cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of CO, H2O and H2 coverage by XANES and EXAFS on Pt and Au during water gas shift reaction.

The turn-over-rate (TOR) for the water gas shift (WGS) reaction at 200 °C, 7% CO, 9% CO2, 22% H2O, 37% H2 and balance Ar, of 1.4 nm Au/Al2O3 is approximately 20 times higher than that of 1.6 nm Pt/Al2O3. Operando EXAFS experiments at both the Au and Pt L3 edges reveal that under reaction conditions, the catalysts are fully metallic. In the absence of adsorbates, the metal–metal bond distances of Pt and Au catalysts are 0.07 A and 0.13 A smaller than those of bulk Pt and Au foils, respectively. Adsorption of H2 or CO on the Pt catalysts leads to significantly longer Pt–Pt bond distances; while there is little change in Au–Au bond distance with adsorbates. Adsorption of CO, H2 and H2O leads to changes in the XANES spectra that can be used to determine the surface coverage of each adsorbate under reaction conditions. During WGS, the coverage of CO, H2O, and H2 are obtained by the linear combination fitting of the difference XANES, or ΔXANES, spectra. Pt catalysts adsorb CO, H2, and H2O more strongly than the Au, in agreement with the lower CO reaction order and higher reaction temperatures.
Osmotic effects on feline spermatozoa from normospermic versus teratospermic donors.

Effects of osmolality stresses on the sperm of normospermic (>60% normal sperm/ejaculate) versus teratospermic ( 450 mOsm. Spermatozoa from all felines underwent marked (P 85% of the cells maintaining intact membranes, severe membrane disruption occurred when cells were returned to isotonicity in a single step. There was no difference (P > 0.05) between a 1- and 5-min exposure to various anisotonic solutions. Similarly, sperm from normospermic and teratospermic domestic cats responded identically after exposure to ionic or nonionic solute. Results demonstrate that: (1) spermatozoa from teratospermic males are more vulnerable to a hypotonic stress than sperm from normospermic counterparts; (2) in response to small deviations in osmolality, feline sperm experience a more rapid decline in motility than membrane integrity; and (3) an abrupt return to isotonicity after a hypertonic stress causes extensive sperm membrane damage regardless of ejaculate quality.
The initial value formulation of higher derivative gravity

The initial value problem is considered for the conformally coupled scalar field and higher derivative gravity, by expressing the equations of each theory in harmonic coordinates. For each theory it is shown that the (vacuum) equations can take the form of a diagonal hyperbolic system with constraints on the initial data. Consequently these theories possess well‐posed initial value formulations.
An improved self-damped pneumatic isolator

Abstract It has previously been shown that very good isolation characteristics could be obtained from vibration isolators if the isolator properties (for example, stiffness) were made frequency dependent. In this paper a system of this type is described which uses the fact that low-frequency pressure fluctuations are transmitted more readily through a capillary tube than high-frequency fluctuations. This is used to modify the isolator properties in such a way that its isolation characteristics for both shock forces and steady harmonic forces throughout the frequency range are very good. The drawbacks of earlier systems of this kind have been avoided by the introduction of an inertia block which considerably improves the high-frequency behaviour of the isolator.
Effects of ethanol inhalation on EEG in rats.

Abstract Effects of ethanol on duration of stages of sleep-wake cycle and EEG power spectra were measured during a 2-h exposure in a dynamic inhalational chamber in rats. Rats were exposed to one of four graded concentrations (approx. 100, 400, 800 and 1600 ppm) of ethanol on different days. Ethanol was found to increase the duration of waking (W) with a decrease in duration of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep at 100 and 400 ppm. No effect was observed at 800 and 1600 ppm on the stages of sleep-wake cycle or at 100–1600 ppm on EEG power spectra from the somatosensory or visual cortices. Results indicate that ethanol administered by inhalation could produce arousal action at low doses, but did not have any effect on EEG power spectrum at the concentrations used.
What Works in Coping With HIV? A Meta-Analysis With Implications for Coping With Serious Illness

Knowledge of effective ways of coping with HIV is critical to help individuals with HIV maintain the best possible psychological and physical well-being. The purpose of the present article is to determine, through meta-analysis, the strength of the evidence regarding 2 questions: (a) Which types of coping are related to psychological and physical well-being among people with HIV? and (b) Do contextual (pre?post introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapies [HAART]; time since diagnosis), measurement (HIV-related event vs. generic prompts for coping measurement), or individual (gender) variables affect the extent to which coping is related to physical and psychological well-being? The authors' analysis demonstrates that Direct Action and Positive Reappraisal were consistently associated with better outcomes in people coping with HIV across affective, health behavior, and physical health categories. In contrast, disengagement forms of coping, such as Behavioral Disengagement and Use of Alcohol or Drugs to Cope, were consistently associated with poorer outcomes. The findings also indicate that in some cases, coping effectiveness was dependent on contextual factors, including time since diagnosis and the advent of HAART.
Functional heterogeneity of human mast cells from different anatomic sites: in vitro responses to morphine sulfate.

The responses of human cutaneous, pulmonary, intestinal, and cardiac tissue masi cells to the histamine-releasing agent morphine sulfate (MS) were investigated in vitro. Human cutaneous mast cells released significant amounts of histamine in the presence of 1 to 100 μmol/L concentrations of MS. Histamine release was detectable within 5 minutes after challenge and was complete, by 15 minutes. A maximal histamine release of 21.6% (±1.4 SEM) was observed after stimulation with 100 μmol/L of MS. This MS effect was inhibited by the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone with a 59% inhibition detected at equimolar, concentrations and an 88% inhibition occurring in the presence of a tenfold molar excess of naloxone. Naloxone did not alter the cutaneous mast cell response to the calcium ionophore A23187. Human mast cells derived from pulmonary, intestinal, and cardiac tissues, as well as blood basophils, did not release histamine after stimulation with 1 to 200 μmol/L of MS, whereas each of these cell preparations responded to an IgE-mediated stimulus. The results of this study demonstrate that cutaneous mast cells release inflammatory mediators after stimulation by MS, whereas mast cells residing in lung, heart, and gastrointestinal tissues do not. These observations indicate that human mast cells in different anatomic sites can vary in their functional responses.
Effects of exchange rate volatility on export volume and prices of forest products

The relative value of currencies varies considerably over time. These fluctuations bring uncertainty to international traders. As a result, the volatility in exchange rate movements may influence the volume and the price of traded commodities. The volatility of exchange rates was measured by the variance of residuals in a GARCH(1,1) model of the exchange rate. We estimated the effect of this exchange rate volatility on export quantity and price with autoregressive distributed lag models based on monthly data of US exports and prices to 14 countries for eight commodity groups. The most general and statistically significant results were obtained by pooling the time series data across destination countries and products. They suggested that an increase in exchange rate variability of 1% led to a short-run decrease in export quantity of 0.3%–0.4% and to a short-run decrease in export price of 0.1%. Both the quantity and the price effect faded away over time. The effects were less systematic and statistically s...
Membrane-derived oligosaccharides (MDO's) promote closing of an E. coli porin channel

The outer membrane or Escherichia coli is a diffusion barrier for macromolecules, but allows the passage of small hydrophilic solutes through non-specific channels, the porins. Some electrophysiological studies find reconstituted porins in a mostly open state, while those done with the patch-clamp technique performed on live cells suggest that the vast majority of the native channels are closed. We present here current measurements through porins from reconstituted outer membrane, which demonstrate that bacterial metabolites, the MDO's, which bathe the periplasmic side of the outer membrane, induce the channels to close. These findings illustrate that the degree or openess of porins can be regulated by compounds naturally found in bacteria.
Feeding excess crude protein to gestating and lactating beef heifers: Impact on parturition, milk composition, ovarian function, reproductive efficiency and pre-weaning progeny growth

Abstract Angus–Simmental beef heifers confirmed pregnant to a single sire (n=78) were used to determine the effects of feeding excess CP during late gestation and early lactation on parturition, milk composition, reproduction, and pre-weaning progeny growth. At 192 d in gestation, heifers were allotted by BW within BCS to receive either a corn silage-based control diet balanced to meet or exceed NRC recommendations (2000) (CON), or a diet that considerably exceeded CP requirements consisting of corn stover and DDGS, where DDGS were fed as a primary energy source (HP). Diets were formulated to provide similar daily energy intake (2.09 Mcal/d NEg). Dietary treatments were stopped at 118±4 d postpartum (DPP) and cow/calf pairs were comingled. Calving parameters and pre-weaning calf performance were assessed. At 64±4 DPP, milk samples were collected to determine composition and fatty acid profile. At 32±4 DPP, a single follicular wave was mapped via ultrasonography in 12 anestrous heifers per treatment. Starting 34±4 DPP, blood samples were taken every 10 d until synchronization to determine resumption of estrous cyclicity. Gestation was longer (P=0.02) and incidence of dystocia was greater (P=0.003) for HP than CON, respectively. Birth BW was greater (P
ENZYME ACTION IN ECHINODONTIUM TINCTORIUM ELLIS AND EVERHART

In Echinodontium tinctorium the presence of the following enzymes was demonstrated: esterase, maltase, lactase, sucrase, raffinase, diastase, inulase, cellulase, hemicellulase, urease, rennet, and catalase.
Time-of-use based electricity demand response for sustainable manufacturing systems

As required by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, utility companies across the U.S. are offering TOU (time-of-use) based electricity demand response programs. The TOU rate gives consumers opportunities to manage their electricity bill by shifting use from on-peak periods to mid-peak and off-peak periods. Reducing the amount of electricity needed during the peak load times makes it possible for the power grid to meet consumers' needs without building more costly backup infrastructures and help reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. Previous research on the applications of TOU and other electricity demand response programs has been mainly focused on residential and commercial buildings while largely neglected industrial manufacturing systems. This paper proposes a systems approach for TOU based electricity demand response for sustainable manufacturing systems under the production target constraint. Key features of this approach include: (i) the electricity related costs including both consumption and demand are integrated into production system modeling; (ii) energy-efficient and demand-responsive production scheduling problems are formulated and the solution technique is provided; and (iii) the effects of various factors on the near-optimal scheduling solutions are examined. The research outcome is expected to enhance the energy efficiency, electricity demand responsiveness, and cost effectiveness of modern manufacturing systems.
Analysis of the gliding pattern of the canine flexor digitorum profundus tendon through the A2 pulley

Abstract Friction between a tendon and its pulley was first quantified using the concept of the arc of contact. Studies of human tendons conformed closely to a theoretical nylon cable/nylon rod model. However, we observed differences in measured friction that depended on the direction of motion in the canine model. We hypothesized that fibrocartilaginous nodules in the tendon affected the measurements and attempted to develop a theoretical model to explain the observations we made. Two force transducers were connected to each end of the canine flexor digitorum profundus tendon and the forces were recorded when it was moved through the A2 pulley toward a direction of flexion by an actuator and then reversed a direction toward extension. The changes of a force as a function of tendon excursion were evaluated in 20 canine paws. A bead cable/rod model was developed to simulate the canine tendon–pulley complex. To interpret the results, a free-body diagram was developed. The two prominent fibrocartilaginous nodules in the tendon were found to be responsible for deviation from a theoretical nylon cable gliding around the rod model, in a fashion analogous to the effect of the patella on the quadriceps mechanism. A bead cable/rod model qualitatively reproduced the findings observed in the canine tendon–pulley complex. Frictional coefficient of the canine flexor tendon–pulley was 0.016±0.005. After accounting for the effect created by the geometry of two fibrocartilaginous nodules within the tendon, calculation of frictional force in the canine tendon was possible.
Alpha-minimum essential medium (MEM) enhances in vitro hatched blastocyst development and cell number per embryo over Ham's F-10.

Problem The development of mouse embryos in vitro is affected primarily by mouse strain-genotype and culture conditions. Embryo culture studies evaluate the effectiveness of culture conditions in supporting one- or two-cell mouse embryo development to the blastocyst stage by reporting the percentage blastocyst formation rate.
Predation by Tiger Muskellunge on Bluegill: Effects of Predator Experience, Vegetation, and Prey Density

Abstract Many pellet-reared tiger muskellunge (F1 hybrid of female muskellunge Esox masquinongy and male northern pike E. lucius) do not survive stocking in reservoirs dominated by bluegill Lepomis macrochirus prey. Poor survival may occur because few hybrids capture bluegills. In a previous study done in hatchery ponds, only 10% of naive hybrids (those never before exposed to live prey) captured bluegills during 15 days. In similar ponds, we tested the effects of predator experience (using hybrids previously exposed to bluegill prey), vegetative cover, and bluegill density on the number of hybrids capturing prey. Few experienced or naive hybrids captured bluegills at low prey density, regardless of the presence or absence of vegetation. When bluegill density was increased from 1 to 5 prey/m2 in ponds or to 40/m2 in aquaria, many hybrids captured bluegills. Our pond study suggests that most hybrids will not fare well when stocked in lakes where only bluegill forage is present. Received April 19, 1983 Acce...
In vitro studies of p32 uptake in mouse liver mitochondria.

Isolated mouse liver mitochondria were incubated in two types of P32-labelled sucrose-phosphate buffers. The first contained no added ATP or oxidizable substrate. The second contained added ATP. Samples were taken at specified times, up to 60 minutes, and analyses were made of the mitochondrial TCA-soluble inorganic P32 and the total mitochondrial residue P31 and P32. The results of the analyses showed that when the phosphorus inhibition index (the ratio of the amount of incubation inorganic phosphorus to the square of the amount of tyrosine in the mitochondria) was high, inorganic P32 uptake was low and vice versa. In accordance with established data, increased P32 uptake was obtained when ATP was added. ATP was found to stabilize the turnover of TCA-insoluble residue phosphorus as well as to maintain the TCA-soluble orthophosphate pool. These results support findings regarding the inhibitory and controlling effects of incubation medium phosphate in the regulation of inorganic phosphorus uptake.
Sustainability and end-of-life product management: a case study of electronics collection scenarios

The national electronics product stewardship initiative (NEPSI) was established by the US EPA to examine issues associated with electronics recycling, engage in discussions to build consensus among all stakeholder groups, and recommend a strategy for developing a national electronics recycling program. One of the outcomes of this effort was a set of guidelines describing a base level of service for collection and recycling which would apply across the country. Fundamental to the concept of base level of service is sustainability - the need to balance societal concerns for end-of-life product management with system cost effectiveness and environmentally-sound operational strategies. the sustainability target method (STM), developed in close collaboration between Lucent Bell Labs and the Multi-lifecycle Engineering Research Center at NJIT, is used to evaluate various alternative collection scenarios. The key and unique feature of the STM is that it links the economic value of a system with its environmental impact by defining the relative indicator resource productivity (RP) for impact and the absolute indicator eco-efficiency (EE) for sustainability, thereby providing practical sustainability criteria for evaluation.
Long-term developmental outcome of children with a fetal diagnosis of isolated inferior vermian hypoplasia

Objectives Isolated inferior vermian hypoplasia (iiVH) is one of the most common fetal cerebellar anomalies presenting for fetal neurological counselling with controversial postnatal neurodevelopmental outcome. In the present study, we characterised the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of prenatally diagnosed iiVH at school age. Design and patients We prospectively followed 20 children with fetal MRI diagnosis of iiVH including their postnatal MRI result and developmental outcome at school age (mean 6.1 years±1.9 years SD) using a comprehensive age-appropriate developmental testing battery, which encompassed cognitive, language, social and behavioural domains. Parental stress level and socioeconomic status were also evaluated. Results All children with postnatally confirmed iiVH had a normal neurodevelopmental outcome. A subgroup of children (2/20) who demonstrated cognitive delays and behavioural impairments had more extensive cerebellar malformation. Despite a normal developmental outcome, the parents of children with postnatally confirmed iiVH had higher parental stress compared with those parents whose children had normal postnatal MRI. Conclusions Children with postnatally confirmed iiVH show age appropriate functioning at school age. Postnatal MRI is important to confirm the diagnosis of iiVH and to exclude associated anomalies that impact neurodevelopmental outcome. A diagnosis of iiVH is associated with persistent elevated parental stress despite normal developmental outcomes in these children suggesting the need for ongoing parental support.
Dissection of the molecular mechanism of action of GW5638, a novel estrogen receptor ligand, provides insights into the role of estrogen receptor in bone.

The estrogen receptor (ER) mixed agonists tamoxifen and raloxifene have been shown to protect against bone loss in ovariectomized rats. However, the mechanism by which these compounds manifest their activity in bone is unknown. We have used a series of in vitro screens to select for compounds that are mechanistically distinct from tamoxifen and raloxifene in an effort to define the properties of an ER modulator required for bone protection. Using this approach, we identified a novel high affinity ER antagonist, GW5638, which when assayed in vitro functions as an ER antagonist, inhibiting the agonist activity of estrogen, tamoxifen, and raloxifene and reversing the “inverse agonist” activity of the pure antiestrogen ICI182,780. Thus, GW5638 appears to function as an antagonist in these in vitro systems, although in a manner distinct from other known ER modulators. Predictably, therefore, GW5638 alone displays minimal uterotropic activity in ovariectomized rats, but will inhibit the agonist activity of estr...
The Plant Vesicle-associated SNARE AtVTI1a Likely Mediates Vesicle Transport from the Trans-Golgi Network to the Prevacuolar Compartment

Membrane traffic in eukaryotic cells relies on recognition between v-SNAREs on transport vesicles and t-SNAREs on target membranes. Here we report the identification of AtVTI1a and AtVTI1b, two Arabidopsis homologues of the yeast v-SNARE Vti1p, which is required for multiple transport steps in yeast. AtVTI1a and AtVTI1b share 60% amino acid identity with one another and are 32 and 30% identical to the yeast protein, respectively. By suppressing defects found in specific strains of yeast vti1 temperature-sensitive mutants, we show that AtVTI1a can substitute for Vti1p in Golgi-to-prevacuolar compartment (PVC) transport, whereas AtVTI1b substitutes in two alternative pathways: the vacuolar import of alkaline phosphatase and the so-called cytosol-to-vacuole pathway used by aminopeptidase I. Both AtVTI1a and AtVTI1b are expressed in all major organs of Arabidopsis. Using subcellular fractionation and immunoelectron microscopy, we show that AtVTI1a colocalizes with the putative vacuolar cargo receptor AtELP on the trans-Golgi network and the PVC. AtVTI1a also colocalizes with the t-SNARE AtPEP12p to the PVC. In addition, AtVTI1a and AtPEP12p can be coimmunoprecipitated from plant cell extracts. We propose that AtVTI1a functions as a v-SNARE responsible for targeting AtELP-containing vesicles from the trans-Golgi network to the PVC, and that AtVTI1b is involved in a different membrane transport process.
Conflicting commands versus decision time: A cross‐level experiment

This paper describes a cross-level experiment at the levels of the individual person and group. Using a microcomputer to interact with subjects, this experiment tested James Grier Miller's hypothesis that decision time will vary as a function of the degree of difference in a command array. The results tended to support the hypothesis at both the organism and group level.
The Relationship between Ethylene Binding and Dominant Insensitivity Conferred by Mutant Forms of the ETR1 Ethylene Receptor

Ethylene responses in Arabidopsis are mediated by a small family of receptors, including the ETR1 gene product. Specific mutations in the N-terminal ethylene-binding domain of any family member lead to dominant ethylene insensitivity. To investigate the mechanism of ethylene insensitivity, we examined the effects of mutations on the ethylene-binding activity of the ETR1 protein expressed in yeast. The etr1-1 and etr1-4 mutations completely eliminated ethylene binding, while the etr1-3 mutation severely reduced binding. Additional site-directed mutations that disrupted ethylene binding in yeast also conferred dominant ethylene insensitivity when the mutated genes were transferred into wild-type Arabidopsis plants. By contrast, the etr1-2 mutation did not disrupt ethylene binding in yeast. These results indicate that dominant ethylene insensitivity may be conferred by mutations that disrupt ethylene binding or that uncouple ethylene binding from signal output by the receptor. Increased dosage of wild-type alleles in triploid lines led to the partial recovery of ethylene sensitivity, indicating that dominant ethylene insensitivity may involve either interactions between wild-type and mutant receptors or competition between mutant and wild-type receptors for downstream effectors.
The Legal Writer's Checklist Manifesto

Saving money, saving time, and saving lives: these are the accomplishments of the "humble" checklist outlined in Atul Gawande, The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right (Metropolitan 2009). The Checklist Manifesto explores various types of checklists and their benefits for professionals working in various fields such as medicine, aviation, and construction. This book review focuses on checklists’ potential benefits for lawyers - and more specifically, for lawyers engaged in the task of legal writing. Widely available checklists provide excellent tools for new lawyers to check their work and internalize common stylistic practices of legal writing. These same checklists can also help experienced lawyers to edit their work efficiently and to notice and change bad writing habits they may have acquired. Yet the benefits of checklists extend beyond the individual writer laboring to complete an assignment. The Checklist Manifesto also explains the benefits of process-based checklists, which require members of a team simply to check in with one another at specified intervals. These process-based checklists could help teams of lawyers to work together more efficiently and produce more effective written work product. Process-based checklists also contribute to a healthy and open working dynamic in which all members of a team have robust opportunities to participate. The Checklist Manifesto makes a compelling case for the benefits of checklists in various industries. Legal writing - as one concrete embodiment of law practice itself - stands equally to gain.
Tree Ordination as Invented Tradition

The symbolic ordination of trees as monks in Thailand is widely perceived in Western scholarship to be proof of the power of Buddhism to spur ecological thought. However, a closer analysis of tree ordination demonstrates that it is not primarily about Buddhist teaching, but rather is an invented tradition based on the sanctity of Thai Buddhist symbols as well as those of spirit worship and the monarchy. Tree ordinations performed by non-Buddhist minorities in Thailand do not demonstrate a religious commitment but rather a political one.
Current concepts of anticoagulant therapy in pregnancy

Pregnant women are subjected to a fivefold increased risk of venous thrombosis during pregnancy and are more likely to die from this disease after a live birth than from any other cause in the United States. 5 Thromboembolism also accounts for the largest number of maternal deaths in Wales and England, 33 and data from Sweden during the period 1980 to 1988 also confirmed embolism as the leading cause of maternal death. 56 Multiple changes in the coagulation system account for the hypercoagulable state of pregnancy, including increases in clotting factors, decreases in natural inhibitors of coagulation, changes in the fibrinolytic system, increases in venous stasis, and vascular injury at delivery from placental separation, cesarean section, or infection. 10 As a consequence, antithrombotic therapy in pregnancy is used for the treatment of acute events, the prophylaxis of patients with a history of events, the prevention and treatment of systemic embolization in women with valvular disease, and as prophylaxis against fetal loss and thrombosis in women with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Despite the gravity of this problem in pregnant women, treatment guidelines are nondefinitive and often contradictory because the evidence upon which recommendations can be based is largely derived from retrospective studies. Pregnant women are usually excluded from prospective treatment studies owing to concerns that antithrombotic agents pose risks for both maternal and fetal complications. This article critically appraises the literature on the maternal and fetal effects of anticoagulants, including low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and thrombolytic agents; discusses controversial guidelines from expert panels; and offers recommendations for their use in pregnancy.
A new method for blind source separation of nonstationary signals

Many algorithms for blind source separation have been introduced in the past few years, most of which assume statistically stationary sources. In many applications, such as separation of speech or fading communications signals, the sources are nonstationary. We present a new adaptive algorithm for blind source separation of nonstationary signals which relies only on the nonstationary nature of the sources to achieve separation. The algorithm is an efficient, online, stochastic gradient update based on minimizing the average squared cross-output-channel-correlations along with deviation from unity average energy in each output channel. Advantages of this algorithm over existing methods include increased computational efficiency, a simple on-line, adaptive implementation requiring only multiplications and additions, and the ability to blindly separate nonstationary sources regardless of their detailed statistical structure.
Sexual Orientation Disparities in BMI among US Adolescents and Young Adults in Three Race/Ethnicity Groups

Obesity is a key public health issue for US youth. Previous research with primarily white samples of youth has indicated that sexual minority females have higher body mass index (BMI) and sexual minority males have lower BMI than their same-gender heterosexual counterparts, with sexual orientation differences in males increasing across adolescence. This research explored whether gender and sexual orientation differences in BMI exist in nonwhite racial/ethnic groups. Using data from Waves I–IV (1995–2009) of the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 13,306, ages 11–34 years), we examined associations between sexual orientation and BMI (kg/m2) over time, using longitudinal linear regression models, stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. Data were analyzed in 2013. Among males, heterosexual individuals showed greater one-year BMI gains than gay males across all race/ethnicity groups. Among females, white and Latina bisexual individuals had higher BMI than same-race/ethnicity heterosexual individuals regardless of age; there were no sexual orientation differences in black/African Americans. Sexual orientation disparities in BMI are a public health concern across race/ethnicity groups. Interventions addressing unhealthy weight gain in youth must be relevant for all sexual orientations and race/ethnicities.
Torture in the Archives: Mayans Meet Europeans

DURING THE SCORE OF YEARS NAMED 2 AHAW, or what the Christian world calls the early 16th century, Europeans began appearing over the horizon of the Mayan world. It was not a meeting of history with prehistory, or of literacy with preliteracy, but of one history and literacy with another. Europeans wrote Mayans into their history and, as we shall see, Mayans wrote Europeans into theirs. Mayan writings have been difficult to read for those of us whose sense of literacy and history are of the European kind. In the case of the texts Mayans wrote before Europeans invaded their world, decipherment was long delayed by our reluctance to entertain either a phonetic reading of the signs of the Mayan script or a historical reading of the inscriptions on Mayan monuments (see Lounsbury 1989:216-220). Soon after the European invasion Mayan writers produced a good many texts in the medium of the Roman alphabet, but in cases where such a text seems to contradict a European one on some point of history, we have tended to favor the European account. And when our only source has been Mayan statements reported by Europeans, we have accepted these with little concern for the circumstances of the dialogues that produced them, even in the case of the proceedings of the Holy Inquisition. So it is that we have conceded a triple hegemony to European over Mayan discourse, in the first instance preserving the opacity of both the alien script and discourse, in the second instance favoring a familiar discourse over an alien one when both are written in the familiar script, and in the third instance giving more weight to the familiarity of a report written by Europeans than to the situation of the Mayans whose spoken words it represents. What will concern us here is the past interpretation and possible reinterpretation of 16th-century alphabetic texts, some written by Mayans and others by Europeans, but all of them bespeaking confrontations between two worlds. The writings of this period are of particular anthropological interest because the distance between the two sides-the coefficient of mutual otherness, so to speak-is at its peak. Mayan writers point directly to the conditions Europeans imposed on certain key dialogues, conditions that did not have the subtlety of hegemony, which does its work implicitly and by sheer inertia, but were rather a matter of the direct application of force. On the European side, where the writings in question are reports of investigations conducted among Mayans, there is an epistemological assumption that truth can be separated from the methods used to obtain it. This assumption, as we shall see, has been shared until very recently by interpreters of these reports, whether they be historians or anthropologists. The earliest Mayan writers to use the Roman alphabet worked primarily in two regions: highland Guatemala, where the best-known works are the Popol Vuh or "Council Book" and the Annals of the Cakchiquels, both written in Quichean languages; and
Liberalism and the Politics of Cultural Authenticity

In this paper, I consider one possible defense of the presumption, common among liberal legal and political theorists, that we should respect culture. Specifically, I examine the view, forcefully articulated by Joseph Carens, that we can identify those attachments or practices that are candidates for one or another form of legal protection by determining whether they are `authentic' in the sense that members of some relevant group accept or embrace them as an integral component of their culture. I first sketch in detail Carens's view and show that despite appearances his position is central to liberal arguments that we should respect culture. Next, I recapitulate the empirical case (the complicated cultural politics on the islands of Fiji) that Carens uses as a vehicle for his argument. I then challenge the implications that Carens draws from the Fijian case. In particular, I argue that claims to `authenticity' are themselves artifacts of strategic political processes, that they and the institutions they ...
For a Step Change to Curb the Obesity Epidemic.

Rising obesity levels worldwide have been of increasing public concern since the late 1990s and are now responsible for over one-quarter of total healthcare expenditures in the USA [1]. This special issue of PharmacoEconomics examines a particularly challenging set of issues, with an economic focus: why is the obesity epidemic and its unique burden still growing uncontrolled? how have past efforts to curb it fared? and what other actions are needed to succeed in controlling the epidemic? Contributors to the issue cover a broad range of topics, experience, and perspectives related to obesity. Taken together these articles give some sense of the urgency, challenges, and opportunity for action in this field.
The Validity and Utility Of Lanyon's Psychological Screening Inventory in a Youth Services Agency Sample:

The validity and utility of the Psychological Screening Inventory (PSI) was evaluated with a group of 351 male and 185 female adolescents in a juvenile court related agency. In addition, 174 noncourt controls were studied. Court records and psychological evaluations were used to obtain behavioral measures and ratings on the Life History Checklist. The PSI discriminated major emotional problems, offenses, peer relations, and cooperativeness and it was related to several measures of the Life History Checklist. However, the mean differences and correlations were small and of little practical use. Classification accuracy was poor. In a multitrait-multimethod analysis, the PSI showed poor discriminant validity from unrelated measures and method variance. Good discriminant validity from demographic variables was found. It was concluded that there are serious limitations in using the PSI in a juvenile population.
Signal integrity analysis of high-speed, high-pin-count digital packages

A transmission-line model of package traces in conjunction with a lattice diagram technique is used to study the signal integrity problem in digital systems using high-speed, high-pin-count packages. Formulae which predict the signal degradations, including overshoot/undershoot and edge-rate degradation, are presented for two different high-speed digital system interconnect schemes (parallel termination and series termination) at different locations of the interconnect (output, input, package-board junction, etc.) Among different degradations at various places on the interconnect, the one of most concern to system designers is the reflection noise in multiple fanouts or bidirectional buffers. An experimental procedure was developed to verify this problem and to quantitatively measure the magnitude of the reflection noise. An experimental 288-PGA (pin-grid-array) package which may represent the current package technology was chosen for this experiment. The results clearly indicate that package parasitics can substantially affect the signal integrity of current high-speed digital systems. According to the present study, it is not possible to choose a single package impedance Z/sub p/ which can give optimized signal response everywhere along the interconnect. It may be a design tradeoff to choose a particular package impedance for a specific system. However, the study also indicates that choosing a package impedance is far less important that minimizing the package delay. >
Role of citalopram in the treatment of agitation in Alzheimer’s disease

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common among individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), associated with excess morbidity and mortality, greater healthcare use, earlier institutionalization, and caregiver burden. Agitation presents as emotional distress, excessive psychomotor activity, aggressive behaviors, disruptive irritability and dishibition. There is an unmet need to find pharmacologic treatment for agitation in patients with AD that can be safely and effectively used as a concurrent treatment alongside psychosocial interventions. A recent, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial explored the efficacy of a 30-mg daily dose of citalopram for agitation in patients with AD and showed a significant decrease in agitation for citalopram compared with placebo. Both QTc prolongation and cognitive worsening, as measured by the Mini Mental State Examination, were observed in the citalopram group and present a concern to clinicians. Citalopram at a 20-mg daily dose should be considered as a possible first-line treatment in addition to psychosocial intervention.
Dynamic Aspects of a Distinctly Three-Dimensional Mesoscale Convective System

Abstract The dynamics of a mesoscale convective system that matured in central Kansas on 3–4 June 1985 is investigated based upon data from ground-based dual-Doppler radar and other sources. The system was distinctly three-dimensional, evolving to a wavelike shape owing to the intersection of two convective bands. The two bands, one oriented north–south and the other east-north–west-southwest, are compared and contrasted with respect to their velocity, pressure, and buoyancy structure and the consequent attributes of their momentum transports and budgets. Dynamic retrieval of pressure and buoyancy from the wind fields provides insight into system structure and allows for the calculation of pressure gradients needed for the horizontal momentum budget. Several independent checks are carried out to ensure the quality of the pressure solution. The solution is found to be more accurate if the velocity time derivatives are included in the retrieval process. Dissimilar structure of the two bands is highlighted b...
Abortion deaths associated with the use of prostaglandin F2α

Six abortion-related deaths associated with the use of prostaglandin F2alpha were reported through the Center for Disease Control's surveillance of abortion deaths between 1972 and 1975. Prostaglandin may have had only indirect association with these deaths. The patients' ages ranged from 16 to 38 years, their length of gestation ranged from 15 to 24 menstrual weeks, four were white, and three were nulliparous. Four patients had pre-existing conditions that increased their risks and contributed to their death. The estimated death-to-case rate for prostaglandin F2alpha was 10.5 per 100,000 abortions. Although lower than the rate for intra-amniotic saline instillation, this death-to-case rate is only an approximation. The relative safety of intra-amniotic prostaglandin F2alpha as a second-trimester abortifacient, compared to saline, remains to be established.
Primary Care Practitioners’ Views on Incorporating Long-term Prognosis in the Care of Older Adults

Importance Clinical practice recommendations increasingly advocate that older patients’ life expectancy be considered to inform a number of clinical decisions. It is not clear how primary care practitioners approach these recommendations in their clinical practice. Objective To explore the range of perspectives from primary care practitioners on long-term prognosis, defined as prognosis regarding life expectancy in the range of years, in their care of older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants A qualitative, semistructured interview study was conducted in a large group practice with multiple sites in rural, urban, and suburban settings. Twenty-eight primary care practitioners were interviewed; 20 of these participants (71%) reported that at least 25% of their patient panel was older adults. The audiorecorded discussions were transcribed and analyzed, using qualitative content analysis to identify major themes and subthemes. The study was conducted between January 30 and May 13, 2015. Data analysis was performed between June 10 and September 1, 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures The constant comparative approach was used to qualitatively analyze the content of the transcripts. Results Of the 28 participants, 16 were women and 21 were white; the mean (SD) age was 46.2 (10.3) years. Twenty-six were physicians and 2 were nurse practitioners. Their time since completing clinical training was 16.0 (11.4) years. These primary care practitioners reported considering life expectancy, often in the range of 5 to 10 years, in several clinical scenarios in the care of older adults, but balanced the prognosis consideration against various other factors in decision making. In particular, patient age was found to modulate how prognosis affects the primary care practitioners’ decision making, with significant reluctance among them to cease preventive care that has a long lag time to achieve benefit in younger patients despite limited life expectancy. The participants assessed life expectancy based on clinical experience rather than using validated tools and varied widely in their prognostication time frame, from 2 years to 30 years. Participants often considered prognosis without explicitly discussing it with patients and disagreed on whether and when long-term prognosis needs to be specifically discussed. The participants identified numerous barriers to incorporating prognosis in the care of older adults including uncertainty in predicting prognosis, difficulty in discussing prognosis, and concern about patient reactions. Conclusions and Relevance Despite clinical recommendations to increasingly incorporate patients’ long-term prognosis in clinical decisions, primary care practitioners encounter several barriers and ambiguities in the implementation of these recommendations.
SOME PROBLEMS IN NATIONAL STANDARD FOR HARMONICS IN PUBLIC SUPPLY NETWORK

A compendious introduction to some files in IEC 61000 relative to Chinese National Standard for harmonics in power network (GB/T 14549-93) is firstly outlined. The features of these files, their superiority and relationship to Chinese National Standard are presented and the main existing problems in this National Standard are pointed out. The necessity and the urgency of revising this National Standard are explained through some actual examples.
An Equilibrium Analysis on the Relationship Between Agricultural Production and Economic Growth

In order to discuss the relationship between agricultural production and economic growth in China,It makes an co-integration test according to the corresponding data from 1978 to 2006 in China.The results show that there is a long-term stable equilibrium relationship between agricultural production and economic growth.If the agricultural production increases by 1%,the economic will increase by 2.12%.With the error correction model,the results show that the short-term fluctuation of agricultural production would cause the same-way change of GDP.If GDP deviate from the long-balanced value,it would be adjusted by 8% in next year.With the Granger causality test,the results show that agricultural production has the short-term effect to economic growth.The economic growth has the long-term effect to agricultural production.With the impulse response function and variance decomposition,the results show that agricultural production plays an important role on economic growth.
Dot, line, network: helping individuals make sense of New data

Ubiquitous computing has led to an ever-increasing cascade of information about us, our friends, our societies, and the planet. Lima and others view this "new data" as an opportunity for individuals to develop network thinking; once people understand the whole, they can better control their contribution to global social issues like climate change. However, at present, such data is difficult to interpret by anyone, let alone by non-specialist users. I believe that a variety of issues stand in the way of individuals understanding complex data sets. I will begin by discussing cognitive style (deductive and inductive logic). Then, after considering existing graphic principles for dealing with "visual complexity," I suggest interfaces need to provide indications of place, date, validity, probability, and privacy. Finally, I briefly discuss some of the boundaries that exist between my networks of data and yours due to the hidden algorithms of search engines and the challenge of creating common ground when visualizations are increasingly personalized.
Quantifying the impact of microgrid location and behavior on transmission network congestion

This work presents a preliminary analysis considering impact of a grid-connected microgrid on network transmission of the power system. The locational marginal prices of the power system are used to strategically place the microgrid to avoid congestion problems. In addition, a Monte Carlo simulation approach is implemented to confirm that network congestion can be attenuated if appropriate price-based signals are set to define the import and export dynamic between the two systems.
Vorinostat (V) intratumoral levels and biomarker response in a window of opportunity trial in patients with resectable aerodigestive tract cancer.

7022 Background: Aerodigestive tract cancer (ADT) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. New effective treatments are needed. Among a panel of drugs causing growth inhibition of lu...
An enhanced algorithm in tracking characteristic modes of dielectric objects

Tracking PMCHWT-based characteristic modes (CMs) of dielectric or magnetic objects still remains a challenging task due to the presence of non-physical modes, but developing a robust tracking algorithm is essential to observe modal behavior over frequency. Thus, our efforts continue in enhancing an existing tracking algorithm which is based on eigencurrent correlation and far-zone eigenfield orthogonality for more reliability and efficient computational time. Also in this paper, some important findings about tracking are discussed.