cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing preoperative dating and postoperative dating for second-trimester surgical abortions.

Abstract Objectives To assess relationships between preoperative and postoperative dating of second-trimester surgical abortion. Study design We used a deidentified institutional database to extract demographic, dating and pathology data for surgical abortions performed at 14 to 23-6/7 weeks’ gestational age (GA) from 9/2015 to 5/2017. We excluded women with multiple gestations, fetal anomalies and missing fetal biometric measurements. We assigned preoperative GA by ultrasonography for unknown last menstrual period (LMP) or when discrepancy between sonographic and LMP dating exceeded 7 days ( Results The 469 patients analyzed had a median preoperative GA of 19-4/7 weeks (range 14-0/7 to 23-6/7 weeks). Preoperative dating highly correlated with postoperative dating using both pathology standards (r2=0.95, p Conclusions Preoperative dating and postoperative dating for second-trimester surgical abortion highly correlate. Use of Streeter standards results in more women with a postoperative GA greater than expected compared to Drey standards. Implications Increasing legal gestational age restrictions have placed additional burden on clinicians providing safe abortions, but guidelines on gestational age determination are lacking. Contemporary pathology standards consistent with modern practice and universally accepted by abortion providers and gynecologic pathologists are critical to our goal of safe and legal abortion provision.
Factors associated with employment and work perception in combat-exposed veterans.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was 2-fold: (a) to evaluate whether perception of work ability is associated with employment status in a sample of combat-exposed veterans, and (b) to determine whether the same sets of variables that are associated with employment status are also associated with perception of work ability. Research Method/Design: In this cross-sectional study, veterans (N = 83) underwent a neuropsychological assessment and completed questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, combat-related experiences, and psychiatric and neurobehavioral/health-related symptoms. Primary outcomes of interest were employment status (unemployed vs. employed) and veterans' perception of whether their ability to work has declined due to an ongoing condition (yes vs. no). RESULTS A chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between perception of work ability and employment status. Additionally, psychiatric and neurobehavioral/health-related symptoms were associated with employment status and perception of work ability, whereas demographic characteristics (i.e., service-connected disability rating) and combat-related experiences (i.e., mTBI history) were only associated with perception of work ability. Objective cognitive functioning was not associated with employment status or perception of work ability. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS Although preliminary, results suggest that perception of work ability is an important factor to consider when evaluating employment-related outcomes in veterans. Moreover, results indicate that while there is some overlap among the variables associated with employment status and perception of work ability, additional variables are linked with perception of work ability. Taken together, these findings suggest that perception of one's ability to work and factors that influence it may be particularly important treatment targets in the veteran population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Chapter 7 – Medical Surveillance

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on medical surveillance of personnel that became an intrinsic activity in any modern workplace. Various interrelated factors are responsible, including extensive public awareness of health and safety risks, which is engendered by the explosion of telecommunication technology, increased exposure of corporations, corporate executives, and stockholders to potential liability with respect to the exposure of employees and the general public to the workplace chemicals, continually expansive regulatory requirements regarding employee health at all levels of government, rapid development of a global economy in which the protection of human health is rapidly becoming a basic precept of highly competitive marketing ploys, trade union concerns for the health and well-being of members, and corporate insurance underwriters. While the nature and extent of medical surveillance in the workplace are variable with legal jurisdiction and type of industry, the broad dimensions of contemporary workplace medical surveillance are clearly established and pertain directly to any medical surveillance program established for emergency responders.
Theoretical justification for distal foot power equation.

Abstract The distal foot power equation is a simple yet powerful tool for estimating the power dissipation or generation within the foot even while modeling it as a rigid body. It was introduced over two decades ago, but has seen a resurgence of use in recent years. Nevertheless, the theoretical justification for this formula has thus far been limited. It is difficult to properly use any equation and interpret the results from analyses using it without a solid understanding of how it is derived as well as its underlying assumptions. In this communication, a thorough derivation of the distal foot power equation is provided first for the case where the foot is interacting with a rigid ground without sliding and then second generalized for situations when the foot may slide relative to a deformable ground surface. For the first case, the derivation makes clear that distal foot power represents the power due to the deviation of the foot from a rigid body state for the portion of the foot between its mass center (or other point of reference) and the center of pressure. For the second case, distal foot power represents not only the internal deformation power of the foot, but also the power due to sliding of the foot on the ground and the power due to deformation of the ground near the point of contact.
Feasibility of fecal microbiota transplantation via oral gavage to safely alter gut microbiome composition in marmosets.

Disruption of microbial communities within human hosts has been associated with infection, obesity, cognitive decline, cancer risk and frailty, suggesting that microbiome-targeted therapies may be an option for improving healthspan and lifespan. The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility of delivering fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) to marmosets via oral gavage and to evaluate if alteration of the gut microbiome post-FMT could be achieved. This was a prospective study of marmosets housed at the Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies in San Antonio, Texas. Eligible animals included healthy young adult males (age 2-5 years) with no recent medication use. Stool from two donors was combined and administered in 0.5 ml doses to five young recipients once weekly for 3 weeks. Safety outcomes and alterations in the gut microbiome composition via 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing were compared at baseline and monthly up to 6 months post-FMT. Overall, significant differences in the percent relative abundance was seen in FMT recipients at the phylum and family levels from baseline to 1 month and baseline to 6 months post-FMT. In permutational multivariate analysis of variance analyses, treatment status (donor vs. recipient) (p = .056) and time course (p = .019) predicted β diversity (p = .056). The FMT recipients did not experience any negative health outcomes over the course of the treatment. FMT via oral gavage was safe to administer to young adult marmosets. The marmoset microbiome may be altered by FMT; however, progressive changes in the microbiome are strongly driven by the host and its baseline microbiome composition.
Permethrin Resistance in Aedes aegypti Affects Aspects of Vectorial Capacity

Aedes aegypti, as one of the vectors transmitting several arboviruses, is the main target in mosquito control programs. Permethrin is used to control mosquitoes and Aedes aegypti get exposed due to its overuse and are now resistant. The increasing percentage of permethrin resistant Aedes aegypti has become an important issue around the world and the potential influence on vectorial capacity needs to be studied. Here we selected a permethrin resistant (p-s) Aedes aegypti population from a wild Florida population and confirmed the resistance ratio to its parental population. We used allele-specific PCR genotyping of the V1016I and F1534C sites in the sodium channel gene to map mutations responsible for the resistance. Two important factors, survival rate and vector competence, that impact vectorial capacity were checked. Results indicated the p-s population had 20 times more resistance to permethrin based on LD50 compared to the parental population. In the genotyping study, the p-s population had more homozygous mutations in both mutant sites of the sodium channel gene. The p-s adults survived longer and had a higher dissemination rate for dengue virus than the parental population. These results suggest that highly permethrin resistant Aedes aegypti populations might affect the vectorial capacity, moreover, resistance increased the survival time and vector competence, which should be of concern in areas where permethrin is applied.
The status of public relations research addressing Latin America: A content analysis of published articles from 1980 to 2020

Abstract This study aims to examine the trends of public relations research on Latin America through a quantitative content analysis of published articles in public relations and other communication journals. Research topics, theoretical frameworks, methodology, and authorship information were analyzed using 109 articles. The results indicate a substantial increase in the number of public relations studies published since 2010. This increase became even more substantial between 2016 and 2020. Although almost half of the authors were based in the United States, the published researchers were based in 27 countries. Implications for ongoing public relations research addressing Latin America are discussed.
Digital holographic polarimeter using dual reference beam interferometry

An off-axis digital holographic imaging polarimeter was developed to estimate the Jones matrices of an object. The Jones vector image of the electric field returned from the object is determined from a single holographic recording using the interference between the dual, nearly orthogonal, reference beams. The technique compensates for phase variations in the optical beam paths between the recorded holograms and relaxes the need to generate orthogonal illumination polarization states. A minimization algorithm was developed to compute an estimation of the Jones matrix image of an object based on a set of measured Jones vector images. A proof-of-concept demonstration was performed to compute an estimated Jones matrix image of a polarimetrically complex object using digital holograms recorded with 6 different illumination polarizations.
A scoping review of economic supports for working parents: The relationship of TANF, child care subsidy, SNAP, and EITC to child maltreatment

Abstract Background Poverty is associated with greater risk for child maltreatment. Understanding the impact of anti-poverty strategies in the United States has been the subject of many research studies, but to date there has been no comprehensive review of research on the relationship of economic supports for working parents to child maltreatment. Objectives Following PRISMA standards, we examine the existing literature on four key economic support programs in the United States and their relation to child maltreatment: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), child care subsidies, and Earned Income Tax Credit. Sources of evidence We review studies published between 1996 and 2020 through searches of Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and JSTOR. We used Google Scholar to conduct backward and forward searches of citations. Results We find evidence that these four programs may provide some preventive benefits against child maltreatment, although the limited evidence on SNAP is unclear. The overall take-up of benefits ranges considerably across the four programs, hindering their potential beneficial impacts. Conclusions Investments in economic supports for parents may significantly reduce child maltreatment.
Performance and Accuracy Tradeoffs for Training Graph Neural Networks on ReRAM-Based Architectures

Graph neural network (GNN) is a variant of deep neural networks (DNNs) operating on graphs. However, GNNs are more complex compared with DNNs as they simultaneously exhibit attributes of both DNN and graph computations. In this work, we propose a ReRAM-based 3-D manycore processing-in-memory architecture called ReMaGN, tailored for on-chip training of GNNs. ReMaGN implements GNN training using reduced-precision representation to make the computation faster and reduce the load on the communication backbone. However, reduced precision can potentially compromise the accuracy of training. Hence, we undertake a study of performance and accuracy tradeoffs in such architectures. We demonstrate that ReMaGN outperforms conventional GPUs by up to $9.5\times $ (on average $7.1\times $ ) in terms of execution time, while being up to $42\times $ (on average $33.5\times $ ) more energy efficient without sacrificing accuracy.
CEO overconfidence and the adjustment speed of leverage and cash: evidence on cash is not the same as negative debt

Overconfident CEOs speed up (slow down) adjusting firm leverage if it is above (below) target leverage. In addition, overconfident CEOs speed up (slow down) adjusting firm cash holdings if it is below (above) the optimal balance. Our results imply overconfident CEOs are associated with high cash holdings and low leverage. Additional tests suggest that the results do not imply cash and (negative) debt are substitutable. We also find overconfident CEOs sometimes reduce firm leverage unexpectedly. The observation is consistent with the view that overconfident CEOs are strong-willed individuals who dislike being monitored. Thus, besides the tendency to overestimate their ability and underestimate risk, overconfident CEOs are affected by additional aspects of their behavioral traits in decision making.
SU-D-BRD-07: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Statistical Process Control Methods to Detect Systematic Errors For Routine Electron Energy Verification

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of statistical process control methods to detect systematic errors when using a two dimensional (2D) detector array for routine electron beam energy verification. Methods: Electron beam energy constancy was measured using an aluminum wedge and a 2D diode array on four linear accelerators. Process control limits were established. Measurements were recorded in control charts and compared with both calculated process control limits and TG-142 recommended specification limits. The data was tested for normality, process capability and process acceptability. Additional measurements were recorded while systematic errors were intentionally introduced. Systematic errors included shifts in the alignment of the wedge, incorrect orientation of the wedge, and incorrect array calibration. Results: Control limits calculated for each beam were smaller than the recommended specification limits. Process capability and process acceptability ratios were greater than one in all cases. All data was normally distributed. Shifts in the alignment of the wedge were most apparent for low energies. The smallest shift (0.5 mm) was detectable using process control limits in some cases, while the largest shift (2 mm) was detectable using specification limits in only one case. The wedge orientation tested did not affect the measurements as this did not affectmore » the thickness of aluminum over the detectors of interest. Array calibration dependence varied with energy and selected array calibration. 6 MeV was the least sensitive to array calibration selection while 16 MeV was the most sensitive. Conclusion: Statistical process control methods demonstrated that the data distribution was normally distributed, the process was capable of meeting specifications, and that the process was centered within the specification limits. Though not all systematic errors were distinguishable from random errors, process control limits increased the ability to detect systematic errors using routine measurement of electron beam energy constancy.« less
Brothers are Better: The Effect of Sibling Sex Composition on Women's Schooling, Health, Earnings, and Labor Supply

Using a twin research design that exploits exogenous gender variation in dizygotic twins, this paper credibly identifies the effect of sibling sex composition on schooling, earnings, health, and labor supply. Women born with a male co-twin have higher earnings, schooling, labor force participation, and better health than women born with a female co-twin. Men born with a female co-twin, on the other hand, have higher rates of ever smoking but differences on all other outcomes are statistically indistinguishable from zero. Family characteristics provide a limited explanation of the sibling sex composition effect.
Family Structure and Child Health Outcomes in the United States

We use categorical and logistic regression models to investigate the extent that family structure affects children’s health outcomes at age five (i.e., child’s type of health insurance coverage, the use of a routine medical doctor, and report of being in excellent health) using a sample of 4,898 children from the "Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study." We find that children with married biological parents are most likely to have private health insurance compared with each of three other relationship statuses. With each additional child in the home, a child is less likely to have private insurance compared with no insurance and Medicaid insurance. Children with cohabiting biological parents are less likely to have a routine doctor compared with children of married biological parents, yet having additional children in the household is not associated with having a routine doctor. Children with biological parents who are not romantically involved and those with additional children in the household are less likely to be in excellent health, all else being equal.
An Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Choice of Coastal Recreational Activities

A visitor's decision to use a particular recreational site is influenced by the individual's taste as well as the characteristics of the site. For this reason, improved knowledge of the visitors' interests and factors influencing their choices are vital for both planning and policy formulations in coastal development. This study examines visitor characteristics and desired site-specific characteristics in order to determine the factors affecting use of the Louisiana coast for specific recreational purposes. We use a multinomial logit model and internet survey data to evaluate the factors affecting individuals' decisions to visit coastal Louisiana for a specific use. Results suggest that the major variables affecting the choice of coastal recreational activities include environmental quality of the site, income, and travel time.
A Flory-Stockmayer analysis of silica sol-gel polymerization

Flory-Stockmayer theory can quantitatively reproduce the molecular size distributions of acyclic species observed during the early stages of silica sol-gel polymerization under acidic and basic conditions. Under acidic conditions, a good description is obtained only if predominantly linear polymerization is assumed. Under basic conditions, however, experimental size distributions are best described by a branched polymerization process.
Demonstration of Polymer-based Directional Coupler Modulator with High Linearity

A linearized polymer-based directional coupler modulator is presented. The linearity was obtained by tailoring the coupling coefficient using photobleaching. A two-tone test of the device demonstrated an enhancement in intermodulation distortion compared to a Mach-Zehnder modulator.
Individualized single walled carbon nanotubes from bulk material using 96% sulfuric acid as solvent

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been functionalized in a mixture of 96% sulfuric acid and ammonium persulfate, using sodium nitrite to produce intermediate diazonium salts from substituted anilines. These afford unbundled functionalized SWNTs from bulk bundled SWNTs. This new process eliminates the need for corrosive and more expensive oleum solvent, as described in prior work, and therefore also reduces the formation of sulfonated products.
Looking through the lenses of science literacy and cultural diversity: learning from Helena’s mistake

Maria Andree focuses on an immigrant student whose error in a laboratory activity leads to a novel, colorful outcome that she excitedly shares with peers. After engaging in class activities for a few weeks she returns to her earlier dislike of science, saying: "I hate science, particularly Chemistry." The classroom activity system focused on reproduction of school knowledge did not expand to accommodate Helena's “new activity system with an object of learning science.” This essay suggests teachers be prepared to teach diverse students in ways supporting multiple ways to engage in science. This becomes possible when teachers view their classrooms as dynamic, participatory activity systems that support content mastery as contributing to but not being identical to science identity and science literacy.
Antibody-catalyzed porphyrin metallation

An antibody elicited to a distorted N-methyl porphyrin catalyzed metal ion chelation by the planar porphyrin. At fixed Zn2+ and Cu2+ concentrations, the antibody-catalyzed reaction showed saturation kinetics with respect to the substrate mesoporphyrin IX (2) and was inhibited by the hapten, N-methylmesoporphyrin IX (1). The turnover number of 80 hour-1 for antibody-catalyzed metallation of 2 with Zn2+ compares with an estimated value of 800 hour-1 for ferrochelatase. The antibody also catalyzed the insertion of Co2+ and Mn2+ into 2, but it did not catalyze the metallation of protoporphyrin IX (3) or deuteroporphyrin IX (4). The antibody has high affinity for several metalloporphyrins, suggesting an approach to developing antibody-heme catalysts for redox or electron transfer reactions.
Adaptive Myogenesis under Hypoxia

Previous studies have indicated that myoblasts can differentiate and repair muscle injury after an ischemic insult. However, it is unclear how hypoxia or glucose deprivation in the ischemic microenvironment affects myoblast differentiation. We have found that myogenesis can adapt to hypoxic conditions. This adaptive mechanism is accompanied by initial inhibition of the myoD, E2A, and myogenin genes followed by resumption of their expression in an oxygen-dependent manner. The regulation of myoD transcription by hypoxia is correlated with transient deacetylation of histones associated with the myoD promoter. It is noteworthy that, unlike the differentiation of other cell types such as preadipocytes or chondroblasts, the effect of hypoxia on myogenesis is independent of HIF-1, a ubiquitous regulator of transcription under hypoxia. While myogenesis can also adapt to glucose deprivation, the combination of severe hypoxia and glucose deprivation found in an ischemic environment results in pronounced loss of myoblasts. Our studies indicate that the ischemic muscle can be repaired via the adaptive differentiation of myogenic precursors, which depends on the levels of oxygen and glucose in the ischemic microenvironment.
Environmental quality, its measurement and control

Waller R. A. (1970) Environmental quality, its measurement and control, Reg. Studies 4, 177–191. Before it can be controlled, environmental quality needs to be measured. This involves finding a measure of the physical environment which correlates with people's enjoyment of it. It also involves evaluating the worth of the environment in monetary terms in order to decide how much to spend. The paper summarizes techniques of evaluation and puts forward a method by which many diverse aspects of the environment can be related to a common scale which in turn can have a monetary value attached to it. The implications of this philosophy are explored in the context of political decisions relating to planning problems and using traffic noise as an example demonstrates how cost-benefit techniques can be applied to environmental questions.
Improving the tensile properties of carbon fiber reinforced cement by ozone treatment of the fiber

The tensile strength, modulus and ductility of carbon fiber reinforced cement paste were increased by ozone treatment of the fibers prior to using the fibers. Increases were observed whether or not the paste contained methylcellulose/silica fume/latex. The ozone treatment involved exposure to O3 gas (0.3 vol.%, in air) for 10 min at 160 °C.
Shade tolerance and its effect on the segregation of two species of Louisiana iris and their hybrids.

In this study, biomass and its reduction by shade as well as clonal growth have been used as partial indicators of fitness of the taxa. It should be noted that fitness is particularly difficult to estimate in long-lived, clonal perennials such as irises
Decisional Participation and Sources of Job Satisfaction: A Study of Manufacturing Personnel

The article provides information on a study by J. A. Alutto and J. A. Belasco, which examined the effectiveness of participation decision making. A small western New York cutting tool manufacturing...
Characterization and reconstitution of a cell free system for NAD(+)-dependent deoxyhypusine formation on the 18 kDa eIF-4D precursor.

Abstract Deoxyhypusine formation on the 18kDa eIF-4D precursor is due to a covalent linkage between a lysine residue of the protein and the aminobutyl moiety derived from spermidine. The deoxyhypusine is then hydroxylated to form hypusine. This post-translational modification represents one of the most specific spermidine-dependent biochemical events in eukaryotic cells. Deoxyhypusine formation can be performed in vitro at pH 9.5 and is greatly stimulated by NAD+. Using the labeling of the 18 kDa protein by [3H]spermidine as an assay for deoxyhypusine formation, we found that (i) significant deoxyhypusine formation can be demonstrated in vitro at pH 7.2 only if NAD+ is present, (ii) deoxyhypusine formation was sensitive to buffer composition; buffers made of basic amino acids and Tris were inhibitory, (iii) sulfhydryl reagents and metal ions such as Cu2+ and Fe3+ were potent inhibitors of deoxyhypusine formation and (iv) the 18 kDa protein subsrate was heat-stable. The in vitro activity of deoxyhypusine formation, which depends on the presence of both enzyme and protein substrate, can be separated from the product, eIF-4D, by a one-step Cibacron blue dye affinity column. Taking advantage of this finding, we have developed a simple procedure, based on the use of Cibacron blue dye, for partially purifying both the deoxyhypusine-forming enzyme and the 18 kDa protein substrate. When the partially purified enzyme and protein substrate were mixed in the presence of 1 mM NAD+ and [3H]spermidine, the 18 kDa protein was radiolabeled, no labeling could be detected if any one component was absent. Using partially purified enzyme, we have also determined the half-life of the protein substrate in α-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO)-treated NB-15 cells and found it to be longer than 10 h.
Generation of ordinary mode electromagnetic radiation near the upper hybrid frequency in the magnetosphere

It is shown by means of plasma numerical simulations that long-wavelength ordinary mode electromagnetic radiation can be generated from short-wavelength electrostatic waves near the upper hybrid resonance frequency in an inhomogeneous plasma. A possible relation of this process to nonthermal continuum radiation in the magnetosphere is discussed.
Enhancement in extracellular serotonin levels by 5-hydroxytryptophan loading after administration of WAY 100635 and fluoxetine.

It has been demonstrated that synthesis of serotonin (5-HT) is dependent on the availability of precursor, as well as the activity of 5-HT neurons. In the present series of experiments, we examined the effects of precursor (5-HTP) loading on extracellular hypothalamic 5-HT after administration of fluoxetine alone or in combination with WAY 100635, a selective 5-HT1A antagonist. In the first experiment, fluoxetine alone (10 mg/kg i.p.) caused 5-HT levels to significantly increase to 150% of basal levels. Subsequent administration of 5-HTP at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg i.p. caused 5-HT levels to further increase to a maximum value of 254%, 405%, and 618%, respectively. In the second experiment, either vehicle or WAY 100635 (1 mg/kg/hour s.c.) was infused, then fluoxetine (10 mg/kg i.p.) and 5-HTP (10 mg/kg i.p.) were administered. By itself, WAY 100635 led to a slight but significant increase in hypothalamic 5-HT levels one hour after the start of administration (130% of basal levels). In the WAY 100635-treated group, fluoxetine caused an increase to 240% of basal levels after one hour, which rose to 290% of basal levels after two hours. Subsequent administration of 5-HTP further increased 5-HT levels to 580% of basal levels after one hour. In the vehicle-treated group, fluoxetine caused an increase of 160% of basal levels which was stable over two hours, and subsequent administration of 5-HTP led to a slight increase in 5-HT levels of 220% after one hour. These results suggest that combining blockade of 5-HT1A autoreceptors with 5-HT uptake inhibition results in a synergistic increase in synthesis and release of 5-HT when precursor is administered.
Giant impacts on a primitive Uranus

Simulations of collisions are conducted between a model of the primitive Uranus and 1-3 earth-mass impactors, using smooth-particle hydrodynamics. A series of collisions was simulated for each impactor while varying the total angular momentum of the system. Most of the simulation runs left ices in orbit; a subset of the runs also left rock or iron (from the impactor). It is concluded on the basis of these results that there is a wide range of giant impacts which could have produced the current period and inclination of the spin axis relative to the plane of the ecliptic. A subset of these could have deposited the material in orbit from which the regular satellites of Uranus were assembled.
Domain Engineering for Enhanced Ferroelectric Properties of Epitaxial (001) BiFeO Thin Films

Adv. Mater. 2009, 21, 817–823 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag Gm Multiferroic BiFeO3 has attracted great interest due to its promising application tomagnetoelectric devices. In addition, the high remanent polarization and piezoelectric response of BiFeO3 thin films, which are comparable to those of conventional Ti-rich lead zirconia titanate, suggested BiFeO3 as a strong candidate for lead-free nonvolatile memories. BiFeO3 has a rhombohedral perovskite structure with pseudocubic lattice parameters ar1⁄4 3.96 A and ar1⁄4 0.68. Due to this low symmetry, (001)-oriented epitaxial BiFeO3 films possess the rhombohedral distortion along one of the four (111) crystallographic directions of the pseudocubic perovskite unit cell. Thus, eight possible polarization (ferroelectric) variants, which correspond to four structural (ferroelastic) domains, may form in the films, leading to complex domain patterns with both {100} and {101} twin boundaries. Such a complex domain structure can deteriorate the ferroelectric response of the system by external electric field, and complicates the examination of the coupling between magnetic and ferroelectric order parameters in BiFeO3. [3]
Unravelling the small airways: structure-function-treatment relationships in asthma and COPD.

The current Thematic Review Series in Respiration is dedicated to the ‘structure-function-treatment’ relationships of the small airways, with particular focus on the obstructive lung diseases of asthma and COPD. The series includes contributions from leading international experts in the field who communicate an engaging and unfolding story, taking us back to the basic sciences we learnt in medical school and through a journey revisiting and integrating respiratory anatomy, pathology, immunology, physiology and pharmacology. In the first article of the series in this issue of Respiration, Hamid [5] introduces us to the pathophysiology of the small airways in asthma and sets the foundation for the relevance of the anatomy and pathology of small airway disease in the clinical presentation of these patients. We are reminded that the inflammatory changes and airway remodelling observed in asthma are present throughout the pulmonary tree and that asthma is a disease of small, as well as, of large airways [5, 6] . Our second contribution, from Saetta and colleagues [7, 8] , discusses the pathophysiological features of COPD, conveying the importance of morphometric abnormalities and their relationships with the physiological manifestations seen in COPD patients. The article highlights the immunopathological pathways through which cigarette smoke can damThe small airways are currently a hot topic in pulmonary medicine, receiving renewed interest and attention regarding their role and involvement in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Historically, this relatively inaccessible region of the lungs has been termed the ‘quiet zone’, and understanding its contribution to the clinical presentation of disease has been challenging not only because the small airways are difficult to assess in clinical practice but also because it has been technically demanding to successfully deliver inhaled therapy to this region. The pioneers who began to ‘unravel’ the significance of this region were Green [1] , whose calculations were applied to the lung anatomical findings of Weibel [2] and, together with the techniques developed to assess small airway resistance by Macklem and Mead [3] , led to the seminal article of Hogg et al. [4] that established the small airways as the major site of airflow limitation in obstructive airway disease. These observations subsequently inspired researchers from many respiratory disciplines to contribute and advance our understanding of the small airways, investigating the relations of anatomical structural abnormalities to the pathology of the underlying airways and identifying physiology and radiological correlates. Published online: June 29, 2012
Clothing as communication in two business-to-business sales settings

Abstract Communications effects or the semiotics of clothing were examined using photographs of a model dressed as a salesman in 7 different outfits. In studies in 2 separate industries, 381 purchasing agents' perceptions of both the salesman and the company he represents were measured. The salesman dressed in 4 more traditional outfits was perceived as being a better salesman, better educated, more ambitious, more conservative, and having greater product knowledge than when wearing less traditional clothing. Similarly he was seen as representing a larger, more ethical company with more products, better credit, higher quality products, and better service. Similarities of perceptions among the 4 traditional outfits suggest that while the total or gestalt of dress strongly influences evaluations, differences in individual clothing items have far less impact.
Elliptical varied line-space (EVLS) gratings

Imaging spectroscopy at wavelengths below 2000 a offers an especially powerful method for studying many extended high-temperature astronomical objects, like the Sun and its outer layers. But the technology to make such measurements is also especially challenging, because of the poor reflectance of all standard materials at these wavelengths, and because the observation must be made from above the absorbing effects of the Earth's atmosphere. To solve these problems, single-reflection stigmatic spectrographs for XUV wavelengths have bee flown on several space missions based on designs with toroidal uniform line-space (TULS) or spherical varied line-space (SVLS) gratings that operate at near normal-incidence. More recently, three solar EUV/UV instruments have been selected that use toroidal varied line-space (TVLS) gratings; these are SUMI and RAISE, both sounding rocket payloads, and NEXUS, a SMEX satellite-mission. The next logical extension to such designs is the use of elliptical surfaces for varied line-space (EVLS) rulings. In fact, EVLS designs are found to provide superior imaging even at very large spectrograph magnifications and beam-speeds, permitting extremely high-quality performance in remarkably compact instrument packages. In some cases, such designs may be optimized even further by using a hyperbolic surface for the feeding telescope. The optical characteristics of two solar EUV spectrometers based on these concepts are described: EUS and EUI, both being developed as possible instruments for ESA's Solar Orbiter mission by consortia led by RAL and by MSSL, respectively.
Estimation of channel performance with fast reassignment and equalization assisted by supercontinuum sources

Fluctuations of optical and electronic noise, as well as other non-linear phenomena, affects the performance of optical channels in fiber-optic communication networks. Estimating and tracking channel performance at the receiver in real-time is a critical function to the integrity of communications service. This is realized when the receiver is equipped with mechanisms that perform in-service, in-real time and at low cost. In addition, another mechanism must be employed that reassigns non-performing channels to others for uninterrupted service. In this paper, we evaluate the noise and performance degrading mechanisms in optical links; we describe a method for in-service performance estimation, and performance tracking. In addition, we adopt a supercontinuum source to cost-efficiently generate a comb of twenty optical channels and we simulate it. Finally, we develop a protocol for remedial actions such as multiple-channel equalization and proactive single or multiple switch-to-protection channel.
Energy transport by energetic electrons released during solar flares. II - Current filamentation and plasma heating

Two-dimensional electrostatic particle simulations are performed in order to investigate energy transport associated with the propagation of energetic electrons through a flaring flux tube. Results indicate that as the energetic electrons flow outward, a return current of ambient plasma electrons is drawn inward (to maintain quasi-neutrality) which can be spatially separate from the primary current carried by the energetic electrons. Return current electrons are shown to accumulate on either side of the acceleration region of the energetic electrons, and depletions of ambient plasma electrons develop in the return current regions. Plasma ions accelerate across the field lines to produce current closure or charge neutralization, achieving energies comparable to those of the energetic electrons.
Ca2+ antagonist-insensitive coronary smooth muscle contraction involves activation of ϵ-protein kinase C-dependent pathway

Certain angina and coronary artery disease forms do not respond to Ca2+ channel blockers, and a role for vasoactive eicosanoids such as PGF2α in Ca2+ antagonist-insensitive coronary vasospasm is su...
Age-related decrease of plasma testosterone in SAMP8 mice: Replacement improves age-related impairment of learning and memory

Corticosterone increases with aging but pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone decrease. The marked decrease in hormones that occurs with aging may contribute to the age-related deficit in learning and memory. Administration of these hormones after training was found to improve long-term memory processing in normal young mice. SAMP8 (P8) mice show an age-related loss of learning and memory for a variety of tasks whereas age-matched control mice of the closely related SAMR1 (R1) strain do not. In this study, we found an age-related decrease in serum testosterone levels of 71% between P8 mice 4 and 12 months of age, but only a 26% decrease between R1 mice of the same ages. The difference between the P8 mice was significant (p < 0.01) and the difference between the R1 mice was not. The decrease in testosterone in 12-month-old P8 mice was not accompanied by gross morphological change in the testes. A SC testosterone implant, sufficient to increase plasma testosterone levels to 414 +/- 25 ng/dl, alleviated impaired learning and memory of a foot shock avoidance task in P8 mice. Castration of 4-month-old P8 mice did not produce a deterioration in learning and memory, indicating that low levels of testosterone per se are not responsible for the impairment seen in 12-month-old P8 mice. This suggests that impaired cognitive functioning of the older P8 mice was due to an interaction of aging and reduced testosterone levels.
Rescuing Loading Induced Bone Formation at Senescence

The increasing incidence of osteoporosis worldwide requires anabolic treatments that are safe, effective, and, critically, inexpensive given the prevailing overburdened health care systems. While vigorous skeletal loading is anabolic and holds promise, deficits in mechanotransduction accrued with age markedly diminish the efficacy of readily complied, exercise-based strategies to combat osteoporosis in the elderly. Our approach to explore and counteract these age-related deficits was guided by cellular signaling patterns across hierarchical scales and by the insight that cell responses initiated during transient, rare events hold potential to exert high-fidelity control over temporally and spatially distant tissue adaptation. Here, we present an agent-based model of real-time Ca2+/NFAT signaling amongst bone cells that fully described periosteal bone formation induced by a wide variety of loading stimuli in young and aged animals. The model predicted age-related pathway alterations underlying the diminished bone formation at senescence, and hence identified critical deficits that were promising targets for therapy. Based upon model predictions, we implemented an in vivo intervention and show for the first time that supplementing mechanical stimuli with low-dose Cyclosporin A can completely rescue loading induced bone formation in the senescent skeleton. These pre-clinical data provide the rationale to consider this approved pharmaceutical alongside mild physical exercise as an inexpensive, yet potent therapy to augment bone mass in the elderly. Our analyses suggested that real-time cellular signaling strongly influences downstream bone adaptation to mechanical stimuli, and quantification of these otherwise inaccessible, transient events in silico yielded a novel intervention with clinical potential.
Radar detection of accreted ice over Lake Vostok, Antarctica

Abstract Airborne radar data collected over Lake Vostok, East Antarctica, show a reflection close to the Vostok ice core below the depth of the meteoric-accreted ice boundary (MAIB) and near the boundary between impurity-rich (1) and impurity-poor (2) accreted ice (A12B). The spatial pattern of detection of this reflection is aligned with ice flow over the southern half of the lake. Ice-core data from the accreted ice show large variations in the number density of inclusions, soluble chloride-ion concentration ([Cl − ]), charge-balance-derived acidity ([H + ] cb ) and crystal-orientation fabric. Here we investigate the existing hypothesis that this reflection is due to the MAIB and seek possible reflection causes that explain the radar-derived reflectivity (− 51 ± 8 dB). The likely maximum reflectivity due to an insoluble mineral-inclusion contrast is − 125 dB. If none of the Cl − or H + ions are trapped within inclusions, then ice-conductivity models predict a reflectivity of − 50 dB near the MAIB and − 58 dB near the A12B, both primarily due to large [H + ] cb changes. If some of those ions are trapped within inclusions, then those values are smaller. Fabric contrasts at either boundary can produce significant reflectivities (− 62 dB). These results indicate that the mineral-inclusion contrast near the MAIB does not cause the observed reflection. Because of uncertainty in the in situ location of the soluble impurities, and because impurity-rich accreted ice 1 is believed to only originate in the small bay in the southwestern corner of the lake yet the reflection is observed over a much wider area, we argue that a fabric contrast at the A12B is the probable reflection cause. Both predicted spatial variations in accretion rates near the upstream shoreline, or lower ice temperatures along flowbands that originate at bedrock ridges near the upstream shoreline, may explain why the reflection is not detected everywhere that accretion is predicted.
Alphavirus vectors and vaccination.

Alphaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses that have a broad host range and therefore are capable of replicating in many vertebrate and invertebrate cells. The single-stranded alphavirus genome is divided into two ORFs. The first ORF encodes the nonstructural proteins that are translated upon entry of the virus into the cytoplasm and are responsible for transcription and replication of viral RNA. The second ORF is under the control of a subgenomic promoter and normally encodes the structural proteins, which are responsible for encapsidation of viral RNA and final assembly into enveloped particles. Expression vectors have been engineered from at least three alphaviruses in which the structural protein gene region has been replaced by heterologous genes and have been shown to express high levels of the heterologous protein in cultured cells. These RNA vectors, known as replicons, are capable of replicating on their own but are not packaged into virus-like particles unless the structural proteins are provided in trans. Thus, replicons are single cycle vectors incapable of spreading from infected to noninfected cells. Because of these features, alphavirus replicon vectors are being developed as a platform vaccine technology for numerous viral, bacterial, protozoan and tumour antigens where they have been shown to be efficient inducers of both humoral and T cell responses. In addition, as the alphavirus structural proteins are not expressed in vaccine recipients, antivector immune responses are generally minimal, allowing for multiple effective immunisations of the same individual.