cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thin Film Transistors on Plastic Substrates Using Silicon Deposited by Microwave ECR-CVD

The properties of thin film transistors (TFT's) on plastic substrates with active silicon films deposited by microwave ECR-CVD were studied. Two types of plastic were used, PEEK and polyimide. The a-Si:H TFT deposited at 200°C on polyimide substrates showed a saturation field effect mobility of 4.5 cm 2 /V-s, a threshold voltage of 3.7 V, a subthreshold swing of 0.69 V/dec and an ON/OFF current ratio of 7.9×10 6 , while the TFT fabricated on PEEK at 200°C showed a saturation field effect mobility of 3.9 cm 2 /V-s, a threshold voltage of 4.1 V, a subthreshold swing of 0.73 V/dec and an ON/OFF current ratio of 4×10 6 . Comparison is made to TFT's with the Si deposited at 400°C on glass.
THE EVALUATION OF INCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED ADRENAL MASSES

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this Disease State Clinical Review is to provide clinicians with a practical approach to the evaluation of incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Methods: A case-based clinical approach to the evaluation of adrenal masses is presented. Recommendations were developed using available prospective and randomized studies, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, anecdotal observations, and expert opinions. Results: Incidentally discovered adrenal masses are common. The approach to the patient with an adrenal mass should involve assessment of malignant potential via imaging characteristics and adrenal hormone excess via clinical and biochemical features. The roles of biopsy, surgical or medical therapy, and longitudinal surveillance are also important to consider and are influenced by case-specific factors. Inappropriate or inadequate evaluations may put patients at increased risk for developing preventable adverse cardiometabolic outcomes or cancer. Conclusion: Incidentally discovered adrenal masses require a multimodal assessment that involves interpretation of multiple imaging characteristics, dynamic and static hormonal measurements, and a nuanced approach to considering interventional diagnostics, treatments, and longitudinal surveillance. Herein, we review these evaluations and provide a practical approach for clinicians. Abbreviations: ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; CS = Cushing syndrome; CT = computed tomography; DHEAS = dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate; HU = Hounsfield units; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; UFC = urinary free cortisol
Exploring the Meso-level of Agricultural Carbon Finance Projects

Agricultural carbon schemes are intended to mitigate climate change and provide carbon revenues while facilitating sustainable development. This is accomplished through practices which simultaneously increase yields, improve resilience, and store carbon, such as agroforestry, reduced tillage, and grasslands management. Proper monitoring, reporting, and verification of these activities enable the generation and sale of carbon credits. However, this requires linking smallholder farmers at the micro-level with carbon credit buyers operating at the macro-level. These vastly distinct scales are bridged by intermediaries operating at the meso-level, which influence, incentivize, monitor, and aggregate production decisions made by smallholders. Multiple levels of intermediaries may be involved, often including external initiating agencies, such as non-governmental organizations, as well as local-level units, such as farmer groups or local governance associations. Here, we frame evaluation of agricultural carbon schemes with this three-tiered approach, and describe parameters for appraising participation and power, as well as assessing financial feasibility, verifications and market linkages. This is applied to two case studies: The Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project and The Sofala Community Carbon Project.
Playing the Game: A Qualitative Exploration of the Female Experience in a Hypermasculine Policing Environment:

Domestically and globally females continue to be underrepresented in policing, despite their greater likelihood of advancing themselves through higher education, driving organizational change, and ...
Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Tissue Distribution Characteristics of SHetA2 in Tumor-Bearing Mice

The orally available novel small molecule SHetA2 is the lead sulfur-containing heteroarotinoid that selectively inhibits cancer cells over normal cells, and is currently under clinical development for anticancer treatment and cancer prevention. The objective of this study was to assess and characterize the tissue distribution of SHetA2 in tumor-bearing mice by developing a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. An orthotopic SKOV3 ovarian cancer xenograft mouse model was used to most accurately mimic the ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment in the peritoneal cavity. SHetA2 concentrations in plasma and 14 different tissues were measured at various time points after a single intravenous dose of 10 mg/kg and oral dose of 60 mg/kg, and these data were used to develop a whole-body PBPK model. SHetA2 exhibited a multi-exponential plasma concentration decline with an elimination half-life of 4.5 h. Rapid and extensive tissue distribution, which was best described by a perfusion rate–limited model, was observed with the tissue-to-plasma partition coefficients (kp = 1.4–21.2). The PBPK modeling estimated the systemic clearance (76.4 mL/h) from circulation as a main elimination pathway of SHetA2. It also indicated that the amount absorbed into intestine was the major determining factor for the oral bioavailability (22.3%), while the first-pass loss from liver and intestine contributed minimally (< 1%). Our results provide an insight into SHetA2 tissue distribution characteristics. The developed PBPK model can be used to predict the drug exposure at tumors or local sites of action for different dosing regimens and scaled up to humans to correlate with efficacy.
Čerenkov phonon radiation and phonon structure in electron emission, electroluminescence, and current–voltage characteristics of electroformed Al–Al2O3–Ag diodes

Electroforming of metal–insulator–metal (MIM) diodes is a non-destructive dielectric breakdown that results in a conducting filament in the insulator and changes the high resistance of the as-prepared MIM diode into a low-resistance state. It is a critical step in the development of conducting states between which switching can occur in memristors or resistive switching memories. Electroforming of Al–Al2O3–Ag diodes in vacuum results in the formation of a conducting Al2O3 filament. There are Ohmic contacts at the Al–Al2O3 and Al2O3–Ag interfaces. Electronic processes develop, such as voltage-controlled negative resistance in the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics, electron emission into vacuum (EM), and electroluminescence (EL). I–V curves, EM, and EL of three electroformed Al–Al2O3–Ag diodes with anodic Al2O3 thicknesses between 36 nm and 49 nm have been measured with 20 mV resolution between voltage steps. Periodic voltage structure occurs for the three electronic processes for applied voltages betwe...
Abstract 110: Hospitalizations for Heart Failure Among Patients With Reduced Renal Function Treated With Metformin or Sulfonylureas: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes are at risk for the development of secondary complications, including impaired renal function and heart failure (HF). Before 2016, safety concerns limited ...
Compact U k ( 1 ) Chern-Simons Theory as a Local Bosonic Lattice Model with Exact Discrete 1-Symmetries

We propose a bosonic ${\mathrm{U}}^{\ensuremath{\kappa}}(1)$ rotor model on a three dimensional spacetime lattice. With the inclusion of a Maxwell term, we show that the low-energy properties of our model can be obtained reliably via a semiclassical approach. Those properties are the same as that of the Chern-Simons field theory, $S=\ensuremath{\int}{d}^{3}x({K}_{IJ}/4\ensuremath{\pi}){A}_{I}d{A}_{J}$. We require the lattice variables on each link to be compact (i.e., take values on circles), which enforces the quantization of the $K$ matrix as a symmetric integer matrix with even diagonals. Our lattice model also has exact 1-symmetries, which gives rise to the 1-form symmetry in the Chern-Simons field theory. In particular, some of those 1-symmetries are anomalous (i.e., non-on-site) in the expected way. The anomaly can be probed via the breaking of those lattice 1-symmetries by the boundaries.
Introduction: exploring Cora Diamond’s significances for education and educators

This paper introduces the special section on Cora Diamond’s significance for education and educators. The introduction is meant to be the beginning of a conversation, and—to that end—the special se...
Helminth virus co-infection: Implications for women's health

In many parts of the world, women are co-infected with intestinal helminths and sexually transmitted pathogens. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Chetty et al. demonstrate that intestinal helminth infection increases epithelial damage and pathology associated with herpes virus infection.
Planting People, Growing Justice: The Three Pillars of New Social Justice Lawyering

This article explores the tools that lawyers can employ to build and sustain social change. These tools add a new dimension to scholarly research in the field by focusing on the role of lawyers as leaders as they seek to influence processes of social change, transform systems, and empower others to lead. This Article draws upon principles of social justice lawyering, which acknowledge that lawyers have a fiduciary duty to create equal justice under the law. It combines these frameworks with leadership theoretical perspectives since there is a dearth of research available on the role of lawyers as leaders in the context of social change. Another framework that informs this new type of lawyering is public policy advocacy. The combination of social justice lawyering practices, leadership skills, and public policy advocacy is referenced in this Article as the three pillars of “new social justice lawyering.”
IVC filter placement in patients undergoing surgical treatment of bone or soft-tissue tumors.

Background and objectives Patients with cancer to bone or soft tissues undergoing orthopedic procedures may be unable to receive pharmacologic prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters may be an effective method to prevent fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) in these patients. Methods Retrospective chart review performed for patients surgically treated for malignant disease of bone or soft tissue who had IVC filter placement. Type of surgery, anatomic region, and development of wound complications requiring repeat surgery were analyzed. Results From 2007 to 2018, 286 patients received IVC filters. Ten (3.5%) patients suffered deep vein thrombus (DVT) postoperatively. There was no acute fatal PE. Two patients suffered PE at 2 and 99 days postoperatively. Risk of DVT was comparable following surgery with endoprosthesis versus open reduction and internal fixation (p = 0.056) and with soft tissue versus bone involvement (p = 0.620). Three filter-related complications occurred. Patients disease at the femur had the highest rate of DVT. Conclusions Following treatment of malignant disease of bone or soft-tissues, two patients with IVC filter placement experienced nonfatal PE and three patients experienced filter-related complications. No patients in this series experienced a fatal PE.
Informações de hóspedes de um meio de hospedagem em relação a escolha do destino turístico determinada pela variável ambiental

This study analyzes the information given by 51 guests of a means of accommodation, related to the reason for the trip, the management of solid waste in their hometown and whether the choice of tourist destination is moved by environmental concerns. The results indicate that in general, guests do not choose the tourism destination and the means of accommodation based on environmental concerns. Also, the need to increase tourists’ awareness of their responsibilities is demonstrated, in view of the environmental impacts arising from their stay in the tourist destination. Keywords: means of accommodation, guests, solid waste, environmental awareness, tourism destination.
Spousal Wealth and Fathers’ Involvement in Childcare in Uganda

ABSTRACTThe redistribution of household work is considered essential for effectively empowering women. This study examines the extent to which fathers’ evaluation of their wealth in relation to their wives’ influences fathers’ willingness to participate in childcare, a domain traditionally gender ascribed to wives. Data were gathered from a mothers’ survey and a fathers’ survey, each with a sample of 200, conducted in a rural and an urban district in Uganda in 2008. The study compares mean scores for perception and practice indices across three wealth categories: “wife is wealthier than husband,” “husband is wealthier than wife,” and “shared or equal wealth.” Data show that fathers are more likely to engage in childcare when husbands and wives share or have equal wealth than when there are wealth differences between spouses. The results suggest that policy should focus on raising women's economic endowment as well as public education that encourages progressive perceptions of gender roles.
Museum Europa; Mongols; Peoples of the World; and Ethnographic Treasure Rooms, The Danish National Museum, Copenhagen

MUSEUM EUROPA: AN EXHIBITION ABOUT THE EUROPEAN MUSEUM FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO THE PRESENT DAY, Danish National Museum, Copenhagen (June 19- October 24,1993), Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn (November 3, 1994-February 26, 1995); THE MONGOLS— NOMADS OF THE STEPPES (thematic exhibition, 1992-1995); PEOPLES OF THE WORLD and ETHNOGRAPHIC TREASURE ROOMS (permanent exhibitions, opened in 1992), Danish National Museum, Copenhagen.
The Imprint of Large Scale Structure on the Cosmic Background Radiation

Searches for small scale anisotropies in the cosmic background radiation provide unique information about the large scale distribution of matter at early epochs. This paper reviews recent observational programs to detect such anisotropies on angular scales from 12″ to 8°. That range in angle corresponds to a scale of density perturbations ranging from roughly a galactic mass to more than a supercluster mass. In two cases, there is very tentative evidence for the existence of fluctuations in the background.
Anoctamin/TMEM16 family members are Ca2+‐activated Cl− channels

Ca(2+)-activated Cl- channels (CaCCs) perform many important functions in cell physiology including secretion of fluids from acinar cells of secretory glands, amplification of olfactory transduction, regulation of cardiac and neuronal excitability, mediation of the fast block to polyspermy in amphibian oocytes, and regulation of vascular tone. Although a number of proteins have been proposed to be responsible for CaCC currents, the anoctamin family (ANO, also known as TMEM16) exhibits characteristics most similar to those expected for the classical CaCC. Interestingly, this family of proteins has previously attracted the interest of both developmental and cancer biologists. Some members of this family are up-regulated in a number of tumours and functional deficiency in others is linked to developmental defects.
Retardation of experimental oral cancer development by retinyl acetate

Abstract Sixty young adult Syrian hamsters were divided into five groups. Group 1 and Group 2 animals were treated with 0.25% dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), painted on their left buccal pouches thrice weekly for 20 weeks. Starting at 12 weeks, at which time there was clinical evidence of leukoplakia and initial tumor formation, Group 2 animals received 10 mg retinyl acetate 3 times/week in a 5% solution in peanut oil, while Group 1 animals received only peanut oil. Two animals in Group 1 and two animals in Group 2 were sacrificed weekly from week 12 to week 20. Left buccal pouches were examined, tumors were counted, and tumor size was measured. Group 3 animals were untreated controls, Group 4 animals were retinyl acetate controls, and Group 5 animals received only peanut oil. It was found that DMBA‐treated animals receiving retinyl acetate from week 12 to week 20 developed fewer tumors, and their average tumor size was less than that in DMBA ‐treated animals not receiving retinyl acetate. It appears th...
Coordination in operations: A taxonomy

Abstract This paper proposes a taxonomy of coordination study in operations. Its point of departure is the assumption that coordination study in operations always involves a “system” which can be a mathematical model, a software system, a business process or a game. A system is the unit of analysis in the taxonomy. In the taxonomy, systems are first divided into three categories depending on the type of coordination - coordination within operations, cross-functional coordination and inter-organizational coordination. Systems are further divided depending on how people in the organization behave, i.e., the perspective of organization. We propose three alternative perspectives of organization - single-person perspective, team perspective, and nexus-of-contract perspective of organization. Through a series of examples, we describe nine subcategories of systems.
Perinatal diazepam exposure: Behavioral and neurochemical consequences

In the present study the effects of perinatal diazepam (DZP) exposure on behavior and benzodiazepine binding site characteristics in offspring were investigated. Pregnant F344 rats were treated during the last trimester of gestation with vehicle or diazepam (3 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, or 10 mg/kg). Lactating dams were similarly treated on postnatal days 1–7. Both prenatal and postnatal exposure to diazepam resulted in significant effects on the acquisition and extinction of active avoidance behavior measured postweaning. The number of trials to extinction of one-way active avoidance behavior was significantly greater in offspring exposed gestationally to 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg diazepam and postnatally to 10 mg/kg diazepam. The mean response latencies for all diazepam treated groups were significantly shorter than those of the vehicle treated rats during the first 15 trials under extinction conditions. In contrast, neither gestational nor postnatal diazepam exposure significantly affected either acquisition or retention of a passive avoidance task. In addition, the binding affinity between the benzodiazepine type I selective ligand, CL218,872, and cortical membranes, as well as the degree to which GABA potentiated 3H-flunitrazepam were significantly altered by perinatal diazepam exposure. No treatment altered the approximate number of benzodiazepine binding sites in either the cortex, hippocampus, or cerebellum. The results of this study further support diazepam as a behavioral teratogen and give new evidence for neurochemical effects following gestational as well as postnatal diazepam exposure.
Dependency of detrusor contractions on calcium sensitization and calcium entry through LOE-908-sensitive channels.

The subcellular mechanisms regulating stimulus-contraction coupling in detrusor remain to be determined. We used Ca2+-free solutions, Ca2+ channel blockers, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), and RhoA kinase (ROK) inhibitors to test the hypothesis that Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ sensitization play primary roles. In rabbit detrusor, peak bethanechol (BE)-induced force was inhibited 90% by incubation for 3 min in a Ca2+-free solution. By comparison, a 20 min incubation of rabbit femoral artery in a Ca2+-free solution reduced receptor-induced force by only 5%. In detrusor, inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) Ca2+ release by 2APB, or depletion of SR Ca2+ by CPA, inhibited BE-induced force by only 27%. The CPA-insensitive force was abolished by LaCl3. By comparison, 2APB inhibited receptor-induced force in rabbit femoral artery by 71%. In the presence of the non-selective cation channel (NSCC) inhibitor, LOE-908, BE did not produce an increase in [Ca2+]i but did produce weak increases in myosin phosphorylation and force. Inhibitors of ROK-induced Ca2+ sensitization, HA-1077 and Y-27632, inhibited BE-induced force by ∼50%, and in combination with LOE-908, nearly abolished force. These data suggest that two principal muscarinic receptor-stimulated detrusor contractile mechanisms include NSCC activation, that elevates [Ca2+]i and ROK activation, that sensitizes cross bridges to Ca2+. British Journal of Pharmacology (2001) 134, 78–87; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704241
SUPERCONTINUUM CARS TWEEZERS

In this paper, we review our recent work on broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy in supercontinuum optical trap.
Rapid cleavage reactions of haloaromatic radical anions measured with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry

Etude par voltammetrie cyclique de la reduction electrochimique d'halogenoacetophenone, d'α-halogeno nitrotoluene et d'halogeno-9 anthracene sur une microelectrode de platine ou d'or dans l'acetonitrile. La reduction se fait par un mecanisme ECE-DISP 1
Picturing defiance Visions of democracy in Iran

Photographs of international events influence the understanding viewers develop of the world. Emphasis on specific aspects of an event means other prominent aspects are overlooked. This study exami...
Thermocapillary convection in double-layer fluid structures within a two-dimensional open cavity

Thermocapillary convection within a differentially-heated open rectangular cavity containing two immiscible liquid layers is considered in the absence of gravitational effects. The temperature and flow fields in the two layers are computed using domain mapping in conjunction with a finite-difference scheme on a staggered grid. The melt-encapsulant and air-encapsulant interfaces are allowed to deform, with the contact lines pinned on the solid boundaries. The presence of a free surface at the top leads to increased convection in the encapsulant phase while retarding thermocapillary flow in the melt. The intensity of thermocapillary convection in the encapsulated layer is reduced as the viscosity of the encapsulant is increased or the thickness of the encapsulant layer is decreased. Choosing an encapsulant with a greater sensitivity of interfacial tension to temperature (as compared to that of the melt phase) can almost completely suppress thermocapillary convection in the melt. Deformations of the melt-encapsulant interface in an open cavity are found to be larger than those in a closed cavity with a rigid top surface, due to higher pressure gradients realized in the encapsulant phase. In contrast to interface deformation behavior reported earlier for a double-layer system in a closed cavity, the shape of the melt-encapsulant interface is qualitatively similar for all values of the viscosity ratio, with the interface dipping into the melt near the cold wall, and into the encapsulant near the hot wall. For the double-layers considered in this study, a free surface at the top of the encapsulant layer was found to be more effective than a rigid top in reducing the intensity of thermocapillary convection in the melt.
Conservative Protestants and Wealth: How Religion Perpetuates Asset Poverty1

The association between cultural orientation and material outcomes is fundamental to sociology research. This article contributes to the understanding of this relationship by exploring how religious affiliation affects wealth ownership for conservative Protestants (CPs). The results demonstrate that religion affects wealth indirectly through educational attainment, fertility, and female labor force participation. The results also provide evidence of a direct effect of religion on wealth. Low rates of asset accumulation and unique economic values combine to reduce CP wealth beyond the effects of demographics. The findings improve understanding of the relationship between religious beliefs and inequality.
Lipid and transaminase concentrations after formulary conversion of Niaspan to Slo-Niacin

Purpose Lipid and transaminase levels after conversion from immediate-release niacin to extended-release niacin were evaluated. Methods All patients who had their medications converted from Niaspan to Slo-Niacin between March 2008 and January 2009 were considered for evaluation. Subjects who took =2000 mg of Niaspan were automatically converted to Slo-Niacin in a 1:1 dosing ratio conversion. Mean aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and lipid values (low-density-lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and triglyceride levels) during Niaspan therapy were compared with the means of these values obtained after at least 90 days of Slo-Niacin therapy. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank-order test and frequency distributions. Results Of the 1172 patients who were identified as having had their Niaspan switched to Slo-Niacin after formulary conversion, 142 met the inclusion criteria for this study. The majority of the patients had a decrease or no change in AST (72.5%) and ALT (69%) levels after at least 90 days of Slo-Niacin therapy. None of the patients had transaminase levels greater than three times the upper limit of normal during Slo-Niacin therapy. Differences in AST, ALT, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol levels were not statistically significant between Niaspan and Slo-Niacin. On the other hand, patients’ mean HDL cholesterol level was significantly greater with Slo-Niacin therapy than with Niaspan (42 mg/dL versus 40 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusion Formulary conversion from Niaspan to Slo-Niacin resulted in a small but significant increase in HDL cholesterol concentration and no significant change in ALT or AST level.
Survival of radiocollared adult leopard catsPrionailurus bengalensis in Thailand

From December 1999 to December 2002, we radiocollared 25 adult (17 M, 8 F) leopard catsPrionailurus bengalensis Kerr, 1792 in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. We found no difference in annual survival rate between adult males (0.96 ±0.05) and females (0.87 ± 0.13), and we found no difference in mean seasonal survival rates between the dry (0.95 ± 0.04) and wet season (0.97 ± 0.04). We estimated a pooled mean annual survival of 0.92 ± 0.06 for adult leopard cats, and also estimated annual survival rates of 0.83 ± 0.24 and 0.53 ± 0.21 for leopard cats in 2 other studies. We believe our high mean annual survival estimate of adult leopard cats was related to our study site being located within a remote wildlife sanctuary with minimal anthropogenic effects.
The economics of decentralized poverty–environment programs: An application for Lao PDR

Abstract Program administrators face difficult resource allocation decisions in programs that address multiple objectives in many regions. In developing countries, one main concern in multi-region programs is the tradeoff between poverty reduction and improvement of environmental quality. To provide a framework for analysis, we develop a model of optimal interregional budget allocation that allows for variations in three factors: administrators’ valuation of objectives; their willingness to accept tradeoffs among objectives and regional allotments; and regional administrative costs. We explore the implications of the model using provincial information for the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Our results highlight serious potential inconsistencies in conventional, non-optimizing strategies, which allocate resources using provincial poverty indicators alone.
Solution chemistry effects in Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 thin film processing

Ferroelectric thin films in the PZT compositional family were prepared by two different solution deposition methodologies. The approaches were based on the use of carboxylate and alkoxide precursors, and acetic acid. Solution aging and mixing order effects on thin film microstructure and ferroelectric properties were studied. Films prepared from 15 day old solutions had a lower remanent polarization (1.4 μC/cm2) and higher coercive field (256 kV/cm) than films prepared from 1 day old solutions (Pr = 18.7 μC/cm2; Ec = 55.2 kV/cm). Raman, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopies were employed to confirm the role of acetic acid in the process, and to begin to understand why changes in solution chemistry can so dramatically affect the resulting film microstructure and properties. FTIR spectroscopy indicated that in addition to acting as a solvent, acetic acid also serves as a chemical modifier in the two processes. That is, it reacts with the alkoxide precursors on a molecular level, replacing the alkoxy ligands. Ester f...
Tuning of Redox Behavior and Fluorescence of Cyano-containing Oligophenylenevinylenes

A series of cyano-containing distyrylbenzenes which have the electron-withdrawing groups functionalized on the central phenylene ring were synthesized via the Wittig-Horner reaction. Electrochemical study showed that the electron-affinity of these molecules increased with the increasing strength of electron-accepting groups. 1,4-Bis(4’- t-Butylstyryl)-2,5-bis(dicyanovinyl)benzene (6) possessed a low LUMO energy level at -4.01 eV, which provided a better match to the work function of Al cathode. Compared to the cyano-terephthalylidene (2), introducing cyano groups on the aromatic ring (3) instead of on the vinylene linkage provided better stabilization to the radical anions. The emission colors spanning green, yellow, orange, red could be achieved by changing the electron-accepting strength of oligophenylenevinylenes (3-6). Energy gap reductions were caused by a stronger decrease of the LUMO energies than the HOMO energies. These results provided new insights for the design of suitable polymers with much improved electron affinities facilitating electron injection from higher work function metal electrodes.
Chaperones: A story of thrift unfolds

Although members of the Hsp70-DnaK family of heat shock proteins are involved in nearly all aspects of cell physiology, some mechanistic details of their mode of action remain obscure. A new substrate helps establish DnaK as an unfoldase that requires as little as five ATP molecules to drive the refolding of one protein.
Multiple mode conversion: an analytical and numerical comparison☆

Abstract A heuristic model for multiple mode conversion is studied by employing ray phase-space methods for wave propagation. Analytical predictions based on phase-space eikonal methods are compared with numerical solutions. The validity of approximations used in previous analytical work is investigated, resulting in an improved analytical model.
Awareness, Treatment and Control of Hypertension, Diabetes and Hyperlipidemia and Area-Level Mortality Regions in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

Background . Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) receive extra federal resources, but recent reports suggest that HPSA may not consistently identify areas of need. Purpose. To assess areas of need based on county-level ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke mortality regions. Methods . Need was defined by lack of awareness, treatment, or control of hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia. Counties were categorized into race- specific tertiles of IHD and stroke mortality using 1999-2006 CDC data. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the relationships between IHD and stroke mortality region and each element of need. results . Awareness and treatment of cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors were similar for residents in counties across IHD and stroke mortality tertiles, but control tended to be lower in counties with the highest mortality. Conclusions . High stroke and IHD mortality identify distinct regions from current HPSA designations, and may be an additional criterion for designating areas of need.
Social behavior of the maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus ) and bush dog ( Speothos venaticus ): a study in contrast

Social behavior of the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus , and bush dog, Speothos venaticus , was compared. Differences in communication mechanisms between these two South American canids could be correlated with their social organization and ecology. Chrysocyon , inhabiting the savannahs of South America and feeding primarily on small vertebrates, invertebrates, and fruit, exhibits a dispersed social system, that is, it is essentially solitary in habit. The maned wolf relies primarily on signals that carry well over long distances and tend to promote the spacing of individuals through avoidance (for example, the bark), a conspicuous visual threat display, and locus-specific defecation. By contrast, Speothos is a cooperative hunter of the Neotropical rainforest, feeding mainly on rodents that are large relative to its own size. It is social and mainly employs short-distance signals, which promote approach behavior (tail-wagging), reduce intraspecific aggression (displays of active submission), and allow the maintenance of constant contact in the forest (the squeak vocalization). Quantitative observations on urine-marking suggest that the frequency of marking in Chrysocyon is partly dependent on the amount of available space, whereas in Speothos , marking may be influenced by social factors.
Toddler see, toddler do? Genetic and environmental influences on laboratory-assessed elicited imitation

The imitative performance of 311 pairs of 24-month old twins (143 MZ, 168 same-sex DZ) was assessed via three multi-step imitative sequences. Composite imitation score correlations suggested the presence of genetic influences on imitation, with MZ correlations significantly exceeding DZ correlations. Univariate model-fitting procedures supported this finding. Substantial broad heritability was found for imitative performance, with no evidence for shared environment. However, we are unable to say with certainty to what extent this heritability is represented by additive and nonadditive genetic variance. Estimates of heritability derived from both ACE and ADE model-fitting procedures accounted for approximately 50% of the total variance, with the remaining variance in imitative performance attributable to nonshared environmental factors.
An Exploratory Study of the Relationship Between Night Eating Syndrome and Depression Among College Students

Night eating syndrome criteria include skipping breakfast, night eating, and sleep difficulties. It is associated with mood disturbances, particularly depression, and may contribute to later obesity development. Most research on night eating syndrome has focused on obese persons seeking weight loss treatment, and little is known about night eating syndrome in other populations; therefore, the purpose of this exploratory study was to examine night eating and depression among college-age students. A paper-pencil survey was completed by 270 students at a southeastern university that included demographic information, self-reported heights and weights, Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (mean age = 21.05, 64.1% female, 78.5% White). A significant correlation was found between total scores for the Beck Depression Inventory and NEQ (r = .35, p < .0001). Health professionals should be aware of characteristics of the syndrome to better diagnose and treat those students who exhibit trai...
Rapid changes in pyridine nucleotide content of germinatingNeurospora crassa conidia

Dormant conidia contained much lower levels of NADPH than germinating conidia. The low levels of NADPH in dormant conidia resulted predominantly from the oxidation of NADPH to NADP+ as the conidia dehydrated. The NADH content of the conidia did not change significantly during dehydration, but the NAD+ content decreased to about half of its initial level. When dehydrated conidia were suspended in liquid medium, the ratio of NADPH to NADP+ increased about eightfold within 10 minutes due both to the reduction of NADP+ to NADPH and to the net synthesis of these pyridine nucleotides. There was also a net synthesis of NAD+ during the early stages of germination. Neither the reduction of NADP+ nor the net synthesis of pyridine nucleotides required exogenous carbon sources. These results indicate that all of the components necessary for rapidly readjusting the pyridine nucleotide concentrations to levels compatible with germination and growth were prepackaged in the conidia during conidiation. The initial activation of metabolism during germination required simply the rehydration of the conidia.
An Assessment of the Screening Performance of a Single-Item Measure of Depression From the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale Among Chronically Ill Hospitalized Patients

Context Few studies have examined the validity of using a single item from the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) for screening for depression.
Bayesian smoothing of rates in small geographic areas

ABSTRACT. An enormous amount of socio-economic and public-health data come as rates (e.g., unemployment, per capita income, mortality rates, census undercount) reported in small geographic areas. The U.S. Census Bureau regularly publishes data series at the county level, although the county is often a small area chosen for administrative convenience rather than by design. The reported rates can be regarded as a noisy representation of the true geographic distribution of rates over the small areas. This article presents a Bayesian statistical method of smoothing raw rates. In order to illustrate the important features of the method, a data set on undercoverage in the 1980 U.S. Census will be used.
Diagnosing psychiatric emergencies in the elderly

Psychiatric emergencies in the elderly form a small percent of all elderly patients treated in emergency departments. However, accurately diagnosing and understanding behavioral emergencies in the elderly is difficult. Emergency behavioral syndromes in the elderly include confusion, agitation, psychosis, and behavioral regression. Causes of these syndromes in the elderly include delirium, dementia, medication side effects, physical illnesses, depression, and alcohol intoxication/dependency. Emergency physicians should consider each of these diagnostic possibilities when evaluating elderly behavioral emergencies to properly diagnose and treat elderly patients.
Effects of Feeding Corn or Barley on Composition of Milk and Diet Digestibility

Abstract Complete mixed, cubed diets containing corn or barley as the cereal component were fed to eight cows, four first lactation and four second or later lactation. Diets were fed for ad libitum intake in two periods of 21 d each. Percentages of milk fat, protein, lactose, and solids were not affected by corn or barley. Percentages of casein, whey, and nonprotein nitrogen were not different nor was proportion of total nitrogen represented as casein, whey, or nonprotein nitrogen for corn or barley diets. Production status, first lactation versus older cows, did not affect milk composition of casein, whey, and nonprotein nitrogen. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and energy was not different, but fiber digestibility was significantly lower for the barley diet. Intake of dry matter and digestible energy and yield of milk and milk constituents were not different. When diets were fed to rumen fistulated heifers, molar percentages of volatile fatty acids, total volatile fatty acid concentration, and pH of rumen fluid were not different for corn or barley diets.
Regular alcohol consumption is associated with increasing quality of life and mood in older men and women: the Rancho Bernardo Study.

Objective This study examines the sex-specific association between alcohol intake and health-related quality of life in middle class community-dwelling older adults.
Experimental signal for diquarks in quark-gluon plasma.

We will discuss how a substantial presence of diquarks (correlated pairs of light quarks) can alter the ratio of {Lambda}{sub {ital c}}/{Sigma}{sub {ital c}} in heavy-ion collisions. This can be used as a signal for the presence of diquarks in the plasma and also as an indication for the existence of deconfined matter.
Commentary: Nash equilibrium and mechanism design ✩

Abstract I argue that the principal theoretical and practical drawbacks of Nash equilibrium as a solution concept are far less troublesome in problems of mechanism design than in most other applications of game theory.
Observation of novel intermediates from CH3SH decomposition on Pt(111) with HREELS and NEXAFS

Abstract Temperature-induced decomposition of methanethiol (CH 3 SH) on the Pt(111) surface causes the formation of two new surface intermediates, thiomethoxy (SCH 3 ) and thioformaldehyde (SCH 2 ). Both the adsorbed thiomethoxy (SCH 3 ) and thioformaldehyde (SCH 2 ) intermediates exhibit novel tilted geometries. The partial decomposition of SCH 3 to form a stable SCH 2 species contrasts with the behavior of adsorbed methoxy (OCH 3 ) which decomposes completely with increasing temperature to form CO and H 2 on the Pt(111) surface.
Regional gray matter predicts placebo response: a study of endogenous pain modulation in healthy individuals

The use of placebos is known to be a powerful intervention. The structural brain correlates (i.e., cortical gray matter [GM]) associated with the magnitude of a placebo response is an understudied and important topic for understanding placebo and endogenous pain modulation. For this study, we used voxelbased morphometry (VBM) to identify brain regions primarily associated with themagnitude of a placebo analgesic response. Specifically, we examined the structural MRIs of 30 healthy participants (17 males) who were classically conditioned to experience an analgesic response to an inert cream (i.e., placebo analgesia). A preliminary analysis using hierarchical cluster analysis identified two magnitudes of placebo responses, moderate and robust (5% and 30% pain reduction respectively). No differences between groups were found in whole brain GM volume. However, robust responders had significantly more GM in several brain regions (minimum cluster criteria = p # 0.001, 10 contiguous voxels). These regions included the middle frontal gyrus (Brodmann areas [BA] 6 and 9), superior frontal gyrus (BA 8), cingulate gyrus (BA 24), precuneus (BA 7), inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), and several occipital areas. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the amount of regional gray matter and the magnitude of placebo response (e.g., r = .629, p # 0.000, BA 39 in the right hemisphere). These results suggest that evenwithin an asymptomatic population graymatter volumemay be a factor in facilitating endogenous pain modulation. Future research is needed to help clarify the structure/function relationship of brain regions, outside the traditional pain matrix, that may be involved in pain and itsmodulation. Research supported by grant 5R01AT001424 from the National Institute of Health.
The neodymium isotopic compositions and rare earth patterns in highly depleted ultramafic rocks

A large number of terrestrial and extraterrestrial reservoirs are sampled by ultradepleted rocks containing mainly olivine and orthopyroxene. However, very few attempts have been made to determine the REE contents and neodymium isotopic composition of such samples due to substantial analytical problems in handling large sample volumes. We describe a chemical separation technique with high chemical yield and low contamination suitable for extraction of REEs from depleted ultramafic rocks. After sample dissolution, we use the Fe present in the rock for coprecipitation of REEs while keeping Mg, the dominant major element in an ultramafic rock, in solution. This technique reduces the effective sample size by an order of magnitude, thus permitting the use of existing column techniques to separate the lanthanides. Utilizing this procedure, eight harzburgites and a dunite, associated with the mantle sections of ophiolite complexes, were analyzed for REE and neodymium isotopic composition. The results show the LREE concentrations varying from sub parts per billion to less than 10 ppb; the Yb concentrations representing the HREEs vary from 1 to 70 ppb. The rocks have ƒ_(Sm/Nd) values ranging from −0.45 to +3.4 and ϵ_(Nd)(0) values varying from −12.5 to +47.5. The ultramafic rocks can be classified into two groups using their initial ϵ_(Nd)(t) values. The samples with ϵ_(Nd)(t) > +7 are derived from depleted MORB mantle and show extreme LREE depletion and HREE enrichment with no hint of a U-shaped REE pattern. However, samples with ϵ_(Nd)(t) +7 can be modeled with equilibrium fractional melting. However, the observed (La/Sm)_N ratios are several orders of magnitude higher than predicted by the melting model. We suggest that the high (La/Sm)_N ratios in the ultradepleted samples may be a result of refertilization by basaltic melts. The chemical procedure developed in this paper permits a full exploration of ultradepleted rocks from the upper mantle as well as some classes of meteorites that are highly depleted.
The Regulatory Environment and Rural Hospital Long‐Term Care Strategies From 1997 to 2003

: Context: Since the passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, rural hospitals have struggled with the need to strategically adapt to an abundance of changing reimbursement and regulatory programs, as well as to respond to the needs of an increasingly frail elder population in need of postacute and long-term care (LTC). Purpose: This article has 2 goals: (1) to provide a summary of the many legislative acts and provisions influencing rural hospital LTC strategies during the 1997-2003 period and (2) to track changes in the LTC strategies of a national sample of rural hospitals through this 7-year period. Methods: A 3-wave panel of rural hospital discharge planners in 540 nonfederal community-general hospitals were interviewed in 1997, 2000, and 2003. Questions focused on hospital structure, discharge planning process, and reports of internal and external organizational arrangements for providing LTC services to hospitalized patients, and changes in LTC strategy since the previous interview. Descriptive statistics are presented on LTC strategies in place in 1997 and dropped or added in 2000 and 2003. Findings and Conclusions: The general shape of the regulatory environment confronting rural hospitals and their LTC strategies during the recent past can be described as complicated, rapidly changing, and at times contradictory in intended effects. There has been a large volume of strategy change during this 7-year period, without the emergence of any identifiable pattern or LTC strategy profile, other than swing-bed participation combined with home health agency ownership.
Factors affecting amylase output by the isolated perfused liver

Abstract During the perfusion of isolated rat livers with either diluted whole rat blood or washed red blood cells in a reconstituted medium, the amylase content of the plasma increased two- to threefold, and it was determined that there was a net gain in the amylase of the total system. Amylase was found in the bile excreted from these livers during the perfusion. Administration of N -nitrosodimethylamine to rats produced damage to their livers. Amylase output and bile formation by these damaged livers were below normal as were the amylase contents of the livers themselves. Lack of oxygenation of the perfusing blood resulted in lowered amylase output and bile formation by the perfused livers. No significant effects of the hormones, glucagon and insulin, on amylase production were noted. Epinephrine in large amounts inhibited amylase output probably because of its effect on blood flow through the liver. Amylase was found to be uniformly distributed throughout all lobes of the rat liver.