cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food & Nutrition: What Everyone Needs to Know

I laud Professor Newby for her effort in producing a nutrition book that is accessible for a casual reader, but I cannot condone the severing of sources to information; it undermines the credibility of the writing.
Genomic and plumage variation across the controversial Baltimore and Bullock’s oriole hybrid zone

Hybrid zones are powerful natural settings for investigating how birds diversify into distinct species. Here we present the first genomic-scale exploration of the Baltimore (Icterus galbula) and Bullock's (I. bullockii) oriole hybrid zone, which is notable for its long history of study and for its prominence in debates about avian species concepts and species limits. We used a reduced-representation sequencing approach to generate a panel of 3,067 genetic markers for 297 orioles sampled along the Platte River, a natural west-to-east transect across the hybrid zone. We then explored patterns of hybridization and introgression by comparing variation in genomic and plumage traits. We found that hybridization remains prevalent in this area, with nearly all orioles within the hybrid zone showing some degree of genomic mixing, and 41% assigned as recent-generation (F1/F2) hybrids. The center and width of the genomic and plumage gradients are concordant and coincident, supporting our finding that classically scored plumage traits are an accurate predictor of pure vs. hybrid genotypes. We find additional support for previous suggestions that the center of this hybrid zone has moved westward since it was first intensively sampled in the 1950s, but that this westward movement had slowed or ceased by the 1970s. Considered in concert, these results support previous inferences that some form of ongoing selection is counteracting the potential homogenization of these orioles via hybridization, thereby supporting their continued taxonomic separation as distinct species.LAY SUMMARYHybridization between Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles has long captivated biologists and birders alike.Along the river valleys that cross the Great Plains, hybridization is common, leading to debates about whether these are really 2 different oriole species.We sequenced thousands of locations in the oriole genome to discover how much invisible genetic mixing is occurring in this area.Where the species' ranges overlap, many orioles are indeed hybrids, and their combination of plumage traits is a good predictor of their genetic ancestry.Yet the zone of hybridization remains narrow, suggesting that hybridization is a bit of a dead end, and adding to the evidence that these orioles are not blending together into a single species.
Pulmonary vasodilator use in continuous-flow left ventricular assist device management

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left heart disease is the most common etiology for PH. PH in patients with heart failure with reduced fraction (HFrEF) is associated with reduced functional capacity and increased mortality. PH-HFrEF can be isolated post-capillary or combined pre- and post-capillary PH. Chronic elevation of left-sided filling pressures may lead to reverse remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature with development of precapillary component of PH. Untreated PH in patients with HFrEF results in predominant right heart failure (RHF) with irreversible end-organ dysfunction. Management of PH-HFrEF includes diuretics, vasodilators like angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers or angiotensin-receptor blocker-neprilysin inhibitors, hydralazine and nitrates. There is no role for pulmonary vasodilator use in patients with PH-HFrEF due to increased mortality in clinical trials. In patients with end-stage HFrEF and fixed PH unresponsive to vasodilator challenge, implantation of continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (cfLVAD) results in marked improvement in pulmonary artery pressures within 6 months due to left ventricular (LV) mechanical unloading. The role of pulmonary vasodilators in management of precapillary component of PH after cfLVAD is not well-defined. The purpose of this review is to discuss the pharmacologic management of PH after cfLVAD implantation.
Motion Inference Using Sparse Inertial Sensors, Self-Supervised Learning, and a New Dataset of Unscripted Human Motion

In recent years, wearable sensors have become common, with possible applications in biomechanical monitoring, sports and fitness training, rehabilitation, assistive devices, or human-computer interaction. Our goal was to achieve accurate kinematics estimates using a small number of sensors. To accomplish this, we introduced a new dataset (the Virginia Tech Natural Motion Dataset) of full-body human motion capture using XSens MVN Link that contains more than 40 h of unscripted daily life motion in the open world. Using this dataset, we conducted self-supervised machine learning to do kinematics inference: we predicted the complete kinematics of the upper body or full body using a reduced set of sensors (3 or 4 for the upper body, 5 or 6 for the full body). We used several sequence-to-sequence (Seq2Seq) and Transformer models for motion inference. We compared the results using four different machine learning models and four different configurations of sensor placements. Our models produced mean angular errors of 10-15 degrees for both the upper body and full body, as well as worst-case errors of less than 30 degrees. The dataset and our machine learning code are freely available.
AdeNet: Deep learning architecture that identifies damaged electrical insulators in power lines.

Ceramic insulators are important to electronic systems, designed and installed to protect humans from the danger of high voltage electric current. However, insulators are not immortal, and natural deterioration can gradually damage them. Therefore, the condition of insulators must be continually monitored, which is normally done using UAVs. UAVs collect many images of insulators, and these images are then analyzed to identify those that are damaged. Here we describe AdeNet as a deep neural network designed to identify damaged insulators, and test multiple approaches to automatic analysis of the condition of insulators. Several deep neural networks were tested, as were shallow learning methods. The best results (88.8\%) were achieved using AdeNet without transfer learning. AdeNet also reduced the false negative rate to $\sim$7\%. While the method cannot fully replace human inspection, its high throughput can reduce the amount of labor required to monitor lines for damaged insulators and provide early warning to replace damaged insulators.
Photosensitized Reactions of a Phenolic Carbonyl from Wood Combustion in the Aqueous Phase—Chemical Evolution and Light Absorption Properties of AqSOA

Guaiacyl acetone (GA) is a phenolic carbonyl emitted in significant quantities by wood combustion that undergoes rapid aqueous-phase oxidation to produce aqueous secondary organic aerosol (aqSOA). We investigate the photosensitized oxidation of GA by an organic triplet excited state (3C*) and the formation and aging of the resulting aqSOA in wood smoke-influenced fog/cloud water. The chemical transformations of the aqSOA were characterized in situ using a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer. Additionally, aqSOA samples collected over different time periods were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and a high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer (HPLC-PDA-HRMS) to provide details on the molecular composition and optical properties of brown carbon (BrC) chromophores. Our results show efficient formation of aqSOA from GA, with an average mass yield around 80%. The composition and BrC properties of the aqSOA changed significantly over the course of reaction. Three generations of aqSOA products were identified via positive matrix factorization analysis of the aerosol mass spectrometry data. Oligomerization and functionalization dominated the production of the first-generation aqSOA, whereas fragmentation and ring-opening reactions controlled the formation of more oxidized second- and third-generation products. Significant formation of BrC was observed in the early stages of the photoreaction, while organic acids were produced throughout the experiment. High-molecular weight molecules (m/z > 180) with high aromaticity were identified via HPLC-PDA-HRMS and were found to account for a majority of the UV-vis absorption of the aqSOA.
"Compassionate" Cases of the Jarvik 2015 Ventricular Assist Device

The Jarvik 2015 Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) (Jarvik Inc, New York, NY) is the first and currently only continuous-flow VAD specifically designed for small children, and it is being evaluated in the so-called Pump for Kids, Infants, and Neonates (PumpKIN) trial. Due to the strict inclusion criteria of the trial, there have been a group of patients who failed to meet the criteria and therefore received the Jarvik 2015 VAD under the designation of "compassionate use." This is the same phenomenon seen previously during the Berlin Heart EXCOR trial. While we await the results of the PumpKIN trial, which will report the device performance in a strictly selected population, the compassionate use cases represent actual "real world" experiences. We describe herein our experience of two compassionate use cases. In particular, this report has a special emphasis on the power consumption and hemolysis and inflammatory lab profile of the Jarvik 2015 VAD as hemocompatibility was the primary focus of the developmental and the preclinical phases.
Rational use of diagnostic and screening tests

Veterinarians have a vast and ever-expanding array of diagnostic tests available to them. However, this abundance can be an embarrassment of riches that confounds diagnosis and undermines patient care if we do not make critical and informed decisions about the selection and interpretation of the tests we employ. Effective use of diagnostic tests requires a deliberate and informed approach. We must consider the strengths and weaknesses of the tests themselves and the clinical context, and we must be wary of the many biases that skew our use and interpretation of diagnostic tests. Understanding sensitivity and specificity, likelihood, prevalence and predictive value, the basic principles of Bayesian reasoning, and the cognitive biases that drive inappropriate testing are all critical to ensuring our use of imaging and laboratory testing improves patient outcomes.
Meal patterning and the onset of spontaneous labor.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of consensus in the literature about the association between meal patterning during pregnancy and birth outcomes. This study examined whether maternal meal patterning in the week before birth was associated with an increased likelihood of imminent spontaneous labor. METHODS Data came from 607 participants in the third phase of the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Study (PIN3). Data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire after birth, before hospital discharge. Questions included the typical number of meals and snacks consumed daily, during both the week before labor onset and the 24-hour period before labor onset. A self-matched, case-crossover study design examined the association between skipping one or more meals and the likelihood of spontaneous labor onset within the subsequent 24 hours. RESULTS Among women who experienced spontaneous labor, 87.0% reported routinely eating three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the week before their labor began, but only 71.2% reported eating three meals during the 24-hour period before their labor began. Compared with the week before their labor, the odds of imminent spontaneous labor were 5.43 times as high (95% CI: 3.41-8.65) within 24 hours of skipping 1 or more meals. The association between skipping 1 or more meals and the onset of spontaneous labor remained elevated for both pregnant individuals who birthed early (37-<39 weeks) and full-term (≥39 weeks). CONCLUSIONS Skipping meals later in pregnancy was associated with an increased likelihood of imminent spontaneous labor, though we are unable to rule out reverse causality.
Lived experiences of stress of Black and Hispanic mothers during hospitalization of preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units.

To characterize the lived experiences of stress associated with having a preterm infant hospitalized in the NICU among Black and Hispanic mothers. We performed a qualitative content analysis of secondary data from two prior studies that included 39 in-depth interviews with Black and Hispanic mothers of preterm infants at 3 U.S. NICUs. We used a constant comparative method to select important concepts and to develop codes and subsequent themes. Black and Hispanic mothers described stressors in the following domains and categories: Individual (feeling overwhelmed, postpartum medical complications, previous stressful life events, competing priorities); Hospital (perceived poor quality of care, provider communication issues, logistical issues); Community (lack of social supports, lack of financial resources, work challenges). The findings of this study suggest that stressors both inside and outside of the hospital affect the lived experiences of stress by Black and Hispanic mothers during NICU hospitalization.
Adaptive Differentiation of Lymphocytes: Theoretical Implications for Mechanisms of Cell—Cell Recognition and Regulation of Immune Responses

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses cell–cell interactions in immune responses and their relationship to immune response (Ir) and other major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. The chapter presents concept involving cell interaction (CI) molecules of primary importance in self-recognition, which is envisioned as the products of Ir genes. It explains the high degree of polymorphism among the MHC genes and the frequency of lymphocytes in any one individual that appear to be specific for histocompatibility antigens of other individuals. The MHC is a family of genes encoding a variety of cell surface marcomolecules first identified and studied for their role in transplantation rejection reactions. The transplantation antigens encoded by MHC genes in several different species have been thoroughly analyzed serologically and by modern biochemical techniques. Two features of the MHC have been particularly provocative in stimulating numerous speculations and posing questions. These are (a) the high degree of polymorphism within the family of MHC genes in any given species and (b) the high frequency of immunocompetent lymphocytes existing in any one individual that appear to be specific for MHC products displayed on cells of other individual members of the species. The process of adaptive differentiation is one in which highly effective selective mechanisms are initiated by contact between developing cells and the normal cell interaction molecules predominantly expressed in the surrounding environment.
Zivotofsky v. Kerry: A Foreign Relations Law Bonanza

This short paper on Zivotofsky v. Kerry gives an overview of the case and analyzes its significance for international law in constitutional interpretation and for the Supreme Court’s “normalization” of foreign relations law. In terms of the overall significance of the case, it is a bonanza of foreign relations issues and doctrine: the executive Vesting Clause, the President as the “sole organ” of the nation, the need for the nation to speak with “one voice,” Curtiss-Wright, Youngstown, diplomatic history and practice, the Republic of Texas, secrecy and dispatch, Citizen Genet, the Spanish-American war, international law in constitutional interpretation, formalism and functionalism, the list goes on and on! Although the actual impact of the case on the outcome of inter-branch disputes remains to be seen, the case will be cited and debated in so many areas of foreign relations law that it is destined to become a classic in the field. The case also provides strong support for the use of international law in constitutional interpretation. All of the Justices write or join opinions which rely on modern international law to define “recognition,” a category of conduct which now has great constitutional significance because the Court holds that the President’s power over it is exclusive. With the exception of Justice Thomas, the Justices rely on contemporary international law to define the scope of recognition without providing a methodological reason for doing so, and often without tracing or linking contemporary international law back to 18th international law. As for the normalization of foreign relations law – a trend recently identified and explored at length by Ganesh Sitaraman and myself – the case is a decidedly mixed bag. Contrary to the normalization trend, the case holds for the government and it also favorably cites some exceptionalist cases. On the other hand, the case is ultimately decided on quite narrow reasoning, the famous Curtiss-Wright dicta is roundly criticized, and much of the Court’s functional reasoning is narrowly tailored to the context of recognition.
Calculating the electrostatic properties of RNA provides new insights into molecular interactions and function

Solutions to the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation were used to obtain the electrostatic potentials of RNA molecules that have known three-dimensional structures. The results are described in terms of isopotential contours and surface electrostatic potential maps. Both representations have unexpected features: 'cavities' within isopotential contours and areas of enhanced negative potential on molecular surfaces. Intriguingly, the sites of unusual electrostatic features correspond to functionally important regions, suggesting that electrostatic properties play a key role in RNA recognition and stabilization. These calculations reveal that the electrostatic potentials generated by RNA molecules have a variety of functionally important characteristics that cannot be discerned by simple visual inspection of the molecular structure.
Temporal profile of rat skeletal muscle capillary haemodynamics during recovery from contractions

In skeletal muscle capillaries, red blood cell (RBC) flux (F RBC), velocity (V RBC) and haematocrit (HctCAP) are key determinants of microvascular O2 exchange. However, the mechanisms leading to the changes in F RBC, V RBC and HctCAP during muscle contractions and recovery thereafter are not fully understood. To address this issue we used intravital microscopy to investigate the temporal profile of the rat spinotrapezius muscle (n = 5) capillary haemodynamics during recovery from 3 min of twitch muscle contractions (1 Hz, 4‐6 V). Specifically, we hypothesized that (1) during early recovery F RBC and V RBC would decrease rapidly and F RBC would display a biphasic response (consistent with a muscle pump effect on capillary haemodynamics), and (2) there would be a dynamic relationship between changes (Δ )i nV RBC and HctCAP. The values at rest (R) and end-recovery (ER) were significantly lower (P 0.05). Based on the early decrease in F RBC (within 5 s), overall dynamic profile of F RBC and the ∼20 s ‘delay’ to the decrease in V RBC we conclude that the muscle pump does not appear to contribute substantially to the steady-state capillary haemodynamics in the contracting rat spinotrapezius muscle. Moreover, our findings suggest that alterations in V RBC do not obligate proportional changes in HctCAP within individual capillaries following muscle contractions.
Advancements in Arbitral Immunity and Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards Create Ethical Loopholes in Arbitration

Compared to the litigation forum, arbitration is intended to be a flexible, efficient, and private method of rights-based dispute resolution. Because arbitration is a private system of dispute resolution, it is largely (and purposefully) unregulated. The perjury, tampering, and other criminal laws dealing with the administration of justice simply do not apply to arbitration as they are currently written. In addition, the expansion of judicial immunity to the arbitral forum has caused a potential ethical “loophole” within arbitration. In other words, when arbitration parties, witnesses, and attorneys engage in conduct that would be criminally punishable in litigation in the arbitral forum, those wrongdoers are not only free from criminal liability but also free from civil liability. While attorneys are still subject to ethical codes that would prohibit them from engaging in this type of wrongdoing, non-attorney participants are largely shielded from liability. This Chapter suggests two ways to close the loopholes. First, this Chapter recommends extending the criminal laws of perjury, tampering, and other crimes against the administration of justice to the arbitral forum. Second, this Chapter recommends that the courts employ a consistent standard of review to address better issues of participant wrongdoing.
Computational study of millimeter-wave metal-pin photonic bandgap waveguides for use as ultrahigh-speed bandpass wireless interconnects

Much above present computer clock rates of about 3 GHz, problems with signal integrity, cross-coupling, and radiation may render continuous metallic interconnects impractical. An emerging possibility is to use bandpass wireless interconnects wherein the baseband digital bit stream amplitude-modulates a millimeter-wave carrier. This approach is enabled by the recent development of THz-class silicon transistors (R.F. Service, Science, vol. 293, no. 5531, p. 786, 2001) and advances in understanding the waveguiding physics provided by photonic bandgap (PBG) structures. In principle, bandpass wireless interconnects could transmit increasingly fast digital bit streams in smaller waveguides by modulating higher-frequency RF carriers. This paper is a computational-modeling study of a 2D PBG waveguiding structure which could be used to implement such a bandpass wireless interconnect. Using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, we study the transmission characteristics of a candidate PBG array of metal rods in air for the TM-polarization case. A frequency-independent surface impedance model (A. Taflove and S.C. Hagness, Computational Electrodynamics: The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method, 2nd ed. Norwood, MA, Artech House, 2000) is used to permit estimation of the PBG stopband characteristics and the transmission losses of the PBG waveguide.
Penicillin-binding proteins in Borrelia burgdorferi.

Penicillin-binding proteins were identified in Borrelia burgdorferi membranes. A 94-kilodalton penicillin-binding protein was the first to be labeled with tritiated penicillin and was the first band to disappear in a competition experiment. Its binding ability was destroyed when membranes were preboiled. In addition, several of these penicillin-binding proteins comigrated with bands previously identified as surface proteins. Images
Coxiella burnetii and Leishmania mexicana residing within similar parasitophorous vacuoles elicit disparate host responses.

Coxiella burnetii is a bacterium that thrives in an acidic parasitophorous vacuole (PV) derived from lysosomes. Leishmania mexicana, a eukaryote, has also independently evolved to live in a morphologically similar PV. As Coxiella and Leishmania are highly divergent organisms that cause different diseases, we reasoned that their respective infections would likely elicit distinct host responses despite producing phenotypically similar parasite-containing vacuoles. The objective of this study was to investigate, at the molecular level, the macrophage response to each pathogen. Infection of THP-1 (human monocyte/macrophage) cells with Coxiella and Leishmania elicited disparate host responses. At 5 days post-infection, when compared to uninfected cells, 1057 genes were differentially expressed (746 genes up- and 311 genes down-regulated) in C. burnetii infected cells, whereas 698 genes (534 genes up- and 164 genes down-regulated) were differentially expressed in L. mexicana infected cells. Interestingly, of the 1755 differentially expressed genes identified in this study, only 126 genes (~7%) are common to both infections. We also discovered that 1090 genes produced mRNA isoforms at significantly different levels under the two infection conditions, suggesting that alternate proteins encoded by the same gene might have important roles in host response to each infection. Additionally, we detected 257 micro RNAs (miRNAs) that were expressed in THP-1 cells and identified miRNAs that were specifically expressed during Coxiella or Leishmania infections. Collectively, this study identified host mRNAs and miRNAs that were influenced by Coxiella and/or Leishmania infections. Intriguingly, our data indicate that although their PVs are morphologically similar, Coxiella and Leishmania have evolved different strategies that perturb distinct host processes to create and thrive within their respective intracellular niches.
Karma eaters: the politics of food and fat in women's land communities in the United States.

Why is thinness so important among women who have largely rejected mainstream definitions of femininity? The idea of health has great cultural power and has come to symbolize not simply bodily but also spiritual, social, and moral well-being. These ideas permeate U.S. culture, and in women's land communities, the virtue of hunger and the morality of health take on differently inflected but no less potent meanings. Ironically, in a context where women reject many gender restrictions—restrictions increasingly, as Sandra Bartky notes, focused on the female body—the importance of the thin (and thus properly feminine) body persists through the symbolism of health and virtue.
The relationship between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and child temperament

Abstract This study examined empirical and theoretical differences and similarities between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and child temperament in 32 ADHD children aged 6–11 years, and a comparison group of 23 children with similar sociodemographic characteristics. Children were assessed for ADHD symptoms (hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention) and dimensions of child temperament (negative reactivity, task persistence, activity, attentional focusing, impulsivity, and inhibitory control) using standardized parent reports and interviews. Symptoms of ADHD and temperament dimensions were correlated; children in the ADHD group had significantly higher scores on negative reactivity, activity and impulsivity, and lower scores on task persistence, attentional focusing and inhibitory control than normative samples. Results indicate that although the constructs of ADHD and temperament have been regarded as two separate bodies of knowledge, theoretical and empirical overlaps exist. Applied implications are discussed.
Ecogender: Locating Gender in Environmental Social Science

Ecofeminism contends that there are important interconnections between the domination of women and the domination of the environment, a perspective that might be expected to attract the interest of environmental social scientists. However, environmental social scientists have largely ignored ecofeminism, despite feminism's increasing incorporation in general social science. This may be attributed to the common contention that ecofeminism suffers from a tendency to become more an ideological construct than an academic perspective. But despite a recent surge in cross-disciplinary research, especially in critical geography, political ecology, and poststructuralism, questions of gender remain rarely addressed within mainstream environmental social sciences. Given this neglect, we present an alternative conception, what we term “ecogender studies.” “Ecogender studies” draws on those strands of ecofeminism that embrace a relational and dialogic conception of gender and its intersection with other inequalities, ...
Effects of brachial artery catheterization on arterial pulse and blood pressure in 203 patients

Abstract We have reviewed a series of 203 patients who underwent retrograde cardiac catheterization by means of brachial arteriotomy. Occlusion or stenosis of the brachial artery (BA) associated with unobtainable auscultatory blood pressure (BP) occurred in 57 patients (28 per cent). Of these 57 patients, 8 (3.9 per cent of the total series) had no radial pulse. Brachial arteriotomy has become a major cause of absence and inequality of BP and radial pulses. Failure to appreciate this fact may lead to dangerous errors in diagnosis and therapy, particularly in shock.
Issues in reuse of evaluation data and metrics

There has been a major explosion in the number of large-scale evaluations in NLP, along with an increasing interest in these evaluations by an expanding number of research groups. An example of this is the growth of the question-answering evalation in TREC, starting with 20 participating groups in 1999 and now attracting more than 35 groups. Many of these groups are newcomers to these types of evaluations and sometimes also newcomers to research in a given area.
Oat lipids-induced covalent DNA modifications (I-compounds) in female Sprague-Dawley rats, as determined by 32P-postlabeling.

Previous studies have shown that the presence of oats in the diet contributes to formation of I-compounds (age-dependent covalent DNA modifications detected by 32P-postlabeling assay) in female Sprague-Dawley rat liver DNA. The current study explored the possible ingredients in oats responsible for the observed effects on DNA. Feeding AIN-76A diet containing 5% oat lipids (obtained by methanol extraction and dissolved in trioctanoin) in place of corn oil for 2 months successfully induced the formation of 3 oats-specific (spots 2–4) and 4 natural ingredient diet-specific I-compounds (spots 6–9) in liver DNA. Barley, an oatlike cereal, induced 3 of these spots at very low intensities but not the 3 oats-specific I-spots. Oral administration of oat lipids to weanling rats of both sexes for 7 days elicited trace amounts of the oats-specific spots and spot 9 in liver DNA. However, when oat lipids were given at 6 or 9 weeks of age, the oats-specific spots were detected at high levels in female but not in male rats. These oats-related DNA modifications were also present in 6-week-old female rats which had received oat lipids p.o. for 2 or 3 days or i.p. for 4 days. Rats given trioctanoin or extracts from natural ingredient Wayne diet (lacking oats) did not show any of these spots. On the other hand, rats treated with extracts from an oats-containing Teklad diet displayed a trace amount of one of these I-compounds. Oat lipids did not induce any extra spots in rat kidney DNA. Feeding of AIN diet supplemented with oats to female Syrian hamsters did not elicit any renal or hepatic DNA alterations, as detected by 32P-postlabeling. Rats fed oat lipids-supplemented AIN diet or Purina diet showed the highest levels of I-compounds overall in liver among all dietary groups and these two groups also had significantly higher hepatic DNA synthesis rates. Oat lipids enhanced kidney DNA synthesis also. The total hepatic or renal cytochrome P-450 contents were not significantly affected by different diets. These results demonstrate a novel link between a natural dietary ingredient and covalent DNA modifications and shed light on the origins of certain I-compounds.
Safety of cosmetic dermatologic procedures during pregnancy.

BACKGROUNDSafety of cosmetic procedures in pregnant women has not been extensively studied. Maternal and fetal health risks are important to consider in any procedure performed. With the increasing popularity of cosmetic procedures, dermatologic surgeons will be faced with scenarios necessitating kn
Reconciling Reconciliation Procedures in Regional Input-Output Analysis

The primary aim of this paper is to extend my previous work on the reconciliation of regional coefficients in input-output models. Specifically, an effort is made to show how certain types of a priori or judgmental information may be incorporated into the minimum variance reconciliation (MVR) process. In addition, this paper provides a response to Miernyk's objections that the MVR method: (1) produces coefficient estimates of doubtful statistical or theoretical validity and (2) systematically underestimates diagonal regional coefficients as well as the sum of interindustry sales for a given sector.
Relative contributions of ovarian and adrenal progesterone to the timing of heat in the 4-day cyclic rat.

Progesterone, not estrogen, seems to be the trigger for the onset of heat in the intact 4-day cyclic rat. Ovariectomy at 1530 hr proestrus, prior to the expected secretion of progesterone, prevented receptivity. If ovariectomy was delayed until 1730 hr proestrus, after the presumed beginning of progesterone secretion, females showed heat. Adrenal progesterone, in response to the stress of ovariectomy at 1330 hr proestrus, can induce a brief period of heat, but is not sufficient to maintain heat for a normal duration. Prior dexamethasone administration prevents this brief heat. In intact unstressed females, adrenal progesterone may contribute slightly to the timing of heat: dexamethasone injection at 1215 hr proestrus produced a 1-2-hr delay in some females. However, an adrenal progesterone contribution is not necessary to the occurrence of heat, since dexamethasone injection did not prevent receptivity. Ovarian progesterone seems to be responsible for the termination as well as the manifestation of heat. ...
Optimized Force Fields for Simulations of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

Some frequently encountered deficiencies in all-atom molecular simulations, such as nonspecific protein-protein interactions being too strong, and unfolded or disordered states being too collapsed, suggest that proteins are insufficiently well solvated in simulations using current state-of-the-art force fields. In order to address these issues, we make the simplest possible change, by modifying the short-range protein-water pair interactions, and leaving all the water-water and protein-protein parameters unchanged. We find that a modest strengthening of protein-water interactions is sufficient to recover the correct dimensions of intrinsically disordered or unfolded proteins, as determined by direct comparison with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) data. The modification also results in more realistic protein:protein affinities, and average solvation free energies of model compounds which are more consistent with experiment. Most importantly, we show that this scaling is small enough not to affect adversely the stability of the folded state, with only a modest effect on the stability of model peptides forming alpha-helix and beta-sheet structures. The proposed adjustment opens the way to more accurate atomistic simulations of proteins, particularly for intrinsically disordered proteins, protein:protein association, and crowded cellular environments.
Age-related changes in the likelihood of major contributions.

This article is concerned with the influence of age and research support on the frequency of technical innovation and economic growth. Based on the observations of Mumford and Gustafson, the author...
Sexual selection fails to promote adaptation to a new environment.

Selection can be divided into sexual and nonsexual components. Some work finds that a component of sexual selection, adaptive female selection for good genes, can promote nonsexual fitness. Less studied is the benefit from sexual selection in toto, that is, when intra- and intersexual selection are both present and able to affect females directly and indirectly. Here an upper bound for the net benefit of sexual selection is estimated for Drosophila melanogaster. Replicate populations were allowed to adapt to low-grade thermal stress, with or with out the operation of sexual selection. Because proteins and lipids are highly sensitive to temperature, low-grade thermal stress will select broadly across the genome for alternative alleles. Such broad, directional selection for thermal tolerance should increase the measurable benefits of sexual selection far beyond that available under stabilizing selection. Sexual selection was removed by enforced monogamy without mate choice and retained by enforced polyandry (four males per female). After 36 generations of thermal stress exposure, there was substantial adaptation to the new environment (the net reproductive rate increased six standard deviations relative to thermal controls). However, sexual selection did not affect the rate of adaptation. Therefore, adaptive female selection for thermal tolerance either was insignificant or negated by other aspects of sexual selection, for example, male-induced female harm, which has been shown to diminish under monogamy. This experiment employed two parameters that reduced the opportunity for divergence in such harm: a truncated intersexual interaction period and strong directional selection for thermal tolerance. No di- vergence in male-induced harm was observed.
Evolution of leaf blade anatomy in Allium (Amaryllidaceae) subgenus Amerallium with a focus on the North American species.

• Premise of the study: Reconstructing ancestral states is a useful method to understand the pathway and patterns of character evolution and to test specific hypotheses within a phylogenetic context. Using a phylogenetic hypothesis of the subgenus Amerallium and related subgenera based on molecular data, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of leaf blade anatomical characters and identified those characters that are most congruent with phylogenetic relationships. Furthermore, we used these character histories to investigate the evolution of terete leaves and explore a possible correlation between environment and leaf anatomy in the North American species.• Methods: Sixty-seven North American and Old World species were sampled from all major infrageneric taxa and lineages for transectional leaf anatomy. To provide a phylogenetic framework for interpretation, representatives of Old World Amerallium and related subgenera were added to a published data matrix of North American taxa and ITS, ETS, trnL–F, and rpL32–trnL sequences.• Key results: Four anatomical characters, namely leaf-blade shape in transection, presence versus absence of palisade mesophyll, distribution and orientation of vascular bundles, and position of laticifer cells, were found to be congruent with phylogenetic relationships and useful diagnostic traits within North American species. Character reconstructions show that terete leaves in North American species evolved from flattened leaves via a possible transition from subterete to terete leaves. Furthermore, terete leaves possess traits that are indicative of possible adaptation to xeric environments.• Conclusions: The findings from this study provide valuable information for understanding the evolution of leaf-blade anatomy in North American Allium species.
Brazilian tensile strength of rocks with different elastic properties in tension and compression

The mechanical properties of rocks are usually measured in compression and then it is often assumed that the tensile properties are similar. The author points out that it is well known that rocks are usually weaker in tension and that the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio may also be different. A method for correcting the error is given if certain of these properties are known. (LTN)
Modulation of lateral hypothalamic activity by olfactory bulb and sciatic stimulation.

Abstract Lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) single unit activity (extracellular) was studied in response to electrical stimulation of the olfactory bulb (OB) or sciatic nerve in adult albino rats (n = 39) anesthetized with dialurethane. Olfactory stimulation resulted in a greater proportion of LHA units showing inhibitory rather than excitatory responses, while sciatic nerve stimulation resulted in similar proportions of units showing inhibitory and excitatory responses. Of the 76 LHA units tested with both OB and sciatic nerve stimulation. 36% responded to both stimulation sites. 18% responded only to OB stimulation, 26% responded only to sciatic nerve stimulation, and 20% were unresponsive to either stimulation. The locations of responsive units were diffuse throughout the LHA sampled. The response characteristics of LHA neurons to external sensory stimulation are consistent with the anatomy and putative integrative functions of this brain region.
REM-Seg: A robust EM algorithm for parallel segmentation and registration of point clouds

For purposes of real-time 3D sensing, it is important to be able to quickly register together incoming point cloud data. In this paper, we devise a method to quickly and robustly decompose large point clouds into a relatively small number of meaningful surface patches from which we register new data points. The surface patch representation sidesteps the costly problem of matching points to points since incoming data only need to be compared with the patches. The chosen parametrization of the patches (as Gaussians) leads to a smooth data likelihood function with a well-defined gradient. This representation thus forms the basis for a robust and efficient registration algorithm using a parallelized gradient descent implemented on a GPU using CUDA. We use a modified Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) formulation solved by Expectation Maximization (EM) to segment the point cloud and an annealing gradient descent method to find the 6-DOF rigid transformation between the incoming point cloud and the segmented set of surface patches. We test our algorithm, Robust EM Segmentation (REM-Seg), against other GPU-accelerated registration algorithms on simulated and real data and show that our method scales well to large numbers of points, has a wide range of convergence, and is suitably accurate for 3D registration.
Faculty evaluation of simulation-based modules for assessment of intraoperative decision making

Background Previous studies using simulation-based curricula have focused largely on technical skills. We developed a set of simulation-based modules that focus on intraoperative decision making. The objective of this study was to conduct a faculty evaluation of: (1) the usefulness of 4 newly developed, simulation-based modules; (2) the curricular need to train and assess intraoperative decision making skills of the residents; and (3) potential for resident benefit. Methods Simulation-based modules were developed using a cognitive task analysis (CTA) framework. The CTA framework involved faculty interviews focusing on 4 operative tasks that span a range of complexity: (1) creation of small and large bowel stoma, (2) laparoscopic ventral hernia repair, (3) pancreaticojejunostomy, and (4) lymph node biopsy during a mediastinoscopy. An experienced psychologist conducted task-specific, one-on-one interviews with fellowship-trained specialists who perform these operations in their practice. Two faculty were interviewed for each procedure. The interviews lasted a minimum of 1 hour and focused on critical decisions, error prevention, error recognition, and error rescue strategies. The coded interview summaries were used as development guides for the simulation-based learning modules. Each module included locally developed physical models for the simulated operative tasks combined with oral and paper-based questions. The physical models were fabricated in such a way that simulated operative tasks could be performed using standard surgical instruments. To assess the newly developed simulation-based modules, 8 volunteer faculty (50% overlap with the interview pool) participated in a simulation-based exercise during a one-on-one session and then completed an 8-item survey cast on a 5-point Likert agreement scale (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). One of the items was worded negatively to ensure internal consistency. An independent observer recorded faculty session times and assessed faculty engagement in the task (1 = not engaged, 5 = extremely engaged). Results On average, faculty spent 60 minutes completing each simulation-based exercise. Over 80% of this time was spent performing the operative tasks as they would during a real-life procedure. Mean engagement rating was 4.9 (maximum 5.0, SD = 0.3). Survey results show strong agreement on the importance of training and assessing intraoperative decision making, and that residents would likely benefit from the simulation-based modules. Conclusion We developed 4 high-fidelity simulation-based modules to assess intraoperative decision making. Faculty agree strongly on the importance and need for additional modules.
New Thoughts on the “Forgotten” Aspect of Antimicrobial Stewardship: Adverse Event Reporting

Antimicrobial stewardship is an activity that optimizes patient care through selection of the most appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrobial stewardship programs strive to enhance patient care and reduce preventable consequences of antimicrobial use. They are also vital in monitoring for the development of adverse events occurring as a result of antimicrobial therapy, although literature reviews of this activity are scarce. Although randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard to study the efficacy of a medication, these trials are not designed to test safety end points and often are only able to identify the most commonly occurring and acute adverse events. In addition, prior to a drug going to market, it is difficult to detect rare adverse events because the associated costs are economically untenable given the limited pipeline of novel agents. These limitations in some ways may be resolved with the use of postmarketing surveillance and spontaneous reporting systems such as the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System. The focus of this commentary is to highlight the importance of adverse event reporting by antimicrobial stewardship programs to spontaneous reporting systems as a means to improve patient care.
What Can We Learn from 123 Years of Stock Market Fluctuations? Processes of Mean Aversion and Reversion

This article uses the accumulative mean as the population mean to reexamine the mean reversion phenomenon in 123 years of stock returns. The analysis provides strong empirical evidence for mean aversion and mean reversion in stock returns. Mean aversion reflects how investors’ overreaction to news leads to extraordinary returns, while mean reversion depicts stock price correcting processes, from irrational level to historical accumulative mean.
WORK VALUE CONGRUENCE AND INTRINSIC CAREER SUCCESS: THE COMPENSATORY ROLES OF LEADER-MEMBER EXCHANGE AND PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

We hypothesized that leader-member exchange (LMX) and perceived organizational support (POS) would each interact with work value congruence in relation to intrinsic career success. In a sample of 520 teachers from 30 high schools in Turkey, we found that work value congruence was positively related to job and career satisfaction when POS was low but not related to job and career satisfaction when POS was high. Similarly, work value congruence was positively related to career satisfaction when LMX was low but not related when LMX was high. The results contribute to the POS, LMX, and person-organization fit literatures by demonstrating the compensatory nature of LMX and POS for low value congruence in its relation to job and career satisfaction.
Information Extraction during Instrument Flight: An Evaluation of the Validity of the Eye-Mind Hypothesis

A study was performed to determine the extent to which flight-relevant information on instruments peripheral to fixation is extracted and used during fixed-wing instrument flight. Twenty student and twenty instructor pilots flew a series of missions in a fixed-wing flight simulator which was interfaced with an eye-tracker. In one mission flight-relevant information was removed from instruments peripheral to fixation while in the other mission peripheral information was intact. Pilots' performance was degraded and eye scan strategies were modified when peripheral information was removed. Furthermore, in several situations instructor pilots' performance was more adversely influenced by the removal of peripheral information than was student pilots' performance. The data are discussed in terms of attentional strategies during flight.