cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partiality in Prosecution? Discretionary Prosecutorial Decision Making and Intimate Partner Violence:

In the United States, prosecutors are typically allotted a large amount of discretion when litigating a criminal case. Although some level of discretion is necessary for various reasons (e.g., lack of resources), concerns have arisen in both scholarly and popular discourse that prosecutorial discretion remains generally unchecked. Furthermore, research suggests prosecutors may be influenced by extralegal factors when making decisions about how to proceed with criminal charges. In this study, prosecutors responded to a case of alleged intimate partner violence, in which the sex and sexual orientation of the defendant and victim were manipulated. Neither sex nor sexual orientation impacted prosecutor choice to proceed with charges, the severity of the charge selected, or the harshness of the plea bargain offered. However, prosecutors were more willing to proceed without the victim's cooperation when the victim was female and perceived heterosexual males as more aggressive than heterosexual females. These data suggest prosecutorial decision making in cases of intimate partner violence may not be unduly influenced by defendant/victim sex and sexual orientation.
Challenging Hegemony, Building Bridges: Pedagogical Tools to Mediate Campus Polarization

This article is a summary of my keynote address to the ASIANetwork Conference in April 2018.
Internalization of Salmonella enterica serovar Montevideo into greenhouse tomato plants through contaminated irrigation water or seed stock.

Tomatoes have been linked to outbreaks of salmonellosis, demonstrating the need to identify sources of contamination. Objectives of this study included determining the ability for Salmonella enterica serovar Montevideo to be internalized into tomatoes from contaminated irrigation water and seed stock, and establishing whether Salmonella Montevideo can survive in fertilizer solutions. Six treatment groups (five plants per group) were irrigated with 350 ml of 7 log CFU/ml of Salmonella Montevideo every 14 days for 70 days, each group receiving an increased number of contaminated water events progressively: group 1 received one contaminated watering at day 0, and group 6 received a total of six contaminated waterings. Group 7 was a control, and group 8 was grown from seeds soaked in 8 log CFU/ml of Salmonella Montevideo for 24 h. All plants were watered daily with uncontaminated water. Three replications were completed. Fruit from every plant, and roots, stems, and leaves of one plant per treatment were samp...
Multi-Objective Graph Theory

This chapter provides an overview of the multi-objective graph theory. In this theory, Dubov and Shmul’yan propose two objectives for their multi-objective shortest path problem: (1) where L 1 equals the total number of arcs in a path from the first to the ( n + l)st node, that is, each arc in graph Γ is assigned a value of 1, and (2) where L 2 equals the sum of values x 1j and x 2j assigned to the arcs in a path from node 1 to node n + 1, where x 1 j = 0 or 1 and x 2 j = 0 or 1 and where x 1 j is the value assigned to the arc joining nodes j and j + 1, and x 2j is the value of the arc joining nodes j and j + 2. Then, the multi-objective shortest path problem can be expressed as min( L 1 , L 2 ) over the set of feasible distinct paths in graph Γ. The solution procedure proposed for the problem adopts concepts from the STEM method.
Chapter Thirteen Creating Psychological and Societal Dependency in Old Age

Abstract In this chapter, the authors focus on shared cultural values and social policies which create dependency in old people, rather than on the internal dynamics of psychological control and dependency, using Achenbaum's postulate that certain value conflicts such as self-reliance/dependency, expectation/entitlement, work/leisure, individual/family, private/public, and equity/adequacy feed into the stereotype of older persons as being dependent. The authors argue that negative connotations of ageism may be incorporated into older people's self-image, thus leading to behaviors which reinforce the stereotype. Conceptual frames for considering ways in which social policy and its implications create dependencies in aged individuals, and ways in which individuals may be empowered are discussed. The authors propose an interactional model to examine ways in which values, social policies, and resultant social structures reinforce dependency or empowerment in older persons. Empowerment is defined as political activism and social goods and a process of achieving balance and interdependence between one's own needs and the needs of other generations. The ways in which income and health policy tend to foster dependency, particularly in the marginal elderly, are examined. Implications of existing social policies are discussed with reference to dependency in old age. In conclusion, the authors advocate that rather than framing the debate in terms of intergenerational inequity in current distribution of resources, it may make more sense to ask what is a decent minimum of resources, sufficient to forestall dependency at different times in our lives. A cradle-to-grave approach which seeks to provide access to a decent minimum of health care and income within the limits of resource constraints is proposed as means of empowering people of all ages. Policies directed specifically to the elderly should seek to maximize functioning by providing adequate services and opportunities for participatory control in decisions, while avoiding over-protectiveness.
A Test of the Career Construction Theory Model of Adaptation in Adult Workers With Chiari Malformation

The present study examined the career construction theory (CCT) model of adaptation using a sample of working adults diagnosed with Chiari malformation. Specifically, we tested a mediation model in...
Case report of a peritoneal inclusion cyst presenting as pelvic organ prolapse

Peritoneal inclusion cysts (PIC) are fluid-filled masses of mesothelial origin that occur in the abdomen or pelvis. Here, we describe a patient with pelvic organ prolapse and back pain, who was fou...
Barriers and facilitators to mammography among women with intellectual disabilities: a qualitative approach

Although women with intellectual disabilities have the same breast cancer incidence rate as women without intellectual disabilities, they have fewer mammograms and higher mortality rates. Qualitati...
Biphasic chemotaxis of Escherichia coli to the microbiota metabolite indole

Bacterial chemotaxis to prominent microbiota metabolites such as indole is important in the formation of microbial communities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, the basis of chemotaxis to indole is poorly understood. Here, we exposed Escherichia coli to a range of indole concentrations and measured the dynamic responses of individual flagellar motors to determine the chemotaxis response. Below 1 mM indole, a repellent-only response was observed. At 1 mM indole and higher, a time-dependent inversion from a repellent to an attractant response was observed. The repellent and attractant responses were mediated by the Tsr and Tar chemoreceptors, respectively. Also, the flagellar motor itself mediated a repellent response independent of the receptors. Chemotaxis assays revealed that receptor-mediated adaptation to indole caused a bipartite response-wild-type cells were attracted to regions of high indole concentration if they had previously adapted to indole but were otherwise repelled. We propose that indole spatially segregates cells based on their state of adaptation to repel invaders while recruiting beneficial resident bacteria to growing microbial communities within the GI tract.
Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory (ONI): development and validation of a new measure of orthorexic symptomatology

To overcome the problems associated with existing measures of orthorexia, we assessed the reliability and validity of a new measure: the Orthorexia Nervosa Inventory (ONI). An online survey was completed by 847 people recruited from undergraduate nutrition and psychology courses and from advertisements in Facebook and Instagram targeting both healthy eaters (with keywords such as “clean eating” and “healthy eating”) and normal eaters (with keywords such as “delicious food” and “desserts”). Exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors with 9 items assessing behaviors and preoccupation with healthy eating, 10 items assessing physical and psychosocial impairments, and 5 items assessing emotional distress. With this sample, all scales demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.88–0.90) and 2-week test–retest reliability (r = 0.86– 0.87). Consistent with past research, ONI scores were significantly greater among vegetarians and vegans, and among those with higher levels of disordered eating, general obsessive–compulsive tendencies, and compulsive exercise. Additionally, whereas ONI scores did not significantly differ between men and women, the scores were negatively correlated with body mass index. The ONI is the first orthorexia measure to include items assessing physical impairments that researchers and clinicians agree comprise a key component of the disorder. Additionally, at least for the current sample, the ONI is a reliable measure with expected correlations based on the past research. Level V, descriptive cross-sectional study.
Organs-on-a-Chip

Organs-on-chips, also known as "tissue chips" or microphysiological systems (MPS), are bioengineered microsystems capable of recreating aspects of human organ physiology and function and are in vitro tools with multiple applications in drug discovery and development. The ability to recapitulate human and animal tissues in physiologically relevant three-dimensional, multi-cellular environments allows applications in the drug development field, including; (1) use in assessing the safety and toxicity testing of potential therapeutics during early-stage preclinical drug development; (2) confirmation of drug/therapeutic efficacy in vitro; and (3) disease modeling of human tissues to recapitulate pathophysiology within specific subpopulations and even individuals, thereby advancing precision medicine efforts. This chapter will discuss the development and evolution of three-dimensional organ models over the past decade, and some of the opportunities offered by MPS technology that are not available through current standard two-dimensional cell cultures, or three-dimensional organoid systems. This chapter will outline future avenues of research in the MPS field, how cutting-edge biotechnology advances are expanding the applications for these systems, and discuss the current and future potential and challenges remaining for the field to address.
A Framework to Assess Debt Sustainability under the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract This paper proposes a framework to assess the impact of infrastructure investment expected under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the debt vulnerabilities of countries located on BRI transport and connectivity corridors. In the absence of comprehensive data on investments and financing terms, key assumptions have been made to estimate: i) the amounts and terms of public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) debt financing for BRI investment, ii) size and sectoral type of identified BRI investment, and iii) expected growth impact. BRI debt financing is expected to significantly increase PPG debt in several countries. The paper assesses the debt vulnerability from BRI investment in the medium term. In the medium term, defined as the period 2019–2023, debt financing of BRI investment is expected to be fully disbursed while the full growth impact of BRI related infrastructure is not entirely realized. In this initial phase, more than 50 percent of assessed BRI-recipient countries are estimated to face elevated debt vulnerabilities post-BRI, if BRI has only a limited impact on overall growth. Most of these countries have already high debt vulnerabilities before BRI investment.
Pretreatment of aged mice with retinoic acid restores alveolar regeneration via upregulation of reciprocal PDGFRA signaling

Objectives: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) primarily affects the aged population and is characterized by failure of alveolar regeneration leading to loss of alveolar type 1 cells (AT1). Aged mouse models of lung repair have demonstrated that regeneration fails with increased age. Mouse and rat lung repair models have shown retinoic acid (RA) treatment can restore alveolar regeneration. Herein we seek to determine the signaling mechanisms by which RA treatment prior to injury supports alveolar differentiation. Design: Partial pneumonectomy (PNX) lung injury model and next generation sequencing of sorted cell populations are used to uncover molecular targets regulating alveolar repair. In-vitro organoids generated from Mouse or IPF patient epithelial cells co-cultured with young, aged, or RA pretreated murine mesenchyme are used to test potential targets. Main outcome measurements: Known alveolar epithelial cell differentiation markers, including HOPX and AGER for AT1 cells are used to assess outcome of treatments. Results: Gene expression analysis of sorted fibroblasts and epithelial cells isolated from lungs of young, aged, and RA treated aged mice predicted increased PDGFA signaling that coincided with regeneration and alveolar epithelial differentiation. Addition of PDGFA induced AT1 and AT2 alveolar differentiation in both mouse and human IPF lung organoids generated with aged fibroblasts and PDGFA monoclonal antibody blocked AT1 cell differentiation in organoids generated with young murine fibroblasts. Conclusions: Our data support the concept that reciprocal PDGFA signaling activates regenerative fibroblasts that support alveolar epithelial cell differentiation and repair, providing a potential therapeutic strategy to influence the pathogenesis of IPF.
Learning Data Science with Blockly in JupyterLab

Blocks languages are widely used to teach children programming, and research over the past decade has generally supported their benefits in terms of motivation and actual learning. However, little work has been done on using blocks languages to teach adults, and even less work has looked at blocks languages for data science. We have integrated Blockly, a blocks-based programming environment, into JupyterLab, one of the leading computational notebook development environments for data science. Our integration, which is publicly released as a JupyterLab extension, allows users to assemble blocks-based programs in a GUI workspace and then render the blocks as textual code (e.g., Python) in a computational notebook cell. Additional features of the extension are notebook sync, which clears and restores the blocks workspace as the user navigates to different notebook cells, and intelliblocks, dynamically generated blocks that are created when users load software packages. In this demonstration, we show how learners can use blocks to solve data science problems in a JupyterLab computational notebook. We have released 20 worked example companion notebooks at https://github.com/memphis-iis/datawhys-content-notebooks and an extended tutorial on the extension at https://youtu.be/-luPzplPDI0. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1918751.
The School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study-I: Overview of Findings Related to Improving Diet Quality, Weight, and Disparities in US Children and Policy Implications

The national school breakfast and lunch programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are a cornerstone of the nation’s nutrition safety net for children from low-income families [...]
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Systematic Review.

This systematic review evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Most studies showed that obsessive–compulsive symptoms worsened during the early stages of the pandemic, particularly for individuals with contamination-related obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), though other symptoms dimensions were found to worsen as well. Many patients and individuals in the general population experienced new obsessive–compulsive-like symptoms centered on COVID-19. Self-reported rates of symptom exacerbation and COVID-19-focused symptoms were consistently lower in studies that recruited patients from specialty clinics (compared to online samples). Most studies were conducted in Spring/Summer, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has been an enormous stressor for individuals with OCD, especially for those with contamination symptoms. Regardless, there is strong reason to believe gold standard treatment approaches for OCD have maintained strong efficacy. Disseminating and effectively delivering evidence-based treatments for OCD is an urgent public health priority.
Variability in Acetabular Component Position in Patients Undergoing Direct Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty who have Concomitant Spine Pathology.

BACKGROUND Hip instability following total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be a major cause of revision surgery. Physiological patient position impacts acetabular anteversion and abduction, and influences the functional component positioning. Osteoarthritis of the spine leads to abnormal spino-pelvic biomechanics and motion, but there is no consensus on the degree of component variability for THAs performed by anterior approach. Therefore, we sought to present guidelines for changes in acetabular component positioning between supine and standing positions for patients undergoing primary THA by a uniform anterior approach. METHODS Perioperative patient radiographs of the pelvis and lumbar spine were collected. Images were used to determine acetabular component positioning and degree of coexisting spinal pathology, categorized as a Lane Grade (LG). Final analysis of variance was performed on a sample size of 643 anterior primary THAs. RESULTS From supine to standing position, as the severity of lumbar pathology increased as the change in anteversion increased (LG:0 = -0.11 ± 4.65; LG:1 = 2.02 ± 4.09; LG:2-3 = 5.78 ± 5.72 degrees; p<0.001). The mean supine anteversion in patients with absent lumbar pathology was 19.72 ± 5.05 degrees and was lower in patients with worsening lumbar pathology (LG:1 = 18.25 ± 4.81, LG:2-3 = 16.73 ± 5.28 degrees; p<0.001). CONCLUSION Patients undergoing primary THA by anterior approach with worsening spinal pathology have larger increases in component anteversion when transitioning from supine to standing positions. Consideration should be given to this expected variability when placing the patient's acetabular component.
A Systematic Approach to Glass Cleaning

The rational design of a cleaning process for glass includes a definition of the soil to be removed, an awareness of the alternative methods available for removing dirt, and an understanding of the chemical and physical interactions between the soil, the glass and the cleaning materials. This discussion focuses on the interactions that occur between the glass and the cleaning materials. The glass surface must be understood; it is not necessarily characterized by the bulk glass. Aqueous cleansers react with the surface in much the same way as do other acqueous solvents. Chemical interactions are either of an etching character, as with alkaline cleansers; or leaching character, as with acidic cleansers. The action of detergents on glass can be severe since they are compounded from various aggressive chemicals; certain additives may mitigate some of the harmful effects on glass. In general, non-acqueous solvents affect glass the least; they may be difficult to remove however. Mechanical cleaning steps may damage the surface.
Avoiding Bias From Genomic Pre-Selection in Converting Daughter Information Across Countries

Methods to include both foreign and genomic information in single-step or multi-step evaluations were developed and compared using the U.S. national Jersey database. Breeders have exchanged and converted genetic evaluations of bulls across countries for decades, but traditional evaluations may become biased by pre-selection on genotype. When foreign and genomic data were added to the equations, daughter yield deviations computed from only domestic daughter records were very stable. Those could be exchanged internationally, thereby avoiding the difficulty of deregressing genomic evaluations. A final step in the multi-step method simply inserted the genomic evaluations and held them constant during iteration instead of adjusting the data vector and equations. For genotyped young bulls, multi-step evaluations were correlated by .966 to single-step evaluations computed with an algorithm that did not require inverting the genomic relationship matrix. Accuracy was similar but regressions were closer to expectation for the single-step evaluations.
The Mindy Project: Or Why “I'm The Mary, You're The Rhoda” Is the RomComSitCom's Most Revealing Accusation

ABSTRACT:This article situates The Mindy Project in a broader sociocultural context by examining its reappropriation of the cinematic romcom and the televisual sitcom. It is argued that the audience's knowledge of the conventions and stereotypes of the genre allows for an interrogation not only of contemporary social convention but also of postfeminism itself.
Prior Exposure to Creatures From a Horror Film Live Versus Photographic Representations

This experiment assesses the impact of two exposure strategies on children's emotional and cognitive reactions to a frightening movie scene. Children from two grade levels (kindergarten and first vs. second through fourth) received a desensitization treatment in which modeled exposure to a live earthworm was factorially varied with exposure to graphic photographs of worms taken from a horror film. Children then viewed a frightening scene involving worms taken from this same film. Results indicated that exposure to photographs increased children's enjoyment of the movie segment and reduced fear reactions to the scene. In contrast, the live exposure strategy was effective in reducing fear reactions to the movie only among boys. However, live exposure did alter children's affective reactions to and judgments of worms themselves. The findings are discussed in terms of current theories of desensitization and information processing.
Strain-dependent induction of allergic sensitization caused by peanut allergen DNA immunization in mice.

To investigate the potential application of allergen gene immunization in the modulation of food allergy, C3H/HeSn (C3H) mice received i.m. injections of pAra h2 plasmid DNA encoding one of the major peanut allergens, Ara h2. Three weeks following pDNA immunization, serum Ara h2-specific IgG2a, IgG1, but not IgE, were increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. IgG1 was 30-fold higher in multiply compared with singly immunized mice. Ara h2 or peanut protein injection of immunized mice induced anaphylactic reactions, which were more severe in multiply immunized mice. Heat-inactivated immune serum induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, suggesting that anaphylaxis in C3H mice was mediated by IgG1. IgG1 responses were also induced by intradermal injection of pAra h2, and by i.m. injection of pOMC, the plasmid DNA encoding the major egg allergen protein, ovomucoid. To elucidate whether the pDNA immunization-induced anaphylaxis was a strain-dependent phenomenon, AKR/J and BALB/c mice also received multiple i.m. pAra h2 immunizations. Injection of peanut protein into these strains at weeks 3 or 5 following immunization did not induce reactions. Although IgG2a was increased significantly from week 2 in AKR/J mice and from week 4 in BALB/c mice and remained elevated for at least 6 wk, no IgG1 or IgE was detected. These results indicate that the type of immune responses to pDNA immunization in mice is strain dependent. Consequently, models for studying human allergen gene immunization require careful selection of suitable strains. In addition, this suggests that similar interindividual variation is likely in humans.
Molecular Clocks: Determining the Age of the Human–Chimpanzee Divergence

The approximate clocklike nature of the accumulation of nucleotide substitutions (the ‘molecular clock’) allows for the estimation of the time of divergence between modern species, dependent on calibrating the clock with known divergence dates from the fossil record. The use of fossils to calibrate divergence dates must be done thoughtfully, with an understanding that in most cases fossils provide a constraint on the minimal age of, rather than a true estimate of, the species divergence. Although older studies relied on single loci, recent publications have used complete genome sequences to estimate divergence. Although still dependent on assumptions of the model used, most recent estimates using the molecular clock give dates of approximately 5–8 million years ago for the human–chimpanzee divergence, in general agreement with the palaeontological evidence. Key Concepts: The molecular clock hypothesis proposes that nucleotide changes occur at a regular rate during evolution. Applying the molecular clock to sequence divergence among living species can provide an estimate of the time of the divergence of these species. The conversion from sequence divergence to units of geologic time usually requires calibration from the fossil record, although fossil-free estimates have also been used. The first appearance in the fossil record of a given lineage provides a minimum age of divergence of taxa that created that lineage, not a point estimate of the divergence. Confidence in the fossil calibration is dependent on the completeness of the fossil record. Estimates of the human–chimpanzee divergence using the molecular clock have ranged from less than 3 million to nearly 12 million years ago (Ma). Most reliable estimates of the human–chimpanzee divergence range from 5 to 8 Ma. Considering the various sources of uncertainty associated with molecular dating, in general the dates are in agreement with palaeontological data. Keywords: molecular clock; human evolution; hominin; hominid; divergence; chimpanzee
Generations of Immigrants: Paths of Immigrant and Immigrant-Descendant Political Engagement Across Generations

The changing demographics of Latino and, to a lesser degree, other immigrant/ethnic communities have encouraged increasing scholarly focus to the question of differential patterns of immigrant incorporation across immigrant generations. This scholarship has been particularly attentive to differences between the first and second generations, in large part because those generations dominate the contemporary “immigrant-stock” population. This scholarship (and the much less quantitative generational scholarship on turn-of-the-twentieth century immigrants) offers important insights into the generational process of immigrant political incorporation. In this paper, I shift the focus a bit and look to an earlier generation, specifically the parents of today’s adult immigrants who spurred the migration of the 1.5 and 2nd generation and, in most cases, accompanied them in their migration. I assess whether parental characteristics shape political participation among adult 1.5 and 2nd generation immigrants. Specifically, I assess two dimensions of the potential parental bequest to their children. First, and most straightforwardly, I can look at parental education as a resource for the children of immigrants. Political socialization scholarship would predict that 1.5 and 2nd generation immigrants, like the U.S.-born children of “native-stock” Americans, who are the children of more highly educated parents would see higher levels of political engagement. Second, I measure different forms of immigrant status and immigrant status change among the parents of today’s adult 1.5 and 2nd generation immigrants. Immigrant status at the time of migration can include migration without a permanent status (either as unauthorized migrants or as migrants with short-term statuses such as student visas or work visas) or entrance as a permanent resident. Immigrant status changes include transitions from temporary status to legal permanent residence and from legal permanent residence to naturalized U.S. citizen.
A microcomputer e-book - A Database System For Patient Care Experience Using A Personalized Data Dictionary

This paper is a description of a computerized E-book system for maintaining a record of patient care experience. It uses a microcomputer and a specially-written file management program. Its features include a dictionary that is developed by the user to permit easy data entry and retrieval while maintaining compatibility with standard reporting codes. The author of this paper has used this system to maintain a list of more than 3,500 patient contacts during a three year family practice residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia and has found it useful in his education.
Decays Ξ b → Λ b π and diquark correlations in hyperons

The decays ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Xi}}}_{b}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}}_{b}\ensuremath{\pi}$ are strangeness changing weak transitions involving only the light diquark in the baryon. Thus these decays can test the properties of such diquarks, in particular the suggestions existing in the literature of enhanced correlations in ${J}^{P}={0}^{+}$ light diquarks. We revisit the estimates of the rates of these decays and point out that with the enhanced correlation their branching fraction can reach a few percent and may become visible in the measurements of differences of the lifetimes of $b$ baryons.
Damage to red blood cells by halocompounds.

Twenty-five halocompounds were screened as inducers of hemoglobin degradation and lipid peroxidation in rat red blood cells (RBC). RBC activated halocompounds, and oxyhemoglobin remaining depended on the halocompounds employed. Thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substances (TBARS), an index of lipid peroxidation, also depended on the halocompound. TBARS were inversely correlated and oxyhemoglobin percentage was directly correlated with the logarithm of oral LD50 of the halocompounds (r = 0.79, P < 0.001, and r = 0.87, P < 0.001, respectively). For 15 halocompounds, the oral LD50 calculated as log LD50 = 0.015 (% hemoglobin) − 0.05 (TBARS) were correlated (r = 0.88, P < 0.01) with the reported oral LD50.
Practice makes perfect.

As we learn through visual experience, where does that memory form? A study now shows that neural responses at even the earliest stage of visual cortex get reshaped in a way that faithfully reflects ongoing learning.
Targetted stochastic matrix inversion

Abstract The solution of linear systems by stochastic techniques is investigated as an alternative to the widely used elimination and relaxation procedures. The Pan-Reif algorithm is used to allow any non-singular matrix to be stochastically inverted. New algorithms are devised to overcome some of the efficiency problems of the original Von Neumann-Ulam method and its refinements. The method is tested on some simple physical problems to gauge its effectiveness.
Prenatal exposure to methanol as a dopamine system sensitization model in C57BL/6J mice.

Abstract Aims In this study, the effects of prenatal exposure to methanol (MeOH) on the nigrostriatal dopamine (NSDA) system were examined to determine if the interaction could sensitize this system, and serve as an underpinning for Parkinson's disease (PD) like changes that occur later in life. Methanol was studied because its toxicity resembles the symptoms of PD and the symptoms are relieved by l -dopa meaning that MeOH targets the NSDA system. Since fermentation and wood combustion are major sources for MeOH, the incidence of human encounters with MeOH is high. As a superior solvent and the precursor for formaldehyde, MeOH has a powerful and sometimes, irreversible impact on chemical processes, such as cross-linking proteins and nucleic acids. It may cause subthreshold changes that sensitizes the NSDA system to PD, that occur during aging. Main methods To study the prenatal effects of MeOH, pregnant C57BL/6J mice were administered 40 mg/kg MeOH by oral gavage during gestation days 8–12, twice daily. Twelve weeks after birth, behavior impairments were recorded. The striatum was dissected for the determination of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), l -aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (LAAD), α-synuclein and levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites. Key findings MeOH reduced striatal TH and LAAD protein by 47% and 57% respectively and DA by 32%. Significance The results mean that in utero exposure to toxins similar to MeOH could sensitize the striatal system to changes that cause PD. This study may help identify strategies to block this type of in utero toxicity.
Symmetric equilibrium existence and optimality in differentiated product markets

Abstract Equilibrium existence and optimality are analysed in a market for products differentiated by their variety. A game of three stages is analysed. Firms enter in the first stage, choose varieties in the second stage, and choose prices in the third stage. The existence of subgame-perfect equilibria is established. At equilibrium products are symmetrically located in the space of characteristics and are offered at equal prices. The surplus maximizing solution is characterized, and it is shown that surplus maximizing product diversity is lower than the equilibrium one.
Digital quadrature heterodyne detection for high-resolution fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The pursuit of ever higher mass-resolving power in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) has driven a demand for higher magnetic field strength and longer time-domain ICR signal lifetime, with proportionate increase in data set size in direct-mode detection. Heterodyne-mode detection thus becomes increasingly important for achieving ultrahigh-mass resolution from a fixed maximum-size data set. Unfortunately, as conventionally performed (i.e., analog single phase), heterodyne detection reduces the S/N ratio by a factor of 21/2 relative to direct-mode detection. Here, we restore the factor of 21/2 by use of quadrature heterodyne detection. In addition, replacement of analog by digital heterodyning eliminates analog circuitry (and its associated noise). Finally, digital filtering of the time-domain discrete ICR signal not only eliminates the need for a bank of analog low-pass filters but also ensures that the Nyquist bandwidth and filter bandwidth are always matched, for opt...
Web-log-driven business activity monitoring

Business process transformation defines a new level of business optimization that manifests as a range of industry-specific initiatives that bring processes, people, and information together to optimize efficiency. This new optimization level is possible because the Web has assumed the role of a common infrastructure. To examine how BPT can optimize an organization's processes, we describe a corporate initiative that was developed within IBM's supply chain organization to transform the import compliance process that supports the company's global logistics. The initiative sought to give IBM greater awareness of regulatory compliance exceptions - information critical to the corporation and its importing partners.
Meson-mode mixing in the calculation of the nucleon-nucleon interaction

We consider pion exchange between nucleons in the one-boson-exchange model and in a model based upon the use of the quark-quark {ital T} matrices of the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model. We study the relation between the meson-nucleon form factors of the boson-exchange model and the form factors that appear in our application of the NJL model. Previously we indicated that the form factors of the boson-exchange model are not physical quantities. For example, we saw that, while the vertex form factor of the boson-exchange model depends upon a parameter {Lambda}{sub {pi}}=1.3 GeV in the case of pion exchange, the corresponding {ital physical} parameter characterizing the meson-nucleon vertex is {Lambda}{sub {pi}}{congruent}0.8 GeV. In this paper we study how the mixing of the pion and the axial-vector ({ital T}=1) mode affects the value of {lambda}{sub {pi}} needed in our model. We find that the two models of pion exchange in the nucleon-nucleon interaction can be put into excellent agreement if {lambda}{sub {pi}}=0.9 GeV is used.
Evaluation of Cytokine Delivery Systems for Cancer Immunotherapy

Cytokines are ideal candidates for controlled release systems; they typically have short half-lives in vivo and may be more effective with localized delivery. A novel microencapsulation technique, phase inversion nanoencapsulation (PIN), was used to encapsulate interleukin-2 or interleukin-12 in biodegradable polymer microspheres. Cytokine was quantified by ELISA and bioactivity analyzed using a murine cytotoxic Tcell line proliferation assay. The release rates of IL-2 was dependant on release buffer components; inclusion of 10% fetal calf serum resulted in significantly higher release rates compared to plain buffer. Encapsulated IL-2 remained stable at all timepoints assayed (up to 4 months) when stored at 4 °C. Results indicated that PIN can be used to encapsulate IL-2 and IL-12, which were released throughout the duration of the release study (up to one month). These microsphere formulations have shown tumor suppressive affects in vivo and may provide a viable alternative to gene transfer for cancer immunotherapy.
Recognition of viruses and xenogeneic proteins by the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: A humoral receptor for T2 bacteriophage

Abstract The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, was found to possess a naturally occurring humoral factor which neutralizes T2 bacteriophage in a relatively specific fashion. The molecule responsible for this neutralization was isolated from crab plasma and shown to be distinct from hemocyanin and the hemagglutinin for mouse erythrocytes. The neutralizing activity of this molecule was lost on exposure to denaturing solvents but was resistant to mild heat or EDTA. This molecule appears to be a polymer (6–13 S) of noncovalently linked subunits each with a molecular weight of ∼80,000. The actual function of this molecule in the blue crab is unknown but based upon structural considerations it seems unlikely that it represents any evolutionary relationship to immunoglobulin.
Persistent pain and depression: a biopsychosocial perspective

This review highlights recent research findings on the relationship between persistent pain and depression and discusses the implications of these findings for future research in persons who suffer from both pain and depression. First, we briefly discuss advances in theories of pain that underscore the important role that depression can play in the chronic pain experience. Second, we discuss depression in persons suffering from chronic pain from a biopsychosocial perspective that takes into account both biological and psychosocial mechanisms linking pain and depression. Third, we address biomedical, psychosocial, and combined medical-psychosocial approaches to treatment in persons with persistent pain and depression. We conclude by highlighting future directions for research related to screening and diagnosis of depression in persons having persistent pain, treatment of comorbid pain and depression, and individual and subgroup differences in the experience of persistent pain and depression.
Terahertz spectroscopy of solid serine and cysteine

Abstract Terahertz (THz) absorption spectra of the similarly structured amino acids l -serine and l -cysteine in the solid phase at 77 and 298 K are reported and compared to isolated molecule and solid-state infrared vibrational spectral calculations using empirical force field and density functional theory. These comparisons suggest that many higher frequency internal modes can readily be assigned but lowest frequency intermolecular and phonon modes can adequately be understood with more advanced solid-state theory using currently available potential functions.
Peer Deviancy Training and Peer Coercion: Dual Processes Associated With Early‐Onset Conduct Problems

The prospective relationships of conduct problems and peer coercion and deviancy training during kindergarten (mean age = 5.3 years) to overt and covert conduct problems in third–fourth grade were examined in a sample of 267 boys and girls. Coercion and deviancy training were distinct peer processes. Both were associated with earlier child conduct problems but were differentially associated with child impulsivity, verbal ability, anxiety, peer rejection, and deviant peer affiliation. Coercion by peers predicted overt conduct problems and peer deviancy training and the interaction of deviancy training and coercion predicted covert conduct problems in third–fourth grade. Peer deviancy training occurs in early childhood and may serve as an independent risk mechanism in addition to peer coercion for early-onset, persisting conduct problems.
Racial/Ethnic differences in medication uptake and clinical outcomes among hospitalized cardiovascular patients with hypertension and diabetes.

BACKGROUND In the United States, hypertension and diabetes are more common among blacks and Hispanics than among others; the comorbidity is associated with worse clinical outcomes than each condition alone. Racial/ethnic differences in outcomes may be related to differential uptake of antihypertensive therapies, but data to evaluate this in real-world settings are limited. We aimed to determine the association between race/ethnicity and odds of rehospitalization or death, accounting for medication prescription, among a cohort of patients with hypertension and diabetes hospitalized for cardiovascular disease. METHODS This was a 1-year prospective study of individuals that participated in a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute clinical outcomes study. Clinical/medication data and outcomes (rehospitalization and death at 30 days and at 1 year) were documented by electronic medical record, National Death Index, and standardized mail survey. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between race/ethnicity and outcomes adjusted for type of antihypertensive medication, demographics, and comorbidity. RESULTS Participants (n = 1,126) were 14% black, 28% Hispanic, and 58% white/other. A total of 611 (54%) participants were rehospitalized at 1 year. Predictors of rehospitalization at 1 year included Hispanic ethnicity, diuretic prescription, lack of health insurance, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure (P < 0.05). Race/ethnicity was not associated with rehospitalization at 30 days or death at 30 days or at 1 year. Increased odds of rehospitalization at 1 year among Hispanics remained significant after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio = 1.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-2.1). CONCLUSIONS In this study of hospitalized hypertension patients with diabetes, Hispanics had higher odds of rehospitalization than whites/others at 1 year but not at 30 days, and this was not explained by type of antihypertension medication prescribed.
Is a rhetoric of science policy possible

L'A. souligne la necessite d'une redefinition de la rhetorique classique dans le sens contemporain du debat postmoderniste de la science politique, qui requiert une nouvelle interpretation des notions d'orateur, de discours et d'auditoire, entendues dans le nouveau cadre socio-politique de la sphere publique. Il s'agit donc de substituer a une theorie pedagogique de la rhetorique une theorie critique culturelle qui mesure l'influence rhetorique en termes quasi-causalistes
Bending-induced loss in dual-mode rectangular waveguides

We examine how the bending-induced mode losses in a dual-mode rectangular-core waveguide vary with bend orientation. Bending about the minor axis [case (i)] and bending about the major axis [case (ii)] are considered. The second (LP11) mode is more lossy in case (i) than in case (ii), while the reverse is true for the first (LP01) mode. Further, in case (i) the LP11-mode loss is larger than the LP01-mode loss, but in case (ii) the LP01-mode loss is, surprisingly, larger than the LP11-mode loss. LP11-mode loss is consistent with the recent experimental results. This study should be useful in designing efficient elliptical-core fiber components such as LP11-mode strippers based on differential mode loss of the first two modes.
On measures of uncertainty of empirical Bayes small-area estimators

Abstract Small area typically refers to a small geographic area or a demographic group for which very little information is obtained from the sample surveys. An empirical Bayes (EB) method uses sample survey data in conjunction with relevant supplementary data which are obtained from various administrative sources. The method has been found to be very useful in many applications of small-area estimation and related problems. In this paper, a method based on bootstrap samples is proposed to measure the accuracy of the proposed EB estimator of a small-area characteristic. A simple approximation of the method which does not require any bootstrap simulation is also proposed. The model expectation of the proposed measure of uncertainty of the EB estimator is equal to the integrated Bayes risk of the EB estimator up to the order O(m−1). Two well-known data sets are considered to compare the proposed method with some existing methods. A Monte Carlo simulation is conducted to compare the performances of different measures of uncertainty.
N-chloro amides, lactams, carbamates, and imides. New classes of initiators for the metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization of methacrylates

Metal-catalyzed living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with N-chloro amides (N-chloro N-ethyl propionamide, N-chloro benzanilide, N-chloro methylbenzamide, and N-chloro acetanilide), lactams (N-chloro caprolactam and N-chloro 2-pyrrolidinone), carbamates or urethanes (N-chloro ethylcarbamate or N-chlorourethane), imides (N-chloro phtalimide, N-chloro succinimide, trichloroisocyanuric acid, and N-chloro saccharin) and catalyzed with the self-regulated catalytic system Cu2S/2,2′-bipyridine is reported. The initiation efficiency of these initiators is determined by their structure. Regardless of the initiator efficiency, in all cases, poly (methyl methacrylate) with narrow molecular weight distribution and functionalized chain-ends was obtained. These new classes of initiators open new strategies for the functionalization of polymer chain-ends and for the synthesis of complex architectures by graft copolymerization initiated from N-chloro proteins, aliphatic, aromatic and semiaromatic polyamides, and polyurethanes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5283–5299, 2005
Unemployment and depression among emerging adults in 12 states, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2010

Introduction The high rate of unemployment among emerging adults (aged 18 to 25 years) is a public health concern. The risk of depression is higher among the unemployed than among the employed, but little is known about the relationship between unemployment and mental health among emerging adults. This secondary data analysis assessed the relationship between unemployment and depression among emerging adults.
Neutrino-counting process (e+e− → vvγ) and its major background (e+e− → e+e−γ) at the Z0 resonance

The differential and the total cross sections for the neutrino-counting process (e+e− → vvγ) and its major source of background, radiative Bhabha scattering (e+e− → e+e−γ), are calculated for some experimentally relevant kinematical regions, on and above the Z0-resonance.