cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are Follow-up Throat Cultures Necessary When Rapid Antigen Detection Tests Are Negative for Group A Streptococci?

The frequency of obtaining false-negative Group A Streptococcal (GAS) rapid antigen detection (RAD) tests utilizing currently available kits in a private practice setting and the cost effectiveness of requiring follow-up throat cultures were studied. Laboratory records of the Elmwood Pediatric Group (EPG), Rochester, NY, were retrospectively reviewed to identify all patients with pharyngeal RAD tests for GAS performed from January 1996 through May 1999. From January 1996 through October 1997 (study period 1), EPG physicians used either a RAD test or a throat culture to identify GAS; from November 1997 through May 1999 (study period 2), RAD tests were used as the primary test on all patients. Rapid antigen detection test negative results were confirmed with culture. During the 3-year study 11,427 RAD tests were performed. 8,385 (73.4%) were negative and 3,042 (26.6%) were positive. In study period 1, 3,547 (73.2%) were negative and 1,299 (26.8%) were positive; in study period 2 4,837 (73.5%) were negative and 1,743 (26.5%) were positive. Of the 8,385 negative tests, 8,234 (98.2%) were followed up with throat cultures. Of these, 200 (2.4%) were identified to have been negative RAD tests that were throat culture positive (132 [3.8%] of 3,474 in study period 1 and 68 [1.4%] of 4,764 in study period 2). A cost analysis was performed for study period 2, which showed that abandoning throat culture confirmation would generate a cost saving of $13,521 per year to the practice. Throat culture confirmation of RAD test negative results in pharyngitis patients may not be medically necessary for most patients with currently available RAD tests and is costly.
Lift and drag of a wing-cone configuration in hypersonic flow

R a great interest has arisen in the study of hypersonic flight, in connection with high-speed transportation and re-entry vehicles. Requirements of maneuverability and long range flight impose the choice of vehicles with a relatively large lift-drag ratio. In order to gain information on the possible characteristics of such vehicles, a considerable effort is devoted to the study of bodies of simple shapes. A body which can give good lift and drag characteristics is a cone-wing configuration (Fig. 1); with this configuration an attempt is made to take advantage of the aerodynamic interference between the cone and the wing, which gives rise to a rather large increase in pressure on the windward side of the body, and a corresponding decrease on the leeward side. The present Note gives some results of a series of experiments performed to determine the pressure distribution and the total forces on a configuration consisting of a 20° cone with wings located at 60° from the plane of symmetry and sweepback angle of 75°. The Mach number of the experiments was equal to 5.8; in these conditions the leading edge of the wing was subsonic. The lift and drag coefficients have been determined from the pressure distribution and directly from balance measurements. The results are compared to those obtained with an isolated cone.
Kinematics of ribbon-fin locomotion in the bowfin, Amia calva.

demonstrated (a) dorsally in the bowfi n( Amia calva) (Amii- formes), African aba aba (Gymnarchus niloticus) (Osteoglossi- formes: Gymnarchidae), and oarfish (Lampriformes: Regalecidae); (b) ventrally in ghost knifefish (Gymnotiformes) and notopterid knifefishes (Osteoglossiformes: Notopteridae); and (c) both ABSTRACT An elongated dorsal and/or anal ribbon-fin to produce forward and backward propulsion has independently evolved in several groups of fishes. In these fishes, fin ray movements along the fin generateaseriesofwavesthatdrivepropulsion.Therearenopublisheddataontheuseofthedorsal ribbon-fin in the basal freshwater bowfin, Amia calva. In this study, frequency, amplitude, wavelength,andwavespeedalongthe finweremeasuredinAmiaswimmingatdifferentspeeds(up to 1.0bodylength/sec) to understand how the ribbon-fin generates propulsion. These wave properties were analyzed to (1) determine whether regional specialization occurs along the ribbon- fin, and (2) to reveal how the undulatory waves are used to control swimming speed. Wave properties were also compared between swimming with sole use of the ribbon-fin, and swimming with simultaneous use of the ribbon and pectoral fins. Statistical analysis of ribbon-fin kinematics revealed no differences in kinematic patterns along the ribbon-fin, and that forward propulsive speed in Amia is controlled by the frequency of the wave in the ribbon-fin, irrespective of the contribution of the pectoral fin. This study is the first kinematic analysis of the ribbon-fin in a basal fish and the model species for Amiiform locomotion, providing a basis for understanding ribbon-fin locomotion among a broad range of teleosts. J. Exp. Zool. 319A:569-583, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. How to cite this article: Jagnandan K, Sanford CP. 2013. Kinematics of ribbon-fin locomotion in the bowfin, Amia calva. J. Exp. Zool. 319A:569-583. J. Exp. Zool. 319A:569-583, 2013
A Rho-Binding Protein Kinase C-Like Activity Is Required for the Function of Protein Kinase N in Drosophila Development

The Rho GTPases interact with multiple downstream effectors to exert their biological functions, which include important roles in tissue morphogenesis during the development of multicellular organisms. Among the Rho effectors are the protein kinase N (PKN) proteins, which are protein kinase C (PKC)-like kinases that bind activated Rho GTPases. The PKN proteins are well conserved evolutionarily, but their biological role in any organism is poorly understood. We previously determined that the single Drosophila ortholog of mammalian PKN proteins, Pkn, is a Rho/Rac-binding kinase essential for Drosophila development. By performing "rescue" studies with various Pkn mutant constructs, we have defined the domains of Pkn required for its role during Drosophila development. These studies suggested that Rho, but not Rac binding is important for Pkn function in development. In addition, we determined that the kinase domain of PKC53E, a PKC family kinase, can functionally substitute for the kinase domain of Pkn during development, thereby exemplifying the evolutionary strategy of "combining" functional domains to produce proteins with distinct biological activities. Interestingly, we also identified a requirement for Pkn in wing morphogenesis, thereby revealing the first postembryonic function for Pkn.
Inferring mouse gene functions from genomic-scale data using a combined functional network/classification strategy

The complete set of mouse genes, as with the set of human genes, is still largely uncharacterized, with many pieces of experimental evidence accumulating regarding the activities and expression of the genes, but the majority of genes as yet still of unknown function. Within the context of the MouseFunc competition, we developed and applied two distinct large-scale data mining approaches to infer the functions (Gene Ontology annotations) of mouse genes from experimental observations from available functional genomics, proteomics, comparative genomics, and phenotypic data. The two strategies — the first using classifiers to map features to annotations, the second propagating annotations from characterized genes to uncharacterized genes along edges in a network constructed from the features — offer alternative and possibly complementary approaches to providing functional annotations. Here, we re-implement and evaluate these approaches and their combination for their ability to predict the proper functional annotations of genes in the MouseFunc data set. We show that, when controlling for the same set of input features, the network approach generally outperformed a naive Bayesian classifier approach, while their combination offers some improvement over either independently. We make our observations of predictive performance on the MouseFunc competition hold-out set, as well as on a ten-fold cross-validation of the MouseFunc data. Across all 1,339 annotated genes in the MouseFunc test set, the median predictive power was quite strong (median area under a receiver operating characteristic plot of 0.865 and average precision of 0.195), indicating that a mining-based strategy with existing data is a promising path towards discovering mammalian gene functions. As one product of this work, a high-confidence subset of the functional mouse gene network was produced — spanning >70% of mouse genes with >1.6 million associations — that is predictive of mouse (and therefore often human) gene function and functional associations. The network should be generally useful for mammalian gene functional analyses, such as for predicting interactions, inferring functional connections between genes and pathways, and prioritizing candidate genes. The network and all predictions are available on the worldwide web.
Limited Cutaneous Vasculitis Associated With Levamisole-Adulterated Cocaine

Levamisole is among the many contaminants that have been detected in seized cocaine throughout North America and Europe. Little is known about the association between levamisole-adulterated cocaine and vasculitis. Herein we describe a case of limited cutaneous vasculitis manifested as retiform purpura and skin necrosis in a user of cocaine contaminated with levamisole.
What New And Adjunct Faculty Need To Know About Exams, Grades, And Cheating

College professors often regard their time in the classroom fulfilling and rewarding; the chance to affect the academic and professional development of their students is most likely a key reason why they chose to be professional educators. Unfortunately, with college courses come college credits, which necessitate a course grade for each student, which necessitates student assessment vehicles, such as exams. More unfortunately, those exams lead to the potential for student cheating. Some professors, particularly new and/or adjunct professors, underestimate the importance of exams and the resulting determination of student grades. Unless proper attention is paid to exam construction and the possibility of academic misconduct by students taking exams, course grades can be a misrepresentation of student abilities and competencies. This paper is the second of a two-part series. Both papers are user-friendly manuals designed to minimize the growing pains associated with college-level teaching, especially those experienced by adjunct instructors. With this information, instructors can better anticipate the challenges involved in assigning appropriate grades and meet the course objectives. Specific topics of this segment include exam development and administration, options for timing and scheduling exams, student cheating and methods to prevent cheating, and the overall strategies for course grading. The first part of the two-part series, "Everything That New And Adjunct Business Faculty Members Should Ask About Teaching, But Don’t Know Enough To Ask," was published in the May 2010 Journal of College Teaching and Learning. Topics include syllabus development, classroom teaching methods, efficient use of classroom time, and general classroom management.
Human Development and Service Delivery in Asia

This article offers a common framework for addressing Asia's varied human-development challenges by observing that, for the most part, they stem from a systematic failure in the delivery of basic services, especially to poor people, caused by a failure of accountability at different points in the service-delivery chain. It describes various efforts by Asian countries to remedy this situation. While there are some encouraging early results, these efforts have also turned up some new challenges to Asia's human-development problems, three of which - politics, decentralisation, and the role of learning from impact evaluation - are highlighted by the study.
The Organizing Principle in the Formation of the T Cell Receptor-CD3 Complex

The T cell receptor (TCR) serves a critical function in the immune system and represents one of the most complex receptor structures. A striking feature is the presence of nine highly conserved, potentially charged residues in the transmembrane helices. Previous models have attempted to explain assembly based on pairwise interactions of these residues. Using a novel method for the isolation of intact radiolabeled protein complexes, we demonstrate that one basic and two acidic transmembrane residues are required for the assembly of each of the three signaling dimers with the TCR. This remarkable three-helix arrangement applies to all three assembly steps and represents the organizing principle for the formation of this intricate receptor structure.
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia as a potential measure in substance use treatment--outcome studies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Dysfunction of physiological regulation systems may underlie the disrupted emotional and self-regulatory processes among people with substance use disorder (SUD). This paper reviews evidence as to whether or not respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), as a psychophysiological index of emotional regulation, could provide useful information in treatment-outcome research to provide insights into recovery processes. METHODS We reviewed the use of RSA in clinical research and studies on SUD treatment. Search terms for the review of RSA in clinical research included respiratory sinus arrhythmia, heart rate variability, vagal, cardiac vagal control, psychophysiology, intervention, treatment, mindfulness, mind-body, mental health, substance use, chemical dependence, regulation and emotion regulation. For the review of RSA in intervention studies, we included only those that provided adequate description of psychophysiological methods, and examined RSA in the context of an intervention study. RESULTS RSA appears to be able to provide an index of self-regulatory capacity; however, it has been little used in either intervention or treatment research. Of the four intervention studies included in this review, all were mindfulness-based interventions. Two studies were with substance-using samples, and both showed pre-post increases in RSA and related improved substance use outcomes. Two of the three studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and both showed significant increases in RSA in the experimental compared to comparison condition. CONCLUSION Respiratory sinus arrhythmia may be a useful index of emotional regulation in people with substance use disorder, and a potential measure of underlying mechanisms for SUD treatment studies, particularly mindfulness-based interventions.
Translocation of fluoranthene in porous media by advancing and receding air–water interfaces

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) generally have low water solubility and high octanol–water partition coefficients. In soils and sediments, PAH tend to partition to organic matter and mineral phases, and are, therefore, relatively immobile. However, moving air–water interfaces may scour PAH from solid phases and translocate PAH. The objective of our study was to assess the effect of moving air–water interfaces on the transport of fluoranthene, a four-ring PAH, in unsaturated porous media. A glass channel (i.d. 3.7 mm × 7.5 cm) packed with fluoranthene-contaminated glass beads (dia. 0.5 mm) was used as porous medium. Fluoranthene was initially present as species sorbed to the glass beads and as particulates precipitated out from solution. Capillary fringe fluctuations were simulated by repeatedly imbibing and draining the medium with water. Fluoranthene translocation was visualized by confocal microscopy and quantified by image analysis. Results showed that the first two cycles of capillary fringe fluctuations were the most effective in translocating fluoranthene; 25–50% of fluoranthene surface coverage was translocated from the glass channel. During imbibition, fluoranthene particles were detached from the solid surface, and attached to the advancing air–water interface. During drainage, fluoranthene was removed from the solid–liquid interface with the receding air–water interface. Repeated imbibition and drainage cycles, causing air–water interfaces to move through the porous medium, can be useful method to remove PAH from contaminated soils and sediments.
On the Outskirts of Form: Practicing Cultural Poetics

Michael Davidson Middletown, Connecticut, Wesleyan UP, 2011, 344 pp. $27.95. (pbk), 978-0819569585 It is difficult to get the news about poetry, and the news of poetry, through all the static and g...
Towards Flying Qualities Constraints in the Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of a Supersonic Tailless Aircraft

The increased complexity of next generation aircraft and the resulting highly-coupled interactions between aircraft systems has popularized Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) as an aircraft design tool. However, MDO e orts routinely neglect aircraft stability and control analyses beyond simple static assessments. Not only does this limit the potential of the MDO to identify an optimal design, but it also fails to assess the MILSPEC or FAR ying qualities requirements the aircraft must achieve. In an e ort to bring ying qualities and dynamic performance into the MDO of a tailless E cient Supersonic Air Vehicle, an H1 control methodology combined with pole placement constraints is adopted to automate the feedback control system design and assess the aircraft’s performance. As a preliminary investigation, and to assist in software development, the longitudinal dynamics of a relaxed static stability transport aircraft are studied, and the path forward to implementation on a supersonic tailless aircraft is outlined.
On the Prime Divisors of Polynomials

(1971). On the Prime Divisors of Polynomials. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 78, No. 3, pp. 250-266.
COMBUSTION BEHAVIORS OF PRE-HEATED NANOCOMPOSITE THERMITES

The burn rates and ignition and flame temperatures of compressed Al/MoO3 pellets were measured. The composites are composed of nano-scale reactant particles mixed and pressed to 52 % theoretical maximum density. Experiments were performed by initially pre-heating samples to a uniform elevated temperature ranging from 20 to 200 oC. Additional experiments were performed on samples initially at ambient conditions and with varied laser powers ranging from 10 to 60 W. Results allow comparison of combustion behaviors associated with nano- vs. micron-scale particle composites. The nano-scale particle composites are extremely sensitive to ignition when initially preheated. Burn rates for the compressed nano-composites were found to double when compared to the micron-scale composites.
Do Husbands or Wives Make the Purchasing Decisions

How do husbands and wives describe their roles in making purchasing decisions? Are their purchase plans different? And how well are their respective plans fulfilled?Some answers to these questions ...
Role of Business Ethics in Management of Human Resources (Улога Пословне Етике У Менаџменту Људских Ресурса)

English Abstract: The development of modern industry and the system of factory work, together with a large migration of people across oceans and continents, especially during the nineteenth and early twentieth century, has led to major changes in the way people work and do business. The economy shifted from agriculture and family cooperatives to the urban, the industrial organization. The impact of these changes on individuals, professionals, families, communities and the environment, as well as the rise of a new class of wealthy business leaders, but also new areas of poverty, have led to increased reporting of ethical debate. At the same time, if someone has a clear interest in a given company, then to its employees, whose lives and professional careers closely associated with it. Business ethics pays attention to employees (including employees of the management) in several ways. First, most of the ethical problems and crises that occur include operation and participation of employees. Ethical analysis of choice, communication, and behavior of employees occupying a significant part of business ethics. How can managers and owners treat the workers is another ethical issue of interest. Job security, compensation, safety, harassment, prejudice, and even the quality of work experience, are all aspects that are ethically important.Serbian Abstract: Развој савремене индустрије и система фабричког рада, заједно са великим миграцијама људи преко океана и континената, посебно током деветнаестог и почетком двадесетог века, довео је до великих промена у начину на који су људи радили и пословали. Привреда се пребацивала са пољопривреде и породичних задруга на градске, индустријске организације. Утицај ових промена на појединце, раднике, породице, заједницу и на животну средину, као и успон нове класе богатих пословних лидера, али и нових области сиромаштва, довели су до јављања појачане етичке дебате. Истовремено, ако неко има јасан интерес за дату компанију, онда су то њени запослени, чији су животи и професионалне каријере блиско повезани са њом. Пословна етика обраћа пажњу на запослене (укључујући и раднике из менаџмента) на неколико начина. Прво, већина етичких проблема и криза које се јављају укључују деловање и учешће запослених. Етичка анализа избора, комуникација и понашања запослених заузима значајни део пословне етике. Како се менаџери и власници понашају према радницима друго је етичко питање од интереса. Сигурност на послу, компензације, безбедност, узнемиравање, предрасуде, па чак и квалитет радног искуства, све су то аспекти који су етички битни.
Quantification of ionic transport within thermally-activated batteries using electron probe micro-analysis

Abstract The transient transport of electrolytes in thermally-activated batteries is studied using electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA), demonstrating the robust capability of EPMA as a useful tool for studying and quantifying mass transport within porous materials, particularly in difficult environments where classical flow measurements are challenging. By tracking the mobility of bromine and potassium ions from the electrolyte stored within the separator into the lithium silicon anode and iron disulfide cathode, we are able to quantify the transport mechanisms and physical properties of the electrodes including permeability and tortuosity. Due to the micron to submicron scale porous structure of the initially dry anode, a fast capillary pressure driven flow is observed into the anode from which we are able to set a lower bound on the permeability of 10−1 mDarcy. The transport into the cathode is diffusion-limited because the cathode originally contained some electrolyte before activation. Using a transient one-dimensional diffusion model, we estimate the tortuosity of the cathode electrode to be 2.8 ± 0.8.
Rent-seeking and the tragedy of the commons: two approaches to problems of collective action in biology and economics

I am interested in how models, practices, and concepts travel across specialties and thereby change and are changed in turn. In the present essay I discuss Gordon Tullock’s ideas about the relationship between biology and economics in the light of his correspondence with the biologist Garrett Hardin. Tullock contributed to one of Hardin’s edited projects, but they took different approaches to related problems, which I characterize as problems of coordinated action. Tullock saw that he and Hardin were up to a similar line of inquiry, and Hardin engaged with him up to a point, but ultimately the biologist differed with the economist regarding the potential for the reliability of a regulating power such as the state.
Physical Metallurgy-Based Guidelines for Obtaining High Joint Efficiency

In earlier chapters the evolution of microstructure and hardness in various 2XXX alloys was discussed for various tempers and postweld heat treatment conditions. Physical metallurgy- and design-based approaches can be utilized to improve the overall performance of the weld of 2XXX alloys. In this chapter a short discussion is provided to outline some guidelines as well as to highlight some potential future approaches to achieve high joint strength.
Mote-PC communication

This chapter shows how to build a PC application that talks to motes. As we saw in Section 6.4, a PC typically interacts with a mote network by exchanging packets with a distinguished base station mote (occasionally, several motes) over a serial connection (Figure 6.2, page 95). The PC code in this chapter is written in Java, using the Java libraries and tools distributed with TinyOS. TinyOS also includes libraries and tool support for other languages (e.g. C). Please refer to the TinyOS documentation for more information on these other languages. The TinyOS Java code for communicating with motes is found under the net.tinyos package. Basics At the most basic level, PCs and motes exchange packets that are simply sequences of bytes, using a protocol inspired by, but not identical to, RFC 1663 [24] (more details on the protocol can be found in TEP 113 [7]). This packet exchange is not fully reliable: the integrity of packets is ensured by the use of a CRC, but invalid packets are simply dropped. Furthermore: Packets sent from a PC to a mote are acknowledged by the mote (but there is no retry if no acknowledge is received) – this prevents the PC from overloading the mote with packets. Packets sent from a mote to a PC are not acknowledged. While it is possible to write mote communication code by reading and writing the raw bytes in packets, this approach is tedious and error-prone. Furthermore, any changes to the packet layout (e.g. adding a new field, changing the value of a constant used in the packets) requires corresponding changes throughout the code.
Serine Utilization as a Potential Competition Mechanism Between Salmonella and a Chicken Cecal Bacterium.

Our objective in this study was to use batch culture to estimate growth kinetic parameters for a growth-limiting amino acid, serine, in Salmonella typhimurium and a in chicken cecal bacterium, Escherichia fergusonii , and to test these predictions for competitiveness in a mixed culture of the two organisms. Under anaerobic growth conditions, the two bacteria grew only when serine was provided as the nitrogen source, When serine was used as a carbon source in aerobic media, the maximum growth rates of the two organisms were considerably lower and the affinity constants were higher than when serine was used as a nitrogen source. The maximum growth rates of the two organisms were lower in anaerobic media than in aerobic media, but serine anaerobic affinity constants were lower than those from aerobic media. In aerobic mixed culture, S. typhimurium outgrew E. fergusonii in N-limited minimal media containing 0.1 mM serine but in N-nonlimited minimal media containing 10 mM serine, E. fergusonii outgrew S. typhimurium . In anaerobic mixed culture, E. fergusonii outgrew S. typhimurium in media containing both 0.1 mM and 10 mM serine concentrations. It appears that the cause of inhibition of Salmonella with serine as the variable nutrient differs depending on the oxidation-reduction status.
Vertebrate Lonesome Kinase Regulated Extracellular Matrix Protein Phosphorylation, Cell Shape, and Adhesion in Trabecular Meshwork Cells

Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, is commonly associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) due to impaired aqueous humor (AH) drainage through the trabecular meshwork (TM). Although dysregulated production and organization of extracellular matrix (ECM) is presumed to increase resistance to AH outflow and elevate IOP by altering TM cell contractile and adhesive properties, it is not known whether regulation of ECM protein phosphorylation via the secretory vertebrate lonesome kinase (VLK) influences TM cellular characteristics. Here, we tested this possibility. Experiments carried out in this study reveal that the 32 kDa protein is a prominent VLK isoform detectable in lysates and conditioned media (CM) of human TM cells. Increased levels of VLK were observed in CM of TM cells subjected to cyclic mechanical stretch, or treated with dexamethasone, TGF-β2, and TM cells expressing constitutively active RhoA GTPase. Downregulation of VLK expression in TM cells using siRNA decreased tyrosine phosphorylation (TyrP) of ECM proteins and focal adhesions, and induced changes in cell shape in association with reduced levels of actin stress fibers and phospho-paxillin. VLK was also demonstrated to regulate TGF-β2-induced TyrP of ECM proteins. Taken together, these results suggest that VLK secretion can be regulated by external cues, intracellular signal proteins, and mechanical stretch, and VLK can in turn regulate TyrP of ECM proteins secreted by TM cells and control cell shape, actin stress fibers, and focal adhesions. These observations indicate a potential role for VLK in homeostasis of AH outflow and IOP, and in the pathobiology of glaucoma. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 2447–2460, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optical Coherence Tomography as Potential Biomarker in Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease (P5.177)

Objective: This study aimed to directly compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) results in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) to determine if retinal structural changes are disease-specific or representative of a generalized pattern of retinal atrophy associated with neurodegenerative disease. Background: OCT creates a high-resolution, three-dimensional image of the retina. OCT can therefore provide a direct and real-time window into structural changes associated with neurodegenerative processes. Prior OCT studies of patients with PD and AD have found retinal thinning that may be useful as a disease biomarker, but the disease-specificity and underlying mechanisms of these changes are not known. Methods: 13 patients with PD, 8 patients with AD, and 14 age-matched controls were examined using three OCT scans: a peripapillary scan, a macular volume scan, and an Extended Depth Imaging (EDI) macular scan. The scans were then automatically segmented into retinal layers. Subfoveal choroid and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and macula, ganglion cell layer, and photoreceptor layer volume were compared between groups. Results: The average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was decreased by 8[percnt] in PD patients compared to both controls and AD patients (p=0.002). In the EDI scans, the average choroid thickness was decreased by 20[percnt] in AD patients compared to both controls and PD patients (p=0.04). Both patient groups showed similar trends of reduced macular volumes compared to controls. Conclusions: In PD and AD, different mechanisms of retinal injury may converge on a similar pattern of structural changes. This result points to a need for longitudinal OCT studies to determine stages of retinal deterioration and demonstrate whether OCT is useful in tracking disease progression. In this way, OCT studies may provide insight into the underlying biology of retinal degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases. Study supported by: NIA Grant #5T35AG029795-08 and the Pritzker School of Medicine Disclosure: Dr. Boeke has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rosen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mastrianni has received research support from Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Xie has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bernard had received personal compensation for activities with Novartis. Dr Bernard has received research support from Biogen Idec.
Opinion: Let's march to stress the value of science for the public good, not to engage in partisan politics.

Much has been made of the aims of the upcoming March for Science, which is scheduled to take place on April 22 in Washington, DC. Some have argued it’s a terrible idea (1). But the march could serve an important purpose—if organizers and participants succeed in sending the right message and reaching the right audiences, namely a public that’s sometimes wary or suspicious of science and public officials who are trying to further specific interests. A march for science, done right, will underscore the critical importance of science literacy among the general public. Image courtesy of Dave Cutler (artist). If the March for Science were meant as a partisan enterprise or an objection to President Trump’s policies in general, scientists would have reason to be reluctant to participate. In their statement of purpose, the organizers issue a “call to support and safeguard the scientific community” (https://www.marchforscience.com), a somewhat nebulous phrase that could be interpreted in a variety of ways. The statement goes on to lament the “mischaracterization of science as a partisan issue, which has given policymakers permission to reject overwhelming evidence” (https://www.marchforscience.com). In other words, the event is meant to underscore that scientific findings should not be ignored by policy makers, not to favor one political party or another. Scientists’ findings deserve respect specifically because they emanate from procedures that ensure neutrality. Even if researchers would prefer a specific outcome, those adhering to the scientific method do not alter the results to fit their preferences. Their ethical commitments, rigorous training, and professional standards all suggest they have well-earned credibility in their chosen field. Neither partisanship, political predilections, or even religious beliefs affect the procedures followed by well-trained, ethical scientists. They may be Republicans, Democrats, Independents, or have no affiliation with a political party, but the scientific method, properly applied, … [↵][1]1Email: rudder{at}gmu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Does a Firm’s Business Strategy Influence its Level of Tax Avoidance?

A firm’s business-level strategy dictates how the firm competes in its chosen line of business. Porter (1996) argues that the best way for a firm to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in its chosen market is to reinforce its business-level strategy with a host of activities, including functional policies, organization structure, etc. The choices made by each firm are likely to determine, to some extent, the level of tax avoidance because the firm strategies are, in part, based on firms’ willingness to deal with risk and uncertainty. Thus, we examine whether a firm’s business strategy, as defined by the Miles and Snow typology (1978), influences its level of tax avoidance. We find that firms engaging in a strategy that focuses on minimizing and reducing the uncertainty of costs (defenders) avoid fewer taxes than firms that not only follow a strategy focusing on product differentiation and the aggressive pursuit of opportunities, but are more willing to deal with uncertainty (prospectors). Our results suggest that even though defenders could engage in tax avoidance activities to lower costs, prospectors are more willing to engage in tax planning efforts that have uncertain outcomes.
Significance of Protein Ordering in Grana Thylakoids for Light-Harvesting by Photosystem II and Protein Mobility

Controlled by environmental factors, proteins in the grana thylakoid subcompartment in chloroplasts can rearrange into highly ordered semicrystalline arrays. The functional implications of these arrays are analyzed by using an Arabidopsis fatty acid desaturase (fad5) mutant as a model system, which constitutively forms these crystalline structures in thylakoid membranes. Stoichiometric analysis of the fad5 thylakoid membranes reveal the existence of two membrane domains in grana (domains with PSII crystals and LHCII-enriched domains). Probing the light-harvesting of PSII by chlorophyll fluorescence induction indicates a very efficient energy transfer between these domains in the mutant probably by transversal energy transfer across the aqueous stromal partition gap between adjacent grana discs. Furthermore, the protein mobility in fad5 measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching is higher compared to WT plants. This gives evidence for a high protein mobility in LHCII-enriched grana regions.
Predictors of short-term change after a brief alcohol intervention for mandated college drinkers.

Abstract Objective Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) reduce problematic drinking for some, but not all, college students. Identifying those students who are less responsive can help to guide intervention refinement. Therefore, we examined demographic, personality, and cognitive factors hypothesized to influence change after a BMI. Method Students mandated for intervention following a campus alcohol violation ( N = 568; 28% female, 38% freshmen) completed a baseline assessment, then received a BMI, and then completed a 1-month follow-up. At both assessments, alcohol use (i.e., drinks per week, typical BAC, binge frequency) and alcohol-related problems were measured. Results Latent change score analyses revealed significant decrease in both alcohol use and problems 1 month after the BMI. In the final model that predicted change in alcohol use , four factors (male sex, a “fun seeking” disposition, more perceived costs and fewer perceived benefits of change) predicted smaller decreases in alcohol use over time. In the final model that predicted change in alcohol-related problems , three factors (stronger beliefs about the centrality of alcohol to college life, more perceived costs and fewer perceived benefits of change) predicted smaller decreases in problems over time. Conclusions Participation in a BMI reduced alcohol use and problems among mandated college students at 1-month follow-up. We identified predictors of these outcomes, which suggest the need to tailor the BMI to improve its efficacy among males and those students expressing motives (pro and cons, and fun seeking) and beliefs about the centrality of drinking in college.
Tissue Restoration Through Regenerative Biology and Medicine

The cost of tissue damage due to degenerative disease and injury is enormous in terms of health care costs, lost economic productivity, diminished quality of life and premature death. Advances in cell, developmental and molecular biology, and the discovery of regeneration-competent cells in many non-regenerating mammalian tissues, have given impetus to systematic investigations that will enable us to regenerate these tissues by cell transplantation or the pharmaceutical induction of regeneration from the body's own tissues. A significant avenue of research is the identification of the soluble and insoluble signals and their transduction pathways that govern the proliferation and differentiation of regeneration-competent cells, and the signals that inhibit their activity after injury. The most direct experimental strategy to identify the chemical and physical signals that promote regeneration and the factors that inhibit it is to make genomic and proteomic comparisons, using bioinformatic analyses, of regeneration-competent vs regeneration-deficient tissues. Once identified, the molecular promoters of regeneration can be used in clinical treatments. How far can we go in our quest for regeneration? We will probably be able to induce the regeneration of some tissues, such as skin or even spinal cord, within a few years. The regeneration of others, such as heart, lung, kidney or appendages, may be more complex and difficult, but we should not view them as impossible. They will just take a little longer.
Beyond Beauty: Design Symmetry and Brand Personality

Our research explores connections between a fundamental element of visual design, namely symmetry, and consumer inferences regarding brand personality. In contrast to prior work focused on broad affective responses, we propose that symmetry plays an additional, nuanced role in the communication of brand personality. Results of four experiments reveal that asymmetry in visual brand elements is associated by consumers with brand excitement, and that the effect is driven in part by the experience of subjective arousal. These findings contribute to growing interest in visual design and consumer processing, while extending current understanding regarding the communication of brand personality.
Molecular level structure and dynamics of electrolytes using 17O nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Electrolytes help harness the energy from electrochemical processes by serving as solvents and transport media for redox-active ions. Molecular-level interactions between ionic solutes and solvent molecules – commonly referred to as solvation phenomena – give rise to many functional properties of electrolytes such as ionic conductivity, viscosity, and stability. It is critical to understand the evolution of solvation phenomena as a function of competing counterions and solvent mixtures to predict and design the optimal electrolyte for a target application. Probing oxygen environments is of great interest as oxygens are located at strategic molecular sites in battery solvents and are directly involved in inter- and intramolecular solvation interactions. NMR signals from 17O nuclei in battery electrolytes offer nondestructive bulk measurements of isotropic shielding, electric field gradient tensors, and transverse and longitudinal relaxation rates, which are excellent means for probing structure, bonding, and dynamics of both solute and solvent molecules. This article describes the use of 17O NMR spectroscopy in probing the solvation structures of various electrolyte systems ranging from transition metal ions in aqueous solution to lithium cations in organic solvent mixtures. Keywords: electrolytes; 17O NMR; solvation structure; NMR relaxation; paramagnetic shift
A Generalization of the Congruence rx ≡ x (mod p)

(1961). A Generalization of the Congruence rx ≡ x (mod p) Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 349-352.
Comparing Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transitions in the Middle East and Egypt

Transitions in the lithic archaeological record are subject to diverse questions. These include whether this record is characterized by gradualism or by punctuated changes; how different terminologies (for example, the Middle Stone Age and the Middle Paleolithic) affect interpretations; at what point a lithic assemblage is classified as Upper rather than Middle Paleolithic; and if the lithic transitions from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic for both modern humans and Neandertals are similar or different.
The Titrated Monetary Incentive Delay Task: Sensitivity, convergent and divergent validity, and neural correlates in an RDoC sample.

Introduction: Neuropsychological tests are designed to assay brain function via performance measurements. Many tests corresponding to visual and motor cortex function have been validated. Tests pro...
Gender disparities in patient education provided during patient visits with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease

Background:Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in females in the United States. Prior studies have reported that females receive less patient education and preventive counseling fo...
Stochastic homogenization of L∞ variational problems

Abstract We present a homogenization result for L ∞ variational problems in general stationary ergodic random environments. By introducing a generalized notion of distance function (a special solution of an associated eikonal equation) and demonstrating a connection to absolute minimizers of the variational problem, we obtain the homogenization result as a consequence of the fact that the latter homogenizes in random environments.
Coastal resource foraging, the culture of coastal livelihoods, and human well-being in Southeastern Puerto Rico: consensus, consonance, and some implications for coastal policy

Based on 3 years of fieldwork in Southeastern Puerto Rico (SE PR), we report on data showing that Puerto Rican coastal resource foragers (CR foragers) have a distinct cultural model of well-being, when compared with their non-foraging neighbors. The CR foragers’ cultural model of well-being is directly related to the foraging lifestyle. It emphasizes independence, investment in social relationships, and enjoyment of the natural environment over the more stable access to higher income available in the formal economy. As such, we view this cultural model as an alternative to the individualistic/capitalistic model of continual growth and wealth accumulation. Building on previous analysis in which we found higher subjective well-being for coastal resource foragers compared with non-foraging neighbors as reported by Garcia-Quijano et al. (J Anthropol Res 71 (2):145–167 2015), we find that the higher well-being of CR foragers compared with their non-foraging neighbors is consistent with Dressler’s (2018) framework of cultural consonance, in this case between what they value in life and what they are able to obtain through their occupation and lifestyle as CR foragers. We discuss the implication of our findings for coastal policy in CR foraging dependent locales such as SE PR.
An Assessment of the Needs of Rehabilitated Veterans

The continuing needs of rehabilitated blind veterans were assessed with an activities questionnaire and analyzed using the Rasch measurement model. The questionnaire included self-care, home care, ...
Association of electronic cigarette use with lead, cadmium, barium, and antimony body burden: NHANES 2015-2016.

Abstract Background Exposure of toxic metals from e-cigarette use is a cause for public health concern because youth, young adults, and non-smokers are the target population rapidly adopting e-cigarette use. The purpose of this research is to determine the association of the body burden of heavy metals with e-cigarette use using NHANES (U.S.) 2015–2016 data. Methods Blood lead (N = 1899) and urinary cadmium, barium, and antimony (N = 1302) data were extracted from NHANES, 2015–2016; geometric means were calculated and bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted. Participants were categorized as having neither e-cigarette nor cigarette use; smoking history (including dual use with e-cigarettes); and only e-cigarette (current or former). Results In multivariable analyses adjusted for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and poverty levels, current or former e-cigarette use failed to reach a statistical significance in the association with metals. However, participants with a smoking history were more likely to have higher blood lead and urinary cadmium than participants who neither used e-cigarettes nor cigarettes. Conclusion Blood lead levels, and urinary cadmium, barium, and antimony levels were similar between participants who used e-cigarettes and participants who did not.
Effects of Resonance in Quasi-periodic Oscillators of Neutron Star Binaries

Using a large quantity of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer data presented in the literature, I offer a detailed investigation into the accuracy of the quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) frequency determination. The QPO phenomenon seen in X-ray binaries is possibly a result of the resonance of the intrinsic (eigen) oscillations and harmonic driving forces of the system. I show that the resonances, in the presence of the damping of oscillations, occur at frequencies that are systematically and randomly shifted with respect to the eigenfrequencies of the system. The shift value strongly depends on the damping rate that is measured by the half-width of the QPO feature. Taking into account this effect, I analyze the QPO data for four Z sources, Scorpius X-I, GX 340+0, GX 5-1, and GX 17+2, and two atoll sources, 4U 1728-34 and 4U 0614+09. The transition-layer model (TLM) predicts the existence of the invariant quantity delta, an inclination angle of the magnetospheric axis with respect to the normal to the disk. I calculate delta and the error bars of delta using the resonance shift, and I find that the inferred delta-values are consistent with constants for these four Z sources, in which horizontal-branch oscillation and kilohertz frequencies have been detected and correctly identified. It is shown that the inferred delta are in the range between 5.5 deg and 6.5 deg. I conclude that the TLM seems to be compatible with the data.
Online Updating of Survival Analysis

When large amounts of survival data arrive in streams, conventional estimation methods become computationally infeasible since they require access to all observations at each accumulation point. We...