cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food and beverage purchases in corner stores, gas-marts, pharmacies and dollar stores.

Objective Little is known about customer purchases of foods and beverages from small and non-traditional food retailers (i.e. corner stores, gas-marts, dollar stores and pharmacies). The present study aimed to: (i) describe customer characteristics, shopping frequency and reasons for shopping at small and non-traditional food retailers; and (ii) describe food/beverage purchases and their nutritional quality, including differences across store type. Design Data were collected through customer intercept interviews. Nutritional quality of food/beverage purchases was analysed; a Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score for purchases was created by aggregating participant purchases at each store. Setting Small and non-traditional food stores that were not WIC-authorized in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, USA. Subjects Customers ( n 661) from 105 food retailers. Results Among participants, 29 % shopped at the store at least once daily; an additional 44 % shopped there at least once weekly. Most participants (74 %) cited convenient location as the primary draw to the store. Customers purchased a median of 2262 kJ (540 kcal), which varied by store type ( P =0·04). The amount of added sugar far surpassed national dietary recommendations. At dollar stores, participants purchased a median of 5302 kJ (1266 kcal) for a median value of $US 2·89. Sugar-sweetened beverages were the most common purchase. The mean HEI-2010 score across all stores was 36·4. Conclusions Small and non-traditional food stores contribute to the urban food environment. Given the poor nutritional quality of purchases, findings support the need for interventions that address customer decision making in these stores.
Synthesis support for design partitioning

As designs become larger and larger it becomes necessary to partition the design, not only to meet synthesis tool restrictions, but also to perform parallel design processing by multiple engineers and/or on multiple machines. Partitioning requires the assignment of timing and loading budgets across module boundaries. This is an inefficient and time-consuming task if performed by hand. Logic synthesis tools can utilize techniques of constraint propagation combined with hierarchical controls to perform this task automatically. This approach will result in improved results and shorter design times.
Three-Dimensional Printing of Photoresponsive Biomaterials for Control of Bacterial Microenvironments.

Advances in microscopic three-dimensional (μ3D) printing provide a means to microfabricate an almost limitless range of arbitrary geometries, offering new opportunities to rapidly prototype complex architectures for microfluidic and cellular applications. Such 3D lithographic capabilities present a tantalizing prospect for engineering micromechanical components, for example, pumps and valves, for cellular environments composed of smart materials whose size, shape, permeability, stiffness, and other attributes might be modified in real time to precisely manipulate ultralow-volume samples. Unfortunately, most materials produced using μ3D printing are synthetic polymers that are inert to biologically tolerated chemical and light-based triggers and provide low compatibility as materials for cell culture and encapsulation applications. We previously demonstrated feasibility for μ3D printing environmentally sensitive, microstructured protein hydrogels that undergo volume changes in response to pH, ionic strengt...
Reproductive Factors and Incidence of Endometrial Cancer in U.S. Black Women

Purpose Previous studies have shown that reproductive history is a strong determinant of endometrial cancer risk among white women. Less is known about how reproductive history affects endometrial cancer risk among black women, whose incidence and mortality differ from white women. We investigated the associations of age at menarche, parity, timing of births, and menopausal age with endometrial cancer in the Black Women’s Health Study, a prospective cohort study.
Computing Manhattan Path-Difference Median Trees: A Practical Local Search Approach

Median tree problems are powerful tools for inferring large-scale phylogenetic trees that hold enormous promise for society at large. Such problems seek a median tree for a given collection of input trees under some problem-specific distance. Here, we introduce a median tree problem under the classic Manhattan path-difference distance. We show that this problem is NP-hard, devise an ILP formulation, and provide an effective local search heuristic that is based on solving a local search problem exactly. Our algorithm for the local search problem improves asymptotically by a factor of $n$n on the best-known (naive) solution, where $n$n is the overall number of taxa in the input trees. Finally, comparative phylogenetic studies using considerably large empirical data and an accuracy analysis for smaller phylogenetic trees reveal the ability of our novel heuristic.
Intracranial Complications of Orbital Cellulitis

Due to the close association of the anterior skull base with the orbit and sinuses, intracranial complications of orbital cellulitis can be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Intracranial involvement can include cavernous sinus thrombosis, epidural abscess, subdural empyema, meningitis, and brain abscess. Long-term sequelae may include visual deficit, neurological impairment, and seizure. A high clinical suspicion and prompt diagnosis and management are necessary for the optimal prognosis.
Factors associated with supermarket and convenience store closure: a discrete time spatial survival modelling approach

While there is a literature on the distribution of food stores across geographic and social space, much of this research uses cross-sectional data. Analyses attempting to understand whether the availability of stores across neighborhoods is associated with diet and/or health outcomes are limited by a lack of understanding of factors that shape the emergence of new stores and the closure of others. We used quarterly data on supermarket and convenience store locations spanning seven years (2006-2012) and tract-level census data in four US cities: Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; San Francisco, California. A spatial discrete-time survival model was used to identify factors associated with an earlier and/or later closure time of a store. Sales volume was typically the strongest indicator of store survival. We identified heterogeneity in the association between tract-level poverty and racial composition with respect to store survival. Stores in high poverty, non-White tracts were often at a disadvantage in terms of survival length. The observed patterns of store survival varied by some of the same neighborhood sociodemographic factors associated with lifestyle and health outcomes, which could lead to confusion in interpretation in studies of the estimated effects of introduction of food stores into neighborhoods on health.
Correlation of Immunocytochemistry of BRCA1-associated Protein-1 (BAP1) With Other Prognostic Markers in Uveal Melanoma

Purpose Prior studies have shown that nuclear reactivity for BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1) yields prognostic information for paraffin-embedded uveal melanomas. Lacking are immunocytochemical studies of BAP1 on fine needle aspiration biopsies of uveal melanoma that correlate with prognosis or other markers of prognosis. Our purpose was to fill this gap. Design Experimental laboratory study. Methods Fine needle aspiration biopsies were performed prospectively on 113 patients with uveal melanomas, garnering limited subsets of cases for comparison. Agreement between immunocytochemistry for BAP1 nuclear staining vs chromosome 3 ploidy analysis and gene expression profiling was assessed by 2 × 2 contingency table analysis. Results The presence or absence of suppression of nuclear expression of BAP1 was strongly associated (73%, P = .000002) with monosomy and disomy chromosome 3, respectively. BAP1 nuclear expression was also correlated with gene expression profiling. Chromosome 3 ploidy analysis correlated with gene expression profiles. Conclusion When adequate material is obtained, immunocytology using BAP1 is a potentially informative tool for prognostication of uveal melanoma.
Fatty Infiltration of Liver

Hepatic fatty infiltration (metamorphosis or steatosis) is a metabolic complication where excessive neutral fat (triglycerides) accumulates within the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. It is associated with a variety of clinical disorders, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, alcoholic liver disease, malnutrition, total parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, glucocorticoid therapy and hepatotoxin [1–3]. The fatty infiltration is clinically silent in most cases and the liver function test is usually normal. However, mild to moderate hepatomegaly, with vague right upper quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness maybe present and is often associated with abnormal liver chemistry [1,3,4].
Theory on Imaging with Arrays

A single ultrasonic transducer, of the type used in commercial B-scan equipment, has a limited ability to gather information. To accomplish many of the desirable features, such as real-time operation, dynamic focusing over a large depth range and electronic scanning, an array must be used.
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine presently includes nine board certified maternal-fetal specialists. They are: Kimberly K. Leslie, MD (Department Head), Jerome Yankowitz, MD (Division Director), Jennifer R. Niebyl, MD, Asha Rijhsinghani, MD, Janet I. Andrews, MD, Stephen K. Hunter, MD, PhD., Kristi Borowski, MD, Mark Santillan, MD, and Andrea Greiner, MD. Dr. Roger A. Williamson, double boarded in Genetics and Obstetrics, is also a member of the Division. Drs. Yankowitz and Borowski are also board certified in clinical genetics.
Neighbors Engaging in Dialogue: A University-Community Partnership.

The purpose of this case study was to learn more about the emergence and development of the Rogers Community Learning Center over its initial 5 years of operation. The interview, observation, and documental data were viewed through a theoretical lens informed by the work of Paulo Freire, Myles Horton, and Cornel West in order to examine how notions of history, culture, and power affected the collaborative work of the Rogers Center. The findings indicated that the disconnect and distrust that previously described the relationship between St. Benedict University and its adjacent Northeast Neighborhood were mitigated to a degree by the work of the Rogers Center. Although Neighborhood residents expressed gratitude for the many educational and social opportunities present at the Rogers Center, their value for being engaged as equal partners by St. Benedict’s resonated most clearly as the foundational element to their emerging friendship. The article concludes with several suggestions that attempt to assist the continued development of the Rogers Center and also serve as helpful insights for other partnerships that seek similar relationships.
Rethinking the Role of Ethics in Public Affairs Education

In a rapidly changing policymaking environment, it has become increasingly important that students of public affairs be prepared to grapple with the ethical responsibilities they will face in their...
Chemical synthesis of 7-oxygenated 12α-hydroxy steroid derivatives to enable the biochemical characterization of cytochrome P450 8B1, the oxysterol 12α-hydroxylase enzyme implicated in cardiovascular health and obesity.

Abstract Cholic acid is the endogenous 12α-hydroxylated bile acid, which possesses enhanced cholesterol absorption properties compared to its 12-desoxy counterpart, chenodeoxycholic acid. The oxysterol 12α-hydroxylase enzyme is cytochrome P450 8B1 (P450 8B1), which regioselectively and stereoselectively incorporates the 12α-hydroxy group in 7α-hydroxycholest-4-en-3-one, the biosynthetic precursor of cholic acid. Despite the vital role of P450 8B1 activity in cardiovascular health, research studies of other 12α-hydroxy steroid derivatives are rare. A synthetic route to incorporate a C12α-hydroxy group into the C12-methylene (–CH2–) in dehydroepiandrosterone derivatives is disclosed. The incorporation of the C12-oxygen was accomplished through a copper mediated Schonecker oxidation of an imino-pyridine intermediate, introducing the 12β-hydroxy group. The resulting 12β-hydroxy steroid derivative was oxidized to the C12-ketone, which was stereoselectively reduced with lithium tri-sec-butylborohydride to afford the 12α-hydroxy stereochemistry. The C7-position was oxidized to yield the various 7-keto, 7β-hydroxy, and 7α-hydroxy derivatives. Furthermore, 7-ketodehydroepiandrosterone and 12 α-hydroxy-7-ketodehydroepiandrosterone both displayed NMDA receptor antagonistic activities at 10 μM concentrations. These C12α-hydroxy steroids will be used as tools to identify new biochemical properties of the enzymatic products of P450 8B1, the oxysterol 12α-hydroxylase.
Special education use in elementary school by children with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts.

BACKGROUND Children with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (NS OFCs) may require exceptional children's (EC) services for academic delays. We examined EC service use of children with and without NS OFCs in NC in elementary school. METHODS We included 559 children with NS OFCs and 6,822 children without birth defects who had NC educational records. We estimated prevalence ratios, trends in enrollment, and characteristics of eligibility classification using descriptive statistics and logistic regression by cleft subtype and race/ethnicity. We estimated the odds of third grade retention by EC enrollment using logistic regression with inverse probability of treatment weights. RESULTS Children with NS OFCs were 3.02 (95% CI: 2.50, 3.64) times as likely to receive third grade special education (SE) services compared to unaffected peers. The prevalence odds was highest among children with CL+P (OR: 4.61, 95% CI: 3.49, 6.09) declining by 54% by fifth grade. The prevalence odds of SE for white children was approximately 1.50 times that for African American children in fourth and fifth grades. Approximately 33% of children with NS OFCs within each racial/ethnic group received SE in third grade. African American children were twice as likely to receive services under specific learning disability. Children with NS OFCs receiving EC services were 44% (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.13, 2.38) less likely to be retained in third grade compared to children with NS OFCs who were not receiving services. CONCLUSIONS Children with NS OFCs are more likely to receive SE services in elementary school compared to their unaffected peers. The eligibility category differed by racial/ethnic group.
Enhanced field-scale characterization for watershed erosion assessments

Abstract Watershed-scale simulation technology allows quantification of the impact of individual and/or integrated management practices throughout the watershed. In the AnnAGNPS watershed-scale model, the watershed is subdivided into basic modeling units (fields) in which all spatially varying physical parameters are assumed to be homogeneous. Conversely, RUSLE2 model can estimate sediment yield at sub-field scale with enhanced characterization capabilities. In this study, an integrated approach was developed and evaluated that combines both models for enhanced representation of individual fields while accounting for the watershed-wide integrated intra fields effect when routing sediment loads through the watershed. Critical sediment producing areas identified through integrated RUSLE2 erosion and AnnAGNPS sediment transport models can be used to support the development and evaluation of conservation management plans specific to fields but impacting the entire watershed.
Intrathecal administration of autologous mesenchymal stem cells in multiple system atrophy

Objective This phase I/II study sought to explore intrathecal administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as therapeutic approach to multiple system atrophy (MSA). Methods Utilizing a dose-escalation design, we delivered between 10 and 200 million adipose-derived autologous MSCs intrathecally to patients with early MSA. Patients were closely followed with clinical, laboratory, and imaging surveillance. Primary endpoints were frequency and type of adverse events; key secondary endpoint was the rate of disease progression assessed by the Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS). Results Twenty-four patients received treatment. There were no attributable serious adverse events, and injections were generally well-tolerated. At the highest dose tier, 3 of 4 patients developed low back/posterior leg pain, associated with thickening/enhancement of lumbar nerve roots. Although there were no associated neurologic deficits, we decided that dose-limiting toxicity was reached. A total of 6 of 12 patients in the medium dose tier developed similar, but milder and transient discomfort. Rate of progression (UMSARS total) was markedly lower compared to a matched historical control group (0.40 ± 0.59 vs 1.44 ± 1.42 points/month, p = 0.004) with an apparent dose-dependent effect. Conclusions Intrathecal MSC administration in MSA is safe and well-tolerated but can be associated with a painful implantation response at high doses. Compelling dose-dependent efficacy signals are the basis for a planned placebo-controlled trial. Classification of evidence This phase I/II study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with early MSA, intrathecal MSC administration is safe, may result in a painful implantation response at high doses, and is associated with dose-dependent efficacy signals.
Development of the 5kWe SteelCell® Technology Platform for Stationary Power and Transport Applications

Ceres Power has active commercial programs at 1kWe, 5kWe, 10kWe and 10's of kWe. To support higher power applications Ceres has developed an innovative 5kWe-class stack design which can be used in an array to achieve higher power outputs for both stationary power and commercial vehicle applications. The stack incorporates learning from multiple development cycles and tens of thousands of hours of testing the mature 1kWe SteelCell® stack design, with several significant design improvements. This stack design has been successfully incorporated into several different customer's systems, with outstanding electrical efficiency and mechanical robustness demonstrated, the latter facilitating the use of an SOFC stack for transportation applications.
The Role of Curiosity on Showrooming and Webrooming

This study aimed to explore what motivates consumers’ exploratory behavior in an omni-channel context. Specifically, this study tested a conceptual model delineating how each dimension of curiosity (interest vs. deprivation) affects showrooming and webrooming through two mediating variables: market mavenism and consumer innovativeness. A total of 350 participants were recruited and SEM analysis was conducted. The findings from the study is conducive to understanding the underlying mediating process of market mavenism. It was revealed that market mavens motivated by interest curiosity tend to engage in both showrooming and webrooming. While both interest curiosity and deprivation curiosity showed an association with consumer innovativeness, innovativeness was not supported as a mediating variable. This study extended the research scope of consumers’ omni-channel retailing and exploratory behavior based on the epistemic theory of curiosity.
Al-Karkh: the Development of an Imāmī-Shīʿī Stronghold in Early Abbasid and Būyid Baghdad (132-447/750-1055)

Following the foundation of Baghdad by Caliph al-Manṣūr (r. 136-158/754-775) in 145/762, the neighbourhood of al-Karkh attracted many Imāmī scholars, becoming the centre of the Imāmī wikāla (network of deputies of the Imām) in the late 3rd/9th century, and then the heart of the Imāmī ḥawza (seminary) and the rationalist school of theology which developed under the Būyids (333-447/945-1055). Al-Karkh also became the centre of a popular movement of Imāmī-Shīʿa; from the Būyid period onward, the latter played a significant role in the social and political life of the city until its fall under the Mongol invasion of 656/1258. From the point of view of the micro-history, this article investigates the incubation of the Imāmī-Shīʿī movement in this suburban area of the city, bringing together topography and social history data from medieval geography manuals, historical chronicles, local histories, biographical dictionaries, poetry, and travellers’ accounts. More than a quarter, al-Karkh acted as a city within Baghdad; repeatedly destroyed and burnt down, its history sheds light on urban life in the Abbasid capital, and on the development of Imāmī-Shīʿism during its formative period.
Rainwater as a renewable resource to achieve net zero urban water in water stressed cities

Abstract Globally, cities are facing increased water stress with an imbalance between available water resources and projected urban water demands. Water experts have pointed to rainwater harvesting (RWH) as one answer; however, the capacity of such a solution to address deficits on an urban scale is largely untested. This study proposes a model to evaluate the necessary network of RWH systems to achieve net zero urban water, meaning a sustainable local supply capable of meeting long-term demand. This approach was applied to a water stressed city, Tucson, Arizona, in the semi-arid Southwestern United States. A daily water balance model optimized for the smallest required storage volumes to reach net zero urban water at a resolution of ten years of consecutive daily rainfall. The potential passive and active RWH network was modelled under four investment scenarios using remote sensing, localized daily rainfall, and municipal water meter data. In the most financially and physically plausible scenario, rainwater replaced imported water and a 30% demand conservation was assumed. The median required storage was 28.2 cubic-meters per 100 square-meters of roof area, or an estimated $10,000 investment. Comparatively, the median RWH household storage installation in Tucson is 5.3 cubic-meters (1395 gallons). In addition to widespread investment in large household storage, this result would require paradigm shifts across built, economic, and social systems to fully integrate the decentralized network across the urban fabric. This study shows that net zero urban water can be achieved with RWH under multiyear drought conditions with large storage volumes.
A Typology of Business Communication Theories

Typologies help us by grouping related items together into sensible groupings. With theories, a typology can help us to better understand where theories have similarities and where they complement each other. This chapter presents a typology of business communication theories that categorizes theories based on how researchers use them. For our typology, we created seven categories: channels and barriers, cultural characteristics and influences, flows and patterns, meaning-making and discovery, motivation and persuasion, organizational structures, and reasons and representations.
If You Can’t Stand the Heat, Get out of the Kitchen: Considerations for Medical Student Participation in Care During a Global Pandemic

Though SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus, the concept of life-altering pandemics is not. This presentation discusses ethical issues with medical student participation in delivery of care during a global pandemic, and urges that medical students should continue to be an integral part of the healthcare team, allowing for development of the knowledge and skills necessary to progress through their medical education. Medical students have historically been on the front lines of medicine during previous pandemics, and COVID-19 is no different. Students are an integral part of the healthcare team and their removal would disrupt workflow and patient care. Additionally, withdrawing students from clinical experience in the name of their protection vastly hinders their education and professional development. There is already a physician shortage, and there is a reasonable risk that the number of physicians will be further reduced due to burnout, illness, or death from the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, restricting student education could prevent the entry of new physicians in later years when the physician shortage may be even more severe. Critics argue that pulling from a pool of medical students during a pandemic results in patients receiving a lower quality of care compared to trained professionals. Additionally, many students argue that they should not be required to work in COVID-19 wards while paying tuition and not receiving the same hazard pay or other benefits offered to health professionals. They argue the risks outweigh their obligations. Students will not be able to continue to learn if they are not willing to expose themselves to risks inherent in medicine. Though they should not be required to treat COVID-19 positive patients, they must fulfill their role as members of the health care team for the public good. It is vital that medical students—who started their career in medicine out of a desire to help others—be willing to accept some personal risk in order to provide care to their community and prevent future physician shortages.
Association of diameter and wall stresses of tricuspid aortic valve ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Abstract Objective Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms carry a risk of acute type A dissection. Elective repair guidelines are designed around size thresholds, but the 1-dimensional parameter of maximum diameter cannot predict acute events in small aneurysms. Biomechanically, dissection can occur when wall stress exceeds strength. Patient-specific ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm wall stresses may be a better predictor of dissection. Our aim was to compare wall stresses in tricuspid aortic valve–associated ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms based on diameter. Methods Patients with tricuspid aortic valve–associated ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm and diameter 4.0 cm or greater (n = 221) were divided into groups by 0.5-cm diameter increments. Three-dimensional geometries were reconstructed from computed tomography images, and finite element models were developed taking into account prestress geometries. A fiber-embedded hyperelastic material model was applied to obtain longitudinal and circumferential wall stress distributions under systolic pressure. Median stresses with interquartile ranges were determined. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used for comparisons between size groups. Results Peak longitudinal wall stresses for tricuspid aortic valve–associated ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm were 290 (265-323) kPa for size 4.0 to 4.4 cm versus 330 (296-359) kPa for 4.5 to 4.9 cm versus 339 (320-373) kPa for 5.0 to 5.4 cm versus 318 (293-351) kPa for 5.5 to 5.9 cm versus 373 (363-449) kPa for 6.0 cm or greater (P = 8.7e-8). Peak circumferential wall stresses were 460 (421-543) kPa for size 4.0 to 4.4 cm versus 503 (453-569) kPa for 4.5 to 4.9 cm versus 549 (430-588) kPa for 5.0 to 5.4 cm versus 540 (471-608) kPa for 5.5 to 5.9 cm versus 596 (506-649) kPa for 6.0 cm or greater (P = .0007). Conclusions Circumferential and longitudinal wall stresses are higher as diameter increases, but size groups had large overlap of stress ranges. Wall stress thresholds based on aneurysm wall strength may be a better predictor of patient-specific risk of dissection than diameter in small ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms.
Metabolic Myoglobinuria

One large group of hereditary myopathies characterized by recurrent myoglobinuria, almost invariably triggered by exercise, comprises metabolic disorders of two main fuels, glycogen and long-chain fatty acids, or mitochondrial diseases of the respiratory chain. Differential diagnosis is required to distinguish the three conditions, although all cause a crisis of muscle energy. Muscle biopsy may be useful when performed well after the episode of rhabdomyolysis. Molecular genetics is increasingly the diagnostic test of choice to discover the underlying genetic basis.
Lipid-Lowering Drug Use and Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the ARIC Study.

Background Lipid-lowering drugs, particularly statins, are associated with reduced incidence of certain cancers in some studies. Associations with cancer mortality are not well studied, and whether associations are similar across race is unknown. Methods We conducted a prospective analysis of 12 997 cancer-free participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study who were never users at visit 1 (1987-1989). Ever use, duration of use, and age at first use were modeled as time-dependent variables using Cox regression to estimate associations with total, obesity- and smoking-associated, bladder, breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Results We ascertained 3869 cancer cases and 1661 cancer deaths in 237 999 or more person-years. At 6 years of follow-up, 70.8% of lipid-lowering drug use was a statin. Compared with never use, ever use was associated with lower total, obesity- and smoking-associated cancer mortality and with colorectal cancer mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.32 to 0.79) and incidence (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.92). Inverse associations were consistent by sex and race. Shorter-term use was associated with bladder cancer incidence in men (<10 years: HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.02 to 2.73). First use at age 60 years or older was inversely associated with: total mortality, obesity- and smoking-associated mortality, and colorectal cancer mortality; and total incidence, obesity- and smoking-associated incidence, and breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer incidence. Conclusions This study provides additional evidence for inverse associations between lipid-lowering drug use and cancer incidence and mortality but a positive association with bladder cancer incidence in men. Evaluation of the impact of chemoprevention strategies that include lipid-lowering drugs on population-level cancer burden is needed.
The Curse of Curves

This study examines the associations between objective and subjective measurements and impressions of body shape and cold pressor pain reporting in healthy adults. On the basis of sexual selection theory (SST), we hypothesized that body characteristics that are universally preferred by the opposite sex—specifically, lower waist-to-hip ratios (WHR) in women and higher shoulder-to-hip ratios (SHR) in men—and characteristics (e.g., proportion of body fat in women) that infer attractiveness differently across cultures will correspond to higher experimental pain reporting in women and lower pain reporting in males. A convenience sample of young adults (n = 96, 58 females, 18–24 years; mean age = 19.4) was measured for body mass index (BMI), WHR, SHR, and subjective body impressions (SBI), along with cold pressor pain reporting. The findings showed that BMI was positively associated with WHR and less-positive SBI in both sexes. Consistent with SST, however, only BMI and WHR predicted variability in pain expression in women, whereas only SHR predicted variability in men. Subjective body impressions were positively associated with SHR among males and unrelated to WHR among females, yet only females showed a positive association between SBI and higher pain reporting. The findings suggest that sexually selected physical characteristics (WHR and SHR) and culturally influenced somatic (BMI) and psychological (SBI) indicators of attractiveness correspond with variability in pain reporting, potentially reflecting the general tendency for people to express clusters of sexually selected and culturally influenced traits that may include differential pain perception.
Gene Therapy Models

First page of article Keywords: angiogenesis; cytokines; dendritic cell; dihydrofolate reductase; drug resistance; haematopoietic stem cell; MGMT; MDR-1; oncolytic virus; suicide gene; tumour-suppressor gene
Structural and functional domains of apolipoprotein A-I within high density lipoproteins.

Abstract We prepared discoidal and spherical model high density lipoprotein (HDL) with apolipoprotein A-I and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine at various lipid:protein ratios and compared their reactivity with exo- and endopeptidases to that of human HDL2 and HDL3. Limited proteolysis with trypsin, Staphylococcus V8 protease, and elastase yielded a major stable peptide of 11,000-11,500 daltons under conditions which completely degraded lipid-free A-I. By Western blotting this protease-resistant fragment was shown to consist of the amino-terminal 90-100 residues of the A-I protein; the residues on the carboxyl side of this peptide are therefore protease-sensitive and appear to correlate with the putative "hinge" region, which is especially reactive with antibodies. The amino terminus was very resistant to digestion with a variety of aminopeptidases, whereas carboxypeptidases could remove up to 70 residues from the lipid-free A-I protein or 12-24 residues from A-I in various HDL. When these truncated forms of A-I, in combination with lipid, were used to examine binding interactions with rat hepatic plasma membranes, it was found that removal of up to 20-24 residues from the carboxyl terminus had no significant effect on binding, whereas removal of 70 residues completely eliminated specific binding to the membranes. Taken together, our data indicate that there is a protease-resistant domain constituted by the first 90 residues of A-I, which, in HDL, contain little of the class of amphipathic helix characteristic of the rest of the molecule and most likely form a structure dominated by protein-protein interactions. At the carboxyl end of the protein, there is a functional domain constituted by residues 149-219 that possesses the capacity to bind to proteins on hepatic membranes.
Impact of Microstructure on Dielectric Nanocomposites With High- k Interfacial Layers

Current dielectric nanopowder research in wide bandgap insulators has revealed an order of magnitude increase in dielectric permittivities over bulk values [1] – [3] . Researchers in this area postulate that interfacial layers at material boundaries have enhanced polarizability because of local relaxation mechanisms, such as rotational dipoles or localized space charge polarization [1] , [3] . Equivalent macroscopic electromagnetic models that have low- k grain/particle cores with average diameters ranging from 5 to 40 nm and high- k thin encapsulating layers with thicknesses from 0.8 to 1.0 nm are simulated in this paper using finite-element method and control-volume approach. The purpose of this investigation is to explore the impact of the microstructure on the overall electrical properties of these types of materials. To help validate this simulation approach, laminate geometries of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride are fabricated and tested by the authors. From these test samples, an effective permittivity model of interfacial layers for simple laminate geometries is extracted and is used to predict the macroscopic behavior of more complicated nanocomposites. Furthermore, the impact of the conductivity of low- k cores is also explored with the assumption that the high- k interfacial boundaries remain perfectly insulating. For low-conductivity cores, it is shown that the real part of the permittivity decreases with increasing particulate/grain size that is generally consistent with nanopowder research in [3] . However, at higher core conductivities, this dependence completely changes such that the real permittivity increases with increasing particulate/grain size. This change in dependence is due to charges accumulating at core boundaries producing a Maxwell–Wagner effect.
Law Enforcement Officers Involved in Domestic Violence as Batterers -- An Integrative Treatment Model

Abstract This article offers an integrative model of treatment for law enforcement officers involved in mutual violence as batterers in domestic violence. The model draws on aspects of motivational interviewing, solution-focused and cognitive behavioral therapy. The integration of these aspects enhances the inherent strength of each approach and utilizes a technical eclecticism of each perspective while allowing for flexibility and achieving change.
Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) Physical Symptom Score: Development, Reliability, and Validity

Objectives: We quantified medical signs and symptoms to construct the Physical Symptom Score (PSS) for use in research to assess somatic disease burden in mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) to track disease and monitor treatments. We examined scoring reliability, its concurrent validity with other measures, and relationship to age in MPS type I.
Requirements for indispensable amino acids in adult humans: longer-term amino acid kinetic study with support for the adequacy of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology amino acid requirement pattern.

Twenty young men received an L-amino acid diet, supplying 140 mg N.kg-1 x d-1 and patterned as in the Egg diet for 1 wk, and then for 3 wk either a pattern based on international recommendations (modified FAO diet; n = 7), our new amino acid requirement pattern (MIT diet; n = 7), or the egg pattern (Egg diet; n = 6). At the end of the initial week, at 1 and 3 wk with the three experimental diets, and after 3 d after return to the Egg diet, an 8-h continuous intravenous infusion with [1-13C]leucine (3 h fast, 5 h fed while subjects received hourly meals supplying the equivalent of one-twelfth the daily intake) was conducted. After 3 wk with the different diets, mean daily leucine balances were lower (P < 0.01) with the FAO diet (-160 mumol.kg-1 x d-1) than with the MIT diet (-15 mumol.kg-1 x d-1). Together with changes in plasma amino acid profiles [eg, methionine increased (P < 0.05) during feeding with the FAO and Egg diets but not with the MIT diet; increased proline concentrations during the fed state (P < 0.05) with the FAO diet but not with the MIT or Egg diets] we interpret these findings to indicate that the FAO diet is not capable of maintaining amino acid homeostasis, as is the case with the MIT and Egg diets.
Sorption mechanisms of Sr and Pb on zeolitized tuffs from the Nevada test site as a function of pH and ionic strength

The sorption of divalent strontium, Sr{sup 2+}, and divalent lead, Pb{sup 2+}, on zeolitized tuffs from the Nevada Test Site (NTS) was investigated using macroscopic batch sorption experiments and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) as a function of geochemical parameters, including pH, ionic strength, and type of background electrolyte. The sorption of Sr{sup 2+} is dependent on the ionic strength of the medium and independent of pH, suggesting that Sr{sup 2+} sorption is controlled by ion exchange at permanent charge sites. At higher ionic strengths, background electrolyte cations compete effectively with Sr{sup 2+} for cation exchange sites and Sr{sup 2+} sorption is suppressed. At the two lower ionic strengths (0.01 and 0.1 M), Pb{sup 2+} sorption is also consistent with adsorption by cation exchange. At the highest ionic strength (1.0 M), however, exclusion of Pb{sup 2+} from cation exchange sites resulted in pH dependent adsorption, consistent with sorption on amphoteric surface hydroxyl sites or formation of surface precipitates. XAS was used to test these hypotheses. Based on XAS data, Sr{sup 2+} formed hydrated surface complexes coordinated with approximately eight oxygen atoms at an average distance of 2.60 ({+-}0.02) {angstrom}, regardless of conditions, consistent with the formation of mononuclear, outer-sphere surface complexesmore » at the Ca2 site in the B channel of clinoptilolite. The coordination environment of sorbed Pb{sup 2+} was more complex and a function of pH and ionic strength. The first shell consisted of two to three oxygen atoms at an average distance of 2.20 ({+-}0.02) {angstrom}. At low pH and ionic strength, XAS data were consistent with Pb{sup 2+} adsorption at the Na1 and Ca2 cation exchange sites in channels A and B of clinoptilolite, respectively. At the highest ionic strength (1.0 M) and low pH, XAS provides evidence for formation of Pb{sup 2+} monodentate, corner-sharing inner-sphere complexes, while at higher pH, XAS analysis is consistent with formation of edge-sharing bidentate inner-sphere complexes. As surface coverage increased, appearance of a second Pb{sup 2+} peak suggests the formation of polynuclear, inner-sphere surface complexes. These results have significant implications for the transport of radionuclides and other contaminants at the NTS and other nuclear test sites and the modeling of these processes.« less
Cost justification of decentralized pharmaceutical services for the emergency room

The implementation of decentralized pharmaceutical services in an emergency room (ER) is described, with emphasis on cost justification. As part of an overall hospital goal of improving patient-care services in the ER the pharmacy department identified its role in the plan. The objectives of the pharmacy included providing faster prescription-filling services with more patient education, to increase the number of ER prescription filled in-house, to improve drug control and accountability of floor stock medications in the ER, and to expand clinical services inthe ER. To do this, a satellite pharmacy was established in the ER. Implementation costs for the first year of operation were estimated at +122,875; of this represented a transfer of inventory from other pharmacy areas, and +62,900 represented personnel cost that were also transferred from other areas. Actual costs of operation were less; the actual expense was +103,557. The drug and supply cost were +48,186; inventory turnover rate was 8.8. The ER pharmacy had a +48,901 margin of revenue over expenses. The ratio of ER prescriptions filled to discharges increased, indicating an increase in prescription filling volume. Despite a decrease in the number of ER visits, the number of prescriptions filled increased 14%. Decentralized ER pharmaceutical services in this institution met the outlined objectives on a cost-effective basis.
Bis-quaternary ammonium compounds: derivatives and congeners of bicyclo(2.2.2)octane.

A series of rigid congeners of hexamethonium was prepared, based upon bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, in which the interquaternary distance is varied and in which this distance is known with some degree of certainty. Data on hypotensive activities, taken as an index of ganglionic blocking potency, are consistent with earlier proposals that an interquaternary distance of 6.5–7.5 A is optimum for polyalkylene bis-quaternary ganglionic blocking agents.
Not one or the other but both: hybrid course delivery using WebCT

Hybrid course delivery combines conventional face‐to‐face instruction with distance education in the same course. At Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, WebCT course management software is used in graduate library science courses to mitigate the effects of commuting and to integrate use of the Internet in teaching. Each WebCT course has its own password‐protected Web site for faculty and student use, providing access to lecture notes and class discussion from a distance, as well as other uses. Use of WebCT allows flexibility and continuity for all class members.
Effect of exercise training on plasma catecholamines and haemodynamics of adolescent hypertensives during rest, submaximal exercise and orthostatic stress.

Summary. Twelve adolescents with essential hypertension were studied to determine the effect of exercise training on plasma catecholamine concentrations, blood pressure and cardiovascular haemodynamics at rest and during submaximal exercise and orthostatic stress. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) increased 13% with training while body weight and body fat did not change. Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly with training, while plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were unchanged. The increase in systolic blood pressure in response to standing was significantly lower after training, while the plasma catecholamine response was not significantly different. At the same absolute work rate after training, the subjects' systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rates, and plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were significantly lower than before training. At the same relative work rate after training, the blood pressure response was the same as before training despite significantly higher plasma norepinephrine levels. Thus, the training-induced changes in resting blood pressures and blood pressure responses to orthostatic and submaximal exercise stress cannot be attributed to decreases in plasma catecholamine levels.
The Hedging Effectiveness of ECU Futures Contracts: Forecasting Evidence from an Error Correction Model

In this paper, the traditional price change hedge ratio estimation method is extended by applying the theory of cointegration in case of hedging with European Currency Unit (ECU) futures contracts. Previous studies ignore the last period's equilibrium error and short-run deviations. The findings of this study indicate that the hedge ratio estimated by the error correction method is superior to the one obtained from the traditional method, as evidenced by the likelihood ratio test and out-of-sample forecasts. Hedgers can control the risk of their portfolios more effectively at a lower cost.
Does it take two to Tangle? Subordinates’ Perceptions of and Reactions to Abusive Supervision

Research on abusive supervision is imbalanced in two ways. First, with most research attention focused on the destructive consequences of abusive supervision, there has been relatively little work on subordinate-related predictors of perceptions of abusive supervision. Second, with most research on abusive supervision centered on its main effects and the moderating effects of supervisor-related factors, there is little understanding of how subordinate factors can moderate the main effects of perceptions of abusive supervision on workplace outcomes. The current study aims to advance knowledge of the roles of subordinates in the formation of and reactions to perceptions of abusive supervision. Specifically, based on victim precipitation theory, the authors examined subordinates’ personality traits and self-reports of task performance as antecedents of perceptions of abusive supervision. The results show that subordinates high in neuroticism or low in conscientiousness had high levels of perceived abusive supervision partially through their self-reported deleterious job performance. In addition, the authors investigated the moderating effect of subordinates’ personality on the relationship between perceptions of abusive supervision and subordinates’ interpersonal deviance. Consistent with trait activation theory, subordinates low in both agreeableness and extraversion were more likely to engage in deviant behaviors in response to perceptions of abusive supervision than subordinates high in either or both agreeableness and extraversion.
How to Read a Research Paper

A research paper includes several sections, each section having a particular purpose and containing a particular kind of information. This paper is a guide to reading a research paper. It describes the prototypical research paper and explains the purpose for each section. Issues for the astute reader to note are indicated and illustrated with examples from a research paper published in this issue of the journal.