cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local feature frequency profile: a method to measure structural similarity in proteins.

Measures of structural similarity between known protein structures provide an objective basis for classifying protein folds and for revealing a global view of the protein structure universe. Here, we describe a rapid method to measure structural similarity based on the profiles of representative local features of Cα distance matrices of compared protein structures. We first extract a finite number of representative local feature (LF) patterns from the distance matrices of all protein fold families by medoid analysis. Then, each Cα distance matrix of a protein structure is encoded by labeling all its submatrices by the index of the nearest representative LF patterns. Finally, the structure is represented by the frequency distribution of these indices, which we call the LF frequency (LFF) profile of the protein. The LFF profile allows one to calculate structural similarity scores among a large number of protein structures quickly, and also to construct and update the “map” of the protein structure universe easily. The LFF profile method efficiently maps complex protein structures into a common Euclidean space without prior assignment of secondary structure information or structural alignment.
Chemerin levels as predictor of acute coronary events: a case-control study nested within the veterans affairs normative aging study.

Abstract Objective Chemerin is a recently identified adipocytokine that has been positively correlated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, no studies have examined circulating chemerin levels as a predictor of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether chemerin levels predict the onset of ACS. Materials/Methods We studied 90 men whose serum had been collected at least 2 years before the development of ACS, and 162 controls matched with the cases in a 1:2 fashion for age and year of collection. The mean age of the cohort was 66.3 ± 9.6 years (range 34–84 years). Serum chemerin levels were measured with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Age was positively associated with chemerin levels (r = 0.39, p Conclusions Although cross-sectional and case–control studies suggest a positive association between chemerin levels and CAD, we demonstrate that chemerin levels do not predict the development of ACS.
Classification of Optical Transients: Experiences from PQ and CRTS Surveys

Synoptic sky surveys are opening up exciting opportunities in time domain astronomy. Gaia will make a great contribution to this field. A crucial factor for good scientific returns is real-time classification of transients, in order to optimize their follow-up. We have been developing infrastructure towards this end starting from the completed Palomar-Quest (PQ) survey, and the ongoing Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS). CRTS has been consistently producing transients for almost three years now. We describe here the efforts related to transient classification and event dissemination. Many of the technologies and methodologies we are developing may benefit Gaia.
Development of a Fear-of-Change Scale for the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS)

Abstract A Fear-of-Change (FOC) scale for the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) was derived from a set of 24 candidate items. Responses supplied by 100 male medium security federal prisoners and 100 female minimum security federal prison camp inmates were used to construct and initially evaluate an 8-item FOC scale. The scale displayed a moderate degree of internal consistency and moderately high test-retest stability after 2 and 12 weeks, and correlated significantly with a previously administered measure of existential fear. It is concluded that while the FOC is an internally consistent and reasonably stable measure with some evidence of preliminary validity, more research is needed to determine whether it actually assesses fear of change.
Towards a Practical and Efficient Search over Encrypted Data in the Cloud

Searchable encryption allows a client to encrypt its document collection in such a way that the encrypted collection can still be searched. The most immediate application of searchable encryption is privacy / confidentiality preserving cloud storage, where it enables a client to securely outsource its document collection to an untrusted cloud provider without sacrificing the ability to search over it. Our research focuses on developing a novel searchable encryption framework that allows the cloud server to perform multi-keyword ranked search as well as substring search incorporating position information. We present some advances that we have accomplished in this area. We then layout our planned research work and a timeline to accomplish this.
The chemistry, toxicology, and identification in rat and human urine of 4-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazaperhydroin-2-one: a reactive metabolite in felbamate bioactivation.

4-Hydroxy-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazaperhydroin-2-one has been proposed to be a reactive metabolite of the anti-epileptic drug felbamate [Thompson et al. (1996) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 9, 1225−1229]. 4-Hydroxy-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazaperhydroin-2-one exists in equilibrium with 3-oxo-2-phenylpropyl aminooate, which is known to eliminate to generate 2-phenylpropenal. Thus, this species is postulated to be a latent form of the ultimate reactive metabolite, 2-phenylpropenal. The chemistry of 4-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazaperhydroin-2-one is proposed to parallel that of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, the bioactivated form of cyclophosphamide that undergoes ring-opening to aldophosphamide and subsequent elimination to afford 2-propenal (acrolein). The work presented here reports the chemical synthesis of 4-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazaperhydroin-2-one and demonstrates that under buffered conditions it exists in equilibrium with 3-oxo-2-phenylpropyl aminooate. The rate-limiting step in the decomposition of 4-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazaperhy...
The impact of bluetongue virus on reproduction.

Abstract Bluetongue virus has been recognized as an important noncontagious, arthropodborne infectious viral disease of ruminants. 24 different serotypes of virus have been recognized world-wide. The most severe clinical disease has been associated with severe clinical disease in sheep and some free ranging wild ruminants. A number of reports have implicated the viruses as causing reproductive disorders in both males and females. The bluetongue related reproductive disorders include early embryonic deaths, abortions, malformed fetal calves or lambs, transient infertility in bulls and rams, and shedding of virus in semen. Recently, bluetongue virus contamination of modified live commercial canine vaccine was associated with abortion and acute death of pregnant bitches. The pathogenesis of these various aspects of reproductive failure are discussed herein.
Auditory-visual speech integration by adults with and without language-learning disabilities.

Abstract Auditory and auditory–visual (AV) speech perception skills were examined in adults with and without language-learning disabilities (LLD). The AV stimuli consisted of congruent consonant–vowel syllables (auditory and visual syllables matched in terms of syllable being produced) and incongruent McGurk syllables (auditory syllable differed from visual syllable). Although the identification of the auditory and congruent AV syllables was comparable for the two groups, the reaction times to identify all syllables were longer in the LLD compared to the control group. This finding is consistent with previous research demonstrating slower processing in learning disabled individuals. Adults with LLD also provided significantly fewer integration-type or McGurk responses compared with their normal peers when presented with speech tokens representing a mismatch between the auditory and visual signal. These results suggest the poor integration for auditory–visual speech previously documented in children with poor language skills also occurs in adults with LLD. Learning outcomes The reader will be able to (1) describe the McGurk effect; (2) describe group differences (language learning disabled and control adults) in auditory and auditory–visual speech perception of consonant–vowel syllables.
Tumorigenic conversion of a non‐tumorigenic rat urothelial cell line by overexpression of H2O2‐generating peroxisomal fatty acyl‐CoA oxidase

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and some cytokines that are released during the inflammatory process are important factors for the development of urinary bladder carcinoma and for its growth. Sustained induction of H 2 O 2 -generating peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX) in the liver of rats and mice by non-genotoxic peroxisome proliferators leads to the development of liver tumors. To examine the role of intracellular H 2 O 2 generated by ACOX during urinary bladder carcinogenesis, we overexpressed rat ACOX in a non-tumorigenic rat urothelial cell line, MYP3, under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. The clones overexpressing rat ACOX, when exposed to a fatty-acid substrate (150 μM linoleic acid), demonstrated strikingly higher levels of intracellular H 2 O 2 (p > 0.001) and formed colonies in soft agar in proportion to the duration of exposure to linoleic acid. Furthermore, all the transformants, which were selected at random from soft agar, demonstrated an accelerated growth potential on a plastic surface, as well as tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. In addition, the growth of these transformants was stimulated by cytokines, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, better than the growth of ACOX-overexpressing, but non-transformed cells or that of the parental cells. Our results clearly demonstrate that H 2 O 2 induced by ACOX acts as a carcinogen on urothelial cells, and that transformed cells have acquired an advantage for growth over nonneoplastic cells because of their selective response to the stimulatory action of several cytokines.
The Pulsar Wind Nebula Torus of PSR J0538+2817 and the Origin of Pulsar Velocities

We find evidence for a faint wind nebula surrounding PSR J0538+2817 in Chandra X-Ray Observatory ACIS imaging. This object is particularly interesting, as the pulsar spin-down age is largest for any such X-ray pulsar wind nebula (PWN). If interpreted as an equatorial torus, the PWN supports the claimed association with the S147 supernova remnant and implies good alignment between the pulsar spin and space velocity. Comparison of the supernova remnant age, X-ray cooling age, and characteristic age suggests a birth spin period of 130 ms. In turn, if we accept as causal the alignment of the linear and angular momenta, this places strong constraints on the origin of the "kick" at the neutron star birth.
The low-temperature X-ray structure, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering vibrational spectroscopic investigation of the non-centrosymmetric amino acid salt glycine lithium sulfate

Abstract The structure of the amino acid salt glycine lithium sulfate (GLS) is determined by X-ray diffraction at 90 K and reveals no significant deviations from the previously reported room temperature structure. The vibrational spectrum of GLS is measured at 78 and 298 K by Raman spectroscopy and at 25 K by incoherent inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopy. There is no evidence of a phase transition in the Raman spectra between 78 and 298 K. Solid-state density functional theory (DFT) is used to simulate the INS spectrum of GLS and to perform a complete normal mode analysis. Discrepancy between simulation and experiment, namely the anharmonic torsional motion of the –NH3+ functional group at approximately 370 cm−1, is discussed in detail.
Child prostitution: global health burden, research needs, and interventions

Summary Child prostitution is a significant global problem that has yet to receive appropriate medical and public health attention. Worldwide, an estimated 1 million children are forced into prostitution every year and the total number of prostituted children could be as high as 10 million. Inadequate data exist on the health problems faced by prostituted children, who are at high risk of infectious disease, pregnancy, mental illness, substance abuse, and violence. Child prostitution, like other forms of child sexual abuse, is not only a cause of death and high morbidity in millions of children, but also a gross violation of their rights and dignity. In this article we estimate morbidity and mortality among prostituted children, and propose research strategies and interventions to mitigate such health consequences. Our estimates underscore the need for health professionals to collaborate with individuals and organisations that provide direct services to prostituted children. Health professionals can help efforts to prevent child prostitution through identifying contributing factors, recording the magnitude and health effects of the problem, and assisting children who have escaped prostitution. They can also help governments, UN agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement policies, laws, and programmes to prevent child prostitution and mitigate its effects on children's health.
Images for the sake of the truth in Plato's symposium

After arriving drunk (‘plastered’ in one translation) at Agathon's party, Alcibiades offers to praise Socrates instead of love, the object of the other characters' praise. In praising Socrates, Alcibiades says that he will have to use images (eἰκόνων, 215a4–5). He assures his companions, however, that this ‘is no joke: the image will be for the sake of the truth’ (ἔσται δ' ἡ eἰκὼν τοῦ ἀληθοῦς ἕνeκα, οὐ τοῦ γeλοίου, 215a6). Alcibiades goes on to present his famous images of a Socrates who is full of divine images (ἀγάλματα), and who casts spells with his words (λόγοι). Later, Alcibiades describes those words themselves as ‘bursting with images of virtue’ (ἀγάλματ' ἀρeτῆς, 222a3–4).
Isotonic saline expands extracellular fluid and is inappropriate for maintenance therapy.

In Reply .— Dr Holliday correctly emphasizes the important distinction between the use of intravenous (IV) fluid replacement to increase a contracted extracellular fluid (ECF) volume, with which antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion is frequently elevated, and fluid used to replace insensible fluid losses. We would argue that clinical evaluation of the degree of ECF contraction frequently overestimates the problem, resulting in significant volumes of IV fluid being administered,1 leading to volume overexpansion and the production …
Deterministic Framework and Methodology for Evaluating Travel Time Reliability on Freeway Facilities

This paper presents a methodology for incorporating freeway reliability analysis in the Highway Capacity Manual on the basis of Strategic Highway Research Program Project L08. The methodology uses a scenario-based approach in which each scenario represents a unique combination of traffic demands and facility (segment) capacities. Demand impacts consider variability in time-of-day, day-of-week, and month-of-year differences, and capacity impacts quantify effects of various nonrecurring congestion sources, such as weather, incidents, work zones, and special events. The method combines three key components: a data repository, a freeway scenario generator (FSG), and a computational software engine, FREEVAL-RL. The FSG determines the number of scenarios for the reliability analysis on the basis of the facility-specific combination of demand, incident, and weather events. For each scenario, it produces a set of inputs and adjustment factors that are passed on to the FREEVAL-RL engine, along with each scenario's...
Maximal Power Across the Lifespan

BACKGROUND Previous investigators have reported that maximal power increases during growth and decreases with aging. These age-related differences have been reported to persist even when power is scaled to body mass or muscle size. We hypothesized that age-related differences in maximal power were primarily related to differences in muscle size and fiber-type distribution rather than to age per se. METHODS Maximum cycling power (Pmax) and optimal pedaling rate (Vopt, a surrogate measure for muscle fiber type) were determined for 195 boys and men, 8-70 years of age, by using inertial load cycle ergometry. Anthropometric dimensions were used to estimate lean thigh volume (LTVest) of all subjects, and magnetic resonance imagery was used to determine thigh and hip muscle volume (MRIvol) for 24 subjects. RESULTS Pmax was highly related to the product of LTVest and Vopt (LTVest X Vopt; r2 = .83). Multiple regression revealed that Pmax was significantly related to both LTVest x Vopt and age (R2 = .84). Power scaled by LTVest X Vopt was stable during growth and exhibited a small but significant decrease with aging. MRIvol was highly correlated with LTVest, and the ratio of LTVest to MRIvol was independent of age. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that muscle volume and optimal pedaling rate are the main determinants of maximal power across the lifespan and that the contractile properties of muscle are developed early in childhood and remain nearly intact late into the lifespan.
The short‐run trade‐off between food subsidies and agricultural production subsidies in developing countries

The trade‐offs resulting from the choice of policy alternatives to improve short‐run welfare of poor households in developing countries are examined through a comparison of food subsidies and agricultural production subsidies. Using India as a case study, the analysis is undertaken with an economy‐wide multisector model. Comparing general (untargeted) food and production subsidies, the results show larger real income gains for all food buyers through production subsidies. Targeted food subsidies are more beneficial for the urban poor, while the rural poor benefit more from targeted production subsidies, suggesting the need to use the two subsidies as a joint policy package in the short run.
Uninsured Adults With Chronic Conditions Or Disabilities: Gaps In Public Insurance Programs

Among nonelderly U.S. adults (ages 25–61), uninsurance rates increased from 13.7 percent in 2000 to 16.0 percent in 2005. Despite the existence of public insurance programs, rates remained high for low-income people reporting serious health conditions (25 percent across years) or disabilities (15 percent). Residents of southern states had even higher rates (32 percent with health conditions, 22 percent with disabilities). Those who did not belong to a federally mandated Medicaid eligibility category were about twice as likely as others to be uninsured overall, and uninsurance among this group increased more rapidly over time. These regional and categorical differences reflect gaps in current policy that pose challenges for incremental health reform.
Beaver (Castor canadensis) Impacts on Herbaceous and Woody Vegetation in Southeastern Georgia

North American beavers alter habitat properties such as stream flow, faunal composition and plant community structure. In North America, the majority of studies on impacts by beavers have occurred in the northeast or western regions. This study examined the effect of wood-cutting and foraging by beaver on the surrounding plant community in Southeastern Georgia. To determine their impact, beaver modified habitat and nearby, but non-impacted riparian habitat, were sampled in a matched pair design. Vegetation surveys were performed, and species richness, density, relative abundance and canopy cover were calculated for every site. Richness of herbaceous vegetation was higher at distances closer to shore while richness of large woody vegetation increased with distance from shore with no difference found between beaver and control sites. The composition of herbaceous or woody vegetation did not differ significantly between beaver and control sites; species had an equal chance of occurring in either site. Canopy cover was similar at the two site types. Non-native species were rare and did not differ by site type. Beavers were in low density and had a relatively benign impact on the plant community. Density of woody plants was higher at beaver sites, suggesting that beavers may favor areas of abundant woody vegetation. Beaver impact may be less in southern regions than in northern ones. This may reflect the lower density of beavers, but impact also could be due to the year round availability of and access to vegetation.
Therapeutic exchange of cefotaxime for ceftriaxone: Evaluation, implementation, and subsequent cost savings at a 300-bed community hospital

Switching prescriptions from ceftriaxone to cefotaxime resulted in a decreased pharmacy expenditure of $30,190 within 1 year in a 300-bed community hospital. The cost per patient day of treatment was reduced from $38.85 to $26.98 and led to a total cost avoidance of $47,997.
Synergistic Action of Postsynaptic α‐Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation on Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide‐Induced Increases in Pineal N‐Acetyltransferase Activity

The alpha-adrenergic agonists phenylephrine and methoxamine, at concentrations that have little effect on pineal N-acetyltransferase activity, markedly enhance stimulation of this enzyme by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). This augmentation can be blocked by the alpha 1-adrenergic antagonists phenoxybenzamine and prazosin and, at 10 but not 1 microM, by the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine. The time course for VIP stimulation is not altered by concomitant alpha-adrenergic stimulation. Augmented activity does not require concomitant alpha-adrenergic stimulation, but alpha-adrenergic agonists must be present for augmentation to be maintained. Phorbol 12,13-diacetate or -dibutyrate but not 4 alpha-phorbol can substitute for phenylephrine, a finding suggesting that protein kinase C is involved in the augmentation. These results are, in general, analogous to alpha-adrenergic magnification of N-acetyltransferase induction by beta-adrenergic agonists.
Reclassification of early stage pulmonary adenocarcinoma and its consequences.

The classification of pulmonary adenocarcinoma has recently undergone several proposed changes. Among these, the most striking pertains to the discontinuation of the term “bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC)” and its replacement by the terms “adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)” or “minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA)” for small solitary adenocarcinomas with either pure bronchiolalveolar growth or predominant bronchioloalveolar growth and ≤5 mm invasion, respectively, in resection specimens. The recommendation for these new concepts was based on discussion and review of the literature by a panel of experts from multiple disciplines. However, the results of a recent study investigating the topic of early stage adenocarcinoma (pT1N0M0) which was based on an actual series of cases, have raised questions as to the concept, validity and justification of such new terminology and have reinforced the need to evaluate actual cases that meet the newly proposed definitions and compare them in terms of patient outcome. This is even more important when proposing terminology that implies benign behavior and that could result in a false sense of security putting patients at risk for suboptimal treatment approaches. The controversies surrounding these issues are the subject of this work.
Simplified programming of faulty sensor networks via code transformation and run-time interval computation

Detecting and reacting to faults is an indispensable capability for many wireless sensor network applications. Unfortunately, implementing fault detection and error correction algorithms is challenging. Programming languages and fault tolerance mechanisms for sensor networks have historically been designed in isolation. This is the first work to combine them. Our goal is to simplify the design of fault-tolerant sensor networks. We describe a system that makes it unnecessary for sensor network application developers and users to understand the intricate implementation details of fault detection and tolerance techniques, while still using their domain knowledge to support fault detection, error correction, and error estimation mechanisms. Our FACTS system translates low-level faults into their consequences for application-level data quality, i.e., consequences domain experts can appreciate and understand. FACTS is an extension of an existing sensor network programming language; its compiler and runtime libraries have been modified to support automatic generation of code for on-line fault detection and tolerance. This code determines the impacts of faults on the accuracies of the results of potentially complex data aggregation and analysis expressions. We evaluate the overhead of the proposed system on code size, memory use, and the accuracy improvements for data analysis expressions using a small experimental testbed and simulations of large-scale networks.
Eigenvalue Assignment via the Lambert W Function for Control of Time-delay Systems

In this paper, we consider the problem of feedback controller design via eigenvalue assignment for linear time-invariant systems of linear delay differential equations (DDEs) with a single delay. Unlike ordinary differential equations (ODEs), DDEs have an infinite eigenspectrum, and it is not feasible to assign all closed-loop eigenvalues. However, we can assign a critical subset of them using a solution to linear systems of DDEs in terms of the matrix Lambert W function. The solution has an analytical form expressed in terms of the parameters of the DDE, and is similar to the state transition matrix in linear ODEs. Hence, one can extend controller design methods developed based upon the solution form of systems of ODEs to systems of DDEs, including the design of feedback controllers via eigenvalue assignment. We present such an approach here, illustrate it using some examples, and compare with other existing methods.
A New Tool for the Investigation of a Class of Nonlinear Stochastic Differential Equations: the Melnikov Process

The Melnikov process, a construct rooted in chaotic dynamics theory, was recently developed as a tool for the investigation of a broad class of nonlinear stochastic differential equations [1–6]. This paper briefly reviews the stochastic Melnikov-based approach and applications to (i) oceanography, (ii) open-loop control of stochastic nonlinear systems, and (iii) snap-through of buckled beams with distributed mass and distributed random loading.
Prevalence and associated factors of smoking in middle and high school students: a school-based cross-sectional study in Zhejiang Province, China

Objectives To determine the prevalence and associated factors of smoking in a Chinese adolescent population. Setting A multistage, stratified cluster sampling technique was used in the present cross-sectional study conducted in Zhejiang Province of China. Based on socioeconomic status, school levels and geographical positions, 253 middle school classes, 122 academic school classes and 115 vocational high school classes located in 12 urban areas and 18 rural areas were chosen. Participants A total of 9617 middle school students, 5495 academic high school students and 4430 vocational high school students were recruited in this survey. Primary and secondary outcome measures Ever, current smoking status and associated factors were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between current smoking and the associated factors. ORs with their 95% CIs were reported. Results Overall, the prevalence of ever-smokers and current smokers was 33.83% and 7.93%, respectively. Focused on current smokers, significantly higher risks of adolescent smoking were observed in an older age group, boys, rural areas and vocational high school. Other significant factors were parents smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, parental divorce or separation, living with family, school performance and belief that smoking is harmful. Conclusions The prevalence of smoking was relatively high among Chinese adolescents in Zhejiang Province. Factors related to personal characteristics, family and school were associated with adolescent smoking.
Influence of Parasitic Hymenoptera on the Regulation of Pink Bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella , on Cotton in the Lower Colorado Desert

Efforts to permanently establish 14 imported parasitic Hymenoptera on the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), in the lower Colorado Desert of California and Arizona during 1969–78, failed even though field reproduction of 8 species was recorded. Inundative releases of parasites produced varying levels of P. gossypiella reduction, the best performance being attained with egg-larval parasites, Chelonus spp. (Braconidae). A Chelonus sp. nr. curvimaculatus Cameron obtained from the presumed native range of pink bollworm in northwestern Australia was most effective, giving an adjusted 69.6% infested boll reduction by August 24 at the equivalent release rate of 2667 ♀/ha. There were no differences in parasitization and host reduction between weekly and biweekly parasite release rates nor on Delta Pine and nectariless Stoneville 731-N cotton varieties for Chelonus spp.
Quality of relationships with parents and friends in adolescence predicts metabolic risk in young adulthood.

Objective This study was designed to examine whether family and peer relationships in adolescence predict the emergence of metabolic risk factors in young adulthood. Method Participants from a large, nationally representative cohort study (N = 11,617 for these analyses) reported on their relationship experiences with parents and close friends during adolescence. Fourteen years later, interviewers collected blood samples, as well as anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Blood samples were analyzed for HbA1c. Results Ordered logistic regressions revealed that for females, supportive parent-child relationships and close male friendships in adolescence were associated with reduced odds of having elevated metabolic risk markers in young adulthood. These effects remained significant even after controlling for baseline measures of body mass index (BMI) and health and demographic covariates. The protective effects of close relationships were not significant for males, however. Exploratory analyses with 2-parent families revealed that supportive father-child relationships were especially protective for females. Conclusions These findings suggest that, for females, close and supportive relationships with parents and male friends in adolescence may reduce the risk of metabolic dysregulation in adulthood.
Knowledge of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency among internal medicine house officers and respiratory therapists: results of a survey.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a common genetic condition that predisposes to emphysema and liver disease. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is under-recognized, so affected individuals often experience long delays in diagnosis and visits to multiple physicians before correct diagnosis. Reasoning that inadequate knowledge about alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency could contribute to this under-recognition, we designed this study to evaluate internal medicine house officers' and respiratory therapists' (RTs) knowledge of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. METHODS: We evaluated knowledge of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency with a Web-based test containing 30 multiple-choice questions. Invitations to take the test were sent via e-mail to all internal medicine house officers and RTs at The Cleveland Clinic main campus hospital. We assessed test scores by profession, years of training/experience, and self-assessed knowledge of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. RESULTS: Of 332 invitees, 202 (61%) responded, of whom 165 (50%) provided complete responses (99 RTs, 66 physicians). The mean scores (percent of correct answers) were 54% and 52% for physicians and RTs, respectively ( P = .25). The scores did not differ among the physicians when examined by subspecialty (pulmonary/critical care vs other) or post-graduate education level ( P = .94). RTs who had graduated from a 4-year respiratory therapy program had a higher mean score than those who had graduated from a 2-year program (56% vs 50%, P = .02). Respondents' whose self-assessment of their knowledge about alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency was “somewhat knowledgeable” had higher test scores than any other self-assessed knowledge level, regardless of profession. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a generally low level of knowledge about alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency among physicians and RTs. Causes of under-recognition of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, including the possibility of poor knowledge as a contributor, warrant further study.
Software Design for A Multi-function Digital-synthesized Signal Source

A monitoring program and main function software design and implementation of a multi-function digital-synthesized signal source are developed. Its key properties and its systematical composition, designs of the monitoring program and function modular program are described. The monitoring program is in accordance with display practice and process, by which the display, storage and process of preset data are provided, and input data are gradually displayed based on function setting, and operational problems caused by the complex system functions are greatly simplified by a friendly man-machine interface.
The construction of rice ideal plant type on core germplasm Lüzhenzhan 8 and its pedigree

Agronomic characters of core germplasm Luzhenzhan 8 and its pedigree grown in late-cropping season were evaluated and quality indices were tested systematically. Correlation analysis showed that yield was significantly positive correlation to seed setting rate, panicle length, flag leaf length and 2~(nd) leaf width and 3~(rd) leaf width; but significantly negative correlation to length of 2~(nd) and 3~(rd) leaf. Eating quality was significantly negative correlation to chalky grain and chalkiness and highly positive correlation to gel consistency. Principal component analysis indicated that panicle length factor had very significantly positive linear relationship to yield. Head rice factor had very significantly negative linear relationship to eating quality. Based on these studies, a ideal plant type for breeding of South-China late-cropping quality rice was constructed.
Graduate Workshop Recent Trends in Graph Drawing: Curves, Graphs, and Intersections

The Organizing Committee of GD 2015 hosted a gradate workshop, continuing the tradition of previous Symposia, focusing on open problems in graph drawing.
Resin-in-leach cyanidation of a carbonaceous gold ore

Resin-in-leach (RIL) cyanidation experiments were performed on a refractory carbonaceous gold ore. The objective of this investigation was to determine if strong-base ion exchange resins could adsorb the soluble aurocyanide complex in preference to natural “preg robbing” organic constituents. Direct cyanidation of the carbonaceous gold ore used in this study resulted in less than 2% gold extraction in 24 hr. RIL cyanidation resulted in about 70% gold recovery onto the resin. Kinetic experiments indicated that 50% of the gold is extracted after 1 hr of leaching. Resin breakage was investigated for as-received and preattrited resins. Similar results were obtained with three different strong base resins.
Quality Initiatives: Baby Steps in the Right Direction

Quality improvement requires novel, and perhaps simple, ideas for adaptation, like a lymph node kit, and the ability to objectively document benchmark upgrading.
Self-Reported Cognitive Impairment Across Racial/Ethnic Groups in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2015.

INTRODUCTION The primary objectives of this study were 1) to examine trends of self-reported cognitive impairment among 5 major racial/ethnic groups during 1997-2015 in the United States and 2) to examine differences in the trends across these groups. METHODS Data were from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The sample consisted of 155,682 people aged 60 or older. Respondents were asked to report whether any family member was "limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because of experiencing periods of confusion." Race/ethnicity categories were non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Native American, Hispanic, and Asian. We applied hierarchical age-period-cohort cross-classified random-effects models for the trend analysis. All analyses accounted for the complex survey design of NHIS. RESULTS The overall rate of self-reported cognitive impairment increased from 5.7% in 1997 to 6.7% in 2015 (P for trend <.001). Among non-Hispanic white respondents, the rate increased from 5.2% in 1997 to 6.1% in 2015 (slope = 0.14, P for trend <.001). We observed no significant trend in rate of cognitive impairment in other groups. After we controlled for covariates, we found that Asian (B = 0.31), non-Hispanic black (B = 0.37), Hispanic (B = 0.25), and Native American (B = 0.87) respondents were more likely than non-Hispanic white respondents to report cognitive impairment (P <.001 for all). CONCLUSION We found an increased rate of self-reported cognitive impairment in older adults of 5 major racial/ethnic groups from 1997 through 2015 in the United States. However, the rate of self-reported cognitive impairment was low, which may suggest underreporting. There is a need to further promote awareness of the disease among individuals, family members, and health care providers.
It's a match when green meets healthy in sustainability labeling

Abstract The environmental conscientiousness food trend is only expected to increase as consumers demand more information on the environmental and social impacts of their food purchases. Drawing from consumers' lay theories and the match-up hypothesis, this study examines the influence of the interaction between healthiness and sustainability levels on consumer product evaluations. In particular, it argues that the fit between healthiness and sustainability (both high or both low) drives consumer buying preferences as well as product perceptions. However, a general skepticism in sustainability claims moderates this effect.
Ultra-low loss Ge-free silica core fiber for submarine transmission

To expand the submarine transmission capacity, higher OSNR is important. Higher OSNR can be realized by advanced optical fibers having low transmission loss and low nonlinearity. We successfully realized the lowest transmission loss of 0.1419 dB/km at 1560 nm wavelength. It was the first time to realize a 0.14 dB/km in 50 years history of silica-based optical fiber. This epoch-making result was enabled by reducing Rayleigh scattering. In addition, microbending loss was kept low using a new soft inner coating in spite of a 147μm2 large effective area. This achievement will contribute to further expansion of submarine transmission capacity.
Treatment of hematotrachelos after dilatation and curettage. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hematotrachelos, accumulation of menstrual blood in a dilated cervix, is a rare disorder accompanying cervical stenosis. In this report, hematotrachelos was diagnosed by vaginal sonography and treated in a novel way. CASE: A 39-year-old woman with progressive hypomenorrhea following dilatation and curettage for dysfunctional uterine bleeding was diagnosed with hematotrachelos using vaginal sonography. Cervical dilatation and evacuation of the hematotrachelos were performed. A latex nasopharyngeal airway was utilized as a temporary stent and allowed drainage and maintained cervical patency. Normal menstrual flow was resumed, and the hematotrachelos did not recur. CONCLUSION: Hematotrachelos may be a rare complication of routine dilatation and curettage. The diagnosis is confirmed by transvaginal sonography. Treatment is sucessful with cervical dilatation and placement of a temporary latex nasopharyngeal airway.
Book Sharing: In-home Strategy to Advance Early Child Development Globally.

* Abbreviations: ECD — : early childhood development LMIC — : low- and middle-income countries Progress in reducing child mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) has created an opportunity to take the next step in improving children’s lives: promoting their early development. Every year, ∼249 million children, mainly from LMIC, fail to reach their developmental potential.1 Loss of developmental potential is a consequence of both biological risk factors (such as malnutrition and illness) and insufficient cognitive stimulation, and successful programs are used to address both types of risk.2,3 Social change has accelerated globally, with important implications for families who are adapting to a world that is increasingly urban and formally educated.4 Concurrently, early childhood development (ECD) has increasingly been prioritized as a means for improving not only the outcomes for individual children but also the social and economic well-being of whole societies.5 Notably, the recently ratified United Nation Sustainable Development Goals include ECD for the first time, with the ambitious target of ensuring that all children have access to quality ECD and preprimary education by 2030 so that they are ready for primary education.6 However, brain development starts well before children enter preschool,7 so to maximize effectiveness, ECD interventions need to be scalable to reach children in the first years of life and need to occur in the home where young children spend most of their time. Our goal for this commentary is to suggest that the availability of books in the home that parents or older siblings can share … Address correspondence to Barry Zuckerman, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, School of Medicine, Boston University, 72 E. Concord St, Room 324L, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail: barry.zuckerman{at}bmc.org
Origins of cancer: tackling provocative questions.

Despite the tremendous progress that scientists have made throughout the history of cancer research, there are still far too many deaths and remaining scientific questions for us to be content with our current knowledge of the disease. The eighth Origins of Cancer symposium, held July 21, 2017 at Van Andel Research Institute, was organized around the theme of “Tackling Provocative Questions” to stimulate discussion of several of these unresolved paradoxes in the field of cancer research. The symposium highlighted recent progress from the National Cancer Institute's Provocative Questions Initiative, a program that offers research support to scientists who propose innovative strategies to address one of the featured questions. Accordingly, each of our eight distinguished speakers had received funding through this Initiative or performs research that closely aligns with one of these important yet understudied questions. From microbes to biomarkers to immunotherapy, this meeting report describes the latest advancements that were presented at the symposium.
On The Relationships Among Different Voltage Unbalance Definitions

Growing penetrations of distributed energy resources (DERs) increase the power injection variability in distribution systems, which can result in power quality issues such as voltage unbalance. To measure unbalance, organizations such as IEC, NEMA and IEEE define phase unbalance in their power quality standards. However, the definitions in these different standards are not consistent, and voltages that are considered acceptable by one standard may violate good practices defined by another standard. To address this issue, this paper provides analytical comparisons of the most common voltage unbalance definitions, which are supplemented with numerical simulations. The analytical relationships suggest that it is possible to approximately bound the symmetrical-component-based voltage unbalance factor (which depends on the magnitude and relative phase angle) by limiting the line-to-line voltage unbalance, whereas applying line-to-ground voltage unbalance definitions neglects all information about phase angle offsets.
Designing Graphs for Decision-Makers

Data graphics can be a powerful aid to decision-making—if they are designed to mesh well with human vision and understanding. Perceiving data values can be more precise for some graphical types, su...
Lactoferrin: A Critical Mediator of Both Host Immune Response and Antimicrobial Activity in Response to Streptococcal Infections.

Streptococcal species are Gram-positive bacteria responsible for a variety of disease outcomes including pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, erysipelas, necrotizing fasciitis, periodontitis, skin ...
Puerto Rican Drag

Review of Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes. Translocas: The Politics of Puerto Rican Drag and Trans Performance. University of Michigan Press, 2021. 356 pages.
The Mysterious Lockstep Doctrine and the Future of Judicial Federalism in Illinois

INTRODUCTION 966 I. THE JUDICIAL FEDERALISM DEBATE 967 A. Evolution of Judicial Federalism in the United States 967 B. The Arguments in the Dependent-Independent Debate 969 II. ANALYZING THE LOCKSTEP DOCTRINE IN ILLINOIS JURISPRUDENCE 971 A. Gardner’s Hypothesized Influences over a State Court’s Decision to Accept or Reject Judicial Federalism 971 B. Does Illinois Jurisprudence Support Gardner’s Hypotheses and Observations? 974 C. Why Does Illinois Prefer a Lockstep Approach? 978 1. Theories of the Judicial Decision-making Process 978 2. Other Commonly Asserted Factors External to the Court 987 3. What Does the Illinois Supreme Court Say? 989 a. Legislative History of the Illinois Bill of Rights ........ 989 b. Major Illinois Supreme Court Cases Considering the Lockstep Doctrine Prior to Caballes 992 c. People v. Caballes 1001 III. WHERE DO THE ILLINOIS COURTS GO FROM HERE? 1003 A. Application of the “Limited Lockstep” Doctrine 1003
Normative Data from Infancy to Old Age

In infants and children there is a positive N balance associated with growth. A typical infant gains about 7 kg of fat free mass during the first two years after birth (Forbes 1987a), which is equivalent to about 1400 g protein and 230 g N, for an average N balance of about 0.3 g/d. Between the ages of 2 and 10 years, children gain an average of about 15 kg of fat free mass, or about 3 kg protein and 500 g N. The mean N balance is 0.17 g/d with such a gain. From the age of 10 until linear growth has ended, a typical girl will gain about 16 kg of fat free mass, whereas a boy will gain about twice this amount. The average N balance during this period is about 0.3 g/d, with growth ending in females sooner than it does in males. Growth occurs in spurts, so that these average daily N balances do not necessarily reflect what would be observed in an individual child at any particular point in time.
The influence of aphids (Myzus persicae) and pink lady beetle larvae (Coleomegilla maculata) on host plant preference of imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae)

Oviposition decisions by herbivorous insects hinge on multiple factors, with some of the most important being enemy-free space and competition for resources. It is important to understand whether and how herbivores and predators can influence the maternal egg-laying preference when they are alone and in combination with host plants. Here, we evaluate whether the presence of aphids (a competitor) or a lady beetle larvae (a predator) influence host plant selection by an ovipositing butterfly. Canola (Brassica napus L.) was the highest quality of three putative Brassicaceae host plants for aphids Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), while the butterfly Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) showed similar survival on all. Canola was used to determine that the presence of a competitor herbivore (aphids) had no effect on butterfly oviposition behavior. However, predators significantly influenced the number of eggs laid on the plants, especially on those plants that had both aphids and a lady beetle larva present in combination. We expect that adult female P. rapae did not lay their eggs on the treatment that involved both herbivorous competition and predation risk, due to the combined risk factors along with the volatile chemicals and aphid alarm pheromones emitted on those plants that contained both the aphids and lady beetle larva.