cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin-like Growth Factors and the IGF Binding Proteins: Implications for Bone Biology

Publisher Summary Growth hormone (GH) has distinct effects on the skeleton in terms of both linear growth and bone remodeling. Longitudinal growth results from the activity of GH on the skeleton, particularly at the cartilaginous growth plate. In human bone, proliferating chondrocytes express IGFIRs and are responsive to paracrine insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) secreted by differentiated cartilage cells. GH may also have its own effect on linear growth, independent of IGF-I. IGFs are critical in mediating the GH skeletal response. Remodeling is the sum of several distinct events beginning with activation of lining cells, followed by osteoclast recruitment, osteoblast differentiation, and osteocyte formation. In addition to regulating osteoblast function, several groups have shown that skeletal IGF-I can stimulate osteoclast recruitment and differentiation either directly through the IGF-IR or via RANKL expression. Finally, anti-resorptive agents have been considered as cornerstone therapeutics for osteoporosis. Anabolic agents can directly stimulate bone formation, which might have greater potential than the anti-resorptives to increase bone mass and to decrease fractures. Therefore, there is an emerging interest in developing anabolic agents including PTH, GH, and IGF-I to treat osteoporosis.
A new algorithm for PV firming using three-port micro-converter

With the demand increase for electricity, the ever-increasing awareness of environmental issues, coupled with rolling blackouts, the role of renewable energy generation will become even more significant. Instead of the traditional high-power energy storage and management system at the utility scale to implement PV firming, this paper proposes a new PV (panel-level) firming control algorithm using grid-tie three-port bidirectional converter. The topology with the control algorithm and PV intermittency data collected in real time are discussed and analyzed in MATLAB/SIMULINK. The experimental results verify the proposed PV firming algorithm.
Measurement of Anxiety

Adequate assessment is integral to both clinical work and research on anxiety. Historically, assessment strategies differed between research and clinical prac tice. Quantitative, empirical evaluation using standardized measures was the domain of research, while more limited, idiosyncratic subjective assessments were customary in clinical practice. It is now becoming increasingly evident that idiosyncratic and standardized measurements of anxiety are important to both clinicians and researchers. First, there is more demand for accountability. Whether documenting the need for treatment to third party payers, substantiating treatment gains to funding agencies, or providing empirical dependent measures in research, objective data are increasingly more important.
Diagnostic accuracy of bioimpedance spectroscopy in patients with lymphedema: A retrospective cohort analysis

Summary Background Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) is used by healthcare specialists to diagnose lymphedema. BIS measures limb fluid content by assessing tissue resistance to the flow of electric current. However, there is debate regarding the validity of BIS in diagnosing early lymphedema. Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography has been established as the most accurate diagnostic modality to date for lymphedema diagnosis. In this retrospective study, we test the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of BIS in diagnosing lymphedema by referencing its results with ICG lymphography. Methods Patients presented to the University of Iowa Lymphedema Center from 2015 to 2017 were evaluated with a standardized protocol that included history and physical examination, a validated lymphedema-specific quality-of-life assessment (LYMQOL), circumference –measurement-based index, BIS, and ICG lymphography. Diagnostic accuracy of BIS was assessed using ICG lymphography as a reference test. Results Fifty-eight patients had positive ICG lymphography results, which confirmed the diagnosis of lymphedema. ICG lymphographic findings consistently correlated with clinical examination, LYMQOL evaluation, and lymphedema indices. By contrast, BIS demonstrated a false-negative rate of 36% – 21 out of 58 patients had normal BIS readings, but a positive ICG lymphography result. The 21 false-negative results occurred in patients with early-stage disease. Sensitivity and specificity for BIS were 0.64 and 1, respectively. Conclusion BIS carries an excessively high rate of false-negative results to be dependably used as a diagnostic modality for lymphedema. ICG lymphography highly correlates with other tracking modalities, and it remains the most reliable tool for diagnosing lymphedema.
Long-Term Outcome of Nonfunctioning and Hormonal Active Pituitary Adenoma After Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.

Introduction Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), particularly Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is an established treatment option for residual and recurrent pituitary adenoma tumors. It helps in the preservation of surrounding normal neuronal, vascular, and hormone-producing structures and causes fewer neurologic deficits. The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy and define the role of GKRS in the treatment of nonfunctioning (NFA) and hormonal active (HAA) pituitary adenoma. Methods A retrospective analysis of 111 patients with histologically proven pituitary adenoma who underwent GKRS treatment at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, over a 17-year period was conducted presented. The clinical and radiologic data were collected from the database. The tumors were categorized into NFA and HAA based on the endocrinology profile. The relevant statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS software, version 22.0. Results The median age of the patients was 58 years. The study comprised 87 patients with NFA and 24 patients with HAA tumors. Thirty-eight patients (34.2%) had hypopituitarism symptoms, and 8 patients (7%) had panhypopituitarism symptoms. The mean tumor volume before to GKRS was 3.8 cm3. Suprasellar and cavernous extension of the tumor was noted in 28 patients (25.2%) and 34 (30.6%) patients, respectively. We observed >70% reduction in the size of tumors in the shrinkage cohort after GKRS; the median time for shrinkage was 48.4 months. However, increase in tumor size was noted in the progression cohort (pre-GKRS 3.8 cm3 vs. post-GKRS 6.5 cm3). Seventy patients (63.1%) had neurologic improvement, and 26 patients (23.4%) had endocrinologic worsening after GKRS. Conclusions GKRS plays a significant role in the treatment of NFA and HAA. It affords a high rate of tumor control and offers a low risk of collateral neurologic or endocrine axis injury. Our study shows that control of tumor growth was achieved in 90% of patients, shrinkage of tumor in 54%, and arrest of progression in 36% after GKRS treatment. The biochemical remission rate in growth hormone secreting adenoma was 57%, in adrenocorticotropic hormone adenoma 67%, and prolactinoma 40%. Age below 50 years and tumor volume less than 5 cm3 were associated with a favorable radiosurgical outcome.
A firsthand view of how secondhand smoke disrupts airway immunity

Chronic tobacco smoke exposure exacerbates Haemophilus influenzae infection by disrupting innate and adaptive immune responses in mice.
A German‐Jewish refugee in Vichy France 1939–1941. Arno Motulsky's memoir of life in the internment camps at St. Cyprien and Gurs

Arno G. Motulsky was born in Germany on July 5, 1923 and died in Seattle on January 17, 2018. Through his research, writing, and mentoring, he helped found the fields of human and medical genetics. His contributions as a scientist, physician, and mentor were enormous. His life and contributions are detailed in obituaries published by the New York Times (Grady, 2018), the American Journal of Human Genetics (Jarvik & King, 2018a, 2018b), Genetics in Medicine (Jarvik, in press), The American Journal of Medical Genetics (Obitz, 2018), and the University of Washington (Jarvik & King, 2018a, 2018b). He was born in Fischhausen near Konigsberg, East Prussia to Jewish parents. When the Nazi campaign escalated, his father emigrated to Cuba. At age 16 in 1939, the young Motulsky (with his mother and younger brother and sister) already on a waiting list for a visa to enter the United States, obtained a tourist entry card to join his father in Cuba. With more than 900 other Jewish refugees, the Motulsky family embarked on the ship the MS St. Louis from Hamburg to Havana (Miller & Ogilvie, 2006). On the deck of the St Louis in 1939. The arrow points to Arno. Photo used with permission, AP/Wide World Photo.
Minimally Invasive Techniques in Vascular Neurosurgery

A number of options exist to minimize the invasiveness of surgical intervention for neurovascular disorders. These include techniques such as endovascular therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery, which eliminate or reduce the need for traditional surgical approaches, and surgical adjuncts such as image guidance and microsurgical techniques, which reduce the invasiveness of those traditional surgical approaches.
Purification and characterization of an inducible aromatic amino acid-sensitive form of chorismate mutase from Solanum tuberosum L. tubers☆

Abstract An amino acid-sensitive form of chorismate mutase (CM) has been purified over 1000-fold from disks excised from tubers of Solanum tuberosum L. cv White Rose. Purification was accomplished by chromatography on Matrix Blue A followed by affinity chromatography with tryptophan as ligand. CM assays performed in the absence of tryptophan yielded pH-dependent sigmoidal kinetics. At pH 8.0, sigmoidal kinetics were observed with a Hill coefficient of 1.66 ( S 0.5 = 188 μ M). However, a shift from sigmoidal to hyperbolic kinetics was observed when assays were performed at pH 8.5. Addition of 9 μ m tryptophan to the assay resulted in maximum activation of the enzyme with a K a of 1.2 μ m . When assayed in the presence of tryptophan, hyperbolic kinetics were observed over the pH range 6.0–8.0. Addition of tryptophan also decreased the K m for chorismate from 185 to 45 μ m . Tryptophan (0.1 m m ) completely protected CM from inhibition by phenylalanine (1.8 m m ) and tyrosine (1.8 m m ). However, in the absence of the activator, phenylalanine and tyrosine exhibited 50% inhibition at 0.80 and 0.68 m m concentrations, respectively. Both phenylalanine and tyrosine competitively inhibited CM activity with K i values of 550 and 440 m m , respectively. Arogenate (1.0 m m ) had no effect on CM activity in either the presence or absence of tryptophan. Analytical isoelectric focusing yielded an isoelectric point of 4.73.
PREVENTING A RETURN TO TWILIGHT AND STRAITJACKETS: Using the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as a Starting Point for Evidence-Based Obstetric Reform in the United States

The United States has the most medicalized approach to childbirth of any nation in the world. Women in the United States have a greater lifetime risk of dying due to pregnancy-related complications than women in forty other developed nations. Babies born in the United States have a higher risk of dying within the first months of life than babies born in the forty other countries. Poor outcomes combined with costly, procedureintensive care have been labeled the “perinatal paradox: doing more and accomplishing less.” Inspired by her own pregnancy and childbirth experience, the Author explores this “perinatal paradox” and the state of obstetric care in the United States today; the social policy implications of this most-medicalized approach; and proposes best-evidence based reform using the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as a starting point. The present Article first explores the systematic issues plaguing obstetrics and the maternal experience in the United States, historically and today. Second, it discusses several causal theories including: the practice of defensive medicine, fee-for-service medical reimbursement systems, and for-profit insurance companies and hospitals. Third, it details the legislative history of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), identify several starting points the PPACA provides for evidence-based reform, and then proposes several enhancements to move obstetric care forward. Ultimately the Article promotes the use of best-evidence based care, integrative healthcare information technology systems, greater access to midwives and birth centers, combined with the advances made by PPACA, in an effort to significantly enhance obstetric care in the United States and save the lives of women and babies across the country.
C(sp2)-H Trifluoromethylation of enamides using TMSCF3: access to trifluoromethylated isoindolinones, isoquinolinones, 2-pyridinones and other heterocycles.

A method for the direct C(sp2)–H trifluoromethylation of enamides, including biologically relevant isoindolinones, isoquinolinones and 2-pyridinones using TMSCF3 under oxidative conditions is presented. The protocol is convenient, operationally simple and exhibits high tolerance across a multitude of relevant handles and functional groups.
Brachial Artery Echogenicity and Grayscale Texture Changes in HIV-Infected Individuals Receiving Low-Dose Methotrexate

Objective— We evaluated the biological effects of low-dose methotrexate on 3 novel brachial artery grayscale ultrasound measures that may indicate subclinical arterial injury. Approach and Results—...
Conceptualizing the role of disgust in avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Implications for the etiology and treatment of selective eating

Selective eating is a common presenting problem in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Understanding the etiology of selective eating will lead to the creation of more effective treatments for this problem. Recent reports have linked disgust sensitivity to picky eating, and the field has yet to conceptualize the role that disgust might play in ARFID. Disgust has long been tied to formation of taste aversions and is considered at its core to be a food-related emotion. A brief review of the literature on disgust reveals that disgust has a unique psychophysiological profile compared to other emotions, like anxiety, and that disgust is resistant to extinction procedures. If disgust is implicated in the etiology of selective eating, its presence would have a significant impact on treatment approaches. This article provides an overview of the research on disgust and eating, a clinical example of the treatment challenges that disgust may pose, and an overview of the unique clinical features of disgust as they apply to psychopathology. We pose several research questions related to disgust and selective eating and discuss initial hypotheses for pursing this line of inquiry. Finally, we discuss the possible implications of this line of research for treatment.
Enhanced phosphatidylserine-selective cancer therapy with irradiation and SapC-DOPS nanovesicles.

// Harold W. Davis 1 , Subrahmanya D. Vallabhapurapu 1 , Zhengtao Chu 1 , Swarajya L. Vallabhapurapu 1 , Robert S. Franco 1 , Michelle Mierzwa 2 , William Kassing 2 , William L. Barrett 2 and Xiaoyang Qi 1, 3 1 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Translational Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA 3 Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA Correspondence to: Xiaoyang Qi, email: xiaoyang.qi@uc.edu Keywords: radiotherapy-induced resistance; surface phosphatidylserine-selective; cancer cell death; SapC-DOPS nanovesicles; combined-treatment enhancement Received: August 15, 2018 Accepted: December 29, 2018 Published: January 25, 2019 ABSTRACT Normal living cells exhibit phosphatidylserine (PS) primarily within the intracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane. In contrast, viable cancer cells have high levels of PS on the external surface, and exhibit a broad range of surface PS, even within specific types of cancer. Agents that target surface PS have recently been developed to treat tumors and are expected to be more effective with higher surface PS levels. In this context, we examined whether surface PS is increased with irradiation. In vitro irradiation of cancer cell lines selected surviving cells that had higher surface PS in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This was more pronounced if surface PS was initially in the lower range for cancer cells. Radiation also increased the surface PS of tumor cells in subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice. We found an inverse relationship between steady state surface PS level of cancer cell lines and their sensitivity to radiation-induced cell death. In addition, serial irradiation, which selected surviving cells with higher surface PS, also increased resistance to radiation and to some chemotherapeutic drugs, suggesting a PS-dependent mechanism for development of resistance to therapy. On the other hand, fractionated radiation enhanced the effect of a novel anti-cancer, PS-targeting drug, SapC-DOPS, in some cancer cell lines. Our data suggest that we can group cancer cells into cells with low surface PS, which are sensitive to radiation, and high surface PS, which are sensitive to SapC-DOPS. Combination of these interventions may provide a potential new combination therapy.
Lifting Date Influences the Ability of Auxins to Promote Root Regeneration of Colorado Spruce

Abstract The inability of older conifer seedlings to regenerate new roots after bare-root transplanting can lead to plant death. Lifting date and auxin treatments were evaluated for their effects o...
The Case of Edward Thad: An Ethical Dilemma

Professionals – including physicians – who are suspected of ethical violations may be referred or brought for psychiatric evaluation. Unethical behaviors are associated with several psychiatric diagnoses including narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) which may occur in medical students and residents. The consequences are often significant with implications for the safety of these trainee-patients as well as colleagues and patients. Individuals with NPD may be high functioning and appear superficially competent. The maladaptive consequences of their personality emerge most strikingly in response to narcissistic injury, a criticism, or disappointment that exposes the vulnerability inherent in their sense of self. Such intrapsychic defeats are relatively common during the process of medical training. The resulting behavior is frequently intense rage or alternatively timid withdrawal. Psychotherapy offers potential benefits but is often challenging due to poor patient engagement. Clinicians treating trainees with suspected NPD should be alert to the possibility of antisocial traits which may be incompatible with ideals of the profession of medicine. Team-based care is advised, and collaboration with the trainee’s supervisors may be indicated.
The Pressing Need to Test for Autocorrelation: Comparison of Repeated Measures ANOVA and Interrupted Time Series Autoregressive Models

Neglecting to measure autocorrelation in longitudinal research methods such as Repeated Measures (RM) ANOVA produces invalid results. Using simulated time series data varying on autocorrelation, this paper compares the performance of repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) to interrupted time series autoregressive integrated moving average (ITS ARIMA) models, which explicitly model autocorrelation. Results show that the number of RM ANOVA signaling an intervention effect increase as autocorrelation increases whereas this relationship is opposite using ITS ARIMA. This calls the use of RM ANOVA for longitudinal educational research into question as well as past scientific results that used this method, exhorting educational researchers to investigate the use of ITS ARIMA.
Knockdown Resistance-Associated Mutations Dominate Populations of the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Across the South Central United States

Despite awareness of the mutations conferring insecticide resistance in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), within the United States few studies address the distribution and frequency of these. Within the United States, studies have focused on collections made along the East Coast and Midwest, documenting the occurrence of two mutations (V419L and L925I) within the voltage-gated sodium channel α-subunit gene shown to be associated with knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroids. Here, the distribution and frequency of the V419L and L925I site variants is reported from infestations sampled within Oklahoma and its immediately adjacent states. Additionally, the presence of a mutation previously undocumented in the United States (I935F) is noted. While novel in the United States, this mutation has previously been reported in Australian and Old World populations. No infestations were found to harbor wild-type individuals, and hence susceptible, at each of the three sites. Instead, ~21% were found to possess the resistant mutation at the L925I site (haplotype B), ~77% had mutations at both the V419L and L925I sites (haplotype C), and 2% possessed the mutation at the L936F site (haplotype Ab). The high frequency of haplotype C corresponds to previous studies in the United States, and contrasts dramatically with those of the Old World and Australia. The data presented here provide insight into the contemporary occurrence of kdr-associated insecticide resistance in the South Central United States, a region for which data have previously been absent. These data suggest that New World and Old World/Australian infestations are likely to have originated from different origins.
An Approach to Suspected Invasive Fungal Infection in Patients with Hematologic Malignancy and HCT Recipients with Persistent Neutropenic Fever Despite Mold-Active Prophylaxis

This review offers an approach to managing suspected invasive fungal infection (IFI) in a febrile neutropenic patient with hematologic malignancy or hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) while on mold-active prophylaxis. We take into consideration host characteristics, new diagnostic tools, and available therapeutics. Despite use of anti-Aspergillus prophylactic agents, invasive aspergillosis is the most commonly reported IFI breaking through common prophylactic agents including the newest azole, isavuconazole. While more fungal diagnostic modalities are available, how to best incorporate them in the work-up of IFI remains unclear, while sensitivity of any particular fungal biomarker or molecular test is low. In a febrile neutropenic patient with hematologic malignancy or HCT and suspected IFI, consider particularly invasive aspergillosis, regardless of the mold-active prophylactic agent. Early diagnosis and intervention are especially important to a favorable outcome; treatment is directed based on the suspected IFI syndrome and suspected organism. Switching azoles, consideration of combination therapy, and reducing immunosuppression are proposed strategies for the management of breakthrough IFI, while surgical debridement remains crucial for Mucormycoses. More study is needed into the optimal antifungal approach in these clinical scenarios. Meanwhile, therapeutic drug monitoring and attention to drug-drug interactions are encouraged.
Religion-focused dating apps: A Q methodology study on the uses of mutual

Abstract Dating apps have become an increasingly viable option for individuals seeking interpersonal romantic relationships. While there is significant research regarding user motivation on dating apps such as Bumble, Tinder, and Match.com, there is no published research that discusses the motivations of Mutual app users. Developed as a dating app to target members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Mutual allows users to find potential mates who share their religious background and specify their relationship readiness (from “Into Dating I Guess” to “Ready for a Ring”). This research aims to illuminate the various motivations, attitudes, and opinions of Mutual app users through Q methodology, which identifies perceptual groups among homogeneous populations through a factor analysis of participants’ agreement with similar statements regarding Mutual use. Findings indicated four factor groups: the Relationship Readies (i.e., those serious about dating), the Swipeaholics (i.e., those looking for entertainment), the Faithless (i.e., those who felt pressured to use Mutual), and the Eligible Optimists (i.e., those who saw the app as a convenient, entertaining way to date). Different from other research on dating apps, this study indicates that people may use a niche religion-focused dating app to find individuals with similar moral values or due to external pressure from others. Results warrant further investigation into niche dating apps.
Volatility jumps and their determinants in REIT returns

Abstract This paper examines the roles of jumps in the time series of Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) returns. Using measures of the quadratic variation of high-frequency REIT returns, it documents evidence of jumps in the returns and volatility of returns. Evidence of persistence in the occurrence of jumps is also uncovered. Motivated by these findings, the paper also examines whether a set of financial and macroeconomic state variables can account for the magnitude of jumps seen in the returns and volatilities of REIT indices. By applying linear and threshold regressions, heterogeneous autoregressive volatility, and conditional hazard models on the jump data, it is shown that variations in the magnitude of jumps, the frequency of jumps, and the realized volatilities of REIT returns can be explained by term spread, default spread, VIX, equity market returns, commodity returns, and the U.S. dollar exchange rates.
Fulminant vigabatrin toxicity during combination therapy with adrenocorticotropic hormone for infantile spasms: Three cases and review of the literature

Vigabatrin (VGB), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and prednisone are first-line treatments for infantile spasms (IS). A recent study reported benefits from the use of combination VGB and hormonal therapy over hormonal treatment alone in IS. We describe three patients with IS who developed acute encephalopathy with extrapyramidal symptoms, vigabatrin-associated brain abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (VABAM), and death in one patient shortly after initiation of therapy with VGB and ACTH. A literature review supports increased risk of fulminant, symptomatic VABAM in patients receiving VGB in association with hormonal therapy, raising concerns regarding its safety in IS.
Anti-Sexual Assault Activism and Positive Psychological Functioning among Survivors

In the present study, we examined the links between involvement in anti-sexual assault activism with post-traumatic growth and positive affect among 282 U.S. adult sexual assault survivors. We also explored potential mediators (i.e., self-blame, shame, community connection, meaning in life, trauma coping self-efficacy, and personal control) in these linkages. Results indicated that involvement in anti-sexual assault activism was positively correlated with both post-traumatic growth and positive affect. In addition, our findings revealed that involvement in anti-sexual assault activism was indirectly related to post-traumatic growth via community connection and coping self-efficacy/control (a composite variable) whereas involvement in anti-sexual assault activism was indirectly related to positive affect through meaning in life and coping self-efficacy/control. That is, more involvement in anti-sexual assault activism was related to greater community connection, more meaning in life, and greater coping/control which in turn was associated with more positive psychological functioning. Results of the present study may inform advocacy and support services and clinical interventions with survivors of sexual assault, with an emphasis on how collective action may foster positive mental health outcomes.
The talk about ‘the system’—Clarifying objective performance and subjective perceptions in our economic-political-social systems

In this study, we share a classroom-based project that will be referred to as “the Talk about the system.” The “system” is a loose term used to signify the combination of economic, political, and s...
Serum insulin-like growth factor-1, asthma, and lung function among British adults.

Abstract Background Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, which is in turn associated with asthma. Whether IGF-1 contributes to asthma causation or asthma severity is largely unknown. Objective To evaluate the relation between serum IGF-1 and asthma, asthma outcomes, and lung function in adults. Methods Cross-sectional study of 297,590 adults (aged 40-69 years) who participated in the United Kingdom Biobank, had no diagnosis of diabetes, and were not on insulin. Multivariable logistic or linear regression was used to analyze serum IGF-1 and physician-diagnosed asthma, current wheezing, asthma hospitalizations, and lung function measures (forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], and FEV1 to FVC ratio). Results Serum IGF-1 levels above the lowest quartile (Q1) were significantly associated with lower odds of asthma (adjusted odds ratio for fourth quartile [Q4] vs Q1 = 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-0.91). Among the participants with asthma, IGF-1 levels above Q1 were significantly associated with lower odds of current wheezing (adjusted odds ratio for Q4 vs Q1 = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.83-0.96), but not with asthma hospitalizations. Serum IGF-1 was significantly and positively associated with FEV1 (b = 20.9 mL; 95% CI, 19.1-22.7) and FVC (b = 25.6 mL; 95% CI, 23.4-27.7), regardless of an asthma diagnosis; these associations were significant in men and women, with larger estimated effects in men. Conclusion In a large study of British adults, higher serum IGF-1 levels were associated with lower odds of asthma and current wheezing and higher FEV1 and FVC. Our findings suggest potential beneficial effects of circulating IGF-1 on asthma and asthma outcomes in adults.
Pediatric and neonatal extracorporeal life support: current state and continuing evolution

The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for the pediatric and neonatal population continues to grow. At the same time, there have been dramatic improvements in the technology and safety of ECLS that have broadened the scope of its application. This article will review the evolving landscape of ECLS, including its expanding indications and shrinking contraindications. It will also describe traditional and hybrid cannulation strategies as well as changes in circuit components such as servo regulation, non-thrombogenic surfaces, and paracorporeal lung-assist devices. Finally, it will outline the modern approach to managing a patient on ECLS, including anticoagulation, sedation, rehabilitation, nutrition, and staffing.
Non-state order and strategic communication via symbolic dress in Yemen:

How do people keep order in weak states? Formal institutions provide law and order in rich societies, but are feeble and capricious in much of the developing world. Instead, people turn to informal...
An inverse design approach for broadband polarization splitting

Inverse design has opened up the possibility of achieving high photonic device performances over broad spectral ranges. Recently, we have applied this technique to broadband polarization splitting. By sorting an input polarization state of light into four analyzer directions, the projection onto each of which is focused to a different detector element, we design a device that can reconstruct the polarization state. This concept has been shown with metasurfaces, but over a limited bandwidth. We show simulation results for a wide bandwidth device that efficiently sorts along four polarization directions, achieving high transmission and large contrast between the different states.
Do Electronic Health Record Systems Increase Medicare Reimbursements? The Moderating Effect of the Recovery Audit Program

Electronic health record (EHR) systems allow physicians to automate the process of entering patient data relative to manual entry in traditional paper-based records. However, such automated data en...
Preference evolution in different matching markets

Abstract We examine preference evolution under different matching market arrangements when preferences are influenced by parental preferences and own choices. Multiple stable equilibria arise under sufficiently random matching, but a unique equilibrium exists under sufficiently assortative matching. Mathematically, the dynamical system exhibits pitchfork bifurcation as the degree of sorting varies. Economically, using market-differential evolutionary trajectories after transitory and permanent shocks, we discuss the model’s implications on (i) the effects of marriage-market structure on female labor force participation such as in the United States and Europe after World Wars, (ii) the persistence of gender norms in developing countries with prevalent arranged marriages such as India, and (iii) the long-run impact of a short-run biased sex ratio on gender norms such as in Australia.
Which Quantifiers Are Logical? A Combined Semantical and Inferential Criterion

The aim of logic is to characterize the forms of reasoning that lead invariably from true sentences to true sentences, independently of the subject matter; thus its concerns combine semantical and inferential notions in an essential way. Up to now most proposed characterizations of logicality of sentence generating operations have been given either in semantical or inferential terms. This paper offers a combined semantical and inferential criterion for logicality (improving one originally proposed by Jeffery Zucker) and shows that any quantifier that is to be counted as logical according to that criterion is definable in first order logic.
Characterization of crystal field and nuclear quadrupole interactions in the 5D1 state of 243Am3+ in LaCl3 and CaWO4

Abstract The crystal field splitting and hyperfine energy level structure in the first 5 D 1 excited state of 243 Am 3+ in LaCl 3 and CaWO 4 have been studied using selective laser excitation, Zeeman and spectral hole burning experiments. Two crystal field levels and associated vibronic structures were observed in the electric dipole forbidden 7 F 0 ↔ 5 D 1 transition, that has a very weak magnetic dipole moment. The hyperfine energy level structure, including nuclear quadrupole splitting, was resolved in spectral hole burning studies. The existing free ion and crystal field interaction model provides a consistent interpretation of the observed ordering of crystal field levels and the magnitude of the nuclear quadrupole splitting of 243 Am 3+ in CaWO 4 , whereas a discrepancy between the model and experimental results is encountered for 243 Am 3+ in LaCl 3 . A discussion on the relationship between nuclear quadrupole interaction and free ion modeling is given.
Early educator-supervised student rocketry: The galcit rocket research project, 1936-1939. A tribute to Frank J. Malina

Abstract Dr. Frank J. Malina, (1912–1981) is best known to members of the International Astronautical Federation and the International Academy of Astronautics for his deep commitment to, and active involvement in, both organizations; to his associates at UNESCO for his leadership in organizing the UNESCO Division of Scientific Research; to members of the art world for his kinetic paintings and editorship of the journal Leonardo ; and to aerospace historians for his co-founding, with Dr. Theodore von Karman (1881–1963), of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory with its World War II development of rocket takeoff assist units for aircraft and, after WWII, America's first production sounding rocket, the WAC Corporal. However, Frank Malina has received little recognition from aerospace educators for his equally pioneering efforts on their behalf. This paper highlights Dr. Malina's efforts not only as an early participant in educator-supported student rocketry but also in helping establishing some of the guiding principles of this field of science motivation. As Dr. Malina noted in 1968, upon becoming one of the founding members of the Supervision of Youth Research Experiments (SYRE) subcommittee of the IAF's Education Committee, the fundamental safety and educational ground rules of: (A) qualified supervision, (B) proper safety facilities, and (C) professionally designed equipment, conceived almost fifty years ago, are equally valid to today's supervised youth rocketry space-related experiment educational programs.
Current Perioperative Anticoagulation Practices in Children with Prosthetic Mechanical Heart Valves.

Objective This study investigated the clinician practices on perioperative anticoagulation in children with prosthetic mechanical heart valves who undergo elective surgeries. Design An online survey was administered to members of PediHeartNet. The survey consisted of multiple choice questions and clinical scenarios. Outcome Measures The study described clinical practice patterns and variables that influence the clinicians’ bridging anticoagulation decisions. Results Ninety-one respondents completed the survey; 68% were affiliated with university settings; 91% were pediatric cardiologists, and 49% had ≥10 years of experience in pediatric cardiology. Approximately one-half of the respondents (54%) independently provided perioperative anticoagulation management to their patients, while 46% utilized cardiac or hematology anticoagulation services. Resources that influenced bridging decisions included hematology experts (20%), American College of Chest Physicians guidelines (34%), and the clinicians’ personal experience (56%). In planning for major surgeries, 47% of the respondents hospitalized patients for unfractionated heparin (UFH) and 46% prescribed outpatient low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). For minor surgeries, 58% hospitalized patients for UFH, 22% prescribed outpatient LMWH, and 17% opted out of bridging anticoagulation. Immediately after mitral valve replacement, 23% used bridging anticoagulation with UFH. When LMWH was used, there were no reports of thromboembolic complications. Major bleeding complications were rare and reported by 2% of the respondents. Conclusions This was the first documentation that clinical practice of bridging perioperative anticoagulation in children with mechanical heart valves varies widely among pediatric cardiac specialists. There is poor adoption of published guidelines and a tendency toward more conservative strategies. Further studies comparing the safety and efficacy of LMWH vs. UFH as perioperative anticoagulation agents in children with mechanical heart valves are needed to further clarify our findings. Quality assurance initiatives and education are also needed to improve guidelines adherence and standardize practice management.
Extraplanar Dust: a Tracer of Cold Dense Gas in the Thick Disks of Spiral Galaxies

The interstellar thick disks of galaxies contain not only gas, but significant quantities of dust. Most of our knowledge of extraplanar dust in disk galaxies comes from direct broadband optical imaging of these systems, wherein the dust is identified due to the irregular extinction it produces against the thick disk and bulge stars. This observational technique is sensitive to only the most dense material, and we argue much of the material identified in this way traces a cold phase of the interstellar thick disks in galaxies. The presence of a cold, dense phase likely implies the interstellar pressures in the thick disks of spiral galaxies can be quite high. This dense phase of the interstellar medium may also fueling thick disk star formation, and H-alpha observations are now revealing H II regions around newly-formed OB stars associations in several galaxies. We argue that the large quantities of dust and the morphologies of the structures traced by the dust imply that much of the extraplanar material in disk galaxies must have been expelled from the underlying thin disk.
REDUCTION, SUPERVENIENCE, AND THE AUTONOMY OF SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC LAWS

Many have felt that it is impossible to defend autonomous laws of social science: where the regularities upheld are law-like it is argued that they are not at base social scientific, and where the phenomena to be explained would seem to require social descriptions, it is argued that laws governing the phenomena are unavailable at that level. But is it possible to develop an ontology that supports the dependence of the social on the physical, while nonetheless supporting the explanatory power of genuinely autonomous social scientific laws? The aim of this paper is to show that reductive explanation is not a requirement of a `naturalist' ontology, thereby defending an account of supervenience as a suitable framework within which to recognize a metaphysical relationship between the natural and the social that is consistent with the pursuit of autonomous nomological social scientific explanations.
The k-Disjoint Paths Problem on Chordal Graphs

Algorithms based on a bottom-up traversal of a tree decomposition are used in literature to develop very efficient algorithms for graphs of bounded treewidth. However, such algorithms can also be used to efficiently solve problems on chordal graphs, which in general do not have a bounded treewidth. By combining this approach with a sparsification technique we obtain the first linear-time algorithm for chordal graphs that solves the k-disjoint paths problem. In this problem k pairs of vertices are to be connected by pairwise vertex-disjoint paths. We also present the first polynomial-time algorithm for chordal graphs capable of finding disjoint paths solving the k-disjoint paths problem with minimal total length. Finally, we prove that the version of the disjoint paths problem, where k is part of the input, is $\mathcal{NP}$-hard on chordal graphs.
Multi-Subspace Methods for Motion Segmentation from Affine, Perspective and Central Panoramic Cameras

Many robot navigation tasks require the computation of the motion of multiple objects moving in 3-D space from a collection of images taken by a moving robot. In this paper we present a unifying theoretical framework for both infinitesimal and discrete 3-D motion segmentation from optical flow or point correspondences in multiple affine, perspective or central panoramic views. We exploit the fact that for these motion and camera models, the image measurements associated with a single object live in a low dimensional subspace of a high dimensional space, hence motion segmentation is achieved by segmenting data living in multiple subspaces. We solve this problem in closed form using polynomial fitting and differentiation. Unlike previous work, our method does not restrict the motion of the objects to be full dimensional or fully independent. Instead, our approach deals gracefully with all the spectrum of possible motions: from low dimensional and partially dependent to full dimensional and fully independent. In addition, our method handles the case of missing data, meaning that point tracks do not have to be visible in all images. We test our algorithm on various real sequences with degenerate and nondegenerate motions, missing data, transparent motions, etc. Our algorithm achieves a misclassification error of less than 5% for sequences with up to 30% of missing data points.
The Northern Nadars of Tamil Nadu: An Indian Caste in the Process of Cliange

The Northern Nadars of Tamil Nadu: An Indian Caste in the Process of Cliange. Dennis Templeman. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1996. 284 pp.
Stimulant medications: a trade-off? The lived experience of adolescents with ADHD.

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to gain information and insight about prescription stimulant medication use among children and adolescents with attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across developmental stages. DESIGN AND METHODS. Investigators conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 15 college students with ADHD. Follow-up interviews confirmed and validated information obtained during initial interviews. RESULTS. Qualitative data analysis resulted in three global categories related to the use of prescription stimulant medication from childhood to late adolescence: (a) the early years, (b) “the trade-off,” and (c) stimulant medications in college. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Increased education about prescription stimulant medications and closer management is needed to reduce side effects and minimize the risks of misuse.
Promoting Insightful Problem Solving

This work assessed whether insightful problem solving could be trained. Specifically, we tested whether solutions to a heterogeneous set of verbal insight problems could be promoted. A training scheme was developed to promote the application of mechanisms that underlie the process of restructuring. Training across the five experiments consisted of different combinations of the following training techniques: advance strategic instructions, varying amounts of practice, practice with different types of feedback, and problem comparison. Results from all five experiments showed that training can promote solutions to verbal insight problems. Facilitation effects ranged from a 14%–24% gain in overall solution rates relative to no-treatment controls. This work demonstrated that insightful problem solving could be trained at a relatively high level of generality.
The Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse Victimization in an Adult Sample of Texas Residents

Attempts to identify characteristics of children who have been sexually abused have generally been based on cases reported to clinics, hospitals, law enforcement and social service agencies. In this study a questionnaire was mailed to a representative sample of the adult population in Texas. Child sexual abuse was defined as sexual interaction between a child and an adult or between two minors when the perpetrator is significantly older than the victim or is in a position of power over the victim. A return rate of 53% was obtained. The surveys returned varied from previous studies of the same population in that the respondents were slightly older, more often married and from a slightly higher socioeconomic level. They were, however, closely matched on the variables of sex, race and educational level. Childhood sexual victimization was reported by 7.4% of the respondents. Female victims comprised 82% of this group. The racial/ethnic distribution of victims paralleled that of the Texas census with 77% white, 5% black, and 16% Hispanic. Victimization rates were highest for Hispanic females followed by black and white females in that order. Hispanic and black males reported the lowest victimization rates. Based on these findings, it was estimated that 821,359 adult Texas residents were sexually abused as children. These results were compared with those of other studies along with their implications for policy-making.
Review of rapid eye movement behavior sleep disorders.

The spectrum of rapid eye movement behavior disorders (RBD) spans various age groups, with the greatest prevalence in elderly men. Major diagnostic features include harmful or potentially harmful sleep behaviors that disrupt sleep continuity and dream enactment during rapid eye movement sleep. In RBD patients, the polysomnogram during rapid eye movement sleep demonstrates excessive augmentation of chin electromyogram or excessive chin or limb phasic electromyogram twitching. RBD may be associated with various neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Other co-morbid conditions may include narcolepsy, agrypnia excitata, sleepwalking, and sleep terrors. RBD is hypothesized to be caused by primary dysfunction of the pedunculo-pontine nucleus or other key brainstem structures associated with basal ganglia pathology or, alternatively, from abnormal afferent signals in the basal ganglia leading to dysfunction in the midbrain extrapyramidal area/ pedunculo-pontine nucleus regions.