cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Trauma Fracture Increases 12-Month Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease for Adults With Cerebral Palsy.

Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have poor skeletal and cardiovascular health. However, no studies have examined if skeletal fragility enhances cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk for this population. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adults with CP have higher 12-month CVD incidence following a low-trauma fracture compared with adults without CP. Data, from the Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart, were extracted from adults (18+ years) that sustained a low-trauma fracture between 01/01/2012 and 12/31/2016. The primary outcome measure was incident CVD within 12 months following a low-trauma fracture. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compare 12-month incident CVD with adjustment for sociodemographics and chronic disease comorbidities. Mean age (SD) at baseline was 54.7 (18.9) for adults with CP (n = 1,025, 43.3% men) and 60.4 (19.7) for adults without CP (n = 460,504, 33.7% men). During the follow-up, 121 adults with CP (11.8%, mean age [SD] = 63.9 [16.3]) and 45,330 adults without CP (9.8%, mean age [SD] = 74.5 [11.9]) developed CVD. In the fully adjusted model, adults with CP had higher 12-month post-fracture CVD incidence (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37-1.95). When the outcome was stratified by CVD subtype, adults with CP had higher 12-month post-fracture incidence of ischemic heart disease (HR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.09-1.92), heart failure (HR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.22-2.31), and cerebrovascular disease (HR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.54-2.50). Study findings suggest that among adults with CP, low-trauma fracture may enhance 12-month CVD incidence compared with adults without CP. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 38:803-810, 2020.
Towards Blockchain-based Multi-controller Managed Switching for Trustworthy SDN Operation

Software Defined Networks (SDN) is the future of conventional networking. SDN enabled networks to elastically evolve with programmable components and run-time adaptive flow manipulation to best suit the network needs. Unfortunately, enabling such programmability opened the door for new classes of attacks that were never considered in conventional networks. SDN controllers are the network brain, and switches are the muscles. Unfortunately, controller and switch association occurs without any trust assurances. Such lack of assurances facilitates switch/controller identify theft and flow/role injection for malicious traffic detouring. Further controller and switch have a tightly coupled relationship where SDN switches are usually guided by only one controller. In this paper, we propose blockchains based switch/controller interaction framework to replace the conventional SDN controller memory enabling trust-worthy controller/switch association, and multiple controllers to participate in the management of the same switch set. Results showed, that the presented solution can efficiently ensure trust-worthy SDN operation.
Agonistic Reading: Kleist’s Aesthetics of Temptation

The anti-humanism of Kleist’s Uber das Marionettentheater — wherein the ideal of grace is supposed to make visible mechanical forces devoid of human self-consciousness — takes the form of a temptat...
Revealing Stability of Inverted Planar MA-Free Perovskite Solar Cells and Electric Field-Induced Phase Instability

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite is one of the most promising candidates to replace the state-of-art silicon to fabricate low cost solar cells. However, its instability, including intrinsic and ...
Better preoperative exercise function is associated with shorter hospital stay after paediatric pulmonary valve replacement or conduit revision.

Exercise capacity is a modifiable factor in patients with CHD that has been related to surgical outcomes in adults. We hypothesised that this was true for children undergoing surgical pulmonary valve replacement; therefore, the relationship of preoperative percent predicted peak oxygen consumption to surgical outcomes as measured by total hospital length of stay was explored. METHODS Single centre retrospective cohort study of patients aged 8-18 years who underwent surgical pulmonary valve replacement. The primary predictor was preoperative percent predicted peak oxygen consumption, and primary outcome was total hospital length of stay. Clinical, imaging, and cardiopulmonary exercise test data were reviewed and compared to total hospital length of stay. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the association between total hospital length of stay and percent predicted peak oxygen consumption. RESULTS Three-hundred and seventy patients undergoing pulmonary valve replacement/conduit change between 2003 and 2017 at Boston Children's Hospital were identified. Ninety had preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise tests within 6 months of surgery. Exclusion for inadequate exercise data (n = 3) and imaging data (n = 1) left 86 patients for review. Patients with percent predicted peak oxygen consumption ≥ 70% (n = 46, 53%) had shorter total hospital length of stay (4.4 days) than the 40 with percent predicted peak oxygen consumption <70% (5.4 days, p = 0.007). Median percent predicted peak oxygen consumption increased over sequential surgical eras (p < 0.001), but total hospital length of stay did not correlate with surgical era, preoperative left ventricular function, or preoperative right ventricular dilation. CONCLUSION Children undergoing surgical pulmonary valve replacement with better preoperative exercise capacity had shorter total hospital length of stay. Exercise capacity is a potentially modifiable factor prior to and after pulmonary valve replacement. Until more patients systematically undergo cardiopulmonary exercise tests, the full impact of optimisation of exercise capacity will not be known.
Mortality Modeling Under Stochastic Frailty

When mortality statistics are reported for fatal diseases, they reflect the ratio of the overall mortality within the target population which is impacted from the disease in question. Reporting overall mortality leads to erroneous predictions since cohorts with different frailties are impacted at different rates. In this paper, we study methods for predicting mortality under varying conditions with the goal of removing the impact of hidden heterogeneity from the parameter estimates.
Routine Collection of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Thoracic Surgery: A Quality Improvement Study.

Abstract Background Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are critical for delivering high quality surgical care yet they are seldom collected in routine clinical practice. The objective of this quality improvement study was to improve routine PROs collection in a thoracic surgery clinic. Methods Thoracic surgery patients at a single academic institution were prospectively followed from April 2019 to March 2020. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was employed. Using a Model for Improvement design and through multidisciplinary participant observation, multiple plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles (an iterative, four-stage model for rapidly testing interventions) were performed to improve routine collection reliability. Results Over the study period, a total of 2,315 patient visits occurred. The baseline PROMIS assessment collection rate was 53%. After convening a multidisciplinary stakeholder team, the key drivers for PROMIS collection were having engaged staff, engaged patients, adequate technological capacity, and adequate time for survey completion (including when to complete the survey during the patient visits). Regular meetings between stakeholders were initiated to promote these key drivers. Several PDSA cycles were then employed to test different interventions, resulting in several positive system shifts as demonstrated on statistical process control (SPC) chart. Adherence to survey collection reached 91% of office visits by approximately 7 months, a 72% relative improvement, which was sustained. Conclusions Routine collection of PROs, such as PROMIS, are critical for improving thoracic surgical care. Our study shows that reliably collecting these data is possible in a clinical setting with minimal additional hospital resources.
Statin Use in Older Adults for Primary Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Across a Spectrum of Cardiovascular Risk.

There remains uncertainty regarding optimal primary atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) prevention practices for older adults. To assess statin treatment patterns and incident ASCVD among older patients for primary prevention across the spectrum of ASCVD risk. Retrospective cohort study of participants without ASCVD aged 65–79 years. Patients were stratified by age (65–69, 70–75, > 75 years) and 10-year ASCVD risk category (low/borderline, intermediate, high) based on the Pooled Cohort Equations. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of moderate- or high-intensity statin prescriptions. Cox proportional models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident ASCVD. Patients aged 65–79 years without ASCVD from a Northern California health system. Statin prescriptions and incident ASCVD events. There were 54,066 patients, with 10,288 (19%) aged > 75 years and 57% women. Compared with younger groups, adults > 75 years were less likely to be prescribed moderate- or high-intensity statin prescriptions across ASCVD risk groups (all p 75 years were more likely to experience incident ASCVD (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23–1.63). Women (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.81–0.89) and underweight older adults (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.33–0.61) were also less likely to receive moderate- or high-intensity statins. Among older adults aged 65–79 years without prior ASCVD, those > 75 years of age were less likely to receive moderate- or high-intensity statins regardless of ASCVD risk compared with their younger counterparts, while experiencing more incident ASCVD. Efforts are warranted to study the reasons for age-based differences in statin use in older adults, particularly those at highest ASCVD risk.
Estimating spatial and temporal patterns of urban building anthropogenic heat using a bottom-up city building heat emission model

Abstract Anthropogenic heat (AH) emission from buildings is a key contributor to the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Although an improved understanding of spatiotemporal patterns of building AH is highly needed for mitigating UHI effect, such information is still limited in high spatiotemporal resolutions at the city level. In this study, a bottom-up city building heat emission model (CityBHEM) was developed to investigate temporal variations of building AH from three components (i.e., envelope convection, zone infiltration and exfiltration, and HVAC system) for all buildings in Boston, United States. First, buildings in Boston were grouped into eleven commercial and five residential building prototypes based on building type, construction year, and foundation type. Second, an end-use-based calibration was developed to calibrate CityBHEM using U.S. Energy Information Administration's survey data. Finally, AH from all buildings in the city under actual weather conditions was calculated using the calibrated CityBHEM model together with building types and sizes. Results indicate that total building AH density of Back Bay neighborhood reaches the maximum value of 526 kWh/m2 in summer (56% of HVAC system and 44% of envelope convection) and the minimum value of 369 kWh/m2 in winter (54% of HVAC system, 24% of envelope convection and 22% of zone infiltration and exfiltration). In contrast, total building AH density of suburban neighborhoods is lower than 30 kWh/m2 in summer and 20 kWh/m2 in winter. Given that key inputs are publicly available, CityBHEM is transferable to other U.S. cities, enabling us to explore practical building energy-saving strategies for mitigating AH.
Experimental Study of NCM-Si Batteries With Bi-Directional Actuation

Abstract Silicon is regarded as one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Its high theoretical capacity (4000 mAh/g) has the potential to meet the demands of high-energy density applications, such as electric air and ground vehicles. The volume expansion of Si during lithiation is over 300%, indicating its promise as a large strain electrochemical actuator. A Si-anode battery is multifunctional, storing electrical energy and actuating through volume change by lithium-ion insertion. To utilize the property of large volume expansion, we design, fabricate, and test two types of Si anode cantilevers with bi-directional actuation: (a) bimorph actuator and (b) insulated double unimorph actuator. A transparent battery chamber is fabricated, provided with NCM cathodes, and filled with electrolyte. The relationship between state of charge and electrode deformation is measured using current integration and high-resolution photogrammetry, respectively. The electrochemical performance, including voltage versus capacity and Coulombic efficiency versus cycle number, is measured for several charge/discharge cycles. Both configurations exhibit deflections in two directions and can store energy. In case (a), the largest deflection is roughly 35% of the cantilever length. Twisting and unexpected bending deflections are observed in this case, possibly due to back-side lithiation, non-uniform coating thickness, and uneven lithium distribution. In case (b), the single silicon active coating layer can deflect 12 passive layers.
Corrections to Extremal Black Holes from Iyer-Wald

We present a general method of computing corrections to the extremality bound and entropy of Kerr-Newman black holes due to an arbitrary perturbation using the Iyer-Wald formalism. In this method, corrections to the extremality bound are given by an integral over an effective stress tensor which, in particular cases of interest, reduces to the usual stress tensor. This clarifies the relation between extremality corrections and energy conditions. In particular, we show that a necessary condition to decrease the mass of an extremal black hole in a canonical ensemble, as required by the Weak Gravity Conjecture, is a violation of the Dominant Energy Condition. As an application of our method, we compute higher-derivative corrections to charged black holes in AdS and Kerr black holes.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for the Specialty Board Review

Preface. Introduction. Part I: Multiple-Choice Questions. Normal Growth and Development. Developmental Disorders. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Affective Disorders. Disorders of Conduct and Behavior. Anxiety Disorders. Eating and Nutritional Disorders. Movement Disorders. Disorders of Somatic Function. Substance Use and Abuse. Special Issues. Psychological Testing and Rating Scales. Psychopharmacology. Psychotherapies. Treatment Settings, Health-Care System, and Outcome. Special Topics. Research Design, Statistics, and Technologies. Part II: Mock Examination. Clinical Assessment, Differential Diagnosis, Formulation, and Treatment Planning. Case Histories. References.
Characterization of bovine and human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors using monoclonal antibodies

Neuronal acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), which bind nicotine with high affinity but do not bind alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha Bgt), have recently been immunoaffinity-purified from chicken (Whiting and Lindstrom, 1986a) and rat (Whiting and Lindstrom, 1987a) brain using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here we report the characterization of nicotinic AChRs of bovine and human brain using as probes mAbs prepared to AChRs from rat brain. Both the human and bovine brain AChRs exhibit high affinity for L-nicotine (Ki = 16 nM for bovine AChR and Ki = 6.5 nM for human AChR) and other cholinergic agonists, relatively lower affinity for cholinergic antagonists, and do not bind alpha Bgt. These AChRs are affinity-labeled with bromoacetylcholine and 4-(N- maleimido)benzyltrimethylammonium iodide (MBTA) after reduction with dithiothreitol, indicating that amino acid residues homologous to cysteines 192 and 193 of alpha subunits of Torpedo electric organ AChRs are conserved. Immunoaffinity-purified bovine brain AChR consists of 2 types of subunit, Mr 50,600 and Mr 74,400. The Mr 74,400 subunit was affinity-labeled with 3H-MBTA, indicating that it contains the ACh binding site. Thus, mAbs have proven to be excellent probes for these proteins, and have been used to show that neuronal nicotinic AChRs of chickens, rats, and cattle are macromolecules approximately 10 S in size and composed of only 2 kinds of subunits: an ACh-binding subunit and a structural subunit.
Compiler Optimizations for Low-Level Redundancy Elimination: An Application of Meta-Level Prolog Primitives

Much of the work on applications of meta-level primitives in logic programs focusses on high-level aspects such as source-level program transformation, interpretation, and partial evaluation. In this paper, we show how meta-level primitives can be used in a very simple way for low-level code optimization in compilers. The resulting code optimizer is small, simple, efficient, and easy to modify and retarget. An optimizer based on these ideas is currently being used in a compiler that we have developed for Janus [6].
Low order modeling for nonlinear process control

A key tenet of robust control theory is that robust performance is closely tied to model accuracy. However, detailed models lead to computationally intractable problems and simplified linear models cannot effectively capture the range of behavior exhibited by a nonlinear system such as a high-purity distillation column. Many distributed parameter systems including distillation columns and fixed bed reactors exhibit the phenomena of travelling waves in their transport behavior. Low order models based on the travelling waves of the composition profiles in the column are nonlinear, mathematically concise, and effective in capturing the behavior of a distillation column. These models are used in a nonlinear state feedback control scheme to obtain tight control of the column.
Wave Propagation Methods for Conservation Laws with Source Terms

An inhomogeneous system of conservation laws will exhibit steady solutions when flux gradients are balanced by source terms. These steady solutions are difficult for many numerical methods (e.g., fractional step methods) to capture and maintain. Recently, a quasi-steady wave-propagationalgorithm was developed and used to compute near-steady shallow water flow over variable topography. In this paper we extend this algorithm to near-steady flow of an ideal gas subject to a static gravitational field. The method is implemented in the software package CLAWPACK. The ability of this method to capture perturbed quasi-steady solutions is demonstrated with numerical examples.
Canine oligodendrocytes undergo morphological changes in response to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in vitro

The mature oligodendrocyte, though able to divide under certain circumstances, has been regarded as incapable of changing into a phenotypically plastic cell type. To further explore this question, we developed an in vitro system in which a virtually pure population of early postnatal canine oligodendrocytes were cultured in a serum free, defined medium. We tested the oligodendrocytes' morphological and mitotic responses to concentration of basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) ranging from 5 ng to 100 ng/ml. We found that bFGF effected both the morphology and mitotic potential of these cells. In addition, oligodendrocytes exposed to bFGF respond to 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) by undergoing morphological changes that are quite different than naive oligodendrocytes exposed to 10% FBS, suggesting that bFGF causes some fundamental change in plasticity. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Disseminated Breast Cancer Cells Acquire a Highly Malignant and Aggressive Metastatic Phenotype during Metastatic Latency in the Bone

Background Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow may exist in a dormant state for extended periods of time, maintaining the ability to proliferate upon activation, engraft at new sites, and form detectable metastases. However, understanding of the behavior and biology of dormant breast cancer cells in the bone marrow niche remains limited, as well as their potential involvement in tumor recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the tumorigenicity and metastatic potential of dormant disseminated breast cancer cells (prior to activation) in the bone marrow.
Spinal Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Agonist Reduces Mechanical Allodynia and Induces Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

Abstract Peripheral nerve injury generally results in spinal neuronal and glial plastic changes associated with chronic behavioral hypersensitivity. Spinal mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), eg, p38 or extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), are instrumental in the development of chronic allodynia in rodents, and new p38 inhibitors have shown potential in acute and neuropathic pain patients. We have previously shown that the cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonist JWH015 inhibits ERK activity by inducing MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1 and MKP-3 (the major regulators of MAPKs) in vitro in microglial cells. Therefore, we decided to investigate the role of these phosphatases in the mechanisms of action of JWH015 in vivo using the rat L5 nerve transection model of neuropathic pain. We observed that peripheral nerve injury reduced spinal MKP-1/3 expression and activity and that intrathecal JWH015 reduced established L5 nerve injury-induced allodynia, enhanced spinal MKP-1/3 expression and activity, and reduced the phosphorylated form of p38 and ERK-1/2. Triptolide, a pharmacological blocker of MKP-1 and MKP-3 expression, inhibited JWH015’s effects, suggesting that JWH015 exerts its antinociceptive effects by modulating MKP-1 and MKP-3. JWH015-induced antinociception and MKP-1 and MKP-3 expression were inhibited by the cannabinoid type 2 receptor antagonist AM630. Our data suggest that MKP-1 and MKP-3 are potential targets for novel analgesic drugs. Perspective MAPKs are pivotal in the development of chronic allodynia in rodent models of neuropathic pain. A cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonist, JWH015, reduced neuropathic allodynia in rats by reducing MAPK phosphorylation and inducing spinal MAPK phosphatases 1 and 3, the major regulators of MAPKs.
Accessible privacy and security: a universally usable human-interaction proof tool

Despite growing interest in designing usable systems for managing privacy and security, recent efforts have generally failed to address the needs of users with disabilities. As security and privacy tools often rely upon subtle visual cues or other potentially inaccessible indicators, users with perceptual limitations might find such tools particularly challenging. To understand the needs of an important group of users with disabilities, a focus group was conducted with blind users to determine their perceptions of security-related challenges. Human-interaction proof (HIP) tools, commonly known as CAPTCHAs, are used by web pages to defeat robots and were identified in the focus group as a major concern. Therefore, a usability test was conducted to see how well blind users were able to use audio equivalents of these graphical tools. Finally, an accessible HIP tool was developed which combines audio and matching images, supporting both visual and audio output. Encouraging results from a small usability evaluation of the prototype with five sighted users and five blind users show that this new form of HIP is preferred by both blind and visual users to previous forms of text-based HIPs. Future directions for research are also discussed.
The influence of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones in adolescents with attention to oral contraceptives and anabolic steroids

The endogenous sex hormones produce dispositional changes in the developing child as well as imparting unique male and female dispositional patterns. Age-related changes have been observed for digoxin disposition and caffeine and theophylline metabolism. These age-related dispositional changes have led to age-dependent dosing recommendations. Studies with caffeine and antipyrine indicate that this change in drug disposition occurs over a short period of time, is seen earlier in girls than in boys, and is related to pubertal (Tanner) stage and the "growth spurt". Significant changes in endogenous sex hormone concentrations occur during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy, leading to alterations in drug binding, distribution, and clearance. Oral contraceptives (OCs) inhibit the metabolism of certain drugs resulting in toxicity or lack of efficacy. Rifampin induces the OC metabolism, resulting in decreased clinical effectiveness. Most studies did not examine these kinetic and dynamic interactions between adult and adolescent users. It is estimated that there are over 45 anabolic steroid compounds available for abuse by athletes, and their use is increasing among male and female adolescents. Although the adolescent is at increased risk of developing adverse effects from these agents, a systematic evaluation of the long-term effects of anabolic steroid abuse has not been undertaken in this population. Further research is needed regarding the influence of endogenous and exogenous hormones on adolescent drug kinetics and dynamics. Because of their frequency of use among adolescents, OCs and anabolic steroids require particular emphasis.
Hospital-based Case Management: Results from a Demonstration

The Flinn Foundation Hospital-based Coordinated Care case management demonstration was designed to help patients discharged from six participating hospitals be linked to community services by a case manager. One unexpected result was that about half of the clients served were referred from the community, not from the hospital. We examine the characteristics of hospital-based case management clients, the predictors of their continuation in case management, and their health status over 1 year, focusing on the differences between hospital- and community-referred clients.
Retargeting Android applications to Java bytecode

The Android OS has emerged as the leading platform for SmartPhone applications. However, because Android applications are compiled from Java source into platform-specific Dalvik bytecode, existing program analysis tools cannot be used to evaluate their behavior. This paper develops and evaluates algorithms for retargeting Android applications received from markets to Java class files. The resulting Dare tool uses a new intermediate representation to enable fast and accurate retargeting. Dare further applies strong constraint solving to infer typing information and translates the 257 DVM opcodes using only 9 translation rules. It also handles cases where the input Dalvik bytecode is unverifiable. We evaluate Dare on 1,100 of the top applications found in the free section of the Android market and successfully retarget 99.99% of the 262,110 associated classes. Further, whereas existing tools can only fully retarget about half of these applications, Dare can recover over 99% of them. In this way, we open the door to users, developers and markets to use the vast array of program analysis tools to ensure the correct operation of Android applications.
Potential role of proteolysis in the control of UvrABC incision

UvrB is specifically proteolyzed in Escherichia coli cell extracts to UvrB*. UvrB* is capable of interacting with UvrA in an apparently similar manner to the UvrB, however UvrB* is defective in the DNA strand displacement activity normally displayed by UvrAB. Whereas the binding of UvrC to a UvrAB-DNA complex leads to DNA incision and persistence of a stable post-incision protein-DNA complex, the binding of UvrC to UvrAB* leads to dissociation of the protein complex and no DNA incision is seen. The factor which stimulates this proteolysis has been partially purified and its substrate specificity has been examined. The protease factor is induced by "stress" and is under control of the htpR gene. The potential role of this proteolysis in the regulation of levels of active repair enzymes in the cell is discussed.
Does the right hemisphere take over after damage to Broca's area? the Barlow case of 1877 and its history

In 1877 Thomas Barlow, a London physician, published a remarkable case of functional recovery of speech following brain damage. It involved a 10-year-old boy who had lost his speech, regained it, and lost it again before he died from a disorder that affected his heart and produced embolisms that subsequently affected other organs, including his brain. Examination of the boy's brain revealed two focal regions of softening; one that affected Broca's area and the left facial-motor area, and another, which occurred weeks later, in the homologous regions of the right hemisphere. Although Barlow was most concerned with motor deficits, others at the turn of the century began to cite this case as strong evidence that the corresponding region of the right hemisphere can take over speech functions for Broca's area on the left. Whether this case really provides good support for functional takeover or vicariation theory is critically evaluated in the light of contemporary research, including PET scan studies involving damage to Broca's speech region.
The Quest for a Perfect Spouse: Spousal Ratings and Marital Satisfaction

The present paper examined the relationship between spousal ratings of personality and self-reports of marital satisfaction. 107 heterosexual couples were administered the NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised to appraise the five domains of personality and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test to evaluate marital satisfaction. The analysis indicated scores for all the personality domains were significant predictors of scores on marital satisfaction for both men and women, with Agreeableness being the most robust.
Thermal Effects on the Dynamics and Motor Control of Ballistic Prey Capture in Toads: Maintaining High Performance at Low Temperature

SUMMARY Temperature has a strong influence on biological rates, including the contractile rate properties of muscle and thereby the velocity, acceleration and power of muscle-powered movements. We hypothesized that the dynamics of movements powered by elastic recoil have a lower thermal dependence than muscle-powered movements. We examined the prey capture behavior of toads ( Bufo terrestris ) using high speed imaging and electromyography to compare the effects of body temperature (11–35°C) on the kinematics, dynamics and motor control of two types of movement: (1) ballistic mouth opening and tongue projection, which are powered by elastic recoil, and (2) non-ballistic prey transport, including tongue retraction and mouth closing, which are powered directly by muscle contraction. Over 11–25°C, temperature coefficients of ballistic mouth opening and tongue projection dynamics ( Q 10 of 0.99–1.25) were not significantly different from 1.00 and were consistently lower than those of prey transport movements ( Q 10 of 1.77–2.26), supporting our main hypothesis. The depressor mandibulae muscle, which is responsible for ballistic mouth opening and tongue projection via the recovery of elastic strain energy stored by the muscle prior to the onset of the movement, was activated earlier and for a longer duration at lower temperatures ( Q 10 of 2.29–2.41), consistent with a slowing of its contractile rates. Muscle recruitment was unaffected by temperature, as revealed by the lack of thermal dependence in the intensity of activity of both the jaw depressor and jaw levator muscles ( Q 10 of 0.754–1.12). Over the 20–35°C range, lower thermal dependence was found for the dynamics of non-elastic movements and the motor control of both elastic and non-elastic movements, in accord with a plateau of high performance found in other systems.
School-based cognitive-behavioral interventions in the treatment of aggression in the United States: A meta-analysis

Engagement in aggressive behavior has been associated with many negative outcomes for children including academic failure, social maladjustment, peer rejection, and lifelong destructive and criminal behavior. Cognitive-behavioral interventions (CBIs), which use behavioral principles, behavior therapy, and cognitive mediation through self-talk, are one type of intervention used to decrease aggressive behavior in school populations. The purposes of this meta-analysis are to examine the effectiveness of school-based CBIs in reducing or preventing aggression in children and youth, to explore the effectiveness of interventions that used school personnel compared to those that used study personnel as CBI implementers, and to determine the effectiveness of CBIs delivered universally compared to those that are delivered in small group settings. We identified 25 articles meeting our inclusion criteria and found a mean effect size (ES) of − 0.14, (SD = 0.48) and a mean weighted ES score of − 0.23. RESULTS showed that the universal intervention delivery method had a significant influence on the magnitude of the effect size (F(1, 61) = 4.84, p =.032). In light of these results we discuss study limitations and suggest future research on potential CBI moderators and the role of CBI in the current school environment. Language: en
A new simulation method for the grand canonical ensemble

Abstract We describe a new algorithm for implementing Monte Carlo simulation in the grand canonical ensemble. Instead of physically adding or deleting molecules to generate concentration fluctuations, parallel sequences of canonical ensemble configurations of various compositions are generated. Appropriate combination of chains of configurations from each of these sequences are selected according to the prescription of the grand canonical probability distribution. The new method is illustrated for a test case of isotopic Lennard-Jones mixtures. Compared to the algorithms currently in use, much smaller and more regular fluctuations are observed leading to rapid convergence.
Head start teaching center: Evaluation of a new approach to head start staff development

Abstract Head Start Teaching Centers are a national demonstration project designed to provide participatory training in all Head Start component areas within the context of an exemplary Head Start program. Each Teaching Center employs an independent evaluation to study this alternative approach to Head Start staff development. This paper presents the results of the outcome evaluation for the first year of the New England Head Start Teaching Center. The New England Head Start Teaching Center was designed to provide intensive training during a 3 or 5 day period of residence at the Teaching Center. This paper briefly describes the national Head Start Teaching Center model, the implementation of this model in the New England region, the outcome evaluation plan, and the results from the first year of training. The analyses of year one data indicated that training provided by the New England Head Start Teaching Center produced significant gains. As compared to similar Head Start employees who did not participate in training, both trainees and their supervisors reported significant gains in trainees' knowledge, skills, and expertise after participating in the New England Head Start Teaching Center training.
Maternal death due to primary peritoneal pregnancy.

The case study of a 29-year-old woman admitted to the emergency ward 6 months after being fitted with an IUD is presented. She was profoundly shocked and had had 8 weeks of amenorrhea and 4 1/2 hours abdominal pain with vomiting and fainting. There was no bleeding. Upon laparotomy a massive hemorrhage was confirmed but both the Fallopian tubes and ovaries were normal. Cases such as this one of primary peritoneal pregnancy where both tubes and ovaries were normal with no evidence of recent injury no uteroperitoneal fistula and the pregnancy was related exclusively to the peritoneal surface and was young enough to eliminate the possibility of secondary implantation following a primary nidation in the tube are in evidence. The findings suggest that the fertilized ovum had implanted in a focus of endometriosis.
Correlating diffusion coefficients in concentrated carbohydrate solutions

The diffusivities and the vapor-liquid equilibrium coefficients of two organic components, 1-hexanol and 2-butanone, were measured in concentrated maltodextrin solutions using newly developed techniques. Accurate determination of these quantities required complete material balances of the two phases and control of the water concentration in the experimental cell. The diffusion coefficients of these solutes correlated with solution viscosity to the 1/2 power over a range of temperatures and concentrations. Other literature data for diffusion coefficients in concentrated malto-dextrin and sugar solutions are shown to correlate with viscosity.
Access to Parks for Youth as an Environmental Justice Issue: Access Inequalities and Possible Solutions

Although repeated contact with nature helps foster mental and physical health among young people, their contact with nature has been diminishing over the last few decades. Also, low-income and ethnic minority children have even less contact with nature than white middle-income children. In this study, we compared accessibility to play in parks for young people from different income and racial backgrounds in Denver, Colorado. Park access for children and youth was measured using a geographic information system (GIS). Each neighborhood was classified according to income level, residential density, and distance from downtown; and then each park was classified based on formal and informal play, and level of intimacy. Comparisons between neighborhoods show that that low-income neighborhoods have the lowest access and high-income neighborhoods have the highest access to parks, and that differences are even higher for parks with play amenities and high levels of intimacy. To overcome this issue, the paper proposes a framework for action to improve access to parks for low-income children and youth and to help planners, decision makers and advocacy groups prioritize park investments.
Risky shift and social exchange in dyads

A previous study has indicated that dyads, unlike larger groups, do not exhibit the “risky-shift” phenomenon. In the present investigation, some dyads were changed after each discussion, while other Ss remained paired with the same partner for all discussions. It was hypothesized that “stable dyads” would exhibit social-exchange behavior that would inhibit consistent shifts in risk taking following group discussion, while “reconstituted dyads” would exhibit the risky shift. Further, social-exchange behavior in the reconstituted dyads should be evidenced by greater influence and more consistent influence by group members. The data for male Ss confirmed the hypotheses, while female dyads shifted consistently in the risky direction, regardless of the stability of the dyads.
COMPARISON BETWEEN OPTICAL MICROSCOPY AND SCANNING ACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY FOR DETECTING FLAWS IN CONCRETE

Concrete was regarded for a long time as an eternal and maintenance-free material. However, deterioration of concrete structures has frequently been observed and documented in the last decades. The deterioration of concrete has several manifestations. A detailed description of damages observed on concrete is given by ACI 201.1 One of the most common procedures followed, when there is indication of internal deterioration of concrete, is the removal of concrete cores from the structure for petrographic examination. The purpose of petrographic examination of concrete is to estimate and describe the condition and quality of concrete and its constituents, and to determine the causes of deterioration.2,3 A wide range of material science techniques are available: visual techniques, porosimetry, chemical analysis, sonic techniques, spectroscopy, etc. The decision as to which of these techniques are selected for any particular job, is dictated by the nature of the problem. Most evaluations begin with a detailed microscopical examination, and proceed using other analytical techniques, based upon the results of the microscopical studies. The microscopical studies, by themselves, may be adequate for resolving the nature and particulars of the problem.3
Approach to elemental task learning

In this article we deal with the automated learning of tasks by a robotic system through observation of a human operator. Particularly, we explain what is meant by a learning ability in autonomous robots and in teleoperation systems, where several operators and several machines may work in cooperation to perform tasks. We discuss different approaches to learning in these systems and outline the features of the models they are based upon. This leads us to choose an analytical model suited for tasks analysis. We then present the software architecture for our proposed approach and show the first results obtained on sample tests. 5 refs., 9 figs.
Pediatricians' involvement in and attitudes toward child day care programs

A survey of Northern California pediatricians was undertaken to determine their involvement in and attitudes toward child care programs. Out of 147 who replied, 20 percent had been involved in some substantive way in the past. Sixty-nine percent had been asked for advice concerning day care placement and had referred children to day care programs. About 43.1 percent had reservations about placement of infants. More than 80 percent felt that children in day care were exposed to additional health risks. Many pediatricians could not comment adequately on the health component of day care programs in their community. Pediatricians working in medical schools, health departments and other public health agencies were more likely to be involved in day care than pediatricians in private practice. Many recommendations were offered for the improvement of the health component. Possible reasons for the limited involvement of pediatricians are discussed. Greater exposure to child health programs must be included in their training if pediatricians are to assume a greater role in community child health.
Cytokines regulate matrix metalloproteinases and migration in cardiac fibroblasts.

Abstract We sought to define the relationship between cytokine stimulated release of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cell migration using adult rat cardiac fibroblasts. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) increased release of MMP-2, -3, and -9, and TIMP-1, by 3–6-fold, measured by immunoblotting and gel zymography. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) augmented IL-1β stimulated release of MMP-9, but not MMP-2 or -3. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) attenuated all the responses to IL-1β. IL-1β was also the most robust stimulus of adult rat cardiac fibroblast migration, measured in Boyden chamber assays. The combination of IL-1β plus TNFα substantially enhanced migration, whereas TGFβ1 strongly inhibited the migratory response to IL-1β. The pan-selective MMP inhibitor GM 6001 effectively blocked IL-1β stimulated migration. Pharmacologic inhibitors selective for ERK, JNK, and p38 MAP kinase pathways inhibited the IL-1β regulation of individual MMPs. Increased MMP activity associated with migration of cardiac fibroblasts may be important determinants of cytokine-directed remodeling of injured myocardium.
Towards a new geometric metric for sustainability assessment

This paper puts forth a novel geometric metric for assessing sustainability of a product. The purpose of the novel geometric metric is to present sustainability aspects of a product, for its entire life-cycle (material production, manufacturing, supply-chain, use and disposal), to design engineers in a readily comprehensible way. Achieving sustainability is critical for minimizing the detrimental effects caused by global warming due to modern equipment manufacturing, use and disposal. Impact of various products on the environment, society and economy are primarily locked in the design stage of the product. Therefore engineers need a comprehensive metric to be used at the design stage for designing a sustainable product. The paper first reviews sustainability metrics and then focuses on the geometric metrics for evaluating sustainability aspects of a product. Based on the concept of areal coordinates, this paper constructs a preliminary geometric metric for sustainability assessment.
Prediction of complex verbal learning

Estes’ (1959) linear stimulus sampling model was modified to predict response probability on trial n on the basis of response probability on trial 1. The model was employed to predict three learning functions for a group of Ss learning a poem. Statistical analysis indicated high predictive power. The theoretical functions, based on observation of performance after 5 min. of practice accounted for 99% of the trials variance over 35 min. of performance. The findings are discussed in terms of applied and theoretical considerations.
Evaluating the antipsychotic profile of the preferential PDE10A inhibitor, papaverine

Rationale Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is an operational measure of sensorimotor gating that is deficient in schizophrenia patients. In rats, PPI deficits induced by dopamine (DA) agonists are reversed by antipsychotics. Inhibition of the striatum-rich phosphodiesterase (PDE)10A may represent a novel antipsychotic mechanism. Previous studies were controversial, showing antipsychotic-like profiles in measures of PPI for the preferential PDE10A inhibitor papaverine (PAP) but not the novel PDE10A inhibitor TP-10.
Oxidized Guanine Lesions as Modulators of Gene Transcription. Altered p50 Binding Affinity and Repair Shielding by 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxo-2‘-deoxyguanosine Lesions in the NF-κB Promoter Element

A number of common promoter elements that drive transcription of redox sensitive genes have runs of guanines in their transcription factor recognition sequence. A paradox exists insomuch that the same guanine runs necessary for transcription factor recognition are thermodynamically prone to oxidative modification, potentially altering the binding affinity of transcription factors. 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) is a common oxidative modification of guanine that is generated by a variety of metals and reactive oxygen species. We have used the p50 subunit of the NF-kappaB transcription factor to show that oxidation of guanine to 8-oxo-dG at sites critical for protein recognition impacts transcription factor binding affinity differently depending upon the site of oxidation. It can be argued that the impact of such oxidation will be minimal in repair proficient cells. Therefore, we have developed an assay to assess the ability of these lesions to be shielded by transcription factor binding from recognition and repair by base excision repair (BER) enzymes. In this study, 8-oxo-dG was substituted for guanine at sites G(1)-G(4) in the NF-kappaB sequence 5'-d(AGTTGAG(1)G(2)G(3)G(4)ACTTTCCCAGCC)-3'. We have observed that substitution of 8-oxo-dG at the G(1) site increases p50 binding affinity by approximately 2.5-fold compared to that of the unmodified DNA sequence, while substitution at G(3) reduces the binding affinity by approximately 4-fold. Substitution of 8-oxo-dG at the G(2) and G(4) sites had a minimal impact on p50 binding affinity. Both Escherichia coli fapy glycosylase (Fpg) and human 8-oxo-DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) recognized and cleaved 8-oxo-dG at all four sites within the promoter element. The addition of the p50 transcription factor shielded these lesions from cleavage by the glycosylase in a manner that correlated with the binding affinities of p50 for the different modified sites. These data imply that lesion formation in DNA response elements can modulate gene transcription during oxidative events and that protein binding to these modified sites may allow these lesions to persist on a time scale that impacts global cellular gene transcription.