cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Posterior Ocular Curvature by B Scan Ultrasonography

Analysis of the posterior curvature of the eye on B sector scan ultrasonography is an important parameter in the evaluation of normal and abnormal ocular conditions. In the normal eye, as sound waves pass through the crystalline lens they are refracted producing a well known artifactual change in its posterior curvature making it appear more concave and anteriorly displaced. The magnitude of this refractive effect is greatest as the distance from the crystalline lens increases and thus it is best studied in myopic eyes in which the axial length is greater.
A dose response analysis of purpurin derivatives used as photosensitizers for the photodynamic treatment of transplantable FANFT induced urothelial tumors.

AbstractRats engrafted with transplantable N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl] formamide (FANFT) induced urothelial tumors were treated with purpurin derivatives and red light (>590nm., 360joules/cm.2). Treated and control tumors were harvested 12 days after treatment and dry weights compared. At doses of 5.0μg./gm. and 2.5μg./gm. body weight, the purpurins designated NT1 and NT2, when combined with light, caused statistically significant (p <0.02) tumor regression when compared to light shielded controls. At 1.0μg./gm. body weight, NT1 and light also induced significant tumor regression (p <0.02). Purpurins, which have strong absorption bands above 650nm. and can be synthesized with a high degree of purity, appear to have potential as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.
Is Sugar Addictive

The prevalence of obesity began to rise rapidly in the 1980s and since then has more than doubled (1). Sugar (2), sugar-sweetened beverages, and the fructose that they provide have been consistently linked to the risk for obesity (3). Ludwig, Peterson, and Gortmaker (4) provided one of the earliest suggestions that intake of sugar-sweetened beverages might predict weight gain, and this has been supported by an increasing number of studies (5). Because foods can activate the “pleasure” center circuitry, the same circuitry that is activated by drugs of abuse and alcohol (6), the suggestion that sugar might be “addictive” has surfaced from time to time (7,8). The study by Jastreboff et al. in this issue of Diabete s (9), and an earlier pilot study (10), using functional MRI after oral ingestion of either glucose or fructose in 14 lean and 24 adolescents with obesity extends our knowledge of how these hexoses act on the brain. In the lean adolescents, both glucose and fructose increased perfusion of brain areas involved in “executive function and control” (prefrontal cortex) (Fig. 1) but did not activate the “homeostatic” appetite control areas (hypothalamus). A very different picture was seen in the adolescents with obesity where ingestion of either fructose or glucose reduced perfusion of the executive region of the brain (prefrontal cortex) and increased activity in the “reward” or “pleasure” centers. This suggests that obese adolescents may lack the ability to downregulate the hedonic and homeostatic regions of …
Love of the Impossible: Wilde’s Failed Queer Theory

Wilde’s collection of poems, generally known now as Poems 1881, constituted his first significant publication and his first resounding failure. Having been a conspicuous academic success, first at Trinity College Dublin and then at Magdalen College at Oxford, where he had won the Newdigate Prize for poetry in 1878, Wilde’s post-collegiate attempt to announce himself as a leading aesthetic poet did not have the effect for which he had aimed. Most reviews were unenthusiastic and, in the most notorious instance of negative reception, the Oxford Union voted to refuse a copy of the book after having requested it in the first place (Ellmann pp. 143–7).1 Many objections, including those voiced by the Oxford Union, centered on the poems’ borrowing too heavily and obviously from the canon of English poetry.2 There were also concerns about insincerity: on religious and political matters, one poem would often contradict the claims of another. At one point Wilde’s poetic voice is democratic (‘To Milton’), at another royalist (‘Libertatis Sacra Fames’). In one lyric he waxes eloquent on the charms of the papacy (‘Urbs Sacra Aeterna’), while in another he celebrates the rise of the Italian nation-state (‘Humanitad’). At one moment he is a Protestant flirting with Roman Catholicism (‘Sonnet on Approaching Italy’ or ‘Italia’), while at another he is a Swinburnian pagan calling back the classical gods at the expense of any form of Christianity (‘Santa Decca’ or ‘The Garden of Eros’). To Wilde, of course, such inconsistency might well have been the point, but not everyone was convinced.
Development of glass/steel bibeam specimen for study of brittle crack path stability.

We have developed a novel specimen for studying crack paths in glass. Under certain conditions, the specimen reaches a state where the crack must select between multiple paths satisfying the K II = 0 condition. This path selection is a simple but difficult benchmark case for both analytical and numerical methods of predicting crack propagation. We document the development of the specimen, using an uncracked and instrumented test case to study the effect of adhesive choice and validate the accuracy of both a simple beam theory model and a finite element model. In addition, we present preliminary fracture test results and provide a comparison to the path predicted by two numerical methods (mesh restructuring and XFEM).
Mango introduction in Florida and the ’haden’ cultivar’s significance to the modern industry

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) introductions to Florida began in 1861 with the importation of ’No. 11’, a polyembryonic, seed-propagated (nucellar) cultivarfrom Cuba. In the 1880s a collection of Cuban mangos was established near Bradenton. One resulting popular cultivar was ’Turpentine’, now widely used as a rootstock. The U. S. Department of Agriculture introduced ’Mulgoba’, an improved cultivarfrom India, in 1889. Other mangos were later brought from India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Israel, Australia and Kenya. Related Mangifera species were collected in East Malaysian Borneo in 1990. Inasmuch as the breeding system of Mangifera favors outcrossing, the proximity of numerous genotypes of disparate geographic origin in Florida has made that state a secondary center of diversity for the mango and enabled it to make a unique contribution to the fruit industry.
Exact Analytical Methods

This chapter discusses the exact analytical methods for the exact solution of differential equations. The methods can be separated into two types: (1) methods that can be used for ordinary differential equations and, sometimes, partial differential equations and (2) methods that can only be used for partial differential equations. If a differential equation can be transformed to a known form, then information about the solution may be obtained by looking in the right reference.
Standoff video analysis for the detection of security anomalies in vehicles

Video surveillance systems are commonly used by security personnel to monitor and record activity in buildings, public gatherings, busy roads, and parking lots. These systems allow many cameras to be observed by a small number of trained human operators but suffer from potential operator fatigue and lack of attention due to the large amount of information provided by cameras which can distract the operator from focusing on important events. In this paper, we propose the design of an autonomous video surveillance system which can operate from a standoff range that analyzes approaching vehicles in order to detect security anomalies. Such anomalies, based on dynamic analysis of the vehicle tracks, include unexpected slowing/stopping or sudden acceleration, particularly near check points or critical structures (e.g. government buildings). A human supervisor can be alerted whenever a significant event is detected and can then determine if the vehicle should be further inspected. Besides dynamic analysis, the system also estimates physical information about the vehicles such as make, body type and tire size. We describe low-complexity techniques to obtain the above information from two cameras.
Overparenting and Emerging Adults’ Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Emotional Distress Tolerance

Overparenting is a type of parental control that involves high levels of age-inappropriate intrusiveness, which may hinder the development autonomous behavior in emerging adulthood. Overparenting has been linked to poor mental health in emerging adult college students. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in this relationship. Emotional distress tolerance (i.e., ability to withstand negative emotional states) has been inversely associated with a number of mental health concerns and has not yet been examined in relation to overparenting. We proposed that emotional distress tolerance may be one mechanism by which overparenting is associated with poor mental health among emerging adults. We examined the direct role of overparenting in relation to mental health symptoms and predicted that emotional distress tolerance would mediate this relationship. College student volunteers (N = 360) completed measures of perceived overparenting, emotional distress, and emotional distress tolerance. When controlling for race and living situation, emotional distress tolerance mediated the relationship between overparenting and emotional distress among college students. Findings from this study help to explain the possible impact of overparenting behaviors on mental health and provide an intervention point for students struggling with exercising autonomous behaviors during the transition to college.
Sarcocystis jamaicensis n. sp., from Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) Definitive Host and IFN-γ Gene Knockout Mice as Experimental Intermediate Host

Abstract Here, we report a new species of Sarcocystis with red-tailed hawk (RTH, Buteo jamaicensis) as the natural definitive host and IFN-γ gene knockout (KO) mice as an experimental intermediate host in which sarcocysts form in muscle. Two RTHs submitted to the Carolina Raptor Center, Huntersville, North Carolina, were euthanized because they could not be rehabilitated and released. Fully sporulated 12.5 × 9.9-μm sized sporocysts were found in intestinal scrapings of both hawks. Sporocysts were orally fed to laboratory-reared outbred Swiss Webster mice (SW, Mus musculus) and also to KO mice. The sporocysts were infective for KO mice but not for SW mice. All SW mice remained asymptomatic, and neither schizonts nor sarcocysts were found in any SW mice euthanized on days 54, 77, 103 (n = 2) or 137 post-inoculation (PI). The KO mice developed neurological signs and were necropsied between 52 to 68 days PI. Schizonts/merozoites were found in all KO mice euthanized on days 52, 55 (n = 3), 59, 61 (n = 2), 66, ...
A study protocol of a three-group randomized feasibility trial of an online yoga intervention for mothers after stillbirth (The Mindful Health Study).

In the USA, stillbirth (in utero fetal death ≥20 weeks gestation) is a major public health issue. Women who experience stillbirth, compared to women with live birth, have a nearly sevenfold increased risk of a positive screen for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a fourfold increased risk of depressive symptoms. Because the majority of women who have experienced the death of their baby become pregnant within 12–18 months and the lack of intervention studies conducted within this population, novel approaches targeting physical and mental health, specific to the needs of this population, are critical. Evidence suggests that yoga is efficacious, safe, acceptable, and cost-effective for improving mental health in a variety of populations, including pregnant and postpartum women. To date, there are no known studies examining online-streaming yoga as a strategy to help mothers cope with PTSD symptoms after stillbirth. The present study is a two-phase randomized controlled trial. Phase 1 will involve (1) an iterative design process to develop the online yoga prescription for phase 2 and (2) qualitative interviews to identify cultural barriers to recruitment in non-Caucasian women (i.e., predominately Hispanic and/or African American) who have experienced stillbirth (N = 5). Phase 2 is a three-group randomized feasibility trial with assessments at baseline, and at 12 and 20 weeks post-intervention. Ninety women who have experienced a stillbirth within 6 weeks to 24 months will be randomized into one of the following three arms for 12 weeks: (1) intervention low dose (LD) = 60 min/week online-streaming yoga (n = 30), (2) intervention moderate dose (MD) = 150 min/week online-streaming yoga (n = 30), or (3) stretch and tone control (STC) group = 60 min/week of stretching/toning exercises (n = 30). This study will explore the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week, home-based, online-streamed yoga intervention, with varying doses among mothers after a stillbirth. If feasible, the findings from this study will inform a full-scale trial to determine the effectiveness of home-based online-streamed yoga to improve PTSD. Long-term, health care providers could use online yoga as a non-pharmaceutical, inexpensive resource for stillbirth aftercare. NCT02925481
Pancreatic β Cell Regeneration as a Possible Therapy for Diabetes

Diabetes is the result of having inadequate supply of functional insulin-producing β cells. Two possible approaches for replenishing the β cells are: (1) replacement by transplanting cadaveric islets or β cells derived from human embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells and (2) induction of endogenous regeneration. This review focuses on endogenous regeneration, which can follow two pathways: enhanced replication of existing β cells and formation of new β cells from cells not expressing insulin, either by conversion from a differentiated cell type (transdifferentiation) or differentiation from progenitors (neogenesis). Exciting progress on both pathways suggest that regeneration may have therapeutic promise.
Pilot-scale catalytic fast pyrolysis of loblolly pine over γ-Al2O3 catalyst

Abstract Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) has been scaled up from lab scale (450 g/h) to a 1 ton per day (1 TPD) pilot plant to collect required processing and engineering data to support the demonstration and commercialization of the technology. In this study, CFP of loblolly pine with γ-Al2O3 catalyst was evaluated in both reactors. The experiment in the 1 TPD single-loop transport reactor was performed for an extended period of 30 h with continuous catalyst circulation and regeneration to confirm CFP results observed at the lab scale in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor. The yield and the quality of the biocrude from the observed lab-scale CFP were consistent at the 1 TPD pilot scale. The organic liquid carbon yield was 14.7% at the lab scale and 11.5% at the pilot scale. Overall, higher carbon recovery was achieved for the total liquid products at the pilot scale (24.5% carbon yield) than at the lab scale (17.1% carbon yield). The biocrude from the lab scale had 77.0 wt% carbon and 15.8 wt% oxygen on a dry basis. The combined bio-crude product (light and heavy) produced in the pilot plant had 70.2 wt% carbon and 23.1 wt% oxygen on a dry basis. All the biocrudes produced were rich in aromatic compounds.
“Changing energy systems and land-use change”

This collection of papers contributes to an emerging research agenda on the direct and indirect role changing energy geographies have on land-use dynamics. Recent studies have sought to assess the ...
Stabilization of Nonlinear Parabolic Equations

Abstract We are concerned with the possibility of constructing implementable feedback control laws to stabilize ů + Au = f(u), primarily through the boundary conditions. Semigroup methods are employed to reduce the semi- linear problem to a linear one, to show stabilizability of certain parabolic problems by feedback and, finally, to show for the one-dimensional heat equation that it is possible to use a feedback for which the observer consists of a finite number of sensors (point evaluations in the interior).
Feasibility Testing of a Wearable Behavioral Aid for Social Learning in Children with Autism.

Background Recent advances in computer vision and wearable technology have created an opportunity to introduce mobile therapy systems for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) that can respond to the increasing demand for therapeutic interventions; however, feasibility questions must be answered first. Objective We studied the feasibility of a prototype therapeutic tool for children with ASD using Google Glass, examining whether children with ASD would wear such a device, if providing the emotion classification will improve emotion recognition, and how emotion recognition differs between ASD participants and neurotypical controls (NC). Methods We ran a controlled laboratory experiment with 43 children: 23 with ASD and 20 NC. Children identified static facial images on a computer screen with one of 7 emotions in 3 successive batches: the first with no information about emotion provided to the child, the second with the correct classification from the Glass labeling the emotion, and the third again without emotion information. We then trained a logistic regression classifier on the emotion confusion matrices generated by the two information-free batches to predict ASD versus NC. Results All 43 children were comfortable wearing the Glass. ASD and NC participants who completed the computer task with Glass providing audible emotion labeling (n = 33) showed increased accuracies in emotion labeling, and the logistic regression classifier achieved an accuracy of 72.7%. Further analysis suggests that the ability to recognize surprise, fear, and neutrality may distinguish ASD cases from NC. Conclusion This feasibility study supports the utility of a wearable device for social affective learning in ASD children and demonstrates subtle differences in how ASD and NC children perform on an emotion recognition task.
Challenges in Promoting Race Dialogues in Psychology Training: Race and Gender Perspectives:

Given today’s racial diversity and the ongoing racial tensions in our communities as a result of police shootings of unarmed Black men, terrorist acts in the United States and globally, and express...
Transforming waste into resources for the Indian economy

Abstract India faces the daunting challenge of rapidly increasing municipal, industrial and agricultural waste generation due to several factors—population increase, urbanization, and economic growth. The result is significant air, soil and water pollution, as well as safety problems and health impacts upon both workers and nearby residents. Recycling and composting programs are unable to keep pace with the growth of waste, although small startup companies and non-governmental organizations are introducing new solutions ranging from high-tech waste processing to improved training and support for waste picker communities. For India to achieve continued economic growth, poverty alleviation, hunger elimination, human development, and environmental improvement, new transformative solutions are needed rather than incremental improvements. This paper proposes an integrated systems approach towards waste policies and practices, based on an understanding of the interdependence among economic, environmental, and social processes. Drawing upon the results of a conference on Waste Management Innovation held in Mumbai in April 2017, the paper examines the current status of waste management in India, provides examples of innovative practices and emerging technologies that can help to ameliorate the situation, and offers recommendations for a path forward.
Fan-in Wafer-Level Packaging Versus FOWLP

Fan-in wafer-level packaging (WLP) technology will be discussed in this chapter. A wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP) will be designed and fabricated, and then assembled on a printed circuit board (PCB). Emphasis is placed on the key process steps in making the redistribution layer (RDL) of the WLCSP and its PCB solder joint reliability.
On the reaction pathway for the formation of benzene from acetylene catalyzed by palladium

The reaction between gas‐phase acetylene and alumina‐supported palladium saturated with 13C‐labelled vinylidene is studied using both one‐pulse, 13C magic‐angle spinning, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and by mass spectroscopic analysis of the reaction products to probe the reaction pathway. The presence of vinylidene on alumina‐supported palladium is confirmed by comparing the infrared spectra of the species formed on the supported sample with those found on a Pd(111) single crystal. It is shown using NMR that a high pressure (∼350 Torr) of gas‐phase acetylene reacts with adsorbed vinylidene at the same rate at which benzene is formed catalytically on the same sample. The resulting benzene incorporates two 13C atoms. This indicates that benzene is formed by a slow reaction between gas‐phase (12C‐labelled) acetylene and adsorbed vinylidene (13CH2=13C=) to form a C4 intermediate which reacts rapidly with further acetylene to yield benzene. There are precedents for such reactions in homogeneous phase. The proposed reaction pathway differs from that elucidated previously from ultrahigh vacuum studies on clean Pd(111), where it was found that benzene synthesis also proceeds via a C4 intermediate, in this case formed from two adsorbed acetylenes.
Dioxygen Activation by the Biofuel-Generating Cytochrome P450 OleT

OleT, a recently discovered member of the CYP152 family of cytochrome P450s, catalyzes a unique decarboxylation reaction, converting free fatty acids into 1-olefins and carbon dioxide using H2O2 as an oxidant. The C–C cleavage reaction proceeds through hydrogen atom abstraction by an iron(IV)-oxo intermediate known as Compound I. The capacity of the enzyme for generating important commodity chemicals and liquid biofuels has inspired a flurry of investigations seeking to maximize its biosynthetic potential. One common approach has sought to address the limitations imposed by the H2O2 cosubstrate, particularly for in vivo applications. Numerous reports have shown relatively efficient decarboxylation activity with various combinations of the enzyme with pyridine nucleotides, biological redox donors, and dioxygen, implicating a mechanism whereby OleT can generate Compound I via a canonical P450 O2 dependent reaction scheme. Here, we have applied transient kinetics, cryoradiolysis, and steady state turnover st...
Inflammatory Comments Elicit Less Outrage When Made in Anonymous Online Contexts

Digital communities often face difficulties in limiting inflammatory social exchanges. The present studies test one potential obstacle to combating malicious comments online: that characteristics o...
Faculty Advising Fellows: Lessons Learned

This paper explores the Faculty Advising Fellows program at a small regional university. The program began in 2007 to supplement the work of professional advisers. Focus groups and interviews involved Faculty Advising Fellows, professional staff advisers, and former Fellows, all of whom gave their perceptions of the program, addressed areas of strength, and discussed ways the program could be improved. This article also presents a short history of the advising process and gives the results of the qualitative research related to each group of participants, with the themes of each group identified. The lessons learned are provided so other universities might benefit from the process, program, and experiences of this school.
Soil fungal and prokaryotic community structure exhibits differential short-term responses to timber harvest in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract Conventional clear-cut timber harvest is a widespread industrial practice across the Pacific Northwest; however, information regarding how these practices impact soil microbial community structure at the regional scale is limited. With evidence of consistent and substantial impact of harvest on soil microbial functional profiles across the region (despite a range of environmental conditions), the objective of this study was to determine the extent to which harvest also influences the structure of prokaryotic and fungal soil microbial communities, and how generalized these trends are throughout the geographic region. Paired soil samples were collected one year before and after harvest across nine second-growth Douglas-fir forests in the Pacific Northwest. Total community DNA was extracted from the soils, and high-throughput targeted gene sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for prokaryotes and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene for fungi was performed. Alpha diversity was consistently and significantly higher after harvest; it was moderately so for fungal communities (+14.6%), but only marginally so for prokaryotic communities (+2.0%). Similarly, on average, a greater proportion of the variation in the community structure of fungi (20.1%) at each site was associated with forest harvest compared to that of prokaryotes (13.2%). Overall, the greatest influence of timber harvest on soil microbial communities appeared to be a relative depletion of ectomycorrhizal fungi, with a concomitant enrichment of saprotrophic fungi. Understanding the short-term responses of soil microbial communities across the region, particularly those of tree root-associated symbionts, may aid our understanding of the role soil microbial communities play in ecological succession.
Oxandrolone in Patients on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Series

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) induces a systemic inflammatory response, which may progress to persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS). The anabolic steroid oxandrolone may improve the metabolic aberrations of PICS. We report our experience with 3 patients on VV ECMO who received oxandrolone after demonstrating refractory catabolism on serial nitrogen balance (NB) studies or persistent weakness. Patients in cases 1 and 3 were started on oxandrolone on VV ECMO days 45 and 29, respectively, for negative NB despite nutrition optimization. The case 2 patient started oxandrolone for persistent weakness 68 days after cannulation. All patients demonstrated improvements in NB results. One patient developed mild transaminitis while on oxandrolone, which did not alter his medication course and resolved after the medication was discontinued. The impact of oxandrolone on functional capacity varied between patients. Oxandrolone may be beneficial in persistently catabolic VV ECMO patients to improve NB results. In some patients, this may support functional recovery. Additional research is needed to identify optimal patients for therapy and to investigate the impact of oxandrolone in this population.
Online Consumption and Income Efficiency: Evidence from China

Online shopping has becomes more and more popular in China largely due to the convenience and competitive prices of online products and services. This paper discusses fours issues related to online...
Meaningfulness and Kinds of Normative Reasons

Meaningfulness is the dimension of importance that exists for beings capable of adjudicating between competing kinds of normative reasons. The way an agent decides to rank competing values in terms of importance reflects that agent’s understanding of what counts as meaningful. We can imagine agents who do not engage in this kind of deliberation. Agents who fail to adjudicate between kinds of normative reasons can still act in ways that are prudentially valuable, aesthetically pleasing, and morally praiseworthy. While the actions of such agents can be good in a variety of ways such actions can also be meaningless. This paper explains how meaningfulness is connected to deliberation, how one can be mistaken in one’s judgments of meaningfulness, and how some lives and practices can be more meaningful than others.
Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke extract upregulates nicotinic receptor binding in adult and adolescent rats.

Abstract Heavy smokers display increased radioligand binding of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). This “upregulation” is thought to be a contributing factor to tobacco dependence. Although cigarette smoke contains thousands of constituents that can contribute to nicotine dependence, it is not well understood whether non-nicotine constituents contribute to nAChR upregulation. In this study, we used an aqueous cigarette smoke extract (CSE), which contains nicotine and soluble constituents of cigarette smoke, to induce nAChR upregulation in adult and adolescent rats. To do this, male rats were exposed to nicotine or CSE (1.5 mg/kg/day nicotine equivalent, intravenously) daily for ten days. This experimental procedure produces equivalent levels of brain and plasma nicotine in nicotine- and CSE-treated animals. We then assessed nAChR upregulation using quantitative autoradiography to measure changes in three nAChR types. Adolescents were found to have consistently greater α4β2 nAChR binding than adults in many brain regions. Chronic nicotine exposure did not significantly increase nAChR binding in any brain region at either age. Chronic CSE exposure selectively increased α4β2 nAChR binding in adolescent medial amygdala and α7 binding in adolescent central amygdala and lateral hypothalamus. CSE also increased α3β4 nAChR binding in the medial habenula and interpeduncular nucleus, and α7 binding in the medial amygdala, independent of age. Overall, this work provides evidence that cigarette smoke constituents influence nAChR upregulation in an age-, nAChR type- and region-dependent manner.
Diagnostic performance of salivary pepsin for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Uncertain diagnostic performance has limited clinical adoption of salivary pepsin, a noninvasive diagnostic tool for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study aimed to assess diagnostic performance of salivary pepsin, and test validity of thresholds in an external cohort of patients with or without GERD. This two-phase prospective study conducted at two centers enrolled adult asymptomatic volunteers, patients with symptoms of GERD undergoing reflux monitoring, and patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). Fasting saliva samples were processed for pepsin concentration using Peptest. Phase 1 compared pepsin concentration between No GERD (volunteers/functional heartburn) and GERD (erosive reflux disease/nonerosive reflux disease (NERD)/BE). Phase 2 tested validity of the diagnostic thresholds identified from Phase 1 among external functional heartburn and NERD cohorts. Of 243 enrolled subjects, 156 met inclusion criteria. Phase 1 (n = 114): Pepsin concentrations were significantly higher in GERD (n = 84) versus No GERD (n = 30) (73.8 ng/mL vs. 21.1 ng/mL; P < 0.001). Area under the curve for pepsin concentration was 0.74 (95% CI 0.65, 0.83). A salivary pepsin threshold of 24.9 ng/mL optimized the true negative rate and 100.0 ng/mL optimized the true positive rate. Phase 2 (n = 42): Pepsin concentrations were significantly higher in NERD (n = 22) versus Functional Heartburn (n = 20) (176.0 ng/mL vs. 53.3 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Applying Phase 1 thresholds in this external cohort, salivary pepsin 24.9 ng/mL was 86% sensitive (64%, 97%) and 100.0 ng/mL was 72% specific for distinguishing NERD from functional heartburn. Given modest sensitivity and specificity for GERD, salivary pepsin may have clinical utility as a noninvasive office based diagnostic screening tool for GERD.
Comorbidity, Functional Impairment, and Emotional Distress: A Coping Mediation Model for Persons With Cancer.

Background Comorbid disease in cancer patients can substantially impact medical care, emotional distress, and mortality. However, there is a paucity of research on how coping may affect the relationship between comorbidity and emotional distress. Purpose The current study investigated whether the relations between comorbidity and emotional distress and between functional impairment and emotional distress were mediated by three types of coping: action planning (AP), support/advice seeking (SAS), and disengagement (DD). Methods Four hundred and eighty-three persons with cancer completed a measure of functional impairment (Sickness Impact Profile), the Checklist of Comorbid Conditions, the Brief COPE, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Quality of Life Assessment for Cancer Survivors (Negative Feelings Scale), and the Distress Screening Schedule (Emotional Distress Scale). The latter three measures were used to form a latent construct representing the outcome, emotional distress. Results Model comparison analysis indicated that the model with DD as a mediator had a better fit than models containing AP and SAS. DD mediated the relationship between functional impairment and emotional distress, so that engaging in DD was associated with greater distress. In addition, comorbidity and functional impairment were directly and positively related to emotional distress, but the relation between comorbidity and distress was not mediated by coping type. Conclusions Both comorbidity and functional impairment may be associated with distress, but disengagement coping only mediated the relation involving functional impairment and was positively associated with distress. Future studies can investigate whether teaching active coping or adaptive coping (e.g., through mindfulness exercises) can decrease distress in cancer patients, despite functional impairments.
Food Insecurity Is Associated with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: Evidence from the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States

Purpose: To understand associations between food insecurity and depression, anxiety, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among low-income adults in the United States. Methods: During March 19-24, 2020, we fielded a national, web-based survey (53% response rate) among low-income adults (<250% of the federal poverty line) in the United States (N=1,476). Food security status was measured using the 18-question USDA Household Food Security Module. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models examined the association between food insecurity and psychological distress outcomes and COVID-19-specific worries. Qualitative data from an open-response question were also analyzed. Results: More than one-third of low-income adults screened positive for depression (33%), anxiety (39%), and high stress (39%). Greater food insecurity was associated with a dose-response relationship with all psychological distress outcomes (all outcomes p-trend <0.001) and COVID-19-specific worries (all outcomes p-trend <0.001). Compared to food-secure adults, adults with very low food security were more likely to screen positive for depression (odds ratio [OR] 7.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.52-10.80), anxiety (OR 6.19; 95% CI: 4.51-8.51), and high perceived stress (OR 10.91; 95% CI: 7.78-15.30). Very low food security was also associated with increased worries about the effect of COVID-19 on one's health (OR 2.56; 95% CI: 1.90-3.45), income (OR 5.18; 95% CI: 3.78-7.06), and ability to feed one's family (OR 9.24; 95% CI: 6.61-12.92). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic is negatively associated with the mental health of low-income adults in the United States, with disproportionate associations among adults experiencing food insecurity. These disparities have the potential to increase mental health disparities over the long term.
Review of "One Database at at Time: PubMed for Expert Searchers and Systematic Reviews” Webinar

As the interest in systematic review expertise grows, the Medical Library Association Technology in Education and the Systematic Review Caucuses came together to co-sponsor a series called “One Database at a Time” that examines and discusses how to use a different database for systematic searches. The first session, focused on the PubMed database, was offered on March 23. Moderated by Margaret Foster and led by panelists Alyssa Grimshaw, Liz Suelzer, and LaTeesa James, the session covered a variety of topics, from building your systematic search in PubMed to systematic review software.
Superacceleration as the signature of a dark sector interaction

We show that an interaction between dark matter and dark energy generically results in an effective dark-energy equation of state of w<-1. This arises because the interaction alters the redshift dependence of the matter density. An observer who fits the data treating the dark matter as noninteracting will infer an effective dark-energy fluid with w<-1. We argue that the model is consistent with all current observations, the tightest constraint coming from estimates of the matter density at different redshifts. Comparing the luminosity and angular-diameter distance relations with {lambda}CDM and phantom models, we find that the three models are degenerate within current uncertainties but likely distinguishable by the next generation of dark-energy experiments.
Understanding stigma in chronic health conditions: implications for nursing

Purpose This article explores the social processes in stigmatization and the theoretical background on the impact in chronic illness. Data sources Review of literature from social sciences and applications to health issues. Conclusions Understanding the social utility of stigmatization in preserving social cohesion and protecting the social order is an important function. However, this process can be harmful when applied to persons with chronic illness, such as HIV-AIDS, and psychiatric illness. These individuals often become shamed, ostracized, isolated, discredited, and socially and economically marginalized. Recent theoretical work on stigma has identified several issues and patient responses that may have implications in many other chronic conditions. Stigma is based on visible or nonvisible health conditions and can be both externally imposed or perceived in a process of self-stigma. Implications for practice Understanding stigma can aid clinicians in providing supportive help for patients with chronic illness. Stigma has been well researched in a few chronic illnesses; however, future studies in other conditions are much needed. Recognizing the underlying social factors has potential use in health-promoting behaviors. Sensitivity to stigma allows health professionals to critically reflect on ways the healthcare environment may add to stigma for their patients.
Surface dependent effects at the plasma-surface interface

Summary form only given. The complicated interactions at the plasma-surface interface in microelectronics processing discharges impact a wide range of device parameters. In a typical etching application, a number of different materials ranging from the common silicon, and silicon oxide to more exotic nitrides and low-k materials can be located in very close proximity to each other. The interaction of these different materials through changes in the plasma chemistry, non-equilibrium surface layers and local electric field is of fundamental interest since the local chemistry and plasma properties determine the characteristics of the resulting etch profile. Laser based techniques offer an almost ideal probe for these surfaces due to the hostile nature of the plasma, difficulties with probe techniques, and the inherent species selectivity available using optical techniques. This talk will review our LIF measurements of surface-dependent radical-species densities obtained in microelectronics processing discharges, laser photodetachment identification of negative ion species, and recent spatially resolved electric-field measurements above different electrode materials.
Interactions between externally forced climate signals from sunspot peaks and the internally generated Pacific Decadal and North Atlantic Oscillations

When the Pacific Decadal Oscillation is in phase with the 11 year sunspot cycle, there are positive sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies in the Gulf of Alaska, nearly no anomalous zonal SLP gradient across the equatorial Pacific, and a mix of small positive and negative sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies there. When the two indices are out of phase, positive SLP anomalies extend farther south in the Gulf of Alaska and west into eastern Russia, with a strengthened anomalous zonal equatorial Pacific SLP gradient and larger magnitude and more extensive negative SST anomalies along the equatorial Pacific. In the North Atlantic, when the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is in phase with the sunspot peaks, there is an intensified positive NAO SLP pattern. When the NAO is out of phase with the peaks, there is the opposite pattern (negative NAO). The relationships are physically consistent with previously identified processes and mechanisms and point the way to further research.
Using Key Concepts in a Translation Model for Retrieval

Many queries, especially those in the form of longer questions, contain a subset of terms representing key concepts that describe the most important part of the user's information need. Detecting the key concepts in a query can be used as the basis for more effective weighting of query terms, but in this paper, we focus on a method of using the key concepts in a translation model for query expansion and retrieval. Translation models have been used previously in community-based question answering (CQA) systems in order to bridge the semantic gap between questions and the corresponding answer documents. Our method uses the key concepts of a question as the translation context and selectively applies the translation model to the secondary (non-key) parts of the question. We evaluate the proposed method using a CQA collection and show that selectively translating key and secondary concepts can significantly improve the retrieval performance compared to a baseline that applies the translation model without considering key concepts.
The effects of a MAP2K5 microRNA target site SNP on risk for anxiety and depressive disorders.

Functional variants that contribute to genomewide association study (GWAS) signals are difficult to identify. MicroRNAs could contribute to some of these gene–trait relationships. We compiled a set of GWAS trait gene SNPs that were predicted to affect microRNA regulation of mRNA. Trait associations were tested in a sample of 6725 European-American (EA) and African-American (AA) subjects that were interviewed using the polydiagnostic SSADDA to diagnose major psychiatric disorders. A predicted miR-330-3p target site SNP (rs41305272) in mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 (MAP2K5) mRNA was in LD (d′ = 1.0, r2 = 0.02) with a reported GWAS-identified variant for restless legs syndrome (RLS), a disorder frequently comorbid with anxiety and depression, possibly because of a shared pathophysiology. We examined the SNP's association with mood and anxiety-related disorders. Rs41305272 was associated with agoraphobia (Ag) in EAs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95, P = 0.007; 195 cases) and AAs (OR = 3.2, P = 0.03; 148 cases) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in AAs (OR = 2.64, P = 0.01; 427 cases), but not EAs (465 cases). Rs41305272*T carrier frequency was correlated with the number of anxiety and depressive disorders diagnosed per subject. RLS was not evaluated in our subjects. Predicted miR-330-3p target genes were enriched in pathways relevant to psychiatric disorders. These findings suggest that microRNA target site information may be useful in the analysis of GWAS signals for complex traits. MiR-330-3p and MAP2K5 are potentially important contributors to mood and anxiety-related traits. With support from additional studies, these findings could add to the large number of risk genes identified through association to medical disorders that have primary psychiatric effects. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional changes after photodynamic therapy with verteporfin

Objective To investigate image preferences after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Design Prospective, cross-sectional study. Methods Seventeen patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were tested by color vision, contrast sensitivity, and near visual acuity (VA) with positive images and negative images before, 1 week after, and 3 months after PDT. Results Before PDT, 13 patients (76%) preferred positive images; the difference was not significant ( P P P Conclusion Although PDT may not alter the neurosensory retina, it may affect intraretinal function by changing image preference.
Audit considerations in distributed processing systems

Applications of distributed processing networks are proliferating rapidly. It is expected that by the year 2000, distributed networks will be one of the most significant developments to evolve from the computer revolution.Distributed networks are unique in that they bring together concepts of communication, engineering, and computing. From an audit standpoint, the complexities involved in control design and testing are challenging. The auditor needs to be knowledgeable concerning these complexities in order to apply the proper audit tools, particularly since some of these tools are in need of improvement or development. This paper provides a summary of important areas of audit concern in distributed processing systems.
Specificity of hydroxylmethyluracil‐containing DNA for transcription factor 1: Structural insights

The genomic materials from some Bacillus subtilis bacteriophages are found to contain 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine in place of thymine. Phage-encoded proteins such as transcription factor 1 specifically and preferentially bind to the minor grooves of these hmU-containing DNA but not to thymine-containing DNA. Data from electrophoretic mobility shift assays suggest that the inherent, localized flexibility of hmU-DNA, which is sequence-specific, is responsible for its discriminative binding. We discuss here, from the NMR-derived structural point of view, how differential DNA flexibility can contribute to specific binding of TF1 to hmU-DNA.
Characterization of the Mechanism of Activation for Visible Luminescence in Tb-Doped Crystalline and Amorphous AlN Thin Films

High-temperature treatments are necessary for luminescence ‘activation’ of sputterdeposited, RE-doped, III-nitride phosphor materials. We report an investigation of the activation process in crystalline and amorphous Tb-doped AlN films. These films were characterized before and after thermal activation at temperatures up to 1000° C by cathodoluminescence (CL), static and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The results suggest that the absence of luminescence in unactivated and in old activated samples is due to rapid quenching of the RE excited state. Furthermore, the quenching in the activated, aged samples appears to be due to sorption of ambient water vapor. Energy transfer to a harmonic of the O-H vibration is a likely quenching pathway in these samples. Unfortunately, this water-related quenching mechanism is implausible as a candidate in freshly-made, unactivated samples since water is excluded from the growth chamber.