cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Green Neighborhoods, Food Retail and Childhood Overweight: Differences by Population Density

Purpose. This study examines relationships between overweight in children and two environmental factors—amount of vegetation surrounding a child’s place of residence and proximity of the child’s residence to various types of food retail locations. We hypothesize that living in greener neighborhoods, farther from fast food restaurants, and closer to supermarkets would be associated with lower risk of overweight. Design. Cross-sectional study. Setting. Network of primary care pediatric clinics in Marion County, Indiana. Subjects. We acquired data for 7334 subjects, ages 3 to 18 years, presenting for routine well-child care. Measures. Neighborhood vegetation and proximity to food retail were calculated using geographic information systems for each subject using circular and network buffers. Child weight status was defined using body mass index percentiles. Analysis. We used cumulative logit models to examine associations between an index of overweight, neighborhood vegetation, and food retail environment. Results. After controlling for individual socio-demographics and neighborhood socioeconomic status, measures of vegetation and food retail significantly predicted overweight in children. Increased neighborhood vegetation was associated with decreased risk for overweight, but only for subjects residing in higher population density regions. Increased distance between a subject’s residence and the nearest large brand name supermarkets was associated with increased risk of overweight, but only for subjects residing in lower population density regions. Conclusions. This research suggests that aspects of the built environment are determinants of child weight status, ostensibly by influencing physical activity and dietary behaviors. (Am J Health Promot 2006;21[4 Supplement]:317–325.)
Thermal Stresses and Birefringence in Quenched Tubes and Rods: Simulation and Experiment

Measurements and simulations of the radial distribution of the thermal birefringence components, Δn and nθθ − nrr, and the average birefringence, , in free quenched tubes and rods of polystyrene (PS) and polycarbonate (PC) at different initial temperatures were carried out. The thermal stress and birefringence components were simulated using the linear viscoelastic and photoviscoelastic constitutive equations combined with the first-order rate equation for volume relaxation and the master curves for the Young's relaxation modulus and strain-optical coefficient functions of polymers. The numerical procedures used to discretize the governing equations using finite difference method were described. The obtained numerical results provided the evolution of stress and birefringence components with time during and after quenching and an explanation of the measured residual birefringence distribution in quenched tubes and rods. It was also found that the thickness of the slices removed from the samples to measure the thermal birefringence components, Δn and nθθ − nrr, was critical, in particular, when the initial temperatures were close to the glass transition temperature of polymers. With an increase of the initial temperature during quenching, a better agreement between the simulated and measured birefringence components was obtained. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers
Indicated Preterm Birth for Placenta Accreta

The purpose of this article is to review the risks and benefits of scheduled preterm delivery in patients with placenta accreta, increta, and percreta and to provide guidance regarding timing of delivery in such cases. Relevant documents for this opinion were identified through a search of the English literature for publications, including one or more of the keywords "accreta" or "increta" or "percreta" and "preterm" and "delivery time" by the use of PubMed (U.S. National Library Of Medicine, January 1990-January 2010), with results limited to studies involving humans. Additional information was obtained from references identified from within selected articles, from additional review articles, and from guidelines by organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Each included article was evaluated according to study design and quality in accordance with scheme outlined by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, and final recommendations are provided based on the level of published evidence. On the basis of this search, we found that abnormal placentation, encompassing placenta accreta, increta, and percreta, is increasingly common. We also found that randomized controlled trials and well-controlled observational studies that can be used to define best practice in delivery time are lacking. Optimal delivery time must be determined from available case series, retrospective reviews and decision analysis studies. Given the best-available evidence, optimal time for delivery is believed to be between 34 and 35 weeks in most cases.
Hydrodechlorination of 1,1-dichlorotetrafluoroethane and dichlorodifluoromethane catalyzed by Pd on fluorinated aluminas: The role of support material

The gas phase hydrodechlorination of CF3CFCl2to CF3CFH2and CF2Cl2to CF2H2catalyzed by Pd supported on Al2O3, a series of fluorinated Al2O3, and AlF3was investigated. A combination of reaction kinetics investigations and characterization byin situFTIR spectroscopy has been performed. It has been found that for reactions involving CF3CFCl2, all catalysts exhibit a rapid and significant decrease in activity; however, little change in activity with time on stream occurs with CF2Cl2. FTIR investigations suggest the occurrence of direct reaction between the CFC and the support material, which results in the consumption of hydroxyl groups during the early stages of reaction. The effect of fluorination of support on catalytic behavior of Pd is discussed.
Plasma Cell Granuloma of the Heart

A case of plasma cell granuloma arising in the free ventricular wall and involving the coronary arteries of a 10-month-old female infant is presented. Morphologic characteristics were comparable with those of plasma cell granulomas arising elsewhere. The histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural observations, and in particular the quiescent clinical course of the disease and its control with anti-inflammatory medication, favor a nonneoplastic nature of the lesion. This report documents the presence of an intracardiac plasma cell granuloma for the second time in the medical literature.
HIGH RESOLUTION SPECTROSCOPY IN THE GAS PHASE: Even Large Molecules Have Well-Defined Shapes

A review of recent high-resolution microwave, infrared, and optical spectroscopy experiments demonstrates that remarkable progress has been made in the past 20 years in determining the equilibrium geometries of large polyatomic molecules and their clusters in the gas phase, and how these geometries change when the photon is absorbed. A special focus is on the dynamical information that can be obtained from such studies, particularly of electronically excited states.
Target-specific contrast agents for magnetic resonance microscopy

High-resolution ex vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can be used to delineate prominent architectonic features in the human brain, but increased contrast is required to visualize more subtle distinctions. To aid MR sensitivity to cell density and myelination, we have begun the development of target-specific paramagnetic contrast agents. This work details the first application of luxol fast blue (LFB), an optical stain for myelin, as a white matter-selective MR contrast agent for human ex vivo brain tissue. Formalin-fixed human visual cortex was imaged with an isotropic resolution between 80 and 150 μm at 4.7 and 14 T before and after en bloc staining with LFB. Longitudinal (R1) and transverse (R2) relaxation rates in LFB-stained tissue increased proportionally with myelination at both field strengths. Changes in R1 resulted in larger contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), per unit time, on T1-weighted images between more myelinated cortical layers (IV–VI) and adjacent, superficial layers (I–III) at both field strengths. Specifically, CNR for LFB-treated samples increased by 229±13% at 4.7 T and 269±25% at 14 T when compared to controls. Also, additional cortical layers (IVca, IVd, and Va) were resolvable in 14T-MR images of LFB-treated samples but not in control samples. After imaging, samples were sliced in 40-micron sections, mounted, and photographed. Both the macroscopic and microscopic distributions of LFB were found to mimic those of traditional histological preparations. Our results suggest target-specific contrast agents will enable more detailed MR images with applications in imaging pathological ex vivo samples and constructing better MR atlases from ex vivo brains.
BiLAT: A Game-Based Environment for Practicing Negotiation in a Cultural Context

Negotiation skills are essential in everyday life, whether in a professional or personal context. Negotiation enables two parties to address misunderstandings and avoid conflicts through an exchange that depends as much on the interpersonal skills of the negotiators as the tactics employed. Acquiring these skills requires not only sound conceptual knowledge but also practice and mentoring. This paper describes the BiLAT game-based simulation and tutoring system developed to provide students, initially United States Army soldiers, with an environment to practice preparing for and conducting bilateral negotiations. We describe the models that were created to implement BiLAT, with a particular focus on the challenge of designing for and tutoring in the ill-defined domain of negotiation. An initial assessment of the training effectiveness of the system indicates significant situation-judgment gains by novices.
Large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels in freshly dissociated smooth muscle cells.

Freshly dissociated cells from the stomach muscularis of the toad Bufo marinus have been employed to carry out a systematic set of electrophysiological studies on the membrane properties of smooth muscle. The existence of Ca2+-activated K+ channels became apparent during the first studies under current clamp. In subsequent studies under voltage clamp, a Ca2+-activated, TEA-sensitive outward current was evident, and it was more than an order of magnitude larger than any other current observed in the cells. The channel responsible, at least in part, for this large outward current has been identified on the basis of single-channel records, and some of its main characteristics have been studied. It is similar in many respects to the large-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channel seen in other preparations. This channel has now been found in a considerable diversity of smooth muscle types.
Hypothalamic Growth-Related Cellular Phenomena and Brain Stem-Cord Motor Control Phenomena in a Weil-Defined Vertebrate Neuroendocrine Circuit

Determining the factors which modulate activity of specific cell groups in the brain requires detailed enough understanding of the particular circuits involved that experimental measurements can be set up with precision and critical interpretations can be applied in a sophisticated manner. The neural circuit for a primary female reproductive behavior, lordosis behavior, has been determined (Pfaff 1980; Pfaff and Schwartz-Giblin 1988). Certain strategic advantages allowed this to be the first one completed for a vertebrate behavior, namely relatively simple stimuli and responses, and an exquisite dependence on steroid hormone action in the hypothalamus. The power of estrogenic and progestin actions in facilitating lordosis behavior permitted us to use these steroid hormones as chemically defined triggers for the close analysis of neural mechanisms, and allowed us to relate neurobiological to molecular biological approaches. Using steroid hormone autoradiography, precise locations of neurons with steroid sex hormone receptors were mapped (Pfaff 1968; Pfaff and Keiner 1973; Pfaff 1975; Morrell and Pfaff 1978). An important aspect was the generality of several features of these hormone-binding neurons across all vertebrate species examined (Pfaff 1976; Morrell and Pfaff 1978; McEwen et al. 1979). Not only were the existence and locations of estrogen, androgen, and progestin binding neurons often reliable from species to species, but they also could be correlated well with neural events controlling reproductive physiology.
Stem Cell Factor Influences the Proliferation and Erythroid Differentiation of the MB-02 Human Erythroleukemia Cell Line by Binding to a High-Affinity c-kit Receptor

Stem cell factor (SCF) acts in synergy with other growth factors such as erythropoietin (Epo), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or interleukin-3 (IL-3), to stimulate the growth of primitive hematopoietic cells. Because of the prominent role of CSF in the maintenance of normal erythropoiesis in vivo, we examined the effects of SCF on the Epo-inducible human erythroleukemia cell line MB-02, and characterized the c-kit receptor in these cells. MB-02 cells cultured in serum-containing media do not survive in the absence of exogenous growth factors, but the addition of SCF, Epo, or IL-3 as a single factor enhanced MB-02 survival. Furthermore, in the presence of Epo, SCF (5 to 25 ng/mL) enhanced MB-02 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and increased the relative and absolute number of benzidine-positive cells generated. SCF also enhanced cell proliferation in the presence of either IL-3 or low concentrations of GM-CSF. A neutralizing anti-c-kit receptor monoclonal antibody (SR-1) blocked binding of 125I-SCF to MB-02 cells by 98%, and the effect of SCF on MB-02 growth, c-kit receptor-binding parameters were quantitated by equilibrium-binding experiments with 125I-SCF. MB-02 cells display a single class of high-affinity (50 pmol/L) c-kit receptors, with approximately 8,000 receptors per cell. The molecular weight of the c-kit receptor was determined by affinity cross-linking 125I-SCF to MB-02 cells. 125I-SCF-c-kit receptor complexes of approximately 155,000 and approximately 310,000 daltons were found, likely representing the monomeric and dimeric forms of the c-kit receptor. The binding affinity and molecular weight of the c-kit receptor on MB-02 cells are similar to those of normal human marrow cells. These results suggest that SCF synergizes with Epo to influence not only the proliferation but the erythroid differentiation of MB-02 cells. Thus, the MB-02 cell line may be a useful model in which to investigate the molecular mechanisms of SCF action.
The "culture of honor" in citizens' concepts of their duty

Web studies explored citizens’ concepts of their duty and their choices concerning actual policies. Some people see a moral duty to support their group (their nation) regardless of harmful effects on outsiders. One study supports the hypothesis that this duty avoids betrayal of the nation, which they see as granting the right to vote for the purpose of advancing national interest. Some also see a duty to defend their self-interest through voting; many think this is a rational way to pursue their interests. Another justification is, “If [the voter] does not look out for her own interests, nobody else will.” I hypothesize a norm of responsibility for self-defense, the “culture of honor” (Cohen & Nisbett, 1994) in all of us. Yet politics is by design an inefficient way to pursue self-interest, although it is efficient for advancing the good of all.
Muscle Spindles and the Regulation of Movement

This paper presents the complexities of muscle spindle structure and function. Experimental evidence indicates that the contribution of muscle spindles to motor control depends upon the cooperation of two distinct systems, one dynamic and one static. The traditional idea that load compensation depends on the segmental stretch reflex action of muscle spindle afferents on alpha motoneurons is questioned and evidence is provided to support the direct dependence of load compensation upon supraspinal centers. Information from muscle spindle afferents allows the nervous system 1) to compare the actual muscle length and velocity of contraction to the desired length and velocity for a particular movement and 2) to compensate for any discrepancies that develop. Segmental pathways from muscle spindle afferents appear to function with Golgi tendon organs to regulate the stiffness or compliance of a muscle.
A Game Theoretic Approach for Multi-hop Power Line Communications

In this paper, a model for multi-hop power line communication is studied in which a number of smart sensors, e.g., smart meters, seek to minimize the delay experienced during the transmission of their data to a common control center through multi-hop power line communications. This problem is modeled as a network formation game and an algorithm is proposed for modeling the dynamics of network formation. The proposed algorithm is based on a myopic best response process in which each smart sensor can autonomously choose the path that connects it to the control center through other smart sensors. Using the proposed algorithm, the smart sensors can choose their transmission path while optimizing a cost that is a function of the overall achieved transmission delay. This transmission delay captures a tradeoff between the improved channel conditions yielded by multi-hop transmission and the increase in the number of hops. It is shown that, using this network formation process, the smart sensors can self-organize into a tree structure which constitutes a Nash network. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm presents significant gains in terms of reducing the average achieved delay per smart sensor of at least 28.7% and 60.2%, relative to the star network and a nearest neighbor algorithm, respectively.
Microresonator-Based Optical Frequency Combs: Time-Domain Studies

Strongly cascaded four-wave-mixing in CW-pumped microresonators gives rise to combs of optical frequencies. Time domain studies involving pulse shapers enable new insight into the coherence properties of the generated combs and (in some cases) allow compression to the bandwidth limit
A Simple Trap for Certain Minute Flying Insects

During a study on the distribution of midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a simple trap was developed to catch these insects. The basic structure is a wooden board (12×12 in., ½ in. thick), covered with white cloth and standing 4 in. from the ground. A 2×18-in. metal strip is fixed about 4 in. above the board (Fig. 1). The under side of the strip is smeared with no. 20 motor oil. Threaded ½-in.-diam rods are used as legs and props. The board and the strip are fixed on the threaded rods at the indicated heights by nuts. Insects are caught on the oil surface. They can be easily removed with forceps and cleaned in kerosene.
167 Effect of ground corn fractionation on flowability.

Citation: Kalivoda, J. R., Jones, C. K., & Stark, C. R. (2016). Effect of ground corn fractionation on flowability. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 78-78. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-167
A cytological study of the karyotype of spleen cells from scrapie-affected Chinese hamsters.

SUMMARY Karyological examinations were made on spleen cells derived from Chinese hamsters affected with scrapie. No gross morphological changes in karyotype were observed.
Spectroscopy-Based Quantitative Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Analysis

The combination of green fluorescent protein mutants and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) forms a powerful tool for ion channel studies. A key to successful application of green fluorescent protein-based FRET is to reliably separate the FRET signal from various non-FRET fluorescence emissions that coexist in any experimental system. This chapter introduces a FRET quantification method that is based on fluorescence spectroscopic microscopy. Application of this "spectra FRET" method to both the confocal imaging of Xenopus oocytes and the epifluorescence imaging of culture cells is described. The fluorescence intensity ratio measurement, a complementary non-FRET method for identifying the channel subunit stoichiometry, is also discussed.
Anaerosporomusa subterranea gen. nov., sp. nov., a spore-forming anaerobe belonging to the class Negativicutes isolated from saprolite.

A Gram-stain-negative, spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium designated strain RU4T was isolated from a saprolite core collected from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. Cells were slightly curved rods and exhibited an outer membrane exterior to a thin cell wall. Strain RU4T formed heat-resistant endospores in late-log phase and stationary phase cultures. Under anaerobic conditions, strain RU4T grew by fermenting fumarate and maleate, but did not grow on glucose, glycerol, pyruvate, lactate, succinate, citrate, formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate or valerate. Strain RU4T did not reduce sulfate or ferric iron. The main cellular fatty acids were C17 : 0 cyclo, C16 : 0 and C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 52 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA, rpoB, recA, infB, gyrB and atpD gene sequences indicated that the isolate is related to members of the family Sporomusaceae. Based on 92 % sequence similarity of the 16S rRNA gene to its closest relatives in the family Sporomusaceae and divergent physiological traits, the newly-cultivated isolate was assigned to a novel species of a new genus, Anaerosporomusa subterranea gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Anaerosporomusa subterranea is RU4T (=DSM 29728T=ATCC BAA-2723T).
Is There a Universe?: An Old Insensitivity

About references by scientific cosmologists to the “all” or the “whole” as their subject matter, the first thing to note is that they were slow in coming. For a dozen or so years after the publication of Einstein's famed memoir in 1917, reactions to it had a note not in tune with its basic thrust. Such was the chagrin which E. Borel voiced in 1921 over the fact that the universe could no longer be considered infinite, a reaction more suggestive of his commitment to some form of pantheism than to serious philosophical stock-taking. Scientific cosmologists even failed to note that scientific cosmology is a branch of science, very different from other branches. Unlike in all other branches, where the object is outside the observer, the scientific observer of the cosmos always remains inside it. Worse, authors of the first major commentaries on general relativity were wont to sublimate physical reality into world-lines and other abstractions. From there it was but a short and very logical step to speak of the universe as the product of the mind and have thereby the universe disappear in the slippery world of subjectivism if not plain solipsism. Almost symbolically, this came about in the wake of World War I which itself had dealt a devastating blow to a world of culture that still claimed as its own some remnants of the objectivity of earlier centuries. The first and most widely read high-level popularization of general relativity, Eddington's Space, Time and Gravitation , first published in 1920, came to a close on a markedly solipsistic note: “We have found a strange foot-print on the shores of the unknown.
Wireless sensor networks in surface transportation

Advances in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) have enabled new technologies to offer enriched reliability, seamless mobility, safety, and security in surface transportation. In rail transportation, WSNs play an important role in real-time monitoring of freight railcars to prevent major failures and derailments. However, the wireless communications among a large number of sensors onboard of a train present unique challenges due to the linear rail network topology, wireless signal interference from locomotives and railcars, and limited power sources available on freight railcars. In this presentation, we discuss a unique two-layer WSN architecture suitable for freight railroads.
Measuring subnational democracy: toward improved regime typologies and theories of regime change

Social scientists have been limited in their work by the paucity of global time series data about subnational institutions and practices. Such data could help scholars refine regime typologies, imp...
"La lozana andaluza": migración y pluralismo religioso en el Mediterráneo

Este articulo explora la pluralidad religiosa en la curia romana antes de la reforma eclesiastica, retratada en La Lozana andaluza en tanto microcosmos del mundo mediterraneo. En este contexto, se argumenta el papel central que poseen el humanismo, el comercio y la parodia satirico-literaria de corrientes espirituales como el milenarismo. Los desafios de la sociedad multiconfesional romana, vista por un autor de origen hispano andalusi y redibujada en sucesivas olas migratorias, sirven asi mismo para trazar un puente que posibilita su ensenanza en el aula a traves del analisis comparativo de los problemas actuales relativos al exodo en el Mediterraneo, la regulacion de la inmigracion y las visiones apocalipticas. Desde esta perspectiva, La Lozana incorpora un pasado plurilingue mediante el que reconsiderar la pluralidad religiosa en el canon de la literatura espanola, ahondando en la reflexion sobre las continuidades de la temprana modernidad con las realidades del mundo contemporaneo.
ESD failure resolution with ferrites on exposed signal lines

This paper describes the procedure to find solution to ESD related problems in FPGA based exposed signal lines with the use of ferrite beads. Solution with the use of ferrite beads reduces cost of modification and avoids layout changes. This is a real incident on a product where one of the signal lines is exposed to outside world through a metallic connector; thereby FPGA freezes because of the applied ESD pulse. Different methods were tried including filters and protection devices, and finally with the help of ferrite beads on the interface line under test have solved the problem. This paper explains how the analysis is performed and how concluded at the solution.
Academic research and public policy: Rhetorical lessons from the Sophonow Inquiry

This dissertation is a language-based case study that examines the relationship between academic research and public policy to understand the role of language and rhetoric in how academic research influences public policy. Using one Canadian public inquiry (the Sophonow Inquiry) that clearly resulted in policy uptake of research, this study examines the manner in which academic knowledge and discourse enter public policy, the rhetorical transformation of these knowledge and discourse, and the relevant rhetorical and discourse factors that facilitate policy uptake of research. The analysis in this dissertation reveals that circulation of knowledge and discourse from academic research to public policy is mediated by what I call intermediary genres, and these genres simultaneously filter and validate academic knowledge and discourse into the policy domain through what Anne Freadman theorized as uptake. But this uptake process ironically obscures the epistemological origin of those knowledge and discourse by de-attributing them from academic genres and re-attributing them to other legal or policy genres. This process creates an impression that academic research is less influential than it actually is. Along with this description of the uptake process, this dissertation also identifies a number of rhetorical and discourse factors that facilitate this uptake process. Some of the factors are broad and theoretical (such as the configuration of the intertextual relationship), but others are much more specific (such as, rhetorical emphasis and discourse mode), providing potentially useful information for scholars who are interested in influencing public policy with their research. xi
What’s Wrong with Joyguzzling?

Our thesis is that there is no moral requirement to refrain from emitting reasonable amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) solely in order to enjoy oneself. Joyriding in a gas guzzler (joyguzzling) provides our paradigm example. We first distinguish this claim that there is no moral requirement to refrain from joyguzzling from other more radical claims. We then review several different proposed objections to our view. These include: the claim that joyguzzling exemplifies a vice, causes or contributes to harm, has negative expected value, exceeds our fair share of global emissions, and undermines political duties. We show why none of these objections succeeds and conclude that no good reason has yet been proposed that shows why joyguzzling violates a moral requirement.
Reference-less Method for Computing the Transmission Matrix of a Multimode Fiber

A simple imaging system together with complex semidefinite programming is used to generate the transmission matrix of a multimode fiber. The optical design does not contain a reference arm and no interferometric measurements are required. The input signal is modulated in phase to induce strong mode interference at the fiber output.
School Psychologists’ Confidence in Learning Disability Identification Decisions:

Many school psychologists spend a large portion of their time conducting evaluations for special education, but school psychologists’ confidence in learning disability (learning disability[ies] [LD...
Impact on Society and its Effect on Chemical Progress

As presented in the previous chapter, the Venetian advancements in glassmaking led to its application in laboratory apparatus and development of laboratory glassware. While in many cases, the new laboratory glassware followed older designs previously fabricated from inferior materials, the quality and clarity of the Venetian glass also led to completely new and important objects such as lenses. In fact, some have stated that the most important long term consequence of clear glass manufacture was its development as a thinking tool through the production of mirrors, lenses, and eyeglasses. Through its application in eyeglasses, glass has corrected and helped preserve our eyesight, and its use in the telescope, microscope, spectrometer, and other optical instruments has widened and deepened our ability to see that which is very small or far away. This final chapter will outline the application of glass to the development of such additional critical glass objects and instruments, along with a discussion of how the developments in both the previous and current chapter impacted both society and progress in the chemical sciences.
Modulation of Learning and Memory by Adrenal and Ovarian Hormones

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the impact of the stress-related adrenal hormones, epinephrine and corticosterone, and the reproduction-related ovarian hormones, estrogen and progesterone on learning and memory. Epinephrine enhances learning and memory in a wide range of tasks, including avoidance, extinction of avoidance, and spatial memory tasks. Some of the recent works indicate that adrenal steroids, particularly corticosterone, have potent effects on learning and memory. Like injections of epinephrine, injections of corticosterone enhance memory for a wide range of tasks, e.g., inhibitory avoidance, fear conditioning, and object recognition. Estrogen has potent effects on the structure and functioning of the adult brain. The direction of estrogen action on learning and memory depends on several variables: stress levels, type and duration of hormone regimen, and specific task and memory demands. Present literature validates that estradiol, the most potent naturally found estrogen in mammals, modulates memory formation and maintenance; and biases the learning strategy used to solve a task by altering the relative participation of different neural systems during task performance. There are also consistent findings present showing that progesterone has dramatic effects on brain function and behavior, particularly related to anxiety and fear. The effects of progesterone on cognition are dependent on factors such as the timing of treatments and testing paradigms. The chapter also describes evidence that both stress hormones and reproductive hormones have robust and reliable effects on learning and memory. There are several features of this finding: broad cognitive effects, timing, peripheral and central effects, and molecular and cellular bases,
Cross-Modal Perception: A Basis for Language?

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the significance of cross-modal perception. The importance of further research to the understanding of cross-modal functioning seems clear. A number of fundamental issues regarding cross-modal perception still require clarification. An increased knowledge of cross-modal perception could provide a powerful tool to study the historically important and difficult question of central information processing in animals. However, what evolutionary occurrences could have accounted for this central elaboration is not yet known. On the basis of Geshwind's extensive neurological and theoretical work, he has stated that it cannot be argued that the ability to form cross-modal associations depends on already having speech, rather the ability to acquire speech has as a prerequisite the ability to form cross-modal associations and the ability to form cross-modal linkages was a necessary condition for the acquisition of language. The cross-modal perception of equivalence requires the derivation of a modality-independent representation, cognition, or the concept of a stimulus or event. Animals that can have the same or similar representation, regardless of the means of peripheral reception, possess a great advantage in coping with the complex demands of living, especially in unusual circumstances in which one modality may be operating suboptimally when precise and accurate response is necessary on the basis of limited information or when cognitive manipulation is required.
Food Sovereignty and Gender Justice

Food sovereignty asserts the right of peoples to define and organize their own agricultural and food systems so as to meet local needs and so as to secure access to land, water and seed. A commitment to gender equity has been embedded in the food sovereignty concept from its earliest articulations. Some might wonder why gender justice should figure so prominently in a food movement. In this paper I review and augment the arguments for making gender equity a central component of food sovereignty. The most common argument is: if women constitute the majority of the world’s food producers, then agricultural policy is a women’s issue. And insofar as patriarchal social relations continue to dominate the globe, then changing agricultural policies will require explicit attention to gender injustice. I suggest that this is a good argument, but that an ecological feminist perspective can provide additional theoretical reasons for maintaining the centrality of gender justice in food sovereignty discourse. Moreover, ecological feminism can provide a robust theoretical framework that coheres a concept and movement with a wide set of concerns. My critique positions food sovereignty’s call to social justice as embedded in a truly radical re-thinking of dominant conceptual frameworks, and re-envisioning of political and ethical relations.
Compact, fiber-coupled, single-ended laser-absorption-spectroscopy sensors for high-temperature environments.

The design and demonstration of a compact single-ended laser-absorption-spectroscopy sensor for measuring temperature and H2O in high-temperature combustion gases is presented. The primary novelty of this work lies in the design, demonstration, and evaluation of a sensor architecture that uses a single lens to provide single-ended, alignment-free (after initial assembly) measurements of gas properties in a combustor without windows. We demonstrate that the sensor is capable of sustaining operation at temperatures up to at least 625 K and is capable of withstanding direct exposure to high-temperature (≈1000 K) flame gases for long durations (at least 30 min) without compromising measurement quality. The sensor employs a fiber bundle and a 6 mm diameter antireflection-coated lens mounted in a 1/8'' NPT-threaded stainless-steel body to collect laser light that is backscattered off native surfaces. Distributed-feedback tunable diode lasers (TDLs) with a wavelength near 1392 nm and 1343 nm were used to interrogate well-characterized H2O absorption transitions using wavelength-modulation-spectroscopy techniques. The sensor was demonstrated with measurements of gas temperature and H2O mole fraction in a propane-air burner with a measurement bandwidth up to 25 kHz. In addition, this work presents an improved wavelength-modulation spectroscopy spectral-fitting technique that reduces computational time by a factor of 100 compared to previously developed techniques.
Assessment of the significance of psychophysiological components in maintaining the activity of operators in high mountain areas

The importance of basic psychophysiological components determining the efficiency of the sensorimotor performance of operators is considered. It is shown that the intensity and the difficulty of labor are conditioned not only by production conditions, but also by bioclimatic discomfort and bioclimatic contrasts of the environment. It is established that the bioclimatic discomfort of high altitudes (3800 m above sea level) lowers the potential of energy, sensory and effector components in the sensorimotor profile of operators; however, in subjects with high operational and functional qualities, the success of activity is ensured by optimal reorganization of functional connections between separate components and the specific character of realization of the activation component.
Vibration Versus Ice to Reduce Cosmetic Botulinum Toxin Injection Pain-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Botulinum toxin is the most commonly performed facial cosmetic procedure and pain at the injection site is a frequent patient concern. While various topical interventions have been described for analgesia, there have not been any studies comparing different techniques. We compared the use of a vibratory stimulus, ice pack application, and no intervention on injection site pain for cosmetic botulinum toxin injection. A prospective-, randomized-, individual-controlled study was conducted using a visual analog scale to assess pain. Patients received bilateral glabellar injections, with randomization into unilateral vibration, unilateral ice application, or vibration and ice on either side. We analyzed 88 injections on 22 patients. Mean visual analog scores were 26.5 (standard deviation [SD]: 23.1) among injections with vibration, 24.4 (SD: 22.9) with ice, and 29.4 (SD: 27.1) without analgesia. There was no significant difference in pain scale scores with the use of vibration, ice, or no topical anesthesia (P = .737). Further, pain scale scores did not differ significantly between medial and lateral injections nor did patients have a reduction in pain on either side of the forehead regardless of which method was used. While there may be a role for topical interventions to improve injection site analgesia, we maintain that consistently proper technique plays a greater role in improving patient tolerance. Future studies will continue to investigate the role of topical anesthesia in cosmetic facial injections and address patient-specific factors contributing to discomfort.
Uptake and use of a diabetes management program with a mobile glucometer.

Abstract Objective Innovative mobile health technologies (mHealth) may facilitate self-management of blood glucose. This study evaluates uptake, use, and predictors of uptake and long-term use of a diabetes mHealth intervention, which comprises an FDA-approved mobile glucometer and nurse coaching, in a real-world setting. Methods n = 4438 commercially-insured adults with diabetes were recruited from 2014 to 2015 via an opt-in, phone-based process. In this post-only study, we obtained data on recruitment, glucometer use, demographics, and insurance and employer characteristics. We calculated percent uptake and reasons for unsuccessful recruitment. We used logistic regression to model predictors of uptake and survival analysis to examine duration of testing and predictors of discontinuation. Results Of the recruited members, 556 (12.5%) signed up for the mHealth program and 324 (7.3%) began testing. Of those who did not sign up, the majority (70.6%) were unable to be reached by phone. Male (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.25, 2.03) and Spanish-speaking (OR = 8.34, 95% CI: 5.40, 12.88) members were more likely to start testing. Two-thirds (66.2%) of those who started testing had a first test value that indicated hyperglycemia; 97% tested more than once and the median time between first and last test was 407 days. Older age was the only significant predictor of long-term use. Conclusions Although uptake of the mHealth program was low, most members who started testing had initial glucose values that indicated a need for better glucose management and the majority of patients engaged with the program for over a year. Male and Spanish-speaking members were more likely to initiate the program.
Multi-component heteroarene couplings via polarity-reversed radical cascades

A multi-component radical addition strategy enables difunctionalization of alkenes with heteroarenes and a variety of radical precursors, including N3, P(O)R2, and CF3. This unified approach for coupling diverse classes of electrophilic radicals and heteroarenes to vinyl ethers allows for direct, vicinal C-C as well as C-N, C-P, and C-Rf bond formation.
Reconfigurable Infrared Flat Optics with Novel Phase Change Materials

We report on pixelated, reversibly-switchable devices based on novel chalcogenide phase change materials (PCMs), Ge-Sb-Se-Te (GSST) with transparency from 1.5 to > 15 microns. We describe applications in integrated photonics and hyperspectral imaging, enabled by reconfigurable optical elements.
Just-in-the-Moment Adaptive Interventions (JITAI): A Meta-Analytical Review

A just-in-time, adaptive intervention (JITAI) is an emerging type of intervention that provides tailored support at the exact time of need. It does so using enabling new technologies (e.g., mobile ...
Professional Noticing into Practice: An Examination of Inservice Teachers’ Conceptions and Enactment

Teacher noticing and the related construct of professional noticing of children's mathematical thinking have proven to be fertile ground for education researchers. Professional noticing is a framew...
Adaptation in the Face of the New Normal

In this study, I argue that existing theories of organizational adaptation are inadequate in the face of the growing frequency of life-threatening events such as natural disasters, terrorist attack...
A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Barriers to and Facilitators of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Adolescents in Montana.

ObjectivesHuman papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates among adolescents are lower in rural areas than in urban areas of the United States. The objective of this study was to identify barriers to a...
Research on Reactive Power Planning Technology of Power Grid Containing UHVDC System with High Proportion of Renewable Energy Integration

In large-scale renewable energy bases, thousands of renewable energy power generation units are often installed, but wind power is different from the reactive characteristics of traditional thermal power plants, the renewable energy power plant is essentially a weak grid with strong voltage sensitivity. Weak-end power grids have weak voltage support capabilities and prominent reactive power problems. Under the operating conditions of large-scale renewable energy generation, heavy line load and other operating conditions, the randomness and fluctuation of renewable energy generation will lead to the voltage of the local power grid in the connected area. Large fluctuations can easily induce serious system security and stability accidents. The occurrence of multiple large-scale wind power off-grid accidents has highlighted the problem of system reactive voltage stability caused by large-scale renewable energy grid connection. The existing reactive voltage control method based on a single renewable energy power plant has been unable to meet the needs of large-scale renewable energy development, and it is urgent to study the renewable energy power generation unit in a large renewable energy power plant that takes into account the voltage distribution and rapid change of active power in the field, and centralized reactive power compensation equipment reactive voltage control mode. The impact of large-scale renewable energy centralized connect to the reactive voltage stability of the power grid is not only a local issue but has become a global issue. It is necessary to carry out research on reactive power allocation of power systems that takes into account the large-scale renewable energy grid connection. By coordinating the reactive power control of large-scale renewable energy bases and the main grid, the voltage stability level of the entire system is improved to prevent large-scale wind power off-grid accidents.
Impact of Qualitative and Quantitative Visual Experience on the Auditory Perception of Apertures

Visual experience with the experimental setting is known to influence observer’s judgments of sound source location. The present study encompasses three experiments that sought to reveal the impact...
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the orbit: a case report and review of the literature

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is a rare tumor which infrequently involves the orbit. They occur most often in the setting of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), and therefore the involvement of the orbit without a history of NF1 is even less common. Management of this tumor is fraught with a high rate of recurrences and metastases, with a high mortality rate. Primary surgical excision with tumor-free margins remains the primary treatment, while adjuvant modalities such as radiation and chemotherapy play a more minor role.
How to environmental, demographic, and geographical measure the environmental factors influence the spread of Covid-19

Abstract. Italy was the first European country to experience a rapid increase in confirmed cases and deaths of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This chapter explains how COVID-19 transmitted so rapidly in Northern Italy, analysing the underlying relationships between infected people and environmental, demographic, and geographical factors that influenced its spread. This study analyses data on COVID-19 cases alongside environmental data. This study finds out that cities with little wind, high humidity and frequently high levels of air pollution — exceeding safe levels of ozone or particulate matter — had higher numbers of COVID-19 related infected individuals and deaths. Overall, then, results here suggest that geo-environmental factors may have accelerated the spread of COVID-19 in Northern Italian cities, leading to a higher number of infected individuals and deaths. Keywords. Air pollution, Environment and health, Natural hazards, Risk assessment, Urban environment, Sustainable development and policy assessment, Sustainable Growth. JEL. Q12, Q13, Q15, Q18 .
Adjoint-Matching Neural Network Surrogates for Fast 4D-Var Data Assimilation.

The data assimilation procedures used in many operational numerical weather forecasting systems are based around variants of the 4D-Var algorithm. The cost of solving the 4D-Var problem is dominated by the cost of forward and adjoint evaluations of the physical model. This motivates their substitution by fast, approximate surrogate models. Neural networks offer a promising approach for the data-driven creation of surrogate models. The accuracy of the surrogate 4D-Var problem's solution has been shown to depend explicitly on accurate modeling of the forward and adjoint for other surrogate modeling approaches and in the general nonlinear setting. We formulate and analyze several approaches to incorporating derivative information into the construction of neural network surrogates. The resulting networks are tested on out of training set data and in a sequential data assimilation setting on the Lorenz-63 system. Two methods demonstrate superior performance when compared with a surrogate network trained without adjoint information, showing the benefit of incorporating adjoint information into the training process.