cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positive Automatic Cognitions Mediate the Relationship Between Personality and Trait Positive Affect

Positive affect (PA) has emerged as a key well-being facet and a powerful predictor of physical and psychological well-being. One of the strongest predictors of PA is personality, particularly neuroticism and extraversion. However, the mechanisms via which personality affects PA are not well-understood. Consistent with theories that accord cognitive factors a role in mediating the relationship between personality and outcomes, we tested whether positive automatic thoughts (PATs) mediated the relationship between neuroticism, extraversion, and PA among 199 college students (137 women, 70% White, 66% first and second year students, mean age = 24.13, SD = 8.86). Consistent with hypotheses, structural equation modeling indicated that PATs fully mediated the relationship between both neuroticism and extraversion and PA. The structural model fit the data well, χ2/df = 2.33, CFI = .96, SRMR = .07, RMSEA = .08 (90% CI: .06, .10), AIC = 172.45, and accounted for 58% of the variance in PA. An alternative model in which personality predicted PA, which in turn predicted PATs, did not provide as good a fit to the data, χ2/df = 3.03, CFI = .94, SRMR = .09, RMSEA = .10 (90% CI: .08, .12), AIC = 207.40. Models in which negative automatic thoughts (NATs) were construed as fully [χ2/df = 4.46, CFI = .95, SRMR = .08, RMSEA = .13 (90% CI: .11, .16)] or partially [χ2/df = 4.04, CFI = .96, SRMR = .06, RMSEA = .12 (90% CI: .10, .15)] mediating the relationship between neuroticism and negative affect did not provide a good fit to the data. A final model in which negative affect was tested a mediator of the relationship between neuroticism and NATs also did not fit the data well, χ2/df = 4.03, CFI = .96, SRMR = .07, RMSEA = .12 (90% CI: .10, .15).
Preliminary investigation of the inhibitory effects of mechanical stress in tumor growth

In the past years different models have been formulated to explain the growth of gliomas in the brain. The most accepted model is based on a reaction-diffusion equation that describes the growth of the tumor as two separate components- a proliferative component and an invasive component. While many improvements have been made to this basic model, the work exploring the factors that naturally inhibit growth is insufficient. It is known that stress fields affect the growth of normal tissue. Due to the rigid skull surrounding the brain, mechanical stress might be an important factor in inhibiting the growth of gliomas. A realistic model of glioma growth would have to take that inhibitory effect into account. In this work a mathematical model based on the reaction-diffusion equation was used to describe tumor growth, and the affect of mechanical stresses caused by the mass effect of tumor cells was studied. An initial tumor cell concentration with a Gaussian distribution was assumed and tumor growth was simulated for two cases- one where growth was solely governed by the reaction-diffusion equation and second where mechanical stress inhibits growth by affecting the diffusivity. All the simulations were performed using the finite difference method. The results of simulations show that the proposed mechanism of inhibition could have a significant affect on tumor growth predictions. This could have implications for varied applications in the imaging field that use growth models, such as registration and model updated surgery.
Insights into nucleotide binding in protein kinase A using fluorescent adenosine derivatives

The binding of the methylanthraniloyl derivatives of ATP (mant-ATP), ADP (mant-ADP), 2′deoxyATP (mant-2′deoxyATP), and 3′deoxyATP (mant-3′deoxyATP) to the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A was studied to gain insights into the mechanism of nucleotide binding. The binding of the mant nucleotides leads to a large increase in fluorescence energy transfer at 440 nm, allowing direct measurements of nucleotide affinity. The dissociation constant of mant-ADP is identical to that for ADP, while that for mant-ATP is approximately threefold higher than that for ATP. The dissociation constant for mant-3′deoxyATP is approximately fivefold higher than that for 3′deoxyATP while derivatization of 2′deoxyATP does not affect affinity. The time-dependent binding of mant-ATP, mant-2′deoxyATP, and mant-ADP, measured using stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy, is best fit to three exponentials. The fast phase is ligand dependent, while the two slower phases are ligand independent. The slower phases are similar but not identical in rate, and have opposite fluorescence amplitudes. Both isomers of mant-ATP are equivalent substrates, as judged by reversed-phase chromatography, although the rate of phosphorylation is approximately 20-fold lower than the natural nucleotide. The kinetic data are consistent with a three-step binding mechanism in which initial association of the nucleotide derivatives produces a highly fluorescent complex. Either one or two conformational changes can occur after the formation of this binary species, but one of the isomerized forms must have low fluorescence compared to the initial binary complex. These data soundly attest to the structural plasticity within the kinase core that may be essential for catalysis. Overall, the mant nucleotides present a useful reporter system for gauging these conformational changes in light of the prevailing three-dimensional models for the enzyme.
Absence of GNAI2 Codon 179 Oncogene Mutations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The human GNAI2 gene coding for G protein, Galphai2, is located on chromosome 3p21 in proximity to the region where an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) locus has been suggested. Galphai2-deficient mice develop a lethal diffuse colitis that resembles human ulcerative colitis (UC) and frequently progresses to colon adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the human GNAI2 gene is subject to point mutations at certain positions, including three at codon 179, all of which have been reported in human endocrine tumors. In order to evaluate the possible involvement of this gene in IBD pathogenesis, we have examined GNAI2 codon 179 sequences in 28 familial IBD patients, including 13 UC, 15 Crohn's disease (CD), and 7 patients with colon cancer/dysplasia, from 12 multiplex IBD families. The wildtype codon 179, CGC for arginine, plus the first G of the codon 180 engender a sequence recognizable by the enzyme BstUI. Mutations, therefore, can result in the abrogation of BstUI digestion of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products containing the codon 179. Using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, all 28 IBD patients, including those with colon cancer, and 14 non-IBD family members show a BstUI-cleavable PCR-banding pattern indicating the presence of wildtype codon 179. We conclude that, in the familial IBD and colon cancer/dysplasia patients studied, there is no detectable mutation in the codon 179 of the GNAI2 gene.
Modeling artificial light viewed by fledgling seabirds

Artificial light is increasing in coverage across the surface of our planet, impacting the behavioral ecology of many organisms. Attraction to sources of artificial light is a significant threat to certain fledgling shearwaters, petrels (Procellariidae), and storm-petrels (Hydrobatidae) on their first nocturnal flights to the sea. Disorientation by light can cause these birds to crash into vegetation or manmade structures, potentially resulting in death from physical injury, starvation, dehydration, predation by introduced predators, or collisions with vehicles. We developed a GIS-based method to model the intensity of artificial light that fledgling procellariids and hydrobatids could view en route to the ocean (to estimate the degree of threat that artificial light poses to these birds) and present two models for the island of Kauai as examples. These models are particularly relevant to the federally threatened Newell's Shearwater, or `A`o (Puffinus newelli), of which >30,000 fledglings have been collected in response to disorientation by lights on Kauai during the past 30 years. Our models suggest that there are few to no portions of Kauai from which young birds could fledge and not view light on their post-natal nocturnal flights, which is concerning given evidence of a Newell's Shearwater population decline. In future work using this technique, night light intensity layers could be altered to model the effects of modified coastal light conditions on known and potential procellariid and hydrobatid breeding locations. Furthermore, certain methods presented herein may be applicable to other seabirds and additional taxa in which attraction to anthropogenic light poses a serious threat, including migratory passerines and hatchling marine turtles. Components of this modeling approach could potentially be used to spatially estimate effects of other point-source threats to ecological systems, including sound and air pollution.
Induction of PEP Carboxylase and Crassulacean Acid Metabolism by Gibberellic Acid in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum

The induction of Crassulacean acid metabolism in M:esembryanthemum crystallinum was investigated in response to foliar application of gibberellic acid (GA). After 5 weeks of treatment, GA-treated plants showed 1.7- to almost a 4-fold increase of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPcase) activity with a concomitant increase in acid metabolism when compared to control plants. Immunoblot analysis indicated an increase in the PEPcase protein similar to that of salt treatment while Rubisco did not show a similar rise. The results indicate that exogenously applied GA accelerates plant developmental expression of PEPcase and Crassulacean acid metabolism in M: crystallinum.
A Hazardous Environment and City Suicide Rates

Summary.-In a regional study of 49 American cities, suicide rates were not associated with levels of sulfur dioxide, particles, or oxidants, but suicide rates tended to be lower in colder cities with more rain and higher wind speeds. There is little evidence that the climate is associated with regional suicide rates (Lester, 1992) but to explore the association between the environment and suicide rates, suicide rates per 100,000 per year for the 48 largest cities in the continental USA for 1970 and 1989 (Males, 1994) were correlated with ratings on a scale of O to 4 of a number of hazardous conditions (Shakman, 1979) for the cities, namely, levels of sulfur dioxide and suspended particles, hours of unsafe oxidant levels, numbers of days over 90°F, numbers of days below 32"F, and numbers of days with thunderstorms, annual precipitation, percentage of hours with sunshine, average wind speed, and the risks of tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Both 1970 and 1989 suicide rates were significantly associated with average wind speeds (Pearson rs = -.39 and -.33, respectively). The 1970 suicide rates were associated with the number of cold days, number of days with thunderstorms, annual precipitarion, and the threats of tornados and earthquakes (rs = -.38, -.36, -.38, -.45, and 37, respectively). The 1989 suicide rates were associated with the percentage of hours with sunshine (r = ,341. Cold, rainy, and windy weather, therefore, seemed to be associated with lower suicide rates.
Splenorenal bypass in the treatment of renal artery stenosis: Experience with sixty-nine cases *

Abstract From 1962 to 1984 splenorenal bypass was performed in 69 patients with renal artery disease caused by either atherosclerosis (n = 54) or fibrous dysplasia (n = 15). Renal revascularization was performed to control hypertension in 27 patients, to preserve renal function in nine patients, and for both of these reasons in 33 patients. The mean follow-up interval is 5.4 years. Postoperatively hypertension was cured or improved in 52 of 60 patients (87%); the serum creatinine level was improved or stable in 37 of 42 patients (88%) who underwent revascularization to preserve renal function. Postoperative graft thrombosis (n = 2) or stenosis (n = 3) occurred in five patients (7%). Splenorenal bypass is an excellent method of revascularization of the left renal artery, particularly for patients with a troublesome aorta that precludes performance of an aortorenal bypass. (J VASC SURG 1985;2:547-51.)
Terence Vincent Powderly—An Appraisal

T. V. Powderly, Grand Master Workman of the Noble Order of the Knights of Labor from 1879 to 1893, has been portrayed in many different ways—as idealist, reformer, humanitarian, windbag, renegade, crook, imposter, agitator, introvert, self-seeker, charlatan, cheap politician, turncoat, rabble rouser, and drippy sentimentalist. Some claim that he was a great labor leader; others just as vigorously maintain that he was utterly lacking in the qualities of leadership—that he was, in reality, an insignificant nobody swept along by the changing currents of the American labor movement. It is not the purpose of this short article to paint a full-length portrait of Powderly but rather, on the basis of newly discovered data, to indicate briefly which, if any, of the above characterizations fit the man.
Family Variables in Substance-Misusing Male Adolescents: The Importance of Maternal Disorder

Selected family variables, especially maternal behaviors, were studied as predictors of alcohol and drug misuse in severely disturbed adolescent boys from largely father-absent homes. The families of 50 male youths (mean age 15.8 years) in a residential center for alcohol and substance misuse were compared with the families of a community control group (mean age 16.3 years). Within-subject group comparisons also were made. Family structure, interactive processes, maternal and paternal alcohol and substance use, and criminality were assessed through direct interview and/or self-report. The families of alcohol- and substance-misusing boys were markedly disadvantaged or impaired on numerous family structure, process, and substance-misusing behavioral variables in comparison with community controls. Within the alcohol- and substance-misusing group itself, family process variables, maternal alcohol symptoms, and maternal criminality differentiated boys with more vs. less severe drug-dependence symptoms. Maternal alcohol problems and criminality were more important than family process variables. Paternal alcohol or substance misuse or criminality did not differentiate proband symptom severity. We concluded that maternal alcohol symptoms and criminality differentiate severity of drug dependence in severely disturbed, substance-misusing adolescent males from largely father-absent homes. Maternal substance misuse should be evaluated carefully in adolescent substance abuse treatment settings.
Fast implementation of vector directional filters

Vector filters based on order-statistics have proved successful in removing impulsive noise from color images while preserving edges and fine image details. Among these filters, the ones that involve the cosine distance function (directional filters) have particularly high computational requirements, which limits their use in time critical applications. In this paper, we introduce two methods to speed up these filters. Experiments on a diverse set of color images show that the proposed methods provide substantial computational gains without significant loss of accuracy.
Dermal eosinophils in atopic dermatitis undergo cytolytic degeneration

Abstract Background: Immunofluorescent staining for eosinophil granule proteins in lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis shows extensive extracellular deposition throughout the upper dermis with relatively few intact eosinophils. Objective: This study was carried out to determine whether eosinophil granule protein deposition in atopic dermatitis occurs by classical exocytosis, by piecemeal degranulation, or as a result of cytolysis. Methods: Skin biopsy specimens from 10 patients with atopic dermatitis were examined by electron microscopy. Results: The biopsy specimens showed varying degrees of dermal eosinophil granule major basic protein deposition by indirect immunofluorescence. Specimens from seven patients showed striking alterations of eosinophils by electron microscopy including intact eosinophils with granule alterations (reversal of core staining and/or core lucency) and with uropod processes. Biopsy specimens from six patients showed evidence of eosinophil degeneration with disruption of nuclear and/or plasma membranes. In four patients' specimens, membrane-bound eosinophil granules were present near degenerating eosinophils or were present in the absence of recognizable eosinophils. Evidence of classical exocytotic degranulation was not observed. Two of the specimens were also examined by immunoelectron microscopy for major basic protein localization. In these, major basic protein appeared to be lost from the granule core and distributed in the eosinophil cytoplasm as granules disintegrated and the cell disrupted. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that eosinophils undergo cytolysis with release of granule contents and membrane-bound granules; this is likely the usual mechanism of eosinophil granule protein release in atopic dermatitis. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:683-92.)
Thermoresponsive Assembly of Charged Gold Nanoparticles and Their Reversible Tuning of Plasmon Coupling

Charged colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be assembled and disassembled in an aqueous solution in response to temperature change and display reversible thermoresponsive tuning of plasmon coupling. The reversible tuning was made possible by manipulating the electrostatic interaction through the temperature-dependent zeta potential of the charged AuNPs (see the extinction spectra of a typical AuNP dispersion).
What’s with the attitude? Changing Attitudes About Criminal Justice Issues

Public policies related to the criminal justice system in the United States ultimately reflect the attitudes of its citizens. It is surprising, therefore, how few studies have investigated influenc...
Relational profiling: enabling thread-level parallelism in virtual machines

Virtual machine service threads can perform many tasks in parallel with program execution such as garbage collection, dynamic compilation, and profile collection and analysis. Hardware-assisted profiling is essential for providing service threads with needed information in a flexible and efficient way. A relational profiling architecture (RPA) is proposed for meeting this goal. The RPA selects particular instructions for profiling, and communicates collected information to service threads through shared memory message queues. The RPA's capabilities lead to new profiling applications, such as concurrent garbage collection. Simulations indicate that a low-cost implementation of the RPA should be able to profile four in-flight instructions simultaneously, and provide storage for eight profile records. Profiling overhead is less than 0.5% for concurrent garbage collection and edge profiling.
Impact of partial versus whole breast radiation therapy on fatigue, perceived stress, quality of life and natural killer cell activity in women with breast cancer

Introduction This pilot study used a prospective longitudinal design to compare the effect of adjuvant whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) versus partial breast radiation therapy (PBRT) on fatigue, perceived stress, quality of life and natural killer cell activity (NKCA) in women receiving radiation after breast cancer surgery.
Bioenergy crop productivity and potential climate change mitigation from marginal lands in the United States: An ecosystem modeling perspective

Growing biomass feedstocks from marginal lands is becoming an increasingly attractive choice for producing biofuel as an alternative energy to fossil fuels. Here, we used a biogeochemical model at ecosystem scale to estimate crop productivity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from bioenergy crops grown on marginal lands in the United States. Two broadly tested cellulosic crops, switchgrass, and Miscanthus, were assumed to be grown on the abandoned land and mixed crop-vegetation land with marginal productivity. Production of biomass and biofuel as well as net carbon exchange and nitrous oxide emissions were estimated in a spatially explicit manner. We found that, cellulosic crops, especially Miscanthus could produce a considerable amount of biomass, and the effective ethanol yield is high on these marginal lands. For every hectare of marginal land, switchgrass and Miscanthus could produce 1.0–2.3 kl and 2.9–6.9 kl ethanol, respectively, depending on nitrogen fertilization rate and biofuel conversion efficiency. Nationally, both crop systems act as net GHG sources. Switchgrass has high global warming intensity (100–390 g CO2eq l � 1 ethanol), in terms of GHG emissions per unit ethanol produced. Miscanthus, however, emits only 21–36 g CO2eq to produce every liter of ethanol. To reach the mandated cellulosic ethanol target in the United States, growing Miscanthus on the marginal lands could potentially save land and reduce GHG emissions in comparison to growing switchgrass. However, the ecosystem modeling is still limited by data availability and model deficiencies, further efforts should be made to classify crop-specific marginal land availability, improve model structure, and better integrate ecosystem modeling into life cycle assessment.
Impaired leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Hypertension is associated with a progressive organ injury whose etiology remains largely speculative. An increasing database shows that activated leukocytes, while affording an important immune protection, may be a contributing factor to several of the pathogenetic features of the hypertension syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the glucocorticoid pathway may be involved in the atypical kinetics of leukocytes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The typical venular leukocyte adhesion induced by histamine application was significantly lower in SHR, and a comparison of normalized leukocyte rolling velocity (VWBC/VRBC) showed the values to be significantly higher in SHR relative to WKY controls. This abnormal trend in adherent leukocyte numbers and in VWBC/VRBC values could be counteracted when SHR were pretreated with RU 486, a synthetic glucocorticoid inhibitor, and restored to the levels observed in WKY rats. Anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody (PB1.3) attenuated in SHR and WKY rats the increment of adherent leukocyte numbers as well as the decrement of VWBC/VRBC value that developed under combined histamine and RU 486 superfusion. Furthermore, an anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 monoclonal antibody (1A29) served to attenuate the increment of adherent leukocyte number induced by a combination of histamine and RU 486 superfusion in WKY rats and SHR. The results indicate that the deficient leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction in SHR can be circumvented by a glucocorticoid inhibitor.
Salvage procedures after restorative proctocolectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Disclosures outside of the scope of this work: Dr Wexn for Century Medial, Cubist, Incontinence Devices, Inc., K copy America, LifeBond, Mederi Therapeutics, Medt Pacira Pharmaceutical, Precision Therapeutics Renew, M Therapeutics. Dr Wexner also holds patents for Cov Endoscopy America, novoGI, Unique Surgical Innovat in LifeBond, and has other financial relationships with EZ Surgical, Intuitive Surgical, Neatstitch, and novoGI. have no additional disclosures.
Alamouti scheme with joint antenna selection and power allocation over Rayleigh fading channels in wireless networks

We investigate the Alamouti scheme with joint antenna selection and power allocation over flat-fading Rayleigh channels. Based on the channel state information (CSI) feedbacks, the transmitter selects the optimal two antennas out of all possible antennas to transmit data using space-time block coding (STBC). Then, the transmitter adaptively allocates transmit power among the selected antennas to minimize the symbol-error rate (SER). We derive the SER as either the closed-form expression or the single-fold finite integral when assuming perfect and delayed CSI feedbacks, respectively. Our results show that when the CSI feedback is perfect, the optimal power allocation is to assign all power to the single optimal antenna, such that the selection-combining (SC)-STBC reduces to the simpler selection-combining (SC) scheme. On the other hand, when taking the CSI feedback delay into account, the SC-STBC scheme with dynamic power allocation ensures the better SER performance than the conventional SC scheme and SC-STBC scheme with equal power (EP) allocation
Consumer Information and Market-area Competition for Health-care Services:

This paper analyses the spatial availability of information and its impact on spatial-economic interactions, as measured by export sales and consumer trips to competing regional centres. The spatial interactions are applied to Medicare hospital services and patient mobility among market areas. A monopolistically competitive structure is developed within a competing central-place, spatial-interaction framework. Model estimates based on national data examine the determinants of Medicare health-care exports from the supply centres of Seattle and Portland to markets throughout the Pacific-Northwest states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington. Entropy measures of the uncertainty of specialised medical information in contested areas show that more certain information in origin supply centres relative to destination demand nodes has a positive effect on the attraction of patients and on the receipt of Medicare revenue. Distance to origin supply centres has a strong negative effect on export sales and...
Blufensin1 Negatively Impacts Basal Defense in Response to Barley Powdery Mildew

Plants have evolved complex regulatory mechanisms to control the defense response against microbial attack. Both temporal and spatial gene expression are tightly regulated in response to pathogen ingress, modulating both positive and negative control of defense. BLUFENSIN1 (BLN1), a small peptide belonging to a novel family of proteins in barley (Hordeum vulgare), is highly induced by attack from the obligate biotrophic fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh), casual agent of powdery mildew disease. Computational interrogation of the Bln1 gene family determined that members reside solely in the BEP clade of the Poaceae family, specifically, barley, rice (Oryza sativa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Barley stripe mosaic virus-induced gene silencing of Bln1 enhanced plant resistance in compatible interactions, regardless of the presence or absence of functional Mla coiled-coil, nucleotide-binding site, Leu-rich repeat alleles, indicating that BLN1 can function in an R-gene-independent manner. Likewise, transient overexpression of Bln1 significantly increased accessibility toward virulent Bgh. Moreover, silencing in plants harboring the Mlo susceptibility factor decreased accessibility to Bgh, suggesting that BLN1 functions in parallel with or upstream of MLO to modulate penetration resistance. Collectively, these data suggest that the grass-specific Bln1 negatively impacts basal defense against Bgh.
Passive leg movement-induced vasodilation in women: the impact of age

Passive leg movement (PLM) is a novel method of assessing predominantly nitric oxide mediated vascular function. PLM-induced vasodilation is attenuated with age in men; however, PLM has never befor...
Optimal Downgrade Policy for Rating Agencies

Rating Agencies have come under criticism for being slow to respond to deterioration in credit quality. Different explanations have been proposed for the same: infrequent monitoring, the oligopolistic nature of the industry, and ratings management. This paper argues for a different reason: namely that the rating has a feedback effect on credit quality. This feedback effect leads to delay by the rating agencies in their decision to downgrade debt. This feedback effect is exacerbated by rating triggers and congressional mandates on what institutional investors can hold. The model also explains the empirical fact that downgrades at the investment-junk bond barrier tend to be larger in size. The paradox of credit ratings is that they are incorporated into contracts because they are seen as accurate indicators of credit quality. However, once they are incorporated, ratings can no longer be as responsive as before.
Combating HIV in Africa: a role for economic research.

HIV infection has been shown to be associated with substantial costs in many sectors of the economy. This finding has helped to bring attention to the epidemic in Africa and convince policymakers outside of the health sector about the serious threat posed by HIV/AIDS. Limited evidence indicates that the prevention of HIV infection is among the top health priorities in any African country with a significantly high incidence of infection. Additional research on the secondary economic effects of HIV infection is needed to further define the benefit associated with preventing a case but that should no longer be the primary focus of research upon the economic aspects of HIV infection in Africa. Priority should instead shift to the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce HIV transmission interventions to reduce HIV transmission interventions to treat HIV-related disease and interventions to reduce the negative impact upon survivors. Sections consider the benefit of preventing HIV infection versus other diseases the benefit of preventing a case of HIV infection the benefit associated with preventing secondary cases the benefit associated with preventing secondary poverty benefits of preventing different types of HIV infection the cost of preventing a case of HIV infection and the cost of preventing a case of HIV infection compared to other diseases.
Vasectomy and the Incidence of Hospitalized Illness

AbstractTo determine the long-term effects of vasectomy on health we studied the incidence of hospitalized illness in 4,385 vasectomized and 13,155 age and race-matched nonvasectomized men. In none of the 16 disease groupings we examined was the incidence of hospitalized illness in the vasectomized men significantly different from that in the nonvasectomized men, considering men with all durations of vasectomy. Neither the incidence of acute myocardial infarction, other ischemic heart disease nor that of all atherosclerotic diseases considered as a group was significantly different between the vasectomized and nonvasectomized men, even in those whose duration of vasectomy was 10 years or more. These data are reassuring, providing no evidence for an adverse health effect of vasectomy in men.
The Emerging Revolution in Management Education

Interprets some questions in management education. Context by which problems of management faculties must be considered; Role of management departments in the kinds of business schools that will em...
Development and characterization of microsatellite primers in the federally endangered Astragalus bibullatus (Fabaceae)

Premise of the study: Microsatellites were developed for Astragalus bibullatus (Fabaceae), a federally endangered narrow endemic, to investigate reproductive ecology and species boundaries among closely related taxa. Methods and Results: Next-generation sequencing was used to develop 12 nuclear microsatellite loci that amplify in A. bibullatus, as well as in A. crassicarpus var. trichocalyx, A. gypsodes, and A. tennesseensis. Identified loci were di- and trinucleotide repeats, with 1–15 alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.000–0.938 and 0.000–0.860, respectively. Cross-amplification of three loci previously published in A. michauxii was also confirmed for the taxa included here. Conclusions: These data indicate the utility of novel microsatellite loci for conservation genetics and reproductive ecology in closely related Astragalus species.
FINDING YOUR PLACE IN SCHOOL

![Figure][1] In a fish school, position means a lot. Animals at the front will have first access to food; animals in the center are well protected from predators, and those pulling up the rear get to save a little metabolic energy as they draft off those in front of them. But who ends up
Intermixing of multiple quantum wells for all-optical integrated circuits

All-optical waveguide switches that can potentially be implemented in all-optical integrated circuits are described. These switches are presently made in either single or multiple semiconductor quantum well structures. Selective-area intermixing of the quantum wells is presented as a most viable means of achieving the passive waveguide sections for the interconnections between the switches.
Assessing the impact of race on the juvenile waiver decision: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose This paper provides a systematic review of the current state of knowledge about the effect of race on the decision to waive a juvenile defendant to criminal court. Methods Following comprehensive search strategies a total of 20 independent studies were identified that met the review's inclusion criteria, eighteen of which could be included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was used to generate weighted mean effect sizes of the effect of race on the waiver decision. Moderator analyses were also performed to explore heterogeneity. Results The average effect of race in the included studies was positive but not statistically significant. Analysis also revealed substantial heterogeneity among the studies. Moderator analyses revealed that within several of the subgroups of studies, race was significantly associated with waiver decisions. Conclusions Our findings suggest a nuanced and exceedingly complicated story about the role of race in waiver decisions. Most directly, the positive but nonsignificant average effect of race should raise doubts that race impacts waiver decisions in a direct fashion. However, simple claims that race does not matter are also not supported by existing knowledge. The nature of the review facilitates the development of specific recommendations for future research.
So-called trigger ankle due to an aberrant flexor hallucis longus muscle in a tennis player. A case report.

We have been unable to find a description in the litterature of triggering in the flexor hallucis longus tendon secondary to impingement of an aberrant extension of the muscle belly into the region of the flexor retinaculum. This anomalous muscle is reported in distinction to the previously described flexor digitorum accessorius longus, located in the flexor hallucis longus sheath in 4 to 7 per cent of the general population
Aircraft gate assignment

We solve a combined problem of freight movement and taxi times to mitigate delays.We subdivide the problem to solve the bigger problem in a faster solution time.A genetic algorithm is used to produce an optimized solutions with subdivided problem.The subdivided problem solution time is shorter than the total problem solution time.Smaller initial populations result in faster solution times. With the increase in fuel prices, the efficient movement of aircraft around an airport can impact the profitability of a flight and an airline. The assignment of a flight to a specific gate not only impacts passenger satisfaction, but also impacts the efficient movement of aircraft from the departure gate to the runway. There have been bodies of research investigating aircraft taxi problems and gate assignment problems. However, each of these research bodies has not included the effects of the other research areas into their respective areas. This paper presents a proposed framework that integrates the passenger or freight movement within a terminal with the taxiing of the aircraft to support an integrated approach to solving the gate assignment problem. A solution technique that incorporates a job shop scheduling solution method is presented and demonstrates that a large problem can be solved efficiently and in a short time.
Novel Kinetic Intermediates Populated along the Folding Pathway of the Transmembrane β-Barrel OmpA

We examined the folding of the β-barrel membrane protein OmpA from Escherichia coli. Although previous studies identified several intermediate states followed by a concerted translocation mechanism across the bilayer, some aspects of the pathway were still unclear, including the extent of secondary structure formation in the intermediate states and how the mechanism gave rise to multiple exponential phases in the folding kinetics. We addressed these questions by investigating the folding kinetics of the OmpA transmembrane β-barrel domain over a range of bilayer thicknesses, allowing us to observe different regions of the folding pathway. The fastest folding into the thinnest bilayers provided information about the later stages of the process, and the slowest folding into thicker bilayers revealed early kinetic steps. Folding was monitored using sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and circular dichroism spectroscopy, which provide complementary information about tertiary and secondary...
Wellness Night: Cultivating Healthy Partnerships with Schools, Families and the Community

The purpose of this article is to describe the procedures involved in creating a “wellness night” that can be implemented in elementary schools to introduce children and their families to local community organizations to bring awareness regarding the multitude of resources available in the community to improve and sustain health.
New insight into the origin of manganese oxide ore deposits in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge of northeastern Tennessee and northern Virginia, USA

Manganese oxide deposits have long been observed in association with carbonates within the Appalachian Mountains, but their origin has remained enigmatic for well over a century. Ore deposits of Mn oxides from several productive sites located in eastern Tennessee and northern Virginia display morphologies that include botryoidal and branching forms, massive nodules, breccia matrix cements, and fracture fills. The primary ore minerals include hollandite, cryptomelane, and romanechite. Samples of Mn oxides from multiple localities in these regions were analyzed using electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and trace/rare earth element geochemistry. The samples from eastern Tennessee have biological morphologies, contain residual biopolymers, and exhibit REE signatures that suggest the ore formation was due to supergene enrichment (likely coupled with microbial activity). In contrast, several northern Virginia ores hosted within quartz-sandstone breccias exhibit petrographic relations, mineral morphologies, and REE signatures indicating inorganic precipitation, and a likely hydrothermal origin with supergene overprinting. Nodular accumulations of Mn oxides within weathered alluvial deposits that occur near to breccia-hosted Mn deposits in Virginia show geochemical signatures that are distinct from the breccia matrices, and appear to reflect remobilization of earlier-emplaced Mn and concentration within supergene traps. Based on the proximity of all of the productive ore deposits to mapped faults or other zones of deformation, we suggest that the primary source of all of the Mn may have been deep-seated, and that Mn oxides with supergene and/or biological characteristics result from the local remobilization and concentration of this primary Mn.
Feminism is Queer: The Intimate Connection Between Queer and Feminist Theory, 2nd ed., by Mimi Marinucci

In this second edition of Feminism is Queer, author Mimi Marinucci revisits the connection between queer and feminist theory, expanding it to include topics such as Black Lives Matter and an update...
Waveform manipulation with time-reversed over-the-horizon radars

In this paper we present methods to enhance the performance of current over-the-horizon (OTH) radars using time-reversal in three different aspects: ionospheric distortion compensation, resolution enhancement, and mitigation of multipath interference. In addition, a new imaging radar concept based on time-reversal will be presented.
Welfare State, Geography of

The ‘welfare state’ describes the institutions and policies of states that are devoted to the delivery of human and social services, poverty amelioration, and enhancement of human well-being. These institutions and policies are intended to ensure that the basic needs of the population are met with regard to food, housing, education, income, and health. The welfare state can be conceptualized as a framework that guides three types of decisions: decisions about services to be provided, institutional arrangements for provision, and the scale of provision and decision-making. The decisions made with respect to each of these reflect the interplay of many pressures and contextual forces. Three sources of variation are of particular importance: the resources and overall wealth available to countries, differences in ideologies and political cultures that shape the ways states conceptualize their roles, and pressures from international organizations. As a result of these decisions, the welfare state is temporally and geographically variable. The international trend toward local, rather than national-level welfare provision promises to heighten the unevenness of welfare provision and welfare outcomes. This unevenness will reflect the resources, capacities, and intentions of communities and localities, and may create new forms of uneven development.
Boundary Condition Perturbations in Transport Theory

Expressions are derived for the first-order change in the fundamental eigenvalue of the neutron transport equation due to a perturbation in the boundary condition of the system. The perturbation formula is derived in the context of the energy-dependent transport theory and its diffusion approximation. Numerical examples are given in both transport and diffusion theory.
Modeling motion with qualitative process theory

Representing motion is an important part of Naive Physics. Previous qualitative models of motion were centered around the idea of Qualitative States. This paper discusses an alternative representation in terms of Qualitative Process Theory. Viewing motion as a process has several advantages, notably the ability to make more detailed inferences about dynamics and the ability to combine process descriptions to model more complex systems. After examining the relationship between Qualitative State and QP theory representations of motion, the utility of the QP representations are illustrated by analyzing an oscillator.
Mechanism of action and fate of the fungicide chlorothalonil (2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile) in biological systems: I. Reactions with cells and subcellular components of Saccharomyces pastorianus

Abstract The mechanism and sequence of reaction of chlorothalonil in cells of Saccharomyces pastorianus was investigated by the use of either 14C-labeled fungicide or Na235SO4-labeled cells. The initial uptake of fungicide resulted in rapid formation of substituted chlorothalonil-reduced glutathione (GSH) derivatives. Chlorothalonil reacted with proteins during derivative formation but decreased cell viability did not occur until all the GSH was reacted and inhibition of specific NAD thiol-dependent glycolytic and respiratory enzymes occurred. It is postulated that enzyme activity and cell viability are controlled either directly or indirectly by the concentration of GSH. The loss of GSH through derivative formation with chlorothalonil and the lack of regeneration of the reduced thiol could be an important feature in the sequence of toxicity of the fungicide. The general mechanism of action of chlorothalonil resembles the trichloromethyl sulfenyl fungicides in that treated cells accumulate large concentrations of fungicide; reactions involve both low and high molecular-weight thiols, with the formation of glutathione-fungicide derivatives; and toxicity resides ultimately with the inhibition of thiol-dependent enzymes.
Sintering of Combustion-Synthesized Titanium Carbide

The sintering of combustion-synthesized titanium carbide was investigated relative to that of commercially available powders. Depending on the preparation parameters, the synthesized powders had variable shrinkages at the same sintering conditions. Moreover, the commercial powder experienced a higher densification than any of the powders prepared in this study. These observations are interpreted in terms of the influence of free carbon on the sintering process. Approximately calculated amounts of free carbon show an inverse relationship with the measured shrinkages. Experimental verification for this is provided by sintering data on carbon-doped commercial powders of titanium carbide.
The Whole Is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts: Entropy and the Second Law

Besides the search for eternal youth, few other ideas are as attractive as the search for a system that will produce more energy or work than it consumes. Such machines are called perpetual-motion machines and are conceived in two varieties: perpetual-motion machines of the first and second kind. The first is a machine that produces more energy than it absorbs as work or heat from the surroundings and thus creates energy. This kind of device has never been found (though people attempt it every day), and its existence is forbidden by the first law of thermodynamics. The second type of perpetual-motion machine is permitted by the first law because it draws heat from the surroundings and converts that heat into work without changing the state of the surroundings. However, it turns out that there are substantial limitations on the construction of a machine or system that can take heat and convert it into directed energy or useful work. Were this not so, it would be possible to build a machine that: 1. Draws heat from the surroundings (there is an almost limitless supply of random thermal motion), 2. Converts the heat to useful work and, 3. In the course of using the directed energy to do work, returns the energy to the surroundings as dissipated or scattered energy (i.e., as random thermal fluctuations).