cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Right Brownian Motion and Representation of Initial Problem

Let {X t + : t > 0} be the right Brownian motion on [0, ∞) determined by the transition density: for x,y ∈ [0,∞). $$ {p^{ + }}(t;x,y) = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}{c}} {\frac{y}{{x\sqrt {{2\pi t}} }}[\exp ( - |x - y{|^2}/2t) - \exp ( - |x + y{|^2}/2t)],\quad x > 0} \\ {\sqrt {{\frac{2}{\pi }}} \;\frac{{{y^2}}}{{{t^{{3/2}}}}}\;\exp ( - {y^2}/2t),\quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad x = 0} \\ \end{array} } \right. $$ (1) This is a Markov process having the tendency moving to the right direction. 0 can be a starting point, but is never reached, i.e., {0} is a polar set.
Our Not-So-Great Depression (Book Review)

This was written as a solicited review of Judge Posner's book, A Failure of Capitalism. For decades, Posner has been a leading figure in law and economics, and his account of the 2008 economic crisis deserves attention. Most importantly, Posner narrates a tale of functional capitalism, in which highly rational "lions" happened to eat decisionally impaired "zebras." This review challenges that interpretation as unproved, and probably unprovable. It also suggests that Posner's disparate characterizations of ultra-rational markets and perpetually-bumbling governments distort his prescriptions for policy in the future. Finally, the review questions the proper role of legal intellectuals like Posner (and in a very micro-sense, including me as well) as participants in complex and political economic debates.
You’re the New Principal? Considering First Steps Toward Improvement at Sparrow Middle School:

In the contemporary context, demands for rapid school turnaround meet the reality of increased principal turnover. Therefore, it is crucial to help aspiring school leaders hone their problem-solvin...
Validation of qGS10, a quantitative trait locus for grain size on the long arm of chromosome 10 in rice ( Oryza sativa L . )

Abstract Grain size is a major determinant of grain weight and a trait having important impact on grain quality in rice. The objective of this study is to detect QTLs for grain size in rice and identify important QTLs that have not been well characterized before. The QTL mapping was first performed using three recombinant inbred line populations derived from indica rice crosses Teqing/IRBB lines, Zhenshan 97/Milyang 46, Xieqingzao/Milyang 46. Fourteen QTLs for grain length and 10 QTLs for grain width were detected, including seven shared by two populations and 17 found in one population. Three of the seven common QTLs were found to coincide in position with those that have been cloned and the four others remained to be clarified. One of them, qGS10 located in the interval RM6100–RM228 on the long arm of chromosome 10, was validated using F 2:3 populations and near isogenic lines derived from residual heterozygotes for the interval RM6100–RM228. The QTL was found to have a considerable effect on grain size and grain weight, and a small effect on grain number. This region was also previously detected for quality traits in rice in a number of studies, providing a good candidate for functional analysis and breeding utilization.
Students as effective harm reductionists and needle exchange organizers.

Background Needle exchange programs are safe, highly effective programs for promoting health among people who inject drugs. However, they remain poorly funded, and often illegal, in many places worldwide due to fear and stigma surrounding drug use. Continued advocacy, education, and implementation of new needle exchanges are thus essential to improve public health and reduce structural inequality.
Computer-aided lung cancer screening with CT: A clinically usable nodule detection and assessment system.

7562 Background: The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) recently demonstrated that lung cancer screening with low-dose CT reduces mortality. Current protocols use 4–8 mm nodules as positive screens. While there are some computer-aided nodule detection (CAD) systems currently available, they are rarely used in clinical practice because they generate too many false positives and lack reliable measurement tools. The purpose of this work is to develop a new CAD system to overcome these limitations and evaluate it against an expert panel of radiologists. Methods: The CAD system developed for lung nodule detection and measurement incorporates computer vision techniques including intensity thresholding, Euclidean Distance Transformation, and watershed segmentation. Rules pertaining to volume and shape were applied to automatically discriminate between nodules and bronchovascular anatomy. CAD system performance was assessed using 108 consecutive cases from the publically available Lung Imaging Database Consorti...
The accuracy of wind energy forecasts and prospects for improvement

Wind energy forecast errors, while modest when weighted by wind energy capacity, are quite large relative to the average level of actual wind energy generation. For example, while the capacity weighted root mean squared error (CWRMSE) of day-ahead wind energy forecasts for the 50Hertz control area in Germany over the period 1 January 2015 through 31 December 2015 is just 4.5 percent, the energy-weighted root-mean-squared-error (EWRMSE) is almost five times as large at 21.67 percent. Our analysis also indicates that the errors in 50Hertz's wind energy forecasts are statistically related to forecasted weather conditions. Based on this finding and the time-series attributes of the forecast errors, an ARCH/ARMAX model was formulated to predict wind energy generation. The model's forecasting accuracy was evaluated using out-of-sample data over the period 1 January 2015 through 31 December 2015. The out-of-sample period-ahead predictions have a EWRMSE of about 2.93 percent and CWRMSE of about 0.60 percent.
Stress-induced Pseudouridylation Alters the Structural Equilibrium of Yeast U2 snRNA Stem II.

In yeast, the U2 small nuclear ribonucleic acid (snRNA) component of the spliceosome is targeted for additional post-transcriptional modifications in response to cellular stress. Uridines 56 and 93 are both modified to pseudouridines (Ψ) during nutrient deprivation, while U56 is also pseudouridylated during heat shock. Both positions are located within stem II, which must toggle between two mutually exclusive structures during splicing. Stem IIa forms during spliceosome assembly, and stem IIc forms during the catalytic steps. We have studied how uridine 56 and 93 pseudouridylation impacts conformational switching of stem II. Using single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer, we show that Ψ56 dampens conformational dynamics of stem II and stabilizes stem IIc. In contrast, Ψ93 increases dynamics of non-stem IIc conformations. Pseudouridylation impacts conformational switching of stem II by Mg2+ or the U2 protein Cus2; however, when Mg2+ and Cus2 are used in combination, the impacts of pseudouridylation can be suppressed. These results show that stress-induced post-transcriptional modification of U56 and U93 alters snRNA conformational dynamics by distinct mechanisms and that protein and metal cofactors of the spliceosome alter how snRNAs respond to these modifications.
X-Ray Sum Frequency Diffraction for Direct Imaging of Ultrafast Electron Dynamics

X-ray diffraction from molecules in the ground state produces an image of their charge density, and time-resolved x-ray diffraction can thus monitor the motion of the nuclei. However, the density change of excited valence electrons upon optical excitation can barely be monitored with regular diffraction techniques due to the overwhelming background contribution of the core electrons. We present a nonlinear x-ray technique made possible by novel free electron laser sources, which provides a spatial electron density image of valence electron excitations. The technique, sum frequency generation carried out with a visible pump and a broadband x-ray diffraction pulse, yields snapshots of the transition charge densities, which represent the electron density variations upon optical excitation. The technique is illustrated by ab initio simulations of transition charge density imaging for the optically induced electronic dynamics in a donor or acceptor substituted stilbene.
EU, ASEAN and North American Integration: Lessons from Their Degrees of Integration

This paper contrasts the EU, ASEAN and NAFTA integrations, analyzing their institutional integration, their implementation, and their impact on growth and financial markets of the member countries. In particular, the paper studies whether different degrees of financial integration affect the reception and transmission of spillovers effect inside and outside blocs. Although more detailed structural specifications are found for Europe and North America, ASEAN’s style of integration has improved the Pacific countries’ trade, growth and financial markets, and it provides important information for the achievement of economic integration. It suggests that when trade agreements exist with heavy capital investment within the bloc, faster growth and financial stability are achieved.
Measuring systems thinking

Systems thinking has been promoted as a way to improve human–environmental interactions, but analytical approaches to measure degrees of systems thinking remain elusive. If more complex thinking does improve sustainable decision-making, new methods to validate this prevalent hypothesis must be developed.
Back to the future: A retrospective cost benefit analysis of an education dropout program as an intervention to prevent reincarceration

This article carries out a cost benefit analysis of early childhood education for preventing reincarceration. It estimates the external benefits that accrue to society as a whole, in terms of the s...
Immersogeometric fluid–structure interaction modeling and simulation of transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Abstract The transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to surgical treatments of valvular heart disease. TAVR offers many advantages, however, the safe anchoring of the transcatheter heart valve (THV) in the patient’s anatomy is key to a successful procedure. In this paper, we develop and apply a novel immersogeometric fluid–structure interaction (FSI) framework for the modeling and simulation of the TAVR procedure to study the anchoring ability of the THV. To account for physiological realism, methods are proposed to model and couple the main components of the system, including the arterial wall, blood flow, valve leaflets, skirt, and frame. The THV is first crimped and deployed into an idealized ascending aorta. During the FSI simulation, the radial outward force and friction force between the aortic wall and the THV frame are examined over the entire cardiac cycle. The ratio between these two forces is computed and compared with the experimentally estimated coefficient of friction to study the likelihood of valve migration.
Combining Radiation Therapy with Immune Checkpoint Blockadein Breast Cancer

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is an emerging therapy in breast cancer. Its optimal integration with radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer remains to be established. Herein, we review the current evidence on combining ICB and RT in breast cancer and discuss the challenges, open questions, ongoing trials, and future directions for use of this treatment combination. Early trials of ICB in breast cancer show evidence of a modest response, limited due to the low baseline immunogenicity of most breast cancers. RT, as a potent stimulator of the immune system, has been used in combination with ICB with encouraging results. The optimal dose, fractionation, and timing of RT combined with ICB are active areas of investigation. Preclinical evidence suggests that moderate-dose, hypofractionated courses may be more effective at stimulating an immune response than high-dose, single-fraction courses. Recent studies suggest that ICB can be active in breast cancer, but optimizing the response rate remains a challenge. The immunostimulatory effects of RT have the potential to overcome this obstacle, with promising data from preclinical and early clinical trials. Future investigation on the optimal dosing and fractionation of RT in combination with ICB will be critical.
Antihypertensive Drug Therapy for Mild to Moderate Hypertension During Pregnancy.

Compared with placebo, antihypertensive drug therapy for mild to moderate hypertension (defined by the authors as a blood pressure of 140 to 169 mm Hg systolic or 90 to 109 mm Hg diastolic) caused by chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, or preeclampsia during pregnancy does not affect any pregnancy outcomes.
Hepatic Autonomic Nervous System and Neurotrophic Factors Regulate the Pathogenesis and Progression of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease represents a continuum of excessive hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. It is a growing epidemic in the United States of America and worldwide. Progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can lead to morbidity and mortality due to complications such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is centered on increased hepatic lipogenesis and decreased hepatic lipolysis in the setting of hepatic and systemic insulin resistance. Adipose tissue and hepatic inflammation can further perpetuate the severity of illness. Currently there are no approved therapies for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Most of the drugs being explored for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease focus on classical pathogenic pathways surrounding hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation or fibrosis. Studies have demonstrated that the autonomic nervous system innervating the liver plays a crucial role in regulation of hepatic lipid homeostasis, inflammation and fibrosis. Additionally, there is growing evidence that neurotrophic factors can modulate all stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Both the autonomic nervous system and neurotrophic factors are altered in patients and murine models of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In this review we focus on the pathophysiological role of the autonomic nervous system and neurotrophic factors that could be potential targets for novel therapeutic approaches to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Power Analysis for Parameter Estimation in Structural Equation Modeling: A Discussion and Tutorial:

Despite the widespread and rising popularity of structural equation modeling (SEM) in psychology, there is still much confusion surrounding how to choose an appropriate sample size for SEM. Current...
Influence of full -course health education on treatment compliance among intractable epilepsy children with ketogenic diet therapy

Objective To explore the influence of full -course health education on parents' awareness of diseases and treatment compliance among intractable epilepsy children with ketogenic diet therapy. Methods Sixty nine intractable epilepsy cases with ketogenic diet therapy were randomly divided into control group (34 cases) and experimental group (35 cases) according to the admission order. The routine nursing was given to 34 cases in control group. On basis of routine nursing , full -course health education was given to 35 cases in experimental group. The analysis was carried out before and after intervention in two groups by self-designed questionnaire. x2 test was used to evaluate the parents'awareness of diseases, treatment compliance and therapeutic effects. Results The parents'awareness of diseases, treatment compliance and therapeutic effect were higher in experimental group than those in control group ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) . Conclusions Full -course health education can improve the parental awareness of the disease and treatment compliance, thereby enhance the life quality of children with intractable epilepsy. Key words: Full -course health education; Intractable epilepsy; Ketogenic diet; Compliance
Drafting Pandemic Policy: Writing and Sudden Institutional Change

This article reports findings from an institutional ethnography of university stakeholders’ writing in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrating the affordances of this methodology for ...
Universal Landau-Zener regimes in dynamical topological phase transitions

In finite systems driven unitarily across topological phase transitions, the Chern number and the Bott index have been found to exhibit different behaviors depending on the boundary conditions and on the commensurability of the lattice. For periodic boundary conditions, the Chern number does not change for finite commensurate lattices (or in the thermodynamic limit). On the other hand, the Chern number can change for incommensurate lattices with periodic boundary conditions and the Bott index can change for lattices with open boundary conditions. Here we show that the scalings of the fields at which those two indices change exhibit Landau-Zener and near-adiabatic regimes depending on the speed at which the strength of the drive is ramped up and on the system size. Those regimes are preceded by a regime in which the topological indices do not change. The latter is the only regime that, for nonvanishing ramp speeds, survives in the thermodynamic limit. We then show that the dc Hall response can be used to detect topological phase transitions independently of the behavior of the topological indices.
Recognizable Clinical Subtypes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Ischemic Stroke: A Cluster Analysis.

Background and purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases risk of stroke recurrence and mortality in ischemic stroke patients. However, equivocal treatment effects warrant further categorization of post-stroke OSA for risk stratification and individualized treatment planning. Methods The study recruited 232 ischemic stroke patients with moderate-to-severe OSA admitted for inpatient rehabilitation consecutively. Latent class analysis was performed based on sex, age, smoking, daytime sleepiness, depression, obesity, sedative use, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, recurrent stroke and dysphagia. The augmentation index, a marker of arterial stiffness, was measured by applanation tonometry. Results A three-cluster model provided the best fit. Cluster 1 (n=84, 36.2%) was older in age, predominantly female, with the highest hypopnea index and prevalence of atrial fibrillation. Moreover, patients in Cluster 1 had significantly higher augmentation index than those in Cluster 2. Cluster 2 patients (N=80, 34.5%) were of older age, predominantly male, with the highest prevalence of depression, the lowest prevalence of hypertension and had the most normal body mass index (BMI). Additionally, Cluster 2 had less nocturnal hypoxia as compared to Cluster 3. Cluster 3 (n=68, 29.3%) was the youngest in age, predominantly male, with the highest BMI, cumulative risk score, and prevalence of dyslipidemia of the three clusters. Conclusion Post-stroke OSA can be categorized into three clinical phenotypes. Patients in Clusters 1 and 3 both had elevated cardiovascular risk and treatment can be based on their distinct characteristics. Patients in Cluster 2 had relatively lower risk of cardiovascular events and the benefits of OSA treatment requires further study.
School Personnel and Parents’ Concerns Related to COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact Related to Schools

In March 2020, the majority of schools in the United States transitioned to distance learning in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Little data is available on the impact of this abrupt transi...
Rapid Behavioral Health Assessment Post-disaster: Developing and Validating a Brief, Structured Module

To develop and validate a brief, structured, behavioral health module for use by local public health practitioners to rapidly assess behavioral health needs in disaster settings. Data were collected through in-person, telephone, and web-based interviews of 101 individuals affected by Hurricanes Katrina (n = 44) and Sandy (n = 57) in New Orleans and New Jersey in April and May 2018, respectively. Questions included in the core module were selected based on convergent validity, internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability across administration modes, principal component analysis (PCA), question comprehension, efficiency, accessibility, and use in population-based surveys. Almost all scales showed excellent internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha, 0.79–0.92), convergent validity (r > 0.61), and test–retest reliability (in-person vs. telephone, intra-class coefficient, ICC, 0.75–1.00; in-person vs. web-based ICC, 0.73–0.97). PCA of the behavioral health scales yielded two components to include in the module—mental health and substance use. The core module has 26 questions—including self-reported general health (1 question); symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety (Primary Care PTSD Screen, Patient Health Questionnaire-4; 8 questions); drinking and other substance use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise, AUDIT-C; Drug Abuse Screening Test, DAST-10; stand-alone question regarding increased substance use since disaster; 14 questions); prior mental health conditions, treatment, and treatment disruption (3 questions)—and can be administered in 5–10 minutes through any mode. This flexible module allows practitioners to quickly evaluate behavioral health needs, effectively allocate resources, and appropriately target interventions to help promote recovery of disaster-affected communities.
The Guiding Star: The Journey of an International Physician From Maternal Fetal Medicine to Fetal Neonatal Neurology.

My path to the American dream took me from maternal fetal medicine in India to fetal and neonatal neurology in the United States, a journey spanning 2 continents, 3 countries, 3 healthcare systems,...
Skin Color and Racial Socialization among African American College Students: A Descriptive Analysis

Racial socialization of African American youth has been found to be a buffer for some of theracial discrimination they face as youth. It denotes the manner by which parents communicateboth unspoken and explicit messages or ideas about the significance of one’s nationality in abroader social context. Considering the important factor of skin color in the racial socializationof African American youth is needed as the world becomes increasingly multicultural. This studyprovides a descriptive analysis of the attitudes based on parental preferences towards skin colorof a sample of African American college students in a rural university in the Southern UnitedStates. Using Spearman’s Rho and MultiCrit framework, the analysis reveals a strong correlationbetween parental preferences for a certain skin color and participants’ skin preferences.Implications for social work and for the study of racial socialization are discussed.
Sarcopenic Obesity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Prevalence and Impact on Physical Functioning.

OBJECTIVE We determined the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using multiple methods and assessed associations with physical functioning. METHODS This study evaluated data from three RA cohorts. Whole-body dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) measures of appendicular lean mass index (ALMI, kg/m2) and fat mass index (FMI) were converted to age, sex, and race-specific Z-Scores and categorized using a recently validated method and compared it to a widely-used existing method. The prevalence of body composition abnormalities in RA was compared with two reference populations. In the RA cohorts, associations between body composition and change in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) in follow-up were assessed using linear and logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, race, and study. RESULTS The prevalence of low lean mass and sarcopenic obesity were higher in patients with RA (14.2; 12.6%, respectively) compared with the reference population cohorts (7-10%; 4-4.5%, respectively, all p< 0.05). There was only moderate agreement among methods of sarcopenic obesity categorization (Kappa 0.45). The recently validated method categorized fewer subjects as obese, and many of these were categorized as low lean mass only. Low lean mass, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity were each associated with higher HAQ and lower SPPB at baseline and numerically greater worsening. CONCLUSION RA patients had higher rates of low lean mass and sarcopenic obesity than the general population. The recently validated methods characterized body composition changes differently from traditional methods and were more strongly associated with physical function.
Military Mediation as Military Justice? Conjectures on Repairing Unit Cohesion in the Wake of Relational Misconduct

The use of a neutral party to intercede between two or more disputing parties with the goal of facilitating a mutually-acceptable resolution, settlement, or agreement — i.e., mediation — has never been critically evaluated as a possible procedure within the field of military criminal justice. This article explores whether mediation may march alongside orthodox criminal procedure — as it does in civilian jurisdictions — without undervaluing traditional philosophies that guide military justice, and without undermining traditional sources of prosecutorial authority: military commanders. Current military doctrine (both operational and legal) supports non-traditional problem-solving systems, of which mediation should be considered a part. Relation-based misconduct provides the most appropriate candidate of crime particularly ripe for mediation within military units, especially when framed against a genuine and historically-justifiable command interest in preserving or repairing “unit cohesion.” While pragmatic and legal counter-arguments against mediation are reasonably sound, there is nothing intrinsic to the military scheme of justice that makes them any more persuasive. Rather, when translated into a military culture, these criticisms and concerns reflect the same underlying tensions between traditional prosecutorial authority, efficiency, victim rights, and preventive law. Ultimately, whether in the form of a system that directly employs mediation parallel to orthodox justice, or in the form of a new skill set for military leaders employed indirectly as part of their routine leadership functions, mediation need not be considered alien nor an anathema to current military justice as exercised by military commanders.
Retinopathy of prematurity: diagnosis, severity, and natural history

This article presents data gathered in a prospective clinical trial of constant monitoring of oxygen therapy on the diagnosis, severity (as coded by a severity index [SI]) and natural history of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in 214 surviving infants with birthweights less than or equal to 1300 g. ROP developed in 119 (55.6%) infants and, of these, cicatricial ROP developed in nine (7.6%). The disease was diagnosed at 8-9 weeks on the average in infants with birthweights less than 900 g and 4-5 weeks in infants 900 to 1300 g. Those infants in whom the disease regressed, ROP lasted approximately 15 weeks. The severity of the disease, as defined by the SI, was strongly correlated with the birthweight of the infant and weakly correlated with the total duration of oxygen therapy.
Secure Multi-party Protocols for Privacy Preserving Data Mining

People are more and more concerned with privacy protection while performing data mining. ID3 is a very popular decision tree building method in data mining. Entropy and Gini index are two different criteria used in ID3. While there is quite some work in privacy preserving ID3 using entropy, not much has been done for Gini index. In this paper, we present protocols based on secure multiparty computation for privacy preserving ID3 using Gini index over both vertically and horizontally partitioned data. Our protocols don't require any third party server. However, some communication overhead is necessary so that the parties can carry out the secure protocols.
PERMEABILITY OF BACTERIAL SPORES I. Characterization of Glucose Uptake

Black, S. H. (The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and Philipp Gerhardt. Permeability of bacterial spores. I. Characterization of glucose uptake. J. Bacteriol. 82:743–749. 1961.—The total uptake of glucose by masses of clean, dormant spores was measured to assess their permeability. After correction for intercellular space, packed spores of Bacillus cereus strain terminalis were found in 87 determinations to be permeated by glucose to 40% of their weight. The glucose uptake was relatively independent of environmental variables, and thus was concluded to occur principally through a process of passive diffusion.
Ethics in Admissions.

Abstract This paper reviews graduate applications/admissions data for 1975–84, and shows that as applications have decreased, the acceptance rate has increased. Referring to the NASW Code of Ethics, the paper suggests this trend raises a number of ethical issues with which the field should be concerned. Traditional alternatives to liberalized admissions are also reviewed and their perceived efficacy is examined. It is suggested that hold-harmless strategies are insufficient to counteract the societal trends which adversely affect graduate social work education and, further, that the field must begin to proactively plan for fewer, or at least smaller, graduate programs.
Nonlinear Diffusion Scale-Space and Fast Marching Level Sets for Segmentation of MR Imagery and Volume Estimation of Stroke Lesions

We combine nonlinear diffusion scale-space and geometric deformable models for segmenting lesions in MR images of ischemic stroke patients. Region and boundary information are integrated in a speed function for robust segmentation with the fast marching level set method. A confidence-based model of segmentation captures the significant variability in human segmentation and the ambiguity inherent in many lesions, and it provides a testbed for a new measure of variance with sets as random variables. This method offers users a family of segmentations, requires less user input than previous methods, and its volume estimates effectively match those of doctors’ hand segmentations.
The Sun Exposure and Behaviour Inventory (SEBI): validation of an instrument to assess sun exposure and sun protective practices

Background Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. Sun exposure is the most important risk factor for its development. The amount of exposure required to cause skin cancer has not been quantified, and the impact of sun protective practices is unknown. Objectives To develop a brief self-administered questionnaire to estimate past and current sun exposure, sun protective practices, and assess the questionnaire’s reliability and validity. Methods The study had three stages: (1) questionnaire formulation, (2) internal reliability and construct validity testing and questionnaire refinement, (3) test–retest and further internal reliability testing. The final Sun Exposure and Behaviour Inventory (SEBI) is composed of 15 questions assessing three domains; current sun behaviour, current sun exposure and prior sun exposure. Results A total of 251 subjects completed Stage 2 testing and 57 completed Stage 3. Final Cronbach’s α-scores ranged from 0.71 to 0.84 and k-scores demonstrated excellent to fair/good agreement, indicating acceptable internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Construct validity was evidenced by significantly higher prior sun exposure scores and lower current sun behaviour scores in subjects with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer. Limitations Self-reported questionnaires, though efficient and low cost, may be subject to recall error and bias. Further work remains to determine if the SEBI maintains its reliability and validity in different populations. Conclusion The SEBI is a brief self-administered questionnaire, which appears to be reliable and valid. It may provide useful measures of past and present sun exposure and current sun behaviour, which may be useful in studies of skin cancer incidence and risk modification.
Leucine blocks lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior by interfering with kynurenine influx into the brain.

Inflammation activates the tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism pathway. Circulating kynurenine is transported into the brain at the vascular blood–brain barrier (BBB) by the large amino-acid transporter LAT-1, where it is further metabolized into neurotoxic metabolites responsible for depressive symptoms. LAT-1 transports tryptophan, kynurenine and the amino acid leucine. We sought to competitively inhibit kynurenine blood-to-brain transport with leucine in order to attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior in CD-1 mice. Given that the concentration of circulating kynurenine is 100 fold less than kynurenine, we hypothesized that leucine should inhibit kynurenine more than tryptophan transport. We had already demonstrated that inflammation increases luminal-to-abluminal transport of tryptophan using an in vitro model of BBB transport. Here we show that lipopolysaccharide-treated mice (0.83 mg/kg, ip) develop depression-like behavior at 24 h (reduced sucrose preference and increased forced swim test immobility; p p p p
Regularization Methods for Inferential Sensing in Nuclear Power Plants

Inferential sensing is the use of information related to a plant parameter to infer its actual value. The most common method of inferential sensing uses a mathematical model to infer a parameter value from correlated sensor values. Collinearity in the predictor variables leads to an ill posed problem that causes inconsistent results when data based models such as linear regression and neural networks are used. This chapter presents several linear and non-linear inferential sensing methods including linear regression and neural networks. Both of these methods can be modified from their original form to solve ill posed problems and produce more consistent results.
Editing strategies used by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in Data Collection over the Internet.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the principle Federal agency charged with disseminating statistics in the broad area of labour economics. In particular BLS publishes the principle Federal economic indicators on unemployment and inflation in the U.S. BLS attempts to provide data providers with as many options as possible for submitting their reports such as over the Internet. The BLS approach to Internet data collection is to provide a singular, manageable, secure architecture for all surveys. This paper will explore the editing strategy used by BLS on the Internet. The paper will summarise the types of edits used in post collection review and the strategy employed to incorporate edits into web-based instruments. Edit experience from two Internet survey instruments will be discussed including implementation strategies, edit failure experience, and comparisons with edit failures of data collected by standard protocols.
PARENT'S, TEACHER'S AND STUDENT'S PERCEPTIONS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The problem of overweight and obese children now constitutes a global epidemic, with high prevalence rates now being reported in many transitional societies. Half of the adults in the United Arab Emirates—one of the wealthiest advanced economies in the world—are overweight or obese and school-age children have experienced a marked increase in BMI. UAE children are 1.8 times more obese than those in the United States and, by age 18, obesity is approximately three times greater among UAE males than those in other countries. This project sought to identify the barriers that prevent UAE children from engaging in physical activity and healthy diets. We conducted face-to-face interviews with 57 participants living in the greater Ras Al Khaimah area of the UAE, along with observations and field notes, regarding perceptions about childhood overweight and obesity. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative and thematic methods. Physical inactivity and consumption of fast food and sugared beverages are perceived to contribute to the increase in obesity among UAE children. Social, cultural, and environmental barriers contribute to prevention of childhood obesity in RAK. These include: climate, gender bias, cultural attire, availability and accessibility of resources, technology, and lack of role models. Respondents recognize the problem of childhood obesity in their community and are eager to take part in promoting health awareness and other initiatives that address barriers and have the potential to help school-age children make healthy lifestyle choices. Teachers, parents, and students in the UAE recognize that being overweight or obese is a serious problem and acknowledge the need for changes in lifestyle in order to prevent the epidemic from continuing to rise. The UAE experience can help us to understand how overweight and obesity influence the health status of children in this and other transitional societies.
Endothelial CXCR7 regulates breast cancer metastasis.

Atypical chemokine receptor CXCR7 (ACKR3) functions as a scavenger receptor for chemokine CXCL12, a molecule that promotes multiple steps in tumor growth and metastasis in breast cancer and multiple other malignancies. Although normal vascular endothelium expresses low levels of CXCR7, marked upregulation of CXCR7 occurs in tumor vasculature in breast cancer and other tumors. To investigate effects of endothelial CXCR7 in breast cancer, we conditionally deleted this receptor from vascular endothelium of adult mice, generating CXCR7ΔEND/ΔEND animals. CXCR7ΔEND/ΔEND mice appeared phenotypically normal, although these animals exhibited a modest 35±3% increase in plasma CXCL12 as compared with control. Using two different syngeneic, orthotopic tumor implant models of breast cancer, we discovered that CXCR7ΔEND/ΔEND mice had significantly greater local recurrence of cancer following resection, elevated numbers of circulating tumor cells and more spontaneous metastases. CXCR7ΔEND/ΔEND mice also showed greater experimental metastases following intracardiac injection of cancer cells. These results establish that endothelial CXCR7 limits breast cancer metastasis at multiple steps in the metastatic cascade, advancing understanding of CXCL12 pathways in tumor environments and informing ongoing drug development targeting CXCR7 in cancer.
The 3' regulatory region of the Abdominal-B gene: genetic analysis supports a model of reiterated and interchangeable regulatory elements.

The Abdominal-B (Abd-B) gene is one of three genes in the bithorax complex, a cluster of homeotic genes in Drosophila. During embryogenesis Abd-B is expressed in a complex pattern, producing four different transcript classes, each of which exhibits a unique spatial pattern of expression. Proper regulation of the class A transcripts is required for appropriate development of the fifth through eighth abdominal segments and is mediated, in part, by a 60-kb regulatory region located 39 of the gene. We have isolated a new mutation, designated Abd-BCorset, which is caused by a deletion that leaves 15 kb of the 39 regulatory sequences immediately adjacent to the gene, but removes 45 kb of the more distant 39 regulatory elements. This mutation produces an unexpected homeotic segmental transformation of the fourth through seventh abdominal segments, and has been analyzed by genetic and molecular techniques. In situ hybridization to Abd-BCorset embryos shows a uniform and moderate level of the Abd-B class A transcript in the posterior abdomen, rather than the normal graded pattern of expression. Our analysis of the Abd-BCorset mutation has prompted a model of the 39 regulatory region of Abd-B based on reiterated cell type-specific elements controlled by adjacent position-sensitive activating elements. The gradient of Abd-B expression normally observed in the posterior abdomen appears to be achieved by varying the number of reiterated elements that are active in each segment.
Combined thrombectomy and dilation for the treatment of acute lower extremity arterial thrombosis

Our experience with combined balloon catheter thrombectomy and balloon dilation for the treatment of acute thrombosis is reported. Eighteen patients underwent the combined procedures between 1981 and 1988. Primary thrombectomy and balloon dilation were performed in 14 patients, and additional reconstruction was performed in three patients. The superficial femoral artery was the site of thrombectomy and dilation in 13 patients, and the external iliac artery was the site in the remaining five patients. Successful dilation was accomplished in all patients, with stenotic sites reduced below 30% by angiography, and ankle/brachial indexes increased by 0.15 or more. No operative deaths or complications occurred. Follow-up of superficial femoral artery dilations showed a 90% patency rate continued out to 4 years and a 40% patency rate at 5 years. Combined thrombectomy and interventional catheter therapy may aid in the care of this difficult to treat vascular patient group.
Living Poor: Family Life Among Single Parent, African-American Women

This article uses qualitative interviews from a sample of never-married African-American mothers to describe the ways that poor women dynamically adapt to economic marginality. The empirical data serve to expand on structural explanations that correctly demonstrate the link between economic factors and family patterns among the poor, but ignore non-nuclear family arrangements and omit personal agency in understanding poverty. Findings from the study highlight the viability of alternative family patterns and the active roles that women play in mediating the effects of poverty. They also suggest direction for a broader research agenda.
Twisting Transition in a Capillary Filled with Chiral Smectic C Liquid Crystal

We consider a cylindrical capillary filled with the chiral smectic C phase of a liquid crystal. The smectic layers are stacked along the capillary axis, and at the capillary wall the director is as...
The estimation of aerial radiation patterns from limited near-field measurements

A series expression for the near-field radiation pattern of an aerial obtained with a directive measuring aerial in a two-dimensional system is derived from a cylindrical-mode expansion of the radiated field. Patterns calculated from this series show better agreement with experimental results at shorter ranges than is provided by previous series evaluations. An inversion of the first few terms of this series suggests a convenient technique for the determination of the radiation pattern from near-field measurements. Calculations based on this method of inversion indicate that the approximate shape of the pattern may be obtained with relatively little effort from the near-field pattern yielded by a small measuring aerial at a range of a2/λ, where a is the aperture length of the transmitting aerial. At ranges considerably shorter than a2/λ, a more directive measuring aerial, which provides a closer initial approximation to the far-field pattern, has the advantage of reducing the amount of calculation required.
Estimation of Leaf Area Index for Cotton Canopies Using the LI-COR LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer

Measurement of leaf area index (LAI) is useful for understanding cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth, water use, and canopy light interception. Destructive measurement is time consuming and labor intensive. Our objective was to evaluate sampling procedures using the Li-Cor (Lincoln, NE) LAI 2000 plant canopy analyzer (PCA) for nondestructive estimation of cotton LAI on the southern High Plains of Texas. We evaluated shading as a way to allow PCA measurements in direct sunlight and the influence of solar direction when using this procedure. We also evaluated a test of canopy homogeneity (information required for setting PCA field of view), determined the number of below-canopy measurements required, examined the influence of leaf wilting on PCA LAI determinations, and tested an alternative method (masking the sensor's two outer rings) for calculating LAI from PCA measurements. The best agreement between PCA and destructively measured LAI values was obtained when PCA observations were made either during uniformly overcast conditions or around solar noon using the shading method. Heterogeneous canopies with large gaps between rows required both a restricted (45°) azimuthal field of view and averaging the LAI values for two transects, made with the field of view parallel and then perpendicular to the row direction. This method agreed well (r 2 = 0.84) with destructively measured LAI in the range of 0.5 to 3.5 and did not deviate from a 1 :1 relationship. The PCA underestimated LAI by ≥20% when measurements were made on canopies wilted due to water stress. Masking the PCA sensor's outer rings did not improve the relationship between estimated and measured LAI in the range of LAI sampled.
Minimum Cost Integral Network Coding

In this paper, we consider finding a minimum cost multicast subgraph with network coding, where the rate to inject packets on each link is constrained to be integral. In the usual minimum cost network coding formulation, the optimal solution cannot always be integral. Fractional rates can be well approximated by choosing the time unit large enough, but this increases the encoding and decoding complexity as well as delay at the terminals. We formulate this problem as an integer program, which is NP-hard. A greedy algorithm and an algorithm based on linear programming rounding are proposed, which have approximation ratios k and 2k respectively, where k is the number of sinks. Moreover, both algorithms can be decentralized. We show by simulation that our algorithms' average performance substantially exceeds their bounds on random graphs.
Comparison of nicotine oral consumption and baseline anxiety measures in adolescent and adult C57BL/6J and C3H/Ibg mice

Approximately 80% of smokers initiate tobacco use during adolescence, suggesting that nicotine initiation and nicotine dependence have a substantial age component. There also is a substantial genetic influence on smoking behaviors such as age of initiation and the development of nicotine dependence. The goal of this study was to examine both genetic background and age dependent effects on oral nicotine self-administration and anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Two inbred mouse strains (C3H/Ibg and C57BL/6J) were assessed for oral nicotine preference during early adolescence (postnatal day 24–35), middle adolescence (postnatal day 36–47), late adolescence (postnatal day 48–59), adulthood (postnatal day 60+) and 2 months following their initial exposure to nicotine. Mice also were assessed for innate anxiety using an elevated zero maze to determine if age and/or genetic background influenced anxiety-like behaviors. Results indicated that initial nicotine preference and nicotine preference two months after an initial exposure are both strain and age dependent. Age also had an effect on some baseline anxiety measures but strain differences for most zero maze measures were present throughout all age groups. In general, early adolescent C3H mice exhibited greater nicotine preference while C57 mice displayed greater preference during middle adolescence and upon a second exposure to nicotine. In contrast, C57 mice exhibited reduced anxiety across all ages tested. These studies indicate that genetic background should be considered when evaluating age-dependent effects of drugs of abuse and baseline anxiety-like behaviors.
Radioenzymic assay of glycerol using ion-exchange column chromatography.

Abstract Modifications of the glycerol kinase radioenzymic assay for glycerol are described. This method can be readily employed to measure glycerol kinase activity in tissue extracts as well. Ion-exchange column chromatography (QAE-Sephadex A-25) completely separates the product 14C-glycerol 3-phosphate from 14C-glycerol, and allows all glycerol 3-phosphate formed in an assay to be counted in a single counting vial. Increasing the Mg2+ concentration significantly increases activity of glycerol kinase and thus the sensitivity of the assay. These modifications provide a simple, reliable, sensitive and more rapid procedure.