cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intertrigo : a practical approach

Although the precise diagnosis of intertriginous dermatosis is hampered by the unique conditions of the skin folds, there are a few common rules to be considered in the therapeutic approach. Dryness must be reached by changing occlusive conditions, astringent compresses, and absorbing powders. To improve the primary dermatosis, superimposed infection must be treated. With rare exceptions, fluorinated steroids should not be used in occlusive areas. Finally, the skills of a dermatologist may be required to optimize the care of patients with complex dermatoses involving the flexural skin.
Hydrothermal reaction of a rhyolitic-composition glass; a solid-state NMR study

On etudie la structure et la composition chimique des solides obtenus par reaction hydrothermale d'un verre rhyolitique synthetique sans fer (Na 2 O-K 2 O-MgO-CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 ) a 250˚C et a des pH initiaux de 1,3 et 9,1. On etudie les mecanismes de la reaction
Individual Differences in Toddlers’ Prosociality: Experiences in Early Relationships Explain Variability in Prosocial Behavior

Latent class logistic regression analysis was used to investigate sources of individual differences in profiles of prosocial behavior. Eighty-seven 18-month-olds were observed in tasks assessing sharing with a neutral adult, instrumentally helping a neutral adult, and instrumentally helping a sad adult. Maternal mental state language (MSL) and maternal sensitivity were also assessed. Despite differing motivational demands across tasks, we found consistency in children's prosocial behavior with three latent classes: no prosocial behavior, moderate prosocial behavior, and frequent instrumental helping across emotional situations. Maternal sensitivity, MSL, and their interaction predicted toddlers' membership in the classes. These findings evidence moderate consistency in early prosocial behaviors and suggest that these capacities are motivated in early relationships with caregivers.
An OL ( n 3 ) potential reduction algorithm for linear programming

We describe a primal-dual potential function for linear programming: $$\phi (x,s) = \rho \ln (x^T s) - \sum\limits_{j = 1}^n {\ln (x_j s_j )} $$ whereρ⩾ n, x is the primal variable, ands is the dual-slack variable. As a result, we develop an interior point algorithm seeking reductions in the potential function with $$\rho = n + \sqrt n $$ . Neither tracing the central path nor using the projective transformation, the algorithm converges to the optimal solution set in $$O(\sqrt n L)$$ iterations and uses O(n 3 L) total arithmetic operations. We also suggest a practical approach to implementing the algorithm.
Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with paediatric bone sarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma.

Objectives Anthracycline cardiotoxicity is an important side-effect in long-term childhood cancer survivors. We evaluated the incidence of and factors associated with anthracycline cardiotoxicity in a population of patients diagnosed with bone or soft tissue sarcoma. Materials and methods We retrospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with bone or soft tissue sarcoma, from 1995 to 2011, treated with anthracycline chemotherapy at our Centre and with a follow-up echocardiography carried out ⩾3 years from cardiotoxic therapy completion. Cardiac toxicity was graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Results A total of 82 patients were eligible. The median age at treatment was 11.9 years (1.44–18). We evaluated the median cumulative anthracycline dose, age at treatment, sex, thoracic radiotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and high-dose cyclophosphamide treatment as possible risk factors for cardiotoxicity. The median cumulative anthracycline dose was 390.75 mg/m2 (80–580). Of the 82 patients, 12 (14.6%) developed cardiotoxicity with grade ⩾2 ejection fraction decline: four patients were asymptomatic and did not receive any treatment; six patients were treated with pharmacological heart failure therapy; one patient with severe cardiomyopathy underwent heart transplantation and did not need any further treatment; and one patient died while waiting for heart transplantation. The median time at cardiac toxicity, from the end of anthracycline frontline chemotherapy, was 4.2 years (0.05–9.6). Cumulative anthracycline dose ⩾300 mg/m2 (p 0.04) was the only risk factor for cardiotoxicity on statistical analyses. Conclusions In our population, the cumulative incidence of cardiotoxicity is comparable to rates in the literature. This underlines the need for primary prevention and lifelong cardiac toxicity surveillance programmes in long-term childhood cancer survivors.
Distributed stabilization of linear multiagent systems with coupled state and input uncertainties

Using graph-theoretic tools, distributed control algorithms have been widely designed to manage a cooperative task among a group of individual agents. However, when agents are physically interconnected, these algorithms do not guarantee stability of the closed-loop multiagent system. In this paper, we consider a class of interconnected linear multiagent systems with state- and input-coupled modeling uncertainties. We assume that only few agents have access to their local state information, and others only provide lumped relative-state information. We propose a robust stabilization problem for an interconnected multiagent system with state- and input-coupled modeling uncertainties. By adding a virtual leader, possibly unstable, we reformulate this stabilization task to a leader-follower tracking problem. Incorporating the graph theory, we propose a linear quadratic regulator-based approach and propose a sufficient condition to systematically address this problem. Finally, we verify the feasibility of our approach through a simulation study.
On the development of self-powered iot sensor for real-time traffic monitoring in smart cities

With the rapidly approaching era of IoT and smart cities, it is anticipated that the market will greatly demand more autonomous and self-powered wireless sensors. Ideally, these sensors should operate for decades without service. This paper reports on the development and implementation of a novel, fully-autonomous, self-powered wireless sensor for real-time traffic surveillance in smart cities. Multi-disciplinary integration of state-of-the-art, ultra-low-power embedded electronics, smart sensors, and wireless sensor networks — powered by intelligent algorithms — are the basis of developed sensor. The sensor also combines an energy-harvesting subsystem to enable sensor self-powering, as well as a wireless power receiver to facilitate remote charging of sensor's primary battery. The developed sensor is portable and cost-effective; a single node costs only $30. This technology is poised to play vital roles in tomorrow's smart cities.
To I-Vote or Not to I-Vote?

The prospect of Internet voting has received much attention because of concerns over the integrity of the U.S. electoral system. Proponents of Internet voting contend that the Internet will play an important role in revitalizing the American electorate. Opponents counter that Internet voting will benefit already advantaged groups. Using data collected in Arizona during the 2000 general election campaign, this study examined the opinions of registered voters (N = 501) toward Internet voting and found that almost one half of survey respondents opposed Internet voting. Results suggest that Internet voting could change the sociodemographic and ideological composition of the voting electorate. Concerns about the composition of the electorate, however, were not prevalent in survey participants' open-ended responses about the potential disadvantages of Internet voting.
Application of HDR algorithms to solve direct sunlight problems when autonomous vehicles using machine vision systems are driving into sun

Abstract Just after sunrise and before sunset the sun can shine directly into driver's eyes making it more difficult to see the road ahead. The direct sunlight problem creates a serious risk for human drivers as well as machine vision systems for autonomous vehicles. In 2016, the on-board cameras of a Tesla level 2 autonomy vehicle were unable to detect the side of a white truck due to bright sunlight. In order to solve the direct sunlight problem, we apply high dynamic range (HDR) imaging algorithms to the machine vision system of Lawrence Technological University's autonomous electric research vehicle and measure how well the system performs in direct sunlight. A Raspberry Pi is used to capture several manual exposure frames and compose HDR frames using three HDR algorithms provided by OpenCV 3. The resulting frames are supplied as input to the autonomous vehicle. Standard dynamic range (SDR) images captured using auto exposure are compared to equivalent HDR frames using various quality metrics. Objective assessment metrics are also performed to compare the color and contrast of HDR and SDR frames. Results show the system performs best when using HDR frames generated by the Mertens algorithm.
A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Brief Internet-based Group Intervention to Reduce Sexual Transmission Risk Behavior Among HIV-Positive Gay and Bisexual Men.

BACKGROUND: HIV disproportionately affects sexual minority men, and developing strategies to reduce transmission risk is a public health priority. PURPOSE: The goal was to empirically test a newly developed, Information, Motivation, Behavioral skills (IMB) theoretically derived, online HIV sexual risk reduction intervention (called HINTS) among a sample of sexual minority men living with HIV. METHODS: Participants were 167 men randomized to either the four-session online HINTS intervention or to a time-matched, online control condition. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 6-month follow-up for demographic, medical and psychosocial factors, and sexual risk behavior. Analyses examined group differences in incidence rates of condomless anal sex (CAS) at follow-up with all male sex partners and by partner serostatus, either seroconcordant or serodiscordant for HIV infection. RESULTS: Men assigned to the HINTS intervention reported decreased CAS with serodiscordant partners, a behavior that confers high risk of HIV transmission, compared to the control group. Men assigned to the HINTS intervention also reported increased CAS with seroconcordant partners, a behavior indicative of serosorting. Although the IMB model did not appear to mediate these intervention effects, some IMB components were associated with behavioral outcomes at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A new group-based sexual risk reduction intervention conducted exclusively online was successful in reducing HIV transmission risk behavior in a sample of gay and bisexual men living with HIV. Future work should consider utilizing this intervention with other groups living with HIV, perhaps in combination with biomedical HIV prevention strategies.
Giving thanks: Findings from a gratitude intervention with mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract Background Gratitude is a character strength related to greater well-being in the general population; however, it has not been studied extensively in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Therefore, an online, writing-based gratitude intervention was conducted with mothers of children with ASD. Method Various areas of well-being were assessed immediately prior to and after the intervention and at a one-month follow-up for 64 mothers of children with ASD. The study participants were divided into two intervention groups and a control group. Participants in each group were asked to complete a weekly writing activity for eight weeks and were included in the study if they completed assessments at all three major time points. Results Across all conditions, including the life events control group, mothers improved in well-being, parenting self-efficacy, positive maternal characteristics, and relationship quality. Group differences were found only for parenting satisfaction. Changes in reported child behavior problems were non-significant. Conclusions Findings suggest improvement in several areas of well-being following the gratitude intervention with mothers of children with ASD. However, positive changes were seen in the control group, as well. Therefore, it is possible that some other aspect of the intervention, such as written personal disclosure is driving improvements in well-being. Implications for positive psychology intervention research are discussed.
Physical defects in basement membrane-mimicking collagen-IV matrices trigger cellular EMT and invasion

In fibrosis and cancer, degradation of basement membrane (BM) and cell invasion are considered as key outcomes of a cellular transformation called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we pose a converse question - can preexisting physical defects in the BM matrix cause EMT in normal epithelial cells? On a BM-mimicking matrix of collagen-IV-coated polyacrylamide (PA) gel, we have discovered a reverse phenomenon in which preexisting defects trigger EMT in normal epithelial cells. Through spatiotemporal measurements and simulations in silico, we demonstrate that the EMT precedes cellular mechanoactivation on defective matrices, but they occur concurrently on stiff matrices. The defect-dependent EMT caused cell invasion though a stroma-mimicking collagen-I layer, which could be disabled through MMP9 inhibition. Our findings reveal that the known BM degradation caused by cellular EMT and invasion is not a one-way process. Instead, normal epithelial cells can exploit physical defects in the BM matrix to undergo disease-like cellular transformations.
A New Control System for the Next Generation of US and UK Deep Submergence Oceanographic ROVS

Abstract This paper reports the development and results of at-sea field testing of a new control system for remotely operated under water vehicles. The control system provides model-based closed loop trajectory tracking control in addition to conventional PID control, dynamic power management, and a high level of power control and monitoring. The control system is presently deployed on three operational US vehicles, and is scheduled for deployment on two additional oceanographic vehicles in the UK and US.
8 – CRIMINAL LAW

Publisher Summary A country's criminal law reflects and also determines governmental roles or objectives in curbing crime. Key issues are whether penalties for those who are caught should be severe, in the hope of deterring others and how the conflicting aims of punishment and rehabilitation should be resolved. Criminal law employs sanctions against those who are found guilty of a criminal act. These sanctions and penalties are designed to affect a potential criminal's choice calculus so as to deter the occurrence of criminal acts. This chapter presents a view on criminal law, the premises and tenets on which it is based, what makes an act a crime, defenses that may be employed by those accused of crime, and the imposition of penalties and sanctions. The chapter presents a comprehensive theoretical framework within which crime, its motivation, and deterrence can be given economic content and discusses the role and effect of criminal law can be evaluated.
Why does 4-biphenyl carbonyl azide have ultra-short lived excited states? An ultrafast UV-vis spectroscopic and computational study.

Upon excitation at 308 nm, 4-biphenyl carbonyl azide (4-BpCON3) shows unusually fast decay of transient absorption associated with the first excited singlet state, with time constants of several ps in MeOH, acetonitrile, and CHCl3. In cyclohexane and cyclohexene, the lifetimes are ca. 0.3 ps, which is in stark contrast to the lifetimes of hundreds of ps in the case of 2-naphthoyl azide. Furthermore, photolysis at 266 and 308 nm brought about the same yields of nitrene and isocyanate products. To understand these findings, we also applied ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy to the structurally related molecule, fluorene-2-carbonyl azide (F2CON3), in which the two phenyl rings are fixed in a plane by a methylene group. Both carbonyl azides (biphenyl and fluorenyl) have very short lived excited states in different solvents, indicating that the twisting of phenyl rings is not the reason for the fast decay. Theoretical studies using time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), especially with PBE0 and CAM-B3LYP functionals, suggest that excited-state potential energy surface crossings lead to the efficient and fast decomposition of carbonyl azides upon photoexcitation. Especially, the decay of the Franck–Condon state to the S1 state with π(CON3)–π*(N3′) transition character, where –N3 is in a bent conformation (∠NNN = ca. 125°), is the key step. Finally, a model is presented to explain solvent dependence, different decaying rates, and other experimental findings.
A Novel Leaky Wave Antenna for Hyperthermia

In this paper, we introduce a novel substrate integrated waveguide leaky wave antenna for a non-invasive hyperthermia of body tissues that can be a solution for eliminating cancerous tissues in human body. We exploited the interesting property of a leaky wave antenna in frequency scanning and after solving the electromagnetic (EM) problem and extracting propagation patterns, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and reflection loss (S11) of our antenna, we switched to a thermal problem to study how much can we heat up a sample tissue that is placed at the near field of a leaky wave antenna. Different antenna parameters such as the length of the feed-line, substrate thickness, substrate permittivity and the type of excitation pulse had to be optimized to reach the best solutions for our favorite application.
Geographical distribution of fungal plant pathogens in dust across the United States

As the world’s population grows, global food production will need to increase. While food production efficiency has increased in recent decades through pathogen control, climate change poses new challenges in crop protection against pathogens. Understanding the natural geographical distribution and dispersal likelihood of fungal plant pathogens is essential for forecasting disease plant spread. Here we used cultivation-independent techniques to identify fungal plant pathogens in 1,289 near-surface dust samples collected across the United States. We found that overall fungal pathogen community composition is more related to environmental conditions (in particular soil pH, precipitation and frost) than to agricultural hosts and practices. We also delimited five susceptibility geographical areas in the United States where different sets of pathogens tend to occur.
Do Minimum Quality Standards Improve Quality? A Case Study of the Nursing Home Industry

This article estimates the impact of minimum staffing requirements on the nursing home market using a unique national panel over the 1996-2005 period. This study reveals that, given a half-hour increase in the minimum nursing hours per resident day for licensed nurses, quality of patient care increases by 25 percent. This quality-increasing effect is mainly driven by low-quality nursing homes increasing their quality of care to meet the new standards. By contrast, minimum staffing requirements for direct-care nurses do not have any significant impact on quality. This lack of impact may be explained by nursing home providers circumventing this regulation by hiring less expensive and less skilled laborers as substitutes for direct-care nurses.
“Are You Incapable of Complexity?”: Field Notes from a Slum in Northern India

In July, 2011, I went to Aligarh, India, a town of 3,673,849 people about 80 miles southeast of the capital, New Delhi. I had the idea of starting a vaccination program in a slum called Jeevangarh. Soon after my arrival, my ambitious plans quickly gave way to confusion and cold disappointment. Having lived the first eight years of my life in Aligarh, I had thought that I understood both the slum culture and the nature of the problems confronting it. The reality proved much more complex. As I walked through the slum, I remembered a quotation from Mountains Beyond Mountains, a biography written by Tracy Kidder about Dr. Paul Farmer. Kidder describes an incident where a Haitian woman confronts Dr. Paul Farmer and asks, “Honey, are you incapable of complexity?” I too went to Aligarh with an oversimplified idea of how to achieve my goals, believing I could organize a vaccination drive that would allow me to gather data about the prevalence of disease, document the role of water in occurrence of disease and raise awareness among the people of the slum about hygienic living practices. My uncle, an associate professor at the Medical College in Aligarh, related how illness flares up in months during and following the monsoons (June, July, August, and September). For these months, the emergency wards overflow and have to accommodate twice the number of patients. Monsoons facilitate water contamination and spread of disease, allowing malaria, cholera and dengue fever to be contracted in large numbers. For example, the number of patients in the emergency ward of the Aligarh Medical College in the month of July is approximately 3,400 as compared to 7,600 in September . In addition to speaking with my uncle, I collaborated closely with the principal of a small, 1,000 square foot school located in the heart of the slum. Having worked in the same school before, I was able to interact with the students and learn from their unique stories. During my stay, I kept field notes documenting interviews with the children and the principal of the school. I also drew diagrams of water pipelines and hand pumps in the slum.
Observation of blue sprite spectra at 10,000 fps

[1] Spectra from individual sprite streamer heads and column-shaped glows were observed with a high-speed slit-less spectrograph at 10,000 fps during an aircraft campaign in August 2009. Blue emissions were recorded from streamer heads in five events and from glows in one event. The streamer heads consistently have a larger fraction of blue emission spectra compared to the glows for the events in 19 August 2009. It confirms, at unprecedented spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution, the more energetic nature of sprite streamer heads than column-shaped glows. For the events on 19 August 2009, estimated local electric fields in the streamer heads are 0.4–0.9Ek, and those in the glows are 0.3–0.6Ek, where Ek is the conventional breakdown threshold field.
Stem Cell Programs

The availability of human embryonic stem cell lines provides an important tool for scientists to explore the fundamental mechanisms that regulate differentiation into specific cell types. When more is known about the mechanisms that govern these processes, human embryonic stem cells may be clinically useful in generating cell types that have been damaged or depleted by a variety of human diseases. The NIH is actively pursuing a variety of initiatives to promote this developing research field, while continuing and expanding its long-standing investment in adult stem cells and research.
Should security researchers experiment more and draw more inferences

Two methodological practices are well established in other scientific disciplines yet remain rare in computer-security research: comparative experiments and statistical inferences. Comparative experiments offer the only way to control factors that might vary from one study to the next. Statistical inferences enable a researcher to draw general conclusions from empirical results. Despite their widespread use in other sciences, these practices are haphazardly used in security research. Choosing keystroke dynamics as an example to study, we survey the literature. Of 80 papers wherein these practices would be appropriate, only 43 (53.75%) performed comparative experiments, and only 6 (7.5%) drew statistical inferences. In disciplines such as medicine, comparative experiments and statistical inferences save lives and cut costs. Rigorous methodological standards are required. We see no reason why security research, another discipline where the stakes are critically high, cannot or should not adopt these practices as well. Failure to take a more scientific approach to security research stalls progress and leaves us vulnerable.
Genetic variation in SLC30A2 (ZnT2): associations with mammary cell function and milk zinc concentration in breastfeeding women (893.41)

ZnT2 imports zinc (Zn) into vesicles for secretion from mammary epithelial cells (MEC) into milk. Four mutations in ZnT2 have been identified that abrogate Zn secretion into milk, resulting in severe neonatal Zn deficiency; however, the role of genetic variation in ZnT2 on MEC function and milk Zn level has not been explored. DNA from buccal swabs and milk from healthy, exclusively breastfeeding women (n=54) were obtained at 4 mo postpartum. Milk Zn level was stratified into tertiles (high, >1.7 μg/mL; normal, 1-1.6 μg/mL; low, <0.9 μg/mL) and the ZnT2 coding region was sequenced. ~50% of women had genetic variation in ZnT2. Four SNPs (rs142587047, rs149340896, rs150251854, rs145406127) and 17 novel non-synonymous variants were identified and only found in women in the high and low tertiles. 8 select variants were generated to functionally characterize defects in MECs in vitro. Variants responsible for low Zn secretion were confined to the ER/Golgi apparatus and mitochondria and induced apoptosis and G1 a...
DNA Damage as a Basis for 4′-Demethylepipodophyllotoxin-9-(4,6-O-ethylidene-β-d-glucopyranoside) (Etoposide) Cytotoxicity

The precise mechanism of action of 4′-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-9-(4,6- O -ethylidene-β-d-glucopyranoside) (VP-16), an important chemotherapeutic agent, has yet to be determined. VP-16 has been shown to cause single-strand breaks (SSBs) in DNA, but their relationship to cytotoxicity has not been determined. We have investigated the action of VP-16 using mouse leukemia L1210 cells in culture. By using the alkaline elution technique, we reaffirmed the occurrence of SSBs in DNA over the drug concentration range 1 to 60 µm. We were able to demonstrate additional types of DNA damage in the form of DNA double-strand breaks and DNA-protein cross-links within the same dose range. The number of double-strand breaks formed per SSB was consistent over this dose range and greater than that found after exposure of L1210 cells to γ-irradiation. DNA SSBs and double-strand breaks were also shown to occur in isolated nuclei, indicating that cytoplasmic components are not required for this drug action. Colony formation by L1210 cells in soft agar decreased over a drug concentration range similar to that which produced DNA damage. The correlation between the effective dose range in the colony-forming assay and the DNA scission experiments supports the hypothesis that DNA breakage is responsible for drug cytotoxicity. The demonstration of strand scission in isolated nuclei may provide an experimental model for elucidating the exact mechanism of action of VP-16.
Conditioned changes in pain reactivity. I : A discrete CS elicits hypoalgesia, not hyperalgesia, on the tail-flick test

Abstract Prior work suggests that a stimulus which has been paired with an aversive event may elicit either an increase or decrease in pain reactivity. In four experiments we attempted to isolate the variables which determine the direction of the conditioned response. In all experiments, one stimulus was paired with shock (the CS+) while another was nonreinforced (the CS−). Pain reactivity was assessed by measuring tail withdrawal from radiant heat (the tail-flick test). Experiment 1 tested whether the amount of training plays a critical role. We found that the CS+ elicits longer tail-flick latencies irrespective of whether subjects received 6 or 24 CS-US pairings. Although there was some evidence that subjects may exhibit a general hyperalgesia at 2 min after the presentation of the conditioned stimulus, the results of Experiment 2 revealed that this effect was an artifact caused by differences in the amount of time between test trials. The results of Experiment 2 also showed that the difference observed between the CS+ and CS− was not due to a CS− induced hyperalgesia. Rather, it reflects a CS+ induced hypoalgesia. Experiment 3 evaluated whether the time of day at which testing occurs is important. We found that subjects exhibit conditioned hypoalgesia when tested in either the light or dark portion of the light-dark cycle. In Experiment 4 we examined whether it matters if subjects are tested in the training context or a neutral context. We found that subjects exhibit conditioned hypoalgesia during the CS+ irrespective of where they are tested. The results suggest that a CS+ elicits hypoalgesia, not hyperalgesia, on the tail-flick test over a wide range of conditions.
Gold Nanorods Grown Directly on Surfaces from Microscale Patterns of Gold Seeds

We report a strategy for patterning surfaces with high aspect ratio gold nanorods (Au NRs) by using a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamp to microcontact print 3−5 nm diameter gold nanoparticle (Au NP) “seeds” onto mercaptan-functionalized Si/SiOx surfaces and subsequently grow the seeds into Au NRs via seed-mediated reduction of HAuCl4 with ascorbic acid in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The patterns also contain a large number of spherical particles, which are largely removed and separated from NRs using adhesive tape. The same PDMS stamp was used more than 30 times to produce well-defined patterns without reinking with Au NP seeds. Controlled patterning of Au NRs on surfaces is important for electronics, sensing, optical, and plasmonic applications.
A brief history of palatography

(1940). A brief history of palatography. Quarterly Journal of Speech: Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 615-625.
Internet Survey of Nutrition Claim Knowledge.

: Consumer interest in healthy foods has spurred approval of several health claims for foods and dietary supplements. Although undergraduate and graduate food science curricula address food laws and regulations, nutrition claims may not be fully addressed. We posted a survey on the Internet for 2 mo for food industry professionals and others interested in taking the survey to assess their understanding of laws and regulations pertaining to nutrition labeling for foods and dietary supplements. The purpose of this survey was to measure knowledge in this area so that our university and others could reevaluate their curricula to provide student and lifelong learners with appropriate information about this important topic. Respondents were asked to indicate whether displayed claims were health claims, structure-function claims, or not approved for use on food labels. Respondents (N= 136) indicated that they gained information about nutrition claims from many sources. Although respondents correctly identified approved health claims and claims that are not approved for foods, some confusion about nutrition claims may exist because not all respondents correctly identified claims in the appropriate category. Issues in educating food scientists include keeping food labeling information current and defining complex topics such as structure-function claims. The findings of this pilot study have been used to incorporate lectures about health claims in courses in addition to the food law class at the Univ. of Maine.
A comparison of the rigidity of five mandibular major connectors for partial removable dental prostheses via load deflection

Statement of problem The rigidity of the major connector for partial removable dental prostheses (PRDP) has not been well defined. There is little scientific evidence to support specific standards relative to the dimensions of a casting and their effect on long-term function of the PRDP or the supporting tissues. Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare in vitro the effects of load deflection of 5 clinically used mandibular major connector forms. Material and methods A partially edentulous dental cast of a patient with the mandibular anterior teeth remaining was used as the test model. Lingual plate (LP), continuous bar (CB), sublingual bar (SB), lingual bar (LB), and dental lingual bar (DLB) specimens (n=5) were waxed on identical refractory casts, then cast in cobalt base alloy and finished. Each specimen was placed on a custom test table and statically loaded in the contralateral second molar region with 500 g in the horizontal and vertical planes. Deflections were measured at the terminal abutment rest seat, anterior to the load. Comparisons between group means were evaluated using the Dunnett T3 method, assuming unequal variances, for all pairwise tests at a .05 significance level and for 95% confidence intervals for group mean differences. Differences within the groups for vertical versus horizontal deflections were compared using a paired t test and Bonferroni correction (α=.05 for all tests). Results Horizontal deflection between LP and LB, CB and LB, and SB and LB were significant, with the first in each comparison having the least amount of deflection. A significant difference was also seen in the vertical deflection, with the first in each comparison observed to have deflected the least for LP versus CB, LP versus LB, LP versus DLB, CB versus DLB, LB versus DLB, and SB versus DLB. The amount of vertical deflection was significantly greater than the horizontal deflection for all 5 mandibular major connectors ( P ≤.033). Conclusions In the horizontal plane, a significant difference in the amount of deflection was seen between the LP and LB, CB and LB, and LB and SB. In the vertical plane, the LP deflected significantly less than the CB, LB, and DLB. In addition, the DLB deflected significantly more in the vertical plane when compared to the CB, LB, and SB. All 5 mandibular major connectors had a significantly greater amount of vertical deflection as compared to horizontal deflection.
Argument diagramming and critical thinking in introductory philosophy

In a multi‐study naturalistic quasi‐experiment involving 269 students in a semester‐long introductory philosophy course, we investigated the effect of teaching argument diagramming (AD) on students’ scores on argument analysis tasks. An argument diagram is a visual representation of the content and structure of an argument. In each study, all of the students completed pre‐ and post‐tests containing argument analysis tasks. During the semester, the treatment group was taught AD, while the control group was not. Methodological problems with the first study were addressed in the second. The results were that among the different pre‐test achievement levels, the scores of low‐achieving students who were taught AD increased significantly more than the scores of low‐achieving students who were not taught AD, while the scores of the high‐achieving students did not differ significantly between the treatment and control groups. The results for intermediate‐achieving students were mixed. The implication of these stu...
Reconstruction of Metabolic Pathways, Protein Expression, and Homeostasis Machineries across Maize Bundle Sheath and Mesophyll Chloroplasts: Large-Scale Quantitative Proteomics Using the First Maize Genome Assembly

Chloroplasts in differentiated bundle sheath (BS) and mesophyll (M) cells of maize (Zea mays) leaves are specialized to accommodate C(4) photosynthesis. This study provides a reconstruction of how metabolic pathways, protein expression, and homeostasis functions are quantitatively distributed across BS and M chloroplasts. This yielded new insights into cellular specialization. The experimental analysis was based on high-accuracy mass spectrometry, protein quantification by spectral counting, and the first maize genome assembly. A bioinformatics workflow was developed to deal with gene models, protein families, and gene duplications related to the polyploidy of maize; this avoided overidentification of proteins and resulted in more accurate protein quantification. A total of 1,105 proteins were assigned as potential chloroplast proteins, annotated for function, and quantified. Nearly complete coverage of primary carbon, starch, and tetrapyrole metabolism, as well as excellent coverage for fatty acid synthesis, isoprenoid, sulfur, nitrogen, and amino acid metabolism, was obtained. This showed, for example, quantitative and qualitative cell type-specific specialization in starch biosynthesis, arginine synthesis, nitrogen assimilation, and initial steps in sulfur assimilation. An extensive overview of BS and M chloroplast protein expression and homeostasis machineries (more than 200 proteins) demonstrated qualitative and quantitative differences between M and BS chloroplasts and BS-enhanced levels of the specialized chaperones ClpB3 and HSP90 that suggest active remodeling of the BS proteome. The reconstructed pathways are presented as detailed flow diagrams including annotation, relative protein abundance, and cell-specific expression pattern. Protein annotation and identification data, and projection of matched peptides on the protein models, are available online through the Plant Proteome Database.
Periodic solutions of the retarded Liénard equation

Consider the equation $$x'' + f(x)x' + g(x(t - h)) = 0$$ (1) withf, g continuous and h>0. By employing Liapunov's direct method, we construct an invariant sector in the phase space for certain solution maps and then show the existence of a nonconstant periodic solution of (1) using a fixed point theorem of Nussbaum with certain bifurcation techniques.
Outcomes Following Modified Oblique Medial Epicondylectomy for Treatment of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Purpose To quantify and define objective and patient-rated outcomes after our modification of medial epicondylectomy for the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Although medial epicondylectomy has been previously studied, data are lacking regarding elbow-specific outcomes after our technique that aims to minimize complications historically associated with medical epicondylectomy. Methods A total of 27 subjects with clinical and electrodiagnostic evidence of cubital tunnel syndrome underwent a modified oblique medial epicondylectomy that was designed to minimize bony resection and preserve the origin of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow. Average age was 57 years, mean duration of symptoms was 24 months, and mean postoperative follow-up was 29 months. Eight patients had McGowan stage I disease, 14 had stage II, and 5 had stage III. Preoperatively, we measured intrinsic hand strength, 2-point discrimination, and residual medial elbow pain, and assessed for continuing signs and symptoms of nerve compression. Postoperatively, we added to the clinical examination elbow stability testing, elbow range of motion, and assessment of medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve injury. We collected patient-reported outcomes, including Quick Disabilities of the Shoulder, Arm, and Hand; Levine-Katz Severity Score; and Patient-Rated Elbow Evaluation. Results We noted improvement of at least 1 McGowan grade in 20 of 27 patients (74%). Three of the 7 patients who had no change in McGowan grade still reported excellent patient-rated outcomes. Good to excellent results were achieved in 25 of 27 patients (93%). One patient had long-term severe medial elbow pain. Three patients had postoperative medial elbow pain that resolved with a single corticosteroid injection. One patient had a 30° flexion contracture; preoperative motion was not available for comparison. No patients had signs of elbow instability or numbness in the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve distribution. Conclusions Modified oblique medial epicondylectomy was effective in improving symptoms in cubital tunnel syndrome. This medial collateral ligament sparing technique minimized complications previously associated with the original technique. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Long-term urinary function after transperineal brachytherapy for patients with large prostate glands

Abstract Purpose: To summarize longer-term postbrachytherapy morbidity in patients with prostate glands >50 cm 3 . Methods and Materials: From 1997 to 1998, 33 patients with a transrectal ultrasound-based prostate volume >50 cm 3 were treated at the University of Washington by 125 I (144 Gy) or 103 Pd (115 Gy) implantation for prostate carcinoma. These 33 patients comprised 7% of the total implant patient population. Twelve patients were treated with neoadjuvant androgen ablation before implantation. The 125 I source strength ranged from 0.34 to 0.5 mCi and the 103 Pd source strength ranged from 1.1 to 1.4 mCi (pre-NIST-99). The total number of sources implanted was 94–223 (median 155). Despite the typical implant-related volume increase, the postimplant CT-defined prostate volumes were generally well-covered by the prescription isodose (median coverage 92%, range 80–100%). The preimplant urinary obstructive symptoms were quantified by the criteria of the American Urological Association. Results: Of the 33 patients, 12 developed acute postimplant urinary retention, all presenting within 24 h of implantation. Patients who developed postimplant retention lasting >1 week were generally treated with intermittent self-catheterization. By 1 month, 85% of patients were catheter free. By 1 year, only 1 patient (4%) remained in urinary retention; the remainder of cases had resolved spontaneously. With follow-up of 1.7–2.6 years, the last American Urological Association scores were higher than the pretreatment scores in 15 patients and lower in 7 patients. No patient developed permanent urinary incontinence. Long-term changes in the American Urological Association scores were unrelated to whether the patient had been in urinary retention after implantation. Two patients developed rectal fistulas; they had preimplant transrectal ultrasound prostate volumes of 53 and 59 cm 3 , in the low range for this group of patients. No other patient had persistent rectal bleeding suggestive of clinically significant proctitis. The pretreatment serum prostate-specific antigen level was 3.3–15 ng/mL (median 7.2) and the last serum prostate-specific antigen level 0.1–1.6 ng/mL (median 0.2). Conclusion: Patients with larger prostate volumes appear to have moderate morbidity and a satisfactory technical outcome with brachytherapy. We do not believe the occurrence of two severe rectal complications was related to the prostate volume per se. Our experience and that of others calls into question the validity of using prostate volume as a criterion for patient suitability for prostate brachytherapy.
Laparoscopic lumbar hernia repair with bone anchor fixation

Introduction Lumbar hernias are rare defects of the posterolateral abdominal wall. Surgical repair of lumbar hernias is challenging because they are bounded inferiorly by the iliac bone, which makes adequate mesh fixation difficult. We demonstrate a method of a laparoscopic lumbar hernia repair utilizing bone anchor fixation at the inferior border.
Variation in resource size distribution around colonies changes ant–parasitoid interactions

The distribution of resources within habitats affects species abundance, richness and composition, but the role of resource distribution in species interactions is rarely studied. In ant communities, changes in resource distribution within habitats may influence behavioral interactions because many ant species are specialized to efficiently harvest a subset of available resources. This study investigates whether interactions between the behaviorally dominant host ant Pheidole diversipilosa and its specialist parasitoid (Phoridae: Apocephalus orthocladus) depend on resource size distribution around the colony. Using in situ foraging arenas to manipulate parasitoid abundance and resource size distribution around colonies, we tested whether variation in resource size distribution allows P. diversipilosa to alter its foraging behavior in ways that lessen the impact of parasitoid attack. P. diversipilosa colonies do not lower the impact of parasitoid attack by increasing the number of workers foraging individually on small and widely dispersed resources. However, the presence of multiple large resources allows colonies to temporarily redistribute soldier ants from resources patrolled by parasitoids to other resources not patrolled by parasitoids, and to maintain soldier abundance at levels found in the absence of parasitoids. These results highlight the importance of placing behavioral interactions within the context of variation in resource distribution.
Social networks, perceptions of risk, and changing attitudes towards HIV/AIDS: new evidence from a longitudinal study using fixed-effects analysis.

The study presented here is an investigation of the importance of social interactions to perceptions of the risk of AIDS, and explores spousal communication about the AIDS epidemic in rural Malawi. A fixed-effects analysis based on longitudinal data collected in 1998 and 2001 shows that social interactions on the subject of HIV/AIDS have significant and substantial effects on respondents’ perceptions of the risk of HIV/AIDS, even after controlling for unobserved factors that affect the selection of social networks. These effects are more complex than previously thought. The dominant mechanisms—social learning and social influence—are found to vary by sex and by region, because of regional variations in the marriage pattern and the resulting implications for the formation of local social networks. The conclusion of the study is that rather than fostering denial and inaction, social interactions are an important vector of change in the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Photoreceptor apoptosis in human retinal detachment.

Purpose Although photoreceptor cell apoptosis has been demonstrated in various animal models of retinal detachment (RD), little is known about its occurrence in human RD. We sought to determine whether human photoreceptor cells undergo apoptosis in response to primary and recurrent RD. Design Prospective, clinical-pathologic, case series. Methods Retinal tissue fragments excised during the course of vitreous surgery for RD and recurrent RD were frozen, cut into 4-μm sections, and analyzed using a TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labeling assay for cell apoptosis. The onset of patient symptoms was used to estimate the duration of the RD. Results There were eight patients with primary RD and four patients with recurrent RD enrolled in this study. Duration of RD ranged from 1 to 180 days in the primary RD group, and 2 to 15 days in the recurrent RD group. All retinal tissue specimens had TUNEL-positive cells localized to the outer nuclear layer of the retina, consistent with the localization of photoreceptor cell bodies. TUNEL-positive cells were first identified at 24 hours, peaked by 2 days, and dropped to a low level by 7 days after RD. Recurrent RD induced a greater number of TUNEL-positive cells/mm2 in the ONL compared with primary RD at corresponding timepoints after the onset of RD. Conclusions In response to primary and recurrent RD, human photoreceptor cells follow a pattern of apoptosis that is similar to that seen in animal models of RD. This study suggests that photoreceptor cell apoptosis may be one of the causes of reduced vision after RD, especially those that involve the macula. Drugs that inhibit photoreceptor apoptosis may help improve the final visual prognosis of patients with RD.
Spirituality: A Sustaining Force Among Women of Color Academics

The significance of spirituality to the well-being and success of women of Color academics is discussed in this article. Participating women of Color revealed the complexities of navigating teaching, scholarship, and service responsibilities as well as the tenure and promotion process. Spirituality was identified as one of the most important sustaining and protective factors in the success of these women of Color. Spirituality was conceptualized broadly by these women as an inclusive and multidimensional phenomenon. Also suggested are implications for future research, academic and policy changes that would support the specific journeys of women of Color in the academy.