cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bi-planar spinal stereoradiography of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: considerations in 3D alignment and functional balance.

A prospective, cross-sectional study to determine the impact of arm position on the 3D spine and pelvic parameters and postural balance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A total number of 37 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients were enrolled prospectively. Three arm positions, (1) 45° shoulder flexion with knuckles on clavicles, (2) 90° shoulder and elbow flexion with forearms and palms on the front wall, and (3) arms hanging on either side, were instructed to the cohort. Bi-planar low dose X-ray images of the spine and pelvis were registered in a stereoradiography system in the first and second arm positions. A pressure mat recorded the position of the center of pressure in each arm position. Spinal and pelvic parameters were measured for the cohort. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the agreement between the spinal and pelvic parameters and standing balance in different arm positions. Thoracic kyphosis, sacral slope, sagittal vertical axis, T1 tilt, and spinal height were significantly different between the knuckles on clavicle and forearms on the wall positions p < 0.05. Significant differences were observed in the pressure distribution under the feet between the wall and freestanding positions. Bland–Altman plots determined disagreements between the first and second arm positions in clinical measurements and postural assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The knuckles on clavicles position replicates the functional standing balance in AIS. Significant differences between the spinal and pelvic parameters suggest that the wall and clavicle arm positions should not be used interchangeably in AIS postural assessment. Diagnostic level II
A COMPARISON OF THREE STAINING METHODS FOR DIRECT MICROSCOPIC COUNTING OF BACTERIA IN MILK

The Levowitz-Weber (LW) stain was compared collaboratively with two new stains, the pH 4 toluidine blue (pH 4 TBO), and the periodic acid-bisulfite-toluidine blue (PST), for direct microscopic counting of bacteria in nonfat dry milk (NDM). Mean counts for 10 samples (18 determinations each) were for the PST, pH 4 TBO, and LW stains, respectively, 89.1, 65.1, and 64.8 million/g. The mean count for the PST stain was significantly higher than the other two at the 5% level. The higher counts with the PST stain were as expected since the PST stain is designed to improve staining of heat plasmolyzed cells such as are found in NDM. Interlaboratory variation in counts was high. This variation was independent of the stain used or the laboratory preparing the stained smear. More work is needed on techniques for direct microscopic counting of bacteria to reduce interlaboratory variability.
Control of Circulating IgE by the Vitamin D Receptor In Vivo Involves B Cell Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of asthma and allergy. The active form of vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] regulates B cells in vitro and mice without the vitamin D receptor (VDR knockout [KO]) have high serum IgE. Whole-body VDR KO, T cell-specific VDR (T-VDR) KO, B cell-specific VDR (B-VDR) KO, and vitamin D deficient mice were used to determine the targets of vitamin D in the regulation of IgE in vivo. Vitamin D deficient, VDR KO, and B-VDR KO mice developed hyper-IgE, whereas T-VDR KO mice did not. The data show that IL-10 secretion by B cells and CD1d expression on IL-10 secreting B cells was lower in VDR KO mice. Mesenteric lymph node cultures from VDR KO and B-VDR KO mice secreted higher IgE ex vivo than wild-type (WT) cultures, and the addition of IL-10 eliminated the difference in IgE production between VDR KO and WT cultures. The increase in IgE in VDR KO mice was 2-fold greater than in the B-VDR KO mice, suggesting that VDR deficiency in non-B cells contributes to hyper-IgE in vivo. Antibiotic depletion of the microbiota raised serum IgE 4-fold in both WT and VDR KO mice. The VDR directly and indirectly regulates IgE production in B cells. Through the VDR, vitamin D is an environmental factor that helps to maintain low serum IgE responses.
Approach to atmospheric laser-propagation theory based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle and a self-consistency concept

We propose a self-consistency condition based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel principle, which we apply to the propagation kernel of the mutual coherence function of a partially coherent laser beam propagating through a turbulent atmosphere. The assumption of statistical independence of turbulence in neighboring propagation segments leads to an integral equation in the propagation kernel. This integral equation is satisfied by a Gaussian function, with dependence on the transverse coordinates that is identical to the previous Gaussian formulation by Yura [Appl. Opt.11, 1399 (1972)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.11.001399], but differs in the transverse coherence length’s dependence on propagation distance, so that this established version violates our self-consistency principle. Our formulation has one free parameter, which in the context of Kolmogorov’s theory is independent of turbulence strength and propagation distance. We determined its value by numerical fitting to the rigorous beam propagation theory of Yura and Hanson [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A6, 564 (1989)JOAOD60740-323210.1364/JOSAA.6.000564], demonstrating in addition a significant improvement over other Gaussian models.
Nucleation and growth of 2D covalent organic frameworks: polymerization and crystallization of COF monomers.

We establish a theoretical foundation for understanding the nucleation and growth of 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) from solution. This foundation should make it easier to realize some of the unique properties of COFs in targeted applications by allowing us to understand how processing variables such as solvent choice and linkage chemistry lead to larger crystalline domains. We use free energy techniques to map out the reaction mechanisms and activation energies of three fundamental reactions that are responsible for the early stages of 2D COF nucleation for a prototypical and commonly used 2D boronate ester material, COF-5, in water and methanol solvents. We show that the presence of water and methanol greatly catalyzes the boronate ester formation reactions, lowering the activation energy barrier by about 10 kcal mol−1 relative to an uncatalyzed reaction pathway. This is in good agreement with experimental observations by Smith and Dichtel (JACS 2014). Our crystallization studies also conclusively eliminate certain proposed mechanisms of growth, such as polymerization of large sheets followed by stacking, while strengthening the case for templated polymerization as a likely growth mechanism for COF crystals.
Extending a Lifeline or Cutting Losses? The Effects of Conflict on Household Receipts of Remittances in Pakistan

Summary I examine the causal effects of long-term exposure to conflict, measured at the micro level, on households’ receipt of remittances, among households residing in areas affected by the 2010 floods in Pakistan. Using a dataset of 7802 households, representative of all flood-affected areas of Pakistan in 2010, I employ IV estimation to overcome the endogeneity of conflict exposure and remittance receipts, and control for a range of confounding factors. I find that, contrary to the literature from country-level case studies, long-term exposure to conflict reduces households’ likelihood of receiving any remittances at all, as well as the average amounts of remittances received. However for households in the lowest food consumption expenditure quintile, conflict has a positive effect on the likelihood of remittance receipts, which provides evidence for the existence of heterogeneous effects as well as a significant micro–macro gap in understanding the causal effects of conflict on remittance receipts.
Effect of Viscosity on the Kapitza Conductance

The problem of the Kapitza conductance h K can be stated as follows. For a given temperature difference between the surface of a solid and liquid helium (3He, He I, or He II), much more heat flows from the hotter to the colder material than can be explained theoretically.1 In addition, surface preparation of the solid may significantly affect the Kapitza conductance, and this is another problem which is not well understood.2
Phylogenetic relatedness of native and exotic plants along climate gradients in California, USA

Aim One hypothesis of Darwin's naturalization conundrum, the pre-adaptation hypothesis, proposed that exotics that are more closely related to species in native communities might be more successful invaders because close relatives share similar traits and might be favoured in similar environments. We test this prediction using regional angiosperm assemblages that have been heavily invaded by exotic species and relating patterns of phylogenetic relatedness to potential environmental drivers—temperature and precipitation. Location California, USA. Methods Using a massive, dated phylogeny of angiosperm plants, we assessed differences in phylogenetic structure between native, naturalized exotic and full floras of 35 bioregions in California. We quantified phylogenetic relatedness using the net relatedness index (NRI) and the nearest taxon index (NTI) at varying phylogenetic extent. We measured changes in phylogenetic structure using a metric (phylogenetic relatedness anomaly), which is calculated as the phylogenetic relatedness of the full flora of a bioregion minus that of the native flora of the bioregion. We assessed correlations between phylogenetic structure measures and temperature or precipitation. Results In general, introduction of exotic species decreased phylogenetic clustering when considering NRI but increased phylogenetic clustering when considering NTI. However, patterns of phylogenetic relatedness for some families were opposite to those for other families (e.g., NRI anomalies for Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Fabaceae and Poaceae were opposite to those for Brassicaceae, Asteraceae and all angiosperms combined). Native communities were more phylogenetically clustered in dry regions, while exotic phylogenetic structure was less clearly related to climate. Main conclusions Exotic species tend to come from clades that are poorly represented but not completely absent from the native flora. Within families, NTI patterns tended to be fairly similar between native and exotic species, suggesting shared responses to the environment, particularly temperature and precipitation, in these two groups.
Combinatorics of n-color cyclic compositions

Abstract Integer compositions and related enumeration problems have been of interest to combinatorialists and number theorists for a long time. The cyclic and colored analogues of this concept, although interesting, have not been extensively studied. In this paper we explore the combinatorics of n -color cyclic compositions, presenting generating functions, bijections, asymptotic formulas related to the number of such compositions, the number of parts, and the number of restricted parts.
Glacial cycles promote greater dispersal, which can help explain larger clutch sizes, in north temperate birds

Earth’s glacial history and patterns in the life history traits of the planet’s avifauna suggest the following interpretations of how recent geological history has affected these key characteristics of the biota: 1) Increased colonizing ability has been an important advantage of increased dispersal, and life history strategies are better categorized by dispersive colonizing ability than by their intrinsic growth rates; 2) Birds of the North Temperate Zone show a greater tendency to disperse, and they disperse farther, than tropical or south temperate birds; 3) Habitat changes associated with glacial advance and retreat selected for high dispersal ability, particularly in the North; and 4) Selection for greater dispersal throughout the unstable Pleistocene has also resulted in other well-recognized life history contrasts, especially larger clutch sizes in birds of North Temperate areas.
Public health problems arising from the use of pesticides

It is important that the experts in food technology and chemistry who have contributed to the principles of safety in relation to pesticide residues on foods lend their talents and attention to the many other dimensions of pesticide safety.
Off-axis PSF reconstruction for integral field spectrograph: instrumental aberrations and application to Keck/OSIRIS data

The integral field spectrograph OSIRIS at Keck I has been used to measure the motion of the stars around the supermassive black hole at the Center of the Galaxy. The small field of view provided and the crowding of the region prevent any good PSF estimate. A parallel imager can be used simultaneously to the IFU. However, its distance of 19 arcseconds prevents the observed PSF to be directly applied to the IFU because of anisoplanatism and instrumental aberrations. The Galactic Center Group at UCLA has developed an algorithms to predict PSF variability for Keck AO images (Off-axis PSF reconstruction, AIROPA software package). AIROPA allows us to use the parallel imager to correctly predict the IFU’s PSF. We modified this package to adapt it to the case of OSIRIS imager and IFU (AIROPA-IFU) and characterized the instrumental aberrations of both detectors. Here, we present preliminary results of the application of this post-processing tool to OSIRIS datasets of the Galactic Center.
Chromosomal control of foot pad development in Sarcophaga bullata. I. The puffing pattern.

The puffing schedule of 71 puffs of chromosome B in Sarcophaga bullata polytene foot pad cells were analyzed during an 8 day period of pupal development. The number of puffs fluctuates, with maxima at about day 7 and day 10. The nucleolar volume reaches two maxima which precede the maxima in the number of puffs by approximately one day. With respect to qualitative changes in the puffing pattern, the present study shows that all puffs appear and disappear in a sequential fashion which is related to development. The pattern of potentially active loci and the sequence in which they form puffs are identical in all foot pad cells. Nevertheless, two neighboring cells may differ characteristically in the timing of the activity of a few individual loci relative to the rest of the puffing sequence. Furthermore, pulvilli cells from different pairs of legs may differ in the timing of the entire puffing sequence. It is concluded that puffing, at least in part, is under the control of intracellular processes rather than of external factors such as hormones.
LRU Importance Ranking Development: A Bridge Between Design for Reliability and Design for Safety

This paper presents a methodology that is dedicated to a complete Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) ranking development for complex safety-critical systems. The goal of Design for Reliability is to reduce the probability of operational/mission failures and thus to increase Reliability, whereas the goal of Design for Safety is to reduce the probability of cata-strophic/critical failures and thus to reduce mishap occurrences. This LRU importance ranking methodology bridges the gap between Design for Reliability (DfR) and Design for Safety via ranking LRUs in terms of each LRU's failure rate and its safety impact on a complex system.
A practical and efficient iterative history matching workflow for shale gas well coupling multiple objective functions, multiple proxy-based MCMC and EDFM

Abstract A manual history matching is a time-consuming process and too risky for an investment decision because it cannot capture the uncertainty of subsurface information and production forecast. Therefore, Assisted History Matching (AHM) was adopted to obtain multiple reservoir realizations for the probabilistic production forecast. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is one of the AHM in the Bayesian statistics that have benefits of quantifying uncertainty without bias, not being trapped in any local minima. However, the AHM in shale reservoirs has not been widely studied due to the unconventional shale's complexities such as fracture modeling. The continuum approach cannot accurately model the connection between hydraulic fractures and matrix blocks in shale reservoirs. While, Discrete Fracture Modeling (DFM) by using local grid refinement can overcome the issue of the continuum approach, there is still a limitation of computational efficiency. Therefore, Embedded Discrete Fracture Modeling (EDFM) has been developed to combine the benefits of dual-continuum model and DFM. While DFM is an intrusive technique to model fractures, EDFM can account the mass transfer between matrix cells and fractures without being intrusive to the model. Besides, EDFM provides more efficient computational time than DFM. In this study, we proposed a practical and efficient iterative AHM workflow by integrating the benefits of using multiple objective functions, multiple proxy-based MCMC algorithm, EDFM and commercial reservoir simulator. Then, we demonstrated an application of the proposed workflow to a real shale gas well by matching both gas and water rates. The field application shows that the proposed AHM workflow efficiently finds the history matching solutions of 64 out of 300 simulation runs (21%) with a total computational time of one day. Furthermore, the workflow captures the uncertainty of reservoir and fracture parameters in terms of posterior distribution. Also, we performed the probabilistic production forecast and obtained P10-50-90 estimated ultimate recovery of gas production.
Hydrogen peroxide skin preparation reduces Cutibacterium acnes in shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective, blinded, controlled trial.

Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether preoperative skin preparation with hydrogen peroxide reduces intraoperative culture positivity for Cutibacterium acnes in shoulder arthroplasty. Methods This was a prospective, controlled, parallel/noncrossover, nonrandomized, single-blinded trial registered at clinicaltrials.gov . We included a consecutive series of patients scheduled to undergo primary anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The first group of patients underwent a standard skin preparation and the second group underwent the same preparation with the addition of hydrogen peroxide. We then took skin, dermis, glenohumeral joint, and air (negative control) aerobic and anaerobic culture swabs. We blinded the laboratory analyzing the samples. An a priori power analysis determined that 56 patients would be needed to see a 50% reduction in culture positivity rates. We also conducted a post hoc gender-stratified analysis. Results Between January 2017 and October 2018, the authors performed 124 primary shoulder arthroplasties, of which we included 65 and collected samples on 61. There were no demographic differences. There were fewer patients within the peroxide group with triple-positive cultures (skin, dermis, and joint) (0% vs. 19%, P = .024) and positive cultures from the joint (10% vs. 35%, P = .031). In our subgroup analysis, these differences were only significant in males. The vast majority of positive cultures were with C. acnes. Conclusion Although larger, randomized studies are needed, adding hydrogen peroxide to the preoperative skin preparation may be a low-cost, low-risk method to reduce deep tissue contamination with C. acnes, particularly within males.
A half century of Holistic Management: what does the evidence reveal?

Holistic Management (HM) is a decision-making framework based on triple bottom line thinking and a proactive approach to managing complexity. Primarily associated with an approach to managing livestock, it has spurred long running and still unresolved debates in rangeland ecology and management. Less studied are the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of HM, which may hold the key to successful ecological outcomes. In this article, we describe the main tenets of HM as conceived by wildlife biologist Allan Savory and address the longstanding and unresolved controversy over its legitimacy. We then provide a meta-analysis that not only provides an up-to-date review of the multidisciplinary evidence and ongoing arguments about HM, but also provides a novel explanation for the controversy—that it is grounded in epistemic differences between disciplines associated with agricultural science that rule out any chance of resolution. We conclude that the way to resolve the controversy over HM is to research, in partnership with ranchers, rangeland social-ecological systems in more holistic, integrated ways. This can account for the full range of human experience, co-produce new knowledge, and contribute to social-ecological transformation.
Relationship between sensory processing patterns, trait anxiety, and health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis:

Sensory processing patterns may predict health-related quality of life. This study examined this relationship in persons with multiple sclerosis considering trait anxiety as a potential mediator. P...
Expanding the Scope of Antibody Rebridging with New Pyridazinedione-TCO Constructs.

Disulfide rebridging methods have recently emerged as a route to hinge region-specific antibody modification, and there exist numerous examples of successful rebridging chemistry applied to clinica...
Predictions of Drug–Protein Interactions and Study of Magnetically Assisted Release Dynamics of 5-Fluorouracil from Soya Protein-Coated Iron Oxide Core–Shell Nanoparticles

In silico studies were performed using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to explore the efficacy of template docking and facilitate designing of drug nanocarrier systems. The binding of human uridine phosphory...
Abstract P241: Intermittent Fasting Lowers Blood Pressure In A Rat Model Of Hypertension By Modulating The Gut Microbiota

Studies have demonstrated that disruption of the gut microbiota, termed gut dysbiosis, plays a causal role in the development of hypertension (HT) in animal models and patients. Recent studies reve...
Erratum: ?Nanoscale morphology and indentation of individual nacre tablets from the gastropod mollusc Trochus niloticus? [J. Mater. Res. 20, 2400 (2005)]

An error occurred while printing this article in the September issue of the Journal of Materials Research. Figure 12 was resized incorrectly.
2020 Best Papers and Outstanding Reviewers

The Editorial Board of the IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy (OAJPE) would like to recognize the following best papers published between October 2017 and September 2020 in OAJPE and its preceding journal, IEEE Power and Energy Technology Systems Journal (PETS-J). 1) X. Zhao, Y. Xue, and X.-P. Zhang, “Fast frequency support from wind turbine systems by arresting frequency nadir close to settling frequency,” IEEE Open Access J. Power Energy , vol. 7, pp. 191–202, 2020. 2) P. Kotsampopoulos et al. , “A benchmark system for hardware-in-the-loop testing of distributed energy resources,” IEEE Power Energy Technol. Syst. J. , vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 94–103, Sep. 2018.
Influence of nanoparticle interface on enhancing dielectric constant by low loading nanofillers

In order to meet the challenges of the harsh working conditions for capacitors at high temperatures (>150°C), dielectric polymers with high glass transition temperature (Tg) have been considered as the candidate for the next generation of film capacitors. In addition to high operating temperature, many efforts have been made in developing high dielectric constant and low loss in high Tg polymers. Recently, we report the finding that the dielectric constant of high Tg dielectric polymers can be increased markedly by very small amount of nanofiller loadings (< 1 vol%) without increasing the loss. In nanocomposites, it is well known that the interface effects between the polymer matrix and nanoparticles play important role in determining the performance. In this work, chemically modified nanoparticles are employed to investigate the interface effects of nanofillers in the enhancement of dielectric responses of these nanocomposites.
Reduced Cell Excitability of Cardiac Postganglionic Parasympathetic Neurons Correlates With Myocardial Infarction-Induced Fatal Ventricular Arrhythmias in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective Withdrawal of cardiac vagal activity is considered as one of the important triggers for acute myocardial infarction (MI)-induced ventricular arrhythmias in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our previous study demonstrated that cell excitability of cardiac parasympathetic postganglionic (CPP) neurons was reduced in T2DM rats. This study investigated whether cell excitability of CPP neurons is associated with cardiac vagal activity and MI-induced ventricular arrhythmias in T2DM rats. Methods Rat T2DM was induced by a high-fat diet plus streptozotocin injection. MI-evoked ventricular arrhythmia was achieved by surgical ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Twenty-four-hour, continuous ECG recording was used to quantify ventricular arrhythmic events and heart rate variability (HRV) in conscious rats. The power spectral analysis of HRV was used to evaluate autonomic function. Cell excitability of CPP neurons was measured by the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Results Twenty-four-hour ECG data demonstrated that MI-evoked fatal ventricular arrhythmias are more severe in T2DM rats than that in sham rats. In addition, the Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the survival rate over 2 weeks after MI is significantly lower in T2DM rats (15% in T2DM+MI) compared to sham rats (75% in sham+MI). The susceptibility to ventricular tachyarrhythmia elicited by programmed electrical stimulation was higher in anesthetized T2DM+MI rats than that in rats with MI or T2DM alone (7.0 ± 0.58 in T2DM+MI group vs. 3.5 ± 0.76 in sham+MI). Moreover, as an index for vagal control of ventricular function, changes of left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and the maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dtmax) in response to vagal efferent nerve stimulation were blunted in T2DM rats. Furthermore, T2DM increased heterogeneity of ventricular electrical activities and reduced cardiac parasympathetic activity and cell excitability of CPP neurons (current threshold-inducing action potentials being 62 ± 3.3 pA in T2DM rats without MI vs. 27 ± 1.9 pA in sham rats without MI). However, MI did not alter vagal control of the ventricular function and CPP neuronal excitability, although it also induced cardiac autonomic dysfunction and enhanced heterogeneity of ventricular electrical activities. Conclusion The reduction of CPP neuron excitability is involved in decreased cardiac vagal function, including cardiac parasympathetic activity and vagal control of ventricular function, which is associated with MI-induced high mortality and malignant ventricular arrhythmias in T2DM.
Physicians Should Refuse Pharmaceutical Industry Gifts

Knowing that the high price of drugs is a major detriment to public health in the United States and that the pharmaceutical industry spends vast sums marketing to health care professionals, physicians should refuse visits, gifts, payments, and drug samples from pharmaceutical representatives.
A Revised Structure for the Forssman Glycolipid Hapten

Abstract A glycolipid hapten of the Forssman antigen of horse spleen was found to be a ceramide pentasaccharide, which contained 2 moles of N-acetylgalactosamine, 2 moles of galactose, and 1 mole of glucose per ceramide. An α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase of hog liver (Weissman, B., and Hinrichsen, D. F., Biochemistry, 8, 2034 (1969)) hydrolyzed the terminal α-N-acetylgalactosaminosyl residue with a simultaneous loss of the Forssman hapten activity. The resulting compound was identical with globoside (Yamakawa, T., Nishimura, S., and Kamimura, H., Jap. J. Exp. Med., 35, 201 (1965); Hakomori, S., Siddiqui, B., Li, Y. T., Li, S. C., and Hellerqvist, C. G., J. Biol. Chem. 246, 2271 (1971)) and gave a specific precipitin reaction with anti-globoside antiserum. The oligosaccharide released from the Forssman hapten gave an intense Morgan-Elson reaction and 1 of the 2 moles of galactosamine was periodate resistant. With these results and those of methylation studies, the structure of Forssman hapten was proposed as N-acetylgalactosaminosyl-α-(1 → 3) N-acetylgalactosaminosyl-β-(1 → 3)galactopyranosyl-α-(1 → 4)galactopyranosyl-β-(1 → 4)glucopyranosyl-(1 → 1)ceramide.
High-Voltage Circuit Breakers in the Bonneville Power System [includes discussion]

This paper discusses the purposes of a large number of circuit breaker tests of many domestic and foreign makes performed on the Bonneville Power System. The tests were made either for studying only the circuit breaker's operation in interruption of short-circuit current and of line charging current, or were part of over-all system tests including energization of new lines, setting of relays, et cetera.
Substance Use Among Gang Member Adolescents and Young Adults and Associations With Friends and Family Substance Use

Problem Gang membership is an indicator of chronic substance use. Social network studies indicate that substance use in youth is related to substance use in friends and family; however, no such analyses among gang youth have been conducted. Methods Interviews were conducted with a sample of young gang members (n = 60) in Los Angeles. Univariate analyses were conducted. Findings Cigarette use in gang members was strongly associated with cigarette use in friendship networks. There were no associations for use of alcohol and marijuana. Conclusions Few associations emerged between substance use in participants and their friends/family. Possible explanations for these findings are presented.
Resident-to-resident abuse in nursing homes as reported by nurse aides

Information on the scale and scope of resident-to-resident abuse, including verbal, physical, material, psychological, and sexual abuse, is presented. Nursing homes (n = 249) from ten states were used, with a total of 4,451 nurse aides in these facilities returning the questionnaire. Most nursing homes experienced verbal, physical, material, and psychological abuse, but sexual abuse was less common. Our findings clearly show that both the scale and scope of resident-to-resident abuse is high in nursing homes. Resident-to-resident abuse is common enough to be considered an issue of concern impacting the quality of life and safety of many residents.
The influence of the amyloid ß-protein and its precursor in modulating cerebral hemostasis.

Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are a significant cause of brain injury leading to vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). These deleterious events largely result from disruption of cerebral hemostasis, a well-controlled and delicate balance between thrombotic and fibrinolytic pathways in cerebral blood vessels and surrounding brain tissue. Ischemia and hemorrhage are both commonly associated with cerebrovascular deposition of amyloid s-protein (As). In this regard, As directly and indirectly modulates cerebral thrombosis and fibrinolysis. Further, major isoforms of the As precursor protein (AsPP) function as a potent inhibitor of pro-thrombotic proteinases. The purpose of this review article is to summarize recent research on how cerebral vascular As and AsPP influence cerebral hemostasis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, edited by M. Paul Murphy, Roderick A. Corriveau and Donna M. Wilcock.
Association of Reported Infant Crying and Maternal Parenting Stress

Infant crying is a well-recognized source of parental concern and anxiety, but little is known about other possible effects of excessive crying on parents or caretakers. The objective of this descriptive study was to investigate the relationship between reported infant crying and parenting stress. Mothers, who were consecutively enrolled at the time of their infants' well-child checkups, reported the number of minutes their infant generally cried in a 24-hour day. Excessive crying was defined as more than three hours per 24-hour day. Seventy-five of 94 mothers subsequently completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) at their infant's 4- or 6-month checkup. Mothers who reported excessive crying were 5.7 times more likely to score high on the reinforcement subscale of the PSI. Although the direction of this association is not known, it indicates that mothers who report excessive crying are more likely than other mothers to perceive a lack of positive reinforcement from their infants.
Multiple stage vector quantization using competitive learning

The frequency sensitive competitive learning (FSCL) algorithm requires an excessive amount of training for vector quantizers with large codebooks. The authors present a possible solution to this problem through the application of the multiple stage vector quantization (MSVQ) technique to the FSCL vector quantizer for use in the coding of image data. By combining a number of smaller code books which can be trained quickly using the FSCL VQ, the MSVQ allows formation of a large effective codebook size that makes substantial reduction of the computational cost and improved performance possible. The MSVQ technique also allows implementation of a large codebook with a much smaller storage requirement than if the same size codebook were implemented using the basic FSCL algorithm. >
A Developmental Perspective on Code‐Switching Conversations Between a Pair of Bilingual Siblings

interdependence, the optimal age question and some other matters. Working Papers on Bilingualism 19:197-205. Dawe, Lloyd. 1982. The influence of a bilingual child's first language competence on reasoning in mathematics. Ph.D. dissertation, Cambridge University. Dawe, Lloyd. 1983. Bilingualism and mathematical reasoning ability in English as a second language. Educational Studies in Mathematics 14(4):325-353. Lambert, Wallace E. 1977. The effects of bilingualism on the individual: cognitive and socio-cultural consequences. In Bilingualism: social and psychological implications, Peter A. Hornby (Ed.), 15-27. New York: Academic Press.
Comparison of the discriminative stimulus effects of midazolam after intracranial and peripheral administration in the rat.

Abstract Rats were trained in a two-lever drug discrimination paradigm to discriminate midazolam (0.32 mg/kg, i.p. or 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) from the no-drug condition. After completion of i.p. and s.c. midazolam generalization gradients (0.032–1.0 mg/kg), rats were surgically implanted with unilateral cannulae into the lateral ventricles. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) doses of 1.1–44.2 μg midazolam were delivered to unrestrained rats. Midazolam produced dose-dependent increases in drug-appropriate responding by all three routes of administration, but was 2.4- to 4.3-fold more potent when given i.c.v. than when given s.c. or i.p. Midazolam, over the dose range tested, did not produce substantial decreases in response rate by any route of administration. The discriminative-stimulus effect of i.c.v. midazolam was blocked by peripherally administered flumazenil, and such antagonism was surmounted by a 2- to 5-fold increase in the i.c.v. midazolam dose. Taken together, these data suggest that the discriminative-stimulus effects of midazolam are mediated via central benzodiazepine (BZ) receptors.
Abstract 5493: Menopause-associated symptoms, HRT use and risk of young-onset breast cancer: Results from the Two Sister Study

Background Peri-menopausal women commonly experience hot flashes and night sweats. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) containing estrogen only or estrogen plus progesterone can alleviate these symptoms. Women with menopausal symptoms have been found to have reduced risk of breast cancer, possibly reflecting low endogenous hormone levels. However, use of estrogen plus progesterone is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The effects of HRT on breast cancer may vary according to timing of exposure relative to menopause. We examined the associations between menopausal symptoms, HRT and young-onset breast cancer. Methods Women with breast cancer (n=1422), whose breast-cancer-free sister (n=1669) had previously enrolled in the prospective Sister Study, were eligible if they were under 50 at diagnosis and still within 4 years of diagnosis at enrollment. Use of HRT and menopause-associated symptoms (hot flashes, poor sleeping, night sweats, etc) were assessed using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Conditional logistic regression was used to account for sister matching. To ensure comparable opportunity for exposures, we assessed them in relation to an index age, defined as the minimum of the age at diagnosis of the case and the age at interview of her sister(s). Analyses adjusted for birth order and menopausal status at index age. Results Women who had experienced menopause-associated symptoms (n=706) prior to the index age were less likely to have young-onset breast cancer (odds ratio (OR), 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.40 to 0.61). Compared to never-use of HRT, history of use of estrogen only was associated with reduced risk, after adjustment for birth order, menopausal status and menopause-associated symptoms (OR=0.55; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.87); the reduction was more pronounced in current users (use within the year preceding index age), long-term users (≥ 3 years) and users with first use after menopause. Women using estrogen plus progesterone had non-statistically significantly reduced risk, and the association was statistically significant for women who had used both for more than 3 years (OR=0.34; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.95). There was no evidence of effect measure modification by current use or age at first use. Associations with menopause-associated symptoms remained strong but the association with HRT was attenuated when analysis was limited to invasive, estrogen-positive cancers. Conclusions Menopause-associated symptoms and use of estrogen only were associated with reduced risk of young-onset breast cancer. Use of both estrogen and progesterone was not associated with increased risk. These results provide some reassurance regarding HRT use in women Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5493. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5493
Angiotensin IV enhances LTP in rat dentate gyrus in vivo.

Abstract Angiotensins have been shown to play a significant role in a variety of physiological functions including learning and memory processes. Relatively recent evidence supports the increasing importance of angiotensin IV (Ang IV), in many of these functions previously associated only with Ang II, including learning and memory. An interesting hypothesis generated by these results has been that Ang II is a precursor for the production of a more active peptide fragment, Ang IV. Since Ang II impairs learning and memory, when administered directly or released into the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and inhibits long term potentiation (LTP) in medial perforant path-dentate granule cell synapses, as well; it remained to be seen what effects Ang IV had on LTP in these same synapses. Results of this study show clearly that Ang IV significantly enhances LTP, and the enhancement is both dose and time dependent. The following solutions of Ang IV were administered over a five min period, at the end of baseline and before the first tetanus was applied: 2.39, 4.78, and 9.56 nM. An inverted U-type dose related effect was observed. A complex time related effect was observed with a maximum at 5 min, a return to normal LTP at 30 min and a minimum below normal at 90 min, and a return to normal LTP at 120 min. The effects of the 4.78 nM solution were determined at the following intervals between administration and the first tetanus: 5, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min. The enhancement of LTP can be prevented by pretreatment with Divalinal, an Ang IV antagonist, without any effect on normal LTP. Two solutions of Divalinal were used; 5 nM and 5 μM, and the 5 μM was more effective and completely blocked the enhancement of normal LTP. Results were also obtained with 4.78 nM Nle 1 -Ang IV (Norleucine), an Ang IV agonist. Norleucine was less effective than Ang IV in the enhancement of normal LTP and displayed a similar time course of activity. Both Ang IV and Norleucine produced a significant suppression of normal LTP at 90 min; that remains to be explained. However, the inhibition by Ang IV was dose dependent and was blocked by Divalinal. The fact that the Ang IV enhancement of normal LTP was blocked by losartan, an Ang II AT 1 receptor antagonist, is puzzling since Divalinal had no effect on the inhibition of LTP by Ang II.
Comparisons between cultural and individual associative response hierarchies

The S s were required to respond with five associations to each of 100 Kent-Rosanoff stimulus words. The resulting associations were compared with other available associations in order to investigate the correspondence between cultural and individual associative response hierarchies and to assess the correspondence between associations generated by real versus simulated verbal chains. It was found that primary cultural associations across the samples studied were very similar, but that the individual and cultural hierarchies did not correspond closely. It was also observed that the responses generated by real and by simulated verbal chains had little correspondence.
Intercellular communication is involved in the bystander regulation of gene expression in human cells exposed to very low fluences of alpha particles.

We demonstrate by western analysis that the expression levels of TP53 (formerly known as p53), CDKN1A (formerly known as ${\rm p}21^{{\rm Waf1}}$), CDC2 (formerly known as ${\rm p}34^{{\rm cdc2}}$), CCNB1 (cyclin B1) and RAD51 are significantly modulated in confluent, density-inhibited human diploid cell populations exposed to doses where only a small fraction of the nuclei are actually traversed by an α-particle track. The extent of modulation of TP53 and CDKN1A is significantly reduced in the presence of the gap junction inhibitor lindane and in irradiated low-density cell populations. In situ immunofluorescence studies show that at doses where about 2% of the nuclei would be traversed by an α particle, induction of CDKN1A occurs in more cells than predicted. Furthermore, the induced cells are present in isolated aggregates of neighboring cells. Therefore, our studies at the gene expression level indicate that similar signaling pathways are induced in bystander cells that are not traversed by an α parti...
Dependency of Ca2+ Alternans on Ion Channel Localization in Human Atrial Cells

Introduction: Localization of ion channels to t-tubules (TTs) comprises a critical part of excitation-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes. Recent studies have shown that TT organization varies greatly among atrial cells, which have different ion channel distribution than ventricular cells. Ca2+ transient (CaT) alternans are known to occur in atrial cells with fewer TTs, but the ion channels which contribute to this are unknown.Hypothesis: Decreased localization of L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs) to TTs in atrial cells results in increased propensity for arrhythmogenic CaT alternans.Methods: Using a human atrial cell model from Grandi et al. incorporating chronic AF remodeling, the effects of ion channel redistribution were evaluated by moving 0-100% of TT ionic currents to the sub-sarcolemmal compartment (SL). Ryanodine receptor (RyR) redistribution was also tested by moving 0-100% of RyR release from the TTs to the cytosol. In 500 virtual cells, a total of 12 different ion channels were redistributed stochastically and independently. The effect of each ion channel on alternans threshold cycle length (CL) was evaluated by regression analysis.Results: The alternans threshold CL in the original model was 431 ms. Redistribution of LTCCs from TTs to the SL had the greatest effect on alternans threshold CL (regression coefficient of −0.95), with alternans occurring at slower pacing rates as the fraction of TT-localized LTCCs decreased due to steepening of the SR Ca2+ release slope. Redistribution of RyRs or Na+/Ca2+ exchangers had a smaller and opposite effect on alternans threshold CL (regression coefficients of 0.16 and 0.072, respectively), with decreased TT localization of these channels causing alternans to only occur at faster pacing rates.Conclusions: Decreased localization of LTCCs to TTs in atrial cells promotes arrhythmogenic CaT alternans at slower pacing rates.
The strain energy density of rubber-like shells

Abstract Under the assumption that the state of a shell is described by the change in the first and second fundamental forms of its midsurface from an initially elastic isotropic state, an approximate strain energy density is derived, first using strictly two-dimensional arguments and then by descent from three dimensions assuming incompressibilily. To within errors inherent in shell theory itself, it is shown that the strain energy density is the same as that of a plate of the same material.
Equilibrium Theory Analysis of a Pressure Swing Adsorption Cycle Utilizing a Favorable Langmuir Isotherm: Approach to Periodic Behavior

An isothermal equilibrium theory analysis of a simple two-step pressure-swing adsorption (PSA) process utilizing an adsorbate–adsorbent system that exhibits a favorable Langmuir isotherm was carried out. Analytic expressions, either simple or recursive, were obtained that describe process operation and process performance during the approach to periodicity. These expressions are a function of cycle number and various process parameters. A recursive relationship for the dimensionless penetration depth for each cycle was determined and, although no closed form is readily available (and likely does not exist), the recursive relationship is easily applicable in any spreadsheet program. All other expressions were derived as functions of the penetration depth, thus lending a full analysis to the capabilities of a spreadsheet program. The analysis is primarily focused on the case of no breakthrough, because of the fact that breakthrough forces the system prematurely to periodicity and is therefore trivial for th...
Effect of CNT length and CNT-matrix interphase in carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced composites☆

Abstract The load transfer mechanisms and effective moduli of single-walled nanotube (SWNT) reinforced composites are studied using a continuum model. A “critical” fiber length is defined for full load transfer by numerically evaluating the strain-energy-changes for different fiber lengths. The effective longitudinal Young’s modulus and bulk modulus of the composite are derived. The effect of the interphase is also discussed. The results indicate the fiber length is critical both to the load transfer efficiency and effective moduli of the composite. The SWNT-matrix interphase plays an important role in load transfer efficiency but affects the effective moduli only slightly.
Catheterization of the left ventricle in man; study of right bundle branch block by simultaneous intracardiac electrocardiography of both ventricles.

Simultaneous catheterization of the left and right ventricles was performed in a case of right bundle branch block. It was thought that in right bundle branch block the polarity of the initial deflection of the potentials obtained in the left ventricular cavity could be studied without interference of those contributed by the right ventricular cavity. A description of the technic employed is given. The results confirm those obtained in dogs. There is initial negativity of the potentials obtained within the left ventricular cavity.