cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Supportive Relationships and Sexual Risk Behavior in Adolescence: An Ecological-Transactional Approach

OBJECTIVE: To examine the longitudinal associations between supportive relationships with friends and parents and sexual risk behavior in adolescence based on an ecological-transactional perspective. METHODS: Analyses were conducted on 2,652 sexually active adolescents from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). RESULTS: African-American adolescents had lower risk for sexual risk behavior. Supportive friendships and parent connectedness interacted in predicting decreased likelihood of sexual risk behavior. Mother-child communication about sex contributed to decreased likelihood of sexual risk only for girls. There were also small reciprocal effects of sexual risk behavior on decreased relationship quality over time. CONCLUSION: To better understand the parents' role in adolescent sexual risk behavior, multiple facets of parenting, the social contexts of parenting and adolescents' peers, and the effects of adolescents' behavior on these relationships should be taken into consideration. Language: en
Wet ZZW construction for steganography

Wet paper codes are an essential tool for communication with non-shared selection channels. Inspired by the recent ZZW construction for matrix embedding [11], we propose a novel wet paper coding scheme with high embedding efficiency. The performance is analyzed under the assumption that wet cover elements form an i.i.d. Bernoulli sequence. Attention is paid to implementation details to minimize capacity loss in practice.
Heritability of Length of Incubation period

Abstract Several studies linking speed of hatching to post-hatching performance indicate that length of incubation period may be heritable. Bohren et al. (1961) have cited several of these studies. Smyth and Howes (1949) have demonstrated a definite response to two-way selection for short and long incubation periods. Byerly (1934) observed that inbred Leghorns hatched 12 hours later than non-inbred Leghorns. Henderson (1950) found that incubation periods varied with different breeds and crosses. MacLaury and Insko (1968) reported strain differences in length of incubation period. Each of the above mentioned reports are based on inter-strain comparisons. There are a few reports which provide some intrastrain evidence. Hays (1941) reported several parent-offspring correlations which indicated heritability of the trait. Calculation based on data of Smyth and Culton (1947), using regression of offspring on midparent, produced an estimate of heritability of the trait of 0.35. Becker et al. (1966) reported heritability of hatching time…
Altering the cellular mechanical force balance results in integrated changes in cell, cytoskeletal and nuclear shape

Studies were carried out with capillary endothelial cells cultured on fibronectin (FN)-coated dishes in order to analyze the mechanism of cell and nuclear shape control by extracellular matrix (ECM). To examine the role of the cytoskeleton in shape determination independent of changes in transmembrane osmotic pressure, membranes of adherent cells were permeabilized with saponin (25 micrograms/ml) using a buffer that maintains the functional integrity of contractile microfilaments. Real-time videomicroscopic studies revealed that addition of 250 microM ATP resulted in time-dependent retraction and rounding of permeabilized cells and nuclei in a manner similar to that observed in intact living cells following detachment using trypsin-EDTA. Computerized image analysis confirmed that permeabilized cells remained essentially rigid in the absence of ATP and that retraction was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner as the concentration of ATP was raised from 10 to 250 microM. Maximal rounding occurred by 30 min with projected cell and nuclear areas being reduced by 69 and 41%, respectively. ATP-induced rounding was also accompanied by a redistribution of microfilaments resulting in formation of a dense net of F-actin surrounding retracted nuclei. Importantly, ATP-stimulated changes in cell, cytoskeletal, and nuclear form were prevented in permeabilized cells using a synthetic myosin peptide (IRICRKG) that has been previously shown to inhibit actomyosin filament sliding in muscle. In contrast, both the rate and extent of cell and nuclear rounding were increased in permeabilized cells exposed to ATP when the soluble FN peptide, GRGDSP, was used to dislodge immobilized FN from cell surface integrin receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Interactions that Scaffold Reading Performance

In this article, findings from case study research of two effective literacy teachers are presented in order to describe in rich detail the nature of effective scaffolding. The teachers worked one-to-one with first-grade students who were experiencing extreme difficulty in learning to read. The complexity of scaffolding is described in terms of the instructional decisions that teachers must make on a moment-by-moment basis about the kind of help (what to work on) and level or amount of help to provide at points of difficulty during reading.
Maternal reports of adaptive behaviours in young children: urban–rural and gender comparisons in Italy and United States

We compared how 182 Italian and US American urban and rural firstborn 20-month-old girls and boys cope with the demands of their environment through their adaptive behaviours in everyday activities. Using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, we collected maternal reports of children's communication, daily living, socialization, and motor skills. Three sets of main effects (and no interactions) emerged. With respect to country, Italian children scored higher than US American children in adaptive communication and motor skills. With respect to region, urban children showed higher adaptive motor skills than rural children, and rural children showed higher adaptive daily living skills than urban children. Finally, with respect to gender, girls scored higher on an adaptive behaviour composite as well as adaptive communication skills, but boys higher in adaptive motor skills. We set these country, region, and gender main effects in the context of a discussion of developing adaptive behaviours in young children. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cytotoxicity of a non-cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory derivative of celecoxib in non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells.

Summary Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death worldwide. Although recent advances in chemotherapy and radiation therapy have yielded modest improvements in patient outcomes, overall survival remains poor. Therefore, new therapeutic targets are needed. Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) is one potential target. The aim of the present studies was to investigate the potential of a celecoxib-derived PDK1 inhibitor (OSU03013), that does not inhibit cyclooxygenase-2, to kill lung cancer cells in vitro. Using human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells, OSU03013 dose-dependently induced apoptosis. After 6 h of treatment with 7.5 μM OSU03013, 26% of the cells were apoptotic, compared to 4% of the control cells as determined by measuring the sub-G1 peak of propidium iodide stained cells with flow cytometry. A similar increase in apoptosis was evident using the Cell Death ELISA assay. OSU03013-induced apoptosis was accompanied by a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of cytochrome c and the cleavage of caspase-3. Surprisingly, the phosphorylation of Akt at serine 473 was increased in A549 cells treated with 7.5 μM OSU03013. However, the toxicity of OSU03013 was reduced in A549 cells expressing a constitutively active form of Akt. These data demonstrate that OSU03013 induces apoptosis in A549 cells via the mitochondrial pathway. Inhibition of the Akt pathway appears uninvolved in this toxicity, although Akt can provide protection. These results also suggest the potential of celecoxib-derived agents to treat some forms of lung cancer.
Spectrum of general surgery in rural Iowa

Abstract Purpose One-quarter of the United States of America’s population lives in rural areas, but only 12.3% of physicians live and work in rural areas. Nearly one-quarter of the counties in Iowa boast a patient-to-physician ratio of 3000:1. The number of rural surgeons is decreasing, and current residency programs may not optimally train graduates for the spectrum of surgical practice seen in rural areas. The scope of surgical practice differs between rural and non-rural surgeons, and in this study, we identified the types of surgery performed by 6 rural Iowa surgeons and compared the practices of rural and non-rural surgeons in Iowa. Methods Data from personal interviews and questionnaires with rural Iowa general surgeons and rural Iowa hospital administrators and results from the Iowa General Surgeon Practice Opportunity Survey were analyzed retrospectively. Results In 1995, 31 general surgeons were recruiting a general surgeon partner, of which 25 were in rural Iowa communities. Eighteen rural Iowa Hospital administrators were actively recruiting a general surgeon during the same time period. In September 2000, many of these positions remained unfilled. A total of 4963 surgical procedures were performed by 6 rural Iowa general surgeons in Iowa in 1995. Endoscopic, alimentary, and obstetrics and gynecologic procedures were the most frequently performed. Excluding endoscopy, 26% of all procedures performed were procedures not among the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medial Education (ACGME) list of requirements for graduating surgical residents. Conclusions Rural Iowa general surgeons perform a large volume of surgery and more subspecialty procedures than do their non-rural counterparts. Surgical residency programs need to more adequately train residents interested in rural general surgery in an effort to increase the pool of graduating surgical residents trained to deal with the scope of procedures a rural practice offers. This will help reduce the shortage of rural general surgeons in the United States of America.
Acquiring Recursive and Iterative Concepts with Explanation-Based Learning

In explanation-based learning, a specific problem's solution is generalized into a form that can be later used to solve conceptually similar problems. Most research in explanation-based learning involves relaxing constraints on the variables in the explanation of a specific example, rather than generalizing the graphical structure of the explanation itself. However, this precludes the acquisition of concepts where an iterative or recursive process is implicitly represented in the explanation by a fixed number of applications. This paper presents an algorithm that generalizes explanation structures and reports empirical results that demonstrate the value of acquiring recursive and iterative concepts. The BAGGER2 algorithm learns recursive and iterative concepts, integrates results from multiple examples, and extracts useful subconcepts during generalization. On problems where learning a recursive rule is not appropriate, the system produces the same result as standard explanation-based methods. Applying the learned recursive rules only requires a minor extension to a PROLOG-like problem solver, namely, the ability to explicitly call a specific rule. Empirical studies demonstrate that generalizing the structure of explanations helps avoid the recently reported negative effects of learning.
The E3 Ligase CHIP Mediates Ubiquitination and Degradation of Mixed-Lineage Kinase 3

Mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and has important functions in migration, invasion, proliferation, tumorigenesis, and apoptosis. We investigated the role of the E3 ligase carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) in the regulation of MLK3 protein levels. We show that CHIP interacts with MLK3 and, together with the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UbcH5 (UbcH5a, -b, -c, or -d), ubiquitinates MLK3 in vitro. CHIP or Hsp70 overexpression promoted endogenous MLK3 ubiquitination and induced a decline in MLK3 protein levels in cells with Hsp90 inhibition. Furthermore, CHIP overexpression caused a proteasome-dependent reduction in exogenous MLK3 protein. Geldanamycin (GA), heat shock, and osmotic shock treatments also reduced the level of MLK3 protein via a CHIP-dependent mechanism. In addition, CHIP depletion in ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells increased cell invasion, and the enhancement of invasiveness was abrogated by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of MLK3. Thus, CHIP modulates MLK3 protein levels in response to GA and stress stimuli, and CHIP-dependent regulation of MLK3 is required for suppression of SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell invasion.
Phrasal: a toolkit for statistical machine translation with facilities for extraction and incorporation of arbitrary model features

We present a new Java-based open source toolkit for phrase-based machine translation. The key innovation provided by the toolkit is to use APIs for integrating new features (/knowledge sources) into the decoding model and for extracting feature statistics from aligned bitexts. The package includes a number of useful features written to these APIs including features for hierarchical reordering, discriminatively trained linear distortion, and syntax based language models. Other useful utilities packaged with the toolkit include: a conditional phrase extraction system that builds a phrase table just for a specific dataset; and an implementation of MERT that allows for pluggable evaluation metrics for both training and evaluation with built in support for a variety of metrics (e.g., TERp, BLEU, METEOR).
Apparent lack of effect of P-glycoprotein on the gastrointestinal absorption of a substrate, tacrolimus, in normal mice.

Purpose. To study the contribution of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) to the oralabsorption of a substrate, tacrolimus, by comparing the extent and rateof bioavailability in normal and mdr1a knockout mice.
Ferment in the Family Tree: Does a Frugivorous Dietary Heritage Influence Contemporary Patterns of Human Ethanol Use?

Humans and apes are placed together in the superfamily Hominoidea. The evolutionary trajectory of hominoids is intimately bound up with the exploitation of ripe, fleshy fruits. Fermentation of fruit sugars by yeasts produces a number of alcohols, particularly ethanol. Because of their pre-human frugivorous dietary heritage, it has been hypothesized that humans may show pre-existing sensory biases associating ethanol with nutritional rewards. This factor, in turn, could influence contemporary patterns of human ethanol use. At present, there seems little evidence to support a view of selection specifically for ethanol detection or its utilization over the course of hominoid evolution. Ethanol concentration in wild fruits consumed by monkeys and apes is predicted to be low. Wild monkeys and apes avoid consumption of over-ripe fruits, the class showing notable ethanol concentrations, and for this reason, ethanol plumes may act as deterrents rather than attractants. Any energetic benefits to wild primates from ingested ethanol appear negligible, at best. Mice and rats show patterns of ethanol self-administration similar to humans, indicating that a frugivorous dietary heritage is not necessary for such behaviors. In the natural environment, ethanol is predicted to be just one of many alcohols, esters and related compounds routinely encountered by frugivorous primates and of no particular significance. The strong attraction ethanol holds for some individuals could be due to a broad range of genetic and environmental factors. In some humans, the appetite for ethanol appears related to the appetite for sugar. The predisposition some individuals display toward excessive ethanol consumption could involve features of their genetics and biochemical similarities of ethanol and carbohydrate. Regular low ethanol intake is hypothesized to lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease in humans, perhaps through its effects on body fat distribution. Such a benefit, if confirmed, would appear to relate to features of the contemporary human rather than pre-human diet.
A New I/O Scheduler for Solid State Devices

Since the emergence of solid state devices onto the storage scene, improvements in capacity and price have brought them to the point where they are becoming a viable alternative to traditional magnetic storage for some applications. Current file system and device level I/O scheduler design is optimized for rotational magnetic hard disk drives. Since solid state devices have drastically different properties and structure, we may need to rethink the design of some aspects of the file system and scheduler levels of the I/O subsystem. In this paper, we consider the current approach to I/O scheduling and show that the current scheduler design may not be ideally suited to solid state devices. We also present a framework for extracting some device parameters of solid state drives. Using the information from the parameter extraction, we present a new I/O scheduler design which utilizes the structure of solid state devices to efficiently schedule writes. The new scheduler, implemented on a 2.6 Linux kernel, shows up to 25% improvement for common workloads. Keywords-I/O Schedulers, Flash Drives.
New animal breeding techniques and their application

The new biotechnologies of gene transfer, in-vitro production, cloning and sexing of embryos have been developed and are being refined with efficiencies suitable for use in animal agriculture. Efficient in-vitro systems for maturing oocytes and capacitating spermatozoa, for fertilizing and developing the embryos have resulted in commercial in-vitro production of embryos. Cloning of embryos by nuclear transfer has been accomplished for sheep, cattle, pigs and rabbits with nuclear material supplied by embryos as late as the 120-cell stage in sheep. Embryos have been recloned but much research is needed to increase the efficiency of this procedure. Research is needed to develop the use of cultured cells in embryo cloning so that the number of clones may be increased to thousands or millions. Embryos of most species can be sexed in a non-damaging way with male specific antibodies and a more efficient method, amplified DNA hybridization, is beginning to be tested commercially. Transgenic embryos or offspring have been produced for mice, rats, rabbits, chickens, fish, sheep, pigs and cattle. Genes can be targeted for expression in specific tissues but more efficient methods and a better understanding of the genes to be transferred as well as control by man of the time and tissue of specific gene expression are needed. Before many transgenic animals of value can be made, we must know which genes to introduce. Presently there is a poor understanding of the genes influencing animal growth, efficiency of growth, environmental adaptation, meat, milk or egg composition or animal disease resistance. Their identification will come from badly needed efforts to map the genome of domestic animals. These and other new technologies promise to change livestock breeding drastically in the next decade.
REFRACTION AND DIFFRACTION DIAGRAMS

The use of diagrams to indicate the effects of refraction and diffraction of ordinary wind waves and swell in offshore areas is by no means an innovation in coastal and harbor engineering. Refraction diagrams in particular have been used in various forms by engineers in the United States and in Europe for more than a decade. The principles and procedures for constructing refraction and diffraction diagrams have been developed by academic research and investigation. The purposes of this paper are (1) to review briefly these principles and procedures, and (2) to describe their practical application by the Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, Department of the Army.
Combating Disasters in Forestry and Its Protection Functions

Climate related disasters in forestry can take many forms, including the frequency of severe weather events (blow downs and lightning), the occurrence of disease and insect outbreaks, the intensity and duration of critical fire weather events. In the longer term we are talking about changes in optimal growing areas, the type of species that can be grown, and changes in the overall hydrological cycle of a region (Mote et al. 2003).
Dual-Stiffness Behavior of Fatigued Tire Rubber

We report on duality in stiffness values for both carbon black and silica-filled SBR-based (styrene butadiene rubber) tire rubber materials after cyclic loading (and not with no-cycle, neat samples). We believe, this behavior is due to morphological changes occurring due to cycling and not necessarily due to larger scale void/crack initiation. Causes may be chain breakage, reduced crosslinking in all samples, and agglomerate break-up/particle redistribution in silica systems, which represent early damage initiation and morphological changes in these systems. Therefore, we get a dual stiffness vs. strain behavior which is essentially superposition of two separate stiffness vs. strain curves, each being similar to the stiffness-strain curves for the neat (no fatigue) samples. We believe that the second superposed portion represents the sections deteriorated/rearranged due to cyclic loading (lower crosslinking/rearranged particle distributions) coming in-line during the straining process, and when the non-deteriorated/non-rearranged sections weaken.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Systolic Time Intervals and New Measurement Methods

Systolic time intervals have been used to detect and quantify the directional changes of left ventricular function. New methods of recording these cardiac timings, which are less cumbersome, have been recently developed and this has created a renewed interest and novel applications for these cardiac timings. This manuscript reviews these new methods and addresses the potential for the application of these cardiac timings for the diagnosis and prognosis of different cardiac diseases.
Sense Of Chromophore Orientation In APD Films

Alternating polyelectrolyte deposition (APD) is a promising technique for fabricating multilayer thin films at room temperature.1
Fault Analysis of Transmission Tower Main Material in Low Temperature

Fracture of primary materials in transmission tower is analyzed,main conclusions of material failure are drawn and suggestions for improvement is put forward by analyzing bearing capacity,chemical properties,low-temperature tensile properties,fracture part of main material and microstructure of the main fracture material.The results show that main reason for material failure is low-temperature brittle fracture which is mainly caused by cracks in the process of punching.
Gas-Solid Interactions

The knowledge of the manner in which gases interact with solids and the conditions under which one can remove these gases from the solid is of importance in thin film technology. The material can interact with the gases and change the environment. The environment can influence the material and change its properties. The phenomena under which solids take up gases and release gases are: evaporation and condensation, adsorption and desorption, back scattering, displacement, surface reactions, solubility, diffusion, permeation, degassing, and leaks. A gas in the environment can interact with the solid in numerous ways. Alternatively, a solid can remove a gaseous product from the environment. Many substances, such as charcoal, finely divided alumina, act to chemisorb the gases from the environment. Some gases interact with the solid and in return react and form a new gaseous product. Reactions among gases in the environment can occur by catalytic effect of the solid present, without the consumption of solid in the process. Gas adsorbed on the surface of a solid can also desorb from the surface. Desorption is the release of the gas from internal surfaces to the vacuum chamber, when the molecules are held in bound states on the surfaces of a solid.
Nature of Political Disobedience

Political concepts, unlike most of the basic concepts of natural science, cannot be precisely defined in the sense that the definitions put forward have been established as valid and are accepted by all those who use the concepts for analytical and teaching purposes. Political concepts have in most cases a long history, and have been used in different ways by different political thinkers and actors for a variety of purposes. Their use by different writers has to be explored and critically examined to determine the value for understanding of using or defining the term in a particular way. The concept of political disobedience is no exception. Consequently students of politics must accept what follows not as an authoritative statement of what political disobedience is, but rather as an introduction to the study of what it involves which will provide a basis for further reading and personal assessment. Political concepts have to be grappled with, not learnt.
THE EFFECT OF CULTURAL FACTORS ON DAILY COPING AND INVOLUNTARY RESPONSES TO STRESS AMONG LOW-INCOME LATINO ADOLESCENTS

This study used daily diary methodology to examine associations between cultural factors and daily coping and responses to stress among predominantly low-income Latino adolescents. A total of 58 middle school students (53% male, mean age = 13.31, 95% Latino) completed baseline measures assessing demographic characteristics, familism, ethnic identity, and family ethnic socialization. They subsequently completed 7 consecutive daily diaries assessing daily stress, coping, and involuntary stress responses. Results yielded main effects of stress, gender, familism, and ethnic identity on adolescents’ coping and involuntary stress responses. In addition, interactions between stress and familism, ethnic identity, and family ethnic socialization emerged. Results suggest that familism may promote adaptive responses to stress, while adolescents who report more family ethnic socialization may rely more on maladaptive responses at high levels of stress. Findings related to ethnic identity were mixed and varied depending on levels of ethnic identity exploration versus commitment.
The Synthesis of Electric Drives Characteristics of the UAV of “Convertiplane–Tricopter” Type

The paper is devoted to the review of controlled motion of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with vertical takeoff and landing, the convertiplane type, with three tilt rotors. The UAV is equipped with a swept wing, the calculation of aerodynamic parameters of which has been carried out in the software program XFLR5, taking into consideration the weight and size requirements. There have been determined the lift and resistance coefficients of the UAV depending on the angle of attack on the basis of the vortex method. There has been done the analysis of the influence of wing profile on the calculated aerodynamic characteristics. There also has been realized the synthesis of the traction energy-efficient options of the drive propellers that reduce power consumption, increasing the accuracy of the automatic control system.
The Importance of Cognitive Dissonance in Understanding and Treating Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

External mechanisms and batterer behaviors have commonly been cited as to why women remain in intimate partner violence relationships. However, past research has generally minimized the focus on in...
From aqueous speciation to supramolecular assembly in alkaline earth-uranyl polyoxometalates.

The interplay between aqueous alkaline earth (Ca, Sr, Ba) polycationic speciation and uranyl–peroxide polyoxometalate self-assembly and evolution is described here using solution (Raman and X-ray scattering) and solid-state (microscopy, X-ray diffraction) characterization. Supramolecular assembly of Sr-encapsulated and decorated polyanions and polycations yields the fourth largest inorganic unit cell reported from single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
Water and its relation to soils and crops

Publisher Summary The asymmetric distribution of charge in a water molecule is the fundamental cause of the highly significant properties—high dipole moment and hydrogen bonding—that are primarily responsible for such unique properties of water as its high heat of vaporization, viscosity, surface tension, and solvent properties. These and other physical properties, all arising from the tendency of water molecules to associate with one another and with other molecules, are responsible for the observed behavior of water. Water use by crops is primarily an energy-dependent process. The rate of transfer of vapor away from the evaporating surface, and, in certain cases, the rate at which liquid water is supplied to such a surface, serve to modify the energy dependence of evapotranspiration from the soil and leaf surfaces. Water use can be estimated from the losses from standardized evaporimeters, from calculations based on the energy balance of vegetated surfaces, from aerodynamic measurements of energy and vapor fluxes, and from “inventory” calculations based on precipitation and soil moisture records.
Evaluation of Lipoprotein(a) Electrophoretic and Immunoassay Methods in Discriminating Risk of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease and Incident Coronary Heart Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: A number of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] analytical techniques are available that quantify distinct particle components, yet their clinical efficacy has not been comprehensively evaluated. This study determined whether Lp(a) mass [Lp(a)-M], Lp(a) cholesterol content [Lp(a)-C], and particle concentration [Lp(a)-P] differentially discriminated risk of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) or incident coronary heart disease (CHD) among 4679 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Methods: Lp(a)-M, Lp(a)-C, and Lp(a)-P were measured in individuals without clinical evidence of CHD at baseline. Relative risk regression and Cox proportional analysis determined associations between Lp(a) and the presence of CAVD or 12-year risk of CHD, respectively. To control for the relatively high lower limits of quantification for Lp(a)-C and Lp(a)-P assays, the upper 25th and 15th percentiles were selected as analytical cutoff points. Results: Regardless of method or analytical cutoff, high Lp(a) concentrations were significantly associated with CAVD and CHD in MESA participants following adjustment for typical cardiovascular risk factors. Stratifying by race/ethnicity rendered most associations nonsignificant after correction for multiple comparisons, but Lp(a) remained associated with CAVD in whites irrespective of method (all P Conclusions: Associations of Lp(a)-C, Lp(a)-P, and Lp(a)-M with CAVD or incident CHD were similar in this entire MESA sample using a dichotomized statistical approach. However, the high lower limits of quantification and imprecision of the Lp(a)-C and Lp(a)-P assays limited their usefulness in our analyses and would likely do so in research and clinical settings.
How was hidden-curriculum teaching enhanced? A question to Zhang et al.

Dear SirMany have tried to address elements of the hidden curriculum with educational interventions, and I was excited by the title suggesting the success of Zhang et al. (2017). However, after rea...
In Situ Sparging for Delivery of Gases in the Subsurface

In situ sparging (ISS) has been used extensively as a tool for restoration of aquifers contaminated with a range of organic chemicals. The primary mechanisms of contaminant removal are volatilization and enhanced in situ degradation. Volatilization has been discussed extensively (Johnson, 1998; Johnson et al. 1998, 1999; Rutherford and Johnson, 1996) and will only be discussed briefly here. In the context of enhanced degradation, the most common sparging approach is to deliver oxygen (as air) to the subsurface to facilitate aerobic biodegradation. This approach is, of course, best suited for compounds that can be readily biodegraded under aerobic conditions (e.g., petroleum hydrocarbons) and is less well suited for other important classes of contaminants (e.g., chlorinated hydrocarbons, energetics, etc.).
Entwicklung der Führungsqualität durch Kollegiale Beratung

Fuhrung ist eine Qualitat, die SchulleiterInnen heute anders herausfordert als jemals zuvor. Die neuen Entwicklungen im Management von Schulen durch padagogische Profilbildung, interne und externe Evaluation, finanzielle Autonomie sowie international und national vergleichende Studien uber Schulleistung haben Schule entscheidend verandert. Diese Situation erfordert auch erweiterte Fuhrungsqualitaten von den SchulleiterInnen. In diesem Beitrag sichten wir zunachst den Forschungsstand zum Thema (1, 2), um dann an einer eigenen empirischen Studie zu belegen, wie die neuen Qualitaten kollegial entwickelt und vertieft werden konnen (3). Es konnte empirische Evidenz erbracht werden, dass das hier vorgestellte Modell der „Kollegialen Beratung“ in Gruppen – im Gegensatz zu anderen individiuumszentrierten Fortbildungsmasnahmen fur Fuhrungskrafte – den Bedarfen von Schulleitern nach dem Erwerb von Fuhrungskompetenz im kollegialen Austausch und durch wertschatzendes Feedback auf Augenhohe gerecht wird und Schulleiter Prinzipien der Fortbildung in die Organisation Schule transferieren.
Burnout, compassion fatigue and professional resilience in caregivers of children with disabilities in Ukraine

The disability and professional caregiving literature includes little descriptive data on the professional quality of life of the caregivers of individuals with emotional, intellectual, and physica...
Vitamin E and Metabolic Syndrome

Obesity-related disorders, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are on the rise largely due to poor lifestyle in that diets often contain excess energy in association with limited intakes of essential nutrients, including the antioxidant α-tocopherol. Both healthy individuals and those with MetS have poor dietary α-tocopherol intakes that are substantially lower than the RDA; the latter also have compromised α-tocopherol status based on their lipid-normalized concentrations of circulating α-tocopherol. Dysregulated physiological responses, including altered trafficking along the gut-liver axis, in MetS persons further contribute to inadequate α-tocopherol status and provide rationale for increased attention to establish specialized dietary recommendations. α-Tocopherol supplementation at pharmacological doses shows promise in the treatment of MetS-related metabolic disease, including NAFLD. Thus, scientific focus on metabolic aberrations in relation to vitamin E intake, pharmacokinetics, and status may be a more appropriate approach to evaluate α-tocopherol requirements in relation to its health benefits. This chapter will discuss metabolic aberrations, with a focus on MetS persons as a clinical model, on dysregulated α-tocopherol trafficking and catabolism in relation to health benefits and dietary requirements.
Squirrels Do the Math: Flight Trajectories in Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)

Animals are under strong selective pressures to make correct decisions when attempting to escape an approaching predator, and not surprisingly many studies have shown that animals adjust their flight initiation behavior in response to risk. However, we have a poor understanding of animals’ capability to select an appropriate flight trajectory. We investigated whether eastern gray squirrels would adjust their flight trajectory based on the relative locations of the squirrel, the approaching threat, and potential refuges. We used a person running toward a focal squirrel (N = 122) as the threat and considered the three trees nearest the squirrel and taller than 8 m to be potential refuges. Squirrels were strongly affected by the angle () formed by the locations of person, squirrel, and the three nearest trees. A squirrel was less likely to run to the nearest tree (Tree 1) when 1 was relatively acute, but also less likely to run to Tree 1 when 2 was obtuse, making Tree 2 a more attractive refuge. A squirrel was more likely to run to Tree 1 if it was close and if Tree 2 was relatively far. Subtle differences in the effects of 1 versus 2 on squirrel refuge choice support the idea that squirrels prefer a nearby refuge. Squirrels were more likely to select Trees 2 and 3 rather than Tree 1 only when 2 was obtuse (105). In contrast, most squirrels chose to run to Tree 1 when 1 was greater than 65; thus squirrels were more likely to choose Tree 1 even when doing so required running at least partly toward the approaching threat. The decisions made by focal squirrels provide evidence that this species’ assessment of risk is highly nuanced. A great deal of variation has been reported in responses to predators within species. While part of the variation may be due to strategic unpredictability on the part of the prey, part of it may also be due to differences in flight trajectory and refuge preferences that have not been well studied.
Formal verification of weakly-hard systems

Weakly-hard systems are real-time systems that can tolerate occasional deadline misses in a bounded manner. Compared with traditional systems with hard deadline constraints, they provide more scheduling flexibility, and thus expand the design space for system configuration and reconfiguration. A key question for such a system is precisely to what degree it can tolerate deadline misses while still meeting its functional requirements. In this paper, we provide a formal treatment to the verification problem of a general class of weakly-hard systems. We discuss relaxation and over-approximation techniques for managing the complexity of reachability analysis, and develop algorithms based upon these for verifying the safety of weakly-hard systems. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in understanding the impact of and guiding the selection among different weakly-hard constraints.
Networks of innovation: the sociotechnical assemblage of tabletop computing

Abstract We theorize on the heterogonous network of people, visions, concepts, technological artifacts, and organizations that come together to enable product innovation. Drawing on the conceptual framing and mechanisms of actor-network theory (ANT), we focus on the relationships among human and non-human actors and their roles to enact new products. We do this to contribute both evidence and theory regarding the concept of a sociotechnical assemblage that serves as the innovation network. Advancing a sociotechnical conceptualization of innovation focuses attention on the contributions of, and linkages among, different types of actors; individuals and organizations, visions and concepts, and technological artifacts and prototypes together create a means for innovation to occur. The empirical basis for this theorizing comes from a detailed study of the community of research scientists, faculty, and graduate students; institutions such as research labs, funding sources, and product companies who were (and mostly still are) involved in tabletop computing. Analysis highlights the centrality of visions, concepts and technological artifacts in the innovation network. We also find that formal organizations play important, but often unrealized, roles in supporting innovation.
Continuous Optimal Control Problems

Optimal control theory has been extensively used in solving many engineering problems, such as in mechanical engineering and aeronautics engineering. Its application in transportation engineering has been limited to traffic signal control on surface streets and ramp metering control on freeways. Recently, with the rapid advance of supercomputing facilities and techniques, solution of optimal control theory formulations of large-scale problems has become feasible. Therefore, the application of this approach to dynamic transportation network modeling is attractive. The objective of conventional optimal control theory is to determine optimal control strategies that will cause a process to satisfy the physical constraints and at the same time minimize or maximize some performance criterion. In this book, we will use optimal control theory to formulate and analyze time-dependent transportation network problems. Those optimal control models have many similarities with the optimization models for solving static counterparts of these problems which are formulated and solved using nonlinear programming theory.
Finding Out If it is True: Comparing Mediation and Negotiation Through Research

In this article, the authors first use existing research evidence to contextualize more clearly the place of civil case mediation in the litigation process. When we understand civil mediation as part of adversarial litigation – rather than as distinct from it – we see the importance of comparing mediation and unassisted negotiation. Next, we discuss research and commentary on the barriers to negotiation and on the ways in which mediation might help overcome them. Finally, we reexamine briefly the research about preferences for mediation and the modest body of existing studies that do contrast litigant experiences with mediation and unaided negotiation in the context of litigation. This reexamination hints that “it may in fact be true” – that is, participation in mediation may enhance parties' perception of procedural justice. Before we can be confident in the answer to this question, however, research is needed that carefully compares the experiences of parties in mediation with those in unassisted negotiation.
A Standardized Care Pathway following Mandibular Distraction in Infants Less Than 3 Months of Age

ObjectivesTo assess for differences in postoperative care following mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) in infants before and after implementation of a standardized protocol.Study DesignRetro...
David Oliver: Vocation takes doctors only so far

The word “vocation” is often raised in letters or online comments responding to stories about doctors and our training, terms, and conditions. But is it a useful concept or a justification for treating us poorly? Remarks such as “It’s supposed to be a vocation” are used to criticise doctors who want decent pay settlements, more flexible or family friendly hours, or reduced clinical sessions to avoid punitive pension liabilities. It’s never long before someone says, “But they took the Hippocratic oath!” This is no longer the norm in every medical school (despite the myth), although its principles are still relevant to the ethics of modern practice.1 The subtext is that selfless dedication to patients and our profession should …
A Self-Consistent Open Boundary Condition for Fully Kinetic Plasma Thruster Plume Simulations

A new, charge-conserving, energy-based, open boundary condition (BC) is developed and used to perform steady-state plasma plume simulations. This BC prevents the numerical instability, which is typically observed for kinetic simulations that employ the traditional outflow boundary, and thus allows the fully kinetic plume simulations to reach a steady-state with finite computational domain sizes. In addition to modeling a plume with colocated electron–ion sources, the BC is also applied to separated electron–ion sources which model realistic thrusters with a separate external neutralizer configuration without assuming quasi-neutrality. Domain-independence simulations performed with the new open boundary construct showed that the electric field obtained from small and large domain sizes agree within 2%. For the separated electron–ion plume, the minimum domain size required to obtain convergence is such that it must accommodate the plume until the charge density decreases by an order of magnitude. The computational cost of the electrostatic particle-in-cell simulation was found to decrease by a factor of four when the domain size was decreased by one-half.
Generating optimal and near-optimal solutions to facility location problems:

There is a decided bent toward finding an optimal solution to a given facility location problem instance, even when there may be multiple optima or competitive near-optimal solutions. Identifying a...
Extraction of unknown signals in arbitrary noise

We devise a general method to extract weak signals of unknown form, buried in noise of arbitrary distribution. Central to it is signal-noise decomposition in rank and time: only stationary white noise generates data with a jointly uniform rank-time probability distribution, U(1,N)×U(1,N), for N points in a data sequence. We show that rank, averaged across jointly indexed series of noisy data, tracks the underlying weak signal via a simple relation, for all noise distributions. We derive an exact analytic, distribution-independent form for the discrete covariance matrix of cumulative distributions for independent and identically distributed noise and employ its eigenfunctions to extract unknown signals from single time series.
On the almost sure, and pth moment exponential convergence and stochastic exponential stabilities for nonlinear stochastic epidemic models

In this paper the almost sure exponential convergence and $p^{th}$ mean exponential convergence of a general nonlinear stochastic epidemic model are investigated. The stochastic epidemic model consists of Ito-stochastic differential equations with multiple-delays and general nonlinear incidence rate. The stochastic convergence and exponential stabilities of the epidemic model are examined and applied to find control measures for the disease. Moreover, the basic reproduction number for the disease is computed.
Foveal Differentiation and Inner Retinal Displacement Are Arrested in Extremely Premature Infants.

Purpose Children with a history of prematurity often have poorly developed foveae but when during development foveal differences arise. We hypothesize that the course of foveal development is altered from the time of preterm birth. Methods Eyes of 102 preterm infants undergoing retinopathy of prematurity screening examinations in the STudy of Eye imaging in Premature infantS (BabySTEPS) (NCT02887157) were serially imaged between 30 and 42 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) using handheld optical coherence tomography systems. Total retinal thickness, inner retinal layer (IRL) thickness, and outer retinal layer (ORL) thickness were measured at the foveal center and parafovea. Foveal put depth, IRL thickness, and ORL thickness were compared between infants born at different gestational ages using mixed effects models. Results Foveal pit depth and IRL thickness were inversely related to gestational age; on average, the most premature infants had the thickest IRL and shallowest pits at all PMAs. Differences were evident by 30 weeks PMA and persisted through 42 weeks PMA. The foveal pits of the most premature infants did not progressively deepen, and the IRLs did not continue to thin with increasing chronological age. Conclusions Foveation in extremely preterm infants is arrested from the earliest observed ages and fails to progress through term equivalent age. The developmental displacement of the IRL from the foveal center into the parafovea does not occur normally after preterm birth. These observations suggest that foveal hypoplasia seen in children with history of prematurity is due to disturbances in foveal development that manifest within weeks of birth.
Why Does Excellent Monitoring Accuracy Not Always Produce Gains in Memory Performance

Abstract. Does excellent monitoring of learning support improvements in subsequent relearning? Although some studies answer this question affirmatively, others have suggested that excellent monitor...