cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Educator's Dual Role: Expressing Ideals While Educating in Nonideal Conditions

In this essay, Jennifer Morton discusses educators as central examples of agents who engage in ideal and nonideal ways of thinking. The educator, as a representative of the political community, is tasked with two aims. The first is nurturing students with the skills and knowledge they need for the world as they will find it. In pursuing this goal, the educator is assuming certain social facts, some of them unjust, that constitute the present nonideal world. The second aim is civic — educating future citizens. Insofar as the educator is involved in pursuing this goal, his or her role is to work at making certain future social facts true, in the hope of making the future slightly more ideal. Morton argues that if we think of these two aims instrumentally, they can come into conflict. She does not suggest a resolution to this conflict, but rather develops an alternative expressive account of the civic role of the educator. Ideal thinking by educators, Morton maintains, should be thought of as constituting an expression of respect toward their fellow citizens here and now. Ultimately, she argues that this expressive component of the educator's job is crucial to the educator's role in the political community.
THE FORMATION OF BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES: THE CASE OF ABELL 407

This article begins with a general introduction to galaxy formation and evolution and ends with a discussion of the long-term spectroscopic study: The Role of Close Companions in the Formation of Brightest Cluster Galaxies and Intracluster Light. To illustrate the power, goals and aims of this larger project, preliminary data for one of the galaxy clusters in our sample is presented, Abell 407, which appears to be caught in the act of forming its Brightest Cluster Galaxy (BCG).
Internetwork competition for monomers governs actin cytoskeleton organization

Cells precisely control the formation of dynamic actin cytoskeleton networks to coordinate fundamental processes, including motility, division, endocytosis and polarization. To support these functions, actin filament networks must be assembled, maintained and disassembled at the correct time and place, and with proper filament organization and dynamics. Regulation of the extent of filament network assembly and of filament network organization has been largely attributed to the coordinated activation of actin assembly factors through signalling cascades. Here, we discuss an intriguing model in which actin monomer availability is limiting and competition between homeostatic actin cytoskeletal networks for actin monomers is an additional crucial regulatory mechanism that influences the density and size of different actin networks, thereby contributing to the organization of the cellular actin cytoskeleton.
Refinements in the Los Alamos model of the prompt fission neutron spectrum

Abstract This paper presents a number of refinements to the original Los Alamos model of the prompt fission neutron spectrum and average prompt neutron multiplicity as derived in 1982. The four refinements are due to new measurements of the spectrum and related fission observables many of which were not available in 1982. They are also due to a number of detailed studies and comparisons of the model with previous and present experimental results including not only the differential spectrum, but also integral cross sections measured in the field of the differential spectrum. The four refinements are (a) separate neutron contributions in binary fission, (b) departure from statistical equilibrium at scission, (c) fission-fragment nuclear level-density models, and (d) center-of-mass anisotropy. With these refinements, for the first time, good agreement has been obtained for both differential and integral measurements using the same Los Alamos model spectrum.
African-American Multiple Myeloma Patients Exhibit Less Bone Disease Compared to Other Racial/Ethnic Groups

Abstract 4994 Background: Bone destruction remains one of the major complications in Multiple Myeloma (MM) leading to morbidity and mortality. African-Americans have a higher incidence of MM but exhibit longer survivals compared to Caucasians. We analyzed bone involvement in a cohort of patients with MM to determine if non African American (non AA) vs. African American (AA) race predicts the presence and severity of bone disease at presentation. Methods: Clinical data was gathered on 197 (176 non AA and 21 AA) MM patients at the University of California, San Francisco. Each patient had a skeletal survey at diagnosis and identified as having 0 lytic lesions, 1–2 lytic lesions or 3 or more lytic lesions. The presence of compression fractures was also documented for each patient as was age and sex. Results: The presence of compression fractures strongly correlated with the number of lytic lesions in both the non AA and AA groups, with no compression fractures observed in the patients with zero lytic lesions (p<0.001). Among the AA group, there were fewer (6 of 15) patients with compression fractures compared with patients from the non AA group (92 of 161) (p=0.02). There was also a trend towards fewer lytic lesions among the AA group (p=0.053). No significant difference was observed between the extent of bone disease and age or sex between the two groups. Conclusions: Within this cohort of patients, there is a significantly lower rate of compression fractures among African-Americans. These data supports the idea that African-American patients present with less bone disease which confers a survival advantage compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Natural History of the Central Structural Abnormalities in Choroideremia : A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose To describe in detail the central retinal structure of a large group of patients with choroideremia (CHM). Design A prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. Participants Patients (n = 97, age 6–71 years) with CHM and subjects with normal vision (n = 44; ages 10–50 years) were included. Methods Subjects were examined with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) and near-infrared reflectance imaging. Visual acuity (VA) was measured during their encounter or obtained from recent ophthalmic examinations. Visual thresholds were measured in a subset of patients (n = 24) with automated static perimetry within the central regions (±15°) examined with SD OCT. Main Outcome Measures Visual acuity and visual thresholds; total nuclear layer, inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thicknesses; and horizontal extent of the ONL and the photoreceptor outer segment (POS) interdigitation zone (IZ). Results Earliest abnormalities in regions with normally appearing retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were the loss of the POS and ellipsoid zone associated with rod dysfunction. Transition zones (TZs) from relatively preserved retina to severe ONL thinning and inner retinal thickening moved centripetally with age. Most patients (88%) retained VAs better than 20/40 until their fifth decade of life. The VA decline coincided with migration of the TZ near the foveal center. There were outer retinal tubulations in degenerated, nonatrophic retina in the majority (69%) of patients. In general, RPE abnormalities paralleled photoreceptor degeneration, although there were regions with detectable but abnormally thin ONL co-localizing with severe RPE depigmentation and choroidal thinning. Conclusions Abnormalities of the POS and rod dysfunction are the earliest central abnormalities observed in CHM. Foveal function is relatively preserved until the fifth decade of life. Migration of the TZs to the foveal center with foveal thinning and structural disorganization heralded central VA loss. The relationships established may help outline the eligibility criteria and outcome measures for clinical trials for CHM.
Zika Virus Disease and Associated Neurologic Complications

The purpose of this article is to review what is currently known about Zika virus (ZIKV) disease and associated neurologic complications. ZIKV is a mosquito-borne or sexually transmitted flavivirus rapidly spreading throughout the Americas. While ZIKV infection is usually asymptomatic, it may cause a non-specific illness with fever, rash, myalgia, headache, and/or non-purulent conjunctivitis. Additionally, ZIKV has been associated with a number of neurologic complications including microcephaly and other birth defects, Guillain-Barre syndrome, meningoencephalitis, myelitis, and various ophthalmologic abnormalities. Treatment for ZIKV disease is supportive. Those in ZIKV endemic areas should protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors, and/or using air conditioning or window screens when indoors. Furthermore, unprotected sexual intercourse should be temporarily avoided by those who recently traveled to endemic areas. Suspected ZIKV disease cases should be reported to local, state, or territorial health departments.
Isolation and characterization of a floral homeotic gene in Fraxinus nigra causing earlier flowering and homeotic alterations in transgenic Arabidopsis

Reproductive sterility, which can be obtained by manipulating floral organ identity genes, is an important tool for gene containment of genetically engineered trees. In Arabidopsis, AGAMOUS (AG) is the only C-class gene responsible for both floral meristem determinacy and floral organ identity, and its mutations produce sterility. As a first step in an effort to develop transgenic sterile black ash (Fraxinus nigra), an AG ortholog in black ash (FnAG) was isolated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence showed a typical MIKC structure of type II plant MADS-box protein with a highly conserved MADS-domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that FnAG had a close relationship with AG orthologs from other woody species. FnAG transcript was mainly expressed in reproductive tissues, but rarely detected in the vegetative tissues, consistent with the ABC model for floral development. A functional analysis was performed by ectopic expression of FnAG driven by the CaMV 35S promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis. Transformed plants showed homeotic conversions of carpeloid sepals and stamenoid petals. Curled leaves, reduced plant size, and earlier flowering were also observed in transgenic Arabidopsis. These data indicated that the FnAG functions in the same way as AG in Arabidopsis. These results provide the framework for targeted genome editing of black ash, an ecologically and economically important wetland species.
Diversity in thermal affinity among key piscivores buffers impacts of ocean warming on predator–prey interactions

Asymmetries in responses to climate change have the potential to alter important predator-prey interactions, in part by altering the location and size of spatial refugia for prey. We evaluated the effect of ocean warming on interactions between four important piscivores and four of their prey in the U.S. Northeast Shelf by examining species overlap under historical conditions (1968-2014) and with a doubling in CO2 . Because both predator and prey shift their distributions in response to changing ocean conditions, the net impact of warming or cooling on predator-prey interactions was not determined a priori from the range extent of either predator or prey alone. For Atlantic cod, an historically dominant piscivore in the region, we found that both historical and future warming led to a decline in the proportion of prey species' range it occupied and caused a potential reduction in its ability to exert top-down control on these prey. In contrast, the potential for overlap of spiny dogfish with prey species was enhanced by warming, expanding their importance as predators in this system. In sum, the decline in the ecological role for cod that began with overfishing in this ecosystem will likely be exacerbated by warming, but this loss may be counteracted by the rise in dominance of other piscivores with contrasting thermal preferences. Functional diversity in thermal affinity within the piscivore guild may therefore buffer against the impact of warming on marine ecosystems, suggesting a novel mechanism by which diversity confers resilience.
Venous Thrombosis and Cancer: What Would Dr. Trousseau Teach Today?

The editorialists discuss the results of the van Es and colleagues' review in the historical context of Trousseau's observations about VTE and cancer 150 years ago.
Elbow Terrible Triad Injuries

Terrible triad injuries of the elbow are a combination of elbow dislocation, radial head fracture, and coronoid fracture. Ulnohumeral stabilization requires coronoid process fixation, thus beginning the reconstruction with the center of the elbow and working out. The other major components of treatment for this injury are the open reduction and internal fixation or replacement of the radial head, and repair of the lateral collateral ligamentous complex.
Dietary Interventions for Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Childhood.

Probiotics relieve pain in children with recurrent abdominal pain in the short term (number needed to treat [NNT] = 8). There is no convincing evidence that fiber supplements improve pain in children with recurrent abdominal pain.
Proposed role of gap junctional communication in retinoid-induced suppression of proliferation and inhibition of neoplastic transformation

With our increasing understanding of the molecular biology of cancer and of factors that predispose to a high risk of cancer, there seems little doubt that medical science will soon be able to achieve large decreases in the incidence of many forms of cancer through preventive means. The development of drugs with preventive potential, i.e. cancer chemopreventive agents, is therefore of high priority. The retinoids, the natural or synthetic analogs of retinoic acid, appear at present to offer the greatest potential for decreasing cancer incidence in such groups. Retinoic acid, as a locally produced hormone, produces many effects in target cells. In this review will be described effects of retinoids on gap junctional communication and the potential role of enhanced communication in decreasing proliferation of target cells and thus reducing their potential for neoplastic progression.
Hodgkin Lymphoma in the Elderly

The treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma has continued to improve, however the advances achieved in younger patients have not been replicated in elderly group affected with this disease. The reasons for this are multifactorial, and in part due to the presence of co-morbid illness, the inability to tolerate therapies which are curative in younger age cohorts, poor functional status and intrinsic biological disease characteristics which differ between the older and younger patient. As a result fewer elderly patients are entered into clinical trials, and there exists no uniform consensus as how to treat the elderly patient off trial. Because of this, urgent new therapies are required to treat the elderly patient, which still may offer the chance of long term survival whilst minimising particularly for the elderly patient, any attendant short term toxicities. This review examines the results of previous chemotherapy directed approaches, summarises the results of more recent chemotherapeutic approaches, and finally examines the encouraging recent results incorporating targeted biological approaches which may ultimately deliver improved outcomes for the elderly patient affected with this disease.
Dynamics of single-atom, single-photon trapping in cavity QED

Single atoms are trapped via strong coupling to single-photon fields in optical cavity QED. Properties of the atom-cavity interaction are explored through experimental observation of trapped-atom dynamics and lifetimes as trap parameters are systematically varied.
Robotic-Assisted Varicocelectomy

Several theories have been proposed to explain the observed pathophysiology of varicoceles. Semen quality uniformly declines in animals with induced varicoceles, even when there is only a left varicocele. The reduction in scrotal temperature after varicocele ligation supports a causative role of increased temperature on the infertility produced by varicocele. It has been hypothesized that varicoceles cause hypoxia, which might play a role in altering ­spermatogenesis in the varicocele patients. A higher frequency of sperm cells with fragmented DNA has been reported in the ejaculate of subjects with varicocele, in comparison with fertile donors, a phenomenon that might be correlated with an increase in reactive oxygen species. Numerous studies have reported the significant benefits on semen parameters with surgical treatment of varicocele. Currently, there are several surgical approaches available for the treatment of varicocele, including the retroperitoneal approach, (high ligation via open, laparoscopic, retroperitoneoscopic, single-incision laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted), the inguinal approach (open), and the subinguinal approach (open microscopic). Of these approaches, the subinguinal microscopic approach offers the best outcomes, including shorter hospital stays, preservation of the testicular arteries and lymphatics, least number of postoperative complications, recurrence, and a higher number of pregnancies. The microscopic assistance, however, takes longer time to perform due to surgeons who are unaccustomed to use microinstruments, two-dimensional vision, and inability to see their own hands.
Effects of a long-acting, trace mineral, reticulorumen bolus on range cow productivity and trace mineral profiles.

The objectives were to determine if strategic supplementation of range cows with a long-acting (6 mo), trace mineral, reticulorumen bolus containing Cu, Se, and Co would: (1) increase cow BCS and BW, and calf birth, weaning, and postweaning weights, or weight per day of age (WDA); (2) increase liver concentrations of Cu or Zn in cows, or blood Se, Cu, or Zn concentrations in cows and calves; and (3) vary by cow breed for any of these response variables. There were 192 control and 144 bolused Composite cows (C; 25% Hereford, Angus, Gelbevieh, and Senepol or Barzona); 236 control and 158 bolused Hereford (H) cows; and 208 control and 149 bolused Brahman cross (B) cows used in a 3-yr experiment. Cows were weighed and scored for body condition in January, May, and September, and all bolused cows received boluses in January. Each year, from among the 3 breed groups a subset of 15 control and 15 bolused cows (n = 90) had samples obtained in January and May for liver Cu and Zn, blood Se, and serum Cu and Zn. As for cows, blood and serum from the calves of these cows were sampled each year in May and September for Cu, Se, and Zn. There was a significant breed x year x treatment interaction (P = 0.001) for cow weight loss from January to May. CalfWDA, weaning, and postweaning weights did not differ (P > 0.40) between bolused and control cows, but there was a significant (P = 0.022) breed x year x treatment interaction for birth weight. Liver Cu was deficient ( 75 to 90 ppm) for bolused cows. Liver Cu differed by year (P 0.1 ppm) for all cows except in January 2001 and 2002. There was no difference (P > 0.50) in blood Se between treatment groups in January, but bolused cows had greater (P < 0.01) blood Se in May. Breed differences for blood Se concentrations existed for bolused cows, with B having greater (P < 0.05) blood Se than either C or H cows. Breed differences also existed for control cows, with H having less blood Se (P < 0.04) than B or C cows. Calves from bolused cows had greater blood Se than calves from control cows (P = 0.01). Supplementation via a long-acting trace mineral bolus was successful in increasing liver Cu in cows and blood Se in cows and calves, but the responses varied by year. Bolus administration had variable effects on BW change in early lactation, depending on breed and year, which may indicate the need for breed- and year-specific supplementation programs.
Globalization: Its Diverse Actors and Spaces

Across the centuries there have been a variety of translocal circuits for the mobility of people, goods, information, and capital. These circuits have varied considerably across time and space, shaped at least partly by the specific constitution of labor and capital, but also by religion and war.
The effect of beta-ecdysone on protein synthesis in imaginal discs of Drosophila melanogaster cultured in vitro.

Abstract β-Ecdysone increases the rate of incorporation of 3 H-leucine into protein in imaginal discs of Drosophila melanogaster cultured in vitro . An analysis of the rate of turnover of newly synthesized protein and the specific activity of free 3 H-leucine in discs exposed and not exposed to β-ecdysone indicates that the increased incorporation of 3 H-leucine results from an increase in protein synthesis. The concentration of free intracellular leucine in discs is found to be predominantly regulated by the rate of transport of leucine into discs and the rate of removal by protein synthesis. The increased level of protein synthesis induced by β-ecdysone is maintained following removal of the hormone from the culture medium. The available evidence indicates that β-ecdysone acts on the genome of disc cells to bring about the increased rate of protein synthesis.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Income-Based Tax Regressivity of State-Sponsored Lotteries:

Government-sponsored lotteries have been criticized for disproportionately generating revenues from lower-income consumers. Prior academic research on this aspect of government-sponsored lotteries ...
Characterization of Size-Segregated Soot from Pine Wood Pyrolysis in a Drop Tube Furnace at 1300 °C

This study deploys a Dekati low-pressure impactor (DLPI) to separate soot from pyrolysis of pine wood in a drop tube furnace at 1300 °C according to its aerodynamic diameter for subsequent characterization. Under the experimental conditions, it was determined that the total amount of pine wood fed into the reactor must be 150 mg or less for effective soot separation without overloading the DLPI. The result shows that the carbonaceous materials with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm (CM10) from pine wood pyrolysis have a unimodal distribution with a fine mode of 0.077 μm. The carbonaceous materials with aerodynamic diameters between 1 and 10 μm (CM1–10) are primarily char fragments but only account for 98% of the CM10 and is soot. Further analysis shows that the key elements present in soot (i.e., CM1) are Na, K, and Cl because of the condensation of these inorganic species during the cooling of flue gas or as the result from the...
Optimal use of antiplatelet agents, especially aspirin, in the perioperative management of colorectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection.

Laparoscopic abdominal surgery is considered superior to open surgery. However, efficacy and safety outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear, particularly in patients undergoing antiplatelet therapy (APT). The aim of this study was to evaluate safety of antiplatelet agents, especially aspirin, in peri-operative management of patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection for CRC. A total of 578 radical laparoscopic colorectal surgeries in CRC patients performed between January 2005 and December 2015 at the Kokura Memorial Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups based on the risk for thromboembolism: a high-risk group receiving APT (APT-HR), a low-risk group receiving APT (APT-LR), and a low-risk group not receiving APT (non-APT). Bleeding complications (BC) and thromboembolic complications (TC) were assessed. Perioperative and outcome variables in groups receiving APT were compared with those in the non-APT group. APT-HR, APT-LR, and non-APT groups included 54 (9.3%), 114 (19.7%), and 410 (70.9%) patients, respectively. Blood loss during operation (p = 0.304), operative time (p = 0.956), hospitalisation after surgery (p = 0.307), and Clavien–Dindo classification of surgery-related complications (p = 0.467) were not significantly different in the three groups. Occurrence of intra-operative BC (blood loss ≥ 200 ml) (p = 0.864), post-operative BC (p = 0.630), and TC (p = 0.287) were also not significantly different in the three groups. Results of our analysis indicated that APT and non-interrupted APT were not associated with BC or TC. Analysis of laparoscopic colorectal resection in CRC showed that APT was not a major factor for fatal BC or TC. In patients with high thromboembolic risk, continuing aspirin may inhibit the increase in TC without increasing BC in the peri-operative period.
Negative urgency and ad-libitum smoking topography.

Abstract Background Negative urgency (NU), the tendency to act rashly in response to distress, is associated with negative reinforcement smoking expectancies. The study examined whether NU was associated with behavioral smoking reinforcement in the context of self-reported distress. Method Non-treatment seeking daily smokers (n = 124) completed an ad-libitum smoking trial. Puff topography, including puff volume, duration, velocity, and inter-puff interval, was averaged across the cigarette and evaluated at the puff level. Results Multilevel models revealed a significant interaction of NU and distress as reported on the Subjective Units of Distress scale over the course of smoking in relation to puff duration and inter-puff interval. There was a significant effect of quadratic time x NU x distress on duration (b=-0.00004, p = 0.04). Smokers lower in NU reporting lower baseline distress evidenced a puff duration that decreased at a faster rate over the course of a cigarette following a quadratic function. Persistently elevated puff durations over the course of a cigarette were observed among smokers with elevated NU, regardless of basal distress. There was also a linear time x NU x distress interaction on inter-puff interval (b=-0.01, p = 0.04). Lower NU smokers, regardless of acute distress, exhibited increasing inter-puff intervals that stabilized over the course of a cigarette. Smokers with elevated NU in the context of low distress also demonstrated linearly increasing inter-puff intervals, while they demonstrated increasing intervals followed by decreasing intervals in the context of higher distress. Discussion Trait NU in the context of acute distress may contribute to differences in puff topography.
Subjective social status and stress responsivity in late adolescence.

AbstractSubjective social status (SSS) reflects one’s perception of one’s standing within society. SSS has been linked with health outcomes, over and above socioeconomic status, and is thought to i...
Sudden Vision Loss

Sudden visual loss, whether unilateral or bilateral, is an ophthalmic emergency that necessitates a history including the patient’s age, time course, laterality, character of the symptoms, associated symptoms, prior ocular history, and concurrent medical conditions. Age is a critical component of the history – one of the most important entities, GCA (giant cell arteritis), is extremely rare under age 50, while optic neuritis associated with demyelinating disease usually presents before age 35. Clarifying the time course is of paramount importance: the meaning of the word “sudden” can vary greatly – from fractions of a second to weeks. The more acute the presentation, the greater the urgency of potential intervention that can prevent progression of disease and/or restore vision. Persistent severe sudden visual loss most commonly results from retinal or optic nerve infarction, retinal detachment (RD), or intraocular hemorrhage. Monocular and transient visual loss is most commonly caused by carotid artery and cardiac disease, migraine auras, intermittent angle closure with resultant intraocular pressure increase, and GCA.
Evaluation of FDA Boxed Warning on Prescribing Patterns of Fluoroquinolones for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections

Background: Little is known regarding the impact of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) boxed warning on prescribing rates of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics in the outpatient setting. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the 2016 FDA boxed warning update on FQ prescribing rates for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI). Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at 6 family medicine practices, including women aged 18 to 65 years with an outpatient visit for uUTI from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. Results: A total of 436 patients met inclusion. FQs were prescribed in 38% of patients before the FDA boxed warning and in 30% of patients after (8% reduction). Non-FQ prescribing had a corresponding 8% increase, comprising 62% of uUTI prescribing before the FDA boxed warning and 70% after (P = 0.08). The likelihood of being prescribed a FQ was not significantly different following release of the FDA boxed warning (adjusted odds ratio = 0.67 [95% CI = 0.41-1.10]). Variables significantly associated with an increase in FQ prescribing based on logistic regression were age ≥58 years and chronic kidney disease. Concordance of antibiotic prescribing with the Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines for uUTI was low, and the incidence of treatment failure was low. Conclusion and Relevance: The 2016 FDA boxed warning was not significantly associated with decreased FQ prescribing for uUTI across a large academic family medicine practice. Methods to improve education and disseminate FDA warnings in practice are needed.
What Drives Dispute Resolution in Global Multilateral Organizations?An Analysis of the WTO 1995-2011

What drives dispute resolution in the World Trade Organization (WTO)? We examine how conflict framing and multilateral leadership may influence trade dispute settlement in the WTO. Building on the ...
Spillover Effects: Communication Involved with Dissolved Workplace Romances

This study adds to the understanding of relationships and communication in organizations by studying how and why workplace romances fail – a unique situation given that former romantic partners lik...
Sleep quality is associated with psychosocial functioning and health‐related quality of life in pediatric transplant recipients

This study examined patient-reported sleep quality in a single-center cross-sectional sample of adolescents with solid organ transplants and evaluated associations between sleep quality, psychosocial functioning (ie, depression/anxiety symptoms), and HRQOL. Health disparities associated with minority race/ethnicity and socioeconomic variables were also examined. Sixty-nine adolescents (M = 16.51 years; SD = 1.63) who received a solid organ transplant (kidney: n = 25; liver: n = 24; heart: n = 20) completed self-report measures of sleep quality, psychosocial functioning, and HRQOL. Adolescent transplant recipients endorsed significantly lower levels of sleep quality (ie, falling asleep) compared with previously published norms of healthy peers (t = -3.60; P ≤ .001). Higher sleep quality was significantly associated with fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms (r = -.31 to -.40), and higher physical and psychosocial HRQOL (r = .33-.43). Adolescents from minority backgrounds had significantly worse sleep quality compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Adolescent transplant recipients, particularly those from minority backgrounds, may be at increased risk for experiencing poor sleep quality. Suboptimal sleep is a risk factor for higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as lower levels of physical and psychosocial HRQOL. Sleep is an important modifiable factor that, if improved, may contribute to lower anxiety/depressive symptoms and better HRQOL in adolescent transplant recipients.
Crystalline phase transitions and vibrational spectra of silicon up to multiterapascal pressures

A composite high-pressure phase diagram for silicon has been predicted for up to 4 TPa. This diagram has been built using a combination of evolutionary algorithm-based structure searches, electronic density functional theory, lattice dynamics of perfect crystals, and anharmonic corrections for the solid state in conjunction with molecular dynamics for evaluating the melt curve. The anharmonic corrections to free energy, arising from both finite-temperature multiphonon interactions and temperature dependence of the lattice axial ratios, play a critical role in properly identifying the solid-solid transition boundaries of the orthorhombic structures. A double hexagonal close-packed structure has been found to be thermodynamically and dynamically stable, sandwiched between the experimentally observed base-centered orthorhombic and hexagonal close-packed structures. In addition, beyond 2.8 TPa, there exists a sequence of face-centered cubic-to-body-centered cubic-to-simple cubic transitions that are accompanied by the localization of electrons in the interstitial spaces between the ions. Supplementing the structural calculations, second- and third-order interatomic force constants were evaluated to compute the phonon vibration modes and linewidths, respectively. This allowed an elaborate analysis of the Raman and infrared spectra for all of the structures of silicon identified so far.
Substance use prevention research funded by the NIH.

Abstract Background Substance use is a leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides public funding to advance understanding on the causes of substance use disorders and apply that knowledge to improve public health through research that develops new and improved strategies to prevent substance use. The purpose of this study was to characterize substance use prevention research funded by the NIH. Methods Leveraging a dataset of NIH-funded prevention research, we identified grants studying substance use during 2012–2017. We coded the substances and types of prevention research studied in these grants. We generated descriptive statistics and estimated trends using weighted data representing the entire NIH substance use prevention research portfolio. Results Approximately 2.4% of all NIH research awards focused on substance use prevention during 2012–2017, with most focused on Epidemiologic Research. Alcohol and Nicotine were the top two substance categories studied. Marijuana prevention research showed a significant upward trend in funding over time (p = 0.002). Among studies of College Students and Military/Veterans, over three-quarters focused on Alcohol. Studies of Pregnant/Port-partum Women mostly focused on Nicotine. Conclusions While substance use is a leading cause for morbidity and mortality, substance use prevention grants comprised a small portion of NIH’s research portfolio during 2012–2017. These grants demonstrated breadth in the substances studied and the types of prevention research. Opportunities for further study are discussed.
B-value and empirical equivalence bound: A new procedure of hypothesis testing

In this study, we propose a two-stage procedure for hypothesis testing, where the first stage is conventional hypothesis testing and the second is an equivalence testing procedure using an introduced Empirical Equivalence Bound. In 2016, the American Statistical Association released a policy statement on P-values to clarify the proper use and interpretation in response to the criticism of reproducibility and replicability in scientific findings. A recent solution to improve reproducibility and transparency in statistical hypothesis testing is to integrate P-values (or confidence intervals) with practical or scientific significance. Similar ideas have been proposed via the equivalence test, where the goal is to infer equality under a presumption (null) of inequality of parameters. However, in these testing procedures, the definition of scientific significance/equivalence can be subjective. To circumvent this drawback, we introduce a B-value and the Empirical Equivalence Bound, which are both estimated from the data. Performing a second-stage equivalence test, our procedure offers an opportunity to correct for false positive discoveries and improve the reproducibility in findings across studies.
Data-Driven Defense Through Leakage Minimization

In Part I of this book, we presented data-driven attack models capable of breaching the confidentiality of the system. In this form of attacks, attackers utilize the side-channels (such as acoustics, power, electromagnetic emissions, and so on) in the physical domain to estimate and steal cyber-domain data (such as G/M-codes). Since these emissions depend on the physical structure of the system, one way to minimize the information leakage is to modify the physical domain. However, this process can be costly due to added hardware modification. Instead, in this chapter we present a novel methodology that allows the cyber-domain tools [such as computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)] to be aware of the existing information leakage. We will demonstrate how by changing either machine process or product design parameters in the cyber-domain, we can minimize the information leakage. The methodology presented in this chapter aids the existing cyber-domain and physical domain security solution by utilizing the cross-domain relationship.
Standing on the Shoulders of Guardians: Novel Methodologies to Combat Fake News

Fake news can signifiFake news and misinformation are one of the most pressing issues of modern society. In fighting against fake news, many fact-checking systems such as human-based fact-checking sites (e.g., snopes.com and politifact.com) and automatic detection systems have been developed in recent years. However, online users still keep sharing fake news even when it has been debunked. It means that early fake news detection may be insufficient and we need complementary approaches to mitigate the spread of misinformation. In this chapter, we introduce novel methods to intervene the spread of fake news and misinformation. In particular, we (1) leverage online users named guardians, who cite fact-checking sites as credible evidences to fact-check information in public discourse, (2) propose two novel frameworks – the first one is a recommender system to personalize factchecking articles1 and the second one is a text generation framework2 to generate responses with fact-checking intention. Both frameworks are designed to increase the guardians’ engagement in fact-checking activities. Experimental results showed that our recommender system improves competitive baselines significantly by 10~20%, and the text generation framework is able to generate relevant responses and outperforms state-of-the-art models by achieving up to 30% improvement. Our qualitative study also confirms that the superiority of our generated responses compared with responses generated from the existing models.cantly misinform people who often rely on online sources and social media for their information. Current research on fake news detection has mostly focused on analyzing fake news content and how it propagates on a network of users. In this paper, we emphasize the detection of fake news by assessing its credibility. By analyzing public fake news data, we show that information on news sources (and authors) can be a strong indicator of credibility. Our findings suggest that an author’s history of association with fake news, and the number of authors of a news article, can play a significant role in detecting fake news. Our approach can help improve traditional fake news detection methods, wherein content features are often used to detect fake news.
Potential implications of six American Indian patients with myopathy, statin exposure and anti-HMGCR antibodies.

Objectives Statin-associated autoimmune myopathy is a rare condition associated with the formation of autoantibodies to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. Underlying environmental and genetic risk factors remain poorly understood. American Indians have high rates of cardiovascular disease and associated co-morbidities that require lipid-lowering therapies. We observed this autoimmune myopathy in a series of American Indian statin users in rural Arizona. Methods We reviewed the charts of six American Indian patients with statin-associated autoimmune myopathy. We provide an illustrative case in addition to summaries of clinical presentations and treatment courses. Results This is the first report of statin-associated autoimmune myopathy in American Indians. These cases were all identified at the same geographically isolated hospital that exclusively serves an American Indian population with only 1800 statin users. There is relatively low migration. Each case was consistent with the previously described classical presentations for the disease. All six of our cases had diabetes and developed myopathy on high-dose atorvastatin, often with a recent change in statin type or dose. Conclusion Providers serving American Indians need to be aware of the possibility of statin-associated autoimmune myopathy and familiar with its presentation. Larger, inclusive, population-based investigations are needed to elucidate risk factors for this condition, in particular the potential interactions between predisposing HLA alleles, diabetes and specific statin exposures. This is necessary to identify effective and safe lipid-lowering medications.
“Finding the Balance”: A Qualitative Study of the Experience of Nurses and Patients with Diabetes on an Insulin Pump in the Hospital:

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore experiences of hospitalized patients as they transition insulin pump self-management from home to hospital and the experience of nurses caring for th...
Climate Shock and Domestic Violence

In this paper, we study the causal relationship between rainfall shock and incidence of domestic violence using the nationally representative India Human Development Survey (IHDS) and annual rainfall data. We find that rainfall reduces the incidence of domestic violence in rural India by about one-third. Specifically, married women in Indian agrarian households are 33% less likely to face domestic violence in a wet shock district than in a district affected by drought. This result supports the notion that domestic violence is largely associated with negative household income shocks and is robust to alternative drought and domestic violence indicators.
Selective laser melting of MoSiBTiC alloy with plasma-spheroidized powder: Microstructure and mechanical property

Abstract Spherical MoSiBTiC alloy powder with little internal gas pores and cracks was successfully fabricated using plasma-spheroidization method. This powder fabrication process significantly decreased the oxygen content of the raw crushed powder. Then, MoSiBTiC alloy samples were fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM) with the plasma-spheroidized powder, and the microstructural characteristics and mechanical property were investigated. The as-built MoSiBTiC alloy exhibited a bimodal microstructure; the microstructure inside the melt pool (MP) was different from that at a melt pool boundary (MPB). The microstructure inside the MP consisted of primary Mo solid solution (Moss) dendrites, and other constituent phases, such as Mo5SiB2 (T2) phase, were formed at the inter-dendritic regions. On the other hand, (Ti,Mo)C precipitates around the Moss dendrites were preferentially coarsened at the MPB, forming a heat affected zone (HAZ) at the underside within the MPB. At the upside within the MPB, the microstructure of the previous layer was partially remelted, and ternary eutectic lamellar structure (Moss/T2/(Mo,Ti)2C) was newly formed. The as-built samples were subsequently subjected to heat treatment at different temperatures of 1600, 1700, and 1800 °C for 4 h. With increasing in the heat-treatment temperature, the Moss dendritic microstructure decomposed, and other constituent phases were coarsened at the inter-dendritic regions. Through a detail microstructural characterization of both the as-built and heat-treated samples, it was confirmed that any large oxide was not formed in this study. Rapid solidification via SLM resulted in the refinement of microstructure and the formation of a supersaturated Moss phase, which hardened the as-built sample but simultaneously decreased the crack resistance of the Moss phase.
Isolation Metrics for Single-Channel and Multi-Channel Simultaneous Transmit and Receive Systems

Isolation is an important characteristic of simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) systems. This paper provides a formal definition for two different isolation metrics and shows that the common electronic isolation metric suffers from several significant limitations: it fails to fully account for all antenna effects and it loses physical meaning when applied to multichannel phased array systems. An alternate metric effective isotropic isolation is valid for both single-channel and multichannel systems and offers a more complete measurement of total system isolation.
Why Are No Animal Communication Systems Simple Languages

Individuals of some animal species have been taught simple versions of human language despite their natural communication systems failing to rise to the level of a simple language. How is it, then, that some animals can master a version of language, yet none of them deploy this capacity in their own communication system? I first examine the key design features that are often used to evaluate language-like properties of natural animal communication systems. I then consider one candidate animal system, bird song, because it has several of the key design features or their precursors, including social learning and cultural transmission of their vocal signals. I conclude that although bird song communication is nuanced and complex, and has the acoustic potential for productivity, it is not productive - it cannot be used to say many different things. Finally, I discuss the debate over whether animal communication should be viewed as a cooperative information transmission process, as we typically view human language, or as a competitive process where signaler and receiver vie for control. The debate points to a necessary condition for the evolution of a simple language that has generally been overlooked: the degree of to which the interests of the signaler and receiver align. While strong cognitive and signal production mechanisms are necessary pre-adaptations for a simple language, they are not sufficient. Also necessary is the existence of identical or near-identical interests of signaler and receiver and a socio-ecology that requires high-level cooperation across a range of contexts. In the case of our hominid ancestors, these contexts included hunting, gathering, child care and, perhaps, warfare. I argue that the key condition for the evolution of human language was the extreme interdependency that existed among unrelated individuals in the hunter-gatherer societies of our hominid ancestors. This extreme interdependency produced multiple prosocial adaptations for effective intragroup cooperation, which in partnership with advanced cognitive abilities, set the stage for the evolution of language.