal knockdown and rescue experiments indicated that the KH domains were essential for the regulation of embryogenesis by Bicc1. These data advance our understanding of how Bicc1 selects target mRNAs and provide the first direct evidence that the RNA binding functions of Bicc1 are essential for both Bicc1-dependent translational repression and maternal vertebrate development.
Disclaiming responsibility: How platforms deadlocked the Federal Election Commission's efforts to regulate digital political advertising

Abstract Digital advertisements used to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election lacked disclaimers stating who paid for them. This was deliberate on the part of the platforms: Facebook and Google actively sought exemptions from mandatory disclaimer requirements that are standard for print and broadcast media. While prior research has placed blame squarely on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for their lack of oversight of digital advertising, this paper demonstrates the way in which the platforms–Facebook in particular–engineered this regulatory failure in the form of capture on this specific issue. An analysis of documents submitted to the FEC demonstrates that Facebook and Google put profit ahead of the public interest in seeking exemptions from disclaimer requirements, refusing to change the size of their advertisements and downplaying the deceptive potential of political ads. Due to partisan gridlock and a lack of technological expertise, the FEC failed to rule decisively on exemptions or agree on alternative means of disclaimers for Facebook and mobile app ads, setting the stage for electoral interference in 2016. Implications for current regulatory efforts are discussed.
"Peek port": avoiding conversion during laparoscopic colectomy-an update.

To assess the efficacy of a method to avoid conversion to laparotomy in patients considered for laparoscopic colectomy. Patients considered being at high risk for conversion to formal laparotomy were initially approached via a small midline incision (“peek port”) with the laparoscopic equipment readily available but unopened. If intraperitoneal conditions were favorable, the procedure was performed using hand-assisted laparoscopy (HALS); if intraperitoneal conditions were unfavorable, the incision was extended to a formal laparotomy. Data from 664 patients from a single surgeon brought to the operating room with the intention of proceeding with laparoscopic colectomy (either via straight laparoscopy or HALS) were retrieved from a prospective database. Comparison of conversion rates between groups was performed using χ2 analysis. The study population consisted of 361 men and 303 women with a mean age of 61 years. Inflammatory conditions accounted for 40% of the diagnoses and enteric fistulas were present in 12%. Of the 79 patients who underwent initial “peek port” exploration, 38 (48%) underwent immediate extension to formal laparotomy, whereas 41 (52%) underwent HALS colectomy, with one subsequent conversion from HALS to formal laparotomy. Of the 585 patients initially approached laparoscopically, 14 (2%) required conversion to laparotomy. Of the 626 patients from both groups who underwent laparoscopy, the overall conversion to laparotomy rate was 15/626 (2%). The “peek port” approach to the patients with a potentially hostile abdomen allows for prompt assessment of intraperitoneal conditions and is associated with an overall low rate of conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy during colectomy. This technique may reduce expense and morbidity for patients who ultimately require laparotomy, while allowing some patients with complex disease to be managed laparoscopically who would not normally be considered for a minimally invasive procedure.
Zero-Sum Beliefs of Racial Progress

With diversity rising in the United States, do people believe that progress for black Americans means increased discrimination against white Americans? Despite prior evidence of such ‘zero-sum’ beliefs, a provocative new study by Earle and Hodson challenges this narrative with large, nationally representative samples.
The Dangers of Decoupling: Earth System Crisis and the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’

The question of whether global capitalism can resolve the earth system crisis rests on the (im)possibility of ‘absolute decoupling’: whether or not economic growth can continue indefinitely as total environmental impacts shrink. Ecomodernists and other techno‐optimists argue for the feasibility of absolute decoupling, whereas degrowth advocates show that it is likely to be neither feasible in principle nor in the timeframe needed to ward off ecological tipping points. While primarily supporting the degrowth perspective, I will suggest that the ecomodernists have a wildcard in their pocket that hasn’t been systematically addressed by degrowth advocates. This is the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, which refers to convergent innovations in biotechnology, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and other developments. However, I will argue that while these innovations may enable some degree of absolute decoupling, they will also intensify emerging risks in the domains of biosecurity, cybersecurity, and state securitization. Overall, these technologies will not only place unprecedented destructive power in the hands of non‐state actors but will also empower and incentivize states to create a global security regime with unprecedented surveillance and force mobilization capacities. This reinforces the conclusion that mainstream environmental policies based on decoupling should be reconsidered and supplanted by alternative policy trajectories based on material‐energetic degrowth, redistribution, and technological deceleration.
A Diplomatic Counter-revolution: Indonesian diplomacy and the invasion of East Timor

This article reinterprets the Indonesian invasion of East Timor as a ‘diplomatic counter-revolution’. Using the central archival records of the Suharto regime for the first time in English-language scholarship, it unearths a diplomatic campaign undertaken by agents of the New Order to secure international support for an Indonesian invasion of East Timor. This diplomatic offensive spanned Southeast Asia, non-aligned and Afro-Asian networks, Western capitals, international institutions and media circuits, and global capital markets. Its success tipped the balance of power in Jakarta away from advocates of restraint like Adam Malik and towards advocates of annexation like Ali Murtopo. The diplomacy behind Indonesia's invasion of East Timor reveals that the architecture of globalization, lauded by some scholars as inherently liberatory, was in fact agnostic, capable of being turned to counter-revolutionary purposes in addition to revolutionary ones. And it suggests that diplomacy itself had been counter-revolutionized, as geopolitical and geoeconomic change combined to make the international system, particularly the states of the Global South, far more hostile to state-making claims and transformative world-making projects.
A model that adopts human fixations explains individual differences in multiple object tracking

In many settings "keep your eye on the ball" is good advice. People fixate important objects to obtain high quality information. Perhaps equally often, however, we engage with multiple important, moving, and unpredictable objects. Where should we fixate in these situations, and where do we? Do we for example appropriately center fixations to manage spatial non-uniformity in our visual system? And do we fixate empty space strategically to gain as much information as possible about multiple objects of interest? We explored these issues in the context of Multiple Object Tracking (MOT), wherein observers track several moving objects (targets) within a larger set of moving objects (nontargets), all the objects physically indistinguishable from one another. Among the features that make MOT an interesting paradigm is that it cannot be accommodated by continuous gaze to one important object, because there are multiple such objects in a given trial. Instead, it demands sustained processing of inputs from an entire display and iterated inferences about target versus nontarget identities. MOT therefore demands a strategic interaction between eye movements and cognition: the observer should seek fixation locations that minimize the aggregate probability of confusing any target with any nontarget. Individuals who meet this fixation challenge should perform the task better than those who meet the challenge less effectively. Here we describe a probabilistic model that implements the basic computations needed to do MOT, estimating the positions of targets, predicting their future positions, and inferring correspondences between new inputs and represented targets. The quality of the input received by the model depends on its fixation location at a given moment. We simulated a group of fifty participants who all performed the same MOT trials, with the model adopting each observer's fixation locations in the respective simulations. The model reliably predicted individual participant tracking performances and their relative rankings within the cohort. The results suggest that an individual's relative capability in this cognitively demanding task is in part determined by his/her utilization of eye fixations to control the quality and relevance of incoming visual input.
Clinical Effects of Pediatric Clonidine Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study at a Single Tertiary Care Center

Abstract Background Pediatric clonidine ingestions frequently result in emergency department visits and admission for cardiac monitoring. Detailed information on the clinical course and specifically time of vital sign abnormalities of these patients is lacking. Objective The objective of this study was to provide descriptive analysis of the rates and times to vital sign abnormalities, treatment, disposition, and outcomes in a single-center cohort of pediatric patients with report of clonidine poisoning. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients younger than 21 years who presented to a large, urban, tertiary care center with a report of single substance clonidine exposure between January 2004 and November 2017. Patients were dichotomized into younger (≤9 years or younger) and older (10–21 years) groups based on the expected physiologic and psychologic differences between older and younger children. Results Eighty-eight patients met our inclusion criteria. Younger patients (≤9 years or younger; n = 47) were more likely to be exposed to someone else's medication (53%) and older patients (10–21 years; n = 41) overwhelmingly (85%) were exposed to their own medication. Thirty-nine (45%) became bradycardic, 27 (32%) became bradypneic, and 38 (44%) became hypotensive. Eighty percent of patients had depressed mental status. Thirty-three (38%) patients received at least one dose of naloxone (median 0.07 mg/kg; interquartile range 0.03–0.11 mg/kg). Of those who received naloxone, 50% had a documented clinical response. Conclusions In this study of patients at a pediatric tertiary referral center, pediatric patients with report of clonidine exposures were likely to exhibit altered mental status and frequently develop vital sign abnormalities. Naloxone exhibited some effectiveness; given its wide safety margin, high-dose naloxone should be used in critically poisoned non–opioid-dependent patients. Because adolescents are much more likely to ingest their own clonidine medication, counseling with parents and other caregivers regarding safe medication storage is paramount.
Slippery Alliances in Central America: Multinationals, Dictators, and (Under) Development Policies

The Central American authoritarian regimes have long been considered the quintessential examples of “puppets” of American interests in the region. This chapter studies the evolving relationship between dictators and foreign capital in Central America. I argue that the alliance between those regimes and foreign capital was not determined by ideological affinities but rather by foreign capital’s capability of bringing stability and personal enrichment to the rulers. Once the multinationals could no longer offer these benefits, the dictators broke the alliance and even realigned themselves with those who opposed the multinationals. The 1974 oil crisis marked the breaking point.
IsRNA1: De Novo Prediction and Blind Screening of RNA 3D Structures.

Modeling structures and functions of large ribonucleic acid (RNAs) especially with complicated topologies is highly challenging due to the inefficiency of large conformational sampling and the pres...
Play, Design, Create, Fail, Teach, and Repeat: A Design Case Of Designing a Maker Education Course for Preservice Teachers

This design case shows a course designed for teaching preservice teachers about how to design literacy-infused STEAM learning experiences that involve both making and the use of educational technology at a large Midwestern land-grant university in the U.S. This course emphasizes the high-tech making activities in PK-12 formal education that offers students richer, more engaging, and potentially more meaningful learning experiences. The course expects to equip the preservice teachers with the understanding and skills they need to be ready to transform existing curricula in PK-12 education, incorporate curricula that cultivate creativity, design thinking, and problem-solving, and provide students authentic instructions and the opportunities to be the creators and owners of their learning. The current design case highlights design decisions during the design process.
Racial and ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 mortality within carceral settings: An analysis of Texas prisons and jails

Several analyses have highlighted racial and ethnic disparities related to COVID-19 health outcomes across the United States. Less focus has been placed on more localized contexts, such as carceral settings, where racial and ethnic inequities in COVID-19 health outcomes also exist, but the proximal drivers of inequality are different. In this study, we analyzed mortality rates among incarcerated people in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to assess racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality. We obtained monthly demographic and mortality information of the TDCJ population from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021 from TDCJ monthly reports and open record requests filed by the Texas Justice Initiative. We estimated the risk of COVID-19 mortality for the Hispanic and Black population relative to the White population using a Bayesian regression framework, adjusting for sex and age. In the first 12 months of the pandemic, Hispanic and Black all-cause mortality rates were higher than that of the White population, reversing the pattern observed the 12 months prior. Adjusted risk of COVID-19 mortality relative to the White population was 1.96 (CI 1.32-2.93) for the Hispanic population and 1.66 (CI 1.10-2.52) for the Black population. We find that COVID-19 related mortality has disproportionately impacted Hispanic and Black individuals within the TDCJ population. As the proximal mechanisms which drive these inequalities are likely different than those which lead to racial inequalities in the non-incarcerated populations, future studies should look to assess and address the specific drivers of COVID-19 related disparities in carceral settings.
Local Variations in Broadband Sensor Installations: Orientations, Sensitivities, and Noise Levels

As seismologists continue to place more stringent demands on data quality, accurately described metadata are becoming increasingly important. In order to better constrain the orientation and sensitivities of seismometers deployed in U.S. Geological Survey networks, the Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory (ASL) has recently begun identifying true north with a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) and has developed methodologies to constrain mid-band, vertical component sensitivity levels to less than 1% in a controlled environment. However, questions remain regarding the accuracy of this new alignment technique as well as if instrument sensitivities and background noise levels are stable when the seismometers are installed in different environmental settings. In this study, we examine the stability and repeatability of these parameters by reinstalling two high-quality broadband seismometers (Streckeisen STS-2.5 and Nanometrics T-360 Global Seismographic Network (GSN) version) at different locations around the ASL and comparing them to each other and a reference STS-6 seismometer that stayed stationary for the duration of the experiment. We find that even in different environmental conditions, the sensitivities of the two broadband seismometers stayed stable to within 0.1% and that orientations attained using the FOG are generally accurate to within a degree. However, one install was off by 5° due to a mistake made by the installation team. These results indicate that while technology and methodologies are now in place to calibrate and orient a seismometer to within 1°, human error both during the installation and while producing the metadata is often a limiting factor. Finally, we find that background noise levels at short periods (0.1–1 s) become noisier when the sensors are emplaced in unconsolidated materials, whereas the noise levels at long periods (30–100 s) are not sensitive to local geological structure on the vertical components.
Emotional Problems of Physicians

The life of a physician can be personally rewarding and professionally fulfilling. The physician is in a position to earn the respect of his peers, the admiration of his patients, and the love of his family. Frequently leaders in their community, physicians have a potential for personal and professional growth that is enormous. Most physicians prosper and live a rich, emotionally satisfying life. A minority of physicians, however, are emotionally troubled. This chapter discusses these emotional problems of physicians.
Eicosanoids, Peptides and Amines and the Cerebral Blood Vessels

The brain, like every other organ, is dependent on continuous blood flow to maintain its functions. However, the brain is unique among the organs in its tight relationships between blood flow, oxygen and glucose metabolism and neuronal activity. Of primary importance in this regard are ionic species and metabolic products such as potassium, calcium, carbon dioxide and lactate which in spite of careful regulation might also be subjected to rapid and profound fluctuations.
Universal remote console - prototyping for the alternate interface access standard

A Universal Remote Console is a device that can be used to operate any compatible services or devices. The Universal Remote Console (URC) renders a user interface for the target service or device in a way that accommodates the user's needs and preferences. The V2 technical committee of the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) is currently developing a standard for "Alternative User Interface Access" that includes URCs. This paper describes preliminary design aspects of the standard under development, in particular an XML-based language that is used to communicate an abstract user interface definition for the target service or device to a URC. Prototypical implementations for URCs developed at the Trace Center serve as the basis for experimental research for the standard under development, and will be demonstrated at the workshop.