cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling women's quality of life after cardiac events.

Quality of life (QOL) is presented as a global, unidimensional, and subjective assessment of one’s life. This study examined the impact of perceived health status, hope, and optimism on QOL in 93 women after suffering a cardiac event. Construct validity was examined by estimating a model where QOL was measured with four indicators, and perceived health was measured with the SF-36 Health Survey. Hope was measured with the Herth Hope Index and dispositional optimism was measured with the Life Orientation Test. The unidimensionality of QOL and its response to health status, hope, and optimism were tested. Fit indices suggested that the theoretical relations posited were compatible with the data, ([.chi]2(42) = 44.125, p = .382, RMSEA = .0001, GFI = .942). The model explained 66% of the variance in QOL. Modeling suggested the presence of a complex latent concept composed of hope and optimism that influenced QOL.
DiNAR: Health monitoring of IT systems in emergency response

Disaster management and emergency response mechanisms have come of age post 9/11. Undoubtedly the introduction of Information Technology (IT) in emergency response management has been revolutionary from the perspective of better management of the emergency response. However, the various components which make up the IT infrastructure, such as sensors, computers, PDAs, network devices, etc, are inherently volatile in nature. To overcome this volatility and increasing the robustness of the emergency system we designed and developed a health monitoring tool, denoted DiNAR, for disaster systems. This tool will help the incident commander to actively monitor the state of the IT infrastructure which has been deployed in the field as well as the applications running at remote sites. DiNAR uses Manager-Agent based architecture and a novel agent initiated message exchange.
Particulate matter and atherosclerosis: role of particle size, composition and oxidative stress

Air Pollution has been associated with significant adverse health effects leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Cumulative epidemiological and experimental data have shown that exposure to air pollutants lead to increased cardiovascular ischemic events and enhanced atherosclerosis. It appears that these associations are much stronger with the air particulate matter (PM) component and that in urban areas, the smaller particles could be more pathogenic, as a result of their greater propensity to induce systemic prooxidant and proinflammatory effects. Much is still unknown about the toxicology of ambient particulates as well as the pathogenic mechanisms responsible for the induction of adverse cardiovascular health effects. It is expected that better understanding of these effects will have large implications and may lead to the formulation and implementation of new regulatory policies. Indeed, we have found that ultrafine particles (<0.18 μm) enhance early atherosclerosis, partly due to their high content in redox cycling chemicals and their ability to synergize with known proatherogenic mediators in the promotion of tissue oxidative stress. These changes take place in parallel with increased evidence of phase 2 enzymes expression, via the electrophile-sensitive transcription factor, p45-NFE2 related transcription factor 2 (Nrf2). Exposure to ultrafine particles also results in alterations of the plasma HDL anti-inflammatory function that could be indicative of systemic proatherogenic effects. This article reviews the epidemiological, clinical and experimental animal evidence that support the association of particulate matter with atherogenesis. It also discusses the possible pathogenic mechanisms involved, the physicochemical variables that may be of importance in the greater toxicity exhibited by a small particle size, interaction with genes and other proatherogenic factors as well as important elements to consider in the design of future mechanistic studies. Extensive epidemiological evidence supports the association of air pollution with adverse health effects [13]. It is increasingly being recognized that such effects lead to enhanced morbidity and mortality, mostly due to exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases and predominantly those of ischemic character [4]. Indeed, in addition to the classical risk factors such as serum lipids, smoking, hypertension, aging, gender, family history, physical inactivity and diet, recent data have implicated air pollution as an important additional risk factor for atherosclerosis. This has been the subject of extensive reviews [5,6] and a consensus statement from the American Heart Association [7]. This article reviews the supporting epidemiological and animal data, possible pathogenic mechanisms and future perspectives.
Intrapapillary Refractile Bodies in Optic Nerve Sheath Meningioma

• Intrapapillary refractile bodies were observed in seven of 13 patients with chronic optic disc edema secondary to optic nerve sheath meningioma. The observation of refractile bodies preceded or coincided with decline in vision and disappeared as optic atrophy supervened. Intrapapillary refractile bodies appear to be a nonspecific sign of chronic optic disc edema.
Environmental Tomography: Ubiquitous Sensing with Mobile Devices

The ubiquitous nature of mobile phones, which are location-aware devices, presents a unique platform for large-scale computing applications. In particular, if mobile phones are coupled with sensors, they can be used for detection and monitoring of environmental phenomena such as pollution and radiation. In this demonstration, we present environmental tomography, a system for ubiquitous environmental sensing with mobile devices. Aggregate sensor measurements are collected by the devices along fixed paths such as roads, and these aggregates are used to reconstruct an estimate of the distribution of the underlying physical phenomenon. Our system is robust to the dynamic characteristics of mobile networks and also preserves the privacy of mobile user locations. We demonstrate a prototype that generates estimate distributions from user specified data collection paths and underlying data distributions. The accuracy of the reconstructed distributions is illustrated both numerically and graphically.
Use of Linezolid to Treat MRSP Bacteremia and Discospondylitis in a Dog

A 1.5 yr old male German shepherd dog was evaluated for recurrent intermittent episodes of fever and lethargy. Clinicopathologic abnormalities were suggestive of a discospondylitis at the seventh and eighth thoracic vertebrae. Blood and urine cultures yielded growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) that was resistant to all commonly used antibiotics. Extralabel antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated susceptibility of both blood and urine isolates to linezolid. The prescribed dose was extrapolated from pharmacokinetic (PK) studies and the isolate's plasma minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Linezolid was administered for 23 wk and resulted in successful resolution of bacteremia, bacteriuria, and discospondylitis. When justified, linezolid should be considered to treat methicillin-resistant infections.
openPDS: Protecting the Privacy of Metadata through SafeAnswers

The rise of smartphones and web services made possible the large-scale collection of personal metadata. Information about individuals' location, phone call logs, or web-searches, is collected and used intensively by organizations and big data researchers. Metadata has however yet to realize its full potential. Privacy and legal concerns, as well as the lack of technical solutions for personal metadata management is preventing metadata from being shared and reconciled under the control of the individual. This lack of access and control is furthermore fueling growing concerns, as it prevents individuals from understanding and managing the risks associated with the collection and use of their data. Our contribution is two-fold: (1) we describe openPDS, a personal metadata management framework that allows individuals to collect, store, and give fine-grained access to their metadata to third parties. It has been implemented in two field studies; (2) we introduce and analyze SafeAnswers, a new and practical way of protecting the privacy of metadata at an individual level. SafeAnswers turns a hard anonymization problem into a more tractable security one. It allows services to ask questions whose answers are calculated against the metadata instead of trying to anonymize individuals' metadata. The dimensionality of the data shared with the services is reduced from high-dimensional metadata to low-dimensional answers that are less likely to be re-identifiable and to contain sensitive information. These answers can then be directly shared individually or in aggregate. openPDS and SafeAnswers provide a new way of dynamically protecting personal metadata, thereby supporting the creation of smart data-driven services and data science research.
Influence of late Quaternary climate change on present patterns of genetic variation in valley oak, Quercus lobata Née.

Phylogeography and ecological niche models (ENMs) suggest that late Quaternary glacial cycles have played a prominent role in shaping present population genetic structure and diversity, but have not applied quantitative methods to dissect the relative contribution of past and present climate vs. other forces. We integrate multilocus phylogeography, climate-based ENMs and multivariate statistical approaches to infer the effects of late Quaternary climate change on contemporary genetic variation of valley oak (Quercus lobata Nee). ENMs indicated that valley oak maintained a stable distribution with local migration from the last interglacial period (~120 ka) to the Last Glacial Maximum (~21 ka, LGM) to the present compared with large-scale range shifts for an eastern North American white oak (Quercus alba L.). Coast Range and Sierra Nevada foothill populations diverged in the late Pleistocene before the LGM [104 ka (28-1622)] and have occupied somewhat distinct climate niches, according to ENMs and coalescent analyses of divergence time. In accordance with neutral expectations for stable populations, nuclear microsatellite diversity positively correlated with niche stability from the LGM to present. Most strikingly, nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite variation significantly correlated with LGM climate, even after controlling for associations with geographic location and present climate using partial redundancy analyses. Variance partitioning showed that LGM climate uniquely explains a similar proportion of genetic variance as present climate (16% vs. 11-18%), and together, past and present climate explains more than geography (19%). Climate can influence local expansion-contraction dynamics, flowering phenology and thus gene flow, and/or impose selective pressures. These results highlight the lingering effect of past climate on genetic variation in species with stable distributions.
Photovoice in the diversity classroom : Engagement, voice, and the eye/i of the camera

A response to calls for more self-reflective and inclusive pedagogy, this article considers pedagogical and teaching possibilities offered by Photovoice—a community and participatory action research methodology developed by Wang and Burris. Extrapolating Photovoice to the context of the diversity classroom, the authors discuss how the methodology can aid management educators in developing approaches and activities that foster greater participatory engagement between students and subject matter, knowledge, and learning. They share their experiences with the methodology and showcase what educators in the field can do to adopt—or adapt—the methodology for their own use.
THE ENERGY AND MOMENTUM DEPENDENCE OF NP CHARGE EXCHANGE SCATTERING

Abstract The np charge exchange and ordinary scattering are presented as a function of the square of the invariant 4 momentum transfer. It is noted that from 91 MeV to 2840 MeV the variation with the incident energy and the variation with the 4 momentum transfer are independent. The significance of this is discussed.
On Peasant Revolution and National Resistance: Toward a Theory of Peasant Mobilization and Revolutionary War with Special Reference to Modern China

A longstanding thesis on the Chinese revolution is that the peasants embraced the Communist movement because the brutalization by the invading Japanese Army aroused the village people, making it possible for the Communist Party to organize them and to appeal to their nationalist aspirations. A theoretical exploration of peasant mobilization and revolutionary war in the T'aihang Mountain-North China Plain revolutionary base suggests different reasons. The peasants there embraced the Communist movement mainly because the Communist Party 8th Route Army helped them regain their basic rights to subsistence in their struggles with landlords and local governments before the Japanese invasion. The armies of the Japanese and the Kuomintang exerted tremendous pressures on the peasant movements in the base area, and there was a negative correlation between the presence of these intruding forces and the emergence of a viable Communist political order. The revolutionary army won the War of Resistance and the War of Liberation largely by averting and ameliorating the burdens the peasants were encountering. In all of the revolutionary processes, the peasants placed greater value on the performance of the party in enhancing their livelihood than on the nationalist propaganda of the revolutionary movement.
Is ictal cognitive dysfunction predictable

Abstract Objective Accurate prediction of electrographic seizure onset may reduce injuries and improve quality of life in pharmaco-resistant epileptics. However, because sub-clinical, far out-number clinical seizures, indiscriminate issuance of warnings may have a paralyzing effect on these patients. This study investigates the predictability of ictal cognitive dysfunction. Methods Latency and percentage of correct responses to a reaction time test triggered by automated seizure detections were compared to those obtained inter-ictally in 14 subjects undergoing surgery evaluation. Since accurate prediction of seizures is elusive, early detection was used, as it indirectly but reliably investigates for the existence of a cognitive pre-ictal state. Results Significant differences between ictal and inter-ictal cognitive performance were not uncovered until late into the temporal evolution of “focal” seizures. Conclusions These observations suggest that cognitive dysfunction is unpredictable in seizures originating from discrete cortical regions, as the transition into unawareness seems abrupt. Significance Prediction of electrographic seizure onsets with worthwhile accuracy would likely result in large numbers of daily warnings, the great majority for sub-clinical seizures. This outcome would considerably increase, without safety justification, patients’ psychological burden inherent to each forecast, thus further diminishing quality of life.
Self-Study Methodology as a Means Toward Ongoing Rationale Development and Refinement

Rationale development, as a core theme of social studies teacher education, has received renewed attention in recent years (Hawley, 2010). Simultaneously, interest in and the use of self-study as a methodology for researching and reframing teaching and teacher education has also increased (Loughran, 2007; Russell, 2007). Despite similar approaches and goals for improving social studies teaching and learning, both exist in relative isolation, or at least in quiet conversation. As part of this quiet conversation, social studies teacher educators have been using self-study methods and methodology to examine the process of improving their practice as teacher educators (Dinkelman, 2003; Dinkelman, Margolis, & Sikkenga, 2006a, 2006b; Powell & Hawley, 2009; Ritter, 2007, 2009; Ritter, Powell, & Hawley, 2007, 2008). As the chapters in this book demonstrate, the conversation is not only growing louder, it is creating a collaborative spirit among social studies teacher educators who share a common interest in rethinking their own practice, pedagogy, and decision making.
Protein kinase C regulation of p-glycoprotein-mediated xenobiotic secretion in renal proximal tubule

Fluorescence microscopy, fluorescent substrates [daunomycin and a fluorescent cyclosporin A (CSA) derivative] and digital image analysis were used to examine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the control of p-glycoprotein in killifish renal proximal tubules. PKC activators, phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA) and dioctylglycerol, reduced luminal drug accumulation, and protein kinase inhibitors, staurosporine and 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), increased luminal accumulation; a PMA analog that does not activate PKC was without effect. PMA effects were blocked by staurosporine. The increase in luminal fluorescence caused by staurosporine was blocked by the p-glycoprotein substrate, CSA, indicating that this component of transport was indeed mediated by p-glycoprotein. Neither PMA, dioctylglycerol, nor protein kinase inhibitors altered cellular drug accumulation. Finally, in primary cultures of flounder proximal tubule cells, PMA decreased transepithelial [3H]daunomycin secretion. This pharmacological approach demonstrates that in teleost renal proximal tubule, p-glycoprotein-mediated xenobiotic secretion is negatively correlated with changes in PKC activity, a finding that conflicts with results from studies using mammalian tumor cells that express p-glycoprotein.
The Supreme Court's LaRue Decision, and What it Means for Retirement Plan Fiduciaries

In February 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Section 502(a)(2) of ERISA authorizes recovery for fiduciary breaches that impair the value of plan assets in a participant's individual account. [LaRue v. DeWolff, Boberg & Associates, Inc., et al., 128 S. Ct. 1020 (2008).] This article will discuss the opinions handed down by the Justices and the significance of the decision for retirement plan fiduciaries.
HACCP and Other Regulatory Approaches to Prevention of Foodborne Diseases

Science-based, preventive regulation was slow in coming to food law. It took more than half a century from the development of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in the 1950s for Congress to direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to apply comprehensive, science-based, preventive controls across the food supply. Full implementation will likely take several years, but the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) signed into law on January 4, 2011, provides FDA with a mandate to shift the focus of the FDA from primarily reacting to food safety problems to prevention. This chapter summarizes the evolution of science-based risk control systems into food regulation in the United States beginning with the development of HACCP and finishing with enactment of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Key points of the HACCP regulation for seafood, meats and poultry, juices, and FSMA risk control plans are covered. Finally, the chapter provides advice on compliance with these control systems.
Examination of a neural cross-over effect using resting mechanomyographic mean frequency from the vastus lateralis muscle in different resting positions following aerobic exercise.

To evaluate the potential neural cross-over effect between the vastus lateralis muscles in different postural resting positions. Subjects exercised on an upright cycle ergometer, using only their dominate leg, for 2 min at 30 % VO2 peak. Following this warm-up, subjects then cycled (still using only their dominant leg) for 30 min at 60 % VO2 peak. After the aerobic phase, subjects cooled down (again, using only their dominant leg) for 2 min at 30 % VO2 peak. Resting mechanomyography mean frequency was measured prior to and following aerobic exercise. There was an approximate 6.3 ± 6.8 and a 10 ± 5.1 % increase (upright sitting position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 180°); an approximate 7 ± 6.6 and a 16.1 ± 6.5 % increase (upright sitting position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 90°); an approximate 0.5 ± 6.8 and 3.7 ± 5.6 % increase (lying supine position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 180°); and an approximately 2 ± 8.3 and 2.5 ± 8.6 % increase (lying supine position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 90°) in normalized mechanomyography mean frequency after aerobic exercise for the dominant and non-dominate vastus lateralis muscles, respectfully. There appears to be a statistically significant neural cross-over effect for the vastus lateralis muscle, during three of the four postural resting positions, with the non-dominant vastus lateralis muscle having a greater increase in mechanomyography mean frequency.
A recipe for standards-based data sharing using open source software and low-cost electronics

Environmental data are critical to understanding environmental phenomena, yet their consistent collection and curation can be cost-prohibitive. This paper describes a recipe for the design, development, and deployment of a low-cost environmental data logging and transmission system for environmental sensors and its connection to an open source data-sharing network. The hardware is built using several low-cost, open-source, mass-produced components. The system automatically ingests data into HydroServer, a standards-based server in the open source hydrologic information system (HIS) created by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Sciences Inc. (CUAHSI). By publishing data in this way, they are discoverable through the geographic information system (GIS)-based CUAHSI tools, HydroDesktop and HydroShare. In addition, because they follow WaterML encoding, open hardware data stored in the HIS can be included in international catalog such as the global earth observation system of system catalog. A recipe for building the system is provided. Multiple deployments used to test proof-of-concept of the system are described and their results are given. Ease of deployment and reliability of the logging and transmission system is also addressed.
Determining Standard Cost Estimating Methods for Negotiating Engineering and Related Services Contracts

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) was interested in standardizing methodology for estimating costs of engineering and related services for purposes of negotiating contracts for those services. To accomplish this objective, current ODOT procedures, as well as those of other transportation agencies were studied. Recommended best practices were generally consistent across ODOT and other transportation agencies, so the emphasis of the research became documenting those procedures and compiling databases to aid in the estimating process. Two databases of ODOT projects were compiled. Databases include estimated consultant hours by tasks and descriptive information, such as project type, number of nonstandard drawings, total project cost, number of subconsultants, etc. The databases were analyzed to identify relationships between project characteristics and consultant contract hours required. Results of these analyses are presented. A procedure for use of the databases was developed. This paper summarizes the results of the research.
Key Culture-general Interactional Skills for Military Personnel☆

Abstract There is increasing awareness in the U.S. Department of Defense and across the service branches that members of a twenty-first century military need to be able to communicate effectively with adversaries as well as allies, strangers as well as partners in multinational operations. We argue it is preferable to provide training that will be “culture-general,” preparing military personnel to succeed wherever they are deployed. Drawing on prior research findings and new field research at Army and Marine Corps role play-based training sites, this paper outlines interactional skills that are useful in any cross-cultural situation, but have particular utility in military contexts, across various cultures, languages, and contexts. We discuss three overarching sets of skills that aid military personnel in achieving more successful communication with counterparts from a different background: (1) observing and adapting to unfamiliar norms, (2) building rapport, and (3) recovering from trouble in interaction.
Single-Dose Fluconazole Therapy for Oral Thrush in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Patients.

Background:Oral thrush is a common fungal infection of the mouth experienced by palliative medicine and hospice patients who have advanced cancer. Individuals often experience distressing symptoms ...
Characteristic Analysis on Pulse Laser Propulsion to Micro-Aircraft

Adopting the numerical method of differential equation to solve the motion equations of micro-aircraft propelled by pulse ground based laser,the flight characteristics of aircraft in air-breathing mode,ablative mode and combining air-breathing mode with ablative mode are discussed.The calculation shows that with air-breathing propulsion,the maximum velocity is limited.High velocity could be obtained by ablative laser propulsion,and the impulse-coupling coefficient and specific impulse are increased to lead to higher maximum velocity.The payload ratio with propulsion combining the two modes is higher than that with ablative mode,but the power utilization ratio is lower.It provides conferences for optimization of micro-aircraft propulsion by laser.
Nonlinear Darcy fluid flow with deposition

In this article we consider a model of a filtration process. The process is modeled using the nonlinear Darcy fluid flow equations with a varying permeability, coupled with a deposition equation. Existence and uniqueness of the solution to the modeling equations is established. A numerical approximation scheme is proposed and analyzed, with an a priori error estimate derived. Numerical experiments are presented which support the obtained theoretical results.
Efficacy of COMPASS

In this chapter we report results from our two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of COMPASS. The goal of our first RCT was to conduct a proof of concept study. We wanted to demonstrate the efficacy of COMPASS using goal attainment scaling as our outcome measure. The goal of our second RCT was both to replicate our initial results and test a second type of experimental condition, web-based videoconferencing for the coaching sessions against face-to-face coaching. The first RCT demonstrated a very high effect size that was confirmed with the second RCT. More importantly, coaching using web-based videoconferencing was equally effective to face-to-face coaching. Thus, our first RCT provided proof of concept, and the second RCT upheld our findings that COMPASS is effective in helping children with ASD achieve high educational outcomes. We also learned that we could implement COMPASS reliably at multiple sites with multiple teachers in multiple schools and multiple districts, and teachers could be coached to successfully implement interventions reliably and accurately. COMPASS was received with high satisfaction from parents and teachers, despite the extra work COMPASS required from teachers.
B0 mapping using rewinding trajectories (BMART)

Purpose To create a B0 map and correct for off-resonance with minimal scan time increase for two-dimensional (2D) or 3D non-Cartesian acquisitions. Methods Rewinding trajectories that bring the zeroth gradient moment to zero every repetition time (TR) were used to estimate the off-resonance with a center-out 3D cones trajectory, which required an increase in the minimum TR by 5%. The off-resonance estimation and correction was implemented using an algorithm based on binning and object-domain phase correction. B0 maps using BMART (B0 mapping using rewinding trajectories) were compared to maps obtained using separate scans with multiple echo time (TE) in a phantom and human brain. Results Excellent agreement between BMART and the multiple-TE method were observed, and images corrected with BMART were deblurred. Conclusion BMART can correct for off-resonance without requiring an additional scan, and can be easily applied to center-out or projection trajectories (2D or 3D). Magn Reson Med, 2016. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Banach envelopes of some quasi-Banach function spaces

We show that under some assumptions on the Musielak−Orlicz function generating a quasi-Banach Musielak−Orlicz function space, the Banach envelope of the weighted Cesaro−Musielak−Orlicz space generated by a certain positive sublinear operator is a weighted \(L_1\)-space.
Overview: State of the Art and Future Prospectives for Cartilage Repair

Articular cartilage degeneration, for example, resulting from joint injury and trauma, has remained a major clinical challenge as cartilage does not have self-healing capability, and osteoarthritis (OA) often ensues. OA affects over 15% of the population, including 65% of those above 65 years of age, and is a major cause of physical disabilities. There is thus a need to develop treatment strategies that can effectively target prevention and/or blockage of early stage disease progress, rather than prosthetic replacement of the joint at the end stage. This chapter provides an overview of the state of the art and future prospectives of cartilage repair strategies. The clinical relevance and tissue pathology of cartilage injury are first introduced, covering the structure and function of cartilage tissue and evaluation and clinical management of cartilage injuries. Next, the principles and strategies of currently practiced cartilage repair are summarized, including palliative approaches (e.g., arthroscopic debridement/lavage), intrinsic repair (e.g., bone marrow stimulation technique—abrasion, drilling, and microfracture), whole tissue transplantation (e.g., osteochondral graft transplantation), and tissue engineering strategy (e.g., autologous chondrocyte implantation/transplantation). An overview of recent advances in cartilage repair strategies is presented, particularly the progress made in stem cell-based therapies and biomaterial scaffold designs. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the remaining scientific and clinical challenges in cartilage repair, specifically highlighting the need of enhancement of tissue integration, maintenance of cell phenotype, prevention of OA progress, and simplification of surgical and rehabilitation procedures.
Discrepancies between crystallized and fluid ability are associated with frequency of social and physical engagement in community dwelling older adults.

Objective: Age differences have been noted in the discrepancies between crystallized and fluid ability (Gc–Gf). Larger Gc–Gf discrepancies have also been shown to be associated with Alzheimer’s dis...
Variability and predictors of serum perfluoroalkyl substance concentrations during pregnancy and early childhood.

Abstract Exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), ubiquitous and persistent environmental contaminants, could be associated with adverse health outcomes, but there are limited longitudinal data assessing patterns and predictors of exposure during childhood. We quantified concentrations of eight different PFAS in sera collected from women during pregnancy and children at delivery and ages 3 and 8 years in 367 mother-child pairs enrolled in a prospective cohort from 2003 to 2006. In general, median childhood PFAS concentrations increased from birth to age 3 and then decreased by age 8. Maternal serum PFAS concentrations during pregnancy were strongly correlated with cord serum concentrations (0.76
Evidence for exposure to selenium by breeding interior snowy plovers (Charadrius nivosus) in saline systems of the Southern Great Plains.

Interior snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus) population declines and deteriorating conditions throughout the Southern Great Plains (SGP) of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma may be linked to environmental contaminants. Concentrations of V, As, Cd, Pb, and Se were quantified in breeding snowy plover blood, feathers (5th primary; P5), and potential prey (tiger beetles [Cicindela circumpicta and C. togata]). Se was (a) most commonly detected relative to other quantified elements and (b) frequently quantified at levels exceeding background or toxicity thresholds. Of samples greater than instrumentation detection limits, 98% of snowy plover blood and 22% of feather samples were greater than Se toxicity thresholds of 1 ppm ww for blood and 5 ppm dw for feathers (blood quantifiable range: 0.83–15.12 ppm; feathers quantifiable range: 1.90–27.47 ppm). Almost all tiger beetle Se concentrations were below reported invertebrate thresholds of 30 ppm dw (quantifiable range: 0.54–45.84 ppm). Snowy plover blood Se concentrations were related to sex, individual body condition, and local tiger beetle Se concentrations, while plover P5 Se concentrations were related to state, sex, and presence of body molt. Tiger beetle Se concentrations were related to individual study sites in Texas. These results provide some of the first evidence of Se exposure risk for interior snowy plovers nesting in saline lake and alkali flat environments of the SGP. Future efforts should focus upon specific Se uptake pathways during breeding and nonbreeding seasons, as snowy plovers breeding in the SGP appear to be exposed to Se throughout their annual cycle.
Nodus: A User Friendly Neuron Simulator for Macintosh Computers

Nodus a software package for simulation and development of compartmental models of neurons and small networks is described. Nodus is implemented on Apple Macintosh microcomputers with the standard user interface and graphics. Two user interface issues are discussed: control of model consistency and selection of model parameters.
Should Tenure Survive

In early 1996, the Arizona Board of Regents began seriously to consider the abolition of tenure at Arizona’s three state universities. The Regents have for the moment settled on a system of extensive post-tenure review—a system that is certain to be cumbersome and may prove oppressive—but the total abolition of tenure somewhere down the road remains, I suspect, a genuine possibility.
The Role of Urea Synthesis in the Removal of Metabolic Bicarbonate and the Regulation of Blood pH

Publisher Summary The rates of reactions, the conformations of macromolecules, the interactions among macromolecules and between macromolecules and ligands of low molecular weight, and virtually everything that exist or occur in a living cell are affected by pH. The maintenance of intracellular pH within a reasonably narrow range should be among the most important and difficult regulatory necessities in living organisms. The problem is particularly acute in microorganisms, with their very large surface/mass ratios. In multicellular animals, the regulation of pH has been generalized and in some sense simplified by transferring it from the individual cells to systemic control systems that stabilize the pH of blood and extracellular fluid. The cells of mammals, for example, have become so dependent on this stabilization of the pH of their surroundings that an increase or decrease of 0.5 pH unit seriously threatens the life of the organism. One of the most important biological advantages of the development of a closed circulation by metazoans is that individual cells are freed from the necessity to produce the machinery needed for the stabilization of pH, osmolarity, and ionic strength against wide external fluctuations and the need to expend large amounts of ATP to effect this stabilization.
Assigning Meaning to Sounds — Semiotics in the Context of Product-Sound Design

Sound design constructs audibility of the world. Sounds carry information about the world. When listening to sounds, communication takes place. These are well-known facts for speech sounds, but it is also true for other types of sounds such as music or product sounds. In principle, each acoustic event can be perceived as a sign carrier through which information about the world is communicated. In its ultimate sense, sound designers are engineers of communication. To be successful, they have to take design decisions on the basis of how listeners perceive sounds and of what kind of communication takes place during this event. Suitable sound design requires a special view on acoustic/auditory communication. Among other sciences, semiotics deals with this field.
The Social Experiences of Neighborhood Density and Apartment Density (or Crowding) in Queens, New York City

“In the rich literature on the city we look in vain for a theory of urbanism presenting in a systematic fashion the available knowledge concerning the city as a social entity.” (31, p. 8), For three very different reasons this statement of Louis Wirth may be as true today as it was when he wrote it in 1938. One likely reason why this is the case reflects the highly political nature of urban studies, on which Robert Merton remarked in 1948 (22, p. 164): Yet so deep has been the concern of social movements for housing reform that they have sought to establish a ‘case’ for adequate housing by citing often defective actuarial inquiries…, rather than by directly affirming an institutional right to decent housing in precisely the same sense that education was defined as such a right with the emergence of public education.2
Studies on the mechanism of action of danazol and gestrinone (R2323) in the rat: evidence for a masked estrogen component*

Abstract The effects of androgen and estrogen receptor antagonists on the action of danazol and gestrinone (R2323) were investigated. The tropic effect of danazol and gestrinone on sex accessory tissues of castrated, immature male rats was inhibited by the antiandrogen ftutamide, whereas the uterotropic action of these steroids in immature female and adult ovariectomized rats was not inhibited by ftutamide. In contrast, the uterotropic effect of danazol was reduced by the antiestrogen, LY156758. The estrogen-sensitive endpoints, vaginal keratinization and uterine progesterone receptor concentration, were enhanced by treatment with a combination of ftutamide and either danazol or gestrinone. These data indicate that danazol and gestrinone have estrogenic activity that is masked by the androgenic component of these drugs.
Probability, Representations, and Coordinates on Lie Groups

This work, presenting techniques in the area of representation theory and special functions, is dedicated to Prof. L. Biedenharn on the occasion of his 70th birthday. I would like to express here my appreciation for his willingness to listen to ideas of those new to the field, like myself (in the early 80’s and since), and for his encouragement. His work in the area has been of keen interest to me, an interest which increases as I learn more and more about group representations.
A Real-Time QRS Detection System With PR/RT Interval and ST Segment Measurements for Wearable ECG Sensors Using Parallel Delta Modulators

This paper presents a real-time electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring system for wearable devices. The system is based on the proposed parallel delta modulator architecture with local maximum point and local minimum point algorithms to detect QRS and PT waves. Therefore, using the proposed system and algorithm, real-time PR and RT intervals, and ST segment measurements can be achieved in long-term wearable ECG recording. The algorithm is tested with the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database for QRS complex detection and with the QT Database for the P and T wave detections. The simulation result shows that the algorithm achieves above 99%, 91%, and 98% accuracy in the QRS complex, P wave, and T wave detections, respectively. Experimental results are presented from the system prototype, in which the parallel delta modulator circuits are fabricated in IBM 0.13 $\mu \text{m}$ standard CMOS technology and the algorithms are implemented in a Xilinx Spartan-6 field programmable gate array (FPGA). The parallel delta modulators consume 720 nW at 1 kHz sampling rate with $\pm$ 0.6 V power supply. The proposed system has the potential to be applied in future long-term wearable ECG recording devices.
Comparison of Joint Work During Load Absorption Between Weightlifting Derivatives.

ABSTRACT Suchomel, TJ, Giordanelli, MD, Geiser, CF, and Kipp, K. Comparison of joint work during load absorption between weightlifting derivatives. J Strength Cond Res 35(2S): S127-S135, 2021-This study examined the lower-extremity joint-level load absorption characteristics of the hang power clean (HPC) and jump shrug (JS). Eleven Division I male lacrosse players were fitted with 3-dimensional reflective markers and performed 3 repetitions each of the HPC and JS at 30, 50, and 70% of their 1 repetition maximum (1RM) HPC while standing on force plates. Load absorption joint work and duration at the hip, knee, and ankle joints were compared using 3-way repeated-measures mixed analyses of variance. Cohen's d effect sizes were used to provide a measure of practical significance. The JS was characterized by greater load absorption joint work compared with the HPC performed at the hip (p < 0.001, d = 0.84), knee (p < 0.001, d = 1.85), and ankle joints (p < 0.001, d = 1.49). In addition, greater joint work was performed during the JS compared with the HPC performed at 30% (p < 0.001, d = 0.89), 50% (p < 0.001, d = 0.74), and 70% 1RM HPC (p < 0.001, d = 0.66). The JS had a longer loading duration compared with the HPC at the hip (p < 0.001, d = 0.94), knee (p = 0.001, d = 0.89), and ankle joints (p < 0.001, d = 0.99). In addition, the JS had a longer loading duration compared with the HPC performed at 30% (p < 0.001, d = 0.83), 50% (p < 0.001, d = 0.79), and 70% 1RM HPC (p < 0.001, d = 0.85). The JS required greater hip, knee, and ankle joint work on landing compared with the load absorption phase of the HPC, regardless of load. The HPC and JS possess unique load absorption characteristics; however, both exercises should be implemented based on the goals of each training phase.
Answer to December 2016 Photo Quiz.

Answer: A noctuid caterpillar. Due to the presence of the worm-like organism in the vomitus, the child's mother was concerned about a parasitic helminth infection; however, the organism was subsequently identified as a noctuid caterpillar (larva) ([2][1]). The overall morphology and size, together
Exploiting Internal Parallelism for Address Translation in Solid-State Drives

Solid-state Drives (SSDs) have changed the landscape of storage systems and present a promising storage solution for data-intensive applications due to their low latency, high bandwidth, and low power consumption compared to traditional hard disk drives. SSDs achieve these desirable characteristics using internal parallelism—parallel access to multiple internal flash memory chips—and a Flash Translation Layer (FTL) that determines where data are stored on those chips so that they do not wear out prematurely. However, current state-of-the-art cache-based FTLs like the Demand-based Flash Translation Layer (DFTL) do not allow IO schedulers to take full advantage of internal parallelism, because they impose a tight coupling between the logical-to-physical address translation and the data access. To address this limitation, we introduce a new FTL design called Parallel-DFTL that works with the DFTL to decouple address translation operations from data accesses. Parallel-DFTL separates address translation and data access operations into different queues, allowing the SSD to use concurrent flash accesses for both types of operations. We also present a Parallel-LRU cache replacement algorithm to improve the concurrency of address translation operations. To compare Parallel-DFTL against existing FTL approaches, we present a Parallel-DFTL performance model and compare its predictions against those for DFTL and an ideal page-mapping approach. We also implemented the Parallel-DFTL approach in an SSD simulator using real device parameters, and used trace-driven simulation to evaluate Parallel-DFTL’s efficacy. Our evaluation results show that Parallel-DFTL improved the overall performance by up to 32% for the real IO workloads we tested, and by up to two orders of magnitude with synthetic test workloads. We also found that Parallel-DFTL is able to achieve reasonable performance with a very small cache size and that it provides the best benefit for those workloads with large request size or with high write ratio.
Janus v. AFSCME on Mandatory Fees to Public Sector Unions

Public-sector unions—such as those for firefighters and public school teachers who work for state governments—have been authorized by law in several states to compel the payment of service fees from non-members, a practice upheld by a long-standing precedent of the Supreme Court. Recent challenges argue that forced payments are the equivalent of coerced speech, forcing state employees to fund political positions they oppose, in violation of the First Amendment. The Court’s ruling limiting the power of unions will lead to important changes in labor relations as well as in the constitutional law of free speech.
Assessing the Structure and Specificity of Polygenic Scores for Psychiatric Disorders in a Population-based Cohort of Older Adults

Abstract The underlying structure of psychiatric comorbidities has led researchers to investigate whether genetic factors can account for these patterns. Though psychiatric phenotypes are hypothesized to organize into a two-factor structure of internalizing and externalizing domains, few studies have evaluated the structure of psychopathology in older adults, and no studies have evaluated whether genome-wide polygenic scores (PGSs) organize in a similarly hierarchical structure. We used data from 7,157 individuals of European ancestry from the Health and Retirement Study, a large nationally-representative sample of older adults in the United States. Structural equation models utilized validated measures of psychopathology and genome-wide PGSs for multiple psychiatric outcomes. The data were best characterized by a two-factor internalizing-externalizing phenotypic model and a one-factor PGS model. The latent PGS factor (composed of PGSs for neuroticism, Major Depressive Disorder, anxiety disorders, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, and smoking) outperformed every individual PGS in predicting internalizing or externalizing outcomes, suggesting that future studies might construct a single latent PGS factor as a transdiagnostic measure of psychiatric genetic risk. However, neither the individual PGSs, nor the latent PGS factor exhibited specificity in their prediction of phenotypic outcomes, highlighting the tradeoff between polygenic population prediction and the utility of PGSs for clinical use. Several interpretations of the current results are provided: genetic risk for psychiatric disorders is transdiagnostic, GWAS-derived PGSs fail to capture genetic variation associated with disease specificity (e.g., rare variants), and blunt phenotypic measurement in GWAS precludes our ability to evaluate the structure and specificity of genetic contributions to psychiatric disorders.