cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Emotional Engagement With School and Behavioral and Psychological Outcomes Across Adolescence

Although a small body of research suggests that emotional engagement with school is related to youth behavioral and psychological outcomes, it remains unclear whether these associations represent causal relationships and at what age engagement matters most for student outcomes. Using data from two large, national surveys, this study uses three analytic strategies to reduce threats to causal inference and assess whether the central relationship changes as youth age. Results across both data sets are consistent with a causal relationship between emotional engagement with school and youth behavioral and psychological outcomes that decreases somewhat as youth age. Given the importance of emotional engagement for these outcomes, and the importance of avoiding problem behaviors and maintaining healthy psychological functioning for students’ long-run outcomes, research should continue to explore the ways in which schools and educational policy can influence students’ engagement.
How do I implement a whole blood program for massively bleeding patients

Building on the successful military experience, interest has been rekindled in transfusing whole blood (WB) early in the resuscitation of traumatically injured civilians, often before their ABO group is known. WB efficiently provides treatment for shock and coagulopathy, as well as platelet hemostatic function, to patients losing large volumes of blood. Unlike group O uncrossmatched red blood cells (RBCs), group O WB contains a substantial amount of plasma, which is incompatible with the RBCs of all non-group O recipients. Thus, when implementing a WB program, it is important to decide how to mitigate the risk of immune-mediated hemolysis. Other questions that a hospital needs to answer before implementing a WB program include determining which patients will be eligible for this product, how many units eligible patients can receive, for how long it should be stored and under what conditions, and how to monitor for adverse events. The donor center needs to consider if the WB should be leukoreduced, how to comply with the AABB's transfusion-related acute lung injury risk mitigation standard, and into which storage solution it should be collected. This report describes the multidisciplinary approach taken to implementing a civilian WB program at a multihospital health care system in the United States.
Leydig cells: Fetal to aged testes

There are two distinct periods of testosterone production in males, one in the fetus and the other in the adult. The testosterone produced by fetal Leydig cells declines with the loss of these cells postnatally. Testosterone then gradually increases to high levels with the development of adult Leydig cells. Testosterone production is regulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) and involves cholesterol transport into the mitochondria, pregnenolone formation in the mitochondria, and conversion of pregnenolone into testosterone by enzymes of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Cholesterol transport, the rate-determining step in steroidogenesis, involves the actions of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), translocator protein (18 kDa; TSPO), and other proteins of the transduceosome. With aging, there is a progressive decline in testosterone production and thus reduced serum levels of testosterone (hypogonadism). Although testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can be used to raise serum testosterone levels, recent studies suggest increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and in most men TRT will result in reduced intratesticular testosterone concentration and thus spermatogenesis suppression. Better understanding of the mechanisms mediating testosterone formation might lead to the possibility of increasing serum (and intratesticular) testosterone by stimulating the Leydig cells themselves.
The scattering of sound in a turbulent and thermally random medium by the method of bilocal perturbations

The method previously described x) as bilocal perturbation theory is applied here to the calculation of the ensemble averaged acoustical wave propagating through a medium with thermal inhomogeneities and with a turbulent velocity structure. For each of these types of perturbation, described by an appropriate autocorrelation function, a dispersion equation for the acoustic wave is derived and the attenuation coefficient calculated. The question of fluctuations is discussed briefly, and the procedure for carrying the bilocal treatment to a higher order is outlined.
DC Electrochemical Techniques for the Measurement of Corrosion Rates

The electrochemical nature of aqueous (and much of the nonaqueous) corrosion phenomena has been recognized for a long time, and the reader is referred to standard textbooks on this matter.1–5 Because of the electrochemical nature of the phenomena, electrochemical techniques provide a very convenient way to measure the rate of corrosion processes in either the laboratory or the field. Some of the advantages of the electrochemical techniques are as follows: (1) the measurements can be made very quickly; (2) an instantaneous or integrated (average) rate can be obtained; (3) the results are available as an electrical signal that can be easily transmitted, amplified, digitized, or displayed; and (4) the measurements can be carried out, in most cases, with very little disturbance of the corroding surface. While many of these techniques have been known and used for a considerable time, detailed error analyses of some of the aspects of the measurements have only been reported recently. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive treatment of all corrosion-rate measurement techniques based on DC electrochemical methods. Emphasis is placed on detailed enumeration of all the assumptions and simplifications involved in each technique and a critical comparison of the techniques. The theoretical bases and the practical implementation of the techniques have been published in books and review articles,6–11 and this material is repeated here only to the extent that it is needed to define the terminology.
ARTERIAL TONOMETRY AND ASSESSMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR ALTERATIONS WITH CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATIVE THERAPY

Objectives To (a) introduce arterial tonometry, which may offer a greater opportunity to detect alterations of the cardiovascular system with spinal manipulative therapy, (b) discuss the limitations of standard blood pressure measurements and (c) discuss factors that govern the contour of arterial pressure pulses. Data sources Information was obtained from peer-reviewed medical and chiropractic journal articles and medical textbooks written in English (mainly from 1980 to 1995). Conclusions Arterial tonometry is a noninvasive method to continuously measure the contour of arterial pressure pulses. Pulses can be simultaneously measured from several arterial sites because vessel occlusion is not required. Arterial tonometry supplements standard blood pressure measurements that measure only the systolic and diastolic pressures by permitting the investigation of additional parameters of cardiovascular functions. Changes in large artery function can be inferred through alterations of pulse contour, wave velocity and harmonic transmission ratios. Analysis of the beat-to-beat fluctuations of arterial pressure and heart rate can be used to determine whether SMT alters the autonomic nervous system. Reductions of arterial pressure in central vessels may not be apparent from standard blood pressure measurements at peripheral vessels. The contour of a pressure pulse depends on the magnitude and timing between incident and reflected pressure waves from the upper and lower body, body shape and size, the duration and pattern of ventricular systole, and dispersion and attenuation. Therefore, arterial tonometry may improve the ability to detect alterations of the cardiovascular system in chiropractic research.
Disruptive Change in Requirements Engineering Research

This keynote addresses the challenges and opportunities introduced by disruptive change in the current requirements engineering landscape. Sea changes in the way practitioners develop software, along with advances in artificial intelligence algorithms and the ubiquity of social media environments have created a goldilocks opportunity for innovative creativity that potentially touches every aspect of requirements engineering research. Coupled with passion and vision, these advances revitalize our ability to address open requirements challenges in new and meaningful ways.
Nighttime administration of high-dose, sustained-release melatonin does not decrease nocturnal blood pressure in African-American patients: Results from a preliminary randomized, crossover trial

Abstract Objectives This preliminary study tested whether a high-dose, sustained-release form of melatonin reduced 24-hour blood pressure in African-Americans. Design Randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study of 40 self-defined African-American patients with essential hypertension. Settings/location Urban, academic medical center and associated outpatient clinics. Interventions Patients ingested either melatonin (high dose [24 mg], sustained-release formulation] or placebo in randomized order over a 4-week period. Outcome measures Mean nighttime and daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as measured with 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitors. The primary outcome was mean nighttime systolic blood pressure. Results There were no statistically differences between melatonin and placebo conditions in mean nighttime or daytime systolic or diastolic blood pressures. Conclusions In contrast with studies in other populations, this preliminary study showed that nighttime dosing of continuous-release melatonin had no significant effect on nocturnal blood pressure in African Americans with essential hypertension when compared to placebo.
Regionalization with or without Specialization: A Call for a National Research Agenda.

More research is needed to help states evaluate Extension delivery model alternatives. Given funding trends, access to all programs requires regional systems with county offices. The traditional county model provides access to an office but only to some programs. While there will be many differences, only states with specialized educators can make sufficient program investments to increase public value and funding. Stakeholders exploring regionalization need to know about the successes and failures of the early adopters. The implementation of a national agenda of high-quality research on regionalization and specialization is needed to protect Extension's historic mission.
Utility of soil moisture data products for natural disaster applications

Abstract Soil moisture is typically defined as the volume of soil water present in the soil per unit volume of soil. Despite its negligible volume fraction of the global hydrologic cycle, soil moisture plays an outsized role via its regulation of water, momentum, and energy fluxes between the upper surface of the Earth and the lower atmosphere. In addition, soil moisture strongly affects the material and chemical properties of the land surface. Since these properties and fluxes play a central role in the onset and propagation of many types of natural disaster, soil moisture is a critical environmental variable for natural disaster risk assessment, extreme event forecasting, within-event monitoring and postevent assessment. Here, we will review the current state-of-the-art in soil moisture estimation and measurement techniques (Section 3.1) and discuss ongoing efforts to integrate soil moisture data products into these natural disaster applications (Section 3.2).
On the Gauss E ϒPHKA theorem and some allied inequalities

Abstract We use the 1907 Hurwitz formula along with the Jacobi triple product identity to understand representation properties of two JP (Jones–Pall) forms of Kaplansky: 9 x 2 + 16 y 2 + 36 z 2 + 16 y z + 4 x z + 8 x y and 9 x 2 + 17 y 2 + 32 z 2 − 8 y z + 8 x z + 6 x y . We also discuss three nontrivial analogues of the Gauss E ϒPHKA theorem. The technique used can be applied to all known spinor regular ternary quadratic forms.
Randomness, serendipity, and luck in petroleum exploration

Petroleum explorers commonly acknowledge the contribution of luck in exploration outcomes. Our survey of 237 current industry practitioners revealed that 90% of them believe that luck affects the outcome of exploration projects. However, luck has never been quantified before as a factor in petroleum exploration, and therefore, it remains an abstract concept that is not deeply considered by geoscientists and exploration managers. Luck clearly exists in petroleum exploration, because it contributed to many serendipitously discovered plays and pools. Luck is also a factor in the relative performance of different exploration companies. Looking at companies exploring on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in 1966–2005, we concluded that differences in success rates of individual companies are essentially random. Using a global data set of 3258 conventional exploration wells in which 733 companies took 8096 equity positions in 2008–2017, we calculated that the proportion of variance in geological success rates among the companies is 39% attributable to luck (25% for commercial success), the rest being related to skill. In frontier plays, luck contribution to the variation in geological and commercial success rates between different companies is 100%. The factor of luck is relatively less in emerging (67% for geological success), maturing (38%), and mature (29%) plays. Recognizing that luck is a part of the exploration success equation has numerous implications for exploration strategies, investors, companies, managers, and individual explorers. The factor of luck can be reduced only through a sustainable long-term exploration program with numerous independent wells. Explorers should focus on developing their prediction skills rather than obsess about the binary outcomes of each well.
Hypothesis: Etiologic and Molecular Mechanistic Leads for Sporadic Neurodegenerative Diseases Based on Experience With Western Pacific ALS/PDC.

Seventy years of research on Western Pacific amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism-dementia Complex (ALS/PDC) have provided invaluable data on the etiology, molecular pathogenesis and latency of this disappearing, largely environmental neurodegenerative disease. ALS/PDC is linked to genotoxic chemicals (notably methylazoxymethanol, MAM) derived from seed of the cycad plant (Cycas spp.) that were used as a traditional food and/or medicine in all three disease-affected Western Pacific populations. MAM, nitrosamines and hydrazines generate methyl free radicals that damage DNA (in the form of O6-methylguanine lesions) that can induce mutations in cycling cells and degenerative changes in post-mitotic cells, notably neurons. This paper explores exposures to naturally occurring and manmade sources of nitrosamines and hydrazines in association with sporadic forms of ALS (with or without frontotemporal degeneration), progressive supranuclear palsy, and Alzheimer disease. Research approaches are suggested to examine whether these associations might have etiological significance. Lay Summary Unknown environmental exposures are thought to be risk factors for non-inherited forms of certain progressive brain diseases, such as sporadic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS), progressive supranuclear palsy (sPSP), and Alzheimer's disease (sAD). Related progressive and fatal brain disorders coalesce in a single neurodegenerative disease of largely environmental origin (ALS-Parkinsonism-dementia Complex) that has affected three genetically distinct populations residing in islands of the Western Pacific region. Prolonged study of this prototypical neurodegenerative disease has provided invaluable information on the probable environmental cause (specific chemical genotoxins) and molecular mechanisms (unrepaired nerve cell DNA-damage) by which brain degeneration begins, evolves and, years or decades later, clinical signs appear, and progress. This information is used as a foundation to explore whether chemically related genotoxins (nitrosamines, hydrazines) are possible risk factors for sALS, sPSP, and sAD. Methods to test this hypothesis in the field and laboratory are proposed.
Sub-graph entropy based network approaches for classifying adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder from resting-state functional MRI

This paper presents a novel approach for classifying obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adolescents from resting-state fMRI data. Currently, the state-of-the-art for diagnosing OCD in youth involves interviews with adolescent patients and their parents by an experienced clinician, symptom rating scales based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and behavioral observation. Discovering signal processing and network-based biomarkers from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of patients has the potential to assist clinicians in their diagnostic assessments of adolescents suffering from OCD. This paper investigates the clinical diagnostic utility of a set of univariate, bivariate and multivariate features extracted from resting-state fMRI using an information-theoretic approach in 15 adolescents with OCD and 13 matched healthy controls. Results indicate that an information-theoretic approach based on sub-graph entropy is capable of classifying OCD vs. healthy subjects with high accuracy. Mean time-series were extracted from 85 brain regions and were used to calculate Shannon wavelet entropy, Pearson correlation matrix, network features and sub-graph entropy. In addition, two special cases of sub-graph entropy, namely node and edge entropy, were investigated to identify important brain regions and edges from OCD patients. A leave-one-out cross-validation method was used for the final predictor performance. The proposed methodology using differential sub-graph (edge) entropy achieved an accuracy of 0.89 with specificity 1 and sensitivity 0.80 using leave-one-out cross-validation with in-fold feature ranking and selection. The high classification accuracy indicates the predictive power of the sub-network as well as edge entropy metric.
Preoperative glenoid considerations for shoulder arthroplasty: a review

Preoperative assessment of the glenoid in the setting of shoulder arthroplasty is critical to account for variations in glenoid morphology, wear, version, inclination, and glenohumeral subluxation.Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) scan assessment of the morphology of glenoid erosion allows for a more accurate surgical decision-making process to correct deformity and restore the joint line.Newer technology has brought forth computer-assisted software for glenoid planning in shoulder arthroplasty and patient-specific instrumentation.There have been promising early findings, although further evaluation is needed to determine how this technology impacts implant survivorship, function, and patient-reported outcomes. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:126-137. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190011.
RNAseq expression patterns of canine invasive urothelial carcinoma reveal two distinct tumor clusters and shared regions of dysregulation with human bladder tumors

Invasive urothelial carcinoma (iUC) is highly similar between dogs and humans in terms of pathologic presentation, molecular subtypes, response to treatment and age at onset. Thus, the dog is an established and relevant model for testing and development of targeted drugs benefiting both canine and human patients. We sought to identify gene expression patterns associated with two primary types of canine iUC tumors: those that express a common somatic mutation in the BRAF gene, and those that do not. We performed RNAseq on tumor and normal tissues from pet dogs. Analysis of differential expression and clustering, and positional and individual expression was used to develop gene set enrichment profiles distinguishing iUC tumors with and without BRAFV595E mutations, as well as genomic regions harboring excessive numbers of dysregulated genes. We identified two expression clusters that are defined by the presence/absence of a BRAFV595E (BRAFV600E in humans) somatic mutation. BRAFV595E tumors shared significantly more dysregulated genes than BRAF wild-type tumors, and vice versa, with 398 genes differentiating the two clusters. Key genes fall into clades of limited function: tissue development, cell cycle regulation, immune response, and membrane transport. The genomic site with highest number of dysregulated genes overall lies in a locus corresponding to human chromosome 8q24, a region frequently amplified in human urothelial cancers. These data identify critical sets of genes that are differently regulated in association with an activating mutation in the MAPK/ERK pathway in canine iUC tumors. The experiments also highlight the value of the canine system in identifying expression patterns associated with a common, shared cancer.
Assessing meaning & purpose in life: development and validation of an item bank and short forms for the NIH PROMIS®.

A sense of meaning and purpose is important for people living with acute and chronic illness. It can buffer the effects of stress and facilitate adaptive coping. As part of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), we developed and validated an item response theory (IRT)-based measure of meaning and purpose in life. Informed by a literature review and patient and content-expert input, we wrote 52 items to assess meaning and purpose and administered them to a general population sample (n = 1000) along with the Meaning in Life Questionnaire-Presence of Meaning Subscale (MLQ-Presence) and the Life Engagement Test (LET). We split the sample in half for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). IRT analyses included assessments of differential item functioning (DIF). Participants had a mean age of 47.8 years and 50.3% were male. EFA revealed one dominant factor and CFA yielded a good fitting model for a 37-item bank (CFI = 0.962, TLI = 0.960, RMSEA = 0.085). All items were free of sex, age, education, and race DIF. Internal consistency reliability estimates ranged from α = 0.90 (4-item short form) to α = 0.98 (37-item bank). The 8-item Meaning and Purpose short form was correlated with the MLQ-Presence (r = 0.89), the LET (r = 0.79), and the full PROMIS Meaning and Purpose item bank (r = 0.98). The PROMIS Meaning and Purpose measures demonstrated sufficient unidimensionality and displayed good internal consistency, model fit, and convergent validity. Further psychometric testing of the PROMIS Meaning and Purpose item bank and short forms in people with chronic diseases will help evaluate the generalizability of this new tool.
Relative contribution of muscle strength, lean mass, and lower extremity motor function in explaining between-person variance in mobility in older adults

Approximately 35% of individuals > 70 years have mobility limitations. Historically, it was posited lean mass and muscle strength were major contributors to mobility limitations, but recent findings indicate lean mass and muscle strength only moderately explain mobility limitations. One likely reason is that lean mass and muscle strength do not necessarily incorporate measures globally reflective of motor function (defined as the ability to learn, or to demonstrate, the skillful and efficient assumption, maintenance, modification, and control of voluntary postures and movement patterns). In this study we determined the relative contribution of lean mass, muscle strength, and the four square step test, as an index of lower extremity motor function, in explaining between-participant variance in mobility tasks. In community-dwelling older adults (N = 89; 67% women; mean 74.9 ± 6.7 years), we quantified grip and leg extension strength, total and regional lean mass, and time to complete the four square step test. Mobility was assessed via 6-min walk gait speed, stair climb power, 5x-chair rise time, and time to complete a complex functional task. Multifactorial linear regression modeling was used to determine the relative contribution (via semi-partial r2) for indices of lean mass, indices of muscle strength, and the four square step test. When aggregated by sex, the four square step test explained 17–34% of the variance for all mobility tasks (p < 0.01). Muscle strength explained ~ 12% and ~ 7% of the variance in 6-min walk gait speed and 5x-chair rise time, respectively (p < 0.02). Lean mass explained 32% and ~ 4% of the variance in stair climb power and complex functional task time, respectively (p < 0.02). When disaggregated by sex, lean mass was a stronger predictor of mobility in men. The four square step test is uniquely associated with multiple measures of mobility in older adults, suggesting lower extremity motor function is an important factor for mobility performance. NCT02505529 –2015/07/22.
Climate Change Leads to a Reduction in Symbiotic Derived Cnidarian Biodiversity on Coral Reefs

Symbiotic relationships enable partners to thrive and survive in habitats where they would either not be as successful, or potentially not exist, without the symbiosis. The coral reef ecosystem, and its immense biodiversity, relies on the symbioses between cnidarians (e.g. scleractinian corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish) and multiple organisms including dinoflagellate algae (family Symbiodiniaceae), bivalves, crabs, shrimps, and fishes. In this review, we discuss the ramifications of whether coral reef cnidarian symbioses are obligatory, whereby at least one of the partners must be in the symbiosis in order to survive or are facultative. Furthermore, we cover the consequences of cnidarian symbioses exhibiting partner flexibility or fidelity. Fidelity, where a symbiotic partner can only engage in symbiosis with a subset of partners, may be absolute or context dependent. Current literature demonstrates that many cnidarian symbioses are highly obligative and appear to exhibit absolute fidelity. Consequently, for many coral reef cnidarian symbioses, surviving changing environmental conditions will depend on the robustness and potential plasticity of the existing host-symbiont(s) combination. If environmental conditions detrimentally affect even one component of this symbiotic consortium, it may lead to a cascade effect and the collapse of the entire symbiosis. Symbiosis is at the heart of the coral reef ecosystem, its existence, and its high biodiversity. Climate change may cause the demise of some of the cnidarian symbioses, leading to subsequent reduction in biodiversity on coral reefs.
Moral Grandstanding As A Threat to Free Expression

© Social Philosophy & Policy Foundation 2021. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
A Time for Clinical Transformation: Emerging Implications From COVID-19 for Athlete Transition Research and Clinical Practice

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes to the structure of sport and the experiences of athletes. In this commentary, we consider how these changes, including schedule disruptions and the early termination of careers, have contributed to a reconsideration of how athlete transition should be defined, examined, and intervened upon. We outline our rationale for this proposed reconfiguration, including implications for researchers and practitioners working with athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. For researchers, we recommend updating the transition definition, reconsidering the measurement of salient transition-related variables, and utilizing study designs/methods that best facilitate this work. For practitioners, we recommend considering the dynamic nature of transition within holistic athlete care, building momentum on mental health destigmatization achieved during the pandemic, athlete transition education, and clinician advocacy for transition-related resources for athletes. Ultimately, we hope this work will spark continued innovations in athlete transition research and practice moving forward.
A Three-Port Bidirectional LLC Resonant Converter for PV/Battery Applications

This paper proposes a three-port bidirectional LLC resonant converter that interfaces with one PV panel and one battery energy storage system (BESS). The topology is a combination of a half-bridge and a full-bridge LLC circuit with six active switches on the primary and a full-bridge rectifier composed of four switches on the secondary. The back-to-back switches are used to short the resonant capacitor and transformer when the battery is charged by the PV source. This topology allows the two sources to share the same resonant tank for transferring energy to the load and allows to store the extra energy from the load into the battery without additional circuit components. In the forward operation, a phase-shift pulse width modulation (PWM) control is employed to implement independent maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for PV panel and the converter voltage gain is controlled by varying the operating frequency as in a typical LLC resonant converter. In the backward operation, the switching frequency is fixed at resonant frequency. Soft switching is realized in all switches over the entire range of source voltage and load conditions. A simulation study was carried out in LTspice software to validate the operating principles of the proposed topology. The PV input voltage range is selected to be 25 V to 45 V and the battery nominal voltage is 50 V with an output voltage regulated at 200 V DC.
Zinc status and growth in infants and young children with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Zinc deficiency is associated with poor growth in children without cystic fibrosis (CF), but its impact on growth in children with CF is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of low serum Zn (sZn) and its relationship with growth in the first 3 years of life in children with CF. METHODS We utilized data from infants with CF who were enrolled in a longitudinal study of nutrition and lung health and had sZn measured as part of clinical care. Cross-sectional correlations between sZn levels and growth z scores were assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient. To identify factors associated with sZn status and its association to longitudinal growth patterns, multiple regression analysis with repeated measures were performed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS A total of 106 sZn measurements from 53 infants were identified. Seventeen infants (32%) had intermittent Zn insufficiency, defined as at least one sZn <70 mcg/dl in their first 3 years of life. There were no significant cross-sectional associations between sZn and growth z scores. However, analysis of longitudinal growth patterns revealed that weight- and length-for-age z scores in children with intermittent Zn insufficiency were lower during early infancy and their weight-for-length z scores at age 3 years were also lower compared to those who were always Zn sufficient. CONCLUSION Low sZn occurs in one-third of children with CF in the first 3 years of life. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses revealed discrepant associations between sZn and growth. Therefore, prospective studies are needed to understand the role of Zn in growth in CF.
An Empirical Investigation of the Equity Implementation Model: An Alternative Lens for Understanding Technology Adoption

Many studies of technology adoption have noted that new technology can have far-reaching effects, dramatically changing the environment (e.g., work, home, school) in which we use the technology. The current research operationalizes the equity implementation model (EIM) to provide an equity/fairness perspective on technology adoption in the context of online discussion tools. The EIM applies equity theory to assess user outcomes and inputs related to adopting a new technology in comparison to the outcomes and inputs of other technology stakeholders. Equity theory provides an alternative lens for understanding technology adoption that may capture broader issues related to the changes resulting from new technology. A survey instrument measuring these equity constructs is developed, and a longitudinal, empirical study of the EIM (and other determinants of technology adoption) is conducted. The results indicate that the instrument and model exhibit good measurement properties, and the model provides explanatory power comparable to most models of technology adoption.
Genetic aspects of longevity in Angus and Hereford cows.

Thirty years and 23 yr of life history data from a Hereford herd in Arizona and an Angus herd in Wyoming, respectively, were analyzed. Longevity averaged 4.21 +/- .06 for years from first calving to disposal (FST), 7.40 +/- .06 for years from birth to disposal (AGE) and 3.46 +/- .06 for lifetime number of calves weaned (NUM) in Herefords and 4.49 +/- .13 (FST), 6.68 +/- .12 (AGE) and 3.66 +/- .11 (NUM) in Angus. In the Hereford herd, heritability estimates for traits measuring longevity, estimated from daughter-dam regression and paternal half-sib analyses, ranged from .16 to .26. In the Angus herd, heritability estimates from daughter-dam regression ranged from .03 to .05. In the Hereford herd, genetic correlations of birth weight and weaning weight with longevity, from daughter-dam regression, were negative and generally of low magnitude, whereas genetic correlations between weaning condition score and longevity were positive and moderate. Analogous estimates from paternal half-sib analyses all were positive and moderate to high. Phenotypic correlations between early life traits and longevity traits in Herefords all were near zero. In the Angus herd, curves for age-specific survivorship and age-specific survival rate varied markedly among sires. This study suggested the existence of moderate genetic variation for longevity traits in beef cattle. None of the traits expressed early in life that were examined would, however, be reliable predictors of genetic or phenotypic merit for longevity.
Thin film magnetic RAM devices

A new MRAM technology using magnetoresistance readout and an efficient memory cell integrated with IC technology has potential for superior density and cost compared with other technologies, especially where very high density and/or non-volatility is required.
Allgemeine Eigenschaften von Viren

Viren sind die kleinsten infektiosen Einheiten (20–300 nm im Durchmesser), sie enthalten ein Nucleinsaure-Mokekul (RNS oder DNS) als Genom. Die Nucleinsaure ist von einer Proteinhuhe umgegen, die gesamte infektiose Einheh wird als Virion bezeichnet. Viren konnen sich nur in lebenden Zehen vermehren. Die Virus Nucleinsaure enthalt die notigen Informationen um in der infizierten Wirtszelle die Synthese zahlreicher virusspezifischer Makromolekule zu veranlassen, die zur Budung der Virusnachkommenschaft benotigt werden. Wahrend des Vermehrungscyclus werden zahlreiche Kopien der Virus-Nucleinsaure und des Hullproteins synthetisiert. Bei der Zusammenlagerung der Hullproteine bildet sich das Capsid, das die Nucleinsaure umgibt und sie gegen extracellulare Einflusse stabilisiert. Mu Hufe des Hullproteins erfolgt die Anheftung und vielleicht auch die Penetration des Virus nach dem Kontakt mit einer empfanglichen Zelle.
Home Cooking: Marketing Meth:

Making and selling methamphetamine is a business of personal ties. Henry H. Brownstein, Timothy M. Mulcahy, Bruce G. Taylor, Johannes Fernandes-Huessy, and Carol Hafford provide a nuanced understan...
Elastic anisotropy of ferromagnesian post-perovskite in Earth's D” layer

We report experimental observation of a sizable elastic anisotropy in a polycrystalline sample of ferromagnesian silicate in post-perovskite (ppv) structure. Using a novel composite X-ray transparent gasket to contain and synthesize ppv in a panoramic diamond-anvil cell along with oblique X-ray diffraction geometry, we observed the anisotropic lattice strain and {l_brace}1 0 0{r_brace} or {l_brace}1 1 0{r_brace} slip-plane texture in the sample at 140 GPa. We deduced the elasticity tensor (c{sub ij}), orientation-dependent compressional wave velocities, polarization-dependent shear-wave velocities, and the velocity anisotropy of the silicate ppv. Our results are consistent with calculations and indicate that with sufficient preferred orientation, the elastic anisotropy of this phase can produce large shear-wave splitting.
Nutritional and related experiments on laboratory maintenance of three species of symbiont-bearing, large foraminifera

Factors were examined that affect survival and growth of two common species of large foraminifera from the Red Sea,Amphisorus hemprichii Ehrenberg andAmphistegina lobifera Larsen, 1976. The former is host for dinoflagellate and the latter for diatom zooxanthellae. Experimental conditions were modeled on conditions at 25 m during spring at Wadi Taba, Gulf of Elat, Israel, the season and site where the experimental organisms were collected between 1983 and 1988. The two species responded quite differently in nutritional experiments.A. hemprichii grew, on average, 0.270 mm in diameter in 3 mo on a diet ofNitzschia subcommunis Hustedt,Chlorella sp. (clone AT) orCylindrotheca closterium Rabenhorst isolated from their native habitat. Unfed controls did not grow. In contrast, unfed populations ofA. lobifera grew as well or better than those that were fed unialgal diets. Growth of both species was enhanced on particular mixed algal diets. Both species required photosynthetically active symbionts. Even when fed weekly and supplied with nutrients, neither species survived in the dark. All individuals ofA. hemprichii died after 8 wk incubation in the dark;A. lobifera survived longer, but all were dead by 13 wk. The highest growth rate ofA. hemprichii (0.037 mm wk−1) was obtained when they were fed, the medium was enriched, and the medium was changed weekly. All other conditions being the same, growth rate dropped to 0.009 mm wk−1 when the medium was changed every 3 wk. In contrast,A. lobifera grew fastest when the medium was changed every 3 wk. Food or enrichment with nitrate or phosphate did not stimulate growth (0.03 mm wk−1) over that of the controls. Specimens ofMarginopora kudakajimensis Gudmundsson from Japan, another dinoflagellate-bearing species, were also tested. They grew best (0.02 mm wk−1) when cultured in light, in media enriched with nitrate and phosphate changed weekly, and fed. All three species withdrew nitrate and phosphate from the medium in chemostat experiments.
The effects of a choline deficiency on the lipid composition and ethanol tolerance of Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract 1. 1. A reduction in the dietary concentration of choline, an essential nutrient for Drosophila melanogaster, from the optimal concentration of 80 μg ml of defined medium to 8 μg ml diminished the level of tissue phosphatidylcholine to less than one-third the normal level in third instar larvae without significantly altering the amount of phosphatidylethanolamine. 2. 2. The rates of synthesis of phospholipids, triglycerides, diglycerides and monoglycerides were reduced by the choline-deficiency, and the chain length of fatty acids in lipids was shortened. 3. 3. The activity of succinic dehydrogenase, a mitochondrial enzyme, was decreased by the deficiency, but the activities of fumarase, sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, snglycerol-3-phosphate oxidase and fatty acid synthetase were unaffected. A choline-deficiency did not alter the ultrastructure of mitochondria of larval fat body cells. 4. 4. Choline-deficient individuals were more susceptible to the toxic effects of ethanol during larval and pupal development, and less adept at utilizing ethanol as a substrate for adult tissue synthesis.
Fermentation during growth and sporulation of Bacillus thuringiensis HD‐1

During growth in a glucose-tryptone-mineral salts broth, B. thuringiensis HD-1 Produced lactate, pyruvated, acetate, acetoin, and poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB). Based on the type and sequence of products found, all or part of the acetate appears to have been produced via the 2,3-butanediol cycle. PHB was produced and utilized during spore formation and may have provided energy for that process.
Making Art Work: Creative Assessment as Boundary Work

© 2014 Elsevier B.V. Conflict in creative work is sometimes thought to emanate from the contentious personalities of creative workers. Drawing on several months of ethnographic field work at an advertising agency and semi-structured interviews with advertising professionals, I propose an alternate explanation for this antagonism, grounded in creative workers' and their market-oriented colleagues' competing definitions of good work. As an illustration of this larger struggle, I focus on the tension that arises during creative assessment. I find that while creative workers designate ideas as creative based on novelty and relevance, not all sources of novelty and relevance are considered legitimate. Sources that originate from outside their professional domain are dismissed as not novel (e.g., overused ) or irrelevant (e.g., constraints ). Consequently, I suggest that creative assessment can be understood as a form of professional boundary work, a conceptualization with implications for our understanding of conflict in the creative workplace and the evaluation of creativity more generally.
Modeling of Gaussian beam ensemble flat-tops for applications

The goal of this study is to demonstrate how a planar ensemble of Gaussian beams (TEM 00 ) can be modeled to create flattop beams for laser applications. We employed the Gaussian Beam Propagation Method (GBPM) in the ASAP (BRO, Tucson AZ) computing and visualization environment in this endeavor. Our study revealed that ensemble individual beam's widths must be set at 1.6 mm, half-angle divergence cannot exceed .5 degrees. In addition, individual laser positions in the ensemble must be such that all ensemble Gaussian beams reach the target/detector in phase. Such beam manipulations are critical for many applications as they strive to customize industry de facto Gaussian laser beams into flattops. In addition, our study has demonstrated that beam flatness is achievable without the aid of dissipative optical entities.
History of myelography with pantopaque contributing to arachnoiditis.

When I entered the practice of neurosurgery in the mid 1960s, the only method available for analyzing the contents of the spinal canal was myelography using Pantopaque injected into the spinal fluid as a contrast agent. Pantopaque was an oil-based medium, thus denser than water, containing an iodinated chemical that interfered with X-ray penetration, so that the soft tissue contents of the canal were outlined on fluoroscopy as the patient was tilted head up or down on a table and appropriate radiographs were taken. It was not absorbable and had to be removed by aspiration which proved formidable, thus some was, more often than not left, in the canal. Pantopaque was irritating to the leptomeninges, and it was not uncommon to find arachnoiditis present to one degree or another if and when repeat studies were carried out.[2]
Investigating solid mantle upwelling rates beneath mid-ocean ridges using U-series disequilibria, 1: a global approach

Abstract U-series disequilibria in MORB produce trends of ( 230 Th)/( 232 Th) as a function of ( 238 U)/( 232 Th) for given lengths of ridge often defined by first-order segmentation. These trends are most easily explained as mixing between melts derived from chemically heterogeneous mantle sources. We propose that the slopes of these disequilibria trends provide a method for constraining solid upwelling rates beneath mid-ocean ridges that may avoid difficulties in interpreting absolute disequilibria. Melting models based on melt ascent under both equilibrium and disequilibrium transport conditions are used to explore the effect of solid upwelling rate variations on the slope of such trends. Solid upwelling rate variations have no effect on the slope of the disequilibria trends in near-fractional melting models in which melting only begins in the presence of garnet. If the high ( 238 U)/( 232 Th) melt is derived from melting spinel peridotite, then near-fractional models can produce an upwelling rate dependence. Equilibrium porous flow models have a greater dependence of slope on upwelling rate. This dependence occurs irrespective of whether or not the high ( 238 U)/( 232 Th) melt comes from a garnet-bearing source. We regress all available U-series data from individual areas of ridge for both the slopes of the trends and the corresponding errors. The slopes of all trends except one decrease as spreading rate decreases, consistent with the prediction of our modeling. The sole exception is the trend of data from the northern MAR which produces a well-defined mixing trend with samples from Sao Miguel (Azores) suggesting it is influenced by plume-type melting. The dependence of disequilibria slopes on spreading rate suggests that melting rate variations are recorded by 230 Th excess variation. This mutual variation is most easily explained as a direct relation between spreading rate and solid upwelling rate. The close correspondence between the observed dependence of slope on spreading rate and the modeled dependence of slope on upwelling rate is consistent with purely passive plate driven flow of the solid mantle beneath ridges.
Genetic and Molecular Characterization of Skb15, a Highly Conserved Inhibitor of the Fission Yeast PAK, Shk1

The p21-activated kinase, Shk1, is essential for viability, establishment and maintenance of cell polarity, and proper mating response in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here we describe the characterization of a highly conserved, WD repeat protein, Skb15, which negatively regulates Shk1 in fission yeast. A null mutation in the skb15 gene is lethal and results in deregulation of actin polymerization and localization, microtubule biogenesis, and the cytokinetic machinery, as well as a substantial uncoupling of these processes from the cell cycle. Loss of Skb15 function is suppressed by partial loss of Shk1, demonstrating that negative regulation of Shk1 by Skb15 is required for proper execution of cytoskeletal remodeling and cytokinetic functions. A mouse homolog of Skb15 can substitute for its counterpart in fission yeast, demonstrating that Skb15 protein function has been substantially conserved through evolution.
The COMPRES/GSECARS gas-loading system for diamond anvil cells at the Advanced Photon Source

We have designed and constructed a new system for loading gases at high pressure into diamond anvil cells at pressures up to 200 MPa. The gases are used either as quasi-hydrostatic pressure media surrounding the sample or as the sample itself. The diamond cell is sealed using a clamping mechanism, which permits nearly any type of diamond anvil cell to be used. Online ruby fluorescence and video imaging systems allow in situ monitoring of the pressure and gasket deformation as the cell is sealed, resulting in a very high success rate in loading cells. The system includes interlocks and computer control that allow it to be safely and easily operated by visiting users at the Advanced Photon Source. We present preliminary X-ray diffraction data on volume compression of single-crystal magnesium oxide (MgO) in helium up to 110 GPa.