cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using daily diaries to study family settings, emotions, and health in everyday life

Despite well documented links between family functioning and long-term physical health problems, prior studies using cross-sectional, laboratory, or traditional longitudinal designs are limited in their ability to address everyday family encounters, emotions, biological processes, and physical health. Here, we describe our ongoing study of family settings and upper respiratory infections (URIs) to demonstrate the value of daily diary approaches. Families completed a daily diary assessing social interactions within and outside the family, daily mood, health behaviors, and URIs every day for two months. We collected objective assessments of URI symptoms when parents or children reported they were sick. This paper demonstrates feasibility in terms of compliance and acceptance by families, and describes methods for assessing URI symptoms and episodes.
SPOILAGE OF ANCHOVY‐STUFFED OLIVES BY HETEROFERMENTATIVE LACTOBACILLI

An unusual type of spoilage was encountered in canned green olives stuffed with anchovies. The spoilage was characterized by a gradual decrease in acidity of the olive brine from about pH 4.3 to 5.25 and a swelling of the cans caused by CO2. Spoilage of the product was caused by decomposition of the anchovies by proteolytic enzyme action, with subsequent decarboxylation and deamination of amino acids from the anchovies by heterofermentative lactobacilli. This type of spoilage, known as “protein swells”, occurs with canned fish marinades but, to our knowledge, does not occur with other acidified canned foods.
Materials Fabricated by Micro- and Nanoparticle Assembly ― The Challenging Path from Science to Engineering

and strategies for the assembly of particle structures classified on the basis of their dimensionality. We survey the potential areas of application of the structures assembled from particles, and discuss why the technological potential of these structures is at present largely unrealized. Many of the challenges in the area of nanocolloidal assembly relate to the development of assembly processes that are scalable, controllable, rapid, and inexpensive. The power and versatility of colloidal-particle assemblies are best illustrated by the vast number of structures and strategies for their fabrication reported in the literature. A convenient way to classify the majority of the colloidal assemblies could be based on their dimensionality and degree of ordering ‐ three, two, one-dimensional, or independent clusters. In order to evaluate the ease and precision of the controlled fabrication of such materials, we also need to analyze in each case the physical principles by which a certain structure is assembled. The assembly can be accomplished by an extensive array of techniques based on numerous physical mechanisms. A survey of a few major groups of methods that have found use in the controlled assembly of particles into materials with well-organized and defined microstructures is presented in Table 1. The goal of these techniques is to collect the particles,
The role of suspended particulate matter in 234Th scavenging and 234Th-derived export fluxes of POC in the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean

Abstract The concentration and composition of suspended particulate matter (SPM) plays a major role in the removal of particle-reactive nuclides in the ocean. In the Arctic Ocean, SPM concentrations in the deep basins vary widely, over an order of magnitude. Unique features, such as the presence and release of algae from sea ice to the upper waters may result in differing scavenging behavior of suspended particulate matter. In this study, we collected a suite of water samples across a horizontal transect in the western Arctic Ocean, from the coast to the deep Canada Basin, and measured concentrations of SPM, particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen, and activities of dissolved and particulate 234Th. Our data indicate that the concentrations and inventories of SPM is about an order of magnitude higher than those reported for the permanently ice-covered Arctic region, but comparable to the value reported recently for another deep station in the Canada Basin. There is disequilibrium between 238U and total 234Th in the upper waters (∼100 m) indicating active scavenging in the deep basins. Variations in the specific activity of 234Th in the upper ∼100 m indicate differences in the remineralization rates in the deep Canada Basin. Plots between particulate and dissolved removal rate constants and SPM indicate that the biochemical composition of particulate matter could play a significant role on the removal rates of Th. The POC export rate calculated for the upper 50 m of the deep Canada Basin was found to be 1.4 mmol m−2 day−1. The residence times and removal fluxes of particulate and dissolved 234Th calculated for the upper 50 m in our study is compared to the calculated values from published data for other regions in the Arctic Ocean.
14-3-3σ Mediation of Cell Cycle Progression Is p53-independent in Response to Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Receptor Activation

We investigated the role of 14-3-3sigma protein in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptor signaling. It has been previously shown that 14-3-3sigma negatively regulates cell cycle especially in response to p53-sensitive DNA damage. In this study we demonstrated that 14-3-3sigma is a positive mediator of IGF-I receptor-induced cell proliferation. Treatment with IGF-I increased 14-3-3sigma mRNA and protein levels about 4-fold, in a time-dependent manner in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Preincubation with the phosphoinositide 3'-kinase inhibitor LY294002 significantly reduced the effects of IGF-I on 14-3-3sigma gene expression in these cells, suggesting that this effect of IGF-I occurs via the phosphoinositide 3'-kinase pathway. 14-3-3sigma is induced by IGF-I in MCF-7 cells, which express wild-type p53, as well as in MCF-7 cells transfected with a small interference RNA targeting duplex that reduced p53 expression levels. These results suggest that IGF-I induces 14-3-3sigma expression in a manner that is independent of p53. Using the small interference RNA strategy, we demonstrated that a 70-75% reduction of 14-3-3sigma mRNA levels resulted in a similar decrease in the effects of IGF-I on cell cycle progression and proliferation in MCF-7 cells. This effect was also associated with a reduction in IGF-I-induced cyclin D1 expression. Taken together, these results suggest that 14-3-3sigma positively mediates IGF-I-induced cell cycle progression.
Statistical Timing Analysis using Levelized Covariance Propagation

Variability in process parameters is making accurate timing analysis of nanoscale integrated circuits an extremely challenging task. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for statistical timing analysis using levelized covariance propagation (LCP). The algorithm simultaneously considers the impact of random placement of dopants (which makes every transistor in a die independent in terms of threshold voltage) and the spatial correlation of the process parameters such as channel length, transistor width and oxide thickness due to the intra-die variations. It also considers the signal correlation due to reconvergent paths in the circuit. Results on several benchmark circuits in 70 nm technology show an average of 0.21 % and 1.07 % errors in mean and the standard deviation, respectively, in timing analysis using the proposed technique compared to the Monte-Carlo analysis.
OLAP-based Scalable Profiling of Customer Behavior

Profiling customers' behavior has become increasingly important for many applications such as fraud detection, targeted marketing and promotion. Customer behavior profiles are created from very large collections of transaction data. This has motivated us to develop a data-warehouse and OLAP based, scalable and flexible profiling engine. We define profiles by probability distributions, and compute them using OLAP operations on multidimensional and multilevel data cubes. Our experience has revealed the simplicity and power of OLAP-based solutions to scalable profiling and pattern analysis.
A Biomechanical Model of the Foot: The Role of Muscles, Tendons, and Ligaments

A biomechanical model of the foot is developed and analyzed to determine the distribution of support under the metatarsal heads, the tension in the plantar aponeurosis, and the bending moment at each of the joints of the foot. This model is an extension of our earlier work to include the role of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Two cases are presented: in the first the center of gravity of the body is over the mid foot, and in the second, the center of gravity is anterior, over the metatarsals, and no support is provided by the heel. The model shows the extent to which the muscles reduce the force in the supporting ligaments at each of the joints and decrease the tension in the plantar aponeurosis, and that this effect is more pronounced when the center of gravity of the body is moved forward.
The regulation of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in endothelial cells by sex hormones

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone on secretion of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 by cultured endothelial cells. STUDY DESIGN: Bovine aortic endothelial cells were cultured in medium that contained 17β-estradiol, progesterone, or testosterone at various concentrations (10 −13 to 10 −6 mol/L). Plasminogen activator activity in culture medium in the presence of cells was assayed after a 36-hour incubation using chromogenic substrate and iodine 125-labeled fibrin plate assays. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 antigen was detected in conditioned media of bovine aortic endothelial cells by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: All three steroid hormone exhibited biphasic dose-response effects, characterized by stimulation of plasminogen activator secretion at lower concentrations and inhibition of plasminogen activator secretion at higher concentrations. A significant stimulatory effect on plasminogen activator secretion (74% over control) was observed at a 17β-estradiol concentration of 10 −12 mol/L ( p p −12 mol/L and were maximal at 10 −7 mol/L 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. CONCLUSION: The secretion of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibit type 1 is regulated in a biphasic dose-dependent manner by sex hormones in bovine aortic endothelial cells.
Lambda Interferon Inhibits Hepatitis B and C Virus Replication

Lambda interferon (IFN-λ) induces an intracellular IFN-α/β-like antiviral response through a receptor complex distinct from the IFN-α/β receptor. We therefore determined the ability of IFN-λ to inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. IFN-λ inhibits HBV replication in a differentiated murine hepatocyte cell line with kinetics and efficiency similar to IFN-α/β and does not require the expression of IFN-α/β or IFN-γ. Furthermore, IFN-λ blocked the replication of a subgenomic and a full-length genomic HCV replicon in human hepatocyte Huh7 cells. These results suggest the possibility that IFN-λ may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of chronic HBV or HCV infection.
Stress-Induced Pulse Pressure Change Predicts Women’s Carotid Atherosclerosis

Background and Purpose—Individuals who exhibit large increases in blood pressure and heart rate during mental stress may be at risk for accelerated atherosclerosis. This report evaluates the association between stress-induced hemodynamic responses and carotid atherosclerosis in 254 healthy postmenopausal women. Methods—The magnitude of change in blood pressure and heart rate from rest to public speaking and mirror image tracing, two stressful tasks, was measured. Average intima-media thickness (IMT) and focal plaque in the common carotid artery, bulb, and internal carotid artery were measured with the use of duplex ultrasonography on average 2.3 years later. Results—The average IMT was 0.77 mm, with a range of 0.60 to 1.37; 52.5% had at least one plaque. Correlational analysis showed that greater IMT was associated with greater pulse pressure change during mental stress (r=0.17, P<0.01). Statistical adjustments for possible confounders (age, hormone replacement therapy use, resting pulse pressure, smoking...
CXCR4 and a cell-extrinsic mechanism control immature B lymphocyte egress from bone marrow.

Leukocyte residence in lymphoid organs is controlled by a balance between retention and egress-promoting chemoattractants sensed by pertussis toxin (PTX)–sensitive Gαi protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here, we use two-photon intravital microscopy to show that immature B cell retention within bone marrow (BM) was strictly dependent on amoeboid motility mediated by CXCR4 and CXCL12 and by α4β1 integrin–mediated adhesion to VCAM-1. However, B lineage cell egress from BM is independent of PTX-sensitive GPCR signaling. B lineage cells expressing PTX rapidly exited BM even though their motility within BM parenchyma was significantly reduced. Our experiments reveal that when immature B cells are near BM sinusoids their motility is reduced, their morphology is predominantly rounded, and cells reverse transmigrate across sinusoidal endothelium in a largely nonamoeboid manner. Immature B cell egress from BM was dependent on a twofold CXCR4 down-regulation that was antagonized by antigen-induced BCR signaling. This passive mode of cell egress from BM also contributes significantly to the export of other hematopoietic cells, including granulocytes, monocytes, and NK cells, and is reminiscent of erythrocyte egress.
Residual Attributable Mortality, a New Concept for Understanding the Value of Antibiotics in Treating Life-Threatening Acute Infections

Crude mortality has been a longstanding measure of the outcome of severe acute infections. Nevertheless, it has been recognized that this outcome in populations is the sum of the effect of the patients’ underlying diseases plus the effect of the infections. The term attributable mortality is an
Antibiotic prophylaxis: is there a difference?

Seven antibiotics, administered in 10 different regimens for prophylaxis, were randomly assigned to 1580 patients who were delivered by cesarean section. Cefazolin 1 gm, administered for three doses, served as the control group. Cefazolin 1 gm, cefazolin 2 gm, cefoxitin 1 gm, cefoxitin 2 gm, cefonicid 1 gm, cefotetan 1 gm, ceftizoxime 1 gm, ampicillin 2 gm, and piperacillin 4 gm were all administered in a single dose. Four antibiotics proved to be superior in preventing postpartum endometritis: ampicillin 2 gm (p = 0.03), cefazolin 2 gm (p = 0.005), piperacillin 4 gm (p = 0.0007), and cefotetan 1 gm (p = 0.0001). Single-dose cephalosporin antibiotic prophylaxis was found to result in approximately a twofold increase in Enterococcus faecalis colonization of the vagina (p less than 0.01). This may be significant in patients in whom postpartum endometritis develops and who have failure of initial treatment with a broad-spectrum cephalosporin, e.g., cefoxitin or cefotetan, or a combination such as clindamycin or metronidazole plus an aminoglycoside. Rupture of amniotic membranes for a half hour or more was associated with an increased risk for postpartum endometritis. The use of internal fetal monitoring was associated with an increased risk of soft tissue pelvic infection.
Characterising and minimising sources of error in inertial body sensor networks

Body sensor network BSN applications depend on accurate and precise data from body-worn devices, but issues related to sensor variations, body mounting variations, integration drift and node-to-node synchronisation can dramatically impact the quality and reliability of collected data and, ultimately, application fidelity. Characterising and addressing these sources of error which are both static and dynamic e.g. sensors suffer from static manufacturing variability and dynamic environmental impacts - within the context of application requirements is therefore necessary for the viability of such applications. This work characterises and addresses errors related to node synchronisation, sensor and mounting calibration and integration drift on a case study application - knee joint angle as measured during walking by the TEMPO 3.1 inertial BSN platform. Using the Vicon® optical motion capture system to provide ground truth, synchronisation, calibration and drift error are quantied, and the efficacy of solutions for reducing such errors is evaluated.
The Increasing Protection of Marriage on Infant Low Birth Weight Across Two Generations of African American Women

This study used data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) on two generations of African American women who gave birth from 1967 to 2005 to describe changing relationships between marital status and low birth weight (LBW) across the generations. An increasing protection of marriage on infant LBW across the two generations was found after adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic confounding factors via (a) logistic regression using generalized estimating equations, (b) propensity score analyses taking into account the differential distribution of confounders across the generations, and (c) sensitivity analyses that adjusted for childhood health of the mother prior to marriage. Intergenerational findings also suggest that marriage across generations was most protective against infant LBW; the lowest risk for LBW was found among women who were both married when they gave birth to their infants and had mothers who were married at the time they themselves were born.
Meristem identity gene expression during curd proliferation and flower initiation in Brassica oleracea

The regulation of reproductive development in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis DC) and broccoli (B. oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) is unusual in that most enlargement occurs while development is arrested at a distinct stage. Cauliflower and broccoli curds are composed of inflorescence meristems and flower buds, respectively. To determine whether this arrest is maintained by altered expression of the genes that specify these steps in Arabidopsis, the expression of each copy of their homologues (MADS-box genes BoAP1-a, BoAP1-c, BoCAL, BoFUL-a, BoFUL-b, BoFUL-c, and BoFUL-d; and non-MADS-box genes BoLFY, AP2, UFO, and BoTFL1) and the cauliflower curd-specific genes CCE1 and BoREM1 were measured simultaneously in heads that were arrested at different developmental stages by varying temperature, but had a common genotype. Transcript abundance of BoFUL paralogues and BoLFY was highest at the cauliflower stage of arrest, consistent with these genes initiating inflorescence meristems. The expression of other genes was the same regardless of the developmental stage of arrest. The expected models can therefore be excluded, wherein maintenance of arrest at the inflorescence meristem is a consequence of suppression of BoCAL, BoAP1-a, or BoLFY, or failure to suppress BoTFL1. Floral primordia and floral buds were normal in boap1-a boap1-c bocal triple mutants; therefore, other meristem identity genes can specify floral initiation (A-function) in B. oleracea. BoTFL1, a strong repressor of flowering in Arabidopsis, did not suppress the formation of the floral primordium in B. oleracea. Initiation of floral primordia and enlargement of floral buds in broccoli and cauliflower is not controlled solely by homologues of the genes that do so in Arabidopsis.
Frequency of EGFR and KRAS mutations in patients with non small cell lung cancer by racial background: Do disparities exist?

Introduction Mutations in EGFR and KRAS can impact treatment decisions for patients with NSCLC. The incidence of these mutations varies, and it is unclear whether there is a decreased frequency among African Americans (AfAs).
Fecal shedding of Salmonella by a cohort of finishing pigs in North Carolina

Summary This longitudinal case study investigated patterns of Salmonella shedding in a cohort of 41 finishing pigs in a finishing barn managed all-in‐all-out. Drag swab samples of the finishing barn floor were collected 1 day before placement of pigs (day 0). Individual fecal samples, pooled pen fecal samples, and feed samples were collected on study days 2, 37, and 78. All samples were cultured for Salmonella using selective enrichment. Serotypes isolated were Salmonella serotype Derby, Salmonella serotype Typhimurium (Copenhagen), Salmonella serotype Heidelberg, Salmonella serotype Typhimurium, and Salmonella serotype Mbandaka. Salmonella Mbandaka and Salmonella Typhimurium (Copenhagen) were isolated from floor swabs prior to pig placement. The serotype profiles determined in both individual pig samples and pooled pen fecal samples were similar and changed markedly from day 2 postplacement, when Salmonella Derby comprised 63% of isolates from pigs, to day 78 post placement, when Salmonella Typhimurium comprised 87% of isolates from pigs. The Salmonella status of finishing pigs is dynamic and our observations support previous studies that indicate that infection during the finishing phase may be the major source of Salmonella found in market-age hogs.
Interval colorectal carcinoma: An unsolved debate

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC), as the third most common new cancer diagnosis, poses a significant health risk to the population. Interval CRCs are those that appear after a negative screening test or examination. The development of interval CRCs has been shown to be multifactorial: location of exam-academic institution versus community hospital, experience of the endoscopist, quality of the procedure, age of the patient, flat versus polypoid neoplasia, genetics, hereditary gastrointestinal neoplasia, and most significantly missed or incompletely excised lesions. The rate of interval CRCs has decreased in the last decade, which has been ascribed to an increased understanding of interval disease and technological advances in the screening of high risk individuals. In this article, we aim to review the literature with regard to the multifactorial nature of interval CRCs and provide the most recent developments regarding this important gastrointestinal entity.
Analysis and simulation for a model of electron impact excitation/deexcitation and ionization/recombination

This paper describes a kinetic model and a corresponding Monte Carlo simulation method for excitation/deexcitation and ionization/recombination by electron impact in a plasma free of external fields. The atoms and ions in the plasma are represented by continuum densities and the electrons by a particle distribution. A Boltzmann-type equation is formulated and a corresponding H-theorem is formally derived. An efficient Monte Carlo method is developed for an idealized analytic model of the excitation and ionization collision cross sections. To accelerate the simulation, the reduced rejection method and binary search method are used to overcome the singular rate in the recombination process. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the method on spatially homogeneous problems. The evolution of the electron distribution function and atomic states is studied, revealing the possibility under certain circumstances of system relaxation towards stationary states that are not the equilibrium states, a potential non-ergodic behavior.
Dilution Revisited: A First Look at the Trademark Dilution Revision Act

Dilution results when another's commercial use of the same or similar famous mark weakens its distinctiveness or tarnishes it. On October 6, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Trademark Dilution Revision Act (TDRA), which significantly amended the Federal Trademark Dilution Act with the intent of clarifying the ambit of protection afforded to famous marks under federal law. This article examines the revisions to trademark dilution law brought about by the TDRA, and considers other questions that may arise under its provisions. In addition, this article will draw comparisons to corresponding provisions of the Pennsylvania Anti-Dilution Act3 to contrast similarities and differences between state law and the TDRA.
Selective killing of hypoxic tumor cells by water soluble analogs of 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-[[1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl]hydrazine (KS119)

5888 Eradication of solid tumors requires strategies that address the viable populations of malignant cells within hypoxic regions of such tumors. An insufficient and poorly organized vasculature, a major characteristic of rapidly growing tumor masses, results in poor oxygenation, high interstitial pressure, and a population of cells that are hypoxic, quiescent or slowly cycling, and distal to the blood supply, thus being difficult to reach with cytotoxic levels of drugs. After treatment with oxygen-dependent cytotoxins such as x-irradiation and conventional chemotherapeutics that target the well oxygenated, rapidly growing portion of the tumor mass, the resistant hypoxic cell fraction can repopulate the tumor. Oxygen concentrations in human tumors vary considerably, with many regions measured at an oxygen partial pressure of less than 5 mmHg (less than 0.7% oxygen). Prodrugs that act as hypoxia-selective cytotoxins generally must be substrates for one electron reductases such as NADPH:cytochrome (P450) reductase. KS119 readily undergoes enzymatic one electron nitro reduction, yielding a nitro radical anion that, in the presence of oxygen, is rapidly oxidized to regenerate the parental molecule. However, under hypoxic conditions, the reaction cascade liberates the DNA alkylating species 90CE (1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazine). The selective toxicity of KS119 and its water soluble analog KS119W to hypoxic cells was evaluated with EMT6 murine mammary carcinoma cells exposed to graded concentrations of drug at 0.1% oxygen for two hours or graded concentration of oxygen at fixed concentrations of drug. The results indicate that KS119 and KS119W selectively kill hypoxic cells, producing 4-5 logs of cell kill at 0.1% oxygen and pharmacologically relevant concentrations (10-25 μM) of drug. Moreover, both drugs are active at a broad range of sub-physiological oxygen concentrations that are relevant to hypoxic regions of human solid tumors with virtually no cell kill at normal, physiological levels of oxygen. Both drugs are more cytotoxic to hypoxic Chinese Hamster ovary cell lines overexpressing human NADPH:cytochrome (P450) reductase, suggesting that this enzyme contributes to the bioreductive activation of these agents.
Predictors of dual arrest for offenders involved in heterosexual domestic violence arrests

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of extra-legal and legal predictors on dual arrest outcome for men and women arrested for domestic violence. Design/methodology/approach – This study analyzed 4,163 heterosexual domestic violence incidents over a five-year period (2002-2006). Using bivariate analyses and gender-stratified logistic regression this study: identified the variables associated with dual arrest; identified the extra-legal and legal predictors’ of dual arrest; and determined whether there were significant differences between police dispositions of women and men. Findings – Bivariate analyses indicated that women were more likely to be dually arrested than men. For women, logistic regression analyses indicated who contacted the police increased their likelihood of dual arrest. For men, logistic regression analysis indicated being a victim in a prior domestic violence, who used alcohol and/or drugs, who contacted the police, and seriousness of incident impacted their...
Arbeit mit der Gemeinde (Röm 16.6, 12). Zur versunkenen Möglichkeit der Gemeindeleitung durch Frauen

Seit Adolf von Harnack wird die Bedeutung der von Paulus verwendeten Begrifflichkeit des ‘Sich-Muhens’ in weitgehend unspezifischer Weise als Missionsarbeit und Wirken innerhalb der Gemeinde verstanden, doch last sich dies fur die vier in Rom 16.6, 12 genannten Frauen prazisieren. Im Blick auf weitere Verwendungen des Verbs κoπιαω an textpragmatisch verwandten Stellen der Paulusbriefe (1 Kor 16.15–18; 1 Thess 5.12–13a) last sich als Denotation der Terminologie in Rom 16.6, 12 eine in der romischen Gemeinde praktizierte charismatische Leitungsfunktion von Frauen wahrscheinlich machen. Zugleich mit dieser Beobachtung wird ausschnitthaft der Prozes der Entwicklung genuin paulinischer Gemeindesprache zur Bezeichnung typischer Sozialstrukturen innerhalb der Gemeinden erkennbar.
Hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction as harbingers of systemic disease

Prescription sales of Testosterone and erectile aids such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are at an all-time high, underscoring the importance of hypogonadism (HG) and erectile dysfunction (ED) to men’s health. The effect of these debilitating conditions has a major impact on the quality of men’s lives. Some risk factors for HG or ED including aging, obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. Notably, these are the same risk factors for several other medical co-morbidities that contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in men. HG and ED often co-exist with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. This review will explore these three co-morbidities that overlap with HG and ED, and will provide a review of their relationship with each other.
Tundish Technology for Casting Clean Steel: A Review

With increasing demand of high-quality clean steel, cleanliness is of paramount importance in steel production and casting. Tundish plays an important role in controlling the continuously cast steel quality as it links a batch vessel, ladle, to a continuous casting mold. Tundish is also the last vessel in which metal flows before solidifying in mold. For controlling the quality of steel, flow and temperature control of the melt are critical, and these are presented in this paper. Use of proper flux, design of flow control devices, and gas injection in tundish become important factors in casting clean steel. Recycling of hot tundish, centrifugal flow tundish, H-shaped tundish, etc. are some of the developments which were implemented to cast clean steel and these are discussed.
Inhibition of Thrombin-Induced Platelet Aggregation by a Derivative of Wheat Germ Agglutinin. Evidence for a Physiologic Receptor of Thrombin in Human Platelets

We heve prepered a nonagglutinating derivative of wheat germ agglutinin by cyanogen bromide treatment of the lectin and used it as a probe to study the thrombin-platelet interaction. The lectin derivative inhibited platelet aggregation by thrombin while aggregation induced by collagen, ristocetin, adenosine diphosphate, wheat germ agglutinin, or trypsin was not significantly affected. Under similar conditions, the secretion of serotonin by thrombin was blocked by the derivative. The inhibitory action of the derivative on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation could be overcome by increasing the thrombin concentration. A Schild plot of these data yielded a slope of 1.0 and an apparent dissociation constant of 1.0 µM. Thus, the inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation by the derivative fits a model of competitive inhibition. Control experiments showed that the lectin derivative acted on platelets and not on thrombin. However, the binding of [125I]thrombin to platelets was not affected. Isolated platelet membranes were solubilized and passed through a column of the lectin derivative coupled to Sepharose. After extensive washing, the material bound to the column was eluted with N-acetyl-d-glucosamine. This membrane isolate inhibited platelet aggregation by thrombin while aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate, trypsin or ristocetin was not significantly affected. It also blocked thrombin-induced serotonin secretion from platelets. Gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography of the membrane isolate revealed a prominent glycoprotein of apparent molecular weight of 74,000 that contained inhibitory properties. The electrophoretic mobility or the intensity of this band was not significantly affected following incubation of the glycoprotein isolate with physiologic concentrations of thrombin. The glycoprotein also retained its inhibitory activity on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation following incubation with 20 µg/ml of trypsin or chymotrypsin for 10 min. These results suggest that (A) the thrombin receptor in human platelets is different from the ristocetin or ristocetin-von Willebrand factor receptor and (B) the 74,000 dalton glycoprotein may be a physiologic receptor of thrombin in human platelets.
Nonlinear Robust Control of Vehicle BTT

More and more attention has been paid to nonlinear control of vehicle in recent years. Backstepping design procedure in adaptive control combined with the nonlinear feedback linearization method based on differential geometry was applied to the research of the robust desigh method of a class of nonlinear uncertain systems. Controller achieved who contains compensation term of system uncertainty was proved to guarantee the uniformly bounded stability of the closed-loop system. Nonlinear robust controller of BTT (Bank-To-Turn) for a class of vehicle dynamic was designed. And simulation result shows that satisfactory suppression effect of the system uncertainty was obtained.
A New Method for Conversion of Ileal Conduit to a Continent Nonrefluxing Reservoir: The Sandwich Technique

AbstractA preliminary report on a method for conversion of the ileal conduit to a nonrefluxing continent reservoir is presented. The original conduit is opened to become a patch of ileum and the ureters are reimplanted in an antirefluxing manner into the ileal conduit patch. A new segment of ileum is isolated and its distal third is constructed into a continent nipple valve by ileoileal intussusception. The proximal two-thirds are opened at the antimesenteric border to form another patch, which then is sutured onto the original ileal patch, thus, forming a sandwich. Reflux was prevented and continence was achieved between clean intermittent catheterizations of the reservoir in 4 patients.
Disclosing genetic information to family members. Do old paradigms fit the new medicine

Launched in 1990, the Human Genome Project (HGP), an ambitious, international, federally funded project to map and sequence all human genes, has rapidly expanded our genetic knowledge. Not only does the HGP promise to arm physicians with impressive diagnostic tools, its ultimate target is radical improvement in therapeutic and preventive interventions in a new era of genetic medicine. At the same time, however, the genetic revolution poses momentous ethical, legal, and social questions. During the past decade, a substantial--and unresolved--discourse has emerged about such matters as genetic privacy, genetic discrimination, research with stored tissue samples, ownership of genetic material and information, gene patenting, and the genomic challenge to time-honored concepts of health and disease.
Trace nucleotides in certain ribonucleic acids from yeast.

A number of trace nucleotides are reported to be present in ribonucleic acids from various sources. Cohn (I) and Davis and Allen (2) have described a nucleotide in yeast ribonucleic acids, the nucleoside of which has recently been identified as 5ribosyluracil.’ Littlefield and Dunn (3) have found small amounts of thymine, 2-methyladenine, N6-methyladenine2 (6methylaminopurine), and Ne-dimethyladenine (6-dimethylaminopurine) in ribonucleic acids from yeast, several bacterial species, and wheat germ. The latter two bases were also found in the ribonucleic acids of rat liver microsomes. These bases were shown to have been present originally as nucleotides in 3’) 5’phosphodiester linkage in the ribonucleic acids of E. coli. Adler et cd. (4) have detected N6-methyladenine, N2-methylguanine (2methylamino-6-hydroxypurine) and one-methylguanine in acid hydrolysates of commercial preparations of yeast ribonuclcic acids, and Kemp and Allen (5) have described three unknown nucleotide components that are present in minor amounts in ribonucleic acids from dog pancreas. This paper reports the separation of four trace nucleotides, in addition to the one previously described (1, 2) from a yeast ribonucleic acid fraction that is soluble in 1 1% sodium chloride. This fraction is ordinarily discarded during the preparation of yeast ribonucleic acids by the procedure of Crestfield et al (6). The identity of three of the trace nucleotides, and certain characteristics of these nucleotides as well as of the ribonucleic acid fraction in which they are found, are reported.
Generalized Method of Moments Logistic Regression Model

When analyzing longitudinal binary data, it is essential to account for both the correlation inherent from the repeated measures of the responses, as well as the correlation realized because of the feedback created between the responses at a particular time and the covariates at other times. Ignoring any of these correlations can lead to invalid conclusions. Such is the case when the covariates are time dependent and the standard logistic regression model is used. There are two types of correlations: responses with responses, and responses with covariates. We need a model that addresses both types of relationships. We postulate that there are different types of correlation presented. There is the correlation among the responses. There is the correlation between response and covariate: When responses at time t impact the covariates in time t + s; and when the covariates in time t impact the responses in time t + s. These correlations regarding feedback from Yt on to the future \( {X}_{t+s} \) and vice versa are important in obtaining the estimates of the regression coefficients. This chapter provides a means of modeling repeated responses with time-dependent and time-independent covariates. The coefficients are obtained using generalized method of moments. We fit these data with SAS Macro, (How to use SAS® for GMM logistic regression models for longitudinal data with time-dependent covariates (SUGI Paper 3252-2015)). Our methods are based on:
Chinese Common Law? Guiding Cases and Judicial Reform

Half a century ago, writing in this Review, Professor Jerome Cohen traced the “gradual abandonment” of the judicial-independence ideal in the early years of Chinese Communist Party rule. Despite this trend, Cohen suggested, China’s leaders may in time “acquire a deeper appreciation of the virtues of functional specialization, professionalization, and judicial autonomy.” A half century later, China’s judicial reform record is mixed. While the country has made considerable strides in building a more competent and professional judiciary, statist and populist forces have also deeply shaped the trajectory of reform.This Note assesses a relatively recent innovation in China’s judicial reform project: the use of “guiding cases” to achieve greater adjudicative consistency across lower courts. Since 2010, China’s highest court has converted fifty-six judicial opinions into what are intended to be de facto binding decisions that courts “at all levels should refer to . . . when adjudicating similar cases.” Traversing subjects as wide-ranging as securities, land use, homicide, and graft, these guiding cases offer a potentially important new tool for the roughly 200,000 jurists charged with administering China’s legal system.Guiding cases have generated significant discussion among scholars and officials. Some proponents cite their potential to fill statutory lacunae, unify legal standards, improve judicial efficiency, and limit judicial discretion. Others point generally toward returns to judicial flexibility, professionalism, and integrity. Meanwhile, less sanguine commentators have raised doubts as to China’s institutional readiness, while others — even supporters — have focused attention on constitutional and political difficulties in the system’s design.Perhaps due to the elevated role of “case law” in many non-Chinese legal systems, analyses of guiding cases have often taken on a distinctly comparative flavor. Some have likened guiding cases to common law precedents, arguing that imbuing cases with “stare decisis–like authority” may bring China’s civil law system into closer alignment with the Anglo-American legal tradition. Others have noted civil law analogs or sought to distinguish guiding cases as distinctively local.This Note aims to accomplish two goals in two parts. The first is to illume a clearer image of guiding cases and their contemplated role within China’s distinctive legal and political structure. The emerging portrait is that of a still-nascent system that has struggled to establish itself within China’s hierarchy of legal authority. Still, appreciable progress has been made. The second goal is to place guiding cases in comparative context, finding that despite widespread “common law” rhetoric, systems of this sort are hardly foreign to civil law. In fact, unqualified invocations of the common law can mislead more than they inform. The Note ends with parting thoughts on future reform.
The Theory of Optimal Social Discount Rate

In chapter 3 and 4 in companion Volume devoted to identification and measurement theory [931b] we presented theoretical structures of cost and benefit accounting in benefit-cost analysis. The two chapters were preceded by Chapter 2 of the theory of computable cost-benefit identification matrices. Computations of static and flows of benefits and costs of a project or a decision that alters the social welfare state of an economy at the reference pint of decision were presented. Discussions were advanced to show how to extend the theory of computable cost and benefit matrices to decisions of engineering and mechanical systems. To make cross-sectional aggregation of heterogeneous real cost and benefit characteristics possible the theory of optimal prices was presented in Chapter I of this Volume. Given the time dimension of the flows of costs and benefits in the lifetime of social decisions and projects, there arises an important need to connect the future values to the present values if these values are differentially preferred by individual members as well as the community as we travel through time. Connecting the future values to those of the present is the discounting process that is done through logical assignments of converting weights at each point of time. Such a weighting process allows us to develop present-value equivalences of future values leading to weighted aggregates of costs and benefits or net cost-benefit for decision making in the present context.
Algebraic Geometry Foundations

In our study of selected polycons in Chap. 3 we introduced several concepts that require further investigation. Denominator polynomials were constructed from EIP of polycon boundaries. This raises several questions: When does a set of points on a curve of specified maximal order determine that curve? How do we allow for deficiency in intersection points caused by either intersection at infinity or coalescing of points that are in the general ca6e distinct? Given polynomials P and Q and curve R, what are the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of some b in the field of complex numbers such that \(\mathrm{P} -\mathrm{ bQ} = 0\) everywhere on R? How may we generalize to polypols? Can we find basis functions for higher-degree approximation by similar techniques? Is there some unifying theory that will facilitate extension to higher-dimensional elements?
The Resurgence of U.S. Public Diplomacy after 9/11

September 11, 2001 was a day that changed everything for this woman’s career. I was living in Southern California and working at UCLA when a friend from back East called to wake me up with a “turn on your television” command. She said that we were under attack and that I would not believe my eyes. Shocked to see the stunning footage, I was even more startled to hear from a reporter within a few hours of the attacks. He asked me to place the day in a propaganda context. His business-as-usual attitude set me back a moment. I declined to be interviewed, explaining that I was still too shaken up by what I was witnessing.
VW16E: A Robust Video Watermarking Technique Using Simulated Blocks

The basic idea for video watermarking technique is concealing information in the video host for different purposes including authentication and tamper detection. The most common approach for concealing information in the video host is spatial domain. This paper focuses on video watermarking; particularly with respect to the Audio Video Interleaved (AVI) form of video file format in spatial domain by simulating blocks. It proposes a new watermarking technique that gives a high imperceptibility and efficient tamper detection compared to the other similar schemes.
Immunopotentiation in Experimental Viral Infections

Immunopotentiation therapy was studied using levamisole (LMS) in a suckling rat model. Significant protection was demonstrated when treatment was initiated either before or after viral infection. Splenectomy eliminated the protective effect of LMS. Over the last few years many immunopotentiating substances have been shown to enhance protection in experimental viral infections. Prohost therapy to improve immunologic responsiveness may provide an important approach to antiviral therapy.
Active Video Game Play in African American Children: The Effect of Gender and BMI on Exertion and Enjoyment

ABSTRACTApplying the uses and gratifications theory (U&G), this study tested the influence of gender, body mass index type and past exercise experience on African American children's Wii game-playing experience and heart rate. A field experiment was conducted with a convenience sample of 51 African American children. Overall, the findings supported the proposition of using Wii games as alternative means of physical activity in African American children and suggested choosing games based on children's background information to maximize the effectiveness.
Direct and indirect effects of enablers on HIV testing, initiation and retention in antiretroviral treatment and AIDS related mortality.

Background An enabling environment is believed to have significant and critical effects on HIV and AIDS program implementation and desired outcomes. This paper estimates the paths, directionality, and direct and indirect associations between critical enablers with antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage and to AIDS-related mortality. Methods Frameworks that consider the role of enablers in HIV and AIDS programs were systematically reviewed to develop a conceptual model of interaction. Measurements for constructs of the model were pooled from the latest publicly available data. A hypothetical model, including latent/unobserved factors and interaction of enablers, program activities and outcomes, was analyzed cross-sectionally with structural equation modeling. Coefficients of the model were used to estimate the indirect associations of enablers to treatment coverage and the subsequent associated impact on AIDS related mortality. Findings The model’s fit was adequate (RMSEA = 0·084, 90% CI [0·062, 0·104]) and the indirect effects of enablers on outcomes were measured. Enablers having significant associations with increased ART coverage were social/financial protection, governance, anti-discrimination, gender equality, domestic AIDS spending, testing service delivery, and logistics. Interpretation Critical enablers are significantly correlated to outcomes like ART coverage and AIDS related mortality. Even while this model does not allow inference on causality, it provides directionality and magnitude of the significant associations.
Advancing the Use of Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance Data, New York City, 2012-2016.

Introduction:The use of syndromic surveillance has expanded from its initial purpose of bioterrorism detection. We present 6 use cases from New York City that demonstrate the value of syndromic sur...