cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and characterization of Phaseolus vulgaris alpha-D-galactosidase isozymes.

A highly purified preparation of alpha-D-galactosidase [E.C. 3.2.1.22] isozymes was obtained from Phaseolus vulgaris (pinto bean) seeds by extraction, salt precipitation, ion exchange, and affinity chromatography. The final preparation was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE but revealed isozymes of relative mass of 38.3 and 39.6 kDa. The N-terminal sequence for both isozymes was identical, LANGLAKT (one letter code for amino acids). Relative native molecular mass was estimated at 149.3 kDa by Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. Activity was unaffected by ionic strength at high enzyme concentrations, and was specific for alpha-D-galactoside conjugates. No protease or hemagglutinin activity was detected, and activity was stable at 4 degrees C. Studies with soluble oligosaccharides demonstrated high activity against the selected straight and branched-chain substrates. The enzyme was active against terminal alpha 1-3 galactosyl residues on human and rabbit erythrocyte membranes. Because of its activity against membrane glycoconjugates, these isozymes may have potential utility for modifying membrane epitopes on native erythrocytes.
A confirmatory factor analysis of the evidence-based practice attitudes scale in child welfare

Abstract Despite the emphasis on evidence-based practice (EBP) in child welfare services (CWS) as an emerging and inevitable trend, implementation factors such as child welfare worker attitudes towards implementing EBP have received little attention in CWS. Aaron's (2004) Evidence Based Practice Attitudes Scale (EBPAS) has been used in multiple studies across mental health and healthcare settings. However, it has rarely been used in CWS. A-Mid Atlantic State implemented the EBPAS in all child welfare jurisdictions to measure workers' performance. The purpose of this study is to examine the EBPAS applied in a large urban child welfare services setting using a confirmatory factor analysis. Based on prior literature, three models were tested: a four factor model, a five factor model, and a second order four factor model. The second order model provided the best fit to the data, suggesting the EBPAS can measure workers' global attitudes, as well as four attitude types, towards EBP in a CWS setting. This study validates the use of the EBPAS with child welfare workers. Implications for effective evidence based practice in child welfare are discussed.
Tropical Cyclone Forecasting

The major practical goal of tropical cyclone research is to improve the prediction of the track and intensity of the storm. Forecasters of tropical storms have a unique problem compared to forecasters of other atmospheric phenomena. The problem arises from the fact that hurricane damage and loss of life can be significantly reduced if precautionary measures are taken in time. However, protection measures are expensive and time consuming, and so unlike most other meteorological warnings, an overwarning costs enormous amounts of money and effort. Because of the small horizontal scale of the portion of the storm producing major damage, the forecaster treads a fine line between warning too small an area and missing the landfall and overwarning such a large area that great amounts of time and money are wasted in unnecessary preparations. Another important aspect of overwarning is psychological; false warnings produce an attitude in the public of skepticism, and future warnings are likely to be ignored.
Impact of social media and quality life of people who stutter.

• People who stutter (PWS) who are connecting with other PWS have seen an improvement in their overall confidence.
Proton Capture by Be 7 and the Solar Neutrino Problem

It is shown theoretically that the $^{7}\mathrm{Be}(p,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{8}\mathrm{B}$ reaction cross section contains substantial contributions from $p$ and $d$ partial waves at laboratory energies, and extrapolations to stellar energies based on the assumption of pure $s$-wave capture are therefore erroneous. However, there is no change in the predicted solar neutrino flux, because the calculated low-energy cross-section factor, 31 eVb, is essentially the same as the empirical value in current use.
Reba and Her Insurgent Prose: Sex Work, HIV/AIDS, and Subaltern Narratives.

Narratives of cultural stakeholders in marginalized sex worker spaces often do not find the traction to influence mainstream health discourse. Furthermore, such narratives are framed against the grain of the dominant cultural narrative; they are resistive texts, and they depict enactments of resistance to the normal order. This article, based on 12 weeks of field study in a sex worker community in India, foregrounds how sex workers communicatively frame and enact resistance, and hence formulate insurgent texts, along a continuum—from overt violence to covert negotiation on issues such as condom and alcohol use. Making note of these insurgent texts is crucial to understanding how meanings of health are locally made in a sex worker community as it is often that members of such marginalized communities take recourse to covert and ritualistic forms of resistance to work, to survive, and to stay free of HIV infection.
Abstract 10098: Predictors of Sleep Quality Improvement Among Overweight or Obese Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances have adverse cardiovascular consequences and are linked to glucose intolerance and obesity. Weight loss and exercise are primary treatments for obese patients with glucose intolerance yet few lifestyle intervention trials have evaluated changes in sleep quality in relation to changes in body composition and fitness. METHODS: We randomized persons aged 35-65 years with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes to 6-months of weight loss diet (D); or D combined with supervised moderate-intensity exercise training (D+E). Sleep quality was determined with a 50 item self-report questionnaire that identifies symptoms of apnea, daytime fatigue, hypersomnolence, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, insomnia, restless sleep, parasomnia, and dream disorders. Sleep quality is a composite score of all these items. Other measurements included weight; body mass index (BMI); total, abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat by magnetic resonance imaging; and aerobic fitness expressed as VO 2 peak during treadmill testing. RESULTS: Of 77 subjects randomized, 55 participants (54.8 ± 7.8 years; n=24 of 38 D, n=31 of 39 D+E) completed the study. At 6 months, both groups improved from baseline (p 2 ; D+E:-104.16 ± 72.37 cm 2 , p= 0.92), VO 2 peak (D: 2.26 ± 3.92 ml/kg/min ; D+E:3.71 ±2.65 ml/kg/min, p=0.11), and sleep quality (D: -3.53 ± 7.69; D+E:-0.37 ±7.23, p=0.16). In bivariate analysis, improvement in sleep quality was associated with a reduction in BMI (r=0.47, p CONCLUSION: The novel finding herein is that a reduction in abdominal subcutaneous fat, with either diet alone or diet plus exercise, was associated with improved sleep quality. These data suggest that interventions that target central obesity may prove to be an effective strategy for reducing the incidence and severity of sleep disorders.
When Should Audit Firms Introduce Analyses of Big Data Into the Audit Process

ABSTRACT This study investigates how the timing of the consideration of Big Data visualizations affects an auditor's evaluation of evidence and professional judgments. In addition, we examine whether the use of an intuitive processing mode, as compared to a deliberative processing mode, influences an auditor's use and evaluation of Big Data visualizations. We conduct an experiment with 127 senior auditors from two Big 4 firms and find that auditors have difficulty recognizing patterns in Big Data visualizations when viewed before more traditional audit evidence. Our findings also indicate that auditors who view Big Data visualizations containing patterns that are contrary to management assertions after they view traditional audit evidence have greater concerns about potential misstatements and increase budgeted hours more. Overall, our results suggest that Big Data visualizations used as evidential matter have fewer benefits when they are viewed before auditors examine more traditional audit evidence.
All Mixed Up: Considerations in Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Components in Substance Abuse Research

Mixed methods is the term generally used to describe research designs that contain both qualitative and quantitative components in a single project. One advantage of this blended design is the opportunity to gather more comprehensive data, which encourages greater insight into the complex research questions addressed by substance abuse research. Despite this promise, there are elements of design and analysis that researchers should consider when undertaking mixed methods research. We begin this chapter with a brief review of essential concepts and terminology, and discuss the value of mixed methods approaches to substance abuse research. In the second section, we address variations in design and analysis and consider some of the opportunities and challenges associated with these alternatives. The third section begins with an overview of recently funded mixed methods research in substance abuse and concludes with descriptions of a representative sample of published mixed methods articles addressing substance abuse topics. In the fourth section, we offer what we hope might be creative yet effective approaches to mixed methods research. The final brief section offers some concluding thoughts.
Generation and validation of the Chilean Wave Atlas database

Abstract This paper summarizes the calibration and validation of a 35-year wave hindcast database used to create the Chilean Wave Atlas. The hindcast was generated with the Wavewatch III wave model and consists of: i) time series of wave statistical parameters in a 1° × 1° grid throughout the Pacific Ocean; ii) spectral data at points latitudinally spaced every 2° off the Chilean coast. A comprehensive calibration process was undertaken in order to assess the performance of statistical parameters at different locations under normal and extreme conditions. A multi-criteria performance score was defined to select the optimal Wavewatch III model configuration. Few buoy records available and a broad set of satellite data were used in this process. A correction method was then applied to the statistical parameters in order to reduce systematic errors of the model. The Atlas showed better performance when compared to existing databases under normal wave conditions. However, the accuracy was shown to be lesser for the highest wave heights, consistently following the behaviour of other databases. This deficiency in the estimate of extreme values has important consequences in the design of coastal structures, and its improvement remains to be solved.
Effects of Structural, Phonemic, and Semantic Orienting Tasks on Cued and Free Recall of Words: An Independent Test

A recent reformation of the depth of processing hypothesis concerning verbal memory identifies two major determinants of memory for words: the nature of input processing performed, and the elaboration of that processing. The elaboration hypothesis was tested by exposing 36 subjects to 24 words and requiring subjects to perform a structural task, a phonemic task, or a semantic task on the words in an incidental orienting procedure. Half of the subjects then were asked for free recall, and the other half were cued for recall by supplying information concerning the input task performed on each word and the outcome of the input task decision process. The principal results showed that cuing did not significantly aid recall, while both the input task variable and the input decision variable (yes or no answer to the orienting question) did yield significant results. Examination of significant interactions showed that cuing does aid retrieval of semantically encoded items, particularly when the input decision outcome is positive. The results are interpreted to mean that elaboration of encoding may occur at deeper levels of processing, but not at shallow levels, as in the structural input task.
Enantioselective Tandem Cyclization of Alkyne-Tethered Indoles Using Cooperative Silver(I)/Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalysis.

Reported is the enantioselective synthesis of tetracyclic indolines using silver(I)/chiral phosphoric acid catalysis. A variety of alkyne-tethered indoles are suitable for this process. Mechanistic studies suggest that the in situ generated silver(I) chiral phosphate activates both the alkyne and the indole nucleophile in the initial cyclization step through an intermolecular hydrogen bond and the phosphate anion promotes proton transfer. In addition, further modifications of the cyclization products enabled stereochemistry-function studies of a series of bioactive indolines.
Review of the MIGET Literature

Since its original reporting in the 1970s, the multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET) has been used in hundreds of experiments around the world performed to understand pulmonary gas exchange. These include studies of normal subjects at rest, during exercise, and in different environments, patients with a variety of cardiopulmonary diseases, and patients in the intensive care unit, with many supporting animal disease model studies and measurements in the comparative field, including studies of birds and lizards exercising on treadmills. This chapter briefly summarizes the results of these many studies, grouped into domains of interest. When we started this section of the book, we expected that this discussion would be straightforward. However, we were surprised by the breadth of studies from great many centers. It is inevitable that some work will have been missed, although every attempt has been made to be as inclusive as possible.
Consumer-Based Use Tax Enforcement and Taxpayer Compliance

This essay explains how current state government approaches to use-tax enforcement undermine tax morale and taxpayer compliance. This essay further argues that these threats to tax morale and taxpayer compliance will become even more severe as many states are moving toward adopting notice and reporting statutes for their sales and use taxes.
Prodigiosin pigment of Serratia marcescens is associated with increased biomass production

Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative, facultatively-anaerobic bacterium and opportunistic pathogen which produces the red pigment prodigiosin. We employed both batch culture and chemostat growth methods to investigate prodigiosin function in the producing organism. Pigmentation correlated with an increased rate of ATP production during population lag phase. Results with a lacZ transcriptional fusion to the prodigiosin (pig) biosynthetic operon revealed that operon transcription is activated by low cellular levels of ATP at high cell density. Furthermore, these data enabled estimation of the ATP per cell minimum value at which the operon is induced. Pigmented cells were found to accumulate ATP more rapidly and to multiply more quickly than non-pigmented cells during the high density growth phase. Finally, results with both batch and chemostat culture revealed that pigmented cells grow to approximately twice the biomass yield as non-pigmented S. marcescens bacteria. Prodigiosin production may, therefore, provide a growth advantage at ambient temperatures.
On Bounds for Diffusion, Discrepancy and Fill Distance Metrics

Criteria for optimally discretizing measurable sets in Euclidean space is a difficult and old problem which relates directly to the problem of good numerical integration rules or finding points of low discrepancy. On the other hand, learning meaningful descriptions of a finite number of given points in a measure space is an exploding area of research with applications as diverse as dimension reduction, data analysis, computer vision, critical infrastructure, complex networks, clustering, imaging neural and sensor networks, wireless communications, financial marketing and dynamic programming. The purpose of this paper is to show that a general notion of extremal energy as defined and studied recently by Damelin, Hickernell and Zeng on measurable sets X in Euclidean space, defines a diffusion metric on X which is equivalent to a discrepancy on X and at the same time bounds the fill distance on X for suitable measures with discrete support. The diffusion metric is used to learn via normalized graph Laplacian dimension reduction and the discepancy is used to discretize.
Glaucoma and Driving

Many areas of the country do not have public transportation, making the ability to drive an essential part of maintaining one’s independence. A July 2003 report issued by the Brookings Institution entitled “The Mobility Needs of Older Americans” found that increasing numbers of the elderly population are concentrated in suburban areas with no transportation options other than driving. According to the report, 56% of seniors live in suburban and rural areas, the number of miles driven by seniors increased from 12.7 miles a day in 1995 to 15.3 miles in 2001, and also seniors tend to be more receptive to transportation alternatives such as voucher and ride-sharing programs than to traditional means of public transportation.1 The 2000 US Census counted approximately 35 million people were aged 65 years and over with approximately 4 million of them being over 85 years.2 It is estimated that by 2050 the 85 years and older population will quadruple to more than 19.3 million.3
Simulation: The Norrish Type-I Reaction in Acetone

In the following the theoretical framework introduced in the previous chapter is applied to a real case of ultrafast organic photodynamics: the Norrish Type-I reaction in acetone. Particular attention is payed to how the wave packet dynamics is expressed in the time-resolved photoionization signal and it will become clear that a close connection between theory and experiment is crucial for even a qualitatively correct interpretation of experimental results. The simulations presented in this chapter have been published in Ref. I.
Utilizing Stochastic Processes for Computing Distributions of Large-Size Robot Population Optimal Centralized Control

Motivated by the success of stochastic process sampling methods in solving complex estimation problems, we explore the possibility to utilize stochastic processes for computing optimal control for a large-size robot population. We assume that the individual robot state is composed of discrete and continuous components, while the population is controlled in a probability space. The optimal control solution is based on an infinite dimensional Pontryagin-like minimum principle, which involves an evaluation of systems of partial differential equations. The paper shows that these equations can be evaluated with computations involving stochastic process samples. This is an important result because generating stochastic process multi-dimensional trajectories is much easier than solving corresponding multi-dimensional partial differential equations. The proposed evaluations are illustrated and verified by an example of the centralized optimal control for a large-size robot population.
Uveal melanoma, choroidal hemangioma, and simulating lesions. Role of MR imaging

Malignant uveal melanomas are the most common primary intraocular malignant tumors in adults. Choroidal hemangiomas are congenital, benign, vascular lesions that may be confused with malignant uveal melanomas on clinical examination. The MR imaging characteristics of uveal melanomas and choroidal hemangiomas are different, making diagnostic differentiation possible with a high degree of accuracy. This article describes the MR imaging features of uveal melanoma, choroidal hemangioma, and other simulating lesions.
Central and Peripheral Inflammation Link Metabolic Syndrome and Major Depressive Disorder

Metabolic syndrome and major depression are two of the most common and debilitating disorders worldwide, occurring with significant rates of comorbidity. Recent studies have uncovered that each of ...
Genetic Analysis of Rho Protein Function in Mice

The Rho small GTPases regulate a variety of cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, vesicle trafficking, gene expression, adhesion, and motility. Among their well established essential roles is that of organizing the actin cytoskeleton, and this aspect of Rho GTPase function has led to the identification of important roles for various Rho family GTPases in a variety of actin-dependent cellular processes, including cell shape change, adhesion, and migration. As critical regulators of these actin-mediated processes, the Rho GTPases also function as essential regulators of many developmental processes. The morphogenesis of tissues in all developing multi-cellular organisms requires precise changes in cell shape and cell movements that depend on the various Rho GTPases. This has been observed in studies using sevefigureral different developmental model systems, including flies, worms, frogs, and mice. Here, we review the literature reporting functions for Rho GTPases and their associated signaling components in the context of embryonic development, adult physiology, and pathogenesis. In particular, the focus of the studies described here is on the mouse system, where transgenic and “knockout” strategies have played an especially important role in elucidating the in vivo organization and function of the various Rho signaling pathways.
How do novices learn physical examination skills? A systematic review of the literature.

Background: Physical Examination (PE) skills are vital for patient care, and many medical students receive their first introduction to them in their pre-clinical years. A substantial amount of curr...
The New Politics of Teaching

When Socrates was condemned to death his alleged crime was corruption of the youth. His accusers were at once completely wrong, yet at a deeper, more sinister level, completely correct. The quest for truth does corrupt a sense of complacency, does undermine a willingness to watch others suffer and challenges the passive acceptance of those polite lies upon which the status quo is built. By asking questions such as: What do we mean by ‘the good,’ ‘justice,’ and ‘love,’ Socrates and other teachers have suffered exile, rejection, and sometimes death.
In-situ oxide scale investigation of Sm-doped ZrB2/SiC Billets

Abstract Samarium-doped zirconium diboride/silicon carbide (Sm-ZBS) ceramics possess an emittance of 0.9 at 1600 °C and develop oxide scales that have excellent ablation performance. This study investigates the oxide scale development of 3 mol% doped Sm-ZBS which contains 80 vol% ZrB2 and 20 vol% SiC when exposed to temperatures in excess of 1800 °C in an oxidizing atmosphere. Samples were prepared via chemical infiltration of samarium nitrate into spray-dried powders of 80 vol.% ZrB2/20 vol.% SiC; powders were then pressed into billets and sintered without pressure. Samples cut from these billets were then oxidized for 10, 60, and 300 s, respectively, using an oxyacetylene torch. A Sm-depletion region was observed and believed to form due to glass transport to the surface. X-ray diffraction was used to determine the sequence of oxidation of Sm-ZBS, beginning with the formation of ZrO2 and Sm2O3. The final oxide scale was determined to be c1-Sm0.2Zr0.8O1.9, with a melting temperature exceeding 2500 °C. SEM and EDS were also used to investigate microstructural formation due to the bursting of convection cells.
Re-examining the Role of Patients in Community-Based Interventions

In this Chapter, by Khary K. Rigg, Amanda Sharp, Kyaien O. Conner, and Kathleen A. Moore, examines how the patient-provider relationship has evolved over the years. Patients are now thought to play a central role in the provision of treatment, especially within the context of community-based interventions. In both theory and practice, the role of the patient is supposed to differ from traditional biomedical approaches to treatment with patient input introducing a new level of transparency and relevance into service provision. Specifically, patients are to play an increasingly active role in healthcare delivery and their backgrounds treated as central in any intervention. In short, a new form of participation between patient and provider is key to interventions that claim to be patient-centered and community-based. The current healthcare system, however, does not promote such participation, and obstacles to involving patients in their own care exist. The chapter traces the history of the patient-provider relationship and discusses the recent shift toward elevating the importance of persons receiving care. The authors also discuss obstacles to genuinely involving patients in their own treatment and make recommendations for how these barriers can be overcome. They conclude by discussing promising strategies for meaningfully involving patients in treatment, as well as how the role of patients in community-based care might be re-thought.
Biofuel management has limited effects on forest nutrients and avian resource assimilation

Abstract Intercropping switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), within managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) stands, has been proposed as an alternative source from which to create biofuels while also supporting wildlife biodiversity. However, little evidence is available on which to gauge if this practice affects nutrient availability and/or wildlife diets within pine stands. This study compares total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and C:N ratios in loblolly pine and blackberry (Rubus spp.) located in intercropped loblolly stands, including those managed with herbicides for hardwood control. This study also used stable isotopes (12C and 13C) to compare diet of an early successional bird species (yellow-breasted chat [Icteria virens]) in intercropped loblolly stands and loblolly stands managed with herbicides for hardwood control. Results indicate intercropping does not influence total C or N in loblolly or blackberry samples, although total N is elevated among blackberry samples in hardwood control loblolly stands. Results also illustrate that intercropping increases the ratio of 13C: 12C (δ13C) in yellow-breasted chat associated with areas where intercropping has been undertaken. Our study demonstrates that biofuel cultivation can affect nutrient flow within managed forest ecosystems. The influence of this nutrient flow should be considered when implementing biofuel production goals.
High-throughput quantification of protein structural change reveals potential mechanisms of temperature adaptation in Mytilus mussels

Temperature exerts a strong influence on protein evolution: species living in thermally distinct environments often exhibit adaptive differences in protein structure and function. However, previous research on protein temperature adaptation has focused on small numbers of proteins and on proteins adapted to extreme temperatures. Consequently, less is known about the types and quantity of evolutionary change that occurs to proteins when organisms adapt to small shifts in environmental temperature. In this study, these uncertainties were addressed by developing software that enabled comparison of structural changes associated with temperature adaptation (hydrogen bonding, salt bridge formation, and amino acid use) among large numbers of proteins from warm- and cold-adapted species of marine mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mytilus trossulus, respectively. Small differences in habitat temperature that characterize the evolutionary history of Mytilus mussels were sufficient to cause protein structural changes consistent with temperature adaptation. Hydrogen bonds and salt bridges that increase stability and protect against heat-induced denaturation were more abundant in proteins from warm-adapted M. galloprovincialis compared with proteins from cold-adapted M. trossulus. These structural changes were related to deviations in the use of polar and charged amino acids that facilitate formation of hydrogen bonds and salt bridges within proteins, respectively. Enzymes, in particular those within antioxidant and cell death pathways, were over-represented among proteins with the most hydrogen bonds and salt bridges in warm-adapted M. galloprovincialis. Unlike extremophile proteins, temperature adaptation in Mytilus proteins did not involve substantial changes in the number of hydrophobic or large volume amino acids, nor in the content of glycine or proline. Small shifts in organism temperature tolerance, such as that needed to cope with climate warming, may result from structural and functional changes to a small percentage of the proteome. Proteins in which function is dependent on large conformational change, notably enzymes, may be particularly sensitive to temperature perturbation and represent foci for natural selection. Protein temperature adaptation can occur through different types and frequencies of structural change, and adaptive mechanisms used to cope with small shifts in habitat temperature appear different from mechanisms used to retain protein function at temperature extremes.
Rapid Bodyweight Reduction before Lumbar Fusion Surgery Increased Postoperative Complications.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PURPOSE To determine the effects of massive weight loss on perioperative complications after lumbar fusion surgery (LFS). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE Patients who are obese are more likely to experience low back pain, which would require LFS. Nonetheless, they have a higher risk of perioperative complication development compared with individuals who are not obese. METHODS Patients who underwent LFS at hospitals that participated in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database within the United States between 2005 and 2015. Outcomes included 30-day medical complications, surgical complications, and length of stay (LOS). We analyzed a total of 39,742 patients with the use of the International Classification of Disease, ninth revision codes. The patients were categorized in the following two groups: group 1, individuals with a history of massive weight loss within 6 months before LFS, and group 2, individuals without a history of massive weight loss before surgery. Massive weight loss was defined as loss of 10% of total body weight. Patients with a history of malignancy or chronic disease were excluded from the study. Patients in each group were randomly matched based on age, gender, sex, smoking status, and body mass index. Paired two-tailed Student t-tests were used to compare the outcomes. RESULTS Of the 39,742 patients identified, 129 (0.32%) met the criteria for inclusion in the weight loss group (WL group) and were successfully matched to individuals in the non-weight loss group (non-WL group). Compared with the non-WL group, the WL group had a significantly longer LOS (9.7 vs. 4.0 days, p<0.05), higher surgical site infections (SSIs) (8.0 vs. 3.0, p<0.05), increased number of blood transfusions (40.0 vs. 20.0, p<0.05), and greater deep vein thrombosis (DVTs) (5.0 and 0.00, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS On a nationwide scale, rapid weight loss before LFS is associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications, including SSI and DVTs, longer average LOS, and more frequent blood transfusions.
Tacrolimus Time in Therapeutic Range and Level Variability are Not Associated with Acute Cellular Rejection in Lung Transplant Recipients

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of tacrolimus time to therapeutic level, time in therapeutic range, and intrapatient level variability on the incidence of acute cellular rejection (ACR) in lung transplant recipients (LTRs). Methods This was retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent lung transplantation at a single center from January 2014 through December 2017. All LTRs who were given tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor, during the first 6 months post transplant and who underwent at least one surveillance bronchoscopy with biopsy to assess for ACR were included in the study. Tacrolimus time in therapeutic range (TTR) during the first 6 months post transplant was calculated using Rosendaal's linear interpolation method with a tacrolimus trough between 10 ng/mL and 15 ng/mL considered to be therapeutic. Time to therapeutic level was calculated as the number of days between the first dose of tacrolimus and the second consecutive day with a tacrolimus trough ≥10 ng/mL. Intrapatient variation was determined using coefficient of variance. Results The study included 106 LTRs of which 38 (37%) underwent single lung and 68 (64%) underwent bilateral lung transplantation. Underlying disease was pulmonary fibrosis in 53.7%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 15.1%, cystic fibrosis in 18.9%, and pulmonary hypertension in 1.0%. Acute rejection (≥A1 grade) was present in 45.3% of patients and acute rejection (≥A2 grade) was present in 19.8% of patients. The mean tacrolimus TTR was 44.9 ± 18.2 days which was 29.5 ± 14.7 percent of the time. There was no significant relationship between tacrolimus TTR and age or underlying disease. There was no significant association between tacrolimus TTR and any ACR (≥A1 or ≥A2). The median days to therapeutic level was 10.5 (interquartile range 8 to 16). There were fewer number of days to therapeutic level in patients with ACR compared with those without ACR (p=0.008 for ≥A1 and p=0.02 for ≥A2). There was high intrapatient variation in tacrolimus trough (mean coefficient of variation 43.9 ± 11.9), but higher variation was not associated with increased ACR. Conclusion The results suggest that tacrolimus time to therapeutic level, time in therapeutic range, and intrapatient variability may not be strongly associated with ACR in LTRs.
Developmental Differences in the Association of Peer Relationships with Traumatic Stress Symptoms

Although childhood trauma exposure has a high incidence, traumatic stress often goes untreated in children and youth. We investigated peer relationship quality as a prevention strategy for reducing traumatic stress across different developmental periods. We analyzed longitudinal data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Wellbeing (NSCAW I) using a time-varying effect model (TVEM) to investigate the association between peer relationship quality and traumatic stress symptoms across ages 8–17 years. We controlled for a robust set of confounders identified through a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG). The unique association between peer relationship quality and traumatic stress symptoms was negative and significant from ages 8 to 8.5 years, and again from ages 9.4 to 10.9 years and at age 16.4 to 16.8 years, with maximum associations of − 1.45 T score points at age 8.5 years (95% CI = [− 2.87, − 0.40]), − 1.57 at age 9.4 years (95% CI = [− 3.13,− 0.01]), and − 1.89 at 16.7 years (95% CI = [− 3.70, − 0.09]). Peer relationship quality protected against traumatic stress during specific times during adolescent development. Our results suggest that helping youth establish and maintain positive peer relationships may be a useful prevention approach for helping them cope with trauma experiences.
An Empirical Study of the Convergence of the Eigenfunction Expansion Method for Investigating Neutron Wave Propagation

(1968). An Empirical Study of the Convergence of the Eigenfunction Expansion Method for Investigating Neutron Wave Propagation. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 352-354.
Characterization of PCSK9 in the Blood and Skin of Psoriasis

Mechanisms explaining the link between psoriasis, a proinflammatory condition, and cardiovascular disease are not fully known. PCSK9 is predominantly expressed in hepatocytes as a critical regulator of lipid metabolism, and clinical trials targeting PCSK9 reduce cardiovascular disease. Independent of its role in lipid metabolism, PCSK9 levels associate with endothelial dysfunction and predict cardiovascular events. We used two separate human psoriasis cohorts and the K14-Rac1V12−/+ murine model of psoriasis to investigate PCSK9 and cardiovascular risk in psoriasis. In both psoriasis cohorts (n = 88 and n = 20), PCSK9 levels were 20% and 13% higher than in age-, sex-, and cholesterol-matched controls, respectively (P
Patient Perceptions about Professional Dental Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background:Dental professionals are at high risk of being infected by and transmitting COVID-19 to patients. Patients’ perceived risk for infection and attitudes about receiving dental care during ...
Nonseminomatous Germ-Cell Tumor Presenting as Bilateral Adrenal Masses

Abstract Objective Many tumors can metastasize to the adrenal glands, making the diagnosis of adrenal masses challenging. Awareness that rare primary tumors can metastasize to the adrenals and consideration of biopsy for their diagnosis, sometimes at extra-adrenal sites, is essential to prevent unnecessary adrenalectomies and facilitate the right treatment. We report a rare case of bilateral adrenal masses due to metastasis from a nonseminomatous germ-cell tumor of a retroperitoneal lymph node origin. Methods The diagnosis of the adrenal masses from the nonseminomatous germ-cell tumor of a retroperitoneal lymph node origin was based on a retroperitoneal lymph node core biopsy. An initial core biopsy of the adrenal gland revealed necrotic tissue and inflammatory cells without evidence of malignancy. Due to nondiagnostic findings, the core biopsy was repeated, which showed degenerating cells with a high mitotic index and immunohistochemical staining positive for vimentin, suggesting the possibility of a high-grade sarcoma. A retroperitoneal lymph node biopsy was performed. The patient was started on chemotherapy. Results A 34-year-old man presented with acute left upper-abdominal pain of 2 weeks and tenderness on the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, and he was found to have bilateral adrenal masses. Laboratory results showed the following: adrenocorticotropic hormone 41 pg/mL (7-69 pg/mL), metanephrine Conclusion We report a rare case of rapidly progressing adrenal masses in a young man, found to have metastasized from nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors. Histopathologic confirmation of the metastatic tumor was done, which prevented unnecessary adrenalectomy. The patient received appropriate chemotherapy.
The Moral Stereotypes of Liberals and Conservatives: Exaggeration of Differences across the Political Spectrum

We investigated the moral stereotypes political liberals and conservatives have of themselves and each other. In reality, liberals endorse the individual-focused moral concerns of compassion and fairness more than conservatives do, and conservatives endorse the group-focused moral concerns of ingroup loyalty, respect for authorities and traditions, and physical/spiritual purity more than liberals do. 2,212 U.S. participants filled out the Moral Foundations Questionnaire with their own answers, or as a typical liberal or conservative would answer. Across the political spectrum, moral stereotypes about “typical” liberals and conservatives correctly reflected the direction of actual differences in foundation endorsement but exaggerated the magnitude of these differences. Contrary to common theories of stereotyping, the moral stereotypes were not simple underestimations of the political outgroup's morality. Both liberals and conservatives exaggerated the ideological extremity of moral concerns for the ingroup as well as the outgroup. Liberals were least accurate about both groups.
Development of statistical models for estimating daily nitrate load in Iowa

Abstract There is an ongoing need to increase our understanding of the sources and timing of stream nitrate loads across agricultural watersheds in Iowa as water quality improvement strategies are implemented. The goal of this study was to model the relationship between nitrate load and the two components of streamflow (i.e., baseflow and stormflow) to quantify in-stream nitrate patterns and develop a new method for estimating loads on days when monitoring data are not available. We analyzed eight watersheds in Iowa that had long-term water quality data where grab samples have been collected from 1987 to 2019. Four regression models were developed that related daily nitrate load to daily baseflow, stormflow, and streamflow discharge. The first model considered baseflow as a predictor, the second model used stormflow, the third model included both baseflow and stormflow as two different covariates, and the final model used total streamflow (unseparated). For all eight watersheds, the baseflowstormflow models had the highest correlation coefficients, which indicates that both components are necessary and together improve nitrate load estimates. While baseflow models estimated lower nitrate loads better, stormflow models captured the variability associated with larger loads. In addition, streamflow models tended to overestimate large nitrate loads. This simple modeling framework can be used to calculate daily, monthly and annual nitrate loads. Delineating nitrate loads between stormflow and baseflow can help identify differences in nitrate sources for nutrient reduction and remediation.
Identifying Peripapillary Radial Capillary Plexus Alterations in Parkinson's Disease Using OCT Angiography.

Purpose To compare radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) plexus vascular parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness between those with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and controls. Design Prospective, cross-sectional study. Participants A total of 151 eyes of 81 PD participants and 514 eyes of 266 controls. Methods Participants underwent OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging using the Zeiss Cirrus HD-5000 AngioPlex (Carl Zeiss AG). Capillary perfusion density (CPD) and capillary flux index (CFI) were assessed using a 4.5 × 4.5-mm peripapillary scan, and RNFL thickness was assessed using a 200 × 200-μm optic nerve cube OCT scan. Hoehn and Yahr clinical staging for PD was determined by an experienced movement disorders specialist. Generalized estimating equations adjusted for age and sex were used for analysis. Main Outcome Measures Differences in RNFL thickness, CPD, and CFI as assessed using multivariable generalized estimating equations between individuals with PD and controls. Results After adjustment for age and sex, average CPD (0.446% ± 0.018% vs. 0.439% ± 0.017%, P Conclusions Increased peripapillary microvascular density and flux were detected in a large cohort of individuals with PD compared with controls after adjusting for age and sex; however, RNFL thickness was similar between groups. Peripapillary OCTA parameters may not correlate with the severity of PD. OCTA may serve as a noninvasive method to identify novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of PD; as such, this methodology deserves further investigation.
A Revolution in Fragments: Traversing Scales of Justice, Ideology, and Practice in Bolivia: By Mark A. Goodale

Goodale, Mark A Revolution in Fragments: Traversing Scales of Justice, Ideology, and Practice in Bolivia. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2019.
Integrating Machine Learning and Human Judgment: A Study on Demand Planning in the Field

While firms use automated machine learning algorithms in their demand planning processes, human judgment continues to feature in these processes. This research examines two methods of integrating m...
The effect of red on attractiveness for highly attractive women

Previous research has shown that red can increase men’s perception of women’s attractiveness. However, this effect is absent under certain conditions, such as when women have masculine, unattractive, or older features. We sought to test whether this red-attraction effect would be present at the other end of the continuum, specifically, for highly attractive, provocatively dressed young women. In three experiments (the second and third of which were pre-registered), we manipulated the color of highly attractive models’ lingerie and assessed men’s perceptions of their sexual receptivity, attractiveness, and sexual appeal. Results revealed higher ratings across each variable for women in red, relative to green, across all 3 experiments. Furthermore, in Experiment 3, perceived sexual receptivity mediated the relations between red and both attractiveness and sexual appeal. Overall, these results show that the color red can further bolster the attractiveness and desirability of already highly attractive and desirable woman.
NUTRITION AND BULLOUS DISEASES.

Abstract Although relatively uncommon, autoimmune bullous diseases carry the risk of increased mortality and can significantly impact quality of life. This group of diseases is broad and encompasses subepidermal conditions like bullous pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, dermatitis herpetiformis, and linear IgA bullous dermatosis, as well as intraepidermal conditions like pemphigus and its variants. The pathophysiology of each condition is incompletely understood but broadly involves the formation of autoantibodies targeting skin adhesion proteins, a process which relies on a complex interplay between a dysregulated immune system, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors. We review the impact of nutrition on pathogenesis, clinical course, and treatment of various autoimmune bullous diseases.
Alpha radiation is a major germ-line mutagen over evolutionary timescales

Question: Is alpha radiation responsible for major changes in genome structure, including karyotypic change and higher ploidy? In vitro, high doses of alpha radiation yield many chromosomal changes, while low doses yield mostly point mutations. Data description: Previously published data on karyotypic variability and the incidence of polyploidy in various animal and plant species. Search method: In nature, most alpha radiation exposure is caused by radon progeny. Exposure is particularly high below ground, and is also elevated on plant surfaces due to deposition by rain. I look for correlations between the degree of karyotypic variability (or polyploidy) and exposure to alpha radiation. Conclusions: Both karyotypic variability and the frequency of polyploidy are associated with ecological exposure to alpha radiation. The associations are consistent with observed differences in synonymous substitution rates between species. These results suggest that alpha radiation is the dominant evolutionary mutagen for some species.
On the Concept of Stability of Inelastic Systems

Abstract : The various methods of structural analysis are reviewed, and the basic elastic buckling problem of the Euler strut is discussed. Simple models are used to show the important differences between buckling in the plastic range and classical elastic instability. Nonlinear behavior is shown often to be the key to a physically valid solution. The nonconservative nature of plastic deformation alone or in combination with nonlinearity requires concepts not to be found in classical approaches. However, the classical linearized condition of neutral equilibrium is not relevant in inelastic buckling. Analyses of the models suggest that the same information is obtained from essentially static systems by assuming initial geometrical imperfections as by assuming dynamic disturbances. Both approaches are helpful in understanding the physical phenomena.
Use of Health Effect Risk Estimates and Uncertainty in Formal Regulatory Proceedings: A Case Study Involving Atmospheric Particulates

Coal combustion particulates are released to the atmosphere by power plants supplying electrical energy to the nuclear fuel cycle. This paper presents estimates of the public health risks associated with the release of these particulates at a rate associated with the annual nuclear fuel production requirements for a nuclear power plant. Utilization of these risk assessments as a new component in the formal evaluation of total risks from nuclear power plants is discussed.