cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ovulation rate and embryonic survival in Chinese Meishan and white crossbred pigs.

Two component traits of litter size of pigs, ovulation rate and embryonic survival, were examined in Meishan and composite white crossbred gilts and sows. At puberty, an ovulation rate of 12.5 was similar for Meishan (118 +/- 3 d of age) and crossbred gilts (217 +/- 3 d of age). The number of corpora lutea (CL) increased (4.3 CL) markedly (P < .01) from puberty to the sixth estrous period (220 d of age) in Meishan gilts but increased (1.2 CL) slightly from puberty to the fourth estrous period in crossbred gilts. At 220 and 280 d of age, Meishan gilts had a greater (P < .01) number of CL than did crossbred gilts (220 d, 16.7 +/- .5 vs 12.7 +/- .4; 280 d, 16.5 +/- .7 vs 13.9 +/- .6 CL). Ovulation rate was greater (P < .01) in Meishan than in crossbred sows examined at 417 (18.1 +/- 1.2 vs 15.2 +/- .4 CL), 608 (20.1 +/- 1.3 vs 17.1 +/- .6 CL), and 735 d of age (24.6 +/- .8 vs 16.6 +/- .8 CL). Early embryonic survival was not significantly different in this study for Meishan and crossbred gilts (73 vs 81% , respectively). However, at 30 d of gestation embryo weight and length, placental weight, and allantoic fluid volume were less (P < .01) in Meishan than in crossbred gilts. The effect of small embryo size and reduced placenta weights and allantoic fluid volumes at d 30 of gestation on subsequent fetal survival and development (uterine capacity) is unknown but may be an enhancement to the prolificacy of Meishan pigs. This observation indicates the need for further study of fetal-maternal interactions after d 30 of gestation in both Meishan and European pigs because of potential breed differences in uterine and placental function.
History of veterinary public health in the United States of America.

Animal medicine, human medicine and public health have been associated ever since sheep, goats, cattle, horses, dogs, cats and other animals were first domesticated to serve the needs of society. The more recent history of veterinary public health (VPH) in Europe has seen developments through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the beginning of modern conceptions of VPH. The recognition of animal disease problems as they have affected public health in the Americas carries the reader forward into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Advances made in public health and veterinary medicine in the latter years are reviewed, together with the way in which they have benefited both humans and animals. For the period since 1945, the article reviews the organization of VPH in national governments and international agencies, i.e. the World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). These international health agencies have promoted VPH in national governments. Some of the leaders are recognized for their contributions.
Integrated Dynamic Shape Tracking and RF Speckle Tracking for Cardiac Motion Analysis

We present a novel dynamic shape tracking (DST) method that solves for Lagrangian motion trajectories originating at the left ventricle (LV) boundary surfaces using a graphical structure and Dijkstra’s shortest path algorithm.
Climate factors related to localized changes in snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) occupancy

Information on climate that influences snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) can inform adaptation strategies. We identified climate factors correlated with localized changes in occupanc...
Countering targeted file attacks using locationguard

Serverless file systems, exemplified by CFS, Farsite and OceanStore, have received significant attention from both the industry and the research community. These file systems store files on a large collection of untrusted nodes that form an overlay network. They use cryptographic techniques to maintain file confidentiality and integrity from malicious nodes. Unfortunately, cryptographic techniques cannot protect a file holder from a Denial-of-Service (DoS) or a host compromise attack. Hence, most of these distributed file systems are vulnerable to targeted file attacks, wherein an adversary attempts to attack a small (chosen) set of files by attacking the nodes that host them. This paper presents LocationGuard - a location hiding technique for securing overlay file storage systems from targeted file attacks. LocationGuard has three essential components: (i) location key, consisting of a random bit string (e.g., 128 bits) that serves as the key to the location of a file, (ii) routing guard, a secure algorithm that protects accesses to a file in the overlay network given its location key such that neither its key nor its location is revealed to an adversary, and (iii) a set of four location inference guards. Our experimental results quantify the overhead of employing LocationGuard and demonstrate its effectiveness against DoS attacks, host compromise attacks and various location inference attacks.
Consumer use and understanding of labelling information on edible marijuana products sold for recreational use in the states of Colorado and Washington

Abstract Background In 2014, the states of Colorado and Washington began allowing retail sales of marijuana for recreational use. The regulatory agencies in these states have implemented specific labelling requirements for edible marijuana products sold for recreational use to help address concerns such as delayed activation time, accidental ingestion, and proper dosing. Methods We conducted 12 focus groups with 94 adult consumers and nonconsumers of edibles in Denver and Seattle to collect information on their use and understanding of labelling information on edible marijuana products sold for recreational use. Specifically, we asked participants about the usefulness, attractiveness, ease of comprehension, relevancy, and acceptability of the label information. Results Some focus group participants look for and read specific information, such as the potency profile and serving size statement, but do not read or were unfamiliar with other labelling features. The focus groups revealed that participants have some concerns about the current labelling of edibles. In particular, participants were concerned that there is too much information on the labels so consumers may not read the label, there is no obvious indication that the product contains marijuana (e.g., a Universal Symbol), and the information on consumption advice is not clear. Participants in both locations suggested that education in a variety of formats, such as web- and video-based education, would be useful in informing consumers about the possible risks of edibles. Conclusion The focus group findings suggest that improvements are needed in the labelling of edibles to prevent unintentional ingestion among adult nonusers and help ensure proper dosing and safe consumption among adult users. These findings, along with lessons learned from Colorado and Washington, can help inform the labelling of edibles as additional states allow the sale of edibles for recreational use.
Akt activity regulates the function of internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) in the VEGF 5'UTR

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 290 We recently demonstrated that the mTOR inhibitor, CCI-779, curtailed growth of a subcutaneous challenge of multiple myeloma cells in immunodeficient mice. This anti-tumor effect was associated with prevention of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis. Interestingly, myeloma tumors with heightened AKT activation were particularly sensitive to a CCI-779-induced anti-tumor response. Using isogenic multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines that only differ by their degree of AKT activity, we demonstrated that AKT activity significantly sensitized MM cells to the following inhibitory effects of mTOR inhibition: angiogenesis in vivo, VEGF expression in vitro and in vivo and VEGF translation (but not transcription). Since internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated cap-independent translation is a salvage pathway for protein expression when mTOR is inhibited, we analyzed a possible regulatory role of AKT on VEGF IRES activity in the VEGF 5â€™-UTR. Our experiments demonstrated that elevated AKT activity inhibited VEGF IRES function in isogenic MM cells. Recent studies have shown that the 5â€™UTR region of VEGF contains at least 2 internal IRES sequences (IRES A and IRES B): IRES A has been shown to allow for the expression of VEGF translation under hypoxic conditions, whereas IRES B mediates the cap-independent translational initiation of a VEGF isoform (L-VEGF). However, it is not known if one or both of these IRES sequences are regulated by AKT activity in MM cells. In preliminary experiments, we are testing whether AKT activity inhibits the activity of either IRES A or IRES B activity and are studying the underlying mechanism by which these regulatory effects occur.
The Quietude of Conscience and the magnetism of sound: listening to Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables

The article will be available in SOAR after six month embargo (October 2017.) Read it at the publisher's website at: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/TNEQ_a_00585
Homomorphisms and Continuous Mappings

We proved in Theorem 8.3 that two realcompact spaces X and Y are homeomorphic if and only if their respective function rings C(X) and C(Y) are isomorphic. The correspondence between the set of all homeomorphisms from X onto Y, and the set of all isomorphisms from C(Y) onto C(X), is one-one; this was not pointed out explicitly at the time, but the information is readily obtainable from an examination of the proof. We shall begin the present chapter by analyzing, in considerable detail, the duality relations expressed by this correspondence. More generally, we describe the relations between arbitrary continuous mappings from X into Y and homomorphisms from C(Y) into C(X). We shall find that, in a sense, every homomorphism from one function ring into another is induced by a continuous mapping.
Pretreatment with intravenous fish oil reduces hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in a murine model.

Abstract Background Ischemia reperfusion injury is a barrier to liver surgery and transplantation, particularly for steatotic livers. The purpose of this study was to determine if pretreatment with a single dose of intravenous fish oil decreases hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury and improves recovery of injured livers. Methods Sixty adult male C57BL/6 mice received 1 g/kg intravenous fish oil (Omegaven, Fresenius Kabi) or isovolumetric 0.9% NaCl (saline) via tail vein 1 hour before 30 minutes of 70% hepatic ischemia. Animals were killed 4, 8, or 24 hours postreperfusion, and livers were harvested for histologic analysis. Results Four hours postreperfusion, saline-treated livers demonstrated marked ischemia diffusely around the central veins, while intravenous fish oil–treated livers demonstrated only patchy necrosis with intervening normal parenchyma. Eight hours postreperfusion, all livers demonstrated pale areas of cell loss with surrounding regenerating hepatocytes. Ki67 staining confirmed 14.4/10 high-powered field (95% confidence interval, 3.2–25.6) more regenerating hepatocytes around areas of necrosis in intravenous fish oil–treated livers. Twenty-four hours postreperfusion, all livers demonstrated patchy areas of necrosis, with an 89% (95% confidence interval, 85–92) decrease in the area of necrosis in intravenous fish oil–treated livers. Conclusion Intravenous fish oil treatment prior to hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury decreased the area of hepatic necrosis and increased hepatocyte regeneration compared to saline treatment in a mouse model.
Formation of inclusion type silicon phases induced by inert gases

Silicon clathrate, an important allotrope of silicon, has attractive opto-electronic properties for energy applications. However, it remains an experimental challenge to synthesize electrically undoped, intrinsic clathrate. Here we show, through high-throughput computer modeling, that unconventional silicon phases spontaneously nucleate from liquid silicon in the presence of noble gases under high pressure and high temperature. In particular, our results show that a medium-sized noble gas, for example, argon, can trigger the nucleation and growth of inert-gas silicon clathrate, whereas a small noble gas such as helium is able to induce the formation of an unconventional, inclusion-type compound Si2He. The formation of both silicon phases can be attributed to the same thermodynamic and kinetic rationale that explains the crystallization of clathrate hydrate, an isostructural analog. Our findings, along with the gained molecular insights, thus strongly suggest a viable experimental synthesis route for these silicon phases using noble gases at high pressure. The synthesis of electrically undoped silicon clathrate and unusual silicon phases is a challenge, but such materials have attractive opto-electronic properties. Here, high-throughput modeling predicts that noble gases may induce nucleation of unexpected phases from liquid silicon at high temperature and pressure.
The ecological wisdom of plan-making

Abstract Most of humanity lives in urban regions. The number of people inhabiting cities is expected to continue to grow through this century. As our species becomes more urban and increases our effects on the planet, our relationships with natural systems will continue to change. We need wisdom to adapt to changes in this new era, called the Anthropocene. Overarching challenges and questions include: Will we continue to deplete ecosystem services as we expand our urban footprints? Or, will we learn how to enhance and create ecosystem services through city planning and urban design? The planning process can help humanity to adapt to these challenges. Ecological knowledge can help inform and guide the planning process. Such a process might even produce wisdom through application and reflection. An example of the Austin, Texas (USA) comprehensive planning process is provided to illustrate the prospects.
On the probability of a common origin for tRNA and 5S rRNA

As part of a continuing study on the origin of genetic coding and the process of protein synthesis, we have compared sequences of a large number of transfer RNAs and several 5S ribosomal RNAs using automated routines. Transfer RNAs were found to exhibit a high degree of matching with 5S rRNAs. These matches are considered to be indicative of sequence homology, reflecting common ancestry of the two molecules. Other possible explanations for the matches (convergence, transfection) are discussed and found to be highly implausible. Matches are also found between 5S rRNA and the introns of yeast precursor tRNAs. Many matches extend from before the 3' end to after the 5' end of circularized 5S rRNA sequences. Data is presented which indicates a tandemly duplicated or circular molecule could have served as the precursor to both 5S rRNA and tRNA. A derivative of this molecule may have functioned as a universal translator before the evolution of the highly specialized tRNAs.
Fluorogenic structure activity library pinpoints molecular variations in substrate specificity of structurally homologous esterases

Cellular esterases catalyze many essential biological functions by performing hydrolysis reactions on diverse substrates. The promiscuity of esterases complicates assignment of their substrate preferences and biological functions. To identify universal factors controlling esterase substrate recognition, we designed a 32-member structure–activity relationship (SAR) library of fluorogenic ester substrates and used this library to systematically interrogate esterase preference for chain length, branching patterns, and polarity to differentiate common classes of esterase substrates. Two structurally homologous bacterial esterases were screened against this library, refining their previously broad overlapping substrate specificity. Vibrio cholerae esterase ybfF displayed a preference for γ-position thioethers and ethers, whereas Rv0045c from Mycobacterium tuberculosis displayed a preference for branched substrates with and without thioethers. We determined that this substrate differentiation was partially controlled by individual substrate selectivity residues Tyr-119 in ybfF and His-187 in Rv0045c; reciprocal substitution of these residues shifted each esterase's substrate preference. This work demonstrates that the selectivity of esterases is tuned based on transition state stabilization, identifies thioethers as an underutilized functional group for esterase substrates, and provides a rapid method for differentiating structural isozymes. This SAR library could have multifaceted future applications, including in vivo imaging, biocatalyst screening, molecular fingerprinting, and inhibitor design.
Introduction: Neoliberalism and the public sphere:

In contemporary scholarship, the term “neoliberalism” seemingly appears everywhere. Rather than seeking to develop a single definition that unifies these varied appearances, scholars in various dis...
Hybrid ADMM: a unifying and fast approach to decentralized optimization

The present work introduces the hybrid consensus alternating direction method of multipliers (H-CADMM), a novel framework for optimization over networks which unifies existing distributed optimization approaches, including the centralized and the decentralized consensus ADMM. H-CADMM provides a flexible tool that leverages the underlying graph topology in order to achieve a desirable sweet spot between node-to-node communication overhead and rate of convergence—thereby alleviating known limitations of both C-CADMM and D-CADMM. A rigorous analysis of the novel method establishes linear convergence rate and also guides the choice of parameters to optimize this rate. The novel hybrid update rules of H-CADMM lend themselves to “in-network acceleration” that is shown to effect considerable—and essentially “free-of-charge”—performance boost over the fully decentralized ADMM. Comprehensive numerical tests validate the analysis and showcase the potential of the method in tackling efficiently, widely useful learning tasks.
A New Foreground Segmentation Method for Video Analysis in Different Color Spaces

A new foreground segmentation method is presented in this paper for video analysis. Specifically, a new feature representation scheme is first proposed in different color spaces, namely, the RGB, the YIQ, and the YCbCr color spaces. The new feature vector, which integrates the color values in a particular color space, the horizontal and vertical Haar wavelet features, and the temporal difference features, enhances the discriminatory power. A new Global Foreground Modeling (GFM) method is then presented to improve upon the popular video analysis approaches. The Bayes classifier is finally applied for foreground segmentation in video. Experimental results using the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) traffic video sequences show that the new foreground segmentation method achieves better performance than the popular video analysis methods.
On the Saturation Conjecture for Spin(2n)

In this article we examine the saturation conjecture on decompositions of tensor products of irreducible representations for complex semisimple algebraic groups of type D (the even spin groups: Spi...
Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia: Results, at Skeletal Maturity, of the Charnley-Williams Procedure.

Background This study assessed the outcomes, at skeletal maturity, for 34 patients in whom congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT) had been treated with intramedullary (IM) rod fixation. Methods The results in skeletally mature patients in whom type-4 CPT had been treated with an IM rod at an average of 11.9 years earlier were reviewed. The rod procedures varied according to whether both the tibia and the fibula were resected and both bones (type A) or just the tibia (type B) were fixed with an IM rod or whether only the tibia was resected and the fibula received no surgery (type C). Outcome grading ranged from unequivocal union with brace-free function (grade 1) to a functional limb with residual angulation or cortical defects (grade 2) to a severely impaired extremity with insufficient union or refracture (grade 3). Results Thirty-four patients were evaluated at a mean age of 16.9 years, a mean of 11.9 years after their initial surgical procedure. Seventeen patients had a grade-1 result; 11 patients, grade 2; and 6, grade 3. Thus, 82% (28) of the 34 patients had a functional extremity at maturity. All patients with a final grade-3 outcome eventually requested amputation. The final outcomes were not affected by the age at the initial fracture or surgery, the presence of neurofibromatosis-1, or cross-ankle fixation. A total of 58 IM rod procedures were performed in the 34 patients. Twenty-four (73%) of the 33 type-A procedures produced grade-1 or 2 outcomes, as did 14 (88%) of the 16 type-B procedures. Of the 9 type-C procedures, none produced a grade-1 result and 4 produced a grade-2 outcome. The results of types A and B combined were superior to those of type-C procedures (p = 0.03). Refracture occurred in 13 of 33 patients with initial stability/union after rod fixation, with 3 of those fractures remaining ununited at the latest follow-up. A dystrophic fibula had no effect on the eventual achievement of a grade-1 or 2 outcome. Conclusions This review, in which all patients had reached skeletal maturity, documents functional (grade-1 or 2) outcomes in 82% of cases of IM rod fixation for CPT. This finding was almost identical to the result in our earlier report and confirms the long-term value of permanent IM rod fixation in maintaining union and function in patients with CPT. Procedures not addressing the fibula produced inferior results. Although 13 patients had a refracture following initial union, only 3 of these fractures failed to heal with additional treatment. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Angina pectoris worsened by mouthwash.

We report a case of variant (Prinzmetal’s) angina pectoris in a 51-year-old man in whom coronary angiography revealed sluggish flow of contrast material. His chest pain was not controlled with stan...
Cognitive predictors of difficulties in math and reading in pre-kindergarten children at high risk for learning disabilities.

Cognitive skill differences that are apparent early in pre-kindergarten (pre-K) might provide predictive insights into risk for learning difficulties at school entry, particularly around early markers of risk for comorbid difficulties in early math and literacy. Domain-specific abilities (approximate number system or ANS acuity, phonological awareness) and domain-general abilities (working memory, vigilance, executive attention, and nonverbal IQ) were assessed in 493 children at the beginning of pre-K, to better understand how each uniquely contributes to risk for math difficulties (MD), and comorbid math and reading difficulties (MDRD). At the end of pre-K, standardized math and reading tests were used to form three risk groups (MD, MDRD, not-at-risk) with two severity cut points for math and reading (≤25th, ≤16th percentiles). Discriminant function analysis was used to determine whether and in what ways the groups differed on the cognitive variables. Both MD and MDRD-risk groups differentiated from the not-at-risk group on all variables except for ANS acuity, a finding that was convergent across severity cut points. The only significant contrast for ANS acuity emerged between the most severe MD only group and the not-at-risk group. Only vigilance or sustained attention supported the differentiation of MD risk from MDRD risk. Consistent with school-age studies of comorbidity, MDRD risk was also associated with the lowest levels of math and cognitive skills in this pre-kindergarten sample. Results reveal a potential specific role for sustained attention as an early risk factor for comorbid MDRD, a severe form of learning disability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)
Reduced-Complexity Key Equation Solvers for Generalized Integrated Interleaved BCH Decoders

Generalized integrated interleaved (GII) codes nest linear block codewords to generate codewords belonging to stronger linear block codes. They can achieve very high throughput with excellent error-correcting capability. GII codes can be based on either Reed-Solomon (RS) or BCH codes. GII-BCH codes are the most promising candidate for error correction in next-generation terabit/s Flash and storage class memories, and optical communications. On the other hand, GII decoder implementation faces many challenges. In particular, the key equation solver (KES) in the nested decoding process causes not only clock frequency bottleneck but also large area. Although techniques have been developed recently to address these issues for GII-RS codes, they cannot be directly extended for binary GII-BCH codes if every other iteration of the nested KES is skipped to reduce the latency. Two instead of one higher-order syndromes need to be incorporated into each nested KES iteration and this makes the implementation much more challenging. In this paper, algorithmic reformulations and architectural modifications are developed to eliminate the clock frequency bottleneck and reduce the area of GII-BCH nested KES. Additionally, the number of processing elements is substantially reduced by analyzing the minimum number of coefficients to keep for the involved polynomials without undesirable degradation on the error-correcting performance. The critical path of the proposed scaled nested BCH KES architecture with reduced processing elements is only one multiplier and three adders. For an example GII-BCH code over ${GF}(2^{12})$ that has a ${t}_{v}=58$ -error-correcting code as the most powerful code generated by the nesting, our design also further reduces the area by 33%.
Variability in Glucocorticoid Prescribing for Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Influence of Provider Preference on Long-Term Use of Glucocorticoids

OBJECTIVE Glucocorticoids are recommended for short-term use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but many patients continue receiving long-term therapy. We evaluated the variability in glucocorticoid prescribing across rheumatologists to inform interventions to limit long-term glucocorticoid use to the lowest dose necessary. METHODS Two cohorts were created using Medicare data from 2006 to 2015. Using cohort 1 (RA patients receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs [DMARDs]), we calculated each rheumatologist's "provider preference" for glucocorticoids (frequency of use compared to other providers), using the ratio of observed to expected number of patients receiving glucocorticoids to account for case mix. In cohort 2 (RA patients receiving stable DMARD therapy), we evaluated whether provider preference for glucocorticoids could independently predict use of ≥5 mg/day of glucocorticoids 6-9 months after initiation of DMARD therapy. RESULTS Using cohort 1 (1,272,644 yearly observations; 385,597 patients), we calculated provider preference among 6,875 rheumatologists (28,936 yearly observations). Provider preference was highly variable, with physicians at the lowest and upper quartiles prescribing glucocorticoids 33% less often to 31% more often (25th and 75th percentiles, respectively) than expected. In cohort 2 (155,539 patients receiving stable DMARD therapy), provider preference was strongly associated with glucocorticoid use ≥5 mg/day at 6-9 months, with a predicted probability of use of 22% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 21.7-22.7) versus 11% (95% CI 10.2-10.9) for a patient seeing a provider in the highest versus lowest quintile of preference. CONCLUSION Glucocorticoid prescribing for RA varies greatly among rheumatologists, and provider preference is one of the strongest predictors of a patient's long-term glucocorticoid use. These findings raise quality of care concerns and highlight the need for stronger evidence to guide RA treatment.
SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are Expressed in the Pancreas but Not in Islet Endocrine Cells

Reports of new-onset diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis in individuals with COVID-19 have led to the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is directly cytotoxic to pancreatic islet beta cells. This model would require binding and entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells via cell surface co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the putative receptor and effector protease, respectively. To define ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in the human pancreas, we examined six transcriptional datasets from primary human islet cells and assessed protein expression by immunofluorescence in pancreata from donors with and without diabetes. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 transcripts were low or undetectable in pancreatic islet endocrine cells as determined by bulk or single cell RNA sequencing, and neither protein was detected in alpha or beta cells from any of these donors. Instead, ACE2 protein was expressed in the islet and exocrine tissue microvasculature and also found in a subset of pancreatic ducts, whereas TMPRSS2 protein was restricted to ductal cells. The absence of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 co-expression in islet endocrine cells makes it unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 directly affects pancreatic islet beta cells.
Green Recovery: Europe and the World

In Europe, and elsewhere, it is critical to recognize that this clean energy investment project will pay for itself in full over time in strictly financial terms - i.e. in addition to its obvious ecological benefits.
Composition of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Microbial Communities in Waters around the Florida Reef Tract

The Florida Keys, a delicate archipelago of sub-tropical islands extending from the south-eastern tip of Florida, host the vast majority of the only coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Abiotic as well as microbial components of the surrounding waters are pivotal for the health of reef habitats, and thus could play an important role in understanding the development and transmission of coral diseases in Florida. In this study, we analyzed microbial community structure and abiotic factors in waters around the Florida Reef Tract. Both bacterial and eukaryotic community structure were significantly linked with variations in temperature, dissolved oxygen, and total organic carbon values. High abundances of copiotrophic bacteria as well as several potentially harmful microbes, including coral pathogens, fish parasites and taxa that have been previously associated with Red Tide and shellfish poisoning were present in our datasets and may have a pivotal impact on reef health in this ecosystem.
A crisis in my community? Local-level awareness of the opioid epidemic and political consequences.

Abstract The opioid epidemic has had a profound effect on American public health, and studies suggest it has had a profound effect on American politics as well. Research suggests a relationship between the severity of the opioid crisis in a community and aggregate-level political behavior, including voting for Donald Trump in 2016, but there is very little individual-level data establishing the mechanism for this relationship. Using a question on a nationally representative survey fielded after the 2018 election, we explore Americans’ perceptions of the severity of the opioid epidemic in their community, and whether these perceptions predict political behavior and attitudes. We find that relative estimates of local opioid overdoses are significantly influenced by the actual county-level overdose death rate, and that the relationship between reality and perception is strongest for the most knowledgeable and informed citizens. There is also evidence that the social construction of the opioid epidemic as a crisis primarily affecting White suburban or rural Americans affects these perceptions, as both White and non-urban respondents are significantly more attentive to objective mortality rates than others. Turning to political behavior, we find no evidence that these estimates affected validated voter turnout or U.S. House vote choice in the 2018 midterm election. Assessing public approval outcomes, we found a nonlinear effect of these estimates on support for President Trump, a pattern which is partially consistent with the existing literature. We also observed that those who believed the opioid epidemic to be worse than average in their communities reported lower approval of their state legislatures, though we found no such relationship for ratings of governors. These findings raise important questions about the micro-level mechanisms that link aggregate-level public health with political outcomes.
Psychologic Aspects of Childhood Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy

Psychosocial factors in 21 families with children affected by reflex neurovascular dystrophy were studied. Each family was interviewed and given a battery of standardized psychologic tests. Two distinct types of families were identified. Fifteen families showed high internal cohesion, expressiveness, and organization and low levels of conflict. Six families showed high overt conflict with low levels of family cohesion, expressiveness, and organization. In all families parental enmeshment with the patient was present. Marital discord was present in 12 families. Thirteen patients had significant school problems (ten had learning disabilities). Although most of the children were described as especially bright, only four had above average intelligence test scores. Four had a history of sexual abuse. The patients and their mothers perceived the health problem as significantly worse than did children with arthritis from whom similar scores had been obtained. Possible role models with similar symptoms were reported by ten patients. These data support the concept that childhood reflex neurovascular dystrophy is frequently a stress-related disease; the therapeutic approach to treating these children and their families must take these psychosocial factors into account.
TRAP-RNA interactions involved in regulating transcription attenuation of the Bacillus subtilis trp operon.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the methods that have been used to characterize the interaction of trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) with RNA, and to study how these interactions are involved in regulating transcription attenuation of the trp operon. TRAP is encoded by mtrB, the second gene of the mtrAB operon. MtrA encodes GTP cyclohydrolase I, an enzyme involved in folic acid biosynthesis. Both Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus TRAP have been expressed in Escherichia coli (E.Coli) using the T7 expression system. Several assays have been used to examine the interaction of TRAP with RNA. These assays use 32P-labeled transcripts containing either the trp leader sequence or artificial TRAP binding sites. One of the quickest and most reliable methods to quantitatively analyze TRAP binding to RNA is the nitrocellulose filter binding assay. Equilibrium dialysis was first used to demonstrate that tryptophan binds to TRAP using an assay. This simple method involves placing TRAP on one side of a dialysis membrane and [14C] L-tryptophan on the other side and then allowing dialysis to proceed until equilibrium is reached. Both transcriptional and translational gene fusions containing the trp promoter and leader region fused to lacZ have been used extensively to examine TRAP function in vivo.
Massive hydrops of the gallbladder producing pyloric obstruction in a seven year old boy.

A case of massive hydrops of the gallbladder producing pyloric obstruction in a seven year old boy is presented. Jaundice was not present initially but occurred as a transitory postoperative complication attributed to cholangitis and hepatitis. The merits of cholecystectomy as compared with cholecystostomy in such cases have been briefly discussed.
Comment on 'Feshbach resonances in an optical lattice'

We point out some logical inconsistencies in the model proposed in [Phys. Rev. A 71, 043604 (2005)] as well as in the calculations performed on it. The proposed model is not able to describe Feshbach resonances in optical lattices.
La2.50K1.50IrO7: An example of an n=2 member of the [AnBn−1O3n][A2′O] family of perovskite-related oxides

Single crystals of a new lanthanum potassium iridate, La{sub 2.50}K{sub 1.50}IrO{sub 7}, have been grown from a molten hydroxide flux. The structure, which is best described as resulting from the stacking of [AO{sub 3}] and mixed [A{sub 2}O] layers, is an n=2 member of the [A{sub n}B{sub n-1}O{sub 3n}][A{sub 2}{sup '}O] family of perovskite-related oxides. La{sub 2.50}K{sub 1.50}IrO{sub 7} is comprised of [La{sub 2}IrO{sub 6}] layers containing isolated [IrO{sub 6}] octahedra and these layers are separated by a [La{sub 0.50}K{sub 1.50}O]{sup +} layer. The compound crystallizes in the R3-bar space group with a=5.7330(2)A and c=18.8328(9)A.
Dancing at a Dutch University: The Franeker Dancing Master, 1682-1796

The bitter struggle to initiate the position of dancing master at the second oldest university in the Netherlands, the Franeker Academy, was fought in the winter of 1682-83. The decided victors were the champions of the dance, led by a professor of law, Ulricus Huber. After the rich documentation available about this contest, one would hope for as steady a stream of information about the rest of the dancing masters' history until the post was finally abolished in 1796, fifteen years before the Academy itself was finally closed in 1811. Yet exactly where or when the first dancing master, Jan Baptista Cadillan, gave his earliest lessons at the Franeker Academy cannot be established from existing documents. Once the clergymen gave up the fight against dancing at the university, the master's activities apparently progressed quietly enough to create no cause for further publication or complaint. As quoted earlier from Friesland's Gedeputeerede Staten (Delegated Council of State), the original charge to Jan Baptista had called for him to give lessons "at least three times per week" in Franeker.1 His first obligation remained his service to the royal household, and he was expected to continue living in Leeuwarden, traveling by horse, as
The Use of Slower-Acting (Class III) Symptom-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Slower-acting (class III) symptom-modifying drugs are given in rheumatoid arthritis to control acute signs and symptoms of the disease, with the hope of favourably modifying long term outcome.
Continuity of care and quality care outcomes for people experiencing chronic conditions: A literature review

Continuity of patient care is frequently linked to quality care outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the clinical trial literature in order to determine the extent to which informational, management, and relational continuity of care are associated with quality care indicators. A MEDLINE search of the literature via PubMed was conducted for clinical trials that were carried out from 1 January 1996-1 June 2005. Analyses of 32 unduplicated citations revealed a focus on one or more aspects of continuity and its association with quality care outcomes. Management continuity interventions were identified most often, followed by informational and relational continuity interventions. The outcomes were primarily patient-focused with a wide range of functional status, quality of life, and patient satisfaction indicators. This analysis provides implications for research that could contribute to an understanding of the types of continuity of patient care and their relationships to quality care.
A view on the science: Physical anthropology at the millenium

EDITOR'S NOTE The year 2000 marks the onset of the 21st century. In this transitional year, prominent physical anthropologists will provide brief reflections on our discipline, including what attracted them to it, and their views on the directions our discipline may pursue as we enter, in January 2001, the third millennium. Am J Phys Anthropol 112:291–295, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Impact of norm selections on the performance of four-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (4DCBCT) using PICCS

Iterative image reconstruction methods have been proposed in computed tomography to address two major challenges: one is to reduce radiation dose while maintaining image quality and the other is to reconstruct diagnostic quality images from angularly sparse projection datasets. A variety of regularization models have been introduced in these iterative image reconstruction methods to incorporate the desired image features. To address the sparse view angle image reconstruction problem in four-dimensional cone-beam CT (4DCBCT), Prior Image Constrained Compressed Sensing (PICCS) was proposed. In the past in 4DCBCT, as well as other applications of the PICCS algorithm, the PICCS regularization was formulated using the 1 norm as the means to promote image sparsity. The 1 norm in the objective function is not differentiable and thus may pose challenges in numerical implementations. When the norm deviates from 1.0, the differentiability of the objective function improves, however, the imaging performance may degrade in image reconstruction from sparse datasets. In this paper, we study how the performance of PICCS-4DCBCT changes with norm selection and whether the introduction of a reweighted scheme in relaxed norm PICCS reconstruction helps improve the imaging performance.
Transcoding proxy for nonvisual web access

These days, the web has been coming to play various types of roles, so each site has been designed in a complex way to integrate as many roles as possible. Web authors tend to cram various functions and many links into one page to improve usability for sighted users. This authoring trend makes nonvisual Web access harder. To solve this problem, we decided to develop a system to transcode already-existing Web pages to be accessible, which works as an intermediary (proxy) between a Web server and a user. Our transcoding proxy consists of 5 modules using 3 kinds of annotations. The user interface of the system is characterized by three transcoding modes: simplification, full-text and original page. In this paper, we will describe an overview of our transcoding proxy as well as the user interface of the system.
Somatosensory processing in neurodevelopmental disorders

The purpose of this article is to review the role of somatosensory perception in typical development, its aberration in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, and the potential relations between tactile processing abnormalities and central features of each disorder such as motor, communication, and social development. Neurodevelopmental disorders that represent a range of symptoms and etiologies, and for which multiple peer-reviewed articles on somatosensory differences have been published, were chosen to include in the review. Relevant studies in animal models, as well as conditions of early sensory deprivation, are also included. Somatosensory processing plays an important, yet often overlooked, role in typical development and is aberrant in various neurodevelopmental disorders. This is demonstrated in studies of behavior, sensory thresholds, neuroanatomy, and neurophysiology in samples of children with Fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and cerebral palsy (CP). Impaired somatosensory processing is found in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders and is associated with deficits in communication, motor ability, and social skills in these disorders. Given the central role of touch in early development, both experimental and clinical approaches should take into consideration the role of somatosensory processing in the etiology and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Effects of Membrane Potential on Calcium Fluxes of Pelvetia Eggs

(45)Ca(2+) fluxes across the plasma membrane of zygotes of the fucoid alga, Pelvetia fastagiata (J. Ag.) De Toni, were studied in artificial sea waters of various potassium concentrations. Except for two cases, hyperpolarization of the cell membrane (with low [K(+)]) increases, and depolarization (with high [K(+)]) decreases the influx of Ca(2+) over the range of [K(+)] studied (1-100 mM). The fractional increases of influx during hyperpolarization are close to the fractional increases in membrane potential but the decreases during depolarization are much smaller than those in membrane potential. In two anomalous cases, the influxes of (45)Ca(2+) at a potassium concentration of 30 mM were about 20% higher than the control value instead of being 10% lower.The effluxes of (45)Ca(2+) are increased by both hyperpolarization and by depolarization. On balance (and excepting the two anomalous cases) the net result of hyperpolarization should be to increase and that of depolarization to decrease intracellular [Ca(2+)].
Is Heidegger a Kantian Idealist

It is argued that Heidegger should be seen as something of a Kantian Idealist. Like Kant, Heidegger distinguishes two standpoints (transcendental and empirical) which we can occupy when we ask the question whether natural things depend on us. He agrees with Kant that from the empirical or human standpoint we are justified in saying that natural things do not depend on us. But in contrast with Kant, Heidegger argues that from the transcendental standpoint we can say neither that natural things do depend on us, nor that they do not. His reasons for saying this, however, represent an attempt to rework both Kant's temporal idealism and his temporal interpretation of the concept of an object (which shows up in Heidegger as a temporal interpretation of being). Heidegger suggests that Kant was led astray into a transcendental idealism about natural entities, because he did not understand the implications of transcendental idealism about being.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy Following Oophorectomy in Women with a Family History of Ovarian Cancer

Compliance with estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) following surgical menopause is poor. In women who have a family history of ovarian cancer, fear of the oncogenic potential of estrogen might affect compliance with ERT following oophorectomy. Compliance with ERT in such a select group of women has not been previously reported. The aim of the present study was to report on compliance with and side effects of ERT in women with a family history of ovarian cancer who underwent oophorectomy either prophylactically or for benign disease. Eighty women with a family history of ovarian cancer who underwent oophorectomy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute were followed for a median duration of 4.2 years (range, 5 months to 14 years). Of the 76 women who were given prescriptions for ERT, the rates of commencement and maintenance of ERT at 1, 2, and 5 years were calculated. Side effects related to the different modalities of ERT were recorded. Seventy-one of 76 women (93.4%) who were given prescriptions for ERT initiated treatment. The rate of commencement of ERT was higher in premenopausal than in postmenopausal women (98.3% versus 75%, respectively, P = 0.003). Except for one patient who developed breast cancer after the oophorectomy and was advised to stop estrogen, all patients said they continued to use ERT. The maintenance rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were 100% as per patients' history. The pharmacy records for ERT prescription refills were reviewed for 52 patients who were on ERT for more than 1 year. ERT compliance was confirmed in 42 patients (80.7%). Seven of 30 patients (23.3%) who retained their uterus developed irregular uterine bleeding and 4 underwent endometrial biopsies. The incidence of irregular uterine bleeding was significantly higher after continuous compared to cyclic estrogen and progestogen (37.6 and 7% respectively, P = 0.049). Four patients (5.6%) complained of hot flashes and were managed by changing the dose or formula of estrogen. Compliance with ERT among patients with a family history of ovarian cancer who underwent oophorectomy either prophylactically or for benign disease was excellent. The presence of the uterus and the incidence of irregular uterine bleeding did not affect patients' compliance with ERT.