cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TLR9 Agonist Immunomodulator Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) with CPG7909.

Abstract CPG 7909 belongs to a new class of chemically defined CpG immunomodulators that target dendritic cell TLR9 receptors inducing IL-12, IFN-gamma, and NK cell function. The rate and durability of response to CPG 7909 was investigated in refractory patients with recurrent or advanced CTCL, who had failed one or more systemic therapies. Dose escalation with weekly sc dosing of patients at 0.08, 0.16, 0.24, or 0.28 mg/kg (3 patients/cohort) for 24 weeks is nearing completion. Additional patients continue to receive treatment at 0.32 (4 patients) or 0.36 mg/kg (12 patients). Clinical response, monitored by Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Disease Severity (CA) and Physician's Global Assessment of Clinical Condition, has been documented. Of 28 patients enrolled, 7 (25%) have achieved objective clinical response, 5 with partial response (PR) and 2 with complete response (CR). Eleven patients have maintained stable disease (SD), while 10 have had progressive disease (PD). Eight patients have completed 24 weeks of treatment (5 SD, 2 PR, 1 CR) with 12–16 weeks of response while on study. Six patients (3 SD, 2 PR,1 CR) are currently ongoing in the study. Three patients (2 PR, 1 SD) continue to receive long term CPG 7909 at 0.12 mg/kg (58 total doses), 0.28 mg/kg (34 total doses) or 0.32 mg/kg (29 total doses) in a follow on protocol. Responses have been maintained up to 46 weeks. Weekly doses up to 0.36 mg/kg have been well tolerated. Most reported adverse events have been of CTC grade 1 or 2. The most common are dose-related local injection site reactions (erythema, induration, edema, inflammation and pain) and mild or moderate flu-like symptoms (fatigue, rigors, fever, arthralgia). Four patients had CTC grade 3 drug related AEs: one decreased lymphocyte count (0.08 mg/kg), one increased gamma glutamyl transferase (0.16 mg/kg), one decreased absolute polys (0.36 mg/kg) and one fatigue (0.36 mg/kg). Enrollment in the phase II portion of the study is ongoing and compares results of patients randomized to receive either 10 mg or 25 mg sc weekly for 24 weeks (equating to effective doses seen in dose escalation). Clinical Response with CPG 7909 - 16 M, 12 F Dose N Disease Stage CR PR SD PD 0.36 mg/kg 12 IB (7), IIB, III (3), IVA 0 2 6 4 0.32 mg/kg 4 IIA, IIB, IVA (2) 1 0 1 2 0.28 mg/kg 3 IB (2), III 0 1 2 0 0.24 mg/kg 3 IB, IIB (2) 0 1 1 1 0.16 mg/kg 3 IB (2), IIA 1 1 1 0 0.08 mg/kg 3 IB (2), IVA 0 0 0 3 28 7% 18% 39% 36%
Viable set approximation for linear-Gaussian systems with unknown, bounded variance

Computation of stochastic reachable and viable sets enables assurances of safety and feasibility through the synthesis of optimal control policies. These control policies are typically generated under the assumption of accurate characterization of additive noise processes. We consider the case in which independent noise processes are not fully characterized. Specifically, we consider linear time-invariant dynamics with additive noise, with known mean and bounded (but unknown) variance. We propose a method to compute a conservative underapproximation to the stochastic viable set for problems with convex viable and target sets. We underapproximate probability values through linear transformation based on bounds on the unknown variance. We demonstrate this method (via dynamic programming) on a simple example.
Epidemiological Trends of Head and Neck Cancer in the United States: A SEER Population Study.

Purpose This study represents the most recent epidemiologic trends of head and neck cancer (HNC) in the United States. It provides an important discussion on oropharyngeal cancer and cancers related to the human papillomavirus. The objective was to identify trends in HNC (2002 to 2012) within the United States. Materials and Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) submission. Using the November 2014 submission of the SEER database and SEER-18 data files, data from 2002 to 2012 were analyzed to determine the most recent epidemiologic trends. HNCs of all subtypes were analyzed together. Laryngeal cancers were further analyzed separately. Oropharyngeal cancers of the base of tongue and tonsil were analyzed independently to attempt to trend HPV-related cancers. Results From 2002 to 2012, there were 149,301 cases of HNC recorded in the SEER database. The HNC rate decreased by 0.22% per year (P = .0549) and the rate of laryngeal cancer decreased by 1.9% per year (P Conclusions The overall incidence of HNC is decreasing in the United States. There is an increasing incidence of HPV-related cancers of the oropharynx. Meaningful differences in cancer incidence and rate of change exist between men and women. Furthermore, younger groups have a greater decrease of overall HNC, with an overall increase in HPV-related cancer in patients older than 50 years.
A transatlantic religious alliance? American and European protestant encounters, 1945–1965

After World War II American and European Protestants linked up at various organisational levels to discuss and defend their common interests. On the American side this was far from a unified action. Disagreements between liberal and conservative Protestants in the United States meant that each side reached out to Europe in different ways, resulting in a variety of transatlantic religious alliances. The liberal representatives tried to draft a common platform for European engagement as part of their ecumenical objectives. Conservative Protestants on the other hand, feared this liberal effort and courted European souls with informal evangelical networks and joint US-European revival campaigns. Neither effort to shape new alliances was as successful as anticipated. Both suffered from Europe’s strong national religious interests and from the incongruity of a US presence in transatlantic political formations. As well, neither group could easily transcend the ideological divide created by the Cold War. In the e...
Algorithms for semantic segmentation of multispectral remote sensing imagery using deep learning

Abstract Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) have been used to achieve state-of-the-art performance on many computer vision tasks (e.g., object recognition, object detection, semantic segmentation) thanks to a large repository of annotated image data. Large labeled datasets for other sensor modalities, e.g., multispectral imagery (MSI), are not available due to the large cost and manpower required. In this paper, we adapt state-of-the-art DCNN frameworks in computer vision for semantic segmentation for MSI imagery. To overcome label scarcity for MSI data, we substitute real MSI for generated synthetic MSI in order to initialize a DCNN framework. We evaluate our network initialization scheme on the new RIT-18 dataset that we present in this paper. This dataset contains very-high resolution MSI collected by an unmanned aircraft system. The models initialized with synthetic imagery were less prone to over-fitting and provide a state-of-the-art baseline for future work.
Cephalic Fluid Dynamics and Ocular Changes in Weightlessness

Permanent ocular changes in a group of astronauts after long flights is a relatively new finding in space medicine. Here we refer to these changes as Microgravity Ocular Syndrome (MOS) [1] although other names have been suggested. Given that the cause of these ocular changes are as of now unknown, MOS seems the most appropriate name—it does not imply a cause but instead refers to a known set of symptoms that currently attract considerable attention in the space medicine community. MOS is different from other effects of weightlessness on the body in terms of its duration and possible permanency and hence requires a different approach in this chapter. Previously addressed effects of weightlessness produce appropriate reversible somatic adaptations. Ocular changes revealed during spaceflight are not obviously appropriate and may be damaging and irreversible in some individuals. Vision is complex and only the mechanisms directly affected by MOS can be described here. Currently, the origin of MOS remains unproven and the problem remains unsolved. Here we suggest an alternative hypothesis as to its cause that may point the way to fruitful research pathways that could lead to a better understanding of MOS and how it might be prevented or treated.
Life history trade-offs in ectotherms impart a pseudo-hormetic response, not hormesis

All organisms are faced with survival and fitness challenges. However, differences in how ectotherms and endotherms deal with these challenges causes confusion when theoretical explanations are proposed. Herein, an immunochallenged, immature ectothermic vertebrate increased growth in the face of immunochallenge, reminiscent of up-regulated physiological efficiency termed hormesis. The immunochallenged subjects increased food intake relative to control animals, a largely ignored possibility in previous studies. This likely led to an energy surplus that fueled additional growth. Although there was increased resource demand from the immune response that exceeded internal stores, the acceptably sized food items contained more resources than immunologically-driven demand required. We theorize that because ectotherms lack significant internally-stored resources compared to endotherms, they must feed to fuel increased physiological demand. This can lead to excess resource intake because the minimum acceptably sized prey contains more available resources than upregulation required. This creates a pseudo-hormetic hormetic response, fueled by excess food intake rather than significant improved physiological efficiency. Further, we speculate that lifespan and/or maturity may interact with resource management ectotherms, though our data are inconclusive on this matter. Ultimately, our data suggest additional growth when ectotherms face stressors is a pseudo-hormetic response stemming from increased food intake instead of upregulated physiological efficiency.
Harmonic Analysis of Databases and Matrices

We describe methods to organize and process matrices/databases through a bi-multiscale tensor product harmonic Analysis on row and column functions. The goal is to reorganize the matrix so that its entries exhibit smoothness or predictability relative to the tensor row column geometry. In particular we show that approximate bi-Holder smoothness follows from simple l p entropy conditions. We describe various applications both for the analysis of matrices of linear transformations, as well for the extraction of information and structure in document databases.
Brain abscesses in a 60-year-old man.

The lesions were not from compromised immunity, but from septic hematogenous spread of an odontogenic infection.
Intermolecular Reductive Couplings of Arylidene Malonates via Lewis Acid/Photoredox Cooperative Catalysis

A cooperative Lewis acid/photocatalytic reduction of arylidene malonates yields a versatile radical anion species. This intermediate preferentially undergoes intermolecular radical–radical coupling reactions, and not the conjugate addition–dimerization reactivity typically observed in the single-electron reduction of conjugate acceptors. Reported here is the development of this open-shell species in intermolecular radical–radical cross couplings, radical dimerizations, and transfer hydrogenations. This reactivity underscores the enabling modularity of cooperative catalysis and demonstrates the utility of stabilized enoate-derived radical anions in intermolecular bond forming reactions.
Molecular structure of the ATP-bound, phosphorylated human CFTR.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an anion channel important in maintaining proper functions of the lung, pancreas, and intestine. The activity of CFTR is regulated by ATP and protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation. To understand the conformational changes elicited by phosphorylation and ATP binding, we present here the structure of phosphorylated, ATP-bound human CFTR, determined by cryoelectron microscopy to 3.2-A resolution. This structure reveals the position of the R domain after phosphorylation. By comparing the structures of human CFTR and zebrafish CFTR determined under the same condition, we identified common features essential to channel gating. The differences in their structures indicate plasticity permitted in evolution to achieve the same function. Finally, the structure of CFTR provides a better understanding of why the G178R, R352Q, L927P, and G970R/D mutations would impede conformational changes of CFTR and lead to cystic fibrosis.
Sarah the gevirah: A comparison of Sarah and the queen mothers, of matriarchs in the dynastic succession of sons and nations:

Abraham’s and Sarah’s struggle to produce a child is the first of the ancient Israelites’ struggles to claim the divine promise, individually and collectively. This struggle of the first patriarch ...
Pest Injury Guilds, Lepidoptera, and Placing Fruit-Piercing Moths in Context: A Review

The pest status of insects in agricultural settings is human-defined based on behaviors that may negatively impact the yield of susceptible crops. As such, both the insect behavior and the affected crop play a part in determining pest status. One helpful means of understanding pest status involves using pest injury guilds, which distinguish different pest groups based on similar kinds of injury to comparable plant tissues. Pest injury guilds defined in the literature are reviewed and then applied to agriculturally significant Lepidoptera. More specialized Lepidoptera behaviors which are economically relevant, such as leaf-rolling or stem-boring, are examined within their respective injury guilds. In this review, fruit-piercing moths are discussed within the context of pest Lepidoptera behaviors and are highlighted due to their unique means of causing economic damage. Unlike other Lepidoptera in agricultural settings, fruit-piercing moths are harmful as adults rather than larvae, and directly injure fruits using a specially adapted proboscis.The ecology and systematics of fruitpiercing moths, as well as current control options, are also discussed.
Bounded Depth Ascending HNN Extensions and -Semistability at infinity

A well-known conjecture is that all finitely presented groups have semistable fundamental groups at infinity. A class of groups whose members have not been shown to be semistable at infinity is the class naturally partitions into two non-empty subclasses, those that have “bounded” and “unbounded” depth. Using new methods introduced in a companion paper we show those of bounded depth have semistable fundamental group at infinity. Ascending HNN extensions produced by Ol’shanskii–Sapir and Grigorchuk (for other reasons), and once considered potential non-semistable examples are shown to have bounded depth. Finally, we devise a technique for producing explicit examples with unbounded depth. These examples are perhaps the best candidates to date in the search for a group with non-semistable fundamental group at infinity.
On Earth as it is in Heaven: Healing through Forgiveness:

In this article, we hypothesize that health outcomes associated with forgiveness, if it is received from God, others, or oneself or if it is granted to others, foreshadow the eschatological regener...
Current situation of initial female fertility evaluation in assisted reproductive institutions in China in 2019

The evaluation of female fertility at first diagnosis is an important premise and basis for determining the treatment scheme of assisted reproduction. In this study, a survey was conducted among 13 assisted reproductive institutions in China to understand the evaluation indicators and detection methods of female fertility at first diagnosis in various institutions, and provide a basis for reasonable selection of indicators. The survey showed that the indicators of female fertility evaluation at first diagnosis among assisted reproductive institutions included general health indicators, ovarian reserve indicators, and uterine conditions, etc. The selection of indicators was considerably consistent, but the detection methods were quite different. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the detection method with better validity and less harm.
Hyperalgesia after a Drinking Episode in Young Adult Binge Drinkers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aims Rodent studies propose potential mechanisms linking excessive drinking and pain hypersensitivity (hyperalgesia), such that stress hormones (i.e. epinephrine and cortisol) mediate induction and maintenance of alcohol withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia. The first aim of this study was to examine whether hyperalgesia would occur within 48 h after a drinking episode in healthy young adult binge drinkers. The second was to examine whether stress hormones and negative effect would be associated with binge drinking or alcohol withdrawal-associated hyperalgesia. Methods A cross-sectional experiment was conducted in five groups with naturally occurring drinking (mean age = 19.6, range 18-29 years): abstainers (n = 43, 54% female), moderate drinkers with (n = 50, 50% female) or without recent drinking (i.e. within 48 h, n = 23, 26% female) and binge drinkers with (n = 36, 58% female) or without recent drinking (n = 25, 44% female). All types of drinkers endorsed drinking about 2-3 times a month and 2-3 years of drinking history. Results Muscle pressure pain thresholds were significantly lower in the binge group with recent drinking compared to other groups, but cutaneous mechanical and heat pain thresholds were not significantly different across the five groups. Basal epinephrine levels were significantly higher in binge groups regardless of recent drinking, but cortisol and negative effect were not significantly different across the five groups. Conclusions This is the first study to show that alcohol withdrawal-associated muscle hyperalgesia may occur in healthy episodic binge drinkers with only 2-3 years of drinking history, and epinephrine may play a role in binge drinking-associated hyperalgesia.
Occurrence, fate, sources and toxicity of PFAS: What we know so far in Florida and major gaps

Abstract Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that have been the subject of several investigations worldwide due to their persistence and significant adverse health effects to humans and animals. In Florida, high PFAS levels have been detected in the ground water, surface water, soils and sediments near military bases, airports, and firefighting training facilities. Recently, a drinking water assessment conducted by the EWG has identified Miami, Florida as the U.S city with the third highest levels of PFAS among 44 locations assessed. This critical review presents a summary of the recent literature, databases, and investigations of PFAS contamination in Florida, focusing on PFAS occurrence, major sources and treatment methods. The major PFAS sources identified are divided into the usage of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF), landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. Despite the lack of comprehensive studies in Florida, toxicity concerns are also discussed. Major knowledge gaps and future research needs are considered.
Conducting Exposure-Based Groups via Telehealth for Adolescents and Young Adults With Social Anxiety Disorder

Abstract The rapid spread of COVID-19 and subsequent social distancing measures posed unprecedented challenges in providing mental health care and a swift transition of services to telehealth platforms. Social distancing measures create unique concerns for young people with social anxiety disorder who already struggle with social connection and isolation; therefore, the continuation of care via telehealth platforms is especially important for this population. To date, there is little literature regarding use of telehealth groups for this population and the current commentary aims to fill in this gap in the literature while also providing general guidelines for telehealth groups. The commentary discusses the delivery of an exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy group for adolescents and young adults via telehealth and provides considerations, challenges, and benefits of conducting a group through a telehealth platform. In conjunction with clinically relevant examples and in-depth exposure discussions, we aim to provide guidance for youth-focused practitioners who are considering conducting groups in a telehealth format for a range of presentations.
Interval attenuation estimation from prestack seismic data: A case study from the Arabian Peninsula

Accurately estimated interval attenuation (1/Q) values have several applications, such as in quantitative interpretation and seismic resolution enhancement. Although Q values can be estimated by measuring the spectral ratio between seismic reflections from a target and a reference reflector, the results are influenced by factors such as overburden inhomogeneities. Here, we quantitatively analyze the overburden influence on interval Q estimations using the spectral ratio method, time—space domain prestack Q inversion (PSQI), and τ-p domain PSQI. We compare these three methods using a synthetic dataset and a field dataset acquired onshore the Arabian Peninsula. Synthetic seismic gathers are generated from a three-layer model with a low-Q inclusion in the first layer to mimic overburden inhomogeneity. The field data are preconditioned image gathers from a producing oil field. The synthetic data test shows that the small low-Q body produces a considerable error in estimated Q values. The smallest error (i.e., 13.3%) is in the τ-p domain PSQI result. Theoretically, τ-p domain PSQI could obtain more accurate Q values when there are overburden influences because of the simultaneous inversion scheme and the application in the τ-p domain. The field data application also illustrates that the τ-p domain PSQI produces reasonable interval Q values. Our measured Q values are also comparable with the Q values estimated from hydrocarbon saturated carbonate reservoirs.
Spike2Vec: An Efficient and Scalable Embedding Approach for COVID-19 Spike Sequences

With the rapid global spread of COVID-19, more and more data related to this virus is becoming available, including genomic sequence data. The total number of genomic sequences that are publicly available on platforms such as GISAID is currently several million, and is increasing with every day. The availability of such \textit{Big Data} creates a new opportunity for researchers to study this virus in detail. This is particularly important with all of the dynamics of the COVID-19 variants which emerge and circulate. This rich data source will give us insights on the best ways to perform genomic surveillance for this and future pandemic threats, with the ultimate goal of mitigating or eliminating such threats. Analyzing and processing the several million genomic sequences is a challenging task. Although traditional methods for sequence classification are proven to be effective, they are not designed to deal with these specific types of genomic sequences. Moreover, most of the existing methods also face the issue of scalability. Previous studies which were tailored to coronavirus genomic data proposed to use spike sequences (corresponding to a subsequence of the genome), rather than using the complete genomic sequence, to perform different machine learning (ML) tasks such as classification and clustering. However, those methods suffer from scalability issues. In this paper, we propose an approach called Spike2Vec, an efficient and scalable feature vector representation for each spike sequence that can be used for downstream ML tasks. Through experiments, we show that Spike2Vec is not only scalable on several million spike sequences, but also outperforms the baseline models in terms of prediction accuracy, F1-score, etc.
Colliding shock waves and hydrodynamics in small systems

Using numerical holography, we study the collision of a planar sheet of energy with a bounded localized distribution of energy. The collision, which mimics proton-nucleus collisions, produces a localized lump of debris with transverse size R∼1/T_{eff} with T_{eff} the effective temperature, and has large gradients and large transverse flow. Nevertheless, the postcollision evolution is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Our results bolster the notion that debris produced in proton-nucleus collisions may be modeled using hydrodynamics.
Interaction of Capacitive and Resistive Nonlinearitiesin Chua‘s Circuit

The interaction of capacitive and resistive nonlinearities in the Chua‘s circuit is studied. The original Chua‘s circuit is modified by replacing one of the linear capacitors with a nonlinear one to investigate the effects of such an interaction on the chaotic behavior of the circuit. It is found that such an interaction can be effective in limiting and controlling chaos. The Pspice simulation results are also given and compared with our numerical solutions.
Designing the Public Domain

The public domain is said to be necessary for a "just and attractive" democratic culture, for meaningful freedom of speech, and for the economically efficient production of information. Though each of these justifications counsels robust access to information, what kind of public domain we should have depends largely on why we want one in the first place. This Note argues that social science research on human motivation suggests that we make the public domain most efficient only by making it more liberal and more republican. In other words, the leading economic theory of the public domain, enriched by an understanding of pro-social motivation, is compatible with liberal and republican theories. This Note organizes research on pro-social motivation around the motivation-fostering effects of empowerment, community, and fairness. By incorporating these norms into the cultural architecture of the public domain, we can promote greater information production at less cost than by relying solely on the intellectual property system's traditional tools of exclusion.
Reduced Kinetic Mechanisms for Counterflow Methane-Air Diffusion Flames

Results of numerous studies describing the structure and mechanisms of extinction of laminar, methane-air diffusion flames, are available [13.1]–[13.11], These studies include numerical calculations employing a detailed set of elementary chemical reactions [13.1]–[13.4], suitably reduced chemical kinetic mechanisms [13.1], [13.5]–[13.7], and asymptotic analysis using reduced kinetic mechanisms [13.8]–[13.11]. These previous studies have shown that the principal path of oxidation of methane is CH4-CH3-CH2O-HCO-CO, H2-CO2,H2O [13.1]–[13.7], and the structures of this flame can be predicted fairly accurately by including only the C1 mechanism shown in Table 1 of Chap. 1. The results of previous numerical calculations also show, for example, that steady-state approximations are valid for CH2O and HCO [13.1], but that for CH3 is questionable [13.7]. Four step mechanisms were deduced previously [13.1], [13.5]–[13.7] by introducing steady-state approximations for all species, except CH4, O2, N2, CO2, H2O, CO, H2 and H. Comparison of the results for the structure of the stagnation point diffusion flame, calculated using the 4-step mechanism were found to agree reasonably well with the those calculated using the detailed mechanism [13.7], except for the profile for CH3 [13.7].
Simultaneous Measurements of Carbon Monoxide and Ozone in the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP)

The objective of the NASA Global Atmospheric Sampling Program (GASP) was to establish global baseline values of selected atmospheric constituents that could be used for studies of the dynamics of the sampled region as well as for modeling purposes. Instrument packages were carried on four Boeing 747 aircraft in routine commercial service: two from Pan American, one from United.Airlines and one from Qantas Airways of Australia. Geographical coverage was therefore determined by the routes of these airlines, wih the sampling altitude being in the range of 8–13 km and usually close to 200 mb. Air intakes for the instruments were just below the center line in the nose and were opened automatically on ascent through 6 km and closed on descent through that altitude. Constituent data were recorded on tape, generally every 5 minutes, together with altitude, latitude, longitude, air temperature and wind velocity, the latter obtained from the aircraft’s inertial guidance system. At a later date, tropopause heights from the analysis by the National Meteorological Center (NMC) in Washington were added to the data set.
Bio-organometallic Approaches to Nitrogen Fixation Chemistry

Biological and industrial nitrogen fixation are the processes by which one of the most inert molecules, N_2, is transformed into a bioavailable nitrogen source (e.g. NH_3) that can be incorporated into all nitrogen-containing biomolecules [1]. As such, nitrogen fixation is essential to sustaining life on this planet, and has attracted intense scrutiny among biological and chemical communities for decades [2-4]. The mechanism by which nitrogenase enzymes promote the biological reduction of nitrogen under ambient conditions remains an unsolved and fascinating problem [4-6]. Nature's solution to fixing nitrogen stands in sharp contrast to that which humanity has adopted, i.e. the Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis that is carried out at approximately 200 atm and 500°C. This Herculean feat of chemical engineering provides, in net, about 50% of the nitrogen atoms that wind up in all human beings on this planet [7]. From a chemists perspective, however, this remains a brute force and high-energy solution to the nitrogen fixation problem, especially given the knowledge that nature can fix N_2 under ambient conditions.
Adiposity assessments: agreement between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and anthropometric measures in U.S. children.

Objectives To evaluate performance of anthropometric measures relative to percentage body fat (%BF) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in children. Methods Data from 8 to 19-year-old U.S. children enrolled in a nationally representative cross-sectional survey in 2001-2004 (n = 5,355) with measured %BF, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) were used. Agreement and prediction were evaluated based on standardized regression coefficients (β), kappa, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUC). Results The association between Z-scores for %BF and anthropometric measures was strong (β of ∼0.75-0.90, kappa of ∼0.60-0.75, and AUC of ∼0.87-0.98; P < 0.001 for all), with only some variations by race–ethnicity, mostly in girls. In boys, TSF and WHtR Z-scores had stronger agreement with %BF than BMI (β of 0.91 and 0.86 vs. 0.79, kappa of 0.75 and 0.71 vs. 0.59, and AUC of 0.97 and 0.97 vs. 0.91; P < 0.05 for all). In boys with BMI < median but %BF ≥ median, β value of TSF Z-score was higher than those from BMI. In girls, TSF also provided a higher agreement than BMI, but was only statistically higher for kappa. Conclusions High agreement and small racial–ethnic variations in the association between %BF and anthropometric measures support the use of anthropometric measures, especially WHtR and TSF, as proxy indicators for adiposity.
An integrated network/storage architecture for sharing high-quality broadcast TV contents

With the advent of personal video recorders (PVRs), the way people watch TV is rapidly changing. By recording or time-shifting live TV programs into the embedded-disk storage of a PVR, people can watch what they want independent of the broadcasting schedule. Furthermore, peer-to-peer networking technology provides an additional TV content distribution channel to unidirectional broadcasting. However, due to the current limited broadband bandwidth, it is difficult to support high-quality TV content streaming between PVRs on the Internet. In this article we propose novel integrated network/storage architecture to provide the streaming of high-quality broadcast TV contents over fast network connections. To take full advantage of our system resources, we also develop efficient sharing schemes such as matching of a communication pair and channel assignment for extensive time-shifting.
Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata of unusual course with malignant transformation: case report

Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata is a very rare, benign entity of unknown pathogenesis, characterized by the presence of multiple subperitoneal or peritoneal smooth muscle nodules throughout the peritoneal surface. Mostly the course is asymptomatic and it is found incidentally during laparotomy, laparoscopy or cesarean section. Non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, abdominal mass or gastrointestinal signs are described. Rare cases of malignant transformation have been reported. We present a case of disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis with an unusual course and transformation to endometrial sarcoma in a 26-year-old previously healthy woman, where the appearance of peritoneal nodules was preceded by multiple incidents of fast fibroid growth and delivery of myomatous growth into the cervical canal.
Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management of Eclampsia

The pathogenesis of eclamptic convulsions remains unknown. Cerebral imaging suggests that cerebral abnormalities in eclampsia (mostly vasogenic edema) are similar to those found in hypertensive encephalopathy. However, cerebral imaging is not necessary for the diagnosis or management of most women with eclampsia. The onset of eclamptic convulsions can be antepartum (38-53%), intrapartum (18-36%), or postpartum (11-44%). Recent data reveal an increase in the proportion of women who develop eclampsia beyond 48 hours after delivery. Other than early detection of preeclampsia, there are no reliable tests or symptoms for predicting the development of eclampsia. In developed countries, the majority of cases reported in recent series are considered unpreventable. Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice for reducing the rate of eclampsia developing intrapartum and immediately postpartum. There are 4 large randomized trials comparing magnesium sulfate with no treatment or placebo in patients with severe preeclampsia. The rate of eclampsia was significantly lower in those assigned to magnesium sulfate (0.6% versus 2.0%, relative risk 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.28-0.55). Thus, the number of women needed to treat to prevent one case of eclampsia is 71. Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice to prevent recurrent convulsions in eclampsia. The development of eclampsia is associated with increased risk of adverse outcome for both mother and fetus, particularly in the developing nations. Pregnancies complicated by eclampsia require a well-formulated management plan. Women with a history of eclampsia are at increased risk of eclampsia (1-2%) and preeclampsia (22-35%) in subsequent pregnancies. Recommendations for diagnosis, prevention, management, and counseling of these women are provided based on results of recent studies and my own clinical experience.
INFECCION POR VIRUS PAPILOMA HUMANO PERSISTENTE Y NEOPLASIA CERVICOUTERINA

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar las pacientes en las cuales el Citopatologo informo presencia de infeccion por HPV persistente (Sin NIE asociada); el porcentaje de lesiones que presentan alguna anomalia histologica de mayor envergadura en la evolucion del Ca CU. Estudio prospectivo realizado en pacientes del Servicio de Salud Valparaiso - San Antonio, que fueron derivadas a la Unidad de Patologia Cervical (UPC), entre los anos 1995 y 2001, que presentaban PAP con HPV mantenido lo que permitia separar aquellas pacientes en las cuales la infeccion por HPV regresa sin mediar terapia medica. A su ingreso a la unidad se diseno una tarjeta de seguimiento similar a los casos que presentaban NIE, se efectuo una evaluacion colposcopica e histologica cuando correspondia manteniendose en controles cada 4 meses por un periodo minimo de 2 anos. Los resultados demuestran la importancia, vigencia y trascendencia de estudiar a aquellas pacientes con HPV persistente, debido a que se detectaron un 40% de NIE II-III y 2% de cancer CU
Clinical association with urinary glycosaminoglycans and urolithiasis.

Abstract Objectives. To determine the clinical association between urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration and kidney stone disease. Methods. Thirty-five patients (14 women and 21 men) with a history of stone disease and 37 controls (13 women and 24 men) were evaluated for urinary GAG concentration. By using a new dye-binding assay, the total GAG concentration in the urine was measured and corrected to urinary creatinine levels (micrograms of GAG per milligram creatinine). Results. The mean urinary GAG concentration in those with stones was significantly lower (31.5 ± 2.6 μg GAG/mg creatinine) than in the controls (43.8 ± 3.8 μg GAG/mg creatinine, P = 0.01). Male patients with stones also had a significantly lower mean GAG concentration (26.1 ± 1.8) than did the female patients (39.6 ± 5.3, P = 0.009). The mean GAG concentration between ureteral (n = 13) versus renal (n = 22), single (n = 19) versus multiple (n = 16), family history (n = 11) versus no family history (n = 24), large (n = 13) versus small (n = 20), and the presence (n = 22) versus absence (n = 13) of residual stones did not show any significant differences. However, patients with recurrent stone formation (n = 21) had significantly lower mean GAG levels (26.4 ± 1.6) compared with those with single stone formation (n = 14; 39.2 ± 5.5, P = 0.01). Conclusions. Lower urinary GAG levels are more common in patients with stone formation. This may play a more determinant role in male patients and those with recurrent stone formation.
Paternal leakage sustains the cytoplasmic polymorphism underlying gynodioecy but remains invasible by nuclear restorers.

Abstract: Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants often results in gynodioecious populations, composed of hermaphrodites and male‐sterile females. All models of gynodioecy assume maternal inheritance of the cytoplasmic alleles and postulate a variety of negatively frequency‐dependent mechanisms to maintain the cytoplasmic polymorphisms observed in many natural populations. However, in some plant species, mitochondria are transmitted at least occasionally by pollen, a process called paternal leakage. We show that even a small amount of paternal leakage is sufficient to sustain a permanent, stable cytoplasmic polymorphism. Because only hermaphrodites provide pollen in gynodioecious species, the effects of paternal leakage are biased and occur more often from the non‐CMS male‐fertile haplotype to the CMS male‐sterile haplotype. We also show that a nuclear restorer disrupts the polymorphic cytoplasmic equilibrium, leading to fixation of both the CMS allele and the restorer. Although a dominant nuclear rest...
Glasses containing closed-shell transition metal complexes: 1. Luminescence

Abstract We report the first spectroscopic evaluation of several new glasses, containing molecular complexes of transition metal ions. Under 308 nm excitation these glasses show broad and efficient luminescence, peaking in the blue and green. We have measured the temperature dependence of the total light yield and decay time. The thermal quenching of the luminescence appears to be very small for zirconate glasses between low and room temperature.
Exchange and correlations effects in small metallic nanoshells

Abstract A method for the calculation of the electronic structure of metallic nanoshells is presented. Using this method, we investigate the role of many-electron effects in small nanoshells. A comparison of the electronic properties calculated using Hartree, Hartree–Fock and local density approximations reveals that the Hartree–Fock approximation leads to unphysical results in the same way as it does for bulk electrons in metallic phases. These anomalies disappear with use of the local density approximation, indicating that the effect of correlations is still strong even for very small metallic nanoshells.
Controls on surface water chemistry in the upper Merced River basin, Yosemite National Park, California

Surface water draining granitic bedrock in Yosemite National Park exhibits considerable variability in chemical composition, despite the relative homogeneity of bedrock chemistry. Other geological factors, including the jointing and distribution of glacial till, appear to exert strong controls on water composition. Chemical data from three surface water surveys in the upper Merced River basin conducted in August 1981, June 1988 and August 1991 were analysed and compared with mapped geological, hydrological and topographic features to identify the solute sources and processes that control water chemistry within the basin during baseflow. Water at most of the sampling sites was dilute, with alkalinities ranging from 26 to 77 pequiv. I-'. Alkalinity was much higher in two subcatchments, however, ranging from 51 to 302 pequiv. 1-'. Base cations and silica were also significantly higher in these two catchments than in the rest of the watershed. Concentrations of weathering products in surface water were correlated to the fraction of each subcatchment underlain by surficial material, which is mostly glacial till. Silicate mineral weathering is the dominant control on concentrations of alkalinity, silica and base cations, and ratios of these constituents in surface water reflect the composition of local bedrock. Chloride concentrations in surface water samples varied widely, ranging from < 1 to 96 pequiv. 1-'. The annual volume-weighted mean chloride concentration in the Merced River at the Happy Isles gauge from 1968 to 1990 was 26 pequiv. l-', which was five times higher than in atmospheric deposition (4-5 pequiv. l-'), suggesting that a source of chloride exists within the watershed. Saline groundwater springs, whose locations are probably controlled by vertical jointing in the bedrock, are the most likely source of the chloride. Sulphate concentrations varied much less than most other solutes, ranging from 3 to 14 pequiv. 1-'. Concentrations of sulphate in quarterly samples collected at the watershed outlet also showed relatively little variation, suggesting that sulphate may be regulated to some extent by a within-watershed process, such as sulphate adsorption.
Development of Instruments to Assess Teacher and Student Perceptions of Inquiry Experiences in Science Classrooms

This study describes the development of two instruments to investigate the extent to which students are engaged in scientific inquiry. As a result of the instrument development process employed, each finalized instrument consisted of 20-items separated into five categories. Both instruments were found to be internally consistent, with high reliability estimates. Factor analysis showed two factors for each instrument that, while not clustering the items into the five categories, did show item clustering that is consistent with research literature about students’ engagement in inquiry experiences. Based on the analyses completed, the instruments appear to be useful instruments for use in comprehensive assessment packages for assessing the extent to which students are experiencing inquiry in science classrooms.
Advancing newborn health: The Saving Newborn Lives initiative

Until recently, newborn health was virtually absent from the global health agenda. Now, assistance agencies, national governments and non-governmental organisations are increasingly addressing this previously neglected issue of close to four million newborns dying every year. The experience of the Saving Newborn Lives initiative documents some of the progress that has been made and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Since the start of the initiative in 2000, targeted research, focused on overcoming the key barriers to improved newborn survival, has demonstrated low-cost, community-based interventions and strategies that can significantly reduce newborn mortality. Building on what has been learned from this and other efforts to date, the challenge now is to reach the millions of newborns still at risk.
Combination treatment with progesterone and vitamin D hormone is more effective than monotherapy in ischemic stroke: the role of BDNF/TrkB/Erk1/2 signaling in neuroprotection

We investigated whether combinatorial post-injury treatment with progesterone (P4) and vitamin D hormone (VDH) would reduce ischemic injury more effectively than P4 alone in an oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) model in primary cortical neurons and in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in rats. In the OGD model, P4 and VDH each showed neuroprotection individually, but combination of the "best" doses did not show substantial efficacy; instead, the lower dose of VDH in combination with P4 was the most effective. In the tMCAO model, P4 and VDH were given alone or in combination at different times post-occlusion for 7 days. In vivo data confirmed the in vitro findings and showed better infarct reduction at day 7 and functional outcomes (at 3, 5 and 7 days post-occlusion) after combinatorial treatment than when either agent was given alone. VDH, but not P4, upregulated heme oxygenase-1, suggesting a pathway for the neuroprotective effects of VDH differing from that of P4. The combination of P4 and VDH activated brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its specific receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor-B. Under specific conditions VDH potentiates P4's neuroprotective efficacy and should be considered as a potential partner of P4 in a low-cost, safe and effective combinatorial treatment for stroke.
Analytical mapping of harmonics and impedance through phase-controlled converters

Mapping of the harmonics and the impedance in the line-commutated converters can be modeled using the so called mapping function method, which relates currents and voltages between dc and ac terminals of the converter. The frequency-domain analysis with double Fourier-series method has been used to derive the mapping function for uncontrolled line-frequency rectifiers. This paper presents a modeling method for phase-controlled converters. The mapping function is expressed in the frequency-domain by Fourier expansion and the effects of phase control and the phase lock loop are included in the model. The mapping relationship of the harmonics and impedance are calculated in an analytical form with the frequency-domain analysis of the mapping function.
Exploring the Textured Landscape of Water Insecurity and the Human Right to Water

he last decade has seen historic advances in the formal establishment of the human right to water and global agreements on development goals that target improved access to water and sanitation. How...
The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Mental and Physical Health

An increased interest in the effects of religion and spirituality on health is apparent in the psychological and medical literature. Although religion in particular was thought, in the past, to have a predominantly negative influence on health, recent research suggests this relationship is more complex. This article reviews the literature on the impact of religion and spirituality on physical and mental health, concluding that the influence is largely beneficial. Mechanisms for the positive effect of religion and spirituality are proposed.
Intraamniotic Endotoxin Causes Premature Birth and Accelerates Lung Maturation in Fetal Rabbits

Intraamniotic Endotoxin Causes Premature Birth and Accelerates Lung Maturation in Fetal Rabbits
Multiple retinol binding proteins in rabbit lung.

Summary Rabbit lungs contain components sedimenting on sucrose gradients with a sedimentation coefficient of 2S that bind retinol with high specificity. DEAE-cellulose chromatography following gel filtration reveals the presence of 3 binding components of 17,000, 15,000 and 14,000 daltons respectively, showing different fluorescence spectra. One of the forms (B), here purified 700 fold, binds retinol specifically, as [3H] — retinol can be displaced by non-radioactive retinol but not by retinal or retinoic acid. The fluorescence spectrum of a heptane extract of component B indicates it carries retinol as a ligand when isolated from the tissue.