cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of doctor's opinion in shared decision making: what does shared decision making really mean when considering invasive medical procedures?1

Objective The goal of this study was to gain understanding about patients’ perspectives on decision making in the context of invasive medical interventions and whether patients’ decision-making preferences influenced the type of information they desired to be provided by physicians. Design Questionnaire study of consecutive patients in a university-based general medicine clinic. Interventions Patients were presented with a randomized list of three types of information that physicians could provide (risk, benefit and physician's opinion on whether they should undergo the procedure). Patients were asked whether they preferred patient-based, physician-based, or shared decision making and then were asked to select which one or combination of these three information types was most important to them in their own decision making. Patients were also asked to self-report on how many invasive procedures they had undergone in their own lives. Participants A total of 202 consecutive patients (mean age = 65.1 years, SD = 12.3, range 28–88; mean education 13.3 years, SD 2.9, range 2–23). Main outcome measures Patient reports. Results Of the 202 patients, two patients reported no decision-making preference. These two patients were excluded from the analysis. Of the 200 remaining patients, 62.5% (125/200) preferred shared, 22.5%(45/200) preferred physician-based, and 15.5% (31/200) preferred patient-based decision making. More than half of all subjects chose physician opinion as the most important type of information for decision making. Older patients (odds ratio 1.028; confidence interval 1.003–1.053) were more likely to have ranked the doctor's opinion as the most important in their decision making for invasive medical interventions. Conclusions Although most patients want to share decision making with their physicians regarding invasive procedures, the majority of these patients report relying on the doctor's opinion on whether to undergo the procedure as the most important information in their own decision making.
Peptide-based instruction of suppressor commitment in naïve T cells and dynamics of immunosuppression in vivo.

Recent years have witnessed the revival of suppressor T cells that control immunity by interfering with the generation of effector T-cell function in vivo. The discovery that CD4 T cells with the CD25 surface marker were enriched in suppressor activity enabled further phenotypic and functional analysis of the so-called natural suppressor cells. In vitro characterization showed that these cells were anergic, i.e. did not respond to antigenic stimulation with proliferation and, instead they suppressed other cells through direct cell contact resulting in inhibition of interleukin-2 gene transcription. We have analysed the generation and function of suppressor T cells in T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice. The results showed that such cells can be generated intrathymically when agonist TCR ligands are expressed on thymic epithelial cells. Thus generated cells constitute a lineage of cells committed to suppression only with the ability to survive for prolonged periods of time in the absence of the inducing ligand. Because of appropriate homing receptors such cells can accumulate and proliferate in antigen draining lymphnodes after antigenic stimulation and suppress proliferation and cytokine secretion of CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as CD8 T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We also attempted to generate such cells from naive T cells in secondary lymphoid tissue under conditions where expansion of already preformed suppressor T cells could be excluded. The results showed that subimmunogenic peptide delivery by osmotic minipumps or by peptide containing DEC 205 antibodies yielded CD25+ suppressor cells that were phenotypically and functionally indistinguishable from intrathymically generated suppressor cells. The experiments with DEC205 antibodies revealed (i) dose-dependent proliferation of naive T cells and (ii) conversion into suppressor T cells of only those T cells that underwent a limited number of cell divisions. These results are compatible with other studies that were, however, less rigorous in excluding expansion of existing cells as opposed to de novo generation of suppressor cells from naive T cells. The fact that natural suppressor cells have an essential role in preventing autoimmunity and that they can be specifically induced by TCR agonist ligands opens new perspectives in preventing autoimmunity, transplant rejection and allergy.
Current Algebra and Gauge Theories. I

The methods of current algebra are applied to the problem of calculating corrections to the symmetries of the strong interactions in renormalizable gauge theories of the weak and electromagnetic interactions. The strong interactions are described by a neutral-vector-gluon model, so that their symmetries are just the symmetries of the quark mass matrix, and are determined by the vacuum expectation values of the weakly coupled scalar fields. Corrections to these symmetries are calculated to all orders in the gluon coupling, but only to second order in the gauge coupling $e$. After putting the results in a gauge-invariant form, it is found that all divergences cancel in the corrections to "natural" symmetries of the strong interactions. The weak interactions can produce corrections to strong-interaction symmetries of the same order of magnitude as the electromagnetic corrections, but such "order $\ensuremath{\alpha}$" effects occur only as corrections to the quark mass matrix, and therefore necessarily conserve parity, strangeness, charm, etc., and may produce only isovector corrections to isotopic-spin conservation. It is suggested that these weak-interaction effects of order $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ are responsible for the nonelectromagnetic corrections to isotopic-spin conservation which seem to be needed in calculations of mass differences and $\ensuremath{\eta}$ decay.
ECG variation with R-R interval and with time-since breath in quiet subjects

In continuous 10-min recordings of lead II electrocardiogram (ECG) signals of two quiet seated subjects, variations of the ECG waveforms as a function of R-R interval and as a function of time sinc breath (breath interval) were examined. It was found that waveform measures such as QRS area and Q-R slope vary significantly as a function of breath interval. The R-T interval did not vary significantly with breath interval but did vary with R-R interval. The variation is less pronounced in quiet subjects than that which would be predicted from the Bazett equation for normalization of Q-T intervals by R-R intervals in general clinical use. >
Linking process to pattern: Causes of stream-breeding amphibian decline in urbanized watersheds

Abstract Sufficient data have been collected to document negative effects of urbanization on many abiotic parameters, aquatic insects, and fish. Recently, stream-breeding salamanders have been observed to decrease in density in urban areas. We employed a two-step process to determine the mechanism(s) most likely responsible for salamander decline in disturbed streams. First, we conducted a 2-year survey of larval two-lined salamanders (Eurycea cirrigera) and abiotic variables among 12 streams in western Georgia, USA surrounded by land disturbed by urbanization and pasture. From these surveys we constructed hypotheses that might explain differences in observed larval salamander density among streams. A model in which increased watershed impervious surface causes an increase in spate (i.e., high water flow) frequency and magnitude, which then leads to decreased larval density had the most support. This analysis led to a second step in which we conducted an experiment using artificial streams lined with substrates commonly found in urban and forested streams (sand/sand with detritus and gravel–pebble/pebble–cobble, respectively). We placed salamander larvae in the artificial stream channels and subjected them to increasing water velocity. Larvae on sand-based substrates common to urban streams were flushed from the artificial stream at significantly lower velocities than larvae on rock-based substrates. The experimental data were consistent with the hypothesis generated from field sampling that high water velocities in urban streams result in decreased larval retention in streams. Our result emphasizes the need for upland habitat restoration in urban areas, which will reduce run-off and improve stream habitat quality.
Imperiled Femininity: The Dismembering of Citizenship in Northern Mexico

This article examines how historical constructions of Mexican citizenship are implicated in women's current performances of femininity in Chihuahua City. Throughout much of Mexican history, women's rights to life and bodily integrity did not inhere within their own persons but were extensions of the rights of their fathers and husbands. Women living outside male protection had no guarantee of security, and those living within such protection were only guaranteed security from men outside of their relationships of dependency. The following work argues that the legacy of dependent citizenship has created a “bodies politic,” which structures the current system of impunity for gendered violence, and that these structures continue to have an impact on the reimagining of femininity. Drawing on 13 months of fieldwork spent investigating which performances of femininity women most associated with security; this research examines the quotidian strategies through which women are negotiating their need and/or desire to expand upon such performances with their continued desire for security in the increasingly dangerous environment of Northern Mexico.
Novel Mechanisms on the Growth Morphology of Films

Random surface roughness very often can occur during the growth or etching of films under non-equilibrium conditions. Several competing mechanisms such as noise, surface diffusion, and shadowing all play a role in the evolution of surface roughness. However, recent results obtained in many growth and etching processes exhibit an unusual tendency: the morphology is very rough where it is expected to be smooth and vice versa. The origin, we believe, is due to the fact that during the deposition and etching processes the atoms very often do not stick to the surface upon their first strikes. Atoms actually bounce around before all settle on surface sites. This non-unity sticking probability can lead to a very rough surface during etching and a very smooth surface during sputter or chemical vapor deposition that cannot be explained by the conventional mechanisms.
Multi-level decision feedback equalization with clock recovery

Analytical expressions are developed to describe the dynamic response of the phase detector in multilevel decision feedback equalization (MDFE). First, it is shown that high density recording channels using a 2/3(1,7) run-length code are bandlimited, so that the Nyquist sampling criterion is satisfied. Consequently, the phase-locked loop (PLL) can be analyzed using sin x/x interpolation between samples of the equalized response. Analytical expressions are derived for determining the gain of the phase detector for MDFE, when the PLL uses a stochastic gradient algorithm. However, this approach is not attractive from an implementation standpoint. A simpler strategy in which the timing phase is only updated on certain signal trajectories is presented. The cost of using this simpler phase detector is timing jitter. >
Cyclones, Anticyclones, and the Kennelly-Heaviside Layer

Fading curves taken in Morgantown upon the signal of KDKA in Pittsburgh show an increase of intensity after nightfall provided a cyclonic area covers both cities or lies to the north of Morgantown. If a high pressure area covers both cities the night intensity does not increase above the day intensity and may even fall below it. These observations are explained by the theory that the Kennelly-Heaviside (E) layer is found at night in cyclonic regions but is not present in anticyclones. This theory is strongly supported by recent experiments of Ranzi on 100-meter waves.
The semi‐iterative method applied to the hyper‐power iteration

The semi-iterative method (SIM) is applied to the hyper-power (HP) iteration, and necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the convergence of the semi-iterative–hyper-power (SIM–HP) iteration. The root convergence rate is computed for both the HP and SIM–HP methods, and the quotient convergence rate is given for the HP iteration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diversity: How to Begin the Discussion

The perception of diversity and inclusion, as it relates to social justice, often evokes destructive responses, either spoken or unspoken. It is one of the ‘malicious problems’ found in the classroom, the workplace, and amongst other parts of our society. In challenging these problems with diversity and inclusion, conversations regarding the substantive aspects of oppression and inequitable distribution of power of one group over another must be initiated to educate or expand the thinking of our modern day society. Formulating solutions from these conversations, willing individuals must be able to name the issue, analyze its impact, and enact a positive change, while acknowledging the difficulties in creating conversations of an issue that is in dire need of revelation. This report provides a non-controversial presentation, beginning with reasons for resistance, followed by survival strategies, and ending with pro-active strategies to establish dialogue and to allow for personal stories. Further discussion will analyze aggressive behavior, examine critical core values for an individual and organization, discuss positive and effective methods for combating mistreatment, and empowerment strategies to respond positively to oppression. Strategies for engaging an organization are included, such as how to use these tools to co-create a vision for a welcoming environment in organizations, while acknowledging the uncomfortable atmosphere that surrounds the topic of cultural change. Accepting that this uncomfortable environment stems from fear itself, fear is a viable part of the process towards trust and resolution.
Travel into the Future of Reproductive Technology

Today, cross-border assisted reproductive care can in many cases be pursued with impunity, given the policy of free movement of goods and services that serves as a cornerstone of unity in Europe and North America. Travel in the future of reproductive technology, however, will occasion risks that reproductive travelers have not faced since the days when Germany and Ireland engaged in internationally condemned practices aimed at punishing their citizens who crossed into other countries to obtain abortions illegal at home. In countries where pre-implantation genetic diagnosis of embryos is outlawed because it is believed to be dangerously akin to eugenics, travel to evade the law has commenced and will increase as low-cost methods of conducting such diagnoses enter the market. What the future of crossing borders for reproductive technology holds, then, lies in part in the extraterritorial effect that countries will choose to give their laws in a globalizing world.
Polychlorinated biphenyls, cytochrome P4501A1 polymorphism, and postmenopausal breast cancer risk

In experimental systems, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) induce cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), which is involved in metabolism of steroid hormones and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in humans. A genetic polymorphism coding for a valine to isoleucine substitution in exon 7 has been associated with lung cancer risk in Japanese populations. In a previous study, we found no association between CYP1A1 genotype and breast cancer risk. However, we were interested in determining whether genotype would relate to risk when PCB body burden was taken into account. In a subset of a case-control study in western New York, 154 postmenopausal women with incident, primary, histologically confirmed postmenopausal breast cancer and 192 community controls were interviewed and underwent phlebotomy. Serum levels of 56 PCB peaks were determined by high resolution gas chromatography with electron capture. PCR-RFLP analyses of the CYP1A1 polymorphism were performed. Unconditional logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Among women with serum PCB levels above the median of the distribution in the control group, there was increased risk of breast cancer associated with the presence of at least one valine allele, compared with women who were homozygous for the isoleucine alleles (odds ratio, 2.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-7.36). Among women with low PCB body burden, no association between CYP1A1 genotype and breast cancer risk was observed. Adjustment for serum lipids and body mass index did not affect the magnitude of the observed associations. PCB body burden may modify the effect of the polymorphism on postmenopausal breast cancer risk through increased CYP1A1 enzyme induction or by activation by specific PCB congeners. These results should be considered preliminary, pending replication by other studies.
Dimethylarsinothioyl glutathione as a metabolite in human multiple myeloma cell lines upon exposure to Darinaparsin.

Here, we report the identification of dimethylarsinothioyl glutathione (DMMTAV(GS)) as a metabolite in cellular extracts of dimethyarsinous glutathione (Darinaparsin, DMAIII(GS)) treated human multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. Co-elution of sulfur and arsenic on the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) indicated the presence of sulfur along with arsenic in the newly observed unidentified molecule on the speciation chromatograms of cell lines treated with DMAIII(GS). Liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry of the unknown peak in the MS and tandem MS modes revealed molecular ion peaks at m/z = 443.9 and 466.0, corresponding to [DMMTAV(GS) + H]+ and [DMMTAV(GS) + Na]+, as well as peaks at 314.8 for the loss of glutamic acid and 231.1 for the loss of glycine. In addition, peaks were observed at 176.9 corresponding to cysteine and glycine adducts and at 137.1 for the [C2H6AsS]+ ion. An increase in the peak area of the unidentified peak was observed upon spiking the cell...
How can performance standards enhance accountability for public health

This article focuses on how a national system of measuring public health performance can help enhance accountability for public health. It describes the trend toward increased accountability in public health; provides an overview of the issues and challenges public health practitioners face in demonstrating how the resources they spend and programs they operate contribute to improved community health status and suggests how the results of participating in the National Public Health Performance Standards Program can help.
Cytotoxic Synergy between Cytokines and NSAIDs Associated with Idiosyncratic Hepatotoxicity is Driven by Mitogen-activated Protein Kinases

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequent causes of idiosyncratic, drug-induced liver injury (IDILI). Mechanisms of IDILI are unknown, but immune responses are suspected to underlie them. In animal models of IDILI, the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ) are essential to the pathogenesis. Some drugs associated with IDILI interact with cytokines to kill hepatocytes in vitro, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) might play a role. We tested the hypothesis that caspases and MAPKs are involved in NSAID/cytokine-induced cytotoxicity. NSAIDs that are acetic acid (AA) derivatives and associated with IDILI synergized with TNFα in causing cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells, and IFNγ enhanced this interaction. NSAIDs that are propionic acid (PA) derivatives and cause IDILI that is of less clinical concern also synergized with TNFα, but IFNγ was without effect. Caspase inhibition prevented cytotoxicity from AA and PA derivative/cytokine treatment. Treatment with a representative AA or PA derivative induced activation of the MAPKs c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38. Inhibition of either JNK or ERK reduced cytotoxicity from cytokine interactions with AA derivatives. In contrast, an ERK inhibitor potentiated cytotoxicity from cytokine interactions with PA derivatives. An AA derivative but not a PA derivative enhanced IFNγ-mediated activation of STAT-1, and this enhancement was ERK-dependent. These findings raise the possibility that some IDILI reactions result from drug/cytokine synergy involving caspases and MAPKs and suggest that, even for drugs within the same pharmacologic class, synergy with cytokines occurs by different kinase signaling mechanisms.
Package pricing project improves hospital-physician relations. Interview by Donald E.L. Johnson.

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich., is one of the four hospitals participating in a unique federal project testing package pricing for coronary by-pass procedures. In the following interview with Donald E.L. Johnson, editor and publisher of Health Care Strategic Management, Garry C. Faja, CEO of St. Joseph Mercy, explains how the project has impacted relations between the medical staff and hospital administrators. It has led to more sharing of data and ideas as well as unifying the many people involved in the hospital's cardiology program. Surprisingly, it was the cardiac surgeons who spearheaded the project. "They saw it as a direction for the future," Faja said.
Human respiratory syncytial virus affects nonadrenergic noncholinergic inhibition in cotton rat airways

A dysfunction of the nonadrenergic noncholinergic inhibitory (NANCi) system has been invoked as a possible mechanism underlying or contributing to altered airway function. In the present study we assessed whether human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) infection affects the airways' neurally mediated contractile and relaxant (NANCi) responses in vitro. NANCi responses were studied on tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) segments obtained from young adult cotton rats, a well-established model for HRSV infection. To assess NANCi responses, TSM segments were removed and placed in tissue baths containing modified Krebs-Henseleit, atropine (1 x 10(-6) M) and propranolol (5 x 10(-6) M). After contraction with neurokinin A (1 x 10(-5) M), electrical field stimulation (EFS) was applied at stimulation frequencies ranging from 5 to 30 Hz. The NANCi responses were measured and expressed as the mean (+/- SE) percent relaxation. To evaluate neurally mediated contractile responses, full frequency response curves (0.5-30 Hz) to EFS were also performed. We found significantly decreased NANCi responses in TSM segments obtained from infected cotton rats (n = 12) compared with control animals (n = 9) (P < 0.002). Furthermore, the contractile responses to EFS were increased in infected animals compared with the control group (P = 0.0001). These findings demonstrate that HRSV infection leads to an enhanced contractile response to EFS and a significant decrease in NANCi response in cotton rat airways in vitro. This disruption of the neural control of airways may lead to the development of altered airway function.
Effect of Maternal Cigarette Smoking on Newborn Iron Stores.

Background Maternal smoking has been known to have a negative impact on the well being of the developing fetus. Prenatal smoking has been associated with premature births, low birth weight and with certain birth defects. Small research studies have also found a negative correlation between maternal smoking and neonatal body iron. Objectives To study and compare the relationship between maternal and infants' body iron in smokers and non-smokers in a large matched-pair cohort. Methods This was a prospective cohort study involving 144 mothers - 72 smokers and 72 non-smokers and their respective infants. Samples were obtained from maternal and infants' cord blood at delivery for Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) and ferritin levels. Serum TfR and ferritin were measured by RAMCO ELISA and RIA assays. Total Body Iron (TBI) was calculated using the sTfR/ferritin ratio in a previously described formula by Cook et al. Results Women who smoked had lower sTfR, higher ferritin and higher body iron compared to nonsmoking women. In contrast to their respective mothers, we found a small, but statistically significant negative correlation between smoking and infants' total body iron. The number of packs per day smoked was also negatively correlated with infants' ferritin and total body iron. Lower birth weight was noted in babies of smokers compared to nonsmokers (mean /- SD =3270 +/-475 vs. 3393 g +/- 475 g, p=0.03). Conclusion Women who smoked during pregnancy had higher iron stores but their newborn infants had lower iron stores than those of non-smoking mothers. The more packs per day (PPD) and more days smoked during pregnancy led to lower total body iron of the babies. There may be a negative dose-dependent response between fetal smoke exposure and infant iron stores.
ACTIVITY OF BACTERIA IN THE ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENT

ABSTRACT Water in near-shore and estuarine environments characteristically contains a large number of bacteria and a generally high “activity” or heterotrophic potential. The bacteria in near-shore waters do not represent a uniform population and the density probably does not reflect growth and multiplication. The population consists of those bacteria that are adapted to function in the environment together with those that are simply surviving. Studies with pure cultures are often suspect and there are also inherent problems involved with metabolic studies of mixed populations. The enhanced metabolic activity in estuarine areas may be a simple reflection of the favorable nutritional status of the water, however, it may also represent increased activities of freshwater and marine forms in an attempt to compensate for the adverse impact of some perturbation. No single factor can account for the demise or survival of bacteria in these environments. A variety of both structural and physiological explanations may be put forth to explain how bacteria have adapted to the near-shore areas. The structural adaptations may include modification of the cell surface, membrane permiability and transport, and enzyme structure. The physiological responses may include changes in metabolic rate, metabolite pools, proteins and nucleic acid synthesis, and growth patterns.
Quantitative hemodynamic PET imaging using image-derived arterial input function and a PET/MR hybrid scanner

Positron emission tomography (PET) with 15O-tracers is commonly used to measure brain hemodynamic parameters such as cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen. Conventionally, the absolute quantification of these parameters requires an arterial input function that is obtained invasively by sampling blood from an artery. In this work, we developed and validated an image-derived arterial input function technique that avoids the unreliable and burdensome arterial sampling procedure for full quantitative 15O-PET imaging. We then compared hemodynamic PET imaging performed on a PET/MR hybrid scanner against a conventional PET only scanner. We demonstrated the proposed imaging-based technique was able to generate brain hemodynamic parameter measurements in strong agreement with the traditional arterial sampling based approach. We also demonstrated that quantitative 15O-PET imaging can be successfully implemented on a PET/MR hybrid scanner.
African voters indicate lack of support for climate change policies

Abstract Will African voters support climate change policies? By 2020, the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund intends to provide tens of billions of dollars per year to African nations to support climate adaptation and mitigation policies. It is widely assumed that African citizens will support implementation of these climate policies. We observe the opposite result. In this article – across two experimental studies – we find evidence that Sub-Saharan African politicians who commit to climate change policies may lose electoral support. Electorally important swing voters with weak party affiliations are least likely to support party statements about climate change. Interviews with standing elected officials from Malawi and South Africa corroborate our experimental findings. The combined results suggest voter preferences may hinder the successful implementation of climate change policy in Sub-Saharan African democracies.
The Striatum and Decision-Making Based on Value

Our behaviors range from mindful, deliberative streams of action to sequences of action that are so nearly automatic that we can perform them almost without thinking. Transitions between these modes of behavior occur as we learn behavioral routines. We have studied these transitions and the neural activity that occurs in corticostriatal loops as they take place. We find that neural activity in these loops is strongly modified during habit learning and that specific corticostriatal circuits can powerfully control value-based decision-making and habits.
Effects of corona on vinyl tapes

Pressure sensitive vinyl tapes are extensively used as an outer wrap for cable splices and terminations, and for bus bar insulation and other high voltage applications. For such service, resistance to corona is an important factor. However, most published information on corona resistance is concerned with polyethylene and insulations other than vinyl (1–8).
Causal discovery in the geosciencesUsing synthetic data to learn how to interpret results

Causal discovery algorithms based on probabilistic graphical models have recently emerged in geoscience applications for the identification and visualization of dynamical processes. The key idea is to learn the structure of a graphical model from observed spatio-temporal data, thus finding pathways of interactions in the observed physical system. Studying those pathways allows geoscientists to learn subtle details about the underlying dynamical mechanisms governing our planet. Initial studies using this approach on real-world atmospheric data have shown great potential for scientific discovery. However, in these initial studies no ground truth was available, so that the resulting graphs have been evaluated only by whether a domain expert thinks they seemed physically plausible. The lack of ground truth is a typical problem when using causal discovery in the geosciences. Furthermore, while most of the connections found by this method match domain knowledge, we encountered one type of connection for which no explanation was found. To address both of these issues we developed a simulation framework that generates synthetic data of typical atmospheric processes (advection and diffusion). Applying the causal discovery algorithm to the synthetic data allowed us (1) to develop a better understanding of how these physical processes appear in the resulting connectivity graphs, and thus how to better interpret such connectivity graphs when obtained from real-world data; (2) to solve the mystery of the previously unexplained connections.
Dynsimpie: A Command to Examine Dynamic Compositional Dependent Variables:

In this article, we adapt the modeling strategy proposed by Philips, Rutherford, and Whitten (2016, American Journal of Political Science 60: 268–283) and create a user-friendly Stata command, dynsimpie. This command requires the installation of the clarify package of Tomz, Wittenberg, and King (2003, Journal of Statistical Software 8(1): 1–30) and uses the commands in the clarify package to produce estimates from models of compositional dependent variables over time. Users can also examine how counterfactual shocks play through the system with graphs that are easy to interpret. We illustrate this with a model of voter support for the three dominant political parties in the UK.
Transcriptomes of bovine ovarian follicular and luteal cells

Affymetrix Bovine GeneChip® Gene 1.0 ST Array RNA expression analysis was performed on four somatic ovarian cell types: the granulosa cells (GCs) and theca cells (TCs) of the dominant follicle and the large luteal cells (LLCs) and small luteal cells (SLCs) of the corpus luteum. The normalized linear microarray data was deposited to the NCBI GEO repository (GSE83524). Subsequent ANOVA determined genes that were enriched (≥2 fold more) or decreased (≤-2 fold less) in one cell type compared to all three other cell types, and these analyzed and filtered datasets are presented as tables. Genes that were shared in enriched expression in both follicular cell types (GCs and TCs) or in both luteal cells types (LLCs and SLCs) are also reported in tables. The standard deviation of the analyzed array data in relation to the log of the expression values is shown as a figure. These data have been further analyzed and interpreted in the companion article "Gene expression profiling of ovarian follicular and luteal cells provides insight into cellular identities and functions" (Romereim et al., 2017) [1].
Histone and DNA modifications in mental retardation.

Mental retardation (MR), which affects 1–3% of the total population, refers to a pathological condition whereby the affected individuals suffer from cognitive impairment, which is diagnosed by a low intelligence quotient (IQ) (<70). Over the years, human genetic studies identified a plethora of candidate genes causing MR, but mechanisms by which these candidates regulate cognitive function remain poorly understood. While the functions of MR genes range from cell signaling and gene expression to synaptic plasticity, there is growing evidence supporting a critical role for epigenetic and chromatin regulatory proteins in MR. Excitingly, recent molecular and genetic studies suggest the possibility of improving cognitive functions via modulation of epigenetic regulators, highlighting a potentially new avenue for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we discuss recent studies on epigenetic regulation in MR and explore the concept of epigenetic therapy for MR.
Reduced Mutation Rate and Increased Transformability of Transposon-Free Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1-ISx.

The genomes of most bacteria contain mobile DNA elements that can contribute to undesirable genetic instability in engineered cells. In particular, transposable insertion sequence (IS) elements can rapidly inactivate genes that are important for a designed function. We deleted all six copies of IS1236 from the genome of the naturally transformable bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1. The natural competence of ADP1 made it possible to rapidly repair deleterious point mutations that arose during strain construction. In the resulting ADP1-ISx strain, the rates of mutations inactivating a reporter gene were reduced by 7- to 21-fold. This reduction was higher than expected from the incidence of new IS1236 insertions found during a 300-day mutation accumulation experiment with wild-type ADP1 that was used to estimate spontaneous mutation rates in the strain. The extra improvement appears to be due in part to eliminating large deletions caused by IS1236 activity, as the point mutation rate was unchanged in ADP1-ISx. Deletion of an error-prone polymerase (dinP) and a DNA damage response regulator (umuDAb [the umuD gene of A. baylyi]) from the ADP1-ISx genome did not further reduce mutation rates. Surprisingly, ADP1-ISx exhibited increased transformability. This improvement may be due to less autolysis and aggregation of the engineered cells than of the wild type. Thus, deleting IS elements from the ADP1 genome led to a greater than expected increase in evolutionary reliability and unexpectedly enhanced other key strain properties, as has been observed for other clean-genome bacterial strains. ADP1-ISx is an improved chassis for metabolic engineering and other applications.IMPORTANCEAcinetobacter baylyi ADP1 has been proposed as a next-generation bacterial host for synthetic biology and genome engineering due to its ability to efficiently take up DNA from its environment during normal growth. We deleted transposable elements that are capable of copying themselves, inserting into other genes, and thereby inactivating them from the ADP1 genome. The resulting "clean-genome" ADP1-ISx strain exhibited larger reductions in the rates of inactivating mutations than expected from spontaneous mutation rates measured via whole-genome sequencing of lineages evolved under relaxed selection. Surprisingly, we also found that IS element activity reduces transformability and is a major cause of cell aggregation and death in wild-type ADP1 grown under normal laboratory conditions. More generally, our results demonstrate that domesticating a bacterial genome by removing mobile DNA elements that have accumulated during evolution in the wild can have unanticipated benefits.
Comparison of Omission and Extinction Following Fr Reinforcement Training

The present experiment compared the response-elimination capabilities of omission training, in which reinforcement is contingent on the nonoccurrence of a previously reinforced response and extinction training following 2 different FR reinforcement training schedules. Treatment of the extinction Ss was different from usual in that an empty food hopper was presented during extinction according to the respective FR reinforcement schedule. Results indicated that the omission training groups eliminated responding at a significantly faster rate than the extinction training groups. Implications for future research in this area were discussed.
An exploration of ‘sticky’ inventory management in the manufacturing industry

AbstractTraditional models examining relationships between firm resources and revenues assume that the many expenses and asset holdings change in proportion to changes in demand. However, research has found that for many costs and assets assumed to be variable, the magnitude of a change in a cost or asset in proportion to a change in revenue is smaller during periods when revenue decreases compared to the change in the cost or asset when revenue increases. Costs and assets which behave in this manner have been denoted as ‘sticky’ costs or assets. This study examines if inventory in the manufacturing industry is managed in a ‘sticky’ manner and what implications inventory stickiness has on firm performance. Utilising firm panel data over a 25-year time window we find that inventory stickiness does exist amongst manufacturers and that it has negative implications for firm performance.
Risk for Speech and Language Impairments in Preschool Age HIV-exposed Uninfected Children With In Utero Combination Antiretroviral Exposure.

BACKGROUND:Perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children have elevated risk of late language emergence at 1 year of age, with possible links to in utero antiretroviral (ARV) exposure. We investigated possible risks for speech impairments (SIs) and language impairments (LI) in preschool monolingual HEU children in the United States. METHODS:Speech and language assessments were conducted as part of the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study Surveillance Monitoring of ART Toxicities study at ages 3 (N = 208) and 5 (N = 429) years. Domains of speech, overall language, vocabulary and grammar were assessed. SI and LI were defined by standardized scores <15th percentile and categorized as primary (normal nonverbal IQ ≥ 85 without hearing loss) and concomitant (low nonverbal IQ and/or presence of hearing loss). Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds of SI and LI for different ARV exposures, adjusted for confounding variables. RESULTS:The risk for language impairments in HEU children was higher than population norms; risk for SIs was not elevated. Risk factors for impairments included male sex, black race and other socioeconomic measures, although these varied by age, primary (P) versus concomitant (C) impairment and by speech or language measure. Adjusted logistic regression models revealed lower and increased risk for specific ARVs. Tenofovir exposure was associated with increased risk for SI at 3 years of age but was associated with decreased risk for concomitant language impairment at 5 years of age. CONCLUSIONS:Further investigation of combination ARV exposure and speech/language impairment among preschool children is needed to confirm associations.
‘The Ecclesiastical Wing of the Lavender Revolution’: Religion and Sexual Identity Organising in the USA, 1946–1976

The process by which ‘lesbian and gay positive’ religious groups emerged during the post-war decades in the United States is the subject of Heather Rachelle White’s chapter (‘The Ecclesial Wing of the Lavender Revolution: Religion and Sexual Identity Organising in the USA, 1946–1976’). She finds that in America, religion, and particularly Christianity, was a visible and important part of the lesbian and gay liberation movement that emerged in the wake of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. She argues that focusing on Christianity in relation to this history counters the implicit and explicit ways that queer histories are often told without attention to religion.
The Anti-Christianity of the “Postscript”

The demonstration of the anti-Christianity of the Postscript rests upon two arguments: (I) Christianity is made a relative, not an absolute, end. (2) By Climacus’ own dialectic Christianity becomes an objective truth, no longer an affair of the spirit.
Regionally applicable angular reflectance models

Determination of the angular variation of the reflected radiance field in order to infer the reflected component of the Earth radiation budget from medium or narrow field of view radiometer measurements is discussed. An average angular model applicable at 250 to 1000 km is presented and evaluated. The nature of the convergence of the radiance patterns to the regional means is also discussed. Radiances measured during summer Monex 1979, from Hudson Bay to Saudi Arabia, were averaged and then normalized by multiplying by pi and dividing by the scene-averaged reflected flux density. This casts the model into the inverse of the bidirectional reflectance normalization coefficient, which has the value of unity for an isotropic surface. The reflected component of the Earth's radiation budget is inferred to an accuracy of about 2.5%.
Same-Sex Marriage: The Depth of the Opposition and the Importance of Victory

Legal recognition of same-sex marriage is close at hand. While marriages between two members of the same sex are not yet legal in any state, it is reasonable to suppose that legal sanction is near, at least somewhere in the United States. Such recognition would bring a host of tangible economic consequences, but, occasional efforts at camouflage notwithstanding, everyone knows that very little of the debate is actually about that. Instead, the issue has become a flag worth capturing in the culture wars: proponents herald the coming of same-sex marriage as contributing to the triumph of a secular, just, and humane society; opponents see instead accelerated erosion of the bedrock of stability needed to ground any successful society. One of the difficulties facing advocates of samesex marriage is that some of the fear fueling the opposition is not without basis. The challenge is to come up with a nuanced response to these arguments, one that convinces opponents that same-sex marriage both furthers the kind of stability that should be valued and, in the bargain, better respects values that are widely shared. As most people by now know, judicial developments in Hawaii ignited the smoldering controversy. In 1993, that state's Supreme Court ruled that denying the benefits of marriage to same-sex couples presumptively constituted gender discrimination. The high court remanded the case for a determination by the lower court as to whether the state could carry its heavy burden of showing that such denial was supported by an especially compelling justification. Panicked by these developments, Congress cast aside its long-standing practice of leaving the question of eligibility for marriage to the states, and in 1996 enacted the extraordinary Defense of Marriage Act. The Act accomplishes two goals. First, marriage between two members of the same sex, even if recog-
A novel high-frequency groundwater quality monitoring system

High-frequency, long-term monitoring of water quality has revolutionized the study of surface waters in recent years. However, application of these techniques to groundwater has been limited by the ability to remotely pump and analyze groundwater. This paper describes a novel autonomous groundwater quality monitoring system which samples multiple wells to evaluate temporal changes and identify trends in groundwater chemistry. The system, deployed near Fresno, California, USA, collects and transmits high-frequency data, including water temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and nitrate, from supply and monitoring wells, in real-time. The system consists of a water quality sonde and optical nitrate sensor, manifold, submersible three-phase pump, variable frequency drive, data collection platform, solar panels, and rechargeable battery bank. The manifold directs water from three wells to a single set of sensors, thereby reducing setup and operation costs associated with multi-sensor networks. Sampling multiple wells at high frequency for several years provided a means of monitoring the vertical distribution and transport of solutes in the aquifer. Initial results show short period variability of nitrate, specific conductivity, and dissolved oxygen in the shallow aquifer, while the deeper portion of the aquifer remains unchanged—observations that may be missed with traditional discrete sampling approaches. In this aquifer system, nitrate and specific conductance are increasing in the shallow aquifer, while invariant changes in deep groundwater chemistry likely reflect relatively slow groundwater flow. In contrast, systems with high groundwater velocity, such as karst aquifers, have been shown to exhibit higher-frequency groundwater chemistry changes. The stability of the deeper aquifer over the monitoring period was leveraged to develop estimates of measurement system uncertainty, which were typically lower than the manufacturer’s stated specifications, enabling the identification of subtle variability in water chemistry that may have otherwise been missed.
Why is research in early-stage cancer research so low?

Abstract According to Budish, Roin and Williams (2015), drug development for early-stage cancer drugs is low because of missing financial incentives, and surrogates can overcome this distortion. We argue that technological barriers can also explain such low drug development. We first summarize medical literature describing these barriers and then augment their data to simultaneously assess the role of incentives versus barriers. Our results suggest that technological barriers suppress research in early-stage solid cancer and that surrogates may at best moderately increase drug development for such cancers.
Prevention of Surgical Infections: Building or Renovating a New Intensive Care Unit.

Abstract Background: Renovating or building a new intensive care unit (ICU) can be a challenging project. Planning the renovation or rebuild as a quality improvement project will help break down th...
Ablative Techniques for Painful Metastasis (Radiofrequency ablation, Microwave ablation, Cryoablation, Chemical ablation, and HIFU)

Cancer pain remains a common devastating and debilitating problem that negatively impacts cancer patients’ quality of life. Multiple methods have been developed for palliative cancer pain control. In this chapter, the most common ablative techniques that are being implemented for treatment of intractable pain secondary to cancer will be described, and their applications will be elucidated.