cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variation in IGF2BP2 Interacts With Adiposity to Alter Insulin Sensitivity in Mexican Americans

Genome-wide association studies showed variation in insulin-like growth factor-2 binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We examined a 20-kb region of IGF2BP2 for association with T2DM-related quantitative traits in Mexican American families of a proband with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) from the BetaGene study. We genotyped 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 717 individuals from 146 families phenotyped by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) with minimal model analysis, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan for percent body fat. Three SNPs and one SNP combination that captured the majority of the variation in the region were tested for association with T2DM-related quantitative traits using a variance components framework. After correction for multiple testing, rs11705701 showed association with percent body fat (PACT = 0.041) with body fat decreasing ∼1.5–2% per copy of the A allele. We next tested whether the interaction between rs11705701 and body fat was associated with T2DM-relative quantitative traits. rs11705701 was significantly associated with insulin sensitivity (Bonferroni P = 0.028) and marginally associated with OGTT 2-h insulin (Bonferroni P = 0.066) and disposition index (DI) (Bonferroni P = 0.072). We conclude that rs11705701 in IGF2BP2 is associated with body fat and this effect on body fat influences insulin resistance which may contribute to T2DM risk.
Multiple domains control the subcellular localization and activity of ETR-3, a regulator of nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA processing events

Embryonic lethal abnormal vision (ELAV) type RNA binding protein 3 (ETR-3; also called NAPOR, CUGBP2, or BRUNOL3) has been implicated in the regulation of nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA processing events, including alternative splicing, RNA editing, stability and translation. Here, we report that the ETR-3 protein contains multiple regions that control its subcellular localization and are important for its activity as a splicing regulator. We cloned ETR-3 from chicken heart and fused it to the C terminus of green fluorescent protein (GFPcETR3vL). GFPcETR3vL is found predominantly in the nucleus and is an active regulator of alternative splicing in cotransfection assays with a cardiac troponin T minigene. ETR-3 contains two N-terminal RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), a 210-amino acid divergent domain, and a C-terminal RRM. We demonstrate that the C terminus contains a strong nuclear localization signal overlapping the third RRM, which can confer nuclear localization on a normally cytoplasmic pyruvate kinase chimera. Additional deletions revealed nuclear localization and export activities in the divergent domain of ETR-3, as well as regions within the first two RRMs that are important for cytoplasmic localization. The nuclear export activity of the divergent domain is sensitive to leptomycin B, indicating that export to the cytoplasm is mediated via a CRM1-dependent pathway. The C terminus and a region within the divergent domain were also shown to be important for splicing activity of ETR-3. This is the first characterization of protein domains involved in mediating the subcellular localization and splicing activity of a member of the CELF family of RNA processing regulators.
VLSI Circuit Performance Optimization by Geometric Programming

Delay of VLSI circuit components can be controlled by varying their sizes. In other words, performance of VLSI circuits can be optimized by changing the sizes of the circuit components. In this paper, we define a special type of geometric program called unary geometric program. We show that under the Elmore delay model, several commonly used formulations of the circuit component sizing problem considering delay, chip area and power dissipation can be reduced to unary geometric programs. We present a greedy algorithm to solve unary geometric programs optimally and efficiently. When applied to VLSI circuit component sizing, we prove that the runtime of the greedy algorithm is linear to the number of components in the circuit. In practice, we demonstrate that our unary-geometric-program based approach for circuit sizing is hundreds of times or more faster than other approaches.
Predictability of Pedigree Indexes for Bulls from Two, Three, and Four Generations

Abstract Pedigree indexes were calculated from two, three, and four generations for subsets of 380 Holstein bulls that had been progeny tested. Traits indexed were milk, fat, and type. Only male ancestors were considered. Regression coefficients of Predicted Difference and contemporary deviation on pedigree index usually were highest for pedigree index from three generations for milk and fat. Rank correlations of pedigree indexes from two and three generations were .95 to .98 but from three and four generations were .99 to 1.00. Maternal great-grandsires had detectable influence on genetic merit of bulls even though contribution was small as expected. Maternal great-great-grandsires did not contribute to predictability of pedigree indexes.
Phramer - An Open Source Statistical Phrase-Based Translator

This paper describes the open-source Phrase-Based Statistical Machine Translation Decoder -- Phramer. The paper also presents the UTD (HLTRI) system build for the WMT06 shared task. Our goal was to improve the translation quality by enhancing the translation table and by preprocessing the source language text.
Appetites: Food and Sex in Post-Socialist China

Appetites: Food and Sex in Post-Socialist China. Judith Farquhar. Durham, NC and London: Duke University Press, 2002. xii. 341pp.
Electromagnetic waves in Faraday chiral media

Plane wave propagation in two kinds of Faraday chiral media, where Faraday rotation is combined with optical activity, is studied to examine methods of controlling chirality. The two types of media studied are magnetically biased chiroplasmas and chiroferrites. For propagation along the biasing magnetic field, four wavenumbers and two wave impedances are found which are dependent on the strength of the biasing field. Dispersion diagrams for the chiroplasma case are plotted. Propagation at the plasma frequency of the chiroplasma is also investigated. >
Rapid prototyping in an object-oriented pictorial dataflow environment

Object-oriented programming is proving to be quite useful in several areas which have not been served well by more conventional languages. Rapid prototyping is one such area in which the object-oriented approach shows great promise. Adding pictorial features to an object-oriented environment greatly facilitates the display of the various objects, methods, and relationships involved in the system. Combining this with a dataflow language results in a system which is nearly ideal for the rapid prototyping of software systems utilizing dataflow diagrams. Prograph is a language which sports all three of these features. The authors present an overview of a rapid prototyping effort, in Prograph, of a fairly complex software system in which the prototype was quickly and easily designed from the system dataflow diagrams. >
Applicability of the International Roughness Index as a Predictor of Asphalt Pavement Condition

This note establishes the relationship between the surface distress of an asphalt pavement and its roughness, as conveyed respectively by the pavement condition index (PCI) and the international roughness index (IRI). The DataPave software provides the roughness of varied roadway pavement sections from the North Atlantic region that were investigated under the long term pavement performance (LTPP) study. The MicroPAVER1 software system computes the condition of the same sections using cross-referenced distress data from DataPave. A transformed linear regression model predicts pavement condition given roughness. It confirms the acceptability of the IRI as a, albeit not the sole, predictor variable of the PCI whereby the former accounts for the majority, close to 59%, of the variations in the latter. Further, an analysis of variance confirms the existence of a strong relationship between both variables.
Numerical Models of Boundary Layer Processes over and around the Gulf of Mexico during a Return-Flow Event

Abstract The return-flow of low-level air from the Gulf of Mexico over the southeast United States during the cool season is studied using numerical models. The key models are a newly developed airmass transformation (AMT) model and a one-dimensional planetary boundary layer (PBL) model. Both are employed to examine the thermodynamic structure over and to the north of the Gulf. Model errors for predicting minimum, maximum, and dewpoint temperatures at the surface during both offshore and onshore phases of the return-flow cycle are analyzed. PBL model forecasts indicate soil moisture values obtained from the Eta Model improve accuracy. It is shown that forecasts of maximum temperature for coastal locations are sensitive to the soil moisture used in the PBL model. The AMT model performs well in determining boundary layer parameters since it includes horizontal advective processes. The AMT model is also able to predict the regional differences caused by different surface forcing while passing over land or se...
Mental Health Discourse on reddit: Self-Disclosure, Social Support, and Anonymity

Social media is continually emerging as a platform of information exchange around health challenges. We study mental health discourse on the popular social media:reddit. Building on findings about health information seeking and sharing practices in online forums, and social media like Twitter, we address three research challenges. First, we present a characterization of self-disclosure inmental illness communities on reddit. We observe individuals discussing a variety of concerns ranging from the daily grind to specific queries about diagnosis and treatment. Second, we build a statistical model to examine the factors that drive social support on mental health reddit communities. We also develop language models to characterize mental health social support, which are observed to bear emotional, informational, instrumental, and prescriptive information. Finally, we study disinhibition in the light of the dissociative anonymity that reddit’s throwaway accounts provide. Apart from promoting open conversations,such anonymity surprisingly is found to gather feedback that is more involving and emotionally engaging. Our findings reveal, for the first time, the kind of unique information needs that a social media like reddit might be fulfilling when it comes to a stigmatic illness. They also expand our understanding of the role of the social web in behavioral therapy.
Maintain Genomic Stability: Multitask Of DNA Replication Proteins

Maintenance of genomic stability is critical for living organisms because it is crucial for cell survival and development, and it prevents the development of deleterious mutations. Overriding this control will cause genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. The genome is highly vulnerable to damage, especially during DNA replication because chromosome is decondensed and the replication forks are extremely sensitive to DNA damage agents. The eukaryotic replisome, which consists of a large number of replication fork-associated proteins, is essential for the elongation of replication forks during DNA replication. This complex contains DNA polymerases, MCM helicase, single stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein RPA, sliding clamp PCNA, Tipin, Timeless, Claspin, And-1, etc. In cells with DNA damage such as replication stress, replication forks are stalled Figure 1. At stalled replication forks, some of replisome components switch their role from facilitating DNA synthesis to inducing activation of DNA replication checkpoint, a signaling transduction pathway that is critical to maintain fork stability and triggers cell cycle arrest.
Development of mouse models for cancer research

Abstract Mouse models are essential in cancer research. They are used to understand the genetic basic of tumor development and cancer progression. They can also be used to test the efficacies of different anticancer agents. This chapter will help students understand the applications of different mouse models in cancer research and provide them the knowledge necessary to carry out the in vivo studies.
Soft Origami: Classification, Constraint, and Actuation of Highly Compliant Origami Structures

Herein we discuss the folding of highly compliant origami structures — “Soft Origami.” There are benefits to be had in folding compliant sheets (which cannot self-guide their motion) rather than conventional rigid origami. Example applications include scaffolds for artificial tissue generation and foldable substrates for flexible electronic assemblies. Highly compliant origami has not been contemplated by existing theory, which treats origami structures largely as rigid or semi-rigid mechanisms with compliant hinges — “Mechanism-Reliant Origami.” We present a quantitative metric — the Origami Compliance Metric — that aids in identifying proper modeling of a homogeneous origami structure based upon the compliance regime it falls into (Soft, Hybrid, or Mechanism-Reliant). We discuss the unique properties, applications, and design drivers for practical implementation of Soft Origami. We detail a theory of proper constraint by which an ideal soft structure’s number of degrees of freedom may be approximated as 3n, where n is the number of vertices of the fold pattern. Finally, we introduce a concept for a scalable process in which a few actuators and stretching membranes may be used to simultaneously fold many origami sub-structures that share common degrees of freedom.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
A Hybrid Stepwise Approach for De-identifying Person Names in Clinical Documents

As Electronic Health Records are growing exponentially along with large quantities of unstructured clinical information that could be used for research purposes, protecting patient privacy becomes a challenge that needs to be met. In this paper, we present a novel hybrid system designed to improve the current strategies used for person names de-identification. To overcome this task, our system comprises several components designed to accomplish two separate goals: 1) achieve the highest recall (no patient data can be exposed); and 2) create methods to filter out false positives. As a result, our system reached 92.6% F2-measure when de-identifying person names in Veteran's Health Administration clinical notes, and considerably outperformed other existing "out-of-the-box" de-identification or named entity recognition systems.
A Study of Social Adjustment Using the Technique of Analysis by Selective Control

known in the United States as human ecology has been closely associated with the development of sociology, particularly as the latter subject has advanced in the last quarter of a century from one of broad philosophical generalizations to one more largely characterized by the empirical approach and more refined research techniques. Perhaps it has been unfortunate for human ecology that it has been thus intimately identified with sociology during a most critical period in the latter's history. If sociology as a discipline had not been suffering from a plurality of diverse theories, a confusion of concepts, a multiplicity of techniques, and variant trends, but had, on the contrary, presented a more harmonious and unified approach and the unity of an integrated theoretical scheme, human ecology, as one of the youngest of the sociological systems, might have fared better. Perhaps it is too much to expect of human ecology that it achieve order and system within itself as long as its parental discipline remains in a state of relative chaos. If it were to develop into a logical and coherent theoretical system in its own right, it would of necessity-by reason of its limited scope and the selected nature of its data-have to be integrated into a larger and more inclusive theoretical framework or find its place as a borderline field among the social sciences. Since sociology, in its present disjointed and immature state, does not seem to be very rapidly approaching the stature of a clearly defined and definitely refined special social science, occupying a certain and secure position in the scientific world, and since the kind of social ecology projected in this paper will, if realized, constitute a rather specialized subsystem of a larger and more inclusive system of social theory, it is anticipated that social ecology will naturally take its place in the hierarchy of sciences as a borderline discipline somewhat akin to social psychology and social economics in the essentially social field and to physical chemistry and bio-chemistry in the fields of the physical and biological sciences.
In Vivo Three-dimensional Multi-spectral Diffuse Optical Tomography of Breast Cancer

Multi-spectral diffuse optical tomography was utilized for in vivo breast cancer imaging to reconstruct 3D map of chromophore concentrations and scattering directly from CW data. Blood volume contrast was found in the cancer region.
The Viability of Structural Family Therapy in the Twenty-first Century: An Analysis of Key Indicators

This paper examines the degree to which structural family therapy has adapted effectively to client families and professional demands of the twenty-first century. A review of the current professional literature was conducted to assess the structural model’s continued clinical relevance, how the model has changed in adapting to contemporary social and professional contexts, and whether or not the integrity of the model’s core proposition has been eroded or confounded as a result of adaptive changes.
Spectroscopy of neutron-unbound 27 , 28 F

The ground state of ${}^{28}\text{F}$ has been observed as an unbound resonance $2\underline{2}0$ keV above the ground state of ${}^{27}$F. A comparison of this result with USDA/USDB shell model predictions leads to the conclusion that the ${}^{28}$F ground state is primarily dominated by $sd$-shell configurations. Here we present a detailed report on the experiment in which the ground state resonance of ${}^{28}$F was first observed. Additionally, we report the first observation of a neutron-unbound excited state in ${}^{27}$F at an excitation energy of $25\underline{0}0(2\underline{2}0)$ keV.
Small-Signal Analysis and Modeling of Asymmetric Source/Drain Parasitic Resistances for DRAM Access Transistors in Low-Power Applications

The small-signal conductance technique was extended to extract asymmetric source/drain parasitic resistances. It was also applied in order to analyze the tWR delay of DRAM cell transistors in production and to develop a non-planar cell transistor such as Recessed Access Device (RAD) for low-power DRAM cells. Factors limiting the drive current for planar and non-planar access transistors in the low-power DRAM cells were discussed.
PowerCyber: A remotely accessible testbed for Cyber Physical security of the Smart Grid

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) security testbeds serve as a platform for evaluating and validating novel CPS security tools and technologies, accelerating the transition of state-of-the-art research to industrial practice. The engineering of CPS security testbeds requires significant investments in money, time and modeling efforts to provide a scalable, high-fidelity, real-time attack-defense platform. Therefore, there is a strong need in academia and industry to create remotely accessible testbeds that support a range of use-cases pertaining to CPS security of the grid, including vulnerability assessments, impact analysis, product testing, attack-defense exercises, and operator training. This paper describes the implementation architecture, and capabilities of a remote access and experimental orchestration framework developed for the PowerCyber CPS security testbed at Iowa State University (ISU). The paper then describes several engineering challenges in the development of such remotely accessible testbeds for Smart Grid CPS security experimentation. Finally, the paper provides a brief case study with some screenshots showing a particular use case scenario on the remote access framework.
Acute Reduction of Desmin Intermediate Filaments Alters Myocyte Mechanics and Excitation-Contraction Coupling

Background: In the heart, many different cytoskeletal components play critical roles in regulating contractility and viscoelasticity. In diverse cardiomyopathy, these cytoskeletal components, specifically the intermediate filaments (IFs) are broadly upregulated. Our lab has recently found that interactions between microtubules and the IF desmin are important for the regulation of cardiomyocyte contractility (Robison et al., Science 2016).Aim and approach: We aim to elucidate the specific role of desmin via acute knockdown in adult ventricular myocytes. Desmin knockout mice have a variety of compensatory changes associated with the loss of this critical IF, making it difficult to determine what precise roles desmin plays. We have used shRNA against desmin and have examined alterations to the microtubule network, cell viscoelasticity, calcium handling and contractility.Results: Knockdown of desmin causes a potent reduction in the viscoelasticity of the adult cardiomyocyte. Moreover, contractility and EC coupling are robustly altered. Lastly, microtubule buckling changes from wavelengths associated with a sarcomeric periodicity, implying a crosslink to the sarcomere, to wavelengths of a broad distribution as well as those with lower changes in amplitude.Conclusion: Acute knockdown of desmin in isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes reveals previously unidentified structural and functional roles of this IF. Further study must be done to identify how desmin upregulation affects disease and other roles desmin may play in mechanotransduction.
The role of alluvial aquifer sediments in attenuating a dissolved arsenic plume

Abstract In a crude-oil-contaminated sandy aquifer at the Bemidji site in northern Minnesota, biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons has resulted in release of naturally occurring As to groundwater under Fe-reducing conditions. This study used chemical extractions of aquifer sediments collected in 1993 and 2011–2014 to evaluate the relationship between Fe and As in different redox zones (oxic, methanogenic, Fe-reducing, anoxic-suboxic transition) of the contaminated aquifer over a twenty-year period. Results show that 1) the aquifer has the capacity to naturally attenuate the plume of dissolved As, primarily through sorption; 2) Fe and As are linearly correlated in sediment across all redox zones, and a regression analysis between Fe and As reasonably predicted As concentrations in sediment from 1993 using only Fe concentrations; 3) an As-rich “iron curtain,” associated with the anoxic-suboxic transition zone, migrated 30 m downgradient between 1993 and 2013 as a result of the hydrocarbon plume evolution; and 4) silt lenses in the aquifer preferentially sequester dissolved As, though As is remobilized into groundwater from sediment after reducing conditions are established. Using results of this study coupled with historical data, we develop a conceptual model which summarizes the natural attenuation of As and Fe over time and space that can be applied to other sites that experience As mobilization due to an influx of bioavailable organic matter.
Dissecting physical structure of calreticulin, an intrinsically disordered Ca2+-buffering chaperone from endoplasmic reticulum

Calreticulin (CALR) is a Ca2+ binding multifunctional protein that mostly resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and plays a number of important roles in various physiological and pathological processes. Although the major functions ascribed to CALR are controlling the Ca2+ homeostasis in ER and acting as a lectin-like ER chaperon for many glycoproteins, this moonlighting protein can be found in various cellular compartments where it has many non-ER functions. To shed more light on the mechanisms underlying polyfunctionality of this moonlighting protein that can be found in different cellular compartments and that possesses a wide spectrum of unrelated biological activities, being able to interact with Ca2+ (and potentially other metal ions), RNA, oligosaccharides, and numerous proteins, we used a set of experimental and computational tools to evaluate the intrinsic disorder status of CALR and the role of calcium binding on structural properties and conformational stability of the full-length CALR and its isolated P- and C-domains.
Modeling effect of cover condition and soil type on rotavirus transport in surface flow

Runoff from animal production facilities contains various microbial pathogens which pose a health hazard to both humans and animals. Rotavirus is a frequently detected pathogen in agricultural runoff and the leading cause of death among children around the world. Diarrheal infection caused by rotavirus causes more than two million hospitalizations and death of more than 500,000 children every year. Very little information is available on the environmental factors governing rotavirus transport in surface runoff. The objective of this study is to model rotavirus transport in overland flow and to compare the model results with experimental observations. A physically based model, which incorporates the transport of infective rotavirus particles in both liquid (suspension or free-floating) and solid phase (adsorbed to soil particles), has been used in this study. Comparison of the model results with experimental results showed that the model could reproduce the recovery kinetics satisfactorily but under-predicted the virus recovery in a few cases when multiple peaks were observed during experiments. Similarly, the calibrated model had a good agreement between observed and modeled total virus recovery. The model may prove to be a promising tool for developing effective management practices for controlling microbial pathogens in surface runoff.
Metaphor, Paradigm, and Education

Metaphor is a critical tool for thought. Lying at the heart of every systematic body of knowledge are three root metaphors — mechanism, organism, and mind. Historically, schools of philosophy — realism, naturalism, and idealism — have grown up around these metaphors. The root metaphors and their corresponding philosophies provide the paradigms underlying different exemplars of education. To illustrate how metaphors, paradigms, and exemplars all shape educational thought, the works of three educators — Hunter, Piaget, and Bruner — have been selected. METAPHORE, PARADIGME ET EDUCATION La metaphore constitue un outil fondamental de la pensee. En effet, trois metaphores dites radicales sont au coeur de chacun des systemes de connaissances structures : la metaphore mecanique, la metaphore organique et la metaphore spirituelle. Au cours de l’Histoire, le developpement de certaines ecoles de philosophie telles que le realisme, le naturalisme et l’idealisme s’est fait autour de ces metaphores. Les metaphores radicales et les philosophies qui leur sont associees sont a la base des paradigmes autour desquels s’articulent les differents modeles educationnels. Les travaux de trois theoriciens de l’education — Hunter, Piaget et Bruner — ont ete choisis pour illustrer la maniere dont les metaphores, les paradigmes et les modeles faconnent la pensee pedagogique.
Building a Dynamic University-Community College Partnership: The Second Decade of a Broad, Mutually Beneficial Materials Science Collaboration

Collaborations between community colleges, non-research centered universities and research universities can enrich the flow of students into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) majors and careers. The nation is beginning to understand the importance of such interaction especially with under-represented minorities and those with disabilities. For over fifteen years our group has developed new ways to integrate these students and their faculty to the research culture. This will lead to increased diversity and inform research university faculty of the great talent that is latent in these underserved pools.
Advantages and Characteristic Analysis of Slotless Rotary PM Machines in Comparison With Conventional Laminated Design Using Statistical Technique

Slotless permanent magnet (PM) machines have been the considerable research subject for electric vehicles application due to their obvious merits. As opposed to conventional laminated PM machines, such machines can offer zero cogging torque, sinusoidal torque curve angle yielding a machine with very smooth rotation, no laminated core loss, and negligible eddy current losses in rotor magnets. This paper presents the mathematical model and the characteristics analysis of slotless rotary PM machines compared to a conventional laminated design. An explicit analytical expression of slotless rotary machines is developed to calculate the electromagnetic torque on both the ${q}$ - and ${d}$ -axis current injections. The validity of an analytical calculation is confirmed by the finite element analysis. Subsequently, the performance comparisons of slotless and laminated designs are carried out using a statistical technique. The key results derived from the comparative study are expected to be a useful reference resource for decision makers who should make a comparative judgment.
Mathematical Investigation of Fluid Flow, Mass Transfer, and Slag-steel Interfacial Behavior in Gas-stirred Ladles

In this study, the Euler-Euler and Euler-Lagrange modeling approaches were applied to simulate the multiphase flow in the water model and gas-stirred ladle systems. Detailed comparisons of the computational and experimental results were performed to establish which approach is more accurate for predicting the gas-liquid multiphase flow phenomena. It was demonstrated that the Euler-Lagrange approach is more accurate than the Euler-Euler approach. The Euler-Lagrange approach was applied to study the effects of the free surface setup, injected bubble size, gas flow rate, and slag layer thickness on the slag-steel interaction and mass transfer behavior. Detailed discussions on the flat/non-flat free surface assumption were provided. Significant inaccuracies in the prediction of the surface fluid flow characteristics were found when the flat free surface was assumed. The variations in the main controlling parameters (bubble size, gas flow rate, and slag layer thickness) and their potential impact on the multiphase fluid flow and mass transfer characteristics (turbulent intensity, mass transfer rate, slag-steel interfacial area, flow patterns, etc.,) in gas-stirred ladles were quantitatively determined to ensure the proper increase in the ladle refining efficiency. It was revealed that by injecting finer bubbles as well as by properly increasing the gas flow rate and the slag layer thickness, the ladle refining efficiency can be enhanced significantly.
Partnering With a Pest: Genomes of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Symbionts Reveal Atypical Nutritional Provisioning Patterns in Dual-Obligate Bacteria

Nutritional bacterial symbionts enhance the diets of sap-feeding insects with amino acids and vitamins missing from their diets. In many lineages, an ancestral senior symbiont is joined by a younger junior symbiont. To date, an emergent pattern is that senior symbionts supply a majority of amino acids, and junior symbionts supply a minority. Similar to other hemipterans, adelgids harbor obligate symbionts, but have higher diversity of bacterial associates, suggesting a history of symbiont turnover. The metabolic roles of dual symbionts in adelgids and their contributions to the consortium are largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the symbionts of Adelges tsugae, the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive species introduced from Japan to the eastern United States, where it kills hemlock trees. The response of hemlocks to HWA feeding has aspects of a defensive reaction against pathogens, and some have speculated that symbionts may be involved. We sequenced the genomes of "Ca. Annandia adelgestsuga" and "Ca. Pseudomonas adelgestsugas" symbionts to detail their metabolic capabilities, infer ages of relationship, and search for effectors of plant defenses. We also tested the relationship of "Ca. Annandia" to symbionts of other insects. We find that both symbionts provide nutrients, but in more balanced proportions than dual symbionts of other hemipterans. The lesser contributions of the senior "Ca. Annandia" support our hypothesis for symbiont replacements in adelgids. Phylogenomic results were ambiguous regarding the position of "Ca. Annandia". We found no obvious effectors of plant defenses related to insect virulence, but hypothetical proteins in symbionts are unknown players.
The Citric Acid Industry

Citric acid is a product found in thousands of grocery products. This chapter answers the following questions: what is citric acid used for, who makes it, how do they make it, how much is made, and where is it made?
Theory of mixtures for micromorphic materials—I: Balance laws

Abstract A micromorphic theory is developed for polycrystalline mixtures, granular composites, and fluid suspensions. By taking account of local motions independent of the average motion, the theory aims at extending the classical theory to include physical phenomena in which the wave length of the imposed motion is comparable to the average dimension of the intrinsic discontinuities in the material, e.g. the average grain size or inter-grain distance. For each constituent and for the mixture as a whole, balance laws are constructed for mass, microinertia moment, momentum, moment of momentum, energy, and the production of entropy. These balance equations are then reduced to the micropolar case in which the local motions are restricted to local rotations only. In Part II (forthcoming) we present a constitutive theory for micromorphic and micropolar mixtures and discuss the dispersion of plane waves.
The Qui Tam Environmentalist: Holding Polluters Accountable Through the False Claims Act

Under certain state environmental protection statutes such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), private individuals seeking development or operational permits must demonstrate that their actions will not significantly impact the environment. While CEQA establishes a framework of environmental review procedures to determine the level of a proposed action’s environmental impact, the threshold determination of how searching this environmental review process will be is made on the basis of information provided by the proponent. In California, a project may be subject to a cursory Negative Declaration, a Mitigated Negative Declaration, or a full Environmental Impact Report. As the level of environmental review increases so does the mandatory fee associated with the permit application. However, what happens if the project proponent provides false information or omits material facts that cause for the project to be approved without the otherwise required environmental impact studies? Neither CEQA nor any other state’s environmental statutes provide an avenue for the public to pursue actions against these individuals. The purpose of this note is to explore how the public may employ the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act as an enforcement tool against those who make false representations in environmental studies. The theory: as the level of environmental review increases, so does the application cost due to the lead agency; therefore, a false statement that leads the state to conduct a less stringent form of review has the effect of reducing the applicant’s financial obligation to the state. This falls within the definition of an actionable “reverse false claim” under the California False Claims Act, giving the public the ability to stand in the shoes of the state in prosecuting and seeking treble damages from the polluter.
Asian Civil Society and Reconfiguration of Refugee Protection in Asia

Despite its long history of refugee crises, Asia lacks effective refugee protection mechanisms. Most Asian states resist ratification of the international refugee laws, and many international organizations are ineffective and lack concrete legal and political approaches to protecting refugees. Asian civil society, particularly Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), collaborates to protect refugees by employing alternative frameworks. This paper argues that Asian civil society aims to challenge the nature of refugee protection in Asia. Instead of encouraging states to ratify the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, APRRN stimulates national-level implementation of refugee protection principles and practices from below. It engages its members in global decision-making by mobilizing and sharing resources with them. APRRN frames refugee protection as international human rights issue instead of as a national security concern.
Improvisation and Hybrid Genres in British Romantic Literature: Introduction

IN MEMORIAMMICHAEL O’NEILL (1953–2018)Scholar, Poet, CriticThe dedication of this special issue to the memory of Michael O’Neill, late Professor of English at the University of Durham, UK, will req...
Frequency and Intensity of Emotional Expressiveness and Preschool Children’s Peer Competence

Children’s emotional expressiveness with peers was examined as a predictor of social competence. Data were collected from 122 preschool children (57 boys, 65 girls; 86 European American, 9 African ...
The Airbnb paradox: Positive employment effects in the hospitality industry

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which Airbnb supply affects employment in the hospitality, tourism, and leisure industries. Accordingly, we analyzed the effects of Airbnb supply on various sectors in the hospitality, tourism, and leisure industries in 12 major metropolitan statistical areas in the United States for the period between July-2008 and February-2018. The results showed that Airbnb supply positively affects employment in all sectors of the hospitality, tourism, and leisure industries. The magnitudes of these effects are not only statistically but also economically significant. Although prior studies have showed that Airbnb has an adverse impact on hotels' financial performance measures, our results show that employment in the hotel sector increases with increased Airbnb listings. While this outcome might be contradictory to the general conjecture, such evidence calls for a comprehensive investigation of Airbnb's overall economic impact. Research and practical implications are further discussed.
Unplanned return to OR (UPROR) for children with early onset scoliosis (EOS): a comprehensive evaluation of all diagnoses and instrumentation strategies.

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected multicenter database. Our goal was to study unplanned return to the OR (UPROR, a postoperative complication that could not be treated without an additional anesthetic) as a function of C-EOS diagnosis and implant type. Growing concerns over the impact of multiple anesthetic events on the young brain have focused attention on limiting UPROR in early onset scoliosis (EOS). We studied all patients with a diagnosis of EOS who had surgical implantation of growing instrumentation from October 4, 2010, to September 27, 2015, with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Among the complications requiring surgical treatment (revision for implant or anchor failure, infection, or implant removal), we analyzed all UPROR events—those that required a separate anesthetic (could not be treated as part of a planned surgical lengthening) within the first 2 years after initial implantation. UPROR was analyzed by diagnosis, deformity type, and implant strategy using the C-EOS classification. A total of 369 patients met inclusion criteria. Eighty-five of the 369 (23%) required unplanned trips to the operating room for various reasons. The C-EOS group at highest risk of an unplanned trip to the operating room is the hyperkyphotic neuromuscular (M3+, 14/85) cohort, followed closely by the congenital (C3N, 9/85) and neuromuscular (M3N, 8/85) groups with normal sagittal profiles and Cobb angles between 50° and 90°. Implant strategy was significantly related to risk of UPROR (p = .009; Table 1), with traditional implants (vertically expandable prosthetic titanium rib/traditional growing rod) being less likely to have an UPROR event. Growing instrumentation to treat EOS, when considered comprehensively, results in a true unplanned reoperation rate within 2 years of implantation of 23% (85/369). UPROR events are more common with certain C-EOS groups (hyperkyphotic neuromuscular deformities) and implant strategies. Families should be counseled that unplanned anesthetics are common with any implant strategy available today. Level III, therapeutic.
Use of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol in the prevention of parturient hypocalcemia in dairy cows

The administration of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (DHC) either i/m or i/v, to adult, non-pregnant cows resulted in a rapid and persistent dose-dependent increase in serum calcium and phosphorus, and a decrease in serum magnesium. Similar doses of 1 alpha -hydroxycholecalciferol in the same animals were much less effective in increasing the serum calcium and phosphorus levels. The administration of 600 mu g DHC 24 or more hours before expected parturition prevented the rapid decline of serum calcium and phosphorus anticipated in pregnant cows with a previous history of parturient paresis. The treatment was not effective when given 8-18 hours before parturition. In one animal given one dose of 600 mu g DHC and six doses of 270 mu g over a 22 day period before parturition, no evidence of mineralization in the kidney, heart, pulmonary artery, aorta or other soft tissues, was seen at PM, as reported after long-term administration of parent vitamin D.
Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in relation to anthropometric measures and pubertal development in a cohort of Northern California girls.

Author(s): Dobraca, Dina; Laurent, Cecile A; Greenspan, Louise C; Hiatt, Robert A; Sjodin, Andreas; Kushi, Lawrence H; Windham, Gayle C | Abstract: BackgroundPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of ubiquitous, environmental chemicals that may have endocrine disrupting capabilities. We investigated whether childhood exposure to PAHs was associated with adiposity and pubertal timing in a longitudinal study of 404 girls enrolled in the Northern California site of the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program cohort.MethodsBaseline urinary samples from girls aged 6-8-years-old were assayed for 2-naphthol, fluorene metabolites, phenanthrene metabolites, 1-hydroxypyrene, and sum of PAH metabolites. Mixed-effects linear models were used to estimate how concentrations of PAH metabolites were related to changes in girl's body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio from age 7 through 16 years old. Accelerated failure time models were used to estimate age of pubertal onset (Tanner stages 2 or higher for breast and pubic hair development).ResultsHigher adiposity measurements among high tertiles of baseline PAH metabolites were evident at age 7 years old and increased thereafter (i.e., BMI for all PAH metabolites, waist-to-height ratio for fluorene and phenanthrene metabolites) or leveled off (i.e., waist-to-height ratio for 2-naphthol, 1-hydroxypyrene, sum of PAHs). Among girls overweight/obese at baseline, median age of breast development onset for high tertiles was 9.1-9.4 years old compared with 10-10.2 years old for low tertiles for all PAH metabolites; in contrast, found no association or slightly later onset of breast development for girls with normal weight at baseline.DiscussionThese results suggest that exposure to specific PAHs during childhood may influence adiposity throughout adolescence and effect pubertal timing.
Natural Language Processing to Ascertain Cancer Outcomes From Medical Oncologist Notes.

PURPOSECancer research using electronic health records and genomic data sets requires clinical outcomes data, which may be recorded only in unstructured text by treating oncologists. Natural langua...
Discharge in Pandemic: Suspected Covid-19 patients returning to the Emergency Department within 72 hours for admission.

Abstract Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has led to unprecedented healthcare demand. This study seeks to characterize Emergency Department (ED) discharges suspected of Covid-19 that are admitted within 72 h. Methods We abstracted all adult discharges with suspected Covid-19 from five New York City EDs between March 2nd and April 15th. Those admitted within 72 h were then compared against those who were not using descriptive and regression analysis of background and clinical characteristics. Results Discharged ED patients returning within 72 h were more often admitted if suspected of Covid-19 (32.9% vs 12.1%, p Conclusion Several factors emerge as associated with 72-h ED return admission in subjects suspected of Covid-19. These should be considered when assessing discharge risk in clinical practice.
Health benefits and economic advantages associated with increased utilization of a smoking cessation program

Rationale, aim & objective: The goal of this study was to examine the health and economic impacts related to increased utilization of the Duke Smoking Cessation Program resulting from the addition of two relatively new referral methods - Best Practice Advisory and Population Outreach. Materials & methods: In a companion paper 'Comparison of Referral Methods into a Smoking Cessation Program', we report results from a retrospective, observational, comparative effectiveness study comparing the impact of three referral methods - Traditional Referral, Best Practice Advisory and Population Outreach on utilization of the Duke Smoking Cessation Program. In this paper we take the next step in this comparative assessment by developing a Markov model to estimate the improvement in health and economic outcomes when two referral methods - Best Practice Advisory and Population Outreach - are added to Traditional Referral. Data used in this analysis were collected from Duke Primary Care and Disadvantaged Care clinics over a 1-year period (1 October 2017-30 September 2018). Results: The addition of two new referral methods - Best Practice Advisory and Population Outreach - to Traditional Referral increased the utilization of the Duke Smoking Cessation Program in Primary Care clinics from 129 to 329 smokers and in Disadvantaged Care clinics from 206 to 401 smokers. The addition of these referral methods was estimated to result in 967 life-years gained, 408 discounted quality-adjusted life-years saved and total discounted lifetime direct healthcare cost savings of US$46,376,285. Conclusion: Health systems may achieve increased patient health and decreased healthcare costs by adding Best Practice Advisory and Population Outreach strategies to refer patients to smoking cessation services.