cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EXPLORING MEDIATORS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND OBESITY: A REVIEW OF RECENT LITERATURE

One in seven American households experience food insecurity at times during the year, lack of money and other resources hinder their ability to maintain consistent access to nutritious foods. Low-income, ethnic minority, and female-headed households exhibit the greatest risk for food insecurity, which often results in higher prevalence of diet-related disease. The food insecurity-obesity paradox is one that researchers have explored to understand the factors that influence food insecurity and its impact on weight change. The aim of this inquiry was to explore new evidence in associations of food insecurity and obesity in youth, adult, and elderly populations. A literature search of publication databases was conducted, using various criteria to identify relevant articles. Among 65 results, 19 studies conducted since 2005 were selected for review. Overall, the review confirmed that food insecurity and obesity continue to be strongly and positively associated in women. Growing evidence of this association was found in adolescents; but among children, results remain mixed. Few studies supported a linear relationship between food insecurity and weight outcomes, as suggested by an earlier review. New mediators were revealed (gender, marital status, stressors, and food stamp participation) that alter the association; in fact, newer studies suggest that food stamp participation may exacerbate obesity outcomes. Continued examination through longitudinal studies, development of tools to distinguish acute and chronic food insecurity, and greater inclusion of food security measurement tools in regional and local studies are warranted.
Linguistic summarization using IF-THEN rules

Linguistic summarization (LS) is a data mining or knowledge discovery approach to extract patterns from databases. It has been studied by many researchers; however, none of them has used it to generate IF-THEN rules, which can be added to a knowledge base for better understanding of the data, or be used in Perceptual Reasoning to infer the outputs for new scenarios. In this paper LS using IF-THEN rules is proposed. Five quality measures for such summaries are defined. Among them, the degree of usefulness is especially valuable for finding the most reliable and representative rules, and the degree of outlier can be used to identify outlier rules and data. An example verifies the effectiveness of our approach. The relationship between LS and the Wang-Mendel method is also discussed.
31P NMR in the ferromagnetic state of amorphous Fe75P15C10

Abstract The first observation of a metalloid site hyperfine field (hf) distribution in a ferromagnetic amorphous alloy is reported using a spin-echo NMR technique. The 31P nuclei in amorphous Fe75P15C10 show a hf distribution with a maximum at about 27 kOe. The sample was prepared with Fe enriched to 99.93% in 56Fe. A comparison of the NMR spectra on samples containing natural Fe and 56Fe also provides the 57Fe hf distribution whose peak value agrees with Mossbauer results.
THE MEDIAL TEMPORAL LOBE

The medial temporal lobe includes a system of anatomically related structures that are essential for declarative memory (conscious memory for facts and events). The system consists of the hippocampal region (CA fields, dentate gyrus, and subicular complex) and the adjacent perirhinal, entorhinal, and parahippocampal cortices. Here, we review findings from humans, monkeys, and rodents that illuminate the function of these structures. Our analysis draws on studies of human memory impairment and animal models of memory impairment, as well as neurophysiological and neuroimaging data, to show that this system (a) is principally concerned with memory, (b) operates with neocortex to establish and maintain long-term memory, and (c) ultimately, through a process of consolidation, becomes independent of long-term memory, though questions remain about the role of perirhinal and parahippocampal cortices in this process and about spatial memory in rodents. Data from neurophysiology, neuroimaging, and neuroanatomy point to a division of labor within the medial temporal lobe. However, the available data do not support simple dichotomies between the functions of the hippocampus and the adjacent medial temporal cortex, such as associative versus nonassociative memory, episodic versus semantic memory, and recollection versus familiarity.
High-performance crossbar design for system-on-chip

A new low-swing pass-transistor logic style for designing high-performance crossbar switches for system-on-chip applications is proposed. The new pass-transistor architecture uses current-switching and end-to-end swing restoration to improve the crossbar performance. The architecture is verified in 0.35 and 0.25 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The 4-b 4x4 crossbar switch in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS occupied an area of 1.4 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ and achieved 36 Gb/s. Analysis suggests that the new logic style can be used to design multi-Tb/s crossbar switches in 0.18 /spl mu/m and lower CMOS technology.
Is It Really a Thyroid Nodule? Another Cause of a Lower Midline Neck Mass

diverticula become palpable in the anterior neck and can be mistaken for lesions of thyroid origin. This article describes a palpable Zenker's diverticulum initially thought to be a thyroid nodule. To avoid inappropriate or unnecessary inter- ventions in such ambiguous cases, a summary of distin- guishing features of these entities is proposed.
Endemic Giardiasis in New Hampshire: A Case-Control Study of Environmental Risks

Giardiasis is the most frequently reported diarrheal disease in northern New England. A case-control study of endemic giardiasis and environmental risk factors among residents of New Hampshire involved 273 cases from the state's 1984 disease registry and 375 controls. Giardiasis was associated with a shallow dug well as a residential water source (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-47.0), a recent history of drinking untreated surface water (OR = 3.4; CI, 2.1-5.5), a history of swimming in a lake or pond (OR = 4.6; CI, 2.4-86.0) or swimming in any natural body of fresh water (OR = 4.0; CI, 2.3-70.0), contact with a person thought to have giardiasis (OR = 2.3; CI, 1.4-36.0), and recent contact with a child in day care (OR = 1.5; CI, 1.0-2.1). Multivariate modeling supported these associations. Shallow wells, relatively common in New Hampshire, have not previously been established as important sources of giardiasis.
Role of visual and non-visual cues in constructing a rotation-invariant representation of heading in parietal cortex

As we navigate through the world, eye and head movements add rotational velocity patterns to the retinal image. When such rotations accompany observer translation, the rotational velocity patterns must be discounted to accurately perceive heading. The conventional view holds that this computation requires efference copies of self-generated eye/head movements. Here we demonstrate that the brain implements an alternative solution in which retinal velocity patterns are themselves used to dissociate translations from rotations. These results reveal a novel role for visual cues in achieving a rotation-invariant representation of heading in the macaque ventral intraparietal area. Specifically, we show that the visual system utilizes both local motion parallax cues and global perspective distortions to estimate heading in the presence of rotations. These findings further suggest that the brain is capable of performing complex computations to infer eye movements and discount their sensory consequences based solely on visual cues.
A practical approach to implementing line printer graphics

The capability of generating graphical images on a line printer is very desirable. Many ad hoc special purpose implementations exist that satisfy the needs of particular users. A single general purpose line printer graphics capability, however, compatible with widely distributed Calcomp pen plotter software, could eliminate the need for many special purpose implementations. An implementation approach is described for a set of subroutines which are designed to minimize storage requirements to maintain a complete graphical image. The software has been widely accepted in university, government, and industry environments to augment and occasionally replace pen plotting facilities.
Amyloid imaging and memory change for prediction of cognitive impairment

PET radiotracers for in vivo measurement of β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition throughout the brain are contributing to early detection of the neuropathology associated with Alzheimer's disease and enhancing prediction of individuals most likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia. However, the fact that 30 to 50% of cognitively normal older adults have varying but detectable levels of Aβ poses challenges and opportunities in using amyloid imaging in research and clinical applications. In this review, we summarize studies of the relationship between Aβ burden and cognitive status in impaired and unimpaired individuals and the relationship between Aβ burden and cognitive function. We conclude by operationalizing the way in which information on imaging-assessed Aβ burden and cognitive performance can be used jointly to improve prediction of clinical outcomes, to enhance understanding of the role of Aβ deposition in cognitive impairment, and to identify factors that promote cognitive resilience in the presence of Aβ.
A Faster Combinatorial Algorithm for the Generalized Circulation Problem

This paper presents a modified version of Algorithm MCF proposed by Goldberg, Plotkin and Tardos for the generalized circulation problem. This new combinatorial algorithm has a worst-case complexity that is better than the complexities of the MCF and Fat-Path combinatorial algorithms of Goldberg, Plotkin, and Tardos Goldberg, A. V., S. A. Plotkin, E. Tardos. 1991. Combinatorial algorithms for the generalized circulation problem. Math. Oper. Res.16 351--379..
Status of the intracellular gate in the activated-not-open state of shaker K+ channels.

Voltage-dependent K+ channels like Shaker use an intracellular gate to control ion flow through the pore. When the membrane voltage becomes more positive, these channels traverse a series of closed conformations before the final opening transition. Does the intracellular gate undergo conformational changes before channel opening? To answer this question we introduced cysteines into the intracellular end of the pore and studied their chemical modification in conditions favoring each of three distinct states, the open state, the resting closed state, and the activated-not-open state (the closed state adjacent to the open state). We used two independent ways to isolate the channels in the activated-not-open state. First, we used mutations in S4 (ILT; Smith-Maxwell, C.J., J.L. Ledwell, and R.W. Aldrich. 1998. J. Gen. Physiol. 111:421–439; Ledwell, J.L., and R.W. Aldrich. 1999. J. Gen. Physiol. 113:389–414) that separate the final opening step from earlier charge-movement steps. Second, we used the open channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), which has been proposed to promote closure of the intracellular gate and thus specifically to stabilize the activated-not-open state of the channels. Supporting this proposed mechanism, we found that 4-AP enters channels only after opening, remaining trapped in closed channels, and that in the open state it competes with tetraethylammonium for binding. Using these tools, we found that in the activated-not-open state, a cysteine located at a position considered to form part of the gate (Shaker 478) showed higher reactivity than in either the open or the resting closed states. Additionally, we have found that in this activated state the intracellular gate continued to prevent access to the pore by molecules as small as Cd2+ ions. Our results suggest that the intracellular opening to the pore undergoes some rearrangements in the transition from the resting closed state to the activated-not-open state, but throughout this process the intracellular gate remains an effective barrier to the movement of potassium ions through the pore.
Characterization of a Polypyrimidine/Polypurine Tract in the Promoter of the Gene for Chicken Malic Enzyme

Starvation inhibits and refeeding stimulates transcription of the malic enzyme gene in chick liver. DNA between −320 and +72 base pairs (bp) is DNase I-hypersensitive in hepatic nuclei from fed but not starved chicks (Ma, X. J., and Goodridge, A. G. (1992) Nucleic Acids Res. 20, 4997-5002). A polypyrimidine/polypurine (PPY/PPU) tract lies within the DNase I-hypersensitive region. In hepatocytes transiently transfected with plasmids containing triiodothyronine response elements and a minimal promoter from the malic enzyme gene linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, deletion of the PPY/PPU tract inhibited chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity by about 90% with or without triiodothyronine. Fine mapping of S1 nuclease-sensitive sites suggests that the PPY/PPU tract can assume different isoforms of non-B-DNA, some of which may be triplex structures. The PPY/PPU tract contains specific binding sites for single- and double-stranded DNA binding proteins and, with 8 bp 3′ of the tract, can function as a promoter. A (CT)7 repeat binds single-stranded DNA-binding protein and is essential for promoter activity. Two C-rich elements bind single-stranded DNA-binding proteins and may mediate inhibition of promoter function. The single- and double-stranded DNA-binding proteins that interact with the PPY/PPU tract may regulate transcription of the malic enzyme gene.
From feast to famine: managing mobile network resources across environments and preferences

Mobile devices regularly move between feast and famine--environments that differ greatly in the capacity and cost of available network resources. Managing these resources effectively is an important aspect of a user's mobile experience. However, preferences for resource management vary across users, time, and operating conditions, and user and application interests may not align. Furthermore, today's mobile OS mechanisms are typically coarse-grained, inflexible, and scattered across system and application settings. Users must adopt a "one size fits all" solution or micro-manage their devices. This paper introduces Tango, a platform for managing network resource usage through a programmatic model that expresses user and app interests ("policies"). Tango centralizes policy expression and enforcement in a controller process that monitors device state and adjusts network usage according to a user's (potentially dynamic) interests. To align interests and leverage app-specific knowledge, Tango uses a constraint model that informs apps of network limitations so they can optimize their usage. We evaluate how to design policies that account for data limits, user experience, and battery life. We demonstrate how Tango improves individual network-intensive apps like music streaming, as well as conditions when multiple apps compete for limited resources.
GENI WiMAX Performance: Evaluation and Comparison of Two Campus Testbeds

In the last few years, there has been an increasing awareness of the need to evaluate new mobile applications and protocols in realistic wireless settings, and platforms such as the GENI WiMAX testbeds have been developed to fulfill this need. However, wireless testbed users have experienced frustration when straightforward usage scenarios do not consistently agree with the high data rates that are advertised by the wireless technology. This work seeks to clarify the performance characteristics of two GENI WiMAX testbeds under various wireless signal conditions and network traffic patterns. By measuring the performance of several popular wireless Internet applications in two very different wireless environments, we gain a deeper understanding of how a researcher may expect the GENI WiMAX platform to behave. Our findings include some counterintuitive results, e.g. that increasing signal quality can reduce application throughput, and that applications using a single TCP flow may achieve as much as 72% less throughput than an application in an identical setting that uses multiple TCP flows. With this work, we hope to help other researchers design realistic experiments on wireless Internet systems, understand the perceived shortcomings of the GENI WiMAX platform, and interpret their experimental results in the context of the wireless setting in which the experiment was conducted.
Online practice guidelines: issues, obstacles, and future prospects.

The “guidelines movement” was formed to reduce variability in practice, control costs, and improve patient care outcomes. Yet the overall impact on practice and outcomes has been disappointing. Evidence demonstrates that the most effective method of stimulating awareness of and compliance with best practices is computer-generated reminders provided at the point of care. This paper reviews five steps along the path from the development of a guideline to its integration into practice and the subsequent evaluation of its impact on practice and outcomes. Issues arising at each step and obstacles to moving from one step to the next are described. Last, developments that could help overcome the obstacles are highlighted. These include 1) more rapid knowledge acquisition using data mining, 2) better accommodation to imprecise knowledge in clinical algorithms using fuzzy logic, 3) development of a shareable model for guideline representation and execution, and 4) more widespread availability of clinically robust information systems that support decision-making at the point of care.
Using Word2Vec to process big text data

Big data is a broad data set that has been used in many fields. To process huge data set is a time consuming work, not only due to its big volume of data size, but also because data type and structure can be different and complex. Currently, many data mining and machine learning technique are being applied to deal with big data problem; some of them can construct a good learning algorithm in terms of lots of training example. However, considering the data dimension, it will be more efficient if learning algorithm is capable of selecting useful features or decreasing the feature dimension. Word2Vec, proposed and supported by Google, is not an individual algorithm, but it consists of two learning models, Continuous Bag of Words (CBOW) and Skip-gram. By feeding text data into one of learning models, Word2Vec outputs word vectors that can be represented as a large piece of text or even the entire article. In our work, we first training the data via Word2Vec model and evaluated the word similarity. In addition, we clustering the similar words together and use the generated clusters to fit into a new data dimension so that the data dimension is decreased.
Adult Daughters’ Descriptions of Their Mother–Daughter Relationship in the Context of Chronic Conflict

The purpose of this article is to describe, from the perspective of the adult daughter, the mother-daughter relationship in the context of chronic conflict. Grounded theory methodology was used. An online recruitment strategy was used to identify a sample of adult daughters (N = 13) who self-identified as having an abusive relationship with their aging mother. Data collection was completed through semi-structured telephone interviews. Daughters framed their relationship around their perceptions of past childhood injustices. These injustices invoked strong negative emotions. Daughters had equally strong motivations for sustaining the relationship, driven by desire to reconcile their negative experience through seeking validation and futile-hoping as well as a sense of obligation to do due diligence. Together these factors created an environment of inevitable confrontation and a relationship defined by chronic conflict. Findings from the study provide theoretical insights to the conceptualization of aggression, power relationships, and the development of elder abuse and neglect.
Abstract 52: Early Elevation of Plasma Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 is Associated with Vasospasm following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background: While the mechanism of early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains unclear, animal studies suggest that SAH is associated with significant changes in the fibrinolytic cascade. Human data shows that SAH-related brain ischemia is associated with the polymorphism in plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) promotor linked to higher plasma PAI-1 levels. However, human plasma PAI-1 has not been previously studied in SAH. We hypothesize that elevated plasma PAI-1 is associated with VSP and poor outcome in SAH. Methods: In a prospective cohort of 61 SAH subjects, we compared plasma PAI-1 levels by ELISA (RD p=.0058) and showed a trend towards association with VSP on post-SAH day 5 (2.65 vs 1.83 ng/mL, p=0.05). Plasma PAI-1 levels were not associated with functional outcome at 3 or 6 months. Elevated plasma PAI-1 on post-SAH day 1 remained significantly associated with VSP (p=0.0155) after adjustment for age and HH and Fisher grades by logistic regression. Conclusion: Early elevation of plasma PAI-1 on post-SAH day 1 is strongly and independently associated with angiographic VSP in this small prospective SAH cohort and may be a candidate biomarker for VSP. Future mechanistic studies with simultaneous measurements of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and tPA-PAI complex and larger clinical studies are necessary to understand the utility of PAI-1 as potential biomarker in SAH.
Religion and Economics

This paper comes from the ACE-sponsored session, “The Economics of Religion,” at the 2005 ASSA meetings, organized by Laurence R. Iannaccone and chaired by P. J. Hill.
Implementing Residual‐Based KPSS Tests for Cointegration with Data Subject to Temporal Aggregation and Mixed Sampling Frequencies

We show how different data types (stocks and flows) and temporal aggregation affect the size and power of the dynamic ordinary least squares residual-based Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin (KPSS) test of the null of cointegration. Size may be more effectively controlled by setting the minimum number of leads equal to one – as opposed to zero – when selecting the lag/lead order of the dynamic ordinary least squares regression using aggregated data, but at a cost to power. If high-frequency data for one or more series are available – that is, the model has mixed sampling frequencies – we show how to effectively utilize the high-frequency data to increase power while controlling size.
STUDIES OF IMMEDIATE WHEAL REACTIONS AND OF REAGINIC ANTIBODIES IN PREGNANCY AND IN THE NEWBORN INFANT.

SummaryEight Schick negative pregnant women were given repeated injections of fluid diphtheria toxoid during pregnancy to stimulate formation of reaginic antibodies as judged by IWR. Although this occurred in most cases, it was not mirrored in the cord bloods of the corresponding infants which were examined for reagins at term. In addition, the skin of all infants was unreactive in the presence of intradermal toxoid. On the other hand, IWR were elicited in these infants and their mothers when they served as recipients for passive transfer (P.K.) tests using reaginic antibodies derived from an alternate source.
Determination of phospholipid regiochemistry by Ag(I) adduction and tandem mass spectrometry.

Collision-activated dissociation (CAD) and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) of Ag-adducted phospholipids were investigated as structural tools. Previously, determination of the acyl chains at the two phospholipid esterification sites has been performed based on the R1COO−/R2COO− ratio in negative ion mode CAD tandem mass spectrometry. However, the observed product ion ratio is dependent on the extent of unsaturation of the fatty acyl group at sn-2 as well as on the total chain length. Similarly, in positive ion mode CAD with/without alkaline or alkaline earth metal adduction, the ratio of product ions resulting from either R1COOH or R2COOH neutral losses is dependent on the nature of the phospholipid polar headgroup. Ag+ ion chromatography, in which silver ions are part of the stationary phase, can provide information on double bond number/distribution as well as double bond configuration (cis/trans) because of interaction between Ag+ ions and olefinic π electrons of fatty acids and lipids. We hy...
What Have We Learned from Glycosyltransferase Knockouts in Mice

There are five major classes of glycan including N- and O-glycans, glycosaminoglycans, glycosphingolipids, and glycophosphatidylinositol anchors, all expressed at the molecular frontier of each mammalian cell. Numerous biological consequences of altering the expression of mammalian glycans are understood at a mechanistic level, but many more remain to be characterized. Mouse mutants with deleted, defective, or misexpressed genes that encode activities necessary for glycosylation have led the way to identifying key functions of glycans in biology. However, with the advent of exome sequencing, humans with mutations in genes involved in glycosylation are also revealing specific requirements for glycans in mammalian development. The aim of this review is to summarize glycosylation genes that are necessary for mouse embryonic development, pathway-specific glycosylation genes whose deletion leads to postnatal morbidity, and glycosylation genes for which effects are mild, but perturbation of the organism may reveal functional consequences. General strategies for generating and interpreting the phenotype of mice with glycosylation defects are discussed in relation to human congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG).
Estrogens and bone.

Osteoporosis is a problem most associated with advancing age. However, the bulk of the public health problem is constituted by postmenopausal women, whose situation has been brought to the forefront by the early findings in the WHI.
Optimization Criteria for Mathematical Models Used in Sedimentology

Optimization principles play a key role in mathematical sedimentology in at least three ways. (1) The data-gathering process is optimized so as either to maximize the amount of information to be obtained with limited cost of sampling and measurement or to minimize the cost of obtaining at least a certain known amount of information. (2) Many commonly used data-analysis models have been formulated using optimization criteria. Examples include: regression by minimizing the sum of squares; principal component analysis by maximizing the amount of variation associated with each successive component axis, subject to constraints; discriminant-function analysis by placing decision surfaces so as to maximize the separation of predefined groups; cluster analysis by maximizing the compactness of groups; and several others. (3) Simulation modeling may involve optimization. First, principles of least work or similar optimization criteria may provide keys to the mathematical formulation of a model. This follows as a consequence of the optimization inherent in nature. Second, a basic goal in simulation is to adjust the parameters so as to minimize the difference between the model’s output and the real-world response. Furthermore, the process of exploring the sensitivity of a simulation model to systematic changes in parameters is a natural extension of optimization. An appreciation of basic optimization principles leads to a clearer understanding as to how mathematics can help to solve sedimentological problems.
Integrated Retrieval from Web of Documents and Data

The Semantic Web is evolving into a property-linked web of data, conceptually different from but contained in the Web of hyperlinked documents. Data Retrieval techniques are typically used to retrieve data from the Semantic Web while Information Retrieval techniques are used to retrieve documents from the Hypertext Web. We present a Unified Web model that integrates the two webs and formalizes connection between them. We then present an approach to retrieving documents and data that captures best of both the worlds. Specifically, it improves recall for legacy documents and provides keyword-based search capability for the Semantic Web. We specify the Hybrid Query Language that embodies this approach, and the prototype system SITAR that implements it. We conclude with areas of future work.
Interaction between synaptic inhibition and glial-potassium dynamics leads to diverse seizure transition modes in biophysical models of human focal seizures

How focal seizures initiate and evolve in human neocortex remains a fundamental problem in neuroscience. Here, we use biophysical neuronal network models of neocortical patches to study how the interaction between inhibition and extracellular potassium ([K+]o) dynamics may contribute to different types of focal seizures. Three main types of propagated focal seizures observed in recent intracortical microelectrode recordings in humans were modelled: seizures characterized by sustained (~30ź60 Hz) gamma local field potential (LFP) oscillations; seizures where the onset in the propagated site consisted of LFP spikes that later evolved into rhythmic (~2ź3 Hz) spike-wave complexes (SWCs); and seizures where a brief stage of low-amplitude fast-oscillation (~10ź20 Hz) LFPs preceded the SWC activity. Our findings are fourfold: (1) The interaction between elevated [K+]o (due to abnormal potassium buffering by glial cells) and the strength of synaptic inhibition plays a predominant role in shaping these three types of seizures. (2) Strengthening of inhibition leads to the onset of sustained narrowband gamma seizures. (3) Transition into SWC seizures is obtained either by the weakening of inhibitory synapses, or by a transient strengthening followed by an inhibitory breakdown (e.g. GABA depletion). This reduction or breakdown of inhibition among fast-spiking (FS) inhibitory interneurons increases their spiking activity and leads them eventually into depolarization block. Ictal spike-wave discharges in the model are then sustained solely by pyramidal neurons. (4) FS cell dynamics are also critical for seizures where the evolution into SWC activity is preceded by low-amplitude fast oscillations. Different levels of elevated [K+]o were important for transitions into and maintenance of sustained gamma oscillations and SWC discharges. Overall, our modelling study predicts that the interaction between inhibitory interneurons and [K+]o glial buffering under abnormal conditions may explain different types of ictal transitions and dynamics during propagated seizures in human focal epilepsy.
Approach to the Patient with Sleep Complaints

This chapter outlines the approach to a patient with a sleep complaint. The approach should begin with a careful clinical analysis of the patient’s symptoms, keeping in mind the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and its pertinent manifestations along with the underlying basic science foundations of such disorders. The detailed history should consist of a sleep history (including night sleep complaints and daytime sleepiness), as well as family, psychiatric, medical (including neurologic), drug, and alcohol histories. The patient history and physical examination should provide information about the patient’s quality of life and how sleep disturbances are affecting daily activities, including those associated with the patient’s professional, family, and social lives. An occasional sleep complaint (insomnia or sleepiness) is common, but if the symptoms are persistent or frequent and are interfering with daily life, professional advice should be sought. In most cases, diagnosis can be made on clinical grounds with minimal laboratory investigation, minimizing the patient’s suffering and expenses. For primary sleep disorders, it is advisable to refer the patient to a sleep specialist, who may then decide to conduct further laboratory tests (e.g., PSG, MSLT, actigraphy, video-PSG) and provide treatment.
Redefining Reverse Remodeling: Can Echocardiography Refine Our Ability to Assess Response to Heart Failure Treatments?∗

“Measure what is measurable, and make measurable what is not so.”—Attributed to Galileo Galilei [(1)][1] The term remodeling, as applied to the heart, was first used to describe a maladaptive change in cardiac geometry occurring after a myocardial infarction (MI) [(2)][2]. The principal
From Geiger-Counters to File Systems: Remote Hardware Access for the Operating Systems Course

Operating systems interface between hardware and the user, random numbers are useful for security and simulation, and file systems form the program access to them in a modern operating system. Blending these items into a remotely accessed infrastructure forms the basis for supporting operating systems projects. This work describes the hardware, software, and communication infrastructure to support student projects by sharing remote hardware to acquire background radiations events with a Geiger counter, transforming those events into random numbers, and providing those numbers through a custom file system. Collectively, the hardware and software provide an inexpensive remote laboratory experience for computing students.
Opportunities for NRL WARLOC radar validation and calibration of NASA Earth Observing Space Missions

The NRL WARLOC radar is a high average power, coherent W-band (94 GHz) radar now operating at the NRL Chesapeake Bay Detachment (CBD) site in Maryland. Developed by the Navy as a research radar for imaging and tracking applications, WARLOC also brings unprecedented sensitivity to the measurement of cloud parameters (including phase, morphology, and particle size and motion) at spatial resolutions unparalleled by contemporary radar systems. The NASA CloudSat satellite, planned for launch in early 2005, features a nadir pointing non-coherent W-band cloud profiling radar (CPR). As part of the "A-Train" constellation (a series of five low-earth-orbiting satellites in formation flight with the EOS Aqua platform), CloudSat provides the first space-based cloud vertical profile information on a global scale. This paper discusses opportunities for the use of WARLOC for atmospheric physics studies in general, and potential for quantifying the instrument performance and science limitations of the CloudSat CPR.
Thoughts on Concept Analysis: Multiple Approaches, One Result

In this essay, I share my thoughts about concept analysis. Emphasis is placed on a nursing conceptual model as the starting point to provide an intellectual context for the concept analysis. The difference between a concept and the application of the concept also is emphasized.
Serious complications of collagenase clostridium histiolyticum injection for Peyronie's disease: more than meets the eye!

The serious adverse effects of collagenase clostridium histiolyticum (CCH) injection for the treatment of Peyronie’s disease include penile hematoma and fracture, yet the broad prevalence of these complications was incompletely understood until recently. Yafi et al. examined the prevalence of these serious complications across members of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA), and their survey results shed important light on practice patterns and complication rates observed by CCH prescribers.
Detection of crystal defects in high doped epitaxial layers and substrates by photoluminescence

In this work, the detection and characterization of various crystal defects in high doped silicon carbide by photoluminescence (PL) is explored. The detection of basal plane dislocations in high doped epitaxial buffer layers is demonstrated using the near ultraviolet (NUV) emission images. Several characteristic defects in high doped 150mm substrates like grain boundaries and screw dislocations are also detected and characterized using the NUV PL images. Further characterization using molten potassium hydroxide etching is presented.
Poison frogs, defensive alkaloids, and sleepless mice: critique of a toxicity bioassay

In studies of defensive allomones, appropriate methods of presenting chemicals and measuring their deterrent effects on consumers are essential for understanding the contributions that chemicals make to the survivorship of potential prey. However, unnatural chemical presentations and/or ambiguous bioassay responses occasionally have left open questions on some allelochemical effects. This discussion critiques a toxicity bioassay of Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae), a group whose skins are known to possess a diverse array of bioactive alkaloids. The problematic bioassay entails injecting laboratory mice with the skin extracts of frogs and monitoring the time taken for mice to fall back to sleep to estimate extract toxicity, where longer latencies of sleep onset were claimed to reflect greater toxicity. Dendrobatids do not invasively deliver skin alkaloids to offenders, hence the method of injecting mice with skin extracts does not correspond to the frogs’ natural defense mechanisms. Neither does the injection of frog extracts permit gastrointestinal deactivation or clearance mechanisms that may reduce the bioavailability of toxins. Whether or not increased sleep latencies induced by injected skin extracts reflect toxicity, irritability or other effects, the ultimate protective value for frogs of prolonging the wakefulness of mice (or relevant predators) is unclear. Defensible bioassays entail both modes of chemical delivery consistent with those by which would-be predators normally encounter chemicals and quantified measures of responses by predators that detract from their success.
The effects of pH and Pi on tension and Ca2+ sensitivity of ventricular myofilaments from the anoxia-tolerant painted turtle

ABSTRACT We aimed to determine how increases in intracellular H + and inorganic phosphate (P i ) to levels observed during anoxic submergence affect contractility in ventricular muscle of the anoxia-tolerant Western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii . Skinned multicellular preparations were exposed to six treatments with physiologically relevant levels of pH (7.4, 7.0, 6.6) and P i (3 and 8 mmol l −1 ). Each preparation was tested in a range of calcium concentrations (pCa 9.0–4.5) to determine the pCa–tension relationship for each treatment. Acidosis significantly decreased contractility by decreasing Ca 2+ sensitivity (pCa 50 ) and tension development ( P i ] also decreased contractility by decreasing tension development at every pH level ( P 2+ sensitivity ( P =0.689). Simultaneous increases in [H + ] and [P i ] interacted to attenuate the decreased tension development and Ca 2+ sensitivity ( P i when it is present as the dihydrogen phosphate form, which increases as pH decreases. Compared with that of mammals, the ventricle of turtles exhibits higher Ca 2+ sensitivity, which is consistent with previous studies of ectothermic vertebrates.
Impact of Anticipated Bias from Healthcare Professionals on Perceived Successful Aging Among Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Older Adults

Abstract Purpose: Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) persons have routinely experienced high rates of violence and discrimination. Discrimination in healthcare can affect the ability of TGNC persons to age successfully as it often deters them from seeking care. The purpose of this study was to determine if anticipation of bias from healthcare professionals, as well as other variables, predicted perceived successful aging in a sample of TGNC adults. Methods: A total of 384 (of the original 1963) participants older than 50 years completed the relevant parts of an 83-item online survey as part of the Trans MetLife Survey on Later-Life Preparedness and Perceptions in Transgender-Identified Individuals. Results: Larger social support networks and higher levels of confidence that a healthcare professional will treat them with dignity and respect as a TGNC person at the end of their life were associated with increased odds of perceiving that they were aging successfully. Conclusion: With high rates of d...
Race, Social Relations and the Life Course

This chapter investigates the linkage between race/ethnicity and social relationships. The topic is discussed within the framework of the “racialized life course,” a perspective that argues that personal life pathways are ordered differently across the racial and ethnic groups. The chapter reviews several strands of scholarly literature on the topics of social participation, social capital, and social support that contribute to a theoretical understanding of race/ethnicity and social relationships. The chapter brings data to bear on these issues using nationally-representative survey data from the General Social Survey using measures of social network characteristics, associational memberships, and social participation. Consistent with prior research, the study finds a great deal of racial homophily in social network choices, suggesting that African-Americans are more socially isolated. At the same time, results presented in this chapter with respect to social participation (contact with relatives and members of one’s neighborhood) and associational ties (church membership and attendance) indicate that African-Americans are more likely to activate their social networks. The results indicate that there are racial-ethnic differences in the nature of social relations, and the chapter concludes with a discussion of their significance in understanding the nature of racial inequalities in contemporary American society.
An Exploratory Study of Domestic Violence: Perpetrators’ Reports of Violence Against Animals

The goal of the current exploratory study was to examine associations between animal cruelty (AC), intimate partner violence (IPV), and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) among incarcerated adu...
Thermodynamics of Crystal-Melt Phase Change

The enthalpy, or heat content, provides a useful thermodynamic state function [1] when dealing with the energetic changes encountered in many types of solidification and melting processes, especially when they are carried out under constant pressure (isobaric) conditions.
Strategic Value of High-Cost Customers: Online Appendix

This is the online appendix to the paper titled "Strategic Value of High-Cost Customers" that is forthcoming in Management Science. The abstract for the paper is given below. This online appendix provides the proofs for extensions when customers are forward-looking, when there are three customer cost-types, when firms can discriminate amongst their ex-customers, when customers exhibit inertial loyalty or brand loyalty, when customers also differ in their price-sensitivity and when some customers are too costly to serve. Many firms today manage their existing customers differentially based on profit potential, providing fewer incentives to less profitable customers and firing unprofitable customers. While researchers and industry experts advocate this practice, results have been mixed. We examine this practice explicitly accounting for competition and find that some conventional prescriptions may not always hold. We analyze a setting where customers differ in their cost-to-serve. We find that when a firm can discriminate amongst its customers while the rival cannot, customer base composition influences the rival's poaching behavior. Consequently, even though a low-cost customer is more profitable when viewed in isolation, a high-cost customer may be strategically more valuable by discouraging poaching. Therefore, contrary to conventional advice, it can be profitable for a firm to retain unprofitable customers. Moreover, some customers may become more valuable to retain and receive better incentives when they are less profitable. We further show that, in competitive settings, traditional customer lifetime value metrics may lead to poor retention decisions because they do not account for the competitive externality that actions towards some customers impose on the cash flows from other customers. Our results suggest that firms may need to evolve from a segmentation mindset, which views each customer in isolation, to a customer portfolio mindset, which recognizes that the value of different customers is interlinked.
Nonenzymic Browning and Formation of Acrylamide and Caramel

Abstract This chapter describes the reactions involved in and factors affecting the extent of nonenzymic browning (the Maillard reaction) and its relationship to foods; the mechanism of formation of acrylamide in foods; and the definition and types of caramel color and flavors.
Measuring the Dispositional Tendency to Spread Oneself Too Thin.

This paper describes the development and validation of a scale to measure the dispositional tendency to spread oneself too thin (SOTT)—a tendency that is likely an important antecedent of work-nonwork conflicts. In two studies, we develop and validate a scale for measuring this tendency and examine how it relates to other dispositional causes of role conflicts. In Study 1 we tested our initial item pool using a heterogeneous sample of full-time workers (N=193) and used exploratory factor analysis to reduce our item pool to a set of five items. In Study 2, using another heterogeneous sample of full-time workers (N=212), we conducted confirmatory factor analyses to demonstrate that the items fit a unidimensional construct. We also demonstrated that the scale has moderately high test-retest reliability, is distinct from other potentially related constructs, and predicts work-nonwork conflicts above and beyond previously studied dispositional antecedents. We discuss the importance of studying the dispositional tendency to spread oneself too thin as a potentially malleable antecedent of work-nonwork conflict and note other employee outcomes that it may also impact.
Increased Autophagy and Apoptosis in the Kidneys of Intrauterine Growth Restricted Rats.

Background: IUGR has been associated with nephron loss and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Materials and methods: We examined autophagy and apoptosis markers in the kidneys of IUGR Sprague Dawley rat...
SOX-10 staining in dermal scars

Background Positive staining for SOX10 and the S100 protein are often used in the evaluation of challenging melanocytic neoplasms including melanoma in patient samples. SOX-10 positivity of non-melanocytes in re-excision specimen could complicate the evaluation of invasive melanoma with an invasive desmoplastic component. Therefore, quantifiable data regarding the positivity of SOX-10 in scars will help dermatopathologists to better identify false positive staining. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 50 re-excision specimens from 2013 to 2017, with a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS). Blocks of re-excision specimens containing scars were stained for SOX-10; results were evaluated by a board-certified dermatopathologist. The sum of the five highest numbers of high-power field (HPF) counts as a proxy for "SOX-10 stain factor," and cell morphological features were analyzed. MART-1 and CD68 immunohistochemical staining was performed to study possible lineage of these SOX-10 positive cells. Results All 50 specimens showed varying degrees of SOX-10 positivity for histiocytes. SOX-10 positive histiocytes were present in 86% of re-excision scar tissues, of which 71.3% had spindle-shaped or angulated nuclei, and 61.8% had nuclear sizes larger than typical lymphocytes (7 μm). Within the same area of scars, CD68 staining was floridly positive, where as MART-1 staining was overwhelmingly negative. Conclusions This study illustrates a potential diagnostic pitfall of using SOX-10 to evaluate re-excision specimens of melanocytic neoplasms and also suggests a previously undescribed staining pattern in scars of SOX-10 positive cells that are not melanocytes. We postulate that such SOX-10 positive cells may represent a small fraction of histiocytes routinely found in scar tissue.