cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort.

Abstract Background The association between coffee consumption and colorectal cancer risk generally appears null, but recent evidence suggests that risk may vary by coffee type. We examined associations of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee intake with colorectal cancer risk overall and with colon and rectum separately, among older U.S. men and women. Methods In 1999, 47,010 men and 60,051 women with no previous diagnosis of cancer, aged 47–96 years, in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort completed a food frequency questionnaire that assessed caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee intake; consumption was updated in 2003. A total of 1829 colorectal cancer cases were verified through June 2015. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate multivariable-adjusted hazard rate ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for smoking history, alcohol, caffeinated/decaffeinated coffee intake (depending on the model), and other colorectal cancer risk factors. Results Consumption of ≥2 cups/day of decaffeinated coffee, compared to no decaffeinated coffee, was associated with lower risk of overall colorectal cancer (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69−0.96, P-trend = 0.04), colon cancer (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69−0.99, P-trend = 0.05) and rectal cancer (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40−0.99, P-trend = 0.17). Consumption of ≥2 cups/day of caffeinated coffee was associated with higher risk of rectal cancer (HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.99–1.89, P-trend = 0.04), but not with colorectal or colon cancer. Conclusion In this prospective study, higher intake of decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of colorectal, colon, and rectal cancers. Further study on associations of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee with colorectal cancer risk by subsite is needed.
Second Log-Wake Law from Pipe Symmetry and its Applications in Symmetric and Antisymmetric Channel Flows

AbstractThe velocity distribution of turbulent pipe flow is often described by the Coles log-wake law that is a superposition of the law of the wall due to the wall shear stress and the law of the ...
Gender Divides in Engagement with COVID-19 Information on the Internet among U.S. Older Adults.

Objective Gender and age disparities in older adults' exposure to pandemic stressors may create different needs for engaging with COVID-19 information, yet mitigation strategies to curb spreading COVID-19 inhibit their access to preferred in-person information networks. To inform the design of Internet-based interventions for older adults, the current study of U.S. older adults examines gender and age divides in searching for and sharing COVID-19 information on the Internet. Method A secondary analysis of survey data from the Pew Research Center fielded March 19-24, 2020. Bivariate probit regressions jointly estimated how searching for and sharing information on the Internet about COVID-19 were associated with the age and gender of U.S. older adults (50 or older), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results Consistent with previous research, younger older adults (50-64) were more likely than their older counterparts (65 or older) to search for and share information about COVID-19 and men, regardless of age, were less likely than women to share information. While men are usually more likely than women to search for information, women who are younger older adults were most likely to search for COVID-19 information. Discussion Internet-based interventions for older adults should consider how gender shapes their exposure to pandemic stressors. Men, who were already at risk of social isolation before the pandemic, may be candidates for interventions encouraging social uses of the Internet. Women between 50 and 64 were most likely among adults to provide care for another adult before the pandemic, which may be shaping their online information needs.
Listening to the voices of dissent: bridging political polarization through imagined dialogue

This paper describes the authors’ exploration of an arts-based practice, called imagined dialogue, as a means for engaging in reflective discourse in the current, global context of political polari...
Consequences of paediatric sleep disordered breathing: contributions from Australian and New Zealand investigators.

Abstract Aims To highlight the contributions of Australian and New Zealand researchers to the identification of the consequences of paediatric sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Methods A search was conducted in PubMed using the terms “sleep disordered breathing” “child” and “Australia or New Zealand”. All abstracts were reviewed and those which focused on the consequences of SDB have been included. Results Australasian research into the consequences of SDB has grown exponentially over the last 35 years. SDB has significant adverse consequences for quality of life, behaviour, neurocognition and the cardiovascular system and the Australasian research studies investigating these are summarised. Conclusions Australian and New Zealand researchers have played a significant role in understanding the consequences of paediatric SDB and the mechanisms which underpin these. The research conducted “Downunder” has led the world in this field of research and will continue to provide evidence to improve the lives of children not only in Australasia but around the world.
Trends in body mass index before and after diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND A temporal relationship between hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and obesity has not been established. OBJECTIVES To compare baseline body mass index (BMI) and change in BMI for patients with HS and controls before and after diagnosis. METHODS We performed a retrospective case-control analysis of 1284 patients with HS and controls matched for age, sex, race and calendar year between 1 January 1999 and 9 September 2019. BMI 7 years prior to first HS diagnosis, and rate of BMI change, were compared for patients with HS and controls using linear mixed effects models. RESULTS Baseline BMI was higher among patients with HS than controls [mean difference 3·03 kg m-2 , 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·44-3·62; P < 0·001)]. This difference was larger for women [mean difference 3·37 kg m-2 (95% CI 2·73-4·01)] than men [mean difference 1·27 kg m-2 (95% CI - 0·20-2·73; interaction P = 0·01)], and for patients with HS diagnosed before age 40 years [mean difference 4·10 kg m-2 (95% CI 3·15-5·06)] than those diagnosed after age 40 years [mean difference 2·38 kg m-2 (95% CI 1·63-3·12; interaction P < 0·001)]. Prior to diagnosis, average annual increase in BMI among patients with HS was slightly higher than controls. There was no statistically significant change in annual BMI among patients with HS following diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Baseline BMI and, to a lesser extent, rate of BMI change appear to be risk factors for developing HS. The influence of BMI may play a larger role among female patients and younger patients.
The Theory of Electron Cyclotron Maser Devices

The electron cyclotron maser (gyrotron) is an extremely promising device for efficiently generating coherent, high-power millimeter and sub-millimeter radiation. This paper describes the physical mechanism of the maser as well as the recent theoretical progress made in dramatically a) enhancing the maser efficiency by contouring the external magnetic field and b) increasing the operating bandwidth in the slow wave maser amplifier by employing a dielectrically loaded waveguide.
Altered Fractionation Strategies in Radiation Oncology for the Head and Neck Cancer Patient

Summary For selected head and neck tumor patients, twice-daily radiotherapy treatment is becoming increasingly common worldwide. This approach is not beneficial for all patients, but for some it improves the local tumor-control rate without an increased risk of late normal tissue complications. It does, however, induce more severe acute mucosal reactions than the more conventional once-daily treatment schedules. Several prospective randomized trials regarding altered fractionation are well under way or reaching completion in both the United States and Europe involving cancers of the head and neck, lung, brain, and other sites. These clinical investigations will further our understanding of the optimal interaction between fractionation and radiotherapy, tumor-control rate, and subsequent tissue toxicities. A number of the altered-fractionation trials are addressing the potential for combining systemic chemotherapy with altered-radiation fractionation. The ultimate aim is to increase the long-term tumor-control and survival rates without increasing the incidence of normal tissue complications. There is now a wealth of data to support completing a course of curative head and neck radiotherapy as quickly as possible while paying attention to the interplay between individual fraction size and late normal tissue effects. Hyperfractionation has demonstrated the capacity to improve loco-regional tumor-control rates without an increase in late normal tissue complications. The challenge for the head and neck radiation oncologist is to continue to refine and optimize fractionation strategies for the individual head and neck cancer patient based on specific clinical and biologic characteristics of their malignancy.
When wave soaring, do not get caught on top!

Climbing 5000m in a glider to earn the F´ed´eration A´eronautique Internationale (FAI) Altitude Diamond is most often achieved using fast rising air generated by mountain lee-waves. During these flights, a primary concern should be an under-cast forming below the glider and/or a wave cloud enveloping the glider. These phenomena can be forecast by interpreting on-line atmospheric profiles (soundings, thermics) from numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. Profiles are presented and interpreted from actual wave flight incidents/accidents to help you anticipate these meteorological conditions: recognize, understand and act to fly safe and achieve the climb.
A Novel 3-RRR Spherical Parallel Instrument for Daily Living Emulation (SPINDLE) for Functional Rehabilitation of Patients with Stroke:

Various robotic rehabilitation devices have been developed for acute stroke patients to ease therapist’s efforts and provide high-intensity training, which resulted in improved strength and functio...
Philosophical Foundations, Definitions, and Measures of Wellbeing

In this chapter, I describe the concept of happiness based on popular philosophical writings such as Bentham and Aristotle. In this vein, I make the case that happiness is a strong and universal motive. A distinction is made among three philosophical views of happiness namely, psychological, prudential, and perfectionist. Psychological happiness, philosophically-speaking, is translated into a wellbeing concept coined as “hedonic wellbeing.” Psychological happiness or hedonic wellbeing is defined in terms of positive and negative affect, hedonic sensations of monetary pleasures, neuronal chemical release of dopamine in the brain, psychological utility, and emotional wellbeing. In contrast, prudential happiness is translated psychologically into the popular concept of life satisfaction. In that vein, prudential happiness is further translated in research related to life satisfaction, domain satisfaction, flow and engagement, desire satisfaction, and attitudinal pleasure. The third major philosophical concept of happiness is perfectionist happiness, which is translated in the psychology literature as eudaimonic or psychological wellbeing. The wellbeing research that comes under this umbrella concept include eudaimonia, purpose and meaning in life, positive mental health or flourishing, satisfaction of the full spectrum of human needs (basic and growth needs), wisdom, resilience, and functional wellbeing.
Mixed feelings: Profiles of emotions among elementary mathematics students and how they function within a control-value framework

Abstract Mixed feelings happen in and outside of the classroom; yet prior research has focused on discrete emotions, essentially ignoring the interaction between emotions. We extend prior person-centered studies of achievement emotions by placing emotions within the Control-Value Theory framework to examine how patterns of emotions mediate the relation between motivation and achievement. We found four profiles of emotion in both fourth (n = 5228) and fifth graders (n = 5299)—two positive profiles, a negative profile, and a mixed emotions profile where frustrated and challenged were the primary emotions. All profiles mediated the relationship between math expectancy and achievement. However, only three of the four emotion profiles mediated the relation between math value and achievement.
Trends in healthcare expenditures and resource utilization among a nationally representative population with opioids in the United States: a serial cross-sectional study, 2008 to 2017.

Author(s): Bounthavong, Mark; Suh, Kangho; Li, Meng; Spoutz, Patrick M; Stottlemyer, Britney Ann; Sepassi, Aryana | Abstract: Previous reports on healthcare costs and expenditures associated with populations prescribed an opioid primarily focused on populations who chronically use opioids or have opioid use disorder. However, studies that characterize the healthcare and expenditures costs among the wider number of people prescribed opioids in a nationally representative population are unavailable. We sought to characterize the healthcare costs and expenditures associated with a population prescribed an opioid in the U.S. from 2008 to 2017. A serial cross-sectional design was used to compare the economic burden of adult household respondents who were prescribed and not prescribed an opioid using pooled data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) between 2008 and 2017. Respondents with an opioid prescription were matched to respondents without an opioid prescription using propensity score match methods with survey weights. Two-part generalized linear models were used to estimate the survey-weighted annual healthcare expenditures and resource utilization adjusting for multiple covariates. Additionally, 10-year trend comparisons between the groups were performed. Costs were adjusted to 2019 US dollars. There was a weighted total of 31,696,671 respondents with an opioid and 31,536,639 respondents without an opioid after propensity score matching. The sample had a mean (SD) age of 50.63 years (18.03), 58.9% females, and 81.6% Whites. Total annual economic burden among RPOs was $524 billion. Annual total expenditures per respondent with and without an opioid were $16,542 and $7067, respectively (P l 0.001). Similarly, adjusted prescription, outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient expenditures were significantly higher for respondents with an opioid compared to respondents without an opioid. Average annual increases in expenditures were significantly greater among respondents with an opioid compared to respondents without an opioid for total (+$185; 95% CI: $37-$334) and prescription (+$78; 95% CI: $28-$128) expenditures. There were no differences in the average annual trends for outpatient, emergency department, and inpatient expenditures between respondents with and without an opioid. Respondents with an opioid prescription had higher healthcare expenditures and resource utilization compared to respondents without an opioid prescription from 2008 to 2017. Specifically, significant annual increases were observed for total and prescription expenditures. Additionally, 10-year trends in total and prescription expenditures were higher among respondents with an opioid than respondents without an opioid.
Design Automation and Test Solutions for Monolithic 3D ICs

Monolithic 3D (M3D) is an emerging heterogeneous integration technology that overcomes the limitations of the conventional through-silicon-via (TSV) and provides significant performance uplift and ...
Mount Desert to Holden

Route from Mount Desert to Ellsworth—Slate formation—Few boulders along this route—The glacier did not generally transport the broken rocks to a considerable distance—Granite boulders in west Ellsworth—These should be preserved as memorials of an ancient revolution of the earth—Remarks —Dedham boulders white in the distance like arab tents—Farrington Hill in Holden—Denuded state of the Rider Hill which caps the former—The ancient story of the battle of the giants against the celestial deities—Milton’s description of the battle between the good and rebellious angels—Passage of the glacier down the Penobscot Valley—Morning scene—Mount Katahdin—Prospect from Farrington Hill—No Penobscot Valley glacier, as an independent ice stream—Passage of the glacier over Farrington Hill—Its decrease and disappearance, in a vision of the past.
Lucy Hutchinson’s Sodom and the backward glance of feminist queer temporality

Much recent feminist and queer theory wrestles with the question of temporality, often drawing on Lee Edelman’s rejection of futurity. In her treatments of Sodom, and especially Lot’s wife and daughters, Lucy Hutchinson offers new versions of feminist queer temporalities in the historically specific Renaissance languages of exemplarity and typology. Seen as forms of Elizabeth Freeman’s “temporal drag,” in which materials from the past help to denaturalize time, exemplarity and typology reveal multiple temporal frames, refusing the teleology usually associated with typology. The multiple temporalities of Order and Disorder – the exemplary lessons that readers ought to apply to their own lives, the typological fulfillment in which meaning becomes clear only later, and the lingering of poetic description and interpretation – demand a reconsideration of what history means.
Metastatic Malignant Melanoma in Prepubertal Children

Medical literature is full of involved and Confusing reports on the genesis, incidence, and development of metastatic melanoma in children. The reason for this confusion can be found in the early uncertainties that surrounded the real nature and correct diagnosis of metastatic melanoma in the prepubertal child. Before 1950, reports of melanomas with metastases in children were rare, poorly documented, and in many cases erroneous.1-4 In particular, benign nevi (now known as benign juvenile melanoma) went unrecognized and because of their alarming microscopic features were often diagnosed as malignant melanomas. For example, deceived by the predilection of this nevus for childhood, its frightening appearance, and failure to metastasize, Pack and Anglem wrote: ". . . . although malignant melanomas are found in infancy and childhood, they are of low grade malignancy and seldom metastasize" In a later paper, Pack6 coined the term "prepubertal melanoma" for those nonmetastasizing pigmented tumors of children which were microscopically indistinguishable from melanoma. He suggested removal before puberty when endocrinologic stimulation rendered certain of them capable of metastasis. Other investigators also noted this seeming disparity between microscopic appearance and clinical behavior.7 In 1948, Spitz8 provided the criteria for separating this unusual-looking nevus from malignant melanoma and termed it "juvenile melanoma." Later she and Allen9 showed that although these lesions are not restricted to children, they are much more common before puberty.* Subsequent authors10-13 have also classified juvenile melanoma among the benign nevi and the term spindle or epithelioid cell nevus10,12,13 is now preferred. McWhorter and Woolner13 in 1954 reviewed the subject of malignant melanoma in children and suggested that the favorable prognosis was spurious and due to the erroneous classification of spindle and epithelioid cell nevi under the former agnosis.
Protein sequential resonance assignments by combinatorial enumeration using 13C alpha chemical shifts and their (i, i-1) sequential connectivities.

The need for the structural characterization of proteins on a genomic scale has brought with it demands for new technology to speed the structure determination process. In NMR, one bottleneck is the sequential assignment of backbone resonances. In this paper, we explore the computational complexity of the sequential assignment problem using only 13Cα chemical shift data and Cα (i,i−1) sequential connectivity information, all of which can potentially be obtained from a single three-dimensional NMR spectrum. Although it is generally believed that there is too much ambiguity in such data to provide sufficient information for sequential assignment, we show that a straightforward combinatorial search algorithm can be used to find correct and unambiguous sequential assignments in a reasonable amount of CPU time for small proteins (approximately 80 residues or smaller) when there is little missing data. The deleterious effect of missing or spurious peaks and the dependence on match tolerances is also explored. This simple algorithm could be used as part of a semi-automated, interactive assignment procedure, e.g., to test partial manually determined solutions fo uniqueness and to extend these solutions.
Abstract T P182: Post-tPA ICH: INSTINCT Community Hospitals vs Pooled Analysis Data

Background: The threat of ICH limits community physician use of tPA in stroke. Only the PH2 subtype, however, independently causes clinical deterioration. We explored ICH characteristics in the community-based INSTINCT trial and compared PH2 incidence rates in INSTINCT to the pooled analysis (PA) of the ECASS, ATLANTIS, NINDS and EPITHET trials. Methods: Secondary analysis of tPA-treated patients in the INSTINCT trial, a prospective, cluster-randomized, controlled trial conducted at 24 randomly selected Michigan community hospitals. Medical records of all tPA-treated strokes from 2007 to 2010 were initially reviewed by an independent physician panel to identify any evidence of possible ICH. In a second stage, 2 vascular neurologists, blinded to clinical data, independently categorized each possible ICH using ECASS criteria. Disagreements resolved by consensus. All images within 72h post-tPA were reviewed, with classification based on the most severe category. Data from pooled subjects with OTT of ≤180 minutes served as a historical control in the comparison. IRB approved. Results: Neuroimaging was obtained from 23 of 24 INSTINCT sites, with 462 tPA-treated subjects. 85 (18.4%) were identified at initial review as a possible ICH. 82/85 (96%) had post-treatment neuroimaging available. At second-stage review, 19 had no identified hemorrhage, leaving 63/462 (13.6%) with an ICH. ICH subtype is presented in Table 1. In the PA cohort, 464 tPA-treated subjects had OTT ≤ 180 minutes. 161 (34.7%; 95% CI 30.5, 39.1) had an ICH, with 22 (4.7%; 95% CI 3.1%, 7.1%) identified as PH2. In the comparison, the difference did not reach significance (1.1%; 95% CI -1.6%, 3.8%; p = 0.42). Conclusions: The overall INSTINCT ICH rate was low. Incidence of PH2 was not different from rates reported by investigators in large clinical research trials. This supports the safety of community treatment of stroke.
High-Throughput Sequencing

Publisher Summary Advances in DNA sequencing methods have a major impact on several biological fields, with microbiology being the first field to experience the benefits of knowing the exact sequence of a genome. This advantage held by the microbiology field was a result of the more compact nature of many microbial genomes, the long-standing history of microbes as model organisms in biological research, and the initial limitations of DNA sequencing chemistry and bioinformatic methods that restricted both the scale and the scope of genomic analysis. The whole genome sequencing of microbial life forms made it feasible to perform functional annotations of genomes and strengthened the motivation of the scientific community to sequence the genomes of several species of medical, environmental, evolutionary, and/or societal importance. With the invention of advanced DNA sequencing methods, exemplified by next-generation sequencers, biological sciences have again been presented with significant opportunities that had not been particularly feasible with more traditional methods. Microbiology has been able to benefit significantly from the functionality of next-generation sequencing. The massive data output of next-generation systems now enables scientists to use whole genome sequencing to identify a microbial isolate rapidly, as well as study microbial sequence variation without having to use various cloning and gene reporter techniques to help isolate the mutation(s) of interest. The independence of the next-generation workflow from microbiological culturing procedures has also promoted the success of metagenomic studies, the results of which have led to the reassessment of long-held scientific views regarding the diversity and interaction within microbial communities.
Specific Language Impairment

The acquisition of language is one of the most important achievements in young children, in part because most children appear to acquire language with little effort. Some children are not so fortunate, however. There is a large group of children who also have difficulty learning language, but do not have obvious neurological, cognitive, sensory, emotional, or environmental deficits. Clinicians often refer to these children as language disordered or language impaired. Researchers tend to refer to these children as specific language impaired (SLI). Children with SLI have intrigued researchers for many years because there is no obvious reason for their language learning difficulties. SLI has been found to be an enduring condition that begins in early childhood and often persists into adolescence and adulthood. The language problems of children with SLI are not limited to spoken language; they also affect reading and writing and thus much of academic learning. Knowledge of the characteristics of SLI should aid physicians, pediatricians, and early childhood specialists to identify these children during the preschool years and ensure that they receive appropriate services. With high-quality language intervention and literacy instruction, most children with SLI should be able to perform and function adequately in school and beyond.
Spots, Spot-Cycles and Magnetic Fields of Late-Type Dwarfs

A review is presented of the current state of observational knowledge concerning spots, spot-cycles and surface magnetic fields on active late-type dwarfs. The discussion centers primarily on the physical characteristics of starspots on BY Dra-type stars, including spot sizes, temperatures, structural morphology, migratory motions, and activity cycles. The discussion will also include some references to similar spot phenomena on the RS CVn stars. Observational evidence for surface magnetic fields on these stars, and on chromospherically-active G and K dwarfs, is also reviewed.
Congenital heart block

Abstract 1. 1. A compilation of the 25 reported cases of antenatally diagnosed congenital complete heart block and a brief survey of the etiology of this condition were presented. 2. 2. A review of the ward records of the Boston Lying-in Hospital from 1936 to 1962, during which time 67,000 deliveries occurred, revealed 3 cases of congenital heart block diagnosed antenatally, an incidence of 1 to 22,000. 3. 3. Histological studies by several authors have demonstrated in this condition a definite fibrosis or fibrous band interrupting the continuity of the conducting system below the auriculoventricular node before the separation into the right and left bundle branches at the trigonum fibrosum dextrum. The etiology of this fibrosis is unknown, but it is thought to be a deviation from normal development. 4. 4. The prognosis of this condition depends entirely upon whether or not there are associated congenital cardiac defects. Individuals with the isolated congenital conduction defect can lead full and active lives with apparently normal longevity and growth. 5. 5. This condition should not be confused with episodes of fetal distress and is diagnosed antenatally by its slow and regular rhythm without the variances of rate and intensity noted in cases of fetal distress.
Charmonium Production with 300 GeV/c π + , π - , p and bar {p} Beams

Results of an experiment measuring the production of charmonium states with 300 GeV/c π+, π-, p and beams on a Li target are presented. Total and differential cross sections for production of J/ψ, ψ′ and χ states are presented. The separation of the χ signal into the χ1 and χ2 states is discussed. The fraction of J/ψ's that result from direct production is derived.
Scaffolding: Defining the Metaphor

Scaffolding embodies much of the activity that goes on in classroom teaching and teacher-learner interaction. As the metaphor of scaffolding has become popularized, it has often been adopted as a general term that is used to describe all types of support and guidance offered in the classroom. Due to its popularization, scaffolding has become difficult to define, and perhaps even unbounded from its theoretical underpinnings (Palincsar, 1988). This paper revisits the concept of scaffolding by (1) introducing its origin and connection to sociocultural theory, (2) reviewing some of the empirical and pedagogical endeavors that expanded the definition over the last forty years, and (3) considering its current application to the language classroom. It concludes with suggestions regarding some directions for future research on the role of scaffolding in the field of second language teaching and learning.
Natural and Induced CD4+CD25+ Cells Educate CD4+CD25− Cells to Develop Suppressive Activity: The Role of IL-2, TGF-β, and IL-10

Thymus-derived, natural CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells can educate peripheral CD4(+)CD25(-) cells to develop suppressive activity by poorly understood mechanisms. TGF-beta has IL-2-dependent costimulatory effects on alloactivated naive, human CD4(+) T cells and induces them ex vivo to become potent contact-dependent, cytokine-independent suppressor cells. In this study, we report that CD4(+)CD25(+) cells are the targets of the costimulatory effects of IL-2 and TGF-beta. These cells do not divide, but, instead, greatly increase the numbers of CD4(+)CD25(-) cells that become CD25(+) cytokine-independent suppressor cells. These CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells, in turn, induce other alloactivated CD4(+)CD25(-) cells to become potent suppressor cells by mechanisms that, surprisingly, require both cell contact and TGF-beta and IL-10. The suppressive effects of these secondary CD4(+)CD25(+) cells depend upon TGF-beta and IL-10. Moreover, both the naive CD4(+) cells induced by IL-2 and TGF-beta to become suppressor cells, and the subsequent CD4(+)CD25(-) cells educated by them to become suppressors express FoxP3. We suggest that the long-term effects of adoptively transferred natural-like CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells induced ex vivo are due to their ability to generate new cytokine-producing CD4(+) regulatory T cells in vivo.
Unplanned Hospital Return for Infection following Ureteroscopy—Can We Identify Modifiable Risk Factors?

Purpose: Genitourinary infection after ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy is a clinically significant event that may lead to expensive and morbid return to the hospital. We evaluate factors associated with infection after ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy leading to unplanned hospital return.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review evaluating all ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy performed at a single academic institution from April 2011 to August 2014. Data were extracted including patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical encounter characteristics, preoperative urine culture status, antibiotic type/duration and compliance with the AUA Best Practice Statement for antibiotic prophylaxis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine factors associated with unplanned return to the hospital.Results: Among 550 patients undergoing ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy 45% (248) were female with an average age of 56.8 (± 14.8) years. Overall 3.4% (19 patients) h...
Bank Loan Pricing in the Asia‐Pacific Region

This study examines bank practices of corporate loan pricing in the Asia‐Pacific region. We find that the all‐in‐spread for loans (mostly term loans with longer maturities) in the Asia‐Pacific region are significantly smaller than those in the US. In addition, foreign banks tend to price their loans favorably in the Asia‐Pacific region, while foreign banks in the US have a higher loan spread. This finding indicates that foreign banks foster more competitive loan pricing in the Asia‐Pacific region, while foreign banks in the US seem to experience a competitive disadvantage compared to domestic lenders.
Using group development theory in business and industry

Abstract In this article the author examines and compares theories of group development and identifies five trends in business and industry that characterize the group process.
Cloud Screening From Aerial Photography Applying Coherent Optical Pattern Recognition Techniques

The challenge facing the mapping community today is the effective utilization of increasingly large volumes of aerial photography and other data to provide topographic information in the form of line maps, orthophotomaps, specialized products or individual responses to decision makers and other users in a timely manner. Automation of rapid screening techniques to determine the suitability of aerial photography for further processing represents an important aspect of this problem. This paper discusses the use of data from the optical power spectrum for cloud screening of aerial photography with emphasis on the computer processing of signals from a segmented spatial frequency plane detector in a coherent optical system. It is assumed that optical samples from aerial photographic patterns will have optical power spectra with attributes representitive of the patterns which can be electronically detected and classified by statistical pattern recognition techniques. This hybrid approach provides an advantageous combination of the speed of the optical Fourier transform with the flexibility of digital processing which leads to a simple, efficient system with the potential for screening aerial photography at very rapid rates.© (1974) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dynamical Instability of Gaseous Masses Approaching the Schwarzschild Limit in General Relativity

The question of stability of gaseous masses as they approach the Schwarzschild limit is examined in the framework of general relativity. It is shown that gaseous masses become dynamically unstable well before they reach the Schwarzschild limit. A discussion of the stability of gaseous masses will respect to purely radial oscillations on the basis of Einstein's field equations is presented. (C.E.S.)
Emergence and retention of learning in early fetal development

Prior research has demonstrated that the late-term fetus is capable of learning and then remembering a passage of speech for several days, but there are no data to describe the earliest emergence of learning a passage of speech, and thus, how long that learning could be remembered before birth. This study investigated these questions. Pregnant women began reciting or speaking a passage out loud (either Rhyme A or Rhyme B) when their fetuses were 28 weeks gestational age (GA) and continued to do so until their fetuses reached 34 weeks of age, at which time the recitations stopped. Fetuses' learning and memory of their rhyme were assessed at 28, 32, 33, 34, 36 and 38 weeks. The criterion for learning and memory was the occurrence of a stimulus-elicited heart rate deceleration following onset of a recording of the passage spoken by a female stranger. Detection of a sustained heart rate deceleration began to emerge by 34 weeks GA and was statistically evident at 38 weeks GA. Thus, fetuses begin to show evidence of learning by 34 weeks GA and, without any further exposure to it, are capable of remembering until just prior to birth. Further study using dose-response curves is needed in order to more fully understand how ongoing experience, in the context of ongoing development in the last trimester of pregnancy, affects learning and memory.
Measuring low concentrations of 234Th in water and sediment

Th/ 238 U disequilibria have been used extensively in studies of particle dynamics and the fate and transport of particle- reactive matter in marine environments. Similar work in low salinity, estuarine, and freshwater systems has not occurred primarily because the lower concentrations of both parent and daughter nuclides that are typical of these systems often render established methods for the analysis of 234 Th inadequate. The application of this radionuclide tracer technique to these systems, however, has great potential. To this end, we present a method for measuring low activities of 234 Th in relatively small samples (<200 l) using low background gas-flow proportional counters, a 229 Th yield monitor, and empirical corrections for the interferences from real and apparent betas that are emitted by other thorium isotopes and their progeny. For samples with low 234 Th/ 228 Th activity ratios, we improve upon current beta counting methodologies that rely on immediate sample counting, weak beta absorption, or multiple beta counts so that, using the analytical approach outlined here, it should be possible to measure 234 Th activities (i) as low as 1.5 dpm/total sample, (ii) up to 2 weeks after radiochemical purification of thorium, and (iii) with only one sample count for alpha and beta activity. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
First-principles studies of electrical resistivity of iron under pressure

We investigate the temperature and pressure dependences of the electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity for bcc and hcp Fe using the low-order variational approximation and theoretical transport spectral functions calculated from the first-principles linear response linear-muffin-tin-orbital method in the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated values for the electrical resistivity show a strong increase with temperature and decrease with pressure, and are in agreement with high-temperature shock data. We also discuss the behavior of the electrical resistivity for the bcc -> hcp phase transition.
Old red sedimentation in the buelandet-vaerlandet devonian district, western norway

Abstract A preserved maximum thickness of 3,400 m of Devonian breccia, conglomerate, and sandstone of the Buelandet-Vaerlandet Formation crop out in the Buelandet-Vaerlandet district. The sedimentary rocks rest unconformably on Cambro-Silurian greenschist. Fragments of Psilophyton sp. found in the upper part of the stratigraphic sequence suggest an Early Devonian or early Middle Devonian age. The strictly continental sediments were deposited in a structurally formed half-graben by streams draining a complex crystalline source area to the north. This depositional basin was one of six separate Devonian basins located in the area of the former eugeosynclinal portion of the Caledonian geosyncline. The initial tectonism, resulting in the formation of Devonian grabens, was later followed by folding and faulting of the sedimentary basins during the Svalbardian disturbance. The tectono-sedimentologic environment of the Buelandet-Vaerlandet district is thought to have been similar to that of the Triassic Newark basins of the North American Appalachian Mountains. The oldest member of the here-named Buelandet-Vaerlandet Formation, the Melvaer Breccia, consists of angular, chaotically arranged greenschist fragments deposited as mudflows, sheetfloods and talus accumulations on the surfaces of alluvial fans. The intermediate Vaeroy Conglomerate consists of polymict alluvial fanglomerates deposited by braided distributaries of major streams that cut deep canyons into the northerly provenance area. The youngest unit is the Sorlandet Sandstone Member, a green arkosic deposit of larger braided streams, with local gravel bars preserved. Textural, fabric and paleocurrent data indicate a facies gradation southward along the paleoslope from breccia to sandstone. Tectonic uplift of the source area contemporaneous with fan sedimentation is suggested by the thickness and coarseness of fanglomerates. Rapid deposition in upperflow regime conditions, and a temperate or humid climate are indicated.
Experimentally Validated Reversible Single-Phase Multiwinding Transformer Model for the Accurate Calculation of Low-Frequency Transients

In this paper, a previously published model for the representation of the leakage inductance of multiwinding transformers is enhanced to support accurate calculations of low-frequency transients, including inrush currents, series ferroresonance, and geomagnetic-induced currents. The new circuit is obtained from the principle of duality and, therefore, is physically consistent. The unique characteristic of the improved model is that the very deep saturation behavior of the iron core is properly represented for each winding simultaneously (reversible model) without changing parameters. The hysteresis cycle and iron-core losses are also included. In addition to its reversible terminal behavior coupled with physical consistency, the proposed model can be built with circuit elements available in Electromagnetic Transients Program-type programs, and all of the parameters can be computed from terminal tests. The model is validated by comparing computer simulations versus laboratory measurements for three- and four-winding transformers.
Promoting Healthy Habits in Pregnancy

Most women have an appreciation of what are generally considered healthy habits including more exercise; eating a healthy diet; avoiding cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs; using seatbelts; and being current on preventive care, such as good dental status. Being pregnant can be a strong motivator to change or modify behavioral choices. This is an optimal time for a provider to build on this potential motivator to effect change. Frequent follow-up visits allow re-enforcement of attempted change. This constant encouragement and support helps to impress on the woman and her family the importance of change.
Intermediate mass scale in rank-six superstring models.

The current experimental lower limit on proton lifetime from the decay mode p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\nu}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}+${K}^{+}$ is used to obtain a limit on the intermediate mass scale in superstring-inspired models with rank-six groups. It is shown that the intermediate mass scale breaking in these models can be as low as 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{14}$ GeV without violating current proton-decay data, provided the Yukawa couplings of superstring models are no larger than the corresponding couplings in SU(5) supergravity models. Scalar-quark masses are then larger than 1 TeV and the photino mass is no more than a few gigaelectronvolts.
The Children of Divorce Parenting Intervention: Outcome Evaluation of an Empirically Based Program

Examined efficacy of an empirically based intervention using 70 divorced mothers who participated in a 12-session program or a wait-list condition. The program targeted five putative mediators: quality of the mother-child relationship, discipline, negative divorce events, contact with fathers, and support from nonparental adults. Posttest comparisons showed higher quality mother-child relationships and discipline, fewer negative divorce events, and better mental health outcomes for program participants than controls. More positive program effects occurred for mothers’ than children’s reports of variables and for families with poorest initial levels of functioning. Analyses indicated that improvement in the mother-child relationship partially mediated the effects of the program on mental health.
Rendering from compressed textures

We present a simple method for rendering directly from compressed textures in hardware and software rendering systems. Textures are compressed using a vector quantization (VQ) method. The advantage of VQ over other compression techniques is that textures can be decompressed quickly during rendering. The drawback of using lossy compression schemes such as VQ for textures is that such methods introduce errors into the textures. We discuss techniques for controlling these losses. We also describe an extension to the basic VQ technique for compressing mipmaps. We have observed compression rates of up to 35 : 1, with minimal loss in visual quality and a small impact on rendering time. The simplicity of our technique lends itself to an efficient hardware implementation. CR categories: I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: 3D Graphics and Realism Texture; I.4.2 [Image Processing]: Compression Coding
Twospotted spider mite resistance of Washington strawberries.

Strawberry, Fragaria X ananassa Duchesne, seedlings were screened in a greenhouse for resistance to Tetranychus urticae Koch on the basis of visible leaf injury. Resistant selections were propagated and screened in the greenhouse and field for resistance a 2nd time on the basis of mite numbers. Of 40 clones evaluated, 22 supported <20% of the mite numbers found on the susceptible cultivar ‘Columbia’. Mite counts made in the field substantiated the greenhouse findings. The predominant parents of the resistant selections were ‘WSU 72–83M’, ‘Blakemore’, ‘WSU 1019’, and ‘Siletz’, whose progeny supported low mite numbers in the field when compared with the cultivar ‘Columbia’.
Differences in the rates of superparasitism between two strains of Comperiella bifasciata (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizing California red scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae): an adaptation to circumvent encapsulation?

Encapsulation rates by the California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), of the eggs and larvae of two strains of the solitary endoparasitoid, Comperiella bifasciata (Howard), were compared. One strain, from the San Joaquin Valley of California, was poorly adapted to California red scale, the other strain, from Israel, was well adapted to the scale. Eggs of the California strain, when laid singly, were encapsulated four times more frequently than those of the Israeli strain (28 versus 6%), while the frequency of partially encapsulated larvae was similar in both strains. The California strain laid multiple eggs during the initial host visit more often than the Israeli strain (18 versus 6%). Multiple eggs were less likely to be encapsulated than solitary eggs only in the California strain, thus superparasitism may also be an adaptation to the higher encapsulation rates encountered by the solitary eggs of the California strain, as well as an adaptation to limited host resources. The higher encapsulation rate of solitary eggs in the California wasps is consistent with the hybridization hypothesis implied by the laboratory work of Flanders (1944) and Teran and DeBach (1963).