cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Challenges in Translating GWAS Results to Clinical Care

Clinical genetic testing for Mendelian disorders is standard of care in many cases; however, it is less clear to what extent and in which situations clinical genetic testing may improve preventive efforts, diagnosis and/or prognosis of complex disease. One challenge is that much of the reported research relies on tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to act as proxies for assumed underlying functional variants that are not yet known. Here we use coronary artery disease and melanoma as case studies to evaluate how well reported genetic risk variants tag surrounding variants across population samples in the 1000 Genomes Project Phase 3 data. We performed a simulation study where we randomly assigned a “functional” variant and evaluated how often this simulated functional variant was correctly tagged in diverse population samples. Our results indicate a relatively large error rate when generalizing increased genetic risk of complex disease across diverse population samples, even when generalizing within geographic regions. Our results further highlight the importance of including diverse populations in genome-wide association studies. Future work focused on identifying functional variants will eliminate the need for tag SNPs; however, until functional variants are known, caution should be used in the interpretation of genetic risk for complex disease using tag SNPs.
Faith and Works

“FAITH without works,” we read, “is dead.” 1 This is certainly true for the conception of faith presented in this book. From this point of view the Christian ethic describes the way of life of one who is conscious of being in God’s presence. This is also, I would suggest, the New Testament understanding of the Christian life.
Disease-Toxicant Interactions in Parkinson’s Disease Neuropathology

Human disease commonly manifests as a result of complex genetic and environmental interactions. In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), understanding how environmental exposures collude with genetic polymorphisms in the central nervous system to cause dysfunction is critical in order to develop better treatment strategies, therapies, and a more cohesive paradigm for future research. The intersection of genetics and the environment in disease etiology is particularly relevant in the context of their shared pathophysiological mechanisms. This review offers an integrated view of disease-toxicant interactions in PD. Particular attention is dedicated to how mutations in the genes SNCA, parkin, leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and DJ-1, as well as dysfunction of the ubiquitin proteasome system, may contribute to PD and how exposure to heavy metals, pesticides and illicit drugs may further the consequences of these mutations to exacerbate PD and PD-like disorders. Although the toxic effects induced by exposure to these environmental factors may not be the primary causes of PD, their mechanisms of action are critical for our current understanding of the neuropathologies driving PD. Elucidating how environment and genetics collude to cause pathogenesis of PD will facilitate the development of more effective treatments for the disease. Additionally, we discuss the neuroprotection exerted by estrogen and other compounds that may prevent PD and provide an overview of current treatment strategies and therapies.
A novel floating gate spacer polysilicon TFT

This paper reports on a new polysilicon NMOS TFT device utilizing a polysilicon floating gate spacer (FGS) to reduce the OFF-state leakage current and suppress the kink effect while maintaining a reasonable ON current. The new device has demonstrated a better ON/OFF current ratio than both conventional non-LDD TFT devices and LDD devices with oxide spacers. The device structure is simple and self-aligned. The FGS concept applies to both active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD) and SRAM applications. >
Social-spider optimised particle filtering for tracking of targets with discontinuous measurement data

The particle filter (PF), a non-parametric implementation of the Bayes filter, is commonly used to estimate the state of a dynamic non-linear non-Gaussian system. The key idea is to construct a posterior probability satisfying a set of hypotheses representing a potential state of the system. Despite PF's successful applications, it suffers from sample impoverishment in real-world applications. Most of the recent PF-based techniques attempt to improve the functionality of the PF through evolutionary algorithms in the cases of unexpected changes in the system states. However, they have not addressed the discontinuity of observations which is unpreventable in the real world. This study incorporates a recently developed social-spider optimisation technique into PF to overcome the drawback of previous methods in these cases. To avoid premature degeneracy, evolutionary search extends the particle search space when observation is unavailable. The social-spider inspired proposal distribution and the corresponding particle weights are derived to approximate real model states. The experimental results show that the proposed method has superior performance in relation to other evolutionary PF in cases of large changes or discontinuous observations.
Toward an optimal solver for time-spectral fluid-dynamic and aeroelastic solutions on unstructured meshes

Abstract The time-spectral method applied to the Euler and coupled aeroelastic equations theoretically offers significant computational savings for purely periodic problems when compared to standard time-implicit methods. However, attaining superior efficiency with time-spectral methods over traditional time-implicit methods hinges on the ability rapidly to solve the large non-linear system resulting from time-spectral discretizations which become larger and stiffer as more time instances are employed or the period of the flow becomes especially short (i.e. the maximum resolvable wave-number increases). In order to increase the efficiency of these solvers, and to improve robustness, particularly for large numbers of time instances, the Generalized Minimal Residual Method (GMRES) is used to solve the implicit linear system over all coupled time instances. The use of GMRES as the linear solver makes time-spectral methods more robust, allows them to be applied to a far greater subset of time-accurate problems, including those with a broad range of harmonic content, and vastly improves the efficiency of time-spectral methods. In previous work, a wave-number independent preconditioner that mitigates the increased stiffness of the time-spectral method when applied to problems with large resolvable wave numbers has been developed. This preconditioner, however, directly inverts a large matrix whose size increases in proportion to the number of time instances. As a result, the computational time of this method scales as the cube of the number of time instances. In the present work, this preconditioner has been reworked to take advantage of an approximate-factorization approach that effectively decouples the spatial and temporal systems. Once decoupled, the time-spectral matrix can be inverted in frequency space, where it has entries only on the main diagonal and therefore can be inverted quite efficiently. This new GMRES/preconditioner combination is shown to be over an order of magnitude more efficient than the previous wave-number independent preconditioner for problems with large numbers of time instances and/or large reduced frequencies.
Rage Against the Machine: Teacher Educators Try to Throw a Wrench in the (edTPA) Works

Our concerns regarding the assumptions behind, politics of, and implications of using edTPA, an assessment tool purported to assess whether U.S. student teachers are “ready for the job” of teaching, are our primary focus here. We write from our perspectives as teacher educators in New York state, one of the states for which the edTPA is required for teacher licensure, drawing on diverse theoretical perspectives as we lay out our arguments against the problematic impacts of this so-called educational reform. We will strive to “connect the dots” as we see the multiple, and at times radical, changes to the field as all of a piece, making education just one more corporate project at the intersection of money, politics, and power. Last, we will offer some examples of as well as suggestions for resistance to this project, highlighting pedagogies of informed hope.
Transient Security Assessment of Power Systems by Pattern Recognition – A Pragmatic Approach

Summary In this paper, transient security assessment is formulated as a two-class classification problem of pattern recognition. The fundamental elements of pattern recognition are described. Features obtained from the physical understanding of the transient phenomena are used here to represent the operating states (samples). The results reported here are encouraging and show that the pragmatic approach introduced. In this paper is very valuable for on-line transient security assessment by pattern recognition techniques.
ASIA’A GLOBAL WARMING PROBLEM

The islands state of Fiji is sponsoring the UNFCCC meeting in Bonn this autumn in order to underline that the COP mechanism must deliver concrete results in stemming climate change, now visible in the Pacific. The successful Asian economies may wish to share the concern of their Pacific neighbours, as global warming could have devastating effects upon South Asia, South East and East Asia, not to speak of Australia and New Zealand. The energy-environment conundrum now hits this part of the world with some 50% of global economic output and more than half the CO2 emissions. Time is running out for the necessary transition: decarbonisation. Asian miracles ow possess adequate economic management skills, but what is often lacking is GREEN management.
Microbial communities and organic biomarkers in a Proterozoic-analog sinkhole.

Little Salt Spring (Sarasota County, FL, USA) is a sinkhole with groundwater vents at ~77 m depth. The entire water column experiences sulfidic (~50 μM) conditions seasonally, resulting in a system poised between oxic and sulfidic conditions. Red pinnacle mats occupy the sediment-water interface in the sunlit upper basin of the sinkhole, and yielded 16S rRNA gene clones affiliated with Cyanobacteria, Chlorobi, and sulfate-reducing clades of Deltaproteobacteria. Nine bacteriochlorophyll e homologues and isorenieratene indicate contributions from Chlorobi, and abundant chlorophyll a and pheophytin a are consistent with the presence of Cyanobacteria. The red pinnacle mat contains hopanoids, including 2-methyl structures that have been interpreted as biomarkers for Cyanobacteria. A single sequence of hpnP, the gene required for methylation of hopanoids at the C-2 position, was recovered in both DNA and cDNA libraries from the red pinnacle mat. The hpnP sequence was most closely related to cyanobacterial hpnP sequences, implying that Cyanobacteria are a source of 2-methyl hopanoids present in the mat. The mats are capable of light-dependent primary productivity as evidenced by 13 C-bicarbonate photoassimilation. We also observed 13 C-bicarbonate photoassimilation in the presence of DCMU, an inhibitor of electron transfer to Photosystem II. Our results indicate that the mats carry out light-driven primary production in the absence of oxygen production-a mechanism that may have delayed the oxygenation of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere during the Proterozoic Eon. Furthermore, our observations of the production of 2-methyl hopanoids by Cyanobacteria under conditions of low oxygen and low light are consistent with the recovery of these structures from ancient black shales as well as their paucity in modern marine environments.
Effect of vehicle bridge interaction on seismic response and fragility of bridges

Summary This study focuses on understanding and evaluating the effect of vehicle bridge interaction (VBI) on the response and fragility of bridges subjected to earthquakes. A comprehensive study on the effect of VBI on bridge seismic performance is conducted, providing metamodels for seismic response and fragility estimates for bridges in the presence of various types of vehicles. For this purpose, the performance of multispan simply supported concrete girder bridges with varying design and geometric parameters is assessed with 3 different types of stationary trucks placed atop them. To delineate the effects of VBI and additional truck mass, the trucks are modeled in 2 different ways—with additional masses and suspension springs (ie, with VBI) and using additional masses only (without VBI). The results provide insight on VBI effects, such as the fact that when bridge and vehicle mode shapes are in-phase, the component responses increase and vice versa; additionally, the presence of a heavy axle near a bent increases component responses. Sensitivity analyses are also performed to determine the bridge parameters that significantly alter the component responses in the presence of vehicles. Furthermore, differences in component responses and fragilities highlight that modeling vehicles with additional masses alone is not sufficient to model the effect of truck presence on the seismic response of bridges. Finally, this study concludes that depending on the characteristics of the bridge and the vehicle, presence of a vehicle atop the bridge during an earthquake may be either beneficial or detrimental to bridge performance.
A multispecies test of source–sink indicators to prioritize habitat for declining populations

For species at risk of decline or extinction in source-sink systems, sources are an obvious target for habitat protection actions. However, the way in which source habitats are identified and prioritized can reduce the effectiveness of conservation actions. Although sources and sinks are conceptually defined using both demographic and movement criteria, simplifications are often required in systems with limited data. To assess the conservation outcomes of alternative source metrics and resulting prioritizations, we simulated population dynamics and extinction risk for 3 endangered species. Using empirically based habitat population models, we linked habitat maps with measured site- or habitat-specific demographic conditions, movement abilities, and behaviors. We calculated source-sink metrics over a range of periods of data collection and prioritized consistently high-output sources for conservation. We then tested whether prioritized patches identified the habitats that most affected persistence by removing them and measuring the population response. Conservation decisions based on different source-sink metrics and durations of data collection affected species persistence. Shorter time series obscured the ability of metrics to identify influential habitats, particularly in temporally variable and slowly declining populations. Data-rich source-sink metrics that included both demography and movement information did not always identify the habitats with the greatest influence on extinction risk. In some declining populations, patch abundance better predicted influential habitats for short-term regional persistence. Because source-sink metrics (i.e., births minus deaths; births and immigrations minus deaths and emigration) describe net population conditions and cancel out gross population counts, they may not adequately identify influential habitats in declining populations. For many nonequilibrium populations, new metrics that maintain the counts of individual births, deaths, and movement may provide additional insight into habitats that most influence persistence.
From Place-Memories to Active Citizenship: The Potential of Geotagged User-Generated Content for Memory Scholarship

The unprecedented circulation of user-generated images of public spaces on social media offers memory scholars the opportunity to reconsider the role of place as a catalyst for transmitting memory. Drawing on the study of a large data set of geotagged images (including text-based metadata) from three European public squares posted on Flickr, this chapter discusses how online practices are reconfiguring the interrelations between memory, identity, and citizenship. To do so, it explores how the relationship between personal memory and historical memory of place is articulated on geosocial platforms. In this context, we propose a set of methodological insights focusing on the role of the geotag to develop understandings around the circulation and solidification of place-memory in the digital realm.
‘In drear nighted December’: The Newly Acquired KSMA Manuscript

AbstractThis brief article analyses the manuscript of Keats’s ‘In drear nighted December’, recently acquired by the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association and now preserved at its Museum in Rome, reviewing its status alongside other versions identified by previous scholars. Among other observations, it finds Keats’s style in this poem to be consistent with that of the mature writings, not least in its repeated use of the word ‘feel’ as a noun and verb. In fact, the line in question, ‘The feel of not to feel’, is argued to express a highly Keatsian view, both in respect of sensation and the awareness of loss.
Does audience matter? Comparing teachers’ and non-teachers’ application and perception of quality rubrics for evaluating Open Educational Resources

While many rubrics have been developed to guide people in evaluating the quality of Open Educational Resources (OER), few studies have empirically investigated how different people apply and perceive such rubrics. This study examines how participants (22 teachers and 22 non-teachers) applied three quality rubrics (comprised of a total of 17 quality indicators) to evaluate 20 OER, and how they perceived the utility of these rubrics. Results showed that both teachers and non-teachers found some indicators more difficult to apply, and displayed different response styles on different indicators. In addition, teachers gave higher overall ratings to OER, but non-teachers’ ratings had generally higher agreement values. Regarding rubric perception, both groups perceived these rubrics as useful in helping them find high-quality OER, but differed in their preferences for quality rubrics and indicators.
Fast radio bursts as synchrotron maser emission from decelerating relativistic blast waves

Fast radio bursts (FRB) can arise from synchrotron maser emission at ultra-relativistic magnetized shocks, such as produced by flare ejecta from young magnetars. We combine PIC simulation results for the synchrotron maser with the dynamics of self-similar shock deceleration, as commonly applied to GRBs, to explore the implications for FRB emission. We assume the upstream environment into which the ultra-relativistic ejecta collides is a mildly relativistic baryon-loaded shell released following a previous flare, motivated by the high electron-ion injection rate Mdot ~ 1e19-1e21 g/s needed on larger scales to power the persistent radio nebula coincident with the repeating burster FRB 121102 and its high inferred rotation measure. The observed radio fluence peaks once the optical depth ahead of the shock to induced Compton scattering decreases to ~ 1e5 s between major ion-injection events needed to clear sufficiently low densities around the engine for FRB emission could explain prolonged "dark" periods and clustered burst arrival times, and lead to stochastic variation in the dispersion measure. Thermal electrons heated at the shock generate a short-lived <~ 1 ms (1 s) synchrotron transient at gamma-ray (X-ray) energies, analogous to a GRB afterglow.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Tricuspid Valve

Summary An appreciation of the complex and variable anatomy of the tricuspid valve is essential to unraveling the pathophysiology of tricuspid regurgitation. A greater appreciation of normal and abnormal anatomy is important as new methods of treating the tricuspid regurgitation are developed. This review of tricuspid valve and right heart anatomy is followed by a discussion of the possible pathophysiology of secondary (functional) tricuspid regurgitation.
Band dynamics of leaky-mode photonic lattices

External waves incident on a periodic metamaterial lattice couple to it at frequencies corresponding to the leaky, or second, stop band. The resulting leaky-mode or guided-mode resonance effects are useful in device design and spectral manipulation. Indeed, some of the most important properties of metamaterials are associated with the leaky stopband. Thus motivated, we treat the band dynamics of leaky-mode resonant photonic lattices. In particular, properties of the band gap and conditions for band closure and band flips under multimode conditions are quantified. For a symmetric lattice, the nonleaky band edge hosts a bound state in the continuum whose band transition reverses the modal symmetry of the band edge modes. The leaky edge supports a guided-mode resonant radiative peak that also undergoes band flip upon band closure. We analyze a canonical one-dimensional lattice with exact numerical methods and a semianalytical formulation modified to handle the multimodal case. We show that the band dynamics of the various leaky modes present differ appreciably with, for example, the band associated with the fundamental TE0 and the first higher order TE1 modes closing at differing values of dielectric-constant modulation. We compare the thin-film lattice with an infinite lattice and find an approximate analytical condition for band closure that we verify with rigorous computations.
Conventional vs. model-based measurement of patterned line widths from scanning electron microscopy profiles

Abstract Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a practical tool to determine the dimensions of nanometer-scale features. Conventional width measurements use arbitrary criteria, e.g., a 50 % threshold crossing, to assign feature boundaries in the measured SEM intensity profile. To estimate the errors associated with such a procedure, we have simulated secondary electron signals from a suite of line shapes consisting of 30 nm tall silicon lines with varying width, sidewall angle, and corner rounding. Four different inelastic scattering models were employed in Monte Carlo simulations of electron transport to compute secondary electron image intensity profiles for each of the shapes. The 4 models were combinations of dielectric function theory with either the single-pole approximation (SPA) or the full Penn algorithm (FPA), and either with or without Auger electron emission. Feature widths were determined either by the conventional threshold method or by the model-based library (MBL) method, which is a fit of the simulated profiles to the reference model (FPA + Auger). On the basis of these comparisons we estimate the error in the measured width of such features by the conventional procedure to be as much as several nanometers. A 1 nm difference in the size of, e.g., a nominally 10 nm transistor gate would substantially alter its electronic properties. Thus, the conventional measurements do not meet the contemporary requirements of the semiconductor industry. In contrast, MBL measurements employing models with varying accuracy differed one from another by less than 1 nm. Thus, a MBL measurement is preferable in the nanoscale domain.
Not Just IQ: Patterning Predicts Preschoolers' Math Knowledge beyond Fluid Reasoning.

ABSTRACTPreschoolers’ patterning skills are predictive of their concurrent and later math knowledge; however, it is unclear if patterning is only a proxy for general intelligence, or how it might s...
Fetal growth outcomes following peri-implantation exposure of Long-Evans rats to noise and ozone differ by sex

Exposure to air pollution and high levels of noise have both been independently associated with the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes including low birth weight. However, exposure to such environmental stressors rarely occurs in isolation and is often co-localized, especially in large urban areas. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of combined exposure to noise (N) or ozone (O3), compared to either exposure alone. Long-Evans dams were exposed to air or 0.4 ppm ozone for 4 h on gestation day (GD) 5 and 6, coinciding with implantation receptivity. A subset of dams from each exposure group was further exposed to intermittent white noise (~ 85 dB) throughout the dark cycle following each inhalation exposure (n = 14 − 16/group). Uterine artery ultrasound was performed on GD 15 and 21. Fetal growth characteristics and indicators of placental nutrient status were measured at GD 21. Exposure to ozone + quiet (O3 + Q) conditions reduced uterine arterial resistance at GD 15 compared to air + quiet (A + Q) exposure, with no further reduction by GD 21. By contrast, exposure to air + noise (A + N) significantly increased uterine arterial resistance at both GD 15 and 21. Notably, while peri-implantation exposure to O3 + Q conditions reduced male fetal weight at GD 21, this effect was not observed in the air + noise (A + N) or the ozone + noise (O3 + N) exposure groups. Fetal weight in female offspring was not reduced by ozone exposure alone (O3 + Q), nor was it affected by air + noise (A + N) or by combined ozone + noise (O3 + N) exposure. These data indicate that exposure to ozone and noise differentially impact uterine blood flow, particularly at mid-gestation, with only ozone exposure being associated with sex-dependent fetal growth retardation in male offspring.
Do patients that fracture with normal DXA-measured BMD have normal bone?

Patients that sustain “osteoporosis-related” fractures may have normal BMD at the hips and spine, but rarely have normal bone when other clinically available studies are considered. Such data often exist and can inform clinical decisions regarding osteoporosis therapy. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip and spine is widely used to diagnose osteoporosis. However, patients that sustain “osteoporosis-related” fractures often have normal BMD at these sites. The aim of this study was to explore whether older adults with fracture, but normal reported hip and spine BMD, also have normal bone using additional clinically available assessments. This retrospective electronic medical record study included 387 patients evaluated by a university-based fracture liaison service with spine and hip DXA; 32 (8.3%) had normal spine/hip BMD reported. In this cohort, clinically available bone data including 0.3 and ultradistal radius T-scores, trochanteric T-scores, lumbar spine trabecular bone score (TBS), L1 opportunistic CT Hounsfield units (HU), and femoral cortical index (FCI) were assessed. One or more of the above noted studies were available in 30/32 patients. UD and 0.3 radius results were available in 21 patients, and 18 (85.7%) had T-scores < − 1.0. Trochanteric values were available in 16; T-scores were < − 1.0 in 18.8%. TBS data were available in 24; partially degraded or degraded values were present in 41.7%. L1 opportunistic CT was available in 25 patients, 80% were below normal, and < 150 HU. Finally, femoral cortical index (FCI) was measurable in 9 subjects; 66.7% were below < 0.4. When including all additional available data in the skeletal assessment, only 5/387 (1.3%) were identified with normal bone. Patients with normal spine/hip BMD who sustain fracture rarely have normal bone when all available data are considered.
Projected diagnosis, anticipatory medicine, and uncertainty: How medical providers 'rule out' potential pregnancy in contraceptive counseling.

Abstract This article builds on theories of anticipatory medicine and diagnostic uncertainty using the critical case of ruling out pregnancy. Through discourse analysis of 224 patient visits from the Patient-Provider Communication about Contraception Study in which medical providers assess the probability of pregnancy, this article compares cases with and without material evidence and reliable tests. This article demonstrates that in cases in which providers do not currently have access to the tests and tools to which they are accustomed, they continue to reach for additional versions of the potential pregnancy. As part of this, providers may mobilize a version of potential pregnancy using unseen or anticipated events inside the patient's body. Thus, the practice of diagnosis not only involves oscillating between observed material and known categories, but also between habituated practices and projected possibilities. This article expands our understanding of anticipatory medicine, diagnostic uncertainty, and medical authority by considering the role of the missing and unseen.
Compaction self-assembly of a low-binder-content geopolymer material

In order to reduce the use of class F fly ash in geopolymer parts, we investigated the compaction self-assembly (CSA) technology, which could greatly decrease the fly ash content from ~ 25 to ~ 10 wt%. In CSA, a compaction pressure was applied on the premixed material, to efficiently distribute the small amount of binder to the most critical microstructural sites. When the compaction pressure was 70 MPa, the flexural strength reached ~ 4 MPa, comparable with typical unreinforced concrete; when the compaction pressure was 200 MPa, the flexural strength was ~ 10 MPa, comparable with typical steel-reinforced concrete. The material strength increased with the binder content and was quite insensitive to the water glass to sodium hydroxide solution ratio.
Residential Racial Segregation and Disparities in Breast Cancer Presentation, Treatment, and Survival.

Objective To understand the role of racial residential segregation on Black-White disparities in breast cancer presentation, treatment, and outcomes. Summary of background data Racial disparities in breast cancer treatment and outcomes are well documented. Black individuals present at advanced stage, are less likely to receive appropriate surgical and adjuvant treatment, and have lower overall and stage-specific survival relative to White individuals. Methods Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, we performed a retrospective cohort study of Black and White patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 2005 to 2015 within the 100 most populous participating counties. The racial index of dissimilarity was used as a validated measure of residential segregation. Multivariable regression was performed, predicting advanced stage at diagnosis (stage III/IV), surgery for localized disease (stage I/II), and overall stage-specific survival. Results After adjusting for age at diagnosis, estrogen/progesterone receptor status, and region, Black patients have a 49% greater risk (relative risk [RR] 1.49 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.27, 1.74) of presenting at advanced stage with increasing segregation, while there was no observed difference in Whites (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.93, 1.16). Black patients were 3% less likely to undergo surgical resection for localized disease (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95, 0.99) with increasing segregation, while Whites saw no significant difference. Black patients had a 29% increased hazard of death (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04, 1.60) with increasing segregation; there was no significant difference among White patients. Conclusions Our data suggest that residential racial segregation has a significant association with Black-White racial disparities in breast cancer. These findings illustrate the importance of addressing structural racism and residential segregation in efforts to reduce Black-White breast cancer disparities.
The Seasonal Reproductive Status of Tawny Crazy Ant Queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Florida

The tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is an invasive ant that is spreading in the southern USA. The control of invasive ants requires an understanding of their biology to implement measures of suppression such as strategically applying ant baits to eliminate queens. Nylanderia fulva queens were collected monthly in north central Florida and dissected to determine their seasonal reproductive status. The percentages of queens with > 50 eggs increased from 26% in winter to a peak of 68% in summer, while queens with < 10 eggs was below 20% per season. Thus, eggs were present in queens throughout the yr. Likewise, mated queens were present in each season, with 81 to 92% of the queens inseminated. While queens were fecund yr-round, the lack of brood production in winter may indicate a curtailment of colony foraging to feed queens and larvae which could impede the strategy of baiting queens consolidated in winter nest sites.
Effects of genetic risk for alcohol dependence and onset of regular drinking on the progression to alcohol dependence: A polygenic risk score approach.

ABSTRACT Background Prior studies have established the importance of genetic contributions to the etiology of alcohol dependence (AD), and suggested an early onset of alcohol use represents an initial marker of this genetic risk, which is associated with a more rapid progression to AD and increased risk for AD itself. Building on prior work, the current study examined whether the additive effects of AD risk variants predicted the rate of progression to AD from the onset of regular drinking, a drinking milestone with high clinical relevance to AD prevention. Methods Data from 1501 European-ancestry adults from the University of California – San Francisco Family Alcoholism Study were used to examine whether polygenic risk scores for AD (PRSAD) and age-at-onset of regular drinking contributed uniquely to the likelihood of having a lifetime AD diagnosis and the rate of progression from regular drinking to AD. Mixed effects logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were employed. Results Increases in PRSAD were associated with a faster progression from regular drinking to AD independent of age-at-onset of regular drinking. An independent effect of age-at-onset of regular drinking was also observed indicating that a one-year delay in regular drinking was associated with a 7% decrease in the hazard of progression to AD among drinkers with an early onset (≤18), but a 3% increase among drinkers with a late onset (>18) of regular drinking. Conclusions These results broaden our understanding of the contributions of measured genotypes underlying AD-risk on the etiology and clinical course of AD.
Adaptive timing for analysis of skew tolerance

This paper presents an adaptive timing framework for analysis of skew tolerance in high-performance synchronous integrated circuits. The proposed adaptive timing framework models practical deskew schemes as an adaptive system and employs the adaptive processing theory to investigate potential solutions and design constraints of deskew operation. Employing the adaptive timing framework, we determine the statistical properties of optimal deskew, which can be considered as the theoretical limit of skew tolerance. We also quantify the performance of practical deskew schemes and compare the performance gap with optimal deskew. Simulation results reveal that the performance of practical deskew schemes in 90-nm process is 24.3% away from optimal deskew.
INVERSION OF INFRARED LIMB EMISSION MEASUREMENTS FOR TEMPERATURE AND TRACE GAS CONCENTRATIONS

Limb emission measurements are characterized by sharp weighting functions at high altitudes, and for temperature determinations, strongly nonlinear dependence of the weighting function on the temperature. Several methods for inverting this type of measurement have been described and used, including iterative, statistical, nonlinear and approximate direct approaches. These approaches are described and advantages and disadvantages of each are outlined.
Delivering effective primary care to older adults : A randomized, controlled trial of the senior resource team at group health cooperative

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of a team of geriatrics specialists on the practice style of primary care providers (PCPs) and the functioning of their patients aged 75 and older. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Two primary care clinics in the Seattle, Washington, area. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-one PCPs and 874 patients aged 75 and older. INTERVENTION: An interdisciplinary team of geriatrics specialists worked with patients and providers to enhance the geriatric focus of care. MEASUREMENTS: Main outcomes were a practice style reflecting a geriatric orientation and patient scores on the physical and affect subscales of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2—Short Form. Secondary outcomes were hospitalizations, incident disability in activities of daily living (ADLs), and PCP perceptions of the intervention. Death rates were also assessed. RESULTS: Intervention providers screened significantly more for geriatric syndromes at 12 months, but this finding did not persist at 24 months. There were no significant differences in adequate hypertension control or high-risk prescribing at 12 or 24 months of follow-up. There were no significant differences in patient functioning or significant differences in hospitalization rates at either time point. Meaningful differences were observed in ADL disability at 12 but not 24 months. PCPs viewed the intervention favorably. Seventy-eight participants died over the 24 months of follow-up; the proportion dying was higher in the intervention group (11.4% in intervention group vs 7.1% of controls, P=.03). CONCLUSION: The addition of an interdisciplinary geriatric team was acceptable to PCPs and had some effect on care of geriatric conditions but little effect on patient function or the use of inpatient care and was associated with greater mortality.
Summer indoor heat exposure and respiratory and cardiovascular distress calls in New York City, NY, U.S.

Most extreme heat studies relate outdoor weather conditions to human morbidity and mortality. In developed nations, individuals spend ~90% of their time indoors. This pilot study investigated the indoor environments of people receiving emergency medical care in New York City, NY, U.S., from July to August 2013. The first objective was to determine the relative influence of outdoor conditions as well as patient characteristics and neighborhood sociodemographics on indoor temperature and specific humidity (N = 764). The second objective was to determine whether cardiovascular or respiratory cases experience hotter and more humid indoor conditions as compared to controls. Paramedics carried portable sensors into buildings where patients received care to passively monitor indoor temperature and humidity. The case-control study compared 338 respiratory cases, 291 cardiovascular cases, and 471 controls. Intuitively, warmer and sunnier outdoor conditions increased indoor temperatures. Older patients who received emergency care tended to occupy warmer buildings. Indoor-specific humidity levels quickly adjusted to outdoor conditions. Indoor heat and humidity exposure above a 26 °C threshold increased (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 0.98-2.68, P = 0.056), but not significantly, the proportion of respiratory cases. Indoor heat exposures were similar between cardiovascular cases and controls.
The THERMOSENSITIVE MALE STERILE 1 Interacts with the BiPs via DnaJ Domain and Stimulates Their ATPase Enzyme Activities in Arabidopsis

The Arabidopsis TMS1 encodes a heat shock protein identical to the Hsp40 protein AtERdj3A and plays important roles in the thermotolerance of pollen tubes and other plant tissues. Despite its importance to plant growth and reproduction, little has been known about its mechanisms underlying thermotolerance of plants. In this study, the relationship between TMS1 and the Hsp70 proteins, Binding Immunoglobulin Proteins (BiPs) was explored to understand the molecular mechanisms of TMS1 in thermotolerance of plants. The expression of TMS1 was induced not only by heat shock, but also by dithiothreitol (DTT) and L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZC), similarly to the three BiP genes, indicating that TMS1 may be involved in unfolded protein response (UPR). The firefly luciferase complementary imaging (LCI), GST pull-down and ATPase enzyme activity assays demonstrated that the DnaJ domain of TMS1 could interact with BiP1 and BiP3, and could stimulate their ATPase enzyme activities. In addition, the expression level of TMS1 was reduced in the bzip28 bzip60 double mutant. These results suggest that TMS1 may function at the downstream of bZIP28 and bZIP60 and be involved in termotolerance of plants, possibly by participating in refolding or degradation of unfolded and misfolded proteins through interaction with the BiPs.
Thermodynamics and phase relationships in the niobium-copper system

Abstract Copper vapor pressures over two-phase liquid plus solid Nb-Cu alloys were measured using the Knudsen effusion method in the temperature range 1450–1750 K. These data were combined with phase equilibria data to generate a set of analytical Gibbs energy functions for the formation of the competing phases in the system. These Gibbs functions relate to standard states of pure liquid copper and pure solid niobium and satisfactorily reproduce known details of the Nb-Cu phase diagram.
Relationship between temperature and survival of Aspergillus flavus Link ex Fries on naturally contaminated maize grain

Abstract A. flavus tolerated exposure to 110°C for 30 min when determined by dilution plating of propagule suspensions from samples of corn (maize) grain grown in South Carolina and from samples imported from the Midwest. A. flavus did not develop from kernels of the Midwest samples placed on agar after exposure to 110°C or higher for 60 min or more. The fungus was recovered from 30% of the heavily contaminated South Carolina kernels after exposure to 117°C for up to 60 min. Corn grain issuing from continuous flow batch driers has been found to be heavily contaminated with A. flavus . The thermotolerance of this fungus precldes economically feasible adjustments in drying times or temperatures for the elimination of A. flavus in or on the grain.
Overview of Knowledge Management

This background chapter defines knowledge management, its components, processes, and outcomes. It addresses the importance of knowledge management for higher education, in general, and for institutional research, in particular.
Ovulation, ovum transport and implantation in the adult golden hamster

The time of ovulation in various hamster colonies and its relationship with the period of light as reported in the literature was compared with the observations made in this study. Ovulation and transport of ova to the oviduct was studied during days 4 and 1 of the estrous cycle. Microscopical examination of the various oviducal segments for the presence of ova resulted in a detailed description of physiological ovum transport for the adult golden hamster. Simultaneously the developmental stages of ova were checked together with the occurrence of unfertilized ova and the percentage of ova implanted in the uterus. Finally, the contractility of the oviduct in vitro was observed for groups of animals at different times in the pre- and postovulatory period. The presented data indicate that the golden hamster is useful for the study of ovum transport processes. This is due to the regularity of its estrous cycle including multiple ovulations, and because ovum transport can easily be monitored microscopically with a high degree of reliability.
Partnering in CHF disease management

Congestive heart failure mortality is increasing while medications are underprescribed. Disease management programs inform physicians, educate patients, increase monitoring, and facilitate compliance. Improved out-comes include decreased hospitalization and emergency room visits, and improved quality of life.
Surgical management of laryngomalacia

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in infants and occasionally also manifests in older patients. Although a self-limited condition a small group of patients with laryngomalacia require surgical intervention for relief of their airway obstruction. A careful preoperative evaluation is necessary to determine the type of laryngomalacia present so that the appropriate type of supraglottoplasty is performed. The overall success of supraglottoplasty is excellent and prevents the necessity of tracheotomy for patients requiring surgical intervention.
Clinical classification of glaucomatous visual field loss by frequency doubling perimetry

Abstract Purpose: To determine whether the frequency doubling perimeter (FDP) can grade glaucomatous visual function loss in a clinically relevant manner. Sinusoidal gratings 15 Hz appear to have twice as many bands of light, a phenomenon referred to as the "frequency doubling illusion." Evidence suggests that this psychophysical effect is mediated in part by large-diameter ganglion cells, which are reported to be lost early in the glaucomatous disease process. A portable, commercially available FDP has already demonstrated high diagnostic potential for glaucoma screening. Methods: Sixty-four eyes of 42 glaucomatous patients and 22 eyes of 14 normal subjects were evaluated by means of both frequency doubling perimetry and Humphrey perimetry. A clinical scoring algorithm modeled after the Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson criteria for scoring Humphrey visual field defects was derived for the FDP at the halfway point of the study, and all participants were reassessed with this algorithm upon its completion. Results: FDP mean and pattern deviation showed strong linear correlations with Humphrey 30-2 mean deviation (R = 0.75; P P Conclusions: Sixteen-zone frequency doubling perimetry can segregate glaucomatous visual field loss into pathologic categories approximating those obtained with Humphrey 30-2 perimetry by means of a formula modeled after the Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson criteria.
Identification of a glucocorticoid-sensitive histone protein from mouse fibroblast nuclei.

Abstract The acid-soluble proteins from mouse fibroblast nuclei show a typical elution profile for histone proteins on Bio-Rex 70 columns. Glucocorticoid treatment of cells growing in vitro decreases labeled amino acid incorporation into one specific histone region, corresponding to a peak of a lysinerich histone. The single histone affected is present in only small amounts in the cell; it normally represents about 6% of the H1 protein, and less than 1% of the total histones. As measured by total protein nitrogen of the affected peak, glucocorticoid inhibition of this protein is first apparent between one and two hours after the start of steroid treatment.
The requirement for NKG2D in NK cell-mediated rejection of parental bone marrow grafts is determined by MHC class I expressed by the graft recipient

Natural killer (NK) cells provide a unique barrier to semiallogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation. In the setting where the parents donate to the F1 offspring, rejection of parental bone marrow occurs. This “hybrid resistance” is completely NK cell dependent, as T cells in the F1 recipient tolerate parental grafts. Previously, we demonstrated that rejection of BALB/c parental BM by (BALB/c × C57BL/6) F1-recipient NK cells is dependent on the NKG2D-activating receptor, whereas rejection of parental C57BL/6 BM does not require NKG2D. BALB/c and B6 mice possess different NKG2D ligand genes and express these ligands differently on reconstituting BM cells. Herein, we show that the requirement for NKG2D in rejection depends on the major histocompatibility complex haplotype of donor cells and not the differences in the expression of NKG2D ligands. NKG2D stimulation of NK cell–mediated rejection was required to overcome inhibition induced by H-2Dd when it engaged an inhibitory Ly49 receptor, whereas rejection of parental BM expressing the ligand, H-2Kb, did not require NKG2D. Thus, interactions between the inhibitory receptors on F1 NK cells and parental major histocompatibility complex class I ligands determine whether activation via NKG2D is required to achieve the threshold for rejection of parental BM grafts.