cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radial thermoelectric generator fabricated from n- and p-type conducting polymers

Electrically conducting polymers are attractive for thermoelectric generators (TEGs) because of their low thermal conductivity and solution processability. In this article, we report on the performance of a radial device made from n- and p-type polymers printed on paper substrates. Our thermoelectric (TE) models predict an optimized geometry for a radial device that operates under natural convective cooling alone, and herein, we report on the fabrication and performance of this new organic TEG. We used poly(nickel-1,1,2,2-ethenetetrathiolate) blended with poly(vinylidene fluoride)/dimethyl sulfoxide as the n-type material and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) with Tellurium nanowires as the p-type materials coated on paper to evaluate the TE performance. The radial TEG produced an open-circuit voltage of 85 mV and a power density of 15 nW/cm2 under a 45-K temperature difference. This proof of concept was the first demonstration of a polymer-based radial TEG that accommodated a hot pipe as the heat source and did not require active cooling because of heat spreading. This is promising for scalable and low cost TE devices for self-powered sensor networks. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44060.
Genetic divergence in the transcriptional engram of chronic alcohol abuse: A laser-capture RNA-seq study of the mouse mesocorticolimbic system.

Abstract Genetic factors that influence the transition from initial drinking to dependence remain enigmatic. Recent studies have leveraged chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) paradigms to measure changes in brain gene expression in a single strain at 0, 8, 72 h, and even 7 days following CIE. We extend these findings using LCM RNA-seq to profile expression in 11 brain regions in two inbred strains – C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) – 72 h following multiple cycles of ethanol self-administration and CIE. Linear models identified differential expression based on treatment, region, strain, or interactions with treatment. Nearly 40% of genes showed a robust effect (FDR p
Strangers With Benefits: Attraction to Outgroup Men Increases as Fertility Increases Across the Menstrual Cycle

Research typically reveals that outgroups are regarded with disinterest at best and hatred and enmity at worst. Working from an evolutionary framework, we identify a unique pattern of outgroup attraction. The small-group lifestyle of pre-human ancestors plausibly limited access to genetically diverse mates. Ancestral females may have solved the inbreeding dilemma while balancing parental investment pressures by mating with outgroup males either via converting to an outgroup or cuckolding the ingroup. A vestige of those mating strategies might manifest in human women as a cyclic pattern of attraction across the menstrual cycle, such that attraction to outgroup men increases as fertility increases across the cycle. Two studies, one using a longitudinal method and the other an experimental method, evidenced the hypothesized linear relationship between attraction to outgroup men and fertility in naturally cycling women.
A Nested Approach to the Right to Food: Food Security, Gender Violence, and Human Rights

First paragraph: The six contributed chapters in Gender, Nutrition, and the Human Right to Adequate Food: An Inclusive Framework bring public policy, political economy, and gender equity together to create an inclusive framework for food system reform. Uniting human rights, gender discrimination, and food sovereignty, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of the complex intersections between food and nutritional justice, as well as structural poverty and violence. The text is a product of the collabo­rative effort between the Gender Nutrition Rights (GNR) university-based research group and two international nongovernmental organizations, FIAN International and the Geneva Infant Feed­ing Association (GIFA), as part of ongoing efforts to “contribute to the capacity and momentum for action and human rights enforceability through the full engagement and self-determination of all women and men in the pursuit of nutritional well-being, with human dignity” (p. xxix). Together, the analyses presented in Gender, Nutrition, and the Human Right to Adequate Food add necessary depth to the consideration of patterns in food insecurity and gender violence, barriers to the full realization of a human right to food, and structural discon­nects in the theory and practice of gender security and nutritional access.
Perpetration of Adolescent Dating Relationship Abuse: The Role of Conditional Tolerance for Violence and Friendship Factors

Research has pointed to the salience of friendships in predicting abuse in adolescent dating relationships. The current study investigates the perpetration of physical and sexual dating abuse as predicted by individual conditional tolerance for dating abuse within the context of friendship behaviors and group characteristics. Using two waves of the National Survey of Teen Relationships and Intimate Violence (STRiV; N = 511 daters aged 12-18 years), we investigated the effects of baseline individual tolerance for hitting dating partners and friendship factors on perpetration of physical and sexual adolescent dating abuse (ADA) approximately 1 year later. Conditional tolerance for hitting boyfriends was associated with ADA perpetration in the absence of friendship characteristics. Daters who reported recent discussion of a problem with friends and female daters who named all-girl friendship groups were more likely to report ADA perpetration. Close friendships are an avenue for preventing ADA perpetration. Furthermore, ADA perpetration may be reduced by targeting conditional tolerance for violence particularly against male partners within female friendship groups.
The impact of Glasgow Coma Scale–age prognosis score on geriatric traumatic brain injury outcomes

Abstract Background As the population ages, increasing number of geriatric patients sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI). Communication of accurate prognostic information is crucial for making informed decisions on behalf of such patients. Therefore, the aim of our study was to develop a simple and clinically applicable tool that accurately predicts the prognosis in geriatric TBI patients. Methods We performed a 1-y (2011) retrospective analysis of isolated geriatric TBI patients (age ≥65 y, head abbreviated injury score [AIS] ≥ 3, and other body AIS Results A total of 8750 geriatric patients with TBI were included. Mean age was 77.8 ± 7.1 y, the median (interquartile range) GCS was 15 (13-15), and the median (interquartile range) head AIS was 4 (3-4). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 12.7%, and 34.2% of the patients were discharged home. As the GAP score increased, the mortality rate increased and discharge to-home decreased. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis revealed excellent discriminatory power for mortality (area under the curve: 0.826). Above a GAP score of 12, the mortality rate was >50% and more than 45% of the patients were discharged to Rehab/skilled nursing facility. Conclusions For geriatric patients with TBI, a simple GAP score reliably predicts outcomes. A score above 12 results in a drastic increase in mortality and an adverse discharge disposition. This simple tool may help clinicians provide accurate prognostic information to patients' families.
Modulation and control of a single-stage HVDC/AC solid state transformer using modular multilevel converter

At high voltage and power levels in utility-scale applications, transformers are needed to step-down grid voltages for integrating renewables and motors. A novel single-stage solid state transformer (SST) interface using modular multilevel converter (MMC) is proposed to interface a low voltage machine with a high voltage DC grid. Due to its modular structure, the high voltage side is easily scalable. This interface has sinusoidal voltages with low dV/dt and sinusoidal currents resulting in low magnetic losses in the high frequency transformer. The machine connected converter is a single-stage matrix converter. At low machine speeds, an advanced control approach is proposed which shifts the control of generating adjustable magnitude voltages at the machine terminals to the MMC on the high voltage side of the transformer. This results in reduced voltage stress across the transformer, matrix converter and the machine and further reduction in losses to boost system efficiency at light load conditions. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed modulation and control.
Myofascial face pain. Clinical characteristics of those with regional vs. widespread pain.

ABSTRACT Background The authors conducted a study to determine whether there are differences in salient clinical characteristics between patients who have both myofascial face pain, or MFP, and comorbid fibromyalgia, or FM, and patients who have MFP but not FM. Methods The authors enrolled in the study 162 female subjects who had histories of MFP. In physical examinations at the time of initial consultation, they recorded facial pain signs and symptoms. At the research interview follow-up (seven years postconsultation), participants were screened for a lifetime history of FM and other health problems. In addition, psychiatric interviewers conducted the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition–Revised, to assess each patient's history of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Results Of the 162 participants, 38 (23.5 percent) reported a history of FM. At the time of treatment for MFP, both the FM and non-FM groups had similar signs and symptoms of MFP. At the time of the research interview follow-up, participants with FM histories were significantly less likely than those without FM histories to report that they were free of MFP. On recall, those with FM histories reported experiencing more symptoms of MFP. Those with FM histories also were more likely to have had major depression and to report somatization symptoms. Finally, those who had FM more commonly had a history of facial pain's interference with social and occupational functioning and had more severe pain than did those without FM. Conclusions Patients who have MFP and a history of widespread pain suggestive of FM are likely to have more persistent and debilitating MFP and to have higher rates of depression and somatization symptoms than those who have no history of widespread pain.
Distinguishing d- and l-aspartic and isoaspartic acids in amyloid β peptides with ultrahigh resolution ion mobility spectrometry.

While α-linked amino acids in the L-form are exclusively utilized in mammalian protein building, β-linked and D-form amino acids also have important biological roles. Unfortunately, the structural elucidation and separation of these different amino acid types in peptides has been analytically challenging to date due to the numerous isomers present, limiting our knowledge about their existence and biological roles. Here, we utilized an ultrahigh resolution ion mobility spectrometry platform coupled with mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) to separate amyloid β (Aβ) peptides containing L-aspartic acid, D-aspartic acid, L-isoaspartic acid, and D-isoaspartic acid residues which span α- and β-linked amino acids in both D- and L-forms. The results illustrate how IMS-MS could be used to better understand age-related diseases or protein folding disorders resulting from amino acid modifications.
Metabolic Signatures in Response to Abscisic Acid (ABA) Treatment in Brassica napus Guard Cells Revealed by Metabolomics

Drought can severely damage crops, resulting in major yield losses. During drought, vascular land plants conserve water via stomatal closure. Each stomate is bordered by a pair of guard cells that shrink in response to drought and the associated hormone abscisic acid (ABA). The activation of complex intracellular signaling networks underlies these responses. Therefore, analysis of guard cell metabolites is fundamental for elucidation of guard cell signaling pathways. Brassica napus is an important oilseed crop for human consumption and biodiesel production. Here, non-targeted metabolomics utilizing gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were employed for the first time to identify metabolic signatures in response to ABA in B. napus guard cell protoplasts. Metabolome profiling identified 390 distinct metabolites in B. napus guard cells, falling into diverse classes. Of these, 77 metabolites, comprising both primary and secondary metabolites were found to be significantly ABA responsive, including carbohydrates, fatty acids, glucosinolates, and flavonoids. Selected secondary metabolites, sinigrin, quercetin, campesterol, and sitosterol, were confirmed to regulate stomatal closure in Arabidopsis thaliana, B. napus or both species. Information derived from metabolite datasets can provide a blueprint for improvement of water use efficiency and drought tolerance in crops.
A Vision and Change Reform of Introductory Biology Shifts Faculty Perceptions and Use of Active Learning

The purpose of this study was to observe the instructional practices used by faculty (N = 10) throughout the 3-year process of curricular reform to determine whether the use of active-learning stra...
Finite element models of wave propagation in embedded vessels with simulated plaques

Carotid plaque vulnerability is difficult to characterize from B-mode ultrasound imaging alone. However, elastographic characterization of plaque mechanical properties may aid in the assessment of vulnerability. As an initial step to understand the complex wave propagation that can occur in plaques, we have developed simulation models that incorporate different shear moduli (μ) of the arterial wall, surrounding medium, and plaque. We explored the wave propagation both in longitudinal and transverse imaging planes.
Rejecting salient distractors: Generalization from experience.

Distraction impairs performance of many important, everyday tasks. Attentional control limits distraction by preferentially selecting important items for limited-capacity cognitive operations. Research in attentional control has typically investigated the degree to which selection of items is stimulus-driven versus goal-driven. Recent work finds that when observers initially learn a task, the selection is based on stimulus-driven factors, but through experience, goal-driven factors have an increasing influence. The modulation of selection by goals has been studied within the paradigm of learned distractor rejection, in which experience over a sequence of trials enables individuals eventually to ignore a perceptually salient distractor. The experiments presented examine whether observers can generalize learned distractor rejection to novel distractors. Observers searched for a target and ignored a salient color-singleton distractor that appeared in half of the trials. In Experiment 1, observers who learned distractor rejection in a variable environment rejected a novel distractor more effectively than observers who learned distractor rejection in a less variable, homogeneous environment, demonstrating that variable, heterogeneous stimulus environments encourage generalizable learned distractor rejection. Experiments 2 and 3 investigated the time course of learned distractor rejection across the experiment and found that after experiencing four color-singleton distractors in different blocks, observers could effectively reject subsequent novel color-singleton distractors. These results suggest that the optimization of attentional control to the task environment can be interpreted as a form of learning, demonstrating experience’s critical role in attentional control.
Enabling low latency and high reliability for IMS-NFV

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) allows service providers to deliver new services to their customers more quickly by adopting software centric network functions implementation over commercial, off-the-shelf hardwares. IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) which is one of the most complex NFV instances requires extremely low end-to-end latency (up to 40 msec), and demands system availability as high as five nines. We discover that highly modular 3GPP standardized IMS network functions implementation over virtualized platform (1) incurs latencies, and (2) does not tolerate faults. NFV-based IMS modules incur high latencies by creating a feedback loop among each other while executing delay sensitive data-plane traffic. These IMS modules are also susceptible to failures, causing the control-plane to terminate the application session while keeping the data-plane to forward data packets. To address these issues, we propose to refactor network function modules. We reduce latencies by pipelining the communication between IMS modules, and achieve fault tolerance by reconfiguring their neighboring modules. We build our system prototype of open source 3GPP compliant IMS over OpenStack platform. Our results show that our scheme reduces latencies and failure recovery time upto 12X and 10X, respectively, when compared to the stat-of-the-art 3GPP compliant virtualized IMS implementation.
Dynamic digital fringe projection technique for measuring the warpage of unpainted PBGA packages and boards

A crucial factor for ensuring the reliability of chip packages is the measurement and control of warpage. The warpage of chip packages, printed wiring boards (PWBs), and PWB assemblies (PWBAs) are typically measured by moire techniques (i.e., shadow moire, laser fringe projection, and digital fringe projection), which have noncontact, full-field, and high-resolution capabilities. The application of moire techniques typically involves spraying a mist of reflective paint on the surface of a sample to ensure the uniformity of surface reflectance and to obtain better fringe image contrast and better sinusoidal waveforms in the fringe patterns for the measurement process. However, since painted samples may no longer be re-used, the process of spray painting is not suited for inline inspection; a new technique for measuring warpage without painting is required. In this research, a dynamic digital fringe projection (DDFP) technique for measuring the warpage of unpainted plastic ball grid array (PBGA) packages and boards was developed. The DDFP technique dynamically determines proper fringe intensity distributions for PBGA packages and PWBs and uses them to produce a better fringe image contrast and better sinusoidal waveforms without painting. Experimental results showed that the DDFP technique successfully measures the warpage of PBGA packages and PWBs in unpainted PWBAs accurately.
Reproductive and foraging success of the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) in relation to vegetation height

ABSTRACT Habitat type can dramatically affect wildlife by influencing availability of resources (such as food) or behavior, which in turn can impact reproductive output. Human-dominated areas with short grass, such as golf courses, can provide habitat for wildlife but may have reduced arthropod abundance, which can lower habitat quality for birds. We investigated food availability, foraging behavior, and reproductive success of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) nesting in areas with relatively short grass (primarily golf courses) and in nearby fields with taller grass (natural areas) in Wisconsin, USA. We found that areas with shorter grass had significantly lower arthropod biomass. When foraging, bluebirds made more successful prey captures at sites with short grass, but individual foraging success did not influence fledging success or number of broods. Overall, no differences were found between areas with short grass and tall grass in terms of the number of eggs laid or young fledged. The results of thi...
Banquet Address: Education for Ecologically Sustainable Development

The Biosphere is the basic life support system of the planet upon which all biological, social, economic activity is dependent. The choice is not between preserving ecological systems or preserving economic systems. For as biological and social beings, we need both. The creation of ecologically sustainable societies in every part of the globe is the most critical environmental challenge of our time.
Misconceptions and issues regarding allometric scaling during the drug development process.

Introduction: Allometry is the study of size and its consequences. The simple hypothesis of allometric scaling is that all physiological parameters are proportional to body size or body mass. This ...
3D printing hydrogels with orthogonally tunable mechanical properties (Conference Presentation)

A predominant challenge in tissue engineering is the need of a robust technique for producing structures with precise three-dimensional control of mechanical properties. In an effort to understand how to control the mechanical and chemical properties of materials patterned using stereolithography, this study focuses on the development of a model that allows for orthogonally programmable elastic modulus and geometry in a 3D hydrogel structure. In this study, we use pediatric physeal tissue engineering as a model application. Pediatric physeal injuries can be detrimental to children because damaged cartilage within the physis can lead to assymetric growth arrest. A challenge related to physeal tissue regeneration is the presence of three distinct zones within the physis or growth plate, where cells evolve differently and are known to be sensitive to the mechanical environment. We use a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate based photopolymerization chain-growth reaction with a modulus that can range from 600KPa to 39 MPa to spatially control the mechanical properties in our 3D parts and match the growth plate tissue environment. We apply Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to quantify the degree of monomer conversion over time and intensity, while comparing it with a mechanical model that relates conversion to modulus. To evaluate the spatially controlled mechanical properties in printed structures, nanoindentation is performed to extract the modulus in each biomimetic zone. In this work we present the implementation of both a gradual change in mechanical properties, as well as a step function in 3D scaffolds on the order of 100 microns. This work enables predictive models of structural properties that can be translated into tissue engineering microstructures that match the native biomechanical environment of any tissue.
The role of syntactic representations in set theory

In this paper, we explore the role of syntactic representations in set theory. We highlight a common inferential scheme in set theory, which we call the Syntactic Representation Inferential Scheme, in which the set theorist infers information about a concept based on the way that concept can be represented syntactically. However, the actual syntactic representation is only indicated, not explicitly provided. We consider this phenomenon in relation to the derivation indicator position that asserts that the ordinary proofs given in mathematical discourse indicate syntactic derivations in a formal logical system. In particular, we note that several of the arguments against the derivation indicator position would seem to imply that set theorists could gain no benefits from the syntactic representations of concepts indicated by their definitions, yet set theorists clearly do.
Proteomic alterations of HDL in youth with type 1 diabetes and their associations with glycemic control: a case–control study

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) typically have normal or even elevated plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations; however, HDL protein composition can be altered without a change in cholesterol content. Alteration of the HDL proteome can result in dysfunctional HDL particles with reduced ability to protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this study was to compare the HDL proteomes of youth with T1DM and healthy controls (HC) and to evaluate the influence of glycemic control on HDL protein composition. This was a cross-sectional case–control study. Blood samples were obtained from patients with T1DM and HC. HDL was isolated from plasma by size-exclusion chromatography and further purified using a lipid binding resin. The HDL proteome was analyzed by mass spectrometry using label-free SWATH peptide quantification. Samples from 26 patients with T1DM and 13 HC were analyzed and 78 HDL-bound proteins were measured. Youth with T1DM had significantly increased amounts of complement factor H related protein 2 (FHR2; adjusted P < 0.05), compared to HC. When patients were analyzed based on glucose control, several trends emerged. Some proteins were altered in T1DM and not influenced by glycemic control (e.g. FHR2) while others were partially or completely corrected with optimal glucose control (e.g. alpha-1-beta glycoprotein, A1BG). In a subgroup of poorly controlled T1DM patients, inter alpha trypsin inhibitor 4 (ITIH4) was dramatically elevated (P < 0.0001) and this was partially reversed in patients with optimal glucose control. Some proteins including complement component C3 (CO3) and albumin (ALB) were significantly different only in T1DM patients with optimal glucose control, suggesting a possible effect of exogenous insulin. Youth with T1DM have proteomic alterations of their HDL compared to HC, despite similar concentration of HDL cholesterol. The influence of these compositional changes on HDL function are not yet known. Future efforts should focus on investigating the role of these HDL associated proteins in regard to HDL function and their role in CVD risk in patients with T1DM. Trial registration NCT02275091
Doing Race in Social Studies: Critical Perspectives

How teachers embrace cultural relevant pedagogies while discussing race in the social studies classroom is often a daunting task for teachers. Due to often strict interpretation and implementation ...
A Combination of N-Acetylcysteine and Prednisone Has No Benefit Over Prednisone Alone in Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis: A Retrospective Analysis

In this study, we assessed whether there were any survival advantages with a combination treatment of intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and prednisone over prednisone alone in those with severe alcoholic hepatitis [discriminant function (DF) ≥ 32]. Between January 1, 2013, and February 28, 2019, we identified 68 patients (mean age 47.2 years ± 10.1, 57% women, 65% cirrhosis, MELD score 28.1 ± 6.6) with alcoholic hepatitis, and of those, 21 (31%) received prednisone and 47 (69%) received prednisone + NAC. Lille score ≥ 0.45 was considered a poor response. Renal insufficiency was defined as GFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2 calculated on two separate occasions. DF (74.2 ± 33.6 vs. 56.9 ± 15.9, p = 0.09) was similar, but MELD (29.2 ± 6.3 vs. 25.5 ± 6.4, p = 0.03) scores were higher in the combination group. The overall 30-day and 90-day mortality was 13.2% (9/68) and 20.6% (14/68), respectively. Women were more likely (OR 4.86, 95% CI 1.62–14.59) to respond to treatment based on Lille score compared to men, but the type of treatment regimen had no effect on Lille score (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.25–2.78). Treatment regimen had no effect on both adjusted and unadjusted survivals. Multivariate analysis, after adjusting for confounding variables, confirmed these observations. DF + renal insufficiency had the highest AUROC (0.86) to predict mortality. The combination treatment of NAC + prednisone is not better than prednisone alone in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis.
Chapter 2 – Osteoblast Biology

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the cell biology of osteoblasts within the content of current understanding of the regulatory controls operative in promoting osteoblast differentiation. It specifically addresses how physiologic parameters of gene expression are integrated to support the requirements of bone development and functional integrity of the tissue. During osteoblast phenotype development and bone formation, stages of maturation are defined by levels of expression of subsets of osteoblast genes. A cohort of tissue- specific, developmental, steroid hormone and growth factor-related transcription factor complexes impinge on gene transcription, providing a complex and integrated series of regulatory signals for the selective activation and repression of genes related to osteoblast activity. Additionally, the effects of a hormone or growth factor on expression of a specific gene are related to the phenotype as well as the stage of cellular maturation because of the different representation of proteins that contribute to gene regulation. Therefore, clinical consideration for treatment and therapeutic regimens can be approached with greater knowledge of the consequential effects at the level of gene-regulating responses. This chapter also presents a growing body of evidence for cross-talk at all levels of bone biology: among the subpopulations of bone cells, between the extracellular matrix and intracellular signaling factors, and finally, at the DNA level between transcription factor complexes at multiple elements. Such interactions and complexities need to be considered in future applications of therapeutic strategies.
Spatial Memory for Configurations by Congenitally Blind, Late Blind, and Sighted Adults:

Congenitally and late blinded and blindfolded sighted adults were compared on their ability to point to locations on simple finger T-mazes without following the previously learned maze path. Locali...
Analysis of surveillance results of iodine deficiency disorders in Jiangxi Province during 2005-2008

Objective To investigate the fluctuation of the iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) through continuous monitoring on it. Methods During 2005-2008, 10 monitoring countis (city,district) of IDD were selected in Jiangxi Province. Five townships were selected in each monitoring county, one school was selected in each townships, and 40 students in 8-10 years old from each school were selected to inspect their thyroid glands and determined the idodine content of salts from their home. Among the 40 students, 20 of which were selected to determine the intelligence quotient(IQ) and 6 of which were selected to determine urine iodine. Thirty pregnant women were also selected to determine the urine iodine in each monitoring county. Twenty students of 5th grade in each school and 5 housewives living nearby the school were selected to carry out the questionnaire survey of health education about IDD. Results Monitoring results showed the average goiter rote of 8-10 years old students was between 2.00% and 4.60% during 2005-2008. The rate of IQ of the students higher than 90 was all above 76% each year. The median of urine iodine of students and pregnant women was higher than 100 μg/L, and the proportion of people whose urine iodine content was lower than 50 μg/L was below 4% each year. The rate of inhabitant taking qualified idodine salt wasn't lower than 95%. The pass rate of the questionnaire survey of health education about IDD was between 11.67% and 43.50% in students and 92.50%-99.60% in housewives. Conclusions The situation of iodine deficiency in Jiangxi Province has been greatly improved, reaching the standard of eliminating IDD. Key words: Iodine; Deficiency disorders; Epidemiological monitoring; Outcome assessment
1H, 15N, and 13C backbone resonance assignments of the C4b-binding region from the S. aureus extracellular adherence protein

The Extracellular Adherence Protein (Eap) from Staphylococcus aureus is a potent inhibitor of the classical and lectin pathways of the complement system. Previous studies have shown that Eap binds with nanomolar affinity to complement component C4b and prevents C4b binding the pro-protease, C2, thereby inhibiting formation of the pro-C3 convertase shared by the classical and lectin pathways (Woehl et al. in J Immunol 193:6161–6171, 2014). The C4b-binding and complement-inhibitory properties of Eap from S. aureus strain Mu50 lie within the two C terminal-most Eap domains (i.e. Eap34) (Woehl et al. J Immunol 193:6161–6171, 2014). Interestingly, Eap34 binds C4b with an apparent KD that is nearly 100-fold tighter than that of either Eap3 or Eap4 alone (Woehl et al. in Protein Sci 26:1595–1608, 2017). This suggests that linking these two domains into a single molecule is a significant determinant of Eap function. To better understand this property at the structural level, we undertook a solution NMR study of the ~ 23 kDa Eap34 protein. In this communication, we report that greater than 98% of the total non-proline backbone residues have been assigned. These data have been deposited in the BMRB database under the accession number 50210.
Pre-existing health conditions and severe COVID-19 infection: Analysis of commercial health insurance data from 690,000 infected patients

The development and distribution of new vaccines promises an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the elderly and front line workers first in line, the vaccination strategy for the general population remains unclear. In this study we identified 690,000 patients infected with COVID-19 with commercial health insurance coverage across the country between April 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020. From prior health care claims, we determined each persons pre-existing diseases among 26 common chronic diseases. Across age-sex strata we determined the relationships between these conditions and severe COVID-19 infections: ICU admission and extended in-patient stay. We classify disease according to risk, develop multivariable models to predict infection outcomes, and created an online risk assessment tool to estimate risk of ICU admission based on pre-existing health conditions. Our results could be used to help guide risk, vaccination health policy, and personal decision-making as these become available to the general population.
Rare brain metastasis with unusual characteristics in a late recurrence of stage IIIA uterine papillary serous carcinoma

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is a rare endometrial neoplasm with high mortality rates. While the malignancy has often metastasized to distant organs by the time of diagnosis, brain les...
New aspects of working with scientific data: a study with practicing scientists and science teachers

Background: New technology and increased collaboration have revolutionized how scientists work with data. This creates a need to identify new aspects of working with scientific data that are import...
An Efficient One-Step Moment Balancing Algorithm for Computing Medial and Lateral Knee Compartment Contact Forces

The knee adduction moment is associated with the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). The adduction moment reflects the net effect of muscles, passive tissues and bone-on-bone contact forces. Medial compartment OA is more common than lateral and therefore our ability to correctly partition bone-on-bones forces across the medial and lateral compartments is key to understanding mechanical factors associated with the onset and progression of knee OA. In this technical brief we present an efficient one-step moment balancing algorithm linking the sagittal and frontal planes in the determination of musculotendon forces. Novel to the one-step approach is the introduction of a penalty function limiting total compressive force from acting in the lateral compartment when the internal moment is net abduction (i.e., external knee adduction). Medial and lateral knee contact forces were computed using the one-step moment balancing algorithm for 10 subjects walking at a self-selected pace and compared to values determined using a well-established two-step frontal moment balancing approach. Overall, average peak differences in magnitude and timing were small and the ensemble-averaged contact force profiles were similar between methods. The only statistical difference was slightly larger (0.2 BWs) peak medial contact force for the one-step method during the first half of stance, however these differences are small relative to peak values and would not likely alter interpretation of the data. The 1-step moment balancing method is a more efficient methodology for computing medial and lateral knee contact forces that can be used in place of two-step frontal plane moment balancing.
Partitions into Primes

We investigate the asymptotic behavior of the partition function PA(n) defined by ??0PA(n)Xn = fJ1 (1-Xm)-A(m), where A(n) denotes the von Mangoldt function. Improving a result of Richmond, we show that logpA(n) = 2( (2)n + O(?nexp{-c(logn)(1og2 n2/3(1og3 n) -1/3}), where c is a positive constant and logk denotes the k times iterated logarithm. We also show that the error term can be improved to 0(n1/4) if and only if the Riemann Hypothesis holds.
Capital and Control: Lessons from Malaysia

The authors argue that what success Malaysia had in implementing capital controls recently will rarely work in other nations. If controls are to be adopted, they must be agreed to multilaterally.
Efectos del árido sobre ciertas propiedades del hormigón de cemento

This paper provides a concise description of the main effects due to the aggregate on the behaviour of hardened Portland cement concretes. The effects of strength, elasticity, chemical composition, size and surface of the aggregates are discussed. The properties of the hardened concrete which are taken into account are the compression and bending strength, surface wear and friction coefficient.
Genetic algorithms for changing environments

Genetic algorithms perform an adaptive search by maintaining a population of candidate solutions that are allocated dynamically to promising regions of the search space. The distributed nature of the genetic search provides a natural source of power for searching in changing environments. As long as sufficient diversity remains in the population the genetic algorithm can respond to a changing response surface by reallocating future trials. However, the tendency of genetic algorithms to converge rapidly reduces their ability to identify regions of the search space that might suddenly become more attractive as the environment changes. This paper presents a modification of the standard generational genetic algorithm that is designed to maintain the diversity required to track a changing response surface. An experimental study shows some promise for the new technique.
Combined genetic assessment of transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway variants may predict breast cancer risk

There is growing evidence that common variants of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway may modify breast cancer risk. In vitro studies have shown that some variants increase TGF-beta signaling, whereas others have an opposite effect. We tested the hypothesis that a combined genetic assessment of two well-characterized variants may predict breast cancer risk. Consecutive patients (n = 660) with breast cancer from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) and healthy females (n = 880) from New York City were genotyped for the hypomorphic TGFBR1*6A allele and for the TGFB1 T29C variant that results in increased TGF-beta circulating levels. Cases and controls were of similar ethnicity and geographic location. Thirty percent of cases were identified as high or low TGF-beta signalers based on TGFB1 and TGFBR1 genotypes. There was a significantly higher proportion of high signalers (TGFBR1/TGFBR1 and TGFB1*CC) among controls (21.6%) than cases (15.7%; P = 0.003). The odds ratio [OR; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)] for individuals with the lowest expected TGF-beta signaling level (TGFB1*TT or TGFB1*TC and TGFBR1*6A) was 1.69 (1.08-2.66) when compared with individuals with the highest expected TGF-signaling levels. Breast cancer risk incurred by low signalers was most pronounced among women after age 50 years (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.01-4.16). TGFBR1*6A was associated with a significantly increased risk for breast cancer (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.04-2.06), but the TGFB1*CC genotype was not associated with any appreciable risk (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.63-1.21). TGFBR1*6A effect was most pronounced among women diagnosed after age 50 years (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.25-3.87). This is the first study assessing the TGF-beta signaling pathway through two common and functionally relevant TGFBR1 and TGFB1 variants. This approach may predict breast cancer risk in a large subset of the population.
BARTER: Profile Model Exchange for Behavior-Based Access Control and Communication Security in MANETs

There is a considerable body of literature and technology that provides access control and security of communication for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) based on cryptographic authentication technologies and protocols. We introduce a new method of granting access and securing communication in a MANET environment to augment, not replace, existing techniques. Previous approaches grant access to the MANET, or to its services, merely by means of an authenticated identity or a qualified role. We present BARTER, a framework that, in addition, requires nodes to exchange a model of their behavior to grant access to the MANET and to assess the legitimacy of their subsequent communication. This framework forces the nodes not only to say who or what they are, but also how they behave. BARTER will continuously run membership acceptance and update protocols to give access to and accept traffic only from nodes whose behavior model is considered “normal” according to the behavior model of the nodes in the MANET. We implement and experimentally evaluate the merger between BARTER and other cryptographic technologies and show that BARTER can implement a fully distributed automatic access control and update with small cryptographic costs. Although the methods proposed involve the use of content-based anomaly detection models, the generic infrastructure implementing the methodology may utilize any behavior model. Even though the experiments are implemented for MANETs, the idea of model exchange for access control can be applied to any type of network.
ON THE ABILITY OF BIRTH DEFECTS MONITORING TO DETECT NEW TERATOGENS

Recent concerns have been raised about the ability of birth defects monitoring programs to detect increases in the incidence of birth defects following the introduction of new teratogens. The authors illustrate how most monitoring programs in the United States and Europe are limited in their ability to detect new teratogens because of a combination of parameters: the small population size, the low population frequency of exposure to the new teratogen, the weakness of many suspected teratogens (measured in terms of relative risk R), the low background rate, and the etiologic heterogeneity in the measured defects. In a system that monitors 25,000 births per year, it can be shown that although a new teratogen such as thalidomide (R = 175) can lead to a significant increase in the number of observed cases in 1-2 weeks of monitoring, even strong teratogens such as valproic acid and isotretinoin (R = 20-25) require more than 20 years of monitoring to show a significant increase in the number of cases because of low exposure frequency. Also, most mild to moderate teratogens (R = 2-5) can be totally missed. To improve the ability of birth defects monitoring programs to detect new teratogens, it is suggested that surveillance systems ought to examine subsegments of the population with maximal exposure potential, classify birth defects into more etiologically homogeneous groups, and expand the sample size of the monitored population.
Improving outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation by immunomodulation of the early post-transplant environment

There has been great progress in understanding the alloresponse and the process of immune recovery after stem cell transplantation. Here, we highlight ways in which transplant outcome is determined by unique immunological features of the early post-transplant period that modulate the growth and function of the grafted donor T cells and stem cells. Better understanding of these early events and more detailed knowledge of the phenotype and function of transplanted donor cells facilitate strategies to optimize immune recovery, prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and boost immunity to viruses and leukemia. Approaches that optimize CD34 cell dose, techniques to remove GVHD-reacting T cells by T cell subset selection, suicide gene insertion or selective allodepletion, and the adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T cells have reached the stage of clinical trials. Furthermore, murine transplant experiments indicate ways to prevent GVHD while preserving immune function by depletion of naive cells, T cytotoxic 1 and T helper 1 cells, or by enrichment of regulatory T cells. Many of these approaches appear feasible in clinical transplantation and have yielded promising initial results, but proof that the goal of controlled selective immune reconstitution can be achieved is still awaited.
Graft Position and Pulmonary Function After Single Lung Transplantation for Obstructive Lung Disease

Single lung transplantation (SLT) has become a therapeutic option for the treatment of end-stage obstructive lung disease. Between January 1989 and June 1990, there were 14 patients with end-stage obstructive lung disease who underwent SLT. Eleven of these patients were surviving at 1 year following transplantation. Three of the patients had received left-sided SLT, and eight had received right-sided SLT. In the patients receiving left-sided SLT, the native right lung radiographically appeared to compress the left lung graft. In the patients receiving right-sided SLT, the native left lung did not appear to compress the right lung graft. We hypothesized that right SLT may provide a functional advantage over left SLT for patients with obstructive lung disease. We compared pulmonary function test results before and after transplantation (approximately 3 and 12 months) and compared quantitative ventilation-perfusion lung scan results between the patients with left SLT and those with right SLT. Additionally, we compared graded-exercise test results at 3 and 12 months after transplant between the two groups. Our data revealed no statistical difference in pulmonary function test results or graded-exercise test results between the two groups, although patients undergoing right SLT showed greater increases in FEV1 and forced vital capacity than those undergoing left SLT. Quantitative ventilation and perfusion were greater to the graft in patients receiving right-sided SLT than in patients receiving left-sided SLT, most likely due to the larger size of the right lung. We conclude that there is no functional difference between patients undergoing left or right SLT for end-stage obstructive lung disease.
Guaranteed Convergence of a High-Gain Input Observer Robust to Measurement Uncertainty: Application to ECR Estimation

Abstract The work presented here first briefly outlines a previously-developed high-gain input observer, which uses an auxiliary variable for estimating an un-steady input. The primary focus of this paper is on new results, namely on analysis of the aforementioned high-gain observer, including guarantees for: (1) robustness to measurement uncertainty, and (2) an upper bound on the convergence rate of the estimation error. In addition, this effort outlines a method for selecting the observer gain based on measurement uncertainty, acceptable steady-state errors, and desired estimation error convergence rates. Finally, this strategy is demonstrated in practice for estimation of the effective compression ratio (ECR) for IC engines incorporating flexible intake valve closure modulation. Convergence tests were performed at five operating conditions and the estimator is shown to converge well within the guaranteed rate of four engine cycles in the presence of up to 10% measurement uncertainty, with an average steady-state error less than roughly one half of a compression ratio.