cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure-toxicity relationships for benzenes evaluated with Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Toxicity data for 200 substituted benzenes tested in the two-day Tetrahymena pyriformis population growth impairment assay representing the neutral narcosis, polar narcosis, respiratory uncoupling, and weak and strong electrophilic mechanisms of toxic action were evaluated. A quantitative structure−toxicity model correlating toxic potency [log(IGC50-1)] with hydrophobicity quantified by the 1-octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow) and electrophilic reactivity quantified by the molecular orbital parameter, maximum superdelocalizability (Smax), was developed. This model [log(IGC50-1) = 0.50(log Kow) + 9.85(Smax) − 3.47; n = 197, r2 = 0.816, s = 0.34, F = 429, Pr > F = 0.0001] allows for the prediction of acute potency without the a priori identification of the mechanism of action. The examination of residuals reveals that neutral narcotics with high volatility (e.g., methyl- and chloro-substituted benzenes) and highly reactive fluoro- and nitro-containing derivatives are fitted poorly. A comparison o...
Deceit and transparency in placebo research.

Studies designed to elicit the full strength of the placebo effect differ from those in which the placebo effect represents a nuisance factor to be accounted for in order to establish the efficacy of a treatment. In the latter, informed consent is the rule; in the first, while consent may be informed in some narrow sense of the word, deception is common. However, the trickery of placebo experimentation goes beyond straightforward lies to include the use of crafty ambiguities, half-truths, and deliberate omissions in scripts read to the subjects of these studies. As words come to resemble therapeutic agents in their own right, it is only to be expected that researchers would methodically exploit verbal effects to evoke the responses they are looking for. Even experiments in which placebo is disclosed as placebo have used language in leading and misleading ways. Such studies are conducted in the hope of yielding results that might translate into clinical practice, but it should be noted that good clinical practice has a placebo value of its own — that is, confers a benefit over and beyond the specific effects of treatments — even if nothing like a sugar pill is administered.
On multidimensional system identification

Various existing multidimensional system identification theories and techniques are reviewed. Particular attention is given to various modeling and parameter estimation techniques. State space, conditional Markovian simultaneous autoregressive, and finite-order autoregressive moving average methods and their various variants are discussed. Maximum-likelihood, least-squares, and other commonly used techniques are also studied. >
Laplacian matrices of graphs: a survey

Abstract Let G be a graph on n vertices. Its Laplacian matrix is the n -by- n matrix L ( G ) D ( G )− A ( G ), where A(G) is the familiar (0,1) adjacency matrix, and D(G) is the diagonal matrix of vertex degrees. This is primarily an expository article surveying some of the many results known for Laplacian matrices. Its six sections are: Introduction, The Spectrum, The Algebraic Connectivity, Congruence and Equivalence, Chemical Applications, and Immanants.
A method for translating printed documents using a hand-held device

We have developed a system to translate and interpret printed documents (such as periodicals) using a commercially available mobile device (e.g., a mobile telephone) with an embedded camera. The system comprises an automatic layout analysis tool along with an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) engine and a translation engine. The translation engine combines Rule-Based Machine Translation (RBMT) software, a list of context-sensitive words/phrases, and an encyclopedia for a list of words. We implemented the proposed system on a Nokia N900 smartphone for translating newspaper articles from Spanish to English. Our tests show that the accuracy and speed of the system is mostly influenced by the accuracy and speed of the OCR method used. Our application requires 19.43 MB of memory and no more than 28 MB of dynamic memory. We show the ability to complete the process for roughly 410 words in as little as 65 seconds for high accuracy or 17 seconds for high speed, on average. The energy consumption in both cases is minimal.
The acetyl-CoA synthase from Clostridium thermoaceticum: from gene cluster to achive-site metal clusters

Clostridium thermoaceticum and many other anaerobic bacteria synthesize cell carbon from CO 2 via the Wood pathway of acetyl-CoA synthesis (Fig. 1) (see [1-4] for review). The first part of the synthesis involves the reduction of CO 2 to methyltetrahydrofolate (CH3-H4folate) via formate dehydrogenase and tetrahydrofolate-dependent enzymes. These enzymes are involved in key steps in one-carbon metabolism in all cells but are found there in fairly low levels. In acetogenic bacteria, they are present in very high levels. These H 4 folate enzymes have all been purified and key mechanistic studies have been performed by Ljungdahl [1] and more recently the genes encoding nearly all these proteins have been cloned and the sequences are being determined (Ljungdahl, personal communication). The conversion of CH3H4folate, CO and CoA to acetyl-CoA is the second part of the acetyI-CoA pathway and involves three enzymes: a corrinoid/iron-suifur protein (C/Fe-SP), methyltransferase (McTr), and acetylCoA synthase (alternatively called CO dehydrogenase, CODH). Several investigators have been
CMOS combinational circuit sizing by stage-wise tapering

We describe a fast (linear time) procedure to optimally size transistors in a chain of multi-input gates/stages. The fast sizing is used in a simultaneous sizing and restructuring optimization procedure, to accurately predict relative optimal performance of alternative circuit structures for a given total area. The idea extends the concept of optimally sizing a buffer chain, and uses tapering constants based on the position of a stage in a circuit, and the position of a transistor in a stack.
Local state models for m-dimensional operators

Local state models have been widely considered for the realisation of 2-dimensional discrete time filters. This paper establishes the scope of local state models and extends this concept to m dimensions and partial differential equation settings.
Human Capital on the High Seas - Job Mobility and Returns to Technical Skill During Industrialization

This paper examines the effects of engineer-oriented and technical experience on job mobility during an era known for its rapid technological innovation and capital advancements: the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. We first develop an on-the-job search model to help us understand factors leading to job switching under rigid payment systems. Then, using longitudinal data on British and American naval officer- and engineer-careers, we demonstrate how ceteris paribus earnings-increases through promotions can decrease the probability of job switching. We also show how different forms of technical experience affect probabilities of job switching. Combining both insights and following a Topel and Ward (1992) based empirical framework, we find various rates of return to engineering and technical experience comparable to rates of return found today. To our knowledge these are the earliest historic estimates of returns to any type of technical skill.
Employing Eye-Tracking Technology in Researching the Effectiveness of Recasts in CMC

This chapter reports on an exploratory study, which asked whether eye-tracking technology could help determine what learners attend to in an L2 SCMC task-based learning environment. Eight learners of English completed a two-way information gap with a native speaker of English. The learners’ eye movements were captured using a Tobii 1750 eye tracker. Learner eye movements immediately following a recast by the native speaker were evaluated for duration of eye fixation on the recast. Instances of learner uptake following recasts were also calculated. Results suggest that learners notice just over 60% of intensive recasts. The results also show that lexical recasts were much easier for learners to notice, retain, and use productively in subsequent chat interaction than were grammatical recasts. Further, learners were able to use the noticed lexical recast items more accurately than the noticed grammatical items on the post-test writing measure. Successful uptake ­following recasts was found to occur rarely. Finally, the data suggest that methodologically it may be problematic to consider learner uptake a strong measure of noticing. A call is made for follow-up studies using eye-tracking technology in the exploration of noticing, especially those which seek to correlate the eye-gaze ­measure of noticing with other, more established measures of noticing.
Hardiness Training for High-Risk Undergraduates

We evaluated the effectiveness of hardiness training in improving the retention rates and grade-point averages offirst-semester high-risk undergraduates. Undergraduates in the experimental group underwent hardiness training as a regular semester course. The control group consisted of demographically comparable undergraduates who underwent either a traditional student-enrichment or a leadership-training class. These control-group courses were taught by the instructors of the hardiness-training classes. At the end of the year following training, the experimental group showed a significantly higher increase in grade-point average and a trend toward greater retention than did the control group.
Deconvolution of Overlapping Auditory Brainstem Responses Obtained at High Stimulus Rates

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Methodology Results Discussion References
Primary immunodeficiency in the neonate: Early diagnosis and management

Many primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) manifest in the neonatal period but can be challenging to diagnose and manage optimally. In part, the difficulty stems from the natural immaturity of the neonatal immune system that may mask immune deficits and/or complicate interpretation of clinical findings and laboratory assays. The great diversity of PIDs--from innate immune system defects to those that impact the humoral and/or cellular components of the adaptive immune system--and the rapid rate at which new PIDs are being discovered makes it challenging for practitioners to stay current. Moreover, recent appreciation for immune deficiencies that lead to autoinflammation and autoimmunity have broadened the spectrum of neonatal PID, adding additional complexity to an already intricate field. This article serves to highlight the deficiencies in the neonatal immune system, while providing a review of the more common PIDs that present in the neonate and guidelines for diagnosis and supportive care.
Abstract #4774: Discovery of a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of PKD functionality

Protein kinase D is a novel family of serine/threonine kinases targeted by the second messenger diacylglycerol. It has been implicated in many important cellular processes and pathological conditions. However, further analysis of PKD in these processes is severely hampered by the lack of a PKD-specific inhibitor that can be readily applied to cells and in animal models. We now report the discovery of the first potent and selective cell-active small molecule inhibitor for PKD - benzoxoloazepinolone CID755673. This inhibitor was identified from the National Institutes of Health small molecule repository library of 196,173 compounds using a human PKD1 (PKCmu)-based fluorescence polarization high throughput screening assay. CID755673 suppressed half of the PKD1 enzyme activity at 182 nM and exhibited selective PKD1 inhibition when compared to AKT, PLK1, CAK, CAMKIIalpha and three different PKC isoforms. Moreover, it was not competitive with ATP for enzyme inhibition. In cell-based assays, CID755673 blocked phorbol ester-induced endogenous PKD1 activation in LNCaP cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Functionally, CID755673 inhibited the known biological actions of PKD1 including phorbol ester-induced class IIa histone deacetylase 5 nuclear exclusion, vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein transport from the Golgi to the plasma membrane, and the Ilimaquinone-induced Golgi fragmentation. Moreover, CID755673 inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion. In summary, our findings indicate that CID755673 is a potent and selective PKD1 inhibitor with valuable pharmacological and cell biological potential. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 4774.
The Challenges of Maximalist Democracy

Diverse nations have every right to construct new conceptions of democracy, which respond to their religious, economic, and social needs. While secular liberal democracy has served many nations well, it cannot be universalized. No view of democracy must force Muslim nations to oust their religious traditions from the parameters of law and state. Muslims have every right to institute a fusion state that combines rather than separates law and Islam. Exercising this right, however, Muslim nations must protect the fundamental liberties of religious minorities. An Islamic system is most acceptable when it embraces maximalist democracy, allowing secular parties to challenge the official ideology - something that Iran does not permit.
Extravascular lung water. Concepts in clinical application.

Extravascular lung water (EVLW) information opens a new, more sophisticated method for assessing cardiopulmonary function. Recent evidence suggests that EVLW is a key component to correct interpretation of hemodynamics, including the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. One limitation to employing EVLW data is the limited accuracy of current methods of estimating extravascular lung water. Direct measurement of EVLW is preferable, with a variety of techniques available to perform the measurement. All methods of measuring EVLW require further refinement, however, before widespread clinical application will be realized.
Measuring group work dynamics and its relation with L2 learners’ task motivation and language production:

While learners of a second language (L2) are increasingly interacting in small groups as part of a communicative methodological paradigm, very few studies have investigated the social dynamics that...
Toward Ground Vehicle Electrification in the U.S. Army: An Overview of Recent Activities

The U.S. Army has been pursuing efforts to achieve better fuel economy in its ground vehicles to reduce the overall fuel-related logistic burden as well as enable cost savings. In military applications, depending on the destination to which fuel needs to be carried and the way it is carried (i.e., by ground, air, ship, etc.), the cost per gallon of fuel can be in the range of US$1,000 in certain cases (Tiron, 2009). This is a large expense, and there is always the motivation to improve fuel economy in the military. Among various activities to achieve the goal of fuel economy improvement, vehicle electrification is considered to be an important one and includes the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles in the military. In addition, the army also needs high-voltage (HV) high-power electrical devices for nonvehicular applications, including but not limited to certain types of arms that can be electrified.
The Greater Wax Moth: Adult Behavior

The behavior of adult Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was observed throughout the year in apiaries of Apis mellifera L. Generally, eclosion occurred in the evening, and moths left the hive to expand their wings even if bees were not present. Soon aftr dark, the moths flew into trees, and the males were seldom observed again. Females that tried to enter a hive in the early evening were chased by the bees, but ca. 2 h after dark, the bees were no longer aggressive. Oviposition in hives started ca. 24 h after eclosion and continued for 4 nights. Each morning the moths left the hives shortly before daylight and flew into trees. Females generally visited strong bee colonies and not decoy hives containing comb or weak colonies. Mated female moths seemed to be attracted to some hives and completely avoided others. In winter when the temperature was 21°C or lower, adults stayed in the hives that contained brood.
GENETIC AND REPRODUCTIVE DIFFERENTIATION OF THE SUBSPECIES, DROSOPHILA EQUINOXIALIS CARIBBENSIS.

Sibling species are species morphologically so similar as to be practically indistinguishable from each other by inspection of their structural features. The Drosophila willistoni group consists of at least twelve species, six of which are siblings. Two of the sibling species, D. pavlovskiana Dobzhansky and Kastritis, and D. insularis Dobzhansky, are narrow endemics; the former in Guyana and the latter on some islands of the Lesser Antilles. The other four species, D. willistoni Sturtevant, D. equinoxialis Dobzhansky, D. paulistorum Dobzhansky and Pavan, and D. tropicalis Burla and de Canba, have wide and largely overlapping geographic distributions. The four species are sympatric through Central America and the northern half of continental South America; two or three of them are sympatric in the southern half of Mexico, the larger Caribbean islands, Peru, Bolivia, and the southern half of Brazil (Spassky et al., 1971). We have studied for several years genetic variation in the sibling species of the D. willistoni group, using techniques of gel electrophoresis and enzyme assay. D. equinoxialis consists of two subspecies, D. e. equinoxialis and D. e. caribbensis (Ayala, 1973). In this paper we report results of the study of reproductive isolation between these two subspecies, and we compare genetic variation within and between the subspecies. Ayala and Powell (1972) have
ConfChem Conference on Interactive Visualizations for Chemistry Teaching and Learning: Using an Interactive Simulation To Support Development of Expert Practices for Balancing Chemical Equations

An in-class guided-inquiry activity utilizing feedback from a PhET interactive simulation offers an opportunity to foster student learning via an inquiry-based approach. Here, student groups in a preparatory chemistry course leveraged representations in the Balancing Chemical Equations simulation to define and develop successful practices for nonredox equation balancing without explicit instruction. This communication summarizes one of the invited papers to the 2015 Spring ConfChem: Interactive Visualizations for Chemistry Teaching and Learning ACS CHED Committee on Computers in Chemical Education online conference held from May 8 to June 4, 2015. Discussions therein highlighted the importance of recognizing student challenges, broader disciplinary context, and a diversity of problem-solving approaches in the learning and teaching of chemical equation balancing.
Report of three cases of congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency in children

Objectives To investigate the diagnosis and therapy of congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency in children. Methods The characteristics of clinical manifestation,diagnosis and effects of the therapy of three congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency cases were summarized. Results In three children, aged 16 months to 19 months, the bowel movement was normal during breast feeding after birth, diarrhea began when weaning breast milk and fed on rice paste or rice porridge, the stool was yellow and watery-like or loose, 7-10 times a day. Physical examinations from the three children showed mild to moderate protein-energy malnutrition. Sucrose challenge tests showed the highest promoted postprandial blood glucose values compared with the fasting blood-glucose were 0.1 (2.0%), 0.1 (2.6%) and 0.9 (19.1%) mmol·L-1, respectively. All of the three children had yellow and watery-like stool 2-4 hours after the sucrose challenge tests. Compared with the fasting blood-glucose, glucose challenge tests showed the highest promoted postprandial blood glucose values were 1.5 (30.6%), 2.3 (65.7%) and 4.4 (107%) mmol·L-1, respectively. Nobody had diarrhea after the glucose challenge tests. When the three children got diagnosed, food containing sucrose and starch was stopped. One to two days after feeding with paste made of soybean and pork, the stool turned to be normal. Three cases had been misdiagnosed as long as 9 to 12 months. Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency was easy to be misdiagnosed as lactose intolerence and milk-protein allergy, but lactose free formula and free amino acid formula could not improve the diarrhea respectively. It also should be differentiate with celiac disease, crohn's disease, intestinal parasitosis,lymphoma and lymphosarcoma. Follow-up: The first case could tolerate small quantity rice and noodle when he was 3 years and 4 months old, and he could tolerate normal dose rice and noodle when he was 4 years and 4 months old. He still could not tolerate sucrose. The second case could tolerate small quantity rice and noodle when he was 3 years old . The third case could not tolerate rice and noodle till now (2 years and 1 month old). Conclusions When congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency is suspected, the diagnosis can be made according to the classic history (diarrhea began after weaning the breast milk, the diarrhea can rapidly recovered after avoiding food containing sucrose and starch, along with a positive sucrose challenge test).
Partial Transposition of the Penis and Scrotum with Anterior Urethral Diverticulum in a Child Born with the Caudal Regression Syndrome

Caudal regression is a rare anomaly often associated with urogenital abnormalities. We report a case of the caudal regression syndrome associated with partial transportion of the penis and scrotum, and a giant anterior urethral diverticulum. We also report our surgical technique for 1-stage reconstruction of the external genitalia, as well as a review of the embryological development of this anomaly.
Use of a Polytetrafluoroethylene Tube Graft as a Circumferential Neotunica During Placement of a Penile Prosthesis

AbstractVarious techniques have evolved for augmentation of the tunica albuginea in cases when tunical tissue has been found deficient during penile prosthesis implantation. An intraoperative situation occurred in which the size of the tunical defect did not permit primary tunical closure or allow for approximation by placement of a tunical patch graft. In this case, to ensure satisfactory insertion of a penile prosthesis a polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) tube graft was used as a circumferential neotunica.
Acculturation Factors Related to Obesity of Latino American Men Nationwide

Obesity is a public health epidemic, particularly among underrepresented populations. With a large proportion of immigrants, Latino Americans comprise the largest minority population in the United States. This study examined the association of acculturation factors with obesity among Latino American men ( n = 1,127) using the National Latino and Asian American Study. The result identified two acculturation-related factors (being U.S.-born and living in the United States for the longest period/5-10 years) as positive correlates. In contrast, a different study on obesity in Latino American women demonstrated discrimination, but not the above factors, as significant correlates. The men's pattern suggests that the Hispanic/Latino paradox might have greater implications for men with respect to weight issues. Furthermore, Mexican American and Other Latino American men presented a greater likelihood of being obese than Cuban and Puerto Rican men. The findings, if replicated in prospective research, suggest the need for gender- and ethnic-specific intervention for obesity in Latino American men, particularly for the largest subgroup, Mexican Americans.
LQL Like Plans for Sampling by Variables

Variables sampling plans can sometimes be used with rectifying inspection in place of attribute plans. Frequently this will reduce the average total inspection by a substantial amount. Considered here are LQL like plans derived under the assumption that..
Regulation of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cell Proliferation by CTLA4.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia with heterogenous clinical course. Prognostic markers such as CD38 expression has proven to be reliable in predicting clinical outcome where high CD38 expression correlates with poor prognosis and low CD38 expression is associated with good prognosis. Recently, our lab has shown that expression of CTLA4 in CLL cells is inversely correlated with CD38 expression using microarray profiling and real time PCR. Microarray analysis showed significant differential expression of CTLA4 between high and low CD38 subgroups (n=49) (Joshi et al . Clinical Cancer Research, 2007, in press). However, whether CTLA4 plays a direct role in CLL pathogenesis or not is unknown. Therefore to study the potential role of CTLA4 in CLL, CTLA4 expression was down regulated in primary CLL cells from six different patients using antisense oligonucleotide. The down regulation of CTLA4 expression was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. The proliferative capability of the CTLA4-down regulated CLL cells was determined using MTT assay as well as radiolabeled thymidine uptake assay at 24, 48 and 72 hours in culture. There was a significant increase in the proliferation of CTLA4-down regulated CLL cells compared to untreated control CLL cells or CLL cells treated with an irrelevant oligonucoeotide. To further understand the CTLA4 mediated regulation of CLL cell proliferation, expression levels of downstream target molecules of CTLA4 such as NFATC2 and c-FOS was studied using RT-PCR. There was a significantly increased expression of target genes NFATC2 and c-FOS, molecules in the CTLA4-downregulated CLL cells compared to control CLL cells. In addition, further analyses of the microarray data revealed that CD38 high expressing CLL cells (n=22) has significant (p<0.05) higher NFATC2 and c-FOS expression compared to CD38 low expressing CLL cells (n=29). This was further confirmed by real time PCR analyses (figure1). Thus, these results clearly demonstrate that CTLA4 is involved in the regulation of proliferation of CLL cells via regulating the expression of NFATC2 and c-FOS, the downstream signaling molecules involved in the cell proliferation. (This work was supported by the CLL Foundation, Houston, TX). ![Figure][1] Figure [1]: pending:yes
Distributed exact subgraph matching in small diameter dynamic graphs

Subgraph isomorphism is a fundamental graph problem with many applications. Due to its NP-Hard nature, subgraph isomorphism in large dynamic graphs is considered as a challenging problem. In this paper, we present a distributed graph pruning algorithm (D-IDS) for dynamic graphs to enable efficient subgraph isomorphism. D-IDS continuously maintains the maximum dual simulation match in a dynamic graph. We develop D-ISI, a distributed incremental algorithm for subgraph isomorphism that utilizes D-IDS. We evaluated our algorithms on a commodity cluster in Amazon EC2 using real world graph datasets. Our evaluation results show that the graph pruning technique is highly effective on graphs with small diameter where it achieves over 60% reduction in graph size.
A Catholic Perspective on Organ Donation After Cardiac Death

One alternative to increase the supply of human organs for transplantation being re-examined, especially for kidney transplants, is the use of the donation after cardiac death [DCD] criteria. DCD is defined as the surgical recovery of organs after the pronouncement of death based on cessation of cardiopulmonary function. Patients who meet the DCD criteria are either severely ill on life support, and life support can be withdrawn with proper consent, or they have suffered unexpected cardiac arrest, whether previously ill or not, and cannot be resuscitated. The major concerns among medical professionals are threefold: first, circumventing the brain death criteria; second, the administration of anticoagulants and vasodilators that have the possibility of hastening death; and third, concern about the time requirement for the declaration of death which ranges from 2 to 10 min of asystole or electromechanical disassociation. In contrast to these concerns, patients and surrogates making end-of-life decisions of withdrawal of life-support systems due to devastating traumas or critical illnesses are requesting such donations to comply with authorized advance directives. The shortage of organs available, especially kidneys, and the rising interest of the American public in organ transplantation, has led to the reexamination of DCD as a potential source of organ donation. Many organ procurement organizations have approached the Institutional Ethics Committees (IEC) of acute care facilities with an assortment of DCD protocols requesting implementation. However, before acute care facilities can agree to implement a DCD protocol, the serious medical and ethical questions raised from both the public and medical sectors of society must be addressed.
Entrepreneurial Career Development: Using Human Capital, Social Capital, and Distance Education to Achieve Success

Individuals, especially women, must be increasingly entrepreneurial in the twenty-first century in order to achieve success. It is also important for women to take an entrepreneurial approach to career development. The first key component of an entrepreneurial approach to career development is investing in human capital. Continuous investment in human capital increases earning power, opens doors to professional opportunities, and contributes to career advancement. The second key component of an entrepreneurial approach to career development is investing in social capital. Women can increase their chances for professional success by developing networks that connect them to key individuals, assignments, and resources within and outside of organizations. Distance education is the third key component of entrepreneurial career development. Today, distance-delivered courses and programs create new educational opportunities that women and men can use to invest in their human and social capital as well as their potential. This paper presents the three keys to entrepreneurial career development along with evidence that supports the increasing importance for women to enhance their career success by embracing entrepreneurial strategies designed to leverage the connections among human capital, social capital, and distance education.
Carnivory, Coevolution, and the Geographic Spread of the Genus Homo

This review traces the colonization of Eurasia by hominids some 1,700,000 years ago and their subsequent evolution there to 10,000 years ago from a carnivorous perspective. Three zooarchaeological trends reflect important shifts in hominid adaptations over this great time span: (1) increasing predation on large, hoofed animals that culminated in prime-adult–biased hunting, a predator–prey relationship that distinguishes humans from all other large predators and is a product of coevolution with them; (2) greater diet breadth and range of foraging substrates exploited in response to increasing human population densities, as revealed by small-game use; and (3) increased efficiency in food capture, processing, and energy retention through technology, and the eventual expansion of technology into social (symbolic) realms of behavior. Niche boundary shifts, examined here in eight dimensions, tend to cluster at 500 thousand years ago (KYA), at 250 KYA, and several in rapid succession between 50 and 10 KYA. Most of these shifts appear to be consequences of competitive interaction, because high-quality, protein-rich resources were involved. Many of the boundary shifts precede major radiations in the equipment devoted to animal exploitation. With a decline in trophic level after 45 KYA, demographic increase irreversibly altered the conditions of natural selection on human societies, from a largely interspecific competitive forum to one increasingly defined by intraspecific pressures. Regionalization of Upper Paleolithic artifact styles is among the many symptoms of this process.
Serious Infections in Patients Receiving Ibrutinib for Treatment of Lymphoid Cancer.

Background Ibrutinib is a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is used for the treatment of lymphoid cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, and mantle cell lymphoma. Several case series have described opportunistic infections among ibrutinib recipients, but the full extent of these infections is unknown. We sought to determine the spectrum of serious infections associated with ibrutinib treatment. Methods We reviewed the electronic medical records of patients with lymphoid cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who received ibrutinib during a 5-year period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. Serious infections were identified by review of the relevant microbiology, clinical laboratory, and radiology data. Risk factors for infection were determined by means of univariate and multivariate analyses. Results We analyzed findings in 378 patients with lymphoid cancer who received ibrutinib. The most common underlying cancers were chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma. 84% of patients received ibrutinib as monotherapy. Serious infection developed in 43 patients (11.4%), primarily during the first year of ibrutinib treatment. Invasive bacterial infections developed in 23 (53.5%) of these patients, and invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in 16 (37.2%) .The majority of patients with IFIs during ibrutinib therapy (62.5%) lacked classic clinical risk factors for fungal infection (ie, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and receipt of corticosteroids). Infection resulted in death in 6 of the 43 patients (14%). Conclusions Patients with lymphoid cancer receiving ibrutinib treatment are at risk for serious infections, including IFIs.
Flooding Triangulated Terrain

We extend pit filling and basin hierarchy computation to TIN terrain models. These operations are relatively easy to implement in drainage computations based on networks (e.g., raster D8 or Voronoi dual) but robustness issues make them difficult to implement in an otherwise appealing model of water flow on a continuous surface such as a TIN. We suggest a consistent solution of the robustness issues, then augment the basin hierarchy graph with different functions for how basins fill and spill to simplify the watershed graph to the essentials. Our solutions can be tuned by choosing a small number of intuitive parameters to suit applications that require a data-dependent selection of basin hierarchies.
Improved aseptic germination and controlled growth for micropropagation of Douglas fir

Genetic gains may be captured by micropropagation using improved seed and aseptically germinated seedlings as explant sources [1,10]. Currently, excised embryos, hypocotyl segments, and cotyledons are major sources of explants for a number of conifers, e.g., Picea abies [3], Pseudotsuga menziesii [4,6,7], Pinus radiata [9] and Picea glauca [2], to name a few. These sources are easy to handle and tissues are more responsive to growth regulators than explants from mature trees.
Do Students’ Perceptions of Unsafe Schools and Experiences With Bullying Hinder the Effects of Family and School Social Capital in Deterring Violence?:

Prior research establishes that capital investments from both families and schools are imperative for youths’ socialization and development. Yet current research neglects to test if negative percep...
Opiate Dependence in Women

Opiate addiction and dependence in women have received scant attention by both medical and scientific investigators. This neglect may be partly attributed to the relatively small extent of the problem. Most statistics indicate that women comprise approximately 20–25% of the addict population. Although on a percentage basis the incidence of narcotic addiction in women is relatively small, the total number of women addicts in the United States probably exceeds 100,000. Well-controlled clinical studies of the effects of both acutely and chronically administered narcotics have been conducted mainly at the National Institute of Drug Abuse Addiction Research Center at Lexington, Kentucky. This facility was unique in that research subjects were prisoners and the drug milieu could be carefully controlled. Male subjects were employed exclusively in these studies, principally because of economics and because the highly trained scientific supporting personnel were males. It remains to be seen whether valid data on the effects of chronically administered narcotics can be acquired in female as well as male human subjects in other circumstances.
Intraocular lens power calculation using a Placido disk-Scheimpflug tomographer in eyes that had previous myopic corneal excimer laser surgery.

Purpose To assess the accuracy of different methods to calculate the intraocular lens (IOL) power from measurements obtained with an optical biometer combined with a Placido disk–Scheimpflug tomographer (Galilei G6) in eyes that had previous myopic excimer laser surgery. Setting G.B. Bietti Foundation, Rome, Italy. Design Prospective case series. Methods When prerefractive surgery data were available, the following methods were evaluated: the Barrett True-K, total corneal power 1 (TCP 1) with double-K SRK/T, TCP with double-K Holladay 1, as well as the Masket and Savini methods. In all eyes, these “no-history” methods were studied: Barrett True-K No-History, TCP 1 using the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery calculator, a ray-tracing program, and the Shammas No-History formula. Results In eyes with historical data (n = 15), the Masket method, Savini method, and TCP 1 with double-K SRK/T produced the highest percentage of cases with an absolute prediction error in refraction of 0.50 diopters (D) or less and the lowest median absolute error (0.32 D, 0.28 D, and 0.25 D, respectively). In the whole cohort (N = 22), the most accurate no-history method was paraxial ray tracing, which had the highest percentage of eyes with an absolute prediction error of 0.50 D or less and the lowest median absolute error of 0.31 D. Conclusion Different solutions can provide accurate IOL power calculations when using the measurements obtained with the optical biometer combined with a Placido–dual Scheimpflug tomographer.
Early colonoscopy in patients with acute diverticular bleeding is associated with improvement in healthcare-resource utilization.

Background Diverticular bleeding (DB) is the most common cause of severe acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in developed countries. The role of early colonoscopy (<24 hours) continues to remain controversial and data on early colonoscopy in acute DB are scant. We aimed to evaluate the effect of timing of colonoscopy on outcomes in patients with acute DB using a nationwide inpatient sample. Methods Data from the nationwide inpatient sample from 2012 to 2014 were used. The ninth version of the International Classification of Diseases coding system ICD 9 was used for patient selection. We included discharges with the primary and secondary inpatient diagnosis of diverticulosis with bleeding and diverticulitis with bleeding. Discharges with no primary or secondary diagnosis of diverticulosis with bleeding, diverticulitis with bleeding, patients who were less than 18 years old and those who did not undergo colonoscopy during the admission were excluded. The primary outcomes were length of stay (LOS) and total hospitalization costs. Results A total of 88 600 patients were included in our analysis, amongst whom 45 020 (50.8%) had colonoscopy within 24 hours of admission (early colonoscopy), while 43 580 (49.2%) patients had colonoscopy after 24 hours of admission (late colonoscopy). LOS was significantly lower in patients with early colonoscopy as compared to those with late colonoscopy (3.7 vs 5.6 days, P < 0.0001). Total hospitalization costs were also significantly lower in patients with early colonoscopy ($9317 vs $11 767, P < 0.0001). There was no difference in mortality between both groups (0.7 vs 0.8%). After adjusting for potential confounders, the differences in LOS and total hospitalization costs between early and late colonoscopy remained statistically significant. Conclusions Early colonoscopy in acute DB significantly reduced LOS and total hospitalization costs. There was no significant difference in mortality observed. Performance of early colonoscopy in the appropriate patients presenting with acute DB can have potential cost-saving implications. Further research is needed to identify which patients would benefit from early colonoscopy in DB.
Automated near real-time validation and exploitation of optical sensor data for improved orbital safety

Abstract The orbital safety of operational spacecraft, regardless of the mission, relies on timely and actionable observations to maintain so-called “custody” of all trackable Resident Space Objects (RSOs), including space debris, that might pose a hazard to safe, secure, and sustainable operations. For operations in and around the Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) regime, electro-optical (EO) observations are the most prevalent observation type available for tracking and determining RSO orbits. The quality (both accuracy and precision) of the data affects the inferable kinematic, physical, and other characteristics of RSOs and, in particular, measurement biases will result in inaccurate orbital trajectories and subsequent predictions. Physically meaningful conjunction assessments rely on not only accurate orbit state prediction, but also the “realistic” covariances associated with said predictions. In this paper we demonstrate an automated near real-time (NRT) assessment of measurement biases with an appropriately implemented Unscented Schmidt Kalman Filter (USKF) [14]. Hypothesized biases that are deterministic but statistically unobservable in the measurement data and cannot be estimated are accounted for as so-called “consider” parameters. The method presented herein is assessed and quantified using both simulated and actual measurement data. This method will enable the exploitation and mining of so-called “non-traditional” sensor data to maximize Space Situational Awareness (SSA) in a robust and timely fashion toward improvement of orbital safety. The ultimate goal is to provide decision-making evidence required solve problems preventing the space domain from being safe, secure, and sustainable.
Parental Leave, Lactation, and Childcare Policies at Top US Schools of Public Health

Objectives. To describe policies related to parental leave, breastfeeding, and childcare for faculty and staff at top schools of public health in the United States.Methods. We identified the top 25...
Operation of a Car Monitored by an Android Application Over WiFi

This paper has been successful in combining Internet of things with embedded system technology. The setup of the device is such that a remote-controlled (RC) car transmits and receives signals over a range of 10–15 m via WiFi. RC cars that use short-range wireless technology such as Bluetooth have already been implemented; hence in this paper, the use of more secured technologies, i.e., WiFi technology, is implemented. In this work, a remote-controlled car is integrated with microcontrollers that connect to the WiFi system which can be controlled by an Android application. A camera is integrated with the microcontroller to receive real-time video transmission back to the Android hand-held device. An ultrasonic sensor is integrated with the setup which measures the distance between the car and any obstacle in its path and sends the observations to the user. The car can be used to scout an area. The car can be upgraded to integrate a GSM module to access remote terrains to provide visual data for study and examination.
Bioinspired nucleic acid structures for immune modulation.

Abstract Nucleic acids have both extensive physiological function and structural potential, rendering them quintessential engineering biomaterials. As carriers of precisely-tunable genetic information, both DNA and RNA can be synthetically generated to form a myriad of structures and to transmit specific genetic code. Importantly, recent studies have shown that DNA and RNA, both in their native and engineered forms, can function as potent regulators of innate immunity, capable of initiating and modulating immune responses. In this review, we highlight recent advances in biomaterials inspired by the various interactions of nucleic acids and the immune system. We discuss key advances in self-assembled structures based on exogenous nucleic acids and engineering approaches to apply endogenous nucleic acids as found in immunogenic cell death and extracellular traps. In addition, we discuss new strategies to control dinucleotide signaling and provide recent examples of biomaterials designed for cancer immunotherapy with STING agonists.
Abdominal pain during the menopause transition and early postmenopause: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women’s Health Study

To assess the relationship between abdominal pain severity during the menopausal transition (MT) and age, MT stage, reproductive biomarkers, stress biomarkers, and stress perceptions. Women ages 35–55 were recruited from multiethnic neighborhoods in the greater Seattle area from 1990 to 1992, for an original study cohort of 508. From 1990 to 2013, a subset of this cohort consented to ongoing annual data collection by annual health questionnaire, health diary, and daily menstrual calendar. Beginning in 1997, a portion of these women also provided a first morning voided urine specimen to be assayed for levels of estrone glucuronide (E1G), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. To identify how changes in abdominal pain severity changed over time in relation to age, MT stage, reproductive biomarkers, stress-related biomarkers, and stress-related perceptions, mixed effects modeling was used. In a univariate model, E1G (p = 0.02) and testosterone (p = 0.02) were significantly and negatively related to abdominal pain severity, while perceived stress (p = 0.06), tension (p < 0.001), and anxiety (p < 0.001) were significantly and positively associated. In a multivariate model, increasing age (p = 0.001) and E1G (p = 0.04) were negatively associated with abdominal pain severity, and anxiety (p = 0.00) positively associated. Testosterone did not improve the fit to the final model, nor did tension or perceived stress. These results suggest that age, anxiety, and E1G each show a significant association with abdominal pain severity in the MT. In contrast, stress perception, tension, testosterone, stress biomarkers, and MT stage do not. These factors should be evaluated further in research on abdominal pain experienced during the MT and early postmenopause years.