cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Androgens promote insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor-I receptor gene expression in the primate ovary

It has recently been shown that androgens increase the growth of immature follicles in the primate ovary. In the present study the effect of androgens on ovarian insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-I receptor gene expression was investigated. The study groups included five follicular phase, placebo-treated controls, and four testosterone- and three dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-treated rhesus monkeys. The treatment period was 5 days. Both testosterone and DHT treatment resulted in significant, 3-4-fold increases in IGF-I mRNA concentration in granulosa, thecal and interstitial compartments. Likewise, both androgens induced significant increases in the amount of IGF-I receptor mRNA, most notably in thecal cells and less markedly in granulosa and interstitium (P < 0.05). These changes in amounts of IGF system mRNA were documented in growing follicles up to the small antral (</=1 mm diameter) stage. Larger follicles were too few in number for significant comparisons. By contrast, amounts of ovarian insulin receptor mRNA were not appreciably altered by androgen treatment. These data suggest that IGF-I and its cognate receptor may mediate androgen-induced ovarian follicular and thecal-interstitial growth.
Personal Health Training and the Severely Handicapped: A Curriculum Based Research Investigation

Project TRANSITION studied, as part of a three year field initiated research proj ect, the effect of training selected personal health skills and their relationship to adaptive behavior. The subjects were moderately, severely, and profoundly retarded individuals residing in a state-operated developemental center. Eighty-eight subjects were selected and then randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups and participated in a 14-week training program. To test the effects of the training, valid and reliable curriculum-embedded tests were developed and used. A curriculum-em bedded test uses the material to be learned as the basis for assessing the degree to which the material has been learned. 1 These tests were designed to measure and monitor subjects' independent ability to perform each task analyzed skill. The Adap tive Behavior Scale2 was used to measure changes in adaptive behavior. Results of the personal health skill testing yielded significant group differences on the independent indices develo...
Hill climbing algorithm for the transmission of layered jpeg2000 video under multiple rate constraints

Video transmission is a topic of major interest in our community. One of the most fundamental aspects behind many video transmission schemes is the bit allocation problem that occurs when variable bitrate video is transmitted under multiple rate constraints. Rate constraints are imposed by the channel capacity, buffer sizes in the server and/or client, and by the coding system. This work introduces a rate allocation method conceived from hill climbing techniques with steepest descent that requires very few computational resources. Experimental results achieved within the framework of JPEG2000 suggest that our approach commonly achieves a solution close to the global optimum.
Mirrors as power filters

Multilayer mirrors offer advantages in power filtering compared to total reflection mirrors in both wiggler and undulator beams at third generation synchrotron radiation sources currently under construction. These advantages come at the expense of increased absorbed power in the mirror itself, and of added complexity of beamline optical design. This paper discusses these aspects.
SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR GLAUCOMA (AN AOS THESIS)

Purpose: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a rapidly evolving, robust technology that has profoundly changed the practice of ophthalmology. Spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) increases axial resolution 2- to 3-fold and scan speed 60- to 110-fold vs time domain OCT (TD-OCT). SD-OCT enables novel scanning, denser sampling, and 3-dimensional imaging. This thesis tests my hypothesis that SD-OCT improves reproducibility, sensitivity, and specificity for glaucoma detection. Methods: OCT progress is reviewed from invention onward, and future development is discussed. To test the hypothesis, TD-OCT and SD-OCT reproducibility and glaucoma discrimination are evaluated. Forty-one eyes of 21 subjects (SD-OCT) and 21 eyes of 21 subjects (TD-OCT) are studied to test retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurement reproducibility. Forty eyes of 20 subjects (SD-OCT) and 21 eyes of 21 subjects (TD-OCT) are investigated to test macular parameter reproducibility. For both TDOCT and SD-OCT, 83 eyes of 83 subjects are assessed to evaluate RNFL thickness and 74 eyes of 74 subjects to evaluate macular glaucoma discrimination. Results: Compared to conventional TD-OCT, SD-OCT had statistically significantly better reproducibility in most sectoral macular thickness and peripapillary RNFL sectoral measurements. There was no statistically significant difference in overall mean macular or RNFL reproducibility, or between TD-OCT and SD-OCT glaucoma discrimination. Surprisingly, TD-OCT macular RNFL thickness showed glaucoma discrimination superior to SD-OCT. Conclusions: At its current development state, SD-OCT shows better reproducibility than TD-OCT, but glaucoma discrimination is similar for TD-OCT and SD-OCT. Technological improvements are likely to enhance SD-OCT reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, and utility, but these will require additional development.
Tracking Time-varying Graphical Structure

Structure learning algorithms for graphical models have focused almost exclusively on stable environments in which the underlying generative process does not change; that is, they assume that the generating model is globally stationary. In real-world environments, however, such changes often occur without warning or signal. Real-world data often come from generating models that are only locally stationary. In this paper, we present LoSST, a novel, heuristic structure learning algorithm that tracks changes in graphical model structure or parameters in a dynamic, real-time manner. We show by simulation that the algorithm performs comparably to batch-mode learning when the generating graphical structure is globally stationary, and significantly better when it is only locally stationary.
All-or-None Ca2+ Release from Intracellular Stores Triggered by Ca2+ Influx through Voltage-Gated Ca2+ Channels in Rat Sensory Neurons

Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) from intracellular stores amplifies the Ca2+ signal that results from depolarization. In neurons, the amplification has been described as a graded process. Here we show that regenerative CICR develops as an all-or-none event in cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons in which ryanodine receptors have been sensitized to Ca2+ by caffeine. We used indo-1-based microfluorimetry in combination with whole-cell patch-clamp recording to characterize the relationship between Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ release. Regenerative release of Ca2+ was triggered when action potential-induced Ca2+ influx increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) above threshold. The threshold was modulated by caffeine and intraluminal Ca2+. A relative refractory period followed CICR. The pharmacological profile of the response was consistent with Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels triggering release from ryanodine-sensitive stores. The activation of a suprathreshold response increased more than fivefold the amplitude and duration of the [Ca2+]i transient. The switch to a suprathreshold response was regulated very precisely in that addition of a single action potential to the stimulus train was sufficient for this transformation. Confocal imaging experiments showed that CICR facilitated propagation of the Ca2+ signal from the plasmalemma to the nucleus. This all-or-none reaction may serve as a switch that determines whether a given electrical signal will be transduced into a local or widespread increase in [Ca2+]i.
Temperature-Dependent Thermal and Elastic Properties of the Interlamellar Phase of Semicrystalline Polyethylene by Molecular Simulation

We present the first theoretical estimates for thermoelastic properties of the noncrystalline domain (the “interlamellar phase”) of semicrystalline polyethylene obtained by Monte Carlo simulations. The interlamellar phase is prescribed to be thermodynamically metastable, with the constraints that it have an average density less than that of the crystal and that it be bounded by two static crystalline lamellae oriented with the {201} crystal plane parallel to the interface. Polyethylene was modeled using a realistic united atom force field with inclusion of torsional contributions, and the results are compared to those of prior studies that used a freely rotating chain model. Parallel tempering between 350 and 450 K was used to simulate several isochoric/isothermal ensembles simultaneously and efficiently, from which the heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficients, Gruneisen coefficients, and the elastic stiffness tensor were determined at atmospheric pressure. The noncrystalline interlamellar phase exhi...
Critiquing Team Procedure Execution

Critiquing is a form of decision support whereby a computer system monitors the actions of people to help prevent errors. Critiquing systems developed to date (spell checkers, problem-solving assistants, etc.) traditionally support a single person performing a static, non time-critical task. We have now developed a critiquing system in the more dynamic world of process control. Specifically, we support the execution of complex procedures in petrochemical plants with an on-line, executable dynamic procedures decision support system, where we introduce critiquing as a means to assist teams of operators as they execute procedures in real time.
Responding to the Foreclosure Crisis in Appalachia: A Policy Review and Survey of Housing Counselors

Existing research on the foreclosure crisis tends to focus on national trends or on metropolitan areas. Few studies focus on rural areas, and none look at Appalachia in particular. Existing research on rural housing issues suggests that rural communities face unique challenges in the wake of the foreclosure crisis due to capacity constraints, lack of qualified counselors in rural areas, and lack of funding availability. This study investigates the impact of existing policies upon Appalachian communities and households—analyzing whether communities suffering from widespread foreclosures lack the governmental and nonprofit resources necessary to adequately utilize funding and other resources to respond to the crisis. This paper presents findings from a survey of housing counselors serving the Appalachian region, which suggests that lack of directed federal funding is preventing counseling agencies from getting distressed homeowners aid in a timely manner or helping them to make modifications to their mortga...
Strategic leadership patterns

This paper examines the phenomenon of strategic leadership of organizations, and presents a taxonomy through which it can be studied. The taxonomy is developed empirically using data from 27 business cases. Four strategic leadership patterns are identified through facet analysis using the smallest space analysis technique. These patterns labeled, (a) entrepreneurial, (b) bureaucratic, (c) political, and (d) professional, are discussed. Suggestions for the development of top management teams, decision-making support systems, and further development of the taxonomy are made. Conventional wisdom and the strategy literature presume that strategic leadership of organizations is primarily provided by chief executives, presidents or general managers (Kotter, 1982; Mintzberg, 1973; Gupta, 1984). However, the influence of individuals on organizational performance has repeatedly been appraised as ambiguous or inconsequential (Lieberson and O’Connor, 1972; Salancik and Pfeffer, 1977). Strategic leadership of organizations remains an under-researched topic, and a sacred cow restricted predominantly to upper echelons of organizations (Hambrick and Mason, 1984). The current study challenges the assumption that only chief executives provide strategic leadership in organizations. This challenge is consistent with Hambrick and Finkelstein’s (1987) argument that the managerial discretion of top managers and the CEO varies widely from very little to a great deal. They show that top management’s discretion, or latitude for action, is a function of the task environment, internal organizational features and managerial characteristics. To the extent that strategic leadership uses managerial discretion to make strategic choices, it is also determined by the above variables.
Influenza A(H7N9): From Anxiety to Preparedness

On 31 March 2013, Chinese public health authorities notified the World Health Organization of the isolation of influenza A(H7N9) virus from 3 critically ill adults. This avian influenza virus had n...
Photothermal coagulation of blood vessels: a comparison of high-speed optical coherence tomography and numerical modelling

Optical-thermal models that can accurately predict temperature rise and damage in blood vessels and surrounding tissue may be used to improve the treatment of vascular disorders. Verification of these models has been hampered by the lack of time- and depth-resolved experimental data. In this preliminary study, an optical coherence tomography system operating at 4-30 frames per second was used to visualize laser irradiation of cutaneous (hamster dorsal skin flap) blood vessels. An argon laser was utilized with the following parameters: pulse duration 0.1-2.0 s, spot size 0.1-1.0 mm, power 100-400 mW. Video microscopy images were obtained before and after irradiations, and optical-thermal modelling was performed on two irradiation cases. Time-resolved optical coherence tomography and still images were compared with predictions of temperature rise and damage using Monte Carlo and finite difference techniques. In general, predicted damage agreed with the actual blood vessel and surrounding tissue coagulation seen in images. However, limitations of current optical-thermal models were identified, such as the inability to model the dynamic changes in blood vessel diameter that were seen in the optical coherence tomography images.
Increase in screening for colorectal cancer in older Americans: results from a national survey.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the proportions of the U.S. population aged 65 and older who underwent tests for colorectal cancer (CRC) in 2000 and 2005 to examine the effect of the change in Medicare reimbursement for screening colonoscopy that occurred in 2001. DESIGN: National population-based survey. SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6,035 respondents to the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and 5,490 respondents to the 2005 NHIS aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: A questionnaire was used to assess self-reports of testing (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or home fecal occult blood test (FOBT)) for CRC. Estimates for the U.S. population were extrapolated from the survey results. To account for the complex sampling design, SUDAAN was used to calculate population sizes and proportions. RESULTS: In U.S. adults aged 65 and older, the proportion reporting up-to-date CRC testing increased from 39.5% in 2000 to 47.1% in 2005. By 2005, endoscopy had become more common than home FOBT for CRC screening in older adults. In 2000 and in 2005, a higher proportion of men than women were screened across all age groups and for all screening modalities. The proportion screened declined with older age. CONCLUSION: Substantial increases in CRC testing, particularly colonoscopy, followed changes in Medicare reimbursement for screening colonoscopy in adults aged 65 and older. Although nearly half of older adults were up to date with CRC tests, differences remained in the use of screening according to age and sex within this age group.
The Fallacy of Using Superannuation Taxation Expenditures

The taxation of superannuation has been subject to much speculation and commentary in recent times. This discussion is prompted every year when the Commonwealth Treasury produces the Tax Expenditures Statement, which provides details of more than 350 tax expenditures. The latest Statement, published in January 2013, showed the largest projected tax expenditures for 2012-13 are for superannuation and owner-occupied housing, with the superannuation tax expenditure shown as $31.9 billion with an expected growth to $44.8 billion in 2015-16. Naturally such significant numbers attract considerable attention from interested parties who may be aiming to increase government revenue or improve equity within the community. This paper will show that the Treasury approach, which ignores Government savings from reduced Age Pension costs, is fundamentally flawed and, if used to develop long-term retirement income policy, is likely to lead to sub-optimal outcomes for individuals, households and the government.
Peripheral bombesin decreases gastric vagal efferent activity in part through vagal pathways in rats

The influence of intravenous (iv) bombesin on multiunit activities recorded from the ventral gastric branch of the vagus was investigated in urethan-anesthetized rats. Consecutive injections of bombesin (0.062, 0.62, 6.2, 62, and 620 pmol iv) decreased dose dependently gastric vagal efferent discharges to 79.8 +/- 4.9, 68.3 +/- 10.2, 47.0 +/- 6.7, 41.6 +/- 4.7, and 36.5 +/- 8.9%, respectively, from preinjection levels. Saline injection had no effect. Bombesin (62 pmol iv) reduced cervical vagal efferent discharges to 25 +/- 6% before and 67 +/- 5% after bilateral cervical vagotomy distal to the recording site. Bombesin (62 and 620 pmol iv) increased gastric vagal afferent discharges by 45 and 93%, respectively. These data show that systemic injection of bombesin potently decreases gastric and cervical vagal efferent activity in part through vagal-dependent mechanisms that may involve the increase in gastric vagal afferent activity.
Comparative Study of German Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) Population Sampling Techniques

Eight German cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) population sampling techniques were compared in laboratory and field studies. Abilities to generate sample numbers and accurately estimate important population qualities (e.g., nymph/adult and adult sex ratios) were determined. These results will benefit blatticide efficacy and cockroach population ecology research efforts. The trap developed by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, gave the most accurate qualitative information overall, while sampling the smallest portion of the population. Use of all other sampling techniques studied engenders risk of biases in sampling various population age and sex classes.
Higgs couplings and naturalness in λ-SUSY

We study Higgs boson couplings in the large-λ version of the Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model, known as λ-SUSY. We find that the predicted deviations from the Standard Model (SM) in these couplings are inversely correlated with the amount of fine-tuning needed to accommodate a 126 GeV Higgs. In the most natural regions of parameter space, the 126 GeV Higgs has large admixtures of both the SM-singlet and the non-SM Higgs doublet scalars, and such regions are already ruled out by the LHC. Future improvements in the Higgs coupling measurements will either discover deviations from the SM, or put further stress on naturalness in λ-SUSY. We present projections for future experiments and find that HL-LHC and the proposed e + e − Higgs factories can explore regions of parameter space that are fine-tuned at the level of up to 0.1%.
Effect of Hypophysectomy During Late Pregnancy Upon Mammary Gland Growth in the Rat

SummaryThe DNA concentration of mammary glands of rats hypophysectomized on Day 14 and sacrificed on Day 20 of pregnancy was significantly lower than the DNA concentration of pregnant controls sacrificed on Day 20. The RNA:DNA ratios of the hypophysectomized and control groups were not significantly different. There was a significant decrease in the wet weights of ovaries and adrenal glands in hypophysectomized animals when compared to the weights of these organs in control animals.
Effects of Temperature on the Development of Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) in Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say and on Vector Mortality Resulting from this Development

The development and distribution of Dirofilaria immitis were examined in the mosquito, Anopheles quadrimaculatus , at 4 different temperatures. Complete development to the infective stage was noted at 21.1°, 26.7° and 32.2°C. Development at 26.7° and 32.2°C was relatively rapid. Generally, developmental events at 26.7° lagged one day behind those at 32.2°C. Parasite development at 21.1° was slow and asynchronous. At 15.6° the worms did not molt for 50 days postprandially, remaining more or less quiescent. The movement of the microfilariae from the blood in the mesenteron to the Malpighian tubules and the movement of infective larvae thence to the head and proboscis were influenced by temperature. The death rate of infected mosquitoes was higher than that of uninfected mosquitoes at temperatures supporting development. A slight increase in mortality of infected mosquitoes occurred during the initial invasion of the Malpighian tubules, but the greatest mortality occurred when the infective stages moved from the tubules to the head and mouthparts. Temperature is a primary factor governing development in the mosquito. The dual temperature experiment suggests D. immitis may be able to overwinter in the mosquito.
Species Diversity Gradients: We Know More and Less Than We Thought

Patterns in the diversity of species begin to make sense when we reduce them to well-known biological processes and take care to specify the scale of the pattern. Doing this explains why diversity declines away from the tropics (the latitudinal diversity gradient). The extensive tropical regions supply more opportunities for large geographical ranges than any other biome. Allopatric speciation feeds on such large ranges. The large regions of the tropics also probably inhibit extinction. It is a mistake to explain the richness of the tropics by noting that there are more habitats in the tropics. The global scale develops in evolutionary time. On that scale, fine habitat subdivision is a coevolved property of the species in a biome. The more species, the finer they subdivide habitats. So, it is also wrong to imagine that the tropical gradient is nothing more than a species-area curve. The species-area curve is a pattern that exists on a more local scale than the latitudinal gradient, and depends on habitat variability growing as larger areas get included in a sample. We all think that decades ago we should have understood the pattern of diversity and productivity. But the literature isn't even sure what the pattern is. Until recently, theory maintained that higher productivity should sustain more species. Evidence from poorer environments supports that theory. But most empirical evidence, including most experiments, show that diversity declines as productivity rises. Two errors confused us. First, we ecologists always assumed that the theory could not be wrong, so we refused to admit the facts, no matter how often we observed them. Second, we mixed our facts into a wild stew of scales and biomes. Diversity experiments, performed by increasing productivity on a local scale of time and space, tell us nothing about the productivity pattern at large scales. The regional pattern is unimodal. As productivity rises within a region, first diversity rises and then it falls. This pattern exists in mammals, birds, marine vertebrates and invertebrates, and some flora. We do not understand it.
Interface State Density in Atomic Layer Deposited SiO 2 / $\beta $ -Ga 2 O 3 ( $\bar {2}01$ ) MOSCAPs

The interface state density ( $D_{\mathrm{ it}})$ at the interface between $\beta $ -Ga2O3 ( $\bar {2}01$ ) and atomic layer deposited (ALD) SiO2 dielectric is extracted using Terman method and conductance method. The effect of the different surface treatments on the extracted $D_{\mathrm{ it}}$ was also studied. It is observed that the extracted $D_{\mathrm{ it}}$ of $6\times 10^{11}$ cm $^{-2}$ eV $^{-1}$ for the sample with no surface treatment is lower than hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid treated samples. Low $D_{\mathrm{ it}}$ sample shows narrow peak in the conductance method, suggesting a smooth interface. The extracted low $D_{\mathrm{ it}}$ makes ALD SiO2 an attractive candidate for future Ga2O3 power devices.
Motivations and Experiential Outcomes Associated with Leisure Time Cell Phone Use: Results from Two Independent Studies

ABSTRACTModern cellular telephones (cell phones) are ubiquitous and increasingly used for leisure purposes. This article identifies motivations for leisure time cell phone use and associated experiential outcomes. Concurring results from two independent studies are presented. Study 1 used qualitative methods and found that high versus low frequency cell phone users more often identified boredom relief as a motivation for leisure time cell phone use and negative affect (e.g., anxiety, irritation) as an outcome. Study 2 used validated scales and path analysis to confirm and expand the results of Study 1. Analysis demonstrated good model fit with all paths statistically significant. This suggested that high frequency cell phone users were more extrinsically and less intrinsically motivated for leisure, leading to increased leisure boredom which was positively associated with cell phone use and leisure distress; simultaneously, increased cell phone use was associated with increased leisure distress. Theoretic...
The Effects of Alcohol on the Endocrine System

Male hypogonadism is the best documented endocrine effect of chronic alcoholism. A reversible clinical syndrome resembling Cushing's syndrome has also recently been described in some chronic alcoholics. The pituitary-thyroid axis is relatively resistant to the effects of ethanol, although mild abnormalities in various thyroid tests are frequently noted in the presence of alcoholic liver disease.
Morphological and Nanomechanical Characterization of Industrial and Agricultural Waste–Modified Asphalt Binders

AbstractFor the past several decades, researchers around the world have used nanoindentation techniques to characterize different materials for biological, medical, and polymer science applications. In recent years, nanoindentation techniques have been explored by some pavement professionals to characterize asphalt materials. This study used the atomic force microscope (AFM)–based PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical mapping (PFQNM) technique to evaluate nanoscopic properties of asphalt binders modified with four different types of industrial and agricultural waste materials, which included ground tire rubber (GTR), reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS), and rice husk ash (RHA). Three scan sizes (20 × 20, 10 × 10, and 5 × 5 µm) were used to map the properties of the aforementioned binder samples. Mechanistic properties such as adhesion, energy dissipation, deformation, and Derjaguin, Muller, and Toropov (DMT) moduli of modified binder samples were estimated at different morph...
A Rare But Important Entity: Epistaxis in Infants.

Abstract Background Epistaxis is a common emergency department (ED) complaint; however, this entity is rare among children younger than 2 years of age. In this age group, epistaxis may be a presenting sign of a bleeding disorder or nonaccidental trauma. Case Report We present a case of a 2-month-old infant who was evaluated in the pediatric ED for epistaxis and discharged home. The infant returned 2 days later with facial swelling and irritability, and was found to have significant head trauma. In this article we review the epidemiology and differential diagnoses for epistaxis among infants, as well as the initial approach to the evaluation of this uncommon clinical entity in this age group. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Potential etiologies for epistaxis among infants and young children include severe systemic disease and nonaccidental trauma. Given its rarity and possible clinical significance, the approach to epistaxis differs in this age group. Emergency physicians should screen for and exclude a bleeding disorder while also having a very low threshold for a nonaccidental trauma evaluation.
Management of older adults with dementia who present to emergency services with neuropsychiatric symptoms

Objective Our aim is to evaluate if and how neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia influence the management and disposition of older adults who present to emergency care settings. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study that involved the medical and psychiatric emergency departments of a tertiary academic medical center. Participants included patients ≥65 years of age with dementia who presented between 1 February 2012 and 16 July 2014 (n = 347). Subjects with documented NPS (n = 78) were compared with a group of subjects without documented NPS (n = 78) randomly selected from the overall group with dementia. The groups with and without NPS were compared on demographic, clinical, management, and disposition characteristics. Results Patients with NPS were more likely to have additional diagnostic testing performed and receive psychotropic medications including benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. Significantly fewer patients with NPS (59.0%) returned to their original setting from the emergency department than patients without NPS (76.9%). Among patients with NPS, those who had a motor disturbance were more likely to receive psychotropic medications than patients who did not have a motor disturbance. Depression/dysphoria, anxiety, disinhibition, irritability/lability, and motor disturbance were all associated with transfer from medical to psychiatric emergency department. Patients with depression/dysphoria or anxiety were more likely to be psychiatrically hospitalized. Conclusions There are significant differences in the management of dementia with and without NPS in the emergency room setting. Developing and implementing successful methods to manage NPS in the emergency department and outpatient setting could potentially lead to less emergent psychotropic administration and reduce hospitalizations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Geochemistry and hydrology of perched groundwater springs: assessing elevated uranium concentrations at Pigeon Spring relative to nearby Pigeon Mine, Arizona (USA)

The processes that affect water chemistry as the water flows from recharge areas through breccia-pipe uranium deposits in the Grand Canyon region of the southwestern United States are not well understood. Pigeon Spring had elevated uranium in 1982 (44 μg/L), compared to other perched springs (2.7–18 μg/L), prior to mining operations at the nearby Pigeon Mine. Perched groundwater springs in an area around the Pigeon Mine were sampled between 2009 and 2015 and compared with material from the Pigeon Mine to better understand the geochemistry and hydrology of the area. Two general groups of perched groundwater springs were identified from this study; one group is characterized by calcium sulfate type water, low uranium activity ratio 234U/238U (UAR) values, and a mixture of water with some component of modern water, and the other group by calcium-magnesium sulfate type water, higher UAR values, and radiocarbon ages indicating recharge on the order of several thousand years ago. Multivariate statistical principal components analysis of Pigeon Mine and spring samples indicate Cu, Pb, As, Mn, and Cd concentrations distinguished mining-related leachates from perched groundwater springs. The groundwater potentiometric surface indicates that perched groundwater at Pigeon Mine would likely flow toward the northwest away from Pigeon Spring. The geochemical analysis of the water, sediment and rock samples collected from the Snake Gulch area indicate that the elevated uranium at Pigeon Spring is likely related to a natural source of uranium upgradient from the spring and not likely related to the Pigeon Mine.
Polarimetric ISAR: Simulation and image reconstruction

In polarimetric ISAR the illumination platform, typically airborne, carries a pair of antennas that are directed toward a fixed point on the surface as the platform moves. During platform motion, the antennas maintain their gaze on the point, creating an effective aperture for imaging any targets near that point. The interaction between the transmitted fields and targets (e.g. ships) is complicated since the targets are typically many wavelengths in size. Calculation of the field scattered from the target typically requires solving Maxwell’s equations on a large three-dimensional numerical grid. This is prohibitive to use in any real-world imaging algorithm, so the scattering process is typically simplified by assuming the target consists of a cloud of independent, non-interacting, scattering points (centers). Imaging algorithms based on this scattering model perform well in many applications. Since polarimetric radar is not very common, the scattering model is often derived for a scalar field (single polarization) where the individual scatterers are assumed to be small spheres. However, when polarization is important, we must generalize the model to explicitly account for the vector nature of the electromagnetic fields and its interaction with objects. In this note, we present a scattering model that explicitly includes the vectormore » nature of the fields but retains the assumption that the individual scatterers are small. The response of the scatterers is described by electric and magnetic dipole moments induced by the incident fields. We show that the received voltages in the antennas are linearly related to the transmitting currents through a scattering impedance matrix that depends on the overall geometry of the problem and the nature of the scatterers.« less
What’s Included in the Set of Alternatives?

This chapter examines which specific elements are included in the set of alternatives. The leading research question is whether listeners determine alternatives based on general semantic priming mechanisms or whether they only consider contrastive alternatives, elements that can replace the expression in focus. Experiment 4 compares semantically related alternatives to general non-contrastive associates of a focused expression. [A detailed description of Experiment 4 is published in Gotzner and Spalek (Discourse Process, doi:10.1080/0163853X.2016.1148981, 2016).] [The data of Experiment 4 are published in Gotzner and Spalek (Discourse Process, doi:10.1080/0163853X.2016.1148981, 2016).] The results show that effects of focus particles are selective to alternatives which can replace the expression in focus. The second part of the chapter turns to the theoretical debate concerning the restriction of alternative sets. To address this debate, I present a further analysis of the unrelated items used in Experiment 3. [A version of Sect. 5.4 was published in the Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung (Gotzner, vol. 19, pp. 232–247, 2015). I designed the additional analysis presented in Sect. 5.4 as well as Experiment 4 and analyzed all results.] Overall, the results suggest that listeners consider a broader set of alternatives and that the notion of possible replacements is crucial in determining the relevant alternatives.
A note on the impact of leadership style on organisational culture

This paper discusses leadership's role in shaping organisational culture. The discussion will explore the relationship between leadership and organisational culture. The study will examine the leadership characteristics and skills and the leadership styles that promote a healthy culture. The discussion will include particular situations that involve crises, the use of power, and ethical leadership in a healthy organisation. Leadership can be simple or complex depending on the situation, the group, and the people involved. Direction and culture can affect each other. Regardless of the situation, there must be respect, transparency, and trust. There is an interconnection between leadership and organisational culture.
Nanoscale light emitters and their dynamics for chip-scale integration

This paper discusses nanoscale engineered metal-dielectric-semiconductor resonant gain geometries confined in all three dimensions used to create a new type of nanolasers and light emitters. When these emitters are driven in a pulsed regime, dynamic hysteresis is observed and characterized.
Prolonged cancer-related distress is associated with elevated inflammation during breast cancer survivorship

Cancer-related distress is common among breast cancer survivors prior to treatment and is associated with adverse health effects. Moreover, many survivors continue to experience distress after treatment ends, and the impact of prolonged cancer-related distress on health is unknown. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of cancer-related distress on inflammation changes among breast cancer survivors. In a parent study, survivors stages 0- IIIC (N = 126 ) provided data prior to primary cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy) and 18 months post-treatment. The current study utilized the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) and proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). Cross-sectional analyses indicated that women reporting more cancer-related distress 18-months post- treatment evidenced greater inflammation compared to those with lower distress (b = 0.009 , SE = 0.004 , p = .050 ). Additionally, women who experienced greater declines in cancer-related distress evidenced smaller IL-6 increases from pre to post-treatment (b = 0.007 , SE = 0.003 , p = .041 ). Follow-up analyses indicated that changes in avoidance were related to changes in inflammation (b = 0.014 , SE = 0.005 , p = .010 ), but changes in intrusive thoughts were not (b = 0.005 , SE = 0.006 , p = .453 ). Women who experience prolonged cancer-related distress, and avoidant emotional coping in particular, may experience more persistent inflammation during survivorship, leaving them vulnerable to increased risk of recurrence and morbidity.
Dynamic conductivity and partial ionization in dense fluid hydrogen

A theoretical description for optical conduction experiments in dense fluid hydrogen is presented. Different quantum statistical approaches are used to describe the mechanism of electronic transport in hydrogen's high-temperature dense phase. We show that at the onset of the metallic transition, optical conduction could be described by a strong rise in atomic polarizability, due to increased ionization, whereas in the highly degenerate limit, the Ziman weak scattering model better accounts for the observed saturation of reflectance. The inclusion of effects of partial ionization in the highly degenerate region provides great agreement with experimental results. Hydrogen's fluid metallic state is revealed to be a partially ionized free-electron plasma. Our results provide some of the first theoretical transport models that are experimentally benchmarked, as well as an important guide for future studies.
Intramolecular Electronic Coupling Enhances Lateral Electron Transfer across Semiconductor Interfaces

The control of lateral electron-transfer reactions is important for many solar energy conversion strategies. Herein, four compounds with two redox-active groups, a bis(tridentate) cyclometalated Ru...
Stackelberg voting games: computational aspects and paradoxes

We consider settings in which voters vote in sequence, each voter knows the votes of the earlier voters and the preferences of the later voters, and voters are strategic. This can be modeled as an extensive-form game of perfect information, which we call a Stackelberg voting game. We first propose a dynamic-programming algorithm for finding the backward-induction outcome for any Stackelberg voting game when the rule is anonymous; this algorithm is efficient if the number of alternatives is no more than a constant. We show how to use compilation functions to further reduce the time and space requirements. Our main theoretical results are paradoxes for the backward-induction outcomes of Stackelberg voting games. We show that for any n ≥ 5 and any voting rule that satisfies non-imposition and with a low domination index, there exists a profile consisting of n voters, such that the backward-induction outcome is ranked somewhere in the bottom two positions in almost every voter's preferences. Moreover, this outcome loses all but one of its pairwise elections. Furthermore, we show that many common voting rules have a very low (= 1) domination index, including all majority-consistent voting rules. For the plurality and nomination rules, we show even stronger paradoxes. Finally, using our dynamic-programming algorithm, we run simulations to compare the backward-induction outcome of the Stackelberg voting game to the winner when voters vote truthfully, for the plurality and veto rules. Surprisingly, our experimental results suggest that on average, more voters prefer the backward-induction outcome.
Control of Adaptive Immunity by Vitamin D Receptor Agonists

Publisher Summary Adaptive immune responses are primarily induced by cells specialized in antigen processing and presentation, in particular dendritic cells (DCs), and are mediated by cells specialized in antigen recognition, namely T and B lymphocytes. Lymphocytes employ antigen receptors that are not encoded in the germ line but are generated de novo in each organism, rendering adaptive immune responses highly specific. Adaptive immune responses are primarily orchestrated by CD4+ T lymphocytes. Triggered by microbial pathogens, naive CD4+ T cells orchestrate immune responses by differentiating into T helper (Th) cell populations that secrete distinct sets of cytokines. Tailoring their responses to the character of the threat encountered, Th cells differentiate to provide help to B lymphocytes and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, and to activate cells of the innate immune system. Distinct regulatory mechanisms induced by vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonists may predominate in different autoimmune disease models but a common pattern, characterized by induction of tolerogenic DCs, inhibition of Th1 and Th17 cell development, and enhancement of CD4+CD2+ Treg cells has been frequently observed.
The geometrical advantages of helical carbon nanotubes for high-performance multifunctional polymeric nanocomposites

Abstract Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs) with their low densities exhibit remarkable material properties, making them as an excellent choice for high-performance structural applications. However, the polymer matrix used to bond the fibres are very weak and exhibit poor mechanical properties. The focus of this study was to take advantage of the unique helical (i.e., coil-like) geometries of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) to improve the properties of polymer matrix, more effectively and at very low concentrations (e.g., less than 0.2% by weight to reduce the nanomaterials' cost). One of the unique characteristics of the helical CNTs is their 3-dimensional helical geometry that can physically intertwine/entangle/interlock with traditional microfiber reinforcements and be mechanically interlocked within the solidified resin system, when they are used as reinforcements in polymeric composites. Nanocomposite samples were fabricated using CNTs with different geometrical configurations (i.e., straight and helical) and loading percentages and their properties (e.g., mechanical, thermal, and electrical) were evaluated according to the ASTM standards. Based on the results, the optimum weight percentage of the CNTs reinforcements that exhibit maximum properties improvements for the matrix system were identified, considering their geometrical configuration. The main objective here was to demonstrate/prove that helical structures of CNTs can perform better than straight CNTs, because of their 3-D helical interlocking mechanism. The 2nd objective of this work was to demonstrate/proof that inclusion of CNTs with various geometries in polymeric resins can improve their electrical and thermal conductivities, as well, even at low concentrations.
"Siri Talks at You": An Empirical Investigation of Voice-Activated Personal Assistant (VAPA) Usage by Individuals Who Are Blind

Voice-activated personal assistants (VAPAs)--like Amazon Echo or Apple Siri--offer considerable promise to individuals who are blind due to widespread adoption of these non-visual interaction platforms. However, studies have yet to focus on the ways in which these technologies are used by individuals who are blind, along with whether barriers are encountered during the process of interaction. To address this gap, we interviewed fourteen legally-blind adults with experience of home and/or mobile-based VAPAs. While participants appreciated the access VAPAs provided to inaccessible applications and services, they faced challenges relating to the input, responses from VAPAs, and control of information presented. User behavior varied depending on the situation or context of the interaction. Implications for design are suggested to support inclusivity when interacting with VAPAs. These include accounting for privacy and situational factors in design, examining ways to support concerns over trust, and synchronizing presentation of visual and non-visual cues.
Mechanisms of Left Atrial Enlargement in Obesity.

Left atrial (LA) enlargement is common in obesity. We sought to determine the influence of ventricular (LV) remodeling on LA size in obesity. We studied 50 otherwise healthy obese subjects (body mass index 37.2 ± 4.6 kg/m2, 50 ± 6 years) and 58 age and gender-matched nonobese controls (body mass index 26.2 ± 2.9 kg/m2, 52 ± 5 years). Diastolic function, relative wall thickness (RWT), and LV mass were assessed using echocardiography. LA and LV volume was measured by 3D-echocardiography. Primary outcome was the ratio of LA volume indexed to LV volume in obese and control subjects. Obese subjects had substantially larger LA volumes compared with control subjects (61.0 ± 16.9 vs 38.9 ± 9.2 ml, p
Sex and Race Disparities in the Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States Examined through Age-Period-Cohort Analysis

Background: Incidence rates for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vary considerably by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. We assessed whether the underlying reasons for variations in HCC among subgroups of the population by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and birth cohort are uniform or whether they interact with one another or have changed over time. Methods: Data were from the U.S. Cancer Statistics registry. We assessed annual trends within population subgroups and examined for secular trends in the male-to-female ratio for HCC incidence. We used joinpoint regression to compute annual percent change and average annual percent change (AAPC) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). We also used age–period–cohort models to disentangle period and cohort effects. Results: Between 2001 and 2015, HCC rates increased in men and women ≥50 years, remained stable among women ages 40 to 49 years, but decreased among males ages 40 to 44 years (AAPC = −2.47%; 95% CI, −3.15% to −1.80%) and 45 to 49 years (AAPC = −3.49%; 95% CI, −4.78% to −2.17%). As a result, the male-to-female incidence rate ratio (IRR) among persons aged Conclusions: As a result of decreasing incidence among males aged Impact: The sex and racial disparities and strong birth cohort effect on HCC risk identified in this study have important implications for population-based HCC prevention efforts.
A Life Well Played: How the Past Shapes Our Experience of Worlds

This chapter considers how gaming shapes player’s engagement with the past, and how imaginations about the past shape the experience of imagined worlds through play. Using the ethnographic case study of Gary Con game convention in Madison, Wisconsin, Mizer explores the role of nostalgia in gamers’ imaginations about the past. The chapter closes with an extended analysis of intertwining experiences of the past, the imaginary world, and techniques for experiencing that world as found in a play session with Ernest Gary Gygax, Jr., son of the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons.