cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Endometrial Cancer Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort Study

Few studies have examined differences in endometrial cancer risk among ethnic groups in the United States. The authors assessed the extent to which known risk factors for endometrial cancer explain the racial/ethnic differences in risk among 46,933 postmenopausal African-American, Native-Hawaiian, Japanese-American, Latina, and White women recruited to the prospective Multiethnic Cohort Study in 1993–1996. During a 7.3-year follow up period, 321 incident endometrial cancer cases were identified among these women. Data on known/suspected risk factors were obtained from baseline questionnaires, and comparisons of endometrial cancer incidence across racial/ethnic groups were estimated using log-linear proportional hazard models. Later age at menopause, unopposed estrogen therapy use, and obesity were associated with increased risk, while increasing parity and increasing duration of oral contraceptive use were associated with decreased risk. The relative risks for endometrial cancer (vs. Whites) were 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53, 1.08) for African Americans, 0.92 (95% CI: 0.58, 1.46) for Native Hawaiians, 0.61 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.83) for Japanese Americans, and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.87) for Latinas. After adjustment for the risk factors, the relative risks were 0.68 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.98) for African Americans, 0.91 (95% CI: 0.56, 1.46) for Native Hawaiians, 0.74 (95% CI: 0.54, 1.01) for Japanese Americans, and 0.65 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.92) for Latinas. Results from this study show that the interethnic differences in endometrial cancer risk do not appear to be explained by differences in the distribution of known risk factors among women of different races/ethnicities. cohort studies; endometrial neoplasms; ethnic groups; risk factors
Dynamics of Range Expansion by Three Introduced Species of Anolis Lizards on Bermuda

Three species of Anolis lizards were introduced in this century to Bermuda, an archipelago formerly lacking anoles. A previous study conducted in the early 1960s indicated that A. grahami, the first species introduced, rapidly expanded over almost all of the archipelago. By contrast, the other two species had only attained limited ranges by 1963. I surveyed the extent of range expansion by all three species in 1991 and studied habitat use and behavioral interactions. All three species have been able to expand their ranges into areas occupied by other species, but the rate of range expansion has been relatively slow. The species are ecologically similar, but subtle differences in habitat use exist. Behavioral interactions indicate that A. grahami aggressively responds to conspecifics, displays less aggressively to A. extremus, and flees from the larger A. leachi. Successful colonization requires not only namics is crucial to understanding how comreaching a site, but being capable of coping sucmunities become more diverse, but study of natcessfully with environmental exigencies and ural colonization is difficult due to its haphazinteracting with native predators, competitors, ard and unpredictable nature. The introduction and parasites. Knowledge of colonization dyof non-native species through human agency, al of Herpetology, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 204-210, 1996 i t 1996 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles ics of Range Expansion by Three Introduced Sp cies of 204 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.35 on Mon, 29 Aug 2016 04:41:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms RANGE EXPANSION BY INTRODUCED ANOLES St. George's Island / Ireland Islands St. George's Parish A. grahami absent in 1963
Abstract A40: Investigating the functional response of the ARF tumor suppressor to acute p53 loss

The tumor suppressor, p19 ARF , is classically considered to function in response to hyerproliferative signals by binding and sequestering MDM2 in the nucleolus, thereby activating p53. Steady-state levels of ARF are kept low to prevent activation of p53 and are thought to monitor nucleolar function. Interestingly, p53 itself inhibits the Arf locus by recruiting proteins involved in heterochromatin formation. Cell lines that lack functional p53, therefore, accumulate enormous amounts of ARF protein but proliferate relatively well. Given that ARF is known to have functions independent of p53 both in vitro and in vivo, we wanted to investigate the function of ARF in the setting of acute p53 loss using conditional deletion of p53 from p53 Flox/Flox mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Cre -mediated excision of p53 leads to an induction of ARF by 4 days post infection, but levels do not peak until 10 days. Adeno-Cre infected MEFs have a higher proliferation rate than Adeno-LacZ controls, and do not undergo replicative senescence. However, knockdown of Arf in p53 Δ/Δ MEFs using lentiviral shRNAs results in an increase in proliferation and enhanced growth in semisolid medium following Ras I/12 transformation. These findings suggest that the induced ARF levels are acting to inhibit p53-null cells in some capacity. Loss of p53 also leads to a dramatic downregulation of MDM2 protein levels. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that ARF predominantly interacts with MDM2 in LacZ -infected cells, but binds the ribosomal chaperone nucleophosmin (NPM) more readily in p53 Δ/Δ MEFs. Since inhibition of NPM by ARF has been shown to negatively affect overall protein synthesis, we hypothesize that in the absence of p53, ARF functions to negatively regulate overall protein synthesis through NPM in an effort to slow proliferation. Indeed, p53 Δ/Δ MEFs contain less total protein per cell, copies of 47S rRNA, and have reduced active translation compared to their LacZ counterparts. We are currently testing whether knockdown Arf in p53 Δ/Δ MEFs can rescue protein synthesis, thus allowing these cells to proliferate at an even faster rate. These findings could explain why certain cancers (i.e., pancreatic cancer) preferentially inactivate both ARF and p53. We are also attempting to understand why the high levels of endogenous ARF seen in the absence of p53 are not able to induce a cell cycle arrest when ARF is clearly capable of eliciting such a response independently of p53. As p53 mutation occurs in over 50% of all cancers it would be of interest to know how we could activate this function of ARF in those patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; 2011 Sep 14-18; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(18 Suppl):Abstract nr A40.
Seasonal Occurrence of Ground Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Three Habitats in Southwestern Washington

In certain forested areas, beetles of the genus Pterostichus were found important consumers of Douglas-fir seed. The chief seed-eater, P. algidus LeConte, was most abundant during the fall, in an open stand and a recently logged stand; only a few were found under a dense stand of Douglas-fir. The seasonal occurrence of various seed-eating and other ground beetles was determined by placing pitfall traps in the respective habitat types.
Developments in the Tem Examination Of Pu and Pu Alloys

Microstructural characterization of plutonium utilizing Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEN) has previously been difficult because of the extreme toxicity and high oxidation rate of plutonium metal. Recent developments in plutonium sample preparation have shown that foils of both alpha and delta phases of plutonium may be prepared for TEN without the use of inert atmospheric systems or complex preparation devices. Samples may be produced, using standard electropolishing techniques, that yield important microstructural data on plutonium and plutonium alloys.
Pose Performance of LIDAR-Based Navigation for Satellite Servicing

Flash LIDARs are an important new sensing technology for relative navigation; these sensors have shown promising results during rendezvous and docking applications involving a cooperative vehicle. An area of recent interest is the application of this technology for pose estimation with non-cooperative client vehicles, in support of on-orbit satellite servicing activities. The capability for autonomous rendezvous with non-cooperative satellites will enable refueling and servicing of satellites (particularly those designed without servicing in mind), allowing these vehicles to continue operating rather than being retired. The research investigates numerous issues surrounding pose performance using LIDARs. Models for pose covariance are developed and compared against both simulation results and hardware test results. For the hardware tests, a SwissRanger ToF camera was used as a surrogate for Flash LIDARs.
Fast Algorithms for 3-D Fluid Flow in Micromachined Devices

In this paper we present several aspects of the precorrectedFFT accelerated Stokes flow solver, FastStokes. The basic method is described, followed by more detailed descriptions of analytic methods for evaluating integrals of Stokes' equation Greens functions and for replacing nine scalar convolutions with a more efficient "vector" convolution. A microresonator example is analyzed to demonstrate the power of these methods.
Color Change in the Black Bear, Ursus americanus

Mr. William J. Sheffler of Los Angeles, California gave me an account of his experience with a cub bear that appears to me to warrant placing on record. Mr. Sheffler is a naturalist with a lifelong interest in animals and much experience in field collecting of birds and mammals of western United States and Mexico. His private collection numbers some 4,000 well preserved and catalogued specimens. I have …
A Probe of Strengthening the Oral English Teaching of Secondary Vocational Schools

This article probes the current condition and necessarise of the oral English teaching in secondary vocational schools and advances concrete reform measures of oral English teaching.
Tumorigenicity Testing in Athymic Mice of Cultured Human Melanocytes for Transplantation in Engineered Skin Substitutes.

Autologous engineered skin substitutes (ESS) have been shown to close excised, full-thickness burns, but are consistently hypopigmented due to depletion of human melanocytes (hM) during culture of ...
Multiobjective structural optimization of frameworks using enumerative topology

Enumerative topology is proposed, a new method for optimizing in conceptual design.An Evolution Strategy working with populations of solutions of differing lengths.Dimensional increments appear to increase consistency of optimization results. The paper describes a multiobjective optimization method aimed at supporting decisions in conceptual design. The paper identifies five characteristics to achieve this intent. One of those characteristics concerns accounting for variation configuration. The method introduces enumerative topology, a way of specifying structural configuration in terms of enumerative variables, such as the number of bays in a truss or frame. This concept is distinct from conventional topological optimization which defines configuration by specifying the presence or absence of members in a framework. The paper demonstrates the method on two benchmark problems, and then presents extended versions which incorporate enumerative topology.
Underactuated Spacecraft Switching Law for Two Reaction Wheels and Constant Angular Momentum

This paper develops a switching feedback controller for the attitude of an underactuated spacecraft that exploits two internal control torques provided by reaction wheels. The problem is challenging; for example, even in the zero total angular momentum case, no smooth or even continuous time-invariant feedback law for stabilizing a desired orientation exists. The method introduced here exploits the separation of the system states into inner-loop base variables and outer-loop fiber variables. The base variables track periodic reference trajectories, the amplitude of which is governed by parameters that are adjusted to induce an appropriate change in the fiber variables. Under suitable assumptions on the total angular momentum, this controller stabilizes an equilibrium that corresponds to a desired inertially fixed orientation. If the desired attitude violates the assumption on angular momentum, then controlled oscillations in a neighborhood around the target orientation are induced by the switching control...
A phase 1 study of adoptive transfer of autologous CD8+ T lymphocytes in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex or AIDS

Based on preclinical studies showing that CD8+ T lymphocytes of human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV)-infected subjects have anti-HIV activities, a phase 1 study was undertaken to determine the safety and feasibility of infusing in vitro purified, activated, and expanded CD8+ cells as a therapeutic measure in seven patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related complex (ARC) or AIDS. Autologous CD8+ cells were first selectively isolated in monoclonal antibody-coated flasks from peripheral blood mononuclear cells recovered by leukapheresis. They were then cultured and expanded with phytohemagglutinin and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) before infusion. Five cycles of isolations and infusions of increasing numbers of CD8+ T cells were achieved in five of seven subjects. Five cycles could not be completed in two subjects with AIDS whose CD4+ cell counts were < or = 48/microliters. Infusions of CD8+ cells alone were well tolerated. Four patients received rIL-2 by continuous infusion for 5 days with their final cycle of CD8+ cells. All developed reversible adverse effects attributable to rIL-2. After infusion, 111In-labeled CD8+ cells quickly accumulated in the lungs, with less than 10% of the labeled cells remaining in the circulation. After 24 hours, labeled CD8+ cells were reduced in the lungs, but increased and persisted in liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Four of five patients who were treated with multiple infusions of CD8+ cells have improved or remained clinically stable, and the fifth developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia but recovered. This study demonstrated that infusion of autologous, in vitro expanded and activated CD8+ cells was feasible and clinically well tolerated in five of seven subjects with advanced HIV infections.
Prevention of retrosternal adhesions after pericardiotomy.

Because repeat sternotomies are becoming much more prevalent with repeat coronary bypass operations, prevention of direct adhesions of the heart and grafts to the back of the sternum by use of synthetic or xenograft material to close the pericardiotomy has become a matter for investigation. In this study bovine and equine glutaraldehyde-processed xenografts were implanted bilaterally in dogs for implant intervals of 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The bovine and equine xenografts both performed well in resisting the adhesion of the heart to their inner surfaces and less well in resisting adhesion of the lung and chest wall to their outer surfaces. The bovine xenograft had a higher percentage of adhesion-free surface on all the surfaces evaluated; however, one of our 12-month bovine pericardial xenograft implants exhibited significant multifocal calcific degeneration. Although pericardial xenografts generally have performed well when implanted in the dog, Gallo, Artinano, and Duran recently expressed concern about their performance in humans. Along with our finding of calcification, their concern suggests a cautious approach to clinical application.
Breaking the Habit of “Treating” Menstruation

This article is a comment on Prior's (2016) article “Adolescents’ Use of Combined Hormonal Contraceptives for Menstrual Cycle–Related Problem Treatment and Contraception: Evidence of Potential Lifelong Negative Reproductive and Bone Effects.” In this article, I discuss the medicalization of normal menstrual cycle–related conditions and suggest that clinicians consider complementary/alternative methods (e.g., mindfulness-based stress reduction) to manage symptoms. I also challenge health care providers to think more frequently and extensively about social determinants of health (e.g., culture, socioeconomic status) and how they might affect the way that girls and women perceive the menstrual cycle and its concomitants. Thinking along these lines might result in non-pharmacologic but satisfactory treatment recommendations (e.g., exercise, stress management).
Gut microbiota and Toll-like receptors set the stage for cytokine-mediated failure of antibacterial responses in the fibrotic liver

The gut–liver axis is increasingly recognised as a key contributor to chronic liver disease. A failing gut barrier contributes to increased bacterial translocation, which results in an elevated risk of bacterial infection and a chronic inflammatory state that may promote the progression of chronic liver disease and the development of long-term complications such as fibrosis and HCC.1 ,2 The most important clinical consequence of increased translocation is acute bacterial infection, a common cause of hospital admissions and a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Moreover, bacterial infections can lead to acute decompensation, often triggering acute-on-chronic liver injury.3 On top of a leaky gut, patients with liver cirrhosis have severe defects in the innate immune system, affecting macrophages, neutrophils and the complement system.4 The liver itself represents an important immunological organ and is the first target of gut-derived bacteria, bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and food products after they enter the circulation. For this reason, 80% of the body's resident macrophages are found in the liver, where they act as an important component of a firewall, that protects the body from infection from circulating bacteria.5 Following infection, a large proportion of circulating bacteria are phagocytosed by Kupffer cells rather than in the spleen; ablation of macrophages severely hampers clearance of circulating bacteria.5 Together, these findings suggest that the liver rather than the spleen is the main organ involved in the clearance of circulating bacteria. Importantly, the presence of liver fibrosis severely hampers the clearance of circulating bacteria.5 However, the mechanisms that impair the clearance of circulating bacteria in the fibrotic liver remain largely unknown. Better knowledge of the underlying pathways may lead towards novel therapeutic targets for patients with advanced liver disease. In this issue, …
Synthesis and characterization of poly(3,5-didodecyl-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophen-4-one)

Abstract Different methods have been explored to synthesize the first soluble cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophen-4-one (CPDTO) homopolymer, poly(3,5-didodecylCPDTO), C12-PCPDTO. Oxidation of the monomer C12-CPDTO by FeCl3 only gave oligomers. Elemental and NMR analyses indicated that oligomers were chlorinated at the both ends. A mechanism is proposed to explain why chlorination is so problematic for oxidation polymerization of C12-CPDTO in comparison to 3-alkylthiophene. Dedoping of the oligomers was also investigated. Pd-catalyzed reaction of dibromo monomer and hexamethylditin yielded C12-PCPDTO-Sn with an Mw of 22,816. This polymer exhibits a bimodal distribution of molecular weight, which is rationalized by an analysis of relative reactivities of species present in the polymerization process. The optical bandgap is 1.85 eV in both chloroform solution and film, much larger than that of electrochemically synthesized unalkylated PCPDTO film. This is explained by poor backbone planarity as predicted by DFT calculation of C2-CPDTO oligomers. The efficient synthesis of the monomer and the polymer paves the way for future synthesis of soluble planar CPDTO homopolymers with alternating alkylated and non-alkylated CPDTO units.
‘Wo Ungesetz gesetzlich überwaltet’: Karl Kraus’s Reading of National Socialism

This article argues that Karl Kraus's last major work, the posthumously published essay Dritte Walpurgisnacht (1952), constitutes a significant political engagement with National Socialism, despite...
Theoretical convergence rate lower bounds for variants of coarse mesh finite difference to accelerate neutron transport calculations

The lower bounds for the theoretical convergence rate of variants of the Coarse Mesh Finite Difference (CMFD) method for neutron transport acceleration are studied in this paper by generalization o...
Surgical procedures of the elbow: A nationwide cross-sectional observational study in the United States

BACKGROUND: Elbow surgery is shared by several subspecialties. We were curious about the most common elbow surgeries and their corresponding diagnoses in the United States. METHODS: We used the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) and the National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery (NSAS) data gathered in 2006-databases that together provide an estimate of all inpatient and ambulatory surgical care in the US. RESULTS: An estimated 150,000 elbow surgeries were performed in the US in 2006, 75% in an outpatient setting. The most frequent diagnosis treated operative was enthesopathy (e.g. lateral epicondylitis) and it was treated with several different procedures. More than three quarters of all elbow surgeries treated enthesopathy, cubital tunnel syndrome, or fracture (radial head in particular). Arthroscopy and arthroplasty accounted for less than 10% of all elbow surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Elbow surgery in the United States primarily addresses enthesopathies such as tennis elbow, cubital tunnel syndrome, and trauma. It is notable that some of the most common elbow surgeries (those that address enthesopathy and radial head fracture) are some of the most variably utilized and debated.
Strategy Formulation and Performance: Evidence from Local Public Transit Agencies

Building on an initial stream of research on the relationship between strategy process and performance, this article analyzes the effect of strategic planning and logical incrementalism on the performance of 104 small and medium-size urban transit agencies in the United States. Data on strategy development were obtained through an online survey of agency managers, while objective performance data were drawn from the National Transit Database. Ordinary least squares regression models were used to test the effects of the two planning approaches and of the interaction between them in 2008, controlling for contextual and operational variables as well as performance in 2004. The results suggest that strategic planning exerts a positive influence on effectiveness and system productivity measures, but does not influence efficiency or cost-effectiveness measures. Logical incrementalism by itself appears to have a negative effect on the number of passenger trips per capita and transit system productivity measures....
Athlytics: Winning in Sports with Data

Data and analytics have been part of the sports industry from as early as the 1870s, when the first boxscore in baseball was recorded. However, it is only recently that advanced data mining and machine learning techniques have been utilized for facilitating the operations of sports franchises. While part of the reason is related with the ability to collect more fine-grained data, an equally important factor for this turn to analytics is the huge success and competitive advantage that early adopters of investment in analytics enjoyed(popularized by the best-seller -Moneyball? that described the success that Oakland Athletics had with analytics). Draft selection, game-day decision making and player evaluation are just a few of the applications where sports analytics play a crucial role today. Apart from the sports clubs, other stakeholders in the industry(e.g., the leagues' offices, media, etc.) invest in analytics. The leagues increasingly rely on data in order to decide on potential rule changes. For instance, the most recent rule change in NFL, i.e., the kickoff touchback, was a result of thorough data analysis of concussion instances. In this tutorial we will review the literature in data mining and machine learning techniques for sports analytics. We will introduce the audience to the design and methodologies behind advanced metrics such as the adjusted plus/minus for evaluating basketball players, spatial metrics for evaluating the ability of a player to spread the defense in basketball, and the Player Efficiency Rating(PER). We will also go in depth in advanced data mining methods, and in particular tensor mining, that can analyze heterogenous data similar to the ones available in today's sports world.
Inversion of Laplace Transforms

The problem of the inversion of Laplace transforms is a special case of integral equations of the first kind on the infinite interval (0, ∞). In these equations the free term F(s) is the Laplace transform of an unknown function f(t), 0 < t < ∞, where s is the variable of the transform. In this chapter we present different numerical methods for computing the function f(t) since it is known that this problem is ill-posed.
Challenges in access right assignment for secure home networks

The proliferation of advanced technologies has been altering our lifestyle and social interactions - the next frontier is the digital home. Although the future of smart homes is promising, many technical challenges must be addressed to achieve convenience and security. In this paper, we delineate the unique combination of security challenges specifically for access control and consider the challenges of how to simply and securely assign access control policies to visitors for home devices and resources. As an initial approach, we present a set of intuitive access control policies and suggest four access control settings based on our in-person interview results. We anticipate that future research can build on our proposed mechanisms to provide confidence to non-expert home owners for letting visitors use their home network.
Clinical Staging: Endoscopic Techniques

Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer benefit from neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy followed by either a sphincter-sparing operation or abdominoperineal resection. Clinical decisions regarding neoadjuvant therapy and type of surgical approach rely on accurate preoperative staging. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) are the main modalities used for staging rectal cancer. While each has its own advantages and disadvantages, ERUS is our preferred initial staging tool. It can be performed by surgeons, providing an office-based study with results and interpretation available during the patient’s visit. It is well tolerated by patients, and it requires minimal preparation and no sedation. The accuracy of ERUS, when utilized by an experienced practitioner, is 84% for assessing depth of tumor invasion and 74% for assessing nodal status.1 While ERUS is operator dependent, its accuracy can improve with experience and standardization.
Integrating -Omics Approaches into Human Population-Based Studies of Prenatal and Early-Life Exposures

We present the study design and methodological suggestions for population-based studies that integrate molecular -omics data and highlight recent studies that have used such data to examine the potential impacts of prenatal environmental exposures on fetal health. Epidemiologic studies have observed numerous relationships between prenatal exposures (smoking, toxic metals, endocrine disruptors) and fetal and early-life molecular profiles, though such investigations have so far been dominated by epigenomic association studies. However, recent transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies have demonstrated their promise for the identification of exposure and response biomarkers. Molecular -omics have opened new avenues of research in environmental health that can improve our understanding of disease etiology and contribute to the development of exposure and response biomarkers. Studies that incorporate multiple -omics data from different molecular domains in longitudinally collected samples hold particular promise.
Job Analysis and the DACUM Process

This chapter describes one of the most commonly requested work analysis techniques, job analysis. Job analysis is defined in this chapter and describes the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) technique in particular. DACUM has proven to be a relatively effective approach for conducting a job analysis as it relies upon a panel of subject-matter experts to come together to generate the duties and tasks of a job. The DACUM process also generates additional information about a job. The chapter provides a process for conducting a DACUM, and suggests that the role of the DACUM facilitator is critical for ensuring the effectiveness of the job analysis project. Many human resource development (HRD) professionals have heard of job analysis, and perhaps they have heard of the DACUM process as well. Unfortunately, many HRD professionals do not have experience in serving as a facilitator of the process.
Complications of Volar Locked Plating of Distal Radius Fractures: A Prospective Investigation of Modern Techniques.

Although volar locked plating (VLP) of distal radius fractures is common, complications remain a considerable concern for upper extremity specialists using modern techniques. Complications followin...
Bulk microstructures in bitumen and its influence on rheology

This paper summarizes the findings from a study conducted to closely examine the nature and influence of microstructures in asphalt binders on its rheological properties. A combination of rheological measurements, optical measurements using different techniques, and differential scanning calorimetry were used. Results show that microstructure on the surface of the binder commonly observed using devices such as the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is unique to the binder-air interface and different from the microstructure in the bulk of the binder. This study also quantitatively demonstrates the influence of the bulk microstructure on the rheological properties of the binder. A key conclusion of this study is that it is more critical to investigate and model the influence of the bulk microstructure as opposed to the surface microstructure.
Effects of Edoxaban on the Cellular and Protein Phase of Coagulation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease on Dual Antiplatelet Therapy with Aspirin and Clopidogrel: Results of the EDOX-APT Study.

In patients requiring dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) who also have an indication to be treated with oral anticoagulant (OAC) drugs, aspirin withdrawal reduces the risk of bleeding. There is limited data on the pharmacodynamic effects associated with adding a nonvitamin K antagonist OAC on a background of aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor as well as dropping aspirin. Seventy-five patients on DAPT (aspirin plus clopidogrel) were randomized to DAPT plus high-dose edoxaban (60 mg once daily, Group A), DAPT plus low-dose edoxaban (30 mg once daily, Group B), or DAPT only (Group C) for 10 ± 2 days (Phase I). Afterwards, Groups A and B interrupted aspirin and maintained clopidogrel plus edoxaban for 10 ± 2 days, while patients in Group C maintained DAPT (Phase II). Platelet aggregation and clot kinetics were assessed at baseline, end of Phase I, and end of Phase II using thrombelastography (TEG), light transmittance aggregometry (LTA), VerifyNow P2Y12, and serum thromboxane-B2. The primary endpoint was the comparison of maximum amplitude (MA) measured by TEG, a measure of clot strength, between patients on DAPT plus high-dose edoxaban and patients on DAPT only. Edoxaban prolonged in a dose-dependent manner speed of thrombin generation (TEG R; Group A: 7.7 [6.8–8.7] vs. Group B: 7.4 [6.4–8.5] vs. Group C: 6.3 [5.7–7.0]; p = 0.05) but did not affect other markers of clot kinetics, including TEG MA (Group A: 63 [61–64] vs. Group B: 65 [63–67] vs. Group C: 64 [63–65]; p = 0.10). After aspirin discontinuation, platelet reactivity assessed by LTA using thrombin receptor activating peptide as agonist increased to a greater extent with low-dose edoxaban. Stopping aspirin did not affect markers of P2Y12 reactivity and had no or marginal effects on clot kinetics, but increased markers sensitive to cyclooxygenase-1 blockade.
Multiscale trends and precipitation extremes in the Central American Midsummer Drought

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the timing and intensity of the Central American Midsummer Drought (MSD) may be changing, while observations from limited meteorological station data and paleoclimate reconstructions show neither significant nor consistent trends in seasonal rainfall. Climate model simulations project robust future drying across the region, but internal variability is expected to dominate until the end of the century. Here we use a high resolution gridded precipitation dataset to investigate these apparent discrepancies and to quantify the spatiotemporal complexities of the MSD. We detect spatially variable trends in MSD timing, the amount of rainy season precipitation, the number of consecutive and total dry days, and extreme wet events at the local scale. At the regional scale, we find a positive trend in the duration, but not the magnitude of the MSD, which is dominated by spatially heterogeneous trends and interannual variability linked to large-scale modes of ocean-atmosphere circulation. Although the current climate still reflects predominantly internal variability, some Central American communities are already experiencing significant changes in local characteristics of the MSD. A detailed spatiotemporal understanding of MSD trends and variability can contribute to evidence-based adaptation planning and help reduce the vulnerability of Central American communities to both natural rainfall variability and anthropogenic change.
Subordinating Intelligence: The DoD/CIA Post-Cold War Relationship

What is the most effective relationship between the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense? Army LTC David Oakley, an assistant professor at National Defense University’s College...
11 – Orientation Mapping

This article is intended to acquaint the reader with the basic techniques that are currently available for acquiring maps of materials microstructure based on crystallographic orientation. Examples are given of the applications of the techniques with the aim of stimulating the imagination of the reader. Many readers will be familiar with the electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) method because of its general availability but there is a wide variety of available methods, each of which is best suited to certain problems. All methods rely on generating diffraction patterns via the interaction of electrons or X-rays with (polycrystalline) matter. In some cases, especially electrons, patterns from individual crystallites are required whereas in others, especially with X-rays, overlapping patterns must be disaggregated. A working knowledge of the methods used to describe orientations is assumed. Likewise, a knowledge of the physics that governs the interaction of electrons or X-rays with matter is assumed and the origins of the diffraction patterns used in the methods described are not explained. Neutron diffraction is not included here because the method cannot afford sufficient spatial resolution to be useful for mapping. For the most part, the methods produce maps with the orientation specified at points on a regular grid. In general, the electron diffraction-based methods provide a direct measurement at each grid point whereas in the X-ray methods, the gridded map is derived from other diffraction data.
Rapid Community Innovation: a Small Urban Liberal Arts Community Response to COVID-19

Stories of community resilience and rapid innovation have emerged during the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. As communities, organizations, and individuals have had to shift modalities during the pandemic, they have identified ways to sustain community well-being. Prior to COVID-19, colleges and universities were hailed as anchors of economic and social resilience and well-being for communities of place. In this light, this commentary highlights stories of rapid community innovation occurring at Hobart & William Smith Colleges in the Finger Lakes region of New York. A series of vignettes are presented showcasing lessons and on-going questions regarding rapid pivots, community values, and diversity and inclusion during (and after) the pandemic. Overall, these insights can inform future local collaborative development efforts post-COVID-19 between colleges/universities and their local community.
Oral History, Community, and Work in the American West . Edited by Jessie L. Embry.

In this anthology, editor Jessie L. Embry provides an assortment of oral history case studies that delve into ideas and issues surrounding labor and community in the American West. The fifteen-chap...
Persistence of symptoms up to 10 months following acute COVID-19 illness

ImportanceCOVID-19 symptoms are increasingly recognized to persist among a subset of individual following acute infection, but features associated with this persistence are not well-understood. ObjectiveWe aimed to identify individual features that predicted persistence of symptoms over at least 2 months at the time of survey completion. Design: Non-probability internet survey. Participants were asked to identify features of acute illness as well as persistence of symptoms at time of study completion. We used logistic regression models to examine association between sociodemographic and clinical features and persistence of symptoms at or beyond 2 months. SettingTen waves of a fifty-state survey between June 13, 2020 and January 13, 2021. Participants6,211 individuals who reported symptomatic COVID-19 illness confirmed by positive test or clinician diagnosis. Exposuresymptomatic COVID-19 illness ResultsAmong 6,211 survey respondents reporting COVID-19 illness, with a mean age of 37.8 (SD 12.2) years and 45.1% female, 73.9% white, 10.0% Black, 9.9% Hispanic, and 3.1% Asian, a total of 4946 (79.6%) had recovered within less than 2 months, while 491 (7.9%) experienced symptoms for 2 months or more. Of the full cohort, 3.4% were symptomatic for 4 months or more and 2.2% for 6 months or more. In univariate analyses, individuals with persistent symptoms on average reported greater initial severity. In logistic regression models, older age was associated with greater risk of persistence (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-1.19 for each decade beyond 40); otherwise, no significant associations with persistence were identified for gender, race/ethnicity, or income. Presence of headache was significantly associated with greater likelihood of persistence (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11-1.86), while fever was associated with diminished likelihood of persistence (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.53-0.83). Conclusion and RelevanceA subset of individuals experience persistent symptoms from 2 to more than 10 months after acute COVID-19 illness, particularly those who recall headache and absence of fever. In light of this prevalence, strategies for predicting and managing such sequelae are needed. Trial RegistrationNA Key PointsO_ST_ABSQuestionC_ST_ABSWhich individuals are at greatest risk for post-acute sequelae of COVID-19? FindingsIn this non-probability internet survey, among 6,211 individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 illness, 7.9% experienced persistence of symptoms lasting 2 months or longer. Older age, but not other sociodemographic features, was associated with risk for persistence, as was headache. MeaningIdentifying individuals at greater risk for symptomatic persistence may facilitate development of targeted interventions.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV): A Silent but Widespread Threat.

This review is aimed at highlighting recent research and articles on the complicated relationship between virus, vector, and host and how biosurveillance at each level informs disease spread and risk. While human cases of CCHFV and tick identification in non-endemic areas in 2019–2020 were reported to sites such as ProMed, there is a gap in recent published literature on these and broader CCHFV surveillance efforts from the late 2010s. A review of the complex aspects of CCHFV maintenance in the environment coupled with high fatality rate and lack of vaccines and therapeutics warrants the need for a One-Health approach toward detection and increased biosurveillance programs for CCHFV.
Social self-efficacy and sexual communication among adolescents in the United States: a cross-sectional study.

Background Sexual communication between partners is associated with safer sex behaviours, including condom use among adolescents. Several studies have found a relationship between negative psychological constructs (e.g. depression, anxiety) and poor sexual communication; however, scant research exists regarding positive psychological constructs and their potential to promote effective sexual communication among adolescents. This study examined the association between a positive construct, social self-efficacy – a person’s belief in their ability to successfully manage social relationships – and three components of sexual communication: sexual assertiveness, self-efficacy for communication, and frequency of sexual communication with dating partners. Methods: Data were collected in a cross-sectional survey from 222 high school girls in a rural school district in the south-eastern United States (Mage = 15.2; 38% White, 29% Latina, 24% Black; 50% were in a dating relationship in the past 3 months). Variables were measured with Likert-type scales. Bivariate correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Results: Social self-efficacy was significantly positively associated with sexual assertiveness and sexual communication self-efficacy for all girls, and there was a positive trend in the relationship between social self-efficacy and communication frequency among the subsample of girls who had a dating partner. The significant relationship with sexual assertiveness (β = 0.22, s.e. = 0.07, P = 0.001) and sexual communication self-efficacy (β = 0.17, s.e. = 0.04, P = 0.013) remained when controlling for sexual activity status. Conclusions: Strengthening social self-efficacy may enhance girls’ sexual communication and assertiveness skills. Future studies are needed to confirm the causal and temporal nature of these associations.
The Cx43 Carboxyl-Terminal Mimetic Peptide αCT1 Protects Endothelial Barrier Function in a ZO1 Binding-Competent Manner

The Cx43 carboxyl-terminus (CT) mimetic peptide, αCT1, originally designed to bind to Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO1) and thereby inhibit Cx43/ZO1 interaction, was used as a tool to probe the role of Cx43/ZO1 association in regulation of epithelial/endothelial barrier function. Using both in vitro and ex vivo methods of barrier function measurement, including Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS), a TRITC-dextran Transwell permeability assay, and a FITC-dextran cardiovascular leakage protocol involving Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts, αCT1 was found to protect the endothelium from thrombin-induced breakdown in cell-cell contacts. Barrier protection was accompanied by significant remodeling of the F-actin cytoskeleton, characterized by a redistribution of F-actin away from the cytoplasmic and nuclear regions of the cell, towards the endothelial cell periphery, in association with alterations in cellular chiral orientation distribution. In line with observations of increased cortical F-actin, αCT1 upregulated cell-cell border localization of endothelial VE-cadherin, the tight junction protein Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO1), and the Gap Junction Protein (GJ) Connexin43 (Cx43). A ZO1 binding-incompetent variant of αCT1, αCT1-I, indicated that these effects on barrier function and barrier-associated proteins, were likely associated with Cx43 CT sequences retaining ability to interact with ZO1. These results implicate the Cx43 CT and its interaction with ZO1, in the regulation of endothelial barrier function, while revealing the therapeutic potential of αCT1 in the treatment of vascular edema.
Patch-Clamp Techniques and Analysis

Publisher Summary Patch-clamp technique revolutionized electrophysiology by revealing the activity of individual molecular ion channels involved in electrical signaling in excitable cells. This chapter focuses on the technique and its application in studies of single channels or unitary conductance. It describes different variations of the patch-clamp technique, that is, cell-attached, inside-out, and outside-out, and its modifications as used in the study of single-channel currents. It also explains the more commonly used application of whole-cell voltage clamp and its variation, and the perforated-patch methods that examine macroscopic currents. Although whole-cell recording provides information of the gating properties and kinetic characteristics of the channel protein, single-channel recordings allow a more detailed evaluation of the kinetic properties of the channel protein. The different variations or modes of patch recordings permit the experimenter to alter the environment and examine the gating and behavior of a single-channel protein. Another variation of the patch-clamp technique, the whole-cell tight-seal voltage clamp, proves to be particularly useful for the study of macroscopic currents. As this method is applicable to small cells, it opens up a new vista for experimentation, allowing experimenters to examine currents in cells that were previously not accessible to recording with conventional sharp-tipped electrodes.
Thermal proximity sensing for hard disks

In this paper, we have demonstrated a new technique to detect and image defects on a disk surface using product data heads.
Strategic self-interest can explain seemingly “fair” offers in the Ultimatum Game

Behavioral and economic analysis of law fundamentally depends on understanding what motivates individual actors. While it is often assumed that people care only about maximizing their own monetary payoff, recent experimental work has challenged this assumption. A canonical example involves experiments using the “Ultimatum Game”, which consistently find much higher rates of equitable bargaining behavior than would be expected based on rational self-interest. It has been argued that this prevalence of equitable offers in one-shot anonymous interactions is at least partially explained by proposers having a preference for fair outcomes. We, however, argue that equitable offers in the Ultimatum Game can be entirely explained by the strategic reasoning of rational self-interested proposers. We introduce a modified version of the game in which prosocial motivations related to fairness are completely removed. In our experiment, the only reason to make a non-zero offer is the strategic desire to avoid one’s proposal being rejected by one’s counterparty. We find no significant difference in offers between this design and a standard ultimatum game. These results indicate that self-interest alone is sufficient to explain the observed equitable offers, and call into question the sentiment that innate generosity can be even partially relied upon as a motivator in the context of inherently adversarial bargaining interactions.
The Changing Population of China. Edited by Peng Xizhe and Guo Zhigang. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishers, Inc., 2000. $29.95.

1. Introduction.2. Trends and Geographic Differentials in Mortality: Hao Hongsheng. 3. Trends and Regional Differentials in Fertility Transition: Tu Ping.4. Health and Health Care in Transition: Tang Shenglan.5. Population Policy and Family Planning Programme: Xie Zhenmin.6. Age and Sex Structures: Li Yongping & Peng Xizhe.7. Population Aging and Old Age Security: Du Peng and Tu Ping.8. Marriage Patterns: Zeng Yi.9. Family Patterns: Guo Zhigang.10. Education: Peng Xizhe.11. Employment: Zuo Xuejin.12. Female Population: Tan Lin and Peng Xizhe.13. Urbanization: Zhong Fenggan.14. Floating Population and Internal Migration in China: Sun Changmin.15. International Migration Patterns: Ye Wenzhen.16. Ethnic Population: Du Peng.17. Population and Environment in China: Dai Xingyi.18. Population of China: Prospects and Challenges: Zhai Zhenwu.19. The Distribution of China's Population and Its Changes: Wang Guixin.20. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Waves of Chinese Immigrants and their Children: Lui Ping-keung.Index.