cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Association of Religious Affiliation with Overweight/Obesity Among South Asians: The Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study.

Religiosity has been associated with greater body weight. Less is known about South Asian religions and associations with weight. Cross-sectional analysis of the MASALA study (n = 906). We examined associations between religious affiliation and overweight/obesity after controlling for age, sex, years lived in the USA, marital status, education, insurance status, health status, and smoking. We determined whether traditional cultural beliefs, physical activity, and dietary pattern mediated this association. The mean BMI was 26 kg/m2. Religious affiliation was associated with overweight/obesity for Hindus (OR 2.12; 95 % CI: 1.16, 3.89), Sikhs (OR 4.23; 95 % CI: 1.72, 10.38), and Muslims (OR 2.79; 95 % CI: 1.14, 6.80) compared with no religious affiliation. Traditional cultural beliefs (7 %), dietary pattern (1 %), and physical activity (1 %) mediated 9 % of the relationship. Interventions designed to promote healthy lifestyle changes to reduce the burden of overweight/obesity among South Asians need to be culturally and religiously tailored.
Gayle’s Voice: My Journey of How I Got to Now

Now I am a professor in the Instructional Design and Development program (IDD) at the University of South Alabama (USA). I teach, work with graduate students and supervise their research, conduct my own studies and participate in professional and scholarly organizations. I was the first in the program to teach using online delivery (mainly blended) and was instrumental in developing two certificate programs. Currently, I serve as an associate editor (previously known as the North American Corresponding Editor) for the British Journal of Educational Technology, a member of the EdMedia Executive Committee for the Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education (AACE), and a longstanding member of the Association for Educational and Communications Technology (AECT) and currently on the Definitions and Terms Committee and the D&D Board. My story of how I got to now and who supported or influenced me along the way begins with my family.
The Fight against Drug Trafficking: Mechanisms of Regional Cooperation and Their Limits

Between 12 and 21 million individuals in the world consume opiates, three-quarters of them heroin. Afghanistan is the epicenter of the traffic as the world’s largest producer of opium and its derivatives. Contrary to Burmese heroin, essentially trafficked to China, and Mexican heroin, by and large destined for the United States (U.S.), Afghan production travels to nearly all parts of the world, with the exception of Latin America. Beyond the health consequences for consumers, the stakes are political. The illegal-narcotics trade constitutes one of the main financial sources of the insurgency groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but, more importantly, it feeds criminality in the set of countries through which they transit. The attention brought by the international community to such questions heightened in the 2000s as a result of the Western military engagement in Afghanistan. The 2014 withdrawal means that the countries of the region will have to play a greater role in the management of their borders and to confront questions about their capacity to stop potentially destabilizing trends emerging from Afghanistan. Numerous international and regional structures are trying to develop and coordinate counter-narcotics actions in the so-called Golden Crescent region (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) and in post-Soviet Central Asia. Nevertheless they face many obstacles of various natures, and their strategic choices are often made without sufficiently considering the aims of these actions.
Prospective evaluation of point-of-care ultrasound for pre-procedure identification of landmarks versus traditional palpation for lumbar puncture.

Author(s): Lahham, Shadi; Schmalbach, Priel; Wilson, Sean P; Ludeman, Lori; Subeh, Mohammad; Chao, Jocelyn; Albadawi, Nadeem; Mohammadi, Niki; Fox, John C | Abstract: BackgroundThe objective of this study is to determine if point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) pre-procedure identification of landmarks can decrease failure rate, reduce procedural time, and decrease the number of needle redirections and reinsertions when performing a lumbar puncture (LP).MethodsThis was a prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing POCUS pre-procedure identification of landmarks versus traditional palpation for LP in a cohort of patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit.ResultsA total of 158 patients were enrolled. No significant difference was found in time to completion, needle re-direction, or needle re-insertion when using POCUS when compared to the traditional method of palpation.ConclusionConsistent with findings of previous studies, our data indicate that there was no observed benefit of using POCUS to identify pre-procedure landmarks when performing an LP.
Correlation between mechanical and chemical degradation after outdoor and accelerated laboratory aging for multilayer photovoltaic backsheets

Channel cracking fragmentation testing and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy were utilized to study mechanical and chemical degradation of a multilayered backsheet after outdoor and accelerated laboratory aging. A model sample of commercial PPE backsheet, namely polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene terephthalate/ethylene vinyl acetate (PET/PET/EVA) was investigated. Outdoor aging was performed in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA for up to 510 days, and complementary accelerated laboratory aging was conducted on the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) SPHERE (Simulated Photodegradation via High Energy Radiant Exposure). Fracture energy, mode I stress intensity factor and film strength were analyzed using an analytical model based on channel cracking fragmentation testing results. The correlation between mechanical and chemical degradation was discussed for both outdoor and accelerated laboratory aging. The results of this work provide preliminary understanding on failure mechanism of backsheets after weathering, laying the groundwork for linking outdoor and indoor accelerated laboratory testing for multilayer photovoltaic backsheets.
Extrinsic calibration of a ground penetrating radar

To develop a multi-modal in-traffic bridge deck scanning device, we need to calibrate extrinsic parameters of a ground penetrating radar (GPR). GPR output is in a non-Euclidean coordinate system because it only detects underground objects relative to road surface. When road surface is non-planar, its output cannot be trivially mapped to a 3D Cartesian system which is necessary for sensor fusion. We design an artificial planar bridge as the calibration device to ensure that the GPR output maintains Euclidean coordinate property during the calibration process. The bridge also allows us to adjust metal balls as calibration objects. We model the GPR imaging process and extract readings from hyperbolas generated from metal balls. We employ the maximum likelihood estimator to estimate the rigid body transformation and provide the closed form error analysis. We have conducted physical experiments to validate our calibration process. Results show that the calibrated model has an average error of 9.77 mm for testing samples. This is satisfying because the GPR signal wave length is 18.8 cm.
Small Molecule with Extended Alkyl Side Substituents for Organic Solar Cells

In this work, we have investigated two aniline based squaraine molecules, DBSQ(OH)2 and DHSQ(OH)2, for their potential application in organic photovoltaics. These two squaraine molecules are only different in side chain length (i.e. butyl vs. hexyl). Yet, their solar cell properties are drastically different (PCE = 3.6% vs. 1.9%). We have further investigated the reason behind the superior performance of DBSQ(OH)2 in absorbance spectra, hole mobility characterization and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that DBSQ(OH)2 has a higher hole mobility (5.1×10-4 cm2/V•s vs. 1.4×10-4 cm2/V•s) and is able to mix well with the fullerene acceptor compared to DHSQ(OH)2. Our work shows clearly that the long solubilizing alkyl side chain might be detrimental for OPV performance and that shorter side chains with enough solubility have great value when designing small molecules.
Abstract IA03: Lessons from colorectal cancer

Many of the fundamental tenets of cancer genetics have their origins in the study of colorectal cancer (CRC). This is, at least in part, due to several clinical features of CRC that make it a particularly attractive and amenable to study in humans. Some of these key features include the relative abundance of CRC and precursor adenomas in the general population, the ease of identifying and collecting adenomas through routine screening colonoscopies, the existence of well recognized histopathological classifications with defined clinical implications and the long standing description of several well defined inherited predispositions. As a result, studies in CRC have often proven to be seminal in defining the role of somatic mutations and germline variations in the initiation progression and resistance of human cancer. Moreover, studies of CRC have proven to be influential beyond the aforementioned areas helping to define the roles of diet, inflammation and the microbiome in human cancer and providing new paradigms for the prevention and management of cancer. How these findings inform our understanding of CRC and cancer in general will be discussed with special emphasis on emerging topics highlighted in this conference. Citation Format: Kenneth W. Kinzler. Lessons from colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Colorectal Cancer: From Initiation to Outcomes; 2016 Sep 17-20; Tampa, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(3 Suppl):Abstract nr IA03.
Research-Supported Treatment and Organizational Culture and Climate’s Impact on Child Welfare Outcomes

Objective:Research-supported treatments (RSTs) are considered the gold standard of client care. Investigating how to best implement and sustain RSTs in real-world practice is important. The present...
Resection of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer without Regression of Arterial Encasement After Modern-Era Neoadjuvant Therapy.

Modern-era systemic therapy for locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (LAPC) offers improved survival relative to historical regimens but not necessarily improved radiographic downstaging to allow more patients to undergo resection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival, progression, and pathologic outcomes after resection of LAPC that did not regress from > 180 degrees arterial encasement after neoadjuvant therapy. Sixty-one LAPC patients were brought to the operating room after neoadjuvant therapy for NCCN-defined unresectable pancreatic cancer between 2012 and 2017. Pts were explored with intent of pancreatectomy and irreversible electroporation for margin extension; 5 (8%) had metastatic lesions on exploratory laparoscopy and were excluded from analyses. Imaging was re-examined to confirm LAPC prior to surgery. Data were analyzed from a prospective pancreatic cancer database. Patients had arterial involvement of the celiac axis (37.5%) and/or superior mesenteric artery (42.9%) and/or an extended length of the common hepatic (n = 44.6%) artery. Twenty-nine males and 27 females, median 65 years of age, received neoadjuvant gemcitabine-based (58.9%) or FOLFIRINOX (35.7%) chemotherapy and stereotactic body (42.9%) or intensity-modulated (51.8%) radiation therapy. Median months from initiation of neoadjuvant therapy to surgery was 7.5. Sixty-one percent underwent Whipple, 21% distal, and 18% modified Appleby procedures; 57% patients underwent venous reconstruction. Ninety-day mortality was 2%. An R0 margin was achieved in 80%, and 53% were N0. Median overall and progression-free survival was 18.5 (95%CI 12.27–32.33) and 8.5 months (95%CI 6.0–15.0), respectively. One- and 3-year survival from surgery was 68.5% (95%CI 53.0–79.7) and 39.0% (95%CI 23.7–53.8), respectively. With modern-era neoadjuvant therapy, R0 resections can be achieved in a majority of non-metastatic patients with locally advanced, unresectable disease based on cross-sectional imaging.
Microbial Diversity of Cave Ecosystems

The formation of natural caves (speleogenesis) is due to any number of processes that result in the hollowing out of rock, including dissolution, mechanical weathering, volcanic activity, or even the melting of glacial ice. Caves are classified based on the solid rock that they developed within, the proximity to the groundwater table (e.g., above, at, or below it), the speleogenetic history of a feature, and the overall passage morphology and organization (e.g., cave length, passage shape, passage arrangement, passage levels) (Fig. 10.1). Caves are one type of feature that characterizes a karst landscape, which develops in soluble rocks (e.g., limestone, dolomite, gypsum, halite) that roughly coincides with the global distribution of carbonate sedimentary rocks of all geologic ages (e.g., Ford and Williams 2007). Although karst comprises ∼15–20% of the Earth’s ice-free land surface, karst caves are not interconnected, not within the same hydrological drainage basin and definitely not across different drainage basins.
“It’s Not Equality”: How Race, Class, and Gender Construct the Normative Religious Self among Female Prisoners

Prior sociological research has demonstrated that religious selves are gendered. Using the case of female inmates—some of the most disadvantaged Americans—this article shows that dominant messages constructing the religious self are not only gendered, but also deeply intertwined with race and class. Data from 12 months of ethnographic fieldwork on religion inside a U.S. state women’s prison reveal that religious volunteers—predominately middle-class African American women—preached feminine submissiveness and finding a “man of God” to marry to embody religious ideals. However, these messages were largely out of sync with the realities of working class and poor incarcerated women, especially given their temporary isolation from the marriage market and the marital prospects in the socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods to which many would return. These findings suggest that scholars must pay attention to how race, class, and gender define dominant discourses around the religious self and consider the implications for stratification for those who fail to fulfill this dominant ideology.
Psychopathology, normality, and creativity in adolescence.

The author reviews the articles by the contributors to this issue and incorporates references to historic work to provide a synthesis of current thought on adolescent psychopathology, normality, and creativity.
Proteases in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotic Cell Organelles

Proteins with genetic or acquired defects tend to misfold, aggregate, and precipitate, impoverishing the pool of potentially useful protein molecules available for folding. In addition, defective peptides and their precipitates can be toxic. Therefore, faulty peptides must be salvaged, i.e., folded, or eliminated by proteases. This article presents proteases that occur in prokaryotes, archaea and bacteria, and the eukaryotic cell organelles, including those derived from prokaryotes.
Sleep Loss from Major Sleep Disorders

Sleep loss is the lack of sufficient sleep needed to perform optimally. This common problem may result from a behaviorally mediated lack of time allotted for sleep. Sleep loss is also a consequence of the major sleep disorders. For example, lack of sufficient sleep quantity and/or quality is a common complaint in insomnia. Sleep fragmentation which often occurs in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome results in poor sleep. Circadian-rhythm disorders and restless legs syndrome also result in inadequate sleep. Not only does sleep loss from the major sleep disorders cause numerous physiologic effects to the individual, but this sleep loss also holds large public health and safety implications.
20 Years of Mre11 Biology: No End in Sight.

The Mre11 nuclease has been the subject of intensive investigation for the past 20 years because of the central role that Mre11/Rad50 complexes play in genome maintenance. The last two decades of work on this complex has led to a much deeper understanding of the structure, biochemical activities, and regulation of Mre11/Rad50 complexes from archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotic cells. This review will discuss some of the important findings over recent years that have illuminated roles for the Mre11 nuclease in these different contexts as well as the insights from structural biology that have helped us to understand its mechanisms of action.
Trends and inpatient outcomes for palliative care services in major burn patients: A 10-year analysis of the nationwide inpatient sample.

Abstract Introduction Despite advances in critical care and the surgical management of major burns, highly moribund patients are unlikely to survive. Little is known regarding the utilization and effects of palliative care services in this population. Methods All major burn hospitalizations were identified within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Patients were characterized by burn, demographic, facility, and diseases factors. Palliative care services were identified with International Classification Disease 9th edition code V6.67. Temporal trends were assessed with Poisson modeling. Inpatient mortality and death without surgical intervention were assessed with logistic regression. Outcomes were stratified by modified Baux scores. Results 7424 major burns were included; 1.9% received palliative care services. Patients receiving palliation had a mean age of 63.6 years (SD 19.6), mean total body surface area of 62.2% (SD 24.9%), and mean modified Baux score of 127.1 (SD 26.7). Adjusting for covariates, the incidence rate ratio was 1.42 over the 10-year period (95% CI, 1.31–1.54, p Conclusion and relevance Palliative care services were increasingly used during the study period. Palliative care services in highly moribund burn patients do not impact survival and may decrease the likelihood of surgical intervention in select patients.
University and Community College Partnership: Building Teaching Capacity to Increase Underserved Student Success

Postsecondary institutions need well-prepared instructors to equip students for changing economic and social realities, instructors who are also trained to address the learning needs of the many st...
Revolutionary Homophobia: Explaining State Repression against Sexual Minorities

Why do unthreatening social groups become targets of state repression? Repression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is especially puzzling since sexual minorities, unlike many ethnic minorities, pose no credible violent challenge to the state. This article contends that revolutionary governments are disproportionately oppressive toward sexual minorities for strategic and ideological reasons. Since revolutions create domestic instability, revolutionaries face unique strategic incentives to target ‘unreliable’ groups and to demonstrate an ability to selectively punish potential dissidents by identifying and punishing ‘invisible’ groups. Moreover, revolutionary governments are frequently helmed by elites with exclusionary ideologies – such as communism, fascism and Islamism – which represent collectivities rather than individuals. Elites adhering to these views are thus likely to perceive sexual minorities as liberal, individualistic threats to their collectivist projects. Statistical analysis using original data on homophobic repression demonstrates that revolutionary governments are more likely to target LGBT individuals, and that this effect is driven by exclusionary ideologues. Case study evidence from Cuba further indicates that the posited strategic and ideological mechanisms mediate the relationship between revolutionary government and homophobic repression.
Conduct becoming: good wives and husbands in the later Middle Ages

The 13th-century Roman de Silence traces the adventures of its hero, born a noble girl, then raised as a boy to thwart a recent decree prohibiting women from inheriting. Silence – for whom the narr...
Post-surgical Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Patient on Empagliflozin in the Intensive Care Unit.

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA) is a rare variant of diabetic ketoacidosis which has been recently reported in association with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Empagliflozin, an agent belonging to this therapeutic class, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 for management of type 2 diabetes. Since then, sparse reports of its association with EDKA are emerging, similarly to its predecessors in the class. We report the case of a 58-year-old female who developed EDKA in the intensive care unit (ICU) 48 hours after her last intake of empagliflozin and a day after neurosurgery. Though expected to improve in the post-operative period, she developed a rapidly worsening and unexplained anion gap metabolic acidosis. She was eventually diagnosed with EDKA which was successfully treated with intravenous insulin infusion, dextrose-containing fluids and discontinuation of the offending drug. Metabolic abnormalities improved in less than 24 hours and patient recovered without complications. This report highlights the importance of recognizing EDKA as a complication of oral anti-diabetics and discontinuing SGLT-2 inhibitors days prior to surgery and ICU admission. Care should be applied to providing patient with low-dose ketogenesis-inhibiting basal insulin and close observation of laboratory values in order to minimize delays in diagnosis, prolonged hospital stays and complications of EDKA.
Measurements of the charge distributions on an alumina insulator in vacuum resulting from high-voltage stress

High voltage applied to insulators in vacuum can result in a positive surface charge remaining after the voltage is removed. This is believed to be caused by an electron avalanche, i.e., a cascade of electrons multiplying on the surface by secondary electron emission, resulting in remnant positive charge on the insulator surface. The source of the primary electrons initiating the avalanche is considered to be field emitted electrons from the cathode.
Drought-Mediated Changes in Tree Physiological Processes Weaken Tree Defenses to Bark Beetle Attack

Interactions between water stress and induced defenses and their role in tree mortality due to bark beetles are poorly understood. We performed a factorial experiment on 48 mature ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa) in northern Arizona over three years that manipulated a) tree water stress by cutting roots and removing snow; b) bark beetle attacks by using pheromone lures; and c) phloem exposure to biota vectored by bark beetles by inoculating with dead beetles. Tree responses included resin flow from stem wounds, phloem composition of mono- and sesqui-terpenes, xylem water potential, leaf gas exchange, and survival. Phloem contained 21 mono- and sesqui-terpenes, which were dominated by (+)-α-pinene, (-)-limonene, and δ-3-carene. Bark beetle attacks (mostly Dendroctonus brevicomis) and biota carried by beetles induced a general increase in concentration of phloem mono- and sesqui-terpenes, whereas water stress did not. Bark beetle attacks induced an increase in resin flow for unstressed trees but not water-stressed trees. Mortality was highest for beetle-attacked water-stressed trees. Death of beetle-attacked trees was preceded by low resin flow, symptoms of water stress (low xylem water potential, leaf gas exchange), and an ephemeral increase in concentrations of mono- and sesqui-terpenes compared to surviving trees. These results show a) that ponderosa pine can undergo induction of both resin flow and phloem terpenes in response to bark beetle attack, and that the former is more constrained by water stress; b) experimental evidence that water stress predisposes ponderosa pines to mortality from bark beetles.
A combinatorial approach to Macdonald q, t-symmetry via the Carlitz bijection

We investigate the combinatorics of the symmetry relation H μ(x; q, t) = H μ∗ (x; t, q) on the transformed Macdonald polynomials, from the point of view of the combinatorial formula of Haglund, Haiman, and Loehr in terms of the inv and maj statistics on Young diagram fillings. By generalizing the Carlitz bijection on permutations, we provide a purely combinatorial proof of the relation in the case of Hall-Littlewood polynomials (q = 0) for the coefficients of the square-free monomials in the variables x. Our work in this case relates the Macdonald inv and maj statistics to the monomial basis of the modules Rμ studied by Garsia and Procesi. We also provide a new proof for the full Macdonald relation in the case when μ is a hook shape.
Universal Health Care for the United States: A Primer for Health Care Providers

The United States is one of a very few high-income countries that does not guarantee every person the right to health care. Residents of the United States pay more out-of-pocket for increasingly worse outcomes. People of color, those who have lower incomes, and those who live in rural areas have less access to health care and are therefore at even greater risk for poor health. Universal health care, a term for various models of health care systems that provide care for every resident of a given country, will help move the United States toward higher quality, more affordable, and more equitable care. This article defines a reproductive justice and human rights foundation for universal health care, explores how health insurance has worked historically in the United States, identifies the economic reasons for implementing universal health care, and discusses international models that could be used domestically.
Determination of mercury in grain by low-temperature digestion-hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

Objective To determinate marcury in grain by hydride generation atomic fluorescence. Methods Hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry was applied to determine to mercury in grain. Results Thet liner range was 0.0~10.0μg/L,the relative standard deviation(RSD)was 1.25%,the detection limit of hydride generation AFS was 0.046μg/ L,recoveries of standard addition were 97.5% ~103.0% . Conlusion The method is precise,simple and applicable for determination of mercury in grain.
Concurrent healthy behavior adoption and diabetic retinopathy in the United States

Objective Emerging work suggests an independent association of physical activity and healthy eating on diabetic retinopathy. No study, however, has examined whether physical activity and healthy eating have an additive and/or additive interaction effect on diabetic retinopathy.
Environmental Planning Via Low-Cost Computer Technology

Varying user requirements exist in order to assure effective and efficient environmental planning. Rather than tailor the solution to these diverse requirements to one general purpose data system, the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) selected a minicomputer-based system. The system is available for interactive inquiries via telephone and features diverse subsystems each designed to insure ease of layman usage. The system features a high level, flexible language; hierarchial file structure; use of pointer variables; string manipulation; and multi-user access. The results of such an approach have been very encouraging with daily usage by geographically dispersed laymen becoming commonplace within the Department of the Army, allowing for more efficient compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Surveying surveys and questioning questions - learning from World Bank experience

How to make firm-level surveys more consistent, yielding data more relevant to policy analysis. The World Bank has increasingly focused on firm-level surveys to build the data foundation needed for accurate policy analysis in developing and transition economies. Recanatini, Wallsten, and Xu take stock of some recent Bank surveys and discuss how to improve their results. Lessons on data issues and hypothesis testing: · Use panel data, if possible. · Have enough information about productivity to estimate a production function. · Avoid the paradigm of list the severity of the obstacle/problem on a scale of 1 to 5. Instead, ask for data on specific dimensions of the problem that will shed light on alternative hypotheses and policy recommendations. · Pick particular disaggregated industries and sample those industries in each survey. · Identify the most important policy interventions of interest and consider how you will empirically identify specific changes by picking instruments useful for doing so. Lessons on questionnaire design: · Incorporate only one idea or dimension in each question. Do not ask, in one question, about the quality, integrity, and efficiency of services, for example. · Consider the costs and benefits of numeric scales compared with adjectival scales. Scales in which each point is labeled may be more precise than numeric scales in which only the endpoints are labeled. But responses are very sensitive to the exact adjective chosen and it may be impossible to translate adjectives precisely across languages, making it impossible to compare responses across countries. · Recognize that the share of respondents expressing opinions will be biased upward if the survey does not include a middle (indifferent or don't know) category and downward if it does include the middle category. · When asking degree-of-concern and how-great-an-obstacle questions, consider first asking a filter question (such as Do you believe this regulation is an obstacle or not?). If the answer is yes, then ask how severe the obstacle is. · Be aware of the effects of context. The act of asking questions can affect the answers given on subsequent, related questions. · Think carefully about how to ask sensitive questions. Consider using a self-administered module for sensitive questions. Alternatively, a randomized response mechanism may be a useful, truth-revealing mechanism. This paper - a product of Regulation and Competition Policy, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to develop consistent cross-country firm level surveys. The authors may be contacted at frecanatini@worldbank.org, wallsten@leland.stanford.edu, or lxu1@worldbank.org.
Preparation and properties of sol-gel derived Pb((Mg/sub 1/3/Nb/sub 2/3/)/sub 1-x/Ti/sub x/)O/sub 3/ and Pb((Zn/sub 1/3/Nb/sub 2/3/)/sub 1-x/Ti/sub x/)O/sub 3/ thin layers

Alkoxide-based solutions with compositions in the Pb((Mg/sub 1/3/Nb/sub 2/3/)/sub 1-x/Ti/sub x/)O/sub 3/ (PMNT) and Pb((Zn/sub 1/3/Nb) Ti/sub x/)O/sub 3/ (PZNT) systems were synthesized and used for the integration of thin layer dielectrics on platinized Si. A multilayering spin-casting method was used with rapid thermal processing of individual layers. Thin layers of each composition could be formed into a nonferroelectric pyrochlore phase or a ferroelectric perovskite phase depending upon processing conditions. Compositions containing greater amounts of PMN or PZN required higher processing temperatures for perovskite formation. The effects of composition and thermal processing conditions on the development and structure of crystalline phases, and dielectric properties are reported. >
On the local stability of accretion disks

The local stability of accretion disks is investigated through the study of an unbounded rotating compressible viscous plane Couette flow. Bulk viscosity is included. Such a flow is shown to be stable against all small amplitude disturbances. The implication of this result for the origin of the assumed turbulent viscosity is explored. In particular, the possible role of finite amplitude perturbations in the onset of turbulence is stressed.
Pre-ejection period of cardiac cycles in fetal lamb

The pre-ejection period (PEP) of the fetal cardiac cycle was studied on 22 chronically instrumented pregnant ewes. The PEP was measured from the onset of the Q wave on fetal electrocardiogram to the onset of the upstroke on the fetal arterial blood pressure curve. Lengthening of the PEP was observed in association with an increase in gestational age, fetal body weight, fetal brow-rump length, and fetal heart weight. Consequently, the PEP values were calculated to those at fetal heart weight of 10 grams. The PEPc (calculated) was prolonged by acidosis but no significant relationship was found between the PEPc and arterial blood pO2. An increase in coronary blood flow was associated with a shortening of the PEPc in the fetuses under normal physiologic conditions. Fetal hypoxemia and respiratory acidosis created by administration of 10 per cent O2 and 20 per cent CO2 with 20 per cent O2 to the mother increased fetal coronary flow and was in general associated with a prolonged pre-ejection period.
Mycorrhizal diversity of an endemic terrestrial orchid

Mycorrhizal associations of the Orchidaceae - the largest and most diverse angiosperm family with an estimated number of taxa ranging between 17,000 and 35,000 – are highly complex. Plant-fungus inter- actions in this family can range from obligate- or fac- ultative mycotrophy, mutualism, to minimal depen- dence on fungi in adulthood (Smith & Read 1997, Sivasithamparam et al . 2002, Taylor et al. 2002, Cameron et al . 2006).
Investigation of preparation techniques for δ2H analysis of keratin materials and a proposed analytical protocol

Accurate hydrogen isotopic measurements of keratin materials have been a challenge due to exchangeable hydrogen in the sample matrix and the paucity of appropriate isotopic reference materials for calibration. We found that the most reproducible δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) and mole fraction of exchangeable hydrogen, x(H)(ex), of keratin materials were measured with equilibration at ambient temperature using two desiccators and two different equilibration waters with two sets of the keratin materials for 6 days. Following equilibration, drying the keratin materials in a vacuum oven for 4 days at 60 °C was most critical. The δ(2)H analysis protocol also includes interspersing isotopic reference waters in silver tubes among samples in the carousel of a thermal conversion elemental analyzer (TC/EA) reduction unit. Using this analytical protocol, δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) values of the non-exchangeable fractions of USGS42 and USGS43 human-hair isotopic reference materials were determined to be -78.5 ± 2.3 ‰ and -50.3 ± 2.8 ‰, respectively. The measured x(H)(ex) values of keratin materials analyzed with steam equilibration and N(2) drying were substantially higher than those previously published, and dry N(2) purging was unable to remove absorbed moisture completely, even with overnight purging. The δ(2)H values of keratin materials measured with steam equilibration were about 10 ‰ lower than values determined with equilibration in desiccators at ambient temperatures when on-line evacuation was used to dry samples. With steam equilibrations the x(H)(ex) of commercial keratin powder was as high as 28%. Using human-hair isotopic reference materials to calibrate other keratin materials, such as hoof or horn, can introduce bias in δ(2)H measurements because the amount of absorbed water and the x(H)(ex) values may differ from those of unknown samples. Correct δ(2)H(VSMOW-SLAP) values of the non-exchangeable fractions of unknown human-hair samples can be determined with atmospheric moisture equilibration by normalizing with USGS42 and USGS43 human-hair reference materials when all materials have the same powder size.
New oral anticoagulants vs. warfarin treatment: no need for pharmacogenomics?

For patients requiring long-term anticoagulation, oral vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin have overwhelming efficacy data and present significant challenges. In addition to the potential exposure to numerous drug–drug and drug–food interactions, patients receiving warfarin require frequent monitoring. It had been hoped that the integration of pharmacogenomic with clinical information would improve anticoagulation control with warfarin, but trials have not supported this aim. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) offer both advantages and disadvantages and deserve consideration in appropriate patients. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2014); 96 1, 17–19. doi:10.1038/clpt.2014.48
EEG coherence as a predictor of spike propagation.

Abstract The relationship between resting EEG coherence and the propagation of spike activity from an experimental cortical focus was investigated in 6 rats. EEG was collected from an array of 6 epicortical electrodes positioned over the posterior hind limb sensorimotor (HL) and frontal (Fr1, Fr2) cortices. Coherence decreased non-linearly for all frequency bands with increasing interelectrode distance. The greatest decrement in coherence occured in the region corresponding to the junction between hind limb (HL) and frontal (Fr1) cortices. The decrease in coherence was greatest for the highest frequency band for all interelectrode pairs. A spike focus was induced in all 6 animals following the application of bicuculline at the most posterior electrode of the cortical array. In 5 of the 6 animals spike propagation was delayed at the junction of HL and Fr1 cortices, where the greatest decrease in coherence was observed. In one animal spike activity never advanced across this region. These results demonstrate an association between intracortical coherence and the spatial propagation of spike activity. The function of short and long cortico-cortical pathways as mediators of both EEG coherence and cortical spike propagation are discussed.
Cancer of the gums (gingivae)

Abstract A series of 113 consecutive cases of cancer of the gums (gingivae) is analyzed from the standpoint of etiology, clinical course, treatment and end results. Treatment methods by radiation, surgery, and combinations of the two, with their attendant complications, are described in detail. The net cure rate in the series, calculated in 105 determinate cases, is 25.7 per cent.
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG A POPULATION-BASED SAMPLE OF BLACKS AND WHITES

Abstract We evaluated associations between the availability and adequacy of emotional support and health–related quality of life (QOL) among Blacks and Whites, and individuals varying in socioeconomic status. While both aspects of emotional support were associated directly with enhanced quality of life, important interaction effects were observed. First, adequacy of emotional support had a beneficial effect for Blacks and Whites of higher education; however, it was associated with better physical health–related QOL for Whites but not Blacks of lower education (b = 2.59, t(1, 845) = 2.82, p = .005). Furthermore, having greater available emotional support was associated with poorer quality of life for Blacks but not Whites (b = −3.99, t(1, 842) = −2.56, p =.01) and for Blacks of lower education compared to Whites of similar status (b = 2.21, t(1, 842) = 2.19, p = .03). Our findings suggest that emotional support may not be as beneficial among Blacks compared to Whites, and particularly among Blacks with les...
High pressure-high temperature synthesis of new Cu-based oxides

Abstract LaCuO 3 cannot be made at ambient pressure. We have successfully synthesized this compound and over 100 related polymorphs by reacting appropriate oxide mixtures at elevated pressures and temperatures. These new compounds have been formed by systematic substitution of some or all of the La and/or Cu with one or more of the following elements: Ba, Ca, Cr, Ni, Pb, Sc, Sr, Ti, Y, Zn, and Zr. Magnetic susceptibility tests have failed to show evidence of superconductivity.
Effect of mission cycling on the fatigue performance of SiC-coated carbon-carbon composites

The effects of thermal and pressure cycling on the fatigue performance of carbon-carbon composites, and the influence of mission cycling on these effects, were investigated by subjecting both virgin and mission-cycled two-dimensional specimens of SiC-coated carbon-carbon composites to fatigue tests, conducted at room temperature in three-point bending, with a stress ratio of 0.2 and a frequency of 1 Hz. It was found that the fatigue strength of C-C composites is high (about 90 percent of the ultimate flexural strength), but decreased with the mission cycling. The lowering of the fatigue strength with mission cycling is attributed to the increase in interfacial bond strength due to thermal and pressure cycling of the material. The already high sensitivity of C-C composites to stress during cyclic loading increases further with the amount of mission cycling. Results of NDE suggest that the damage growth in virgin C-C, in the high-cycle range, is slow at the initial stage of the cyclic life, but propagates rapidly after certain threshold cycles of the fatigue life.
Fluctuation Analysis of Caulobacter crescentus Adhesion

The aquatic bacterium Caulobacter crescentus divides asymmetrically to a flagellated swarmer cell and a cell with a stalk. At the end of the stalk is an adhesive organelle known as the holdfast, which the stalked cell uses to attach to a solid surface. Often there are two or more cells with their stalks attached to the same holdfast. By analyzing the fluctuations in the stalk angle for a pair of cells attached to a single holdfast, we determine the elastic stiffness of the holdfast. We model the holdfast as three torsional springs in series and find that the effective torsional spring constant for the holdfast is of the order of (10−17–10−18) Nm, with unequal spring constants. The asymmetry suggests the sequence in which the cells attach to each other, and in some cases suggests that strong crosslinks form between the stalks as they make a shared holdfast.
Determinants of serial discrimination learning by squirrel monkeys

Abstract Squirrel monkeys were presented multiple serial discriminations 1, 2, 4, and 8 problems long. They were then presented problems designed to separate the effects of within-list associative interference from the effects of within-problem intertrial interval as list length was increased. The S s committed consistently fewer errors after Trial 1 reward than after Trial 1 nonreward and showed strong stimulus perseveration. An increase in within-problem intertrial interval from 30 sec to 4 min had no effect whereas the associative interference resulting from increased problem length caused a small but significant performance decrement. Old and new problems had about equal effects on serial discrimination. The findings indicated that squirrel monkeys are relatively insensitive to within-problem associative interference.
Role of Oxygen in Affecting Survival and Activity of Pelodera Punctata (Rhabditidae) From Sewage Sludge

The effect of oxygen on the survival and activity of Pelodera punctata (Cobb) was investigated. P. punctata was maintained in monoxenic cultures in which Pseudomonas fluorescens was the bacterial food source. When nematodes were kept for 2 weeks under a reducing and anaerobic atmosphere, 28 to 40% of the cultures survived. The effect of pO2 and pCO2 on activity was determined by sealing the cultures and subsequently monitoring the activity and gas concentrations using gas chromatography. A pO2 of greater than 7000 dyne cm-2 (5 mm Hg) was necessary to sustain activity while pCO2 showed no effect at the concentrations observed. These findings were discussed with regard to role of rhabditid nematodes in sewage sludge which is often deficient in oxygen.
Phenomenological effective Lagrangian and the reactions γ + γ → pions

Abstract A phenomenological effective Lagrangian for the annihilation of two photons into pions first suggested by Aviv, Dass and Sawyer is generalized. The Lagrangian gives photon annihilation into both even and odd number of pions, and is free from any arbitrary parameter. All production cross sections are found to increase with increasing energies, a feature common to many effective Lagrangian models. Near threshold π + π − π 0 production is found to be comparable to that of 3 π 0 production, while at higher energies the charged mode dominates over the neutral mode, a conclusion somewhat different from that of ADS. It is hoped that a low and medium energies future experiments will be able to test the implications of this simple model.
Influence of pheromone concentration and ambient temperature on flight of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) in a sustained-flight wind tunnel

. The effects of pheromone concentration and ambient temperature on male gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera), flight responses to pheromone were investigated in a wind tunnel. As the pheromone dose increased from 10 ng to 1000 ng, males flew at progressively slower airspeeds and ground speeds, and reduced their wingbeat frequencies. Furthermore, the moths steered significantly smaller course angles as the pheromone concentration increased, indicating that they were adopting a more upwind heading. The overall width of the flight tracks also decreased when males flew in more concentrated pheromone plumes. Estimation of plume dimensions using a male wing-fanning assay showed that as pheromone dosage increased, the resultant active spaces became wider, indicating that an inverse relationship existed between the dimensions of the time-averaged plume and the width of track reversals and that most turns were initiated within the plume. When males were flown at cool (20°C) and warm (26°C) ambient temperatures but to equivalent pheromone emission rates, they exhibited higher airspeeds and ground speeds at the higher temperature but steered larger course angles. Track widths, and length of track legs were, however, similar at the two temperatures. The mean turning frequency was nearly the same (c. 4 turns/s) across all the concentrations and temperatures tested even though the moths' thoracic temperature differed by 5°C when the ambient temperature was varied.
Age-related declines in thirst and salt appetite responses in male Fischer 344×Brown Norway rats.

Abstract The F344 × BN strain is the first generational cross between Fischer 344 (F344) and Brown Norway (BN) rats. The F344 × BN strain is widely used in aging studies as it is regarded as a model of “healthy” aging (Sprott, 1991). In the present work, male F344 × BN rats aged 4 mo (young, n = 6) and 20 mo (old, n = 9) received a series of experimental challenges to body fluid homeostasis to determine their thirst and salt appetite responses. Corresponding urinary responses were measured in some of the studies. Following sodium depletion, old rats ingested less saline solution (0.3 M NaCl) than young rats on a body weight basis, but both ages drank enough saline solution to completely repair the accrued sodium deficits. Following intracellular dehydration, old rats drank less water than young rats, again on a body weight basis, and were less able than young rats to drink amounts of water proportionate to the osmotic challenge. Compared with young rats, old rats drank less of both water and saline solution after combined food and fluid restriction, and also were refractory to the stimulatory effects of low doses of captopril on water drinking and sodium ingestion. Age differences in urinary water and sodium excretion could not account for the age differences in accumulated water and sodium balances. These results extend observations of diminished behavioral responses of aging animals to the F344 × BN rat strain and support the idea that impairments in behavior contribute more to the waning ability of aging animals to respond to body fluid challenges than do declines in kidney function. In addition, the results suggest that behavioral defense of sodium homeostasis is less diminished with age in the F344 × BN strain compared to other strains so far studied.
Nanoparticle self-assembly: A loop of two rods

The spontaneous organization of semiconductor nanoparticles into uniform pairs of parallel nanorods bridged at their ends illustrates the potential of hierarchical self-assembly processes for the formation of inorganic superstructures with complexity comparable to that of small self-organized biological aggregates.