cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Multiple Social Determinants of Health on Incident Stroke.

Background and Purpose: Social determinants of health (SDOH) have been previously associated with incident stroke. Although SDOH often cluster within individuals, few studies have examined associat...
PROSPECTIVELY ESTIMATING THE AGE OF INITIATION OF E-CIGARETTES AMONG U.S. YOUTH: FINDINGS FROM THE POPULATION ASSESSMENT OF TOBACCO AND HEALTH (PATH) STUDY, 2013-2017

Context: There is a lack of research that prospectively estimates the age of initiation of electronic cigarette use in U.S. youth. Younger ages of initiation of tobacco product use are associated with greater exposure to nicotine, and recently e-cigarette use has been associated with subsequent cigarette initiation. This study sought to estimate the distribution of the age of first reporting of e-cigarette use outcomes among youth never e-cigarette users overall, by sex and by race/ethnicity, prospectively. Methods: Secondary analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) youth dataset (ages 12-17) across waves 1 (2013-2014), 2 (2014-2015), 3 (2015-2016), and 4 (2016-2017) were conducted. Four outcomes are presented, age of first report of: (i) susceptibility to use, (ii) ever, (iii) past 30-day use, and (iv) “fairly regular” e-cigarette use. Each outcome was prospectively estimated using participant age when they entered the study and the number of weeks between the last report of never use and the first report of each outcome across waves. Weighted survival analyses for interval censoring accounting for the complex survey design were implemented. Results: Among youth non-susceptible to e-cigarettes, 50.2% became susceptible to e-cigarette use by age 18. There were no statistically significant differences in the age of first report of susceptibility to e-cigarette use by sex or by race/ethnicity in this nationally representative sample of U.S. youth. Among never users, 41.7%, 23.5% and 10.3% initiated ever, past 30-day and “fairly regular” e-cigarette use by the age of 18, respectively. Less than 10% initiated ever e-cigarette use between the ages of 18 and 21. Boys had a higher risk of first reporting ever, past 30-day and “fairly regular” e-cigarette use at earlier ages than girls. Non-Hispanic Blacks and Other racial/ ethnic groups were less likely than Non-Hispanic Whites to initiate ever e-cigarette use at earlier ages, and there was no difference between Non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics. Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black and Other racial/ethnic youth were less likely to first report past 30-day use and “fairly regular” e-cigarette use at earlier ages than Non-Hispanic White youth. Conclusion: This paper provides information on specific ages of the first report of e-cigarette use behaviors by sex and by race/ethnicity that can be used to tailor culturally e-cigarette interventions on specific windows of opportunity before youth begin using e-cigarettes or escalating their use.
Rehabilitation of Foot and Ankle Injuries in Basketball Players

The foot and ankle is the most frequently injured body region in high school and collegiate basketball players, and it is the most commonly injured region in professional basketball players during game play. Lateral ankle sprains are the most common diagnosis; however, syndesmotic sprain, foot fracture (Jones fracture), and Achilles tendon rupture are all particularly problematic injuries in basketball players. This chapter outlines general rehabilitation guidelines along with specific rehabilitation considerations for these commonly seen foot and ankle conditions.
Satellite-based Estimation of the Impacts of Summertime Wildfires on Particulate Matter Air Quality in United States

Abstract. Frequent and widespread wildfires in North Western United States and Canada has become the new normal during the northern hemisphere summer months, which degrades particulate matter air quality in the United States significantly. Using the mid-visible Multi Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) satellite-derived Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) with meteorological information from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and other ancillary data, we quantify the impact of these fires on fine particulate matter air quality (PM2.5) in the United States. We use a Geographically Weighted Regression method to estimate surface PM2.5 in the United States between low (2011) and high (2018) fire activity years. Our results indicate that smoke aerosols caused significant pollution changes over half of the United States. We estimate that nearly 29 states have increased PM2.5 during the fire active year and 15 of these states have PM2.5 concentrations more than 2 times than that of the inactive year. Furthermore, these fires increased daily mean surface PM2.5 concentrations in Washington and Oregon by 38 to 259 µgm−3 posing significant health risks especially to vulnerable populations. Our results also show that the GWR model can be successfully applied to PM2.5 estimations from wildfires thereby providing useful information for various applications including public health assessment.
Alleviating Environmental Health Disparities Through Community Science and Data Integration

Environmental contamination is a fundamental determinant of health and well-being, and when the environment is compromised, vulnerabilities are generated. The complex challenges associated with environmental health and food security are influenced by current and emerging political, social, economic and environmental contexts. To solve these “wicked” dilemmas, disparate public health surveillance efforts are conducted by local, state and federal agencies. More recently, citizen/community science (CS) monitoring efforts are providing site-specific data. One of the biggest challenges in using these government datasets, let alone incorporating CS data, for a holistic assessment of environmental exposure is data management and interoperability. To facilitate a more holistic perspective and approach to solution generation, we have developed a method to provide a common data model that will allow environmental health researchers working at different scales and research domains to exchange data and ask new questions. We anticipate that this method will help to address environmental health disparities, which are unjust and avoidable, while ensuring CS datasets are ethically integrated to achieve environmental justice. Specifically, we used a transdisciplinary research framework to develop a methodology to integrate CS data with existing governmental environmental monitoring and social attribute data (vulnerability and resilience variables) that span across ten different federal and state agencies. A key challenge in integrating such different datasets is the lack of widely adopted ontologies for vulnerability and resiliency factors. In addition to following the best practice of submitting new term requests to existing ontologies to fill gaps, we have also created an application ontology, the Superfund Research Project Data Interface Ontology (SRPDIO).
Method for Optimizing Equalization in Nonlinear Signaling Analysis

Nonlinear signaling analysis in nature is a high-dimensional optimization problem, the dimension of which can exceed 100 in today's high-speed digital and mixed-signal design. Optimizing the equalization (EQ) in such a high dimension is even more challenging. In this work, We present a fast method to optimize the equalization in nonlinear high-speed signaling. In this method, the nonlinear responses in the high-dimensional space due to all EQ settings are represented by a rank- $k$ model, where $k$ is in hundreds, which is many orders of magnitude smaller than the original problem dimension. From the rank- $k$ model, we recover the signature responses of each EQ, from which the best EQ setting is determined. Numerical simulations of large-scale real-world nonlinear channels for high-speed signaling have demonstrated the performance of the proposed method.
RACER: Bit-Pipelined Processing Using Resistive Memory

To combat the high energy costs of moving data between main memory and the CPU, recent works have proposed to perform processing-using-memory (PUM), a type of processing-in-memory where operations are performed on data in situ (i.e., right at the memory cells holding the data). Several common and emerging memory technologies offer the ability to perform bitwise Boolean primitive functions by having interconnected cells interact with each other, eliminating the need to use discrete CMOS compute units for several common operations. Recent PUM architectures extend upon these Boolean primitives to perform bit-serial computation using memory. Unfortunately, several practical limitations of the underlying memory devices restrict how large emerging memory arrays can be, which hinders the ability of conventional bit-serial computation approaches to deliver high performance in addition to large energy savings. In this paper, we propose RACER, a cost-effective PUM architecture that delivers high performance and large energy savings using small arrays of resistive memories. RACER makes use of a bit-pipelining execution model, which can pipeline bit-serial w-bit computation across w small tiles. We fully design efficient control and peripheral circuitry, whose area can be amortized over small memory tiles without sacrificing memory density, and we propose an ISA abstraction for RACER to allow for easy program/compiler integration. We evaluate an implementation of RACER using NOR-capable ReRAM cells across a range of microbenchmarks extracted from data-intensive applications, and find that RACER provides 107 ×, 12 ×, and 7 × the performance of a 16-core CPU, a 2304-shader-core GPU, and a state-of-the-art in-SRAM compute substrate, respectively, with energy savings of 189 ×, 17 ×, and 1.3 ×.
Response of total (DNA) and metabolically active (RNA) microbial communities in Miscanthus × giganteus cultivated soil to different nitrogen fertilization rates

Miscanthus x giganteus is a promising high-yielding perennial plant to meet growing bioenergy demands but the degree to which the soil microbiome affects its nitrogen cycling and subsequently, biomass yield remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesize that contributions of metabolically active soil microbial membership may be underestimated with DNA-based approaches. We assessed the response of the soil microbiome to nitrogen availability in terms of both DNA and RNA soil microbial communities from the Long-term Assessment of Miscanthus Productivity and Sustainability (LAMPS) field trial. DNA and RNA were extracted from 271 samples, and 16S SSU rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed to characterize microbial community structure. Significant differences were observed in the resulting soil microbiomes and were best explained by the sequencing library of origin, either DNA and RNA. Similar numbers of taxa were detected in DNA and RNA microbial communities, with more than 90% of taxa shared. However, the profile of dominant taxa within DNA and RNA differed, with varying proportions of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Only RNA microbial communities showed seasonal responses to nitrogen fertilization, and these differences were associated with nitrogen-cycling bacteria. The relative abundance of bacteria associated with nitrogen cycling was 7-folds higher in RNA than in DNA, and genes associated with denitrifying bacteria were significantly enriched in RNA, suggesting that these bacteria may be underestimated with DNA-only approaches. Our findings indicate that RNA-based SSU characterization can be a significant and complementing resource for understanding the role of soil microbiomes in bioenergy crop production.
Assessing Motivations and Barriers to Science Outreach within Academia: A Mixed-Methods Survey

The practice of science outreach is more necessary than ever. However, a disconnect exists between the stated goals for science outreach and its actual impact. In order to examine one potential source of this disconnect, we undertook a survey-based study to explore whether barriers to participation (either intrinsic or extrinsic) in science outreach exist within the academic community. We received responses to our survey from 530 individuals, the vast majority of whom engage in some type of science outreach activity on an annual basis. Those who engage in outreach report doing so for both personal and altruistic reasons, and having high (yet varied) levels of comfort with performing outreach activities. Respondents also report the existence of several significant yet surmountable barriers to participation, including lack of time and funding. Our findings demonstrate that both levels of participation in, and attitudes toward, science outreach within the academic community are generally favorable, suggesting that the general ineffectiveness of science outreach is due to other causes. We place our findings within the context of the broader science outreach, science communication and public engagement literature. We make recommendations on how existing approaches and infrastructure can, and must, be changed in order to improve the practice.
Spatiotemporal variability of the precipitation dipole transition zone in the western United States

[1] El Nino-Southern Oscillation-related hydroclimatic variability in the western United States is characterized by a north–south dipole pattern of precipitation anomalies with opposing signs. Here I use a high-resolution dataset to analyze spatiotemporal patterns in the transition zone between the centers of opposite association. Results indicate that the transition zone is spatially limited west of the continental divide, consisting of a narrow zone within the 40–42°N latitude band and portions of eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and western Colorado. The transition zone was narrower when the Southern Oscillation Index and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) were in a constructive phase and during the negative Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation phase. Although the transition zone has remained remarkably stationary across the Great Basin, shifts (likely PDO-related) have occurred over time in the West Coast states. Implications for water resource planning in river basins underlying the transition zone vary by region.
A tale of two teams: success and failure in virtual team meetings

Interaction between two teams with the same team leader and with similar size and goals moved from weekly face-to-face meetings to virtual meetings because of the temporary displacement of the team leader to a time zone six hours ahead of the rest of the team. One team focused primarily on software development and the second team on developing and testing a research instrument. The Software Team floundered through multiple different meeting arrangements and eventually agreed to disperse until the leader returned to the same time zone. In contrast, the Research Instrument Team kept a single meeting time that was set before it moved to virtual gatherings, and continued to be an active and productive team. This paper explores what factors led to this divergence in team success and concludes that the implicit temporal structures entraining the members of the Software Team coupled with an inability to repair member unhappiness and an unequal dispersion of skill sets among virtual and co-located members led to one team's eventual shutdown.
Physiological, Perceptual and Psychological Responses of Career versus Volunteer Firefighters to Live-fire Training Drills

A primary objective of the present study was to examine the effect of short-term live-fire firefighting activities on key physiological, perceptual and psychological variables and whether occupational status influenced these responses. It was also of interest to examine whether individual difference factors differentiated the occupational status groups and if so, whether such individual difference factors influenced perceptual and psychological responses to firefighting activities. Male firefighters (n = 52 career, n = 53 volunteer firefighters) participated in 18 min of simulated firefighting activity in a training structure that contained live fires. Measures of heart rate (HR) and Tcore were obtained before and after firefighting activities along with perceptions of thermal sensations, exertion, respiratory distress and affect. Firefighting activities resulted in significant elevations in HR and Tcore , whereas thermal sensations, respiratory distress, exertion and affect all showed significant and sizable changes reflecting greater distress and dysphoria. Occupational status and individual difference factors accounted for some of this negative change. The findings replicate and extend previous work by demonstrating the influence of occupational status and individual difference factors in the psychological responses to firefighting activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Language: en
An Evaluation of the Franklin County (AL) Community Corrections Program

An evaluation of the Franklin County (AL) Community Corrections (FCCC) program suggests that offenders monitored in a community based setting appear to be less likely to be rearrested for serious misdemeanors or felonies than those who are supervised within institutional settings. Almost two out of three citizens who have spent time in prisons or jails will be rearrested within three years of release. Within the FCCC program, only one of three was rearrested who completed the program, while only one in five were rearrested while an active client. The success of other programs similar to the FCCC program is important to a corrections system that serves the public's interest.
Parameter Estimation Techniques for Nonlinear Distributed Parameter Systems.

Abstract : Methods for estimating system parameters are discussed for a class of partial differential equations. We develop schemes based on modal subspace approximations in some detail and include numerical examples. (Author)
Reflected Light from Close-In Extrasolar Giant Planets

A Jupiter size planet at a distance of 0.05 AU could produce a reflected light component at the level of ~7×10-5 relative to its host star. Although the star and planet are at a very small angular separation, they would be well resolved spectroscopically, due to the large orbital velocity of the companion. The distinctive signature produced by the addition of this secondary reflected light spectrum should be observable given sufficient spectral resolution and signal-to-noise. A detection would be extremely significant as it would be the first direct detection of a planet around another star. It would yield the orbital inclination and hence the mass of the companion. Furthermore, it would measure a combination of the planetary radius and albedo, from which a minimum radius may be deduced.
The History and Timing of Depression Onset as Predictors of Young-Adult Self-Esteem

Depression often emerges early in the lifecourse and is consistently shown to be associated with poor self-esteem. The three main objectives of the current study are to (1) evaluate the association between a history major depression and self-esteem in young adulthood; (2) assess the relationship between timing of depression onset and young adult self-esteem; and (3) help rule out the alternative interpretation that the relationship between major depression and self-esteem is due to state dependence bias stemming from recent depressive symptoms and stressful life events. To address these objectives we use data from a two-wave panel study based on a community sample of young adults in Miami-Dade County, Florida (n = 1,197). Results indicated a history of major depression during sensitive periods of social development is associated with negative changes in self-esteem over a two-year period during the transition to young adulthood. Among those with a history of depression, earlier onset was more problematic than later onset for young adult self-esteem, although the difference disappeared once the level of self-esteem two years prior was controlled. The linkages between the history and timing of depression onset with self-esteem were observed net of recent depressive symptoms and stressful life events, and thus robust to an alternative interpretation of state dependence. The findings support the argument that major depression, especially if it develops earlier during child-adolescent development, has negative consequences for one's self-esteem.
Stationary potentials after median nerve stimulation: changes with arm position

Abstract We previously reported the presence of stationary negative potentials (N3, N6, N9) over the arm ipsilateral to the side of median nerve stimulation. In this study, we examined the effect of different arm positions upon these stationary peaks in 12 normal subjects. When arm position was changed from elbow extended to elbow flexed 90°, we recorded a new negative peak, N4. The peak latency of N4 corresponded to the traveling impulse reaching the distal biceps brachii. With the elbow flexed, N3, N6 and N9 peak latencies significantly shortened compared to those recorded with the arm in the usual elbow extended position. In contrast, with the arm abducted at the shoulder, N6 and N9 latencies were significantly prolonged while N3 remained unchanged. Corresponding latency shifts were also observed in the bipolarly recorded traveling impulse. We consider 2 possible factors for N4 enhancement by elbow flexion. One is the change in conducting volume surrounding the nerve, i.e., increased muscle bulk of biceps brachii. The other is the change in axial orientation of the propagating nerve impulse by 90°. We also propose that the latency shifts of the stationary potential as well as of a travelling wave can be attributed primarily to relaxation or stretching of the nerve trunk with change in arm position.
Radiology Resident Experience in a Community-Based Residency Program

Abstract Rationale and Objectives The authors performed this study to examine the educational experience of radiology residents by evaluating exposure to total number and variety of examinations. They examined this exposure in relation to current concepts of resident education regarding exposure to difference radiologic examinations, preparation for private practice, and 4th-year resident experience. Materials and Methods The number of examinations performed by radiology residents and the number classified as general versus cross-sectional radiology were analyzed by calculating the average number of studies performed per academic year during the past 6 years. Results In general, there was in increase in the total number of examinations performed per resident during the past 6 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the experience with general versus cross-sectional radiologic examinations. The data support the contention that 4th-year residents perform fewer examinations. Conclusion Experience with all radiologic examinations is increasing as the overall utilization of radiology services increases. Fourth-year residents read fewer images; further studies are necessary to determine whether this finding reflects a planned decrease in workload or an increase in the complexity of the workload. It may be necessary to establish a minimum number and mixture of examinations to prepare residents for private practice.
Privatising the public past: The economics of archaeological heritage management

Los yacimientos prehispanicos de Canada de la Virgen y Teotihuacan, en Mejico, se hayan en el centro de una contienda que mantienen actualmente la arqueologia publica, el estado y los intereses privados. Las leyes que protegen el patrimonio cultural de Mexico estan siendo pasadas por alto por las politicas de privatizacion que imponen un valor economico a los yacimientos arqueologicos argumentando que deben aportar un beneficio economico. Las obligaciones de los gobiernos nacionales hacia los yacimientos arqueologicos estan siendo socavadas a medida que aumenta el riesgo de privatizacion de los yacimientos. El publico se halla cada vez mas desamparado cuando el gobierno, que custodia el patrimonio arqueologico, pone el pasado a la venta. Como evidencian los conflictos de Canada de la Virgen y Teotihuacan estos temas van mas alla de lo local, ya que afectan a la globalidad. Los arqueologos, responsables de proteger el pasado, deben desarrollar una estrategia para frenar esta tendencia, basandose en un mensaje claramente articulado que transmita la urgencia de la crisis que amenaza a los yacimientos arqueologicos.
Amy Lind (ed.). Development, Sexual Rights and Global Governance

Amy Lind (ed.). Development, Sexual Rights and Global Governance. London and New York: Routledge, 2010. ISBN 978-0-415-77607-3. Development, Sexual Rights and Global Governance critically examines ...
The true costs of euthanasia in animal shelters: a comprehensive examination

This paper first seeks to establish the claim that, as a foundation, a legal basis exists for promoting a more rigorous animal rights structure – making it feasible to change the current US legal configuration. It then moves on to discuss the body of public policy that provides the impetus behind such proposed changes, namely that habitual killing of shelter animals negatively influences several areas that affect the quality of life in our society. Specifically, this second section assesses the far-reaching costs incurred through shelter euthanasia, including the following: impacts on individuals; impacts on communities; fiscal impacts; detriment to the animals themselves; lack of impact on pet overpopulation (i.e., the current solution is ineffective in at least some of its goals). The final section proposes a plan of action to move our communities forward, towards a no-kill nation, focusing on both critical mental shifts needed and legislation designed to prevent an influx of companion animals from entering the system in the first place.
Integrating HIV and maternal health services: will organizational culture clash sow the seeds of a new and improved implementation practice?

Drawing on an analysis by Pritchett et al of the ''techniques of persistent implementation failure'' common across many de- velopment sectors, this commentary suggests that health systems attempting to integrate maternal health and HIV services may need to contend with a profound clash of organizational cultures. For decades, countries have been pressed to implement global ''best practices'' in maternal health without attention to the systemic capacity building needed to support complex interventions. The result is often form without function, a kind of ''isomorphic mimicry'' in which policy documents and program plans that meet global standards ultimately camouflage deep dysfunction in the actual delivery of lifesaving services. As a result, the organizational culture that surrounds maternal health services often stands in stark contrast to the can-do style that has characterized the rapid, well-resourced deployment of HIV services over the last few years. As integration proceeds, the resolution of this clash may hold the seeds of a much-needed transformation of implementation support practices in both fields.
Coordinate induction of acyl-CoA binding protein, fatty acid binding protein and peroxisomal β-oxidation by peroxisome proliferators

Abstract Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) and fatty acid binding protein (FABP) are important intracellular lipid binding proteins. The purpose of the present experiments was to test the hypothesis that peroxisome proliferators induce ACBP in rat hepatocytes as has been shown previously for FABP. The effects of two structurally dissimilar peroxisome proliferators perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and clofibric acid (CPIB) were examined in primary rat hepatocyte cultures in a chemically defined media. Both compounds alter lipid metabolism in primary rat hepatocytes in a similar fashion, although PFDA is more potent than CPIB at inducing peroxisomal β-oxidation. In addition, PFDA and CPIB compete with long-chain fatty acids for binding to FABP but do not compete with long-chain acyl-CoA esters for binding to ACBP. The concentration of ACBP and FABP was increased in peroxisome proliferator-treated hepatocytes relative to vehicle controls within 48 h of treatment. Evidence is given to support increases in ACBP and FABP mRNA being the cause of the increased protein levels by peroxisome proliferators. In addition, the peroxisome proliferators PFDA, perfluorooctanoic acid and ciprofibrate induced hepatic ACBP following in vivo administration to rats indicating that this phenomena is not exclusive to in vitro systems. Therefore, ACBP appears to be a member of the peroxisome proliferator loci, a group of lipid metabolizing proteins, including FABP, which are regulated by peroxisome proliferators such as fibric acids and perfluorinated fatty acids.
Influence of molding variables on defect formation and mechanical strength of injection-molded ceramics

Abstract Defects such as voids and cracks were found in ceramic injection moldings when the molding variables were not properly tuned. A factorial experiment revealed that the formation of the macroscopic defects was related to the melt temperature of the feed-stocks in the injection barrel. Using a melt temperature significantly higher than the evaporation-starting temperature of the type of lubricant used (e.g. stearic acid) presents a propensity to introduce voids. An improper selection of the molding variables such as the hold pressure, the injection speed, and metering stroke, was found to aggravate the molding integrity by the formation of cracks in addition to the voids. The cause for the occurrence of these macroscopic flaws in the ceramic injection moldings are discussed.
A Relaxed Admixture Model of Language Contact

Under conditions of language contact, a language may gain features from its neighbors that it is unlikely to have gained endogenously. We describe a method for evaluating pairs of languages for potential contact by comparing a null hypothesis, in which a target language obtained all its features by inheritance, with an alternative hypothesis in which the target language obtained its features via inheritance and via contact with a proposed donor language. Under the alternative hypothesis, the donor may influence the target to gain features, but not to lose features. When applied to a database of phonological characters in South American languages, this method proves useful for detecting the effects of relatively mild and recent contact, and for highlighting several potential linguistic areas in South America.
Dose‐Dependent Inhibition of Spermatogenesis in Mature Rams with Exogenous Testosterone

Testicular and accessory sex gland function was examined in 20 mature breeding rams that received graded dosages of testosterone (T) by subdermal Silastic implants or intramuscular injections. Treatments were imposed for 72 days during the normal breeding season. As compared with control rams, rams implanted with 20 T-filled Silastic capsules had greatly reduced testes (24%) and epididymides (53%) weights as well as total daily sperm production (3.3%) and epididymal sperm reserves (3.9%). These effects were produced when scrum T concentrations were increased four-fold over those of control rams, serum LH was non-detectable and serum FSH was substantially decreased. Testicular weight and total daily sperm production were less dramatically reduced in rams given T (2 times 250 mg/day) by injection. In spite of the high serum T concentrations observed in injected rams, weights of the accessory sex glands were not significantly affected. Treatment with 5 or 20 T-filled Silastic capsules or by injection of T not only suppressed gonadotropin secretion and spermatogenesis but also reduced T concentrations in rete testis fluid. A high correlation (r=0.94, P < 0.01) between daily sperm production and T concentrations in rete testis fluid was calculated in this study. Results presented herein indicate that 1) treatment of rams with exogenous T affects spermatogenesis in a dose-dependent manner and 2) spermatogenic yield is related to T concentrations in fluid of the rete testis.
Pair comparison of durations.

Pigeons were trained on a pair comparison task where a red light of one duration was followed by a green light of a second duration. Following a duration pair two choice keys were lit and one choice was reinforced if the duration of red was longer than green, and the alternate choice was reinforced if green was longer than red. Duration pairs consisted of all possible combinations of the durations .5, 1, 2, and 4 sec in one condition, and 2, 4, 8, and 16 sec in a second condition. Generalization tests with novel duration pairs were given under both conditions. Under a final set of conditions, interstimulus intervals of 2, 5, 10, and 30 sec were interposed between the first (red) and second (green) durations. Pigeons responded appropriately in most cases, with accuracy a function of the relative temporal difference between the members of a duration pair. Accuracy on transfer problems was above 70% in most instances, but in some cases suggests factors apart from relative temporal differences influenced performance. Accuracy declined with increases in the interstimulus interval, but remained above chance levels even when the longest interstimulus interval was used.
Examining the Predictive Validity of Gre Scores on Doctoral Education: Students' Success and Methodology Choices in the Dissertation Process:

This study examines how GRE scores can be used to better understand Education doctoral candidates' methodology choices for the dissertation as well as their persistence behaviors. Candidates' of on...
Influence of dietary disaccharides on mouth microorganisms and experimental dental caries in rats

Abstract Osborne-Mendel rats were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans at weaning, divided into 5 groups and fed cariogenic diets containing 56 per cent sugar either as sucrose, maltose, lactose or combinations of sucrose/maltose and sucrose/lactose. The number of Strep. mutans on molar teeth of rats fed the diet high in maltose was much lower than for any other group of rats ( p Strep. mutans levels were low for rats fed maltose, the incidence of carious lesions was similar to rats fed sucrose when the textures of the two sugars were similar. Although maltose does not support plaque formation, it is a fermentable carbohydrate which can provide, if microorganisms are present, an environment conducive to dental decay. The incidence of carious lesions was highest among rats fed lactose.
War: The Covered Side of Modernity

Although its presence is manifest in all modern societies - in politics, economics and popular culture as well as collective memory - was has indeed been a neglected topic of sociological research, though no discussion of modernity can be complete without it. This article first addresses the question of factors in both the liberal and the socialist traditions that have led to this neglect. Attention is then given to functions of war in the modernization process and beyond this, to the imputed moralism of modern warfare, from the 19th century to the present decade. Since modern war represents the epitome of mobilization, war may be viewed sociologically as a powerful social movement on behalf of a moral cause. A final consideration is the complex relation of war to violence.
The EEG and behavioral continuum of the crocodilian, Caiman sclerops.

Caiman were implanted with chronic electrodes in forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain, orbital cavities, and in jaw, nuchal and forelimb muscles. Strain gauges measured throat palpitations (“sniffing”) and respiration. Recordings and photographs were obtained for 6–12 consecutive days. Four characteristic postures were associated with levels of behavioral arousal: (1) limbs flexed, body raised from floor, head and neck elevated, eyes open; animals responded immediately and aggressively to stimulation; (2) posture similar to above, but with trunk resting on floor; animals responded as above, but less aggressively; (3) limbs slightly flexed with one to three legs relaxed and extended backward against body, head rested on floor, eyes were mostly closed; responses to stimulation were sluggish, especially when eyes were closed; (4) all limbs extended backward against body, head on floor, eyes closed; animals could be handled for several seconds prior to eyes opening and movement (the latter was poorly coordinated and very sluggish). Posture 4 and, in certain instances, Posture 3 denote behavioral sleep, i.e., motor quiescence, stereotypic posture, increased response threshold and rapid state reversibility. EEGs (polymorphic and irregular in form) were somewhat higher in frequencies and larger in amplitudes during behavioral arousal, but changes across the posture-arousal continuum were minimal. Neither epochs of slow wave nor paradoxical sleep were recorded. Large amplitude (up to 200 μV), arrhythmic spikes (50 msec duration) characterized caiman EEG and were most prevalent in the telencephalon. Spiking increased with behavioral quiescence and decreased or transiently vanished with induced or spontaneous arousal and respiration. Spike incidence substantially increased during recovery from 24 or 48 h of induced behavioral arousal. The association of spikes with quiescence and their apparent compensatory rebound after enforced arousal encourage the hypothesis that they are analogs of EEG spike activity reported to accompany mammalian and avian behavioral sleep.
A Review of Lubrication Conditions for Wear Simulation in Artificial Hip Replacements

It is essential to evaluate the wear behavior of joint replacement materials and designs. While synovial fluid is the biological joint lubricant, it is present in too small quantities to use for wear simulations. A variety of lubricants have been used, such as water, saline solutions, synovial fluid components (hyaluronic acid, lubricin, and phospholipids), serum, and custom-made lubricants. We review studies from our Loma Linda University Medical Center lab and other labs using metal-on-polyethylene, exploring the benefits and deficiencies of these pseudo-synovial fluids. Serum is used extensively as the lubricant because its results most closely match clinical results with polyethylene bearings. We summarize laboratory experiments that have explored the effects of serum with differences in proteins (concentration, type, and ratio), volume, viscosity, temperature, and additives and their wear response. Protein precipitates seem to protect the implants from wear. The properties of current lubricants, in p...
Architectural Reform and Corrections: An Attributional Analysis

The present study is an investigation of the impact of moving to a new institution upon inmate and staff attributions of causality. Consistent with the attribution literature, instruments were designed to measure the degree to which attributions were made to the environment, others, and oneself. These instruments were in turn administered to samples of inmates and members of the correctional staff during three phases of the facility's construction and occupation. As indicated by the results, with the move to the new institution, attributions to the environment became more positive while attributions to others became more negative. Such an effect was exhibited by both inmates and staff.
Copoly(arylene ether nitrile)s—High-Performance Polymer Electrolytes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) performance of sulfonated (arylene ether ether nitrile) (m-SPAEEN) copolymers is reported. Low water absorption of m-SPAEEN copolymers enabled increased proton-exchange concentrations in the hydrated polymer matrix, resulting in more desirable membrane properties for DMFC applications. The membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) using m-SPAEENs showed improved cell properties which could not be obtained by the MEAs using sulfonated polysulfone or Nafion. The DMFC performance using an optimized m-SPAEEN membrane exceeded those of the other membrane systems. For example, 265 mA/cm 2 was obtained for an MEA using m-SPAEEN, compared to 230 and 195 mA/cm 2 for MEAs using sulfonated polysulfone and Nafion membranes, respectively, at 0.5 V, measured under identical conditions. In the comparative evaluations, membrane thickness was selected to give methanol crossover limiting currents that were similar for each of the polymer electrolyte types. Stable cell performance during extended operation (>100 h) suggested that interfacial compatibility between m-SPAEEN and Nafion-bonded electrodes was good.
STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF HYPOTHALAMTC CONTROL OF THYROTROPIN SECRETION:COMPARISON OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS AND OF THE PITUITARY TO LOCAL CHANGES OF THYROID HORMONE CONCENTRATION1

The microinjection of graded doses of systemically ineffective amounts of thyroxine into the anterior hypothalamus or pituitary of the rat was utilized to study the mechanism of the hypothalamic control of thyrotropin secretion. The rate of secretion of endogenously labeled hormone from the thyroid gland was considered to reflect thyrotropin secretion. Thyroxine introduced into either the anterior hypothalamic “thyrotropin area” or into theanterior pituitary would inhibit thyrotropin secretion. The amount of thyroxine required to decrease TSH secretion was approximately equivalent for both areas. Less than 1% of labeled thyroxine introduced into the anterior hypothalamus reached the anterior pituitary,making it extremely unlikely that thyroxine injected into the hypothalamus is first transported to the adenohypophysis where its inhibitory effect is exerted. It thus appears that two separate receptor sites, one in the anterior hypothalamus and one in the adenohypophysis, are sensitive to local concentratio...
Structural basis for the lack of opposite base specificity of Clostridium acetobutylicum 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase.

Abstract 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) is the major oxidative product of guanine and the most prevalent base lesion observed in DNA molecules. Because 8-oxoG has the capability to form a Hoogsteen pair with adenine (8-oxoG:A) in addition to a normal Watson–Crick pair with cytosine (8-oxoG:C), this lesion can lead to a G:C → T:A transversion after replication. However, 8-oxoG is recognized and excised by the 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (Ogg) of the base excision repair pathway. Members of the Ogg1 family usually display a strong preference for a C opposite the lesion. In contrast, the atypical Ogg1 from Clostridium actetobutylicum (CacOgg) can excise 8-oxoG when paired with either one of the four bases, albeit with a preference for C and A. Here we describe the first high-resolution crystal structures of CacOgg in complex with duplex DNA containing the 8-oxoG lesion paired to cytosine and to adenine. A structural comparison with human OGG1 provides a rationale for the lack of opposite base specificity displayed by the bacterial Ogg.
Case report 732

A case of a large, lytic, tophaceous defect in the upper end of the tibia has been reported in a 44-year-old man as a solitary lesion. The term "gouty tophus" should not be confused with the geode or subchondral bone cyst.
The Big Question for Performance Management: Why Do Managers Use Performance Information?

This article proposes that understanding public employee use of performance information is perhaps the most pressing challenge for scholarship on performance management. Governments have devoted extraordinary effort in creating performance data, wagering that it will be used to improve governance, but there is much we do not know about the factors associated with the use of that information. This article examines the antecedents of selfreported performance information use from a survey of local government managers. The results show that public service motivation, leadership role, information availability, organizational culture, and administrative flexibility all affect performance information use.
Sample entropy predicts lifesaving interventions in trauma patients with normal vital signs

Abstract Introduction Heart rate complexity, commonly described as a “new vital sign,” has shown promise in predicting injury severity, but its use in clinical practice is not yet widely adopted. We previously demonstrated the ability of this noninvasive technology to predict lifesaving interventions (LSIs) in trauma patients. This study was conducted to prospectively evaluate the utility of real-time, automated, noninvasive, instantaneous sample entropy (SampEn) analysis to predict the need for an LSI in a trauma alert population presenting with normal vital signs. Methods Prospective enrollment of patients who met criteria for trauma team activation and presented with normal vital signs was conducted at a level I trauma center. High-fidelity electrocardiogram recording was used to calculate SampEn and SD of the normal-to-normal R-R interval (SDNN) continuously in real time for 2 hours with a portable, handheld device. Patients who received an LSI were compared to patients without any intervention (non-LSI). Multivariable analysis was performed to control for differences between the groups. Treating clinicians were blinded to results. Results Of 129 patients enrolled, 38 (29%) received 136 LSIs within 24 hours of hospital arrival. Initial systolic blood pressure was similar in both groups. Lifesaving intervention patients had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale. The mean SampEn on presentation was 0.7 (0.4-1.2) in the LSI group compared to 1.5 (1.1-2.0) in the non-LSI group (P Conclusions In trauma patients with normal presenting vital signs, decreased SampEn is an independent predictor of the need for LSI. Real-time SampEn analysis may be a useful adjunct to standard vital signs monitoring. Adoption of real-time, instantaneous SampEn monitoring for trauma patients, especially in resource-constrained environments, should be considered.
TRANSPORTATION AT THE MILLENNIUM: IN SEARCH OF A MEGAPROJECT LENS

While penetrating the complexity of publicly funded megaprojects (those costing in excess of $1 billion) is no small task, it can be a rewarding one. Five tiers of rich descriptors emerge from the literature: history and purpose; context; project structure; funding; and performance measures. The 5-tier approach is used to analyze 1 megaproject: Boston's $14-billion Central Artery/Tunnel Project. With time and focus, this preliminary framework will be helpful in profiling and learning from public works megaprojects generally, and transportation megaprojects specifically.
Calculation of high fluence ion implantation depth profiles

The method of equivalent atomic stopping (MEAS) is used to develop the equations governing the implanted ion depth profiles for high fluence implantations. Simultaneous multiple ion implantations are considered and sputtering is included in the formalism. Analytical steady state solutions are provided for the equations. The approximations inherent in MEAS are shown to be valid in particular at low energies 0≤ E ≤10 keV for light ions and target materials1≤[ Z 1 , Z 2 ]≤32. The steady state solutions are used to analyze recent experimental data for 1.5 and 3 keV oxygen implantations into graphite.
Sizing of aging bull spermatozoa with an electronic counter.

Abstract Cell size was evaluated as a criterion of the functional state of spermatozoa. Packed cell volume of 13 samples of bull semen stored at room temperature for 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.5 hours averaged 8.7, 10.6, 11.2, 12.0, 12.1, and 12.2%. Corresponding mean window values obtained with a Coulter Counter were 12.3, 14.3, 15.6, 16.0, 16.1, and 15.9. Correlations between these two types of measurements ranged from 0.87 to 0.99 (P