cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Respiratory Failure and Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: Recent Advances

Treatment of respiratory failure in the patient with chronic obstructive lung disease requires the use of a controlled oxygen, treatment of reversible causes of deterioration, and treatment of the associated bronchospasm. Complications such as pulmonary emboli and gastrointestinal bleeding should be avoided by prophylactic therapy. Mechanical ventilation should be avoided if possible. If the patient requires intubation, weaning and extubation should be an orderly transition to spontaneous ventilation. Nutritional support should be stressed during respiratory failure. Finally, as explained in detail in other chapters, a comprehensive outpatient treatment program should be planned prior to discharge from the hospital. A comprehensive approach to management should improve the quality of life and further improve survival in the patient with chronic obstructive lung diseases.
Elm Spanworm Head Capsule Widths and Instars

Series of individual larvae of elm spanworm, Ennomos subsignarius (Hubner), were reared on 3 host species: northern red oak, Quercus rubra L.; white oak, Q. alba 1,.; and pignut hickory, Carya glabra (Mill.) Sweet. On the rod oak and pignut hickory the larvae had 5 distinct instars, based upon head capsule studies. Most of the larvae reared on white oak had 5 instars, but 1 ♂ and 3 ♀ had 6. The possibility and frequency of a 6th instar in the field is unknown. Measurements taken on field material did not resolve this problem. These rearings on 3 common spanworm hosts indicate the general utility of the instar-head capsule relationship, but certainty beyond the 3rd instar should be avoided. “Dyar's Rule” did not apply to the elm spanworm larvae, but use of Taylor's modification of the Rule showed that there were no missing instars among the 5-instar group. Head capsule widths did not overlap among the 5- instar larvae, even though a significant difference in size dependent upon sex was found. In the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instars the mean widths of female head capsules were greater than those of corresponding males.
Investigation and analysis of accountants'quality in Liaoning small enterprises

In view of the development status of the small enterprises accountants,by interview and questionnaire,researches are carried out.Results are as follows:most accountants in small enterprises in Liaoning province have some problems such as the unreasonable age structure,professional titles structure,knowledge aging,low degree of education and professional ethics,poor quality of accounting staff.Such problems directly affect the information quality and own development of small enterprises.
The Uncertainty in Testing on CFU of foods

Objective To set up a feasible method for Uncertainty evaluation for CFU.methods Refering to some published methods and basing on JJF1059-1999 Evaluation and Expression of Uncertainty in measurement and GB4789.2-2008 Microbiological examination of food Hygiene-Enumbcration of CFU A example was given.Results A feasible methods for uncertainty evaluation for CFU of food was established.Conclusion The analysis can effiectively ensure credibility and accuracy of the result.
Feeding behaviors, food attitudes, and body fatness in infants.

There is an interest in the study of infantile obesity because infancy may be a critical period for the development of fat cells.
Modern Assessment of Tonsils and Adenoids

Modern assessment of the tonsils and adenoids is based on an appreciation of new concepts pertaining to the pathogenesis of tonsil and adenoid disease. Recognition of the emergence of beta-lactamase-producing and encapsulated anaerobic bacteria in the tonsils and adenoids should lead to a reconsideration of present therapeutic recommendations for antibiotic therapy in infectious tonsil and adenoid disease. The performance of a precise history, use of a standardized physical examination, and judicious use of laboratory evaluation are all necessary for appropriate patient management and improved communication between the pediatrician and otolaryngologist. Thus, appropriate recommendation for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy will enhance their benefits, and the result will be happier and healthier children.
Site Structure and Zooarchaeology at the Boar’s Tusk Site, Wyoming

The Boar's Tusk site is a Late Prehistoric or Protohistoric short-term probable campsite in southwestern Wyoming. Pronghorn predominates the bone assemblage. Site structure at Boar's Tusk is compared to campsites of Efe and Ju/'hoansi foragers of central and southern Africa. Features at Boar's Tusk were arranged in an oval configuration like the arrangement of dwellings generally seen at Efe and Ju/'hoansi campsites, but with much greater distance between features at Boar's Tusk. This may be the result of differing characteristics of the physical environment, such as density of vegetation, or of differences in the degree to which resources were shared between households.
Formation of reactive products of the isoprostane pathway: isolevuglandins and cyclopentenone isoprostanes.

In 1990 we reported the discovery of the formation of prostaglandin (PG) F2-like compounds in vivo by a free radical mechanism independent of the cyclooxygenase enzyme.1 These compounds have been termed F2-isoprostanes (F2-LsoP’s). The formation of these compounds proceeds via PGH2-like bicyclic endoperoxide intermediates which are reduced to form F-ring IsoP’s. Four F2-isoP regioisomers are formed, each of which is comprised of eight racemic diastereomers. It is well known that PGH2 endoperoxide is an unstable molecule which undergoes rearrangement in aqueous media to form PGE2 and PGD2. We recently reported that glutathione is a key molecule responsible for the reduction of the IsoP endoperoxides.2 However, the reduction of the IsoP endoperoxides is not completely efficient. In this regard, we have found that E-ring and D-ring IsoP’s are produced in vivo as rearrangement products of the IsoP endoperoxides.3
Neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy use in upper tract urothelial carcinoma.

Abstract Objective To determine trends in neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy use for upper tract urothelial cancer and assess its effects on survival. Materials and methods We identified all patients diagnosed with upper tract urothelial cancer who underwent surgical treatment in the SEER-Medicare database from 2002 to 2011. We collected and analyzed patient demographic, clinical, and pathologic characteristics. We strictly defined neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy and studied patients who met such criteria. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models identified were used to identify independent predictors of overall and cancer-specific survival. Results A total of 3,432 patients met inclusion criteria, and their median age was 77 years. Overall, 86.4% of patients underwent surgery alone, 1.8% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery, and 11.8% underwent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy use increased during the study period. Gemcitabine, carboplatin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel were the most commonly used agents. Cancer-specific survival at 5 years was 65.0% (95% CI: 63.2%–66.8%). Cox proportional hazards modeling controlling for sex, race, year of diagnosis, location, and pathologic stage revealed that higher pathologic nodal stage, tumor size>3 cm, increased age, and carcinoma in situ predicted for worse survival. Conclusion Age, nodal stage, and tumor size>3 cm predict for worse cancer-specific survival. Neoajduvant chemotherapy is underused.
Paying for success: An appraisal of social impact bonds

Abstract A social impact bond is a type of pay-for-success initiative that shifts the financial risks associated with pursuing public purposes to private investors. Governments throughout the world are hopeful that they can be relied on as a politically feasible policy tool for tackling difficult social problems. Despite the excitement surrounding them, there is very little empirical scholarship on social impact bonds. This article takes stock of this new phenomenon, noting the many reasons for their widespread appeal while also raising some concerns that researchers and practitioners would do well to consider before adopting them. We do so by appraising them through the lens of three dimensions: accountability, measurement, and cost-effectiveness. Throughout, we draw comparisons to conventional government contracting.
Mechanical energy dissipation in natural ceramic composites

Ceramics and glasses, in their monolithic forms, typically exhibit low fracture toughness values, but rigid natural marine ceramic and glass composites have shown remarkable resistance to mechanical failure. This has been observed in load-extension behavior by recognizing that the total area under the curve, notably the part beyond the yield point, often conveys substantial capacity to carry mechanical load. The mechanisms underlying the latter observations are proposed as defining factors for toughness that provide resistance to failure, or capability to dissipate energy, rather than fracture toughness. Such behavior is exhibited in the spicules of glass sponges and in mollusk shells. There are a number of similarities in the manner in which energy dissipation takes place in both sponges and mollusks. It was observed that crack diversion, a new form of crack bridging, creation of new surface area, and other important energy-dissipating mechanisms occur and aid in "toughening". Crack tolerance, key to energy dissipation in these natural composite materials, is assisted by promoting energy distribution over large volumes of loaded specimens by minor components of organic constituents that also serve important roles as adhesives. Viscoelastic deformation was a notable characteristic of the organic component. Some of these energy-dissipating modes and characteristics were found to be quite different from the toughening mechanisms that are utilized for more conventional structural composites. Complementary to those mechanisms found in rigid natural ceramic/organic composites, layered architectures and very thin organic layers played major roles in energy dissipation in these structures. It has been demonstrated in rigid natural marine composites that not only architecture, but also the mechanical behavior of the individual constituents, the nature of the interfaces, and interfacial bonding play important roles in energy dissipation. Additionally, the controlling effects of thin organic layers have been observed in other natural ceramic composite structures, such as teeth and bones, indicating that a variety of similar energy dissipating mechanisms in natural ceramic composites may operate as means to resist failure.
Modeling impact of nitrogen carrier and concentration on root substrate pH

ABSTRACTWe conducted an experiment to quantify the effects on substrate pH from nitrogen (N) carrier and concentration. We used four concentrations of N (3.5–14 mM) and five fractions of ammonium (NH4+) (0–80% NH4+ of total N) that are found in commercially available fertilizers. Fertilizers were applied to fallow 14-cm-diameter pots (1.29 L) filled with a 3 peat:1 perlite (v/v) substrate amended with non-residual powdered calcium carbonate to raise the substrate pH to approximately 6.0. Harvests occurred at 20 and 42 days. Significant effects in the model included main effects of N carrier and N concentration, their squared terms, an interaction effect, and a time × N carrier. The fraction of NH4+ accounted for 45.0% of variation in substrate pH, and N concentration accounted for 1.5% of the total R2 of 76.7%. Substrate acidification was likely due to the physiological fertilizer effect and nitrification.
Germ soak water as nutrient source to improve fermentation of corn grits from modified corn dry grind process.

Corn fractionation in modified dry grind processes results in low fermentation efficiency of corn grits because of nutrient deficiency. This study investigated the use of nutrient-rich water from germ soaking to improve grits fermentation in the conventional dry grind and granular starch hydrolysis (GSH) processes. Comparison of germ soak water with the use of protease and external B-vitamin addition in improving grits fermentation was conducted. Use of water from optimum soaking conditions (12 h at 30 °C) resulted in complete fermentation with 29 and 8% higher final ethanol yields compared to that of control in conventional and GSH process, respectively. Fermentation rate (4–24 h) of corn grits with germ soak water (0.492 v/v-h) was more than double than that of control (0.208 v/v-h) in case of conventional dry grind process. The soaking process also increased the oil concentration in the germ by about 36%, which would enhance its economic value.
Exploratory Visualization of Collective Mobile Objects Data Using Temporal Granularity and Spatial Similarity

Recent advances in location-aware technologies have produced vast amount of individual-based movement data, overwhelming the capacity of traditional spatial analytical methods. There are growing opportunities for discovering unexpected patterns, trends and relationships that are hidden in massive mobile objects data. However, a lingering challenge is extracting meaningful information from data on multiple mobile objects due to the visual complexity of these patterns even for a modest collection of mobile objects. This chapter describes visualization environments based on temporal granularity, and spatial and/or attribute similarity measures for exploring collective mobile objects data. Reconstructing trajectories at user-defined levels of temporal granularity allows exploration at different levels of movement generality. At a given level of generality, individual trajectories can be combined into synthetic summary trajectories or classified into groups based on locational and/or attribute similarity. A visualization environment based on the space-time cube concept exploits these functionalities to create a user-interactive toolkit for exploring mobile objects data. A case study using wild chicken movement data demonstrates the potential of the system to extract meaningful patterns from the otherwise difficult to comprehend collections of space-time trajectories.
Impeding individual user profiling in shopper loyalty programs

Shopper loyalty club programs are advertised as a means of reducing prices for consumers. When making a purchase, a customer simply scans their keyring tag along with the items they intend to buy and is granted a reduction in the total price. While the use of these cards results in a visible reduction in price, customers are largely unaware of the privacy implications of such discounts. In particular, the ability to link all purchases made by an individual customer allows retailers to develop detailed profiles that may reveal sensitive information, especially if leaked or sold to third parties. In this paper, we present ShopAnon, a mobile phone-based infrastructure designed to help consumers partake in shopper loyalty programs without allowing their transactions to be linked by a retailer. ShopAnon displays legitimate but random barcodes for specific retailers on each execution, and provides a number of operational modes that respond to the changing availability of resources and the specific privacy concerns of the user. Communications between the application and the database storing the barcodes occurs using an Oblivious Transfer protocol to prevent our system from exposing the barcode received by a requester. We design, implement and characterize the behavior of our application on the iPhone mobile platform, and demonstrate its practical efficiency (i.e., the ability to render random tags in less than 0.25 seconds via 802.11 links and approximately 3.9 seconds via a 3G cellular connection). Through this, we provide a powerful tool through which customers can improve their privacy in a retail environment.
Mean-Field Stress-Strain Relations for Random Arrays of Identical Spheres in Triaxial Compression

Abstract We focus attention on homogeneous deformations of a random array of identical spheres that interact through noncentral contact forces. We consider the response of the material in triaxial compression and assume that the displacement of a contact relative to a center may be calculated from the average strain of the aggregate. The normal component of the contact force is Hertzian, while the tangential component of the contact force is assumed to be linearly elastic until frictional slip occurs. For monotone deformations, we calculate the stress-strain response.
Emerging Adults, Identity Development, and Suicidality: Implications for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

ABSTRACTEmerging adulthood (approximately ages eighteen to twenty-nine) has been identified as the transitional age between adolescence and young adulthood. People in this phase of life face specif...
Generalized Seizure Models and the Corpus Callosum

Classifications of epilepsy have long recognized two major groups:(1) partial or focal, and (2) primary generalized or nonfocal, or idiopathic or essential, or “centrencephalic” or “corticoreticular.”
Initial assessment and intervention strategies to reduce workplace violence.

Homicide is now the cause of 12 percent of deaths in the workplace, and workplace violence by disgruntled employees or former employees continues to increase. The family physician may be the first or only professional to examine such persons before an act of violence occurs. The assessment of a potentially violent employee includes evaluating for threats, a history of violence, paramilitary interests, access to weapons, paranoia, substance abuse and a sense of having no future or no alternative to violence. A shame-rage cycle that may include a sense of evernarrowing options often precedes the violent act and may reveal warning signs that represent potential opportunities for intervention before the act is committed. Initial interventions include ensuring the immediate safety of potential victims, initiating measures to reduce acute shame and rage in the person at risk and facilitating an effective referral. Preventive strategies at the organizational level include preemployment screening, explicit nonharassment policies, employee counseling, physical security measures and the establishment of an organizational clearinghouse for reporting and assessing threatening behaviors. Language: en
Besonderheiten der Prokaryonten und ihrer Genetik

Befast man sich mit der Genetik von Bakterien und Bakteriophagen, so mus man sich daruber klar werden, wie diese Prokaryonten und ihre Viren genetische Prozesse organisieren, und wie sich diese von den Vorgangen bei Eukaryonten unterscheiden.
Interactive River-Aquifer Simulation and Stochastic Analyses for Predicting and Evaluating the Ecologic Impacts of Alternative Land and Water Management Policies

This paper describes an Interactive River-Aquifer Simulation program for estimating time series of flows. storage volumes, water qualities and hydroelectric power and energy produced and consumed from pumping throughout a surface water, or an interdependent surface and groundwater, system. Alternative land and water management policies and practices can be simulated and evaluated. A stochastic analysis component of this program permits the prediction of the ecological impacts of each management policy.
Landscape change and human response during a thousand years of climatic fluctuation and volcanism: Skaftafell, Southeast Iceland

climatic fluctuation and volcanism: Skaftafell, Southeast Iceland ABSTRACT- The ancient farm of Skaftafell, dating from the Saga Period in Icelandic history is taken as the center-piece for depiction of climatic and landscape change from the earliest settlement in the ninth century AD to the present. The study of landscape evolution is divided into four main periods: 1) the Saga Period, AD 874-1350; 2) the beginning of glacier advance and volcanic activity, AD 1350-1500; 3) the Little Ice Age, AD 1500-1900; and 4) the Modern Period, AD 1900-1990. Is/laps have been produced to represent each period; they show the positions of farms which have survived far more than a thousand years, and churches that have been overwhelmed by catastrophic geomorphic processes, the positions of the glacier termini, melt water rivers, and main pasture lands. These reconstructions are based upon a mixture of physical evidence and folklore and historical documentation. Landscape evaluation is also described through the eyes of historic personalities who lived at Skaftafell. Survival of a rich culture in this region is remarkable in face of a series of almost overwhelming disasters. Today the biggest threat, or challenge and opportunity for sustainable development, is the vast influx of tourists to this region, one of the most isolated in the world. They are drawn to Skaftafell through the establishment of a National Park in one of the most scenically dramatic and beautiful landscapes in the world.
Characterization of the reservoir ecosystem

Reservoirs are valuable environmental resources, the management of which will require a sound understanding of processes influencing their water quality. While these aquatic ecosystems are formally defined as lakes, the great importance of riverine flows, and a larger basin and watershed size set them apart from the small natural lakes upon which much of our understanding of lake water quality processes is based.
Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics impacts outcome in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

We carried out a retrospective cohort study on patients with advanced cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to determine whether antibiotics affect treatment outcome. Sixty consec...
‘The rot that remains’: Aphasia and france’s multiple temporalities of race and colonialism

In its 28 December 2017 editorial entitled ‘France Fails to Face Up to Racism’, the New York Times decried the recent ousting of Rokhaya Diallo, a French journalist, from a government advisory coun...
Axo-axonic Innervation of Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons by GABAergic Chandelier Cells Requires AnkyrinG-Associated L1CAM

Summary Among the diverse interneuron subtypes in the neocortex, chandelier cells (ChCs) are the only population that selectively innervate pyramidal neurons (PyNs) at their axon initial segment (AIS), the site of action potential initiation, allowing them to exert powerful control over PyN output. Yet, mechanisms underlying their subcellular innervation of PyN AISs are unknown. To identify molecular determinants of ChC/PyN AIS innervation, we performed an in vivo RNAi screen of PyN-expressed axonal cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and select Ephs/ephrins. Strikingly, we found the L1 family member L1CAM to be the only molecule required for ChC/PyN AIS innervation. Further, we show that L1CAM is required during both the establishment and maintenance of innervation, and that selective innervation of PyN AISs by ChCs requires AIS anchoring of L1CAM by the cytoskeletal ankyrin-G/βIV-spectrin complex. Thus, our findings identify PyN-expressed L1CAM as a critical CAM required for innervation of neocortical PyN AISs by ChCs. Video Abstract Download : Download video (46MB)
Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies: A Window for Examining the Effects of the X and Y Chromosomes on Speech, Language, and Social Development

Abstract In this chapter, the existing literature on speech, language, and social development in children with sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) is reviewed. Given the scarcity of studies of young children with SCAs, the topic of this volume, studies of children of all ages as well as some studies of adults are summarized in order to begin to describe the developmental unfolding of the speech, language, and social phenotypes associated with these conditions. A particular emphasis is placed on (a) hypothesized dosage effects of differing numbers of X and Y chromosomes on these phenotypes, and (b) the importance of examining both speech/language and social development in concert, given the close and bidirectional relations between these domains of functioning in typical and atypical development.
Lipid droplet velocity is a microenvironmental sensor of aggressive tumors regulated by V-ATPase and PEDF

Lipid droplets (LDs) utilize microtubules (MTs) to participate in intracellular trafficking of cargo proteins. Cancer cells accumulate LDs and acidify their tumor microenvironment (TME) by increasing the proton pump V-ATPase. However, it is not known whether these two metabolic changes are mechanistically related or influence LD movement. We postulated that LD density and velocity are progressively increased with tumor aggressiveness and are dependent on V-ATPase and the lipolysis regulator pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). LD density was assessed in human prostate cancer (PCa) specimens across Gleason scores (GS) 6–8. LD distribution and velocity were analyzed in low and highly aggressive tumors using live-cell imaging and in cells exposed to low pH and/or treated with V-ATPase inhibitors. The MT network was disrupted and analyzed by α-tubulin staining. LD density positively correlated with advancing GS in human tumors. Acidification promoted peripheral localization and clustering of LDs. Highly aggressive prostate, breast, and pancreatic cell lines had significantly higher maximum LD velocity (LDVmax) than less aggressive and benign cells. LDVmax was MT-dependent and suppressed by blocking V-ATPase directly or indirectly with PEDF. Upon lowering pH, LDs moved to the cell periphery and carried metalloproteinases. These results suggest that acidification of the TME can alter intracellular LD movement and augment velocity in cancer. Restoration of PEDF or blockade of V-ATPase can normalize LD distribution and decrease velocity. This study identifies V-ATPase and PEDF as new modulators of LD trafficking in the cancer microenvironment. This study investigates lipid droplet (LD) trafficking and LD velocity (LDV) in cancer. LD density correlated with prostate tumor grade and high grade tumors had significantly higher LDV when compared to low grade tumors. Acidifying conditions drove up velocities and LDV was normalized with blockade of H+ proton pump, V-ATPase.
A sequential non-iterative approach for modeling multi-ionic species reactive transport during localized corrosion

Abstract Multi-ionic reactive transport modeling can provide a better understanding of localized corrosion in iron and steel alloys. However, one-step numerical methods used to solve reactive transport equations in a fully-coupled manner may suffer from poor conditioning and numerical convergences issues. In this paper, a sequential non-iterative approach (SNIA) is developed to enable robust numerical simulation of multi-ionic reactive transport models for localized corrosion. The electro-diffusive mass transport equations are decoupled from the homogeneous equilibrium chemical reactions equations, and are solved sequentially without iteration, leading to a two-step numerical method. The nonlinear mass transport equations are discretized using the standard finite element method, linearized and solved using the Newton-Raphson method. To ensure the non-negativity of ionic concentrations, the nonlinear chemical reactions equations are solved using the Newton-Raphson method together with the under-relaxation technique. Numerical studies, including model comparison, parametric and experimental validation studies, are conducted to simulate localized crevice/cavity corrosion of generic carbon steel and iron-chromium binary alloys and to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
Advances in Spatial Criminology: The Spatial Scale of Crime

This review takes stock of recent advances, as well as enduring and emerging challenges, in the area of spatial criminology. Although the notions of place and space are fundamentally intertwined, s...
Co-occurrence and phase relationship between alternans of the R wave amplitude (RWAA) and of the T wave (TWA) in ECGs

Alternans of the T wave in ECG (TWA) has high negative but poor positive predictive value in the prediction of ventricular arrhythmia. Alternans of repolarization duration, i.e. of action potential duration (APD), causes TWA. Prior studies from our group showed that alternans of the maximum rate of depolarization also occurs when APD alternans occurs and the relationship between these two has the potential to affect formation of spatial discord, which may be more arrhythmogenic. Therefore, exploration of the co-occurrence of the alternans of depolarization and repolarization has the potential to improve the prediction. In the present study, we used a mathematical model to show that depolarization alternans appears as alternating amplitude of the R wave in the ECG. We also investigated the link between changes in R wave amplitude and TWA. Results from clinical grade ECGs available in the PhysioNet database show that amplitude of the R wave can change as predicted by our experimental results and the mathematical model. Using TWA as the marker of repolarization alternans and R wave amplitude alternans (RWAA) as the marker of depolarization alternans, we investigated the phase relation between them and observed that, similar to previous results from animals, the phase relation between the two can spontaneously change. That is, alternans of depolarization does co-occur with TWA and the phase relationship between the two is not invariant. These results support further investigation of the use of RWAA as a complementary method to TWA to improve positive predictive value for prediction of ventricular arrhythmia.
Friendship and support networks among students with disabilities in middle school

Abstract This study explored the social processes associated with tie formation in friendship and support networks of Grade 8 students with disabilities in a highly diverse classroom. Driven by a social network perspective, we employed exponential random graph models (ERGMs) and separable temporal exponential random graph models (STERGMs) to explore tie formation in these networks over time. The statistical analysis of network data through ERGMs and STERGMs presents a novel approach in understanding social participation and the use of such approach is exemplified. Results suggest that students with disabilities were more likely to form support ties with each other and less likely to send and receive help ties with others. They were also less likely to receive friendship ties than their peers. Although generalizability is limited, these findings have important implications for practice in relation to the social participation of middle school students with disabilities.
Perceived dental care need and actual oral health status in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Objectives To evaluate the performance of subjective self-assessment of dental care need with objective oral disease status in a sample of Hispanics/Latinos. Methods Data from 13,561 participants of the 2008-2011 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos were analyzed using complex survey procedure in SAS 9.4. Subjective self-reports of types of dental care needed (check-up or cleaning, teeth filled, teeth pulled, gum treatment, denture repair) were validated against objectively determined oral disease status [dental decay, periodontitis, bleeding on probing (BOP) and count of missing teeth]. Results Individuals who reported needing a cleaning/checkup were twice as likely to present with BOP upon oral examination (POR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.54, 2.63). Similarly, individuals who reported needing gum treatment were more likely to present with periodontitis (POR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.71, 2.24) and BOP (POR = 2.70, 95% CI: 2.37, 3.07) upon oral examination. In multivariable prediction modeling, demographic factors and subjective dental care measures were associated with the respective oral disease states. Moreover, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve for the count of missing teeth were, respectively, 77 percent, 57 percent, and 0.84, while the positive predictive value (PPV) was 26 percent. Conclusions In bivariate analysis, self-reported type of dental care needed appear indicative of actual oral disease state and may be of value for the surveillance of oral diseases when clinical measures are unattainable. In multivariable prediction modeling, these subjective measures had low PPVs thus limiting the generalizability of our findings. Nonetheless, validation and refinement of these constructs in other populations is warranted.
External Validation of Four Point-of-Care Noninvasive Scores for Predicting Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis in a Predominantly Hispanic NAFLD Population

The development of point-of-care biomarkers of disease has become a major focus of interest in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), BARD, FIB-4, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) are commonly used for advanced NAFLD fibrosis prediction. However, the performance of these scores among in a predominantly Hispanic patient population, a population with the highest prevalence of NAFLD, has not been examined. We performed a retrospective study among patients with histologically confirmed and staged NAFLD at the Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, Texas, to externally validate four noninvasive advanced fibrosis prediction scores. Their discriminatory ability was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values were calculated. We included 99 NAFLD patients, of whom 37 (37.4%) had advanced fibrosis. The cohort was predominantly Hispanic (73.7%). The AUROC for detecting advanced fibrosis were: NFS 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.69–0.88), BARD 0.76 (0.67–0.86), FIB-4 0.77 (0.68–0.87), and APRI 0.70 (0.59–0.81). Using the low cutoff for the NFS (− 1.455) had the highest sensitivity (81.1%) and the highest negative predictive value (85.4%) among the overall study population. Noninvasive scores for advanced NAFLD fibrosis have moderate discriminatory ability in Hispanic patients with NFS having a small advantage. The AUROCs of these scores were similar to those reported in Caucasian populations. However, they had uniformly lower negative predictive values among our predominantly Hispanic study population, suggesting that they are not reliable for ruling out advanced fibrosis among this high-risk population.
Cellular Legendrian contact homology for surfaces, part I

Abstract We give a computation of the Legendrian contact homology (LCH) DGA for an arbitrary generic Legendrian surface L in the 1-jet space of a surface. As input we require a suitable cellular decomposition of the base projection of L. A collection of generators is associated to each cell, and the differential is given by explicit matrix formulas. In the present article, we prove that the equivalence class of this cellular DGA does not depend on the choice of decomposition, and in the sequel papers [35] , [36] we use this result to show that the cellular DGA is equivalent to the usual Legendrian contact homology DGA defined via holomorphic curves. Extensions are made to allow Legendrians with non-generic cone-point singularities. We apply our approach to compute the LCH DGA for several examples including an infinite family, and to give general formulas for DGAs of front spinnings allowing for the axis of symmetry to intersect L.
From True Grit to “Big Damn Heroes”: Cowboys, Pirates, and Relational Ethics:

When I was a kid, cowboys ruled. Every week, my heroes—Lucas McCain, the Cartwrights, Matt Dillon, Paladin, Big John Cannon—were taming the “wild west.” These were good guys, in charge and on a mis...
Schooling, marriage, and age at first birth in Madagascar.

The low school attainment, early marriage, and low age at first birth of females are major policy concerns in less developed countries. This study jointly estimated the determinants of educational attainment, marriage age, and age at first birth among females aged 12–25 in Madagascar, explicitly accounting for the endogeneities that arose from modelling these related outcomes simultaneously. An additional year of schooling results in a delay to marriage of 1.5 years and marrying 1 year later delays age at first birth by 0.5 years. Parents’ education and wealth also have important effects on schooling, marriage, and age at first birth, with a woman's first birth being delayed by 0.75 years if her mother had 4 additional years of schooling. Overall, our results provide rigorous evidence for the critical role of education—both individual women's own and that of their parents—in delaying the marriage and fertility of young women.
Principles of Jordan Imports Regime

When a country joins the WTO, it enjoys market access, i.e. entry and exit, rights. In return, an acceding country must offer equivalent market access concessions. For purposes of tariff reduction, products and their tariff lines are grouped together into several categories in what seems to be a sectoral approach. The purpose of the paper is to examine the import regime of Jordan.
The American stem cell sell in 2021: U.S. businesses selling unlicensed and unproven stem cell interventions

Summary In March 2021, 1,480 U.S. businesses operating 2,754 clinics were found selling purported stem cell treatments for various indications. More than four times as many businesses than were identified 5 years ago are selling stem cell products that are not FDA-approved and lack convincing evidence of safety and efficacy.
Museum of Love

"PEOPLE GRIEVE AND B E M O A N themselves," said Mitch ell, tossing off another shot of peppermint schnapps, ubut it is not half so bad with them as they say." He glanced about the room at the little group assembled there, then he drained his other glass of its chaser of beer. His fellows followed suit. uThe only thing grief has taught me is to know how shallow it is. Ralph Waldo Emerson." "Transcendence," affirmed Bill. "The only way. A new sense of the self." He extended his arms in a blessing over Edgar's little house, formerly Edgar and Stephanie's little house. Mitchell and Bill and Dave were there on a mission of commiseration.
Real-time streaming over an IEEE 802.11b based wireless LAN test bed

Wireless LAN systems based on IEEE 802.11 (see http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11) have become a path-breaking innovation and have revolutionized the home, educational and office network markets (Kapp, S., IEEE Internet Computing, vol.6, no.1, p.82-5, 2002). We attempt to analyze real-time video streaming issues over a wireless LAN test bed based on such a mature technology. The creation of this test bed is an ongoing effort at the Electrical Engineering & Computer Engineering (EECE) Department at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving to promote future research and development, under the aegis of Ibero American Science and Technology Education Consortium (ISTEC) (see http://www.istec.org).
Abstract 4057: Modulation of actin binding proteins by docosahexaenoic acid reduces cancer cell migration

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and all age groups, including children, are at risk for cancer associated death. Disease progression and metastasis are major contributors to cancer-associated morbidity and mortality. Increased cell migration rate is characteristic of tumor progression and metastasis. Actin binding proteins regulate cytoskeletal remodeling at the leading edges of cancer cells, facilitate invasive organelle (invadopodia) formation, and promote higher migration rates. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a poly unsaturated fatty acid, has been shown to inhibit the cancer cell metastatic phenotype. Here, we test the hypothesis that changes in actin binding proteins regulate cancer cell migration and that supplementing cells with DHA will prevent these changes. Non-cancer (MLE12) and cancer (A549, HCT116 and MCF7) cells were treated with 8-Br-cAMP and/or DHA. F-actin content was measured using confocal microscopy. Cell migration was estimated by wound assay and transwell apparatus. Actin binding proteins, profilin, cofilin, vimentin and gelsolin, were identified and quantified using confocal microscopy and western blot to evaluate wound edges and actin co- munoprecipitate, respectively. F-actin content and cell migration were increased by cAMP in association with changes in profilin, cofilin, vimentin and gelsolin levels. DHA treatment suppressed the increase in actin content and cell migration in cancer cells but not in non-cancer cells in association with altered levels of actin binding proteins. We postulate that DHA specifically inhibits cancer cell migration via alterations in actin binding proteins indicating a therapeutic potential against cancer cell metastasis. The changes in actin binding proteins could serve as biomarkers for cancer progression and as innovative therapeutic targets. Citation Format: Mehboob Ali, Alexander Long, Kathryn M. Heyob, Asha Srinivasan, Lynette K. Rogers. Modulation of actin binding proteins by docosahexaenoic acid reduces cancer cell migration. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4057. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4057
Online tool helps future MDs plan their careers

Canada’s medical faculties have developed a new online career-counselling tool to answer questions about everything from residents’ salaries to what exams international medical school graduates must pass to get a residency spot. Future MD Canada is aimed at current and aspiring medical students
A 13C NMR characterization of lysine residues in apolipoprotein B and their role in binding to the low density lipoprotein receptor.

Abstract NMR spectroscopy of 13C-labeled human low density lipoprotein (LDL) has been employed to characterize the lysine (Lys) residues in apo B-100. Reductive methylation with [13C]formaldehyde converts up to two-thirds of the Lys to the dimethylamino derivative; this pool of Lys is exposed at the surface of the LDL particle. The [13C]dimethyl-Lys which are visualized exhibit resonances at chemical shifts of 42.8 and 43.2 ppm (pH 7.6) indicating that they exist in two different microenvironments; this is a reflection of the native conformation of apo B associated with lipid, because the labeled, reduced, and alkylated protein gives a single resonance when dissolved in 7 M guanidine hydrochloride. The pH dependences of the Lys chemical shifts indicate that the two types of Lys titrate with different pK values; "active" Lys have a pK of 8.9, while "normal" Lys have a pK of 10.5. About 53 active Lys and 172 normal Lys are exposed on the surface of LDL with the remaining 132 Lys which are present in the human apo B-100 molecule being buried and unavailable for methylation. Addition of paramagnetic ions indicates that the active and normal Lys have different exposures to the aqueous phase; apparently this is a reflection of folding of the apo B molecule. The relative involvement of active and normal Lys in binding of apo B-100 to the LDL receptor on fibroblasts was explored by measuring the decrease in receptor binding as a function of the degree of methylation of the two types of Lys. Upper limits of 21 active and 31 normal Lys in the entire apo B-100 molecule are involved in the binding of LDL to the receptor. It is likely that these Lys are located in domains of apo B which contain clusters of basic amino acid residues and also bind heparin. If the sequence corresponding to apo B-48 (residues 1-2151) which does not bind to the receptor is excluded, then the above limits are halved; an upper limit of 10 active Lys may be particularly involved in receptor binding.
Tactile responses in the granule cell layer of cerebellar folium crus IIa of freely behaving rats

We recorded activity from the granule cell layer (GCL) of cerebellar folium Crus IIa as freely moving rats engaged in a variety of natural behaviors, including grooming, eating, and free tactile exploration. Multiunit responses in the 1000-4500 Hz range were found to be strongly correlated with tactile stimulation of lip and whisker (perioral) regions. These responses occurred regardless of whether the stimulus was externally or self-generated and during both active and passive touch. In contrast, perioral movements that did not tactually stimulate this region of the face (e.g., chewing) produced no detectable increases in GCL activity. In addition, GCL responses were not correlated with movement extremes. When rats used their lips actively for palpation and exploration, the tactile responses in the GCL were not detectably modulated by ongoing jaw movements. However, active palpation and exploratory behaviors did result in the largest and most continuous bursts of GCL activity: responses were on average 10% larger and 50% longer during palpation and exploration than during grooming or passive stimulation. Although activity levels differed between behaviors, the position and spatial extent of the peripheral receptive field was similar over all behaviors that resulted in tactile input. Overall, our data suggest that the 1000-4500 Hz multiunit responses in the Crus IIa GCL of awake rats are correlated with tactile input rather than with movement or any movement parameter and that these responses are likely to be of particular importance during the acquisition of sensory information by perioral structures.
Baby Doe redux: doctors as child abusers.

The federal government's revised "Baby Doe" regulations are viewed as a "political ploy" rather than as a serious attempt to prevent occasional instances of neglect of defective newborns. Annas charges that the regulations subvert the traditional role of the hospital as a haven for abused children by casting the physician as a potential abuser and the nurse as an informant. He rejects reliance on hastily constituted ethics committees to provide solutions and supports the development of socially accepted principles that should then be used to govern decisions in individual cases. Language: en
Scanning mirror for optical coherence tomography using an electrostatic MEMS actuator

Describes the development of a new type of optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe using an electrostatic micromachine (MEMS) actuator. These devices consist of millimeter scale mirrors resting on micron scale polyimide hinges that are tilted using a linear MEMS actuator, the integrated force array (IFA). The IFA is a parallel network of deformable capacitor cells that electrostatically contract with an applied voltage. The support structures, hinges, and actuators are fabricated from polyimide on silicon wafers using photolithography. These scanners were designed, fabricated and tested for optical displacements at different frequencies and drive voltages. They were then used in the scanning arm of an experimental OCT imaging system to make preliminary images.
Phosphorus availability and environmental risks in potato fields in North Florida

Soil phosphorus (P) availability was compared with Mehlich-1 soil testing and P fractionation at a research farm (RF) and 32 private farms (PFs) in north Florida. The environmental risks caused by P release were evaluated using the P saturation ratio (PSR). Soil Mehlich-1 P at the RF and the PFs was 41.9 ± 4.1 and 278 ± 13 mg/kg, respectively. The dominant inorganic P fraction for all farms was NaOH-Pi (Al/Fe-bound P) followed by HCl-Pi (Ca/Mg-bound P) at most of the PFs but by NaOH-Po for the RF. Furthermore, the high PSR at the PFs indicated high risks of P loss from soil. To improve P use efficiency and enhance ecological sustainability, better P nutrient management should be implemented for Florida crop production.