cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronotherapy for Hypertension

Given the emerging knowledge that circadian rhythmicity exists in every cell and all organ systems, there is increasing interest in the possible benefits of chronotherapy for many diseases. There is a well-documented 24-h pattern of blood pressure with a morning surge that may contribute to the observed morning increase in adverse cardiovascular events. Historically, antihypertensive therapy involves morning doses, usually aimed at reducing daytime blood pressure surges, but an absence of nocturnal dipping blood pressure is also associated with increased cardiovascular risk. To more effectively reduce nocturnal blood pressure and still counteract the morning surge in blood pressure, a number of studies have examined moving one or more antihypertensives from morning to bedtime dosing. More recently, such studies of chronotherapy have studied comorbid populations including obstructive sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, or diabetes. Here, we summarize major findings from recent research in this area (2013–2017). In general, nighttime administration of antihypertensives improved overall 24-h blood pressure profiles regardless of disease comorbidity. However, inconsistencies between studies suggest a need for more prospective randomized controlled trials with sufficient statistical power. In addition, experimental studies to ascertain mechanisms by which chronotherapy is beneficial could aid drug design and guidelines for timed administration.
Inaction on Climate Change Projected to Reduce European Life Expectancy

Climate change-related excess mortality estimates clearly demonstrate a dramatic impact on public health and human mortality. However, life expectancy at birth is more easily communicated and understood by the public. By properly situating climate change mortality within the contexts of life expectancy, we better represent the cost of climate change on longevity. In this paper, we convert excess mortality estimates due to increases in extreme weather from climate change (heat waves, cold waves, droughts, wildfires, river and coastal floods, and windstorms) into potential reductions in life expectancy at birth in thirty-one European countries. We project climate change extremes to reduce life expectancy at birth by 0.24 years for the average European country with differences in excess of 1.0 years in some countries by 2100. We only estimate the impact of mortality directly related to climate extremes, making our estimates conservative. Thus, the cost of inaction on climate change could approach, and likely to exceed, one year of life in some European countries.
An approximate dynamic programming approach for comparing firing policies in a networked air defense environment

Abstract An objective for effective air defense is to identify the firing policy for interceptor allocation to incoming missiles that minimizes the expected total damage to defended assets over a sequence of engagements. We formulate this dynamic weapon target assignment problem as a Markov decision process and utilize a simulation-based, approximate dynamic programming (ADP) approach to solve problem instances based on a representative scenario. Least squares policy evaluation and least squares temporal differences algorithms are developed to determine approximate solutions. A designed experiment investigates problem features such as conflict duration, attacker and defender weapon sophistication, and defended asset values. An empirical comparison of the ADP policies and two baseline policies (i.e., firing either one or two interceptors at each incoming theater ballistic missile (TBM)) yields several insights: the ADP policies outperform both baseline polices when conflict duration is short and attacker weapons are sophisticated; firing one interceptor at each TBM (regardless of inventory status) outperforms the tested ADP policies when conflict duration is long and attacker weapons are less sophisticated; and firing two interceptors at each TBM (regardless of inventory status), which is the United States Army’s currently implemented policy, is never the superlative policy for the test instances investigated.
AdenoLibrary approach for vector construction and selection of targeted adenoviruses employing novel fiber-fibritin chimeric fibers

1332 Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) has been widely used as a viral vector for cancer gene therapy applications. However, the paucity of the Ad5 primary receptor (coxsackie and adenovirus receptor, CAR) on target cancer cells of interest has rendered many tissues refractory to Ad-mediated transduction. Additionally, this endogenous tropism may potentially lead to undesired transduction of tissues expressing CAR. In view of this, strategies have been proposed to modify Ad5 to achieve targeted gene delivery by ablating native tropism while redirecting Ad to target cell markers of interest. Such strategies involve modification of the trimeric capsid fiber protein, whose C-terminal knob domain has been shown to dictate the native tropism associated with Ad5. While approaches employing genetic fusion of simple targeting ligands to the fiber have shown promise in retargeting, in many cases, the incorporated ligands tend to lose specificity and/or affect virion integrity. As an alternative, several so-called knob-less fiber platforms have been utilized. These modifications are based on the concept of replacing the native fiber with an alternative protein capable of providing the trimerization functions that the knob usually confers. Such a strategy would accrue the additional benefit of an expanded repertoire of incorporable ligands, based on removal of the structural constraints imposed by the fiber knob. Previously, our group has utilized the bacteriophage T4 fibritin protein for fiber replacement, with subsequent display of complex targeting ligands providing for expanded tropism. However, vectors employing these knob-less fiber platforms often exhibit poor capsid incorporation of the alternate fibers in comparison to that of wild-type Ad5 fiber, which consequently leads to limited gene transfer efficacy and difficulty in vector propagation. In view of these obstacles, we have hypothesized that direct analysis of modified adenoviruses during their rescue/propagation is the only straightforward approach that guarantees the selection of functional, targeted vectors with optimized structural integrity and targeting efficiency. Herein, we describe a new schema for Ad vector construction, which allows for the selection of vectors with the optimal modified capsid configuration at the level of viral rescue. Based on our first generation fiber-fibritin molecule, several new fibers employing variant amounts of fibritin and Ad5 fiber shaft were analyzed via this library selection schema. Our selected variant, composed of the entire Ad5 fiber shaft connected to 12th coiled-coil segment of fibritin, is capable of efficient fiber incorporation, ligand display, and CAR-independent transduction. Furthermore, we have concluded that various targeting ligands require individual optimization, which may be accomplished by utilizing this adenoviral library approach.
Enzymic sulphation of p-nitrophenol and steroids by larval gut tissues of the southern armyworm (Prodenia eridania Cramer)

1. An enzyme system that catalyses the sulphation of p-nitrophenol, cholesterol, α-ecdysone, β-sitosterol, dehydroepiandrosterone, oestrone and four other steroids of plant and insect origin was obtained from the soluble fraction of southern-armyworm gut tissues. 2. The enzyme system required ATP and inorganic sulphate, and activity was slightly enhanced in the presence of GSH. 3. The properties of this enzyme system with respect to pH, temperature, substrate and protein concentrations and various cofactors and reagents were studied. At −23°C the enzyme preparation could be stored for 2 weeks without drastic loss of activity. At the end of storage for 1 month the loss of activity was approx. 21%. 4. The possible involvement of this enzyme system in insect endocrine control is discussed.
Rapid increase in the prevalence of cannabis use among people with depression in the United States, 2005-17: the role of differentially changing risk perceptions.

AIMS To estimate trends in the prevalence of cannabis use and risk perceptions of cannabis use from 2005 to 2017 among United States people with and without depression. DESIGN Linear time trends of the prevalence of any, daily and non-daily past 30-day cannabis use and perceived great risk associated with regular cannabis use (outcome variables) among people with and without past-year depression were assessed using logistic regression with survey year as the predictor. All analyses were adjusted for gender, age, race/ethnicity and income; models assessing time trends of cannabis use prevalence were also adjusted for perceived risk. SETTING The United States: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual cross-sectional survey, 2005-17 public use data files. PARTICIPANTS A total of 728 691 people aged ≥ 12 years. MEASUREMENTS Self-report of any, daily and non-daily past 30-day cannabis use and perceived great risk associated with regular cannabis use. FINDINGS The prevalence of any, daily and non-daily cannabis use in the past month was higher among those with depression versus those without [e.g. 2017 for any use: 18.94 versus 8.67%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.17 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.92, 2.45)]. Any, daily and non-daily cannabis use increased among people with and without depression from 2005 to 2017, yet the increase in any (aORs = 1.06 versus 1.05; P = 0.008) and daily (aORs = 1.10 versus 1.07; P = 0.021) cannabis use adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics was more rapid among those with depression. Perception of great risk associated with regular cannabis use was significantly lower among those with depression (P < 0.001) and decreased significantly more rapidly over the study period among people with depression, compared with those without (aORs = 0.89 versus 0.92; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of cannabis use in the United States increased from 2005 to 2017 among people with and without depression and was approximately twice as common among those with depression. People with depression experienced a more rapid decrease in perception of risk, which may be related to the more rapid increase in any and daily past-month cannabis use in this group.
Spatially mediated cultural transmission and the distribution of horse blanket styles among post-contact and reservation-period tribes of western North America

Large elements of anthropology and archaeology study the circulation of ideas through and across communities and the spatial and temporal patterns this produces. Examination of case studies with known particular dynamics are one means by which relevant factors can be examined, and so come to understand the underpinning of patterns that might be observed. Decorated saddle blankets produced and used by Indigenous peoples of western North America during the nineteenth century are used to examine these issues. From the perspective of studying cultural transmission and related factors, these saddle blankets offer much of interest: they vary in form across different ethnolinguistic groups, their outline form has a physical visibility when a rider is observed, yet they are subject to associations of both gender and status that theoretically may have a bearing on their contextual visibility, or be the subject of positive or negative (selective) biases which either promote or impede their adoption by other groups. Results show that the spread of ideas regarding the use of particular blanket styles was geographically mediated. The role of female captive taking and intermarriage among groups is emphasized, especially given that women were the primary users and producers of these blankets. However, specific issues of contextual (social) visibility also come into play in generating the geographic pattern observed. Indeed, the analyses highlight that social factors come into play even prior to the issue of selective biases.
Chronic Diseases, Health Conditions, and Other Impacts Associated With Rape Victimization of U.S. Women:

Sexual violence (SV) is an urgent public health issue that is common and has lifelong effects on health. Previous scholarship has documented the association of SV victimization with numerous health conditions and impacts, but much of this past work has focused on negative health outcomes associated with child sexual abuse using non-nationally representative samples. This article used a nationally representative female sample to examine health conditions associated with any lifetime experience of rape. We also examined injury and health outcomes (e.g., fear, injury) resulting from any violence by a perpetrator of rape. About two in five rape victims (39.1%) reported injury (e.g., bruises, vaginal tears), and 12.3% reported a sexually transmitted disease as a result of the rape victimization. Approximately 71.3% of rape victims (an estimated 16.4 million women) experienced some form of impact as a result of violence by a rape perpetrator. Among U.S. women, the adjusted odds of experiencing asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, frequent headaches, chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, activity limitations, poor physical or mental health, and use of special equipment (e.g., wheelchair) were significantly higher for lifetime rape victims compared with non-victims. This article fills gaps in our understanding of health impacts associated with rape of women and is the only nationally representative source of this information to our knowledge. Primary prevention efforts in youth that seek to prevent the first occurrence of rape and other forms of SV may be most effective for reducing the long-term health effects of this violence.
High Performance Low Cost Package and Platform Design for 56G PAM4 SerDes

This paper will walk-through the process and challenges of design and integration of 56G PAM4 PHY into a low cost SoC package and platform targeting 5G base stations market. In order to deliver best in class design and meet strict electrical compliance from both the SerDes designer and the IEEE802.3 standards, an amalgamation of signal integrity optimization techniques are addressed in this paper.
Development and Validation of Early Warning Score System: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract Objectives This review aims to: 1) evaluate the quality of model reporting, 2) provide an overview of methodology for developing and validating Early Warning Score Systems (EWSs) for adult patients in acute care settings, and 3) highlight the strengths and limitations of the methodologies, as well as identify future directions for EWS derivation and validation studies. Methodology A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL. Only peer reviewed articles and clinical guidelines regarding developing and validating EWSs for adult patients in acute care settings were included. 615 articles were extracted and reviewed by five of the authors. Selected studies were evaluated based on the Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis (TRIPOD) checklist. The studies were analyzed according to their study design, predictor selection, outcome measurement, methodology of modeling, and validation strategy. Results A total of 29 articles were included in the final analysis. Twenty-six articles reported on the development and validation of a new EWS, while three reported on validation and model modification. Only eight studies met more than 75% of the items in the TRIPOD checklist. Three major techniques were utilized among the studies to inform their predictive algorithms: 1) clinical-consensus models (n = 6), 2) regression models (n = 15), and 3) tree models (n = 5). The number of predictors included in the EWSs varied from 3 to 72 with a median of seven. Twenty-eight models included vital signs, while 11 included lab data. Pulse oximetry, mental status, and other variables extracted from electronic health records (EHRs) were among other frequently used predictors. In-hospital mortality, unplanned transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), and cardiac arrest were commonly used clinical outcomes. Twenty-eight studies conducted a form of model validation either within the study or against other widely-used EWSs. Only three studies validated their model using an external database separate from the derived database. Conclusion This literature review demonstrates that the characteristics of the cohort, predictors, and outcome selection, as well as the metrics for model validation, vary greatly across EWS studies. There is no consensus on the optimal strategy for developing such algorithms since data-driven models with acceptable predictive accuracy are often site-specific. A standardized checklist for clinical prediction model reporting exists, but few studies have included reporting aligned with it in their publications. Data-driven models are subjected to biases in the use of EHR data, thus it is particularly important to provide detailed study protocols and acknowledge, leverage, or reduce potential biases of the data used for EWS development to improve transparency and generalizability.
The academic Trumpists: American professors who support the Trump presidency

The Trump presidency has been remarkable in its attacks on many mainstream institutions. It has tapped populist sentiment that reflects little confidence in the key decision-making centers in American society. Higher education has not escaped this attack. Indeed, criticism of the academy has gone well beyond the debated policies of affirmative action and political correctness to the very status of expert knowledge itself, questioning what is legitimate knowledge. Claims of “false data” and “alternative facts” parade in the public arena without the benefit of reasoned scholarship that might separate fact from fiction. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the attack on science, particularly scientific research focusing on environmental issues and climate change. Nonetheless, a small number of academicians—supposed arbiters of truth—advocate for Trump. How does one explain this apparent anomaly? Why would scholars support a president and populist movement that attack the very foundations of their professional life: knowledge and expertise? I have identified 103 such professors who offer their public support of Trump through blogs, essays, op-ed pieces, public lectures, tweets, YouTube videos, and even a couple of trade books. These are public intellectuals who intervene beyond the classroom and laboratory to promote a political agenda that is supportive of Trump. They are public advocates for Trump: academic Trumpists. Who are these individuals? Where do they teach? What do they teach? What kinds of connections external to the academy do they cultivate? How do they justify their support of Trump? This article offers some answers to these questions. It draws inspiration from Bourdieu’s field analysis of the politics of higher education and the sociology of conservative intellectuals.
The Political Consequences of Trauma: Holocaust Exposure and Emotional Attachment to Israel Among American Jews

Building on research about the long-term consequences of political violence, this case study examines the degree to which American Jews with direct and/or familial exposure to the Holocaust differ from other American Jews in their emotional attachment to Israel. Recent studies from other countries suggest that survivors of politically-induced traumas develop strong social identification with other members of their group and transmit these identities to their descendants. Jews who experienced the Holocaust are likely to manifest this identity by developing strong emotional attachment to Israel.
The Interplay of Competition and Cooperation Among Service Providers (Part II)

This paper investigates the incentives of mobile network operators (MNOs) for acquiring additional spectrum to offer mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and thereby inviting competition for a common pool of end users (EUs). We consider interactions between two service providers (SPs), a MNO and an MVNO, under two different scenarios: 1) EUs must choose one of them 2) EUs have the option to defect to a provider outside the system under consideration should the SP duo offer unsatisfactory access fees or qualities of service. We formulate a multi-stage hybrid of cooperative bargaining and non-cooperative games. In this formulation, first the two SPs jointly determine their spectrum acquisitions, allocations and mutual money flows through the bargaining game; subsequently the two SPs individually determine the access fees for the EUs through the non-cooperative game. We identify when the overall equilibrium solutions exist and when the equilibrium solution is unique. We obtain computationally simple characterizations of the equilibrium solutions when they exist, which are in closed form or involve optimizations in only one decision variable. The hybrid framework allows us to determine whether and by how much the different entities benefit due to the cooperation in spectrum acquisition decision.
Molecular genetic analysis of the drought-inducible linker histone variant in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Linker histones are ubiquitous structural components of chromatin that have been shown to influence the expression of a subset of genes in diverse organisms. Plants contain a minor linker histone variant that is expressed in most tissues of all organs, and is induced during drought stress. Based on reporter gene analysis in roots, His1–3 is expressed almost exclusively in emerging secondary roots in unstressed plants, but is primarily expressed in the root meristem and elongation zone of stressed plants. In shoots, expression is higher in younger tissues than older tissues. In order to investigate the function of H1–3, we have generated lines with altered levels of H1–3. Plants expressing an antisense His1–3 transcript exhibit a greatly impaired induction (5% of wild-type RNA levels during stress) of His1–3 transcripts in shoots during drought and contain decreased protein relative to wild-type control plants. In plants overexpressing His1–3, more H1–3 is bound to chromatin than in unstressed wild-type plants. None of the plants containing these transgenes display phenotypic aberrations or differences in water content during drought stress. Additionally, the expression of several drought-responsive genes is not significantly altered in lines misexpressing His1–3.
Agave palmeri restoration: salvage and transplantation of population structure

Agave palmeri (Palmer’s agave) is a long-lived, monocarpic, perennial succulent which provides a critical flower nectar food source for the threatened species, Leptonycteris curasoae (lesser long-n...
Comparison of Pregaming Alcohol Use and Consequences by Season Status and Sex in College Student Athletes.

As student athletes exhibit unique alcohol use patterns based on being in- versus out-of-season and biological sex, we aimed to explore student athlete (N = 442) alcohol use, pregaming behaviors, a...
Photoautotrophic cultivation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in open ponds of greenhouse

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is one of the most characterized green algae. The open-pond cultivation can be challenging due to sensitivity of strain to fluctuating environmental conditions and unavailability of low-cost photoautotrophic media. In this study, the photoautotrophic growth of C. reinhardtii was evaluated in 1-m2 open ponds placed in greenhouse. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) was evaluated as an alternative buffering agent to tris. The effect of buffer and pH was tested. The growth was studied in the presence of various nitrogen [urea and ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3)] sources. In the study, it was found that 125-ppm NaHCO3 as an optimum concentration. The buffering agent in the media was found to have major impact on growth. Without buffering agent, culture did not grow, and pH drop was observed. The sodium bicarbonate-buffered media reported to have the lowest bacterial contamination (18.3%), highest AFDW per OD (0.39 ± 0.027 g/L) and higher Fv/Fm (0.714 ± 0.016), whereas these values were found to be 62%, 0.19 ± 0.02 g/L and 0.537 ± 0.053 for tris-grown culture, respectively. The pH 7.0–7.5 was determined as an optimum, whereas pH 6.5–7.0 and 8.0–8.5 were found to affect the growth and induce palmelloidy. The OD and AFDW of culture grown in NH4HCO3 were found equivalent to a standard nitrogen source (NH4Cl), whereas culture shown poor growth in urea. Based on these data, NH4HCO3 media recipe and the optimized cultivation parameters were selected for photoautotrophic cultivation of Chlamydomonas in greenhouse open ponds.
Deadwood Reduces the Variation in Soil Microbial Communities Caused by Experimental Forest Gaps

Downed woody debris (DWD) creates heterogeneous microsites that are beneficial to enhancing biodiversity and that represent persistent nutrient and carbon pools. Windthrow events characteristic of northern deciduous forests naturally produce abundant DWD and canopy openings that enhance structural complexity, but group selection harvesting reduces DWD biomass despite promoting vertical structural complexity. We implemented a field experiment to test the response of the soil microbial community (SMC) to DWD addition in created gap openings to compare experimental windfall to group selection harvest. Our objective was to assess the variability among microbial functional groups within canopy openings versus at the stand scale with DWD addition four- and five-year posttreatment. This study builds on previous studies at the Flambeau Experimental Research Site (Wisconsin, USA) that tested the effects of canopy openings alone on the SMC abundance and soil respiration along the gap gradient. Soils were sampled in four treatments (gaps, gaps + DWD addition, control + DWD addition and a control), and SMC abundance and composition were quantified using a modified phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) method. Our analyses indicated a stronger response of the SMC to within-gap microenvironments than to the stand-level interaction of DWD addition and canopy openings. We found significant variation in the SMC along the north–south transect within the gaps, with higher abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, soil temperature, unsaturation bacterial stress ratio and lower bacterial abundance in the northern portion of the canopy openings. DWD addition within gaps buffered the soil from extreme temperature changes while increasing gram-positive bacteria abundance that tend to rely on recalcitrant carbon sources and are more resistant to environmental stress. These patterns indicate that gap openings and DWD addition increased soil microenvironmental spatial heterogeneity and suggest that structural complexity may contribute to carbon storage by promoting sequestration in regenerating vegetation and by shaping the SMC to favor greater C use efficiency.
Extending Deep Convolutional Neural Networks from 3-Color to Full Multispectral Remote Sensing Imagery

We are currently experiencing a deluge of high-resolution electroptical (HR-EO) remote sensing images which can be leveraged for a diverse set of applications, ranging from environmental monitoring to defense and security applications. One of the most challenging application domains is the use of machine learning techniques, such as computer vision, for the enhancement and automation of geospatial big data analytics. In this work, we present techniques for extending deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) from 3-band color imagery to 4-band and 8-band multispectral remote sensing imagery. Performance comparisons are conducted between DCNN for 3-, 4-, and 8-band imagery data using the Functional Map of the World dataset. In particular, we investigate five distinct DCNN architectures for classification, and show that utilizing more input channels of the imagery typically has a positive impact on classification metrics such as F1-score and raw accuracy. Herein, we evaluated two methods for initializing the DCNN convolutional filters with 4-or 8-band inputs via transfer learning from networks trained on 3-band (RGB) images and show these methods are superior to random initialization. Our findings indicate that additional spectral bands have varied benefits, depending on the image class, where challenging classes saw minimal improvements. We detail these findings along with insights into the implications for multispectral DCNN in particular geospatial big data analytics use-cases.
Aligning Your Goals with Your Colleagues, Department, and Institution

One of the most fundamental steps in your career development will be setting goals to guide you on your career path. Yet, choosing goals that are both personally fulfilling and professionally fruitful can be challenging. This chapter discusses the importance of identifying career goals that are realistic and achievable, ensuring that they are personally meaningful and contribute to professional success, and evaluating them over time. We begin by reviewing strategies to help guide you in setting goals and measuring success. Specific focus is put on identifying goals using the SMART method and maintaining a healthy work–life balance. Next, we consider the goals within broader contexts to foster collaboration and align your work with departmental and institutional priorities. Cultivating productive relationships with your colleagues, department, and institution will enable you to connect with overarching missions, which will in turn cultivate greater investment in your career. Finally, we provide strategies to help you achieve your goals, and discuss the importance of adapting to change and evolving goals throughout your career. Changes will inevitably occur in your field, in your institution, and in your personal life which will present the chance to creatively consider new opportunities.
Characterizing Focal and Generalized Epileptic Networks Using Interictal Functional Connectivity

Using electroencephalography (EEG) data from epileptic patients1, we investigated and compared functional connectivity networks of three various types of epileptiform discharges (ED; single, complex & repetitive spikes) in 4 regions of the brain. Our results showed different connectivity patterns among three ED types within-and between-brain regions. The one-way ANOVA test indicated significant differences between the mean of the average connectivity matrices (ACMs) of the single spike, which characterize focal epilepsy, and the other two ED types (complex & repetitive) which characterize generalized epilepsy. The interictal EEG segments, through the connectivity patterns they yield, could be considered as one of the key indicators for the diagnosis of focal or generalized epilepsy.
Analysis of high-fold gamma data

Historically, γ-γ and γ-γ-γ coincidence spectra were utilized to build nuclear level schemes. With the development of large detector arrays, it has became possible to analyze higher fold coincidence data sets. This paper briefly reports on software to analyze 4-fold coincidence data sets that allows creation of 4-fold histograms (hypercubes) of at least 1024 channels per side (corresponding to a 43 gigachannel data space) that will fit onto a few gigabytes of disk space, and extraction of triple-gated spectra in a few seconds. Future detector arrays may have even much higher efficiencies, and detect as many as 15 or 20 γ rays simultaneously; such data will require very different algorithms for storage and analysis. Difficulties inherent in the analysis of such data are discussed, and two possible new solutions are presented, namely adaptive list-mode systems and “list-list-mode” storage.
Are Social Skills Teachable? A Review of the Literature:

This article reviews studies that have attempted to increase three types of social skills in blind and visually impaired individuals: assertiveness training, interactional skills, and skills in phy...
Serum protein, lipid, and lipoprotein fractions in normal human pregnancy.

Abstract Serial determinations of total serum protein, protein, and lipoprotein distribution measured by paper electrophoresis, and serum cholesterol, cholesterol esters, and lipid phosphorus have been made in a normal primigravida beginning at 5 weeks of gestation, continuing at monthly intervals during pregnancy, and post partum at 9 hours, 4 days, 7 and 15 weeks, and 6 months. Serum albumin decreased during pregnancy, whereas the alpha globulins and beta globulin increased progressively to delivery. Serum cholesterol, lipid phosphorus, and beta lipoprotein, as well as total lipid, also increased progressively to a maximum early in the puerperium. All the changes were reversed following delivery, but most values required 6 months to return completely to normal.
Coping with "Natural" Hazards as Stressors: The Predictors of Activism in a Flood Disaster

This article reconsiders the long-standing assumption that natural disasters such as floods are uncontrollable environmental events that provide no basis for collective protest. We do this by considering the rise of protest following a flood disaster in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1986. Empirically, we construct and test a social psychological model of activism combining disaster interpretation, appraisal of future threat of flooding, and individual coping mechanisms. The results indicate that a victim's interpretation of flooding as controllable was directly related to activism and indirectly related through feelings of threat and coping strategies. Our findings point to the ways that recent agent- specific typologies of disaster have overlooked the potential for conflict in "natural" disasters because they gloss over issues of differential interpretation and appraisal. The article concludes with an elaboration of several theoretical implications.
An economic history of West Africa

This is the standard account of the economic history of the vast area conventionally known as West Africa. Ranging from prehistoric time to independence it covers the former French as well as British colonies.
Regulation of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase, p38 kinase and AP‐1 DNA binding in cultured brain neurons: roles in glutamate excitotoxicity and lithium neuroprotection

In rat cerebellar granule cells, glutamate induced rapid activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase to phosphorylate c-Jun (at Ser63) and p53 (at Ser15), respectively, and a subsequent marked increase in activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding that preceded apoptotic death. These glutamate-induced effects and apoptosis could largely be prevented by long-term (7 days) pretreatment with 0.5–2 mm lithium, an antibipolar drug. Glutamate's actions could also be prevented by known blockers of this pathway, MK-801 (an NMDA receptor blocker), SB 203580 (a p38 kinase inhibitor) and curcumin (an AP-1 binding inhibitor). The concentration- and time-dependent suppression of glutamate's effects by lithium and curcumin correlated well with their neuroprotective effects. These results suggest a prominent role of JNK and p38, as well as their downstream AP-1 binding activation and p53 phosphorylation in mediating glutamate excitotoxicity. Moreover, the neuroprotective effects of lithium are mediated, at least in part, by suppressing NMDA receptor-mediated activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.
Extracting MUCs from Constraint Networks

We address the problem of extracting Minimal Unsatisfiable Cores (MUCs) from constraint networks. This computationally hard problem has a practical interest in many application domains such as configuration, planning, diagnosis, etc. Indeed, identifying one or several disjoint MUCs can help circumscribe different sources of inconsistency in order to repair a system. In this paper, we propose an original approach that involves performing successive runs of a complete backtracking search, using constraint weighting, in order to surround an inconsistent part of a network, before identifying all transition constraints belonging to a MUC using a dichotomic process. We show the effectiveness of this approach, both theoretically and experimentally.
Effects of Cantilever Aspect Ratio and Liquid-Solid Suspensions on Resonance in a Confined Cavity

The dynamic response of millimeter-scale cantilevers was investigated in liquid-solid suspensions. The gap height d between the cantilever and a solid surface was varied from millimeter range to micrometer range. Different Bimorph cantilevers (aspect ratio b/h = 2.0–12.1, where b is the cantilever width and h is the cantilever thickness) were examined. The added mass coefficient increased linearly with aspect ratio. The normalized viscous damping coefficient increased with increasing kinetic Reynolds number but appeared independent of the cantilever aspect ratio. Cantilevers oscillating in liquid-solid suspensions experienced higher effective viscosity than that predicted by shear flow type models. The damping caused by a suspension containing 2% glass beads by volume was significantly stronger than that in a pure liquid for dimensionless particle diameters Dp /d ≥ 0.02.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
GPU-Optimized Hybrid Neighbor/Cell List Algorithm for Coarse-Grained MD Simulations of Protein and RNA Folding and Assembly

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a molecular-resolution view of biomolecular folding and assembly processes, but the computational demands of the underlying algorithms limit the lenth- and time-scales of the simulations one can perform. Recently, graphics processing units (GPUs), specialized devices that were originally designed for rendering images, have been repurposed for high performance computing, and there have been significant increases in the performances of parallel algorithms such as the ones in MD simulations. Previously, we implemented a GPU-optimized parallel neighbor list algorithm for our coarsegrained MD simulations, and we observed an N-dependent speed-up (or speed-down) compared to a CPU-optimized algorithm, where N is the number of interacting beads representing amino acids or nucleotides for proteins or RNAs, respectively. We had demonstrated that for MD simulations of the 70s ribosome (N=10,219), our GPU-optimized code was about 30x as fast as a CPU-optimized version. In our present study, we implement a hybrid neighbor/cell list algorithm that borrows components from the well-known neighbor list and the cell-list algorithms. We observe about 10% speedup as compared to our previous implementation of a GPU-optimized parallel neighbor list algorithm.
Effects of the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate on plasma lipids and coronary arteries of female cynomolgus macaques

In this study, we examined the effect of nandrolone decanoate, and anabolic steroid (AS), on plasma lipid concentrations and coronary arteries of female cynomolgus monkeys fed a moderately atherogenic diet. There were four treatment groups: (1) intact, sham-ovariectomized (n = 12); (2) ovariectomized (OVX) + placebo for 2 years (n = 15); (3) OVX + nandrolone decanoate for 2 years (n = 14); and (4) OVX + nandrolone decanoate beginning 1 year after ovariectomy (n = 11). Serial blood samples were analyzed for total plasma cholesterol (TPC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) plus low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) cholesterol, and estradiol. All animals were necropsied after 2 years, and the coronary arteries were evaluated. There was no difference in plasma lipid concentrations between groups (P > .05) at any time. Coronary artery atherosclerosis extent (plaque size) was significantly greater in the group administered nandrolone for 2 years compared with the intact sham-operated group (P < .05), but not with the OVX + placebo group. The groups administered nandrolone had significantly larger arteries than the other two groups. Lumen area was significantly larger in the group given nandrolone for 1 year compared with all other groups (P < .05). All artery effects remained after controlling the statistical analysis for body weight. Longer-term treatment with nandrolone resulted in increased plaque size, and therefore, the possible benefit of increased lumen area was compromised. The data also suggest that nandrolone was converted to estradiol, and this conversion also may play a role in the arterial and lipid effects observed.
The Predicted Impact of Reducing the Nicotine Content in Cigarettes on Alcohol Use

INTRODUCTION Product standards reducing the level of nicotine in cigarettes could significantly improve public health by reducing smoking behavior and toxicant exposure. However, relatively little is known about how the regulatory strategy could impact alcohol use, a closely related health behavior that is also a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. The primary objective of this paper is to predict the effect of nicotine reduction on alcohol use, identify priorities for future research, and highlight areas for mitigating any adverse outcomes. METHODS We critically reviewed and integrated literatures examining the effects of very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes on smoking-related outcomes (nicotine exposure, nicotine withdrawal, and smoking as a cue to drink) and, in turn, the effects of those outcomes on alcohol use. RESULTS Current evidence suggests reducing the nicotine content of cigarettes may benefit public health by reducing alcohol use and problematic drinking over time as a consequence of reduced exposure to nicotine and the smoking cues associated with drinking. Nicotine withdrawal could increase risk of drinking, although these effects should be short-lived and could be mitigated by other sources of nicotine. Gender, hazardous drinking, and psychiatric comorbidities are likely to be important moderators of the effects of VLNC cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS It is imperative to broadly assess the public health impact of potential tobacco product regulations by including measures of closely related health behaviors that could be impacted by these interventions. Nicotine reduction in cigarettes may contribute to improved public health through reductions in alcohol use.
Distribution of Lambornella clarki (Ciliophora: Tetrahymenidae) and other mosquito parasites in California treeholes

Abstract Lambornella clarki (Ciliophora: Tetrahymenidae) was one of three common parasites infecting larvae of Aedes sierrensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in California treeholes sampled between 1983 and 1985. Lambornella occurred in 37 of 142 treeholes and was absent from holes with extremes of p H and high electrical conductivity. Ciliates were more common in treeholes in northern California, and L. clarki from all holes was pathogenic to Ae. sierrensis . Natural infection rates averaged 16.1% but reached 100% in some holes suggesting that epizootics may occur in natural host populations. Sequential sampling of treeholes indicated that free-swimming trophozoites appeared shortly after treeholes flooded, but their numbers declined in subsequent samples. Predation by Ae. sierrensis larvae and successful attack and entry of hosts probably accounted for this decline. Trophozoites were common in treehole water late in the season as adult mosquitoes were emerging, and these were probably released from moribund and dead infected hosts. The parasite persisted in dry treeholes between wet seasons in 90% of the cases indicating a highly efficient desiccation resistant cyst. Octomyomermis troglodytis (Nematoda: Mermithidae) and Ascogregarina clarki (Sporozoa: Eugregarinida) were found in 17 and 46 treeholes, respectively. The cooccurrence of these parasites and L. clarki within treeholes did not deviate from random, indicating that parasites are not segregated among larval habitats. All combinations of parasites were found within individual hosts suggesting that competitive forces in this parasite guild are probably weak.
Random Packs and Their Use in Modeling Heterogeneous Solid Propellant Combustion

It isshown thatrandom packsofspheresofvarioussizescan beconstructed thatmodelammonium ‐perchloratein-binder propellants in thesense that both thesize distributions and thepacking fractions of industrial propellant packs can be matched. Strategies for dealing with fractional numbers of large particles are addressed, as are strategies for dealing with a large number of very e ne particles (e ne powder). Fine powder is necessary in a threedimensional pack to achieve the required stoichiometric ratio of ammonium perchlorate to fuel binder, but is not necessary in a two-dimensional (disk) pack. Some preliminary calculations of the two-dimensional combustion e eld supported by a disk pack are presented, in which full coupling between the gas phase, the condensed phase, and the retreating nonplanar propellant surface is accounted for. Nomenclature D1;2 = reaction rate constants dj = mean diameter of particles E1;2 = activation energies L = length of a pack edge N = total number of particles Nj = number of particles in the jth class n j = number fraction of particles in the jth diameter classs n1;2 = pressure exponents Ru = universal gas constant R1;2 = reaction rates rb = surface regression rate T = temperature Vj = volume of particles in the jth class v j = volume fraction of particles in the jth class X = mass fraction of ammonium perchlorate (AP) Y = mass fraction of fuel binder Z = mass fraction of AP decomposition products ´ = surface function A = surface location A = level set function dee ning the pack
Locoregional and Distant Recurrence Patterns in Young versus Elderly Women Treated for Breast Cancer

Objective. This study examined recurrence patterns in breast cancer patients younger than age of 40 and older than age of 75, two groups that are underrepresented in clinical trials and not routinely screened by mammography. Methods. The records of 230 breast cancer patients (n = 125 less than 40 and n = 105 greater than 75) who presented to the Emory University Department of Radiation Oncology for curative treatment between 1997 and 2010 were reviewed. Data recorded included disease presentation, treatment, and areas of locoregional recurrence. Results. Women less than 40 years of age had higher rates of locoregional recurrence (20% versus 7%, P = 0.004) and distant recurrence (18% versus 5%, P = 0.003) than patients above 75 years of age. On multivariate analysis, patient age less than 40 was the only significant predictor of locoregional recurrence (P = 0.018). In a univariate analysis of each age group, receptor status and postlumpectomy radiation were significant predictors of locoregional recurrence-free survival in younger women while mammography screening predicted for distant recurrence-free survival in older patients. Conclusion. The factors identified in our age-stratified analysis highlight patients who are at high risk of locoregional and distant recurrence. Future studies aimed at enhancing therapies in young patients are warranted.
Dark energy fifth forces in torsion pendulum experiments

The chameleon scalar field is a matter-coupled dark energy candidate whose nonlinear self-interaction partially screens its fifth force at laboratory scales. Nevertheless, small-scale experiments such as the torsion pendulum can provide powerful constraints on chameleon models. Here we develop a simple approximation for computing chameleon fifth forces in torsion pendulum experiments such as E\"ot-Wash. We show that our approximation agrees well with published constraints on the quartic chameleon, and we use it to extend these constraints to a much wider range of models. Finally, we forecast the constraints which will result from the next-generation E\"ot-Wash experiment, and show that this experiment will exclude a wide range of quantum-stable models.