cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECTS OF AUXIN, ACTINOMYCIN D, ETHIONINE, AND PUROMYCIN ON POST-POLLINATION BEHAVIOR BY CYMBIDIUM (ORCHIDACEAE) FLOWERS'

A B S T R A C T Application of NAA to Cymbidium stigmas induces anthocyanin formation in columns and labella as well as swelling of the former, stigmatic closure, and wilting of sepals and petals. All of these are aspects of post-pollination behavior by orchid flowers. Anthocyanin formation and wilting, but not swelling of the column and stigmatic closure, can be inhibited by actinomycin D, ethionine and puromycin. This suggests that anthocyanin formation and wilting require de novo DNA-dependent RNA synthesis and production of new proteins. Swelling of the column and stigmatic closure, on the other hand, are apparently independent of stuch new synthesis and may be brought about by the activation of pre-existing compounds.
Propoxyphene napsylate: chemistry and experimental design.

Abstract This paper serves as an introduction for the succeeding papers of this issue and discusses the chemistry of propoxyphene napsylate and the designs of the experiments.
A Method to Reduce Plastic Shrinkage Cracking of Concrete Using the Re-Vibration Technique

One of the phenomena that reduces durability of concrete is plastic shrinkage cracking (PSC). Traditionally, the initiation and propagation of PSC has been controlled by minimizing its exposure to detrimental weather conditions or by adding fibers. In this study, concrete re-vibration technique was used, as an alternative, to reduce development of PSC because of the limited availability of fibers in developing countries. The time of re-vibration was selected to be 90 minutes after casting of slab which was based on ASTM C1579 procedure. The length of re-vibration was varied from 15 to 45 seconds. To identify influence of water on PSC, the water-cement ratios were selected to be 0.5, 0.55 and 0.6. In addition, an image analysis approach was implemented to process digital images of the cracks to estimate crack widths and lengths. The test results showed that the cracks' widths and lengths were reduced depending on the water-cement ratios and the re-vibration time lengths. Both fibered and re-vibrated showed similar levels of PSC reductions. Since both techniques reduced PSCs to similar levels, it is proposed to use re-vibration technique because it is more cost-effective in developing countries.
Desegregation: The Assimilation of a Minority Population

Abstract A theoretical model viewing the desegregated elementary school as an instrument for the assimilation of ethnic minority children was tested using a sample of Mexican-American elementary school students. Using Milton Gordon's concepts of structural and cultural assimilation, it was hypothesized that the Mexican-American students who were ingroup oriented (unassimilated) would be less likely to integrate into the Anglo peer group (structural assimilation) and would receive a lower G.P.A. (cultural assimilation). For female students, ethnic ingroup orientation was directly related to Anglo peer group integration, as hypothesized. However, ethnic ingroup orientation was not directly related to academic G.P.A. (cultural assimilation), but rather ethnic attitudinal disposition was indirectly related to academic G.P.A. through Anglo peer group integration. For males, the relationship between ingroup orientation and academic G.P.A. was present, as hypothesized. However, ethnic attitudinal disposition was...
Disparities in the provision of medical care: an outcome in search of an explanation

This purpose of this paper is to review the literature on racial/ethnic disparities in the utilization and quality of care and the proposed explanations for these differences. First, the literature on racial/ethnic disparities in medical treatment is reviewed briefly with the goal of providing a sense of the range of procedures and conditions on which these disparities occur. Then, the possible role of physician/provider, patient, and health care system factors in contributing to these disparities is reviewed. Finally, suggestions for new or expanded directions for research in each of these three areas are given. The goal of the paper is to identify factors that might be particularly amenable to the type of research done by health psychologists.
Effects of Forwarning of Persuasive Intent and Involvement on Cognitive Responses and Persuasion

College undergraduates were either warned or not warned of the persuasive intent of a communication which was either of direct or only indirect personal relevance to them. Consistent with the hypothesis based on reactance theory (Brehm, 1966), the inhibiting effect of the forewarning (i.e., reduced persuasion, increased counterargumentation, and reduced favorable thoughts) was greater under high than low involvement conditions.
Assessment of Model Chemistries for Noncovalent Interactions.

In the present study, we report tests of 57 model chemistry methods for calculating binding energies of 31 diverse van der Waals molecules arranged in five databases of noncovalent interaction energies. The model chemistries studied include wave function theory (WFT), density functional theory (DFT), and combined wave function-density-functional-theory (CWFDFT), and they include methods whose computational effort scales (for large systems) as N7, N6, N5, and N4, where N is the number of atoms. The model chemistries include 2 CWFDFT N7 models, 4 multilevel WFT N7 models, 5 single-level WFT N7 models, 4 CWFDFT N6 models, 3 multilevel WFT N6 models, 11 single-level WFT N6 models, 5 CWFDFT N5 models, 10 single-level WFTN5 models, 4 multilevel WFT N5 models, 4 single-level DFT N4 models, and 5 single-level WFT N4 models. We draw the following conclusions based on the mean absolute errors in 31 noncovalent binding energies: (1) MCG3-MPW gives the best performance for predicting the binding energies of these no...
Is “Raw” or “Cooked” A Useful Analytic Tool?

tion of Eskimo infant life (Hippler 1971a, 1971b). The extremely nurturant and permissive early child rearing practices of Eskimo mothers, combined with sporadic unpredictable teasing as a socialization technique, tends to produce an expansive "touchy" adult who fears the results of his expansiveness and aggression to the extent that he relies on a cultural prohibition against nearly all activities intrusive into another's life space. Thus, the much commented on apparent pleasantness of the smiling Eskimo masks his fear of the results of anger or aggression. It would appear that it is (primarily) male initiated aggressiveness at the ambivalently perceived female, and jealousy of the infant, which determine the genesis of female infanticide. That female infanticide may function to maintain populations at an acceptable level is a reasonable notion, but such functional explanations do not delineate the dynamics of behavior any more than recourse to the abstraction "culture." What would be most useful would be a
Does the Madden–Julian Oscillation Influence Wintertime Atmospheric Rivers and Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada?

AbstractThe relationships between the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), activities of atmospheric rivers (ARs), and the resulting snowpack accumulation in the California Sierra Nevada, are analyzed based on 13 yr of observations for water years 1998–2010 inclusive. The AR activity, as measured by the number of high-impact ARs, mean per event snow water equivalent (SWE) changes, and the cumulative SWE changes, is shown to be significantly augmented when MJO convection is active over the far western tropical Pacific (phase 6 on the Wheeler–Hendon diagram). The timing of high-impact ARs (early- versus late-winter occurrences) also appears to be regulated by the MJO.Total snow accumulation in the Sierra Nevada (i.e., AR and non-AR accumulation combined) is most significantly increased when MJO convection is active over the eastern Indian Ocean (phase 3), and reduced when MJO convection is active over the Western Hemisphere (phase 8), with the magnitude of the daily anomaly being roughly half the cold-season me...
Beamforming through a circular pipe with two open ends

There is a continuing interest in the through-wall capabilities of radar for surveillance applications [1]. It has been found that walls behave as a low-pass medium [2], and typically through-wall radar is restricted to frequencies in the low GHz range. Unfortunately at these lower frequencies the resolution of the radar system is compromised. In [3], the possibility of propagating a wave through a pipe with two open ends as a means of detecting objects through a wall was investigated. It was found that, in contrast to typical walls, the pipe acts as a high-pass medium. Therefore, it becomes possible to use higher frequencies to detect objects behind walls. This opens up the possibility of exploiting existing infrastructures such as air conditioning ducts to gain building interior information. In this paper, we explore the possibility of beamforming through a pipe using multiple antenna elements.
Linear approach to axial resolution in elasticity imaging

Thus far axial resolution in elasticity imaging has been addressed only empirically. No clear analytical approaches have emerged because the estimator is nonlinear in the data, correlation functions are nonstationary, and system responses vary spatially. This paper describes a linear systems approach based on a small-strain impulse approximation that results in the derivation of a local impulse response (LIR) and local modulation transfer function (LMTF). Closed-form Solutions for strain LIR are available to provide new insights on the role of instrumentation and processing on axial strain resolution. Novel phantom measurements are generated to validate results. We found that the correlation window determines axial resolution in most practical situations, but that the the same system properties that determine B-mode resolution ultimately limit elasticity imaging.
A 48 Mhz. 64kB FRAM with Sufficient Ferroelectric Domain Polarization

A 17.2 ns access and 20.5 ns cycle 64 kB (2T2C) FRAM in 130 nm was demonstrated. This is the fastest FRAM at 1.57V to be reported to date based on silicon data. The FRAM used a unique timing controller (UTC) that characterized the switching behavior of the ferroelectric capacitor (fe-cap) in the sub 5 ns range and enabled the reduction of the access and cycle times with acceptable signal margin loss. Two methodologies are proposed to tradeoff speed vs. signal margin in a FRAM based product using the UTC.
Setting the absolute tempo of biodiversity dynamics

Neutral biodiversity theory has the potential to contribute to our understanding of how macroevolutionary dynamics influence contemporary biodiversity, but there are issues regarding its dynamical predictions that must first be resolved. Here we address these issues by extending the theory in two ways using a novel analytical approach: (1) we set the absolute tempo of biodiversity dynamics by explicitly incorporating population-level stochasticity in abundance; (2) we allow new species to arise with more than one individual. Setting the absolute tempo yields quantitative predictions on biodiversity dynamics that can be tested using contemporary and fossil data. Allowing incipientspecies abundances greater than one individual yields predictions on how these dynamics, and the form of the species-abundance distribution, are affected by multiple speciation modes. We apply this new model to contemporary and fossil data that encompass 30 Myr of macroevolution for planktonic foraminifera. By synthesizing the model with these empirical data, we present evidence that dynamical issues with neutral biodiversity theory may be resolved by incorporating the effects of environmental stochasticity and incipient-species abundance on biodiversity dynamics.
Summary of a Survey on Graduate Training in Poultry Husbandry in Land Grant Colleges of the United States and in Canadian Universities

ABSTRACT THIS survey was started as a means of comparing graduate training in poultry husbandry at the University of Missouri with that in similar Universities and Colleges. The information reported was obtained from the chairmen or heads of departments in the various institutions. Since some interest was shown in the results by those reporting and it was thought that the information might he helpful to students planning graduate work, it was decided to publish the results. It will be observed that most institutions offer advanced degrees in poultry subject matter. They differ as to where the work is done or the degree is taken. The Master’s degree is offered in the Departments of Poultry Husbandry. There is a difference of opinion as to where the Ph.D. degree should be offered. Most institutions are giving the degree in poultry husbandry; but in several it is offered in the basic field of specialization . . .
Measurement of the visual field

There is increasing evidence that concurrent visual and nonvisual tasks not only reduce the size but also result in systematic deformation of the visual field. Given such complex changes in the visual field, appropriate representation and measurement of its shape is all important. Shape measures utilized by researchers and reported in the literature should also be sufficiently standardized to allow comparison of results across experiments.
Engineering flat sheet microporous PVDF films for membrane distillation

Abstract A simple phase inversion technique to fabricate hydrophobic microporous films for membrane distillation (MD) is presented. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dissolved in triethyl phosphate (TEP) was used as a casting solution with a coagulation bath comprising 2-propanol and water. The effect of processing parameters (PVDF concentration and molecular weight, and composition of coagulation bath) on membrane performance was systematically investigated. Our results demonstrate that an MD membrane with desirable properties can be achieved by carefully controlling the casting parameters. The fabricated membranes exhibited asymmetric structure with a dense top layer and highly porous bottom substrate, and showed markedly different performance (i.e., water vapor flux) depending on the MD membrane orientation. Our results suggest that membrane surface porosity as well as the structure of the membrane are the key factors determining MD membrane performance.
Gender in the 2008 Presidential Election: Two Types of Time Collide

Placing the 2008 election in the context of political development reveals the gendered nature of the presidency and presidential elections. The institution of the presidency is predominantly masculinist. It privileges conventional masculine attributes of strength, determination, and decisiveness. Yet the degree to which the institution requires masculinist leadership attributes varies throughout political development and according to different types of time. Viewed through a chronological linear lens, developments in “historical time” magnify the most masculinist aspect of the presidency—the role of commander in chief. On the other hand, in 2008 “political time” signals the end of the neoliberal era and a shift away from confrontational, partisan politics toward the building of a new consensus that emphasizes domestic welfare. As a result, the nature and stage of the regime cycle or moment in political time favor feminalist features of leadership such as collective engagement, cooperation, and conciliation. In the 2008 election, these two types of time collide, and the collision helps explain the gender-specific character of the campaigns, the candidates, and the next president.
Elastic rebound following the Kocaeli earthquake, Turkey, recorded using synthetic aperture radar interferometry

A basic model incorporating satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry of the fault rupture zone that formed during the Kocaeli earthquake of August 17, 1999, documents the elastic rebound that resulted from the concomitant elastic strain release along the North Anatolian fault. For pure strike-slip faults, the elastic rebound function derived from SAR interferometry is directly invertible from the distribution of elastic strain on the fault at criticality, just before the critical shear stress was exceeded and the fault ruptured. The Kocaeli earthquake, which was accompanied by as much as ∼5 m of surface displacement, distributed strain ∼110 km around the fault prior to faulting, although most of it was concentrated in a narrower and asymmetric 10-km-wide zone on either side of the fault. The use of SAR interferometry to document the distribution of elastic strain at the critical condition for faulting is clearly a valuable tool, both for scientific investigation and for the effective management of earthquake hazard.
Towards a Failure Criterion for Microtubules Based on Matching Strength Analysis in Finite Element Models to AFM Loads

In previous research studies, the geometric and elastic properties for a critical component of axon health, the microtubule (MT), have been determined using lateral indentation with the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). Although the response due to the indentations caused by the AFM was observed to be linear for most of the tests, forces greater than 300pN would result in a permanent irreversible collapse of the MT’s structure. While the intent of those researchers was not to evaluate microtubule strength properties, that load can be used as a starting point to evaluate internal stress failure criterion for such structures. To that end, the current research is investigating MT strength by replicating the loading and boundary conditions in a finite element model. This work is an extension of previous work aimed at using this 300 pN point load to develop failure criteria for MTs under more realistic loading conditions. In the present work, modeling has been used to correlate the AFM point load response with the more realistic distributed loading conditions that would result during a brain injury event. Furthermore, the impact of nearby MTs on the stresses that occur under similar loading conditions is also examined. These results are being used to analytically determine a stress threshold related to MT structural failure. Correspondingly, models that include dynamic wave propagation through the microtubule will be studied. The failure criterion determined in both cases would aid in evaluating brain injury studies that involve pressure wave propagation in whole-head finite element models, even when such models represent the white matter using homogeneous properties.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Three Worlds of Welfare State Research

This article reviews three important clusters of recent research on the comparative politics of the welfare state. The three clusters focus on political economy, gender and social policy, and the investigation of long-term developmental processes. The article argues that in each area there has been significant progress and that there are increasing opportunities for intellectual exchange across these clusters. Research in this important empirical sub field of comparative politics has been pluralistic and eclectic, both methodologically and theoretically. Overall, this stance has yielded substantial benefits.
B cells expressing Bcl-2 and a signaling-impaired BAFF-specific receptor fail to mature and are deficient in the formation of lymphoid follicles and germinal centers.

The TNF family cytokine B cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) (BLyS) plays a fundamental role in regulating peripheral B cell survival and homeostasis. A BAFF-specific receptor (BAFF-R; BR3) appears to mediate these functions via activation of the NF-κB2 pathway. Signaling by the BAFF-R is also required to sustain the germinal center (GC) reaction. Engagement of this receptor results in the induction of Bcl-2, suggesting that this antiapoptotic factor acts downstream of the BAFF-R and NF-κB2 pathway to promote peripheral B cell survival during primary and Ag-driven development. To test this idea, we created lines of mice coexpressing a Bcl-2 transgene and a signaling-deficient form of the BAFF-R derived from the B lymphopenic A/WySnJ strain. Surprisingly, although dramatically elevated numbers of B cells accumulate in the periphery of these mice, these B cells exhibit extremely perturbed primary development, formation of lymphoid microenvironments, and GC and IgG responses. Moreover, mice expressing the bcl-2 transgene alone display a loss of marginal zone B cells, an expansion of follicular B cells that appear immature, and alterations of the GC reaction. These results suggest that the BAFF-R and Bcl-2 regulate key and nonoverlapping aspects of peripheral B cell survival and development.
Effect of synthetic accessibility on the commercial viability of organic photovoltaics

For organic photovoltaics (OPVs) to become a viable source of renewable energy, the synthesis of organic active-layer materials will need to be scaled to thousands of kilograms. Additionally, the ultimate cost of these materials will need to be low enough to constitute only a small fraction of the cost of the solar cell module. In this study, we present a quantitative analysis, based on published small-scale synthetic procedures, to estimate the materials costs for several promising OPV materials when produced in large quantities. The cost in dollars-per-gram ($ per g) is found to increase linearly with the number of synthetic steps required to produce each organic photoactive compound. We estimate the cost-per-Watt ($ per Wp) as a function of power conversion efficiency (PCE) for an archetypal OPV structure and find that a relatively simple molecule requiring only 3 synthetic steps will contribute a cost of 0.001 to 0.01 $ per Wp, given a solar module PCE of 10%. In contrast, a relatively complicated molecule requiring 14 synthetic steps will contribute costs in the range of 0.075 to 0.48 $ per Wp. Our findings suggest that the commercial viability of an OPV technology may depend on the synthetic accessibility of its constituent active layer materials. Additionally, this work stresses the importance of optimizing synthetic routes to minimize solvent and reagent usage as well as to minimize the number of required workup procedures in the scaled production of OPV materials.
Exploring the molecular mechanism of ocular angiogenesis inhibition by triamcinolone acetonide

Evaluation of: Ebrahem Q, Minamoto A, Hoppe G et al. Triamcinolone acetonide inhibits IL-6- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis downstream of the IL-6 and VEGF receptors. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 47(11), 4935–4941 (2006).Ocular neovascularization (NV) is a disease characterized by uncontrolled new blood vessel formation from pre-existing vasculature that leads to vascular leakage and, eventually, vision loss. Pathological NV is closely associated with expression of cytokines and growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Administration of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) by intravitreal injection is a commonly used treatment for retinal NV. This paper demonstrates that TA blocks IL-6- and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis through the mifepristone-sensitive steroid receptor and that TA inhibits VEGF action downstream of VEGF receptors. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of TA action may provide potential new therapeutic strategies for treating ocular NV.
Root Antioxidant Mechanisms in Relation to Root Thermotolerance in Perennial Grass Species Contrasting in Heat Tolerance

Mechanisms of plant root tolerance to high temperatures through antioxidant defense are not well understood. The objective of this study was to investigate whether superior root thermotolerance of heat-tolerant Agrostis scabra relative to its congeneric heat-sensitive Agrostis stolonifera was associated with differential accumulation of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant scavenging systems. A. scabra ‘NTAS’ and A. stolonifera ‘Penncross’ plants were exposed to heat stress (35/30°C, day/night) in growth chambers for 24 d. Superoxide (O2-) content increased in both A. stolonifera and A. scabra roots under heat stress but to a far lesser extent in A. scabra than in A. stolonifera. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content increased significantly in A. stolonifera roots but not in A. scabra roots responding to heat stress. The content of antioxidant compounds (ascorbate and glutathione) did not differ between A. stolonifera and A. scabra under heat stress. Enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase was less suppressed in A. scabra than that in A. stolonifera under heat stress, while peroxidase and catalase were more induced in A. scabra than in A. stolonifera. Similarly, their encoded transcript levels were either less suppressed, or more induced in A. scabra roots than those in A. stolonifera during heat stress. Roots of A. scabra exhibited greater alternative respiration rate and lower cytochrome respiration rate under heat stress, which was associated with suppression of O2- and H2O2 production as shown by respiration inhibitors. Superior root thermotolerance of A. scabra was related to decreases in H2O2 and O2- accumulation facilitated by active enzymatic antioxidant defense systems and the maintenance of alternative respiration, alleviating cellular damages by heat-induced oxidative stress.
Development of a Clinical Physical Therapy Research Program

Clinical physical therapy research is important for the continued growth of the physical therapy profession. Such research results in improved patient care and heightens the professional standing of the physical therapy field. One of the major barriers to clinical physical therapy research is unfamiliarity with the research process by practicing physical therapists. The purpose of this article is to present a model for developing a clinical physical therapy research program that may assist novice investigators interested in initiating clinical physical therapy research at their facility.
Abstract A117: Physical activity and survival after prostate cancer diagnosis

Context: Higher levels of physical activity have been linked with a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer (PCa), but no studies have examined whether activity post‐diagnosis is beneficial for PCa survivors. Objective: To assess the relationship between physical activity, and duration and pace of walking, with total and PCa‐specific mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospective study of 2,686 men in the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study diagnosed with PCa, and with follow‐up from 1986 through 2008. Physical activity was assessed repeatedly both before and after diagnosis. To generate the total activity score, we summed activity‐specific metabolic equivalent (MET)‐hours per week. To reduce the potential influence of disease on activity level, we excluded from the analysis men with diagnosed metastases at diagnosis, and we only utilized activity information from four to six years before death. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for risk factors for PCa mortality. We calculated hazard ratios for total mortality and PCa‐specific mortality. Results: Of the men who were alive for at least 4 years after their post‐diagnosis physical activity assessments, we documented 554 deaths, with 22% due to prostate cancer. Men who were physically active, especially those engaging in 3 or more MET‐hours of total activity, had a 35% lower risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.52, 0.82]) and a modest non‐significant reduction in risk of prostate cancer death (hazard ratio, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.52, 1.49]), after adjustment for other risk factors for PCa mortality and pre‐diagnosis physical activity. While no benefit from walking was observed for PCa mortality, men who walked 4 or more hours per week versus those who walked less than 20 minutes per week had a 23% lower risk of all‐cause mortality (95% CI, 0.61, 0.97; p‐trend=0.01). In addition, compared to men who walked less than 90 minutes at an easy walking pace, those who walked 90 or more minutes at a normal to very brisk pace had a 51% lower risk of all‐cause mortality (95% CI, 0.37, 0.64). More vigorous activity, and longer duration of activity, was associated with significant further reductions in risk for all‐cause mortality. More vigorous activity was associated with a borderline‐significant reduction in risk for PCa mortality. Conclusions: In a cohort of men with PCa, physical activity was associated with a lower risk of overall mortality. Regular vigorous activity may reduce mortality from prostate cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A117.
Hepatitis C Virus Selectively Alters the Intracellular Localization of Desmosterol.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases intracellular desmosterol without affecting the steady-state abundance of other sterols, and the antiviral activity of inhibitors of desmosterol synthesis is suppressed by the addition of exogenous desmosterol. These observations suggest a model in which desmosterol has a specific function, direct or indirect, in HCV replication and that HCV alters desmosterol homeostasis to promote viral replication. Here, we use stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy in combination with isotopically labeled sterols to show that HCV causes desmosterol to accumulate in lipid droplets that are closely associated with the viral NS5A protein and that are visually distinct from the broad distribution of desmosterol in mock-infected cells and the more heterogeneous and disperse lipid droplets to which cholesterol traffics. Localization of desmosterol in NS5A-associated lipid droplets suggests that desmosterol may affect HCV replication via a direct mechanism. We anticipate that SRS micro...
Assessing the Impact of Movement Consequences on the Development of Early Reaching in Infancy.

Prior research on infant reaching has shown that providing infants with repeated opportunities to reach for objects aids the emergence and progression of reaching behavior. This study investigated the effect of movement consequences on the process of learning to reach in pre-reaching infants. Thirty-five infants aged 2.9 months at the onset of the study were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Two groups received a 14-day intervention to distinct reaching tasks: (1) in a contingent group, a toy target moved and sounded upon contact only, and (2) in a continuous group, the toy moved and sounded continuously, independent of hand-toy contact. A third control group did not receive any intervention; this group’s performance was assessed only on two days at a 15-day interval. Results revealed that infants in the contingent group made the most progress over time compared to the two other groups. Infants in this group made significantly more overall contacts with the sounding/moving toy, and they increased their rate of visually-attended target contacts relative to non-visually-attended target contacts compared to the continuous and control groups. Infants in the continuous group did not differ from the control group on the number of hand-toy contacts nor did they show a change in visually-attended target versus non-visually-attended target contacts ratio over time. However, they did show an increase in movement speed, presumably in an attempt to attain the moving toy. These findings highlight the importance of contingent movement consequences as a critical reinforcer for the selection of action and motor learning in early development. Through repeated opportunities to explore movement consequences, infants discover and select movements that are most successful to the task-at-hand. This study further demonstrates that distinct sensory-motor experiences can have a significant impact on developmental trajectories and can influence the skills young infants will discover through their interactions with their surroundings.
Predicting verbal fluency using Word Reading: Implications for premorbid functioning

The estimation of premorbid general intellectual functioning using word reading tests has a rich history of validation and is a common assessment practice for neuropsychologists. What is less well-researched is the approach used to estimate premorbid functioning of non-intellectual domains, such as executive functions, including verbal fluency. The current study evaluated this relationship with 41 adult college students who completed the Word Reading subtest of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test-Second Edition (WIAT-II) and the Verbal Fluency test from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS). Path analysis indicated that only Letter Fluency (a measure of phonemic fluency) was statistically significantly related to Word Reading and the relationship was somewhat weak. The relationship between Category Fluency (a measure of semantic fluency) and Category Switching (a measure of verbal fluency cognitive set-shifting) to Word Reading was nonsignificant. Participants also completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III), and as expected a strong relationship was found between Word Reading and the Verbal IQ (VIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ), and Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ). Results of this study strongly suggest that caution be exercised when extrapolating an estimate of premorbid verbal fluency abilities from measures of word reading.
Sleep Scheduling for Energy-Savings in Multi-core Processors

As transistor geometries get smaller, static leakage power dominates the power consumption in modern processors. This phenomenon diminishes the ability of frequency scaling-based techniques to save energy. Modern processors also provide sleep states which minimize leakage power by gating portions of the processor and/or the system clock. This paper presents partitioned fixed-priority scheduling solutions for utilizing these sleep states to efficiently schedule periodic real-time tasks, and maximize energy savings on multi-core processors. The techniques presented rely on an Enhanced Version of Energy-Saving Rate-Harmonized Scheduling (ES-RHS), and our newly proposed Energy-Saving Rate-Monotonic Scheduling (ES-RMS) policy to maximize the time the processor spends in the lowest-power deep sleep state. In some modern multi-core processors, all cores need to transition synchronously into deep sleep. For this class of processors, we present a partitioning technique called Max-SyncSleep which utilizes a priori task information, to maximize the synchronous deep sleep duration across all processing cores. The performance of Max-SyncSleep is compared to the classical Worst-Fit Decreasing load balancing heuristic. We also illustrate the benefits of using ES-RMS over ES-RHS for this class of processors. For processors which allow cores to individually transition into deep sleep, we prove that, while utilizing ES-RHS on each core, any feasible partition can optimally utilize all of the processor's idle durations to put it into deep sleep. Experimental evaluations indicate that the proposed techniques can provide significant energy savings.
Finite-Size and Composition-Driven Topological Phase Transition in (Bi1–xInx)2Se3 Thin Films

In a topological insulator (TI), if its spin–orbit coupling (SOC) strength is gradually reduced, the TI eventually transforms into a trivial insulator beyond a critical point of SOC, at which point the bulk gap closes: this is the standard description of the topological phase transition (TPT). However, this description of TPT, driven solely by the SOC (or something equivalent) and followed by closing and reopening of the bulk band gap, is valid only for infinite-size samples, and little is known how TPT occurs for finite-size samples. Here, using both systematic transport measurements on interface-engineered (Bi1–xInx)2Se3 thin films and theoretical simulations (with animations in the Supporting Information), we show that description of TPT in finite-size samples needs to be substantially modified from the conventional picture of TPT due to surface-state hybridization and bulk confinement effects. We also show that the finite-size TPT is composed of two separate transitions, topological-normal transition ...
Adnexal Masses and Ovarian Cyst Rupture

Adnexal masses are a common finding on imaging; these may be found incidentally or in the assessment of patients with pelvic pain. This chapter reviews common types of adnexal masses, their appearance by ultrasound, serum markers (as indicated), and management. Diagnosis and management of ruptured ovarian cysts are also discussed.
Women's Agency and Fertility: Recent Evidence from Egypt

Fertility reached a two decade high of 3.5 births per woman in Egypt in 2014. Lower status of women is associated with higher fertility. Majority of the studies on women's agency and fertility rely on individual level cross-sectional data from South Asia, which limits the understanding of variation among communities and the direction of the relationship between women's agency and fertility in other global contexts. This study examines the relationship between women's agency and fertility longitudinally and among communities in the most populous country in the Middle East - Egypt. For 3,795 ever married women 15 to 49 years old in the 2006 and 2012 Egyptian Labor Market Panel Survey, multilevel models are estimated for having given birth and number of births between 2006 and 2012. Contrary to expectation, women with more agency with greater participation in household decision-making and mobility are, in fact, more likely to have had a birth and have a greater total number of births. Only women with more egalitarian attitudes are associated with fewer births. Community membership explains 5% of the variation in fertility. Since social norms in Egypt favor a higher number of births and labor market participation among women is low, women with agency could be fulfilling social expectations of having children and choosing to have more children.
Bionomics of Cimex adjunctus (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) in a Maternity Cave of Myotis austroriparius (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) (South Carolina, USA)

Cimex adjunctus Barber was collected with pitfall traps and by hand in Santee Caves, South Carolina, USA. Santee Caves contain a maternity colony of Myotis austroriparius (Rhoads), the Southeastern Myotis bat. Cimex adjunctus was found only in the maternity chamber. My collection represents the first record of C. adjunctus in association with M. austroriparius. The sex ratio in the C. adjunctus population collected was 1:1 with 128 males, 128 females, and 755 nymphs. Predators of C. adjunctus in the cave environment included three spiders (Azilia affinis Chamberlin, Eidmannella pallida (Emerton), and Gaucelmus augustinus Keyserling). The pathogenic fungus Aspergillus sp. killed C. adjunctus in the cave and laboratory. The mite Histiostoma sp. was phoretic on C. adjunctus. Cimex adjunctus also fed on human blood and elicited an immune response after initial exposure.
Solid-Phase Synthesis of Heterocycles in Practice

To demonstrate the simplicity of adopting solid-phase synthesis of heterocycles by novices, we developed an appropriate education module (3 weeks in length) for the second-year undergraduate Organic Chemistry laboratory that effectively introduced solid-phase synthesis into the undergraduate curriculum. Starting with Wang resin, a four-step synthesis involving a 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide intermediate and two points of chemical diversity produced a ten compound library of indazole 1-oxides in good yield. Cleavage of the final resin construct with 50% TFA/DCM provided each student with a sample of their unique compound. Four short instructional video clips supplement the laboratory activities described in this chapter.
Using Virtual Patient Simulations to Prepare Primary Health Care Professionals to Conduct Substance Use and Mental Health Screening and Brief Intervention

BACKGROUND: Primary health care professionals are in an excellent position to identify, screen, and conduct brief interventions for patients with mental health and substance use disorders. However, discomfort in initiating conversations about behavioral health, time concerns, lack of knowledge about screening tools, and treatment resources are barriers. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the impact of an online simulation where users practice role-playing with emotionally responsive virtual patients to learn motivational interviewing strategies to better manage screening, brief interventions, and referral conversations. DESIGN: Baseline data were collected from 227 participants who were then randomly assigned into the treatment or wait-list control groups. Treatment group participants then completed the simulation, postsimulation survey, and 3-month follow-up survey. RESULTS: Results showed significant increases in knowledge/skill to identify and engage in collaborative decision making with patients. CONCLUSI...
Carbon-carbon bond forming reactions via Pd-catalyzed detellurative homocoupling of diorganyl tellurides

Abstract A simple and highly efficient method for the constructions of Csp-Csp, Csp 2 -Csp 2 and Csp 3 -Csp 3 bonds is reported. The symmetrical diaryl tellurides undergo detellurative homocouplings to afford symmetrical biaryl products. The reactions are carried out at ambient temperature using PdCl 2 as a catalyst in the presence of Ag 2 O and Na 2 CO 3 . Similarly, the detellurative homocouplings of dibenzyl telluride and bis(phenylethynyl)telluride give bibenzyl and the conjugated diyne, respectively.
Do trials reduce uncertainty? Assessing impact through cumulative meta-analysis of neonatal RCTs.

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of the latest randomized controlled trial (RCT) to each systematic review (SR) in Cochrane Neonatal Reviews. STUDY DESIGN We selected meta-analyses reporting the typical point estimate of the risk ratio for the primary outcome of the latest study (n=130), mortality (n=128) and the mean difference for the primary outcome (n=44). We employed cumulative meta-analysis to determine the typical estimate after each trial was added, and then performed multivariable logistic regression to determine factors predictive of study impact. RESULTS For the stated primary outcome, 18% of latest RCTs failed to narrow the confidence interval (CI), and 55% failed to decrease the CI by ⩾20%. Only 8% changed the typical estimate directionality, and 11% caused a change to or from significance. Latest RCTs did not change the typical estimate in 18% of cases, and only 41% changed the typical estimate by at least 10%. The ability to narrow the CI by >20% was negatively associated with the number of previously published RCTs (odds ratio 0.707). Similar results were found in analysis of typical estimates for the outcomes of mortality and mean difference. CONCLUSION Across a broad range of clinical questions, the latest RCT failed to substantially narrow the CI of the typical estimate, to move the effect estimate or to change its statistical significance in a majority of cases. Investigators and grant peer review committees should consider prioritizing less-studied topics or requiring formal consideration of optimal information size based on extant evidence in power calculations.
Investigation and quantification of flow unsteadiness in shock-particle cloud interaction

Abstract This work aims to study the interaction of a shock wave with a cloud of particles to quantify flow unsteadiness and velocity fluctuations using particle-resolved direct numerical simulation (PR-DNS). Three cases are studied, with each case revealing one aspect of the intricate flow phenomena involved in this interaction. The unsteady interaction of a shock wave with a transverse array of particles reveals the origin of unsteadiness under the effect of mutual wave-wave and wave-wake interactions between the particles. In the second case, the interaction of a shock with a particle cloud is studied, with a focus on the interaction of the complex wave system with the vortical structure. A budget analysis of the vorticity equation reveals the sources of strong unsteadiness in the particle cloud. A detailed analysis of the velocity fluctuation and kinetic energy in the fluctuating motion is performed to ascertain the importance of the velocity fluctuations that arise from the strong unsteadiness. An analogous analysis is presented, in the third case, for a gradually-induced flow on the same particle cloud along with a comparison to the shock induced case to assess the impulsive effect of shock on intensity of the fluctuating field statistics.
Comment on JH Kim Paper

Korea’s transition from being a poor, low resource economy, developing steadily throughout the second half of the twentieth century through the stages of industrialisation and manufacturing, to becoming an important player among the knowledge economies of this century is truly a remarkable story, as traced in Ji Hong Kim’s paper1.
Cognitive Underpinnings of Beliefs and Confidence in Beliefs about Fully Automated Vehicles

Abstract A study investigated the cognitive underpinnings of consumers’ beliefs and confidence in their beliefs about fully automated vehicles. Following previous research, opinions about self-driving cars tended to be mixed. The most negative views were held by consumers who had the least knowledge of self-driving cars. Low trust in technology was also associated with more negative views. Although consumers were generally confident in their views of self-driving cars, many were uninformed about them. Consumers’ confidence in their beliefs was more strongly correlated with perceived knowledge and general confidence than real expertise. Thus, consumers’ confidence in their opinions about fully automated vehicles appears to be driven by cognitions that are largely superfluous. A mediation analysis suggests that general self-confidence influences judgmental confidence by affecting perceived judgment relevant knowledge. Participants’ confidence in negative beliefs about fully automated vehicles suggests their opinions will not be easily influenced via persuasion.
Racial Disparities in Obesity Treatment

Obesity rates in the USA have reached pandemic levels with one third of the population with obesity in 2015–2016 (39.8% of adults and 18.5% of youth). It is a major public health concern, and it is prudent to understand the factors which contribute. Racial and ethnic disparities are pronounced in both the prevalence and treatment of obesity and must be addressed in the efforts to combat obesity. Disparities in prevalence of obesity in racial/ethnic minorities are apparent as early as the preschool years and factors including genetics, diet, physical activity, psychological factors, stress, income, and discrimination, among others, must be taken into consideration. A multidisciplinary team optimizes lifestyle and behavioral interventions, pharmacologic therapy, and access to bariatric surgery to develop the most beneficial and equitable treatment plans. The reviewed studies outline disparities that exist and the impact that race/ethnicity have on disease prevalence and treatment response. Higher prevalence and reduced treatment response to lifestyle, behavior, pharmacotherapy, and surgery, are observed in racial and ethnic minorities. Increased research, diagnosis, and access to treatment in the pediatric and adult populations of racial and ethnic minorities are proposed to combat the burgeoning obesity epidemic and to prevent increasing disparity.
Physics based modeling for the development of soft segmentation and reconstruction algorithms

We propose a new regularization approach, using a soft-spin, phase-field model prior, that incorporates physics-based parameter estimates for joint soft segmentation and for reconstruction algorithms that avoid discontinuities between region labels. The phase-field model employed here is based on a continuous, coarse-grained field variable describing distinct crystallites having different orientations that comprise a poly-crystalline microstructure. The proposed algorithm, called Snap is used here to perform joint segmentation and reconstruction of materials microstructures from several noisy numerical measurements. Comparisons with state-of-the-art de-noising algorithms demonstrate the superior performance of Snap.