cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Body mass index, diet, physical inactivity, and the incidence of dementia in 1 million UK women.

Objective To help determine whether midlife obesity is a cause of dementia and whether low body mass index (BMI), low caloric intake, and physical inactivity are causes or merely consequences of the gradual onset of dementia by recording these factors early in a large 20-year prospective study and relating them to dementia detection rates separately during follow-up periods of Methods A total of 1,136,846 UK women, mean age 56 (SD 5) years, were recruited in 1996 to 2001 and asked about height, weight, caloric intake, and inactivity. They were followed up until 2017 by electronic linkage to National Health Service records, detecting hospital admissions with mention of dementia. Cox regression yielded adjusted rate ratios (RRs) for first dementia detection during particular follow-up periods. Results Fifteen years after the baseline survey, only 1% were lost to follow-up, and 89% remained alive with no detected dementia, of whom 18,695 had dementia detected later, at a mean age of 77 (SD 4) years. Dementia detection during years 15+ was associated with baseline obesity (BMI 30+ vs 20–24 kg/m2: RR 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.16–1.26, p Conclusions Midlife obesity may well be a cause of dementia. In contrast, behavioral changes due to preclinical disease could largely or wholly account for associations of low BMI, low caloric intake, and inactivity with dementia detection during the first decade of follow-up.
Local matrix product operators: Canonical form, compression, and control theory

We present a new method for compressing matrix product operators (MPOs) which represent sums of local terms, such as Hamiltonians. Just as with area law states, such local operators may be fully specified with a small amount of information per site. Standard matrix product state (MPS) tools are ill-suited to this case, due to extensive Schmidt values that coexist with intensive ones, and Jordan blocks in the transfer matrix. We ameliorate these issues by introducing an ``almost Schmidt decomposition'' that respects locality. Our method is ``$\ensuremath{\varepsilon}$-close'' to the accuracy of MPS-based methods for finite MPOs, and extends seamlessly to the thermodynamic limit, where MPS techniques are inapplicable. In the framework of control theory, our method generalizes Kung's algorithm for model order reduction. Several examples are provided, including an all-MPO version of the operator recursion method (Lanczos algorithm) directly in the thermodynamic limit. All results are accompanied by practical algorithms, well-suited for the large MPOs that arise in DMRG for long-range or quasi-2D models.
Effect of electrostatic forces on the distribution of drops in turbulent channel flows

The effect of electrostatic forces on the distribution of drops in turbulent channel flows is examined by direct numerical simulations. The droplets and suspending fluid are assumed to be leaky dielectric fluids. We set the electrical conductivity ratio (R = σi/σo) smaller than the dielectric permittivity ratio (S−1 = ei/eo) to drive the flow from the drop poles to their equators. The results show that an applied external electric field has a significant effect on the microstructure and the flow properties. For flows without an electric field, where the Mason (Mn) number is infinity, the drops aggregated in the core of the channel and the liquid streamwise velocity are similar to those in single-phase flow. For Mn = 0.1, a low electric intensity, most of the drops are driven to the walls due to the unbalanced electric force on the drop interface. For Mn = 0.05, drops are more likely to stick together because of the stronger combination of electrohydrodynamic effect and dielectrophoretic force between drops. Therefore, the number of drops in the middle of the channel increases while still many drops are in the wall layer. For Mn = 0.007, the electric intensity is very strong and all the drops in the channel tend to line up and form columns spanning the channel width. These columns become unstable when the flow drives them close to each other. It is also found that an increase of the electric intensity can lead to an increase in the average wall shear stress. In addition, the liquid streamwise velocity will become more uniform, which means the effective viscosity of the system is increased, when Mn = 0.007.
Where can I access resources to stay up to date about clinical research

In considering the theme of this issue, we column editors thought, “We’re really lucky to work at an academic medical center and have so many resources available if we have questions about any local or global regulatory questions a coordinator may face.” After realizing that everyone may not
The many faces of thyroxine.

Hones et al. have recently shown that in vivo interference with the apparatus of the nuclear receptor-mediated, gene-driven mechanism of triiodothyronine (T3) actions fails to eliminate all actions of T3. However, the investigators conducting that study provided little information regarding the mechanisms that might be responsible for conferring those implied gene-independent effects. Dratman has long ago suggested a system wherein such gene-free mechanisms might operate. Therefore, since news of that discovery was originally published in 1974, it seems appropriate to describe the progress made since then. We propose that thyroxine and triiodothyronine have many different structural properties that may confer a series of different capabilities on their functions. These conform with our proposal that a series of catecholamine analogs and their conversion to iodothyronamines, allows them to perform many of the functions that previously were attributed to nuclear receptors regulating gene expression. The actions of deiodinases and the differential distribution of iodine substituents are among the critical factors that allow catecholamine analogs to change their effects into ones that either activate their targets or block them. They do this by using two different deiodinases to vary the position of an iodide ion on the diphenylether backbones of thyroxine metabolites. A panoply of these structural features imparts major unique functional properties on the behavior of vertebrates in general and possibly on Homo sapiens in particular.
Discrimination between and geolocation of cotton and palmer amaranth using spectral and geometric data

The discrimination between cotton and the invasive Palmer amaranth is economically important, as these weeds take resources away from cotton, resulting in diminished crop yield. There has been research into the discrimination between species of plants, including cotton and Palmer amaranth, that focused on the use of aerial imagery and the derived Red, Green, and near-infrared (RGN) spectral data fed into a machine-learning algorithm to classify these plants based on the measurable differences in their spectral characteristics. We believe that this research can be expanded upon by using geometric data derived from the aerial imagery to classify cotton and non-cotton plants based on their physical characteristics. This would also allow for accurate geolocation of the classified weeds for later removal. An autonomous drone with a GPS and a RGN camera attached will take a predetermined path to scan a crop field, and the resulting videos will be divided into individual frames. From these frames, both the RGN spectral data and a 3D point cloud can be derived. The RGBN data and the geometric data will be fed into a machine learning algorithm for classification between the cotton and non-cotton plants, and then additional processing will be done to geolocate the weeds. With this additional information for classification, it is hoped that the discrimination between cotton and weeds can be more accurate, and the location of the weeds can be more exact.
Cements with supplementary cementitious materials for high-temperature geothermal wells

Abstract This paper discusses self-healing ability, characterized by the strength recovery and crack sealing, thermal shock and acid resistance of several cementitious composites in water, alkali carbonate or geothermal brine at 300 °C. The tested formulations included a common high-temperature OPC/SiO2 formulation, a calcium-aluminate cement with alkali activated FAF blend (TSRC), alkali-activated granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS/SiO2) and fly ash C/fly ash F (FAC/FAF) cementitious blends. Compressive strength recoveries and visual observations of cracks sealing using 3D imaging after the compressive damage and then after the 5-day healing period were used to evaluate the self-healing abilities of these composites. The strength recoveries were evaluated for composites after 1-, 5-, 10-, 15-, and 30- day initial curing periods at 300 °C and after repeated damage and 5-day healing treatments. The nature of the failure was classified depending on the Young’s modulus (YM) of the tested blends. Composites with moderate values of YM, such as OPC/SiO2 and TSRC developed slim cracks while brittle and very brittle FAC/FAF and GBFS/SiO2 cementitious blends produced multidirectional cracks or near-fragment failures resulting in poor strength recoveries. In comparison with the common high-temperature OPC/SiO2 blend, composites with alkali activated pozzolanic materials demonstrated a decrease in crack size during the short healing periods. Fly ash-containing composites showed better acid resistance surviving 28 days in sulfuric acid (pH 0.2) at 90 °C. The TSRC demonstrated the best thermal shock resistance losing only about 20 % of the original strength in five 350 °C heat→25 °C water thermal cycles. In all the tests the TSRC outperformed the rest of the composites with average strength recoveries of more than 85 %. Alkali carbonate was the most favorable for both strength recovery and crack sealing. The short-term strength recoveries could be further improved to above 100 % by addition of micro-glass fibers (MGF). However, the MGF raised the brittleness of the samples after longer initial curing times, which decreased recovery rates of the aged samples. Crystalline phase analysis demonstrated that different products assisted in strength recoveries and crack sealing. The later included for the most part silica and analcime while the former were hydrogrossulars (ferrian) with various stoichiometries, iron-magnesium minerals, cancrinite, quartz and boehmite. These phases formed thanks to the slow high-temperature alkaline reactions of fly ash and glass fibers for MGF-modified samples.
Time Dependent Effects and Transport Evidence for Phase Separation in La_{0.5}Ca_{0.5}MnO_{3}

The ground state of La_{1-x}Ca_{x}MnO_{3} changes from a ferromagnetic metallic to an antiferromagnetic charge-ordered state as a function of Ca concentration at x ~ 0.50. We present evidence from transport measurements on a sample with x = 0.50 that the two phases can coexist, in agreement with other observations of phase separation in these materials. We also observe that, by applying and then removing a magnetic field to the mainly charge-ordered state at some temperatures, we can "magnetically anneal" the charge order, resulting in a higher zero-field resistivity. We also observe logarithmic time dependence in both resistivity and magnetization after a field sweep at low temperatures.
Cross-sectional Survey-based Study of Underrepresented Minorities in Urology Academic Leadership Roles.

Abstract Objective To define the current proportion of underrepresented minority (URM) academic urologists in leadership positions. Methods A cross-sectional observational study of leadership positions in active United States Urology Residency Programs in 2020 was conducted. Academic urologists in leadership positions were electronically mailed a survey asking about personal and professional demographics. Self-reported variables including administrative position, race, and ethnicity were collected and analyzed. Results Over the study period, 133 urologists completed the survey out of a possible 320 academic urologists for a response rate of 41.6%. Overall, African-Americans represented 9.0%, Hispanics represented 3.8%, and American Indians/Alaska Natives made up 0.8% of leadership roles in the study sample. African-Americans comprised 8.5% (4 of 47) and Hispanics comprised 2.1% (1 of 47) of department chairs. African-Americans made up 7.4% (4 of 54) and Hispanics made up 1.9% (1 of 54) of program directors. The highest proportion of African-Americans in leadership positions was seen in oncology (18.2%), minimally invasive surgery (18.2%), and general urology (10%). The only subspecialties with Hispanics in leadership positions were in andrology/sexual medicine (16.7%) and female urology (15.4%). There were no reported URMs in leadership positions in endourology, neurourology, pediatrics, and reconstructive urology. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the first to quantify the representation of URM urologists in academic leadership. There are multiple subspecialties without URMs in leadership positions. This information is vital to understanding the presence and lack of racial representation of the leadership of our field.
Verification Testing of Multi-Dynamical Solver for Multiferroic Antennas

Verification testing of an unconditionally stable finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) solver is presented to validate the accuracy of a numerical framework to understand 3D multiferroic antennas, i.e., a coupled mechanics and electromagnetic problem. Within this framework, the electric, mechanical, and magnetic constitutive relations are substituted into Maxwell's equations and Newton's laws, with the Gilbert damping included within a rate dependent magnetic constitutive relation. Three model comparison tests are performed, one for each domain of physics that the algorithm covers, i.e., electrodynamics, elastodynamics, and micromagnetics damping.
The Routledge encyclopedia of religious rites, rituals, and festivals

Contents Include: Agricultural Rituals. Altered States of Consciousness. Ancestor Worship - Africa. Animal Rituals. Asceticism. Australian Aboriginal. Birth Rituals. Blood Rituals. Body and Ritual. Buddhism. Calendrical Rituals. Cannibalism. Catholicism. Chinese New Year. Christmas. Day of the Dead. Death Rituals. Divination Rituals. Diwali. Easter. Fire Walking. Food and Rituals. Gender Rituals. Glossalalia. Greco-Roman. Healing and Rituals. Hinduism. Hopi. Humor and Rituals. Hunting Rituals. Iban. Islam. Jainism. Javanese. Judaism. Magic. Mardi Gras. Marriage Rituals. Matsu. Mbuti. Melanesian. Micronesian. Millennialism. Music. Naming Rituals. Nature Worship. Navan Ceremony. New Year's Celebrations. Newala Ritual. Nuer. Oaths and Ordeals. Orthodoxy. Paganism and Personal Rituals. Pilgrimage. Political Rituals. Polynesian. Possession/Trance. Prayer. Protestantism. Puberty Rites. Purity and Pollution. Ramadan. Rastafarianism. Revitalization Rituals. Rites of Communitas. Rites of Passage. Ritual and Symbol. Ritual as Communication. Ritual as Performance. Ritual of Performance. Ritual Specialists. Rituals of Purity. Sacred Places. Sacrifice. Santeria. Satanic Rituals. Scatological Rituals. Secular Rituals. Shakers. Shamanism. Shintoism. Sikhism. Snake Handling
The Sarah Siddons Audio Files: Romanticism and the Lost Voice

During her lifetime (1755-1831), English actress Sarah Siddons was an international celebrity acclaimed for her performances of tragic heroines. We know what she looked like--an endless number of artists asked her to sit for portraits and sculptures--but what of her famous voice, reported to cause audiences to hyperventilate or faint? In The Sarah Siddons Audio Files , Judith Pascoe takes readers on a journey to discover how the actor's voice actually sounded. In lively and engaging prose, Pascoe retraces her quixotic search, which leads her to enrol in a "Voice for Actors" class, to collect Lady Macbeth voice prints, and to listen more carefully to the soundscape of her life. Bringing together archival discoveries, sound recording history, and media theory, Pascoe shows how romantic poets' preoccupation with voices is linked to a larger cultural anxiety about the voice's ephemerality. The Sarah Siddons Audio Files contributes to a growing body of work on the fascinating history of sound and will engage a broad audience interested in how recording technology has altered human experience.
Microcoded Multiprogramming Display Control Unit

Although microcoded control of computers was suggested as early as 1951 (by Wilkes1), microprogramming is only now coming into fairly general use. The growing interest is evidenced in the appearance of a number of review articles (2,3,4,5), and in detailed descriptions of specific applications. In the work reported here, a microcoded control unit was used to implement an experimental display system in the Los Gatos Laboratory of IBM’s Advanced Systems Development Division. The system presents alphanumeric and graphic images on remote television terminals under computer control. Keyboards associated with the terminals provide for user-computer interaction, and a key-activated cursor on the display screen allows the user to point to image locations where changes are to be made. A microcoded multiprogramming monitor which resides in the control unit handles the overall sequencing and control of events in the display system.
Bioassay of Rongbao (Active Ingredients of Calcium Cyanamide) Against Housefly Maggots

Calcium cyanamide (CC) has been extensively reported as a plant growth regulator and N-resource fertilizer. CC phytotoxicity and cytotoxicity have also been showed on organisms such as microorganisms, schistosomes, mollusks, mammals and plants. But to date, little is known about its bioactivity against filth flies. In this study, housefly maggots, Musca domestica (L.), were used to measure biological activity of CC. Laboratory bioassays showed that CC (at a dosage of approximately 2 % (W/W)) resulted in average mortality rate of 37.67 % on day 1 and 100 % on day 2, compared with the average mortality rate of 34.51 % on day 1, 89.80 % on day 2 and 100 % on day 3 at dosage approximately 1 % (W/W). This outcome demonstrated that the application of CC could be used as a part of the filth fly-integrated management. In the relationship between CC concentrations and pH value evaluation, the performance of CC and non-CC larval rearing medium differed within pH. The positive relationship of concentration of CC dissolved in water with pH was supported by the formula y = 43.33x + 6.61 (R 2 = 0.95, p < 0.01). The results showed that housefly maggots’ death had a positive relationship with the pH of larval rearing medium.
‘You’re born to be brave’: Lady Gaga’s use of social media to inspire fans’ political awareness

Through interviews with 45 self-described Little Monsters, we explore fan identification with Lady Gaga’s interest in and messages about politics and philanthropy, Gaga’s influence on fans’ attitud...
A Review of Society, Crime and Criminal Behavior

This book is a basic criminology textbook and, as such, is concerned with the study of crime and criminals. Presumably, this book is directed towards students of academic criminology programs who will ultimately work in various aspects of law enforcement and corrections. However, as the author points out, “Crime is a topic of enduring interest to most Americans.” The study of crime and criminals should certainly be of enduring interest to forensic scientists who are pursuing highly complex disciplines themselves and have supporting parts in the overall drama of crime.
SSM/I Measured Microwave Brightness Temperature (TB's), Anomalies of TB's, and Their Relationship to Typhoon Intensification

The SSM/I microwave Brightness Temperatures (TB's) in the frequency domains of 85 and 19 GHz gathered from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)-F8 satellite form the basis of this research. These data are related to 27 map times of 13 typhoons of the 1987 season, one typhoon of the 1988 season and one cyclone in the Indian Ocean in 1987. The TB's disclosed certain characteristics of typhoons unavailable through conventional infrared (IR) imagery means. Brightness Temperatures were chosen to delineate the typhoon characteristics rather than the derived geophysical parameters such as rainfall or surface winds because the TB's have better resolution. The footprint size of the 85 GHz TB is 15 × 13 km while a derived (through algorithms based on regression) quantity such as rainfall has a much higher footprint size. The relatively large footprint size of rainfall results, because of using the 19 GHz channel which has a larger footprint size of 69 × 43 km. The mean 85 GHz (vertically polarized, V) TB's of a moving typhoon, particularly those on the left side within 55 km of the center, appear to exhibit a practically usable correlation with the 24 hour intensity. This finding is consistent with some observational studies, which show higher rain rates to occur within the asymmetric eyewalls of developing tropical cyclones. Further stratification of the sample in terms of direction of movement improved the correlation. The TB anomalies were defined in terms of the TB differences between two sections of a typhoon (e.g., between right and left sides or between inner and outer areas). The development of this sort of anomalies represents a relative growth of deep convection close to the center. If there is a good growth, the cyclone is likely to intensify within a short period of time. The anomalies also showed good correlation with the 24-h intensity. The intensity change (24-h intensity – Current Intensity) was also correlated with the 85 GHz V mean TB values, as well as, with 85 GHz V TB anomalies as defined above. Significant correlations ensued. Since these preliminary results are promising, further experimentation with a larger sample is suggested. Nevertheless, the scientist interested in natural hazards would find the current results valuable in the problem of typhoon intensification.
The Unknown Justice Thomas: An Introduction to the Symposium

This is an introduction to the first law review symposium to focus on the opinions of Justice Clarence Thomas.
Toward disentangling the effect of hydrologic and nitrogen source changes from 1992 to 2001 on incremental nitrogen yield in the contiguous United States

[1] The goal of this research was to quantify the relative impact of hydrologic and nitrogen source changes on incremental nitrogen yield in the contiguous United States. Using nitrogen source estimates from various federal data bases, remotely sensed land use data from the National Land Cover Data program, and observed instream loadings from the United States Geological Survey National Stream Quality Accounting Network program, we calibrated and applied the spatially referenced regression model SPARROW to estimate incremental nitrogen yield for the contiguous United States. We ran different model scenarios to separate the effects of changes in source contributions from hydrologic changes for the years 1992 and 2001, assuming that only state conditions changed and that model coefficients describing the stream water-quality response to changes in state conditions remained constant between 1992 and 2001. Model results show a decrease of 8.2% in the median incremental nitrogen yield over the period of analysis with the vast majority of this decrease due to changes in hydrologic conditions rather than decreases in nitrogen sources. For example, when we changed the 1992 version of the model to have nitrogen source data from 2001, the model results showed only a small increase in median incremental nitrogen yield (0.12%). However, when we changed the 1992 version of the model to have hydrologic conditions from 2001, model results showed a decrease of approximately 8.7% in median incremental nitrogen yield. We did, however, find notable differences in incremental yield estimates for different sources of nitrogen after controlling for hydrologic changes, particularly for population related sources. For example, the median incremental yield for population related sources increased by 8.4% after controlling for hydrologic changes. This is in contrast to a 2.8% decrease in population related sources when hydrologic changes are included in the analysis. Likewise we found that median incremental yield from urban watersheds increased by 6.8% after controlling for hydrologic changes—in contrast to the median incremental nitrogen yield from cropland watersheds, which decreased by 2.1% over the same time period. These results suggest that, after accounting for hydrologic changes, population related sources became a more significant contributor of nitrogen yield to streams in the contiguous United States over the period of analysis. However, this study was not able to account for the influence of human management practices such as improvements in wastewater treatment plants or Best Management Practices that likely improved water quality, due to a lack of data for quantifying the impact of these practices for the study area.
Unit resistor characterization for matching-critical circuit design

Unit resistors are widely used in matching-critical applications. In good designs, matching performance is dominantly determined by the characteristics of the unit resistor. In this paper, a strategy for statistically characterizing the performance of unit resistors that combines the effects of contact resistance, contact size variations, sheet resistance and edge variations is introduced.
Microscopic particle-vibrator model: A new fermion-boson expansion

Abstract The elements for a microscopic foundation of the particle-vibrator model are derived in the form of a new fermion-boson expansion in which valence particles or holes added to a closed shell are treated essentially as fermion degrees of freedom, while particle-hole excitations of the closed shell itself are treated as bosons. The Pauli principle is completely fulfilled without redundancy. The generalizations of both the non-unitary Dyson and the unitary Holstein-Primak off representations are given, as well as an equivalent intermediate unitary representation.
Exploring the earth's atmosphere by photography from Skylab.

Availability of a 35-mm camera equipped with interference filters, together with an 8-inch-square uv-transmitting window for the Skylab scientific airlocks, revived long-standing interests at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in the study of the earth's upper atmosphere. The present paper details the design of several simple experiments to photograph the twilight and night airglow and the daytime ozone from an average 435-km altitude. Other phenomena of the atmosphere, including the polar aurora and noctilucent clouds, were sought, some with success. The versatile system also obtained some photographs of Comet Kohoutek. The experiment, by design, was dependent on man in space to select suitable targets and to optimize the data return from available equipment.
Attitudes and behaviors related to weight control in two diverse populations.

Abstract Background. Researchers have found that African-American women have concerns about their weight, but are less successful in their weight loss efforts compared to Caucasian women. Reasons for this disparity have not been explored in great detail. Identifying specific attitudes and behaviors that contribute to obesity in these subpopulations will help inform the design of interventions. Methods. This report compares specific attitudes and behaviors related to diet and exercise in two groups who are trying to lose weight: African-American women in Indianapolis (n = 80) and Caucasian women from the rural Midwest (n = 45). Data are from surveys that shared many common measures, but were otherwise not related to one another. The choice of measures was guided by a conceptual framework of self-management processes. Results. Compared to women in the urban study, women in the rural study report greater social support for behavior change, greater self-efficacy, and outcome expectations, and greater use of every strategy measured. Conclusions. While there is room for improvement in both groups, these results contribute to our understanding of subgroup differences and similarities in the complex behavioral issues surrounding successful weight management. Larger studies with more representative samples are needed to confirm these findings and inform future interventions.
Solid phase synthesis of peptide hydroxamic acids

Abstract The synthesis of peptide hydroxamic acids has been performed on a solid support. A carboxyl group of a peptide synthesized on para -methylbenzhydrylamine (pMBHA) resin was converted to a hydroxamate functional group by condensing with NH 2 OBzl, which was found preferable to NH 2 OtBu or NH 2 OTrt. The hydroxamate benzyl protecting group was removed subsequently during HF cleavage of the peptide resin. Five peptide hydroxamic acids were prepared according to this new method.
Expression of Plasma Phospholipid Transfer Protein mRNA in Normal and Emphysematous Lungs and Regulation by Hypoxia

The lung is the major site expressing plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) mRNA in humans and mice, suggesting that this protein might have an important role in maintaining normal function of this organ. In the lung of human collagenase transgenic mice, an emphysematous animal model, PLTP mRNA was 3-fold higher than in control mice. However, the mRNA in other tissues was not changed. To further assess the expression and function of PLTP, we measured PLTP mRNA level in lung tissue of two emphysematous patients and found that the mRNA was 4-fold higher than in control subjects. In situ hybridization on mouse lung suggested positive staining in alveolar type II epithelial cells. In addition, immortalized rat alveolar pre-type II epithelial cells and freshly isolated mature rat alveolar type II epithelial cells both highly expressed PLTP mRNA, and the former cells actively secreted PLTP activity into the medium. To examine the possible mechanisms leading to high levels of PLTP expression in vivo, we exposed the pre-type II cells to hypoxia and demonstrated induction of PLTP mRNA and a coordinate increase in secreted PLTP activity. Thus, the PLTP gene is highly expressed in alveolar type II epithelial cells and is induced during hypoxia and in emphysema. These observations suggest that a hypoxic stimulus occurring in emphysema may be a novel mechanism that contributes to enhanced expression of PLTP.
Acoustic Communication in the Belted Kingfisher: an Example of Temporal Coding

Associations between call structure and function were examined in vocalizations of Ceryle alcyon. Four structural groups were recognized and message content within each group was inferred from the sender's behaviour and context. Both spectral and temporal properties of calls varied within each group. Notably, temporal patterning of pulses covaried with behaviour: calls comprised of doublet patterns were associated with aggressive behaviour of the sender while calls comprised of evenly spaced pulses were not. A summary of message content for each call group is as follows: 1) scream calls were associated with non-aggressive behaviour such as retreat and defensive threat, 2) harsh calls were used by males during intrasexual disputes and when combined with scream calls to attract females, 3) rattle calls were associated with a broad spectrum of behaviour which also included territorial conflicts, and 4) warbling calls were emitted by females when soliciting copulations. In field experiments, the agonistic response of individuals to playback of natural calls was measured. Responses were stronger to scream calls than to harsh calls. In an experiment using structural variants of rattle calls, levels of response across call variants also differed. Because call structure and behaviour covaried, it is proposed that rattle calls form a graded signalling system useful for mediating territorial confrontations.
From Birth to Being: Enlightenment Philosophers, Romantic Poets, and the Growth of Language

Both of these volumes evince traces of old-fashioned history of ideas scholarship. John Beer’s book, first published in 2003 and now reissued in paperback, leans more toward traditional explicative...
SU-DD-A4-05: An Analysis of Signal-To-Noise Ratio Differences Between the New High-Sensitivity, Microangiographic Fluoroscope (HSMAF) and a Standard Flat-Panel Detector (FPD)

Purpose: To explain the difference in the measured signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) for a new high‐resolution detector with that for a standard FPD.Method and Materials: We measured a ratio of 4.3 between the SNR2 of an FPD (194 μm pixels) and HSMAF (35 μm pixels). This ratio cannot be explained by the pixel areas alone since the FPD pixel area is 30.7x larger than that of the HSMAF. To explain this disparity, we investigated the role of instrumentation‐noise and the x‐ray conversion phosphor (600 and 300 μm thick CsI:Tl for the FPD and HSMAF, respectively) considering differences in absorption efficiency, Swank factor and blur. Point spread functions (PSF's) were derived from measured presampled line spread functions (assuming isotropic blur), and the effect was analyzed by convolving with a simulated Poisson‐distributed x‐ray image. The calculated SNR2 ratio was compared to the measured SNR2 ratio for a practical range of exposures (1–100μR). Results: The difference between SNR2 of the detectors was largely accounted for by considering detector characteristics in addition to pixel size. The increase in SNR2 from optical blur was about 8 times greater for the HSMAF than for the FPD, since the signal was spread across more of the smaller pixels for the HSMAF. With consideration of the effect of absorption efficiency and Swank factor on SNR, the calculated SNR2 ratio agreed well with that measured (4.6 versus 4.3, respectively). Conclusion: The measured SNR depends not only on pixel area, but also to a large extent on phospher characteristics. Despite having a much lower number of incident x‐ray photons per pixel, the SNR2 of the HSMAF was much closer to that of the FPD because of a greater spread of light quanta over a larger number of pixels. (Support: NIH Grants R01‐NS43924, R01‐EB002873, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation).
Thomas–Fermi theory from a perturbative treatment of the hydrogenic limit energy density functional: A possible link to local density functional theory

A perturbation expansion which connects the hydrogenic limit energy density functional to the Thomas–Fermi functional is discussed. This perturbation series, where the Coulomb energy density functional is treated as the perturbation to the hydrogenic limit functional, is, in fact, the q = (N/Z) expansion of Thomas–Fermi theory. A truncated form of the first-order correction to the functional provides further insight into the model which treats the ground state energy as a local functional of the electron density.
A generalization of the complex Autonne–Takagi factorization to quaternion matrices

A complex symmetric matrix A can always be factored as A = UΣU T , in which U is complex unitary and Σ is a real diagonal matrix whose diagonal entries are the singular values of A. This factorization may be thought of as a special singular value decomposition for complex symmetric matrices. We present an analogous special singular value decomposition for a class of quaternion matrices that includes complex matrices that are symmetric or Hermitian.
Association of early PSA failure time with increased distant metastasis and decreased survival in prostate brachytherapy patients

Abstract Background and purpose We investigated whether earlier PSA failure following prostate brachytherapy is associated with increased rates of distant metastases (DM), prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM), and overall mortality. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed 2818 patients who underwent brachytherapy±external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)±androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). With median follow-up of 5.52years, 264 patients experienced PSA failure at a median time of 3.25years. Patients were stratified to early vs. late PSA failures at cutoffs of 1.5years, 3years, or 5years, and tested in univariate/multivariate analyses for freedom from DM, cause-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS). Results Among patients with PSA failures, 69 (26%) patients experienced DM, 47 (18%) PCSM, and 56 (21%) deaths from other causes. Patients with rapid PSA failures demonstrated increased rates of DM, PCSM, and overall mortality, despite higher total BED and longer ADT. In multivariate analysis with a PSA failure interval p =0.000); HR for PCSM was 2.79 (95% CI: 1.45–5.38; p =0.002); and HR for overall mortality was 2.28 (95% CI: 1.50–3.48; p =0.000). Conclusion Early PSA failure following radiation is a poor prognostic factor, as it is associated with increased DM, PCSM, and overall mortality.
VGR-1|[sol]|BMP-6 INDUCES OSTEOGENIC DIFFERENTIATION IN MESEN-CHYMAL CELLS

Recent studies implicate the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily as playing a major role in bone formation. Nothing is currently known about the function of vgr-1 (also called Bone Morphogenetic Protein-6, or BMP-6), a TGF-β-like protein that localizes to hypertrophic cartilage. To determine if this factor enhances chondrocytic differentiation and/or stimulates osteogenesis, we have utilized two pluripotent mesenchymal cell lines, C3H-10T1/2 and ROB-C26. Stable trans-fectants that over-express vgr-1 mRNA were created with each cell line. Such over-expression does not alter the growth rate of the two cell lines. Vgr-1 over-expression results in up to a 9-fold increase in alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity in C26 cells, but has no significant effect on 10TI/2 cells. In the presence of 10−6M retinoic acid (RA), an osteoinductive agent, C26 and 10T1/2 parental cells as well as the 10T1/2 vgr-1 over-expressors exhibit a stimulation in enzyme activity; by contrast, C26 vgr-1 over-expressors consistently show a decrease in ALP activity relative to untreated vgr-1 over-expressors. To determine if vgr-1's osteoinductive effects are mediated through a feedback mechanism involving changes in the extracellular matrix(ECM), we have grown parental and vgr-1-transfected C26 cells on plastic, then removed the over-lying cells, and replated parental cells back onto the various underlying residual ECMs. The ECM from vgr-3 transfeetants induces up to 4-fold greater ALP activity than the ECM of parental cells; such induction was not seen with ECM from RA-treated C26 vgr-1 over-expressors. These results suggest that; 1) vgr-1 induces osteogenic differentiation, and that this effect is mediated through changes in the ECM composition; 2)vgr-1 over-expression inhibits RA induction of alkaline phosphatase activity in C26 but not in 10T1/2 cells. Ongoing studies will determine vgr-1's effects on other markers of both bone and cartilage differentiation in these cell lines, through in vitro and in vivo analyses.
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO SALESPERSONS' INFLUENCE AND CONSUMERS' SHOPPING ORIENTATIONS

Realizing the scarcity of research into consumers' susceptibility to salespersons' influence, this concept is developed as a general personality trait and unidimensional construct. Its associations...
Effects of thyroid hormone deprivation on immunity in postmetamorphic frogs.

Previously, we showed that sodium perchlorate treatment of larval frogs (Xenopus laevis) interferes with the normal expansion of T and B lymphocytes and development of an adult-type T-cell population. It was unclear whether these effects resulted from preventing metamorphosis or from long-term thyroid hormone (TH) deprivation. To try to distinguish between these possibilities, we have now studied the effects of perchlorate treatment beginning immediately after metamorphosis. After 5 months, treated animals, but not untreated controls, had large thyroid goiters, were significantly smaller, and had significantly fewer erythrocytes, thymocytes, and splenocytes. Although the number of IgM− splenocytes and thymocytes was reduced, the estimated percent of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II+ cells within this subset was not significantly different from that of controls. Furthermore, splenocytes from perchlorate-treated frogs could respond normally by [3H]TdR incorporation to the T-cell mitogens, phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A). Thus, unlike perchloratetreated larvae, perchlorate-treated juveniles appear to be able to develop T cells with an adult phenotype competent to respond to activation and proliferation signals.
Cell-surface-associated tissue transglutaminase is a target of MMP-2 proteolysis.

MT1-MMP, a prototypic member of a membrane-type metalloproteinase subfamily, is an invasion promoting protease and an activator of MMP-2. In addition, MT1-MMP proteolysis regulates the functionalit...
Appreciation, Gratitude, and Looking Forward

As CJASN continues to advance and innovate, it is gratifying to see the tremendous growth in the number of high-quality manuscripts submitted for consideration. As a result, the selection of manuscripts for publication has become a privilege and a challenge (our acceptance rate is now 15%). The
Whole‐body exposures to a phosphoric acids aerosol: II. Food/water/weight effects in wild rodent and avian species

Separate inhalation-chamber studies were conducted to assess acute/subacute food intake (g), water intake (ml), and body weight (g) effects of four whole-body phosphoric-acids-aerosol exposures in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus); subacute effects of two exposures were studied in rock doves (Columba livia). A 95% red phosphorus/5% butyl rubber (RP/BR) mixture was burned to produce the aerosol. Each study involved (1) 3 RP/BR target concentration groups (0.0, 1.0, and 4.0 mg/L), (2) 24 prairie dogs or doves (8/group), with gender included as a factor in each study, and (3) a successive 3-phase paradigm (2 d preexposure; 4 and 2 d of approximately 80 min/d exposures to RP/BR for prairie dogs and rock doves, respectively; and 6 d postexposure). Results showed that in-chamber atmospheres were uniform and acceptable for all exposures. No prairie dogs died, but 1 male rock dove died on d 3 postexposure to 4.0 mg/L aerosol. Concentration and gender main effects were significant for the acute (2 h out-of-chamber) food intake, water intake, and weight change of prairie dogs, with aerosol-exposed and male rodents showing decrements. Gender and day main effects were also significant for the subacute (23 h/d) variables in prairie dogs; females weighted less than males, and reduced food/water/weight was evident for all animals during the 4 exposure days and first 3 postexposure days. For rock doves, subacute gender and day main effects, plus concentration x day and concentration x gender x day interactions, characterized the data. A transitive relationship was evident among RP/BR aerosol conditions (0.0 < 1.0 < 4.0 mg/L) and mean decreased food intakes on the exposure days (d2 < d1). Enhanced postexposure water replenishment by female versus male doves exposed to 4.0 mg/L RP/BR aerosol was a main finding. Results are explained based upon a temporal model of phosphoric acid caused ulcers/edema. Effects are compared to prior evidence for albino rats, prairie dogs and rock doves; these are also discussed relative to certain human health and ecotoxicological literature.
Social, Professional, and Educational Values on the Interdisciplinary Team: Implications for Gerontological and Geriatric Education.

Values define and guide the practice of health care professionals, and educational programs also reflect prevailing academic norms, assumptions, and principles. Initiatives to develop interdisciplinary instructional programs in gerontological and geriatric teamwork are heavily influenced by social and academic values that emphasize individualism, competition, and unidisciplinary thinking, I analyze the influence of these values on interprofessional education and develop a framework for conceptualizing the role of values on the interdisciplinary health care team. This structure encompasses dimensions or axes relating to professional‐client and professional‐professional relationships and to the emerging importance of shared team values. Implications for gerontological and geriatric programs and pedagogy are explored, particularly with regard to the development of instructional models and methods.
Influence of dietary NaCl on L-arginine transport in the renal medulla.

Previous work demonstrated that l-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide (NO) synthase, is carried into inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells via system y+, that the major system y+ gene p...
Perturbation theory of intermolecular interactions: What is the problem, are there solutions?

We review the nature of the problem in the framework of Rayleigh–Schrodinger perturbation theory (the polarization approximation) considering explicitly two examples: the interaction of two hydrogen atoms and the interaction of Li with H. We show, in agreement with the work of Claverie and of Morgan and Simon, that the LiH problem is dramatically different from the H2 problem. In particular, the physical states of LiH are higher in energy than an infinite number of discrete, unphysical states and they are buried in a continuum of unbound, unphysical states, which starts well below the lowest physical state. Claverie has shown that the perturbation expansion, under these circumstances, is likely to converge to an unphysical state of lower energy than the physical ground state, if it converges at all. We review, also, the application of two classes of exchange perturbation theory to LiH and larger systems. We show that the spectra of three Eisenschitz–London (EL) class, exchange perturbation theories have no continuum of unphysical states overlaying the physical states and no discrete, unphysical states below the lowest physical state. In contrast, the spectra of two Hirschfelder–Silbey class theories differ hardly at all from that found with the polarization approximation. Not one of the EL class of perturbation theories, however, eliminates all of the discrete unphysical states. The best one establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the lowest energy states of the unperturbed and perturbed Hamiltonians, and a one-to-two correspondence for the higher states. We suggest that the EL class perturbation theories would be good starting points for the development of more effective perturbation theories for intermolecular interactions.
Diagnosis and Treatment of an Ophthalmic Artery Occlusion During an Intralesional Injection of Corticosteroid Into an Eyelid Capillary Hemangioma

Purpose To demonstrate the usefulness of simultaneous indirect ophthalmoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of embolization of the ocular circulation during intralesional injection of corticosteroids into capillary hemangiomas. Methods A 4-month-old infant had an ophthalmic artery occlusion during an intralesional injection of corticosteroids into a right upper eyelid capillary hemangioma. The injection was discontinued immediately and a paracentesis was performed. Fluorescein angiography was performed 20 minutes and three weeks after the ophthalmic artery occlusion. Results Fluorescein angiography after the paracentesis showed delayed retinal and choroidal filling and large areas of retinal and choroidal ischemia. Three weeks after treatment, the angiographic abnormalities had resolved, and the retinal and choroidal circulations were normal. Twenty-eight months after treatment, the visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye. Conclusion Ophthalmic artery occlusion can occur during intralesional injection of corticosteroids into capillary hemangiomas. Simultaneous indirect ophthalmoscopy allows the surgeon to discontinue the injection and provide treatment to allow for the best possible visual outcome after this complication.