cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identical satellite DNA sequences in sibling species of Drosophila.

The evolution of simple satellite DNAs was examined by DNA-DNA hybridization of ten Drosophila melanogaster satellite sequences to DNAs of the sibling species, Drosophila simulans and Drosophila erecta. Seven of these repeat types are present in tandem arrays in D. simulans and each of the ten sequences is repeated in D. erecta. In thermal melts, six of the seven satellite sequences in D. simulans and seven of the ten sequences in D. erecta melted within 1 deg.C of the corresponding values in D. melanogaster. The remaining sequences melted within 3 deg.C of the homologous hybrids. Therefore, there is little or no alteration in those satellite sequences held in common, despite a period of about ten million years since the divergence of D. melanogaster and D. simulans from a common ancestor. Simple satellite sequences appear to be more highly conserved than coding regions of the genome, on a per nucleotide basis. Since multiple copies of three satellite sequences could not be detected in D. simulans yet are present in D. erecta, a species more distantly related to D. melanogaster than is D. simulans, these sequences show discontinuities in evolution. There were major quantitative variations between species, showing that satellite DNAs are prone to massive amplification or diminution events over timespans as short as those separating sibling species. In D. melanogaster, these sequences amount to 21% of the genome but only 5% in D. simulans and 0.4% in D. erecta. There was a general trend of lower abundance with evolutionary distance for most satellites, suggesting that the amounts of different satellite sequences do not vary independently during evolution.
Ethical and Spiritual Concerns Near the End of Life

Case studies provide interesting windows into issues confronting patients in today's health care system. We present two cases from our clinical experiences involving spiritual and ethical issues arising in the care of patients facing life-threatening illnesses. We also present two methods that introduce ways of talking about spiritual and ethical issues, the HOPE mnemonic and a clinical ethics paradigm for organizing and analyzing ethical issues in the clinical context from a principled perspective. As growing numbers of older adults seek health care in the face of life-threatening illnesses, many will make decisions based upon values associated with their religious or spiritual beliefs.
Spectra of Quasienergies

Abstract The spectra of the Floquet operator for the standard kicked rotor and the quasiperiodic Rabi oscillator are generically purely continuous. For the kicked rotor, the spectrum is purely singular continuous for a generic set of kick potentials with bounded variation.
A symmetrical transistor oscillator with low second-harmonic distortion

THE oscillator described in this paper was designed to supply the excitation or carrier signal for a second-harmonic type of magnetic modulator. A brief discussion of the modulator will show the necessity for the unusual characteristics of the oscillator; namely, low second-harmonic distortion combined with amplitude and frequency stability.
Indicators of Last Effective Boll Population and Harvest Aid Timing in Cotton

Maintaining profitable and sustainable production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) relies on improvements in management. The objective of this study was to determine the proper defoliation timing to optimize lint yield and fiber quality through calculating heat unit (HU; DD15.5) accumulation beyond cutout, defined as five nodes above white flower (NAWF = 5). Experiments were conducted in Burleson County, Texas, in 2003 and 2004, on a Weswood silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, thermic, Udifluventic Halplustepts). Treatments were applied in a split-plot arrangement using a randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plots consisted of three nodal positions (NAWF = 3, 4, and 5) and the five subplots were HUs (361, 417, 472, 528, and 583) accumulated beyond the corresponding nodal positions (NAWF), at which time a tank-mix of harvest aids was applied. Immediately before defoliation, 10 plants plot -1 were evaluated for percent open boll (POB) and nodes above cracked boll (NACB). Lint yield was detrimentally impacted in south central Texas when defoliation was initiated at 472 HUs beyond NAWF = 5. Defoliation at 60 POB resulted in as much as 29% more lint yield than defoliation based on the current benchmark of NAWF = 5 plus 472 HUs. This finding suggests NAWF = 5 is neither an indicator of the last effective flower population in all production locations, nor a proper guide for timing cutout on which end-of-season management decisions should be based in south central Texas.
Selective loss of dentate hilar interneurons contributes to reduced synaptic inhibition of granule cells in an electrical stimulation‐based animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Neuropeptide-containing hippocampal interneurons and dentate granule cell inhibition were investigated at different periods following electrical stimulation-induced, self-sustaining status epilepticus (SE) in rats. Immunohistochemistry for somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide Y (NPY), parvalbumin (PV), cholecystokinin (CCK), and Fluoro-Jade B was performed on sections from hippocampus contralateral to the stimulated side and studied by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Compared to paired age-matched control animals, there were fewer SOM and NPY-immunoreactive (IR) interneurons in the hilus of the dentate gyrus in animals with epilepsy (40-60 days after SE), and 1, 3, and 7 days following SE. In the hilus of animals that had recently undergone SE, some SOM-IR and NPY-IR interneurons also stained for Fluoro-Jade B. Furthermore, there was electron microscopic evidence of the degeneration of SOM-IR interneurons following SE. In contrast, the number of CCK and PV-IR basket cells in epileptic animals was similar to that in controls, although it was transiently diminished following SE; there was no evidence of degeneration of CCK or PV-IR interneurons. Patch-clamp recordings revealed a diminished frequency of inhibitory postsynaptic currents in dentate granule cells (DGCs) recorded from epileptic animals and animals that had recently undergone SE compared with controls. These results confirm the selective vulnerability of a particular subset of dentate hilar interneurons after prolonged SE. This loss may contribute to the reduced GABAergic synaptic inhibition of granule cells in epileptic animals.
Copper deficient rats and mice both develop anemia but only rats have lower plasma and brain iron levels

Iron homeostasis depends on adequate dietary copper but the mechanisms are unknown. Mice (Mus musculus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) offspring were compared to determine the effect of dietary copper deficiency (Cu-) on iron status of plasma, liver, brain and intestine. Holtzman rat and Hsd:ICR (CD-1) outbred albino mouse dams were fed a Cu- diet and drank deionized water or Cu supplemented water. Offspring were sampled at time points between postnatal ages 13 and 32. Cu- rat and mouse pups were both anemic, but only rat pups had lower plasma and brain iron levels. Plasma iron was lower throughout the suckling period in Cu- rats but not Cu- mice. Cu- mice derived from dams restricted of Cu only during lactation were also severely anemic without hypoferremia. Intestinal metal analysis confirmed that Cu- pups had major reductions in intestinal concentration of Cu, increased Fe, and normal Zn. However, whole mouse (less the intestine) analysis demonstrated normal content of Fe indicating that the limitation in iron transport by intestinal hephaestin had no consequence to total iron reserves of the mouse. Further research will be needed to determine the reason Cu- mice were anemic since the "ferroxidase" hypothesis does not explain this phenotype.
Integrated network for medical imaging research

MR equipment presents an excellent resource for research, but busy clinical loads can limit system availability. Inaddition, as new methods are developed in the research community, there are frequently logistical barriers in translatingthese techniques into clinical hands.As is seen in Figure 1, there are three physically separate buildings; a) Duke North, primarily an inpatientfacility; b) Duke South, primarily an outpatient facility; and c) the Imaging Physics Laboratory. At each of these sitesthere are a number of researchers active in a range of different imaging research. Moreover, a number of the faculty,residents, and students have responsibilities at more than one of these sites. How then can we, a) link all of thesephysically separate environments; b) provide ready noninvasive access to the busy clinical systems; c) establish sharedexpensive hardware; and d) promote an environment where software developed by one group can be readily shared bymany?
A paradigm for invariant object recognition of brightness, optical flow and binocular disparity images

We suggest the Wigner distribution (WD) for the analysis of 2-D images. The WD can be used to rigorously define a local power-spectrum at each point of an image. Furthermore, an invariant representation of a given image can be obtained by applying a complex-logarithmic (CL) conformal mapping to the spatial-frequency domain of the WD. The representation is such that all local spectra are invariant, within a linear shift, with respect to linear transformations of the image. A discrete WD has been implemented and results are shown. We next describe how the same CL-mapped WD of a scalar or vector field could be used for binocular disparity and motion analysis, respectively, where the goal is object recognition.
The intracellular ratio of the membrane to the secreted form of immunoglobulin M heavy chain is a measure of the developmental stage of B cell lymphomas

Tumors of B lymphocyte origin have been used as models for normal B cells “frozen” at particular stages of their development. Surface properties, amount, and intracellular location of immunoglobulin and the synthesis of J chain have all been used as indicators of developmental stages. Each requires special techniques or yields data that are difficult to compare from one experiment to the next. For these reasons, we have developed a metric for B cell development that is simple to perform and allows quick quantitative comparisons of cell lines. It has recently been established that the membrane (μm) and secreted (μs) forms of the IgM heavy chain differ at their extreme carboxy termini. The two proteins differ slightly in size and are easily distinguished when they are compared without their carbohydrate on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels. We have examined four mouse tumors derived from the B lymphocyte lineage whose phenotypes resemble late pre-B cells (internal μ only; uninduced 70Z/3), small B lymphocytes (high levels of surface IgM; LPS-induced 70Z/3, WEHI 231), lymphoblasts (both membrane and secreted IgM; WEHI 279.1), and plasma cells (copious IgM secretion; MOPC 104E). Despite the fact the 70Z/3 and WEHI 231 secrete no detectable IgM, all of the tumors synthesize at least intracellular forms of both μm and μs. The proportion of μm is stable and is characteristic of each tumor. The 70Z/3 cells and WEHI 231 cells synthesize about 75% of their total μ as μm; WEHI 279.1 cells synthesize about 30% and MOPC 104E cells about 5% of their total μ as μm. The population of LPS-stimulated B lymphocytes shows a similar progression during its differentiation. The proportion of μm correlates with other developmentally regulated parameters (Fc receptor, Ia and plasma cell antigen levels, and J chain) and can be used as a simple metric for comparison with developing B lymphocytes and determination of the developmental stage of a B cell tumor.
Physicochemical studies on x-ray inactivation of bacteriophage.

Abstract The rates of loss of plaque-forming ability by X-irradiation of phages T4, T5, T7, and λ have been determined. By ultracentrifugal analysis of DNA isolated from irradiated phages the rates of double-strand breakage have also been measured. By a comparison of all these curves, the rates of killing caused by mechanisms other than strand breakage (presumably base damage) have been calculated. For T4, T5, and T7 double-strand breakage accounts for about half of the killing. Furthermore, the rates of double-strand breakages, T4 included, are proportional to the molecular weight of the DNA. For T4 most of the killing is due to strand breakage. Lack of inactivation by base damage seems to account for the relative resistance of T4 to X-rays. This resistance is not due to glucosylation or repair of double-strand breaks and probably not due to the presence of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. It is unlikely that it is a result of there being only a very small region of the genome in which an X-ray hit is lethal. It is proposed that T4 can in some way repair damaged bases although neither the v nor x systems, both of which are involved in ultraviolet repair, can be responsible for this.
A kappa projection algorithm (KPA) for programming to femtoampere currents in standard CMOS floating-gate elements

In this paper, we present an algorithm that enables programming of standard CMOS floating-gate devices to ultra-low current levels. This paper looks at the limitations of conventional programming schemes for these devices, as well as new methods to achieve ultra-low current levels, reliably, in these devices. Currents range from 1muA down to 100fA. Experimental data is presented from circuits fabricated on a 0.5mum nwell CMOS process available through MOSIS
SMEI direct, 3-D-reconstruction sky maps, and volumetric analyses, and their comparison with SOHO and STEREO observations

Abstract. In this paper we present the results of the analysis of the late January 2007 Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) events recorded by the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI), the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO), and the SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft. This period occurs when the two STEREO spacecraft views are from close to Earth, and thus the views from both SMEI and the STEREO outer Heliospheric Imagers (HI-2s) coincide. Three-dimensional (3-D) analyses derived from SMEI data show many CMEs that have also been studied by others using short-term image subtractions (image-differencing techniques). During this interval we map several CME structures that are observed in both SMEI and the STEREO-A HI instruments. SMEI brightness analyses provided by short-term image subtractions ("difference images") and, alternatively, subtractions of a mean-brightness fit over a long-time duration, both show the extents of the CMEs travelling outward above the East limb that erupted from the Sun on 24 and 25 January 2007. The SMEI 3-D-reconstructions not only enhance distinct features within the CME events, but also reconcile difference-imaging results with those where a long-term base has been removed. In the January 2007 example the structure as mapped by CME difference images traces the sharp intensity gradients at the front of the CMEs; generally brighter ejected material follows behind the location of the CME front, but shows poorly in these because of its larger angular extent. Using the long-duration background removal enables SMEI's 3-D analysis to determine a mass for this CME sequence North of the ecliptic.
Regulation of hydrogen peroxide production by brain mitochondria by calcium and Bax.

Abnormal accumulation of Ca 2+ and exposure to pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, is believed to stimulate mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and contribute to neural cell death during acute ischemic and traumatic brain injury, and in neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. Parkinson’s disease. However, the mechanism by which Ca 2+ or apoptotic proteins stimulate mitochondrial ROS production is unclear. We used a sensitive fluorescent probe to compare the effects of Ca 2+ on H2O2 emission by isolated rat brain mitochondria in the presence of physiological concentrations of ATP and Mg 2+ and different respiratory substrates. In the absence of respiratory chain inhibitors, Ca 2+ suppressed H2O2 generation and reduced the membrane potential of mitochondria oxidizing succinate, or glutamate plus malate. In the presence of the respiratory chain Complex I inhibitor rotenone, accumulation of Ca 2+ stimulated H2O2 production by mitochondria oxidizing succinate, and this stimulation was associated with release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. In the presence of glutamate plus malate, or succinate, cytochrome c release and H2O2 formation were stimulated by human recombinant full-length Bax in the presence of a BH3 cell death domain peptide. These results indicate that in the presence of ATP and Mg 2+ ,C a 2+ accumulation either inhibits or stimulates mitochondrial H2O2 production, depending on the respiratory substrate and the effect of Ca 2+ on the mitochondrial membrane potential. Bax plus a BH3 domain peptide stimulate H2O2 production by brain mitochondria due to release of cytochrome c and this stimulation is insensitive to changes in membrane potential.
The ABCs of migration costs: Assembling, bajadores, and coyotes

In efforts to avoid detection by border enforcement agents, undocumented migrants from Latin America often risk life and limb to enter the U.S. Most commonly, they walk two to four days through an inhospitable desert in hopes of being picked up and whisked away to their final destination. Cost in human lives not withstanding, the price of this venture correlates to increased border enforcement. Interviews with repatriated migrant women on the border helps uncover this ec onomic “underbelly” of transnational movement in what I dub the ABCs of migration costs: those related to assembling, bajadores (border bandits), and coyotes.
Measurement of torque ripple in mass-produced switched-reluctance motor drives

In this research, a piezoelectric polymer film is used to measure the vibrations resulting from torque ripple produced by a switched reluctance machine (SRM). The advantages of the sensor are flexibility in terms of placement and inclusion into existing drive systems, relatively low-cost, and durability. The results of time domain simulation and hardware experiment are shown to validate the use of the sensor for measurement of torque ripple induced vibrations, which may be useful for closed-loop vibration control in SRMs
Acute effects of enteral nutrition on protein turnover in adolescents with Crohn disease.

Adults with inactive Crohn disease have been shown to have normal rates of protein turnover when compared with healthy adults. It is not known whether this is true for adolescents with inactive Crohn disease, when rate of protein synthesis must be greater than that of breakdown for normal development. The objective of this study was to determine whether enteral nutrition acutely suppresses proteolysis and increases protein synthesis in adolescents with inactive Crohn disease. Six adolescents (five males/one female; mean age, 15.8 ± 1.9 y; range, 13.2–17.6 y; mean bone age, 14.6 ± 1.8 y; range, 12.5–17 y) participated. Leucine (Leu) and phenylalanine (Phe) kinetics were measured using stable isotopes under fasted and fed conditions during a single study visit. In response to enteral nutrition, the endogenous rates of appearance (Ra) of Leu and Phe (reflecting proteolysis) decreased significantly by 40%. The percentages of splanchnic uptake of Leu and Phe were 35 ± 10% and 13 ± 12%, respectively. Under fed conditions, utilization of Phe for protein synthesis increased significantly. We conclude that in clinically stable adolescents with Crohn disease, enteral nutrition promotes anabolism by suppressing proteolysis and increasing protein synthesis. Rates of suppression of proteolysis were similar to those reported previously in normal children.
J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur's Niagara: Redefining a Sublime Landmark

Working from Crevecoeur’s two accounts of visits to the Niagara peninsula, together with the two maps accompanying those narratives, this essay argues that Crevecoeur never visited the area during the years he claims, 1785 and 1789. Although the narratives thus reflect the centuries-old convention of the traveler/explorer as liar, more significantly they reveal Crevecoeur’s substantial reworking of the received eighteenth-century response to the natural sublime. Both the 1785 Letter to his son and the longer retelling of his supposed 1789 visit in A Journey into Northern Pennsylvania and the State of New York predictably record an initial, expected reaction to the Falls as involving astonishment, horror, and fear of annihilation, but each subsequently carries the experiencing subject beyond this to a rather different conclusion. Anticipating the Romantic period’s transformation of the terrifying sublime into a transcendent experience of the beautiful, both the Letter and the Journey transport the subject to a higher state of perception wherein “our feelings are harmonized into placid contemplation.”
Epidemiologic parameters and evaluation of control measure for 2009 novel influenza a (H1N1) in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Containment of influenza A H1N1 virus spread was implemented successfully in Xiamen, with large-scale inoculation to reduce morbidity. To identify beneficial elements and to guide decision-making in epidemic containment, we analyzed the epidemiologic parameters and evaluated the control measures. We determined various parameters from laboratory-confirmed cases, including incubation period, duration of illness and reproductive number (R0), and evaluated the control measures. There were1414 cases with dates of onset between June 14, 2009 and March 22, 2010. The incidence was 56.79/100,000, and mortality was 0.12/100,000. The incidence during the community epidemic phase was 6.23 times higher than in the containment phase. A total of 296,888 subjects were inoculated with domestic influenza H1N1 virus cleavage vaccine. An epidemic curve showed that vaccination in students cut the peak incidence of illness significantly. Men (relative risk (RR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-1.45) and persons aged 0-14 years were at greater risk of infection. The incidence increased with younger age (χ2 = 950.675, p = ∞). Morbidity was lower in urban than in rural areas (RR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.50-0.62). The median incubation time was 2 days, median duration of symptoms was 7 days, and the within-school reproductive number was 1.35. Our analysis indicated that the characteristics of this novel influenza virus were similar to those of seasonal influenza. The principle of "interception of imported cases" applied at Xiamen ports, and vaccination of students effectively limited the spread of the influenza pandemic and reduced the epidemic peak.
Comparing Occam and Wiener filters on broad-band signals

Occam filters are a class of filters for additive random noise, based on the idea that when a lossy data compression algorithm is applied to a noisy signal with the allowed loss set equal to the noise strength, the loss and the noise tend to cancel rather than add. The authors apply non-linear Occam filters to broad-band signals. Using the chirp signal as a specific example, they find that the Occam filter outperforms the Wiener filter consistently. >
Defining the coast and sentinel ecosystems for coastal observations of global change

The detection, attribution and prediction of global and large scale regional change are goals for the Global Observing Systems of the United Nations. Coastal areas are particularly sensitive to global change, but there is a variety of limitations to universal coverage of observations. The coastal module of the Global Terrestrial Observing System (C-GTOS) considers sentinel ecosystems to address these goals for the terrestrial, wetland and freshwater ecosystems of the coast. Sentinel ecosystems for observing systems are a limited number of well understood systems that have substantial datasets and are observed in a sustained fashion, forming an early warning and core system for broader regional and global change. A necessary step in the development of C-GTOS is the examination of current definitions of coastal areas by anticipated users and information providers, and identification of potential coastal networks and sites. We applied the sentinel system framework to the selection of C-GTOS observation sites from several international programs using various global delineations of coastal areas. Delineations were based on the most common definitions of the coast adopted by potential C-GTOS users and information providers, and included mapped areas of various distance from the coastline, coastal areas of low elevation, and a seaward boundary matching the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). Decreases in the number of sites within each international program occurred with each definition marking area closer to the coastline. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands demonstrates the greatest percentage of coastal sites by any definition. The process of choosing specific sentinel sites for C-GTOS continues from this initial screening, and is the next step towards the development of an in situ site network supporting the observation of global and large scale change.
Supplement to Alfonso's Department Store

Alfonso's Department Store (Ivey, 9A99E002) presents 26 weeks of data on Alfonso's dollar sales and dollar advertising together with the sales and advertising of competing stores. In the supplement, a consultant presents the results of his analysis of these data. Students are asked to critique this analysis and explore its implications.********************************This case is used in conjunction with "Alfonso's Department Store" (Ivey 9A99E002). An excel spreadsheet "Alfonsos Supplement Exhibits" contains the case exhibits.
Caffeine Toxicity Due to Supplement Use in Caffeine—Naïve Individual: A Cautionary Tale

ABSTRACT Thousands of military members self-medicate with dietary supplements containing unknown quantities of pharmacologically active compounds. These poorly regulated substances can cause real harm to the military population, especially when they contain stimulants such as caffeine. When taken regularly, caffeine has several performance-enhancing benefits. However, when used excessively or in vulnerable populations, caffeine can cause several unwanted side effects such as nervousness, sensory disturbances, insomnia, arrhythmia, excitability, inattentiveness, restlessness, mood changes, gastrointestinal disturbances, and even psychosis. Vulnerable patients include the caffeine-naive, physiologically stressed, young, and mentally ill patients. One such case describes a caffeine-naive service member who suffered an adverse reaction after taking an allegedly moderate dose of caffeine from a pill he obtained from a teammate. This case highlights the importance of supplement awareness among service members, ...
Perceived Criteria for Research Problem Choice in the Agricultural Sciences—A Research Note

Since the seventeenth century, science and technology have been presumed to be chief architects of human progress. Of particular importance to this view was the fundamental acceptance of science as an autonomous institution, creating knowledge that is an accurate representation of a unified natural world and, hence, not subject to external manipulation. Recently, however, the assumptions, as well as the products of science have come under attack. The scientific claims to objective knowledge have been challenged. The increase in scale, the development of a corporate, Baconian science, the increasing centrality of the relations between science and the state, and challenges to the belief in the unity of science (Kuhn) have meant that science as an institution has become less autonomous. Indeed some have argued that the products of science are frequently shaped by various client groups, class interests, and the state (Habermas; Rose and Rose). As long as the assumptions and products of science were seen as relatively unproblematic, there was little reason to examine the reasons for selecting particular research agendas. However, the intellectual challenges to the claimed autonomy of science, the questioning of the place of science in society, and the financial limitations imposed by the current economy make the issue of problem choice a particularly important theme in the sociology and philosophy of science (cf., Busch and Lacy; Gieryn; Weinstein; Zuckerman). Thus, in this paper we ask: What criteria do scientists perceive as important in choosing research problems? Do these criteria differ across disciplines? To what degree are criteria relevant to the pursuit of knowledge consonant with those relevant to the problems of everyday life?
Clinical study of immediately repair for partial defect in breast conserving surgery

Objective:To investigate the indication,method,effect and feasibility of the immediately partial repair with breast conserving surgery.Methods:Latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap(LDM) and adjacent skin flap were used for the breast repair and construction in 23 cases of breast cancer who received breast conserving surgery and axillary lymph node dissection.Results:LDM was applied in 18 cases,and adjacent skin flap in five cases.All breast construction operations were successful with natural appearance and satisfied results.The acceptable rate was 100% for the post-operative ocular estimate.Conclusion:With its excellent cosmetic results,the immediately partial repair with breast conserving surgery in selected patients was safe and reliable.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer: Novelty or Innovation?

This Viewpoint describes the rapid spread of use of high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation as a treatment for prostate cancer and calls for establishment of a registry to better assess the efficacy and safety of this approach.
Discussion Leader Comments

This research paper offers much needed insight into the area of marketing planning and performance. It challenges the assumption that companies which engage in marketing planning have superior performance. These researchers have addressed this by identifying the contribution of selected input variables to performance as applied to selected hotel groups located in the UK.
The sexual health of transgender men: a scoping review

There is a general paucity of research concerning the sexual health of transgender individuals, and most existing research focuses on transgender women. A scoping review concerning the sexual healt...
1947 The Evolution of Clutch Size

The number of offspring in a clutch—the eggs laid at a given time by a bird—responds, in an evolutionary sense, to the ability of parents to care for their offspring and to constraints on population growth. Birds in populations with limited capacity to recruit new individuals evolve to reduce clutch size and to invest more in each offspring they do rear.
A Framework for Valuing Investments in a Nurturing Society: Opportunities for Prevention Research

Investing in strategies that aim to build a more nurturing society offers tremendous opportunities for the field of prevention science. Yet, scientists struggle to consistently take their research beyond effectiveness evaluations and actually value the impact of preventive strategies. Ultimately, it is clear that convincing policymakers to make meaningful investments in children and youth will require estimates of the fiscal impact of such strategies across public service systems. The framework offered here values such investments. First, we review current public spending on children and families. Then, we describe how to quantify and monetize the impact of preventive interventions. This includes a new measurement strategy for assessing multisystem service utilization and a price list for key service provision from public education, social services, criminal justice, health care and tax systems.
Association of altered collagen content and lysyl oxidase expression in degenerative mitral valve disease.

Abstract Background Collagen cross-linking is mediated by lysyl oxidase (LOX) enzyme in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of mitral valve leaflets. Alterations in collagen content and LOX protein expression in the ECM of degenerative mitral valve may enhance leaflet expansion and disease severity. Methods Twenty posterior degenerative mitral valve leaflets from patients with severe mitral regurgitation were obtained at surgery. Five normal posterior mitral valve leaflets procured during autopsy served as controls. Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) density was quantified by immunohistochemistry, collagen Types I and III by picro-sirius red staining and immunohistochemistry, and proteoglycans by alcian blue staining. Protein expression of LOX and its mediator TGFβ1 were quantified by immunofluorescence and gene expression by PCR. Results VIC density was increased, structural Type I collagen density was reduced, while reparative Type III collagen and proteoglycan densities were increased ( P P P R 2 =0.855; P Conclusions Reduced Type I collagen density with a simultaneous increase in Type III collagen and proteoglycan densities possibly contributes to spongiosa layer expansion resulting in incompetent mitral valve leaflets. Observed changes in Type I and III collagen densities in Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease may be secondary to alterations in LOX protein expression, contributing to disorganization of ECM and disease severity.
In favor of universal health care

The debate concerning universal health care is a relatively new phenomenon and a feature of modernity, but it is still unsure whether it is a right or a luxury. Additionally, the most powerful and affluent nations even question if universal health care is compatible with the democratic foundations on which they rest. First, from a Kantian and Hohfeldian perspective, this piece will outline the difference between a right and a privilege. Following that, there will be Hohfeldian and Kantian arguments suggesting health care is an entitlement of all and not a luxury. Afterwards, this piece will explore how universal health care is compatible with the principles of democracy through the classical liberal and proto-libertarian lens of J.S. Mill. Next, through the lens of political scientist Marie Gottschalk, there will be a description of the economic issues faced by businesses and individuals in states which do not embrace universal health care. Finally, by applying Kant’s, Hohfeld’s, Mill’s, and Gottschalk’s views concerning this topic, this piece will conclude with suggestions supporting the democratic and economic move toward comprehensive health care. Article DOI : 10.5958/2347-6869.2017.00006.1
Evaluating Corneal Fluorescein Staining Using a Novel Automated Method.

Purpose To evaluate interobserver concordance in measured corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) using the National Eye Institute/Industry (NEI) grading scale and the Corneal Fluorescein Staining Index (CFSi), a computer-assisted, objective, centesimal scoring system. Methods We conducted a study to evaluate CFS in clinical photographs of patients with corneal epitheliopathy. One group of clinicians graded CFS in the images using the NEI while a second group applied the CFSi. We evaluated the level of interobserver agreement and differences among CFS scores with each method, level of correlation between the two methods, and distribution of cases based on the CFS severity assigned by each method. Results The level of interobserver agreement was 0.65 (P < 0.001) with the NEI, and 0.99 (P < 0.001) with the CFSi. There were statistically significant differences among clinicians' measurements obtained with the NEI (P < 0.001), but not with the CFSi (P = 0.78). There was a statistically significant correlation between the CFS scores obtained with the two methods (R = 0.72; P < 0.001). The NEI scale allocated the majority of cases (65%) within the higher quartile in the scale's severity (12-15/15). In contrast, the CFSi allocated the majority of cases (61%) within the lower quartile in the scale's severity (0-25/100). Conclusions The CFSi is easy to implement, provides higher interobserver consistency, and due to its continuous score can discriminate smaller differences in CFS. Reproducibility of the computer-based system is higher and, interestingly, the system allocates cases of epitheliopathy in different severity categories than clinicians do. The CFSi can be an alternative for objective CFS evaluation in the clinic and in clinical trials.
Commentary on Lewis

If Lewis prefers the political Plato to the apolitical Socrates, I take my stand with Socrates. I also regard Plato as having been more profoundly invested in establishing a philosophical religion than in establishing a philosophical politics. Cultivating trust in the Good is ultimately of more importance than arming a state against potential enemies. Courage is a virtue greater than prudence. Plato’s Laws, on my reading, is less concerned with maintaining the order of the state than with civilizing its inhabitants. In light of this contention, I understand Plato as being more Socratic—more open to question and thus more flexible—than Lewis’s reading seems to allow. This is why I think Plato provides more attention to his extended preambles to the laws than to the laws themselves. As seriously as Plato took the quest for true law, he realized that any positive code of law (or any constitution) has to be subject to constant revision.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Retina

Because sight is such a highly valued sensory modality, the mechanisms by which spatial, intensity, chromatic and temporal patterns of retinal illumination evoke perceptions which are fully congruent with the physical world around us has been a subject which has intrigued scientists and natural philosophers for centuries. While the answers to this question are still not quite within our grasp, the work of many researchers has provided us with a fairly good understanding of the retinal contributions to this fascinating question. As we move deeper into the visual pathways, our understanding becomes less precise, and the problems posed become more complex.
Prader-Willi syndrome genetic subtypes and clinical neuropsychiatric diagnoses in residential care adults.

The historical diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a complex genetic disorder, in adults is often achieved by clinical presentation rather than by genetic testing and thus limited genetic subtype-specific psychometric investigations and treatment options. Genetic testing and clinical psychiatric evaluation using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV-TR criteria were undertaken on 72 adult residents (34 M; 38 F) from the Prader-Willi Homes of Oconomowoc (PWHO), a specialty PWS group home system. Methylation specific-multiplex ligation probe amplification and high-resolution microarrays were analyzed for methylation status, 15q11-q13 deletions and maternal uniparental disomy 15 (mUPD15). Seventy (33M; 37F) of 72 residents were genetically confirmed and 36 (51%) had Type I or Type II deletions; 29 (42%) with mUPD15 and 5 (7%) with imprinting defects from three separate families. Psychiatric comorbidities were classified as anxiety disorder (38%), excoriation (skin picking) (33%), intermittent explosive disorder ([30%-predominantly among males at 45% compared with females at 16% [OR = 4.3, 95%CI 1.4-13.1, P < 0.008]) and psychotic features (23%). Psychiatric diagnoses did not differ between mUPD15 vs deletion, but a greater number of psychiatric diagnoses were observed for the larger Type I (4.3) vs smaller Type II (3.6) deletions when age was controlled (F = 5.0, P < 0.04). Adults with PWS presented with uniformly higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities which differed by genetic subtype with gender-specific trends.
First Crossing a Random Process

A rendezvous time is a time at which two different stochastic processes intersect (meet). In this section we discuss the first such rendezvous time of a Brownian motion and an independent compound Poisson process. The reader is referred to Perry et al. (2004) and Che and Dassios (2013).
MULTI-SPATIOTEMPORAL PATTERNS OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY CRIMES IN CHICAGO: 2006-2016

Abstract. This research attempts to explore the patterns of burglary crimes at multi-spatiotemporal scales in Chicago between 2006 and 2016. Two spatial scales are investigated that are census block and police beat area. At each spatial scale, three temporal scales are integrated to make spatiotemporal slices: hourly scale with two-hour time step from 12:00am to the end of the day; daily scale with one-day step from Sunday to Saturday within a week; monthly scale with one-month step from January to December. A total of six types of spatiotemporal slices will be created as the base for the analysis. Burglary crimes are spatiotemporally aggregated to spatiotemporal slices based on where and when they occurred. For each type of spatiotemporal slices with burglary occurrences integrated, spatiotemporal neighborhood will be defined and managed in a spatiotemporal matrix. Hot-spot analysis will identify spatiotemporal clusters of each type of spatiotemporal slices. Spatiotemporal trend analysis is conducted to indicate how the clusters shift in space and time. The analysis results will provide helpful information for better target policing and crime prevention policy such as police patrol scheduling regarding times and places covered.
Patent protection for CRISPR: an ELSI review.

Much has been written about the power of CRISPR—the workhorse genetic-editing system first elucidated in 2012—and the public's interest in it, both as a piece of science and an ethical battleground.1 But there has also been extensive interest in the variety of intellectual property issues surrounding CRISPR, including a heated patent dispute between two of the technology's originators, Jennifer Doudna (UC Berkeley) and Emmanuelle Charpentier (Max-Planck), on one side, and Feng Zhang (Broad Institute) on the other.2 While the intellectual property disputes concerning CRISPR are far from over—indeed, like Tolstoy's War and Peace, new characters central to the dispute continue to materialize3—five years of hindsight has given some perspective on their ethical, legal, and social implications. This brief essay reviews several of these issues: (i) difficulties with interinstitutional collaborations, especially for lucrative ‘translational’ technologies; (ii) the rise of for-profit ‘surrogate’ companies to manage university licensing; and (iii) the use of patents as a means of private governance to prevent potential abuses, such as ‘gene drives’, seed-saving restrictions for agriculture, and germ-line human engineering. It concludes with several observations—and prescriptive recommendations—for patent protection related to academic, collaborative, cutting-edge research.
The Chromosome 18 Clinical Resource Center

Background The Chromosome 18 Clinical Research Center has created a pediatrician-friendly virtual resource center for managing patients with chromosome 18 abnormalities. To date, children with rare chromosome abnormalities have been cared for either symptomatically or palliatively as a reaction to the presenting medical problems. As we enter an era of genomic-informed medicine, we can provide children, even those with individually unique chromosome abnormalities, with proactive medical care and management based on the most contemporary data on their specific genomic change. It is problematic for practicing physicians to obtain and use the emerging data on specific genes because this information is derived from diverse sources (e.g., animal studies, case reports, in vitro explorations) and is often published in sources that are not easily accessible in the clinical setting. Methods The Chromosome 18 Clinical Resource Center remedies this challenging problem by curating and synthesizing the data with clinical implications. The data are collected from our database of over 26 years of natural history and medical data from over 650 individuals with chromosome 18 abnormalities. Results The resulting management guides and video presentations are a first edition of this collated data specifically oriented to guide clinicians toward the optimization of care for each child. Conclusion The chromosome 18 data and guides also serve as models for an approach to the management of any individual with a rare chromosome abnormality of which there are over 1,300 born every year in the US alone.
Aesthetic reconstructions of the leg after trauma.

Scars and tissue losses from trauma to the legs often produce major deformities requiring aesthetic improvement. The anatomic features and the options in reconstruction are reviewed. Emphasis is on the use of free flaps for major deformities either as a secondary procedure or preferably as a primary procedure done at the initial trauma surgery.
Law and Behavioral Morality

This paper names, describes and contextualizes behavioral morality - a form of moral philosophy which claims that deviant behavior attributable to a physical cause is either less or is not at all morally blameworthy. This movement turns to evolutionary science, genetics and neuroscience to challenge the social institutions that regulate human behavior. The criminal justice system, as the first and most obvious of such institutions, has been the most vulnerable to its scrutinizing gaze. Part I traces the scientific advances in understanding human behavior from evolutionary science, genetics and neurobiology, which motivate the moral claim. This part situates behavioral morality as a movement distinct from evolutionary biology and the law, and demonstrates the points of divergence. Part II illustrates the tension between behavioral morality and between existing normative accounts of criminal responsibility, which embrace human agency. This part also discusses cases in which behavioral moralism has been introduced, and the basis for their success or failure. Part III then seeks to reconcile behavioral moralism with the normative purposes of criminal law, and to potentially bring the movement within the fold of the broader law and evolutionary biology movement. To do so, this paper offers an alternative approach for adherents of behavioral moralism to explore. It suggests that behavioral moralism may gain more traction by embracing the fundamental underpinnings of the system, while still working to integrate scientific evidence in the system. Because the concept of reasonableness underlies much of criminal responsibility doctrine, behavioral moralists could seek to inform that concept with more scientifically robust data, rather than attempting to remove it entirely from the criminal law. Finally, Part IV opens about stigmatization of individuals who have scientific accounts of their behavior.
GUIfetch: supporting app design and development through GUI search

A typical way to design and develop a mobile app is to sketch the graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for the different screens in the app and then create actual GUIs from these sketches. Doing so involves identifying which layouts to use, which widgets to add, and how to configure and connect the different pieces of the GUI. To help with this difficult and time-consuming task, we propose GUIFetch, a technique that takes as input the sketch for an app and leverages the growing number of open source apps in public repositories to identify apps with GUIs and transitions that are similar to those in the provided sketch. GUIFetch first searches public repositories to find potential apps using keyword matching. It then builds models of the identified apps' screens and screen transitions using a combination of static and dynamic analyses and computes a similarity metric between the models and the provided sketch. Finally, GUIFetch ranks the identified apps (or parts thereof) based on their computed similarity value and produces a visual ranking of the results together with the code of the corresponding apps. We implemented GUIFetch for Android apps and evaluated it through user studies involving different types of apps.