cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model-Assisted Survey Estimation with Imperfectly Matched Auxiliary Data

Model-assisted survey regression estimators combine auxiliary information available at a population level with complex survey data to estimate finite population parameters. Many prediction methods, including linear and mixed models, nonparametric regression, and machine learning techniques, can be incorporated into such model-assisted estimators. These methods assume that observations obtained for the sample can be matched without error to the auxiliary data. We investigate properties of estimators that rely on matching algorithms that do not in general yield perfect matches. We focus on difference estimators, which are exactly unbiased under perfect matching but not under imperfect matching. The methods are investigated analytically and via simulation, using a study of recreational angling in South Carolina to build a simulation population. In this study, the survey data come from a stratified, two-stage sample and the auxiliary data from logbooks filed by boat captains. Extensions to regression estimators under imperfect matching are discussed.
Mothers of Children with Complex Trauma: Occupations Viewed through Photovoice

AbstractResearch in complex trauma has focused on the experiences of children, with less written about their non-offending parents’ occupations. This study utilized photovoice to explore occupation...
Measuring the Performance of Research Organizations

Several factors affect the production of scientific publications and their validity as an indicator of scientific activity. Benefit or the output of science they can be measured by a variety of different indicators. This article analyzes one of the modalities, the bibliometrics analysis. It will take as an example the case of the National Research Council of Italy.
Using electrocorticogram baseline seizure frequency to assess the efficacy of responsive neurostimulation

Abstract Background The effect of direct brain responsive neurostimulation on the frequency of electrographic seizures in patients with medically refractory focal epilepsy has not been evaluated by chronic ambulatory electrocorticographic monitoring. Methods This was a retrospective study of 9 patients who underwent implantation of the responsive neurostimulator (RNS) system from 2015 to 2017 at the University of California, Irvine. Leads were placed at the ictal onset zone as determined by intracranial electroencephalography (EEG). The neurostimulator was programmed to detect and deliver stimulation following identification of the individual's epileptiform patterns. Electrographic seizures were determined by review of all detections. The electrocorticography (ECoG) seizure frequency baseline was the average of the first 2 months postimplantation. The patient-reported seizure frequency baseline was the average of the 2 most recent months prior to RNS implantation. Seizure control was assessed at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Results Nine patients were included in the study. All 9 patients have been treated with responsive stimulation for at least 3 months, 7/9 for 6 months, and 4/9 for 12 months. The mean change in seizure frequency was − 10%, − 19%, and − 56% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, using a self-reported seizure frequency baseline compared with − 85%, − 71%, and − 56% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, using the ECoG seizure frequency baseline. Conclusion Chronic ECoG may provide a more accurate estimate of seizure frequency and provide additional insight into the true efficacy of the RNS system.
Interactions between Polyelectrolytes and Oxides in Aqueous Suspensions

Colloidal stability of aqueous α-Al2O3 suspensions with polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) was studied in the pH range of 3 to 10. Stability is related to the adsorption of PMAA on α-Al2O3 as controlled by the chemistries of both the α-Al2O3 surface and the PMAA. The adsorption behavior of PMAA on α-Al2O3 is basically “high affinity” type near and below the zero point of charge of α-Al2O3 (pH 8.7). A stability map was determined which outlines the critical amount of adsorbed PMAA required to achieve dispersion.
The Evaluation of a Stress Management Program for Middle School Adolescents

A pretest posttest control group design was employed to determine the effectiveness of a ten-week stress management program for middle school adolescents. Thirty-six adolescents participated in the experimental groups and 18 served as controls. The experimental subjects, in contrast to controls, reported a significant increase in the use of cognitive control coping strategies, in the effectiveness of adaptive coping strategies, and in the ratio of the use of adaptive relative to maladaptive coping strategies. The adolescents in the experimental group reported a significantly lower degree of stress than those in the control group. A 67.5 percent reduction in muscle tension following the use of relaxation procedures was reported by the experimental group members. The program appears to have been successful in developing stress management skills in two major areas emphasized in the intervention, cognitive control coping strategies and relaxation methods.
Chaos Due to Resonances in Physical Systems

Here we survey several applications of the theory developed in Chapter 2. The problems are picked from rigid body dynamics, fluid mechanics, atmospheric science, and nonlinear optics. Almost all physical models we study are dissipative and have been noted to display complex dynamics, yet the usual Melnikov method (see Section 1.27) does not reveal any chaotic behavior when applied to perturbations of their integrable limits. Rather, most of these models tend to develop their chaotic attractors, as the perturbation increases, around orbits homoclinic to slow or partially slow manifolds. While the techniques are still missing for the analytic study of such attractors, the attracting nature of heteroclinic cycles near resonances can be shown explicitly in some examples (cf. Section 3.7).
Improved Survival of Cancer Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit between 2002 and 2011 at a U.S. Teaching Hospital

Purpose Cancer patients are at increased risk of treatment- or disease-related admission to the intensive care unit. Over the past decades, both critical care and cancer care have improved substantially. Due to increased cancer-specific survival, we hypothesized that the number of cancer patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and survival have increased. Materials and methods MIMIC-III was used to study trends and outcomes of cancer patients admitted to the ICU between 2002 and 2011. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounders of mortality. Results Among 41,468 patients analyzed, 1,083 were hemato-oncologic, 4,330 were oncologic and 66 patients had both a hematological and solid malignancy. Admission numbers more than doubled and the proportion of cancer patients in the ICU increased steadily from 2002 to 2011. In both the univariate and multivariate analyses, solid cancers and hematologic cancers were strongly associated with 28-day mortality. This association was even stronger for 1-year mortality, with odds ratios of 4.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.69 to 4.38) and 2.25 (95% CI, 1.93 to 2.62), respectively. Over the 10-year study period, both 28-day and 1-year mortality decreased, with hematologic patients showing the strongest annual adjusted decrease in the odds of death. There was considerable heterogeneity among solid cancer types. Conclusion Between 2002 and 2011, the number of cancer patients admitted to the ICU more than doubled, while clinical severity scores remained overall unchanged, suggesting improved treatment. Although cancer patients had higher mortality rates, both 28-day and 1-year mortality of hematologic patients decreased faster than that of non-cancer patients, while mortality rates of cancer patients strongly depended on cancer type.
Fecal urgency is common in constipated patients and is associated with anxiety.

Background Fecal urgency is a symptom generally associated with diarrhea but is also reported by patients with constipation. Our aim was to (a) assess the prevalence and burden of fecal urgency in constipated patients (b) evaluate gastrointestinal and psychiatric predictors of moderate to severe fecal urgency in these patients. Methods Patients presenting consecutively to a tertiary outpatient gastroenterology clinic with constipation were included. Patients were considered to have moderate to severe fecal urgency if ≥50% of bowel movements (BMs) in the past 3 months were associated with fecal urgency. Anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance were diagnosed using a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) t-score of ≥60. Abdominal pain and constipation severity were also assessed using PROMIS questionnaires. Univariable and stepwise logistic regression were used to identify predictors of moderate to severe fecal urgency. Key results Of 139 constipated patients, 70.8% reported experiencing fecal urgency in the past 3 months and 25.8% reported being significantly bothered by it. Moderate to severe fecal urgency was reported by 27% of 139 patients. Frequency of loose stools (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 2.0) and presence of anxiety (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1, 5.0) were independent predictors of moderate to severe fecal urgency. Conclusions and inferences Fecal urgency is common in patients with constipation and is frequently bothersome to many patients. We identified clinical and psychiatric factors associated with moderate to severe fecal urgency in constipated patients with potential therapeutic implications if validated in future studies.
Pendulum beams: a window into the quantum pendulum

Parallels between the Helmholtz and Schrodinger equations can be exploited for using light beams to investigate quantum problems. We present the study of a type of non-diffracting beams known as pendulum beams, where the optical modes satisfy a form of the Helmholtz equation that is identical to the Schrodinger equation for the mechanical pendulum. We prepared optical beams in the corresponding eigenmodes and made measurements of their Fourier spectrum. We find remarkable quantitative agreement between the measured angular spectrum and the quantum mechanical probabilities.
Sulfate promotion of selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide by ammonia on ceria

Selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide by ammonia (NH3-SCR) is a promising technology for NOx emission control. In this work, the recently discovered sulfate promotion effect in this reaction was thoroughly investigated on ceria. Sulfates derived from different organic S precursors all exhibit a promotion effect. Mechanistic studies generate a reaction network including both Langmuir–Hinshelwood and Eley–Rideal mechanisms. Sulfates were shown to be versatile promoters with multiple functions: they tune the adsorption of reactants towards a more balanced intermediate coverage by creating strong Lewis acid sites, facilitate *NH2 formation, and suppress ammonia oxidation through surface oxygen deactivation. The comparison between sulfates and the classic inorganic promoter FeOx revealed that sulfates are more effective, especially at high temperature. This is mainly attributed to the high coverages of Eley–Rideal intermediates and low ammonia oxidation activity on sulfated ceria. This work provides fundamental understanding of the role of surface sulfates in NH3-SCR, which are essential under actual operation conditions. This understanding presents an exciting opportunity for future catalyst design with high durability and low cost.
Clinical phenomenon of cerebral palsy and deafness.

The clinical phenomenon of deafness and cerebral palsy is investigated based on a study of 69 cases. Data on intelligence, psychological adjustment, educational achievement, communication skills, physical disabilities, audiometric patterns, etiological factors, and prevalence are reported. From this information steps for prevention and habilitation are developed. The future epidemiology of the condition is projected based on an integration of the research findings and on current medical advances in the treatment and prevention of complications of Rh factor, rubella, and meningitis.
A Case study on the utility of predictive toxicology tools in alternatives assessments for hazardous chemicals in children’s consumer products

Children’s consumer products represent an important exposure source for many toxicants. Chemicals of high concern, as designated by the Washington State Child Safe Product Act include phthalates, Bisphenol A (BPA) and parabens, among others. As regulation and reporting requirements increase, so has demand for safer alternatives. This project examines how predictive toxicology and exposure comparison tools can fill gaps in alternatives assessments for hazardous chemicals found in children’s products. Phthalates, parabens, BPA and their alternatives were assessed for endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity using authoritative lists and US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) predictive toxicology and exposure comparison tools. Resources included the European Chemical Agency’s Endocrine Disruptor Substances of Concern database, Global Harmonization System and Classification of Labeling Chemicals, Quantitative Structural Activity Relationships from the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool, the Toxicological Prioritization Index (ToxPi) score calculated from the ToxCast Database, and No Observable Adverse Effects Levels (NOAELs)/Highest No Effects Levels (HNEL) from animal studies found in the CompTox Chemistry Dashboard. Exposure was assessed using ExpoCast predictions. Though alternatives were rarely included in authoritative lists, predictive toxicology tools suggested that BPA alternatives may not be safer but paraben and phthalate alternatives may be safer. All four paraben and no bisphenol or phthalate alternatives were listed on EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List. Overall, we found that predictive toxicology tools help fill gaps for alternatives assessments when existing classifications are incomplete.
“My doctor says the cancer is worse, but I believe in miracles”—When religious belief in miracles diminishes the impact of news of cancer progression on change in prognostic understanding

BACKGROUND News of cancer progression is critical to setting accurate prognostic understanding, which guides patients' treatment decision making. This study examines whether religious belief in miracles modifies the effect of receiving news of cancer progression on change in prognostic understanding. METHODS In a multisite, prospective cohort study, 158 patients with advanced cancer, whom oncologists expected to die within 6 months, were assessed before and after the visit at which scan results were discussed. Before the visit, religious belief in miracles was assessed; after the visit, patients indicated what scan results they had received (cancer was worse vs cancer was stable, better, or other). Before and after the visit, prognostic understanding was assessed, and a change score was computed. RESULTS Approximately 78% of the participants (n = 123) reported at least some belief in miracles, with almost half (n = 73) endorsing the strongest possible belief. A significant interaction effect emerged between receiving news of cancer progression and belief in miracles in predicting change in prognostic understanding (b = -0.18, P = .04). Receiving news of cancer progression was associated with improvement in the accuracy of prognostic understanding among patients with weak belief in miracles (b = 0.67, P = .007); however, among patients with moderate to strong belief in miracles, news of cancer progression was unrelated to change in prognostic understanding (b = 0.08, P = .64). CONCLUSIONS Religious belief in miracles was highly prevalent and diminished the impact of receiving news of cancer progression on prognostic understanding. Assessing patients' beliefs in miracles may help to optimize the effectiveness of "bad news" scan result discussions.
Cystic Fibrosis-Related Diabetes

Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is a common complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in children and adults. While its pathophysiology is complex, the main feature of CFRD is inadequate insulin secretion due to functional and structural abnormalities in islet cells. Insulin remains the mainstay of glycemic therapy as it improves health outcomes in patients with CFRD. While research has focused on the basic pathogenesis of CFRD over the last several decades, numerous questions still remain.
Quantifying Video Gaming Expertise

Participants’ self- report of their level of expertise in video game play (VG) is the basis for establishing a baseline of VG experience in many studies. In this study, expert players assessed participants’ actual game play and rated it based on the number of points earned in the game and the decisions they made during their game play with an included rubric. The expert rating was regressed on the self-report of the number of hours of play per week, the self-rating of video game expertise and a spatial cognition measure. The findings suggest that self-report of expertise in video game play is inaccurate.
Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Incident Dementia: Direct and Indirect Pathways Through Metabolic Dysfunction.

Background Ambient air pollution exposure has been associated with dementia. Additionally, epidemiologic evidence supports associations between air pollution and diabetes as well as diabetes and dementia. Thus, an indirect pathway between air pollution and dementia may exist through metabolic dysfunction. Objective To investigate whether local traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) influences incident dementia and cognitive impairment, non-dementia (CIND) in a cohort of older Mexican Americans. We also assess how much of this estimated effect might be mediated through type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods In a 10-year, prospective study of Latinos (n = 1,564), we generated TRAP-NOx as a surrogate for pollution from local traffic sources at participants' residences during the year prior to enrollment. We used Cox proportional hazards modeling and mediation analysis to estimate the effects of TRAP-NOx on dementia and/or CIND and indirect pathways operating through T2DM. Results Higher TRAP-NOx was associated with incident dementia (HR = 1.55 for the highest versus lower tertiles, 95% CI = 1.04, 2.55). Higher TRAP-NOx was also associated with T2DM (OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.27, 2.05); furthermore, T2DM was associated with dementia (HR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.42, 2.66). Mediation analysis indicated that 20% of the estimated effect of TRAP-NOx on dementia/CIND was mediated through T2DM. Conclusion Our results suggest that exposure to local traffic-related air pollution is associated with incident dementia. We also estimated that 20% of this effect is mediated through T2DM. Thus, ambient air pollution might affect brain health via direct damage as well as through indirect pathways related to diabetes and metabolic dysfunction.
Postoperative Assessment After Orbital-Zygomaticomaxillary Surgery

A postoperative CT scan is essential for the evaluation of the postoperative results. Linear measurements, surface area, and volumetric analysis can be performed on the postoperative CT scan to critically analyze the postoperative outcomes. Achieving adequate reduction of the complex, as evaluated by the postoperative CT, will result in an acceptable level of facial projection and symmetric globe position.
Force Theorem for Two-Dimensional Darcy Resistance

AbstractA simple formula for the resistance experienced by an arbitrary cylinder in Darcy flow is presented. This formula is then applied to elliptic cylinders in uniform flow as well as flow due t...
Migration and Elderly Care When Women Leave, Who Cares for Older Adults? A Case Study of Cuba

Various studies have shown that since the late twentieth century, Cuban migration follows global patterns of feminisation. As more Cuban women migrate during their reproductive years, fertility rates have decreased in the island, resulting in the shrinking of the youth population relative to older adults. Both the lack and unequal distribution of care services for older adults and the shrinking welfare services suggest an impending crisis; and the failure of social policy to anticipate these problems and plan accordingly further aggravates it. The result is an uneven landscape, particularly within a general context of social stratification, with some sectors and geographical areas facing greater hardships than others. In this chapter we delve onto these issues to analyse the relationship between international migration patterns and both, population ageing and the crisis of elderly care in Cuba.
Acylation modification and/or guar gum conjugation enhanced functional properties of pea protein isolate

Abstract There has been an increasing demand for diverse and more functional plant-based protein ingredients for food uses. This study aims to improve the functional properties of pea protein isolate through acylation and/or conjugation with guar gum and investigate the physicochemical characteristics of the modified proteins. Acylated pea proteins were prepared by reacting with acetic anhydride (AA) or succinic anhydride (SA) at 0.3 or 0.6 g of AA or SA per g protein, respectively. Guar gum-pea protein conjugates were prepared by incubating the mixture at a mass ratio of 1:20 and 1:40 at 60 °C for 24 h, respectively. Acylated-guar gum-conjugated pea proteins were also prepared to investigate their synergistic effects. Both conjugated and acylated pea proteins showed significantly improved oil holding capacity of up to 2.20 ± 0.05 and 2.09 ± 0.03 g oil/g protein, respectively, compared to the unmodified protein (1.03 ± 0.02 g oil/g). The acylated pea protein also had greater water holding capacity of up to 7.01 ± 0.31 g water/g protein compared to the unmodified protein (3.57 ± 0.05 g water/g). Emulsion capacity and stability were improved up to 96–100% and 95–100%, respectively, for the modified proteins (e.g., 1:20 conj., SA0.3/0.6, AA 0.3/0.6 conj., SA 0.3/0.6 conj.). The suspensions prepared with 9% acetylated pea protein formed firm gels. Sequential acylation and conjugation of pea proteins demonstrated more beneficial and synergistic effects on the water holding capacity and emulsifying properties. However, the in vitro gastrointestinal digestibility of the modified pea proteins decreased compared to that of the control pea protein. Overall, the acylated and conjugated pea proteins possessed superior functional properties that could be used as novel food ingredients in meat alternative or beverage applications.
Why Is It Taking So Long to Secure Internet Routing?: Routing security incidents can still slip past deployed security defenses.

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is the glue that sticks the Internet together, enabling data communications between large networks operated by different organizations. BGP makes Internet communications global by setting up routes for traffic between organizations - for example, from Boston University’s network, through larger ISPs (Internet service providers) such as Level3, Pakistan Telecom, and China Telecom, then on to residential networks such as Comcast or enterprise networks such as Bank of America.
Preoperative Factors Associated with 2-Year Postoperative Survey Completion in Knee Surgery Patients.

Patient-reported outcomes, such as the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures, have become increasingly valued as measures of treatment. The purpose of the study was to determine preoperative factors associated with survey compliance 2 years after elective knee surgery. Five hundred patients, age 17 years and older, undergoing knee surgery from August 2015 and March 2017 were administered questionnaires preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively. Questionnaires included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Numeric Pain Scales (NPS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and six PROMIS Domains for physical function, pain interference, social satisfaction, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Three hundred sixty-five patients (73.0%) completed both the preoperative and the 2-year surveys. A decreased likelihood of survey completion was significantly associated with black race, lower income, government-sponsored insurance, smoking, opioid use, fewer previous surgeries, lower expectations, lower PROMIS social satisfaction, higher PROMIS pain interference, and lower IPAQ physical activity. Multivariable logistic regression analysis confirmed that black race and lower IPAQ activity level were independent predictors of lower survey completion at 2-year follow-up with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.62. A more robust multivariable model that included all variables with p
Eating Disorders and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Network Analysis of the Comorbidity

Abstract Eating disorders (EDs) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occur, but the mechanisms driving this co-occurrence are not well understood. The current study explored the relationships between symptoms of ED and PTSD in a sample of male and female undergraduate students in order to identify pathways that may maintain the comorbidity. Network analysis was conducted in a sample of 344 first year undergraduates to visualize partial correlations between each symptom in the comorbidity. Core symptoms, bridge symptoms, and direct pathways between ED and PTSD symptoms were identified. The PTSD symptoms negative emotions (strength = 1.13) and negative beliefs (strength = 1.11) were the strongest symptoms in the network. The strongest bridge nodes were the ED symptoms restriction (bridge strength = 3.32) and binge eating (bridge strength = 2.63). The strongest edges between ED and PTSD nodes were between binge eating and concentration (part r = .16), restriction and sleep (part r = .14), and binge eating and positive emotions (part r = .11). Findings suggest that PTSD symptoms related to negative alterations in cognitions and mood may be highly influential in the ED-PTSD network due to their relatedness to all other symptoms. The pathway between binge eating and inability to experience positive emotions suggest that the comorbidity may be partially maintained through an affect regulation function of binge eating. (Word count: 219)
A Second-Generation System for Detection and Characterization of Steam-Turbine Rotor Flaws

Detection and characterization of steam-turbine rotor flaws are of prime concern in decisions affecting life extension. Rotors represent large capital investments where life extension can provide significant returns, especially if a forced outage or catastrophic failure is avoided. Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of flaws has proven to be a valuable tool in extending the life of rotors.
Nietzsche and Law

Contents: Series preface Introduction Part I Political Philosophy, Genealogy, Law: What is positive law?, Philippe Nonet Genealogy and jurisprudence: Nietzsche, nihilism and the social scientification of law, Marianne Constable The relevance of Nietzsche to democratic theory: micropolitics and the affirmation of difference, Nathan Widder Nietzsche and the Nazis: the impact of National Socialism on the philosophy of Nietzsche, Charles M. Yablon. Part II Legal Hermeneutics: From strife to understanding: pathological argument in Nietzsche and Gadamer, P. Christopher Smith Responding to Nietzsche: the constructive power of Destruktion, Francis J. Mootz III Nietzsche's gnosis of law, Frederick M. Dolan Friedrich Nietzsche, the code of manu and the art of legislation, Roger Berkowitz African Nietzsche: poetry, philosophy and African legal thinking, Adam Gearey It's a positivist, it's a pragmatist, it's a codifier! Reflections on Nietzsche and Stendhal, Richard H. Weisberg Nietzsche in Law's cathedral: beyond reason and postmodernism, John Linarelli. Part III Legal Critique: Law and modernity, Peter Goodrich We fearless ones: Nietzsche and critical legal studies, Adam Gearey Agonal communities of taste: law and community in Nietzsche's philosophy of transvaluation, H.W. Siemens Rationalised violence and legal colonialism: Nietzsche contra Neitzsche, Joseph Pugliese Specters of Nietzsche: potential futures for the concept of the political in Agamben and Derrida, Adam Thurschwell. Part IV Timely Reflections on the Scholarly Enterprise: 'We scholars', Friedrich Nietzsche (translated by Walter Kaufmann) Name index.
Aging and water metabolism in health and illness

Normal aging is associated with changes in body composition, thirst perception, renal function, and the hormonal regulatory systems involved in the maintenance of water and sodium balance. The presence of many diseases and drugs common in the elderly can interact with the impaired homeostatic systems to result in clinically significant disturbances of water and sodium with accompanying symptoms, morbidity, and mortality. These disorders, which include dehydration, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, urinary frequency, and urinary incontinence can either be prevented or promptly recognized and appropriately treated by understanding the physiological changes and clinical circumstances which put the elderly person at increased risk for deranged water and sodium balance.
Auctions with Price-Proportional Benefits to Bidders

After some auctions, including Amish estate sales and buyer rings′ knockout auctions, each bidder receives a share of the revenue generated by the auction. We show that in the symmetric case, equilibrium bids in both first-price sealed-bid auctions and oral auctions increase as each bidder′s share increases. In the case of independent signals, oral auctions result in higher expected equilibrium prices than do first-price sealed-bid auctions. Journal of Economic, Literature classification number: D44.
Members of the PpaA/AerR Antirepressor Family Bind Cobalamin.

ABSTRACT PpaA from Rhodobacter sphaeroides is a member of a family of proteins that are thought to function as antirepressors of PpsR, a widely disseminated repressor of photosystem genes in purple photosynthetic bacteria. PpaA family members exhibit sequence similarity to a previously defined SCHIC (sensor containing heme instead of cobalamin) domain; however, the tetrapyrrole-binding specificity of PpaA family members has been unclear, as R. sphaeroides PpaA has been reported to bind heme while the Rhodobacter capsulatus homolog has been reported to bind cobalamin. In this study, we reinvestigated tetrapyrrole binding of PpaA from R. sphaeroides and show that it is not a heme-binding protein but is instead a cobalamin-binding protein. We also use bacterial two-hybrid analysis to show that PpaA is able to interact with PpsR and activate the expression of photosynthesis genes in vivo. Mutations in PpaA that cause loss of cobalamin binding also disrupt PpaA antirepressor activity in vivo. We also tested a number of PpaA homologs from other purple bacterial species and found that cobalamin binding is a conserved feature among members of this family of proteins. IMPORTANCE Cobalamin (vitamin B12) has only recently been recognized as a cofactor that affects gene expression by interacting in a light-dependent manner with transcription factors. A group of related antirepressors known as the AppA/PpaA/AerR family are known to control the expression of photosynthesis genes in part by interacting with either heme or cobalamin. The specificity of which tetrapyrroles that members of this family interact with has, however, remained cloudy. In this study, we address the tetrapyrrole-binding specificity of the PpaA/AerR subgroup and establish that it preferentially binds cobalamin over heme.
Agonist-dependent phosphorylation and desensitization of the rat A3 adenosine receptor. Evidence for a G-protein-coupled receptor kinase-mediated mechanism.

A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) activation contributes to both the cardioprotective and antihypertensive effects of adenosine. To date, no studies have examined the mechanisms by which this receptor undergoes rapid homologous desensitization. Therefore, a functional hemagglutinin epitope-tagged A3AR has been stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, and its regulation by the AR agonist 5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) has been studied. Cellular exposure to NECA induces rapid (t-= ∼1 min) A3AR phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues. This is associated with a functional desensitization and a 30-40% reduction in the number of high affinity agonist binding sites as determined by radioligand binding assays. Activation of second messenger-regulated kinases could not mimic the effect of NECA, suggesting a role for G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). In vitro phosphorylation assays demonstrate that phosphorylation of agonist-occupied A3ARs is enhanced by GRK2 and that cellular pretreatment with NECA dramatically inhibits subsequent GRK2-mediated phosphorylation in vitro. Therefore, the A3AR is phosphorylated in situ by a kinase similar or identical to GRK2, and this may be involved in rapid functional desensitization of the A3AR.
MOCHA: Modularity in Model Checking

R. Alur1, T.A. Henzinger2, F.Y.C. Mang2, S. Qadeer2, S.K. Rajamani2, and S. Tasiran2 1 Computer & Information Science Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Computing Science Research Center, Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ 07974. alur@cis.upenn.edu 2 Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences Department, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720. ftah,fmang,shaz,sriramr,serdarg@eecs.berkeley.edu
PROCESSING OF METAL AND CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE

Keywords: CERAMIC MATERIALS - Castings ; GRAVITY CASTING ; PRESSURE CASTING ; SQUEEZE CASTING ; COMPOSITE MATERIALS Note: MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA00027812 (ISSN) Reference LMM-ARTICLE-1986-001View record in Scopus Record created on 2006-10-09, modified on 2016-08-08
Multiple region FDTD (MR/FDTD) and its application to microwave analysis and modeling

Multiple Region FDTD (MR/FDTD), an extension of classical FDTD to multiple sub-regions within a problem domain, is introduced. In MR/FDTD the problem domain is broken into several independent FDTD sub-region lattices. The sub-region lattices are terminated using a single surface integral radiation boundary condition applied simultaneously to all sub-regions providing mutual interaction between the sub-regions. The advantages of MR/FDTD for sparse modeling problems include computational and memory efficiencies that result from confining the FDTD lattices to the space near objects and the ability to use different lattices and/or lattice orientations within each sub-region. MR/FDTD also eliminates the need for local absorbing boundary conditions.
Black lives matter: a commentary on racism and public health

The recent nonindictments of police officers who killed unarmed Black men have incited popular and scholarly discussions on racial injustices in our legal system, racialized police violence, and police (mis)conduct. What is glaringly absent is a public health perspective in response to these events.We aim to fill this gap and expand the current dialogue beyond these isolated incidents to a broader discussion of racism in America and how it affects the health and well-being of people of color.Our goal is not only to reiterate how salient structural racism is in our society, but how critical antiracist work is to the core goals and values of public health.
Preparation of Smooth Muscle Cell Suspensions from the Rabbit Oviduct and Prostaglandin Binding Analysis

The preparation, viability, and prostaglandin (PG) binding characteristics of dispersed smooth muscle cells from the rabbit oviduct have been determined. Cell suspensions were prepared by enzymatic degradation of the intracellular matrix and subsequent mechanical dispersion with a wide bore pipette. The digestion media consisted of a modified Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution, pH 7.1, containing 1.6 U/mg wet wt elastase and 8 U/mg wet wt collagenase. This method provided a yield of single smooth muscle cells of approximately 3 × 106 cells/100 mg wet wt within 3–4 h of organ removal. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue dye exclusion, retention of lactate dehydrogenase, absence of 57Co-EDTA uptake, and ouabain sensitivity of cationic transport. Roughly 80% of the isolated cells remained viable after the digestion procedure. The dispersed cells specifically bound [3H]PGE2 and [3H]PGF2α.Scatc hard analysis of the binding data revealed separate homogenous populations of high affinity sites for both PGE2 a...
Trends in Sensory Quality of Roasted Peanuts Across 15 Years (1986–2000)

Abstract Enhancement of flavor of roasted peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) has been a long-standing objective of the peanut industry. Studies relative to roasted peanut flavor variation have separated the effects of genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment interaction on the sensory attributes roasted peanut, sweet, bitter, and astringent. Much of the focus of these studies has been on the genotypic variation and the possibility of genetic improvement of peanut flavor. However, most of the variation in sensory attributes is caused by non-genetic factors. Years were found to be the largest single source of variation for the sensory attributes roasted peanut and bitter. Because roasted peanut is the sensory attribute most important to the peanut consumer, it is important to know if the observed year effects varied randomly or if there was any directional trend in peanut flavor over time. Examination of a 15-yr data set for directional trends in peanut flavor indicated that all three sensory attributes...
ThinPrep® for cytologic evaluation of follicular thyroid lesions: Correlation with histologic findings

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is often the first step in management of a thyroid nodule. Although papillary carcinomas have distinctive features on conventional smears as well as ThinPrep preparations, cytopathologists rely on the architectural arrangement of cells to classify follicular lesions. The accuracy of ThinPrep in this regard has not been determined. We reviewed all thyroidectomy specimens from a 22-mo period that showed a follicular lesion and had one or more preoperative FNA. The architecture of the lesions on histology was classified as predominantly (>70%) macrofollicular (MA), predominantly microfollicular (MI), mixed (MX), or cystic (C). The presence of colloid, Hurthle cell features, cystic change, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and nonspecific lymphocytic thyroiditis were also recorded. All FNA specimens were processed with the ThinPrep(R) method and were categorized as nondiagnostic, benign (MA or MX), indeterminate (due to suboptimal cellularity), or suspicious (consistent with a microfollicular or Hurthle cell neoplasm) based on cellularity, architectural arrangement of the follicular cells, and the presence or absence of colloid on FNA. Those cytologic specimens in the indeterminate category were subcategorized as suggestive of an MA, MX, or MI lesion if possible. Histocytologic findings were correlated using Fisher's exact test. A total of 95 patients with 115 FNAs were included in the study (mean age: 48 yr; 75 females and 20 males). Seven of the FNAs were nondiagnostic, 23 benign, 69 indeterminate (5, 8, and 30 favor MA, MX, and MI, respectively, 6 cyst contents and 20 not subclassifiable) and 16 suspicious. The cytohistologic correlation for architecture was significant (P = 0.003). The cytohistologic correlation of cystic change, Hurthle cell change, and the presence of colloid (large fragments of colloid and "tissue-paper-like material" on cytology vs. abundant colloid on histology) was highly significant (P < 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.03, respectively). In conclusion, thyroid FNA with ThinPrep is useful in predicting the architectural pattern of follicular lesions. It is also reliable in predicting cystic change, Hurthle cell change, and the presence of colloid. Watery colloid is probably present as "tissue-paper-like material" in thyroid FNA ThinPrep preparations.
The Otherness of Children as a Hint of an Outside: Michel Foucault, Richard Yates and Karl Barth on Suburban Life

The essay shows how the ordinary life of children might save suburbia from itself. Disenchanted with contemporary existence, temptations of ideality tend to both vilify and verify suburban life as banal, yet to the extent that suburban life means life with children, profound possibilities subsist in that strange world. The argument unfolds in three parts. Beginning with Michel Foucault, the author shows how power courses through every form of life, colonizing depth such that desire reveals power's most fundamental expression. Secondly, Richard Yates's Revolutionary Road exemplifies power's machinations as Yates compassionately portrays the tragedy of belittling ordinary life. Finally, the author turns to Karl Barth in order to resituate Foucault's account of immanence within a larger horizon where children might be embraced as the aleatory play of difference of God's peace and patience.
Hyponatremia in legionnaires' disease.

Excerpt To the editor: The article of Dr. Kirby and associates (1) on legionnaires' disease mentions hyponatremia as a common laboratory finding in their 24 patients with Legionnaires' disease. The...
Fabry's disease—an important risk factor for stroke

Background Strokes are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in young adults. However, in most cases the cause of the stroke remains unclear. Anderson-Fabry disease is an X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disease resulting from deficient α-galactosidase and causes an endothelial vasculopathy followed by cerebral ischaemia. To determine the importance of Fabry disease in young people with stroke, we measured the frequency of unrecognised Fabry disease in a cohort of acute stroke patients. Methods Between February, 2001, and December, 2004, 721 German adults aged 18 to 55 years suffering from acute cryptogenic stroke were screened for Fabry disease. The plasma α-galactosidase activity in men was measured followed by sequencing of the entire α-GAL gene in those with low enzyme activity. By contrast, the entire α-GAL gene was genetically screened for mutations in women even if enzyme activity was normal. Findings 21 of 432 (4-9%) male stroke patients and seven of 289 (2-4%) women had a biologically significant mutation within the α-GAL gene. The mean age at onset of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease was 38.4 years (SD 13.0) in the male stroke patients and 40.3 years (13.1) in the female group. The higher frequency of infarctions in the vertebrobasilar area correlated with more pronounced changes in the vertebrobasilar vessels like dolichoectatic pathology (42.9% vs 6.8%). Interpretation We have shown a high frequency of Fabry disease in a cohort of patients with cryptogenic stroke, which corresponds to about 1.% in young stroke patients. Fabry disease must be considered in all cases of unexplained stroke in young patients, especially in those with the combination of infarction in the vertebrobasilar artery system and proteinuria.
The Musk Ox in Arctic Islands

DURING my various arctic expeditions I have learnt a good deal about the ovibos (musk ox) from conversation with the Eskimos, and perhaps more from actual observation. Especially when we were in Melville Island (1916–17) we were in almost continuous association with the animal. It has occurred to me that what we know of the present habits and distribution of ovibos throws a light on one of the geological problems of the American arctic.
Dynamic Elasticity Solution for the Transient Blast Response of Sandwich Beams/Wide Plates

The linear dynamic elasticity problem formulation and solution for a generally asymmetric sandwich beam/wide plate consisting of orthotropic core and face sheets subjected to blast loading is presented. The Laplace transform is used to obtain ordinary differential equations in the complex Laplace space (the variable being the through-thickness coordinate), which are subsequently solved in closed form for a simply supported beam. The time response is then obtained by a numerical inverse Laplace transform by using the Euler method. The results for realistic material and blast cases for the transient displacements and face sheet/core interfacial transverse normal and shear stresses are presented. A comparison of the elasticity results is also made with first-order shear and high-order sandwich panel theories. This solution can be used as a benchmark in assessing the accuracy of advanced sandwich panel theories.
An investigation of the thermal processes of casting and cooling of fused and cast corundum blocks

The problem of cooling fused and cast parts in a unidimensional approximation under conditions of a blurred phase transition of the molten material into the crystalline state was solved.
Efficacy of primary chemoprophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia during the first year of life in infants infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

To evaluate the efficacy of primary chemoprophylaxis in preventing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in infants with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection during the first year of life, we conducted a retrospective chart review of infants with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection born at New York University Medical Center-Bellevue Hospital Center, in New York. Between March 1989 and March 1993, 24 infants received primary chemoprophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the first year of life and 24 infants did not receive primary prophylaxis. The CD4 + T-lymphocyte counts in the two groups did not differ during the first year of life. The median age at the time of initiation of prophylaxis was 3 months, and the average duration of prophylaxis was 5.5 months. Among the infants who had not recelved prophylaxis, five cases of PCP were diagnosed at a median age of 5 months; in contrast, no cases of PCP were observed in the infants receiving prophylaxis (log-rank test, p =0.017). The probability of surviving after 1 year of age was 92% for the children who recelved prophylaxis and 74% for those who did not (long-rank test, p =0.035). These data indicate that chemoprophylaxis is highly effective in preventing primary PCP and improving survival time in infants with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection.
A critical thinking challenge for the chief of staff: a case study

A military college for organisational-level leaders identified the improvement of the critical thinking (CT) curriculum as a high priority. The first cycle of design, development and implementation was not successful due to a lack of time and assembling a team that did not have representation from all teaching departments, curriculum developers, and operations staff. After conducting a detailed after action review and an appreciative sharing of knowledge (ASK) project to understand what had happened, the college’s chief of staff had to develop a strategy to plan for a second cycle of design to develop a critical thinking course that could be successfully integrated into the year-long academic programme of each teaching department within the college. The chief of staff was faced with a complex social and technical challenge with many different stakeholders. This case study examines those challenges.