cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contextuality and data collection methods: A framework and application to health service utilisation

This article examines the role of different data collection methods, including the data types they produce, in the analysis of social phenomena in developing countries. It points out that one of the confusing factors surrounding the quantitative‐qualitative debate in the literature is that methods and data are not clearly separated. The article retains the qualitative/quantitative distinction pertaining to data types but analyses methods according to their contextuality, that is, to what degree they attempt to understand human behaviour within the social, cultural, economic and political environment of a locality. The framework is applied to characterise information needs for health planning derived from the utilisation of health services. Each combination of method (contextual/non‐contextual) and data (quantitative/qualitative) is a primary and unique source to fulfil different information requirements. The article finds three roles contextual methods of data collection can play in generating information...
Capillary Porosity Depercolation/Repercolation in Hydrating Cement Pastes Via Low‐Temperature Calorimetry Measurements and CEMHYD3D Modeling

Capillary porosity percolation in a hydrating cement paste has a large influence on transport properties and durability. Percolation can be examined using low-temperature calorimetry and using microstructure models. In this paper, the two approaches are compared for cement pastes with different water-to-cement ratios and exposed to various curing conditions. The influence of sealed curing is seen to be particularly important, as cement pastes that initially hydrate to depercolate the capillary pores may later undergo self-desiccation and aging that repercolates them. Model predictions of the degree of hydration and the percolated capillary porosity volume fraction compare favorably with experiments.
The shared microbiota of humans and companion animals as evaluated from Staphylococcus carriage sites

Staphylococcus aureus and other coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) colonize skin and mucous membrane sites and can cause skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in humans and animals. Factors modulating methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization and infection in humans remain unclear, including the role of the greater microbial community and environmental factors such as contact with companion animals. In the context of a parent study evaluating the households of outpatients with community MRSA SSTI, the objectives of this study were 1) to characterize the microbiota that colonizes typical coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp. carriage sites in humans and their companion pets, 2) to analyze associations between Staphylococcus infection and carriage and the composition and diversity of microbial communities, and 3) to analyze factors that influence sharing of microbiota between pets and humans. We enrolled 25 households containing 56 pets and 30 humans. Sampling locations were matched to anatomical sites cultured by the parent study for MRSA and other CPS. Bacterial microbiota were characterized by sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Household membership was strongly associated with microbial communities, in both humans and pets. Pets were colonized with a greater relative abundance of Proteobacteria, whereas people were colonized with greater relative abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. We did not detect differences in microbiota associated with MRSA SSTI, or carriage of MRSA, S. aureus or CPS. Humans in households without pets were more similar to each other than humans in pet-owning households, suggesting that companion animals may play a role in microbial transfer. We examined changes in microbiota over a 3-month time period and found that pet staphylococcal carriage sites were more stable than human carriage sites. We characterized and identified patterns of microbiota sharing and stability between humans and companion animals. While we did not detect associations with MRSA SSTI, or carriage of MRSA, S. aureus or CPS in this small sample size, larger studies are warranted to fully explore how microbial communities may be associated with and contribute to MRSA and/or CPS colonization, infection, and recurrence.
Distributed upcalls: a mechanism for layering asynchronous abstractions

Procedure calls provide a synchronous interface to call downward through successive layers of abstraction, and remote procedure calls allow the layers to reside in different address spaces. A design is given for distributed upcalls, a mechanism for propagating upcalls across address space boundaries. Distributed upcalls provide a natural complement to remote procedure calls, allowing the user to arbitrarily place abstractions in the server or in the client. A server structuring system called CLAM, which is currently being used to support an extensible window management system, is presented. The CLAM system, including distributed upcalls, remote procedure call extensions to C++, dynamic loading, and basic window classes, is currently running under 4.3BSD Unix on Microvax workstations. >
Preliminary investigation of a novel reconstruction algorithm based upon the potato peeler perspective

Recently, we have developed equations that in principle give the exact activity distribution from half-knowledge of the data function in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). These differential equations which describe the evolution of "variable" sinograms are manipulated into an integral form that is amenible to basis expansion.
The neglected heart of science policy: reconciling supply of and demand for science

Abstract The funding of scientific research is almost always justified in terms of the potential for achieving beneficial societal outcomes. In pursuing a particular societal outcome, how can we know if one research portfolio is better than another? In this paper we conceptualize: (1) science in terms of a “supply” of knowledge and information, (2) societal outcomes in terms of a “demand” function that seeks to apply knowledge and information to achieve specific societal goals, and (3) science policy decision-making as a process aimed at “reconciling” the dynamic relationship between “supply” and “demand.” The core of our argument is that “better” science portfolios (that is, portfolios viewed as more likely to advance desired societal outcomes, however defined) would be achieved if science policy decisions reflected knowledge about the supply of science, the demand for science, and the relationship between the two. We provide a general method for pursuing such knowledge, using the specific example of climate change science to illustrate how research on science policy could be organized to support improved decisions about the organization of science itself.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling stimulates colonic mucosal cell survival during aging.

Although aging is shown to be associated with decreased apoptosis and increased survival of cells in the colonic mucosa of Fischer 344 rats, the regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. The cur...
1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydroimidazol‐2‐ylidene

[258278-28-3] C27H38N2 (MW 390.60) InChI = 1S/C27H38N2/c1-18(2)22-11-9-12-23(19(3)4)26(22)28-15-16-29(17-28)27-24(20(5)6)13-10-14-25(27)21(7)8/h9-14,18-21H,15-16H2,1-8H3 InChIKey = XZDYFCGKKKSOEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent having limited synthetic utility of its own. Primary use is as a ligand for a variety of transition metal–catalyzed reactions such as olefin metathesis, hydroamination, and Pd- and Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Another potential application is in reactions employing phosphine-mimics) Physical Data: colorless solid, mp 167–168 °C. Solubility: soluble in polar and nonpolar aromatic and aliphatic solvents, such as ether. Stable in air-free dichloromethane for days at room temperature. Form Supplied in: commercially available as the imidazolium tetrafluoroborate salt. Analysis of Reagent Purity: NMR. Preparative Methods: a simple three-step, high yield preparation of imidazolium chlorides using glyoxal with primary amines as starting materials has been described.1 An alternative procedure gives a tetrafluoroborate salt.2 Free imidazol-2-ylidene can be produced by stirring the imidazolium chloride with KH in THF;1 with tetrafluoroborate salts good conversions can be achieved with KOCMe3.3, 4 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: stable indefinitely as the imidazolium salt. Pure imidazolidene is extremely sensitive to air and moisture and should be stored under a nitrogen atmosphere. It is incompatible with chloroform.
A tale of two commodities: how EU mycotoxin regulations have affected u.s. tree nut industries

The European Union (EU) has some of the strictest standards for mycotoxins in food and feed in the world. This paper explores the economic impacts of these standards on other nations that attempt to export foods that are susceptible to one mycotoxin, aflatoxin, to the EU. The current EU standard for total aflatoxins in food is 4 ng/g in food other than peanuts, and 15 ng/g in peanuts. Under certain conditions, export markets may actually benefit from the strict EU standard. These conditions include a consistently high-quality product, and a global scene that allows market shifts. Even lower-quality export markets can benefit from the strict EU standard, primarily by technology forcing. However, if the above conditions are not met, export markets suffer from the strict EU standard. Two case studies are presented to illustrate these two different scenarios: the U.S. pistachio and almond industries. Importantly, within the EU, food processors may suffer as well from the strict aflatoxin standard. EU policyma...
Comparison of class-E amplifier with nonlinear and linear shunt capacitance

Comparison of various parameters of the class-E amplifier with nonlinear and linear shunt capacitance is given. A concept of an equivalent linear shunt capacitance is introduced. The following parameters are compared for the amplifiers with nonlinear and linear shunt capacitance at the duty cycle D=0.5: series reactance, peak switch voltage, and power capability. A design procedure for the class-E amplifier with a nonlinear shunt capacitance is presented. Simulation of the designed class-E amplifier is performed to verify the design equations that ensure zero-voltage-switching operation.
From Hypatia to Victor Hugo to Larry and Sergey: ‘All the World's Knowledge’ and Universal Authors’ Rights – The 2012 British Academy Law Lecture

Access to ‘all the world’s knowledge’ is an ancient aspiration; a less venerable, but equally vigorous, universalism strives for the borderless protection of authors’ rights. Late 19th-century law and politics brought us copyright universalism; 21st-century technology may bring us the universal digital library. But how can ‘all the world’s knowledge’ be delivered, on demand, to users anywhere in the world (with Internet access), if the copyrights of the creators and publishers of many of those works are supposed to be enforceable almost everywhere in the world? Does it follow that the universal digital library of the near future threatens copyright holders? Or are libraries the endangered species of the impending era, as publishers partner with for-profit Internet intermediaries to make books ubiquitously available? Does access-triumphalism therefore risk giving us not the universal digital library, but the universal digital bookstore? And, whether libraries or commercial intermediaries offer access, how will the world’s authors fare?
Spectral analysis of stock-return volatility, correlation, and beta

We apply spectral techniques to analyze the volatility and correlation of U.S. common-stock returns across multiple time horizons at the aggregate-market and individual-firm level. Using the cross-periodogram to construct frequency band-limited measures of variance, correlation and beta, we find that volatilities and correlations change not only in magnitude over time, but also in frequency. Factors that may be responsible for these trends are proposed and their implications for portfolio construction are explored.
Compensation Planning at Stanford University in the 21st Century

This case involves a hypothetical situation in which two business professors propose a deferred-compensation plan to the president of Stanford University after the passage of the Economic Growth and Reconciliation Act of 2001. The case has three unique aspects that enhance the students' learning experience: (1) it provides a realistic setting for students to analyze optimal compensation arrangements for tax purposes for various parties; (2) it provides an opportunity to discuss the political costs of tax planning, including scrutiny from the press, internal conflicts, and governmental reactions; (3) it provides an opportunity to discuss tax planning in a not-for-profit setting and to compare it with a for-profit setting.
Production of Molecular Clusters of Lithium Niobate by Ultraviolet and Visible Laser Ablation

We have investigated laser ablation of molecular ions from the ferroelectric LiNbO3 at 532, 355 and 266 nm, comparing the effects of changing wavelength and intensity. The time-of-flight spectra show great sensitivity to the onset of plasma formation. Just below the plasma formation threshold, production of the monomer, dimer and trimer negative molecular ions were observed. Possible implications for thin-film deposition processing are discussed.
Thyroid state and glucose oxidation by blood.

Summary1. Oxidation of glucose by the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway has been estimated by measuring the radioactive carbon dioxide produced from 1-C14-glucose added to blood treated with methylene blue. 2. A significant decrease in early C14 O2 production has been found in blood obtained from thyrotoxic patients and normal subjects treated with triiodothyronine.
Characterization of resistance to dicofol in spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) from New York apple orchards

Susceptibility to dicofol of populations of Panonychus ulmi (Koch) and Tetranychus urticae Koch from New York apple orchards was estimated in 1985-1986 with a whole-plant residual bioassay. Nine of 14 P. ulmi populations collected from throughout the state in 1985 had 1,000-fold resistance to dicofol residues. Whereas susceptible mites were approximately equally affected by residual or topical exposure to dicofol, resistant mites (possessing a > 1,000-fold resistance to residual exposure) were < 15-fold resistant to topical contact with dicofol. Field trials conducted at orchard locations with P. ulmi resistant or susceptible to dicofol (as shown by bioassay results) illustrated that the resistance resulted in reduced efficacy of dicofol treatments. Advantages of the dicofol-spider mite system for evaluating resistance dynamics and resistance management strategies are described.
Chapter 10 – Social-Emotional Learning Opportunities in Online Games for Preschoolers

In recent years, social-emotional learning became one of the prime themes in educational media for preschoolers. Much of the interest is driven by research indicating that mastery of social-emotional skills is associated with greater wellbeing across various life domains. Despite large numbers of educational media claiming to promote social-emotional skills, little is known about social-emotional learning affordances of these media, and specifically of online digital games for preschoolers. In this chapter, we present the study that examined the content of 66 online games for preschoolers offered on three major networks. Specifically, we assessed the range of social-emotional skills included in the games, the level of complexity and breadth of the tasks, and the delivery methods of the learning opportunities targeting social-emotional skills. The findings reviewed in this chapter suggest that although preschoolers have opportunities to learn social-emotional skills from online games, they are exposed to a limited number of skills of similar complexity levels, and most often have to learn social-emotional skills by observation and not practice.
Large Sieve Inequalities via Subharmonic Methods and the Mahler Measure of the Fekete Polynomials

We investigate large sieve inequalities such as where is convex and increasing, is a polynomial or an exponential of a potential, and the constant depends on the degree of , and the distribution of the points . The method allows greater generality and is in some ways simpler than earlier ones. We apply our results to estimate the Mahler measure of Fekete polynomials.
High pitch third generation dual-source CT: Coronary and cardiac visualization on routine chest CT.

Abstract Background Chest CT scans are frequently performed in radiology departments but have not previously contained detailed depiction of cardiac structures. Objectives To evaluate myocardial and coronary visualization on high-pitch non-gated CT of the chest using 3rd generation dual-source computed tomography (CT). Methods Cardiac anatomy of patients who had 3rd generation, non-gated high pitch contrast enhanced chest CT and who also had prior conventional (low pitch) chest CT as part of a chest abdomen pelvis exam was evaluated. Cardiac image features were scored by reviewers blinded to diagnosis and pitch. Paired analysis was performed. Results 3862 coronary segments and 2220 cardiac structures were evaluated by two readers in 222 CT scans. Most patients (97.2%) had chest CT for oncologic evaluation. The median pitch was 2.34 (IQR 2.05, 2.65) in high pitch and 0.8 (IQR 0.8, 0.8) in low pitch scans (p Conclusion Myocardial structure and coronary arteries are frequently visualized on non-gated 3rd generation chest CT. These results raise the question of whether the heart and coronary arteries should be routinely interpreted on routine chest CT that is otherwise obtained for non-cardiac indications.
Effect of Nicorandil and Papaverine on The Relaxation of Great Saphenous Vein During Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of potassium channel opener (PCOs), nicorandil (NCR) and papaverine on the relaxation of great saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS A fresh great saphenous vein obtained from CABG was cut into 3mm thickness rings. The rings were randomly divided into different groups. The organ chamber technique was used to study the coronary rings tension. After equilibration, the rings were incubated respectively in Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KH), KH with 0.1mmol/L NCR, and KH with 1.2mmol papaverine for 1 hour. And then the contraction and relaxation response to the above three buffers were assessed. RESULTS No significant change was observed on rings in KH. Rings in both KH with 0.1 mmol/L NCR and KH with 1.2 mmol/L papaverine showed obvious relaxation. There was no significant difference between the NCR group and the papaverine group. However, endothelial damage was observed in presence of papaverine under electronic microscope. CONCLUSION NCR and papverine have similar relaxation effect on saphena rings obtained from CABG. Papaverine do damage to endothelial cells.
Automated feature extraction for 3-dimensional point clouds

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology offers the capability to rapidly capture high-resolution, 3-dimensional surface data with centimeter-level accuracy for a large variety of applications. Due to the foliage-penetrating properties of LIDAR systems, these geospatial data sets can detect ground surfaces beneath trees, enabling the production of highfidelity bare earth elevation models. Precise characterization of the ground surface allows for identification of terrain and non-terrain points within the point cloud, and facilitates further discernment between natural and man-made objects based solely on structural aspects and relative neighboring parameterizations. A framework is presented here for automated extraction of natural and man-made features that does not rely on coincident ortho-imagery or point RGB attributes. The TEXAS (Terrain EXtraction And Segmentation) algorithm is used first to generate a bare earth surface from a lidar survey, which is then used to classify points as terrain or non-terrain. Further classifications are assigned at the point level by leveraging local spatial information. Similarly classed points are then clustered together into regions to identify individual features. Descriptions of the spatial attributes of each region are generated, resulting in the identification of individual tree locations, forest extents, building footprints, and 3-dimensional building shapes, among others. Results of the fully-automated feature extraction algorithm are then compared to ground truth to assess completeness and accuracy of the methodology.
Selected Areas of Structural Research in Rocket Vehicles

Space flight has served to emphasize in a most profound manner the significant rewards to be obtained by recognizing and pursuing the interplay between structures and materials in design. Of particular pertinence in this regard are rocket boosters which constitute an interesting example of the design interaction between structures and materials. Since booster vehicles are currently the focus of much structures and materials research efforts, it is our intent to review the progress and potential in the following three areas: structural integrity of solid propellant grains, shell structures of homogeneous materials, and pressure vessel design with filamentary materials.
Identification and Quantification of Potential Anti-inflammatory Hydroxycinnamic Acid Amides from Wolfberry

Wolfberry or Goji berry, the fruit of Lycium barbarum, exhibits health-promoting properties that leads to an extensive study of their active components. We synthesized a set of hydroxycinnamic acid amide (HCCA) compounds, including trans-caffeic acid, trans-ferulic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid, with extended phenolic amine components as standards to identify and quantify the corresponding compounds from wolfberry and to investigate anti-inflammatory properties of these compounds using in vitro model. With optimized LC–MS/MS and NMR analysis, nine amide compounds were identified from the fruits. Seven of these compounds were identified in this plant for the first time. The amide compounds with a tyramine moiety were the most abundant. In vitro studies indicated that five HCCA compounds showed inhibitory effect on NO production inuded by lipopolysaccharides with IC50 less than 15.08 μM (trans-N-feruloyl dopamine). These findings suggested that wolfberries demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.
Impact of aging on genomic abnormalities in breast cancer

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 2540 We have previously shown that in addition to increasing breast cancer incidence, aging can significantly alter breast cancer biology as defined by validated prognostic and predictive biomarkers. In particular, biomarkers thought to reflect breast cancer genomic instability (e.g. high nuclear grade, aneuploidy, p53 immunoreactivity) show strong inverse correlations with patient age-at-diagnosis. To more directly assess the relationship between aging and breast cancer gene copy number abnormalities, comparative genomic hybridization array (aCGH, a 1MB resolution) analyses were performed on tumor DNA samples from two age-based cohorts of breast cancer cases collected from a single geographic region (Bari) and characterized by stage and hormone receptor status (ER, PR). Using the following age-at-diagnosis cohort definitions: younger (Y) ≤ 45 and older (O) ≥ 70 years, 125 (Y = 56; O = 64) cases have been analyzed to date. Consistent with previous reports, these two age cohorts contain significantly different proportions of ER/PR breast cancer phenotypes (p = 0.003): ER+/PR+ = 56% (O) vs. 43% (Y); ER+/PR- = 30% (O) vs. 16% (Y); and ER-/PR- = 14% (O) vs. 41% (Y). Using the aCGH ERBB2 17q locus to define gene amplification and ErbB2+ status, the overall study set shows 13% ErbB2+ cases, with a significant difference between the two cohorts (p = 0.03): 6% (O) vs. 21% (Y). While PR status showed no significant relationship to ErbB2 status; the overall study set shows a significant inverse relationship between ER+ and ErbB2+ status (p = 0.001). However, this inverse relationship is only significant within the younger age cohort, where 9% of ER+ Y cases are ErbB2+ in contrast to 39% of ER- Y cases that are ErbB2+ (p = 0.02). These DNA samples are also currently being analyzed for p53 (exon 5-8) mutations. At present, the findings from this breast cancer cohort study of genomic abnormalities confirm that oncogenic mechanisms differ between younger and older aged breast cancer patients even when hormone receptor status is taken into account. In particular, ERBB2 amplification is an uncommon genomic mechanism contributing to breast tumorigenesis in older patients even within the subset of ER- tumors, yet it accounts for nearly 40% of ER- breast cancers arising in younger patients.
Early Creole Novels in English Before 1850: Hamel, the Obeah Man and Warner Arundell: The Adventures of a Creole

This essay focuses on a group of novels set in (and displaying significant local knowledge of) Britain’s West Indian colonies at a moment of tremendous change, the decades leading up to and years immediately following Emancipation: Montgomery; or, the West-Indian Adventurer (1812–13), Hamel, the Obeah Man (1827), Marly; or, A Planter’s Life in Jamaica (1828), Warner Arundell: The Adventures of a Creole (1938), and Creoleana (1842). Given these novels’ sympathetic identification with white creole culture, they pose an interesting conundrum for Caribbean scholars alert to the skewed representations of West Indian life in the period of slavery, but who also may be keen to see them as part, or even as inaugural texts, of a specifically Caribbean literary tradition. By focusing on two particular novels, Hamel and Warner Arundell, the essay explores the implications of the history- and fiction-making capacities of these texts and what they have to say about the textual production of authority during the period of Emancipation in the Caribbean, as well as their influence on such production today.
Teaching Law Students about Sprawl

In the fall of 2004, I taught a seminar on The Law of Sprawl at Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Law. This essay seeks to guide would-be teachers of a course on sprawl by showing how I taught the course. Specifically, the article asserts that a seminar on sprawl belongs in law school curricula as well as planning school curricula, because a wide variety of legal rules contribute to sprawl. The article then goes on to discuss those legal rules and how I addressed them in my course. For example, the article discusses land use regulations that encourage automobile-dependent development, as well as state and federal highway, housing and education policies that favored suburbs over cities. As to each issue, the seminar addressed not only sprawl-producing government policies, but case law that upheld (or, in some cases, challenged) those policies.
Anticipating the Biological Proliferation Threat of Nanotechnology: Challenges for International Arms Control Regimes

This chapter explores challenges—both in the technical realm and in international arms control regimes and laws—in the pursuit of nanotechnology as it intersects with the proliferation of biological weapons. Nanotechnology is thriving in academia, in the private sector, and in state science and technology programs. The security implications, both for traditional non-proliferation regimes and for misuse by non-state actors, have not received commensurate attention with other technological advances. At the same time, policy makers and the scientific community, domestically and internationally, are attempting to develop new means to address risks associated with biotechnology, including synthetic genomics. Although the potential threats of nanotechnology research in an age of terrorism or a new age of state-based proliferation may not be as easy to envision in the near term as those associated with biotechnology, the possibilities are becoming more real as nanotechnology is transitioned from the laboratory to products. A number of recent advances in nanotechnology have strongly suggested nanotechnology’s malfeasant potential in the hands of adversaries.
Is the First Query the Most Important: An Evaluation of Query Aggregation Schemes in Session Search

Web users often issue a series of related queries, which form a search session, to fulfill complicated information needs. Query aggregation utilizes and combines multiple queries for session search. Prior research has demonstrated that query aggregation is an effective technique for session search. Consequently, how to effectively weight queries in a session becomes an interesting problem. This paper evaluates various query aggregation schemes and proposes a new three-step query aggregation method. Evaluation on TREC 2011 and 2012 Session tracks shows that the proposed scheme works very well and significantly outperforms the best TREC systems.
Central Nervous System Vasculature, Blood-Brain Barrier, and Cerebrospinal Fluid

The proper operation of the nervous system depends on two fluid systems: the vasculature and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The importance of the vasculature is self-evident. Like any other tissue, the cells of the brain depend on a continuous supply of oxygenated blood. Interruption of the blood supply to any part of the nervous system (ischemia) leads to rapid neuronal death. This is true for nerves and fiber tracts as well as for areas containing neuronal cell bodies. Insufficiency of blood supply can lead to transient cellular dysfunction. It is important for the clinician to know the distribution of the major vessels, and the signs and symptoms that result from an interruption of blood flow in the different vessels.
Error Estimation for Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods

A hybrid-Monte Carlo method designed to obtain a statistical error analysis using deterministic sequences is introduced. The method, which is called “random sampling from low-discrepancy sequences”, produces estimates that satisfy deterministic error bounds yet confidence interval analysis can be applied to measure the accuracy of them.
Isolation and Characterization of Neuropeptides

The recognition of neuropeptides as a major class of neurotransmitters has led to a set of revolutionary discoveries about chemical neurotransmission. Widely held ideas about the total number of neurotransmitters, the number of transmitters used by a single neuron, the anatomical structures over which transmitters act, and the array of postsynaptic events they produce have changed in the last 5 to 10 years, and in large measure studies of neuropeptides are responsible for those changes. Thus, it seems clear that neuropeptides are a class of neurotransmitters well worth studying, not only because of their inherent significance to the physiology of the nervous system, but also because modern tools available for the study of neuropeptides make them excellent models for the study of neurotransmission in general.
Social Work Interventions: Advocacy and Support for Families

When a child has PWS, in addition to the usual parenting concerns, the family faces a number of additional and often emotionally difficult issues requiring special information and services. The social worker is in a unique position to aid and support the family as they face the challenges and joys of parenting this child. Targeted social service intervention by the social worker can (1) help the family reestablish a working balance, while (2) providing education and guidance, and (3) providing support in obtaining and coordinating multiple medical and early intervention services for the affected child.
Acetyltransferase p300 inhibitor reverses hypertension‐induced cardiac fibrosis

Epigenetic dysregulation plays a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases. Previously, we reported that acetyltransferase p300 (ATp300) inhibitor L002 prevents hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis in a murine model. In this short communication, we show that treatment of hypertensive mice with ATp300-specific small molecule inhibitor L002 or C646 reverses hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction, without reducing elevated blood pressures. Biochemically, treatment with L002 and C646 also reverse hypertension-induced histone acetylation and myofibroblast differentiation in murine ventricles. Our results confirm and extend the role of ATp300, a major epigenetic regulator, in the pathobiology of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Most importantly, we identify the efficacies of ATp300 inhibitors C646 and L002 in reversing hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and discover new anti-hypertrophic and anti-fibrotic candidates.
Influence of Fiber on Lipid Metabolism

Long-term studies correlating various metabolic and behavioral parameters have shown that elevated levels of serum cholesterol represent a risk factor vis-a-vis the development of coronary dissease1, 2. Implication of serum cholesterol in the development of coronary disease has precipitated many studies aimed at controlling serum lipid levels.
Within-person compensation for snack energy by US adults, NHANES 2007–2014

BACKGROUND Most Americans snack and some snack several times a day; however, compensatory dietary and eating behaviors associated with snacking in free-living individuals are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to examine within-person differences in reported energy intake and eating patterns on a snack day relative to a no-snack day. METHODS We used 2 d of dietary recall data from the NHANES 2007-2014 to replicate the crossover nutrition study paradigm in a natural setting. Respondents reporting a snack episode in only one of two available dietary recalls were eligible for inclusion in the study (n = 1,917 men and 1,860 women). We used multivariable regression methods to compare within-person differences in quantitative, qualitative, and eating pattern outcomes between the snack and no-snack recall days. RESULTS On the snack day, snack episodes provided (mean difference and 95% CI) 493 (454, 532) kcal of energy in men and 360 (328, 392) kcal in women. The 24-h energy intake on snack day was higher by 239 (140, 337) kcal in men and 219 (164, 273) kcal in women (P < 0.0001). On the snack day, both men and women were more likely to skip main meals and reported lower energy intake from main meals (P < 0.0001); however, the energy density of foods or beverages reported on the snack compared with no-snack days were not different. Fruit servings were higher on the snack day (P ≤ 0.0004), but intakes of vegetables and key micronutrients did not differ. The 24-h ingestive period was longer on the snack day (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Free-living men and women partially compensated for snack energy by decreasing energy intake from main meals without adverse associations with qualitative dietary characteristics or time of meal consumption. Women compensated to a smaller extent than men. Thus, over the long term, snack episodes may contribute to positive energy balance, and the risk may be higher in women.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of mHealth Mindfulness Intervention for Cancer Patients and Informal Cancer Caregivers: A Feasibility Study Within an Integrated Health Care Delivery System.

Purpose: To assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a mobile/online-based (mHealth) mindfulness intervention for cancer patients and their caregivers to reduce distress and improve quality o...
Trade and American Leadership: The Paradoxes of Power and Wealth from Alexander Hamilton to Donald Trump

In this fascinating book, Dr. VanGrasstek discusses over 250 years of United States (U.S.) trade policy. He explains how and why policy has changed since Colonial Times, as well as describing how t...
Limited Improvements in Health Behaviors Suggest Need to Review Approaches to Health Promotion: A Repeated, Cross-Sectional Study:

Purpose. To broadly assess changes in key health behaviors (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking, and alcohol consumption) and one outcome (body mass index) between 2001-2006...
Iodine interstitials as a cause of nonradiative recombination in hybrid perovskites

The identification of deep-level defects that act as detrimental nonradiative recombination centers is critical for optimizing the optoelectronic performance of hybrid perovskites. Although extensive studies have been devoted to revealing the nature of deep-level defects in hybrid perovskites, it is still unclear what defects are responsible for the experimentally observed nonradiative recombination rates. Employing first-principles approaches, we quantitatively show that the iodine interstitial is a dominant nonradiative recombination center in methylammonium-lead iodide. This important insight points to a target for defect engineering in order to further improve the performance of hybrid perovskites.
Eco-gentrification and who benefits from urban green amenities: NYC’s high Line

Abstract This study estimates the impact of the introduction of New York’s High Line, an elevated walkway in Manhattan by relating the increase in housing values to the issue of eco-gentrification in urban areas. Studies have shown that increasing the amount of green space can lead to gentrification: rising property values, displacement of existing residents, and a large in-migration of wealthy populations. We utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to spatially model the effects of the High Line on residential property values. We exploit spatial and temporal differences of the High Line’s opening to estimate its impact on residential home values. We find that homes closest to the High Line experienced a 35.3% increase in housing values. We estimate the driving force behind this premium by using a triple difference approach by analyzing elevation levels and find that homes with relatively the same height as the High Line receive the largest premium. This study serves to inform policy makers regarding potential inequality of green space provisions. We provide policy recommendations for minimizing the housing price impact of green space creation.
DNA Double-Strand Break Accumulation in Alzheimer’s Disease: Evidence from Experimental Models and Postmortem Human Brains

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that accounts for a majority of dementia cases. AD is characterized by progressive neuronal death associated with neuropathological lesions consisting of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. While the pathogenesis of AD has been widely investigated, significant gaps in our knowledge remain about the cellular and molecular mechanisms promoting AD. Recent studies have highlighted the role of DNA damage, particularly DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), in the progression of neuronal loss in a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that accumulation of DNA DSB plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. To test our hypothesis, we examined DNA DSB expression and DNA repair function in the hippocampus of human AD and non-AD brains by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and RT-qPCR. We observed increased DNA DSB accumulation and reduced DNA repair function in the hippocampus of AD brains compared to the non-AD control brains. Next, we found significantly increased levels of DNA DSB and altered levels of DNA repair proteins in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice compared to non-transgenic mice. Interestingly, increased accumulation of DNA DSBs and altered DNA repair proteins were also observed in cellular models of AD. These findings provided compelling evidence that AD is associated with accumulation of DNA DSB and/or alteration in DSB repair proteins which may influence an important early part of the pathway toward neural damage and memory loss in AD.
The evolution of conflict, compassion and the social contract: A philosophical approach to human engagement

Abstract What is the essence of human nature and the behaviors that define our own existence? Philosophers have argued and debated this topic for centuries, but little research currently examines the relationship between the development of early philosophical theories and literature describing human nature and potential with topics that are currently associated with evolutionary theory (i.e., natural selection, compassion, greed and conflict). Human behaviors are complex in that they can often display contradictory characteristics (i.e., prosocial and benign as well as antisocial and aggressive tendencies) to different groups of people under similar kinds of environmental conditions. This article will identify how classic philosophical theories address essential qualities of human existence such as truth, knowledge, humility and virtue and how these qualities influenced and guided belief systems among individuals and group behaviors. This article will also address how the views of more recent philosophers, political philosophers and Romanticist authors (i.e., Thomas Hobbes, Alexis de Tocqueville, Jean Jacques Rousseau, John Locke and Mary Shelley) describe and rationalize human nature as biologically “brutish and savage” for essential purposes of survival that ultimately portrays human existence into chaos and conflict. In conclusion, the article will recognize the inherent contradiction and relationship between the evolved egoistic needs among individuals that are universal in human nature with the responsibilities and interpersonal needs of civic engagement and cooperation as a fundamental requirement of sustainable human existence within a democratic community.
On the Maintenance of a Scientific Application based on Microservices: an Experience Report

Microservices Architecture has been adopted by several companies to develop applications and replace monolithic ones. Several works point out that this approach supports the design of maintainable software systems. However, none of them presents a quantitative empirical study on the extent of the maintenance support in a real-world application. This work assesses how Microservices Architecture supports software maintenance through an empirical quantitative study of a scientific application built from scratch. We collected data from January 2016 (the beginning of the project) to December 2019, and analyzed 19 microservices, 34 repositories, and 15,408 commits. Then, we present the lessons learned during the project that allowed reaching the assessment results. Our findings may assist practitioners in making architectural decisions and pointing out research opportunities for academics.
Examining Associations Between COVID-19 Experiences and Posttraumatic Stress

COVID-19 has had a profound impact on health and well-being worldwide. There is an increasing need to understand the psychological impact of COVID-19, particularly associations with posttraumatic s...
Effect of Pretreatment Dysphagia on Postchemoradiation Swallowing Function in Head and Neck Cancer.

ObjectivesChemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer can have profound effects on swallowing function. Identification of risk factors for development of swallowing dysfunction after CRT ...
Protein expression and purification of G-protein coupled receptor kinase 6 (GRK6), toward structure-based drug design and discovery for multiple myeloma.

Abstract Human G-protein coupled receptor kinase 6 (GRK6) belongs to the GRK4 kinase subfamily of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase family which comprises of GRK1, GRK2, and GRK4. These kinases phosphorylate ligand-activated G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), driving heterotrimeric G protein coupling, desensitization of GPCR, and β-arrestin recruitment. This reaction series mediates cellular signal pathways for cell survival, proliferation, migration and chemotaxis. GRK6 is a kinase target in multiple myeloma since it is highly expressed in myeloma cells compared to epithelial cells and has a significant role in mediating the chemotactic responses of T and B-lymphocytes. To support structure-based drug design, we describe three human GRK6 constructs, GRK6, GRK6His/EK, and GRK6His/TEV, designed for protein expression in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 insect cells. The first construct did not contain any purification tag whereas the other two constructs contained the His10 affinity tag, which increased purification yields. We report here that all three constructs of GRK6 were overexpressed in Sf9 insect cells and purified to homogeneity at levels that were suitable for co-crystallization of GRK6 with potential inhibitors. The yields of purified GRK6, GRK6His/EK, and GRK6His/TEV were 0.3 mg, 0.8 mg and 0.7 mg per liter of cell culture, respectively. In addition, we have shown that GRK6His/TEV with the His10 tag removed was highly homogeneous and monodisperse as observed by dynamic light scattering measurement and actively folded as exhibited by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The described methods will support the structure-based development of additional therapeutics against multiple myeloma.
Matrix Microcracking Effect on the Structural Response of a Thermal Protection System

The effect of microcracking in the phenolic matrix of a three-dimensional woven thermal protection system (TPS) and resulting material stiffness reduction was studied via a comparison of finite ele...
Partisan Polarization and Resistance to Elite Messages: Results from a Survey Experiment on Social Distancing

COVID-19 has compelled officials to institute social distancing policies, shuttering much of the economy. At a time of low trust in government and high political polarization, Americans may only support such disruptive policies if recommended by politicians of their own party. A related concern is that some Americans may resist advice coming from "elite" sources such as government officials, public health experts, or the news media. We test these possibilities using novel data from an April 2020 online survey of 1,912 Pennsylvania residents. We uncover partisan differences in views on several coronavirus-related policies. Yet overall, respondents report strong support for social distancing policies and high levels of trust in medical experts. Moreover, a survey experiment finds no evidence of more negative reactions to or less support for social distancing policies when they are advocated by elites, broadly defined. Instead, respondents over 65 prove more likely to adopt expert-advocated positions.
Could EEG Monitoring in Critically Ill Children Be a Cost-effective Neuroprotective Strategy?

Purpose Electrographic status epilepticus (ESE) in critically ill children is associated with unfavorable functional outcomes, but identifying candidates for ESE management requires resource-intense EEG monitoring. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to estimate how much ESE identification and management would need to improve patient outcomes to make EEG monitoring strategies a good value. Methods A decision tree was created to examine the relationships among variables important to deciding whether to perform EEG monitoring. Variable costs were estimated from their component parts, outcomes were estimated in quality-adjusted life-years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated to compare the relative values using four alternative EEG monitoring strategies that varied by monitoring duration. Results Forty-eight hours of EEG monitoring would be worth its cost if ESE identification and management improved patient outcomes by ≥7%. If ESE identification and management improved patient outcomes by 3% to 6%, then 24 or 48 hours of EEG monitoring would be worth the cost depending on how much decision makers were willing to pay per quality-adjusted life-year gained. If ESE identification and management improved outcomes by as little as 3%, then 24 hours of EEG monitoring would be worth the cost. Conclusions EEG monitoring has the potential to be cost-effective if ESE identification and management improves patient outcomes by as little as 3%.