cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adolescent Loneliness and Health in Early Adulthood

The desire to belong and feel socially connected is a fundamental aspect of human development and well-being. Although there is an extensive sociological literature examining the health implications of social support and social integration along with a growing literature assessing the harmful impact of loneliness (i.e. perceived social isolation) among the elderly (Savikko et al. 2005; Warner and Kelley-Moore 2012), there is a dearth of information regarding the potential health consequences of loneliness relative to other indicators of social integration at earlier life course stages. The omission of early life course loneliness in the sociological literature is somewhat curious because loneliness is an eminently social-psychological construct, reflecting how people experience the communal aspects of their social worlds. Indeed, we know little about the extent to which early life course loneliness influences health during the transition to adulthood or the pathways through which loneliness impacts early adult health. Loneliness may serve as an important, overlooked pre-disease pathway for a range of health outcomes in adulthood. Adolescence is a particularly salient time for understanding the health consequences of loneliness because youth are experiencing various developmental transitions, from biological (i.e. pubertal onset) to social (e.g. transitioning from primary to secondary school). During this developmental stage, youth are also transitioning from their parents to their friends as primary socializing agents (Crosnoe 2000). Such a myriad of transitions can lead to both friendship instability and emotional distress, which could lead to a cascade of health risks over time. Social ties are salient for life course health (Umberson and Montez 2010). For adolescents specifically, both attachment to school and parental support may be key protective factors for mental and physical health during a developmental period when distress is high (Resnick et al. 1997; Giordano 2003). Using data from Waves 1–3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we examine the social and psychological pathways through which loneliness influences early adult depression, self-rated health, and metabolic conditions associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). To this end, our study expands the existing literature by applying a life course perspective to identify the psychological and social risk and protective pathways associated with loneliness in adolescence and health in early adulthood.
Supporting medical communication with a multimodal surface computer

This research explores the utility of a multimodal surface computer for supporting medical communication between older adults and health care providers. Research involves a field study of health care communication practices, the design of a multimodal surface computer application, and an in-context evaluation of the technology at a local retirement community.
Guest Editorial Special Section on Integration of Intermittent Renewable Energy Resources Into Power Grid

The 20 papers in this special issue cover a wide range of important issues in the emerging field, including planning and operations of power systems, hybrid generation systems, distributed generation, microgrid, wind/solar farm design and optimization, and other related topics and emerging technologies.
Kinetics of Barium Titanate Synthesis

Reaction curves were obtained at various temperatures and concentrations for the formation of BaTiO3 from particulate titania in Ba(OH)2 solution. Kinetic analyses were performed by constructing mathematical models which took into account the particle size distribution of the reactant titania for both the topochemically-rate-controlled and the diffusion-rate-controlled reactions. At [Ba(OH)2] > ca. 0.1M the rate-controlling step is the Ba reaction with TiO2 at the interface. The measured activation energy is 105.5 kJ/mol. The rates are independent of Ba(OH)2 concentration, indicating that the TiO2 interface is saturated. At [Ba(OH)2] < ca. 0.1M the rate-determining step shifts to diffusion through the product BaTiO3 layer, the rates are concentration dependent, and the BaTiO3 particle sizes are inversely proportional to the Ba(OH)2 concentrations used.
Models of active galactic nuclei

The organizational device of constructing a unified model of active galactic nuclei is used to summarize recent work on a wide variety of relevant physical mechanisms. It is pointed out that only the grossest characteristics can be accommodated within the scheme. The suggestion is made that the primary properties of active galactic nuclei are basically controlled by three parameters, which can be chosen to be the black hole mass, the accretion rate, and the viewing angle. The radio galaxies are associated with holes which are accreting at levels far below the Eddington rate. The black holes powering radio galaxies are more massive than those in QSOs. The taxonomy of active galactic nuclei is considered along with the enery production by black holes. Emission mechanisms are discussed, taking into account radio sources, the power-law continuum, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. Attention is given to arguments in favor of relativistic beaming. 83 references.
Maximally Clustered Elements and Schubert Varieties

We introduce and study a class of “maximally clustered” elements for simply laced Coxeter groups. Such elements include as a special case the freely braided elements of Green and the author, which in turn constitute a superset of the iji-avoiding elements of Fan. We show that any reduced expression for a maximally clustered element is short-braid equivalent to a “contracted” expression, which can be characterized in terms of certain subwords called “braid clusters”. We establish some properties of contracted reduced expressions and apply these to the study of Schubert varieties in the simply laced setting. Specifically, we give a smoothness criterion for Schubert varieties indexed by maximally clustered elements.
Microglia Function in Central Nervous System Development and Plasticity

The nervous system comprises a remarkably diverse and complex network of different cell types, which must communicate with one another with speed, reliability, and precision. Thus, the developmental patterning and maintenance of these cell populations and their connections with one another pose a rather formidable task. Emerging data implicate microglia, the resident myeloid-derived cells of the central nervous system (CNS), in the spatial patterning and synaptic wiring throughout the healthy, developing, and adult CNS. Importantly, new tools to specifically manipulate microglia function have revealed that these cellular functions translate, on a systems level, to effects on overall behavior. In this review, we give a historical perspective of work to identify microglia function in the healthy CNS and highlight exciting new work in the field that has identified roles for these cells in CNS development, maintenance, and plasticity.
A comparison of quality of care indicators in urban acute care hospitals and rural critical access hospitals in the United States.

Objective Two recent Institute of Medicine reports highlight that the quality of healthcare in the US is less than what should be expected from the world's most extensive and expensive healthcare system. This may be especially true for critical access hospitals since these smaller rural-based hospitals often have fewer resources and less funding than larger urban hospitals. The purpose of this paper was to compare quality of hospital care provided in urban acute care hospitals to that provided in rural critical access hospitals. Design Cross-sectional study analyzing secondary Hospital Compare data. T-test statistics were computed on weighted data to ascertain if differences were statistically significant ( P = 0.01). Setting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hospitals. Participants US Acute Care and Critical Access hospitals. Main outcome measures Differences between urban acute care hospitals and rural critical access hospitals on quality care indicators related to acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia. Results For 8 of the 12 hospital quality indicators the differences between urban acute care and rural critical access hospitals were statistically significant ( P = 0.01). In seven instances these differences favored urban hospitals. One indicator related to pneumonia favored rural hospitals Conclusions Although this study focused on only three disease states, these are among the most common clinical conditions encountered in inpatient settings. The findings suggested that there may be differences in quality in rural critical access hospitals and urban acute care hospitals and support the need for future studies addressing disparities between urban acute care and rural critical access hospitals.
Macrolide-induced hyperthermia in foals: Role of impaired sweat responses.

SummaryReasons for performing study The mechanism of hyperthermia, a potentially fatal adverse effect of erythromycin treatment of foals, is unknown. Objectives To determine the cause of erythromycin-associated hyperthermia. It was hypothesised that the normal sweat response of foals is impaired by treatment with erythromycin. Study design Blinded, crossover study in 10 healthy pony foals. Methods Foals kept in stalls were given either erythromycin (25 mg/kg bwt orally, 3 times daily) or control for 10 days then turned out for a further 10 days. Quantitative intradermal terbutaline sweat tests were performed on Days 1 (baseline), 3, 10 and 20. The effects on terbutaline-induced sweating of erythromycin, terbutaline concentration and treatment day were analysed by repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni-corrected pairwise post hoc comparisons. Peak temperatures were compared by Wilcoxon's signed rank test and proportions by McNemar's related samples test. Significance was set at P<0.05. Results There were significant 2-factor interactions for treatment × terbutaline after baseline, treatment × day at every terbutaline concentration, and day × terbutaline for erythromycin (P<0.001) but not control (P = 0.9) treatment. Sweating was significantly reduced from baseline in erythromycin-treated foals at all subsequent days. Erythromycin-treated foals produced less sweat at all time-points than did control-treated foals (P<0.05). Peak rectal temperatures of erythromycin-treated foals were significantly higher (P = 0.02) than those of controls. During the first 3 days outside more erythromycin-treated than control-treated foals required treatment for hyperthermia (6 vs. 0; P = 0.03). Conclusions We believe drug-induced anhidrosis is the likely cause of hyperthermia in some foals treated with erythromycin.
Impact on energy, sodium and dietary fibre intakes of vegetables prepared at home and away from home in the U.S.A.

Objective To examine how increasing vegetable consumption from foods prepared at home (FAH) and foods prepared away from home (FAFH) would impact energy, dietary fibre and Na (sodium) intakes in the U.S.A. Design Using data from the 2003–2004 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, dietary intake data from two separate days were fitted with a first-difference (fixed-effects) model. Vegetables consumed from all sources, including mixed foods and juices, were disaggregated and expressed as amounts equivalent to one cup of whole vegetables. Setting Nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. Subjects Individuals aged 2 years and above reporting 2 d of dietary intake data in 2003–2004 (n 7647). Results Holding constant the total amount of food consumed, consuming an additional cup of tomatoes and potatoes from FAFH increases energy intake by respectively 1522 and 665 kJ, as compared with 246 and 367 kJ for FAH. Each additional cup of tomatoes from FAH is associated with an additional 179 mg of Na, compared with 113 mg for FAFH. All vegetable consumption increases fibre intake, except for potatoes and tomatoes from FAFH. Dark green and orange vegetables from FAH add the largest amount of fibre (1.38 g/cup). Conclusions Because U.S. consumers frequently consume vegetables as part of mixed foods that add energy and Na, heavier consumption of vegetables as currently prepared raises the energy content and Na density of the overall diet. This is particularly true for vegetables prepared away from home.
Parental Experiences and Beliefs Regarding Inclusive Placements of their Special Needs Children

Parents of children with special needs face many challenges. One of the challenges is the placement of their children in inclusive early childhood education settings. This article explores these challenges and offers practical suggestions regarding the involvement and support of parents of children with special needs in the placement of their children in appropriate educational settings.
Dissection of the anterior abdominal wall and the deep inguinal region from a laparoscopis perspective

The usual dissection by medical students of the anterior abdominal wall and the inguinal region proceeds from superficial to deep; special emphasis is placed on the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle and lateral muscular layers. We suggest an alternate approach to dissection of this region that has the following advantages: (1) sparing of delicate deep structures not often fully appreciated by students; (2) provision of an opportunity to visualize the region from a laparoscopic surgeon's vantage point; (3) considerably reduced time spent dissecting and identifying structures and relationships, especially peritoneal reflections important in laparoscopic procedures. Our dissection begins with bilateral subcostal incisions through the entire thickness of the anterior abdominal wall and peritoneum, which extend laterally and inferiorly to the level of the anterior superior iliac spines, thereby forming a large, inverted, U-shaped flap. This flap is reflected inferiorly, allowing abdominal viscera to be dissected, and ultimately removed en bloc. The flap is then drawn cranially and stretched somewhat to approximate its position when the abdomen is inflated with CO2 during laparoscopic procedures. Major landmarks, including the deep inguinal ring, are noted and the flap is again reflected inferiorly for dissection beginning with the peritoneum and transversalis fascia. This method of dissecting the anterior abdominal wall and inguinal region results in more facile and timely identification of both superficial and deep structures of the anterior abdominal wall and inguinal region, and provides a clinically relevant demonstration of anatomy from a laparoscopic perspective.
The Effect of Size-limited Brood Capacity on Brood Size in a Freshwater Bivalve

Abstract Size limited brood capacity is common among species with hard exoskeletons or shells. In these species, brood size is limited by the physical capacity to hold offspring. Here we present evidence that brood size is limited by physical constraints in Sphaerium striatinum, a small brooding bivalve. Sphaerium striatinum is a sequential brooder and produces offspring throughout the year. Offspring are brooded in marsupial sacs located on the inner demibranch. In an unconstrained brooder one would predict that brood size would increase as a function of adult length cubed, a volumetric relationship. In S. striatinum, brood size increases as less than a function of adult length squared. We demonstrate that brood size is limited by two general constraints: marsupial sacs and the retention of extra-marsupial offspring. The number of marsupial sacs increases as less than a function of adult length squared. This relationship may be a result of physiological process such as feeding and respiration. Offspring ...
INTERINNOMINO-ABDOMINAL AMPUTATIONS

Inteninnomino-abdominal amptitations have been performed in twelve cases at the Mayo Clinic. It may be claimed that the procedure is too radical to be used for benign tumors. However, it has been found repeatedly that osteochondromata and chondromata frequently, if not invariably, recur after local excision, and eventually spread to the point where neither local nor radical excision is possible. In four patients, all of whom had fibrosarcoma or osteogenic sarcoma of a moderate to high grade of malignancy, this was the only procedure which would remove the lesion and offer any hope, slight as it might be. In Cases 1, 3, and 5, recurrences of the tumor developed which could not be operated upon. One patient is well, three years after the operation. The operations on the remainder of the patients have been too recent for any long-range conclusions to be drawn. All of the patients have had a temporary respite from the pain, which has been a symptom common to nearly all of them.
A simplified technique for obtaining purified peripheral lymphocytes from chickens

Abstract A simplified technique for isolating purified avian peripheral lymphocytes using a Ficoll-diatrizoate density gradient is described. The procedure requires only 2 ml. of blood, can be completed in 5 min., and is suitable for the repeated testing of relatively large numbers of birds.
Comparison of the gaze stabilization test and the dynamic visual acuity test in unilateral vestibular loss patients and controls

OBJECTIVE Compare the dynamic visual acuity test (DVAT) and gaze stabilization test (GST) in patients with unilateral vestibular loss (UVL) and healthy control subjects using a novel computerized testing system prototype. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Tertiary academic referral laboratory. PATIENTS Seventeen UVL patients (median age 62 yr) with bithermal caloric asymmetry (≥49%) or ablative surgery and 17 control subjects (median age 57 yr). INTERVENTION(S) Diagnostic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Comparison of DVAT and GST results during self-generated sinusoidal head movements using transient unpredictable target presentations less than 95 milliseconds in duration. RESULTS UVL patients had significantly higher DVAT scores toward the lesioned side compared with controls (p = 0.001) and the non-lesioned side (p = 0.003), but the non-lesioned side was not significantly different from controls (p = 0.157). When comparing GST scores, UVL patients required a slower head velocity to maintain visual acuity with movement toward the lesioned side compared with controls (p < 0.001) and the non-lesioned side (p = 0.004). In addition, UVL patients had significantly lower scores toward the non-lesioned side (p = 0.002) compared to controls. ROC curve analysis identified optimal thresholds for abnormal test results to discriminate the lesioned side from controls. A DVAT score greater than or equal to 0.3 ΔlogMAR provided 65% sensitivity and 88% specificity while a GST score less than or equal to 95 degrees/s provided 71% sensitivity and 100% specificity. When GST results were normal, adding DVAT increased overall sensitivity to 88% with 88% specificity. CONCLUSIONS Both GST and DVAT demonstrated reduced gaze stabilization toward the lesioned side in the patient group compared with normal controls. Performing GST first and utilizing DVAT when GST was normal provides optimal identification of patients with vestibular dysfunction.
Immobilization Index of Liquid LLW in Cementitious Grouts

The ability of grouts formulated from mixtures of cementitious materials and attapulgite clay to immobilize various chemical species in the projected off-gas waste stream from vitrification of Hanford low level tank wastes was studied. Three different solid blends were evaluated, with cement: fly ash: slag: clay weight ratios of 3:3.3:1, 3:0:6:1, and 0:0:9:1. The blended solids were mixed with a simulated low level liquid waste solution containing Na+ NO2-, NO3-, PO43- and OH- ions, in the proportion of 1 liter of solution to 1 kg of solid blend, and were cured either at 22°C (room temperature), 50°C or 90°C. Pore solutions were expressed at various ages and were analyzed to determine the reductions in concentrations of the individual ionic species. The results were expressed in the form of immobilization index (I) calculated for each species. The immobilization indices for Na+ (I Na+ ) and for OH- (I oh-) were similar in each case, and were found to be highest when only slag and clay was present (blend 0:0:9:1). The immobilization index for phosphate, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+- % feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn % hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqr1ngB % PrgifHhDYfgasaacH8srps0lbbf9q8WrFfeuY-Hhbbf9v8qqaqFr0x % c9pk0xbba9q8WqFfea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qqQ8fr % Fve9Fve9Ff0dmeaabaqaciGacaGaaeqabaWaaeaaeaaakeaacaqGjb % WaaSbaaSqaaiaabcfacaqGpbWaa0baaWqaaiaabsdaaeaacaqGZaGa % aeylaaaaaSqabaaaaa!3C9E! $${{\text{I}}_{{\text{PO}}_{\text{4}}^{{\text{3 -}}}}}$$ , was 1 in all cases, i. e. phosphate was completely removed from solution. On the other hand removal of NO2- and NO3- ions was generally ineffective.
Biosynthesis of Cellulose

ABSTRACT Cellulose is synthesized by a large number of living organisms ranging from the bacterium Acetobacter xylinum to forest trees. A. xylinum produces abundant amounts of cellulose and this bacterium has been used as a model system for studies on cellulose biosynthesis and structure of the cellulose product. Cellulose is synthesized by the enzyme cellulose synthase, a membrane protein that catalyzes the direct polymerization of glucose from the substrate UDP-glucose into a cellulose product. Genes for cellulose synthases have been identified from many bacteria, Dictyostelium discoideum, and higher plants. Analysis of the predicted protein sequences has allowed identification of conserved residues in cellulose synthases from different organisms. The conserved residues are found in the globular region of the cellulose synthases. Using site-directed mutagenesis experiments we have shown that the conserved amino acid residues are required for cellulose synthase activity in A. xylinum. Although cellulose synthase activity can be monitored in vitro using membrane fractions from A. xylinum, it is not easy to monitor this activity when membrane fractions from plants are used. We have initiated experiments to analyze cellulose synthases from plants in A. xylinum in an effort to characterize the different cellulose synthases, for example the ones involved in cellulose biosynthesis during primary cell wall formation and those that are active during secondary wall synthesis. A general model describing the possible sequence of events in the cellulose synthase catalytic site will be presented to provide sufficient details not only into the biosynthesis of cellulose but also other polysaccharides.
Sequential Immunization Elicits Broadly Neutralizing Anti-HIV-1 Antibodies in Ig Knockin Mice

A vaccine that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 is likely to be protective, but this has not been achieved. To explore immunization regimens that might elicit bNAbs, we produced and immunized mice expressing the predicted germline PGT121, a bNAb specific for the V3-loop and surrounding glycans on the HIV-1 spike. Priming with an epitope-modified immunogen designed to activate germline antibody-expressing B cells, followed by ELISA-guided boosting with a sequence of directional immunogens, native-like trimers with decreasing epitope modification, elicited heterologous tier-2-neutralizing responses. In contrast, repeated immunization with the priming immunogen did not. Antibody cloning confirmed elicitation of high levels of somatic mutation and tier-2-neutralizing antibodies resembling the authentic human bNAb. Our data establish that sequential immunization with specifically designed immunogens can induce high levels of somatic mutation and shepherd antibody maturation to produce bNAbs from their inferred germline precursors.
Bounded-input iterative learning control: Robust stabilization via a minimax approach

In this paper, we consider the design problem of making the convergence of the bounded-input, multi-input iterative learning controller presented in our previous work robust to errors in the model-based value of the input-output Jacobian matrix via a minimax min-max or 'minimize the worst case' approach. We propose to minimize the worst case largest value of the infinity-norm of the matrix whose norm being less then unity implies convergence of the controller. This matrix is the one associated with monotonicity of a sequence of input error norms. The input-output Jacobian uncertainty is taken to be an additive linear one. Theorem 3.1 and its proof show that the worst-case infinity-norm is actually minimized by choosing either the inverse of the centroid of the set of possible input-output Jacobians or a zero matrix. And an explicit expression is given for both the criteria used to choose between the two matrices and the resulting minimum worst-case infinity norm. We showed previously that the matrix norm condition associated with monotonicity of a sequence of output-error norms is not sufficient to assure convergence of the bounded-input controller. The importance of knowing which norm condition is the relevant one is demonstrated by showing that the set of minimizers of the minimax problem formulated with the wrong norm does not contain in general minimizers of the maximum relevant norm and moreover can lead to a gain matrix that destroys the assured convergence of the bounded-input controller given in previous work. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photoexcited state properties of carbon dots from thermally induced functionalization of carbon nanoparticles

Carbon dots are small carbon nanoparticles with various surface passivation schemes, in which more effective has been the deliberate chemical functionalization of the nanoparticles for brighter fluorescence emissions, even though the synthesis method is more tedious and subject to some limitations in the selection of functionalization molecules. Another more popular synthesis method has been the carbonization of organic species, with the method being more efficient and versatile, but less controllable regarding synthesis and achieving the desired dot structure and performance. In this work, a hybrid approach combining the advantageous characteristics of the two synthesis methods was applied to the preparation of carbon dots using polyethyleneimine (PEI) for surface passivation, where pre-processed and selected small carbon nanoparticles were functionalized with PEI by microwave-induced thermal reactions. Their optical absorption and fluorescence emission properties were evaluated, and the results suggested that the carbon dots thus prepared shared the same photoexcited state characteristics with those from the deliberate chemical functionalization, including comparable fluorescence colors and other properties. A further demonstration of the similarity in photoexcited state properties was based on the same visible light-activated bactericidal functions of the PEI-carbon dots as those found in carbon dots from the deliberate chemical functionalization method. The advantages and potential limitations of the hybrid approach for more controllable yet versatile and efficient syntheses of carbon dots are highlighted and discussed.
Persistence: An interactional ecology of professional authority

This study identifies the components and effects of professional persistence by analyzing video recordings of teachers’ responses to students during genetics learning activities in high-school biology courses. It describes types of persistence that, as responses to digressive questions and comments, support standard communicative agendas embedded in professional culture. Examining persistence elucidates how specific components of interaction sustain conventions of professional culture and consolidate professional authority. The discussion extends the findings to consider how types of persistence apply more generally to various types of professional–client encounters, and how they affect clients’ participation and access to useful information.
Balancing Act: US Foreign Policy and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Vaughn P. Shannon. Burlington, VT, Ashgate (2003), 148 pages

As the Arab-Israeli conflict drags into yet another year of stalemate, with the fighting continuing and people on both sides losing their lives, the United States continues to try and play the part...
Megaproject: A 4-Decade Perspective of the Gulf Development Model

Over the past four decades the Arab Gulf States of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have used megaprojects to promote economic development. Examples include the construction of the physical infrastructure required for oil production, but more significantly, megaprojects to stimulate non-oil sources of growth. This paper examines two of the largest and most significant diversification megaprojects undertaken in the region: the Jubail and Yanbu industrial cities in Saudi Arabia and Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates. We use these megaprojects as case studies to learn whether or how a pre-industrial, natural resource-based economy can deploy oil windfalls into massive infrastructural projects to create competitive and sustainable economic development.
Behavioral Biomarkers to Identify Neurotoxic Effects

Neurotoxic chemicals pose a particularly serious health threat due to the unique and critical role of the nervous system in body function. Exacerbating this potential impact is the vulnerability of the nervous system due to: (a) it’s unparalleled complexity; (b) the limited potential for repair of neurons; (c) the extensive energy dependence and metabolic requirements unique to this system; and, (d) the tendency of lipids to accumulate toxicants. To further target this vulnerable system, some chemicals used in the workplace and the environment (e.g., pesticides) are specifically designed to destroy nervous system elements (National Research Council, 1992). These and other factors led several House and Senate Committees of the US Congress to commission the New Developments in Neuroscience Advisory Panel to study issues surrounding neurotoxicity and suggest options for Congressional action. The study “Neurotoxicity,” published by the US Congress Office of Technology Assessment (1990), notes that the entire US population “is at risk of being adversely affected by neurotoxic substances” (US Congress/OTA, 1990, p. 8) and identified the unique value of human biological monitoring programs “to detect exposure to toxic substances and to aid in making decisions about health risks” (US Congress/OTA, 1990, p. 12–13). This potential exposure and recognized need for biological monitoring programs extends to every corner of the world.
Joyful Digressions: Going Gonzo:

Within this article, we attempt to counter the seriousness that sometimes tends to weigh down academic pursuits. Although we acknowledge the necessary anchors that tether us to various obligations ...
The Role of Dietary Phytoestrogens and the Nuclear Receptor PPARγ in Adipogenesis: An in Vitro Study.

Background: Phytoestrogens, naturally occurring plant chemicals, have long been thought to confer beneficial effects on human cardiovascular and metabolic health. However, recent epidemiological st...
A Description of Perceived Causality

Causal perceptions are instrumental to goal attainment and aid in the pursuit of cognitive mastery. Thus, they serve the two most basic motivators of behavior: hedonism and understanding. In addition, the search for causality does not appear to be constrained within any particular time and place in history. For these reasons, it was contended in chapter 1 that attributions of causality may provide the foundation for a general theory of motivation and emotion. As already intimated, the argument of this cellist is that a correct note has been found.
Keynes Goes Nuclear: Thomas Schelling and the Macroeconomic Origins of Strategic Stability

Among the most important ideas in Cold War nuclear strategy and arms control was that of “stability”—the notion that by protecting weapons for use in retaliation, the superpowers would be less likely to fight a thermonuclear war. Conventional wisdom among strategists and historians of strategy has long held that stability was inherent to the logic of rational nuclear deterrence. This essay shows the conventional wisdom to be mistaken. It examines the technical practice of Thomas Schelling, who introduced the stability idea in a classic 1958 paper. Celebrated as a game theorist, Schelling was actually trained as a Keynesian macroeconomic modeler during the second half of the 1940s. In 1958, he used Keynesian techniques to frame deterrence as a stable system of dynamic adjustment, akin to the stable macroeconomic system he had modeled as a young economist. Among Schelling's fellow strategists, stability quickly became popular as a rationalization for their preferred nuclear deployment policies.
The Exploration of Novel Regulatory Relationships Drives Haloarchaeal Operon-Like Structural Dynamics over Short Evolutionary Distances

Operons are a dominant feature of bacterial and archaeal genome organization. Numerous investigations have related aspects of operon structure to operon function, making operons exemplars for studies aimed at deciphering Nature's design principles for genomic organization at a local scale. We consider this understanding to be both fundamentally important and ultimately useful in the de novo design of increasingly complex synthetic circuits. Here we analyze the evolution of the genomic context of operon-like structures in a set of 76 sequenced and annotated species of halophilic archaea. The phylogenetic depth and breadth of this dataset allows insight into changes in operon-like structures over shorter evolutionary time scales than have been studied in previous cross-species analysis of operon evolution. Our analysis, implemented in the updated software package JContextExplorer finds that operon-like context as measured by changes in structure frequently differs from a sequence divergence model of whole-species phylogeny and that changes seem to be dominated by the exploration of novel regulatory relationships.
汉语女性第三人称指代词 “她”字的发展、使用和教学 [The development, function, and teaching of Mandarin third-person female pronoun “ta”]

提要 第三人称指代词的基本功能是替代一个实体专用名词，避免表述的累赘重复。在1919年新文化运动之前，汉语中的“他”一直是一个中性第三人称指代词，既可指代男性,也可指代女性, 还可指代一切其他事物。汉语女性第三人称指代词的 “她” 直到二十世纪早期才出现。在现代社会中，“她” 字笔画简单，运用易教易学，但是为人所忽略的是由人字旁的“他”到女字旁的“她”紧密联系着近代中国社会和语言的变化。本文旨在结合文化史、语言学和语言认知来描述女性第三人称指代词在书面语、口语中的发展。通过讨论中国早期作品中关于女性人物的叙述，分析新文化运动后“她”字的产生、确立和使用，作者认为在现代汉语中，“她”字的存在，不仅可以避免专用名词的累赘重复，还能够降低第三人称代词在文本中回指关系的模糊性。然而，在汉语教学中，由于汉语省略主语和中性“他”在近现代汉语指代范围不清的特点，汉语学习者时不时在阅读和写作中有第三人称指代对象模糊现象。因此，汉语老师需要在教学实践中帮助学生特别厘清“他”与“她”的指代关系。
Stirring up a Special Sauce: Marrying Electrical and Computer Engineering with Threshold Concepts for ECE 101

This special session introduces threshold concepts as a framework to design an integrated first-year course that covers a wide range of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) from circuits to software. We discuss an interaction plan to engage participants in distilling fundamental projects for ECE courses into their fundamental components and looking for opportunities to make explicit connections across disciplines. While ECE is used as the guiding example, other disciplines can benefit from a similar approach.
Snow Size Distribution and Aggregation Modeling Based on the Bicontinuous Model

Previous experiments showed that the frequency dependence of snow volume scattering from 18 to 90GHz is power of 2.8, which is much weaker than the power of 4 of Rayleigh scattering. Recently monitoring snow using existing satellites (such as Sentinel-1, COSMO-SkyMed and QuickScat) have been widely studied. The radar signatures from C to Ku band are important for active remote sensing of snow. In this paper, we study the snow aggregation effects and its frequency dependence of volume scattering from C to Ku band (4-18GHz) with the bicontinuous model. The bicontinuous media model is applied to model the snow microstructure with aggregates. The integral equation of snow scattering volume is derived based on the Born approximation which then leads to the scattering coefficients. Scattering coefficients of snow are computed from C to Ku band giving a frequency dependence of ∼2.6 power, weaker than that of Rayleigh scattering because of the aggregation effects. In addition, results are also in good agreement with the full wave numerical solutions from X to Ku band.
Environmental Rights and Wrongs: Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism

As of 2018, the UN Environment Programme concludes that 88 countries have constitutionally instantiated an express constitutional right to a healthy environment. At least another dozen recognize a right to a healthy environment as implied by other rights, such as a right to life or dignity. Substantive environmental rights are also reflected at the subnational level in various countries, including Brazil, Germany and the United States. All told, the UN Environment Programme reports that 150 countries have environmental provisions in their constitutions, all contributing to what the current the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to a Healthy Environment has called an ‘environmental rights revolution.’ Moreover, about 130 nations are also subject to regional agreements that explicitly or by interpretation embody a right to a healthy environment, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (“all peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favorable to their development”). In addition, there are multi-faceted efforts at international, regional, national and local levels interrogating and explicating how people have fundamental rights to healthy surroundings, including the UN Environment’s Environmental Rights Initiative, appointment of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to a Healthy Environment, and associated proposals for international recognition of a such rights. But what’s unclear is whether and the extent to which recognizing environmental rights is worth the coin, yet, and if so, why it is a better use of time and energy than by, say, protecting other established rights, working to enact and enforce environmental laws, or by implementing other regimes, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The results are mixed, despite a surfeit of good intentions and practices. Accordingly, this chapter invites candid, evidence-based conversation about whether and the extent to which rights to a healthy environment are implemented in general and judicially in particular.
Operative times in primary total hip arthroplasty will remain stable up to the year 2027: prediction models based on 85,808 cases

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have announced the decision to review “potentially misvalued” Current Procedural Terminology codes, including those for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). While recent studies have suggested that THA operative times have remained stable in recent years, there is an absence of information regarding how operative times are expected to change in the future. Therefore, the purpose of our analysis was to produce 2- and 10-year prediction models developed from contemporary operative time data. Utilizing the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement patient database, all primary THA procedures performed between January 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2017 were identified (n = 85,808 THA patients). Autocorrelation fit significance was determined through Box–Ljung lack of fit tests. Time series stationarity was evaluated using augmented Dickey–Fuller tests. After adjusting non-stationary time series for seasonality-dependent changes, 2-year and 10-year operative times were predicted using Autoregressive integrated moving average forecasting models. Our models indicate that operative time will continue to remain stable. Specifically, operative time for ASA Class 2 is projected to fall within 1 min of the previously calculated weighted mean. Additionally, ASA Class 3 projections fall within 3 min of this value. Operative time will remain within 3 min of the most recently reported mean up to the year 2027. Therefore, our findings do not support lowering physician compensation based on this metric. Future analyses should evaluate if operative times adjust over in light of changing patient demographics and alternative reimbursement models.
Batch enrollment for an artificial intelligence-guided intervention to lower neurologic events in patients with undiagnosed atrial fibrillation: rationale and design of a digital clinical trial.

Background Clinical trials are a fundamental tool to evaluate medical interventions but are time-consuming and resource-intensive. Objectives To build infrastructure for digital trials to improve efficiency and generalizability and test it using a study to validate an artificial intelligence algorithm to detect atrial fibrillation (AF). Design We will prospectively enroll 1,000 patients who underwent an electrocardiogram for any clinical reason in routine practice, do not have a previous diagnosis of AF or atrial flutter and would be eligible for anticoagulation if AF is detected. Eligible patients will be identified using digital phenotyping algorithms, including natural language processing that runs on the electronic health records. Study invitations will be sent in batches via patient portal or letter, which will direct patients to a website to verify eligibility, learn about the study (including video-based informed consent), and consent electronically. The method aims to enroll participants representative of the general patient population, rather than a convenience sample of patients presenting to clinic. A device will be mailed to patients to continuously monitor for up to 30 days. The primary outcome is AF diagnosis and burden; secondary outcomes include patients’ experience with the trial conduct methods and the monitoring device. The enrollment, intervention, and follow-up will be conducted remotely, ie, a patient-centered site-less trial. Summary This is among the first wave of trials to adopt digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and other pragmatic features to create efficiencies, which will pave the way for future trials in a broad range of disease and treatment areas. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04208971
A Wandering Missionary's Burden: Persistent Fever and Progressive Somnolence in a Returning Traveler

Human African trypanosomiasis incidence has declined, but diagnosis remains difficult, especially in nonendemic areas. Our patient presented with fever, progressive lethargy, and weight loss for 5 months and had previously traveled to Ghana and Cameroon but had not been to areas with recently reported African trypanosomiasis. Extensive workup was negative, except for lymphocytic pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid; ultimately, a bone marrow aspiration revealed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation with 2 trypanosomes discovered on the aspirate smear, consistent with Trypanosoma brucei. The patient was treated with combination nifurtimox and eflornithine with full recovery.
Structural, electronic, and polarization properties of YN and LaN

ScN has attracted great attention for its electronic properties and its ability to enhance polarization of AlN; however, its sister compounds, YN and LaN, remain much less studied. Here, we use first-principles calculations to evaluate YN and LaN in their cubic and hexagonal phases. Rocksalt YN and LaN are semiconductors, although we show that LaN differs from ScN and YN in having a direct band gap, which we attribute to its weaker $p\text{\ensuremath{-}}p$ coupling. Both have low electron effective masses. In addition to their rocksalt structures, we evaluate the layered hexagonal and wurtzite phases of YN and LaN. For YN, the wurtzite phase cannot be stabilized, and hexagonal YN is higher in energy than rocksalt YN. In contrast, for LaN, the wurtzite phase is favored, and it is comparable in energy to rocksalt LaN. Wurtzite LaN has a polarization of $0.608\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{C}/{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ (referenced to the centrosymmetric layered hexagonal phase), and a high piezoelectric coefficient ${e}_{33}=1.78\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{C}/{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$. Interestingly, we find that the polarization of wurtzite LaN may be reversible; we find a relatively small switching barrier of 0.06 eV per formula unit, offering the potential for its use as a ferroelectric. Since wurtzite LaN is closely lattice matched to InP, we investigate a heterostructure between (0001) wurtzite LaN and (111) zinc-blende InP, and find the polarization discontinuity would yield a bound charge of $1.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}e/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, offering the potential for novel electronic applications such as tunnel junctions. Our results compare and contrast ScN, YN, and LaN, and highlight the potential of these materials for adoption in electronic and ferroelectric devices.
Culture of Sexually Differentiated Hydra

To induce either the diecious Hydra littoralis or the monoecious Hydra viridis, to differentiate gonads.
Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS Spectroscopy of Charon's Leading and Trailing Hemispheres

We used the near-infrared camera and multiobject spectrometer NICMOS on the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain 1.1–2.4 μm, low-resolution (R ~ 200) slitless grism spectrophotometry of the individual members of the Pluto-Charon system. Water ice is present in its crystalline state on both the leading and trailing hemispheres of Charon. A 2.21 μm absorption band, possibly due to the presence of ammonia hydrate in surface, is detected in the reflectance spectrum of its leading side only. Geological activity on Charon or implantation of ions escaped from Pluto's atmosphere could account for the formation of species such as NH3 H2O locally on the satellite. We also measured a slightly higher geometric albedo for Charon than reported from the mid-1980s observations of the mutual events.
Vector excitation coding with dynamic bit allocation

Vector excitation coding (VXC) has shown promise for digital transmission of fairly high communications quality speech at low bit rates, but current versions of the algorithm still suffer from audible degradations, particularly at 4.8 kb/s. The authors examine the technique of dynamic bit allocation (DBA) to improve the performance of VXC for a given bit rate. The approach is based on the observation that the minimum bit rate needed to code adequately both the long-term and short-term predictors in VXC varies dynamically with time. Therefore, in frames where fewer bits suffice for the predictors, the unneeded bits can be reallocated to other coder parameter sets such as excitation vectors. By dynamically distributing available bits among the different coder parameter sets while keeping the total number of bits in each frame fixed, it is possible to improve overall coder performance without increasing bit rate. >