cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interdisciplinary insights from instructor interviews reconciling “structure and function” in biology, biochemistry, and chemistry through the context of enzyme binding

Structure and function is an essential crosscutting concept in undergraduate STEM education and appears in numerous disciplines and contexts from the introductory to advanced levels. This concept is exemplified by enzyme binding, a topic spanning biology, biochemistry, and chemistry. We interviewed 13 instructors with primary instructional appointments in these fields, focusing on how they think about and also teach structure and function in their courses. We focused on how they define the component terms, “structure” and “function,” their personal learning development, and how they view the interactions among these three disciplines. Overall, we found that context and terminology appear to be key factors in these conversations, as well as in the classroom. These instructors, in reflecting on their own educational development, do not consider that they developed their understanding in an undergraduate classroom. Instead, they focused on research experiences, graduate studies, postdoctoral work, or even, teaching appointments as essential points for their own knowledge. These instructors held strong opinions about interactions among the disciplines, both from the perspectives of cross-talk and what their students experience. These opinions generally center on individual instructors’ opinions of other disciplines, apparent inclination to collaborate on teaching across disciplinary lines, and general preconceptions of other fields. Overall, this work has implications on the path forward for undergraduate teaching and learning of structure and function.
Case report: left atrial Myxoma causing elevated C-reactive protein, fatigue and fever, with literature review

A cardiac myxoma in a young person may pose a diagnostic challenge as symptoms may be variable and the differential diagnosis is wide. The differential diagnosis can include rheumatic mitral valve disease, pulmonary hypertension, endocarditis, myocarditis and vasculitis. This case report involves a 49 years old female with a 2.8 cm × 3.4 cm myxoma in the left atrium causing mitral valve obstruction. She presented with fatigue, fever of unknown origin, transient ischemic attack and shortness of breath. Prompt surgery is often recommended due to the risk of embolic complications or complete obstruction. Due to her symptoms, patient underwent successful cardiothoracic surgery to excise the myxoma within 2 weeks of confirmation by cardiac echocardiography. This case also emphasizes the diagnostic challenge as symptoms may be variable, ranging from fatigue, fever and shortness of breath to transient ischemic attack and at worst, sudden cardiac death. In conclusion, if a cardiac mass is suspected, echocardiography should be performed early. Surgical resection is curative and recurrence rate is very rare in sporadic isolated myxomas, however, recurrence can be higher in genetic diseases associated with increased frequency of myxomas such as Carney complex. This subpopulation of patients may present further research opportunity to learn more about the perioperative management of patients with myxomas such as determining the optimal time to surgical intervention and decision to anticoagulate.
New Medical Device and Therapeutic Approvals in Otolaryngology: State of the Art Review of 2019.

ObjectiveTo review new devices and drugs relevant to otolaryngology–head and neck surgery that were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.Data SourcesApproval notifications ...
What Is 'Systemic Racism?' How Is It Different from Racist Acts Caused by Bigotry, Prejudice or Bias?

The term “systemic racism” has moved from the halls of academia to our daily newspapers. What does it mean, and how is it different from racist acts caused by bigotry, prejudice, or bias? Systemic racism is the interrelated system by which Black Americans suffer multiple forms of compounded disadvantage because they are Black. Racist acts contribute to the system, but they are only the most visible part of the system in the same way that only the tip of an iceberg is visible. The system that disadvantages Black Americans includes interrelated and compounding disadvantages and discrimination in housing, education, employment, health care, wealth building, public services, food, retail prices, banking, investment, the environment, homelessness, stereotype profiling, empathy/belonging, policing, the criminal justice system, the right to free speech, and the right to vote. To see the full system at work we must walk in the shoes of Black Americans through this system of compounded disadvantage. This Article is organized according to the major components of systemic racism. Although the Article could start by examining any component, there are two reasons to begin with housing. First, the separation of Black Americans into segregated neighborhoods creates or contributes to nearly all the other components. Second, housing has historically been and currently is the most significant contributor to systemic racism. After discussing housing, the article will discuss other major components, including banking, employment, transportation, education, policing, healthcare, and voting.
In vitro and in vivo dimerization of human endonuclease III stimulates its activity

1546 Human endonuclease III (hNTH1), a DNA glycosylase with associated abasic lyase activity, repairs various mutagenic and toxic-oxidized DNA lesions, including thymine glycol. We demonstrate for the first time that the full-length hNTH1 positively cooperates in product formation as a function of enzyme concentration. The protein concentrations that caused cooperativity in turnover also exhibited dimerization, independent of DNA binding. Earlier we had found that the hNTH1 consists of two domains: a well conserved catalytic domain, and an inhibitory N-terminal tail. The N-terminal truncated proteins neither undergo dimerization, nor do they show cooperativity in turnover, indicating that the homodimerization of hNTH1 is specific and requires the N-terminal tail. Further kinetic analysis at transition states reveals that this homodimerization stimulates an 11-fold increase in the rate of release of the final product, an AP-site with a 3′ nick, and that it does not affect other intermediate reaction rates, including those of DNA N-glycosylase or AP lyase activities that are modulated by previously reported interacting proteins, YB-1, APE1, and XPG. Thus, the site of modulating action of the dimer on the hNTH1 reaction steps is unique. Moreover, the high intranuclear (2.3 μM) and cytosolic (0.65 μM) concentrations of hNTH1 determined here support the possibility of in vivo dimerization; indeed, in vivo protein cross-linking showed the presence of the dimer in the nucleus of HeLa cells. Therefore, it is likely that the dimerization of hNTH1 involving the N-terminal tail masks the inhibitory effect of this tail and plays a critical role in its catalytic turnover in the cell (CA 92306).
Assessing the validity, reliability and efficacy of the Cross-Cultural Stress Scale (CCSS) for psychosomatic studies

Abstract Objective The impact of stressful life events (SLEs) on health has been empirically studied with significant correlations documented. We developed a comprehensive stress rating toolkit, the Cross-Cultural Stress Scale (CCSS) from a triangulated qualitative research study. This article describes our pilot test of the scale to explore demographic-specific patterns of SLE scores and evaluate the scale's aptitude in assessing the stress-health correlation. Methods The face and content-validated CCSS was shared via a web-based survey to diverse individuals grouped by: (a) gender, (b) age, (c) race and ethnicity, (d) native, foreign-born or first-generation, (e) educational attainment, and (f) income. Participants from the Amazon crowdsourcing marketplace MTurk (N = 216) first indicated perceived stress intensities assuming experiences of all the SLEs in the CCSS. They then selected SLEs they had personally experienced in the last 12 months (N = 176). Multivariable analyses were conducted on perceived intensities. Correlations of experienced SLEs with self-reported health based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) indicators measured by the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed. Results We validated the CCSS and obtained a high internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha >0.9). We found significant differences in stress rating by and within demographics. We also correlated stress to perceived health using the HRQOL and presence of a chronic disease ascertaining the stress-health hypothesis. Limitation Sampling limitations observed include data drawn from a convenience sample. Conclusion Despite sampling limitations, our research highlights demographic-specific stressors and offers an updated methodology in the stress-health correlation.
Changes in Mental Health and Treatment, 1997-2017.

Mental health outcomes have shown dramatic changes over the past half-century, yet these trends are still underexplored. I utilize an age-period-cohort analysis of the National Health Interview Sur...
Dynamic Manipulation of DNA-Programmed Crystals Embedded in a Polyelectrolyte Hydrogel

DNA is a powerful tool for programming the three-dimensional organization of nanomaterials, where the specificity of nucleotide base-pairing can enable precise, complex, and dynamically addressable structures like colloidal crystals. However, because these DNA-programmed materials are often only stable in solution, their organization can be easily disrupted by changes to its local environment. Methods to stabilize these materials have been developed, but often come at the expense of altering or permanently fixing the materials' structures, removing many of the benefits of using DNA interactions to program assembly. Thus, these methods limit the application of DNA-assembled structures as dynamic and programmable material components. Here, a method is presented to resolve these drawbacks for DNA-grafted nanoparticles, also known as Programmable Atom Equivalents (PAEs), by embedding assembled lattices within a hydrogel matrix. The preformed lattices are exposed to polymerizable residues that electrostatically bind to the charged backbone of the DNA ligands and form a continuous, permeating gel network that stabilizes the colloidal crystals upon introduction of a radical initiator. After embedding PAEs in a hydrogel, deformation of the macroscopic matrix results in concomitant deformation of the PAE lattices, allowing superlattice structural changes to be induced by chemical methods (such as changing solute concentration to alter swelling pressure) or by application of mechanical strain. Changes to the structure of the PAE lattices are reversible and repeatable over multiple cycles and can be either isotropic (such as by swelling) or anisotropic (such as by mechanical deformation). This method of embedding nanoparticle crystals inside of a flexible and environmentally responsive hydrogel is therefore a useful tool in extending the utility of PAEs and other micro- and nanostructures assembled with DNA.
Synergies between the Protein Data Bank and the community.

The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is a community resource. But how do we define community, and how has it changed over the last 50 years since the PDB was founded? How did the community influence the evolution of the PDB, and how did the PDB influence both the science and the behavior of the community?
A Process Evaluation of San Francisco’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program:

In 2016, San Francisco (SF) implemented the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, a harm reduction–based pre-booking diversion system for people who violate drug laws and/or are engage...
Active Binary Classification of Random Fields

Consider a sequence of $n$ random variables $\mathrm{X}\ {\buildrel \triangle\over=} (X_{1},\cdots, X_{n})$ forming a random field (RF). X is assumed to be generated according to one of the two possible classes of probability measures $\mathcal{P}\ {\buildrel \triangle\over=}\ \{\mathbb{P}_{i}: i\in\{1,\cdots, m\}\}$ and $\mathcal{Q}\ {\buildrel \triangle\over=}\ \{\mathbb{Q}_{i}: i\in\{1, \cdots, m\}\}$ . Up to $s$ realizations of each random variable $X_{i}$ are available for sampling. This paper addresses the following two questions. 1) Given a target classification reliability, what is the minimum number of samples, on average, required to classify X? 2) What is an optimal sequence of sampling the random variables such that a classification decision can be formed with the fewest number of samples? This paper addresses these questions in the asymptote of large $n$ .
The Impact of Father’s Health on Reproductive and Infant Health and Development

The importance of father’s health and health behaviors during the perinatal period is an under-appreciated, but critical, topic for enhancing reproductive and infant health and development, and ultimately men’s own lifetime health. This chapter brings together the existing scattered reproductive fatherhood health literature and articulates a new conceptual framework that identifies eight direct and indirect pathways of potential paternal impact. Three pathways reflect pre-conception to conception influences; paternal planned and wanted pregnancies (family planning); paternal biologic and genetic contributions; and paternal epigenetic contributions. Three pathways reflect father-mother perinatal interactions: paternal reproductive health practices that may alter their partner’s health behaviors and self-care practices; paternal reproductive biologic and social health that may alter their partner’s reproductive health biology; and paternal support for maternal delivery and post-partum care. And two pathways reflect systemic influences: paternal mental health influences; and paternal contributions to the family’s social determinants of health. This chapter pushes back the time frame for the father’s developmental importance for his child into the antenatal period, if not earlier; it encourages more gender equitable parental roles and opportunities; and it provides a stronger scientific knowledge base to support new fatherhood programs, policies and research that encourages father’s more active, healthier and earlier reproductive health involvement.
Mitigating the Joint Feature in Double Shell Implosion Simulations

Double shell capsules are an attractive alternative in inertial confinement fusion experiments due to their potential for achieving a low-convergence, robust burn 1 . However, symmetry degradation and accompanying reduced fuel confinement plagues these systems due to the joint between the two hemispheres of the outer shell. The gap widens during irradiation and this perturbation grows and imprints onto the inner shell during the collision. xRAGE Eulerian radiation-hydrodynamic simulations predict significant reductions in deuterium–tritium fusion yields compared to joint-less simulations when the depth of the outer joint is increased. We demonstrate that the technique of plating the insides of the outer gap with gold can mitigate the impact of this feature. Gold-plating in quantities comparable to or exceeding the "missing" outer shell mass shows promise toward restoring both implosion symmetry and yield closer to the joint-less levels 2 . The shape and symmetry retention in the outer and inner shells is captured in high-energy x-ray synthetic radiographs.
Radial versus femoral access for left main percutaneous coronary intervention: An analysis from the Veterans Affairs Clinical, Reporting, and Tracking Program.

OBJECTIVES We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and procedural outcomes of left main percutaneous interventions (LM-PCI) by transradial (TRA) versus transfemoral (TFA) approach in the VA healthcare system. BACKGROUND TRA for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is steadily increasing. However, the frequency and efficacy of TRA for LM-PCI remain less studied. METHODS All LM-PCIs performed in the VA healthcare system were identified for fiscal year 2008 through 2018. Patients' baseline characteristics and procedure-related variables were compared by access site. Both short- and long-term clinical outcomes were analyzed using propensity score matching. RESULTS A total of 4004 LM-PCI were performed in the VA via either radial or femoral access from 2008 to 2018. Among these, 596 (14.9%) LM PCIs were performed via TRA. Use of TRA for LM-PCI increased from 2.2% to 31.5% over the study period. Propensity matched outcome analysis, comparing TRA versus TFA, showed a similar procedural success (98.4% for TRA vs. 97.8% for TFA; RR: 1.01 [0.98, 1.03]) and 1-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (25.9% for TRA vs. 26.8% TFA; RR: 0.96 [0.74, 1.25]). There were no statistically significant differences among secondary outcomes analyses including major bleeding. CONCLUSION Use of TRA for LM-PCI has been steadily increasing in the VA healthcare system. These findings demonstrate similar procedural success and 1-year MACE across access strategies, suggesting an opportunity to continue increasing TRA use for LM-PCI.
X‐ray Intermolecular Structure Factor (XISF): separation of intra‐ and intermolecular interactions from total X‐ray scattering data

XISF is a MATLAB program developed to separate intermolecular structure factors from total X-ray scattering structure factors for molecular liquids and amorphous solids. The program is built on a trust-region-reflective optimization routine with the r.m.s. deviations of atoms physically constrained. XISF has been optimized for performance and can separate intermolecular structure factors of complex molecules.
A Fitness Distance Correlation Measure for Evolutionary Trees

Phylogenetics is concerned with inferring the genealogical relationships between a group of organisms (or taxa), and this relationship is usually expressed as an evolutionary tree. However, inferring the phylogenetic tree is not a trivial task since it is impossible to know the true evolutionary history for a set of organisms. As a result, most phylogenetic analyses rely on effective heuristics for obtaining accurate trees. These heuristics use tree score as a basis for establishing an accurate depiction of evolutionary tree relationships. Relatively little work has been done to analyze the relationship between improving tree scores (fitness) and topological accuracy (distance). In this paper, we present a new fitness-distance correlation coefficient called r fd to quantify the relationship between evolutionary trees. By applying this measure to three biological datasets consisting of 44, 60, and 174 taxa, our results show that improvements in fitness are strongly correlated (r fd > 0.8) with topological accuracy to the best-tree-overall . Moreover, we investigated the use of the r fd coefficient if the best overall tree is not available and found similar results. Thus, our results show that r fd is a robust measure with several potential applications such as the development of stopping criteria for phylogenetic search.
A robust algorithm for detecting speech segments using an entropic contrast

This paper addresses the issue of automatic word/sentence boundary detection in both quiet and noisy environments. We propose to use an entropy based contrast function between the speech segments and the background noise. A simplified data based scheme of computing the entropy of the speech data is presented. The entropy-based contrast exhibits better-behaved characteristics as compared to the energy-based methods. An adaptive threshold is used to determine the candidate speech segments, which are subjected to word/sentence constraints. Experimental. results show that this algorithm outperforms energy-based algorithms. The improved detection accuracy of speech segments results in at least 25% improvement of recognition performance for isolated speech and more than 16% for connected speech. For continuous speech, a preprocessing stage comprising of the proposed speech segment detection makes the overall HMM based scheme more computationally efficient by rejection of silence periods.
PTH and Vitamin D Repress DMP1 in Cementoblasts

A complex feedback mechanism between parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1,25(OH)2D3 (1,25D), and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) maintains mineral homeostasis, in part by regulating calcium and phosphate absorption/reabsorption. Previously, we showed that 1,25D regulates mineral homeostasis by repressing dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) via the vitamin D receptor pathway. Similar to 1,25D, PTH may modulate DMP1, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Immortalized murine cementoblasts (OCCM.30), similar to osteoblasts and known to express DMP1, were treated with PTH (1-34). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot revealed that PTH decreased DMP1 gene transcription (85%) and protein expression (30%), respectively. PTH mediated the downregulation of DMP1 via the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the decreased localization of DMP1 in vivo in cellular cementum and alveolar bone of mice treated with a single dose (50 µg/kg) of PTH (1-34). RNA-seq was employed to further identify patterns of gene expression shared by PTH and 1,25D in regulating DMP1, as well as other factors involved in mineral homeostasis. PTH and 1,25D mutually upregulated 36 genes and mutually downregulated 27 genes by ≥2-fold expression (P ≤ 0.05). Many identified genes were linked with the regulation of bone/tooth homeostasis, cell growth and differentiation, calcium signaling, and DMP1 transcription. Validation of RNA-seq results via PCR array confirmed a similar gene expression pattern in response to PTH and 1,25D treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that PTH and 1,25D share complementary effects in maintaining mineral homeostasis by mutual regulation of genes/proteins associated with calcium and phosphate metabolism while also exerting distinct roles on factors modulating mineral metabolism. Furthermore, PTH may modulate phosphate homeostasis by downregulating DMP1 expression via the cAMP/PKA pathway. Targeting genes/proteins mutually governed by PTH and 1,25D may be a viable approach for designing new therapies for preserving mineralized tissue health.
Response: Dewey as Utopian: Labor Versus Leisure, Mass Media as Democratic Education, and the Future of Public Schooling

Alexander Sidorkin provocatively levels the charge of utopian thinking at John Dewey. This is serious, if we accept Sidorkin’s view that “utopias ignore people’s material interests and the limits inherent in any social institution.” In this response, I offer an expanded version of “utopian,” arguing that Dewey qualifies as utopian only by this wider definition. Next, I address Sidorkin’s unnecessarily sharp separation between labor and inherently meaningful activity, and his claim that multicultural and democratic education are best left to the media. Finally, I question Sidorkin’s pessimism regarding the future possibilities of American public schools.
Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr., and the Counter-Revolution in the Federal Securities Laws

The confirmation of Lewis F. Powell, Jr., to the Supreme Court led to a dramatic shift in the court's approach to securities law. This article relies on Powell's internal court files to document Powell's influence in changing the court's direction in securities law. Powell's influence was the product of his extensive experience with the securities laws as a corporate lawyer, which gave him much greater familiarity with that body of law than his fellow justices had. That experience also made him skeptical of civil liability, particularly class and derivative actions. Powell's skepticism led him to interpret the securities law in a consistently narrow fashion to reduce liability exposure and increase predictability. Powell also rebuffed the sec's efforts to expand its reach, particularly in insider trading and takeover regulation. Powell's experience and interest produced a counter-revolution in the federal securities law.
Collaborative science and the American Thoracic Society: cooperation in harmony with conflict of interest.

Maurice Hilleman was the archetype for a translational scientist. He was the key contributor to the discovery and development of vaccines against measles and mumps. For his achievements, he was awarded the National Medal of Science and was recognized by scientists worldwide. Acceptance within both industry and academic environments was a key to his success (1). Beyond medicine, similarly successful collaborative efforts across academia, government, and industry benefit us daily, including, for example, dramatic advances in communication and electronic technology. Recent advances in the treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis, based on research conducted by American Thoracic Society (ATS) members and supported by the ATS, provide another example of the value of such collaborative efforts among academic, industry, and government scientists. These stories highlight the benefit of collaboration and open dialogue to the advances in biomedical research. A significant body of scholarship emphasizes the benefit of diverse teams to problem solving (2). However, there are also situations in which relationships between institutions, for example, industry and either academia or professional societies, have resulted in serious concerns about conflicts of interest and have threatened to undermine public trust in biomedical research. To optimize medical advances in a time of shrinking resources, these differing perspectives must be reconciled. Although the ATS has instituted transparent processes to address conflicts of interest, the recent focus on such conflicts has had the unintended consequence of creating barriers to initiatives fostering collaborative efforts across academia, government, and industry. To take full advantage of the potential of these collaborative efforts, a midcourse correction will be necessary. By addressing this challenge, we hope to further the mission of the ATS “to improve health worldwide by advancing research, clinical care and public health in respiratory disease, critical illness and sleep disorders,” while ensuring that perceived conflicts of interest are appropriately identified and managed, promoting ethical conduct as well as public confidence and trust.
Treatment Algorithm for Intracranial Intrusion Injuries of the Mandibular Condyle

Purpose Traumatic injuries of the mandible resulting in intrusion of the condyle into the middle cranial fossa are rare and treatment is often based on anecdotal experience. The objective of this study was to develop an algorithm for the management of condylar intrusion injuries by identifying factors that influenced the treatment decision of closed versus open reduction of the condyle. Materials and Methods This study was a systematic review of the literature on intracranial intrusion injuries of the mandibular condyle. A thorough search of the PubMed and Cochrane databases and individual maxillofacial and craniofacial journal databases was conducted using the Medical Subject Heading terms condylar impaction, condylar dislocation, condylar intrusion, and middle cranial fossa and condyle without date and language restriction. Quantitative data on the patient's age, gender, etiology of injury, and time from injury to diagnosis were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The authors studied how the predictor variables of age, etiology, time from injury to diagnosis, and associated neurologic injuries influenced the outcome variable of closed versus open reduction of the condyle. Results Forty-eight of the 62 retrieved case reports, case series, and review articles were published in the English-language literature from 1963 to 2015. Data on 51 patients with these injuries showed that 38 (75%) were female and younger than 30 years. The most common etiology of injury was motor vehicular accidents, occurring in 25 of 51 patients (49%). The mean time from injury to diagnosis was 31.2 days (0 to 106.4 days). Forty of the 51 patients (78%) were diagnosed within the first 2 weeks of injury. A good proportion of patients underwent open reduction (63%) and 18 of the 51 of patients (35%) underwent closed reduction. Conclusions Predictor variables that influenced the treatment decision of open versus closed reduction were age of the patient, etiology of injury, and time from injury to diagnosis. Based on the present results, younger patients (0 to 15 yr old), patients who sustain condylar intrusion injuries from bicycle accidents, and those diagnosed within the first 2 weeks of injury are more likely to benefit from closed reduction. The treatment algorithm emphasizes the importance of assessment of associated neurologic injuries and an interdisciplinary approach for the management of these injuries.
Structural design considerations of a profiling free vehicle used to measure ocean turbulence

A second-generation High-Resolution Profiler is being developed to make vertical profiles of water velocity over scales from centimeter to full-ocean depth, to measure internal waves and turbulence. The profiler will measure microstructure with airfoil shear probes, fine structure with an acoustic-travel-time current sensor, large-scale water velocity with an electromagnetic field sensor, profiler motion with accurate accelerometers and compass, and a GPS to obtain positions at the start and end of each profile. This paper discusses some of the design considerations of the vehicle structure and the acoustic current sensor. Structural flow-induced vibration of the sensor and profiler contaminate the velocity measurements and can reduce the profiler's sensitivity to low levels of turbulence. The profiler structure, the shear probes and acoustic velocity sensor, and their attachment to the profiler, were made stiff, and the profiler shortened to raise the lowest structural vibration mode to nearly 30 Hz, above the frequency range most sensitive for measuring turbulent dissipation. We are using modified MAVS electronics to make the acoustic measurement of water velocity with a sensor head that is customized for this application. The acoustic path-length has been increased to 25 cm to improve accuracy. Estimates are made of the flow distortion, upstream of the profiler bow, in the measurement volume.
Three-dimensional test particle simulation of the 17-18 March 2013 CME shock-driven storm

Three-dimensional test particle simulation of energetic electrons (hundreds of keV to MeV), including both an initially trapped population and continuously injected population, driven by the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry global MHD model coupled with Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupler/Solver boundary conditions, is performed for the 17 March 2013 storm. The electron trajectories are calculated and weighted using the ESA model for electron flux versus energy and L. The simulation captures the flux dropout at both GOES 13 and GOES 15 locations after a strong CME (coronal mass ejection)-shock arrival which produced a Dst = −132 nT storm, and recovery to the prestorm value later, consistent with GOES satellite measurements. This study provides the first 3-D test particle simulation combining the trapped and injected populations. The result demonstrates that including both populations in the simulation is essential to study the dynamics of the outer radiation belt over the typical day-long timescale of ring current development, main phase, and early recovery phase.
Long-term obesity and cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic risk in U.S. adults.

Background People worldwide are becoming obese at earlier ages, increasing exposure to long-term obesity. Purpose To examine how BMI at age 25 years predicts later obesity and test the importance of long-term obesity beyond obesity severity for adult cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic risk. Methods Data from adults aged 35–64 years from the 1999–2010 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed in 2013 to test how BMI at age 25 years predicts later adult BMI. Next, logistic regression models predicted the odds of elevated risk for blood pressure (BP); high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; total cholesterol; triglycerides; C-reactive protein (CRP); and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) by BMI at age 25 years and current BMI. Results Men obese at age 25 years had a 23.1% estimated probability of Class III obesity after age 35 years, compared to a 1.1% probability for men of normal weight at this age. For women, these probabilities were 46.9% and 4.8%, respectively. Those obese in both periods had higher odds of elevated BP, CRP, and HbA1c compared to those of normal weight at age 25 years, with no effects for lipids. After adjustment for current BMI, these associations were either eliminated (for BP and CRP) or greatly reduced (HbA1c). Conclusions The biological risks of long-term obesity are primarily due to the risk of more severe obesity later in life among those obese early in life, rather than obesity duration. Current body weight rather than duration may be the best reflection of clinical cardiovascular and metabolic risk.
Informing Dissemination Research: A Content Analysis of U.S. Newspaper Coverage of Medical Nanotechnology News

This study examined nanomedicine coverage by the elite and regional U.S. newspapers. The study sought to study prevalent topics; examine time, risk and benefit, thematic and episodic, and societal ...
Experiences and attitudes of collegiate athletic trainers regarding alcohol-related unintentional injury in athletes.

Context: Alcohol-related unintentional injury (ARUI) has been an unexamined consequence of alcohol consumption by collegiate athletes. It has a potentially devastating effect on their athletic perf...
A differential equation model for functional mapping of a virus-cell dynamic system.

The dynamic pattern of viral load in a patient’s body critically depends on the host’s genes. For this reason, the identification of those genes responsible for virus dynamics, although difficult, is of fundamental importance to design an optimal drug therapy based on patients’ genetic makeup. Here, we present a differential equation (DE) model for characterizing specific genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect viral load trajectories within the framework of a dynamic system. The model is formulated with the principle of functional mapping, originally derived to map dynamic QTLs, and implemented with a Markov chain process. The DE-integrated model enhances the mathematical robustness of functional mapping, its quantitative prediction about the temporal pattern of genetic expression, and therefore its practical utilization and effectiveness for gene discovery in clinical settings. The model was used to analyze simulated data for viral dynamics, aimed to investigate its statistical properties and validate its usefulness. With an increasing availability of genetic polymorphic data, the model will have great implications for probing the molecular genetic mechanism of virus dynamics and disease progression.
Release from the brain and acquisition by the corpus cardiacum of a neurohormone in vitro.

Abstract Hindgut stimulating neurohormone (HSN) was synthesized and stored by cultured brains of the cockroach, Leucophaea maderae . The presence of either HSN or cultured corpora cardiaca in the medium caused the brains to release their accumulated HSN. The corpora cardiaca were able to sequester HSN from the medium when the concentration was above a threshold level. Thus, the corpus cardiacum may provide an homeostatic mechanism for maintaining physiological levels of neurohormone.
Theory and application of a quartz resonator as a sensor for viscous liquids

Abstract A comprehensive analysis of the interaction between an AT-cut quartz crystal resonator and a viscous fluid is presented. The analysis, which includes peizoelectric effects, assumes a liquid of finite extent and therefore could also be used to study thin film of viscous liquids. A novel continuous flow cell system was designed and fabricated to monitor viscosity using an 11-MHz quartz crystal resonator. Measured data for frequency shifts of aqueous solutions of alcohols and sugars are in excellent agreement with theory.
Shared synteny of human chromosome 17 loci in Canids

Canids are unusual among mammals in the large degree to which their karyotypes have diverged during speciation. In many instances, chromosome segments from different species share cytogenetic homology
Photochemical Reactions of Rhodium(III) Diimine Complexes in Solid Glycerol Matrixes. Thermal Activation of a Triplet dd Level from a Triplet ππ* Manifold

At temperatures below 150 K in rigid glycerol glasses, [Rh(III)(s-NN)3](PF6)3 complexes display a 3ππ* phosphorescence characteristic of the s-NN ligand [s-NN = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 4-Mephen, 4,7-Me2phen, and 3,4,7,8-Me4phen]. Above 150 K but below the melting point of glycerol, a temperature-dependent first-order reaction occurs. The temperature dependences of these photochemical reactions conform to the Arrhenius equation with an activation energy range of 2500−3800 cm-1. These results are interpreted in terms of the thermal redistribution of energy from the unreactive 3ππ* excited term to a close-lying chemically active 3dd level. The relationship of the Arrhenius activation energies to the electronic structures and the spectra of the parent complexes is discussed. At 77 K all the photoproducts emit 3ππ* → gs phosphorescence. The spectral characteristics of the photogenerated species indicate that a single product has been produced in every case. Moreover, the energy of the phosphorescence of ea...
Porcelain gallbladder in a child: A case report and review

Abstract Calcification of the gallbladder wall (porcelain gallblader; PGB) is a rare form of gallbladder disease not previously described in a child. A 10-year-old girl is presented with PGB that was discovered incidentally during intravenous urography. Computed tomography localized the calcification to the gallbladder wall. Cholecystectomy was performed due to the associated increased incidence of biliary tract carcinoma reported in adult patients. The etiology, diagnosis, and management of PGB and its significance in a pediatric patient are discussed.
Nicotine and caffeine use in cocaine-dependent individuals

Nicotine and caffeine use in 87 cocaine-dependent persons seeking treatment at an outpatient clinic were compared to use of those substances in a matched general population sample (n = 78). The prevalence of cigarette smoking was significantly greater in the cocaine-dependent sample (75% vs. 22%). Within the cocaine-dependent sample, smokers were younger, less educated, employed in lesser skilled jobs, and reported an earlier onset and more frequent use of cocaine. The prevalence of caffeine use was significantly less in the cocaine-dependent group (68% vs. 83%), although, among caffeine users, the cocaine group drank significantly more caffeinated beverages per day than matched controls (4.9 vs. 3.3). Interestingly, regular caffeine use was associated with less frequent cocaine use within the cocaine-dependent sample. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report on prevalence of smoking and caffeine use among cocaine-dependent individuals, and suggests that use of these other substances may influence the onset and pattern of cocaine use.
Factors associated with bone mineral density in middle-aged men

This cross-sectional population-based study examined the association of anthropometric and lifestyle risk factors with bone mineral density (BMD) in 218 white ambulatory men aged 50-64 from the Rancho Bernardo, California cohort. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and at the ultradistal wrist and midshaft radius of the forearm using single-photon absorptiometry. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly correlated with BMD at all four skeletal sites. Overall, 17.0% of men aged 55-64 were osteopenic (BMD > or = 2 SD below the distribution for ages 50-54) at one skeletal site, 16.5% were osteopenic at two sites, and 13.6% were osteopenic at three or more sites. Men who reported regular exercise had significantly higher BMD levels at the spine and hip. Men meeting the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium intake (> or = 800 g/day) had significantly higher BMD levels at the spine and wrist. Alcohol intake and smoking were associated with differences of borderline significance in BMD at the spine. In analyses adjusted for BMI, weight change, exercise, smoking, drinking, and calcium intake, there was a significant independent age-related decline in BMD at the hip (0.008 g/cm2/year; p = 0.001), at the wrist (0.004 g/cm2; p < 0.01), at the forearm (0.006 g/cm2; p < 0.01), but not at the spine (0.005 g/cm2). These data, although cross-sectional, strongly suggest that age-related bone loss occurs in middle-aged men and that both physical activity and an adequate calcium intake are associated with better bone density.
Distributed measurement-aware routing: Striking a balance between measurement and traffic engineering

Network-wide traffic measurement is important for various network management tasks, ranging from traffic accounting, traffic engineering, and network troubleshooting to security. Existing techniques for traffic measurement tend to be sub-optimal due to poor choice of monitor deployment location or due to constantly evolving monitoring objectives and traffic characteristics. It is not feasible to dynamically reconfigure/redeploy monitoring infrastructure to satisfy such evolving measurement requirements. In this paper, we present a distributed measurement-aware traffic engineering protocol based on a game-theoretic re-routing policy that attempts to optimally utilize existing monitor locations for maximizing the traffic measurement gain while ensuring that the traffic load distribution across the network satisfies some traffic engineering constraint. We introduce a novel cost function on each link that reflects both the measurement gain and the traffic engineering (TE) constraint. Individual routers compete with each other (in a game) to minimize their own costs for the downstream paths, i.e., each router dynamically gathers its cost information for upstream routers and use it to locally decide how to adjust traffic split ratios for each destination to the next-hop routers among these multiple equal-cost paths. Our routing policy guarantees not only a provable Nash equilibrium, but also a quick convergence without significant oscillations to an equilibrium state in which the measurement gain of the network is close to the best case performance bounds We evaluate the protocol via simulations using real traces/topologies (Abilene, AS6461 and GEANT). The simulation results show fast convergence (as expected from the theoretical results), improved measurement gains (e.g., 12 % higher) and much lower TE-violations (e.g., up to 100X smaller) compared to static, centralized measurement-aware routing framework in dynamic traffic scenario.
Nonocclusive coronary disease after chronic exposure to nitrates: Evidence for physiologic nitrate dependence

A 38-year-old man, exposed to notroglycerin in his work as an explosives expert, developed non-occlusive ischemic heart disease after withdrawal of exposure to organic nitrates. Despite the severity of his symptoms and the documented spasm of his right coronary artery, his electrocardiogram was at all times normal, as were results of a wide panel of laboratory tests. Sublingual nitroglycerin amerliorated the symptoms which have decreased with time.
Dorsal galnds of Alligator mississippiensis: a histological and histochemical study

Several investigators have described in some crocodilians a row of round or oval organs, called dorsal glands, lying under scutes on each side of the dorsal midline. The function of these glands is unknown, but they are hypothesized to produce skin-conditioning secretions. We investigated the anatomy and histochemistry of the dorsal glands of adult American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Twenty to 22 pairs of glands containing a viscous, often black, material were observed lying from the mid-cervical to the anterior caudal regions in the axial musculature or on the inner surface of the dermis. The capsule of each gland consists of dense collagenous fibres and numerous short elastic fibres, and is surrounded by skeletal muscle. The single lumen is lined by one to several layers of cuboidal to columnar epithelium in varying stages of degeneration, indicating a holocrine secretory mode. The epithelial cell membranes often interdigitate and tight junctions and desmosomes occasionally are observed between them. The epithelial cells and secretory product contain slight to considerable amounts of lipid; glycoproteins may be present. Crystals exhibiting a dense core and/or layering occur in the epithelial cells and secretory product. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis demonstrates calcium, copper, iron, lead, potassium, and zinc in the crystals. Mitochondria, vacuoles, and short segments of rough endoplasmic reticulum also occur in the cells.
Fiber gyroscope with nonreciprocally operated, fiber-coupled LiNbO 3 phase shifter

We describe a fiber gyroscope operating at maximum sensitivity that is due to a nonreciprocal π/2 phase bias effected with a pulsed voltage applied to an electro-optic LiNbO3 channel waveguide phase shifter. With a He–Ne laser source, the noise was equivalent to a 0.1°/sec rotation, for a 10-Hz bandwidth and 2% reflectivity at each fiber–LiNbO3 interface. The phase shifters showed polarization-independent behavior that was characterized by measurements in a fiber interferometer. They were flip-chip coupled with single-mode fibers that were cemented to the channel ends to give a stable module.
Micromechanical behavior of Kevlar-149/S-glass hybrid seven-fiber microcomposites. II: Stochastic modeling of stress-rupture of hybrid composites

Abstract To understand the stress-rupture behavior of hybrid composites, single-fiber type (SFT) and hybrid microcomposites were fabricated with Kevlar 149 as the low-elongation fiber and S-glass as the high-elongation fiber in a DER 331/DER 732 epoxy mixture (70/30, w/w). The microcomposites were stress-rupture tested at 80, 85, and 90% of their Weibull scale parameters for tensile strength. To predict the stress-rupture lifetime of a hybrid composite, a stochastic model was proposed which assumed that the failure of LE fibers in a hybrid follows a continuous-time Markov chain. Both the model and the stress-rupture tests of the hybrid and Kevlar 149 SFT microcomposites indicated that there is a negative hybrid effect for lifetime at high stress ratio while a positive hybrid effect exists at low stress ratio. The higher fraction of the total load for each LE fiber was responsible for the negative hybrid effect at high stress ratio, while smaller static and dynamic overstress was beneficial to the positive hybrid effect at low stress ratio. The mean lifetime for the hybrid and Kevlar 149 SFT microcomposites predicted using the model is reasonably close to the experimental results.
A contemporary method for developmental‐genetic analyses of age changes in intellectual abilities

The purpose of this article is to describe a methodology for the evaluation of biometric genetic hypotheses in the context of a developmental model of growth and change. Linear structural equation models are described for longitudinal and twin data, including aspects of subject attrition and practice effects. These models are applied to 2 variables measured at several points in time in the New York Twin Study (Jarvik, Kallman, & Falek, 1962; Kallman, Feingold, & Bondy, 1951). The patterns of psychometric and biometric changes are different for the 2 intellectual variables. Substantive results are discussed in relation to gf/gc theory (Cattell, 1971; Horn, 1988), and some methodological limitations are emphasized.