cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Questioning universalism, devising an ethics without foundations: An exploration of international relations ontologies and epistemologies

In this article, I explore the ontological and epistemological assumptions of the ethical universalism that constitutes the basis for international intervention. I argue grounding ethical decisions...
Lymphotoxin Production in Human Neoplasia

SummaryThe in vitro release of lymphotoxin by human peripheral blood lymphocytes from noncancer patients, patients with cancer, and patients with Hodgkin's disease were studied. Noncancer patients and patients with cancer other than Hodgkin's disease released no lymphotoxin under unstimulated conditions while stimulation with phytohemagglutinin induced in vitro release of lymphotoxin. Lymphocytes from patients with Hodgkin's disease released significantly less lymphotoxin following stimulation with phytohemagglutinin but also released measurable amounts of a lymphotoxin-like substance in the unstimulated state. Hodgkin's disease lymphocytes appear to differ from the lymphocytes of noncancer patients and patients with cancer other than Hodgkin's disease by both lower in vitro lymphotoxin release following phytohemagglutinin stimulation and spontaneous release of lymphotoxin by unstimulated lymphocytes.
Arithmetic differential equations on $$GL_n$$ G L n , II: arithmetic Lie–Cartan theory

Motivated by the search of a concept of linearity in the theory of arithmetic differential equations (Buium in Arithmetic differential equations. Math. surveys and monographs, vol 118. American Mathematical Society, Providence, 2005), we introduce here an arithmetic analogue of Lie algebras, of Chern connections, and of Maurer–Cartan connections. Our arithmetic analogues of Chern connections are certain remarkable lifts of Frobenius on the p-adic completion of \(GL_n\) which are uniquely determined by certain compatibilities with the “outer” involutions defined by symmetric (respectively, antisymmetric) matrices. The Christoffel symbols of our arithmetic Chern connections will involve a matrix analogue of the Legendre symbol. The analogues of Maurer–Cartan connections can then be viewed as families of “linear” flows attached to each of our Chern connections. We will also investigate the compatibility of lifts of Frobenius with the inner automorphisms of \(GL_n\); in particular, we will prove the existence and uniqueness of certain arithmetic analogues of “isospectral flows” on the space of matrices.
Antibiotic Resistance and Growth of the Emergent Pathogen Escherichia albertii on Raw Ground Beef Stored under Refrigeration, Abuse, and Physiological Temperature

Escherichia albertii is an emerging gram-negative facultative rod that has been implicated in multiple cases of human diarrheal disease, particularly in young children. When biochemical and other typing methods have been used, this organism has often been misidentified due to similarities with other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Isolates have been reported to be capable of producing attachment and effacement lesions via the synthesis of intimin, cytolethal distending toxin, and a variant form of Shiga toxin. The purposes of this study were to characterize the antibiotic resistance characteristics and the growth of individual strains of E. albertii on raw ground beef at different storage temperatures. Nalidixic acid–resistant strains of E. albertii were inoculated onto raw ground beef to a target of 4.0 log CFU/g, and samples were then aerobically incubated at 5, 22, or 35°C for various time periods prior to microbiological enumeration of the pathogen on lactose-free MacConkey agar containing 5...
Computational study of the deamination of 8-oxoguanine.

Oxidation of guanine in DNA yields the nucleobase damage product 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG), whose further oxidation gives other more stable products. In the present study, the mechanism for the deamination of 8-oxoG with H2O, 2H2O, H2O/OH–, and 2H2O/OH– and for protonated 8-oxoG (8-oxoGH+) with H2O has been investigated using ab initio calculations. All structures were optimized at RHF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d), and B3LYP with the 6-31G(d), 6-31+G(d), 6-31G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p), and 6-31++G(d.p) basis sets. Energies were determined at the G3MP2 level of theory, and solvent calculations were performed using both the polarizable continuum model (PCM) and the solvation model on density (SMD). Intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations were performed to characterize the transition states on the potential energy surface. Thermodynamic properties (ΔE, ΔH, and ΔG), activation energies, enthalpies, and Gibbs free energies of activation were also calculated for each reaction investigated. All pathways yield an initial tetra...
18 – The gainful employment rule and for-profit higher education in the United States

This chapter examines the United States’ Department of Education’s Gainful Employment Rule (GER) and its influence on higher education. The GER was first proposed in 2010. Following a successful lawsuit by an organization representing for-profit colleges and universities, the GER was not implemented. In March 2014, a new and revised version of the GER was released, although many regulatory provisions remain the same. This chapter discusses the provisions of the GER and the reactions of various stakeholder groups to the proposed rule, both following the initial 2010 announcement of the rule and the more recent announcement. The GER directly targets private for-profit postsecondary institutions in the United States, but it may also affect other higher education sectors. As a policy intended to regulate proprietary institutions of higher education, the GER may directly affect enrollment in these institutional types and the ability of students enrolled in such institutions to receive federal student financial aid.
Heavy metals and PBCs residues in marine products from tidal flats in Ningbo and their environmental correlation analysis

Objective To survey and evaluate the residues of heavy metals and PBCs in marine products from tidal flats in Ningbo.Methods According to national standards,heavy metals and PBCs were detected with corresponding analysis techniques recommended in national criterion in environmental and seafood samples.Results The contents of Pb,Cd and PCBs in tidal flats and the content of Cd in seawater were lower than the national standard for aquiculture area,but the content of Pb in seawater was higher than this standard.According to the national hygiene standard,the qualified rate of Pb in moerella iridescens was 95.15%,and the qualified rate of Cd in blue crab,razor clam,moerella iridescens and bullacta were 4.55%,89.02%,53.05% and 12.88%,respectively.The Pb content between moerella iridescens and the mud correlated positively(r2= 0.522,P 0.01) and the Cd content between razor clam,blue crab and sea mud also correlated positively(r2= 0.500,P 0.01;r2= 0.400,P 0.05).Conclusion It should pay more attention to heavy metal pollution of tidal flats and seafood in Ningbo.Shellfish can be used as a very important biological indicator for heavy metal pollution.
Quick determination of Cadmium content in blood by acid extraction-HG–AFS

Objective:To develop a quick method for the determination of Cadmium in blood by acid extraction-HG-AFS.Methods: The micro-blood samples were prepared by acid extraction and centrifugation,then the supernatant was determined directly with HG-AFS.Results: A good Linear relationship between the cadmium content and fluorescence intensity was found in the range of 0.00 μg/L~0.50 μg/L with the detection limit of 3.75 ng/L.The related coefficient,recoveries and RSD were 0.9997,85.5%~102.3%,7.09%,respectively.Conclusion: The results indicated that the method was convenient,rapid,accurate,reliable,sensitive and suitable for measurement of cadmium in blood.
Gene Pyramiding Assisted Breeding of New Hybrid Rice Combination Zhongyou 161 with High Yield and High Grain Quality

Beneficial genes carried by rice lines Teqing and IRBB51 were determined through literature reading and gene based marker detection. While Teqing carries resistance alleles at the Pib and Pita loci for blast resistance and at the Xa4 locus for bacterial blight resistance,IRBB51 carries resistance alleles at the Pib,Xa4 and xa13 loci and high-grain-quality allele at the wx locus. Zhonghui 161,a new restorer line which carries beneficial alleles at all of the above-mentioned five target loci,was developed from a recombinant inbred population of Teqing/IRBB51. Zhongyou 161,a new hybrid rice combination with good grain quality and high yield derived from Zhong 9A and Zhonghui 161,was released commercially nationwide in 2009. This study suggests that adding beneficial genes which are carried by either parental lines of a rice population to those carried by both parental lines might be a feasible way of gene pyramiding in the breeding of commercial rice varieties.
The impact of alterations in lignin deposition on cellulose organization of the plant cell wall

Coordination of synthesis and assembly of the polymeric components of cell walls is essential for plant growth and development. Given the degree of co-mingling and cross-linking among cell wall components, cellulose organization must be dependent on the organization of other polymers such as lignin. Here we seek to identify aspects of that codependency by studying the structural organization of cellulose fibrils in stems from Arabidopsis plants harboring mutations in genes encoding enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis. Plants containing high levels of G-lignin, S-lignin, H-lignin, aldehyde-rich lignin, and ferulic acid-containing lignin, along with plants with very low lignin content were grown and harvested and longitudinal sections of stem were prepared and dried. Scanning X-ray microdiffraction was carried out using a 5-micron beam that moved across the sections in 5-micron steps and complete diffraction patterns were collected at each raster point. Approximately, 16,000 diffraction patterns were analyzed to determine cellulose fibril orientation and order within the tissues making up the stems. Several mutations—most notably those exhibiting (1) down-regulation of cinnamoyl CoA reductase which leads to cell walls deficient in lignin and (2) defect of cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase which greatly reduces lignin content—exhibited significant decrease in the proportion of oriented cellulose fibrils in the cell wall. Distinctions between tissues were maintained in all variants and even in plants exhibiting dramatic changes in cellulosic order the trends between tissues (where apparent) were generally maintained. The resilience of cellulose to degradative processes was investigated by carrying out the same analysis on samples stored in water for 30 days prior to data collection. This treatment led to significant loss of cellulosic order in plants rich in aldehyde or H-lignin, less change in wild type, and essentially no change in samples with high levels of G- or S-lignin. These studies demonstrate that changes in lignin biosynthesis lead to significant disruption in the orientation and order of cellulose fibrils in all tissues of the stem. These dramatic phenotypic changes, in mutants with lignin rich in aldehyde or H-units, correlate with the impact the mutations have on the enzymatic degradation of the plant cell wall.
SU-G-IeP2-15: Virtual Insertion of Digital Kidney Stones Into Dual-Source, Dual- Energy CT Projection Data

Purpose: In order to investigate novel methods to more accurately estimate the mineral composition of kidney stones using dual energy CT, it is desirable to be able to combine digital stones of known composition with actual phantom and patient scan data. In this work, we developed and validated a method to insert digital kidney stones into projection data acquired on a dual-source, dual-energy CT system. Methods: Attenuation properties of stones of different mineral composition were computed using tabulated mass attenuation coefficients, the chemical formula for each stone type, and the effective beam energy at each evaluated tube potential. A previously developed method to insert lesions into x-ray CT projection data was extended to include simultaneous dual-energy CT projections acquired on a dual-source gantry (Siemens Somatom Flash). Digital stones were forward projected onto both detectors and the resulting projections added to the physically acquired sinogram data. To validate the accuracy of the technique, digital stones were inserted into different locations in the ACR CT accreditation phantom; low and high contrast resolution, CT number accuracy and noise properties were compared before and after stone insertion. The procedure was repeated for two dual-energy tube potential pairs in clinical use on the scanner, 80/Sn140 kV and 100/Sn140 kV, respectively. Results: The images reconstructed after the insertion of digital kidney stones were consistent with the images reconstructed from the scanner. The largest average CT number difference for the 4 insert in the CT number accuracy module of the phantom was 3 HU. Conclusion: A framework was developed and validated for the creation of digital kidney stones of known mineral composition, and their projection-domain insertion into commercial dual-source, dual-energy CT projection data. This will allow a systematic investigation of the impact of scan and reconstruction parameters on stone attenuation and dual-energy behavior under rigorously controlled conditions. Dr. McCollough receives research support from Siemens Healthcare
Time Course of Symptomatic Recovery After Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenoma Apoplexy in the Modern Era.

Background Pituitary tumor apoplexy can result from either hemorrhagic or infarctive expansion of pituitary adenomas, and the related mass effect can result in compression of critical neurovascular structures. The time course of recovery of visual field deficits, headaches, ophthalmoparesis, and pituitary dysfunction after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery has not been well established. Methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients who underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumor apoplexy from April 2008 to November 2014. Results Of 578 patients who underwent transsphenoidal surgery, pituitary tumor apoplexy was identified in 44 patients (7.6%). Two patients had prior surgery, leaving 42 patients for final analysis. These included infarction-related apoplexy in 7 (14.4%) patients, and hemorrhagic apoplexy in 35 (85.6%) patients. Hemorrhagic adenomas had a larger axial tumor diameter than patients with infarctive adenomas (4.4 ± 4.1 cm vs. 1.8 ± 0.8 cm; P P n = 37) and/or visual disturbances ( n = 22) had complete resolution of symptoms at last follow-up, whereas 83.3% of patients who presented with ophthalmoplegia experienced resolution. Endocrinologic dysfunction remained relatively consistent after surgery. Conclusions Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery can provide durable resolution of symptoms for patients presenting with pituitary tumor apoplexy. Recovery from headaches, visual, and pituitary dysfunction may be more rapid compared with ophthalmoparesis.
Ionizing Radiation Effects in 4H-SiC nMOSFETs Studied With Electrically Detected Magnetic Resonance

Electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) measurements of 4H-SiC/SiO2 metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) show large changes in the EDMR induced by gamma irradiation, indicating substantial changes in interface structure but, surprisingly, no generation of interface dangling bond defects. Our results indicate substantial fundamental atomic scale differences between radiation responses of Si/SiO2 based MOSFETs and SiC/SiO2 based MOSFETs.
Abstract 12: rPAI-123 Inhibits Vasa Vasorum Plexus Development in Atherosclerotic Mice

Objective— Vasa vasorum are angiogenic in more advanced stages of human atherosclerosis and in mouse models of atherosclerosis. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is the predominant angiogenic growth factor in the adventitia and plaque of hypercholesterolemic LDLR -/- ApoB100 + mice (DKO). Our previous studies suggest that FGF-2 plays an important role in guiding angiogenic vasa vasorum into a distinct plexus-like network. This study further investigated the role of FGF-2 in plexus development and the ability of an angiogenesis inhibitor, rPAI-1 23 , to inhibit the plexus. Methods and Results— DKO mice treated with saline, anti-angiogenic rPAI-1 23 or adeno-soluble FGFR1 (sFGFR1) were perfused with fluorescein-labeled Lycopersicon esculentum lectin. Descending aortas were probed for FGF-2 and whole mounts were imaged by confocal microscopy. Angiogenic vasa vasorum are abundant and form a plexus-like network in saline treated DKO that is similar to the FGF-2 pattern of distribution. Mice treated with rPAI-1 23 and sFGFR1 lack a plexus; FGF-2 and vasa vasorum density and area are significantly reduced. Examination of potential FGF-2 binding partners indicates that a perlecan/FGF-2 complex is critical for plexus development. Excess plasmin produced in rPAI-1 23 treated DKO/PAI-1 -/- mice degrades perlecan, disperses FGF-2 causing collapse of the plexus and destabilization of the vascular tree. Conclusion— Vasa vasorum develop an angiogenic plexus essential for maintaining a vascular tree during the atherosclerotic disease process. A perlecan/FGF-2 complex is required for structural organization and stability of the plexus. Disruption of the complex by rPAI-1 23 results in loss of the plexus causing the vasa vasorum to collapse. We conclude that a novel rPAI-1 23 stimulated pathway for regulating plasmin activity is the mechanism for inhibiting the expanded vasa vasorum in atherosclerotic DKO mice.
Becoming Enthusiastic about Learning for the First Time as a Child in the Classroom

Chapter Four proceeds toward the issue of motivated learning and presents phenomenological findings on becoming enthusiastic about learning for the first time as a child in a formal educational setting (i.e., in school). Here, the phenomenon of learning is enveloped within a wider concern for the burgeoning of an enduring excitement for learning, which is an indicator of developmental well-being that is inherently connected to the interpersonal. The chapter offers a general structural description of becoming enthusiastic about learning for the first time as a child within the context of a formal pedagogical relationship. Findings are discussed in relation to existing literature on student motivation and enthusiasm for learning, including academic tenacity and existential-humanistic self-development theory (EHSDT).
Numerical analysis of coupled diffusion and deformation problems

Analytical treatment of coupled diffusion and deformation problems becomes unmanageable when the geometries and/or boundary conditions are complex. The finite element technique as presented in Chapter 4 can again be applied. No additional difficulties prevail as the governing equations for deformation coupled with diffusion are similar to those with uncoupled deformation. An iteration process, however, must be adopted such that the temperature, moisture and stress field for each time increment must satisfy the equations in accordance with the specified boundary conditions. Particular choice of the space and time increment for a given system requires special attention in order for the solution to converge. This is resolved by resolving the time portion of the problem in the Laplace transform domain such that the space portion is evaluated by the finite element procedure.
Physician use of the curbside consultation to address information needs: report on a collective case study.

Purpose: The author reports key findings from a doctoral dissertation investigating what the curbside consultation is, how and why physicians use it, and what the implications for health sciences library services might be. Settings/Informants: Primary informants included sixteen primary care physicians at six sites in one Midwestern state. Additional informants included twenty-eight specialists and subspecialists identified by the primary informants as colleagues who provided curbside consultations. Methods: Qualitative research methods were used, including field observations, formal and informal interviews, and conversations with peer review physicians. Results: Despite a lack of consensus about what constitutes a “good” curbside consultation, physician informants reported that curbside consultations were part of their medical education and that they continued to take part in them for a number of reasons. Tacit rules govern curbside consultation interactions, and negative consequences result when the rules are misunderstood or not observed. Discussion/Conclusion: Acknowledging and understanding physicians' use of the curbside consultation to obtain and construct knowledge may suggest new ways for health sciences librarians to work with physicians in locating, diffusing, and disseminating clinical information.
Gray matter density reduction associated with adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate longitudinal changes in brain gray matter density (GMD) before and after adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer. We recruited 16 women aged ≥ 60 years with stage I–III breast cancers receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). The CT group underwent brain MRI and the NIH Toolbox for Cognition testing prior to adjuvant chemotherapy (time point 1, TP1) and within 1 month after chemotherapy (time point 2, TP2). The HC group underwent the same assessments at matched intervals. GMD was evaluated with the voxel-based morphometry. The mean age was 67 years in the CT group and 68.5 years in the HC group. There was significant GMD reduction within the chemotherapy group from TP1 to TP2. Compared to the HC group, the CT group displayed statistically significantly greater GMD reductions from TP1 to TP2 in the brain regions involving the left anterior cingulate gyrus, right insula, and left middle temporal gyrus (pFWE(family-wise error)-corrected < 0.05). The baseline GMD in left insula was positively correlated with the baseline list-sorting working memory score in the HC group (pFWE-corrected < 0.05). No correlation was observed for the changes in GMD with the changes in cognitive testing scores from TP1 to TP2 (pFWE-corrected < 0.05). Our findings indicate that GMD reductions were associated with adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer. Future studies are needed to understand the clinical significance of the neuroimaging findings. This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01992432).
Resistive switching in nano-structures

Solid state memory and switching devices aimed at replacing the flash memory technology operate by switching from the high to low resistance when conductive filaments are created in response to the electric pulse. The filaments are identified with either structurally different protrusions or purely electronic conductive pathways. The former can appear via the field induced nucleation (FIN), while the latter do not require phase transformations and are attributed to certain types of temperature and bias dependent conductivity. The existing understanding of those processes ignores features related to extremely small linear sizes of nano-structures. Such are, for example, the device sizes smaller than critical nucleation radii, and/or the electron energy relaxation lengths exceeding the structure dimensions. This paper develops a theory of switching under nano-size conditions. We show how the structure thinness can make FIN a truly threshold phenomenon possible only for voltage (not the field) exceeding a certain critical value. We predict the possibility of threshold switching without memory for certain thickness dependent voltages. The thermal runaway mechanism of electronic switching is described analytically leading to results consistent with the published numerical modeling. Our predictions offer possible experimental verifications deciding between FIN and thermal runaway switching.
Clinical and metabolomic risk factors associated with rapid renal function decline in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) nephropathy and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are risk factors for early mortality. Furthermore, rate of eGFR decline predicts progression to end-stage renal disease in many clinical settings. However, factors predicting renal function decline in SCD are poorly documented. Using clinical, laboratory, genetic, and metabolomic data, we evaluated predictors of renal function decline in a longitudinal cohort of 288 adults (mean age 33.0 years). In 193 subjects with 5-year follow-up data, mean rate of eGFR decline was 2.35 mL/min/1.73 m2 /year, nearly twice that of African American adults overall. Hyperfiltration was prevalent at baseline (61.1%), and 36.8% of subjects experienced rapid eGFR decline (≥3 mL/min/1.73 m2 /year). Severe Hb genotype; proteinuria; higher platelet and reticulocyte counts, and systolic BP; and lower Hb level and BMI were associated with rapid decline. A risk scoring system was created using these 7 variables and was highly predictive of rapid eGFR decline, with odds of rapid decline increasing 1.635-fold for every point increment (P < 0.0001). Rapid eGFR decline was also associated with higher organ system severity score and peak creatinine. Additionally, two metabolites (asymmetric dimethylarginine and quinolinic acid) were associated with rapid decline. Further investigation into longitudinal SCD nephropathy (SCDN) trajectory, early markers of SCDN, and tools for risk stratification should inform interventional studies targeted to slowing GFR decline and improving SCD outcomes.
Representation of Industry in Introductory Biology Textbooks: A Missed Opportunity to Advance STEM Learning

The majority of students who enroll in undergraduate biology courses will eventually be employed in non-STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) business occupations. This work explores how representations of industry in undergraduate biology textbooks could impact STEM learning for these students and their ability to apply this learning in their chosen work. We used text analysis to identify passages with references to industry in 29 textbooks. Each passage was categorized for relevance to health or environment, for implied positive or negative connotations, and for descriptions of synergy or conflict between science and industry. We found few passages describing applications of STEM learning in non-STEM business occupations and a paucity of content to support context-based learning for students aiming at business careers. A significant number of passages embodied negative connotations regarding industry. Notable passages highlighted irregular or fraudulent business practices or included simplistic caricatures of business practice. We discuss how the representation of industry in these textbooks may impact student engagement, context-based learning, the ability of students to critically apply STEM learning in industry or business occupations, and heuristics that guide intuitive perceptions about the intersection between science and industry.
Self-Regulation and Rhetorical Problem Solving: How Graduate Students Adapt to an Unfamiliar Writing Project:

Research on writing and transfer has shown that writers who have sophisticated rhetorical knowledge are well equipped to adapt to new situations, yet less attention has been paid to how a writer’s ...
Let Them Breathe: A Plea to Pediatricians to Advocate for Stock Inhaler Policies at School

Although all 50 states permit children with asthma to self-carry personal inhalers, access to emergency inhalers may be as low as 14%.1 Every child could have access when needed if albuterol were allowed to be stocked at schools.1 This problem affects all children: rich or poor, private-schooled or public-schooled, urban or rural. There are many reasons why a child might not have an inhaler at school: they forgot it, they could not afford it, they unexpectedly ran out, or it might have expired. When children do not have albuterol, schools have few options. A parent may not be immediately accessible or able to respond promptly. Even if they can, the attack often worsens with delays. Generally, the school must call 911. This may lead to an ambulance transport and an emergency department visit; furthermore, such events take children out of the classroom and impede their learning. In a study of asthma-related deaths in the school setting between 1990 and 2003, authors cited 38 reported asthma school deaths, which the authors believe was an underestimate.2 Thirty-one percent of these children died while waiting for medical intervention.2 These adverse events are likely avoidable with stock inhalers because access to rescue medications is a key component of guideline-based response in asthma emergencies.3,4 Schools can … Address correspondence to Andrea A. Pappalardo, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 S Wood St, M/C 856, Chicago, IL 60612. E-mail: apappa2{at}uic.edu
Understanding Primary Care Patients’ Self-weighing Habits: Cohort Analysis from the PaTH Clinical Data Research Network

Greater than 60% of adults have overweight or obesity. Self-weighing is an effective weight loss and weight maintenance tool. However, little is known about self-weighing habits among the primary care patient population. Our objective was to examine the frequency of patient-reported self-weighing, and to evaluate the associations of self-weighing with demographic characteristics and self-monitoring behaviors. We conducted an analysis of survey data collected as part of the PaTH Clinical Data Research Network, which recruited a cohort of 1,021 primary care patients at 4 academic medical centers. Patients of all body mass index (BMI) categories were included. Response rate of 6-month survey was 727 (71%). The mean age was 56 years, and most were female (68%), White (78%), college graduates (66%), and employed/retired (85%). The mean BMI was 30.2 kg/m2, 80% of participants had a BMI ≧ 25 kg/m2. Of patients with BMI ≧ 25 kg/m2, 35% of participants self-weighed weekly and 23% daily. Participants who reported self-weighing at least weekly were more likely to be older (59 vs 54 years, p < 0.01), married (p = 0.01), college graduates (p = 0.03), White (p < 0.01), and employed vs disabled/unemployed (p < 0.01). Patients who self-weighed daily had a lower BMI (29 kg/m2 vs 31 kg/m2, p = 0.04). Patients who tracked exercise or food intake were more likely to self-weigh daily (p < 0.01), as were patients wanting to lose or maintain weight (p < 0.01). Despite its potential for primary and secondary obesity prevention, only 35% of primary care patients with overweight or obesity engage in self-weighing weekly and less than a quarter (23%) self-weigh daily. Socioeconomic status appears to be a factor influencing regular self-weighing in this population, potentially contributing to greater health disparities in obesity rates. Patients who self-weighed daily had a lower BMI, suggesting that it may play a role in primary prevention of obesity. More work is needed to explore self-weighing among patients.
The relationship between plasma ghrelin levels and glucose and lipid metabolisms of child and adolescent obesity

Objective To explore the relationship between plasma ghrelin levels and glucose and lipid metabolisms of child and adolescent obesity.Methods 30 cases of obesity and 30 healthy normal weisht children and adolescents with same age and gender were selected.Plasma ghrelin level,serum insulin(INS),C-peptide(CPE),fasting blood glucose(FBG),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoproteins(HDL),low-density lipoproteins(LDL)were measured.Results For the obesity group:Plasma ghrelin level significantly decreased [(15.49±1.98)vs(19.47 ±1.50)μg/L]compared with control(P＜0.05);BMI,waistline,FBG,INS were very significantly increased(28.19±3.83)vs(21.07±1.53)kg/m2;(88.60±6.13)vs(78.52 ±4.40)cm;(5.23±0.49)vs(4.59 ±0.63)mmol/L;(22.32 ±3.50)vs(16.98±2.50)μIU/ml,respectively compared with control(all P＜0.01);TC was significantly increased(5.87±0.88)vs(4.05±0.76)nmol/L compared with control(P＜0.05).For the plasma ghrelin level of obesity:The relationship between plasma ghrelin level and body weight,BMI,waistline,INS,TC was obviously negative(r=-0.385,-0.466,-0.336,-0.387,-0.373,respectively,all P＜0.01);The relationship between plasma ghrelin level and FBG was obviously negative(r=-0.324,P＜0.05);No relationship between plasma ghrelin level and age,body height,CPE,TG,HDLC,LDLC.Conclusion Plasma ghrelin level of children and adolescent obesity was obviously decreased,and was strongly related with disordem of glucose and lipid metabolisms. Key words: Adolescent; Obesity; Ghrelin
National Family Policies and Mothers’ Employment: How Earnings Inequality Shapes Policy Effects across and within Countries:

Although researchers generally agree that national family policies play a role in shaping mothers’ employment, there is considerable debate about whether, how, and why policy effects vary across co...
Developing a cognitive behavioral therapy for hypersomnia using telehealth: a feasibility study.

Study Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel cognitive behavioral therapy for hypersomnia (CBT-H) in people with central disorders of hype...
Exploring the link between Vitamin D and clinical outcomes in COVID-19.

Low vitamin D has been associated with increased frequency and severity of respiratory tract infections in the past. Current literature linking clinical outcomes in COVID-19 with low vitamin D is d...
Populism Studies: The Case for Theoretical and Comparative Reconstruction

Studies of populism have shifted from substantive to discursive/performative and institutional perspectives in recent decades. This shift resolved some long-standing problems but insulated the anal...
“I still go ask someone I enjoy talking to”: The use of digital and human sources by educational stage and context

Abstract How does educational stage affect the way people find information? In previous research using the Digital Visitors & Residents (V&R) framework for semi-structured interviews, context was a factor in how individuals behaved. This study of 145 online, open-ended surveys examines the impact that one's V&R educational stage has on the likelihood of attending to digital and human sources across four contexts. These contexts vary according to whether the search was professional or personal and successful or struggled. The impact of educational stage differs based on context. In some contexts, people at higher educational stages are more likely to attend to digital sources and less likely to attend to human sources. In other contexts, there is no statistically significant difference (p
Customs Regulation of Cross-Border Movement of Goods Containing Intellectual Property Objects in the Context of Eurasian Integration

A condition for the effective integration of Eurasian Economic Union member states economies is creating a set of mechanisms for the use of intellectual property objects in modern circumstances. With significant intellectual potential existing in the EAEU countries, the process of commercialization and use of intellectual property objects is not carried out sufficiently. Considering the main purpose of the Union's functioning, this problem has to be solved comprehensively and consistently. The article presents the main results of study of customs regulation system of goods containing intellectual property objects crossborder movement in the context of Eurasian integration. It is noted that the violation of intellectual property rights occurs not only among competing companies as a plagiarism or industrial espionage, but also within framework of agreements concluded between copyright holders and users of intellectual property rights. The EAEU countries cooperate and organize interaction of authorized bodies also to form a unified system of intellectual property rights protection within the EAEU, SCO, BRICS, as well as the WTO. In order to improve the system of customs control of goods containing intellectual property objects, constant adjustments and modernization of methods for controlling the intellectual property objects movement across the customs border of the EAEU are required to ensure the maximum possible protection of intellectual property holders from illegal actions of third parties. The publication was made within the framework of the state assignment for 2021 No. 0851-2020-0034
First Results from the HARP CubeSat polarimeter

The Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter (HARP) Cubesat started data collection in April 2020 from the ISS orbit and is the first Hyper-Angular imaging polarimeter in space. The HARP payload produces pushbroom images at four wavelengths (440, 550, 670 and 870nm) with up to 60 viewing angles at 670 nm and up to 20 along track angles for the other three wavelengths. HARP swath consists of 94 degs in the cross track direction, allowing for a very wide coverage around the globe, and +/-57 degs in the along track direction, providing wide scattering angle sampling for aerosol and cloud particle retrieval. The HARP satellite is still active on orbit and so far have produce a large collection of scenes providing an unprecedented demonstration of the hyperangular retrieval of cloud and aerosol properties from space. This presentation will discuss the performance of the HARP sensor in space, as well as its first results for aerosol and cloud measurements. HARP is preceded by its airborne version, the AirHARP instrument, which has flown in two NASA aircrafts to demonstrate the capabilities of the HARP payload. The HARP payload is also a precursor to the HARP-2 polarimeter that will fly on the NASA PACE mission to collect global data on aerosol and cloud particles.
New Drugs 2021, Part 2.

ABSTRACT: The second of a two-part series, this article describes eight recently approved drugs, including the first drug approved for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, a first-in-class HIV attachment inhibitor, and a new intravenous injection indicated for the treatment of acute pain in adults for whom other treatments are ineffective.
Quality Improvement in Aviation Education: A Framework for Programmatic Assessment and Quality Improvement

There is a growing concern in higher education for a system of assessment and program quality improvement. This paper introduces a program evaluation system that may be used for evaluating higher education programs in a manner that provides an understandable quantitative quality metric. It provides background on the movement of higher education into the realm of quality management of educational processes, the national quality movement in public education, and efforts by the International Standards Organization and its affiliate organizations to establish international standards for education. Finally, it describes a seven-step assessment and quality improvement process. These steps reflect structure found in the Kirkpatrick Model of Program Evaluation and guidelines provided by the Central Missouri State University Quality Improvement Plan.
Rethinking the NLRB's Approach to Union Recognition Agreements

One response by unions to the difficulties of the National Labor Rela tions Act (NLRA) election process has been to negotiate "recognition agreements" with employers in which the employer promises to remain neutral during the organizing drive, or to recognize the union if a majority of workers indicate their support. For these agreements to have practical meaning, they must also contain assurances that the company will agree to substantive contract terms. However, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has held it to be illegal for the employer to discuss substantive contract terms with a union before the union represents a majority of the workers. In addition, where recognition agreements contain arbitration clauses, the NLRB has refused to defer to the decisions of arbitrators on representational questions. This article argues for reversal of both these NLRB rulings. First, Mr. Strom argues that the NLRA neither compels nor suggests the conclusion that it is illegal for the employer to discuss substan tive contract terms before the union represents a majority of workers. Sec ond, he advocates the use of these agreements as a way to promote labor peace and notes that for this goal to be achieved, their enforceability must be certain. Thus, he believes that the NLRB should defer to arbitrators' decisions regarding representational issues as it defers to other arbitration decisions.
Chapter 21. New Horizons in the Treatment of Proliferative Prostatic Disease

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the new endocrine as well as non-endocrine pharmacological agents currently under development for the treatment of prostate cancer (PC) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Cyproterone acetate (CPA) continues to be the most thoroughly studied antiandrogenic agent and has the approval for use in PC in several countries. Flutamide, the prototype non-steroidal pure androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, also has approval for use in PC. The effects of flutamide on T, 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and the localization of AR in tissues from BPH patients have been reported. Anandron (RU 23908) is a non-steroidal AR antagonist primarily targeted for use in hormone-responsive PC. The dihydroethisterone derivative WIN 49596 is reported to be an AR antagonist. A direct cytotoxic effect of ketoconazole on PC cells has been suggested. The discovery and development of potent and selective inhibitors of 5α-reductase and “pure” AR antagonists that do not uncouple negative-feedback at the hypothalamic/pituitary demonstrates continuing interest in this therapeutic arena. Luteinizing-hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists are being developed for the treatment of various hormone dependent disorders, including endometriosis, breast cancer, PC, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The use of selective alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists for the treatment of urinary retention, associated with BPH, is being investigated. Growth factors must also regulate neoplastic prostatic growth as both normal and malignant prostatic epithelial cells can proliferate in vitro in the absence of androgens. Further research on the prostate should reveal additional new potential approaches and allow clinicians to select specific agents or a combination of agents based on the underlying pathophysiology.
CXCR4 signaling regulates radial glial morphology and cell fate during embryonic spinal cord development

Embryonic meninges secrete the chemokine SDF-1/CXCL12 as a chemotactic guide for migrating neural stem cells, but SDF-1 is not known to directly regulate the functions of radial glia. Recently, the developing meninges have been shown to regulate radial glial function, yet the mechanisms and signals responsible for this phenomenon remain unclear. Moreover, as a nonmigratory cell type, radial glia do not conform to traditional models associated with chemokine signaling in the central nervous system. Using fluorescent transgenes, in vivo genetic manipulations and pharmacological techniques, we demonstrate that SDF-1 derived from the meninges exerts a CXCR4-dependent effect on radial glia. Deletion of CXCR4 expression by radial glia influences their morphology, mitosis, and progression through both oligodendroglial and astroglial lineages. Additionally, disruption of CXCR4 signaling in radial glia has a transient effect on the migration of oligodendrocyte progenitors. These data indicate that a specific chemokine signal derived from the meninges has multiple regulatory effects on radial glia.
Silverbacks and Their Satellites

Before the Dawn . Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors. By Nicholas Wade . Penguin, New York, 2006. 319 pp. $24.95. ISBN 1-59420-079-3. Drawing on recent findings from genetics, molecular phylogenetics, paleontology, anthropology, and human genetics, the author sketches the evolution of modern humans and human nature.
Colonial Cartographies, Postcolonial Borders, and Enduring Failures of International Law: The Unending War along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Frontier

Many of today's pervasive and intractable security and nation-building dilemmas issue from the dissonance between the prescribed model of territorially bounded nation-states and the imprisonment of postcolonial polities in territorial straitjackets bequeathed by colonial cartographies. With a focus on the Durand Line, the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the epicenter of the prolonged war in the region, this article explores the enduring ramifications of the mutually constitutive role of colonialism and modern law. The global reach of colonial rule reordered subjects and reconfigured space. Fixed territorial demarcations of colonial possessions played a pivotal role in this process. Nineteenth century constructs of international law, geography, geopolitics, and the frontier, fashioned in the age of empire, were interwoven in the enabling frame that made the drawing of colonial borders like the Durand Line possible. Imperatives of colonial rule and compulsions of imperial rivalries positioned these demarcations that often cut across age-old cultural and historical social units. Postcolonial states inherited these demarcations and, with them, a host of endemic political and security afflictions. Modern international law, which in its incipient state lent license to colonial rule, today legitimates colonial cartographies, thereby accentuating postcolonial dilemmas of nation-building and territorial integrity. By freeze-framing inherited colonial borders, international law forces disparate people to circumscribe their political aspirations within predetermined territorial bounds, precluding political and territorial arrangements in tune with their aspirations. To silence the questions that rise from colonial territorial demarcations, international law raises the specter of disorder. It seeks to preserve order, even an unjust and dysfunctional one. In the process, international law betrays a deeper affliction that plagues it - its refusal to squarely face its complicity in colonial domination accentuates its inability to resolve today's international disputes procreated by colonial cartographies.