cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ovarian and uterine prostaglandin E2-9-ketoreductase activity in cyclic and pregnant ewes

Abstract The regulation of luteal function in sheep appears to be dependent in part upon relative utero-ovarian concentrations of PGE 2 and PGF 2 α. Prostaglandin E 2 -9-ketoreductase converts PGE 2 (a putative antiluteolysin) to PGF 2 α. Enzymatic activity was measured in a cytosolic subcellular fraction of luteal and endometrial tissues collected on days 10, 13 and 16 of the estrous cycle or pregnancy. Respective days represented times before, during, and after the critical period for maternal recognition of pregnancy. Preparations of enzyme were incubated in the presence of tritiated PGE 2 . Radiolabeled PGF 2 α (ie., product) was separated from PGE 2 by gel filtration chromatography and quantified by liquid scintillation spectrometry. There were no significant differences due to time of tissue collection or pregnancy status in enzymatic activity of luteal tissues. Prostaglandin E 2 -9-ketoreductase activity isolated from endometria of open ewes was greater than their pregnant counterparts on days 13 and 16. Thus, the potential capacity of the ovine uterus to generate luteolytic PGF 2 α from PGE 2 substrate is elevated during an infertile estrous cycle.
EVALUATION OF THE AMINO ACID EXCRETION PATTERN OF MENTAL RETARDATES AS A SCREENING TECHNIQUE FOR INBORN ERRORS OF METABOLISM.

I N ~ E C E N T years a great deal of effort has been directed to a search for the inborn errors of metabolism associated with mental retardation utilizing the amino acid excretion pattern as a research tool. Indeed, many of the known types of metabolic defects associated with mental retardation have been found because they alter either directly or indirectly the amino acid excretion pattern of the retardate. In this study, we have used the amino acid excretion pattern as a screening technique for inborn errors of amino acid metabolism in 500 retarded persons examined at this center. Total nitrogen excretion, consisting mainly of urea, has been used by numerous investigators as a reference value for determining the degree of amino aciduria. 1"3 However, creatinine excretion shows less fluctuation than total nitrogen, 4 and the individual amino acid excre~on levels can be best related to creatinine excretion so that our values are recorded in micromoles of the amino acid per gram of creatinine.
CRACK BRIDGING IN THE FATIGUE OF FIBROUS COMPOSITES

— Recent observations of fatigue cracks bridged by continuous fibers in titanium alloy and titanium aluminide composites are compared to analogous observations in fiber-reinforced ceramics under monotonic loading. Three failure modes have been identified under axial loading in each case: longitudinal failure (failure parallel to the fibers) and noncatastrophic and catastrophic mode I failure (failure normal to the fibers). The criteria for transition from one failure mode to another are reviewed. Models developed previously to describe the failure of fiber-reinforced ceramics are extended to describe the mechanics of mode I fatigue crack growth. The extension is straightforward as long as the fibers do not fail in the crack wake, i.e. the failure mode is noncatastrophic mode I failure.
Innovations in service learning: a novel program for community service at NYU School of Medicine

Problem : As NYU medical students, the authors determined that there was no structured form of service learning in their curriculum. They sought to establish a service program that recognizes students for their dedication to community service in both the NYU and NYC communities. Approach : In 2012, with the support of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), the authors created the NYU School of Medicine Community Service Program (CSP). The program tracks and verifies students’ participation in service projects. It sets a goal for students to complete 100 service hours through at least five unique service initiatives. Two reflective essays at the completion of pre-clinical and core clerkship curricula challenge students to express how their service experiences will inform their future careers in medicine. The authors developed an innovative online portal for students to track their service involvement and allow the committee to easily approve hours. They created the Community Service Committee, made up of two representatives from each class year, to be in charge of regulating the program together with the OSA. Outcomes : The class of 2015 is the first class to participate; thus far, 13 students have met program requirements. In the classes of 2016 and 2017, 20 and 41 students, respectively, are expected to receive the award. Total participation has significantly increased in successive class years. Next steps : The authors seek to gather data on CSP participants’ changing perspectives and hope the program can serve as a model for other schools to build service learning into their curricula. Keywords: medical education; medical curriculum; community service; community care (Published: 18 September 2015) Citation: Med Educ Online 2015, 20: 28379 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v20.28379
Outsourcing and Market Value Relevance: Towards a Comprehensive Model

Using organizational control theory and a related model of firm level outsourcing capabilities, we analyze the effects of buyer, contract, and vendor characteristics on abnormal stock returns among buyer firms that have announced large scale Information Technology (IT) and Business Process outsourcing (BPO) contracts. We draw upon a comprehensive dataset on outsourcing announcements for 2005-2007, augmented with data collected from public sources. Salient buyer factors examined include governance of IT-business integration and use of various organizational controls. On the vendor side, we examine the impact of vendor size, contract size and reputation. Our study shows that IT business integration, use of enterprise standards (negative), vendor reputation, and industry affect market value. For the focal firm, governance related factors such as IT business integration and use of social or clan controls are positively related to outsourcing success. An interesting finding is that buyers need to have different capabilities to succeed across IT and BPO outsourcing. While past research has been clouded by the lack of detailed categorization of outsourcing contracts, our study clarifies some conflicting results through a comprehensive examination of relevant factors affecting outsourcing success.
The nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator in a class of doubly censored current status data models with application to partner studies

SUMMARY The California Partners' Study is an ongoing investigation of heterosexual HIV-transmission in partners of infected index cases (Padian et al., 1987; Shiboski & Jewell, 1990). We consider a nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator of the distribution of the time T the partner is exposed to an infected index partner until infection based on doubly censored current status data. We provide a modified iterative weighted pool adjacent violator algorithm for computation of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator and show that the estimator converges at rate n"- 3. In addition, we propose confidence intervals for smooth functionals of the distribution of T. Simulations show good performance of the algorithm and confidence intervals. We apply our methodology to the California Partners' Study and discuss the implications of our results for doubly censored current status data models with other known distributions of the origin.
Conflict avoidance in a university context

This ethnographic study explores patterns of conflict avoidance among university students, professors, administrators and staff. Analysis of their narratives of conflict avoidance suggests that avoidance can be beneficial in some circumstances, depending upon personality issues, cost–benefit analysis, power imbalance, type of work, length of relationship and autonomy.
Dynamic muscle strength alterations to detraining and retraining in elderly men

To investigate the effects of cessation and subsequent resumption of training on muscle strength in elderly men, 11 men (aged 65-77 years), just completing a 24-week randomized controlled trial of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and resistance exercise (rhGH, n = 6; placebo, n = 5), detrained for 12 weeks and subsequently retrained for 8 weeks. During the detraining and retraining phase, subjects did not receive rhGH. The resistance programme included three sets of eight repetitions at 75% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), three times per week, for 10 upper and lower body exercises. Dynamic muscle strength was assessed by the 1-RM method every 2 weeks for 44 weeks. Needle biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle were obtained from seven men. Muscle strength increased during initial training by 40.4 +/- 5.5% (mean +/- SEM), ranging from 26.0 +/- 5.0 to 83.9 +/- 15.6%, depending on muscle group. Increased strength was accompanied by hypertrophy (P < 0.05) of type I (17.4 +/- 4.1%) and II (25.8 +/- 12.4%) muscle fibres. Of initial strength gains, only 29.9 +/- 5.2% was lost with detraining. However, type I and II fibre cross-sectional area reverted to pretraining values. After 8 weeks of retraining, muscle strength returned to trained values, but without a significant change in fibre morphology. The results indicate that elderly men lose some muscle strength following short-term detraining, but that only a brief period of retraining suffices to regain maximal strength. Reversal of fibre cross-sectional area with detraining, and only modest improvement with retraining, suggests that much of the retention in strength with detraining and reacquisition of lost strength with retraining reflects neural adaptation.
Moral dimensions of teacher‐student interactions in Malaysian secondary schools

The purpose of this study was to examine the norm conformity and value perceptions of Malaysian secondary school students. To measure adherence to value‐based social norms, a values/behaviour questionnaire was administered to approximately 400 Malaysian adolescents. The results showed a self‐reported high degree of conformity to social norms. In order to increase understanding of the moral dimensions of schooling, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with teachers and students which gave ‘voice’ to teachers and students as moral agents. The results indicate that some students view school rules as too rigid and undermining the moral development schooling is trying to promote. The research also shows that the implicit values of respect, justice and fairness are central in Malaysian students' relationships with their teachers. This research shows teachers and students as active constructors of moral meaning and recommends that policymakers, when thinking about moral education reform, consider these views.
Using coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy to probe the temperature field of a combusting droplet stream

We describe measurements using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) of the local temperature field near a combusting droplet stream. Synchronizing the CARS measurements with the droplets in the stream permits correlations between the temperature field and the droplet position.
Historic aspen recruitment, elk, and wolves in northern Yellowstone National Park, USA

We conducted an analysis of aspen (Populus tremuloides) overstory recruitment on the northern range of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) using information provided in a monograph published by Warren (Warren, E.R., 1926. A study of beaver in the Yaney region of Yellowstone National Park, Roosevelt-Wildl. Ann. 1, 1‐191), increment cores collected from riparian aspen stands in 1998, and an extensive random sample of aspen increment cores collected over YNP’s entire northern range in 1997 and 1998. We summarized aspen size classes reported by Warren and estimated overstory origination dates of the stands he described using a linear regression based on our riparian aspen diameter/age relationship. Applying our regression results to Warren’s diameter measurements, we predicted that the stands measured by Warren contained aspen that originated between approximately 1751 and 1920. The random set of aspen increment cores were used to analyze the age distribution of the current aspen overstory on YNP’s northern range. These increment core data showed that approximately 10% of the current overstory aspen originated before 1871, 85% between 1871 and 1920, and 5% after 1921. Based upon our analysis of the Warren data and our aspen increment cores, we conclude that successful aspen overstory recruitment occurred on the northern range of YNP from the middle to late 1700’s until the 1920’s, after which it essentially ceased. Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus) browsing has been identified as significantly impacting aspen overstory recruitment on YNP’s northern range. We hypothesized why elk browsing has a diAerent influence on aspen now than it did historically. We discussed several potential social and ecological factors and hypothesize that a main factor is YNP’s loss of significant predator/prey relationships in the early 1900’s, especially the influence of gray wolves (Canis lupus). We found that aspen overstory recruitment ceased during the same years that wolves, a significant source of elk predation, were removed from YNP. Wolves may positively influence aspen overstory recruitment through a trophic cascades eAect by reducing elk populations, modifying elk movement, and changing elk browsing patterns on aspen. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Variations in pharmacy-based transition-of-care activities in the United States: a national survey.

Purpose A national survey was conducted to assess pharmacist roles in transition-of-care (TOC) activities in the United States. Methods An online survey was sent to 1246 pharmacy directors who were members of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists to assess their involvement in TOC activities including medication reconciliation, admission histories, medication counseling, and postdischarge follow-up; pharmacy student and pharmacy technician involvement in TOC activities; the use of technology to facilitate TOC activities; and barriers to performing such activities. Results A total of 393 respondents completed the survey (31.5% response rate). Twenty-seven percent of respondents indicated that pharmacists complete medication histories on admission, and 5% indicated that pharmacy technicians complete medication histories. Most respondents indicated that pharmacists do not routinely or consistently provide patients with tools to facilitate medication adherence before hospital discharge and that pharmacists do not routinely or consistently follow up with patients after discharge. Fifty-six percent of respondents indicated that pharmacists provide patient education for specific medications or for medications for specific diseases. Few respondents indicated that student pharmacists are involved with TOC activities. Most respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that it is important for pharmacists to be involved in TOC activities for hospitalized patients. Conclusion Approximately one third of survey respondents indicated that pharmacists complete medication histories. Most respondents indicated that pharmacists do not routinely or consistently provide patients with tools to facilitate medication adherence before hospital discharge or follow up with patients after discharge. Lack of pharmacy staff resources and insufficient recognition of the value of pharmacists’ provision of TOC by health care executives, medical staff, nursing staff, and other health care professionals were the most frequently cited barriers to pharmacists assuming more significant roles in the TOC at the respondent’s institution.
Elements of Structural Analysis

Circuit cards and boards, modules, and leads can often be individually analyzed acting as simple structural elements, such as rods, beams, or plates. These may allow closed form or series solutions under thermal or mechanical loading; even as parts of assemblies, their behavior is often expediently explained through simplified analysis. Structural theory is nurtured by the mechanics of materials, the theories of elasticity and plasticity, of plates and shells, vibrations, thermal stresses, and probably half a dozen other engineering endeavors.
A transform approach to permutation groups of cyclic codes over Galois rings

Berger and Charpin (see ibid., vol.42, p.2194-2209, 1996 and Des., Codes Cuyptogr., vol.18, no.1/3, p.29-53, 1999) devised a theoretical method of calculating the permutation group of a primitive cyclic code over a finite field using permutation polynomials and a transform description of such codes. We extend this method to cyclic and extended cyclic codes over the Galois ring GR (p/sup a/, m), developing a generalization of the Mattson-Solomon polynomial. In particular, we classify all affine-invariant codes of length 2/sup m/ over Z/sub 4/, thus generalizing the corresponding result of Kasami, Lin, and Peterson (1967) and giving an alternative proof to Abdukhalikov. We give a large class of codes over Z/sub 4/ with large permutation groups, which include generalizations of Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) and Reed-Muller (RM) codes.
RGD-peptide lunasin inhibits Akt-mediated NF-κB activation in human macrophages through interaction with the αVβ3 integrin.

cope Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States and regulation of aberrant macrophage activity under inflammatory conditions is critical for its prevention. The objective was to determine the effect of lunasin on the inhibition of Akt-mediated activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent markers of inflammation and to characterize the physical interaction of lunasin with the αVβ3 integrin receptor in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human THP-1 macrophages. Methods and results The effect of lunasin was evaluated in vitro in LPS-induced THP-1 human macrophages using immunoassays, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and fluorescence confocal microscopy. Lunasin (50 μM) reduced cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and NO levels by 57.9, 64.5, and 76.2%, respectively, and inhibited the activation of phosphorylated Akt and NF-κB p65 by 59.5 and 74.5%, respectively. Lunasin (50 μM) reduced exogenous release of prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor-α by 92.5 and 94.9%, respectively. Vitronectin (10 μg/mL), an integrin ligand, increased expression of proinflammatory markers, whereas lunasin (50 μM) attenuated them. Co-IP of lunasin-treated cells confirmed direct interaction with αVβ3 integrin and LC/MS/MS verified its identity. Lunasin was detected within intracellular vesicles and reduced total αVβ3 intensity as observed by fluorescence microscopy. Conclusion Lunasin inhibited αVβ3 integrin-mediated proinflammatory markers and downregulated Akt-mediated NF-κB pathways through interaction with αVβ3 integrin.
The effects of a home-based exercise program on physical function in frail older adults

Background and Purpose: Exercise has been shown to improve physical function in frail older adults; however, the effects of exercise may vary with degree of frailty, the format and intensity of the exercise intervention, and level of supervision. This cohort study describes the effects of participation in a 6-week home-based exercise program on measures of physical function as well as exercise-related beliefs, including exercise self-efficacy and outcomes expectation, in frail older adults. Methods: Participants were 72 frail older adults who participated in a 6-week home-based exercise program supervised by graduate physical therapy students. Individualized homebased exercises targeted strength, flexibility, balance, gait, and cardiovascular fitness. Physical function was measured at baseline and after completion of the 6-week exercise program using the Functional Fitness Test (Biceps Curl, Chair Stand, 8Foot Up and Go) and velocity on a 4-m walk. Measures of exercise-related beliefs included the Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale and Exercise Outcome Expectations. Outcomes: Participation in the 6-week home-based exercise program was associated with improvements in measures of physical function, including an average increase of 3 repetitions (35%) on the biceps curl, 2.4 repetitions (59%) on the chair stand, and an average increase of 0.17 m/s (33%) in gait velocity. Average decrease in Timed Up and Go test scores was 5.7 seconds (26%). Scores for exercise-related beliefs also improved (self-efficacy average increase was 7 points [40%], and average increase in outcome expectations was 3 [47%]). Discussion: A supervised 6-week, multidimensional homebased exercise program was safe and associated with improvements in physical and exercise-related belief outcome measures in this cohort study of frail older adults.
Discussion of "Are special items informative about future profit margins?"

Fairfield et al. (Rev. Account. Stud., 2009. doi:10.1007/s11142-009-9084-9) explore the predictive power of current special items for future profit margins over various forecast horizons. They also provide evidence on how this predictive power varies with current core profit margins. I discuss the motivation for this research and conclude that I am unable to attach a coherent economic story to these results.
Endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis in malignant gliomas: Nature's antiangiogenic therapy

Angiogenesis is necessary for tumor growth beyond a volume of approximately 2 mm(3). This observation, along with the accessibility of tumor vessels to therapeutic targeting, has resulted in a research focus on inhibitors of angiogenesis. A number of endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis are found in the body. Some of these are synthesized by specific cells in different organs, and others are created by extracellular proteolytic cleavage of plasma-derived or extracellular matrix-localized proteins. In this review, we focus on angiostatin, endostatin, PEX, pigment epithelial-derived factor, and thrombospondin (TSP)-1 and -2, either because these molecules are expressed in malignant glioma biopsies or because animal studies in malignant glioma models have suggested that their therapeutic administration could be efficacious. We review the known mechanisms of action, potential receptors, expression in glioma biopsy samples, and studies testing their potential therapeutic efficacy in animal models of malignant glioma. Two conclusions can be made regarding the mechanisms of action of these inhibitors: (1) Several of these inhibitors appear to mediate their antiangiogenic effect through multiple protein-protein interactions that inhibit the function of proangiogenic molecules rather than through a specific receptor-mediated signaling event, and (2) TSP-1 and TSP-2 appear to mediate their antiangiogenic effect, at least in part, through a specific receptor, CD36, which initiates the antiangiogenic signal. Although not proven in gliomas, evidence suggests that expression of specific endogenous inhibitors of angiogenesis in certain organs may be part of a host antitumor response. The studies reviewed here suggest that new antiangiogenic therapies for malignant gliomas offer exciting promise as nontoxic, growth-inhibitory agents.
Plazentaentwicklung und -aufbau

Das Gedeihen und die Aufrechterhaltung der Schwangerschaft it an die regelrechte Entwicklung und Integritat der Plazenta gekoppelt. Im folgenden sollen Entwicklung sowie Aufbau und Funktion der Plazenta beschrieben werden.
Increasing Super Pop VR TM Users' Intrinsic Motivation by Improving the Game's Aesthetics

During physical therapy intervention protocols, it’s important to consider the individual’s intrinsic motivation to perform in-home recommended exercises. Physical therapy exercises can become tedious thus limiting the individual’s progress. Not only have researchers developed serious gaming systems to increase user motivation, but they have also worked on the design aesthetics since results have shown positive effects on the users’ performance for attractive models. As such, we improved the aesthetics of a previously developed serious game called Super Pop \(VR^{TM}\). Namely, we improved the game graphics, added new game features, and allowed for more game options to provide users the opportunity to tailor their own experience. The conducted user studies show that participants rank the version of the game with the improved aesthetics higher in terms of the amount of interest/enjoyment it generates, thus allowing for an increase in intrinsic motivation when interacting with the system.
Pearls and pitfalls in gynecological PET-CT

1069 Learning Objectives The reader will become familiar with pearls and pitfalls in the interpretation of gynecologic PET. PET-CT has assumed an important role in the evaluation of gynecologic malignancies. Physiologic factors, anatomic variants and infection are illustrated to avoid incorrect staging. We review the information that the oncologist needs from PET and from CT to correctly stage the patient and select appropriate therapy. Review of the pearls and pitfalls through the illustrated cases will increase the reader9s accuracy and confidence
Tinkering with Stare Decisis in the Hazelwood Case

Abstract In January of 1988, Justice White delivered the opinion of a 5–3 Supreme Court majority in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, upholding the right of public high school officials to maintain editorial control over a student newspaper (or any “school-sponsored expressive activity”) whenever such control is “reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical ends” (4082). Such a broad ruling seems a drastic departure from the earlier Tinker doctrine (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 1969) to the effect that student speech could not be prohibited unless it “materially and substantially interferes” with the effective functioning of a school (511). The thesis of this article is that the Hazelwood majority is guilty of intellectual dishonesty in its facile but inaccurate distinguishing of the Tinker facts from the Hazelwood facts. The Court, it will be argued, was inaccurate in two respects. First, it makes too much of the finding (not contested here) that the school newspaper ...
Population and Evolutionary Genomics of Amblyomma americanum, an Expanding Arthropod Disease Vector

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is an important disease vector and the most frequent tick found attached to humans in the eastern United States. The lone star tick has recently experienced a rapid range expansion into the Northeast and Midwest, but despite this emerging infectious threat to wildlife, livestock, and human health, little is known about the genetic causes and consequences of the geographic expansion. In the first population genomic analysis of any tick species, we characterize the genetic diversity and population structure of A. americanum across its current geographic range, which has recently expanded. Using a high-throughput genotyping-by-sequencing approach, we discovered more than 8,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 90 ticks from five locations. Surprisingly, newly established populations in New York (NY) and Oklahoma (OK) are as diverse as historic range populations in North and South Carolina. However, substantial population structure occurs among regions, such that new populations in NY and OK are genetically distinct from historic range populations and from one another. Ticks from a laboratory colony are genetically distinct from wild populations, underscoring the need to account for natural variation when conducting transmission or immunological studies, many of which utilize laboratory-reared ticks. An FST-outlier analysis comparing a recently established population to a long-standing population detected numerous outlier sites, compatible with positive and balancing selection, highlighting the potential for adaptation during the range expansion. This study provides a framework for applying high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies for future investigations of ticks, which are common vectors of diseases.
Characterization of colony-stimulating activity produced by human monocytes and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes

Human colony-stimulating activity (CSA) may support the proliferation of both human and murine granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU- C) or, in the case of human urinary CSA, may only stimulate murine bone marrow CFU-C. CSA produced in the culture media of monocytes and macrophages and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes from human peripheral blood was characterized for both human and mouse marrow CFU- C stimulating activities. During the initial phase of a long-term cultures of monocytes, both human- and mouse-active CSA (MnCM-HM) were produced. In later phases of culture, however, only mouse-active CSA (MnCM-M) was produced. Fractionation on Sephadex G-150 revealed two functionally distinct species from MnCM-HM and lymphocytes conditioned medium, a high molecular weight factor (MW greater than 150,000) which stimulated mouse but not human colony formation, and a low molecular weight species (MW 25,000–35,000) which was active against both mouse and human target cells. However, MnCM-M revealed only one high molecular weight species (greater than 150,000), active only on mouse marrow. The possible biologic significance of such an activity is discussed.
Effect of La and Y on H_2-reduction of (W, Ni, Fe) composite oxide powder

The (W, Ni, Fe) composite oxide powder synthesized by spray drying was used as raw materials and reduced at 700 ℃ for 90 min in H_2 atmosphere. The effect of La and Y on H_2-reduction of (W, Ni, Fe) composite oxide powder was studied. Phase composition analysis, crystal size caculation and particle morphology of the reduced powder were measured by X-ray diffraction, TEM and SEM, respectively. The F_sss particle size and special surface area of the reduced powder were also measured. The results show that the phase composition of the composite powder reduced are W and γ-(Ni, Fe) without the rare earth elements, but new phase of La(Ni_0.75W_0.25)O_3 or Y(Ni_0.75W_0.25)O_3 appears in the reduced composite powder with adding La or Y. The particle morphology is spherical without the rare earth elements, but the particle morphology is nearly spherical or polyhedron with adding La or Y, and the effect of rare earth element on particle morphology increases with the increase of rare earth element content. When the rare earth element content is between 00.8 %, the d_BET , F_sss and crystal size of the reduced powder decrease greatly with the increase of the rare earth element content, and the dispersity of the composite powder enhances distinctly. When the same content of rare earth elements is added, the order of effect degree on powder properties is that YLa-YLa.
A Search for Solar Variability

The difference in brightness of two stars situated near to each other on the celestial sphere is one of the quantities that the astrophysicist can measure the most precisely. This fact stimulated the idea of searching for variability in the solar energy output by comparing the brightness of planets with that of background stars over a period of years. The changes in planetary brightness would reflect those in intrinsic radiation of the sun.
Acute and Chronic Prostatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment

Several distinct types of prostatitis, or prostatitis syndromes, are now recognized. The most common types include acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis, nonbacterial prostatitis, and prostatodynia. Bacterial prostatitis, caused mainly by enterobacteria, is often difficult to cure, and chronic bacterial prostatitis is a common cause of relapsing recurrent urinary tract infection in men. Nonbacterial prostatitis, the most common syndrome, is an inflammation of the prostate of unknown cause. Patients with prostatodynia typically have sterile cultures and normal prostatic secretions but demonstrate an acquired voiding dysfunction on video-urodynamic testing. Since nonbacterial types of prostatitis have no recognized infectious cause, treatment using antimicrobial agents is ineffective and unwarranted.
Migration, Trade and Remittances: Low- and High-Skilled Workers

International migration involves the movement of people over national borders, while international trade deals with the production of goods or services in one country and their consumption in another. Economic theory assumes that migration and trade are substitutes, so that freer trade between countries with different wage levels should reduce voluntary migration as trade leads to convergence in wages. However, free-trade agreements can produce a migration hump as the pace of change accelerates and economies adjust, as migration increases before investment creates enough jobs to generate stay-at-home development despite remittances from migrants abroad. Efforts to deal with the root causes of migration must be aware of potential migration humps.
A life history approach to delineating how harsh environments and hawk temperament traits differentially shape children's problem-solving skills

Background Harsh environments are known to predict deficits in children's cognitive abilities. Life history theory approaches challenge this interpretation, proposing stressed children's cognition becomes specialized to solve problems in fitness-enhancing ways. The goal of this study was to examine associations between early environmental harshness and children's problem-solving outcomes across tasks varying in ecological relevance. In addition, we utilize an evolutionary model of temperament toward further specifying whether hawk temperament traits moderate these associations. Methods Two hundred and one mother–child dyads participated in a prospective multimethod study when children were 2 and 4 years old. At age 2, environmental harshness was assessed via maternal report of earned income and observations of maternal disengagement during a parent–child interaction task. Children's hawk temperament traits were assessed from a series of unfamiliar episodes. At age 4, children's reward-oriented and visual problem-solving were measured. Results Path analyses revealed early environmental harshness and children's hawk temperament traits predicted worse visual problem-solving. Results showed a significant two-way interaction between children's hawk temperament traits and environmental harshness on reward-oriented problem-solving. Simple slope analyses revealed the effect of environmental harshness on reward-oriented problem-solving was specific to children with higher levels of hawk traits. Conclusions Results suggest early experiences of environmental harshness and child hawk temperament traits shape children's trajectories of problem-solving in an environment-fitting manner.
Gastroesophageal Junction: The Mucosa – Anatomy and Cell Types

The gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is anatomically defined by the proximal limit of the gastric folds. Histologically, it is characterized by the presence of squamocolumnar junctional epithelium. In normal conditions, the anatomic GEJ also corresponds to the histologic transition between the esophageal squamous mucosa and the gastric mucus columnar epithelium. The mucosa is composed by the lamina propria and the muscularis mucosae, both lined by non-keratinizing squamous epithelium. A short segment of the esophagus at the level of the GEJ may be lined by columnar cells that form the cardiac mucosa, although this is denied by many authors. The non-keratinizing squamous epithelium is composed of three major cell layers: a deep basal cell layer, an intermediate or prickle cell layer, and a superficial functional cell layer. CD3+ and CD8+ T-cell lymphocytes are seen in an intraepithelial location, usually above the basal cell layer.
Perspectives on Russian nationalism

The article by Julie Fedor and Rolf Fredheim examines how Putin’s propaganda machine has adapted to the post-modern age by sponsoring, directly or indirectly, viral videos that help cultivate patri...
Reducing Income Inequality

Income inequality is a growing area of concern in both China and the United States, the world’s two largest economies today. Alongside the traditional social welfare system, taxation and philanthropy are two alternative mechanisms to reduce inequality that have received increasing attention worldwide. This paper explores the roles of taxation and philanthropy in reducing inequality. In analyzing policies relating to taxation and philanthropy across several countries, this paper concludes that despite limitations and unintended consequences, under the current systems in China and the United States, taxation and philanthropy can and should be more effectively used to reduce income inequality.
Remember the DEW Line? The Evolution of Ground-Level Vibration Criteria from the Cold War Years to the Era of Nanoelectronics

Most of my graduate students today do not know about the DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line that was the cornerstone of the United States' air defense arsenal during the Cold War (1947-1991). The DEW Line was the nothernmost of three lines of radar stations across North America designed to provide early detection and characterization of Soviet bombers and land or sea invasions. An advanced design was used for the radar antennae that came with stringent ground motion (i.e., vibration) tolerances.
Competition between crystalline and icosahedral order during crystal growth in bimetallic systems

Abstract Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the crystallization process in Ag 6 Cu 4 and CuAu alloys. By changing the amount of supercooling, we are able to identify the role played by icosahedral order in the crystal growth kinetics. Specifically, the Ag 6 Cu 4 alloy exhibits a slowing down of the growth rate when temperature decreases, as a result of the greater amount of icosahedral order in the liquid. On the other hand, there is much less icosahedral order in the CuAu alloy and, as a result, this system displays the expected behavior of increased growth rates for greater supercooling. Furthermore, by varying the metal used as a substrate for the crystal growth process, we are able to show the major role played by the size mismatch between the atoms of the substrate and the alloy during the polymorph selection process.
Plummets, public ceremonies, and interaction networks during the Woodland period in Florida

Abstract Regional exchange during the Woodland period in Eastern North America manifested itself in a variety of material forms, most notably in the wide distribution of elaborate artifacts dispersed as part of Hopewellian related trade. In this paper, we examine the role that one particular class of artifact, plummets, played in interaction during the Woodland period in Florida. We suggest that such artifacts, often interpreted as fishing gear, instead were items of personal adornment and magic, and thus important in community public rituals and ceremonies. As such, they serve as useful indicators of regional and macro-regional exchanges among varying communities. By tracking the different styles and material types found at sites in Florida through a typological and network analysis, we argue that certain sites, such as Crystal River, played a larger role in connecting sub-regions in Florida, and may have served as cultural brokers across the macro-region due to their connections to Hopewell sites throughout the Eastern Woodlands. Furthermore, it appears that such connections were limited in time and given the prominence of plummets buried with certain individuals, we suggest that specific places and persons were entwined with some of these larger scale processes.
Intuitive Foundations of Conceptions of Vitality: The Case of Chinese Children’s Understanding of Illness Causation

The cognitive science of religion emphasizes the naturalness of intuitive dualism, the notion that persons are made up of bodies and minds. However, there is also cross-cultural recurrence of the idea that persons are made up of not just mind or soul, but also vitality, or life force. In this chapter, I examine evidence of vitalistic thinking in different cultures as well as from developmental and cross-cultural psychology. I focus in particular on China, where vitalism serves as the conceptual foundation of traditional Chinese medicine. I then present a summary of research examining vitalism in Chinese children’s understanding of illness causation. I discuss the findings and future research directions in terms of the Naturalness of Religion Thesis.
COMMENTARY: Is Organizational Behavior Management Enough? How Language and Person-States Could Make a Difference

This unique collection of academic presentations of applied behavioral science addresses a real-world issue of critical importance––the effective maintenance of process safety to prevent disasters ...
PAPAc: A Pick and Place Agent Based on Human Behavioral Dynamics

Humans often engage in tasks that require or are made more efficient by coordinating with other humans. The coordination involved in these tasks can be understood in terms of the behavioral and affordance dynamics of socially embedded agents engaged in joint action activities. Behavioral dynamics provide mathematical (differential equation) models of human behavior and interaction and affordance dynamics identify and model the ways that an agent's action capabilities evolve over time. Taken together, models of human joint-action based on these approaches may provide a basis for developing robust, natural, and easy to engage artificial agents. In this paper we introduce behavioral and affordance dynamics models of human joint action in a pick-and-place task. Based on these models we provide a proof of concept pick-and-place artificial agent and implement the agent in a 3D virtual environment to interact with human co-actors.
Abstract 19229: Does Ethnicity Matter? A Comparative Analysis of Social Determinants of Hypertension and Diabetes Among African Americans, African Immigrants and Afro Caribbeans in the 2010-2014 National Health Interview Survey

Introduction: Ethnic minorities in the United States are disproportionately affected by hypertension and diabetes. Historically, African Americans (AAs), African immigrants (AIs), and Afro-Caribbea...
EFFICACY OF AN IMMEDIATE POST-PROCEDURAL FEEDBACK SYSTEM IN THE CATHETERIZATION LABORATORY

In response to an increased emphasis on ensuring that cardiovascular fellows obtain more 360 degree and procedural feedback, we implemented a new smartphone-based procedural feedback system in the cardiac catheterization laboratory at our institution. Attending physicians completed a brief survey
Breaking the Objectivist Stranglehold on Personality Psychology

Critiques of hypothetical-deductive models of explanation and their fellow travelers in psychology (objectivism, positivism, naturalism) are abundant these days. Vollmer’s article finds itself in the good company of critiques launched from other vantage points: phenomenology, hermeneutics, critical theory, and psychoanalysis, to name a few. The mainstream of personality psychology, however, continues to do its business undaunted, as if it were unconvinced of the devastating implications of these critiques for their entire enterprise.
Adaptive Behavior, Life Skills, and Leisure Skills Training for Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Life, leisure, and other adaptive behavior skills comprise the wide variety of abilities necessary for taking responsibility for and independently managing one’s own life. Adaptive skills encompass the entire range of abilities necessary to complete virtually all activities that people engage in and comprise the broad set of skills necessary to live independently (e.g., self-help, social, leisure skills) (Flynn and Healy. Res Autism Spectr Disord 6, 431–441, 2012). Maintaining health and hygiene, engaging in recreational activities, obtaining and maintaining one’s job and place of residence, displaying the social and communication skills necessary for obtaining employment and maintaining relationships, managing money, and maintaining a household are all examples of the wide range of adaptive skills (Dawson, Matson, & Cherry, 1998).
Effects of concanavalin A pretreatment on cloned cytolytic T cells.

Concanavalin A (Con A) and some other lectins have been shown to facilitate lysis of antigenically irrelevant target cells by otherwise specific cytolytic T cells (CTL). The mechanism of the nonspecific recognition in such lectin-facilitated cytolysis is not yet understood; however, simple bridging is apparently not sufficient since some lectins may agglutinate cells and yet not cause target cell lysis (1).
Survival profile in breast cancer molecular subtypes without systemic and locoregional treatment.

11599Background: It is unclear whether survival varies among breast cancer molecular subtypes without systemic and locoregional therapy. This study aims to evaluate the survival profile by molecula...
An Agent-Based Model of Rural Households’ Adaptation to Climate Change

Future climate change is expected to have greater impacts on societies whose livelihoods rely on subsistence agricultural systems. Adaptation is essential for mitigating adverse effects of climate change, to sustain rural livelihoods and ensure future food security. We present an agent-based model, called OMOLAND-CA, which explores the impact of climate change on the adaptive capacity of rural communities in the South Omo Zone of Ethiopia. The purpose of the model is to answer research questions on the resilience and adaptive capacity of rural households with respect to variations in climate, socioeconomic factors, and land-use at the local level. Our model explicitly represents the socio-cognitive behavior of rural households toward climate change and resource flows that prompt agents to diversify their production strategy under different climatic conditions. Results from the model show that successive episodes of extreme events (e.g., droughts) affect the adaptive capacity of households, causing them to migrate from the region. Nonetheless, rural communities in the South Omo Zone, and in the model, manage to endure in spite of such harsh climatic change conditions.
Behavior Rating Scales

Th e use of behavior rating scales for clinical assessment of behavioral, social, and emotional characteristics of children and adolescents has increased dramatically during the past two decades. Th is assessment method is now one of the most frequently used components of assessment batteries, and is a key means of obtaining information on a children or adolescents before making diagnostic and classifi cation decisions, implementing interventions, and monitoring the eff ectiveness of interventions and programs. As behavior rating scales have become more widely used, there have been numerous advances in research on rating scale technology that have strengthened the desirability of using this form of assessment (Elliott, Busse, & Gresham, 1993; Merrell, 2000a, 2000b, 2007).
Female Vegans Report Lower Severity of Menopausal Symptoms than Omnivores

The onset of menopause is linked to a number of unpleasant symptoms that reduce the quality of life for many older women, and hormonal therapies are not without risks. Recent studies have found tha...