cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Game on… girls: associations between co-playing video games and adolescent behavioral and family outcomes.

Abstract Purpose Video game use has been associated with several behavioral and health outcomes for adolescents. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between parental co-play of video games and behavioral and family outcomes. Method Participants consisted of 287 adolescents and their parents who completed a number of video game-, behavioral-, and family-related questionnaires as part of a wider study. Most constructs included child, mother, and father reports. Results At the bivariate level, time spent playing video games was associated with several negative outcomes, including heightened internalizing and aggressive behavior and lowered prosocial behavior. However, co-playing video games with parents was associated with decreased levels of internalizing and aggressive behaviors, and heightened prosocial behavior for girls only. Co-playing video games was also marginally related to parent–child connectedness for girls, even after controlling for age-inappropriate games played with parents. Conclusions This is the first study to show positive associations for co-playing video games between girls and their parents.
Renal cortical nitric oxide synthase activity during maturational growth in the rat.

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that growth from puberty to adulthood in the rat is associated with an increase in renal cortical nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity that results in an augmented impact of nitric oxide (NO) on hemodynamic function. Two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: juvenile rats (~2 months old) and mature rats (~5 months old). NOS activity, measured as \(N^\omega\) -nitro-L-arginine (NNA)-sensitive 3H-L-citrulline production from 3H-L-arginine, was significantly higher in the renal cortex of mature rats (57±2 pmol/h per mg protein) than in juveniles (42±3 pmol/h per mg protein). Additional animals from each group were anesthetized to determine the acute impact of NOS inhibition on arterial pressure and renal cortical blood flow, measured by single-fiber Doppler flowmetry. Cortical blood flow was higher in mature rats than in juveniles, averaging 22±2 and 16±1 perfusion units, respectively. NOS inhibition (10 mg/kg NNA i.v.) decreased renal cortical blood flow in mature rats by 35±7%, but only by 9±4% in juvenile animals. These data support the hypothesis that maturational growth in the rat is associated with augmented NOS activity coupled with an increased tonic influence of NO on renal cortical blood flow.
Experimental studies of wakes behind circularly capped bubbles

The wake behind a circularly capped bubble rising in fluids of different viscosity has been experimentally investigated using aspirin powder for flow visualization and high-speed photography synchronized with pressure-time measurements to measure the pressure field. The bubble plus its primary wake with a cusped tail is observed to contain symmetric pressure minima within the primary wake. Adjacent to the boundary wake is a free shear layer which contains large-scale vortices generated near the bubble rim that remain essentially stationary to an observer in the laboratory reference frame. The change in wake geometry and the transition to an ellipsoidal bubble shape as fluid viscosity increases is documented.The airfoil shape of the boundary of the circularly capped bubble and its closed primary wake is modelled using a Joukowski transformation in which the Joukowski constant is adjusted to match the experimental and potential-flow pressures along the bubble cap. The model successfully predicts the frontal pressure field, and the wake size and shape. The Davies & Taylor bubble-cap boundary condition is also verified.
How Themes in Literature Can Inform Sociological Theory, Research, and Teaching

In this article we revisit the strategy of using literature to inform sociology. We address a central question: what literary themes are generally ignored by sociologists, and how can sociology as a discipline benefit by incorporating such themes in theories of social processes? We identify ten themes that are common in literature but not common in sociological analyses: optimism, pessimism, ambition, indolence, betrayal, revenge, curiosity, apathy, doubt, and certainty. We first provide examples of how each theme is addressed in classic literature e.g., in works of fiction, poetry, religious texts, etc. and discuss their importance in understanding facets of the human condition. We then discuss how considering each theme can benefit theory and research in sociology. We conclude with a discussion of what changes must occur within the discipline of sociology to encourage sociologists to look beyond common themes and toward new areas of inquiry.
Fractures from trampolines: results from a national database, 2002 to 2011.

BACKGROUND:: No study specifically analyzes trampoline fracture patterns across a large population. The purpose of this study was to determine such patterns. METHODS:: We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database for trampoline injuries between 2002 and 2011, and the patients were analyzed by age, sex, race, anatomic location of the injury, geographical location of the injury, and disposition from the emergency department (ED). Statistical analyses were performed with SUDAAN 10 software. Estimated expenses were determined using 2010 data. RESULTS:: There were an estimated 1,002,735 ED visits for trampoline-related injuries; 288,876 (29.0%) sustained fractures. The average age for those with fractures was 9.5 years; 92.7% were aged 16 years or younger; 51.7% were male, 95.1% occurred at home, and 9.9% were admitted. The fractures were located in the upper extremity (59.9%), lower extremity (35.7%), and axial skeleton (spine, skull/face, rib/sternum) (4.4%-spine 1.0%, skull/face 2.9%, rib/sternum 0.5%). Those in the axial skeleton were older (16.5 y) than the upper extremity (8.7 y) or lower extremity (10.0 y) (PCONCLUSIONS:: Trampoline fractures most frequently involve the upper extremity followed by the lower extremity, >90% occur in children. The financial burden to society is large. Further efforts for prevention are needed. Language: en
First United States Records of the Rhigonematid Genera Heth and Ruizia (Nematoda: Rhigonematida) from the Introduced Millipede, Anadenobolus monilicornis (Diplopoda: Rhinocricidae) in Key Largo, Florida, U.S.A

ABSTRACT: Twenty-eight specimens of the introduced diplopod Anadenobolus monilicornis (Spirobolida: Rhinocricidae) were collected in Key Largo, Florida and examined for parasitic intestinal nematodes. Two rhigonematid species, Heth mauriesi Adamson, 1982 and Ruizia karukerae Hunt, 1999 were discovered at 100% prevalence. The morphology of both species was verified by light and scanning electron microscopy. These species represent the first United States records for members of the genera Heth and Ruizia. The rich rhigonematid fauna in the Caribbean region, which has been documented on islands such as Cuba, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico, indicates the potential for future additional introductions of rhigonematids to North America.
Role of medicaid family planning waivers and Title X in enhancing access to preconception care.

Purpose This article identifies the ways in which Medicaid eligibility expansions for family planning services and the Title X network of family planning clinics provide opportunities to introduce preconception care. The introduction of family planning eligibility expansions brought in populations heretofore ineligible for Medicaid. Family planning clinics serve a large number of low-income and young women and would play an important part in introducing preconception care. However, very real barriers to preconception service provision need to be addressed before this goal can be fully realized. Background When established in 1965, Medicaid, by and large, covered low-income women and their children receiving welfare. A succession of Medicaid eligibility expansions for pregnancy-related care broke the link with welfare. More recently, expansions implemented in 20 states have created an eligibility pathway to Medicaid coverage for women before pregnancy. Today, whether as part of a Medicaid family planning program or independently, many women receive family planning services through the nation's system of publicly funded clinics. As the nation's only dedicated source of funding for family planning services, Title X supports a nationwide network of family planning clinics on which young women rely for affordable and confidential reproductive care. Discussion Working preconception care into the existing family planning and pregnancy care programs would create a single, continuous reproductive health care platform. Family planning clinics could introduce preconception health measures to the young women who rely on them for their reproductive health care. Important barriers to rolling out preconception care still exist, however. For family planning providers to integrate the services into their current practices, a definition of the package of services that is realistic to provide in a family planning setting must be crafted. In addition, securing a stable funding stream is a necessary prerequisite to any large-scale integration of preconception care into family planning settings. Finally, attention needs to be given to ways to talk to predominantly young clientele about preparing for a pregnancy at the moment when they are coming in for services precisely to avoid becoming pregnant. Conclusion Despite the challenges laid out, integrating preconception care into family planning services is achievable. Combining preconception care with family planning and pregnancy care initiatives would be a significant step in moving the country closer to the goal of providing the comprehensive reproductive health care women need.
K-means reclustering: algorithmic options with quantifiable performance comparisons

This paper presents various architectural options for implementing a K-Means Re-Clustering algorithm suitable for unsupervised segmentation of hyperspectral images. Performance metrics are developed based upon quantitative comparisons of convergence rates and segmentation quality. A methodology for making these comparisons is developed and used to establish K values that produce the best segmentations with minimal processing requirements. Convergence rates depend on the initial choice of cluster centers. Consequently, this same methodology may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different initialization techniques.
Acute Stress Disorder in Children Related to Violence

TOPIC Unidentified and untreated acute stress responses in children may result in chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other serious psychiatric disorders, and/or developmental arrest. PURPOSE To review and identify gaps in current literature on acute stress disorder (ASD) in children and examine current treatments. SOURCES Review of the literature. CONCLUSIONS More developmentally appropriate, standardized measurement instruments are needed. Future research must focus on prospective studies of children exposed to trauma in order to better understand the association between ASD and PTSD. Future studies must include children at different developmental stages.
The generality and significance of semantic differential scales as measures of “morale”

Abstract Responses to a battery of experimental semantic differential scales were obtained from a sample of employees in a Naval ammunition depot. The responses were factor analyzed and the factor structure was compared with that obtained in a previous study utilizing a different sample from an industrial organization. Factors accounting for the largest proportion of variance in both cases were found to be reasonably congruent across both samples. Some theoretical views regarding the nature and significance of the factors are presented.
The form of spin orbitals for open-shell restricted Hartree—Fock reference functions

A new set of spin orbitals is proposed for single-reference correlation procedures based on an open-shell restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) reference function. The spatial parts of the new spin orbitals are from an open-shell RHF calculation. These spin orbitals form a complete, orthonormal set. The RHF single determinant based on these spin orbitals is an S sub 2 eigenfunction, but a linear combination of S sub z eigenfunctions. The advantage of these spin orbitals is that equations for perturbation theory or coupled-cluster theory are symmetric in the spin indices and hence the number of independent parameters to be determined is dramatically reduced.
Training the next generation of global health scientists: a school of appropriate technology for global health.

In March of 2008, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made the impressive announcement that it will accept proposals for a new Grand Challenges Explorations program [1]. Grand Challenges Explorations will provide $100 million for global health scientists to identify new ways to protect against infectious diseases (including neglected tropical diseases [NTDs]), to create new drugs or delivery systems, to prevent or cure HIV/AIDS, and to explore the basis of latency in tuberculosis [1]. In so doing, the Gates Foundation will build on its long-standing multibillion dollar commitments to develop and test new drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines for NTDs, as well as the better known “big three” diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and to fund critically needed operational research in support of large-scale control programs for these conditions [1]. The Gates Foundation is not alone—the United Kingdom's Wellcome Trust has a £15 billion investment portfolio of which a significant amount is devoted to global infectious diseases [2], while the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) also devotes a significant amount of funding towards global health [3]. Therefore, in the coming decade we can expect that these initiatives will contribute significantly towards reducing the so-called 10/90 gap, a term coined by the Global Forum for Health Research to refer to the finding that only 10% or less of the global expenditure on medical research and development is directed towards neglected health problems that disproportionately affect the poorest people in developing regions of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and tropical regions of the Americas.
Static and dynamic compression modulate matrix metabolism in tissue engineered cartilage.

Abstract Static and dynamic compression are known to modulate the metabolism of articular cartilage. The present study focused on determining the effects of compressive loading on the metabolism of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (S-GAG) and protein in tissue engineered cartilage constructs. Cartilage constructs were subjected to static or dynamic compression for 24 h and radiolabeled with 35 SO 4 and 3 H -proline to assess the total synthesis and percentage retention of S-GAG and total protein, respectively. Static compression at an amplitude of 50% suppressed the synthesis of both S-GAG and protein by 35% and 57%, respectively. Dynamic compression at an amplitude of 5% had stimulatory effects on synthesis that were dependent on the static offset compression amplitude (10% or 50%) and dynamic compression frequency (0.001 or 0.1 Hz). Thus, tissue engineered cartilage demonstrated the ability to respond to mechanical loading in a manner similar to that observed with articular cartilage. Mechanical loading may therefore potentially be used to modulate the growth of cartilaginous tissues in vitro, potentially facilitating the culture of functional cartilage tissues suitable for implantation.
Targeted delivery of antisense oligonucleotides by molecular conjugates.

Antisense oligonucleotides efficiently inhibit gene expression in vitro; however, the successful therapeutic application of this technology in vivo will require the development of improved delivery systems. In this report we describe a technique that efficiently delivers antisense oligonucleotides into cells using molecular conjugates. This technique, which was initially devel- oped for the delivery of eukaryotic genes, is based on the construction of DNA-protein complexes that are recognized by the liver-specific asialoglycoprotein receptor. Binding of poly(L-Iysine)- asialoorosomucoid (AsOR) protein conjugates with phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides to chloramphenicot acetyltransferase (CAT) led to the formation of 50- to t50-nm toroids. Exposure of the antisense molecular complexes" (3 IxM oligonucleotide) to NIH 3T3 cells genetically modified to express both the AsOR receptor and CAT, inhibited CAT expression by 54%, which was completely blocked by excess AsOR. Equivalent inhibition of CA T activity with purified oligonucteotide alone was obsen, ed at a 30 ~ concentration. Furthermore, examination of the cells using indirect immunofluorescence the presence of CAT protein showed 28% of cells exposed to the molecular conjugates lacked any detectable CAT enzyme. Cells exposed to oligonucleotide alone showed a highly variable staining pattern, and only a few of the cells were completely void of CAT protein. Together these dam demonstrate that molecular conjugates provide a highly specific and efficient system for the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides.
Adapting a publish-subscribe middleware to a RPC response pattern

At W. M. Keck Observatory we recently examined and prototyped what it would take to adapt publish-subscribe middleware, namely Data Distribution Service (DDS), to a remote procedure call (RPC) style peer-to-peer architecture. The design and prototype was based on the middleware neutral Common Services Framework (CSF) in use by NSO for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST). The paper describes the process used to adapt DDS for RPC style commands. It highlights the differences encountered between the RTI and PrismTech implementations, and contrasts the ICE based connection service in CSF to one based on DDS.
Plasmids as vehicles for gene cloning: Impact on basic and applied research

The basic procedures utilising plasmid elements as vehicles for cloning DNA from any source in the bacterium Escherichia coli are described. Consideration also is given to the impact of this research on the biological sciences and the technical problems that must be overcome before the benefits of this technology are fully realized.
Rotordynamic Coefficients for Partially Roughened Annular Gas Seals

The basic equations are derived for compressible flow in an annular seal with partially roughened surfaces. The flow is assumed to be completely turbulent in the axial and circumferential directions with no separation, and is modeled by Moody’s equation for roughness. Linearized zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed for small motion about a centered position by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The zeroth-order continuity and momentum equations are solved exactly, yielding the axial and circumferential velocity components and the pressure distribution. The first-order equations are reduced to three ordinary, complex, differential equations in the axial coordinate Z. The equations are integrated to satisfy the boundary conditions and yield the perturbation pressure distribution. This resultant pressure distribution is integrated along and around the seal to yield the force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients.Since no test data exist for this type of seal, the results of a parametric study on the effect of the rough length/smooth length ratio on the seal leakage and rotordynamic coefficients is presented.Copyright © 1991 by ASME
Governing the Post-Communist City: Institutions and Democratic Development in Prague by Martin Horak

Martin Horak, Governing the Post-Communist City: Institutions and Democratic Development in Prague (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007).The political events of 1989 resulted in the fall of ...
Diagnosis and treatment: nasotracheal intubation as a substitute for tracheostomy.

THE OBVIOUS advantages of tracheostomy must always be weighed against the hazards and complications with which it may be associated. The initial performance of the operation may entail complete airway occlusion, hemorrhage, or cardiac arrest secondary to sudden reduction of carbon dioxide concentration. Maintenance of the tracheostomy may involve pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, sepsis, and occlusion or dislocation of the tube, and final removal can be followed by such problems as tracheal collapse or stenosis. To avoid some of these difficulties a new concept has been introduced whereby a smooth, sterile endotracheal tube is introduced through the nose and maintained in place for several days, or even weeks. Undoubtedly the method had been used in many individual situations throughout the world, but the idea was first tried on a large scale in Australia. In the Adelaide Children9s Hospital and in The Royal Children9s Hospital of Melbourne tracheostomy has been largely abandoned and only endotracheal intubation has been used for the past two years in children with laryngotracheitis, croup, and various other types of reversible respiratory inadequacy. In these hospitals tracheostomy is reserved for inindividual situations where secretions are especially heavy or in some patients with severe laryngotracheitis. Nasotracheal intubation has been adopted throughout many parts of the British empire and has recently been employed widely throughout the United States. The indications for nasotracheal intubation are similar to those for tracheostomy. Children in whom airway obstruction results in retraction, stridor and, finally, increasing pulse rate constitute one group of patients who require such assistance.
Effects of reliability screens on MOS charge trapping

The effects of pre-irradiation elevated-temperature bias stresses on the radiation hardness of field-oxide transistors have been investigated as a function of stress temperature, time, and bias. Both the stress temperature and time are found to have a significant impact on radiation-induced charge buildup in these transistors. Specifically, an increase in either the stress temperature or time causes a much larger negative shift (towards depletion) in the I-V characteristics of the n-channel field-oxide transistors. This increased shift in the transistor I-V characteristics with stress temperature and time suggests that the mechanisms responsible for the stress effects are thermally activated. An activation energy of /spl sim/0.38 eV was measured. The stress bias was found to have no impact on radiation-induced charge buildup in these transistors. The observed stress temperature, time, and bias dependencies appears to be consistent with the diffusion of molecular hydrogen during a given stress period. These results have important implications for the development of hardness assurance test methods.
The role of graphic and sanitized violence in the enjoyment of television dramas

Thisexperimentexplorestherelationshipbetweentelevisionviolenceandviewerenjoyment. Over 400 participants were randomly assigned to one of 15 conditions that were created by editing five TV programs into three versions each: A graphically violent version, a sanitized violent version, and a nonviolent version. After viewing, participants reported their enjoyment of the content and emotional reactions to the content. Once we controlled for viewer perceptions of action in the program, we found that the nonviolent version was significantly more enjoyable than the two violent versions were. This finding held regardless of participants’ sex, level of trait aggression, and sensation-seeking tendencies. Thus, the widely held belief that violence increases enjoyment was not supported.
CYP2C-catalyzed delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol metabolism: Kinetics, pharmacogenetics and interaction with phenytoin

Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC), the primary psychoactive constituent of marijuana, is subject to first pass hepatic metabolism primarily by hydroxylation to yield active and inactive oxygenated products. The primary metabolite is formed via oxidation of the allylic methyl group to yield 11-hydroxy-delta9-THC, which is oxidized further to 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta9-THC. The hydroxylation is thought to be mediated by CYP2C9. The present study was designed to address the kinetics and pharmacogenetics of CYP2C-mediated metabolism of (delta9)-THC by studying its metabolism in human liver microsomes and expressed enzymes. Expressed CYP2C9.1 exhibited high affinity for the hydroxylation of delta9-THC (apparent Km, 2 microM), similar to that observed in human liver microsomes (apparent Km 0.8 microM). In contrast, the calculated intrinsic clearance (apparent Vm/Km) for CYP2C9.2 and CYP2C9.3 was approximately 30% that of the wild type, CYP2C9.1. Given the high affinity of CYP2C9 for the hydroxylation of delta9-THC, we evaluated the potential for an interaction between delta9-THC, 11-hydroxy-delta9-THC, or 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta9-THC and the CYP2C9 substrate, phenytoin. Surprisingly, delta9-THC increased the rate of phenytoin hydroxylation in human liver microsomes and expressed CYP2C9 enzyme. Similar increases in rate were observed with co-incubation of 11-hydroxy-delta9-THC and 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta9-THC with phenytoin. These in vitro data suggest the potential for an interaction from the concomitant administration of delta9-THC and phenytoin that could result in decreased phenytoin concentrations in vivo.
Broadband tunable 3D metamaterials at terahertz frequencies

In this paper, we present novel optically tunable 3D metamaterials operating at terahertz (THz) frequencies which exhibit a tuning range of approximate 50% of the resonance frequencies. The 3D array structures, consisting of double splits ring resonators (DSRRs) with silicon pads on sapphire, were fabricated using multilayer electroplating technology (MET). As a function of incident laser power, a red-shift in the resonant frequency from 1.74 THz to 1.16 THz was experimentally achieved. Our optically tunable device has potential applications as a terahertz modulator or switch that complements previous approaches.
A chiroselective peptide replicator

The origin of homochirality in living systems is often attributed to the generation of enantiomeric differences in a pool of chiral prebiotic molecules1,2, but none of the possible physiochemical processes considered1,2,3,4,5,6,7 can produce the significant imbalance required if homochiral biopolymers are to result from simple coupling of suitable precursor molecules. This implies a central role either for additional processes that can selectively amplify an initially minute enantiomeric difference in the starting material1,8,9,10,11,12, or for a nonenzymatic process by which biopolymers undergo chiroselective molecular replication13,14,15,16. Given that molecular self-replication and the capacity for selection are necessary conditions for the emergence of life, chiroselective replication of biopolymers seems a particularly attractive process for explaining homochirality in nature13,14,15,16. Here we report that a 32-residue peptide replicator, designed according to our earlier principles17,18,19,20, is capable of efficiently amplifying homochiral products from a racemic mixture of peptide fragments through a chiroselective autocatalytic cycle. The chiroselective amplification process discriminates between structures possessing even single stereochemical mutations within otherwise homochiral sequences. Moreover, the system exhibits a dynamic stereochemical ‘editing’ function; in contrast to the previously observed error correction20, it makes use of heterochiral sequences that arise through uncatalysed background reactions to catalyse the production of the homochiral product. These results support the idea that self-replicating polypeptides could have played a key role in the origin of homochirality on Earth.
The Use of Food and Drug Administration Approved Medications for Unlabeled (Off-Label) Uses: The Legal and Ethical Implications

Physicians increasingly use Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs (medication) for unlabeled (off-label) indications. The ethical and legal implications of these actions are not always clear. In this article, I examine the common law and federal statutory regulations concerning this issue and also explore some of the ethical and financial issues involved. BACKGROUND One prescribes a drug in the hope that medication will benefit the person to whom it is given. Yet, every drug has the potential to cause effects on the body that can be beneficial or adverse. 1 Adverse reactions can range in seriousness from relatively mild to fatal. 1 One estimate showed that adverse drug reactions are responsible for 1.0% to 3.5% of admissions to medical wards. 2 One government estimate showed that 130 000 US hospital— based deaths per year were caused by adverse drug reactions. 3 These adverse reactions can occur with proper use (idiosyncratic)
Early evaluation for performance enhancement in phased logic

Data-dependent completion time is a well-known advantage of self-timed circuits, one that allows them to operate at average rather than worst-case execution rates. A technique called early evaluation (EE) that extends this advantage by allowing self-timed modules to produce results before all of their inputs have arrived is described here. The technique can be applied to any combinational function and is integrated into the phased logic (PL) design methodology that accepts synchronous design entry and produces delay-insensitive self-timed circuits. We describe an algorithm that ensures that the resulting delay-insensitive circuits are safe, and develop a generalized method for inserting EE gates into any PL netlist. We give performance results for several benchmark circuits, including a five-stage pipelined CPU and a microprogrammed floating-point unit. Comparisons are made among clocked circuits, PL circuits, and PL circuits with EE. Simulation results show a clear performance benefit for PL circuits that use EE.
Comparing Staffing Levels in the Online Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) System with the Medicaid Cost Report Data: Are Differences Systematic?

Purpose: This study had two goals: (a) to assess the validity of the Online Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) staffing data by comparing them to staffing measures from audited Medicaid Cost Reports and (b) to identify systematic differences between facilities that over-report or underreport staffing in the OSCAR. Design and Methods: We merged the 2002 Texas Nursing Facility Cost Report, the OSCAR for Texas facilities surveyed in 2002, and the 2003 Area Resource File. We eliminated outliers in the OSCAR using three decision rules, resulting in a final sample size of 941 of the total of 1,017 nonhospital-based facilities. We compared OSCAR and Medicaid Cost Report staffing measures for three staff types. We examined differences between facilities that over-reported or underreported staffing levels in the OSCAR by using logistic regression. Results: Average staffing levels were higher in the OSCAR than in the Medicaid Cost Report data. The two sets of measures exhibited correlations ranging between 0.5 and 0.6. For-profit and larger facilities consistently over-reported registered nurse staffing levels. Factors associated with increased odds of over-reporting licensed vocational nursing or certified nursing assistant staffing were lower Medicare or Medicaid censuses and less market competition. Facility characteristics associated with over-reporting were consistent across different levels of over-reporting. Underreporting was much less prevalent. Implications: Certain types of facilities consistently over-report staffing levels. These reporting errors will affect the validity of consumer information systems, regulatory activities, and health services research results, particularly research using OSCAR data to examine the relationship between staffing and quality. Results call for a more accurate reporting system.
A new window into Early Archean life: Microbial mats in Earth's oldest siliciclastic tidal deposits (3.2 Ga Moodies Group, South Africa)

Newly discovered sedimentary structures produced by ancient microbial mats in Early Archean sandstones of the 3.2 Ga Moodies Group, South Africa, differ fundamentally in appearance and genesis from Early Archean stromatolites and bacterial cell fossils preserved in chert. Wrinkle structures, desiccation cracks, and roll-up structures record the previous existence of microbial mats that effectively stabilized sediment on the earliest known siliciclastic tidal flats. In thin-section, the sedimentary structures reveal carpet-like, laminated fabrics characteristic of microbial mats. Negative d 13 C isotope ratios of 220.1 to 221.5 6 0.2‰ are consistent with a biological origin for the carbon preserved in laminae. The biogenicity of the sedimentary structures in the Moodies Group is substantiated by comparative studies on identical mat-related features from similar tidal habitats throughout Earth history, including the present day. This study suggests that siliciclastic tidal-flat settings have been the habitat of thriving microbial ecosystems for at least 3.2 billion years. Independently of controversial silicified microfossils and stromatolites, the newly detected microbially induced sedimentary structures in sandstone support the presence of bacterial life in the Early Archean.
Holland's Theory and Career Assessment

Abstract This article explores how the career assessment activities in the Self-Directed Search (Holland, 1994), along with the secondary constructs in Holland's theory (e.g., congruence, identity, coherence, consistency, differentiation, commonness), can be used to increase understanding of an individual's Personal Career Theory (PCT). The quality of a PCT provides information regarding a person's readiness for career decision making and the intensity and duration of career interventions that might be effective in solving career problems. Implications for research, counselor training, and service delivery with theory-based career assessment using Holland's theory are discussed.
Arm trajectories in dyskinetic cerebral palsy have increased random variability

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy results from injury to the basal ganglia early in life. Symptoms can include hyperkinetic or dystonic arm movements that impair function. It is not known whether these movements comprise a small number of specific abnormal motor patterns or whether they are random and variable. We hypothesize that injury to the basal ganglia leads to impaired filtering and removal of undesired neural signals and that lack of appropriate removal of noisy or irrelevant neural signals leads to random and variable arm movements. To test this hypothesis, we quantified the variability in arm trajectories while seven children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy between the ages of 4 and 13 years old made repeated outward reaching movements. We compared the results with those of 21 healthy children between the ages of 5 and 16 years. The best-fit trajectory to the set of reaching movements for each child was taken as the predictable component of movement. We calculated the ratio of the power in the best-fit trajectory to the total variance. This measure is the signal-to-noise ratio, and it quantifies the extent to which trajectories are predictable. We found that children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy had a significantly reduced signal-to-noise ratio compared with healthy children at similar ages. This result shows that there is increased movement variability, and it is consistent with the hypothesis that inadequate removal of noisy signals could be a cause of the movement disorder in dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
Metformin Use Is Associated with Better Survival of Diabetic Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose: Accumulating evidence suggests that metformin has antitumor activity. The aim of this study was to determine whether metformin use has a survival benefit in patients with pancreatic cancer. Experimental Design: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with diabetes and pancreatic cancer treated at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX). Information on diabetes history, including treatment modalities and clinical outcome of pancreatic cancer, was collected using personal interviews and medical record review. Survival analysis was carried out using a Kaplan–Meier plot, log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: Among the 302 patients identified, there were no significant differences in demographic or major clinical characteristics between the patients who had received metformin ( n = 117) and those who had not ( n = 185). The 2-year survival rate was 30.1% for the metformin group and 15.4% for the non-metformin group ( P = 0.004; χ 2 test). The median overall survival time was 15.2 months for the metformin group, and 11.1 months for the non-metformin group ( P = 0.004, log-rank test). Metformin users had a 32% lower risk of death; the HR (95% confidence interval) was 0.68 (0.52–0.89) in a univariate model ( P = 0.004), 0.64 (0.48–0.86) after adjusting for other clinical predictors ( P = 0.003), and 0.62 (0.44–0.87) after excluding insulin users ( P = 0.006). Metformin use was significantly associated with longer survival in patients with nonmetastatic disease only. Conclusions: Our finding that metformin use was associated with improved outcome of patients with diabetes and pancreatic cancer should be confirmed in independent studies. Future research should prospectively evaluate metformin as a supplemental therapy in this population. Clin Cancer Res; 18(10); 2905–12. ©2012 AACR.
Self-esteem depends on the beholder: Effects of a subtle social value cue

The idea that self-esteem functions as a gauge or ‘‘sociometer” of social value [Leary, M. R., Baumeister, R. F. (2000). The nature and function of self-esteem: Sociometer theory. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 32, pp. 1–62). San Diego: Academic Press] is supported by research on direct social feedback. To examine if the sociometer model is relevant to more subtle social value cues, the implicit self-esteem of women was assessed a week after an interaction with an experimenter. Consistent with the sociometer model, Week 2 self-esteem depended on a subtle social value cue encountered during Week 1. When the Week 1 experimenter wore a t-shirt celebrating larger bodies (i.e., ‘‘everyBODY is beautiful”), heavier women had higher self-esteem than lighter women in Week 2. As hypothesized, this effect was relationship-specific, occurring only when the same experimenter administered Week 1 and 2 sessions.
Carbonyl Levels in Oilseed‐Based Beverage Products During Growth of Streptococcus lactis

Plate count, titratable acidity, water soluble carbonyl (WSC) levels and hexane extractable carbonyl (HEC) levels were evaluated during incubation of Streptococcus lactis 60 at 32°C in reconstituted non-fat dry milk (NDM), peanut flour (PF)/NDM or soy protein isolate (SPI)/NDM blends and a in peanut or soybean milks. Increased heat treatment decreased acid production but did not affect growth of S. lactis in NDM, PF/NDM or SPI/NDM. Differing data trends for WSC synthesis were observed in PF/NDM and SPI/NDM when compared to NDM. The rate of growth, rate of acid production and the WSC level were lower in oilseed milks than in NDM. HEC levels in soybean milk decreased slightly with S. lactis incubation while HEC levels in other products were not significantly affected
A study of the effect of noise injection on the training of artificial neural networks

We studied the effect of noise injection in overcoming the problem of overtraining in the training of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in comparison with other common approaches for overcoming this problem such as early stopping of the ANN training process and weight decay (which is similar to Bayesian artificial neural networks). We found from simulation studies and studies of a computer-aided diagnosis application that noise injection is effective in overcoming overtraining and is as effective as, or even more effective than, early stopping and weight decay.
Atypical myeloproliferative disorders: Diagnosis and management

Myeloid disorders constitute a subgroup of hematological malignancies that is separate from lymphoid disorders. The World Health Organization system for classification of tumors of the hematopoietic system divides myeloid disorders into acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid disorders based on the presence or absence, respectively, of acute myeloid leukemia—defining morphological and cytogenetic features including the presence of 20% or more myeloblasts in either the bone marrow or the peripheral blood. A recently proposed semimolecular classification system for chronic myeloid disorders recognizes 3 broad categories: the myelodysplastic syndrome, classic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), and atypical MPD. Classic MPD includes polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia, and chronic myeloid leukemia. Both myelodysplastic syndrome and BCR/ABL -negative classic MPD were previously discussed as part of the current ongoing symposium on hematological malignancies. The current review focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of both molecularly defined and clinicopathologically assigned categories of atypical MPD: chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, chronic neutrophilic leukemia, chronic basophilic leukemia, chronic eosinophilic leukemia, idiopathic eosinophilia including hypereosinophilic syndrome, systemic mastocytosis, unclassified MPD, and eosinophilic/mast cell disorders associated with mutations of platelet-derived growth factor receptors α ( PDGFRA ) and β ( PDGFRB ), FGFR1 , and KIT .
Agenda‐Setting and Policy Results

This paper focuses on three episodes of US. policymaking concerning illicit drugs, one. during the Nixon administration, one during the Carter administration, and the contemporary war on drugs. Drawing upon evidence from drug-related Congressional hearings, the Gallup Poll, counts of relevant articles in the Headers' Guide to Periodical Literature and content analysis of the New York Times Index, the three episodes are characterized as fating one of Cobb, Ross, and Ross's (1976) models of agenda-setting. The paper then considers the linkage between these differences in agenda setting and the very different policy content of each episode. While the Nixon and Carter episodes exemplify the dynamics of “mobilization” and “inside access” agenda setting respectively, the contemporary drug policy episode is anomalous. It suggests the need for an extension of the Cobb, Ross, and Ross typology to incorporate a new, “network” type of agenda setting.
Propagators for shape-invariant potentials.

We derive recursion relations for the propagators of shape-invariant potentials both in the operator formulation as well as in the path-integral formulation. This allows us to determine the form of the propagators recursively. We evaluate the propagators explicitly, for several shape-invariant potentials, using this method.
Repression of interleukin‐6 gene expression by 17β‐estradiol:

The cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key mediator of immune and acute phase responses of the liver, has also been implicated in uterine functions. Estrogens are potent repressors of IL-6 production by uterine stromal cells. In the endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line Ishikawa, phorbol ester-induced activation of the IL-6 promoter was inhibited to basal levels by 17β-estradiol (E2) in a wild-type receptor-dependent fashion. Although tamoxifen has been shown to have estrogenic effects on the endometrium, it did not inhibit induction of the IL-6 promoter. We previously showed that inhibition of IL-6 gene expression by E2 does not involve high-affinity binding of the estrogen receptor (ER) to IL-6 DNA. We now report that the ER can directly interact with the transcription factors NF-IL6 and NF-κB and can inhibit their ability to bind DNA which might be the molecular basis for repression of IL-6 gene expression by estrogens.
An Examination of the Accuracy of Marx’ Description of the Will Theory

It is time at last to turn to an evaluation of Marx’ criticism of the will theory of law as exemplified by Savigny, Hegel, and Locke. Given Marx’ extensive criticism of Hegel and of social contract theory, it is, of course, impossible to address every argument which Marx raised. Therefore, as a foundation, this chapter will consider the accuracy of Marx’ descriptions of the will theories, including the accuracy of his attribution of certain consequences to these theories. In later sections, Marx’ attempt to develop a third alternative to Savigny and Hegel and the apparent genetic fallacy in Marx’ rejection of these philosophers will be discussed.
Understanding Space Launch Vehicle Complexity: A Case Study in Combustion Instabilities

Abstract In rocket engine failures of F-1 and Titan-II, chamber combustion instabilities (CI) caused damage, reflecting behavioral complexities at the component level. Combustion chamber walls with embedded acoustic nodes self-excited by the heat released to cause amplification of acoustic oscillations, showed increases in the thermo-kinetic related pressure. Although the causes of the failed launch were determined decades after the accident, the problem-solving process identified the CI problem domain with information describing the internal representation of the problem. Rocket engine complexity may be described by the high number of component parts contained; alternatively, of the constituent processes occurring. Interactive behaviors not accounted for, occur at the interface between the parts or result from coupling of different processes within the combustion chamber. Unlike monolithic systems, rocket engines exhibit performance behaviors emergent, unpredictable and uncoordinated. Over half propulsion technologies of prospective mission competence have a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) less than 5. However, operational risk needs mitigation through increased development of technological readiness related to not only structural performance but to processes enacted of their functions. Increasingly complex propulsion technologies and the thousands of stakeholder requirements needed for analysis are important for framing problems to be solved. The purpose of this paper is to correlate complexity of propulsion technology at the subsystem level with development of technological readiness for performance reliability. Nonlinear performance behaviors connote system complexity.
‘Normalized’ Family Resources for Families with a Developmentally Disabled Child

to remain together as a unit have been protected by laws and courts through out our nation. Children with developmen tal disabilities, however, have not been af forded the same rights as normal children. For generations, developmentally disabled children have been placed outside their natural homes in institutions and foster homes. Data from the recently conducted Children's Bureau Survey underlined this trend: There is a greater likelihood that handicapped children, particularly the men tally retarded, will be placed in out-of
Triple papillary fibroelastomas in an asymptomatic patient : case report - online article

Papillary fibroelastoma is the third most common type of primary cardiac tumour. Even though the majority of patients with these tumours are asymptomatic, they may present with embolic phenomena, syncope and death. This report describes a patient with papillary fibroelastomas affecting all three cusps of the aortic valve, with accompanying transoesophageal echocardiography and images of surgical specimens of the tumours.
Validation of a mouse conductance system to determine LV volume: comparison to echocardiography and crystals

The application of left ventricular pressure-volume analysis to transgenic mice to characterize the cardiac phenotype has been problematic due to the small size of the mouse heart and the rapid hea...