cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reward function as an outcome predictor in youth with mood and anxiety symptoms

Abstract Background Adolescent depression varies considerably in its course. However, there remain no biobehavioral predictors of illness trajectory, and follow-up studies in depressed youth are sparse. Here, we sought to examine whether reward function would predict future clinical outcomes in adolescents with depressive symptoms. We utilized the reward flanker fMRI task to assess brain function during distinct reward processes of anticipation, attainment, and positive prediction error (PPE, i.e. receiving uncertain rewards). Methods Subjects were 29 psychotropic-medication-free adolescents with mood and anxiety symptoms and 14 healthy controls (HC). All had psychiatric evaluations at baseline and approximately 24-month follow-up. Thirty-two participants (10 HC) had usable fMRI data. Correlation and hierarchical regression models examined baseline symptom severity measures as predictors of follow-up clinical outcomes. Whole-brain analyses examined relationships between neural reward processes and follow-up outcomes. Results Clinically, anhedonia, but not irritability, predicted future depression and suicidal ideation. Among reward processes, only baseline neural activation during PPE correlated with follow-up depression and anhedonia severity. Specifically, activation in the left angular gyrus—a component of the default mode network—was associated with future depression, while activation in the dorsal anterior cingulate, operculum, and left insula—key salience and pain network regions—was associated with future anhedonia, even when controlling for baseline anhedonia. Limitations The small sample size and variable follow-up intervals limit the generalizability of conclusions. Conclusions This research suggests that reward dysfunction, indexed by anhedonia, may predict worse clinical trajectories in depressed youth. Adolescents presenting with significant anhedonia should be carefully monitored for illness progression.
Assessment of playa wetland network connectivity for amphibians of the south-central Great Plains (USA) using graph-theoretical, least-cost path, and landscape resistance modelling

Land-cover changes are likely affecting structural and functional connectivity for wetland-associated wildlife among the > 80,000 playa of the Great Plains (USA). We investigated how patterns of land cover from 2008 to 2016 affected structural and functional connectivity among playas under biologically feasible scenarios and a range of vagilities for amphibians. We compared graph-theoretical, least-cost path (LCP), and landscape resistance models. Using land-cover and irrigation data and literature-based estimates of species-specific dispersal, we developed three alternative scenarios with resistance values that differed by land-cover type. Sensitivity analysis examined effects of altering the numeric range of values within models. From a structural perspective, the playa network was highly fragmented, with coalescence distances greater than amphibian dispersal capabilities (> 15 km). The network was insensitive to assigning different resistance values to different land-cover types: 81% of LCP locations overlapped with at least one other modeled scenario, and 57% of LCPs overlapped among all three scenarios. Our findings partially support previous graph-based assessments of playa structural connectivity that indicated high levels of path redundancy within this ecological network. However, although there was extensive path overlap among scenarios, many modelled linkages were at distances well beyond the individual lifetime dispersal maxima for regional amphibians. Thus, functional connectivity would be achieved in this landscape only by spanning scales from daily movements to inter-generational dispersal.
Triglyceride to Direct High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Risk for Elevated Systolic Blood Pressure Among Adolescent - Results from the 2005-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background The plasma concentration ratio of triglyceride to direct high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) predicts systolic hypertension (HTN) and other cardiometabolic diseases in adults. However, the association with elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in adolescents has not been adequately studied. In this study, we endeavor to elucidate if an elevated plasma TG/HDL-C ratio correlates independently with systolic hypertension in adolescents by utilizing cross-sectional data from a large sample population. Methods Data came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the period 2005-2016. Eligible subjects were adolescent aged 13 – 20 years. Elevated SBP was …
A Comparison Between Chemo-Radiotherapy Combined With Immunotherapy and Chemo-Radiotherapy Alone for the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Immunotherapy for GBM is an emerging field which is increasingly being investigated in combination with standard of care treatment options with variable reported success rates. Objective To perform a systematic review of the available data to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining immunotherapy with standard of care chemo-radiotherapy following surgical resection for the treatment of newly diagnosed GBM. Methods A literature search was performed for published clinical trials evaluating immunotherapy for GBM from January 1, 2000, to October 1, 2020, in PubMed and Cochrane using PICOS/PRISMA/MOOSE guidelines. Only clinical trials with two arms (combined therapy vs. control therapy) were included. Outcomes were then pooled using weighted random effects model for meta-analysis and compared using the Wald-type test. Primary outcomes included 1-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), secondary outcomes included severe adverse events (SAE) grade 3 or higher. Results Nine randomized phase II and/or III clinical trials were included in the analysis, totaling 1,239 patients. The meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in group's 1-year OS [80.6% (95% CI: 68.6%-90.2%) vs. 72.6% (95% CI: 65.7%-78.9%), p = 0.15] or in 1-year PFS [37% (95% CI: 26.4%-48.2%) vs. 30.4% (95% CI: 25.4%-35.6%) p = 0.17] when the immunotherapy in combination with the standard of care group (combined therapy) was compared to the standard of care group alone (control). Severe adverse events grade 3 to 5 were more common in the immunotherapy and standard of care group than in the standard of care group (47.3%, 95% CI: 20.8-74.6%, vs 43.8%, 95% CI: 8.7-83.1, p = 0.81), but this effect also failed to reach statistical significance. Conclusion Our results suggests that immunotherapy can be safely combined with standard of care chemo-radiotherapy without significant increase in grade 3 to 5 SAE; however, there is no statistically significant increase in overall survival or progression free survival with the combination therapy.
Voting with a Hand on the Bible and Not on the Wallet

The 1996 gambling referendum in Louisiana provided a unique opportunity to study voters' preferences. At the time of the referendum, video poker machines legally operated in all of Louisiana's 64 parishes (counties). Video poker was voted down in 31 parishes and retained in 33 parishes. Voters also allowed the New Orleans land-based casino and 15 riverboat casinos to continue their operations. The extant horse racing and pari-mutuel betting were not voted on. We examine the economic, demographic, and religious factors that influenced how people voted on the issue of legalized video poker. This study is of interest because in recent years, legalized gambling has been expanding around the world. We know of no other referendum on gambling that covered an area as large as an entire U.S. state - all of Louisiana - and offered voters control over gambling in their locality. Months before the 1996 referendum, the news media suggested several factors that might determine the outcome of the vote. The media concluded that concern over jobs would be the major influence on the outcome. Other important factors included a campaign against gambling by Southern Baptist churches and the simultaneous national presidential election. We investigate whether these factors, along with demographic factors such as age and education, influenced the results of the gambling referendum. Surprisingly, we found no clear evidence that the economic health of a parish or the preexisting size of its gambling industry determined the vote. The presence of Southern Baptists in a parish increased the likelihood that gambling would be voted down. Democratic voters tended to vote for gambling, as did black voters. Age and education levels of voters did not appear to influence their votes on gambling. Voters in parishes that bordered other states were more likely to retain gambling. Overall, it appeared that personal values were more important in determining voter behavior than financial considerations. People were voting with their hearts, not their pocketbooks.
Fragility Index as a Measure of Randomized Clinical Trial Quality in Adult Reconstruction: A Systematic Review.

Background The Fragility Index (FI) and Reverse Fragility Index are powerful tools to supplement the P value in evaluation of randomized clinical trial (RCT) outcomes. These metrics are defined as the number of patients needed to change the significance level of an outcome. The purpose of this study was to calculate these metrics for published RCTs in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Methods We performed a systematic review of RCTs in TJA over the last decade. For each study, we calculated the FI (for statistically significant outcomes) or Reverse Fragility Index (for nonstatistically significant outcomes) for all dichotomous, categorical outcomes. We also used the Pearson correlation coefficient to evaluate publication-level variables. Results We included 104 studies with 473 outcomes; 92 were significant, and 381 were nonstatistically significant. The median FI was 6 overall and 4 and 7 for significant and nonsignificant outcomes, respectively. There was a positive correlation between FI and sample size (R = 0.14, P = .002) and between FI and P values (R = 0.197, P = .000012). Conclusions This study is the largest evaluation of FI in orthopedics literature to date. We found a median FI that was comparable to or higher than FIs calculated in other orthopedic subspecialties. Although the mean and median FIs were greater than the 2 recommended by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Clinical Practice Guidelines to demonstrate strong evidence, a large percentage of studies have an FI < 2. This suggests that the TJA literature is on par or slightly better than other subspecialties, but improvements must be made. Level of Evidence Level I; Systematic Review.
Identifying risk factors for heart disease over time

Display Omitted First NLP shared task on identifying risk factors and related indicators in diabetic patients.Twenty teams participated, submitted 49 system runs.Six of the top 10 teams achieved F1 scores over 0.90; all 10 scored over 0.87. The second track of the 2014 i2b2/UTHealth natural language processing shared task focused on identifying medical risk factors related to Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in the narratives of longitudinal medical records of diabetic patients. The risk factors included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, smoking status, and family history, as well as diabetes and CAD, and indicators that suggest the presence of those diseases. In addition to identifying the risk factors, this track of the 2014 i2b2/UTHealth shared task studied the presence and progression of the risk factors in longitudinal medical records. Twenty teams participated in this track, and submitted 49 system runs for evaluation. Six of the top 10 teams achieved F1 scores over 0.90, and all 10 scored over 0.87. The most successful system used a combination of additional annotations, external lexicons, hand-written rules and Support Vector Machines. The results of this track indicate that identification of risk factors and their progression over time is well within the reach of automated systems.
Real effective rent determination: Evidence from the Sydney office market

Summary The rental adjustment equation usually estimated provides no relationship between the levels of actual and equilibrium rents, requires substantial overshooting of the natural rate in response to supply or demand shocks to the market, and cannot hold simultaneously for leases of different terms. These flaws are overcome by relating the percentage change in real effective rents to gaps between both the natural and actual vacancy rates and equilibrium and actual real effective rents. Annual data from the Sydney office market during the 1970–1993 period are consistent with the expanded adjustment equation.
The electric organ of a mormyrid as a current and voltage source

We have examined how the electric organ discharge (EOD) of a mormyrid (Gnathonemus petersii) is affected by changes in resistive load (Figs. 3, 4, 5). We have also shown how this load depends on resistivity and distance to non-conducting boundaries (Figs. 10, 11). When resistive load was varied, voltage and current were related in a linear, battery-like manner for the initial, head positive phase of the EOD (Figs. 4, 5). This linear relation made it possible to estimate first phase e.m.f. and source resistance. For the second, head negative phase, however, voltage rose to a peak and then fell as resistance increased. Furthermore, the waveform of the second but not the first phase was strongly affected by load changes. These second phase features were shown to reflect a dependence of second phase e.m.f. on first phase current. A linear and battery-like relation between second phase voltage and current was seen when first phase load was held constant while varying second phase load (Fig. 6). These results on the behavior of the whole electric organ can be understood in terms of the underlying properties of the cellular generators, the electrocytes.
Social Status and Relational System of Elderly Suicides: A Reexamination of the Henry-Short Thesis*

: The relationship between status and suicide has not been clearly established. Henry and Short suggested a direct relationship, but subsequent research has proposed an inverse association. The present study of elderly males uses information obtained from two sources: (a) a random sample of the aged population studied in Pinellas County, Florida, in 1959; and (b) persons aged 65 and over who committed suicide in that county between 1955 and 1963. The major findings are: (a) the highest suicide rate is found at the lowest class level, suggesting an inverse relationship; (b) class differential in suicide is explained by a direct relationship between class and the relational system; and (c) controlling on the relational system results in a direct association between class and suicide. Thus, both status and the relational system operate independently and jointly to affect suicide rates of these elderly males. Findings suggest that both Henry and Short and later investigators are partially correct. The relationship between status and suicide may be clarified by taking into account other factors which are class related but which perhaps are more significant than measures of class alone.
Unseen Prisoners: A Report on Women in Immigration Detention Facilities in Arizona

This report, released by the Southwest Institute for Research on Women and the Bacon Immigration Law and Policy Program at the University of Arizona, describes harsh conditions of confinement for the roughly three hundred women housed in immigration detention facilities in Arizona. It is based on over a year of research, including over 40 interviews with detainees, their family members, attorneys, and service providers. The report's findings highlight the impact of detention on families, including U.S. citizen children, the severe penal conditions imposed on women who are not serving criminal sentences, the aggressive government prosecution and detention of women who pose no security threat or flight risk, and the provision of inadequate medical care, particularly gynecological and obstetrical care, in response to women's health needs. The report contains detailed recommendations for Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the individual facilities researched. Recommendations range from broad policy changes, including the need for increased consideration of the impact of immigration detention on families, to specific facility-level concerns, such as the lack of outdoor recreation in Pinal County Jail.
Syntactic priming and children’s production and representation of the passive

This thesis investigates children's mental representation of syntactic structure and how their acquisition and production of syntax is affected by lexical and semantic factors. It focuses on a freq...
An adaptive Kalman window filter to restore degraded images

A semicausal model for image representation has been described which accounts for the correlated nature of the pixel data. The model is then used to develop a linear imaging system model suitable for Kalman algorithms. Since the blurring PSF is not known in practice, the system model is modified to include the estimation of the pixels while the noise characteristics are assumed to be known. For restoration, an adaptive Kalman filter is developed whose length of the state vector is shown to be a function of the PSF size resulting in significant savings in computational and storage requirements. Through examples, it is demonstrated that by carefully choosing the initial estimates of the PSF and error covariance terms, results comparable to the case when the PSF is fully known can be obtained. Two criteria to select such initial estimates have been described; one is based on the a priori knowledge about the dominant PSF coefficient and the other is based on the law of conservation of light flux.
Effects of spinosad-based fruit fly bait GF-120 on tephritid fruit fly and aphid parasitoids

Abstract The spinosad-based fruit fly bait GF-120 has recently been developed as a primary tool for the area-wide control and eradication of tephritid fruit flies. In this study, we assessed the direct contact toxicity of GF-120 to three major parasitoids of tephritids in Hawaii: Fopius arisanus (Sonan), Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron), and Pysttalia fletcheri (Silvestri) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), as well as one aphid parasitoid, Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae). All four parasitoid species were susceptible to GF-120. Males and females were equally susceptible to GF-120 for all species. The 24-h LC 50 values for the opiine braconid species were in a narrow range (8.3–17.5 ppm). The aphidiid appeared to be more susceptible than the opiines, probably due to the stickiness of GF-120. We confirmed that adult F. arisanus (as a model species) do not feed directly on GF-120 either in the presence or the absence of honey and water resources. F. arisanus tasted, discriminated, and gave up GF-120 droplets after a brief ( F. arisanus were allowed to freely forage on host coffee branches sprayed with droplets at the recommended field rate for use of GF-120 (80 ppm), treatment mortality was significantly higher than control mortality (sprayed with water), and also increased with exposure time. Although GF-120 appears to be the most judicious of reduced-risk fruit fly baits currently available, our results suggest that area-wide application of GF-120 needs to be carefully monitored in situations where release or conservation of parasitoids is a prime concern.
Evaluation of a Turkey-Breast Phantom for Teaching Freehand, US-guided Core-Needle Breast Biopsy

Rationale and Objectives. Use of a turkey-breast phantom for developing freehand ultrasound (US)-guided core-needle biopsy skills was evaluated. Materials and Methods. Thirteen diagnostic radiology trainees with varied experience in freehand US-guided breast core-needle biopsy were given instruction and allowed to practice the technique in a turkey-breast phantom. Three attempts were made before and after instruction and practice, and a questionnaire regarding experience, confidence, and anxiety was administered after these attempts. Technique, accuracy, and completion time were evaluated. Results. Confidence related to procedure performance increased ( P Conclusion. For teaching US-guided breast core-needle biopsy, use of a turkey-breast phantom helps improve technique, accuracy, and confidence of diagnostic radiology trainees.
Natural killing and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity by lymphocyte subpopulations in young and aging humans.

Natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) were examined in the peripheral blood lymphocytes and their major subpopulations from young and aging subjects. Monocyte-depleted unseparated lymphocyte-mediated NK activity (against cells of K-562) and ADCC (against IgG-coated chicken erythrocytes) were comparable between young and aging subjects. Similarly no significant difference was observed in T cell-mediated NK and ADCC and non-T cell-mediated ADCC between young and aging subjects. Non-T cell-mediated NK activity, however, was significantly (P<0.025) greater in aging humans compared to that of young subjects. When the data were analyzed according to gender, T cell-mediated ADCC in aging males was significantly (P<0.05) greater than that found in young males. No significant difference was observed between T-cell ADCC among young and aging females. T cell-mediated NK was comparable among young and aging males and young and aging females. Non-T cell-mediated NK as well as ADCC activity was significantly (P<0.025 or <0.05) greater in aging males compared to that in young males. Both non-T-cell NK and ADCC were comparable among young and aging females. This study demonstrates an increase in NK and ADCC activity in aging subjects that is primarily shared by males and not by females. No correlation was observed between the proportion of Tγ cells and T-cell NK or ADCC activity.
Effects of a traditional chinese herbal medicine, Kanzo-bushi-to, on the resistance of thermally injured mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1

The protective effect of Kanzo-bushi-to (TJS-038) was investigated on the opportunistic infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) in thermally injured mice (TI-Mice). We have previously reported that TI-Mice were approximately 100 times more susceptible to HSV infection than normal mice (N-Mice) and that CD8+ suppressor T (ST)-cells induced by burn injury were involved in causing this increased susceptibility of TI-Mice. Increased susceptibility of TI-Mice to the infection was reversed to the levels observed in N-Mice when TI-Mice were treated intraperitoneally with TJS-038 at a dose of 5 mg/kg 1 and 4 days after thermal injury. The activity of ST-cells was greatly decreased in TI-Mice treated with TJS-038. The generation of Vicia villosa lectin-adherent CD4+ CD28+ TCR-α/β+ contrasuppressor T (Contra-ST)-cells associated with the appearance of ST-cells was expanded and occurred earlier in spleens of TJS-038-treated TI-Mice as compared with that of untreated TI-Mice. The improved resistance of TJS-038-treated TI-Mice to the infection was transferred to untreated TI-Mice by adoptive transfer of Contra-ST-cells prepared from TJS-038-treated TI-Mice. These results suggest that TJS-038 may restore the resistance of TI-Mice to the HSV infection through the expanded generation of Contra-ST-cells.
Time dependent moments for a nonstationary noise model

We calculate the raw and central moments for a noise model that is the sum of elementary signals. In addition we obtain expressions for the scintillation index. The case where the elementary signals are real and complex are considered and the relationships between the two are derived.
Degradation of YRA1 Pre-mRNA in the Cytoplasm Requires Translational Repression, Multiple Modular Intronic Elements, Edc3p, and Mex67p

Intron-containing pre-mRNAs are normally retained and processed in the nucleus but are sometimes exported to the cytoplasm and degraded by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway as a consequence of their inclusion of intronic in-frame termination codons. When shunted to the cytoplasm by autoregulated nuclear export, the intron-containing yeast YRA1 pre-mRNA evades NMD and is targeted by a cytoplasmic decay pathway mediated by the decapping activator Edc3p. Here, we have elucidated this transcript-specific decay mechanism, showing that Edc3p-mediated YRA1 pre-mRNA degradation occurs independently of translation and is controlled through five structurally distinct but functionally interdependent modular elements in the YRA1 intron. Two of these elements target the pre-mRNA as an Edc3p substrate and the other three mediate transcript-specific translational repression. Translational repression of YRA1 pre-mRNA also requires the heterodimeric Mex67p/Mtr2p general mRNA export receptor, but not Edc3p, and serves to enhance Edc3p substrate specificity by inhibiting the susceptibility of this pre-mRNA to NMD. Collectively, our data indicate that YRA1 pre-mRNA degradation is a highly regulated process that proceeds through translational repression, substrate recognition by Edc3p, recruitment of the Dcp1p/Dcp2p decapping enzyme, and activation of decapping.
Assets or liabilities? The politics of bank ownership

ABSTRACTBy 2014, there was significant variation across the global economy in the levels of domestic and foreign bank ownership among states. While major emerging and most advanced countries continued to protect domestic control over the bulk of their banking assets, a number of developing and transition economies had opened their banking markets to unprecedentedly high levels of foreign bank ownership. This introduction to a special issue on the politics of bank ownership examines why states have taken such divergent paths, and maps out some of the major consequences of disparate foreign bank ownership levels. The special issue finds that banking sector protectionism against a backdrop of globalization has generated new conflicts and costs for states. Paradoxically, it is the large, powerful countries that are most susceptible to such costs and conflict, in contrast to their more open, if weaker, counterparts. In addition, we find that high levels of foreign bank ownership have not resulted in significan...
Inhibitors of sterol synthesis. 15-oxygenated steryl ester hydrolase activity of rat liver at neutral and acid pH.

5α-Cholest-8(14)-en-3β-ol-15-one (15 ketosterol) is a potent inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis with significant hypocholesterolemic activity. The results of a recent study (Schroepfer, G.J., Jr., Christophe, A., Chu, A.J., Izumi, A., Kisic, A. and Sherrill, B.C. (1988) Chem. Phys. Lipids 48, 29–58) have indicated that, after intragastric administration of the 15-ketosterol in triolein to rats, most of the compound in intestinal lymph occurs in the form of the oleate ester, which is associated with chylomicrons. Moreover, after intravenous administration of chylomicrons containing the oleate ester of 15-[2,4-3H]ketosterol, rapid and selective uptake of 3H by liver was observed, which was associated with the rapid and substantial appearance of labeled free 15-ketosterol in liver. The present study concerns the capabilities of rat liver fractions to catalyze the hydrolysis of 15-ketosteryl oleate. Efficient hydrolysis was observed at acid pH with a digitonin-solubilized extract of rat liver, with a rate similar to that for the hydrolysis of cholesteryl oleate. The distribution of acid 15-ketosteryl oleate hydrolase of whole liver homogenate on a metrizamide isopycnic density gradient was similar to that of acid cholesteryl oleate hydrolase and acid phosphatase, suggesting that the lysosomal acid lipase is the enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of the 15-ketosteryl oleate at acid pH. At neutral pH, 15-ketosteryl oleate and cholesteryl oleate were hydrolyzed at similar rates by the microsomal fraction of liver homogenate, whereas the 15-ketosteryl oleate was hydrolyzed at a much lower rate than cholesteryl oleate by the cytosolic fraction. The distribution of neutral 15-ketosteryl oleate hydrolase activity of whole liver homogenate on a metrizamide isopycnic density gradient was most correlated to a microsomal esterase, whereas cholesteryl oleate hydrolase activity was most correlated to a cytosolic enzyme. Both 15-ketosteryl oleate and cholesteryl oleate hydrolase activities were correlated to a mitochondrial marker enzyme.
Artificial intelligence and immediacy: designing health communication to personally engage consumers and providers.

Abstract Objective We describe how ehealth communication programs can be improved by using artificial intelligence (AI) to increase immediacy. Methods We analyzed major deficiencies in ehealth communication programs, illustrating how programs often fail to fully engage audiences and can even have negative consequences by undermining the effective delivery of information intended to guide health decision-making and influence adoption of health-promoting behaviors. We examined the use of AI in ehealth practices to promote immediacy and provided examples from the ChronologyMD project. Results Strategic use of AI is shown to help enhance immediacy in ehealth programs by making health communication more engaging, relevant, exciting, and actionable. Conclusion AI can enhance the “immediacy” of ehealth by humanizing health promotion efforts, promoting physical and emotional closeness, increasing authenticity and enthusiasm in health promotion efforts, supporting personal involvement in communication interactions, increasing exposure to relevant messages, reducing demands on healthcare staff, improving program efficiency, and minimizing costs. Practice implications User-centered AI approaches, such as the use of personally involving verbal and nonverbal cues, natural language translation, virtual coaches, and comfortable human–computer interfaces can promote active information processing and adoption of new ideas. Immediacy can improve information access, trust, sharing, motivation, and behavior changes.
Metatarsal shaft fracture after first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion: a complication of Steinmann pin fixation.

First metatarsophalangeal joint fusion is a successful pro cedure for the treatment of rheumatoid forefoot problems, severe osteoarthritis of that joint, and failed first ray sur geries. We have id...
A preliminary evaluation of the safety and tolerance of medicinally ingested vinegar in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

ABSTRACT Vinegar (VIN) ingestion at mealtime reduces postprandial glycemia and may benefit individuals with diabetes; hence, the medicinal use of VIN has increased in recent years. This study examined the safety and tolerance of medicinally ingested VIN in type 2 diabetics. Participants (n = 27) were stratified by gender, age, and body mass and randomized into three groups: commercial VIN pills (the reference treatment [REF] (30 mg of acetic acid daily), pickles (PCK) (∼1,400 mg of acetic acid daily), or VIN (2,800 mg of acetic acid daily). Participants continued their normal eating habits during the 12-week trial. At baseline and weeks 6 and 12, fasting blood and urine samples were collected, and adverse changes in bowel movements, frequency of burping or flatulence, and episodes of acid reflux were recorded. Reporting frequency for adverse events did not vary significantly by group during the trial; however, 50–56% of PCK and VIN participants reported at least one treatment-emergent adverse event at wee...
Does the Drell-Yan cross section factorize?

We propose a new form of factorization applicable to the Drell-Yan and other processes in which hadrons appear in the initial state.
Evaluation of Polymer-Based Aqueous Biphasic Systems As Improvement for the Hardwood Alkaline Pulping Process

The application of polymer-based aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) to the alkaline paper pulping process is reported. ABSs composed of polymers and pulping solution (a mixture of NaOH, Na2S, and Na2C...
Characterizing the association between mobile users using wireless network traces

In Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN), the performance heavily depends on the association between mobile users, which decides how frequently the users meet with each other. It is therefore very important to understand the association.In this paper, by analyzing a number of wireless network traces, we verified the exponential distribution of the association of mobile users, which means that most mobile users are not closely associated. Furthermore, we examined the distribution of the inter-connectivity time of those mobile users more closely associated.
A PERSISTENT DIURNAL RHYTHM IN CHAOBORUS LARVAE. I. THE NATURE OF THE RHYTHMICITY1

Larvae of Chaoborus punctipennis Say (Diptera:Culicidae) were maintained under constant conditions in two 152x IO-cm columns containing lake water and sediments. Visual counts of the larvae in the columns were made hourly with a flashlight equipped with a red filter and darkened reflector. Activity was observed during dark periods; however, no activity was observed during light periods. A diurnal rhythm of activity persisted up to 10 days in constant darkness. The phase of the rhythm was reset by entrainment under differing light regimes, as well as by temperatures of 5C or less, These critical low temperaturcs also abolishccl activity. The offset of light was demonstrated to be the Zeitgeber for this rhythm; therefore it is necessary that under natural conditions these larvae reccivc some offset stimulus from the setting sun.
The Relationship Between Verbal and Behavioral Measures of Value

THE IMPORTANCE of including the study of values as an integral part of the total study of human behavior has long been recognized. However, interest in developing objective ways of describing values has been a relatively recent occurrence in psychology. Several techniques for the measurement of values have been deve loped. Among the first and most familiar is the "Study of Values" developed by Allport and Vernon (7). Mailer and Glaser (4), Lurie (5), and others have modified the Allport-Vernon test in order to fur ther refine this measure. Using a Thurstone-type scale, Whisler and Remmers (8) have measured values. Another type is Wickert's Goal Value Blank (9). Using a laboratory approach, Peters, et al., (6) have conducted a series of experimental studies concerning the nature of value judgments. Woodruff (10) has used the selection of alternatives in his test "A Study of Choices. " Understanding the relationship between values and behavior is also a vital problem. Driscoll (2) feels that an individual's behavior is determined by the values he holds. Verbal measures of value have widely been accepted as valid indices of actual behavior involving these values. Friedman (3) even assumes a positive correlation to exist between all verbal expressions of value and value-behavior. However the vast majority of studies concerning the relationship be tween values and behavior rely upon the subject's reporting verbally not only his own attitudes and values, but also his behavior, either actual actions based on |past experiences or potential actions involving future situations. The present study involves the development of comparable measures of values and behavior as obtained from independent sources. It is as sumed that values may pe grouped into family-categories on the basis as a first approximation. Three categories, 1(1), have been employed which have been found to be fruitful in describing and classifying behavior patterns occurring in small groups. The hypotheses to be tested in the present study are (1) values fall into family-categories, j and (2) there is a relationship among types of verbal and behavioral njieasures of these value family-categories. of empirical similarity as suggested by Bryant
Analysis of Alternaria metabolites by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

A high-pressure liquid chromatogrphic (HPLC) method is described for analysis of Alternaria metabolites in grain sorghum and in cultures of Altenaria on grains. The metabolites were extracted from the sample with methanol in a blender. Ammonium sulfate solution was added to a portion of the methanol extract, and the resulting adqueous phase was partitioned first with hexane to remove oil and pigments and then with methylene chloride to extract the metabolites. A small silica gel column was usually used to clean extracts further. Metabolites were separated with Corasil II or Zorbax-SIL columns by either isooctane-tetrahydrofuran (THF) or petroleum ether-THF, with solvent programming, and detected by simultaneous monitoring of fluorescence and 350-nm absorbance. Quantitation of alternariol monomethyl ether, alternariol, and altenuene was usually based on fluorescence; less than 100 ppb of each compound could be detected. Other metabolites are mentioned briefly.
Seismic Retrofit for Electric Power Systems

This paper develops a two-stage stochastic program and solution procedure to optimize the selection of seismic retrofit strategies to increase the resilience of electric power systems against earth...
Patients' interpretations of verbal expressions of probability: Implications for securing informed consent to medical interventions

Physicians often use verbal expressions of probability to characterize their uncertainty about outcomes and the risks or side effects of proposed therapies. However, there is an extensive literature that documents the inherent vagueness of such expressions. Because of the potential importance of probability terms to physician-patient communication and decision-making, we asked patients to tell us the odds they thought applicable to the term "rare", as used by their physician to discuss the likelihood of an adverse outcome from surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three outcome groups: death, severe heart attack, or severe pneumonia. Demographic data were elicited from each subject, as were indicators of present health status, medical history for certain diseases and surgery, and life expectancy. Linear regression and ANOVA analyses of the responses indicate that patient age, education level, perceived health status, and recency of experience with disease and medical care influence patients' numeric interpretations. We discuss the implications of these results. Language: en
Eimeria acervulina: Evaluation of the cellular and antibody responses to the recombinant coccidial antigens in B-congenic chickens

The roles of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC-linked genes in the genetic control of disease susceptibility and the development of protective immunity to Eimeria acervulina infection were investigated in six 15I5-B congenic and four different strains of chickens characterized for the MHC. When oocyst production was assessed, wide variations were noted following initial and challenge infections among the strains of chickens tested. In general, 15.N-21, 15.P-13, B21, B19, SC, and FP chickens were protected following challenge infection whereas 15I5, 15.P-19, 15.7-2, and 15.6-2 chickens were not. Strains of chickens sharing a same B haplotype on different genetic backgrounds did not show comparable levels of protection. These results lead to the view that non-MHC-linked genes have a profound influence on the outcome of the host response to E. acervulina infection. Chickens infected twice at 1-month intervals by an oral inoculation with E. acervulina developed both coccidial-specific antibody and T-cell responses. E. acervulina infected chickens showed T-cell-mediated immune responses to the intact sporozoites as well as to recombinant proteins, p130 of sporozoites and p150 of merozoites. Both p130 and p150 antigens have been identified and characterized previously. Sera obtained from all infected chickens recognized the p150 merozoite protein, but not the p130 sporozoite protein in immunoblots. In general, the cellular response, but not the antibody response to the p150 recombinant surface merozoite antigen correlated with the degree of protection following the challenge infection. These results suggest that the strains of chickens having improved protection against challenge infection demonstrate higher T-cell responses to the recombinant surface merozoite protein, p150.
Morphology, photoluminescence and electronic structure in oxidized silicon nanoclusters

Abstract The dependence of quantum size effects on bonding structure in oxidized silicon nanoclusters is established by correlating photoluminescence data with photon-yield electronic structure measurements at the advanced light source. The nanoclusters were synthesized using a laser ablation technique that utilizes a convective He environment to control the size of the particles. After removal from the growth chamber, our ex situ photoluminescence (PL) results indicate that, as the nanoclusters oxidize, the main PL peak moves from 1.83 to 1.94 eV in energy. The central focus of the present work is to establish the origin of the main PL peak, and to determine why its energy shifts as the nanoclusters are allowed to oxidize slowly in air. The changes in the morphology and bonding structure of the clusters was established using soft-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SXF) and photon-yield near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, which probe the element-specific density of occupied (SXF) and unoccupied (NEXAFS) electronic structure. Our conclusion is that the as-synthesized nanoclusters consist of a pure, crystalline Si core within a nearly pure SiO2 shell, with little or no sub-oxides present. As the nanoclusters oxidize, the radius of the crystalline core decreases in size, which gives rise to the change in the position of the PL signal.
A Graphic Nomogram for Warfarin Dosage Adjustment

We assessed the ability of a graphic nomogram to adjust steady-state warfarin dosages and to predict international normalized ratios (INR) after a dosage change, compared with an anticoagulation clinic pharmacist and a Bayesian regression computer program. Study subjects were 108 men and 3 women receiving warfarin anticoagulation. In all patients the median absolute errors in predicted INR values for the nomogram, computer program, and pharmacist were 0.33, 0.46, and 0.48, respectively. The nomogram was significantly more precise than both other methods (p=0.036). In a subset of 50 patients who required dosage reductions, the median absolute INR prediction errors for the nomogram, computer program, and pharmacist were 0.35, 0.54, and 0.48 respectively. The nomogram was significantly more precise than the pharmacist (p=0.005) and computer (p=0.002). The ability to provide more precise dosage reductions of warfarin may be of clinical importance in light of current recommendations for higher-intensity warfarin therapy and maintenance of higher INR values. Prospective validation of the performance of this nomogram in a routine clinical setting is warranted.
Pattern Matching, Validity, and Conceptualization in Program Evaluation:

All social research is based on pattern matching ideas. A pattern match involves a correspondence between a theoretical or conceptual expectation pattern and an observed or measured pattern. Two quasi-experimental designs-the nonequivalent dependent variable design and the reversed treatment design—illustrate pattern matching logic well. In program evaluation three pattern matches are important: the program pattern match that assesses program implementation; the measurement pattern match that assesses the validity of the measures; and the effect pattern match that assesses the causal hypothesis Conceptualization methods are needed to facilitate the articulation of rich theoretical patterns. An example of a conceptualization study is presented and the utility of conceptualization methods for pattern-matching research is discussed.
Functional polymers and sequential copolymers by phase transfer catalysis. XXVI. Synthesis and characterization of thermotropic liquid crystalline polypodants

Thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) polyethers and copolyethers have been synthesized from 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene (HMS) and α,ω-dichlorooligo(oxyethylene)s having between 2 and 5 as well as 8.7 oxyethylene units. Copolyethers were prepared from a 1:1 mol/mol ratio of two dissimilar spacers. These polymers have been prepared by a phase transfer catalyzed (PTC) polyetherification of bisphenols with these electrophiles by utilizing 50 mol% tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate per phenol group. Kinetic experiments with either 5 or 50 mol% catalyst vs phenol groups in the polyetherification of 4,4%-isopropylidenediphenol with 2-chloroethyl ether have shown that a change in catalyst primarily affects the rate of reaction, with 50 mol % being faster. The prepared polyethers and copolyethers are soluble in common organic solvents. Both polyethers and copolyethers are crystalline. Polymers prepared to contain tetraoxyethylene spacers exhibit monotropic LC behavior. Copolymers prepared to contain tri- and tetraoxyethylene spacers (1 : 1 mol/mol) [PE34] were the only polymers exhibiting enantiotropic LC behavior. Longer spacers tend to destabilize the phase transitions, as suggested by the dependence of thermal transition temperatures upon the differential scanning calorimeter rate. All prepared polymers act as podants in solution, measured by picrate extraction experiments. Solid state complexes have been prepared from the polymer with a pentaoxyethylene spacer [PE5] and PE34 with LiCF3SO3. PE5 can dissolve LiCF3SO3 in the range of 0.21–2.2 mol salt/mol polymer (m.r.u.) [S/P] without the observation of free salt. PE5 complexes of/or below S/P of 0.43, upon annealing at room temperature, exhibited the two melting transitons observed in the polymer alone. PE5 complexes of/or above S/P of 0.77 only exhibited a Tg. The Tg of PE5 complexes were found to change nonlinearly with S/P, while Tm1 changed linearly. Tm2 was independent of S/P. Only one complex with PE34 gave two transitions (Tm2,Ti) in dynamic DSC experiments. Other PE34 complexes followed a behavior similar to PE5 complexes.
The modification of disruptive behaviors by a group of trainable mentally retarded adults

Abstract A group of mentally retarded residents was trained to implement a 24-hr treatment program for a disruptive, severely retarded adult male. The group ( N = 12) met with the subject each morning under a staff member's guidance to discuss the disruptive behaviors and to arrange contingency contracts which they subsequently implemented throughout the day. Disruptive behaviors decreased from a baseline mean of 5 per day to 0 after 12 days of treatment, and remained at 0 for 10 follow-up days. These results suggest that behavioral management programs are effective on a 24-hr basis using groups of the trainable mentally retarded as change agents.
Shade adaptation of photosynthesis in Coffea arabica

The effect of irradiance on the rate of net photosynthesis was measured for mature leaves of coffee grown under five levels of radiation from 100% to 5% daylight. The rate of light-saturated photosynthesis per unit leaf area (PNmax) increased from 2 μmol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) under 5% daylight to 4.4 μmol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) under 100% daylight. The photon flux density (PAR, photosynthetically active radiation) needed for 50% saturation of photosynthesis, as well as the light compensation point, also increased with increasing levels of irradiation during growth. The quantum efficiency of photosynthesis (α), measured by the initial slope of the photosynthetic response to increasing irradiance, was greater under shaded growth conditions. The rate of dark respiration was greatest for plants grown in full daylight. On the basis of the increase in the quantal efficiency of photosynthesis and the low light compensation point when grown under shaded conditions, coffee shows high shade adaptation. Plants adjusted to shade by an increased ability to utilize short-term increases in irradiance above the level of the growth irradiance (measured by the difference between photosynthesis at the growth irradiance, PNg, and PNmax).