cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceived discrimination in addiction recovery: Assessing the prevalence, nature, and correlates using a novel measure in a U.S. National sample.

Abstract Background Alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems are among the most stigmatized conditions globally diminishing help-seeking due to fear of discrimination. Discrimination is common also among people already in AOD recovery, but little is known about the prevalence and nature of perceived discrimination. Greater knowledge would inform treatment and policy. Method Nationally representative cross-sectional sample of U.S. adults who reported resolving an AOD problem (final weighted sample n = 2002). Participants were asked, “Since resolving your problem with alcohol or drugs, how frequently have the following occurred because someone knew about your alcohol or drug history?”. Measures Item response models yielded two types of discrimination: 1. Micro discrimination (personal slights) 2. Macro discrimination (violations of personal rights); psychological distress, quality of life, and recovery capital. Results About one quarter of participants reported some type of micro discrimination (e.g., held to a higher standard) with slightly less reporting a violation of personal rights (e.g., couldn’t get a job). After adjusting for addiction severity and years since problem resolution, greater micro and macro discrimination were associated with higher psychological distress ( β = .45, 95% CI = .35,.55 and β = .59, 95% CI = .45,.73), lower quality of life ( β =-.41, 95% CI=-.57,-.26 and β =-.49, 95% CI=-.76,-.21) and recovery capital ( β =-.33, 95% CI=-.54,-.12 and β =-.68, 95% CI=-.97,-.40) respectively. Conclusions Despite being in recovery, different types of discrimination are experienced. These are associated with increased distress, and lower quality of life and recovery capital. Prospective studies are needed to help clarify the exact nature and impact of such discrimination on AOD problem recurrence.
Assessing the Quality of Primary Care Provided to an Indigent Population as it Relates to Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk

The purpose was to evaluate the quality of primary care services provided to those presenting at a free clinic. The indigent may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.This study employed a prospective design. Data were collected for 109 participants. Clients found the quality of care provided to be very good. Although statistically significant changes did not occur between outcomes over time, significant correlations were found between body mass index, blood pressure and glycohemoglobin. These modifiable risk factors may be affected by the provision of quality primary care services provided at free clinics, but are influenced by a variety of confounding variables. This study has led to a variety of conclusions and implications for nursing practice. Nurses play a key role in the provision of quality primary care. By fostering decreased cardiovascular risk, nursing professionals can significantly improve the health status of the indigent and possibly minimize disparities.
Improvement in balance, strength, and flexibility after 12 weeks of Tai chi exercise in ethnic Chinese adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Context Declines in physical performance are associated with aging and chronic health conditions. Appropriate physical activity interventions can reverse functional limitations and help maintain independent living. Tai chi is a popular form of exercise in China among older adults. Objective To determine whether tai chi improves balance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility over time. Design Repeated measures intervention; data collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Setting Community center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants Thirty-nine Chinese adults with at least 1 cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. Interventions A 60-minute tai chi exercise class 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures A battery of physical fitness measures specifically developed for older adults assessed balance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. Results Subjects were 65.7 (+/- 8.3) years old, Cantonese-speaking (97%) immigrants, with 12 years or less of formal education (87%) and very low income (67%). Reported CVD risk factors were hypertension (92%), hypercholesteremia (49%), diabetes (21%), and 1 current smoker. Subjects were below the 50th percentile of fitness at baseline compared to age- and gender-specific normative US data. Statistically significant improvements were observed in all balance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility measures after 6 weeks, and they increased further after 12 weeks. Conclusions Tai chi is a potent intervention that improved balance, upper- and lower-body muscular strength and endurance, and upper- and lower-body flexibility in these older Chinese adults. These findings provide important information for future community-based tai chi exercise programs and support current public health initiatives to reduce disability from chronic health conditions and enhance physical function in older adults.
CHAPTER 4 – Infinite Games

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses infinite games. In real-life situations, there are numerous cases in which each player has a continuum of options. Such instances are often encountered in economics. The state of the economy that an economic agent or, more accurately, a group of economic agents, can change is usually described as a continuum of variables. Therefore, it is necessary to consider infinite games and to work out their probabilistic extensions. The chapter present an introduction of a proof of a theorem of existence of solutions in infinite games. This theorem can also be used to show the existence of solutions in finite games. It is an important theorem because in applying game theory to economics, cases in which each player has an infinite number of strategies are often encountered.
The mandible-C2 angle: a new radiographic assessment of occipitocervical alignment

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT Occipitocervical fusion is a rare and often challenging surgical procedure. Significant morbidity can result if care is not taken to achieve physiologic alignment. This is especially true for patients needing occipitocervical fusion in the setting of trauma where preoperative alignment is unknown. PURPOSE To assess the radiographic angles normally subtended between the C2 body and the mandible ramus, in a series of patients with neutral physiologic alignment and no pathology, and to assess its validity as a possible intraoperative radiographic tool to determine a neutral craniocervical alignment. DESIGN Validation and reliability study of radiographic parameters. PATIENT SAMPLE Hundred lateral, neutral, cervical radiographs from patients with “normal” radiographic findings. OUTCOME MEASURES Radiographic parameters of occipital-cervical alignment with assessment of reliability and correlation in data. METHODS One hundred neutral lateral cervical spine radiographs in the upright position of patients with no complaints or known pathology were obtained from two medical clinics between December of 2014 and January of 2017. Three physicians, at different levels of spine surgery training, took measurements of radiographic parameters. The new technique used four different angles measured between the C2-body/dens complex and the mandibular ramus (anterior/posterior C2 body and anterior/posterior mandible lines angles), and compared these with the Occipito-C2 angle, which is a validated assessment of occipitocervical alignment. Statistical analysis was performed to assess correlation in data and measure reproducibility. RESULTS Between the three reviewers, the mean±standard deviation were 18.0°±6.5° for Occipito-C2 angle (O-C2A), −4.2°±5.4° for anterior C2-body/anterior mandible line angle (AB/AM), −4.2°±5.9° for anterior C2-body/posterior mandible line angle (AB/PM), 5.1°±5.8° for posterior C2 body/anterior mandible line angle (PB/AM) and 5.6°±6.2° for posterior C2 body/ posterior mandible line angle (PB/PM). Overall the measurements obtained were correlative with an appropriate range for the standard deviation. Mean intraclass correlation coefficient were 0.889 for O-C2A, 0.795 for AB/AM, 0.859 for AB/PM, 0.876 for PB/AM, and 0.750 for PB/PM, showing high interobserver reliability for all the radiographic measures. Across the five techniques, 87%–92% of measurements fell within 10° of the median, 76%–83% fell within 7.5°, and 55%–66% within 5°. CONCLUSIONS The mandible-C2 angle offers a reproducible alternative to the validated O-C2A technique for determining appropriate intraoperative occipitocervical alignment, which may be especially useful when preoperative radiographic alignment is unknown, such as occurs with trauma patients, with the goal of decreasing alignment-related complications in the setting of occipitocervical stabilization.
Envisioning a future: Values clarification in early recovery from opioid use disorder.

Abstract High rates of relapse and overdose during early recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) highlight the importance of providing effective treatment during this crucial phase. While early treatment often focuses on managing urges and withdrawal symptoms, eliciting personally salient motivators may help to target predictors of treatment outcomes such as motivation and self-efficacy. This experimental study examined the effect of a brief values clarification exercise on motivation and self-efficacy for abstinence in a sample of n = 93 individuals in brief residential treatment for OUD. Participants were randomly assigned to values clarification or a time management control condition exercise. Self-efficacy for abstinence as measured by a validated single-item measure was higher for participants in the values condition (M = 8.7) compared to control (M = 7.8, p = .013), while motivation for abstinence as measured by the commitment to sobriety scale was similarly high for both the values clarification (M = 28.0) and control (M = 27.8, p = .642) groups. There were no group differences in delay discounting, the theorized mediator of these relationships. Taken together, these results suggest that even a brief values clarification exercise may increase self-efficacy for abstinence when added to early residential treatment for OUD.
The impact of time at work and time off from work on rule compliance: : The case of hand hygiene in health care.

To deliver high-quality, reliable, and consistent services safely, organizations develop professional standards. Despite the communication and reinforcement of these standards, they are often not followed consistently. Although previous research suggests that high job demands are associated with declines in compliance over lengthy intervals, we hypothesized-drawing on theoretical arguments focused on fatigue and depletion-that the impact of job demands on routine compliance with professional standards might accumulate much more quickly. To test this hypothesis, we studied a problem that represents one of the most significant compliance challenges in health care today: hand hygiene. Using longitudinal field observations of over 4,157 caregivers working in 35 different hospitals and experiencing more than 13.7 million hand hygiene opportunities, we found that hand hygiene compliance rates dropped by a regression-estimated 8.7 percentage points on average from the beginning to the end of a typical 12-hr work shift. This decline in compliance was magnified by increased work intensity. Further, longer breaks between work shifts increased subsequent compliance rates, and such benefits were greater for individuals when they had ended their preceding shift with a lower compliance rate. In addition, (a) the decline in compliance over the course of a work shift and (b) the improvement in compliance following a longer break increased as individuals accumulated more total work hours the preceding week. The implications of these findings for patient safety and job design are discussed.
CRISPR-SE: a brute force search engine for CRISPR design

CRISPR is a revolutionary genome-editing tool that has been broadly used and integrated within novel biotechnologies. A major component of existing CRISPR design tools is the search engines that find the off-targets up to a predefined number of mismatches. Many CRISPR design tools adapted sequence alignment tools as the search engines to speed up the process. These commonly used alignment tools include BLAST, BLAT, Bowtie, Bowtie2 and BWA. Alignment tools use heuristic algorithm to align large amount of sequences with high performance. However, due to the seed-and-extend algorithms implemented in the sequence alignment tools, these methods are likely to provide incomplete off-targets information for ultra-short sequences, such as 20-bp guide RNAs (gRNA). An incomplete list of off-targets sites may lead to erroneous CRISPR design. To address this problem, we derived four sets of gRNAs to evaluate the accuracy of existing search engines; further, we introduce a search engine, namely CRISPR-SE. CRISPR-SE is an accurate and fast search engine using a brute force approach. In CRISPR-SE, all gRNAs are virtually compared with query gRNA, therefore, the accuracies are guaranteed. We performed the accuracy benchmark with multiple search engines. The results show that as expected, alignment tools reported an incomplete and varied list of off-target sites. CRISPR-SE performs well in both accuracy and speed. CRISPR-SE will improve the quality of CRISPR design as an accurate high-performance search engine.
A reduced mechanism with optimal rate-kinetics parameters for liquid-phase decomposition of bis(triaminoguanidinium) 5,5'-azotetrazolate (TAGzT): Quantum chemical calculations, thermolysis experiments and kinetic modeling

Abstract The development of reaction mechanisms is one of the crucial steps in formulating combustion models. In this study, quantum chemical calculations were performed to develop a detailed reaction mechanism for liquid-phase decomposition of bis(triaminoguanidinium) 5,5′-azotetrazolate (TAGzT). The developed mechanism has 495 elementary reactions and 355 species. Simultaneous thermal analysis experiments were also performed at three different heating rates: 5, 10, and 15 °C/min using a coupled TGA/DSC-FTIR system. The experimentally obtained mass loss and species evolution profiles were used to validate and optimize the developed mechanism. Due to a large number of elementary reactions and species in the detailed mechanism, its use in a combustion model becomes computationally challenging. Therefore, the detailed mechanism was reduced by identifying and removing elementary reactions whose rate-of-progress remained low throughout the decomposition process. The reduced mechanism has 90 elementary reactions and 70 species. The analysis leads to the conclusion that TAGzT decomposition occurs in two steps – 1) anion decomposition and 2) cation decomposition. The anionic part primarily decomposes via a single pathway, whereas the cationic part decomposes via five competing pathways. The experimentally observed rapid decomposition behavior of TAGzT is due to its highly exothermic decomposition pathways and the autocatalytic effects of HCN, CN−, and cyanamide on the decomposition process. The major residual products of TAGzT decomposition are identified as formoguanamine and melamine.
Observations of Acoustic Interruptions Versus Ambient Sound Levels With Perceived Sleep Quality During Critical Illness

ICUs are loud and there is an association between ambient sound and worsened sleep quality. In contrast to ambient sound, short acoustic interruptions or sound spikes-for example, brief alarm tones-cause arousal from sleep in healthy patients, but remain understudied in critically ill patients, despite the observed frequency of ICU alarms. We collected greater than 2.3 million values of ambient sound (every second) among 14 patients in the ICU over a median of two nights (interquartile range, 1-2) each. We identified brief acoustic interruptions/sound spikes-increases of greater than or equal to 20 dB above ambient-over 1 second. Patients experienced a median of five interruptions greater than or equal to 20 dB (interquartile range, 2-12) per night. Each interruption was associated with a 1-point decrease in patient reported quality of sleep, as assessed by the Richards Campbell Sleep Questionnaire. Our observations suggest a possible relationship between acoustic interruptions and worsened perceived sleep.
Association between level of care and colonization with resistant gram-negative bacteria among nursing-home residents.

In this cross-sectional study, we examined the relationship between resident level of care in the nursing home and colonization with resistant gram-negative bacteria. Residential-care residents were more likely to be colonized with resistant gram-negative bacteria than were postacute care residents (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.40–3.80; P < .001).
Cell-free synthetic biochemistry upgrading of ethanol to 1,3 butanediol.

It is now possible to efficiently fix flue gas CO/CO2 into ethanol using acetogens, thereby making carbon negative ethanol. While the ethanol could be burned as a fuel, returning the CO2 to the atmosphere, it might also be possible to use the fixed carbon in more diverse chemicals, thereby keeping it fixed. Here we describe a simple synthetic biochemistry approach for converting carbon negative ethanol into the synthetic building block chemical 1,3 butanediol (1,3-BDO). The pathway completely conserves carbon from ethanol and can ultimately be powered electrochemically via formate oxidation. Our proof-of-principle system reached a maximum productivity of 0.16 g/L/h and, with replenishment of feedstock and enzymes, achieved a titer of 7.7 g/L. We identify a number of elements that can be addressed in future work to improve both cell-free and cell-based production of 1,3-BDO.
Predictors of mortality in COVID 19 associated respiratory failure among predominantly African American patients

Rationale:Patients with COVID-19 frequently develop severe respiratory disease and may require invasive mechanical ventilation. A study of primarily white patients intubated for COVID-19 associated respiratory failure found predictors of 28-day mortality to be respiratory system compliance, age, tidal volume, arterial pH and heart rate. Little is known about the outcomes of minority populations with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Therefore, we present an analysis of the predictors of mortality in a group of primarily African American patients with COVID-19 associated respiratory failure. Methods:All adult patients admitted to the University of Chicago COVID-19 intensive care unit receiving invasive mechanical ventilation between March 1st and June 31st, 2020 were identified. Patients were included in the study if they had at least one recorded measure of plateau airway pressure while receiving volume-controlled ventilation allowing determination of driving pressure and lung compliance. Univariable analysis was conducted comparing survivors with those who died in-hospital followed by construction of a multivariable logistic regression model predicting in-hospital mortality based on significant factors from univariable analysis, excluding colinear variables. Results:Eighty-five patients were included in this retrospective study. Patients were primarily African American (n=73, 86%). Among all study patients, median tidal volume was 6.0 cc/kg ideal body weight (IQR 5.8-6.2), PEEP was 8 cm H2O (IQR 5.0-10), and driving pressure was 14 cm H2O (IQR 11-16). Median respiratory system compliance was 27 ml/cm H2O (IQR 21-34). Salvage therapies for refractory hypoxemia in the cohort included prone positioning (27%), paralysis (27%), inhaled pulmonary vasodilators (19%), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (1%). In the multivariable logistic regression model, age (OR 1.077, 95% CI 1.031 to 1.125, p=0.001) and driving pressure (OR 1.174, 95% CI 1.009 to 1.366, p=0.038) were found to be independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions:In a predominantly African American patient population with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, higher driving pressure was predictive of overall mortality. These finding are consistent with the work of Botta et al (2020), who demonstrated reduced lung compliance was predictive of mortality among a largely white group of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. While minority populations infected with COVID-19 have been found worse outcomes, early lung mechanics appear to be comparable to white patients. These findings support that higher driving pressures and low lung compliance are indicative of serious lung injury which may lead to death.
Lidocaine-xylazine Lumbosacral Epidural Anesthesia for Surgical Resection of Umbilical Structures in Calves

Surgical resection of umbilical structures in calves is most frequently done using intravenous or intramuscular administration of xylazine/ketamine with or without inhalation anesthetic agents. We were interested in examining the efficacy of a practical and inexpensive alternative anesthetic protocol for umbilical surgery, specifically intramuscular xylazine sedation combined with lumbosacral epidural administration of lidocaine and xylazine.
A novel diphtheria toxin-based bivalent human EGF fusion toxin for treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is often overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and represents a top candidate for targeted HNSCC therapy. However, the clinical effectiveness of current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs targeting EGFR is moderate, and the overall survival rate for HNSCC patients remains low. Therefore, more effective treatments are urgently needed. In this study, we generated a novel diphtheria toxin-based bivalent human epidermal growth factor fusion toxin (bi-EGF-IT) to treat EGFR-expressing HNSCC. Bi-EGF-IT was tested for in vitro binding affinity, cytotoxicity, and specificity using 14 human EGFR-expressing HNSCC cell lines and three human EGFR-negative cancer cell lines. Bi-EGF-IT had increased binding affinity for EGFR-expressing HNSCC compared with the monovalent version (mono-EGF-IT), and both versions specifically depleted EGFR-positive HNSCC, but not EGFR-negative cell lines, in vitro. Bi-EGF-IT exhibited a comparable potency to that of the FDA-approved EGFR inhibitor, erlotinib, for inhibiting HNSCC tumor growth in vivo using both subcutaneous and orthotopic HNSCC xenograft mouse models. When tested in an experimental metastasis model, survival was significantly longer in the bi-EGF-IT treatment group than the erlotinib treatment group, with a significantly reduced number of metastases compared with mono-EGF-IT. In addition, in vivo off-target toxicities were significantly reduced in the bi-EGF-IT treatment group compared with the mono-EGF-IT group. These results demonstrate that bi-EGF-IT is more effective and markedly less toxic at inhibiting primary HNSCC tumor growth and metastasis than mono-EGF-IT and erlotinib. Thus, the novel bi-EGF-IT is a promising drug candidate for further development.
Parenting despite discrimination: Does racial identity matter?

BACKGROUND Previous research suggests that parents' characteristics and race-related experiences shape the racial socialization messages they give their children. Parents' beliefs about race may also relate to how they interpret and respond to race-related stressors. The current study drew on the Sociohistorical Integrative Model for the Study of Stress in Black Families to examine the moderating roles of gender and racial identity subscales (i.e., racial centrality, private regard, and public regard) on the relations between race-related stressors (i.e., personal, vicarious, and anticipated racial discrimination) and racial socialization. METHOD Path analyses were conducted in Mplus 8.2 using online survey data from a national sample of 567 African American parents of adolescents. RESULTS There were seven significant three-way interactions. Racial centrality and gender moderated the relations between both personal and vicarious racial discrimination and each racial socialization message. Private regard and gender moderated the relations between personal racial discrimination and preparation for bias and between vicarious racial discrimination and cultural socialization. Public regard and parent gender moderated the relation between personal racial discrimination and cultural socialization. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlighted that parents' experiences of personal, vicarious, and anticipated racial discrimination have different relations with their racial socialization messages. In addition, they highlighted that racial identity and parent gender are related to the type of racial socialization messages African American parents who are exposed to race-related stressors give their children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Occasions, purposes, and contexts for offering snacks to preschool-aged children: Schemas of caregivers with low-income backgrounds.

Abstract Objective Snacking among preschool aged children is nearly universal and has been associated with overconsumed nutrients, particularly so lid f ats and a dded s ugars (SoFAS). This research examined caregivers’ schemas, or cognitive frameworks, for offering snacks to preschool-aged children. Methods A qualitative design utilizing card sort methods was employed. Participants were 59 Black, Hispanic, and White caregivers of children aged 3–5 years with low-income backgrounds. Caregivers sorted 63 cards with images of commonly consumed foods/beverages by preschool-aged children in three separate card sorts to characterize snacking occasions, purposes, and contexts. The mean SoFAS content (kcal/100 g) of foods/beverages was evaluated by snacking occasions (snacks vs. not-snacks), purposes, and contexts. Results Just under two-thirds (38/63 food cards) of foods/beverages were classified as snacks with moderate to high agreement. Snacks were offered for non-nutritive (e.g., requests, rewards) and nutritive (e.g., hunger/thirst) purposes in routine (e.g., home, school) and social contexts (e.g., with grandparents). Snacks offered for non-nutritive purposes and in social contexts were higher in SoFAS than those offered for nutritive reasons and in routine contexts. Conclusions Caregivers of young children offered various types of foods/beverages as snacks, with higher SoFAS snacks given for non-nutritive purposes and in social contexts. Understanding of caregivers’ schemas for offering snacks to young children may inform targets for obesity prevention and anticipatory guidance to promote the development of healthful eating behaviors.
Fc glycan sialylation of biotherapeutic monoclonal antibodies has limited impact on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

It has been well-documented that the terminal sugars of Fc glycans can play a critical role in the safety and efficacy of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). However, many of the effects of highly heterogeneous Fc glycan structures have yet to be fully characterized. Different glycosylation patterns can affect Fc-dependent activities such as the ability of mAbs to bind Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) on the effector cell surface, which is critical to immune effector functions such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Previous studies on the impact of sialic acid in the Fc glycan on ADCC has not resulted in consistent conclusions. In our study we tested sialic acid enriched species from a chimeric murine/human kappa light chain IgG1 (mAb1) with known FcγRIIIa binding and ADCC activities. These enriched species contained up to a four-fold increase in sialic acid-containing glycans relative to the typical levels present in therapeutic mAbs, along with other attributes such as oxidized and deamidated species. The ADCC analysis of sialylated and asialo mAb1 provided herein shows evidence that sialic acids have little or no impact on ADCC activity. Altogether, our results highlight the value of novel glycan engineering strategies in designing therapeutic mAbs with high quality attributes and in improving production process controls.
Between the Cherubim: The ‘Mercy Seat’ as Site of Divine Revelation in Romans 3.25:

Although the long-standing debate about the meaning of hilastērion in Rom. 3.25 has led to no consensus, readings are nearly always either (1) metaphorical (hilastērion as place of atonement/expiat...
Recent HIV infection and associated factors among men who have sex with men in Jiangsu province

Objective: To understand the incidence of HIV infections and associated factors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Jiangsu province. Methods: Based on national AIDS sentinel surveillance in 2019, MSM from 13 cities in Jiangsu were recruited for questionnaire interview and laboratory testing during April to July, 2019. Seropositive samples were tested with Limiting-antigen avidity enzyme immunoassay to detect recent HIV infections. The incidence of HIV infection in MSM were calculated according to the formula and parameters from China CDC. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with recent infection of HIV. Results: A total of 4 469 MSM were subjects and the incidence of HIV infection were 4.5% (95%CI: 3.4%-5.5%).Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that compared with these aged ≥40 years, recruitment ways from MSM venues, awareness of AIDS knowledge, non-unprotected anal sex in the past 6 months and non-syphilis infection, those who aged 18-24 years (aOR=2.083,95%CI:1.087-3.990), recruitment ways from VCT clinics (aOR=2.125,95%CI:1.175-3.843), unawareness of AIDS knowledge (aOR=2.456,95%CI:1.109-5.437), unprotected anal sex in the past 6 months (aOR=3.553,95%CI:2.143-5.889) and syphilis infection (aOR=2.414,95%CI:1.033-5.462) were higher risk of HIV infection. Conclusion: The new infection rates of HIV were high in MSM in Jiangsu province. Health education, condom use and HIV/syphilis screening promotions should therefore be top priority in the prevention and control of HIV infection in MSM.
The effects of financial development in the short and long run

Although many view financial access as a means of reducing poverty or increasing growth, empirical studies have produced contradictory results. One problem is that most studies cover only a short time frame and do not consider dynamic effects. I show that introducing credit creates a boom in consumption and reduces poverty initially, but eventually reduces mean consumption because credit substitutes for precautionary wealth. Using new consistent consumption data, my empirical findings show that increased access to bank branches in rural India increased consumption initially and reduced poverty, but consumption later fell and poverty rose.
El habanero y los ribereños: las increíbles hazañas de Francisco de Sentmanat en Tabasco

Los cuatro anos que Sentmanat estuvo en Tabasco no pasaron desapercibidos en la historia de esta tierra revoltosa. Sus campanas entrenaron una generacion entera de guerrilleros y libertadores. Aunque bajo presion de deslindarse de su legado, los mismos individuos que marcharon parejos con el cubano tambien enfrentaron la invasion estadounidense. Cuando Ampudia abordo su goleta para Veracruz, nadie habria pronosticado que Tabasco iba a tener la distincion de ganar una batalla contra los invasores del norte, y lo haria totalmente a satisfaccion de Sentmanat mismo, es decir, desafiando los peligros y las probabilidades. De forma semejante, ciertos militantes claves del partido Liberal empezaron sus carreras publicas durante las hazanas de este hijo de Cuba.
MASS SYMMETRY IN THE SPONTANEOUS FISSION OF $sup 257$Fm.

The kinetic energy distribution of coincident fragments from spontaneous fission of $^{257}\mathrm{Fm}$ has been measured with silicon detectors. The data reveal two significant features: (1) The mass-yield distribution is markedly more symmetric than for slightly lighter nuclei (e.g., $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$, $^{254}\mathrm{Cf}$); (2) the average total kinetic energy increases monotonically with the approach to symmetric fission.
Prognostication of Mortality and Long-Term Functional Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Can We Do Better?

Accurate prognostication of outcomes following traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects not only the aggressiveness of intervention and therapeutic decision-making, but also the clinicians’ ability to provide reliable expectations. To investigate the relative ability of clinicians to accurately predict a patient’s outcomes when compared to point of care prognostic models, we surveyed clinical providers of 86 patients with moderate-severe TBI at admission, day 3, and day 7 post-injury for a patient’s predicted functional outcome at six months and mortality. The predicted mortality and functional outcomes were compared to actual occurrence of 14 day mortality and functional outcomes at six months. A prognostic score was then calculated utilizing the Corticoid Randomization After Signiﬁcant Head Injury (CRASH) and International Mission on Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials (IMPACT) models and categorized as high, intermediate, and low likelihood of mortality or poor functional outcome and compared to clin...
Theory of Eta Photo- and Electroproduction

We analyze the available data on eta photo- and electroproduction, around W~1535 MeV, in the framework of the effective Lagrangian approach, and extract, in a nearly model-independent fashion, the electrostrong amplitude for the gamma+N--> N*(1535)--> N+eta processes. Quark model approaches are shown to be quite inadequate to explain this property at all Q^2. In particular, at high Q^2, the extracted amplitude falls much slower than the predictions of the quark model, as a function of Q^2, a situation similar to the electroexcitation and decay of Delta(1232). A QCD explanation of these observations is urgently needed.
Regulation FD: An Alternative Approach to Addressing Information Asymmetry

This chapter traces the development of the SEC’s use of Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD) to address information asymmetry in the securities markets. The chapter describes the SEC’s developing enforcement policy and notes, in particular, the SEC’s efforts, through its selection and settlement of Regulation FD cases, to provide guidance to corporations and corporate officials about areas of key concern. The chapter concludes by highlighting current areas of particular importance, including disclosure of information through private meetings and the implications of technological innovations such as the internet and social media. The chapter is forthcoming in Research Handbook on Insider Trading (Stephen Bainbridge, editor).
Primate Disease Ecology in Comparative and Theoretical Perspective

Infectious disease plays a major role in the lives of wild primates, and the past decade has witnessed significant strides in our understanding of primate disease ecology. In this review, I briefly describe some key findings from phylogenetic comparative approaches, focusing on analyses of parasite richness that use the Global Mammal Parasite Database. While these studies have provided new answers to fundamental questions, new questions have arisen, including questions about the underlying epidemiological mechanisms that produce the broader phylogenetic patterns. I discuss two examples in which theoretical models have given us new traction on these comparative questions. First, drawing on findings of a positive association between range use intensity and the richness of helminth parasites, we developed a spatially explicit agent-based model to investigate the underlying drivers of this pattern. From this model, we are gaining deeper understanding of how range use intensity results in greater exposure to parasites, thus producing higher prevalence in the simulated populations-and, plausibly, higher parasite richness in comparative analyses. Second, I show how a model of disease spread on social networks provides solid theoretical foundations for understanding the effects of sociality and group size on parasitism across primate species. This study further revealed that larger social groups are more subdivided, which should slow the spread of infectious diseases. This effect could offset the increased disease risk expected in larger social groups, which has yet to receive strong empirical support in our comparative analyses. In addition to these examples, I discuss the need for more meta-analyses of individual-level phenomena documented in the field, and for greater linkage between theoretical modeling and field research.
DNA synthesis in Escherichia coli cells infected with gene H mutants of bacteriophage phi X174.

Abstract Escherichia coli cells infected with gene H mutants of bacteriophage phi X174 produce two types of particles. The 110S particles contain single-stranded circular DNA; the 110S particles are not infectious, although their DNA is infectious for E. coli spheroplasts. The second type of particles, 70S particles, contain a fragment of single-stranded DNA ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 genome in length. This fragment DNA anneals only to restriction enzyme fragments of replicative-form DNA from the portion of the molecule corresponding to the origin and early region of phi X174 single-stranded synthesis, although full-round single-stranded DNA synthesis is occurring in the H mutant-infected cells. Different H mutant phages produce different proportions of 70S to 110S particles; those mutants producing the most 70S also exhibit the largest amount of degradation of intracellularly labeled DNA during infection. These results suggest that in H mutant-infected cells, full-length single-stranded DNA is synthesized; varying amounts of degradation of the single-stranded material occur, and the resulting fragment DNA is subsequently incorporated into 70S particles.
Slow-binding inhibition of human prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 with darbufelone, an isoform-selective antiinflammatory di-tert-butyl phenol.

The antiinflammatory agent darbufelone, ((Z)-5-[[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl] methylene]-2-imino-4-thiazolidinone, methanesulfonate salt), was discovered as a dual inhibitor of cellular prostaglandin and leukotriene production. To study the mechanism of action of this drug, we expressed human prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-1 (PGHS-1) and PGHS-2 and purified the recombinant enzymes using buffers that contain octylglucoside. In cyclooxygenase assays following a 15-min incubation of enzyme with inhibitor, darbufelone potently inhibits PGHS-2 (IC50 = 0.19 μM) but is much less potent with PGHS-1 (IC50 = 20 μM). Interestingly, when the assay buffer contains traces of Tween 20 (0.0001%), darbufelone appears inactive with PGHS-2 due to a detergent interaction that is detectable by absorption spectroscopy. We therefore used octylglucoside, which does not affect darbufelone in this way, in place of Tween 20 in our PGHS buffers. Inhibition of PGHS-2 with darbufelone is time dependent: with no pr...
A successful HBM ESD protection circuit for micron and sub-micron level CMOS

Abstract A successful ESD protection circuit depends on a clear understanding of the process parameters and design rules of a given fabrication process. This work will show an ESD protection scheme that protects CMOS well as minimum feature sizes ranging from micron to sub-micron scales. The primary protection device utilizes an SCR structure available from a N-Well CMOS process in conjunction with a series N-Well resistor. ESD immunity of > 2kV has been demonstrated on state of the art ASIC arrays using these structures.
Optimum treatment allocation rules under a variance heterogeneity model

We provide optimal treatment allocation schemes when the outcome variance varies across the treatment groups and our objectives are to estimate treatment effects with equal or unequal interest. Unlike other optimal designs, such as A-optimal designs, the proposed designs can be found without an iterative scheme. We evaluate robustness properties of the optimal designs to mis-specification in the expected variance from each group and identify situations when popular allocation schemes have poor efficiencies. An application to design a randomized rheumatoid arthritis trial is discussed, along with a potential application to design a cancer screening trial when the main outcome is a continuous variable.
Detection Results for Scanning Radars Employing Feedback Integration

A method is presented for the calculation of the detection probabilities for a scanning radar employing feedback integration. An equation is developed for the optimum feedbacd value? the equation holds for small and large sample sizes and for fluctuating and nonfluctuating targets. Then, a value for the antenna beam-shape factor is given which enables one to calculate detection probabilities.
Abridgment of the reactances of synchronous machines

Until somewhat recently, synchronous machine theory has been satisfied with a relatively few characteristic constants, or reactances, in terms of which the behavior of machines has been calculated. Present theory, however, requires many more coefficients. There are now generally recognized two values each of leakage, synchronous, and transient reactance, which correspond to the two symmetrical axes of magnetization of the armature current and which refer to balanced operation. Negative and zero phase-sequence reactances are also employed to determine operation under unbalanced conditions, and it is possible and desirable to distinguish other reactances. In view of the increasing complexity of the subject it is felt that a critical survey of it is in order and the object of the paper has been to provide that survey. The paper has been divided into two parts. Part I describes and treats of the subject with regard to those factors which are important to application or operating engineers, and to designers. In particular, the major types of reactances which include the synchronous, transient, and phase-sequence reactances, are discussed. These quantities are defined and their methods of test outlined. It appears necessary to consider a second type of transient reactance; namely sub-transient reactance. Both reactances may be determined from short-circuit oscillograms as illustrated in the paper. A table is included which gives the numerical range of reactances for the various types of synchronous machines. Part II discusses the theoretical considerations, with a view to broadening and classifying existing conceptions of reactance. It includes the effect of external reactance on negative phase-sequence reactance and the variation in this latter quantity, depending upon whether current or voltage is impressed on the machine. An important aspect of the division of synchronous reactance into armature reaction and leakage reactance is discussed. Transient reactance is shown to be the difference between synchronous reactance and the ratio of the mutual reactance between armature and field and the total field reactance. Calculations are included to show that the short-circuit and open-circuit time constants are related to each other in a simple manner. The appendixes cover the following subjects: a. Application of the Principle of Superposition to Synchronous Machine Analysis. b. Replacing the Effect of Induced Field Currents by Employing Transient Instead of Synchronous Reactances. c. Significant Rotor Circuits in Addition to the Main Field Winding (which effect transient reactances). d. The Negative Phase-Sequence Reactance of a Synchronous Machine with Negative Phase-Sequence Voltage Impressed. e. Construction of Equivalent Circuits: Concept of Field Leakage Reactance. f. Calculation of Total Field Reactance. g. Relation of the Mutual Reactance Between Armature and Field to the No-Load Excitation Current. h. Relation Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Reactances. i. Discussion of the System of Notation Used in the Paper. j. Per-Unit Representation of Quantities.
Giardia flagellar motility is not directly required to maintain attachment to surfaces

Giardia trophozoites attach to the intestinal microvilli (or inert surfaces) using an undefined “suction-based” mechanism, and remain attached during cell division to avoid peristalsis. Flagellar motility is a key factor in Giardia's pathogenesis and colonization of the host small intestine. Specifically, the beating of the ventral flagella, one of four pairs of motile flagella, has been proposed to generate a hydrodynamic force that results in suction-based attachment via the adjacent ventral disc. We aimed to test this prevailing “hydrodynamic model” of attachment mediated by flagellar motility. We defined four distinct stages of attachment by assessing surface contacts of the trophozoite with the substrate during attachment using TIRF microscopy (TIRFM). The lateral crest of the ventral disc forms a continuous perimeter seal with the substrate, a cytological indication that trophozoites are fully attached. Using trophozoites with two types of molecularly engineered defects in flagellar beating, we determined that neither ventral flagellar beating, nor any flagellar beating, is necessary for the maintenance of attachment. Following a morpholino-based knockdown of PF16, a central pair protein, both the beating and morphology of flagella were defective, but trophozoites could still initiate proper surface contacts as seen using TIRFM and could maintain attachment in several biophysical assays. Trophozoites with impaired motility were able to attach as well as motile cells. We also generated a strain with defects in the ventral flagellar waveform by overexpressing a dominant negative form of alpha2-annexin::GFP (D122A, D275A). This dominant negative alpha2-annexin strain could initiate attachment and had only a slight decrease in the ability to withstand normal and shear forces. The time needed for attachment did increase in trophozoites with overall defective flagellar beating, however. Thus while not directly required for attachment, flagellar motility is important for positioning and orienting trophozoites prior to attachment. Drugs affecting flagellar motility may result in lower levels of attachment by indirectly limiting the number of parasites that can position the ventral disc properly against a surface and against peristaltic flow.
SIMULATION OF MÖSSBAUER RELAXATION SPECTRA IN THE PRESENCE OF APPLIED EXTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELDS

R6sum6. - Un programme de calcul des spectres Mossbauer, tcrit initialement pour le 57Fe en prksence d'effets de relaxation dans des matkriaux polycristallins ordonnks magnktiquement, a ktk ttendu au cas correspondant a l'application d'un champ magnktique extQieur perpendiculairement ou paralli?lement aux rayons X. Ce programme de calcul utilise le formalisme de l'opkrateur de Liouville avec les formes habituelles des Hamiltoniens nuclkaires et klectroniques en tenant compte de distorsions axiales et orthorhombiques lorsque les axes principaux du gradient de champ klectrique ne cofncident pas avec ceux du champ cristallin. Un modkle de calcul est propost pour S = 312 et avec des valeurs typiques des param2tres dkcrivant l'Hamiltonien de spin ; les rksultats sont obtenus avec un temps de calcul raisonnable pour deux composts paramagnktiques de Fe3+. Un ajustement satisfaisant des spectres expkrimentaux ne peut &re obtenu que par I'introduction d'effets de relaxation.