cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal Weight Change Between 1 and 2 Years Postpartum: The Importance of 1 Year Weight Retention

Pregnancy weight gain may lead to long-term increases in maternal BMI for some women. The objective of this study was to examine maternal body weight change 1y-2y postpartum, and to compare classifications of 2y weight retention with and without accounting for 1y-2y weight gain. Early pregnancy body weight (EPW, first trimester) was measured or imputed, and follow-up measures obtained before delivery, 1 year postpartum (1y) and 2 years postpartum (2y) in an observational cohort study of women seeking prenatal care in several counties in upstate New York (n = 413). Baseline height was measured; demographic and behavioral data were obtained from questionnaires and medical records. Associations of 1y-2y weight change (kg) and 1y-2y weight gain (≥2.25 kg) with anthropometric, socioeconomic, and behavioral variables were evaluated using linear and logistic regressions. While mean ± SE 1y-2y weight change was 0.009 ± 4.6 kg, 1y-2y weight gain (≥2.25 kg) was common (n = 108, 26%). Odds of weight gain 1y-2y were higher for overweight (OR(adj) = 2.63, CI(95%) = 1.43-4.82) and obese (OR(adj) = 2.93, CI(95%) = 1.62-5.27) women than for women with BMI <25. Two year weight retention (2y-EPW ≥2.25 kg) was misclassified in 38% (n = 37) of women when 1y-2y weight gain was ignored. One year weight retention (1YWR) (1y-EPW) was negatively related to 1y-2y weight change (β(adj) ± SE = -0.28 ± 0.04, P < 0.001) and weight gain (≥2.25 kg) (OR(adj) = 0.91, CI(95%) = 0.87-0.95). Relations between 1y weight retention and 1y-2y weight change were attenuated for women with higher early pregnancy BMI. Weight change 1y-2y was predicted primarily by an inverse relation with 1y weight retention. The high frequency of weight gain has important implications for classification of postpartum weight retention.
Label-free detection of protein-protein interactions on biochips.

The recent introduction of protein microarrays is now providing tools for the global profiling of biochemical activities. Snyder and co-workers, for example, used yeast protein chips to identify kinase substrates and lipid-binding proteins. Labaer and co-workers reported self-assembling protein microarrays to map pairwise interactions among 29 human DNA replication proteins. Any application of a protein chip must involve a suitable labeling strategy that will permit the observation of activities. Common strategies include the use of radioisotopes to follow phosphorylation reactions and fluorescent tags to identify protein–protein interactions. The use of labels has limitations, including the need for additional steps in an assay, the difficulty in detecting certain biochemical activities, and the inability to identify unanticipated activities. These limitations have motivated the development of label-free formats for identifying the full range of biochemical activities on protein chips. Herein, we demonstrate that MALDI-TOF MS can be used to identify protein–ligand and protein–protein interactions on biochips that are prepared from self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. This work is significant because it extends the capacity of the SAMDI (self-assembled monolayers for MALDI) method from observation of low-molecular-weight species to proteins that are 50 kDa in size. Our approach begins with a SAM of alkanethiolates on gold that presents maleimide groups amongst a background of tri(ethylene glycol) groups in a ratio of 1:20. The maleimide groups serve as a handle to immobilize thiol-derivatized small molecules, and the tri(ethylene glycol) group ensures that the monolayers are inert to nonspecific protein adsorption. Two model systems were used in the examples that follow: the binding of carbonic anhydrase (CA) to a benzenesulfonamide ligand and the binding of glutathione S-transferase (GST)tagged protein complexes to a glutathione ligand (Scheme 1).
Adaptation and Transmission of a Wild Duck Avian Influenza Isolate in Chickens

Abstract Mutations in a wild duck isolate of avian influenza virus were detected in isolates shed by chickens within 1 day after inoculation. The newly adapted virus was transmitted to naive chickens in direct contact and sharing food and water. Two consistent amino acid substitutions in the hemagglutinin have been identified, A198V and S274F, and may be important in transmissibility. Mutants with a 30–amino acid deletion in the neuraminidase stalk region 43–72 (N9 numbering) were recovered from inoculated chickens, but not from naive chickens in contact. The NA stalk mutant virus did not replicate well in Pekin ducks. In vivo viral replication was at low titers and a change in tropism from the respiratory to the digestive tract was observed. Our results indicated that there is a rapid genetic adaptation of wild bird isolates in poultry species, but that resultant viruses may have phenotypes that are intermediate and not fully adapted to the new host.
The Sins of Custer Are Not Anthropological Sins: A Reply to Mark E. Randall

Mark E. Randall (AA 73:985) is correct that more than a review is needed for Deloria's Custer Died for Your Sins (although Ortiz' review in the same issue is a perceptive one which does just the sort of job a review should do). His own remarks, however, do not grapple with the issues, unless we want simply to repent upon being accused of our uniform guilt. Let me comment on a few particulars. First, the manifesto is from one horse's mouth (so to speak), as Ortiz (1971:954) so well points out in his review. Deloria's viewpoint, as he himself readily admits (at times), is his way of thinking. He is a spokesman, certainly, for himself and for a few other educated Indians, and he speaks most forcefully to their felt "plight" (see the viewpoint of another Sioux in Burnette 1971). Second, to the question of theoretical "make believe worlds," one might note that all cultures have their own fictive worlds (pure as well as applied), but also that the "theories" postulated by anthropologists are not all abstract, nor are they all outdated. And our efforts are not all so generalized, inaccurate, and negative as Deloria and Randall would have us admit. I recognize that Deloria might have some contention with certain points of MacGregor's (1946) Warriors Without Weapons, but that is one source among many on the Sioux. On the phenomenon of Indian drinking, I suggest that both Randall and Deloria see such articles as Leacock et al. (1964), Carpenter (1959), Whittaker (1962, 1963), Kuttner and Lorincz (1967), and Dozier (1966)-the last of whom was an Indian as well as a highly respected anthropologist. And workshops, on reservations and off, whether concerned about Indians or any other people or subject, have not always had the most beneficial effects, it is true-but they do help give form to ideas, such as those finally crystallized in Deloria's prose. Perhaps even more important, however, is Randall's unfortunate and apparently illinformed point about native peoples being "poked and prodded, spied upon, and portrayed as strange creatures with odd habits put upon the earth to entertain and amuse the rest of us." Ironically, more than any other group of Whites (or non-Whites), anthropologists have been engaged in the foll wing tangible activities. (1) Anthropologists have emphasized that Indians (and other native and nonnative, Western and non-Western peoples) have viable cultures, with habits and customs no more nor less odd than any of us. See Linton (1937) and Miner (1956) for enlightened manifestations of that fact. (2) Anthropologists have produced written records on tribes which, though not always complete, are generally the primary documents available to us-or to the Indians
Unknowable states and choice-based definitions of subjective probabilities

Abstract This paper exposes a difficulty in applying the revealed preference methodology to the definition of subjective probabilities. It shows that in the presence of unknowable states it is impossible to provide choice-based foundations of prior probabilities in Bayes' theory.
Hirudin therapy during thrombolysis for venous thrombosis in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia:

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is the most common drug-related thrombocytopenia. Thromboembolic complications occur in approximately 50% of patients with HIT and result in limb amputation and death in up to 20% and 30% respectively. Because patients with a history of HIT may require future intravenous anticoagulation but have a high-risk of thromboembolism if re-challenged with heparin, alternative therapies are necessary when further anticoagulation is indicated. The use of direct thrombin inhibitors in HIT patients who also require thrombolytic therapy offers unique challenges to anticoagulant monitoring and safety. We present a case of progressive ileofemoral deep venous thrombosis in a patient with a history of HIT in order to review the combined use of hirudin and thrombolysis in this setting.
Community Impact of Pharmacy-Randomized Intervention to Improve Access to Syringes and Services for Injection Drug Users

Objectives. In an effort to reduce HIV transmission among injection drug users (IDUs), New York State deregulated pharmacy syringe sales in 2001 through the Expanded Syringe Access Program by removing the requirement of a prescription. With evidence suggesting pharmacists’ ability to expand their public health role, a structural, pharmacy-based intervention was implemented to determine whether expanding pharmacy practice to include provision of HIV risk reduction and social/medical services information during the syringe sale would (a) improve pharmacy staff attitudes toward IDUs (b) increase IDU syringe customers, and (c) increase prescription customer base in New York City neighborhoods with high burden of HIV and illegal drug activity. Methods. Pharmacies (n = 88) were randomized into intervention (recruited IDU syringe customers into the study and delivered intervention activities), primary control (recruited IDU syringe customers only) and secondary control (did not recruit IDUs or deliver interventi...
Interferon‐γ reverses the stimulation of collagen but not fibronectin gene expression by transforming growth factor‐β in normal human fibroblasts

It has recently become apparent that several cytokines and growth factors are capable of modulating fibroblast proliferation and biosynthetic activity. To understand the role of these factors in connective tissue regulation, we examined the effects of the simultaneous addition of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on normal human dermal fibroblast collagen and fibronectin production. In addition, in vitro transcription rates and steady-state mRNA levels for these molecules were determined by nuclear run-off assays and Northern and dot-blot hybridization using specific human cDNA probes. Treatment of cultures with TGF-beta caused stimulation of collagen and fibronectin production. Addition of IFN-gamma to the TGF-beta-treated cultures abrogated the stimulatory effects of TGF-beta on collagen production in a dose-dependent manner and resulted in a net inhibition of collagen production. In contrast, the increase in fibronectin synthesis induced by TGF-beta was augmented further by IFN-gamma. These changes in collagen and fibronectin production were accompanied by parallel changes in the steady-state mRNA levels for these proteins. The effects of TGF-beta plus IFN-gamma on fibronectin gene expression appeared to be mediated entirely by transcriptional mechanisms, whereas the effects on collagen gene expression resulted from a combination of transcriptional and post-transcriptional events.
Velocity-selective electromagnetically-induced-transparency measurements of potassium Rydberg states

We demonstrate a velocity selection scheme that mitigates suppression of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) by Doppler shifts for coupling wavelengths larger than the probe wavelength. An optical pumping beam counterpropagating with the EIT probe beam transfers atoms between hyperfine states in a velocity-selective fashion. Measurement of the transmitted probe beam synchronous with chopping of the optical pumping beam enables a Doppler-free EIT signal to be detected. Transition frequencies between $5{P}_{1/2}$ and $n{S}_{1/2}$ states for $n=26$, 27, and 28 in $^{39}\mathrm{K}$ are obtained via EIT spectroscopy in a heated vapor cell with a probe beam stabilized to the $4{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5{P}_{1/2}$ transition. Using previous high-resolution measurements of the $4{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n{S}_{1/2}$ transitions, we make a determination of the absolute frequency of the $4{S}_{1/2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5{P}_{1/2}$ transition. Our measurement is shifted by 560 MHz from the currently accepted value with a twofold improvement in uncertainty. These measurements will enable novel experiments with Rydberg-dressed ultracold Fermi gases composed of $^{40}\mathrm{K}$ atoms.
VLSI scaling trends and challenges

This article discusses trends in VLSI technology evolution. It concentrates on challenges to VLSI scaling, including transistor scaling, interconnect scaling, leakage currents and silicon-on-insulator technology. It concludes that we still have not found a fundamental barrier to extending Moore's law and that the major challenge to scaling in the future will be power and efficiency.
Pulmonary Disease and Age at Immigration among Hispanics Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Rationale: Asthma has been reported to be more prevalent among Hispanics of Puerto Rican heritage than among other Hispanics and among Hispanics born in the United States or who immigrated as children than among those who came as adults; however, direct comparisons across Hispanic groups are lacking.Objectives: To test whether asthma is more prevalent among Hispanics of Puerto Rican heritage than among other Hispanic groups, whether asthma is associated with age of immigration, and whether chronic obstructive pulmonary disease varies by heritage in a large, population-based cohort of Hispanics in the United States.Methods: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos researchers recruited a population-based probability sample of 16,415 Hispanics/Latinos, 18–74 years of age, in New York City, Chicago, Miami, and San Diego. Participants self-reported Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Central American, or South American heritage; birthplace; and, if relevant, age at immigration. A respiratory ...
A meta-review of school-based disaster interventions for child and adolescent survivors

Background: Children and adolescents are among the most vulnerable groups affected by natural and man-made disaster. To better understand research and practice concerning mental health and psychosocial support efforts in humanitarian settings, the authors conducted a comprehensive review of all intervention programmes within the past decade that universally targeted children and adolescents who were exposed to a natural and/or man-made disaster.Methods: We searched PubMed, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library and CINAHL for mental health and psychosocial interventions (MHPSS) involving children and adolescents. A total of 11 studies, 4 from natural disasters and 7 from conflict-affected areas met the inclusion criteria. Effect sizes were calculated using a random effects model for studies in post-natural disaster and war/terrorist-affected settings separately.Results: The weighted mean effect sizes for interventions in both settings were statistically significant: −0.308, 95% CI=−0.54– −0.07, z=−2.58, p=0.010 afte...
VCSEL-based flexible opto-fluidic fluorescence sensors

Flexible opto-fluidic fluorescence sensors based on microscale vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (micro-VCSELs) and silicon photodiodes (Si-PDs) are demonstrated, where arrays of 850 nm micro-VCSELs and thin film Si-PDs are heterogeneously integrated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate by transfer printing, in conjunction with elastomeric fluidic channel. Enabled with optical isolation trenches together with wavelength- and angle-selective spectral filters implemented to suppress the absorption of excitation light, the integrated flexible fluorescence sensors exhibited significantly enhanced signal-to-background ratio, resulting in a maximum sensitivity of 5 × 10 -5 wt% of infrared-absorbing organic dyes.
Darwin and Deep Time: Temporal Scales and the Naturalist’s Imagination

Charles Darwin built a world around an implied metaphysics of time that treated deep time as something qualitatively different from ordinary, experienced time. He did not simply require a vast amount of time within which his primary evolutionary mechanism of natural selection could operate; in practice, he required a deep time that functioned according to different rules from those of ordinary, “shallow” time. The experience of the naturalist occupied shallow time, but it was from that experience that Darwin necessarily had to build his arguments concerning a transformism that took place on an entirely different temporal scale. Much of his reconstruction of what took place in deep time relied on inferences drawn from taxonomic classification, and those inferences in turn depended to a large degree on conclusions reached through the already-established practices of his fellow non-transformist naturalists. By bootstrapping his transformist arguments, focused on both natural and sexual selection, with non-tr...
Purification of Paralytic Shellfish Poison by Filtration Through Active Charcoal

SummaryA simple and efficient method for the purification of shellfish poison consists in differential retardation when the poison is filtered through a charcoal column. The resulting products are low in ash, have lost their fluorescence, have an equal number of Cl and N atoms and give a characteristic Nessler reaction.
Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy.

ABSTRACTPertussis has had a resurgence with the highest incidence and complication rates in young infants, and deaths occurring mainly at < age 3 months. Infants are infected by older individuals whose immunity has waned. Strategies such as targeted immunization of infant caregivers have had limited success. Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy may protect infants through passive and active transfer of maternal antibodies that protect the infant until the primary immunization series. Studies show vaccinating pregnant women with acellular pertussis vaccine is safe for mother and infant, immunogenic with efficient transfer of antibodies to infants, and effective in preventing pertussis in young infants. Vaccine uptake in pregnant women is sub-optimal, but provider recommendation is the most important factor in improving vaccination rates. Studies are ongoing to determine the best timing of vaccination to protect infants, and into other strategies. Vaccinating pregnant women offers hope to prevent pertussis-re...
Liquid state machine based pattern recognition on FPGA with firing-activity dependent power gating and approximate computing

This paper presents an FPGA architecture and implementation of the Liquid State Machine, a spiking neural network model, for real world pattern recognition problems. The proposed architecture consists of a parallel digital reservoir with fixed synapses, and a readout stage that is tuned by a biologically plausible supervised learning rule. When evaluated using the TI46 speech corpus, a widely adopted speech recognition benchmark, the presented FPGA neuromorphic processors demonstrate highly competitive recognition performance and provide a runtime speedup of 88X over the 2.3 GHz AMD OpteronTM Processor. A number of critical design issues such as interconnection of liquid neurons, storage of synaptic weights and design of arithmetic blocks are addressed in this work. More importantly, it is shown that the unique computational structure and inherent resilience of the liquid state machine can be leveraged for highly efficient FPGA implementation. For t Iiis, it is demonstrated that the proposed firing-activity based power gating and approximate arithmetic computing with runtime adjustable precision can lead to up to 30.2% reduction in power and energy dissipation without greatly impacting speech recognition performance.
Evaluation of Head Shape in the Pediatric Practice: Plagiocephaly vs. Craniosynostosis

An 8-week-old infant presents to your office for his 2-month well visit. His parents are first time parents and explain to you that they think their child has a “funny shaped head.” The child was the product of a naturally conceived, full term, unremarkable pregnancy with a natural spontaneous vaginal delivery without medical complication. He had a normal hospital stay and newborn screening was within normal limits. His developmental progress thus far is age appropriate. On examination, you are unable to palpate an anterior fontanel and you feel ridging along the top of his head. You also notice that the child’s head shape seems narrow and elongated. As a practitioner, what are you thinking and how should you best proceed?
A novel technique for the direct determination of carrier diffusion lengths in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures using cathodoluminescence

A novel technique for determining carrier diffusion lengths in direct gap semiconductors by cathodoluminescence measurement is presented. Ambipolar diffusion lengths are determined for GaAs quantum-well material, bulk GaAs, and Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As with x up to 0.38. A large increase in the diffusion length is found as x approaches 0.38 and is attributed to an order-of-magnitude increase in lifetime. >
Enzymatic Determination of Carbohydrates

A large number of different carbohydrate determination methods described in the literature are useful for the determination of reducing carbohydrates in biologic samples, but only a few methods are described to differentiate between individual carbohydrates in a more or less specific manner, eliminating the disturbance caused by the presence of other constituents in natural products.
Myeloablative Single Cord Transplants (SCT) Versus Dual Cord Transplants (DCT) in Adults with Acute Leukemia.

Background: Combining 2 cord blood products overcomes the total nucleated cell (TNC) dose limitation and may improve clinical outcomes following allogeneic cord blood (CB) transplantation in adults. We performed a retrospective case-control study in adult patients with acute leukemia receiving myeloablative conditioning and 1 or 2 cord blood units to identify potential causes for differences in clinical outcomes following SCT and DCT and product characteristics predictive of long-term engraftment in DCT recipients. Study Design: To evaluate 20 DCT cases, we selected 20 SCT with the largest TNC dose as controls from a cohort of 103 adult SCT patients. SCT and DCT were matched for age, sex, diagnosis, disease status, ethnicity and body weight (0.11 ≤ p ≤ 0.78) excluding patients with graft failure or previous transplants. Results: Administered TNC dose for DCT (3.7x10e7/kg) was nearly 2-fold greater than SCT (1.9x10e7/kg, p 500/uL for DCT was 17 days compared to 20 days for SCT (p 18 mos. for both groups. OS was significantly correlated with post-thaw TNC dose for SCT (p<0.04) but not for DCT (p=0.88). In the first 100 days post-transplant, infection rates for SCT (65%) and DCT (50%) were similar with no significant differences in frequency of viral, fungal or bacterial infections (p=0.74). Most importantly, infection was the primary cause of death at 100 days for SCT (9/20 patients) whereas for DCT, there were no infection-related deaths! TNC and CD34+ cell dose did not differ between engrafting and non-engrafting units, however, we found that the engrafting units had a lower absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in 8/10 evaluable cases. Conclusion: DCT is an effective approach to overcome the TNC dose-limiting therapeutic benefit of CB transplantation. Although 100-day post-transplant infection frequency remains high, deaths from infection are markedly reduced and OS is significantly improved in DCT recipients, however, additional studies are needed to define the mechanism. For DCT, the engrafting unit does not have a higher TNC or CD34 cell dose but paradoxically; a lower ALC dose may be predictive.
Philadelphia Chromosome–like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL) is a recently described B-cell precursor ALL with a gene expression profile and a high frequency of IKZF1 gene alteration similar to that of Ph-positive ALL. Its prevalence is approximately 12% in children, 21% in adolescents (16-20 years of age), and 20% to 24% in adults older than 40 years, with a peak (27%) in young adults 21 to 39 years old. It occurs more often in male individuals and patients with Down syndrome. Ph-like ALL is overrepresented in those with Hispanic ethnicity and is associated with inherited genetic variants in GATA3 (rs3824662). It is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous subtype of B-ALL. Although most patients with Ph-like ALL have positive minimal residual disease after remission induction and poor event-free survival, approximately 40% of pediatric patients responded well to chemotherapy and can be cured with relatively low intensity of treatment. The treatment outcome correlated negatively with increasing age at presentation. Ph-like ALL is characterized by a wide range of genetic alterations that dysregulate several cytokine receptor and kinase signaling pathways, including CRLF2 rearrangement in half of the cases and translocation of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases (predominantly ABL-class and Janus kinases). Patients with ABL-class fusions respond clinically to ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors, whereas mutations activating the JAK-STAT pathway are amendable to treatment with JAK inhibitors in vitro or in preclinical models. Prospective studies are needed to determine if incorporation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting kinase alterations into intensive chemotherapy regimens will improve outcome of patients with Ph-like ALL.
Best Practices Education, Part I: Pain Physiology, Psychology, and Alternatives to Opioids

Knowing why and when to prescribe opioids for non-cancer pain, both acute and chronic, is facilitated by a basic knowledge of pain physiology (and psychology) and the treatment modalities that are best oriented toward those physiologic—and psychological—processes. Pain is the chief reason patients visit physicians, and as such, it is incumbent upon us, regardless of specialty, to understand it. Acute pain usually begins with nociception or sensation and is transmitted by both the peripheral and central nervous system to higher centers for processing and perception and also for modulation of the incoming message. Growing evidence suggests that chronic pain may not always follow these pathways but may in fact find its genesis within these higher centers including the limbic system and the cortex. Opioids are suboptimal if not detrimental in treating many chronic pain conditions. If used at all, opioids should be part of a comprehensive approach oriented toward prevention/health promotion and including physical and psychological therapies, spiritual support, rational multimodal pharmacotherapy, and if appropriate, procedural or surgical intervention.
Diagnosing Learning Goals: An Often-Overlooked Teaching Competency

We propose that an often overlooked competence for teaching is diagnosing learning goals. We propose further that this competence is an empirical process of hypothesis generation, testing, and revising. To understand our argument, diagnosis must be conceived as a process of analysis and mathematical decomposition, and learning goals must be treated as mathematical statements that can be decomposed into component parts or subgoals that must be mastered to achieve larger learning goals. By presenting several examples from our mathematics courses for prospective elementary teachers, we show how instructors can develop diagnostic competence by engaging in cycles of improvement. These cycles require diagnosing learning goals to create hypotheses about how to improve instruction, testing these hypotheses by gathering targeted data, and revising instruction based on relevant evidence. Conceived in this way, the diagnosis of learning goals is a competence teachers can develop as part of an evidence-based process for improving teaching.
Reading BJ's Nollywood

ABSTRACTThis paper undertakes an interpretation of Biodun Jeyifo's writings on Nollywood in the light of his earlier work on Yoruba Traveling Theater. It approaches Jeyifo's reflections on Nollywoo...
Comparison of Traditional and Non-traditional Baccalaureate Nursing Students on Selected Components of Meichenbaum and Butler's Model of Test Anxiety

The purpose of this study was to compare traditional and non-traditional baccalaureate student nurses on test anxiety and major contributing factors using the model proposed by Meichenbaum and Butler. Instruments used to measure the model variables were the Test Anxiety Inventory, the Effective Study Test, the Self-Concept of Academic Ability Scale, the Cognitive Interference Questionnaire and students' admission GPAs. Analysis of data revealed no significant difference between the groups on test anxiety. A significant difference was found between the two groups on knowledge of effective test-taking skills. Significant differences were found between the two groups on two correlations: 1) academic self-concept and knowledge of time management and study organization skills and 2) academic self concept and worry. Pearson correlations indicated that for both groups cognitive interference was the strongest variable associated with test anxiety.
Rates of Proton Transfers in 70% DMSO — 30% Water. Mechanism of Deprotonation of Intramolecularly Hydrogen Bonded Species

In connection with work described elsewhere in this volume1 we carried out temperature-jump studies on systems such as eq. 1; Open image in new window $$ k_3^{'} = {k_3} + k_3^{{OH}}\left\{ {O{H^{ - }}} \right\} + \sum {K_3^B} \left\{ B \right\} $$ (2) $$ k_{{ - 3}}^{'} = kk_{{ - 3}}^{'}\left\{ {{H^{ + }}} \right\} + k_{{ - 3}}^{{OH}} + \sum {k_{{ - 3}}^B} \left\{ {BH} \right\} $$ (3) k 3 ′ and k -3 ′ are defined by eq. 2 and 3 with k3, k 3 OH and k 3 B being the rate constants of deprotonation of 2 by the solvent, hydroxide ion, and buffer bases respectively, and k-3, k -3 OH being the rate constants for protonation of 3 by the lyonium ion, the solvent, and buffer acids respectively.
Effect of Exercise Modality During Weight Loss on Bone Health in Older Adults With Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease or Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The objective of this study was to determine the ability of either aerobic or resistance training to counter weight loss associated bone loss in older adults. 187 older adults (67 years, 70% women, 64% Caucasian) with obesity (body mass index: 34.5±3.7 kg/m2) and cardiovascular disease and/or metabolic syndrome were randomized to participate in an 18 month, community-based trial, with a follow-up assessment occurring at 30 months. Intervention arms included: weight loss alone (WL; 7–10% baseline weight), WL plus aerobic training (WL+AT), and WL plus resistance training (WL+RT). Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) acquired total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS); and biomarkers of bone turnover (Procollagen Type 1 N-Terminal Propeptide, C-Terminal Telopeptide of Type 1 Collagen) were measured at baseline, six, 18, and 30 (aBMD and TBS, only) months. Computed tomography (CT) acquired hip and spine volumetric BMD (vBMD), cortical thickness, and bone strength was measured in a subset at baseline (n=55) and 18 months. Total hip aBMD was reduced by 2% in all groups at 18 months, with primary analysis showing no significant treatment effects for any DXA, biomarker, or CT outcome. After adjustment for weight loss and followed to 30 months, secondary analyses reveal total hip [−0.018 (−0.023 to −0.012) g/cm2 vs −0.025 (−0.031 to −0.019) g/cm2; p=0.05] and femoral neck [−0.01 (−0.009 to 0.008) g/cm2 vs −0.011 (−0.020 to −0.002) g/cm2; p=0.06] aBMD estimates were modestly attenuated in WL+RT compared to WL. Additionally, lumbar spine aBMD was increased in WL [0.015 (0.007 to 0.024) g/cm2] and WL+RT [0.009 (0.000 to 0.017) g/cm2] compared to WL+AT [−0.003 (−0.012 to 0.005) g/cm2]; both p≤0.01. Community-based exercise does not prevent bone loss during active weight loss in older adults; however, adding resistance training may help minimize long-term hip bone loss. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01547182","term_id":"NCT01547182"}}NCT01547182.
First Reported Case of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Core Biopsy Yielding Diagnosis of Primary Adrenal Leiomyosarcoma

Primary adrenal leiomyosarcoma (PAL) is an extremely rare mesenchymal tumor with only a few isolated case reports in the medical literature. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or endoscopic ultrasound-guided core biopsy (EUS-CB) is a safe, effective modality for sampling lesions in the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent organs, including the adrenal glands. We describe the case of a 50-year-old male presenting with abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss over the course of one year. CT imaging revealed an 8.1 cm heterogeneous left adrenal mass with PET-confirmed metastases to the liver and lung. Pheochromocytoma was ruled out. Adrenal cortical carcinoma was the other critical differential diagnosis. As the patient was not a candidate for surgery, an EUS-FNA and CB were performed on this left adrenal mass revealing a spindle cell neoplasm with extensive necrosis confirming the diagnosis of primary leiomyosarcoma. The patient was treated with chemotherapy with palliative radiation. This case demonstrates the utility of EUS-FNA or CB as modalities that can aid in the diagnosis of adrenal lesions in specific circumstances.
Autosomal dominant PKD gets an atomic map.

The polycystin complex structure has been solved at near-atomic resolution. Its surprising architecture provides new insights into the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of cation channels and the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. This discovery should have a transformative impact on the development of treatment strategies to cure the disease.
Differential effects of light at night and shift rotation pattern on the circadian system in night workers.

1556 Background: Light at night as in shift work suppresses nocturnal secretion of melatonin, a pineal hormone with oncostatic properties. Several studies have associated night shift work with high...
Attenuation of AÎ²-associated hyperactivity reduces AÎ² and tau pathology along the entorhinal cortex-hippocampal network

High levels of the amyloid-beta (A{beta}) peptide have been shown to disrupt neuronal function and induce hyperexcitability but it is unclear what effects A{beta}-associated hyperexcitability may have on tauopathy pathogenesis or propagation in vivo. Using a novel transgenic mouse line to model the impact of hAPP/A{beta} accumulation on tauopathy in the entorhinal cortex-hippocampal (EC-HIPP) network, we demonstrate that hAPP aggravates EC tau aggregation and accelerates pathological tau spread into the hippocampus. In vivo recordings revealed a strong role for hAPP/A{beta}, but not tau, in the emergence of EC neuronal hyperactivity and impaired theta rhythmicity. Chemogenetic attenuation of A{beta}-associated hyperactivity led to reduced hAPP/A{beta} accumulation and reduction of pathological tau in downstream hippocampus. These data strongly support the hypothesis that in Alzheimers disease (AD), A{beta}-associated hyperactivity accelerates the progression of pathological tau along vulnerable neuronal circuits, and demonstrates the utility of chronic, neuromodulatory approaches in ameliorating AD pathology in vivo.
Teaching Robots to Predict Human Motion

Teaching a robot to predict and mimic how a human moves or acts in the near future by observing a series of historical human movements is a crucial first step in human-robot interaction and collaboration. In this paper, we instrument a robot with such a prediction ability by leveraging recent deep learning and computer vision techniques. First, our system takes images from the robot camera as input to produce the corresponding human skeleton based on real-time human pose estimation obtained with the OpenPose library. Then, conditioning on this historical sequence, the robot forecasts plausible motion through a motion predictor, generating a corresponding demonstration. Because of a lack of high-level fidelity validation, existing forecasting algorithms suffer from error accumulation and inaccurate prediction. Inspired by generative adversarial networks (GANs), we introduce a global discriminator that examines whether the predicted sequence is smooth and realistic. Our resulting motion GAN model achieves superior prediction performance to state-of-the-art approaches when evaluated on the standard H3.6M dataset. Based on this motion GAN model, the robot demonstrates its ability to replay the predicted motion in a human-like manner when interacting with a person.
Ventral Hernia Repair in Bariatric Patients

Ventral hernia repair in bariatric patients presents a unique combination of management options. If a ventral hernia is known prior to bariatric surgery, the surgeon has the option to perform planned bariatric surgery and defer hernia repair to a later time, perform the bariatric surgery and hernia repair simultaneously, or repair the hernia first and perform bariatric surgery at a later time. We present an algorithm for management options.
Toward Manufacturing System Composability Analysis: A Use Case Scenario

Smart manufacturing system will be able to quickly adapt to new and changing requirements, implying that software and hardware components of the manufacturing system need to be easily recomposed. In addition, provision of software applications and components is trending toward distributed, heterogeneous, and cloud-based. However, engineers who need to compose a software system will have difficulty finding and using software components with the right functionality and compatibility without a standard to describe these software components. This paper identifies the need for a reference functional ontology to provide a common way to describe a software component functionality. Such an ontology would lead towards the needed standard to describe the software components. The objective of this paper is to discuss high-level requirements for such a functional ontology and provide an initial use case to illustrate how the functional ontology may enable composability analysis.
Clustering Methods with Qualitative Data: a Mixed-Methods Approach for Prevention Research with Small Samples

Qualitative methods potentially add depth to prevention research but can produce large amounts of complex data even with small samples. Studies conducted with culturally distinct samples often produce voluminous qualitative data but may lack sufficient sample sizes for sophisticated quantitative analysis. Currently lacking in mixed-methods research are methods allowing for more fully integrating qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. Cluster analysis can be applied to coded qualitative data to clarify the findings of prevention studies by aiding efforts to reveal such things as the motives of participants for their actions and the reasons behind counterintuitive findings. By clustering groups of participants with similar profiles of codes in a quantitative analysis, cluster analysis can serve as a key component in mixed-methods research. This article reports two studies. In the first study, we conduct simulations to test the accuracy of cluster assignment using three different clustering methods with binary data as produced when coding qualitative interviews. Results indicated that hierarchical clustering, K-means clustering, and latent class analysis produced similar levels of accuracy with binary data and that the accuracy of these methods did not decrease with samples as small as 50. Whereas the first study explores the feasibility of using common clustering methods with binary data, the second study provides a “real-world” example using data from a qualitative study of community leadership connected with a drug abuse prevention project. We discuss the implications of this approach for conducting prevention research, especially with small samples and culturally distinct communities.
Impact of inferior vena cava ligation on mortality in trauma patients.

Abstract Objective Inferior vena cava (IVC) injuries are potentially lethal and require prompt intervention. Repair of complex IVC injuries may require the use of a prosthetic graft or a complicated panel or spiral vein graft reconstruction to avoid the need for ligation. Collateral venous drainage may be sufficient to allow acceptable results from IVC ligation; however, previous studies have suffered from low numbers and have differing results. The aims of this study were to assess the outcomes of isolated IVC injuries overall and to compare IVC ligation with repair. Methods Patients in the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2014 with an IVC injury were evaluated. Isolated IVC injury was defined as patients with nonvascular Abbreviated Injury Scale scores Results Overall, 1075 (0.018%) patients had IVC injuries and 443 met inclusion criteria. On univariate analysis, in comparing IVC ligation and primary repair, ligation was not associated with mortality (23% vs 16%; P = .102) but was associated with blunt mechanism (22% vs 11%; P = .009), higher fasciotomy rate (11% vs 0%; P Conclusions IVC ligation was not independently associated with mortality or lower extremity amputation, but it was associated with AKI and need for fasciotomy.
Estimating standard-dose PET from low-dose PET with deep learning

Oncology PET protocols utilize administered activities ranging between 10-15 mCi and 2-3 min/bed positions to obtain diagnostic quality PET images. There is a continued desire to reduce administered activity to reduce radiation exposure and to decrease scanning time to improve patient comfort. However, reducing those parameters lowers photon counts and degrades quantification accuracy. In this work, we proposed a deep-learning-based method to estimate the diagnostic PET image from low count data. A cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (Cycle GAN) was introduced to capture the relationship from low count to full count PET images while simultaneously supervising an inverse full count to low count (full-to-low) transformation model. The network simultaneously makes itself better at both creating synthetic full count PET images and learns how to identify full count PET images. Residual blocks were integrated into the models to catch the differences between low count and full count PET in the training dataset and better handle noise. The proposed model was implemented and evaluated on whole-body FDG PET images with only 1/8th counts. The proposed method obtained the average mean error and normalized mean square error in the whole body of 0.14%±1.43% and 0.52%±0.19%. Normalized cross-correlation was increased to 0.996, and the peak signal-to-noise ratio is increased to 46.0 dB with the proposed method. We developed a deep learning-based approach to accurately estimate diagnostic quality PET datasets from one-eighth of photons, with great potential to substantially reduce the administered dose or scan duration while maintaining high diagnostic quality.
Aging-Related Reduced Expression of CXCR4 on Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Contributes to Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Defects

Aging impairs the regenerative potential of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and skews differentiation towards the myeloid lineage. The bone marrow (BM) microenvironment has recently been suggested to influence HSC aging, however the mechanisms whereby BM stromal cells mediate this effect is unknown. Here we show that aging-associated decreased expression of CXCR4 expression on BM mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) plays a crucial role in the development of the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) aging phenotype. The BM MSC from old mice was sufficient to drive a premature aging phenotype of young HSPC when cultured together ex vivo. The impaired ability of old MSC to support HSPC function is associated with reduced expression of CXCR4 on BM MSC of old mice. Deletion of the CXCR4 gene in young MSC accelerates an aging phenotype in these cells characterized by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage, senescence, and reduced proliferation. Culture of HSPC from young mice with CXCR4 deficient MSC also from young mice led to a premature aging phenotype in the young HSPC, as evidenced by reduced hematopoietic regeneration and enhanced myeloid differentiation. Mechanistically, CXCR4 signaling prevents BM MSC dysfunction by suppressing oxidative stress, as treatment of old or CXCR4 deficient MSC with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), improved their niche supporting activity, and attenuated the HSPC aging phenotype. Our studies suggest that age-associated reduction in CXCR4 expression on BM MSC impairs hematopoietic niche activity with increased ROS production, driving an HSC aging phenotype. Thus, modulation of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in MSC may lead to novel interventions to alleviate the age-associated decline in immune/hematopoietic function.
Normalization of language deficit ideology for a new generation of minoritized U.S. youth

This paper analyzes linguistic deficit discourse as it emerges in language gap research, gets appropriated by language gap foundations, and is reported in the media. Through intertextual analysis, ...
Non-mesothelial Tumors of the Pleura

Primary tumors of the pleura are relatively rare both in children and adults. Metastatic disease to the pleura is the most common neoplastic process involving the pleural surfaces and far outnumbers primary benign and malignant pleural neoplasms. Malignant mesothelioma represents the most common primary malignant neoplasm of this site, with an estimated 2000 newly diagnosed cases in the United States each year [Cagle and Allen, Respirology 16:430–438, 2011; English and Leslie, Clin Chest Med 27:157–180, 2006; Ai and Stevenson, Oncologist 19:975–984, 2014]. Aside from malignant mesothelioma, there is a variety of more uncommon primary pleural neoplasms, both benign and malignant, that need to be considered in the differential diagnosis. Since many of these entities can demonstrate similar clinical, imaging, and macroscopic features, awareness of these conditions as well as accurate histopathologic diagnosis is extremely important as the treatment and prognosis for these diverse tumors can vary greatly. Novel immunohistochemical and molecular markers allow for a confirmatory diagnosis in some of the entities; however, careful morphologic assessment and evaluation of the clinical context are indispensable for the correct diagnosis, not only to distinguish between different primary pleural neoplasms but also to exclude metastatic disease. This chapter provides an overview of the most common primary pleural neoplasms other than malignant mesothelioma and reviews their typical clinical presentation as well as morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular characteristics.